RTHK: US ex-cop convicted of Floyd murder seeks new trial

Derek Chauvin, the white ex-policeman convicted of murdering the African-American man George Floyd, asked on Tuesday for a new trial on claims of jury and prosecution misconduct.

The 45-year-old - who knelt on Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes - faces up to 40 years in prison after being found guilty last month in a case that prompted a national reckoning on racial injustice and police brutality.

Chauvin's attorney Eric Nelson argued that his client did not get a fair trial due to publicity around the case, court and prosecution errors, as well as "race-based pressure" on the jury.

"The publicity here was so pervasive and so prejudicial before and during this trial that it amounted to a structural defect in the proceedings," Nelson wrote.

The filing came as the impartiality of a juror in the case has been brought into question after a photo surfaced of him at an anti-racism rally.

Legal experts had said Chauvin's defence attorney could potentially use the photo of juror Brandon Mitchell as grounds to appeal the verdict, though the matter was not mentioned in Tuesday's pleading.

In the photo, Mitchell, a 31-year-old black man, is wearing a T-shirt with a picture of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr on it, as well as the words "Get Your Knee Off Our Necks" and the letters "BLM" for Black Lives Matter.

Mitchell is one of only two jurors who have publicly identified themselves since the high-profile trial.

In a questionnaire, potential jurors were asked if they had taken part in any of the protests against police brutality that followed Floyd's May 25, 2020 death.

Mitchell said he had not and could serve impartially. He told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that the photo was taken at a march he attended in Washington in August 2020 to mark the anniversary of Martin Luther King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.

Jeffrey Frederick, a jury selection expert, said Mitchell's answer may be "technically correct" since the Washington event was billed as a commemoration.

"It'll be up to the judge to conduct questioning and to make a determination as to whether or not he felt that this juror was biased and, possibly, had lied during the course of voir dire or on the juror questionnaire," Frederick said.

The judge would then decide whether it "reaches a standard for affecting the outcome of the trial," he said.

"The bar is high in terms of misconduct and the granting of a new trial," he added. "Such determinations are rare."

Steve Tuller, another jury selection expert, agreed.

"Judges do not want to declare mistrials, particularly in a case where there has been a verdict and given the special circumstances of this case," Tuller said. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-05-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Remains of Vietnamese soldiers repatriated from Laos

A memorial and burial ceremony was held on Wednesday morning in the central province of Quang Tri for the remains of 24 voluntary Vietnamese soldiers and specialists who died in Laos.









The remains of 24 voluntary Vietnamese soldiers and specialists who died in Laos are reburied in Quang Tri Province on May 5.

Addressing the event, vice chairman of the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, Hoang Nam, expressed deep gratitude to the fallen soldiers for their great sacrifices and contributions to the revolutionary cause.











"Their contributions have helped tighten the solidarity and special friendship that exists to this day between the Parties, States, and people of both Vietnam and Laos," the official said.











According to local authorities, the remains of the martyrs were returned to the country from Laos during the 2020-2021 dry season. They were laid to rest at the Road 9 National Martyrs Cemetery in the province.

We have co-operated with authorities in Laos to search and repatriate thousands of bodies of Vietnamese soldiers since 1993," Quang Tri authorities said. "This is the 35th time that we have received and reburied the remains of the soldiers and volunteers. We consider this a great mission which helps ease the pain of their families and relatives."

From 1945 to 1947, the Vietnamese Government decided to develop overseas Vietnamese liberation troops in Laos to help the neighbouring country in their fights against the French colonialists.



Many of the Vietnamese soldiers and volunteers stayed on in Laos between 1973-1975 to help fight against the American imperialists and protect liberated areas towards national liberation and the establishment of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic in late 1975.


Kelly knows that virtual learning has been a stress for students and parents, and warned that an educational gap is likely as a result. Because kids were made to learn for themselves, she said it is possible that they will not all be on the same level moving into the next school year.
New Delhi :

Saudi Arabia today roundly rejected reports that a prominent prince had been killed in a sweeping anti-corruption purge of the kingdom's elite. Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd, a son of the late king Fahd, was rumoured to have been killed in custody or while resistingarrest amid the crackdown at the weekend.

The hashtag "death of Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd" has since featured on social media, fuelling fevered speculationonline. "There is no truth whatsoever to rumours circulating in media concerning Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd," an informationministry spokesman said in a statement. "Prince Abdulaziz is alive and well."

Dozens of high-profile figures including princes, ministers as well as billionaire tycoon Al-Waleed bin Talal were swept up in the weekend crackdown -- just after an anti-graft commission headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmanwas established.

It was the biggest purge of the kingdom's elite in modern Saudi history. Separately, on Sunday another prince, Mansour bin Moqren, was reported killed in a helicopter crash near the kingdom's southern border with Yemen. Authorities did not reveal the cause of the crash.

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Kolkata:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described demonetisation as "DeMoDisaster" and turned her Twitter display picture black, on the first anniversary of the event on Wednesday.

Banerjee had on Monday announced her decision to change the display picture on her Twitter account to 'black' on the first anniversary of demonetisation.

"I have turned my Twitter DP black #DeMoDisaster. Let us raise our voices #Nov8BlackDay", the Trinamool Congress supremo wrote on her Twitter handle after turning her DP black on Wednesday morning.

Banerjee also retweeted her Tuesday's post on Facebook alleging that the note ban was a "big scam" which was announced to help vested interests convert black money into white money.

Read more: PM Modi: '125 crore Indians fought a decisive battle and won'

"Demonetisation is a big scam. I repeat, demonetisation is a big scam. If a thorough investigation is conducted, this will be proved", her Facebook post read.

"Demonetisation was not to combat black money. It was only to convert black money into white money for vested interests of the political party in power (sic)", she alleged.

The Trinamool Congress had earlier announced that it would observe 'Black Day' on November 8 to protest against demonetisation across West Bengal.

The Left parties and the state Congress will also organise rallies on the same issue.

I have turned my Twitter DP black #DeMoDisaster. Let us raise our voices #Nov8BlackDay 1/2  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) November 8, 2017

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New Delhi:

The latest NASA study has unearthed a geothermal heat source called mantle plume that lies deep below Antarcticas Marie Byrd Land. The discovery might provide explanations regarding the rapid collapse of ice sheet in an earlier era of abrupt climate change and answers the reason behind its instability.

According to NASA, the stability of an ice sheet is closely related to how much water lubricates it from below, allowing glaciers to slide more easily.

Understanding the sources would help scientists better estimate the rate of future ice loss in the area.

A scientist at the University of Colorado Denver first suggested that heat from a mantle plume under Marie Byrd Land might explain regional volcanic activity and a topographic dome feature.

Read more: Scientists discover 'missing link' in origin of life on Earth

Helene Seroussi of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California said, I thought it was crazy. I didnt see how we could have that amount of heat and still have ice on top of it".

Researchers studied the plume using numerical modelling with the Ice Sheet System Model (ISSM), revealing natural sources of heating and heat transport from a number of processes.

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New Delhi:

Accomplishing a landmark feat, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has measured the X-ray polarisation of the Crab pulsar (star) in the Taurus constellation using the multi-wavelength space telescope AstroSat, the space agency said.

According to ISRO, to measure the X-ray polarisation of the star was a difficult task to accomplish and they have done it for the first time during 18-months of its study.

"AstroSat accomplished the difficult task of measuring X-ray polarisation of Crab pulsar in the Taurus constellation during 18-months of its study for the first time," the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement.

The pulsar spins 30 times per second, hence the telescope measured the variations of polarisation, said ISRO.

"The telescope measured the variations of polarisation as the magetised object (pulsar) spins 30 times per second," said the statement quoting from a paper published in "Nature Astronomy" journal.

The CZT (Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride) imaging instrument of the satellite challenges theories of high energy X-ray emission from pulsars.

"Indian scientists using data from the CZT Imager have performed the most sensitive measurement of X-ray polarisation of the Crab pulsar, the rotating neutron star which is the main energy source of the nebula," the scientific paper pointed out.

"The universe is home to many such exotic objects with conditions quite different from the Earth. It is essential to study them to ensure our predictions describe what goes on in and around them. They are less than a few tens of km but have masses more than that of the Sun and are known as compact objects," noted the statement.

Also Read: Russian boy claims he lived on Mars, was killed in war

What is pulsar?

A pulsar is a neutron star or white dwarf which rotates and emits electromagnetic radiation. Two examples of such objects are the neutron stars and black holes.

In the present zodiac, Taurus is the second astrological sign and spans the 30-60th degree of the zodiac.

The X-ray polarisation:

Measuring the X-ray polarisation has been a daunting task and the measurement obtained worldwide so far is for the pulsar in the Crab Nebula  the ghostly remains of a massive stellar explosion known as supernova, observed in 1054 AD.

With mass condensed in a small volume, the pulsars possess strong gravitational and magnetic fields, both trillion times that on the Earth. They are also sources of intense X-ray radiation, electromagnetic waves similar to light but have ten to hundred thousand times higher energy, which carries vital clues to understand them as well as the physical processes responsible for the radiation.

Astronomers have studied properties of this radiation to make a picture of compact objects and their surroundings.

"The idea of using CZT Imager for X-ray polarisation measurement has been around for a while, but this is the first time the idea was tested on ground before launch and then employed in space. This makes our measurements credible," said ISRO's Ahmedabad-Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) Professor Santosh Vadawale in the paper.

Another feature of the measurements is the study of polarisation properties at different rotation phases of the pulsar, which has not been done so far, reiterated Vadawale, lead author of the paper and part of the CZT Imager team.

Also Read: Proxima Centauri may have suitable atmosphere to host planetary system

According to Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Professor and Imager's principal investigator A.R. Rao, the team had to observe the Crab pulsar many times and combine data of months given its small rotation period.

"To get the micro-second accuracy for combining the data, the AstroSat team sought help from one of the world's best radio telescopes - the Indian Giant Meter-wave Radio Telescope (GMRT), at Khodad near Pune.

Professor Bhal Chandra Joshi and a team from NCRA, Pune, monitored the radio pulsations from Crab with GMRT and Ooty radio telescope, corrected anomalies and provided accurate ephemeris to the imager.

The CZT-Imager was built by a consortium of Indian academic and research institutes, including ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thiruvananthapuram and the Satellite Application Centre in Bengaluru, the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) at Pune and the Space Application Centre at Ahmedabad.

PRL provided the polarisation detection algorithm and ground calibration.

Also Read: Most ancient spiral galaxy A1689B11 discovered by scientists

About AstroSat:

On September 28, 2015, AstroSat, the first dedicated space observatory was launched by ISRO from its spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. A Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (rocket) carried the AstroSat.

Rs 180 crore were spent to build the 1,513 kg space observatory which has five scientific instruments to study celestial objects in the universe at optical, ultraviolet and x-ray wavebands simultaneously, for the first time.

The instruments are a soft x-ray telescope, an ultraviolet imaging telescope, an imager and a scanning sky monitor.

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New Delhi :

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted dense to very dense fog very likely in the morning hours of Wednesday over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, North Rajasthan and a few places in West Uttar Pradesh.



Also, heavy rain is very likely at isolated places over Andaman & Nicobar Islands and south Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.



On Tuesday, Delhiites woke up to dense smog and haze with many complaining of burning eyes and sore nose and throat. The air quality index of Delhi touched the severe level of 451 where anything above 100 is considered unhealthy.



This prompted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to order the closure of schools on Wednesday. The order will be extended to the day after if the need arises.



"Outdoor activities including assemblies should not take place in schools," Education Minister Manish Sisodia said.



District Magistrate Ghaziabad has also directed all schools in the region to shut on Wednesday and day after on account of air pollution.

Also read: Delhi Smog: EPCA instructs govt to start preparing for odd-even scheme



Also read: Delhi Air Pollution: Kejriwal 'requests' Sisodia to shut schools for few days
Mumbai:

A week after the Bombay High Court lambasted the Mumbai Police for dereliction of duty while investigating a case of sexual abuse of three-year-old girl, the city police arrested a French nationalist in connection with the case.

Deputy commissioner of police (zone X) Navinchandra Reddy, confirmed the arrest of the French nationalist but refused to reveal any details.

A press release issued by Meghwadi division assistant commissioner of police read that the department has arrested a 56-year-old French national, a trustee of the school, in connection to the sexual abuse case. The accused was produced before court in Dindoshi on Tuesday.

According to a senior officer of the Mumbai Police, the girl had alleged the trustee of the school and a woman teacher had sexually abused her in school campus. The teacher is yet to be arrested. Police prior to the formal arrest had carried out polygraph test on the accused and had recorded statements of at least 80 people from the school. The three--year-old girl had identified her perpetrators from the photographs on the school website.

A bench of Justices Ranjit More and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi had asked the Mumbai Police reasons for not making arrests despite the victim identified her perpetrators on October 31. The case was registered against the trustee and a school teacher in January by the minors mother. She in the complaint had mentioned that her daughter was sexually abused in several occasions and she learnt about the incident after she noticed that the minor was unable to walk and it properly.

An FIR under relevant Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections and POSCO Act. has been registered with the MIDC police station.

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New Delhi:

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, has released the syllabus for JEE Advanced 2018 at www.jeeadv.ac.in. All the candidates who will be appearing for the JEE Exam can check the syllabus at the official website.

The Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) 2018 will be conducted by the IITs. Candidates performance will help to form the basis for admission to Bachelor's Integrated Master's and Dual Degree programs (entry at the 10+2 level) in all the IITs.

The decisions of the JAB 2018 will be final in all matters related to JEE (Advanced) 2018 and admission to IITs.

Examination Date:

The examination will be held on May 20, 2018. The entire JEE (Advanced) 2018 Examination will be conducted in fully computer-based test mode. The exam consists of two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2, each of three hours' duration, and will be held in two sessions. Both the papers are compulsory.

Eligibility Criteria:

All the candidates must fulfil each and every one of the following five criteria to appear in JEE (Advanced) 2018.

Criterion 1  Performance in JEE (Main) 2018: Candidates should be among the top 2,24,000* (including all categories) in Paper-1 of JEE (Main) 2018.

The percentages of various categories of candidates to be shortlisted are: 27% for OBC-NCL, 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST and the remaining 50.5% is OPEN for all. Within each of these four categories, 5% horizontal reservation is available for PwD candidates.

Age limit:

Candidates should have been born on or after October 1, 1993. Five years relaxation is given to SC, ST and PwD candidates, i.e., these candidates should have been born on or after October 1, 1988.

Number of attempts:

A candidate can attempt JEE (Advanced) a maximum of two times in consecutive years.

Appearance in Class XII (or equivalent) examination:

A candidate should have appeared for the Class XII (or equivalent) examination for the first time in either 2017 or 2018.



Shortlisted candidates Category-wise:

# OBC-NCL: 27 per cent

# SC: 15 per cent

# ST: 7.5 per cent

# Open to all: 50.5 per cent

Also Read: RBI Assistant exam 2017: Last date to apply is Nov 10 at rbi.org.in
New Delhi :

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has seized demonetised currency worth Rs 36.3 crore and arrested 9 persons in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) terror funding case.



During the investigation, it had emerged that persons/entities linked to the separatists and terrorists were still in possession of a significant amount of demonetised currency which they could not deposit / convert during the period earmarked by the government.



Surveillance was mounted on such persons/entities. This led to unearthing of a conspiracy wherein a gang of such persons/ entities were making an attempt to convert this demonetised money into valid currency.



On November 6, the NIA team intercepted the gang members at Jai Singh Road near Connaught Place, New Delhi. They were carrying 28 cartons filled with demonetised currency notes of denomination Rs 500 and Rs 1000 in 4 luxury vehicles. A total of 7 persons were initially apprehended and brought to NIA HQ for further questioning.



The demonetised currency notes having face value equivalent to Rs 36,34,78,500 were duly seized and brought to the HQ. Three other associates of this gang were apprehended later in the evening and were brought for questioning to the NIA HQ.



After initial questioning the said 9 persons have been arrested in the J&K Terror Funding case and they will be produced in the Special NIA Court on Wednesday.



Names of persons arrested are Pradeep Chauhan; Bhagwan Singh; Vinod Shreedhar Shetty; Shahnawaz Mir; Deepak Toprani; Majid Yousuf Sofi; Ejajul Hassan; Umar Mushtaq Dar; and Jaswinder Singh.



The vehicles include BMW X3 (Blue), Creta SX (White), Ford EcoSport Titanium (Black), and BMW X1 (White).

Also read: NIA conducts raids at Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin's residence in Jammu and Kashmir



Also read: Was in regular touch with Hafiz Saeed, separatist leader Shabir Shah confesses to ED

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Crime has been on the rise all over the world for a long time, with one person losing his life every day as a victim of the same crime plot, a man has lost his life in a bomb attack targeting a minibus carrying medical personnel in the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday morning. A Kabul police official said this.

It is learned that Kabul Police Chief's spokesman Fardavas Farmarj said three medical personnel were injured in the incident and were admitted to the hospital by the police. Talking about this, he said that the bus was taking doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel from Kabul to Panjsher province. The attack took place in Kalakan in Kabul province.

According to reports, Farmarj said that at present no terrorist organization has taken responsibility for the attack and action is being taken in the case. The case comes at a time when the process of withdrawal of 2500 to 3500 US troops from Afghanistan was being carried out.

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Dubai: Taking Cognizance of the Covid19 situation and responding to the need of the hour, an Indian Diaspora at a UAE-based free zone company has set aside producing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders and shifted to manufacturing oxygen containers for India to help COVID-19 patients in the country.

Gulf News reported, Pushkar Khurana, Managing Director of the company EKC International FZE, said, "We are an Indian subsidiary and as soon as we came to know about the oxygen cylinder shortage in India, we had to rise to the call of our nation and serve the needs of our country." Khurana said that since March, they have been exporting these cylinders in multiple containers to Port Mundra in Gujarat on the western coast of India.

"We make the cylinders which are then filled with medical oxygen by Gulf-based industrial gas companies such as Emirates Industrial Gases Company (EIGC) and Gulf Cryo, and these are shipped to Port Mundra. Each container that is shipped contains about 350 cylinders of 50 litre capacity." In March and April, the company shipped about 6,000 oxygen cylinders and in May the number is likely to go up to 7,000.

"The lives of people suffering from COVID-19 are important. We look at this as a critical or emergency duty and will continue to produce oxygen cylinders for as long as India needs them. The Adani Group from Gujarat reached out to us and we immediately adapted the production to manufacturing oxygen cylinders which have a slightly different specification than CNG cylinders."

"Over 99.9 percent of the production is exported to Latin American countries, Mexico, USA, Egypt and some parts of South East Asia."

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When Gov. Larry Hogans state of emergency is lifted, both sides will come back to discuss the agreement again, the document states. If either side wants to modify the agreement, and they are unable to agree to terms, they will have to go before Howe to settle the dispute.
LOS ALAMOS, N.M., May 5, 2021-- A massive collaborative research project covered in the journal Nature this week offers projections to the year 2100 of future sea-level rise from all sources of land ice, offering the most complete projections created to date.

"This work synthesizes improvements over the last decade in climate models, ice sheet and glacier models, and estimates of future greenhouse gas emissions," said Stephen Price, one of the Los Alamos scientists on the project. "More than 85 researchers from various disciplines, including our team at Los Alamos National Laboratory, produced sea-level rise projections based on the most recent computer models developed within the scientific community and updated scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions," said Price.

The estimates show that limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial temperatures would cut projected 21st century sea-level rise from land ice in half, relative to currently pledged emissions reductions. For example, the paper notes that, when looking at all land ice sources, the median projection of cumulative rise in sea level by the year 2100 decreases from approximately 25 cm to approximately 13 cm when emissions are limited.

The term "land ice" includes mountain glaciers such as those in Alaska, Europe, high-mountain Asia, etc.; ice caps including those of Iceland and the Canadian Arctic; and ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica.

Continental Wild Card

Interestingly, Price points out, Antarctica continues to be the wild card. "Future changes to Antarctica remain highly uncertain," he said. "Because of this, our high-end estimates for sea-level rise from land ice are more than twice as large as the 'most likely' estimate." This is largely due to substantial uncertainty in how strongly warm ocean waters erode floating parts of the ice sheet from beneath.

Apart from that uncertainty, the bulk of the Antarctic sea-level rise projections do not show a strong sensitivity to different emissions scenarios, but a small number of projections result in an up to five-fold increase in sea-level contribution, Price said. Indeed, improving DOE's ability to accurately simulate Southern Hemisphere climate and Antarctic ice sheet evolution has been a focus of Los Alamos efforts for more than a decade.

The Los Alamos role:

Los Alamos and the U.S. Department of Energy contributed at many stages of the newly published work, including:

evaluation and selection of the most appropriate climate models to use for exploring future changes to the Antarctic region;

the development of experimental protocols and the best methods for using climate model output to drive ice sheet models;

conducting ice sheet model simulations to project the future sea-level rise contribution from the Antarctic Ice Sheet

Since 2013, Los Alamos has been the lead institution on the Cryosphere Science Campaign within DOE's Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) project, which focuses on improving projections of Antarctic ice sheet evolution and sea level rise. Likewise, since 2010, Los Alamos has been the lead DOE institution on three DOE Office of Science funded projects around the development of "next generation" ice sheet models including ISICLES (2010-2012), PISCEES (2012-2017), and ProSPect (2017-2022). Los Alamos also currently leads or contributes to a number of ongoing efforts towards performing similar "end-to-end" analyses (climate change through future sea-level rise impacts) within a consistent, coupled Earth system modeling framework.

For this paper, Los Alamos's simulations were done using a combination of the Grizzly and Badger supercomputers at the Lab, and NERSC (Cori-KNL) high-performance computing resources. Additional Los Alamos contributors to this work include Xylar Asay-Davis, Alice Barthel, Matthew Hoffman, and Tong Zhang.

###

The paper: "Projected land ice contributions to 21st century sea level rise" (in press), Nature. Full author list here, https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1038/ s41586-021-03302-y

The funding: Funding was provided by the DOE Office of Science, from the offices of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) and Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR).

About Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is managed by Triad, a public service oriented, national security science organization equally owned by its three founding members: Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle), the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS), and the Regents of the University of California (UC) for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.

Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.

LAUR: LA-UR-21-22260
Comment

Government needs a massive investment in FedRAMP

As the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program marks its 10th anniversary, its time to applaud FedRAMPs accomplishments  but also explore ways to scale its operations so the government can more quickly adopt innovative software solutions.

FedRAMP is the much-needed standardized security process for companies that deploy software via the cloud to prove they adhere to Federal Information Security Management Act standards for protecting government networks and data. When a cloud product has been FedRAMP-authorized, it has received the stamp of approval that gives government agencies confidence that the product is likely safe to operate on their networks.

To date, there is no known cybersecurity breach attributed to a FedRAMP-authorized cloud product. In fact, although we dont know all the details, if SolarWinds maintenance and patch server had been FedRAMP-authorized, the most recent cybersecurity crisis might have been detected earlier or avoided entirely.

FedRAMP is a great concept, but there are a few problems that cloud providers attempting to achieve an authorization will quickly point out. Most have to do with FedRAMPs inability to scale to meet demand.

This is not the fault of the FedRAMP Program Management Office; it has a negligible budget. But a decade after the programs debut, there are only about 200 FedRAMP-authorized products. The pace of authorizations has picked up in recent years, with about 50 products added annually, but this is just a drop in the ocean compared to the 15,000 commercial cloud products tracked by Gartner and the $300 billion-a-year cloud industry. Furthermore, it takes an average cloud company anywhere from a year to 18 months to complete an authorization.

Meanwhile, virtually all modern software deploys via the cloud distribution model. Its a simple, sad fact: Theres an enormous universe of cloud products currently ineligible to participate in the government market for lack of FedRAMP authorization.

A tall order for under-resourced agencies

Part of the FedRAMP bottleneck has to do with limited resources and the complex journey that cloud providers must take. There are only two paths to authorization, and both have limitations. The first path is for the FedRAMP Joint Authorization Board to sponsor an authorization, but that team has very limited capacity and can only push through about 12 a year. The other path is for an agency to sponsor a cloud product. But when an agency chooses to do so, it does most of the heavy FedRAMP lifting itself.

Most agencies dont have resources for shepherding a FedRAMP application and therefore will do so only in the rare circumstances when particular cloud services are essential to their missions. Remember, the current process can take a year or more, and FedRAMP is not a one-and-done proposition. Once a product receives an authorization, the agency sponsor must continue to monitor the product for lifetime compliance, which includes a continual flow of documentation and management. In other words, once an agency adopts a product to authorize, the relationship never ends. The sponsoring agency is a parent for life.

This is an obvious bridge too far for many agencies that are under-resourced even for their core missions; they simply have no budget for the lifetime cybersecurity management of a commercial software product. Yet, as we have seen from the ever-increasing threat of cyber intrusion from Russia, China and other malicious players, cybersecurity is appropriately the highest-order priority for the government.

At the same time, because of this security imperative and the governments limited ability to process FedRAMP authorizations, many innovative and deserving commercial cloud products are locked out of the government market. Ironically, some of them might be useful to further enhance security.

The benefits of a FedRAMP shared service

So what can be done? One possibility would be to redirect some of the $1 billion Technology Modernization Fund to scale up and resource a governmentwide shared-services operation for the purpose of relieving agencies of FedRAMP authorizations. This shared service could be housed at the General Services Administration along with the FedRAMP Program Management Office, at the Department of Homeland Security or at another agency that is well-equipped to deploy a shared-services model.

A well-positioned and well-resourced FedRAMP shared service would deliver consistency and help commercial cloud providers get through the process in a more streamlined manner. Additionally and importantly, a shared service would create an ongoing central point for monitoring the continued security status of FedRAMP-authorized providers.

Furthermore, the shared service could do operational research to continually improve the process, seek automated tools to reduce time frames and own the entire life cycle of cloud product authorizations. Agencies that wish to do their own FedRAMP sponsorship could continue, but a properly resourced and expanded FedRAMP shared service  dedicated to ensuring proper security with the goal of rapidly increasing the volume of authorizations  would be extremely valuable.

FedRAMP is a well-thought-out approach to cybersecurity, but given the IT modernization and security imperatives, it is time to scale up the program to meet the growth and demand of cloud products. By analogy, it was the correct bridge to build 10 years ago, but that infrastructure investment needs to be at least quintupled to meet the realities of the current software market.

Scaling and creating operational efficiencies for FedRAMP that lower the barriers to entry and facilitate more rapid adoption of safe and secure innovative technologies are goals that are well worth exploring. Expansion of FedRAMP into a full-scale shared service is a logical place to make a high-impact, high-return infrastructure investment. If the government is serious about modernization, it should focus on addressing the FedRAMP bottleneck.
Workforce

House Dems, unions pitch plan to reclassify TSA screeners

A push by Democrats and federal employee unions to reclassify Transportation Security Administration officers as Title 5 federal employees with access to full civil service benefits and protection is gathering steam on Capitol Hill, but faces opposition from Republicans.

Currently, the TSA administrator has broad powers over its personnel management system. Democrats have been pressing a bill to eliminate the current TSA specific system and convert screeners to Title 5 which would give them access to the Merit Systems Protection Board and whistleblower protections and put them on the general schedule salary plan. It would also expand their access to union representation.

Currently, TSA screeners have representation from the American Federation of Government Employees but their bargaining rights are limited.

Supporters of a bill to give screeners Title 5 status say the measure will help improve low morale among agency employees.

At a May 4 House hearing, Tom Warrick, a nonresident senior fellow and director of the Future of DHS Project at the Atlantic Council, said that employee morale was linked to transportation security outcomes.

Low morale "diminishes the effectiveness of the workforce, lowers employee retention rates and increases costs to hire and train new people," Warrick told lawmakers on the Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee. "These really do translate into security."

In 2019, TSA, was ranked 398 of 420 agencies in government analyzed by the Partnership for Public Service for its annual Best Places to Work rankings. The agency employs more than 50,000 people.

Dissatisfaction with pay, which starts between $16 and $20 per hour depending on location, is also a pressing issue.

"Pay is their number one issue. I listen to them every single day," AFGE National President Everett Kelley said at the hearing. "So many of them can barely make ends meet because of that."

TSA employees have also been on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. Sixteen TSA employees have passed away from complications from the virus and 7,863 frontline TSA workers have contracted the virus, according to data provided by the agency.

"Had we had a union present that was really talking about how we can make a safer workplace  I don't think we would've seen that many deaths," Kelly said.

Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), ranking member of the subcommittee, said TSA could use its existing powers to fix low morale and fund higher TSO salaries. The current personnel system, he said, "provides the flexibility TSA needs so that it can quickly and efficiently adjust his workforce management to respond to emergency threats or national emergencies."

Jeffrey Neal, a former federal chief human capital officer and a frequent commentator on federal workforce issues, said that while some aspects of the Title 5 reclassification could help TSA employees, moving into the general schedule for pay may have unintended consequences.

"There's also no guarantee that [transportation security Officers] are going to classified at any particular grade level," he said. "The General Schedule  was designed in 1949 for a workforce of a million clerks," he said. "I urge the subcommittee to actually take this opportunity to consider moving beyond the General Schedule."

At a May 5 appropriations hearing, acting agency head Darby LaJoye said that compensation was a key issue for employees.

About the Author Natalie Alms is a staff writer at FCW covering the federal workforce. She is a recent graduate of Wake Forest University and has written for the Salisbury (N.C.) Post. Connect with Natalie on Twitter at @AlmsNatalie.



"When we talk to the workforce, what we typically hear is the importance of pay," he said.
(Adds background, quotes, possible current value)

By Isla Binnie

MADRID, May 5 (Reuters) - Canadian pension fund Alberta Investment Management Corp (AIMCo) has begun a strategic review of Spanish renewable energy firm Eolia, which could lead to a possible sale, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

AIMCo has hired advisers to decide on strategic options for the business that operates around 860 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy generation capacity in Spain, the sources said on condition of anonymity because the matter is confidential.

AIMCo declined to comment.

The Edmonton-based pension fund, with roughly $119 billion of assets under management, bought Eolia in 2019 for around 1.4 billion euros ($1.7 billion) including debt and is considering capitalising on growing investor appetite for renewable energy assets in Southern Europe.

The price of any deal could now be nearly 2 billion euros, based on the valuation of 2 million euros per megawatt implied by the price AIMCo paid for the firm.

Since then, investor interest has increased in companies involved in generating carbon-free power from renewable sources, in many cases pushing market valuations far above their earnings.

"There's a bit of a gold rush going on in Spain," one of the sources said.

Under AIMCo's ownership, Eolia's portfolio has added almost 200MW of renewable energy generation capacity in Spain and has further projects of at least one gigawatt in wind and solar in its pipeline, one of the sources said.

A large chunk of Eolia's assets was built under previous Spanish regulations that still guarantee a fixed long-term rate for the power they generate.

AIMCo, which runs a portfolio of low-carbon infrastructure and renewable resources assets worth $3.7 billion, may not proceed with a transaction, and could instead end up arranging a financing deal, one of the sources said.

Fellow Canadian buyer Northland Power made its first foray into Spanish renewables last month, with a deal to buy regulated wind farms and solar parks. ($1 = 0.8326 euros) (Reporting by Isla Binnie, Additional reporting by Maiya Keidan in Toronto Editing by Pamela Barbaglia and Barbara Lewis)
(Adds details on Czech Republic)

WARSAW, May 5 (Reuters) - Poland has offered to buy Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines from Denmark, a government spokesman said on Wednesday, after Copenhagen excluded the shots from its vaccination programme over a potential link to blood clots.

Some central European countries including Poland are eager to speed up their vaccination programmes following procurement delays, in some cases adopting a less cautious attitude than countries such as Denmark.

On Monday Denmark became the first country to exclude J&J's vaccine. Last month it also stopped using AstraZeneca's vaccine, citing similar concerns.

Czech Deputy Prime Minister Jan Hamacek announced on Twitter in April he had instructed the Czech ambassador to Dennmark to seek to buy all that country's unwanted AstraZeneca supplies.

Polish authorities say the risks of delaying the vaccination programme outweigh any risks associated with the shots.

"Poland expressed such a willingness (to buy up the J&J shots)... The prime minister sent a letter to the prime minister of Denmark on the subject of these vaccines allowed for use on the European market," spokesman Piotr Muller told Reuters by telephone, confirming a report from Polsat News.

Muller added that Poland was ready to buy any vaccines authorised for use in the European Union, including AstraZeneca.

Earlier, Polsat had quoted Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki as saying in his letter to his Danish counterpart: "If Denmark decides to resell some of its stocks (of J&J shots), Poland is ready to buy these vaccines."

The office of Denmark's Prime Minister was not immediately able to comment on the matter.

Europe's drug regulator said on April 20 it had found a possible link between J&J's vaccine and rare blood clotting issues in adults who received doses in the United States. But it backed the vaccine's overall benefits against any risks.

Poland, the largest country in the European Union's eastern wing, has so far fully vaccinated over 3.1 million people out of a population of around 38 million. (Reporting by Alan Charlish and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw, Nikolaj Skydsgaard in Copenhagen, Michael Kahn in Prague, editing by Gareth Jones, William Maclean)
TORONTO, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - During a year which has been challenging for both the death care industry and the families they serve, Arbor Memorial's continued commitment to compassion, integrity and excellence has been recognized with a Gold Standard designation by Deloitte for its Best Managed Companies award for the fourth straight year.

Arbor Memorial (CNW Group/Arbor Memorial Inc.)

Canada's Best Managed Companies is the country's leading business awards program, recognizing entrepreneurial companies for the calibre of their management abilities and practices.

"COVID-19 has required us to reinvent ways in which families can remember, honour and celebrate their loved ones. Being accorded a Gold Standard by Deloitte as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies speaks to our employees' teamwork, perseverance and hard work during these unprecedented times," said David Scanlan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at Arbor Memorial. "In addition, it's a testament to the families who we are honoured to serve across Canada."

The Gold Standard demonstrates that the wellbeing, development and growth of the Arbor Memorial team is the company's top priority. "By placing our people first, our employees can support families through one of life's most difficult times," said Scanlan.

"The past year has posed numerous challenges for Canadian businesses and has touched each and every one in some form or anotherincluding this year's Best Managed winners," said Peter Brown, Partner, Deloitte Private and Co-Leader, Canada's Best Managed Companies program. "They should be extremely proud of this designation and use it as a catalyst to continue the work they do each and every day. Their unwavering commitment to their people, and their adaptability amid a year of turmoil, has led them to this achievement and it mustn't go unnoticed."

With over 2,500 dedicated and highly-trained staff, Arbor has solidified itself as a standard-bearer in the industry. The family-owned company is committed to the families it serves by pursuing innovation and operational excellence, and recruiting, developing and retaining the best employees.

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About Arbor Memorial Inc.

Arbor Memorial is a trusted family-owned Canadian company with deep roots in diverse communities across the country. Established in 1947, Arbor has over 130 locations, and 24 of our cemeteries have full-service funeral homes on premises, offering complete service to our families. With over 2,500 dedicated and highly-trained staff, Arbor has solidified itself as a standard-bearer in the industry, with a long history of excellence and strategic growth. It is our privilege to provide expert guidance and customized services that help families honour, respect and celebrate loved ones. For further information, please visit www.arbormemorial.com.

About Canada's Best Managed Companies

Canada's Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $25 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada's Best Managed Companies new winner (one of the new winners selected each year); 2) Canada's Best Managed Companies winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4-6 consecutive years); 4) Platinum Club member (winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are Deloitte Private, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business, and TMX Group. For more information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

SOURCE Arbor Memorial Inc.

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Picture 1

In September 2020 the Company filed a provisional patent in the United States for the refinement technique which makes its Beyond Tobacco base material taste and smell similarly to actual tobacco. As of this week, the application has been advanced to nonprovisional status, and is currently pending assignment to a patent examiner.

In September 2020 the Company filed a provisional patent in the United States for the refinement technique which makes its Beyond Tobacco base material taste and smell similarly to actual tobacco. As of this week, the application has been advanced to nonprovisional status, and is currently pending assignment to a patent examiner.

LAS VEGAS and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TAAT GLOBAL ALTERNATIVES INC. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQX: TOBAF) (FRANKFURT: 2TP2) (the Company or TAAT) is pleased to announce that its patent filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the technique which causes Beyond Tobacco to taste and smell similarly to tobacco has been advanced to nonprovisional status, with the assignment of a patent examiner currently pending. In a press release dated September 4, 2020 , the Company announced that it had filed for patent protection of this refinement technique, which characterizes both TAAT and its Beyond Tobacco base material. TAAT was launched at retail in Ohio in Q4 2020, and was made available to the majority of smokers aged 21+ in the United States through e-commerce in February 2021. Sentiments from users of TAAT have largely reflected satisfaction with the products experiential similarity to that of smoking a tobacco cigarette, despite no tobacco or nicotine content whatsoever in TAAT.



As the Company continues its efforts to build market share in the USD $814 billion global tobacco industry, patents can play an important role in its ability to establish a market position and preserve the competitive advantages that can be had from patent protection. Incumbent firms in the tobacco industry are among the worlds top patent filers, with Philip Morris International and Japan Tobacco International having been listed in the 100 Top Patent Filers by the European Patent Office in 2016 and 2019, respectively1, 2.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/05c45f86-9878-4e8f-b7ae-596103ddb404

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Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access SEDAR or the Investor Relations section of the Companys website for a version of this press release containing all published media.

With the Companys patent filing having advanced to nonprovisional status, an examiner will be assigned to review the Companys claims and potentially grant a United States patent based on their findings. A provisional patent application is initially filed to establish a U.S. filing date for an invention, and must be followed by a nonprovisional application within 12 months in order to proceed to formal review. After a patent is granted, the holder generally benefits from its protection for a period of 20 years from the provisional filing date.

The Companys nonprovisional patent application filed this week has revised the initial claims to seek an enhanced scope of protection in the tobacco industry at the advice of its patent attorney Edmond DeFrank (announced in a press release dated January 15, 2021 ), who has written and prosecuted more than 1,000 patent and trademark applications for clients to include Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and NASA. These changes to the claims include details regarding the flavour elements of Beyond Tobacco as well as an expanded range of materials which can potentially be used for this purpose.

TAAT Chief Executive Officer Setti Coscarella commented, The intellectual property protection afforded by a patent on the Beyond Tobacco base material of TAAT could improve our competitive position in the tobacco industry. Aside from the fact that it would be more difficult for competitors to imitate our product, it would be more practical for us to manufacture Beyond Tobacco using third-party producers instead of producing only in-house, which we currently do because the process is a trade secret. We are pleased to have advanced this process in line with standard timeframes for U.S. patent applications, and we look forward to undertaking the steps to finalize this patent which we believe can strengthen TAAT as a competitive product and a uniquely better choice for smokers aged 21+.

Sources

1 - https://www.pmi.com/media-center/press-releases/press-release-details/?newsId=12091

2 - https://www.jti.com/sites/default/files/default/files/press-releases/documents/2020/jti-ranks-among-top-100-for-european-patent-applications.pdf

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

TAAT GLOBAL ALTERNATIVES INC.

Setti Coscarella

Setti Coscarella, CEO and Director

For further information, please contact:

TAAT Investor Relations

1-833-TAAT-USA (1-833-822-8872)

investor@taatusa.com

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (CSE) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE, NOR HAS OR DOES THE CSES REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER.

About TAAT Global Alternatives Inc.

The Company has developed TAAT, which is a tobacco-free and nicotine-free alternative to traditional cigarettes offered in "Original", "Smooth", and "Menthol" varieties. TAAT's base material is Beyond Tobacco, a proprietary blend which undergoes a patent-pending refinement technique causing its scent and taste to resemble tobacco. Under executive leadership with "Big Tobacco" pedigree, TAAT was launched first in the United States in Q4 2020 as the Company seeks to position itself in the $814 billion1 global tobacco industry.

For more information, please visit http://taatglobal.com .

References

1 British American Tobacco - The Global Market

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the anticipated performance of TAAT in the tobacco industry, in addition to the following: Potential outcomes from the Companys recent nonprovisional patent filing in the United States. The forward-looking information reflects managements current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) changes to the growth and size of the tobacco markets; and (iii) other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Companys management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

The statements in this news release have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As each individual is different, the benefits, if any, of taking the Companys products will vary from person to person. No claims or guarantees can be made as to the effects of the Companys products on an individuals health and well-being. The Companys products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This news release may contain trademarked names of third-party entities (or their respective offerings with trademarked names) typically in reference to (i) relationships had by the Company with such third-party entities as referred to in this release and/or (ii) client/vendor/service provider parties whose relationship with the Company is/are referred to in this release. All rights to such trademarks are reserved by their respective owners or licensees.

Statement Regarding Third-Party Investor Relations Firms

Disclosures relating to investor relations firms retained by TAAT Global Alternatives Inc. can be found under the Company's profile on http://sedar.com .








BOULDER, Colo., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ArthroCBD is an innovative hemp brand created to provide a solution to those seeking symptomatic relief. The new product is backed by unmatched scientific clinical data published in a peer reviewed journal.

ArthroCBD is a softgel capsule with 25 mg of CBD and 6 mg of Beta caryophyllene, and is formulated using VESIsorb, which provides dramatically improved 4.4x absorption versus competitive oral CBD products on the market. These absorption levels result in rapid onset of action and long-lasting relief. ArthroCBD also has all traces of THC removed to avoid the problematic adverse effect people can get from many other hemp-based products.

The softgel capsules are available in 45 count and 90 count for $129.99 and $179.99 respectively with a limited 15 count introductory trial size for $39.99 exclusively on arthrocbd.com.

"We are excited to launch our clinically tested ArthroCBD softgel capsules for those seeking relief from physical strain every day," said Umar Syed, President, Medical Products. "Physicians, pharmacists, and other health care practitioners all want the same thing  to provide the best treatment for patients with the least side effects. ArthroCBD now provides that option for a highly effective hemp-based CBD product."

Opticann market research shows that patients seek new treatment methods with fewer side effects than traditional pharmaceutical treatments -- 80% of pain patients are interested in learning more about CBD as a treatment but on average only 15% have tried any CBD products. Much of the problem with other CBD products is the lack of effect due to poor absorption as only 8-10% of product is absorbed. The patented VESIsorb technology increases this absorption by 4.4X in clinical studies, resulting in higher levels for better effect without any of the unwanted side effects associated with THC.

Carefully formulated CBD with pharmaceutical technology, high quality tested ingredients, and clinical testing to prove product performance is a logical step in the evolution of hemp-based CBD products. Our focus at Opticann is to finally provide patients and the medical and healthcare communities with products based on credible data that they can trust to work well and safely.

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With more than three decades of experience in pharmaceutical medicine and OTC consumer marketing, Opticann's team is bringing products to market to help many segments of the population suffering from chronic ailments. Opticann's US products use VESIsorb, a proven technology that helps boost the performance of pharmaceutical and wellness products. VESIsorb dramatically improves the stability, reliable high absorption, rapid onset of action of products. VESIsorb is backed by a robust body of supporting scientific evidence spanning several decades.

The ArthroCBD launch marks the first of a pipeline of over 7 new medicinal hemp-based CBD product offerings planned by Opticann.

About ArthroCBD

ArthroCBD is a subsidiary of Opticann Inc., a Colorado-based oral and topical cannabinoid company. Opticann sells science-backed products made with the patented VESIsorb drug delivery system for optimized absorption and stability (bioavailability). Opticann is owned by Heritage Cannabis Holdings Corp., a Toronto-based publicly traded corporation (CSE: CANN) (OTCQX: HERTF). Opticann represents the firm's US medicinal approach to meet consumer needs.

For more information, please visit arthrocbd.com

CONTACT: Alexis Woody

publicrelations@arthrocbd.com

201-241-2668

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SOURCE OptiCann
Pharmaceutical industry veteran Joe Jimenez appointed Board Chair

Cynthia Butitta joins as Independent Director

PHILADELPHIA, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Century Therapeutics, a leading cell therapy company developing induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell therapies in immuno-oncology, today announced the appointment of Joe Jimenez as Board Chair and Cynthia Butitta as a new Independent Director.

Century Therapeutics Logo (PRNewsfoto/Century Therapeutics)

As former CEO of Novartis and current Co-Founder and Managing Partner of biotech venture firm Aditum Bio, Mr. Jimenez has extensive expertise in the biopharma industry driving innovation and leading companies at varying stages of development. Ms. Butitta is a veteran biotech executive specializing in corporate finance and strategic operations, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Kite Pharma.

"Joe Jimenez and Cindy Butitta bring decades of leadership and proven records of success in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries to the Century board," said Lalo Flores, Chief Executive Officer of Century Therapeutics. "Their expertise will be invaluable as we continue to grow Century into a premier cell therapy company that dramatically and positively transforms the lives of patients suffering from life-threatening cancers."

"During my time on Century's Board of Directors, I have been impressed by the company's strategic, vertically-integrated approach to overcoming many of the challenges associated with existing allogeneic cell therapies," said Mr. Jimenez. "The team's deep expertise in cell therapy and drug development, manufacturing, and commercialization uniquely positions them to lead the next phase of cell therapy and I am pleased to continue to support the company in my new role as board chair."

Mr. Jimenez joined Century's Board of Directors in 2020. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Novartis. Under his leadership, Novartis won FDA approval for use of their CAR T cell therapy, Kymriah, to treat B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and developed one of the largest pipelines of self-originated drugs in the biopharma industry. Mr. Jimenez's strong commitment to R&D resulted in transformation of the company's portfolio to focus on innovative and patent-protected medicines. Mr. Jimenez is also a member of the Board of Directors of General Motors Company, The Procter & Gamble Company, and Graphite Bio. Mr. Jimenez earned his B.S. in economics from Stanford University and his M.B.A. in marketing from the University of California, Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

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Ms. Butitta brings more than 25 years of experience informing corporate strategy and business development in the biotechnology and high technology sectors to the Century Board of Directors. Most recently, she served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Kite Pharma where she was responsible for securing over $1 billion in capital and contributed to the extensive growth of the organization. Ms. Butitta was also critical in facilitating the company's acquisition by Gilead Sciences for approximately $11.9 billion in 2017. Prior to Kite Pharma, Ms. Butitta was the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of NextWave Pharmaceuticals until its acquisition by Pfizer in 2012. She has also held executive leadership roles at Telik, Inc., Connetics Corporation, and InSite Vision Inc. Ms. Butitta is currently an Independent Director at Olema Oncology, Autolus Ltd., and UroGen Pharma. She holds a B.S. in business and accounting from Edgewood College and received her M.B.A. in finance from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

"Century's proprietary iPSC based allogeneic cell platform technology offers the potential to treat a broad range of cancers by exploiting the distinct biologies of both NK and T cells," said Ms. Butitta. "I'm honored to join the Board of such a forward-thinking company during this critical period of growth and look forward to working with my fellow board members to help progress the company's pipeline of revolutionary cell therapies through the clinic to patients in need."

About Century Therapeutics

Century Therapeutics is harnessing the power of adult stem cells to develop curative cell therapy products for cancer that overcome the limitations of first-generation cell therapies. Our genetically engineered, iPSC-derived iNK and iT cell products are designed to specifically target hematologic and solid tumor cancers. Our commitment to developing off-the-shelf cell therapies will expand patient access and provides an unparalleled opportunity to advance the course of cancer care. For more information, please visit www.centurytx.com.

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SOURCE Century Therapeutics
FILE PHOTO: The Huawei logo is seen at the IFA consumer technology fair, in Berlin

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - China said on Wednesday it was concerned that India had not allowed Chinese companies to conduct 5G trials in the country.

India will allow foreign mobile carriers to carry out 5G trials with equipment makers, New Delhi said on Tuesday, but did not name China's Huawei among the participants.

"Chinese companies have been operating in India for years, providing mass job opportunities and making contribution to India's infrastructure construction in telecommunications," Wang Xiaojian, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in New Delhi said in a statement.

"To exclude Chinese telecommunications companies from the trials will not only harm their legitimate rights and interests, but also hinder the improvement of the Indian business environment."

(Reporting by Sanjeev Miglani; Writing by Alasdair Pal. Editing by Jane Merriman)
The battle over her leadership position has become a symbolic moment for a GOP trying to define itself in the aftermath of Trumps presidency. Trump still has an enormous  perhaps a decisive  hold on the party, but that is forcing its members to decide whether to back his false claims about the election and downplay his role in deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, or hold him accountable for them.
Nominate an Inspirational Senior Between ages 60 and 69 To Be Featured on the Syracuse 60 Strong Calendar!

SYRACUSE, N.Y., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- You, or someone you know, could be featured as a "pin up" in the 2022 Syracuse 60 Strong calendar, an exclusive calendar showcasing inspirational "60 somethings" and highlighting Syracuse events and activities. In addition to appearing in the calendar, winners receive "celebrity treatment" with a professional photo shoot and compensation for their modeling time.

Enter the Syracuse 60 Strong Calendar Contest: Celebrate Life After 60!

Anyone age 18 or older can nominate a friend or family member -- age 60 to 69 -- who has achieved remarkable levels of fitness, pursued a new hobby or given back to others in some way. Perhaps the candidate is fighting a chronic condition or caring for someone who is.

Here's how it works:

Log on to www.Syracuse60strong.com and submit an application form, 200-400-word essay, head shot and full-length photo by Monday, July 26.

Those who nominate winning candidates receive a $50 gift certificate.

Syracuse 60 Strong candidates must be between the ages of 60 and 69 on Sept. 1, 2021, and a resident of Onondaga, Cayuga, or Cortland counties.

Celebrity judges will select 12 winners who exemplify how life after sixty can be a vibrant and active time. Contestants are judged on their commitment to leading an active lifestyle, community involvement, volunteerism and how they are inspirational to others.

Winners must be available Wednesday, August 18, through Saturday, August 21, 2021. Questions? Email us at Syracuse60Strong@SaltCitySCA.com. All proceeds from the calendar will benefit Alzheimer's Association, Central New York Chapter.

About Salt City Senior Care Advantage IPA

FamilyCare Medical Group is proud to announce the Syracuse 60 Strong contest in conjunction with the launch of Salt City Senior Care Advantage IPA, a program designed to provide seamless and greater coordination of care for their senior patients.

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SOURCE Syracuse 60 Strong
WINNIPEG, MB, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - Great-West Lifeco, IGM Financial and Power Corporation of Canada announced a more than $250,000 joint contribution to support crisis relief efforts in India for those affected by a devastating COVID-19 outbreak in the South Asian country. This donation includes $50,000 from each Canada Life, IGM Financial and Power Corporation of Canada to the Canadian Red Cross and also includes $100,000 to the Red Cross from Empower Retirement, a U.S. subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco.

Great-West Lifeco Inc., IGM Financial Inc., Power Corporation of Canada Logos (CNW Group/Great-West Lifeco Inc.)

India is experiencing nearly 20 million COVID-19 cases and the world's highest daily infection rate. The companies' donations will be directed to the Indian Red Cross Society to provide a range of critical supports during this time.

"From the outset of the pandemic, each of our companies have been committed to helping those in most need," said Jeff Macoun, President and Chief Operating Officer, Canada Life. "The situation in India is dire and requires support from around the globe. That's why with this joint donation to the Canadian Red Cross, our support gets immediately directed to the front lines of pandemic support in India."

"We want to support India through this challenging time and provide assistance to the country's first responders as they manage the crisis," said James O'Sullivan, President and Chief Executive Officer, IGM Financial Inc. "Given that so many among our IGM family and within the communities we serve have ties to India, we're pleased to be including a corporate matching offering as part of this initiative."

The Red Cross' support includes providing residents with COVID-19 prevention information in multiple local languages, distributing hygiene items, and supporting epidemic and infection control activities in communities across the country. Further public health support includes ambulance and transport services for patients, logistics support to quarantine and isolation centres, psychosocial support services, as well as the maintenance of 89 blood transfusion centres.

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Great-West Lifeco Inc.

Great-West Lifeco is an international financial services holding company with interests in life insurance, health insurance, retirement and investment services, asset management and reinsurance businesses. We operate in Canada, the United States and Europe under the brands Canada Life, Empower Retirement, Putnam Investments, and Irish Life. At the end of 2020, our companies had approximately 24,500 employees, 205,000 advisor relationships, and thousands of distribution partners  all serving our more than 30 million customer relationships across these regions.

Great-West Lifeco and its companies have approximately $2.0 trillion in consolidated assets under administration as at December 31, 2020 and are members of the Power Corporation group of companies. Great-West Lifeco trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the ticker symbol GWO. To learn more, visit greatwestlifeco.com.

About IGM Financial

IGM Financial Inc. is one of Canada's leading diversified wealth and asset management companies with approximately $248 billion in total assets under management and advisement. The company provides a broad range of financial planning and investment management services to help more than two million Canadians meet their financial goals. Its activities are carried out principally through IG Wealth Management, Mackenzie Investments and Investment Planning Counsel. IGM Financial is a member of the Power Corporation group of companies.

About Power Corporation

Power Corporation is an international management and holding company that focuses on financial services in North America, Europe and Asia. Its core holdings are leading insurance, retirement, wealth management and investment businesses, including a portfolio of alternative asset investment platforms. To learn more, visit www.powercorporation.com.

SOURCE Great-West Lifeco Inc.

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ArthroCBD is a line of scientifically proven softgel capsules formulated using the patented VESIsorb technology

Heritage Cannabis Holdings Corp. (CSE: CANN) (OTCQX: HERTF) ("Heritage" or the "Company"), today announced the launch of ArthroCBD, an innovative hemp brand created to provide a solution to those seeking symptomatic relief. The new product, available for purchase on arthrocbd.com, is backed by unmatched scientific clinical data published in a peer reviewed journal.

ArthroCBD is a softgel capsule with 25 mg of CBD and 6 mg of Beta caryophyllene, and is formulated using VESIsorb, which provides dramatically improved absorption versus competitive oral CBD products on the market. These absorption levels result in rapid onset of action and long lasting relief. ArthroCBD also has all traces of THC removed to avoid the problematic adverse effects people can get from many other hemp based products.

"We are excited to launch our clinically tested ArthroCBD softgel capsules for those seeking daily relief from physical strain. Physicians, pharmacists, and other health care practitioners all want the same thing  to provide the best treatment for patients with the least side effects. ArthroCBD now provides that option with a highly effective hemp based CBD product," said Umar Syed, President, Medical Products. "Carefully formulated CBD with pharmaceutical technology, high quality tested ingredients, and clinical testing to prove product performance is a logical step in the evolution of hemp based CBD products. Our focus is to finally provide patients and the medical and healthcare communities with products based on credible data that they can trust to work well and safely."

With more than three decades of experience in pharmaceutical medicine and OTC consumer marketing, Heritages team is bringing products to market to help many segments of the population suffering from chronic ailments. The Companys U.S. products use VESIsorb, a proven technology that helps boost the performance of pharmaceutical and wellness products. VESIsorb dramatically improves the stability, reliable high absorption, rapid onset of action of products and is backed by a robust body of supporting scientific evidence spanning several decades.

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The ArthroCBD launch marks the first of a pipeline of over 7 new medicinal hemp based CBD product offerings planned by Heritage.

About Heritage Cannabis Holdings Corp.

Heritage is a leading cannabis products company operating two licensed manufacturing facilities in Canada and offering innovative products to both the medical and recreational legal cannabis markets in Canada and US. The company has an extensive portfolio of high quality cannabis products under the brands Purefarma, Pura Vida, RAD, Premium 5, feelgood. and ArthroCBD.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF HERITAGE CANNABIS HOLDINGS CORP.

"Clint Sharples"

Clint Sharples

CEO

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005314/en/

Contacts

Kelly Castledine

Tel: 647-660-2560

kcastledine@heritagecann.com
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) has decided to water down its proposal to drastically raise the profit qualification for a Main Board listing in the world's third-largest stock market, yielding to strong opposition to the plan, according to a source close to the exchange.

Companies seeking to raise funds on the HKEX's Main Board must have earned at least HK$80 million (US$10.3 million) in combined profits in the three years prior to the listing, compared to the current requirement of HK$50 million, the source said. The HKEX will announce the change after approvals by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the source said, declining to be named.

Over a two-month public consultation period that ended in early February, the bourse operator received overwhelming opposition from stockbrokers, accountants, investment bankers and legislators to its plan to more than double the qualifying threshold to HK$125 million, the source said.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

The about-turn by the exchange underscores how the HKEX - itself a publicly traded company with the world's biggest market valuation - must balance its pursuit of a robust pipeline in initial public offerings (IPOs) with an acceptable minimum standard and quality on the exchange. Listings on the bourse, the world's largest market for IPOs in seven of the past 12 years, soared ninefold to HK$136.6 billion in the first quarter as 32 companies including Baidu and Bilibili raised funds in secondary listings to hedge their finances from US legislation.

The coronavirus pandemic, which has dented corporate earnings across the board and saddled Hong Kong with its worst recession on record, was also a major consideration for the HKEX to pare back its plan, the source said. The exchange will also allow companies to apply for waivers from the profit requirement on merit, the source said.

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In addition, a reboot of the GEM market for growth enterprises is also under way to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) raise capital on the so-called second board of the exchange, the source said. A spokesman at the HKEX declined to comment, saying only that the consultation conclusion will be announced in due course.

The HKEX gave two options for a minium profit requirement in its original proposal, its first amendment since the threshold was created in 1994. The first option would raise the three-year profit bar to HK$125 million, while the second would have at least HK$150 million in the three years leading up to the listing.

One of the busiest days of 2019, when the shares of six companies made their trading debuts on the HKEX. Photo: Nora Tam alt=One of the busiest days of 2019, when the shares of six companies made their trading debuts on the HKEX. Photo: Nora Tam

These new financial thresholds would have vaulted Hong Kong pass London and New York to become the world's most stringent, and excluded all but the most profitable companies from ever raising capital. Theoretically, 62 per cent of the 745 companies that listed on Hong Kong's Main Board between 2016 and 2019 would not have made the cut if the HKEX's most draconian threshold had been in place, according to an estimate in the HKEX consultation paper.

"It seems the HKEX only wants to attract mainland [Chinese] technology giants to list here, and is no longer serving the fundraising needs of Hong Kong companies any more," said the legislator Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee during a March meeting in the Legislative Council meeting.

Still, the HKEX has been fighting a rearguard battle to instil financial discipline and deter so-called shell companies from listing, through inflating their profitability. The exchange was particularly anxious to stop giving shell companies the "perceived premium attached to the listing status," according to its original plan.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2021 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2021. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Cal Everett Announced as Advisor to the Board

Figure 1

Winora property location map.

Winora property location map.

Figure 2

Plan map of the Lingman Lake gold zone structures (also see Figure 3) projected onto the Ontario Department of Mines Geological Map M2511, showing the distance from their eastern-most location relative to the western Winora claim boundary.

Plan map of the Lingman Lake gold zone structures (also see Figure 3) projected onto the Ontario Department of Mines Geological Map M2511, showing the distance from their eastern-most location relative to the western Winora claim boundary.

Figure 3

Simplified Vertical Cross Section (section 12400E, looking west) of the 3 main gold-bearing structures (purple) and showing the relationship to the intrusive Quartz Feldspar Porphyry (orange). Source: Signature Resources  NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Lingman Lake Gold Property dated January 31, 2020.

Simplified Vertical Cross Section (section 12400E, looking west) of the 3 main gold-bearing structures (purple) and showing the relationship to the intrusive Quartz Feldspar Porphyry (orange). Source: Signature Resources  NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Lingman Lake Gold Property dated January 31, 2020.

Figure 4

3D model of Lingman Lake Gold Zone - oblique view looking north-northeast (adapted from Signature Resources).

3D model of Lingman Lake Gold Zone - oblique view looking north-northeast (adapted from Signature Resources).

CALGARY, Alberta, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huntington Exploration Inc. (TSX.V  HEI) (the Company or Huntington announces that it has entered into a letter of intent to purchase 100% of 17 patented mining claims located in the District of Kenora, Northern Ontario. The Winora property is located 500 m east of the historical Lingman Lake Gold Mine, developed in the late 1940s that, for a variety of reasons never reached commercial production.



Huntington will issue 4.0 million shares and a 2% NSR to the vendor for 100% ownership of the property subject to the approval of the TSX-Venture Exchange. The transaction is subject to multiple conditions, including approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, preparation of a definitive agreement, and closing conditions customary for transactions of this nature.

About the Winora Property

The 17 patented mining claims (both surface and mineral rights) shown on Figure 1 comprising the Winora property covering an area of 353.5 ha were originally staked in 1945 by Winora Gold Mines. The property is located 325 km north of Red Lake, Ontario. Access roads and power lines are currently under construction into the area.

There is no documented history of recent exploration on the Winora property over the past 50+ years.

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The Lingman Lake gold deposit is located on the adjacent property (to the west) currently held by Signature Resources (Signature Resources Ltd.).

Historic Background of the Lingman Lake Gold Deposit

Three historical reports of estimated resource studies for the Lingman Lake Gold deposit are reported in the public domain. Although none are compliant with National Instrument 43-101, they do confirm significant exploration potential. In a November 1948 Report to the shareholders of Lingman Lake Gold Mines the dimensions and grade of the mineralized structures east of an N-S dividing diabase dike were reported as follows:

Zone Length (m) Width (m) Grade (g/tonne) North 427 1.77 35.9 Central 488 1.33 6.62 South 488 2.16 10.29  Based on underground sampling

A 1989 resource estimate based on historic drilling and underground sampling resulted in an inventory of 1.06 million tonnes grading 6.8 g/t Au at a cut-off grade of 2.73 g/T Au over a minimum 1.5 m width to a depth of 180 m (the lowest development level is 122 m). This estimate is not compliant with NI 43-101 requirements and is offered as historic reference only.



Compilation of historic drill hole data and geological modeling present in the public domain, indicates that the North, Central and South mineralized structures of the Lingman Lake gold deposit, are all open on strike to the east, beyond the existing underground development, as shown by the following drill hole results.

Drill Hole Num. Grade in g/ tonne Intercept in meters 86-23 6.01 12.5 87-16 5.17 11.27 88-39 5.56 9.87 88.14 7.59 5.54

Data reported in Signature Resources  NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Lingman Lake Gold Property dated January 31, 2020.



More recent drilling by Signature Resources confirms the presence of the historical grades in the three gold bearing zones east of the diabase dike cross cutting the mineralization in the mine, as follows:

Zone Drill Hole Num. Grade in g/ tonne Intercept in meters North 18-03 6.84 4 North 18-05 17.87 8 Central A 18-09 6.55 9 Central B 18-09 4.21 4 South 18-09 12.2 3 South 18.1 8.56 14 Signature Presentation Spring 2021

Based on this public information, Huntington estimates that the eastern strike extension of the gold mineralization found and measured in the Lingman Lake underground development and shown in the more eastern drilling of the Lingman Lake gold deposit are located approximately 500 m to the west of the Winora property.

The Winora property is surrounded by mining claims held by Signature Resources (TSX-V SUG) who have been exploring the adjoining claims to the Winora property since 2013 and are currently completing a 10,000 m drilling program (Signature News release April 9, 2021).

Bryan Wilson, President and CEO stated, We are excited to acquire the Winora property, located next to and expected to host the extension of the Lingman Lake gold mineralization, a significant, partially developed gold resource in Northwest Ontario. The high-grade Lingman Lake orogenic gold mineralization is hosted in multiple quartz veins following the contacts of a series of east-west trending quartz feldspar porphyry dykes which are all open to the east and at depth. The western Winora property boundary is projected to be approximately 500 m from the easternmost indications of the Lingman Gold Mine mineralization found in the North, Central, and South Zones as illustrated in the accompanying graphics. This favorable geology does not stop at the property boundary.



Huntington announces Cal Everett as Advisor to the Company

Huntington Explorations is also pleased to announce that Mr. Cal Everett, will be advising the company on matters relating to corporate development.

Mr. Everett is a geologist with more than 14 years of surface and underground exploration experience with senior mining companies. He moved to the financial sector in 1990, and spent 12 years with BMO Nesbitt Burns focused on resource equities, and seven years with PI Financial Corp. in senior resource institutional sales and capital markets. From 2008 to 2015, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Axemen Resources Capital. Mr. Everett holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economic Geology from the University of New Brunswick.

Current positions held are President and CEO of Liberty Gold Corp. and an advisor to New Found Gold.

ABOUT HUNTINGTON

Huntington is dedicated to the application of good geoscience in an environmentally responsible manner. We practice the policies and procedures of the E3 Program developed by the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. We are planning our 2021 exploration program on our Quartz Lake Project.

ABOUT THE QUARTZ LAKE PROJECT (Red Lake Gold District, Ontario)

Huntingtons Quartz Lake Project claims previously referred to as the Birch-Uchi Project, cover 11,280 hectares in 6 separate claim blocks in the Birch-Uchi region east of Red Lake. Field work will commence with a detailed gold in till and geochemical sampling program following on the recent successful application of the Geological Survey of Canada and Teck protocol, by Prosper Gold on their contiguous Golden Sidewalk Project property.

The Prosper exploration work has successfully demonstrated the potential of the Red Lake  Dixie exploration model to be applicable in this area. Regionally, gold mineralization has been found follow a formational magnetic signature that parallels the regional Balmer  Narrow Lake Assemblage (Confederation Group) unconformity. Prosper Gold has announced the recovery of a significant numbers of pristine (rough and angular) gold grains recovered from systematic till samples and are currently in the midst of a 10,000 m drill program.

The formational magnetic feature and the projected unconformity highlighted by Prosper trends onto Huntingtons Key-Hole Claims, where a till sampling program will commence as soon as field conditions permit.

Bruce Durham, P.Geo, a Qualified Person (QP) under NI-43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content in this release. All of the technical information in the release is historical in nature or originates from third party sources. While the QP has not been able to verify the veracity of the information disclosed, Mr. Durham is very familiar with the project area and the work completed on the Lingman Lake project in the mid 1980s when he managed the exploration programs on that property. The QP views the information as reliable and pertinent.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF HUNTINGTON EXPLORATION

Bryan Wilson

President & CEO

416-543-9945

huntington@helioscorp.ca



Note: Website development is ongoing with expected release in late Q2 2021.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans,  expects or does not expect, proposed, is expected, budgets, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding: the Proposed Acquisition and completion of the Proposed Acquisition. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects Huntingtons current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Huntington and on assumptions Huntington believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: TSXV acceptance of the Proposed Acquisition; satisfaction of the conditions to the completion of the Proposed Acquisition; market acceptance and approvals, including TSXV acceptance; and the anticipated closing date for the Proposed Acquisition. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Huntington to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations; competition; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation, affecting Huntington; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. A description of additional assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Huntingtons disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although Huntington has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Huntington as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. However, Huntington expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

Photo accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6257e493-b5a8-4484-a385-77a21e228d32

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1f7c3529-7d13-46be-a43f-fdd71b5c3d91

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5079b043-1f30-46e5-987b-30cc4befa74e

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/37740d59-8b1f-42f2-aa93-fe6d136f4ed5




LOS ANGELES, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alias Intelligence, a new Background Investigations firm, launched today with offices on the East and West Coasts. Founder and CEO Adam Rudman created Alias to provide thorough, accurate, and timely searches for financial and investment institutions, corporations, real estate entities, law firms, and companies onboarding new hires.

Rudman is an industry veteran of close to ten years and the former CEO of Vcheck Global, where he presided over much of its rapid growth. He will use his vast experience in the industry, which includes building relationships with many Fortune 500 companies, to lead Alias into the future. Adam's vision has Alias embracing cutting-edge technology to service its clients in the most efficient and comprehensive manner possible.

"There has never been as great of an opportunity to innovate as there is now. Alias is investing significant resources in the latest technological tools, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as human capital in order to make sure its clients receive the benefit of the very latest in technology without losing the personal touch. Consequently, at Alias, we are always on the lookout for the best available talent. We are looking for team members who want to help create something special," said Adam. We live in a digital world which has made it much easier to engage in deceptive and fraudulent behavior. The importance of accurate and speedy background checks has never been more critical.

Alias Intelligence will provide an extensive range of services to identify the potential risks associated with any business transaction, including bringing on new vendors and employees. These Services will include searches of criminal records, litigation, liens, judgments, UCC's, corporate affiliations, and a robust international capability, among others. Additionally, ensuring all clients have access to the most trustworthy and professional investigative services available on the market, Alias is focused on providing unparalleled customer service and thereby building long lasting relationships.

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With a clear vision, Alias is committed to creating an environment which will become the envy of the corporate world. "The culture of a company is the key to its success and establishing that culture starts with me. Treat people with respect and value their opinions, and only then will you have a chance for continued success," asserted Adam.

To help launch Alias, Rudman has recruited Steven Kaye, with more than twenty years of operational experience, as the firm's Chief Operating Officer. Having built a niche law firm and thereafter founded a consumer products startup, Creation by Design, which placed merchandise in over 7,000 stores nationally, Kaye then pivoted to an operation role and helped several companies grow north of $150 million in revenue. Kaye is "excited to hit the ground running to help Alias deliver a seamless experience across its full suite of services, with a focus on providing innovative solutions not currently found in the overall market."

For more information, or to find out how Alias Intelligence can help your company, contact CEO Adam Rudman, adam@aliasintelligence.com.

For interest in joining our team, please contact Steven Kaye, steven@aliasintelligence.com.

For information on services and to contact us, please go to https://aliasintelligence.com/

Cision

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SOURCE Alias Intelligence LLC
BOSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Patrick J. Haraden has joined Lockton as President of its Boston operations. In his new role, Haraden will lead a team of property and casualty insurance and employee benefits experts who serve commercial clients nationally and globally.

Patrick J. Haraden

According to Tim Ryan, Chief Operating Officer of Lockton Northeast, "Adding Pat to our team is evidence of our commitment to growth in New England. He has built a reputation as a dynamic leader in the industry, and we have every confidence in his ability to propel us forward in this important market through strong relationships with our clients and community. As we welcome Pat to his new role, we also express our appreciation for Chip Manozzi, who previously held this position and was instrumental in helping Lockton gain a foothold in Boston. Chip is stepping back from his leadership role to focus solely on serving his clients."

Before he joined Lockton, Haraden served as Area President in New England and the Northeast Regional Director of Gallagher's public sector practice. He began his career as an underwriter for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. He parlayed that experience into senior consultant roles at Fidelity, Hewitt Associates, and Watson Wyatt Worldwide. He then became a partner at Longfellow Benefits, which was acquired by Gallagher in 2013.

"Solving business problems for my clients has always been my top priority," shared Haraden. "I'm excited to use that same problem-solving creativity, combined with my leadership skills, to drive growth for the region. That opportunity, along with the independent, entrepreneurial nature of the organization, drew me to Lockton."

Haraden earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting and management at Northeastern University and his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in taxation at Bentley College. He is a big believer in continuing to fine tune his skills, leading him to earn a wide variety of insurance and employee benefits professional designations, including CEBS, CPCU, GBA, RPA, CLU, ChFC, RHU, REBC, ARM, AIC and ASLI. Haraden is a licensed health and property and casualty insurance producer and advisor in Massachusetts. He also holds insurance producer and consultant licenses in several other states, is a frequent author on risk management topics, and is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences.

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Lockton: Uncommonly Independent (PRNewsfoto/Lockton)

Cision

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SOURCE Lockton Companies
Middlefield Canadian Income PCC Net Asset Value

Middlefield Canadian Income PCC

Middlefield Canadian Income - GBP PC

(a protected cell company incorporated in Jersey with registration number 93546)

Legal Entity Identifier: 2138007ENW3JEJXC8658

Net Asset Value

As at the close of business on 04 May 2021 the estimated unaudited Net Asset Value per share was 120.75 pence (including accrued income).

Investments in the Companys portfolio have been valued on a closing price basis.

Enquiries:

JTC Fund Solutions (Jersey) Limited

01534 700 000




The "Netherlands Data Center Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 - 2026)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Netherlands Data Center Market is expected to register a CAGR of 4.7% over the forecast period 2021 to 2026.

The Netherlands, in precise Amsterdam, is arguably the internet center for Europe. According to Hootsuite Inc., in 2019, the number of internet users in the Netherlands was roughly 16 million; however, the penetration rate of internet users in the Netherland was around 96%. Interxion, DataCenter.com, Equinix, Bytesnet, Alticom, and Google are notable investors in the Netherlands data center market.

According to Cloudscene Inc., the Netherlands, with 259 data centers, is among the top five countries in Europe in 2019. Amsterdam (AMS-IX) is among the most significant Internet exchange points globally, with over 800 networks connected through AMS-IX. The Netherlands stands first in connectivity according to the European Union's Digital Economy and Society Index.

The Amsterdam region, according to Dutch Data Center Association (DDA), occupies a unique position because it is both a colocation hub and a hyperscale cluster, which makes Amsterdam the second-largest market in Europe just after London, with a market share of no less than 32%.

Datacenter market around Amsterdam has grown by an average of more than 18% annually over the past seven years, with more than 70% of all Dutch data center capacity is located in this region, according to Dutch DDA. Furthermore, Dutch data centers feature-rich ecosystems and state of the art facilities, assuring highest uptime and connectivity to over 924 service providers.

According to Informa USA, Inc., Microsoft Corporation and Alphabet Inc.'s Google have built massive data centers outside Amsterdam, in Middenmeer and Groningen, while laying a cable to the capital. Microsoft's regional center for cloud-computing services is in the Netherlands.

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In June 2019, Google unveiled plans to invest USD 1.1 billion to expand its data center infrastructure. A modern office will be built in Airport, about 30 miles north of Amsterdam, while an existent site about 130 miles further north, in Eemshaven, will be developed.

The acquisition of Interxion by Digital Realty, Inc. in 2020 is likely to strengthen retail and wholesale colocation investments into the market. The majority of the facilities developed by leading service providers are built as a Tier III data center with design on 2N in critical infrastructures such as PDUs, UPS, and generator systems.

However, owing to the increasing demand from the hyper-scale vendors in the region, Netherland is increasingly turning into a primary hotspot for the data center business. The growing number of investments in the area is expected to be one of the fastest-growing markets over the forecast period.

Construction projects have been brought to a pause to circumvent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. In the Netherlands, the impact is moderate. Construction work remains in the Netherlands by following guidelines commanded by the government towards construction sectors. However, COVID-19 will have a more considerable influence on future projects.

Competitive Landscape

The Netherlands Data Center Market depicts a moderately fragmented stage, owing to the presence of many players in the market. Some of the predominant players of the market are Interxion, DataCenter.com, Equinix, Bytesnet, Alticom, among others.

Owing to the intense competition, many market players are using various strategies to stay ahead of the competition. Mergers and acquisitions, partnerships and developments, are some of the strategies which the top players are following to increase their market penetration and strengthen their positions in the market.

Companies Mentioned

Alticom BV

Arista Networks

Bytesnet Inc.

Atos SE

ABB Ltd.

Arup Group

Broadcom Inc.

Caterpillar Inc.

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Equinix, Inc.

Cummins Inc.

Google LLC

CyrusOne, Inc.

Data Place Inc.

Dell Technologies Inc.

Digital Realty Trust, Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/90fpc8

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210504006098/en/

Contacts

ResearchAndMarkets.com

Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com



For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470

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Payactiv also captures "Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year"

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Payactiv, Inc, a leading provider of financial-empowerment services for wage earners, wins multiple Stevie Awards at the 2021 American Business Awards.

Key Facts

Payactiv wins big at the 2021 American Business Awards  earning top honors in two of the premier categories:

The Stevie Awards were created in 2002 to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and working professionals worldwide.

What the Judges Said

Company of the Year - Financial Services: " Efficacious and comprehensive financial wellness platform, the company helps employees earn, access, and use wages to enhance their livelihoods. The Platform has loads of effective features."

Winner, Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year: "Payactiv went above and beyond..." and "Epitome of corporate responsibility..." and "A conscious effort to help those in industries most impacted by COVID-19."

The Big Picture

Payactiv creates products that empower more people to participate in the economy they helped create. It is a Certified B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation committed to improving the financial stability and livelihood of the paycheck-to-paycheck worker.

Payactiv invented Earned Wage Access (EWA), a financial service that enables workers to access on demand their accumulated wages between paydays. It is not a loan. In less than a decade, EWA as a category has become one of the most popular benefits programs in corporate America, and it is used by tens of thousands of businesses daily.

In 2020, U.S workers accessed early $9.5 billion of their earned wages, up 200 percent in three years (Aite Group).

Payactiv's offering is the only EWA program with an approval order from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

In addition to EWA, the Payactiv app delivers a full suite of financial-empowerment tools designed to holistically support people's financial wellness. Available to everyone, these tools include early pay and direct deposit services, spending management, exclusive marketplace discounts, integrated bill pay, savings and budgeting tools, and a dynamic team communications tool. Payactiv supports more than 1,500 businesses.

About Payactiv

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Payactiv, a Public Benefit Corporation and Certified B-Corp, is a holistic financial-wellness platform that provides employees on-demand access to earned but unpaid wages. Businesses that partner with Payactiv see significant cost reductions through increased recruitment, engagement and retention. Employees love Payactiv because it eliminates the expensive between-paychecks toll of payday loans, bank overdrafts and late fees. Payactiv offers a suite of financial services that includes savings and budgeting tools, bill payment and financial-health measurement. Payactiv is the winner of the Innovative Payments Association's Consumer Champion Award, a Finovate winner and finalist, and the recipient of numerous best-in-class awards in both FinTech & HRTech. It is also the provider of Earned Wage Access to Walmart and the only EWA program with an approval order from CFPB.

In 2020, Payactiv released a short film, nominated for Webby awards, titled, "We Heard You." Learn more at www.payactiv.com.

Cision

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SOURCE Payactiv
However, while the board has not required Facebook to immediately restore Mr. Trumps accounts, it has not specified the appropriate duration of the penalty, Cleggs statement continued. Instead, the board criticized the open-ended nature of the suspension, calling it an indeterminate and standardless penalty, and insisted we review our response. We will now consider the boards decision and determine an action that is clear and proportionate.
BERLIN, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Spark Networks SE (NYSE: LOV), one of the world's leading online dating companies, announced today that the company will hold a conference call to discuss First Quarter 2021 financial results on Monday, May 17, 2021 at 10:00 am ET.

(PRNewsfoto/Spark Networks SE)

Dial-in Information

Call Title: Spark Networks SE First Quarter 2021 Earnings Conference Call

Toll Free: 1-877-705-6003

Toll/International: 1-201-493-6725

Germany Toll-Free: 0 800-182-0040

In addition, the Company will host a webcast of the call which will be accessible in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://investor.spark.net/investor-relations/home . A replay will begin approximately three hours after completion of the call and run until May 31, 2021.

Replay Information

Toll Free: 1-844-512-2921

Toll/International: 1-412-317-6671

Replay Pin Number: 13719604

About Spark Networks SE:

Spark Networks SE is America's second largest dating company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange American under the ticker symbol "LOV," with headquarters in Berlin, Germany, and offices in New York and Utah. The Company's widening portfolio of premium and freemium dating apps include Zoosk, EliteSingles, Christian Mingle, Jdate, JSwipe, SilverSingles and eDarling, among others. Spark Networks SE in its current form is the result of the merger between Affinitas GmbH and Spark Networks, Inc. in 2017 and the addition of Zoosk, Inc. in 2019. Spark Networks has approximately one million monthly paying subscribers globally.

Safe Harbor Statement:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, statements involving known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause Spark Networks' performance or achievements to be materially different from those of any expected future results, performance, or achievements. Any statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be considered to be forward-looking statements. Written words, such as "believes," "hopes," "intends," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "plans," "anticipates," and variations thereof, or the use of future tense, identify forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements and forecasts involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the near future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially, including, but not limited to, the risk that the benefits from the acquisition of Zoosk, Inc. may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; risks related to the degree of competition in the markets in which Spark Networks operates; risks related to the ability of Spark Networks to retain and hire key personnel; the timing and market acceptance of new products introduced by Spark Networks' competitors; Spark Networks' ability to identify potential acquisitions; Spark Networks' ability to comply with new and evolving regulations relating to data protection and data privacy; general competition and price measures in the market place; risks related to the duration and severity of Covid-19 and its impact on Spark Networks' business; and general economic conditions. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Spark Networks' Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in other sections of Spark Networks' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and in Spark Networks' other current and periodic reports filed or furnished from time to time with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to Spark Networks as of the date hereof, and Spark Networks assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law.

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Contact:

Christopher Camarra

Vice President of Investor Relations

christopher.camarra@spark.net

Cision

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SOURCE Spark Networks SE
VAL-D'OR, QC, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - Vision Lithium Inc. (TSXV: VLI) (OTCQB: ABEPF) (FSE: 1AJ2) (the "Company" or "Vision Lithium") is pleased to announce the results of the MAG-EM survey over its Red Brook property in New Brunswick, Canada. The survey has identified two high priority EM target areas.

The ~900 km helicopter-borne magnetic and electromagnetic survey (MAG-EM) was flown at 50-metre spacings over the property. The survey, flown at low altitude, collected high resolution data. EM anomalies identified by the survey are located along the outline of the Red Brook granite intrusive, the likely source for mineralization on the property. Two large EM target-areas have been identified, one with anomalies over a distance of 1km long and the other over 500m.

The conductive zones identified by the survey are likely related to the porphyry and skarn-type mineralization that has been identified to date on the Property. A previous operator completed a series of wide-spaced ground IP lines which identified several large, buried chargeability anomalies. Historical outcrop sampling has returned zinc values of up to 15% Zn as well as gold and copper values up to 2.62 g/t Au and 0.5% Cu*. Magnetics data from the airborne program together with target areas and the Red Brook granite intrusive outline can be viewed in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Red Brook Airborne MAG-EM survey (CNW Group/Vision Lithium Inc.)

Yves Rougerie, President and CEO, stated, "The Vision Lithium team is very excited about these findings from the MAG-EM survey over Red Brook which, combined with the historical data, provide some excellent targets. These targets have a strong EM signature and are very sizeable stretching over a kilometre. We are currently in the final stages of planning drill targets and will announce details of the drill program later this month, or early June."

Vision Lithium's 100% owned properties in New Brunswick include two contiguous exploration properties - Red Brook and Benjamin and cover 4,760 hectares (47.6 km2) over s strike length of 20 km+ located approximately 60 km West of the mining centre of Bathurst in Northern New Brunswick. The Property is in the Popelogan sector West of the Bathurst VMS District. "The Popelogan sector is host to Ordovician volcanic rocks and sediments of the Silurian intruded by a series of felsic to intermediate intrusives of Devonian age, similar to the geological context of the former Gaspe Mine in Quebec. This region is not part of the Bathurst volcanic belt, it is more of a Gaspe Copper type environment" (Geominex Inc., JAN 2017, report of work 478129). This is also the context of the Company's other properties in the area, namely the large Dome Lemieux Copper-Zinc porphyry-skarn project approximately 50 km North of the Property and the Benjamin porphyry Copper project 20 km to the East. Polymetallic Copper-Zinc-Silver-Lead-Gold mineralization has been exposed at surface at several locations on the Red Brook Property. It is interpreted as skarn and porphyry type and related to the Red Brook granitoid intrusive complex which underlies the claim area.

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* While the Company considers these historical results to be relevant, as they may indicate the presence of mineralization, a qualified person has not done sufficient work for Vision Lithium to verify the accuracy of these results and therefore should not be relied upon.

The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Yves Rougerie, Geologist, President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Rougerie is a "qualified person" as defined in NI 43-101.

About Vision Lithium Inc.

Vision Lithium Inc. is a junior exploration company focused on exploring and developing high quality mineral assets including lithium, gold and base metals in safe jurisdictions, primarily in Canada. The Company is led by skilled and qualified mineral exploration experts and business professionals. Vision Lithium is committed to discovering new world class assets and bringing these assets to production, starting with the newly acquired Godslith lithium property in Manitoba which hosts a large historic lithium resource, the Sirmac lithium property located in Northern Quebec, the Dome Lemieux copper-zinc property in Quebec's Gaspe region, the polymetallic properties in Northern New Brunswick and the Ni-Cu-Co St Stephens property in Southern New Brunswick.

For further information on the Company, please visit our website at www.visionlithium.com or contact us at info@visionlithium.com.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's plans for further drilling and exploration, the Company's ability to obtain all required approvals to complete the acquisition of the Godslith lithium project (the "Transaction"), the long-term prospects of the battery materials markets, and the business and operations of the Company upon completion of the proposed Transaction. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, but are not limited to: additional drilling and exploration may lead to a determination that there is no potentially viable mine plan for the Company's properties; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; delay or failure to receive board, stakeholder or regulatory approvals; and the ability of the Company to execute and achieve its business objectives. There can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Vision Lithium Inc. (CNW Group/Vision Lithium Inc.)

SOURCE Vision Lithium Inc.

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WELL Health today offers Health Records on iPhone, empowering patients to safely view and store their available medical records in the Health app on their iPhone with their privacy protected.

The Health Records feature creates a direct, encrypted connection between a patient's iPhone and one or more healthcare organizations, allowing users to access a centralized view of their allergies, conditions, immunizations, lab results, medications, procedures, and vitals across multiple providers and to be notified when their data is updated.

WELL's telehealth platform Tia Health will be the first telehealth service in Canada to support Health Records on iPhone.

WELL's OSCAR Pro is the first Canadian Electronic Medical Record (EMR) provider to support Health Records on iPhone and will be making this functionality available to its 2,200 healthcare clinics across Canada. Each clinic must opt-in to make the service available to their patients.

All OSCAR Pro enabled clinics can now opt-in to offer Health Records on iPhone via WELL's "apps.health" marketplace effective immediately.

VANCOUVER, BC, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL) ("WELL" or the "Company"), a company focused on consolidating and modernizing clinical and digital assets within the healthcare sector, today announced Health Records on iPhone is now rolling out for clinicians and patients across WELL's primary care clinics, EMR network, Tia Health virtual care service and "apps.health" marketplace. Health Records on iPhone allows patients to securely view and store their own available medical records from multiple providers right in the Apple Health app on their iPhone or iPod touch, with their privacy and data protected at all times.

TSX: WELL (CNW Group/WELL Health Technologies Corp.)

"Delivering on patient-centric healthcare and patient enablement is a big part of WELL's overarching mission and vision. For this reason, we are delighted to be the first telehealth and Canadian EMR platform in Canada to offer Health Records and enable patients to download and view their health information on iPhone," said Hamed Shahbazi, Chairman and CEO of WELL. "Providing patients with an easy and convenient method to get access to their available health records right on their iPhone can help them more actively participate in their health, leading to better health outcomes and a higher patient understanding of their own overall health status."

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The Health Records feature is available within Apple's Health app, available for download from the App Store. Patients can access Health Records from within the Health app and can download their own health records by selecting "WELL Health" and authenticating with their patient portal username and password.

Amir Javidan, Chief Operating Officer of WELL commented, "Any clinic that is hosted by an OSCAR Pro EMR can join the program and offer this empowerment tool to its patients. Given the interoperability enhancements we've recently made with FHIR (or Fast Healthcare Interoperability Standards), it is our intention to enable access to Health Records on all WELL owned EMR and Telehealth programs. So far, the feedback about this feature has been extremely positive. We are definitely breaking new ground and are delighted to be the first in Canada to enable our EMR and Telehealth stakeholders. At WELL, we're passionate about putting patients back in control of their own health in partnership with their medical practitioners."

The Health Records feature is part of the Health app, which also shows activity, heart rate, nutrition and other health data consolidated from iPhone, Apple Watch and HealthKit-enabled third-party apps. Health Records creates a direct, encrypted connection between one or more OSCAR Pro enabled clinics and a patient's iPhone, allowing them to see a consolidated view of their health data from multiple clinics next to those from other providers, including such things as allergies, conditions, immunizations, lab results, medications, procedures, and vitals. It also notifies patients when their data is updated. Each medical clinic must explicitly opt in and configure the service for it to be available to their patients.

Health Records on iPhone was designed to protect patients' privacy and their data through utilizing a direct, encrypted connection between the user's iPhone and WELL's EMR systems. Downloaded health records data is stored on-device and encrypted with the user's iPhone passcode, Touch ID or Face ID. Apple worked with the healthcare community to take a consumer-friendly approach, creating Health Records based on FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), a standard for transferring electronic medical records.

OSCAR Pro clinicians interested in making the service available to their patients can visit WELL's apps.health site and learn more by selecting Health Records on iPhone.

For more information on Health Records, visit:

https://www.apple.com/ca/healthcare/health-records/.

For more information on how Apple protects user privacy when they use Health Records: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT209519

WELL HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES CORP.

Per: " Hamed Shahbazi "

Hamed Shahbazi

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director

About WELL Health Technologies Corp.

WELL is an omni-channel digital health company whose overarching objective is to empower doctors to provide the best and most advanced care possible while leveraging the latest trends in digital health. As such, WELL owns and operates primary and executive healthcare clinics in both Canada and the US, operates a multi-national digital Electronic Medical Records (EMR) business serving thousands of healthcare clinics and health systems of all sizes, operates a multi-national portfolio of telehealth services which includes one of the largest telehealth service providers in Canada. WELL is also a provider of digital health, billing and cybersecurity related technology solutions. WELL's wholly owned subsidiary CRH Medical is a leading provider of anesthesia services and the patented O'Regan hemorrhoid banding product to gastrointestinal focused clinics. WELL is an acquisitive company that follows a disciplined and accretive capital allocation strategy. WELL is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WELL". To access the Company's telehealth service, visit: tiahealth.com, and for corporate information, visit: www.well.company.

Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release related to the Company are forward-looking statements and are prospective in nature including statement regarding the potential adoption and launch of the Health Records application. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "could", "would", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "working on" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and WELL's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information, including: risks outlined in WELL's publicly filed documents available on SEDAR; business disruption risks relating to COVID-19; regulatory risks, including those related to healthcare, privacy and data security; and integration risks relating to newly acquired businesses. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE WELL Health Technologies Corp.
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Haynes wrote that at least some of the things hes requested are clearly not protected by the criminal investigation, such as the initial incident report and information about how long the deputy has been on the force.

Brown was outside on the phone with a 911 dispatcher when the deputy confronted him early April 21. Information released by authorities thus far indicates that the deputy apparently thought Brown had a gun, as the deputy yelled drop the gun and stop coming toward me before firing what sounded on tape like seven shots. Browns attorney said his client was actually shot 10 times.

Brown at one point during the 911 call said he had a gun and was going to kill his brother, but on at least two subsequent occasions said he was not armed. The dispatcher told Brown, who had received a ride home from the deputy earlier in the evening after his car broke down, that his stated reason for calling 911 in the first place was not a good one.

Brown told the dispatcher that his brother wouldnt let him in his mothers room.

Haynes said Brown is still in critical condition in intensive care at Mary Washington Hospital. He said Brown has undergone several surgeries since being shot, including one Friday to repair extensive damage to his intestines.
Despite one supervisors eleventh hour attempt to get in his 2 centsand raise the tax rate by a lesser amountthe King George County Board of Supervisors stuck with its original plan.

On Tuesday, the board approved a $97.4 million budget for fiscal year 2022 that includes a 3-cent hike in the real estate tax rate. King George residents will pay 74 cents per $100 of assessed value, one of the lowest rates in the Fredericksburg region.

Supervisor Jeff Bueche, who is not seeking reelection when his first term ends this year, hoped the county could knock a penny off the proposal and bring the tax rate down to 73 cents. He asked colleagues for the second time to consider that option as he believes King George will get more than anticipated from a new stream of revenue.

Starting July 1, the county will impose a local tax of 40 cents on every pack of cigarettes sold within its borders, which is expected to generate at least $4 million.

Just going to Sheetz this morning to get my pack of cigarettes, there was a line, a fleet of people buying five cartons at a time, Bueche said, adding he believes the new tax will bring in more than anticipated.
PENSACOLA, Fla.  A Florida teen accused of rigging a homecoming queen election with her mother is being charged as an adult, prosecutors said.

Emily Rose Grover was still 17 when she was arrested in March. She turned 18 in April, and the State Attorney's Office in Escambia County confirmed Tuesday that Grover will be tried as an adult.

Grover and her mother, Laura Rose Carroll, 50, face multiple felony charges stemming from the October homecoming vote at Tate High School in Pensacola.

While employed as an assistant principal at Bellview Elementary School in the same county, Carroll accessed the school district's internal system to cast fraudulent votes for her daughter so that she would win, officials said. The investigation began in November when the Escambia County School District reported unauthorized access into hundreds of student accounts, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Investigators found that in October, hundreds of votes for the school's homecoming court were flagged as fraudulent, the news release said. There were 117 votes from the same IP address within a short period of time, the investigation found.
A roadside bomb targeted a minibus carrying medical workers in the Afghan capital on May 5, killing one person, Kabul police and officials said.

Three medics were wounded and taken to hospitals, said Kabul police chief spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz.

The health workers were heading to their office in the central province of Panjshir, said Abdul Ghafoor Popalzai, governor of the Kalakan district, where the incident occurred.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, and Faramarz said police were investigating.

The attack comes as U.S. troops have officially begun leaving the country. The pullout, which must be completed by September 11 at the latest, comes amid an emboldened Taliban, which now controls or holds sway over half of Afghanistan.

U.S. General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on May 2 that there would possibly be some really dramatic, bad possible outcomes for Afghan forces after U.S. and NATO troops leave and they are left to counter the Taliban on their own. We frankly don't know yet, he said.

Based on reporting by AP and TOLOnews.com
Militants in Afghanistan opened fire across the border at soldiers in southwestern Pakistan on May 5, killing at least four soldiers and wounding six before fleeing, the Pakistani military said.

The soldiers were attacked while they were overseeing the installation of fencing near the town of Zhob in the province of Balochistan, the military said in a statement. It said the troops returned fire. No one claimed responsibility and the military provided no further details.

Pakistan started installing a fence on the Afghan border in 2017 to contain the movements of militants and to curb smuggling and illegal border crossing.

About 85 percent of the fence has been completed already along the 2,611-kilometer border with Afghanistan, according to Pakistani authorities.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP
On the battlefield, the Taliban is ratcheting up attacks aimed at overrunning Afghanistans battered security forces and seizing vulnerable towns and cities from the government.

On the political front, the Taliban is trying to undercut support for the fragile Afghan government by co-opting disgruntled members of the country's political elite.

Observers say the militant groups two-pronged strategy is designed to bring down the elected government in Kabul, which the Taliban views as a Western "puppet." The militants have ruled out joining the current political system in any peace deal.

The Taliban is pursuing two interlinked objectives: to create a military and political domino effect to topple the Afghan government, says Davood Moradian, director of the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies, a Kabul-based think tank.

The Taliban cannot attain victory in a war of attrition, adds Moradian. But its chances are much higher if it can prompt the political disintegration of the Afghan government followed by or in synergy with inflicting a major military blow.

If successful on either front -- a military takeover or reaching a political settlement on palatable terms -- the Islamist group would gain a significant chunk of power in Kabul.

The Taliban has stepped up its tactics since U.S. and other NATO forces announced last month that they would completely withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11.

The foreign military pullout is expected to further undermine Kabul's government and undercut Afghanistans 300,000-strong national army and police force, which have relied heavily on U.S. support to keep the Taliban at bay.

Divide And Conquer

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, a Western-educated technocrat who has been in power since 2014, has sidelined many of the countrys key power brokers, including powerful former warlords who hold significant sway in the provinces.

Observers say the Taliban has sought to exploit those divisions during the sputtering peace process.

Intra-Afghan peace talks that began in September have made little progress, hampered by deep mistrust, soaring militant violence, and a huge gulf between the Taliban and Afghan government representatives on key issues.

In what observers say is an attempt to divide and conquer the Afghan political elite, the Taliban last week sent private letters to various political, tribal, and ethnic leaders to engage them directly and individually in peace talks.

The Talibans aim, observers say, is to pursue separate accommodations with different power brokers and further isolate Ghani.

Among those who received a letter from the Taliban was Abdullah Abdullah, who has a long-running rivalry with Ghani. Twice Ghanis challenger for the presidential post, Abdullah heads Afghanistan's High Council for National Reconciliation, a body that oversees the peace talks with the Taliban.

Abdullah's spokesman, Faraidon Khawzon, said the letters were designed to create discord but insisted the government is unified.

Orzala Nemat, a researcher on Afghanistan, says the weaker Afghanistan's political elite becomes the stronger the Taliban will grow.

The political leadership in Afghanistan has to be as inclusive as possible so that there isn't any room for anyone externally or even the Taliban to reach separate agreements with power brokers, she says.

We are in the midst of a violent conflict, she adds. But we are also in a public relations battle in which the Taliban is making attempts to infiltrate the political elite.

Imperial Presidency

Despite claims of harmony, cracks have emerged among Afghan elites.

Key political figures have privately or publicly called for Ghani to step down and a neutral interim government that includes the Taliban to take over.

That transitional authority could pave the way for a political settlement, proponents say. But critics say the idea -- privately supported by the Taliban -- is being backed by disgruntled power brokers who are keen to regain a stake in the government.

Ghani has vehemently rejected the idea of resigning and came up with a counterproposal that called for a temporary government of peace and early elections in which he promised not to run. The offer was quickly rejected by the Taliban, which sees elections as a foreign import.

Critics have even accused Ghani and his allies of stalling the peace process to retain power.

Observers say Ghani, a divisive leader who has few remaining allies, has aggravated rather than soothed divisions among the fractured political elite.

Afghanistan's imperial presidency has caused the concentration of all power within a very small circle around the president, says Moradian. Ghani's political agenda and style of governance have compounded the situation.

Ghanis position was dented after the United States bypassed Kabul and signed a bilateral peace deal with the Taliban in 2020.

U.S. President Joe Bidens decision last month to unconditionally withdraw all American troops from the country has further undermined Ghani and emboldened his foes.

Fluid Allegiances

Ghanis political opposition is dominated by former warlords, many of them ex-leaders of the mujahedin, the Western-backed Islamist groups that fought the Soviet Army in Afghanistan in the 1980s and later the Taliban.

During the countrys brutal civil war from 1992-96, rival mujahedin factions turned against each other after ousting the leftist regime in Kabul. They fought pitched battles for control of Kabul, killing up to 100,000 people and destroying much of the capital.

The former strongmen received high-ranking roles within the government in a nod to national unity after the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. But under Ghani their power has waned.

In recent months, some former warlords have rearmed their old militias in defiance of the government as they jockey for a greater share of power.

Such moves also play into the hands of the Taliban.

Nemat says many of the former warlords have fluid allegiances that make their behavior unpredictable.

That could mean, she says, that the strongmen could be co-opted by the Taliban.

What the last 40 years of war in Afghanistan tells us is that for these groups and individuals there is no rule or principle, she says. Those who fought each other in the 1990s are now working together.
Were happy to report that by the end of the day Wednesday, the two men had indeed agreed to schedule a meeting to discuss city violence. But the bickering that preceded it  at a time when the city has seen a 17% rise in homicides compared to the same time last year  is not only unhelpful, it is outrageously irresponsible given all thats at stake. The people who are dying from gunshots in Baltimore are just as tragic a loss of life as those who have fallen to the COVID-19 pandemic, and their deaths have a similarly devastating effect on the wider region, affecting businesses willingness to locate here and bring with them the jobs and opportunities to lift us all. Indeed, its a given that violent crime is a plague of its own, with not just one cause but many, including concentrated poverty, the war against drugs and the mass incarceration that has accompanied it, the loss of employment possibilities, inadequate schools, substance abuse, dysfunctional families, distrust of police, institutional racism and so on.
Afghan officials say Taliban militants captured a district in northern Afghanistan after hours of fighting with government forces amid a recent surge in violence as the United States begins to pull its forces from the war-torn country.

The insurgents seized the district of Baraka in the northern province of Baghlan after Afghan forces retreated on May 5 due to a lack of equipment, district chief Mohammad Shirzad told RFE/RL.

A spokesman for the provincial police said the Taliban suffered heavy losses in the fighting.

At least 10 security forces were killed and 16 others captured by the militant group, according to an unidentified senior security official.

Elsewhere in the province, officials said the Taliban overran an Afghan National Army outpost on a highway after hours of fighting, killing nine soldiers.

Baghlan has for years been one of the most volatile provinces in the north of the country.

Although the United States did not meet a May 1 withdrawal deadline agreed in talks with the Taliban last year, it did begin to pull its forces on that date after President Joe Biden announced all troops will be out by September 11.

The decision was criticized by some, who argue that the Taliban will sweep back into power.

The Afghan government says it has recorded dozens of Taliban attacks on security forces and other government installations in many provinces over the past few days.

Outside the capital, Kabul, one person was reported killed and three were wounded when a roadside bomb hit a vehicle carrying medical workers on May 5.

Meanwhile, officials said the Afghan military was repelling a major Taliban offensive in the southern province of Helmand that has displaced thousands of people.

Heavy U.S. air strikes against insurgent positions stopped them from advancing toward Lashkar Gah," said Atiqullah, a local government official, referring to the provincial capital.

The head of the provincial council, Attaullah Afghan, said Taliban fighters had made advances but government troops had "retaken some of these areas."

A U.S. defense official was cited as saying air support was backing government forces in Helmand and other provinces.

With reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP
The South Conejos Street neighborhood was tiny, stretching about two blocks wide and four blocks long near downtown Colorado Springs.

Tiny enough that, after residents moved away and its grocery store closed, not much of the neighborhood was left. It was scraped by city bulldozers in the early 2000s to make way for America the Beautiful Park.

Gone, too, is Josephine Ontiveros childhood home. She lived in the neighborhood until she was 17.

Before you knew it, (the neighborhood) was gone and never mentioned again, Ontiveros, who is 81, said. We were forgotten.

For former residents such as Ontiveros, theres so much to remember about the close-knit place where they grew up.

The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is giving space for those memories through a new exhibit called Una Familia Grande: The Conejos Neighborhood Project. It opens Saturday.

Museum staff has been working on the exhibit for two years, finding former residents and gathering their stories, photos and artifacts. In doing so, Leah Davis Witherow, curator of history, has learned a lot about the once-vibrant neighborhood.

It was filled with people who worked at area mines, mills and railroads. They literally and figuratively built Colorado Springs, Witherow says, and their children loved to play at the dragon park.

Conejos was a place of love and hard-working people and dreams and faith, she said. Conejos residents are an important part of our community and history.

Witherow also learned this about the neighborhood: Its all but forgotten. Not by the former residents, but by the rest of Colorado Springs.

Shes hoping this exhibit changes that.

Because the neighborhood no longer exists, a lot of people have never heard of it, she said.

The exhibit includes photos of families at church and birthday parties, a hand-drawn map of the neighborhood and residents belongings.

Museum staff members built a reconstructed version of Rio Grande Grocery and Market, which served as an anchor and meeting place for the community. It closed in 1985.

We hope that when people come to visit, they experience a day in the life of what Conejos was like, Witherow said.

That starts with opening-day activities, such as dance performances by Ballet Folklorico de la Raza, live music and traditional Mexican food.

Witherow says people with Conejos connections are flying in from all over the country to attend. And former residents such as Ontiveros, who lives in Castle Rock, will be there to share their stories.

For the retired schoolteacher, Conejos was just like the exhibits name suggests: One big family.

You remember like it was yesterday, she said. Everybody was loving, everybody was caring and everybody got along. We werent strangers.

Theres only one building thats still standing from the neighborhood: Chadbourn Church, which was recognized in 2009 by the National Register of Historic Places.

Ontiveros plans to visit the church Saturday.

Its a beautiful thing because people will go back and be able to say, This is where my family came from and what life was about then, she said. I wouldnt trade it for the world, growing up there.

Unlike the neighborhood, the permanent exhibit wont be going anywhere.

I want everyone to be reminded that everyones history matters, Witherow said. Their history should not be overlooked.
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Coming out of this pandemic, school districts need to be intentional in their efforts to engage Black parents and support Black students. With the Biden administration focusing squarely on family supports and the generational opportunity presented by the recently adopted Blueprint for Marylands Future, this is the perfect opportunity to create structured programs aimed at ending educational disparities by enlisting Black parents as partners in public education. Starting with preschool children, Black families need to be immersed in effective strategies to support a childs intellectual growth and overall wellness. School districts have to stop talking at Black families and instead make them an integral part of the planning process. We cannot expect better educational outcomes for Black children if we keep their parents and guardians at a distance. For too long Black families have been treated as a nuisance by public school districts, preferred to remain in the background and simply police the behavior of their children. It is only when Black families are viewed as essential for Black student success will we see a change in the academic performance and outcomes for Black children. We cannot expect to close the racial achievement gap if Black families are not part of the solution. COVID-19 provides us the opportunity to embark upon a much different path.
A second teen is accused in the slayings of a man and woman found shot to death Saturday in a vehicle near Bear Creek Regional Park, Colorado Springs police said Thursday. Marquis Dantre Hazard, 19, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder, court records show. Nashid Rayon Rivers, 19,, was arrested Sunday on the same potential charges. Neither appears to have a criminal history in Colorado. They were being held Thursday in El Paso County jail without bond, inmate records showed. Serena Lee Garcia, 21, of Parker, and Marcus Howard Denton, 20, of Colorado Springs, were found Sunday night near Bergamo Way and Lower Gold Camp Road "with apparent gunshot wounds and no signs of life," police
In accepting the defeat of President Donald Trump, conservative Christians, who historically have supported Republican candidates, say they are not losing the faith, as they vow to continue opposing abortion, speaking out about same-sex relationships and promoting traditional values in society.
A Moroccan nurse takes care of one of the nine babies Wednesday protected in an incubator at the maternity ward in Casablanca, Morocco.
Arguably, it was forgivable a year ago amid COVIDs many unknowns though even then, some safeguards seemed over the top. Like city parks departments taking down rims from backboards on outdoor basketball courts (yes, really) to discourage mass gatherings. Or masked motorists  driving with no one else in the car.
LETTERS: This is the face of America; what to do about the 'unvaxed'
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Scott said Wednesday that he and the governor agreed upon the tete-a-tete, which was arranged following a tense exchange Tuesday night on social media. The pair have sparred over the causes of a recent spate of gun violence in Baltimore and the distribution of coronavirus vaccines in the city.
INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Data-driven communications lessons from COVID-19

When the pandemic first struck the U.S., state and local governments looked for ways to swiftly and accurately communicate information like case numbers, death tolls, infection rates, testing site locations, contact tracing and economic impact. States used data analytics and dashboards to provide governments, businesses, humanitarian groups and other organizations with the in-depth visualizations of COVID-19 data they needed to make effective decisions.

With information changing rapidly throughout the early stages of the pandemic, the public sought access to reliable, trusted sources of information, including state and local governments. States that embraced data visualizations and transparency were able to provide their citizens with facts and statistics more quickly to make more informed decisions for their health and safety and follow recommended protocols.

Now, with the vaccination effort underway, the end of the coronavirus pandemic is in sight. The advancement and embrace of data analytics and visualizations during the past year has given many government agencies powerful communications capabilities that can help them increase transparency, share vital information, and improve responsiveness.

Public sector leaders are finding new ways to leverage visualization capabilities to share data relating to the workforce, transportation, human services and more. Governments can provide information to citizens to inform them and help them make better decisions based on accurate data. State and local leaders are shifting from using analytics and dashboards solely for COVID-19 data to leveraging dashboards to share information across a wide range of applications.

Through collaboration with our public sector customers, we have learned some valuable lessons for agencies seeking to expand their use of data visualizations:

Make knowledge accessible. Websites hosting federal, state and local information regarding the pandemic are everywhere. Putting the data on an online landing page is a good start, but agencies must drive traffic to a site to ensure people view the information. If the data is out there, but its not being utilized, it does not add value. Publicize what facts are available and inform constituents about where they can find dashboards.

Prioritize the user experience. Attention spans are short, and people are bombarded by information. It is essential agencies make their communications stand out. Sites and dashboards should be clear, concise and interactive to eliminate confusion. When building a dashboard, agencies should find the balance between providing too little or too much information. Landing on the right combination of visual appeal and depth takes iteration. Data analytics is a science, but making a dashboard informative yet simple is a bit of an art.

Keep the data fresh. If agencies are not maintaining timely data, viewers will look elsewhere. Monthly updates -- a very familiar cadence for many government agencies -- seem stale compared to news outlets and less reliable sources on social media. Plus, when the data is old, it can undermine trust with citizens who will look elsewhere -- and potentially fall victim to misinformation from another source.

Many states use dashboards to communicate facts, data and statistics to their constituents through public-facing websites. Below are two examples of ways states successfully implemented dashboards for COVID-19 communications and applied those skills to offer additional visualizations across multiple datasets.

Missouri has been leveraging analytics for the past few years but stood out nationally when it answered its COVID-19 response with supreme transparency via data and analytical dashboards for Show-Me State citizens. Its Show-Me Strong portal features critical dashboards on the three areas that matter most to Missourians: public health, economic recovery and social impact. The first two deliver highly relevant information on cases, deaths, tests and the most important current area of focus, vaccine management. The value to the citizens is immeasurable, and the value to the state is significant, as it continues to explore ways to leverage data for good.

Ohio, meanwhile, has been deploying dashboards around a digital citizen experience for many years, originating with the launch of its Ohio Checkbook. The Checkbook is a first-of-its-kind site that enhances government transparency by providing real-time state budgeting, financial and transactional data all in a single solution. Leveraging that expertise, Ohio became one of the first states to deploy public dashboards around the COVID pandemic at coronavirus.ohio.gov, and it continues to publish more dashboards on the site that drill down on topics like schools, long-term care facilities and vaccines.

Delivering clear information from the scientific community in easily understood visualizations helps citizens feel better informed, builds trust and increases compliance with response measures, not only to the pandemic but across all government efforts. A more responsive, trusted government depends on state and local officials sharing timely and accurate information through visualizations and dashboards.
How You Can Use Ripple and XRP

You can use XRP like any other digital currency, either for transactions or as a potential investment. You could also use the Ripple network to process other types of transactions, like exchanging currencies.

For example, if you are looking to swap USD for euros, you could first exchange your USD for XRP on the Ripple network, and then use those to buy euros, rather than handling the currency exchange directly through a bank or money changing exchange. This can be a much faster and cheaper approach versus paying the high fees banks and money remittance organizations may charge.

Should You Buy XRP?

While some might find the vision and benefits for XRP compelling, White is worried the SEC lawsuit could create trouble for those looking to buy into it. They are positioning themselves as a settlement layer for regulated companies, but theyre also deep in a dispute with the SEC. None of the customers they would love to be onboarding can really start to use XRP until Ripple has gotten their legal woes figured out, he says.
Henry Dinkins has been charged with the death of Breasia Terrell.

Dinkins is charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. Scott County Attorney Mike Walton said Dinkins kidnapped the 10-year-old girl and shot her to death.

Walton said Dinkins is the only person who will be charged at this time.

Walton, Chief Paul Sikorski and Davenport Capt. Brent Biggs held a press conference at 9 a.m. today in the Davenport Police Department community room to provide an update the case.

Breasia's remains were discovered on March 22 near DeWitt and the identity was confirmed on March 31.

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Prior to that discovery, Breasia, then 10, was last seen either late July 9 or during the early morning hours of July 10 last year.

Dinkins was arrested July 10 and later charged with three unrelated counts of violating the sex-offender registry. He was the lone person of interest in Breasia's disappearance is being held in the Clinton County Jail.

Breasia spent the night with her brother at Dinkins' home during the time period she disappeared. Dinkins, 48, is the boy's father.
The Ochoa family was still reeling from the Christmastime loss of its patriarch when members found themselves entangled in a scandal involving the man they trusted to tell them why Mario Ochoa Sr. had died.

In early December 2018, Mario Ochoa Sr. was hospitalized with an infection. Four days into his stay, Marios health took a fatal turn. The 68-year-old husband to Jean and father to Mario Jr., Andrea, Jessica, and Erica died on Dec. 19.

The family hired a private company to conduct an autopsy. But when communication with the examiner hired to perform Marios autopsy fell off, the Ochoa siblings turned to the internet for help.

I started emailing him and never got a (reply), never got returned phone calls, I left messages, Marios daughter Jessica Read said. We just kind of got ghosted, daughter Erica Ochoa added.

Thats when Erica kind of took over and started doing some investigating on her own, Jessica said.

The family quickly discovered the examiner, Professor Lynn Shawn Lynn Parcells with National Autopsy Services out of Kansas, wasnt who he said he was.

The more the Ochoas dug, the more stories they uncovered. Through their research, they were connected with Illinois attorney Craig Sandberg, who took on the familys case. Alongside the Ochoas suit, Sandberg is handling lawsuits against Parcells and National Autopsy Services for five other families in California, Tennessee, and Michigan.

The sheer number of other complaints against Professor Lynn left the family wondering: How could this man get away with allegedly defrauding so many people without being caught?

WORST-CASE SCENARIO

On Dec. 2, 2018, Mario Ochoa Sr. was admitted to MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center for treatment of an infection for which antibiotics didnt seem to be working.

Later that week, a MercyOne employee gave Mario an injection of the medication Haldol Decanoate. The drug, which was prescribed to Mario for its sedative properties, was ordered to be given by intravenous drip, as an injection into the muscular tissue can produce blood clots and life-threatening side effects.

Within hours of receiving the injection, Mario began to show stroke-like symptoms, slumping to one side and unable to follow commands. His condition deteriorated to the point that he was moved to the intensive care unit and placed on a ventilator. Marios condition never improved, leaving the family with the difficult task of seeking end-of-life care for him at MercyOne Hospice. Six days before Christmas, Mario Ochoa died.

The family has since named MercyOne in a malpractice lawsuit filed by Iowa-based attorney Brian Galligan. A spokesperson for MercyOne said the organization had no comment on the matter. A jury trial is not slated to begin until March of 2023.

Following Marios death, the family said they immediately requested an autopsy. Unable to have an examination completed at the hospital, they reached out to an attorney who recommended they contact Kansas-based private examiner Professor Lynn, who operated National Autopsy Services.

Lynn collected a fee of $3,300 from the Ochoas and traveled to Clear Lake to perform an exam on Marios body, promising the family delivery of a completed report within 90 to 120 days. When the deadline passed and the Ochoas were unable to reach Lynn or anyone with National Autopsy Services, Erica began digging into Professor Lynns history.

One of the first things she found was that there was no real Professor Lynn. Rather, the moniker belonged to a man named Shawn Lynn Parcells, who is not a professor, but whod simply given himself that title. Erica and Jessica both said the first theyd heard the name Shawn Parcells was after Erica began looking into the autopsy service.

Along with the professional pseudonym, Erica also found a host of complaints against Parcells and his company.

Parcells, who is not a licensed medical practitioner, is able to legally perform exams and tissue extractions in many states, including Iowa, but is required by most states to be under the direct supervision of a licensed pathologist. According to the Ochoas lawsuit, Parcells sidestepped the states requirement and completed the examination and tissue extraction on Marios body on his own at a local funeral home.

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ON THE RADAR

The employment of private pathology services is not uncommon. Such services can be used in criminal investigations, as well as by families who are seeking a neutral opinion after a loved one dies under questionable circumstances. Private pathologists are also contracted by state and local governments that may not have access to timely autopsy services due to budget cuts or staff shortages.

Parcells work had been in the viewfinder of skeptical peers for some time. In a 2013 article, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch revealed a number of accounts in which Parcells is said to have engaged in fraudulent practices, including forging a doctors signature on a medical report that was to have been used in one court case, and misrepresenting a doctors participation in an exam, forcing prosecutors to drop charges against a murder suspect.

In 2014, Parcells vaulted into public view nationwide when he assisted in the autopsy of Michael Brown, a Black man whose killing by police in Ferguson, Missouri, incited a period of heavy protesting and social unrest. A few months later, CNN reported a number of inaccuracies in Parcells purported background and gave the account of a widow who claimed to have been scammed after paying for autopsy services for her husband.

According to research of court records done by the Globe Gazette, Parcells career dates back to 1996, when he began a seven-year stint as assistant in the Jackson County Medical Examiners office in Missouri. He started his own pathology company in 2009, and worked until spring of 2019 when the evidence uncovered in an investigation into Parcells business prompted the Kansas Attorney General to issue an order immediately the halting companys operations.

An investigation in 2017 conducted by the Kansas AGs Consumer Protection Division links Parcells to over a dozen fraudulent acts, including collecting over $16,000 in fees from Wabaunsee County for services he didnt have the authority to provide. Additional criminal charges filed against Parcells by the state of Kansas include felony theft and felony desecration of a body.

NOW A FEDERAL CASE

Neither the Kansas attorney general nor the FBI, to whom the Kansas AG referred the Globe Gazette for questions, would answer questions about how Parcells came under federal scrutiny. But in November 2020, he was indicted on federal charges. Prosecutors say Parcells defrauded 350 victims from all over the United States who paid him for unfulfilled, incomplete, or illegally performed autopsies between 2016 and 2019, all while collecting over $1 million in fees.

News media has highlighted Parcells unorthodox handling of autopsies. A Kansas City television station video from 2019, in which Parcells invited a reporter to tour his lab, shows a cluttered workspace with clusters of plastic containers apparently containing human remains sitting out, unrefrigerated. In the video, the cameraperson was asked not to film an unrefrigerated, uncovered body that was pushed off to one side of the lab.

CNN reported in 2014 that after a widow implied in a lawsuit that Parcells had lost or destroyed the brain of her husband, Parcells brought a bucket containing an organ to a deposition and showed it to the womans attorney as proof the brain was still in his possession.

With licensure requirements and protocols varying by state, the world of forensics and pathology goes largely unregulated. While there is accreditation available through the National Association of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Pathology, neither organization provides consumer-protecting oversight. Rather, they serve most generally as resources for licensed individuals, who must adhere to a set of ethics and standards in order to maintain their status with the respective institutes.

According to the Iowa State Medical Examiners Office, the practice of performing an autopsy in Iowa is not regulated by any state-sanctioned governing body.

A Centers for Disease Control Public Health Law publication lists the state of Kansas as having no designated medical examiner at all, resigning its individual counties to establish their own offices, or to rely on private practices like Parcells to handle autopsies and related services.

Parcells is slated to next appear in federal court for a case status update in June.

CARRYING ON

Though the criminal and civil charges have piled up against Parcells, many affected families are still left with no idea where the tissues and organs of their loved ones are, nor answers as to what caused their deaths.

The Ochoas are still grieving the loss of Mario, and are still shaken by their experience with Parcells.

Finding out the stuff that I did (about Parcells), I had trouble with that, Erica said. It left me with stuff that I cant talk about.

My mom -- this is very, very difficult for her -- she cant even think about it, Erica said.

It brings up the feeling of when she lost her husband, Jessica added. Thats kind of why Erica has kind of taken charge; she knows our mother is not going to. [Ericas] definitely put in the work, and we all appreciate that, because -- its a lot.

Lisa Grouette is a Photographer and Reporter for the Globe Gazette. You can reach her at 641-421-0525 or lisa.grouette@globegazette.com. Follow Lisa on Twitter @LisaGrouette

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Only America and 49 other countries  out of 187  celebrate Mothers Day. Besides relatives showering women with cards, flowers and gifts, there is a long overdue action we must deliver to females.

In a letter dated March 31, 1776, the eventual First Lady Abigail Adams told her husband John Adams (ensuing second president of the United States), as he and other men set off to form the new American democracy: Remember, John,  if particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we  will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.

Research is replete our esteemed Founding Fathers had absolutely no intention of giving women a voice in public affairs.

It took 144 years of public disdain, imprisonment, marches and perseverance before women were permitted to vote (19th Amendment, 1920). How did that occur?

President Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) was against giving women the right to vote until World War I broke out and he witnessed women voluntarily stepping up to the plate to help fight the war. Wilson stated, we have made partners of the women in this war and supported passage of the 19th Amendment.

Lets examine how far behind we are for equal rights between genders.
Governor Reynolds and legislators have implemented some sound tax policy in the past few years. It is vital for Iowa to continue to improve the tax and regulatory climate. Many states are reducing tax rates and even looking for ways to phase-out the income tax. Iowa should not become complacent in terms of reducing the tax burden.

percent, the highest in the nation, to 9.8 percentmatching Minnesotas. Even at 9.8 percent Iowa still has the third highest corporate tax rate in the nation.

In 2023, the income tax is scheduled to be reduced to 6.5 percentmaking it more competitive in the region. The caveat is, for the rate reduction to occur, it must meet two stringent revenue triggers. First, state revenues must surpass $8.3 billion. Second, revenue growth must be at least 4 percent during that fiscal year.

Lowering the income tax should not be hindered by the 4 percent growth trigger. Repealing the revenue triggers would reduce a major roadblock to income tax relief and provide more certainty for taxpayers.
Vallarta Living



Cinco de Mayo a Significant Date in Mexican History



Cinco de Mayo is a significant date in Mexican history. On May 5, 1862, Mexicans won the battle at Puebla against the much larger French army. Despite being outnumbered, the Mexican army was victorious. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico's independence, but it is not Independence Day. Mexico asserted its independence from Spain on September 16, 1810. The festivities on May 5 are about another battle for independence - a battle fought against the French in 1862.



After the 1846 Mexican-American War, in which boundaries were clarified after Texas became the 28th U.S. state, Mexico entered a period of political and financial hardship. The Mexican civil war lasted from 1858 to 1861 and left Mexico without a stable support structure. To supplement a deflated economy, Mexico borrowed a great deal of money from other countries. Among those countries were England, Spain and France.



In 1862, all three European powers came to collect. Their navies arrived in Mexico to demand payment and land to settle the debts, but Mexico offered vouchers instead, essentially asking for more time.



England and Spain accepted and went home; France invaded, seeking total control of Mexico. Under Napoleon III, French troops began at the shore and tried to make their way to Mexico City. Before they could get to the capital, they were stopped at the state of Puebla, where a major battle took place on May 5, 1862: La Batalla de Puebla.



Outnumbered and outarmed, the Mexican soldiers at Puebla, under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, managed to defeat the French forces. Ultimately, the Mexican victory at Puebla only delayed the French invasion of Mexico City, and a year later, the French occupied Mexico.



But the Mexican men who fought at Puebla nonetheless defied the odds to defend the country's independence. Cinco de Mayo celebrates that bravery and determination, and commemorates Mexico's fight to ward off imperialist forces.



Ironically, in most of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is not really celebrated. But, traditionally, every year on May 5, La Batalla de Puebla is reenacted in places like Mexico City and, of course, Puebla. Men dress as French and Mexican soldiers, and women wear the clothing of the soldaderos, the women who cooked for and looked after the soldiers in wartime.



In some representations, the Mexican soldiers carry machetes and old gun-powder rifles, and the French soldiers carry bags with wine bottles sticking out. It is said that in some of these staged battles, there are actual casualties. In other reenactments, fruit is used as ammunition, so the worst injury possible is an apple to the head.



Interestingly enough, it is not only Mexicans who celebrate Cinco de Mayo. If the Mexican army had been defeated on May 5, the French might have acquired additional land. The course of history might have followed a different path and United States territory divided differently. Life may have been very different for Americans and Mexicans alike.



The date is perhaps best recognized in the United States as a date to celebrate the culture and experiences of Americans of Mexican ancestry, much as St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest, and the Chinese New Year are used to celebrate those of Irish, German, and Chinese ancestry, respectively. Similar to those holidays, Cinco de Mayo is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origin.



In many cities throughout the US, special events and celebrations highlighting Mexican food, beverages festivities and music take place throughout the first week of May, so that Cinco de Mayo has become a bigger holiday north of the border than it is to the south, and being adopted into the holiday calendar of more and more people every year. - Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico's independence, but it is not Independence Day. Mexico asserted its independence from Spain on September 16, 1810. The festivities on May 5 are about another battle for independence - a battle fought against the French in 1862.After the 1846 Mexican-American War, in which boundaries were clarified after Texas became the 28th U.S. state, Mexico entered a period of political and financial hardship. The Mexican civil war lasted from 1858 to 1861 and left Mexico without a stable support structure. To supplement a deflated economy, Mexico borrowed a great deal of money from other countries. Among those countries were England, Spain and France.In 1862, all three European powers came to collect. Their navies arrived in Mexico to demand payment and land to settle the debts, but Mexico offered vouchers instead, essentially asking for more time.England and Spain accepted and went home; France invaded, seeking total control of Mexico. Under Napoleon III, French troops began at the shore and tried to make their way to Mexico City. Before they could get to the capital, they were stopped at the state of Puebla, where a major battle took place on May 5, 1862:Outnumbered and outarmed, the Mexican soldiers at Puebla, under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, managed to defeat the French forces. Ultimately, the Mexican victory at Puebla only delayed the French invasion of Mexico City, and a year later, the French occupied Mexico.But the Mexican men who fought at Puebla nonetheless defied the odds to defend the country's independence. Cinco de Mayo celebrates that bravery and determination, and commemorates Mexico's fight to ward off imperialist forces.Ironically, in most of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is not really celebrated. But, traditionally, every year on May 5,is reenacted in places like Mexico City and, of course, Puebla. Men dress as French and Mexican soldiers, and women wear the clothing of thethe women who cooked for and looked after the soldiers in wartime.In some representations, the Mexican soldiers carry machetes and old gun-powder rifles, and the French soldiers carry bags with wine bottles sticking out. It is said that in some of these staged battles, there are actual casualties. In other reenactments, fruit is used as ammunition, so the worst injury possible is an apple to the head.Interestingly enough, it is not only Mexicans who celebrate Cinco de Mayo. If the Mexican army had been defeated on May 5, the French might have acquired additional land. The course of history might have followed a different path and United States territory divided differently. Life may have been very different for Americans and Mexicans alike.The date is perhaps best recognized in the United States as a date to celebrate the culture and experiences of Americans of Mexican ancestry, much as St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest, and the Chinese New Year are used to celebrate those of Irish, German, and Chinese ancestry, respectively. Similar to those holidays, Cinco de Mayo is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origin.In many cities throughout the US, special events and celebrations highlighting Mexican food, beverages festivities and music take place throughout the first week of May, so that Cinco de Mayo has become a bigger holiday north of the border than it is to the south, and being adopted into the holiday calendar of more and more people every year.



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They were immediately accusing me of hurting my mother, she said.

She told the court her house was clean while her mom lived there, but the prosecution  and ultimately the jury  did not buy her story.

The home was in terrible condition, the prosecution pointed out, with dogs in the house, feces and flies. Urine, ammonia and feces could be smelled from outside the home.

Tipton denied there was a fly infestation in her home and denied accusations of locking her mother in her room.

Johnson pressed her on the stand, asking her how her mother got maggots in her private area in April if the house was clean.

I dont know, Tipton answered.

Prosecutors also pointed out that in May 2020, Briannas 5-year-old daughter was seen entering the reeking house seemingly unaffected. That indicated that the home had been filthy for so long that the child was used to it, the prosecution said.

Tipton also testified that she did not wake her mother to change her diapers at night. She would put two diapers on her mother at night, she said.

Tiptons attorney, Michael Nicholas, during his arguments, told the court that she was a responsible caregiver.
But the company still faces challenges, including obtaining a water quality certification from Virginias State Water Control Board.

The Department of Environmental Quality has said it will take up to a year to review the application and give the board time to act, and opponents are sure to point to Mountain Valleys environmental problems during a public comment session.

Since the company began digging trenches for the 42-inch diameter pipeline along steep mountain terrain, regulators have cited it more than 300 times for violating erosion and sediment control regulations.

During Tuesdays conference call, Equitrans officials were asked about an option held by EQT Corp.  a major driller of natural gas that would pay to have it transported by Mountain Valley  that will become available on Jan. 1, 2022.

If the project is not completed by then, EQT will have one year to decide whether to take a cash payment of $196 million in lieu of reduced rates that will kick in once the pipeline goes into service. No decision has been made, financial analysts were told.

Natalie Cox, a spokeswoman for Mountain Valley, said the option applies to Equitrans gathering systems, which provide a connection between drilling wells and any one of many transmission lines.
Bonus question 1: Which if you plan to go to Lee County to see the conditions of schools there? Bonus question 2: The most infamous example from Lee County  the fourth-graders who had to set out buckets and trash cans on rainy days because the roof was leaking  took place when McAuliffe was governor and at the same time he was courting Amazon for Northern Virginia. A question for McAuliffe: Why werent you concerned about the physical state of some rural schools then? And why does your big and bold educational plan now still not address school construction or the states constitutionally-sanctioned school disparities?

5. What, if anything, does the state owe coal counties as reparations? All of you have backed the move away from fossil fuels. McClellan was the Senate sponsor of the Clean Economy Act, which calls for the states two biggest utilities to go carbon-free by 2045. Coal was declining anyway as a result of market forces but this state mandate accelerates that decline. Does the state owe anything to the coal counties in return? If so, what? If not, why not?
Dont count on that. Just based on the sheer number of candidates, its more likely the party will nominate an all-male ticket. Still, Republicans have a record number of women running: two of the partys seven candidates for governor, two of the six candidates for lieutenant governor and one of the four candidates for attorney general. Those five candidates add up to one more female candidate than on the Democratic side.

In 1961, she was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. She was the first woman nominated by a major party for one of the states top three offices. At least three asterisks apply here. Barger wasnt the first woman to run for statewide office. She wasnt even the first woman nominated by a major party for statewide office. In 1921, Virginias first statewide election after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, there were three women on the ballot. Lillie Davis Custis of Accomac County ran for governor as a Socialist. Republicans that year shamefully purged all Black members from their ranks in a futile bid to become more appealing to white voters. Those Republicans who remained nominated Elizabeth Otey of Lynchburg for superintendent of public instruction, then a position we elected. The ousted Black Republicans nominated their own slate, which included Maggie Walker of Richmond for superintendent of public instruction. All lost, quite badly, but it was still an indication that going forward Virginians could expect to see a lot of women seek public office. Except they didnt. For decades after 1921, not a single woman tried to seek either the Democratic or Republican nominations for statewide office. Indeed, Barger didnt seek her nomination, either.
To the editor:

The Biden White House, Pelosi-Schumer Congress and all their media allies are propelling a disgusting false narrative regarding the For the People Act (H.R.1 & S1). They claim theres an unprecedented assault on voting rights in Republican-controlled state legislatures, e.g., recent Georgia election law.

In truth, recent state election reforms expand access and increase election security. Our Constitution gives states the right to make their own election laws, not democrats in Congress.

President Biden, Democrat "Divider-in-Chief," called Georgias new law Jim Crow on steroids. And people thought Trump was a divider. Actually, Democrats and many others just hate Trump and thus caused division by themselves. Big-Guy Biden owes Georgia and Americans an apology for such outrageous rhetoric.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Big-Guys commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030 (2005 levels) will require a costly overhaul of the current economy. They estimate the 8-year cost will average $1,200 in annual spending from every American household. Never mind Xi and Putin offer vague climate promises.
The bar passage numbers in the second and third paragraphs above, then, compare the bulk of Elon Law's most recent graduating class to only a handful of students from other law schools who postponed taking the bar for one reason or another. But the fact remains that Elon Law saw a 12-point year-to-year jump among its first-time test-takers on the N.C. bar, and for now its passage rate is well above the state average. We'll see how those numbers hold up when the results of the July bar come out.

For more law school data, including enrollment, employment and bar passage data at all American Bar Association-accredited law schools, check out the ABA's required disclosures here. To see which recent law school grads passed the state bar in February, click here, and congratulate any you might know.

** Update, 6:45 p.m. Wednesday: I misread the Elon Law employment report I referred to in the seventh paragraph. It's for the class of 2019, and I've corrected the date above. The most recent ABA jobs report that all law schools must file annually reads, "Employment summary for 2020 graduates." What it really means is "Employment summary for graduates from the 2019-20 academic year"  2020 grads for most law schools (because they operate on the traditional three-year calendar), and December 2019 grads for the 2.5-year program at Elon Law.

Staff writer John Newsom covers higher education for the News & Record of Greensboro and the Winston-Salem Journal. Have something to say about this blog post? Email him at john.newsom@greensboro.com. You can also follow him on Twitter at @JohnNewsomNR. Support his coverage of higher education. Click here and here to learn about digital subscriptions the News & Record and the Journal.

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A fast-growing information-technology company from Atlanta, DC Blox, committed to building a $305 million multi-tenant data center in High Point on Wednesday.

Though the capital investment will be among the largest in High Point economic history, the jobs impact has been described by city officials as minimal that could be as few as nine employees.

DC Blox paid $1.5 million to buy four tracts at or near 4131 Sheraton Court, according to an April 26 filing with the Guilford County Register of Deeds.

Its a vacant 14.4-acre site in Piedmont Centre across the street from the Bank of America Corp. call center and near a Polo Ralph Lauren property and N.C. 68.

Jeff Uphues, chief executive of DC Blox, said in a statement that the data center will be at the Tier III level out of four tiers.

A Tier III data center must be able to undergo routine maintenance without a hiccup in operations, including: being able to provide up to 72 hours of protection from power outages through internal sources; and no more than 1.6 hours of downtime per year.

Direct, private access to major public cloud providers and to all carriers across its data center footprint is provided.
As was the case for many children in those days, Miss Kat only attended Branch Street School for four years before quitting to stay home and help raise her brothers and sisters. By the time she started school, the family had moved to Old Danville Highway (now U.S. 29 Business) and Miss Kat said they walked to school, regardless of the weather.

The family raised their own vegetables and chickens to supplement their meals. Miss Kats mother and grandmother taught her to cook; Miss Kats children said her specialties were peach, apple and blackberry cobblers. Every Sunday, the family looked forward to her coconut and chocolate cakes and fruit pies.

She still enjoys getting in the kitchen. In fact, in the days before her birthday, she was bustling around, helping cook breakfast for her family.

Her Aunt Victoria used to make lye soap for them to wash their clothes because Miss Kats mama didnt know how to make it.

And all the dresses the girls wore were made by their mother. Miss Kat recalled going to town and picking out the printed flour sacks that became dresses when they were emptied.

She sewed them on her hands, Miss Kat recalled.
Of the 341 cases recorded this month, at least 85 occurred in those under 19 years of age. A total of 40 cases this month were in health care workers, state health department data show.

Outbreaks

A new outbreak at a long-term-care facility recorded last week has yet to be identified by the Virginia Department of Health. A website updated weekly on Fridays does not list any current outbreaks for Danville.

Health department officials would not comment on the latest outbreak, instead they referred the Register & Bee to the outbreak website.

However, the latest federal report on April 18 shows two new COVID-19 cases among residents at Roman Eagle Rehabilitation and Health Care in Danville. Long-term-care facilities are required to file detailed weekly reports with the CDC that are in turn made public about two weeks later in an online database.

About a dozen cases have been added to outbreaks in Danville and Pittsylvania County since mid-April, although its not clear if those are associated with a recent outbreak.

Vaccines

Nearly 2,000 vaccines flowed into the arms of Danville and Pittsylvania County residents this week, health department numbers show.
The rampant voter suppression about which some Democrats complain so vociferously is simply not evident in election statistics. Neither is the rampant voter fraud about which some Republicans complain so vociferously.

Indeed, the same studies that disprove one tend to disprove the other at the same time. Consider the example of voter-ID requirements. Most scholarly research has found that requiring identification to vote has either a tiny effect or no discernible effect on the number of ballots cast. The vast majority of citizens, in other words, either possess an ID already, make easy use of state programs to get one, or have no interest in voting, anyway. Keep in mind, though, that a lack of a significant relationship between ID laws and vote totals also suggests impersonation fraud is very rare. Otherwise wed see vote totals dip after enactment.

Thats not an argument against voter ID, by the way. It strengthens public confidence at a low cost. Nudged by the requirement, some folks without photo IDs obtain them to vote and then enjoy the ancillary benefits of having ID cards. Moreover, in North Carolina, a photo-ID requirement is constitutionally mandated.
GREENSBORO  Andy Clapp strides toward his humid tobacco greenhouse in the fresh country air as he shows off his familys generations-old farm just six miles from downtowns urban congestion.

Inside, the bright light shows off the green sprouts that are growing into full-size tobacco plants hell plant and harvest later this summer for a handsome profit.

Unlike the four generations of farmers that preceded him on hundreds of acres scattered in the area near Clapp Farms Road, Andy Clapp doesnt put all his effort into tobacco, which has declined along with the nations smoking habits.

The rich soil on the nearly 1,000 acres he owns or rents in eastern Guilford County now yields corn, wheat, soy beans, hay and provides pastures for cattle.

Clapp, 53, gestures behind him.

Half a mile that way is a subdivision, he said. Pointing in another direction, he says, a mile to the west is an apartment complex.

And that can mean conflict between Guilford Countys farming tradition and those moving onto nearby land that many farmers have sold to developers for the kind of quick, easy profit that doesnt come from hot work under the sun.
Many of us start our days the same way: with a cup of coffee or tea. Caffeine is as much a part of our routine as brushing our teeth or getting dressed for the day.

Maybe your habit extends to a cup of coffee in the afternoon, or you have a soda with your dinner.

And maybe as a result, you lie in bed awake later thinking of where you went wrong instead of getting needed sleep.

Rob M. van Dam, a researcher in epidemiology and nutrition from the National University of Singapore, explains when to wisely consume caffeine, what qualifies as too much and what to know about why it affects each of us differently.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

CNN: How do we know when it's time to stop drinking coffee during the day so we can still get a good night's sleep?

Rob van Dam: That sounds like a simple question, but unfortunately there's not one answer to it. And that's because different people react very differently to caffeine.

If you're getting tremors, feeling suddenly nervous, or your heart rate is changing, it could well be that you're drinking too much caffeine. And similarly, it can interfere with a good night's sleep.
Question: What exactly is the Cinco de Mayo celebration about? Everyone says that its not Mexicos independence day, so what is it?

 L.O.

Answer: Cinco de Mayo (the fifth of May in English) commemorates the 1862 victory of a small Mexican militia over the French army at the battle of Puebla, near Mexico City. It is often confused with Mexicos Independence Day, which is celebrated Sept. 16.

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On Cinco de Mayo, led by Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, a poorly armed, outnumbered militia was able to stop and defeat a well-outfitted French army of 6,500 soldiers, which ended the French invasion of Mexico. The victory is remembered as a glorious moment for Mexican patriots.

Cinco de Mayo is recognized throughout Mexico, but it is most heavily celebrated in the city of Puebla and its surrounding region. Additionally, U.S. cities with large Mexican populations recognize the day with cultural festivities. For example, San Diegos three-day festival commemorating Cinco de Mayo regularly attracts more than 250,000 people, according to the festivals website: www.fiestacincodemayo.com.

This year, Cinco de Mayo is Wednesday.
RALEIGH  North Carolina lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a bill to make it illegal for physicians to perform abortions because of the fetus race or a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.

A physician would be subject to monetary damages if they performed an abortion despite being aware that the pregnant womans decision to get the procedure was influenced by either of those two concerns.

A handful of states have passed similar laws regarding Down syndrome diagnoses and have been caught up in legal battles after their passage. Last month, a federal appeals court narrowly ruled to reverse two earlier decisions blocking enforcement of a 2017 Ohio law. A federal appeals court ruled in November that Tennessee could begin outlawing abortions because of a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome.

The General Assemblys House Health Committee approved the Republican-backed measure and sent it to the judiciary committee, where it is scheduled to be considered today. If approved, it would then move to one more committee before making its way for a floor vote.

A spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on the proposal.
In a case that is tragically similar to John Nevilles, a judge has ordered the release of police video of 50 incidents in which people were restrained in the manner used on both Neville and another Greensboro man who died after being taken into custody, Marcus Smith.

Smith died in September 2018 after being restrained in much the same way as Neville: with his hands bound to his feet behind him.

Smiths mother and his estate are suing the city of Greensboro, eight police officers and two Guilford County paramedics for wrongful death.

Police used what is called a RIPP Hobble device to subdue Smith, who had become agitated during a mental health crisis on a downtown street.

Both the use of the RIPP Hobble device and binding a persons hands to his feet have since been banned by the Greensboro Police Department.

Lawyers for Smiths family contend, however, that there was a pattern among Greensboro police of using the same technique on others before Smiths death.

Because of the states overly restrictive police video law, access to such footage typically must be granted by a Superior Court judge.
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The owners entered arbitration in the Spokane district of Washington Superior Court earlier this year, as NorthWestern Energy sought to determine both how owners decide plant repair decisions and whether a unanimous decision was required to close Colstrip.

Sen. Steve Fitzpatrick, a Great Falls Republican who carried the law changes through the House, likened the dispute between exiting owners and NorthWestern as a divorce with the departing spouse keying the family car on the way out. He accused the Pacific Northwest owners of conspiring to force the plant into mechanical failure, which was the premise behind the need for Senate Bill 266, empowering the attorney general to dictate repairs. Senate Bill 265 forcing power plant disputes into Montana courts was also a Fitzpatrick bill.

Fitzpatrick, the son of NorthWesterns former director of government affairs John Fitzpatrick, accused the Pacific Northwest owners of deceptive practices. The claim made throughout the legislative process ignored that the business contract, agreed to by the owners, allowed the Pacific Northwest owners to take the steps they chose.

Avista Corp. had cautioned Gov. Gianforte against signing the Fitzpatrick bills into law. In a press release concerning the lawsuit, Avista Vice President Jason Thackston said the lawsuit was about protecting Avista customers and shareholders.
Elected officials need to worry less about raising money and winning political wars and focus more on what it means to be a responsible public servant, informed by facts and compassion. For those who profess to be Christian, they should prayerfully consider how the commandment to love the neighbor informs their understanding of public service. Our Lord calls us to seek His face in the faces of those less fortunate than ourselves, those who are hungry, those who are strangers and those who are naked. Jesus says, Truly, I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.
Todays Highlight in History:

On May 5, 1925, schoolteacher John T. Scopes was charged in Tennessee with violating a state law that prohibited teaching the theory of evolution. (Scopes was found guilty, but his conviction was later set aside.)

On May 5:

In 1494, during his second voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus landed in Jamaica.

In 1818, political philosopher Karl Marx, co-author of The Communist Manifesto and author of Das Kapital, was born in Prussia.

In 1891, New Yorks Carnegie Hall (then named Music Hall) had its official opening night, featuring Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky as a guest conductor.

In 1942, wartime sugar rationing began in the United States.

In 1945, in the only fatal attack of its kind during World War II, a Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain in Oregon, killing the pregnant wife of a minister and five children. Denmark and the Netherlands were liberated as a German surrender went into effect.

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In 1961, astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. became Americas first space traveler as he made a 15-minute suborbital flight aboard Mercury capsule Freedom 7.

In 1973, Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby, the first of his Triple Crown victories.

In 1978, Ben & Jerrys ice cream had its beginnings as Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened an ice cream parlor at a converted gas station in Burlington, Vermont.

In 1981, Irish Republican Army hunger-striker Bobby Sands died at the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland on his 66th day without food.

In 1987, the congressional Iran-Contra hearings opened with former Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard V. Secord the lead-off witness.

In 1994, Singapore caned American teenager Michael Fay for vandalism, a day after the sentence was reduced from six lashes to four in response to an appeal by President Bill Clinton.

In 2009, Texas health officials confirmed the first death of a U.S. resident with swine flu.

In 2011, solemnly honoring victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, President Barack Obama hugged survivors at ground zero in New York and declared that the killing of Osama bin Laden was an American message to the world: When we say we will never forget, we mean what we say. Pakistans army broke its silence over the U.S. commando raid that killed bin Laden, acknowledging its shortcomings in finding him but threatening to review cooperation with Washington if there was another violation of Pakistani sovereignty. Director, playwright and screenwriter Arthur Laurents (West Side Story) died in New York at age 93.

In 2016, Former Los Angeles trash collector Lonnie Franklin Jr. was convicted of 10 counts of murder in the Grim Sleeper serial killings that targeted poor, young Black women over two decades. President Barack Obama commuted the prison sentences of 58 federal convicts, part of a broader push to ease punishments for nonviolent drug offenders. Londoners cast votes in an election that gave the city its first Muslim mayor, Labour lawmaker Sadiq Khan, who succeeded outgoing Conservative Boris Johnson.

In 2020, President Donald Trump visited a Honeywell mask factory in Arizona, but ignored guidelines to wear a mask. Tyson Foods said it would resume limited operation of its huge pork processing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, with enhanced safety measures, more than two weeks after closing the facility because of a coronavirus outbreak among workers. Even though Joe Biden had no remaining opponents, a judge ruled that New Yorks Democratic presidential primary would have to take place on June 23 because canceling it would be unconstitutional. Michigan communities saw record turnout for local elections, with votes cast largely by mail. Facebook said it had removed several accounts and pages linked to QAnon, taking action for the first time against the far-right conspiracy theory circulated among Trump supporters.

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DECATUR  A jury is listening to evidence to decide whether Matthew A. Anderson Jr., shot four times and nearly killed himself, is a victim or really a cold-blooded murderer who emerged injured but victorious from a shootout in a Decatur restaurant bathroom that left another man fatally wounded.

Anderson, 22, denies four alternate murder counts in the Jan. 4, 2019, death of 18-year-old Curtis T. Hairston. Police had found Hairston slumped against a booth after he had staggered out of the restrooms of the former Long John Silver's restaurant in front of staff and customers; he would die after being rushed to hospital.

Andersons trial, expected to last up to three days, got underway Tuesday after day-long jury selection Monday. But this isnt the defendants first brush at trying to clear his name.

Macon County Circuit Court had been ready to begin his murder trial in September but Judge James Coryell halted proceedings after defense attorney Monroe McWard said his client had suddenly divulged new information.

The previous defense had been that Anderson had been jumped at the restaurant but, on the eve of the earlier trial, McWard said Anderson told him he had in fact been acting in self-defense during the shoot-out. McWard said the change of story meant he needed more time to hunt down witnesses and evidence.

Decatur Police detectives said their investigation painted a picture of Hairston arriving at the restaurant to trade illegal guns with another Decatur man, the then 18-year-old Jaquarius L. West. The two men had gone to the restaurant bathroom to do the deal, police said, and then Hairston had been ambushed by Anderson when he burst in after West stepped out.

In opening statements to the jury at Tuesdays trial hearing, McWard didn't specifically mention self-defense but instead said he would argue that his client wasn't the shooter at all.

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... We dont dispute that Matthew Anderson was shot, not just once, not just twice, but four or five times in this hailstorm of bullets, added McWard, who is presenting the defense with fellow attorney Mark Kevin Wykoff Sr.

...But what we do dispute is that Matthew Anderson was the shooter. Because notwithstanding what you may think, there is no clear picture of Matthew Anderson with a gun.

McWard said surveillance camera footage does not condemn Anderson and that eye witness information the jury will hear is uncertain and unreliable.

Prosecutors claim just the opposite: that the evidence against Anderson as a brutal killer is clear and compelling. Assistant Macon County States Attorney Katherine Dowis, presenting the case with fellow ASA Tammy Wagoner, said police investigation, eye-witness statements and the surveillance footage paint a very clear picture of the defendant as an injured killer.

Describing the tape the jurors will watch, Dowis added: You will see the defendant charge into the bathroom, pulling a gun out of his pocket then shots are fired You will see Mr. Hairston stumble from the bathroom and fall to the floor

The trial continues.

Jaquarius L. West, 20, also denies murder charges and his case is set for a pretrial hearing June 24.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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DECATUR  Pat McDaniel says he can count on one hand the number of Decatur City Council meetings hes missed over the past 20 years.

The 71-year-old, lifelong Decatur resident has had a front seat view to the city's government, first as a private citizen, then as a reporter for the Decatur Tribune and, finally, as a city councilman for the past 10 years.

"I wanted to be part of the solution and help make Decatur even better, because we were going through some tough times," said McDaniel in an interview with Herald & Review on Friday.

You live in a community and you want to see it better, then do something about it  run for public office, he said. I didn't have an agenda other than for the community.

After a decade in office, McDaniel is stepping back. He did not seek reelection earlier this year and he officially left office on Monday, when new Councilman Ed Culp was sworn in for a four-year term.

McDaniel said his decision was based on a number of factors. He's had three health procedures in the past two years and his mother, for whom he was a caregiver, passed away last year after health challenges.

Not to mention the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic and continually "being chewed out" by certain members of the public at city council meetings.

McDaniel, a veteran, joked that "Vietnam was less stressful to me than the last year and a half on the council."

And, after 10 years, it was simply time.

It's been an honor and a privilege to represent all the citizens of Decatur, McDaniel said. As with any elected leader, everybody's not going to agree with how you vote. I tried to do the best I could to listen to the information from the city staff (and) talk to (people). That's why I get out to as many events as possible to listen to the public, because that's very important.

McDaniel, the retired executive director of the Macon County History Museum, first got involved in local politics when he was told the Decatur Transfer House would no longer be the official logo of the city.

"I said over my dead body," he said, as he wrote editorials and placed signs in businesses in an effort to save the logo.

McDaniel subsequently found out that the Transfer House was never officially adopted as the city's logo.

So, he brought the issue to the council and the historic building was officially adopted as the city's logo.

McDaniel then ran unsuccessfully for council in 2005 and 2009.

But it was third time's the charm in 2011, when he was elected to serve out the unexpired two-year term of Adam Brown, who resigned after his election to the Illinois House.

McDaniel was subsequently reelected twice.

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He said he's proud of his tenure on the council. Though some issues, like infrastructure, can be viewed as mundane, they were important.

Perhaps the biggest was the Lake Decatur dredging project, a $91 million endeavor that increased the depth and capacity of the lake by removing debris and dirt that collected on its floor.

It was in part financed by an increase in water rates supported by McDaniel and his colleagues.

"It may not sound like an accomplishment, but councils over the years had been afraid to raise (rates) to cover your cost," McDaniel said.

McDaniel said he had no regrets about any vote he took over the last 10 years, even controversial ones such as opting out of recreational cannabis sales.

"Howard Buffett didn't have any influence on me," McDaniel said, refuting the popular claim that the Decatur philanthropist's opposition was behind the council's decision. "I saw what went on and that's the way I voted in that."

McDaniel said he's employed a few guiding principles as an elected official: listen to people and "use common sense."

He hopes his former colleagues on the council will continue to do both in his absence.

"Just use common sense," he said. "That's the key. And don't be swayed by the people that come to the council during the appearance of citizens. You can listen to them, but don't be that, 'Oh, we got to do this, they're upset with us.' That's a tiny fraction. You got to think of everybody in the community."

Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe said that McDaniel has become a trusted colleague and a "dear friend" over the years. She noted that they both lost their mothers last year, giving them a common understanding not many can share.

Over the years, Moore Wolfe has trusted McDaniel to stand in her place at city events. He served as her mayor pro tempore and as the city's liquor commissioner.

Pat has probably attended more events, large and small, than any councilman ever, Moore Wolfe said. And that means a lot to those people, and his representation has meant a lot to this community.

Despite his departure from the council, McDaniel will continue to serve in a lessor capacity. He will continue as liquor commissioner for another year, gradually transferring the duty to Moore Wolfe.

Moore Wolfe has also appointed McDaniel to the city's plan commission.

McDaniel said if there's any unfinished business from his time on council, it's neighborhood revitalization.

"Decatur has been known as a very generous community and that's great," he said. "But the problem is, we have more takers moving into Decatur than givers. There's people that move into Decatur that want to improve their lives, there's others are coming to just take and take and take and they're not helping the community."

He noted that his first childhood home was above Raupp's Shoe Store in downtown Decatur, but he's lived in nine Decatur neighborhoods since. He said more city residents need to take pride in their homes and neighborhoods.

"I'm a big supporter of Decatur," McDaniel said. "I try to try to be a good salesman for our community and will continue to be. I'm also realistic. We have issues, you take care of them, you don't brush them underneath the carpet and you address them the best you can."

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Opportunities to get vaccinated against COVID-19, in some cases without an appointment, continue to increase across the state.

Walgreens has announced it will start allowing people to walk in, without appointments, to get COVID-19 vaccines at its Illinois stores on Wednesday, and Walmart and Sams Club stores in Illinois have already begun taking walk-ins.

Walgreens, which has the largest pharmacy COVID-19 vaccination program in Illinois, will also allow people to make appointments, if theyd prefer, including same-day appointments.

Walgreens is encouraging those interested in walk-in vaccinations to call their local stores ahead of time to make sure they have enough supply for walk-ins on any given day, spokeswoman Kris Lathan said.

Walgreens also is teaming up with the Gateway Community Center, 1145 E. Cantrell St. in Decatur, to two hold two clinics this week.

The clinics will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 6 and 7. The Pfizer vaccine will be offered and those who receive the first dose at the clinic can receive their second dose there in two weeks or at any Walgreens.

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The clinic is in cooperation with Richland Community College and Southside Improvement Association. Appointments are preferred. Register through the Walgreens appointment scheduler, online at wagsoutreach.com/ss/GAT580625.

Walk-ins will be available, but are not guaranteed as scheduled appointments will be honored ahead of walk-ins.

You must be 16 or older to receive the vaccine and if you are younger than 18, a parent or guardian must be present.

The additional sites come as Macon County continues to push to get its vaccination numbers up. As of Monday, 28.36% of Macon County was fully vaccinated, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health website. Statewide, the number is 32.54%.

On Tuesday, Macon County health officials reported 12 newly confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. To date, there have been 10,589 positive cases in the county. Of those, 402 remain in isolation, 11 are hospitalized and 190 have died. The Illinois Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported 2,211 newly confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in the state, including 19 additional deaths.

Walmart and Sams Club have already started offering walk-in vaccines at all of their 175 pharmacies in Illinois, and those across the country, as supply allows, the company said Tuesday. People may also still schedule appointments if theyd prefer.

People do not need to be Sams Club members to receive vaccines at Sams Club stores.

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A Bristol Virginia police officer has been indicted on a charge of murder in an officer-involved shooting that killed a man in a motel parking lot in March  marking the first time a Twin City officer has been charged with murder in more than 100 years.

On Monday, a grand jury in Bristol handed down three indictments  murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and shooting into an occupied vehicle  against Officer Johnathan R. Brown, 31, of Piney Flats, Tennessee.

Its not clear exactly what happened prior to the shooting. The Virginia State Police said the day of the shooting that Kohler refused to get out of the car and drove toward the officers; however, a State Police spokeswoman declined to clarify Tuesday.

Shortly before 4:30 a.m. March 30, the Bristol Virginia Police Department received a 911 call reporting shots fired from a person staying at the Rodeway Inn on Euclid Avenue near Gate City Highway. When officers arrived, they encountered Jonathen Blake Kohler, 31, of Bristol, Tennessee, who was seated in the drivers seat of a red 1994 Ford Mustang, according to a statement released by the Virginia State Police on Tuesday.
In the boards discussion on the subject, Director of Schools David Cox maintained the recommendation to keep the schools mask requirements in place through the end of the school year.

The primary reason [is that] students under 16 have not had any opportunity to receive a vaccine, Cox said. This recommendation ... is also the recommendation of the CDC, the Tennessee Department of Health and the Sullivan County Department of Health.

Cox said that Kingsport City Schools and Bristol Tennessee City Schools have also decided to keep their own mask requirements in place through the end of the school year.

At the request of board member Michael Hughes, the group agreed that their decision would be a revocation not just of the school systems mask policy, but of the whole set of protocols the board had developed last summer and updated at the end of 2020.

Board member Matthew Spivey was the most vocal opponent of revoking the pandemic operating plans. He cited Tennessee Department of Health data showing several thousand cases of the virus among residents between ages 5 and 18, the high number of new cases in the county in recent weeks and the fact that the end of the school year is around the corner.
Ballad Health received a rounded index score of 92 out of a possible 100 in a new report issued by the Tennessee monitor for compliance with the systems Certificate of Public Advantage.

The report, filed in late April with the Tennessee Department of Health, covers from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.

State COPA Monitor Larry Fitzgerald gave the regional hospital system scores of 47 out of 50 possible points on population health, 27 out of 30 possible points on access to care, 19 out of 20 on other quality categories and pass in a pass or fail grade on the economic subindex category.

The index score is considered by the Tennessee Department of Health in its annual determination on whether the public has received an advantage by the operations of Ballad Health. The system, which was formed by the merger of former rivals Mountain States Health Alliance and Wellmont Health System, operates with permission and oversight from the states of Tennessee and Virginia because the merger largely eliminated choices of health care service providers.

A passing economic sub-index score and a composite score of 92 for the other three sub-indexes is an indication of clear and convincing advantage to the public from the operation of Ballad Health, Fitzgerald wrote in the report.
That fourth branch of government is the nickname often applied to the State Corporation Commission, the panel that regulates utilities. For a long time, perhaps even since the agencys founding in 1902, the SCC was considered a friendly venue for those utilities. Now the Democratic majority in the General Assembly has installed two new judges on the three-judge panel, so well see what this remade SCC has in store.

We may get our first glimpse when the SCC decides how to regulate utilities under the Clean Economy Act, the landmark legislation the General Assembly passed last year to decarbonize the states electric grid. The eyes can play tricks. Many see that bill name and think Clean Energy Act. Its that, too, but the substitution of economy for energy was intentional  a way for proponents to make the case that green energy doesnt hurt the economy, it helps the economy. Broadly speaking, thats true. Renewable energy jobs are one of the fastest-growing parts of the economy; from 2014 to 2019, the solar-energy sector alone added 156,000 jobs in the U.S.  a growth rate of 167%. However, the catch is those new jobs being created arent necessarily where the old ones in fossil fuels are being phased out. Thats where the Green New Dealers often dont have a very good response, but one that we in Virginia should be more concerned about. We only have a few counties that produce coal, but theyre still our counties  and the economic tentacles of coal, even in its reduced form, still reach far beyond the coalfields. There are lots of businesses in Roanoke that make a living selling equipment to coal companies.
Giles County authorities are asking the public to be on the lookout for a 2-year-old boy who was reportedly abducted from a church in Ripplemead on Sunday.

The county Sheriffs Office said Noah Gabriel Trout was taken from a nursery at Riverview Baptist Church by an unidentified woman sometime in the afternoon. Virginia State Police issued an Amber Alert and said the boy is believed to be in extreme danger.

The woman left in a dark-colored van or SUV from the church in the 200 block of Big Stony Creek Road, according to the sheriffs office. Authorities did not have any information about who the suspect may be.

Trout was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt and bright orange jacket.

He has a red mark on the back of his neck, according to the sheriffs office.

Anyone with information about the case should call the sheriffs office at 921-3842. If you see the child, call 911.
" " John Muir in 1902, at around age 64. Library of Congress

To conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, and wildlife lovers, John Muir's name evokes countless connotations. Known as an explorer, farmer, inventor, writer, and more, the Scottish-born naturalist made a lasting impact on the landscape of the United States, and his legacy lives on in all corners of the country.

Born on April 21, 1838 in Dunbar, Scotland, Muir immigrated to the U.S. with his family at the age of 11, first settling in Fountain Lake, Wisconsin, and then relocating to Hickory Hill, a farm near the city of Portage, Wisconsin. Muir learned discipline at an early age: His father insisted that he and his younger brother work the family land each day, and as the young Muir explored the surrounding countryside, he developed an affinity for the natural world.

But Muir also had a taste for innovation, and as a young man, began inventing various tools and objects, including a device that literally tipped him out of bed before dawn. In his memoir, Muir described the "early rising machine" as "a timekeeper which would tell the day of the week and the day of the month, as well as strike like a common clock and point out the hours; also ... have an attachment whereby it could be connected with a bedstead to set me on my feet at any hour in the morning; also to start fires, light lamps, etc."

Muir first drew attention for his imaginative creations when he took his inventions to the state fair in Madison, in 1860. Later that year, he started his education at the University of Wisconsin, but left school three years later to travel  his goal was to explore the raw, untouched land of the northern states.

Muir sustained an injury in 1867 that changed the course of his life  while working at a carriage parts shop in Indianapolis, an awl pierced his right eye and he temporarily lost sight in both eyes. The fear of permanently losing his vision spurred Muir to shift gears, personally and professionally  he abandoned the industrial world and decided to further explore Earth's natural wonders instead. Some speculate that it was while he was recovering from his injury that he first heard about Yosemite.

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Protecting the Natural World from "Progress"

Harold Wood, a John Muir scholar, presenter and author, who is also a long-time environmental activist in numerous organizations, says that once Muir recovered, he walked a thousand miles from Indianapolis to the Gulf of Mexico, sailed to Cuba, and later Panama, and eventually landed in San Francisco in March 1868. California became his new home, and from 1868 to 1874, he lived in Yosemite on and off, an experience, according to Tony Perrottet at Smithsonian Magazine, "that transformed him into a successor to Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson." During his time in Yosemite, Muir conceived of a "then-controversial theory of the glaciation of Yosemite Valley" and began to make a name for himself as a conservationist.

"The mindset of the 19th century was progress," Wood says. "That meant the development and extraction of natural resources at all costs. Muir was practically unique in his views that wild places and natural resources should be protected for future generations."

" " John Muir, right, with one of his best friends and environmental allies, Theodore Roosevelt. Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Muir began authoring a series of articles in 1874 known as "Studies in the Sierra" and left Yosemite to pursue his passion for writing in the Bay Area, traveling often to locations such as Alaska. He married Louisa (Louie) Wanda Strentzel in 1880 and the couple moved to Martinez, California, to raise their two daughters, Wanda and Helen. For the next decade, he worked with his father-in-law to manage the family fruit ranch, but eventually turned his sights back to travel and conservation efforts. Muir continued writing and drawing attention to issues like the devastation of mountain meadows and forests, and in partnership with Century Magazine editor Robert Underwood Johnson, Muir pushed for the eventual passage of an 1890 act in Congress that created Yosemite National Park.

Wood says Muir was also personally involved in the creation of Sequoia, Mount Rainier, Petrified Forest and Grand Canyon national parks and earned the title of "Father of Our National Park System."

"His words and deeds significantly influenced President Theodore Roosevelt's innovative conservation programs, which included establishing the first National Monuments by Presidential Proclamation, and Yosemite National Park and national forests by congressional action. One of the earliest national monuments established by President Roosevelt was Petrified Forest in Arizona, at Muir's urging," he notes.

One fact Wood says most people don't know about Muir's legacy is that when Yosemite National Park was established in 1890, "Yosemite Valley was not included in the park boundaries  nor was the famous Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Yosemite Valley had been given to the State of California by a federal land grant by Abraham Lincoln in the middle of the U.S. Civil War," Wood says. "In many ways, it was mismanaged by the State of California which had trouble keeping out squatters and responsibly managing tourism, allowing wildflower meadows to be destroyed by sheep and cattle."

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Founding of the Sierra Club

Wood also says that Muir had the foresight to realize that he couldn't push for continued conservation advocacy alone, and that collective action would be necessary for an enduring impact on environmental protection. "That is why he agreed, in 1892, to attend the Sierra Club's organizational meeting, and agreed to become the first president of the Sierra Club, an office he held until his death in 1914," Wood says. "He was glad to be part of such an organization because, in his words, 'We will be able to do something for wildness and make the mountains glad.'"

Described on its website as "the most enduring and influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States," the Sierra Club continues to "amplify the power of our 3.8 million members and supporters to defend everyone's right to a healthy world." The organization's national community of volunteers, advocates, and grassroots activists have secured the protection for 439 parks and monuments, won the passage of the Clean Air and Endangered Species Acts, and put over 281 coal plants on the path to replacement with clean energy, among other accomplishments.

" " John Muir walks through Muir Woods, which was declared a national monument on Jan. 9, 1908, by President Theodore Roosevelt. GOGA Park Archives/Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)

According to Wood, Muir spent many long years advocating for the return of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove from California state management to be incorporated in the Yosemite National Park. "In fact, this was really the first campaign for the early Sierra Club," he says. "To this end, in 1898 the Sierra Club set up a public 'reading room' within the Valley, staffed by Muir's young colleague, William E. Colby, to help people enjoy Yosemite and to learn more about the region. In 1904, the Club built a stone visitor center in the valley, now named the Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center."

Despite those efforts, it wasn't until 1906  after a 17-year campaign spearheaded by Muir and the Sierra Club  that President Roosevelt signed federal legislation to return Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove to become part of the Yosemite National Park.

"As the Sierra Club's first president, his leadership inspired many efforts that came even after his death, such as the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916, and the Wilderness Preservation System in 1964," Wood says. "His writings inspired generations of conservationists like National Park Service's first director Stephen Mather, author of the Wilderness Act, Howard Zahniser, famed photographer Ansel Adams, conservationist David Brower, and many more. This included a generation of grassroots activists throughout the 20th century who were inspired by Muir's legacy to establish a series of additional National Parks and Monuments, and many new units in the National Wilderness Preservation System."

While Muir's last battle to prevent the damming of the Hetch Hetchy Valley within Yosemite National Park failed, Wood says his fight made a lasting impact on societal attitudes toward conservation efforts. "That lost battle ultimately resulted in a widespread conviction that our national parks should be held inviolate. Many proposals to dam our national parks since that time have been stopped because of the efforts of citizens inspired by John Muir, and today there are legitimate proposals to restore Hetch Hetchy, while still preserving San Francisco's water supply from the Tuolumne River. Today, there is a growing movement to remove dams which destroy native fisheries like salmon and steelhead and natural ecosystems, such as the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams in the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State."

IN 1914, a year after losing the battle to protect the Hetch Hetchy, Muir died in Los Angeles following a short illness. "Perhaps his greatest legacy is not even wilderness preservation or national parks as such, but his teaching us the essential characteristic of the science of ecology, the interrelatedness of all living things," Wood says. "He summed it up nicely in his often quoted verse: 'When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.'"

Now That's Interesting In recent years, Muir's reputation has been tarnished as derogatory remarks he made about Native Americans have received renewed scrutiny. "Most media articles, when discussing Muir's views about Native Americans, ignore Muir's admiration for Alaska Natives and his charity work for southern California Indians," Wood says. He wrote about the topic in an essay for the John Muir Global Network, noting: "When one actually reads the bulk of Muir's writings rather than cherry-picking a few quotes, Muir's writings reflect a concern about how the Native tribes in California had been defiled and degraded by white culture, beginning with the Spanish and Mexicans, long before white American settlers came."
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Jean Richardson poses for a photo surrounded by hundreds of prom dresses Tuesday, April 27, 2021 inside her north Cheyenne home. Richardson, the founder of Project Prom Cheyenne, has collected prom dresses for 15 years to give to students. Girls can make appointments to visit her home and find that perfect prom dress, which are mostly donated.

Michael Cummo/Wyoming Tribune Eagle
81000 vials of Remdesivir from the US that arrived early this morning in Mumbai.

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 5 (ANI): Amid the record rise in COVID-19 cases in India, medical assistance is continuing to pour in from countries around the world, including the US, Singapore and Australia.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed that 81000 vials of Remdesivir from the US arrived early on Wednesday morning in Mumbai.

"Further elevating the India and United States Strategic Partnership. Appreciate the shipment of over 81,000 vials of Remdesivir from the US that arrived early this morning in Mumbai (India)," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet.

Besides the US, 3,650 oxygen cylinders and 8 ISO tanks are on their way from Singapore.

"3,650 oxygen cylinders, 8 ISO tanks and much more-tremendous effort by Indian community and well-wishers of India to mobilise COVID-relief assistance from Singapore," High Commission in Singapore tweeted.

Furthermore, a chartered flight departed Sydney carrying supplies to meet the needs identified by the Centre.

"A chartered Qantas flight departed Sydney carrying supplies to meet the needs identified by the Govt of India, including 1056 ventilators and 43 oxygen concentrators," said Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia.

India registered 3,82,315 new coronavirus cases and over 3,700 related deaths in the last 24 hours, said the union health ministry on Wednesday morning. With this, the cumulative count of the cases has gone up to 2,06,65,148. (ANI)
CONCORD, N.C.  As part of national Law Day events, local law enforcement officers, the families of fallen officers and members of the community will gather on Friday, May 7 at 10:45 a.m. on the front steps of the Cabarrus County Government Center (65 Church Street, S., Concord) to present the Robert J. Eury Award to a deserving veteran law enforcement officer.

The Robert J. Eury Award is given to an officer with at least 20 years of experience and someone who embodies the integrity of Lt. Eury, who was killed by honorably protecting the people of this county. This is known as the most prestigious law enforcement award in the community. It is given to an officer who demonstrates true commitment to law enforcement and service to the community.

The event will also pay tribute to the life and legacy of the seven local law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, including Concord Police Officer Jason Nicholas Shuping, who was killed on December 16, 2020. Officials will present a nameplate honoring Officer Shuping on the Cabarrus County Fallen Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.

The Law Day ceremony is a long-standing tradition in Cabarrus County that is representative of national celebrations dedicated to the officers of and ties between written law and the pursuit of order.
Ben Watkins, the MasterChef Junior contestant who lost his parents in a murder-suicide, was remembered Saturday for the lives and hearts he touched in his 14 years.
SLEEP SQUAD is a family-friendly, interactive, virtual theater experience that turns your home into a rocket ship to launch kids into their dreams.

Featuring brand new, unique, kid-driven comedy and music, this world premiere on-demand production creates a new kind of post-dinner, pre-bedtime ritual for kids age 4-12.

How This Works

Story Pirates' SLEEP SQUAD is a family-friendly, interactive, virtual theater experience that turns your home into a rocket ship to launch kids into their dreams. SLEEP SQUAD can be enjoyed in one 45-minute experience, or in three unique episodes, ranging between 12 and 25 minutes in length. SLEEP SQUAD can be experienced after dinner, before bedtime, at nap time or any time young astronauts feel like going on an adventure into their dreams!

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There are two easy ways to experience SLEEP SQUAD:

Video Only | Your family can enjoy an amazing experience starting tonight and for as many nights as you like over the next two weeks. Well send instructions on how to create the SLEEP SQUAD interactive experience using items you have at home and your imagination!

Video + Official Dreamtime Travel Kit | You get the same as above, but with this package you also get an official SLEEP SQUAD Dreamtime Travel Kit shipped to you that includes a dream journal, sleep mask, stickers, and a star projector. If you purchase this package now, you have access to the video for four weeks, and can expect Kit delivery in under two weeks.

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A misleading description of 13-year-old Adam Toledos fatal shooting by police was given in court by a prosecutor because of a communication breakdown at top levels of Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxxs office, an internal investigation found.

The checks and balances that should have been in place for someone to be able to review, to ensure that what was being said in court aligned with the information that the office had. It didnt work, Foxx told the Tribune in an interview.

The prosecutor who gave the inadvertently faulty statement in court last month, James Murphy, was restored to his position after about two weeks of administrative leave, according to a news release Wednesday making the investigations findings public. Murphy did not intend to give the impression that Toledo was holding a gun at the precise moment he was shot, the news release stated.

But shortly before the findings were released, rank-and-file prosecutors received an email from Foxx announcing the resignation of her second-in-command, Jennifer Coleman, a 26-year veteran of the office who was named First Assistant about five months ago.

Wednesdays news release did not mention Coleman by name. Neither did Foxx, who in the interview with the Tribune declined to comment on personnel matters.

But she did stress prosecutors were conducting completely separate investigations into what happened that night: one into the shooting itself, and one regarding the man who was with Toledo.

And only the first assistant had active knowledge of both investigations, Foxx said  indicating that only Coleman was in a position to ensure that the information Murphy read in court was complete and appropriate.

In short, the Tribune has learned, Murphy had an unexpectedly brief amount of time to write a description of the shooting, and because of the way the office is structured, he did not have access to all of the evidence that had been turned over. And prosecutors failed to quickly recognize how Murphys statements could have been misinterpreted, the news release stated.

Foxxs office faced some of the heaviest criticism it has seen in years after it partially disavowed its in-court description of Toledos shooting last month.

The description was given in court April 10 during a court hearing for Ruben Roman, the 21-year-old man who was with Toledo the night of the shooting. Roman allegedly fired the shots that drew police to the scene that night, and he was initially slated to appear on charges of gun possession and reckless discharge.

But in the hours before court, Coleman instructed prosecutors to add a charge of child endangerment, according to a source, meaning they would have to publicly provide details tying Roman to Toledos death. That left Murphy with a very short window of time to put together the proffer, that is, the in-court statement outlining prosecutors evidence.

Foxx was not consulted on whether to add the child endangerment charge, a source told the Tribune.

In court that afternoon, Murphy told Judge Susana Ortiz that Toledo was turning toward the officer, who shouted: Drop it, drop it.

(Toledo) has a gun in his right hand, Murphy told the judge. The officer fired one shot  striking him in the chest. The gun that the victim was holding landed against the fence a few feet away.

That was the sole public narrative of the shooting for almost a week, until April 15, when the Civilian Office of Police Accountability released multiple videos of events that night.

And each sentence of the proffer, in isolation, appears to be supported by the video.

But viewed in aggregate, the videos appear to show Toledo with a gun in his hand that he tosses just before he turns toward the officer with his hands up  all within a split second.

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Less than an hour before the release of the videos, the states attorneys office issued a statement saying Murphy had not fully informed himself before speaking in court days earlier and should not have left room for listeners to infer that Toledo was holding a gun at the exact moment he was shot.

The matter drew scornful national attention, with major media figures accusing prosecutors of lying and covering up the shooting.

Foxx said she first saw media accounts of Murphys proffer the day after court, and they did not square with the description she had been given of the shooting.

Is this a representation that got lost in translation with the media, or was this an impression that we gave, or did we say these facts? Those were the questions that I had looking at the reporting, she said.

On the following Monday, April 12, she watched the video for the first time and found that it did not line up with the way reporters were describing her offices in-court account, she said. So she assigned a staffer to look into it, speak with Murphy, pull transcripts and see where the gaps were, she said.

That is partially why it took prosecutors so long to step back from Murphys initial description, Foxx said.

We lost time, one, because it hadnt been caught before I brought it to (peoples) attention and two, once I brought it to the attention ... there was not an appreciation of the urgency of the matter, she told the Tribune.

The Toledo matter was particularly complicated because separate divisions of the prosecutors office were simultaneously conducting separate investigations into what happened that night.

The Felony Review unit examined evidence from the Chicago Police Department in order to determine whether Roman should be charged in connection with his actions that night.

But it is the Law Enforcement Accountability Division that is investigating whether to charge the officer who shot Toledo. They got their evidence from the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

LEAD is walled off from nearly every other part of the States Attorneys office, by design, so that the fraught work of investigating police shootings can be conducted as independently as possible, Foxx said. That unit reports directly to the first assistant and is intended to have limited interaction with the chain of command that governs other divisions.

So while both units were investigating overlapping parts of that night, LEAD did not share evidence with felony review, Foxx said.

Murphy said in court last month that he had seen video of the shooting himself.

But as per protocol, he did not have access to certain evidence that had been obtained by LEAD, Foxx said, including videos, the enhancements of videos, reports (and) interviews.

However, there was a member of the executive team that had insight into both of those incidents, and the information available that LEAD had and the information that felony review had, Foxx said.

When asked specifically if she was referring to Coleman, Foxx noted only that LEAD reports directly to the first assistant and is outside the chain of command that other units follow.

(The problem wasnt) that information was siloed, it was siloed by design. The check and balance was, despite the silo, there was insight that could have alleviated the situation on April 10, she said.

Meanwhile, the office is reviewing the way it trains prosecutors to give bond proffers, and will ensure that further checks and balances work the way they are supposed to.

Foxx said she regretted that her office was a part of distracting from the key issue of the shooting itself.

The LEAD unit is still investigating whether to charge the officer who shot Toledo with any wrongdoing, and Foxx stressed the importance of making sure that when we have cases like this, particularly in this case of a 13-year-old boy who was killed by a police officer, that that investigation is free from politics, is free from pressures, and is done with the highest level of integrity for the family and for the accused officer.

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It will also take awhile to build up to more complicated cases such as those involving murder that might take weeks to try. Instead, low-level felonies will likely be the first up for trial.

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James said having jury trials will also be complicated by the fact that some people will remain concerned about COVID-19. Some people wont respond to a jury summons or they wont be able to serve on juries because they might be high risk for getting severe complications from COVID-19.

No matter what, it may take years to resolve some cases because of the backlog.

Beyond jury trials, there are other things that court officials are dealing with.

Many people get confused about court dates because of court closures, and court officials are trying to keep too many people from coming to the courthouse.

Before, district courtrooms would be crowded. Dockets would be several pages long, and people would wait hours before their case was called.

Court officials have now started what is known as Advise Court. It is on the main floor of the courthouse. The court is designed for people who are making their first appearance in court for mostly traffic infractions or misdemeanors. They get arraigned and get information about how to get legal representation.
We will work with the school system and both hospital systems to assist parents with their preferred vaccination choice and site, whether a community clinic or come to their school, Swift said.

Swift said the department provides doses to 16- to 18-year-olds at its vaccination sites and at community events.

Winston-Salem/Forsyth Schools released a statement saying the district is considering a similar on-campus approach to vaccinating students ages 12 to 18 as it did for vaccinating teachers and other staff members earlier this year.

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We would happily allow the health department to utilize school space for vaccination clinics focused on that younger population, the statement said.

We have been advocates of the vaccine and worked closely with the health department to help them reach, educate and ultimately vaccinate over 50% of our employees through their clinics alone.

We want to do everything possible to make sure our students and staff are safe and protected.

Background

Multiple media reports, first by The New York Times, say the FDA is considering providing vaccinations for those as young as age 2, potentially as soon as September.
Today

Plenty of sunshine. Hot. High 93F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph.

Tonight

Some passing clouds. Low 66F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow

Sunny with gusty winds. High 91F. Winds SSW at 25 to 35 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
To hear those words from the Commissioners and to hear the words of their Resolution to remove the Monument, only to have the Commissioners break their promise and go back on their words, was heartbreaking," he said.

Lee said in the release that, "Its always hard to bring people to Statesville and then have to take them to the restaurants downtown that are right in view of the statue, especially if they are people of color, especially if theyre familiar with the history.

The Rev. Curtis Johnson, president of the South Iredell NAACP, said, A glorified symbol of white supremacy stands guard over the Iredell County Government Center, a place where the government is supposed to serve all of Iredell Countys residents. That is totally unacceptable, as the Commissioners recognized in their March Resolution. The Monument must go  peacefully, but it must go. The time is long overdue.
Senate Bill 69

The primary element in the latest version of Senate Bill 69 allows individuals pursuing a Level 2 limited provisional license to need to hold a limited learners permit for just nine months rather than 12 months.

Senate Bill 69 passed the Senate by a 43-6 vote on March 22 with the third-party contractor language.

The third edition of SB69 took out several proposed changes that would have shortened from six to three months how long a drivers license permit holder would have to wait before being able to drive between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Among the three primary sponsors is Sen. Vickie Sawyer, R-Yadkin. The bill would become effective immediately if signed into law by Cooper. The changes approved by House Transportation have a Dec. 31 sunset.

The Senate version of SB69 would require third-party contractors to receive DMV certification that its training complies with DMV criteria for conducting a road test.

The contractor would be able to charge a DMV-approved fee for conducting a road test. That fee would be subtracted from the overall fee for obtaining a license.
But thats just background, interesting only to political wonks and history buffs.

For the rest of us, sadly, the headline-grabber wont be over fiscal policy, the environment or foreign interventions.

Instead, well likely be looking at (another) referendum on the legacy of former President Donald Trump, the staying power of his brand and the continued promotion of the Big Lie  especially if daughter-in-law and North Carolina native Lara Trump wades in.

On the GOP side, if a candidate has the last name of Trump, then thats a significant boost to name recognition and attraction in that party primary, Bitzer wrote. The question in my mind: Does the former president seek to make this race the one in which his influence is felt the most, especially after Burr voted to impeach him?

Its an intriguing thought, one with rich, attention-getting overtones of payback and revenge.

If she decides to run  still an unknown  then declared GOP candidates such as U.S. Rep. Ted Budd of Davie County, former Rep. Mark Walker of Greensboro and ex-Gov. Pat McCrory might want to rethink their positions. Itd be mighty hard to run as the most pro-Trump candidate in a field with an actual Trump in it.
But the lie of a stolen election is the foundational falsehood of a political worldview. Believing it requires Trumps followers to affirm the existence of a nationwide plot against him and his supporters  a plot led by ruthless Democrats and traitorous Republicans, and ignored or endorsed by useless courts and a complicit media. The claims plausibility is not the point. Does it really make sense that Attorney General William P. Barr, who found no evidence of election fraud that could have changed the result, was in on the plot? Were the conservative judges Trump appointed who dismissed his rubbish lawsuits really out to get him?

Such considerations dont seem to matter. In the 1930s and 40s, was it plausible that the democratic leaders of Weimar, Germany, had stabbed their own country in the back and betrayed its people? Or that an international conspiracy of powerful Jews was controlling world events?

Trumps lie is not the moral equivalent of fascist propaganda. But it serves the same political function. A founding lie is intended to remove followers from the messy world of facts and evidence. It is designed to replace critical judgment with personal loyalty. It is supposed to encourage distrust of every source of social authority opposed to the leaders shifting will.
According to The Washington Post, about 1,000 civilians are killed by police every year. This number has been constant over five years. In comparison, the website Officer Down Memorial Page (odmp.org) shows that 362 police officers were killed in the line of duty in 2020.

Officer deaths are tragic and should be noted. But a similar concern should be for the far greater number of civilians shot to death by police officers.

David Bell

Winston-Salem

Dictate of the day

I truly dont know what to make of the May 2 letter Falling in line in which the writer claims I truly dont understand the lock-step behavior of people these days who are actually anxious to fall in line with the dictate of the day. Wouldnt it matter what the dictate of the day was?
Nebraska officials have always encouraged people to eat beef, which is the state's largest single industry.

But now they are putting something at stake. (Or is it steak?)

Gov. Pete Ricketts on Wednesday unveiled the "Good Life Great Steaks Nebraska Beef Passport," a program that encourages people to visit restaurants across the state and order beef off the menu.

Forty-one restaurants, stretching from Gering to Omaha, are participating in the passport program, which is sponsored by the Nebraska Beef Council.

The program allows anyone who visits a participating restaurant, orders a beef item and gets their passport stamped to enter a contest to win prizes ranging from a beef grilling package to an 80-quart cooler filled with $500 worth of beef.

The passport program coincides with Ricketts' proclamation of May as Beef Month in the state.

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He said Nebraska's beef industry weathered the coronavirus pandemic pretty well, with exports down only 4% last year, but it's important to highlight the industry in light of attacks that have been coming from "radical environmentalists to Bill Gates."
It's becoming easier to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Lincoln without an appointment.

On Wednesday, CVS became the latest participant in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program to announce it would start accepting walk-ins for vaccines. The pharmacy chain has 29 locations in Nebraska, including nine in Lincoln.

The announcement came a day after President Joe Biden urged the companies participating in the retail pharmacy program to start accepting walk-ins. Walmart said Tuesday before the president's announcement that it would start accepting walk-ins at both Walmart and Sam's Club locations. Hy-Vee made a similar announcement last week.

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department also said it would accept walk-ins at a clinic scheduled from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday at the Belmont Recreation Center at 1234 Judson St.

Health Director Pat Lopez on Tuesday said the department has been evaluating other methods of getting vaccine to people, although she did not specifically mention walk-in clinics, and it's not clear if that is something that will be done regularly at future clinics.
Many facilities across the country have struggled to get staff to take the shots. A CDC study in February found that during the first round of vaccinations, an average of almost 80% of residents took the shots, while less than 40% of staff did.

There also are broader lessons from the two outbreaks that go beyond care facilities.

It has been known from the start that people getting vaccinated still can contract COVID-19, and even get seriously ill and die.

On Wednesday, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said in a news release that a woman in her 80s with underlying medical conditions developed COVID-19 and was hospitalized more than 14 days after completing a vaccination series with the Pfizer vaccine. She was a resident of Two Rivers Health District, which is based in Kearney.

The woman's death is the only one identified so far in a Nebraska resident who was considered fully vaccinated against the disease.

In vaccine trials, shots were shown to be more than 90% effective in preventing symptomatic infection, but not 100% effective. A case in which a vaccinated person tests positive for the virus is known as a breakthrough.
"It's very reassuring that it appears that our message of experienced leadership was resonating with voters," said Mayhew, a restaurant owner and former computer consultant.

Looming budgets and determining what schools will look like this fall will dominate the board's priorities, Mayhew added, calling it an "exciting but a challenging time for our district.

"I know a lot of people have mask fatigue, and we want to normalize as soon as possible," he said.

Danek's challenger Christina Campbell said she was "extremely proud" of the race she ran and the turnout on Election Day.

"It has been a tremendous privilege for me to meet so many community members door to door and hear their stories and concerns," said the legislative administrative aide who hopes to stay involved in politics.

With the general election behind it, the board will elect new board leadership later this month. Mayhew and Danek, who have both chaired the board multiple times, are open to serving in that role again. Danek, a community volunteer who retired from the Auxiliary to the American Postal Workers Union Executive Board in 2019, also added it could be time for a new face to take those reins.
Shell work 30 to 35 hours a week, including hopping onto Zoom meetings with her counterparts on the other side of the world at 1 a.m.

I was worried I would never get the chance to go abroad, said OHara, a sophomore from San Diego. I saw this as an option to increase my cultural competency and my adaptability by working in a country Im not familiar with at all.

In addition to filling a gap felt by many UNL students who missed out on international experiences this year, Davis said he hopes the Global Experiences classes create opportunities for some students who may otherwise not consider going abroad during college.

While we think the traditional study abroad can really be transformative, there are a lot of obstacles for students like responsibilities back home or the cost to international education, Davis said.

By reimagining what a global experience looks like, UNL hopes more students will be able to gain exposure before deciding if they want to pursue the full-on study abroad experience, while offering them resources to figure out how to make it work.

Making our students become future and world ready is one of the key initiatives behind this, Davis added.
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"I'm trying to right the wrong of how schools are funded in this state," Friesen said. Students in Venango, as well as Omaha, deserve to get some state support, he said.

But several senators spoke against LB454, questioning how the state could afford its high cost, and saying its distribution of state funds would probably be challenged in court.

"This isn't even close to being fair," said Elkhorn Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, the Revenue Committee chairwoman. She and other senators said that all areas of the state deserve property tax relief, and the answer was more complicated than increasing funding for rural schools.

We cant just keep throwing money out there, Linehan said. We need comprehensive reform.

The senator has proposed a study of the state's tax system and action to address it in 2022. Nebraska ranks poorly when it comes to state funding for local education, which Linehan and others have said explains why local property taxes, which rank in the top 10 nationally, are so high.
Democrat Tom Beckius, a Lancaster County Planning Commissioner will join incumbents Sandra Washington and Bennie Shobe to fill three at-large seats on the Lincoln City Council.

Beckius ran second behind Washington, a Democrat who was appointed after Leirion Gaylor Baird became mayor in 2019. Democrat Shobe, also an incumbent, was third.

Republican Roy Christensen, the third incumbent in the race, lost his bid for third term, according to results from the Lancaster County Election Commission.

Republicans Mary Hilton, a political newcomer and issues advocate, and Eric Burling, a software engineer running a study abroad company, finished fifth and sixth.

The three winners will serve four-year terms. Unlike the other four council members, who represent equally populated districts, these three council seats are voted on by the entire city.

The race is nonpartisan, but council members often vote along party lines. The council currently splits 5-2 in favor of Democrats, which often proves Richard Meginnis is the only Republican.

The six candidates emerged from a field of 12 in the primary election in April.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Biden administration on Tuesday suspended oil and gas leases in Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, reversing a drilling program approved by the Trump administration and reviving a political fight over a remote region that is home to polar bears and other wildlife  and a rich reserve of oil.
A revolutionary tax reform proposal that was moved to the floor largely to give its sponsor an opportunity to promote his plan came within two votes Wednesday of clearing its first hurdle in the Legislature.

Sen. Steve Erdman's motion to advance his bill (LR11CA) seeking a 2022 vote of the people on a constitutional amendment to replace the state's income, corporate, sales and property tax system with a new consumption tax stalled on a 23-19 vote and disappeared from the legislative agenda.

Twenty-five votes are required to move a bill to second-stage consideration in the 49-member Legislature.

Erdman said his proposal would provide "the real solution (to) a broken tax system" and he warned his colleagues that "voters will be taking things into their own hands" if the Legislature does not act now.

"This a day we've been waiting for a long time in Nebraska," the Bayard senator said. "This is the solution we have been looking for."

Under this proposed new revenue system that would center taxation on the purchase of services and new goods, he said, "you can never, never be overtaxed because you decide how much tax you pay."
Gov. Pete Ricketts pushed back Wednesday on criticism of his new media credentialing policy that has been slammed as unconstitutional and a potential pretext to exclude media outlets that don't share his conservative political views.

Groups such as Media of Nebraska, which includes the Lincoln Journal Star, the Washington-based Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and the ACLU of Nebraska have called on the governor to revise the new policy, saying it asks questions that bear no relationship to the stated reasons for credentialing: "operational limits and security reasons.

After a news conference to proclaim May as "Beef Month," Ricketts said the application form for credentials to cover his Capitol news briefings asks only "neutral" questions. He said that concerns it would be used to exclude media that he doesn't favor are "unfounded."

"Folks, at the end of the day it's only a dozen questions. It probably takes less than 10 minutes to fill out. It's not that big of a deal," the governor said.

Ricketts did not have a written press credentialing process until recently, after the Omaha World-Herald wrote about an Omaha community news website that had been denied access to the governor's media briefings and barred from asking questions of Ricketts.
BENEDICT  While the street view of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church appears mostly unchanged since the congregation disbanded last year, the inside is being thoughtfully transformed into a home and business for owners Tim and Kathy Johnson.

Dubbed by the Johnsons as their chouse, 1,600 people follow Kathys Facebook group, Bless this Chouse, for regular updates on the renovation of the former house of worship.

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, established April 22, 1881, built the church in 1916 at the corner of Sherman and Lovena in downtown Benedict. The congregation disbanded in January 2020, and the 2,285-square-foot building was put up for sale.

The 105-year-old building's brick front, as well as a fair portion of its interior, will remain true to its origin. Stained-glass windows have been left intact, including a backlit large depiction of Jesus on the main floor. Some of the pews have been moved and repurposed, and woodwork has been left in its original form when possible.
First, a good superintendent comes with a cost. Second, Joel is a very good superintendent.

The salary is earned for overseeing a staff of thousands spread through dozens of buildings, in addition to all of the strife and entanglements that come with the position.

In most cities, it's a lightning-rod position. The average tenure of a school superintendent in the United States is 3.8 years, meaning that school boards spend far too much time seeking out and hiring superintendents.

That said, it's telling that Joel is completing his 11th year in Lincoln. In those 11 years, he has provided LPS with a direction and a consistency that most school districts look to emulate.

He has overseen the district's growth and last year was integral in helping to pass a $290 million bond issue that will add two new high schools, an elementary school and numerous other districtwide projects in the coming years.

Joel also navigated Lincoln's education system through perhaps its most challenging year ever. When the novel coronavirus found its way to Nebraska 14 months ago, Joel was quick to shut down the schools and quicker to implement online coursework.
The number of justices allocated to the Supreme Court has changed six times in U.S. history.

Now we have the a conveniently forgetful Nebraska attorney general decrying Democrats efforts to once again change the number of Supreme Court Justices. He calls it packing the court for political purposes. This comes from a man who sought to abridge the Constitution by declaring voters of other states null and void.

Perhaps Mr. Peterson forgets the last four years, where his partys senators refused to hold hearings for Supreme Court nominees during the Obama administration, thereby violating their oath and abrogating their Constitutional duties. In doing so, they packed the court, pure and simple.

And then they packed the court again by rushing through a Trump nominee in the last dying weeks of a hateful, corrupt, and narcissist presidency. So who packed the court for political reasons?

Not the Democrats. The Democrats are trying to unpack the Supreme Court. Furthermore, two recent nominees were approved by corrupt senators, led by Mitch McConnell, who ignored their constitutional oath and duties for political reasons. There are currently seven legitimate justices and two packed, illegitimate justices.
The armed conflict of last week between the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan is the culmination of years of low-level violence. While having an impact on the development, prosperity, and security of border communities and local villagers, these limited confrontations have not directly affected relations between the two countries. However, with some 50 dead, hundreds of injured, and thousands of displaced people, the current conflict could become a turning point not just in their bilateral dealings, but also and especially in the construction of a regional order in Central Asia.

BACKGROUND: Between April 28 and May 1, a violent armed conflict erupted between the armed forces of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan near the Golovnoy water distribution point in Kok-Tash village of Batken region, located at the source of the water canals replenishing Tortkul reservoir on the territory of Kyrgyzstan.

This escalation was preceded by a long history of skirmishes and spats along the 970-kilometre-long border, of which only half is demarcated. Yet in contrast to previous clashes, which usually involved stone-throwing and other forms of low-level violence, this time armored vehicles, military helicopters, mortar shelling, and other heavy military equipment were utilized in what could be considered a short war between the two neighboring countries, especially (but not only) in the areas of Maksat, Leilek, Kulundu, and Khoja Alo.

Kyrgyzstans Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ruslan Kazakbaev, immediately held talks with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Mukhriddin and other representatives, during which the discussed further joint actions aiming to resolve the situation in the borderlands. Finally, on May 1, Saimumin Yatimov, head Tajikistans State Committee for National Security and his Kyrgyz counterpart Kamchybek Tashiev agreed to formalize a ceasefire, arguing that The tragedy that happened in the border regions of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan should never be repeated.

In the wake of the violence, some 50 people lost their lives, almost 200 were injured, and almost 60,000 displaced.

IMPLICATIONS: This and other episodes of violence leave marks in the common memory and conscience of Central Asia. Together with the violent clashes in 1990, 2005, and 2010 in Kyrgyzstan; Tajikistans civil war between 1992 and 1997; the Tashkent bombings in 1999 and the Andijan events in 2005; and the violence in Kazakhstans Zhanaozen in 2011 and Masanchi in 2020; the recent border clashes will likely be remembered as one of the darkest days of the region since its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Skirmishes, shootings and occasional low-level violence along the borders in Central Asia, especially in the Fergana Valley, have been quite frequent over the past 30 years. Yet, what makes the events of last week unique is that they involved a clash between the military forces of two Central Asian states, thus constituting the first inter-state conflict of this magnitude in the region since independence. For a region that has taken pride in the absence of inter-state violence, in contrast to the neighboring South Caucasus or former Yugoslavia, these recent events are an alarm bell. While the two governments were indeed able to cool down the violence in a relatively short time and a ceasefire was agreed fairly quickly, the fact remains that inter-state conflict in Central Asia is not just a possibility but has now happened. The Kyrgyz-Tajik conflict can thus be viewed as a potential turning point in the kind of regional order that Central Asia intends to develop, especially in terms of conflict-resolution mechanisms.

Central Asia now faces four distinct options. First, the region can remain stuck in the status quo. Notwithstanding the recent ceasefire and the joint protocol on the delimitation and demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, as well as overly optimistic declarations that a section of the border will be demarcated by May 9, problems of demarcation and delimitation will persist. This is due partly to insufficient resources allocated to the process, and partly to the unwillingness of state leaders to make concessions. Moreover, these issues have a low priority on the agenda of the involved governments and their control over border areas remains relatively weak.

The second option is that Russia addresses the matter, either single-handedly or through CSTO channels. This would imply an intervention by Moscow, taking advantage of the relative negotiating weakness of the two conflicting parties and playing a mediator role while also tweaking the conflict in any direction it pleases. In particular, this would open for an increased Russian military presence in both countries. Some sectors of politics and civil society in Kyrgyzstan have already made appeals to Vladimir Putin to personally mediate in this conflict.

The third option is for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to find a pragmatic solution to the matter among themselves, based on the principles of good-neighborliness and mutual respect. The model here would be the recent improvement in Kyrgyz-Uzbek relations, as discussed in detail by Farkhod Tolipov through the example of the Sokh enclave. Resorting to both formal and informal rules and codes of conduct, establishing mutual trust, and carefully balancing diplomacy, international law, and political willingness, the Kyrgyz-Uzbek breakthrough could be replicated with Tajikistan, but this would require proactive leadership and serious investments in the border region, which are presently missing.

The fourth and final option, which could potentially work in tandem with the third one, would be the realization among the Central Asian republics that the existing border issues, and the violence related to them, are best resolved by the regional countries themselves. This would amount to the first steps towards a Central Asian order with respect to dispute-resolution mechanisms, which may well include both formal and informal practices.

In the course of a few days, all leaders and foreign ministers of the region, including Turkmenistan, have had phone conversations over the Kyrgyz-Tajik conflict. Uzbek and Kazakh Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev have both recently offered to mediate, and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov was promptly invited to Dushanbe by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. These are all indications that Central Asian governments desire to resolve this conflict at the regional level, without involvement of third parties, be they states or organizations. Tokayev mentioned that he considers it possible to develop a mechanism for settling such border incidents within the next Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia. This would be in line with the spirit of the renewed consultative meetings of Heads of State of Central Asia, where it was first discussed that regional countries should sync their watches on matters of common relevance. The rationale for these meetings has referred to regional closeness as an unstoppable process, where Central Asian countries are increasingly dealing with regional issues with a regional mindset. According to Elbasi Nursultan Nazarbayev, there is a broad range of topics specific to the region that could only be discussed among the Central Asian states.

Crucially, however, this process of regional mediation and construction of regional sovereignty should also involve local people. A positive example in this regard is the recent trilateral meeting of the three governors of the Fergana region. Hosted in the city of Ferghana by Governor Hayrullo Bozorov, the meeting was attended by the Governor of Tajikistans Sughd Province, Rajabboi Ahmadzoda, and the Governor of Kyrgyzstans Batken Province, Omurbek Suvanaliev. Nearly 30 years after the three countries became independent, the meeting marked the first gathering of the heads of the three neighboring provinces. Moreover, positive initiatives towards a local approach to the resolution of border issues are coming from civil society organizations of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and members of the Valley of Peace network, united by membership in the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict, who appealed to the residents of the two countries in connection with the bloody events in the border zone.

CONCLUSIONS: The armed conflict on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border that began on April 28 and ended only in the evening of May 1 will leave a scar in the collective memory and common imaginary of Central Asia, having already caused a large number of casualties, as well as injured and displaced people. These events marked the culmination of accumulated low-level violence over the years, whose significance and premonitory character has been neglected and downplayed for far too long.

The region is now at a turning point. In order to eschew the status quo and embrace conflict resolution and the creation of communities of peace in border areas, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, but also the other regional states, have three options. They can resort to enhanced bilateralism, supported by political will, a good-neighborly spirit and mutual trust. They can leave the matter to Russia, which can use its privileged position as a security guarantor in the region to instrumentalize the tension along the border, thus enhancing its position in the area and potentially creating another convenient frozen conflict. Or they can work towards the formation of a regional order by acting in concert within Central Asia through formal and informal mechanisms for entrenched consultation, conflict resolution, and the advancement of peace without the interference of third parties. The recent events are much more than a border incident between two states. In fact, is a call to the region to decide on the way ahead.

AUTHOR'S BIO:

Dr Filippo Costa Buranelli is Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in International Relations at the University of St Andrews, UK. His interests include International Relations theory, international history, global governance, Eurasian politics, and regionalism.

Image Source: DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Angela Ruiz, U.S. Air Force accessed on 5.5.2021


Lets Talk Alliance joins the many Americans who believe the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial is a step toward broader justice for all. But we also understand that the struggle is far from over and that disagreements remain about how to proceed.

The Alliance is a group of individuals who came together six years ago to create a space where issues impacting the Lincoln community can be discussed. We work to dismantle barriers and to build bridges among individuals who reside in Lincoln.

In this moment, as we confront the divisions that still separate us, we encourage everyone in Lincoln to find a way to make positive change in our community. Show grace to those who do not look like you, think like you or view the world as you do. And we urge everyone to have the courage to engage in real conversation with someone whose views may be different from yours.

A diverse group that believes we are stronger together, Lets Talk Alliance joins its voice with those of so many other individuals and groups in Lincoln working for change. We recognize that our nation and our city are not perfect, but we are determined to work together toward a more perfect union.

Nancy Comer, John Goldrich, Dick Vautravers, Lincoln,

For the Lets Talk Alliance

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On Friday, a statement from a Racine County Sheriff's Office public information officer issued a statement indicating that it plans to release no more information about what occurred pending the investigations of the deaths, both of which are being led by the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department.

"The Racine County Sheriffs Office has released two statements to the media concerning two inmate deaths in the County Jail on Saturday, May 29, 2021, and Tuesday, June 1, 2021," Sgt. Michael J. Luell said in an email. "The investigations into the two deaths are being handled by the Kenosha County Sheriffs Office. The Racine County Sheriffs Office is cooperating fully with the Kenosha County Sheriffs Office, as-well-as the Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office (which is reported to be performing the autopsies). In respect to the integrity of the investigative process, the Sheriffs Office is not providing any additional information or making public comments at this time."

The fiancee of one of the men that she is "now left with more questions than answers" after the little information she has received from the Racine County Sheriff's Office.
That moment, I got triggered instantly, I just felt this electrical, tingling rush run through my back. It was the weirdest thing I had ever felt in my life.

Helmick said what keeps him going, doing these investigations, is wanting to know whats next.

Ron Helmick with Spirit Box 7 Ron Helmick, lead investigator with Racine Paranormal Investigators, uses an SB7 (Spirit Box 7) on Saturday in an attempt to communicate with 

Its also to help people when theres no one else to help them, Helmick said. Weve run into a lot of different situations  some just want answers, others want them (spirits) dealt with.

Sorensen said he likes being on RPI for the growth in spirituality, bringing God to people.

I enjoy sitting with people and talking with them, allowing them to express themselves, what they believe, what they dont believe, from a non-judgmental place, Sorensen said. Its all about awareness for me  where are they at? Its all very fascinating.

Helmick had two words in response to those are skeptics or non-believers: come along. RPI invites people to join public investigations.

Otherwise, Helmick has a to each his own viewpoint for nonbelievers, he said: If thats your thing, thats your thing.
Nelson also took issue with Cahill's refusal to sequester the jury for the trial or admonish them to avoid all media, and with his refusal to allow a man who was with Floyd at the time of his arrest to testify.

Nelson asked the judge to impeach the verdict on the grounds that the jury committed misconduct, felt pressured, and/or failed to adhere to jury instructions, though the filing did not include details about that assertion. To impeach a verdict is to question its validity.

The brief did not mention recent reports that one of the jurors participated in an Aug. 28 march in Washington, D.C., to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

That juror, Brandon Mitchell, has defended his actions, saying the event was to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington and was not a protest over Floyd's death. Floyd's brother and sister, Philonise and Bridgett Floyd, and relatives of others who had been shot by police addressed the crowd at the march last summer.

Nelson did not immediately return a message seeking details on his allegation of juror misconduct.

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This newspaper told Vartenie Dadians story in 2000. She was 94 at the time. Rob Golub, later managing editor of The Journal Times, told her story.

When she was a preteen, Mrs. Dadian said, soldiers took the Armenian men away from the village of Tomarza, Turkey, including Mrs. Dadians father. She never saw him again.

Perhaps days or weeks later, she said, somebody came in the morning and said This house has to be empty in an hour or two.  Her mother gathered up bread, and they joined the walk.

Turks, they take everything and they let us walk, Dadian said. We left everything ... I lost my family. I lost my mother. Dadians mother died on the walk, after mother and daughter somehow became separated.

The Armenian refugees walked from Turkey to the Syrian desert. Dadian was placed in a British orphanage. She was brought to the United States by the man who became her husband.

In Golubs telling of Dadians story, he quoted her eldest daughter, Akgulian, regarding being awed by her mothers story. Akgulian said: I think all of us feel very special, that we are existing because of her.
Copperas Cove, TX (76522)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High around 90F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 71F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
The Best Little Floorhouse in Texas Your choice for flooring in Central Texas! Your flooring is more than just the surface you walk on  it's an integral part of your home. With over 35 years of flooring experience, The Best Little Floorhouse in Texas has the resources and knowled
1. Yes. Its important to keep my child as safe as possible. We plan to take advantage.

2. Yes. With the school district dropping its mask mandate, its a necessary step.

3. No. Local COVID cases are dropping. There is no good reason to vaccinate my child.

4. No. There hasnt been enough data on vaccinated children. I think Ill hold off.

5. Unsure. I havent decided yet whether to take part in the vaccine clinics.

Vote

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Comment Policy Calaveras Enterprise does not actively monitor comments. However, staff does read through to assess reader interest. When abusive or foul language is used or directed toward other commenters, those comments will be deleted. If a commenter continues to use such language, that person will be blocked from commenting. We wish to foster a community of communication and a sharing of ideas, and we truly value readers' input.
KEARNEY  The only way to stop it, to fight it is if regular ... Nebraskans say, Enough is enough. We are not going to let this happen in our country, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Monday about the proposed health standards from the Nebraska Department of Education.

Ricketts encouraged attendees of a Buffalo County Republicans meeting to stay engaged with elected officials as well as community members, friends and family about the proposed health standards.

The South Platte Room at the Kearney Public Library was overflowing with people Monday night as Ricketts spoke about the standards and answered an array of questions.

The Department of Education released a draft of the public school health standards in March. The new proposed standards, particularly the section on human growth and development, have garnered attention from school districts and parents across the state.

During the meeting, Ricketts spoke about how the proposed standards are age-inappropriate, and parents should be the ones teaching and making the decisions about when and if these topics are taught to their children.
UPDATE, 7:40 a.m.

GRAND ISLAND - Tyler Caudill of Phillips allegedly tried to gain access to Kearney High School on Monday and then traveled to Central Nebraska Regional Airport on Tuesday and barricaded himself inside a private aircraft.

Grand Island police were called to the airport at 1:39 p.m. Tuesday. Officers were informed that a man had passed out in the back of a twin-engine jet, which was parked north of the air traffic control tower. A pilot discovered the man and saw a rifle and a bag.

The pilot took the AR-15 style rifle and bag out of the plane.

Police assumed they were dealing with a barricaded gunman, said GIPD Capt. Dean Elliott. The pilot thought there might be another weapon on the plane, but he wasnt certain.

Police attempted to make contact with the 19-year-old Caudill. Officers called out to him on public address systems in their vehicles, but got no response. Eventually, police were able to communicate with him.

We continued to try to negotiate with him. He refused to listen to us, Elliott said.
KEARNEY  The journey was as dangerous as it was daunting.

Adrian Almeida and his mother Yosdayly Hernandez risked everything when they fled their home country of Cuba in November 2014.

As soon as we left Cuba, we basically betrayed the country, said Almeida, who was 15 at the time. No one besides my dad and my grandma knew we were leaving.

Although he describes it as an adventure  You have to have the right mindset, Almeida explains  the next 22 days brought a level of uncertainty and fear few ever face.

It was like a movie, said Almeida, now a junior at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. It was crazy.

And, he admits, it was incredibly perilous.

When youre in the middle of the ocean in a small boat with 20 people, yeah, thats dangerous. You dont know if youre going to make it or not.

After flying from Cuba to Ecuador, Almeida and his mother traversed eight more countries to get to the United States. They traveled by foot, bicycle, motorcycle and boat, crossing rivers and jungles.
Heath Gilkes of Westby, who died from cancer Feb. 13, was a member of the American Cancer Society Sole Burner of Chaseburg Committee. Committee members have come up with the 52 For Heath Thrivent Action Team Challenge to honor his memory and commitment to supporting the community.

Linda DeGarmo said Gilkes, who was 52 when he died and a Thrivent representative, was in the community doing good all the time, whether it was Boy Scouts, school events or church activities. She said Gilkes and his wife, Tammy, were also involved with the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

DeGarmo said Thrivent has Action Teams that give up to $250 seed money to different events and causes. Thrivent members who qualify get two of these per year. We came up with the idea of trying to hold 52 Action Team events in his honor, she said.

The Thrivent Action Teams can support a cause of their choice to honor Gilkes before Sept. 25, when he will be celebrated at the Sole Burner of Chaseburg event.

DeGarmo said when people apply for a Thrivent Action Team, they should include 52 for Heath in the project title, which allows Thrivent to track the Action Teams being held in Gilkes memory.
Sam and Harry ran Gross and Levine Bros., a used car business, during the 1920s. In the early 1930s, Sam and wife Hilda went into the furniture business with their Gross Furniture Store, while Harry stayed with cars. Meanwhile Sarah was in a similar line of work, running Moores Consignment Company in the 1930s, and Moores Furniture in the 1940s.

While there is no synagogue in Vernon County, we do have evidence that Jews from this area traveled to La Crosse and Sparta to celebrate festivals and holy days with larger Jewish communities. La Crosse had (and still has) a synagogue and Jewish cemetery.

You can learn more about Hilda, Harry, and Sarah Levin at this years Cemetery Walk. In honor of Viroquas 175th birthday, the walk will be held at the Viroqua Cemetery on East and Hickory streets, and the theme will be Hidden Stories of Viroquas Diversity. The walk will take place on Sunday, June 13, beginning at 2 p.m.. Tours will be offered on the hour at 2, 3, and 4 p.m.

The Vernon County Historical Society is teaming up with the Viroqua Community Theatre to host this event. Costumed actors will portray several Viroqua residents of 100-plus years ago, standing either at their graves, or at the grave of a family member or friend when the featured person is buried elsewhere. The three Levin siblings, for example, are buried in the Anshe Chesed Cemetery in La Crosse, but Sarahs husband Winston is buried in Viroqua, so his grave will be where their story is told. This flexibility will help us to better explore the diversity of our area.

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Mayo Clinic Health System is moving its COVID-19 vaccine site back to the hospitals former Occupational Health building after previously utilizing the nearby gymnasium.

Starting Monday, doses will be given at 630 10th St. S., the same location where Mayo offers COVID-19 testing. Vaccines are available by appointment or walk-in from 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Testing is available from 8 a.m. to noon daily.

Our staff has provided over 45,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines over the past few months. We cant thank those individuals enough for coming forward to protect themselves and our community, says Ben Anderson, nurse administrator at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse.

Demand for vaccine appointments has markedly decreased as the number of vaccinated individuals and vaccination sites in the community has grown. Similarly, the volume of COVID-19 testing needed has decreased as the infection rate in the community has steadily declined, says Anderson. This is good news in our community  however, we hope more come forward or those who havent done so become vaccinated in hopes of getting past this pandemic.
The generous support of community donors will offer students at every grade level in La Crosse schools a chance to learn new skills and expose them to new ideas  everything from traditional Hmong music, to fly fishing, to simulated flights among the stars.

Pre-schoolers will get a chance to learn math and science concepts by using a working miniature construction crane. High school students will improve reading skills as a result of expanded literacy support in all classes.

Funding for these projects and more are among 13 grants totaling $41,800, announced Tuesday by the La Crosse Public Education Foundation.

Among the projects: a $5,000 grant to kickstart fundraising for a major upgrade to the District planetarium. LPEF is assisting with efforts to secure added funding.

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This round of grants touches students at every level, from pre-school to 12th grade, said Anna Prinsen, LPEF board president and owner of Modern Crane Service. The collaborative efforts of District teachers, and the creativity, continue to amaze us.

Gold Star Grants are selected for funding based on creativity, ability to engage students, and the total impact or reach of the project. This is third round of grants announced this school year by LPEF, with awards totaling $91,600.
It also will be called upon to be part of the new infrastructure, the technological one. That will be expensive; both DeCoux and OBrien warned that it will take huge sums of money to build out complete 5G broadband networks, which will carry the load of interconnectivity.

For the nation to leap forward, these networks need to bring 5G broadband to every corner of it, OBrien said. It cant be allowed to serve only those places where population density makes it profitable, like cities.

In his speech to Congress, Biden laid out a revolutionary abstract for the future of the nation. The human side of the Biden infrastructure plan  things like daycare, free community college, better health care, prescription drug pricing  is the true Biden agenda.

The technology revolution is seen by the president not for what it is, a resetting of everything in America, but rather as a way to job creation. It will create jobs, but that isnt the driving force. The driver is and has been innovation: science helping people. That, in turn, will bring about a surge of productivity and prosperity, and with that, new jobs, quality jobs  robots will soon be flipping hamburgers and painting houses.
I will make this short and sweet. The Washington Post has had to give President Biden four pinocchios several times already.

He lies as much as President Trump but since he is not bombastic it is not as noticed; plus, the television news does not automatically show him lying and then to someone who refutes him.

His tax measures will not generate as much as revenue as he claims and he will not generate as many jobs as he claims.

We are seeing an administration that wants to trample all over state rights.

If you want people like Alexandria Ocasio Cortez telling you how you are going to live your life, then wholly support what the Democrats are trying to do.

The reason why they want to pack the Supreme Court is to pass laws that are against the constitution and have their court rule them legal.

Nicholas Berry

La Crosse

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Our library will be taking a hiatus from regular programming during the month of May to make sure we are ready for our fantastic Summer Reading Program, Tails & Tales! We will be giving out lots of great prizes for reading books and completing activity challenges so mark your calendar  you dont want to miss out on the fun (all ages)!

We are getting weekly shipments of new books for all ages so here are a few that you might want to check out:

Adult Fiction: The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin: Three lonely strangers in a rural Oregon town, each working through grief and lifes curveballs, are brought together by happenstance on a local honeybee farm where they find surprising friendship, healingand maybe even a second chancejust when they least expect it. A Good Housekeeping Book Club Pick.
Debella remembers donning pirate gear every year for the race to support her fundraising team, called the Pirates of the Chesapeake. Over the years, she got to know the organizers, and fell in love with the event as a way to cope with the loss of her mother and sister from the disease. Even when the walk was canceled due to the pandemic, she and her children walked around the neighborhood with friends.
With capacity limits and social distancing requirements being lifted at the end of the month, the battered restaurant industry will finally reach some of the light at the end of a long COVID-19 tunnel.

Yet the persistence of the masking requirement coupled with an extremely tight labor market means many restaurants still wont be out of the dark once those restrictions lapse May 31.

Unless I can get more help, its not going to really do anything for me, said Phil Weaver, co-president/co-CEO of Shady Maple, which includes a roughly 2,000-seat smorgasbord. Im still going to have to limit seating.

Like many other restaurants, Weaver said he hasnt been able to hire nearly enough employees to operate normally, a scarcity he attributes to generous unemployment benefits and people leaving the industry during the pandemic. That labor problem blunts the good news of Gov. Tom Wolfs Tuesday announcement that capacity limits and social distancing requirements will be dropped May 31. Wolf said the masking requirement for employees and non-seated customers remains in effect until 70% of Pennsylvania adults are vaccinated.

Sean Cavanaugh, an owner of John J. Jeffries and Double C restaurants in Lancaster, said hes given up even trying to hire new employees, saying he relies on longtime employees who have stuck with him.

If we start a dishwasher at $15 (an hour), its not even enough to generate interest, he said.

Yet he welcomed the Wolfs lifting of capacity limits and social distancing requirements, saying any step forward is good news.

One benefit, Cavanaugh said, will be the option to have customers in one dining area, instead of having to spread them out, which creates more running around for staff. While that will make it easier on employees, it wont change what Cavanaugh says is their biggest gripe: having to wear a mask.

Most of the customers are vaccinated, all of the staff is vaccinated, so what is the mask really doing at this point, he said.

Al Duncan, CEO of Thomas E. Strauss Inc., which owns and operates Millers Smorgasbord in Ronks and Smokehouse BBQ & Brews in Bird-in-Hand, said a mask mandate is a deterrent for both employees and customers, especially since he says more restaurants dont enforce the rule.

The mandatory part is a deterrent for people who have to work and wear a mask all day. And its confusing to the public because you have so many non-compliant places anyhow, he said.

That means a lot

While the May 31 rule change wont put everything back to normal, it will move the needle enough to make a huge difference for some restaurateurs who have struggled to stay afloat.

Nice, said Wayne Pagan, an owner of Catalinas on Orange in Lancaster, after a reporter told him Tuesday about the rule changes. Thats definitely a great thing to hear. A great thing to hear.

Pagan said the change would allow the bar and restaurant he owns with his brother, Dennis, to open during the whole week, not just as a night club on weekends.

Thats frickin amazing, said Dean Oberholtzer, who is an owner of three Lancaster city restaurants: Belvedere Inn, Cest La Vie and Josephines Downtown.

That means a lot. If theyre getting rid of all the restrictions, we can increase our seating capacity, the bars can once again function as normal and we can start doing the numbers that we were doing in the past, because we haven't really been able to get close to that, he said.

The latest change follows the April 4 loosening of the more onerous rules for restaurants, which before then required food to be served with alcohol, prohibited bar seating, and made last call 11 p.m. instead of 2 a.m.Before then, there was also a 50% capacity limit.

John Longstreet, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, welcomed Wolfs Tuesday announcement, even as he warned that some of the economic damage for restaurants might not be reversible.

Over the last year, business owners and employees have adhered to the strictest standards to protect guests and each other. The definitive timeline will allow owners and operators time to plan, but for far too many businesses who shuttered over the last few months, this announcement is too late, he said in a statement issued by the association.

Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association, echoed the call for continued state support of the industry.

Pennsylvanias small business taverns and licensed restaurants are certainly ready for this change as the past 14 months have been some of the worst in industry history, he said. But now the time has come in which we can move into a full recovery mode. Its time to make the comeback greater than the set back.
The Villas at Willow Run, a rental townhouse community in Willow Street, has been sold for $17.0 million, the real estate firm handling the transaction announced Tuesday.

However, the Kislak Co. Inc., based in Woodbridge, New Jersey, declined to disclose the buyer or seller of the Millwood Road property. The new deed for the parcel had yet to be filed in the Lancaster County Courthouse as of Tuesday afternoon.

The 72-unit property, on 12.7 acres in Pequea Township, was fully leased at the time of settlement, according to Kislak.

Kislak said the price per unit, $236,000, was a record for central Pennsylvania but this could not be confirmed immediately. The site drew a significant amount of offers, the real estate firm said, without specifying the number.

Rental housing is in short supply in Lancaster County.

Built in 2019 as a dozen buildings with six townhouses each, the property consists of two- and three-bedroom townhouses as large as 1,500 square feet.
Starting Memorial Day, May 31, Pennsylvania residents will have only one COVID-19 mitigation order to follow: wear a mask, with a few exceptions.

Other orders related to social gatherings, dining out and more will no longer be in place.

What does this mean for Lancaster County school districts? Heres what we know so far, according to an email sent to school officials from Alison Beam and Noe Ortega  acting secretaries for the state health and education departments, respectively.

The attestation process is expiring.

Since late November, public schools in counties considered to have substantial community transmission of COVID-19 for two consecutive weeks have had to submit an attestation form. By signing the form, school officials promised they would implement and enforce the states mask order and its recommendations for schools following the identification of COVID-19 cases.

Lancaster County has been under the substantial category, meaning it has either 100 of more cases per 100,000 residents or a 10% or more positivity rate in the last seven days, since October 2020.

Schools that dont submit an attestation form when they start offering in-person instruction, or those that fail to comply with the mitigation orders within it, are forced to halt in-person instruction and extracurricular activities.

That attestation requirement  and the penalty for not adhering to it  will no longer be in effect.

While the attestation process is expiring, however, the states mask order will still be in place. That means that even without the attestation, students and school employees will still be required to wear masks in school, except when they are eating while socially distanced or during mask breaks.

Schools wont have to close after identifying a certain number of COVID-19 cases  but they still could.

Under the current attestation process, schools must track the rolling 14-day total of COVID-19 cases in each building. Depending on the size of the building and the number of cases, schools might have to shut down for deep cleaning and shift to remote instruction for several days.

Schools wont have to do that come Memorial Day, as the requirement will revert to a recommendation. Schools, therefore, may still close after identifying COVID-19 cases.

Traditional, in-person graduation ceremonies may be possible.

Event and gathering limitations will also be lifted on Memorial Day. That means planning graduation ceremonies, even proms, could be less complicated. Many school districts are still in the planning phase for their high school graduation ceremonies, in part because of the states evolving guidance. With no restrictions on social gatherings, more schools may opt for traditional in-person, perhaps indoor, ceremonies.

The state still urges school officials to make decisions that protect the health and safety of their communities.
Pennsylvanias battle against COVID-19 took a dramatic turn Tuesday  412 days after all non-life sustaining businesses were temporarily shuttered early in the pandemic  as the focus shifted away from restrictions and toward vaccinations to curb future outbreaks.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced he is lifting all of the states COVID-19 mitigation measures starting Memorial Day, except for his order requiring face masks. That will stay in place until 70% of Pennsylvania adults 18 and older are fully vaccinated.

The plan is intended to boost waning interest in vaccinations.

Effective May 31, we are lifting COVID mitigation orders.The masking order will be lifted when 70% of Pennsylvania adults are fully vaccinated.Help us lift the masking order sooner. Find a vaccine appointment near you: https://t.co/4UeI1Bx6rO. pic.twitter.com/o2vebK3lot  Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) May 4, 2021

The Lancaster County Community Vaccination Center, for example, began accepting same-day, walk-in appointments shortly after Pennsylvania opened vaccine eligibility April 19 to Pennsylvanians 16 and older. Previously, demand was so great that the mass vaccination center used a lottery system to dole out appointments.

As of May 4, 23.2% of those 16 and older in Pennsylvania had received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 44.8% were fully vaccinated, state Health Department data shows.

Nationally, 31.8% of Americans are fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The states current masking order requires masks indoors and, if away from home, outdoors, unless fully vaccinated.

Wolfs 70% vaccination mandate is an effort to push Pennsylvania closer to reaching herd immunity. But its unclear how the public will know when Pennsylvania has reached Wolfs goal because the states vaccination data includes 16 year olds.

State Sen. Ryan Aument, R-Lancaster County, said the governors announcement signals a return to normalcy. Aument serves on the states COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force.

While the restrictions that were put in place at the outset of the pandemic have been a major source of frustration for many Pennsylvanians and businesses, it is the collaborative work of this bipartisan Task Force that is allowing us to finally roll back the restrictions and get back to normal life, Aument said in a press release.

Vaccine hesitancy is a head wind

Herd immunity is when a sufficient number of people  either through infection or vaccination  have protection against a disease so that it defends the wider population because the virus cannot find new hosts to infect.

Herd immunity has been touted as the only way to eradicate COVID-19.

The precise threshold required is unknown.

The rule of thumb, though, is this: the more transmissible a disease, the higher the percentage of a population needs to be immune from it.

Epidemiologists have suggested 60% to 70% might be required to reach herd immunity, although Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, has suggested COVID-19 could require 90%.

From my perspective, vaccine hesitancy is a head wind against our reaching the 70% threshold, Lancaster County Commissioner Craig Lehman, said in a text to LNP | LancasterOnline.

While a lofty goal, the 70% threshold may not be necessary to see a real impact in the battle against COVID-19.

Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious diseases physician and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, pointed to Israel.

An analysis published last month shows that Israel saw a 77% drop in COVID-19 cases in a little more than two months after a national campaign.

Israel has one of the highest vaccination rates per capita, with 48.8% of those 16 years and older having received the first dose, 34% the second and 7.5% recovered.

"We will see benefits and we have seen benefits," Adalja said. "Herd immunity isn't the be all, end all."

Wolfs announcement Tuesday came as President Joe Biden set a July 4 goal of fully vaccinating 160 million people and getting at least one shot into the arms of 70% of the adult population.
Manish Jhunjhunwala is among many in Lancaster County worried about their relatives in India as the country continues to be ravaged by COVID-19.

Im far from them, and I cant see them with everything going on, he said of his parents. Its hard, but thats why were working to do what we can to help.

Jhunjhunwala, 46, is president of the South Asian Association of Lancaster, which is collecting donations to purchase oxygen concentrators to send to India.

The campaign has raised nearly half of its goal of $30,000, which Jhunjhunwala said will be used to purchase 30 of the machines, which remove nitrogen from the ambient air to deliver pure oxygen to people.

India is dealing with a severe shortage of medical oxygen, which has led to several deaths, according to a New York Times report.

The number of units that were looking to provide is not huge but will still be helpful, Jhunjhunwala said. The more donations, the more we can help.

On Tuesday, Johns Hopkins University reported more than 20 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country of 1.4 billion people. More than 222,000 have died from the virus there. Daily deaths related to the virus have nearly tripled in the past three weeks, according to an Associated Press report.

Indias health care system is overwhelmed and needs help from the worlds community, from the Central PA community, to get the much-needed medical materials, said Jenni Leister, a South Asian Association of Lancaster board member.

The organization has run a vaccination clinic at the Wyndham Lancaster Resort and Convention Center at 2300 Lincoln Highway East in East Lampeter Township every Saturday since February. More than 18,000 doses have been given. The last day of the clinic is May 15.

On Thursday, it shifted its focus to help COVID-19 patients in India.

Since the South Asian community in Lancaster has a majority of people whose roots go back to India or South Asia, we felt a strong need to support, Jhunjhunwala said. Rather than sending money to India, were sending oxygen concentrators, since thats what's most needed.

The organization is working to establish a partnership with other nonprofit organizations in the United States like Sewa International and American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin to help with their Indian COVID-19 relief efforts. It also hopes to partner with nongovernment organizations in India.

In the meantime, the South Asian Association of Lancaster is reaching out to the Lancaster County community for help.

I cannot tell you how many times people were in tears of relief knowing that their vaccination, provided by us, was one step toward ending the pandemic, Leister said. Another step, now, is to help countries like India battle COVID-19 so that together, as a world, we can rebuild.

Donations can be made at www.saal.us/a/ and www.facebook.com/saalpa, or by mailing a check made out and sent to the South Asian Association of Lancaster at 719 Farnum Road, Lititz, PA 17543. Write India COVID Relief in the memo line.
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct information about chicken dinners offered at the event.

One year after COVID-19 threw a roadblock in the way of the popular Make-A-Wish Mothers Day truck convoy, 100 rigs will take part in this years event, with people welcomed to line the route.

The 31st annual convoy kicks off at 1:30 p.m. Sunday from the Manheim Pennsylvania Auto Auction in Manheim and ends at Routes 283 and 772 outside Mount Joy. Onlookers will be able to watch from any safe point along the convoys route, including Main Street in Mount Joy.

The event will be live-streamed at wishconvoy.org.

A virtual event in 2020 included only the top 30 truck drivers who raised the most money the previous year. They followed a route typically crammed with hundreds of people watching from the road and overpasses. Organizers encouraged the public to watch from home last year.

This year, You can cheer for those drivers; theyre the reason we have Wish Kids, said Cathy Schladitz, regional events manager at Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley. We wouldnt be granting those wishes if it wasnt for those truck drivers fundraising.

Before the pandemic, the event had grown to attract some 600 truck drivers to host a Wish Kid inside their rigs. Fundraising totals had also climbed to more than $600,000 in past years, Schladitz said.

If you go: Start time: 1:30 p.m. Who: 100 truck drivers who raised money for Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley. Where: A 20-mile route from Manheim, through Main Street in Mount Joy. For more information: Visit wishconvoy.org to pre-order a chicken dinner and bid in an online auction.

But because of the pandemics disruption, Make-A-Wish set this years goal at $300,000, which it is close to reaching. Nearly $285,280 had been raised as of Tuesday, according to the Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware & Susquehanna Valley website.

Manheim Pennsylvania Auto Auction did a lot of the heavy lifting for this years fundraising goal, donating $154,000 from the sale of a replica 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe built in-house.

Were just excited to experience one because last year was going to be our first year, said Joey Hughes, general manager at Manheim Pennsylvania Auto Auction. So being the host, were just excited to be able to have an event and help them to kick this thing off again in its traditional form.

While Sundays event will be larger and more accessible to watch in-person than last year, Schladitz said the convoy wont include Wish Kids for the second-straight year. Some of the children may have compromised immune systems, she said.

As a result, the event wont have its kid-friendly carnival either, Schladitz said.

But there are still plenty of ways to participate, Schladitz said. Organizers have brought back an online auction to raise money for Make-A-Wish and $15 chicken dinners for pre-order. Both can be found at wishconvoy.org.

The dinners can be picked up at Country Table Restaurant in Mount Joy between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Make-A-Wish website.

The chicken dinners keep another tradition going started at the first event in 1990.

They said, Well have a chicken barbecue and give moms a break from cooking that day, Schladitz said of the original organizers. So were happy to keep that chicken dinner Mothers Day tradition.
After nearly two decades of debate, Lancaster County appears to be on the cusp of replacing its aging prison facility, undertaking a public works project that could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

The county's Prison Board is scheduled to discuss land acquisition for a new facility at todays board of commissioners meeting, according to an agenda posted online Tuesday.

The three county commissioners declined to provide more details or did not respond, but the county has been sending signals the past year that it was trying to secure land for a new prison.

At last October's Prison Board meeting, Commissioner Josh Parsons announced that the board had met in executive session earlier that day to discuss real estate matters," without offering more details. At the board meeting last August, Parsons said the pandemic had delayed the prison project.

If it hadnt been for COVID, which literally occupied basically 100% of everyones time every day plus weekends for months and months, I think you might have seen something move forward already," he said.

Contacted on Monday, Parsons declined to share more details ahead of Wednesdays meeting.

The three commissioners are in agreement that a new prison is needed. Some parts of the current structure, located at 625 E. King St. in Lancaster, date back to the 1800s, with the most recent additions built in the 1990s.

The current facility, which can house around 1,100 inmates, lacks air-conditioning, which corrections officials blame for an increase in assaults over the summer months. The outside recreation areas for prisoners mostly consist of open air concrete enclosures, and private spaces for attorneys to meet with their clients are limited, with the primary area being a room with only plexiglass separating multiple groups.

Debate among county leaders so far has centered around identifying the right time to finance the project. Commissioner Craig Lehman, who did not respond to a request for comment, said previously that 2021, when the county expects to pay less to service its debt, is the right opportunity to begin the project.

The county's debt limit is roughly $470 million, but by the end of 2020 the county carried only $176 million in debt, an amount lower than any other year in more than a decade and a half.

Parsons has maintained that the county must improve its fiscal situation before taking on a large capital project like a prison, but hasnt specified exactly what financial position the county needs to be in.

In 2007, the cost of constructing a new prison was projected at up to $150 million, not including land acquisition costs. At that time, officials were predicting the need for up to 2,000 beds, though the conversation has shifted away from housing such a large prison population. County leaders have said they won't begin discussions of the new prison's design until land for it is purchased.

County Government reporter Carter Walker will provide live updates from the meeting on Twitter @CarterLNP.
Twenty-seven hundred Lancaster County voters who requested mail-in ballots for the May 18 primary election received a ballot packet that incorrectly informed them that they did not need to add postage to the return envelope.

The Lancaster County Board of Elections became aware of the error on Saturday, said Christa Miller, the boards chief registrar. Unlike in the November 2020 election, Lancaster County voters are required to pay the postage to return their ballots in the mail.

Voters can avoid paying postage by placing their ballot in the drop box located in the Chestnut Street entrance to the county building at 150 N. Queen St. in Lancaster city.

These are the incorrect instructions up to 3,900 Lancaster County voters received. You can see in the bottom right corner it is coded as DEL pic.twitter.com/s2A4G7BD36  Gillian McGoldrick (@gill_mcgoldrick) May 5, 2021

BUT on the return envelope, it instructs voters to provide a stamp. Commence voter confusion. pic.twitter.com/XvcWZYs9fZ  Gillian McGoldrick (@gill_mcgoldrick) May 5, 2021

So to be clear: Lancaster County voters need to provide their own postage to mail in their ballot. Voters can also return the ballot in person at the countys dropbox at the Lancaster County Government Center.  Gillian McGoldrick (@gill_mcgoldrick) May 5, 2021

The vendor that prints, stuffs and sends mail-in ballots to Lancaster County voters handles the same work for many Pennsylvania counties, including Delaware County, where primary election voters do not need to add postage to their return envelopes.

The vendor, Michigan Election Resources, mistakenly pulled the incorrect instruction file when completing a portion of Lancaster Countys materials, Miller said. The vendor took responsibility and apologized for the error, she added.

We are extremely sorry, Miller said, This is not something that we wanted to happen.

As of last week, 24,000 voters in Lancaster County had applied to vote by mail in the 2021 municipal primary election.

Lancaster County Commissioner Ray DAgostino said in an email he was disappointed by the mix-up and wants the vendor to review its quality controls to ensure that something like this does not happen again.

Two errors

The instructions included with the batch of mail-in ballots contain two errors in the Return It section. One is the incorrect guidance on postage, the other is the instruction to return the ballot to the Board of Elections office in Delaware County.

For voters who dont place postage on their return envelopes, U.S. Postal Service employees are directed to deliver the ballot anyway, said Desai Abdul-Razzaaq, a spokesperson for the USPS in central Pennsylvania, in an email. The USPS will attempt to collect the postage cost at a later date from the Board of Elections, he said.

Given the Postal Services policy to deliver ballots regardless of postage, Michigan Election Resources CEO Matt Sandretto said the printing error will have little impact on Lancasters election. He also noted that the return envelope included with all ballots reminds the voter to place a stamp on it.

Working with the Post Office for many years, election mail typically gets delivered no matter what, Sandretto said.

Miller said she also contacted a regional USPS associate to alert the organization about the issue.

The county contracted with Michigan Election Resources for the November 2020 election, which saw mail-in ballot requests from 90,000 voters. No errors were reported in ballots or instructions printed for that election.

Any voter who has questions is encouraged to contact the Board of Elections office at 717-299-8293, Miller said in a statement.
The mass vaccination site at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis is accepting appointments. A limited number of walk-ups will be accepted from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday. People are encouraged to get an appointment to ensure a vaccine will be available. To schedule an appointment, go to onestop.md.gov/preregistration.
According to a recent Gallup poll, 35% of adults in Latin America and the Caribbean  roughly 42 million adults  said they would move to the United States if given the chance.

Worldwide, the number of migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. may be even greater. Exactly how many of them is President Joe Biden willing to let in?

How many future Democratic voters are needed? Two million? Two billion? Vice President Kamala Harris planned visits to Mexico and Guatemala to dole out taxpayer dollars will do nothing, in my view, without completing construction and manning of a southern border wall. The drug cartels are making too much money to stop transporting migrants. And why did a copy of Harris book, Superheroes Are Everywhere, make it to an immigration shelter at the border before she has?

Meanwhile, have you ever actually met anyone who has been unable to get an identification card? I havent. That would likely mean they have never been able to fill a prescription, apply for credit, cash a check or do any of a hundred other things requiring an ID.

Wouldnt the Democrats show more compassion by finding a way for these poor souls to get an identification card, instead of seemingly shouting racism at any attempt to make our elections secure?

Yes, Republicans want to limit who can vote. We want living, breathing citizens who live in the actual voting district! Do we want our elections decided by noncitizens? No! To me it seems as if that is the Democratic Partys plan.

Ted Fabianski

Manor Township
6 Dr. Seuss Books Wont be Published for Racist Images

Six Dr. Seuss books _ including And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street and If I Ran the Zoo _ will stop being published because of racist and insensitive imagery, the business that preserves and protects the authors legacy said Tuesday.

These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong, Dr. Seuss Enterprises told The Associated Press in a statement that coincided with the late author and illustrators birthday.

Ceasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprises catalog represents and supports all communities and families, it said.

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The other books affected are McElligots Pool, On Beyond Zebra!, Scrambled Eggs Super!, and The Cats Quizzer.

The decision to cease publication and sales of the books was made last year after months of discussion, the company, which was founded by Seuss family, told AP.

Dr. Seuss Enterprises listened and took feedback from our audiences including teachers, academics and specialists in the field as part of our review process. We then worked with a panel of experts, including educators, to review our catalog of titles, it said.

In And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, an Asian person is portrayed wearing a conical hat, holding chopsticks, and eating from a bowl. If I Ran the Zoo includes a drawing of two bare-footed African men wearing what appear to be grass skirts with their hair tied above their heads.

Books by Dr. Seuss _ born Theodor Seuss Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 2, 1904 _- have been translated into dozens of languages as well as in braille and are sold in more than 100 countries. He died in 1991.

He remains popular, earning an estimated $33 million before taxes in 2020, up from just $9.5 million five years ago, the company said. Forbes listed him No. 2 on its highest-paid dead celebrities of 2020, behind only the late pop star Michael Jackson. Within hours of Tuesdays announcement, Dr. Seuss books filled more than half of the top 20 slots on Amazon.coms bestseller list. Mulberry Street and If I Ran the Zoo were on the list, along with Oh, the Places Youll Go!, Green Eggs and Ham and others still being published.

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Random House Children Books, Dr. Seuss publisher, issued a brief statement Tuesday: We respect the decision of Dr. Seuss Enterprises (DSE) and the work of the panel that reviewed this content last year, and their recommendation.

Dr. Seuss is adored by millions around the world for the positive values in many of his works, including environmentalism and tolerance, but criticism has grown in recent years over the way Blacks, Asians and others are drawn in some of his most beloved childrens books, as well as in his earlier advertising and propaganda illustrations.

The National Education Association, which founded Read Across America Day in 1998 and deliberately aligned it with Geisels birthday, has for several years deemphasized Seuss and encouraged a more diverse reading list for children.

School districts across the country have also moved away from Dr. Seuss, prompting Loudoun County, Virginia, schools just outside Washington, D.C., to douse rumors last month that they were banning the books entirely.

Research in recent years has revealed strong racial undertones in many books written/illustrated by Dr. Seuss, the school district said in a statement.

For the countrys libraries, what to do with the Seuss books being withdrawn continues a longstanding conflict between the values of free expression and acknowledging that some content may be hurtful. Libraries rarely pull a book even when some find it racist or otherwise offensive, says Deborah Caldwell Stone, who heads the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom. They are more likely to place it in a less prominent location, or otherwise choose not to promote it.

Shelf space is precious and librarians do periodically cull the book collections and remove some titles. But they usually do so because no one is asking for that book anymore, she said.

In 2018, a Dr. Seuss museum in his hometown of Springfield removed a mural that included an Asian stereotype.

The Cat in the Hat, one of Seuss most popular books, has received criticism, too, but will continue to be published for now.

Dr. Seuss Enterprises, however, said it is committed to listening and learning and will continue to review our entire portfolio.

The move to cease publication of the books drew immediate reaction on social media from those who called it another example of cancel culture.

Weve now got foundations book burning the authors to whom they are dedicated. Well done, everyone, conservative commentator and author Ben Shapiro tweeted.

Others approved of the decision.

The books we share with our children matter. Books shape their world view and tell them how to relate to the people, places, and ideas around them. As grown-ups, we have to examine the worldview we are creating for our children, including carefully re-examining our favorites, Rebekah Fitzsimmons, an assistant teaching professor at Carnegie Mellon University, tweeted.

Numerous other popular childrens series have been criticized in recent years for alleged racism.

In the 2007 book, Should We Burn Babar?, the author and educator Herbert R. Kohl contended that the Babar the Elephant books were celebrations of colonialism because of how the title character leaves the jungle and later returns to civilize his fellow animals.

One of the books, Babars Travels, was removed from the shelves of a British library in 2012 because of its alleged stereotypes of Africans. Critics also have faulted the Curious George books for their premise of a white man bringing home a monkey from Africa.

And Laura Ingalls Wilders portrayals of Native Americans in her Little House On the Prairie novels have been faulted so often that the American Library Association removed her name in 2018 from a lifetime achievement award it gives out each year. The association still gives out the Geisel Award for the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.
Hundreds Join Daunte Wrights Family on March for Justice

Hundreds of people joined Daunte Wrights family and friends on a march through the Minneapolis suburb where he was fatally shot by a police officer during a traffic stop three weeks earlier.

Demonstrators on Sunday called for police reform and more serious charges against the officer who killed Wright, a 20-year-old Black man, on April 11.

The crowd gathered in the neighborhood where Kimberly Potter, who is white, fatally shot Wright as he struggled with police. Potters body camera recorded her shouting Taser! Taser! before she fired, and the citys former police chief said he believed she meant to use her stun gun.

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The group walked several miles to the Brooklyn Center Police Department where his mother, Katie Wright, called on the crowd to keep saying her sons name.

Were going to continue to be in these streets, on social media, at the police station.  Like Ive always said, its never gonna be justice for us, she said. But we want 100% accountability.

Potter was charged with second-degree manslaughter in Wrights killing, which Katie Wright said was not enough. He was killed as the Minneapolis area already was on heightened alert during the trial of Derek Chauvin in George Floyds death. Chauvin was convicted April 20.

Johnathon McClellan, president of the Minnesota Justice Coalition, told protesters that his group is demanding that additional charges be brought against Potter. He also said the coalition plans to pressure elected officials to support police reform, the Star Tribune reported.

Demonstrators shut down traffic a couple of times before arriving at the police station, which is secured by concrete barriers and fencing.

Wrights name was spelled out in air fresheners attached to the fencing. Wrights mother said he told her on the phone that he was pulled over for an air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror.

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Police have said they pulled Wright over for an expired registration, and then discovered that he had a warrant for a gross misdemeanor weapons charge. Potter fatally shot Wright seconds after he pulled away from officers as they tried to arrest him.
LAPD Chief Reports Big Slowdown of Departments Vaccination Effort

With only about 40% of the Los Angeles Police Department fully vaccinated, Chief Michel Moore told the citys Police Commission today that the vaccination effort has slowed dramatically, with only six additional employees receiving a first dose in the last week.

Just over 50% of the department, or 6,272 employees, have received a first dose of the vaccine and 40% are fully vaccinated, Moore said. An additional 118 police personnel received their second dose in the last week.

Los Angeles County is experiencing a similar slowdown in vaccinations overall, which L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer called very worrisome last week.

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The police department is hosting a Johnson & Johnson vaccine event Tuesday, Wednesday and on May 11 in an effort to get remaining unvaccinated employees inoculated with the one-shot vaccine.

Im hopeful that will increase our numbers substantially. In an earlier survey, I would remind the commission, we found that those that had vaccine hesitancy, there was as many as 1,000 additional personnel that expressed in interest in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in contrast to the other two that are currently in the marketplace, Moore said.

He noted that a total of 7,977 personnel, of 64% of the department, have some antibodies for the virus due to the vaccine or having previously tested positive for the virus.

A total of 2,695 department employees tested positive since the pandemic began, including two sworn employees who tested positive in the last week. Moore also said 2,659 personnel have recovered and returned to work. Sixty-three employees remain at home recovering, but none is hospitalized. Eight employees have died of the virus.


President Joe Biden officially raised the nations cap on refugee admissions to 62,500 this year. The action came weeks after Biden faced criticism for his delay in removing the record-low limit set by former President Donald Trump.

Refugee resettlement agencies have waited for Biden to increase the number of refugees permitted into the United States since February 12. That was the day he sent a presidential proposal to Congress saying he planned to do so.

But the presidential proposal went unsigned until Monday. Biden said that before he could sign the plan, he needed to change narrow rules put in place by Trump that had kept out most refugees.

After making the changes, Biden kept in Trumps cap of 15,000 refugees per year. He explained that the limit remained justified by humanitarian concerns and was in the national interest.

That brought strong criticism. The number two Senate Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois, called the cap unacceptable. Within hours, the White House changed the decision. It promised to increase the cap by May 15. It added, however, that it would not meet the 62,500 number the president had promised earlier. In the end, however, Biden said he received additional information that led him to return to that number.

It is important to take this action today to remove any lingering doubt in the minds of refugees around the world who have suffered so much, Biden stated before signing it.

He said Trumps cap did not represent Americas values as a nation that welcomes and supports refugees.

He also said it was a sad truth that the U.S. would not meet the number by the end of the fiscal year in September. That is because of the COVID-19 pandemic and limitations on the countrys ability to resettle refugees. He blamed the limitations on the Trump administrations policies.



The White House said it was unable to act until now because of the difficulties at the border as young migrants from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras continue arriving in large numbers. Supporters of an increase in the number of refugees, including Durbin, accused Biden of playing politics.

The number of refugees is expected to be expanded to 125,000 for 2022. Only about 2,000 refugees have been resettled in the U.S. since October 1, 2020.

Refugee resettlement agencies praised Bidens actions.

Krish OMara Vignarajah is the head of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, one of nine resettlement agencies in the U.S. She said her organization is pleased, as are families all across the world who look to the U.S. for protection.

The United States, she added, is returning to worldwide humanitarian leadership.

Biden also ended Trumps restrictions on resettlements from Somalia, Syria and Yemen.

About 35,000 refugees have been approved to enter the United States, with 100,000 others still waiting to be cleared.

Im Susan Shand.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor.

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Words in This Story

cap  n. a limit placed on the amount of something

linger  v. to stay for a long time

doubt  n. a feeling of uncertainty about something

fiscal year  adj. a period of twelve months chosen by a government or business for the purpose of managing its money

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Facebooks Oversight Board has decided to uphold the companys suspension of former President Donald Trump.

But in an announcement about its decision Wednesday, the board criticized Facebook for making the suspension indefinite. It said the open-ended ban was ordered without clear standards. The board demanded that Facebooks leadership reexamine its decision and decide on another punishment that better fits the gravity of the violation and the prospect of future harm.

The board gave the company six months to come up with a new penalty that agrees with current rules governing all Facebook users.

Facebooks semi-independent Oversight Board, which currently has 20 members, was established to rule on content-related matters. It was created after widespread criticism that Facebook was not effectively policing misinformation, hate speech and influence campaigns from outside groups or governments.



Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts were suspended in January over statements he posted to the services. The companies said the posts risked fueling further violence following the January 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.

The board said it agreed with Facebook that two of Trumps posts on January 6 severely violated the content standards of both Facebook and Instagram. Instagram is owned by Facebook.

In the first post to supporters taking part in rioting at the Capitol, Trump said in a video: I know your pain. I know youre hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. He also said, We love you. Youre very special. In the video, Trump also said: But you have to go home now. We have to have peace.

In the second post, as police were still in the process of securing the Capitol, he called his supporters great patriots and added, remember this day forever.



The board said the language used in both posts clearly violated Facebooks rules against praising or supporting people taking part in violence.

By making repeated statements about election fraud with no evidence to back up his claims, Trump had created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible, the board said. His words of support to the rioters had legitimized their violent actions, it added.

However, the board said it was not correct for Facebook to order an indefinite suspension with no clear steps for when or whether the account would be reestablished. It added that Facebooks action against Trump did not follow its own clear, published policies.

Facebooks vice president of global affairs and communications, Nick Clegg, said in a statement he was pleased that the board had upheld the basis for Trumps suspension. He added that the companys leadership will now consider the boards decision and come up with a new action that is clear and proportionate.

In a statement posted Wednesday on his website, Trump did not specifically comment on the boards decision. Instead, he called out Facebook, Twitter and Google for being corrupt companies that must pay a political price. He added: Free Speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth.

Twitter and YouTube

Trump was also banned from other major social media services after the Capitol rioting, including Twitter and Google-owned YouTube. Twitter had been Trumps favored medium for messaging throughout his presidency. Twitter has said its ban on Trump will remain, even if he runs for office again.

The boards decision has been watched for signals on how the worlds largest social network will deal with rule-breaking world leaders in the future. This week, Twitter provided information about a public opinion study the company is carrying out to see how the public thinks it should deal with world leaders.

Since March, Twitter has been collecting input for the study. It said it had received nearly 49,000 answers in 14 languages. The study sought opinions on whether people believe that world leaders breaking Twitters rules should face greater or lesser actions than other users. The company also asked whether it was ever correct for Twitter to permanently suspend the account of a current president or prime minister.

Twitter said it will process the data before releasing study results.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters and Facebook. Hai Do was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz - Facebook Board Upholds Trump Ban, But Demands Review of Action Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz



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Words in This Story

indefinite  adj. with no fixed time, size, end or limit

standard  n. a level of quality that is considered acceptable

prospect  n. the possibility that something might happen in the future

penalty  n. a punishment for doing something that is against a law or rule

patriot  n. a person who loves and strongly supports or fights for his or her country

fraud  n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person

legitimize  v. make something legal or acceptable

proportionate  adj. a size or number directly related to something else


At least 23 people died and 79 were injured Monday when part of the Mexico City metro system collapsed onto a roadway. Train cars fell about five meters onto the busy street below.

Four bodies were trapped inside a train car but rescuers could not remove them. One concrete support broke as the train passed over the railroad causing the accident.

Marcelo Ebrard is Mexicos Foreign Relations Secretary. He called it the most terrible accident we have ever had in mass transportation. Ebrard was Mexico Citys mayor from 2006 to 2012 when the collapsed railroad was built.

The current mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum, said investigators are working to find what caused the support to break. A large earthquake in 2017 may have damaged some structures. Sheinbaum said children were killed in the accident.



Mexico Citys metro system is one of the least costly, and busiest, in the world. There have been two serious accidents in the recent past. In 2020, one person died and 41 were injured when two trains ran into each other. Another crash between two trains in 2015 left 12 people injured.

People who had not heard from their friends and relatives waited at the crash site Monday into Tuesday hoping to hear news.

Adrian Loa Martinez was there. He said his mother told him that his half-brother and another relative were in a car passing below the train when it fell. He thought his half-brother was crushed to death.

Gisela Roja Castro said she had not heard from her husband who takes that train home from work. Nobody knows anything, she said.

The collapse happened on the citys newest metro line known as Line 12. Like many metro lines, it runs underground in the center of the city and runs above ground on concrete structures in surrounding areas.

The line has been criticized for construction and design problems. Ebrard was mayor when the train line was constructed. He said he is willing to help the investigation in any way he can.

Im Dan Friedell.

E. Eduardo Castillo wrote this story for The Associated Press. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

How should cities keep their infrastructure up to date? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

metro n. an underground railway system in some cities

concrete n. a hard, strong material that is used for building and made by mixing cement, sand, and broken rocks with water

line n. part of a train or metro system


Southern Californias Catalina Island is a popular destination for nature lovers. It is reachable by boat from Los Angeles and San Diego. With just one city, most of the small island is a government-protected wild area.

But, a report last October in the Los Angeles Times newspaper raised public concern about the water surrounding Catalina.

The newspaper discovered that industrial companies for years had been dumping the insect poison DDT into the ocean near Catalina. The practice began in the 1940s and ended in the 1970s.

The newspaper report led to a search and study of the area by scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego (UCSD).

The research team discovered about 25,000 large containers, or barrels, below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. The scientists suspect the barrels hold DDT, and other chemicals used to make the poison.

Eric Terrill leads the Scripps program that worked on the project. He said the barrels were spread over a very large area. That finding was a surprise, Terrill said.

The Scripps examination also showed the companies responsible for the chemical dump disobeyed rules about where to place the barrels.

The researchers mapped about 15,000 hectares of ocean floor where past studies had shown evidence of poisonous chemicals. The area lies between coastal Los Angeles and Catalina.

The long-term effect on ocean life and humans is still unknown, said Scripps chemical oceanographer and professor of earth sciences Lihini Aluwihare. She was not connected to the study. But, in 2015, she co-wrote another study that found high amounts of DDT and other chemicals in the blubber, or fat, of bottlenose dolphins.

Aluwihare said some studies among humans show that DDT-linked health problems have been passed from parents to children. So she said, it is possible than non-human animals will do the same.

Eric Terrill briefed lawmakers on the findings last week. California Senator Dianne Feinstein wants the companies responsible to be punished.

Simply put, she said, this is one of the biggest environmental threats on the West Coast. She noted that the problem is made especially complex because the barrels are so deep in the ocean and there are few records about the dumps. The lawmaker also noted that the Scripps teams findings may represent only a small part of the total dumped material.

DDT was widely used around the world to kill insects that hurt crops and carry disease.

But the U.S. government banned the chemical in 1972 after it was found to be harmful to humans. Most other countries did the same.

DDT has been found in several ocean animals off the Southern California coast. Earlier research shows the poison causes cancer in sea lions.

Now, the scientists will further study some of the barrels and the bottom of the ocean where they were found.

Diana Aga is a chemistry professor at the University of Buffalo. If the barrels are leaking, she said, the amount of the chemical in the area would be shocking.

"There's a lot of DDT at the bottom of the ocean, Aga said. But, she said if the barrels have not leaked, they could be moved to a safer area.

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography study took place from March 10 to March 24. The researchers said they did the study as a way to aid clean-up efforts.

Im Caty Weaver.

Julie Watson wrote this story for The Associated Press. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

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Words in This Story

destination n. a place to which a person is going or something is being sent

staggering adj. very large, shocking, or surprising

dump v. to get rid of (waste or garbage) especially in a secret and illegal way

practice n. something that is done often or regularly

What would you do with the chemicals dumped in the ocean? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page.


The United States is expected to approve the use of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine for young people aged 12 to 15 by next week.

A federal official told The Associated Press that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to expand its emergency use authorization for Pfizers vaccine to the new age group.

The official did not want to be identified because there has been no public announcement about Pfizers vaccine plans. The New York Times first reported on the expected timing of the plan.

The official said the approval is expected to come by early next week. The person added that the FDA also plans to approve Pfizers two-shot vaccine for even younger children later this year.

The FDAs expansion of its emergency use authorization is the first step in the approval process. That action would be followed by a meeting of a federal vaccine advisory committee to discuss whether to recommend the injection for 12- to 15-year-olds.

If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approves the committees recommendation, the shots could begin. Those steps could be completed in a matter of days.

In March, Pfizer released the first results from a vaccine study involving 2,260 U.S. volunteers aged 12 to 15. The study showed there were no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated individuals compared with 18 in the group who were given a placebo, a shot of inactive substance.

The 12- to 15-year-olds had side effects similar to young adults, Pfizer said. The main side effects are pain, increased temperature, tiredness and chills, especially after the second shot. The study will continue to follow test subjects for two years to gain more information about long-term protection and safety.

Pfizer is not the only company seeking to lower the age limit for its vaccine. Results are also expected by the middle of this year from a U.S. study of Modernas vaccine in 12- to 17-year-olds.

The FDA is permitting both companies to also begin U.S. studies in children 11 and younger.

More than 131 million doses of Pfizers vaccine have already been given in the U.S., where demand for vaccines among adults has greatly slowed in recent weeks.

Younger people generally have a much lower risk of experiencing serious side effects from COVID-19. But they started making up a larger share of new U.S. cases as an increasing number of adults got vaccinated and some virus-related restrictions were eased.

Officials hope that expanding the vaccines to young people will help efforts to safely reopen schools in the autumn.

The U.S. has ordered at least 300 million doses of the Pfizer shot by the end of July, enough to protect 150 million people.

Im Bryan Lynn.

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

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

______________________________________________________

Words in This Story

authorize  v. to give permission for something to happen

recommend  v. to suggest or propose

placebo  n. a harmless pill or medicine used as a control in testing new drugs

chills  n. a feeling of cold

dose  n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time


Ana Saul Romero has seen many changes in teaching methods, testing, and technology during her forty years as a teacher. But this year, she said, has given her a lifetimes worth of changes.

In her first-grade class in Manor, Texas, just outside of Austin, only 12 students are inside the classroom. The other half of the class join in from home by video. Romero now stands behind a clear divider working with a pointer, a laptop, and a few other technologies to teach her students.

Super teachers

Romero said, it is difficult with the technology, and I have learned more, but it is not enough, it is never enough. She said she is from an older generation and she misses the daily, in-person connections with her students.



First-year teacher Cindy Hipps is Romeros teaching partner. She said it was like being introduced to the ring of fire of teaching. She added, I feel like a superwoman now.

This spring marks a year since the coronavirus pandemic shut down schools across the United States. It forced many students, parents, and teachers into virtual classrooms.

As states permitted larger groups to gather, some students have since returned to school. Many schools now use a combination of virtual and in-person instruction in class. And teachers like Romero have to learn new ways of teaching all the students.

Last school year

Adding to the difficulties, not all students have equal access to internet and technology. There were political and social protests across the country. And many tired educators are wondering if this will be their last school year.

Antoinette Miranda is an Ohio State University professor of school psychology. She is also on the states school board and is married to a high school teacher.

She said that educators are dealing with the pandemics effects on themselves and their family. They also are trying to support students, some with troubles in school and some without food at home while being separated from friends.

We talk a lot about the stress on students, Miranda said, but I think theres a tremendous amount of stress on teachers.

Some people blamed teachers who raised concerns on health and safety for delaying school re-openings. They felt it put pressure on parents. But Miranda thinks theres also a renewed respect for teachers... especially parents that had to start teaching their kids at home.

Andre Spencer is head of the Manor Independent School District where Romero works. He said the schools centered on helping students and teachers during the pandemic. They spent millions to provide every student and teacher the technology for virtual learning, including mobile internet access.

Even before the start of this school year, school supervisors like Spencer were already worried that there would be a shortage of teachers and school workers.

The National Education Association is one of the nations largest representatives for teachers. The organization found that more than one in four teachers felt the pandemic increased their plans to retire early or leave the profession.

Randi Weingarten is president of American Federation of Teachers, or AFT, another teachers organization. She believes there will be more teachers retiring in the coming months after a year of unknowns, change, and stress. And AFT has started a program to help members who were affected by COVID-19.

Teaching controversial topics

But there were other issues that affect teachers, especially teachers of color, this past year. They include national conversations around racial injustice, the presidential election, and the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Travis Bristol is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He suggests schools provide employees time to talk about what they have been through. He says teachers who have been supported in dealing with their own stress will be better able to help students do the same.

Romero, the first-grade teacher in Texas, was considering retiring. But she now looks forward to the new school year.

She said, We will have the experience of an entire year of trying... Thats what educators do. We try and we fail and we get up and we shake it off and we do it again.

Im Jill Robbins.

Acacia Coronado and Kantele Franko reported this story for the Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

Quiz- Virus, Technology, and Unrest Make a Stressful Year for Teachers Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

grade adj. a level of study that is completed by a student during one year

virtual  adj. existing or occurring on computers or on the Internet

access n. a way of being able to use or get something

board n. a group of people who manage or direct a company or organization

tremendous  adj. very large or great

stress n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life or work
Deaths from COVID-19 peaked for all age groups last May. Since then, they have dropped the most among seniors. Deaths declined 80% among those 80 and older and by 67% among those in their 70s. But seniors still make up the lions share of deaths because age and underlying health conditions are the drivers of serious illness from the coronavirus.
Latin American countries are increasingly looking to space to speed their development.

Nicaragua is one of the poorest nations in the Americas and has experienced many conflicts. But on February 17, the nations congress approved a law to form a space agency. Costa Rica, known for its growth and stability, did the same on February 18.

Many countries with limited financial resources see the possible benefits of space. They are interested in satellite technology, international partnerships and local development. But critics say space programs are taking away from pressing problems on the ground.

Temidayo Oniosun is managing director of Space in Africa, a research, media and advising company. In an email to The Associated Press, he said critics often question why countries like Nicaragua or African countries want space programs.

He said these countries rarely begin space programs to explore the moon or Mars. Instead, they are mostly interested in using space to solve development issues.





The growth of the space industry and the possibility for internet connectivity from satellites could help countries lacking internet coverage. Satellite information can also guide crop-growing, help predict natural disasters and help industry. Satellites also can closely watch weather and conditions linked to the spread of disease.

Nicaragua is not new to space aims. But an old deal with China years ago for the deployment of a communications satellite has been delayed. In 2017, Russia opened a station in Nicaragua as part of a satellite navigation system. Nicaragua denied that it was spying on Latin America or the United States.

Nicaragua understands others distrust its new, military-run space program. Jenny Martinez is a lawmaker in Nicaragua. She said more than 50 countries in the world have space agencies. Nicaragua has been a member since 1994 of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. The U.N. agency oversees agreements that govern space law.

Carlos Arturo Velez is an Ecuadorian lawyer studying air and space law at Leiden University in the Netherlands. He told The Associated Press that Nicaragua does not need to send things into space to be part of the system.

Doing something wrong in outer space could affect any country in the world, he said. For example, parts of a satellite could crash to Earth cause damage, injuries or death.

Ecuador launched a satellite called Pegaso in 2013 with help from China. But the satellite was damaged one month later. It is believed to have hit pieces of an old Russian rocket.

Supporters of Costa Ricas space objectives say its new agency can contribute to technologies used on Earth. It can also give Costa Rica influence in international space policy and agreements.

Franklin Chang Diaz is a Costa Rica-born U.S. citizen who became a NASA astronaut. In a statement, he said, A lot of people criticized the creation of NASA in 1958 when the United States was struggling with the worst economic recession since World War II.

He said NASA putting a person on the moon sometimes gets more attention than the more important technological and economic benefits that followed.

Costa Ricas first satellite, called Irazu, was launched on an American SpaceX rocket in 2018. Its aim is to watch rainforests and climate change. The satellite was partly paid for by an online money-raising campaign.

Its not surprising that Costa Rica passed a space agency law and hopefully Guatemala will do the same, said Katherinne Herrera. She is a student at the University of the Valley of Guatemala. Herrera heads a student group on space science and engineering.

A country needs public policies that support space programs and help reach its research goals, Herrera wrote in an email.

Guatemalas first satellite was deployed by Japan last year. Called Quetzal-1, it was operated by a team from the university where Herrera is studying. The project took place in a country whose problems have led many citizens to look for a better life in other places.

Bolivias space agency got caught up in the countrys recent political problems. The new government accused former temporary leadership of delaying operations at the agency. The space agency was set up in 2010 by then-President Evo Morales.

There are other examples of Latin Americas space developments. Brazils science and technology minister, Marcos Pontes, is a former astronaut who trained with NASA. Chile is home to several international research telescopes. The European Space Agency launches rockets from French Guiana on South Americas northeast coast. And now Mexico and Argentina are leading efforts to form a regional space agency.

The African Union is also planning a space agency, to be based in Egypt.

Mexicos Congress on Monday held an international meeting on what it called the new space race and what it can do for health, education and other fields. Senator Beatriz Paredes Rangel said, The future is in our hands and if were not a part of it, we will disappear or waste the chance to help build the future.

Im Jill Robbins. And Im Alice Bryant.

Christopher Torchia reported this story for the Associated Press. Alice Bryant adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

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Words in This Story

stability n. a quality or state of not being not easily changed

benefit n. a good or helpful result

manage v. to have control of something, such as a business

navigation n. the activity of finding the way to get to a place when you are traveling by in a vehicle

contribute v. to help to cause something to happen

regional adj. a part of a country, or of the world, that is different from other parts in certain ways




A woman from the West African nation of Mali gave birth to nine babies, five girls and four boys, on Tuesday.

The mother is 25-year-old Halima Cisse from the northern part of Mali. She originally thought she was carrying seven. A test late in her pregnancy failed to show the other two babies.

The Malian government flew her to Morocco so she could receive better medical care. The babies were delivered by cesarean section, a surgery that removes the babies from the uterus.

Multiple births are rare. The chance of having even two babies, known as twins, is about one in 80. The chance of having five babies is about one in 40 million.

Malis health minister is Fanta Siby. She was pleased with the happy outcome of the pregnancy. She told the AFP news agency, the mother and babies are doing well so far. They will stay in Morocco for several weeks.

Doctors in Mali who followed Cisses pregnancy were concerned about the health of both the mother and the babies. In pregnancies that large, it is rare that all the children survive.

Guinness World Records reports that American Nadya Suleman gave birth to eight babies, six boys and two girls, in California in 2009. All of them survived.

In 1971, an Australian woman, Geraldine Mary Brodrick, gave birth to nine babies, but only seven were born alive.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reports from AFP and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor.

Have you ever heard of five or six babies being born at once? What about nine? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

surgery n. medical treatment in which a doctor cuts into someone's body in order to repair or remove damaged or diseased parts

uterus n. the organ in women and some female animals in which babies develop before birth
Signing up for a bank account is usually easy. But just as an application for a credit card might not be approved, a bank or credit union could deny an account application.

If this happens to you, be aware that you have other options. However, its a good idea to try to learn why the bank made the decision. Of the 7 million U.S. households that dont have a bank account, about 20% say one reason is because of ID verification, credit problems or issues with a former bank account, according to a 2019 Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. survey. Other reasons include customer concerns about keeping the minimum bank balance and inconvenient bank locations.

If you're unable to open a bank account, here are some tips on what to do next.

Verify your details

When you apply for a bank account, you usually have to provide your name, address, Social Security number and other personal information. Errors in any of these items can affect your application.

Your bank will likely work with third-party companies to electronically verify your application information, says Sarah Hoisington of SentiLink, an identity verification company in San Francisco. If the data cant be confirmed, the bank is notified, she says.
Not only have they realized their dream, Peter Carrasco attained another of his goals by receiving his American citizenship.

"We are really proud of my husband," said Yolanda Carrasco.

The Carrascos are owners of Carrasco Janitorial, Inc., a business they established seven years ago. They have six employees and specialize in cleaning commercial and industrial buildings and medical offices.

Yolanda Carrasco described the business as a full-service cleaning operation depending on the client's needs. They serve the cities of Lebanon, Albany and Sweet Home.

From 50 years ago, May 3, 1971

'Grapevine' on drug scene

An interested group of Lebanon businessmen and women sat through possibly their first collective lesson on youths and the drug scene Friday during the general membership meeting of the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce.

A "straight, right wing" businessman and a "longhaired" high school student, by self-appraisal, told the gathering of their proposal to help curb drug problems in Lebanon.

Don Costa, owner of Costa's Pharmacy, 707 Main St., and Chuck Ray, a junior at Lebanon Union High, were the 40-minute educators.
Albany student makes honor roll

Cadence Goodwin of Albany earned a place on the Spokane Community College winter quarter honor roll.

Students on the honor roll earned a grade-point average of 3.0 or above.

School selected as a finalist in contest

Cheldelin Middle School in Corvallis has been selected as a finalist for the OnPoint Community Credit Union Prize for Excellence in Education Community Builder.

On May 11, the credit union will announce five Community Builder Award winners and six finalists for the OnPoint Prize Educator of the Year, who will be in the running to have their mortgage or rent paid for a year.

Cheldelin students hope to win the prize and use the funds to help build a Fire and Food Courtyard, stating that lifes strongest connections form over food and fire. To create a learning experience for students that links scientific measurement, mathematical construction principles and art creation, the school seeks to build an outdoor space equipped with a wood-fired kiln. Built above the kilns firebox will be a bread oven.
Chief Deputy Greg Gilg said after the meeting that the state system would allow for a neighboring county, such as Buffalo, who are also on the state system, to take over dispatch duties if for some reason Dawson Countys system went down.

Commissioner Rod Reynolds asked how the upgrade would affect the dispatching duties, as the office handles dispatches for Lexington and Gosper County. Wozny said there would be no limit on the abilities and they could still do everything they are doing today.

Wozny also said the upgrade would better prepare the sheriffs office for the future, as there are likely coming mandates on communications equipment. He said at that point it will be a mandate and not a choice for the county.

Jacobson said so far they have been lucky with their current system, but said the radios are a lifeline for the deputies and communication keeps them safe. He noted they have a great opportunity with around $800,000 in grant funds to upgrade.

When asked about a timeline Winchester said Motorola would take a team of 10 to 15 people to set up, it would take around two to four weeks for the radios and four to eight weeks for the console installation. The whole process would take around a month.
Lewiston, ID (83501)

Today

Rain showers this morning with overcast skies during the afternoon hours. High 73F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low around 55F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
"There can't possibly be words adequate enough to express our sincere gratitude, our respect and our appreciation for all the men and women in uniform," he said. "We must always honor them and we must never forget, just as we must never forget the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice"
For vaccinations, more information Santa Barbara County residents can find COVID-19 vaccination clinics, how to make an appointment and which clinics take walk-ins by visiting www.publichealthsbc.org, by calling 211 or by using the My Turn app. The website also provide a range of information about the virus as well as a dashboard with the latest data about the countys status, cases, vaccinations, geography, health care, demographics, variants research, community and a daily status report in addition to flu information and data from the state, nation and world.

Although the number of COVID-19 vaccinations being administered in Santa Barbara County has steadily increased since December, only a third of county residents have been fully inoculated against the disease, according to a May 4 report to the Board of Supervisors.

However, the demand for vaccination is softening, despite increases in the availability of vaccines and the segments of the population eligible to receive it, County Public Health Department Director Van Do-Reynoso told the board.

We have an abundance of vaccine appointments and are also experiencing a decrease in demand, she said. As such, we flex the number of vaccines we are ordering on behalf of our health-care system.

Of those eligible to be vaccinated, 41.5% have received both doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Do-Reynoso said.

Residents who are age 16 and older are currently eligible to be vaccinated.

Do-Reynoso said 47.1% of county residents have received either a first dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or a single-dose J&J vaccine, but there was no breakdown of the percentage who have only received a first dose of the two-dose varieties.

Since starting the mobile vaccination clinics April 15, a total of 3,253 vaccinations were conducted at 39 locations, she said, and last week 15 clinics were planned. Many of them, including in Santa Maria and one providing the one-dose J&J vaccine at the Lompoc Outdoor Market on Saturday, offered walk-up service without an appointment.

Do-Reynoso also displayed pie charts showing the mobile vaccination clinics heavily targeted agricultural workers at their worksites, those in senior centers and others reached through community organizations and individuals in faith-based communities.

Second District Supervisor Gregg Hart said the vaccination percentages are really outstanding numbers when compared to rates nationally and in other places.

But it does still point out that we have a challenge going ahead  the rate of vaccination is slowing and our supply is dramatically increased to the point now where we have plenty of vaccine, he said.

There is really no reason for somebody to not be able to get vaccinated easily, simply, and so we have to get, I think, into the persuasion business and convince people that its safe and important to do so, as were beginning to reopen the economy and some of the really extreme measures are lessening, he continued.

I think theres a natural tendency for some people who havent been vaccinated to sort of think, Well, I can get by, and its not really going to be critical, but it is, and we dont have to look very far around the world to see this virus is far from contained.

Third District Supervisor Joan Hartman added that getting vaccinated protects those who cant be vaccinated by reducing transmission.

We still have to double our numbers, so get vaccinated, she said, adding that when the vaccines receive full U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, some private sector enterprises may require vaccination and we may have a run on vaccine, so get it now.

First District Supervisor Das Williams said the numbers show a significant effort to reach hard-to-reach populations, but he asked for an analysis of what demographic groups have been vaccinated and which have not for disclosure to the public.

Do-Reynoso responded that the Public Health Departments COVID-19 dashboard breaks down vaccinations by race and ethnicity, age, gender and region.

The dashboard shows that 43% of those vaccinated are White, followed by 33% Hispanic/Latino, 15% whose race and ethnicity is unknown, 4% Asian, 3% listed as other, 1% each for Black/African American and those of multiple races.

American Indian/Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander groups each account for zero percent of those vaccinated.

Vaccinations by region show a disparity between the North County at 42,662 and the South County at 85,734. The Mid County vaccinations stand at 24,838.

In all, the county has administered 356,399 doses, with 202,531 of those first doses, 138,678 of them second doses and 14,572 the one-dose variety.
Georgia-Pacific has donated $5,000 to help support the Diboll Boys & Girls Club Power Hour program. The after-school study program is designed to help students master core subjects by pairing them with academic mentors. Recently Georgia-Pacific representatives Danny Wright, Diboll lumber plant manager, back row left; and David Thelen, Diboll particleboard plant manager, back row right; visit with some of the clubs members during a Power Hour. Club members are, front row from left, Arielle Romero, Jacob Scott and Gavin Harrison; and, second row from left, Celesse Goeyns, Geraldo Villanueva, Brianna Villanueva, Kamari Williams and Tymarian Jones.
The funds will be used for a variety of efforts, including funding staff positions, purchasing materials, assisting in trainings, resources to address bullying and a focus on suicide prevention.

In MMSD, the grant will fund two mental health navigator positions, which mental health coordinator Kristen Guetschow said will be designed to support families, walking alongside them to help navigate the systems that are out there to support our students and families. It will also add a bilingual resource specialist who can help school-based staff with translation and focus on supporting direct interpretation with families.

One of the reasons I really appreciate this grant is I think its really been increasing the conversation around the mental health needs of our students and families, Guetschow said. Anything that elevates that conversation is wonderful, and when theres funding attached to it thats always appreciated.
The motion also trashes one plan to establish a state-based exchange on the Affordable Care Act, another that would make changes to law enforcement agencies' use-of-force policies and a number of provisions related to the University of Wisconsin System, such as expanding "Bucky's Tuition Promise," under which in-state students who meet a certain income threshold are able to receive free tuition, and offering resident tuition rates to certain undocumented students.

And it targets measures related to contamination from PFAS, or so-called "forever chemicals" that have been detected in surface and groundwater around Wisconsin. Specifically, the motion would nix funding for PFAS testing labs and hazardous substance discharge investigations, as well as eliminate standards for the substances.

After approving the motion, lawmakers on the Republican-led panel will sign off on more than a dozen small sections of the budget, including the governor's, state treasurer's and secretary of state's offices, the Court of Appeals, State Fair Park and more.
Will you come to the aid of our heroic nursing assistants, nurses and doctors who have shouldered so much during this pandemic? Will you be the one to lift a weary heart of an elderly patient? Join them as a newly trained certified nursing assistant. You will benefit just as much as those you serve.

Emily Taye Nolte is a student at Madison College, where she will begin the nursing program in September 2021. She plans to pursue a master's degree specializing in nurse midwifery or hospice care. She lives in Madison with her husband and four children.

Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less.
Vietnam records 26 more Covid-19 patients, total tally surpasses 3,000

26 more people have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, including 18 locally-transmitted cases, raising the total number of Covid-19 patients in the country to 3,022, the Ministry of Health reported on Wednesday evening.











The Hanoi-based Vietnam National Hospital for Tropical Diseases reports 14 Covid-19 infection cases on May 5







According to the ministry's report, 14 out of 18 locally-transmitted cases were detected at the Hanoi-based National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. The hospital has stopped receiving new in-patients since May 5 to conduct Covid-19 tests for all staff members, patients, and patients' caregivers.

Four other new patients are from Hanoi, Quang Nam, Dong Nai, and Hai Duong provinces.

Eight imported patients are all Vietnamese people who recently returned from Japan, Poland, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Russia. They were sent to quarantine areas in Danang and Ho Chi Minh cities, and Long An, Tay Ninh, Soc Trang, and Hai Duong provinces for Covid-19 prevention upon arrival and are now being treated at local hospitals.



With these new infection cases, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 3,022, including 1,626 locally-transmitted cases.



As of 6 pm on May 5, a total of 2,560 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, nearly 41,000 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.
Gov. Larry Hogan said Tuesday afternoon that his daughter showed him the video of the attack and that he was outraged at what he saw. He made reference to another Sunday attack in New York City where a woman was seen attacking an Asian woman with a hammer in the citys Manhattan neighborhood. Hogans wife, Yumi, is Korean American and the governor has said previously that his family has felt the effects of anti-Asian discrimination during the pandemic.
That was kind of the genesis of it. And then from there, trying to stay abreast of trends in dining, specifically as it relates to delivery and carryout, he said. And thats where we said, You know what, lets come up with a brand that sells some really great chicken wings and fried chicken sandwiches.

The Great Dane restaurants are large and can handle high volumes of customers, so the company had to look for new revenue when it wasnt able to fill its restaurants or had to seat customers at a reduced capacity.

Typically, on Badger game days before last year, each restaurant would serve 1,000 to 1,200 customers, Pace said.

About 20% of its current revenue is coming from the online brands, he said. So, its definitely been helpful in terms of finding ways to keep being there for our staffs, supporting our people who are really the backbone of what we do, and another way for us to get products that were proud of into the hands of our customer.

Pace said he sees the demand for delivery continuing in the restaurant industry in the coming years, even as restaurants are able to seat customers at full capacity.
But no one in her family grasped how advanced Almaguers condition was and they didnt let Almaguer know either. They left it to Perez to break the news.

Forcing herself to see Almaguer as a patient instead of one of her closest family members was excruciating. She ignored the memory of her grandparents giving her pesos to help her stay enrolled at MATC. She pushed away a phone call she had with Almaguer a few months earlier when her grandma told her she was so inspired by Perez pursuing a college degree that she went back to school at 92 to earn her elementary school diploma.

Perez leaned on what shed learned from her nursing professors about end-of-life care, asking her grandma uncomfortable but necessary questions about how she wanted to die.

Everything they taught me made it possible for my abuelita to die on her own terms and with the least amount of pain, she said.

For five weeks, Perez gave her grandma round-the-clock care. Just before Almaguer fell into a coma, she made one last request.
To take part

Madison's Public Library Board meets online at 5 p.m. Thursday to take up a plan to reopen libraries to walk-in traffic beginning May 24.

To speak to the board, visit cityofmadison.com/meetingregistration.

To watch, go to cityofmadison.com/watchmeetings, and to listen, dial 877-853-5257 and enter meeting ID 975 4580 9169.

Written comments can be emailed to mpllibraryboard@madisonpubliclibrary.org.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  A Tennessee Republican falsely declared Tuesday that an 18th century policy designating a slave as three-fifths of a person was adopted for the purpose of ending slavery, commenting amid a debate over whether educators should be restricted while teaching about systematic racism in America.

During lengthy debate on the GOP-controlled House floor, several Black lawmakers expressed concerns about the bills impact on how certain subjects would be taught in schools, specifically highlighting the Three-Fifths Compromise. The policy was made during the nations Constitutional Convention in 1787 and classified that three-fifths of a states slave population could be counted toward its total population when apportioning taxes and states representation in Congress.

Historians largely agree the compromise gave slaveholding states inordinate power over choosing a president  and decisions of the Continental Congress. That clout eventually faded when Northern state populations began to rapidly rise.

Rep. Justin Lafferty, who is white, stood up and talked at length about what he saw as sparking the compromise. At one point he asked colleagues to note on paper their best guess for the reasons that led to the policy.
Details about the incident were sparse, but the department said the driver of the car stayed at the scene and that the victim was flown to Maryland Shock Trauma. The crossing guard was said to have life-threatening injuries, according to police.
The Nez Perce doubt that Perpetua Resources will stick around if the mine is permitted by the federal government. Perpetua is now majority-owned by a New York-based corporation that recently replaced most of the mining companys governing board.

The company might opt to sell its shares for a huge profit and then exit the scene. A new corporation could then step in to extract gold, leaving behind a new legacy of toxic contamination and resource destruction that will plague our communities for generations to come.

We know all too well the pattern of exploit-and-abandon. Corporations dont keep their promises, and federal mining laws offer little or no accountability. We want this permit to mine gold denied.

The United States, as a signatory to the 1855 Treaty and trustee to the Tribe, has a responsibility to protect and honor our treaty rights and resources. These treaty obligations, which predate the 1872 General Mining Law, are rooted in the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution and represent the solemn word of the United States.

For us, the Nimiipuu, the value of the land, fish, wildlife and other natural resources will always be worth more than gold. Chief Joseph left us with these words that we will never forget: It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and the broken promises.

The United States must not turn a blind eye to the Stibnite Gold project. We ask that this country honor Nez Perce treaty rights and protect the lands and resources important to all the people of Idaho.

Marcie Carter is a citizen of the Nez Perce Tribe and a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, a nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West.

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Recently, I took a favorite trail leading from the edge of edge of town into the watershed. I always look forward to walking through an avenue of small manzanita trees. In spring, their pink urn-like blossoms are mobbed by bumble bees and hummingbirds. In fall and winter, their berries  the little apples that give these shrubs their Spanish name  feed robins, thrushes and bears. Winter storms turn these groves into an enchanted labyrinth of green leaves, red bark and white snow.

Not this year. Not again in my lifetime. I found that this once intact and healthy wildlife habitat had been reduced to defensible space. The manzanitas had been harshly hacked back; those that had been spared stood isolated in a barren expanse of blood-red stumps. I counted the rings on one of the stumps, revealing that it had been at least 55 years old when we decided it was too dangerous to live.

The Forest Resiliency Project considered these manzanitas a threat because they were close to the city limits  and even closer to the big new homes being built outside the city limits.

They were sacrificed to increase our sense of security, and for no other reason. They were mostly healthy and important for wildlife. They shaded the soil and hosted mycorrhizal fungi integral to the nutrient cycles of the forest.
In November, a request for proposal was released looking for local organizations that could use the grant funds to help kids get active and eat healthily. MaVTEC and the DTA submitted such a proposal for the bike skills park at Auger using those funds.

In December the $30,00 grant was awarded, with MaVTEC contributing $10,000 to the project in form of a sustainable maintenance plan. Along with a private donor supplying an additional $30,000, the total amount set to be used is $70,000.

I put in at the beginning, thats what I wanted to do was use the money for this bike skills park because the grant is only for kids, and use in the Magic Valley or Twin Falls area, Tigue said.

Speaking during the City Council meeting, Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce President and City Councilperson Shawn Barigar said, As the Impact Team has been looking at the requests for proposals at looked at this, this is another great opportunity to not only create a new amenity for Twin Falls.

As weve heard, there are lots of new folks moving here and really create that opportunity to train, educate, provide that environment that is safe and sustainable to build a mountain bike community, is very exciting, he said.
Norfolk Council Member Andria McClellan toured New College Institute in Martinsville on Wednesday as part of what she described as a road tour in Southside and Southwest Virginia.

McClellan announced in December that she would be seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 2021.

The Democratic primary will be on June 8  early voting getting under way  and McClellan is running against a crowded field that includes Del. Hala Ayala of Prince William County, Del. Mark Levine of Alexandria, Sean Perryman of Fairfax County, Del. Sam Rasoul of Roanoke and Xavier Warren of Arlington County.

McClelland said she grew up in Virginia Beach and now lives in Norfolk, and although she lives on the other side of the state, she is not another Northern Virginia Democrat.

As a member of Norfolk City Council I represent 125,000 people, McClellan said. Ive worked with leaders in various counties on issues that range from climate change to broadband.

I understand how cities, counties and towns work and recognize the states geographic diversity.

McClellan said she understood the issues facing rural Virginia and wanted to make sure great things are happening in all parts of Virginia.
More important, you teach people that some victims are more worthy of justice than others. If you have been killed by someone who wanted your money, you are just as dead as someone who targeted you because you were gay.

If you were raped, you are just as devastated and torn if your rapist was a stranger at a party than if he was a misogynist who wanted to brutalize women.

It is true that motivation is a key factor in determining why a crime was committed, along with the likelihood of it being committed against a specific person, but to enhance a sentence because the person was a bigot on top of being a criminal places far too much power in the hands of those looking for the bigotry.

I say this because we have seen, these days, the ease with which people throw around the term white supremacist. I have seen it in emails from readers who hate my columns, on social media against people who defend traditions like mascots that offend their neighbors, in op-eds and essays from folks who think mispronouncing ethnic names is bias, and I have heard it from the mouths of public officials who brand whole swaths of their constituencies with the racist label.
Look no further than the surging popularity of French presidential candidate Marine LePen. On Capitol Hill, there are such Trump-aligned Republicans as Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, who recently pushed the repulsive replacement theory during a House committee hearing.

Future historians will judge how democratic governments around the world respond to these threats. And the price of failure is high.

During his speech on Wednesday, Biden again appealed to Republicans to join in working to find compromise on the sweeping reimagining of the economy thats been the hallmark of his first 100 days. But he also made clear that he was ready to move on without them.

I just want to be clear, from my perspective, doing nothing is not an option. Look, we cant be so busy competing with one another that we forget the competition that we have with the rest of the world to win the 21st century, he said, warning that Chinese President Xi Jinping is deadly earnest on becoming the most significant, consequential nation in the world. He and others, autocrats, think that democracy cant compete in the 21st century with autocracies, because it takes too long to get consensus.
Nearly 10 million cancer screenings have been missed in the United States during the coronavirus pandemic, researchers report.

The investigators analyzed data on three types of cancer for which early screenings are most beneficialbreast, colon and prostateand found that 9.4 million screenings for these cancers did not occur in the United States due to COVID-19.

Screenings for all three types of cancer fell sharply. For example, there was a 90% decline in breast cancer screenings in April 2020, according to the study published online April 29 in JAMA Oncology.

"As a physician, I wasn't surprised to see that screenings had declined, but this study measures by how much," said study author Dr. Ronald Chen, associate director of health equity at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. "This study makes it clear that this is a large public health issue."

Routine screening helps detect cancer at an early stage when it is most curable. Millions of people missing cancer screenings because of the COVID-19 pandemic will mean the delay in the detection of cancer for some, meaning it will be more advanced when it's diagnosed.

"Unfortunately, by causing cancelations of appointments and cancer screenings, COVID will indirectly cause an increase in cancer deathsanother negative consequence of COVID that has not yet received much public attention," Chen said in a university news release.

It's crucial for the public and health care providers to understand the urgency of getting cancer screenings back on track, he emphasized.

"There needs to be a concerted public health educational campaign across the country to reinforce the importance of cancer screening," Chen said. "Hospitals across the country also need to devote effort to contact patients to reschedule canceled screening tests, in order to minimize the delay in screening and cancer diagnoses from the missed tests."

The study also found that telehealth visits, which were widely used for the first time during the pandemic, were associated with better screening rates.

"Telehealth has a measurable positive effect on whether patients get their cancer screenings," Chen said. "This study also justifies a continued use of telehealth even after the pandemic."

Explore further Study finds disparities in colorectal cancer screenings

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
The gender and race/ethnicity breakdown of full professors shows no diversity gains among Black and Latinx surgeons in recent years. Credit: VCU Massey Cancer Center

Among the upper echelons of academic surgery, Black and Latinx representation has remained flat over the past six years, according to a study published today in JAMA Surgery by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center and University of Florida Health.

The study tracked trends across more than 15,000 faculty in surgery departments across the U.S. between 2013-2019. Although the data revealed modest diversity gains among early-career faculty during this period, especially for Black and Latina women, the percentage of full professors and department chairs identifying as Black or Latinx continued to hover in the single digits.

Women from these underrepresented groups were even more absent from leadership. During the study window, only one Black woman and one Latina woman ascended to the role of department chair, up from zero prior to 2015, suggesting that the combination of gender with race or ethnicity deepened the disadvantages these surgeons faced when trying to rise through the ranks.

"There are a lot of talented surgeons of different races, ethnicities and genders who do wonderful work and are being underrecognized or not recognized at all. And that's contributed to a lot of frustration," said study senior author Jose Trevino, M.D., chair of surgical oncology and associate professor of surgery at the VCU School of Medicine and surgeon-in-chief at VCU Massey Cancer Center.

In 2019, the vast majority of chairs and full professors were white, occupying about three quarters of these positions. Black and Latinx surgeons held about 3% to 5% of the full professorships and chairsclear underrepresentation considering the overall demographics of the country.

"I don't think it's a matter that they don't aspire to these positions," said study lead author Andrea Riner, M.D., M.P.H., a surgical resident at the University of Florida College of Medicine. "And I think many of them are truly qualified to lead."

Over the six-year study period, the share of surgery department chairs and full professorships held by white doctors decreased by 4 to 5 percentage points, but it was Asian faculty who filled the void, rising by 4 percentage points over the same timeframe.

Male Black and Latino chairs actually lost ground during the six-year study period, dropping 0.1 and 0.5 percentage points, respectively.

According to the authors, one way to promote success for traditionally underrepresented groups is sponsorshipmeaning someone in a position of power serves as an advocate for someone else who doesn't have the same level of influence.

"Having that person speak up for you and say you are deserving of whatever position you'd like to hold is really powerful," Riner said. "As a profession, we need to be a little more cognizant or intentional about sponsoring diverse people within our departments."

Mentorship and allyship are also important for leveling inequities in surgical leadership. Similar to sponsors, mentors provide expertise and support, though they may not have the clout to create opportunities for their mentees the way a sponsor could. Allyship is broader still. Anyone can be an ally, regardless of career level, so long as they lend support.

And the simple act of representation helps too. When students and residents see leaders who look like them, aspiring to those positions seems more realistic. But when female and minority trainees see a glass ceiling, they may be more likely to choose a different career.

"There are a lot of great leaders in surgery nowleaders who are very much willing to address these inequities, though their day-to-day activities don't really allow for it," said Trevino, who also holds VCU's Walter E. Lawrence, Jr., Distinguished Professorship of Oncology. "Every now and again we as a profession need to take a pause and remind the people who are at the top of these academic ladders that they can help someone up and push them forward."

Explore further Female surgeon scientists claim more than their share of research grants
In this Saturday, April 10, 2021 photo, a syringe is loaded with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, Canada's health regulator authorized the Pfizer vaccine for ages 12 and older. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canadian health officials said Wednesday they have become the first to approve Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for ages as young as 12.

Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief medical adviser at Health Canada, confirmed the decision for ages 12 to 15 and said it will help children return to a normal life. Canada is the first country to authorize Pfizer for that age group. The U.S. and the European Union are also reviewing it.

The vaccine was previously authorized for anyone 16 or older.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is also expected to authorize Pfizer's vaccine for young people by next week, setting up shots for many before the beginning of the next school year. The announcement comes barely a month after the company found that its shot, which is already authorized for those age 16 and older, also provided protection for the younger group.

Pfizer in late March released preliminary results from a vaccine study of 2,260 U.S. volunteers ages 12 to 15 showing there were no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated adolescents compared with 18 among those given dummy shots.

Sharma said the evidence is there that the vaccine is safe and effective in that age group. It is the first vaccine approved for children in Canada.

In this April 23, 2021 photo, Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference in Ottawa. Drug maker Pfizer says, Friday, April 30, it will start sending U.S.-produced COVID-19 vaccines to Canada next week. It's the first time the U.S. has allowed that company's vaccine exported north. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP, File)

Sharma said about one-fifth of all cases of COVID-19 in Canada have occurred in children and teenagers, and having a vaccine for them is a critical part of Canada's plan.

She said while most kids don't experience serious illness from COVID-19, a vaccine also helps protect their friends and family who may be at higher risk of complications.

"It will also support the return to a more normal life for our children, who have had such a hard time over the past year, she said.

Kids studied had side effects similar to young adults, the company said, mainly pain, fever, chills and fatigue, particularly after the second dose. The study will continue to track participants for two years for more information about long-term protection and safety

"Today's expansion of our authorization represents a significant step forward in helping the Canadian government broaden its vaccination program and begin to help protect adolescents before the start of the next school year," Fabien Paquette, vaccines lead for Pfizer Canada, said in a statement.

Jules Mccusker receives a BioNTech Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from Dr. Shauna Martiniuk, right, an emergency doctor with Mount Sinai Hospital, as Jowite Bydlowska, left, sits alongside him at a pop-up vaccination clinic run by the Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health and the University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Health, in Toronto, Saturday, April 10, 2021. The vaccination center serves Toronto's Indigenous community. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Health Canada said it will require Pfizer-BioNTech to continue providing information to it on the safety, efficacy and quality of the vaccine in this younger age group to ensure its benefits. Sharma noted Pfizer does have ongoing trials in younger age groups as well and signaled that they may be giving Health Canada a submission for ages 5 to 11 as soon as September. She also noted Moderna also has clinical trials underway for the same age groups.

Vaccinations have ramped in Canada in recent months and the government expects to receive at least 10 million vaccines this month. More than 34% of Canadians have received at least one dose.

Officials are hoping that extending vaccinations to children will drive down caseloads even further and allow schools to reopen with minimal disruption this fall. It could also reassure parents and teachers alike.

"It's fantastic and unsurprising," Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and the medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Sinai-University Health Network, said of the new approval. "We need to get as many people as possible vaccinated as soon as possible. We know older kids are higher transmitters than younger, so this will help everyone."

The premier of the Canadian province of Alberta said it will begin inoculating those as young as 12 on Monday.

Explore further FDA expected to OK Pfizer vaccine for teens within week

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Illustration of the probe's molecular interactions. Credit: Angelo Frei / Imperial College London

Researchers have created a probe that glows when it detects an enzyme associated with issues that can lead to blood clots and strokes.

The team of researchers, from the Department of Chemistry and the National Lung and Heart Institute at Imperial College London, demonstrated that their probe quickly and accurately detects the enzyme in modified E. Coli cells.

They are now expanding this proof-of-concept study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society and funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), with the hope of creating rapid tests for cardiovascular problems and a new way to track long-term conditions.

The build-up of plaque in the arteriesknown as atherosclerosiscan lead to coronary artery disease and stroke, and is one of the leading causes of death in the Western world.

As atherosclerosis progresses, intraplaque hemorrhages (IPHs) can occur when portions of the plaque break away from the artery walls. These events can lead to the formation of more vulnerable plaques and blood clots, restricting blood flow to the heart and the brain and potentially leading to chronic diseases or catastrophic events like strokes.

Detecting IPHs and their impacts would therefore provide a warning system and allow early diagnosis of vascular conditions. The research team designed a chemical probe that can detect rises in levels of an enzyme that accompanies IPHs and even plaque instabilities that precede IPHs.

Study co-lead Professor Nicholas Long, from the Department of Chemistry at Imperial, said, "Progress in the field of early cardiovascular disease has been rather limited and slow-paced but this new probe, and others that we are developing, will go a long way to addressing this by providing real-time and easily measured responses to diagnostic enzymes."

Study co-lead Dr. Joe Boyle, from the National Heart and Lung Institute, added, "Ultimately, these probes could provide the basis for diagnostic tests at the GP, ambulances or in hospitals for quick identification of cardiovascular diseases. The probes could also provide real-time analysis of the underpinning biological processes involved in vascular disease, providing new insights and potentially new ways to track the progress of chronic disease."

The team's probe works by detecting an enzyme that is released in large quantities during IPHs, called heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Previous attempts to screen for HO-1 have been unreliable and cannot be used to detect real-time changes, but the new probe addresses both these issues.

The probe is made up of two components that can host fluorescent (glowing) moleculesone "donor" that transfers the fluorescent molecules to the "acceptor" component. When the probe comes into contact with HO-1, the bond between the two components is severed, leading to the build-up of the fluorescent molecules in the donor component.

This build-up causes an increase in the fluorescence intensity of the probe that can be detected using spectroscopy. In tests using modified E. coli cells containing human HO-1, the team detected a six-fold increase in the fluorescence of the probe.

Professor James Leiper, associate medical director at the BHF, said, "Current methods to detect IPH rely on hospital-based imaging techniques that are both time consuming and expensive. The current technology aims to produce a fast and sensitive diagnostic test that can be used at the time that a patient first presents with symptoms to allow early detection of IPH. Use of such a test would allow for more rapid treatment and improved outcomes for patients suffering from IPH."

The team are now extending their studies to mammal and human cells. They have recently patented their probe and have received funding from the British Heart Foundation to make a new generation of probes for other cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and to carry out more in-depth biological investigations of the underlying mechanisms.

More information: Edward R. H. Walter et al, A CoumarinPorphyrin FRET Break-Apart Probe for Heme Oxygenase-1, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2021). Journal information: Journal of the American Chemical Society Edward R. H. Walter et al, A CoumarinPorphyrin FRET Break-Apart Probe for Heme Oxygenase-1,(2021). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c12864
Alayna Oertel, 14, told news outlets that she saw the truck while out on the bay with her family. Her father, Joe Oertel, took the wheel of their boat and she pulled out life vests.
During the next 10 years, an estimated half-million individuals in the U.S. with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are expected to transition from adolescence to adulthood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That means thousands of these young adults will likely fall into a widening and potentially devastating gap in a variety of servicesbecause they're too old for high school, but may not qualify for Medicaid-funded services, social work researchers at Case Western Reserve University predict in a new study.

The team of researchers from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences interviewed 174 families from Northeast Ohio to examine the use of health, medical and social services for youth with autismfrom 16 to 30 years oldand their family caregivers. The study was funded by the International Center for Autism Research and Education (ICARE) through a Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation catalytic grant and a grant from the Mandel School.

The findings, recently published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, show that having a Medicaid waiver and high school enrollment emerged as "the most robust and consistent" predictors of youth with autism and their families using available services.

Those services include improved job training and access to medical care, speech and occupational therapy and transportation. Autism, a neurological condition typically diagnosed by age 3, often affects a person's communication abilities and social skills.

Having ample services available is vital, said Karen Ishler, a senior research associate at the Mandel School and the study's lead author.

"These findings provide a snapshot of the 'service cliff' faced by families and highlight the need for additional research," she said. "It reaffirms that once individuals leave high school, they are less likely to receive services. But having a Medicaid waiver provides a gateway to receiving all sorts of services."

David Biegel, the Henry L. Zucker Professor of Social Work Practice Emeritus at the Mandel School and a co-author of the study, noted that how states administer Medicaid waivers varies widely. Ohio has been generous in some regards, he said, but other states have done better for those with autism.

"Pennsylvania, for example, has a Medicaid waiver available specifically for those with autism," he said. "So when you apply, you don't have to compete with individuals with other health conditions."

Ishler said states like Ohio could take a lead role to address the issue, "but that also takes dollars and some motivation."

That would involve finding other options for funding services, changing eligibility requirements for Medicaid waivers and reducing the wait list, the researchers said. "Autism spectrum disorder affects the entire family," Biegel said.

"Many young people with ASD are at risk for reduced quality of life in adulthood," he said. "Additionally, families of adolescents and young adults with ASD face all kinds of stressorsespecially during those critical, post-high school transition years."

Take, for example, finding a job. Students with autism are allowed to stay in Ohio public schools until age 22. When they finish, though, employment training and supports often dry up, according to the study.

It's something only made more challenging by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

"I think about some of these families, about how difficult it must be at homeespecially for those whose youth have complex service needs," Ishler said.

Explore further Families of youth with autism face big barriers to care, gaps in services

More information: Karen J. Ishler et al, Service Use Among Transition-Age Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2021). Journal information: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Karen J. Ishler et al, Service Use Among Transition-Age Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-04999-6
Mixing different vaccine types is known as a heterologous prime-boost vaccination. It started in the 1990s as a strategy tested by HIV researchers. Credit: Julia Koblitz / Unsplash

Amid global vaccine rollouts, with nearly 1.2 billion doses currently administered, some countries have recommended a mixed-dose approach where a first prime shot is followed by a booster of a second type.

The measure has been introduced by France and Germany for people who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine but are in age groups for which that vaccine is no longer recommended in those countries due to rare instances of blood clotting (although the European Medicines Agency (EMA) says the benefits still outweigh the risks).

However, a more widespread policy of mixing different vaccines could also help to ease vaccine supply pressures and may even boost immune response. While the World Health Organisation has said there is currently 'no adequate data' on interchangeability, various trials are now assessing this approach.

Here are five things to know about mixing coronavirus vaccines.

1. Mix-and-match is nothing newit started with HIV research

Mixing different vaccine types is known as a heterologous prime-boost vaccination. It started in the 1990s as a strategy tested by HIV researchers, according to Dr. Pierre Meulien, executive director of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), an EU and European pharmaceutical industry partnership. "Scientifically, this is not anything new," he said.

HIV researchers knew that a classical vaccine would not induce the extremely complex immunological mechanisms needed for potential protection from HIV infection. "People were trying to understand how you could induce both T and B cell immunity," said Dr. Meulien, referring to the critical cells in the adaptive immune system. "And this was the main driver for that work (mixing vaccines)."

HIV was also the driver for scientists to develop new vaccine platforms to deliver their payload. These platforms include DNA, mRNA, and viral vectors such as the adenovirus, the last two both used in approved COVID-19 vaccines. The raft of new platforms created over the last 30 years is what enabled coronavirus vaccines to be developed so quickly, says Dr. Frederic Martinon an immunologist at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM).

Rodolphe Thiebaut, a professor of public health at France's University of Bordeaux, says the idea behind mixing vaccines is that 'you are basically presenting the antigen (the recognisable part of the pathogen) to the immune system in a different way' which helps the immune system get a better overview of the antigen and tailor its response.

A prime-boost regimen is the only vaccine to ever show efficacyalthough not high enoughagainst HIV infection. In 2012, it was shown to reduce transmission by about 30% in phase 3 human trials. This has led to high expectations around the approach, says Prof. Thiebaut.

2. Mixing doses can help avoid immunity against a vaccine

Because some vaccines are delivered into the body using a modified virus, it is possible for the immune system to attack the vaccine itself. Mixing the platforms for the booster could reduce the risk of developing immunity against a viral vector vaccine.

When it comes to COVID-19 vaccines, Russia's Sputnik V, Johnson & Johnson, CanSino Biologics and AstraZeneca's products use a virus, an adenovirusit usually causes a common coldmodified to express the coronavirus spike protein that the immune system activates against. It is 'replication deficient," so it can't copy itself in the body once injected and give us a cold, explains Pia Dosenovic, an assistant professor in immunology at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden who researches vaccine development through the project VIVA.

But it's possible for the immune system to develop a response against the adenovirus platform. This is not dangerous, says Prof. Dosenovic, but it could dampen the vaccine's effect.

To get around this possible risk, Prof. Dosenovic says Sputnik V uses a different adenovirus in each shot, and AstraZeneca uses one from chimpanzees that our systems have never encountered.

Prof. Dosenovic says getting a third shotwhich is possible if vaccines are updated to address variantswith a viral vector vaccine would not be optimal. From this perspective, it makes sense to change platforms to mRNA or one that is protein-based like Novavax.

3. Mixing vaccines can elicit a stronger/longer-lasting response than a single vaccine regimen

When it comes to viral vector-based vaccines, a mixed-dose approach may not only stop the immune system from inhibiting a vaccine, but also confer stronger and longer-lasting protection.

"If you give a vector, vector, vector, or you give a vector, vector, protein, then I would expect that you get a stronger antibody response (to the encoded antigen) in the second approach," said Prof. Dosenovic. "But to know that you would have to do experiments."

Again, this is because we want to train the immune system to attack the virus causing the disease rather than the one delivering the vaccine. "If you mix different types of vaccine, we can imagine that you will increase the (immune) response against the common antigen which is the antigen of interest and not against the vector itself," said Dr. Martinon.

And there is precedent. The Ebola vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson is an example of a mixed-dose approach being specifically chosen because the immune response could be long-lasting. The first shot uses the same adenovirus as the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, and the second uses an MVA vectora modified version of a poxvirusa type that is also under investigation for future COVID-19 vaccines.

Prof. Thiebaut is coordinator of EBOVAC2, a programme assessing the safety and efficacy of this vaccine. He says they have had a 'very good response' with this strategy and predict that the new boost will enable protection to last longer than it would otherwise. "At least half of the cells that are producing the antibodies will probably stay at least five years," he said.

4. The safety and effect of mixing coronavirus vaccines must be assessed

While experts don't consider the approach of mixing vaccines to be dangerous, they say that we don't have enough data about coronavirus vaccine mixing and that safety should be evaluated as in any new vaccine strategy.

In particular, mixing mRNA vaccines with adenovirus-based vaccines and vice versa has not been done before, says Dr. Meulien, as the first instance of mRNA vaccine technology being approved for human use was for COVID-19.

"I think you really need to start from scratch," he said. "You have to do dosing regimens and all the usual things that you do in a precautionary way. You will have to do it with these new things because none of them have been tested together before."

Various trials are underway to test coronavirus vaccine mixing. One anticipated study is that of the Oxford Vaccine Group's Com-Cov trial - launched after the UK in January approved a mixed-dose approachto study immune responses and any side effects of combinations of four vaccines: AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax. "What I'm hoping is that we won't rule out any combinations," chief investigator Professor Matthew Snape told the BBC.

In terms of the research questions that need to be answered, Dr. Meulien said: "I think the types of immune response that are induced, the longevity of response, and then of course, the safety profile would be the three things that I would say would be very important."

Spain is planning human trials of the effects of following one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine with a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Countries that have already taken decisions to mix vaccines are operating by weighing up risks and benefits, according to Dr. Meulien.

"This is not brand new thinking," he said. "We have decades of experience in pre-clinical and clinical (work), especially in HIV, using these approaches. So it's not as if we're putting populations at risk doing this."

5. Mix-and-match could help us fight variants

For Dr. Meulien, the main incentive to mix vaccines is to potentially induce a broader immune response. "I mean broaden to cover the variants that are now popping up all over the place," he said.

But there needs to be a real scientific and regulatory justification to mix, he says.

Dr. Martinon says vaccines will be improved for different variants such as those that emerged in the UK, Brazil, South Africa, and most recently in India, which is currently facing a surge in cases and a new coronavirus mutation that is potentially making SARS-CoV-2 more contagious and able to reinfect.

The next generation of vaccines will probably be directed against several coronavirus variants, he says, with different vaccines targeting different variants. Mixing these vaccines would give broad collective immunity and make it harder for variants to circulate or for new ones to emerge, according to Dr. Martinon.

Periodic shots will be required, he says, although how much time between them is unknown, the hope is it will be years.

From a public health perspective, Prof. Thiebaut says mixing vaccines could help overcome this pandemic by speeding up the vaccination rollout. Obtaining good evaluations of vaccine combinations that show what works well is key.

"It's good news in terms of flexibility of every government to be able to use what they can get as soon as possible," he said. This flexibility is crucial. "The best way to fight these variants is to vaccinate as quickly as possible the largest part of the population on Earth."

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

More information: The The VIVA project is funded by the EU's European Research Council and EBOVAC2 is funded by the IMI.
In this April 26, 2021, file photo, CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering sophomore Brian Acevedo, 16, receives a COVID-19 vaccine from nurse Myra Glass, of East Hartford, during a mass vaccination site at Pratt & Whitney Runway in East Hartford, Conn. Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19's toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday, May 5. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19's toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday.

But they also warn that a "substantial increase" in hospitalizations and deaths is possible if unvaccinated people do not follow basic precautions such as wearing a mask and keeping their distance from others.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paper included projections from six research groups. Their assignment was to predict the course of the U.S. epidemic between now and September under different scenarios, depending on how the vaccination drive proceeds and how people behave.

Mainly, it's good news. Even under scenarios involving disappointing vaccination rates, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are expected to drop dramatically by the end of July and continue to fall afterward.

The CDC is now reporting an average of about 350,000 new cases each week, 35,000 hospitalizations and over 4,000 deaths.

Under the most optimistic scenarios considered, by the end of July new weekly national cases could drop below 50,000, hospitalizations to fewer than 1,000, and deaths to between 200 and 300.

In this May 3, 2021, file photo, Hennepin County Medical Center patient John Grubb, of St. Michael, hugs and says goodbye to several of his caregivers as his wife, Kelly, lower right, looks on before he is discharged from the hospital in Minneapolis, after spending 81 days on the ECMO heart-lung bypass machine, which has been the treatment of last resort in COVID-19 care. (David Joles/Star Tribune via AP, File)

"We are not out of the woods yet, but we could be very close," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said, while noting that variants of the coronavirus are a "wild card" that could set back progress.

The projections are probably in line with what many Americans were already expecting for this summer.

With COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations and cases plummeting since January, many states and cities are already moving to ease or lift restrictions on restaurants, bars, theaters and other businesses and talking about getting back to something close to normal this summer.

New York's subways will start running all night again this month, Las Vegas is bustling again after casino capacity limits were raised, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week suspended all restrictions put in place by local governments, though businesses may continue requiring people to wear masks and keep their distance, and many are still doing so.

Many people in Florida have resumed parties, graduations and recitals. Walt Disney World lets guests remove their masks for photographs.

In this April 7, 2021, file photo, people crowd the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif. Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19's toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday, May 5. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

"It does feel like life is returning to normal," said 67-year-old Vicki Restivo of Miami, who after getting vaccinated resumed outings with her friends at restaurants and traveled to Egyptand felt "very comfortable" about it.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday set a goal of delivering shots to 70% of U.S. adults by July Fourth. Such a goal, if met, would fit in with the best-case scenarios, said one of the study's co-authors, CDC biologist Michael Johansson.

Under more pessimistic scenarios, with subpar vaccinations and declining use of masks and social distancing, weekly cases probably would still drop but could number in the hundreds of thousands, with tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths.

"Something I am asked often is when will the pandemic be over and when can we go back to normal. The reality is: It all depends on the actions we take now," Walensky said.

All the projections trend down, illustrating the powerful effect of the vaccination campaign. But there's a devastating difference between the more gently sloping declines in some scenarios and the more dramatic drops in others, said Jennifer Kates, director of global health and HIV policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.

In this May 4, 2021, file photo, lunch hour customers are seen in an outdoor seating area of a restaurant in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York. Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19's toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday, May 5. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

"Each of these differences are people's lives," said Kates, who is part of a Kaiser research team that has focused on COVID-19 and was not involved in the CDC study.

The U.S. death toll stands at more than 578,000. The CDC paper gives no overall estimate of how high the number of dead might go. But a closely watched projection from the University of Washington shows the curve largely flattening out in the coming months, with the toll reaching about 599,000 by Aug. 1.

More than 56% of the nation's adults, or close to 146 million people, have received at one dose of vaccine, and almost 41% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Johansson said the paper is intended not so much as a prediction of exactly what's going to happen but as a way to understand how things might unfold if vaccination drives or other efforts stumble.

By September, assuming high vaccination rates and continuing use of prevention measures, the models indicate new cases could fall to just a few hundred per week and just tens of hospitalizations and deaths.

In this April 29, 2021, file photo, nurse Natasha Garcia administers a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Magaly Esparza in a mobile clinic set up in the parking lot of a shopping center in Orange, Calif. Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19's toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday, May 5. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

The paper also sketched out a worst-case scenario, in which cases could rise to 900,000 per week, hospitalizations to 50,000, and deaths to 10,000. That most likely would happen sometime this month, the projections said.

However, the paper's projections are based on data available through late March, when the national picture was somewhat darker.

The CDC paper "is already looking a little outdated, because we've seen cases continue to go down, and hospitalizations go down, and deaths go down," Kates said.

Nevertheless, Johansson warned: "We're still in a tenuous position."

There is variation from state to state in how well vaccination campaigns are going and how fast restrictions are being abandoned, and that will probably mean some states will suffer a higher toll from COVID-19 than others in the coming months, Kates said.

In this April 18, 2021, file photo, a family leaves Rosie's Dog Beach as evening winds kick up sand in Long Beach, Calif. Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19's toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday, May 5. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

In this April 24, 2021, file photo, people walk along the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas. Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19's toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday, May 5.(AP Photo/John Locher, File)

"If you take the foot off the gas," she said, "you can really have some bad outcomes."

The paper doesn't look past September, and scientists cannot say for sure what the epidemic will look like next fall and winter because it's not known how enduring vaccine protection will be or whether variants of the virus will prove to be a greater problem.

Like the flu, COVID-19 could increase as people move indoors in the cold weather.

"My hope is with enough people vaccinated we will be able to get to something that will resemble maybe a bad flu season," said William Hanage, a Harvard University expert on disease dynamics who was not involved in the research. But "it's not going to go away. It's not going to be eradicated."

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 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to expand emergency use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine by next week so that children as young as 12 years can be immunized.

After a Pfizer trial in adolescents showed its vaccine worked as well in teens as it does in adults, the FDA started preparing to add an amendment covering that age group to the vaccine's emergency use authorization, The New York Times reported. Federal officials familiar with the agency's plans who were not authorized to speak publicly relayed the information, The Times said.

Medical experts welcomed the news, calling it a major step forward in the U.S. vaccination campaign. Vaccinating children is key to raising the level of immunity in the population, experts told The Times, and it could put school administrators, teachers, and parents at ease if millions of students become eligible for vaccinations before schools open in September.

Ashish Jha, M.D., dean of the Brown University School of Public Health and the father of two teenage daughters, said the approval would be a big moment for families like his. "It just ends all concerns about being able to have a pretty normal fall for high schoolers," he told The Times. "It's great for them, it's great for schools, for families who have kids in this age range."

While most adolescents seem to be spared from severe COVID-19, Anthony Fauci, M.D., the top COVID-19 adviser to the Biden administration, has stressed the importance of expanding vaccination efforts to include them and even younger children.

Explore further FDA plans to OK Pfizer vaccine for those aged 12 and up

More information: The New York Times Article

Copyright  2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Gambia has eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, offering hope to other African countries trying to eradicate the painful eye disease.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), trachoma is endemic in 45 countries globally including 29 in Africa such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania. It is the world's leading infectious cause of blindness.

The WHO's validation of Gambia as trachoma-free in April makes it the second African country to achieve this goal after Ghana eliminated the neglected tropical disease (NTD) in 2018.

"The elimination of trachoma in Gambia is a huge achievement. After decades of hard work, our children can grow up without fear of this disease, and our government can direct resources toward tackling other health issues," says Balla Musa Joof, country director for Gambia and Guinea-Bissau for Sightsavers, a non-profit organization involved in fighting the disease.

"We have shown to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa that elimination is possible. It's a huge task, but with collaboration and partnership, it can be done."

Sarjo Kanyi, national eye health program manager at the Gambia Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, tells SciDev.Net that the success resulted from three decades of hard work and partnerships with local communities and institutions such as Sightsavers, UNICEF, the International Trachoma Initiative and pharmaceutical company Pfizer.

The disease, which thrives in areas where there are water shortages, poor sanitation and infestations of flies, spreads through contact with infected flies, infected hands, clothes or bedding. It is caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis.

Kanyi explains that those who contract the disease undergo surgery to stop the eyelashes from rubbing against the eyeball to halt the cycle of repeated infection that can lead to blindness. Infected people are also given antibiotics to treat the trachoma infection and reduce the spread of the disease.

"The treatment is often distributed at mass drug administrations, often by community volunteers, and is usually repeated annually for three years or more," Kanyi says.

Trachoma can be easily treated but causes scarring to the eyelid that pulls the eyelashes inward, causing them to scrape against the eye with every blink, if treatment is delayed.

According to Kanyi, although the initial stage of the disease can easily be treated, the advanced form is problematic.

"This advanced form of trachoma is called trichiasis, and the pain can be so intense that many people resort to pulling out their eyelashes to reduce the agony of blinking," Kanyi explains. "Over time, if it is not treated, trichiasis can lead to blindness."

Gambia's achievement follows the endorsement of a road map that aims to eliminate at least one NTD in 100 countries by 2030, agreed during the 73rd World Health Assembly held virtually in November 2020.

Sultani Matendechero, head of the NTD unit at Kenya's Ministry of Health, hails Gambia's achievement.

"The Gambian success is a big encouragement on our goal to eliminate trachoma and other NTDs in Sub-Saharan Africa," he says. "We are pursuing a goal and if we emulate Gambia we can achieve elimination."

He adds that the disease stops people from going to work and children from attending schools, but treating it is a challenge for endemic countries because of inadequate funding.

"We lack the tools to identify who is suffering from trachoma and we need to do community diagnoses to determine areas legible for treatment," Matendechero tells SciDev.Net. "If we collaborate with different stakeholders such as ministries of water, environment and finance to provide basic needs such as water and sanitation, we will accelerate elimination of trachoma and other NTDs."

Explore further Why it's proving hard to eliminate the eye disease trachoma by 2020

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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

India, gripped by one of the most deadly coronavirus surges seen by any country, will have to be ready for new waves and badly needs more oxygen from other countries, officials said Wednesday.

Facing critical shortages of hospital beds and oxygen, the warnings came as India reported 3,780 new pandemic deaths, a new daily high, and 382,000 new cases. Experts say the peak may not be reached for weeks.

According to the International Red Cross, India is bearing the brunt of a coronavirus crisis badly hitting all of South Asia.

K. Vijay Raghavan, the Indian government's principal scientific advisor, said the country of 1.3 billion had to be ready for more trouble even after beating down this wave which has taken India's caseload above 20 million infections.

"Phase 3 is inevitable given the high levels of circulating virus. But it is not clear on what timescale this phase 3 will occur. We should prepare for new waves," Raghavan told a news conference.

With the government facing criticism as patients die in streets outside hospitals because of the bed shortages, consignments of oxygen and equipment have been arriving from the United States, France, Britain, Russia and other countries in recent days.

And India will need more oxygen from other countries to fight the surge until numbers stabilise, another government official said.

"We did not and do not have enough oxygen," the top government official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity. "If we could get more oxygen more lives would be saved."

India is also still pressing the United States and other countries to ease restrictions on exports of raw materials for coronavirus drugs such as remdesivir and tocilizumab, the official added.

India, the world's biggest generic drugs maker, was a major supplier of remdesivir last year when the pandemic erupted but cut production when its own first wave fell back.

'Criminal act'

Hospitals across the country were still suffering Wednesday while courts have stepped up pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government over its response.

"Admissions suspended indefinitely," said Devlina Chakravarty, managing director of the Artemis hospital in Gurgaon, near Delhi, in a Twitter statement blaming oxygen supplies.

Hospitals in Kolkata, Bangalore and other major cities also reported serious shortages.

Stung by growing anger, the central bank said that $6.7 billion in cheap loans would be provided to oxygen, vaccine and drug manufacturers as well as hospitals to help ease the crisis.

India's courts have meanwhile become increasingly vocal critics of the Modi government's handling of the crisis.

Delhi's government says it needs 700 tonnes of oxygen a day for its overwhelmed hospitals but the Supreme Court was told Wednesday that it is only getting 585 tonnes.

Fighting a threat to issue contempt proceedings over its refusal to send more oxygen, central government lawyers said the city needs only 415 tonnes.

The court gave the government until Thursday morning to provide a plan to send extra supplies.

A Delhi High Court which made the contempt threat accused government politicians and officials of "living in ivory towers" while the death toll mounts.

The High Court in Allahabad said the deaths of people in Uttar Pradesh state hospitals "is a criminal act and not less than a genocide" by those meant to be ensuring oxygen supplies.

The government in India's most populous state has denied there are oxygen shortages. It has been accused by civic groups of grossly under-reporting the number of pandemic deaths.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has called for "urgent" international action to prevent "a worsening human catastrophe" across South Asia.

It highlighted the case of Nepal where it said "many hospitals are full and overflowing" with COVID-19 patients and the daily caseload is 57 times higher than one month ago.

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

 2021 AFP
For the first time, the world has a serious malaria vaccine candidate. Credit: Army Medicine (CC BY 2.0)

A malaria vaccine candidate tested on children in West Africa has shown an efficacy of around 77 percent, say scientists, hailing it as a breakthrough in the fight against the disease.

Malaria causes more than 400,000 deaths a year globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), mostly among children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, developed by the Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN),Burkina Faso and their partners at the University of Oxford in the UK, is the first malaria vaccine to reach the 75 percent efficacy target set by the WHO.

Researchers recruited 450 children aged five to 17 months in the area of Nanoro, central Burkina Faso, and divided them into three groups for the Phase IIb trial.

One group of 150 received the vaccine with a low dose of the Matrix-M adjuvant, which helps create a stronger immune response. Another group of 150 received the vaccine at a higher dose of adjuvant, while the last group of 150 received the rabies vaccine as a control vaccine.

Halidou Tinto, principal trial investigator at the CRUN, said: "Once we vaccinated them with three doses one month apart [], we followed them in each group to see how they were going to behave in terms of vaccine safety, tolerance, but also efficacy."

The subjects in the study reported no serious side effects from the vaccine, which was found to be safe and can be manufactured at low cost on a large scale, they added.

Despite more than 100 vaccine candidates entering clinical trials in recent decades, none have previously reached the target of 75 percent efficacy which the WHO set as a target to be achieved by 2030.

The Serum Institute of India, which has manufactured the vaccine, says it will be able to deliver more than 200 million doses of the vaccine once it is approved by regulators.

Epidemiologist Gauthier Tougouri, coordinator of the National Malaria Control Program in Burkina Faso, hailed the study as a great achievement in the fight against malaria.

Last year the country recorded more than 11 million cases of malaria and almost 4,000 malaria-related deaths, including pregnant women and children, official figures show.

A larger Phase III trial will now be conducted involving 4,800 children aged five to three years in four countries.

"I hope that the forthcoming results will confirm phase two of the study so that we can reach the 2030 target for the elimination of malaria," said Tougouri.

In Burkina Faso, children will be recruited for the next phase in Nanoro and Dande, in the south-west of the country from next month.

"It is important for us to see if such a vaccine, tested in an area like Nanoro which has a transmission of medium duration, will give the same effectiveness in an area like Dande where the transmission is much longer," explained Tinto.

Researchers hope that by testing the vaccine in different contexts on a larger number ofchildren, its efficacy will be confirmed and the vaccine can be considered for registration.

Charlemagne Ouedraogo, Minister of Health for Burkina Faso, said the findings offer hope for the elimination of malaria in the country and across the continent.

"We believe that the solution against malaria will come from Burkina.We encourage the team to continue the thirdphase to give us results that will allow us to go further so that a vaccine is put on the market that will allow us to reduce morbidity and mortality from malaria," he said.

Ida Sawadogo, program officer atthe Access toEssential Medicines Network, said: "We have been waiting for this for years and we are happy that at last a vaccine is being found against this disease which is the number one killer in our country."

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The annual death toll from malaria is over 400,000, with most of these deaths amongst children in sub-Saharan Africa. There has been little improvement noted in the last 5 years despite the large amounts of funding allocated to bed nets, insecticide spraying and antimalarial drugs. An efficacious vaccine is needed to try and reach the WHO goal of reducing malaria deaths by at least 90% by 2030.

R21/Matrix-M, a malaria vaccine developed at the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, showed efficacy of 77% over 12 months in a recently reported phase IIb trial. First vaccinations have now begun in Mali in a larger phase III trial which is hoped to lead to licensure of this malaria vaccine by 2023. This phase III trial will assess efficacy and safety in 4800 children across five sites in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali and Tanzania. This is a double-blind, randomised, controlled trial where participants, aged 5-36 months, will receive three vaccinations 4 weeks apart and a booster vaccination 1 year later. The vaccine is being assessed in areas of differing malaria transmission and seasonality.

The University of Oxford has partnered with Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd. (SIIPL) for the manufacturing of R21/Matrix-M to ensure provision of low high volumes of low-cost vaccine, and access in countries where it is required the most. SIIPL has confirmed its commitment to the provision of >200 million doses per year after licensure, which will be adequate supply for children most at risk of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.

Professor Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford said: "The start of a phase III licensure trial is always an import milestone in the development of a vaccine. This large malaria trial is the culmination of many years of laboratory research and assessment of numerous candidate vaccines in early-stage clinical trials with large numbers of collaborators."

Professor Abdoulaye Djimde, Director of the Malaria Research and Training CentreParasito (MRTC-P), University of Science, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), said: "We are thrilled to be the first site to enroll volunteers in the Phase 3 trial of this very promising R21 vaccine. We will utilize our more than two decades of experience in malaria vaccine testing towards successful completion of this trial"

Professor Halidou Tinto, Principal Investigator of the Nanoro, Burkina Faso trial site, said: "This is a very important moment in the development of the R21 malaria vaccine candidate. We hope that the public-private partnership behind this pivotal Phase III trial will confirm the high efficacy and good safety profile seen in our phase II trial in Nanoro. The five African institutions involved in this partnership have here a historic role to play. We are all committed to work hard in order to generate data that will provide regulators and policy makers with the evidence needed to support the registration of this vaccine. If successful, this vaccine should be made available as quickly as possible to complement existing malaria prevention tools''

Professor Jean Bosco Ouedraogo, Principal Investigator at The Institute of Sciences and Techniques in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso said: "The R21 vaccine is a promising malaria prevention tool to help accelerate malaria elimination, particularly in high burden countries in Africa. The Phase II trial demonstrated high vaccine efficacy in children and I'm proud that it was done in Burkina Faso. I am really happy to be part of this key new trial to evaluate the vaccine's safety and efficacy in an area of perennial transmission near Bobo-Dioulasso."
The mantis shrimp Odontodactylus scyllarus, along with a magnified photo of its compound eye. Credit: S. Blair et al., Science Translational Medicine (2021)

Some of the world's greatest innovations, such as Leonardo da Vinci's flying machine, owe their strength and elegance to natural design. Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have returned their gaze to the natural world to develop a camera inspired by the mantis shrimp that can visualize cancer cells during surgery.

A new study led by electrical and computer engineering professor Viktor Gruev details how the new camera works with tumor-targeted drugs to see cancer in animal and human patients. The study is published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

"Engineers spend incredible amounts of time and money developing the image sensors in cellphones," said Gruev, who also is affiliated with Carle Illinois College of Medicine. "When we are out on the town, these devices can capture pictures that are perfect for social media, but when doctors are examining patients, they don't care how nice the shot looksthey care how well the picture captures reality. The driving force in the camera market is simply incompatible with the technology required for medical diagnostics."

Looking for a better way forward, the researchers turned to the compound eye of the mantis shrimp.

"The mantis shrimp has these incredible eyes," said Steven Blair, an electrical and computer engineering graduate student and the lead author of the study. "Humans perceive three colorsred, green, and bluebecause of a single layer of light-sensitive cone cells that line our retina, but the mantis shrimp perceives upward of 12 colors thanks to the stacks of light-sensitive cells at the tip of its eye. The mantis shrimp can thus see things that humans can't imagineand it does so in a fraction of the space."

Credit: Steven Blair et al, Science Translational Medicine (2021).

In the hopes of replicating this visual system in a single imaging device, the team integrated advanced semiconductor devices and specialized optical filters. Their technology can capture the three colors of visible light that a doctor would normally see as well as three colors of invisible near-infrared light that the doctor would miss. It can then be paired with multiple tumor-targeted probes that accumulate in cancerous tissue and emit near-infrared light, permitting the doctor to see exactly where the tumors are located in a patient. These probes are just now entering medical markets.

"The combination of this bioinspired camera and emerging tumor-targeted drugs will ensure that surgeons leave no cancer cells behind in the patient's body," said Goran Kondov, a professor and chief surgeon from North Macedonia who demonstrated this technology in the operating room. "This additional set of eyes will help prevent recurrence of the disease, providing patients a quicker and easier path to recovery. And the device can potentially be manufactured at low cost since it is so simple, making it accessible to hospitals around the world."

Diagrams comparing the compound eye of the mantis shrimp (left) with the bioinspired imager, which mimics the colored eye cells with layers of stacked photodiodes and filters. Credit: S. Blair et al., Science Translational Medicine (2021)

The researchers tested their bioinspired imager (red dotted box) in the operating room with patients undergoing surgical removal of breast cancer tumors. Credit: S. Blair et al., Science Translational Medicine (2021)

The next step for the team is the integration of their camera with endoscopic systems to satisfy the demands of minimally invasive surgeries in resource-limited hospitals.

Explore further Mantis shrimp-inspired camera enables glimpse into hidden world
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The federal government must aggressively bolster primary care and connect more Americans with a dedicated source of care, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine warn in a major report that sounds the alarm about an endangered foundation of the U.S. health system.

The urgently worded report, which comes as internists, family doctors and pediatricians nationwide struggle with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, calls for a broad recognition that primary care is a "common good" akin to public education.

The authors recommend that all Americans select a primary care provider or be assigned one, a landmark step that could reorient how care is delivered in the nation's fragmented medical system.

And the report calls on major government health plans such as Medicare and Medicaid to shift money to primary care and away from the medical specialties that have long commanded the biggest fees in the U.S. system.

"High-quality primary care is the foundation of a robust health care system, and perhaps more importantly, it is the essential element for improving the health of the U.S. population," the report concludes. "Yet, in large part because of chronic underinvestment, primary care in the United States is slowly dying."

The report, which is advisory, does not guarantee federal action. But reports from the national academies have helped support major health initiatives over the years, such as curbing tobacco use among children and protecting patients from medical errors.

Strengthening primary care has long been seen as a critical public health need. And research dating back more than half a century shows that robust primary care systems save money, improve people's health and even save lives.

"We know that better access to primary care leads to more timely identification of problems, better management of chronic disease and better coordination of care," said Melinda Abrams, executive vice president of the Commonwealth Fund, a New York-based foundation that studies health systems around the world.

Recognizing the value of this kind of care, many nationsfrom wealthy democracies like the United Kingdom and the Netherlands to middle-income countries such as Costa Rica and Thailandhave deliberately constructed health systems around primary care.

And many have reaped significant rewards. Europeans with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and depression reported significantly better health if they lived in a country with a robust primary care system, a group of researchers found.

For decades, experts here have called for this country to make a similar commitment.

But only about 5% of U.S. health care spending goes to primary care, versus an average of 14% in other wealthy nations, according to data collected by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Other research shows that primary spending has declined in many U.S. states in recent years.

The situation grew even more dire as the pandemic forced thousands of primary care physicianswho didn't receive the government largesse showered on major medical systemsto lay off staff members or even close their doors.

Reversing this slide will require new investment, the authors of the new report conclude. But, they argue, that should yield big dividends.

"If we increase the supply of primary care, more people and more communities will be healthier, and no other part of health care can make this claim," said Dr. Robert Phillips, a family physician who co-chaired the committee that produced the report. Phillips also directs the Center for Professionalism and Value in Health Care at the American Board of Family Medicine.

The report urges new initiatives to build more health centers, especially in underserved areas that are frequently home to minority communities, and to expand primary care teams, including nurse practitioners, pharmacists and mental health specialists.

And it advocates new efforts to shift away from paying physicians for every patient visit, a system that critics have long argued doesn't incentivize doctors to keep patients healthy.

Potentially most controversial, however, is the report's recommendation that Medicare and Medicaid, as well as commercial insurers and employers that provide their workers with health benefits, ask their members to declare a primary care provider. Anyone who does not, the report notes, should be assigned a provider.

"Successfully implementing high-quality primary care means everyone should have access to the 'sustained relationships' primary care offers," the report notes.

This idea of formally linking patients with a primary care officeoften called empanelmentisn't new. Kaiser Permanente, consistently among the nation's best-performing health systems, has long made primary care central. (KHN is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.)

But the model, which was at the heart of managed-care health plans, suffered in the backlash against HMOs in the 1990s, when some health plans forced primary care providers to act as "gatekeepers" to keep patients away from costlier specialty care.

More recently, however, a growing number of experts and primary care advocates have shown that linking patients with a primary care provider need not limit access to care.

Indeed, a new generation of medical systems that rely on primary care to look after elderly Americans on Medicare with chronic medical conditions has demonstrated great success in keeping patients healthier and costs down. These "advanced primary care" systems include ChenMed, Iora Health and Oak Street Health.

"If you don't have empanelment, you don't really have continuity of care," said Dr. Tom Bodenheimer, an internist who founded the Center for Excellence in Primary Care at the University of California-San Francisco and has called for stronger primary care systems for decades.

Bodenheimer added: "We know that continuity of care is linked to everything good: better preventive care, higher patient satisfaction, better chronic care and lower costs. It is really fundamental."

Explore further How pharmacists contribute meaningfully in primary health care

2021 Kaiser Health News

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Serbia is offering its citizens cash as an incentive to get vaccinated for Covid

Serbia's president said on Wednesday his country would pay each citizen who gets a COVID jab before the end of May, in what could be the world's first cash-for-jabs scheme.

The Balkans country bought millions of dosesfrom Western firms as well as China and Russiaand briefly became a regional vaccine hub when it offered foreigners the chance to be inoculated.

However, after fully vaccinating some 1.3 million of its seven million people, the drive has started to stall.

"All those... who received the vaccine by May 31 will get 3,000 dinars (25 euros, $30)," President Aleksandar Vucic told local media, adding that he expected three million to be vaccinated by the end of the month.

Vucic said the country wanted to "reward people who showed responsibility".

But he added that public employees who did not receive a vaccine would not get paid leave if they contracted the virus.

Serbia is hoping to further boost its rollout on Thursday by offering vaccines in shopping centres and rewarding volunteers with vouchers.

"I have not encountered in medical literature anyone being paid for COVID-19 vaccinations," Serbian epidemiologist Zoran Radovanovic told AFP.

"So we may be the first not only in Europe, but also the world."

However, he warned that stimulating vaccination drives with money could be a double-edged sword.

"It will push some of those who live in extreme poverty to get vaccinated, but it will produce resistance with some of the others," said Radovanovic.

"The logic is this: if the state is paying me to do something it is telling me is for my own good, then something is fishy."

Some companies have offered employees incentives to get the COVID jab, and poorer countries in Asia and Africa are known to have offered rewards to those getting vaccinated in other campaignsbut not since the pandemic took hold.

Explore further Serbia to start producing Chinese Sinopharm vaccine

 2021 AFP
(HealthDay)Adults with autism report a broad range of sexualitybeing much more likely to identify as asexual, bisexual or homosexual than people without autism, a new study finds.

In a survey of nearly 2,400 adults, researchers found that those with autism were three to nine times more likely to identify as homosexual, asexual or "other."

Among men, those with autism were over three times more likely to say they were bisexual, while women showed a different pattern: Those with autism were no more likely to identify as bisexual, but were three times as likely to say they were homosexual.

The underlying reasons are unclear. One possibility is that people with autism are less bound by social expectations, and feel more free to express their true identities, said researcher Elizabeth Weir.

The bigger point is that people with autism have diverse sexual preferences and experiences, said Weir, a doctoral candidate at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

The study is not the first to show that. But it offers more evidence to debunk the old stereotype that people with autism are uninterested in sex, according to Weir.

"We shouldn't be making assumptions," she said. "We need to see this on a person-to-person basis."

The findings also underscore another point: Kids and adults with autism should have access to sex education and sexual health screenings, Weir said.

In reality, though, that's often not the case, noted Eileen Crehan, an assistant professor at Tufts University in Medford, Mass., who was not involved in the research.

"Sadly, studies consistently show that access to sex education is low for autistic students," said Crehan, who studies social functioning in young people with autism.

She said that "outdated beliefs" about autism and sexuality can be one barrier to young people receiving appropriate sex education.

Beyond that, existing school programs do not always reach students with autism, Crehan explained.

In some cases, that may be because they are in special education classes, while sex ed is given only in mainstream classes. In other cases, "sex ed might be offered, but is not tailored to the learning profiles of autistic students," Crehan said.

Then there's the fact highlighted in this study, she said: Many young people with autism do not identify as heterosexual, which is often the sole focus of sex education.

"The significant majority of sex education programs do not discuss anything other than heterosexual relationships between cisgendered people," Crehan said.

Autism is a developmental brain disorder that affects about one in 54 children in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In general, autism impairs people's ability to communicate and socialize, but the disorder is complex and varies widely among individuals.

Some are profoundly affectedspeaking little, if at all, and getting wrapped up in repetitive, obsessive behaviors. Others have milder difficulties with social skills. Some people have intellectual disabilities, while others have average or above-average IQs.

The current survey involved 1,183 people with autism, aged 16 to 90. Most had no intellectual disabilities, Weir said, since they had to complete an extensive online questionnaire.

Overall, people with autism were less likely to say they were sexually active. For every 10 adults without the disorder who were sexually active, four with autism said the same. People with autism were also almost eight times more likely to describe themselves as asexual.

There's nothing wrong with not having sex, Weir stressed. "I don't think there's a need to put a value judgment on it," she said.

Crehan agreed, but also said that based on past surveys, most people with autism say they want romantic relationships. If people want to be sexually active but are not, she noted, that can take a toll on mental health.

While the survey found differences between adults with and without autism, it also found similarities. Those who were sexually active started having sex around the same age, and were just as likely to have had a sexually transmitted infection.

To Crehan, a take-away for parents is to broach the subject of sexuality sooner rather than later, which can include the help of a health care provider.

Kids may need guidance on everything from how to tell when someone "likes you," to "sexting," to masturbation, according to Crehan. Too often, she noted, sexuality is ignored until a "negative sexual behavior" occursat school, for instanceand there's a big response.

That may leave kids with a sense of fear or shame, Crehan said.

"If we talk about sex and sexual health early, and in honest and safe ways, we've set a more positive tone for the discussion in the event that something positive or negative comes up in the future," she added.

Weir was scheduled to present the findings at the annual meeting of the International Society for Autism Research, being held online May 3 to 7. Studies presented at meetings are generally considered preliminary until they are published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Explore further Poor judgment of autistic adults

More information: The Organization for Autism Research has resources on The Organization for Autism Research has resources on sexuality and sex education

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SciDev.Net Latin American prisons house a high percentage of people with TB. Photo shows main entrance to El Buen Pastor prison, in Bogota, Colombia. Credit: PAHO/Flickr Creative Commons 2.0

High rates of tuberculosis (TB) in Latin American prisons are subverting efforts to control the disease in the wider population, and constitute a "health and human rights crisis," a study warns.

According to research published in The Lancet, TB cases in the region's prisons rose from 5% of the total reported cases in 2011, to 11.1% in 2017. The incarcerated population in Central and South America represents 1% of the total population.

"The health and human rights crisis of tuberculosis among PDL (people deprived of their liberty) and their communities demand urgent action and sustained attention from ministries of health and justice and the global medical community," the study's authors warned.

In Venezuela and El Salvador the problem is particularly acute. In Venezuela, in 2011, 1.8% of reported TB cases were registered in prisons, but in 2017 that percentage rose to 15.5%.

In El Salvador, 225 TB cases11% of the totaloccurred in prisons in 2011. Six years later, 1,889 cases51.5% of all reported caseswere found among detainees.

In both Central and South America, the increase in the disease among prisoners surpasses advances in tuberculosis control achieved among the general population, the study found.

This high incidence of the disease in prisons also increases the risk of TB beyond prison walls, to prison workers and the families of detainees, researchers warn.

Epidemiologist Katharine Walter of Stanford University, U.S., co-author of the study, said: "There is growing evidence that incarceration puts people at higher risk for diseases and that this risk extends to neighboring communities."

Latin American prisonsdescribed by Walter as "inhumane" are overcrowded and poorly ventilated, with prisoners often lacking access to proper healthcare and nutrition, the study notes, providing perfect conditions for infections to spread.

"The most direct way to cut the over risk of TB infection in jails is reducing the growing number of people incarcerated in these settings with a high risk of transmission," Walter added.

Drug resistance also poses a risk if the situation is left unchecked, the study warns. It notes: "Although Central and South America have not yet been affected by high rates of drug-resistant tuberculosis in prisons, as seen in many Eastern European countries, the current trajectory suggests that drug resistance should also be closely monitored."

Sociologist and epidemiologist Maria Belen Herrero, who did not take part in the research, said the highlights "a real problem, which is the situation of TB in prisons and the need to address the problem urgently."

However, Herrero, an Argentinean researcher at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO), says TB among prisoners "is an important aspect but it is not what ends up explaining the situation of the disease in the region."

TB is a disease "strongly determined by the social context and by living conditions and often the result of the occurrence of TB cases in jails is a reflection of all this and it is not so much the origin of the problem," Herrero added.

Zulma Rueda, co-author of the study and epidemiologist at the University of Manitoba, Canada, believes that to solve the problem we must understand that imprisoned people "are human beings and TB cannot become part of their sentence."

More investment in TB programs, greater political will, financial support for research, and effective treatments against the disease are crucial, she said, as well as addressing the stigma often associated with TB.

"Many studies have reported how stigma and discrimination become a barrier to seeking timely care, following the treatment, and getting successful results," Rueda said.

Explore further COVID-19 cases and deaths in federal and state prisons significantly higher than in US population

More information: Katharine S Walter et al. The escalating tuberculosis crisis in central and South American prisons, The Lancet (2021). Journal information: The Lancet Katharine S Walter et al. The escalating tuberculosis crisis in central and South American prisons,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32578-2

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A Moroccan nurse takes care of one of the nine babies protected in an incubator at the maternity ward of the private clinic of Ain Borja in Casablanca, Morocco, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A Malian woman gave birth to nine babies after n ' to have waited only seven, announced Wednesday the Ministry of Health of Mali. . Halima CissE, 25, gave birth by caesarean section Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care, the ministry said. (AP Photo / Abdeljalil Bounhar)

A Malian woman has given birth to nine babies at onceafter expecting seven, according to Mali's Minister of Health and the Moroccan clinic where the nonuplets were born.

It appeared to be the first time on record that a woman had given birth to nine surviving babies at once.

The five girls and four boys, and their mother, "are all doing well," Mali's health minister said in a statement.

The mother, 25-year-old Halima Cisse, gave birth to the babies by cesarean section on Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care, Mali's top health official announced.

Associated Press reporters saw some of the babies wiggling their hands and feet inside incubators Wednesday in the private Ain Borja clinic in Casablanca. Medical staff checked their status regularly in the neonatal ward wallpapered with cartoon characters.

Cisse had been expecting seven babies. Malian doctors, under government orders, sent her to Morocco for the births because hospitals in Mali, one of the world's poorest countries, are ill-equipped to provide adequate care for this exceptional multiple pregnancy.

The Casablanca clinic's director Youssef Alaoui told Moroccan state TV that they had been contacted by Malian doctors about the case a month and a half ago. They were not expecting nine babies, he said.

One of the nine babies rests in an incubator at the maternity ward of the private clinic of Ain Borja in Casablanca, Morocco, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A Malian woman gave birth to nine babies after n ' to have waited only seven, announced Wednesday the Ministry of Health of Mali. . Halima Cisse, 25, gave birth by caesarean section Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care, the ministry said. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar)

Cisse gave birth prematurely at 30 weeks and is now in stable condition after heavy bleeding for which she was given a blood transfusion, he said.

The cesarean was ordered after Cisse had "birth pains," Alaoui, the clinic director, said. The babies weigh between 500 grams and one kilogram (1.1 and 2.2 pounds).

The Guinness Book of World Records said in an email to The AP on Wednesday that its current record for most living births at once is eight, and that it is verifying the Morocco birth.

The current holder of the Guinness record is American Nadya Suleman, who gave birth to eight premature but otherwise healthy children in 2009.

Alaoui, the clinic director, told The AP that as far as he was aware Cisse had not used fertility treatments. The Malian health ministry did not provide any other information about the pregnancy or births.

Surgeons Doctor Yazid, left, listens to the clinic's director Youssef Alaoui as they speak to the medias on the conditions of childbirth at the maternity ward of the private clinic of Ain Borja in Casablanca, Morocco, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A Malian woman gave birth to nine babies after expecting only seven, the Ministry of Health of Mali said on Wednesday. Halima Cisse, 25, gave birth by caesarean section Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care, the ministry said. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar)

A man stands in front of the Ain Borja private clinic in Casablanca, Morocco, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A Malian woman has given birth to nine babies after only expecting seven, Mali's Ministry of Health said Wednesday. The 25-year-old Halima Cisse gave birth to the babies via Caesarean section on Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care, the ministry announced. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar)

People wait in front of the Ain Borja private clinic in Casablanca, Morocco, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A Malian woman has given birth to nine babies after only expecting seven, Mali's Ministry of Health said Wednesday. The 25-year-old Halima Cisse gave birth to the babies via Caesarean section on Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care, the ministry announced. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar)

A general view of the premature infant ward where are the nine babies at the maternity ward of the private clinic of Ain Borja in Casablanca, Morocco, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A Malian woman gave birth to nine babies after n ' to have waited only seven, announced Wednesday the Ministry of Health of Mali. . Halima Cisse, 25, gave birth by caesarean section Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care, the ministry said. (AP Photo / Abdeljalil Bounhar)

A general view of the premature infant ward where are the nine babies at the maternity ward of the private clinic of Ain Borja in Casablanca, Morocco, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A Malian woman gave birth to nine babies after n ' to have waited only seven, announced Wednesday the Ministry of Health of Mali. . Halima Cisse, 25, gave birth by caesarean section Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care, the ministry said. (AP Photo / Abdeljalil Bounhar)

A woman stands in front of the Ain Borja private clinic in Casablanca, Morocco, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A Malian woman has given birth to nine babies after only expecting seven, Mali's Ministry of Health said Wednesday. The 25-year-old Halima Cisse gave birth to the babies via Caesarean section on Tuesday in Morocco after being sent there for special care, the ministry announced. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar)

Yacoub Khalaf, a professor of reproductive medicine at King's College London, said that such births would be extraordinarily unlikely without fertility treatment, and noted the dangers involved with such multiple births.

The mother "was at severe risk of losing her uterus or losing her life," he said. The babies "could suffer physical and mental handicaps. The risk of cerebral palsy is astronomically higher."

He urged more awareness worldwide about monitoring fertility treatments and about the risks and costs of having so many premature babies at one time.

Explore further Entire set of rare quintuplets die in Kenya

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Despite the high rates of mental trauma in adolescents, fewer than half who need it visit a doctor or mental health professional for treatment, a new study led by Monash University shows.

Instead of professional help, young people turn to prescription medication, as well as family and friends for help with their personal and emotional problems because of the barriers they face with accessing mental health care.

The study of longitudinal data by researchers in the Monash Business School, Australian National University (ANU) and The University of Melbourne, published in The Australian Economic Review, found just under half of all children and young people with very high levels of psychological distress accessed any form of mental health care.

Less than two in five children and young people who reported to have self-harmed or attempted suicide accessed any form of mental health care.

Most concerning, of those in high need who accessed mental health care, around one in 10 solely used pharmacological treatments without accompanying mental health services provided by GPs or psychologists.

The study also uncovered an increasing trend in adolescents and young adults accessing prescription medication at younger ages, which may indicate either higher demand or greater access.

Rates of scripts filled among women rise substantially between the ages of 15 and 20 but steadies thereafter, while such rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to increase well into their 20s.

A team from Monash Business School's Centre for Health Economics, including Karinna Saxby, Dr. Clement Wong, Dr. Sonja de New and Associate Professor Dennis Petrie, along with co-authors Professor Peter Butterworth (ANU) and Dr. Chris Schilling (University of Melbourne), looked at how young Australians currently use mental health care and interact with the health care system.

Drawing upon Australian longitudinal administrative and survey data, the team examined the proportion of people who accessed nervous system scripts (which include antidepressants) between the ages of 10 and 30, and its connection to mental health trauma.

Although the proportion of individuals that seek help from medical professionals is higher among those at greater risk of poor mental health, professional help is not the most common source.

Evidence from survey data show that just 14 percent sought help for personal or emotional problems from doctors, mental health professionals, and phone help lines. In stark comparison, well over 60 percent of the surveyed adolescents had reached out to friends or family.

"These low rates of professional help seeking may reflect the importance of certain qualities of care and support. Support from parents, friends and other family members is often easily accessible, relies on preexisting trust and relationships, and is more likely to be informal, when compared to the process of seeking out help from mental health professionals or the healthcare system in general," Dr. de New said.

"Despite the formal capabilities of mental health professionals or the known benefits of certain medications in treating mental health conditions, informal social support networks through friends and family are likely a major and important source of assistance for many young Australians struggling through the pandemic."

Dr. Wong said navigating Australia's complex mental health care system contributed to frustration in youth and adults, and substantial treatment gaps with many, if not the majority, of those with mental ill-health not seeking or receiving appropriate treatment.

"Beyond financial factors, social and cultural factors may also influence the use of mental health care. In particular, stigma and negative perceptions surrounding mental illness and preferences for self-reliance may deter young adults from seeking help," he said.

According to Dr. Wong, this youth mental health crisis could be due to cultural changes, such as the increasing role of technology and prevalent use of social media in influencing the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

"Various studies have also considered whether screen time and social media affect health through impaired sleep, reduced physical activity, experiences of cyber-bullying, or even the burden of multi-tasking. But there is not yet any consensus as to whether these contribute to poor mental health," Dr. Wong said.

The Productivity Commission has estimated annual costs of mental illness to the Australian economy to be up to $70 billion. The costs of disability, and premature death due to mental ill-health, suicide and self-harm are believed to be an additional $151 billion.

Self-harm and suicide is the leading cause of death among Australians aged between 15-44 years, with rates of mental disorder at their highest among adolescents and young adults.

Ms Saxby said a lack of helpseeking in younger populations is consistent with previous work, and was a key factor behind the rollout of Australia's headspace centers starting in 2006.

"These centers were specifically designed to improve mental healthcare access for young people by providing a youthfriendly and non-stigmatizing environment in which to get mental health care," Ms Saxby said.

"Given we see that young people still prefer to speak to friends and family regarding their mental health, it suggests that more resources might be required for this population.

"What those resources are, whether providing more education into how to access these services to young people or their parents, or enabling more telehealth for this group, is also important for future research."

Explore further Suicidality among childbearing women a major challenge

More information: Peter Butterworth et al. Dynamics of Mental Health and Healthcare Use among Children and Young Adults, Australian Economic Review (2021). Peter Butterworth et al. Dynamics of Mental Health and Healthcare Use among Children and Young Adults,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/1467-8462.12413
The University of Montana School of Journalism will host a free three-day summer camp July 18-21 for high school students to explore and build media and journalism skills.

Students will stay on the scenic UM campus, learn from journalism faculty members, make connections with media professionals, explore the role of journalism in society and get hands-on experience in writing, reporting, photography, graphic design, social media and more.

Tuition, room and board are free for all accepted students thanks to UMs top 10 Hearst Award-winning School of Journalism, as well as Humanities Montana and support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The camp is geared toward students who will be in grades nine to 12, but incoming first-year college students are encouraged to apply as well. Applicants only are asked to pay a $25 application fee.
"This tells us that wage theft is no accident," Lee told city lawmakers. "It's not a few bad apple employers or a few new businesses that don't understand the law, but rather a calculated approach by employers to maximize their profits on the backs of their workers."

The hearing helped launch a local wage-theft law that allows workers to get their money back more quickly than they would by filing a complaint with the state or federal government.

The ordinance, which went into effect in 2016, sets a 110-day limit for city staff to investigate and close a wage theft case. It also gives workers three years to file a complaint with the city, compared with the two-year statute of limitations under federal law. And the penalties are steep. The city can revoke or deny local permits and licenses to companies that steal wages.

Legal experts and community groups point to strong local wage theft laws as an effective way to get around lax enforcement at the federal level and in some states. Chicago passed such a law in 2013. Minneapolis followed in 2019.
Dillon acknowledged the phone call he had with the mayor but said he did not receive an apology. He also questioned how people could have missed the misprint and noted the reprint of the candidate newsletter is on the taxpayers dime. Dillon added he talked to three constituents who said if they received another newsletter, they would throw it away after believing they already received it.
Most importantly, this provision is unconstitutional. The First Amendment to the Constitution grants all Americans freedom of speech and association, including the right to associate privately if so desired. State disclosure laws should not infringe on this right. Over 60 years ago, the Supreme Court held that the state of Alabama could not force the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to turn over its membership lists to the government. A unanimous decision held that releasing this information would expose the groups members to economic reprisal, loss of employment, threat of physical coercion, and other manifestations of public hostility and, thus, restrain their right to freedom of association. Today, philanthropic donors, like members of the NAACP in the 1950s, have reason to fear reprisal if their association becomes public. As a result, forcing any nonprofit that speaks up against a government action to turn over their donor lists to the government would discourage giving.
It was clear while I waited in line at the Missoula County Elections Office that voters from across the political spectrum were utilizing the service. Created in 2006, more than 60,000 eligible Montana voters have made use of Election Day voter registration. In 2014, when a group of anti-voter legislators tried to get rid of it, 57% of Montana voters affirmed their support for the service. Whether rural or suburban, Indigenous or white, Republican or Democrat, Montanans time and time again have reaffirmed our belief that for our democracy to work for all of us, every voice must be heard.

House Bill 176 isnt a blip. HB 176 is part of a pattern of repeated, concerted efforts by a handful of politicians in Helena to consolidate their own power. During this legislative session, lawmakers introduced a multitude of bills that make it harder to vote, tie the hands of local government and law enforcement, and create barriers for citizen-proposed ballot measures. These bills intentionally make it harder for Montanans to have a say in our democracy, because lawmakers in Helena dont want to be held accountable to the people they purport to represent.
The original MapQuest, believe it or not, was born in the swinging '60s. In 1967, the commercial printing company R.R. Donnelley & Sons launched a paper map division called MapQuest that created driving maps for gas stations.

As the decades passed and computing technology improved, MapQuest went digital and was spun off as its own company in the 1990s under the less-than-catchy name GeoSystems Global Corp. Then in 1996, when the internet was still in its infancy and Netscape was the most popular web browser, the MapQuest name was resurrected as the world's first online mapping website, MapQuest.com [source: Harlan].

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Coincidentally, 1996 was also the year that two Stanford University graduate students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, developed the "PageRank" algorithm that would become Google. But from the late 1990s through the mid-2000s, MapQuest was virtually the only name in the online mapping game, commanding nearly 100 percent of the market share for online direction searches. America Online (now AOL), another giant of the early internet, bought MapQuest for $1.1 billion in 1999 [source: Harlan]. When Verizon bought AOL in 2015, MapQuest was part of the package. In 2019, Verizon sold MapQuest to ad tech company System1. (Full disclosure: System1 is also the parent company of HowStuffWorks).

The first threat to MapQuest's dominance arrived in 2005 with the launch of Google Maps. Google was already the king of search engines in 2005, and the first version of Google Maps had some features that MapQuest didn't, like the ability to search maps for businesses, parks and other points of interest.

But industry experts believe that the real tipping point for MapQuest came in 2007 when Google removed all links from its search results to competing mapping websites like MapQuest and Yahoo Maps. Without any visibility on Google, by far the most-used search engine, MapQuest quickly began to lose market share and was officially overtaken by Google Maps in January 2009 [source: Sterling].

The next hit to MapQuest came with the release of the iPhone in 2007, which not only revolutionized mobile technology, but shipped with the very first mapping app, none other than Google Maps (just called "Maps" on the original iPhone) [source: Welch]. MapQuest was slow to release its own mobile app, which it did in 2012, the same year that Apple dropped Google and launched Apple Maps. One of the coolest features of the first MapQuest app was free turn-by-turn voice commands, the first ever in a mobile navigation app [source: Cunningham].

Fast-forward to today. While MapQuest might not be a household name for younger generations who don't remember a time before Google or iPhones, the company is still one of the biggest players in online mapping. The website averages 20 to 30 million unique users every month, which makes it the third most-trafficked mapping website after Google Maps and Waze (also owned by Google), according to John Chipouras, general manager of MapQuest.

Next, let's look at the basic underlying technology that makes a mapping tool like MapQuest work.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that in 2019, the opioid prescription rate in Burke County was 67 for every 100 people.

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Burke County officials said last year theres a possibility the former Burke-Catawba District Confinement Facility building in Morganton could be used for a long-term drug treatment facility.

Burke County Manager Bryan Steen said the county is still actively looking at the facility as a treatment facility.

He said it will be a question of whether the final version of the rules for how the lawsuit settlement money can be spent will allow for unfitting the building into a clinical setting. Steen said the cost to remodel the building for a treatment facility has been estimated at $2.5 million to $3 million.

The plan is not just to have a long-term treatment facility in Burke, but to also link it with Western Piedmont Community College so those in treatment can get training for trade that will provide a new life for them, Steen said.

If we can turn a few around, that would mean a lot to the board (of commissioners) and to me, and I think about anybody here that cares about other people, Steen said.
Burke Countys unemployment rate fell nearly a percentage point in March, brining it almost back to a pre-pandemic level.

The countys rate dropped to 4.4%, down from 5.3% in February, according to information from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The countys unemployment is nearly what is was before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the state.

Burkes unemployment rate in March 2020 was 3.8.

With a labor force of 40,310 in Burke County, that means 1,766 people are looking for work.

There are plenty of jobs available in the county, with everything from food and retail stores to health care and government looking for workers, according to a search on www.ncworks. gov.

Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge appears to have the large number of jobs, with 330 openings for everything from nurses and phlebotomists to accountants and office managers.

Bimbo Bakeries in Valdese has 39 openings for things such as warehouse, production, engineer and maintenance.

And Continental Automotive has 51 openings in things such as quality control, maintenance, material handler and valve operator.

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With 361 voter disenfranchisement bills in 47 states, gerrymandering and anti-protest measures, the GOP hopes to silence its multiracial political opposition in the way that Southern segregationists quelled Black power.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law what he called the strongest anti-looting, anti-rioting, pro-law-enforcement piece of legislation in the country. Signed during the trial of Derek Chauvin  the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of killing George Floyd  the law classifies a riot as a public gathering of three or more people, and denies bail for defendants accused of committing offenses during a protest until they have appeared in court.

The law also enhances penalties for damaging Confederate monuments and flags, and like similar legislation in Iowa and Oklahoma, protects drivers who hit or injure protesters.

These cruel and obscene laws would have protected James Alex Fields Jr., the neo-Nazi who was sent to prison for plowing his car into a crowd of counterprotesters at a Unite the Right rally in 2017, killing Heather Heyer.

Republican legislation proposed in Minnesota would prohibit people convicted of engaging in protest from working in government or receiving student loans, food stamps, housing assistance, unemployment and other government services and benefits.
To view the reports related to air monitoring, please visit the B-SB Health Study Advisory Committee web site and scroll to the bottom at:

The new committee is made up of health department employees, county citizens, representatives from Montana Tech, Montana Resources, the countys reclamation department, Atlantic Richfield, federal agencies, as well as local and state health experts.

This is the first meeting of the new committee which was formed to evaluate public health studies conducted in the county, shifting the center of medical monitoring from the countys Residential Metals Abatement Program to the health department.

Butte-Silver Bow, because of its Superfund status and its history of being a mining community, is the subject of many health and environmental studies. The purpose is to have a forum for presentation of these studies, and for committee members to analyze and discuss study outcomes. This will assist in informing the Board of Health, county commissioners and the general public about study outcomes, Butte-Silver Bow Health Officer Karen Sullivan said.

The frequency of future committee meetings is still being determined, Sullivan said.

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Ballots tallied Monday night showed that voters passed an elementary levy sought by Butte School District 1 and also re-elected three incumbent trustees to the districts school board.

The election was conducted through the mail, with ballots mailed out the week of April 19 and due back Monday. Voters could also drop a completed ballot at the school district office.

Voters approved the levy of $228,450 by a margin of 4,048 for and 2,411 against. School Superintendent Judy Jonart said last month that the levys funding would, among other things, help the district reduce class sizes to try to mitigate learning gaps tied to remote schooling, school disruptions and other impacts of COVID-19.

On Monday night, following the vote count, Jonart said she was humbled by and thankful for the communitys continuing support of the school district.

This is a big win for our students and our community, she said.

An ad paid for by the Butte Teachers Union featured an educator, a prominent athlete, a former chief executive of Butte-Silver Bow County, businesspeople and others well known in the community who expressed support for passing the levy.
Lets say a stalker threatens a female friend of yours. She asks you late one evening if she can borrow your handgun for a couple of days. She is trained and has no criminal record. Should you lend her your gun?

Under a bill that has passed the House along a party-line vote and now before the Senate, lending her your gun soon could land you in prison. An exception only exists for imminent danger  where her stalker is right in front of her at that very moment. Saying that her stalker is expected in 30 minutes wont cut it. Even those annual Boy Scout shooting trips will face legal dangers. Adults who lend troops their guns for a day might soon find themselves in prison.

In an email to constituents, Senator Jon Tester is telling people that this is a good bill. He claims: the bill includes exceptions for . . . temporary transfers for sporting, hunting, and self-defense. But Tester doesnt tell people how narrowly the bill construes these exceptions.
Bucalo and his wife moved from New York to Maryland to be closer to his two daughters. Michelle Bucalo moved into her parents Severn home two years before her death after she was fired from her job as a paralegal in New York. She wanted to be closer to her sister.
Call them what they are

Turning Point was described in The Montana Standard as promoting "conservative" causes. Please stop describing religious extremist gatherings as conservative. They are extremist groups. The energy and ideologies that have almost completely taken over the Montana Republican Party do not meet the definition of conservatism.

Conservatism is a philosophy that emphasizes respect for traditional institutions. Conservatives oppose attempts to achieve social change through legislation. A conservative seeks to preserve or restore, not destroy. The Montana Republican Party has attacked many personal freedoms and passed unconstitutional bills. Their bills have targeted the rights of LGBTQ, women, the poor, workers, and the entire public (through their attacks on public health officers).

The term "extremist" is a more appropriate choice. An extremist is a person who advocates or resorts to measures beyond the norm, especially in politics. An extremist holds extreme opinions, such as climate change denial, COVID19 denial, QAnon conspiracy theories. An extremist denies the result of a safe and fair election. Extremists hire unqualified contractors to conduct unconstitutional election recounts and refuse to allow observers.
Because projects such as these arent usually approved, Leirness said this made getting approved all the more exciting. The Carver Trust has granted funds to MCSA in the past, and so we were just staying in touch with each other and communicating about future projects. They had shown some interest in the affordable housing initiative, and recommended that we submit an application.

With the trusts help, MCSA is able to use these funds to support continued work on a single-family home on 6th Street, which MCSA and First Presbyterian began renovating on April 9. Funds from the trust will go to an additional property: a 5-plex on 5th Street, which they will renovate in phases as each apartment becomes available.

We look forward to the transformation of these properties and their welcoming of new tenants in the near future, Sasmazer continued.

Although there are no plans to ask for further funding from the Carver Trust at this time, Leirness said that because this is an ongoing initiative, MCSA plans on working with other partners such as Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together.

While we might not necessarily go for another grant from the Carver Trust, we plan on seeking other local, regional and possibly state funds, reaching out to corporations and churches, and just doing our best to gather interest and get more people involved, she said, pointing to community collaboration as one of the most important elements of this initiative.

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The decision by Barr and senior Justice Department leaders to clear Trump of obstruction, even though special counsel Robert Mueller and his team pointedly did not reach that conclusion, was a significant moment for the president. The announcement, and a four-page summary of Muellers report, preceded the release of the 448-page document and helped shape public perception of the investigations conclusions. Mueller subsequently complained to Barr that his summary had not fully captured the investigations findings and had caused public confusion.
Introduction

Philosophy refers to a certain attitude or a theory that influences ones behavior .Philosophers may hold contradicting ideologies in relation to the same aspect depending on an individuals attitude and theoretical ideas that he or she is holding (Struhl, 2010) Therefore, philosophy is a discipline that is more of individual perspective. It the most liberal discipline because it respects every individuals views. Critical thinking therefore refers to the analysis of an aspect subjectively in order to make a judgement .Critical thinking may therefore be achieved through the analysis of different aspect of life, read publications and apply the art of critical thinking on it either to support the published views or contradict with the same. In this paper, my text of choice for the assignment is abortion as a topic. The following is a critical analysis of an already published information in regard to abortion.

Discussion

Part A

My discussion is based on an excerpt from Roe v Wade .According to the material on abortion; the author explains it in details using different approaches and perspectives on abortion. These perspectives and medical perspectives. In the material, abortion is presented in a way that portrays more of its positive side than the adverse effects. In fact, in the book, the author dismisses any negative condition or results in regard to abortion. The author touches all aspects in regards to abortion from its types ,methods used ,safety and factors that influence abortion .According to my thinking, the author of this particular material has tried to discuss argumentatively on issues regarding abortion however, some issues such as its adverse effects has not been discussed (Facione & Facione, 2013) This is because, according to my analysis, abortion is a common trend among the young people who are tried to run away from the fact of unwanted pregnancies and most of them end up carrying out the process in an unsafe and unprofessional manner. Therefore I think such vital information should be included.

PART B

1. My position on the topic of discussion

Abortion according to me only becomes a good process if it is done based on health complications and conducted in a safe manner by trained professionals to avoid the complications that arise after carrying it out.

2. Three reasons to support my position from the text

First, is the explanation on the abortion safety. This states that the only safe way to carry out a safe abortion is by the involvement of trained expertise who have knowledge on abortion and can conduct it safely. This supports my view that dismisses any other forms of abortions carried out by untrained personnel which puts life at risk

The second aspect is the discussion of the abortion that is carried out based on some health problems such as cancer disease and ectopic pregnancy. Under these circumstances, the hospital recommends for an intended termination of pregnancy in order to save the life of an endangered mother. This supports my view that abortion should only be done if the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother (Hiner, 2013)

Thirdly, discussion on religion against abortion supports my position against unnecessary abortion.

3. Answers opposing my position

One is the permission guaranteed on every form of abortion opposing mine that is only limited to health complications

The second aspect is the extent to which the text supports abortion carried out by anyone as long as it is safe opposing my idea of sticking the exercise being carried out only by a trained doctor.

Lastly, is the fact that text does not oppose abortion on the basis of religion by any means . It opposes my idea that abortion is wrong according to the religion (Adetoun & Adesola, 2011)

4. Biasness experienced

I found the text to be biased in that it stresses too much on the positive side of abortion without revealing its adverse effects yet the reality is that such effects exist

Lack of cultural relativism. The text portrays more of ethnocentrism whereby it talks from the perspective of someone whose in his or her country the act is legalized not considering those countries where abortion is illegal.

5. Personal factors for the biasness

I might have felt that the text is biased first because of my religion. According to the biblical teachings, no text in the Bible supports abortion. God views it as an act against life hence it is prohibited in a Christian-oriented faith (Greenhouse & Siegel, 2012).

The second factor is lack of exposure to a culture that supports abortion. I was brought up in a culture where abortion is associated with immorality and stigmatization.

6. My status after reading the text

My position has changed to some degree on my view on abortion because I have now expanded my knowledge and facts regarding abortion (LI, 2011).

Conclusion

Thinking in human being is a very critical tool that enables one to make judgements related to different aspects of life. However, thinking can be influenced and changed depending on the degree of persuasion and conviction.

References

Adetoun, A., & Adesola, A. (2011). Types of Abortion Committed and Physical Complications as Correlate of Psychological Stress of Abortion among Female University Undergraduates in South-West Nigeria. Literacy Information And Computer Education Journal, 2(2), 350-355. https://dx.doi.org/10.20533/licej.2040.2589.2011.0048

Facione, P., & Facione, N. (2013). Critical Thinking for Life. Inquiry: Critical Thinking Across The Disciplines, 28(1), 5-25. https://dx.doi.org/10.5840/inquiryct20132812

Hiner, A. (2013). Critical Thinking in the Literature Classroom, Part I: Making Critical Thinking Visible. Inquiry: Critical Thinking Across The Disciplines, 28(1), 26-35. https://dx.doi.org/10.5840/inquiryct20132813

Struhl, K. (2010). No (More) Philosophy Without Cross-Cultural Philosophy. Philosophy Compass,5(4), 287-295. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-9991.2010.00291.x
FibrePoynt has received funding from the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) to expand its high-speed fixed broadband solution for low-income communities.

FibrePoynt offers wireless Internet access through strategically placed access points called Janus Consumer Access Points (JCAPs).

These dual-beam Wi-Fi JCAPs use a corridor coverage system which covers streets in a neighbourhood rather than delivering blanket coverage through a single tower.

The FibrePoynt technology uses passive beam forming, beam pattern diversity, and beam shaping to get the best possible signal to the home units.

The system can provide speeds of 100Mbps to residences which each have an outdoor antenna linked to an indoor router as Customer Premises Equipment (CPE).

The infrastructure cost is around 40% lower than fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and the CPE installation is around 50% cheaper per consumer.

The most valuable aspect of the service is that rollout across a suburb can happen in one month or less with little disruption to residents.

The Technology Innovation Agency said the FibrePoynt technology will help South Africa to reach its strategic broadband imperatives.

It will also help to make the Internet accessible to all South Africans, irrespective of their socio-economic status and geographic location.

Low to middle income peri-urban and township households can now connect to the internet which was not possible with current technologies, the TIA said.

Last year FibrePoynt rolled out services in Zwartkop X8 in a combined effort between Lerumo Holdings, Poynting, BlueNova, and WiLink.

The trial was a success and demonstrated the successful FibrePoynt implementation in a real-world setting.

The technology promises a cost effective, faster-rollout, and high-speed alternative deployment of broadband infrastructure in areas that were previously deemed unfeasible, TIA said.

As part of the development of the product, FibrePoynt has launched HomePoynt  a derivative innovation spun out of the core FibrePoynt wireless technology.

HomePoynt is a last-mile connectivity solution that has the potential to bring down internet costs to R89 a month for uncapped Wi-Fi, TIA said.

The technology has been developed with a key focus on townships, peri-urban and small towns thus closing digital divide in under-served areas.

HomePoynt provides connectivity to homes in a peer-to-peer setup where there are backhaul networks, but no last-mile access.

FibrePoynt has also developed an internet service provider (ISP) model, termed Kasiwave, which transfers skills to the local communities to build and maintain the network infrastructure.

The goal is to ensure that 20% of the revenue generation remains in the local communities.

What the system looks like and how it works

The JCAP consists of two back-to-back units that can radiate in different directions, a solar panel and a lithium battery to ensure that it works autonomously.

At each JCAP there is a power unit with a BlueNova lithium battery with a solar panel.

Each JCAP can cover about 30 to 60 houses depending on the area and the layout of the street.

Each house is provided with a Wireless Network Terminal (WNT).

Every JCAP has autonomous back-up power, but the system can also work with the AC Power. The Autonomous Power Back up consists of a Solar Panel and BlueNova Lithium Battery.

FibrePoynt explained
South Africa is set to get new drivers licences in the next year, Transport minister Fikile Mbalula announced as part of the Driving Licence Card Accounts (DLCA) annual performance plan.

The DLCA, which falls under the Department of Transport as a trading entity, is the sole producer of drivers licences in South Africa.

The DLCA is currently in the final phase of designing a new South African drivers licence card.

Mbalula said in the DLCAs annual performance plan for 2021/2022 the new card is expected to be introduced midway through the financial year.

This means the new drivers licences may be here later this year or early next year.

The transport minister said the DLCA plans to reduce the turnaround time of the production of drivers licence cards through atomising its productions processes.

The new licence cards will be closer aligned to international practices and incorporate new technologies. The actual design of the licence card will also be changed.

The introduction of the new driving licence involves a new design of the driving licence card, and the re-engineering of processes to allow for agility and focus on delivering services efficiently and quickly, the DLCA said.

The project will allow for the adoption of digital technologies such as blockchain and other related technologies which will form the platform of an integrated transport system.

The DLCAs annual performance plan states that one of the groups key priorities was to modernise the driving licence production environment.

This will include the purchasing of a new production machine that is capable of printing more modern licences, as well as the introduction of a new secure, high quality, and durable licence card.

While the card will still have to be approved by parliament, it is envisaged that the new design and the procurement of the machine will run concurrently, the DLCA said.

This news follows shortly after Mbalula met with the Gauteng MEC for transport and Gauteng licensing authorities about the challenges related to Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs).

Driving Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) provide an important service to our motorists, as they are an important support system to enable mobility, the transport minister said.

There are, however, pervasive challenges, particularly in Gauteng, related to issuing drivers licenses.

The difficulties experienced by citizens in booking slots through the online platform is a serious cause for concern, Mbalula said.

We are gravely concerned that preliminary investigations suggest that corruption is the principal driver of lack of availability of booking slots in various DLTCs across Gauteng.

He said problems at DLTCs impacted the livelihoods of those who require these services to put bread on the table.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare these challenges, most of which are a consequence of corruption in the system, said Mbalula.

The additional pressure has amplified these challenges and requires of us to move with speed and deliberate focus in addressing these.

The aim of the meeting, Mbalula said, was to take stock of the challenges and agree on decisive interventions that effectively address the challenges facing Gauteng and its DLTCs.

The interventions must deliver a system that improves efficiency, eliminates corruption, and modernises processes to eliminate the need for end-users to queue at DLTCs.

Post our engagements, we will unpack the modalities of these interventions and commit to firm time-lines on the rollout, Mbalula said.

We are paying particular attention to the rollout of online services in a manner that improves efficiencies and minimises the time the end-user spends in a queue.

The ultimate end goal is to eliminate these queues once the full bouquet of online services has been successfully rolled out, the transport minister said.
This way, she gets to keep her hand in as she works to help build the new brand based on her years of expertise and experience, Koenig said.

A separate arm of the umbrella business owned by he and wife, Napa Valley Lobster Co. is a catering firm specializing in authentic southern style lobster boils.

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We can cater a lobster boil for groups as small as four to six in a backyard, up to 300 and 400 people  when those events start happening again  for wineries and corporate and private events, milestone occasions, like weddings, etc., he said.

Thirty-something parents to an 8-month-old daughter, the Koenigs first foray into food service is Napas Heritage Eats, which according to its website is where around the world meets home. Delicious meals inspired by homes across the globe. Made for yours.

Inspired by a worldwide trip in 2014, Heritage Eats is a single place in Napa that brings together flavors from around the globe, the site says.

The Koenigs set out to start a community-oriented, family-friendly, casual restaurant, and Heritage Eats has survived the shutdown intact, by remaining nimble, Ben Koenig said.
Customers will still have three carts: brown (gradually transitioning to gray or black) for trash, blue for recyclables, and green for organics.

However, customers will also receive a small food scrap bin to tuck under their sinks. Those scraps should be dumped into the green cart for pickup.

The law will require periodic audits of each garbage route, for all customer types. That means flipping lids and making sure there are no organics in the brown carts, plastic bags in the green carts, or trash in the blue carts.

If theres any contamination, customers will be tagged and reminded to clean up their act. Non-compliant jurisdictions and customers could face fines starting in 2024, but Napa County has asked for that date to be extended by at least a year.

For the first two years, were just focusing on education, Pestoni said.

On top of the 75% organic waste reduction, jurisdictions must recover 20% of edible food that would otherwise end up in the landfill and use it to feed the hungry. UVDS role in reaching that goal will be primarily educational.

New team
These unregulated transient-use vacation homes are located in our residential neighborhoods, which is a violation of our Municipal Code. Pacasos fractional ownership vacation home on Valley View Street has been the subject of numerous noise complaints by neighbors. Two more Pacaso vacation homes are for sale, one on Madrona Avenue and the other on Hillview Place. And two more are under development on Kearney Street and Riesling Way.

These are five homes in working-class neighborhoods that might have been sold to local families. Instead, they were snapped up and flipped into vacation homes. It is unlikely that any local family will ever live there again and the demand for vacation homes will continue to drive home prices out of reach for working class families in St. Helena.

The developer that specializes in buying working-class homes in St. Helena and upgrading them into vacation homes for resale (and quick profit) to Pacaso has also unfairly used relaxed regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to convert garages or outbuildings at three of the homes into additional living space, thus making the home more valuable upon resale. The ADU regulations were relaxed to encourage homeowners to create low-cost rentals or multi-generational housing, not to line the pockets of real estate speculators.
'Summer Color' from Nancy Willis

The Solera Courtyard Gallery at the Westin Verasa in Napa will come alive with "Summer Color," a new exhibition by resident artist Nancy Willis.

Memories of beach vacations, bursting vineyards, and outdoor dinner parties are portrayed in paintings and prints signaling the start of a brighter season.

Works in the exhibition include paintings and works on paper that Willis has created in her Napa studio, just down the street from the Westin.

The hotel is extra special to the artist as she took refuge there when the 2020 Glass Fire forced her out of her Deer Park home. She and her cat, Smiley, lived at the hotel for one month.

Willis will be displaying her work in the gallery throughout the year, changing themes with each season.

Well-known for her images of chandeliers and verdant landscapes from trips to Paris and the French countryside, Willis usually leads Path of an Artist tours abroad each year. Adapting to current travel restrictions, she has expanded her local plein-air painting classes to locations in Napa and Sonoma.
Property owners in the city of Napa will need to watch when they water the grass and how they wash their cars, after the approval of restrictions the city hopes will slice 15% from its water usage to deal with the threat of renewed drought.

A declaration of a moderate water shortage won the City Councils unanimous approval Tuesday night, marking a return to special rules Napa and other cities passed during Californias last extended drought in the mid-2010s. Among other curbs, Napans will not be allowed to irrigate greenery on back-to-back days or in the heart of daytime when evaporation is greatest, and also must avoid irrigation during or immediately after rainfall.

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As a hedge against a possible turn toward full-scale drought this year and into 2022, council members also approved the purchase of as much as 1,400 acre-feet of water using $640,000 from a city reserve fund. The additional water, which would be drawn from state-controlled supplies, is meant to guard Napas own local water reserves in the county as much as possible through the arid summer and early fall, according to Joy Eldredge, deputy utilities director.

Lets keep Lake Hennessey, which is a known quantity, right here as best we can, she told the council before the vote.
But while the share of bridges in poor condition has declined since 2009, so has the share in good condition, from 47% to 45%. Its reasonable to spend more when the share of bridges in good condition is not only less than half, but shrinking. Why not aim for most bridges to be in good condition?
By "future," he presumably meant the 2022 congressional elections 18 months from now, in which Republicans hope to regain a majority in both the Senate (currently divided 50-50) and the House (where Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Democrats have a fragile six-seat majority).

On paper, that shouldn't be too hard. The president's party has lost House seats in 17 of the 19 midterm elections since World War II.

Amid the tumult, McConnell and, less successfully, McCarthy have been trying to guide their party back to its traditional critique of Democratic presidents: warnings against big government and higher taxes.

"Behind President Biden's familiar face, it's like the most radical Washington Democrats have been handed the keys, and they're trying to speed as far left as they can possibly go before American voters ask for their car back," McConnell said last week.

For McConnell, Biden's ambitious spending plans have been something of a gift, because they gave his party a clearer target.

"Republicans got into this business because they worry about the size and scope of government, not because they worry about Dr. Seuss," Scott Jennings, a former McConnell aide, told me. "Biden has reminded us that we're the conservative party."
There have been a myriad of letters, articles and editorials the last few weeks that cried out for my reply, but there was an article in the April 27 paper that just made my head exploded.

Here's the headline: "Jesus was very political." I said, OK, here's another example of some atheist professors writing about someone they know nothing about: Jesus the Christ. But to my chagrin, it wasn't. It was four Black pastors, a white female Episcopalian priest, or should I say priestess, and two rabbis. Now what those Rabbis know about Jesus I can't imagine.

But all were into what is called the "Social Gospel." Now for those of you who are not familiar with that term, let me explain. The Social Gospel movement went from the 1870s to the 1920s. Advocates of the movement interpreted the kingdom of God as requiring social as well as individual salvation and sought the betterment of industrialized society through application of the biblical principles of charity and justice. Even by force of government, if necessary.
As chief executive officer of the oldest industry organization in Napa Valley, I am honored to take a moment to recognize the 108th birthday of the Napa County Farm Bureau on May 8.

Napa County Farm Bureau (NCFB) is embarking on a new dynamic chapter. For 108 years, NCFB has a long tradition of serving and balancing the needs of community, agriculture and the environment throughout Napa County. At its inception in 1913, NCFBs formation satisfied the mandate that a county must have a Farm Bureau prior to University of California providing UC extension services to the county. Forward-thinking agricultural professionals realized the key to longevity was ongoing research and education prompting them to form the Napa County Farm Bureau, one of the first Farm Bureaus in the state.

From its early stages in 1913, Napa County Farm Bureau has worked to protect and promote all facets of Napa Countys world-class agriculture encompassing everything from vineyards to farms and ranches and find solutions to problems facing agriculture.

At its foundation, NCFB is a policy-based organization whose founding allowed the organization to pursue a broader policy agenda that was separate from UC Cooperative Extension. Early on in 1913, NCFB formed professional divisions to represent its members at the Board of Supervisors, in the courts, the Legislature and the media.
Opposition Bright Armenia Party leader inviting Nikol Pashinyan to a debate

Nagorno-Karabakh issue discussed within the scope of Russian-Turkish consultations in Moscow

More on COVID-19 and tense election campaign in Armenia, June 9 digest

Armenian authorities forcing employees of educational institutions and nuclear power plant to attend campaign meetings

Putin-Biden meeting in Geneva to take place in 18th-century villa

Armenia opposition party leader: There are 1,837 Armenians who lost their extremities after war in Artsakh

Bright Armenia Party leader slams discourse over transferring acting PM's son in exchange of POWs

Leader of opposition Liberty Party says Armenia acting PM steals over $2,500 from budget every month

Headquarters of political party running in elections applies to Prosecutor General's Office and Police of Armenia

Armenia Ombudsman's Office, Central Electoral Commission hold discussion to guarantee citizens' suffrage

Armenia acting premier, "support group" employees visit Shirak Province

Tech Week Artsakh 2021 to be held in Stepanakert

Armenia Elections Oversight Committee: Such development of events might lead to clashes

2 citizens apprehended for electoral bribery in Armenia's Gavar

Republican Party of Armenia vice-president: Serzh Sargsyan disclosed an audio recording a little while ago

Dollar continues dropping in Armenia

Armenia High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Ukraine deputy FM express willingness for cooperation

Turkeys Erdogan to visit Artsakhs Shushi

Armenia health ministry: 5 of 11 children with acute gastroenteritis are discharged from hospital

Azerbaijan MOD publicly admits that it is not well-established

Armenia independent MP: Acting premier is leading country to events similar to those of March 1, 2008

Russia resumes air communication with Armenia

Armenian man says Nikol Pashinyan 'liberated' Armenia's Etchmiadzin

Shooting in Russia, casualties and shooter are Armenian

Goris town deputy mayor on captured Armenia soldiers return: Negotiator was the Russian side

"I have the honor" bloc member: We must achieve Azeri forces withdrawal from Artsakh territories by talks

Vanetsyan: It was assumed that Armenia would recognize Karabakh in case of war

Lavrov: Turkey, Iran interests are considered when discussing unblocking of regional communications

Armenia PM contender: 2 of 3 principles of Karabakh conflict have been violated

Vanetsyan: Possibility of deeper Armenia-Russia integration should be considered after our coming to power

Russia FM: Nagorno-Karabakh status issue has yet to be agreed upon

Tuesdays fire at Yerevan landfill not put out yet

Armenia Ombudsman: Manipulating issues of return of captives during election campaign increases tension

Woman, 84, dies at Yerevan hospital after being attacked by stray dogs

99 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Blinken to Menendez: US will continue to take a look at possible suspension of aid to Azerbaijan

Security Council chief meets with head of Red Cross mission to Artsakh

Armenia MOD: Disoriented, captured soldier is in Stepanakert

World oil prices on the rise

Newspaper: Armenia ruling party is "singing its swan song

Newspaper: Armenia state institutions employees are warned not to attend ex-President Kocharyan's rallies

Researchers record highest level of CO2 emissions in history

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Russians have mainly fulfilled their obligations as ally

Armenia ombudsman considers election campaign climate "extremely worrying"

Palestinian leaders arrive in Cairo for talks on reinforcing ceasefire with Israel

Blinken: 'Hundreds' of US sanctions against Iran to remain in effect

Armenia MOD: Official investigation launched against 2 military unit commanders who were dismissed today

Armenian serviceman who was captured today has been returned

UN Security Council endorses Antonio Guterres who is running for Secretary-General for the second time

Armenia Prosecutor General's Office launches case on Armenian serviceman beaten by Azerbaijani soldiers

US is ready to provide technical support for delimitation of border between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Armenia 3rd President to Nikol Pashinyan: I'm giving that depraved 24 hours

"Armenia" bloc calls on Central Electoral Commission to respond to Nikol Pashinyan's calls for violence

Armenian National Congress Party member: People who talk about peace achieve the greatest victories

"Armenia" bloc member: Pashinyan dismissed regiment commanders because they refused to advocate for him

Armenia MOD: Incident between Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers took place a week ago

Armenia ruling Civil Contract Party holding campaign meeting in Ashtarak, led by Nikol Pashinyan (LIVE)

Soldier ends up on Azerbaijan territory, Baku starts trial against Armenia POW, Jun 8 digest

Head of Armenia's Geghamasar village endorses Robert Kocharyan, to manage bloc's territorial headquarters

"Armenia" bloc representative: I call on law-enforcement authorities to get ready to perform their duties

Armenia President receives acting high-tech and economy ministers and CEO of FAST

Armenia 2nd President says his bloc is against vendettas, supports justice

Armenia opposition party's candidate for PM Samvel Babayan makes call to citizens

Armenia ex-officials registration on "I have the honor" bloc electoral list is declared invalid

Karabakh President grants high state awards to relatives of policemen who fell in the war

Karabakh President meets in Yerevan with heads of communities of Kashatagh region

Armenia Central Electoral Commission: Advertisement of Robert Kocharyan's book is associated with campaign posters

Edmon Marukyan: Bright Armenia Party is only one that can become axis of government of national accord

Armenia former President Kocharyan on incumbent authorities: Psychology of flawed people

Armenia applies to ECHR to ensure respect of rights of Armenian POW captured today

Armenia opposition party's candidate for PM and citizen get into dispute

One dollar drops below AMD 520 in Armenia

Armenia 2nd President on the reason for country's defeat in the war and return of Armenian POWs

Armenia 2nd President: People will give evaluation during the elections

Three more remains retrieved during search in Artsakh

Homeland of Armenians political party members meet with Netherlands Ambassador

Armenia acting PM to voters: Prepare for civil revenge

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Authorities clumsiness, unprofessionalism, treachery brought current situation

Official: 3 deputy FMs of Armenia dismissed

Armenia MOD: Soldier ended up in area under Azerbaijan army control due to fog

Russia's Putin, Armenia 2nd President hold phone talks

Azerbaijan state prosecutor demands sentencing Lebanese Armenian Euljekjian to 20 years in prison

Search for remains of fallen soldiers continues in Artsakh

Armenias Pashinyan: Today I see more opportunities to resolve Artsakh issue with our ideas than 4 years ago

Azerbaijan MOD informs about capture of another Armenia soldier

Lavrov discusses Armenia-Azerbaijan border situation with France, Germany FMs

Armenia acting premier: Our captives again would have been returned late if they had been returned earlier

Lightning strikes kill 27 people in eastern India

Bright Armenia Party leader: We will remove Azerbaijan troops from our territory through negotiations

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan proposes 3 steps to citizens

Rose petals are sprinkled on Armenia acting PM at Aragatsotn Province village

Stoltenberg says cooperation between Russia, China is challenge for NATO

UN resident coordinator in Armenia meets with families displaced from Karabakh (PHOTOS)

One new case of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Armenia acting premier makes new appointment

Armenia permanent representative is elected UN General Assembly 76th session committee chairman

China facing trade boom

World oil prices falling

73 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Captive Lebanese Armenian man is being tried in Azerbaijan
The National Assembly of Armenia adopted the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and related laws in full, and this can be considered a historic event since the Government of Armenia had assumed this commitment in 2010 by ratifying the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is what former Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia Zaruhi Batoyan wrote on her Facebook page, adding the following:

I can write a lot about the path that I took to protect the interests of persons with disabilities along with my friends after attending the signing of the Convention, but thats not important now. I can only say that the law was developed in line with the universally recognized principles and norms of international law and was adopted thanks to political will and consistent efforts. The government and legislature attached importance to this and viewed it as a priority.

Of course, this is just the beginning of changes, after which there will be a new stage. I would like to congratulate persons with disabilities and their respective organizations and express gratitude to those who worked on the draft law, particularly Anna Hakobyan from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and my assistant Mushegh Hovsepyan. I would also like to thank my colleagues in parliament for considering and adopting the bill.
YEREVAN.  We have analyzed the number of loans, the structure of loans; a very interesting number: among the 2.2 million borrowers, those who take loans up to 500 thousand drams total 1.4 million. Mikayel Melkumyan, an MP of the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) and an economist by profession, on Wednesday told this to reporters in the National Assembly, referring to PAP leaderand business tycoon MPGagik Tsarukyans proposal to forgive the loans up to 3 million drams in Armenia.

When asked by what means this should be implemented when there is not so much money in the state budget, Melkumyan responded: "It shall be [done] on the account of the regimen organized by the state; that money is there, and everything will happen."

To the question as to whether it is dishonest that believing that their loans will be forgiven, people who have several loans in Armenia will vote for the PAPin the snap parliamentary elections slated for June 20, but in reality there will be no opportunity to implement such loan forgiveness, Melkumyan responded. "We [the PAP] are saying a very practical thing, and it is time that we free people from debts. We will talk about all that during the election phase."

And when asked to what extent the policy pursued by those with a monopoly position has contributed to people falling into poverty and taking loans to survive, the PAP lawmaker said: "First of all, Mr. Tsarukyan has no monopoly anywhere. Tsarukyan is not an importer, Tsarukyan exports, and at the time, he created tens of thousands of jobs as an owner [of businesses]."
This letter is to publicly express my gratitude to the leadership of the organization and to encourage everyone in the greater Annapolis community to become ASO advocates. Early in spring 2020, as the impact of the pandemic shutdown was becoming apparent, the board and management of the Annapolis Symphony sat down with their musicians to create a partnership that took what could have been a disastrous year for a performing arts ensemble and make it into a successful virtual season, allowing the ASOs musical expertise to be heard not only in Anne Arundel County but across the state of Maryland, throughout the United States, and around the world.
Many young people in Armenia today are left out of college because of tuition fee. Opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leaderand business tycoon MPGagik Tsarukyan stated this during a meeting with about 1,500 youth wishing to join the PAP.

According to him, in many European countries there is a law that if a student is admitted to a university and has knowledge, signs a contract with the state, the state pays his tuition fee, after his graduation, finds employment for him, and during this work he pays backwithin five yearshis tuition fee.

Tsarukyan reflected also on university students' scholarship in Armenia, noting that it is a mere 5,000 drams a month for the past 30 years and should be increased.

In addition, the PAP leader made a proposal to provide young families with housings.

According to Tsarukyan, there is a point in their party platform, according to which those who have loans up to 3 million drams shall be freed from that burden. "If today it is the people who decide, the state is the people, then today the people are in a complete 'swamp,' they are drowning. So, you have to take a complete step, give a chance to get the thorn out of the persons finger," he said.

Also, Gagik Tsarukyan proposed to increase pensions in Armenia by 10 percent every year.
Residents of the Hadrut region of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) today gathered in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and transferred a letter stating that they would like to meet with the foreign minister to understand the issue of the people displaced from Hadrut and what security measures are being taken for the residents of Artsakh.

Now Im thinking about the people living in Stepanakert more than the people living in Armenia. We havent been citizens of any country for thirty years. The Azerbaijanis still have our passport data. They can give our passport data to Russian law-enforcement authorities, tell them that Im a citizen of Azerbaijan, and when I go to Russia, Ill be extradited to Azerbaijan. How much longer can we live with this status? Why isnt the government of Armenia recognizing Nagorno-Karabakhs independence? The authorities are afraid of Russia, but were here to say that the issue needs to be solved, member of the For Hadrut NGO Levon Hayelyan told reporters.

The gathered residents of Hadrut said they want to return to Hadrut and dont want to live in any other region of Artsakh.

According to Levon Hayelyan, he and the other residents cant expect anything from the authorities of Artsakh now since they have fulfilled the will of the authorities of Armenia for 30 years.

The residents of Hadrut said the fact that Artsakh ensures Armenias security is indisputable.

If we Armenians dont learn the lessons from what happened to Hadrut, I dont know what will happen to the Armenian nation. There is no Karabakh, and Azerbaijan will attack Yerevan next, he said.

The residents of Hadrut stated that they have come to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia with the hope to see Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Asked if they have tried to meet with President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan, they said Harutyunyan avoids holding meetings with the people.
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman doesnt have a say in what the County Council does at its meeting. But he urged the council Tuesday to make the change and questioned whether some votes might have been turned out different if the body politic had been in the room.
The European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) views the joint actions of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia and civil society organization for promotion of effective implementation of the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as leading international practice for the national human rights institutions of other countries, as reported the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia.

The ENNHRI particularly attached importance to the cooperation between the Ombudsman and civil society organizations which makes it possible to increase the importance of implementation of the decisions of the ECHR and raise awareness about them.

The ENNHRI states that the Human Rights Defender of Armenia is bestowed with the power to set up councils that are adjunct to the Office of the Human Rights Defender and that NGO representatives and independent experts can be engaged in those councils.

The decisions adopted against Armenia by the ECHR and still not implemented, are also considered during the sessions of the advisory board under the Ombudsman.

The ENNHRI records that, after one of those discussions, the Human Rights Defender of Armenia, in cooperation with an NGO (Helsinki Committee), expressed a special stance to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in regard to implementation of the decision of the ECHR on Poghosyan vs Armenia for protection of the minimum rights of persons deprived of liberty.

The ENNHRI has also stated that such joint efforts provide the opportunity to build sustainable cooperation with civil society organizations.
Over two billion people purchased goods or services online last year with e-retail sales surpassing 4.2 trillion U.S. dollars worldwide.

As of 2020, online marketplaces account for the largest share of online purchases worldwide. Leading the global ranking of online retail websites in terms of traffic is #Amazon. The Seattle-based e-commerce giant hit a new record with over 5.2 billion unique visitors in June 2020. In terms of gross merchandise value (GMV), however, Amazon ranks third behind Chinese competitors Taobao and Tmall. Both platforms are operated by the Alibaba Group, the leading online commerce provider in Asia.

During the year of Covid-19 pandemic Armenias e-commerce sector also hit a historical record. In a time of quarantine when leaving home was not advisable and was restricted, people started searching for goods and services online. A drastic transition from offline to online showed that Armenian businesses were not prepared for a New Normal. The pandemic changed the realities, but Armenian business is also to blame.

Let's conditionally divide businesses into 3 groups: online friendly, semi-online and offline. Some businesses can be included in the first group, but there are not many of them. Almost all businesses refer to the second and third groups. They are well aware that the online presence is mandatory, but they hardly do anything for it, or their websites resemble a business card.

Let's imagine how such a website can look like. Once we visit a website, we can see an unsecure connection, weird design of a business logo, a strange text, an e-mail address which is invalid in 90% of cases or is valid but you get no reply.

If we compare it with an offline store, we will get a shop with a dirty entrance hall, broken glass and broken doorknob with a dirty floor tiled forty years ago and sticky fly ribbons hanging from the ceiling. The goods are stacked on each other and the shelves are half-empty. If you even decide to buy something, it will take long, because the shop assistant is not there. By the way, there are still such stores in Yerevan.

#HoReCa businesses appeared to be the most online friendly sector in Armenia, but no one needed their services during the lockdown. People were more interested in visiting the websites of medical facilities, pharmacies, homecare services and retail stores.

We have been living in a rapidly changing world for 18 months now, and during this time businesses have been engaged in creating websites and social media pages. Now we have a different situation with Armenian businesses facing competition on the web. It turns out that just building a website is not enough, because if you sell potatoes, shoes or fever reducers and you are not the only one on the market, you need SEO.

Have you heard about SEO? How to make people visit YOUR website to buy veggies, fruits or sneakers? If you dont know, you will find the answer to this question here.

Your business needs Search Engine Optimization. Moreover, your website needs local SEO. Without SEO, you have to do nothing but to pay for traffic and to buy ads from Google or Facebook for years. This strategy is like becoming an ads addict which is the worst thing that can happen with the online aspect of your business. Imagine you have a store but no regular customers.

So, your website traffic has to be distributed the following way.

You need

1. direct traffic

2. organic traffic

3. social traffic

4. and only then paid traffic.

SEO consists of numerous elements, but the main idea is the website has to be designed and developed in a way for search engines to be able to crawl and index your website quickly and without mistakes. You do not want a delivery company to supply goods wrapped in a dirty paper, which you have to clean before selling them to your clients. Youll have to spend time and money and will finally change the supplier. The same is with search engines, they do not like to see dirty work and errors. You may not see it but the search engines do a lot of work backstage. The website has to have a simple and clear design, it must have content related to your business and images of a right size and format. Search engines focus on dozens of details - if we name all of them this article would turn into a novel.

You have two options: either to learn SEO or to find an SEO expert who will be in charge of this job. SEO is of key importance for your business to remain competitive in Armenias rapidly developing e-commerce sector.

Constantine Amirakian

CEO, PRADIX LLC
First President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan has promulgated the text of the statement that he made during the meeting of the ex-presidents of Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) on March 25, 2021.

The statement reads as follows:

As is known, the former Presidents of Armenia and Artsakh had a meeting on March 25, 2021. The meeting was held at my initiative and with the proposal to adopt the following statement that I had drafted:

Statement by the former Presidents of Armenia

Taking into consideration

- the urgent need for restoration of the mental balance of the Armenian people following the war;

- the imperative to discharge the super tense domestic political situation and avoid further deepening of hate speech and clashes;

- the morbid aspiration of the authorities to regenerate after having completely failed in all spheres of public administration during their three-year term and the clearly devastating consequences of that aspiration;

- as well as the expectation of the whole nation for the formation of a new government that will meet the demands of the moment in Armenia and public solidarity,

We declare that:

Regardless of our principled disagreements and sharp opposition in the past, realizing our responsibility for the fate of the country, without having any pretension to hold any position in the apparatus to be formed, we will run in the upcoming elections with a list of our supportive political forces, non-governmental organizations and reputable intellectuals called Alliance of National Accord.

We are certain that all Armenians and the international community will positively respond to this initiative.

We will give a press conference after the launch of the electoral process is officially announced and after the list of the alliance is released.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan

Robert Kocharyan

Serzh Sargsyan

Yerevan, March 25, 2021

There was no discussion because Robert Kocharyan immediately rejected the proposal, saying that it was due to morality and that he would betray the Salvation Movement of Armenia that he has established. As far as Serzh Sargsyan is concerned, he didnt express any opinion. Today I publicly reiterate my proposal to the second and third Presidents of Armenia. I am certain that in case of pressure from the public, this will be an unequivocally feasible plan is perhaps the only way to avoid more disasters. It is the duty of all Armenians to realize that the regeneration of the regime of Pashinyan is more dangerous for Armenia and Artsakh than even the possible or supposed threats arising from Azerbaijan and Turkey.
China urges Philippines to respect China's sovereignty over Huangyan Island

Xinhua) 08:58, May 05, 2021

BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday urges the Philippine side to earnestly respect China's sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Huangyan Island, and stop taking actions that may complicate the situation in the region.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks in response to a query about a statement issued by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday, which protested against Chinese Coast Guard vessels' patrols in waters off the Huangyan Island. Meanwhile, Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin also made insulting remarks on his personal social media account.

Wang said that the Huangyan Island is China's territory and its adjacent waters are under China's jurisdiction.

He said that facts have proven time and time again that megaphone diplomacy can only undermine mutual trust rather than change reality. "We hope that certain individual from the Philippine side will mind basic manners and act in ways that suit his status," Wang said.

Quoting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's remarks that differences and disputes between the two countries on some issues should not affect the overall friendship and cooperation, Wang said that it is also an important consensus reached by China and the Philippines on many occasions.

"China has always been and will remain committed to properly handling differences and advancing cooperation with the Philippines through friendly consultation, and will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to the Philippines in its efforts to fight the epidemic and resume economic development," said Wang.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
A jury in Italy found two men from California guilty of killing a police officer. They were sentenced to life in prison.

Video Transcript

NORAH O'DONNELL: Well there's breaking news from Italy. A jury just found two college students from California guilty of killing a police officer and sentenced them to life in prison. It was a drug deal gone wrong. Security video shows them in 2019 trying to buy cocaine. When plainclothes officers tried to arrest them, one of the Americans stabbed the officer 11 times with a hunting knife. Later claiming it was self-defense.
Terming the recently-concluded India-UK summit as "transformational", External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar has said that that he was in touch with foreign ministers of G7 countries, many of whose members have been through very severe form of COVID-19 whose intensity matches the current surge of cases in India.

"My message going through G7 is that this is a global challenge, everybody knows that. All of you have been through. We are going thorough right now. There are various factors and reasons serious and severe as it is and global pandemic requires global efforts and in the past we have contributed to that global effort," Jaishankar told ANI in an exclusive interview.

India, Australia, South Korea, South Africa and the chair and secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have been invited as guests in the G7 foreign ministers meeting being hosted by UK.

Jaishankar said COVID-19 was very much part of the agenda of G7 as it is the biggest challenge not just in India but in entire world.

"When it comes to G7, we are pretty much in touch with all of them," he said

He said countries including the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy have seen severe form of COVID-19. "In fact, if you look at it proportionally, in many cases, their intensity is as much as we are going through it in India, some ways it is even more than what we are going through. A lot of our situation and our stresses today hospitals situation, oxygen situation, New York has seen it, France has seen it, Italy has seen it. Talking to my counterpart Portugal, he said just a few months ago we went through it we had the highest per capita cases and fatalities but we have come through it," he said.

Referring to the India-UK summit, he said the two countries have prepared a very detailed roadmap for the bilateral ties for the next 10 years and have covered all the aspects of the relationship.

An ambitious 'Roadmap 2030' was adopted at the summit between India and UK to elevate bilateral ties to a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' to pave the way for a deeper and stronger engagement in the key areas.

"I think this in many ways can be transformational for the relationship. There were four big outcomes. There was a very detailed roadmap for relationship 2030 that we have worked out, which pretty much covers all the aspects of India UK ties," he said.

Talking about the recent COVID-19 assistance, the EAM said the UK has been really a very solid friend.

"We are getting oxygen plants, concentrators, cylinders to address the oxygen challenge. You know the vaccine collaboration and Covishield is the outcome of that (relationship)...And, our scientists are working together as well on sequencing as well," said Jaishankar.

"I feel enormous support which people in UK and Indian community here has for the COVID situation, and how much would they like to contribute to our efforts to deal with it," he added.

The minister said he was informed due to changes of the policies in recent months, 58,000 more Indians have qualified to come to the UK from October.

"I was informed due to changes in the policies in recent months from October, 58,000 more Indians have qualified to come to the UK. So this is the relationship, in Boris Johnson's words, we are not looking at something evolutionary, we are looking at something transformational. And our Prime Minister also highlighted the living bridge which is a very, very unique talent," he said.

(ANI)

Also Read: Kipal Sibal says Surprised why Centre is not taking steps to cap prices of COVID vaccines
Body camera footage from the fatal shooting of Zulu prince Lindani Myeni (Honolulu Police)

Police released the 10-minute 911 call of a "terrified" woman pleading for help moments before the fatal shooting of Zulu "prince" Lindani Myeni in Hawaii.

The 29-year-old former rugby player and South African Idol constant was killed on 14 April, and the 911 audio reveals new details of the moments leading up to the shooting seen in previously-released body camera footage.

The female, calling from a vacation rental home in the Honolulu neighbourhood of Nuuanu, can be heard saying with a thick accent please leave before telling the dispatcher someone entered my house  I dont know this man  hes in the house.

The woman is upset and crying throughout the call, telling the dispatcher, He said Lindan from South Africa, before later saying she was terrified.

Mr Myeni was a married father of two who lived nearby with his American wife, who told Hawaii News Now that he held the rank of prince in the Zulu Kingdom, a nation in South Africa.

She told the outlet they had moved from South Africa to Hawaii in January, and while she didnt know why he had approached the woman, in Zulu culture they can knock on any neighbours door at any time.

He wanted to talk to them for some reason. It says he took off his shoes. Im sure he did that as a sign of respect, she told the outlet.

Police said Mr Myeni had followed the woman to her house, took off his shoes, and exhibited odd behaviour.

During the 911 call, the interaction between police and Mr Meyani can be heard as the caller narrated the shooting to the dispatcher.

Thats him!, she says as the officer can be heard yelling in the background, Get on the ground.

The officer shot him. Hes attacking the cop, the woman says.

The dispatcher says, Oh my God. I just heard shots fired, before telling the woman to hide in the bathroom and that more officers were on the way.

Attorneys representing Mr Myenis family told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser theyre trying to depose the 911 caller, identified as Shiying Sabine Wang, in a wrongful death suit against the police.

Story continues

In a court filing reported by the Star-Advertiser, lawyers argue that after Mr Myeni became aware he was unwelcome he left the house peacefully.

Plaintiff alleges that the response by the occupants of the Property was motivated by Mr Myenis race and constituted racial discrimination in public accommodation, the lawsuit alleges.

As Mr Myeni stood still, unarmed, on the side of the driveway just a few feet off the street, one of the Officers, while hysterical screams of thats him emanated from a person standing in the doorway of the house on the Property, suddenly shone the flashlight directly in Mr Myenis eyes and held a pistol in the flashlight beam pointed at Mr Myeni."
The Telegraph

German confidence in the European Union is waning in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the findings of a new poll. Fifty-five per cent of Germans now believe the EUs political system is broken, the survey for the European Council for Foreign Relations (ECFR) found  a rise of 11 per cent compared to last November. Only 36 per cent of Germans said they believe the EUs political system is working, compared to more than half seven months ago. And a third of Germans now believe Eu
South Africa's governing ANC party has suspended its secretary general, Elias "Ace" Magashule, over graft charges in a move seen as a political victory for President Cyril Ramaphosa in the divided party.

But a defiant Magashule, who is the first top party official to be temporarily forced out under a new policy aimed at turning the page on a litany of graft scandals, said he was not going anywhere.

Instead, he said he was suspending Ramaphosa from his position as ANC president.

Magashule, 61, was given a 30-day ultimatum on March 30 to step aside after being charged with embezzling public funds while he was premier of the Free State province.

He ignored the deadline and refused to resign voluntarily, forcing the party to suspend him.

"You are hereby temporarily suspended with effect from 3 May 2021 until the final outcome of your court proceedings," his deputy Jessie Duarte informed Magashule of his suspension in a letter.

The letter, dated Monday and leaked to the media on Wednesday, said the decision to suspend him would be "in the best interest of the organisation".

But Magashule, countered in a letter Wednesday night sent to Ramaphosa and Duarte, saying he was "appealing this unconstitutional suspension" and that until the appeal was heard he would keep his job.

In a dramatic and strange outburst, he said he was invoking powers vested in him as the secretary general of the ANC, to "summarily" suspend Ramaphosa.

But the ANC immediately issued a statement saying its resolution stands and asked Magashule to "respect" the party's decisions and "subject himself to the discipline of the organization".

Magashule has been indicted on charges of corruption and fraud, or theft and money laundering, along with around a dozen other co-accused.

The African National Congress (ANC) of Nelson Mandela, which has been ruling the country since the end of white minority rule in 1994, has been at pains to clean up its image, marred by years of graft.

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- 'Turning point' -

David Lewis, head of the Corruption Watch NGO, hailed Magashule's removal as the "first really strong sign that the ANC is prepared to clean up its own ranks".

The suspension is a "turning point" for the ANC, setting a "serious precedent" that will be difficult to ignore in future, said political analyst Mcebisi Ndletyana.

"It is a win for the ANC as a whole," Ndletyana told AFP.

Magashule is to be paid his salary during his suspension but not permitted to represent the ANC or speak publicly about the party.

Charges against Magashule relate to public funds that were set aside to vet government-built housing with asbestos roofs in 2014 when he headed the provincial government, dubbed a "gangster state" in a book by investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh.

The hazardous roofs were never removed, and investigators believe that the equivalent of over $12 million (10 million euros) was pocketed.

Magashule was briefly arrested in November and granted bail on graft charges. He is next expected to appear before a high court in August.

His removal is seen as a first major political score for President Cyril Ramaphosa who first came to power in 2018 vowing to fight corruption when he succeeded the scandal-tainted Jacob Zuma.

"The suspension will bring some credibility to the presidents longstanding pledge of addressing corruption within the ANC," said Aleix Montana, analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.

But analysts note that Magashule, a renowned political infighter with a permanent scowl, a Zuma confidant with an entrenched following within the party, will deepen the factionalism woes in the ANC.

The historic party has been suffering a decline in support in elections in recent years. The country goes to local government polls in October this year.

John Steenhuisen, leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance party, said it was not enough to just suspend Magashule, demanding that the party makes sure that "he is put behind bars".

bur-mgu-sn/har
LONDON (Reuters) - London's Victoria & Albert museum unveiled a revamped look for its gallery holding the Raphael Cartoons on Thursday, following a refurbishment carried out to mark 500 years since the Italian Renaissance master's death.

The renovated Raphael Court features acoustic panelling, LED lighting and bespoke furniture, all aimed at showcasing the works' colours and intricate details, the museum said.

Raphael, who died in 1520 aged 37, painted the seven large designs for tapestries, which depict scenes from the lives of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, after they were commissioned by Pope Leo X for the Sistine Chapel.

"Cartoon in this context is a work which is a design for something ... It's a work which is a kind of design tool," Philippa Simpson, director of design, estate and public programme at the V&A, told Reuters.

"The works ... are probably some of the most significant Renaissance masterpieces in the U.K."

Visitors will also be able to use a QR code for a detailed digital explanation of the Cartoons, on loan to the museum from the Royal Collection.

The V&A, named after Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert, will re-open its doors to the public on May 19 in the next phase of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown.

Though entry is free, visitors will need to book timed tickets and wear face coverings.

"It has been a really tough year," Simpson said.

"Galleries ... really do feel like a ghost ship without the visitors in them. It's a building which is brought to life by the public."

(Reporting by Ben Makori; Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian, Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
By Ross Kerber, Jessica DiNapoli and Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - Berkshire Hathaway Inc shareholders can accept Chairman Warren Buffett's hostility to bitcoin, blank-check acquisition firms and wild bets on trading app Robinhood. But when it comes to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) standards, many are drawing a line.

Buffett and his board opposed two shareholder resolutions at Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder meeting last week that called for annual reports on how its companies are responding to the challenge of climate change, as well as reports on diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

He prevailed, supported by directors who along with him control a combined 35% of Berkshire Hathaway's voting power. But some of his top investors, including BlackRock Inc, the world's biggest asset manager, were part of the roughly 25% of Berkshire Hathaway shareholders who defied him and voted for each resolution. The California Public Employees' Retirement System, the largest U.S. public pension fund, and Federated Hermes Inc, the $625 billion asset manager based in Pittsburgh, were among sponsors of the climate-change resolution.

It is a steadily growing trend. Environment-related proposals at Berkshire Hathaway's 2018 annual meeting drew no more than 12% support from shareholders, as did a resolution on diversity last year.

As more Wall Street funds manage assets with a mandate to consider ESG causes, some corporate governance experts say pressure on Buffett will increase in the coming years.

"Even an investor of Buffett's renown may not be immune to such larger market trends," said Ric Marshall, executive director for ESG Research at MSCI Inc.

Berkshire Hathaway and Buffett did not respond on Monday to requests for comment.

In opposing the shareholder proposals, Berkshire Hathaway's board argued that the Omaha, Nebraska-based company's decentralized business model made it unreasonable to have one-size-fits-all standards for its operating units on climate change and diversity.

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Buffett, one of the world's biggest philanthropists, told investors during Saturday's shareholder meeting that requiring ESG reports from all the subsidiaries would be "asinine," because many of them are small and Berkshire Hathaway allows them to run independently.

He also said he does not like making "moral judgments" on businesses, and it is "very tough" to decide which ones benefit society.

Berkshire Hathaway is hardly alone. Other major companies, including Citigroup Inc and Amazon.com Inc, have resisted ESG shareholder proposals, calling them impractical or inferior to their own.

Whistle Stop Capital CEO Meredith Benton, a consultant to shareholder group As You Sow, which filed the Berkshire Hathaway diversity proposal, said Berkshire Hathaway stood out in demonstrating little initiative on the ESG front and Buffett showed a "lack of leadership."

"Even Buffett can't ignore what his investors are asking for," Benton said.

DISCLOSURES, NOT HOPE

In a note on its website, BlackRock criticized Berkshire Hathaway for not adequately showing how its business model would be "compatible with a low-carbon economy" and not disclosing information to help investors assess its diversity efforts.

Federated Hermes' Tim Youmans, one of the firm's engagement leaders, said Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Greg Abel, who Buffett said this week would become chief executive if he were to step down, seemed more focused on climate change at the shareholder meeting than his boss.

Abel said at the shareholder meeting that all of Berkshire's coal-fired power plants would be shut by 2049 and that its utility businesses had already made a big transition to renewable energy.

Youmans said this gave him hope the company would be more responsive on ESG questions, but added, "We're looking for disclosures and targets as opposed to hope."

Shareholder proposals on environmental and social issues at S&P 1500 companies averaged 28% support in 2020, up from 20% in 2017, according to proxy solicitor Georgeson.

Activists hope to do even better in 2021 after the United States rejoined the Paris climate agreement and the Black Lives Matter movement drew wide support.

Dupont shareholders overwhelmingly backed proposals last week calling for the disclosure of workforce diversity data and a report on plastic pollution.

The 81% of votes cast for the latter was a U.S. record for an environmental proposal opposed by management, according to Heidi Welsh, executive director of the Sustainable Investments Institute.

(Reporting by Ross Kerber in Boston and Jessica DiNapoli and Jon Stempel in New York; Editing by Greg Roumeliotis and Leslie Adler)
A 1,000 pound bear stands in front of the campaign bus for California republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox during a campaign rally at Miller Regional Park on 4 May, 2021 in Sacramento, California (Getty Images)

A businessman running a campaign for governor in California has prompted backlash from animal rights activists after he launched his campaign alongside a 1,000-lb bear.

John Cox hired the Kodiak bear, which features heavily on his campaign adverts and website, to kick off his campaign for the recall against incumbent Gavin Newsom in Sacramento on Tuesday.

The animal could be seen milling about behind the candidate as he discussed his plans to make big, beastly changes in Sacramento, with an electrical wire separating the bear from the crowd.

Animal activists were quick to criticise the Republican businessman for his use of the animal as a prop on his campaign trail.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) branded the use of the bear as shameful in a statement.

Gone should be the days when wild animals were treated as toys or props, so its unfortunate and shameful that Tag the Kodiak bear has been exploited in this way, PETA Foundation Associate Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Debbie Metzler said.

She added: Bears need to be left alone to live a bear life, not confined to a pen on asphalt and wheeled out for events.

The non-profit organisation stipulated that it could not oppose or endorse any political party ahead of an election.

California animal rights group Social Compassion in Legislation also called the publicity stunt shameless and blatantly exploitative.

This bear is not your prop to capitalize on! Californians want compassionate leadership!, they said on Twitter.

KTXL reporter Karma Dickerson reported that the bear, named Tag, was born in captivity in a private-type zoo in Ohio and lives at Steve Martins Working Wildlife in Kern County.

His trainer told the reporter that he had worked on some film and commercial projects, and that this gig was his first political campaign.

Tags trainer, Keith Bauer, told The Independent that the bear has a personality of a golden retriever and that he likes people.

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He never was trained by his mother to hunt to fish to live in the wild, Mr Bauer said. What we do is we take him to different places, we expose him to different things we teach him new things to do.

He said that anyone who attended the political event would say the bear appeared comfortable and never exhibited any kind of aggression to anybody.

He vehemently denied the company maltreats animals, saying theyre very well taken care of.

PETA claimed in its statement that the company has a long history of citations for violating the most basic requirements of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

A PETA fact sheet regarding Working Wildlife shared by the organisation claimed the company had been cited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a variety of issues.

They claimed the citations included failure to provide veterinary care, environmental enhancement, shelter from the elements, minimum space, ventilation, unclean cages, and improper feeding.

Mr Bauer insisted that any citations given by the USDA were minor fix it orders and were never citations for the way the company kept the animals, took care of the animals, or fed the animals.

The trainer insisted that animal rights advocates dont check the facts and said the animals are provided adequate space in their enclosures, proper veterinary care, and food.

In response, Ms Metzler reiterated that the company has a long history of failing to meet minimum requirements set forth by the USDA, saying the record speaks for itself.

She said the distinction between a fix it order and a citation was semantics.

Bears are wild animals, they belong in the wild, she said.

Ms Metzler added: PETA hopes that Mr Cox regrets this move and that he promises to never repeat it.

Mr Cox suffered a landslide loss to Mr Newsom against the California Democrat in 2018. The Independent has contacted Mr Coxs campaign for comment regarding the backlash.

The Independent has contacted the USDA for comment and clarification regarding the citations.

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A member of the far-right militia, Boogaloo Bois, walks next to protestors demonstrating outside Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department Metro Division 2 just outside of downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 29, 2020. - The protest was sparked by protests in Minneapolis, over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died after a white policeman kneeled on his neck for several minutes. In Charlotte, CMPD Metro Division 2 was home to CMPD officer, Wende Kerl, who shot and killed Danquirs Franklin outside of a Burger King on March 25, 2019. CMPD found that officer Kerl operated in the constraints of the law but later a citizen review board would find that the officers actions were not justified. No charges were ever brought. LOGAN CYRUS/AFP via Getty Images

A member of the far-right extremist Boogaloo Bois group pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide weapons to Hamas.

Michael Solomon's co-defendant Benjamin Ryan Teeter pleaded guilty in December.

The two were actually negotiating with an FBI informant and eventually an undercover FBI agent.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

A second member of the far-right extremist Boogaloo Bois group pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a conspiracy charge to provide material support and weapons to what he thought was Hamas, a Palestinian political party and a foreign terrorist organization, as designated by the US.

At a US District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Michael Solomon, 31, pleaded guilty to one charge. His co-defendant Benjamin Ryan Teeter pleaded guilty in December.

The FBI's investigation into the group started back in May 2020.

According to court documents, the FBI began investigating Teeter and Solomon when an undercover confidential source tipped them off, alerting them that the Boogaloo Bois sought to employ themselves as mercenaries for Hamas in order to raise money for a training compound, and later sell specialized weapons to the group.

The source recorded conversations with the two, in which Teeter said that the anti-government group and Hamas shared similar goals, according to the Justice Department. Solomon reportedly exchanged encrypted text messages with Teeter confirming the operation.

A sentencing date has not yet been set; Teeter could face up to 20 years on a felony charge, and now, so could Solomon.

With the undercover agent and an informant, Teeter and Solomon negotiated to sell devices that modify semi-automatic weapons into illegal machine guns, according to DOJ charges.

Teeter and Solomon sold batches of the weapon accessories to the undercover agent and informant, allegedly believing that the eventually modified weapons would be used by Hamas to target Israeli and American military personnel abroad, according to prosecutors.

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In September, Hamas publicly denounced the FBI sting on Teeter and Solomon and said that they did not want to be associated with the extreme goals of the Boogaloo Bois.

Teeter and Solomon were part of a sub-division of the Boogaloo Bois who called themselves the "Boojahideen."

"This case highlights the real threat posed by domestic violent extremists who self-radicalize and threaten to violently attack others opposed to their views, with little or no warning," Michael Paul, special agent in charge of the FBI's Minneapolis field office, said in December.

At a court appearance in December, Teeter acknowledged that he thought the materials would be used by Hamas' paramilitary group, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

"I mean, why would someone buy suppressors if they weren't going to deliver them to a militant wing?" he said.

In court, Teeter added that he and Solomon hoped Hamas would help them "exit the country and open a training facility" for the Boogaloo Bois.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Senator Ted Cruz and former President Donald Trump dine at Mar-a-Lago (Twitter)

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has clearly still not forgiven Senator Ted Cruz for backing Donald Trump's attempts to fraudulently overturn the 2020 election and the Capitol riot that resulted from those efforts.

On Wednesday, Ms Ocasio-Cortez lashed out at Mr Cruz after he posted a photo of himself dining with Mr Trump.

"Had a great dinner tonight with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago," Mr Cruz tweeted. "He's in great spirits! We spent the evening talking about working together to re-take the House & Senate in 2022."

Ms Ocasio-Cortez used the opportunity to remind the public of the insurrection at the Capitol and the attempt by Republican lawmakers to dispute the results of the 2020 election.

"Nothing like reminiscing about attempted coups over a bouquet of flowers," Ms Ocasio-Cortez wrote, retweeting the image.

She included a pair of emojis of Japanese demons, called Oni, alongside the image of the two politicians.

Other social media users responded to the photo by recalling the time Mr Trump insinuated Mr Cruz's wife was ugly and suggested that his father was involved in the JFK assassination.

Jeff Jacoby, a right-leaning columnist at the Boston Globe, tweeted out a video of Mr Cruz from the 2016 Republican primaries in which the Senator calls Mr Trump a pathological liar, a narcissist, and a serial philanderer.

You young kids won't believe it, but there was a time when Ted Cruz wasn't a Trump bootlicker, Mr Jacoby wrote.

Despite his harsh words for Mr Trump and the former president's repeated and humiliating attacks on him during the 2016 primaries, Mr Cruz went on to become one his most loyal supporters.

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Mr Cruz was one of the leaders of the Senate Republicans attempt to stall the electoral vote count on 6 January to confirm that Joe Biden had won the 2020 election. The Capitol insurrection occurred during that count.

He and other Republican lawmakers opposed the count, alleging massive voter fraud had taken place and resulted in Mr Trump's loss.

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There has never been any evidence of widespread voter fraud uncovered in the months since the election.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez has repeatedly called for Mr Cruz to resign for what she views as his role in inciting the riot that left five dead, including a Capitol police officer.

"Sen. Cruz, you must accept responsibility for how your craven, self-serving actions contributed to the deaths of four people yesterday. And how you fundraised off this riot. Both you and Senator Hawley must resign. If you do not, the Senate should move for your expulsion," Ms Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in January.

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A Long March 5B rocket, carrying China's Tianhe space station core module, lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China's Hainan province on April 29, 2021 (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

A Harvard astrophysicist says there is only a one in several billion chance that the huge Chinese rocket tumbling back to Earth will actually hit anyone.

Jonathan McDowell insisted people should not worry about the tiny probability of being hit by the remains of the 21-ton Long March 5B rocket.

I think it is more likely than not that it will fall in the Pacific Ocean and everyone will go why was everyone excited? said Mr McDowell, who works at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

Just because of the area, it is really just a question of what fraction of the Earths surface is covered by people and stuff.

Mr McDowell spoke to The Independent by phone as the world awaits the rockets reentry.

So, it is pretty much equally likely to fall on any spot. I would say this, maybe there is a significant chance it will land somewhere but there is a one in several billion chance that it will hit you, he said.

You dont need to get your Skylab helmet out. You should not lose an iota of sleep on this, do not worry on a personal level, it is not going hit you.

There are many more things that are likely to take you out than this.

The rocket was launched last week to deliver the first module of Chinas space station into orbit, but then itself made its way into orbit.

Last year the Chinese launched the same rocket, and it also fell to Earth in an uncontrolled reentry, reportedly raining metal on parts of the Ivory Coast.

And Mr McDowell says the Chinese have made a calculated stance on their space junk crashing back to Earth.

The Chinese have a very different attitude to western space powers in letting rockets fall back to earth, said Mr McDowell.

I think that the Chinese are some ways behind the sensibilities of the other space-faring countries on this.

They are just taking the view that yeah, we were fine last time, no-one was killed, we hit a few houses, what is the worry?

In fact they were touting this launch as being really more environmentally sensitive because they are no longer dropping lower stages on their own villages, which they used to do from their old launch site.

Story continues

They now launch from Hainan Island over the ocean instead of from central China where you would regularly get these videos of people in a village downrange from the launch site with a rocket stage sticking out of their barn leaking toxic propellant.

This is their improvement.

But they just didnt really worry about the upper stage and I think part of this is that we do have plenty of rockets that leave their upper stages in orbit to reenter uncontrolled, but they are smaller rockets with much, much smaller upper stages, and this one is 30 metres long.

Experts say that it is impossible to predict where those pets of the rocket not burned up on reentry could land.

It is currently circling the Earth every 90 minutes and Mr McDowell said that statistically it will most likely land in the ocean.

Its entry date is most likely to be 8 May, but it could be the day before, or day after, and it could land anywhere on the planet.

There is an uncertainty in the timing, which is due to fluctuations in the density of the upper atmosphere which are effected by things like solar activity and so right now the uncertainty on that is about a day either side, he added.

And that will improve, so by tomorrow it might be plus or minus 12 hours or something and by the day of we will know within three hours.

But even if you know within three hours, it will go around the world twice in that time.

So we get into this game late in the process where we think it will come down in the next few hours, we know that continents X, Y and Z are not under its path but continents A, B and C are.

So you get a warning of like yes, it might come down in the Pacific, or Australia or North America, and it wont be any more specific than that.

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A white Atlanta police officer who is facing murder charges for the shooting death of a Black man last year was ordered reinstated to the force on Wednesday by a city oversight board.

Garrett Rolfe, a seven-year veteran of the Atlanta police department, shot Rayshard Brooks, 27, on June 12, 2020 in a fast food restaurant parking lot.

Brooks had grabbed a police officer's Taser but dash camera footage showed him running away when he was shot twice in the back by Rolfe.

Rolfe was fired from the police force immediately after the shooting and faces multiple charges including felony murder.

Atlanta's Civil Service Board determined, however, that Rolfe should be reinstated because he did not receive the required 10-day notice of termination.

He will remain on administrative leave pending his trial.

The shooting came two weeks after George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, died while being arrested in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Floyd's death sparked protests against racial injustice and police brutality across the United States.

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, was convicted of second-degree murder and other charges last month in connection with Floyd's death.

chp/cl/sst
By Byron Kaye

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's corporate watchdog accused Westpac Banking Corp of insider trading while financing a A$16 billion ($12 billion) energy grid privatisation in 2016, the latest in a series of regulatory problems for the country's No. 2 lender.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said Westpac knew it had won the contract to help two pension funds buy Ausgrid, a state-owned power supplier to millions of people around Sydney, for two hours while it bought A$12 billion of derivative products to support the deal.

"The Ausgrid information was not generally available and it was information which, if generally available, a reasonable person would expect to have a material effect on the price or value of the traded products," ASIC said in a civil lawsuit filed on Wednesday.

The lawsuit casts a fresh cloud over Westpac one day after it posted a tripling of first-half profit largely due to penalties it paid in the prior period to settle an unrelated regulator lawsuit accusing it of enabling millions of offshore payments, including to purveyors of child exploitation material.

It also underscores the increased determination of Australia's financial regulators to take on big cases after they were accused in a 2018 public inquiry of being too cosy with the sector.

"With everything Westpac's been through in the last few years, and they've increased regulatory compliance spend enormously, there's a lower probability that they're going to occur in the future," said Morningstar banking analyst Nathan Zaia.

"If ASIC wins the case they'll face a penalty. How large that will be will be anyone's guess."

Seven Westpac employees and former employees were named in the ASIC lawsuit but do not face prison time since it is a civil case only.

A Westpac spokesman declined to comment beyond a company statement which said the bank was considering its position and took the allegations "very seriously".

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Westpac shares initially traded higher on Wednesday as analysts upgraded their forecasts following its result the previous day, but the stock gave up most of its gains to be flat by mid-afternoon, just behind the broader market.

The two pension funds which Westpac helped buy Ausgrid for a total A$16 billion, AustralianSuper and IFM, declined to comment.

A representative of New South Wales state premier Gladys Berejiklian, who was state treasurer at the time of the privatisation deal in 2016, also declined to comment.

In a previous ASIC action, a court ordered Westpac to pay A$3.3 million in 2018 for its involvement in fraudulent setting of interbank lending rates in 2010.

($1 = 1.2928 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Byron Kaye and Paulina Duran in Sydney and Nikhil Kurian Nainan in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Lincoln Feast.)
Former President Donald Trump's ban on Facebook was upheld by the company's oversight board. Meanwhile, Peloton is in hot water because of a recall announced weeks after the federal government requested one.

It's Julius. Here's Wednesday's news to know.

But first, Dragons are coming: See new photos from HBO's "Game of Thrones" prequel, "House of Dragon."

The Short List is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe to the newsletter here or text messages here.

Facebook upholds Trump's ban

The Facebook Oversight Board upheld Trump's suspension from Facebook and Instagram, four months after originally ousting him. However, the group of outside experts ruled it was not appropriate to impose an "indeterminate and standardless penalty" of indefinite suspension and instructed the company to review the matter within six months, possibly opening the door to Trump's return. Nick Clegg, Facebook's vice president of global affairs and communications, said the tech company would consider the board's decision and "determine an action that is clear and proportionate."

Former President Donald Trump remains banned from Facebook.

Judge orders Justice Department to release Trump obstruction memo

A judge ordered the release of a 2019 legal memo to a government accountability group, ruling the document prepared for then-Attorney General William Barr as he prepared to issue his conclusions did not qualify as protected attorney-client communications. In the ruling, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson characterized the memo as a "strategic" document, asserting that Justice Department officials had come to a predetermined conclusion that Trump would not be charged with obstruction of justice. Jackson also criticized Barr for his handling of the Mueller report in the days after receiving it, saying his "characterization of what hed hardly had time to skim, much less, study closely, prompted an immediate reaction, as politicians and pundits took to their microphones and Twitter feeds to decry what they feared was an attempt to hide the ball." The judge said the Justice Department has until May 17 to challenge the ruling.

Story continues

What everyones talking about

CDC outlook on COVID-19 turns around and now is 'quite hopeful' for summer

Hospitalizations and deaths should decline sharply by July if the nationwide vaccination program remains strong and community mitigation efforts are followed, according to a federal report. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director, said variants remain a "wild card," but that so far the vaccines appear to work well against them. "Models once projecting really grim news now offer reasons to be quite hopeful for what the summer may bring," Walensky said at a White House briefing. "The sooner we get more and more people vaccinated, the sooner we will all get back to normal." However, the CDC notes that ignoring efforts such as masks and social distancing in some situations can lead to substantial increases in "severe COVID-19 outcomes," even with improved vaccination coverage.

Review board reverses firing of Atlanta police officer who fatally shot Rayshard Brooks

An Atlanta city review board reversed the decision to fire a police officer who faces a murder charge in the fatal shooting of Brooks. In its ruling, Atlanta's Civil Service Board said Garrett Rolfe "was not afforded his right to due process" in his firing "due to the Citys failure to comply with several provisions of the (Atlanta City Code) and the information received during witnesses testimony." Rolfe, who is white, was fired from the Atlanta Police Department one day after he fatally shot Brooks, a Black man, in the parking lot of a Wendy's in June. Brooks was shot in the back as he ran away from Rolfe and another police officer after resisting arrest over a suspected DUI. Rolfe was charged with felony murder, with the case pending.

Rayshard Brooks video: Legal scholars break down key moments in shooting timeline.

In this June 12, 2020, file photo from a screen grab taken from body camera video provided by the Atlanta Police Department Rayshard Brooks, right, speaks with Officer Garrett Rolfe, left, in the parking lot of a Wendy's restaurant, in Atlanta. Former Atlanta Police Officer, Rolfe's attorney said Thursday, April 22, 2021, that his client didn't get a chance to defend himself before he was fired for fatally shooting Brooks, a Black man who had been running away from two white officers after he resisted arrest and fired a stun gun at one of them. (Atlanta Police Department via AP, File)

Real quick

Peloton recalls all of its treadmills

Peloton has agreed to recall all of its treadmills and apologized for previously fighting the federal government's request to do so after the equipment came under scrutiny following the death of a 6-year-old child. In April, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned consumers with small children or pets to stop using the Tread+ after the fitness company reported a child's death linked to the product. At the time, Peloton refused to issue a recall. But on Wednesday, the company reversed course and said it regretted its actions on the matter. It will recall all Peloton Tread+ and Tread treadmills, covering about 125,000 and 1,050 units, respectively, in the U.S. Peloton is working on a fix for the Tread which involves a loose touchscreen that can become detached from the device and fall.

Peloton says a child died after an accident involving a Tread+ treadmill

A break from the news

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Facebook Trump ban, Peloton recall, Rayshard Brooks shooting: Wednesday's news
Ten Belarusians have filed a criminal complaint in Germany against President Alexander Lukashenko and members of his regime for crimes against humanity during a brutal post-election crackdown, their lawyers said Wednesday.

Acting on behalf of "torture victims", the lawyers have submitted a complaint to federal prosecutors in the city of Karlsruhe against Lukashenko "and other Belarusian security officers", they said in a statement.

The federal prosecutor's office confirmed to AFP that it had received the complaint.

Lawyers Mark Lupschitz, Onur Ozata, Roland Krause and Benedikt Lux said their clients had documented more than 100 examples of "violence, systematic torture and other abuses" during the government crackdown on protests against alleged electoral fraud since August 2020.

"The incumbent government is severely oppressing its own population with a crackdown including arbitrary arrests, politically motivated criminal persecution and other forms of repression," they said.

The lawyers said the plaintiffs had all been imprisoned and reported instances of "spurious arrests, torture and abuse" while they were held.

- Degraded and humiliated -

"Furthermore, they were held in much too small cells or transport vehicles, and were physically abused, humiliated, threatened, insulted and degraded in other ways," they said.

The case is being brought on the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows a foreign country to prosecute crimes against humanity, including war crimes and genocide, regardless of where they were committed.

Germany has been particularly active in pursuing such cases linked to the Syrian regime, and in February convicted a former Syrian intelligence agent for complicity in crimes against humanity.

Eyad al-Gharib, 44, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in the first verdict worldwide over state-sponsored torture by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government.

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In March, a Gambian man was arrested in Germany on suspicion of being part of an army unit that carried out assassinations on behalf of then president Yahya Jammeh, with the victims including an AFP journalist.

Reporters Without Borders has also asked a German court to investigate crimes against humanity by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the grisly killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

- Mass protests -

Lukashenko claimed victory for a sixth term in August elections that were widely criticised internationally and by the opposition as fraudulent.

State authorities responded to weeks of mass protests with force and have sentenced hundreds of people to lengthy jail terms. Opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who says she won the vote, fled abroad.

Tikhanovskaya has been staying in Lithuania since fleeing her home country and has been working tirelessly to draw attention to the crisis in Belarus and seek support for new elections.

But despite being slapped with EU sanctions over the violent crackdown, Lukashenko and his allies have held firm, with the authoritarian leader saying he has withstood a revolution directed by the West.

More than 400 activists, protesters and journalists have so far been convicted in a sweeping crackdown by the regime, which has strong support from Moscow.

The German government had said in February it was ready to host 50 opponents of Lukashenko after their protests were met with harsh crackdowns by the regime.

Speaking at an event to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands on Wednesday, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany would "not forget" the prisoners languishing in Belarusian jails.

Those in "acute danger" would be welcomed in Germany if it could be arranged, she said. "We have to make it clear that we are not just supporting them with words, but that we are also doing something."

fec/mfp/jj
WASHINGTON (AP)  Setting foot in a restaurant for his first time as president, Joe Biden made a Cinco de Mayo taco and enchilada run to highlight his administrations $28.6 billion program to help eateries that lost business because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The president went to Taqueria Las Gemelas in Washington on Wednesday and ordered lunch. The restaurant, owned in part by Mexican immigrants, was a beneficiary of a pilot version of the restaurant relief program. It went from 55 employees to seven during the pandemic, though it was able to rehire some workers through the Paycheck Protection Program that predates the Biden administration.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, our nations restaurants were some of the first and the worst hit," Biden said in remarks Wednesday, the anniversary of Mexico's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862.

The president stressed that restaurants have historically been one of the first rungs on the economic ladder, a chance to move upward that was undermined by the virus.

For 1 in 3 Americans, a restaurant provided their first job," he said at the White House. "This industry provided more opportunity for minority managers than any other industry in America. This is an industry where the staff feels like family and often is family.

The White House said that 186,200 restaurants, bars and other eligible businesses had applied for the program over its first two days of accepting applications. More than half of the applicants are owned by women, veterans or people from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. The aid for eateries was part of the Biden administration's broader $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.

The coronavirus outbreak was especially brutal for restaurants. America lost nearly 2,700 dining establishments through last summer, according to the Labor Department. About 1.8 million food service jobs also have been lost, though the sector has been gradually regaining jobs since last May.

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Researchers at the not-for-profit Opportunity Insights found that consumer spending at hotels and restaurants plunged more than 60% in April 2020 compared with the start of that year. Spending is still down 4.5% compared with before the pandemic.

Under the Biden relief program, which started accepting applications on Monday, restaurants and bars can qualify for grants equal to their pandemic-related revenue losses, with a cap of $10 million per business and $5 million per location.

The program has set aside $9.5 billion for the smallest restaurants and bars, and a third of the applications were filed by businesses with annual pre-pandemic revenues of less than $500,000. For the program's first 21 days, applications from women, veterans and socially and economically disadvantaged people will have priority for being reviewed and funded.

Business owners seeking to apply for the program can receive more information at sba.gov/restaurants.
Campaigning wound up on Wednesday for local elections in Britain, in the first vote since the coronavirus outbreak and after Brexit took full effect.

Most of the elections were meant to be held a year ago but were delayed by the pandemic. Polls open at 7:00 am (0600 GMT) on Thursday, with results expected from Friday.

- Scotland -

The pro-independence camp has been gripped by infighting ahead of the elections, and polls suggest the Scottish National Party (SNP) led by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon could fall just short of an overall majority of 65 seats in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.

But the SNP can count on support from the Greens and possibly from the breakaway Alba party, led by Sturgeon's former mentor turned foe Alex Salmond.

If a majority in the new parliament backs independence, Sturgeon says British Prime Minister Boris Johnson would have no "moral justification" to prevent a second referendum after a failed bid in 2014, arguing that Brexit has now changed the calculus.

However, even if electoral maths gives the pro-independence camp control, polls indicate waning popular support in Scotland for the idea of breaking away, and Johnson remains adamant the 2014 referendum was a "once in a generation" vote.

- Test for Johnson -

The vote is the first electoral test for Johnson against Keir Starmer since the latter's election as main opposition Labour party leader last year.

Johnson has been dogged by scandal in recent weeks, including over the luxury redecoration of his Downing Street flat, and faces questions about his response to the pandemic.

With more than 127,000 deaths, Britain has one of the world's worst death tolls from Covid-19. But Johnson remains popular in polling, on the back of a successful mass vaccination programme.

He is also counting on his boast that he "got Brexit done" by finally taking Britain out of the European Union, after years of political paralysis, although the costs of Brexit are showing up in disruption to cross-Channel trade.

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- Hartlepool -

As well as local elections, Hartlepool in northeast England is voting for a new member of parliament in London, after its Labour incumbent resigned over claims of sexual harassment.

Some 250 jobs at the city's Liberty Steel plant are at risk after the collapse of finance firm Greensill, whose failure has dragged in former prime minister David Cameron.

Retaining Hartlepool is pivotal for Starmer after the Tories grabbed a string of seats across Labour's so-called "Red Wall" heartland in northern England at the last general election in December 2019, when Brexit was the dominant issue.

If the Conservatives pull off a surprise win, Johnson will be vindicated in his loudly stated claims that voters do not care about stories from the "Westminster bubble", and questions will resurface about Starmer's leadership.

- London -

Labour's Sadiq Khan looks on course for re-election on Thursday, five years after becoming Britain's best-known Muslim politician when he succeeded Johnson as mayor of London.

Khan's main opponent is the Conservative Shaun Bailey, whose family roots are in Jamaica and who would become one of Europe's most prominent black politicians if elected.

- Regional mayors -

Mayors will be elected for seven city regions in England, including the West Midlands which takes in Britain's second city, Birmingham, Greater Manchester, and the conurbation around Liverpool.

The results will be closely watched for any inroads by Labour against the Conservatives, or if Johnson's party manages to hold on to its 2019 general election gains and at previous local elections after the 2016 Brexit referendum.

- North Korean defector -

Jihyun Park is unique in one regard: no other candidate fled the brutal privations of a North Korean prison camp.

Thirteen years after finding refuge in Britain, Park is standing to be a Conservative councillor in Bury, near Manchester, northwest England.

"The UK people welcomed me to this land and I finally found my freedom. I want to pay back," she told AFP in February.

jit/phz/wdb
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain deeply regrets that Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will be unable to attend G7 meetings on Wednesday in person, a senior diplomat said on Wednesday, after the country's delegation self-isolated after two positive COVID-19 cases.

"We deeply regret that foreign minister Jaishankar will be unable to attend the meeting today in person but will now attend virtually , but this is exactly why we have put in place strict COVID protocols and daily testing, the senior diplomat said.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; editing by Michael Holden)
LONDON (Reuters) - A British academic, who was detained in the United Arab Emirates two years ago on spying charges, has launched legal action against a number of senior officials from the Gulf state, accusing them of assault, torture and false imprisonment.

Matthew Hedges returned to Britain in November 2018 after more than six months in detention after he was pardoned from a life sentence for espionage. His release came after the UAE had released a video of him purporting to confess to being a member of Britain's MI6 intelligence agency.

This week, lawyers for Hedges filed papers at London's High Court against four UAE security officials, including the then head of State Security Public Prosecution in Abu Dhabi and the Commander in Chief of the Abu Dhabi police at the time.

He is seeking damages for assault, false imprisonment and the intentional infliction of psychiatric injury.

Neither the UAE government's communications office nor the UAE foreign affairs ministry immediately responded to requests for comment on the case. The UAE has previously said Hedges had not been subjected to any physical or psychological mistreatment during his detention.

"On May 5th 2018, I was detained and tortured in the UAE," Hedges said in a statement. "Three years later, I am still waiting for the truth and justice."

He said the UAE authorities had refused to answer a complaint submitted to them through the British Foreign Office, while he also accused the UK ministry of not doing enough to clear his name.

Hedges, a doctoral student at Durham University, was arrested at Dubai airport after a two-week research visit. He was kept in solitary confinement for more than five months and the evidence presented against him consisted of notes from his dissertation research.

This research focused on sensitive topics in the UAE such as security structures, tribalism and the consolidation of political power in Abu Dhabi.

The claim form submitted by his law firm Carter-Ruck said Hedges expected to recover between 200,000 pounds ($278,000) and 350,000 pounds ($487,000) in damages.

($1 = 0.7183 pounds)

(Reporting by Michael Holden, Editing by William Maclean)
The Group of Seven rich democracies is holding their first face-to-face gathering in two years in London.

Founded in 1975 as a forum for the West's richest nations to discuss crises such as the OPEC oil embargo, the G7 is debating responses to the two vast and increasingly assertive countries - China and Russia - as well as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.
- By GF Value





The stock of Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR, 30-year Financials) is believed 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 $163.92 per share and the market cap of $19 billion, Broadridge Financial Solutions stock gives every indication of being modestly overvalued. GF Value for Broadridge Financial Solutions is shown in the chart below.





Broadridge Financial Solutions Stock Is Estimated To Be Modestly Overvalued

Because Broadridge Financial Solutions is relatively overvalued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be lower than its business growth, which averaged 4.1% over the past three years and is estimated to grow 3.82% annually over the next three to five years.

Link: These companies may deliever higher future returns at reduced risk.

Investing in companies with poor financial strength has a higher risk of permanent loss of capital. Thus, it is important to carefully review the financial strength of a company before deciding whether to buy its stock. Looking at the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage is a great starting point for understanding the financial strength of a company. Broadridge Financial Solutions has a cash-to-debt ratio of 0.18, which is in the bottom 10% of the companies in Software industry. GuruFocus ranks the overall financial strength of Broadridge Financial Solutions at 5 out of 10, which indicates that the financial strength of Broadridge Financial Solutions is fair. This is the debt and cash of Broadridge Financial Solutions over the past years:

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Broadridge Financial Solutions Stock Is Estimated To Be Modestly Overvalued

Companies that have been consistently profitable over the long term offer less risk for investors who may want to purchase shares. Higher profit margins usually dictate a better investment compared to a company with lower profit margins. Broadridge Financial Solutions has been profitable 10 over the past 10 years. Over the past twelve months, the company had a revenue of $4.7 billion and earnings of $4.44 a share. Its operating margin is 14.58%, which ranks better than 80% of the companies in Software industry. Overall, the profitability of Broadridge Financial Solutions is ranked 9 out of 10, which indicates strong profitability. This is the revenue and net income of Broadridge Financial Solutions over the past years:

Broadridge Financial Solutions Stock Is Estimated To Be Modestly Overvalued

Growth is probably one of the most important factors 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. If a company's business is growing, the company usually creates value for its shareholders, especially if the growth is profitable. Likewise, if a company's revenue and earnings are declining, the value of the company will decrease. Broadridge Financial Solutions's 3-year average revenue growth rate is in the middle range of the companies in Software industry. Broadridge Financial Solutions's 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is 10.8%, which ranks in the middle range of the companies in Software 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, Broadridge Financial Solutions's ROIC was 12.97, while its WACC came in at 6.89. The historical ROIC vs WACC comparison of Broadridge Financial Solutions is shown below:

Broadridge Financial Solutions Stock Is Estimated To Be Modestly Overvalued

In closing, Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR, 30-year Financials) stock shows every sign of being modestly overvalued. The company's financial condition is fair and its profitability is strong. Its growth ranks in the middle range of the companies in Software industry. To learn more about Broadridge Financial Solutions 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.


By 2023, well have several electric pickup trucks to choose from, including the Tesla Cybertruck, Fords electric F-150, and even an electric Hummer pickup. Its probably safe to say this model by California electric vehicle startup Canoo will be the cutest of them all with its toy-like silhouette, but that doesnt make it any less serious of a contender. The Canoo Pickup Truck is also a highly functional vehicle loaded with clever features designed to entice people who need practical cars for work or recreation.

Canoo Electric Pickup Truck

Part of whats so satisfying about the Canoo is the fact that it finally nudges vehicular design into the future after decades of minimal aesthetic changes. The electric Ford F-150 looks more or less the same as it always has, and Teslas Cybertruck goes so far in the other direction, its been the butt of countless online jokes. Like its self-driving van, Canoos truck falls somewhere in the middle, which is right where most people want it to be.

Canoo Electric Pickup Truck

Inside view of the Canoo electric pickup truck's dashboard area.

The bed of the Canoo Electric Pickup Truck, fully extended.

Unveiled ahead of an Automobility LA event in March, Canoos truck is about the size of a Ford Ranger and features a rounded nose, an oversized bubble-shaped windshield, and far more cargo capacity that you might think. Though it has a small footprint, its cab is generously sized, placing the driver almost right over its front wheels, and its six-foot-long cargo bed offers a pull-out extension for eight feet in total available length. A second layer of tailgate doors swivel out to the edges of the extension to protect whatever youre transporting.

Compartment in the front of the Canoo electric pickup truck offers lots of hidden storage space.

Hidden side steps like this one also fold out of the Canoo electric pickup truck.

The coolest parts of the design are a series of fold-out secret compartments that make the truck feel kind of like a Transformer. The first is a fold-down work table and storage compartment right between the headlights, which holds extra gear. The work surface has two sliding components that stretch it the full width of the truck, and electrical outlets on either side are available to power tools and gadgets.

The Canoo electric pickup truck, with camper shell covering attached.

Flip-down side tables on either side of the cargo area also become work benches with their own multi-functional power sources, and a hidden side step makes it easy to step into the truck bed. Beneath that step is yet another storage area for a first aid kit, a cooler, and lockable laptop storage. The bed itself is modular, too, with a space divider system that keeps items from sliding around while youre in motion. Optional roof racks expand storage options, and the bed is designed to accommodate a variety of different camper shells.

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The company explains that the pickup truck is the third vehicle that will be based on the companys proprietary multi-purpose platform architecture, enabling the accelerated development timeline. Canoos EV platform functionally integrates all the critical components of an electric powertrain to be as flat and efficient as possible. Traditional EV platforms have power units, shock towers, and mechanical steering columns that protrude into the vehicle and take up space.

Modular dividers like these allow for separation in the Canoo electric pickup truck's bed.

By incorporating steer-by-wire and other space-saving technologies, Canoos thin platform, with no need for an engine compartment, allows the company to offer a flatbed size comparable to Americas best-selling pickup truck on a smaller footprint. This makes the vehicle easier to maneuver and more convenient to drive and park in any terrain.

Canoo Electric Pickup Truck zips through the snowy terrain.

Camper leans on their Canoo electric pickup truck as they gaze up at the stars.

With more than 200 miles of battery range, 600 horsepower, and a payload capacity of 1800 pounds, Canoos truck is equipped to meet the needs of both workers and adventure seekers. GM, Tesla, Rivian, and Lordstown expect to introduce their electric pickups later in 2021, with Ford following in mid-2022 and the Canoo truck hitting the market the following year.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - China said on Wednesday it was concerned that India had not allowed Chinese companies to conduct 5G trials in the country.

India will allow foreign mobile carriers to carry out 5G trials with equipment makers, New Delhi said on Tuesday, but did not name China's Huawei among the participants.

"Chinese companies have been operating in India for years, providing mass job opportunities and making contribution to India's infrastructure construction in telecommunications," Wang Xiaojian, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in New Delhi said in a statement.

"To exclude Chinese telecommunications companies from the trials will not only harm their legitimate rights and interests, but also hinder the improvement of the Indian business environment."

(Reporting by Sanjeev Miglani; Writing by Alasdair Pal. Editing by Jane Merriman)
Standing on the proposed new home in Budapest of a top Chinese university, the local district mayor Krisztina Baranyi is squaring up for a stand-off with powerful Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government.

"They want to plant a giga-university without anyone here agreeing to it," Baranyi, a combative independent politician, told AFP at the windswept former industrial site beside the river Danube.

Currently derelict, the area is to house Fudan University's first European campus in a half-million-square-metre (five-million-square-foot) complex by 2024, according to a deal signed between Hungary and the Shanghai-based university's president last week.

But the sprawling project has fed growing unease about Hungary's diplomatic tilt from West to East and its soaring indebtedness to China.

Internal documents leaked to investigative journalism website Direkt36 last month revealed that China is expected to give a 1.3-billion-euro ($1.6-billion) loan to cover most of the estimated 1.5-billion-euro costs.

A Chinese construction firm has also already been earmarked as main contractor without a bidding process, according to the documents.

- 'No plan B' -

"I was shocked when I found out. Everything is opaque. No one was consulted," Baranyi complained.

She plans to let local residents have their say on whether the municipality should hand over the site to the state in a referendum later this year.

"If local people said 'no', it would surely be a step too far, even for the government, to then infringe the district's ownership rights," she said.

Details of the referendum are yet to be worked out but Baranyi hopes it could emulate the success of a 2017 petition launched by young activists that led to Hungary dropping its expensive bid to host the 2024 Olympics.

Budapest's liberal mayor Gergely Karacsony has also blasted "Chinese influence-buying" in Hungary and urged Orban not to force projects on the capital against its will.

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"Until the government fully publishes the contract details, we do not consent to the construction," Karacsony said last week.

However, other than backing the district's referendum drive, city officials privately concede that they have limited powers to block the project, whose cost exceeds Hungary's annual higher education budget.

The government argues that a prestigious outpost of Fudan University, ranked 100th in the Shanghai Ranking, would permit thousands of Hungarian, Chinese and other international students to acquire high-quality diplomas.

It would also fit in with previously agreed plans to build a 10,000-capacity dormitory for Hungarian students at the site, it says.

"There is no plan B," said the government minister in charge of the project Laszlo Palkovics last week, adding the campus would be "good for Hungary, China and the community".

- 'Lost economic sovereignty' -

Fudan is the latest landmark in Orban's foreign policy of "Eastern Opening", which analysts describe as a geopolitical balancing act, while critics portray the nationalist premier as China and Russia's "Trojan horse" inside the European Union and NATO.

Alone in the EU, Hungary has used Chinese and Russian coronavirus jabs to accelerate its vaccine rollout, one of the fastest in the bloc.

Russia's nuclear agency Rosatom is expanding Hungary's only nuclear power plant with a massive Russian state loan, while Budapest brushes off US fears that Chinese telecoms giant Huawei's involvement in its 5G mobile network rollout can pose national security risks.

Another vast project, a high-speed railway between Budapest and Serbia, part of Beijing's "Belt and Road" global infrastructure plan to help deliver Chinese goods to Europe, is also mostly financed by a two-billion-euro Chinese loan.

But with Chinese workers set to build the university campus and Hungarian taxpayers footing the bill "it is hard to see any advantage for Hungary in Fudan," a Budapest-based analyst Peter Kreko told AFP.

He said that the loan also meant a "loss of economic sovereignty" and pointed to Budapest's stated rejection of the EU's coronavirus recovery credit line last week as a signal it preferred debt "without strings attached like 'rule-of-law' conditions".

"We are becoming extremely indebted to China, and that can be dangerous," Kreko added.

- 'Freedom of thought' deleted -

The courting of Fudan, which deleted references to "freedom of thought" from its charter in 2019, also compounds rising alarm about academic freedom in Hungary.

Fudan provides China with "a foothold to spread its influence in Europe", the US embassy in Budapest warned last week.

The Hungarian parliament, dominated by Orban's Fidesz party, also approved last week the transfer of most state-run universities into lavishly funded pro-government quasi-private foundations.

The foundations should avoid an "internationalist globalist" approach and focus on "national interest" and "national thinking," Orban said Friday.

In late 2018, the Central European University, founded by liberal US billionaire George Soros, said it was "forced out" of Budapest to Vienna after a bitter legal dispute with Orban.

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By Zainah El-Haroun

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The troubles erupt after the evening meal that breaks the Ramadan fast, when Jewish settlers, guarded by Israeli police, and Palestinians trade abuse on the streets of East Jerusalem.

A long-running legal case, in which several Palestinian families face eviction from homes on land claimed by settlers, is at the heart of the confrontations during the Muslim holy month, with a key court session due to be held on Thursday.

"Go back to Jordan," settlers shout in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, a part of Jerusalem that Israel captured from its eastern neighbour in the 1967 Middle East war.

"Racists" and "mafiosi", Palestinians yell back.

Over the past week, police in riot gear and on horseback have moved through Sheikh Jarrah, arresting Palestinian youths and using water cannon to spray foul-smelling liquid to disperse the crowds.

Sheikh Jarrah sits just outside Jerusalem's walled Old City, near the famous Damascus Gate. The area includes many Palestinian homes and apartment buildings as well as hotels, restaurants and consulates.

Damascus Gate saw nightly clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police in April over a dispute over access to the gate's ampitheatre-style square.

Palestinian medics said 12 Palestinians have been injured since Sunday in the latest clashes, with three requiring hospital treatment. Police said Palestinian protesters have thrown rocks and firebombs at them during the demonstrations.

Sheikh Jarrah's residents are overwhelmingly Palestinian, but the neighbourhood also contains a site revered by religious Jews as the tomb of an ancient high priest, Simon the Just.

Thursday's hearing at Israel's Supreme Court may decide if the evictions ordered by a lower court are upheld, or if the handful of Palestinian families can appeal.

Human rights campaigners say that if the Palestinians lose the court battle, it could set a precedent for dozens of other homes in the area.

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"They would have to kill us... that's the only way we would leave," Abdelfatteh Iskafi told Reuters.

Nuha Attieh, 58, said she fears her family will be next if the ruling is upheld.

"I'm scared for my home, for my kids, I'm scared about everything."

A group of eight Israeli settler families living across the road from the houses they claim say the area was Jewish in the past, and the Israeli court had "decided that we can get back our houses".

"This is a Jewish country. They want to control it," one of the settlers told Reuters on Tuesday, pointing at the Palestinians on the other side of the street.

Giving only the name Eden, he added: "We have done nothing illegal. Arabs came from Jordan 50 years ago and should go back."

The Palestinians say they have lived in Sheikh Jarrah since the 1950s, when they were re-housed there by Jordan after fleeing or being forced to abandon their homes in West Jerusalem and Haifa during fighting that surrounded Israel's creation in 1948.

The settlers who filed the lawsuit said they legally bought the land from two Jewish associations that purchased it at the end of the 19th century, the Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now said.

A lawyer representing the settlers declined to speak with Reuters.

The status of Jerusalem is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state and most countries regard settlements that Israel has built there as illegal.

Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its capital, citing biblical and historical links to the city.

(Reporting Zainah El-Haroun and Stephen Farrell; Editing by Jeffrey Heller and Alexandra Hudson)
In the city of Popayan, protesters set alight cars during one of their protests

More than 50 people have died since a wave of protests started to sweep across Colombia at the end of April.

Protesters have blocked key roads leading to shortages of fuel and food in some areas and there have been violent clashes between the security forces and demonstrators.

The government has been holding talks with protest leaders but with more and more groups joining in the demonstrations, the demands of those who have taken to the streets have widened and a quick resolution seems unlikely.

Here's a look at what triggered the protests and how they have grown.

How did they start?

The demonstrations started on 28 April and were initially in opposition to a proposed tax reform.

When the protests started at the end of April, one of the main calls was for the tax reform to be shelved

The government argued that the reform was key to mitigating Colombia's economic crisis. Its gross domestic product dropped by 6.8% last year, the deepest crash in half a century. Unemployment shot up as the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy.

The proposed reform would have lowered the threshold at which salaries are taxed, affecting anyone with a monthly income of 2.6m pesos ($684; 493) or more. It would also have eliminated many of the current exemptions enjoyed by individuals, as well as increasing taxes imposed on businesses.

The first rallies, organised by the country's biggest trade unions, were also joined by many middle-class people who feared the changes could see them slip into poverty. Tens of thousands of people marched in the capital Bogota, while demonstrations were also held in other major cities and smaller towns.

After four days of protests, President Ivan Duque announced he would withdraw the bill.

How did protests escalate?

From the start, there was a big police presence at the marches as they were held in defiance of a court order which had ruled that they should be postponed due to the high incidence of Covid-19.

Human rights groups reported that riot police had not only used tear gas to disperse protesters but in some cases shot live ammunition.

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Footage shared on social media showed violent clashes and on 3 May, the ombudsman's office confirmed that 16 civilians and one police officer had died since the protests began.

So rather than abating after the cancellation of the tax reform, the protests intensified.

A month on, the official figure of those who have died in the protests stood at 59 people. More than 2,300 civilians and members of the security forces have been injured.

Dressed in white, thousands of people took to the streets on 30 May to call for an end of the roadblocks

There have also been marches by Colombians who oppose the protests. On Sunday, thousands took to the streets of major cities to demand an end to the roadblocks and violent clashes.

What do protesters want?

While this year's protests were triggered by the now-suspended tax reform, they are a continuation of nationwide anti-government protests which began in November 2019.

Back then, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets after a call by an umbrella group calling itself the National Strike Committee.

The same group is behind the current protests and its demands are as varied as the people who are joining in the marches.

One of the issues which has most angered protesters is the actions of riot police.

The United Nations human rights chief, Michelle Bachelet, has called on the Colombian government to launch an independent inquiry into the deaths of protesters in the city of Cali, where clashes between demonstrators and the security forces have been most deadly.

Ms Bachelet said her office had received reports of more than a dozen people being killed in the south-western city in one day on 28 May.

Police violence has hit the headlines before. Last September, news that a man died after being tasered by police in Bogota triggered violent protests in which at least seven people were killed.

And in 2019, tens of thousands marched after the death of Dilan Cruz, a teenager who was hit by projectile fired by riot police at an anti-government protest.

The protesters want the riot police to be disbanded and for all members of the security forces to be held accountable by an independent body rather than by military courts.

The defence minister said the protests had been infiltrated by members of left-wing rebel groups and pointed to incidents of vandalism and looting.

But protesters argue it is time the security forces, which for decades were engaged in an armed conflict with powerful rebel groups, treated them like citizens rather than enemies.

What role does poverty play?

Many of the protesters' demands are rooted in Colombia's high levels of inequality. The pandemic has made the lives of many Colombians more precarious, with 3.6 million people being pushed into poverty.

Protesters hold up a sign reading "When there's no bread for the poor, there's no peace for the rich"

In cities like Quibdo, in the north, 30% of people live in extreme poverty and even in Medellin, Colombia's economic powerhouse, that figure amounts to 9%, according to official sources.

Some of the protesters argue that only the introduction of a universal basic income will ease inequality while Colombia's young are demanding that tuition fees be dropped so that more can access university education.

Indigenous groups have also joined in the protests. They are among those hardest hit by the continuing violence in rural areas where dissident members of the Farc rebel group fight the security forces as well as rival armed groups.

Twenty-two indigenous leaders are among 67 rights defenders killed this year, according to a tally by peace institute Indepaz, and Colombians are demanding that the state do more to protect those standing up for rural, indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.

What does the government say?

President Duque has demanded that the protesters lift all the roadblocks they have erected before any concessions to the protesters can be considered.

Ivan Duque (right) has deployed the military to clear the roadblocks

The roadblocks have caused huge losses to the economy. Farmers say they cannot get their goods to markets, transport businesses have been caught in endless tailbacks and some residents of major cities say they feel like they are under siege.

On 28 May, President Duque announced that he would deploy 7,000 troops to clear the main highways.

The president has also ruled out one of the protesters' main demands - the dismantling of the riot police, meaning that the talks between the two sides have all but stalled.
Comedian Mohanad Elshieky in his New York apartment Mohanad Elshieky

In 2019, comedian Mohanad Elshieky was detained by Customs and Border Patrol on a Greyhound bus.

He sued the government and settled for $35,000 and pushed Greyhound to change a policy.

Elshieky spoke to Insider about the incident, the settlement, and how it's affected him and his career.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

On January 26, 2019, Libyan comedian Mohanad Elshieky had what he considers his most lackluster comedy show, performing at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. It was daytime, in a big ballroom with high ceilings, and he thinks most students were there for extra credit.

The next day, making his way back to Portland, where he lived at the time, he boarded a series of Greyhound buses, making a transfer at the Spokane Intermodal Station. After he settled in on the bus headed to Portland, US Customs and Border Protection agents boarded the Greyhound. An officer started asking him questions and then officers proceeded to detain and interrogate Elshieky off of the bus.

With a valid Oregon driver's ID and a work permit, having been granted asylum, Elshieky was taken aback. He said hostile agents told him that his documents were falsified and that there was no record of his asylum in their system. They eventually let him go after 20 minutes with no acknowledgment that his documents were in fact real.

At first, he was furious and tweeted what happened. That Twitter thread went viral and amassed over 100,000 likes.

Elshieky, who has been featured on Comedy Central and the late-night mainstay "Conan," was approached by the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project and the ACLU of Washington for legal representation and decided to sue the federal government.

On April 23, Elshieky and the US government reached a settlement agreement for $35,000.

Following the publicized incident, Greyhound eventually dropped a longstanding policy allowing Border Patrol agents on their buses without a search warrant.

Story continues

Insider spoke to Elshieky to learn more about how the incident and case affected him and his career.

How did you decide to bring the lawsuit? With the Northwest immigrant rights project, and then ACLU Washington, did they approach you? How did that kind of work?

So I was not initially planning on the lawsuit only because I just didn't know that was an option, to be honest, because when I put the whole story up on Twitter in 2019 and it went viral, I was approached by ACLU Washington about potentially getting represented. And I mean, even then I wasn't sure that I want to go forward with doing it. I just wanted it to be over with. But then I started to research what happened to me is, and see if it was something unique or is it something that has been happening for a while?

And then I learned that this literally happens all the time. There were testimonies and videos on YouTube from 11, 12 years ago, about people being harassed at that same bus station. I noticed agents targeting immigrants who were mostly new to the country or don't even speak English well, and lots of people who do not have a platform to get their story out there. They just get harassed and just kind of like, go home and let it go.

So I decided I'm going to do something about it, hoping it will bring more attention to the issue. And for Greyhound, I think they felt like they will be like losing customers and they were like, "We think it's not cool for CBP to board the buses." I'm like, it's never been cool, but now you're losing money and you don't like that.

Did Greyhound reach out to you after the incident and actually address what happened to you?

They did reach out to me a day or two after the incident happened. I got a call from a PR person who heard my side of the story and said, "I'm sorry that happened to you." And initially, they said we're gonna start hanging "know your rights" posters at the stations, both in English and Spanish. And if, if an agent approaches you, these are the things that you can say.

And it was just like, okay, can you, like maybe, maybe not have them be on the bus? It was just like if Delta airlines were like, in case the plane was hijacked, this is what you can do about it. I'm not going to take your service if that's something that was going to happen, you do something about it.

You should be able to take me from point A to point B without being harassed. So I felt like they were not doing anything about it, which also motivated me to pursue the lawsuit. Because once they know it's going to be out there and they could lose money, they will change their policies, and they did.

Could you walk me through that day, if you don't mind, and tell me what happened to you?

I was coming back from Spokane in Washington. I was doing a gig at Washington State University, and the reason I went to Spokane is because that's where the bus changed - there was no direct from Pullman to Portland. I waited for the station for about three hours for the next bus to come. And then I got on when the bus arrived 15 minutes early. I remember getting on the bus, sitting by the window, and starting to looking through social media. And that's when I saw these agents get on the bus. And even when they got on the bus, it didn't really bother me because I thought they worked for Greyhound.

And even when they approached me and they were like, one of them asked for my for my ID still was like, "Oh, sure." Like, thinking he wanted to match my ID with my ticket, I've done that with Amtrak before. So I gave them my ID and then that the agent asked me what I was from, and I told him, I'm from Libya originally. And then he was like, do you have a passport on you? And I was like, I mean, why would I carry a passport on a bus? And then, and then I was like, okay, this is definitely not a Greyhound bus person. Like, why would they be asking me all of these questions?

And then he asked, do you have any other identification on you? And he went from being nice to very hostile, putting his arms between the seat in front of me and my seat, to block the exit, I guess. And then I noticed that there was like another agent who was standing by the bus exit. I told the agent, yes, I have my work permit, which was given to me by immigration and it was valid. And so was my driver's license.

And he was like, okay, follow me outside. I followed him, we sat outside, and then he asked me if I had any other documents. And I told him no. He was like, okay, what's your deal? What's your status? I told him ave I've applied for asylum and I got it approved three months ago. In my head I was like, "like, what else do you want? What's the problem?" And, and they said, "do you have your asylum papers on you?" And I told them, I was literally advised, not to take them with me, because if they get lost, it's so hard to replace - plus I can't fit them in my wallet.

The agent told me my driver's license and work permit could have easily been falsified and that they looked fake. They told me, people use fake documents all the time, and, in my head, I was like, well, it just sounds like a problem that you should deal with? So I asked them if they could look me up in their system to confirm my documents. And one of them went to check and from what I heard, it sounded like someone on their walkie-talkie said, "he's in the system and everything." I thought they'd let me go.

The first agent came to me, and said: "Just checked, and there was no record of your asylum anywhere."

And honestly, I'm not going to lie, I was freaked out. On the outside, I kept it together, but I've read so many stories of people being wrongfully deported or just mixed up in the system. And I didn't know what to do. I wanted to tell someone what was happening, and for them to understand that I went through four years of getting my asylum papers together and like doing like a four-hour interview with an asylum officer. I did stuff "by the book," as they say, and then this happened, where they lied and said, "Your papers are fake. You're not in the system."

What they kept repeating was like, "Yeah, illegals say that all the time." That's the word they kept repeating, "illegals." And then I stopped talking and trying to convince them because I thought, literally everything I say, they're not listening. I felt like they were trying to get me to admit to something.

Eventually one of them was yelling at me to take my hands out of my pocket and they just took them out. It was freezing cold so I had them in my coat pocket, and they were wearing gloves. And after 20 minutes, they gave me my papers back and they were like, okay, we're going to let you go.

They said nothing about my status being valid and made it sound like they were doing me a favor by letting me go this time. And they were like, "Okay, next time have your documents on you." I didn't say anything.

How did you feel when you got back on the bus?

We were late at that point. And I was so upset. And I was mad for many reasons, for what happened but no one seemed to care about what happened, and people were just like watching from the bus window. Agents also took two other people with them and put them in the car. For the other passengers, they were upset because they were late and that's it. And I wrote the whole thread about what happened, and I took pictures out of the bus of the agents. The only reason I did that really was because I wanted to talk to anyone, and the thread went viral.

It gained more way more attention than I ever expected, which was good and bad at the same time. 'Cause you know, like the good side that you get, you get represented, you get like people just being like, "I'm sorry this happened. Like if there was any way I can help," but like, you know, like, and then the other side of it is like getting all of these trolls and we'll send you your death threats. And just being like, "if you don't like it here, leave." It was just so weird. Like it really introduced me to a subset of the internet, I've only heard about never interacted with. And it was sad, not because like, it was only happening to me.

I just cannot imagine being this hateful, like, like, oh my God, like how, like, how sad do you have to be to just like reach out to a stranger over the internet, just to be like mad at them and be like, "the agents are just doing their jobs." And always, when something like this happens, everyone suddenly is like an immigration expert.

I got so many people who were like who are like, who were like, "I bet in Libya, you wouldn't even get this treatment. It will be even worse." Like, you want to compare yourself though to a war-torn country, be my guest. That shouldn't be your standard. I'm like, yeah, like no one has said it was a great place. That's why I left, buddy. Like, yes, things are bad. Is that what you want to use to compare yourselves to?

I appreciate you walking me through that, it sounds very traumatic. How has it affected you just in general with your career? And in any way, did the experience spur new material based on what happened?

I didn't perform for like, maybe, like two weeks or so. I tried to do a show like literally the day after and I just, I wasn't me on stage, you know? I spent two weeks at home just taking phone calls from people, and avoiding people, and replying to people. And then like we, we started the case, which went through the span of the past two years. And eventually, we got the settlement result about a week ago or so.

And eventually, I did come up with material, which I included on Comedy Central. And it did well, but it took me time to really try and find something funny about it. Or like a way to tell it in a way that was interesting. Cause like, you know, then you have people who are like, "Oh, this is a joke to you." And I'm just like, I don't know, man. I have jokes in my comedy about ISIS, and I don't think that a joke to anyone.

This is my job, you know, the thing happened to me, and I choose to tell it the way I want to tell it. What else am I going to do with it? Because like when you think about it, in a comedy-based format, that's the only way you can get to people and make them listen to what happened. I mean, people laugh and they think it's funny, but eventually, when they go home, it's kind of sticks with them.

And so you have this emotional connection that you had with the audience. And hopefully, that gets them to be more engaged about the subject. I've had people reach out to me like, "Oh my God, like, I've heard you tell the story in your set. But then I went and I looked it up and this was so bad. I had no idea like this kind of thing happened at all. Thank you for bringing it up."

At the end of the day, if you get people listening and being more engaged and more active about something, that's good in my book.

In your immigration process to the US, and in your asylum process, did you experience any similar instances of discrimination?

Yes for sure, my first time at the airport in the US. And before I got my Oregon ID and everything, I used to travel domestically using my passport; my Libyan passport always got me in trouble. And when you have a passport with a lot of Arabic written on it, you want to show them where the English pages are. But then once I got my Oregon ID that was a relief.

And I mean, I have some of that when I first entered the US in Detroit, there were so many questions from the like Homeland Security agents and stuff. And, you know, they asked me, "Oh, where in Libya, are you from?" And I'm like, "Oh, I'm from Benghazi," and it just makes stuff worse. And I remember like one of the agents was like, "So uh, how are things there?"

And I was just like, I don't know what you want me to tell you, I feel like this is a trick question. I just remember being like, whatever it is you're asking me, I'm not involved in it. I really have no idea if they have actually ever caught anyone doing anything with the big brain energy that they present.

Now, I rarely use buses to go anywhere. Now whenever I go anywhere, I just take everything with me just in case, you know, like I literally have a file full of documents. For the past few years, it's been me just avoiding any interactions with law enforcement, as much as I can like trying not to even get like a, like a speeding ticket or like a parking ticket, man.

I just don't want to deal with the government at all. I remember during the summer when the Black Lives Matter protests were happening in New York I wouldn't leave the house at all, not because I was worried because the protests were happening, but I was so afraid that because of the law enforcement presence I would like be walking to the store with a protest nearby and they would just pick me up and accuse me of doing something.

It's unfair, but I rather just protect myself at this point. Even the way I use social media started to be different. Every time I tweet something, like, even as a joke, I'm like, should I keep this up? Like, will this be twisted and used against me in any way? And that's why I'm glad the lawsuit is over. Now my social media platforms can go back to being unhinged.

Now you can get these jokes off.

Exactly, now I can say, I can say anything. I can be like, the government sucks or whatever.

What are you hoping people learn from your experience as well as with other immigrants dealing with this kind of questioning?

People should know that situations like mine are not for your protection. It's not protecting you. You're literally not going to be safer by way of them doing this and most of these actions are them just going rogue. It seems like a fun game for them, you know, to harass someone when I can't like speak English well and just like, just like make them have a bad day and just like, you know, like see them struggle just to like to form sentences and stuff like that.

The whole system that they set up is us versus them, and anyone who looks like they are not from here. Even if they're US citizens who just seem to look like not American by their standards of others. My thing is like, if you justify this happening to immigrants, once it's done with immigrants, law enforcement could come to you next. It's just a waiting game. I think a lot of Americans take their freedom and their rights were granted and they don't think that they can be easily taken away from them.

I wish things were fine and okay in Libya, and I can just live my normal life. And some people like have it way worse than I do. But people need to understand that for immigrants, they ended up here because they have to work jobs, we're basically just trying to live. I'm just trying to pursue this comedy career that I have. I am neither as perfect as some people want me to be, and I'm not bad as some people want me to be.

I am either a very hard worker and a lazy person, I procrastinate like other people do. And sometimes I just want to watch TV and do nothing. Maybe we should all work together to make life good for everyone who lives here, whether they're like a citizen or not.

Thanks, Mohanad.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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The Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine can now be used in children ages 12 to 15, according to the Food and Drug Administration, which extended authorization of the vaccine to that age group on Monday.

Exactly when 12- to 15- year-olds will start getting vaccinated could vary from state to state, but could be within days, after an advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues recommendations for use of the vaccine in this age group.

Having a vaccine authorized for a younger population is a critical step in continuing to lessen the immense public health burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, said Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. The FDA can assure the public and medical community that the available data meet our rigorous standards to support the emergency use of this vaccine in the adolescent population 12 years of age and older.



At the end of March, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that a clinical trial of 2,260 children ages 12 to 15 showed that their vaccine was 100 percent effective at preventing COVID-19. In FDA's announcement, the agency confirmed that Pfizer and BioNTech's data showed that vaccine to be safe and effective for adolescents.

Later this month, Moderna could ask the FDA to authorize its vaccine, which uses similar technology, for people 12 to 17, according to Gregory Poland, MD, director of the Vaccine Research Group at the Mayo Clinic who studies vaccine response in adults and children.

Getting children vaccinated is essential for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, Poland says. If you want your child to go to school, if you want them to be safe, to have the normal social experiences that are important to childhood, please protect them by getting them vaccinated, he says.

To better understand what we know about COVID-19 vaccines for children, CR consulted with experts and reviewed the available data. Here are answers to some common questions parents may have.

Story continues

Do Kids Really Need to Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19?

Yes, they should.

In the early months of the pandemic, scientists learned that children and teens were less likely to get severely ill with COVID-19, though some still became very sick. So far, children make up about 13 percent of COVID-19 cases overall in the U.S., with adolescents more likely to develop severe disease like adults, says Kathryn Edwards, MD, scientific director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program and a professor of pediatrics.

But they account for almost a quarter of new cases, and some states, including Colorado and Michigan, are seeing a rapid spread of coronavirus infections among children.

Some of that is because as adults get vaccinated, theyre less likely to get infected, making children a greater proportion of overall cases. But another reason, Poland says, is that variants of the virus now circulatingsuch as the B.1.1.7 variant, currently the most prevalent in the U.S.are more infectious. And that makes vaccinating children, who have always faced some risk from the virus, even more urgent.

The estimate is there have been around 300 to 600 pediatric COVID deaths, Poland says. Thats likely to increase if we dont stop transmission by getting as many people immunized as possible.

Vaccination also helps prevent other serious outcomes in children, Edwards says. In rare cases, children who have had COVID-19 have developed a condition, known as MIS-C, that can cause organ damage and even death. Scientists are also following children who have gotten COVID-19 to see whether any have lingering problems, especially cardiac issues.

Are the Vaccines Effective in Kids?

So far, efficacy data on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in children looks stellar, Poland says.

According to Pfizer and BioNTech, a clinical trial of that vaccine in 12- to 15- year-olds found it 100 percent effective at preventing COVID-19. Children in that age group had even higher levels of antibodies in response to the vaccine than 16- to 25-year-olds.

Its likely that in the real world the vaccine may be somewhat less effective but still very protective, Poland says. Clinical trials in adults conducted before vaccines were widely released showed the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to be 95 percent effective against the disease; initial real-world effectiveness data from the U.S. indicates these vaccines are about 90 percent effective.

Information on the effectiveness of vaccines made by Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax in children should be available soon, Poland says.

Do Kids Get the Same Shot as Adults?

Yes, at least for now. In Pfizer-BioNTechs clinical trial, 12- to 15-year-olds received the same vaccine and dosages as adults, on the same schedule, with a second dose three weeks after the first.

For the future, though, vaccine manufacturers are testing lower dosages of the Pfizer and other vaccines for younger children to see whether that provides the same immune system response as higher dosages, Edwards says.

Are the Vaccines Safe for Kids?

Common side effects reported in children so far are similar to those in adults: injection site pain, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, chills, joint pain, and fever. And as in other age groups, these were well tolerated in 12- to 15-year-olds, Pfizer and BioNTech say.

The reaction profiles were pretty comparable to what we see in adults, Edwards says.

Poland says that experts will be watching closely to ensure that side effects arent a bigger problem for younger children. He adds that one of the reasons to test lower dosages is to try to minimize side effects for the youngest children.

Regardless, people shouldnt let fear of short-term side effects be a reason to avoid getting a vaccine that can prevent a disease from causing long-term damage or death, he says.

When Will Younger Children Be Eligible?

Thats not certain, but perhaps as early as next fall. Thats according to a May 4, 2021, Pfizer earnings call, in which the company described plans to seek FDA authorization for use of that vaccine in children ages 2 to 11 in September. Pfizer also said it hopes get authorization for the vaccine in infants in November.

While theres no guarantee, Poland says he thinks its likely younger children could get access to the vaccine in the fall.

Edwards says exactly when younger children will be eligible depends on how the trials go. Were all working really hard to make sure the vaccines are safe and effective she says. We will not go too fast. We will go in a careful, cautious manner.

Will Schools Require Kids to Be Vaccinated Against COVID-19?

More than 100 colleges and universities in the U.S. have said theyll require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 if they want to return to school in the fall.

Schools that serve younger children already often require proof of various immunizations before children enroll, but its not yet clear whether a COVID-19 vaccine will become one of them. Right now, those vaccines have an emergency use authorization from the FDA. Until vaccines receive full approval, Poland says he thinks schools probably wont require kids to have one. But after the FDA does fully approve the vaccines for children, many schools are likely to require proof of vaccination, he says.

Edwards says she hopes that people are persuaded to get children vaccinated based on the incredible success weve seen the vaccines have at preventing disease so far.

Editor's note: This article was updated after FDA authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use in 12- to 15-year-old children. It was originally published on May 4, 2021.
LOS ANGELES  At La Chuperia, a Mexican-family owned restaurant here, Stephanie Sanchez, 32, is excited to welcome customers Wednesday for Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

We get a lot of people that are first-timers that havent been out in a year," Sanchez said. "We want to make them feel at home; we want people to feel safe. I like to let people know, dont worry if the tables feel sticky, it isnt a bad thing. It is us constantly sanitizing the tables to keep everyone safe."

Across the country, Latino restaurant owners and employees are hopeful the national vaccine rollout and the easing of some Covid-19 restrictions will bring more customers  and much-needed revenue to their hard-hit businesses.

The Covid-19 crisis has hit Latino small businesses particularly hard, yet a Stanford University study found that Latino business owners had their PPP loans approved at half the rate of white-owned businesses. Moreover, many businesses have felt the impact of the pandemic directly, as Covid-19 illnesses and deaths have disproportionately hit Latinos, including younger Hispanics.

La Chuperia co-owner Ulysses Leal, 33, who is now running the restaurant his father opened, said navigating restrictions was tough on the business and its workers. We had to get creative. We changed our menu to add more food items for take-out orders. The family was all in. I jumped into the kitchen in a way I had not done before. Sadly, we had to let go of the majority of our workers," Leal said. "We couldnt keep everyone, but we did our best to secure temporary jobs for them. We kept a good relationship with them and most of them are back."

In El Paso, Texas, the L&J Cafe, which has been operating since 1927, closed at the start of the pandemic for two months and reduced its staff from 115 to three employees.

We thought we had just about everything under our belt except the pandemic," Leo Duran, 68, the owner, said. "Our grandparents went into business in 1927, so they missed the last pandemic in 1918, by about nine years. We experienced The Great Depression, World War II, all the conflicts, Korea, Vietnam, the other depression back in 2008. ... But the pandemic was a brand new ballgame for everybody.

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El Paso was one the areas hardest hit by the pandemic. In November, the National Guard was mobilized to help work in overflowing morgues as the state battled a surge in coronavirus cases and deaths.

Its been challenging to catch our breath. We are all wearing multiple hats. Our servers are doing more than what they've done before," Duran said. "We're grateful to give what we feel is still a great level of customer service. I think we're all just happy to be, you know, in the ball game, but it's taken a toll, quite frankly.

Recouping losses, balancing worker safety issues

According to the National Restaurant Association, more than 110,000 eating and drinking establishments in the United States closed for business  temporarily or permanently  last year and nearly 2.5 million jobs were lost. Sales in the restaurant and food-service industry fell by $240 billion in 2020 from an expected level of $899 billion.

Safety measures including bans on in-person dining caused many restaurants to shift to curbside pick up. Shifts in guidelines for food service caused the permanent closing of restaurants by the end of 2020.

Restaurant owners have been telling us that relying on take out and delivery-only will mean cutting staff as much as 90 percent, Lilly Rocha, chair of the Latino Restaurant Association, said.

For restaurant employees still working or for those coming back to work, there's also the safety issue.

Weve worked hard to push for a vaccine rollout to target areas with workers in key sectors like the food industry," said Christian Castro, with the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, which represents a large portion of culinary and food workers.

The federation has administered nearly 8,000 vaccine doses to workers and their families in Los Angeles County, going to areas where many food workers live, such as Pico Union, and partnering with institutions such as Cal State Los Angeles.

Castro noted that reports surfaced within the union of undocumented workers that were scared that providing information for vaccinations would result in deportations. We try to let everyone know that this vaccine is for everyone," he said.

At La Chuperia in Los Angeles, the key to opening up and celebrating, especially for Cinco de Mayo, has been staying on top of shifts in guidelines for businesses and on vaccinations.

We check emails from the city every day to make sure we keep everyone safe, and we are working hard to make sure our staff is vaccinated," Leal said. "This past year we faced tremendous economic uncertainty, but we are ready and excited to open our doors for Cinco de Mayo."

"We want people to join us"

The award-winning chef Cristina Martinez and her husband, Ben Miller, owners of South Philly Barbacoa and The Peoples Kitchen in Philadelphia, quarantined inside their restaurant when the pandemic hit their neighborhood in South Philadelphia.

A lot of restaurants went down, but we were able to stay on solid ground, Miller said.

For Martinez, who is from Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is a day of festivities. "We want people to join us. We just need to take the right measures to ensure social distancing, people wearing masks, and ensuring our workers dont let their guard down with these practices."

We have had to work a lot harder, but weve learned a lot from this pandemic," Martinez said. "Latino businesses have retained energy and hope that these circumstances will change."

Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Reuters

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined several thousand mourners in a vigil Tuesday evening to remember three generations of a Canadian Muslim family killed in what police said was a premeditated hate crime, as a grieving community stood united in the midst of the crisis. On Sunday, four members of the family were killed as they were out on an evening walk near their home in London, Ontario, when police say a man rammed them with his pick-up truck, targeting them because of their religion. The victims were Salman Afzaal, 46; his wife, Madiha Salman, 44; their 15-year-old daughter, Yumna Afzaal; and Afzaal's 74-year-old mother.
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Locked inside a prison cell in Bogota, their client demanded they tell him where his $1.5 million had gone.

The Texas lawyer, known back home as the DWI Dude, along with his private investigator and a Colombian attorney, again discussed the deal with the prisoner, Segundo Villota Segura, who was fighting extradition to the U.S. for a cocaine trafficking case, according to court documents.

An FBI agent who listened to a recording of the conversation later testified that Segura hired the lawyers to pay off influential U.S. officials who could make his criminal charges go away.

When Segura asked for names of these officials, they refused to answer, the FBI agent testified.

Thats because it was a ruse, according to federal prosecutors.

Neither lawyer James Balagia, who made his nickname by defending people charged with drunk driving, Chuck Morgan, his private investigator from Florida, or Colombian lawyer Bibiana Perea paid any bribes nor was anyone expecting money, officials say.

They had tricked Segura and two other suspected Colombian drug traffickers into paying them large sums of money, officials say.

This defendant and his group were running a scam on drug dealers  some of the biggest drug dealers in the world, U.S. Attorney Joe Brown said in a statement following the 2019 conviction of Bagalia, the last of the trio to be found guilty. Fortunately for him, these drug dealers chose to turn him into the FBI rather than handle it any other way.

James Morris Balagia, 65, of Manor, Texas, who created the nickname DWI Dude because he defended people charged with drunken driving, was sentenced to prison. Photo from U.S. Department of Justice.

On Monday, a federal judge in Texas sentenced Bagalia to just over 15 years in prison.

Bagalia, who had law offices in Manor and San Antonio in Central Texas, was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering, obstruction of justice, violation of the Kingpin Act, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

The Kingpin Act bans Americans from engaging in financial transactions with people whose names appear on a list of drug traffickers unless approved by an office within the U.S. Treasury Department.

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Bagalia, a Libertarian Party candidate for Texas Attorney General in 2014, was accused in the same year of receiving $350,000 from suspected trafficker Hermes Casanova Ordonez and $900,000 from Segura, according to an indictment.

In 2016, Seguras brother, Aldemar Villota Segura, paid Bagalia and others $1.2 million to get money to the right people to get him off the charge, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors say Balagia provided Colombians with his personal bank information so a network of anonymous people across the U.S. could deposit money into the account. The daily deposits totaled less than $10,000 to avoid detection by authorities, officials say.

Bagalia also received bulk cash payments from $70,000 to $120,000, including an exchange in the parking lot of a mall in a Houston suburb, officials say.

We live in a country with the greatest system of justice in the world, Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei said in a statement. That system, however, cannot function when officers of the court are corrupt. The evidence in this case demonstrated that Balagia had been shaking down his clients for years by claiming that he was able to purchase favorable deals from prosecutors and judges alike.

20-year-old mistaken as teens killer shot to death at memorial event, Texas cops say
Edward Gallagher in 2019 after being acquitted of most serious charges at court-martial trial (REUTERS)

The Navy SEAL commander reinstated to rank by Donald Trump after beating war crime charges says in a new podcast that his intention was to kill an unarmed Isis fighter and "nobody had a problem with it".

Eddie Gallagher, the retired chief of SEAL Team 7 Alpha Platoon, was acquitted two years ago in the death of a 17-year-old prisoner who had been wounded in a US missile airstrike.

In the final episode of Apple podcast series "The Line", Mr Gallagher said, "We killed that guy, our intention was to kill him. Everybody was onboard".

"The grain of truth in the whole thing is that, that Isis fighter was killed by us, and that nobody at that time, had a problem with it," Mr Gallagher said.

Mr Gallagher was found not guilty of premeditated murder for the allegation of stabbing the prisoner in the neck. The trial heard that Mr Gallagher cut an emergency airway into mans throat as part of medical treatments the SEALs provided to the prisoner in 2017.

Mr Gallagher was found guilty of "bringing disorder or discredit to the armed forces" for posing for a trophy photo with the corpse of the dead prisoner.

After the trial, then-president Trump publicly intervened in the Navys attempt to demote Mr Gallagher and remove his "Trident Pin".

The navy will NOT be taking away Warfighter and Navy Seal Eddie Gallaghers Trident Pin. This case was handled very badly from the beginning. Get back to business! Mr Trump tweeted at the time.

While Mr Gallagher maintains in the new podcast that he "didnt stab that dude", he said that "everybody was on board" with conducting medical scenarios on him until he died.

Asked if that was "nursing to death", Mr Gallagher said that was putting it nicely. "Nursing into death or just killing," he said.

"I mean he was going to die regardless, we werent taking any prisoners because that wasnt our job," he said.

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Attorney Timothy Parlatore told Task & Purpose, which was first to report Mr Gallaghers latest comments, that nothing new was revealed in the podcast because he filed a motion during the 2019 court-martial that the platoons medic began using the prisoner as a "training aid"

When the terrorist came in, they did the initial assessment and they knew that he was going to die, Mr Parlatore said, according to Task & Purpose.

There was no way that he was surviving this thing. And, exactly what he said there: They decided  OK, hes going to die anyway, lets use this as an opportunity for training. Well just do procedures on him.

Mr Parlatore said "The Line" podcast did not change Mr Gallaghers defence that he was a victim of "mutiny" by the platoon who knew the teenager was going to die but "made up a story after the fact".

Mr Gallagher said in the podcast that "everybody knew what was going on" and "then the rest of it just is like a bunch of contorted lies to, like, pin that whole scenario on me".

"We verbalized, everyone was like, lets just do medical treatments on him until hes gone," Mr Gallagher remembered. "It was said."

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CAIRO (AP)  Egyptian and Turkish officials met Wednesday for talks aiming to reset ties between the two regional powers after years of enmity.

The two-day political consultations in Cairo are chaired by Hamdi Loza, Egypts deputy foreign minister, and his Turkish counterpart Sedat Onal.

Egypts Foreign Ministry, which announced the meetings in a statement late Tuesday, described the talks as exploratory discussions that would focus on the necessary steps that may lead towards the normalization of relations between the two countries, bilaterally and in the regional context.

The English-language version of Egypts state-run Ahram daily quoted an unnamed Egyptian official as saying the talks came after a year of direct and indirect communications to avert a confrontation between the two U.S. allies in Libya, where they back opposing side in the conflict.

Egypt and Turkey have been at loggerheads since the Egyptian militarys 2013 ouster of President Mohammed Morsi, who hailed from the Muslim Brotherhood group, supported by Turkey. Egypt has designated the group a terrorist organization.

Recently, top Turkish officials signaled a warming of ties with Egypt, a shift from their previous, sharply critical approach to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi's government.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on March 12 that the two countries have had intelligence, diplomatic and economic contacts, adding that he hoped for strong ties between the two nations.

Turkish Trade Minister Mehmet Mus said earlier this week that Ankara also wants to boost economic and trade ties with Cairo, which remains Turkeys biggest African trade partner, with a $4.86-billion-vlue in trade last year.

A week after Erdogans remarks, his government asked three Istanbul-based Egyptian TV channels linked to the Brotherhood to soften their critical political coverage of the Egyptian government, according to editors at the stations. The TV channels promptly stopped broadcasting some political programs.

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Egypt welcomed the move, calling it a good initiative from the Turkish side that establishes a favorable atmosphere to discuss issues of dispute between the two nations.

Egyptian officials say Turkey must take substantial steps toward genuine talks to mend ties, including withdrawing hundreds of Turkish troops and thousands of Syrian mercenaries brought to Libya by Turkey, and also hand over Islamists wanted by Egypt on terror-related charges.

Claudia Gazzini, a Libya expert at the International Crisis Group, said a possible Egypt-Turkey rapprochement would help stabilize Libya, which has recently become a theater of rivalry between regional and world powers.

There is not doubt that if these two regional rivals find a way to work together, improve bilateral ties and commercial ties and de-escalate what was a very confrontational relation over the past years, this will reflect in pushing forward political stability in Libya, she said.

The two nations back opposing sides in Libya. Egypt, Greece and some other European countries were angered by a 2019 Turkish deal with Libyan officials that aimed to boost Turkish maritime rights and influence in the eastern Mediterranean.

Egypt and Greece responded by signing a separate deal to delineate their maritime boundaries, a deal which Ankara rejected.
Your favorite pandemic hate watch is back for season two.

The first time around, Netflix's Emily in Paris was met with disdain for the titular character, confusion around the title itself, and a real-life scandal involving the Golden Globes and an alleged trip to Paris for Hollywood Foreign Press Association members. The show's creator, Darren Star, claims season one was not a faux pas, but the first step in character development. In season two, "Emily will embrace the city a little bit more," Star told Variety. "I think she will be more assimilated, in terms of living in Paris and stepping up to the challenges of learning the language," he said.

Whether viewers are ready or not, Emily in Paris is back  filming began Monday in France. A bientot!

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AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Europol said on Wednesday 31 suspects had been arrested in an Italian-German police operation targeting the Ndrangheta mafia group.

Europol, the European Union's law enforcement agency, said it had provided support in the operation, which involved around 800 officers and tax officials in both countries.

The 'Ndrangheta-linked group, including 65 suspects who were identified but not arrested, is "suspected of having organised the trade in cocaine between Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain using encrypted ... communication tools," Europol said in a statement.

Hospitality companies were used to launder proceeds in Italy, while in Germany the investigation focused on drug sales and tax avoidance, said Europol, whose headquarters are in the Netherlands.

"In total, at least several hundreds of thousands of euros have been seized, as well as weapons, cocaine, two luxury vehicles and jewellery," Europol said.

(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Gareth Jones)
By Philip Blenkinsop

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - World Trade Organization members will assess on Wednesday signs of progress in talks on a proposal by South Africa and India to waive patent rights on COVID-19 vaccines in order to boost supply to developing countries.

They want to ease rules of the WTO's Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) agreement. WTO decisions are based on consensus, so all 164 members need to agree.

Ten meetings in seven months have failed to produce a breakthrough, with 60 proposal sponsors from emerging economies, backed by a chorus of campaign groups, Nobel laureates and former world leaders, pitted against richer developed countries, such as Switzerland, the United States and in the European Union, where many pharmaceutical companies are based.

WHERE ARE THE TALKS NOW?

After a 10th round of talks on April 30, the waiver proposal's backers said they would revise their text from October in time for the next TRIPS council meeting in the second half of May before a further discussion on June 8-9.

The new text could be more limited than the current proposal.

Norway's ambassador Dagfinn Sorli, the council chair who will brief Wednesday's WTO General Council, expressed "careful optimism".

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus talked on Monday of "encouraging progress", but said the process needed to be completed as soon as possible. The WHO said in April that of 700 million vaccines globally administered, only 0.2% had been in low-income countries.

THE PROPONENTS ARGUMENT

The Indian/South African proposal in October says property rights such as patents, industrial designs, copyright and protection of undisclosed information hinder timely access to affordable vaccines and medicines essential to combat COVID-19.

They say the waiver should last for an unspecified time period, with an annual review until it terminates, and call for unhindered global sharing of technology and know-how.

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They say there cannot be a repeat of the early years of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, when a lack of access to life-saving medicines cost at least 11 million African lives.

The WHO head and 375 civil society and campaign groups such as Doctors Without Borders back the proposal and former leaders from Britain's Gordon Brown to Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union have jointly written to U.S. President Joe Biden urging him to support it.

THE COUNTER VIEW

Big drug companies oppose patent waivers, as do Britain, Switzerland and the United States. The main Western producers are Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and jointly Pfizer and BioNTech.

They say vaccine development is unpredictable and costly and that strong IP protection helped provide the incentive for the development of vaccines in record time and will do so again in work on tackling new variants or in a future pandemic.

Proponents counter that some of the money was public funds.

Big Pharma also says vaccine-making is difficult - witness the production problems non-specialist AstraZeneca has faced - so suspending patents alone will not bring more shots.

Complex vaccines require deep cooperation between developers and manufacturers. Any failure to make them properly could undermine public confidence in vaccine safety, they say.

They also point to over 260 partnership agreements already in place for production and distribution and comment that, under the existing TRIPS agreement, governments can allow produces to make a patented product without the consent of the patent owner. Developing countries have such "compulsory licences" to push down prices for HIV/AIDS medication from 2002 to 2007.

The situation though is fluid. In Brazil, the only developing country to oppose the waiver, the Senate has passed a bill to suspend COVID-19 vaccine patents. It has become quieter at the WTO since April.

The White House said last week it was considering options to maximise global supply of vaccines, including backing the waiver.

THIRD WAY

WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has suggested a "third way" as a compromise, laying out global action to increase vaccine access after a meeting with producers, governments and others.

She urged vaccine makers to increase technology transfer to bring in new manufacturing capacity and to be transparent on contracts and pricing.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told the same meeting that extraordinary times required courage and sacrifice from governments and leaders - but also from industry. On Tuesday, she said economic recovery depended on addressing global vaccine inequity.

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
The Oversight Board, Facebook's so-called supreme court for deciding issues around moderation policy, has decided to offer qualified support for the suspension handed down to former US president Donald Trump. In a statement, the Board said that it was "justified" to restrict access to his account, but that the "indeterminate and standardless penalty" was not. In short, while Facebook acted properly in the short-term, it cannot simply decide to permanently ban a user without a policy explaining why.

In its findings, the Board said that the "indefinite" suspension was not appropriate because it's not permissible for Facebook to hand out arbitrary bans. Because Facebook has no defined policies and procedure in this area, and indefinite suspensions are not outlined in the company's policies, the Board has called on Facebook to "review this matter" and "justify a proportionate response that is consistent" with the company's rules. It added that Facebook had a responsibility to "create necessary and proportionate penalties" to deal with severe violations of its rules.

On January 6th, 2021, a group of protestors stormed the United States Capitol Building with the reported intention of halting the certification of the 2020 General Election. Trump had, earlier that day, made a speech implying that VP Mike Pence should do the right thing by halting the certification. He added that protestors should fight like hell, or youre not going to have a country anymore. Not long after, officials would be escorted from the Capitol Building as rioters breached the perimeter, with five people dying in the process. Trump would subsequently post messages that denounced the violence but maintained a position that the certification was invalid.

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On January 7th, Facebook and Instagram, as well as a number of other social media outlets, imposed restrictions on the (then) president. The justification was that Trumps postings could be seen as encouragement for further violence, leading to the temporary ban. Shortly afterward, CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote that Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor. He added that the ban on accessing his Facebook and Instagram pages would last indefinitely and at least the next two weeks under the peaceful transition of power is complete.

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On January 8th, Twitter announced that it would permanently suspend Donald Trump's personal Twitter account "due to the risk of further incitement of violence." The suspension was a watershed, given the number of exceptions that were carved out by multiple platforms beforehand. In the run-up to the 2016 election, and during the presidency, Facebook created an exemption for content that would otherwise violate its acceptable use policies. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that he didnt want to be an arbiter of truth, and said that content deemed newsworthy would remain online. In mid-2020, the company amended its policy, saying that it would "label" content that violated its policy rather than remove it  although it did remove a Trump post from mid-2020 under the aegis of stamping out COVID-19 misinformation.

On January 21st, Facebook referred the case, number 2020-001-FB-FBR to the Oversight Board both to rule on the suspension, and also to offer policy recommendations from the Board on suspensions where the user is a political leader. Specifically, Facebook submitted the following two questions:

Considering Facebook's values, specifically its commitment to voice and safety, did it correctly decide on January 7, 2021, to prohibit Donald J. Trump's access to posting content on Facebook and Instagram for an indefinite amount of time? In addition to the board's determination on whether to uphold or overturn the indefinite suspension, Facebook welcomes observations or recommendations from the Board about suspensions when the user is a political leader.

The Oversight Board said that a five-person panel would investigate and decide on the matter, and that decision was subsequently ratified by a majority of members. Facebook, at the time, said that it would abide by the decision, and is bound to implement the decision within seven days. Trump has, in the meantime, developed his own platform as an extension of his own website, which he can publish to without fear of moderation.

The Board had, initially, committed to making its decision within 90 days of the referral, which put the deadline at April 21st. On April 16th, however, it said that it would need to delay the judgment in order to review all comments made on the case, since it received 9,666 through the consultation period. On Monday, May 3rd, it announced that the decision would be published at 9am ET on May 5th.

In its judgment, the Board said that it agreed that the posts Trump made in the aftermath of the Capitol Riot "severely violated" Facebook's community standards. It said that Trump's remarks praising the rioters "violated Facebook's rules prohibiting praise or support of people engaged in violence." It added that by baselessly perpetuating the claim that the election's results were fraudulent, "Mr. Trump created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible."

Facebooks detractors have said that whatever the Oversight Board decides, the whole affair has been a public-relations move. The Real Oversight Board, a group that represents several of the social networks critics, said that the ruling was a smokescreen. In a statement, published Monday, it said that the board is a Facebook-paid, Facebook-appointed body created by Facebook to use to launder its most politically sensitive decisions. It added that Trump has violated Facebooks terms of service repeatedly, incited hate, spread disinformation, fomented violence and been used as a model for other authoritarian leaders to abuse Facebook. He should be banned forever.

In the wake of the decision, the Real Oversight Board asked "what is the point of the Oversight Board?" It added that today's announcement is a "desperate attempt to have it both ways, upholding the 'ban' of Donald Trump without actually banning him, while punting any real decisions back to Facebook."

The Oversight Board seems to agree on that point, saying that "In applying a vague, standardless penalty and then referring this case to the Board to resolve, Facebook seeks to avoid its responsibilities." It added that it "declines Facebook's request and insists that Facebook apply and justify a defined penalty." It has given the social network six months to conduct a review of its actions in this matter and the gaps in its policies. In addition, the Board recommends that political speech needs to be moderated by "specialized staff who are familiar with the linguistic and political context" who are both properly resourced and protected from political, economic and internal interference.

Interestingly, as well as criticizing Facebook's conduct in this affair, the Board also said that Facebook's exceptions made toward notable individuals may not be helpful. In the judgment, it said "It is not always useful to draw a firm distinction between political leaders and other influential users, recognizing that other users with large audiences can also contribute to serious risks of harm." It added that Facebook needed to "address widespread confusion about how decisions relating to influential users are made."

The Oversight Board has also called for Facebook to conduct a "comprehensive review" of its contribution to the narrative of electoral fraud. "This should be an open reflection on the design and policy choices that Facebook has made that may allow its platform to be abused."

Sir Nick Clegg, Facebook's VP of Global Affairs, has already penned a response saying that Facebook is "pleased the board has recognized that the unprecedented circumstances justified the exceptional measure we took." He added that Facebook will now consider the Board's criticism concerning the seemingly arbitrary nature of the penalty, and will "carefully review [the Board's] recommendations."

It is now on Facebook to determine the best course of action, and if it will eventually restore Donald Trump's access.

Update May 5th, 11:40am ET: Donald Trump has made a statement saying that Facebook's actions are a "total disgrace and an embarrassment to our country." He added that "Free speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the radical left lunatics are afraid of the truth." The statement ends by saying that "corrupt social media companies must pay a political price."
A California bar owner was arrested after officials said he sold fake COVID-19 vaccine cards from his business, news outlets reported.

Todd Anderson, the 59-year-old owner of The Old Corner Saloon in Clements, was arrested Tuesday after undercover agents bought bogus coronavirus vaccination cards from the bar, CBS 13 reported.

When someone gets vaccinated against the coronavirus, they receive a vaccination card at their first appointment. It lists which of the three authorized vaccines the person received and the date and location of each shot, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People need to keep their vaccination cards as proof that they received a shot. Experts have said that the cards could eventually be needed for some activities like traveling, entering schools or using mass transit, McClatchy News reported.

Fake COVID vaccine cards are a growing  and illegal  trend. Heres whats being done

Because they might be important in the coming months, its become a growing trend to buy or sell fake cards. The FBI has said thats illegal.

A California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control spokesperson told KCRA that at least eight cards were sold to customers from The Old Corner Saloon for about $20 per card.

We were able to purchase four, and then today we located 30 blank cards, laminating machines, laminate, cutters and things to manufacture the cards, Luke Blehm, a Alcoholic Beverage Control spokesperson, told KOVR.

The bar owner could face charges for falsifying medical records, using a fake seal and identify theft, KOVR reported. No one from the bar provided comments to news outlets.

On the cards there are several agency seals on them, Blehm told KCRA. That is illegal to falsify a seal of an agency or an entity, which makes that identify theft. And also theres a section  with forging a seal.

The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control told CBS 13 that officials are investigating if an employee was involved with the cards. The agency also plans to file disciplinary action against the bar, which could get its liquor license revoked.

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It is disheartening to have members in our community show flagrant disregard for public health in the midst of a pandemic, San Joaquin County District Attorney Tori Verber Salazar told CBS 13. Distributing, falsifying or purchasing fake COVID-19 vaccine cards is against the law and endangers yourself and those around you.

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Last month, Target said it would pay $18 an hour for 2,000 workers it plans to hire for a distribution center its opening in Little Village this summer. Amazon, which already pays new hires at least $15 an hour, announced it will start increasing pay, anywhere from 50 cents to $3 an hour more, starting in May. Amazon said the pay increase was part of an effort to increase hiring as more people shop online during the pandemic.
A former Cape Fear Christian Academy employee faces additional charges in a sex abuse case involving athletes at the school.

Tammy Tyner Moran, 45, was arrested on April 26 and is now charged with sexual activity with a student and embezzlement from the school, according to documents obtained by The News & Observer Wednesday from the Harnett County sheriffs office. On March 19, she was also arrested and charged with three felony charges of sexual activity by a substitute parent/custodian.

The school fired Moran from her job as chief financial officer upon her March arrest, the N&O previously reported. Moran and her husband housed the two out-of-town students at different times at their home in Coats. The two students, athletes at the school, claimed she sexually assaulted them.

Police said they had digital evidence of the abuse, The News & Observer previously reported.

At the time of her initial arrest, the attorneys for the victims, referred to as John Doe #1 and John Doe #2, told The News & Observer they were confident Moran had abused more students and encouraged those victims to come forward.

John Doe is a pseudonym used for the victims, who were minors at the time of the alleged incidents. The News & Observer generally does not identify victims of sexual assault or abuse.

Mother claims school didnt keep students safe

John Doe #2 allegedly was abused during the 2020-21 school year. His claims resulted in Morans original charges in March.

The latest charges pertain to her alleged abuse of John Doe #1, who lived with Moran in 2019.

The victims attorneys Coleman Cowan and Bakari Sellers said the mother of John Doe #1 had reported the abuse to school officials but Moran was allowed to continue hosting students as boarders.

In light of that happening, Joe Doe #1s mother on Wednesday again criticized school officials for not keeping students safe.

The people in charge of Cape Fear Christian Academy knew this woman was a predator, the mother said in a statement provided to The News & Observer by the attorneys. I told them and they ignored me. They were supposed to protect these students. They were supposed to protect my son. Instead, they ignored him. We cant let this ever happen again.

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Following her second arrest last week, Moran was released on an unsecured bond during a hearing before a Harnett County magistrate.

Sellars and Cowan praised Harnett County law enforcement for continuing to pursue new cases.

The Harnett County Sheriffs office should be applauded for their diligence and resolve in this ongoing investigation, the lawyers said in a statement to The News & Observer. These new charges involve a sexual assault by Tammy Moran which leaders at Cape Fear Christian Academy were warned about more than a year ago. These student-athletes and their families did everything they could to raise the alarm with school officials so what happened to them would not happen to others.

Coleman works for Durham-based James Scott Farrin and Sellers is from The Strom Law Firm in South Carolina.

Morans next court appearance is scheduled for May 25.
A misleading description of 13-year-old Adam Toledos fatal shooting by police was given in court by a prosecutor because of a communication breakdown at top levels of Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxxs office, an internal investigation found.

The checks and balances that should have been in place for someone to be able to review, to ensure that what was being said in court aligned with the information that the office had. It didnt work, Foxx told the Tribune in an interview.

The prosecutor who gave the inadvertently faulty statement in court last month, James Murphy, was restored to his position after about two weeks of administrative leave, according to a news release Wednesday making the investigations findings public. Murphy did not intend to give the impression that Toledo was holding a gun at the precise moment he was shot, the news release stated.

But shortly before the findings were released, rank-and-file prosecutors received an email from Foxx announcing the resignation of her second-in-command, Jennifer Coleman, a 26-year veteran of the office who was named First Assistant about five months ago.

Wednesdays news release did not mention Coleman by name. Neither did Foxx, who in the interview with the Tribune declined to comment on personnel matters.

But she did stress prosecutors were conducting completely separate investigations into what happened that night: one into the shooting itself, and one regarding the man who was with Toledo.

And only the first assistant had active knowledge of both investigations, Foxx said  indicating that only Coleman was in a position to ensure that the information Murphy read in court was complete and appropriate.

In short, the Tribune has learned, Murphy had an unexpectedly brief amount of time to write a description of the shooting, and because of the way the office is structured, he did not have access to all of the evidence that had been turned over. And prosecutors failed to quickly recognize how Murphys statements could have been misinterpreted, the news release stated.

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Foxxs office faced some of the heaviest criticism it has seen in years after it partially disavowed its in-court description of Toledos shooting last month.

The description was given in court April 10 during a court hearing for Ruben Roman, the 21-year-old man who was with Toledo the night of the shooting. Roman allegedly fired the shots that drew police to the scene that night, and he was initially slated to appear on charges of gun possession and reckless discharge.

But in the hours before court, Coleman instructed prosecutors to add a charge of child endangerment, according to a source, meaning they would have to publicly provide details tying Roman to Toledos death. That left Murphy with a very short window of time to put together the proffer, that is, the in-court statement outlining prosecutors evidence.

Foxx was not consulted on whether to add the child endangerment charge, a source told the Tribune.

In court that afternoon, Murphy told Judge Susana Ortiz that Toledo was turning toward the officer, who shouted: Drop it, drop it.

(Toledo) has a gun in his right hand, Murphy told the judge. The officer fired one shot  striking him in the chest. The gun that the victim was holding landed against the fence a few feet away.

That was the sole public narrative of the shooting for almost a week, until April 15, when the Civilian Office of Police Accountability released multiple videos of events that night.

And each sentence of the proffer, in isolation, appears to be supported by the video.

But viewed in aggregate, the videos appear to show Toledo with a gun in his hand that he tosses just before he turns toward the officer with his hands up  all within a split second.

Less than an hour before the release of the videos, the states attorneys office issued a statement saying Murphy had not fully informed himself before speaking in court days earlier and should not have left room for listeners to infer that Toledo was holding a gun at the exact moment he was shot.

The matter drew scornful national attention, with major media figures accusing prosecutors of lying and covering up the shooting.

Foxx said she first saw media accounts of Murphys proffer the day after court, and they did not square with the description she had been given of the shooting.

Is this a representation that got lost in translation with the media, or was this an impression that we gave, or did we say these facts? Those were the questions that I had looking at the reporting, she said.

On the following Monday, April 12, she watched the video for the first time and found that it did not line up with the way reporters were describing her offices in-court account, she said. So she assigned a staffer to look into it, speak with Murphy, pull transcripts and see where the gaps were, she said.

That is partially why it took prosecutors so long to step back from Murphys initial description, Foxx said.

We lost time, one, because it hadnt been caught before I brought it to (peoples) attention and two, once I brought it to the attention ... there was not an appreciation of the urgency of the matter, she told the Tribune.

The Toledo matter was particularly complicated because separate divisions of the prosecutors office were simultaneously conducting separate investigations into what happened that night.

The Felony Review unit examined evidence from the Chicago Police Department in order to determine whether Roman should be charged in connection with his actions that night.

But it is the Law Enforcement Accountability Division that is investigating whether to charge the officer who shot Toledo. They got their evidence from the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

LEAD is walled off from nearly every other part of the States Attorneys office, by design, so that the fraught work of investigating police shootings can be conducted as independently as possible, Foxx said. That unit reports directly to the first assistant and is intended to have limited interaction with the chain of command that governs other divisions.

So while both units were investigating overlapping parts of that night, LEAD did not share evidence with felony review, Foxx said.

Murphy said in court last month that he had seen video of the shooting himself.

But as per protocol, he did not have access to certain evidence that had been obtained by LEAD, Foxx said, including videos, the enhancements of videos, reports (and) interviews.

However, there was a member of the executive team that had insight into both of those incidents, and the information available that LEAD had and the information that felony review had, Foxx said.

When asked specifically if she was referring to Coleman, Foxx noted only that LEAD reports directly to the first assistant and is outside the chain of command that other units follow.

(The problem wasnt) that information was siloed, it was siloed by design. The check and balance was, despite the silo, there was insight that could have alleviated the situation on April 10, she said.

Meanwhile, the office is reviewing the way it trains prosecutors to give bond proffers, and will ensure that further checks and balances work the way they are supposed to.

Foxx said she regretted that her office was a part of distracting from the key issue of the shooting itself.

The LEAD unit is still investigating whether to charge the officer who shot Toledo with any wrongdoing, and Foxx stressed the importance of making sure that when we have cases like this, particularly in this case of a 13-year-old boy who was killed by a police officer, that that investigation is free from politics, is free from pressures, and is done with the highest level of integrity for the family and for the accused officer.

mcrepeau@chicagotribune.com
The news that she wasn't pregnant came as a relief to 17-year-old Deiglis, already the mother to a five-month-old baby.

She wasn't planning to have another child, but like most people in Venezuela, she can't afford contraception.

Teenage pregnancies are an increasing issue in poor rural communities such as Vidono, Deiglis's home, where there's a lack of sexual and reproductive education and even less public promotion of contraception methods.

Deiglis took three buses to reach a clinic run by the NGO Doctors Without Borders, where she received a free hormonal implant under her skin that will provide five years of contraceptive protection.

"I can't afford to buy one, it's really expensive," she told AFP.

The treatment normally costs $10: four times the minimum monthly salary.

The Doctors Without Borders clinic -- called "Friends for Health" -- focuses primarily on vulnerable young people like Deiglis.

Of the more than 10,000 sexual and reproductive health consultations carried out by the clinic in 2020, 30 percent involved teenagers.

"We have five contraception methods: the female condom, male condom, contraceptive pills, progesterone injections and implants, which last five years," said Lucia Brum, who runs the clinic in Anzoategui state.

- 'It gets to you' -

Before receiving the implant, Deiglis needed to take a quick pregnancy test and produce a negative result.

Abortion is illegal in Venezuela and is only allowed if there is a risk to the mother's life.

Those breaking this law face between six months and two years in prison.

"Was your last sexual encounter with or without protection?" nurse Erika Fernandez asks Deiglis in a motherly tone.

"It really gets to you, seeing these youngsters," the 41-year-old Fernandez said later, breaking into tears.

"These treatments are expensive, the majority that come here tell us they can't afford any such treatment."

Story continues

Venezuela is in its eighth year of recession and fourth of hyperinflation, decimating the purchasing power of millions of citizens.

A packet of birth control pills costs between $10 and $25, while an injection is around $11 -- all prices out of reach for ordinary Venezuelans.

"I either eat or buy my contraceptive method," said Maria Caraballo, 26, a secondary school teacher and mother of an eight-month-old, who receives an injection at the clinic every three months to avoid getting pregnant again.

In her class, she has seen "quite a few pregnant 13, 14-year-olds."

"Many parents feel uncomfortable sitting down and talking to their children," said Caraballo.

Magdymar Leon, coordinator for the Venezuelan Alternative Sex Education Association (AVESA), says that a poll conducted between October and December of 2020 found that 60 percent of girls questioned knew "nothing" about contraceptive methods.

- 'They need a lot of help' -

President Nicolas Maduro has acknowledged the "problem" with teenage pregnancies, although there are no official figures on the issue.

A 2019 report from the UN Population Fund said 95 in every 1,000 births in the country were to mothers aged 15 to 19.

That put Venezuela behind only Ecuador (111) and Honduras (103) in Latin America but well over the regional average (62).

The alarming statistic is largely down to a lack of sex education.

Pregnant teenagers "need a lot of help," said Fernandez, the nurse, who wears a surgical mask, gloves, gown and cap to protect against Covid-19.

Sometimes the clinic cannot cope with patients arriving from neighboring towns.

Venezuela's public health system has collapsed under the strain of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Near where I live, they don't take much care of pregnant women," said Deiglis, who left the clinic with her implant.

mbj/jt/rsr/lda/bc/to/bfm
Missing French journalist Olivier Dubois says he has been kidnapped in Mali by a jihadist group with links to Al-Qaeda, according to a video circulating on social media on Wednesday.

Here is what we know about the latest kidnapping of a foreigner in the war-torn West African state.

- Why was the journalist in Gao? -

Olivier Dubois has worked as a freelance journalist in Mali since 2015, covering the country's jihadist conflict for French weekly Le Point, as well as the left-of-centre daily Liberation.

In the undated hostage video published on Wednesday, the 46-year-old said he was abducted on April 8 in Gao, northern Mali, by the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM), the biggest jihadist alliance in the Sahel.

According to military officials and diplomats interviewed by AFP, as well as Dubois' local help -- called a "fixer" in journalism -- the Frenchman had travelled to Gao to interview GSIM commander Abdallah Ag Albakaye.

Named only as Souleymane for security reasons, the fixer has often helped journalists navigate high-risk areas of the country.

He comes from Talataye, a region where Abdallah Ag Albakaye is active, about 150 kilometres (93 miles) west of Gao, and helped Dubois arrange the interview.

- The kidnapping -

Olivier Dubois landed in Gao by plane from the capital Bamako on the morning of April 8.

He had an appointment with Abdallah Ag Albakaye in an apartment in the town, and left several items, including his passport, in his hotel room before going to the meeting.

Souleymane said he accompanied Dubois to a street, where he saw the journalist get into a car with several men.

Dubois has not been seen in public since.

Officials discreetly put out an alert to a small group of people after he failed to show up for his return flight two days later.

Initially, there were hopes that the journalist had missed his flight because of a simple change of schedule or itinerary.

But those hopes were dashed after the hostage video came to light.

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French military officials questioned Souleymane for several days in Gao, where the French army has its main base in the Sahel region, before they handed him to Malian officials.

Souleymane has since been taken to Bamako, according to Malian security officers. Police are still questioning him.

- The context -

Mali has been battling a jihadist insurgency since 2012, when Islamist fighters first emerged during a rebellion by ethnic Tuareg separatists in the north.

France intervened to crush the rebellion, but the jihadists scattered and regrouped, taking their campaign into central Mali, an ethnic powderkeg, in 2015 and then into neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso.

Thousands of soldiers and civilians have died, hundreds of thousands have fled their homes and swathes of the Sahel lie outside of government control.

Several armed groups operate in the area around Gao.

Some are former rebels who signed a peace agreement with Mali's government in 2015.

But others are affiliated with al-Qaeda, or the Islamic State group, and are waging a brutal war against Malian and foreign troops.

The town of Gao is plagued by instability and crime, and much of the countryside remains in jihadist hands.

Journalists working in the Sahel, both local and foreign, risk being killed or kidnapped. Liberation, in a statement Wednesday, said that it had refused in advance Dubois' proposal of the interview.

Several governments -- including France's -- advise against all travel to most parts of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger because of the danger involved.

Two Spanish journalists were killed in mid-April while on assignment in eastern Burkina Faso, for example. Two French radio journalists were also killed in northern Mali in 2013.

With kidnappings, militants often take their captives to remote desert redoubts, where security forces struggle to mount effective rescue operations.

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Watch: Coronavirus cases detected among Indian delegation ahead of G7 talks

Indias Foreign Minister was on Wednesday self-isolating in London after two members of his delegation to a G7 summit tested positive for Covid-19.

Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in a tweet: Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well.

A senior UK diplomat said: We deeply regret that Foreign Minister Dr Jaishankar will be unable to attend the meeting today in person and will now attend virtually, but this is exactly why we have put in place strict Covid protocols and daily testing.

The Indian delegation, invited to attend the G7 along with the usual core members, is thought to have not yet attended Lancaster House in central London where G7 ministers are meeting thereby minimising any health risk to the summit.

All other attendees will continue to be tested daily and strict social distancing protocols will remain in place. Anyone who tests positive will be required to self-isolate.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, attends a press conference with Indias Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in London on Monday (AP)

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi earlier said protocols were in place at the gathering to stop Covid-19 spreading.

The meeting of foreign ministers is the first face-to-face in two years.

Mr Zahawi told BBC Breakfast: The protocols around testing and of course self-isolating apply to all the summit and the teams that support the foreign ministers that are in town at the moment.

Its important that I commend the Public Health England team that makes ssure that everybody is protected and anybody who has any symptoms or is identified to have an infection self-isolates, all that work is taking place.

The G7 members are the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan. India is not a member but a delegation had been invited to attend.

Leaders to discuss global access to vaccines

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The meeting, chaired by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, was on Wednesday expected to consider global equitable access to vaccines but ministers are unlikely to commit to specific pledges for the number of doses they will offer developing nations.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown and World Health Organisation chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have called on the wealthy nations to do more.

Mr Raab has stressed the UKs commitment to the Covax initiative, which distributes coronavirus jabs to developing nations.

He said: I think the Covax mechanism is particularly important at this very sensitive time, for the developing countries, vulnerable countries and the poorer countries around the world.

Ahead of the foreign ministers meeting in London, Dr Tedros said the summit of G7 leaders could be the most significant meeting in its history because of their ability to lead a global effort to offer vaccines and fund treatments through Covax and the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (Act-a).

Watch: What is long COVID?

With India facing a devastating second wave of coronavirus cases, Mr Raab said: We have been providing air concentrators, ventilators, things like that.

Obviously theres a good opportunity because Indias here to engage on all of those aspects, and I think its important when you are going through the eye of the storm to really listen to what they need.

And obviously being able to meet and discuss that is a great opportunity.

Other issues on the agenda on Wednesday include media freedom, arbitrary detention - on Sunday Mr Raab effectively accused Iran of treating Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as a hostage - and girls education.

The ministers will sign up to new global targets to get 40 million more girls into school and 20 million more girls reading by the age of 10 in low and lower middle income countries by 2026 and also promise 10.9 billion over the next two years to help women in developing countries get jobs and build businesses.

Read More

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Adolis Garcia hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to complete the Texas Rangers comeback in a 6-3 win against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Garcia had three hits, including his seventh home run, and three RBIs. Texas is 3-0 in extra innings this season and has scored 10 of their 11 runs in the series in the eighth inning or later.

Innings one through nine, hes already got a game plan going into the game, just kind of go through a routine, Garcia said through an interpreter. That situation that came up, he just kind of was ready for it. Theres no really any type of pressure. He continued to go to his plan.

Kyle Gibson, making his first start against his former team, gave up three runs and three hits with eight strikeouts.

Joely Rodriguez (1-1) struck out two in a perfect ninth, and Ian Kennedy gave up a leadoff single before getting a strikeout and game-ending double-play grounder for his eighth save in as many chances.

Adolis, for some reason, has a flair for the dramatic, Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. Seems to get a big hit every time we need it. Big home run when we need it, not surprising, I guess. Thats just speaks to this team and the energy we have right now, its pretty special.

Brandon Waddell (0-1) gave up all three runs in the 10th for Minnesota after Taylor Rogers allowed Willie Calhouns leadoff homer and Isiah Kiner-Falefas sacrifice fly in the ninth, which followed third baseman Josh Donaldsons fielding error on Charlie Culbersons grounder.

Shortstop Andrelton Simmons managed to track down Kiner-Falefas fly but with Simmons back turned to the plate, Culberson raced home.

The Twins are 0-6 in extra innings this season.

Any loss like this is tough, but when you have a bunch of in the first one month to start the year, its especially hard, Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said. Weve played a lot of games where were playing winning baseball, were going into the last inning or two ahead, sometimes well ahead and we havent been able to win those ballgames. We have to win those ballgames. We just have to.

Story continues

Byron Buxton hit a two-run homer in the first inning for the Twins. Willians Astudillo added a solo home run, but Minnesota only had only four hits.

I think weve got to score more runs, obviously, Twins catcher Mitch Garver said. I think our offense needs to pick it up a little bit. Gibby did throw really well tonight. Just shake it off. Well get them tomorrow.

WELCOME RETURN

Gibson, in his second season with Texas, spent seven years pitching for the Twins after being a first-round draft pick in 2009. Tuesday marked his 95th career start at Target Field, the most of any player.

Since giving up five runs in just 1/3 of an inning on Opening Day, Gibson has allowed six runs total over his last six starts, spanning 41 innings.

I think they were really patient in the first inning and I think that caught me off guard a little bit, Gibson said. The pitch to Buxton was maybe one of my worst sliders of the night. I think that just comes from being a little more amped up and a little more excited. You end up leaving the ball up a little bit there when youre trying to go down and in.

TRAINERS ROOM

Rangers: INF Brock Holt was placed on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring strain. INF Andy Ibanezs contract was selected from Triple-A Round Rock, and he made his major league debut with a pinch-single in the ninth.  RHP Kohei Arihara played catch Tuesday and reported no pain in his right middle finger, but he will not start on his regularly scheduled day on Wednesday. Arihara will throw a bullpen session on Thursday and would tentatively start on Saturday if he suffers no discomfort.  C Sam Huff (right knee surgery) was moved from the 10-day to the 60-day IL.

Twins: IF/OF Luis Arraez was placed on the seven-day IL with concussion-like symptoms. Arraez sustained the injury in a home-plate collision in Mondays game. To replace Arraez, Minnesota recalled INF Nick Gordon from Triple-A St. Paul.  RHP Michael Pineda wont start in his scheduled slot on Wednesday as he deals with a wrist injury. Pineda could possibly start on Thursday with the rest of the rotation pushed back a day.  Rookie Alex Kirilloff was held out of Tuesdays lineup with a sore wrist. Baldelli said Kirilloff will see a hand and wrist specialist on Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Minnesota will recall LHP Lewis Thorpe (0-0, 3.60 ERA) from Triple-A to start Wednesdays game. Thorpe pitched in two games earlier this season for the Twins. Texas will counter with LHP Hyeon-Jong Yang (0-0, 2.08). Yang will be making his first major league start after he allowed two runs in two relief appearances over 8 2/3 innings. Yang, 33, played 14 seasons in South Korea before signing with the Rangers in February.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany said on Wednesday it was banning Ansaar International, an Islamic organisation which Berlin says has financed terrorism around the world, and police raided affiliates of the group.

"If you want to fight terror you have to dry up its sources of funding," Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said on Twitter.

Ansaar says on its website it provides humanitarian aid to people affected by war and crises by building or financing the construction of hospitals, orphanages and schools.

Seehofer said Ansaar and an affiliated organisation "spread a Salafist world view and finance terror around the world under the guise of humanitarian aid."

A man who answered the phone at Ansaar's main office in the western city of Duesseldorf declined to comment on the ban and raids.

The interior ministry said in a statement that about 1,000 police officers had taken part in raids on affiliates of Ansaar in 10 German states and that 150,000 euros ($180,000) in cash had been confiscated.

In 2019, police raided offices belonging to Ansaar and another organisation on suspicion of financing the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is on a European Union terrorism blacklist.

($1 = 0.8341 euros)

($1 = 0.8340 euros)

(Reporting by Maria Sheahan and Joseph Nasr, Editing by Robert Birsel and Timothy Heritage)
BERLIN (AP)  The German government on Wednesday banned a Muslim organization that it accused of supporting "terrorism globally with its donations."

Police raided buildings associated with Ansaar International in 10 German states, the German Interior Ministry said in a statement. The ministry alleged the money the organization collected ostensibly went into welfare projects as a ruse to help finance groups such as the Syrian al-Qaida affiliate known as the Nusra Front, the Palestinian group Hamas and al-Shabab in Somalia.

The organization Ansaar International and its suborganizations were banned. The network finances terrorism globally with its donations, an Interior Ministry spokesperson tweeted.

More than 1,000 police officers raided buildings and office spaces across Germany and confiscated about 150,000 euros ($180,000).

When wanting to fight terrorism, one needs to dry out its money sources, German Interior Ministry Horst Seehofer said. He alleged that Ansaar International spreads a Salafist view of the world and is financing terror around the globe under the disguise of humanitarian help.

A man who answered a phone call to the organization's headquarters in the western German city of Duesseldorf immediately hung up when The Associated Press called seeking comment.
Excluding the storm impact, Exelon Generation would have earned adjusted (non-GAAP) operating earnings of 32 cents per share, which was in keeping with expectations, said Joseph Nigro, Exelons senior executive vice president and CFO said in the news release. The Texas storms and subsequent generation outages resulted in a 90 cents per share impact to operating earnings, though we expect to narrow some of that loss over the course of the year.
It wasnt me.

A Florida man who is seen in a widely shared Facebook photo smiling while holding up a distressed shark said he isnt the one who caught the fish and feels bad about posing with it.

Ive never seen one before, Joseph Wilson told the Citrus County Chronicle. He had a rope tied to its tail and it was still in the water. I said, Can I take a picture of it?

The 22-year-old Lutz resident said he then picked it up for about 10 seconds before putting it back in the water. Im an animal lover. I would never do anything to hurt one.

After Wilson posted the photo on Facebook, the Real Florida hunting and fishing page shared the disturbing snap with the caption, Whats going on in Florida? with a wide-eyed emoji.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

Soon enough, outraged social media users were contacting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission  which launched an investigation. The fish turned out to be an illegally caught tiger shark from the Gulf of Mexico.

The FWC is aware of the incident that took place over the weekend on the Chassahowitzka River involving a tiger shark, FWC spokeswoman Karen Parker said in a statement to media. The FWC takes this very seriously and is grateful to everyone who reported this incident. Tiger sharks are prohibited from harvest in state waters.

Witnesses told WFLA that the shark did not survive. The creature was gutted, its blood spilling into the river nicknamed The Chazz.

The two fishermen who were seen dragging the shark now face second-degree misdemeanors.

FWC law enforcement officers have investigated this incident and have issued a Notice to Appear to two individuals for taking a prohibited species of shark, said another FWC statement. The two subjects currently have a Citrus County court date.

The suspects were not publicly identified; Wilson will not be charged.
NIAMEY (Reuters) - Unidentified gunmen killed 15 soldiers and wounded four more on Tuesday in an attack on an army post in southwest Niger, the ministry of defence said on Wednesday.

The attack in north Tillabery region, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso, came two days after gunmen killed 16 soldiers in the nearby Tahoua region of the West African country.[L1N2MP0C0]

The soldiers were part of a special anti-jihadist force called Operation Almahaou, said Niger's defence minister in a statement. They were attacked on Tuesday afternoon by heavily armed men on motorcycles, whom he described as "terrorists".

Several of the assailants were also killed in combat, while others retreated toward the north and are being pursued, said the statement.

The area is overrun by jihadist groups with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State, who have killed hundreds of soldiers and civilians since 2018 when they began broadening their reach beyond bases in Mali.

The scale of the violence this year has called into question claims of progress in the fight against Islamist militants by governments in West Africa's Sahel region and former colonial power France, which has 5,000 troops there to support them.

(Reporting by Boureima Balima; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by David Gregorio)
Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Mexico and Guatemala on June 7 and 8, she said during a visit to Rhode Island on Wednesday. This will be Harris' first trip abroad as vice president.

Harris also said she will be talking to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador this week. He said at his daily press briefing that he would be speaking with Harris about U.S.-bound immigration.

In March, President Biden tasked Harris with leading the administration's efforts to stem migration at the southern border, announcing her new role as border apprehensions soared after Mr. Biden took office. He called her the "most qualified person" to lead U.S. efforts with Mexico and the Northern Triangle, and he said he hoped "we can move this along."

The White House said at the time that Harris would work on "stemming the flow of irregular migrants to the U.S.," while at the same time working toward the goal of establishing a strategic partnership with these countries.

Tensions are high in El Salvador, where the new parliament just tossed out all five of the judges who sit on the country's highest court. On Tuesday, Harris said that "we need to respond" to what's going on in El Salvador. Asked about those comments by CBS News Wednesday, Harris replied that the administration is working on potential responses.

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Former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has been dismissed from the supervisory board of Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin after making a jibe about a TV pundit's race via WhatsApp, it was confirmed Wednesday.

Lehmann had sat on the Hertha Berlin supervisory board as an adviser to the club's major shareholder Lars Windhorst, boss of Tennor Holding.

"We have terminated the consultancy contract with Jens Lehmann. This also ends his activity on the supervisory board of Hertha Berlin," a Tennor Holding spokesman told AFP subsidiary SID.

The 51-year-old, a member of Arsenal's 'Invincibles' in the 200304 season, was shown the door by Hertha after inadvertently sending a WhatsApp message to former Germany defender Dennis Aogo, whose father is Nigerian.

The 34-year-old Aogo appeared as a pundit during the Champions League semi-finals for Sky on Tuesday and in the WhatsApp message sent to Aogo, Lehmann asked "Is Dennis actually your token black guy?"

Aogo took a screen shot of the message and posted to his 81,000 followers on Instagram with the caption "WOW, are you serious? @jenslehmannofficial The message was probably not meant for me!!!"

Lehmann attempted to explain his comment on Wednesday via Twitter.

"In a private message from my mobile phone to Dennis Aogo, an impression was created for which I apologised in conversation with Dennis," Lehmann wrote on his Twitter account.

"As a former international, he is very knowledgeable and has a great presence and brings ratings to Sky."

Lehmann did not say who his original message was intended for.

Lehmann succeeded Jurgen Klinsmann on Hertha's supervisory board in early May last year.

Hertha Berlin president Werner Gegenbauer welcomed the club's decision.

"Hertha Berlin distances itself from any form of racism. We therefore welcome the step taken by Tennor Holding," he said.

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By Stephan Schepers and Tobias Schlie

PELLWORM, Germany (Reuters) - If the North Sea island of Pellworm vanishes beneath the waves it will take with it the 300-year-old family farm of Sophie Backsen, 22, who last week won a court judgment forcing Germany to take swifter action to combat climate change.

Backsen was one of a group of plaintiffs who challenged Germany's 2019 climate law, saying that by moving too slowly to cut greenhouse gas emissions, Germany was stealing from younger generations.

"Pellworm is simply my home, my homeland. This is where I grew up. Our farm is here. And that would be a huge loss for me," she said, walking along a dyke under a low grey sky.

The island has an average elevation of just two metres above sea level. It is home to the 180-hectare farm, with 100 sheep and several hundred cattle, that has been in the family for generations, was converted to organic by her father and forms the inheritance of Backsen and her four siblings.

"I could still live somewhere else, but at the moment I just couldn't imagine that," she said.

Politicians, including those who passed the 2019 law, rushed to welcome the court ruling, which came four months ahead of a national election in which the opposition Greens, surging in the polls, are increasingly seen as the party to beat.

But for Backsen the fight is personal, with some climate scientists predicting that melting ice and warming oceans could raise sea levels far enough to drown Pellworm by the end of the century.

"Sometimes you think to yourself: Hey, guys, that can't be. You can't leave it like that for us," she said.

That view was endorsed on Thursday by Germany's Constitutional Court which said that by leaving the bulk of emissions cuts until after 2030, the 2019 law was placing a disproportionate burden on the young.

It ruled that Germany must update the law by the end of next year to set out how it will bring carbon emissions down to almost zero by 2050.

(Reporting by Stephan Schepers and Tobias Schlie; Writing by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
Beverly Bennett, right, and Elizabeth Arnold, both visiting from out of town, shop at Designer Sample Store on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica on Tuesday. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles County is seeing new signs of a resurgent economy, with plummeting coronavirus cases allowing for a faster-than-expected reopening of bars and expanded capacity for restaurants and other businesses.

In progressing Tuesday to the least restrictive yellow tier of Californias color-coded reopening system, the nations most populous county can now unshackle its economy to the widest extent possible, sparking hope for significant recovery in sectors long battered by the pandemic.

A swath of businesses and venues  including restaurants, gyms, movie theaters, amusement parks, stadiums and museums  will be able to operate at higher capacity starting later this week. Indoor bars will be able to reopen without being required to serve food.

The relaxed restrictions, details of which will be released Wednesday and go into effect Thursday, are accompanied by a newfound sense of optimism in a region that was a national epicenter of the pandemic just a few months ago, with hospitals pushed to the brink and staggering numbers of people dying every day.

After peaking at 241 deaths a day over a seven-day period in January, L.A. County is now recording about 19 COVID-related deaths a day  the lowest such figure since the autumn.

California now has the lowest coronavirus case rate of any state and, if the growing crowds in business districts, malls and restaurants are any indication, residents long locked down are feeling safer about going out.

Doane Liu, executive director of the L.A. Department of Convention and Tourism Development, said that at the worst point in the pandemic, occupancy at the city's hotels fell below 20%. That figure has already topped 50% and is on track to approach 70% by mid-2022, he said.

The L.A. Tourism and Convention Board, a nonprofit group that markets the city, has begun running ads with the message Start Your Comeback in 20 national media markets.

Tourism is a huge piece of the county's economy, and it was devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some boosters hope to see the sector significantly recover during the summer but are not sure how much.

Story continues

A UCLA forecast released in March said California's leisure and hospitality industries would grow faster this year than any other sector, with a 10% gain as restaurants and theme parks begin to reopen.

There is pent-up demand for travel. More than two-thirds of Americans say they plan on traveling this summer, Liu said. Things are really reopening, like Universal Studios and the museums.

Promising signs also can be seen in Belmont Shore, the popular Long Beach shopping district that's typically a magnet for residents and tourists alike.

Since the recent reopenings, Simmzys restaurant on 2nd Street has experienced its highest sales ever  even since before the pandemic, according to manager Rachel Gerdeman.

People just want to get out of the house. They want to get out, they want to eat, they want to be around other people, she said. Its awesome.

With the county now in the yellow tier, Simmzys will soon be able to reopen its countertop bar.

The more and more people we can sit in the restaurant, the more people we can serve, Gerdeman said.

After more than a year of rollercoaster lockdowns, however, the move to the yellow tier made little difference to Shella Garcia, who has owned the childrens clothing shop Sweet Threads in Belmont Shore for four years.

Its a regular Tuesday, Garcia said with a shrug.

Her co-worker, Jaimie Lor, said that while local patronage hasnt quite returned to normal, shes noticed a slight increase in visitors from out of state. Garcia agreed  she went out of town herself recently.

With the lifting of restrictions, I definitely want to get out, Garcia said. Hopefully, that will bring business here.

A more complicated question is what will happen to retailers who cater to office workers in places such as Century City, downtown L.A. and Westwood. Many businesses have had their employees largely working remotely for more than a year now, devastating businesses that rely on the patronage of onsite workers.

Maria Salinas, president and chief executive of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, said businesses would be creating a new normal.

Were going to emerge into a different kind of economy that I believe is going to be much more flexible, she said. We see that everywhere, in every industry  rethinking how they use technology, how they sell their products, how theyre communicating with their workforce.

Salinas said businesses are pursuing hybrid methods of returning to the office that give people more flexibility and hammering out safety protocols.

For both workers and customers, she said, you can have all the safety measures in place, but part of what is going to make it is the psyche of feeling comfortable walking into a space.

Stuart Waldman, president of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn., said he has checked in with more than 100 of his groups members over the last three months.

For now, he said, it doesnt appear that people are quite ready yet mentally to come back to the office full force.

It runs the gamut, Waldman added. Ive talked to offices who want everybody back right away. Ive talked to offices that are going partially online. And I just spoke to somebody at a law firm in Warner Center who wants to get rid of their office  they dont think they need it.

Moving to the yellow tier was hailed as a major achievement for L.A. County. It got there by recording an adjusted daily new case rate of fewer than 2 per 100,000 people, overall test positivity of less than 2% and a health-equity positivity of below 2.2% for two consecutive weeks.

According to data released Tuesday, the countys latest adjusted case rate was 1.6, one of the lowest figures in the state.

Weve done a really decent job holding our own if you look at our case numbers, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said. And people are really invested, I think, at this point in seeing our recovery move forward.

Officials are generally optimistic for the future, but have expressed concern at a recent 23% week-over-week drop in administered vaccine doses. They also said physical distancing, wearing face coverings and other safety rules must be followed if the county is to avoid regressing  which happened twice last year after reopenings.

"The hard work we're doing as a community to protect ourselves and each other from this infection is allowing us to return to the many activities we cherish. Thanks to everyone for all the masking, distancing, hand washing and vaccinating," Ferrer said.

For Cinco de Mayo, officials urged people to avoid large crowds, wear a mask at all times except when eating or drinking and, if celebrating with other people outside their household, to do it outdoors.

People who haven't been fully vaccinated are still required to wear masks in most settings with other people. Fully vaccinated people don't need to wear masks in most outdoor settings but need to keep them on when it's crowded.

So far, some business owners say they are seeing the benefits of the ongoing reopening.

At Ronan, a restaurant on Melrose Avenue, business has been increasing week by week, said co-owner Caitlin Cutler.

The latest health order, she said, means the restaurant can have 20 seats indoors, up from 16, in addition to the ones that are on the patio and in the parking lot.

To have the restaurants receipts growing, and seeing people eating indoors, is really rewarding, she said.

Thats part of why you work in a restaurant  having regular customers, seeing people come back, having them celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and graduations, Cutler said. For a year we put food in a box and just sent it out with a stranger."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyan Jaishankar said on Wednesday he will join ongoing G7 meetings in London virtually after he was informed about exposure to people with possible coronavirus infection.

Sky News reported earlier that two members of India's delegation had tested positive for COVID-19.

"Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases," Jaishankar said in a tweet. "As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well."

(Reporting by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar pulled out of in-person meetings at a G7 event in London on Wednesday, citing possible exposure to people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

Driving the news: Jaishankar met in person this week with U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken, though delegates attending the gathering are tested daily, wear masks and observe social-distancing guidelines, according to AP.

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"We have no reason to believe any of our delegation is at risk, State Department Ned Price said.

Jaishankar said he would attend the rest of his meetings virtually. India is not a member of the G7, but the foreign minister was invited to attend as a guest along with representatives from South Korea, Australia and South Africa.

The big picture: India is in the midst of the world's worst coronavirus outbreak, reporting over 380,000 cases and more than 3,700 deaths in the last 24 hours. The horrific surge in infections is believed to be driven largely by new virus variants, and has prompted the U.S. to restrict travel from India.

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We're still stinging like Susan Lucci at the 1998 Emmys after learning this week that not even one single metro burger made it onto this year's Iowa Beef Industry Council top 10 list.

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Nominations were submitted by the public and the top vote-getters won. (Yay democracy)

Only 100% real-beef burgers were eligible. (Our apologies, tofu.)

The Council declined our helpful offer to launch and assist with a recount. But they did provide Axios with some of the metro nominees. In no particular order:

Here are a few of our reader favorites:

"Lachele's has quickly become one of my all-time favorite burger spots. It even gives Portillo's a run for its money."  Giada Morresi, Des Moines.

Lucky Horse  Michael Hellman, Des Moines.

"Park Avenue Pub is a total dive, but a delicious burger."  Ryan Day, Granger.

What they're saying:

"Look, no one across the state wants to say the best burger is in Des Moines. I get it. But if they want to keep that narrative, not only are they being misleading, they're just wrong. Lachele's is the state champion until someone can match their level."

Grant Young, Des Moines

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At least I belong to a generation that was taught penmanship as a high value, so theoretically, writing a column by hand shouldnt be that hard. I wrote letters in longhand long into my 20s. But writing, like the rest of life, is built on habits, and like most people Ive lost the handwriting habit. My penmanship has devolved into an inscrutable scrawl. The only times I write by hand now are to scribble into a reporters notebook or to write a condolence or birthday card; none of those requires serious structuring of thoughts. Structure is the hardest part of writing and its easier on a computer.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is joining a growing legion of Republican lawmakers who support banning transgender girls from playing in women's sports.

The state of play: There's typically legislation targeting transgender people every year by a small group of conservative legislators in the state, but this is the first time Reynolds has overtly pushed for it.

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Driving the news: During a press conference yesterday, Reynolds said she told Republican leaders she wants to see a bill addressing the issue on her desk, even though session has almost ended.

She said she believes it's a "fairness" issue, suggesting cisgender girls will be at a disadvantage when it comes to qualifying for events and scholarships.

"We either have girl sports or we don't," Reynolds added.

She first signaled her position during a Fox News town hall last week.

The big picture: Nearly 90 bills targeting trans kids have been introduced by predominately Republican state legislatures this year, per ACLU data.

Nine other bills across five states, mostly focused on health care, have failed.

Worth noting: Like other lawmakers, Reynolds didn't cite a specific complaint or instance of when a trans student held an unfair advantage.

The other side: Reynolds' move is part of a nationwide effort to rally up a conservative base that may feel fearful or be uneducated about the trans community, said Becky Ritland, interim executive director of Iowa Safe Schools.

"Iowa Nice does not apply to the trans community," Ritland said. "That really just exacerbates students not feeling safe at school."

What's next: Expect to see this issue pop up as an amendment on top of a another bill  which recently happened in Florida.

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The Iowa Legislature will send a bill to Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk that would deny state grants and contracts to any local governments and businesses that require customers to prove they've had the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Iowa Senate gave final passage to a bill limiting the use of the so-called vaccine passports on Wednesday afternoon, exactly four weeks after Reynolds made a public call for the state to "take a stand" against them. The Iowa House passed the same bill last week.

"Here in Iowa, we will protect Iowans from being forced by tyrannical governments to inject their body with chemicals that they may or may not wish to have," Sen. Jake Chapman, R-Adel, said Wednesday.

The bill passed 32-16, with two Democrats  Sens. Eric Giddens, of Cedar Falls, and Jackie Smith, of Sioux City  voting in favor, and one Republican  Sen. Jim Carlin, of Sioux City  voting against.

No one besides Chapman, the bill's floor manager, spoke for or against the bill during debate.

"Vaccine passports" are identification systems people could use to show they've received COVID-19 shots. The White House has said the federal government will not roll out its own system requiring Americans to carry vaccine credentials and will instead let the private sector take the lead. Iowa state officials have also not said they plan to create such a requirement, nor have lawmakers cited any local governments planning to do so.

More: How would Iowa's proposed ban on "vaccine passports" work? We broke it down

The bill, House File 889, would prohibit the state or any political subdivision in Iowa from including a person's COVID-19 vaccination status on a government-issued identification card. Businesses and government entities also could not require customers or others invited onto their premises to prove they have been vaccinated before entering.

The bill's wide-ranging definition of "business" would apply to venues ranging from movie theaters to churches to private colleges. The bill specifically includes retailers who are required to have a sales tax permit, a nonprofit or not-for-profit organization or an establishment open to the public or that limits entrance by a cover charge or membership requirement. Businesses and governments that violate the ban could not receive state grants and contracts.

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The bill's prohibitions would not apply to health care facilities, such as hospitals or nursing homes, and would not affect requirements employers may place on their employees.

Iowa is among several states where Republicans have worked on proposals to ban or limit proof of vaccination credentials.

Republicans have said the bill is needed to protect medical privacy and prevent businesses from discriminating against customers based on their vaccination status. Some Democrats have said they could support the restriction on government-issued vaccine passports, but others have said they don't agree with the way the bill approaches restrictions on businesses.

Last week, Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, told reporters that vaccine passports are not an issue in Iowa and that the odds of the state adopting them "are about the same as me becoming the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers."

"I continue to believe that we have these enormous challenges facing our state," he said. "Vaccine passports is not one of them."

The bill gained some bipartisan support during the process and received seven Democratic votes in the House when it passed. But some Republicans have opposed it, saying they want it to go further. Five House Republicans voted against the bill last week, in addition to Carlin's no vote Wednesday.

During a House subcommittee meeting on the bill last week, Carlin said he had reservations about exemptions in the bill for health care facilities. A proposed amendment that would have removed that exemption failed in the House last week.

Ian Richardson covers the Iowa Statehouse for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at irichardson@registermedia.com, at 515-284-8254, or on Twitter at @DMRIanR.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Senate OKs 'vaccine passport' ban; bill sent to Gov. Kim Reynolds
PARIS (AP)  After living in freedom for decades in France, nine Italians convicted of left-wing terrorism for attacks in the 1970s and 1980s are expected in a Paris court Wednesday for an extradition hearing.

The hearing is a first step in what could be a two- or three-year process to determine whether to send them to Italy. But their arrest last week was seen as an important move toward resolving a long-festering political and judicial dispute between Rome and Paris.

Seven were arrested at their homes in France on Wednesday, and two others surrendered to police the next day. They were questioned and then released under judicial supervision.

Police are still seeking one other person. All 10 were convicted in Italy of crimes dating to the 1970s and 1980s, but had fled Italy and sought refuge abroad before they could be imprisoned to serve their sentences.

The Paris court now must decide whether to approve the extradition of each person.

Five of those arrested were former members of the Red Brigades, which during the 1970s and 1980s carried out killings, kidnappings and kneecappings, in which targets were shot in the legs.

Among those facing extradition hearings is Giorgio Petrostefani, 77, a militant from the far-left group Lotta Continua (The Struggle Continues), who was convicted of the 1972 slaying of the Milan police chief.

Also arrested was a member of the Armed Cells Against Territorial Power, who was convicted of the 1979 killing of a Carabinieri police officer. Others were also convicted for their roles in the murders of law enforcement officers.

Under a 1980s policy known as the Mitterrand doctrine, named for Socialist President Francois Mitterrand, France refused to extradite Italian far-left activists who had fled to France unless there was evidence that they committed crimes of blood.

The doctrine was based on the idea that our country doesnt respect democratic freedoms, or respects them less than France, Italian cabinet minister Andrea Orlando told private Italian TV last week. Italy defeated terrorism without weakening democracy.

Italy has sought the extradition of around 200 convicted activists believed to be in France over the years, and after lengthy negotiations, France agreed this year to seek the arrests of 10 people convicted of particularly grave crimes.
ROME (AP)  A jury in Italy convicted two American friends in the 2019 slaying in Rome of a police officer in a tragic unraveling of a small-time drug deal gone bad, sentencing them to the maximum life in prison.

More than 12 hours after deliberations began, the jury of two judges and six civilians delivered verdicts and sentences Wednesday night that set off a collective gasp in the courtroom: Finnegan Lee Elder, 21, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, 20, former schoolmates from the San Francisco area, were each found guilty of murder and four other counts and received Italy's stiffest punishment, life imprisonment.

Each had been charged with homicide, attempted extortion, assault, resisting a public official and carrying an attack-style knife without just cause. Presiding Judge Marina Finiti announced the jury found them guilty of all the charges in the trial indictment.

Prosecutors alleged Elder stabbed Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega 11 times with a knife that he brought with him on his trip to Europe and that Natale-Hjorth helped him hide the knife in their hotel room. Under Italian law, an accomplice in an alleged murder can also be charged with murder without materially doing the slaying.

The July 26, 2019, killing of the officer in the storied Carabinieri paramilitary police corps shocked Italy. Cerciello Rega, 35, was mourned as a national hero.

The slain officers widow, who held a photo of her dead husband while waiting for the verdict, broke down in tears and hugged his brother, Paolo.

His integrity was defended, Rosa Maria Esilio said outside the courtroom, between sobs. He was everyones son, everyones Carabiniere. He was a marvelous husband, he was a marvelous man, a servant of the state who deserves respect and honor.

As the defendants were led out of the courtroom to be taken back to their jail cells, Elder's father, Ethan Elder, called out, Finnegan, I love you. As the parents left the courtroom, as midnight neared, his mother, Leah Elder, sat on a curb, looking dazed, holding her head.

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One of Elder's lawyers, Renato Borzone, called the verdicts a disgrace for Italy.

A lawyer for Natale-Hjorth, Fabio Alonzi, said he was speechless, just as his client was. Natale-Hjorth was completely shocked, he kept telling me he did not understand.

In the courtroom for Natale-Hjorth, who has Italian citizenship as well as U.S. citizenship, were his father and uncle, who lives in Italy.

Cerciello Rega had recently returned from a honeymoon when he was assigned along with partner, officer Andrea Varriale, to follow up on a reported extortion attempt. They went in plainclothes and, for reasons never clear in court testimony, didn't bring their service pistols on the mission.

Prosecutors contend the young Americans concocted a plot involving a stolen bag and cellphone after their failed attempt to buy cocaine with 80 euros ($96) in Romes Trastevere nightlife district. Natale-Hjorth and Elder testified they had paid for the cocaine but didnt receive it.

During the trial, which began on Feb. 26, 2020, the Americans told the court they thought that Cerciello Rega and Varriale were thugs or mobsters who had showed up, and not the go-between, for the appointment on a dark, nearly deserted street near their hotel. The plainclothes officers wore casual summer clothes, and the defendants insisted the officers never showed police badges.

Varriale, who suffered a back injury in a scuffle with Natale-Hjorth while his partner was grappling with Elder, testified that the officers did identify themselves as Carabinieri.

At the time of the slaying, Elder was 19 and traveling through Europe without his family, a trip his mother in court had said they hoped would bring him a fresh start on life after several years marked by battles with depression and a suicide attempt. Natale-Hjorth, then 18, was spending the summer vacation, as was his habit, visiting his Italian grandparents and uncle, who live near Rome.

The then-teens had met up in Rome for what was supposed to be couple of days of sightseeing and nights out.

Prosecutors alleged that Elder thrust a 7-inch (18-centimeter) military-style attack knife repeatedly into Cerciello Rega, who bled profusely.

Elder told the court that the heavy-set Cerciello Rega, scuffling with him, was on top of him on the ground, and he feared that he was being strangled. Elder said he pulled out the knife and stabbed him to avoid being killed, and when the officer didnt immediately let him go, he stabbed again.

After the stabbing, the Americans ran to their hotel room, where, according to Natale-Hjorth, Elder cleaned the knife and then asked him to hide it. Natale-Hjorth, who testified that while he wasn't aware that his friend had brought the knife to the rendezvous, he stashed the knife behind a ceiling panel in their room, where it was discovered hours later by police.

The defendants had told the court that several hours before the stabbing, they attempted to buy cocaine in the Trastevere nightlife district of Rome. With the intervention of a go-between, they paid a dealer, but instead of cocaine they received an aspirin-like tablet.

Before Natale-Hjorth could confront the dealer, a separate Carabinieri patrol in the neighborhood intervened, and all scattered. The Americans snatched the go-between's knapsack in reprisal, and used a cellphone that was inside to set up a meeting with the goal of exchanging the bag and the phone for the cash they had lost in the bad drug deal.

From practically its start, the trial largely boiled down to the word of Varriale against that of the young American visitors.

Photos of the newlyweds, with Cerciello Rega in his dress uniform, after their wedding, were widely displayed in Italian media after the slaying and during the trial.

Elders lawyer, Borzone, argued that his client had deep-set psychiatric problems, including a constant fear of being attacked.

Franco Coppi, a lawyer representing some of Cerciello Rega's family, said the jury's decision reflected the gravity of the deed, an atrocious crime.

Still, he declined to pronounce himself satisfied, "because I cant help but think that such a harsh sentence falls upon two young men in their 20s.

The jury must lay out in detail its reasoning for its decisions within 90 days. The rationale would then form the basis for any appeal.

Coppi, one of Italy's most celebrated criminal defense lawyers, said that he believed it wasnt possible to assign less culpability to Natale-Hjorth, even though he did not wield the knife, since the jury apparently agreed with prosecutors' contentions that he was the architect of the ill-fated scheme to recover their drug money.

___

AP journalist Maria Grazia Murru in Rome contributed to this report.
By Stanley White and Yoshifumi Takemoto

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is considering extending a coronavirus-spurred state of emergency in the capital, Tokyo, and other major urban areas, sources said on Wednesday, a move that could cast doubt on the planned Summer Olympics.

Officials were leaning toward an extension of the measures in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures beyond May 11 as the country battles a surge in COVID-19 cases, three sources told Reuters.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters after meeting with cabinet ministers and advisers on Wednesday that he wants to make a decision this week.

An official announcement could come as early as Friday, one of the sources told Reuters. The Yomiuri Newspaper earlier reported that an extension was likely.

Extending the measures, which were imposed on April 25, would likely fan persistent concerns about whether the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled to begin on July 23, can be held as planned.

The games have already been delayed once from last year due to the pandemic. The city of Sapporo, on the northern island of Hokkaido, hosted a half-marathon test event on Wednesday.

One proposal that has emerged is an extension until the end of the month, according to two of the sources. All three people requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak with the media.

The governor of Osaka Prefecture said an extension of three weeks to a month may be necessary, according to domestic media.

Calls by Reuters to Suga's office were not answered. Japan's government buildings and financial markets were closed on Wednesday for the annual Golden Week holidays.

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach is expected to visit Japan later this month, but a longer state of emergency could prompt renewed calls from the public to cancel the games.

Under the restrictions in Tokyo and other urban areas, the government has required restaurants, bars, and karaoke parlours serving alcohol to close. Large department stores and cinemas were also shuttered, while spectators were banned from big sporting events.

It was uncertain whether the government will loosen any of the operating restrictions on the services sector, the Yomiuri said.

(Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Jane Wardell and Kim Coghill)
One autograph signed letter and two partial handwritten letters are currently listed for auction on RR auction, and are dating between 1955 and 1956 (Getty Images/ RR Auction)

Secret letters written by John F Kennedy to his Swedish mistress, Gunilla von Post, have been put up for sale online.

One autograph signed letter and two partial handwritten letters are currently listed for auction on RR Auction and are dated between 1955 and 1956.

JFK is known to have written to the aristocrat ahead of his marriage to Jacqueline Lee Bouvier after they met in Cannes, France in 1953.

Von Post later revealed their affair, including a week-long trip to Sweden in August 1955, in her book titled Love, Jack released in 1997.

The full letter, which is dated 1956, reads: I was planning to come back again next summer to see you  and now what will happen. In any case let me know what you are going to do.

Kennedy, then a Massachusetts Senator, continues: If you dont marry come over as I should like to see you. I had a wonderful time last summer with you. It is a bright memory of my life  you are wonderful and I miss you.

The auction house says that this is the only JFK letter they have offered that displays open affection to another woman while he was married.

The lot includes the original hand-addressed United States Senate envelopeRR Auction

In the partial 1995 letter, he writes: It now appears that Congress will not finish until the 5th of August  so I sail on the United States which arrives the 10th of August at Le Havre  and I shall be in Sweden on the 12th.

He asks: Where do I go. Send me your address at Bastaad where you shall be.

Many of the secret letters had previously been put up for sale on a Chicago online auction site, with bidding for the artefacts beginning with an opening price of $25,000.

The notes are all written on official government paper, with each penned on United States Senate letterhead.

The second partial letter is signed Jack, the auction house notes, and reads: coming and perhaps you could make me a reservation. I am anxious to see you.

The second partial letter is signed Jack and reads: coming and perhaps you could make me a reservation. I am anxious to see youRR Auction

It continues: Is it not strange after all these months? Perhaps at first it shall be a little difficult as we shall be strangers  but not strangers  and I am sure it will all work and I shall think that though it is a long way to Gunilla  it is worth it.

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This group of letters was discovered in the possessions of von Post after her death in 2011 and originates from her estate, the auction house says.

RR Auction is a globally recognised and trusted source for rare documents, manuscripts, autographs, and historic artefacts located in Boston and founded in 1976, their website reads.

A collection of JFK artefacts on the website also includes a personally owned lighter and cigar, a signed photograph of JFK as president and Robert Kennedy as attorney general and a book signed by Jacqueline Kennedy.

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Bulgaria to hold July election after coalition talks fail

Trump Facebook ban  live: Suspension to be overturned, expert predicts as Ted Cruz visits Mar-a-Lago

AP News Digest 3:20 a.m.
Kate Middleton and Prince William are giving royals fans a behind-the-scenes look at their royal life  bloopers and all.

The couple announced the launch of their new YouTube channel on Wednesday with a new video. In addition to a highlight reel of Kate, 39, and William, 38, taking on royal events  including a clip of Kate shooting a bow and arrow in Bhutan and William flying a helicopter  the video includes never-before-seen footage of the couple showing off their playful rapport.

One new clip shows Kate and Prince William filming their 2021 St. Patrick's Day greeting, where William spoke the Irish language. Kate corrects her husband's pronunciation: "You don't need to roll your r's."

"Do I not roll those?" William replied, to which Kate shakes her head and says, "No."

RELATED: Kate Middleton and Prince William Share Rare Video of Life at Home with George, Charlotte and Louis

Another clip shows Kate and William joking around before filming.

"By the way, be careful what you say now because these guys, they're filming everything," William quipped while pointing to the camera.

"I know!" Kate responded with a laugh.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

Kate and William also updated their Instagram account from @KensingtonRoyal to @DukeandDuchessofCambridge, although their Twitter page remains @KensingtonRoyal. The @KensingtonRoyal account now redirects to the new page.

The Kensington Royal office previously included Prince Harry and Meghan Markle before they launched their independent @SussexRoyal Instagram page. They consequently shut down the page (although their previous content still exists) when they stepped back from their senior royal roles.

Along with the change was an updated profile photo that was also used for YouTube: a candid shot of the pair giggling during their 2020 visit to Ireland.

Get the premiere issue of PEOPLE Royals for glamorous new photos and inside stories royals fans haven't seen or read elsewhere! Subscribe at peopleroyals.com/launch

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A new Instagram post announced the launch of their YouTube channel, poking fun at their timing.

"Better late than never - we're now on @YouTube," the video was captioned.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Kate and Prince William celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last week. In addition to releasing two new portraits for the occasion, they surprised fans with rare footage showing life at home with their three children: Prince George, 7, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis 3.
By Kanishka Singh

(Reuters) - Accounting firm KPMG told its 16,000 UK staff on Wednesday that they will work in the office for up to four days in a fortnight starting next month under a hybrid working model drawn up after the recent decline in COVID-19 cases in the country.

"As part of the firm's new hybrid way of working, from June onwards, the expectation will be that KPMG's people spend up to four days in the office spread over a fortnight, with the rest spent at home or at client sites," KPMG spokeswoman Zoe Sheppard said in an emailed statement.

KPMG UK head Bill Michael resigned in February after reports that he told staff to "stop moaning" about the impact of COVID-19 on their lives. He was replaced by Jon Holt.

Sheppard said the hybrid plan was drawn up incorporating feedback from staff.

On Tuesday, Goldman Sachs Group Inc asked U.S.-based employees to return to working in the office by mid-June and in the United Kingdom to return by mid-July.

JPMorgan Chase & Co said last week it was targeting U.S. workers' return to office on a rotational basis from July.

Some 36% of employees in Britain did at least some work from home last year as the coronavirus outbreak closed many workplaces, a jump from around 26% in 2019, the country's statistics office said in April.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
By Michael Georgy and Amina Ismail

SULAIMANIYA, Iraq (Reuters) - A senior Kurdish official has said there are growing indications that Islamic State is trying to make a comeback after an uptick in attacks in Iraq.

At least 19 members of Iraqi and Iraqi Kurdish security forces have been killed in recent days across the country, according to military statements and security officials, prompting calls from Iraq's president to remain vigilant to the threat of a resurgent Islamic State.

The attacks come after Baghdad's deadliest suicide bombing in three years, claimed in January by the ultra hardline Sunni Islamist group, and amid fears that a reduction of U.S.-led forces could upset stability.

"It seems like (Islamic State) have re-organized," Lahur Talabany, co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party and a former intelligence chief told Reuters in an interview.

Originally an offshoot of al Qaeda, Islamic State took large swathes of Iraq and Syria from 2014, imposing a reign of terror with public beheadings and attacks by supporters abroad.

Islamic State was declared militarily defeated in 2017 but has since waged a steady insurgency across parts of northern Iraq and a porous border with neigbouring Syria.

Recent months have witnessed more than 25 deadly attacks that Iraqi officials attribute to Islamic State militants. The January bombing of a crowded Baghdad market killed more than 30 people.

Talabany said Islamic State had never been completely eliminated.

He said there are still several thousand Islamic state militants operating in Iraq. Some Western military officials say the number operating between Iraq and Syria could be more than 10,000.

Talabany was specially alarmed at the ability of Islamic State to recruit, including through social media. Three weeks ago, 38 Islamic state recruits, all Kurds between the age of 20 and 22, were arrested, he said.

"They were about to carry out attacks, they received equipment and bombs and explosives. This was a wakeup call," Talabany recalled.

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Talabany's concerns are shared by Iraqi leaders. President Barham Salih said on Twitter last week that the country "cannot afford to be complacent" in combating Islamic State militants.

FEARS OVER U.S. WITHDRAWAL

A lack of coordination between the Iraqi military and forces belonging to the autonomous Kurdistan region have been blamed for some security failures.

The two sides fought against Islamic State but relations have deteriorated since a failed Kurdish bid for full independence in 2017, halted militarily by Baghdad.

Territory disputed by both sides remains fertile ground for Islamic State to operate in, Talabany said.

"Lack of coordination between Erbil (the Kurdish capital) and Baghdad has led to ISIS re-emerging and getting stronger and being more operational and capable," he said, using an abbreviation for Islamic State.

The United States has reduced its forces from around 5,000 that were stationed to help combat Islamic State to half that number in the last year.

As the military coalition that Washington leads reduces its numbers in Iraq, NATO is expected to fill the gap in training and coordination with Iraqi forces, but is not mandated to take part in combat operations.

Iran-backed Shi'ite militias, which have become the chief adversary of the United States in Iraq since the defeat of Islamic State, demand the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces, something they have pushed for more aggressively since the United States killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani last year.

Talabany said he feared the implications of a U.S. military drawdown. The United States withdrew troops from Iraq in 2011, leaving security gaps that the militants were able to exploit.

(Reporting by Michael Georgy and Amina Ismail; additional reporting, editing by John Davison in Baghdad, William Maclean)
Were still in a pandemic and nothing is a slam dunk, but there certainly are opportunities for well-financed restaurants that are willing to be bold and take chances, said David Henkes, a senior principal at food industry consultancy Technomic. If youre starting up or looking to expand, it may be a time where the rising tide is coming in. Theres also an opportunity to grab some sites that maybe two years ago werent available.
Jersey has found itself on the frontline of the latest UK-EU battle over fishing. - Prisma Bildagentur /Getty Images

Britain has attacked France for unacceptable threats to cut off Jerseys electricity supplies in a row over Brexit fishing rights with government sources warning that not even the Channel Islands Nazi occupiers sank so low.

Annick Giradin, the French maritime minister, said on Tuesday that Paris could shut down three undersea cables that provide Jersey with 95 percent of its electricity if the dispute over fishing licences in its waters were not resolved.

Should France carry out its threat, there appears to be little the UK Government could do to provide alternative means of power. The remaining 5pc of the largest Channel Islands energy mix is largely on-island diesel generators.

"At least when the Germans invaded they kept the lights on," a government source said, referring to the five years of occupation during World War Two.

"The problem is there is no undersea connector to Jersey, so it's not as though we could turn on a switch if they turn one off," another source said.

A third source said that the "surprising and disappointing" French threat was just the latest in a string of confrontations sparked by the EU and its members since Brexit.

"This is just the latest example of the EU issuing threats as a first resort at any sign of difficulty. They should be using the mechanisms of our new Treaty to solve problems; that is exactly what it is there for."

The UK-EU trade deal has a series of dispute resolution procedures, which can ultimately lead to the imposition of fines or trade tariffs.

A government spokesperson said, "To threaten Jersey like this is clearly unacceptable and disproportionate.

We are working closely with the EU and Jersey on fisheries access provisions following the end of the Transition Period so trust the French will use the mechanisms of our new treaty to solve problems.

We are ready to use these retaliation measures," Ms Girardin told lawmakers in the French parliament on Tuesday. "I am sorry it has come to this. We will do so if we have to."

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Jersey is a self-governing British Crown Dependency and, according to Defra, responsible for fishing in its territorial waters but its international relations are the UKs responsibility.

The row came after the island implemented new requirements under the terms of the UK-EU trade deal for boats to submit evidence of their past fishing activities in order to receive a licence to carry on operating in Jersey waters.

Jersey's External Relations Minister, Senator Ian Gorst told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "This is not the first threat that the French have made to either Jersey or the United Kingdom since we are into this new deal.

"It would seem disproportionate to cut off electricity for the sake of needing to provide extra details so that we can refine the licences."

Mr Gorst said the Jersey government was now seeking permission from London and Brussels to speak directly with the French fishermen to resolve the issue.

He said the island was not seeking to bar boats which had historically fished in Jersey waters and said that of the 41 boats which sought licences under the new rules last Friday, all but 17 had provided the evidence required.

France threatened to to block any EU decision granting the City of London access to the Single Market unless the UK met its fishing commitments in late April as French fishermen blockaded lorries carrying British catch.

They accused the government of dragging their feet over the issuing of licences to small French vessels in the 6-12 nautical mile zone of UK territorial waters.

Maritime minister with a 'pirate's soul'

By Henry Samuel

The French minister who has threatened to turn the lights off in Jersey is a fishermans daughter who claims she has a "pirate's soul".

Annick Girardin, 56, is from a seafaring family, her father was a fisherman who opened a bakery after an accident.

She was born in the Breton port of Saint-Malo, whose wealth was in part derived from corsairs, also known as privateers or plain pirates by the British, whose ships they plundered on behalf of the French Crown in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Atop the fortified port today stands a statue of Robert Surcouf, the notorious "king of the corsairs" who points towards the "enemy", namely Great Britain.

Her background makes her perhaps the most likely of all of Macron's ministers to take rows over fishing in the Channel personally.

An MP for the French autonomous Saint Pierre and Miquelon islands, off Newfoundland, Ms Girardin hails from the Left but was picked by centrist President Emmanuel Macron to run the overseas territories ministry in 2017.

She is no stranger to tough situations; when she arrived on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion prey to Yellow Vest protests in 2018, she had to be exfiltrated to avoid being lynched.

Once claiming she had a "pirates soul", she became a mother at the age of 15 and a half and has "a thick skin after all the trials in her life", according to Paris Match.

Last July, she was appointed minister of the Sea, a function resurrected by the Macron government - it had only existed in two previous ones since the War - reportedly with Brexit in mind and to "accelerate (France's) maritime strategy".

Due to its numerous overseas departments and territories scattered all over the oceans, France has the second-largest exclusive economic zone in the world after America.

When she took up the post, Ms Girardin tweeted: "With more than 11 million square kilometres of maritime territory in France, more than 391,000 jobs, ten per cent of the world's biodiversity, the challenges are huge."

She is known for being a straight-talking "grassroots politician" with a "relaxed" dress sense but there have been reports of criticism over her political style and tensions with Mr Macron, which his office has denied.
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai pictured at a Senate Appropriations hearing in April 2021 (Getty Images)

The announcement that the US would support the waiver of intellectual property protections on Covid-19 vaccines with the end goal of easing global distribution, was met with a predominantly positive response, though not without some criticism.

Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic called for extraordinary measures and that the US would actively participate in World Trade Organisation negotiations to make it happen.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation, tweeted his praise calling it a monumental moment in the fight against Covid-19 and saying the commitment is a powerful example of United States leadership to address global health challenges.

Progressives in Congress were particularly happy, having lobbied the administration to support the move.

Senator Elizabeth Warren tweeted: I urged @POTUS to do everything he can to help expand global vaccine access, and Im glad his administration agreed to support the WTO TRIPS waiver to help countries expand manufacturing of treatments and vaccines.

She added: This is a humanitarian crisis and it impacts all of us.

Senator Bernie Sanders applauded the bold step by the administration to speed up the production and availability of coronavirus vaccines.

I also recognise the dedicated work done by activists around the world to put this issue on the global agenda. We are all in this together, he said on Wednesday.

In the House, Representative Ayanna Pressley said she joined with colleagues in asking the Biden administration to support the waiver.

Today, they heeded our calls. Thankful for the organisers who made this possible. Now we must ensure negotiations are swift and successful, she tweeted.

Congressman Eric Swalwell said that crushing a global pandemic of this magnitude requires global cooperation and solutions and that he was pleased to see the lead the Biden administration was taking.

With this waiver, we can share vaccine recipes, largely developed with taxpayer dollars, while assuring reasonable royalties to American manufacturers, tweeted Representative Lloyd Doggett, chair of the House Ways and Means health subcommittee.

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The best way to end the deadly global vaccine shortage is to enable more manufacturers to make vaccines, he added.

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Activist and ALS patient Ady Barkan, who recently reminded the president of the promise he made in July 2020 to share the vaccine with the rest of the world, was pleased with the announcement.

Good stuff. Lets vaccinate the world, he wrote. This is great news.

Now the US must do everything possible to ensure the negotiations are swift and successful, he added.

Greg Gonsalves, activist, epidemiologist, and associate professor at Yale School of Public Health, noted: Now the hard work starts.

He pointed out the devil is in details of the negotiations, saying that the drafting of the text must be transparent and open, before explaining that the waiver was always the beginning of the process

Were now at the starting line. We need tech transfer now, need [the US government] to use $16bn already appropriated to get global manufacturing (both intl and domestic) ramped up, he tweeted. All hands on deck. We do this together.

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Dr Gonsalves pointed out that Japan, the UK, Switzerland, Norway, France, Canada, and Germany still oppose the waiver, asking for a call to action to all of those countries.

The move by the administration is not without its critics.

On Tuesday, Republican representatives Jim Jordan and Darrell Issa led a group from the House subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, writing to Ambassador Tai saying the administration should oppose the waiver.

They wrote that respect for IP rights has been a cornerstone of trade policy for decades and should not be set aside lightly, saying that the move would be gifting away our technological leadership and competitive advantage.

Although some flexibility may be warranted in emergency situations, the waiver of TRIPS IP protections requested by India, South Africa, and other countries would do little to improve public health during this critical period in the Covid-19 pandemic, they argue.

The scope of the requested waiver is overbroad and unjustified in light of the economic harm it would cause and the negligible benefits it would provide.

Read More

UK Covid-19 vaccinations: Latest figures

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Husband who made tearful appeal over missing wife arrested for her murder
- By GF Value





The stock of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals (NAS:LXRX, 30-year Financials) appears to be significantly 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 $4.63 per share and the market cap of $668.4 million, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals stock shows every sign of being significantly overvalued. GF Value for Lexicon Pharmaceuticals is shown in the chart below.





Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Stock Is Estimated To Be Significantly Overvalued

Because Lexicon Pharmaceuticals is significantly overvalued, the long-term return of its stock is likely to be much lower than its future business growth.

Link: These companies may deliever higher future returns at reduced risk.

Companies with poor financial strength offer investors a high risk of permanent capital loss. To avoid permanent capital loss, an investor must do their research and review a company's financial strength before deciding to purchase shares. Both the cash-to-debt ratio and interest coverage of a company are a great way to to understand its financial strength. Lexicon Pharmaceuticals has a cash-to-debt ratio of 11.89, which which ranks in the middle range of the companies in Biotechnology industry. The overall financial strength of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals is 4 out of 10, which indicates that the financial strength of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals is poor. This is the debt and cash of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals over the past years:

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Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Stock Is Estimated To Be Significantly 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. Lexicon Pharmaceuticals has been profitable 1 over the past 10 years. Over the past twelve months, the company had a revenue of $24 million and loss of $0.61 a share. Its operating margin is -745.09%, which ranks worse than 69% of the companies in Biotechnology industry. Overall, the profitability of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals is ranked 1 out of 10, which indicates poor profitability. This is the revenue and net income of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals over the past years:

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Stock Is Estimated To Be Significantly 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 stock performance of a company. A faster growing company creates more value for shareholders, especially if the growth is profitable. The 3-year average annual revenue growth of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals is -37.2%, which ranks worse than 78% of the companies in Biotechnology industry. The 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is 32.2%, which ranks better than 76% of the companies in Biotechnology industry.

Another way to look at the profitability of a company is to compare its return on invested capital and the weighted cost of capital. 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. We want to have the return on invested capital higher than the weighted cost of capital. For the past 12 months, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals's return on invested capital is -207.72, and its cost of capital is 10.68. The historical ROIC vs WACC comparison of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals is shown below:

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Stock Is Estimated To Be Significantly Overvalued

Overall, the stock of Lexicon Pharmaceuticals (NAS:LXRX, 30-year Financials) gives every indication of being significantly overvalued. The company's financial condition is poor and its profitability is poor. Its growth ranks better than 76% of the companies in Biotechnology industry. To learn more about Lexicon Pharmaceuticals 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.


ASHA workers protest against alleged negligence of their workforce by the government on August 9, 2020 in New Delhi. During the protest, ASHA workers demanded payment for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying they have not been paid for the past few months.

Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers protest against alleged negligence of their workforce by the government on August 9, 2020 in New Delhi. During the protest, ASHA workers demanded payment for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying they have not been paid for the past few months. Credit - Mohd ZakirHindustan Times/Getty Images

Lakshmi Kuril woke up feeling unwell on April 27. A community healthcare worker in Indias western state of Maharashtra, Kuril, 35, had a pre-existing heart condition and the increased work and stress of fighting the COVID-19 surge that is ravaging India meant she often felt exhausted and lightheaded. But she didnt let it stop her. She wanted to be a doctor, her husband Dinesh Kuril, tells TIME, but she grew up poor and this was the closest she could get to that dream.

After attending a meeting of fellow health workers, she felt worse and returned homebusying herself with housework and cooking dinner for her husband, her 15-year-old daughter and her 12-year-old son. As she stood to clear the dishes, she collapsed.

Dinesh rushed her to a nearby hospital, but was refused admission, possibly because there was no room due to a surge in COVID-19 patientsthough Dinesh says the doctors barely threw a glance at Lakshmi. Unwilling to accept that Lakshmi was beyond help, Dinesh took her to another hospital 5 miles away. Doctors there said she arrived too late for them to save her. I was so angry, helpless, Dinesh says. My wife sacrificed her life working for a government that did not care about her as a human being. She was tested for COVID-19 after her death, though the results havent yet come through.

Lakshmi Kuril, 35, was an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) in Maharashtra who died on April 27. Kuril had a heart condition and her husband blames the stress of fighting India's COVID-19 surge for her death. He said doctors at the local hospital refused to treat her when she arrived. Many ASHA workers feel abandoned by the government. Courtesy the Kuril family

Read More: 1 Million Women Healthcare Workers Have Been Drafted to Fight COVID-19 in IndiaFor as Little as $40 a Month

As a new wave of infections rips through India, many community health workers feel abandoned by a government that they say has consistently put their lives at risk with little protective equipment, little pay (sometimes just $30 a month) and little recognition. Lakshmi was an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), part of a 1 million-strong force of female health workers who serve as a connection between smaller, mostly rural communities and Indias overloaded public health system.

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Experts warn the Indian governments failure to support ASHA workers in the midst of a COVID-19 spike that is claiming thousands of lives a day is a public health risk of its own. We need people to be tested, to be home-quarantining, and to be educated about where to seek healthcare. If we dont have these individuals who are vital to that process, it creates another layer of insecurity, says Dr. Amita Gupta, the deputy director of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Clinical Global Health Education. We need to improve their livelihoods, because they function as a critical frontline workforce.

Our lives dont matter

Since last year, ASHAswho have traditionally worked with maternal and child health in their communitieshave been the first defense against COVID-19 for many communities. During the first wave, they were instrumental in testing, tracing and arranging treatment for people with COVID-19.

Lakshmis death in Wardha, a district 400 miles northeast of Mumbai, has been a wakeup call for many of her fellow ASHA workers, who have long felt overlooked and unheard. They say we are frontline workers, that we should be celebrated. But when we are sick they refuse us admission and leave us to die, says Archana Ghugare, a friend of Lakshmi who is an ASHA in a nearby village. It feels terrible to be treated this waylike we dont matter, our lives dont matter.

Read More: Indias COVID-19 Crisis Is Spiraling Out of Control. It Didnt Have to Be This Way

TIME first followed Ghugare in October last year as she rushed around her village helping to administer COVID-19 tests, dispel misinformation and educate her community about public health. Her voice catches when she thinks about her friend Lakshmi. This is too close to our own livesit could have been any of us.

Portrait of Archana Ghugare, a community health worker, in Pavnar, Maharashtra, India, on Dec. 1, 2020. In the background is a message encouraging people to bring their children for the Polio vaccine drive. Prarthna Singh for TIME

As of last September, 18 ASHAs had died fighting COVID-19, according to the government. In this latest, devastating surge, there are no definitive estimates on the number of ASHAs that have been infected by COVID-19, says Gupta. But the risks are clear. ASHAs have been extremely vital to vaccinating and quarantining in rural areas, Gupta says. Having them come down with COVID infection leaves really major gaps in being able to respond effectively in rural areas.

Fighting the pandemic without masks

Even before her friends death, Ghugare knew first hand her work was dangerous.

When Ghugare had asked her superiors for a mask at the start of Indias second wave, she was told she wouldnt need one because she had received her first dose of vaccine. During the first major COVID-19 wave, the government gave ASHAs two masks per month, but this time, nothing.

Ghugare received the first dose of Indias homegrown vaccine, Covaxin, on Feb. 22. She delayed receiving the second dose of vaccine because she said she didnt have the time or energy to walk the 5 miles to the clinic. I could have taken an auto rickshaw but thats too expensive at 50 rupees [$0.69], she says. We dont get paid so much to afford an auto ride to the vaccination center. The average salary of an ASHA is $30 to 40 a month, but it can be higher depending on incentives offered by different state governments.

On April 17, she tested positive for COVID-19. Initially, she was not scared, but as the COVID-19 cases skyrocketed across the country and she witnessed people pleading for hospital beds and oxygen and saw news reports of bodies piling up in crematoriums, she began to feel uneasy. And then Lakshmi Kuril died. I am now petrified, she says.

Ghugares own case of COVID-19 turned out to be mild. But even on leave from her job for 21 days, quarantined at home, she still makes sure to call her patients every day to advise them. I feel responsible for them, she says. I need to stay with them through this ordeal.

Read More: The Survivors Guilt of Watching Indias COVID-19 Catastrophe Unfold From Afar

ASHA workers want the government to supply them with masks and protective equipment that other medical workers who are in close contact with COVID-19 patients receive. A survey by Oxfam India, reported by the Indian media last Septembershowed that only 75% of ASHA workers were given masks and only 62% were given gloves. ASHA workers interviewed by TIME say they have even less access to masks, gloves and sanitizer now than during the first COVID-19 wave last year.

Also troubling to many ASHAs is that a government life insurance scheme for health workers expired in Marchmeaning they are fighting the pandemic without assurances that their families will be supported if they die. The health ministry, in a tweet on April 18, had said it was working to finalize a different insurance plan for the health workers.

ASHA workers clean carriers for the COVID-19 vaccine at a health center in Hyderabad on Jan. 29, 2021. Noah SeelamAFP/Getty Images

COVID-19 overwhelms villages and small communities

Despite the risks, ASHA workers say their only option is to continue to work because their communities are in such dire need. And like experts, many warn that official COVID-19 countswhich have peaked at more than 400,000 cases a daydont come close to telling the true story.

There was not a single case in my village last time, says Kanchan Pandey, an ASHA from a village in the northeastern state of Uttar Pradesh. But this time there are already 5-6 active cases and as people keep coming from cities and there are no quarantine centers, the cases will rise even more.

In Ghugares village there are officially just 200 cases. But if testing was ramped up the number of cases will be much higher, she says.

In low-income areas in cities, newer hotspots are emerging. Every second home is affected this time, says Usha Thakur, an ASHA from Najafgarh, a city outside New Delhi. There are four to five people affected in the same house. But the lists are being updated with only one name from one house. 

She adds: Last time, we were under tremendous pressure to test, test, test. This time not so much.

And the pressure on ASHAs, who are the only health resource in many of the communities they serve is immense. My phone rings through days and nights, Thakur says. I have been overwhelmed. And sometimes I do not know how to handle it. All I know is that I will try to save as many lives as I can with my limited resources.

Lakshmi Kurils husband blames this stress for his wifes death. Despite having been diagnosed with a congenital heart condition,she worked day and nightwalked in the heat to different centers as and when assigned, Dinesh says.

He says Lakshmi would come back home tired and exhausted and grumble that her job was going to be the death of her. And look what happened? he says, breaking down into tears. Today its my wife, tomorrow it will be another ASHA. This is not rightsomeone needs to intervene. Someone needs to stop this injustice.

With reporting by Billy Perrigo / London
An estimated 51,228 residential properties have been sold across London, since the announcement of the BNO visa. Photo: Getty

The number of people from Hong Kong purchasing homes in the capital has shot up since the UK government announced a new visa welcoming residents from the former British colony, earlier in 2021.

According to new figures from Benham & Reeves  one of London's biggest private letting agents  transactions by Hong Kong buyers rose 144% in London since July last year.

This is when prime minister Boris Johnson announced the visa scheme for some three million Hong Kong holders. the letting agents said.

An estimated 51,228 residential properties have been sold across London, since the announcement of the BNO visa. This is down 35% when compared to the 51,228 homes sold between July 2019 to April 2020.

Across prime central London alone, transactions are estimated to have dropped 45% during the period.

However, while the London market has stuttered, the research found Hong Kong nationals accounted for around 4% of London's property market activity, since July 2020 due to the BNO visa.

This was 1% in the same time period the previous year.

As a result, Benham and Reeves estimated Hong Kong buyers bought some 270 homes in the prime London market since the announcement.

Watch: Am I wasting my money by renting?

In the period between July 2020 and April 2021, Hong Kong nationals bought 1,932 London homes, compared to 793 in the same period in 2019.

The Hong Kong British National Overseas (BNO) visa allows eligible applicants to enter or remain in the UK for up to five years. Applicants and their family members will be able to live, work and study in Britain, under the scheme but will not have access to public funds.

Table shows all market activity in London since the BNO visa was announced in July 2020 and how it compares to the same time period in 2019. Image: Benham & Reeves

Marc von Grundherr, director of the estate agent, said Britain had always been a popular destination for Hong Kong property buyers.

He added: "This has certainly been bolstered by the offer of the BNO visa and for the first time in some 30 years, our Hong Kong office saw more interest from those looking to buy versus those looking to invest during the first quarter of the year

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"Some of this activity is being seen in the very high-end London market, but in fact, much of the demand coming from Hong Kong is focussed around more average market price thresholds."

Looking ahead, the company anticipates transactions by Hong Kong nationals to "grow in prominence" in the coming months bolstered by the easing of the COVID travel restrictions in the UK.

Read more: UK mortgage borrowing hits highest level since records began in 1993

Britain first announced the extension of the visa passports in May last year in response to China pushing through controversial national security laws in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China, was a British territory until 1997 when it was handed back to the Chinese government.

Under the terms of the deal Hong Kong would exist on a "one country, two systems" basis for a minimum of 50 years  while China was communist and autocratic, Hong Kong would maintain a capitalist and democratic system.

But, China has been backtracking on the agreement and the security law last year was seen as effectively ending the "one country, two systems."

The national security law criminalises criticism of the Chinese Communist party. The law allows police to arrest activists for subversion, secession and collusion with foreign forces. The rule effectively bans protests.

Beijings crackdown resulted in prominent pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong being arrested since it was imposed last summer and exiled others.

Watch:How much money do I need to buy a house?
French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to Napoleon Bonaparte 200 years after his death on Wednesday on an anniversary that has been dragged into a heated national debate about "cancel culture".

Macron called Napoleon "part of us" and said the relatively modest ceremonies organised in Paris to mark the occasion were an "enlightened commemoration", not a celebration of his life.

Speaking at the Institut de France, an academy set up by Napoleon to promote science and the arts, Macron listed some of the famed Corsican's enduring contributions, while also mentioning the darker, blood-stained parts of his legacy.

"Few destinies have shaped so many lives beyond their own," Macron said of the man who seized power in a coup in 1799 and died in exile on the island of Saint Helena in 1821 having briefly ruled over most of Europe.

The president later laid a wreath at the marble crypt where Napoleon's remains are buried at the Invalides monument, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris.

As well as being one of the best-known and instantly recognisable French figures, usually depicted in his frock coat and sideways hat, Napoleon is also one of the most divisive characters in the country's history.

His huge contribution to the French state -- the modern bureaucracy, school and legal systems bear his stamp -- is usually set against his record as an autocrat and war-mongerer in Europe and the Middle East.

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement and the emergence of a new generation of vocal anti-racism campaigners in France, Napoleon's decision to re-establish slavery in 1802 has become the focus of renewed debate.

Some left-wing politicians and academics had urged Macron to avoid paying homage to him for this reason, as well as his role in crushing the first fledgling attempts at democracy following the 1789 revolution.

Macron began his remarks by saying he would "concede nothing to those who want to erase the past on the basis that it does not correspond with their idea of the present."

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But he called the slavery decision an "error" and a "betrayal of the Enlightenment spirit" which had brought about the 1789 revolution.

He also said Napoleon "was never concerned about the loss of lives."

Before the speech, an aide to the president had said Macron's approach would be to "look at history in the face," adding that the commemorations would be "neither denial, nor repentance".

- Tyrant, genius or both? -

When Napoleon seized power, he overthrew France's first republic that was established in the wake of the 1789 revolution that abolished the monarchy.

Renowned for his military prowess, he clocked up a series of victories, including at the Battle of Austerlitz, which resulted in a French empire that encompassed most of continental Europe.

While building and reforming at home at a furious pace, he also reversed gains for women and a ban on slavery introduced under the first republic.

Slavery was re-established in French colonies from 1802, a move seen by some as being motivated by a desire to dominate the Caribbean sugar trade in the face of competition from arch-enemy England.

Mathilde Larrere, a French historian, believes there was a "racist dimension" to the decision, while France's Equality Minister Elisabeth Moreno called him "one of the biggest misogynists" to walk the Earth.

Writing in The New York Times recently, American scholar Marlene Daut called Napoleon "an icon of white supremacy" in a column that condemned the commemorations in France.

- Political divisions -

In the build-up to Wednesday's anniversary, some 160 French institutions from schools to museums signed up for events grouped under the "Annee Napoleon 2021" label.

For some, Napoleon is a reminder of French grandeur and strength.

"Why shouldn't we celebrate Napoleon?" far-right nationalist leader Marine Le Pen told France Inter radio on Tuesday.

"He did so much for the country, and he gave so much to the world," she added

Some left-wingers had, by contrast, urged Macron to downplay the anniversary.

"The Republic should not pay an official homage to the person who buried the first republican experience of our history by installing an authoritarian regime," left-winger Alexis Corbiere wrote in Le Figaro newspaper in March.

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Mocksville officials say the city is hurting financially and needs the hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual savings. Officers dont buy it and say politics got in the way.

Video Transcript

- The future of the Mocksville Police Department officially decided. Effective July 1, the Davie County deputies will take over all law enforcement services.

WILL MARKLIN: JD is a great sheriff. He's doing a great job for the county. I think he'll do a great job for the citizens of [INAUDIBLE]. So, I think he's going to come in and blow everybody away with what he's going to do.

- A divisive vote Tuesday night by the town board in favor of disbanding the Mocksville Police Department is being met with harsh criticism by some.

- It was a-- more of a political issue before it ever became a budgetary issue. They're using the budgetary issue, in my belief, to get rid of the police department for other reasons. This started long before the budget was, like I said, was even on the table.

- The new contract with the Sheriff's Office will save the town $1.3 million over the three-year contract term. Town officials say it will increase their boots on the ground coverage by 75%, and eliminate duplication of services, allowing the town to use resources more efficiently and effectively.

WILL MARKLIN: In a perfect world, we wouldn't be here. But this is where we are and-- and again, I think in a business sense, this is what's best for the town, this is what's best for the taxpayers. And I think we're going to move forward with this decision.

- Mayor Will Marklin says, Mocksville officers will still have the opportunities to be law enforcement officers in Davie County. He says, the sheriff has agreed to consider all qualified officers who meet the Sheriff office's standards for open positions. Critics of the town's decision say they're worried small town politics will prevent Mocksville officers from getting a fair chance.

- There's no reason to think that they wouldn't be great at the Sheriff's Office, but the well has been poisoned by this council to the sheriff, and you know, I don't think there's any real chance that the sheriff will hire them. I just don't. And I hope other agencies do so they will get fine officers.
BERLIN (Reuters) -German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday that the withdrawal of foreign troops from Libya would be an "important signal" as both leaders vowed to support the new interim government there, a German government spokesman said.

Libya's new unity government was sworn in on March 15 from two warring administrations that had ruled eastern and western regions, completing a relatively smooth transition of power after a decade of violent chaos.

Turkey had backed the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord against the eastern-based Libyan National Army, which was supported by Russia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and France.

Merkel and Erdogan agreed in a video conference to support the interim government of Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh in its efforts to improve the supply situation for the population and in preparing elections by year-end, the spokesman said.

"The Chancellor emphasized that an early start of the withdrawal of foreign soldiers and mercenaries would send an important signal," the spokesman added.

Merkel and Erdogan also discussed international efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic as well as regional issues such as the civil war in Syria and international talks about the Cyprus issue, the spokesman said.

"The Chancellor and the Turkish President emphasized that adequate access for humanitarian aid to the people in need in Syria must be maintained," the spokesman said.

(Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Alistair Bell)
Protesters who block traffic  a common tactic employed in Black Lives Matter demonstrations  would be subject to criminal penalties under a bill passed by the Missouri House Tuesday.

The measure, which would also seal police disciplinary records from public view, passed the Senate in February. But the two chambers will likely head to conference after the House loaded it with amendments, including a ban on police chokeholds and a repeal of Kansas Citys requirement that officers live in the city.

Another House bill that included those two provisions was tabled in the Senate earlier Tuesday over a controversial amendment sought by Senate President Dave Schatz, a Sullivan Republican, to tighten regulations on video gaming machines that he says are a form of illegal gambling.

With House bills piling up in the Senate less than two weeks before the end of the legislative session, representatives on Tuesday inserted into the police and protest bill dozens of amendments ranging from criminalizing package theft to allowing the concealed carry of guns into churches.

If you have the back of law enforcement, you know what to do, you will vote yes, said Rep. Nick Schroer, an OFallon Republican.

It cleared the House by a vote of 98 to 50.

Though the numerous amendments could slow down the original bill, sponsor Sen. Bill Eigel, a Weldon Springs Republican, said he was very optimistic of final passage and open to keeping some of the measures.

Everybody wants to see something get across the finish line, he said.

Many measures added additional protections for police. Some were aimed at reform or increased accountability in the criminal justice system. One provision would allow the states police oversight commission to hire more investigators. Another would give minors convicted in non-homicide crimes a chance at parole after 15 years.

But several Democrats said the amendments did not soften their opposition to the bills criminalizing of blocking traffic, a popular protest tactic commonly employed by those demonstrating against police brutality and disparate treatment of Black Americans.

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The bill would make the crime of blocking traffic an infraction on first violation, a misdemeanor on the second and a felony on the third, which social justice groups have called an infringement on their rights to nonviolent protest and civil disobedience.

The legislation does not include a controversial measure from a similar bill that would shield drivers from liability for injuring protesters who are blocking traffic.

The bill would penalize cities for cutting police budgets by more than 12%  a response to calls to defund the police, in favor of alternative social services that do not use force  and create a police bill of rights with procedural protections for officers facing disciplinary investigations. A St. Louis police commissioner said the measure could hinder the departments ability to hold police accountable.

Eigel told The Star this year when it came to last years protests, he was focused on criminal behavior by protesters, such as damaging businesses, before reforming police who are under more scrutiny and more pressure today than they have been in my memory.

Several opponents in the House have themselves participated in Black Lives Matter protests, sometimes ones that blocked traffic, and said they worried the bill would be disproportionately enforced upon Black protesters.

Throughout the history of America, Black progress has been met with resistance and blowback, said Hillsdale Democratic Rep. Kevin Windham on Tuesday. I see this proposal as part of the resistance and blowback.

Rasheen Aldridge, a St. Louis Democrat who is a leader of an organization called Expect US that holds protests against police brutality, said the measure would not reduce such marches.

If this bill goes into effect, Im not going to stop protesting, he said. So I hope that I can continue to serve in this body when you try to get me a felony.

Another addition to the bill would allow drivers charged with traffic violations to have their licenses suspended if they do not pay court fines and twice fail to appear in court. The proposal received bipartisan opposition from St. Louis-area lawmakers who had worked to reform traffic citations after the 2014 police brutality protests in Ferguson.
Tickets for the May 22 concert are scheduled to be released at noon May 11 at thesilverroom.com. Tickets will also be made available to those who get vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson shot May 8 at Apostolic Faith Church, 3823 S. Indiana Ave. Appointments are not required, but preferred and can be scheduled at https://rebrand.ly/MusicSeries.
Millar (left) with "Jupiter's Legacy" stars Josh Duhamel and Andrew Horton on set. Steve Wilkie/Netflix

"Jupiter's Legacy," Netflix's first Millarworld series since buying the comic company in 2017, debuted on Friday.

Millarworld's president Mark Millar talked with Insider about the Netflix deal and the series.

"Jupiter's Legacy" is part of Netflix's grander ambitions to develop franchises and event shows.

See more stories on Insider's business page.

This story was originally published on Wednesday, May 5, and has been updated with Millarworld news announced on Thursday.

Comics writer Mark Millar is known for some of Marvel's most talked-about stories of the 2000s. But he credits a 2003 conversation with Stan Lee, the cocreator of some of Marvel's biggest characters like Spider-Man and the X-Men, with inspiring his trek away from Marvel and into a comics universe of his own.

"Growing up I always wanted to work at Marvel and DC," Millar told Insider during a phone interview last week. "But Stan said that every generation needs new characters."

Millarworld, Millar's aptly named comics company, was born in 2004, the year after his conversation with Lee. With Millarworld, he created his own comics with artists like J.G. Jones and John Romita Jr. that were adapted into films like 2008's "Wanted" and 2010's "Kick-Ass."

Then in 2017, Netflix bought Millarworld for an undisclosed amount in the streamer's first acquisition, giving the company access to a library of potential new franchises.

While Hollywood had quickly taken notice of Millar's work, he said he hadn't expected to sell the company quite so soon.

"I thought I'd be 70 by the time I sold it," the 51-year-old said.

The Hollywood Reporter reported at the time that the deal was worth between $30 million and $50 million, but The Wall Street Journal reported a pricier deal in the $50 million and $100 million range. Millar serves as president and creative chief and his wife Lucy is CEO, and they co-own each of the 20 properties included in the Millarworld sale, Millar said.

Story continues

The first product of that acquisition, "Jupiter's Legacy," debuted on Friday. Based on Millar and artist Frank Quiteley's 2013 comic of the same name, it follows the world's first superheroes who are struggling with how to pass on their values to their children as their enemies become more dangerous.

Before "Jupiter's Legacy," Millar had created original stories about assassins ("Wanted") and a teenager with no superpowers who fights crime ("Kick-Ass"). With "Jupiter's Legacy," he wanted to create something a bit grander and larger in scope. He said he spent eight weeks planning "90 years of continuity" for the comic, with notes scattered throughout his office before writing a script.

"I thought it had to be the greatest thing I've ever done or what's the point," he said. "I wanted it to be the next step as a creator."

Millar said there was never any doubt in his mind that "Jupiter's Legacy" would be the first of his works he wanted to bring to the screen for Netflix. And the company was on board from the beginning.

"It wasn't even a debate," Millar said. "We were all on the same page."

"Kick-Ass" Lionsgate

Millarworld gives Netflix plenty of franchises to choose from

During Millar's time at Marvel, he ushered in a bold, and sometimes controversial, new iteration of the Avengers with "The Ultimates" along with artist Bryan Hitch, which laid some of the groundwork for the big-screen version of the team. He wrote the 2006 event comic "Civil War" that inspired the Marvel Cinematic Universe's 2016 movie "Captain America: Civil War."

But by 2011, after "Wanted" and "Kick-Ass" had hit the big screen, Millar felt comfortable enough to leave Marvel and dedicate his full attention to Millarworld.

Now, the comics company is shaping up to be a content powerhouse for Netflix, the leading streaming service with more than 200 million subscribers worldwide.

In Millar's office is a board with plans for the next five years of Millarworld at Netflix. Some of it has already been announced, including "American Jesus" based on the Millarworld comic, about a 12-year-old boy who discovers he's the resurrected Jesus Christ.

The evolution of Millarworld will be one of Netflix's first efforts toward franchise building.

Since 2017, when Netflix bought Millarworld, the urgency for new, genre-heavy content with broad appeal has grown. Netflix has been increasingly scooping up IP with franchise potential as competitors like Disney and WarnerMedia grow their own streaming businesses with a focus on established IP like Disney's Marvel and "Star Wars," and WarnerMedia's DC Comics.

"The thing that many studios are able to do is create great franchises," Reed Hastings, the Netflix co-CEO, told The Hollywood Reporter in September. "We're making great progress on that with 'Stranger Things' and other properties, but compared to 'Harry Potter' and 'Star Wars,' we've got a long way to go."

"Jupiter's Legacy" Netflix

Last year, the streaming giant introduced two new divisions to help with this effort: the franchise-TV division led by Netflix's VP of international originals Kelly Luegenbiehl, and the event/spectacle-TV division led by VP of original series Peter Friedlander. "Jupiter's Legacy" falls under the latter team.

Friedlander told Insider that the best pitches and scripts are ones where the audience can relate to or empathize with the characters. What drew him to "Jupiter's Legacy" was that it was a superhero series about parenthood.

"We knew we had something special when a team of superheroes is arguing at the dining table and then going off to fight a villain," he said.

Eight years after the comic debuted, an entirely new audience will be introduced to "Jupiter's Legacy." But it's only the beginning.

"We have a list of things that are top priorities, and 'Jupiter's Legacy' and 'The Magic Order' were at the top of the list," Millar told Insider.

On Thursday, after Insider talked with Millar, he announced Millarworld updates including that "The Magic Order" series is back in active development, based on the 2018 comic by Millar and artist Oliver Coipel. Netflix decided not to move forward with the series last year as planned, which Millar attributed to pandemic-related filming complications.

"Some time away has given us a chance to come back with a completely fresh look at the material, and we should be getting into our new writers' room very shortly," Millar wrote in a blog post.

He also announced an anime series called "Super Crooks," based on his comic book about "superpowered heist comic about eight super-villains." The fantasy movie "Reborn" is also in the works from "The LEGO Batman Movie" director Chris McKay and starring Sandra Bullock.

Millar isn't just overseeing adaptations of his existing comics work, though. He's also expected to create new characters and stories in his role at Netflix, he said.

"We were drawn to the breadth of Mark's creations and stories," Friedlander said. "With his existing IP as well as the stories yet to be told, we knew it was a really great opportunity to have him as a partner."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Several influential business leaders have recently started a $250 million initiative dedicated to serving 23 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the nation.



Members of The Asian American Foundation (TAAF)launched the initiative on Monday. According to its organizers, the initiative is the largest-ever philanthropic effort to support the AAPI community,Reuters reported.



In the last five years, TAAFs board members have contributed around $125 million. The nonprofit organization was founded by prominent leaders of the AAPI community, including Joe Tsai, Joseph Bae, Li Lu, Peng Zhao, Sheila Lirio Marcelo and Jonathan Greenblatt. Founding Advisory Council members include Daniel Dae Kim, Lisa Ling, Condoleezza Rice, Jeremy Lin and more.



The organization also strives to unite AAPI communities by coming together and building a foundation that will develop the representation and advocacy of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.



Another aim of the organization is to "reshape the public's understanding of the unique challenges that Asian-Americans have faced throughout history," according to the New York Times.





We created TAAF to stand up for the 23 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders living in this country and help bring us all together in the fight for our own prosperity," Sonal Shah, TAAF's president, stated. "TAAF wants to strengthen and build power for AAPIs, particularly as we face an exponential increase in hate and violence."



The organization's recently launched initiative will focus on three main areas: data and research, anti-hate and education. It will aid organizations that strive to create safer spaces for AAPI communities by improving defense solutions and hate crime tracking. It will also help in developing school curriculums that accurately portray the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.



"I feel that one plus one equals unlimited potential, and that's what really makes America powerful, said Li Lu, Board Chair of TAAF. As a Chinese American, I know when we leverage the strengths of everyone we create belonging and a future fueled by innovation, growth and opportunity."



TAAF is calling on business and philanthropic leaders to take part in its AAPI Giving Challenge, which "encourages funders to support AAPI organizations and causes through both financial and non-financial means."



Several investments in AAPI communities have already been made by TAAF, such as the distribution of $1 million grants to Stop AAPI Hate, the Asian Americans Advancing Justice Coalition (AAJC) and the National Asian American Women's Forum (NAPAWF).





Story continues

On May 3, TAAF released a launch video narrated by Ling and Kim and produced by Brad Jenkins of Enfranchisement Productions to introduce the organization.





"The Asian American Foundation has come together to support Asian American Leaders who know how to make change," the video's description states.



"We will serve 23 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the pursuit of belonging and prosperity. Our story is Americas story. Join us."



Featured Image via Bloomberg Markets and Finance (left), RISE (right; (CC BY 2.0))

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May 5Sitting at opposite ends of the Columbia River Basin and the modern political spectrum didn't keep two Northwest congressmen from scratching out some common ground surrounding one of the region's most difficult and controversial issues.

In a recorded, virtual town hall meeting, Mike Simpson, of Idaho, and Earl Blumenauer, of Portland, Ore., fielded questions Tuesday about Snake River salmon and dams, environmental justice, and the potential future of the region's power and transportation systems. The discussion centered around Simpson's $33 billion proposal to save the threatened and endangered fish by breaching the four lower Snake River dams while also investing in affected communities and industries.

In many ways, the two men couldn't be more different. Blumenauer is a liberal Democratic representing an urban district centered around Portland. Simpson is a conservative Republican whose district spans much of southern Idaho.

But the river stitches them and their constituents together. Every adult salmon that spawns in Simpson's district must first swim through the lower Columbia River in Blumenauer's district.

"We are both Northwesterners," Blumenauer said. "The Columbia River Basin sort of defines who we are, our history. But it's not just us recent arrivals  white settlers and whatnot  but indigenous people who were here for thousands of years, and the basin helped define who they were "

Blumenauer is the first member of Congress who has expressed willingness to work with Simpson to advance his idea that has yet to take the form of legislation. Their partnership appeared to be centered not on specific measures but instead on the need for both action and cooperation throughout the basin.

"I admire what Mike has been doing in terms of putting out a broad concept and carrying it throughout the Pacific Northwest," Blumenauer said. "I think that is absolutely essential as a first step."

Story continues

"Earl and I might not agree on every aspect of what ... (I) have put out as a concept. What he wants to do and what I want to do is solve this problem," Simpson said. "We want to talk to stakeholders and say, 'Guys, let's put away our pitchforks and come up with a solution that we design in the Pacific Northwest instead of having one imposed on us.'"

The two men do have some differences of opinion on what exactly should and shouldn't be included in a future bill and the possible timing of it. Blumenauer said he doubted it would be included in an infrastructure package that is starting to take shape in Congress. Simpson agreed, saying it may take a year or more to craft legislation. However, he repeated his desire that funding for the concept be part of an infrastructure legislation and then placed on hold until a bill is written and approved.

A key part of Simpson's concept is a provision to shield other dams in the basin from lawsuits based on the Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act, and to extend their operating licenses, something Blumenauer is uncomfortable with.

"I have grave reservations about litigation moratoria or locking in license extensions as the way to go. I think that raises more questions than it solves," he said. "I think it is important that we maintain critical environmental protections and center on environmental justice concerns which are becoming more and more important."

Simpson countered that he wants to end the cycle of lawsuits surrounding salmon and dams to provide stakeholders who depend on hydropower and waterborne transportation certainty that breaching the four dams isn't the start of a dam-removal binge.

"If someone has better ideas on how to do that, how to end the salmon wars, how to provide certainty and security into the future so that somebody is not going to get sued every time they turn around  I think that is a valuable part of this."

Blumenauer said any solution needs to honor tribal treaty rights and culture, and complimented Simpson on support his work has garnered from Columbia River tribes like the Nez Perce. Both congressmen participated in a recent summit of 12 Northwest tribes about Simpson's proposal.

"These are treaty rights of sovereign people," he said. "This is something we cannot ignore."

In a news release, Shannon Wheeler, chairman of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee, praised Blumenauer for partnering with Simpson.

"Congressman Blumenauer has stepped up to show true leadership for salmon and Tribal Nations in the Northwest," Wheeler said. "He recognizes the biological crisis the Northwest faces  many salmon and steelhead populations are heading toward extinction  and at the same time he sees that the solution to the crisis offers broad energy, economic, and infrastructure opportunities for the entire Northwest. Under the Simpson Plan, no one is left behind."

The town hall meeting is available on YouTube at bit.ly/2Rlvu8a.

Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2273. Follow him on Twitter @ezebarker.
May 5COLUMBUS GROVE  Celebrating a century of service to the community, the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce took time Tuesday evening to reflect on a difficult year.

Becky Fruchey, executive director of the chamber, welcomed participants Tuesday evening to the 100th celebration of the Ottawa chamber at the Sycamore Lake Wine Company. She said it says a lot about a community to continue supporting a chamber for 100 years. They are fortunate to have the support of their members past and present who give their time and talents to the community.

"If you would have asked me six months ago if I thought we'd even be able to have our dinner, I wouldn't have known what to say," she said.

Following dinner, chamber officials honored the "4 under 40" program, which is designed to capture the spirit of excellence of young professionals from Putnam County. Recipients were selected by a committee of their peers based on excellence in the workplace, professional and personal leadership and philanthropic involvement in Putnam County.

Those awarded with the award include Audrey Beining, who serves as the principal for Ottawa Elementary. She has been in education for more than 15 years and was responsible for obtaining grants to send their educators to workshops for professional development. Beining has always shown great care and dedication to the students and to her staff.

Jason Ball, owner and operator of Tonys, purchased the business in 2002 at the age of 20. Ball started working for the restaurant while in high school and is responsible for giving youth their first job. Ball has been very active in the community and has given much time and money in development of the soccer program in Ottawa.

Terry Stechschulte, owner of Stechschulte Painting, took over the business from his father and continues developing it into an outstanding business. Stechschulte is also very involved in the community and serves as the president of OG Jaycees, helping to raise funds for worthy community projects.

Story continues

Dr. Tony Morman of Morman Family Chiropractic Center was also honored for his contribution to the community. Morman began his practice in Ottawa, eventually expanding with an emphasis on pediatric chiropractic care. He recently completed a remodeling project which expanded the practice which greatly enhanced the community.

Bockrath & Associates Engineering and Surveying, LLC, received the small business of the year award. Bockrath provides professional engineering and surveying services throughout Northwest and West Central Ohio. In 2014, the company acquired Westhoven Surveying, based in Napoleon, which strengthened its northwest Ohio presence.

Employing civil engineers, surveyors, technical staff and construction administration staff, the company works closely with clients, building a solid relationship based on trust, open communication and working together as a team to achieve goals.

Members also witnessed Jill Askins with the Ottawa Hearing Aid Center installed as a new board member. Askins took the oath in front of Angie Dillon, legal assistant and notary at Knueve, Sahloff and Wildenhaus in Ottawa.

The longevity of local businesses were also honored, starting with new businesses through 186 years with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Beckman Jewelers clocked in at 133 years, Blanchard Valley Health Systems at 130 years, and the First National Bank at 102 years. UIS Insurance and Investments was at 97 years, and Knueve, Sahloff & Wildenhaus Attorneys at Law at 81 years.

Fruchey thanked the members for supporting the community during a very difficult year.

"Hopefully we will be here for another 100 years  not me, but someone else," she said with a laugh.

Reach Mark Hamilton at info@limanews.com.
Outfront Media (OUT) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.17 per share in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This compares to FFO of $0.28 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

A quarter ago, it was expected that this billboard, transit and digital display advertising company would post FFO of $0.27 per share when it actually produced FFO of $0.35, delivering a surprise of 29.63%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus FFO estimates three times.

Outfront Media, which belongs to the Zacks REIT and Equity Trust - Other industry, posted revenues of $259.2 million for the quarter ended March 2021, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.45%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $385.3 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates just once over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future FFO expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Outfront Media shares have added about 25.5% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 11.6%.

What's Next for Outfront Media?

While Outfront Media has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's FFO outlook. Not only does this include current consensus FFO expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of estimate revisions.

Story continues

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Outfront Media was unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus FFO estimate is $0.15 on $338.43 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $0.84 on $1.44 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, REIT and Equity Trust - Other is currently in the bottom 19% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.



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OUTFRONT Media Inc. (OUT) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Park-Ohio (PKOH) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.53 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.34 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.13 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 55.88%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this industrial supply-chain logistics company would post earnings of $0.43 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.53, delivering a surprise of 23.26%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

Park-Ohio, which belongs to the Zacks Metal Products - Fasteners industry, posted revenues of $359.6 million for the quarter ended March 2021, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.54%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $366.3 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Park-Ohio shares have added about 21.5% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 11.6%.

What's Next for Park-Ohio?

While Park-Ohio has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Story continues

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Park-Ohio was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.46 on $351.6 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $2.12 on $1.43 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Metal Products - Fasteners is currently in the top 50% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



ParkOhio Holdings Corp. (PKOH) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Pfizer reported a super strong first quarter, saying it now expects about $26 billion in sales for its COVID-19 vaccine this year. That's up from an earlier projection of about $15 billion.

The big picture: That anticipated windfall comes as the Biden administration announced more ambitious U.S. vaccine goals and the world scrambles to get access to shots.

Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

The state of play: In the first quarter, Pfizer posted about $4.9 billion in profits on revenue of $14.6 billion. That's up about 45% from about $3.4 billion in the first quarter of 2020 on revenue of $10.1 billion.

That was in large part because Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, created with BioNTech, generated $3.5 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2021 alone.

Reality check: These are some seriously big numbers. If you need a comparison, look to one of Pfizer's all-time blockbusters Lipitor, which made about $13 billion in one year, at its peak.

Details: As of May 3, Pfizer and BioNTech have shipped approximately 430 million doses of the vaccine to 91 countries and territories. They expect to deliver 1.6 billion doses through the end of the year.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla also told investors the company expects to hear back "shortly" from the FDA on the authorization of its vaccine for kids ages 12 to 15.

In March, Pfizer and BioNTech began a global study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and ability of the vaccine to work in children as young as six months old. Results from the study are expected to be available in the second half of 2021.

Our thought bubble: Don't be surprised if this fans the flames of an already boiling fight over intellectual property rights for the vaccines.

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May Fourth spirit celebrated

Chinadaily.com.cn) 09:30, May 05, 2021

Youths renew their dedication to ideals awakened over 100 years ago

Young people pose for a photo at the location of the first National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Tuesday in Shanghai to mark National Youth Day, commemorating the May Fourth Movement. [Photo/Xinhua]

Young people across the nation celebrated National Youth Day on Tuesday through activities to inherit the May Fourth spirit in the new era.

Tuesday marked the 102nd anniversary of the May Fourth Movement in China.

The movement started with huge student protests on May 4, 1919, opposing the government's response to the Treaty of Versailles, which treated China unfairly and undermined the country's sovereignty in the aftermath of World War I. The movement triggered a national campaign to overthrow the old society and promote new ideas, including science, democracy and Marxism.

The May Fourth spirit refers to patriotism, progress, democracy and science, with patriotism at the core. In the new era, Chinese youth are expected to carry on the May Fourth spirit and to strive for national rejuvenation.

In Shanghai, up to 1,000 teenagers gathered on Tuesday morning at the site where the first CPC National Congress was held in 1921 to commemorate the history of the Communist Party of China. After a short lecture on CPC history, a themed relay activity began using four routes, which represented the four phases the Party went through in 100 years.

Participants, including popular users of video-sharing platform Bilibili, learned history and fostered stronger ideals by visiting Shanghai landmarks, guessing riddles and accomplishing tasks.

"Young deputies took part in the first CPC National Congress 100 years ago, speaking out with the powerful conviction of youth. As young people in the new era, we are key to keeping the country's vitality," a Bilibili user said, livestreaming the relay.

Students from Tianjin University "talked" with Zhang Tailei, a revolutionary martyr and an alumnus of the forerunner of the university, during a special lecture on campus.

Zhang's life was presented through drama and historical material to teach about his devotion to the people's happiness, Science and Technology Daily said.

Tian Shuo, a speaker at a lecture, said the innovative way of learning CPC history would encourage students to consider how to integrate their own development with the nation's development.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
Some of us believe we should be vaccinated for the common good, not just to protect ourselves, much like the wearing of face masks, he said in an email. Others do not feel as strong of social obligation and have taken a stance of rugged individualism when it comes to COVID. There is very little that can be done to change that position.
Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to "carry the can" if Labour fares badly in tomorrow's elections, after a string a polls suggested the party could lose further ground in the Red Wall.

The opposition leader had hoped to prove that he is righting the ship after Jeremy Corbyn's tenure, but the critical Leave-voting seat of Hartlepool could turn Tory for the first time in more than 50 years.

Sir Keir will bear some responsibility for the fact that Labour's candidate Paul Williams, a former Remainer, was picked from a 'longlist' of one. The party's Corbynite wing are already asking what it means for his leadership.

But Sir Keir said he was prepared to take responsibility, while stressing his focus was "winning the next general election", suggesting a resignation is unlikely.

"When things go right, the leader takes the plaudits; when they don't go right, the leader carries the can and takes responsibility," he told journalists today. "That's what I will do with these elections, as I will do in everything that the Labour Party does.

"I'm conscious, the whole party is conscious, that this is but a step on the road to the next general election."

Boris Johnson sought to downplay the forecasts, telling journalists: "These are tough contests and Hartlepool in particular you'd have to say, that hasn't been a Conservative since its inception... That will be a very tough fight but I hope everybody gets out to vote."

Follow the latest updates below.

02:43 PM

Labour has 'further work to do' whatever the outcome, says Sir Keir Starmer

Story continues

Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour has "further work to do, whatever the results tomorrow", as he faces a drubbing at the ballot box.

Asked whether there might be a change in strategy if poll predictions are proved right, the opposition leader broadcasters: "The strategy is to get from where we were in 2019, to winning the next general election.

"That is the sole focus of what I'm doing, what my leadership is doing. It's going to take time. We're making progress, that is good - but I never thought it was going to happen in a year.

"We've got further work to do whatever the results tomorrow."

02:34 PM

Sir Keir Starmer will 'carry the can' if Labour fares badly

Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner in Birmingham - PA

Sir Keir Starmer has said he will "carry the can" if Labour fares badly in tomorrow's election, as seems likely given the state of current polls.

Speaking to journalists, he said: "I take full responsibility for everything the Labour Party does, including the elections whatever they are tomorrow.

"And for me it's very important - it's the same approach I took when I was director of public prosecutions running the Crown Prosecution Service for five years, which is when things go right, the leader takes the plaudits; when they don't go right, the leader carries the can and takes responsibility.

02:25 PM

Have your say: What's your forecast for the elections?

Pollsters - and it has to be said journalists - are notorious for calling elections wrong.

In recent years, the only thing that was ever reliable was that such forecasts could not be relied upon.

That goes some way to explaining why both Sir Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson are keen to downplay the predictions that suggest the Tories are on course to gain ground in the Red Wall.

So will it be a wash-out for Labour - or will the Tories start to struggle?

Have your say in the poll below.

02:23 PM

Ben Habib: Britain should get used to hostile tactics from the EU

The Brits do not get it. It is not relevant that fishing, in terms of contribution to GDP, is a rounding error, writes Ben Habib.

The French, on the other hand, do. They understand the value of fishing. It is not about GDP. It is about controlling the supply of this phenomenal renewable resource and the livelihoods of the people who rely on mining it. That is why they fought tooth and nail to retain access to our waters.

These British waters are much richer than their own despite the abuse they have suffered during 47 years of the Common Fisheries Policy. And that is why they have threatened to plunge Jersey into a blackout if the island does not issue sufficient fishing licenses.

Jerseys External Affairs Minister described the threat as disproportionate. He is wrong. The French are simply using the leverage they have to force the UK to do their bidding.

Read the rest of Ben's column here.

02:12 PM

Boris Johnson arrives at the G7 summit

Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab outside Lancaster House in London - Getty

Boris Johnson has arrived at Lancaster House in London, where foreign ministers from the G7 group of nations have been holding face-to-face talks.

The Prime Minister was greeted at the summit venue by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, both wearing face masks, before going inside.

He was due to be meeting representatives of the Indian government, including foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, but that will now take place on Zoom.

02:04 PM

Michel Barnier's 'Secret Diary of Brexit' sounds... polite

The inside story of Brexit will be told by the EU's former chief negotiator in a new book, published tomorrow. Given the tension that sometimes spilled out into press briefings, it sounds surprisingly polite.

Michel Barnier's The Grand Illusion: A Secret Diary of Brexit apparently offers little in the way of salacious revelations from his four years locked in the room with British counterparts.

One preview, on AFP, details how he describes former British prime minister Theresa May as "a courageous and tenacious woman surrounded by many men who put their personal ambitions ahead of their country".

However Boris Johnson, and David Cameron, who called the 2016 Brexit referendum, bear "a real responsibility before the history of their country", the book claims.

Meanwhile Nigel Farage was "just as cordial and polite in private as he was violent and demagogic in public", writes Barnier.

01:44 PM

Donald Trump's Facebook ban upheld by oversight board

"Given the seriousness of the violations and the ongoing risk of violence, Facebook was justified in suspending Mr Trump's accounts" - AFP

A ban on Donald Trump from using Facebook has been upheld by the social network's oversight board - though the group raised concerns about the indeterminate duration of the measure.

The former US president was blocked from the platform indefinitely following violent clashes in the US Capitol on January 6, in which five people died.

Sir Nick Clegg, Facebook's vice president of global affairs and communications, said the firm was "pleased" the board recognised the "unprecedented circumstances".

He added: "We will now consider the board's decision and determine an action that is clear and proportionate. In the meantime, Mr Trump's accounts remain suspended."

01:27 PM

Chop chop: Boris Johnson gets a helicopter after blitzing the campaign trail

So long, Stourbridge: Boris Johnson boards his helicopter - Alamy

Boris Johnson might enjoy a leisurely bike ride in normal times. But when it comes to getting around the country in the midst of a hotly-contested election campaign, he has the chopper on standby.

The Prime Minister is hightailing it back to London for the G7 summit.

01:15 PM

Leaders' G7 summit will go ahead in June, Boris Johnson tells Angela Merkel

Boris to Angela: "We'll meet again..." - AFP

Boris Johnson has told German counterpart Angela Merkel he still intends for her to come to London in June, despite the outbreak of Covid at this week's G7 summit (see 9:42am).

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel this afternoon, ahead of the Petersburg climate dialogue tomorrow.

"They discussed the importance of all countries making concrete commitments to reduce carbon emissions and supporting developing countries to do the same, including by raising contributions towards climate finance."

She added: "The Prime Minister looked forward to welcoming Chancellor Merkel to the UK for the G7 summit in June."

01:06 PM

Nadhim Zahawi joins Shaun Bailey on the campaign trail

No one is expecting him to win tomorrow - but could Shaun Bailey shave off some of Sadiq Khan's lead (see 10:40am)?

The Conservatives' mayoral hopeful has been canvassing with vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi to keep the pressure up.

Shaun Bailey (right) with vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi today - PA

12:57 PM

Is Labour's dominance slipping in Wales?

Labour's position in Wales has never been questioned: the party has been the largest name in play at every devolved election and every Westminster election since 1922.

Yet polling over the course of the Senedd campaign suggests that dominance might be slipping.

A YouGov survey out yesterday has Labour getting 36 per cent of the vote. The Conservatives are nipping at Mark Drakeford's heels with 29 per cent of the vote, while Plaid Cymru has fallen to third place, with 20 per cent.

All that means Labour's lead has narrowed, partly as those who voted Tory in 2019 moved from "don't know" at the start of campaigning to give Boris Johnson the benefit of the doubt once again.

However Mr Drakeford has consistently been viewed positively for his handling of the pandemic, with his personal ratings rising to match.

Labour will be hoping to increase their share of the vote here as proof that they can still win over blue collar voters, but it could yet prove out of their grasp.

12:35 PM

Could growth in Green support point to another trend?

Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrats leader, campaigns in London - Getty

With the focus on how the main parties will fare in this election, it can be easy to overlook some of the smaller ones. But while we consider whether it's time to find a new name for the Red Wall, London could be pointing to another long-term trend.

According to a YouGov poll, the Greens are on course to come third in the mayoral race, beating the Liberal Democrats.

This is Sian Berry's third time standing as a candidate, and she has come third before. But according to the results of this latest survey, which was carried out earlier this week, Ms Berry could double her previous result.

Along with the general decline of the Lib Dems, there is a growing awareness of climate issues - as touted by the Prime Minister - that means we could see more of the Greens than we have before.

12:22 PM

Windfall tax on pandemic profits best way to fund services, survey finds

A windfall tax on companies who have profited from the coronavirus crisis is the most popular way to fund frontline public sector workers and services, new research suggests.

A survey of more than 1,000 adults for the GMB union also indicated that a rise in corporation tax is the second most popular way of plugging financial gaps.

The least popular policy was a rise in council tax, said the GMB.

Clearly Boris Johnson and the Conservatives have run similar figures: the Prime Minister and his top team have repeatedly attacked Labour for running councils with the highest council tax.

12:09 PM

Why are the Scottish Tories slipping in the polls?

Ruth Davidson drove a tank through her Scottish rivals - Getty

Whatever the outcome of the Holyrood elections tomorrow, Nicola Sturgeon will have plenty of clear blue water between the SNP and the second largest party.

But which party will that be?

An Ipsos Mori poll out this afternoon suggests Labour could leapfrog over the Tories, although other polls have them neck and neck. This would be quite a feat given that Anas Sarwar has only been leader of Scottish Labour for just over two months. So why are the Tories not doing better?

Partly, it's Boris Johnson. While he may be winning over voters in the Red Wall and beyond, north of the border he is rather less liked. That might explain why Douglas Ross has made some strident comments about the Prime Minister needing to resign if it's found he broke the ministerial code.

However, the undeniable truth is also that Mr Ross is no Ruth Davidson, who led the party to become a genuine force to be reckoned with as Labour crumbled. Perhaps it's time for a tank.

11:53 AM

At least the Nazis kept the lights on': UK blasts France for threat to cut off Jersey's power

Britain has attacked France for unacceptable threats to cut off Jerseys electricity supplies in a row over Brexit fishing rights with government sources warning that not even the Channel Islands Nazi occupiers sank so low.

French Maritime Minister Annick Giradin said yesterday that Paris could shut down three undersea cables that provide Jersey with 95 percent of its electricity if the dispute over fishing licences in its waters were not resolved.

"At least when the Germans invaded they kept the lights on," a Government source said, referring to the five years of occupation during World War Two.

"The problem is there is no undersea connector to Jersey, so it's not as though we could turn on a switch if they turn one off."

Read the full story here.

11:51 AM

Boris Johnson: Get out and vote

Boris Johnson is not leaving anything to chance, urging would-be backers to "get out and vote" as he blitzes the campaign trail ahead of tomorrow's election.

The Prime Minister joined Andy Street, the Conservative candidate for West Midlands mayor, on a bike ride as the pair met locals.

11:49 AM

Have your say: What's your forecast for the elections?

Pollsters - and it has to be said journalists - are notorious for calling elections wrong.

In recent years, the only thing that was ever reliable was that such forecasts could not be relied upon.

That goes some way to explaining why both Sir Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson are keen to downplay the predictions that suggest the Tories are on course to gain ground in the Red Wall.

So will it be a wash-out for Labour - or will the Tories start to struggle?

Have your say in the poll below.

11:32 AM

Ursula von der Leyen: 'Openness rhymes with fairness'

European Commission boss Ursula von der Leyen has got people scratching their heads after she confidently pronounced that "openness rhymes with fairness".

Unveiling new plans to restrain companies that benefit from foreign subsidies to buy EU businesses or take part in public tenders, as part of efforts to fend off unfair competition from China, the president said her goal was "to ensure a level playing field in these challenging times and support our recovery".

The Telegraph's James Crisp was on hand to fact check her.

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11:24 AM

Why politicians shouldn't eat in public, in pictures

Theresa May was never the most natural in front of the camera - PA

Getting up close with the public has its pros and its cons for politicians, but nothing can be more damaging than an awkward photo of a politician eating (or drinking) in the wild.

In fact, it's not going too far to say that in some instances it has even cost a career.

From Ed Miliband's bacon sarnie to Theresa May's chips, we look back at some of the most memorable moments caught on camera here.

10:54 AM

Government committed to 'long-term' solution to social care, says Boris Johnson

Social care is "a massive priority for this Government", Boris Johnson has said.

Asked if he would be putting forward social care funding proposals in the Queen's Speech, the Prime Minister said: "We're determined to bring forward new proposals and there will be something about it in the course of the next few months."

He added: "The pandemic has helped to expose... the amazing work that social care workers do and all the help they give to our society.

"They've borne the brunt of the pandemic, so we invest hugely in social care as a Government... but we also have to think about the long-term issues, the long-term costs and how we should be funding it."

10:36 AM

Rishi Sunak: Man eats chip (but it's harder than it looks)

Rishi Sunak nails the art of eating a chip - Reuters

One of the real tests of campaigning is whether MPs and ministers can eat and drink like normal people.

From Ed Miliband's bacon sandwich gaffe to the way Zac Goldsmith held a pint of beer, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that it is harder than it seems for Westminster's luminaries.

Rishi Sunak has, however, nailed the art of eating a chip.

10:26 AM

Boris Johnson defends in-person G7 despite Covid outbreak

Boris Johnson has defended the decision to hold the G7 foreign ministers meeting in person, despite two members of the Indian delegation testing positive for Covid.

Asked if it was a mistake, the Prime Minister told reporters: "I think it's very important to try to continue as much business as you can as a Government.

"We have a very important relationship with India and with our G7 partners.

"As I understand it, what has happened is the individuals concerned are all isolating now.

"I will be seeing the Indian foreign minister later this afternoon and that will be a Zoom exchange, I'm given to understand."

10:23 AM

Boris Johnson 'could not continue' if he has breached code, says Scots Tories leader

Boris Johnson would have to resign if it is found that he breached the ministerial code, the leader of the Scottish Tories has said.

Speaking to Sky News, Douglas Ross noted there were "three separate investigations" into the question of donations used for the refurbishment of the Downing Street flat, and there were "questions that need to be answered".

But he added: "Those who seek to hold the highest office in the land have to hold the highest standard. If the Prime Minister has breached the ministerial code he could not continue."

This is broadly reiterating what he said during an interview on Sunday - but it comes just a couple of hours after vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi tried to argue it was not what had been said (see 8:29am).

10:17 AM

Scots Tories leader calls for pro-union public to 'lend us their vote'

Douglas Ross has urged pro-union voters to "lend their vote" to the Scottish Tories in a bid to prevent renewed pressure for a second referendum.

The leader told Sky News "this is election is on a knife edge", and that an SNP majority would result in more "division and debate on independence, rather than recovery".

However he repeatedly side-stepped questions about whether the SNP would be granted a second plebiscite if they secured a majority.

Instead he stressed that "the Scottish Conservatives are the strongest challengers" to independence.

10:06 AM

Starmer suggests he will not step down if Labour suffers at the polls

Sir Keir Starmer has said he is committed to ensuring "the Labour Party is in a position to win the next general election when it comes", in a sign that he won't step down should tomorrow's election result in a wash-out.

The leader of the opposition has said he will take "full responsibility" for the results - but not what that means.

He told reporters: "We are fighting for every vote in Hartlepool. We have a very good, strong candidate there to be a strong voice for Hartlepool and that's the spirit in which we are going into the elections tomorrow.

"There was a mountain to climb when I took over as leader of the Labour Party - we lost in December 2019 very badly and I've got to make sure the Labour Party is in a position to win the next general election when it comes.

"That's the mountain we're climbing. We're on that mountain, we're climbing and we're going into the elections tomorrow fighting for every vote."

10:02 AM

Sir Keir Starmer: Rebuilding trust in Labour will take longer than this

Sir Keir Starmer said he would take responsibility, whatever the outcome - Getty

Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he does not expect Labour to recover from its 2019 general election result, but refused to comment to a change if the polls are proved right in tomorrow's election.

During a visit to West Yorkshire, Sir Keir told reporters: "We are fighting for every vote into those elections tomorrow... Whatever the results are, I will take responsibility, as I take responsibility for everything in the Labour Party."

Pressed on whether he might have to rethink his leadership approach if the results are poor, the party leader added: "Well, look, I took over the Labour Party after the worst general election result since 1935.

"We've got to rebuild into the next general election - that is the task in hand.

"This is the first test and we go into that test fighting for every vote, but I never thought we would climb the mountain we have to climb in just one year - it is going to take longer than that."

09:58 AM

Boris Johnson side-steps referendum question

Boris Johnson has refused to comment on whether an SNP victory in Holyrood would result in a referendum - despite this being the thrust of the Scottish Tories campaign.

Asked if he should allow a referendum if people in Scotland voted for pro-independence parties, the Prime Minister said: "Well, let's wait and see what actually happens.

"I think that most people in Scotland, most people around the whole of the UK, feel that this is not the time, as we're coming forward out of a pandemic together, this is not the time to have a reckless, and I think irresponsible, second referendum.

"We had one only a few years ago - I think what most people want is to focus on the country and taking it forward and rebuilding our economy and getting people into work.

"That seems to me to be the priority."

09:56 AM

Boris Johnson hits the campaign... towpath

The man who gifted the world Boris Bikes doesn't need much prodding to get on two wheels.

The Prime Minister has joined West Midlands mayoral candidate Andy Street on the campaign towpath, ahead of tomorrow's elections.

Boris Johnson rides along the towpath of the Stourbridge canal in the West Midlands - AP

Meeting the locals: Boris Johnson gets out and about in the West Midlands - AP

Andy Street joins the PM for a bike ride - AP

09:43 AM

Sir Keir Starmer demands answers over Indian Covid scare

Sir Keir Starmer has challenged the Government to explain why the Indian delegation travelled to London for the G7, after two positive coronavirus cases were detected.

The Labour leader told reporters during a campaign visit to St Giles Food Share in Pontefract, West Yorkshire: "I do think we need to ask questions about how this happened, if only to make sure it is not repeated.

"It is a reminder of how vigilant we need to be about our borders - we've been challenging Government on this for some months.

"Let's get to the bottom of how this happened - we cannot have a repeat."

09:40 AM

Just how bad could tomorrow's elections be for Labour?

Sadiq Khan will still win, convincingly - but that might not tell the whole story - Getty

Labour appeared to take much of yesterday's dire polling on the chin, with Sir Keir Starmer stressing how long it will take him to rebuild bridges after Jeremy Corbyn's tenure.

The received wisdom in Westminster has been, for some time now, that Labour is weakest in towns but remains resilient in the cities.

So the fact that a YouGov poll suggests that Conservative candidate Shaun Bailey has closed the gap with Sadiq Khan by nine points in the last month should be ruffling some feathers in Southside.

While there is no suggestion that Mr Khan will lose in London, if the Tories are gaining popularity in the metropolis, tomorrow could be a damning indictment of Sir Keir's "new management".

09:27 AM

Scottish polls underscore just how fluid Holyrood race is

When it comes to England, the polls seem to point to one conclusion: Labour is heading for a bad time at the ballot box tomorrow. The only question is how bad.

But in Scotland, things are much more difficult to call. A Survation poll for the Courier this morning (see 8:11am) has the SNP gaining a further three seats, securing a majority with 66 MSPs.

However a separate poll for the New Statesman keeps Nicola Sturgeon and co on 63 seats, falling short of an outright majority - but bolstered by a surge from the pro-independence Greens.

YouGov meanwhile has the SNP gaining 52 per cent of the constituency vote, while Savanta ComRes puts it at 42 per cent.

09:17 AM

Why a West Yorkshire win could be a Pyrrhic victory for Labour

Tracy Brabin's success in West Yorkshire could leave Labour fighting another challenging by-election - PA

Sir Keir Starmer is on the campaign trail with Tracy Brabin today, hoping the former actress has the star power to in the West Yorkshire mayoralty tomorrow.

But if she does, this presents the Labour leader with another challenge. The Batley and Spen MP, and former shadow culture minister, will have to stand down, triggering another potentially painful by-election in a Red Wall seat.

Given the state of the Hartlepool race, where Labour now looks likely to lose a seat it has held for more than 50 years, you can expect that to be pushed back for as long as possible. The opposition will be hoping that things will turn their way when furlough starts to be withdrawn and the anticipated reckoning on jobs begins.

But either way, a win in West Yorkshire tomorrow could be a Pyrrhic victory for Labour.

09:02 AM

Priti Patel not isolating despite meeting Indian foreign minister

Priti Patel met Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar yesterday - but will not have to self-isolate currently.

Mr Jaishankar is self-isolating but has not tested positive - however, if he does so, that may mean the Home Secretary will also be forced to quarantine.

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08:56 AM

Why did the UK Government invite a delegation from India to the G7?

The in-person G7 summit in London was meant to herald the start of something resembling normality.

Attendees might have been wearing face masks and forced to elbow-jab hello, but it was the first face-to-face gathering of the word's leading foreign ministers in two years and, as such, a step in the right direction.

But now it seems as though it was more of a misstep, with the entire Indian delegation having to self-isolate following two Covid cases.

Many questions must follow, chief of which is why people were allowed to travel into the UK from a country that has been enduring record-breaking cases and deaths. Given that Boris Johnson's trip to the country that sits on the red list was cancelled just a couple of weeks ago, it seems foolhardy at best.

Why was it not identified before they travelled? How many members of the public have potentially been put at risk because of this? And which variant are the cases?

08:46 AM

But the G7 show must go on....

Foreign ministers from the G7 group of nations have arrived at Lancaster House in London for the second day of their first summit in over two years - despite a Covid outbreak among the Indian delegation.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, wearing a face mask, arrived at the venue ahead of officials from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, the US and the EU.

He welcomed them in the courtyard, including guests invited as part of the UK's tilt to the Indo-Pacific region, with an elbow bump replacing the usual handshake.

Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is now having to attend virtually, although he has not tested positive.

08:42 AM

Entire Indian delegation self-isolating following two Covid positive cases

India's entire delegation to the G7 summit in London is self-isolating after two of its members tested positive for Covid-19, a senior Government source has confirmed.

"Two members of the Indian delegation have tested positive as part of the testing protocols put in place," the source told the Telegraph. "The Indian delegation has yet to attend the meeting at all - they were only due to attend today and last night, but haven't yet attended in person."

However it is understood that the individuals, including Home Secretary Priti Patel, had other meetings in advance of the meeting, although Public Health England has "determined the risk to those in the meetings is low" and does not require individuals to isolate.

It is understood that the positive results were not picked up in pre-flight testing but as part of the G7 daily testing protocol.

A senior UK diplomat said: We deeply regret that Jaishankar will be unable to attend the meeting today in person but will now attend virtually , but this is exactly why we have put in place strict Covid protocols and daily testing.

08:27 AM

Police investigate Labour's brownie breach

Police are investigating claims the Labour candidate for West Yorkshire Mayor has broken election laws.

There are allegations Tracy Brabin broke the law by offering people brownies.

A Lib Dem Councillor, Tom Gordon, tweeted it was the "second time in as many days" he had seen Ms Brabin "out and about with boxes of brownies on them that say "Vote Labour" on them".

Labour says the cakes were offered to party members after they had been campaigning  which would not be against the rules.

The Electoral Commission says there is only a breach of the law if there is corrupt intent and it does not apply to hospitality.

08:06 AM

G7 Covid 'scare' among India delegates

The Foreign Office is not responding to requests for confirmation of reports that there has been a Covid outbreak among delegates attending the G7 summit in London this week.

Vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi was asked about it twice during the broadcast round this morning (see 8:20am and 8:04am) but couldn't shed any light.

However Sky is reporting that the Indian delegation is now self-isolating.

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08:01 AM

Boris Johnsons broadcast boycott continues

Throughout the 2019 general election campaign, Boris Johnson gained something of a reputation of dodging all but the most straightforward of interviews.

He was the only leader not to submit to Andrew Neils grilling and at one point, famously, hid in a fridge rather than answer awkward questions.

Old habits die hard, it seems: the BBC and ITV note he is the only party leader not to have given an interview in the current campaign.

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08:01 AM

'Tory voters more likely to turn out', says Labour frontbencher

Labour could still outperform election polls, such as the dire prediction it will lose the seat in Hartlepool, if turnout is higher than expected, a shadow minister has said.

Jonathan Reynolds, shadow work and pensions secretary, told Radio 4's Today programme he was shrugging off the forecasts until we have the actual election taking place.

He added: "If you look at where there is a Conservative poll lead in some polls it's heavily down to turnout. We know from previous elections polls went wrong because Conservative voters are frankly more likely statistically to turn out.

He urged those who want strong local candidates that will make a difference in your area focused on public services and your welfare to get to a ballot box tomorrow. "If people do that we might outperform many of those polls."

07:29 AM

Douglas Ross did not say Boris Johnson should resign, minister insists

The Scottish Tories leader did not say Boris Johnson should resign if it is found he has broken the ministerial code, the vaccines minister has claimed.

Douglas Ross said on Sunday that Mr Johnson should of course quit if he is found to have breached the code over the Downing Street flat refurbishment.

But this morning Nadhim Zahawi told Radio 4's Today programme: "The question that was asked of Douglas Ross was to do with Nicola Sturgeon, and there had already been a report by a cross-party committee saying she has broken the ministerial code.

"I watched it very, very carefully - he began by addressing the issue of Nicola Sturgeon."

Challenged again, he added: "I would not want to pre-empt any part of this inquiry until.. that inquiry reports."

07:20 AM

Minister further quizzed about Covid scare at London G7 summit

The vaccines minister has been asked a second time about a possible Covid outbreak at the London-based G7 summit this week.

Dominic Raab yesterday welcomed fellow foreign ministers to Lancaster House for the first in-person meeting in two years. Boris Johnson even popped in to meet the US' new Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

But this morning rumours are circulating that some individuals are having to self-isolate. Asked about this by BBC Breakfast, Nadhim Zahawi said: "Protocols apply to the summit and the foreign ministers who are in town at the minute.

"I commend the Public Health England team that makes sure everybody is protected, and anybody who has any symptoms self isolates. I have no further detail that that."

07:13 AM

Jersey hits out at France's 'disproportionate' electricity threat

Jersey's external affairs minister has accused France of making "disproportionate" threats after Paris warned it could cut off electricity to the island in a row over post-Brexit fishing rights (see below).

"This is not the first threat that the French have made to either Jersey or the United Kingdom since we are into this new deal," Senator Ian Gorst told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

"It would seem disproportionate to cut off electricity for the sake of needing to provide extra details so that we can refine the licences."

Mr Gorst added: "I do think a solution can be found. I am optimistic that we can provide extra time to allow this evidence to be provided."

07:11 AM

Nicola Sturgeon heading for SNP majority in Holyrood, new poll finds

Feeling gruff? New poll puts SNP ahead in tomorrow's elections - Reuters

Fresh from the Hartlepool poll that caused such upset, Survation has just published another eyebrow raising survey - this time showing that Nicola Sturgeon is on course for an SNP majority.

The pro-independence party is expected to pick up three more seats than in 2016, ending with 66 MSPs, in tomorrow's election.

The Scottish Conservatives could cling on as the largest opposition group  but only just at a reduced 24 seats, the poll for the Courier found.

That would leave the SNP able to claim a mandate for a second referendum - although there remains a huge question-mark over whether Westminster would grant one.

07:07 AM

UK and EU must 'iron out' issues amid threat to Jersey's electricity

A Government minister has said the EU and UK had to "iron out" any issues following news of France warning it could cut off electricity to Jersey in a row over post-Brexit fishing rights (see below).

Speaking on Sky News, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said: "I think my very strong feeling on this is that we need to work constructively.

"This is an issue for the commission to work with our team and all the indications from minister (David) Frost and his team is that the commission is taking seriously some of these operational challenges that we need to fix together."

07:06 AM

Testing investment announcement unrelated to election, minister insists

The vaccines minister has insisted the timing of an announcement about a new "future proof" testing facility at Porton Down had nothing to do with the election.

Nadhim Zahawi said the multi-million pound investment would see the creation of a new facility in January next year, adding the current vaccination programme was "working effectively against the dominant virus in the UK".

When asked why the announcement was being made the day before elections on May 6, he said: "Until you make the investment and they're ready, we announce when we sign, when the system is ready to accept that investment when the plans are signed off.

"Ministers have very little to do with the timing."

07:04 AM

Has there been a Covid outbreak at the G7?

Foreign ministers descended on London yesterday for the first in-person meeting in two years.

But it seems there has been a Covid outbreak.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi appeared to confirm that some people had tested positive, but told Sky News he did not know the details.

"Obviously Public Health England and the team that are organising G7 take this very seriously," he said.

"We continue to have one of the most robust set of protocols around testing and so we will make sure that happens, but I don't know the numbers."

He added: "This is news to me ... I can't really comment."

06:48 AM

France threatens to cut off Jersey's electricity as Brexit fishing row grows

France threatened to cut off Jersey's electricity supplies on Tuesday as the row over post-Brexit fishing rights between Paris and London deepened.

"We are ready to use these retaliation measures," Annick Girardin, the maritime minister, told lawmakers in the French parliament. "I am sorry it has come to this. We will do so if we have to."

Ms Giradin mentioned the underwater cables that supply Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, with about 95 percent of its electricity and suggested they could be shut down. The remaining five per cent of its electricity is provided by on-island diesel generators.

The self-governing British Crown Dependency would face all-island power cuts if the French threat was carried out. There were three island-wide power cuts in six years until a new 40 million pound, 16.7-mile cable was laid between Jersey and France in 2016.
Ndustrial, a Raleigh-based startup that makes software and internet-of-things technology to digitize factories, has raised $6 million from investors and is planning a large expansion of its workforce in the coming year, the company said Wednesday.

The company, whose offices are on Fayetteville Street in downtown, uses its software to make factories more efficient with how they tap into the energy grid. Its customers include large cold storage warehouses and firms in the biotechnology industry.

The companys algorithm and sensors plug in heaps of real-time data about how large facilities are using energy. Ndustrials platform then helps determine how these warehouses can be more efficient.

The funding round is being led by the venture arm of the utility company ENGIE and Clean Energy Ventures, a venture capital firm.

We were really looking for patient capital, said Jason Massey, the CEO of Ndustrial and a former investor in his own right. Theyre predisposed to longer-term thinking.

In a statement, Daniel Goldman, the managing director of Clean Energy Ventures, said Ndustrials technology can significantly impact the carbon emissions of industrial sites.

Their tangible application of machine learning for energy efficiency and process improvement stands apart, he said. We believe their technology has the potential to materially impact carbon emissions in older industrial facilities across a wide range of sectors, and were looking forward to helping them scale their innovative technology.

Massey said Ndustrial, which was started in 2011, has a chance to ride a wave of interest in green-energy technology over the next few years. President Joe Bidens infrastructure plan, for instance, proposes large investments into green energy.

The floodgates are starting to open, Massey said in a video call.

Room for expansion

The company plans to complete 168 projects this year, mainly at cold storage facilities. One of the companys largest customers is Lineage Logistics, which operates hundreds of cold storage facilities across the U.S. The company is also an investor in Ndustrial.

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According to one case study, Ndustrial helped Lineage curb its energy costs by 8% between 2014 and 2017, helping save $4 million for the cold-storage company.

Massey said Ndustrial will use the funding to expand beyond cold storage.

While the pandemic prevented Ndustrial from doing a lot of its projects, which require on-site work, its forecasted projects for 2021 represents an increase from the 70 projects it worked on in 2019.

Massey said the investment and increase in demand will necessitate a large hiring spree for Ndustrial, both in engineering and sales talent.

Currently, the company has around 30 employees, a number that stayed steady during the pandemic. But within the next four years, Massey said the company could grow to 175 to 200 employees.

While the company prefers to hire local talent, Massey said Ndustrial is now open to hiring remote workers.

Ideally, youd still look more locally to find local talent, but youve also got to go where the talent is, Massey said. And Silicon Valley has been coming in and recruiting pretty heavily from RTP area, so youre seeing wages go up.

This story was produced with financial support from a coalition of partners led by Innovate Raleigh as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. Learn more; go to bit.ly/newsinnovate
May 4HANFORD  Rotary Club of Hanford presents "An Evening with Victor Davis Hanson" from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 15 at Glad Tidings Church, 750 E. Grangeville Blvd.

Victor Davis Hanson is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and chairs the Working Group on the Role of Military History in Contemporary Conflict.

He is a scholar of ancient and modern military history, classics and contemporary politics. He is a columnist and commentator for numerous media outlets. Hanson is a professor of classics emeritus at California State University, Fresno and has been a visiting professor at Hillsdale College since 2004. He received the Eric Breindel Award for Excellence in Opinion Journalism (2002), and was awarded the National Humanities Medal (2007) and the Bradley Prize (2008).

Hanson is also a farmer and a critic of social trends related to farming and agrarianism and is author/editor of more than twenty-four books. His most recent books are "The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won" and "The Case for Trump".

Tickets are free, but limited and must be presented at the door.

For more information on for tickets, call 559-977-9999.
A man who police say kidnapped and murdered an Horry County grandmother will face federal charges, and possibly the death penalty, a federal grand jury decided yesterday.

Dominique Devonah Brand, 29, of Marion, was charged in a three-count indictment with kidnapping resulting in death, carjacking resulting in death, and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death of a person in such a manner to constitute murder.

Brand could receive a sentence of up to life without the possibility of parole or death on all counts.

Brand entered the home of Mary Ann Elvington in Nichols on March 28, 2021, and kidnapped her, the indictment detailed. Armed with a shotgun, Brand forced Elvington, 80, to drive him in her car to Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina, and then back to Lakeview, South Carolina.

There, outside of the Lakeview Police Department building, Brand forced Elvington into the back seat of the vehicle and drove away with her. This interaction was caught on surveillance video according to federal search warrants. Brand shot and killed Elvington near the Zion Crossroads in Marion County then drove her car to a wooded area behind a nightclub and abandoned it, according to the indictment.

Elvingtons car had OnStar tracking in it, but the emergency services company refused to reveal the location of the car to her children when they asked. The cars location was not revealed until a missing person report was filed with Horry County police later that night. It was too late.

Brand will be arraigned by a United States Magistrate Judge at the McMillan Federal Courthouse in Florence, South Carolina, in the coming weeks. He is currently in custody on related state charges in Marion County.

The case was investigated by a joint team consisting of the Horry County Police Department, Marion County Sherriffs Office, Dillon County Sherriffs Office, Myrtle Beach City Police Department, Lakeview Police Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. The Federal Bureau of Investigations Pee Dee Safe Streets Gang Task Force is also assisting in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Everett E. McMillian and Special Assistant United States Attorney Scott Hixson are prosecuting the federal case in close coordination with the 15th and 12th Circuit Solicitors Offices.

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While the indictment in this specific case speaks for itself, brazen violence, particularly against the elderly, will always be met with a strong, unified effort by law enforcement to bring the victims justice, said Acting U.S. Attorney M. Rhett DeHart. We will never waver in our work to stop violent crime in South Carolina.

Brand has prior convictions

Brand is being held at the Marion County Detention Center without bond. In 2009, Brand was admitted to South Carolina Department of Corrections under the Youthful Offender Act. He was paroled in 2010 and finished the sentence in 2011.

He was back in jail on Feb. 10, 2012 after pleading guilty to five counts of second-degree burglary from Marion County. He was sentenced to 15 years, of which he was required to serve one-third before being eligible for parole, according to SC law.

He was released on parole in Marion County on April 13, 2018. If he had not been released on parole, he would have been released on supervised reentry in June 2019, according to a spokeswoman from the Department of Corrections. His official max-out date was December 2019.

Elvington remembered as the best Grammy

Mary Ann Elvington died how she lived, her son said, at the foot of the cross.

Elvington was born in Mullins, South Carolina, and graduated from Floyds High School in 1959. She married and graduated from Coker College in 1964 and from University of South Carolina in 1990.

She had three children, Margol, Harold and Hugh.

She was a devoted Christian, a beloved teacher and according to her family, the best Grammy.

She would never miss a birthday or a ballgame, her youngest son, Hugh, said.

All of Elvingtons three children spoke about her devotion to her Christian beliefs. Harold, her oldest son, said that his mother wasnt afraid to die, because she knew where she was going afterwards.

Elvington was well known at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Nichols. The 80-year-old taught Sunday school and was a faithful parishioner.

Elvington spent three decades teaching elementary school. Most of her students from Green Sea Elementary are now grown but they havent forgotten the impact Elvington had on them.

You were the sweetest teacher. There was nothing you wouldnt do for your students, Shaquana Goodwin, a former student, wrote on a virtual tribute page. Such a sweet spirit that spread through your teaching. It was a pleasure to have known you.
Nicola Sturgeon - JEFF MITCHELL /AFP

The SNPs achievements in government have "limped lamely behind their soaring rhetoric", a leading expert on the party has said, as the latest opinion poll registered a dip in support for Scottish independence.

James Mitchell, professor of public policy at Edinburgh University who is widely considered a leading authority on the SNP, said that the nationalists "would be struggling" in the current campaign were it not for the pandemic and the constitution.

However, he said the party had managed to present itself as being "in government and opposition at the same time" and had been "blessed" with weak opposition parties and the fact that independence was a dominant campaign issue.

A poll for Survation recorded a slight dip in SNP support in constituencies ahead of Thursdays vote - with the party down three points to 47 per cent. However, the party's predicted share of the vote on the regional lists was up by two, to 37.

The poll found that support for Scottish independence had fallen two points to 47 per cent, with 53 per cent now in favour of the union. However, the figures show the SNP will easily win Thursdays election and a majority is within reach.

Prof Mitchell said that a revival for Labour would "create problems for the SNP" and said Nicola Sturgeon would far rather the Tories remained as Holyroods second-largest party.

However, despite Anas Sarwars personal approval ratings being high, the Survation poll suggested that crucial second votes were draining away from Labour.

While the party was neck-and-neck with the Tories on the constituency ballot, both on 21 per cent, Labour was down four points on the regional list voting intentions, to 18 per cent, with the Tories up two to 22.

The result suggests that the Tories' efforts to persuade pro-union voters to lend them their second vote may be working in the final days of the campaign.

"Failings in the handling of the pandemic, most obvious in discharging vulnerable elderly people into care homes at considerable cost to life, have had little impact on the SNPs popularity," Prof Mitchell said in a column in The Guardian.

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"The pandemic also shifts the focus away from the Scottish Governments wider record during its time in office. Take independence and the pandemic out of the election, and the SNP would be struggling."

He said that Labour presented a threat to the SNP particularly if the party was to "offer an alternative to the current binary divide".

However, he said that while Mr Sarwar had been the "star" of the campaign, "rising leadership ratings have not been matched with rising levels of support for Labour".

The SNPs failure to deliver on promises to tackle the educational attainment gap between rich and poor, reverse inequality, and their mishandling of care homes early in the pandemic have not impacted SNP popularity, Prof Mitchell said.

He added: "The SNPs record ought to put it on the defensive. But the party presents itself as being in government and opposition at the same time. It governs in Edinburgh and uses this base to oppose London rule.

"The SNP approach to policymaking is reflected in its manifesto, which proposes to sprinkle goodies around, enough to create a headline or appease groups of voters, but not enough to have much impact on outcomes. Outcomes have limped lamely behind the SNPs soaring rhetoric. The weaker the record, the greater the renewed promise."

Ms Sturgeon has said that if a pro-independence majority at Holyrood is returned this week, she intends to hold a new independence majority by 2023.

The UK Government has no plans to allow a new vote to go ahead regardless of the result, but believes its hand would be strengthened if the SNP does not gain an outright majority and instead has to rely on smaller pro-independence parties.

The Survation survey also found that 48 per cent of Scottish voters believed Ms Sturgeon would make the best First Minister, compared to 13 per cent for Douglas Ross and 12 per cent for Mr Sarwar.

More than two thirds of voters - 67 per cent - believed the Scottish Government had handled the pandemic well, compared to just 32 per cent who were satisfied with the UK Governments performance.

Survation polled 1,008 Scots, aged 16 or over, between April 23 and April 26.
Nearly 1.1 million more stimulus checks were disbursed this week in the latest batch of payments, according to the Internal Revenue Service, bringing the total number of payments in the third round to 164 million, including add-on payments for past stimulus checks.

Approximately $386 billion in stimulus payments have been sent so far, about 86% of the $450 billion earmarked for stimulus payments, the IRS said in a press release on Wednesday.

Around 585,000 payments were sent to people who previously didn't have information on file at the IRS but recently filed a tax return.

The eighth batch also included more than 570,000 "plus-up" payments for people who had their third stimulus check calculated based on their 2019 tax return, but are now eligible for a bigger payment. This could be the case for people whose 2020 income was lower than their 2019 income or who had a baby or a dependent added to their 2020 return that qualified them for a larger payment.

United States Tax Refund Check Close Up View of Statue of Liberty.

About 600,000 of the payments were directly deposited into Americans' bank accounts, while the remainder of the payments were mailed as paper checks or prepaid debit cards.

This round is $1,400 per eligible individual plus a $1,400 bonus per dependent. Around 158.5 million households are expected to receive the third payment under the new stimulus deal, a tally that doesn't include plus-up payments, according to the White House.

Heres what else you need to know about the third round of stimulus checks.

Who gets a stimulus check?

The third round of direct payments includes $1,400 per eligible individual plus a $1,400 bonus per dependent. Around 158.5 million households are expected to receive a payment.

A single filer making up to $75,000 will receive the full payment, while those earning up to $80,000 will get a reduced amount. Joint filers making up to $150,000 will get the full $2,800, while those earning up to $160,000 will receive a smaller amount. Previously, the phase-out thresholds were $100,000 for single filers and $200,000 for joint filers in the House version.

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Read more: Here's what's in Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion 'rescue plan' that could help your wallet

Eligibility will be based on your most recent tax return and your adjusted gross income. For the third round of checks, the IRS will use your 2019 or 2020 tax return to determine if you qualify for the direct payment.

Social Security beneficiaries, Disability Insurance beneficiaries, Supplemental Security Income recipients, Railroad Retirement Board beneficiaries, and Veterans Administration beneficiaries all are eligible for the payment even if they didnt file a 2019 or 2020 tax return.

Eligible taxpayers who used the IRS Non-Filer tool for the first round of checks will be treated as providing returns and will also receive payments.

Additionally, Americans who qualify for the stimulus payment and have dependents will get an additional $1,400 per dependent. The bonus can be claimed for college students, disabled adults, and other adults who are dependents. Previously, parents or guardians could only claim the bonus for child dependents under 17.

Deceased people may also receive a payment. Checks will go to all eligible taxpayers who were alive as of Jan. 1, 2021.

Who doesn't get a check?

Those without a Social Security number and nonresident aliens  those who arent U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals and dont have a green card or have not passed the substantial presence test  are not eligible for the direct payment.

Married taxpayers who file jointly where one spouse has a Social Security number and the other doesnt will get one $1,400 payment, in addition to $1,400 for any child with a Social Security number.

Taxpayers with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) aren't eligible for the payments.

US President Joe Biden, with Vice President Kamala Harris, prepares to sign the American Rescue Plan on March 11, 2021, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

How will the government send you the stimulus check?

The IRS will use the direct deposit information you provided from the taxes youve filed for 2019 or 2020.

You may be able to use the IRS Non-Filers tool to provide your information like the first round. But so far, the IRS has not announced whether that tool will be available if this stimulus bill is passed.

The tool was for eligible U.S. citizens or permanent residents who had gross income below $12,200 ($24,400 for married couples) for 2019 and werent required to file a 2019 federal tax return.

If you have no direct deposit information on file or if the account provided is now closed, the IRS will mail you a check or pre-paid debit card instead.

If you received no payment and you think youre eligible or you got the wrong amount, youll be able to claim it on your 2021 tax return.

How can I track my payment?

Americans can now check the status of their third stimulus check using the IRSs online tracking tool Get My Payment.

The tool allows Americans to follow the scheduled payment date for either a direct deposit or mailed payment. Its an online app that works on desktops, phones, and tablets and doesnt need to be downloaded from an app store. To use the tool, you need to provide basic information:

Social Security number or Individual Tax ID Number (ITIN)

Date of birth

Mailing address

The tracking tool will no longer show the status of the first or second round of stimulus checks  the $1,200 payment under the CARES Act and the $600 payments under the December $900 billion stimulus deal. To find the status of those previous rounds, you must create an account.

Read more: Here's how you should use your tax refund in 2021

If your payment is delivered by direct deposit, the tool will show when the direct deposit is expected to be made or when it was delivered along with the bank account it went into.

If you receive the message Payment Status Not Available, the IRS may not have processed your payment yet or you may not be eligible for a payment.

Yahoo Money sister site Cashay has a weekly newsletter.

Will I get the dependent bonus for a newborn?

If you had a baby in 2021 and meet the rest of the eligibility criteria, you can claim the additional $1,400 per child when you file your 2021 taxes.

If you had a child in 2020 and your return has been processed, you should automatically get the additional payment. If you haven't yet filed your 2020 taxes or they haven't been processed by the IRS by the time the payments are issued, you can claim the dependent bonus on your 2021 taxes

Do you have to pay back the stimulus check?

No, you dont have to pay it back. It also doesnt reduce any refund you would otherwise receive.

No, there is no provision in the law requiring repayment of an Economic Impact Payment, the IRS website said about the first round of checks.

If your income dropped in 2020 compared with 2019, you may now be eligible for the payment or a bigger payment if you have already filed your taxes and they have been processed by the IRS.

If your payment is too high based on your 2020 income and you still haven't filed your 2020 taxes, youre not responsible for paying back the difference.

Denitsa is a writer for Yahoo Finance and Cashay, a new personal finance website. Follow her on Twitter @denitsa_tsekova

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When the world really needed a funnel cake last year, the North Carolina State Fair made that happen.

Though the fair was canceled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Raleigh fairgrounds hosted a series of fair food events throughout the year, ensuring that ribbon fries, Dole Whip, giant corndogs and candy apples remained part of our lives.

This month, fair food returns with a special Spring Food Fest. The State Fair announced this week that it will hold the fair food rodeo May 21-23 at the fairgrounds. Gates will be open and the fryers will be bubbling from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Each year, the deep-fried creations of dozens of fair food vendors are some of the main attractions of the North Carolina State Fair. When COVID called off the prospect of gathering tens of thousands of people together for last years fair, vendors held fair food events several weekends throughout 2020, all for takeout, drawing hundreds of fried food fans.

This Spring Food Fest will still be takeout, with meals meant to be taken back home or away from the fairgrounds, State Fair officials said.

There will be 23 food vendors on hand for the weekend, selling smoked turkey legs, corn on a stick, candy apples, smoked brisket, blooming onions and about 100 other fair food favorites. For a list of vendors visit ncstatefair.org.

The fair food rodeo is free to attend and discounted tickets for this falls NC State Fair will for sale.
You have to make the dough from scratch and, similar to pizza dough, you have to stretch it. But for the pita, you have to stretch it out really, really thin  to the point where you can see through it, said Ahmetovic, who lives with her parents, sister and grandmother in Jefferson Park. And then you line it with meat, cheese or potatoes, roll it over, and you do another line of filling and you keep rolling it.
In todays blink-and-you-miss-it real estate market, Realtors are sometimes selling properties before they have time to put the for-sale sign in the yard.

With a market that so heavily favors sellers, it can be easy to understand why homeowners might consider listing their house with a lower-cost brokerage, especially in a high-demand market such as Tampa Bay.

The real estate industry is also taking notice. A new firm announced its expansion to the Tampa Bay area  a company called Houwzer, which has set up shop in Tampa with the aim to further disrupt the way homes are bought and sold in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee counties.

Houwzer charges a flat $5,000 fee for selling a house (plus the typical 2.5 percent for the buyers agent), which the company says saves sellers an average of $15,000 in commission.

Like other, similar companies, Houwzer pays its agents as salaried employees, which allows us to focus on the goals of the consumer and not just commissions, said CEO Mike Maher. One way it sets itself apart, Maher said, is Houwzers brand as a one-stop shop with an in-house title insurance company and mortgage brokerage.

Houwzer has modern technology and savings, but also a human-based approach to help you with biggest investment in your life, Maher said, calling it part of the next generation of brokerages.

Its starting with four Tampa employees, but Maher said hes hoping to grow that number to 25 in the coming years.

Redfin was an early pioneer of this slice of the industry, and also hires real estate agents as employees and charges a lower rate to list a home than a typical commission, at 1.5 percent, plus the commission for the buyers agent.

Another competitor in the Tampa Bay area is REX, which charges 2.5 percent to list but markets the property outside of the Multiple Listing Service  potential buyers might instead see an ad for the house on Facebook or YouTube  in an effort to find buyers without agents and thus avoid paying their commission.

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A 2019 report from university researchers published by the nonpartisan Brookings Institution said new real estate business models were a positive step to increasing competition.

They found that the typical percentage for real estate commissions has remained steady over the years and has increased faster than inflation as home prices have appreciated. The report also noted that while consumers intensely shop around for what house they want to buy, few shop as much for their brokerage. Thats in part because information on the price and quality of agents is difficult to obtain, in stark contrast to the ubiquitous information on housing, they wrote.

Mariya Letdin, an assistant professor of real estate at Florida State University, said lower-cost brokerages can increase transparency for consumers. They are serving as disrupters to the market, she added, because regular people are often not savvy enough to fully understand what theyre going to pay in commission until closing.

But the online flat fees and other listing services, they make that the first point of the conversation. Thats their selling point, Letdin said. Its making people ask, What are the fees? And they werent asking it before.

It hasnt been only academics calling for more transparency.

Late last year, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an anti-trust lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors, alleging that traditional brokerages were stymying their competition by using certain tactics, such as limiting access to lockboxes only to brokers affiliated with the association.

The National Association of Realtors has admitted no wrongdoing, but agreed to change its policies as part of a settlement, according to its website.

So when should sellers consider using a lower-cost brokerage?

Letdin said its an individualized decision, and perhaps first-time buyers would feel more comfortable with a traditional Realtor, while others might find lower-cost brokerages a better alternative to selling their homes without an agent, called for sale by owner.

These companies, like Redfin, are somewhere in the middle between for sale by owner and (traditional) brokers, Letdin said. The more experienced you are (at selling homes) and the more confident you feel, maybe limited service is where youre comfortable.

Joseph Troy, a broker associate with Charles Rutenberg Realty in Pinellas and an instructor at the Bob Hogue School of Real Estate, said every buyer and seller must evaluate the risks and rewards of who they hire.

If people are offering discount services, you better be careful what theyre discounting. For example, if someone is going to recommend you dont have a home inspection, thats a huge risk, he said, citing an example hes noticed becoming more common in an intense market. Home inspections are a routine part of the closing process that can allow buyers the chance to back out or ask for repairs if inspectors find hidden issues with a property.

You may need skillful negotiation skills and someone who understands market conditions and understands inspections and inspection outcomes, Troy said.

Robert Azpeitia, 63, decided to go with Redfin when he sold his Tampa home earlier this year.

In the nearly 17 years Azpeitia lived with his family in the house, which they built in 2004, he saw the surrounding area, on the eastern side of the Hillsborough River, appreciate substantially.

He had previously sold a different house without using a real estate agent, but said this property was too valuable to go it alone. The price breaks that Redfin offered were top selling points. He recently retired from his job in the postal service, and he and his wife wanted to make enough money to be mortgage-free and purchase a new home with cash.

The sale closed in January for $695,000, according to the Multiple Listing Service, allowing them to do just that.

Redfin pretty much understood what we were trying to do, and they helped us make that happen, Azpeitia said. That was a great experience.
Conservative Political Action Conference CPAC 2021

Former President Donald J Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb 28, 2021. Credit - The Washington Post via Getty Im2021 The Washington Post

This article is part of the The DC Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox every weekday.

Americans love to give second chances. A come-back story is basically part of the national DNA. From elementary school, kids are taught that Founding Father George Washington took an axe to his fathers favorite cherry tree, only to be given another shot to be a good boy and shape the nation after he apologized.

Redemption has been part of our political religion ever since. Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan both made successful comebacks as presidential candidates. Even obvious albatrosses like John McCains S&L scandal, Bill Clintons affair with an intern, and Joe Bidens accidental plagiarism allowed second acts with the appropriate amount of contrition. When confronted with a choice, Americans choose another chance  provided its partnered with penance.

Needless to say, former President Donald Trump didnt get that memo. Admitting an error or expressing remorse does not come naturally, if at all, to 45. And, for that, he will pay a price.

Earlier this morning, Facebooks so-called supreme court decided to uphold its suspension of the former President from its platform, which Trump used to spread the lie that he had actually won the 2020 election, that all manner of sketchiness was afoot and to help organize and live-stream the rally that led to a deadly insurrection against Congress. Facebooks independent Oversight Board decided that the former President was still too big of a risk to have on its steps and too irresponsible to be allowed to use the site.

But it also told the company to revisit the matter in six months once it had taken a beat to consider how, exactly, it would move forward balancing the newsworthy nature of people like Trump unleashing outright lies in some cases, and what amounts to hate speech in others. A permanent ban, officials said, was probably not workable for someone like Trump  or other heads of state around the globe. The U.S. market, after all, comprises only about 10% of Facebooks total audience.

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Here in Washington, the ruling is certain to renew the ongoing discussion about just how much power and responsibility social media giants like Facebook should have in the nations politics. Acting as both the head of the U.S. government and a private citizen, Trump used Facebook to tap into troves of data that users voluntarily made available to its algorithms and Twitter to amplify a message that, had mainstream journalists used their own judgements, would have fallen into irrelevance for its absurdity. Recall, the whole birther movement found its footing on Twitter and its legs on Fox News.

Conservatives immediately renewed their off-base claims that tech companies discriminate against conservatives in the wake of the ruling  despite even folks like the libertarian think-tank Cato Institute arguing otherwise. The Republican National Committee called Facebooks decision a complete disregard for the First Amendment and  in all caps  CENSORING Trump. In relying on international law over the United States own First Amendment free-speech rights, Facebook unleashed a string of the very same globalist grievances that helped fuel Trumps rise to power. And anti-monopoly sentiment from across the spectrum again questioned if one company like Facebook should have so much control over the digital space.

Ultimately, though, it comes down to one man and his masterful manipulation of Americans social-media habits. Now out of office and without access to either Facebook or Twitter, Trump has resorted to sending his missives by email to a press list and reposting them on what amounts to a blog on his post-White House website. The shrinking prestige has limited his reach more than most ex-Presidents and given his successor, Joe Biden, a little bit of breathing room. It may also spare Trumps fellow Republicans a measure of his meddling in the partys ongoing brawl over House leadership at the moment when insufficient loyalty to Trumps lies is seen as grounds for an ouster.

Trump, of course, took the news poorly and lashed out in a statement. He continued to demonstrate defiance against the order and trash the company as disgrace. Its not impossible to imagine an entirely different outcome had Trump promised after Jan. 6 to be more careful, offered an apology and at least pretended like hes learned the lesson. Trump is a lucrative shadow over social media spaces and a generous client, and ultimately, Facebook is a business. Businesses are either growing or dying, and dimming Trumps massive spotlight in the name of civility will come at a measurable cost. As much as Trump appeared on the ballot as a resident of New York in 2016 and of Florida in 2020, he was actually a native of social media.

Facebook shut down Trump immediately after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol based on the lie that the election had been stolen from him. But Facebook booted it to the largely independent review panel for a second look. The panel appeared to want to give Trump a break, even saying the company needed to take another pass on the batter and setting the timer to six months. Mr. Trump would not be reinstated until and unless he ceases to pose a serious risk, one oversight official tweeted. In other words, if Trump is penitent, Facebook could still give him back his passwords. Its hard to imagine a 2024 presidential run without using mainstream social-media platforms as a tool. Its even harder to imagine Trump backing down.

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(AFP via Getty Images)

Donald Trump may already be breaking the rules on his own "social media site".

The former president launched "From the Desk of Donald J Trump," a site advertised as a social media platform but in reality essentially a blog for the president to issue tweet-length missives to his supporters. Mr Trump is the only person who can post, and there are no options for users to leave comments or reply, although the site does give users the option to share his messages on other social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, both of which he is banned from using himself.

It also conveniently provides a button for users to donate to Mr Trump's "Save America" PAC.

The website is Mr Trump's answer to the suspension of his accounts on Twitter and Facebook.

Despite the fact that he is the only one who can post on the site, it still has a terms of use like real social media platforms.

These include a prohibition on libel, defamation, harassment, threatening, doxing, invasion of privacy, abuse, deception, and lying.

Were his blog to enforce its own rules, Mr Trump would have his account suspended.

Since launching the site, he has already: called US Rep Liz Cheney a "warmongering fool"; called Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell "gutless and clueless"; called US Senator Mitt Romney a "stone cold loser"; and falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent.

That would appear to constitute abuse, harassment, defamation, lying and deception all within the first five days of the site's existence.

Furthermore, if Mr Trump's demand that the social media platforms that banned him be punished through the reversal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, he would become liable for his own statements.

Section 230 protects websites from being held liable for what users post. Many Republicans  who complain that social media sites discriminate against them for enforcing their terms of service agreements  argue that Section 230 infringes on freedom of speech.

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Despite being the "pro-business," "pro-free speech," and "pro-free market" party, Republican lawmakers have called for the government to intervene in the operation of private businesses through regulation.

Mr Trump's site even adopts the language of Section 230 in its terms of service to ensure it is not liable for anything the former president writes.

As a provider of interactive services, Save America is not liable for any statements, representations, or User Content provided by its users in any Interactive Area, the terms state.

Without Section 230, Mr Trump's "Save America" PAC could be vulnerable to lawsuits based on what Mr Trump writes.

Read More

US announces support for patent waiver on Covid vaccines

More than 186,200 restaurants and bars applied for Covid relief in first two days of program

Animal rights groups hit out at Republican campaigning with bear: Its unfortunate and shameful
By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.N. chief Antonio Guterres believes vaccine makers should allow other companies to produce versions of their COVID-19 shots, a U.N. spokesman said on Wednesday, as the World Trade Organisation discussed waiving patent rights to boost supply to developing countries.

"The Secretary-General has often called for technology transfers and sharing of know-how and voluntary licensing or sharing of licensing," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

WTO members are assessing signs of progress after seven months of talks on a proposal by South Africa and India to waive patent rights on COVID-19 vaccines. WTO decisions are based on consensus, so all 164 members must agree.

Some U.N. officials say the waiver discussion is a distraction and an ideological fight that won't solve the problem of how to scale up vaccine manufacturing.

The 60 sponsors of the proposal from emerging economies are pitted against richer developed countries - such as Switzerland, the United States and in the European Union - where many pharmaceutical companies are based.

Guterres has long called for COVID-19 vaccines to be made available to all countries and appealed for more money to fund the COVAX vaccine sharing facility, which aims to buy up to 1.8 billion doses in 2021 to ensure equitable global access.

COVAX is run by the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.N. children's agency UNICEF.

Last month UNICEF called for vaccine Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) to be simplified through "voluntary and proactive licensing" but warned this alone wouldn't increase production.

"IPR holders would need to provide technology partnerships to accompany IP licenses, proactively share know-how and sub-contract to manufacturers without undue geographic or volume restrictions," UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said.

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"This challenge requires not forced IP waivers but proactive partnership and cooperation," she said.

She cited recent manufacturing partnerships as "encouraging examples" and urged others to follow suit, to increase the scale and geographic diversity of manufacturing capacity.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
The Biden administration will support a proposal to waive certain patent protections for coronavirus vaccines  a dramatic and controversial move designed to quickly bolster global supplies.

Why it matters: Proponents say this will help swiftly produce the vaccine doses that the developing world desperately needs. But the complex logistics of making and distributing the shots could limit the waivers impact, and critics say it sets a dangerous precedent.

Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.

The big picture: Developing nations and advocates on the left have been pushing the Biden administration for weeks to support a waiver of certain intellectual property rights to the vaccines, which the U.S., along with Europe and the pharmaceutical industry, had resisted until today.

A waiver would open the door for foreign manufacturers to make their own versions of coronavirus vaccines, using what would otherwise be considered Pfizer and Moderna's trade secrets.

The other side: Intellectual property rights are only one piece of the puzzle. Sourcing the ingredients for vaccines, standing up a complex manufacturing process, and distributing the finished doses all pose additional challenges.

Because of those factors, a patent waiver may not have much effect on supplies, and critics warn that the move could discourage drug companies from embarking on this kind of emergency research in the future.

What's next: Nothing's likely going to happen right away. Negotiations over the specifics of a waiver are ongoing, and will take time, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said in a statement.

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By Crispian Balmer and Cristiano Corvino

ROME (Reuters) -Two American tourists were sentenced to life in prison by an Italian court on Wednesday for the 2019 murder of a policeman near their Rome hotel in a case that shook the nation.

Finnegan Lee Elder, who was 19 at the time, had admitted to stabbing Mario Cerciello Rega in the early hours of July 26, 2019, while his friend Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth, then 18, was tussling with another police officer.

However, the pair say they had acted in self defence because they thought the two policemen, who were not in uniform at the time, were thugs out to get them after a botched attempt to buy drugs.

The court rejected their testimony and handed down the toughest punishment possible in Italy. Under Italy's penal code, criminals serving life terms can be eligible for parole after 21 years, if they have a good behaviour record.

The defence lawyers immediately announced they would appeal.

The two Americans, who come from California, were also found guilty of attempted extortion, assault, resisting a public official and carrying an attack-style knife without just cause.

The pair were quickly led out as soon as the sentence was delivered. Cerciello Rega's widow, clutching a photograph of her dead husband, was in the courtroom and sobbed after the verdict was announced.

Elder and Natale-Hjorth had come to Rome on holiday and tried to buy drugs from a local dealer in a tourist hotspot. They told the court that they were cheated, but managed to snatch a bag off an intermediary as he tried to get away.

They subsequently agreed to meet the dealer again to get their money back in exchange for the bag, but instead the two policemen showed up. Elder testified that the pair attacked them, forcing him and Natale-Hjorth to defend themselves.

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The second policeman, Andrea Varriale, denied this and said they clearly identified themselves. He hugged his slain partner's widow following the verdict.

APOLOGY

Police say Cerciello Rega, 35, was not armed at the time and was stabbed 11 times by Elder with an 18-cm (7-inch) blade that he had brought with him from the United States.

The death of Cerciello Rega, who had only just got married, shook Italy and there was initial disbelief that two U.S. teenagers could be responsible for such violence.

Italian media reported that the drug dealer was an informer who had asked the police to intervene to get his bag back. In a court appearance last September, Elder apologised for what he had done.

Natale-Hjorth initially told police he had not been involved in the killing and did not know his friend had a knife. However, his fingerprints were found on a panel in the ceiling of their hotel room where the blade had been concealed.

Under Italian law, anyone who participates even indirectly in a murder can face murder charges.

"This was a technically flawed sentence both in fact and in law, which cannot be confirmed at appeal, but which has left us shocked," said lawyer Francesco Petrelli, who was defending Natale-Hjorth.

The two Americans have the right to two appeals before their sentence becomes definitive.

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer and Domenico Lusi; Editing by Sam Holmes)
LONDON (Reuters) - Group of Seven countries are looking for a "constructive, calibrated approach" to China, British foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Wednesday following a foreign ministers' meeting in London.

"We're all looking for a constructive, calibrated approach; engaging where there's scope to do so on things like climate change and being very clear on the values we hold dear," Raab told reporters.

(Reporting by William James, editing by Elizabeth Piper)
Kim Kardashian West. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Nordstrom

Federal prosecutors say a Roman statue imported in 2016 by Kim Kardashian West was likely looted.

CBP seized the statue at an LA port over inconsistencies in ownership paperwork, per a complaint.

The documents do not accuse Kardashian West of any wrongdoing but ask her to forfeit ownership.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

US federal prosecutors have asked Kim Kardashian West to surrender ownership of a classical Roman statue believed to have been looted from Italy.

The statue, seen on March 21, 2011, that was later bought by Kim Kardashian West. US Government complaint

On June 15, 2016, US Customs and Border Protection agents seized Fragment of Myron's Samian Athena, a statue thought to have been sculpted in the first- or second-century, at the Long Beach Seaport in Los Angeles, according to a civil complaint filed by a Justice Department prosecutor on Friday.

The statue is still in CBP possession, the complaint said.

Documents accompanying the statue submitted to CBP by Masterpiece International, the broker, showed that it had been imported and consigned by Kardashian West and the Noel Roberts Trust, according to the complaint.

The Noel Roberts Trust is a financial entity that has been linked with several of Kardashian West's property purchases.

An invoice for the sale of the statue to the Noel Roberts Trust was dated March 11, 2016, the complaint said.

Related: This shop collects antique transforming furniture

The statue, which depicts the lower half of a female body, came as part of a 40-piece shipment of antiques that cost an estimated $745,882, the complaint said.

In the complaint, the prosecutors called on Kardashian West to forfeit the statue, saying that it "was illegally imported and entered into the United States."

The complaint, which does not accuse Kardashian West of any wrongdoing, said that evidence submitted to US officials by Masterpiece International, Italian officials, and the Axel Vervoordt art gallery, the purported vendor, suggested that the statue was exported from Italy illegally.

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Masterpiece International supplied the CBP with documents showing that the statue had been sold to Vervoordt by the Galerie Chenel, a sculpture business in Paris, the complaint said.

But some of the information in those documents - such as the fact that the statue was described as "a large draped statue" that came from Italy - clashed with an affidavit from Robert Lauwers, a director at Axel Vervoodt, who said the statue didn't come from Italy, the complaint said.

Vervoordt, a Belgian art dealer and interior designer, worked closely with Kardashian West and her husband Kanye West's on the Los Angeles home that they unveiled in February 2020.

Italian authorities said there was no evidence that the statue was legally exported from Italy, the complaint said.

Kardashian West. Evan Agostini/AP

Furthermore, in July 2016, Italian police officers working with the country's Ministry of Cultural Heritage told the CBP that they believed Vervoordt was in possession of the statue before his purported 2012 purchase.

Italy has asked that the US return the statue to Italy, the complaint said.

Insider could not immediately reach representatives for Kardashian West for comment. A spokesman for Kardashian West told MailOnline that his client had no knowledge of the purchase.

"Kim never purchased this piece and this is the first that she has learned of its existence," the spokesman said.

"We believe it may have been purchased using her name without authorization and because it was never received, she was unaware of the transaction."

"We encourage an investigation and hope that it gets returned to the rightful owners."

Read the original article on Insider
American warplanes were backing Afghan forces against a major Taliban offensive in the south of the country even as the US military pressed on with a troop withdrawal, officials said Wednesday, but insurgents still captured a northern district.

Fierce fighting has erupted in southern Helmand province since the weekend, when the US military formally began withdrawing its remaining troops from Afghanistan.

They were supposed to have pulled out by May 1 under a deal struck with the Taliban last year, but Washington pushed back the date to September 11 -- a move that angered the insurgents.

"The heavy US air strikes against the Taliban positions stopped them from advancing towards Lashkar Gah," said Atiqullah, a local government official, referring to the provincial capital of Helmand.

"The bombing was intense. I have never seen such bombardment in several years."

Attaullah Afghan, head of the Helmand provincial council, told AFP Taliban forces had made advances, but government forces had "retaken some of these areas".

"The Taliban have intensified their attacks in almost all districts of Helmand for four days," he said.

A US defence official confirmed air support was backing government forces.

The US military continues "to deliver precision air strikes in support" of Afghan forces in Helmand and other regions of the country, the official told AFP.

- 'War turned us into nomads ' -

Still, police said insurgents captured the district of Burka in the northern province of Baghlan.

Government forces were in a "tactical retreat", Baghlan police spokesman Jawed Bashrat told AFP, but planned to launch an offensive to retake it.

In the south, thousands fled their homes for refuge in Lashkar Gah in the face of the new fighting.

"The Taliban knocked on our doors and told us to leave. They didn't even give us time to break our (Ramadan) fast," said Gulab Shah.

"This war has turned us into nomads, always on the move."

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Haji Shirin said there had been street fighting between the Taliban and government forces.

"We had to spend the entire night in the basement. In the morning I took my family to (Lashkar Gah) city. We couldn't even take our clothes."

A nurse working for Doctors Without Borders described a hail of gunfire.

"There was a lot of shooting, bullets coming into our home. People were afraid, running without shoes, without hijabs, without anything," the nurse said in a tweet posted by the organisation, better known by its French acronym MSF.

It said it had so far treated more than 50 people at its hospital in Lashkar Gah.

The humanitarian organisation Emergency said Tuesday it had received 106 "war wounded" at its facility.

On Wednesday an AFP photographer saw people arriving in Lashkar Gah with their belongings piled into trucks and trishaws.

They were stopped and frisked at the city's entry gates by government forces and directed towards tents set up for the displaced.

Afghan government officials said dozens of Taliban fighters were killed in fighting as they attempted to overrun checkpoints on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah.

The Taliban, meanwhile, said scores of Afghan security personnel had died.

Both sides frequently exaggerate casualties inflicted on the other.

Under the terms of last year's withdrawal deal, the Taliban agreed to stop attacking US troops, but insurgents have continued relentless assaults against Afghan forces.

The missed deadline has raised fears that US troops could again be targeted by the Taliban.

"We have the military means and capability to fully protect our force during retrograde as well as support the Afghan security forces," US top commander in Afghanistan General Scott Miller said ahead of the weekend.

The Afghan defence ministry said late on Wednesday that it had taken control of Camp Mike Span from German forces in the province of Balkh, just days after the US military handed over Camp Antonik in Helmand soon after it began the withdrawal.

The pullout of foreign forces comes even as efforts to hammer out a peace deal between the Afghan government and the Taliban have stalled.

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Representatives for Northalsted declined to comment on specific safety and capacity measures due to how regularly they change, but said the event would abide by all CDC, state and city guidelines, and be flexible in (its) approach.
Go to any community  from big cities to small towns  and at the heart you'll find a place where people come together to experience live events, such as concerts, plays, a museum or a movie theater.

It's the place where locals go Saturday night and parents take their kids, and it draws visitors from out of town. More than just about any other type of small business, these companies have suffered from a near-death blow by COVID-19. The federal government has thrown them a lifeline.

Applications for "Shuttered Venue Operator Grants" (SVOG) to help live event venues survive opened April 26, but small businesses that want a grant better hurry to apply. Although there's $16.2 billion, these funds will run out, and soon.

"We were waiting to apply, and we were ready, we were prepared," said Cathy Buck, owner of the Cameo Cinema, a 108-year-old, one-screen movie theater in Saint Helena, California, who applied the first day the Small Business Administration started taking applications. "We waited in the portal line for over three hours. We were 300th something in line."

Cathy Buck, owner of Cameo Cinema, says she applied for a grant as soon as the Small Business Administration started accepting applications. "We were prepared," she says, but so were a lot of others. She says she waited for three hours.

Cameo is California's oldest continuously operated single-screen movie theater, but it was in danger of shutting its doors permanently. That would have been a grave loss. Though Saint Helena, at the center of Napa Valley, attracts tourists, Cameo Cinema primarily serves locals, many of whom work in the winery and tourist industries.

"Ninety percent of our customers are locals," Buck said. "The Cameo revitalizes the downtown area. People who come to a movie will shop, eat at one of the local small restaurants."

For Kevin Coleman, president of the board of the not-for-profit Cameo Cinema Foundation, which was set up to provide support for community events, Cameo is more than a theater.

"In addition to running movies, the Cameo has a program to teach filmmaking to young people, holds special series on important educational topics, runs 'CinemaBites' where a movie is paired with food from a local chef to highlight local restaurants," Coleman said. "And the big event is the family film festival. It's hard to imagine how if the Cameo disappeared that anything could replace it."

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Small biz assistance: Here are the new government efforts to help small businesses

Tax time: Here's why you need an accountant even if you do your own taxes

'Women are more strategic, men quicker to action': How women small business owners can grow

Like other venues throughout the country, the Cameo is struggling even after some COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. The Cameo received a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in 2020 that enabled it to keep staff employed, but that didn't pay enough of the bills.

"We may be open, but we are only seeing 25-30% occupancy," Buck said. "We're not seeing the capacity numbers like 2019. Where I might have grossed $40,000 a month, I'm seeing half that, but our fixed costs remain the same. And due to COVID, there are increased costs for extra cleaning and more staff, so there's no line at the concession stand. That's what the SVOG money is for."

If you or someone you know runs a live event venue  or is a talent promoter  check out the grants.

Who qualifies for the Shuttered Venue Operator Grants ?

Live venue operators or promoters

Theatrical producers

Live performing arts organization operators

Museum operators

Motion picture theater operators

Talent representatives

Venues must have been in operation as of Feb. 29, 2020.

How much can recipients get?

Grants equal 45% of 2019 gross earned revenue, minus any PPP funds received after Dec. 27; the maximum amount available for a single grant is $10 million.

If your shuttered venue had gross earned revenue of $100,000 in 2019, and you received a PPP forgivable loan in May 2020, you might still qualify for a $45,000 grant.

Is a Shuttered Venue Operator Grant a loan?

No, it's a grant. You do not have to pay this money back.

How do you apply for the Shuttered Venue Operator Grants ?

Apply and get more information from the Small Business Administration SVOG portal.

There are changes to many other small business programs. Register at www.RhondaAbrams.com/subscribe, and I'll keep you updated on government and other help available to you.

Rhonda Abrams is one of America's leading small business experts and author of the A "Top 30 Global Guru" for startups, herbook "Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies" was named one of the 100 best business strategy books. Connect with Rhonda on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Register for Rhonda's free business tips newsletter at www.PlanningShop.com.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Small business loans for live event venues available: Who qualifies
After the COVID-19 pandemic and a move out of New York City, MacKenzie Newcomb is selling her wedding  for $15,000 on TikTok.

The wedding is based in New York and booked for Sept. 18. It already includes the venue, flowers and food for about 80 guests.

Newcomb doesnt need the wedding now because shes already married. She and her husband Benjamin Jerrom now reside in the South Shore of Massachusetts and planned an intimate backyard wedding at Newcombs grandparents home.

The couple, engaged in September 2019, faced grueling life changes in 2020. Jerroms father died last summer, and Newcombs grandparents faced an eight-week battle with COVID-19. After their move to Massachusetts, Newcomb said they simply wanted to get married already.

The couple met at their alma mater Suffolk University and dated for five years before getting engaged.

What's do you give on the third year of marriage?: These are the most traditional wedding anniversary gifts by year

Getting married in 2021?: Why you need to talk about credit card debt.

MacKenzie Newcomb and Benjamin Jerrom were married in an intimate ceremony in Massachusetts.

I am not the same person I was in September 2019. I could not be more different. Our lives couldn't be more different. So this wedding, it really felt like somebody else's, Newcomb told USA TODAY.

The couple originally budgeted $20,000 for their wedding in New York and ended up spending $22,000. Newcomb said the nonrefundable expenses and venue loomed over her head, and her husband encouraged her to sell it to an engaged couple.

Thats when Newcomb posted the offer on her TikTok account, which garnered over 130,000 views. She's received over a hundred messages from interested engaged couples.

Newcomb, a book influencer, said the attention has been great for both business and selling the wedding.

As of Wednesday morning, Newcomb said she and her husband have interviewed and decided on a couple to purchase their wedding. Now all that's left is for the interested couple to meet with the vendors and sign a contract.

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After spending $22,000 on the original wedding in New York and potentially selling it for $15,000, Newcomb would have lost about $7,000. However, she said it's worth it to be freed of the wedding and venue commitment.

The couple plan to use part of the $15,000 for their honeymoon in the Philippines next January or February.

"Honestly, I don't mind the money lost. I'm happy another couple can enjoy their wedding day in the same way we enjoyed ours in Massachusetts."

Follow Gabriela Miranda on Twitter: @itsgabbymiranda

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: TikTok wedding deal: one bride sells her wedding for $15K on TikTok
Arlington leaders want to explore additional generator power and disaster response accommodations after the February winter storm that left more than 5 million Texans without power.

Andrew Piel, District 4 council member, said he received a call from a mother with a child after they lost power, asking where they could go. Asking around, Piel was told there was no guarantee of power at any facilities except for hospitals.

I was very disturbed by that, Piel said before asking whether the city could explore adding generators to a recreation center or using a portable generator.

Fire Chief Don Crowson and other city staff broke down each day of freezing temperatures, water pressure loss and recovery as residents scrambled for warmth, water and information. The presentation included information on decisions made during the storm. The city experienced more than 2,500 water breaks, predominantly at homes and businesses where owners let their water run.

We chased those leaks for days, said Craig Cummings, Arlington Water Utilities director.

Cummings said poor advice or false information on social media prompted demand for water at levels higher than what the department would see in August. At the time of the freeze, Pierce Burch Water Treatment Plant was running when John F. Kubala Water Treatment Plant would normally run. Only one plant normally runs during February, which Cummings described as a mundane month.

Cummings said the city plans to install a generator at Pierce Burch; Kubala already has a generator. Additionally, he said, the city could consider keeping both plants running. Water issues, he said, were not due to systemic failure; rather, increased demand brought down the system.

Crowson said the city should better inform residents about storm preparations, including stockpiling water before the storm and accumulating supplies for at least three days. Officials, he said, were concerned with giving residents the tools to shelter at home because they could not guarantee services or amenities elsewhere, especially as the winter storm affected the entire city.

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We can only solve key critical issues, Crowson said, before adding staff needed to ask more of residents to be prepared.

Officials may consider creating a regular warming station, Crowson said, but the city may not see enough extreme weather events to make a new facility worthwhile. The city relies primarily on nonprofit or faith-based services for shelters. Dottie Lynn Recreation Center opened as warming station and ultimately housed six residents, Crowson said.

Crowson said opening AT&T Stadium would not have been practical during the storm because the facilities would use unnecessary resources and still run at risk of power failure.

A stadium is the worst shelter location option, period, Crowson said.

City Manager Trey Yelverton said adding a generator to facilities like Elzie Odom Recreation Center or The Beacon could cost up to $1 million.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Wix.com, which helps small businesses build and operate websites, said on Wednesday it bought Israeli startup Rise.ai to extend its platform to include gift and loyalty cards and rewards and referrals.

Terms were not disclosed.

Israel-based Wix said Rise.ai will add to the tools in its Wix eCommerce platform and help merchants better engage with customers.

Using artificial intelligence, Rise.ai, will support Wix merchants in all supported countries and currencies, Wix said.

Yair Miron, founder and CEO of Rise.ai said that it powers tens of thousands of leading brands with loyalty and re-engagement solutions to grow their businesses.

(Reporting by Steven Scheer)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - World Bank President David Malpass on Wednesday urged wealthy countries to quickly free up excess vaccines for developing economies that are now facing greater needs, by exporting stockpiled doses and giving up options for future deliveries.

Malpass told a Financial Times online event that the World Bank now has "robust" vaccine financing operations in about 18 countries, a figure that will expand to 50 countries and about $4 billion by mid-year.

He said advanced countries "need to give up the options and the control mechanism that they have for the vaccines and let the countries that have deployment systems begin to make those deployments."

(Reporting by David Lawder)
When apprehended by officers, Kilpatrick had cookies and lubricant in his car, according to trial testimony and search warrants in the case. He acknowledged in law enforcement interviews he had provocative conversations with Jenny. When an officer lied to Kilpatrick and said she had contacted police, Kilpatrick wrote a short apology letter to her fictitious parents saying the inappropriate texting wouldnt happen again.

Kilpatrick had been a physics professor at LU since 2013 but was fired from the university after his arrest, according to his family.

His appeal was based on Bedford Circuit Court Judge James Updikes refusal to let an expert witness testify Kilpatrick was not a pedophile.

Testifying at trial, Kilpatrick said he never really believed Jenny was a 13-year-old girl, instead saying he thought the person he was communicating with took on that sexual role-playing persona. When interviewed by investigators, he said she seems a lot older than thirteen, the appeal opinion states.
Spencer later admitted he had used meth earlier in the day and before the crash, Wheelock said, but maintained no one was in the vehicle with him.

Investigators found a body in the Jeeps passenger seat that was burnt beyond recognition, Wheelock said. DNA tests confirmed the remains were those of 60-year-old James Sparks, who was doing tree work with Spencer at the time and temporarily living with him. Wheelock said Sparks was from southwestern Virginia. A medical examiner determined he died accidentally because of blunt force trauma to the head.

Wheelock asked for a one-year prison sentence, well below the sentencing guidelines for Spencer based on the crash and his history, which recommended a low end of five years and three months.

He said the single witness to the crash died in September and Sparks family has agreed to the sentence. Another factor that drove him to seek a lower sentence was Spencers health  he said Spencer was debilitated by the crash and has had medical crises while in jail.

Daniel McNamara, Spencers defense attorney, said there was sufficient evidence to convict his client, and Spencer didnt say anything when given a chance by the court to do so.

Bedford County Circuit Court Judge James Updike followed Wheelocks agreed on recommendation of a one-year active prison sentence on the involuntary manslaughter charge, with credit for time Spencers already served, and a $250 fine on the DUI charge. After hes released, hell have to be of good behavior for 10 years and his drivers license will be suspended indefinitely.

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A man wrongfully convicted of a 1979 rape, exonerated by DNA testing and who is now seriously ill from cancer was released  much to his surprise  from the custody of the Virginia Department of Corrections on Monday.

The Virginia Parole Board last week approved a conditional compassionate release for Calvin Wayne Cunningham, 68, according to his lawyer, who did not want him to die in prison. A spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections confirmed that he was to be released Monday.

Cunningham is suffering from stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and his lawyer, Jon Sheldon of Fairfax, said the release came as a complete surprise to Cunningham, who was moved from the security care unit at VCU Medical Center to another ward in the hospital Monday afternoon.

He didnt know anything, Sheldon said. He didnt know we had asked for his release. He didnt know his release had been granted and he was overwhelmed. I thought that Calvin knew that we were in the process of advocating for his release, and Calvin didnt know anything.

Sheldon said Cunningham did not have access to a telephone and no one had informed him of the effort to get him out of prison. He said it is still unclear when Cunningham will be able to leave the hospital to live with his daughter, Alicia Randall, of Portsmouth.
Schulz's 1930s stories portended the horrors to come, but they did so in fantastical and weirdly liberating ways  humans transforming into birds during a dinner party, for example. In the Quays' impressionistic response to Schulz's life and work, we see a man, on "real" film, in what appears to be a marionette theater. He spits into a mechanism of some sort, bringing the machine to life. We enter an animated miniature world, a town in Poland, where nothing stays still, or can be trusted. Puppets are severed from their wires. Screws unscrew themselves at will. Dolls with frightening, glowing holes where the pupils should be torment the protagonist, a wary but elegant gent plainly at odds with his environment. The society will not hold. Faced with reality, Schulz once wrote, humankind's only response is to launch "a counter-offensive of fantasy."
Some questions can best be answered with another question.

Consider, for example, the question that popped up with prominence as President Joe Biden finished his first 100 days last week: Are we a racist country?

Before I answer that question, I want to know, How do you define racist?

Thats not a cop-out or whitewash  or colorwash  of the issue. Rather it is my attempt to find out in advance whom I am about to offend and why.

Our perceptions of race and racism are based on our experience, which makes the question so vexing, since all of our experiences are so different.

It is why, for example, so many people say we havent made any racial progress since the civil rights revolution of the 1960s, and so many others say weve made all the progress we need.

After all, I have heard, you got a Black president. What more do you want?

The first step in effective communication is to share a common language, and few words divide us as much as the R-word does, thanks to our nations still-unresolved conflicts over race.
Dont look to Republicans for regional diversity. Of their 17 candidates for statewide office, the only one from this part of the state is former Roanoke sheriff Octavia Johnson, whose candidacy for governor is not taken seriously. Depending on whom Republicans nominate, its possible every single candidate for statewide office will be from Northern Virginia. Given the Republican strength in rural Virginia, its surprising theres not a candidate from that part of the state, but there isnt.

Heres some more historical context: To find the last time either party nominated a ticket from just one part of the state, you have to back to 1961 when Republicans nominated Clyde Pearson of Roanoke for governor, Hazel Barger of Roanoke for lieutenant governor and Leon Owens of Russell County for attorney general. That assumes, of course, you count Roanoke as part of Southwest Virginia, something that those further southwest often resist. In any case, those were also the days when Republicans were, in many ways, a regional party and not yet a true statewide party.
Japan has recently made illegal the carrying or sending of seeds or seedlings of domestically developed farm products out of the country as it tries to protect local producers from the impacts of unauthorized overseas cultivation.

The ban comes in response to concerns seeds and saplings of domestic varieties of plants registered in Japan, such as the high-end lime-colored Shine Muscat grape, have been grown and sold abroad in recent years without the local developers' permission.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries says China and South Korea have cultivated the Shine Muscat grapes and exported them to Southeast Asia and other areas.

Japan has been promoting its exports of fruits and vegetables to other Asian countries.

A revised seed and seedling protection law that came into effect on April 1 now enables plant breeders to designate where their varieties are permitted to be grown and exported when registering their species.

In line with the revised law, the farm ministry announced last month it has decided to ban the export of seeds and seedlings of 1,975 agricultural products, including 273 whose plant variety registrations with the ministry are pending.

These products have been developed by the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization under the ministry and prefectural governments across the country.
World's oldest person, 118-year-old Kane Tanaka, pulls out of torch relay citing Covid-19 fears

The worlds oldest person has withdrawn from the torch relay for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics due to Covid-19 fears.

Kane Tanaka, who is 118-years-old and listed as the oldest living person in the Guinness World Records, was to be one of the torch relay participants in Fukuoka, Japan later this month.

A representative from her nursing home has told Aljazeera Tanaka would no longer be taking part.
Throughout their talk with Sen. Joni Ernst at their Cerro Gordo County farm on Tuesday afternoon, Greg Nicholas Sr. and Greg Nicholas Jr. wanted to convey one central point to her: Hemp has a future in Iowa and they want to be a part of its growth.

"I think the potential is limitless but we need a little bit of help getting there," Nicholas Sr. said.

What Ernst then said she wanted to know is just how the federal government could provide some help in reaching that destination.

One realm where the elder Nicholas Sr. said Congress could be helpful is getting the USDA to slightly shift its focus from how hemp starts off to how it ends up.

"Instead of the USDA cracking down on farmers, they need to crack down on the processors," he said.

In 2014, President Barack Obama signed a farm bill that allowed farmers to grow hemp under USDA and state supervision. Along with being turned into fiber for paper, rope and even concrete, the plant can also be processed into various CBD oils which can be consumed by people, Nicholas Jr. said.

"When we were looking at legalizing this crop, I had no idea about all of the uses of this material," Ernst told the Nicholas family.
NORFOLK  Less than two weeks ago, we observed Memorial Day  a day set aside for remembrance of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice of their lives for the freedom we as Americans enjoy today. While some choose to say happy Memorial Day, it is far from that as we reflect solemnly, 
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Like 75 percent of the worlds citizens right now, were traveling. All that pent-up cabin fever had to be released sometime and the warm weather is bringing travelers out in droves. We had a graduation in Florida which we have been looking forward to attending. It was a nice trip.
We always ask everybody, How often do you wash your hair? Because if youre giving someone a treatment and saying, use this every day, they might not wash their hair every day, she said. A lot of our conversations really center around what the patients doing at home and how much if at all they would be comfortable adjusting their regimen.
State officials Wednesday reported the first known death in Nebraska of a person who had been fully vaccinated.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said in a news release that a woman in her 80s with underlying medical conditions developed COVID-19 and was hospitalized more than 14 days after completing a vaccination series with the Pfizer vaccine. She was a resident of Two Rivers Health District, which is based in Kearney.

The woman's death is the only one identified so far in a Nebraska resident who was considered fully vaccinated against the disease. As of Wednesday morning, nearly 680,000 people in the state are fully vaccinated.

Nationally, there have been 112 documented deaths out of more than 95 million people who have been fully vaccinated.

We are saddened to learn of this occurrence," Nebraska's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary Anthone said.

Anthone pointed out that while there were no deaths identified in clinical trials for the vaccine, "we understand that no vaccine or medication is 100% effective when used by millions of people. This does not negate the importance of vaccination and all of the positive effects of vaccination."
Eickhoff said students have responded favorably to the program.

It teaches you valuable life lessons that you learn from and in the future you can use, student Ashley Gartner said. Its like having leadership over certain things that you feel like you can take control over as well.

Student Peyton Kramer said he learned about following through.

One thing he learned was just responsibility and keeping your stuff up to date, Peyton said, and having all your homework done and just doing what your parents say and your teachers say.

Ashley said if you respect others, theyll treat you how you want to be treated as well.

(Leadership) is like doing the right thing when no ones looking, Peyton said.

Eickhoff said the students have been interactive.

I think its a nice outlet for them to have discussion about some of this and some self-reflection, Eickhoff said. What kind of person do I want to be and how do I want to interact with my world? I think its been good.

More by Job Vigil

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HOLDREGE  The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation Districts board of directors heard reports during Mondays monthly meeting about two projects related to Elwood Reservoir.

Hydraulic Project Operations Manager Cory Steinke updated the board on a seepage management project at the reservoir to address minor seepage problems.

For the first several decades of its existence, Elwood Reservoir was filled in the spring prior to irrigation season, then drawn down throughout the summer. More recent operations have resulted in more water in the reservoir for longer periods of time, which affects seepage levels.

Theres no imminent issues related to dam safety, Steinke said, but as we make improvements, were going to make sure theyre done right.

Also related to Elwood Reservoir, Irrigation and Water Services Manager Scott Dicke and civil engineer Tyler Thulin briefed the board on a potential project to change the manner in which water enters the reservoir.
Writer Beer & Society

There is nothing that cannot be discussed and worked out over a beer. Join me as I explore local beer, breweries and how they can civilize us.
Photo: Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images

In an effort to close the horrific vaccine disparity between wealthy countries and the developing world, the Biden administration announced that it supports waiving intellectual-property protections for coronavirus vaccines.

This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures, wrote United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai in a statement. The Administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for COVID-19 vaccines.

The announcement comes as leading nations from the World Trade Organization have pushed members to come to an agreement on how to lift protections on the intellectual property behind the coronavirus vaccine candidates. A temporary suspension of these protections would make it easier for developing nations to produce their own vaccines, rather than be forced to wait in line behind wealthy nations to purchase them. While the U.S. has provided India  which is facing hundreds of thousands of coronavirus cases every day  with vaccine materials and around 60 million doses over the past few weeks, the decision to support the IP suspension is the largest signal to date of American cooperation in the global vaccination effort. Leaders from South Africa and India, as well as many Democrats in Congress, have lobbied the Biden administration to support such a waiver.

To help get the agreement over the line at the World Trade Organization, the U.S. will now be part of the negotiations over its text, and will pressure other countries to back it. Because the WTO makes its decisions by consensus, all 164 member nations must agree on the measure. In terms of how soon the WTO can deliver  that literally depends on the WTO members, collectively, being able to deliver, and so I am the first one to admit that what we are leaning into is a process that is not going to be easy, Tai added. Activists and epidemiologists who have pushed for such an action are also encouraging the WTO to include a process known as tech transfer, in which patent holders supply technical know-how and personnel, as the New York Times explains.

On the news that many countries could soon make doses locally, the shares of several companies producing the vaccine fell sharply: Moderna dropped close to 10 points, Germanys BioNTech fell as much as 8.9 percent, and Novovax fell as much as 11 percent.


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Staff Writer

Brad Hundt came to the Observer-Reporter in 1998 after stints at newspapers in Georgia and Michigan. He serves as editorial page editor, and has covered the arts and entertainment and worked as a municipal beat reporter.
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I just hope it'll take out some of the obnoxious right wingers. Clear up that job and housing market.

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we can only hope, but more likely they'll get moderately sick, think it's just the flu, and when they're contagious kill old and immunocompromised people around them in stores and stuff

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"About 70% of people surveyed said visiting Disneyland and Disney World was not worth it because of the pandemic restrictions." this surprises me, i figured people would really like the fewer crowds and shorter lines

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They're still getting crowded tbh.

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I wonder if the masks ruin their photo-taking experiences, same with no hugging characters.

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They actually just started allowing guests to take their masks off for photos outside.

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They're still crowded even though right-wingers complain they're too woke and they demand mask wearing.

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Honestly I thought the shorter lines were great when I went a few weeks ago. Disney had their shit together. Strictly enforced masks and capacity limits in indoor areas. Had clear markings for social distanced lines and enforced them. Limited 1 party to a ride car. It felt really safe and we still got to do everything we wanted to. Now granted we only went to Hollywood Studios because we wanted to visit Galaxy's Edge, so I can't say what Magic Kingdom is like.



Edited to add the food ordering and reservations on the app were soooo much more convenient than just standing in line and trying to hunt down a table. I hope it becomes a permanent feature.



Edited at 2021-05-05 12:49 am (UTC)

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Disneyland is basically like everyone getting a VIP tour right now, all the rides are 5 min or walk on and you mostly get your own vehicle.



it's weird as hell people STILL are letting masks ruin things for them? I don't even notice masks anymore. if I know the person, I am always seeing their whole face in my mind. I went to the doctors today and when I think back to the appointment I cant remember my doctor wearing her mask, even though she definitely did. its really weird but masks are like...who cares lol, save lives man.

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In Florida, they are sold out through early July (the only times they have released) so they aren't hurting and that 70% couldn't get in anyway.

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This survey probably included people who were not booking tickets to Disney anyway.



Because Disney World is limiting their crowds, you have to make a reservation for your day at the park. Which is frequently selling out, so they are not having problems reaching capacity.



I know multiple people who have gone, and despite the comments here, all have universally said it was not worth it. Yes, the number of people is limited. But they also had fewer employees and are socially distancing on their rides (like if your party of two got on a ride cart that seats 5, they wouldn't seat another party of 3 with you. Your party would ride alone.). Which in turns leads to longer lines, not shorter. There are also no fast passes, so you can't plan your day to skip the lines. There is basically no way to avoid the rides that have massive waits. Plus all "extras" like live shows, character meet and greets, and parades are cancelled. Which are things kids really enjoy, and are also things that helped keep people off the rides. Now everyone is just there to be in line for rides.



That being said, the park requires 100% mask compliance (no under-the-nose trickery), and is very strict about it. Not about social distancing, though.

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i hate him

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good for disney (for once)



desantis is truly fucking demonic

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in before the haters!



THANKS MICKEY & WALT!!!!!!!!!!

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You suck, Mickey lover!!!!

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Im glad Im in California. Lol. Im glad Ill be at Disneyland before they allow anyone else in from different states.



I just dont have the want or need to visit Florida. I feel for those that have to live there because Ive only read bad things about this guy.

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there are still immunocompromised people, and high risk people that live there and dont want to be in this narrative thats for sure. he's essentially enabling a totally ableist state and rendering people who are immunocompromised to be hermits (vaccine efficacy is lower in immunocompromised people). like, fuck this guy.

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This. Im vaccinated and the meds Im on for MS caused me to not create any antibodies so its like Im not even vaccinated :/

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When Disney is acting less money-hungry than you, you know youve truly fucked up.

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I was gonna say. When Disney is disagreeing with you, maybe assess your life choices.

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Good for Disney for taking a stand

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Disney vs no maskers is a fight I want to see.

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Well done, Disney. Can't wait to remind some losers that it's private property and they can do whatever they want.

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I'm being discriminated against, I have rights!

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It's so crazy how these people are so down with these massive corporations doing whatever they want (because America and capitalism) until it directly affects them.

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He's a literal demon and that's an insult to demons

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Reluctant props to Disney for taking a stand.



I feel like wearing a mask full time at Disney World would be hard (especially with the heat) but I would also just...not go cos I know I couldn't do it.Reluctant props to Disney for taking a stand.

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disney's already been garbage boss for a while lbr



Edited at 2021-05-05 12:07 am (UTC)

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that's where I'm at... I don't think I'd want to fork out the cash for a Disneyworld/land ticket to have to wear a mask outside in the heat or have extended waits for things but at the same time, I would just opt not to go, I wouldn't push to be able to go without a mask or following other restrictions

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God I love this gif

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I swung through Hollywood Studios a few weeks ago and it wasn't bad at all. I felt super uncomfortable taking it off to eat and became like a hermit off in a corner to snack. I only stayed for a few hours but it wasn't nearly as bad as I expected.

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Yeah I feel like if you were doing a few hours it would be fine, but I'm thinking about waiting in those long lines for hours in a face mask would be awful.

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The amount of tourists from TX we've been getting who think their state laws/mandates apply here, ugh. This is going to double the "we don't have to wear masks in [insert state with shitty governor]" comments I already have to deal with.



No one been gave a fuck, but as vaccinations happen and mask mandates lift elsewhere, the amount of customers getting aggressive about not wearing masks has increased. It used to be eyerolls and huffy compliance, but now it's mockery and a "I dare you to refuse service, and see how I cut up." I've rarely enforced this past year, because I'm not getting paid to fight psychopaths and security too slow at my job.



I really can't stand Americans. And its been someone from all races, sadly, not just white Trumpsters. Everyone is tired and angry and willing to take it out on you.



Edited at 2021-05-04 11:46 pm (UTC)

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Everyone is tired and angry and willing to take it out on you.



This is going to be the title of the memoir I'm writing about working retail during these wonderful times.

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I can't imagine working in retail. OTL I sling coffee, so I'd rather just take their order and get them the hell out of my shop in a few minutes, than prolong their stay by arguing with their asses. I've mostly made sure I stayed off register, because the rest of my coworkers are all fully willing to fight.

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I'd read it

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I feel you. The amount of people who think its ok to not wear a mask in the airport pisses me off so much.

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This is exactly what I thought when DeSantis pulled that shit yesterday. All this is doing is creating an even worse hellscape for retail and hospitality workers because even though businesses still have the right to set their own rules, you know people wont listen. It going to cause more fights and bullshit.



Hes such a prick. I hate that he stole the election and only wish Andrew Gillum would have been as fired up as Stacy Abrams had been after her election was stolen to fuck this state and its status quo up.

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The Texans who are going to a crowded ass place and flying to do it and the ones who don't mask here are a circle.



There's still people who mask in the cities, but once you get to Buccees it's a tidal change.

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I just wanna say that I especially love the Disney wank bc it made me think of a couple Im FB friends with who are HUGE Disney adults and I was thinking to myself lmfao they would be the type to sob at the reopening of the park and literally two hours later I saw theyd posted a pic of themselves at the airport. destination Orlando, Florida



Not only would they, but they ARE! 

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I'm a really scared southern Floridian



I went on nextdoor and there was a mix of "this is terrible/fuck DeathSantis" reactions and "DeSantis 2024/freedom/pro-death" comments



I still have another week and a half before I'm fully vaccinated, and I was looking forward to doing more within reason but I guess not now



I'll have to call every business I go to and see what their covid protocol is and how they're enforcing it since it's a free for all now



I already saw an old fart at Publix wearing his mask around his chin this morning

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Im curious to see what Publix doeskeep up their mask requirement or not. Their customer base is such a mixed bag of people. Who they gonna piss off?

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reminds me of amazon moving to brick and mortar stores. when is netflix going to let you buy netflix exclusives? that's what I want to know.

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I know orange is the new black got dvd releases. I was kind of shocked when I saw them at target the first time. but yeah it'd be nice if they did that for movies and more shows.

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Im pretty sure Stranger Things did too

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they definitely did because they're packaged like VHS's

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I'm looking forward to this... on Netflix of course. And I'm obsessed with the fact that Tig Notaro was edited in to replace Chris D'Elia lmao. At the very least it'll be cool to see how seamless~ it is.

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That actually is hilarious to me.

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I love that they went completely opposite

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Seems like a good day to drop this #ArmyOfTheDead alternate poster. pic.twitter.com/hsEjTILFla  Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) May 2, 2021 Oh and idk if this was posted, but there's a new poster:

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love Tig Notaro getting pushed to the background when she's the only reason I care about this movie, HAH

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Tig looks really hot

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Oh cool it'll still be on Netflix. I can wait a week. even vaccinated i don't feel comfortable yet for theaters.

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Same but tempting lol

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I dont get the point of a one week in theatre showing? I would just wait the week and watch it from home. But then again movies here are 15 bucks so I am usually picky on what I see (pre covid of course)

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I'm looking forward to this!! His scripts may be weak but I can always at least depend on interesting visuals!

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So okay? Whatever. Id check it out on Netflix anyways. Im this close to finish Sisyphean: The Myth. More Kdrama please and thanks

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well I wasn't going to watch this, but if it's going to be on netflix... okay. zombie movies are the only kind of horror movies I watch.

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eagerly awaiting the moment when tik tok stars start debuting their videos in theaters!



Edited at 2021-05-05 02:13 am (UTC)

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lol you're evil & it's cracking me up

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Theatres should remain closed to the general public until Covid is under control and people learn to behave themselves. Also, as much as I totally love zombie films, Netflix will do just bloody fine, thanks.

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god i'm so confused

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Zack Snyder cut a scene from upcoming zombie movie #ArmyOfTheDead that featured full frontal nudity: We had a sequence where one of the male strippers had a huge penis with a bite taken out of it. We thought that was too much.



(https://t.co/5kHFJWInDY) pic.twitter.com/npgfusHFef  Film Updates (@TheFilmUpdates) May 4, 2021 Release the Bitten Penis Cut!!!!!

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Im off next Monday so I was debating going to see a matinee at my favorite theater because I figure it will be empty but they dont start showings until 4:30 damn it.

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Have fun if you go. Couldn't be me.

Going to a theater to see a zombie movie in the midst of a not yet resolved pandemic is more irony than I can deal with in this lifetime.

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comment of the year to be honest

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OMG !!

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We do not need a Zack Snyder redemption arc. No sir.

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Im really confused at how Schweighofer looks like a child but his baby face is fading and he looks old? Like its weird.

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I hate this insufferable sack of shit.

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Me too and I had no clue who he was 2 minutes ago.

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Same and same!

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Anyone with half a brain and an ounce of empathy and compassion should hate him. Hes a trolling prick who thinks hes being clever but hes really just showing himself to be soulless.

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that is such an entitled mindset to have. I've even heard parents snap "I PAY YOUR SALARY!" at teachers. so fuck him.

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yep it's an entitled and ignorant mindset since that's not how any of that works. These kind of people think it's a brilliant line that puts the riffraff in their place when in reality, it just shows how utterly fucking stupid they are.



Edited at 2021-05-05 07:33 pm (UTC)

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Everyone at risk of an entitled galaxybrain saying this to them should always carry a penny around so they can be like "Here. Now I've paid you back the entirety of your contribution to my salary. And a few years extra on top of that. Enjoy."

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Holy shit, I'm stealing this! I get the "I pay your salary" line a lot lol

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I got "you don't have a job without me!" once in a restaurant. Sir, this is a zero hour minimum wage job. Economies thrive on those.

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I have a job where my salary comes from member's dues, and someday I'm going to reply to that comment that Yes, you do pay my salary. As do 120,000 other members. Divided up, you pay $0.63 so that is the amount of effort I'm going to give to you.

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Years ago I worked in a government welfare public contact office and I used to get that I pay your salary shit all the time. It just kind of rolled off me, to be honest - whatever, Im not the one standing in the dole office screaming at people and making a twat of myself.

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I really shouldn't be surprised by this. Considering how underpaid teacher's are, I would simply respond, "Then pay me more, bitch!"

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library too ughhh

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That happens a lot at my work and I work in social services.

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lmao can't believe he tried it with Dr Janaway! I'm super active on UK MedTwitter and we've all been mobilising to dragggggg him for filth even more than normal.



You just don't tangle with UK MedTwitter tbh, folk can get vicious and pile-on at a moment's notice, but this absolute wanker and shit-stain waste of human skin deserves far farrrr worse than social media could ever dish out.



Edited at 2021-05-05 07:06 pm (UTC)

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He is absolutely vile.

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Eww. No chill.

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The truth is that Laurence is absolutely FEWMIN that his younger, more attractive brother is doing well in his acting career, and so are his cousins Freddie and Emilia. He's embarrassed that in a family dynasty of actors, he's booked the least.



This is his way of getting attention while getting to feel superior.

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and according to wiki, his brother-in-law is Richard Ayoade

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Edited at 2021-05-05 07:10 pm (UTC)

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omg i need to know the family group chat where they just drag him lol

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Oh no, poor sweet Prince Richard

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I keep wondering how Richard feels about that one.

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Queer king freddie

I died when he popped up in goddamn Xenoblade Chronicles with an American accent

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Yeah, to be the least successful person in your entire extended family at the same career is pretty brutal. Like I think his career pinnacle was being a detective sidekick for a bit.

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Whoa wait what theyre all related?! (The cousins lol)

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lol even with nepotism behind him he couldn't land a halfway decent career....of course his privileged entitled ass is acting out

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ohhhhhh my fucking god?? i know i shouldnt be surprised but I didnt know this guy was such a fucking dick. I grew up watching inspector lewis. what a piece of shit.

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Dont you need a job in order to do that Lawrence?

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wow.............





I actually read the post and was surprised how low he went. He is so full of hate omg.

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My process with this post:



-Laurence Fishburne who tf you think you is??

-Wait he was married to Billie Piper?? WHEN???

-That's not Laurence Fishburne

-And I now see, the koons is me

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I'd also like to add that I appreciate all the work James Felton does mocking celebrities on their own twitter.

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He's also being sued by Crystal from UK Drag Race and others: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-56665691

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jesus fucking christ

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he is mental



calling your mate a nonce because he puts milk in his tea first is one thing, accusing someone via twitter of people a paedophile is quite another, lawrence!

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On 14th April 2021, I tweeted that Laurence Fox was a racist. I accept that this allegation is untrue. I have deleted the tweets and apologise to Mr Fox for any distress caused.  Liz Tray (@LizTray) May 5, 2021 Meanwhile he put legal pressure on a Time Out editor and forced her to apologise for calling him a racist.

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God, OF COURSE Nicola Thorp is suing him too. I love my shit-disturbing queen.

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the scary part is so many people believed him. wtf is wrong with him.

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God he sucks so much.

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Miss Tina might as well have looked at the camera and said Beyoooooonce KNOWLES with a wink lol

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lmao the befraudce started early. i'm surprised she didn't try and say she helped her write "bidi bidi bom bom"

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Lmao THIS!!!! I just dont understand how ppl forget she wears real fur and is a songwriting thief when it suits them

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i can't get over how heavy-handed the clip is!!!

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god it was SO cheesy i cringed lmao

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"it helped me in the studio with my pronunciation"







peggy hill: escuchame ?

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...is she going for a particular accent

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Her pronunciation in 'Quisiera Ser' with Alejandro Sanz was great.





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Oh, this was cute.

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This was a moment to recreate??

How absurd.

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abraham quintanilla is a messy bitch. i'm sure he demanded it so he could take some kind of credit for "inspiring" beyonce into becoming the superstar that she is



Edited at 2021-05-05 08:40 pm (UTC)

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damn i didn't even think of this way but you're probably right

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would've been cuter without the over-emphasis on it but it is kinda cute

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Aww that clip is super cute

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This clip is cute

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your icon <3

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This was corny as hell.

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Beyond corny, lmfao this is like a parody.

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Lol this was so in-your-face about that little girl being Beyonce.

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meanwhile poor solange goes unacknowledged and paid dust as usual!







rise solange, rise!

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They made sure to say her last name too in case you were confusing her with another Beyonce from Crenshaw.

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gurl lmaooooo

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lmfao I'm dead.

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Lifetime movie realness.

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Is her spanish pronunciation better than her french pronunciation?

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I know there's a French bit in Partition, but that's not her speaking. Is there something else?

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e67A6ftiPb8



It's so bad lol it doesn't even sound like french It's so bad lol it doesn't even sound like french

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not at all

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Speaking as a Texan, Selena is so revered in my heart and I'm pretty sure everyone here feels that way so Bey didn't lie.

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Including this:



pt. 2 of the netflix selena series just dropped and the butt pads they slapped on her continue to distress me pic.twitter.com/awyyx1T1FA  no (@afroelven) May 4, 2021 Everything about this show is a damn mess.Including this:

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Omg those butt pads are awful

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I feel bad for the actress. That doesnt look believable or natural. Im sure it was uncomfortable.

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Omg it looks like she's wearing a diaper. Mess

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Oh god 

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omg I remember people talking about how bad the wigs were

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I wasn't prepared!!!

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Oh dear

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Noooo omg you can seriously see them moving around in there

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This is the first clip of this show I have ever watched and oml what is with that wig on my primis?! Jesse honey I'm sorry.

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omg O_____O

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this padding makes half the girls on drag race look like they have natural hour glass figures.

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LOL WTF

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I legit gasped. OMG.

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I have a friend from TX that isnt Latina and she says everyone in TX really did love Selena no matter what community you were from. Even before she passed. So Im sure briefly seeing Selena was a memorable moment for Bey. But of course the Quintanillas are gonna include it because theyre clout chasing trash.

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I like her now, and at the time my parents liked her Spanish music, but I don't remember anyone I knew being affected at the time she died while living in Austin.

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Yes, Im from San Antonio and she was HUGE here regardless of who you were you knew Selena and at least a few of her songs plus she had a boutique on Broadway

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I have a random question. Are housing prices rising rapidly in SA? I am in AZ and housing here is out of control (many factors) but my husband and I are looking for a fresh start. Finding anything out here under 350k that isnt a shack is getting difficult.

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My familys from El Paso and I def remember her death being a big big big topic of conversation in our house even though I was really little

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Your friends right lol. Im from Houston but me and my fam are black and were very aware of her and her music. They played her music on all of the stations. I was just a child at the time but def remember how big her iconic concert at the Astrodome was and the shock everyone experienced when hearing of her death.

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Oil majors may be slashing spending and deferring development plans across the globe, but they remain committed to developing the newest offshore oil finds in the heart of Latin America.

The oil price collapse has forced the world's oil companies to slash spending and curb production at many projects that are uneconomical at the current prices. From Russia and Nigeria to the Permian basin in the United States, companies are scaling back output, either because of the new OPEC+ pact or because of economics.

While production in the U.S. shale plays has started to decline in response to the low oil prices, development plans for the major offshore oil discoveries in Guyana and Suriname remain unchanged, with operators reiterating their pre-crash plans in the Q1 earnings releases.

The price crash has upended production plans across the U.S. shale patch, but Guyana and Suriname were spared the ax, as independent energy analyst and consultant David Blackmon writes for Forbes.

Long-Term Potential in Offshore Oil Projects

These operators continue to view the oil discoveries offshore Guyana and Suriname as high-quality resources that deserve the full attention and financing even as oil prices are sitting below $30 a barrel. Abundant quality offshore resources could pump oil for decades, compared to a year or two of the wells in the U.S. shale patch, which are much cheaper and faster to design, drill, and develop, but which deplete much quicker than large offshore reservoirs.

Related Video: Good Luck Getting Gas This Summer



For this reason, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Exxon said at the earnings call last week that it would be cutting production in the Permian, yet going full-steam ahead with the developments in Guyana.

Exxon Doubles Down on Guyana's Huge Oil Discoveries "Guyana remains an integral part of our long-term growth plans and as such is a high priority," Exxon's chairman and chief executive officer Darren Woods said on the call.

Operations at Liza Phase 1 have been largely unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Exxon said. Thanks to the Liza Phase 1 development, Guyana officially joined the ranks of oil-producing nations at the end of December. Exxon and its partner, Hess Corporation, now believe that the recoverable resource base from 16 oil discoveries offshore Guyana is more than 8 billion oil-equivalent barrels.

Liza Phase 1 continues to ramp up production, which is expected to reach full capacity of 120,000 bpd in June 2020, Exxon said last week. In addition, Liza Phase 2 development is carrying on as planned and remains on schedule for start-up in 2022. Exxon is also working with the Guyana government on the approval of the field development plan (FDP) for another discovery, Paraya, the U.S. supermajor said.

"Unfortunately, the ongoing election process and uncertainty around the next administration has slowed government approvals of the Payara development plan," Exxon's Woods said on the earnings call last week.

"The review of the Payara FDP is fairly advanced," but talks continue, Mark Bynoe, Director of Guyana's Department of Energy, said this week.

The government of Guyana has also just deposited the first royalty payment for Guyana's crude, worth the equivalent of US$4.9 million, into the country's Natural Resources Fund (NRF), with the next deposit expected to be made at end-July.

Related: Investors Skeptical of Big Oils Green Plans



Guyana's crude is also attracting the largest commodity trading houses and oil majors willing to market the oil to which the government is entitled. As many as 34 firms--including Shell, which lifted Guyana's first oil cargoes; Exxon; and even Aramco Trading--expressed interest in April to market Guyana's share of the oil from the Exxon-operated Liza development, Stabroek News reported last month.

Apache Bets on its Major Oil Discoveries Offshore Suriname

Guyana's neighbor to the east, Suriname, has also shown great potential for holding considerable offshore oil resources. The companies that are exploring Suriname's waters, Apache Corporation and Total, are also reaffirming their pre-crisis plans for well drilling and appraisal.

Arnaud Breuillac, President, Exploration & Production at Total, described the Guyana-Suriname Basin as "a highly favorable petroleum province," when Total entered in December the Block 58 offshore Suriname to partner with Apache. Four months later, Apache and Total had already announced two major oil discoveries that could turn Suriname into an oil producer the same way that significant oil discoveries made its neighbor Guyana the world's newest oil producer.

Apache, which vowed discipline and prioritizing investment for long-term returns over production growth, said in its Q1 results release this week that it would advance the exploration program and follow-on appraisal activity in Block 58 offshore Suriname.

Apache began drilling its third exploration well in the second half of April, and it will be followed by a fourth exploration well. The corporation will also finalize and submit this quarter the appraisal plan for its first Suriname discovery, Maka, announced in January, while appraisal planning for the second discovery announced in early April is underway, the company said.

The reaffirmed commitment to the Guyana-Suriname basin highlights the companies' views that it is a top-quality high-resource area worth developing for long-term returns.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Saudi Arabias national oil company Aramco has again outperformed forecasts. The worlds largest oil company, and 2nd largest listed company, reported a free cash flow of $18.3 billion in Q1 2021, a 30% increase from Q1 2020.

At the same time, Aramco stated that it will maintain its dividend, with $18.8 billion due to be paid out in both the first and second quarter. The comparison with 2020 is, of course, a bit lopsided, as the oil market was suffering massive global demand destruction during that time period due to COVID and a major oil storage shortage. Aramco also reported a net income of $21.7 billion in the first three months of the year, an increase of $5.1 billion in comparison to 2020. These numbers are higher than even the most optimistic analysts had hoped for. At present, the Saudi giant is close to the same level of net income as it saw in 2019 when it brought in $22.2 billion.

The companys main underlying financial indicators have been substantially boosted by an improved global oil market, higher oil prices, and lower storage levels. The impact of COVID, however, is still being felt, with Saudi Arabia unilaterally cutting production and exports in order to stabilize markets. The companys report indicated that 2020 was the most challenging year in its history, but also claimed that there is now light at the end of the tunnel. The demand for OPEC oil is picking up while global prices, demand, and economic growth all appear to be improving. Aramco also indicated that its refining and chemicals margins are improving.

Related Video: Good Luck Getting Gas This Summer



Amin Nasser, Aramcos CEO and President stated that the momentum provided by the global economic recovery has strengthened energy markets. However, he also reiterated that some headwinds still remain. Some of the current optimism is under threat as COVID is still wreaking havoc on global markets, while new virus variations are threatening prolonged lockdowns again. Major OECD markets are still struggling to bring COVID under control while emerging markets such as India are suffering from major outbreaks.

For Aramcos results to continue to improve in the future, the company will need oil market fundamentals to improve. Overall global oil demand is projected to grow in the coming years, while and demand for OPEC crudes looks certain to increase. The negative repercussions of the EUs Green Deal, Bidens Green Deal, and energy transition strategies will undoubtedly impact the oil market, but emerging markets and the continued popularity of SUVs will help demand growth in the coming decade. The main source of instability in oil markets is to be expected to come from within OPEC+. Two of the major producers within this new oil cartel (Russia, UAE) are vying for increased market share, while others are suffering from the burden of production cuts.

Aramcos owner, Saudi Arabias PIF and government, could be very soon discussing a potential relaxation of its own export cuts formula. The need for increased revenues and higher government budgets is undeniable when you consider Saudi Vision 2030 strategies. Current net profits will not be enough to keep the MBS dream afloat. Aramcos future production and exploration will also need significant investment if it is going to maintain its dominance in the region. While revenues have increased, investment is needed in the E&P sectors of the company to ensure long-term growth. In its latest FY2020 report, Aramco reported record-high overall debt levels, with debts almost quadrupling from 2019 levels. The current monetization of assets, as shown by asset sales in recent months, is a very positive move, but in the long-term will mean a reduction in revenue. The main aim for Aramco management at the moment will be to increase overall revenues (likely via increasing oil prices) in a way that will not destabilize the global markets or undermine the power position of Saudi Arabia and Aramco.

Related: Oil Moves Higher On Largest Crude Draw Since January



A variable that should be taken into account alongside the companies Q1 report is Saudi Arabias geopolitical decisions. Saudi Arabias decision to sell 1% of Aramco to a leading global energy company is going to rock the markets. It is believed that this sale will be to Chinese entities, a move that suggests a tightening of relations between the two major powers. If the sale is contingent on other conditions, such as giving China priority when it comes to bidding on new projects, the geopolitical consequences could be major. When talking about portfolio optimization, such as the Aramco $12.4 billion pipeline infrastructure deal, the geopolitical risks of such moves cannot be ignored.

Geopolitical risks arent the only government-related issues for Aramco, the oil giant must also deal with the financial burden of the state. MBS is currently promoting the new Shareek initiative, enabling Aramco (and SABIC) to pay lower dividends to the government when they invest locally. This will mean paying more to the government as it will be financing economic diversification projects, a development that will lead to increased debt for the oil company. The companys debt soared in 2020 when revenues collapsed, but the company kept to its dividend payments of $75 billion annually. In 2020 overall gearing (debt/equity) increased from minus 5% in early 2020 to 23% by the end of 2020. Debt has remained steady in Q1, but analysts expect it to decrease due to the $12.4 billion oil pipeline deal, and a potential natural gas pipeline deal in the offing.

Analysts should pay close attention to Aramcos internal decision making process and its investment choices in the coming months, as well as any changes within the Saudi government. In a surprise move, MBS has already appointed Faisal Alibrahim, former Aramco deal maker and vice minister of economy and planning, as the economy and planning minister. It is clear that Aramcos primary role is as the economic heart of Saudi Arabia. The former M&A head of Aramco, will now be a full-fledged minister. His main targets will likely be to revamp the Saudi economy, which has been slumping due to COVID. MBS optimistically stated last week that he expects a V-shape recovery. The Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz has removed his son Prince Sultan bin Salman as the head of the space agency and appointed him as an adviser to the king. Sultan bin Salman is the elder half-brother of MBS. While earnings were undoubtedly positive for Saudi Aramco, the companys financials are only half the story as Saudi Arabia continues to transform.

By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com

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Suspected Islamic State militants blew up two oil wells with bombs near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Wednesday, killing at least one security officer and setting the oil wells ablaze.

The oil wells that came under attack were in the Bai Hassan oilfield.

Crude oil production in OPECs second-largest oil producer has not been affected by todays attack, industry sources told Reuters.

According to a security official who spoke to AFP, Islamic State group assailants killed a policeman and injured two others, UrduPoint reports.

At least one other bomb designed to blow up a third oil well has been dismantled, an official at Iraqs Interior Ministry told The National.

The fire at one of the attacked oil wells has been already put out, and emergency teams are working to extinguish the fire at the second well, the Reuters quoted the Iraqi oil ministry as saying.

The militants also attacked a nearby security post, killing at least one police officer and wounding three others, security officials told Reuters.

This is the second attack on oil wells in the Kirkuk province in northern Iraq in two months.

In the middle of April, two oil wells were attacked at the Bai Hassan oilfield, without causing disruption to production, in an attack claimed by ISIS.

There was no damage and oil production and export were not affected, a local security source told Kurdistan 24 about the attack last month.

The Bai Hassan field has the capacity to produce around 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil has more than 120 oil wells.

Early reports from industry sources suggest that oil production at the oilfield has not been disrupted by todays attack, either.

No one has claimed responsibility yet for the latest attack on oil wells in Kirkuk. Still, Islamic State is the prime suspect of the security sources who spoke to the media.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Environmentalists are watching closely how asset management giant BlackRock will vote on emission-related issues at Exxons shareholders meeting after it reported it had voted pro-environment at other companies where it holds stakes.

Bloomberg reports the asset manager had backed the majority of shareholder proposals on sustainability topics during the first quarter of the year. Still, the more important votes are yet to come.

Not all votes are created equal, said Ben Cushing, a senior campaign representative for financial advocacy at the Sierra Club, as quoted by Bloomberg. This is really a moment of truth to see how these long-term commitments are being implemented.

BlackRock will vote on management-related proposals at Exxon and Duke Energy, where activists are urging large shareholders such as BlackRock and Vanguard to vote against current executives for allegedly failing to do something about climate change.

According to a Reuters report, activists insist that BlackRock and Vanguardwhich together hold 13 percent of Exxonvote against CEO Darren Woods and lead independent director Kenneth Frazier.

Separately, an activist investment fund will be vying for four seats on the Exxon board. The fund, Engine No. 1, has previously bemoaned Exxons low returns on investments in oil and gas projects.

BlackRock has been one of the early adopters of sustainability goals in its investment strategy. As early as January 2020, the firms CEO, Larry Fink, wrote in his annual letter to shareholders that Climate change has become a defining factor in companies long-term prospects  But awareness is rapidly changing, and I believe we are on the edge of a fundamental reshaping of finance.

At the end of last year, BlackRock said it would make climate change central to its investment strategy for 2021, noting, The changes we have made to our stewardship principles and voting guidelines strengthen our expectations of management and boards in ensuring companies have a sustainable long-term business model.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Iran has banned the use of air conditioning at Tehran's state agencies as the country looks to save electricity consumption amid low power generation and prioritize electricity supply to homes and hospitals.

Tehran Power Distribution Company has said that the use of air conditioners at government agencies in the capital is prohibited to ease the pressure on the electricity distribution network during peak hours, Trend reported on Tuesday, quoting Iran's Fars News Agency.

"Accordingly, to prevent the overpressure on capital's electricity distribution network during peak hours, the use of air conditioner in all executive offices in Tehran is prohibited," said Ramin Pouria, director of the consumption management office of the Tehran Power Distribution Company.

The government is looking to prioritize electricity supply to residential areas and hospitals after Iran's hydropower generation slumped this year because of a lack of rainfall.

In the latest month in the Iranian calendar, March 21-April 21, electricity consumption in the country rose by 22 percent compared to the same month last year, Mohammad-Hassan Motevalizadeh, managing director of Iran's Power Generation and Distribution Company (TAVANIR), said at the end of April.

"The buildings of the Energy Ministry are required to save 50 percent of their electricity consumption, and this procedure is being followed in other governmental bodies," Motevalizadeh said, as carried by Tehran Times.

Electricity demand in Iran rose as temperatures increased earlier than expected. At the same time, Iran's electricity generation from hydropower plants has slumped by 40 percent due to low water resources resulting from lack of rainfall, Motevalizadeh said.

Data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows that as of 2019, most of Iran's electricity generation came from natural gas, followed by oil, with hydropower a distant third, and nuclear powergenerated by the only nuclear power plant in the country, Bushehran even more distant fourth.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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New Mexico raked in its highest ever royalty amount from oil and gas leases in April, according to the NMs State Land Office.

The previous record high royalty payments from oil and gas leases on a monthly basis was $109 million, reached in February 2020.

Now, for April, the royalty payments hit almost $110 millionhigher than what New Mexico received prior to the pandemic. In fact, it was the highest ever.

On average, these royalties save the average New Mexican household $1,599 in taxes per year, according to Stephanie Garcia Richard, New Mexicos Land Commissioner, as cited by the Associated Press.

New Mexico is the third-largest oil-producing state after Texas and North Dakota, and produces about a million barrels of crude oil per day, according to Energy Information Administration data.

It is also a top 10 natural gas-producing state.

So even though the state sees a rather high unemployment rate, it has enjoyed these high royalty payments. In 2019, the states total oil revenues made up 39% of New Mexicos general fund revenues.

New Mexicos oil and gas industry now faces a new hurdle. President Bidens oil and gas lease ban on federal lands could deal a crushing blow to New Mexico, which sees 65% of its oil and gas production on federal lands.

While a temporary suspension of a ban on new lease sales was not expected to have immediate negative effects, it appears that the suspension could be in effect for quite some time during the review process.

Because New Mexicos share of the Permian is heavily weighted toward federal lands and Texass side isnt, future production growth is expected to favor Texas.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Jawauun Jackson, of the 12000 block of South Lowe Avenue in West Pullman, was arrested Monday by the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force and Chicago police in the 10300 block of South King Drive in the Rosemoor neighborhood, police said. He is facing a first-degree murder charge after he was identified as one of the people who shot and killed Eugene Broach on April 5.
Nebraska leaders react to announcement

Federal and local officials commented Wednesday on Omaha's selection as a pilot site for a federal program to improve the nation's disaster response capacity:

"The Department of Defense made the right move in selecting Omaha, the home of a world-class university and medical facility, as a site for this surge capacity response program."  U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"When the first Americans abroad were found to be at risk of COVID exposure, UNMC raised its hand to help."  U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, ranking member, House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development and Food and Drug Administration.

"The team at the University of Nebraska Medical Center is top-notch  and our state should be proud that institutions like the Department of Defense are turning to Nebraska. Our congressional delegation will continue celebrating UNMC's good work, as Nebraskans keep serving our communities and nation."  U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse

The selection of Omaha for a federal disaster response center shows great confidence in our record of successful collaboration and outcomes. Project NExT will create enormous opportunities for our city, leading to unmatched employment, development and growth.

"The City of Omaha is proud to support this project as a partner to further enhance the medical centers reputation as a leader in patient care, research, innovation and training."  Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert

Our community leaders have worked countless hours to secure funding, develop initiatives and grow the strategic choices that led to todays announcement. Many, many hands worked together to shape the public-private partnership that set Omaha apart in securing this important project  an enduring initiative that will enhance the biopreparedness of the world."  David G. Brown, president and CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber
There is a question about where the killing occurred, and agents want to know if Miss Dehghanpour was alive when she crossed from Nebraska to Iowa and whether she went willingly or was forced to leave Nebraska, Hawkins said.

The FBI does not normally investigate deaths of foreign citizens in the United States unless there is a suspected violation of federal law, or if the U.S. State Department has classified a person as an invited guest, Hawkins said. Miss Dehghanpour was not believed to be in the United States under that status, he said.

Troge confirmed that authorities found blood on the bridge near where the body was found, but that the amount of blood was far less than the wounds would have caused.

He said it appeared that the woman probably bled to death, but that she was dead before being placed at the bridge.

The possibility of sexual abuse would be determined by the final autopsy report, Troge said.

He also said there were no indications that the woman had been bound or gagged.

Miss Dehghanpour's roommate said Tuesday she telephoned the slain woman's brother and sister in England Monday, and they were to telephone Miss Dehghanpour's parents in Tehran, Iran.
When Martin talked to Council Bluffs police about six months ago, he was rerouted to Doty.

I was born in 1983. I wasnt familiar with the case and didnt know anything about it until he brought it up, Doty said Wednesday. Reading the reports, we still had evidence, and I thought maybe this could benefit from DNA technology we had today.

Doty said DNA analysis of previously collected evidence matched with Christensen in the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, database. Doty continued to investigate and said additional evidence confirmed Christensen as a suspect.

Martin, who moved out of the Omaha area after he graduated from UNO and now lives in Nevada, said Doty called him back last week and told him he had identified Christensen as a suspect.

I was overwhelmed. I went into shock. I couldnt believe it, said Martin, whos 62. It kept gnawing at my stomach. I was upset about this for a long time. I just kept trying to push it over the years.

Martin said he doesnt know Christensen and had never heard the name.

Martin said Dehghanpour was a brilliant math student. He said the UNO community and her family in Iran were shocked and devastated to hear of her death.
OPPD President and CEO Tim Burke said the utility is seeking solar energy projects to meet its commitment to reduce carbon emissions as part of its Power with Purpose initiative. The Platteview Solar project is the only one in Saunders County, although similar projects are being considered in four other counties in the state, he said.

The project has been modified as a result of public input, Page Bolin, senior project developer for Community Energy, told the commission. Community Energy added more landscaping and buffer zones, changed intersections to enhance safety, removed panels from some sections to increase setbacks and made other changes.

The effect of community input made this project better for us, Bolin said.

Teresa Akeson, one of the leaders of the opposition group, offered several reasons the project should be denied, including, she said, that the application did not include all the necessary documentation.

If nothing else, you need more time to review the documentation, she said.

Akeson had previously presented a petition with 278 signatures of people against the project, and she said she has about 50 more.
Of the many legislative resolutions this session, some call for interim studies; some congratulate individuals, organizations and teams; one even lightheartedly recognizes the one true Josh. LR 107 is the only resolution that includes the phrase requests cooperation. Those are words of action, not a position statement, but a request for action followed by false, incendiary and partisan statements. While only a resolution, it is a government document which formally, legally, speaks on behalf of the people of Nebraska. We, at the League of Women Voters Nebraska, know this is a mischaracterization of the majority of our friends and neighbors.

There has been much talk from the legislative floor of the need to trust and have good faith in one another. Frankly, that is an impossible ask when resolutions like LR 107 advance through manipulation with the support of 30 senators who either are not paying attention or, more concerning, are failing to represent and serve Nebraskans as they promised in their solemn oath of office.

As advocates of empowering voters and defending democracy, we call on every senator to read the resolution entirely, speak publicly against its dangerous and radical language, and most importantly, vote against LR 107.

Rachel M. Gibson is director of education policy and Sheri St. Clair is director of government policy for the League of Women Voters Nebraska.
The 41-year-old sat in the back seat while the man drove and the woman sat in the passenger seat for a test drive, police said. As they drove along Central, the man driving shot the vehicle owner twice, telling him to get out of the car. As he got out, the 41-year-old was shot a third time, and the man and woman drove off in his car, police said.
The Legislature is on track to pass bills that would improve food insecurity and child care but these measures will expire once the federal funds for these programs dry up in a couple of years. In contrast, LB 432s tax cuts for Bezos and other wealthy out-of-state corporations and shareholders would be permanent. At a time when the Legislature has general fund dollars to help Nebraskans who need it, it is perplexing that lawmakers would prioritize tax cuts for wealthy corporations, many of which, like Amazon, dont even have a presence in the state.

Will LB 432 benefit some Nebraska companies? Sure, but not very many. By definition, to benefit from the tax cuts proposed in LB 432, a company must be a C Corporation and have over $100,000 in taxable income. And the more taxable income they have, the more they would benefit from the corporate tax cuts proposed in LB 432. Furthermore, lawmakers just last session passed a massive tax-incentive package that largely benefits these same companies.
He offers a crucial observation in saying that many of Omahas challenges are intertwined  such as housing, transportation and racial equity  and you cant deal with one issue without addressing more issues. Omaha is at a crucial point in its history in regard to an important question: Can it make genuine progress on racial equity? Gray can be a key figure in helping achieve much-needed progress.

Vinny Palermo, District 4. Palermo is a good example of a hardworking City Council member who stays impressively active in his community. Palermo, who filled Omaha potholes as a young man, now chairs the councils Public Works Committee and is praised for his breadth of knowledge and vigorous questioning of city staff on key issues involving streets and sewers.

Palermo, who is facing opponent Becky Barrientos-Patlan in the District 4 contest, has earned respect from his City Council colleagues for his openness in listening to their ideas and making decisions fairly.

Palermo got crosswise with the federal government several years ago for failure to pay taxes  for which we editorially criticized him. He is now square with the IRS. He admits his failure and has learned from the painful experience. We find him a chastened but dedicated City Council member fully worthy of reelection.
Streetwise: Remembering Business In The Neighborhoods

by Frank Dunnigan

May 2021

Since San Francisco is in the middle of Small Business Week (May 1, 2021 through May 7, 2021), it seemed like a good time to remember some still with us, some long gone, and other types of work that could once be found in the Outside Lands.

Across the Western Neighborhoods, many local commercial enterprises have been run by individuals, often alongside family members. In an era when smaller operations sometimes seem to face persistent challenges from big-box stores, national chains and online retailers, it's good to take a look back at the important part that these independent places - some of which are still out there and thriving - still play in our lives.

BAKERIES - Most households used to have a favorite neighborhood bakery. Adeline, Baronial, Golden Brown, and Robert's were once popular in the Sunset, while Cinderella, Fantasia, Schubert's, Sugar Bowl, and Wirth Brothers were busy places in the Richmond District. By 1971 or so, commercial bakeries began to be included in many large supermarket chains, and the independents started closing as their owners retired. Today we have seen a resurgence of popular small shops in the Western Neighborhoods (both family-owned and worker-owned cooperatives), including the decades-old Cinderella Bakery and also Schubert's, along with newer establishments: Arizmendi, Arsicault, Jane the Bakery, Sheng Kee, Noe Valley Bakery-West Portal and many others.

BOOKSTORES - Small neighborhood bookstores continue to face serious challenges from large corporations and online retailers. Some of the splendid survivors in this category include Green Apple Books (one location in the Richmond District and another in the Inner Sunset), along with Bookshop West Portal. One unique local spot for decades was San Francisciana, owned and operated by the late Marilyn Blaisdell on the ground floor of the Cliff House. Opened in the early 1960s, the shop sold numerous collectibles after George Whitney turned over his Cliff House gift shop inventory to Ms. Blaisdell, and in later years, she sold copyrighted photos, posters, and copies of her own books prior to her retirement. Read more: https://opensfhistory.org/pages/blaisdell.php

CLOTHING STORES - In pre-Stonestown days, many residents in the Western Neighborhoods could find stores specializing in clothing and accessories right in their own neighborhood shopping districts. These stores were able to readily identify items that were popular with locals, and owners sometimes lived above the shop in the middle of a neighborhood retail corridor.

CORNER GROCERY STORES - Popular in the era when many residents did not drive or own refrigerator-freezers, corner stores enjoyed heavy daily patronage. By the turn of the millennium, though, the grocery landscape had begun to change - with groceries added to the list of items available at warehouse clubs. Many smaller grocery stores closed and the buildings were converted into or combined with chain drug store locations - thereby putting increased pressure on smaller neighborhood pharmacies and variety stores. Read more: https://outsidelands.org/streetwise_groceries.php

DANCE SCHOOLS - Once a neighborhood staple with steady enrollments, such businesses have faced challenges for many years, partly in response to fewer families with children living in San Francisco. The Shan-yee Poon School of Ballet in the Richmond District had been in operation for nearly 25 years when the owner decided to close in 2016. The Ann Healy School of Irish Dance, founded in San Francisco by Ann's grandfather in 1870 and operating on Taraval Street near 30th Avenue for many years, is still open, thanks to Ann's daughter and granddaughter, but has now been relocated to Marin County.

DELICATESSENS - Among hundreds of small shops, two local delicatessens - sadly, both long-closed - still pique the interest of local residents. Herb's on Taraval near 32 nd Avenue is well-remembered for its hot meatball sandwiches on Thursdays, while Herman's on Geary near 7th Avenue was popular for its in-store and commercially distributed potato salad.

Read more on a 2012 message board post about Herman's:

https://www.outsidelands.org/cgi-bin/mboard/stories2/thread.cgi?2210,0

A 2002 message board post about Herb's was still drawing new comments as late as 2019:

https://www.outsidelands.org/cgi-bin/mboard/stories2/thread.cgi?107

FUNERAL DIRECTORS - Until recent times, residents of the Richmond and the Sunset Districts had a variety of local funeral directors to assist them in times of need. North of Golden Gate Park, one might patronize Ashley-McMullen/Wing Sun at 6th & Geary, Carew & English on Masonic Avenue near USF, McAvoy-O'Hara at 10th & Geary, or the Neptune Society Columbarium on Lorraine Court near Arguello. South of the Park, there was Currivan's on Irving Street and Hogan-Sullivan-Bianco on 9th Avenue. Due to closures and mergers, only McAvoy-O'Hara and the Columbarium are still active, though the former Arthur J. Sullivan & Company from Market Street (now merged with Duggan's-Serra in Daly City) is still represented by an office-only location at 26th Avenue & Geary Boulevard.

FUR SALONS - In another era, every neighborhood retail corridor had a small business operating as a fur salon, including: Bernard's in Stonestown, Coliseum Furs on Clement, Elkins on West Portal Avenue, Kane's on Ocean Avenue in Lakeside Village, H. Sommer on Irving Street and Taraval, and Sunset Furrier on Judah. Times and tastes all change, and these businesses have virtually disappeared from the local landscape.

GAS STATIONS - Neighborhood gas stations, whether independently owned or operating as a franchise of a major oil company, once dotted every part of San Francisco. Changing land uses, an emphasis on using public transportation or biking in the City, and the move to hybrid engines have combined to reduce the need for and presence of such local businesses.

ICE CREAM SHOPS - San Francisco's perpetually cool climate in the Western Neighborhoods does not lend itself to a heavy presence of ice cream parlors, though this type of business tends to be more prevalent in sunnier neighborhoods. While chain operators like Baskin-Robbins closed long-time locations on Irving Street and on West Portal Avenue, two small shops remain thriving. Joe's Ice Cream on Geary in the Richmond District and Polly Ann Ice Cream on Noriega in the Sunset were both opened in the 1950s by local neighborhood residents. More than 60 years later, both are still thriving with new owners at their helms.

Read more about Joe's: https://www.outsidelands.org/politz.php

Read more about Polly Ann: https://www.outsidelands.org/polly_ann_ice_cream.php

MOTELS - Small family-operated motels once dotted many parts of the Western Neighborhoods. Sadly, many have disappeared over the years, often demolished for permanent housing such as the old Roberts-at-the-Beach on Sloat Boulevard and the Sunset Motel at 18th Avenue & Taraval. Fortunately, San Francisco's historic first motel, the Ocean Park (opened in 1937 to coincide with the dedication of the Golden Gate Bridge) is still in operation at 46th Avenue and Wawona. Owners Marc and Vicki Duffett who have been running things nicely since 1977 are shown here with their children in 1995.

NEWSPAPER CARRIERS - Prior to 1959, San Francisco boasted 4 major daily newspapers, each with a significant daily readership. The Chronicle and the The Examiner vied for morning circulation, while the News and the Call-Bulletin were published as afternoon papers. In addition, there were others, such as the Shopping News and the Progress, that were heavily laden with advertisements. Many young people from the post-World War II era often remember this as their first real employment experience. The young man shown here is standing in the Inner Sunset near 9th Avenue and Judah in the late 1940s.

RESTAURANTS - Small neighborhood places in the Sunset and Richmond Districts that are no longer in operation are still fondly remembered, and some of them have been covered in WNP articles/podcasts:

Kieser's Colonial Creamery - Third-generation San Franciscan and Balboa High grad Ellen Kieser found herself in the restaurant business upon her father's untimely passing while she was in college. She took over operation of Kieser's on Irving Street and remained involved in the business until her passing at age 86 early in this millennium. Read more:

https://www.outsidelands.org/kiesers.php

Leon's Barbecue - In 1963, Sunset District residents Leon and Vernetta McHenry ran the restaurant at Seal Rock Inn. Thirteen years later, they made the move and opened Leon's Barbecue on Sloat Boulevard opposite the San Francisco Zoo, expanding the following year to a second popular location on Fillmore Street. Sadly, upon Leon's passing in 1999, the restaurants were both closed.

- In 1963, Sunset District residents Leon and Vernetta McHenry ran the restaurant at Seal Rock Inn. Thirteen years later, they made the move and opened Leon's Barbecue on Sloat Boulevard opposite the San Francisco Zoo, expanding the following year to a second popular location on Fillmore Street. Sadly, upon Leon's passing in 1999, the restaurants were both closed. Louis' Restaurant - Much has been written about Louis', which was opened by the Hontalas family adjacent to the old Sutro Baths in 1937 (while the nearby Cliff House was managed by their Hountalas cousins from 1972-2020). Louis' remained a family operation until its final closure in early 2020. Listen to Outsidelands Podcast #389 for more:

https://www.outsidelands.org/podcast/WNP389_Louis_Restaurant

Hot Dog Rancho - This popular family-owned dining spot along Geary Boulevard was operated by two different sets of owners from the 1940s to the 1990s. Read more:

https://www.outsidelands.org/mr_hot_dog.php

The Hot House - Operating on the Great Highway since the 1930s, The Hot House still evokes fond memories from its many loyal customers. Owner Juan Faranda took over several years before Playland's 1972 closure, and moved the operation to a new spot at 4052 Balboa Street where he continued to do business until his 1996 retirement. Today, his son Eric still has access to the vintage recipes and runs a pop-up location, dispensing to-go food several times per year. Read more: https://www.outsidelands.org/streetwise_hot_house.php

SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS - For decades, pedestrian safety near schools was monitored by dedicated groups of crossing guards - mostly 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls and boys - who had an opportunity to display their leadership skills by providing an essential service in a sheltered, para-military environment as part of Traffic Squads. Although unpaid, the volunteers received regular recognition in the form of weekend movie passes at local theaters. The program was disbanded for many years, but there has been a recent resurgence, this time with paid adults. Read more:

https://www.outsidelands.org/streetwise_stop_look_listen.php

Contribute your own stories about western neighborhoods places!
Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, the judge presiding over the murder trial of Daniel Asiedu, the man accused of killing J.B Dankwa-Adu, has issued a stern warning to the jurors to stop delaying the trial.



The presiding judge threatened to dissolve the jury for holding the case to ransom.



The prosecution was expected to call its second witness when the case was called today at 10am , but one of the seven jurors was absent.



The court stood the case down but as at 11:30 am, the juror was still not present, leading the court to adjourn the case to Thursday.



The foreman told the court that the juror was absent because he was in another trial in another court.



This did not go down well with the judge who warned the jury to stop the unnecessary delays.



I least expected that only one person will hold the entire trial to ransom, she said.



Background



Mr Danquah - Adu, the then MP of Abuakwa -North was murdered at at his residence at Shiashie, near Accra, on February 9, 2016.



Asiedu and Vincent Bosso have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, while Asiedu has pleaded not guilty to murder and robbery.



It is the case of the prosecution that Asiedu and Bosso planned to go on a robbery spree, but Bosso decided not to engage in the robbery again and went home.



Asiedu, the prosecution said, went to Shiashie and picked the MPs house as a place to rob.



The prosecution further said in the course of searching for items to steal, Asiedus noise woke the MP up.



According to the prosecution, a struggle ensued, leading to Asiedu stabbing the MP in the neck and chest and killing him in the process.

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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Dean of the Faculty of Education, University for Development Studies (UDS), Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Gunu has stated that Wesley Girls Senior High School managements attempted ban on Ramadan activities there was in contravention of efforts aimed at building tolerance and integrated communities.



He condemned the decision that triggered widespread criticisms and advised like-minded school authorities to avoid it.

According to him, the sensitive nature of this issue required that the Ghana Education Service (GES) and management of the school should be circumspect about their utterances and public statements.



Historically, some school authorities have been poor at tolerating practices of other faiths. Ghanaians need to do away with tendencies that continue to perpetuate division and sectarianism.



Dr. Gunu in an article referred to the United Kingdom wherein 2016, popular examinations at the secondary school level such as GCSE and A-Level were rescheduled during Ramadan for three years to avoid clashing with the holy month.

The article reads as follows:



Globally, educational systems are drifting towards building integrated and tolerant educational systems that promote creativity and national cohesion. Wesley Girls Senior High School managements ban on Ramadan activities there is a big dent on efforts aimed at building tolerant and integrated communities.



The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), which represents examination boards in England, Wales and Northern Ireland often hold talks with Muslim groups and aims to avoid holding examinations in the most popular subjects during the Ramadan period. This is just one of the examples to demonstrate the goodness of a tolerant society.



Acts of worship such as prayers, fasting etc should not be confused with dress codes and hairstyles. Schools should show sensitivity when dealing with non-negotiable religious issues such as prayers, fasting etc. Schools should adjust to accommodate the needs of students fasting.



The Ghana Education Service (GES) should be commended for directing the schools management and other institutions to allow Muslim students to partake in the ongoing Ramadan fast. But there should not be a conditional clause that parents of such wards are to write to the respective schools relieving it of any obligation should such students suffer health complications. This directive is suggestive of the fact that parents might as well write to schools regarding their feeding, sleeping places and the likes.



Muslims are aware fully of those who are expected to fast and those who are exempted. This directive, therefore, does not sit well with the cultural sensitivity of the Muslim populace and must be withdrawn.



The school managements conduct regarding tolerance would motivate and teach other students to accept their colleagues without dehumanising them.



School management teams have the power vested in them as enshrined in the Code of Discipline for secondary schools to deal with disciplinary issues. The Ghana Education Service (G.E.S) Unified Code of Discipline is the document that regulates the activities of behaviour management in Ghanas schools. However, this document is outmoded and does not deal with issues like this.



The Code of Discipline for secondary schools (Unified Code of Discipline, n.d.) also serves as the parent policy document for the Senior High Schools to use to develop their own policies to manage student behaviour but this Unified Code of Discipline needs reconstruction. The GES should engage policy engineers to support its construction. What is happening currently in Ghanas SHSs warrants changes in our education policies.

Source: Abdul Karim Naatogmah - Contributor









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Oman has added Ghana to a list of 14 countries whose residents are barred from applying to enter the country till further notice.



The ban which takes effect from 9 am on Friday (May 7, 2021), affects countries including; South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria, India and the United Kingdom and it is meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.



Other countries affected by the ban are; Sudan, Lebanon, Tanzania, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Pakistan and Bangladesh.



It also restricts incoming travellers if they visited the countries on the list within 14 days from applying to enter the Sultanate till further notice.



In addition, Oman's Supreme Committee also added incoming travellers from Egypt and the Philippines to the list of travel-ban countries, as well as travellers from any other country if they visited these two countries (Egypt, the Philippines) within 14 days from applying to enter the Sultanate.



The decision exempts incoming travellers who are Omani citizens, diplomats, health workers and their families. These exempted segments will undergo Oman's prescribed COVID-19 prevention protocols upon arriving in the Sultanate.



Comparison of COVID-19 cases



Interestingly, Oman has recorded over 100,000 more COVID-19 cases than Ghana since the start of the pandemic.



Statistics from the John Hopkins University COVID platform indicate that Oman has recorded 197,802 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 with 2,062 deaths and 179,175 recoveries from the illness while Ghana as of April 25,2021, had recorded 92,513 confirmed cases out of which there has been 90,151 recoveries and 779 deaths.



The Minority in Parliament has urged the Ghanaian government to place a temporary ban on flights from COVID-19 hotspot countries until the high record of cases of infection in those areas reduce.



Restrictions



The Supreme Committee's statement said: To protect individuals of society from more exposure to this disease and, to maintain the capability of the health system and enable health workers to keep the situation under control, the Supreme Committee took the following decisions:



"First: To extend, till further notice, the ban on entry to the Sultanate on incoming travellers from Sudan, Lebanon, South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as travellers from any other country if they visited the above-mentioned countries within 14 days from applying to enter the Sultanate.



"Second: To add incoming travellers from Egypt and the Philippines to the above-mentioned list of travel-ban countries, as well as travellers from any other country if they visited these two countries (Egypt, the Philippines) within 14 days from applying to enter the Sultanate. The ban takes effect from 9 am on Friday, 7 May 2021, till further notice".









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 Nigerian military has dismissed a suggestion that it should take over the running of the country given the current security problems.



"The Military High Command wishes to use this opportunity to warn misguided politicians who nurse the inordinate ambition to rule this country outside the ballot box to banish such thoughts as the military under the current leadership remain resolute in the defence of Nigerias democracy and its growth," spokesperson Brig-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu said in a statement.



He was responding to a comment on television on Sunday made by senior lawyer Robert Clarke that Nigeria was "on the brink of collapse" suggesting that the army should take charge of the country's states.



Brig-Gen Nwachukwu warned that such action would be against the law saying it was "treasonable to even contemplate this illegality. The full wrath of the law will be brought to bear on any personnel found to collude with people having such agenda."



Other public figures, including the Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, have suggested that President Muhammadu Buhari should at least seek external help.



In recent months, the country has been beset by security problems, including the kidnapping of students and violence between herders and settled farmers.

Source: BBC









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The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) says it is frustrated by the lack of progress made in bringing persons who slew investigative journalist, Ahmed Hussein Saule, to book two years after the incident.



Mrs. Linda Asante-Agyei, Vice President of the GJA, who made the statement, said the incident remained a bloat on Ghana's image as a beacon of democracy and a champion of press freedom on the continent.



Speaking at a ceremony to mark this years World Press Freedom Day in Accra on Tuesday, the GJA Vice President, called on the security apparatus to expedite investigations into the murder to bring the perpetrators to justice and offer respite to the family of the journalist.



The World Press Freedom Day is marked on May 3 each year by the United Nations UNESCO and various international groups, to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right of freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.



Mrs. Asante-Agyei said World Press Freedom Day must serve as a constant reminder to governments and the governed, as well as civil society organisations of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and defend it as an indispensable tool for the advancement of freedom and justice and development.



The day should be used to celebrate all those who have made contributions to the development of press freedom and to remember those who have suffered injuries or lost their life in their line of duty as media professionals or in defence of press freedom.



It is for that reason that we on this day remember again Ahmed Hussein Suale, who was shot and killed in cold blood on January 16, 2019. The perpetrators of this heinous crime have still not be found, she added.



She said there was an urgent need for the murderers to be brought to justice to assure journalists and media practitioners of their safety.



This years event was commemorated under the theme: "30 Years after the Windhoek Declaration: Information as a Public Good."



Mr Ahmed Hussein Suale was murdered by unknown assailants in January 16, 2019.



Ghana maintained its 30th position globally on the 2021 World Press Freedom Index. Despite this, it remains the lowest attained by the country.



The country is, however, ranked 2nd in Africa after Namibia.

According to Reporters without Borders, this was largely due to insecurity, and continuous threat on the lives of media practitioners in their line of duty.



Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, Chairman of the National Media Commission said the Commission, together with UNESCO and the Ministry of Information was establishing an office that would see to the safety of journalists.



He urged journalists to abhor all forms of false publications: Anyone who sees himself as contributing to the public good would always make sure that they do not peddle falsehood, that they do not concoct, that they do not lie because a journalist is forbidden to lie because if you lie about your neighbour it can kill him and that is the reason why people say that the pen is mightier than the sod.

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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Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC) has urged journalists and media practitioners to continue to uphold high journalistic standards in the execution of their mandate to maintain public trust.



It is important for us all to acknowledge the fact that when we say that we want to see information as public good then it poses on us an obligation as media people to do what is right, do what is just and do what is fair. Anything short of that cannot be seen as a public good, he said.



Speaking at a ceremony to commemorate this years World Press Freedom Day in Accra on Tuesday, Mr Ayeboafoh lamented the lack of professionalism and misreporting in some sections of the media, a situation he said could undermine the successes chalked by the media over the years.



Anyone who sees himself as contributing to the public goodwill always make sure that they do not peddle falsehood, that they do not concoct, that they do not lie because it is forbidden to lie as a journalist because if you lie about your neighbour it can kill him and that is the reason why people say that the pen is mightier than the sod, he said.



The NMC Chairman said as a Commission, it was committed to protecting the media environment and to ensure that the media remained relevant and free.



He added that the Commission, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), partners and the Ministry of Information was about to establish an office that would see to the safety of journalists.



I think that we have a primary responsibility to protect the media environment and to ensure that the media remains as relevant as it is, thus the relevance of the media is not only when they are free. It is when they are free and responsible because as it has been noted, anybody who exercises freedom without responsibility renders that freedom a nullity, he said.



This years event was commemorated on the theme: "30 Years after the Windhoek Declaration: Information as a Public Good."



Mrs. Linda Asante-Agyei, Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), said the World Press Freedom Day must serve as a constant reminder to governments and the governed, as well as civil society organisations of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and defend it as an indispensable tool for the advancement of freedom and justice and development.



She urged the citizenry to make it their business to provide credible information to the authorities or through the media when they had such relevant information for the public good, adding that Regular, timely, proactive and sufficient information will eliminate the vacuum which gives room for misinformation or disinformation.



She called for civility and respect for decorum in the discussion of all social discourse including; debates and dialogues to provide the relevant information to the public.



Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information assured the media of governments support to mitigate the impact brought as a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.



He explained that one hundred Right To Information officers had been recruited, trained and deplored by the Information Services Department of the Ministry and were currently functioning in ministries department and agencies across the country to assist persons who may request for any information.



The Minister said Government was also improving on regulation to analytical broadcasting and media publication to ensure that the high standards acquired over the years were maintained.

Source: GNA









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School records of one of the teenagers involved in the alleged murder of the 10-year-old boy at Kasoa show that he was born on September 1, 2005.



Prosecution led by Chief Inspector Ernest Agbo, said there were no records of the teenager at the hospital where he was born.



The prosecution said the second teenager, was also born on August 1, 2002, and prayed the Ofaakor District Court to remand the two into lawful custody as they prepared a duplicate docket to the Attorney Generals office for advice.



The court at its last sitting had ordered the Police to ascertain the ages of the accused and the minor involved in the murder of Ishmael Mensah Abdallah, 10 at Kasoa.



The court has adjourned the matter to May 19.



The accused persons have been charged with conspiracy to murder and murder.



Their pleas have been preserved by the court.



The two are said to have murdered Abdallah after they had lured him into an uncompleted building and hit him with a club and a cement block, killing him instantly on April 3, this year.

Source: GNA









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Near the end of a routine status hearing, an attorney for Michael McClain, a longtime Madigan confidant accused of orchestrating the bribery scheme, said it would be difficult to discuss a trial date for the case because there has been some at least intimations that the government might be seeking a superseding indictment in this matter.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Mr Antonio Guterres, has urged all governments around the world to do everything in their power to support a free, independent and diverse media.



According to him, that was the only guaranteed way of combating misinformation and disinformation in an era that inaccuracies and falsehood in the media space was rife.



In a message on World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), commemorated yesterday, the secretary-general underscored the importance of reliable, verified and accessible information, emphasising that: Free and independent journalism is our greatest ally in combatting misinformation and disinformation.



He said as had been seen during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises, it was the journalists who had helped the world navigate through the overwhelming plethora of information and helped deal with false, dangerous information.



During the pandemic, and in other crises including the climate emergency, journalists and media workers help us navigate a fast-changing and often overwhelming landscape of information, while addressing dangerous inaccuracies and falsehoods.



As budgets tighten, so too does access to reliable information. Rumours, falsehoods and extreme or divisive opinions surge in to fill the gap, it is, therefore, important for all governments everywhere to do everything in their power to support a free, independent and diverse media.



World Press Freedom Day



The WPFD is observed on May 3 each year by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the various international journalists groups, to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.



It also marks the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in Windhoek in 1991.



This year marked the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration in 1991 and it was commemorated with a World Press Freedom Global Conference in Windhoek, where it all began 30 years ago,



Held on the theme: Information as a Public Good, it served as a call to affirm the importance of cherishing information as a public good, and exploring what can be done in the production, distribution and reception of content to strengthen journalism, and to advance transparency and empowerment while leaving no one behind.



The theme is also of urgent relevance to all countries across the world.



The Global Conference, attended by 600 journalists (both in person and virtual), deliberated on the reviews of the six regional events held after Windhoek.



As part of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary, the 2021 Global Conference also adopted the Windhoek + 30 Declaration, a communique, calling for an urgent need to address the threat of extinction faced by local news media around the world, a crisis worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.



It is also proposing ideas to tackle the challenges of the online media environment, push for more transparency, call for the strengthening of the safety of journalists, improvement in their working conditions and the support of independent media houses



Challenges



Mr Guterres expressed concern over the worsening situation of journalists and media personnel in the discharge of their duty.



He said after 30 years of the push for press freedom, journalists were challenged in many fronts as they continued to face the personal risks, including restrictions, censorship, abuse, harassment, detention and even death, simply for doing their jobs.



He also said the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic had hit many media outlets hard, threatening their very survival, he added.



Contributing to humanitys well-being



Also in an address, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Michelle Bachelet, highlighted the importance of free, uncensored and independent press as a cornerstone of democratic societies, conveying life-saving information, improving public participation, and strengthening accountability and respect for human rights.



She said while people had the right to demonstrate to demand their rights to economic and social development, it seemed that same right had been criminalised for journalists in some countries.



Around the world, people have increasingly taken to the streets to demand their economic and social rights, as well as an end to discrimination and systemic racism, impunity, and corruption.



However, journalists fulfilling their fundamental role of reporting on these social protests have become targets, with many becoming victims of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, arbitrary arrests, and criminal prosecution, she emphasised.



Ghana celebration



Today, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), in collaboration with UNESCO, will organise a symposium and flag-raising ceremony at the Ghana International Press Centre in Accra.



The event will be chaired by the Chairman of the National Media Commission, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, with the Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, as the Guest of Honour.



Other dignitaries to grace the occasion are the UNESCO Country Director, Mr Abdourahamane Diallo; the United Nations Resident Co-ordinator, Mr Charles Abani, the US Ambassador to Ghana; Mrs Stephanie S. Sullivan, and the Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Ghana, Ms Diana Acconcia.









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 Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has justified the removal of some land encroachers from government lands around the East Legon Mpehuasem catchment area.



A statement signed by the Chief Director, Professor Patrick Agbesinyale, and issued by the ministry stated that the land, which was in contention, and measured approximately 132 acres, was state land which was acquired by an Executive Instrument 16 (2009) as the site for the Accra Training College.



Encroachment



According to the statement, the justification had become necessary following a press statement that was issued on April 27 this year, purportedly by a group calling itself land and property owners of East Legon Mpehuasem, in which the group raised various allegations against the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, and the Minister of National Security.



The statement explained that the land, located between the Trinity Theological Seminary and Ideal College in Accra, had over the years suffered encroachment by private developers in contravention of the purpose for which the land was acquired.



The exercise conducted on April 26, 2021, therefore, was primarily to halt further encroachment, the statement said.



The exercise, according to the statement, involved the clearing of walls used as a means of securing parcels of land by the encroachers.



It is also important to state that the subject land has not been released by government to any entity, the statement said.



Aggrieved



For the information of the general public, article 257 (1) states that all public lands in Ghana shall be vested in the President on behalf of, and in trust for, the people of Ghana, it said.



It added that the Lands Commission had been mandated to manage all public lands, and cautioned the public to desist from any unlawful appropriation of state lands.



In this regard, aggrieved persons should contact the Lands Commission for further details on the subject land, it said.













Source: graphiconline.com









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A delegation from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and Africa Environmental Sanitation Consult (AFESC), the research and consultancy firm of Jospong Group of Companies and Sanitation giants, Zoomlion, are in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, to understudy that countrys waste management system and good environmental and sanitation practices.



The visit will enable the delegation to learn at first hand how those practices could be adopted for implementation by the AMA to make Accra and Ghana the cleanest city and country in Africa in the foreseeable future.



The delegation included some environmental and sanitation experts from AMA and AFESC and some selected journalists.



The Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, and the Managing Director (MD) of AFESC, Dr Abena Asomaning Antwi, are co-leaders of the delegation.



Others are the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Korle Klottey, Nii Adjei Tawiah; Dr Kofi Sekyere Boateng, an Environmental and Public Health consultant; Dr Yahaya Yakubu, an Environmental Analyst; Ms Jemima Lomotey, the Greater Accra Regional Economic Planning Officer, who is representing the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), and Mr Victor Kotey, Deputy Director, Waste Management Department, AMA.



Rationale for visit



At a briefing session to kick start the visit in Kigali last Monday, Mr Sowah explained that we are here to learn about their waste management system and the good sanitation practices that we can replicate to make Accra and Ghana clean as we further collaborate to establish a sister city relations with Kigali.



He expressed the hope that at the end of the visit we would have learnt something that the city of Kigali is doing to establish their status as the cleanest city in Africa.



For her part, Dr Antwi said the visit was significant since it would give them an insight into the initiatives and innovations that had been adopted by their host in the environmental sanitation sector.



Site



Among the sites the delegation has so far visited is the genocide memorial, the final resting place of over 250,000 victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

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 Zongo Development Fund (ZoDF) has commissioned several school, water and sanitation projects in Zongo communities in the Northern and North East regions.



The projects, which are part of the 119 projects completed nationwide by the Fund, include six-unit classroom blocks, mechanized water systems and 10-seater public toilet facilities.



The beneficiary communities in the Northern Region include Tamale Hausa Zongo, which has a three-unit classroom block and a mechanised water system; Mion and Tolon, which have six-unit classroom blocks, and Kumbungu and Chesheagu which benefited from 10-seater toilet facilities.



In the North East Region, the ZoDF commissioned a six-unit classroom block at Mishio and a mechanised water project in Duu.



Similar commissioning will take place in the Savannah Region soon.



The Deputy CEO of ZoDF in-charge of Operations, Alhaji Baba Sadiq Yakubu, and an Economic Advisor to the Vice President, Dr Samuel Kwadwo Frimpong, handed over the keys to the projects on behalf of the ZoDF CEO, Alhaji Arafat Sulemana Abdulai, to the various Municipal and District Chief Executive Executives.



In his remarks to the beneficiary communities, Alhaji Baba Sadiq indicated that ZoDF was created by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to improve the socio-economic conditions in Zongo communities.



Therefore, he said, the provision of school infrastructure and furniture was to promote effective teaching and learning in Zongo communities.



He said the aim was to produce more doctors, nurses engineers, lawyers, journalists and leaders, including Vice Presidents and Presidents in Zongos.



Alhaji Baba Sadiq said the mechanized water systems were to provide potable and accessible water to the people, while the toilet facilities were to improve the sanitation situation.



Alhaji Baba Sadiq affirmed the commitment of the Fund to executing more developmental projects in Zongo communities across the country.



Dr Frimpong urged the beneficiary communities to maintain the facilities well for the benefit of current and future generations.



He said the effective maintenance of the facilities would encourage the ZoDF and by extension the government to extend more projects to them.



Receiving the keys to the projects, the Mion DCE, Mr Mohammed Hashim; the Kumbungu DCE, Mr Abdul Salam Hamza, and the West Mamprusi MCE, Mr Arimeyaw Somo Lucky, lauded the ZoDF for executing the projects in their respective areas.



They said the classroom blocks would ease congestion in schools, especially in this period of observing social distancing as a result of Covid-19.



They said the mechanized water systems would save the women and children from travelling long distances in search of water while the toilet facilities would prevent the phenomenon of open defecation.



The Mion Lana, Muhammadu Abdulai, and the other Chiefs, namely Tolon Naa, Major Sulemana Abubakar (Retd); the Chief of Chesheagu, Chief Abdul Amin Iddrisu; the Chief of Tamale Hausa Zongo, Shehu Dalhu Abdul-Mumin, and the Chief Imam of Kumbungu, Alhaji Hudu Ahmed, commended the ZoDF for providing school, water and sanitation facilities in their respective areas.

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Head of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Kwesi Ofori has cautioned the #fixthecountry protesters not to defy the orders of the Police.



#fixthecountry started trending, particularly on social media, after news broke that the National Petroleum Authority has increased fuel prices.



There is massive agitation on social media as various Ghanaian celebrities have joined the citizenry to appeal to the President to intervene and also called on him to steer the affairs of the nation effectively.



They express diappointment in his administration because, to them, they reposed huge confidence in him to salvage the economy but he has utterly failed Ghanaians.



Some celebrities and a section of the general public have therefore decided to go on a street protest against what they say is bad governance by the Akufo-Addo administration.



The #fixthecountry protest is scheduled for Sunday, May 9 but the Police have refused to accede to their request.



They (Police) have subsequently instructed the protesters not to embark on their demonstration.



Speaking in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', the Police Operations Commander, ACP Kwesi Ofori explained why the protesters have been stopped.



He stated that the Police "decision is in line with the COVID-19 restrictions" imposed by the President.



Large public gatherings are currently banned serving as one of the measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana.



ACP Kwesi Ofori expounded that "the Police cannot take chances with the #fixthecountry demonstration because there is scanty information on how the organizers of the protest will ensure strict adherence to the COVID-19 safety protocols as regards social distancing and wearing of nose masks as well as determining the number of people that will attend the demonstration".



''We're acting according to the laws. We have told them the restrictions are in force, so we can't give the authorization for the floodgate to be opened for such an exercise'', he said.



He issued a stern warning to the organizers not to disobey the Police order.



''...as we have communicated it to them, if they still choose to go on the demonstration, we have an alternative; that is to seek legal redress and enforcement order which we are prepared to do that to ensure we restrict them.''





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Some aggrieved land and property owners at Mempeasem in East Legon say the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has failed in its justification of the demolition of their properties on April 27, 2021, under the aim of halting encroachment on state lands.



The landlords in at a press conference following the demolition described it as illegal and called on the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minister for National Security to confirm or deny their role in the exercise which they say has led to the destruction of properties collectively worth Ghc2 million.



According to the victims, persons who carried out the exercise contrary to showing a valid permit to undertake the demolition only mentioned the names of the Ministers as having sanctioned the exercise.



The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in a press release dated April 30, 2021, responded to the victims saying for the avoidance of doubt, however, the land in contention, measuring an approximate area of 132 acres is a state land acquired by executive instrument 16 (2009) as the site for Accra Training College.



Over time, the land had suffered encroachment presumably from members of the group earlier mentioned. The exercise conducted therefore on 26th April 2021 was primarily to halt further encroachment, the press statement read.



But responding to the Ministry, the Land and Property Owners of East Legon Mempeasem catchment area say the ministrys justification raises further questions whose answers confirm their legitimacy as legal owners of the lands where the demolitions took place.



In the exercise, they question how they could possibly be described as encroachers when the Lands Commission which is under the direct auspices of the Ministry has over the years issued valid documents to some of the affected owners including valid Land Titles.



Who gave the documents from the Lands Commission to these Landlords? To the best of Professor Patricks knowledge, are these the right procedures for taking state properties? Were they sleeping when the landlords acquired lands documents from the lands commission and since when did they realize that the lands belong to the state? Why did the lands allow citizens to build on the said lands for the last 20 years?, they ask.



In further justification of their case as legal owners wrongly targeted, the owners argue that the Accra Training College to the best of their knowledge has secured its lands with a fence wall which makes the Ministrys argument of encroachment on the schools lands impossible.



The land and property owners state that the actions of the Lands Commission in the matter implicate the Commission in the high number of land litigation cases across the country.



Come again, because if you can give out valid land documents and make a U-turn then we are in trouble in this country and your institution is greatly part of land litigations being recorded across the country. Because by such activities you aid criminals and the double sale of lands.



The affected owners of the demolition exercise which they described as illegal, thus reiterate that they will, by all means, legally ensure that their legally acquired lands are not taken from them under the guise of protecting state lands.

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The Works and Housing Minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, paid a courtesy call on Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.



This was part of the Ministers visit to the Ashanti Region to inspect the government affordable housing projects in the region.



It would be recalled that in August 2018 the Asantehene through the Ministry of Works and Housing allocated about 205 acres of land at Dedesua, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to State Housing Company Limited for construction of affordable houses to help reduce the high housing deficit in the country.



The goal of the donation was to create jobs for the youth and to bring development to the people of the Ashanti Region.



In brief remarks at the Manhyia Palace, Hon. Francis Asenso-Boakye expressed appreciation on behalf of government to the Asantehene for his kind gesture of donating acres of land to support governments affordable housing project at Dedesua in the Ashanti region.



He said the project remains a priority of government to ensure that homeownership is made accessible to the majority of Ghanaians

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A 25-year-old Malian woman has given birth to nine babies - two more than doctors had detected during scans.



Halima Cisse gave birth to the nonuplets in Morocco. Mali's government flew her there for specialist care.



"I'm very happy," her husband told the BBC. "My wife and the babies [five girls and four boys] are doing well."



A woman who had eight babies in the US in 2009 holds the Guinness World Record for the most children delivered at a single birth to survive.



Two sets of nonuplets have previously been recorded - one born to a woman in Australia in 1971 and another to a woman in Malaysia in 1999 - but none of the babies survived more than a few days.



World record holder Nadya Suleman's octuplets have grown up and are now 12 years old. She conceived them through in vitro fertilisation.



Fanta Siby, Mali's health minister, congratulated the medical teams in Mali and Morocco for the "happy outcome".



Ms Cisse's pregnancy became a subject of fascination in Mali - even when it was thought she was only carrying septuplets, Reuters news agency reports.



Doctors in the West African nation had been concerned for her welfare and the chances of the babies' survival - so the government intervened.



After a two-week stay in a hospital in Mali's capital, Bamako, the decision was made to move Ms Cisse to Morocco on 30 March, Dr Siby said.



After five weeks at the Moroccan clinic, she gave birth by Caesarean section on Tuesday, the minister said.



Her husband, Adjudant Kader Arby, is still in Mali with the couple's older daughter, but he says he has been in constant touch with his wife in Morocco and is not worried about the family's future.



"God gave us these children. He is the one to decide what will happen to them. I'm not worried about that. When the almighty does something, he knows why," he told BBC Afrique.



He says the family have been overwhelmed by the support they have received.



"Everybody called me! Everybody called! The Malian authorities called expressing their joy. I thank them Even the president called me."



The mother and her nine new babies are expected to return home in several weeks.

Source: BBC









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An international medical charity, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), says it has found what it describes as "alarming" levels of malnutrition in Ethiopia's Tigray region.



Tens of thousands of Tigrayans have been displaced during seven months of conflict between regional forces and the Ethiopian army.



MSF said a third of children screened in rural clinics are malnourished. It said aid was rarely extended beyond large towns.



Some families are eating just once a day, and often only bread.



The charity said the situation would probably worsen during the approaching rainy season as the war is preventing farmers from going to their fields.



Many have been driven off their land and have sought refuge in towns or across the border in Sudan.



Ethiopian federal forces and their allies, including Eritrean soldiers, have been accused of using aid as a weapon of war in Tigray.

Source: BBC









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The authorities in Seychelles have ordered the closure of schools and banned sporting activities and social events to deal with a surge in coronavirus infections.



The island nation - which tops the world charts for the most vaccinated populations against Covid-19 - will also require non-essential workers to work from home and effect a 23:00 curfew.



The country has mostly administered the China-made Sinopharm vaccine but the authorities have not commented on its impact.



Health officials say 85% of the country's 97,000 population has been vaccinated and that they are dealing with 1,608 active cases.



"Some 65% of the active cases are unvaccinated or have received only one dose, whilst the remaining have taken both doses," Seychelles news agency reports.



The health ministry said that new infections were leading to hospitalisation and that the main Covid-19 treatment centre was running "at its capacity".



President Wavel Ramkalawan announced that the restriction measures will be reviewed closer to 24 May.

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Source: BBC









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Though colleges are hoping to welcome more students back for in-person classes next fall, most relied on online learning or hybrid formats this year. Capacity limits, health concerns and economic challenges interrupted progress for thousands of students who didnt return to campuses. Some worry students who paused their studies  particularly students of color or from underprivileged backgrounds  might never come back.
It has been established that one of the teenagers accused of killing a 10-yearold boy at Kasoa, is 15-years-old.

Police told the Ofaakor District Court Tuesday that school records show that the one who allegedly hit the late Ishmael was born on September 1, 2005.



The hospital where he was born could not provide any records to show that the first accused was born there, so we went to his school, Chief Inspector Ernest Agbo told the court.



The second accused person  Nicolas Kini is 18.



Chief Inspector Agbo prayed the court to remand the two into police custody as the police awaits advice on the case from the AttorneyGenerals (A-G) Department



What does this mean?



With the ages of the two established , it means first accused is a juvenile and therefore would be tried under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2003 (Act 653), while Kini will be tried as an adult under the Criminal and other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30).



State of shock



The entire Lamptey Millis area was thrown into a state of shock and mourning in the mid-morning of Holy Saturday, April 3, 2021 when news emerged that two teenagers had killed a young boy.



The incident flooded various social media networks after the arrest of the suspects.



The two teenagers who allegedly killed the 10-year-old boy at Coca Cola, near Lamptey, a suburb of Kasoa in the Central Region, had initially planned to kidnap him to demand a ransom of GH5,000, according to the prosecutor.



Chief Inspector Agbo, said the first accused - a mason labourer, and Nicholas Kini Kwame, 18, a student and second accused, had planned to take the money and add Ishmael Mensah Abdallah, the deceased, to it to present to a spiritualist for rituals.



Plan



"The accused initially planned to kidnap deceased Ishmael and demand ransom of GH5,000 from his mother, which they would add to send him for the rituals.





On the arrival of Ishmael (at the uncompleted facility), they realised that kidnapping him would be a difficult task and so they decided to kill him, Chief Inspector Agbo said.



The accused persons were arrested following the murder of Ishmael, a Class Four pupil, for ritual purposes.



The two have been remanded in police custody for further investigations.



Facts



The facts of the case as presented by Chief Inspector Agbo in court are that the two teenagers, who lived at Lamptey, had been friends since 2008.



He said for some time now the first accused had been watching television channels which entertained Mallams and other spiritualists to promote their prowess in making people instant millionaires.



The accused, according to the prosecutor, made his intention known to Nicholas, who advised that there was a certain spiritualist in the Volta Region who could do it for them.



"The second accused, who does not own a phone, provided the phone number of the said spiritualist to the first accused, who has access to his mother's phone.



"After contacting the said spiritualist, he agreed to help if only they could provide a human being and GH5,000 for the rituals," he said.



Chief Inspector Agbo explained that on Saturday, April 3, 2021, the accused persons settled on Ishmael, 10 years, 11 months, the son of the complainant, Mr Frank Mensah Abdallah, adding that the second accused then went to hide in an uncompleted building near the first accused person's house where they planned to carry out their operation.



"The accused persons armed themselves with a club, a piece of cement block and shovel as their weapons, and the first accused, who is close to Ishmael, lured him to the uncompleted building with convincing words that his friend was selling a video game..



Killing



Nicholas, the prosecutor further said, then picked the club and hit Ishmael hard on the back of the neck, while the first accused "used the cement block to hit his head, killing him instantly".



In the course of the act, he said, the first accued's younger sister, eight, sensed that something was going on and so she walked towards the direction of the uncompleted building but was driven away by her elder brother.



He said after murdering Ishmael, the accused persons dug a shallow grave, buried the deceased and left the scene, so that they would return in the night to convey the body to the Volta Region for the rituals.



"But luck eluded them when the first accused person's sister went to inform her father, who is the stepfather, that something had gone amiss in the uncompleted building.



The father went to the scene and saw that the place had been disturbed, and when he decided to remove the surface sand, he found the body of the deceased covered with sand," he said, adding that the father quickly confronted the first accused, who confessed and mentioned the second accused as his accomplice.



Chief Inspector Agbo said the accused persons were subsequently arrested and handed over to the police.



He said efforts were ongoing to arrest the spiritualist.



He told the court that first accused person's parents could not determine his exact age and so they would need some time to do that







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" . . He doesn't have the clout to fight corruption," says Sammy Gyamfi.



The National Communications Officer of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi was reacting to the nomination of Kissi Agyabeng as Special Prosecutor.



Lawyer Kissi Agyabeng has been recommended to replace Martin Amidu as the Special Prosecutor. He was nominated by the Attorney General (AG) Godfred Yeboah Dame in a letter dated 16th April, 2021.



Meanwhile, the President is yet to make a formal declaration.



Speaking to the issue which has generated debate in the country in a one-on-one interview on UTV, Sammy Gyamfi feels Kissi Agyabeng lacks the courage to fight corruption.



" . . Bring someone who will fight against corruption, you went in for Gabby Otchere Darko's boy; he doesn't have the clout to fight corruption. He is coming to cover up all cases of corruption including the ones yet to be committed. He's a brilliant lawyer and I respect him but his appointment is because of Agyapa and his connection with Gabby and co . . . He lacks courage," he stated.



Listen to him in the video below





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Ghanaian socialite and television presenter, Efia Odo has stated that the call by concerned Ghanaians for the country to be fixed is not political but it is part of human rights so anybody against it, is not okay mentally.



"If you have a problem that the people are campaigning for a better country, then there is something wrong with you. If you are getting paid to dispute what we are doing then you metally not okay", she stated in a viral video.



Efia Odo who added her voice to the #FixTheCountry agenda calling on the Akufo Addo led government to fix the nation with regards to utility tariffs, intermittent cuts in power supply, lack of jobs, lack of access to potable water in some communities, fuel price hikes among other problems bordering the ordinary Ghanaian took to social media and called out the leaders to improve the livelihood of Ghanaians.



Concurring with the general idea that before the country is fixed, the citizenry must also change their attitude and mindset and that she has resolved to cover her body but even after covering her body and dumping n*dity, the plight of Ghanaians have not been erased.



She decried the poor remuneration some Ghanaian teachers are paid as she revealed some are paid as low as GHC 250.00 monthly and how women have to sleep with men just to survive because of unavailability of jobs.



Sharing the video, she captioned; Im covered now is the water clean? Have jobs been created? Our leaders need to fix their mindsets so the country can be fixed, so the people can be fixed! #fixthecountry.



Watch the full video below:



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" " The statue of Lao-tzu is displayed at the Palace of Heaven in Qingdao city. Legend says this is where Lao Tzu descended from the heavens. Shanshan0312/Shutterstock

The "Tao Te Ching" was compiled around 300 to 250 B.C.E, but its wisdom resonates as powerfully today as it did more than two millennia ago. The slim text was written in ancient China during the Warring States period, a three-century period of incessant warfare between various Chinese states. In 81 stanzas, the "Tao Te Ching" pushes back against the all-too-human desire for "more"  more money, more status, more power, more things  and focuses instead on simplicity, harmony and a return to Tao or "the way."

The author of the "Tao Te Ching" is Lao-tzu (also written as Laozi), an honorific title that means "Old Master." According to biographies written centuries later, Lao-tzu (pronounced lao-zuh) was a sage-like archivist in the Zhou court who served as an early teacher of Confucius. Lao-tzu refused to write down his teachings, but when he decided to leave his homeland for India, he was pressed by a border guard to share his wisdom. Legend has it that the border guard dutifully copied down the words of Lao-tzu in the "Tao Te Ching," which means "The Book of the Way and Its Power."

Modern scholars disagree on whether an historical figure named Lao-tzu ever existed, or whether he and his writings were a compilation of Chinese wisdom passed down over the centuries. Eventually, what started out as a philosophy called Taoism (or Daoism) soon became a religion with Lao-tzu as the earthly personification of the Tao  the ultimate power that gives order to the universe.

Reading the "Tao Te Ching" today, it feels like Lao-tzu is directly addressing 21st-century problems: runaway consumerism, overdevelopment, the single-minded pursuit of profit and growth at the expense of the environment, and disregard for the poor and marginalized. But that's because it was written at the turn of the Iron Age, when new technologies fueled a population explosion and ensuing conflicts over land and resources.

"The 'Tao Te Ching' was written in a political climate where people were doing just what they're doing today," says Livia Kohn, professor emerita of Daoist Studies at Boston University and author of "Daoism and Chinese Culture." "They were destroying the environment and there were all of these power mongers waging war on people. It was a very messy time that they lived in."

Lao-tzu's message, then and now, is that the human urge to dominate and alter the world to fit our desires is ultimately foolish. There is an underlying nature to everything that is organic, simple and easy, and the way to find it is through calmness and quiet intuition, not through ambitious and aggressive tactics.

Here are five eye-opening passages from the "Tao Te Ching" that offer a way to maintain a sense of harmony and balance in an often-chaotic world, courtesy of the legendary Taoist master Lao-tzu.

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1. "The Tao invariably takes no action, and yet there is nothing left undone."

There is a paradoxical logic to a lot of Lao-tzu's best-known sayings, and this one is a great example. The best form of action is "no action"? What does that even mean?

First of all, something is definitely lost in the translation. The Chinese word for non-action is wu wei, which is sometimes translated as "doing nothing," but Kohn prefers the wording, "not forcefully acting."

That's because the real meaning of wu wei is not to do anything that isn't in accordance with Tao, the natural order of things. Non-action means swimming with the current instead of against it, or of bending with the wind instead of trying to remain rigid. Forcefully acting, meanwhile, is like blowing up a mountain to build a bigger and more direct roadway.

"What Lao-tzu is talking about is becoming aware of what the natural flow is and just going with it," says Kohn. "Rather than taking the mountain down, there are probably comfortable ways to go around it."

Bonus saying: "The Way of Heaven is to benefit others and not to injure. The Way of the sage is to act but not to compete."

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2. "He who is contented is rich."

Taoism doesn't teach an outright rejection of desire. The type of desire to be avoided is the one driven by materialism, which defines success as the accumulation of more and more things. What Lao-tzu emphasizes is sufficiency, of knowing when you have enough to be content instead of needlessly striving for more.

"Following the Tao doesn't mean having zero desires," says Kohn. "You can have ambitions, goals, and plans, but they should all be within a framework that's doable, that's considerate of others and that's not rapacious and destructive."

Bonus saying: "There is no calamity greater than lavish desires. There is no greater guilt than discontentment. And there is no greater disaster than greed. He who is contented with contentment is always contented."

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3. "Thirty spokes make a wheel, but it is the empty center that makes it work."

Emptiness and "non-being" have real value in Taoism. What is a wheel without the empty space at its center? A room is not four walls, but the space in between them. The utility of a clay pot is what can be held inside of it. A bellows only works if there is empty space within it.

Lao-tzu teaches that humans, too, should balance being with non-being. The Tao itself is non-being; it is eternal, intangible and unknowable. Kohn says that the Tao is "the hidden quality at the root of things, the deep sense of cosmic connection, the inherent beauty and goodness in all living beings" that can only be seen and felt by retreating from the hustle and bustle of life. Look beyond the "obvious" or superficial to recognize the value of what isn't there.

Bonus saying: "The Tao that can be told of is not the eternal Tao; The name that can be named is not the eternal name. The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; The Named is the mother of all things. Therefore let there always be non-being, so we may see their subtlety, And let there always be being, so we may see their outcome."

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4. "To know that you do not know is the best. To pretend to know when you do not know is a disease."

Written during the Warring States period when wise rulers were in short supply, the "Tao Te Ching" was published as a political tract as much as a guide to personal well-being. The truly wise ruler or "sage" knows that he doesn't know everything. Instead of trying to dictate and control every aspect of people's lives, he or she gives them freedom and lets society find its natural balance.

"The book is addressed to policymakers," says Kohn. "Lao-tzu taught that the people in charge shouldn't think primarily of power and profit, but instead should focus on doing good for the maximum number of people."

Bonus saying: "The best rulers are those whose existence is merely known by the people. The next best are those who are loved and praised. The next are those who are feared. And the next are those who are despised."

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5. "The journey of a thousand miles starts from where one stands."

This is easily the most famous passage from the "Tao Te Ching," sometimes translated as "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The full quote reads: "A tree as big as a man's embrace grows from a tiny shoot. A tower of nine stories begins with a heap of earth. The journey of a thousand li starts from where one stands."

How do you accomplish a really big task or overcome a seemingly insurmountable obstacle? With patience, says Lao-tzu, and by working within your capabilities.

"Start with the first thing, and if that's successful, then you move on," says Kohn. "It doesn't mean you can't have far-reaching goals, but you have to take them one step at a time. Any builder will tell you, you don't start with the roof."

Bonus saying: "Difficult undertakings have always started with what is easy. And great undertakings have always started with what is small. Therefore the sage never strives for the great, And thereby the great is achieved."

HowStuffWorks may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article.

Now That's Cool While the "Tao Te Ching" is the authoritative text of Taoism, an argument can be made that Benjamin Huff's "The Tao of Pooh"  a charming bestseller that illustrates the principles of Daoism using characters from "Winnie the Pooh"  is the better introduction.
Skeleton of one of the two individuals who lived in the middle of the Bronze Age and whose complete genome was reconstructed and sequenced by the Lausanne team. It comes from the archaeological site of Elati-Logkas, in northern Greece. Credit: Ephorate of Antiquities of Kozani, Hellenic Ministry of Culture, Greece. Dr Georgia Karamitrou-Mentessidi.

The first civilizations to build monumental palaces and urban centers in Europe are more genetically homogenous than expected, according to the first study to sequence whole genomes gathered from ancient archaeological sites around the Aegean Sea. The study has been published in the journal Cell.

Despite marked differences in burial customs, architecture, and art, the Minoan civilization in Crete, the Helladic civilization in mainland Greece and the Cycladic civilization in the Cycladic islands in the middle of the Aegean Sea, were genetically similar during the Early Bronze age (5000 years ago).

The findings are important because it suggests that critical innovations such as the development of urban centers, metal use and intensive trade made during the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age were not just due to mass immigration from east of the Aegean as previously thought, but also from the cultural continuity of local Neolithic groups.

The study also finds that by the Middle Bronze Age (4000-4,600 years ago), individuals from the northern Aegean were considerably different compared to those in the Early Bronze Age. These individuals shared half their ancestry with people from the Pontic-Caspian steppe, a large geographic region stretching between the Danube and the Ural rivers and north of the Black Sea, and were highly similar to present-day Greeks.

The findings suggest that migration waves from herders from the Pontic-Caspian steppe, or populations north of the Aegean that bear Pontic-Caspian Steppe like ancestry, shaped present-day Greece. These potential migration waves all predate the appearance of the earliest documented form of Greek, supporting theories explaining the emergence of Proto-Greek and the evolution of Indo-European languages in either Anatolia or the Pontic-Caspian Steppe region.

The team took samples from well-preserved skeletal remains at archaeological sites. They sequenced six whole genomes, four from all three cultures during the Early Bronze Age and two from a Helladic culture during the Middle Bronze Age.

The researchers also sequenced the mitochondrial genomes from eleven other individuals from the Early Bronze Age. Sequencing whole genomes provided the researchers with enough data to perform demographic and statistical analyses on population histories.

Sequencing ancient genomes is a huge challenge, particularly due to the degradation of the biological material and human contamination. A research team at the CNAG-CRG, played an important role in overcoming this challenge through using machine learning.

According to Oscar Lao, Head of the Population Genomics Group at the CNAG-CRG, "Taking an advantage that the number of samples and DNA quality we found is huge for this type of study, we have developed sophisticated machine learning tools to overcome challenges such as low depth of coverage, damage, and modern human contamination, opening the door for the application of artificial intelligence to palaeogenomics data."

"Implementation of deep learning in demographic inference based on ancient samples allowed us to reconstruct ancestral relationships between ancient populations and reliably infer the amount and timing of massive migration events that marked the cultural transition from Neolithic to Bronze Age in Aegean," says Olga Dolgova, postdoctoral researcher in the Population Genomics Group at the CNAG-CRG.

The Bronze Age in Eurasia was marked by pivotal changes on the social, political, and economic levels, visible in the appearance of the first large urban centers and monumental palaces. The increasing economic and cultural exchange that developed during this time laid the groundwork for modern economic systemsincluding capitalism, long-distance political treaties, and a world trade economy.

Despite their importance for understanding the rise of European civilisations and the spread of Indo-European languages, the genetic origins of the peoples behind the Neolithic to Bronze Age transition and their contribution to the present-day Greek population remain controversial.

Future studies could investigate whole genomes between the Mesolithic and Bronze Age in the Armenian and Caucasus to help further pinpoint the origins of migration into the Aegean, and to better integrate the genomic data with the existing archaeological and linguistic evidence.

Explore further Neolithic genomes from modern-day Switzerland indicate parallel ancient societies

More information: Florian Clemente et al, The genomic history of the Aegean palatial civilizations, Cell (2021). Journal information: Cell Florian Clemente et al, The genomic history of the Aegean palatial civilizations,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.03.039

Provided by Center for Genomic Regulation
The calving front of a crevassed glacier in southwest Greenland, seen from NASAs P-3B aircraft. Credit: NASA / Christy Hansen

What makes a neuron? In the 1940s, at the dawn of the computer age, researchers gave the word a second meaning. In the case of neural networks, the artificial neurons comprising them are more simple than one might expect: structure a unit of code to take in information, judge the information, pass it on, then string together thousands or millions of these "neurons" and watch as they begin to display behavior that could be described as a form of intelligence. Artificial neural networks are used all around us, from language translators to face recognition software to the tailored content feeds we're provided on social media.

Neural networks have begun finding use in glaciology, becoming a critical new tool in the study of climate change and its effects on receding glaciers. A recent publication in The Cryosphere releases and evaluates a new neural network known as the Calving Front Machine (CALFIN), a program capable of automatically identifying the calving fronts of ocean-terminating glaciers from decades of satellite imagery. Programs such as CALFIN could make it possible to catalog and monitor the rates of glacier loss all around the world, even at sites that scientists haven't been able to study manually.

Daniel Cheng, a Ph.D. student in computer science at the University of California, Irvine and the lead author of this publication, led CALFIN's development to resounding success. This neural network is capable of recognizing and measuring the edges of glaciers in satellite images of Earth's surface nearly as well as a trained scientist, except it's autonomous, quick, and can reliably process countless more glaciers than any human being ever could.

Artificial neural networks are remarkably powerful tools given the simplicity of their core components. Built on a framework of inputs and outputs, each individual neuron can take in outputs of multiple neurons behind it, then proceed to weigh each piece of information and synthesize them all into a new, single output. This straightforward process, governed by relatively basic rules of statistics, becomes capable of solving extraordinarily complex problems when stacked and iterated enough times. Tasks that were formerly cumbersome for a computer program, such as identifying characteristics of images, now become possible, precisely the capability required to measure receding glaciers from the vast datasets produced by satellite surveys.

Before a neural network has seen its assigned task (identifying calving fronts, for CALFIN), its neurons will be unskilled in recognizing patterns to reach the correct conclusions (in this case, where exactly the calving front is located in the image). In a remarkable parallel to learning in human infants, neural networks can be taughta process referred to as "training"to perform tasks successfully by being shown hundreds or thousands of these correct conclusions. In more technical terms, each successive correct example the neural network sees during training allows it to refine the individual parameters in each neuron, which gives the whole network the ability to replicate that pathway when shown a new, unfamiliar example.

The relationships between individual neurons in a simple neural network. Each individual neuron assesses its input information before passing it on again. Credit: Glosser.ca

CALFIN was trained to recognize calving fronts using tens of thousands of images, taking over a week and a half to complete training and process the full dataset, which spans 66 Greenlandic basins and contains images from 1972 to 2019 (including 22,678 total calving fronts). The human brain can take months to master a pattern recognition task; the CALFIN neural network only needs a matter of days. After training, CALFIN was able to measure calving fronts to within an average of 82 meters from their true locations, an improvement over previous models that exhibited errors of more than twice that distance on this dataset.

William Colgan, a research climatologist at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, is enthusiastic about the progress of this technology in monitoring these rapidly changing glacial environments. "I would say that big datamachine learning in generalis going to really change the way we monitor the Greenland Ice Sheet," wrote Colgan in an interview with GlacierHub. He described how historical glacier monitoring was focused on "benchmark" glaciers, studied manually by researchers out in the field, and unreliable when scaled up to understand regional trends. "I think machine learning now offers a robust way of up-scaling a handful of site-specific and process-level observations to tell a bigger regional story."

Lead author Cheng was focused on broader regional capabilities throughout CALFIN's development, as he describes that "a primary goal and concern was to ensure that CALFIN could handle the wide variety of environments, geography, and issues like clouds or shadows." CALFIN has certainly accomplished this goal. Much like the way that human brains can recognize a person's identity even when part of their face is in bright sunlight and part in deep shadow, CALFIN too can use its training to work through an imperfect or partially shaded image and derive the correct conclusion.

Cheng doesn't intend to stop here, however, with next steps for CALFIN including improving the neural network's accuracy, extracting different features such as coastlines or icebergs, and expanding its current count of nearly 23,000 analyzed images.

The future of glaciology could soon become a joint effort between human researchers and artificial intelligence, with glaciologists using the advantages of human intuition and neural network computing power to bolster their quest for understanding. As Colgan explains, machine learning is great, but it always needs training data. Artificial intelligence may not be able to collect benchmark observations, but it does promise to make those observations more scientifically valuable and increase the efficiency of glacial monitoring. The rate of Greenland's ice loss this century will be higher than in any other over the past 12,000 years. With consequences this grave, glaciologists need every resource available.

Explore further Greenland ice loss may have begun as early as the mid-'80s

More information: Daniel Cheng et al. Calving Front Machine (CALFIN): glacial termini dataset and automated deep learning extraction method for Greenland, 19722019, The Cryosphere (2021). Daniel Cheng et al. Calving Front Machine (CALFIN): glacial termini dataset and automated deep learning extraction method for Greenland, 19722019,(2021). DOI: 10.5194/tc-15-1663-2021

This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu.
Inside our cells, and those of the most well-known lifeforms, exist a variety of complex compounds known as "molecular motors." These biological machines are essential for various types of movement in living systems, from the microscopic rearrangement or transport of proteins within a single cell to the macroscopic contraction of muscle tissues. At the crossroads between robotics and nanotechnology, a goal that is highly sought after is finding ways to leverage the action of these tiny molecular motors to perform more sizeable tasks in a controllable manner. However, achieving this goal will certainly be challenging.

"So far, even though researchers have found ways to scale up the collective action of molecular motor networks to show macroscopic contraction, it is still difficult to integrate such networks efficiently into actual machines and generate forces large enough to actuate macroscale components," explains Associate Professor Yuichi Hiratsuka from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan.

Fortunately, Dr. Hiratsuka, in collaboration with Associate Professor Takahiro Nitta from Gifu University and Professor Keisuke Morishima from Osaka University, both in Japan, have recently made remarkable progress in the quest to bridge the micro with the macro. In their latest study published in Nature Materials, this research team reported the design of a novel type of actuator driven by two genetically modified biomolecular motors. One of the most attractive aspects of their biologically inspired approach is that the actuator self-assembles from the basic proteins by simple light irradiation. In a matter of seconds after light hits a given area, the surrounding motor proteins fuse with rail-like proteins called microtubules and arrange themselves into a hierarchical macroscopic structure that resembles muscle fibers.

Upon formation around the target (illuminated) zone, this "artificial muscle" immediately contracts, and the collective force of the individual motor proteins is amplified from a molecular scale to a millimeter one. As the scientists showed experimentally, their approach could be ideal for small-scale robotics applications, such as actuating microscopic grippers to handle biological samples (Figure 1). Other millimeter-scale applications also demonstrated include joining separate components together, such as miniature cogwheels, and powering minimalistic robotic arms to make an insect-like crawling microrobot.

What's also very remarkable about this technique is that it is compatible with existing 3D printing techniques that use light, such as stereolithography. In other words, microrobots with built-in artificial muscles may be 3D printable, enabling their mass production and hence increasing their applicability to solve various problems. "In the future, our printable actuator could become the much-needed 'actuator ink' for the seamless 3D printing of entire robots. We believe that such a biomolecule-based ink can push forward the frontier of robotics by enabling the printing of complex bone and muscle components required for robots to further resemble living creatures," says Dr. Hiratsuka.

One potential improvement to the present technique would be finding ways to efficiently decontract the artificial muscles (reversibility). Alternatively, the present strategy could also be changed so as to produce spontaneous oscillatory behavior instead of contraction, as is observed in the mobile cilia of microbes or in insect flight muscles.

In any case, this study effectively shows how mimicking the strategies that nature has come up with is often times a recipe for success, as many scientists in the field of robotics have already figured out.

Explore further Mechanical engineers develop new high-performance artificial muscle technology

More information: Takahiro Nitta et al. A printable active network actuator built from an engineered biomolecular motor, Nature Materials (2021). Journal information: Nature Materials Takahiro Nitta et al. A printable active network actuator built from an engineered biomolecular motor,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41563-021-00969-6

Provided by Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
In experiments with SLAC's X-ray free-electron laser, scientists knocked electrons out of a molecule known as DMP to make the first detailed observations of how a process called charge transfer affects its molecular structure. Left: DMP is normally symmetric. Center: When a pulse of light knocks an electron out of one of its nitrogen atoms (blue spheres), it leaves a positively charged ion known as a charge center, shown in pink. This creates a charge imbalance that shifts the positions of atoms. Right: But within three trillionths of a second, the charge redistributes itself between the two nitrogen atoms until it evens out and the molecule becomes symmetric again. Credit: Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

When light hits certain molecules, it dislodges electrons that then move from one location to another, creating areas of positive and negative charge. This "charge transfer" is highly important in many areas of chemistry, in biological processes like photosynthesis and in technologies like semiconductor devices and solar cells.

Even though theories have been developed to explain and predict how charge transfer works, they have been validated only indirectly because of the difficulty of observing how a molecule's structure responds to charge movements with the required atomic resolution and on the required ultrafast time scales.

In a new study, a research team led by scientists from Brown University, the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and the University of Edinburgh used SLAC's X-ray free-electron laser to make the first direct observations of molecular structures associated with charge transfer in gas molecules hit with light.

Molecules of this gas, called N,N-dimethylpiperazine or DMP, are normally symmetric, with a nitrogen atom at each end. Light can knock an electron out of a nitrogen atom, leaving a positively charged ion known as a 'charge center.'

Intriguingly, this process is uneven; light absorption creates a charge center in just one of the two nitrogen atoms, and this charge imbalance deforms the molecule's atomic scaffolding, so atoms compensate by shifting position with respect to each other. But within three trillionths of a second, the charge redistributes itself between the two nitrogen atoms until it evens out and the molecules become symmetric again, the researchers report in a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences today.

Their study is the first to directly observe how a molecule's structure changes as charge is redistributed, with some chemical bonds getting longer and some shorter, before finally relaxing back into its original state.

"We see the molecules breaking symmetry and reforming symmetry," said Peter Weber, a chemistry professor at Brown University whose research group started studying DMP almost a decade ago. He led the study with Adam Kirrander of the University of Edinburgh and SLAC senior staff scientist Michael Minitti.

X-ray free-electron laser experiments at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have given scientists their first detailed look at how charge transfer - a highly important process in all of chemistry - works in molecules called DMP, center. The molecules were hit with a light pulse to kick off the process, followed by an X-ray laser pulse to observe resulting changes in their structure over 3 trillionths of a second. The X-rays scatter off individual molecules and into a detector, creating patterns that show ultrafast movements of the atoms with atomic resolution. Credit: Greg Stewart/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

A lopsided response

Scientists in Weber's group, including Xinxin Chenga Ph.D. student who is now a SLAC associate staff scientistdiscovered the molecule's lopsided response to light eight years ago. It turned out that the molecule's nitrogen atoms are just the right distance apart to make it an ideal model for studying charge transfer, a discovery that triggered a lot of discussion among theorists working to understand these processes as well as efforts to observe them in more detail.

In this latest study, Haiwang Yong, a Ph.D. student in Weber's lab, worked with SLAC scientists to provide a much more direct observation of DMP's response to light. They hit DMP gas with pulses of light followed by extremely short, ultrabright X-ray laser pulses from the lab's Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). The LCLS X-rays scattered off the molecules in a way that revealed the positions of individual atoms, the lengths of the bonds between them and how they changed over just a few trillionths of a second.

"It is fascinating to see how the X-rays can resolve the changes in molecular structure that arise from charge transfer," Kirrander said.

Weber said the results demonstrate the value of the technique for extracting more detailed information than in previous experiments. The research team used that information to test theoretical models of how molecules respond, revealing flaws in the conventional approach known as density functional theory. Weber noted that the data seems to support detailed theoretical calculations of how these charge transfers take place by Hannes Jonsson of the University of Iceland, who was not involved in this study.

Minitti, who has been working on DMP with the Brown lab from the start and participated in this study, said it has been difficult to get a theoretical understanding of how these asymmetric systems work because the experimental data on them has been so sparse and indirect.

"This work is a significant step forward," he said, "giving us critical information about how the molecule responds during the charge transfer process. Research like this takes a villagewe need experiments to inform the theory, and vice versa, to help us visualize this thing."

Going forward, a big increase in the pulse repetition rate of the LCLS X-ray source is underway, with a leap from 120 pulses per second to 1 million pulses per second. This will allow researchers to study much more complex systems, informing the development of new approaches to solar energy generation and energy storage technologies, among many other applications.

Explore further First direct look at how light excites electrons to kick off a chemical reaction

More information: Haiwang Yong et al, Ultrafast X-ray scattering offers a structural view of excited-state charge transfer, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Haiwang Yong et al, Ultrafast X-ray scattering offers a structural view of excited-state charge transfer,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2021714118
Aerial view of a typical excavation by the Malawi Earlier-Middle Stone Age Project. Credit: Jacob Davis

Mastery of fire has given humans dominance over the natural world. A Yale-led study provides the earliest evidence to date of ancient humans significantly altering entire ecosystems with flames.

The study, published on May 5 in the journal Science Advances, combines archaeological evidencedense clusters of stone artifacts dating as far back as 92,000 years agowith paleoenvironmental data on the northern shores of Lake Malawi in eastern Africa to document that early humans were ecosystem engineers. They used fire in a way that prevented regrowth of the region's forests, creating a sprawling bushland that exists today.

Yale paleoanthropologist Jessica Thompson describes the earliest evidence of humans altering their ecosystem with fire in this video.

"This is the earliest evidence I have seen of humans fundamentally transforming their ecosystem with fire," said Jessica Thompson, assistant professor of anthropology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the paper's lead author. "It suggests that by the Late Pleistocene, humans were learning to use fire in truly novel ways. In this case, their burning caused replacement of the region's forests with the open woodlands you see today."

Thompson authored the study with 27 colleagues from institutions in the United States, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Thompson led the archaeological work in collaboration with the Malawi Department of Museums and Monuments; David Wright of the University of Oslo, who led efforts to date the study's archaeological sites; and Sarah Ivory of Penn State, who led the paleoenvironmental analyses.

The research team exposes ancient stone tools at the Sadala South I site near Karonga, Malawi. Credit: Jessica Thompson

The artifacts examined by the researchers are of the type produced across Africa in the Middle Stone Age, a period dating back at least 315,000 years. The earliest modern humans made their appearance during this period, with the African archaeological record showing significant advances in cognitive and social complexity.

Thompson and Wright logged several field seasons of archaeological work in the region before a conversation with Ivory helped them make sense of the patterns they observed in their data. The researchers discovered that the regional archaeological record, its ecological changes, and the development of alluvial fans near Lake Malawian accumulation of sediment eroded from the region's highlanddated to the same period of origin, suggesting that they were connected.

Lake Malawi's water levels have fluctuated drastically over the ages. During the lake's driest periods, the last of which ended about 85,000 years ago, it diminished into two small, saline bodies of water. The lake recovered from these arid stretches and its levels have remained high ever since, according to the study.

The archaeological data were collected from more than 100 pits excavated across hundreds of kilometers of the alluvial fan that developed during this time of steady lake levels. The paleoenvironmental data are based on counts of pollen and charcoal that settled to the floor of the lakebed and were later recovered in a long sediment core drilled from a modified barge.

According to the researchers, the data revealed that a spike in charcoal accumulation occurred shortly before the flattening of the region's species richnessthe number of distinct species inhabiting it. Despite the consistently high lake levels, which imply greater stability in the ecosystem, the species richness went flat following the last arid period based on information from fossilized pollen sampled from the lakebed, the study found. This was unexpected because over previous climate cycles, rainy environments had produced forests that provide rich habitat for an abundance of species, Ivory explained.

The Chaminade III site and landscape near the town of Karonga, Malawi. Credit: David Wright

"The pollen that we see in this most recent period of stable climate is very different than before," she said. "Specifically, trees that indicate dense, structurally complex forest canopies are no longer common and are replaced by pollen from plants that deal well with frequent fire and disturbance."

The increase in archaeological sites after the last arid period, paired with the spike in charcoal and absence of forest, suggests that people were manipulating the ecosystem with fire, the researchers conclude. The scale of their environmental impact over the long term is something typically associated with farmers and herders, rather than hunter-gatherers. This suggests early ecological manipulation on par with modern people and may also explain why the archaeological record formed.

The burning paired with climate-driven changes created the conditions that allowed for preservation of millions of artifacts in the region, the researchers explained. "Dirt rolls downhill unless there is something to stop it," Wright said. "Take the trees away, and when it rains, there is a lot of dirt moving downhill in this environment."

Previous transitions from dry to wet conditions in the region didn't yield a similar alluvial fan and were not preceded by the same charcoal spike, the researchers noted.

It's not clear why people were burning the landscape, Thompson said. It's possible that they were experimenting with controlled burns to produce mosaic habitats conducive to hunting and gathering, a behavior documented among hunter-gatherers. It could be that their fires burned out of control, or that there were simply a lot of people burning fuel in their environment that provided for warmth, cooking, or socialization, she explained.

"One way or another, it's caused by human activity," she said. "It shows early people, over a long period of time, took control over their environment rather than being controlled by it. They changed entire landscapes, and for better or for worse that relationship with our environments continues today."

Explore further Indigenous land-use reduced catastrophic wildfires on the Fish Lake Plateau

More information: J.C. Thompson el al., "Early human impacts and ecosystem reorganization in southern-central Africa," Science Advances (2021). Journal information: Science Advances J.C. Thompson el al., "Early human impacts and ecosystem reorganization in southern-central Africa,"(2021).
Genetic samples of the new frog, known scientifically as Limnonectes beloncioi (or commonly as the Mindoro Fanged Frog), were collected years ago by KU scientists working in the field on Mindoro Island in the central Philippines but weren't analyzed until recently. Credit: Scott Travers

Researchers at the University of Kansas have described a new species of fanged frog discovered in the Philippines that's nearly indistinguishable from a species on a neighboring island except for its unique mating call and key differences in its genome.

The KU-led team has just published its findings in the peer-reviewed journal Ichthyology & Herpetology.

"This is what we call a cryptic species because it was hiding in plain sight in front of biologists, for many, many years," said lead author Mark Herr, a doctoral student at the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum and Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. "Scientists for the last 100 years thought that these frogs were just the same species as frogs on a different island in the Philippines because they couldn't tell them apart physically. We ran a bunch of analysesand they do indeed look identical to the naked eyehowever, they are genetically isolated. We also found differences in their mating calls. They sound quite different. So, it was a case of using acoustics to determine that the species was different, as well as the new genetic information."

Genetic samples of the new frog, known scientifically as Limnonectes beloncioi (or commonly as the Mindoro Fanged Frog), were collected years ago by KU scientists working in the field on Mindoro Island in the central Philippines but weren't analyzed until recently. Because of its nearly identical physical similarity to a fanged frog on the island of Palawan, called Acanth's Fanged Frog, it was assumed to be the same species.

"You can look at two different things, but to the human eye without intensive investigation they might seem the same," Herr said. "So, we took a bunch of measurements of hundreds of these frogshow long their digits were specifically, how wide the tip of their toe was, the length of one specific segment of their leg, the diameter of their eyein order to compare populations statistically, even if we thought they look the same. We ran statistical analyses on body shape and size, including a principal component analysis which uses all the measurements at once to compare the frog morphology in multivariate space. After all that, just like the scientists before us, we found nothing to differentiate the frogs based on the shape of their bodies and their size."

However, because the fanged frogs inhabit islands separated by miles and miles of ocean, the researchers had doubts they were the same species, in part because they had different-sounding calls. They decided to analyze the frogs' genome and determined the Mindoro Fanged Frog qualified as its own distinct species.

Credit: University of Kansas

"We ran genetic analyses of these frogs using some specific genetic markers, and we used a molecular clock model just to get a very basic estimate how long we thought that these frogs may have been separated from one another," Herr said. "We found they're related to each other, they are each other's close relatives, but we found they'd been separate for two to six million yearsit's a really long time for these frogs. And it's very interesting that they still look so similar but sound different."

The KU graduate student specializes in studying the many species of fanged frog across Southeast Asia, where he's carried out extensive fieldwork. He said the frogs' fangs likely are used in combat for access to prime mating sites and to protect themselves from predators. The Mindoro Fanged Frog, a stream frog, is sometimes hunted by people for food.

But the frog's characteristic call, different from Acanth's Fanged Frog, proved difficult for researchers to record.

"They're really wary of us when we're out there with our sound recorders trying to get recordings of these frogsthat's a really tough aspect, and we were lucky in this project that we had people over many years that were out there and had recorded both of these frogs on Palawan and Mindoro. So, we had recordings from both islands, and that's kind of rare with this group of fanged frogs because people eat them. They call at night, but the second a flashlight or human voice wanders into the equation they're just going to take offbecause they know that they can be killed by people."

Herr's description of the Mindoro Fanged Frog continues a long tradition of KU field research into the herpetological biodiversity of the Philippines and Southeast Asia, according to his faculty adviser Rafe Brown, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology and curator-in-charge of the Herpetology Division of the Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum.

"Mark's discovery reinforces a lesson we've learned over and over through the yearsthings we thought we knew, combined with new information, emerge to teach us something completely unexpected," Brown said. "A century ago, KU professor Edward Taylor identified the Mindoro Island population as Acanth's Fanged Frog, the same species as he had named, a few years before, from Palawan Islandan arrangement that made very little sense. Zoom forward a hundred years, and we find with new technology, genetic information and bioacoustic data that the two islands' populations are actually very well-differentiated, as we would expect. But not morphologically; their physical characteristics have not diverged. This is a case in which the formation of species has not been accompanied by morphological differentiationso called 'cryptic speciation.'"

Explore further Native frogs had hard year, faced fires and harsh ecology

More information: Mark W. Herr et al, A New, Morphologically Cryptic Species of Fanged Frog, Genus Limnonectes (Amphibia: Anura: Dicroglossidae), from Mindoro Island, Central Philippines, Ichthyology & Herpetology (2021). Mark W. Herr et al, A New, Morphologically Cryptic Species of Fanged Frog, Genus Limnonectes (Amphibia: Anura: Dicroglossidae), from Mindoro Island, Central Philippines,(2021). DOI: 10.1643/h2020095
India's COVID-19 tally crosses 20 million

Xinhua) 09:44, May 05, 2021

NEW DELHI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- India's COVID-19 tally crossed the 20-million mark, reaching 20,282,833 on Tuesday, as 357,229 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, confirmed the federal health ministry.

Another 3,449 deaths were reported since Monday morning, taking the death toll to 222,408.

There are a total of 3,447,133 active cases in the country, with an increase of 33,491 through Monday, while 16,613,292 people have recovered and been discharged from hospitals so far.

The COVID-19 figures continue to peak in the country, but the federal government has ruled out imposing a complete lockdown. Some states have imposed night curfews or partial lockdowns, while the capital New Delhi has been put under a third successive lockdown till May 10.

Meanwhile, 293,310,779 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in India till Monday, out of which 1,663,742 tests were conducted on Monday alone, said the latest data issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Tuesday.

The national capital New Delhi, one of the most COVID-19 affected places in the country, witnessed 18,043 new cases and 448 more deaths through Monday. So far 17,414 people have died in the national capital due to COVID-19, confirmed Delhi's health department.

The third phase of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination began on May 1. So far, over 158 million vaccination doses have been administered in India since the country kicked off its inoculation drive in January.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
In 2019, the last normal year of AP testing before the pandemic, 74% of students nationally who were enrolled in an AP course took the exam, said Trevor Packer, head of the College Boards AP Program. This spring, 88% of students are reporting they plan to take the exams, he said. Chicago Public Schools ordered 45,178 AP exams to be taken by students over the next several weeks, Packer said. Thats up from the 43,773 the district ordered in 2020.
Does the brain limit our social capacity, in monkeys as well as humans? Credit: Johan Lind/N

An individual human can maintain stable social relationships with about 150 people. This is the proposition known as "Dunbar's number"that the architecture of the human brain sets an upper limit on our social lives. A new study from Stockholm University indicates that a cognitive limit on human group sizes cannot be derived in this manner.

Dunbar's number is named after the British anthropologist Robin Dunbar, who proposed the theory in the 1990s. The number 150 is based on an extrapolation of the correlation between the relative size of the neocortex and group sizes in non-human primates. Some empirical studies have found support for this number, while other have reported other group sizes.

"The theoretical foundation of Dunbar's number is shaky. Other primates' brains do not handle information exactly as human brains do, and primate sociality is primarily explained by other factors than the brain, such as what they eat and who their predators are. Furthermore, humans have a large variation in the size of their social networks," says Patrik Lindenfors, Associate Professor of Zoological Ecology at Stockholm University and the Institute for Futures Studies, and one of the authors of the study.

When the Swedish researchers repeated Dunbar's analyses using modern statistical methods and updated data on primate brains, the results were simultaneously much larger and far lower than 150.

The average maximum group size often turned out to be lower than 150 persons. But the main problem was that the 95% confidence intervals for these estimates were between 2 and 520 people.

"It is not possible to make an estimate for humans with any precision using available methods and data," says Andreas Wartel, co-author of the study.

"Dunbar's number" is often cited and has had a great impact in popular culture, not the least after featuring prominently in Malcolm Gladwell's book "The Tipping Point." In 2007, Swedish media reported that the Swedish Tax Authority reorganized their offices to stay within the 150-person limit.

"This reorganization would then be based on the implicit but hopefully unintended assumption that their employees have neither family nor friends outside of work," says Patrik Lindenfors, and adds, "I think Dunbar's number is widely spread, also among researchers, since it's so easy to understand. Our claim that it is not possible to calculate a number is not quite as entertaining."

Ideas such as Dunbar's number highlight questions about the long reach of the gene.

"Are human social interactions genetically limited via the genes' influence on the brain's architecture? New research on cultural evolution has revealed the importance of cultural inheritance for what humans do and how we think. Culture affects everything from size of social networks to whether we can play chess or if we like hiking. Just like someone can learn to remember an enormous number of decimals in the number pi, our brain can be trained in having more social contacts," says Johan Lind, deputy director of the Centre for Cultural Evolution at Stockholm University and co-author of the study.

Explore further Study suggests optimal social networks of no more than 150 people
Protein structure with the newly identified switch between a cysteine and lysine residue showing its structure and electron density. This discovery has wide-reaching implications for understanding and treating diseases. Credit: K Tittmann

Proteins perform a vast array of functions in the cell of every living organism with critical roles in almost every biological process. Not only do they run our metabolism, manage cellular signaling and are in charge of energy production, as antibodies they are also the frontline workers of our immune system fighting human pathogens like the coronavirus.

In view of these important duties, it is not surprising that the activity of proteins is tightly controlled. There are numerous chemical switches that control the structure and, therefore, the function of proteins in response to changing environmental conditions and stress. The biochemical structures and modes of operation of these switches were thought to be well understood. So a team of researchers at the University of Gottingen were surprised to discover a completely novel, but until now overlooked, on/off switch that seems to be a ubiquitous regulatory element in proteins in all domains of life. The results were published in Nature.

The researchers investigated a protein from the human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae that causes gonorrhea, a bacterial infection with over 100 million cases worldwide. This disease is typically treated with antibiotics but increasing rates of antibiotic resistance pose a serious threat. In order to identify new treatments, they studied the structure and mechanism of a protein that is a key player in carbon metabolism of the pathogen. Surprisingly, the protein can be switched on and off by oxidation and reduction (known as a 'redox switch'). The scientists suspected this was caused by a common and well-established 'disulfide switch' formed between two cysteine amino acids. When they deciphered the X-ray structures of the protein in the 'on' and 'off' state at the DESY particle accelerator in Hamburg, Germany, they were hit by an even bigger surprise. The chemical nature of the switch was completely unknown: it is formed between a lysine and a cysteine amino acid with a bridging oxygen atom.

"I couldn't believe my eyes," says Professor Kai Tittmann, who led the study, when he remembers seeing the structure of the novel switch for the first time. "We thought initially that this must have formed artificially as a by-product of the experimental process as this chemical entity was unknown." However, numerous repetitions of the experiments always gave the same result and an analysis of the protein structure database further disclosed that there are many other proteins that very likely possess this switch, which apparently escaped earlier detection as the resolution of the protein structure analysis was insufficient to detect it for certain. The researchers admit that good fortune was on their side because the crystals they measured allowed the protein structure to be determined at extremely high resolution, meaning the novel switch couldn't be missed. "The extensive screening for high-quality protein crystals has really paid off, I couldn't be happier," says Marie Wensien, first author of the paper.

The researchers believe the discovery of the novel protein switch will impact the life sciences in numerous ways, for instance in the field of protein design. It will also open new avenues in medical applications and drug design. Many human proteins with established roles in severe diseases are known to be redox-controlled and the newly discovered switch is likely to play a central role in regulating their biological function as well.

Explore further Elegant constrictions in a cellular kill switch

More information: A lysinecysteine redox switch with an NOS bridge regulates enzyme function, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature A lysinecysteine redox switch with an NOS bridge regulates enzyme function,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03513-3
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

With increased media attention and political campaigns focusing on the gender pay gap, the fact that womenon averageare paid less than men, has become an important public discussion. While much of the focus has been on the corporate sector, a new study that looked at executive compensation at nonprofit organizations found that women earn 8.9% less than men with the gap becoming greater when there is room for salary negotiations.

The study co-authored by Curtis Hall, Ph.D., an associate professor in Drexel University's LeBow College of Business; Andrew R. Finley, assistant professor at the Robert Day School of Economics and Finance at Claremont McKenna College; and LeBow College of Business doctoral student Amanda R. Marino, analyzed data from IRS form 990 filingswhere salaries of executuves in nonprofits are publicly disclosedfor four years across various industries.

The researchers first looked at whether or not a gap in pay does exist among executives in the nonprofit sector and then, the extent to which negotiation opportunitieseither real or perceivedcontribute to this difference.

"For various reasons we may not expect to observe a gender pay gap among the nonprofit sector even though recent research has found gaps in pay among for-profit executives," said Hall. "First, there is more female participation in the nonprofit workforce compared to the for-profit sector. Second, one may expect stakeholders, like donors or boards of directors to curtail gender pay gaps, but we didn't find this to be enough of a factor to prevent gender pay gaps."

To better understand the role of negotiation in contributing to the pay gap, the researchers examined settings with an expected variation in opportunities and willingness to negotiate. They looked at external employment options for the nonprofit executives, the organization's constraints in paying executives, the gender composition of its leadership and the pay variability within its executive ranks. Each of these factors uniquely influences the negotiation environment, according to the authors.

They found that executives' external employment options and competition lead to greater gender pay gaps with male executives more likely to capitalize on a broader external labor market or other opportunities to negotiate additional compensation.

However, in organizations with higher female board representation, and/or the presence of a female CEO, the pay gap is reduced. This may be because female leadership increases the willingness of female employees to negotiate, according to the authors.

"This study documents the contexts that influence negotiation on the gender pay gap, which is part of a larger societal issue," said Hall. "Employers should be cognizant of how the environment for negotiating compensation within their organizations can lead to gender-based pay disparities. Perhaps more importantly, business leaders and educators should think about ways to empower female workers to get more out of salary negotiations, which would hopefully help to close gender pay gaps in the future."

The paper, "Negotiation and Executive Gender Pay Gaps in Nonprofit Organizations," was accepted for publication in the Review of Accounting Studies.

Explore further A gender gap in negotiation emerges between boys and girls as early as age eight

More information: Andrew Finley et al. Executive Gender Pay Gaps in Nonprofit Organizations, SSRN Electronic Journal (2019). Andrew Finley et al. Executive Gender Pay Gaps in Nonprofit Organizations,(2019). DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3385848
The Mary Rose depicted on the Anthony Roll (1546), an illustrated inventory of King Henry VIII's navy (by permission of the Pepys Library, Magdalene College, Cambridge, UK). Credit: Royal Society Open Science (2021). DOI: 10.1098/rsos.202106

A team of researchers with Cardiff University, the Mary Rose Trust, HM Naval Base and the British Geological Survey's National Environmental Isotope Facility has found evidence of racial diversity among the crew of the Mary Rosea warship from the time of King Henry the VIII. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, they describe their study and analysis of the remains of eight sailors recovered from the wreck of the Mary Rose.

The Mary Rose served the Tudor navy for approximately 33 years, but was finally sunk during a battle in the Solent in 1545. The wreck was discovered back in 1971 and raised in 1982. Since that time, a dedicated museum houses not only the ship but the thousands of artifacts that were brought up along with it.

In this new effort, the researchers sought to learn more about the backgrounds of the crew. To that end, they selected the remains of eight of sailors chosen by their degree of preservation and their likely stations aboard the ship. In addition to using a technique called multi-isotope analysis to study the teeth, the researchers also noted artifacts found near the remains. Prior research had already shown that many of the artifacts found in the wreckage had not been made in England. In their work, the researchers found evidence showing that three of the eight sailors were not Britishinstead, two appeared to be from southern Europe and a third from North Africa.

The researchers noted that chemical tracers from the food and water the sailors had consumed as children were still in their teeth, which helped to place their geographical upbringing. Based on the evidence, the researchers assigned the sailors to their likely positions aboard the Mary Roseamong them were an officer, an archer, a royal archer, a carpenter, a gentleman, a cook and a purser. The researchers suggested an individual that appeared to have come from North Africa likely came from a southern part of Tunisia, the Atlas Mountains or Morocco. They suggest that the Tudor navy was much more racially diverse than has previously been thought.

Explore further Study identifies prevalence of rickets among 16th century sailors

More information: Jessica Scorrer et al. Diversity aboard a Tudor warship: investigating the origins of the Mary Rose crew using multi-isotope analysis, Royal Society Open Science (2021). Journal information: Royal Society Open Science Jessica Scorrer et al. Diversity aboard a Tudor warship: investigating the origins of the Mary Rose crew using multi-isotope analysis,(2021). DOI: 10.1098/rsos.202106

 2021 Science X Network
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Ahead of US President Joe Biden's plan later this month to lift the country's historically low cap on asylum seekers, a new political study finds that liberal, progressive refugee policies do not pose domestic security challenges for states.

The study, which is published in the Journal of Refugee Studies and focused on Europe and North America between 2014-17, concludes that the claim long-perpetuated about the internal security risks posed by liberal asylum policies are unsubstantiated by the evidence for homicide and violent crime.

Its analysis finds that countries with higher levels of refugees per population also have lower levels of violent crime. By comparison, countries with strict, restrictive asylum policies (i.e. those countries that take in the least numbers of asylum seekers) have higher levels of crime and homicide.

Researchers, Professor Timo Kivimaki (University of Bath, UK) and Leah Nicholson (York University, Canada) acknowledge that significant other factors contribute towards a nation's violent crime statistics, for example gun control, and relative poverty. However, they stress that from this analysis there is no evidence of a causal link between accepting refugees and violent crime increasing.

Professor Kivimaki from the University of Bath's Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies explains: "Our analysis which compared countries in Europe and North America demonstrates that the argument put forward that progressive asylum policies leads to increased violent crime within societies is simply incorrect. Instead, we find that those compassionate countriesthose most willing to accept refugeesalso have the lowest levels of homicide. This is important evidence to challenge a long-perpetuated myth put forward in countries on both sides of the Atlantic.

"Of course, other significant factors must be considered in reducing a country's rate of violent crimenotably topics such as gun control. But crucially, we show that progressive, liberal refugee policies are not the threat that many have painted them as. Countries that are more compassionate towards refugees tend to be more compassionate towards each other and there is no causal path between accepting refugees and increased domestic security troubles."

Their study looked at asylum and refugee policies across 39 nations against crime and violence statistics. The analysis highlights that the three states to receive the greatest number of refugees per populationGermany, Malta, and Swedenwere also among the least violent countries in the West. By comparison, Ukraine, US and Lithuania, the three most homicidal countries, each received far fewer refugees per population than most of Western countries.

The research reveals certain exceptions for countries with lower than average numbers of refugeesPoland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Portugalwhere violent crime has been avoided. However, it finds no country with generous refugee policies that has serious problems with violent crime.

Professor Kivimaki explains that building compassion in society is essential to tackling this debate. "From our study we see that emphasizing the value of human life without exception reduces violent crime. Respect for the lives of refugees and country's own people goes hand in hand. One way to start to increase these values must be to stop claiming that compassionate policies towards refugees costs lives," he adds.

Explore further The fiscal impact of refugees in Sweden

More information: Timo Kivimaki et al. Refugee Crisis, Valuation of Life, and Violent Crime, Journal of Refugee Studies (2020). Timo Kivimaki et al. Refugee Crisis, Valuation of Life, and Violent Crime,(2020). DOI: 10.1093/jrs/feaa072
Leviathan Creek below an abandoned open pit mine, an EPA Superfund site in the Sierra Nevada, where iron oxide deposits coat the stream bottom. Credit: David Herbst

Many miles of streams and rivers in the United States and elsewhere are polluted by toxic metals in acidic runoff draining from abandoned mining sites, and major investments have been made to clean up acid mine drainage at some sites. A new study based on long-term monitoring data from four sites in the western United States shows that cleanup efforts can allow affected streams to recover to near natural conditions within 10 to 15 years after the start of abatement work.

The four mining-impacted watershedslocated in mountain mining regions of California, Colorado, Idaho, and Montanawere all designated as Superfund sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), which helps fund the cleanup of toxic-waste sites in the United States. They are among the few acid mine drainage sites where scientists have conducted extended studies to monitor the effectiveness of the remediation efforts.

"The good news from them all is that Superfund investments can restore the water quality and ecological health of the streams," said David Herbst, a research scientist at UC Santa Cruz and coauthor of a paper on the new findings to be published in the June issue of Freshwater Science. The paper is currently available online.

For the past two decades, Herbst has been monitoring streams affected by acid mine drainage from the Leviathan mine in the central Sierra Nevada. The new study developed out of discussions he had with other scientists involved in long-term studies of similar sites.

"There are not many of these long-term studies of impacted watersheds, and by combining our data we could identify the common threads of recovery between these different sites," Herbst said.

To assess the recovery of aquatic life in streams and rivers severely polluted by the abandoned mines, the researchers combined data from long-term monitoring over periods of 20 years or more. They used aquatic insects and other diverse invertebrate life (such as flatworms and snails) as indicators of the restoration of ecological health, with nearby unpolluted streams serving as standards for comparison.

Even with differing mixes of toxic metals and different treatment practices used to control the pollution at each site, the studies documented successful recovery to near natural conditions within 10 to 15 years. Much of the recovery was rapid, occurring within the first few years of treatment.

A few kilometers downstream from the mine, significant recovery of water quality and aquatic life has occurred since remediation of acid mine drainage. Credit: David Herbst

"These promising results and shared paths suggest that even daunting environmental problems can be remedied given the effort and investment," Herbst said.

The research also revealed that the sites shared common responses despite differences in the species of aquatic life occurring across this broad geographic region. Shared feeding habits, patterns of development, and behavioral characteristics unified how stream invertebrates responded to the alleviation of metal pollutants.

Species with traits such as feeding on algae, long life cycles, and clinging to the surfaces of stones became increasingly common as toxicity declined over time. Species that were more prevalent when metal concentrations were higher had traits such as rapid development, short life cycles, feeding on deposits of organic matter, and an ability to escape quickly off the bottom by drifting into the flow of water.

The species most sensitive to toxic metals are the mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies. Across all streams, the loss of these sensitive insects occurred at a toxicity level predicted by lab bioassays based on the combined levels of the toxic metals present.

"The convergence of these responses across streams and at a level consistent with how water quality criteria are established lends support to guidelines established for what chemical conditions are protective of stream and river ecosystems," Herbst said.

The additive toxicity of the metals present determined the response to pollutants, he noted, showing that water quality standards should be based on combined metals present rather than singly for each metal. In other words, even if a metal is below its toxic level, when it is present with other metals the combined effect may exceed the tolerance of aquatic life.

"It is vital to account for this factor in how water quality standards for metals are applied," Herbst said.

Explore further Climate change and drought threaten small mountain streams in the Sierra Nevada

More information: William H. Clements et al, Long-term monitoring reveals convergent patterns of recovery from mining contamination across 4 western US watersheds, Freshwater Science (2021). William H. Clements et al, Long-term monitoring reveals convergent patterns of recovery from mining contamination across 4 western US watersheds,(2021). DOI: 10.1086/714575
Artistic representation of the nanoscopic structure of one of the new MIT nanodevices. Two twisted sheets of graphene are represented by the metallic-blue carbon atoms in a honeycomb lattice. Electrodes (gates) above and below the graphene are represented in gold. Electrons are represented by the smaller light-blue circles. Credit: Ella Maru Studio

In a feat worthy of a laboratory conceived by J.K. Rowling, MIT researchers and colleagues have turned a "magic" material composed of atomically thin layers of carbon into three useful electronic devices. Normally, such devices, all key to the quantum electronics industry, are created using a variety of materials that require multiple fabrication steps. The MIT approach automatically solves a variety of problems associated with those more complicated processes.

As a result, the work could usher in a new generation of quantum electronic devices for applications including quantum computing. Further, the devices can be superconducting, or conduct electricity without resistance. They do so, however, through an unconventional mechanism that, with further study, could give new insights into the physics of superconductivity. The researchers report their results in the May 3, 2021 issue of Nature Nanotechnology.

"In this work we have demonstrated that magic angle graphene is the most versatile of all superconducting materials, allowing us to realize in a single system a multitude of quantum electronic devices. Using this advanced platform, we have been able to explore for the first time novel superconducting physics that only appears in two dimensions," says Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics at MIT and leader of the work. Jarillo-Herrero is also affiliated with MIT's Materials Research Laboratory.

A Magic Angle

The new "magic" material is based on graphene. Graphene is composed of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in hexagons resembling a honeycomb structure. Only discovered about 17 years ago, it has a range of amazing properties. For example, it is stronger than diamond, transparent, and flexible. It also easily conducts both heat and electricity.

In 2018 the Jarillo-Herrero group made a startling discovery involving two layers of graphene, one placed on top of the other. Those layers, however, weren't exactly on top of each other; rather, one was slightly rotated at a "magic angle" of 1.1 degrees.

The resulting structure allowed the graphene to be either a superconductor or an insulator (which prevents the flow of electrical current), depending on the number of electrons in the system as provided by an electric field. Essentially the team was able to tune graphene into completely different states by changing the voltage at the turn of a knob.

The overall "magic" material, formally known as magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene (MATBG), has generated intense interest in the research community, even inspiring a new field (twistronics). It is also at the heart of the current work.

In 2018 Jarillo-Herrero and coworkers changed the voltage supplied to the magic material via a single electrode, or metallic gate. In the current work, "we introduced multiple gates to subject different areas of the material to different electric fields," says Daniel Rodan-Legrain, a graduate student in physics and lead author of the Nature Nanotechnology paper.

Suddenly the team was able to tune different sections of the same magic material into a plethora of electronic states, from superconducting to insulating to somewhere in between. Then, by applying gates in different configurations, they were able to reproduce all of the parts of an electronic circuit that would ordinarily be created with completely different materials.

Daniel Rodan-Legrain holds up a chip carrier used in the research described in Nature Nanotechnology. He stands next to a dilution refrigerator similar to that used in the work. Credit: Bharath Kannan, MIT

Working Devices

Ultimately the team used this approach to create three different working quantum electronic devices. These devices include a Josephson junction, or superconducting switch. Josephson junctions are the building blocks of the quantum bits, or qubits, behind superconducting quantum computers. They also have a variety of other applications, such as incorporation into devices that can make very precise measurements of magnetic fields.

The team also created two related devices: a spectroscopic tunneling device and a single-electron transistor, or a very sensitive device for controlling the movement of electricity, literally one electron at a time. The former is key to studying superconductivity, while the latter has a variety of applications in part because of its extreme sensitivity to electric fields.

All three devices benefit from being made of a single electrically tunable material. Those made conventionally, of multiple materials, suffer from a variety of challenges. For example, different materials may be incompatible. "Now, if you're dealing with one single material, those problems disappear," says Rodan-Legrain.

William Oliver, an MIT associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science who was not involved in the research, says:

"MATBG has the remarkable property that its electrical propertiesmetallic, superconducting, insulating, etc.  can be determined by applying a voltage to a nearby gate. In this work, Rodan-Legrain et al. have shown that they can make rather complicated devices comprising superconducting, normal, and insulating regions by electrical gating of a single flake of MATBG. The conventional approach would be to fabricate the device in several steps using different materials. With MATBG, the resulting devices are fully reconfigurable by simply changing the gate voltages."

Toward the Future

The work described in the Nature Nanotechnology paper paves the way for many potential future advances. For example, says Rodan-Legrain, it could be used to create the first voltage-tunable qubit from a single material, which could be applied in future quantum computers.

In addition, because the new system enables more detailed studies of the enigmatic superconductivity in MATBG, and is relatively easy to work with, the team is hopeful that it could allow insights into the creation of high-temperature superconductors. Current superconductors can only operate at very low temperatures. "That is actually one of the big hopes [behind our magic material]," says Rodan-Legrain. "Can we use it as a kind of Rosetta Stone" to better understand its high-temperature cousins?

In a glimpse into how science works, Rodan-Legrain describes the surprises the team encountered while conducting the research. For example, some of the data from the experiments didn't correspond to the team's initial expectations. That's because the Josephson junctions they created using atomically thin MATGB were two-dimensional, and thus had a notably different behavior from their 3D conventional counterparts. "It was great having the data come through, seeing them, being puzzled about them, and then further understanding and making sense of what we saw."

In addition to Jarillo-Herrero and Rodan-Legrain, additional authors of the paper are Yuan Cao, a postdoctoral associate in MIT's Materials Research Laboratory (MRL); Jeong Min Park, a graduate student in the Department of Chemistry; Sergio C. de la Barrera, a postdoctoral associate in the MRL; Mallika T. Randeria, a Pappalardo postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physics; and Kenji Watanabe and Takashi Taniguchi, both of the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan. (Rodan-Legrain, Cao and Park were equal contributors to the paper.)

Explore further A material keyboard made of graphene

More information: Daniel Rodan-Legrain et al. Highly tunable junctions and non-local Josephson effect in magic-angle graphene tunnelling devices, Nature Nanotechnology (2021). Daniel Rodan-Legrain et al. Highly tunable junctions and non-local Josephson effect in magic-angle graphene tunnelling devices,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41565-021-00894-4 This work was supported by the US National Science Foundation, the US Department of Energy, the US Army Research Office, the Fundacio Bancaria "la Caixa," the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the Fundacion Ramon Areces, an MIT Pappalardo Fellowship, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan. Journal information: Nature Nanotechnology
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Pollution from natural gas is now responsible for more deaths and greater health costs than coal in Illinois, according to a new study highlighting another hazard of burning fossil fuels that are scrambling the planet's climate.

Researchers at Harvard University found that a shift away from coal during the past decade saved thousands of lives and dramatically reduced health impacts from breathing particulate matter, commonly known as soot. But the numbers declined only slightly for gas, another fossil fuel that by 2017 accounted for the greatest health risks.

About half the deaths from soot exposure that year can be attributed to the state's reliance on gas to heat homes and businesses, the study found. Coal is more deadly only when used to generate electricity.

The alarming findings raise questions about whether Gov. J.B. Pritzker's proposed transition to a zero-carbon economy would move fast enough in phasing out the use of gasnot only to blunt the impacts of climate change but also to ensure Illinoisans breathe clean air.

Chicago appears to be locked into a gas-dependent future. Peoples Gas is charging its customers $7.7 billion during the next two decades to replace aging distribution lines throughout the city, even though an accelerating shift to renewable energy could make the project obsolete before it's completed.

"What the Harvard researchers found shows we need to stop burning things," said Brady Anne Seals, manager of the carbon-free buildings program at the Rocky Mountain Institute, a nonprofit research group that helped finance the pollution study. "We don't have the luxury of time any more to meet our climate goals. Then there are these health impacts people are feeling right now."

Soot is considered one of the most harmful forms of air pollution, in particular tiny particles invisible to the human eye that can lodge deep in the lungs and penetrate the bloodstream. Breathing even small amounts can inflame the lungs and trigger asthma attacks, researchers have found. Multiple studies link soot exposure with heart attacks and premature death.

For their new study, the Harvard researchers plugged data from federal emissions inventories into computer models used to estimate deaths and costs from soot in every state.

In 2008, emissions from coal triggered the most deaths and imposed the largest share of health care costs nationwide. But by 2017, the scientists found, coal, gas and the burning of wood and other plant material shared the burden equally.

Illinois is one of 19 states where gas emissions led to more deaths than coal that year, according to the study, published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Research Letters. The analysis estimated that soot pollution from burning gas caused as many as 2,100 deaths and triggered up to $24 million in hidden health costs for Illinoisans in 2017.

What surprised the Harvard team the most was a sharp increase in deaths and health care costs nationally from soot pollution emitted by industrial boilers burning plant material known collectively as biomass.

"Swapping out one combustion fuel for another is not a pathway that's going to get us to a healthy energy system," said the lead author, Jonathan Buonocore, an environmental health researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Natural gas already is being targeted by climate activists who persuaded Seattle and more than 40 cities in California to restrict its use in new buildings. The Harvard study marks the first time researchers have found that deaths and health care costs from gas emissions are equal to or exceed damages from coal, providing the burgeoning anti-gas movement with new information to help persuade policymakers and the public.

Industry officials are pushing back. They've successfully lobbied several Republican-led states to preemptively block municipal gas bans, and commissioned their own research claiming that heating homes and businesses with electricity would drive up energy costs.

"Policies that would force people to replace their natural gas appliances with electric ones could be burdensome to consumers and to the economy, have profound impacts and costs on the electric sector and be a very costly approach for a relatively small reduction in emissions," the American Gas Association said in a statement.

Peoples Gas didn't address the health impacts of its product but said its pipe replacement is reducing climate pollution by preventing leaks. Its parent company, Wisconsin-based WEC Energy Group, plans to invest $4 billion in clean energy projects by 2025, the gas supplier said in a statement.

"We look forward to a bright, sustainable future," the statement concluded. "We just need to make sure that in that future, and every step that leads to it, Chicagoans and the businesses where they work have safe, reliable, affordable heat."

President Joe Biden is calling for carbon-free electricity by 2035 and net-zero emissions throughout the economy by 2050. Pritzker unveiled legislation last week that would phase out the state's remaining coal-fired power plants by 2030 and gas-fired power plants by 2045, but the governor's measure does not directly address the impact of burning gas in homes and businesses.

Howard Learner, executive director of the nonprofit Environmental Law and Policy Center, said it would be impossible to rapidly abandon gas because more than 90% of Chicago homes are hooked up to the Peoples Gas distribution network. But federal and state leaders could sharply reduce demand by requiring more efficient furnaces and water heaters, he said, and by providing incentives to install solar panels on commercial buildings and homes.

"Electrification will only lead to cleaner air if our state is powered by carbon-free electricity," Learner said. "If we can make our homes and businesses more energy efficient, that would save people money, reduce pollution and keep money in the local economy."

2021 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A new study published in the British Journal of Educational Technology has identified the different needs of students across primary, middle, and high school related to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the study, investigators surveyed 1,170,769 Chinese students from the Guangdong Province of China.

Based on their findings, the researchers recommend that educational authorities and schools provide sufficient technical support to help students overcome potential internet and technical problems, and customize the delivery of online learning tools for students in different school years.

"Utilizing data from a large sample, we identify that student requirements of online learning are not homogeneous. For young children, there is a need for guidance from teachers and parents. In contrast, older students require opportunities to collaborate," said lead author Lixiang Yan, of the Centre for Learning Analytics at Monash University, in Australia. "Our study also showed an overwhelming use of smartphones over other devices by all age groups. This finding has direct implications for the design of online courses in K12 education; however, this can potentially pose a significant limitation for an effective learning experience."

Explore further How teachers can use social media to improve learning this fall

More information: Lixiang Yan et al, Students' experience of online learning during the COVID19 pandemic: A provincewide survey study, British Journal of Educational Technology (2021). Lixiang Yan et al, Students' experience of online learning during the COVID19 pandemic: A provincewide survey study,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/bjet.13102
LaGuardia Community College professor Lucia Fuentes teaches her honors biology class via videoconference from Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. Fuentes assigned her students to create multilingual online brochures on the science of the coronavirus and vaccinations to help make the information more accessible. (Lorena Fuentes via AP)

When the coronavirus pandemic struck New York City, LaGuardia Community College professor Lucia Fuentes assigned students in her honors biology class to compile all the information they could find about COVID-19.

The result? An online multilingual brochure based on research from peer-reviewed journals, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that has become a valuable resource for immigrants in the United States and their families abroad.

"Science is complicated and we have to make it more accessible," Fuentes said. "This is why ... I thought it would be a good thing for the students, and that it would be a contribution."

Nothing stopped the projectnot even the death of Fuentes' husband on March 25, 2020 due to complications from COVID-19, or her own bout with the disease. In her grief, she remains committed to her students and determined to prevent others from getting sick.

"I wasn't going to drop my students, and I knew they were going through tons of really horrible stuff," she said. "I talked to some of them afterwards ... and they really appreciated that."

She also valued their support.

"Students gave me strength," she said. "Knowing that they expected me to be there, that's what propels me. It always has. I love my students."

This illustration provided by LaGuardia Community College, shows a diagram in Korean explaining RNA vaccine technology used in the COVID-19 vaccines as a part of the LaGuardia Community College's second online Undergraduate Research Newsletter, which breaks down the science behind the coronavirus vaccinations. The multilingual project was spearheaded by professor Lucia Fuentes, who guided her honors biology students in researching, preparing and publishing information on the coronavirus and the vaccines developed to counter it. (LaGuardia Community College via AP)

The class brochures were also printed and distributed in her native Guatemala as well as in Colombia. Her most recent work involves information about COVID vaccines.

Students have already helped translate the latest brochures into their native languages, including Albanian, Korean and Portuguese.

Fuentes' project is rooted in her own life experiences. She fled Guatemala after her fatherAlberto Fuentes Mohr, a respected political leader, economist and diplomatwas kidnapped in 1970 and killed in 1979. When she went into exile to Switzerland, she didn't know French, and she felt like she fell behind in class because of the language barrier.

"It was an eye-opener in every way in terms of how I realize the struggle and the questioning of the `fairness' of those of us who get the possibility of having an education," she said.

This illustration provided by LaGuardia Community College, shows a Spanish-language diagram explaining the function of antigens in vaccines, which is part of a brochure on COVID-19 produced by students at the college. The multilingual project was spearheaded by professor Lucia Fuentes, who guided her honors biology students in researching, preparing and publishing information on the coronavirus and the vaccines developed to counter it. (LaGuardia Community College via AP)

This illustration provided by LaGuardia Community College shows an online brochure on COVID-19 produced by students at the college, which has been translated into Chinese and several other languages. The multilingual project was spearheaded by professor Lucia Fuentes, who guided her honors biology students in researching, preparing and publishing information on the coronavirus and the vaccines developed to counter it. (LaGuardia Community College via AP)

When she became a college professor, she saw how her students faced a similar struggle.

"I realized that it was the language. They were smart, they knew the stuff, it was just the language."

Ruben Felipe Perez, a LaGuardia student from Colombia who hopes to attend medical school, called Fuentes an "amazing human being" who inspires many by overcoming great challenges in her quest to keep others safe.

"She just turned all that grief into giving to the rest of the community," he said.

Explore further The online learning needs of students across different grades during the COVID-19 pandemic

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Natural gas already is being targeted by climate activists who persuaded Seattle and more than 40 cities in California to restrict its use in new buildings. The Harvard study marks the first time researchers have found that deaths and health care costs from gas emissions are equal to or exceed damages from coal, providing the burgeoning anti-gas movement with new information to help persuade policymakers and the public.
CityU's Director of SKLMP Professor Kenneth Leung Mei-yee, Professor Qiu Jianwen from HKBU and Dr Tao Shiru, Postdoctoral Research Fellow of SKLMP, demonstrate some of the fisheries in Hong Kong waters after the trawl ban. Credit: City University of Hong Kong

Biodiversity is of crucial importance to the marine ecosystem. The prohibition of trawling activities in the Hong Kong marine environment for two and a half years has significantly improved biodiversity, an inter-university study led by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has found. Research results showed that the trawl ban could restore and conserve biodiversity in tropical coastal waters.

The research team was led by Professor Kenneth Leung Mei-yee, CityU's Director of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) and Chair Professor in the Department of Chemistry. The findings were published in the journal Communications Biology, titled "Recovery of tropical marine benthos after a trawl ban demonstrates linkage between abiotic and biotic changes."

Trawling captures animals of all sizes

Trawling is the practice of dragging fishnets across the seabed to sweep up fishes. "Trawlers capture animals of all sizes and cause severe damages to the seabed. Also, trawling raises plumes of sediment from the seabed and induces their suspension in the water. Therefore, organisms living on the seabed which feed on those sediments would be lack of food, and biodiversity loss has resulted," said Professor Leung.

Since December 31, 2012, the Hong Kong SAR Government has implemented a territory-wide trawling ban in Hong Kong waters with the hope of rehabilitating the marine benthic habitat. To investigate whether such intervention can facilitate ecosystem recovery, the research team led by Professor Leung collected sediment samples with five replicates from each of 28 locations in Hong Kong waters in June 2012 (half a year before the trawl ban) and two and a half years after the trawl ban and then examined for physicochemical properties of the sediment and diversity of benthic animals (usually live at the bottom of a body of water).

Substantial increases in richness of species and abundance of benthic marine organisms

The results of this study suggested the trawling ban has reduced pressure on the marine environment from fishing and has led to substantial increases in the richness of species and the abundance of benthic marine organisms.

Benthic marine organisms such as crustaceans, polychaete worms, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, bivalves, and gastropods are commonly found in the sediment of the marine environment of Hong Kong. This research finds that after the trawl ban, their abundance increases. And they can be found in more sediment collection locations. Credit: SKLMP

Compared to the survey conducted in 2012, the average amount of suspended solids was reduced by 1.36 mg/L, a reduction of about 25%, in the water column while the average amount of total organic matter was increased by 1.6 mg/L (an increase of about 29%) in surface sediment after the ban, indicating decreased disturbance on marine benthic habitats.

In addition, there were significant increases in abundance and species richness of benthic organisms after the ban. The average number of benthic species found in sediment samples increased from 27.5 to 48.3 species (an increase of 76%). In each 0.5 m2 of the sampling area, the average amount of all benthic organisms found in sediment samples increased from 253 to 848 individuals (an increase of 235%). Such increases were more prominent in polychaete worms and bivalves.

Rapid recovery in benthic marine ecosystem

"These small benthic organisms actually play a very crucial role as they are the main source of food for fishes, crabs and mantis shrimps. Because of the trawl ban, their abundance increases lead to an increase in the abundance of the bigger creatures, hence rehabilitating the fisheries resources," said Professor Qiu Jianwen from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), one of the corresponding authors of this paper and a member of SKLMP.

Parallel studies conducted by the team revealed that fish and crustacean stocks in eastern and western waters in Hong Kong had recovered after comparing their diversity before (2004 and 2012) and after the trawl ban (2013 to 2016). It is revealed that in each km2 sampling area, the average number of predatory crabs increased 5 times from 86 in 2004 to 516 individuals in 2015 to 2016 in eastern waters, while in western waters, the number of predatory crabs greatly increased 12 times from 157 to 2101 individuals. Similarly, the number and weight of all fishes or all predatory fishes also increased in eastern and western waters after the trawl ban.

The procedures of the teams survey on examining benthic animals. The photo at the bottom right-hand corner shows the benthic organisms collected in Hong Kong waters. Credit: SKLMP

"After the trawl ban, the mantis shrimps samples we collected were longer and heavier than the previous ones. Moreover, the biomass of fish and crustaceans in the eastern and western waters has increased, which is encouraging. Our study suggested a rapid recovery of Hong Kong's benthic ecosystem and the fisheries resources in 3.5 years after the trawl ban," stressed Professor Leung.

The team conducted over 100 times of on-site survey. A postdoctoral fellow, four Ph.D. students and a master student helped in the species identification and numeration of a large number of samples, as well as data processing and analysis.

Multi-pronged approach to promote ecosystem restoration

"Our results are highly encouraging and supportive of the Hong Kong SAR Government's trawl ban policy. Gratifyingly, Hong Kong has provided such a good example of successful management intervention for promoting sustainable fisheries development and marine biodiversity conservation. We hope that other countries, especially those in the tropics, will refer to our study and join forces to prohibit destructive trawling activities," said Professor Leung.

He described this study as "rare but essential" because their investigation only represented the second trawl ban study carried out in the tropics among the 71 relevant studies in the world. He hoped that the results of this research could draw the attention of governments around the world to the impact of trawl fishing on marine ecosystems. After the paper was published, Professor Leung was invited by Sciaena, a marine science and cooperation organization in Portugal, to share the findings. He was also interviewed by the staff of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

"Apart from trawl ban, a multi-pronged approach can promote ecosystem restoration. For example, stop illegal trawling by increasing enforcement, improve water quality, impose a fish moratorium, control fishing gears, restrict the size of harvested fishes, establish fishery protection areas, and also minimize marine construction works," elaborated Professor Leung.

Explore further Eco-engineered tiles enhance marine biodiversity on seawalls in Hong Kong and beyond

More information: Zhi Wang et al, Recovery of tropical marine benthos after a trawl ban demonstrates linkage between abiotic and biotic changes, Communications Biology (2021). Journal information: Communications Biology Zhi Wang et al, Recovery of tropical marine benthos after a trawl ban demonstrates linkage between abiotic and biotic changes,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01732-y

Provided by City University of Hong Kong
The Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is one of six species of porpoise. Credit: Erik Christensen/Wikipedia.

Marine scientists are calling on the EU to adopt a comprehensive plan to protect dolphins and porpoises from fisheries bycatch in European waters.

A team of conservation experts, including Newcastle University's Professor Per Berggren, highlight limitations in EU's efforts to address and mitigate bycatch. The scientists argue this infective response is a result of scattered and complicated management responsibility for the conservation of dolphins and porpoises in Europe, and from a lack of quantitative conservation objectives, including biological reference points that will guide management action to ensure that bycatch does not exceed sustainable levels.

To help address the bycatch issue, which is the primary global threat to dolphins and porpoises, the researchers put forward a framework to reduce bycatch levels.

Publishing their recommendations in the journal Fish and Fisheries, the scientists outline a two-step approach that involves establishing a quantitative management objective for each population and implementing monitoring programs.

To ensure an accurate estimation of bycatch levels, the experts recommend using electronic monitoring systems that allow a more comprehensive and representative sampling of the fleets.

The scientists also recommend regular formal assessments of small cetacean populations, including generation of estimates of abundance and bycatch mortality. If total bycatch has been estimated to exceed the calculated biological reference point, then a mitigation strategy needs to be put in place while monitoring is continued until levels are below the reference points.

The research team, involving experts from University College Cork, Ireland and Duke University, USA, argue that European countries outside the EU also have a responsibility to address the bycatch of dolphins and porpoises in their Exclusive Economic Zones. This includes the UK, which has an important responsibility to develop frameworks to address bycatch.

Professor Per Berggren, of Newcastle University's School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, said: "Among the most distinctive species of marine wildlife in Europe, cetaceans are vital to the history and culture of European maritime communities and generate significant revenue from ecotourism. However, bycatch of small cetaceans in European fisheries is widespread, including very large numbers of common dolphins in trawl fisheries and bycatch of the critically endangered population of harbor porpoise in the Baltic Sea."

Professor Andrew Read, of Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment, said: "The failure to effectively conserve Europe's dolphins and porpoises is not a result of a lack of scientific knowledge or difficulties in monitoring fisheries and bycatch. Instead, it reflects a lack of political will to ensure that these iconic animals are protected from unsustainable mortality in commercial fisheries throughout European waters. We can and must do better."

Professor Emer Rogan, from University College Cork, added: "Despite a number of EU Regulations and Directives, there is no clear European framework to reduce the mortality of dolphins and porpoises in fisheries to sustainable levels. This limitation hampers the effective implementation of effective management actions."

Explore further 'Pingers' could save porpoises from fishing nets

More information: Emer Rogan et al, Empty promises: The European Union is failing to protect dolphins and porpoises from fisheries bycatch, Fish and Fisheries (2021). Journal information: Fish and Fisheries Emer Rogan et al, Empty promises: The European Union is failing to protect dolphins and porpoises from fisheries bycatch,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/faf.12556
These early stages of Mercury in Gemini come across as an open invitation to know-it-alls. Keep in mind that nobody cares how much another person knows. A person could be the smartest person in the whole wide world and everyone around would still be just wondering about the things of relevance to their own curiosity.

TODAYS BIRTHDAY (May 5). Your style radiates and people give you lovely feedback that lets you know they are experiencing you on multiple levels  from their five senses to their intellect to more intangible modes of appreciation. The wondrous impression you make will help you open new relationships, resources and avenues for adventure. Aries and Pisces adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 45, 2, 30, 12 and 26.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Youd love not to think of yourself at all  to be entirely unselfconsciously immersed in a state of flow as you execute the various activities of your day. Isnt that what true confidence is? Youll attain it for brief moments.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Even though its easier to think things through than it is to carry them out in practice, youre in a mood to skip the plan and get right into action. Its an instinct that wont let you down.
Under the states new marijuana law, municipalities have until Dec. 31 to decide whether to opt out of retail sales of the drug.

Its unclear whether Glens Falls would move to opt out of the sales, but Mayor Dan Hall has said conversations about the subject are expected to begin in the near future.

But a decision to opt out of retail sales would prevent the city from collecting any sales tax associated with the drug, which some estimate will total more than $350 million annually for the state.

Barkenhagen, the president of the Glens Falls Collaborative who is seeking a seat on the citys Common Council come November, believes a dispensary will not only create new tax revenue for the city, but will provide a boost to other local businesses as well.

His proposed dispensary, located directly across the street from Cool Insuring Arena, is a short walk from the heart of downtown, where there is ample parking, including city-owned parking lots on Warren and Exchange streets.

Unlike other retail outlets, Barkenhagen said the dispensary would require customers to check in and wait to be served.

Waiting customers, he said, would likely browse local businesses and eat at nearby restaurants, depending on the waiting time.
FORT EDWARD  The Fort Edward Union Free School District wants to donate its annex to the village and town for a storage facility, village Trustee Edward Carpenter reported Monday at the boards regular May meeting.

Carpenter, Mayor Matt Traver and Fort Edward Town Board members Tim Fisher and Terry Middleton recently toured the two buildings with school Superintendent Daniel Ward and town and village historian Paul McCarty.

The main building is in very good shape except for some roof deterioration, Carpenter said. The boiler is old but the building could be cold storage, with electric heat in one room for meetings or records searches, he said. Grant money may be available to help with the cost of repairs.

Trustee Peter Williams said the village and town need storage space for 200 years worth of records, including some historical documents. The village has been using the Fort Edward Art Center for storage but government records have taken over so much space that it no longer functions as an art center, Traver said. The school annex building has a huge attic and dry basement, Carpenter said.

The property includes a garage that needs work, Traver said, but it could shelter town equipment.
Cheney showed no signs of backing off in an opinion essay posted Wednesday by The Washington Post.

She denounced the dangerous and anti-democratic Trump cult of personality, and warned her fellow Republicans against embracing or ignoring his statements for fundraising and political purposes.

She said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has changed his story after initially saying Trump bears responsibility for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. McCarthy, who is tacitly backing the drive to oust her, has since said Trump issued a video to try halting the violence.

Cheney, in the Post, agreed with Democrats that a bipartisan investigation should focus solely on the riot and not on disturbances at some of last summers racial justice protests. In an apparent reference to her own situation, she said she would defend basic principles of democracy, no matter what the short-term political consequences might be.

Dozens of state and local officials and judges from both parties have found no evidence to support Trumps assertions that he was cheated out of an election victory.

President Biden told reporters at the White House that the GOP is in the throes of a significant sort of mini revolution.
She said they can still conduct a reasonable suspicion test, such as they do with alcohol, if the company believes an employee is under the influence.

We can also prohibit possession of marijuana on company property and intend to do so, going forward, Golub said.

She said if someone is injured while under the influence of marijuana the company would need to prove they were high on marijuana at the time. But the best way to test for the substance is still up for debate.

Our biggest concerns are the lack of a (determinative) testing process capable of confirming if someone is under the influence while at work and the recognition that our supervisors will now need to be trained to recognize the behaviors associated with being under the influence of marijuana, Golub said.

The American Addiction Center said THC, the main psychoactive compound in marijuana, can be detectable for different periods of time dependent on how the sample is taken. In hair its detectable for 90 days, urine for three days to a month depending on how often someone uses, and it can remain in saliva for up to 48 hours and blood up to 36 hours.

Some companies, like General Electric and the Capital District Transportation Authority, know exactly what theyre going to do.
My parents immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1970s, leaving everything they knew to build a better life for their children. Its the immigrant story weve all heard a million times, but theres a reason some stories get repeated. Theyre true. I was born in Chicago, but my parents needed time and money to get settled, so I was sent to live with my grandparents in India for much of my childhood. My Marathi far surpassed my English when I moved back to the U.S. in 1986. I was happy to be reunited with my parents, but India never left me.
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Attorney and Republican Assembly challenger Claire Swift, of Margate, is the latest to call for the resignation of the New Jersey Department of Corrections commissioner over his failure to protect women prisoners from sexual and physical abuse by guards at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Hunterdon County.

Swift also called for Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, D-Atlantic, to move a bipartisan impeachment resolution in the Assembly State and Local Government Committee, which Mazzeo chairs.

Commissioner Marcus Hicks has refused to resign from the job he has held since 2018, even as lawmakers and activists have demanded it after a January attack on inmates. The attack brought attention to longstanding problems with the culture at the states only womens prison.

While dozens of prison officials have been placed on leave, suspended or resigned in the aftermath of the scandal, the politically appointed Commissioner Hicks has inexplicably remained on the job, Swift said in a news release Tuesday.
We keep that in the budget because the goal is to get out of renting or leasing where we currently are right now, Ricketts said of the districts current lease at the Citi Center building.

She said Superintendent Barry Caldwell and members of his staff toured several potential spaces, but due to cost and layouts, none was deemed acceptable.

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Other capital projects include a $3.2 million roof replacement at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Complex and $600,000 for roof replacement at Atlantic City High School.

+5 New Stockton board trustees to be sworn in Wednesday GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP  Stocktons newest trustees will be sworn in Wednesday after being nomina

About $7.5 million is budgeted for next year in instructional purchases, such as $2.5 million for the establishment of the districts alternative school and $3.8 million in additional funding for substitute teaching services.

The districts spending per pupil has increased from $21,555 this school year to $22,287 next year, according to the budget.

Ricketts told the board one of the goals of the budget is to raise student achievement, she said.

As we increase our language arts, math, science and social studies programs, a lot of purchases will be made to make sure the students get the instructional material they need, especially as we have this gap this year due to the remote learning, she said.
Rutgers-Camden scholarship available for Atlantic Cape students MAYS LANDING  Students at Atlantic Cape Community College looking to further their educatio

The graduation proficiency assessment requirements for the class of 2022 would remain unchanged.

The NJDOEs notice of substantial changes, upon adoption, will be published in the New Jersey Register on June 7 and can be viewed on the NJDOEs Proposed Rules webpage.

Public testimony on the notice will be heard July 14.

The public will also be able to send in written comments by Aug. 6 through the NJDOE website or by emailing chapter8@doe.nj.gov. The state boards vote on the adoption of the proposed regulations is anticipated in early fall.

In addition, the state board on Wednesday also adopted changes to the implementation timeline for the New Jersey Student Learning Standards adopted in June 2020.

Atlantic City approves $224M school budget with tax decrease ATLANTIC CITY  The Atlantic City Board of Education on Tuesday approved a $224.4 million bu

Under the previous timeline, school districts were required to implement the 2020 NJSLS for Science, Visual and Performing Arts, World Languages, and Career Readiness, Life Literacy, and Key Skills by September 2021, and the standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, Social Studies, and Computer Science and Design Thinking by September 2022.

The revisions approved Wednesday are a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a broadcast to school administrators from the New Jersey Department of Education.
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP  Stockton University will require students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus in the fall, President Harvey Kesselman said Wednesday.

Throughout the pandemic, Stocktons administration, faculty and staff have worked diligently to provide a safe environment while continuing to serve our students, Kesselman said. One of the most important steps we all can take to keep ourselves and each other safe is to get vaccinated. It is the responsible thing to do.

The vaccine will be required for all students, unless they have a medical or otherwise approved exemption.

Kesselman quoted the American College Health Associations statement that the vaccine is the most effective way to return to a safe, robust campus experience in 2021.

Board of Trustees Chairman Ray Ciccone gave the boards support.

We unanimously support this and feel like this is the true way to get our campus back to normal and in full operation, Ciccone said.

Kesselman made the announcement at the start of Wednesdays Board of Trustees meeting, amending an earlier decision to leave vaccinations up to students.
We want to make it a big event and really start that tradition in Middle Township. We dont want that to go away, Donohue said. We hope that everybody in town will take part in that because it really is a universal principle of freedom.

Sometimes called Freedom Day, Jubilee Day and other names, Juneteenth commemorates the day Union Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, bringing news of the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of slavery in the re-united United States. This was months after the end of the Civil War and 2 years after Abraham Lincoln signed the executive order.

Vasser-McNeal, who stepped down as NAACP president earlier this year to run for Township Committee as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Theron Ike Gandy, said the NAACP worked with the Concerned Citizens of Whitesboro, the Progressive Black Initiative of Whitesboro and others to organize last years event.

Hiker on rogue trail at Middletown's Hartshorne Woods rescued with ropes, pulleys MIDDLETOWN  A man who injured his leg while hiking Saturday in Hartshorne Woods Park needed the help of a technical rescue team, which lowered him down a steep slope to a boat waiting on the Navesink River. The man and two other people were hiking down an unmarked or rogue trail in the Rocky Point part of the park about 11:30 a.m. when the man fell, said Karen Livingstone, spokeswoman for ...

This year, she said, the township indicated the group would need to fill out an application to use the King Center in Whitesboro, a historically Black section of the township founded in the post-Reconstruction era. She said they are working to secure insurance for the event and asked why Middle Township is trying to take that from us.
The students will be scheduled for their second vaccine just before Memorial Day.

Downham, who has worked with school districts over the past year, including Ocean City, to develop plans to return students to full-time, in-person learning, said getting young people vaccinated is the next important step in fighting the pandemic.

Vaccine walk-in availability this week in Ocean City OCEAN CITY  Walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations are available this week at Ocean City High School

We kind of saw an alarming trend this week in the country, she said, noting that 22% of all new COVID-19 cases nationally were those under 18. At the same time, the number of new COVID cases among those 75 and older, who are more vulnerable to serious cases of the virus, was on the decline.

The elderly make up the majority of those who have been vaccinated. In New Jersey, residents 65 and older make up 33% of the vaccinated population. People ages 16-29 make up only 11% of those vaccinated in the state.

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Despite a healthy start and an overwhelming demand for the vaccine over the winter, Gov. Phil Murphy and state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli have noted there has been a drop-off in demand for vaccines. There have been open appointments available daily at state-run mega sites, and many facilities have opened up to walk-ins.

Downham said part of the reason for the drop-off in vaccine rates is vaccine hesitancy.
The U.S. Constitution requires the government to obtain such a warrant from a court before searching or seizing our effects. By tapping into Uncle Sams checkbook, however, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, the IRS and likely other agencies are sidestepping this basic requirement to obtain warrantless access to billions of digital effects on millions of Americans. The government is even purchasing access to billions of photos, downloaded in bulk by a data broker from Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. According to media reports, our images are being illicitly scraped in violation of the terms of service of these popular social media platforms.
Bishop Paul Brown of Neptune's First Pentecostal Church has been part of Asbury Park's effort to get its residents vaccinated. Brown said most of his elderly congregants have embraced getting the COVID-19 shot, but younger members remain hesitant.

Regardless, Brown continues to reach out to other churches and encourage members to take advantage of local vaccine availability.

"They can make the decision as to what they want, but they know where to go (and) who to talk to," Brown said.

More than 800 sites across New Jersey offer COVID-19 vaccinations, and about 98% of the state's residents live within a 15-minute drive of a vaccination site, Murphy said.

"In communities of color, obviously, we've got to focus on them," she said. "You know, I think we all pay a price for historic treatment  because people don't have the trust they should."

COVID-19 has been deadlier for Black and Hispanic Americans than non-Hispanic whites, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Officers hands will be tied under the new law. Here is why:  If a person under the age of 21 refuses to turn over marijuana or alcohol, or wont provide identification upon request, police can no longer make an arrest nor conduct any search beyond what is in plain sight. That means the contraband cannot be confiscated and officers cannot provide a warning to parents of teens and children under the age of 18. Why? Officers wont know the identity of these kids.  If police smell marijuana on a teen, officers are no longer allowed to search this juvenile or search a vehicle for any contraband not in plain sight. Officers, under the new law, must let the youth go.  Police can no longer arrest or detain an underage person caught with pot or alcohol other than issue a written warning or notify his or her parents. It does not matter if this is the teenagers first, second, third or even 10th violation of the law. Equally puzzling is the lack of a centralized and uniform database to record all warning notices that police officers issue in New Jersey.
View the 2021 Teaching Awards Photo/Video Gallery

Karen Marais is tireless when it comes to her students. From the first day of classes, Marais, a School of Aeronautics and Astronautics professor, is intent on making sure the students dont just learn, but interact with her as well.

For much of one spring semester, a student in her Introduction to Aerospace Design class sat quietly on his own despite Marais best efforts to connect. It was only when the semester was soon to end that he finally came out of his shell and opened up to her during class.

It was a delight for Marais, who sees teaching as more about forming a connection with students rather than simply lecturing to them.

Any kind of connection that Im able to form is important where at the end of the day I can go home and say to myself, I helped this student, whether its understanding an equation or helping in their academics or even being able to help them with something in life, Marais says. Just that sense of connection and contributing and helping students really is what drives me each day.

For Marais, that means taking the time to walk from student team to student team as they work on projects in Introduction to Aerospace Design, making the effort to talk one-on-one with students as much as possible. The conversation is rarely confined to class material, instead ranging from a students T-shirt to her various airplane and rocket earrings to even how their other classes are going.

I think for me, I want to get to know the students and know them as individual people as opposed to a grade on a grade sheet, Marais says. Thats really what I would like to do in my classes.

'Professor Marais really cares about her students'

Marais is among the 2021 recipients of the Murphy Award, the University's highest undergraduate teaching honor. The award is accompanied by a cash award and induction into Purdues Teaching Academy, which provides leadership for the improvement of undergraduate, graduate and outreach teaching.

Karen Marais, recipient of the 2021 Murphy Award and professor and associate head for undergraduate education in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. (Photo by John Underwood/Purdue University)

The classroom efforts by Marais were reflected by student comments in her nomination for the Murphy Award.

Dr. Marais is incredibly helpful, and always teaches the material in a fun and interesting way, one of her students said. I loved her in-person classes this semester, because she made a real effort to get to know each team and answer as many questions as possible.

It is clear Professor Marais really cares about her students, another student said.

The student interaction Marais strives for results in more than just some in-class conversation. Her efforts are well-known and she admits to receiving emails quite often from students shes never had in class, saying their friend mentioned that Marais was good to go to for advice.

Its beyond teaching, but I want students to know that a big part of my job is also helping them with whatever is needed to get them through their undergrad years and to a good career, she says. Even if I dont see them in class, if they know they can come to me and get that help, then thats great.

Adapting to the pandemic

The focus on her students continued through the stress of adapting to teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Marais says she worked throughout the summer to redesign the course, thinking about each element and how to develop a style that would benefit both online students and those attending class in person.

Her adaptation to the pandemic called for a step away from traditional exams, replacing the tests with individual self-assessments. The innovative set of open-ended questions asked for more than just answers, prompting students to research and apply the information.

I decided to step back from some of the other more traditional methods and focus on something I hoped would make the students really think through the material they had learned in the preceding weeks and consider how to apply it, Marais says.

Making sure students  particularly those online  would stop and think about the materials was the basis for videos created for students. Rather than simply record lectures, Marais created videos on each topic covered in class.

In addition, the videos  with the help of a grad student  included quizzes that gave students questions to make them consider the information before continuing.

It is a way for us to keep the students engaged, Marais says.

A native of South Africa, Marais did her graduate work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before returning to South Africa to teach in 2007. She came to Purdue two years later, saying she missed the unique drive and entrepreneurial mindset of students and colleagues in the U.S.

Marais teaches aerospace design, aerospace systems design and safety and reliability engineering. Her fundamental research focuses on guiding better engineering decisions in system design and operation through risk analysis and civil aviation policy. In addition to teaching, Marais also is associate head for undergraduate education for the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

As she continues her teaching career, Marais says shes come to appreciate the small moments that result from the time she puts in with students and the connections that are established.

What stands out when looking back over the years is when I get an email from a student from years ago, Marais says. Theyll say I remember what you said to me or you really helped me with this problem.

Those are the things that really resonate with me. Its very satisfying.

Writer: Brian Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu

View Purdue's teaching excellence YouTube playlist
"Secrets of Happiness" by Joan Silber; Counterpoint (288 pages, $27)



We don't want to acknowledge it, but our lives are more transactional than we care to admit. We make trade-offs, weigh accounts, seek payback. Is our complicated relationship with money the root of the resentment grinding away in our hearts? We pretend wealth doesn't matter even as we bristle over its absence.

But here's a better question: Does all this psychological and financial accounting make us happy? Joan Silber's characters wrestle with the idea in her exceptional new novel "Secrets of Happiness," which ranges from Manhattan and Queens to Leeds, Bangkok and Phnom Penh as Silber considers what we owe ourselves and each other and how we complicate our paths to contentment.

Like her dazzling novel "Improvement," which won the 2018 National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction, "Secrets of Happiness" follows a series of loosely connected characters, starting with Ethan, an attorney in New York. Ethan has just learned that his father has a second family: two teenage sons and a secret Thai wife, the hostess at one of the family's favorite restaurants and server of a paternity petition seeking financial support.
"On behalf of the entire Moline-Coal Valley School District, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family of the young man who passed away yesterday following a traffic accident," Savage said in the statement.

"This loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns and questions for our students and staff. The Moline-Coal Valley district has responded with our crisis team consisting of counselors and social workers to provide support to any student and staff at Wilson Middle School to help process this loss and express their feelings," Savage said in the statement. "This support is also available to any student, staff or school within our district. Families with a child in any of our schools can reach out to their school and/or school counselor or social worker to receive additional support and resources. We join our entire community in mourning this tragic loss of life."
Dinkins shot her to death, Walton said.

Walton said Dinkins was the only person being charged as of Wednesday.

According to a search warrant filed by Davenport Police Detective AJ Poirier on April 22 in Scott County District Court, on July 10, 2020, officers were sent to 2744 E. 53rd St., Apt. 8, to investigate the disappearance of a child.

Officers spoke to Dinkins, who told police that Breasia, his stepdaughter, was missing when he woke up. Dinkins also told police that Breasia had never run away before.

Dinkins girlfriend, Andrea Culberson, told police she had fallen asleep the night of July 9 at 11 p.m. or midnight. Culberson said that when she went to sleep, Dinkins was on the couch in the living room. Culberson was asleep in the living room and Breasia and her half-brother were asleep in the bedroom.

Culberson told police that she woke up about 3 a.m. July 10 and discovered Breasia and Dinkins gone. She attempted to call Dinkins, but he had left his cell phone at the apartment. At 7:17 a.m. Culberson texted Dinkins asking where he was. Culberson stated he was home after that.

When Dinkins came home he picked up his cell phone and then left, saying he was going to look for Breasia.
Charles Cabrera is a 22-year-old native of Galesburg who lives in Davenport and studies mechanical engineering at St. Ambrose University.

But Tuesday afternoon Cabrera was one of over 500 people who were vaccinated inside the Camden Centre COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Milan. The college student received his second dose of Moderna.

"I want to be as safe as I can," Cabrera said after the shot. "And I really want to do what I can to protect the community  you, stop the spread."

A few hours later, UnityPoint Health-Trinity Chief Medical Officer Dr. Toyosi Olutade echoed Cabrera's message of social responsibility and confirmed recent trends showing younger people throughout the Quad-Cities are contracting the virus.

"The average age of COVID patients in our hospitals has fallen to right around 40," Olutade said. "That is much, much younger than the age of patients we saw all through last year.

"The death rate is down  perhaps because our patients are younger, and certainly because we know more about treatment than we did last year. But we are seeing even young people have serious problems with the long-term effects of getting sick."
Michael Madigan was the elephant in the courtroom Wednesday as lawyers for four people charged with conspiring to bribe the former speaker on behalf of utility giant Commonwealth Edison said they expect more charges are coming soon in the bombshell case.

Near the end of a routine status hearing, an attorney for Michael McClain, a longtime Madigan confidant accused of orchestrating the bribery scheme, said it would be difficult to discuss a trial date for the case because there has been some at least intimations that the government might be seeking a superseding indictment in this matter.

A superseding indictment typically brings new defendants to an existing case, though sometimes they add only new charges for those already named.

After Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Streicker said her office was not in a position to comment on whether a new indictment was coming, attorney Michael Monico, who represents former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker, pressed the issue.
Tank Noodle has faced criticism as news broke in recent months about the unpaid wages. And as exploitative work conditions remain a systemic issue in the dining industry, the former employee  who requested anonymity for themselves and their partner out of fear they would face harassment as Asian immigrants tied up in a labor dispute  raised concerns about road blocks they continuously faced as they tried to get help from officials who passed them along from one agency to the next.
GENESEO It has been nearly 22 years since work began on the Harold Neumann  Aviation Pioneer exhibit at the Geneseo Historical Museum.

The project, which showcases Neumanns historic flying career of 70 years, is coming to fruition with a grand opening and ribbon cutting celebrating his life as a world renowned pilot.

The grand opening and ribbon cutting for the exhibit will be held on May 15, but because of COVID-19 restrictions, the event is by invitation only. The celebration will be live-streamed on Geneseos Channel 50. The exhibit will be open to the public beginning Tuesday, May 18, by appointment only.

Angie Snook, retired curator of the Geneseo Historical Museum, shared the beginning of plans for the current exhibitIn October of 1999, Harold Neumanns daughter Ann (Neumann) James and family members Doris Richards and Sandra Pobanz, donated the first artifacts of Harold Neumanns historic flying career to the Geneseo Historical Museum, she said.

Nearly 22 years later, the exhibits completion will be celebrated with a grand opening and ribbon cutting, and for that reason, Snook, now retired, stayed involved as the project curator.
The officer driving the squad car has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

"This is an extraordinarily tragic and difficult loss of life," Moline Police Chief Darren Gault said in a news release. "Our deepest sympathies are conveyed to the family during this difficult time. Words cannot describe this situation. We ask that the public keep everyone involved in their thoughts and prayers."

Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati also issued a statement Tuesday night:

"The City of Moline mourns the loss of life in a tragic event that occurred this afternoon. As Mayor of Moline my thoughts are with everyone involved in this situation. Unexpected tragedies do occur. May we hug our loved ones tighter this evening as we are reminded of the unpredictability this world often hands us.

"Our community will get through this difficult time together. For now we need to let the investigation into this event take its course. The city of Moline Police Chief Gault will work with the Illinois State Police to ensure full cooperation into the investigation."

 Anthony Watt contributed to this report

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Mayor Mike Thoms said Tuesday he also was disappointed with Parker's comments.

"I think it was very unprofessional and hurtful; I was angered by Dylan's comments," Thoms said. "City council and the mayor should stand behind any department in the city and be supportive of the police department. (The shooting) was all found to be justified, and we should not be critical of the event. We should defend the police department for doing a fine job.

"There were a number of people also angry with Dylan."

Thoms said a few residents had contacted him and demanded Parker's resignation from city council, but added he would not ask Parker to resign.

Thoms confirmed the city and police department does not have a foot pursuit policy in place, but that it does have a policy regarding vehicle pursuits. He said if a foot pursuit policy study were done, it should be conducted by an independent, third party.

Parker issued a statement Tuesday saying his comments were merely an observation and not "an accusation nor condemnation."

"It is my understanding that the labor council objected to my use of "agents of state violence," while providing no feedback nor commentary on the actual substance of my (foot pursuit) policy recommendation," Parker said.
In the end, Linn insisted that the defense had enough information to go on, and the hearing on the allegations would move forward.

This case is getting personal. Its a Class 4 felony, and people are getting personal with each other and thats enough, he said. My job is to get this hearing done.

Smolletts disorderly conduct charges allege he staged a phony hate crime on himself. Prosecutors have said he did so with the help of Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who later told police Smollett recruited them to help orchestrate the attack.

Uche has strenuously denied ever having had conversations with the Osundairo brothers. But the brothers attorney, along with prosecutors, have alleged that the brothers talked with Uche about the facts of the case early on.

Linn has said that with such a huge factual dispute between the two sides, he has little choice but to order a hearing into the allegations.
A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest:

CONSERVATION FUNDING: Farmers and landowners can sign up for state cost-share funds to help adopt soil-health and water-quality practices, according to Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.

The funding can be used for in-field management practices, including planting cover crops, transitioning acres to no-till/strip-till soil management or applying a nitrification inhibitor.

Farmers who are planting cover crops for the first time are eligible for $25 per acre through the cost-share fund, while those continuing the practice can receive $15 per acre.

Producers transitioning acres to no-till or strip-till are eligible for $10 per acre, and may receive $3 per acre for applying fall fertilizer using a nitrapyrin nitrification inhibitor.

Cost-share funding through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is limited to 160 acres per farmer or landowner.

The funds will be made available in July, but farmers can start submitting applications immediately through Soil and Water Conservation District offices.

Last fall, more than 3,500 farmers and landowners enrolled in the cost-share program.
The officer driving the squad car has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

"This is an extraordinarily tragic and difficult loss of life," Moline Police Chief Darren Gault said in a news release. "Our deepest sympathies are conveyed to the family during this difficult time. Words cannot describe this situation. We ask that the public keep everyone involved in their thoughts and prayers."

Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati also issued a statement Tuesday night:

"The City of Moline mourns the loss of life in a tragic event that occurred this afternoon. As Mayor of Moline my thoughts are with everyone involved in this situation. Unexpected tragedies do occur. May we hug our loved ones tighter this evening as we are reminded of the unpredictability this world often hands us.

"Our community will get through this difficult time together. For now we need to let the investigation into this event take its course. The city of Moline Police Chief Gault will work with the Illinois State Police to ensure full cooperation into the investigation."

 Anthony Watt contributed to this report

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During the Monday evening meeting of the Chadron City Council, Vice Mayor Cheryl Welch spoke to the status of a contract with John Sutherland of Rapid City, the current selection for the city manager position.

Council chose to go with Sutherland, one of their final two candidates, after primary selection Scott Meszaros of Seward, Alaska declined prior to contract negotiations. However, council members have noted that that Sutherland and Meszaros were very close in score when looking at the matrices used to select the candidates.

Welch said it was a good sign that both the council and Sutherland have said they look forward to working with each other. A committee consisting of Welch, Council member Keith Crofutt, City Clerk Donna Rust and HR Director Bev Bartlett met with Sutherland and offered him a contract last week. He has since met again with the committee and has some requests, which Welch said they will discuss.

The committee would like to have negotiations with Sutherland settled so the council can vote on his appointment at their May 17 meeting. The hope is that he will be able to start on June 1.
Placerville Camp and Retreat Centers 100th anniversary celebration last year was thwarted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, Placerville and other camps in the Black Hills are preparing to reopen and welcome back campers. If all goes well, Placerville also hopes to host an anniversary open house on Labor Day weekend.

Were very excited to get up and going again. We missed our 100th anniversary last year. We were bummed we had to shut down, camp director Kerry Steever said.

The United Church of Christ-affiliated camp and retreat center near Rapid City has cut back somewhat, operating five weeks of camp this year instead of nine.

In April, the Centers for Disease Control updated its guidelines for youth and summer camps to help camps develop safety strategies. Placerville Camp posted on its website, placervillecamp.net, that its implementing COVID-19 guidelines.

Of course, youre going to have some people upset by it, but thats why we put it in on the website. Theyre going to know what to expect  or not come to camp. Weve got to keep everybodys safety in mind, Steever said.
The South Dakota Air & Space Museum announces the official launch of the 2021 visitor season with its Spring Take Off Party," held at the museum on Saturday, May 15, from 4 to 8 p.m.

SDASM Foundation President, Robert Von Liebman explains, Last year was a challenge, due to COVID-19 constraints. Our large outdoor air park makes 'social distance' easy, but our indoor galleries and gift shop were temporarily closed. This season, we look forward to welcoming back old friends and new alike, for the full museum experience.

The South Dakota Air & Space Museum Take Off party will feature light snacks, beverages, unique exhibits as well as a raffle for a ride in a WWII airplane.

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Museum staff and board members will be on site as well. Base and Community leaders are encouraged to come to the Take Off Party to learn about plans to realize future opportunities for the South Dakota Air & Space Foundation and Museum.

Noteworthy unique outdoor exhibits include General Dwight D. Eisenhowers WWII B-25 Mitchell, a Korean War Boeing B-29 Superfortress and a Vietnam War Boeing B-52D Stratofortress. A Minuteman Missile launch capsule, Vultee BT-13 WWII trainer and WWII B-17 heritage exhibit are especially popular features of the museums indoor galleries.
The move also comes at a time when Lightfoot is being pressed on the issue of police accountability, particularly after recent high-profile police shootings in Little Village and Portage Park. Lightfoot has a long, complicated history in the local police reform movement. Shes a former federal prosecutor who headed the board that oversees police discipline and chaired the Police Accountability Task Force formed after white police Officer Jason Van Dyke shot and killed McDonald, a Black teenager. But she is often criticized by activists as being pro-police and has not yet fulfilled a key campaign promise to create civilian oversight for police, which she called a 100-day priority.
As a practical matter, they can file whatever motions they want to file, we dont really have to be able to take a position on that. Whether those motions will be granted is a whole different question, Hutmacher said.

The intervener, Bruce Ellison, said it sounded as though the Board had already decided to give Powertech the go-ahead to continue the permit process despite being years away from a resolution on the permit appeals, which he called putting the cart before the horse.

Lets let the feds do it first before we utilize our resources to look and see what theyve done to see whether theyve done a good enough job to see whether the states interests are protected, Ellison said.

Hutmacher replied that Powertechs right to file motions is not up for debate and reiterated there is no guarantee the WMB will approve Powertechs motion to proceed.

Another intervener, Susan Henderson, did not comment at the meeting but live streamed it with her lawyer. She said she thought Powertech was trying to continue the proceedings under the radar and that comments at the meeting were restricted so the WMB would not have to come to a vote on the issue on Wednesday.

"The board acted properly in saying the next step is for Powertech to submit their application [to continue proceedings]. I think they're legally required to do that, but I don't think they're going to agree to more hearings, they're just going to let Powertech argue why they should be allowed to do this," Henderson told the Journal. "The bottom line is they don't have their permits in a row and the water board was saying in 2013 they didn't want to move forward with anything until [Powertech] actually got the [federal] permits."

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Faculty speaker Matt Kahler advised students to pat themselves on the back for their accomplishments.

All of you graduates who have wisdom to share, he said. Its your stories and your past that led you here to this moment.

He said to celebrate the accomplishment of completing the program.

It has been an impressive process that got you here, Kahler said. Today is the result of a committed daily effort that built up positively over time. Celebrate even the tough stuff because yes, you do learn from it.

Graduate Meri Telin, BCs Enrollment Services Coordinator, gave the student address and encouraged her peers to be fearless.

I am 54 years young and graduating from college, she said. We have earned the right to be here. It was not easy and there were many times we didnt think we would make it to the finish line. Those struggles have only made this moment sweeter. Be fearless means taking the first step even if you dont know where it is taking you.

BC Advisory Council Vice-chair Terry Berkhouse presented the Champion Award to Candy Lubansky, chair, and thanked her for going above and beyond.
Many nonprofits use Bitterroot Gives fundraising for specific items. For example, the Bitterroot Cross Country Ski Club is raising money for an equipment trailer to ease grooming operations while donations to Emmas House the Child Advocacy Center pay for therapy and examinations.

The BRWF is doing more general fundraising that benefits all its efforts and programs.

We do on-the-ground restoration work to improve water quality, wildlife habitat and watershed education, Vennie said.

BRWF began participating in the online event when it was called Montana Gives in 2016 and continued when it became Bitterroot Gives in 2018.

The Daly Mansion is another participating nonprofit.

Daly Mansion Events Coordinator Courtney Hartelius said the mansion is participating in the Bitterroot Gives online day of giving because of the positive reception to their participation last year.

Last year we participated because we were on the onslaught of the pandemic and we didnt know if we would be able to have our annual fundraisers or events, Hartelius said. We got immense support from our community and we wanted to participate again because of this.
The Montana State Legislature passed Senate Joint Resolution 15 in March, approving the Bitterroot Valley Community College district  the first community college district established in the state in 53 years.

Accordingly, the seven trustees-elect  voted in by the Ravalli County electorate in May of 2020  will be sworn in and officially seated as the College Board of Trustees. This special event will be held at 9 a.m., May 12, at the Ravalli County Commissioners meeting room, 215 S. 4th St., Hamilton.

The seven trustees for the newly-formed Bitterroot Valley Community College district are Linda DoughtyChair, Don GardnerSecretary, Gary Carlson, Marci Smith, Sue Smith, RAN Pigman and Janet Woodburn.

We have worked diligently over the past year and would like to thank all parties involved in this process: the Montana Board of Regents, the Commissioner of Higher Educations Office and our state legislators," Doughty said. "Our vision for this new community college district is to be an accessible, affordable educational resource. One that benefits both traditional and non-traditional students, as well as having the flexibility to offer programs tailored to the specific needs of our local economy.

This swearing-in ceremony will be the first official event for the Board of Trustees.
He later told investigators he was feeling suicidal, according to court documents.

The building was evacuated after attempts to use a fire extinguisher to control the blaze failed. Officials said Jackson was standing outside of the front door of the apartment and had to be moved out of the way.

The apartment building was consumed by fire, the April 28 documents filed with the court state. Of the thirteen apartments in the building, twelve were occupied by tenants, the document filed by Deputy County Attorney Jennifer Stutz stated.

It noted that all tenants in the building at the time of the explosion were evacuated with minor injury. But all contents, including pets still in the building, were destroyed. The fire displaced 24 residents, two of whom were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, the Associated Press had reported.

Court documents state that Lonnie Larson of Larson Investigations, who was hired by Farmers Union Insurance to investigate the fire, told Kraft that Jackson admitted to trying to commit suicide by venting a propane cylinder and leaving the room.

Larson found a propane cylinder in the area of the defendants apartment.
"The Attorney General suggests justices of the Montana Supreme Court know Beth McLaughlin personally and, because of that, cannot fairly judge a case appropriately filed before them," Cox said in an email. "The argument misses the point of the lawsuit. The case before the court involves legal issues regarding the permissible scope of a legislative subpoena. The case is about the law, not about Beth. Whatever the ruling, Beth will abide by it. Further, it is important to note the court has made no substantive ruling on any part of the case. All it has done so far is put production of documents on ice until the legal issues can be briefed and decided in an orderly fashion. Courts do that all the time and those kinds of orders are neither controversial nor unusual."
Montana missed the opportunity to build 2,000 new affordable apartments and create 4,000 construction jobs with over $186 million in wages.

This year, there are 14 applications (six from small towns) for the federal tax credits totaling $81 million in construction. Unfortunately, only $29 million in federal tax credits will be awarded, which is only enough to fund 115 to 130 apartments.

HB 397, a state tax credit, would allow more of these projects  or 30 to 60 more apartments  to be planned this year alone. If signed into law, the state tax credit will double the number of apartments with construction starting in 2022.

HB 397 could mobilize enough private capital to produce 18,000 homes and apartments and generate over $828 million in economic activity over ten years.

Montanas continued economic recovery relies on a strong workforce. A strong workforce relies on homes that workers can afford to rent. HB 397 is based on a very successful federal program with a decades-long proven track record.
A woman was injured by shattered glass during an exchange of gunfire between two vehicles Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 95 in Chesterfield County. It was the sixth local interstate shooting incident in three months.

Virginia State Police said they responded at 1:13 p.m. after receiving a report of a shooting on I-95 about four-tenths of a mile south of state Route 620.

A preliminary investigation indicated that a Jeep SUV was traveling north in the center lane when it was fired upon by someone in a gray Toyota SUV in the right lane. The driver of the Jeep returned fire, police said.

The Jeep's driver then immediately pulled over to the right shoulder. The Toyota did not stop, police said.

Police said a female passenger in the Jeep was injured by shattered glass. The driver was not struck.

One person has been killed and four others injured by gunfire in six shooting incidents since Feb. 3 along I-95, Interstate 295 and Interstate 85 in the Richmond and Tri-Cities region.

Four of the shootings occurred along the I-95 corridor in Chesterfield and Colonial Heights. A fifth occurred on I-85's Squirrel Level Road exit in Petersburg, and the sixth happened on I-295 near the 25 mile marker in Henrico County.
Walk-in vaccinations for COVID-19 are now being offered at 342 CVS locations in Virginia, largely putting an end to the rush to get leftover doses there and the wait for new time slots to appear on the pharmacys website.

CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault said the remaining nine stores offering vaccinations are expected to join soon.

Announced Wednesday by the national chain, the change means theres no longer a need for an appointment. Another option available is same-day scheduling, where residents can access a shot within an hour. Individuals can choose among Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

But as of Wednesday afternoon, there was no list outlining which locations were taking walk-ins and which were not. The FAQ on the CVS websites vaccine landing page still stated that appointments are required to receive a vaccine, which could be confusing for people in search of a dose.

As of 4 p.m., only 38 of the 118 localities with CVS stores offering vaccinations had stores that were fully booked.
Cheryl Van Duyse of Antioch said she was opposed mainly to dispensaries for the sake of children. Van Duyse also took issue with some of the buffers laid out in the current ordinance. She cited the countys map tool, and said it should be shown at the upcoming County Board meeting with the current buffers included for residents to see.
Richmond lawyer Brian Buniva filed the suit on behalf of the NAACP and Protect Hanover. He said Wegmans basic problem is that they couldnt have picked a worse site.

He described Wegmans intentions to build at Sliding Hill and Ashcake roads as unjustifiable. He said DEQ and the water control board committed numerous errors of law and that those agencies analysis methods were little more than a mere check the box review.

Buniva said it will continue to be an uphill battle against a government agency, though he said his clients are determined.

He added: I believe these folks are good people who are getting trampled.

Wegmans original plan was to break ground by spring 2020 on three buildings  one for dry goods, one for refrigerated perishable foods and yet another for frozen foods  and be operational by 2022. But intense public outcry and postponed votes by county leaders, partly due to COVID-19 in 2020, followed by delayed DEQ permitting, have stalled the process.
VIRGINIA BEACH  A former Virginia priest has been charged with sexually assaulting a minor four decades ago.

Paul David Ryan, a former Catholic priest who was assigned to a parish and school in Virginia Beach, has been indicted by a grand jury on two felony counts of carnal knowledge by force of a minor, Attorney General Mark Herring announced Tuesday.

Herring said in a news release that the alleged assaults took place between 1979 and 1980 while Ryan was assigned to Star of the Sea Parish and the affiliated Star of the Sea School.

Ryan is accused in the indictments of taking the victim on a ski trip to Massanutten Resort in Rockingham County under the pretense of a church-sanctioned outing. The indictments allege that during the trip, Ryan sexually assaulted the victim twice.

Ryan was identified through an ongoing investigation into clergy sex abuse in Virginia by Herrings office and Virginia State Police.

Herring said Ryan, who is Australian and has been living in his native country, is currently in custody and in the process of being extradited back to Virginia for trial.
That could lead her to run for governor as an independent  a move that would be fatal to the Republican nominee, draining much-needed votes. Chase said she will do so if Snyder is selected, having accused him of scheming to snatch the nomination through allies involved in ballot counting.

Nominating conventions are intentionally opaque affairs, governed by knotty rules understood by insiders for whom control of the process is everything. This is amped up by the pivot to a virtual convention at which delegates  perhaps more than 53,000  vote electronically at 39 stations across the state.

Republicans, for the first time, are using ranked-choice voting under which a delegate lists a first preference, followed by a second, a third and so on. It has usually adept handicappers agreeing on one thing: It could be two or more ballots before a gubernatorial nominee emerges.

Ditto the lieutenant governor candidate  six are vying  and, possibly, the attorney general nominee. Four want the No. 3 slot.
Dimmerling was relying on her paycheck as a cashier at a restaurant in McLean when the pandemic hit in March 2020, and her job went away with restrictions that Northam imposed to control the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

At the same time, the state suspended in-school instruction in public schools, which Dimmerling said imposed an insurmountable challenge in caring for her daughter, Lillianna, now 12.

I really worked around her school schedule, so I had to make a decision, she said. I moved in with my mom in Fredericksburg.

Last summer, her old employer contacted Dimmerling to see if she would work two shifts a week at the restaurant, now an hour and 15 minutes away. With the cost of travel and a sitter for her daughter, I would have been losing money, she said, adding that her employer was sympathetic to her decision not to take the part-time work.

Dimmerling said she has called and written the VEC regularly since losing her benefit, which had dwindled to $73 a week after enhanced federal unemployment insurance expired at the end of July. She has missed the opportunity to collect subsequent federal payments under an emergency funding package enacted at the end of December.

I havent talked to a person, she said.
Noah was taken at about noon Sunday during services at Riverview Baptist Church in Ripplemead, officials have said.

Fridley was driving a charcoal colored 2007 Chevy Trailblazer at the church. It had a BOOBER sticker at the top of the windshield, the sheriffs office said.

Investigators say Fridley also went to New Valley Fellowship Church and Mountain View Ministries, both in Narrows, on Sunday morning. Fridley was near the two Narrows churches about a month earlier as well, the sheriffs office said.

Noah was recovered Monday at about 1:25 p.m. by Virginia State Police tactical team members, the sheriffs office said. The boy was checked by medics on the scene, then later at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center and released to his family. Noah seemed to be fine, officers have said.

Fridley is charged with abduction and felony child endangerment. Also arrested Monday was Bobby Lee Taylor, 42, also of Clifton Forge. Taylor was charged with abduction.

Fridley will face trial in Giles County, because her alleged offenses occurred at the church, and Taylor in Alleghany County because his acts occurred there, said Bobby Lilly and Ann Gardner, the commonwealths attorneys in Giles and Alleghany counties, respectively.
To execute its goals, Phlow developed partnerships with Civica Rx, a Utah-based nonprofit that works to stabilize the supply of generic medicines; the VCU Medicines for All Institute, a College of Engineering initiative aimed at increasing access to pharmaceuticals by fostering more cost-effective methods; and AMPAC, which specializes in the manufacturing of key ingredients and the commercialization of continuous processes.

We believe this work can revolutionize Americas generic drug manufacturing model by enabling Phlow to produce affordable ingredients used to manufacture essential medicines in the U.S., Gupton said in a May 2020 Times-Dispatch report.

We agree, and we also believe it can be a revolutionary move for Virginias economy. The net result of this multipartner relationship is a broader goal to build a cluster of pharmaceutical companies in the Petersburg area. This would help cement Virginias role as a leader in domestic drug manufacturing.
A two-year criminal investigation of the Mountain Valley Pipeline has concluded with no charges filed.

In a report filed Tuesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the lead partner in the project said it was informed last month that a federal investigation was completed, without an adverse determination to the MVP joint venture.

Mountain Valley spokeswoman Natalie Cox said it was the companys understanding that there was no finding of wrongdoing, and that no criminal or civil action would be taken.

The case began more than two years ago with a complaint by Preserve Bent Mountain, a Roanoke County group that had been fighting the natural gas pipeline for years.

Representatives for the group presented a large amount of evidence to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Roanoke, asking it to investigate possible violations of the Clean Water Act and other federal laws.

While Mountain Valley has repeatedly run afoul of administrative regulations meant to keep muddy runoff from contaminating nearby streams and rivers, a criminal charge would have carried a higher burden of proof.

Brian McGinn, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office, declined to comment Tuesday.
PEARISBURG  A youth leader at the church where a Giles County toddler was abducted during Sunday services faces child pornography charges in a separate case  allegedly asking boys in a church group for nude pictures as recently as last week.

Justin Elliot Graves, 31, of Pearisburg, faces 10 charges: five counts of soliciting a child to be in a pornographic image and five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

He was denied bond at a Wednesday hearing that was closed to the press.

Defense attorney Chris Tuck of Blacksburg wrote in a text Tuesday that he had no comment on Graves case.

According to a search warrant, Graves was a youth leader at Riverview Baptist Church in Ripplemead when he asked a boy in a church group for a picture of his rocket  slang that the boy told officers that he understood to mean his penis. The boy told investigators that Graves said another boy already had sent him a penis picture.

The boy said that Graves asked for the picture in texts, Snapchat messages and twice in person. Graves began asking for a picture in December 2020 and the requests continued until last week, when the boy spoke to investigators, according to a search warrant.
Christiansburg has taken steps in recent years to prepare for the expansion of passenger rail. That includes the purchase of a handful of parcels near the towns aquatic center off North Franklin Street, creating the potential site for a passenger rail station.

Local studies have designated Christiansburg as a good spot for a station to the town being more conveniently located for the main passenger groupsresearch has found that most passengers would come from either Blacksburg or Christiansburg.

Among other goals, backers of the New River Valley rail campaign have touted the projects potential to boost economic development and to provide alternative long-distance transportation for the tens of thousands of students at Virginia Tech and Radford University.

I feel good that hes coming, Barber said about Northams visit. I think the news will be very encouraging and very exciting.

In a related matter, the governors visit has generated some debate among Christiansburg officials, particularly Councilwoman Johana Hicks, over whether a town council meeting notice should have been posted for the event.
The Childrens Advocacy Unit led the investigation, and police say they learned the alleged assaults happened at Torrez residence, but also at motels in Grayslake and Libertyville and a residence in Waukegan. After learning that Torrez took the girl on a trip to Mexico, the sheriffs office asked the FBI to join the probe.
With Virginia Tech and Radford [University], I think youll see a lot of students take advantage of our rail, he said.

Northams comments about student ridership echoes one of the objectives of the New River Valley rail project. The governor, along with a few others, said it will also boost tourism and is expected to have an annual economic impact of $2 billion for the region.

The announcement comes more than a month after Northam signed legislation authorizing the creation of the New River Valley Passenger Rail Station Authority, an entity that will allow a number of regional partners to share in the cost of building and maintaining a train station.

Among the other details shared Wednesday is a plan for the state to partner with New River Valley rail authority to fund the construction of a station building, parking and roadway access to the station.

The rail authority is slated to include representation from all the local governing bodies in Montgomery County and will be open to the entities across the greater New River Valley, including those in Giles County and even New River Community College.

The infrastructure improvements are expected to be complete by 2025. Afterward, two Northeast Corridor round trips will be extended from Roanoke to Christiansburg.
As officers were verbally engaged with Kohler, he backed up and then drove forward in an attempt to exit the parking lot, at which point one of the officers fired at Kohlers vehicle, the VSP said in the statement.

Kohler, previously of Shallotte, North Carolina, died at the scene. No officers were injured.

City Police Chief John Austin requested that the VSP Criminal Investigation Division investigate the fatal shooting.

A search warrant was executed April 5 on Kohlers vehicle, which was stored at a state police office in Wytheville. Investigators searched for bullets, bullet fragments, cartridge casings, ammunition, firearms and cellphones, according to the search warrant, which was filed in Wythe County Circuit Court.

The investigators found bullet fragments and a cartridge case in the car, the warrant states.

Brown turned himself in to VSP on Tuesday and was released on $25,000 bail.

The city has also begun an internal affairs investigation, according to a statement from City Manager Randy Eads and Mayor Bill Hartley. The investigation was not conducted during the criminal investigation so it wouldnt hamper the probe, they said. The internal affairs investigation is anticipated to be completed within 10 days.
That mantra guided their strategy of nonviolent direct action, Devlin said.

If they wanted desegregated buses, they had to ride segregated buses. If they wanted desegregated lunch counters, they had to order from segregated lunch counters, she said. And that is what James Peck and Charles Person did here in Fredericksburg.

Peck, a white man, entered the colored mens restroom at the Fredericksburg station, while Person, a Black man, entered the whites-only restroom and then ordered a sandwich at the whites-only lunch counter.

Devlin said Farmer also spoke critically to his students about officials who would scream about outside agitators anytime segregation was challenged by non-locals.

It was his belief that every citizen should be concerned about injustice anywhere, Devlin said. I hope we can be inspired by Farmer to be directly involved in action.

Henry, an assistant professor of historic preservation, spoke about Virginias state historic marker program, which was the first of its kind in the country when it was established in 1927. The first markers were erected along U.S. 1, which runs through Fredericksburg on its northsouth route through Virginia.
When Republicans meet this weekend to nominate their 2021 ticket, theres a theoretical chance that they could do something neither party in Virginia has ever done  nominate a slate entirely composed of women.

Dont count on that. Just based on the sheer number of candidates, its more likely the party will nominate an all-male ticket.

Still, Republicans have a record number of women running: two of the partys seven candidates for governor, two of the six candidates for lieutenant governor and one of the four candidates for attorney general. Those five candidates add up to one more female candidate than on the Democratic side.

Whether they realize it or not, all those candidates owe a historical debt to Hazel Barger of Roanoke.

In 1961, she was the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. She was the first woman nominated by a major party for one of the states top three offices. At least three asterisks apply here.Barger wasnt the first woman to run for statewide office. She wasnt even the first woman nominated by a major party for statewide office.

In 1921, Virginias first statewide election after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, there were three women on the ballot.
Vice President Kamala Harris used the pandemic as an excuse to not go to the southern border to work on the illegal immigrant crisis.

It's interesting that the Biden administration is letting thousands of immigrants into our country each day while the pandemic is going and they aren't concerned about that. While they are busing them throughout the U.S. into our communities without regard to our safety.

There are more than 20,000 illegal immigrant children in facilities without parents at the border and being transported to hotels, military bases and god knows where else. The Roanoke Times had a tiny article on April 25 saying that Kamala has planned a meeting with the Mexican president on May 7 to discuss a Tree-Planting Program while the crisis goes on.

The Roanoke Times needs to be honest in their reporting and tell the readers what is really happening.

All they report is empathy articles about specific illegal immigrant children's stories and not the truth about the tens of thousands of people, drugs, guns and possible cases of COVID-19 entering each moment.

Show the pictures of children laying side by side like sardines in glass rooms on the floor and adults being loaded onto busses to come to your neighborhood.
The current ongoing pandemic is also providing the time to ease pressure on Vietnamese trade as restructuring of the Global Supply Chain is being dealt with. Only those countries that are well-prepared and have successfully controlled and contained the pandemic will be able to see a good outcome and macroeconomic stability in the future by an improved marketing strategy.

Break in supply chain

The repeated closure of the border, and immigration restrictions during the current pandemic have caused trade activities and global value chains to be disrupted or broken, especially the important supply chains to the US, China, Japan, Germany, and the European Union (EU). All these countries are reeling under the havoc being caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, manufacturing and business facilities of 1,000 of the world's largest suppliers have upto 12,000 units in Covid-19 quarantined areas, most of which are located in China.

This explains why there is a breakdown in the Global Value Chain (GVC) that is seriously affecting trade activities for almost 50% of international trade. In addition, the application of digital transformation in manufacturing and business activities has made countries increase automation, in order to improve production capacity and withdraw from the GVC, so as to localize the economy. The disruption of Global Supply Chains is also due to sanctions inflicted during the US-China trade war, along with rise of protectionism. The industries in the world are overly dependent on China, so the leading countries tend to withdraw from what is considered the factory of the world.

Closer linking of the supply chain with the value chain is essential for ease of control. The US-China trade war had partially initiated and spurred this process when China thought it needed a strategy to undermine America's leading role in global trade. The pandemic is not the only reason that has caused a change in the structure of the Global Value Chain, though it may perhaps have been the catalyst to speed up the process. Since the 2008 global financial crisis, intensive production of imported raw materials for exports has decreased sharply. Looking back over the last 30 years, the decentralized production system has been effective and has made a great contribution to GVC, but it still depends on the ability to trade, transport, and implement different trade policies of each country.

At the same time, a new form of production in the Global Value Chain is gradually emerging. With the development of digital technology, multinational companies are moving closer to consumer markets to reduce transportation costs, and increase sales. The production activities of supply chain units will have to be restructured, forcing companies to consider strategies to reduce production fragmentation where cheap labor is available.

Raising Vietnamese trade

Vietnam had a record trade surplus of USD 19.1 bn in 2020, although the US remains the largest export market with a trade surplus of USD 62.7 bn. Meanwhile, the trade deficit with the largest importer of China was at USD 35.4 bn. When looking at the trade activities of East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) countries, it is easy to see that Vietnam has the highest growth in import and export value (Fig. 1). In exports, ASEAN-5 countries export more goods and services to the US than China and other major trading partners, while importing the most from China (Fig. 2). These trends are similar to the trade statistics of Vietnam in 2020.

Fig. 2: Exports & Imports of ASEAN-5 with selected partners(%), 2019-2020. Source: To Cong Nguyen Bao et al (2021), data extracted from WB (ASEAN-5 countries Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam).

The Covid-19 pandemic has also created an opportunity for Vietnam to access and thereby participate more strongly in the Global Supply Chain, so that it can become a new nucleus in the Global Value Chain. There are some factors that can contribute to this process. First, Vietnamese exports have now risen to approximately 53.4%. Second, labor costs in Vietnam are lower than in China. Third, the business environment and competitiveness in Vietnam has improved since 2020, ranking the country at 70th place, up 23 places compared to 2010.

However, raising Vietnamese trade to new levels will not occur overnight, but will require systematic planning in preparing the right solutions as well as resources. As the world is facing a multitude of challenges in unforeseen and uncertain ways, such as the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the rise of unilateralism, growing geopolitical rivalry between major countries, and the coming of the digital age, many factors need careful consideration.

There are now five basic principles that can shape the strategy for Vietnamese trade. First, we need to improve the business environment and enhance competitiveness. Second, we need to enhance our involvement in the global supply chains. Third, we must improve out value-added products for exports in the value chain. Fourth, we must apply digital technology to all our economic activities. Fifth, we need to make cognitive changes so as to adapt better to the world markets.

To Cong Nguyen Bao, M. Eco. University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City
If you are a peaceful protester, you will not find yourself involved with rioters. If you do see violence breaking out at the Kumbaya march youve organized, you either get out of there as quickly as possible, try and quell the violence, or call the police. Better yet, you make sure that the violent elements will be neutralized before they even have a chance to infiltrate your peaceful protest.

Im also not persuaded that these individuals referenced by Gross as peacefully protesting at a protest that turns violent through no fault of their own are entirely innocent. I said that same thing when I saw the peaceful protesters at the Capitol on Jan. 6. While the vast majority may indeed have gone to D.C. to air their grievances, the ones who got caught up in the violent assault on our Capitol cant hide behind the I am innocent mantra unless they can prove that they were, in fact, innocent.

Whats good for the goose is good for the gander, or rather, whats good for the elephant is good for the donkey.

My point is that riots are easily distinguishable from protests, and there is a clear, bright line we can follow. The Florida law draws it, and the protests from my youthful heroes at the ACLU ring hollow.
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.  Florence County will retain a certified arson dog and handler after Howe Springs Fire Chief Billy Dillon and K9 Piper passed their recertification test Wednesday at Horry County Fire Rescues training facility in Loris.

Unlike previous years, this years exam took place virtually with the teams in South Carolina  one from Howe Springs, another from Horry County Fire Rescue and a third from Beauforts Burton Fire District  examined in Zoom by an expert in Maine.

Piper did a great job and the test was nerve racking for me, Dillon said via a Zoom conference. I had two great experienced handlers here who kept me in check and Piper did a great job and pulled us through. The comments from the evaluators Up North were all positive.

The exam included scent discrimination, room searches, room sniffs and a blind test in which a call to a lab was required to know if the dog and handler got the right answer, Dillon said.

Just to add more of a challenge to the exams, they took place outside on a day with the wind strong enough to blow off the table the computer the firefighters were using in Horry County.

Theyre smelling things from probably a quarter mile away the way the wind is blowing today, Dillon said.

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Thats the opposite of Illinois. Our population is decreasing, shown in administrative data as opposed to a universal count of everybody, Sherrie Taylor, senior research specialist at the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, which I believe is one of the best colleges in the state, told the Chicago Tribune. Its not a big population drop, but its something because all of our other states are growing so much faster and were losing population.
 Notable NY politician gets furlough from BOP as he is "considered for home confinement" | Main | SCOTUS argument in Terry suggests low-level crack defendant unlikely to secure resentencing based on FSA retroactivity 

The Federal Public and Community Defenders sent this new letter today to Senate Judiciary Committee leaders to follow up on the April 15 oversight hearing concerning the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The 16-page letter covers a lot of ground, and here are excerpts:

For too long, DOJ and BOP have ignored congressional directives to prioritize the safety and rehabilitation of individuals in its custody, and left tools provided by Congress unused. These failures have been exacerbated by a culture that bends towards opacity and against accountability. We urge Congress to intervene. At minimum, it must strengthen and increase its oversight of DOJ and BOP to help ensure that federally incarcerated persons remain safe and that Congress vision for sentencing and prison reform is realized. At best, it will enact legislation to smartly and swiftly lower prison populations and to move vulnerable individuals to a place of relative safety.

For the past 13 months, COVID-19 has torn through BOP facilities. Meanwhile, BOP has failed to take the necessary steps  or to use available resources  to remediate the pandemics risk. Even now, despite the increased availability of vaccines across the country, COVID-19 remains a lifethreatening risk to those in BOP custody. The death count of incarcerated individuals continues to mount, and conditions in federal detention facilities remain dire....

BOP and DOJ have failed to use the tools Congress gave them to safely lower prison populations. The failure by DOJ and BOP to use tools to move vulnerable individuals to a place of relative safety  either by transferring them to home confinement or by seeking their release through compassionate release  has exacerbated the consequences of substandard medical treatment and care in BOP....

The First Step Act of 2018 (FSA) was intended to shorten certain federal prison sentences and to reorient the federal prison system away from pure punishment and towards rehabilitation. The FSAs ameliorative sentencing provisions have made significant strides: as of September 28, 2020, BOP has released 2,509 individuals who qualified for retroactive Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 relief.

But since the FSAs enactment, little has been done to advance the Acts core prison reform: a system designed to reduce recidivism risk by offering individuals incentives in exchange for their participation in evidence-based programming and productive activities. To create that system, the FSA directed the DOJ to dramatically expand programming in BOP facilities, and to develop a risk and needs assessment system (RNAS) that could determine the recidivism risk of each prisoner and the type and amount of evidence-based recidivism reduction programming for each. Unfortunately, DOJ and BOP have failed to meet the programming or RNAS mandates and have undercut the promise of the FSA by promulgating restrictive policies behind closed doors....

Even prior to the pandemic, BOP had a long history of not providing sufficient programs. Because the recidivism-reduction efforts of the FSA are meaningless without adequate programming, and in light of the IRCs warning, we are deeply concerned that BOP does not have a plan of action to comply with the FSA requirement that BOP provide all prisoners with the opportunity to actively participate in evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or productive activities according to their specific criminogenic needs, throughout their entire term of incarceration. BOPs past performance, with inconsistent access and quality across institutions, makes it difficult to have confidence that BOP will meet its statutory obligations in this regard. We hope that Congress will continue to closely oversee BOPs efforts on this front, and to appropriate sufficient funding to support adequate programming.
 "Tip of the Iceberg: How Much Criminal Justice Debt Does the U.S. Really Have?" | Main | New federal defender laments BOP's response to COVID and the FIRST STEP Act 

May 4, 2021

Notable NY politician gets furlough from BOP as he is "considered for home confinement"

When I saw the headline of this new New York Post piece, "Sheldon Silver released early on furlough after less than a year in prison," I thought the paper was misusing a term because furloughs from federal prison seem extraordinarily rare. But the story explains it has the right term:

Disgraced former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has been sprung from federal prison early on furlough  while he awaits a decision from the agency on whether he can serve out the remainder of his term in home confinement, a report said Tuesday. Silver  who has served less than a year of his 6 1/2-year sentence  was cut loose from Otisville Prison, in Orange County, New York, and released to his home while awaiting the decision, a source familiar with the matter told the Associated Press. The 77-year-old crooked former pol was released under DOJs expanded powers to grant inmates release amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to the report. In a statement, the Bureau of Prisons said Silver is still designated to Otisville Prison, but added that it has the power to transfer inmates to their home on furlough. We can share that the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has authority to transfer inmates to their home on furlough for periods of time while they may continue to be considered for home confinement designation, a spokesperson said. The BOP recently notified prosecutors in the Southern District of New York that it was considering cutting Silver loose on home confinement, a spokesperson for the district told The Post. n an email response sent yesterday, the prosecutors office  which secured a guilty verdict against Silver for corruption-related crimes during his run as an Albany power broker  stressed that it ardently opposes the move, the spokesperson said. In a memo last year, former Attorney General Bill Barr gave the director of BOP expanded discretion to release vulnerable inmates from federal lockups amid the pandemic. BOP officials need to take into account a host of factors when determining if an inmate qualifies for home confinement, including age and vulnerability of the inmate to COVID-19, according to the memo. In addition, a BOP medical official is supposed to sign off on home confinement releases based on risk factors for a specific inmate, according to the memo.... Silver was sentenced last summer after avoiding lockup for more than five years after he was first convicted. At his sentencing, Judge Valerie Caproni admonished the crooked politician, who was convicted of illegally using his office to benefit two real estate developers in exchange for cash. This was corruption pure and simple, Judge Caproni told the disgraced ex-speaker, whom she had already sentenced twice. The time, however, has now come for Mr. Silver to pay the piper, Caproni added.

Because there is always much mystery around the working of the BOP, I have no notion of whether any lower-profile prisoners might get similar treatment.

May 4, 2021 at 05:42 PM | Permalink

Comments

It's good to be a rich white prisoner. Fine work as usual, BOP.

Posted by: AFPD | May 5, 2021 9:59:48 AM

Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou eventually filled his position.

Major upgrade.

Posted by: Joe | May 5, 2021 2:21:18 PM

Could be brilliant: allowing him to serve the rest of his sentence on home confinement because of the risks of a pandemic that should subside soon would be in my mind inappropriate. By dragging its feet and ultimately denying the request, BOP can give him what he deserves -- to be safe from the pandemic but also to serve at least a significant portion of his sentence in prison.

Posted by: Jason | May 5, 2021 11:12:43 PM

Post a comment
 New federal defender laments BOP's response to COVID and the FIRST STEP Act | Main | "Prisons and jails will separate millions of mothers from their children in 2021" 

May 4, 2021

SCOTUS argument in Terry suggests low-level crack defendant unlikely to secure resentencing based on FSA retroactivity

On Tuesday morning, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Terry v. United States, and the full oral argument is available here via C-SPAN. The full argument runs nearly 90 minutes and the quality of the advocacy makes it worth the full listen. But one can get a much quicker flavor of the tenor of the discussion from just a scan of the headlines of these press accounts of the argument:

From the AP, "Supreme Court skeptical of low-level crack offenders case"

From Bloomberg Law, "Biden Switch Unlikely to Save Crack Offenders at Supreme Court"

From Law & Crime, "Biden Administration Flip-Flopped Its Position in Case Over Crack Cocaine Sentences. SCOTUS Did Not Seem Pleased."

From Reuters, "U.S. Supreme Court skeptical of expanding crack cocaine reforms"

From USA Today, "Supreme Court skeptical of applying Trump-era criminal justice law retroactively for small drug offenses"

From the Washington Post, "Supreme Court seems skeptical that law helps all convicted of crack cocaine offenses"

All the "skeptical" questions from the Justices certainly leaves me thinking that the Supreme Court will rule that Tarahrick Terry is not entitled to resentencing under the FIRST STEP Act provision making the Fair Sentencing Act retroactive. That may not ultimately be such a big loss for Mr. Terry since, as the Acting SG explained to SCOTUS back in March, he is already finishing up his prison sentence through home confinement and that term is to be completed in September. I am hopeful that the relatively small number of similarly situated defendants who would be adversely impacted by a Terry loss would have some similar silver lining.

Prior related posts:

May 4, 2021 at 10:37 PM | Permalink

Comments

I disagree. I see a 5-4 ruling in favor of the defendant, with the majority composed of Roberts, Kavanaugh, and the three liberals.

Posted by: Jacob Berlove | May 5, 2021 10:36:14 PM

Post a comment
Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong take part in a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in London

The United States, South Korea and Japan pledged Wednesday to cooperate on North Korea as their top diplomats met in London, coming together despite renewed tensions between the Asian nations.

Joined by aides, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sat in the centre of a U-shaped table with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts Toshimitsu Motegi and Chung Eui-yong on each side in a hotel conference room on the sidelines of a Group of Seven meeting.

The State Department said the meeting was meant to "promote trilateral solidarity" and discuss a policy review by President Joe Biden that looks to resume diplomacy with North Korea.

Blinken and the two ministers "reaffirmed their commitment to concerted trilateral cooperation toward denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, as well as other issues of mutual interest," State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

The South Korean foreign ministry similarly said the three "reaffirmed the importance of the Korea-US-Japan trilateral cooperation" and committed to work "to promote peace, security and prosperity in the region".

The two Asian nations are both treaty-bound allies of the United States but have long had friction due to the legacy of Japan's harsh colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.

South Korea last month voiced "deep disappointment" after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga sent an offering to the Yasukuni shrine, which venerates war dead including convicted war criminals, although leaders in Tokyo have in recent years refrained from the more explosive step of visiting.

Relations deteriorated sharply in 2019, with South Korea pulling back at the last minute from terminating an agreement on sharing intelligence with Japan on North Korea.

Since taking office, Biden has put an emphasis on working with allies. Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Tokyo and Seoul together on their first foreign trip, and the Japanese and South Korean national security advisers met jointly near Washington as the administration concluded its North Korea policy review.

Story continues

Earlier this week, the top US military officer, General Mark Milley, met jointly with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Hawaii.

The Biden administration in its policy review called for seeking practical progress with North Korea, avoiding the flashy, high-stakes summitry of former president Donald Trump.

sct/phz/dl
"The fact that they serve folks who are lower income, don't speak English, might not have access to medication or medical services if they didn't have that program -- it's so wonderful. I have lots of love for that place," she said. "They take the time to talk to their patients and really explain what's happening."

Ghebrekidan said her experiences guided her to become Sioux City's community inclusion liaison.

"I went through my own issues going into school and things of that nature. And, I was in positions where I was able to help folks. That's why this position is very important to me," she said. "You can come to me and talk to me and be comfortable."

Fostering inclusivity

Although the Inclusive Sioux City Advisory Committee meets monthly, Ghebrekidan said she is frequently in contact with its members. At a recent meeting, she said the committee was working on revising its mission and vision statement.

Ghebrekidan said she is also meeting with city department heads to get a better understanding of what each department does and what gaps exist that she can help fill. She said she spent an entire day with Police Chief Rex Mueller discussing what's going well and where improvements can be made.
Frantzen, who lives in Yorkville, became intrigued with Lairds story after reading a photocopied newspaper clipping from the Jan. 13, 1869, edition of the Chicago Tribune, which he found while cleaning out his mothers home after her death. The headline read, Terrible Tragedy in Naperville, DuPage County, a Man Shoots and Kills his wifes Paramour.
A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Tuesday, May 4, 2021:

CONSERVATION FUNDING: Farmers and landowners can sign up for state cost-share funds to help adopt soil health and water quality practices, according to Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.

The funding can be used for in-field management practices, including planting cover crops, transitioning acres to no-till/strip-till soil management, or applying a nitrification inhibitor.

Farmers who are planting cover crops for the first time are eligible for $25 per acre through the cost-share fund, while those continuing the practice can receive $15 per acre.

Producers transitioning acres to no-till or strip-till are eligible for $10 per acre, and may receive $3 per acre for applying fall fertilizer using a nitrapyrin nitrification inhibitor.

Cost-share funding through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is limited to 160 acres per farmer or landowner.

The funds will be made available in July, but farmers can start submitting applications immediately through Soil and Water Conservation District offices.
Skipping the second dose will make it more challenging to control infection in the community simply because there will be more breakthrough cases of infection, she said.

As of April 26, 61,773 individuals had missed their second dose, state data shows. Of that, 23,104 were a week or less beyond the recommended minimum interval.

State officials did not elaborate on why Iowans may not be returning for their second dose. While state public health officials have raised the alarm in recent weeks about the rate of vaccine hesitancy among Iowans, other public health agencies have said barriers to accessing the shot also are a major driver.

Winokur pointed out its a common issue with multi-dose vaccines to have to encourage individuals to return for a second dose. Oftentimes, its because people get busy and forget about the second shot, she said. For others, they may be worried about missing work or school because of symptoms from the vaccine, Winokur said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes its essential for individuals to get the second dose as close to the recommended interval as possible.
Various conditions can result in coordination problems, too little or too much activity, poor behavior and organization-skill deficits, among others. Sensory integration therapy is thought to alleviate some of these symptoms.

"They help build self-esteem and self-confidence, giving them additional stimulating things to do, and help with coping skills," Thieman said. "This helps decrease the symptoms of whatever that individual's particular diagnosis is, whether that be depression, anxiety, ADHD, post-traumatic stress disorder."

Siouxland Mental Health had been wanting to buy this sort of equipment for several years. Then at the March 16 Woodbury County Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Mark Monson proposed that a largely forgotten $30,000 bequest that had been intended for the old County Home would be given to Siouxland Mental Health. The Board of Supervisors voted to allocate the money.
On Wednesday, a member of the Arizona election audit team that has been heavily touted by former President Donald Trump revealed that its examination of the 2020 vote in Maricopa County will include a forensic analysis of ballots to determine if the paper is made of bambooin order to determine whether or not China delivered tens of thousands of fraudulent ballots to tip the state to Joe Biden.

If that sounds much too crazy for an audit that was initiated by the Republican-led Arizona Legislature and whose communications are being spearheaded by the Republican former Secretary of State Ken Bennett, it very much is not.

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On Wednesday, audit liaison John Brakey told a reporter from the local CBS affiliate in Phoenix that the audit team was checking to see if 40,000 Biden ballots were smuggled into Arizona from Asia by checking the papers fiber to try to detect bamboo:

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John Brakey, an official helping oversee the audit of the 2020 Arizona election, says auditors are looking for bamboo fibers because of a baseless accusation that 40K ballots from Asia were smuggled here. #AzAuditPool pic.twitter.com/57UOBYIehg  Dennis Welch (@dennis_welch) May 5, 2021

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Theres accusations that 40,000 ballots were flown in and stuffed into the box and it came from the southeast part of the world, Asia. And what theyre doing is to find out if theres bamboo in the paper, Brakey told Dennis Welch of CBS5 News.

Welch asked Brakey a series of follow-ups, such as Why do you check for bamboo? and This is part of what youre looking for? and he answered that others were searching for the bamboo ballots because people in Southeast Asia  use bamboo in their paper processing and this is part of the mystery that we want to un-gaslight people about.

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Again, is the bamboo analysis truly part of the audit effort? Apparently, it has been from the beginning.

During a press conference for the audit last week, Brakey said what auditors were looking for is folds in pieces of paper, because theres a guy who came out and said certain things, that the ballots were stuffed, that were going to find bamboo in the paper.

Bennett, the spokesman for the audit, then confirmed, Were evaluating the paper. Were evaluating the paper.

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Where did this theoryapparently of major concern for the Arizona auditorsthat someone in Asia had sent 40,000 ballots to Maricopa County in order to sway the election for Joe Biden and against Donald Trump come from? It appears to have come from an election fraud gadfly named Jovan Pulitzer, who Slates Aaron Mak reported earlier this week is supporting the work of the Maricopa audit firm, Cyber Ninjas.

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In addition to Pulitzer having claimed to invent a technology that would detect whether a ballots ink and folds might indicate forgery, Mak flags that back in December Pulitzer began to espouse a theory that China had imported ballots to tip the election to Biden and that he could detect such malfeasance by uncovering bamboo particles via a forensic analysis.

Heres footage of Pulitzer making that claim, in a video that was circulated on Dec. 23:

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Pulitzer claimed at the time:

The ballots are supposed to be printed here in the United States of America and, in some cases, the ballots have to be printed in that exact state. American paper has a signature in it. And with forensics, you can look at that paper and see if it is the constituents of that paper is what we use to make paper. Now lets say there was an influx of China ballots. China does not have the tree and lumber population we have because it got deforested primarily a long time ago. They use bambooand they do use wood pulpsthey use bamboo in their paper and they use about 27 different mixes of grasses that we dont have here in the United States. And even though you cant look at it and see it, its very detectable. And so I can assure you that outside of a catastrophic failing this will be plugged.

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In another video published on Dec. 29, Pulitzer further explained his theory.

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Well, did you know from a forensic level that you can tell absolutely the difference between paper here in the United States or paper that was made in China? he said. Theres different formulations, different inks, even different fibers, and our systems were able to tell every one of these.

Now, Pulitzerthe inventor of one of the worst gadgets of all time and a former professional treasure hunteris assisting Cyber Ninjas in conducting this audit, complete with checking for bamboo fibers from China ballots. Bennett told the Arizona Mirror last month that Pulitzer had consulted with Cyber Ninjas CEO Doug Logan to design the process for testing the ballots.

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As Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman said during a press briefing about the audit on Tuesday, the reality is that with Pulitzer and Logan now in totaland secretcontrol of those ballots, the chain of custody for Maricopas election documentation has been completely compromised.

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Arizona and Maricopa County has opened up a lot of questions because, like I said, how do you know those ballots werent altered? Wyman said. And it doesnt even matter if they were at this point, because I dont think you can guarantee that they werent and thats all you have to do is cast doubt on this process.

From a legal standpoint, chain of custody, ballot integrity has been so destroyed by a lack of procedures that moved into evolving procedures, Matthew Masterson, a former senior cybersecurity adviser at the Department of Homeland Security, said in the same briefing. You cant reestablish that chain of custody and integrity after the fact. So, from just a legal standpoint, I dont know how you can establish proper chain of custody, evidence standards, anything for a court, or otherwise, its gone.

Wyman added that the Department of Justice ought to be observing the audit going forward.
With a few notable exceptions and caveats, President Joe Biden has been keeping his campaign promise to wind down Americas forever warsthe open-ended counterterrorist campaign the U.S. has been fighting around the globe for the past 20 years.

Most dramatically, Biden announced the withdrawal of the last U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11. While this is a somewhat slower timeline than the May 1 withdrawal originally agreed to by Donald Trump, it nonetheless will represent the end of Americas longest war, and the announcement showed Bidens determination to act despite some significant political, military, and humanitarian risks.

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But the war in Afghanistan was always moreand lessthan a failed attempt to create and stabilize a friendly regime in the country. Legally and strategically, Afghanistan was meant to be the center of the U.S. military response to al-Qaida. For two decades, across four administrations, presidents have been sending American forces to kill and be killed under a congressional authorization to confront the perpetrators of 9/11.

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One of the main critiques of the resulting war on terror has been that it is less a distinct conflict than an all-encompassing framework for military action not limited by time, geography, or target, effectively turning much of the world into a battlefield where the president can order military action with little oversight. If the Afghanistan conflict, the wellspring of that entire campaign, is officially defunct, where does that leave the 2001 authorization of military force that so much of the American war project has depended on?

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Joe Bidens commitment to de-escalating the forever wars seems real enough, operationally. Fears that the president who famously voted to authorize the war in Iraq would give in to his hawkish instincts or get rolled by his generals at the slightest sign of trouble in the Middle East have proved overblown. (Not that Biden is a dove; his hawkishness is just directed at China and Russia rather than jihadists.)

Besides the Afghanistan announcement, in February Biden announced the end of U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemens civil war, though the U.S. is still helping the Saudis with defensive operations, which allows some wiggle room. The U.S. and Iraqi governments have also agreed to the withdrawal of the remaining 2,500 troops in Iraqthe last of those deployed by Barack Obama in 2014 to fight ISIS, three years after the previous withdrawal from Iraq. The timeline of this current withdrawal is still unclear. Some 900 U.S. troops also remain in northeast Syria, and there doesnt seem to be much urgency about removing them. But there hasnt been a single strike against ISIS in Iraq or Syria since Biden took office, according to the monitoring site Airwars, and the role of these troops seems more about backing up Americas Kurdish allies, who currently control the area but face a variety of threats from their neighbors. In late February, the U.S. did launch a strike against an Iran-backed Shiite militia group in Syria, which was allegedly behind attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq.

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The global covert counterterrorism war appears to be winding down as well. There hasnt been a single U.S. drone strike in Pakistan under Bidenthe last one was on July 4, 2018. Theres been only one possiblethough unconfirmedU.S. strike in Somalia since Biden took office. The Trump administration had dramatically ramped up the covert war against al-Shabab in Somalia, with hundreds of strikes, before abruptly pulling the plug on it in its final months. The last U.S. airstrike in Libya was in 2019 according to New America. The Biden administration has also taken steps to disclose some of the rules the Trump team was using to authorize drone strikes and commando raids outside of established war zones.

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Yet Biden still holds the power to renew or expand hostilities if he sees fit, and hes not in any hurry to give up that authority. Anyone hoping for a genuine end to the war on terror as a whole was probably given pause by Bidens address to Congress last weekin which, after touting his Afghanistan decision and the decimation of al-Qaida, Biden added that the U.S. would maintain an over-the-horizon capability to suppress future threats to the homeland. It sounded as if he was reserving the authority to continue bombing Afghanistan even after U.S. troops leave it.

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Biden continued: Make no mistakethe terrorist threat has evolved beyond Afghanistan since 2001, and we will remain vigilant against threats to the United States, wherever they come from. Al-Qaida and ISIS are in Yemen, Syria, Somalia, and other places in Africa and the Middle East and beyond.

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If the threats have evolved over time, though, Congress legal authorizations of the presidents war powers have not evolved along with them. In the modern era, the U.S. doesnt do anything so blatant and clear-cut as declaring war. Since the 1973 War Powers Resolution limited the presidents ability to order military action unilaterally, what happens is that Congress OKs military action via authorizations for the use of military forceAUMFswhich are less formal than declarations of war, and also have a tendency to stick around for a while once theyre on the books.

Iraq and Afghanistan are both testing that sticking power. In March, the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted to advance legislation rescinding the 2002 AUMF against Iraq. Despite the fact that the 2002 resolution was intended to target Saddam Husseins government, it easily outlasted his overthrow and death; it was subsequently used by the Obama administration as part of its legal justification for airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq in 2014, and by the Trump administration for the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani last year. A similar bill in the Senate would rescind both that authorization and the 1991 AUMF for the first Gulf War, which is still technically in effect 30 years later.

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Repeal of the Iraq AUMF has a decent chance of passing, in part because many of the activities it has been cited to authorize would alsoarguablyfall under the 2001 anti-terrorist AUMF. (The Obama administration cited both as the legal basis for its anti-ISIS campaign.)

Repealing the 2001 one is likely to be more complicated. Passed by Congress in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, with only Rep. Barbara Lee voting against, the 2001 authorization allows the president to use military force against nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons. The members of Congress who voted for it may only have had al-Qaida in mind, but over time and subsequent administrations, the interpretation of the AUMF has broadened to include associated forces of the 9/11 attackers. As of 2018, it had been invoked for 41 military operations in 19 countries around the world from Georgia to Djibouti to the Philippines, as well as to justify the continued imprisonment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

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There have been numerous attempts over the years to repeal the authorization, or at least replace it with something more tailored to current events. President Barack Obama vowed in a 2013 speech to work with Congress to replace the AUMF and determine how we can continue to fight terrorists without keeping America on a perpetual wartime footing. One year later, however, Obama was invoking the same AUMF to wage war against ISISa terrorist organization that not only didnt exist at the time of the 9/11 attacks, but was itself fighting against the group that carried out those attacks.

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Part of the problem is that presidents rarely give up executive powers once they have them. And for members of Congress, its usually been more appealing to sit back and criticize the presidents conduct of the war than to actually take ownership of it. This has led to a situation where, as evidenced by last years Soleimani strike, its hard to imagine what Islamist militants the president couldnt claim the right to bomb under currently existing authorities.

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Could the end of the war in Afghanistan, the conflict the AUMF was actually intended to authorize 20 years ago, shift the debate? Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, a longtime advocate of AUMF reform, told me by email, The withdrawal places momentum on replacing the 2001 AUMF, and I will be engaging with the administration on an appropriate revision to account for the wars end in September 2021.

The Biden administration is, in theory, willing to play ball. Emily Horne, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, says, We are committed to working with members of Congress to ensure that the authorizations for the use of military force currently on the books are replaced with a narrow and specific framework that will ensure we can protect Americans from terrorist threats while ending the forever wars.

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Anti-interventionist voices in both parties are also a bit more common than they used to be, as shown in 2018 by the successful invocation of the War Powers Resolution to block U.S. support for the war in Yemenvetoed by Trump. Indiana Sen. Todd Young, a Republican who co-sponsored legislation with Kaine to repeal the Iraq AUMFs, says, Looking back, its traditionally been the party out of power thats tried to use the AUMF debate issue as a means to constrain the party in control. I remember telling my Democratic colleagues during the Trump administration that I hope theyll remain partners on this issue whenever the White House swings back the other direction.

But Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat whos been active on war powers issues, warns, Theres a strong desire to do something on the AUMF, and make a more narrowly tailored AUMF. But coming to consensus about what that narrow AUMF looks like has been the obstacle.

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Some progressives and libertarians say it shouldnt be replaced at all, but the more common view in Washington is that it should be replaced by a framework that allows the White House to respond to terrorist threats as they emerge. Doing that without simply giving the president carte blanche to bomb wherever he wants has historically been a tough needle to thread.

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Under the Obama administration, Secretary of State John Kerry argued against limiting the use of force to specific countries, saying, In our view, it would be a mistake to advertise to ISIL that there are safe havens for them outside Iraq or Syria. Bidens reference to Africa and the Middle East and beyond suggests he shares this view, and indeed, a small contingent of U.S. special forces was deployed to Mozambique to help fight against an ISIS-linked insurgency there.

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The website Just Security recently published a proposal for what a truly narrowly tailored AUMF could look like. It would identify specific targeted groups, preclude military action against other groups, sunset after no more than three years, and include extensive reporting requirements. The last requirement may be most important, given the sprawling nature of U.S. counterterrorism operations. When four U.S. servicemen were killed in Niger in 2017, several U.S. senators including uber-hawk Lindsey Graham professed surprise that the U.S. even had troops in the country.

Whatever its true preferences, the White House putting the matter in the hands of this Congress could be a pretty good way to signal its good intentions while ensuring that no real limits are placed on its war-making authority. As former U.S. diplomat Elizabeth Shackelford pointed out in a piece for Slate in February, nothing is stopping Biden from unilaterally announcing his authorities if he really wants to.

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Theres also the discomfiting possibility that the entire AUMF debate is becoming irrelevant as successive administrations have been increasingly claiming the right to launch military strikes without any authorization from Congress. When it launched airstrikes in Libya in 2011, the Obama administration claimed that military operations dont constitute hostilities under the Vietnam-era War Powers Resolution, and therefore dont require congressional authorization if they serve sufficiently important national interests and are not sufficiently extensive in nature, scope, and duration to constitute a war.  The Trump administration cited this position to justify its own strikes against Bashar al-Assads military in 2019. The Biden administration did not use any of the AUMFs to justify its own strikes on the Iran-backed group Kataib Hezbollah in Syria in February, instead arguing that the presidents role as commander in chief under Article II of the Constitution gave him, in the words of Pentagon spokesperson Jack Kirby, not only the authority but the obligation to attack the group.

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That logic doesnt hold up for Kaine. The executive branch tends to push the envelope of all its war authorities, whether they be statutory or constitutional, he said. He added that if the president responds to AUMF repeal by forsaking claims of AUMF authority and defaulting to claims of constitutional authority based on an overly broad interpretation of protecting our national interest, then we should respond by updating the War Powers Resolution to rein in such abuses.

The post-Afghanistan moment would seem to be the ideal opportunity for such a debate, but the moment is likely to be fleeting. If the forever wars fade from the headlines, the impetus to actually legally end them will fade as well, leaving this president and future presidents the opportunity to use the authorization for purposes that may be very different from their original intention. The 2002 Iraq authorization, after all, continued to be invoked long after both the defeat of Saddam Hussein and the first departure of U.S. troops from the country. Theres little hope of a president of either party simply giving up the power to wage war. If Congress is serious about regaining its oversight authority over military force, its going to have to take it.
Derek Chauvins lawyer filed a motion Tuesday to grant the former Minneapolis police officer a new trial, alleging a range of misconduct Chauvins team argues compromised the fairness of the high-profile proceeding that resulted in his three convictions for murder and manslaughter for the death of George Floyd. Such a filing is customary for a defendant following a conviction and reiterates some of the lines of objection articulated during the trial by Chauvins attorney Eric Nelson. The principal complaints, offered in the motion without any substantiating evidence, centered on how Hennepin County District Court Judge Peter Cahill conducted the trial, the jurys makeup, as well as the environment around the jury panels decision-making process. The motion is considered routine and legal experts have generally downplayed its chances of success, as the courts set a high har to overturn a jury decision. The motion is, however, likely indicative of what will be the basis of Chauvins appeal and, if dismissed, adds another avenue for the defense to appeal.

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The defense argued Cahills decision to keep the trial in Minneapolis, rather than move it elsewhere, prevented Chauvin from getting a fair and impartial hearing. Cahill also chose not to sequester the jury throughout the entirety of the proceeding, a decision the defense says, given the charged nature of trial and the national attention given to it, exposed the jurors to an environment of intense media and social pressure. The motion claimed there was post-testimony, but predeliberation intimidation of the defenses expert witnesses, from which the jury was not insulated.

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Not only did such acts escalate the potential for prejudice in these proceedings, they may result in a far-reaching chilling effort on defendants ability to procure expert witnessespecially in high-profile cases such as those of Mr. Chauvins co-defendantsto testify on their behalf, the motion read. The publicity was so pervasive and so prejudicial before and during this trial that it amounted to a structural defect in the proceedings.

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The motion also questioned the conduct and makeup of the jury, calling for a hearing into whether jurors committed misconduct, felt threatened or intimidated, felt race-based pressure during the proceedings and/or failed to adhere to instructions during deliberations. The filing comes days after one of the jurors, Brandon Mitchell, a 31-year-old Black man, gave an interview to the Star Tribune after photos circulated on social media showing Mitchell at an event in Washington, D.C. commemorating the 1963 March on Washington and Martin Luther King Jr.s historic I Have a Dream speech. The photo circulated on conservative social media as evidence of bias and that Mitchell did not disclose his attendance on his juror questionnaire that asked if potential jurors had participated in protests or demonstrations about police brutality or police use of force. In the photo taken standing with his two cousins, Mitchell is wearing a t-shirt with an image of Martin Luther King, Jr. with encircled by the words GET YOUR KNEE OFF OUR NECKS and BLM.

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Mitchell said he was forthcoming about his support for Black Lives Matter during jury selection, but he didnt classify the Washington gathering as a protest, much less one specifically about George Floyd. It was directly related to MLKs March on Washington from the 60s  The date of the March on Washington is the date, he told the Star Tribune. The event, which was held in August 2020, included advocating for racial justice, increasing voter registration, pushing for a new version of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and urging participation in the 2020 census, the Star Tribune reports. It also focused on police use of force. Floyds brother and sister, Philonise and Bridgett Floyd, and family members of others who have been shot by police addressed the crowd.

Mitchell is the only juror who has spoken publicly since the trial and told multiple media outlets that the jurors had wondered why Chauvin hadnt testified on his own behalf, instead invoking the Fifth Amendment before the judge while the jury was not present. Judge Cahill instructed the jury not to factor in Chauvins non-testimony into their decision-making on his guilt, which the defense has seized upon as another indication that jurys decision to convict was flawed.
Ethiopian train drivers trained by Chinese to boost capacity-building efforts

Xinhua) 10:50, May 05, 2021

ADDIS ABABA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Dejen Gezu, a new graduate driver of the 752.7-km Ethiopia-Djibouti railway is excited as he prepares to embark on his new career.

Gezu was one of the top three graduates of a recent Chinese government sponsored two and a half years rail technology training program, which aims to create a capable and skilled local manpower.

"From the time of my childhood, I wanted to work such kind of jobs, it is my ambition," Gezu told Xinhua.

"34 of us studied for around two and half years and our training was classified into two parts. One part in our country and the other one in China. We stayed for around eight months (in China), it was a really impressive time and it was really good training time. That was very important for us, because we grasped a lot of knowledge, skills and experiences to do our job perfectly," he further said.

The Ethiopian government has taken a keen interest in building a competent, skilled pool of technocrats, with Tuesday's inauguration of 34 train drivers being one such example.

Gezu and other 33 new graduates were given various types of educational courses including theoretical training, practical training, physical training, simulated cab training and professional skills competition.

The 34 graduates, who were originally selected from a pool of 6,000 prospective candidates, have been issued with a yearly train driving competency certificate, renewable every year.

Dagmawit Moges, Ethiopia Minister of Transport, called on the new train drivers to generously serve Ethiopia with all the skills they garnered from the two and a half years long training program.

"I say again congratulations for successfully finishing the training and for joining the job market. I call upon you to selflessly serve your country through the knowledge and skills you garnered in the training and to effect multifaceted tangible changes in the sector," the Ethiopia Minister of Transport said.

Moges said the training of locals in various professions in the railway sector is part of Ethiopian government's plan to eventually have locals fully manage and operate the country's railway system.

Liu Yu, Minister-Counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs of China to Ethiopia, said China is committed to helping Ethiopia cultivate a skilled manpower to help the east African country achieve economic prosperity.

"Several rounds of training programs for operating and managing this railway have been organized for Ethiopian staff. Knowledge transfer and capacity building is critical. For this reason Chinese government keeps requesting Chinese contractors to pay high attention to technology transfer and local staff training," Liu said.

Liu said the training of local staff for the Chinese built Ethiopia-Djibouti electrified rail line will indirectly boost landlocked Ethiopia's economic prospects.

"Ethiopia is a landlocked country, which is a major bottleneck for its development. But, with this railway Ethiopia turns to be land linked," Liu said, adding that the railway is not only a flagship cooperation project between China and Ethiopia, but also the road to prosperity for Ethiopia.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
The village of Niles announced last week that several internal investigations are taking place within the Niles Police Department. The village did not specify what each investigation involves, but did say that one is related to a whistleblowers complaint about how a well-being check of a civilian employee was handled by police and whether responding officers followed proper procedure on the call.
Saudi and Iranian security officials have been holding secret talks since January without any U.S. involvementa bit of news that has led some to bemoan a decline in American power as President Biden seeks to withdraw from the Middle East. But in fact, this is good news, both for the United States and for the prospects of calm in the region.

The development might also serve as a lesson for U.S. foreign policy broadlya sign that Washington doesnt need to involve itself in every conflict in the world, that sometimes its self-vaunted role as a peacekeeper or mediator only heightens tensions, and that sometimes its best to let local powers work through their problems on their own.

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The secret talks were first reported last month in the Financial Times. The British news site Amwaj.media has since reported that five such meetings have been held, beginning as far back as January, and that some of these sessions have also included officials from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Jordan, on topics ranging from the war in Yemen to security in Syria and Lebanon.*

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Soon after publication of these scoops, since confirmed by the New York Times and several others, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmanwhose spokesman at first denied the reportsaid in a TV interview, We are seeking to have good relations with Iran. We are working with our partners in the region to overcome our differences with Iran. This week, the chief spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, said that the Islamic Republic is ready to hold talks with Saudi Arabia at any level and in any form.

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Saudi Arabia and Iran have had no diplomatic relations since 2016. Their leaders and diplomats have practically hissed war threats at one another since before then. In other words, even if the talks dont produce many tangible results, we are witnessing a monumental political shift.

By all accounts, this shift was spurred by recognition that the United States is moving away from the Middle East. A senior Biden adviser told me, during the transition between election and inauguration, that the region would rank a distant fourth in Bidens priorities, after Asia Pacific, Europe, and South America.

President Trump also talked about pulling away from the Middle East, but he always kept his heartand the taxpayers walletopen for Saudi Arabia. The key change is that Biden is hardening his attitude toward the royal family. As Trita Parsi recently put it in Foreign Policy, Its not so much anything Washington has done but rather what Washington has stopped doingnamely, reassuring its security partners in the region that it will continue to support them unconditionally, no matter what reckless conduct they engage in.

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What Biden stopped doing most notably was providing arms to the Saudi military for use against Iranian-backed rebels in neighboring Yemen. (Settling the war in Yemen was the main topic in the first Saudi-Iranian talks.) Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have also explicitly criticized the Saudi governments killing of U.S. journalist Jamal Khashoggi (an act that Trump waved away as inconsequential) and announced a review of all arms sales to Riyadh (in contrast to Trumps push to sell the royal family as many arms as they wanted to purchase).

Bidens pushback also marks a departure from President Obamas policy, which, in many ways, perpetuated Washingtons accommodation of Saudi interestsa carryover from U.S. policy dating back to just after World War IIdespite his avid desire to pivot away from the region. For instance, in order to placate Saudi anxieties over his signing of the Iran nuclear deal (which would involve lifting U.S. sanctions against Tehran), Obama allowed Riyadh to use American munitions against Iranian-backed rebels in the Yemen war. (Obama later regretted this concession.)

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What would have happened if Obama had rejected the Saudis request for a green light and simply pursued what he saw as U.S. interestssigning the Iran nuclear deal, perhaps sympathizing with Saudi concerns, pledging to counter any and all acts of Iranian aggression in the region, but also saying, No, were not going to help you wage your dirty war in Yemen? The Saudis would have expressed outrage. Other Sunni powers in the region might have joined in. But then what? What would they have done to weaken U.S. power, influence, interests, or values?

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In an earlier era, they might have stepped up hostilities toward Israel. But in recent years, the Saudi Crown and other Sunni powers have cozied up with Israel, a partner in the cold war with Iranwhich, even if the Saudi-Iranian talks are fruitful, isnt about to vanish.

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Ignore moral values for a moment. Is there any reason, on strictly geopolitical grounds, for an American president to accommodate Saudi interests when they compromise our own? No.

This seems to be the conclusion that Biden and his team have reached. Yes, Biden will continue to consult with the Saudis and the other Sunni powers (as well as with Israel) as he and the European leaders try to revive the Iran nuclear deal (which Trump killed). Those countries also have an interest in where those negotiations lead, and our interests converge or coincide on a number of issues. But, like most countries on the planet (very much including Saudi Arabia), the U.S. should pursue its own interests and valuesand it should avoid putting those interests and values on the line in trying to settle disputes among other countries, especially since we often end up intensifying those disputes, as turned out to be the case when Obama tried to mollify the Saudis after doing a deal with Iran.

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Of course there are exceptions to this rule. We should exert our influence when dealing with solid allies, especially where we are obligated by treaties to protect their security. Mediating the historical tensions between South Korea and Japan, for example, is very much in our interest, as those tensionsbetween Asia Pacifics two most powerful democratic countriesimpede cohesive policymaking within the larger regional alliance, in some ways our most vital alliance in the worlds most dynamic region.

Exceptions aside, this is not a call for isolationism. It is instead a descriptionwhich Biden and his team seem to be groping towardsof what a reasonable policy in a fractured world should be. Its a policy driven by interests, values, and obligations that really matternot by vague and outdated notions of what geopolitics or perceptions of influence might dictate.

Letting Saudi Arabia and Iran reach some modus operandi on their own does not reflect a decline of American power, nor is anyone likely to see it that way. Its more likely to be seen as a sensible end to the squandering of our resources.

Correction, May 10, 2021: This article originally misidentified Amwaj.media as Amwad.media.
Republicans are preparing to oust Rep. Liz Cheney as chair of the House GOP conference. Theyre doing this because former President Donald Trump insists his defeat in last years election was fraudulent, and Cheney refuses to accept that lie. In choosing Trump over Cheney, the party isnt just choosing lies over truth. Its choosing servility over patriotism. While pretending to stand for America First, Trump has been working steadily to fracture, weaken, and discredit the United States.

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As president, Trump consistently sided with foreign dictators against his domestic political opponents. On Jan. 6, he carried his treachery as far as he could, sending a mob to the Capitol in an explicit attempt to stop Congress from certifying his electoral defeat. The coup attempt failed, and Trump left office on Jan. 20. But since then, in more than a dozen interviews, speeches, and written statements, he has continued to tell his followers, falsely, that the 2020 election was rigged, totally fraudulent, and stolen through tens of millions of fake ballots.

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In delivering these lies, Trump chooses language thats particularly likely to incite rebellion and destabilize the government. On Feb. 28, a month after leaving office, he told the Conservative Political Action Conference that President Joe Biden was never truly elected. Did Biden win? No, Trump told the crowd. As his followers chanted, You won! You won! Trump egged them on, saying, We did. Three weeks later, in a Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America, he declared that we had an Illegitimate Election. On April 12, he wrote that the U.S. government was in the grip of an unconstitutionally elected group of Radical Left Democrats who are destroying our Country.

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Trump has recommended specific steps to sabotage American democracy. In a March 22 interview with right-wing podcaster Lisa Boothe, he suggested that Republican senators should block Democratic legislation by refusing to show up. For the past two weeks, he has promoted a partisan charade disguised as a ballot recount in Arizona. While other Republicans have called for ballot security, Trump has gone further, demanding that access to the polls be curtailed even for legal voters. Georgias election reform law is far too weak, he protested last month. He argued that far too many days are given to vote and that the state should have completely eliminated drop boxes, weekend early voting, and no-excuse absentee voting.

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When Republican senators acquitted Trump of inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection, they said he hadnt intended to provoke the violence that followed his speech to the mob. But Trump, having witnessed the violence, keeps using the same language he used then. In a March 22 Newsmax interview, he said Democrats were destroying our country. He told Boothes listeners that Democrats were vicious, that we have to stop them, and weve got to fight like hell. He castigated former Vice President Mike Pencewho was targeted for death by the insurrectionistsfor failing to block certification of the election. If Democrats had been robbed in an election the way he was robbed, Trump raged, You would have literally had a revolution. [But] guys like Mitch McConnell, they dont fight.

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Trump doesnt just dispute one election. He endorses the narrative, promoted by Russia and other U.S. adversaries, that the whole American system of liberty and democracy is a sham. We have a very sick and corrupt electoral process, he told CPAC. Two weeks later, he told Fox News, Were like a Third World country. A week after that, in his interview with Boothe, he said three times that we dont have freedom of the press. Several investigations have found that these anti-American narratives were central to Russias intervention in the 2016 election. But Trump continues to play along, addressing a global audience as he lies about the United States. On Thursday, he told Fox News, This election is a disgrace to our country, and the whole world knows it.

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Two weeks ago, Fox News host Sean Hannity asked Trump about Russia, North Korea, and other hostile regimes. Trump, having returned to his global business empire, rejected that characterization and defended Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un. We should be doing business with Russia, he told Hannity. I got along great with President Putin. I liked him. He liked me. Trump complained that U.S. investigations of his extensive ties to Russia had hurt any possibility of dealing with Russia. The result, he said, was a loss of precious financial opportunities: We could have made a lot of money. They have great natural resources.

Trump also bragged about his bond with Kim. I have a great relationship with a certain man thats got great power over North Korea, he told Hannity. He writes me letters. I like him. He likes me. Shortly after the interview, when South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Trump had tried to shake him down in exchange for keeping U.S. troops in that country, Trump took Kims side against Moon. Kim Jong-un of North Korea, who I have gotten to know (and like)  never respected the current President of South Korea, Trump scoffed. In a formal statement, he accused South Korea and many other countries we protect of a ripoff, claiming that these allies werent paying us enough for the military protection and services we render.

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When Trump says we, he isnt talking about America as a guardian of freedom or democracy. Hes talking about America as a well-armed financial empire and vehicle for his ego. He doesnt understand that we aspire to stand for distinctive values, and he feels no loyalty to a country he doesnt control. Thats why he advocates plunderIf youre going to go in, keep the oil, he told CPACand complains that scrutiny of his relationships with authoritarian regimes keeps you away from these countries, from dealing economically. Its why he brags about arranging a lucrative pact with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Its why he envies Mexico, where the armed forces dont have the restrictions that we have on civilian deployment. Its why he works every day to undermine the democracy that rejected him.

Now Trump is demanding Cheneys head, and House Republicans are preparing to comply. Ive had it with her, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said of Cheney on Tuesday. Someone just has to bring a motion. McCarthy framed Cheney as a troublemaker, arguing that Republicans must work together instead of attacking one another.  We were so successful under President Trump. But you cant unite honorably behind a man whos trying to sabotage your country. You can only choose between the country and the man.
People in West Virginia are much more likely than those in other places to have an opioid prescription, and much more likely to die from an overdose. Eric Eyre, an investigative reporter at Mountain State Spotlight, dug into how so many powerful narcotics got into his state and found a web of drug distributors, companies that call themselves the central nervous system of health careCardinal Health, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen. Theyre huge, ranking in the top 20 of the Fortune 500, and now West Virginias Cabell County, one of those hardest hit by opioid addiction, is taking them to court. On Wednesdays episode of What Next, I spoke to Eyre about the lawsuit, whos to blame for the opioid crisis, and what West Virginians want now. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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Mary Harris: These opioid middlemen are in court because, you say, they have a unique perch. They can see which pharmacies are ordering what, so they could have been a kind of early warning system for the opioid crisis. Instead, lawyers for Cabell County will argue that these distributors left rural places on their own.

Eric Eyre: Cabell Countyin the state with the highest overdose death rate, which is West Virginiahas probably suffered more than any place in America. Back a couple years ago, they had incidents of 26 overdoses in four hours. All the national media descended on Huntington, Cabell. Huntington has been through a lot. The good news is they started to make some progress on reducing overdose deaths. They had two consecutive years of decreases. But now that the pandemic hit, its unfortunately gone the other way. Its trending upward again.

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So what is the county arguing?

Theyre arguing that these distributors flooded, saturated, showered their county with opioids, and that led to a prescription drug problem, which then transferred to a heroin problem, and now is a meth and a fentanyl problem. They say that these companies were not submitting, under DEA rules, what they call suspicious drug order reports, which are reports that pharmacies are ordering way more opioids than they really could possibly need. And that, at the end of the day, they played a critical role in the opioid crisis and they need to be held accountable.

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Youve noted that the countys argument is akin to one that might be made against a polluter, that they created an environment that was bad for the publics health. It was a public nuisance.

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Thats probably one of the strongest arguments that they can make. The other is the causation argument. But its going to be hard making the switch from holding them accountable for the prescription pills and then the switch to heroin.

The distributors are trying to separate themselves and say the heroins not us, we dont distribute heroin.

Yeahtheres a couple degrees of separation. But the CDC has done studies showing that 80 percent of people on heroin were using prescription drugs before they switched to heroin, prescription opioids in particular.

So everyones kind of pointing at each other here.

Yeah. People say, what about the doctors? And Id say yes, its everybody. Its the doctors. Its the pharmacists, the manufacturers, the distributors. The regulatorsDEA dropped the ball, they didnt spot some of these massive shipments that were coming into West Virginia. The board of pharmacy, which ignored reports of suspicious orders by pharmacies. It was just this entire system. And I almost forgot the lobbyists and the politicians too. They contributed.

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The first time West Virginia sued a drug company over opioids was in 2001. Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, settled for $10 million. Since then, the state has sued distributors twice. They got a little more money from those suits, but nothing like the settlements other states have won. For comparison, two counties in Ohio got three times as much money from opioid distributors as the entire state of West Virginia. So did those earlier settlements seem like too little, too late?

No, thats whats interesting. I mean, some people were complaining that it was a bad deal, but the first settlement they had was against AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health, and that was for $36 million. And it just was kind of a different time. People werent really talking that much about opioids. There was a lot of uncertainty in West Virginia because we had a Supreme Court that was changing, becoming more conservative, anti-consumer.

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So advocates were kind of just happy to get anything?

Yeah. And they settled before the new Republican governor was sworn in, so there was that fear as well.

Theres this feeling that West Virginia needs to see its day in court. It wants the world to know what happened here.  Eric Eyre

But its useful to look at, for instance, Big Tobacco. That master settlement agreement was over multiple states, not just one, but still it was worth over $200 billion. You look at settlements for $10 million and $30 million, and thats a big difference.

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Yeah. And whats interesting too is our former Attorney General Darrell McGraw was heavily involved in the tobacco settlement, and that was actually bringing in close to $60 million a year to the state of West Virginia, over many years. So youre right, when you compare that to, I think the grand total from the distributors that was received through the attorney generals lawsuits was $72 millionfrom what we know now, that was way too little.

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I wonder if this history of settlements makes the lawyers for Cabell County want to fight harder, and whether theres some logic of we might as well just take this to court and duke it out.

Theres this feeling that West Virginia needs to see its day in court. It wants the world to know what happened here. It wants transparency. And they havent had that. There hasnt been a trial. Theyre going to bring their fire chief in and talk about what she sees every day, people dying of overdoses and having to respond to the same person over and over again. One of the county commissioners is going to testify about her friends and family that have been impacted by the crisis. You know, families that have lost, in the same family, more than one family member. So I think they want everybody to know what happened, how it happened, and why it happened.

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How much impact would any kind of financial settlement have on the lives of real people in West Virginia? In previous cases filed against these distributors, the state already got about $72 million. Where is that money now?

Frankly, thats been a mystery that I need to solve. Yesterday, actually, the drug distributors at the hearing brought up that theres no guarantee that any proceeds from any settlement or award by the judge will go to people with opioid use disorder, drug treatment programs, etc. They plan to show that of the $72 million, a third of it went to drug treatment programs, a third of it went to law enforcement with no stipulation on how they could spend the money, and then a third went straight to our attorney generals budget, his account. I havent seen the details of this, but it was supposed to all go to treatment.

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The drug distributors said that West Virginia doesnt need any more money for treating the overdose crisis, that theyve gotten plenty of federal funds to handle that. That was news to me and that was news to a lot of other people. They claim some public health official wrote a letter to them or wrote a letter to the governors office saying that they dont need as much money as they thought they needed.

So theyre saying the states being greedy.

Yeah. And I find that hard to believe, but thats going to be one of their defenses.

What do you think the most appropriate remedy would be here? Weve talked about how problematic some of the previous settlements have been, too small or not enough oversight, a lot of it going to cops instead of treatment programs or needle exchanges. What does that mean for a lawsuit like this, how you structure in whats actually needed?

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Its not like the movies, where somebody detoxes in four days and then they pop up and theyre fine. Its three to five years.  Eric Eyre

I think they can do it. And Im glad you brought up the harm reduction programs, because our Legislature just a month or two ago, and the governor signed it into law, basically created such onerous regulations for the few harm reduction clinics (I think we have six, whereas Kentucky has like 55) that the clinics are saying theyre going to be put out of business by these onerous regulations. Essentially what weve done is outlaw one of the primary treatment options that people with substance use disorder have.

And its not just people getting syringes. Theyre coming in and theyre going to get pointed into places that actually treat substance use disorder, medication-assisted treatment, etc. Its a step through the door to getting help that they need. And the West Virginia Legislature, not only did they do nothing that addressed the raging opioid crisis, they did things that actually weaken what we were currently doing, which was already very little. So Im hoping that we can get this tide turned, but its going to depend on resources. And the next best shot we have is some sort of settlement from this litigation.

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I wonder, when you speak to people in West Virginia, if they have a good sense of who they blame for whats happened in your state.

I dont think a lot of people anymore are really trying to blame. I think theyre trying to say, We need help. We need prevention. We need money for harm reduction programs, for clean needle, syringe exchanges. We need more beds. The last report I saw, there was 150,000 West Virginians suffering from substance use disorder, and short-term beds available for treatment was around a thousand, and I think another 1,200 of long-term treatment.

Its not like the movies, where somebody detoxes in four days or goes through withdrawal for four days and then they pop up and theyre fine. Everybody I talk to, a lot of friends that I have that are in the addiction treatment side, they say its like a good three to five years. Three to five years. Its not something youre going to turn the tide overnight, and its something that they live with all the time. Thank goodness there are success stories, it can happen, people can get better. But people are tired of everybody pointing fingers at everybody. Just put the resources where theyre needed and maybe we can tackle this problem and save more lives.

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On April 28, when the Narendra Modiled Indian government opened up vaccine registrations for all adult citizens, 29-year-old Mousumi Chatterjee felt left out.

The government said citizens should sign up on CoWIN, its COVID vaccine registration website, or download its coronavirus contact-tracing app, Aarogya Setu, on their phones. Vaccination slots would be made available on May 1.

But Chatterjee, a domestic worker in Kolkata, has no idea what the CoWIN website and the Aarogya Setu app are. Her mobile and internet literacy are limited to making calls, exchanging messages on WhatsApp, and browsing Facebook: the latter two only because a salesperson at a mobile store downloaded the apps on her phone and changed the language setting to Bangla, the only one she can read.

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I have never heard of the Aarogya Setu app. I dont know how to download apps. Im not educated. How will I self-register? Chatterjee said in an interview.

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While the Aarogya Setu app is available in a few regional Indian languages, including Bangla, Chatterjee was not aware that she needed to download it and register on it in order to get the vaccine, until a family she works for explained to her and offered to help her register. The CoWIN website, however, is available only in the English language.

Within minutes of registrations opening at 4 p.m. on April 28, the CoWIN website crashed. (Registration is only mandatory for those under 45; those older than 45 can simply go to a hospital to get vaccinated, assuming theres a shot availablewhich is a big assumption.) To register, you had to request a one-time password. But the text messages with the one-time passwords came too slowly for many people to register successfully before their session on the site expired.

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Some still managed to register on the portalthe government boasted that more than 13 million people did on April 28. As of May 4, a total of 51 million people in the 1844 age group had registered. But registrations dont really matter because India is experiencing a dire shortage of vaccines, which means within seconds of opening up, slots are booked.

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Only 662,619, or 1.3 percent, of the 51 million Indian citizens in the 1844 age group registered on the portal have been able to get their first jabs. Many, perhaps even most, of them succeeded because they had access to advanced technical skills that helped them jump the line and book a slot. In the U.S., a situation much the same arose in the beginning of this year when citizens were scrambling to find appointments due to a similar imbalance of supply and demand. In India, the situation is far worse. The Indian government has fallen way short of its own target of vaccinating citizens. Less than 2 percent of the countrys total population has been fully vaccinated, and less than 40 percent of targeted health and front-line workers are fully vaccinated.

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Meanwhile, Indias second COVID-19 wave, which strengthened in the second half of February, has only worsened. People have been begging for oxygen cylinders, medicines, hospital beds, plasma donors, and ventilators on social media. There are more dead bodies than wood available for cremating them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been criticized for not prioritizing the pandemic while permitting the continued constructing of his new residence (set to be ready by December 2022), part of the $2.6 billion Central Vista project. Recommendations from experts for a nationwide lockdown have been ignored. Citizens are angry, frustrated, and discouraged seeing no clear plan of action from the nations leader to manage the pandemic.

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Their helplessness has been exacerbated by an unjust vaccination system that prioritizes efficiency and high technology instead of need, loading the dice in favor of the tech-savvy elite over most of the countrys 1.4 billion population. Ahead of vaccine registration for the 1844 age group on April 28, the government opened up CoWINs application programming interface to third parties. By offering tech tools like application programming interface that can only be used by software programmers, the government, in effect, has created a discriminatory arrangement that defeats the logic and urgency of a public health program. In this environment of scarcity, the governments message seems to be: learn how to code and you can get a vaccine.

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One such person who has taken advantage of this unequal vaccination policy is Anirudh Patil, a 35-year-old finance professional based in Thane, a city just outside of Mumbai. His wife registered both of them on the Aarogya Setu app on April 29.

Patil didnt bother checking for an appointment on May 1 because he figured that it would be next to impossible to book a slot. But the following day, his techie friend Saurabh Das called him alerting him about available slots. Patil called his wife, who, on her very first attempt, was able to book two slots on the app for the next day at a primary health center, about 25 miles away from their home, in a town called Vasind.

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Only a small percentage of people in the country can take advantageor are even awareof these workarounds.

Both Patil and his wife have received their first jabs of Covishield, a variant of Oxfords AstraZeneca vaccine being produced by the Serum Institute of India. There was definitely a certain amount of luck that was involved in getting the slots so quickly. Slots are getting filled in the first 2030 seconds of them opening, he told me.

But it wasnt just luck. Patils friend Das, a 36-year-old technology consultant based in Mumbai, had himself been trying to book a slot. Even when he found some available, by the time he would log in using a one-time password, select the time, and confirm the appointment, all the slots would be booked. The CoWIN website automatically logs users out 15 minutes after logging in.

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Das then decided to take a techie shortcut: He would use the CoWIN websites public application programming interface and filter out 1844 age-group slots that were available at all the vaccination centers in the chosen districts on the chosen dates. The web scraper automatically searches the CoWIN website and Aarogya Setu app every five seconds and gives relevant results based on the filters. Das had been sitting in front of his screen monitoring slot availability for several districts in and around Mumbai. As soon as he saw some openings, he called Patil.

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Writing this code helped in bypassing the time-consuming signing-in process that requires the user to input a [one-time password]. It also helps in monitoring slot availability for a longer period of time without having to keep logging in, Das told me.

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Das isnt alone in trying to work around the system. There are several websites (like getjab.in and under45.in) and automated groups on messaging apps and social media platforms that have cropped up in the past few days to send notifications every time a slot opens up in a users district or city. At the time of writing this story, 438 public scripts appeared when I ran a search for CoWIN on Microsoft-owned GitHub, a coding website. Nearly all these scripts do some kind of web scraping to make booking vaccination slots easier for those who know how to run them. Many of them send slot availability alerts via email or text.

Akshay Gururaj, a 31-year-old photographer based in Bangalore, was able to find a slot through one such group on Telegram, the messaging app, called BLR UNDER 45 APPOINTMENT ALERTS. (BLR is short for Bangalore.)

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As soon as the vaccine information is uploaded onto the CoWIN and Aarogya Setu database, I get a notification from this group. The slots usually go away in seconds. I was lucky that I was already signed in when I got the notification. Getting a vaccine slot is like a hackathon right now, he told me.

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However, only a small percentage of people in the country can take advantageor are even awareof these workarounds. And Chatterjee, the domestic help, is certainly not one of them, making her among the most vulnerable people in the vaccination process.

Even those who are urban, educated, internet literate, and come from wealthier backgrounds cannot do much to book a slot unless they are aware of platforms that are making the booking process easier or have a techie friend who knows how to write code. A 27-year-old New Delhibased artist who did not wish to be named said she has desperately been trying to book a slot but hasnt had any luck. When I asked her if she had tried under45.in or getjab.in, she didnt know what I was talking about, even though she is very active on the internet and social media.

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The fact that hundreds of other websites and bot services are being developed by common Indian citizens just to book slots on government-developed platforms not only reveals the exclusionary nature of both CoWIN and Aarogya Setu, but also sheds light on the governments failure to put a fair and functional mechanism in place.

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Giridhar R. Babu, professor and head of life-course epidemiology at the Public Health Foundation of India, said that the government should not have made self-registration mandatory for anybody, whether online or offline.

CoWIN and Aarogya Setu are barriers for vaccination progress. We have never expected people to register on their own and come for appointments, in earlier vaccination programs, he told me, adding that even walk-ins will not solve the problem. He believes that the government needs to microplan and organize vaccine drives by chalking out specific dates for specific districts and cities.

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The governments vaccine policy has been widely criticized on all fronts including supply shortage, communication, pricing, and rollout by several health experts and public intellectuals.

What we got in vaccine policy is a bizarre combination of ruthlessness and managing the headlines.  This is ad hoc social Darwinism. The strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must. A perfect metaphor for our healthcare system, Pratap Bhanu Mehta, one of Indias best-known intellectuals, wrote in his column in the daily newspaper the Indian Express on April 28.

People like Chatterjee on the bottom rung of the Indian societypoor, uneducated, and internet illiterateare suffering the most.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
This article is part of the Free Speech Project, a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech.

On Wednesday, Facebooks independent Oversight Board upheld the companys Jan. 7 decision to block former President Donald Trump from posting content to his Facebook and Instagram pages. At the same time, the board said that Facebooks move to impose the indeterminate and standardless penalty of indefinite suspension was inappropriate and insisted that the company review the case to come up with a proportionate response. In effect, the board validated the initial decision to restrict Trumps account but put the ball back into Facebooks court for determining whether he should be permanently kept off the platform.

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The board stated, In applying a vague, standardless penalty and then referring this case to the Board to resolve, Facebook seeks to avoid its responsibilities. The Board declines Facebooks request and insists that Facebook apply and justify a defined penalty. It further demanded that Facebook come up with this clearer penalty within six months.

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At the heart of the case are two posts that went up on Trumps account on Jan. 6 while the Capitol was being overrun by a violent mob of his supporters. One was a video in which Trump told rioters in part, We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. Youre very special. The other was a post that read, These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love in peace. Remember this day forever! The American Center for Law and Justice, a Christian organization run by one of Trumps lead lawyers in his first impeachment, and an unidentified page administrator submitted a statement to the board on the former presidents behalf arguing that it is inconceivable that either of those two posts can be viewed as a threat to public safety, or an incitement to violence. Trumps representatives further claim that he was calling for peace and blamed the violence on outside forces like the Oath Keepers. (Some of the insurrectionists, though, claim they thought they were following Trumps orders.)

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The Oversight Board didnt buy this argument and ruled that the two posts severely violated Facebooks policies around dangerous individuals and organizations. It found that Trump praised and supported people involved in a continuing riot where people died, lawmakers were put at serious risk of harm, and a key democratic process was disrupted. The initial decision to restrict the account, according to the board, was appropriate to address the threat of violence at that moment. The board now wants Facebook to decide on a more clearly defined penalty, giving the examples of just removing the dangerous content, specifying a time-bound suspension period, or permanently banning Trump. In addition, while Facebook says it did not consult its vague exception for rule-breaking content that is newsworthy or important for the public interest, the board called on Facebook to be more transparent on how it applies this policy and ensure that it does not take priority over preventing significant harm.

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Nick Clegg, Facebooks vice president of global affairs and communications, responded to the boards ruling in a blog post, writing in part, We will now consider the boards decision and determine an action that is clear and proportionate. In the meantime, Mr. Trumps accounts remain suspended.

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Facebook first blocked Trump from posting for 24 hours on Jan. 6, after he spent the day sending out videos and status updates containing misinformation about the election being stolen while a riot was consuming the Capitol. The next day, Facebook announced it would suspend him indefinitely, or at least until after Inauguration Day. CEO Mark Zuckerberg argued at the time that Trump seemed intent on using the rest of his lame-duck period to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power and that the risks of allowing him to continue posting on the platform at that time were simply too great. On Jan. 21, a day after the inauguration, Clegg, revealed that the company would refer its decision to indefinitely suspend Trump to its independent Oversight Board. A number of other social-media companies like Snapchat, YouTube, andperhaps most cruciallyTwitter also suspended Trump from their platforms, where he remains banned. Facebook is alone in having a purportedly autonomous body make a final ruling. The board delayed the release of the ruling in mid-April to give itself more time to read through the more than 9,000 public comments its received about Trumps ban.

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Conservatives were predictably livid in the immediate wake of the ban, with many seeking out alternative free speech platforms like Parler and Gab. At the same time, other world leaders like German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also expressed their dismay at major social media companies exiling Trump because of the precedent it would seem to set.

Facebook launched its Oversight Board in October 2020 to hear cases from people whod had their content removed by Facebook and exhausted their appeals with the companys moderators. Before the Trump case, the board had ruled on seven others, reversing Facebooks decision to take content down in five of them. A group of five unnamed individuals from the boards approximately 20 memberswhich include journalists, academics, and activistsreviewed Trumps suspension.

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Academics and policy experts have been pushing for Facebook and other social media companies to permanently ban the former president. University of Virginia School of Law professor Danielle Keats Citron and University of California, Berkeley, computer science professor Hany Farid wrote in Slate in February:

The decision around Trumps ban will be among the first the Facebook Oversight Board will make, but it is hard to imagine a more consequential case. The world is watching to see if the board is capable of speaking truth to power, to both Zuckerberg and Trump. In saying enough is enough, the board will show that certain lines cannot be crossed. It is a privilege to use these online platformsthey dont owe us their service. Serial violations that cause lasting, widespread harm to public health and the body politic warrant the permanent revocation of that privilege.

For the time being, Trump still has a janky, makeshift Twitter clone that he launched on Tuesday, where he can post to his hearts content.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Months after getting kicked off of pretty much every major social media platform, former President Donald Trump is now posting on a crude Twitter replica attached to his website called From the Desk of Donald J. Trump. The site, which went live on Tuesday, has been prepopulated with snippets from Trumps press releases stretching back to late March. The most recent post, from Tuesday, is a video introducing the platform as a place to speak freely and safely.

Trump launches new communications tool after social media ban (Video via Donald Trump) https://t.co/N1FjAsyQCb pic.twitter.com/mU4Z5WXNx2  The Hill (@thehill) May 4, 2021

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The Twitter-like feed appears on a single webpage within Trumps official site. Every post says Donald J. Trump at the top, along with a time stamp, which might make more sense if more than one person were using the platform. There are, however, some key differences between Twitter and the former presidents virtual desk. You cant comment on or reply to any of the posts. The platform doesnt have a 280-character limit; some of the posts go on for thousands of characters. Liking a post doesnt seem to do anything other than turn the heart button red, since theres no engagement counter, and unliking a post isnt an option. Peeking at the sites code, one of my colleagues on Slates development team did notice that the website is collecting data when users like certain posts. (It keeps sending data to the Trump team every time you click the button, even if youve already liked the post.) Alongside each post are also buttons that you can click to share the content directly onto Twitter, which has permanently banned Trump, and Facebook, which is deciding this week whether to let him back on the platform. The messages are generally too long for Twitters character limit, which results in the reposts being awkwardly cut off. The top of the page has contribute and sign up buttons as well, presumably to help fundraise for future political activities or even another presidential campaign.

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it is kind of interesting though that the idea is to bypass the bans by letting other people tweet out his message on his behalf but...the integration looks pretty janky/poorly designed to make shit go viral, this is what it looked like when i used the 'twitter' share button pic.twitter.com/QqR0pqKvjK  Charlie Warzel (@cwarzel) May 4, 2021

For the most part, the content of the posts is a bit more verbose than what Trump was writing on Twitter, but he hasnt kicked his habits of attacking political enemies and spreading conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. In another recent post backdated to Monday, Trump denounces Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney as a big-shot warmonger.

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Another major difference from Twitter is just how shoddy Trumps new platform is. For a time on Tuesday afternoon, there appeared to be lines of debugging code visible at the bottom of the page, though it was later concealed. Another one of my colleagues spotted code indicating that the site does not ask for affirmative consent to track users with a Facebook PageView pixel even if they reside in Europe. The European Unions General Data Protection Regulation requires that websites get visitors to explicitly opt in to this kind of data collection.

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This code was visible on the Trump "communications platform," at the bottom of the page; when I reloaded a few minutes ago it was gone. pic.twitter.com/dc3KhSkyAT  Jonathan L. Fischer (@jon_fischer) May 4, 2021

Back on Twitter, users have been relentlessly mocking the aesthetic and functionality of the platform, calling it essentially a slapdash blog dressed up as a social media site.

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Trumps new communications platform is a website that looks like it was designed by me in 15 minutes pic.twitter.com/1pVgz0XqdF  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 4, 2021

"It's just going to be another blog on the internet... it's really just very sad and pathetic," says @ChaiKomanduri on Trump's new online platform  The Beat with Ari Melber on MSNBC  (@TheBeatWithAri) May 4, 2021

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Um, this "new platform" is just a blog on a personal web site that doesn't even have a comments section. It has changed the game back to before 2008.https://t.co/IgaF4ibVqh  Domenico Montanaro (@DomenicoNPR) May 4, 2021

This is hilarious. Trumps new communications platform is a freaking web page! https://t.co/VAOrBHKEBF pic.twitter.com/Q7WEfNq8v0  John Aravosis  (@aravosis) May 4, 2021

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At the same time, some of Trumps high-profile supporters, like former White House aide Sebastian Gorka (now a Newsmax host) and disgraced political journalist Benny Johnson (also now a Newsmax host), were sharing it.

Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, and other major social media sites removed Trumps accounts in the wake of the Capitol riot for fear that he would foment more violence and prevent an orderly transfer of presidential power. Some did so permanently, while others may eventually let him back on. The question then was how the social mediaobsessive former president was going to try to speak directly to his followers. Last summer and then shortly after the 2020 election, the Trump Organization briefly entered into negotiations with the right-wing platform Parler for him to set up an account there in exchange for a stake in the company, but the talks fell through. Trump has also been sending out press releases, some of which are tweetlike; although theyre sent directly to journalists inboxes, they havent made the same splash on social media as his old missives. Trump has been hinting for weeks that he would be launching a new social media network that could compete with the likes of Facebook and Twitter. If this is the result of that effort, it doesnt look like the incumbent platforms have much to worry about.
This article is part of the Free Speech Project, a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech.

The Facebook Oversight Board has spoken: Trump will not be reinstated on Facebook, at least for another six months, until Facebook clarifies its rules and penalties, particularly as applied to public figures. In its long and thoughtful ruling the board cites international human rights law in detail. Most notably, it has declined to provide blanket political cover and legitimacy to Mark Zuckerbergs Jan. 7 decision to deplatform the former president. Instead it has instructed the company to be more transparent and less arbitrary about how its rules are enforced, while also seekingto the extent that its limited remit allowsto address the real harm that Donald Trumps social media postings have caused.

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This unprecedented deliberative body of experts represents an innovative experiment in improving public legitimacy and understanding around how the worlds most powerful global internet platform enforces its content rules. Its the first institutional effort to apply a consistent, universal set of global standards for free speech and human rights to the content moderation practices of a social media company. The boards application of international human rights law in all of its decisions, including the Trump case, sets important precedent not only for Facebook but for other digital platforms seeking to craft and enforce rules governing users speech and behavior while also respecting and protecting users rights.

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The board members make no claim to oversee how Facebook Inc. operates as a company.

The Oversight Board, established in 2020 as an independent organization and funded by Facebook, started with 20 members but will eventually expand to 40. Its decisions about whether content or individual accounts should be allowed to remain on the platform, or be taken down, are binding. It may issue other opinions and recommendations, but those are not binding. Every day, Facebook takes down millions of postings that violate its rules, but the board considers only a tiny number of representative cases. They are chosen with the help of staff from among user appeals and requests for review from Facebook itselfwhich is how Trumps case landed on the docket in January. Including the Trump case, it has issued a total of 10 decisions accompanied by detailed explanations about the process and information that led to each decision. As in all of its previous cases, Wednesdays decision describes all of the information that the board considered and how that information informed their decision. It also describes the decision-making process, including some details about debates and disagreements among its members. The Facebook Oversight Board has done an admirable job within the confines of its remit, using the limited power that Facebook has seen fit to grant it. But Wednesdays ruling only further exposes the need for real accountability.

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First, we must be clear about what this organization is not. Calling this group of distinguished people the Facebook Oversight Board is a misnomer. A more correct name would be the Facebook Content Moderation Adjudication Board or Facebook Content Governance Oversight Board. Some people like to call it Facebooks Supreme Court due to the nature of its rulings, which the company treats as precedent. Perhaps the Jedi Council of Facebookistan would be a more faithful representation of what this really isand isnt. In Wednesdays decision, the self-aware board defines its own authority as an independent grievance mechanism to address disputes in a transparent and principled manner.

The point is this: The board members make no claim to oversee how Facebook Inc. operates as a company. They have no power to impose penalties on company executives for actions that are in good faith assumed to be mistakesbut which in some situations can have massive and sometimes irreversible impact on lives and livelihoods.

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The board also cannot compel Facebook to provide information. Facebook executives are free to decline requests for information that the board deems necessary to understand the context of their cases. In the Trump case, Facebook flatly declined to answer seven of the 46 questions asked by the board, many of them related to the companys targeted advertising business model, algorithmic amplification system, and communications between company staff and political officeholders. The boards lack of real power of discovery first hit a moment of reckoning in April, when the board considered a case in which Facebook had removed of a post accusing Indias prime minister, Narendra Modi, of encouraging Hindu nationalists to promote the killing of Sikhs, a religious minority. The post was written and shared as Sikh farmers were protesting on the streets of New Delhi against controversial new agriculture laws supported by Modis government. Violent attacks targeting Sikhs, and the governments failure to discourage them, were a serious concern.

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The board found that the deletion of the post in question was not only inconsistent with the companys rules but violated the free speech rights of an embattled religious minority. Yet Facebook executives declined to answer specific questions from the board about government requests to restrict protest-related content around that time. The company claimed that such information was not essential for decision-making in this case and referenced a list of other possible legal obstacles. While it did answer a question about how the company works to ensure staff independence from government interference, the board might have good reason to wonder how effective those measures are. In October, Facebooks India public policy head, Ankhi Das, departed in the wake of allegations that she had told staff not to enforce hate speech rules against politicians from Modis ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Be that as it may, Facebook has made clear that probes of staff ethics are beyond the remit of the so-called Oversight Board.

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Nor is Facebook obligated to implement recommendations that the board makes about the companys broader policies and business practices. Thus the board has limited power to address the design features that help to maximize or exacerbate the harms caused by certain users, or to amplify and spread specific types of posts. In earlier cases, the boards recommendations for greater transparency or revisions to the rules have been taken on board in some cases and not othersand to varying degrees. For example: In a ruling to reinstate content related to breast cancer symptoms and nudity, the board recommended that Facebook inform users when automation is used to take enforcement action against their content. The company responded that it would study the potential impact on users of such messages and continue experimentation to understand how we can more clearly explain our systems to people. In the case of a ruling on COVID-19 misinformation, in which Facebook complied with the instruction to reinstate content, the company disagreed with a nonbinding recommendation to modify the companys approach to removing posts about alternative treatments not proven to pose immanent harm.

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Still, those disagreements havent stopped the board from pushing. In the Trump decision, it calls on the company to develop effective limitations on how key features of its business model amplify speech that poses risks of imminent violence, discrimination, or other lawless action. Facebook has not yet indicated whether it will implement this and other recommendations. Documents leaked in 2020 revealed that Facebook is well aware of the harms its algorithmic systems can cause or contribute to.

The question is whether Facebook is capable of admitting publicly that its targeted advertising and algorithmic recommendation systems helped amplify Trumps de facto call to arms and enabled pro-Trump advertisers to target people most likely to act on Trumps statements with content that reinforced lies that helped to justify violence, using profiles Facebook compiles from vast quantities of data about users activities and characteristics. For this very reason, Jameel Jaffer and Katy Glenn Bass of Columbias Knight First Amendment Institute recently argued it is premature for the board to rule on Trumps Facebook account without having first commissioned an independent study of how Facebooks design may have contributed to the Jan. 6 attack on Congress. In its ruling, the board has signaled it agrees that a permanent decision is indeed premature, although primarily for other reasons related to the companys lack of transparency, clarity, and consistency about how its rules are enforced. Yet it also called for Facebook to conduct a comprehensive review of its potential contribution to the narrative of electoral fraud and the exacerbated tensions that culminated in the violence in the United States on January 6, 2021.

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While the Oversight Board has no power to require such a review, we must not forget about Facebooks real governing board, its board of directors, which has thus far done little to hold management accountable for the companys impact on society. In late May, at Facebooks annual shareholder meeting, investors will vote on a proposal calling for CEO Mark Zuckerberg to relinquish his seat as chair of the board to an independent chair. The proposal points out that separating the role of CEO and board chair is a basic feature of good corporate governance. Its authors argue that the lack of an independent board Chair and oversight has contributed to a pattern of governance failings, including Facebook missing or mishandling a myriad of severe controversies, increasing risk exposure and costs to shareholders.

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Facebook management opposes that proposal, and thanks to Mark Zuckerbergs absolute power over the outcome, he has no need to worry that it will ever pass. In 2020 and 2019, nearly identical proposals received a solid majority of the votes from independent shareholders who hold class A shares (one share, one vote). But Zuckerberg and other members of his inner circle hold class B shares weighted at 10 votes per share, enabling them to outweigh independent shareholders, and making it nearly impossible for shareholders to hold management accountable for social harms that the platform facilitates.

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Class A shareholders have also repeatedly filed another proposal calling for the board to appoint a recognized expert in human and civil rights, with even less success. Current SEC rules, backed by U.S. law, empower Big Tech founders to control their real governing boards. Shareholders cannot prevent Zuckerberg from filling his board with people who will not try to challenge him too much, regardless of ordinary shareholder concerns. In 2019, Robert Jackson, then an SEC commissioner, warned of the consequences if CEOs cannot be fired, making them effectively monarchs of private kingdoms. The SEC, he proposed, should require companies to phase out dual-class shares so that shareholders can actually be in a position to hold management accountable for failing to identify and mitigate social and environmental risks.

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The Trump administrations SEC ignored Jackson. Congress, whose myriad concerns about the power of Big Tech have been made abundantly clear through high-profile hearings, reports, and proposed legislation, could compel the SEC under Bidens new chief Gary Gensler to prioritize dual-class share reform. Such changes, combined with other transparency and disclosure requirements would help empower shareholders while helping to strengthen corporate governance. Ready or not, Facebook might then have to experience real oversight by its actual governing board.

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As for the targeted advertising systems and algorithms that spread and amplify harmful contentthereby helping to maximize the harm that content can dothere is no substitute for government oversight and law. If they are empowered to do so, investors have a role to play in threatening to fire boards and CEOs who fail to address the business risks caused by widely perceived social harms. But ultimately if the business model that generates breathtaking returns is causing persistent and widespread harm that the company is failing to mitigate, it needs to be regulated. Many other industries practices and business models are regulated for the same reason. Tech companies need to be held accountable for failing to mitigate harms caused by targeted advertising and algorithmic amplification for the same reason that the law holds companies in a range of sectors accountable for labor practices and environmental, health, and safety risks.

All of this is beyond the reach of the Oversight Board. Unfortunately, lawmakers have thus far failed to do their jobs and use their real power to protect the public interest. We need regulation, based on data and research about technologys impact on society, that protects the human rights and civil liberties of social media users.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
This article is part of the Free Speech Project, a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech.

Online harassment always seems to be in the headlines. There was Slack, which recently launched an ill-conceived update that could let you direct message anyone with a Slack account. While users could disable this feature, Vice discovered email displaying the message was sent to users and the message notification would still appear on someones Slack, even with the global messaging feature disabled. After people pointed out this feature could be weaponized to harass people, Slack pulled the feature and apologized. In a more acute incident, in March, Fox News Tucker Carlson berated New York Times journalist Taylor Lorenz over a tweet she had written earlier that daya tweet in which she simply asked for people to support women who are facing online harassment. Carlsons response was to say that Lorenz has nothing to complain about because she has one of the best lives in the country.

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Lets be clear: Harassment is a threat to journalists, especially journalists of color, women, and nonbinary people. Reporters receive repeated onslaughts of abuse, death threats, and rape threats. This harassment harms people in real, tangible ways, and journalists routinely face all different kinds of harassment related to their jobs. Journalists have been killed all over the world for what they report. The Committee to Protect Journalists found in a 2017 study on murdered and slain journalists that in at least 40 percent of cases, those journalists had received online harassment and threats leading up to their deaths. A 2019 CPJ survey found that 70 percent of respondents had experienced safety concerns on the job, and 90 percent indicated that online harassment is one of the biggest threats to journalist safety. Amnesty Internationals report Toxic Twitter, which focused on female journalists and politicians in the U.S. and the U.K., found that Black women experience the most harassment online.

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In 2019 and 2020, we led a research project along with Elyse Voegeli and the Harvard Kennedy School looking at online harassment that journalists face and how platforms can be redesigned to alleviate some of digital harms and harassment. We began with exploring the misuse of trust on platforms and how design harms users, in particular journalists. We chose journalists because, by the nature of their job, they have to stay online to find, report on, and uncover breaking news. We ran two surveys of 230 designers and 81 journalists on the design of digital spaces, trust, and dark patterns. We conducted two workshops with 20 journalists in Mexico City affiliated with the Online News Association and co-designed new features in those workshops. We also interviewed 31 journalists in China, Hong Kong, Iran, Palestine, Malta, Guatemala, Afghanistan, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Germany, Romania, and Mexico.

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We found that journalists have been targeted by terrorist organizations, governments and other state actors, white supremacists, and ordinary readers, often from their own cities. The harassment includes doxxing, hacking attempts, death threats, rape threats, antisemitism (regardless of the targets actual religion), and repeated harassment about their looks and intelligence. Some harassment campaigns became widespread enough to be listed as trending events on Twitter in their countries.

And when journalists find themselves to be the target of such harassment, theres often very little they can do. Facebook, for example, considers journalists to be public figures. A private individual is generally protected from harassing content that directly mentions the individual, while some of that speech may be allowed if the target is a public figure. Ultimately, the platform believes that engagement on public figures pages isnt just about the figures themselves, but can be general conversation. For instance, someone threatening to dox a private individual or writing that they hope something bad or violent happens to that person is considered harassment and should be taken down. But historically, that kind of harassment is allowed against public figures. Generally, Facebook says it will remove harassment like threats and direct attacks against public figures; however, in recently leaked internal documents, the Guardian found that Facebook allows public figures to receive some kinds of targeted harassment, including calls for their death.

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Facebook in September 2020 changed its harassment policy to add more nuance and protections for public figures, including involuntary ones (such as people from viral content like Alex from Targetremember him?). However, most journalists we spoke with said they are still receiving harassment. This kind of inconsistency and asymmetry of platforms mitigating harm and being unable to recognize harassment was something mentioned repeatedly by nearly all the journalists interviewed in our research.

There are lots of security tips, trainings, and guides for journalists to help better protect themselves online. But even if individuals protect themselves, they cant fix harassment as a phenomenon, or even stop the harassment they face. The real systemic change needs to come from companies. To truly protect journalists, the policy and design of platforms need to change.

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There are lots of things platforms could do right now to help. For one thing, they can do more proactively to research these threats themselves and more actively and transparently work with researchers, civil society, and academia on harassment-related issues.

More specifically, platforms need to give more control to journalists on social media. That means creating a new categorybeyond public and private figuresthat would allow journalists to access more nuanced privacy settings for safety without looking like theyve shut down their account. As we saw in cases of coordinated harassment, during Gamergate and now in Clubhouse, often when a victim goes private, it signals to harassers that theyve won. Instead, platforms should let journalists clean up their mentionsby which we mean allowing them to delete content that tagged them, not just mute or blockand create better filtering systems of their own choosing so it reflects the specific harm they are facing. This goes beyond keyword blocking and would be almost like being able to sort, gather, and select emails all from a single sender. Imagine if users could clean up their mentions in a similar way by batch reporting of tweets, batch muting, and batch blocking of users. Right now, by contrast, you have to do that tweet by tweet, user by user.

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Along the same lines, platforms should give journalists (and any other user) the ability to create one cohesive report that pulls together multiple examples of harassment, a list of users, and even links from other websites. This way, if people are using Reddit to coordinate harassment of someone on Twitter, a moderator would be able to see a fuller view of whats happening. Platforms also need to create options for journalists to open a harassment report as a draft and add to it over time.

At the same time, platforms need to enhance options for users to contest or reopen reports and improve transparency so users can see why a report was rejected. Many of the journalists we spoke to mentioned how many of the harassment reports they had filed were concluded to be not harassment, even though they included antisemitic statements and egregious threats.

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Lastly, we recommend a specific suggestion from a journalist at our Mexico workshop who became a trending hashtag and then faced death threats online: Currently, you can only report a hashtag on Twitter for being spammy or harmful. Harassment of journalists is harmful, yesbut Twitter would get much more detailed information if it allowed for more specific categories like doxxing, misinformation, targeted abuse, and so many other things.

Everyone, regardless of their profession, deserves to be safe online. But Black, brown, Indigenous, Asian, nonbinary, trans, and women journalists especially should not have to deal with harassment just to work in the media.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Slovakia will have a permanent kurzarbeit scheme as of next year

The state will cover 60 percent of the employees salary.

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Employers and employees will gain a new permanent instrument to help them through tough times. As of the beginning of 2022, the state will cover a portion of employees salaries via the kurzarbeit or short-time work scheme, when their employer is unable to assign them work within the originally agreed scope. Parliament passed the respective legislation on Tuesday, May 4. Out of 132 present deputies all voted for the bill, the SITA newswire wrote.

Related article Turning kurzarbeit into a permanent labour market instrument Read more

The instrument will be activated when there is an obstacle at work on the side of the employer, in which the employer cannot assign work to at least a third of employees in the scope of 10 percent of weekly working time at least. Financial assistance for employers, for each employee and each hour of obstacles at work, is to account for 60 percent of the average hourly earnings of the given employee.

The state will provide most of the financial assistance for six months for 24 consecutive months, the cabinet able to extend the assistance period. The employer will be obliged to maintain the work place for which the state has provided support, until at least two months following the end of financial assistance.

Although the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs had originally suggested that the self-employed be included in the scheme, the kurzarbeit will ultimately apply only to employees and employers, except for employees and employers in state administration.

In 2020, the government introduced the kurzarbeit scheme, known from Germany and Austria, as a temporary instrument to help companies hit by the coronavirus crisis to maintain their labour force, and assist them in restarting their operation after demand for their products resumes.

5. May 2021 at 12:04 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Gardners live-in boyfriend told police he was inside their third-floor apartment when he heard heavy footsteps and a struggle in the hallway outside of his apartment door. Through the peephole, he saw a man putting a chokehold on Gardner. He called 911 and screamed for help, he told police.
Situation improves, but curfew remains in place for now

Only two districts will remain in the dark red tier next week.

Slovakia has passed another threshold and met the criteria for switching to the light red tier next week. More details on the measures that will be further lifted will be revealed on Friday, May 7.

Our paywall policy: The Slovak Spectator has decided to make all the articles on the special measures, statistics and basic information about the coronavirus available to everyone. If you appreciate our work and would like to support good journalism, please buy our subscription. We believe this is an issue where accurate and fact-based information is important for people to cope.

If the positive trend continues, it is possible that the Covid automat alert system will be switched off on a national level and the districts will only follow the respective rules for the tier they are currently in, said Matej Misik, head of the Institute for Health Analyses that runs under the Health Ministry.

On the regional level, two districts will remain in the dark red tier from next Monday, May 10, while 33 will be in the red tier and 44 in the light red tier.

The map of districts after May 10, 2021 (Source: Health Ministry)

Curfew remains in place

The average number of new daily cases dropped to about 1,000 and keeps dropping. At the same time, hospitalisations went down to about 1,300, according to Misik.

Despite the improving situation and the decreasing number of both hospitalisations and new daily cases, the curfew rules remain in place, said Health Minister Vladimir Lengvarsky (OLaNO nominee).

This means, under the current rules, that in dark red tier districts, the curfew might be applied from 5:00 to 1:00, while in the remaining districts, only an evening curfew will remain in place.

It is expected that the cabinet will discuss new adjustments to the Covid automat next week, Lengvarsky admitted.

Vaccination on the rise

The number of people who have received the first vaccine dose has increased to over 1.5 million, which represents about 21 percent of the population.

General practitioners will be able to vaccinate their patients against Covid. Some will start in May Read more

The vaccination rate is the highest among the 70-80-year-old age group at 64 percent, but it keeps increasing across the age spectrum, Misik said. Still, their aim is to achieve at least 80 percent of vaccinated people among the oldest.

The ministry representatives expect the vaccination to speed up after Slovakia receives more than 1.5 million vaccines this month. This includes more than 1 million vaccines by Pfizer/BioNTech, 134,000 of Moderna, 313,000 of AstraZeneca, and 40,000 of Johnson & Johnson.

It will still not be possible to choose the vaccine, Lengvarsky said. This can change only if Slovakia has enough Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines in the third quarter of the year, he admitted. He also said that they can soon start administering the vaccine to people older than 50 years (currently, only the 60+ category receives this vaccine).

He also noted that the country still has not received any results from the testing of the Sputnik V vaccine from the Hungarian labs.

Tiers of districts starting May 10 Districts at Warning Level 3 (dark red) Myjava  Povazska Bystrica Districts at Warning Level 2 (red) Banovce nad Bebravou  Banska Bystrica  Banska Stiavnica  Bardejov  Bytca  Cadca  Detva  Dolny Kubin  Gelnica  Humenne  Ilava  Kezmarok  Kysucke Nove Mesto  Levoca  Martin  Medzilaborce  Nove Mesto nad Vahom  Presov  Revuca  Ruzomberok  Sabinov  Sobrance  Stara Lubovna  Svidnik  Trencin  Trnava  Turcianske Teplice  Tvrdosin  Velky Krtis  Vranov nad Toplou  Zarnovica  Ziar nad Hronom  Zvolen Districts at Warning Level 1 (light red) Bratislava I-V  Brezno  Dunajska Streda  Galanta  Hlohovec  Komarno  Kosice I-IV  Kosice-okolie  Krupina  Levice  Liptovsky Mikulas  Lucenec  Malacky  Michalovce  Namestovo  Nitra  Nove Zamky  Partizanske  Pezinok  Piestany  Poltar  Poprad  Prievidza  Puchov  Rimavska Sobota  Roznava  Sala  Senec  Senica  Skalica  Snina  Spisska Nova Ves  Stropkov  Topolcany  Trebisov  Zilina  Zlate Moravce

Read more about the coronavirus developments in Slovakia:

5. May 2021 at 16:17 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Seliga leaves the deputy parliaments speaker post after violating curfew rules

The politician was in a cafe after 21:00. His party colleague Jana Zitnanska drew consequences, too.

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Juraj Seliga of Za Ludi resigned from his post as deputy speaker of parliament on May 5, after the media outlets reported that he was in a cafe until late at night, despite the curfew and the fact that similar facilities should be closed after 21:00.

He was there together with his party colleague Jana Zitnanska and Bratislava Region Governor Juraj Droba, reportedly discussing some work-related issues. The pictures from the meeting were published by the Plus 7 Dni weekly.

I would like to apologise for setting a bad example, Seliga said on May 5, adding that such a meeting should have taken place in an official building, not in the cafe.

Zitnanska also announced she would resign as chair of the parliamentary social affairs committee. Droba does not see a reason to step down, though.

An informal meeting on social affairs

5. May 2021 at 16:28 | Compiled by Spectator staff
Smith met with a specialist from Denver to get an opinion on his leg.

Ultimately, it comes down to I have a lot of good feeling in my foot but the tendons and the nerves are missing, Smith said. I asked him for some real honesty in which way he would go or what his professional opinion was. He said Amputation.

The specialist advised him to amputate the leg because even after the countless surgeries it will require, theres no guarantee it will fix his leg and he will always be restricted on what he can do. He is scheduled for an amputation on May 6. Until then they are trying to keep the infection down and keep him comfortable.

On May 6, Im going to walk in with a leg and walk out without one, Smith said. I dont know what the recovery process for that is. I dont know when Ill get my first prosthetic. Its all going to be a new challenge. Ill have to learn how to walk all over again, how to shower, how to stand there and do dishes at the sink.

He hopes what he has learned from his accident can inspire others.

Life is good, you just have to slow down and listen sometimes, Smith said. So dont ever get too busy to actually see the good things that God does in this world because they happen every minute of every day.
Introducing Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and writer of children's books.

The former actress' literary debut, titled "The Bench" and illustrated by Christian Robinson, is set to hit shelves June 8. The book, inspired by her husband and firstborn child's father-son bond, is based on a Father's Day poem Meghan wrote for Prince Harry a month after welcoming baby Archie in 2019.

In a statement released Tuesday, Meghan elaborated on her inspirations for the project, as well as her admiration for Robinson, a Los Angeles-bred artist based in Sacramento who received Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Illustrator honors for his work on 2015's "Last Stop on Market Street."

"Christian layered in beautiful and ethereal watercolor illustrations that capture the warmth, joy, and comfort of the relationship between fathers and sons from all walks of life," read the duchess' statement.

"[T]his representation was particularly important to me, and Christian and I worked closely to depict this special bond through an inclusive lens. My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the makeup, as much as it does with mine."
Lt. Gov. Mike Foley visited several work sites in Sidney on Tuesday as part of a two-day tour of western Nebraska.

Foley visited five Sidney businesses Tuesday, many of which received aid from the state in their opening or development. Throughout the Sidney tour, Foley said several commonalities and patterns stuck out to him.

Workforce availability is a big issue in Nebraska, Foley said. This is a national issue, really, but its more acute in Nebraska.

Throughout the pandemic, hundreds of thousands of Americans lost their jobs as businesses shuttered. Nebraska was largely spared from the unemployment issue. However, as the pandemic waned and the economy began to recover, the employment market remained stagnant. In Nebraska, unemployment hovers around 2.9%.

Which on the surface sounds great, Foley said. But if youre trying to run business and attract employees, it becomes a serious problem.

Foley pointed to one of the businesses he toured on Tuesday, Lukjan Metal Products. While touring the factory floor, Lukjan management told Foley they were short-staffed across several of their locations.
Monday marked a milestone for the historic Midwest Theater as the venue celebrated its 75th anniversary as a community space.

The Midwest Theater has been through renovations, hosted various artists and welcomed the community into its doors for educational programs and community events.

While the pandemic has hindered the theaters ability to host artists and welcome large crowds, executive director Billy Estes said the theater will celebrate this anniversary throughout the week. He also said the milestone marks a phased reopening of the theater.

To celebrate our 75th anniversary, weve stretched out events all week, he said. Were going to be open and gradually have more and more events as we re-staff up with volunteers and put some staff back in place, who have been gone the past nine to 10 months.

Estes also looked back at the theaters connection with the community, especially within the past year. Even though the pandemic affected the ability to welcome the community into the theater, Estes said it allowed them to creatively bring the arts to the community.
Im going to tell you that the vaccines are safe, that the ability of the vaccine to cover the disease is excellent, he said.

There have been some stories about side effects, such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine being put on pause, and then use resumed, as health officials investigated ties to blood clots. Though he doesnt support mandatory vaccination as a freedom-loving American, ... the safety of that person, as well as the safety of the population, is improved with vaccination.

Among those hesitant to be vaccinated, development of the vaccine is an another cited reason, with some questioning the speed of development and testing.

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are both mRNA, or messenger RNA, vaccines.

The answer (to that statement) is that they changed the way they did things because of the way they had money poured into the programs to make vaccines. The messenger RNA, which was the fastest way, just needed a code. They just needed a genetic code to use, to tell them what to go after, he said. The technology was already there.

Brunner said health officials expect more vaccines to be developed using mRNA, he said. The process is similar with traditionally developed vaccines, he said, with testing done during development of the vaccine.
Im trying to right the wrong of how schools are funded in this state, Friesen said. Students in Venango, as well as Omaha, deserve to get some state support, he said.

But several senators spoke against LB 454, questioning how the state could afford its high cost, and saying its distribution of state funds would probably be challenged in court.

This isnt even close to being fair, said Elkhorn Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, the Revenue Committee chairwoman. She and other senators said all areas of the state deserve property tax relief, and the answer was more complicated than increasing funding for rural schools.

We cant just keep throwing money out there, Linehan said. We need comprehensive reform.

The senator has proposed a study of the states tax system and action to address it in 2022. Nebraska ranks poorly when it comes to state funding for local education, which Linehan and others have said explains why local property taxes, which rank in the top 10 nationally, are so high.
There was a small increase in the number of fires last year, according to a report presented to the Scottsbluff City Council.

In all, the Scottsbluff Fire Department responded to 85 fires in 2020 compared to 78 fires in 2019. Most of the structure fires occurred in April and December.

The department, which services about 15,000 residents, also responded to more rescue and emergency calls in 2020. In the prior year, they responded to 1,591 rescue and emergency call. In 2020, they responded to 1,663, according to the report.

This past year brought many challenges and opportunities to the Scottsbluff Fire Department, Scottsbluff Fire Chief Tom Schingle said.

One such opportunity was the partnership with Western Nebraska Community College. Schingle said his department was able to utilize WNCC space to spread out his firefighters over the course of the pandemic.

That worked out very well and it also showed us that future growth for the city of a second location in that general vicinity would be ideal, he said.

Schingle said that one odd spot of data was the special incident calls.
Food, games, parades and other festivities surrounded the date, whose significance gains its origin in Puebla. While often confused with Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo represents one battle that took place in Puebla on May 5, 1862. On that day, the Mexican Army defeated France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War, preventing the French from traveling on to Mexico City and then the U.S.
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The Watters Creek Convention Center, which shares the same complex as the Delta by Marriott Hotel.
The Plano Police Department announced Monday that a charge has been filed against a man who was recorded on video aiming to knock a phone out 
The Iredell County Board of Commissioners finds itself named in a lawsuit asking for the Confederate Memorial statue to be moved, but only Scottie Brown, the lone commissioner to vote against the resolution in March, has been steadfast in his opposition.

For Brown, he said the issue is bigger than just defending keeping the statue in its current location at the Iredell County Government Center.

Its not just about the statue, its about losing our freedom. Every day, we lose a little more freedom. We cant keep giving up our freedom. I dont mean that as a white person, I mean that as an Iredell Countian, as an American. We cant keep giving up our freedom, Brown said. The United States is based on Christianity. We give up the prayer, now they want us to give up the statue, next theyll ask us to give up our flag.

The Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 in March to move the statue off of county property, preferably in a local cemetery where Confederate dead are buried. However, later that week Chairman James Mallory stated that without an agreement with the Sons of the Confederacy, it couldnt be moved, so at that point the board of commissioners had no interest in moving it.

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The family of Andrew Rupard established a scholarship in his memory with the first recipient being Allison Cook, a graduating senior at North Iredell High School.

Rupard was a 2012 graduate of North and also a graduate of North Carolina State University with degrees in agribusiness and livestock and poultry management.

In 2019, Rupard was employed by Southern Grain Company in South Carolina when he was tragically killed while working inside a grain bin.

The family wanted to help other students pursue an agriculture career, which was his passion.

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Mr. and Mrs. Terry Rupard are his parents and they wanted the recipient of his scholarship to be a graduating senior of North Iredell High School who is involved in the FFA program at the school, a well-rounded student, and who is pursuing a career in agriculture at the college or university level.

The first recipient, Cook, will be honored with a $5,000 scholarship to be used in her first year of college at Wilkes Community College.

Allison has been taking agriculture and horticulture courses at Wilkes Community College for the last two years. She plans to continue her studies at Wilkes and major in horticulture, specifically.
We started to address this issue this time, and I say this time simply because it has been attempted several times, weve tried to resolve this issue with the statue in a humble, respectful, manner. We did not want it to be removed by someone who was disgruntled and angry and throw a rope around it and snatch it down. We want it to be handled honorably and respectfully, McCall said.

He said he and others had taken a diplomatic approach, but that the inaction of the board of commissioners made them favor a lawsuit at this time.

We realized the process of diplomacy wasnt going to resolve the issue, McCall said.

Scott, president of the Statesville Branch of the NAACP, had a similar memory of his mothers thoughts on it and said it was particularly troubling as the commissioners had voted to begin the process of moving it then seemed to change their minds.

To hear those words from the Commissioners and to hear the words of their Resolution to remove the Monument, only to have the Commissioners break their promise and go back on their words, was heartbreaking, he said in the press release.
I believe COVID-19 will be no different. We have learned so much over this past year that many of the future changes we implement in healthcare will be the result of how we navigated and what we learned during our current pandemic. One thing that we have today that we (or at least I didnt) have available back in the 1980s is social media and its influence on others during times like these, as well as the different mandates and changes to work environments that we have today, like wearing a mask, remote learning, Zoom meetings, social distancing, and more.

As we celebrate the Year of the Nurse, I am very proud of the great work that the nurses at Iredell Health System have provided for our families, patients and community. They have tirelessly given of their talents and time to ensure that their children were taken care of and maintained their school work; worked long, hot (PPE is not air-conditioned) hours and days to ensure that ALL of our patients  those with COVID and those without it  were well cared for; they have celebrated through Code Sunshine our COVID patients that were able to go home, and cried with families (even remotely) when patients did not get well. Additionally, they have supported vaccination efforts to ensure that our community can be protected today and in the future. They have done all of this while listening to social and news media chatter and trying very hard to separate fact from fiction so they can educate patients, families and our community throughout these efforts.
In the 1990s European nations expected to save a lot of money by reducing defense spending. After all the major threat to Europe, the Soviet armed forces had quickly evaporated after the Soviet Union broke up in 1991. For the last two decades, threats have been returning and only Britain and France maintained enough forces to deal with the new threats. The Americans were eager to get out of Europe. After 2014, when Russia declared the Cold War on again, Europe looked to Britain and France, and the largely departed Americans for some reassurance. Britain has been reorganizing its military and have come up some impressive ideas. This has been a British specialty during the 20 th Century. Britain came up with innovations like infantry mortars, tanks, commandoes and landing craft designs that made D-Day and the American amphibious war in the Pacific possible. There was much more and the innovations continued until the present.

Currently Britain has proposed a defense review that sounded impressive, but are they really going to walk the talk? Commissioned last year, the 2020 Integrated Review of Foreign Policy, Defense, Security and Development reported to Parliament in March. Back in November, Prime Minister Boris Johnson surprised most by revealing that the review would usher in a period of growth. This was on the back of an election promise in 2019 that his Conservative Party would protect the armed forces. Yet everyone had been expecting cuts. In truth, its a mixed bag. There are to be significant investments in cyber and space capabilities and there is a broader commitment to boost research in innovative and smart technologies. There is new money, with an overall increase (about 15 percent) in expenditure of $32 billion over the next four years. This itself represents a departure from most post war reviews, which have been all about cost cutting. These occur every ten years or so and the one for 2010 reduced budgets by 7.5 percent However, the butter is being spread very thinly here and there will be serious reductions in Britains conventional capabilities.

The upgrade to the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) fleet has been axed for example, and the Armys manpower is to be reduced from 82,000 to 72,500. Actual current strength is only 76,500 anyway, due to recruitment difficulties. The Royal Airforce will lose its fleet of C130 Hercules transports in 2023, twelve years earlier than had been planned. Early retirement also beckons for 24 Typhoon fighters. The Royal Navy has been spared any headline cuts at this stage which is just as well, as the fleet barely has sufficient escorts to protect its much-vaunted 5th generation carriers, only one of which can be deployed at a time. Specific new capabilities will include at least 48 F35B fighters, although the original program called for 138. Somehow, these need to cater for the navys needs, as well as those of the RAF (Royal Air Force). Development of the new Tempest fighter, to be fully integrated with swarm and unmanned technologies, will proceed. The idea is for low numbers of extremely high-tech manned aircraft, supported by unmanned drones, coordinated and self-managed through swarm software. But the Tempest has not yet been built, let alone flown. As a result, this project is at least a decade away from delivery.

Controversially, the United Kingdom (UK) is to raise its potential nuclear stockpile by 80 warheads, to a maximum of 260. With good reason, this last measure is shrouded in secrecy, and the word potential should perhaps be emphasized here. It is a ceiling. This kind of ambiguity runs throughout the review and subsequent government announcements. There is discussion of force structures, but little detail on numbers. Nonetheless, the strategic themes which underpin the review are extremely ambitious. Persistent engagement will mean more forward basing in places such as Kenya and Bahrain, the increased use of the military attache network and even naval patrols in the South China Sea. Geographically and technically, the plan is for full spectrum capability.

What will it deliver? For the Army, certainly some re-organization. The loss of the Warrior track-based IFVs might imply an increase in procurement of the German Boxer vehicles, which are wheel-based. Only 148 Challenger tanks are to be upgraded, reducing the Main Battle Tank inventory by 34 percent. That means the ability to deploy heavy formations will be constrained. The Armys brigades are to be re-designed in order to provide more varied functionality and a new Ranger Brigade is to be created this year. The Army will be smaller, less able to deploy heavy units, but with increased cyber and smart capabilities and a more adaptable structure. The Airforce will lose some fast jets and a lot of transport capability, but there will be increased investment in unmanned technologies and the promise of a new fighter. The Navy might gain a different (tactical?) nuclear remit and will be expected to operate more globally. Finally, there will be a Space Command, to build capability in the fifth operational domain (joining cyber, air, sea and land). All of this is to be more closely integrated and will be able to draw on a more imaginative and broader research program. We will see.

There is a strong sense here of a tradeoff between traditional kinetic (bombs and bullets) capabilities and smarter ones, notwithstanding the extra funds committed. Also, of faith being vested in future solutions, as yet unproven. The Review assumes Britains undoubted research strengths will give it a marked edge - but not right now. That is quite an assumption in any case, with rival states investing in research and non-state actors often able to access new technologies with surprising ease. Indeed, unmanned drones would be an example. Some of this does not really align with the strategic risk assessment that underpins the plan, which name checks real and immediate threats, notably Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. The idea that the emergence of a new threat means that a more traditional threat will recede is obviously irrational. Sometimes it will, sometimes it wont.

The unpalatable truth might be that Britain and her allies need real strength in all areas, but that a power of Britains size cannot be expected to deliver adequately everywhere. This review suggests Britain is aiming for more reach, geographically, technologically and across all five domains - but with less bang. As ever, ambition is in danger of outstripping capability. The Falklands War was triggered when Britain talked the talk about defending the islands but then announced more cuts to the navy. Allies, notably the United States, have worried for years that Britain risks falling below the critical mass necessary to provide genuine military support, rather than the totemic version. Jack of all trades, master of none? - - Andrew Mulholland
The building is owned by Jim Street of Street & Co., LLC.

The Street team has been working with the Amazon team for a few months to finalize plans and scheduling. We are extremely happy to have Amazon as a tenant and to be part of creating new jobs in the region, Street said.

We are very excited that Amazon has chosen Bristol for their new facility, said Bristol Virginia Mayor Bill Hartley. We look forward to welcoming them as a valued member of our local business community, the job opportunities their investment in our city will create, and their future success.

City Manager Randy Eads said Street deserves considerable credit in locating this business.

This is another exciting economic development opportunity for the citizens of Bristol. I am extremely grateful Amazon chose Bristol as a place to call home. This project could not have happened without the help of Jim Street and his team, Eads said. Amazon leads the world in innovation, technology and out-of-the-box thinking. Its ability to adapt to an ever-changing world has propelled it to be one of the most valued companies in the world. I look forward to working with Amazon and helping it have a home in Bristol for years to come.

Delivery stations offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to build their own business delivering Amazon packages, as well as independent contractors the flexibility to be their own boss and create their own schedule delivering for Amazon Flex, according to the statement.
What is this nations obsession over Donald Trump? Either you hate him or you love him. Why cannot we just get over him? Ronald Reagan is reported as the nations best president ever, yet many still hate him for firing the striking air traffic controllers. But I dont have to hear about him every day like Trump. To me, Trump is just an ex-president who is now a Billionaire. That is a common scenario. At least Trump didnt turn billionaire while he was in office. Look at Biden, Pelosi, Durbin, Schumer, Harris, etc. All totally obsessed with Trump and undoing any good he did-an ex-president. Stop it! Life goes on!
Former Judge Kurt Pomrenke is once again confined at Federal Correctional Institute Loretto, in western Pennsylvania, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Pomrenke, 57, of Abingdon, pleaded guilty last November to a single count of conspiring to defraud the federal government for actions in 2016 and 2017 regarding his wife, former BVU Chief Financial Officer Stacey Pomrenke.

Judge James P. Jones sentenced Kurt Pomrenke to 12 months and one day in prison earlier this year. His projected release date is Feb. 6, 2022.

The Loretto facility is described as a low-security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp, according to the federal website. It has 795 male inmates.

It is the same place where Pomrenke served a two-month sentence in 2018 for contempt of court, after he was found guilty in 2017 of sharing information from his wifes trial with the Virginia Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission, which directly disobeyed a judges order.
More than 7,000 addresses in the city of Bristol, Virginia, are changing, leading one official to clear up some confusion among residents and business owners.

To prepare for Next Generation 911, the city said it found it necessary to readdress about 7,600 addresses and create more than 150 new street names across the city. The official change occurred this weekend.

Kelly Miller, the citys GIS (geographic information system) coordinator, said the first of five batches of letters were mailed to residents and businesses just before March 15.

Miller noted that the city has held three city council meetings regarding the changes, including 2018, 2019 and 2020, when members voted for the changes.

The city of Bristols main webpage shared information regarding access to the new addresses and tutorial information on how to research new addresses on March 1.

Since changes were first announced, Miller said the city has received hundreds, if not thousands, of calls asking about the update.

The majority of people have actually thanked us for making them safer after they understand why, Miller said. They understand the necessity when it is explained to them in detail.
Gov. Ralph Northam last week recommended that eight Southwest Virginia projects receive more than $2.99 million in Appalachian Regional Commission funding.

The projects were among 13 totaling $4.1 million recommended by the administration. The ARC is expected to finalize approval of project awards later this year, according to a news release.

ARC grants are aimed at helping build a strong and sustainable asset-based economy by funding projects that serve as catalysts for bringing jobs and prosperity to Appalachian communities while preserving their character, the release states.

The following projects are recommended for funding:

 $275,000 for the William King Museum of Art in Abingdon to complete the transformation of the 22-acre historic William King Museum of Art into a safe and accessible destination.

 $500,000 to restore and enhance the historic Russell Theater, which would serve as a community facility for downtown Lebanon and provide two full-time and three part-time jobs.

 $438,826 for the Hamiltontown sewer project in Wise County, to install 5,540 linear feet of new gravity sewer lines, providing new sewer service to 13 households.
Abingdon Town Council tabled the tables  for now.

Out of budget concerns, at Mondays Town Council meeting, Town Manager Jimmy Morani said the town did not need to possess so many tables and tents to support events.

And he wanted to sell them, saying the town was not in the business of needing such equipment to stage such events.

To that, Councilman James Scabbo Anderson wondered what kind of impression this would make on the public, saying that the town wanted to sell such surplus property.

Are we in that bad a shape that we need to sell everything we got? Anderson asked.

Morani said that holding some events was straining the towns staff and costing the town overtime pay for employees.

Again, Morani said that the town no longer needed so much equipment, such as tables.

Still, Anderson said, those items were paid for by taxpayer money, and any decision to sell off such tables should be tabled.

Councilman Mike Owens said he personally did not think the town should be in the event business.
Palos Verdes and West Torrance will meet in the first round of the CIF-SS baseball playoffs, and a total of 13 area teams made it to the postseason.
Mystery writers will be featured at the next WordFest event held at 7 p.m. May 11 via Zoom.

People dont need a Zoom account to participate, according to a press release submitted to The Daily News, but must register for the free monthly WordFest

Ellie Alexander is the author of the Bakeshop Mystery series, set in Ashland, Ore., home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The series features artisan pastry chef, Juliet Montague Capshaw, who runs her family bakeshop, Torte, and solves murder cases on the side.

Alexanders cozy mysteries bring a light-hearted humor to the otherwise grim business of murder, reflected in her whimsical titles: Meet Your Baker, A Batter of Life and Death, and A Crime of Passion Fruit, according to information submitted to The Daily News. All of her books include recipes.

Alexander will discuss and read from her newest titles in the 15-book (and counting) series, Mocha, She Wrote and Chilled to the Cone.

Alexander is the pseudonym of Kate Dyer-Seeley, who also writes the Pacific Northwest Mystery series.
+5 Vader's Ryden Porter a national dirt bike qualifier The sun was out. It was a nice day. It was a little hot, over 80 degrees. But Ryden Porter was out in the front yard, making passes on his fat

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The new raceway would include room for spectators, but no grandstands like at the clubs track, according to Mount St. Helens Motorcycle Club Vice President Greg Cronk.

Cronk said the nonprofit began in 1958, and currently has 12 active members who volunteer to organize and run races, including flagging racers on the track.

Cronk said Broersma would collect the proceeds from the motocross track as the propertys lease holder.

At the motorcycle track, Cronk said an amateur can race for $40 and people can watch for $15. Spectators who are seniors and veterans pay $5 and ages 6 and under are free.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to The Daily News.

Cronk said riders as young as 6 race on the current track and similar ages can participate on the motocross track as well.

Broersma said he used to drag race and his 13-year-old grandson is an avid motocross racer.

I decided I wanted to be a part of it, basically to build a track to help my grandson race and train, he said.
Realme is gearing up for the launch of a new version of Realme C20. Called Realme C20A, the handset will launch in Bangladesh on May 13. Ahead of the official release, Realme has revealed some details of the upcoming phone.

According to the latest teaser video (via GSMArena), Realme C20A will be available in at least two colours, black and blue. The video also gives a close look at the design of the phone. Unsurprisingly, it looks identical to the original C20. The phone has a waterdrop notch on the front. The back has a square-like camera module to house one sensor. The teaser further reveals the upcoming phone will have a 5,000mAh battery and a 6.5-inch large display. The phone will also come with a MediaTek Helio G35 processor.

In terms of specifications, Realme C20 has a 6.5-inch HD+ notched display. The smartphone runs on a MediaTek Helio G35 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

The phone comes with a microSD card slot for storage expansion. It packs 5,000mAh supports with support for reverse charging.

For photography, the phone offers an 8-megapixel rear camera with f/2.0 aperture and 4x digital zoom. It houses a 5-megapixel selfie camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 3P lens. Connectivity options on the phone are Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, 4G LTE, dual SIM, micro-USB port and a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the software front, Realme C20 has realme UI based on Android 10.
As COVID-19 has been successfully brought under control in China and the vaccination rate is rising steadily, the five-day May Day holiday has witnessed strong domestic demand for tourism.

Inter-provincial tours skyrocketing

Public anxiety over COVID-19 has been eased thanks to the clearance of at-risk areas across the country and the popularization of vaccines, and more Chinese tourists have chosen to go further beyond their cities and provinces.

A tourist from Shanghai surnamed Hu traveled to central China's Changsha to attend a friend's wedding, planning to explore the city afterward.

"Changsha has been so popular among tourists these years, and I've always wanted to have a look," Hu said.

Per data provided by multiple online travel platforms, inter-provincial tours have become popular.

During the holiday, inter-provincial orders accounted for 77 percent of the total, according to Chinese homestay booking platform Xiaozhu.com.

Nearly 90 percent of car rental bookings for May Day travel have been for inter-provincial use, with Sanya, Chengdu and Haikou being the three most popular destinations, while Xinjiang and Tibet are seeing skyrocketing orders, according to Chinese travel services provider Trip.com.

Passenger traffic in and out of Beijing hit a new record on May 1. On the national scale, the number of civil aviation passengers on April 30 significantly exceeded the number seen during the same period in 2019, with domestic routes increasing by more than 20 percent over the same period in 2019.

Industry analysts said that the domestic air transport volume during the holiday has exceeded the pre-epidemic level and is likely to register a record high.

Strict epidemic prevention

The Wanshou Palace cultural block in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, has issued multiple warnings to limit numbers of tourists as the scenic spot saw an average daily inflow of 100,000 tourists from May 1 to May 3.

"Visitors entering the block are required to wear masks and go through temperature checks. When the instantaneous flow of people reaches 10,000, flow restriction measures will be taken," said Huang Zhigang, director of the block's management company.

The Beijing Badaling Great Wall has strictly implemented its online real-name booking system and restricted the number of tourists during the holiday.

The number of tourists at the Badaling Great Wall scenic area is capped at 48,750 per day. A yellow alert will be issued when the daily booking volume reaches 29,000. An orange alert will be triggered if the booking volume reaches 39,000. The booking system will be halted when 48,700 tickets are booked.

Shanghai received over 10.3 million tourists in the first three days of the May Day holiday. Compared with the same period in 2020, cultural and tourism consumption has increased significantly and even exceeded the May Day holiday in 2019 in some areas, according to the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism.

"Red tourism" gaining popularity

As the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrates its centenary this year, revolutionary sites across the country have been popular during the May Day holiday.

In Shaoshan, Hunan Province, 85,000 people visited the former residence of the late Chairman Mao Zedong on May 2. It was the third most popular tourist site in the province on that day.

Tonggu County of Jiangxi, which has many red tourism sites, reported its first tourist flow peak of the year over the holiday.

The audience looked back on war-torn historical scenes in Jieyuan Village of Ruijin, a city of significance during the CPC revolution. At a performance venue transformed from an abandoned mine, lights dazzled and guns rumbled. As night fell, over 200 locals put on a show using cutting-edge stage technologies.

From May 1 to May 3, red tourism sites in Jiangxi's Ganzhou City received 1.59 million tourists, generating a total income of 1 billion yuan (154 million U.S. dollars), per a count from the city's cultural and tourism bureau. The integration of modern science and red tourism has brought new vitality to old revolutionary bases.
Shares of General Motors jumped after it reaffirmed its full-year forecast despite a hit from the semiconductor shortage

General Motors reported higher first-quarter profits Wednesday and reaffirmed its full-year outlook despite a global shortage of semiconductors that has constrained manufacturing.

The big US automaker reported profits of $3 billion, 10 times the level in the year-ago period, on strong vehicle pricing. The company said it is "highly confident" in its full-year financial outlook released in February.

Revenues were essentially flat at $32.5 billion.

GM benefited from higher auto deliveries in the United States and China that more than offset declines in other markets.

Another bright spot was GM Financial, its lending arm, which posted higher profits amid rising prices for used vehicles.

"These strong results demonstrate once again the underlying strength of our business, especially in North America and China and at GM Financial," Chief Executive Mary Barra said in a letter to shareholders.

"We continue to execute our strategy and make significant progress on our transition to an all-electric future with the growth opportunities it creates."

Barra, in a conference call with reporters, said the second quarter would be the "weakest" period of 2021, but that the company's continued confidence in the full-year outlook reflects "super creative" ingenuity throughout its supply chain teams.

Like other carmakers, GM has temporarily suspended production at some factories due to the semiconductor shortage. But it has worked to minimize the impact on its best-selling trucks, which generally have higher profit margins.

Barra said she now expects full-year operating profit to be "at the higher end" of the previously-released $10 to $11 billion range.

Shares of GM rose 4.0 percent to $57.53 in pre-market trading.

Explore further GM rides US love for trucks, SUVs to blowout 3Q profits

 2021 AFP


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EXHIBITS

Three Shows, One Street, through Sunday in Downtown Bryan. Three art exhibits from students at Purple Turtle Art Studio will be on display at The Village and Art 979 Gallery and Rx Pizza.

Tumble Through Texas, through May 15 at the Arts Council of Brazos Valley, 4180 Texas 6 in College Station. The exhibit features the winners of a contest in which artists displayed their love for Texas on tumblers. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Something Tangible, through May 20 at the Wright Gallery at Texas A&M Universitys College of Architecture. Artist Bryan Florentin uses materials salvaged from demolition sites and common subjects from daily life to explore relationships between object and image. The gallery, in Langford Architecture Building A, is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Decrying critical race theory has emerged as a common refrain among conservative Republicans nationwide, but the Texas legislation would go further by discouraging Texas students from discussing current events or controversial public policy issues.

Texans reject critical race theory and other so-called woke philosophies that maintain that one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex or that any individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said last week in a statement endorsing the legislation. These divisive concepts have been inserted into curriculums around the state, but they have no place in Texas schools.

But educators and social justice experts see the efforts as an attack on the states civic education curriculum at a time when students should be learning more, not less, about civics, social justice and history.
In a letter to Scott, a South Carolina Republican, OConnor apologized for using the term, which refers to a Black person who adopts the characteristic mentality and behavior of white middle-class society, according to Merriam-Webster. In a previous statement provided to the Washington Examiner, he said he had embarrassed himself and his party, and offered his resignation from the Lamar County Democratic Party.

To Sen. Tim Scott, the residents of Lamar County, especially our Black residents, and to my family and friends, I profoundly apologize for the racially insensitive remark I made towards Sen. Scott last week, OConnor said in a statement provided to the Tribune. I was wrong and I apologize.

OConnor used the term on Facebook after Scott gave the official Republican response to President Joe Bidens address to Congress on Thursday, according to various media reports. During the rebuttal, Scott, the only Black Republican U.S. Senator, said that America is not a racist country and said that he has been called Uncle Tom and racial obscenities by Democrats.
You are here: China

Ruili, a border city in southwest China's Yunnan Province, now has no medium- or high-risk areas for the novel coronavirus, the city's COVID-19 prevention and control headquarters announced Tuesday.

COVID-19 risk levels in two areas of the city were downgraded from medium to low from 8 p.m. Tuesday, marking the clearance of all areas with medium or high infection risks in Ruili.

Dozens of domestically-transmitted COVID-19 cases have been reported in Ruili since March 30. Local authorities launched several citywide COVID-19 testing campaigns to curb the spread of the virus.
On the Republican side, Susan Wright appeared to get a late boost by Trump, who endorsed her on the second-to-last day of early voting. While she came out of early voting with just a 10-vote edge over Ellzey, she decisively won election day, getting 24% of the vote to 11% for Ellzey. (Sanchez placed second among election day ballots, with 13%.)

Wrights campaign wasted little time setting the stage for the runoff, issuing an election night statement blasting Ellzey as an opportunistic ladder-climbing RINO, or Republican In Name Only. The head of the Club for Growth, easily Wrights biggest outside ally in the first round, reportedly called on Ellzey to drop out of the runoff. His campaign rejected that.

The runoff candidates themselves have kept the temperature lower in post-Saturday statements and interviews, agreeing that they do not have many  if any  policy differences. Ellzeys campaign cited that in responding to the election night salvo by Wrights team.

This statement ... by her young political consultant is in direct opposition to what she is saying publicly, Ellzey consultant Craig Murphy said in an email. Perhaps he did not run it by her before he sent it out.
The Navy submitted the SIOP to Congress back in 2018 and has been pursuing it since. But two issues remain  both of which should be addressed through legislation.

The first is that the SIOP is a 20-year plan that depends on just-in-time funding, through annual defense appropriations, for a long series of projects. If funding for one dry-dock reconstruction project is delayed in a fiscal year (for example), the effects would ripple effect across the entire plan, as well as the entire maintenance schedule, for the nuclear-powered fleet.

Other funding solutions could resolve this problem and give the Navy guaranteed, consistent funding to complete the plan. One bipartisan proposal by Sens. Roger Wicker, Tim Kaine, Susan Collins, Angus King and Jeanne Shaheen (with companion legislation in the House by Reps. Rob Wittman and Mike Gallagher) would use the Defense Production Act to fund the entire SIOP with a one-time, $21 billion payment to the Navy. Such a move would provide the Navy access to consistent funding it needs to ensure it can bring its shipyards up to date.
On May 1, Ferrum Colleges commencement ceremony featured 173 graduates from 12 states at Adams Stadium on the college campus. This years keynote speaker was Jeff Selingo, a New York Times best-selling author who has written about higher education for more than two decades.

The night before, the college hosted an in-person ceremony for the class of 2020, featuring keynote speaker Anthony Swann, Virginias 2021 Teacher of the Year.

Ferrums Vice President for Academic Affairs Aime Sposato opened Saturdays commencement, noting that each graduate has a special person or many people that have supported them throughout the past four years, and thanked them for sending care packages at just the right time, enduring virtual classes on Zoom, and sometimes getting late night phone calls accompanied by a few tears, doubts, and challenges.

Following the invocation given by Rev. John Heck of Saint Peters-In-the-Mountains Episcopal Church, Ferrum President David Johns commended the graduates on their dedication and progress.

One of the hallmarks of a Ferrum College graduate is that we are committed to our mottoNot Self, But Others, Johns said. Through your work, make the world healthier, happier, more free and just. Make it better.
Man disturbs man because man is not doing what man is supposed to be doing. The reason that there is no peace is because we have disturbed Gods creation, Bell said. In order to bring back peace, in which God wants, we must reach down into our souls and make sure that we are peaceful within ourselves.

Bell added, There should be no reason that a mans knee is on someones neck for nearly 10 minutes. Thats not peaceful. Thats being disturbed within yourself.

Kimberly Johnson said her family moved to Franklin County when she was in the sixth grade. Even as a white person, Johnson said she experienced intolerance for anything different. She added, I couldnt wait to leave here.

Since returning to the county, Johnson said there needs to be more kindness, empathy and compassion taught in todays schools and in society. How can you celebrate diversity if you cant practice empathy and compassion? Johnson asked.

Sean Perryman of Fairfax County, who is a candidate for Virginia lieutenant governor in the Democratic primary election on June 8, attended Sundays vigil and spoke about his career as a lawyer and as president of the Fairfax County NAACP, the largest in Virginia.
Rasouls showing isnt a surprise to those to have paid attention: Hes done the best job lining up support from various progressive groups on the left. The Roanoke legislator has also devoted an interesting amount of time to something that other candidates havent  campaigning in rural and Western Virginia. There may not be a lot of Democratic votes here, but margins still matter. Rasoul is playing a smart hand: If a multicandidate field splits the urban crescent, a candidate who has courted rural Virginia might really have an advantage. Rasoul may also be looking much further over the horizon: If he wins the nomination, some on the right would surely try to attack his Muslim faith. But how scary can a guy be if hes got his own bluegrass song? Has Rasouls strong showing alarmed the party establishment? And will that same establishment now be able to deliver for Ayala, who last week was still stuck at 2%? Well see.

3. How far right have Republicans gone? There once was a time when Kirk Cox would have been the obvious winner of the GOP nomination. For a party out of power to be able to field a former Speaker of the House  you cant buy that kind of gravitas. His endorsements by two former governors (George Allen and Bob McDonnell) would surely seal the deal. So would a campaign history that shows Cox has won in a district that now otherwise votes Democratic, a useful skill for a Republican nominee in a state that hasnt seen a Republican win statewide in 12 years. This isnt that time, though. Republican conventions always comprise a more conservative voting base than even a Republican primary. Given the Republicans ranked-choice voting method, there seems little danger that Amanda Trump in heels Chase will win the nomination. But businessmen Pete Snyder seems to be laying claim to a more conservative slice of the party than Cox is  with endorsements from Rep. Bob Good, former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, and other former Trump Administration officials. Another businessman, Glenn Youngkin, is a wild card with some impressive endorsements of his own, such as state Sen. Steve Newman, R-Lynchburg. Barring something truly bizarre, it seems likely that out of a seven-candidate field, the Republican nominee will be one of those three  Cox, Snyder or Youngkin. This years Republican convention will tell us a lot about where the soul of the Republican Party is in the post-Trump era  if, indeed, it really is the post-Trump era.
My great-grandmother Helen Hambrick was born in 1858 in Rocky Mount, Virginia. Before she died on my fifth birthday in 1946, she told me how as a little girl she had to hide under quilts from the Yankees when they ransacked her house.

Helens father, Giles Hambrick, and his brother, Joseph, were recruited at the beginning of the Civil War by Col. Jubal Early to wage war on the federal government.

On Jan. 6, 2021, 160 years later, two other men of Rocky Mount, fellow police officers Jacob Fracker and Thomas Robertson, took part in a second insurrection against the government of the United States. Unlike their predecessors, they made it inside the Capitol and photographed themselves with obscene gestures in front of a marble statue. They were recruited by Donald Trump.

No ones motives can be fully understood, even by oneself. Peer pressure surely incited the passions of these men, along with the excitement of armed conflict and the thrill of marching off cheered by adoring crowds.

If pressed, both pairs of insurrectionists probably would have said their fight was about states rights, or local rights, or gun rights, about resistance to anyone from outside telling us what to do, a matter of protecting our way of life.
Tyler Caudill of Phillips allegedly tried to gain access to Kearney High School on Monday and then traveled to Central Nebraska Regional Airport on Tuesday and barricaded himself inside a private aircraft.

Grand Island police were called to the airport at 1:39 p.m. Tuesday. Police had been informed that a man had passed out in the back of a twin-engine jet, which was parked north of the air traffic control tower. A pilot discovered the man and saw a rifle and a bag. The pilot took the AR-15 style rifle and bag out of the plane.

Police assumed they were dealing with a barricaded gunman. The pilot thought there might be another weapon on the plane, but he wasnt certain, said GIPD Capt. Dean Elliott.

Police attempted to make contact with the 19-year-old Caudill. Officers called out to him on public address systems in their vehicles, but got no response. Eventually, police were able to communicate with him.

We continued to try to negotiate with him. He refused to listen to us, Elliott said.

During the two hours, the suspect may have been trying to take off, he said. It appeared that he was manipulating the switches and the headsets and everything inside the cockpit.
Fallon's House Resolution

RESOLUTION:

Condemning the Texas Democratic Party for refusing to denounce racism.

Whereas racism is wholly antithetical to the principles of the United States and should not be harbored or defended by any political party, entity, or leader in the United States of America;

Whereas the Texas Democratic Partys platform claims the party believes in freedom . . . from discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or any other improper grounds;

Whereas the Chairman for the Lamar County Democratic Party of Texas, Gary OConnor, posted a defamatory and racist remark against Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina on Facebook, in which he referred to the Senator from South Carolina as an oreo;

Whereas the term oreo is a well-documented ethnic slur used against people of color;

Whereas after multiple opportunities and repeated calls to censure or ask OConnor to resign, the Democratic Party of Texas has refused to discipline OConnor or revoke his chairmanship; and

Whereas the Democratic Party of Texas has refused to condemn or respond to the racist remark despite numerous opportunities and repeated calls to do so: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives

(1) condemns racism in any form;

(2) condemns the racist remarks made by Lamar County Democratic Chairman Gary OConnor against Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina; and

(3) condemns the Texas Democratic Partys refusal to condemn the racist remark made by its Lamar County Chair.
The Texas Legislature wrapped up this years lawmaking session on Sunday. Although members of the House and Senate touted wins for both Republicans and Democrats, tensions are rising between the legislative bodies amid criticism from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. What would you grade this years legislative session?

You voted:
The first core module of China's space station, "Tianhe," or "Harmony of the Heavens," was launched from Hainan island last week. The module, which is expected to enter orbit roughly 400 km above the Earth's surface, commences a construction phase to be followed by 11 additional missions, and see it become operational by 2022. The station is positioned to carry out new large-scale experiments, provide in-orbit services for spacecraft and will accommodate up to six astronauts for short-term stays on its completion.



The initiation of China's own space station is a testament to how far the country's space program has come in a short period of time. Yet, the module launch is just one of several space-related projects China currently has underway. In just a few weeks, the Tianwen-1 mission will land on Mars, setting down the Zhurong rover, the first ever from Beijing to reach the red planet. Late last year, the Chang'e-5 mission brought back samples from the Moon, with Chang'e-6 planned for 2024 aiming to repeat the feat at the lunar south pole. This follows China and Russia having also signed a memorandum of understanding to build a scientific research station on the moon, which will be the first of its kind in history.

Space is the frontier of humanity's future  literally and metaphorically. For thousands of years, life has been locked down on the Earth and people have looked up to the stars with awe and mystery, wondering if it would ever be possible to reach beyond and understand the wider universe we are a part of. Despite the stellar achievements of the past century, in real terms mankind has only begun to make "baby steps" into outer space and to explore our surrounding "neighborhood." There's still much more to learn. Is there life out there? Are we alone in the universe? How big is it? Is the Earth unique among planets? The questions are endless, and the work is huge.

As a result, each progressive step of research and discovery concerning space is "world changing" in so many ways, and such scientific findings constitute some of the most prestigious elements of human success. It is therefore no surprise that countries stake so much on these results.

Long before the Space Age began, China was a leading nation and culture in the study of outer space. The cosmos plays a special role in its culture, one which places deep emphasis on the heavens, as well as the cycles of the sun and moon accordingly.

For thousands of years, China heralded many of the world's most advanced astronomers, discovering stars, constellations, patterns and creating sophisticated calendars of heavenly bodies which shaped the world. Today's achievements are a continuation of that grand scientific tradition, albeit with a modern edge. Its space program is a symbol of the country's modernity, of its transformation, and of its ambition to articulate leading technologies and discoveries for the benefit of all humanity that can revolutionize the way we live.

For China, outer space is "the common heritage of mankind," so ought to be utilized economically and scientifically for the benefit of all. The more we understand about space, the more we understand about our own planet. Subsequently, as we develop technologies aimed at solving the problems and challenges of space, this in turn contributes to innovation and development on Earth too. This is not a zero-sum game; China has contributed to the space programs of other countries too, such as by helping Ethiopia launch satellites into space. In the bigger picture, this is why its space program is on lift off. There is much to be excited about in the coming few years.

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.
ULLIN  Southern Seven Health Department hosted a COVID-19 Day of Remembrance Tuesday afternoon.

For Morrissa Clanahan, it was a day to remember her sister, Ouida Haralambidis, who died Jan. 17. Haralambidis had been retired for several years after owning a popular bar at Horseshoe Lake for 30 years.

She was big-hearted and everybody loved her, Clanahan said.

She added that her sister had health conditions that put her at high risk for complications from the virus. They tried to do everything right  they wore masks and stayed home as much as possible. Clanahan herself got COVID-19 in December.

Clanahan and her sister lived together, so the loss has been difficult.

When she went to the hospital, we couldnt go be with her, Clanahan said.

Shawna Rhine, community outreach coordinator and spokeswoman for Southern Seven, opened up the short remembrance service to honor those lost to COVID-19.

Bishop Derek Eurales, of First Opportunity Free Will Baptist Church in Carrier Mills, offered words of encouragement to families and friends who had lost a loved one to the virus.
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Upon returning to open session, a joint statement was read stating that both districts have been preparing for consolidation with the intention of reducing the decline in student population and creating opportunities for academic success for every student in the county.

The districts consolidation plan has been approved by the South Carolina Department of Education.

In planning for consolidation, the district sought to keep student achievement and success at the forefront of the planning process, the joint statement said. With the leadership of the Bamberg County School District ready to serve, the district seeks to build a stronger consolidated district.

The joint statement notes that the plan to improve declining student enrollment is to recruit talented educational professionals committed to the district's future and strengthen the communities of Bamberg County.

The district will move forward in its mission to serve the community by educating children and future leaders of Bamberg County, the districts said.

The meeting was held less than a week after Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, introduced Senate Bill 771 to require the consolidation of the districts.
When Cheney easily survived the vote in February, McCarthy came to her defense and called on the House GOP conference to keep her in the spot in a speech delivered behind closed doors. This time, however, could be different. A House GOP source who has been in contact with McCarthy said the GOP leader has been "furious" at her for weeks amid her comments about Trump.

Cheney's uphill battle

While Trump has remained popular among Republican voters and within the House GOP conference, Cheney has not tempered her criticism of him. In a statement announcing her impeachment vote in January, she said the then-President had "summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack."

"Everything that followed was his doing," she said.

Since then, Cheney has continued to say that Trump should not have a future in the GOP. At a February 24 press conference with McCarthy, both leaders were asked about the former President's upcoming speaking engagement at the Conservative Political Action Conference. While McCarthy said he should speak there, Cheney disagreed.

"That's up to CPAC," Cheney said. "I don't believe that he should be playing a role in the future of the party or the country."
Job Title: Officer Revenue Reconciliation (7 No Experience Fresh Graduate Jobs)

Organisation: Uganda Revenue Authority (URA)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

About URA:

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) was established by the Uganda Revenue Authority Statute of 1991 and set up in September of the same year as a central body for assessment and collection of specified revenue, to administer and enforce the laws relating to such revenue and to provide for related matters. This statute incorporated all the laws that were in force then regarding tax collection. The new organization (URA) amalgamated the three tax administration departments that were responsible for all the taxes collected by the Central Government of Uganda.

Job Summary: The Officer Revenue Reconciliation will primarily reconcile revenue collections and all transfers by commercial banks to Bank Of Uganda as reported by URA stations, commercial banks, Telecom companies to ensure accuracy and completeness of revenue reports

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Verify revenue returns received from Banks, telecom companies, and URA stations for accuracy of accounting data

Receive bank statements, transfer schedules and returns, acknowledge receipt and check them for authenticity, identifying and noting any discrepancies in them.

Maintain and update a filing system of the bank Statement

Compare ledgers against bank statement and electronic bank statements against physical bank statements for accuracy

Notify the bank/telecom/stations of any missing bank/ collection statements details and the Revenue Accounting unit of any missing cash book transactions

Review with respective station heads and banks the status report on the authenticity and accuracy of the returns and verify the accuracy of the status report before its submission to the supervisor

Carry out a reconciliation of revenue collections by URA collecting stations and transfers between bank branches and Head Office to certify reliability of financial records

Analyze information in cash books and bank statements and prepare a list of reconciling items to facilitate the reconciliation.

Prepare and submit daily/weekly/ monthly reconciliation statement reports

Review, confirm and clear the interbank transactions for the organization.

Share technical information with revenue reconciliation team and revenue accounting officers.

Follow up raised queries to improve the accuracy of information in the accounting system

Review the reconciliation statement generated from the accounting system to identify and categorize errors and raise them to banks and stations for correction

Relay information on the improvement of the accounting system to the Finance Systems Administrators.

Maintain, communicate and monitor compliance of an accurate record of bank codes with respective stakeholders.

Identify and eliminate posted Adjusting journal vouchers from the reconciliation statement.

Prepare and Submit adjusted Journal vouchers to Supervisor, Revenue reconciliation.

Sensitize stakeholders to improve the understanding of URA accounting procedures and deliver stationery

Carry out periodic sensitization of bank officers about the revenue Collection agreements, and URA station heads and about the accounting procedures.

Carry out and report on periodic station visits to sensitize staff about collection agreements











Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The applicant for the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Officer Revenue Reconciliation job opportunity must hold an honors Bachelors degree with a major in Accounting or Finance from a recognized University

Fair knowledge of Tax laws of Uganda and the region

Public Finance and Accountability Act 2003

High Integrity.

Good Interpersonal Relations.

Good Analytical skills.

High proficiency in the use of computer applications especially MS Office required

Excellent report writing capability

A team player and negotiator

Desirable Requirements

Experience in finance or accounting in a reputable organization

Experience in application of Finance/Accounting software/systems

Partial or full qualifications in CPA or ACCA

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates who wish to join URA should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 15th May 2021

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
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U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he expects to hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip to Europe in June.



"That is my hope and expectation. We are working on it," Biden told reporters when asked if he plans to meet Putin during his upcoming trip to Europe, the first overseas visit since he took office in January.

Biden will attend the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Cornwall, Britain from June 11 to 13, and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of G7 members. He will then travel to Brussels, Belgium to participate in the NATO Summit on June 14.

Biden had proposed a summit with Putin in Europe this summer to address a range of bilateral issues. U.S. media reported earlier that the White House is hammering out the details of the summit.

Relations between Washington and Moscow have been adversarial in recent years. The two were bitterly divided over Ukraine and cybersecurity issues, and they mutually accused the other of domestic political interference.
Fort Payne, AL (35967)

Today

Rain showers in the morning with thunderstorms developing for the afternoon. High 79F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Club For Growth, a national conservative political action committee, confirmed to the Star-Tribune it shopped around Wyoming the last week of March for a challenger to face Rep. Liz Cheney in her 2022 House primary.

Club For Growths presence in the state is a signal that the race may not be limited to the current candidates facing Cheney, state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, and state Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper.

However, Gray and Bouchard were not excluded either.

Club for Growth met with Gray when they visited the state and then again in Washington in April, Gray said. Bouchard did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

We interviewed a number of potential candidates, Joe Kildea, vice president of communications for the PAC, said Wednesday. Kildea declined to say whether the group plans to make an endorsement or which potential candidates they interviewed.

Kildea said the group is not ruling out the possibility of a second visit to the state if it is warranted.

This is not the first time prominent Republican leaders have signaled that more candidates may enter the race.

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Its been a big topic of conversation for several years now, and to be honest, were really not getting anywhere, she said. I mean it was almost an unfortunate thing to get this (American Rescue Plan) money because now we dont have to think about it this year again.

As for the states high costs of health care, Wilson said the committee is planning to think out of the box. Medicaid expansion, which got farther than ever this session before dying in a Senate committee room, will be discussed in the interim but not by Wilsons committee.

Instead, the Revenue committee will take up the issue. That committee hopes to have the topic ready to discuss during the July special session, according to the list of interim topics.

It is a huge revenue piece, said Rep. Steve Harshman, R-Casper. I think its got a good chance of getting out of our committee if leadership wants to take it on in a special session.

What will be the education committees focus?

Each topic being considered by the Joint Education Committee could produce legislation in the 2022 budget session, according to the topic descriptions.

Committee members have a slate of high-profile topics to consider before the 2022 budget session begins.
Definitions

Probable cases are defined by officials as patients who had positive antigen tests or are close contacts of lab-confirmed cases with COVID-19 symptoms.

A patient is considered fully recovered when there is resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and there is improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath) for 72 hours AND at least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared, according to the Wyoming Department of Health.

Total cases are determined by adding together the number of confirmed and probable cases. Total recoveries are determined by adding together the number of confirmed and probable recoveries.

Confirmed active cases are determined by subtracting the number of deaths and confirmed recoveries from the number of confirmed cases. Total active cases are determined by subtracting the number of deaths and total recoveries from the number of total cases.






Reporting was made possible through a grant from Wyoming Humanities, funded by the Why it Matters: Civic and Electoral Participation initiative, administered by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
Cody Enterprise (April 21)- K-12 education funding appears to remain the sacred cow yet again this legislative session when the State of Wyoming needs to cut its budget, and extracurricular activities in Cody schools seem more important than teachers.

Those are the apparent messages as the Wyoming Legislature wound up this years session and Cody schools held a public forum last week to determine which areas in the overall school budget could be cut.

With anticipated budget shortfalls, Cody schools earlier this year eliminated elementary school art teachers and three instructional facilitators along with combining music teachers at several schools.

Yet the activities budget at Cody Schools, which received an additional $209,000 from the schools general fund for this year, is still up in the air as they have yet to make a final decision.

The public input at last weeks forum from the majority of the 33 speakers seemed to be cut something, anything other than the activity Im involved in.

Extracurricular activities are an essential part of education and the ability to offer every activity sanctioned by the Wyoming High School Activities Association is a luxury.
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China said on Tuesday that megaphone diplomacy can only undermine mutual trust rather than change reality after Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin demanded in an expletive-laced Twitter message that China's vessels get away from Huangyan island.

The Philippine Foreign Ministry also issued a statement on Monday protesting the Chinese Coast Guard conducting maritime patrols and training exercises in the vicinity of the island.

Huangyan island is China's territory and its adjacent waters are under China's jurisdiction, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a statement, adding that he hopes that a certain Philippine official will mind basic manners and act in ways that suit his status.

China urged the Philippines to respect its sovereignty and jurisdiction, and stop taking actions that may complicate the situation around Huangyan island and its adjacent waters, Wang said.

In televised remarks on Monday night, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said that "China remains to be our benefactor. Just because we have a conflict with China does not mean to say that we have to be rude and disrespectful."

Locsin on Tuesday apologized to State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi regarding his swearing message.

It is a consensus that the differences and disputes between China and the Philippines on some issues should not affect the overall friendship and cooperation, Wang said.

China has always been and will remain committed to properly handling differences and advancing cooperation with the Philippines through friendly consultation, he said.

He added that Beijing will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to Manila in its efforts to fight the epidemic and resume economic development.

So far, China has donated 1 million doses of vaccine to assist the Philippines and exported another 2.5 million doses of vaccine to the country, according to Huang Xilian, Chinese ambassador to the Philippines.

China and the Philippines are neighbors that cannot be moved away, and it is normal for neighbors to have differences, Huang said in an earlier speech. The key is to properly handle differences in a mature and constructive manner, he said.
The contrast between President Bidens first address to Congress last Wednesday night and the Republican response delivered by Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) reminded me of another occasion between one long-winded and another profound speaker.

It was 1863 and the nationally known orator Edward Everett was the featured speaker in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to commemorate the soldiers who had died during that terrible battle.

Everetts speech was 1,607 words and lasted two hours. He was followed by President Abraham Lincoln, whose far more famous address, once memorized by schoolchildren as The Gettysburg Address, was 275 words and took a mere two minutes.

Everett later wrote Lincoln, praising his brief remarks for their eloquent simplicity and appropriateness.  I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes.

Biden wasnt Everett and Scott was no Lincoln, but Scott in his brevity, along with his kind and optimistic spirit, delivered the superior speech.
MOTHERS have been some of the hardest hit by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Globally, mothers have lost their jobs, largely as a result of care-giving demands as many were forced to leave their careers to be at home for their families.
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.
MORE infectious than its parent virus, the Covid-19 P1 (Brazilian variant) is now pretty certain to be the dominant strain in Trinidad and Tobago, having expanded rapidly since it was first detected locally in April 2021.
The first virtual meeting of the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) ended in virtual comess when committee chairman House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George brought the proceedings to an abrupt end on Monday night.

Sitting from their homes, United National Congress (UNC) members vehemently protested after Annisette-George cut off Couva South MP Ravi Ratiram in mid sentence and advised members to submit their questions to ministers in writing.

SFC had been considering a supplementation of appropriation of $2.9 billion spread across various ministries.
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Zhang Xiangchen, Vice Minister in the Ministry of Commerce of China, was appointed Tuesday as deputy director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Zhang has had an extensive career of more than 30 years in international trade, and served from 2017 to 2020 as China's Permanent Representative to the WTO.

Zhang is one of the four deputy directors-general (DDGs) appointed Tuesday by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The other three are Angela Ellard of the United States, Anabel Gonzalez of Costa Rica, and Jean-Marie Paugam of France.

"It is the first time in the history of our Organization that half of the DDGs are women. This underscores my commitment to strengthening our Organization with talented leaders whilst at the same time achieving gender balance in senior positions," said Okonjo-Iweala.

The four DDGs are expected to work with the director-general to advance the interests of the organization, including the preparations for the upcoming 12th WTO Ministerial Conference to be held at the end of this year in Geneva.
The University of Arizona is holding in-person graduation ceremonies from May 11 to May 18, depending on the college, and while they will be much smaller affairs than some grads would like, there will be plenty of folks coming from out of town to celebrate.

And what better way, graduates, to make memories of the special day than to share with your family and friends the Tucson you have come to know and love during your time here.

We reached out to some graduates about their post-ceremony plans and they had some pretty cool ideas, from deep-diving into North Fourth Avenues restaurants, shops and bars to exploring one of Tucsons most intriguing museums, the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures.

Take a ride on the streetcar and go to the end of the line to the Mercado District, where you will find all kinds of shops and restaurants that scream only-in-Tucson.

Visit commencement.arizona.edu/ceremonies to find out when your graduate is marching. As for the after-party, check out these ideas.

Main Gate Square party zone
Mikitish, however, said theres one major flaw to all of this: Theres no basis for the argument in state law.

He said the record shows what the county wanted  and conducted  was an examination of its hardware and software to analyze its vulnerability to being hacked, verify that there was no malicious software installed, test to ensure that tabulators were not sending or receiving information from the internet, and conduct a logic and accuracy test to confirm that there was no vote switching.

Mikitish said Arizona laws and the state Election Procedures Manual do have specific requirements for political party participation or observation of these. But what the county conducted, the judge said, is separate from these and not legally required.

He also also said there are procedures about who is entitled to watch the official counting of ballots. But thats not what occurred here, Mikitish said.

The forensic audits did not count or audit ballots from the November 2020 general election, he wrote. Because the audits at issue in this case did not relate to the counting of ballots, the statutes do not require that they include observation or participation by political parties.
If I am of whiteness, there is no hope for me to be able to act toward equity or to act toward justice, he said. The reason this is so important is that, it tells us, no matter how great our intentions might be, no matter other aspects of our identity that make us marginalized  whether its our LGBTQ identity or our disabled identity or what have you  we can still make choices that invest in systems that were built to serve the idea of whiteness.

At that meeting, Santa Cruz said we need to normalize these conversations even when they feel uncomfortable. We need to get through that so we can really serve our community members in the city of Tucson.

In that spirit, I wonder why Santa Cruz, Romero and Uhlich are proposing an office of four full-time employees, at least one likely making $100,000 per year, before the city has performed an equity audit. Clearly, an outside firm would be happy to take city money to audit our hiring and spending in view of how it treats marginalized groups.
Chinese medical team arrives in Laos to help fight against COVID-19

Xinhua) 11:13, May 05, 2021

The Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune (2nd L) and Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong (1st L) welcome a team of Chinese medical experts, along with medical materials, upon their arrival at the Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos, May 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Jianhua)

VIENTIANE, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese medical experts, along with medical materials, arrived in Lao capital Vientiane on Tuesday to assist Laos in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune and Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong received the medical team sent by the Chinese government at the Wattay International Airport of Vientiane.

The medical team includes experts in infection prevention and control, intensive care, epidemics, and laboratory testing, along with medical supplies, including COVID-19 testing kits, protective clothing, and face masks among others.

Kikeo, when talking with the Chinese experts on their arrival, said the Lao side is grateful that the Chinese government has sent the medical team to Laos, which reflects the profound friendship from the Chinese side with the Lao people.

With Chinese medical assistance, the Lao deputy prime minister said he firmly believes that Laos will win the fight against the epidemic quickly.

China attaches great importance to the cooperation with the Lao side in COVID-19 prevention and control. Ambassador Jiang said as a community with a shared future, China is ready to work together with Laos to get through difficulties, and the two sides "must share weal and woe."

Laos has been seeing a surge of COVID-19 infections recently. The country confirmed 60 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 1,026.

Jiang said the medical team will help the Lao side in upgrading the precaution and treatment scheme, improving the technical level and response capabilities, studying the trend of the COVID-19 epidemic and making corresponding recommendations. Enditem

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
LETTERS: From calls for a third party, to calls for more support for police, this bunch of letters has a decidedly more conservative bent than usual. Check them out in our latest edition of Letters to the Editor.
OPINION: "The true value of preserving the heart of Reid Park isn't measured in dollars and cents," argues architect Bob Vint. "It's the environmental benefit of saving the great trees and the open space to be enjoyed by the community."
Oneta Powers request for a declaratory judgment as to whether the Wagoner County government has the right to levy taxes since the facility is located within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation reservation would expand the McGirt decision to civil tax matters, too, if successful.

Hunters office claims it should be permitted to join the lawsuit against Oneta because the county assessor has different interests than that of the state.

The state faces the loss of its sovereign power over all taxes against (Oneta), the filing states. In contrast, the Wagoner County Assessors defense of State power is only derivative of her interests in enforcing particular taxes.

The Attorney Generals Office also has more expertise in defending the scope of state power over Indian reservations, according to the filing.

Hodges said in a March interview that the McGirt ruling did not apply to civil matters such as taxes.

A spokesman for Hunter said Wednesday that the Attorney Generals Office would be working with Wagoner County officials in its defense of the lawsuit, rather than assuming full control over the litigation.
In Fridays filing, attorneys for the 187 school districts challenge the constitutionality of the decision and claim that the settlement would undermine the state legislatures authority by unilaterally determining public education funding levels.

Additionally, the filing claims that the proposed settlement as approved by the state school board will make it difficult for school districts to be able to plan their budgets for the coming school year, in part because the resolution approved by the state school board does not explicitly lay out the formula to calculate how much charter schools would be due from a districts general fund, building fund or other local revenue sources that were previously off-limits.

As per the resolution adopted by the state school board, the changes proposed by the settlement are supposed to be in effect by the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

Due to the action of the SBE, each petitioner can not budget adequately for the next fiscal year and each petitioner will suffer a loss which cannot be addressed without this court assuming jurisdiction, they wrote. The urgency of this controversy cannot be overstated.
Hunter Stone Gambill has a simple approach to the sort of enterprise he wants to pursue.

It needs to be something that will be unique for Tulsa, Gambill said. It needs to bring something new and good to the community. And it has to be something I personally enjoy.

All three of these requirements are met in Gambills latest undertaking, Gambills Wine & Coffee, which opened in March in the Shops at Mother Road Market.

The inspiration came from the time Gambill and his wife were living in Guatemala, where he was working at a local brewpub.

I was also studying Spanish, and my mentor would like to meet at a chocolateria, Gambill said. That was my first real introduction to the Central American way with coffee and chocolate, and I knew I wanted to bring that back to Tulsa.

We also traveled through Central America, as well as Spain and Portugal, and a lot of what we experienced found their way into this project, he said.

As the name states, wines and coffee are the stars here  in fact, the many varieties of libations available are the only things on the menu. The two-page wine list features vintages from boutique wineries from all over, which can be enjoyed singly, in wine flights, or as part of winetails, which usually feature the spirits created by Gambills OK Distilling Co.

Gambill said the coffee and cacao beans used in the coffee drinks are roasted in-house, and brewing methods include such tried-and-true things as moka pots, a rudimentary but highly effective percolator (says the man who owns one).

When it comes to food, however, what you see in the refrigerator case is what you get. A variety of tapas-style dishes are prepared daily off-site, and finished before service.

Kevin Snell, who used to be at Amelias, is our executive chef, Gambill said. We met in culinary school, and Ive been wanting to bring him in on a project for a while. This isnt a chef-driven concept, but were not going to skimp on the quality of what we serve.

Gambill said the idea of tapas is to provide guests with a few flavorful bites that encourage them to stay and order more things to drink.

I recently met with a pair of friends to spend a Sunday afternoon sampling what was on offer, from the daily cocktail special to a couple of classic coffee drinks, as well as a half-dozen or more tapas plates.

The cocktail was a variation on the classic Bees Knees ($7), given an extra sting in its tail with a touch of ghost pepper essence. It was a perfectly balanced concoction, the honey, lemon and gin all present, and the heat of the pepper gently asserting itself in the aftertaste.

The latte aficionado of the group went with the vanilla cafe con leche ($5), which was tasty if served at a temperature cooler than he expected. My choice was a Mexican mocha ($6), a robust blend of strong coffee and rich chocolate. It was blessedly not sweet, which amplified the flavors of the two major components.

The tapas are designed to be consumed in just a couple of bites, so the flavors need to be impactful. That was definitely true of the empanada ($4), its ground beef brightened with olives and raisins, and the chunks of jackfruit cooked al pastor ($2), the unusual texture of the fruit mimicking that of the pork usually prepared this way (although the skewers of grilled pork al pastor we sampled ($2) were equally tasty).

Large dates stuffed with sticks of Manchego cheese ($4) blended salty and sweet, and the albondigas (meatballs Mexican style) came with a tangy red sauce ($2.50). A nearly coal-black chocolate muffin ($2.50), split three ways, was more than enough for dessert.

Gambills Wine & Coffee is just one of several food and drink enterprises in which Gambill is involved. In addition to OK Distilling Co., he founded Local Cider, partners with Adam Green of Macs Barbecue in Green and Gambills Jewish Deli, and is looking to open Gambills Pastaria and Grocery later this month, in the space that used to be home to Jims Coney Island near 21st Street and Harvard Avenue. And that doesnt include projects in Oklahoma City and Norman.

The Gambills Wine & Coffee space has a long bar area, and about half a dozen or so tables; a semi-private room can accommodate up to 12 guests. About half a dozen tables are set up outside, although this area is in direct sunlight in the afternoons.

We want to give people good food and good drinks that arent expensive, and have a good experience, Gambill said. I know that some people think that wine bars and coffee shops can be a little pretentious, but that goes against everything I believe. Im a big believer in a casual setting, where anyone can feel comfortable.

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Federal officials have been filing charges in cases involving American Indians where McGirt applied, sometimes before their state charge was officially overturned.

A Mayes County jury convicted Jumper of first-degree murder in 1995. Jumper was 17 at the time of Ballards death.

Snell, who was 14 when Ballard was murdered, received a life prison sentence after pleading no contest to first-degree murder.

Testimony during Jumpers trial indicated that Snell did most of the beating of Ballard.

One witness testified that she heard Ballard screaming for his life after Snell entered the mans home with the intent to rob him, according to Tulsa World archives.

The two teens, who had been drinking 190 proof alcohol prior to the beating, chased Ballard from his home to a nearby ditch where the beating continued, trial testimony indicated.

The state medical examiner testified that Ballards entire facial bone had been broken into tiny pieces as a result of the beating.

One witness who testified at Jumpers trial said Ballard was beaten with fists, feet, a toilet seat, a plastic toy and a wooden stick with nails protruding from it.
But Grayless said: "It's not about money. It's not about the Police Department trying to frame a man. They don't have time to do that."

Reed conceded that he wrote a since-deleted Facebook post that stated about two weeks after the shooting: "I'm just trying to get some money. I'm not worried about pointing the finger."

Reed told Grayless the post was not about Carpenter but was instead a reference to how his life was changing due to his increased involvement in horse training and rodeo activities. Behenna, though, pointed to the comment in his opening statement as being indicative of an ulterior motive.

Asked directly Tuesday whether he was falsely accusing Carpenter or trying to extort him, Reed told Grayless no. He also said Larkin did not force him to identify a specific person as the shooter.

"I have to tell the truth before (Carpenter) hurts somebody else. I have kids," Reed said.

Reed testified that Carpenter flagged down his vehicle and shot him without warning shortly after Reed left a home in north Tulsa where he, Carpenter and Carpenter's wife had been socializing with friends and family. He also said he saw Carpenter with a gun in his waistband and claimed that was the weapon Carpenter used to shoot him.
Although Tulsas mandate has lapsed, several area school districts are still requiring staff and students to mask up while on campus.

Citing guidance from the Tulsa Health Department, officials with Tulsa Public Schools reiterated in a parent email sent out Friday afternoon that masks are still compulsory for all adults and children while on district property.

That requirement will remain in place for students and staff participating in TPS summer programs as well.

Union Public Schools is still requiring masks on campus as well. However, a spokesman for the district said Tuesday afternoon that two recommendations are slated to come before Unions school board on Monday that, if passed, would adjust that policy.

The first recommendation would eliminate the requirement to wear masks outside while on district property. The second would make it optional to wear face coverings indoors effective June 1.
The shift outside is one of several changes that the department has had to make this year thanks to the pandemic. Attendance has been limited at the handful of in-person productions conducted.

With masks still required on campus, an extra emphasis has been placed on projecting and enunciating in order to be understood on stage.

In order to facilitate social distancing, the students did radio shows during the fall semester, which were recorded and performed at the Admiral Twin Drive-In. Zoom calls have been incorporated all year  both for performances and rehearsals.

Additionally, in order to accommodate for potential quarantines, roles have been triple cast in productions all year and as Powell pointed out, there were times when contact tracing required pulling in those understudies.

There were times we went three deep in order to cover a part, too, he said. But its meant that everyones gotten a lot of experience.

Although COVID-19 prompted moving dinner theater outdoors, Powell said it very well may become a permanent shift.
Saint Francis has more than 100 locations but only four acute care hospitals. It continues to expand, adding clinics and retail locations.

Unfortunately, Saint Francis refuses to recognize the distinctions that exist between on- and off-campus services in setting appropriate reimbursement rates. This means BCBSOK members may pay much higher out-of-pocket expenses for services at off-campus locations operated by Saint Francis.

Kelly said negotiating physician and hospital contracts is one of the ways BCBSOK protects members from unnecessary and inappropriate increases in health care costs.

While we understand prices go up over time, we must be good stewards of our members health care dollars to keep out-of-pocket expenses and premiums as reasonable as possible.

BlueCross members who are Saint Francis patients and currently undergoing treatment for a disability, acute condition or life-threatening illness or who are in their second trimester of pregnancy may be covered by continuity of care, officials said. To check eligibility in continuity of care benefits, BCBSOK is encouraging members to call the customer service number on the back of their ID card.
The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission will host a job fair Thursday and Friday in Tulsa for employers and job seekers alike.

The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Exchange Center at Tulsa Expo Square with veterans granted early access beginning at 8:30 a.m. each day.

Employers representing more than 3,600 open jobs have registered thus far for the event, which will also be held at other locations throughout the state.

We are excited to welcome Tulsa-area residents to the career fairs we are hosting, and we are hopeful that these career fairs will help Tulsa-area employers find workers and help claimants find employment, said OESC Executive Director Shelley Zumwalt.

If you are looking for a job, I encourage you to come to Tulsa Expo Square and network with employers across a wide range of industries, including the technology, hospitality, construction, retail, manufacturing, finance and insurance industries.

About 20,000 workers were unemployed in March, according to the OESC.
Stone said Oklahoma has seen less than 200 vaccine "breakthrough" infections  or people who have been infected with COVID-19 after becoming fully vaccinated.

"(That is) fantastic," Stone said. "The vaccine is doing its job."

She noted that of the breakthrough cases, only 14 required hospitalization.

"So that's a very, very minute number of individuals that have been hospitalized," Stone said. "Twelve of those had had one other type of comorbidity, which might have put them at a higher risk for hospitalization.

"So really, if you're healthy and you're vaccinated the risk of being hospitalized or having a severe outcome from this disease is greatly diminished."

Reed expressed disappointment in the slipping vaccination rate because the state doesn't want people to have to worry about a potential widespread resurgence of the deadly virus in the fall.

"We're definitely not satisfied that we're where we need to be with this vaccination program," Reed said. "That's why we encourage everyone that is eligible to get vaccinated, please step up and get vaccinated.
Regarding the April 20 Associated Press story "Oklahoma Seeks Coordination on Indigenous Peoples Cold Cases," I would like to thank the Tulsa World for the continued coverage of missing and murdered Indigenous people in our state.

While the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people has become more known mainstream, there may be readers not aware that this is an issue in our own backyard.

The Not Invisible Act of 2019, Savannas Act, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haalands recent formation of a Missing and Murdered Unit, and Gov. Kevin Stitts signing of Idas Law (Senate Bill 172) are all steps in the right direction toward finding and closing cases of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

And while tribal, state and federal legislation is being passed, it is important that advocates continue to be vocal.

While funding is being secured, and agencies are being formed, there are still Native American people right here in Oklahoma disappearing.
After several years of trial and error, Huynh Thi Quoc Tri has successfully equipped rural farmers, including ethnic minority households in central Vietnam, with the skills they need for a transition to clean farming.

Tri, in her mid-40s, is proving that success is always achievable, regardless of the hardship life presents.

Over the past six years, she has worked hard to pass down clean agriculture technology to farmers in Don Duong District, located in Lam Dong Province, and its neighbors of Gia Lai and Kon Tum in the Central Highlands.

Farmers in Ninh Thuan and Quang Tri Provinces have also benefited from the technology.

She believed that with profits outweighing costs, the practice will do them good in the long run.

Going clean and green

After graduating in literature from a reputable university in Ho Chi Minh City in 1999, Tri worked as a reporter for around seven years before going to Japan, where she earned a scholarship to major in social welfare studies.

Upon her return to Vietnam in 2014, Tri worked as an interpreter while resuming her teaching job at KOTO, an organization that offers tuition-free vocational training in cooking, hospitality, English, and computer skills to needy locals.

The woman also took up sewing and embroidery in her spare time.

The journey she embarked on to launch a social enterprise in embroidery took her to Ka Don Commune, nestled in Don Duong District, Lam Dong Province, where many young women of the KHo ethnic minority are long known for their dexterity in the craft.

There she asked the women to join a project in crafting fashionable embroidered items to help improve their incomes.

The project turned out to take an unexpected twist when she noticed another problem.

During her multiple visits to local farming households where the women made embroidery to supplement their incomes, Tri was startled at their indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides on their crops as she witnessed their cultivating methods at work.

It was then that the idea of chemical-free farming hit me, she recalled.

With neither financial nor human resources, the social entrepreneur walked away from her stable job in Ho Chi Minh City and boldly embarked on her sustainable farming project.

She single-mindedly focused on producing veggies free of pests and diseases in a 1,600-square-meter facility she bought with money borrowed from one of her friends.

Tri acknowledged that it was a risky move, as she considered herself an outsider lacking a farming background or experience, despite spending a while learning about a clean farming model run in Osaka Prefecture by Teikei, a system of community-supported agriculture in Japan.

The woman was, however, confident that it was the right thing to do as increasingly health-conscious consumers would prefer clean produce.

Seeing how indiscriminately many farmers sprayed chemicals, I was set on making the project a success, Tri shared.

Her journey was, however, not without difficulties.

Her well-meaning project was initially met with doubts from local farmers, including KHo ethnic people, who dismissed her methods as unreliable and unrealistic.

Actually what they said made some sense," Tri recalled.

"Ravaged by worms and snails, the veggies looked unhealthy and could not reach full growth."

She gave only one explanation to the incredulous farmers: the abuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has left the microorganism system of the soil seriously degraded.

It took her quite a while to improve the microorganism system.

Still, that failed to impress the farmers, who said all that a wealthy woman like her wanted was to get her money laundered.

The less appetizing produce failed to get customers attention and confidence, even Tris own parents and siblings would not consume her veggies.

Her staff were filled with dismay as she persistently refused to use chemicals, leaving her no other choice but to wastefully dispose of the produce.

The local farmers deep-rooted practice of growing a single crop on a large area was also a stark contrast to Tris plan for diversified cultivation on the same area, which was labor-intensive and left the plants prone to pests.

Despite the best efforts she threw in, Tris initial yield was only one-tenth of that grown in a traditional way.

She recounted a challenge she took on with young local farmers six years ago.

While they sprayed their crops intensively, Tri did nothing to stop weeds from growing and pests from attacking her crops.

Her initial harvest was poor compared to the youths abundant crops.

Tris hard work finally bore fruit.

As the experiment entered its second year, her cauliflowers weighed up to 0.9 kilograms apiece while those cultivated by the youths only 0.7 kilograms.

I heaved a sigh of relief then," she shared.

"The first lesson was learned.

"Since then, they have listened to me."

Growing with social impact

Unable to find outlets for her hygienically ensured produce, Tri launched her own Page on Facebook and shares her farming stories on a daily basis.

She also alternates flowers with vegetables while using only environmentally friendly manure and no weed control methods.

Her crops began to yield positive outcomes and wound up pulling in good revenues.

More customers have come back for her green produce.

Tris project now attracts a large, devoted following, made up mostly of farmers who initially cast doubt on her cultivation methods.

Members of the same families also join the project.

My whole extended family have now adopted Tris methods, said Grek, a KHo family.

Chemical-free farming is good to both growers and consumers health.

"We have also found great outlets."

Compared to highly priced organic products, Tri always tries to make her rates affordable so that her produce, which mainly makes its way into schools, factories, hospitals, markets, and clean produce stores, can reach average-income consumers.

Tri noted as clean farming productivity is double or more than double doing it the traditional way, farmers still gain more profits despite selling them at affordable prices.

Farmers can save costs investing in green houses, net houses, chemical fertilizers, pesticides or technology transfer studies, Tri explained.

This keeps our prices low while local farmers can maximize profits from their harvest.

Her products now have a high consumption rate thanks to their consistent quality and low prices.

Tri revealed three principles she always bears in mind: preserving indigenous breeds, diversifying crops based on topography of different areas, and choosing suitable crops that vary from one season to another.

The enterprising woman is also working on a farmstay model, which aims to raise awareness of clean farming among communities and promotes cultural exchange.

At each locality, customers can visit the farming households, who will benefit from chances for cultivation and cultural exchange with colleagues from other provinces.

Dedicated middlewoman As an intermediary between farmers and customers, Tri finds herself constantly racking her brain to make sure farming households can maximize their profits while consumers can buy guaranteed produce at the lowest possible prices. This always gives me headaches, as risk management is not always effective when it comes to produce, she explained. In clean farming, with no intervention in crops, all we can do is growing them at the mercy of weather conditions. Fortunately, our customers and wholesalers/agents are willing to share risks of natural disasters so that farmers can still earn revenues if they suffer poor crops in bad weather."

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Mexico will punish those responsible for an overpass collapse that killed at least 24 people and injured dozens when a train on Mexico City's newest metro line plunged onto a busy road below, the government said on Tuesday.

Accompanied by officials involved in the construction and maintenance of the elevated metro line that collapsed on Monday night, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the investigation should be done quickly and that nothing should be hidden from the public.

"There's no impunity for anyone," he told a news conference. The city has been governed since the turn of the century by former mayor Lopez Obrador and his allies.

The crash has raised wider questions about safety on one of the world's busiest metro systems, which carries millions of people daily across the capital's urban sprawl.

Firefighters using heavy chains to stabilize the site pulled bodies and survivors from the wreckage before lowering one dangling carriage onto a truck in the afternoon. Some 79 people were injured, including three children, authorities said.

Paramedics transport Brandon Giovani Hernandez, who was injured during the accident where an overpass of the metro partially collapsed with train cars on it at Olivos station, toward a helicopter as he is transferred to another hospital, in Mexico City, Mexico May 4, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Video on social media showed the moment when the overpass suddenly plummeted onto a stream of cars near the Olivos station in the southeast of the city at around 10:30 p.m. (0330 GMT on Tuesday), sending up clouds of dust and sparks.

Monserrat, 26, said she was at the back of the train wagon when she heard a loud noise and the lights went out.

"Everybody screamed and we fell on top of each other," she told Mexican radio.

Outside hospitals, family members grew frustrated waiting for information on relatives.

Angelica Cruz Camino, 31, said she had not heard from her husband since he was on his way home from work late Monday. She visited several hospitals and was told all victims were identified but she still had not found him by Tuesday afternoon.

"I called and called but he wasn't answering me. Then it was my son who realized the metro collapsed," she said outside Tlahuac public hospital. "I cannot find my husband."

Relatives arrive looking for Brandon Giovani Hernandez Tapia, near the site where an overpass for a metro partially collapsed with train cars on it at Olivos station in Mexico City, Mexico May 4, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Supports shaking

The overpass that collapsed was part of Linea 12, an addition to the network finished less than a decade ago and long plagued by allegations of corruption and structural weakness.

In 2014, just two years after it opened, several of the line's stations were closed for structural repairs.

Four people who live in the area told Reuters they observed the support structures below the elevated tracks visibly shaking when trains crossed. Some recalled warnings about the humid soil being unfit for major construction.

After a powerful 2017 earthquake, government data show there was also damage to the line's support columns.

"Every time I saw the train, I saw the columns and beams shake," said Victor Lara, a daily commuter on the line. "They're not well made."

Investigations will be carried out by the federal attorney general's office, its Mexico City counterpart, and an external auditor, Norway's DNV GL, officials said.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the accident and Lopez Obrador declared three days of national mourning.

Lopez Obrador was mayor of the city in the early 2000s, and current mayor Claudia Sheinbaum and Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who ran the city when Linea 12 was built, are both senior members of his political movement.

Linea 12 was built by a consortium of CARSO Infraestructura y Construccion, S.A.B. de C.V (CCICSA), a company controlled by the family of Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, Mexico's Grupo ICA, and the Mexican unit of France's Alstom SA (ALSO.PA).

A general view of the damage caused after a railway overpass and train collapsed onto a road in Mexico City, Mexico May 4, 2021. Picture taken with a drone. Photo: Reuters

ICA shared a chart with Reuters indicating that CCICSA was responsible for construction on the section of the line that collapsed but declined to comment further.

A spokesman for CCICSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the chart, but said in an earlier statement to Reuters the company stood in solidarity with victims' families and those injured. "We are going to wait for the official expert opinion," CCICSA said.

Alstom said its involvement in the consortium was limited to certain aspects, including power supply and testing of some electromechanical work. The company said it would aid investigating authorities "in any way necessary."

Sheinbaum said it appeared a girder had given way on the overpass, which she said was inspected last year. At a later news conference, she said the collapse seemed to indicate a "structural failure."

"It is not possible to say categorically, but it seems this is what happened," Sheinbaum said.

Ebrard said it was the "most terrible" accident to have hit the local transport system, and that he was ready to cooperate with authorities in the investigation.

Both urged the public to allow investigators to do their work before seeking to apportion responsibility.
Pompoms rustle and silver shoes flash as "Japan Pom Pom" practices, moving to a lively cheer dance beat. With members ages 60 to 89, they're no ordinary squad.

But don't you dare call them grannies.

"Right at the start, we weren't very happy about being called 'granny cheer dancers,'" says Fumie Takino, the bubbly, energetic 89-year-old who founded Japan Pom Pom - average age, 72 years - more than 25 years ago.

At a recent weekly practice, resumed after a year off, mask-wearing members checked temperatures before stretching, then moved into their dance routines - socially distanced, of course.

Fumie Takino, 89, founder of a senior cheer squad called Japan Pom Pom, and other members prepare to pose for commemorative photos before filming a dance routine for an online performance in Tokyo, Japan, April 12, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Though most wore sweatpants and t-shirts with a glittery "Japan Pom Pom", for performances they don sequined, mini-skirted cheer costumes. For one routine, Takino wears a leather biker jacket and shades; in another, all sport silver wigs.

"It's dancing; moving your body is nice," she said. "And the costumes are unbelievably showy. Some people join just so they can wear them."

Originally started with five people 26 years ago after Takino saw an overseas senior cheer squad in the news, the group now has 17 active members. Members, all older than 55, must pass auditions.

Fumie Takino, 89, founder of a senior cheer squad called Japan Pom Pom, colours in an adult colouring book, on the day Japan declared its third state of emergency, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at her home in Yokohama, Japan, April 23, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Now the group is featured in government pamphlets about active seniors, appears periodically in TV reports, and performs in popular charity shows.

Japan, one of the world's most rapidly ageing nations, with almost 30% of its population older than 65, is known for the longevity of its seniors. But acceptance of the squad took time in a nation with fixed notions about senior life.

"We went to a senior-citizens club, and they really didn't like us. They didn't smile even once. 'Japanese women, wearing things like that, at their ages!'" Takino recalls. "Now, I think about half of people are okay with us and half still can't accept us."

Members comment about the boost from practicing together and Takino's positive outlook.

Fumie Takino, 89, founder of a senior cheer squad called Japan Pom Pom, and other Japan Pom Pom members, perform a dance routine while filming an online performance in Tokyo, Japan, April 12, 2021. Photo: Reuters

"As our leader says, try anything," said Tami Shimada, 69. "If you're interested in something, forget about your age, forget about people saying it's no good for that reason ... I think that leads to a reason to live."

Takino, who has three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, with another on the way, practices what she preaches.

She's tried scuba-diving, parasailing, ukulele and sky-diving, which she calls "the greatest," and got a master's degree in the U.S. in her 50s. Now she also studies Spanish, attends a dance class for seniors and takes walks. She's obsessed with computer solitaire.

Tami Shimada, 69, a member of a senior cheer squad called Japan Pom Pom, walks home from the park with her granddaughter Elisa, 4, and daughter-in-law Tomoko, 44, in Tokyo, Japan, April 25, 2021. Photo: Reuters

Each night, she drinks a small beer, and says an appendectomy has been her only health issue so far.

Takino can't believe she'll be 90 next year, but reluctantly confesses she doesn't think she'll still be cheering at 100, though the group wants her to.

"The last three or four years I've started to feel tired a lot more easily. Then having to be home because of the pandemic really meant my stamina fell. I don't feel anything while I'm practicing, but then the next day I feel pretty tired," she said. "I forget everything while I'm dancing."

Fumie Takino, 89, founder of a senior cheer squad called Japan Pom Pom, sets up a video camera to film the team's dance routine during a weekly practice session in Tokyo, Japan April 5, 2021. Photo: Reuters
Vietnams Ministry of Health announced 18 locally-transmitted cases, including 14 at a hospital, on Wednesday.

The 14 patients include one medical worker, four caretakers, and nine patients treated for other illnesses at the Dong Anh District branch of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, the health ministry elaborated.

The institution is a central-level hospital that tends to COVID-19 patients. It has been locked down following the detection of the contagion.

Another domestic case was logged in the capital city as well.

Each of the other three infections was registered in Quang Nam Province, Dong Nai Province, and Hai Duong Province.

The health ministry also confirmed eight cases imported from Poland, Cambodia, Japan, the Philippines, and Russia on Wednesday.

All of them had been quarantined since arrival in Vietnam by plane or ship.

Vietnam has logged 3,022 coronavirus patients, including 1,626 local cases, since the virus first struck the country on January 23, 2020, according to the health ministrys data.

Recoveries have numbered 2,560, while 35 patients have died, most suffering critical underlying conditions.

Fifty-six local infections have been recorded in the country since April 27.

Vietnam is still closing its borders to international arrivals but it takes in foreign experts, diplomats, and Vietnamese repatriates.

All are required to undergo different forms of isolation upon entry.

The health ministry on Wednesday decided to increase centralized quarantine time to 21 days from the previous 14-day period, as there had been cases where people were confirmed as coronavirus patients shortly after leaving isolation centers.

The new regulation is applicable from the same day.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other provinces have closed non-essential services such as karaoke parlors, nightclubs, discos, and online game centers to stall the virus.

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Over 20 people including six police officers have been quarantined following their direct contact with a woman who tested positive for the novel coronavirus after returning to southern Dong Nai Province from central Da Nang City.

An official from the Dong Nai Department of Health confirmed on Wednesday morning that 23 people have been brought to quarantine facilities after coming into contact with 44-year-old B.T.T..

T. hails from Long Khanh City, Dong Nai Province but lives in Da Nang and works at New Phuong Dong Club in the central city.

On April 28, she had contact with a friend, who is a direct contact of COVID-19 patient No. 2,982, a 28-year-old hotel employee in Da Nang.

On May 3, T. boarded flight VN113 from Da Nang to Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City before taking a bus to Long Khanh City.

She was picked up by a family member and headed home in Xuan Thanh Ward.

She had a meal at Thien Huong diner later the same day and went to the headquarters of her neighborhood to sign up for the issuance of the new chip-based ID card.

At around 8:30 pm, T. heard the news about patient No. 2,982 and headed to the medical center in Xuan Thanh Ward to fill in a health declaration and get tested for COVID-19.

The result came back positive that night.

Authorities in Dong Nai convened an urgent meeting the same night to promptly deal with the case.

Among her 23 direct contacts, four are her family members and six are police officers who helped her carry out procedures for her ID card issuance.

Vietnam has documented 2,996 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday morning, with 2,560 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

Thirty-eight local infections have been recorded in the country since April 27.

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Here are todays leading news stories:

COVID-19 Updates

-- Vietnam reported zero coronavirus infections on Wednesday morning, with the national tally standing at 2,996 and recoveries reaching 2,560, the Ministry of Health said.

-- A 25-year-old Vietnamese employee of a hotel in the central city of Da Nang tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Tuesday night after having direct contact with an infected colleague.

-- A doctor who works in the emergency care ward of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi was confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus on Tuesday.

-- Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday evening detected a 45-year-old Chinese who broke Vietnams COVID-19 prevention guidelines for going to a restaurant in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City after only 13 days of self-isolation.

Society

-- Vietnamese authorities said on Tuesday night that police had detected a total of 174 cases of illegal entry into the Southeast Asian country in 24 hours.

-- A sofa workshop on Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City caught fire on Tuesday night, with many assets heavily damaged.

-- Some 15 people involved in the smuggling ring at Nhat Cuong Technical Services Trading Co. Ltd. in Hanoi will go on trial on Wednesday morning.

-- About 44 houses were damaged and crops were devasted by hail and strong gusts in the north central Vietnamese province of Quang Tri on Tuesday evening.

-- Police in Hai Chau District, Da Nang levied fines worth a total of VND18 million (US$780) upon 17 people for failure to wear face masks in public on Tuesday.

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Over two dozen people were fined a total of VND34 million (US$1,474) for failure to wear face masks in public in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang on Tuesday.

In Hai Chau District, officers detected 17 maskless people in public areas, according to Le Tu Gia Thanh, the district's chairman.

Seven of the violators were given warnings while the remaining ten were slapped with fines worth a combined VND18 million ($779).

Anyone failing to wear face masks in public can be fined worth VND1-3 million ($43-130) in accordance with current regulations.

Chairman Thanh stated that authorities will continue patrolling public and crowded locations to make sure residents comply with COVID-19 prevention and control rules.

To boost the spirit and responsibility of local officers, relevant units in some wards have been rewarded for their efforts in the fight against the pandemic, the official added.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Committee in Son Tra District confirmed that eight people were fined VND16 million ($692) for failure to wear face masks in public on Tuesday.

Thirty-eight others were given warnings for similar violations.

Authorities in Son Tra District also reminded residents not to swim at local beaches as the activity was banned by the municipal administration from 0:00 on Tuesday.

Vietnam has documented 2,996 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday afternoon, with 2,560 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

Thirty-eight local infections have been recorded in the country since April 27, including two cases in Da Nang.

Multiple non-essential services and activities have been banned in the central city since Tuesday.

Local students were also required to stay home and switch to remote learning from Tuesday until further notice.

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A doctor from the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, a central-level hospital that tends to COVID-19 patients in Hanoi, has recently tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Tran Thi Nhi Ha, director of the municipal Department of Health.

The doctor in question works at the emergency and intensive care department and had made no contact with COVID-19 patients in the hospital, Ha said on Tuesday.

The Hanoi Department of Health is scrambling to perform contact tracing and identify people who came into close contact with the doctor.

During his recent holidays in late April and early May, the infected doctor traveled to various spots and visited friends in Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, and Tay Ho Districts, among other areas in Hanoi, a source said.

On 10:00 pm April 28, he arrived at a karaoke parlor at 54 Chua Lang Street and spent around two hours there.

The source of transmission for the doctor has not yet been discovered.

This is the fifth COVID-19 case that Hanoi has detected since the COVID-19 outbreak returned to Vietnam on April 27.

At that time, the Southeast Asian country had gone about a month without detecting any cases in the community.

Vietnam has confirmed 2,996 coronavirus infections, including 1,608 local cases and 35 deaths, since the virus first struck the country on January 23, 2020, according to the health ministrys data.

The government has vaccinated more than 585,000 people since its roll-out of mass immunization on March 8, it said in a report on its verified Facebook account on Wednesday.

Those inoculated were medical staff and other frontline workers.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other provinces have shuttered non-essential services such as karaoke parlors, nightclubs, discos, and online game centers to quell the virus.

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Eight officials from the central Vietnamese province of Quang Ngai had boarded the same flight as a COVID-19 patient before attending two meetings with dozens of other officials and reporters.

In an urgent announcement on Wednesday morning, the Quang Ngai Peoples Committee required nearly 50 delegates, reporters, and staff who attended two meetings on Tuesday morning and afternoon to self-quarantine and monitor their health.

The request came after eight officials were confirmed to have boarded the same flight, QH-2166, from the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho to Da Nang as COVID-19 patient No. 2,989 on April 29 before taking part in the two events.

Patient No. 2,989 is a 25-year-old woman who works as a masseuse at Phu An Hotel in Hai Chau District, Da Nang City.

She tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Tuesday and was confirmed as a COVID-19 patient later the same day.

A 23-year-old man who sells spa tickets at Phu An Hotel was also confirmed as a COVID-19 patient on Tuesday morning.

All eight officials who had direct contact with patient No. 2,989 have been brought to quarantine facilities and had their samples collected for COVID-19 testing.

If all of their results come back negative, their direct contacts will no longer have to self-quarantine.

Vietnam has documented 2,996 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday afternoon, with 2,560 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

Thirty-eight local infections have been recorded in the country since April 27.

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Police in Ho Chi Minh City have captured two Chinese nationals, who had been caught sneaking into Vietnam illegally and escaped after being sent to a local isolation ward.

The capture was confirmed on Tuesday by the principal of Ho Chi Minh City Military School in Cu Chi District  a venue repurposed into a quarantine ward, where the two Chinese had escaped from.

The duo were found in Hoa Khanh Dong Commune, Duc Hoa District of neighboring Long An Province, which is some 32 kilometers away from the quarantine ward.

Police of Cu Chi District have detained the two individuals and brought them back to quarantine.

The two Chinese nationals were born in 1999 and 2001, respectively, Nguyen Huu Hoai Phu, chairman of the Cu Chi Peoples Committee, said during a meeting of the Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The duo escaped their quarantine ward in Cu Chi District on Sunday evening after they were sent there along with nine other Chinese border jumpers a few days earlier.

Cu Chi authorities have mobilized lower-level police forces, as well as local residents, to scour for the two in lodging facilities in the locale.

Vietnam is staying on high alert against border jumpers, who could bring the COVID-19 pathogen into the country and enkindle another outbreak.

The Southeast Asian nation has gone through three outbreaks of COVID-19, with 2,962 infections, 2,549 recoveries, and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health's statistics.

Since April 27, 38 domestic cases have been recorded in the country.

Locals started enjoying a four-day holiday to celebrate Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers Day (May 1) on Friday, which pulled citizens to domestic tourism hubs in droves and raised concerns over COVID-19 spread.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other provinces have shuttered non-essential services such as karaoke parlors, nightclubs, discos, and online game centers to quell the virus.

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Vietnam has confirmed 38 local coronavirus infections since April 27, with more than 585,000 people having been given the first shot of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Ministry of Health.

The country had gone about a month without detecting any community transmission before finding the first case on April 27, the health ministry said in a report on Wednesday morning.

A total of 38 domestic infections have been recorded since.

Most of the domestically-transmitted cases were traced to clusters in Ha Nam Province, located in northern Vietnam.

Vietnam has logged 2,996 coronavirus infections, including 1,608 local cases, since the virus first struck the country on January 23, 2020, according to the health ministrys data.

Recoveries have numbered 2,560, while 35 patients have died, most suffering critical pre-existing conditions.

Public health authorities had administered the first shot of AstraZeneca vaccine to 585,539 people by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, the ministry said.

Those vaccinated were medical staff and other frontline workers.

The government is quarantining 40,736 people who either came into close contact with infected patients or entered Vietnam from pathogen-struck regions.

Vietnam is still closing its borders to international arrivals but it takes in foreign experts, diplomats, and Vietnamese repatriates.

All are required to undergo different forms of isolation upon entry.

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The Peoples Procuracy of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho said on Tuesday that it was working with the municipal police to investigate a case where a Vietnamese man had killed his wife and 11-month-old daughter before committing suicide by jumping off a tall building.

According to the initial investigation records, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nhung, a local woman, reported to the local police that she had found 22-year-old V.T.N.A. and 11-month-old D.N.Q. lying dead with several cuts on their bodies in the bathroom of a rental room in Can Thos Cai Rang District at around 6:20 pm on April 26.

Later, the police received another report of a mans jumping to his death at Tay Nguyen Plaza in the same district.

The functional forces then verified that the man was Dang Ngoc Khanh, 28, from northern Phu Tho Province, who was also A.s husband and Q.s father.

Khanh and his wife and daughter had relocated to Can Tho at the beginning of 2021 and earned a living from working as a Grab motorbike partner since then.

He previously had a drink with A.s father on the afternoon of April 26 before returning to his small familys rental room and picking a quarrel with his wife.

While A. was giving their toddler a bath in the bathroom, Khanh suddenly used a knife to slash both the wife and daughter to death.

After committing the murder, Khanh went to a high floor of Tay Nguyen Plaza to end his life by jumping off the building.

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At the age of 33, Giang Thi Kim Cuc could have bought an apartment already if she had not spent so much money on courses in environmental protection and human resources management.

The woman, who lives in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, has a soft spot for trash.

Cuc has collected garbage for so many years that many people call her a trash girl.'

Collecting trash is not a boast

Cucs main job is in the field of business, but she also has a more important job on weekends: collecting trash.

She is not familiar with luxury clothing and everyone living around her has gotten used to the image of a woman wearing boots, a bag in her left hand, tongs in her right hand, picking up trash.

Cuc not only picks up trash in Ho Chi Minh City but she also joins a group of like-minded members to make responsible trips, during which they have gone to 39 out of 63 cities and provinces in Vietnam to collect garbage.

Cuc and her elder sister took part in an international campaign to collect waste along with thousands of members who came from 42 countries.

I was stunned to read that Vietnam was the fourth country in the world in discarding garbage into the ocean, she told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

I am still young, I have to do something at once to address the problem.

"I used the issue as a reason that forced me not to give up under any circumstances."

Cuc cannot go by without doing anything when she sees waste, despite being at a park, a train station, the foot of a bridge, or a contaminated channel.

She loves collecting garbage and she is willing to stop doing anything to pick it up.

I can say for sure that picking up trash is not an action for show, Cuc said.

As a matter of fact, the first people who participated in our trip to collect waste before are continuing their jobs as pioneers, laying the foundation for a culture of collecting waste in Vietnam.

They collect waste because they find it necessary.

They love this country and want to make it greener and more beautiful."

50,000 bags of garbage

Cuc cannot remember how many garbage collection trips she has partaken in over the last three years, which have been undertaken for nothing except for the public interest.

She has set foot in 39 out of 63 provinces of Vietnam to date.

She and her friends collect garbage anywhere they pay a visit.

Cuc organizes such trips in a professional manner. The volunteers who join the trips will be supplied with hats, gloves, and tongs.

After being picked up by the members, the garbage is packed in bags, which will be transferred to factories to be processed professionally.

More than 50,000 waste bags with a weight of over 30 kilograms each are the results we have achieved for the last three years," Cuc said.

Sometimes we only collected around dozens of bags but in special instances, it could take us around one week to clean up the waste, and it would be normal for us to fill around 500 to 700 bags."

In fact, 50,000 bags of waste are nothing in comparison with nearly 18,000 tonnes of waste thrown out every day, according to data supplied by the Da Nang Institute for Socio-Economic Development.

Cuc understands she cannot collect waste for all her life, so she wants to find ways to raise awareness of the need for environmental protection among the people.

Because of this, Cuc has empowered herself by enrolling in various courses on the environment and human resources management domestically and internationally.

I used a big sum of money which was enough to buy a good apartment to register for courses on the environment, Cuc said.

Apart from the fact that I am known for being good at collecting garbage, I would like to gain knowledge to be able to present things correctly and meaningfully,"

After completing a garbage collecting program, Cuc always holds a workshop in the local community to share knowledge about the environment and nature while showing the way to sort out the waste as well.

Cuc is confident that she can sow such green seeds via such activities after leaving an area.

In that way, there will still be people who continue to conduct their mission, which is not only to collect trash but also to heighten awareness of environmental protection.

Being inspired by the sisters of Cuc, the Green Trips Vietnam group has attracted more than 40,000 members to date.

Many of the key members of the group founded by Cuc are foreign people who are living and working in Vietnam.

They come from many countries like India, the Netherlands, Canada, the U.S., Malaysia, the Philippines, and Japan.

For a liveable Vietnam! That is the name of a trash collecting campaign that is scheduled by Cuc and her coworkers to be held on June 5 to celebrate World Environment Day. There are thousands of volunteers who will take part in picking up trash in 63 provinces and Vietnam's big islands. Cuc sets a goal in 2022 to build a community with around one million volunteers who share her ideas of protecting Mother Nature.

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Its an explosive rivalry thats arguably become larger than the UFC landscape itself, but now the war between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor is set to go mobile, as both fighters release their own fitness apps onto the marketplace.

Although both Nurmagomedov and McGregor had their fair share of clashes - largely outside of the octagon rather than in - both combatants appear to have shared the same thought processes in releasing an app at a highly opportune moment.

As the COVID-19 pandemic caused disruption around the world that led to more individuals being forced to stay home and live more isolated lives, downloads for health and fitness apps accelerated at a rapid rate - growing by 46% globally.

With the fitness app market expected to expand throughout the decade, both McGregors McGregor FAST and Nurmagomedovs OctaZone exercise platforms are set to enter the fray at a time of great potential for tech thats focused on self-improvement.

No love lost between warring rivals

Despite Khabibs rivalry with Conor McGregor reaching fever pitch around the time of their seismic UFC 229 title bout in 2018, there have been numerous scuffles and digs between the two parties and their entourages that have extended to this day.

With fans still eager for a rematch to take place despite Nurmagomedovs retirement from the sport competitively, many are left to analyse the words exchanged between the two on a regular basis to see whether the animosity could ever lead to both Nurmagomedov and McGregor stepping into the octagon again to settle their differences.

In February 2021, the rivalry was reportedly fuelled further by Nurmagomedov writing off McGregors chances of recapturing his form. When asked whether the Irishman could contend for a title in UFC again, his old Russian adversary replied never.

There is no way that a man can be at the peak for two times. What I mean is, a man cant have two primes, Khabib explained.

A team could do it. For example, Real Madrid did this a few times in a row. Teams may have this, but were talking about us and one man, on his own, cannot have this.

Despite Khabibs retirement making any form of rematch with McGregor unlikely in the foreseeable future, a potentially lucrative battle is emerging between the two fighters yet again in a more digital space.

With Conor McGregors FAST workout program being developed into an app and Khabibs OctaZone platform both arriving on app stores of late, an increasingly health-conscious audience once again gets to pick sides and prepare for a sales battle. But how do the contenders measure up? And will one leave the other in their dust when it comes to sales?

McGregor FAST

FAST promises to allow users to tap into Conor McGregors trusted fitness program to get into great shape. The platform offers the chance to use curated, purpose-driven regimes that can be selected based on the users individual goals, or users can simply choose from a range of continually refreshed range of workouts that are designed to optimise their endurance, strength, and power.

The apps strength comes from users enjoying varied multi-week training programs that target a wide range of individual goals. The range of workouts is regularly updated to keep things fresh plus a healthy range of nutritional advice available for users.

McGregor FAST currently enjoys a strong rating of 4.8 stars on the iOS App Store, and according to Google Play data, has been installed on over 50,000 devices at the time of writing. While this figure may seem relatively low, with subscription prices of $14.99 per month and $99 per year, FAST is aiming to be a more eclectic app for users who are serious about using mixed martial arts training methods to get in shape.

Khabib's OctaZone

Khabibs OctaZone app has recently hit the iOS marketplace and is currently in development to release a Google Play app.

Because weight loss can be central to Khabibs preparation during his UFC career, the fighter has poured his expertise into OctaZone.

Much like FAST, OctaZone currently enjoys a high rating of 4.7 stars on the App Store. At a cost of $9.99 per month, or $59.99 per year, the app is reasonably priced. Dedicated users can also access a lifetime subscription that is inaccessible within the app itself, but can be purchased via their iPhones subscription settings.

Khabib works closely with the app, and the UFC icon personally guides users through exercises himself - sharing his experience, passion and industry know-how for more effective weight loss and workouts.

Who will win the digital war?

Khabib may have taken the title in the octagon, but his OctaZone app will have some ground to make up to match the accessibility of McGregors FAST fitness platform, which is more widely accessible at the moment and has the benefit of greater longevity having been released at an earlier date.

However, Khabibs OctaZone apps personalisation approach to the workouts encapsulates a level of innovation and adaptability that FAST does not have.

With both Nurmagomedov and McGregor possessing passionate fan bases alike, the battle for marketplace supremacy may be the latest classic to unfold in a long repertoire of clashes between two huge sporting personalities.
BERLIN (Reuters) -German fashion house Hugo Boss expects sales in mainland China to keep growing fast despite calls for a boycott of Western brands by Chinese consumers launched in late March over Western accusations of forced labour in Xinjiang.

The company known for its smart men's suits saw first-quarter sales almost double in mainland China and it expects that momentum to continue unchanged despite the boycott calls, acting Chief Executive Yves Mueller told journalists.

At least three Chinese celebrities said in March they were dropping Hugo Boss, and some internet users vowed to boycott the brand for good after it made contradictory comments over its purchase of goods and cotton from the Xinjiang region.

Compared with the first quarter of 2019, a year before the coronavirus pandemic hit the region, currency-adjusted sales rose by 29% in mainland China in the first quarter and Mueller said this trend continued at the start of the second quarter.

German sportswear company Puma said last month it expected a hit to sales from the China consumer backlash.

Overall, group sales fell 10% to 497 million euros ($597 million), while Hugo Boss just managed to turn an operating profit of 1 million euros. The average of forecasts by analysts were for 442 million euros in sales and a 28 million euro loss.

Hugo Boss shares were up 4.2% at 0742 GMT.

Mueller declined to comment on reports last month of possible interest in the company, including from French luxury group LVMH, which had boosted the stock.

The company said it was confident sales in the second quarter would almost double, and it hoped to generate a positive operating profit in the period. But it said it could not give a precise outlook.

Mueller, who will hand over to former Tommy Hilfiger boss Daniel Grieder next month, said about 20% of its sales space was still closed at the start of the second quarter, but he was optimistic for a rebound in demand as lockdowns ease.

"The desire to consume is coming back," he said, adding that he saw pent-up demand for smart clothes as people start meeting friends again and planning weddings and parties.

($1 = 0.8323 euros)

(Reporting by Emma Thomasson; Editing by Riham Alkousaa, Maria Sheahan and Edmund Blair)
The average full-time childcare place costs around 14,000 a year  no wonder people are struggling (iStock)

Trillions of US dollars were set officially aside this week to help boost the post-Covid economy by lowering childcare costs. Just like they are in the US, childcare fees are one of the biggest expenses for UK parents or carers with young children.

Childcare costs are up 2 per cent in the past year, to an average of 263 a week for a full-time place and 138 a week for part-time care, according to the Money Advice Service.

Thats around 14,000 a year for just one child in full-time care, although the costs vary hugely across the country.

With average earnings of 585 a week for adults in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), and salaries among employed parents hit especially hard during the pandemic, childcare fees account for almost 40 per cent of that income.

With the numbers simply not adding up and parents facing an ongoing dilemma over work and income versus affordability and worth, the problem is now so significant that it is threatening economic recovery.

And not just here. In the US, where working parents have been weighing up similar dilemmas, a new package of support including subsidised childcare funded by tax increases has been announced as part of president Joe Bidens American Families Plan.

However, childcare costs in the UK have been noticeably distant from the governments proposals, despite things slowly opening again and children now back at school.

The government and several large UK firms have been promoting the idea of flexible working to help parents, and women in particular, enter and stay in the workforce longer.

Many firms are now looking into introducing flexible working on a permanent basis. Over the past year millions of workers have abandoned offices and set up shop in their homes, and this has forced companies to reevaluate how they work.

Flexible working has long been campaigned for by charities and organisations involved with childcare costs because women tend to reduce their hours or leave jobs completely when they have young children due to the high costs of childcare and the fact they tend to earn less than men.

Story continues

But the ability to work flexibly from home means its much easier for a parent to drop off and pick up a child from a childcare setting or school and to work around these hours without having to give up their job or put their career on hold.

The minister for women and equalities, Liz Truss, has already called for employers to make flexible working a standard option for employees, in part to boost opportunities for women who the government says are twice as likely to work remotely.

Now the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has joined a growing list of trade bodies to formally announce a move to flexible working, signed by 27 of the countrys biggest insurers and financial services firms, promoting flexible working hours for employees.

However, while the move to flexible working can only be a good thing, there are other barriers in place for women, including childcare fees.

Joeli Brearley, chief executive officer and founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, comments: Almost two-thirds of those that return to work either work fewer hours, change jobs or stop working due to the high cost of childcare.

Unfortunately, when it comes to childcare, our government is too focused on the initial cost and so they cut corners resulting in a childcare sector that is on the brink of collapse. The thing is, its not just the children who benefit from this support, the economy does too. For every 1 our government invests in childcare, we get 3 back. Childcare is an investment, not a cost.

Until a child turns three in the UK, most parents dont qualify for free childcare hours and must therefore pay full childcare fees if they return to work.

At this point most people can claim up to 15 hours a week of free childcare (30 in England for working parents who meet the criteria).

Along with support for those on low incomes or receiving benefits, including free childcare hours for two-year-olds, theres also child benefit which pays 21.15 per week for your first child and 14 for additional children until they turn 16 (for those eligible).

Meanwhile, the tax-free childcare scheme benefits some parents and carers, and you can claim up to 2,000 a year, per child, until they turn 11, or 16 if they have disabilities.

Felicia Willow, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, adds: "When it comes to childcare, parents in the UK pay more than parents in every other country bar New Zealand.

The result is that for too many families it makes more financial sense for one parent to give up work, as they simply do not earn enough to cover childcare costs.

And as mothers are often the lower earner in the couple  and because of lasting gender norms about who is responsible for childcare  it is more often than not mothers who drop out of the workforce.

Read More

The gender pay gap is bad but the 40% gender pensions gap is far worse

Childcare crisis could push women out of the workforce, says TUC
The newly discovered dinosaur has been named Yamatosaurus Izanagii. (Screenshot: YouTube)

On 27 April, it was reported in the English scientific journal Scientific Reports that a never-seen-before dinosaur fossil was discovered on Awaji Island, in the Hyogo prefecture of Japan. The fossil was embedded in a strata that dated back to the Cretaceous period about 72 million years ago.

The dinosaur fossil was first discovered in 2004, when amateur fossil collector Shingo Kishimoto found fossils in and around the mandible. A survey launched by the Museum of Nature and Human Activities later found fossils of the tail and other body parts.

The museum and Hokkaido University identified the fossil as belonging to a new genus of the herbivorous dinosaur Hadrosauridae, which has a long, flat, duck-like beak. The ninth dinosaur found in Japan that has been given a scientific name, it is estimated to be seven to eight metres from head to tail and weigh four to five tonnes.

The newly discovered dinosaur has been named Yamatosaurus izanagii, after the myth that the island was the birthplace of Japan. According to the myth, Awaji island was the firstborn of the Shinto gods Izanagi and Izanami. As for the word Yamato, it is the first capital of Japan, and by extension a name for the whole of Japan.

All of the fossils will be on display at the Museum of Nature and Human Activities from 12 May. If you are wondering why Awaji Island sounds so familiar, it is also the place where Godzilla is ready for you to zip-line into its menacing mouth.
Boris Johnson has joined foreign ministers from the G7 group of industrialised nations as the UK hosted their first face-to-face meeting in more than two years.

The Prime Minister earlier denied the meeting was a mistake after Indias foreign minister was forced to pull out of attending in person after two positive coronavirus cases were detected in the countrys travelling delegation.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar participated virtually in the event, where India had been invited as a guest, after coming into contact with the suspected cases, although he has not tested positive.

Mr Johnson arrived at the summit venue of Lancaster House in central London for a brief appearance on Wednesday afternoon, where he was greeted by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

When asked if it was a mistake to hold the meeting during a campaign visit to West Midlands earlier on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said: I think its very important to try to continue as much business as you can as a Government.

We have a very important relationship with India and with our G7 partners.

As I understand it, what has happened is the individuals concerned are all isolating now.

I will be seeing the Indian foreign minister later this afternoon and that will be a Zoom exchange, Im given to understand.

The two Indian cases were picked up by advance testing and none of the party had attended the summit venue, where there are strict coronavirus security measures in place.

The Prime Minister was greeted at the summit venue by Mr Raab (Adrian Dennis/PA)

Mr Jaishankar tweeted: Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases.

As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 meeting today as well.

A senior UK diplomat said: We deeply regret that foreign minister Dr Jaishankar will be unable to attend the meeting today in person and will now attend virtually, but this is exactly why we have put in place strict Covid protocols and daily testing.

Story continues

India, Australia, South Korea, South Africa, and the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations were invited to join the talks on Wednesday as part of the UKs tilt to the Indo-Pacific region.

During the visit to the UK, the Indian delegation had other meetings but Public Health England has assessed that social distancing and mask-wearing meant there was no need for any further action.

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Home Secretary Priti Patel met the Indian foreign minister on Tuesday, but she has not been told to self-isolate.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: I do think we need to ask questions about how this happened, if only to make sure it is not repeated.

It is a reminder of how vigilant we need to be about our borders  weve been challenging Government on this for some months.

Coronavirus measures in place at the foreign ministers meeting include regular testing and cleaning and clear plastic screens between foreign ministers at the summit table.

Face masks were worn for the official photograph and handshakes have been replaced by forearm bumps to avoid the risk of contamination.

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Ministers from the G7  the UK, US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany and Italy  have been urged to do more to help poorer countries vaccinate their citizens.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown and World Health Organisation chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have called on the wealthy nations to step up contributions to the international effort.

Mr Raab has stressed the UKs commitment to the Covax initiative, which distributes coronavirus jabs to developing nations.

But in a letter to the Foreign Secretary, Mr Brown claimed that the vaccine gap between the richer and poorer parts of the world is growing by the day.

Other issues on the agenda on Wednesday were set to include media freedom, arbitrary detention  on Sunday Mr Raab effectively accused Iran of treating Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as a hostage  and girls education.

The ministers will sign up to new global targets to get 40 million more girls into school and 20 million more reading by the age of 10 in low and lower middle income countries by 2026, and also promise 10.9 billion over the next two years to help women in developing countries get jobs and build businesses.

Separately, No 10 confirmed that Mr Johnson also spoke over the phone with German chancellor Angela Merkel about working at G7-level to reduce carbon emissions before further international discussions take place on Thursday at the Petersburg climate dialogue.
Malinowski Bulldozes His Way to GGPoker Super MILLION$ Glory

May 05 2021 Matthew Pitt

Wiktor Malinowski may be better known for his high stakes cash game prowess, but he showed the poker community he can get the job done in the tournament arena, too. Malinowski came out on top in the latest GGPoker Super MILLION$ and padded his already substantial bankroll with almost $400,000.

Super MILLION$ Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 Wiktor Malinowski Macau $394,852 2 Dario Sammartino Austria $312,889 3 Aleks Ponakovs Latvia $247,939 4 Ami Barer Canada $196,472 5 Guillaume Nolet Canada $155,688 6 David Peters Canada $123,370 7 Yuri Dzivielevski Brazil $97,761 8 Luke Reeves Ireland $77,468 9 "judd trump" China $61,387

A relatively cagey start saw no eliminations in the first hour of play. The bust out draught ended with "judd trump" heading to the showers in ninth-place. The Chinese grinder open-shoved from the small blind for 12 big blinds with ace-queen, and Malinowski looked him up with pocket fives. The board ran king-high, busting judd trump.

Luke Reeves was the next out of the door. The two-time former Super MILLION$ champion was down to less than three big blinds when he crashed out. Reeves pushed all-in with king-jack on the button, Yuri Dzivielevski re-shoved with ace-king to isolate Reeves. A jack on the flop gave Reeves some hope, but an ace on the turn resigned Reeves to an eighth place finish.

Seventh place and the last five-figure prize of the evening went to Brazilian star Dzivielevski. The Brazilian lost all but one small blind when his straight ran into the disguised full house of David Peters. That micro stack went into the middle with king-ten, but Ami Barer snapped the bet off with ace-queen. A king on the flop for Dzivielevski was countered by an ace on the river for Barer.

Don't Miss the $100M GGPoker WSOP Super Circuit Online Series May 1-30

First Six-Figure Prize of the Evening

Peters was the third-largest stack going into six-handed play, but he was still the next player heading to the showers. Peters bust when Malinowski opened to 264,000 at the 60,000/120,000/15,000a level and he three-bet all-in for 3,090,569. Malinowski called and turned over ace-king, which was flipping against Peters; pocket tens. An ace on the turn saw Peters exit in sixth, a finish good for $123,370, and Malinowski soar to more than 7.6 million chips, more than twice the chips as any of his opponents.

Start-of-the-day chip leader Guillaume Nolet was the next player out of the door, busting at the hands of the now seemingly unstoppable Malinowski. Nolet's last 7.8 big blinds went into the middle of the felt with ace-nine from the small blind. Malinowski called, and his queen-nine was in bad shape. That was until he spiked a three-outer on the flop.

Malinowski now held 13,478,917 chips, with the three other finalists holding only 4,921,083 chips between them.

Malinowski Enjoys a Huge Lead Going Into Heads-Up

Ami Barer lost a coinflip with jack-ten versus the pocket sixes of Aleks Ponakovs in a battle of the blinds before Ponakovs fell by the wayside in third when his queens fell foul to the suited ace-jack of Malinowski courtesy of an ace on the turn once again.

Dario Sammartino went into the heads-up battle trailing Malinowski 3,868,276 to 14,531,724 chips. He was not in any mood for giving up, however, and fought valiantly to the death.

It took more than an hour of one-on-one play for the champion to be decided. In the end, it came down to a relative cooler of a hand. Blinds were 150,000/300,000/35,000a, and Malinowski moved all-in with what turned out to be ace-queen. Sammartino called off his 3,679,184 stack with ace-eight of clubs, and the five community cards gifted Malinowski a straight, resigning Sammartino to a $312,889 runner-up prize. Malinowski was crowned the latest Super MILLION$ champion, an accolade that came with $394,852.

First Ring Winners Crowned in GGPoker's WSOP Super Circuit Online

Attention Turns to the WSOP Super Circuit Online

Everyone's attention now turns to the WSOP Super Circuit Online where $100 million worth of guarantees are waiting for GGPoker players. No doubt we will see some, if not all, of the nine finalists here, especially Malinowski who is running red hot.
Kensington Palace shared a picture of the duchess interviewing the midwife. (Kensington Palace)

The Duchess of Cambridge heard about the challenges facing midwives and nurses in Uganda, including how they deal with partner abuse and mental health, as she interviewed the founder of a community scheme which helps women in pregnancy and childbirth.

Kate interviewed community midwife Harriet Nayiga for the May issue of Nursing Times, to mark the end of a three-year campaign to raise the profile of nursing.

Nayiga runs a voluntary programme called Midwife-led Community Transformation (MILCOT) from two rooms in her home, sleeping in the third, and supports women including teenagers in pregnancies.

Kate, 39, heard about the programme and how Nayiga listens to and supports women in disadvantaged communities who need medical care before complications arise.

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Nayiga told the duchess that many women in the area they serve have accidental home births because they can't get to hospital in time.

She said: "These are the populations who face grave discrimination, so they tend to go to the hospital late, after complications have already emerged. I felt that I had to come and bridge this gap before the women reached me with serious complications.

"Midwives are in a position to provide preventative initiatives on the ground before the complications have arrived or have emerged. This is the challenge that Midwife-led Community Transformation (MILCOT) is solving."

Nayiga previously worked caring for pregnant teenagers in crisis, some of whom had been raped, and helped to train them in economic resilience as well as offering them care and support.

She then retrained in order to work in the community and provide healthcare.

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Kate asked about parental mental health, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that it was a particular problem that is being faced in the UK.

Story continues

Nayiga said: "Some of the women are going through what we call intimate partner violence. Shes facing violence from her partner, the partner is not providing, the partner abuses her, beats her. Others who are doing sex work, they find a lot of abuse from the men they sleep with  so they are all stressed, they have depression. We have provided group psychotherapy and we assess the level of depression."

Nayiga and her team are all volunteers, and she finds herself having to walk to most of the places where she helps women, as she can't afford to keep a car.

Kate told Nayiga: Hopefully one day I can come and see your amazing work first-hand. Its so fantastic that organisations like Milcot are on a global stage, being able to share their best practice.

You should feel hugely proud of all the hard work and effort that goes into it. I can see your passion and dedication.

The interview features in the May issue of the magazine, for which Kate also chose the cover.

The two women spoke in March but the interview was released for International Day of the Midwife on 5 May.

The three year Nursing Now campaign comes to an end this month. It was launched by Kate in February 2018 in Guys and St Thomas Hospital and she has been its royal patron throughout.

Watch: Prince William opens Aston Villa training facility
Dr. Craig Greathouse, professor of political science, earned a Ph.D. in political science with specialties in international relations and comparative politics from Claremont Graduate School. He also received an M.A. in political science from the University of Akron. Dr. Greathouse has published on topics addressing European foreign policy, Security and Defense policy, Strategic Culture, Strategic Thought, International Relations theory, and Cyber War. He is a member of the control staff for the National Security Decision Making Game and runs simulations for diverse groups ranging from gaming conventions such as Dragon Con to the National Defense University.

Dr. Jake Greear holds a Ph.D. in political science and teaches political theory and environmental politics in the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs at Western Carolina University. His research concerns the political, economic, and philosophical implications of current environmental crises. His recent publications include Decentralized Production and Affective Economies: The Ecological Implications of Localism in Environmental Humanities.

Dr. Christian Harris joined the University of North Georgia (UNG) in 2005. He earned a Ph.D. in political science in 2001 and a M.A. in international relations in 1992 from the University of Delaware. He also received a Licenciatura en Relaciones Internacionales from the Universidad Nacional de Rosario in Argentina. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on International Political Economy, Global Governance, International Organization, Development, Comparative Government, Latin American Politics, and the international affairs survey course, Global Issues. He has published book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed journals dealing primarily with comparative global development and public diplomacy.

Dr. Scott Meachum is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and International Affairs (PSIA) at the University of North Georgia (UNG). He received his J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law and his Ph.D. from Florida State University. His research and teaching interests reflect a broad interest in public law at both the domestic and international levels. He teaches classes in International Law, American Constitutional Law, International Law, and various courses regarding judicial politics and judicial processes.

Dr. Jonathan Miner is a professor of political science and international Affairs, tenured at UNG since 2012. Specializing in the field of international relations, Dr. Miners areas of teaching and scholarship focus on U.S. foreign policy, Turkish/Middle Eastern politics, and international law. Dr. Miner received his Ph.D. in International Studies from the University of South Carolina, an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Iowa, a J.D. from Drake University, and his undergraduate degree in English Literature from Indiana University Bloomington. A former Chicago real estate and tax lawyer, Dr. Miners activities at UNG include Director of Internships for the International Affairs degree program and adviser of the Model United Nations team.

Dr. Nathan Price is an assistant professor of political science and international affairs at the University of North Georgias (UNG) Blue Ridge Campus. He completed a bachelors degree in political science and history at Miami University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in political science at Louisiana State University. He studied at Miami Universitys Dolibois European Center located in Luxembourg. He has been actively involved in promoting community engagement since joining the faculty at UNG in 2015. He collaborated with Dr. Renee Bricker on a project to incorporate Turbovote (a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting voter registration on college campuses) into the existing online platforms at its partner academic institutions. Additionally, he works closely alongside colleagues in the Blue Ridge Scholars program, a learning community they created that incorporates service learning into core academic courses. His research interests are primarily focused on European politics.

Dr. Sam Rohrer, associate professor of political science, holds a Ph.D. in political science with specializations in international relations and comparative politics from Louisiana State University, in addition to an M.H.A. specializing in management from Missouri State University. His areas of interest include leadership style and trait analysis, secession, maritime crime, and terrorism.

Dr. Jennifer Schiff has served as a faculty member in the political science and public affairs department at Western Carolina University since 2010. Her research agenda focuses on global water policy and the human right to water, as well as the scholarship of teaching and learning, with a specific emphasis on classroom simulation. Dr. Schiff teaches a variety of undergraduate classes on international politics and has received several teaching awards during her career at both the university and state level, to include the 2020 UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award.

Dr. Seyed Hamid Serri is an assistant professor of security studies at the University of North Georgia (UNG). His research interests focus on strategic culture, role theory, operational code analysis, and discourse analysis. His two upcoming works include League of Nations: Strategic Preferences of the United States at the End of WWI in Craig Greathouse and Austin Riede (Eds.), U.S. Security Issues and World War I (University of North Georgia Press, forthcoming) and Operational Code Analysis: A Method for Measuring the Strategic Culture in Stephen Walker and Mark Schafer (Eds.), Operational Code Analysis and Foreign Policy Roles: Crossing Simons Bridge (Routledge).

Dr. Laurel Wei is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and International Affairs and an affiliate faculty member of East Asian Studies at the University of North Georgia, Dahlonega campus. Her areas of research focus on the international relations of East Asia, Chinese foreign policy, East Asian international political economy, and qualitative content analysis. She has taught a variety of introductory and upper-level undergraduate courses, such as global issues, comparative government, East Asian political systems, and Chinese politics.

Dr. Dwight Wilson is an associate professor of political science and international affairs at the University of North Georgia. He specializes in Comparative Politics and Latin American politics, and his research interests concern the intersection of ideas and politics.
The Kazakh parliament's lower chamber has approved the bill banning the purchase and rental of farmland by foreigners in the Central Asian nation ahead of the expiration of a moratorium on land sales this summer.



Current agreements on farmlands rented by some foreign companies or joint ventures with foreign capital will expire in the 2022-2025 period and will not be extended.



The move comes after President Kasym-Zhomart Tokaev proposed the ban in late-February.



The five-year moratorium on selling and leasing Kazakh agricultural land to foreigners was introduced in 2016 after thousands demonstrated in unprecedented rallies across the tightly-controlled nation, protesting the governments plan to attract foreign investment into the agriculture sector by opening up the market.
The U.S. administration is strongly opposed to the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a meeting with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in London yesterday, according to the State Department press service.

"The Secretary also raised the Administrations strong opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister stressed that Transatlantic cooperation is essential in the face of Russian, Chinese, and Iranian destabilizing activities," the statement reads.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, who is on a visit to the country, on May 5.

Both officials praised centuries-long brotherly relations and mentioned the importance of regional projects which have been carried out through joint efforts in recent years.

Aliyev said that the projects "changed the map of the region, political, economic, transportation and energy map."

"Without the strong partnership the projects would not have been implemented. The last day of 2020 was the last day of the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project which has tremendous importance for the whole region.I am very grateful to the Georgian government for constant support in the implementation of this important project," Aliyev said.

He stated that Azerbaijan is among large investors in the Georgian economy "thanks to the reforms which have been carried out in the country."

"There is a good investment climate in Georgia and I know that many Azerbaijani companies are interested in working there," Agenda.ge cited Aliyev as saying.
The Mexican government has contacted Russias State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" to discuss the potential deliveries of the EpiVacCorona vaccine developed by the center, Mexicos Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said on Tuesday.

"There is another Russian vaccine that we began to discuss with its developers. This is the state center "Vector," which has already registered the vaccine in Russia. <> They will provide us with information," he said during a press conference.

However, he noted that it is unlikely that the vaccine will be supplied to Mexico anytime soon, TASS reported.

Currently, Mexico is already using Russias Sputnik V vaccine, and it plans to launch production of the vaccine on its territory, receiving the necessary components from Russia. During a recent visit to Moscow, Ebrard announced that Mexicos state pharmaceutical company Birmex is holding talks with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) on the purchase of Sputnik Light, a one-dose version of the vaccine, along with Sputnik V.
A military base housing U.S. troops in western Iraq was attacked with rockets on Tuesday, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said.

In a statement, the ministry said two Katyusha rockets landed on the Ain Al-Asad air base in Anbar province, adding the attack did not cause any significant losses.

The attack came amid a visit to Iraq by a high-level US delegation, led by White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk, to discuss a military withdrawal from the country.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, Anadolu Agency reported.
May 5 marks the Day of the Soviet Press. The first issue of the Pravda newspaper was published 109 years ago on this day.



The editorial board of Pravda consisted of Bolsheviks, it was the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

The papers objective was to illuminate the path of the Russian workers movement with the international socialist and democracy light, spread the truth among workers about friends and enemies of the working class, watch over the interests of the workers policy.

In 1922 to mark the occasion of the first Pravda issue the 10th congress of RKP adopted the Decree on celebration of the Press Day on May 5.



In 1991, by Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR No. 3043-1 of December 28 "On the Day of the Russian Press", the date of celebration of the Day of the Russian Press was January 13. On this day in 1703, the first issue of the printed newspaper was published in Russia by decree of Emperor Peter I. The publication had a rather long title - "Vedomosti about military and other matters worthy of knowledge and memory that happened in the Moscow State and in other neighboring countries."

Day of Russian press (January 13) established by the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation of December 28, 1991, N 3043-1 and connected to the historical date  the beginning of the first Russian edition of the printed newspaper "sheet founded by decree of Peter the Great.



Despite the fact that the Day of the Russian Press has been celebrated on January 13 for almost 30 years, the older generation of journalists celebrates the Day of the Press in May, on the day the first issue of the Pravda newspaper was published in 1912.
With a glance towards the falling number of coronavirus infections across the country, Turkey will be ready to resume flights with Russia by June 1, Turkish Ambassador to Russia Mehmet Samsar said.

The task has been set in the country to "shortly normalize the number of COVID-19 cases and the epidemiological situation in Turkey by the upcoming summer season" through vaccination and quarantine measures, the diplomat said. "We are already receiving positive signals in this respect," TASS cited him as saying.

"The number of infections, which stood at 61,400 on April 15, declined to 24,733 on May 3, owing to the rigorous measures that have been taken," Mehmet Samsar said, adding that this figure will decrease further in the coming few weeks.

"In order to resume flights from June 1 and safely receive our Russian friends during the summer season, we continue contacts at the moment with respective Russian agencies at all levels," the ambassador said.

From April 15 through June 1, Russia is limiting regular air service with Turkey due to a new coronavirus outbreak there. The number of flights was reduced to two per week on a mutual basis.
Uzbekistan has signed an agreement to build a 1,500 MW wind farm in its northwestern Republic of Karakalpakstan with Saudi Arabian company ACWA Power.

The wind farm is expected to be the largest in the Central Asia region after completion, and will cover the needs of approximately 4 million households and offset approximately 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, the country's energy ministry said in a statement.

Uzbekistan, which generates 85 percent of its electricity with thermal power plants, plans to reduce its dependency on natural gas and coal and develop its renewable energy sector.

"We are learning a lot from our Middle Eastern and especially Saudi partners in the transition to a low-carbon economy. The ACWA Power project will greatly contribute to this process. Our plan is to produce 25 percent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030," Uzbek Deputy Energy Minister Sherzod Khojaev said.

Chairman of ACWA Power Mohammad Abunayyan said the project will help Uzbekistan achieve its ambitious renewable energy goal, Xinhua reported.
During the holidays, workers at Sin Quyen and Tang Loong copper smelting factory in Lao Cai have still been on duty to manufacture and provide tonnes of 99.9% purity copper for electrical appliance production factories across the country.

Before going into the mine, miners must undergo careful work safety checks.

According to the leaders of the two units, to ensure the dual goal of pandemic fight and business production, the Sin Quyen copper complex has applied technical and management solutions to exploit more than 2.2 million tonnes of crude ore, refining more than 68,000 tonnes of copper concentrates (25% purity copper) to provide to the Tang Loong copper smelting factory.

The copper production complex in Lao Cai is the largest of its kind in Vietnam and the only one in Southeast Asia that extracts, refines and intensively processes ores into copper metal on the spot with a large output. This complex ensures jobs for more than 1,500 workers, with an average monthly income of more than VND10 million, contributing over VND600 billion (US$25.9 million) to the State budget.

Miners conduct drilling to exploit ore.

Taking copper ore from deep underground.

Copper ore is brought to the surface on wagons.

The ore is transported to the sorting factory and put into the fine grinding mill.

The grinded mixture is then sorted by flotation, followed with ore enrichment.

Copper concentrates (25% purity) are put into warehouses to provide to the copper smelting plant.

Concentrates are melted in a furnace.

They are then molded into each anode plate and put into the electrolysis tank to produce copper cathodes.

Copper cathodes are removed from the electrolysis tank.

They are cleaned before packaging.

Workers pack the copper metal (99.95% purity) into blocks with a weight of one tonne each.

They are then put into storage.

The KCS department checks the products for the last time.

Copper products are being loaded to be sold to customers.

The Lao Cai copper smelting factory is the only factory producing copper metal from ore mined on the spot in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Nhan Dan

VN scientists make device recovering 90% of copper from industrial waste The invention by the scientists from the Institute of Materials Science, belonging to the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, can help recover more than 90 percent of copper from zinc electrolyte wastes.
As the market benchmark VN-Index broke the psychological level of 1,200 points, along with many positive outlooks about the market, securities firms set big growth targets for 2021.

Of which, many companies expected their profits to reach trillions of dong.

Trading hours at Ho Chi Minh City Securities Corporation (HSC). Photo nhipcaudautu.vn

At the General Meeting of Shareholders held at the end of April, Viet Capital Securities JSC (VCSC) approved a business plan with a profit before tax target of VND1.25 trillion, up 31.4 per cent year-on-year.

In 2021, VCSC will restart large-scale M&A consulting deals, strengthening its position in investment banking (IB).

VCSCs existing contracts worth around VND40 trillion are in consumer finance, consumer goods and logistics. Revenue from these contracts is estimated to reach VND2.05 trillion, up 18.5 per cent over last year.

The growth scenario is based on expectations that the VN-Index will hover around the 1,250 point-level this year.

If the plan is completed, VCSC will be in the list of securities firms with profit before tax reaching over VND1 trillion after two years of absence.

With the bullish market, Ho Chi Minh City Securities Corporation (HSC) also set a target of VND1 trillion in profit before tax in 2021.

This year, HSC aims to achieve total revenue of over VND2.6 trillion, up 68 per cent year-on-year. Its profit before tax is expected to reach over VND1.2 trillion, up 82 per cent.

The companys return on average equity (ROAE) in 2021 is predicted to climb 17.1 per cent. Of which, brokerage, margin lending and proprietary trading are still the main businesses that create HSC's profit.

According to HSC, the business plan is built on the average daily market transaction value in 2020, the first quarter result and the market trend for this whole year.

In the first quarter of 2021, HSC posted an increase of 218.7 per cent in profit after tax to VND321.8 billion.

Similarly, at the General Meeting of Shareholders this year, VNDirect Securities Corporation also achieved a consensus on the parent company's revenue target of over VND2.5 trillion, up 20 per cent against last year and expected profit before tax of VND1.1 trillion, up 29 per cent.

This profit plan is built according to a scenario that forecasted the VN-Index to fluctuate in the range of 1,180 - 1,230 points in 2021.

This is also the first time VNDirect has set an ambitious profit target of up to trillions of dong.

At the end of the first quarter of 2021, VNDirect's total revenue climbed 132.7 per cent year-on-year to top VND1.06 trillion, resulting in an increase of nearly 725 per cent to VND482.5 billion in profit after tax.

Techcom Securities JSC (TCBS) and SSI Securities Corporation (SSI) are other securities companies with targets of over VND1 trillion in profit this year.

These two companies also posted profit before tax of over VND1 trillion last year.

In 2021, TCBS estimated its profit before tax to reach over VND3.3 trillion, up 23 per cent over last year.

In the first quarter of 2021, TCBS recorded total revenue of over VND1.02 trillion with profit before tax of VND843 billion, up 61 per cent and 65 per cent over same period of last year, respectively. Pre-tax profit margin reached 82 per cent.

TCBS occupies the largest market share in profit among securities companies in Vietnam, accounting for 21.8 per cent of the market share.

SSI, which is the second largest securities firm in profit, also expected an optimistic result this year, even though it hasnt held the General Meeting in Shareholders this year, according to report prepared for the meeting.

In 2021, SSI aims to achieve consolidated revenue of over VND5.3 trillion and consolidated profit before tax of VND1.87 trillion, which is up 20 per cent year-on-year.

The Board of Directors of SSI will make accommodative adjustment if the VN-Index and the markets liquidity do not reach the assumed levels.

VNS
Hundreds of trains have been left vacant, thousands of railway workers work perfunctory, and millions of people inch meter by meter on jammed roads from the suburbs to the city center.

In 1881, the Saigon - My Tho railway route marked the beginning of the formation of the railway sector of Vietnam. The year 1902 was a landmark for a new era when Vietnams railway reached out to the world: the completion of Long Bien Bridge in Hanoi connected three railway routes to Hai Phong port, to Dong Dang (Lang Son province), to Lao Cai, and then to the South of China and to an international seaport.

Vietnam began manufacturing rail cars in 1965. The infrastructure managed by the Vietnam Railway Corporation is of great value, but has not been used effectively.

At that time, Long Bien Bridge was the biggest investment but it yielded multiiple benefits. It not only enabled trade exchange but also promoted the development of the railway system in Vietnam, which went along with the information and postal revolutions, and cultural and urban connections during peacetime. During wartime, this bridge was the target of air raids to cut off vital traffic vessels. Whenever it happened, the key bridge was repaired as soon as possible.

There was a time when the railway system passed through the center of Hanoi with a total length of 12km, four stations and one factory, occupying 1 million square meters, playing a core role in forming a chain of urban centers and an industrial railway town.

Since the 1980s, the railway system has expanded its space by additional 5 million square meters along with the establishment of a new 48km route from Ngoc Hoi via Thang Long bridge to Noi Bai International Airport. In 1986, the railway system carried 20% of passengers and 50% of goods but the figures dropped to 0.17% and 0.24% in 2019, respectively.

The railway sector currently not only has run out of money but also faces the risk of collapse. It is considering abandoning stations and removing railways out of the city center to provide land for housing development. Meanwhile, there is no funding to repair Long Bien Bridge.

World railway industry overcomes difficulties

Railways all over the world have experienced difficult periods, and were on the verge of bankruptcy due to the change of modes of transport when they were unable to compete with air and road transport.

The railway route from San Francisco to Gilroy (Silicon Valley) is 124km long, serving over 58,000 passengers per day. Since 2011, the number of passengers traveling by train has increased by over 10% a year. This is the fastest means of travel during rush hour.

In the United States, 98% of passengers traveled by rail on inter-regional routes in 1916 (nearly 42 million passengers). The number decreased to 67% in 1940 and increased to 74% by 1945 due to military needs. After that, despite constant upgrades of the railway, the number of passengers dropped to only 32% in 1957.

In 1945, Indonesia gained independence and gradually took over the railway system built by the Netherlands. Indonesian railway began implementing electrification in 1917 and officially operated by 1927 but in 1966, it resumed the use of steam and diesel trains. In 1972, Jakarta imported electrical equipment and trains from Japan, and then from Korea, Belgium and the Netherlands.

In 2000, Japan presented Indonesia 72 used trains with air conditioning. While Bangkok (Thailand), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) were struggling with projects to import urban railways, Manila (the Philippines) had already built urban rail routes but still struggled with traffic congestion. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City began to design urban railway development plans, and Jakarta was steadfast in the modernization of suburban rail routes and kicked off 11 BRT lines with a length of 251.2km, capable of transporting more than 1 million passengers per day (2004 - 2020).

In 2019, Jakarta opened the first 16km of imported urban railway, carrying 170,000 passengers/day. This line connects with five suburban railway lines in and out of Jakarta. In 2021, a model of low-cost ticket for an integrated transport system of trains, BRT, regular and mini buses (7 seats) and bicycles in Jakarta named "Jak Linko" was awarded the Asian Transport Award.

Urban railways rescue railway sector, urban traffic

Railways evolve constantly, but there is no successful lesson from the import of a new systems to replace the existing one. Good results only come from efforts to reform the existing system to satisfy travel needs, and transforming long-distance routes into short ones, modernizing the existing system to make it be more friendly to users.

The first thing to do is to form suburban railway routes - train services for people traveling between home and work, using current railways. There is no need to change the current railway with a new one of 1.45m gauge.

Hanoi has 110km of railway connecting the Hanoi railway station in all directions: Noi Bai, Quang Minh (North); Ngoc Hoi (South); Duong Xa (East); Ha Dong - Duong Noi (West) with dozens of stations, and two bridges over the Red River.

Hundreds of trains are left vacant, thousands of railway workers have to work perfunctorily and millions of people have to inch meter by meter on jammed roads from the suburbs to the city center. Why dont we renovate the current railway system to help deal with these problems?

Total investment in upgrading bridges, railroads, stations and factories for 100km of suburban railways in Hanoi is less than the capital to build 8km of the Hanoi railway station - Hoang Mai underground metro line. The capital can be completely mobilized from internal resources.

Hanoi is drawing up "the miracle of the Red River", and the transport industry dreams of building the "trans-Vietnam high-speed railway" with estimated capital of trillions of VND. Should we do this little thing immediately: Urgently reinforce the Long Bien bridge and trial the 6km railway connecting the Hanoi railway station and Gia Lam railway station (before 2022) and gradually extend this route by 10-20km each year, upgrading the Gia Lam train factory, and step by step master national and urban railway technology?

Tran Huy Anh

Choose railways or airports Many provinces have proposed building their own airports, but if there are high-speed rail routes, many people will not choose to fly a 300-500km distance.
The international community has voiced protest against China's new moves in the East Sea, including its enforcement of a fishing ban that took effect on May 1 on the sea area covering part of the Gulf of Tonkin

and Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and its continued deployment of ships to Bai Ba Dau (Whitsun Reef) in Vietnams Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

Chinese ships in the East Sea (Photo: VNA)

The Philippines has sent two more diplomatic protests to China, saying that the continued swarming and threatening presence of the Chinese vessels creates an atmosphere of instability and is a blatant disregard of the commitments by China to promote peace and stability in the region.

In a resolution filed on April 26, 11 Filipino senators condemned Chinas activities which they said caused tensions in the East Sea, affirming that the activities are a clear violation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Hague tribunal ruling.

The resolution requested Beijing to respect the UNCLOS which serves as the Constitution for the oceans and is an international treaty codifying customary international law, and which does not regard the display of military might or strength as a valid means for appropriating or claiming maritime areas and resources.

Meanwhile, in the 2021 edition of the Diplomatic Bluebook released on April 27, the Japanese Government emphasized concerns over Chinas military expansion and activities in the East China Sea and East Sea.

It said that Chinas expansion of military capabilities that lack transparency and growing unilateral actions to change the status quo in Asian waters pose strong concerns in the region and to the international community.

Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and US President Joe Biden warned of China's aggressive moves in the region. Speaking after their talks in the White House on April 17, Suga said We oppose any attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion.

The European Union also expressed concern regarding the presence of Chinese vessels in many areas in the East Sea.

In a statement coursed through the European External Action Service, the EU said that the presence of the Chinese vessels at Whitsun Reef is threatening peace and stability in the region.

The EU supports the ASEAN-led process towards an effective, substantive and legally binding Code of Conduct, which should not prejudice the interests of third parties. The EU urges all parties to pursue sincere efforts towards its finalisation, the statement added.

The EU also urged all parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, in particular UNCLOS, including its dispute settlement mechanisms.

Addressing the Raisina Dialogue in India on April 13, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg stated that Chinas more assertive moves were challenging the rules-based international order and hampering freedom of navigation in the East Sea.

Meanwhile, the website eurasiareview.com stressed in an article that Chinas increasing incursions in the sea in defiance of global norms has heightened tensions in the region.

Speaking at the Vietnamese Foreign Ministrys regular press conference on April 29, the ministrys Deputy Spokesman Doan Khac Viet underlined Vietnams objection to Chinas recent fishing ban.

Replying to a question about the report that the Chinese coast guard force declared the enforcement of the fishing ban on the sea area covering part of the Gulf of Tonkin and Vietnam's Hoang Sa archipelago, the deputy spokesman reiterated that Vietnam has sufficient legal ground and historical evidence testifying to its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, as well as its legal rights towards sea areas identified in line with the 1982 UNCLOS.

Vietnam holds that measures to preserve creature resources need to be implemented in conformity with regulations of the 1982 UNCLOS and must not harm the sovereign right and jurisdiction at sea of other related states, according to Viet.

He stressed that Vietnam objects to and resolutely rejects this unilateral decision by the Chinese side, which has violated Vietnams sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago; infringed international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS; run counter to the spirit and wording of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and gone against the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Vietnam and China.

He again declared that any act harming Vietnams sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, as well as the countrys sovereignty, sovereign right, and jurisdiction over its sea areas is valueless and not recognised, and Vietnam resolutely objects to such acts./.VNA
Tran Luu Quang has left the post of Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of HCM City after being appointed as Secretary of the Party Committee of Hai Phong City in the 2020-2025 tenure.

Tran Luu Quang, the new Secretary of the Party Committee of Hai Phong City, speaks at the conference  Photo: haiphong.gov.vn

Quang received the Politburos appointment decision from Chairwoman of the Party Central Committees Commission for Organization Truong Thi Mai at a conference in Hai Phong City this morning, May 4.

Quang will replace Le Van Thanh, who has just been elected as Deputy Prime Minister by the National Assembly. The newly appointed Secretary of Hai Phong City Party Committee will be a member of the Executive Committee and the Standing Committee of the Hai Phong City Party Committee in the 2020-2025 tenure.

Mai congratulated Quang for becoming Secretary of the Party Committee of Hai Phong City as well as Thanh for becoming the Deputy Prime Minister.

She said Hai Phong City has achieved outstanding socioeconomic growth and been effective in controlling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Quang thanked the Politburo and leaders of Hai Phong City for appointing him to this new post and assigning new tasks to him.

I promise that I will do my best, focus on my work, continue learning, and together with other officials in the Executive Committee and the Standing Committee of Hai Phong City Party Committee build a solidary executive board for the development and peace of this city, he said.

Tran Luu Quang was born on August 30, 1967, in Trang Bang District of the southern province of Tay Ninh. He was a bachelor in mechanical engineering before obtaining a masters degree in public governance.

He has held a number of leading positions such as deputy director of the Tay Ninh Province Department of Planning and Investment, chairman of the Tay Ninh Province Peoples Council in the 2015-2016 tenure, Secretary of Tay Ninh Province Party Committee in the 2015-2019 tenure and member of the Party Central Committee in the 13th tenure.

SGT

PM presents nominations for new Cabinet members to NA Newly-elected Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presented to the 14th National Assembly a list of nominees for 14 positions, including two deputy prime ministers and 11 ministers, for his new cabinet on April 7.
Cinemas, gyms and stadiums as well as spas and massage parlours in Hanoi will have to close down as from 00:00 hours on May 5 due to complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in the capital city.

Overview of meeting of Hanois steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control (Photo: VNA)

At a meeting of the citys steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control on May 4, Vice Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Chu Xuan Dung emphasized the need for stronger and quicker actions to contain the pandemic.

The committee also asked the transport sector to impose distancing on public transport means, limiting the number of passengers on each vehicle at 50 percent of total seats at most.

It was reported at the meeting that five locally-transmitted cases had been detected in Hanoi since April 29. In addition, three Hanoi residents who contracted the coronavirus at a karaoke bar in Vinh Phuc province were counted among cases of Vinh Phuc.

Hanoi closes cinemas from May 5 (Photo: VNA)

Director of the municipal Health Department Tran Thi Nhi Ha also provided details related to the latest local case in the city, who is a doctor at a centrally-run hospital.

The health sector in Hanoi has collected 2,427 samples for testing, with 204 samples turning out negative so far.

Screening testing will be conducted on those who show such symptoms as coughing, fever breathing difficulties, and those who are in high-risk groups.

The municipal police instructed local units to keep close monitoring to timely detect and handle foreigners who enter Vietnam illegally as well as those who accommodate them./. VNA
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has said though complicated, the COVID-19 pandemic has been basically under control, but more drastic actions are needed.

At the meeting

During a meeting in Hanoi on May 4, Dam, who is also head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, said this outbreak is different from the previous three ones due to pressure from the southwestern border and quicker spread of new variants from India.

He also reiterated a need to prepare for a plan in response to a scenario of having 30,000 infection cases, adding that all must strive to not make it happen.

Dam ordered that from 0:00 on May 4, all who have finished 14-day quarantine in concentrated facilities and tested negative for the coronavirus twice must temporarily stay there.

It is a must to enhance the monitoring of the pandemic in the community, zone off affected areas and wipe it out as soon as possible, he said.

Warning of illegal entries across the border, he called on border guards, authorities and mass organisations from border provinces to keep a close watch over immigrants.

Speaking at the event, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long urged localities to seriously follow directions of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat, Government, Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control as well as guidelines of the Health Ministry, ministries and agencies concerned because the transmission risk is very high.

He underscored a need to continue following the 5K principle, including compulsory mask wearing in public places.

According to him, the Health Ministry is stepping up negotiations to bring vaccines to Vietnam and facilitate technological transfer to produce vaccines at home.

The ministry reported that as of May 4, the world recorded more than 153 million COVID-19 cases, including over 3.2 million deaths.

As of 6pm on the day, Vietnam logged a total of 2,996 cases, 1,608 of which were locally transmitted. There were 38 new cases from April 27./.VNA
HCM City's Department of Health is continuing its focus on developing the application of state-of-the-art healthcare techniques at general and specialised hospitals that its counterparts in Asia have also been pursuing.

In recent years, many new and advanced medical techniques have helped the city's health sector obtain significant achievements in treatment and prevention.

Sixteen-month-old conjoined twins who were separated by surgery at City Children's Hospital in HCM City, with their parents and doctors.

One of the outstanding achievements was the surgery to separate 16-month-old conjoined twins in July last year by a team of nearly 100 doctors at City Childrens Hospital, Childrens Hospital 1 and 2, Cho Ray Hospital and others.

Success such as this has helped the city consolidate its healthcare brand both nationally and globally.

The countrys first surgery to separate conjoined twins was performed 33 years ago at Tu Du Hospital when it lacked modern equipment and had to receive assistance from Japan.

The surgery at that time set a new milestone for the city's health sector. Dr Tran Dong A, who was the main surgeon to separate the conjoined twins at Tu Du Hospital in 1988, also took part in the surgery on the 16-month old conjoined twins last year.

Speaking at the 10th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Dr A said that the surgery in July last year to separate the conjoined twins was ranked among the world's top 10 most complex conjoined-twin surgeries.

The twins were joined at the pelvis and abdomen, and had only one anus between them. They had two bladders located on either side of their common abdomen, an open pubic joint, and pelvises arranged in a circle.

The twins are now healthy and receiving rehabilitation therapy at the City Childrens Hospital. On April 8 this year, the hospitals doctors performed surgery to close a temporary stomach and create a complete digestive tract for one child, while the other will have an operation to create a real anus when she is two years old.

Dr A said that the surgery was proof of the expertise of the city's surgeons, anesthesiologists and other medical workers in resuscitation in the paediatric field.

The City Childrens Hospital, which is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and machines, opened in 2018. It is the third paediatric hospital in the city to treat severely ill patients in the city and from the southern region, and to train healthcare staff at district and province-level hospitals.

Many specialised centres in the city have been established in recent years, including the nuclear medicine centre at City Childrens Hospital, as well as others like the cardiac centre at Childrens Hospital 1 and the organ transplantation centre at Childrens Hospital 2.

Other significant medical achievements in the city include the treatment last year of the first two patients who tested positive for the coronavirus in Vietnam at a time when COVID-19 was beginning to spread rapidly in other countries.

This achievement was proof of the professional competence of Vietnamese physicians and the Governments efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

At that time, two Chinese patients, a son who worked in HCM City and his father who was visiting him, were diagnosed with COVID-19 and treated at Cho Ray Hospital.

After 14 days of treatment, the son was discharged from the hospital on February 4 last year. The father recovered and was discharged eight days later.

According to Cho Ray Hospital doctors, the father suffered from diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, and had a surgical resection due to lung cancer. The doctors described the fathers recovery as an "amazing achievement".

The professional competence of physicians at hospitals in HCM City was once again affirmed following the successful treatment of Vietnams most critically ill COVID-19 patient, a British pilot in his 40s.

After 107 days of treatment at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Cho Ray Hospital, the pilot finally recovered and returned to the UK on July 12 after a request from the UK Embassy in Vietnam. At one point, his condition was so serious that only 10 per cent of the man's lungs were functioning properly.

The COVID-19 outbreaks over the past year have been controlled well in HCM City as well as in the country, thanks to the determination and efforts of authorities at all levels as well as the public and officials working in preventive medicine.

Robot, AI applications

Other achievements in recent years include the first surgery with the assistance of a Da Vinci robot, performed by doctors at Binh Dan Hospital in the city in 2016.

Doctors from the Philippines General Hospital observe doctors from Binh Dan Hospital in HCM City use robots to perform surgery on two obese patients to remove part of their stomachs. Photo courtesy of the Binh Dan Hospital

Using a robot to assist surgery was one of several medical achievements recognised by the Ministry of Health.

Its use has contributed to developing a high-quality specialised medical centre in the city.

Binh Dan Hospital has used robots to assist doctors in treatment of more than 20 kinds of diseases, including cancer. Surgery with robots has been used on 1,256 patients.

Through a magnified 3D high-definition vision system, surgeons can direct the robots hands to bend and rotate 540 degrees, far more than a human hand.

In October 2017, Cho Ray Hospital began using robots in minimally invasive surgery.

In early 2019, Peoples Hospital 115 in the city created a new milestone in the countrys medical sector when it used a Modus V Synaptive II robot to assist surgery to remove a brain tumour from a female patient from Tay Ninh, a neighbouring province.

The robot was used to assist in the treatment of a patient who had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, according to the city's Health Department.

The hospital was the first in Asia to use this kind of robot.

People's Hospital 115 and Gia An 115 Hospital were the first hospitals in the country to use RAPID Artificial Intelligence software to make faster and more accurate decisions on stroke diagnosis and treatment. The software was developed by Stanford University in the US.

For years, HCM City has been famous worldwide for its high-quality IVF (in vitro treatment) treatment for people who want to have children. This field has attracted the highest number of foreign patients and has helped the city develop medical tourism.

Dr Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, former director of Tu Du Obstetrics Hospital, was a pioneer in performing IVF technique in the country, beginning in 1997.

After 22 years of development, the country has helped assisted-reproductive technology develop rapidly in Asia.

The city's Health Department has plans to use more advanced techniques at units at Tu Du and Hung Vuong obstetrics hospitals and several private hospitals.

Moreover, specialised centres such as the Stroke Centre at Peoples Hospital 115, the Dialysis Centre at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital, and the Organ Transplantation Centre at Childrens Hospital 2 are continuing to improve their quality and effectiveness.

Training doctors

Besides the development of advanced techniques in diagnosis and treatment, the city's Health Department has also asked doctors at major public hospitals to give further training to their colleagues at hospitals in many districts.

Following the departments instruction, hospitals such as Gia Dinh Peoples Hospital, Peoples Hospital 115, Le Van Thinh General Hospital and Thu Duc City Hospital have provided comprehensive technical assistance to Binh Chanh District Hospital, District 7 Hospital and others.

The doctors from these major hospitals have performed surgeries alongside their colleagues at the district level, and have also worked with them in Red Alert emergency procedures to save severely ill patients.

Thanks to this training method, many district-level hospitals in the city have begun to perform complex surgeries.

Doctors from the trauma and orthopaedics department at Gia Dinh Peoples Hospital and Go Vap District Hospital, for instance, successfully performed a hip replacement surgery in March on a 53-year-old patient who had osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Moreover, many major hospitals in the city have opened satellite clinics at district-level hospitals to train the doctors who work there.

The city's Department of Health has also invested in upgrading or building new facilities for district-level hospitals.

Many district-level hospitals have sent their doctors to health centres at the grassroots level to provide better primary healthcare services to local residents. This has helped address the shortage of doctors in these localities and has also attracted more local residents.

Health centres in the city in recent years have invested in upgrading their facilities and bought more machines for treatment. The city has 26 ward-level health centres that operate based on family-medicine principles.

Go Vap Health Centre is collaborating with Go Vap District Hospital to provide telemedicine services to local people through an app called True Conf. The city's Department of Health plans to expand this telemedicine model to other districts. District-level hospitals and grassroots-level health centres have been told to upgrade their medical techniques.

The deputy head of the city's health department, Tang Chi Thuong, said that the competency of staff members at grassroots-level health centres has improved, which has helped to meet local healthcare demand.

The HCM City Oncology Hospital last year opened a new facility in District 9 in an effort to reduce patient overcrowding in Binh Thanh District. Investment in the new 1,000-bed facility was more than VND5.8 trillion (US$250 million). VNS Photo Gia Loc

New facilities

Speaking at a conference late last year, HCM City Peoples Committee chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong instructed the city's health department to increase investment in facilities for hospitals and other medical establishments.

A high-tech medical cluster including hospitals and medical schools in Binh Chanh, Cu Chi and Thu Duc districts, and Hoc Mon regional general hospital should be ready for use by 2025, Phong said.

According to the city's health authority, 54 projects have been completed. These include new or upgraded facilities, and new machine purchases for hospitals in the 2015-2020 period. Another 42 projects are ongoing.

The city has also paid more attention over the last five years to developing human resources and facilities to meet increased healthcare demand. It aims to become a professional medical centre in Southeast Asia.

The citys ratio of doctors in 2020 has increased to 20 per 10,000 people, compared to 14.5 in 2014. The ratio of nurses was 35 per 10,000 people in 2020, compared to 33 in 2014, according to the city's health department.

The department in recent years has also improved emergency health care by developing the 115 emergency aid network in an effort to provide quality emergency activities outside city hospitals. There are now 35 satellite emergency aid stations in the city.

VNS

HCM City improves quality of health care with 20 doctors per 10,000 people Ho Chi Minh City has reached its goal to have 20 doctors per 10,000 people after implementation of a five-year programme on improving the quality of health care services for local residents.
Hanoi has to tighten the enforcement of quarantine procedure to prevent the spreading of novel coronavirus.

As many as 110 people, including foreigners, were fined VND300 million (US$13,800) for not wearing masks in Hanois Hoan Kiem District during the four-day holiday from April 29 to May 2, according to Bui Van Dang, deputy head of the districts police department.

A coronavirus checkpoint in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem District asks people to wear masks in public. Photo: Hai Nam

This move is an effort to prevent the spreading of Covid-19 pandemic in the city. All people are required to follow the regulation strictly.

Those found not wearing face masks in public have to pay a fine of up to VND3 million (roughly US$130), Dang said.

The latest Covid-19 outbreak in Vietnam was triggered on April 29, after over a month without local transmissions, when a 28-year-old man tested positive for the virus in the northern province of Ha Nam. He had returned from Japan on April 7 and been quarantined for a fortnight in the central city of Da Nang.

Since then, the number of Covid-19 cases confirmed has been 36, who have been found in Ha Nam, Hanoi, Hung Yen, HCM City, Vinh Phuc and Da Nang, of them 35 are related to people who had completed the mandatory quarantine. The remaining one case is a man in Da Nang, whose transmission source is yet to be identified.

Hanoi has confirmed four community transmissions, three of them making contact with the Ha Nam man and the other one exposed to an infected Chinese expert on a flight from Da Nang to Hanoi on April 29.

The capital city has suspended non-essential services like bars, karaokes and dance clubs, as well as street food vendors and cafes to prevent the disease from spreading.

Speaking during an inspection visit to Noi Bai International Airport on May 3, Chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee Chu Ngoc Anh said the municipal Disease Control Center has to tighten the enforcement of quarantine procedure and update it for medical workers due to serious evolution of the fatal disease and increased people movement via the airport, especially after the national holiday of National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day, which ended on May 3.

Its reported that four thermometers for body temperature measurement have been placed in Noi Bai Airport to screen all passengers. Moreover, eight employees including two physicians work 10-hour shift at the airport.

In addition to four thermometers in the international arrival and departure gates, two spare machines are ready for emergency situation.

Anh said all hospitals in the city must set up rapid reaction teams to confront the high risk of Covid-19 disease spreading.

Hanoitimes

Expert warns Vietnam at high risk of fresh COVID-19 outbreak Vietnam is running a high risk of enduring a future COVID-19 outbreak in the community due to the continued global spread of the virus, especially in neighbouring countries, said Tran Dac Phu, senior advisor to the Ministry of Health.
Australia has supported Vietnams third rotation for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), airlifting Vietnamese defence members and equipment back to the home country, a move to consolidate the two countries bilateral ties.

Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA)

Australias DefenceConnect has reported that peacekeeping forces of both sides have collaborated in the UNMISS, with Australia airlifting Vietnamese defence members and equipment late in March.

The airlift took place onboard a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A Globemaster, which also transported new members and equipment to replace the Vietnamese UNMISS Level Two Field Hospital, making it the third airlift support to Vietnam.

Vietnam is an important partner for Australia in the Indo-Pacific, and I am proud the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has supported their deployment to the UNMISS, the website quoted Australian Chief of Joint Operations Command, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton as saying about the growing relationship between Australia and Vietnam.

He said the peacekeeping partnership between the two countries is a key element of their defence relationship, which highlights their shared vision of a peaceful, inclusive and resilient region actively supporting global security.

The airlift has moved some 120 passengers and 55,000 kilograms of freight over two months./. VNA
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, voiced Vietnams support for reconciliation and economic development efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina

when addressing a regular debate of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina on May 4.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (Photo: VNA)

At the event, UN Secretary Generals High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Valentin Inzko presented a report for the period from October 16, 2020 to April 15, 2021, saying that the situation of Bosnia and Herzegovina has seen progress, with the organisation of local elections in November 2020, and elections in Mostar city after 12 years.

However, he noted that the country still faces challenges in ensuring peace and security.

Ambassador Quy expressed his concern about the complicated internal situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which undermined efforts to fully implement the Dayton Peace Agreement.

He emphasised the importance to promote trust building and sustainable dialogue among stakeholders, strengthen cooperation towards socio-political stabilisation, and the implementation of reform and economic development to improve people's lives, and put the interests of the people at the centre of all endeavours.

The top responsibility belongs to Bosnia and Herzegovina, concerned communities and the people, he said.

The international community needs to support these efforts, he noted, stressing that mediation efforts must push the parties closer together towards a future of peace and development.

UN member states said that it is necessary to further promote measures to improve the lives of the people, avoid statements and policies that can cause tensions, thus promoting stability and peace.

Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to continue efforts to reform and promote the rule of law, implement the Dayton Peace Agreement, organise elections and appoint vacant executive positions, and seek a holistic approach in response to the COVID-19 pandemic./.VNA
Vietnams assistance for Laos in the COVID-19 combat was handed over at a ceremony held at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane capital city on May 4 morning.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son (centre) symbolically presents the assistance from the Party, State, and people of Vietnam to Laos at the ceremony at Wattay International Airport on May 4

The support consisted of 500,000 USD in financial aid and medical supplies, including 2 million medical face masks, 200 ventilators, and 10 tonnes of the Chloramine B disinfectant.

Notably, the flight from Hanoi also carried 35 Vietnamese experts sent to help Laos in the fight.

On this occasion, the Party Central Committees Commission for External Relations, the Vietnam - Laos Cooperation Committee, and the Government Office of Vietnam also presented the Laos partners with 50,000, 500,000, and 20,000 medical masks, respectively.

At the handover ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung expressed the Vietnamese leaders and peoples sympathies for Laos on the difficulties and challenges facing the country in COVID-19 prevention and control.

He affirmed Vietnams belief that under the clear-sighted and drastic leadership of the Lao Party and State and with the resolve of relevant agencies and people, Laos will manage to contain the coronavirus outbreak, recover the economy and society, and continue developing sustainably.

Congratulating Vietnam on the significant achievements in the COVID-19 fight, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune appreciated the precious assistance from the Vietnamese Party, State, and people to the Lao counterparts.

He described the aid as a meaningful and timely contribution to Laos efforts to combat the pandemic and also a source of support for the health workers and patients in the country.

The Deputy PM, who is also head of Laos central committee for COVID-19 prevention and control, also stressed that Vietnam is the first country to provide financial, personnel, and material support for his country in the latest outbreak, which strongly reflects the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

Also on May 4, the Van Lang education group of Vietnam delivered 100 ventilators to Laos, part of a programme to provide medical supplies for Laos and Cambodia in the COVID-19 combat.

Another 800 ventilators will be sent to Cambodia in the time ahead, according to the Ministry of Health.

The ventilator production was funded by the Van Lang and Van Thinh Phat groups./.VNA
Vietnamese nationals living in the US say although they are concerned about the increase in the amount of attacks on Asians, they are doing their best to maintain normality.
Many aliens who have been stranded in Vietnam have tried their best to survive tough times here during the protracted pandemic. In several cases, they have to do all kinds of jobs available to pay for food and accommodation.

They have also received hearty support from local communities. Irina Khmylnikova from Belarus is one of them.

Irina Khmylnikova and her Styrofoam box and cakes  SGT Photos: Thanh Hoa

Over the past two months, Saigonese passing by Tan Dinh Market in District 1 have seen a Westerner selling cakes to locals. Every day, the vendor appears two times, from seven to eight oclock in the morning and from four to five oclock in the afternoon. She is Irina Khmylnikova, 47, who is often addressed as Irina by some locals, or simply the Western cake seller.

Some of Irina Khmylnikova's best offers.

A special cake hawker

The first impression about Irina to many Saigonese who have met her is her warm smiles and fair skin. While on the sidewalk, she always has a

Styrofoam box suspended in front of her chest, on which pieces of cakes are neatly arranged.

Her offers include chocolate cakes, cocoa cakes, honey cakes and the like, whose prices range from VND25,000 to VND35,000 (roughly US$2-3). Irina speaks neither Vietnamese nor English. Yet she is able to sell her cakes to Saigonese. To make her business somewhat easier, she has the Vietnamese names and prices of the cakes printed on the Styrofoam box.

Irina says all her cakes are made by her friends in Nha Trang and sent to Saigon to her. This group, including Irina, has done this job for about one year.

Buyers always receive a warm smile from the cake hawker.

Although she speaks only broken Vietnamese, Irina can pronounce the word Banh ay! (Here comes the cake!) clearly and correctly. Her beautiful smile obviously helps her attract local buyers.

Every week, Irina works from Monday to Saturday, selling cakes. In the morning, she often offers her cakes in the area of Tan Dinh Market in District 1 while in the afternoon, she sells them at a school nearby. On Sundays, she says she spends time exploring local culture. Ive visited many places in Vietnam, she says. Dalat, Halong Bay, Hanoi and even the Ca Mau Tip in southern Vietnam are some.

Im trying to learn more Vietnamese so that I can communicate better with Vietnamese, says Irina. With improved Vietnamese, I could better understand locals.

Irina has two children in Belarus where she was a shop assistant for 20 years. One day, she felt the urge to travel. After having arranged her family affairs, she rode on a motorbike to travel to every corner of Belarus before thinking of making overseas trips.

Her customers who are students of a school near Tan Dinh Market.

Irina says she has traveled to countries across different continents. She has visited Russia in Europe, Chile in South America, Egypt in Africa, Israel in the Middle East and Thailand in Asia. In 2019, she first arrived in Vietnam.

The first place in this country to welcome this Belarussian woman was Nha Trang. In February 2020, she made her second trip to the country, determined to have a permanent job to live here for a long time.

Irina and some of her friends set up a firm and began to make and trade in cakes under the brand of GUURMANN. Her business also provided job opportunities for Belarussians, Russians and Ukrainians living in Vietnam. We mostly worked in the hospitality industry, says Irina. Some of us even have children who are studying in Vietnam.

When asked why she has chosen cakes but not something else, Irina answered hawking cakes is a temporary job due to Covid-19. My firm used to sell Vietnam tours to foreign visitors, mostly Belarussians, Russians and Ukrainians, she says. Why do I choose cake making? It is just by chance. I noticed that during their trips here, many visitors seemed to prefer cakes. So, I pick cakes to sell them.

Irinas optimism

Irina always keeps a smile despite the scorching heat and the polluted atmosphere of Saigon. I remain optimistic and believe I can stand on my own feet with my temporary job.

Often, Irina is able to sell out her cakes within an hour. Among her customers are Vietnamese students who always receive her greeting Xin chao! (Hello!)

I hope the pandemic will be over soon, says Irina. Then life will be much easier to me and many other foreigners.

For now, with all her cakes sold, Irina says Xin chao! to call it a day and returns to her lodging.

To foreigners like Irina, Saigon and Vietnam are often generous and faithful. It is this generosity that has helped many aliens survive the current hardship while waiting for a better time to come.

SGT

Fried banana cakes come to the rescue The 50-year-old Frenchman who is known simply as Fabric by Vietnamese can be said to have been rather famous in HCMC, at least in several local social media over the past few months.
Lacy Lakeview Police Chief John Truehitt praised everyone involved for their quick thinking.

Because of the quick answer and response, the team effort, our officers, our dispatchers and our neighboring TSTC got a pulse and got him in the ambulance transported to the hospital, Truehitt said.

Dent said seeing Casarez alive was his favorite part of Mondays ceremony.

That is a rewarding feeling, Dent said. You can get all the awards that you want during your career, but to be able to step back and see and talk to a guy who at one point in time you werent sure he was going to make it out of this,  its the most rewarding thing. To save another human beings life, thats pretty powerful.

Truehitt said that moments like the one with Casarez reinforce the positive side to police work and that it is important to recognize the great work officers do.

Today far too often, police work can be somewhat depressing, Truehitt said. We are called when crises occur, when things have gone wrong. Most encounters with police tend to be on the negative side, but I cannot think of anything greater than saving someones life. That is what we are here to do, to save a life and make the world better.

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Sibley said he learned a lot from watching Duncan.

He was a great guy, very decisive, he said. I learned that being plainspoken is always the way to do it.  Its easier to tell everybody where you are than let them guess and misunderstand when they think youre going to be voting one way.

John Hatchel, who was deputy city manager at the time, said Duncan was quick to voice criticism but willing to publicly admit later that he was wrong.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for someone who could do that, Hatchel said.

Businessman and civic leader Bill Clifton found the same when he was on the Waco Family Medicine board, working with Duncan on clinic projects.

He took obtuse positions to see if you had your facts straight, Clifton said. A significant amount of the time you won him over with a cogent argument. It was kind of fun.  He wanted to be damned sure you were not only right but had conviction.

Malcolm Duncan Jr. said Wednesday that his father had a lifelong love for working on cars, as well as building houseboats.

I cant tell you how many motors we overhauled and how many boat motors he had replaced, Duncan said.
In other business, the county board held a public hearing for an application for a zone change from agricultural to commercial by Kavan Investments LLC. Ryan and Todd Kavan were in attendance.

Ryan Kavan, of Hastings, said they submitted the application to sell the three acres of land located near county roads L and 19 to

Todd Kavan, of Wahoo. Todd Kavan spoke to the county board about his plans to build a small meat processing facility on this portion of the property.

Todd Kavan said the facility would custom-process pork, beef and other small animals initially. He also said it could be a deer processing facility, but it has not been confirmed. He estimated the capacity would be about 20 pigs a week.

Todd Kavan said in the future, the meat locker could be USDA certified, but as of now it is not required of him to receive that certification.

The board then closed the public hearing and approved the application for zoning change.

During open discussion, the county board heard from Teresa Akeson of Ashland in regards to an issue with the countys recently-added solar regulations. Akeson provided the board with a packet of information that
WAHOO  An advocate group for school choice invites the public to a parent information night that will provide more information on LB364, a scholarship tax credit bill currently in front of the Nebraska Legislature.

The Nebraska Parents Coalition is sponsoring the event, which will be held at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 6 in the Bishop Neumann High School parking lot.

LB364 was introduced by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan and co-sponsored by Sen. Bruce Bostelman, who represents Saunders County as part of District 23. The bill would create the Opportunity Scholarships Act, which would allow taxpayers to qualify for non-refundable tax credit equal to the amount they contributed to a scholarship-granting organization. These non-profit, scholarship granting organizations would be certified by the state Department of Revenue and would provide scholarships to assist students to attend qualified, nonprofit, private elementary or secondary schools. Eligible students are defined as those who would qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program.

The bills sponsors note in the text that enabling the greatest number of parents and legal guardians to choose among quality educational opportunities for children will improve the quality of education available to all children.
Christian attorney, pastor, human rights consultant and missionary Scott Lively discusses the importance of re-establishing "coadjuvancy" between church and state.

In a piece also published in WND, Lively explained how this powerful dynamic that will allow for righteous and godly societies, but has been missing for a long time now, can be reestablished once Christians bring back a powerful but forgotten doctrine called "Christian Sovereignty."

According to Lively, freedom from men's expectations is an empowering "bonus" dimension of Christian liberty. Being willing to utter plain truth peacefully, rationally, and persistently in the midst of worldly ridicule and slander is, second only to prayer, the most powerful weapon to have in the cultural war.

Understanding what it is to be free in Christ opens the door to understanding the forgotten doctrine of Christian sovereignty.

"(The) biblical worldview is a perspective you cannot find in secular, or secularized "Christian" law schools, because it contradicts the Marxist revisionism that began flooding legal education in the late 1800s," said Lively.

Understanding the Lost Doctrine of Christian Sovereignty

Lively cited Abraham Lincoln as an example, saying that since he wanted to be a lawyer, he had to learn the "Bible and Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England (which reads more like Christian sermons than much of the humanist drivel heard from many mainstream church pulpits today)."

Historically, per Lively, "all judges were presumed to be duty-bound to seek God's guidance on all matters before the court," and since God's view is "perfect and unchanging, such matters were presumed to be fully settled on all subsequent cases with substantially the same facts."

The method implies that a judge's motivations or reasoning might be flawed, and that God's Word is the only accurate yardstick on which to judge.

"Now we have no standards but the personal ethics, if any, of the black-robed tyrants who rule over us with often-blatant political bias," he commented.

The doctrine of Christian sovereignty maintains that the Christian church is a different domain of human life from the sphere of government, with distinct yet equivalent jurisdiction in human relations.

"The doctrine is implicit in the Bible in such concepts as 'kings and priests,' the 'sanctuary cities' of the Levites and Jesus' exposition of the law regarding taxation (giving unto Caesar what is his, but not what is God's)," explained Lively.

He also said that it is readily apparent in Christian civilization's history, most notably in the emphasis on church independence from government control as the "First Principle of human rights in both the Magna Carta of 1215 and the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights."

That is also evident in the judicial structure, which continues to have two branches: "the Court of Law (of 'Kings,' applying government-created rules) and the Court of Equity (of 'Priests,' enforcing the Christian ethics of justice and fairness as defined in the "'common law').

The "coadjuvancy" of church and state

Since Everson v. Board of Education in 1947, Lively claimed that Jefferson's metaphor "the separation of church and state" had been intentionally misinterpreted in corrupt Supreme Court decisions to forbid church intervention of government.

"In actuality, the original metaphor means the "coadjuvancy" of church and state, i.e. the co-administration of society by the separate but equal sovereigns of church and state - which was why Christian prayer in the public schools was (and remains) fully constitutional until it was illegally banned by the Secular Humanist usurpers in 1963, and why the national motto "In God We Trust" remains on our currency (for now)," he explained.

Challenging the American church to reclaim its sovereignty

The capitulation of secular government dominance in the context of "mandatory" incorporation as "501(c)(3) entities," according to Lively, is the strongest example of the church's loss of sovereignty.

He argued that congregations were never meant to be corporations, and that the stunning fall of Christendom into humanism-defiled religion and "social justice" politics was a clear signal. He said further that the voluntary submission to this mindset is tantamount to "religious serfdom."

Lively challenges "all like-minded remnant Christians" to follow his First Century Bible Church's lead and refuse to surrender their sovereignty over "government registration, church stewardship in all spheres of human life, including business and politics, and the sovereign control Christians have over their own bodies in relation to 'vaccines' and other public health mandates."
WATERLOO  Raymond Birden Jr. remained calm and silent Tuesday as jurors announced they had found him guilty of killing the man who was acquitted of killing his brother in 2016.

Birden, 22, waited for the jury to exit before flashing two middle fingers in cuffed hands for a photographer as he was led out of the courtroom.

The verdict was met with cries from a separate spectator room where family members and others had been observing the trial and the outcome through video monitors as a COVID-19 precaution.

One relative was overwhelmed and collapsed on the hallway floor before others helped her into an elevator and out of the building. A heavy law enforcement presence oversaw the proceedings with sheriffs deputies and city police officers lining the hallways and monitoring the parking lot outside.

Convicted of first-degree murder, Birden faces a mandatory life sentence without parole under Iowa law. Sentencing will be at a later date.

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Jurors deliberated Monday afternoon and for about four hours on Tuesday before reaching a verdict.
WATERLOO  A grant recently received by the University of Northern Iowas Center for Urban Education will provide 15 summer internship opportunities to Waterloo Community Schools students.

The internships, funded with an $87,000 grant from Iowa Workforce Development, are open to anyone ages 16-19 who attends East, Expo or West high schools, said Megan Holbach, UNI-CUE assistant director. Among the program participants are John Deere, UnityPoint Health, MasterBrand Cabinets, Experience Waterloo, Viking Pump, YMCA and VGM & Associates.

She noted that the target population is youths who are at risk of not graduating, from low-income households or from communities under-represented in the workforce. However, applications are being sought from a broad group of students with an interview committee having discretion over final choices.

Theyre recruited through the schools and then once we have their information we will interview the students, as well, said Holbach, who is hoping for 30-40 applicants. While details are still being finalized for some of the locations, students will be shadowing employees and learning skills they will put to use in the workplaces. The internships, from June 7 to Aug. 20, will help students to prepare for careers in high-demand fields.

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WATERLOO  More officials could get authority to issue fireworks citations in Waterloo ahead of the Fourth of July, according to proposed ordinance changes.

The suggestion was made Monday at a City Council work session. Councilman Dave Boesen recommended giving code enforcement and Waterloo Fire Rescue officials the authority to hand out penalties. They would join Waterloo Police Department officers in issuing citations for violations of the fireworks rules.

Those officials have the authority to write citations for other municipal violations, Boesen said. He said code enforcement officers, for example, would be able to issue citations to people who fail to clean up fireworks debris. Boesen said he believes code enforcement and fire officials would only have authority to write citations when working on the clock.

Citations for breaking the fireworks guidelines come with a $375 minimum fine, according to the existing ordinance.

Boesen also asked to remove part of the ordinance that allows citations to be issued during the time when fireworks sales are allowed, which he said lasts about six weeks. The new ordinance would let officials give citations any day of the year. Boesen said people light fireworks throughout the year.
One man told her an abandoned east side house was in a dilapidated condition for about 12 years. Klein asked him why he hadnt been at City Council meetings pounding on the podium. He said he didnt think he was important enough.

I whirled around so fast and I said, Now that makes me mad. I was irritated about the house, but now Im really mad, Klein said. I said, Youre an important person. Youre as important of a person as anyone in this town.

Kleins business card, hung on the fridge at one house, prompted a teenager to call her for a private meeting. She was surprised when the deep-voiced person on the phone  who she invited to her house to talk  turned out to be an 18-year-old resident.

He was concerned about run-down houses, some of which he said hadnt been fixed since he moved to Waterloo from Mississippi at 7 years old.

There are good people everywhere, and what makes me angry is that some of them are forced to live in neighborhoods where we have not gotten control of the violence, Klein said. There are lovely, dear people stuck in houses where there have been horrifying events and bullets have landed in their siding, and they live day to day in a terror. Its not right.
Q. In 2020, how many white police officers were shot by Black people?

A. In 2019, the most recent year for which complete FBI statistics are available, 48 white officers died as a result of felonious acts, 44 by gunfire; 40 were white; 28 of the alleged offenders were white, 15 were Black/African American, and 1 was Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander.

Q. Can you put the Sudoku in one of the corners on the page as its easier to cut out that way?

A. The placement of Sudoku is determined by the ads on the page.

Q. How do I restart a Courier subscription?

A. The easiest way is to contact customer service at (319) 291-1444.

Q. Since our property taxes are being raised in Waterloo, shall we cancel our idea of a new police logo? Otherwise its more reason to add even more taxes

A. Waterloos total general fund budget for FY2021/22 is $36.4 million. The police department estimates the total logo replacement will cost more than $150,000. So yes, the city could conceivably reduce tax bills by .004% by not replacing the logo.

Q. After the U.S. pull troops out of Afghanistan, will the Afghans still be able to call us to give air support if needed?
Even if they are late for getting their second dose, they should get it when they can, Winokur said. The second dose is really important and even delivered late it will really improve the immune response to SARS-CoV-2.

While the number of Iowans receiving only partial immunization could be worrisome, studies have shown a single dose still can be highly effective.

One dose of Pfizers and Modernas COVID-19 vaccine was found to be 80% effective in preventing infections, according to a CDC study published in late March. That study analyzed the effectiveness of the vaccines among nearly 4,000 front-line and other essential workers.

However, the vaccines effectiveness reached 90% with two doses, the study found.

State officials are hopeful the Johnson and Johnson vaccine will increase the number of doses administered in the state. The single-dose COVID-19 vaccine may be appealing to those who want the convenience of a one-time shot, Ekstrand said.

To break down any potential barriers to obtaining the vaccine, Winokur said Iowans should be allowed to get the second dose wherever they want. If they got their first dose at a local clinic, for example, they should have the ability to go to a different vaccine provider, such as a pharmacy.
Former Scott County Republican Party Chair Dave Millage said Monday it's time for Republicans to accept the results of the 2020 election and denounce the "Big Lie" by former President Donald Trump that the election was stolen.

In an interview on CNN with Alisyn Camerota, Millage said he doesn't understand how anyone can be in denial of the results from a safe and secure election.

Camerota cited a recent CNN poll showing 70% of Republicans do not believe President Joe Biden legitimately won the election. Millage said it was "Blind loyalty to Trump; worshiping at the altar of Trump."

"It's just mind-boggling to me that Republicans can be this way," Millage said. "This was a legitimate election; (Trump) tried to delegitimize the election. (Trump) was attacking American democracy itself, yet they're standing by him. It just astounds me. And I know a lot of Republicans feel like I do, that this was unconscionable conduct by Donald Trump and let's not apologize for it. Let's say it for what it is and move on.

"(Trump) was trying to undermine our system of government."
A personal care agreement is a written agreement between you and the family member or other person who will provide care for compensation. It permits you to pay a reasonable rate for your caregiver's services and spend down assets or income to become eligible for Medicaid, and can be in place whether you live in a nursing home now (or in the future) and need Medicaid now (or in the future).



In conjunction with this, make a plan B in case you do need public assistance to help with facility costs at some point. Determine what your options will be if your care needs get too great for your caregivers. Many of us wait until our caregivers are totally burned out and simply can't meet the medical or physical tasks of caregiving before considering a move to an assisted living or nursing home. It can be a huge relief for all involved to transfer residences to a safe environment with trained professionals.

A family agreement in which multiple family members contract to contribute to the household's needs may alleviate the out-of-pocket costs and financial strain on your hands-on caregiver. You may also consider gifting a sum of money to your caregiver instead of paying them as an employee.

All of those techniques should be strategic and well thought out. Not a week goes by without a client asking me if they can just put their kids names on their house as a thank-you for caregiving. You must be very intentional about when  and how  money or assets are transferred to avoid unintended consequences. If there is a possibility that you will need public benefits, then this could be looked on unfavorably and result in ineligibility for benefits. There could be tax consequences for gifting or transferring assets to your caregiver, not to mention other undesirable results like exposure to liability if you or your caregiver are sued and jointly own an asset, and compromising homestead protection for your real estate. Paying a caregiver as an employee or gifting them money or assets could jeopardize their own public benefits (for example, if they receive Social Security disability insurance).

Another word of caution: When you endeavor to do this type of life care planning, I encourage you to use the services of an attorney and a tax professional. Know before you act, and think it all through far in advance, if at all possible.

If your financial circumstances don't allow for compensating your caregivers during your lifetime, you may consider providing for them in your estate (or post-life") plan.

Creating a post-life plan

You may not have the means to direct any assets to your caregiver while you are alive. Indeed, 68 percent of caregivers actually contribute money to their care partner, not the other way around. But you may be able to reimburse them after you pass by way of an inheritance.

If you have active term or whole life insurance, you may name your caregiver as the beneficiary. You may also do this for other accounts on which you can name beneficiaries. Be sure that you comply with your state's laws regarding familial and spousal inheritance and that you understand the rules about distributions to beneficiaries on your retirement accounts.

Remember, inheritances don't always have to be fair to all your family members. About 64 percent of caregivers are solo primary caregivers or provide the majority of unpaid care. If you have more than one child but only one of them is your hands-on caregiver, then consider the value they are bringing to your life. There is a lot of labor that goes into caregiving, for zero pay. And if they have stepped away from the workforce to help you, then they are not receiving income that they otherwise could be getting. If you are hesitant because you feel that you may be cutting out other children or may hurt feelings, I encourage you to talk this out with your loved ones. If a conversation isn't possible, write a letter that they can read after your death. Explaining your reasoning for unequal inheritances, particularly in the case of caregivers, may smooth the ruffled feathers of children who are inheriting less.

When considering our own needs, we should consider the needs of our caregivers, too. They give up so much, and some receive so little in return. Whatever financial support you can incorporate in your care plan will surely be appreciated by your caregivers and leave them in a better position to move forward with their lives when caregiving comes to an end.
Hong Kong reports 4 new COVID-19 cases

13:09, May 05, 2021 By huaxia ( Xinhua

Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), speaks at a press conference in south China's Hong Kong, May 4, 2021. Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that over the past two weeks, about 80 percent of the new confirmed cases reported in Hong Kong were imported, indicating that the local epidemic situation is generally stable. She hoped that Hong Kong can achieve "zero infection" soon. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

HONG KONG, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported four new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, taking the total tally to 11,790.

Three of the newly confirmed cases were imported, while the remaining one, a foreign domestic helper, was not yet classified, according to a CHP press briefing.

The domestic helper, who arrived in Hong Kong from the Philippines on March 31, was a carrier of the N501Y mutant strain, the CHP said.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that over the past two weeks, about 80 percent of the new confirmed cases reported in Hong Kong were imported, indicating that the local epidemic situation is generally stable. She hoped that Hong Kong can achieve "zero infection" soon.

Lam also expressed concern about the appearance of coronavirus mutant strain in the community, with a total of four detected over the past three weeks. Facing this situation, more stringent measures have to be taken, including requiring all foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong to undergo compulsory testing before May 9.

Lam said the new measure related to foreign domestic helpers has led to some discussions in the society. She stressed that all anti-epidemic measures are carried out in accordance with public health and scientific objectivity, without any discrimination.

About 1,529,500 vaccine doses have been administered in Hong Kong as far, with 557,600 people fully vaccinated.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
In order for communism to triumph, the "Sinicization" policy of the Chinese Communist Party would have to pull down the Body of Christ in China. However, they have not succeeded despite their multiple attempts.

Persecution hurt more than three million Christians in China last year, reports ChinaAid. When the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its General Secretary, Xi Jinping, became more concerned about the growing Christian community, the Chinese government increasingly persecuted the Christians living in the country.

The Chinese government is actively suppressing the religious freedom of Christian children, educators, and even medical professionals, according to the human rights group ChinaAid's latest annual study.

On "Washington Watch," Bob Fu, president and founder of ChinaAid and FRC Senior Fellow for International Religious Freedom, claimed that millions of Chinese Christian children were required to sign a form prepared by the Communist Party's propaganda department in which they formally renounced their religion.

The Chinese government began to carry out the third year of its "Five-Year Plan for the Sinicization of Christianity," an attempt to reshape the Christian faith into a communist mold, in addition to forcing educators and students to leave their faith. Any doctrine or procedure that does not support the Party's power must be brought into compliance.

In the context of the Christian faith, Bob Fu explains that "Sinicization" means that "all the churches have to install the face recognition cameras around the corner on the pulpit and outside the church to monitor everyone's activities."

"And that means every pastor has to pass a political test to show their absolute loyalty to President Xi Jinping and his ideology first before their loyalty, dedication to the Bible and the Lord," he said.

The communist party has also made attempts to dilute and undermine the Christian faith have involved banning Christian words, like the word "Christ" from books in government-registered Three-Self Patriotic Movement churches.

Popular biblical verses are shamelessly distorted in textbooks at government colleges.

One example is the account in John 8 which was rewritten with a strange ending in one textbook published by the government-run University of Electronic Science and Technology Press.

In the Bible, an adulterous woman was taken before Jesus and her accusers inquire whether she should be stoned to death for her sins.

"Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her," Jesus says, dispersing the enraged crowd (ESV). The CCP changed this to create a very different narrative -one that puts the law above God.

Communist China Wages War Against Christianity But It Won't Win

"China is at war with faith, but it is a war they will not win, "said Sam Brownback, former Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom.

The Chinese church, according to Bob Fu, is undergoing revival despite increased government coercion and abuse.

"We have seen, believers, even after they go to prison, they would sing 'hallelujah,'" he said.

Chinese Christians, he claims, also see their jail terms as ways to evangelize away from the distractions of daily life.

"So, prison becomes church. That's how the revival happens. I think that's how it went from 1 million Christians now to 100 million Christians in China."

Bob Fu urges Christians in America to pray with Chinese believers while they face their struggles with grace and confidence.

"They certainly need our support and our solidarity. We should pray and remember them in bondage as if we are fellow prisoners," he said.
According to conservative author David French, Christians living in today's polarized political climate are commanded by God to advocate for truth while demonstrating kindness and humility.

Last week, at the Evangelical Press Association conference, French, the senior editor of The Dispatch and a conservative columnist, advised a community of media representatives that believers should speak out according to Micah 6:8.

Paraphrasing the verse, French was quoted by Christian Headlines as saying, "What does the Lord require of you? It is to act justly. It is to love mercy and walk humbly with the Lord your God."

"What that means is you're not engaging in the public square to own the libs or to trigger the conservatives. That's not why you're engaging," he said. "You're engaging to seek justice. With one hand you're reaching for justice, and [with] the other hand you're reaching for kindness. You're doing these things at the same time."

Christians can distinguish themselves from the divisive realm of politics, as well as from so-called cancel society by walking in humility and mercy, said French.

"There's a significant minority of Americans now who ascribe dehumanizing characteristics to their political opponents," he said.

Micah 6:8 calls Christians to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly, French pointed out.

Acting justly means "opposing" what is wrong and "upholding what is good," he says. To "love kindness" means that Christians will "see the humanity in your opponents." Walking with humility, he says, "can defuse a lot of situations," an attribute which he says it in "short supply online."

Finally, French acknowledged that engaging society in a polarized environment is difficult. But it's what Christians always "have been called to do even in the face of cancel culture," he said.

He noted that there are a number of the stronger voices - people who have insightful and intelligent stuff to tell but are scared to talk because they fear to stand up for the truth. They are unable to speak out because of "cancel culture" despite the fact that social media has the potential to influence more people than every other generation in the history of mankind.

But doing what is right and "loving mercy," he said, take "courage."

Practicing what he's preaching

As an illustration, consider French's words in his Jan. 10 essay for The Dispatch following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. He made no attempt to minimize what he referred to as Christian-nationalist rhetoric.

Noting that all aggression has a purpose, some of his readers would attempt to coerce him into writing or speaking out about the justified complaints of the Christian community, as well as to explain to the left why people are so mad.

To that he would only reply, "No. Sorry."

"Think of it like this. Riots weren't justified when police knelt on a man's neck while his life drained away in Minneapolis. Riots weren't justified when police killed an innocent woman in a botched, reckless raid in Louisville. Riots weren't justified when a black man was executed in broad daylight by wannabe vigilantes in Georgia," he wrote.

Recognizing that political enemies are fellow citizens, he stated that his disagreements with them would not warrant his disobedience to Micah 6:8.

"I won't stop seeking justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly," he wrote in his essay.
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The estate of the late King of Pop describes the triumph in a court battle against the Internal Revenue Service as 'a huge, unambiguous victory' for the star's children.

May 5, 2021

AceShowbiz - Michael Jackson's children have been handed a "huge, unambiguous victory" in their late father's estate's legal battle with the IRS (Internal Revenue Service).

The lawsuit stemmed from an argument about how much Jackson's name and likeness was worth at the time of his death in 2009 - with the IRS estimating $161 million (116 million) and Jackson's estate arguing it was more like $2,105 (1,517), due to the damage caused to his reputation by child molestation accusations.

The IRS had argued that Jackson's estate had underpaid its tax bill by nearly $500 million (360 million), and could potentially owe an additional $200 million (144 million) in penalties, due to their estimation of the late star's worth.

However, on Monday (03May21), Judge Mark Holmes of United States Tax Court ruled that Jackson's name and likeness was worth $4.2 million (3 million), stating, "We have to look for the value of each of Jackson's assets. The value we put on them as of the day he died is, we acknowledge, much less than their value much later under the estate's management."

"We make no particular judgment about what Jackson did or is alleged to have done, but we must decide how what he did and is alleged to have done affected the value of what he left behind." Responding to Holmes' ruling, John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of the Jackson estate, called it "a huge, unambiguous victory for Michael Jackson's children."

"For nearly 12 years Michael's estate has maintained that the government's valuation of Michael's assets on the day he passed away was outrageous and unfair, one that would have saddled his heirs with an oppressive tax liability of more than $700 million," they said. "While we disagree with some portions of the decision, we believe it clearly exposes how unreasonable the IRS valuation was and provides a path forward to finally resolve this case in a fair and just manner."

The estate's tax bill will now be based on the $4.2 million figure decided on by Judge Holmes.

Judge Holmes also decided the value of Jackson's share of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, the company that controlled millions of song copyrights - including the majority of the Beatles' catalogue - and Mijac Music, another catalogue he owned.

The estate had put their value at $5.3 million (3.8 million). Judge Holmes decided their total value was $111.5 million (80 million). (In 2016, Sony/ATV - now known as Sony Music Publishing - agreed to pay the Jackson estate $750 million to buy out its share of that catalogue.)
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The Duke of Edinburgh's cause of death is listed as 'old age,' two weeks after he was laid to rest in a private funeral at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.

May 5, 2021

AceShowbiz - Prince Philip's official cause of death has been revealed, nearly a month after his passing. According to his death certificate, he died of "old age," with no other medical conditions identified as contributing factors in his death.

As puzzling as it may sound, "old age" can be listed as a cause of death for patients over 80 whose health gradually declines, as observed by their long-term doctor, according to The Telegraph which obtained the death certificate. The death certificate was certified by Sir Huw Thomas, who heads the royal medical household.

As known publicly, the Duke of Edinburgh had a number of ailments in his later year, including a heart scare that led to his hospitalization in February. He underwent a procedure for his heart condition on March 3 and was discharged from the hospital on March 16.

The death certificate additionally lists Prince Philip's first occupation as Naval Officer. His second occupation is listed as "husband of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, The Sovereign."

Prince Philip died on April 9 at the age of 99 as the oldest-ever male member of the British royal family. Buckingham Palace said in a statement at the time, "His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle." His daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Wessex, described his death as "...so gentle. It was just like somebody took him by the hand and off he went." The Queen was reportedly at her husband's bedside when he died.

The husband of Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest in a private funeral attended by only immediate members of the royal family on April 17 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. He was interred in the Royal Vault inside St George's. Upon the Queen's death, his remains will be moved to the King George VI Memorial Chapel inside St George's, where they will be buried next to each other.
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The 'Power' co-creator and producer announces on his Instagram and Twitter account that he now lives in the Texas city while teasing his new crime anthology series.

May 5, 2021

AceShowbiz - 50 Cent is moving south. The rapper-turned-TV producer has announced that he's moving from New York to Houston, Texas, months after he spoke up against Joe Biden's proposed NYC tax plan before the latter was elected president.

Taking to his Instagram and Twitter account on Tuesday, May 4, the star whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III shared a picture of him posing outside of the Houston Astrodome while wearing a Houston Astros hat. "I Love NY, but i live in Houston now i'll explain later," he captioned the snap.

Along with the photo, he included a screenshot of an article about his new true crime anthology series "Confessions of a Crime Queen", hinting that his move may be related to the new project as he added in the caption, "Green Light Gang. BOOM."

According to the article, "Confessions of a Crime Queen" is described as "a first-of-its-kind anthology series that brings to life riveting, headline-making stories by combining documentary and scripted genres. Each season will focus on the true story of one larger-than-life woman who created and led a multi-million-dollar criminal empire before a dramatic fall from power."

The series is promised to star an A-list actress in the lead role, who will also interview the real life female crime lord at the center of the story. 50 Cent will be producing through his G-Unit Film & Television banner in association with Rich Bye and his Goodbye Pictures as well as Lionsgate Television. The series is expected to debut in 2022 on Discovery+.

50 Cent's move to Houston arrives months after he ranted against Biden's proposed tax plan for the wealthy in New York. Back in October 2020, the 45-year-old shared a screenshot from a news broadcast claiming the then-Democratic presidential candidate wanted to raise taxes in New York City by 62%. "WHAT THE F**K! (VOTE ForTRUMP) IM OUT," he said. "F**K NEW YORK The KNICKS never win anyway. I don't care Trump doesn't like black people 62% are you out of ya f**king mind."

Fiddy, however, later changed his mind after his ex-girlfriend Chelsea Handler reached out to him. "F**k Donald Trump, I never liked him," he clarified, after the comedian publicly joked she'd take "another spin" with him if he supported Trump.
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Preview of 'Siegfried and Roy' audio series as well as a live recording of non-fiction Black Lives Matter show 'Resistance' have also been unveiled as part of the Tribeca Podcasts line-up.

May 5, 2021

AceShowbiz - An interview with filmmaker Jason Reitman and a preview of the new "Siegfried & Roy" audio series are among the highlights of the 2021 Tribeca Festival's inaugural podcasts program.

Event officials have unveiled their first ever slate of podcast content, which will feature special discussions and world premieres of fiction and non-fiction stories for fans to listen to online.

The official selection was curated by audio storytelling manager Leah Sarbib, with contributions from an advisory board including "Serial" co-creator Sarah Koenig, "Radiolab" host Jad Abumrad, "Missing & Murdered" creator Connie Walker and "1619 Project" creator Nikole Hannah-Jones.

Also listed as part of the Tribeca Podcasts line-up is a chat between the hosts of prison life series "Ear Hustle", a live recording of non-fiction Black Lives Matter show "Resistance", and sneak peeks at new podcasts "Hot White Heist" and "Red Frontier".

Tribeca Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal says, "The past few years have seen an explosion in the popularity of podcasts, making this the perfect time to introduce our inaugural Tribeca Podcast Program."

"We look forward to welcoming the creative forces behind this year's most anticipated new programs."

The news emerges a day after festival chiefs revealed they will be making select films available for U.S. audiences to view digitally through their new platform, Tribeca at Home. Offerings will include Jonah Feingold's "Dating and New York", and "Creation Stories", a biopic about music mogul Alan McGee and his Creation Records empire.

The 2021 event, formerly known as the Tribeca Film Festival, will take place in New York from June 9 to 20.

For more information, visit Tribeca Film official site.
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When addressing her mother's departure from CBS' daytime talk show, the 'Fashion Police' star stresses that she doesn't 'give a f**k about cancel culture.'

May 5, 2021

AceShowbiz - Kelly Osbourne has once again addressed Sharon Osbourne's exit from "The Talk". Upon learning that she and her mother were dubbed "racist" following the latter's fallout from the CBS daytime talk show, the "Fashion Police" star stressed that she was unbothered with the label.



"I don't give a f**k about cancel culture. I don't give a f**k about what anyone thinks about me in that sense," she argued when speaking to Us Weekly on Monday, May 3. "Like, if you think I'm a racist, fine. You think I'm a racist. I know who I am. I don't care what you think of me."

For Kelly, what matters for her are the opinions of her loved ones. "I care what [my podcast co-host Jeff Beacher] thinks of me. I care what my family thinks of me. I don't care what somebody hiding behind a computer and a fake Instagram page who puts up stuff where they don't practice what they preach [thinks]," she explained.

Elsewhere in the interview, the daughter of Ozzy Osbourne encouraged people not to be afraid to make a mistake, ask questions and educate themselves. "I keep trying to get people to change the way they think about this in the sense of, don't be afraid to make a mistake because we all are so privileged and it's an honor," she pointed out.

Kelly has previously made it clear that she's against cancel culture. "I didn't know what was really going on in this country because I just thought that simply being not racist was enough," she told Extra in April. "It's not, it's actually not, you have to be actively not racist and educate yourself and learn, and don't be afraid to make a mistake, everybody's so afraid of cancel culture I say f**k cancel culture, it's all about counsel culture."

Sharon left "The Talk" after she and co-host Sheryl Underwood were engaged in a heated on-air debate in its March 10 episode. At that time, the British-American TV personality defended Piers Morgan in the wake of his controversial comments about Meghan Markle's explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey.
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Just months after being released from prison on his murder charge, the 'Everyday We Lit' rapper reportedly will be ordered back to jail as he is named in a 105-count racketeering indictment.

May 5, 2021

AceShowbiz - YFN Lucci's attorney has reacted to the MC's latest legal trouble. Upon learning that the "Everyday We Lit" rapper was indicted for racketeering, Drew Findling insisted that his client is not a "gang member."

"He's not guilty of any crime that's referenced in the previous charge and now in this indictment," Findling said of the rapper, whose real name is Rayshawn Lamar Bennett. "He's absolutely not a gang member, and this indictment - neglectfully or purposely - fails to say that Mr. Bennett is a nationally and internationally recognized musical artist."

Lucci was reportedly one of 12 people who have been listed in a 75-page, 105-count indictment targeting alleged members of Atlanta Bloods gang. In the indictment, it is stated that they had connections and relationships to each other. They were also accused of committing several criminal activities to protect and improve the gang's reputation, as well as to gain and maintain control of territory.

The "Key to the Streets" spitter has been slapped with several charges. They included, racketeering, felony murder, violating the state's anti-gang law, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Speaking of the indictment, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said in a statement, "This indictment is unprecedented. Period. In Georgia." Willis went on, "There's been a huge spike in violent crime. I made a commitment to bring the best and the brightest minds here, many of which you see sitting here right now so that we could deal with this issue of this violent crime."

Lucci himself was just released from prison in February after posting a $500,000 bond. He turned himself in to police in mid-January after being named as a suspect in connection to the December 2020 shooting in Atlanta, which led to the death of 28-year-old man called James Adams.
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In his legal papers, Paul Phillips claims that the doctors' lack of care during his initial admission at Baptist Medical Center of the Beaches led to him suffering brain damage.

May 5, 2021

AceShowbiz - Former Puddle of Mudd guitarist Paul Phillips is taking officials at a Florida hospital to court over allegations of medical malpractice.

The rocker claims he checked himself into Baptist Medical Center of the Beaches in November 2019, complaining about having suffered a possible seizure and altered mental status.

He underwent a series of tests and was told he had low sodium levels, but insists doctors failed to properly monitor the situation and gave him subpar treatment which caused the levels to rise too quickly.

In legal papers obtained by TMZ, Phillips explains he was quickly discharged, only to be back in the emergency room three days later after having a seizure.

He was found to have brain damage, which continues to cause the rocker neurological issues, including continued seizures, and he's convinced it's all down to the doctors' lack of care during his initial admission.

Phillips believes his health issues will go on indefinitely, hampering his ability to continue working as a professional musician, and now he's suing hospital bosses, as well as two of his doctors, for undisclosed damages.

The defendants have yet to comment on the legal action.

Phillips served as Puddle of Mudd's guitarist on two of the band's most successful albums, 2001's "Come Clean" and 2003's "Life on Display". He became part of the band after Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst invited him for an audition. Because of creative differences, he left the band in 2005. He made a return to the band in 2009, but quit again in 2011.
The latest Baylor University of Health Science Center study found that teaching mental health best practices with Bible study has great benefit. This research proved to reduce symptoms of PTSD and increase the sense of purpose.

Christianity Today quoted Robert L. Briggs, American Bible Society (ABS) president and CEO: "As America experiences a mental health crisis, this study shows the potential benefits of faith-sensitive care for traumatized people. The Bible has been shown to be a vital source for emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental healing."

The thesis examined the efficacy of the ABS program "Healing the Wounds of Trauma," which was taught within North Prince George, Virginia's Riverside Regional Jail.

A total of 210 imprisoned men and women volunteered to participate in the five-session study which involves qualified facilitators reading Scripture with attendees while guiding them in the method of acknowledging their suffering, disclosing it, and taking their distress to the cross of Christ for redemption. This helped them release the issues that are holding them back from empathy for others and compassion.

The participants were also asked to answer questions about themselves and their mental well-being prior to, directly after, one month after, and three months after completing the program.

Another 139 imprisoned individuals reportedly offered to participate in the study without participating in the curriculum.

When researchers compared the two groups, they discovered that the program produced clinically relevant effects.

"Having a control group that is comparable to the experimental group allows us to determine if the intervention is having an independent or unique effect," said Byron R. Johnson, one of the three researchers at Baylor University's Institute for Studies of Religion who worked on the study.

Around 50% of the participants were white and aged between 18 and 65. An inmate has, on average, on average, been in prison five to six years before they are paroled.

The study groups were divided into 22 clusters, with 10 male and 12 female participants. Participants aged from 18 and 65 years of old being around half white and half black. Much of them were in Virginia prison on parole or rehabilitation and on average five or six years they were in court. While the control group demonstrated much of the same attributes, such as being of comparable age, had similar interests, and the same marital status, they were less likely to have a violent criminal record.

The study found that participants in the curriculum experienced less depression, distress, and frustration, as well as less "complicated grief," which involves rejection of stressful experiences, depressive impact, and avoidance of behaviors correlated with trauma. They were much less depressed and reported fewer suicidal feelings.

Around the same time, as opposed to the control sample, participants in the study showed higher levels of forgiveness and sympathy, as well as higher levels of resiliency.

Johnson and his colleagues at Baylor, Sung Joon Jang and Matt Bradshaw, wanted to see certain discrepancies. But they had no idea how straightforward it would be, particularly after the program was over.

"We saw a reduction in PTSD symptoms, an increase in emotional well-being, and an improvement in attitudes toward God and the Bible," he said.

According to Johnson, the effect might not be as visible in the general public as it is among imprisoned persons. People in prison have traditionally endured more violence in their life, and demographic variations and diverse backgrounds allow supposition from the study questionable. However, Johnson stated that the program was not intended exclusively for prisoners and that he expects trauma-informed Bible reading to have comparable effects on all.

Trauma, isolation, loneliness, and disaster are also addressed in the Bible states Heath Lambert, author of numerous books on biblical counseling and an associate professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Louisville, Kentucky.

The ABS wants to assist communities with preparing Bible-based content to assist people in working with trauma.

Nicole Martin, executive director of trauma healing at ABS believes that the invitation to see the 'Wounded Healer' through the Bible has the potential to transform lives.

"It changes how you think about suffering," Martin explained.

According to him, the need to resolve trauma did not begin with COVID-19 and would continue long after the pandemic.

"All of us have wounds. All of us have pain," added Martin.
Instagram Celebrity

An attorney for the 'Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)' rapper has filed legal documents requesting the court set his bond at $25,000, claiming he's not a flight risk.

May 5, 2021

AceShowbiz - Silento is seeking to gain his temporary freedom following his arrest in his felony murder case. The star of "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" fame is asking to be released on a bond while awaiting trial for the alleged murder of his cousin.

The rapper, through his legal representative, has filed legal documents in DeKalb County, GA requesting the court set his bond at $25,000. Per TMZ's report, he argues that he's "not an extraordinary bail risk and will not jeopardize the safety of the community if released on bail."

Silento, whose real name is Richard Lamar "Ricky" Hawk, additionally assures that if the judge grants his request for temporary release, he won't flee or go into hiding and promises to obey all court orders. He goes on arguing that denying him bond is unjust and not in accordance with the constitution.

Silento was arrested on February 1 in DeKalb County on murder charges in the death of his cousin. The 23-year-old is accused of shooting and killing his cousin, 34-year-old Frederick Rooks, who was found by police in the middle of the street with multiple gunshot wounds to the face and leg on January 21. The incident report says the victim was bleeding severely and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following investigation, investigators later connected the shooting to Silento and arrested him. "Today, Ricky Hawk, 23, was arrested for the murder of his cousin Frederick Rooks, 34," the DeKalb County Police Department tweeted upon his arrest. "On January 21, the DeKalb County Police Department investigated Rooks' death after he was found shot on Deep Shoals Circle. Hawk is in the DeKalb County Jail charged with Murder. #WeAreDKPD."

Silento's publicist later revealed that the artist has been struggling with mental health issues for years. "Please send my client Silento some positive vibrations," the PR Manager, Chanel Hudson, said in a statement after his arrest. "Over the past several years, Ricky has been suffering immensely from a series of mental health illnesses. We will continue in his efforts of treatment, but we ask in the meantime the public uplift him and his family in immediate prayer & positive energy!!"

She went on gushing about the Georgia native, "Ricky is a beautiful soul, and we hope that the same people who came up whippin' & nay nay-ing with him, continue to support him and lifted in paryer!! God bless."
Instagram Celebrity

The 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' star is ordered to forfeit the 'Fragment of Myron's Samian Athena' statue by the U.S. government because it was illegally 'looted' from Italy.

May 5, 2021

AceShowbiz - Kim Kardashian has denied reports suggesting she had "smuggled" an Ancient Roman sculpture. The "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star, who has been ordered to forfeit the "Fragment of Myron's Samian Athena" statue by the U.S. government, insisted she's unaware that it was imported in her name.

Offering clarification regarding the matter was the 40-year-old reality star's representative. "[She] never purchased this piece and this is the first that she has learned of its existence," the representative said in a released statement.

"We believe it may have been purchased using her name without authorization and because it was never received, she was unaware of the transaction," the rep continued. "We encourage an investigation and hope that it gets returned to the rightful owners."

Kim allegedly bought the statue from Axel Vervoordt Gallery in Belgium in 2016, while she and her estranged husband Kanye West were renovating their Calabasas mansion. The artwork, which dates to the 1st or 2nd century AD, was stopped when it arrived at the Port of Los Angeles. On the reason why, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials alerted that it was "possibly protected cultural property."

The precise value of the statue remains unknown. However, it reportedly arrived as part of a 5.5-ton shipment, and was unveiled to contain 40 modern furniture, antiques and decorative objects which valued at $745,882.

According to a civil complaint for forfeiture filed in federal court in Los Angeles in late April, the statue was originally "looted, smuggled, and illegally exported from Italy." The country now asks the statue to be returned.

While Kim purchased the work from Alex, the art dealer and designer previously bought it from Paris' Galerie Chenel in 2012. Director of Galerie Chenel Ollivier Chenel told Artnet News that the gallery acquired the sculpture legally from an auction house in Germany in 2010, which had purchased the statue from an English estate.

"It is very strange that [the complaint does not mention] the German auction house as the information was given to them at the time," Olliver additionally shared to the outlet. "I can guarantee you that this sculpture was acquired legally at Hampel Auction house in 2010."
WENN Celebrity

The former President of the United States calls Facebook, Twitter, and Google 'a total disgrace and an embarrassment' to the country for banning him from the platforms.

May 6, 2021

AceShowbiz - Former U.S. President Donald Trump has lashed out at Facebook officials after his ban from the social media platform was upheld by members of an independent review board.

On Wednesday (05May21), officials on the Oversight Board, which examines content-policy decisions, declared the reality TV star-turned-politician should remain barred from using the platform, and the Facebook-owned Instagram app, following multiple statements he made seeking to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, which led to the storming of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on 6 January.

In their ruling, boardmembers wrote, "The Board found that, in maintaining an unfounded narrative of electoral fraud and persistent calls to action, Mr. Trump created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible."

"At the time of Mr. Trump's posts, there was a clear, immediate risk of harm and his words of support for those involved in the riots legitimized their violent actions."

However, Oversight Board members declared Facebook chiefs must review the ban within six months, and "determine and justify a proportionate response that is consistent with the rules that are applied to other users of its platform."

An angry Trump, who was permanently barred from Twitter in February, has since responded to the news in a fiery statement issued to media outlets.

"What Facebook, Twitter, and Google have done is a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our Country," he wrote.

"Free Speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth, but the truth will come out anyway, bigger and stronger than ever before."

He added, "These corrupt social media companies must pay a political price, and must never again be allowed to destroy and decimate our Electoral Process."

Trump's Facebook account was temporarily frozen on 7 January, with platform bosses choosing to suspend his login until at least President Joe Biden's inauguration on 20 January.
CHICO, Calif. (Update: 11:34 a.m.)  The Chico Police Department identified three women who caused a disturbance at the Chico City Council Meeting on April 20.

Diana Driess, 67, from Chico, Mary Lorene Lori Harris, 64, from Chico, and Courtney Allen 29, from Yuba City.

On Tuesday, police said the two Chico women have been cited for violation of penal code 403, for unlawfully breaking up a meeting. A warrant has been submitted to the Butte County District Attorney's Office for the third woman, a Sutter County resident.

RELATED: Chico police want your help identifying these 3 people from Tuesday's Council disruption

California Penal Code Section 403 explains, "Every person who, without authority of law, willfully disturbs or breaks up any assembly or meeting that is not unlawful in its character, other than an assembly or meeting referred to in Section 302 of the Penal Code or Section 18340 of the Elections Code, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

The case has been investigated and submitted to the Butte County District Attorneys Office for review. Officers said the communitys help led to the quick identification of these three women.
CHICO, Calif. - Some councilmembers in Chico and a few Butte County Supervisors are facing claims they met in secret to troubleshoot the homeless shelter situation.

The ACLU Foundation of Northern California is accusing Chico Mayor, Andrew Coolidge, and councilmembers, Sean Morgan and Kasey Reynolds, of meeting secretly with Butte County Supervisors, Tod Kimmelshue and Tami Ritter, among other city staff members.

The ACLU claims they are violating The Brown Act on several levels including not letting the public know about the meetings in advance.

"It's just ridiculous, there are so many positive things going on, in regards to the homeless," responded councilman, Sean Morgan.

Tuesday, Butte County Supervisor, Todd Kimmelshue, told Action New Now that meetings were his idea. He said he wanted to come together with local leaders and try to help with solutions.

RELATED: Chico City Council accused of violating The Brown Act

"I think it's really unfortunate that they think we are meeting in secret, we're really not, I initiated these meetings soon after I was sworn into office. I felt there was a need for the city and county to work together and Im proud of what we have accomplished, we've met three or four times, we throw out all kinds of ideas," said Kimmelshue.

The letter also said the city created a crisis by not addressing homeless needs and persecuting those without a place to stay.

"The entire claim is baseless, I would really like to see people encouraging this type of work between city councilmembers and supervisors, and I think it's great, its unprecedented. It actually helps solve the issues, as long as we arent meeting with the majority of the board or council and we're having open discussions about homeless issues in Chico and Butte County, I think it's positive to do," said Chico Mayor, Andrew Coolidge.

City leaders told Action News Now, working together to try to find solutions for the homeless in Chico has been one of their main priorities.

Read the full letter from the ACLU Foundation of Northern California below.
SHASTA COUNTY, Calif. - Shasta Forward filed three separate complaints with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) against Recall Shasta; Red, White, and Blueprint, and the Shasta County General Purpose Committee.

Shasta Forward claims that these groups violated state campaign laws. The group filed the complaint with the FPPC last Friday.

At Tuesdays Board of Supervisors meeting, people packed the room. Split between people in favor of recalling Supervisors Joe Chimenti, Mary Rickert, and Leonard Moty.

Your duty to uphold the constitution in order to protect our rights is far greater than any notion you may have to follow unlawful edicts from Gov. Newsom, said one public speaker in favor of the recall.

Then there were also those who were against the recall.

My hope moving forward is that most county voters will overwhelmingly reject signing proponents groundless recall petitions in the weeks to come, said another public speaker against the recall efforts.

Supervisors Moty, Rickert, and Chimenti, who are officers with Shasta Forward, announced they filed three separate complaints with the FPPC, claiming that the recall groups did not follow the rules.

They have a right to do what they're doing, but with that right-- like most rights-- comes a responsibility, said Supervisor Chimenti. The responsibility is transparency. This community has a right to know who's funding this and where the money is going."

Shasta Forward claims that they found seven separate violations of state campaign laws with these three groups.

RELATED: Efforts to recall Shasta Supervisors hits setback

From the very beginning, we've wondered where the money was coming from to fund the different efforts that they were making, said Supervisors Leonard Moty. Very little is being reported and certainly, the amount that's being reported does not equal the amount that's being spent. We have contacted our attorneys to look into this. In their follow-up to us, they have discovered they believe are at least seven violations of FPPC laws.

One of those claims was the group Red, White, and Blueprint broke campaign finance rules, but one man at Tuesdays meeting responded to those claims.

You guys want to open an investigation into who funded the Red, White, and Blueprint? It's me, said one man who identified as Jon Knight. I have the right to start a company with other people who see a problem and want to address it and make a docuseries and you guys are acting like we're a political campaign.

Some people at the meeting are also concerned about the three supervisors involvement with Shasta Forward.

Im all for having both sides, said Claire Winson who spoke at Tuesdays meeting. For having Shasta Forward as well as the Recall Shasta effort. But I think that is a conflict of interest to have those particular members of the board as officers of Shasta Forward.

Elissa McEuen, who is with Recall Shasta, tells Action News Now that she was unaware of Tuesdays news conference that took place. She adds that she plans to look over the claims that Shasta Forward is making.

Recall proponents re-served notices of intent to Supervisors Chimenti, Rickert, and Moty for the second time. Their first recall attempt failed due to a signature error.

The three supervisors have until May 7 to respond.

Click here to read the complaints made by Shasta Forward.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A federal judge is weighing whether Pacific Gas & Electric violated its criminal probation by sparking a wildfire north of San Francisco that destroyed more than 100 homes and injured six firefighters in October 2019.

Prosecutors and attorneys for PG&E appeared at a hearing Tuesday before U.S. District Judge William Alsup, a month after the Sonoma County district attorney charged the company with five felony and 28 misdemeanor counts for a fire that destroyed 374 buildings and launched the largest evacuation in the countys history, with nearly 100,000 people forced to flee.

PG&E has accepted investigators findings that its transmission line ignited the fire that burned through 120 square miles (311 square kilometers), but it has denied committing any crimes. It is trying to have two-thirds of the charges thrown out on the grounds that its alleged violations of state air pollution laws dont constitute a crime.

Federal probation officer Jennifer Hutchings alleged that the 2019 Kincade Fire violated the companys probation from the 2010 explosion in its natural gas lines that blew up a neighborhood in San Bruno, a suburb south of San Francisco, which led to Alsups appointment overseeing the utilitys operations.

One of the probation terms was that the utility, which serves about 16 million people, not commit another federal, state or local crime.

Alsup said he will consider imposing additional probation conditions because of the fire, adding that losing 100 homes is catastrophic really. Theres no other way to describe it.

The judge has repeatedly found that the company violated other probation conditions, and each time has imposed more conditions on the company.

PG&E last year pleaded guilty to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter igniting the 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County that largely destroyed the town of Paradise in the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in Californias recorded history.

Ratepayer advocate and former San Diego city attorney Michael Aguirre argued Tuesday that PG&E is intent on running out the clock without making any fundamental changes to improve safety before Alsups supervision ends in January.

They are a convicted felon on probation who has just been found to have engaged in additional safety violations that have caused 100 homes to be destroyed, Aguirre said.

Company attorney Reid Schar responded that the utilitys executives take their responsibility very seriously.
Adgully is back with Week 9 of the Ad-Vantage Quiz with Rajiv Gopinath. Last week, participants engaged with questions related to Magicpin, Elon Musks Doge Barking Meme, Poila Boishakh and other enthralling questions.

Being at the forefront of advertising and media news coverage for over a decade, Adgully has launched an engaging quiz contest to reward readers who closely follow developments in the Advertising and Marketing domain. Our quizmaster, Rajiv Gopinath, Chief Client Officer, Starcom, will share 10 topical questions every week on the latest developments in Business, Advertising and Brands.

To win, participants need to answer all the questions correctly and at the earliest. The quiz is live from 11 am on Tuesday (May 4, 2021) to 11 pm on Saturday (May 8 2021). Heres what you need to do to participate:

Subscribe to Adgullys newsletter

Take the quiz for Week 9

The winner of the quiz and the answers will be published every Tuesday. The winner will receive an Amazon Pay E-Gift Voucher worth Rs 1,000 via email.

Find below the answers to last weeks quiz.

There were three participants who got most answers correct, except one:

B Sridhar

Alekhya Chakrabarty

Sukhman Singh

However, there was no winner for this week

The winner of Ad-Vantage Quiz will get an Amazon Pay E-Gift Voucher worth Rs 1,000 via email.

Name the brand which proclaims Were a mindful movement that believes if we push past our sweaty boundaries, were able to build the strength to push ourselves in other aspects of life.

Lululemon

What is positioned as an alternative to bread?

Magicpin

Which Chinese platform is seen as a combination of Instagram, Pinterest and Amazon? (from a user experience point of view)

Xiaohongshu

Connect this to a newsworthy event.

Project Artemis  The project to get humans back on the moon.

Connect Shiba Inu to Joan Miro.

Doge barking at the moon  tweet by Elon Musk

The shortage of this ingredient led to a crisis in which type of outlets?

Tapioca Pearls Used in Bubble Tea shops

Which ad campaign featured staff mistaking who to hand over bottles of lager and cocktails to between men and women to highlight stereotypes? It topped Kantars creative effectiveness awards.

Heineken

In the 1970s, a group of high school teenagers, called the Waldos, used to hangout outside their school in San Rafael at a particular time in search of something. This led to what?

4-20 holiday

This was a Google doodle to commemorate what?

The festival of Poila Boishakh

This fictional character wakes up on Fortnite Island with no memories of his past and no ability to speak. Sooner or later, like every character in Fortnite, he is pulled into a battle royale with the entire games cast, bumping into characters from other properties too. Who?

Batman
This Summer, Sony MAX gives you all the reasons to stay at home and enjoy an entertaining lineup of movies! Fasten your seatbelts to get on a thrilling roller-coaster ride with back-to-back action-packed South Blockbusters in Hindi. The wait is finally over, as fans can now catch their favourite superstars and an unlimited dose of entertaining cinema from the comfort of their homes.

Here is a list of movies that Sony MAX has in store for a perfect Summer bonanza:

Ismart Shankar- 8th May at 12 PM

Ismart Shankar is an action thriller with a cute romantic track featuring Nidhhi Agrawal alongside Ram Pothineni. The film centres on Shankar who is a contract killer and manages to escape after murdering a politician. Eventually, he ends up helping the police in finding a murderer when an officer's memory is transferred to him. The movie will amaze you with its soothing songs and an engaging storyline. Surely an alluring one!

Madam Geeta Rani- 10th May at 12 PM

Madam Geeta Rani is a tale of a determined headmistress who teaches everyone a lesson in perseverance as she battles bureaucracy and corrupt officials to bring her government-run school up to scratch. The movie is lead by prominent Tollywood female actor Jyothika who has impressed the fans by being the HERO of her films. Watch this drama that will empower you with a social message on 10th May at 12 PM.

Taana- 22nd May at 12 PM

Taana is a perfect blend of horror and comedy and brilliant action sequences that bring alive a unique story. It is a tale of a youngster who suffers from a peculiar voice disorder hence refuses to join the police force, which is his family tradition. Taana chronicles the intriguing and inspiring life events of his shortcomings and struggles to join the police force. His life discovers a new ambition when he decides to be a cop only to find the criminals behind the murder of an innocent girl. Watch out his motivating journey featuring Vaibhav Reddy and find out if he succeeds in putting the criminals behind bars!

Voter  23rd May at 12 PM

Voter is an enchanting tale of love, affection, and friendship that features renowned stars Vishnu Manchu and Surbhi in the lead. The film centres on the life of these two young love birds who meet during a national election. Gautam aka Vishnu, who works in the US, comes back to India to cast his vote and eventually falls in love with Bhavana aka Surbhi. Watch how the couple undergoes several challenges to live a happily ever after life with the World Television Premiere of Voter on 23rd May.

Jersey  26th May at 12 PM

This Harish Kalyan aka Nani starrer Jersey is bound to make you get off from that cosy couch and thrive towards achieving your dreams. It is an inspiring tale of Arjun, a talented but failed cricketer who decides to return to cricket in his late thirties driven by the desire to represent the Indian cricket team and fulfil his son's wish for a jersey as a gift. The film is certain to drive you to follow your passion amidst all the odds.

What are you waiting for? Set a reminder right away so that you dont miss out on any of these amazing films throughout the month on Sony MAX.
Bolo Indya, Indias fastest growing live streaming platform has joined hands with the Governments citizen engagement platform MyGov India, to launch a mass awareness drive for tier 2/3/4 language users of the country.

The partnership aims at aiding the Centres efforts in combating the menace of the coronavirus pandemic through an awareness drive. As part of this partnership, Bolo Indya users residing in Tier 3 and Tier 4 towns can now get first-hand, real-time information from the Government on various announcements made in the wake of Covid-19, vaccination drive, precautionary updates, and other key measures taken by the Govt. Also, there will be exclusive LIVE streaming sessions on the Bolo Indya app by health experts talking about mental health issues, Government guidelines during isolation, vaccination myths, etc.

For sharing all the important updates by the Govt of India and driving engagement with the users, MyGov India has activated an official handle @MyGovIndia on the Bolo Indya platform across 14 languages. Moreover, the official MyGovIndia profile is also equipped to live stream all major video content and facilitate all announcements to address the language users on Bolo Indya who are residing in tier 2/3/4, towns.

Commenting on the partnership, Varun Saxena, CEO, and Founder- Bolo Indya said, We are pleased to welcome MyGov India on Bolo Indya. It is delightful to see such a credible institution trusting Live Streaming on our platform to organically penetrate and amplify the engagement with the users of Bharat through us. We are confident of this partnership creating a strong value for our users too while engaging with credible authorities first hand in live streaming sessions.

Bolo Indya's live streaming feature comes with an integrated real-time gamification in a form of a gifting option where creators can be rewarded by their follower base basis the content quality, density as well as engagement which can be redeemed in cash on the Bolo Indya platform. The live streaming feature also allows fans to connect with their favorite creator through the video calling option.
Destiny Outreach Ministries, a church in Tazewell, Virginia, has reportedly boosted its security following the kidnapping of 2-year-old Noah Gabriel Trout from nearby Giles County.

WVNS TV reported that Destiny Outreach Ministries Pastor Steve Branch said they have prepared his church "for the worst" after the abduction of Trout in his church in Giles and due to their location, which is near from the incident.

"We have security, people within our congregation that have concealed weapons that are trained. We have all of our doors locked, we just have one entrance going in the front so we have more control over that," Branch revealed.

"We're right here on 460. That's why we do our best to keep all the doors locked because if somebody comes in, they can go out the door but not come in, so we try to focus everything inside on one door so we have the opportunity to handle something before they come in," he added.

Branch told WVNS TV that their church's doors are locked but the ushers have keys to them so that in the case of emergency they can be opened during service. The ushers have the keys because they walk around to check everyone is "safe inside and out."

This way, he explained to WVNS TV, nobody can come in the church while service is ongoing. He raised that their church is a peaceful place but they are "prepared for anything." Branch, however, hopes they don't need to use the additional security measures, such a new sign out system for kids that will be implemented through an app and stickers that they intend to start once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

According to WJHL News Channel 11, Trout was abducted on Sunday, May 2, while attending church service with his family at the Riverview Baptist Center in Ripplemead, Giles County. A woman, Nancy Renee Fridley, was seen going out of the church with Trout.

The child's abduction led to the Riverview Baptist Church cancelling all services afterwards but remained open to receive those who wished to pray for Trout. The only lead the church had to the abductor who was unidentified then was a suspicious-looking "vehicle parked across from the church parking lot for an extended time during Sunday morning's second service."

WJHL News Channel 11 added that police said Trout was last seen at the Big Stony Creek Road in Ripplemead at noontime of Sunday. The Giles County Sheriff's Office then partnered with the "FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, the Virginia State Police, the VA ABC Enforcement, the Pearisburg Police Department, and the NCMEC."

After much investigation, WJHL News Channel 11 said that Trout was found in the home of Fridley. Authorities said they were able to recover him after a child matching the description of Trout was spotted near the area of Fridley's home. Trout has been returned safely to his family come Monday afternoon.

Fridley, who is 44-years old, was then charged with "one count of abduction and one count of felony child endangerment." Fridley's boyfriend, Bobby Lee Taylor, has also been charged as accomplice with one count of abduction. Taylor has been arrested together with Fridley and have been sent to the Alleghany Regional Jail waiting for their arraignment.
CEAT Specialty, the off-highway tyre brand of RPG group has chosen Hyper Connect Asia as their digital agency of record. Hyper Connect Asia will be responsible for the end-to-end digital marketing mandate of CEAT Specialty in Europe & India. The brand partnership will primarily focus on the 360 digital communication of the OTR and Agriculture tyre categories of CEAT Specialty.

The holistic digital marketing and branding mandate centres around social media content and marketing, and reputation management, in Europe & India.

Mr. Vijay Gambhire, Chief Executive  CEAT Specialty shared, Europe is a key market for OHT business, and initial acceptance of our products and services has been very good. In order to further build on the initial momentum, we realise our digital communication will play a key role in our efforts to connect with our end customers. We want a capable and creative digital marketing agency, and Hyper connect fits the bill.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Ankur Pujari, Co-Founder & Business Lead, Hyper Connect Asia said, Our team is upbeat to be associated with a legacy brand name like CEAT (RPG group) and partner with them in their India and Europe growth story. As a young and growing digital marketing player, we are always enthusiastic about exploring brand innovations and the challenges that tag along with it. Associating with such great brands enables us to scale up our expertise and understand the dynamics of the local and international consumer behaviour. It also strengthens our foothold in one more sector.
Niyo, Indias premier digital banking fintech, has launched two ad communications #JustCantWait and #WantMore  advertising its recently-launched state-of-the-art, 2-in-1 savings and wealth account, NiyoX, aimed at Millennials and Generation Z.

The ad communications, a part of Niyos first-ever advertising campaign targeting the newest demographic cohorts, was launched on Hotstar website and mobile app on 30th April, during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Niyo aims to reach out to its 45 Million consumers through the Ad campaign.

Through these TVC commercials, NiyoX aims to catch the pulse of the Millennials and GenZ, who believe in the instant culture of having everything as quickly as possible and who are agile, curious, aspirational and never settle for anything less. The #JustCantWait and #WantMore campaigns encourage these youngsters to experience banking unlike ever before.

The NiyoX banking app in partnership with Equitas Small Finance Bank helps fulfil those aspirations through its unique 007 banking that offers industry-best features such as - 0 balance savings account, 0 commission on mutual funds and upto 7% interest on savings  enabling the young customers to open the two-in-one savings and wealth accounts in only 100 seconds.

Niyo Chief Marketing Officer Vineet Sethi said, We launched NiyoX, a full-suite banking app, to transform the way the Millennials and GenZ bank. With digital innovation at the heart of everything we do at Niyo, we decided to empower them further and boost their banking experience. We know this generation #JustCantWait to get their hands on things they desire and for experiences they want to live. They dont just want everything in an instant, they also #WantMore out of everything! So we teamed up with our creative partners, Sideways Consulting, and launched these cool, quirky films to encapsulate the essence of NiyoX.

The new ad campaign has been conceptualised by Sideways Consulting and executed by Picturewali, featuring popular OTT stars Ayush Mehra and Radhika Mehrotra.

Abhijit Avasthi, Founder, Sideways, said, Niyo is setting the ground for neobanking in India. We believe NiyoXs offerings are going to delight the youngsters and so all we need to do is to bring them alive in a charming manner. Hence, the creative idea was to pick moments from one such relatable, endearing couples life and link them to the product offerings. While Niyo is an efficient, tech-enabled finance offering, we dont want to behave like a stodgy old-school bank. Instead, we want to build a cool and confident brand.

Sharmista Nag, Director and founder, Picturewali said, Shooting during the pandemic especially at a time when the cases were rising was risky. Hence, I asked myself, is it worth the risk? The interesting scripts and an agency with whom I always wanted to collaborate with tempted me. However, when you run a company, one cant just think about oneself, one has to think about the whole team. Keeping safety our top priority, myself and my producer decided to take the challenge. We ensured that the entire cast and crew followed all safety measures. With a responsible team, a supportive agency and client it was a risk worth taking.

Credits
To address the acute shortage of oxygen being faced by India in combating the Covid-19 pandemic, LOreal announced its financial support to the French governments initiative to provide oxygen generators, liquid oxygen containers and specialized respirators to the country. In addition, LOreal is working with a network of NGOs across India, including GiveIndia, United Way Mumbai, Hemkunt Foundation, ActionAid Association, the Akshay Patra Foundation etc. to provide critical oxygen equipment, medical supplies, food, education and hygiene kits across the country.

LOreal will provide oxygen concentrators and cylinders to hospitals in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and distribute over 100,000 units of sanitizers to government hospitals, police forces, municipal corporations, and - those on the frontline of the pandemic across the country. We will also give care packages to approximately 2000 nurses who have become the primary caregiver and family to many.

With schools closed indefinitely, underprivileged children have not had access to education or food provided by schools. To aid their requirements, LOreal has partnered the Akshay Patra Foundation to provide 4000 food and education kits for children. As women have been amongst the most severely impacted by the pandemic, LOreal is working with Action Aid India to provide livelihood training and infrastructure support, there by empowering them to restart their livelihoods.

Amit Jain, Managing Director, LOreal India said, " We are deeply concerned with the severity of the second wave of the pandemic and committed to working closely with the government and our NGO partners to support the countrys collective efforts to fight the crisis.

LOreal employees will also be contributing toward Covid relief to an NGO of their choice via the fundraising platform GiveIndia.
Mars Wrigley has announced that Varun Kandhari has been appointed Director Marketing & Customer Marketing for India. Varun, who has been with the organization for 7 years, is based in the Gurugram office and succeeds Yogesh Tewari.

Varun joined Mars Chocolate Business in September 2014 as Senior Brand Manager and was subsequently promoted as Marketing Manager, Chocolates for Mars Wrigley Business in October 2017. As a Marketing Manager, Varun helped his teams develop strong innovation pipeline and award-winning campaigns for SNICKERS and GALAXY.

In his new role, Varun will be responsible for leading the Marketing and Customer marketing functions for Mars Wrigley India across all categories. He will also be part of the leadership team for India.

Talking about his new role, Mr. Kalpesh R Parmar, General Manager, Mars Wrigley, India said, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Varun Kandhari as the Director Marketing & Customer Marketing at Mars Wrigley. Through his tenure, Varun has played a crucial role in value creation and developing successful marketing strategies. In line with our goals to grow our business and develop our brands better, I am confident that Varun, with his energy, enthusiasm, and expertise, is the perfect lead to help us take Mars Wrigley to greater heights."

Varun has experience working across categories including home & personal care and confectionery. Before joining Mars Wrigley, Varun was associated with Hindustan Unilever where he managed iconic brands like Surf Excel and Wheel. Varun is a seasoned business leader with deep experience in consumer goods industry across South Asian countries. He has proven track record of building brands, developing categories, creating global campaigns, managing tough business challenges & building high performance teams.
Rediffusion Brand Solutions today announced the launch of its specialised consumer research and analysis wing called Rediffusion Consumer Lab (Red Lab). This dedicated unit will be specialising in consumer understanding, consumer behaviour and trend spotting to come up with actionable business intelligence which can then lead to brand solutions.

Speaking on the occasion, Diwan Arun Nanda, Chairman of the Rediffusion Group, had this to say: I have always believed in the power of brands, and brand building is all about looking beyond the short term and focussing on the long term. It involves understanding consumer behaviour and sometimes, even changing consumer habits. Thats possible only through actionable, data-backed intelligence and not loose assumptions and vague gut feelings. And Red Lab will be that voice of wise counsel for our client partners and prospects.

Dr Sandeep Goyal, the new Managing Director of Rediffusion Brand Solutions, who took over as of yesterday added: This was a clear priority area so far as I was concerned. In the olden days, sailors looked at stars and constellations to navigate their way around in the high seas. To tide over the choppy waters of a hypercompetitive market, brands too need guiding stars and accurate category, market and consumer information can be those guide-marks for brands. Besides right from my Airtel and Mogae days, I have been a strong advocate of data-based marketing and this is a step in that direction from Rediffusion.

Red Lab will be reporting to Navonil Chatterjee, Joint President Rediffusion, who had this to say: Think of it as a first step towards brand consultancy. We already had some fantastic brand workshopping and creative ideation tools and techniques. Coupled with that, this consumer intelligence gathering wing will help us further in spotting trends and insight mining, and we sincerely hope that we end up mining gold here!

Rediffusion Brand Solutions is an integrated communication solutions agency that specialises in mainline communication, BTL, digital, mobile and healthcare communication.
The Walt Disney Company and Star India have pledged financial support of Rs 50 crore for Indias ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts. The announcement was made through Star Indias Twitter handle today.

The proceeds will be utilised to aid relief efforts and towards the procurement of critical healthcare equipment, including oxygen concentrators, BiPAP, and ventilators along with setting up oxygen plants across hospitals.

Extending his support to the cause, K Madhavan, President, The Walt Disney Company India and Star India, through a Tweet, said, We stand in solidarity with all of India in our fight against COVID-19. The Walt Disney Company and Star India are humbly contributing Rs 50 crore to aid relief efforts. The need of the hour is to provide critical healthcare supplies and equipment to save lives. This is our common fight and our contribution reaffirms our steadfast commitment to India, and builds upon the Rs 28 crore that our company contributed towards COVID-19 relief in 2020.

In the endeavour to create awareness around COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB), the Star India network has been running an awareness campaign through Public Service Announcements (PSA).

The company will also continue supporting relief efforts through its Disney Employee Matching Gifts program, wherein for employee donations to pre-approved charitable organisations, the company will match the amount.
Motivator, the full service media agency under GroupM, has broken out of the typical media agency mould to focus on driving growth for emerging brands. The agencys vision is to become a Go-To-Market agency offering digital services that new age businesses and emerging brands require.

This means offering an end of the e-commerce solution that the agency has added to its bouquet of services, including e-commerce intelligence and strategy, marketplace onboarding, e-commerce presence and operations management along with media commerce.

Also read: GroupM elevations: New roles for Vinit Karnik and Karthik Nagarajan

In conversation with Adgully, Shveta Singh, National Head, Digital for Motivator, GroupM, speaks about the agencys attempt to create value for emerging brand not just by offering core digital services, but by reinventing the agency model.

Brand loyalty has taken a hit during the pandemic times and a lot of local brands/ niche brands are seeing an opportunity to carve out a customer base. They are focusing on scaling via digital marketing and driving sales via e-commerce. Having partnered with some of the emerging brands, what are their specialised needs?

Thats very true. We understood very early in the journey that the traditional agency models and offerings arent what will work for these emerging brands. These brands need agility, fluidity, hand-holding and a more cohesive way of working. For these brands, digital is the bread and butter, unlike traditionally built brands. So, the choices they have to make are also different. The question for them is not how much of my media budget I should put on digital? Instead, they have to decide between in-housing their digital marketing vis-a-vis using an agency. These brands are typically built on a lower-funnel/ e-commerce first kind of approach. And hence, the need for a partner who can handhold them in scaling up and deliver a fine mix of acquisition and branding.

Last but not the least, unlike big established brands, they dont have multiple agencies and partners to manage different parts of the marketing mix. They need one agency that can bring together all pieces of the puzzle. From digital media to creative & social, from e-commerce media to e-commerce operations management, from performance to branding and so on. And that is where Motivator comes into the picture. We have structured our solutions to break the digital silos. To fit the specialised needs of the emerging brands.

India has 600-odd D2C brands that want to build a direct relationship with the customer. Is your agency focusing on these clients and what are the potential billings?

The pandemic just amplified the emergence of D2C brands manifold. Originally, the trend was limited to a handful of categories, but lately, we are seeing even the most unlikely categories wanting to set up D2C operations and have a parallel e-commerce channel. We are focusing both on the D2C brands and established brands that are now jumping on to the D2C bandwagon. We help them across the lifecycle  right from strategy to go to market. However, a big piece of the requirement here is the technology, which is best left to the specialists. For that, we act as facilitators, leveraging the best of WPP partners. Having said that, D2C is not a viable model for many categories, especially if seen in isolation. As far as billing is concerned, we are looking at a 40% jump from just an e-commerce billing perspective.

Youve recently announced your full-funnel e-commerce solution. Would you say a majority of the work would be marketplace on boarding and backend optimisation? Where do you see creating value and differentiation for your clients viz-a-viz the boutique e-commerce solution providers?

We are one of the first network agencies to have rolled out the full-funnel solution for e-commerce. The solution offered is customisable and of course, depends on what stage of the e-commerce evolution the client is at. For those just starting up onboarding, operations management is a very critical part of the solution. Otherwise, we also have clients who are looking for content solutions or strategic inputs or even help with understanding which model will work best for them on e-commerce.

The gap in the market today is that no big integrated agency is offering e-commerce solution end to end. Some focus only on commerce media, some on e-commerce creative and some on technology. This is why the boutique agencies have been able to capture the market with one-stop-shop solutions. Needless to say, because of this, the brand is missing out on the benefits of integration and synergy that a large agency like Motivator  handling the complete media mix can bring in.

In addition to that the strategic orientation, the brand understanding, the benefits of scale that we can bring in, a boutique set up cannot. Being a part of GroupM, the kind of expertise Motivator can offer on e-commerce media part is also something smaller e-commerce agencies cannot.

Part of your vision is to deliver media+ solutions for emerging brands. Can you elaborate on this and the business outcomes you are driving through it?

We firmly believe that the future of digital marketing lies in media+ services as a package. Unlike other media, the nature of digital is such that digital media, creative and other allied services need to sit together to be impactful. At the moment, the ecosystem is fragmented into media specialists, creative specialists, social agencies and many other niches. The convergence is already happening. At Motivator, we have reimagined ourselves. We dont want to be yet another media agency. With that as an objective, we have already invested in building verticals such as e-commerce, content and social.

Do you see all the significant media buying for emerging brands happening on digital? What kind of scale are these brands able to reach on digital before buying on other media?

Most of the emerging brands these days are building presence either only on digital or are predominantly digital. At least to start with. The growth trajectory these brands follow is very different from traditional brands. It doesnt flow from brand building to acquisition. It flows from acquisition to brand building. They can easily reach a very high double-digit growth just with digital. Just to give you an example  One of our clients, Soothe Healthcare, who are into the sanitary napkins and diapers business, achieved a 300% growth in just 6 months with a predominantly digital presence only.

E-commerce is a purchase channel and is an emerging advertising channel. How does that lend to a full funnel performance marketing strategy?

The latest data from marketplaces suggests that generic searches are rising across platforms. This is a good indicator of how consumers are now much more open-minded when it comes to buying decisions. They are looking at marketplaces as discovery platforms as well. A great opportunity for brands to go beyond performance and lower funnel tactics on e-commerce platforms. It just makes so much more sense. Rather than try to prime the customer and then bring them to marketplaces to buy, brands now can build awareness amongst the consumers who have a high propensity to purchase right there. Just reduces one step and increases the efficiency of the funnel.

Do you see your clients exploring social commerce or shoppable media in a significant way? What is the learning?

To be honest, social commerce is still very new. Good to start doing, but we are not yet sure of the scalability. We have started proposing it to a few of our clients and we should be able to see more adoption in times to come.
Walking across the stage, being awarded a hard-earned degree, graduation caps flying up in the air, are all moments students await. But with the global pandemic causing a diversion in this milestone, many universities have had to shift these ceremonies online - which havent lived up to the real experience, until now!

upGrad, South Asias largest online higher education company, partnered with AliveNow, an official Instagram Spark AR Partner to digitize this much-awaited regalia with Augmented Reality Filters on Instagram and Facebook!

In partnership with universities like IIIT Bangalore, Duke CE (US), MICA and NMIMS Global, upGrad launched four AR Filters that gave students a chance to click graduation-day selfies from home!

Students could launch the AR Filter on their graduation day, try on a Graduation Cap and click a picture against their respective universitys iconic background.

Commenting on this, Phalgun Kompalli, Co-founder, upGrad said, Graduating is one of the most-awaited moments in a students life. In a pre-COVID world, students would commemorate this occasion by joyfully throwing their graduation caps in the air. However, the pandemic has disrupted life as we know it and a physical gathering & graduation ceremony have given way to digital celebrations. To give learners the complete experience and add some sparkle to their proud graduation moments, albeit virtually, upGrad has taken not just the convocation ceremonies online but also incorporated this Augmented Reality Filter on Instagram and Facebook.

Rushali Rastogi, Account Manager at AliveNow, further added, Having missed virtual graduation by a year, my juniors have had my complete empathy. These AR Filters have helped graduating students reminisce about their time spent at university and brought them closer to their favourite college hang out spots - where they created their fondest memories.

To try these graduation AR experiences, click on the links below.

IIITB Graduation AR Filter - https://bit.ly/3wCXlB4

Duke University Graduation AR Filter - https://bit.ly/39SiJbI

MICA Graduation AR Filter - https://bit.ly/3t5xfU2

NMIMS Graduation AR Filter - https://bit.ly/3wOZwl7
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation

Bern, 05.05.2021 - State Secretary Martina Hirayama participated by video conference on 4 May in the 2021 Ministerial Conference of COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). The main items on the agenda were a discussion on COST's role in the European Research Area and the adoption of a ministerial declaration. Through its participation, Switzerland reaffirmed its commitment as a full and active member of COST and the European Research Area.

The COST Ministerial Conference on 4 May was attended by European ministers for research and innovation, including State Secretary Martina Hirayama, and other representatives of COST member countries. The Ministerial Conferences are held every five years and always feature a ministerial declaration. The declaration adopted for this year's 50th anniversary reflects on past COST activities and successes and sets priorities for the coming years.

Ms Hirayama noted that Switzerland, as a COST founding member, has promoted international exchange between researchers for 50 years. The programme's scientific networks, known as COST Actions, provide an opportunity for young researchers in particular to build and expand their collaborative reach. Switzerland appreciates the bottom-up nature of COST Actions, allowing researchers to set their own research priorities and pursue new scientific ideas.

Ms Hirayama also briefed the COST partners about Switzerland's national support programme for researchers wishing to participate in COST Actions, which is successfully run by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

In addition, the Ministerial Conference discussed COST's role within the European Research Area. Switzerland views COST as a key research funding instrument which can serve to advance scientific excellence and consolidate the European Research Area.

COST

The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) framework was established by a ministerial decision in 1971 as one of the earliest initiatives for research and innovation collaboration among European countries.

Switzerland is a founding member and remains one of the currently 38 full COST members. As a research and innovation funding instrument, COST creates a space for researchers to exchange ideas across borders and build networks based on their own research interests. COST Actions are intended to complement national research funding. The financial, scientific and administrative aspects of COST in Switzerland are managed by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

Address for enquiries

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State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI

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Press releases The IRC is extremely concerned about the safety of migrants and refugees being returned to Libya Wednesday 5 may 2021
The former President of the United States wasted no time publicly criticizing the likes of CNN, Twitter, Democrats, Liz Cheney, Mitt Romney, and more in his newly established personal platform that connects him with his followers.

Former President Donald Trump has risen above the attacks that Big Tech launched against him earlier this year. The 74-year-old businessman has launched a new section of his website called "From the Desk of Donald J. Trump," which features statements that read very much like his Twitter feed used to, but this time with longer texts.

An introductory video read, "In a time of silence and lies, a beacon of freedom arises. A place to speak freely and safely straight from the desk of Donald J. Trump."

For now, Trump's own platform offers fans to gain direct access to his messages without fear of censorship, but does not yet have the features that allows engagement such as commenting. Supporters can however sign up to get notified when the former president posts and can also share his posts to Facebook and Twitter.

According to WND, the new platform's technology is powered by Campaign Nucleus, a firm that offers services such as a "digital ecosystem made for efficiently managing political campaigns and organizations," built by Trump's former campaign manager, Brad Parscale.

A source familiar with Trump's own platform told FOX News that it is "just a one-way communication" that "allows Trump to communicate with his followers." "From the Desk of Donald J. Trump'' appeared on Tuesday following initial plans to build his own social media platform after he was permanently banned on Twitter and suspended from Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat.

The launch of the new platform is timely as it is followed by the Facebook Oversight Board's decision to uphold the ban. The former president will still be able to reach his followers without his Facebook and Twitter accounts.

"President Trump's website is a great resource to find his latest statements and highlights from his first term in office, but this is not a new social media platform," Jason Miller, the former president's senior adviser clarified to FOX News. "We'll have additional information coming on that front in the very near future."

Facebook's Oversight Board upheld the ban on President Trump's account, adding that the indefinite suspension is "not appropriate," Fox Business reported. The former president was indefinitely banned from the social network after the chaos that erupted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

According to NPR, the board received over 9,000 public comments on Trump's case. The final decision will be approved by a majority of the full board, to which Facebook must comply. The board is composed of 20 people, with "a wide range of experts in freedom of expression and international human rights," Kate Klonick of the St. John's University said, explaining that it is a "blue-ribbon panel."

The Facebook Oversight Board is "setting the tone for what they're going to do going forward-how much power they're going to have," especially with cases in which prominent figures such as the former president can be a victim of censorship.
Press releases AstraZeneca Africa PUMUA Initiative celebrates World Asthma Day with the handover of the first PUMUA nebulisation stations in 4 countries Wednesday 5 may 2021
Black Herefords are new to the cattle scene, and a welcome addition.

The breed was begun in 1994, when Hereford breeders Frank Felton and John Gage bred registered Hereford and Angus cattle to produce an F1, then bred those F1 females back to a registered Hereford bull and selecting for black hair color. Those three-quarters Hereford bulls would be used on a different set of F1s to produce a five-eighths blood with black on both sides of the pedigree.

That same year, Gage started the American Black Hereford Association, first headquartered in Leavenworth, Kansas, at his ranch. It moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and now is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The hybrid vigor is what has made Black Herefords so appealing to Brian Dettke of Marysville, Kansas. The Dettkes have been in the Hereford business since the 1960s, showing a national reserve champion bull at the national show then.
STARBUCK, Minn.  The soil calls out to Paul Freeman each spring and tells him its time to plant.

I have always wanted to farm, so when I was 8 or 10, I told Dad, Im farming, said Paul, 63. I started out farming in 1979.

2021 will be his 42nd year as a full-time farmer. This years crops are corn, soybeans, and non-GMO soybeans. Hes also very involved with the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association, the membership arm of Minnesota Soybean.

He and his wife, Roberta Freeman, live in Fergus Falls, Minn., and own farmland and CRP near Lengby, Minn., in Mahnomen County. The farmland, which is in the White Earth Reservation, was purchased from Robertas parents and is rented out to neighbors.

Paul spends most of his time farming in Pope County, as well as Douglas County.

From the cab of his CAT MT 865 Challenger track tractor, on April 19 near Starbuck, he gave his first Producer Progress interview. The tractor pulled a blue 5300 Nutri-Placr followed by an anhydrous ammonia tank.

Here, were running fairly black and heavy ground. Im just running straight anhydrous, he said. I will add N-Serve (Stabilizer) with the anhydrous on the lighter/coarser soils.

He feels anhydrous is a good fertilizer choice because it is less expensive than some forms of nitrogen. There have been a lot of problems with pocket gophers, and anhydrous seems to keep them at bay, at least for a while.

He explained that anhydrous enters the soil as a liquid, turns to a gas right away in the soil, bonds with the soil moisture, and is available more quickly than other forms of N.
Its not often that revolting children get a standing ovation  but thats exactly what wi
A procession of Chandler police cars and motorcycles escorted the body of Officer Christopher Farrar at dawn last Friday from Chandler to the Medical Examiner's Office in downtown Phoenix.
The percentage of Alabamians with some immunity to COVID-19 might hit 70 percent by the summer, which could be enough to protect residents from widespread outbreaks, said State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris.

But Harris warned that some natural immunity could fade by the fall, potentially making the state vulnerable to another large surge like the one that filled intensive care units and killed thousands in December and January. Harris spoke Wednesday morning to members of the Alabama House Health Committee.

Harris said studies of blood samples have found that about a third of patients have evidence of antibodies that provide some level of immunity. The CDC reports about 33 percent of Alabamians have had at least one shot so far. Harris said he estimated that 40 to 50 percent of Alabamians have some protection against the virus, since those two groups overlap.

Herd immunity is not like a light switch and one day were at herd immunity and all the disease goes away, Harris said.

Instead, herd immunity happens when the number of people with protection from infection reaches a level that prevents disease from spreading widely in the population. When that happens, Harris said he expects the number of new cases to fall to about 100 a day. Right now, the state is averaging about 260 new cases a day. For contrast, Alabama saw 4,281 cases in a day at the peak of the winter spike on Jan. 10.

Models developed at UAB and used by Harris show that natural immunity could fade after six months and vanish after a year. That would reduce the amount of immunity to the same level Alabama had when cases rose last fall and winter. Researchers dont know how long immunity lasts after infection and vaccination, but some studies have found antibodies three to four months after infection.

Researchers continue to investigate how long protection from vaccines will last. Harris said vaccines have proven safe and effective. More than 1.1 million people in Alabama are fully vaccinated and only 400 have tested positive for COVID afterward. Harris said none of those cases have been severe enough to cause death or hospitalization.

If we reach this herd immunity status, we may see that even though we still have cases, we wont see a lot of hospitalizations and deaths, Harris said.

Harris said herd immunity should reduce the average number of hospitalized cases to about 100. Right now, he said about 400 people are hospitalized with COVID-19 across the state. At the peak of the winter wave, and before the large-scale deployment of vaccines, about 3,400 people required hospitalization for complications from the virus.

The rate of vaccinations has slowed in recent weeks, Harris said. About 70 percent of people in Alabama could get vaccinated by the end of the year, but only if they are willing to get shots. Harris said some rural and Black residents have been hesitant to get the vaccine, causing state officials to explore the possibility of using incentives.

There are some access problems, Harris said. Some people dont have transportation and others cant take off of work. I dont want to make light of that. But the biggest problem is that people just arent coming in.

In the coming months, vaccine distribution may shift from large-scale sites to primary care doctors and pharmacies, similar to flu vaccines. Harris said primary care doctors may have more success working with hesitant patients than public health campaigns. That shift may result in more vaccine waste, he said.

The best way to get people vaccinated is for their own doctor to tell them to get vaccinated, Harris said. Nothing is more effective than your own doctor telling you this is what you need to do for your health.
After a year in which his restaurant sat empty for more than six months because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chris Hastings, the chef and co-owner of Birminghams Hot and Hot Fish Club, says he, his staff and his guests can almost taste a return to normalcy.

And appropriately enough, today, as he has done every May since he and his wife, Idie, opened their restaurant in 1995, Hastings welcomes back their signature Hot and Hot Tomato Salad to the menu.

We feel very good and very bullish about the remainder of the year moving forward, Hastings says. So, the tomato salad, in my mind, . . . just kind of adds to that hopefulness of where we are as an industry and as a city and a state and a nation.

Im just happy to be doing what we do again in a normal kind of way -- almost normal, very, very close to normal.

To be clear, Hastings hasnt let down his guard regarding COVID-19. Seating at his restaurant is limited to 50 percent capacity, with a proper distance between tables, and the restaurant staff continues to wear masks.

Hes just finally starting to see an end to the new normal that was 2020 and a return to the old normal of before.

And what better way to usher in a return to normalcy than the Hot and Hot Tomato Salad?

The statuesque dish -- with features thick slices of tomato that have been tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette and meticulously stacked one on top of another, along with lady peas, corn kernels, fried okra and a slice of Applewood-smoked bacon -- is, as we have written many, many times before, as eye-catching as it is appetizing.

Except, last year, it was served in a to-go box.

The traditional tomato salad last year was not consumed inside this building, Hastings says. It was in a box. And it was a takeout product.

It was still a great takeout product, but this (year) is the return of the tomato salad in its natural environment -- which is not in a box. Its on a plate, in my restaurant.

Because of the coronavirus outbreak, Hastings closed Hot and Hot Fish Club on March 14 last year. The restaurant had moved out of its old home off Highland Avenue into its swanky new digs at Pepper Place less than a couple of months before.

In May, the restaurant reopened for curbside service only, and only to serve the Hot and Hot Tomato Salad, just to keep the tradition going.

It was a little piece of joy for people during the pandemic, Hastings says. I didnt want the pandemic to take that joy away from people.

But at the end of June, after a friend in Memphis died from COVID-19, Hastings says, he shut down the restaurant completely  just as tomato season in Alabama was hitting its peak. The restaurant remained shuttered until Oct. 7, when it reopened to limited capacity.

So, 2020 was, at best, an abbreviated tomato salad season at Hot and Hot Fish Club.

Yeah, Hastings says, 60 days.

Each year, the debut of the tomato salad at his restaurant depends on when the first crop of restaurant-quality tomatoes from Immokalee, Fla., arrive at the Alabama Farmers Market on Finley Avenue, where Hastings buys his early-season tomatoes.

And this year, that day came Tuesday morning.

I show up, and its like OK, these are the ones, he says. You just know immediately. I always look at certain characteristics on the tomato. Their coloration, their spackling, the ring around where the stem is.

And the second I looked at that box (of tomatoes), I said, OK, that looks and feels in my hand like its going to cut really, really well. All you can do is put a knife to it and hope that it does, and sure enough, it was beautiful. And delicious -- most importantly, delicious.

In addition to the tomato salad appetizer, which is available for $18, Hot and Hot Fish Club also offers an entree version with twin stacks of tomatoes served with Alabama Gulf shrimp from Bayou La Batre for $36.

The traditional Hot and Hot Tomato Salad and the shrimp entree are typically available through September  after which time, its wait until next season.

Hot and Hot Fish Club is at 2901 Second Ave. South in Birmingham. The phone is 205-933-5474. Hours are 5 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. For reservations and more information, go here.

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Roy Wood Jr.: Is rage the normal emotion at this point?

Henry Louis Gates Jr.: It is, indeed.

In the exchange, which came in an episode of the PBS genealogy show Finding Your Roots that premeried Tuesday evening, Wood doesnt sound enraged. He sounds and looks astonished, awed and hurt. Its understandable. Hes just been flipping the pages of a book summarizing what the shows researchers found out about his ancestry. On one page are documents that treat his forerunners as full-fledged people. On another theyre in an inventory of property listed by gender, age, and color but not by name, as Gates puts it.

Gates tone isnt rage, either. Its so briskly clinical the effect is almost surreal. The whole system was designed to make you feel like an animal, he tells Wood. To rob you of your sense of humanity. To make your closest association be a pig, a chicken, a cow or a horse. Which, by the way, were also listed in the property section in public documents.

The show has a tradition of providing wow moments, good and bad, for its celebrity subjects. But Wood isnt kidding when he describes his experience as a roller-coaster ride. (The episode, titled Laughing on the Inside, also gives comedian Lewis Black, a mix of ups and downs.)

Wood, a multitalented comedian whose credits include appearing as a correspondent on Comedy Centrals Daily Show, grew up in Birmingham. His childhood there has continued to be a touchstone in his work and he has maintained an interest since moving to New York.

He went into Finding Your Roots hoping to learn a little more about his fathers family. He knew his father, a respected radio journalist who died in 1995, but because his paternal grandfather had died relatively young, he didnt know what came before that.

Finding Your Roots delivered, with a twist. That grandfather had been named Roy Wood and his son had been the first Roy Wood Jr. this left the contemporary Roy Jr. facing the news that he might have been Roy III all along.

For real, what do I do now? Wood asked. Am I Roy Wood Jr. Jr.?

More good news: his paternal grandmother, Rosalee Lattimer, went on to a noteworthy life after her husbands death.

In Georgia the trail went back further in time. In 1900 his great grandfather William Wood, a bricklayer, had owned his home and land free and clear, no mean feat for an African American man in that era.

Further back: Pages of the 1870 census, the first to record the formerly enslaved by name, listed both his great-great grandfather Jefferson Wood and his great-great-great grandfather Samuel. Samuel was listed as being 80, which meant hed have been born around 1790. The real bombshell, Gates said, was that Samuel was listed as being born in Africa.

Roy, we can take your family tree straight to a man born in Africa, said Gates. Thats amazing. By name. This is extraordinarily rare. I, for example, have no idea when my African ancestor came.

I dont know why I feel proud, but I feel proud, said Wood. I feel that  You just wonder what somebody like Samuel Wood went through to make sure that Jefferson Wood was able to survive.  I dont even begin to know how you begin to honor someones sacrifice.

There was more, with recordings showing how generations of Woods family had been owned by Georgia planters.

The findings gave Wood the opportunity to see much further into his familys past than most African Americans can ever see, said Gates.

What do you do with that? said Wood. Its like you wish you could just take that pain away from them, you know?

This is a lot. Its a lot to process, Wood said. I am proud to carry the Wood name. Yet also infuriated and ashamed. What do you do with both of those emotions concurrently?

Youve got to hold them in your breast and in your head, because thats what you should be feeling, said Gates. Ashamed of a country that would allow slavery to last for so long an only end by an ocean of bloodshed.

The critical difference between the present and the past, Wood and Gates agreed, was hope.

I want to get out of here and just go home and hug my son, Wood said. Thats really all Im thinking about now. Just looking him in the eyes and reminding him, I promise you, you can be whatever you want to be.

One last kicker came from the results of a DNA test. It found that Woods mother had a sequence of genes in common with the late John Lewis, a civil rights legend who went on to serve in Congress, making them distant cousins.

He was always nice to me when he came on The Daily Show, said Wood.

Tuesday night, after the episode aired, Woods said on Twitter that his mind was still blown by Gates findings.

According to Alabama Public Televisions website, APTV.org, the episode will be repeated several times, including 4 a.m. Thursday, May 6; and 2 a.m. Friday, May 7. It also can be viewed online.
American businesses, specifically restaurants, have become perplexed and concerned over the lack of employees who want to get back to working in the industry. As more states inoculate citizens with the COVID-19 and relax restrictions, more restaurants and businesses are gearing up to a full return after a year of closure.

But employees seem to think otherwise. There has been an increase in the number of people who don't want to go back to work because the government pays them to stay home through its stimulus checks.

The Epoch Times reported that restaurant owners across New York, California, Washington, and Chicago are concerned over the lack of people who are looking for a job, whether to serve as cashiers or wait on tables. This causes a major challenge for restaurants who are looking to open back up their doors following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over 110,000 restaurants across America were affected by the pandemic, with some closing permanently. With the hope of opening back up, however, comes the challenge of re-hiring people as they no longer want to go back to work because the government pays them to stay home. The stimulus checks are reportedly higher than the regular paycheck a typical restaurant worker receives.

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) has reported a major increase in hiring challenges. In January 7% of restaurants reported that recruitment and retention of employees were a top challenge. The figure rose to 57% in April. New York City restaurateur Mark Fox, who owns four bistros in the city but hails from Dublin, believes that the enhanced unemployment benefits are the biggest factor contributing to the difficulty in hiring new staff this season.

Fox believes that these enhanced unemployment benefits, which will be provided through September this year, were necessary at the beginning of the pandemic, but not now, when the economy is eager to open back up.

"It's not financially beneficial for [people] to return to work. So we're in a real crisis with respect to labor shortfall," Fox argued. "I think there was a distrust from the state government. A lot of people lost their businesses and lost their livelihoods and their dreams because of it and I think it's an American tragedy."

Over in Texas, restaurateurs are facing the same challenge: people don't want to go back to work because of the stimulus checks that are keeping them afloat despite being unemployed. Chad Offerdahl, president of the Overland Park-based chain The Big Biscuit, is facing a big dilemma. While demand for dining out is "coming back" and even "surging," the supply of workers is not. The Kansas City Star reported that it could even get worse in the summer.

"We've never had a hiring drought like this before. This is new territory for us," Offerdahl admitted. The reason behind the lack of people looking to get hired is that some employees left the food industry to find work elsewhere or have chosen to remain unemployed, supporting themselves with the government's stimulus checks.

"No doubt we are up against unemployment that has been artificially increased and stimulus payments that give people opportunity not to show up for work," Offerdahl concluded.
The next Superman movie from Warner Bros. is highly likely to feature a Black star and a Black director, as well as a Black screenwriter.

Thats what sources told The Hollywood Reporter, anyway, for its latest report on a high-profile film thats being developed in the DC Universe.

In February, the website Shadow and Act revealed that Warner Bros. had hired Ta-Nehisi Coates, an acclaimed author, essayist and journalist, to write the script for a Superman reboot produced by J.J. Abrams. Coates, who is Black, has written extensively on race, politics and culture in America. Hes also worked on Black Panther and Captain America comics.

There is a new, powerful and moving Superman story yet to be told, Abrams said in a February statement to Shadow and Act. We couldnt be more thrilled to be working with the brilliant Mr. Coates to help bring that story to the big screen, and were beyond thankful to the team at Warner Bros. for the opportunity.

Abrams, who is white, is an A-list writer, director and producer whos been involved in several blockbuster movie projects. He has directed and/or produced films in the Star Trek and Star Wars universes, for example, as well as the Mission: Impossible franchise.

And so the speculation began. Who would play the iconic Man of Steel? Who would direct?

Insiders say Warners and DC are committed to hiring a Black director to tackle what will be the first cinematic incarnation of Superman featuring a Black actor, with one source adding that putting Abrams at the helm would be tone-deaf, The Hollywood Reporter said in its latest report on the movie. Some potential directors have met with both studios for both films, even as one agent said the process was phenomenally early.

Possible candidates include Barry Jenkins (If Beale Street Could Talk), Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station), Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II), J.D. Dillard (Sweetheart), Regina King (One Night in Miami) and Shaka King (Judas and the Black Messiah), The Hollywood Reporter says.

Michael B. Jordan appears to be the top contender to play Superman, but the actor says hes not attached to the film. At least, not yet.

Its smart of DC to grab Ta-Nehisi to go ahead and adapt that project, Jordan told The Hollywood Reporter in April. Hes incredibly talented. Its going to be worth checking out. Im flattered that people have me in that conversation. Its definitely a compliment, but Im just watching on this one.
As he has for each of the past three years, Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur introduced a bill at the start of this legislative session aimed at reining in civil asset forfeiture.

Unlike his previous attempts, the legislation appears posed to finally be approved this year, but only after extensive negotiations with law enforcement and other lawmakers that stripped major reforms out of the bill, allowing police to continue seizing cash and property from many people who have not been convicted of crimes.

The bill is certainly not all we wanted, but its the best we could get through in the current environment, Orr, a longtime critic of asset forfeiture, said via phone Tuesday evening. I wish I could say this was game, set, match, but I cant say that. But its the best we can do given the circumstances.

Called S.B. 210, the bill as initially written would have overhauled asset forfeiture laws in Alabama, which advocates have long considered among the worst in the country. It would have brought an end to civil forfeiture for drug crimes by bringing such forfeitures under the umbrella of criminal prosecution and required proof of conviction of a crime to authorize a criminal forfeiture.

But the version of the bill that the state Senate passed last month and will likely be approved by the end of the legislative session has been greatly weakened. It will no longer end civil forfeiture or require a conviction to initiate the process.

Instead, it makes incremental changes: attempting to ensure people dont have their property seized if they were unaware that it had been used in furtherance of a crime; stopping prosecutors from filing the same seizure in both federal and state court; and barring law enforcement from seizing $250 or less in cash and vehicles worth less than $5,000.

The original bill would have only barred seizures of $100 or less in cash and vehicles worth less than $1,000, but it also barred seizures of homestead real property. And it mandated that a trial judge make findings of fact for any proceeding associated with the forfeiture of property worth less than $10,000. The original bill gave defendants the right to a jury trial in cases involving property worth $10,000 or more. The current version of the bill no longer includes those provisions.

In 2019, advocates notched a small win in the form of a state law that requires law enforcement agencies to tally and report all property they seize via the process. But the bill did not address other longstanding concerns about asset forfeiture in Alabama, and groups with backgrounds as varied as the Southern Poverty Law Center and the libertarian Institute for Justice continued to push for more meaningful reforms. Their effort has broad, bipartisan public support, as 84% of Americans oppose civil asset forfeiture according to a 2016 poll by the right-wing Cato Institute.

But law enforcement is a powerful interest group, and its advocates have been able to stymie reforms for years, frustrating people like Orr who want to see major changes to Alabamas asset forfeiture laws.

The Alabama District Attorneys Association has consistently pushed back, arguing that such changes could be detrimental to public safety and strip law enforcement agencies of key tools in the fight against drug traffickers and cartels.

Barry Matson, the associations executive director, said he is thrilled to death that his organization was able to negotiate an agreement with advocates, lawmakers and other stakeholders in support of a version of the bill that addresses concerns about some things that we clearly needed to fix without going too far.

I personally believe that asset forfeiture is a valuable tool in our fight against criminal enterprises. The burden of proof is on the state and we can only seize and forfeit the proceeds from a criminal activity or enterprise, he said. We were involved and have been involved in this for some time with all the different stakeholders.

Lee McGrath, senior legislative counsel at the Institute for Justice, called the bill a good step forward on asset forfeiture.

Senate Bill 210 creates a fairer process in which people will more likely have their day in court and it returns the focus of law enforcements and district attorneys efforts to the original intent of pursuing serious crimes, he said.

The legislative process is one of give and take, and this bill reflects the need for consensus in Alabama between the District Attorneys Association and advocates.

But some advocates say the new version of the bill falls far short of what is needed to protect Alabamians rights and property and bring an end to asset forfeiture overreach.

Leah Nelson, research director at the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, said the bill fails to address serious abuses, particularly regarding policing for profit, in which law enforcement overuse the process as a means to drive revenue to their agencies. She said in a statement Tuesday that entities, including powerful law enforcement groups, have repeatedly obstructed more robust reform efforts with a campaign of misinformation that obscures the reality that civil asset forfeiture is a money-making enterprise for the state.

Orr has long been sharply critical of asset forfeiture, writing on Twitter in March that [p]olice abuse civil asset forfeiture laws while innocents pay the price. Yet he and other legislators were ultimately unable to rally enough support this year for more sweeping reforms.

I think legislators in general are sensitive to the concerns of law enforcement, Orr said. The law enforcement community was initially opposed to the bill as filed, very much so. But through a whole lot of negotiation, we wound up with a bill that both sides could agree to. And it does reign in the current practice in a measurable step.

Nelson acknowledges those political realities, and she praised the bills incremental protections against the worst abuses of the civil forfeiture process. But she said that in the future, legislators need to stand up against reform opponents in the law enforcement community and take meaningful action on asset forfeiture.

Nearly everyone agrees the current system amounts to state-sanctioned theft, Nelson said. When this issue comes up again in years ahead, I hope Alabama lawmakers will be willing to vote the way their constituents want them to.
Confronted with a stream of unaccompanied children crossing the border from Mexico, the U.S. government has awarded shelter-construction and management contracts to private companies that critics say may not be equipped to adequately care for the minors.

Some of the companies have responded to natural disasters and more recently developed quarantine centers at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Others have worked with U.S. border officials over the past few years to set up tented holding areas for migrants.

The new shelters are needed as the government finds itself with more than 22,000 children in government custody and insufficient workers to help release them to family members.

In its haste to provide new facilities, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded the largest contracts  worth more than $2 billion  to two companies and a nonprofit without a bidding process and has exempted providers from the staffing requirements that state-licensed child facilities must meet, according to HHS and federal spending records.

Two of the new large facilities have been shuttered in the past few weeks. HHS did not explain why they were closed so suddenly, but said in a statement that they were only for temporary use and that children had been sent to different temporary sites or reunited with their families.

Children told attorneys who visited some sites they had not met with case managers, who are tasked with reuniting them with family members. HHS has refused all access to news media once children are brought into facilities, citing the coronavirus pandemic and privacy restrictions.

When we are spending hundreds of millions of dollars, the government has to ensure that the services are being provided and that we are meeting the needs of the children, said Scott H. Amey, general counsel at the Project on Government Oversight, a private watchdog group.

In a statement, HHS said the new child-migrant centers are consistent with best practices/standards in emergency response or other humanitarian situations. It said that in addition to building new shelters, it also has taken aggressive actions to speed up the childrens release, such as by putting them on flights to be with their families. On Monday, the Biden administration said four families that were separated at the Mexico border during Donald Trumps presidency will be reunited in the United States this week. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas called the reunifications just the beginning of a broader effort.

Sarah DeYoung, a University of Delaware professor who studies evacuation shelters, worries many of the sites have a very institutional setting feel that is not optimal for children.

Just because those were selected in the past doesnt mean they are doing it well in terms of childrens well-being, DeYoung said. It is critical that there would still be an outside assessment ... including public health experts and people who have pediatric expertise.

Since February, the government has awarded about $3 billion in contracts to house unaccompanied children, more than $2 billion of which were no-bid contracts awarded to three recipients: Rome, New York-based Deployed Resources LLC; Family Endeavors Inc. of San Antonio; and Rapid Deployment Inc., based in Mobile, Alabama.

Deployed Resources has been hired to run a 1,500-bed emergency shelter for children in Donna, Texas, for which it could receive up to $719 million. The company previously built tent courts for a program under Trump that required asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for immigration court hearings. It also has built other tented detention facilities on the border, temporary sites for people displaced by hurricanes and base camps for the U.S. military.

The nonprofit group Family Endeavors Inc., a disaster-relief agency, could receive up to $580 million for running an emergency intake site in Pecos, Texas. Previously, the organization received $87 million from U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to provide hotel rooms and other services to migrant families who cannot be expelled under a public health rule in effect at the border.

The potential amount of the latest contract is more than 13 times the organizations total revenue during 2018, according to the latest annual tax filings available.

Endeavors CEO Jon Allman said the group has decades of experience with marginalized populations and has served migrant communities since 2012, staffing up to 3,000 employees when needed.

Endeavors is proud to serve as a partner with the federal government during this daunting humanitarian crisis, Allman said in an email. Many nonprofits were asked but declined.

Earlier this year, the group hired Andrew Lorenzen-Strait, a former ICE official who most recently served as a member of President Joe Bidens transition team. He was first retained as a consultant for Endeavors early in 2020, Allman said. He said Lorenzen-Strait has expertise in migrant child and family welfare.

Rapid Deployment Inc., meanwhile, has received two large contracts totaling $614 million to manage a site in Fort Bliss, Texas, that is emerging as the largest of its kind and could expand to 10,000 beds, according to government solicitation documents.

The government has been criticized in the past for its handling of previous large-scale shelter-related contracts, during the Trump administration.

An audit released by the HHS Office of the Inspector General in December found that the agency poorly managed a no-bid contract awarded to a company to run a big facility for children in Homestead, Florida, in 2019.

HHS paid $67 million to Comprehensive Health Services for the three months it ran the facility  with no children  and overpaid about $2.6 million overall, according to the report, which noted that the government could have lowered costs had there been a bidding process.

Under Bidens administration, HHS has not given new contracts to Comprehensive Health Services. It has however, awarded a $79 million contract to Southwest Key Programs, an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit that at one point was the nations largest provider of migrant children facilities. The company came under fire for taking in young children during the large-scale family separations by the Trump administration.

In another audit last year, the Inspector General found that Southwest Key Programs failed to establish a proper accounting system and overcharged the government by more than $13 million. The audit noted that Southwest Key disagreed or partially disagreed with all but one of our findings and outlined actions it has taken and plans to take to address the findings.

Under the current contract, the company provides child care and case management services at one of the new facilities in Midland, Texas.

We know the administration is dealing with huge numbers of refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants, said Steve Rosenbaum, an attorney of La Raza Centro Legal who represents immigrant children in a long-running legal case over custody conditions for migrant youth. It is trying in good faith to do the right thing, but it is almost an impossible task.
Africatown efforts to tell the story of Americas last slave ship could eventually draw more tourists than Montgomery has been attracting since the Equal Justice Initiative opened a lynching memorial and museum three years ago, the head of the states tourism department said Tuesday.

Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Department of Tourism, said he believes travelers who love history are anxious to visit the Mobile area and meet the descendants of the slave ship Clotilda and absorb their remarkable stories.

Sentell will lead a workshop hosted by the tourism department from 6-8 p.m. on May 11 or 8-10 a.m. on May 12 at the Robert L. Hope Recreation Center. The theme is Building Entrepreneurs for the Africatown Community, and will focus on how people can start their own tour business in the community, or how a passion for storytelling can be utilized by existing tours.

Africatown can have even better results in attracting tourists than the Montgomery exhibits, Sentell said.

The Alabama Tourism Department named the EJIs Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice with its Attraction of the Year award in 2019 after drawing more than 600,000 visitors from across the country in a little more than a year after it opened.

Sentell said that Africatown residents have a unique advantage over the people in Montgomery because the Africatown descendants own their own individual families stories.

He added, They can interpret and relate to their stories in unique ways that few other African Americans can, Sentell said. For decades, the people of Africatown were told their stories werent real. With the finding of the ship, their stories were proven true. They can and should honor the stories of their relatives by bringing the stories back to life.

The workshop will be held in the aftermath of the Mobile City Councils unanimous approval on Tuesday on spending $250,000 to support the Africatown Heritage House project that is under development adjacent to the Hope Center. The $1.3 million project, which is bankrolled primarily through the Mobile County Commission led by Commissioner Merceria Ludgood, will serve as the first exhibit space within the community dedicated to honoring the Africatown community who were inhabited by the enslaved Africans who survived the illegal transatlantic voyage into the U.S. The slaves were smuggled into the county aboard the Clotilda, arriving in Mobile in 1860.

The schooner was the last known vessel to carry African slaves into the U.S. and was burned and sunk in Mobile Bay before it was found in May 2019. Since then, the communitys profile has been elevated with international attention on preserving the discovery, and an evolving interest in making the area a tourist attraction. CBS profiled the slave ships discovery, and the hopes for the community, during a 60 Minutes episode in November.

Every step is a good step, it doesnt matter how large or small at this point, said Darron Patterson, president of the Clotilda Descendants Association.

Patterson said he was impressed to see how Montgomery, as a city, has embraced the Equal Justice Initiatives project helping fuel the rise in tourism for Alabamas capital city.

When I was in Montgomery a few weeks ago, I came away impressed with how (the city) has embraced it, said Patterson. What bothers me now is that Im having a hard time listening to people around the country doing revisionist history (about) lets talk about the good parts of slavery. There are no good parts of slavery.

Patterson said he believes Mobile, as a city like Montgomery, will embrace what is happening even more as projects begin to take shape.

They have no choice, said Patterson. Its the history of Mobile.

Mobile City Council President Levon Manzie, who represents the community, said he believes the Heritage House project  expected to be completed by late summer  will be a home run for the city. He said the citys investment into the project, is continued evidence and proof of what weve been saying is coming to fruition. The investment, time, energy and resources are being spent in the Africatown community and more is to come.

Related: Africatown museum construction begins. Will tell story of Clotilda slave ship and community

Separate from the Heritage House is a nearly $4 million Welcome Center, funded through RESTORE Act money available to coastal Alabama from legal settlements related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. That facility, with an opening roughly sometime in 2023, will be located across from the Old Plateau Cemetery and will be in the same location where a mobile home once served as Africatowns previous Welcome Center.

Said Manzie, They are a unique people, with a unique heritage and a unique story that must be told.

Dave Clark, president & CEO with Visit Mobile, said the state is collaborating with the city in assisting with the development of water tours, which are expected to begin this summer. The city spent $190,000 on a contract with The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Georgia last year to help develop an immersive water and land tour that will start at the GulfQuest Maritime Museum or Cooper Riverside Park in downtown Mobile.

The tours will include a ferry north up the Spanish River toward Twelve Mile Island in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta to where the hull of the ship was discovered. On board will be trained storytellers who will talk about the ships journey that began at a slave port in Benin, Africa.

Clark has said the idea behind the immersive experience is like what visitors have in Montgomery when visiting the lynching museum or the Rosa Parks Museum.

He said that those who host tours in Montgomery will be at the Hope Center to provide their input next week. Among those in attendance, Clark said, is Michelle Browder, who started her own tour business in 2016, and Ann Clemons, who is a tour guide in Montgomery and who has portrayed Rosa Parks for the past 10 years.

These are two people successful in starting their companies and (who know) that Africatown tourism is an up-and-coming thing, said Clark.

Sentell said the tour operators in Montgomery have received international attention in recent years, helping their businesses grow.

The world knows all about the Clotilda slave ship being found, he said. The residents of Africatown have a unique opportunity to bring not only attention to their sacred hometown, but to attract resources to help revitalize the community that their forebearers created after slavery.

Related: Search in Africatown: Researchers to look for graves of former slaves and descendants from the Clotilda

Clotilda survivors descendants to Mobile: Include us in sharing Africatowns story with world
Donald Trump Jr., the oldest son of the former president, is calling Alabamas latest attempt at legalizing gambling and the lottery a bad bill that would prevent world-class resorts and casinos from entering into Alabama.

Trump tweeted out his statement on Wednesday, one day before the Alabama House could debate and vote on a gambling package that is currently wrapped up in three bills. The linchpin bill, SB319, would require a constitutional amendment that would be placed on the November 2022 ballot.

If youre gonna legalize gambling, actually legalize it, but giving a monopoly to a small group of casino bosses is just a special interest giveaway, Trump Jr. said.

Bad bill. If youre gonna legalize gambling, actually legalize it, but giving a monopoly to a small group of casino bosses is just a special interest giveaway. This bill would stop the worlds best gaming operators from opening world-class Resorts & Casinos in Alabama! https://t.co/RrT6Nm7kpo  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 5, 2021

Trumps tweet was in response to a tweet from national Republican strategist Andrew Surabian, who called the Alabamas gambling plan as anti-competitive, crony-capitalism.

The statement from the presidents son drew praise the conservative Alabama Policy Institute, which issued a news release saying that Trump Jr. agrees with the APIs position that the package is a special interest giveaway to benefit bad actors.

Phil Williams, a former state senator who heads up API, said the legislation violates conservative principles and embeds the name or businesses into the Alabama Constitution.

This is literally the government saying, we like you so much, you are now constitutionally correct, Williams said while testifying Tuesday before the Alabama House Economic Development and Tourism Committee. The committee advanced the legislation to the full House floor, where a debate is set to take place that could lead to a historic passage: No gaming plan has advanced out of the Alabama Legislature since 1999, the last time voters got to decide on whether to legalize lottery.

Trumps social media inclusion into the debate adds some intrigue in Alabama, where the former president remains a popular force in Republican politics. Trump Jr. is the current executive vice president of The Trump Organization, a group of about 500 business interests that once overseen by his father before he became president in 2016.

At least one analyst does not believe Trump Jr. holds much sway on a debate about an Alabama state policy matter.

The comprehensive gaming bill has many more players behind it than the former presidents son, said Brent Buchanan, a GOP pollster based in Montgomery.

Buchanan said that if the former president weighed in, it could affect the debate in Montgomery Thursday.

If Donald J. Trump himself came out against the legislation, that would tank it, but its unlikely his sons tweet moves votes in the Alabama House or Senate, said Buchanan.

Proponents of the gambling legislation say they want to give constituents a chance to establish a lottery, which most states already have, and casino gambling that fuels more than $200 million a month in new revenues for neighboring Mississippi.

The gambling plans features include the following:

-A statewide lottery, with proceeds going mostly toward education

-New casinos at existing dog tracks in Jefferson, Macon, Greene, and Mobile counties Another casino would locate to a bingo parlor in Houston County.

- The Poarch Band of Creek Indians would also offer casino games at their resorts on tribal lands in Atmore Wetumpka and Montgomery. Currently, those three casinos only offer electronic bingo.

- The tribe would also locate a new casino in North Alabama in either Jackson or DeKalb counties.

Even if lawmakers support a gambling provision, it will have to go to the voters for final approval. The last time voters got to decide on a lottery plan was in 1999, when they defeated a ballot initiative by 8 percentage points.

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A federal judge has ordered the release of a legal memorandum the Trump-era Justice Department prepared for then-Attorney General William Barr before he announced his conclusion that President Donald Trump had not obstructed justice during the Russia investigation.

The Justice Department had refused to give the March 24, 2019, memorandum to a government transparency group that requested it under the Freedom of Information Act, saying the document represented the private advice of lawyers and was produced before any formal decision had been made and was therefore exempt from disclosure under public records law.

But U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, in a sharp rebuke of Barr, said the Justice Department had obscured the true purpose of the memorandum when it withheld the document.

She said the memo from the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel contained strategic, as opposed to legal advice and that both the writers and the recipients already understood that Trump would not be prosecuted. Though government agencies may withhold from disclosure documents that reflect internal deliberations before a decision is made, that protection does not apply in this case since a conclusion had already been reached, the judge wrote.

In other words, the review of the document reveals that the Attorney General was not then engaged in making a decision about whether the President should be charged with obstruction of justice; the fact that he would not be prosecuted was a given, Jackson said in an order dated Monday.

The decision by Barr and senior Justice Department leaders to clear Trump of obstruction, even though special counsel Robert Mueller and his team pointedly did not reach that conclusion, was a significant moment for the president that he touted as vindication.

Barr issued a summary of Muellers report a full month before the entire 448-page document was released, helping shape the public perception of the investigations conclusions in a way that was favorable to Trump. Mueller subsequently complained to Barr that his summary had not fully captured the investigations findings and had caused public confusion.

In her order this week, Jackson chastised Barr for his general handling of the Mueller report, saying his characterization of what hed hardly had time to skim, much less, study closely, prompted an immediate reaction, as politicians and pundits took to their microphones and Twitter feeds to decry what they feared was an attempt to hide the ball.

She also noted that another judge had rebuked Barr last year for what he said were misleading public statements that spun Muellers findings in the presidents favor.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a public records request seeking communications about the obstruction decision after Barr said that he and other senior officials had reached that conclusion in consultation with the Office of Legal Counsel, which provides legal opinions to executive branch agencies.

At issue in a lawsuit pending before the judge were two particular documents the group wanted.

Jackson ruled that one of the documents, described by a Justice Department official as an untitled, undated draft legal analysis that was submitted to the attorney general as part of his decision-making, was properly withheld from the group.

But she ordered the release of the other memo, which concludes that the evidence assembled by Muellers team would not support an obstruction prosecution of Trump.

In her order, Jackson noted that the legal memo prepared for Barr, and the letter from Barr to Congress that describes the special counsels report, were being written by the very same people at the very same time.

The emails show not only that the authors and the recipients of the memorandum are working hand in hand to craft the advice that is supposedly being delivered by OLC, but that the letter to Congress is the priority, and it is getting completed first, the judge wrote.

The judge said the Justice Department has until May 17 to file any motion to stay the order.
Alabama isnt rid of the rain just yet.

Rain, some of it heavy, was still falling on parts of south Alabama on Wednesday morning, and a flash flood warning is in effect for areas near the coast.

9am: Additional heavy rain moving into coastal areas. Flash Flood Warnings in effect for southern Mobile, Baldwin & Escambia Counties. Flooding already been reported in Foley area & additional flooding is likely with this next round of heavy rain. #mobwx pic.twitter.com/XBOJFqFXmH  NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) May 5, 2021

There could also be a few strong storms today in the same area.

NOAAs Storm Prediction Center has southern Alabama under a marginal risk (Level 1 out of 5) for severe weather today.

7 Alabama flooding May 4-5, 2021

A marginal risk means isolated severe storms will be possible. Gusty winds and lightning are the main concerns with any stronger storms that form. The better chances for storms will be close to the coast.

Rain has been persistent over parts of south Alabama overnight.

The National Weather Service in Mobile has extended a flash flood warning until 1:45 p.m. for Baldwin County.

Flash Flood Warning continues for Pensacola FL, Ferry Pass FL, Bellview FL until 1:45 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/Pd5A2Ztdz1  @NWSFlashFlood (@NWSFlashFlood) May 5, 2021

Forecasters said rain continued in that area and that rainfall rates could reach 1 to 2 inches per hour.

At least 4 to 6 inches of rain has fallen, and 1 to 3 additional inches will be possible, forecasters said.

Another flash flood warning will be in effect for southern Mobile County until 3 p.m.:

Flash Flood Warning including Grand Bay AL, Bayou La Batre AL, Dauphin Island AL until 3:00 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/9zVS4nSCoA  @NWSFlashFlood (@NWSFlashFlood) May 5, 2021

The weather service said storms continued across the area and an additional 2 to 4 inches of rain will be possible through this afternoon.

There is an elevated threat for flooding close to the coast through early afternoon today.

A flash flood watch remains in effect for Escambia, Mobile, Baldwin and Covington counties in Alabama until 1 p.m. today.

The weather service said 3 to 5 inches of rain has already fallen in some of those areas, and an additional 2 to 4 inches will be possible through early this afternoon.

The rain is expected to move out later today, and drier weather is expected on Thursday and Friday.
President Joe Biden vowed during his first prime-time address in March for the U.S. to declare its independence from COVID-19 on the Fourth of July.

Some cities are proceeding with a plan to showcase just that. Mobile and Birmingham are moving ahead with fireworks shows that aim to be bigger or more expensive than the displays before the coronavirus pandemic shut most of them down last year.

After being sheltered for so long, we need to finally be able to come out and truly be as independent as we can be on Independence Day, Mobile City Council President Levon Manzie said.

The latest Fourth of July push doesnt come without some setbacks  The U.S. Space & Rocket Centers fireworks show is canceled for this year, and Gulf Shores is scrambling to find a way to host its fireworks show from a damaged state-owned pier.

Bigger shows

Mobile officials authorized their celebration on Tuesday. The council voted unanimously to spend $44,500 or more than double what they typically spend for their annual Independence Day celebration.

Also in past years, the city relied on private investors to help support the annual fireworks show. Last years show was canceled because of the pandemic.

Were not trying to hound corporate sponsors, said Manzie. Im sure if they want to get on board, there is room for it. But Im pleased the city is making this investment.

Shonnda Smith, senior director of parks and recreation with the city of Mobile, said her team has been driving around downtown Mobile to find places where people will be able to witness this years show. She said the fireworks shells will be larger this year, and the display will go least 8 feet higher than the top of the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Hotel.

Its all about focusing on the things we can do to make for a better experience for the citizens whether its visitors or Mobilians, said Stimpson. (Smith) has a budget and she can allocate where it best can be used.

In Birmingham, plans are moving ahead for Thunder on the Mountain that is labeled as the states largest 4th of July celebration. This years event lighting the sky atop Red Mountain coincides with Birminghams sesquicentennial.

LaShana Sorrell, director of brand engagement with Vulcan Park & Museum, said the museum will close at 6 p.m. to allow time for spectators to find a location within the city to view the show. She said at approximately 9 p.m., the first of more than 2,500 shells and effects will brighten Vulcan and the sky above him. She said there will be a unique score featuring local and national artists expertly timed and choreographed to the colorful fireworks display.

Sorrell said it will be the biggest show Vulcan has put on to date. The event took place last year in spite of the pandemic.

In Decatur, the city is moving forward with holding the Spirit of America Fourth of July festival and fireworks show, that occurs at Point Mallard Park. Event details are still being reviewed by the citys parks and recreation department, according to city spokeswoman Emily Long.

Pandemic and hurricane

Its not all good news. The Space & Rocket Centers annual July 4 celebration was canceled last year, and it will be again this year due to lingering financial issues from the pandemic, said spokeswoman Pat Ammons. Economic shortfalls have affected both the museum and education training experience at the Huntsville-based venue. Worries existed last year about a risk of permanent closures and an emergency fundraising effort kicked off last summer to avoid having to cease operations.

The pandemic hit us hard financially, and we dont have the resources to do the show this year, said Ammons.

In Gulf Shores, where last years fireworks show was canceled out of concerns over a lack of social distancing, this years show could be downsized because of lingering damage from Hurricane Sally.

The powerful Category 2 storm destroyed a portion of the Gulf State Park pier last September, though portions of it have since reopened to the public. The pier is the traditional launching spot for the beachfront fireworks display.

We are working with the State Park, our Fire Marshal, and the fireworks company to determine how to safely have the show from that location, said Grant Brown, spokesman with the city of Gulf Shores. He said the back up plan may be a small show from the beach. He said the city will have more clarity on the situation in a couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, Alabama continues to lag far behind other states when it comes to vaccinating its residents. The state is only ahead of Mississippi and Louisiana for the number of residents who have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, at 33%. Less than a quarter of the states residents are fully vaccinated, according to a New York Times database. That puts Alabama tied with Mississippi for dead last in the U.S.

But coronavirus infections remain low, and hospitalizations have plummeted since a peak in January. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, on Monday, announced she was dropping the states Safer Apart public health order on May 31. Alabamas state of emergency associated with the COVID-19 pandemic will expire on July 6.

Biden issued a revised projection on Tuesday of getting 70% of U.S. adults to receive at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by July 4 and having 160 million adults fully vaccinated by the time the holiday arrives. To achieve that goal, Biden told governors that if a state isnt using all of its vaccine allocation, then they will go into a pool and be redistributed to states that need them.

The new goal comes as the average number of daily shots drops in the U.S., with an average of 2.3 million vaccinations occurring Monday down from a high of 3.4 million on April 13.

Iveys office, in a statement, said the governor has total confidence in the people of Alabama using good judgement and continues to encourage everyone to get vaccinated.

Governor Ivey looks forward to happy, responsible and patriotic 4th of July celebrations in Alabama, said Gina Maiola, spokeswoman for the governor.
A motorist captured video of Coast law enforcement officials firing more than 20 shots at the car of a double murder suspect from Louisiana who died as a result.

The shooting happened after the suspect, Eric Derell Smith, of Baton Rouge, led police on a vehicle pursuit that began in Baton Rouge and ended in Harrison County. Smiths infant son was inside the car.

The video captures what happened after Smiths blue Nissan Altima is stopped in the Interstate 10 median in Harrison County just west of the Woolmarket exit.

A police patrol car is backed in behind Smiths car and over 40-plus law enforcement vehicles with flashing lights are parked in the eastbound lane of the interstate.

More than four officers are seen outside their cars with their guns drawn and a police K-9 is seen running around the suspects car. Other officers are standing behind their car doors or elsewhere with their weapons drawn.

Biloxi police said Smith was getting out of his car, but it isnt clear in the video.

Within seconds, smoke  possibly from a shot fired by the suspect from the drivers side of the car  appears.

Law enforcement officials start shooting a barrage of bullets at the car.

Shortly after the gunfire, officers who fired the shots are seen waving to other officers to start moving in.

The video cuts off before authorities reach the vehicle after the shooting.

The video was posted to Facebook from Snapchat and has over 54,000 views. The 52-second video appears to be shot from a motorist in the westbound lane of I-10.

Gulfport police, the Harrison County Sheriffs Office and the Mississippi Highway Patrol took part in the chase. Its unclear how many officers and from which agency took part in the shooting.

Biloxi police are handling the independent investigation into the shooting.

Biloxi police said in a release that they were notified at around 2:52 p.m. that Smith had been found on I-10 near Gulfport, heading east.

Various law enforcement agencies attempted to stop Smith, who had two flat tires.

Smith died of multiple gunshot wounds at the scene and the infant suffered critical injuries. The baby died of his injuries at a Mobile hospital early Tuesday morning.

Smith is a suspect in a double homicide that happened early Monday morning near Baker in rural East Baton Rouge Parish. He is accused of shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend, Christin Parker, 32, and her nephew, Brandon Parker, 26, before leaving with the couples baby.

Biloxi Police John Miller said a preliminary investigation indicates Smith drove into the median apparently in an attempt to get onto Interstate 10 westbound to continue to escape capture.

But, Miller said, it appears his car got stuck in the grass.

East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux had said early on our top priority is locating that child safely.

The Sun Herald reached to Miller on Tuesday for some updates, but have not yet heard back.

___

(c)2021 The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.)

Visit The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.) at www.sunherald.com

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Momma Ps is housed in a bright yellow building with a footprint roughly the size of a small pontoon boat. Or maybe a Ford F-250 pickup truck  ish.

Inside this roadside stand, a family owned business serves up a vibrant New Mexico-style take on burritos and tacos in Sheffield, located in the Shoals area of North Alabama.

Mommas twist on Mex leans on green and red chiles harvested from New Mexicos Hatch Valley region. Mike Peru, who co-owns Momma Ps with wife Celestine Peru, for whom the business is named, tells me Hatch chiles are key, because those varieties are bolder and spicier than more commonly used Anaheim chiles. Anaheim chile you can buy anywhere nationwide, Peru says. But the Hatch chile is very, very specific to New Mexico. It took us a long time to get a vendor. We get it delivered to our front door now.

On a recent sun scorched afternoon, I stopped by Momma Ps for lunch.

Sheffield may not possess the college-town-on-the-rise appeal nearby Florence does, but theres an underdog and old-school appeal to the downtown here. Down the street theres a barbershop called Do Right Man, seemingly a reference to a classic song by Aretha Franklin, who famously recorded at Muscle Shoals FAME Studios, less than 3 miles away from Momma Ps 209 N. Nashville Ave. address. Momma Ps is even closer to another legendary local studio, Muscle Shoals Sound, about 1.5 miles away.

In Sheffield, I drove past what appeared to be a junk shop on the corner, parked on the curb outside a Sheffield Gas Department building and crossed the street to Momma Ps. I ordered my food at the stands walk-up window. Theres also a drive-thru lane that curls around the building.

After some counsel from the friendly cashier, I went with a Christmas B burrito ($6), comprised of green and red chiles (hence the appellation), pork, potato and cheese. Also ordered three tacos: chicken, red chile pork ($2.25 each) and brisket ($3.50).

The Christmas B burrito at Momma Ps in Sheffield, Ala. (Matt Wake/mwake@al.com)

While no means lavish, Momma Ps exterior surroundings add to the experience. To the left of the stand, there are three, red-umbrella-topped picnic tables, some potted cacti and terra cotta terracing. The back wall of the nearest building is wizened brick. It felt like rattlesnake could slither by any second. If this were a movie, it would be a good place for an ambush.

As I waited for my food, a procession of SUVs passed through the drive-thru, while a few blue-collar lunch-breakers ordered from the window. A little while later when the same Momma Ps cashier brought my food out, the food was exactly what Id hoped for. And phenomenal.

The Christmas B burrito calls to mind a meal mustachioed actor Sam Elliot would consume around a campfire. Hardy and hefty. Some nuanced chili heat but definitely manageable. Rustic pork and potatoes becoming one with melty cheese, inside a soft excellent tortilla.

The tacos, a flavor border-town between authentic Mexican (soft corn tortilla) and Tex-Mex (gringo-style cheese), with well balanced ingredients. The red sauce served on the side was nice compliment to the bird. The brisket taco had a little more oomph to it. But if I had to pick just one of these three tacos it would be the red chile pork. Some peppery pig juju going on there.

Tacos at Momma Ps in Sheffield, Ala. (Matt Wake/mwake@al.com)

Momma Ps opened this location in December. Theyd previously had a stand one street over, for about 18 months, before shutting down for five months and rebooting on Nashville Avenue.

Mike and Celestina and their children have been living in the Shoals for about four and a half years now. They relocated from Las Cruces, New Mexico, where Mike worked as a firefighter and Celestina in school cafeterias and restaurants. After a couple of years in the Shoals, they segued from other jobs to opening Momma Ps.

My wifes lifelong dream was owning her own restaurant and my dream was being my own boss, Mike says, So we kind of married the two ideas and dreams. Working up Momma Ps, they had friends and family sample food, building a menu inspired by family recipes and New Mexico staples.

Momma Ps has become a fave of several local music notables. Producer and studio owner Jimmy Nutt, who recorded some classic Jason Isbell albums, is a regular, Peru says. Isbells manager Traci Thomas has enlisted Momma Ps to cater her wedding reception and to be a food vendor at returning music festival Shoals Fest, Peru says. Local musician/producer Kevin Lee Robinson frequents the taco stand enough Momma Ps named a burrito after him: The KLR, featuring red chile pork, beans, rice, lettuce tomato, cheese and sour cream.

Finding out how deep the roots of the Shoals area went with music has been eye-opening to say the least, Peru says. Doing business here and having that avenue has been a huge blessing to connect our food with more people.

The Momma Ps family. From left: Celestina Peru, Mike Peru, Kendra Peru and Michael Peru, Jr. (Courtesy Mike Peru)

Although having a sit-down full-scale restaurant may be more glamorous, being to-go only turned out to be an advantage for Momma Ps. Starting slow and low like that allowed the business to fix growing pains on a smaller, less impactful scale. And when the pandemic hit, Peru says. being a to-go restaurant, we actually increased our business during that time because more people were looking for to-go restaurants.

Mike and Celestina have talked some about Momma Ps future. For now theyd prefer to add a food truck or another taco stand than a restaurant. The couple first met back in 1998 when they were both Walmart employees in Las Cruces.

Momma Ps operates with a skeleton staff of Mike, Celestina, son Michael Jr. and daughter Kendra, plus a couple non-family employees. But with catering and event gigs increasing, theyre looking to add summer help. In addition to locals, Momma Ps is now attracting customers from Huntsville, Decatur and even further, Peru says.

Saturdays are a thing at Momma Ps because thats the only day they do tamales. Sold on a first-come-first-serve until theyre gone, the tamales are made entirely from scratch. Its kind of like a love-hate relationship with the tamales because it takes so long to make them, Peru says. But theyre a labor of love.

Momma Ps is open 10 a.m.  4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and 10 a.m.  6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Phone 256-702-4480. More info at momma-ps-to-go-catering.business.site.
Reverend Mahoney to Hold News Conference to Discuss Legal Options and Other Efforts to Open the United States Capitol Building to Prayer and Other Peaceful First Amendment Activity The news conference will be at on Thursday, May 6, at 1:00 p.m. at the corner of 1st St. SE and East Capitol St. outside the perimeter fence around the Capitol.







NEWS PROVIDED BY

Christian Defense Coalition

May 5, 2021



WASHINGTON, May 5, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- For the first time in 70 years, there will be no public prayer gathering at the US Capitol Building during The National Day of Prayer.



Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, was denied a permit to hold a prayer service at the Capitol on The National Day of Prayer.



Peaceful First Amendment activities continue to be prohibited on the grounds of the United States Capitol.



The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress when people are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation." The president is required by law (36 U.S.C.  119) to sign a proclamation each year, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.



Recently, Rev. Mahoney filed a federal lawsuit against Speaker Pelosi and Vice-President Harris seeking injunctive relief to hold a public Good Friday Service at the Capitol after his permit application was denied.



Here is a link to a news story on his lawsuit:

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/christian-minister-sues-pelosi-harris-for-access-to-capitol-grounds-for-good-friday



Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, comments; "It is deeply troubling for the first time in 70 years, there will not be a public prayer service at the United States Capitol Building on The National Day of Prayer. Every American needs to be asking the question, how is it possible to have public prayer prohibited at the Capitol on The National Day of Prayer? Especially when it is a national observance designated by Congress.



"The 'People's House,' as the US Capitol Building is so rightly called, must be a place where all Americans are afforded the right to come and peacefully celebrate and express their First Amendment Rights. Tragically, those rights and freedoms are being denied and prohibited.



"I will continue to work to ensure the 'People's House' is returned to the people and the First Amendment is once again celebrated and honored at the United States Capitol." For more information and interviews call:

Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741



SOURCE Christian Defense Coalition



CONTACT: Rev. Patrick Mahoney, 540-538-4741



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Birmingham firefighters battled a blaze in the gymnasium at Ramsay High School on the citys Southside.

BFRS was dispatched to the school 1300 19th Street South about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday. They arrived to find smoke and fire showing through the roof in a small area on the east side of the gymnasium.

BFRS was dispatched to Ramsay High School at 1300 19th Street South about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday

After roughly an hour, firefighters said they had the fire contained but not yet controlled. By 11:30 p.m., however, the fire was reported to be out.

Battalion Chief Sebastian Carrillo said the extent of the damage was unknown. Firefighters did have to cut away a portion of the roof. The building that contains the classrooms was not damaged.

Carrillo said no injures were reported. He said firefighters would likely remain on the scene for an extended period of time to make sure the fire did not flare up again.

It was too soon to tell, he said, what sparked the blaze. Classes were not impacted by the fire.
An officer-involved shooting investigation was underway Wednesday in east Birmingham.

Few details are being released by officials in the incident. No injuries were reported.

According to police radio traffic, the incident began about 10:30 a.m. near Huffman Road and Five Mile Road. The Vestavia Hills officer reportedly witnessed shots coming from a vehicle and pursued a Lexus sedan a short distance before getting it stopped on Parkway East at Springville Road. The officer was reportedly on his way to work when he witnessed the gunfire, but authorities have not yet confirmed that report.

It was then Birmingham police responded to the scene. Scanner traffic did not indicate a shot had been fired by the Vestavia police officer, but the sedan does have a bullet hole in the passengers side door. Authorities said the officer did fire a shot, but it wasnt immediately clear if it hit anything.

Shell casings were recovered at the Five Mile Road scene, which is believed to be where the officer first witnessed the shooting.

Birmingham police spokesman Sgt. Rod Mauldin described the incident as a Vestavia officer shooting in Birmingham, and said no Birmingham officers were involved. He referred all questions to Vestavia Hills police.

Vestavia Hills Capt. Shane Ware said he could only say the the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is investigating. ALEAs SBI arrived on the scene shortly before 1 p.m.

This story will be updated if more information becomes available.
A Huntsville man was arrested by the Madison County Sheriffs Office on two counts of terrorists threats after he allegedly made bomb threats Tuesday to two Huntsville City Schools campuses, authorities said Wednesday.

Madison County Sheriffs Office investigators with the FBI North Alabama Violent Crimes Task Force and the North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force located Darren Pullen, 39, of Huntsville, to make sure there were no danger to either of the unnamed campuses.

The investigation showed Pullen made phone calls to the campuses that included bomb threats.

No suspicious packages or devices were found on either campus, the sheriffs office said.

The safety of our students and staff are a priority, regardless of what school they attend or system they are a part of, said Madison County Sheriff Kevin Turner. The quick resolution to this case is another example of the importance of partnering with other law enforcement agencies at every level to ensure that our community is as safe as possible.
A 14-year-old has been charged with murder in last weeks fatal shooting in Dothan.

The shooting happened Thursday, April 29, in the 700 block of Alabama Avenue. The victim, 27-year-old Johnnie Settles, was taken by private vehicle to a hospital but was later pronounced dead.

Investigators with the Violent Crimes Unit and Forensic Services Unit talked with multiple witnesses which led to the identification of the young teen as a suspect. Dothan police said because of his age, his name is not being released.

The teen on Tuesday was charged with murder in juvenile court and is being held in the Southeast Alabama Diversion Center, a juvenile facility.

Settles was out on bond after a 2020 arrest for murder in the Houston County town of Cowarts, court records show. Dothan Police Chief Will Benny told WDHN officers are looking at a possible connection between the Cowarts incident and Settles death.
A suspect wanted by Prattville police died Tuesday at a local hospital after shooting themselves and wrecking their vehicle following a chase with Montgomery police, authorities said.

Montgomery police attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a felony suspect wanted by Prattville police around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday in the 5000 block of Carmichael Road, said Montgomery police spokeswoman Capt. Saba Coleman.

The suspect refused to stop, leading to a pursuit by police.

The suspect, who sustained a life-threatening gunshot wound, wrecked the vehicle near Hugh Street and Day Street, Coleman said.

The suspect later died at a local hospital.

No officers were injured in the incident.
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Introduction

Its not unusual to meet sincere Christians confused about which course of action to take to fulfil the will of God in their lives. Through scanning the scriptures, and my own experience, I dont believe such confusion is necessary. Even if in practice getting to such a state of assured guidance is not easy. Foundationally, many suffer from a fundamental confusion about what it means to in Christ.

Since salvation means we have become partners in the divine nature (2 Peter chapter 1 verse 4) and since our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians chapter 3 verse 3), we may confidently anticipate guidance within our communion with Father, Son and Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 14). Instead of trying to find a blueprint or road map for life, which can be quite stressful, we can trust Gods purposes for our fellowship with him are neither arbitrary nor far away (Romans chapter 10 verses 6-8) but dimensions of an abiding relationship (John chapter 15 verses 1-11 ).

Traditions of Guidance

Traditional Evangelical teaching on guidance emphasises familiarity with the moral teaching of the Bible, cultivating godly wisdom, observing Gods providential arrangement of circumstances and being open to the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. Openness to supernatural direction, such as dreams and visions, isnt negated, but it is marginalised. My experience includes all these. I am concerned though when the call of God has been downplayed by removing todays Church (cessationism) from the flow of biblical reality.

We may not be apostles and prophets, but the Spirit can speak as clearly to us in our gospel ventures as he did back then. the Holy Spirit said.having been forbidden by the Spirit to speak (Acts chapter 13 verse 2; chapter 16 verse 6). I know, for instance, that if my wife didnt have a clear and distinct call of God to marry me, she would have found it very difficult to sustain our engagement, I was that ungodly for a time. Additionally, many missionary biographies attests to the strength and need of a call as real as that of an Isaiah or a Paul.

The Way of Jesus

Jesus testified to the priority of his relationship with his Father when it came to being in the will of God. the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (John chapter 5 verse 19). This wasnt a function of his Godhead, but of the Sonship which we, by grace, now share. you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons (Rom 8:15). The language of the New Testament is specific, whereas discipleship dominates the Gospels, sonship is our primary status throughout its letters. Guidance is a privilege we have as sons of God. Why then do so many sincere believers fret about getting it right with God in the area of guidance?

The Promise

Their stress testifies they do not believe in their fully justified relationship with the Father in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30). The teaching that Gods peace can function as an umpire in our hearts revealing the will of God (see the Amplified Bible on this at Colossians chapter 3 verse 15), is valid only where the believers conscience is stable. More deeply, the average Christian today does not fulfil the condition laid out here: present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to GodDo not be conformed to thisthat by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans chapter 12 verses 1-2). A willingness to suffer for Gods will is a precondition for the revelation of that will. The baptism scene of Luke chapter 3 verse 22, echoes the beloved son language of the sacrifice of Isaac Genesis chapter 22 verse 1. Because Christ put his life on the line from the beginning he was infallibly guided by his Father. Our pitiful guidance is a consequence of our unwillingness to suffer for the Lord.

Conclusion

When I first became a Christian guidance seemed easy, but for an adolescent period it became quite a stress. Today, I simply trust that if my Father wants me to know about something it will happen, through Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is a truly wonderful state of affairs, and it is all relational.
Alpine, TX (79831)

Today

Sunshine and a few clouds. Hot. High 98F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 73F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
Food and drink investor Cerea Partners is more than 85% of the way to its target for its first full mezzanine fundraise since its management team bought the firm out from Unigrains.
Drake Williams of the Cherokee FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the 2021 Oklahoma FFA Agricultural Sales Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award area during the 95th annual Oklahoma FFA Convention on April 28.

Williams has bought and sold various breeds of sheep and goats as well as exotics from sales across the state and sold them to families in multiple states.

"I try to keep a very broad client base," Williams said. "I've sold to families in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri."

Williams said he is a one-man crew and has learned to carry out all responsibilities even though it can be overwhelming at times. Some of these responsibilities are purchasing, marketing, selling, feeding, doctoring, maintenance and customer relations.

The agricultural sales entrepreneurship proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience related to the sale of feed, seed, fertilizer or agricultural chemicals. Students also may own businesses involving the sales of agricultural equipment, machinery or structures. Activities may include the merchandising of crops, livestock, processed agricultural commodities, horticultural or forestry items at either the retail or wholesale level.

The senior Cherokee FFA member is the son of Aaron and Dana Hughes. His agricultural education instructor and FFA adviser is Christy Snider.
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Lake Charles native Tremaine Collins fulfilled a childhood dream by appearing as a contestant on the long-running game show, The Price is Right, earlier this year. He made it all the way to the Showcase Showdown and won more than $30,000 worth of prizes, including a new car.
It seems as though the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is completely blind to the fact that God, who created the universe and redeems his people, cannot be stamped out through brute force.

The CCP under Xi Jinping regards Christianity as a dangerous foreign import, with party documents warning against the "infiltration of Western hostile forces" in the form of religion.

Retreat raided

The Guiyang Renai Reformed Church is a small house church with fewer than 100 members. CCP agents banned the church in 2018 for refusing to join the government-sanctioned Three Self Patriotic Movement. All religious events were cancelled and church equipment and signs were removed.

The church moved to other venues but the CCP raided these, removed a cross and confiscated Elder Zhangs computer and other personal possessions in 2019.

On 16 March, 2021, Christians from Renai (Love) Reformed Church gathered in a room to begin a 3-day retreat. Brother Chen Jianguo began the gathering at 9am with a Bible reading from Philippians chapter 1, verses 12  18, and prayer, when personnel from the Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, state security, police and some community members entered the room and condemned those gathering for holding an illegal rally.

Police recorded each persons ID and their interrogations. They also examined the retreat attendees cell phones. Around 1pm, most Christians were allowed to leave, but authorities transported 10 of the Christians to a police station.

That evening around 11pm, authorities cuffed the hands of Elder Zhang Chunlei, Chen Jinguo, Li Jinzhi, and Li Lin behind their backs and transferred them to Guiyang City Economic Development Zone Police Station. They gave Elder Zhang Chunlei a 14-day administrative detention, and Chen Jianguo, Li Jinzhi, and Li Lin each a 3-day detention on a charge of illegally hosting events under the name of an organization.

On March 20, Brother Chen and the two other detained Christians from the retreat completed serving their 3-days detention and received the certificate of release from detention that the detention center issued. However, Elder Zhang, who had been given a 14 day administrative detention, was not released.

Brother Chen thanks Christian brothers and sisters for their prayer intercession.



Brother Chen reported:

I wish that we as Christians could have a place like prison for retreat or used as school. My three-day retreat held in a city became a more authentic retreat, isolating from the world.

I experienced life in the world but not belonging to the world; that Christians should never attempt to flee the world while still living in the world.

I accomplished four projects in those three days:

I fasted for three days.

I saw a blurry world (officers temporarily confiscated my glasses).

I didnt hear anything from the world (officers temporarily confiscated my cell phone).

I shared the gospel with others at a specific time in the three days.

Thank God and praise the Lord. He used his mighty power to enable me to complete the retreat using some related departments.

If God wills, I hope that I get to experience this type retreat again. May all glory and praise be to our Heavenly Father. Amen.

Ongoing persecution by CCP

Radio Free Asia reports that authorities in China are detaining Christians in secret, mobile transformation facilities to make them renounce their faith. The details are truly horrifying and include isolation for months at a time, beating, verbal abuse and mental torture, brain washing and injection with drugs. Some Christians resort to self-harm and suicidal ideation.

Elder Zhang remains in detention. He did not compromise his faith, with the consequence that CCP authorities may fabricate charges against him.

Persecutions of Chinas house churches intensified after the Chinese Spring Festival. Nevertheless, many Christian leaders, including Elder Zhang, Elder Li Yingqiang of Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church, and Pastor Huang Xiaoning of Guangzhou Reformed Church, encouraged each other.

They agreed that if authorities imprison them, they are ready to pay a price for the sake of faith and will use this time as an opportunity to spread the gospel in prison. These leaders also agreed that if any of them were imprisoned, they would pray together at 5 pm every day.

Please pray

On April 06, Chengdu Early Rain Covenant Church published the following prayer request:

Brothers and sisters, please continue to pray for Elder Zhang Chunlei. Please pray for God to give him peace when he is suffering from the persecution, and temporarily pause his service for the Lord to let him rest. Also pray for God to protect him and let him leave the prison safely to continue serving Gods Church.

Pray also for the believers at Guiyang's Ren'ai Reformed Church, Pastor Wang Yi, his family, and the believers at Chengdu's Early Rain Covenant Church; and lawyer Gao Zhisheng, along with his surviving extended family. 'I am with you always, to the end of the age' (promise of Matthew Chapter 28, verse 20).

Continue to pray that our God will protect, comfort, encourage and sustain every faithful Christian believer currently detained in a Chinese prison or 'disappeared' in a secret facility that the Chinese Communist Party thinks God cannot access, and in the custody of cruel men who think their evil is not seen (Hebrews Chapter 4, verse 13). May every Christian prisoner know the closeness of their Saviour (Psalm Chapter 139, verses 7-12) and may God intervene in justice and grace to vindicate his suffering servants and free the Chinese Church (Habakkuk Chapter 2, verses 12-14).
The Muslim Takeover of West Bengal

Riots, restrictions on speech and religion, and the takeover of politics and law enforcement are just a few of the unwelcome changes that can be expected in non-Muslim societies as Muslim immigrants increase in number, according to Dr. Peter Hammond. A Christian missionary based in South Africa and author of 40 books, Hammond delineates how Muslims change societies in his book, Slavery, Terrorism and Islam. Citing examples of countries worldwide, Hammond outlines typical activities that occur as the Muslim percentage of the total population increases. It is a warning bell about the gradual, step-by-step changes that can be expected in other countries still undergoing significant Muslim immigration. These societal changes occur because devout Muslims are bound by a 1,400-year-old doctrine of immigration originating in Islamic scriptures and based on Mohammed's migration from Mecca to Medina. Under the religious edict or Hijra, Islamic expansionism and submission of all non-Muslims to shariah or Islamic doctrine must occur. Islamic expansionism and its counterpart, jihad, are first expressed as Muslim demands for special status and privileges within the host country. A higher percentage of Muslims in the host country can soon translate into Muslim control of political processes, law enforcement, media, and the economy, as well as restrictions on freedom of movement, speech and religious practices. The appropriation of goods and property, as well as violence with impunity, can also occur.

The situation in at West Bengal in Hindu-majority India, bordering Muslim-majority Bangladesh, illustrates the inherent problems to non-Muslim societies of a growing Muslim population. West Bengal Bengal, an ethno-cultural region, was politically divided in 1947 during the partitioning of British India into independent India and Pakistan. Under this arrangement, the Bengal province was carved in two: the predominately-Hindu West Bengal, a state of India, and the predominately-Muslim East Bengal, which became a province of Pakistan and, in 1971, the Muslim-majority country of Bangladesh. At partitioning, the Muslim population of West Bengal stood at 12% and the Hindu population of East Bengal 30%. Today, with massive Muslim immigration, Hindu persecution and forced conversions, West Bengals Muslim population has increased to 27% (up to 63% in some districts), as per the 2011 census and Bangladeshs Hindu population has decreased to 8%. While the situation for Hindus in Bangladesh is certainly dire, life has become increasingly difficult for Hindus in West Bengal, home to a Muslim-appeasing government and a breeding ground and safe haven for terrorists. For several years, West Bengal has suffered under apparent Muslim-planned riots designed to implement shariah, extract government concessions and grab more territory. Kolkata Riots In 2007, a violent protest broke out in Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta) against Bangladeshi feminist author, physician and human rights activist, Taslima Nasreen. The demonstrations against Nasreen were a thinly veiled attempt to institute Islamic blasphemy laws and curtail freedom of speech. Nasreen, who was born a Bangladeshi Muslim but chose atheism, had witnessed the horrific treatment of Islamic women in her medical practice, and advocated for freedom of expression, womens rights, non-Muslim rights and abolition of shariah law. In 1993, she published a novel, Lajja (Shame) about a Hindu family persecuted by Muslims. The novel ignited a furor in the Muslim community, which called for a ban on the book and offered a bounty for her death. The novel was subsequently banned by Indian authorities. Nasreen was physically attacked, went into hiding and escaped from Bangladesh to Europe. After 10 years exile, she returned to the east and settled in Kolkata. Her Bangladeshi passport had been revoked and she waited several years for a visa to be able to visit India. While in Kolkata, she continued to write articles critical of Islam despite renewed threats and calls for her beheading. In November 2007, a protest organized by militant Muslims against Nasreen led to riots as Muslims blocked traffic, pelted police and journalists, torched cars and damaged buses. Similar to the justification for the Charlie Hebdo murders in Paris, West Bengali Muslims protested the violation of shariah blasphemy law, which mandates death for anyone who dares to criticize Islam. The army was forced to intervene, Nasreen was placed under house arrest and later forced to leave the area. The banned Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the Pakistani Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) were believed to have fostered the mayhem. Canning District Riots In 2013, Muslims in West Bengal were actively lobbying for a second partition of India to create an Islamic super state  Mughalistan  that would incorporate Pakistan, Bangladesh and parts of India. Meanwhile, ethnic divisions were also stirred up by an upcoming local election. Into this charged situation, the murder of a Muslim cleric by unidentified assailants sparked outrage among Muslims, as thousands mobilized for rioting in the Canning District. An article in a popular weekly publication, Organiser, called the attack a well organized and meticulously planned attack on Hindus. Over 200 Hindu homes were looted and firebombed, hundreds of temples and idols destroyed, and vehicles set on fire amid shouts of Allah-hu Akbar! Repeated calls for help by Hindus went unanswered by the police. Local residents claimed authorities were complicit with the Muslim mobs. Violence in Usti This January 29th, in a market in the Kolkata suburb of Usti, more than 50 Hindu shops were ransacked, looted and gutted by rampaging jihadists. Police mostly watched as bombs were hurled at Hindus indiscriminately. They fired a few random shots into the air and detained victimized Hindu shop owners while their attackers roamed free. A legislative assembly member and the state minister for minority affairs reportedly demanded that local police release the few rioters held in custody. There was limited reporting by the mainstream media that didnt specify the Muslim identity of the perpetrators and West Bengals Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, issued no statement about the violence. Independent sites, Indiafacts and Hindu Samhati, reported the incident with numerous photographs. Political Implications With a 27% Muslim population, enough pressure exists to tip the scales for elected officials precariously toward advancement of an Islamist agenda and make Muslims the most privileged class in West Bengal. In some areas, such as the border district of Murshidabad, which is over 63% Muslim, de facto shariah is imposed on all residents. The vast majority of political candidates, elected officials and law enforcement leadership are Muslim and the economic prospects for Hindus dim as Muslims refuse to patronize non-Muslim businesses. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has received official visits from Hillary Clinton and several U.S. ambassadors, offers a prime example of a political leader who expediently favors Muslim constituents, capitulates to their many demands and entices them with special benefits and privileges. The reality of Muslim vote bank politics, whereby an entire Muslim community votes along lines dictated by the local imam or religious leader, adds to the problem and furthers Muslim control of the state. Banerjee has gone so far in her Muslim sympathies as to publicly recite the Kalima Shahadat, the Islamic conversion prayer, in front of an audience of imams. Because West Bengals Muslims were largely responsible for her election as chief minister, Banerjee has made substantial payback. She approved and validated the academic degrees of 10,000 previously unrecognized Saudi-funded and controlled madrasas (Islamic colleges) four minarets (Muslim towers), honorariums for imams and an exclusively Islamic township. Banerjee called for the establishment of Muslim medical, technical and nursing schools with special subsidies for Muslim students, as well as Muslim-only hospitals. She has favored Muslims to the extent of distributing free bicycles and rail passes to female Muslim students and laptops to Muslim boys. Banerjees political party, the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), will most likely send more Islamists to serve in parliament in the future. Reportedly, jihadist sleeper cells inhabit the area under her protection. Meanwhile, the needs of Hindu refugees from Bangladesh are ignored, even as they continue being victimized in West Bengal. In June of 2014, Mamata Banerjee made a highly questionable appointment, Rajya Sabha, to the upper house of the Indian Parliament. Despite multiple warnings from the District Intelligence Bureau that had red-flagged him for instigating violence against Hindus, including alleged participation in the Kolkata and Canning riots and sheltering known terrorists, she selected Pakistani Hassan Imran to serve as MP. Imran is a founder and self-admitted member of the radical student group, the Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), a recognized terrorist organization banned by the Indian government. He founded and edited a radical weekly magazine, Kalam, which he later turned into a daily newspaper, Dainik Kalam, and sold to the Saradha Group, a financial conglomerate with ties to West Bengal government officials. The publication has advocated for the establishment of Muslim-controlled areas in the state under shariah. Hassan has close ties to local Islamist leaders and has worked with Jamat-e-Islami (JI), a pro-Saudi jihadist group supported by Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He also has ties to a chief official of the Islamic Development Bank, a Saudi entity that has financed Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood affiliate, the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR), an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism funding trial in the United States. JI and the ISI have been linked to efforts to take over the Indian state of Assam and separate it from India. The Saudi-funded terrorist group Jamaat-ul-Mujahadeen, also linked to MP Hassan Imran, has a major base in West Bengal, including bomb-manufacturing units, and has used Wahhabi money to build mosques throughout the state. The Muslim call to prayer is blasted by loudspeaker from early in the morning to late at night and some thoroughfares in the Muslim districts of Kolkata are closed to all traffic for Friday prayers. Recently, Hassan and other associates of Mamata Banerjee were implicated in a financial scandal  a Ponzi scheme with the Saradha Group  and things are starting to unravel for the chief minister. A major investigation of a consortium of 200 private companies that collected between $4  6 billion from over 1.7 million depositors before it collapsed, may bring down her reign in West Bengal. Her MP appointee, Hassan, is believed to have acted as a liaison between Jamaat-e-Islami and the money launderers. Bangladesh Hindus of West Bengal need only look across the border to Bangladesh to see their future if Muslim immigration continues and the Muslim population exceeds the current 27%. In Bangladesh, with an 89% Muslim population, ethnic cleansing persists unabated, Hindu land is forcibly captured and Hindu homes and businesses looted. People are commonly beaten with no police intervention. Hindus have been tortured and forced to pay the jizya, a tax that non-Muslims are required to pay for protection against Muslim terrorism. Hindu girls, even married women, have been raped, mutilated, kidnapped, enslaved and forced to marry Muslim men. Law enforcement authorities are often complicit in the activities and provide no protection or recourse. Victims are typically threatened if they report incidents to the police. Often, in the case of abduction, police refuse to register complaints and make claims that consensual intercourse has taken place even if the girl is 9 or 10 years old, a non-minor under Islamic standards. Kidnapped Hindu girls who manage to escape report that they were taken to Muslim families in which relatives and friends were invited to rape them over several days while Muslim women facilitated the encounters. This dire future could possibly be avoided in West Bengal, where some speculate that the Saradha financial scandal could go far in exposing Mamata Banerjees dangerous ties to Islamists who seek to wrest control of West Bengal from Hindus. If her government falls as a result, it could be the wake-up call needed to turn the current situation around. It could also serve as an example to other countries facing increasing Muslim immigration and increasing imposition of Muslim values on non-Muslims.
The current Presidents record of lying is alarming. In 1988, Biden lost his first bid for the Presidency because the media actually reported he was a repeat plagiarist. He became president this time around at least in part because, in 2020, the mainstream media did not report his record of plagiarism. The Democrats of today also either chose to ignore his history or did not research their candidate, instead accepting the left-leaning medias narrative at face value.

As a candidate, Biden announced his campaign with the Charlottesville Lie: The claim that President Trump was referring to Nazis and White supremacists when he said there were were very fine people, on both sides. In reality, President Trump was referring to people on both sides of the debate about removing the Robert E. Lee statue. One hopes this blatant and despicable untruth was shredded once and for all by David Schoens explication of the issue during the second impeachment trial.

As President, a couple of weeks ago Biden made a statement about Georgias election law. in which every allegation is untrue. The new law does not end voting hours early, end early voting, place restrictions on casting absentee ballots that deny countless voters the right to vote, reduce the number of polling sites, or criminalize providing water to voters waiting in line. I believe in redemption, but Bidens behavior as a candidate and as president has not indicated he is anything but a bald-faced liar.

Which brings us to Bidens Speech to the Joint Sessions of Congress in which he said, We wont ignore what our intelligence agency has determined to be the most lethal terrorist threat to the homeland today: White supremacys terrorism.

Along with almost all Americans, I condemn White supremacist and anti-Muslim groups and the crimes they commit, as well as all hate groups, and all criminal and destructive behavior!

Bidens statement, however, is designed to manipulate peoples emotions and understanding. While the remark is literally true  insofar as Americas intelligence agencies claim that White supremacy is a problem, at the same time it insinuated into the minds of millions of Americans the suggestion that White supremacists are killing vast numbers of Americans. Statistics indicate this is not true.

The information on which Biden based his statement first appeared during the Trump presidency in an October 6, 2020 report from the Department of Homeland Security. DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf tweeted,

You can read the Departments first-of-its-kind homeland threat assessment. This is as close as you will get to seeing and understanding the information that I see as acting secretary and that our employees see in the national security missions.

and

The American people should have faith knowing these threats were identified using the best intelligence, operational information, and employee knowledge available to the Department.

As of June 3, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security had identified 199 white supremacist groups in the U.S. According to the most recent statistics I can find:

In the 2015-2019 period, U.S. White nationalist groups were held responsible for 34 separate attacks, resulting in 64 deaths. Anti-Muslim extremists were linked to 32 attacks resulting in five deaths.

According to the FBI, during that same 2015-2019 period, there were 6,111,199 violent crimes and 72,781 murders throughout the U.S. Therefore, during this five-year period, terrorist attacks by White supremacist and anti-Muslim groups accounted for .001% of violent crimes and .09% of murders  a minute proportion. These crimes are terrible -- no decent person can deny that. However, if these groups are the most lethal terrorist threat to our country -- even more deadly than the threat of Islamist terrorism -- law enforcement agencies are doing a good job of preventing attacks as the crimes committed by these groups are a very small percentage of overall criminal attacks and death.

Contrast these statistics from a five-year period across America with Chicago in 2021. As of April 21  that is, less than four full months into the year -- there have been 785 shooting incidents and 181 murders. Or look at Philadelphia, where year-to-date figures as of April 28 stand at 505 nonfatal and 141 fatal shootings and 165 homicides (a 33% increase from 2020). It should also be noted that most of these incidents have been Black-on-Black crimes. While terrorism from White supremacist and anti-Muslim groups may be an increasing concern, it pales beside the gun violence, committed predominantly with illegal firearms, in urban America.

To put these figures into further perspective, contrast .001% of all violent crimes and .09% of all murders committed OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD with the Islamist terrorist attack on 9/11. Muslim terrorists murdered 2,977 people in one day translates into 2% of the 1.4 million violent crimes and 16% of murders committed in the US in 2001. Again, while terrorism by White supremacist and anti-Muslim groups may have overtaken other types of terrorism as a threat to our country, it has not reached a fraction of the record held by the Islamist attack that took place on 9/11. With Gods help, and the vigilance and hard work of the Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies, I hope it never will.

As DHS Acting Director Chad Wolf said in another October 6, 2020 tweet, these terrorists are lone offenders and small cells of individuals. For many people, however, Bidens words created the impression that these individuals and small groups are increasing exponentially, posing an imminent threat to vast numbers of Americans. And without naming the pool of people from which these terrorists are being drawn, the unstated implication is they are members of the Republican party -- the party of Lincoln, the anti-slavery party, the party that, rather than divide the nation, struggled to keep it together.

Earlier in his career, Biden said of his plagiarism, my intent was not to deceive anyone, for if it were, I would not have been so blatant. As his recent statement about the most lethal terrorist threat to the homeland today was so subtly misleading -- a case of not placing the information within context as opposed to a blatant lie -- one can reasonably extrapolate that his intention this time was, in fact, to deceive. Its horrific that, in a Speech to the Joint Sessions of Congress, an American President should deliver a message purposefully designed to promote suspicion and encourage division among Americans. It appears that Democrats are unable, or perhaps unwilling, to see what the current President, a man for whom they voted, is doing.

This article has been edited to correct a typo that had Biden running for president in 1998, rather than 1988.

IMAGE: Joe Biden caricature by DonkeyHotey. CC BY 2.0.

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Without doubt, the Abraham Accords constitute a turning point in Middle Eastern politics. By normalising relations with Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain conjured up enough momentum to inspire Morocco and Sudan to follow suit and prompt others at least to contemplate establishing diplomatic contacts with Jerusalem. This new, bilateral approach ended decades of frustrating and futile diplomatic efforts at Arab-Israeli reconciliation in a way that would satisfy all the Arab countries at once. Although this accomplishment rested on American support and coordination, there were hopes it would teach and incentivise regional actors to negotiate with Israel without the need for third-party oversight and pressure.

Following Donald Trumps election defeat and the ensuing inauguration of the Democrat Joe Biden, the situation, however, has changed. Trumps speculation that more states were prepared to recognise Israel were replaced with cautious acknowledgements that this would not happen until the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue resumed and produced concrete results. Oman, which has long featured in the list of Muslim countries to normalise relations with Israeli, has adopted a more cautious attitude, undoubtedly expecting Saudi Arabia to make a move first. Other American allies in the region have likely reached a similar conclusion and consequently paused their normalisation plans.

As the undisputed Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leader and an extremely influential voice in the Islamic community, Saudi Arabia was never expected to brave the tide and be among the first to reconsider its relationship with Israel. Such an iconoclastic decision would have incurred heavy costs to its international standing and displeased domestic reactionaries. With the kingdom deprived of its major allies in Washington, it has more reasons to hedge its bets. There are more arguments for it to be growing anxious about Iran gaining an upper hand in Yemen as the United States both mellows its anti-Iranian rhetoric to restore the Iran nuclear deal and removes sanctions on the pro-Iranian Houthi rebels. Riyadhs acquiescence to Russia ramping up oil production at the January OPEC+ summit and decision to reverse the boycott imposed on Qatar in 2017 strongly suggest that it is seeking to broaden the coalition against Iran. This puts so strategically risky a move as rapprochement with Israel off the table for now.

For Saudi Arabia to recognise Israel, the same external pressure that brought about the Abraham Accords is necessary. Some preconditions have been observed. Saudi bloggers have been posting on social media platforms that they aspire to have normal relations with all states, Saudi businessmen have earlier demonstrated willingness to partner with Israeli tech firms, and Saudi television channels have recently aired a show that bemoaned the exodus of Gulf Jews from their homes and depicting peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Jews. Even at the government level, Saudi Arabia ended its ban on Israeli goods and services in 2005 to join the World Trade Organisation, detained a prominent anti-Semitic preacher in 2008, and permitted Israeli aircraft to fly over the kingdoms airspace. Rumours about the recent meeting between Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further vindicate that historical taboos can be broken.

However, American support is hardly in sight. The Biden administration has halted arms sales to Saudi Arabia and announced the withdrawal of U.S. assistance to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. Bidens personal reservations on Riyadh have long been known to the public. He has previously accused Bin Salman of orchestrating the brutal murder of the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and chided the kingdom for murdering innocent people and disregarding human rights. As the Democratic Party currently controls both Congress and the White House, the U.S. can be reasonably predicted to pressure the kingdom with threats of diplomatic isolation not on Arab-Israeli reconciliation but on releasing womens rights activists from prisons. Moreover, Bin Salman, who is rumoured to have entertained the former idea, might have a harder time persuading gainsayers and sceptics at the royal court as he cannot count on U.S. cooperation anymore and must conversely preoccupy himself with the enemies he had earned during the 2017-19 anti-corruption purges. One former Saudi official, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, recently denounced Israel as the last Western colonising power, and while he spoke in personal capacity, he would have hardly resorted to such language were it not for strong support at home.

Certainly, erring on the side of caution could still give birth to a normalisation agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Both feel threatened by Irans nuclear program and its growing networks of proxies and stand to lose from the Biden administrations incessant desire to void Trumps legacy. Riyadh also shares Jerusalems concerns regarding Hamas, which it stopped financing during the Second Intifada (2000-05), and even attempted to pressure Qatar into terminating its funding of the terrorist organisation. If Turkey continues to behave aggressively in the Eastern Mediterranean and Syria and deploy Islamist paramilitaries to do its bidding, Israel and Saudi Arabia would be all the more inclined to collaborate on matters of regional security.

But there is one problem with this approach -- it offers little incentive to Saudi elites to rethink their understanding of Israel and separate the controversial questions of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the partial blockade of the Gaza Strip from the wider picture of Middle Eastern politics. While King Salman, who expressed his commitment to the Palestinian cause on numerous occasions, will celebrate his 86th birthday this year, there is no guarantee that Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman will succeed him in due course. Nor can we assume that upon claiming the throne, the young leader would be left unopposed in his foreign policy pursuits, especially when these pursuits threaten to divide not just his entourage, but also the entire Muslim world.

Policy analysts have often argued that we should take reform announcements in Saudi Arabia with a large pinch of salt." This statement holds until the nations conservative elites are pushed into resolute action. For them to embrace the Abraham Accords spirit and normalise relations with Israel, third-party intervention is required. Whether the U.S. leverages its experience to broker the normalisation agreement or another power like Russia steps in, it is foreign assistance that will write a new page in Saudi-Israeli relations and convince other Gulf nations to follow.

Dan Mikhaylov is a Policy Fellow of The Pinsker Centre, a campus-based think tank which facilitates discussion on global affairs and free speech.

Image: White House

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American leftists use the same tactics as their Soviet and Chinese comrades. The law has the same outward form as in civilized countries, but it is subverted to political ends. Common criminals, according to Solzhenitsyn in The Gulag Archipelago, were considered social allies of the regime. In the prison system, they were treated much better than political prisoners. In the U.S. in leftist areas, criminals are treated gently. An active criminal element aids the leftist state by making the citizens beholden to the state for protection. Citizens possessed by fear of crime have less energy for political protest. It is in the regime's interest to pamper criminals. They help the regime to keep the citizens cowed.

The federal Department of Justice and state-level law enforcement in jurisdictions taken over by the left are lenient with common criminals but savagely oppressive against political protesters when an excuse can be found, or manufactured, to charge them with a crime. That fate fell on many allies of Trump. Rudy Giuliani was visited by a gang of FBI agents at 6 A.M. equipped with dubious search warrants.

Vote-stealing activities during the last election were ignored and not even investigated because they helped the left. In San Francisco, thefts of less than $950 are not prosecuted, giving criminals a free pass to terrorize small businesses and respectable people.

Big Business is easily recruited by the left for nefarious ends. In Hitler's Germany, IBM was an enthusiastic helper of the Holocaust, eagerly mobilizing its punched card accounting to keep track of Jews. We see the same in the U.S., where numerous large enterprises have joined the Democrats in propagating outrageous lies about Georgia's new voting law. In China, big enterprises, even if not actually owned by the government, are rabid supporters of the regime. It is now common for U.S. big companies to fire employees who are singled out for having bad political opinions. Any employee of Google, Apple, or Twitter must keep his mouth shut rather than criticize the left, or even the Chinese communists.

Abolishing or neutering the police allows the dregs of society to form political enforcement gangs to terrorize individuals considered political enemies. These gangs are instruments of the regime but officially are low-level criminals not under the control of the regime. By depicting the mostly professional police forces in the U.S. as racists terrorizing blacks, the police become reluctant to enforce the law, especially if the criminals are black.

Anyone who is employed by an organization controlled by the left is kept in line by the possibility of being fired for racism, inappropriate behavior toward women, or any other trumped up charge that can mobilized. The allies of the left can do as they please. Professors at most universities are fired if they offend woke students. As a consequence, they retreat into obscurantism and silence in order to stay employed. Tenure is a joke in such situations.

Guns are an impediment to the advance of leftism. It is much easier for the criminal elements to terrorize unarmed citizens, and criminals are important instruments of the left. If the police are neutered, the natural reaction of the citizens is to prepare to defend themselves. Outlawing guns is a maneuver to make this more difficult. The leftist law enforcement organizations will do their best to punish citizens who successfully defend themselves with guns.

Imaginary or exaggerated dangers are useful for distracting the citizens and making them dependent on the authorities. The Biden administration makes a fetish of wearing surgical masks, even for people who are vaccinated or immune due to previous infection with COVID-19. On the streets of New York, mask-wearing is widespread, including among children. The disease is difficult to catch outdoors, and children are highly resistant to it. The propaganda from the authorities pursues the theme that there is no escape from the potentially deadly disease. The left wants people to be frightened.

Biden spouts global warming propaganda and advocates wind and solar energy as a preventive for the supposed global warming disaster. This is deeply junk science. The predictions of climate disaster are from computer models that provide thinly veiled fake scientific backing. In the case of wind and solar energy the stupidity is easily demonstrated since the facts are not hidden by the obscurantism of the climate models. This is yet another aspect of the campaign to confuse and terrorize the citizens.

The left wants to promote dissention among citizens and groups in order to divide the opposition. Men are depicted as predators preying on women. Women are depicted as oppressed and exploited by businesses. Every problem of the black community is depicted as a consequence of racism from the white community. Illegal aliens are a threat to the established working class, but the left depicts the illegals as hardworking angels and pays no attention to those citizens whose economic interests are harmed.

Ironically, the left that constantly harps on hatred does everything it can to promote hatred and dissent. Hatred, unhappiness, and confusion are the allies of the left. A contented and prosperous citizenry provides few openings for the left in its quest for power.

Intellectuals are attracted to the left because they are chronically dissatisfied, seeing themselves not sufficiently appreciated for their exceptional talent. That makes it easy for the left to take over universities and media organizations. Because those organizations have influence, the cancer of leftism is spread. Leftist regimes persecute intellectuals who dare to criticize the regime. But intellectuals, provided they follow the party line, enjoy special privileges and protected positions. In leftist countries, they aren't washing dishes in restaurants.

In order to reverse current trends, it is necessary to realize that the authorities tasked with ensuring law and order are often doing the opposite. The media organs in varying degrees have become open propagandists for the left, American versions of Pravda. "Pravda" means "truth" in Russian, and of course it promoted lies, as do much of the American media.

It is urgent to ensure a devastating defeat of the left in the 2022 election. This means there must be enough votes on the right to overcome whatever amount of vote-stealing the left can accomplish. Most likely, the left will back off on its more extreme plans now, in hopes of gaining a decisive majority in 2022, at which point the whirlwind would be released. There is no point in trying to be reasonable or appealing to traditional values when dealing with the entirely cynical left. The major problem is the relentless support of the left by the mainstream media. The right has to depend on internet media and Fox News to spread its point of view.

Image via Pxhere.

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There is an obvious double standard in deciding if a police officer should be charged with violating a use-of-force policy

On January 6th an unarmed 5' 2", 110 pound Caucasian female was shot by police with minimal media coverage and even less outrage. A Google search reports approximately 1,060,000 results for Ashli Babbitt and 293,000,000 for George Floyd.

Ashli Babbitt was a decorated Air force veteran and a Trump supporter.

George Floyd, despite what the media is attempting to portray him as, was a criminal. George Floyd's family received a $27 million settlement. Barbra Streisand donated an unknown number of shares of Disney stock to his daughter. Kanye West donated $2M for an education plan for her. She also received a full scholarship from Texas Southern University in honor of her father's "powerful legacy." The outrage was international, and several U. S. cities burned resulting in $2 billion in damage and 12 people murdered.

Both individuals were involved in a criminal act. Floyd was resisting arrest and his fate would have been different if he had cooperated. Babbitt was not given an opportunity to submit or resist arrest.

The officer involved in Floyd's death was convicted of murder. His conviction may have been influenced by a fear of riots. Defense attorney Eric Nelson said, "The emotional response that that case creates sets the stage for a jury to say, 'I'm not going to vote not guilty because I'm concerned about the outcome.' "

The officer in Ashli Babbitt's death was cleared of any crime. The Justice Department determined, "the officer could reasonably believe he was firing in self-defense or in defense of members of Congress." Every incident where a White police officer is involved in the death of a Black individual is immediately publicized, including the officer's name and frequently home address. These incidents often lead to riots.

Yahoo reported that Babbitt's, "death became a rallying cause on the right." So far there have not been any riots in response to her death.

Babbitts lawyer, Terry Roberts, will file a lawsuit against Capitol Police. He claimed, This was an egregious act of excessive force. Witnesses confirm that the officer did not give Ashli a single verbal warning prior to firing. This incident raises the question of the Capitol Police' s Use-of-Force Continuum. This policy outlines the stages of permissible force use by law enforcement. The first level is Officer Presence which requires no force for compliance. Next is verbalization. This is crucial in letting a subject know what is expected and what are the consequences of non-compliance. Next is physical restraint. At the lower level it involves controlling the subject through physical means. It can escalate to the use of chemical weapons and tasers. The highest level of restraint is use of a lethal weapon. It should only be used if the subject is a serious threat to the officer or another individual. The officer should also take note of the surroundings. It is unwise to shoot into a crowd.

The officer who shot Ashli Babbitt also had plenty of time to decide to use his taser. This was not a split-second decision. There is no mention of any disciplinary action taken for this officer's violation of the use-of-force policy.

Following recent protests, the D.C. Council passed reform measures that require the city to swiftly make public the names of officers who use force on citizens, but this applies only to District of Columbia police, not Capitol Police.

The reason why the officer who shot Ashli Babbitt remains anonymous may have more to do with embarrassment rather than for his protection. With the government's increased emphasis on removing "extremists" from government, it would be inconvenient if it were learned that the officer had any kind of extremist background. There is speculation that the officer is possibly an extreme supporter of Black Lives Matter. This could mean the difference between a justified shooting and a cold-blooded execution.

The total secrecy surrounding the Justice Department's handling to the Babbitt investigation is a cause for concern. They claim they conducted a 3-month-long thorough investigation. It was held in secret with no public testimony and no media were allowed in to report on the proceedings. Jonathan Turley claims, "If the officer intended to shoot Babbitt, it would not likely meet the standard for a justified shooting under governing cases like Tennessee v. Garner (1985)." He also noted that "the Babbitt decision leaves more questions than answers for the public and police alike." The U.S. Attorneys Office and U.S. Department of Justice have offered condolences to Ms. Babbitts family.

Photo credit: Twitter via the Times of Israel

John Dietrich is a freelance writer and the author of The Morgenthau Plan: Soviet Influence on American Postwar Policy (Algora Publishing). He has a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations from St. Marys University. He is retired from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. He is featured on the BBC's program "Things We Forgot to Remember:" Morgenthau Plan and Post-War Germany.

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There's a photo rocketing around the internet that, once seen, cannot be unseen. It shows Joe and Jill Biden posing with the nonagenarian Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. However, it appears that the Carters have become Lilliputians, for they are teeny people in a teeny house next to the giant Bidens. Also, Biden's invariable mask is missing, despite the Carters' advanced age. The whole thing is bizarre and almost certainly deliberately intended to make Biden seem important.

We know that when they went to visit Georgia, Jill and Joe Biden stopped in Plains to visit Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. Here's a little video from a local outlet doing the usual "human interest" shtick about the visit:

I hope you noticed the vast crowds of ten or twenty people assembled to watch the most popularly elected president in the history of America. Plains is small (about 800 people), but Sumter County, of which it is a part, boasts almost 30,000 people. It's amazing how few bothered to show up.

What you should also have noticed is that Rosalynn, while she definitely shrank with age (she's 93), isn't that much shorter than either Jill or Joe Biden. A photo from just two years ago, when White House occupants showed up at George H.W. Bush's funeral, shows the relative height difference between the Bidens and the Carters, with Jill appearing to be almost the same height as Jimmy:

The above tweeted out photo, incidentally, holds the clue to explaining this very strange photo showing Jill and Joe kneeling beside Jimmy and Rosalynn, both of whom are seated in upholstered armchairs:

Were pleased to share this wonderful photo from the @POTUS and @FLOTUS visit to see the Carters in Plains, Ga.!



Thank you President and Mrs. Biden! pic.twitter.com/QcA33iUev4  The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) May 4, 2021

If you do the mental mapping, even if all four were to stand up, the proportions of this photo suggest that Jill and Joe would be close to twice Jimmy's and Rosalynn's height.

The weirdness doesn't stop there. First, did you notice that Jill and Joe, who are in close proximity to people in their 90s, are not wearing masks? Joe wears his mask everywhere, all the time. Even though he's been vaccinated, he considers it his patriotic duty to wear it outdoors, in that bright, disinfecting sunlight, and when he, who has been vaccinated, is in the presence of other vaccinated people. Yet here he and his wife are, unmasked, with two of the most vulnerable people in America.

What's also weird is the room's proportions. It's not just that the Carters are tiny. Note how small and low everything else is: the chairs, the pictures on the wall, the upholstered chair next to Biden, the cabinet behind Biden, and the side table between the Carters. Is it really possible that, as they apparently lost at least a foot in height, the Carters entirely renovated their home with furnishings appropriate for little people? If so, this is the first time I've ever seen or heard of elderly people doing that.

Given how strange the photo is, it's no surprise that the internet memes exploded from both sides of the political aisle:

How the Hell did they get the Bidens INTO the Carters house? pic.twitter.com/p4cSIm255l  Xi Jinpings Bat Dealer (@GameOnJD) May 4, 2021

At first I just thought the Carters were tiny but the Bidens have grown so much since being vaccinated they cant even fit in the White House anymore. pic.twitter.com/eXvun5RbOb  trans pokemon trainer  (@JondersFPT) May 4, 2021

Original -> Big Carters - Big Bidens



And none of them look real... ; ) pic.twitter.com/L4a1th5S9C  DeplorableFaganator (@Faganator) May 4, 2021

more exclusive pics of the bidens visiting the carters pic.twitter.com/nVSlPvuZQI  syd . (@sydastry) May 4, 2021

Here's my theory: Biden is the smallest man ever to occupy the White House. I don't mean in height. Instead, I'm referring to metrics such as intellect, accomplishments, and moral decency. It's therefore imperative that photographs puff him up, just as court painters once painted monarchs as much more magnificent than they really were.

To that end, the photographer made sure that the Bidens were on the far left and right of the photograph and used a wide-angle lens to make them look big and the Carters small. In other words, we're looking at regime propaganda with the Carters' willing connivance  and of course, when you are doing propaganda, no masks allowed!

Image: The Carters and the Bidens tweeted out by The Carter Center.

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We are all used to political spin and outright lies. We're especially used to them when they come from the left. However, Jen Psaki's recent statement to the press about "our southern border" is so unbelievable that there are only two possible explanations: (1) Psaki and the entire Biden administration are psychotically delusional, which is scary, considering the power they wield, or (2) they are clear-eyed about the power they wield and the control they have over the narrative, which means they're making these laughable claims to taunt their political opponents, which is even scarier.

Before you listen to Psaki's statement, be sure to orient yourself to reality: Obama opened cages for kids in 2015, when they flooded the country. Trump ran on the promise to build a wall. Despite the Republican Congress failing him and leftists suing him left, right, and center, with complicit judges handing down constitutionally laughable orders that Trump obeyed, Trump nevertheless kept his promise.

Trump built hundreds of miles of border wall, ended Obama's "kids in cages" policy, and returned America's immigration system to one consistent with American law and with humane policies. He did this in part by creating a good relationship with Latin American countries, especially Mexico, which used its own police power to keep illegal aliens from flooding America's borders.

The moment Biden entered office, he loudly and clearly did away with every aspect of Trump's border policies, all of which aligned with United States law. Instead, Biden explicitly instructed ICE to cease enforcing the laws. The result has been an unstoppable, overwhelming flood of people, especially children, who are coming in with smugglers and traffickers.

The children, many of them sick, are warehoused along with equally sick adults. They're sleeping at military bases and hotels. Then, while many of these illegal aliens are still sick, Biden is putting all of them on buses and planes and distributing them throughout America, where they'll vanish from the ICE system and make their way on the welfare rolls. Most recently, Biden pulled all funding from the wall.

Have you got those facts fixed firmly in mind? Good. Because you're going to need those reality touchstones when you hear Psaki's statement to the press:

.@PressSec says that the influx of immigrants at the southern border is "something that began during and was something that was exacerbated by the Trump administration." pic.twitter.com/iacLlRwxVg  Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 4, 2021

After four years of an immigration system rooted in destructive and chaotic policies, President Biden is taking the challenge head on and is building a fair, orderly, and humane immigration system. That's our objective. After coming into office, our administration immediately jumped into action to address the influx of migrants at the border  something that began during and was exacerbated by the Trump administration.

The Daily Caller points out that Psaki's pstatistics (sic) about children at the border are dishonest because she's hiding the fact that, while the children are leaving Customs and Border Protection's control, they're now being warehoused at Health and Human Services facilities. "The number of unaccompanied minors in these facilities increased 89.9% in one month while minors held by the CBP decreased by 83.4%."

As of this writing (around 1 A.M. on Wednesday), none of the left-wing media outlets have said a word about Psaki's pstatements (sic). CNN, MSNBC, MSN, CBS, ABC, The New York Times, and the Washington Post are all mum. Many of them are pleased that Biden did away with Trump's cap on the number of refugees to be allowed in. Another story about which they're surprisingly silent is Kamala Harris's claim that climate change is causing the flood of illegal aliens pouring into America. The British paper The Sun, rather than any American outlet, provides the best coverage.

An age-old adage holds that the first casualty of war is truth. If that's the case, the Biden administration has openly declared war on the United States of America. What we are seeing here is not Trump's salesman-like puffery, which saw him embroider non-essential facts while sticking honestly and like glue to important data. It's not even Obama's sly lies and promises.

As we saw with Biden's open lies about the Georgia election integrity law, the Biden administration has committed itself to a fantasy realm in which the truth is whatever it wants to say. If American voters let the administration get away with this battlefield tactic, America will most decidedly lose this war.

Image: Jen Psaki. Video screen grab.

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The attorney for Derek Chauvin, Eric Nelson, has filed motions for a new trial and for a hearing to impeach the verdict based on jury misconduct (a so-called Schwartz Hearing under Minnesota law). Nearly a dozen bases are cited for a new trial, but not the recent revelations about juror Brandon Mitchell wearing a BLM t-shirt at a rally and opining that people should get on juries "to spark some change."

The Associated Press lists the reasons the motions cites for a new trial:

Nelson cited many reasons in his request for a new trial. He said Judge Peter Cahill abused the discretion of the court and violated Chauvin's right to due process and a fair trial when he denied Nelson's request to move the trial to another county due to pretrial publicity. He also said Cahill abused his discretion when he denied an earlier request for a new trial based on publicity during the proceedings, which Nelson said threatened the fairness of the trial. Nelson said that publicity included "intimidation" of the defense expert witness, which he said could have a "far-reaching chilling effect" on the ability of defendants to get expert witnesses in high-profile cases, including the upcoming cases of the three other former officers charged in Floyd's death. "The publicity here was so pervasive and so prejudicial before and during this trial that it amounted to a structural defect in the proceedings," Nelson wrote. Nelson also took issue with Cahill's refusal to sequester the jury for the trial or warn them to avoid all media, and with his refusal to allow a man who was with Floyd at the time of his arrest to testify. Nelson said Cahill also abused his discretion when he submitted jury instructions that Nelson said failed to accurately reflect the law on the murder charges and use of force, permitted the state to present cumulative evidence on use of force, and ordered the state to lead witnesses on direct examination, among other things. Nelson also asked the judge for a hearing to impeach the verdict on the grounds that the jury committed misconduct, felt race-based pressure, felt intimidated or threatened, and/or failed to adhere to jury instructions, though the filing did not include details about that assertion. To impeach a verdict is to question its validity. The brief did not mention recent reports that one of the jurors participated in an Aug. 28 march in Washington, D.C., to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have to assume that the reason Nelson didn't cite Mitchell's lack of completeness in his answers to voir dire questioning of members of the jury pool and his potential biasing of the jury has to do with time constraints. But it is almost certain that Mitchell's conduct will be subjected to future legal action, including possible perjury charges. But legal authorities whose expertise dwarfs my amateur understanding are skeptical that Mitchell will be in legal jeopardy or that the conviction will be thrown out.

Isabel Van Brugen of the Epoch Times covers the wiggle room Mitchell has:

Mitchell on Monday told the Star Tribune that his uncle posted the photo on social media during the event, a commemoration of the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech from 1963. Mitchell asserted that the event was not a rally for Floyd's death or against police brutality. All 12 jurors were asked during selection if they had attended any such events as part of a 14-page questionnaire, as well as for their opinions on the Black Lives Matter movement. Mitchell responded "no" to a question asking if he, or anyone close to him, had ever attended or participated in such events, according to the Star Tribune. Mitchell claimed he had been transparent as a juror about his favorable view of the BLM movement. "I think they asked if I attended any protests for George Floyd or anything for police brutality. My answer was no because I hadn't," he told WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. "This particular march was more so for voting, voter registration. Getting people out to get out and vote for the presidential election that was upcoming a couple months afterward  This was the only thing I attended." "It was huge to get people geared for voter turnout, so being a part of that, being able to attend, you know, the same location where Martin Luther King gave his speech was a historic moment," Mitchell added. "Either way, I was going to D.C. for this event, even if George Floyd was still alive."

On the other hand:

Other images taken at the event show individuals dressed in BLM T-shirts, carrying BLM flags, and other signs with slogans such as "I Can't Breathe."

And the march Mitchell attended was "called the Commitment March: Get Your Knee Off Our Necks, a reference to George Floyd's death."

Jonathan Turley cautions that the overworked, outspent, and outgunned attorney Nelson may be held to account for failing to investigate Mitchell sufficiently:

The controversy is strikingly similar to discoveries made about Juror 1261 in the trial of Trump associate Roger Stone. I wrote a number of columns about Tomeka Hart who clearly gave false or misleading answers in voir dire. Hart is a Democratic activist and critic of the Trump administration. She not only participated in undisclosed protests and posted anti-Trump statements on the Internet but specifically discussed the Stone case. However, District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson engaged in willful blindness to excuse Hart's conduct and avoid ordering a new trial. I predicted that the court would dismiss the motion rather than defend the defendant's right to an unbiased jury. The court simply brushed aside these clear examples of bias. (snip) I do agree with Judge Jackson that there is question of whether this information "could have been discovered earlier through the exercise of due diligence." (snip) The defense will have the same uphill battle in the Chauvin appeal and the question is whether there is anything in addition to to photo. It will also have to be prepared to answer, as in the Stone case, why it did not perform a full Internet search on prospective jurors.

At a practical, as opposed to a legal, level, Judge Cahill has already overruled several defense motions, including a change of venue, and shows no signs of wanting to overrule himself. He does, after all, live there, and knows that his home and family, as well as his personal safety, are at risk to the mobs that have shown a willingness to burn, loot, and murder  the other meaning of BLM in practical terms. We may natter on all we wish about the principles of justice, but justice is in the hands of flesh-and-blood individuals, and courage is not always the predominant response.

It is also worth noting that the appeals court judges in Minnesota, including the justices of the state Supreme Court, are elected. My guess is that a reversal of the conviction at the appellate level is unlikely, given the probability that extensive rioting would be triggered, and the appeals court judges or justices would be held responsible. I don't see much hope at the federal appeals level, either, up to and including the Supreme Court of the United States.

These are the repellant realities of justice today when sacrifice of a white cop's freedom is demanded by murderous, violent mobs.

Photo credit: Minnesota Department of Corrections via WCCO TV.

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Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina made an unusual splash with his response to Joe Biden's quasiState of the Union address, declaring  with the weight of his life experience in the real Jim Crow era in comparison to today  that America "is not a racist country."

It was warm, engaging, and strongly argued, prompting pundits to declare him a rising Republican star  from South Carolina, no less, the state whose black voters vaulted the then-faltering Joe Biden into the Democrat nomination spot. South Carolina, eh?

Both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were absolutely forced to respond to that, which is unusual for a supposed president and vice president to have to do in the wake of a State of the Union address, as Wall Street Journal columnist William McGurn notes here. Ordinarily, people pay attention to the president's speech, not the rebuttal. But Scott's rebuttal is what got the attention.

The left was vile, spewing out a slew of racist epithets against Scott for his "heresy." When Scott said America wasn't racist, they sought to prove him wrong  by hurling every racist epithet they could think of at him, as if to prove him wrong by showing them their own stripes. "Uncle Tim," "Boy," and pictures of Al Jolson in blackface were just some of the disgusting things I saw on Twitter, all of them posted by leftists. I wrote about that here.

In the piece, I noted that white leftists had some nerve claiming to speak for black people, as they did. This is where Lamar County, Texas's Democrat party leader, Gary O'Connor, comes in. O'Connor, who, based on his picture, appears white, put up a post on Facebook calling Scott "an oreo," of all things.

This was probably the nastiest racist insult directed against Scott of them all. It's a creepy, demeaning term, reducing human beings to a cheap factory cookie label, and done to declare that any black person who succeeds, or maybe marries a white person, or gets good grades in school, is "acting white." Try to be less white, as Coca-Cola's racist Critical Race Theory consultant likes to say. Remember when the Smithsonian put out that literature that declared that anyone who shows up on time for a job is acting white? That kind of crap is what leftists "think," and it's prevalent on the left. The term originated with blacks jealous of the success of other blacks, so to hear a white person now using it is especially creepy. Scott's an "oreo"? What is O'Connor? A different kind of sandwich cookie?

According to the Daily Mail, and others, it went down very badly with black voters, as it rightly should. Oh, hell, it goes down badly with anyone of any color who isn't insane. It's an insult that tells black people that anything good that they do for themselves makes them white-person wannabes, so let's all slide into the mud of underclass values and march in lockstep for Democrats. If you don't, "you ain't black," as another Democrat, Joe Biden, once said.

So Connor was sufficiently hearing from people about it that he took the post down. Then he apologized. Then he offered his resignation as Democrat party chief in Lamar County, Texas. Obviously, something big was happening that was hurting Democrats in Texas. Perhaps someone told him to do it. The latest news is that the Democrats refused to accept the resignation, so the whole thing ended up being symbolic. The Democrats' refusal to accept was in a way, understandable: Lamar County, Texas, nearly 200 miles northeast of Dallas, with its biggest city, Paris, Texas, is about as solid a red county as exists in red-state Texas. Across the board, the electoral results of 2020 shows Republicans winning by a 3-to-1 margin. A few GOP candidates won by even higher margins, as these 2020 results show here. Lamar County's Democrats probably couldn't get anyone to lead that county with those odds, because nobody likes to lead a party organization that always loses, especially in a relatively small county by Texas standards, with a population of about 50,000, only 6,300 of whom are black. So on practical grounds, the embattled Democrats of Texas probably wouldn't want to lose O'Connor. Besides, other leftists hurled racist insults, why should this leftist be singled out? They probably all thought the same thing themselves.

The damage was done, though. And make no mistake  the Scott speech and the leftist reaction show all the signs of having an impact in Texas and beyond.

One, Scott is popular, and not exactly in the same way many others black conservatives are popular, such as Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas, whose style is cerebral, but popular in a popular way, one that reaches out to black voters by speaking optimistically, admitting failures, and showing that he's shared and lived their same experiences. Among Democrats, neither Barack Obama, son of a third-world intellectual, nor Kamala Harris, daughter of communist professor, both with pampered upbringings, could do anything like that. And it's probably notable that Scott has dark skin, not light skin like Obama or Harris, given the associations of privilege based on lighter skin color. Even Angela Davis complained about that in one of her books, after some of the Black Panthers she associated with argued she wasn't "black enough." So to attack Scott on racist, rather than ideological grounds, is amazingly thin ice right there. It ultimately signals to all voters that the left has no arguments, just ad hominem attacks, and it bothers black voters all the more because of Scott's personal story.

Two, Texas Republicans effectively sprang to action. Texas GOP Party chairman Allen West, who is black, made powerful counter-attacks on the despicable O'Connor "oreo" post along with the first call for him to resign.

In a video posted on Twitter Tuesday shortly before O'Connor announced his intent to resign, West said he was "sick and tired of the duplicitous hypocrisy of the true party of racism." He said he would be sending a box of Oreos to the Texas Democratic Party. "Until this guy resigns, I am going to stand up and speak out against the party of systemic racism," West said. "The party of the soft bigotry of low expectations."

West was brutal. West is a former military man with an obvious grasp of tactics and strategy, and you wouldn't want to find yourself on a battlefield with him on the other end of it.

Three, Texas swung red after Democrats put enormous billionaire-dollar resources into turning Texas blue. I don't have precise figures, but it's $55 million here, $12 million there, and the money rolling from all sorts of bigfoot outside groups, in for the flip. The 2020 election results for Texas Democrats, though, were a surprise disaster. President Trump, according to the Dallas Morning News analysis, was the critical element in why Texas voted for so many Republicans down-ballot, and sure enough, Trump brought in more black voters than any Republican candidate before him. All the claims of Texas turning blue "any second now" have become a running joke, as this amusing Texas Monthly list of quotes shows here.

According to NBC News in an analysis published Nov. 4:

Support for the Democratic presidential candidate reached a new low among Black men this year, according to the NBC News poll of early and Election Day voters. Eighty percent of Black men supported Joe Biden, down slightly from Hilary Clinton's 82 percent in 2016 but significantly down from Barack Obama's level of support among Black men in 2012 and 2008.

Signs are there that black voters already are walking away from the Democrats. Look at how tiny the black representation is on the Texas Democrat party leadership's own website.

Four, the Trump wave over Texas is continuing. Here's the news from the weekend, from Washington Post columnist Henry Olsen:

Republicans shut out Democrats in Texas's special election. That's a bad omen for Team Blue.

He begins:

President Biden's success in the suburbs last year has led many Democrats to crow about their chance to create a new version of Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal coalition, which dominated U.S. politics for nearly 50 years. Saturday's special election in Texas's 6th Congressional District shows how far the party has to go to realize its dreams. Texas's 6th is a microcosm of the sort of place Democrats need to capture to establish a dominant majority. The seat is based in the southern suburbs of Fort Worth and moved rapidly to the left in presidential elections during the Trump era. Mitt Romney won it by 16 percent in 2012, but Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) won it by only three points against Beto O'Rourke in their 2018 Senate race, a showing Donald Trump repeated last year. As a result, Democrats were mildly optimistic that they could gain the seat when it became vacant after Republican Rep. Ron Wright died in February after being diagnosed with covid-19. The special election's structure encouraged those hopes. Under Texas law, all candidates are placed on the same ballot, with the top two advancing to a general election regardless of party should no one receive 50 percent of the vote. Saturday's race had 23 candidates, including 11 Republicans. Most Democrats expected their leading candidate would advance to the runoff, a reasonable expectation given that both Biden and O'Rourke had received 48 percent of the vote.

So now the Texans will choose between two Republicans in the Fort Worth area district. The Democrat organization couldn't even put one candidate past the post in a crowded field of contenders.

Now they got this "oreo" guy hurling creepy racist insults against a black Republican from the state whose black voters earlier had put Joe Biden into the catbird seat. Sound like a winner? Sound like a guy who will rope in black voters? And nobody among the Democrats wants him to resign. Sound like a party on the upswing with bright prospects in Texas? Gonna say no. And it was these racist jerks themselves who were hoist with their own petard. Same old Democrats who instituted Jim Crow  somehow it always comes out.

Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License.
"I'm from the government; I'm here to help you." It's the phrase we all dread.

California's government A.B. 5 legislation of 2020 sure "helped" the state's independent contractors. Those Who Know Best thought Uber drivers, musicians, freelance writers  gig workers  needed better wages, good benefits, and other goodies. So they decreed that contractors had to give up or have severely limited their independent status. They had to become employees of companies (which unions hoped were organized or someday would be).

The idea, we're told, was that gig workers in the West Coast Worker's Paradise had nothing to lose but their chains. But as with so many things of leftist roots, there were unintended consequences: people lost their jobs. Upon California's passage of A.B. 5, left-wing publication Vox, a critic of the gig economy, promptly had to fire 200 freelance writers. And so bad was the economic train wreck of A.B. 5 that a later state referendum at least freed Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash from it. Yet the law remains a barrier to entry for the economic hopes of many.

Four states  New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Washington, the usual suspects  have similar laws (and Massachusetts looks as though it's tightening up its unenforced law).

And here's really bad news: Joe Biden likes the idea.

As a result, the Bidenistas want to Californicate the entire country, freeing independent contractors from their misery. "In a lot of cases gig workers should be classified as employees," labor secretary Marty Walsh told Reuters. While the secretary says he doesn't begrudge companies their profits and revenues, "[w]e want to make sure that success trickles down to the worker." (Translation: I'm from the government. I'm here to help you).

Democrats are pushing legislation in Congress that essentially mirrors California's A.B. 5. At least the proposed federal legislation doesn't hide its union-driven purpose: it's called the Protecting the Right to Organize Act.

While the gig economy may not work for everyone, some people like the freedom of working when they want, where they want, and how they want because of their desire to stay at home with children, make a few extra bucks on a side hustle, have something to do in retirement, or some other lifestyle-based desire. Or maybe they just want to grow their contracting gig into something bigger.

So, government, some people like their oppression. Except it's called freedom.

And it's a good gig.

Thanks, but no thanks. Leave us alone.

A retired marketing professor, broadcaster, and journalist, Mike Landry is a freelance writer in Northwest Arkansas. He can be reached at landry_74464us@yahoo.com.

Image: Pixabay.

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Further cementing its well deserved reputation as a far-left propaganda wing of the Democrat party, the Huffington Post ran an article Monday that blamed former president Donald Trump for the escalating number of attacks on Asians throughout American cities. The most recent assault occurred Sunday night in midtown Manhattan.

"The Hate Crimes Task Force of the New York Police Department has asked for the public's help in locating an individual who viciously struck an Asian woman in the head with a hammer after the attacker demanded that she and her friend remove their face masks," the article said. "Investigators posted a disturbing video of the confrontation Sunday," the HuffPo added, saying the attacker "appeared to be a woman dressed in black."

Actually, the perpetrator not only "appeared" to be dressed in black, but very much "appeared" to be of the African-American persuasion. (Not surprisingly, the latter fact was not mentioned in the HuffPo piece. One has to wonder if the same type of omission would have taken place had the attacker been white. Not likely.) The race of the hammer-wielding woman is not a big deal to the Huffington Post, but it's an important factor in refuting its claim against Trump. Most important to HuffPo is the race of the victim and what HuffPo's so-called journalist believes was the motive for the attack.

Not wanting to let a crisis go to waste, HuffPo wasted no time in turning its sights on the 45th president. "Asian hate crimes skyrocketed 150% in the nation's largest cities last year over the previous year," the articled stated, "after former President Donald Trump repeatedly blamed the Chinese for COVID-19 and referred to the pandemic as the 'Chinese virus' and the 'kung flu.'" There you have it. Evil Orange Man caused the increase in hate crimes against Asians. Period.

HuffPo's predictable claim doesn't hold water. First of all, despite constant ramblings from the China apologists at the CDC, the WHO, and the Democrat Party, everyone (yes, even the hacks at the Huffington Post) knows that the virus originated in China. Trump didn't create it, and he didn't knowingly spread it worldwide through flights out of Wuhan while forbidding said flights to land anywhere in China. That was the CCP's doing.

Second, it's well known  and documented  that the overwhelming number of hate crimes in this country against Asians are perpetrated by blacks. Since ninety percent of black voters chose Biden in 2020, not many of them listened to Trump or followed his dictates...especially inner-city thugs who assault innocent victims. That's Democrat territory. Blacks who listened to Trump and voted Republican are, for the most part, law-abiding patriots who are tired of the Democrats' destructive policies.

Yes, hate crimes against Asians have increased dramatically...but so have murder rates, assaults, armed robberies, burglaries, arson, etc., etc., etc. Who's really responsible? How about the Democrat politicians who defunded law enforcement, let hundreds of violent criminals walk, and sat and watched while Marxist revolutionaries burned down their cities and looted countless businesses? Meanwhile, they told the cops to stand down and refused to activate the National Guard. But, as always, Democrats refuse to take responsibility for anything. Why should they when they can blame Trump? Especially when the mainstream media repeat their lies ad nauseam.

Sunday night's victim, identified only as Theresa, was rushed to a hospital, where she received stitches for a gash on her forehead and a cut on her head. Theresa said she plans to return to Taiwan and will not come back to New York until it's safer. She may have to wait until Bill de Blasio and Andrew Cuomo leave office.

Image via Pexels.

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During recent court hearings in the U.K., a pair of Islamic terrorists threw temper tantrums and resorted to asinine name-calling. They are Hashem Abedi, who was found guilty of "22 counts of murder, attempted murder and plotting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life over the terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in 2017," and Ahmed Hassan, "who planted the Parsons Green Tube bomb in September 2017 that injured 51 passengers."

According to the report:

Hashem Abedi called a prison guard a 'filthy pig' in court today as he denied assaulting him. Abedi ... entered a not guilty plea to assaulting Paul Edwards [by cutting his head, kicking him, and leaving him with permanent hearing loss] at Belmarsh prison in south-east London[.] ... Asked to enter a plea to the first charge on Thursday, Abedi ... told Westminster Magistrates' Court: 'I did assault that filthy pig, but I don't see any harm in doing that.' ... Ahmed Hassan, who also appeared in court, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mr Edwards[.] ... [A]ddressing the chief magistrate, he said: 'I want you to know that I hate you very much because you are a judge, judging by other than the law of Allah.'

Of some interest is the fact that, while to the unsuspecting reader, the behavior and words of Abedi and Hassan appear childish, immature, and downright silly, so too do they perfectly conform to Islam's own words and behavior.

Calling non-Muslims "pigs," for example, is virtually as old as Islam itself, finds roots in the Koran, and is all but synonymous with "non-Muslims" as described in Muslim histories and chronicles. (King Alfonso VI of Castile-Leon, who inaugurated the Reconquista in 1085 by liberating Toledo from Islam, was known among his Muslim contemporaries as "that Great Pig.")

Similarly, saying "I did assault that filthy pig, but I don't see any harm in doing that," as Abedi said, is in keeping with Islamic doctrine: not only was the man he attacked an "infidel," but, as a guard, he was exercising authority over the Muslim, Abedi  a scandalizing scenario from an Islamic point of view, since the natural place for all infidels (i.e., "pigs") is to be at the feet of Muslims, not vice versa. As such, certainly Abedi didn't "see any harm" in beating Edwards.

As for Ahmed Hassan's assertion to his judge  "I want you to know that I hate you very much"  no doubt, everyone present, including the judge, assumed that Hassan was merely expressing his anger and sense of powerlessness against the one passing judgment upon him.

The reality is that hating non-Muslims is an Islamic command. In the words of Koran 60:4, "[w]e [Muslims] renounce you [non-Muslims]. Enmity and hate shall forever reign between us  till you believe in Allah alone." Such sentiments are to be applied to all non-Muslims  "even if they be their parents, children, siblings, or extended family," says the Koran (58:22; see also 3:28, 4:89, 4:144, 5:54, 6:40, 9:23). Based on such verses, any number of fatwas, authoritative Islamic decrees from venerable sheikhs, call on Muslims to do things like hate their non-Muslim wives (while "physically" enjoying or benefiting from them) and to hate and be disloyal to the Western nations they reside in.

In short, and as the Islamic State once explained in an unambiguously titled article, "Why We Hate You & Why We Fight You," "[w]e hate you, first and foremost, because you are disbelievers."

Perhaps the ultimate lesson here is not that seemingly silly words and volatile behavior from Muslim terrorists have Islamic antecedents, but rather that Islam  particularly in the guise of its doctrine of jihad  has always attracted the immature and criminal-prone.

Raymond Ibrahim, author of Sword and Scimitar, is a Shillman Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Gatestone Institute.

Image: Haytham Fox

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
Finland is a northern country that allied with the Nazis during World War II to help it fight off the Soviets. It's also known for Finlandia vodka, Nokia phones, and Marimekko designs. It was once a staunch Lutheran country, but it has just proven itself one of the world's most repressive countries when it comes to biblical Christianity  at least the part of Christianity that believes there are only two sexes and that heterosexuality is the norm.

Seventy percent of Finns call themselves "Christians." Indeed, according to Wikipedia, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland isn't just Finland's largest religious body; it's also one of the largest Lutheran churches in the world. As is true across the Western world, though, Finland's allegiance to Christianity is fading, with the Church losing roughly 1% of its members every year. Religion is mostly a pro forma activity (hyperlinks and footnotes omitted):

In 2016, 69.3% of Finnish children were baptized and 82.3% were confirmed in 2012 at the age of 15, and over 90% of the funerals are Christian. However, the majority of Lutherans attend church only for special occasions like Christmas ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. The Lutheran Church estimates that approximately 1.8% of its members attend church services weekly. The average number of church visits per year by church members is approximately two. According to a 2010 Eurobarometer poll, 33% of Finnish citizens responded that they "believe there is a God"; 42% answered that they "believe there is some sort of spirit or life force"; and 22% that they "do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force".

Finland, a constitutional republic, has a typical European constitution, one that speaks in terms of "rights" but that, in fact, makes no distinction between rights, which are inherent, and privileges, which are revocable gifts from the government. In Finland, the constitution spells out "Basic rights and liberties." These rights ostensibly include equality before the law; the "the right to life, personal liberty, integrity and security"; "freedom of movement"; "privacy"; and "freedom of expression." One more thing: "Everyone has the freedom of religion and conscience."

In addition, there are multiple socialist privileges that only pretend to be rights: "Education rights," "Right to one's language and culture," "The right to social security," and "Responsibility for the environment." I'm pretty sure that the right to social security, language, and culture didn't come from the Creator.

It's the absence of a Creator that highlights what's unique about America's rights: they are God-given. That is, they are bigger than man and government, neither of which can take them away. Our God-given rights are the fulcrum on which everything else balances and from which we Americans leverage ourselves into greater liberty than any other citizens on Earth.

If you need proof of the unique difference between American's real rights and the simulacrums of rights in other Western countries, look what happened to Paivi Rasanen, who once served as Finland's minister of the interior: the 61-year-old Rasanen has been criminally charged for expressing traditional views on marriage and sexuality. The press release from the Finnish state prosecutor, when run through Google translate, explains her "crime" (hat tip: Rod Dreher; emphasis mine):

Rasanen has written, "God created them as men and women. Gay relationships challenge the Christian conception of man." In her writing, Rasanen has presented opinions and information that denigrate homosexuals. Among other things, Rasanen has claimed that homosexuality is a scientifically proven disorder of psychosexual development. Pohjola has published the article on the websites of the Finnish Luther Foundation and the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission. In addition, Rasanen has published on her Twitter and Instagram account and Facebook page an opinion that denigrates homosexuals, according to which homosexuality is a shame and a sin. [Note: She tweeted out a Bible verse. RD] Rasanen, on the program of the Yle Puhe radio channel, in its episode "What did Jesus think about gays?" made derogatory statements about homosexuals. In it, Rasanen has said that if homosexuality is genetic, then it is a genetic degeneration and a genetic disease that causes the disease. In Rasanen's view, homosexuals are also not created by God like heterosexuals. According to the indictment, the statements further specified in Rasanen's indictments are derogatory and discriminatory against homosexuals. The statements violate the equality and dignity of homosexuals, so they transcend the boundaries of freedom of speech and religion.

I'm not defending Rasanen's crude nastiness in expressing her religious beliefs. I'm just pointing out that the Finnish constitution's promise of the rights to religious freedom and freedom of speech isn't worth the paper it's written on. Now, Mr. Catholic, pro-abortion Biden has set out his administration's fealty to "equity," race, and transgenderism, the only thing standing between those Americans who oppose the Democrat agenda and the federal government pressing criminal charges is our own Bill of Rights  which we hope is a lot more than Finland's worthless piece of paper.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
My guess is that Jeff Bezos does not want Al Sharpton rallying support for unionization of his workforce, which now numbers well over a million souls. A buck-an-hour increase for that many people really adds up fast.

Maybe that explains this article in the Washington Post, shamelessly promoting and (dare I say it?) whitewashing the career of a race-baiter, pogrom-inciter demagogue like Al Sharpton. The title and subtitle are only a foretaste of the dreck that follows:

The space filled by Al Sharpton's prayers and politics The de facto senior pastor of a leaderless movement, he shifts from the street corner to the pulpit in a single sentence

Read into the text, and you find P.R. for Sharpton such as this:

In the thick of calls for police reform, Sharpton injects a sense of spiritual righteousness into his demands for action. He's someone who quotes scripture as readily as public policy. This protester from an older generation gives public props to the new marchers who call for social justice  and who do so without a prologue of prayer or a reading from the New Testament. (snip) He has the ability to speak in intimate terms about victims he does not know by drawing on a feeling of heartbreak and exhaustion that he does. He places victims within the timeless context of biblical doctrine even as he cuts to the exigent politics of a movement. He shifts from the street corner to the pulpit in a single sentence. He is the de facto senior pastor of a leaderless movement at a time when burying the dead is a statement about social justice and political capital as much as it is a rite of mourning. (snip) Instead of offering reassurance that each day will get better and joy will come in the morning, Sharpton stands in the void  alongside the family. And personal grief takes on the tenor of a moral protest.

In a brief nod to Sharpton's sordid track record, only one incident is mentioned:

And for some, he remains the outside agitator who is seen with derision and suspicion  forever the big man with the bouffant in the 1980s who believed and reiterated the discredited story that Tawana Brawley was the victim of racial and sexual violence.

How about mentioning the Crown Heights Pogrom? Jeff Dunetz describes how it:

... began as a tragic car accident in Crown Heights Brooklyn that Al Sharpton escalated into a full-blown pogrom against the Jews. Through this day the MSM incorrectly calls the Crown Heights Riot, "racial violence." The media protects Sharpton by giving it a politically correct label "racial violence between the area's Blacks and Jews." However, the violence was not two-sided and was not racial. The Crown Heights riot was an attack on "whites" by the neighborhood's Caribbean community, it was an anti-Semitic attack on Jews fueled in large part by Al Sharpton, the "Reverend" who does not believe in the 9th commandment about "bearing false witness."

Sharpton fanned the flames of racial resentment, and at the funeral of the victim of the car accident (the driver was a Jewish rabbinical student) dredged up classic tropes of Jew-haters:

The world will tell us he was killed by accident. Yes, it was a social accident. ... It's an accident to allow an apartheid ambulance service in the middle of Crown Heights. ... Talk about how Oppenheimer in South Africa sends diamonds straight to Tel Aviv and deals with the diamond merchants right here in Crown Heights. The issue is not anti-Semitism; the issue is apartheid. ... All we want to say is what Jesus said: If you offend one of these little ones, you got to pay for it. No compromise, no meetings, no kaffe klatsch, no skinnin' and grinnin'. Pay for your deeds.

Or how about the massacre at Freddy's Fashion Mart in Harlem, where eight people died when a store owned by a Jew was firebombed by a demonstrator alongside Sharpton, who called the store's owner an "outside interloper" ?

Or how about the two (!) mysterious fires that destroyed his tax and campaign finance records that were subject to legal inquiry?

Philip Klein of the Washington Examiner mentions another Sharpton Jew-hating remark:

In July 1991, a controversy erupted when Leonard Jeffries, a professor at New York's City College gave a speech blasting "rich Jews" for financing the slave trade and for controlling Hollywood so they could "put together a system of destruction for black people." Sharpton rushed to defend Jeffries, and in the middle of the swirling controversy, declared, "If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house."

Frankly, I don't see any of the "spiritual righteousness" that Ghivan attributes to Sharpton. But maybe she sees saving her boss Bezos from unionization as a spiritual quest.

Hat tip: Ed Lasky.

Photo credit: Steve Terrell, CC BY 2.0 license.

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.




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Interview: CPC devises formula for driving China's speedy development, says Panamanian politician

Xinhua) 13:23, May 05, 2021

PANAMA CITY, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC), commemorating its 100th anniversary this year, has blazed a specific trail with Chinese characteristics and achieved incredible feats in social development, environmental conservation and public governance, a Panamanian politician has said.

China has found the formula for fostering development and effectively improving the wellbeing of its people, said Hector Aleman, secretary of international relations of Panama's ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD), in a recent interview with Xinhua.

China has taken into account the balance between social development and environmental protection, he said, adding that "finding that balance and ensuring that more and more Chinese people get out of poverty is an amazing feat" that is hard to achieve for any country.

Talking about China's vision on building a "Beautiful China," he said: "it must be understood as the possibility of guaranteeing economic development while keeping balance with the environment. And it is also a goal that China is meeting its commitments to the global development goals set by the United Nations."

Aleman has visited China for several times, and has thus witnessed the country's speedy development. In December 2019, he led a PRD delegation to China and signed an agreement with the CPC to strengthen ties between the two parties.

The purpose of his visits to China was to understand how the CPC manages a highly complex, large country with a population of 1.4 billion, and how it addresses the different needs of the people, he said.

In each stage of the CPC's history, "there have been capable leaders, taking the lead from the party to drive each stage and accomplish goals," he said.

Aleman also emphasized the political philosophy that President Xi Jinping has expounded in the book "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," saying that some concepts embodied in the volumes underscored the need "for the party to be an example, and for its leaders to be the first to gather these characteristics in order to lead the people. This is fundamental."

Noting that China is a country with its own political, economic and social characteristics, the Panamanian politician said: "it is about respecting this diversity, to realize its potential, not suppress it, to guarantee this co-existence. It relates to guaranteeing a system that does more than benefiting from this diversity." (Video reporters: Su Jin, Yu Lizhen; video editor: Zhang Yucheng)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
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According to a Counterpoint Research analysis, MediaTek will remain the worlds no.1 SoC manufacturer. The company has released its expectations for 2021, and it seems like Qualcomm wont be able to trump MediaTek.

MediaTek will increase its market share, and remain worlds no.1 SoC manufacturer

MediaTek is tipped to increase its 2020 market share, which stood at 32-percent. It is expected to grab 37-percent in 2021. Qualcomms market share will also grow, from 28-percent to 31-percent, according to Counterpoint.

HiSilicons market share is expected to drop drastically. Huaweis HiSilicon had 10-percent of the market last year, but that number will drop significantly. Unisoc is expected to grow from 4-percent to 6-percent, while Samsung will drop from 11-percent to 8-percent. Apple is also mentioned here, as it will increase its share from 15-percent to 16-percent.

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According to Counterpoint, MediaTek will gain an advantage over Qualcomm due to the supply constraints around RFICs (radio-frequency integrated circuits) from Samsungs factory in Austin, Texas.

It is mentioned that theres also a generally smaller yield of 5nm wafers that Qualcomm is using, but MediaTek is not. The 5G market does look a bit different, though.

Qualcomm will retain its lead in the 5G SoC market

Qualcomm will come back knocking in H2 2021. 9 out of 10 smartphones out there are expected to be powered by SoCs from Qualcomm, Apple, or MediaTek.

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Based on Counterpoints report, Qualcomm will increase its 5G SoC market share from 28-percent to 30-percent. It will be followed closely by Apple and MediaTek, though.

Apples 5G market share is expected to grow from 25-percent to 29-percent. MediaTeks market share will grow drastically, from 15-percent to 28-percent. Samsung will remain at 10-percent, while HiSilicon will drop drastically, from 23-percent to well, a percentage that Counterpoint didnt mention, but the difference will be huge.

It will be interesting to see how accurate will Counterpoint Researchs analysis will be. The company is usually spot on when it comes to such projections, so were not expecting huge differences to take place.
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Anniston, AL (36206)

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A few showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving for the afternoon. High 82F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have launched their own YouTube channel with a montage video showing the couple at work and play.

William and Kate will feature in exclusive clips posted on the popular video sharing site in the coming months.

The move is likely to be interpreted by commentators as the couple further establishing their public voice on a platform that has a huge online audience.

On their 10th wedding anniversary, celebrated last week, the Cambridges released a professionally shot video of their family at their Norfolk home and on sand dunes at a nearby beach.

In the first video to posted on the site, the couple are shown sat on a sofa and William jokes with Kate as it begins.

Pointing to the camera and people behind it, he quips: Be careful what you say now because these guys are filming everything.

And a laughing Kate replies I know.

To a soundtrack with a pounding beat, the 25-seconds long video rapidly shows brief clips of a range of royal events: from the couples trip to Bhutan, with Kate trying her hand at archery; to William flying a helicopter and the duchess meeting young children.

Kates archery lesson in Bhutan is featured in the Cambridges first video for their YouTube channel (Chris Jackson/PA)

William is featured during a visit to the London-based homeless charity The Passage he supports as royal patron and the couple are seen looking at a billboard showcasing images from Kates Hold Still photographic project.

A laughing duchess is shown shearing sheep during a visit to a Lake District farm alongside a clip of William sat in the grounds of Kensington Palace with Sir David Attenborough as they promote the dukes Earthshot environmental prize.

In September the Prince of Wales launched RE:TV, a content platform for short films with Charles as editor-in-chief that was born out of his Sustainable Markets Initiative as a way to inform and inspire audiences about sustainability.

The concept of the video sharing website was explained to the Queen by her granddaughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie before she launched her own channel on the platform in 2007 to promote the British monarchy.

Established YouTubers have become the next generation of celebrities with millions subscribing to the video makers who have turned posting clips online into lucrative full-time careers.
The Paycheck Protection Program has distributed over $780 billion since it began last year and given out nearly 11 million forgivable loans. Now in the few weeks before the program officially closes to new applications on May 31, it is reportedly largely out of money and closed through most lenders.

The PPP, a centerpiece of Washington's response to the coronavirus pandemic, had expired and been resuscitated by lawmakers multiple times  including as recently as this March. But interviews with leaders in the Biden administration and on Capitol Hill suggest this coming deadline really is going to be the end of the line for the program.

I think we have to recognize how important the PPP program was, Sen. Ben Cardin (D., Md.), one of the creators of the program, told Yahoo Finance last week.

Cardin is now focused on using his role as Chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship to support what he called "fine-tuned" programs to help business. We do think there's going to be additional help needed for small businesses, but not the broad plan such as the PPP, he said.

Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman echoed that sentiment in an interview on Yahoo Finance's All Markets Summit+: Small Business Recovery. I think, overarching, what's important to note is that now in our final days of PPP is that we've been able to assist a lot of small businesses across the board to stay alive, she said.

Despite the unprecedented financial assistance meant to sustain small businesses forced to shut down at the onset of the pandemic, many were unable to survive. According to a new report by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 35% of businesses that were active prior to the pandemic are still closed, and that most have been inactive for 20 weeks or longer.

President Joe Biden turns to Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman as he signed the "Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Extension Act of 2021" into law in March. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

Cardin and Guzman both said small business aid will continue  just in more targeted ways. An example cited by both is the Restaurant Revitalization Fund created in President Bidens American Rescue Plan.

The program, overseen by Guzman, offers over $20 billion in direct grants, as opposed to the forgivable loans offered by the PPP. The restaurant program offers funds equal to a restaurant's pandemic-related revenue loss, up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location.

Restaurants were allowed to participate in the PPP, but aid to struggling small businesses were often overshadowed by loans that were approved for big restaurant chains like Shake Shack, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, and Potbelly.

How the PPP made the SBA 'a new agency'

As the PPP winds down, Guzman noted how it has transformed her agency. We've gone from a $40 billion average portfolio to over a trillion, she said. The amount of lenders and partners that we engage with is at unprecedented levels.

Guzman previously served as the SBAs Deputy Chief of Staff and as Senior Advisor during the Obama administration before returning this year to lead the agency under President Biden. Prior to the pandemic, the SBA was often focused on providing targeted assistance  in the form on standard loans  to small business after events like a hurricane.

Many businesses, such as Fry's Electronics store in California, have ceased operations entirely citing the coronavirus pandemic as a cause. (REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small)

The PPP was created and housed at the SBA during the intense early months of the pandemic. Cardin helped create the program alongside Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.). In a recent Yahoo Finance interview, Rubio said it was created during an unprecedented time of tremendous uncertainty, where lawmakers werent even sure how long theyd be able to stay on Capitol Hill as the pandemic spread.

There was a lot of certainty about how long businesses were going to find themselves under these restrictions, Rubio said of drafting the program in 2020. We were operating under that sort of environment and with the need to create something that had never existed before.

As for now, the PPPs general fund has been tapped out, although some money is still available, as part of a portion set aside for institutions that generally focus lending efforts to businesses run by underserved populations, according to a trade group.

We want businesses to be able to access those funds in these final weeks, said Guzman.

Ben Werschkul is a writer and producer for Yahoo Finance in Washington, DC.

Read more:

Senate votes to extend PPP for two months

Biden administration announces changes to the PPP, stimulus program for small businesses

We are in a contest with China about the most fundamental questions facing the world: Biden ally

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The long-term effects of COVID-19 are still not clear, and new research has indicated that many patients could face neurological or psychiatric issues down the line.

Using TriNetX, an electronic health records network with over 81 million patients, researchers for Lancet Psychiatry, a British medical journal, looked at 236,379 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19. They found that an estimated 33.62% of them received a neurological or psychiatric diagnosis within six months of testing positive for the virus.

For the U.S., were just a little bit over the one-year anniversary of our first cases, Dr. Kenneth Tyler, a fellow at the American Academy of Neurology and chair of the University of Colorado School of Medicines Department of Neurology, told Yahoo Finance. When you start to talk about potential longer-term [effects] and whats their natural history, youve got to realize were really in early days here and that some things may not be apparent for a while now.

This chart shows the ratio of psychological/neurological symptoms of people with COVID to people with influenza or other respiratory tract infections. (Chart: Lancet Psychiatry)

The first documented case of COVID in the U.S. was announced on January 21, 2020. The study compared patients diagnosed with COVID-19 to patients diagnosed with influenza and patients diagnosed with any respiratory tract infection during the same time period from Jan. 20 to December 13, 2020.

COVID-19 was robustly associated with an increased risk of neurological and psychiatric disorders in the six months after a diagnosis, the Lancet Psychiatry study stated. Given the size of the pandemic and the chronicity of many of the diagnoses and their consequences, substantial effects on health and social care systems are likely to occur  The findings also highlight the need for enhanced neurological follow-up of patients who were admitted to [intensive care units] or had encephalopathy during their COVID-19 illness.

According to the study, these conditions include intracranial hemorrhage (0.56%), ischemic stroke (2.10%), Parkinsons Disease (0.11%), dementia (0.67%), anxiety disorder (17.39%), and psychotic disorder (1.40%). There were also instances of Guillain-Barre syndrome; nerve, nerve root, and plexus disorders; neuromuscular junction and muscle disease; encephalitis; substance use disorder; and insomnia.

What we have to remember is tiny percentages that at first dont seem very impressive," Tyler said, "[but] if theyre magnified over an infection that has literally affected millions of people and continuing to climb throughout the world, that can generate a pretty fair burden of disease."

A woman wearing a face mask to help protect herself from the coronavirus looks from a fogged bus window in Ivano-Frankivsk, Western Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

'Your heart can throw really tiny clots into your brain'

There have been previous signs of neurological issues stemming from COVID.

According to one study published in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, 85 of the 100 patients examined experienced at least four or more neurological effects following their diagnosis. These symptoms included brain fog, headaches, numbness/tingling, muscle pain, and dizziness.

Weve been seeing a lot of the neurological disorders, Dr. Suzanne Judd, a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, told Yahoo Finance. When COVID first hit, the people were talking about the cardiac conditions or heart conditions, but now were starting to hear more and more talk about stroke and other neurological diseases, [and] some of the blood clot disorders, like blood clots in the legs and in the lungs.

Blood clots are one of the main causes of intracranial hemorrhages (brain bleeds), one of the neurological effects seen as a result of a COVID-19 diagnosis. Intracranial hemorrhages occurred in 2.66% of patients who had to be admitted into intensive care units because of COVID.

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The interesting thing about stroke [is] if it does have something to do with blood clots, your heart can throw really tiny clots into your brain, Judd said. That leads to all kinds of conditions afterwards  memory loss, full-on stroke where one side of your body can lose the ability to open bottles and move, lose the ability to communicate and the ability to understand, and all of those things wind up being associated with mental health.

Many of these other neurological symptoms mimic those of concussions or traumatic brain injuries, according to the New York Times. When the body reacts to the virus, the inflammatory response affects all parts of the body, including the brain.

At the first level, the first that youd see increased incidents of some of these things, including stroke, which has been well-recognized, it isnt surprising, Tyler said. To me, whats more surprising  were starting to get into that area of, boy these arent things we typically see as an acute manifestation. Were maybe starting to see a signal in this study that the answer to that could be yes.

'Absolutely' could become a serious problem

More severe neurological symptoms correspond with a higher risk of developing other complications, according to Tyler.

There was an impressive incidence of things like anxiety  maybe not super surprising  but this interesting thing thats caught a lot of attention is the onset of really severe psychotic diseases, he said. Weve now seen that patients without a pre-existing history of major psychiatric illness are suddenly developing it in the context of COVID.

The Lancet study noted that compared to a previous report published back in September 2020, there was an increased risk of psychotic disorders this time around. Substance use disorders and insomnia were also more prevalent among COVID survivors than those who had the flu or other respiratory tract infections.

A woman wears a mask during the coronavirus outbreak while crossing a street in front of the skyline in San Francisco, Saturday, April 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Therefore, the researchers wrote, as with the neurological outcomes, the psychiatric sequelae of COVID-19 appear widespread and to persist up to, and probably beyond, six months. Compared with neurological disorders, common psychiatric disorders (mood and anxiety disorders) showed a weaker relationship with the markers of COVID-19 severity in terms of incidence.

Judd said she absolutely sees this becoming a serious problem, especially for those who were hospitalized because of the virus.

Hospitalization can be very traumatic, she said. Intubation with a ventilator is extremely traumatic. People could have conditions that mimic PTSD without a doubt. So that could be part of what it is, too. If a person was hospitalized, if they were home, it would be a little more difficult to look for evidence to see if something about having COVID in and of itself is different than another infectious disease or other illness in terms of producing trauma on the body.

Adriana Belmonte is a reporter and editor covering politics and health care policy for Yahoo Finance. You can follow her on Twitter @adrianambellsand reach her at adriana@yahoofinance.com.

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Death toll in violence crosses 14 in Bengal

Hours after the PMs conversation with the governor, BJP chief J.P. Nadda reached West Bengal on a two-day-visit and met the victims' families.  AP

Kolkata/New Delhi: As the death toll in post-poll violence in West Bengal rose to 14 on Tuesday from six a day before, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and expressed serious anguish and concern over the worrisome law and order situation in the state. The 14 killed include nine BJP cadres in West Bengal, and four from TMC.

Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, which retained power in the state for the third time, has come under severe criticism from the BJP, with Left and the Congress leaders also condemning the post-poll violence against their cadre.

Hours after the PMs conversation with the governor, BJP chief J.P. Nadda reached West Bengal on a two-day-visit and met the victims' families.

Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports on alleged post-poll violence, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent a fact-finding team while noting that it considers the incidents as a fit case of alleged violation of Right to Life of innocent citizens. The National Commission for Women too constituted a fact-finding team to investigate alleged violence against women in various parts of the state. The BJP claimed that the violence is state sponsored and compared the TMC with "Nazis".

Among Tuesday's victims, three -- Mintu Barman of Shitalkuchi and Haradhan Roy and Chandan Roy of Dinhata -- were from the BJP which lost six cadres on Monday. The 14 deceased also include five from Burdwan East. Of them, four were from the ruling TMC. While two of them -- Shahjahan Shah and Bibhas Bag  were killed Nabagram in Jamalpur, another, Ganesh Mullick, was beaten to death at Samaspur in Raina with an aged TMC panchayat member Srinibas Ghosh at Ketugram in three separate attacks by the BJP.

At Nabagram in Jamalpur, a female CPI(M) worker, Kakali Khetrapal, was hacked to death by a group of TMC workers during an attack on her home. Apart from the killings, several BJP offices and many party workers' houses were vandalised across the state.

On Mr Modi's worries, Mr Dhankhar tweeted, PM called and expressed serious anguish and concern at the alarmingly worrisome law and order situation @MamataOfficial. I share grave concerns @PMOIndia given that violence vandalism, arson, loot and killings continue unabated. Concerned. Must act in overdrive to restore order.

Lashing out at Mr Modi immediately, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien tweeted, "PM makes a call to West Bengal governor on political violence. (Exaggerated 214%). Stop the stunts, Mr Prime Minister. Work the phones on #COVID19India."

In a series of tweets earlier Mr Dhankhar said, "Police @WBPolice @CPKolkata must end senseless political violence, vandalism, arson, killings and intimidation that shames democracy. Bengali diaspora world over has expressed concern over alarming lawlessness. Why post poll violence only WB? Why this assault on democracy? Reports indicate horrendous state of affairs. Horrified people are fleeing to save themselves. Flooded with SOS appeals. Harmads are on a killing and destruction spree. Such nosediving of constitutional values cannot be countenanced. Call upon @MamataOfficial to restore order."

Mr Nadda claimed, "TMC knew that if BJP would have come to power in the state it would not be able to extort money and play its politics of appeasement. There is a list of names who attacked and killed our party workers. But no one was arrested. I assure that crores of BJP workers stand by each affected here. Their sacrifice will not go in vain. We will fight till the end to give justice to them."

On Wednesday, when TMC chief Mamata Banerjee will take her oath as the chief minister for the third consecutive time, the BJP would organise a nationwide demonstration against the killings of its workers.

Condemning the violence against Opposition parties workers, senior Congress leader and former Union minister Jitin Prasad tweeted: The post poll violence that has been unleashed by the TMC on the Congress workers is unacceptable. Even women and children are not spared. I am sure the people of West Bengal did not vote for this lawlessness.

Tagging photographs, CPI(M) Sitaram Yechury tweeted: Are these reports of gruesome violence in Bengal TMCs 'victory celebrations'? Condemnable. Will be resisted and rebuffed. Instead of focusing on combating the pandemic, TMC unleashed such mayhem. CPI(M) as always will be with the people to protect, assist, providing relief.

Many BJP workers and supporters from the state have been sending distress signals to party leadership through social media platforms.

Senior BJP leader and Cabinet minister in Assan, Himanta Biswa Sharma, tweeted: In a sad development 300-400 BJP karyakartas and family members have crossed over to Dhubri in Assam after being confronted with brazen persecution and violence. We are giving shelter and food. Mamata Didi must stop this ugly dance of democracy. Bengal deserves better.

BJP leader Anirban Ganguly also tweeted that many BJP workers "had to leave their houses in Bolpur, Birbhum and other constituencies for their safety. They are spending their days in fear."
A video that recorded the incident went viral on the social media and political parties are gunning for him

While the administration has been widely rebuked for complacency in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, a district magistrate in Tripura is under fire for being overly enthusiastic in enforcing night curfew rules during a marriage in Agartala, the state capital. A video that recorded the incident went viral on the social media and political parties are gunning for him.

West Tripura DM Shailesh Kumar Yadav is in the dock for his arrogant behaviour with a bride and groom in the middle of a wedding. Angry citizens and politicians have written to Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb seeking strict action against Mr Yadav. Some have even demanded an FIR against the official and sought his removal from service.

In the viral video, Mr Yadav is seen shoving attendees and arresting everyone for flouting Covid-19 norms and tearing up the permission certificate for the wedding that he himself had signed! Sources say the CM has formed a committee of two IAS officers to investigate the incident and submit a report to chief secretary Manoj Kumar for further action. Watch this space for updates.

Ad hocism in J&K

If Jammu and Kashmirs change of status was meant to have a positive impact on governance in the Union territory, those hopes have been belied, many say. Ad hocism has become an integral part of governance in J&K, as evident from the list of top bureaucrats and officials who are holding more than one post. Just two examples: Shaleen Kabra, the principal secretary (home), is also the principal secretary (revenue) and financial commissioner. Similarly, Dheeraj Gupta, principal secretary (housing and urban development), is also J&Ks principal resident commissioner in New Delhi.

Sources say as many as 10 IAS officers in the UT are holding additional charge of different departments and institutions due to a shortage of manpower in the higher echelons of the administration. J&K has a stipulated strength of 137 IAS officers, but only 58 are serving in the cadre, of which at least nine officers are on Central deputation. The Centre is apparently aware of the situation, and it recently moved to depute IAS and Group A service officers to the new UT. But this seems to have done little to solve the problem which has afflicted governance for decades in J&K.

Probe into Haryana cops

Former Haryana home secretary and retired IAS officer Navraj Sandhu has been appointed chairperson of the Haryana State Police Complaints Authority (PCA). In addition, retired IPS officer Kamleshwar Kumar Mishra and retired IAS officer Ramesh Chand Verma have been named as members of the authority.

Haryana is one of 17 states that set up a PCA to protect citizens against the abuse of police powers. It adjudicates allegations of improper or shoddy investigations, refusal to register FIRs, allegations of custodial torture and police high-handedness. However, it should be noted that the recommendations of the PCA arent binding on the state government -- which makes the PCA merely a paper tiger.

For five years, the government did not appoint a chairman even as the complaints piled up. Apparently, until 2019, the authority received 681 complaints, but it is not known how many were investigated and forwarded to the government for action. Hopefully, Mr Sandhus appointment will make up for the lost time.

Tailpiece

A significant recent non-babu event was Dr Karan Singhs ninetieth birthday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a unique edition of the Bhagavad Gita, in 11 volumes with 20 commentaries on each verse in facsimile. The function held at the Prime Ministers residence was attended mainly by family members and a few bureaucrats involved in evolving Kashmir policy. Dr Karan Singh opened the proceedings with a talk on the Bhagavad Gita and steered away from current political matters. The Prime Minister too spoke, as expected, on the Bhagavad Gita, and closed his speech by paying fulsome compliments to Dr Karan Singh, the elder statesman of the Kashmir region. What the babus were left wondering was how the tea leaves of this event needed to be read.
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Its exactly the sort of One Thousand and One Nights amazement we feel when Shawn Davis and his crew from the AutotopiaLA channel on YouTube showcase a little more of Daves Place, the setting used for the static portions of the presentation for the latters 1968 Ford F-100 Classic Trucks Magazine show build.Yes, we know theres an interesting story brewing about the Bumpside (theres a before shot as well as a Bmpside license plate to make sure everyone knows whos who ) but let us just collect our jaws off the floor first. We just dropped them twice, first when viewing AutotopiaLAs latest episode (embedded below) and secondly when sifting through the attached gallery.In there, we caught glimpses of just about anything, from classic Rollses to first-gen Mustangs, middle-aged Lexuses, hippie VWs , or modern Aston Martins and Audis (and more). Now, with that out of our system, lets refocus from Daves Place to the F-100 at hand.The owners story began somewhere in 2008  2009 when the 1968 Bumpside was taken for a new lease of life under the patronage of a professional fabricator for Classic Trucks Magazine. Details are a little convoluted, because its unknown if the truck was actually finished then or after it was sold to an Arizona fan in 2009.Apparently, the truck was unused for a decade but last year it finally came out of storage and the owner delivered the finishing touches  the 2018 Ford F-150 Raptor Avalanche Gray paintjob and the neat interior (which can be seen from the 4:18 mark) that includes Mustang seats with TMI covers, among other great details.This is one of those instances when the custom truck isnt a personal project and instead its the ride that someone drooled all over and luckily found it on Bring a Trailer years later. Its exactly what happened here, and now the 68 calls Daves Place home after the owner paid almost $51k for it.Not a bad deal at all, considering this is clearly a no expense spared job, with the F-100 now sporting very clean lines (the bumpside is nowhere in sight) and a very neat Blue Oval engine swap under the hood.According to the information from the owner its a Ford Racing 4.6-liter V8 Mustang / Whipple supercharger crate engine combo that was directly provided by the company back in the early days of the build to try and promote Ford Racings then new line of crate engines, which clearly didnt take off.On the other hand, from the 4:50 mark when the driving portion of the presentation kicks off, we can see the F-100 is a very nice, loud ride that handles itself pretty well (probably thanks to the Fat Man Fabrications custom chassis and 4-link rear suspension).Thats great, even though it would be nice to have another 100 horsepower, according to Shawn, on top of the 380 ponies it makes from the factory  which equals to some 346 hp to the rear wheels according to a recent dyno test
BEV

kWh

Production is scheduled to start at Tychy in November 2022 for the 2023 model year. The assembly plant will receive 755 million Polish zlote or $200 million at current exchange rates for the A-UV and two more A-segment crossovers from the Alfa Romeo and Fiat brands. Automotive News Europe reports that Jeep will offer internal combustion-engined variants in the first instance, then roll out theA-UV roughly five months later.What kind of engines and all-electric powertrain is the cited publication referring to? Take, for instance, the Peugeot 2008 as the yardstick. The subcompact utility vehicle is available with three-cylinder turbo mills with 1.2 liters of displacement as well as a 1.5-liter turbo diesel with four cylinders, connected to either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic.PureTech 100 is how the entry-level variant is called, and obviously enough, it flexes 100 metric horsepower. This engine is also available with 130 horsepower while the diesel-fueled mill offers 110 and 130 horsepower. As for the e-2008, the 50-battery works in tandem with a 136-horsepower electric motor integrated into the front axle and a direct-drive mechanism.The Sochaux-based manufacturer quotes an estimated 310 kilometers or 193 miles under the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure, which is pretty good for a cutesy urban dweller with jacked-up suspension. In real-world scenarios, expect considerably less driving range if you commute at high speed on the highway or you live in a cold part of the European Union. Automotive News Europe further reports a mild-hybrid powertrain for the Jeep-branded small crossover, Brennero as the nameplate of the Alfa Romeo sibling, and Project 364 as Fiat model's codename. On that note, the Fiat-branded utility vehicle is rumored to bear the 500XL designation because it's supposed to replace the 500X crossover and 500L multi-purpose vehicle.
The shape of the brake caliper mirrors that of the original, but the New G Sessanta differs in many respects. The classic B R E M B O lettering has been phased out in favor of the companys lowercase b logo, which is reassuringly modern but very similar to the Beats by Dr. Dre logo as well.Next up, the lowercase b logo and upper part of the concept brake caliper are complemented by light-emitting diodes because we all know that LEDs help with braking performance. Criticism aside, why did Brembo integrate light-emitting diodes on a component that obviously doesnt need LEDs?It can be both an interface, communicating directly with the user, and an aesthetic choice, adapting to the user's tastes and preferences. I wish I was joking, but I definitely am not. Personalizing a brake caliper used to mean and still is centered around painting the brake caliper in the color of your liking. Brembo further explains that LEDs can help the rider localize a parked vehicle by emitting a courtesy light, which is downright nonsense.If you ask me, the brake caliper of the future would be a lot more useful if the smartphone application would allow the rider to adjust the force and balance, not a selection of light-emitting diodes. The wireless componentry and smartphone app could also translate to GPS motorcycle localization although the GPS module wouldn't like the heat created by the brake calipers. Brembo , therefore, has to ask itself a question about what kind of two-wheeled customers it will be targeting in the next decade: people who put form over function or those who prefer braking performance over looks.
4WD

Anyone who is genuinely impressed with the Lancia rags to riches and back to oblivion story knows a thing or two about the Delta. Not the letter of the Greek alphabet or the American air line, but the marvelous Italian small family car that became a legend through motorsport domination.Basically, its another great example of how homologation rules for WRCs various groups triggered a Eureka moment inside the collective minds and hearts of the people in charge of producing that street car with motorsport DNA. We could talk about such instances all day long and still wont be done with them.If you want a modern legend-in-the-making example, we can always refer to the Toyota GR Yaris saga for reference. Now back to the Lancia Delta Integrale, which is the object of awe and amazement for us right now thanks to a digital reinterpretation of virtual artist Matteo Gentile (aka mattegentile on social media).He's apparently abandoned the craziness of air-cooled Porsche 911 VTOL projects (at least for now) in favor of something just as vintage but much more in tune with the immediate reality. Well, at least the virtual one, because (unfortunately) as far as we know were not dealing with a creation thats about to become a car in the machined flesh andbones.Actually, aside from this eerily steam punk industrial environment and the black Lancia Delta Integrale looking as widebody as restomods are getting these days, we have virtually no information to feed our daydreams of hooning this thing on a closed rally route. Pretty unfortunate, because wed love to hear this artists thoughts on what should be hiding underneath the hood...
The watch features an elegant 41mm IP black satin case that encloses a DP24 Automatic Skeleton movement visible through the transparent case back. The skeleton dial, on which the brand's trademark double Gancini logo stands out, is available in black, blue, and green. It also features a scratch-resistant glass that holds a water resistance up to 50 meters (164 ft).The strap is made with low-environmental impact materials. A thin layer of FSC-certified cork covers the internal part, while the external one is wrapped in a fabric composed of post-consumer recycled PET fiber with hole covers made of vegetable-tanned leather. The outer box that accompanies the watch comes in the same materials as the strap while also sporting two shades to match the watch versions.The climate impact of the F-80 Skeleton's development has been measured using the ISO 14067 Product Carbon Footprint standard, which quantifies the emissions from all stages of production.Ferragamo has received the support of Rete Clima, a nonprofit organization fighting climate change, to obtain the carbon offsets required to make the limited carbon-neutral models. Together with Rete Clima for F-80 Skeleton, the company will support the construction of the Burgos Wind Project, the largest wind farm in the Philippines. This project aims to create jobs and economic opportunities for the local communities.The F-80 Skeleton is currently priced at $2,337, which earns these limited edition watches the most expensive spot out of the collection.It's not the first time Salvatore Ferragamo uses eco-friendly materials, as in 2017 it introduced a dress made of orange fiber fabric. To celebrate Earth Day this year, the company also redesigned its Top Handle bag, using low impact materials.
The Navy announced the beginning of Northern Edge 2021 (NE21), a training exercise that is set to take place in several locations throughout Alaska, until May 14. This is, in fact, the largest military training to unfold this year in this particular location, and its going to be a complex one.This U.S. Indo-Pacific Command exercise is meant to provide realistic war training and focus on joint interoperability. This required a venue that would be suited for a large number of participants and multi-domain operations. Just as the new TCTS II system is designed to blend real and virtual training, the NE21 exercise is also meant to demonstrate live-virtual-constructive capabilities.This Alaska exercise is based on the live and virtual participation of around 15,000 military service members, including soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. Thats because one of NE21s main objectives is to bring together military members from different units and allow them to train as a joint force, in preparation for real combat scenarios.As far as participating units, NE21 will include a total of 240 aircraft and 6 U.S. Navy ships . Some of the main ones are the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group and Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11), the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, JBER and the 3rd Expeditionary Air and Space Task Force, JBER.The main training venue is the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC), in the Gulf of Alaska. Some of the locations are Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Eielson Air Force Base, Allen Army Airfield, Ted Stevens International Airport and Juneau International Airport, Alaska.
Sure, "brand-new" is a term that works here, but we need a different name for it. And the "it" I'm talking about is a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda. With just 86 miles on the odo, this is the lowest mileage Cuda known to exist. And get this: it also comes with racing heritage. Let me explain.Classics with extremely low miles usually have the same story. It's about an owner who drove it for a little while, put into storage, and a sibling restored it and put it on sale decades later. This Cuda , on the other hand, was purchased with the specific purpose to be raced at the drag strip and it was modified accordingly.The car was delivered to a Bill Reardon in West Virginia, who immediately replaced most of the engine, the rear end, suspension, and rear tires with drag-spec performance parts. He went on to make about 30 quarter-mile passes at local drag strips in his first racing season, but passed away the following year.Luckily, Reardon had kept all the original parts in safe storage. The modified car plus all the originals were sold in 1977 to Marvin Dillion, who returned it to its original specification. When that happened, the Cuda had 42 miles on the odo. Dillion kept the car for 16 years and drove it less than a single mile. This means that the car was driven for an additional 44 miles from 1993 to this day.Quite the story, huh?Although it's never been restored, the car is in pristine condition. The original Tor Red paint still shines, while the black vinyl interior is immaculate. Everything is numbers matching, including the 426 Hemi V8 engine.The 7.0-liter Hemi needs no further introduction. It was Mopar's range-topping, race-spec engine back in the day, when it generated an impressive 425 horsepower. Hemi-powered Dodges and Plymouths are the most desirable Mopars from 1966 to 1971.This phenomenal time capsule is going under the hammer via Sonicbidder's Sprint Cleaning auction on June 2, 2021. The Cuda was last seen at auction back in 2015, when it had 81 miles on the odo. It was estimated to fetch between $600,000 to $800,000. In 2020, it was listed for $1.2 million but apparently no one bought it.Will it trade hands for more than $1 million at auction? It won't become the most expensive Cuda unless it sells for more than $3.5 million, but a $1 million+ sale would put it in the top 3 and would make it the priciest Cuda with a hard-top. I guess we'll just have to wait and find out.But no matter the result, it's definitely worthy of its window stickers: "The Lowest Mileage Hemi 'Cuda on the planet. Period."
Whereas carmakers like Tesla are more easily approachable online (just holla @ Elon Musk with your good and bad, and chances are youll get a reply), Vietnams first carmaker, VinFast , is not exactly welcoming of the criticism. In fact, VinFact has just reported a single customer to the police, for the alleged crime of criticizing the Lux A2.0 sedan in a now-deleted YouTube video.Tran Van Hoang has a YouTube channel with some 455,000 subscribers, Reuters reports. In his videos, he talks about a lot of stuff and, occasionally, cars. Being from Vietnam, he also talked about the countrys first homegrown car, the Lux A2.0 , which was officially introduced at the 2018 Paris Motor Show, delivered nationally in 2020, and set for an international expansion in 2022.The original video is no longer online, since Hoang pulled it when VinFast reported him to the police. However, the video below is a version of it. Theres the language barrier, but you can still see that Hoang detailed his issues with the new, BMW-based sedan, which ranged from malfunctioning windshield wipers and dash gauges, to issues with braking and misalignments, and perhaps more importantly, his repeated attempts to solve these problems through the warranty.VinFast tells Reuters that they believe they have sufficient grounds to prove that it is not just a normal complaint, but wont speak more on that. According to the carmaker, including in a statement posted to Facebook, Hoangs video damaged their reputation and credibility, which is something they wont stand for. To Reuters, VinFast says a customer from the U.S. should expect the same kind of response, if a complaint posted online was damaging to the brand.VinFast is eyeing a 2022 expansion to the U.S. , followed by Europe and Canada. VinFast is owned by Vingroup, founded by billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong, the countrys richest man. He gets name-dropped at the beginning of the video.The police in Ho Chi Minh City, where Hoang lives, told the media outlet they have no record of a police complaint in his name.
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The New York Stock Exchange says its iconic trading floor can get more crowded starting next week  the latest reopening sign in the country's financial center.

Driving the news: Firms can increase how many traders they have on the floor, if all of their staff have been vaccinated. They will be exempt from certain COVID protocols, like random testing.

The traders will have to submit proof of vaccination (a photo from the state's digital "Excelsior Pass" app or a vaccination card screenshot), per an internal memo obtained by Axios. The memo was first reported by Bloomberg.

The big picture: It comes as New York seeks to fully reopen and firms are sketching out back-to-office plans.
A former leader of the neo-Nazi Atomwaffen Division group was sentenced to 41 months in prison on Tuesday for his role in "swatting" attacks against "at least" 134 targets  including journalists, a historically Black church and a former Cabinet member.

Why it matters: John Cameron Denton, 27, of Montgomery, Texas, was involved in the swatting, calling emergency services to make bogus bomb reports and false reports of other acts of violence, from October 2018 to February 2019.

AWD calls for "acts of random violence in hopes of starting a race war" and has been connected with several killings since it was founded in 2015, according to the Washington Post.

Per a statement from Raj Parekh, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Denton's conduct in the swatting caused "irreversible trauma to the victims of these hate-based crimes."

Details: The group "terrorized communities" across the U.S., swatting a "then-sitting U.S. Cabinet official living in northern Virginia;" the Old Dominion University; the Alfred Street Baptist Church, a historically Black church in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia; an Islamic Center in Arlington, Texas; ProPublica's New York City office and the home of a ProPublica journalist, according to the statement.

Members of the group called emergency dispatchers with "false claims of pipe bombs, hostage takings, or other violent activity occurring at the targeted locations" across the U.S., the Justice Department said.

Denton's lawyers argued at his sentencing in federal court in Alexandria that his actions shouldn't be considered a hate crime despite many targets being "chosen based on racial animus," AP notes.

They said the only target Denton picked was a ProPublica journalist who reported on his being an Atomwaffen Division leader and claimed he was "becoming disillusioned with Atomwaffen Division ideology" when he was arrested, both claims the prosecution rejected.

What they're saying: "The fear and anxiety you created in all these victims . . . will remain in their memory for far too long. All for you and this group to get your jollies off? Its incomprehensible," U.S. District Judge Liam OGrady said at Denton's sentencing, per the WashPost.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a government before his mandate expired on Tuesday night, putting him in the most vulnerable position he has faced politically since becoming prime minister in 2009.

Why it matters: This is the third time in the last two years that Netanyahu has had the first crack at forming a government but failed to do so. But this time, his rivals may be able to form a government without him.

What's next: President Reuven Rivlin has three days to hold consultations with the various parties before deciding who will receive the mandate next.

Rivlins aides tell me he's most likely to give the mandate to the centrist opposition leader, Yair Lapid, who has at least 45 members behind him in the 120-seat Knesset.

Behind the scenes: For almost two weeks, it has been clear that Netanyahu didn't have a path to a majority.

He has focused instead on trying to drive a wedge between Lapid and Naftali Bennett, the leader of a right-wing party. The two have been negotiating toward an alternative government.

Netanyahu considered unprecedented steps to try to sabotage the transfer of the mandate to Lapid, Tal Shalev reported for Walla News, including falsely notifying Rivlin that he formed a government. After his plans were exposed, he backed off.

Netanyahu has also considered ordering his right-wing bloc to recommend to Rivlin that he give the mandate to Bennett, rather than Lapid. Netanyahu could then pressure Bennett to negotiate only with his fellow conservatives. But that plan too fell apart after Bennett refused to rule out negotiations with Lapid.

The state of play: The outlines of a potential Lapid-Bennett power-sharing deal are already clear.

Despite Bennett's party only winning seven seats in the Knesset, Lapid would allow him to serve as prime minister for two years before he would rotate into the job for another two years.

The center-left, which won more seats, would control most government ministries, however. All government decisions would have to be decided by consensus, and each bloc would have veto power.

The government would steer clear of controversial ideological issues and focus on the post-COVID recovery, the economy and restoring some unity to the country after four consecutive election campaigns.

Yes, but: It's no sure thing that Lapid and Bennett will be able to iron out all the remaining issues and replace Israel's longest-serving prime minister.

What to watch: For Netanyahu, this is a desperate moment. In addition to watching the mandate pass to his rivals, he's also facing an ongoing corruption trial that could eventually land him in prison.
Australias federal government has ripped up two agreements the state of Victoria signed as part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, citing the national interest in a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Why it matters: Australia is showing increased willingness to risk backlash from China  by far its largest trading partner. Beijing swiftly accused Canberra of showing a Cold War mentality and ideological bias.

The other side: Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta of New Zealand this week tried to draw a line between her country and its Five Eyes partners  Australia, Canada, the U.K., and U.S.  when it comes to China.

New Zealand is uncomfortable with expanding the remit of the intelligence partnership and seeks an independent foreign policy, she said.

What they're saying:

After those comments caused a stir, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated her commitment to Five Eyes while adding, "It's all about making sure we're partnering or speaking with the right cohort at the right time."

New Zealand has declined to join in multiple joint statements that criticized China, though the government has at times raised concerns about Chinas human rights record.

Former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer noted that New Zealand had also strengthened its trade pact with China earlier this year while Australia was facing Chinese sanctions. "Used to be our best mates. Not now," he tweeted.

The big picture: The new factor here is not that New Zealand is moving closer to Beijing, its that countries like Australia are moving farther away, Axios China reporter Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian notes.

Flashback: After Australia called for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19 last year, China struck back by hammering Australian exports of products like lobster and wine.

The bottom line: Well aware of its own economic reliance on China, New Zealand is treading much more carefully.
President Biden is considering naming Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to a high-profile ambassadorship, possibly India, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.

Why it matters: The potential exit of the Democratic executive for the nation's second-largest city would come as L.A. faces record homelessness and a court order to find shelter for a massive Skid Row population by the end of September. It could further destabilize California politics amid a recall attempt against Gov. Gavin Newsom, also a Democrat.

The big picture: Garcetti was a co-chair of Biden's campaign and remains a key political ally. India, with 1.4 billion people, is the world's most populous democracy  giving its political and economic future outsized stakes.

The Biden administration has signaled India will play a key role in helping to counter China's ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region.

In March, the president held his first virtual leader's summit with members of the so-called Quad, including Japan, India, Australia and the United States, to underscore his commitment to the region's democracies.

India is currently in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 20 million cases, and the true death toll is believed to greatly exceed an official count of 220,000+.

Details: Garcetti, 50, is one of several candidates under consideration for the India posting, a person familiar with the discussions tell Axios.

While lists of potential ambassadors were first presented to Biden in March, the sources said many final decisions have not been made.

The president is expected to announce his first political nominations for ambassadorships this month, rewarding donors and political allies who are not career Foreign Services Officers.

When Biden does release his picks, it will be a roadmap to the true players in his orbit.

Flashback: Garcetti mulled running for president himself. He passed and then announced in December he also would not be joining the Biden administration.

"As the administration reached out to me about serving, I let them know early this week that my city needs me now, and then I want to be here and that I need to be here," he said during a news conference.

Garcetti won reelection in March of 2017 for a five-and-a-half year term. He is term-limited, and the election for his successor is scheduled for Fall 2022.

Garcetti's Cabinet prospects faded with the attention brought by a sexual harassment lawsuit against one of his former aides, Rick Jacobs, brought by a longtime bodyguard, Matthew Garza.

The allegations received more attention after journalist Yashar Ali reported about his own experience of being repeatedly forcibly kissed by Jacobs when Ali was working in California politics. Ali also reported that Garcetti was aware of other potential misconduct by Jacobs.

After the election in November, Black Lives Matter demonstrators protested outside his house, demanding Biden not give him an appointment.

A Garcetti spokesman declined to comment.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include more details about allegations against a former Garcetti aide.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid has received a mandate from Israel's president to form a new government, putting Benjamin Netanyahu in the most vulnerable position he has faced politically since becoming prime minister in 2009.

The big picture: Netanyahu failed to form a government before his mandate expired overnight, but his rivals still have hurdles to clear before they can oust him. That means the political crisis that has gripped Israel over the last two years is far from over.

Driving the news: President Reuven Rivlin held consultations with Israel's political parties today over the mandate decision, with both the centrist Lapid and right-wing kingmaker Naftali Bennett putting themselves forward.

As expected, Rivlin opted to give the mandate to Lapid, who has managed to get 56 members of the Knesset to support him so far, including the six members of Gideon Sa'ars breakaway right-wing party.

In a press conference this morning, Bennett said he was determined to prevent a fifth election and would thus work to form a unity government with Lapid and the center-left. He called on all right-wing parties to join the unity government.

Lapid and Bennett are expected to resume power-sharing negotiations toward a government that would see Bennett serve first as prime minister for two years before Lapid rotates into the job.

But, but, but: Netanyahu has been applying intense pressure on Bennett and his party members to deter them from joining a government with the center-left bloc.

That campaign has started bearing fruit. One member of Bennetts party announced he's against a power-sharing government with Lapid, but didn't state clearly whether he'd vote against it.

A Lapid-Bennett government would only have the support of 58 members of the 120-seat Knesset, with the Arab parties likely to abstain. Therefore the cracks in Bennetts party could sabotage the whole effort.

Whats next: Lapid will have 28 days to try and form a new government.

If he fails, there will be another 21-day period in which any member of the Knesset who can get signatures from 61 members will receive the mandate. Failing that, Israel will have its fifth consecutive election.

Netanyahu would likely use that 21-day window to try and convince some of his right-wing allies to soften their position on forming a government supported by the Islamist Ra'am Party, which would allow him to remain prime minister.

But first, he'll do everything in his power to prevent Lapid from forming a government.
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The U.S. welcomes Azerbaijan's release of three Armenian detainees, tweeted Blinken. We call on both parties to fully and expeditiously complete the exchange process for all prisoners, detainees, and remains, and to respect their obligations to ensure the humane treatment of detainees.

The U.S., Russian and French diplomats co-heading the OSCE Minsk Group also called for the return of all POWs and other detainees in a joint statement issued on April 13.

No Azerbaijani POWs or civilians are known to be held in Armenia or Nagorno-Karabakh at present.

Yerevan says that more than 100 Armenians remain in Azerbaijani captivity. It insists on their immediate and unconditional release, citing the terms of a Russian-mediated agreement that halted the Armenian-Azerbaijani war on November 10.

Baku claims that they are not covered by the agreement because they were captured after it took effect on November 10. Azerbaijani officials have branded them as terrorists.

The European Union last week called on Azerbaijan to free all remaining Armenian prisoners as soon as possible and regardless of the circumstances of their arrest.
FLAGSTAFF/PHOENIX, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) - It's the second wave of COVID-19 that is wiping out thousands of people in India daily. CBS News reports 120 people are dying from coronavirus complications every hour.

The number of infections is crippling the healthcare system with hospitals overrun, and supplies running short. "People are dying outside of the hospital that have run out of oxygen," say Dr. Amit Kumar an assistant professor at Northern Arizona University.

Dr. Kumar says his family is struggling with some sick, others in ICU and a few that lost their battle. "Six of my father's close friends have died in the last two weeks."

+2 The Covid-19 hospital in India so bad patients want to get out For three days, Goldi Patel, 25, went from hospital to hospital in New Delhi's oppressive summer heat, frantically trying to find one that would keep her husband breathing.

Now Dr. Kumar and a childhood friend are raising funds to help non-profits sending resources to India. Sewa International has already raised $10 million. "We have already sent 2,400 oxygen concentrators. We are also sending medicine... PPE kits," says Ritu Daryani, the organizer of the Sewa International Phoenix Chapter.

The organization is also planning to educate people in India about the vaccine, admitting many in the Country were hesitant initially. Click here for more information.
Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Sunny. High around 80F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 52F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Bluefield, WV (24701)

Today

Cloudy skies early then heavy thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Contributed photograph ... The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, will open to the public Thursday at Poplar Gap Park in Grundy. It will remain on display in Buchanan County through Sunday, May 9.
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N. Oregon Coast's Seaside Cautious But Hopeful for Huge Centennial Event

Published 05/03/21 at 7:28 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Seaside, Oregon)  This summer will mark 100 years ago that the famed Seaside Promenade was officially finished and dedicated. The weekend of August 6  7 of 1921 saw hundreds of officials from around the state coming to the Oregon coast, including then-Governor Olcott, for a ceremony that featured an 8-year-old girl breaking a bottle of sea water on the concrete. Her name was Martha Hagmeier, and she had coined a nickname for the 1.5-mile-long pathway that stuck for awhile: Sea Wall and Promenade. (Above: the old Promenade made of wood and the doomed pier, about 1910. Courtesy City of Seaside)

Now, as Seaside engages in a variety of more scaled-down celebrations of the Prom's centennial, it's looking forward to something bigger and more public this summer.

Yet it's still a bit cryptic as to whatever that may be. Seaside's Director of Tourism, Joshua Heineman, sent out the cautious message of save the date for Saturday, August 7. Something big may  or may not  be on the horizon.

That cryptic vibe comes from, well, no one's ability to tell the future. Yet Heineman said he's hopeful.

Details are pending due to the ongoing pandemic, but we've printed a limited edition Prom Centennial booklet with the help of Travel Oregon and we're moving forward with faith that late summer will look very different than the last year, he said.





Meanwhile visitors are currently diving into the Prom Centennial with self-guided tours of historic homes along the Prom and responsible overnight stays on Seaside's sandy and easy-to-socially-distance beach, as Heineman put it. Find lots more info at SeasideProm.com.

The Prom, as it's now affectionately known, has become one of the most iconic coastal landmarks in the Pacific Northwest, an Oregon nod to the great boardwalks and promenades of the world like Brighton Pier and San Sebastian, Heineman said.

As the city tentatively readies for something more large-scale in the future, it's a good time to look at the past, Heineman said. So he released some more fun historical tidbits about the Prom.

It's the only oceanfront concrete boardwalk in the entire Washington or Oregon coastline.

The Prom is 14 feet wide and 1.5 miles long, and 24 blocks along the beach with 2,329 distinctive arches and 50 iconic lamp posts. Runners, walkers, bicyclists and skaters enjoy its long flat stretch with scenic views.

It was under construction between Nov. 1920 and June 1921, the start of the Roaring Twenties in the U.S. The Prom was dedicated in a well-attended ceremony on August 7, 1921.

The building cost was estimated at $150,000. That would be about $2.2 million in 2021 dollars.

Near the center of the Prom is the concrete Turnaround, where vehicles heading west on Seaside's main street, called Broadway, can circle around with sweeping views and travel east down the same street.

The Turnaround memorializes the westernmost destination of the Lewis and Clark

Expedition (though it's not known if they actually stood in that spot). A re-creation of the Salt Works, where members boiled sea water to make salt for the return trip, is located between avenues N and S.

The Prom is lined by an aquarium, hotels, condominiums, restaurants and historic late 19th - and early 20thCentury - summer cottages.

The Prom features cement benches and light posts that have bronze plaques with personal messages. The plaques were donated by families who have loved Seaside through the years.

A historic sundial is located on the Prom just south of the Turnaround.

Also see:

Oregon Coast History, Seaside Promenade Part II: From Lewis and Clark to Rock 'n Roll Where geology meets US history and rock history

Seaside Promenade History: Beginnings of an Oregon Coast Icon, Part I One thing is for sure: the Promenade at Seaside actually began in the 1920s. Or did it?

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New Ghost Forest Found at N. Oregon Coast's Happy Camp a Chilling Reminder

Published 05/04/21 at 8:55 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Netarts, Oregon)  A recent field trip to the Oregon coast during a large minus tide yielded an unusual discovery for one state resident. Netarts Bay was somewhat emptied out that day, and certainly the little village of Happy Camp looked very different. The tideline was much farther out in this gray, overcast hour, leaving the half-circle of Happy Camp's bay-within-a-bay appearing to be much bigger in a way. Along this suddenly-elongated shoreline, near the Crab Avenue access, something catches Dillon West's eye. A series of jumbled, scraggly root systems lie a ways from the tide, clearly normally underneath the water. (Photos courtesy Dillon West)

Dillon, a longtime reader of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, has probably seen this before on those pages. Or at least something like it - but not in real life.

I've been to this bay 50 times and never seen this, he told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. While we were taking pictures, a longtime local said she never recalled seeing these before.

Indeed, after he emailed the publication, Oregon Coast Beach Connection confirmed what he thought: this was a ghost forest.

After digging around the publication's document archives, it's discovered this ghost forest is not documented. It's not in the geology paper that defines the study of Oregon coast ghost forests, written by Scott Peterson and Roger Hart back in 2006.

So the question lingers: how old are these ghost forests? Those in the area  at Cape Lookout  are usually a little over 1,000 years old. But there is a set in Netarts Bay not in the Hart / Peterson paper that's known to be a whopping 80,000 years old. [More on that below].

Finally, the word comes back from Seaside geologist Tom Horning: these are likely 300 years old. He said that's based on elevation, meaning you can see in West's photos they're just slightly above sea level.





Those ghost forest stumps along Washington and Oregon's shorelines that are 300 years old are never on the beaches themselves but rather slightly inland. That's because they came from the 1700 Cascadia quake and tsunami event that tore into the Oregon and Washington shoreline, flooding entire swaths far inland. Ghost forests found on beaches are a different origin, and date back 1,000 years to 4,000 years old (in spite of what others in Oregon have posted about beach ghost stumps).

Those ghost stumps inland are a slightly higher elevation than beaches  hence Horning's opinion on this set at Happy Camp. These twisted, green goo-covered root systems are a reminder of the massive earthquake and resultant tsunami that the Cascadia subduction zone will someday unleash hell on the coastline.

West's finds are not a ghost forest you can see, in general. As the photos show, they're considerably below where the tideline usually is (note the highest gray line at the top of the beach). You won't get to see this yourself unless there's another extreme low tide event, and soon summer sand levels will start to rise, covering that up even more.

Extremely low sand levels next winter are what you'll have to wait for if you want to see any ghost forests in this area (at McPhillips Beach, Cape Lookout State Park). Even then it's not guaranteed; not every winter sees sand levels drop enough to view them.

Ghost forests in the sands come from a much slower process and not a quake / sudden immersion event as talked about seemingly everywhere. Unfortunately, the real story on their origin has gotten buried by enthusiasm for a juicier storyline. See Explanations of Neskowin Ghost Forest Wrong, Say Oregon Coast Geologists.

One longtime mystery did get solved while researching these ghost forests, however. Horning provided a photo of the long-sought-after 80,000-year-old ghost forest. Those stumps are deeply embedded in a cliff in the bay (actual location will not be revealed).



Photo Tom Horning

The photo here from Horning shows a friend who is 6 feet, three inches high, next to the stump, which is about 7 feet tall. The little arrows show structural joints in the sea cliff that might indicate the presence of a fault nearby, according to Horning.

Also see New Ghost Forest on S. Oregon Coast Remains of 1700 Megathrust Quake, Tsunami MORE PHOTOS BELOW

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Weirdest Science: Possible 'Ocean' Beneath the Oregon Coast, North America

Published 05/04/21 at 5:25 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Portland, Oregon)  The discovery is several years old now, but here's a weird, weird thought: there really could be a kind of "ocean" far beneath Oregon and the Pacific coastline. In fact, there's a lot of solid evidence this very different form of water exists within the Earth, perhaps some 400 miles below everything.

The mind-bending discovery arrived on the scene back in 2014 from Northwestern University geophysicist Steve Jacobsen and University of New Mexico seismologist Brandon Schmandt.

However, before you invoke Jules Verne and start thinking about a surfing expedition to the center of the Earth, this is not a body of water in the normal sense. Jacobsen and Schmandt are talking about a section of the Earth's crust where pressures are so high water does not exist in the usual forms we are familiar with, like liquid, ice or vapor.

Rather, it's where water is bound together with rock on a molecular level - layers they discovered evidence of underneath North America. That could well include the Oregon / Washington coastlines and the Pacific itself. It's actually a theory that geologists have had since the 80s, that there exists a rocky layer of the Earth's mantle some 250 miles to 410 miles below where water is trapped by the intensely high pressures of such depths.

The weight of 250 miles of solid rock creates such high pressure, along with temperatures above 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, that a water molecule splits to form a hydroxyl radical (OH), which can be bound into a mineral's crystal structure, Jacobsen and Schmandt wrote back in 2014.

Jacobsen and Schmandt were the first to provide direct evidence of this layer of liquid, which appeared in a 2014 issue of the journal Science.

They said the amount of water is likely enormous  possibly three times the amount of H2O in the planet's oceans.

Schmandt used seismic wave equipment from the USArray (part of EarthScope), analyzing the waves from earthquakes to investigate the structure of the deep crust and mantle. Jacobsen tested the geologic processes in the lab. The two discovered strong evidence on both sides of their investigation methods that matched each other.

It's a process that often include subduction, where plates are folding underneath one another. Water is getting cycled downwards, squeezed into this fourth form of liquid  not dissimilar to the ancient and crushing processes that essentially built layers upon layers of the rock formations we know on the southern Oregon coast, starting as far back as 250 million years ago.

The water cycle involves more than just the water that circulates between the atmosphere, oceans, and surface waters, said the journal Science, describing the findings. It extends deep into Earth's interior as the oceanic crust subducts, or slides, under adjoining plates of crust and sinks into the mantle, carrying water with it.

This find also sheds more light on the formation of the planet itself. All of this is further evidence for the theory that the oceans formed from beneath the planet and not from icy comets.

Yet another startling idea comes from their discoveries as well, with some impact on Oregon's coastline geology.

Jacobsen also theorized this layer of trapped water may help explain why oceans stay the same for millions of years at a time. With so much water present on the Earth, if some of it wasn't trapped beneath the surface, the oceans would be high enough to leave only mountaintops poking out of the seas. (See the original press release)

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Dinesh DSouza, writing at theepochtimes.com writes:

For a long time, the FBI has stood as the admirable symbol of a police agency of government, implacably going after the bad guys and neutrally enforcing the laws. This is the FBI of the movie The Untouchables, in which special agent Eliot Ness leads his devoted crew of armed agents in a heroic battle against the forces of organized crime.

Well, forget about the Untouchables. Todays FBI has quite obviously been corrupted from the top. This is a process that seems to have begun under President Barack Obama, endured during the President Donald Trump years, and has now reached its unfortunate nadir under President Joe Biden. Its time for conservatives and Republicans to start thinking about getting rid of the FBI.

I want to highlight two sets of contrasting episodes that give us a window into how biased and partisan this once-respected agency has now become. Contrast the treatment the FBI has given to Jan. 6 activists with that it has afforded to Antifa and Black Lives Matter protesters.

The FBI has unrelentingly hunted down Jan. 6 protesters, in many cases confronting Trump supporters who were merely in Washington at the time, or at the mall rally but not involved in entering the Capitol.

Those who have been arrested have been treated like domestic terrorists, captured in raids involving drawn weapons, even though the charges against most of them amount to little more than trespassing or entering a government facility without proper permission.

Nonviolent offenders have been given the same brutal treatment as violent ones. And to this day, the FBI promulgates imagesa grandma here, a teenager thereasking the public to help them track down still-at-large individuals who had something, anything, to do with the events of Jan. 6.

Contrast this concentrated effort with the lackadaisical, even disinterested, approach of the FBI to the Antifa and Black Lives Matter activists. Over a period of many months, those activists have proven far more violent. They have killed a number of people, in contrast to the Trump activists who killed nobody. (The only person killed on Jan. 6 was Ashli Babbitt, a Trump supporter shot in the neck by a Capitol police officer.)

They have looted businesses, burned churches, assaulted police officers, attacked and harassed ordinary citizens eating in restaurants or going about their normal livesand all with impunity. No FBI raids, no systematic arrests, no dissemination of Wanted images on social media.

Now, I turn to my second contrast: the recent FBI raid on Rudy Giulianis home and office, while there has been no raid on the home or office of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Start with Giuliani: The ostensible justification for the raid was to look for evidence Giuliani violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Giuliani pointed out in a statement released by his lawyer, however, that he had offered to sit down with the FBI and the Biden Department of Justice (DOJ) and show them to their satisfaction that there had been no violation of law.

Moreover, Giuliani had for several months been offering the FBI clear evidence, corroborated by texts and emails, that Hunter Biden not only allegedly failed to register as a foreign agent, but also that he was allegedly involved in child pornography, money laundering, and an elaborate Biden family scheme to sell their political access in exchange for millions of dollars in personal gain.

Both the FBI and the DOJ showed no interest in any of that. Consequently, Giuliani seems warranted in concluding that the agencys conduct is a clear example of a corrupt double standard: One for high-level Democrats whose blatant crimes are ignored, such as Hillary Clinton, Hunter Biden, and Joe Biden and quite another for Republicans who are prominent supporters and defender of President Trump.

Giuliani further revealed that the FBI and DOJ had, in late 2019, obtained access to his email database without notifying him. This means that while Giuliani was advising his client Donald Trump during the impeachment processa relationship fully protected by attorneyclient privilegethe FBI violated the law while supposedly investigating Giuliani and Trumps possible violations of law.

Here, again, the FBIs extreme diligence in going after Giuliani can be contrasted with the FBIs failure to act in the case of Cuomo. Cuomo is currently involved in two separate scandals, one involving multiple women who have accused him of sexual harassment, and another involving his direct involvement in a cover-up scheme to hide the magnitude of nursing home deaths caused by his own policies.

According to The New York Times, the Cuomo administration was far more culpable than previously known in deliberately undercounting nursing home deaths over a period of five months. Lets recall that these deaths need not have occurred. At the direction of the Trump administration, the U.S. Navy dispatched the hospital ship Comfort to New York to accept non-coronavirus patients and thus lessen the burden on New York hospitals.

Cuomo, however, turned the ship away to spite the Trump administration and instead ordered New York nursing homes to accept the overflow of COVID-19 patients, helping the virus to spread among vulnerable nursing home populations and thus causing thousands of unnecessary deaths.

Then, when the Trump administration inquired about the nursing home data in New York, Cuomo instructed his state health officials, including health Commissioner Howard Zucker, not to release the true death toll to the federal government, state officials, or the general public. Cuomo also suppressed a research paper that revealed the data and blocked two letters by Zuckers department from being sent to state legislators.

While Giulianis offense remains unclear, Cuomo is guilty of obvious abuses of poweractions that have not only put people in their graves but also amounted, in a statistical sense, to hiding the bodies. Again, the FBI is nowhere to be found, and the reason for its absence appears to be that Cuomo is a Democratic governor who seemingly enjoys immunity as far as todays FBI and Bidens DOJ are concerned.

Enough is enough! When justice no longer involves the neutral or equal application of the laws, it ceases to be justice. I realize, of course, that there will be no FBI reform under Biden. Therefore, I strongly urge the Republican Party to make the abolition of the FBIshutting down the agency and then reconstructing it from the ground upkey provisions of its campaigns both in 2022 and 2024.

Dinesh DSouza is an author, filmmaker, and daily host of the Dinesh DSouza podcast.
After more than six months of negotiating with Beaumonts new transit provider, the workers union is speaking out.

About a dozen members of the Amalgamated Transit Union from Beaumont, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio turned out on Tuesday in front of City Hall in an effort to inform city officials, council members and residents of their plight.

Local 1031 Vice President Amanda Haynes said workers hoped the picket would encourage residents to speak up with them.

The unions past several months have been filled with back-and-forth conversations with First Transit and the city of Beaumont.

Haynes said First Transit has told the union that it has to discuss the negotiated terms with the city, while the city has said it doesnt have anything to do with the negotiations.

That feeling was encapsulated by one of the signs held by a picketing union member simply asking, Whos telling the truth?

Related: Bus drivers seek back wages for time off during winter storm

First Transit could not be reached for comment. The company was hired to take over the transit system late last year after the former provider declined to seek renewal of its contract.

But Beaumont Planning and Community Development Director Chris Boone on Tuesday reiterated to The Enterprise that the city is not a part of negotiations and does not approve any terms. He said the city receives periodic updates on the process and it sees a copy of the final contract, but its not involved in determining specific parts of the contract.

The challenging relationship stems from a clash between state and federal laws regarding which government employees can unionize and what action the city can take as a result.

The city holds a contract with the company and subsidizes the program, but bus drivers and other related staff arent city employees.

Haynes the union is going in for another round of mediation on Wednesday, but to this point, First Transit hasnt accepted their demands.

Those demands include a wage increase and job security, among other provisions.

They dont want to budge, she said. Its not that they dont have the money. They just dont want to give it to us.

She said the union didnt have problems negotiating with the previous transit provider.

Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox

However, she and another transit worker went before the Beaumont City Council last summer under the previous operator with concerns that the city, and by extension the transit provider, wasnt doing enough to protect bus drivers from COVID-19.

While negotiations continue, the workers contract with the previous transit provider has remained in place.

She said she didnt have any timeline for next steps in the negotiation process, but she hopes residents will see Tuesdays protest and call on their City Council members to get involved.

We hope that the citizens get the message as well as the council. Theyre the ones that hired Kyle Hayes that has this company making sure they stay within budget, she said. Kyle Hayes, the city works for the citizens of Beaumont. We transport the citizens of Beaumont. For us to have to go to get to this level to get the message out is ridiculous. It could have been handled a long time ago.

The picket comes as the Beaumont City Council appears poised to take a closer look at the efficiency of its transit system.

The council approved the purchase of 16 new buses at a meeting late last week, which brought up questions regarding how many people actually use the system and which routes may not be need to be altered to provide the best service to residents.

First Transit is expected to conduct a ridership survey during its second 6 months operating the system, which is expected to inform future council conversations on the topic.

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com

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A local community clinic that serves the uninsured of Southeast Texas has been selected to pilot a new program helping medical providers prepare for not just disaster, but for the reality of climate change.

Ubi Caritas, a Beaumont faith-based clinic, is one of three medical facilities in Texas that will be developing new tools for dealing with climate-related issues and disasters thanks to a partnership with the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Harvard Chan C-CHANGE).

Harvard Chan C-CHANGE is launching the project in Texas, California, Massachusetts and North Carolina, targeting communities that have experienced increased disruptions for patients due to climate change, through a collaboration with global relief organization Americares and financial backing by Biogen.

Dr. Aaron Bernstein, interim director of Harvard Chan C-CHANGE, said the initiative was aimed at changing the way health care providers handle and think about climate changes impacts on their patients, starting with the clinics on the frontline of caring for vulnerable populations.

Climate resilience has already been put into large hospitals and big cities that can afford that, but it has mostly focused on creating buildings like Fort Knox, Bernstein told the Enterprise. That helps to protect the resources when disaster strikes, but that doesnt do anything to help the people that need to be served in those buildings.

While participating in the project, medical facilities will create evaluations for understanding how more extreme weather and weather events will impact their patients, and the best options for keeping health care access open while dealing with a disaster.

The lessons learned by clinics like Ubi Caritas through participation in the project will be used to ultimately create a Climate Resilient Clinics Toolkit, which can be adapted throughout the U.S. and internationally to make regionally focused guides for integrating climate resilience into a health system.

Harvard Chan C-Change expects over 150 clinics could be benefited by the program within the next three years.

Ubi Caritas was founded by a wide group of religious institutions and community groups in the area to create a health care source for the areas large population of uninsured. It has been treating patients since 1998.

More than 20% of the population under 65 in Jefferson County doesnt have health insurance, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Ubi Caritas was closed due to storm damage after Tropical Storm Harvey inundated the area, but reopened in spring 2019. The area around the clinic on Highland Avenue was also flooded during Tropical Depression Imelda in the fall 2019.

The other Texas clinics participating in the project are the Matagorda Episcopal Health Outreach Program in Matagorda County and the San Jose Clinic in Houston, both of which were impacted and left inaccessible during Hurricane Harvey and the recent Winter Storm Uri.

Communities served by our clinics are where the rubber hits the road in terms of the climate crisis, San Jose Clinic COO Neena Arora, said in a statement. We are often one of the few touchpoints people can look to in the community for help. Theres nothing more important than getting into the trenches on the frontlines to understand our needs and risks to form the foundation of the resources that get developed.

While handling some of the most extreme situations will be an important lesson for clinics working through their resilience processes, the project is also aimed at helping mitigate the risks of rising temperatures or freezing cold spells in areas that arent experienced with coping to those conditions.

Bernstein used heat waves as an example, which may kill thousands in the U.S. each year --according to new research, but isnt prepared for like a hurricane.

The beauty is, if we can come up to solutions like dealing with something like heat waves, we can make a change for these clinics, he said. We know these clinics arent waiting around for something else to occupy their time. Thats why our job is to marry the ideal with the real.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

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ExxonMobil is addressing social media rumors regarding flaring activities at its Beaumont plant.

Residents near the plant along the Neches River noticed plumes of black smoke coming from a flaring tower on Wednesday morning. Around the same time, reports on social media of two ambulances stopping at the facility started to circulate.

But representatives from ExxonMobil said the situation in reality was a combination of routine safety measures and coincidence.

Nakisha Burns, a spokesperson with ExxonMobil Beaumont, confirmed that the chemical plant experienced an operational issue and initiated a flare, but the operation was part of the plants normal safety routine to deplete extra hydrocarbons that can form during a disruption.

We do not expect safety, health or environmental problems, and there is no cause for community concern at this time, she said.

An initial report on the event isnt available yet in the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality air emission database, but companies have 24 hours after an issue is discovered to submit their estimated emissions and summary.

The company said the event had no impact on the refinery or lubricant blending and packaging plant operations.

Related: Next talks still up in the air as ExxonMobil lockout continues

Around the same time that flaring began, an ambulance was sent to the companys Beaumont Complex, but Burns said it was for an employee experiencing an unrelated medical issue.

We notified our company health services and local emergency responders to provide assistance, Burns said in a statement. The safety and health of our workforce remains top priority.

The downtown complex has seen some added activity outside its gates after contract negotiations between the local United Steelworkers membership and the company stalled, leading to a lockout that began Saturday.

While supervisors and management have taken over the operation of the refinery and the blending and packaging plant from hourly employees, the chemical plant was not impacted.

Representatives from the USW confirmed to the Enterprise that the union doesnt represent employees at the chemical plant and its workers were not directly affected by the lockout.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

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If you see a seemingly alarming number of emergency vehicles gathered across Beaumont and the Lamar Institute of Technology campus Thursday, take a beat before worrying.

First responders and other agencies from across the region will participate in an emergency training response exercise as part of the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commissions Operation Golden Triangle.

Operation Golden Triangle, a three-year project and funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will include first responders from Jefferson, Orange and Hardin counties in order to provide participants with an opportunity to assess capabilities, plans, policies and procedures, according to a news release from the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission.

During the exercise, participants will respond to a series of hypothetical terrorist attack scenarios across the three counties to assess the regions emergency response.

If you see something going on this Thursday, the (Emergency Operations Center) is hosting a regional exercise with our community partners  Beaumont ISD, Lamar University and our first responders, Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames said. Itll test our community partners and city responders for active shooter and mass casualties. We do these exercises through the year, but this one is going to be out in the community. If you see something going on, dont be scared. Its probably the exercise. You will know. They will tell you.

Port Arthur and its first responders and school districts also are participants of Operation Golden Triangle, according to a Port Arthur PD news release.

In Beaumont, the training exercise will include Beaumont and Lamar University police and Beaumont ISD and will take place throughout Beaumont and on the Lamar Institute of Technology campus.

More Information The following agencies and organizations will participate in the exercise:  South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC)  Acadian Ambulance  Baptist Hospital  Beaumont Emergency Medical Services  Beaumont Fire  Beaumont Office of Emergency Management  Beaumont Police Department  Central Dispatch  Federal Bureau of Investigation  Federal Emergency Management Agency  Groves Fire Department  Hardin County Health Department  Hardin County Sheriff's Office  Hardin County Office of Emergency Management  Houston Regional Intelligence Services Center (HRISC)  Jefferson County Sheriff's Office  Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management  Lamar Institute of Technology  Lumberton Emergency Medical Services  Lumberton Fire Department  Lumberton Police Department  Medical Center of South East Texas  Nederland Fire Department  Nederland Police Department  Orange County Sheriffs' Office  Orange County Office of Emergency Management  Orange Fire Department  Orange Police Department  Pinehurst Police Department  Port of Port Arthur  Port Arthur Fire Department  Port Arthur Health Department  Port Arthur Police Department  Port Neches Fire Department  Port Neches Public Works  Sabine-Neches Chiefs Association  St. Elizabeth CHRISTUS Hospital  South East Texas Air Rescue  South East Texas Regional Advisory Commission (SETRAC)  Texas Department of Public Safety  Texas Department of Transportation  Texas Emergency Management  Acadian Ambulance  Mitsubishi Chemical  U.S. Coast Guard  University of Houston See More Collapse

University Drive from Lavaca Street to Hartel Street near the Lamar University campus will be closed from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday because of the training exercise, the news release stated.

In Port Arthur, the training exercise will take place in several locations  the greater Port Arthur area, Port Acres and the port of Port Arthur. First responders will be using emergency vehicles, according to the news release. The training exercise will not interrupt Port Arthur schools and no Port Arthur businesses are expected to be impacted by the training exercise.

The exercise also is expected to test regional first responders coordination while responding to these simulated events, according to a Port Arthur PD news release.

The events are not real. For the publics safety, the exercise area will not be open to the public, the release said. We apologize for any inconvenience this may bring to your usual daily routine.

In Orange County, Sheriffs Office Public Information Officer Joshua Lockett told The Enterprise that parts of Pinehurst and Vidor also will be used for the training exercise.

jorge.ramos@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/byjorgeramos
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)  A SpaceX capsule carrying four astronauts departed the International Space Station late Saturday, aiming for a rare nighttime splashdown to end the companys second crew flight.

It would be the first U.S. splashdown in darkness since Apollo 8s crew returned from the moon in 1968.

MORE SPACEX: NASA picks SpaceX to land first woman on Moon in 2024

NASAs Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, and Japans Soichi Noguchi, headed home in the same Dragon capsule that delivered them to the space station last November. The ride back was expected to take just 6 1/2 hours.

Thanks for your hospitality, Hopkins radioed as the capsule undocked 260 miles (420 kilometers) above Mali.

SpaceX targeted a splashdown around 3 a.m. Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Panama City, Florida. Despite the early hour, the Coast Guard deployed extra patrols  and spotlights  to keep any night-owl sightseers away. The capsule of the first SpaceX crew was surrounded by pleasure boaters last summer, posing a safety risk.

Hopkins, the spacecraft commander, rocketed into orbit with his crew on Nov. 15 from NASAs Kennedy Space Center. Their replacements arrived a week ago aboard their own Dragon capsule  the same one that launched SpaceXs first crew last spring.

The four should have been back by now, but high offshore wind kept them at the space station a few extra days. SpaceX and NASA determined the best weather would be before dawn.

MORE SPACE: China will be first country after America to leave solar system

The delays allowed Glover to celebrate his 45th birthday in space Friday.

Gratitude, wonder, connection. Im full of and motivated by these feelings on my birthday, as my first mission to space comes to an end, Glover tweeted.

Saturday nights undocking left seven astronauts at the space station: three Americans, two Russians, one Japanese and one French.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Neuralink, Elon Musks brain-implant startup in Austin, has a monkey that can play video games with its mind.

At least, thats what the company claims in a video featuring a 9-year-old macaque named Pager who has two Neuralinks in his noggin.

Musk compares the implants to a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires. Each coin-sized device has thousands of electrodes on thread-thin wires that reach a few centimeters into the wearers motor cortex.

In the video, Pagers Neuralinks connect via Bluetooth to a smart phone. As he uses a joystick to guide a ball into a square on the monitor in front of him, the brain chips measure his neurons firing and decodes their signals. Pager earns a sip of banana smoothie every time he completes the task.

Eventually, they take the joystick away, and the algorithm predicts Pagers movements while playing Pong using only his brains signals. Remember Pong, the Atari game with two moving paddles and a ball bouncing back and forth?

Pager controls his paddle with his mind. The company calls it Monkey Mind Pong.

Courtesy screen capture

On ExpressNews.com: SpaceXs Boca Chica venture has all the versus categories covered

Musk hopes Neuralink will become the ultimate in wearable technology that could someday help solve an array of brain and spine problems, including paralysis, extreme pain, memory loss, blindness, hearing loss, depression, insomnia, seizures and addiction.

These can all be solved, Musk said in a summer update about the company that currently employs about 100 people. The neurons are like wiring, and you kind of need an electronic thing to solve an electronic problem.

And theres more.

In line with Musks other ventures, such as SpaceX and Tesla, Neuralink also has aspirational goals beyond limiting human suffering. The technology may someday offer people the ability to download and store memories, communicate telepathically, unlock trapped creativity, listen to music mentally and, yes, play video games with ones mind.

One Neuralink scientist said he hopes the devices will help humanity understand consciousness.

Musk said the price of the implant will be high in the beginning and eventually decrease to a few thousand dollars.

And installation will be a quick, outpatient procedure. A robot will bore a hole in the recipients skull, thread the wires into the brain and set the device flush with the bone using surgical glue. It should be invisible beneath the scalp.

On ExpressNews.com: This is not SpaceX property: Elon Musks company looks to rename South Texas town Starbase

Wearers will need to recharge their chip via wireless induction and install an app on their smart devices.

Musk acknowledges that it all sounds like the television show Black Mirror, the modern Twilight Zone-like series in which humans navigate the dark side of technology.

The futures gonna be weird, Musk said.

The theories behind Neuralink arent new. Scientists call the technology brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs, and researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio are doing their own work in the field.

It actually has a long history, said Edward Golob, a UTSA psychology professor whose research delves into BCIs. You can, to a limited degree in humans, read out someones intentions.

Currently, he said, the technology allows scientists to interpret only simple concepts such as right and left, but artificial intelligence and other technical advances are helping them gain more insight.

I suspect people want to take the technology even further  to get the brain to be even better than it normally would by training it in some way and trying to input other signals, he said. Thats more kind of science fiction nowadays, but it will probably become science reality at some point in the future.

On ExpressNews.com: NASAs Perseverance lands, San Antonio hypersonics lab rises

Were still a long way off from solving brain and spine problems, let alone enabling everyone to communicate telepathically or have super-human vision with their Neuralinks.

Putting metal in someones brain is something we should pause about, Golob said.

In addition to the technical and medical hurdles, there are ethical and moral issues with animal testing and patient welfare. Then theres the privacy, safety and security concerns of wiring peoples brains to the internet.

Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

One physical obstacle is the bodys reaction to foreign objects such as electrode wires.

Once you stick electrodes into a brain, the body doesnt like metal inside of it, Golob said. So it mounts something called a foreign-body response  it kind of looks like a booger  and that gunk that gets around the electrodes gets in the way of their ability to detect the electrical signals that you want to detect.

Musk acknowledges this as a material science problem and suggests some type of silicon carbide could work as an insulator.

Golob calls BCIs an orphan technology that is trapped in the valley between where science has left off and investors bet on its continued development.

Musk has this vision that can excite not only his own company  and hes going to put his resources into getting across this valley  but he may get other people interested, Golob said. They could really push this technology forward faster and get these important applications ready sooner than they would otherwise.

Though not as sensitive as electrodes inserted into someones brain, external electrodes are an easier sell with study volunteers and patients. At UTSA, Golob and his colleagues use external electrodes  a modified cap with dozens of sensors  to study brain signals associated with stuttering.

On ExpressNews.com: This was no accident: Family sues SpaceX for negligence

We can look at it in real time and predict reasonably well whether or not theyre going to stutter or not, right before they speak, he said. The next step is to learn how to train the brain to get into the good state.

What we really want to do on top of helping people who stutter is think about diseases that are really bad  Alzheimers disease, for example, he said.

If scientists can figure out whats going on in the brain when somethings going awry, they might be able to help individuals use biofeedback to decrease their symptoms.

This type of therapy could help improve quality of life by decreasing symptoms, but it wouldnt stop the underlying diseases.

Its still a hypothesis, Golob said. Were going to find that out, hopefully in the next year or two.

The Neuralink people say direct communication between peoples brains via non-linguistic consensual telepathy is quicker and more accurate than writing or speaking. While I dont want a hole bored in my skull, I do like the idea of thinking about this column and sharing it with you telepathically.

Maybe someday.

Brandon Lingle writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. brandon.lingle@express-news.net
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Workers stand in front of a check post as their colleagues set fire to a pile of discarded goods at a majority Chinese-funded power plant during a clash with police in Chittagongs Banshkhali sub-district in southeastern Bangladesh, April 17, 2021.

A Bangladesh court Tuesday ordered a conglomerate to compensate relatives of seven workers gunned down by police during a labor protest at its majority Chinese-funded power plant last month, amid calls for a transparent and swift investigation into the incident.

The Bangladesh High Court also ordered two investigative committees to submit their reports within 45 days on the April 17 incident, which began as a protest by employees against pay and working conditions at the plant in the southeast and disintegrated into violence.

The Banshkhali Power Plant said it had already paid the families of the dead workers U.S. $3,600 each, but human rights groups, who filed two petitions, had requested that the court order the firm to pay $353,000 to each family, said Syeda Nasrin, a lawyer for Ain-O-Salish Kendra (ASK), one of the petitioners.

Justice M. Enayetur Rahim said $3,600 was very nominal and ruled that the plant must pay the families an additional $2,400 as initial compensation, Syeda told BenarNews about the judges order.

The court also wanted to know why the families should not be compensated $353,000 each, she said.

Last month, five people were killed and dozens injured in Chittagong district in southeastern Bangladesh as protests over pay and working conditions at a coal-fired power plant turned violent and police fired on angry workers. Officials had said they shot at workers to protect Chinese nationals on the premises.

Two workers died of their injuries four days later, while in hospital.

Last week, the International Labor Organizations Bangladesh office said it was shocked and saddened by the tragic incident of police firing on workers at the remote plant.

Upon learning of the incident we immediately approached the Ministry of Labor to understand better the circumstances and to know more about the situation and if an official investigation was set to look into the matter, Tuomo Poutiainen, country director of ILO Bangladesh, said in a statement to BenarNews.

It is important that the results of the investigation are shared and discussed, that workers have redress, and that the authorities look into the root causes of the incident and come up with recommendations and actions on how to strengthen monitoring and social dialogue in this sector and for these types of working environments.

The incident puts a focus on the need to ensure decent working conditions in these types of remote construction sites and workplaces where a number of sub-contracting arrangements are in place, ILO said, referring to the under-construction plant in the Banshkhali sub-district of Chittagong, some 292 km (181 miles) southeast of Dhaka.

Judicial probe is last hope

On Tuesday, the High Court also asked the local administration to ensure that workers and villagers in the area are not harassed for having protested or for demanding compensation. It also sought a report into the initiatives being taken to treat injured workers and keep other workers safe, ASKs lawyer said.

After the police shooting on April 17, the coal plant suspended operations. Police and the company filed two separate cases against 3,500 workers over the incident, while some locals told BenarNews that worried laborers went into hiding.

The plant reopened last Friday, Azizul Islam, an inspector at the Banshkhali Police Station, told BenarNews on Tuesday, adding that no arrests had been made yet.

ASKs lawyer claimed that families of the deceased workers are being pressured to not talk about the incident.

The Banshkhali power plant is co-owned by the S. Alam Group, one of the countrys biggest business groups which has a 70-percent stake, and two Chinese companies. More than 70 percent of the $2.5 billion cost of the facility was financed by China, according to information from S. Alam Groups website.

The High Court on Tuesday asked the state to respond within six weeks on why there should not be a judicial probe into the incident, as demanded by the petitioners.

The state party will give a reply to the ruling after consultation with the local administration, police, the Power Division and the Department of Labor, Bipul Bagmar, who represented the state in the hearing, told BenarNews.

The power plant has been in the news before, when locals, including fishermen and workers on salt and fish farms, protested the 3,000-acre projects approval in 2016. At the time, police fired on protesters, killing four people.

A civil society group that has opposed the construction of the plant from the start, claimed the 2016 incident was not thoroughly investigated.

A proper investigation did not happen for the previous killings, Anu Muhammad, secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, told Benar News.

There is no possibility of finding out the truth about the latest killings. A judicial probe is the last hope. If a judicial probe takes place, civil society members must be involved to ensure there is no interference by the government or the powerful owner.
Naval officers on the deck of the hospital ship KRI Dr. Soeharso pay their respects during a remembrance ceremony for the crew of the Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala-402 that sank on April 21 during a training exercise, April 30, 2021.

Underwater waves and the presence of live torpedoes could complicate attempts to salvage the wreck of an Indonesian military submarine that sank off Bali last month with 53 sailors onboard, Navy officials said Tuesday.

Three Chinese naval ships and an Indonesian ship will take part in efforts to lift pieces of the broken submarine, the KRI Nanngala-402, from a depth of 838 meters (2,749 feet), Indonesias Navy said. Ships and aircraft from several other nations had helped in the frantic search for the sunken sub in late April.

One of the three Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships, the Yongxing Dao-863, likely will be the first to be deployed to attempt to bring pieces of the submarine to the surface, said Rear Adm. Muhammad Ali, an assistant to the navy chief of staff.

An attempt to raise the wreckage carries high risks even though the Chinese Navy ships can each lift a load of up to 2,000 tons, Ali said. The Bali seabed features steep slopes with a maximum depth of 1,590 meters (5,215 feet).

Lifting it is a bit difficult because attaching the hook to the object to be lifted can only be done manually, either by a diver or a robot. Divers have to wear special suits to get to such a depth and this is difficult, Ali told reporters during a news conference in Jakarta.

There is also an internal solitary wave. Weve said the other day that this phenomenon could happen, so we really need to be careful and have to be patient, he said, adding it was possible to retrieve smaller pieces first before getting to the three major sections.

Ali, a former commander of the Nanggala-402, said in a statement last week that a powerful underwater current, known as an oceanic nonlinear internal solitary wave, might have dragged the submarine down and caused it to sink.

Col. Djawara Whimbo, a spokesman for the Indonesian military, said the Chinese ships were well-equipped to carry out the salvage operation.

Offers of assistance came from many countries, but China is the closest and the most qualified, Whimbo told BenarNews.

The Yongxing Dao-863 has a mini submarine that can carry divers and is equipped with an underwater robot, side-scan sonar, multibeam echo sounder and medical equipment, Ali said. The mini-sub can dive to more than 1,000 meters (3,281 feet).

The Yongxing Dao-863 and the Nantuo-195, a Chinese ocean tugboat, reached Bali Sea waters on Sunday. The third PLAN ship, the Tan Suo 2, a scientific salvage vessel, was expected to arrive later on Tuesday, officials said.

Several Indonesian warships were on standby as a precautionary measure because the sunken submarine carried live torpedo warheads, Navy spokesman 1st Adm. Julius Widjojono said.

Everything will be done with careful calculations, Julius said. The torpedoes only explode on impact. If theres no impact, they wont explode.

Previously, Ali had said that the Nanggala-402 carried three torpedoes even though it was capable of carrying up to eight, each weighing nearly two tons.

Foreign ships gone

The German-made KRI Nanggala-402 was taking part in a torpedo-firing exercise off the northern coast of Bali when it lost contact as it was about to receive clearance to fire on April 21. All 53 crew members are presumed dead.

The submarine, which weighed up to 1,395 tons and was 59.5 meters (195 feet) long, was found broken into at least three pieces on April 25 on the seabed after a search effort involving ships and aircraft from Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, India and the United States. The ships and aircraft from those countries have now departed the area, military officials said.

The ships from the other countries did not have adequate equipment to take part in the salvage phase, Julius said.

Their missions were completed with the discovery of the Nanggala-402 wreckage, he said.

The Indonesian Navy said it had enlisted an oil rig ship through SKK Migas, the countrys oil industry regulator, to try to recover the sunken submarine.

The agency was hammering out technical details before launching the salvage operation with the Timas 1201, which is equipped with a crane that can lift loads of up to 1,200 tons, SKK Migas chief Dwi Soetjipto said Monday.

Soft power

Chinas involvement in the salvage operation is part of Beijings quest to exert power amid tensions in the South China Sea, according to Aristyo Rizka Darmawan, a senior researcher at the Center for Sustainable Ocean Policy at the University of Indonesia.

We will see if this is sincere or there is a hidden agenda. It doesnt come with explicit strings attached, Aristyo told BenarNews.

Chinas assistance, he said, was unlikely to sway Indonesias position on the North Natuna Sea in the southern reaches of the South China to which Beijing claims historic rights.

I think Indonesia will remain firm and will stand by its position in accordance with international law, Aristyo said.

While Indonesia does not regard itself as a party to territorial disputes over the South China Sea among several governments, Beijing claims historic rights to parts of the maritime region that overlap Indonesias exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Indonesia has had several stand-offs with China over allegations that Chinese fishing boats, escorted by China Coast Guard ships, operated in its EEZ off the Natuna Islands.

Meanwhile, the governments of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have territorial disputes with China, which claims nearly all of the South China Sea as its own.

However, Muhammad Arif, an international relations analyst at the University of Indonesia, said the PLANs involvement in recovery efforts should be seen in a positive light.

For Indonesia and China, this can be an opportunity to show that Chinas growing maritime power can contribute positively to the region, he told BenarNews.

He noted that Indonesia had welcomed help from other countries, including the United States and Australia.

Indonesia is not aligning with any power. What is clear is that anyone who can help, anyone who has the capability to help, has been involved, he said.
An employee inspects disposable gloves manufactured at the Top Glove factory in Shah Alam, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Aug. 26.

Updated at 11:15 a.m. ET on 2021-05-06

Malaysias Top Glove said Wednesday it was working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to lift a 2020 ban on its products, a day after the agency seized a shipment of 4 million medical gloves from the worlds largest manufacturer.

The company claimed a third party auditor had found that concerns behind the ban about forced labor had all been resolved, and said CBP was reviewing its report of this outcome.

With reference to reports on Top Gloves one container to Cleveland Port, Ohio, U.S.A., Top Glove wishes to inform that the Company continues to work closely with the U.S. CBP towards the expeditious resolution and revocation/modification of the Withhold Release Order (WRO)/Finding, Top Glove said in a statement Wednesday.

The U.S. agency is currently reviewing our submission on the back of the company having remediated the 11 International Labor Organizations (ILO) forced labor indicators, the firm said.

The companys resolution of the 11 ILO indicators of forced labor had earlier been verified by independent international U.K. consultant, Impactt Ltd, in its report dated 22 April 2021, Top Glove added, referring to the U.N. agencys list of practices that indicate coercive labor.

In Cleveland on Tuesday, CBP personnel seized a U.S. $518,000 shipment of 3.97 million nitrile disposable gloves, following a March order that these Top Glove products must be confiscated at American ports.

This seizure sends a strong message that CBP will not tolerate imports made by forced labor, which is a form of modern slavery that hurts vulnerable workers and threatens our economy, Diann Rodriguez, Clevelands area port director, said in a statement.

CBP continues to facilitate the importation of legitimate PPE personal protective equipment] needed for the COVID-19 pandemic while ensuring that the PPE is authorized and safe for use.

Last July, the U.S. CBP blocked imports of Top Gloves surgical gloves, saying it had evidence of multiple forced-labor indicators at the firms operations. They included debt bondage, excessive overtime, retention of identification documents and abusive working and living conditions.

After the block, Top Glove had submitted a petition requesting the CBP to modify its order  called a Withhold Release Order  CBP spokesman Nate Peeters said late on Wednesday.

The process of reviewing such a petition varies from case to case, and a block order would not be changed unless the CBP was satisfied that the company no longer used forced labor, he said.

CBP will not modify or revoke a Forced Labor Finding until it has information that all indicators of forced labor identified by the agency have been fully remediated and it is demonstrated that forced labor is no longer being used to produce the goods targeted by the finding, Peeters told BenarNews via email.

On March 9, the company had said that an independent consultant had confirmed that there is no element of systemic forced labor in Top Glove.

However, the statement issued at the time by Impactt said that Top Glove had made progress on, but not resolved six forced-labor indicators.

During a subsequent review carried out in last month, the British consultant firm said it found that Top Glove had made further progress to close the 6 indicators of Forced labor Indicators remaining in January 2021.

Malaysian firm Top Gloves shipment of surgical gloves is seen after it was seized by the United States Department of Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Cleveland in Ohio. [Photo courtesy United States Department of Customs and Border Protection]

Andy Hall, a migrant workers rights expert, who has been a vocal critic of worker conditions at Top Glove but who has recently adopted a critical friendly approach to the company, said that the company had made strides in addressing forced labor issues.

It is time to acknowledge positive momentum forward shown by Top Gloves leadership to effectively seek to identify, remediate and prevent systemic forced labor indicators from being present in the companys direct operations and supply chain, Hall told BenarNews in a statement on Wednedsay.

Hall also questioned the U.S. customs agencys reluctance to withdraw the forced labor trade related finding.

[O]ther leading gloves companies in Malaysia are doing far less than Top Glove to ensure the welfare of their workers, yet they are still not similarly subject to CBP trade enforcement action and product seizures, Hall said.

The Malaysian government, however, still believes Top Glove isnt doing enough.

On March 16, the government charged Top Glove with failing to provide worker accommodations that meet minimum standards. The company pleaded not guilty to the 10 charges against it, but if convicted it could be fined up to RM 50,000 (U.S. $12,000) per charge.

The charges stemmed from numerous investigations into allegations of poor conditions at dormitories of six factories owned by Top Glove, after more than 3,400 workers tested positive for COVID-19 in its plants in Selangor state.

When the U.S. customs agency, in March, ordered that Top Gloves surgical gloves be seized, the Malaysian company had said its representatives in the United States were liaising with CBPs representatives for sufficient information to meaningfully address the issuance of the recent finding.

Adrian Pereira, an analyst from a rights group North South Initiative, said U.S. actions against forced labor in Malaysian companies had no effect on these firms. In addition to Top Glove, the U.S. last year also blocked imports of palm oil products from Malaysian companies Sime Darby and FGV Holdings Berhad.

The Americans can confiscate or seize all they want. Malaysian laws and regulations contain a different check list of trafficking indicators, so the exercise does not result in institutional reforms which Malaysia urgently needs, Pereira told BenarNews.

As for Top Glove, the reforms taken internally are welcomed and we hope they are consistent with time and cut across the whole supply chain.

CBP has said that goods produced by forced labor present significant risks for consumers, and corporate, government and military supply chains.

This report has been updated with comments from a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman.
Filipinos carry their boat to shore in the seaside town of Bani, Pangasinan province, after a night of fishing in the South China Sea, March 7, 2021.

The Philippine Coast Guard drove away Chinese militia ships from a Manila-claimed reef in the South China Sea in late April, the national security adviser said, while declaring that Filipino fishermen are exempt from Beijings annual fishing ban in the disputed waterway and other seas.

The coast guards BRP Cabra, backed by other ships, shooed away seven Chinese ships from Sabina Shoal on April 27, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said. The reef is 130 nautical miles west of Puerto Princesa in Palawan province, within the Philippines 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The crew of the BRP Cabra issued challenges to the offending vessels, but elicited no response from the CMM, Esperon said in a statement released late Tuesday night, referring to the Chinese Maritime Militia.

After around 20 minutes however, the CMM vessels dispersed and left the shoal after being challenged by BRP Cabra, he said, describing the Chinese ships as having initially formed a stationary linear formation.

On Wednesday, the coast guard released footage and photos of the confrontation at Sabina Shoal.

Esperon, who also serves as chairman of the countrys National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), also rejected Chinas annual fishing ban. It began on May 1 and runs through Aug. 16 in parts of the sea that include waters inside Manilas EEZ.

The West Philippine Sea is Manilas designation for territory it claims in the South China Sea.

This fishing ban does not apply to our fishermen and the NTF-WPS opposes Chinas imposition of the same over the areas within the territory and jurisdiction of the Philippines, Esperon said.

The NTF-WPS reiterates that our fisherfolk are encouraged to go out and fish in our waters in the West Philippine Sea, he said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a BenarNews request for comment on Esperons statements.

Beijings annual fishing ban began Saturday in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea and portions of the South China Sea.

Involving more than 100,000 Chinese fishing boats and nearly 1 million Chinese fishermen, Beijing imposes the annual ban to preserve marine fisheries, Chinese state-run media has said.

Although the ban expressly covers only Chinese fishermen, Beijings law enforcement agencies including its coast guard would target major violation cases and severely clamp down on organized marine fishery crimes, it said.

In recent years, Filipino and Vietnamese fishermen have been forced to observe Beijings fishing ban in the South China Sea, despite their protests, because of the presence of Chinese government ships.

Largely forced out of their traditional fishing grounds, Filipino fishermen have claimed a decline of as much as 80 percent in their catch since the Chinese took control of certain parts of the South China Sea.

The Vietnam Fisheries Society (VFS) expressed its opposition to Chinas fishing ban  echoing the criticism made by the Vietnamese government last week that it was a violation of Vietnamese sovereignty and international law.

The VFS said that the ban could cause clashes between Vietnams law enforcement forces and fishermen and Chinas coastguard, and impede the usual fishing activities of Vietnamese fishermen on their traditional fishing grounds.

We demand that China end this fishing ban in the East Sea/South China Sea, including in the waters under Vietnams sovereignty, the VFS said in a document submitted to the Vietnamese government on Tuesday.

The VFS represents Vietnamese fishermen, aquaculture producers, fisheries processors and organizations providing services in fisheries sector.

Hundreds of Chinese ships spotted

Prior to the April 27 incident at Sabina Shoal, the NTF-WPS had reported spotting an estimated 240 Chinese ships throughout the West Philippine Sea. It later updated that figure to 160.

In March, Manila reported a swarming of what it called Chinese militia ships at Whitsun Reef, also within the Philippine EEZ.

The Whitsun incident triggered a diplomatic spat between Manila and Beijing, which dismissed the accusation as an unnecessary irritation, and insisted the area was Chinese territory.

The Philippine government has been filing daily protests since April over what it says has been a constant presence of Chinese fishing boats backed by its maritime militia in its territories.

The Philippines is not deterred from defending our national interest, patrimony and our dignity as a people with all that we have, Esperon said on Tuesday.

Law enforcement patrols are to continue in Philippine-claimed areas in the South China Sea, Esperon said, as he reiterated a call to China and other claimant nations to comply with their international obligations.

The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have competing claims to portions of the South China Sea, while China claims virtually all of it. Although Indonesia does not consider itself a party to the dispute, China has claims that overlap with Indonesias EEZ in the South China Sea.

A July 2016 international arbitral award declared the Philippines claim to its EEZ in the South China Sea valid over Chinas sweeping claim.

This year, Beijings passage of a law allowing the Chinese Coast Guard to fire at ships it perceives to be intruding in Chinese-claimed territory raised the stakes.

Beijing maintains a coast guard presence around the Scarborough Shoal even though it is 118 nautical miles west of the Philippine island of Luzon, within Manilas EEZ.

Recent Philippine patrols reported spotting three China Coast Guard ships around the shoal.

On Monday, the Filipino food security advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan said the Philippines stood to lose as much as 7.2 million kg (15.87 million pounds) of fish for every month that Chinese ships force Filipinos out of their fishing grounds in the South China Sea.

The fishermens advocacy group Pamalakaya petitioned the United Nations on April 30 to nullify Beijings coast guard law, investigate the environmental damage Chinese ships have caused in the South China Sea, and to demilitarize the strategic and resource-rich waterway.

The Vietnamese Service of Radio Free Asia (RFA), a sister agency of BenarNews, contributed to this report.
Health workers inoculate a patient with the Russian-made Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, at the Makati Coliseum in Metropolitan Manila, May 5, 2021.

Updated at 6:05 a.m. ET on 2021-05-07

The Philippine government on Wednesday expanded its COVID-19 travel ban on India to include travelers arriving here from four other South Asian nations, saying this was needed to stop the entry of a highly infectious strain first identified in India.

The strain, known as the B.1.617 Variant, was first reported in India in October and has led to a massive surge in cases in recent weeks in South Asias largest nation. On April 27, the Philippines announced a ban and other restrictions on travelers arriving here from India.

Under the widened ban, all passengers coming from or who have been to Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka within 14 days immediately preceding arrival shall be prohibited from entering the country, the Philippine presidents office said in a memorandum dated Wednesday and posted on its website.

The ban and other travel restrictions, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 7, are needed to prevent the entry of the SARS-COV-2 B.1.617 Variant first reported in India, the memorandum said.

As many 20.6 million COVID-19 cases have been recorded in India, resulting in 226,188 deaths, since the pandemic broke out there early last year. Worldwide, more than 153.1 million infections and 3.2 million deaths have been recorded since the pandemic began, according to disease experts at U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Department of Health said that some travelers who arrived in the Philippines from India before April 27  when Manila sealed the national borders to travelers arriving from that South Asian country  had tested positive for COVID-19.

As to these Indian travelers that were quarantined upon arrival here before the restrictions were imposed, 110 of them underwent testing and six turned out to be positive, and it is now submitted to the Philippine Genome Center for whole genome sequencing, DOH spokeswoman Maria Rosario Vergeire said Wednesday.

She said the health department was recommending that all inbound travelers be tested at least a week before their scheduled arrival here.

The highest chance for a person who might have a disease to test positive is on the 7th and 8th day. This is our recommendation to get accurate test results and be able to isolate those who are sick, Vergeire said.

The health department later amended its information to say that five of the travelers who arrived from India, not six, had tested positive for the virus.

In related news, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna for emergency use in the country, reports said.

On Wednesday, the Philippines reported 5,585 new COVID-19 infections and 178 deaths. The country has a cumulative caseload of 1,073,555 and 17,800 pandemic deaths.

Jeoffrey Maitem contributed to this report from Cotabato City, Philippines.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Philippine health authorities had detected cases of the highly infectious B.1.617 Variant of COVID-19 among passengers arriving from India before the travel ban went into effect.
RTHK: Biden wants 70% of Americans vaccinated by July 4

President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced a goal to vaccinate 70 percent of US adults with at least one Covid-19 shot by the July 4 Independence Day holiday and said the government would innoculate 12- to 15-year-olds as soon as allowed.

The president, who has made fighting the coronavirus a key priority of his administration, had previously announced July 4 as a target date for Americans to gather in small groups to celebrate the holiday and signal a return to greater normalcy in the middle of the pandemic.

Biden's new goal takes into account an increasing, though not unexpected, challenge of getting shots into the arms of people who are hesitant about the vaccine.

Biden said his administration would focus on getting vaccine to more rural areas of the country, using smaller locations as mass vaccination sites were wound down.

"Now that we have the vaccine supply, we're focused on convincing even more Americans to show up and get the vaccine that is available to them," Biden told reporters at the White House while announcing his target. "If we succeed in this effort ... then Americans will have taken a serious step towards a return to normal."

Biden's new goal includes having 160 million adults fully vaccinated by the Fourth of July.

An administration official told reporters that 105 million Americans are fully vaccinated and more than 56 percent of US adults, or 147 million people, have received at least one shot.

The administration is working to win over those who are hesitant about the vaccine, including supporters of former President Donald Trump and young adults.

"There are a lot of younger people, especially those in their 20s and 30s who believe they don't need it. Well, I want to be absolutely clear: You do need to get vaccinated," Biden said.

The president's goal would result in roughly half of the entire US population being vaccinated by early July. Since coming into office, Biden and his team repeatedly have set goals such as getting 100 million people vaccinated during his first 100 days in office, a target he later increased to 200 million people, only to surpass them.

"One characteristic of Biden's Covid approach has been underpromise & overdeliver. So when they say they have a goal of 70 percent of adults having received at least one shot by July 4, it means they're pretty sure they can do better," Dr Robert Wachter, professor and chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco wrote on Twitter.

The president made clear his administration is gearing up to administer vaccines to 12- to 15-year-olds once authorised by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Current vaccines cover age 16 and up.

"I want American parents to know that if that announcement comes, we are ready to move immediately," Biden said, adding that 20,000 pharmacies across the country would serve as vaccination sites as soon as FDA approval came through.

To meet the president's broader target, the government also will work to make the vaccine accessible by having thousands of pharmacies allow walk-in appointments.

Vaccination rates vary with a high of over 57 percent of eligible people in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont to less than 33 percent in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.

The White House said on Tuesday that Covid-19 vaccine doses allocated to states but left unordered will become available to other states, representing a policy shift aimed at delivering vaccines to where they are most in demand. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-05-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Expo gives boost to Hainan as int'l tourism consumption center

Xinhua) 15:20, May 05, 2021

HAIKOU, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The first China International Consumer Products Expo, to be held from May 7 to 10 in south China's Hainan Province, will inject new impetus into the building of the island province into an international tourism consumption center.

The four-day expo, which focuses on high-end consumer products, has attracted the participation of more than 1,300 brands from 69 countries and regions.

Covering 80,000 square meters, including 60,000 square meters of international exhibition space featuring products including jewelry, food and health products from leading brands, the expo is expected to attract more than 20,000 buyers and over 200,000 visitors.

According to the provincial bureau of international economic development, the first batch of 20,000 tickets for the public was sold within four hours via the Internet.

"The expo will realize direct transactions between global buyers and sellers, introduce foreign high-quality consumer goods, and make up for the shortage of domestic high-end product supplies," said Wang Bingnan, China's vice minister of commerce.

"The expo will build a global exhibition and trading platform for international consumer products, conducive to building Hainan into an international tourism consumption destination," Wang added.

With the expo just around the corner, batches of imported products have been delivered to Haikou, capital of Hainan Province, in recent days.

Among them is a G. Patton GX vehicle, manufactured in the United States and weighing 3.1 tonnes, arriving at Haikou's Xiuying Port.

"The car is worth 3.8 million yuan (about 580,260 U.S. dollars). Other vehicles from automobile brands like Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce will arrive at the port soon," said Zak Yuen Lee, president of KAWO International Trading (Hainan) Co., Ltd.

"China is speeding up the construction of the Hainan free trade port (FTP) and there are a lot of preferential policies, such as tax cuts, which will save us hundreds of thousands of yuan in costs," said Lee, who registered the company in Hainan last year.

China proposed setting up a free trade zone in Hainan in 2018 and began construction of the Hainan FTP last year. On April 8, China released a guideline to support easing market access in the Hainan FTP. Over the past three years, a number of domestic and foreign companies have settled in Hainan.

Hainan's duty-free market has also been gathering steam. Official data showed the province's offshore duty-free sales are likely to exceed 60 billion yuan in 2021, up from 30 billion yuan last year, which had doubled from 15 billion yuan in 2019.

To ramp up its efforts to build itself into an international tourism consumption center, since July 1, 2020, Hainan has raised its annual tax-free shopping quota from 30,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan per person. The categories of duty-free goods have been expanded from 38 to 45, with electronic products such as mobile phones and laptops added.

Visitors' purchases at the consumer products expo will not be included in their annual quota.

Many foreign-invested firms are eyeing great potential in the consumption growth of the Hainan FTP.

Blackmores, an Australian health supplements company, has already confirmed its participation in the expo. It will have an exhibition booth of 200 square meters to offer visitors an immersive shopping experience.

"We will seize the opportunity of the expo to have direct contact with Chinese consumers to better know their demands and meet their needs for a better life," said Kitty Liu, managing director of Blackmores Group in China.

"The policies of the Hainan FTP and its international business environment have brought unprecedented chances to multinational enterprises like Blackmores. We will continue to actively ramp up our layout in Hainan," Liu added.

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health, a leading healthcare company, has also signed up for the expo to expand its business in China.

"As our strategic key market, China is not only a crucial growth engine for our global business, but also an increasingly vital innovation engine in the world," said Farrell Wang, managing director with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health China.

The company will showcase its eight brands to consumers at the expo. "We hope the Hainan FTP will become an important gateway for China's opening-up and play a key role in promoting the innovation-driven high-quality development," said Wang.

"The expo will build an important bridge for global brands to enter the Chinese market. Consumption will promote the agglomeration of industry, capital and other factors to accelerate the construction of Hainan as an international tourism consumption center," Liu added.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)


This effort will raise donations to help Central Oregons creative artists  musicians, visual artists, performers and creative workers  by offering grants and a platform to bring attention to the talent that needs help to continue thriving in this community throughout the pandemic and beyond.

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BENNINGTON Natalie Kwit, a public health veterinarian with the Vermont Department of Health, is the featured guest nxct week on Southwestern Vermont Health Cares (SVHC) Medical Matters Weekly with Dr. Trey Dobson, a weekly interactive, multiplatform medical-themed talk show.

The show will air Wednesday, May 12, at a special time, 11 a.m., and will cover everything you need to know about ticks and tick-borne disease.

Kwit leads the Vermont Department of Healths Zoonotic and Vector-Borne Disease Program, including the surveillance, prevention, investigation, and response to tick-borne, mosquito-borne, and zoonotic diseases.

In her previous role as an epidemic intelligence service officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Natalie conducted both domestic and international investigations concerning plague, tularemia, borreliosis, and Zika virus, including work in the CDC Emergency Operations Center.

Prior to EIS, she worked as a small animal practitioner while volunteering in wildlife medicine and One Health outreach.

The show is produced with cooperation from Catamount Access Television (CAT-TV). Viewers can see Medical Matters Weekly on Facebook at facebook.com/svmedicalcenter and facebook.com/CATTVBennington.

After the program, the video will be available on area public access television stations. On CAT-TV, viewers will find the show on channel 1075 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 1:30 p.m. Monday, 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 a.m. Friday, and 7 p.m. Saturday.

GNAT-TVs Comcast channel 1074 airs the program at 8 a.m. Monday, 9 p.m. Wednesday, and 1 p.m. Saturday.

Videos and podcasts are on svhealthcare.org/MedicalMatters, as well as YouTube and on many podcast-hosting platforms.
BRATTLEBORO  The Bennington Banner, Brattleboro Reformer and Manchester Journal are being sold by New England Newspapers Inc., to Vermont News and Media LLC, a company headed by software entrepreneur Paul Belogour of Guilford.

The sales price was not disclosed, and Belogour said the terms are confidential.

Under the terms of the transaction, which takes effect May 14, NENI, based in Pittsfield, Mass., will continue to print the newspapers  the Reformer and the Banner, both daily, and the Journal, a weekly  for at least five years.

Vermont News and Media, LLC, will hire all of the New England Newspapers Inc.s Vermont current employees. It will also purchase UpCountry, a magazine focused on and distributed in Berkshire County, Mass., and Windham and Bennington counties.

Vermont News and Media LLC to acquire Brattleboro Reformer, Bennington Banner, Manchester Journal PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Fredric Rutberg, president of New England Newspapers Inc., announced today that it is selling its Vermont publications to Vermont News and Media, LLC. Vermont News and Media, LLC, was formed by Paul Belogour of Brattleboro, Vermont, to assume ownership of these properties. The ownership transition will take place May 14.

Belogour, 50, said he approached NENI about three months ago with an interest in purchasing the publications, each more than 100 years old and their respective communitys newspaper of record. He said he reads the Reformer daily, and called it and its sister papers world-class.

In a meeting with NENIs Vermont journalists, sales, circulation and support staff on Tuesday afternoon at the Innovation Box, his building on Landmark Way, Belogour committed to journalistic independence for the papers newsrooms and to sharing the wealth if the venture makes money.

Belogour has not previously owned a publishing or media company, but said he would rely on the expertise of his employees. He said he purchased the papers as a way to invest in the local community ... I want to help the community as much as I can.

Belogour also emphasized that hes willing to innovate and take risks, even if things dont work out at first, as long as it leads to success down the road.

What hes not interested in doing, he added, is purchasing additional newspapers.

Belogour said hes hoping his information technology background can help the publications earn advertising dollars that have been claimed by online sources including Google and Facebook, and that the publications can take advantage of worldwide interest in Vermont as a brand.

NENI president and publisher Fredric Rutberg said the sale was not predicated by fiscal distress. But he also said the Vermont publications deserve truly local ownership, and that the sale will allow NENI to focus more on The Eagle.

In 2016, our goal was to restore The Berkshire Eagle to local ownership and control, and with that ownership came our Vermont properties. So, when Vermont News and Media expressed interest, we saw it as an opportunity to bring local Vermont ownership to those publications, Rutberg said. The sale will allow us to devote all of our energy and resources to The Berkshire Eagle.

Rutberg and his fellow investors Hans Morris, the late Robert G. Wilmers, and the late Stanford Lipsey purchased the newspapers from Alden Global Capital in 2016. Alden had acquired the holdings of William Dean Singletons MediaNews Group, which purchased the publications from the Miller family of Pittsfield in 1995.

Vermont News and Media LLC, was incorporated on Jan. 22, according to the Secretary of States website.

Originally from Belarus, Belogour came to Boston in the early 1990s on a rowing scholarship to Northeastern University.

After six years at Bank of Boston, in 2001 Belogour, in collaboration with Commerce Bank and Trust, established his first foreign exchange firm, CBFX, which was the first FDIC-insured banking entity offering retail foreign exchange to customers worldwide.

A few years after its foundation, CBFX was purchased by IFX Markets and then City Index. Belogour, working with a team of software engineers, developed UniTrader, built specifically for introducing brokers who help people navigate the world of foreign exchange.

Belogours real estate purchases in the past few years include the Country Kitchen/Mattress Center building on Western Avenue in Brattleboro; the Brattleboro Outlets Center on Canal Street; and the former Smyth Mansion at 70 Landmark Drive, now known as the Innovation Box.

He also owns Springfield-based Vermont Beer Makers, formerly known as Trout River Brewing Company, and the former Black Bear Sugarworks in Guilford.

He was among the bidders for the former Southern Vermont College property in Bennington last year. Southwestern Vermont Health Care won the auction with a bid of $4.65 million.
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Today the market for any given product is governed by the awareness among the consumers. An average buyer concentrates on the personal priorities and needs, apart from the overall notoriety of the product. These factors often administer the commodities of personal hygiene like diapers to a great extent. The modern day parents analyse the products for the infants more soberly than ever before. The material, costing, comfortable level are significant factor for making a diaper brand popular. Thus research and development are imminent part of baby diapers manufacturing. Also, the market for baby diapers is rising at an enormous pace, following rise in global demand.

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In recent years, the demand for baby diapers has grown fixedly in various nations of East Africa.



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The East Africa baby diapers market is principally driven by a continuous slump in the toddler mortality rate in developing nations, an upswing in urban population with significant expendable incomes, and increasing awareness related to the hygiene of infants. Coupled with this, in-depth and persistent efforts made by several governmental and non-governmental organizations to create awareness among rural population have led to an increasing use of baby diapers to promote the healthy growth of infants.



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The major countries considered in the research report are Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. Kenya becomes top lucarative market for baby diapers in East Africa. The dramatic demand for baby diapers in Kenya is driven by the significant rise in birth rate included a substantial decline in the infant mortality rate as compared to other developing nations of East Africa. After Kenya,Tanzania is the second largest revenue contributing country in the East Africa diapers market. Other Countries Involved are Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

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Leading players are also establishing feasible products made with biodegradable materials to entice parents who are vigilant of the environmental brunt of adapting diapers. Major manufacturers are making product modernization and operating boosting their distribution channels to centralize their presence across major countries. Key players accomplishing in this market include Johnson and Johnson, INDEVCO Group Procter and Gamble, Unicharm Corporation, SCA Hygiene Products GmbH, Mega Soft (Fujian) Hygiene Products Co. Ltd., and Interconsumer Products Ltd.
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
Reporter

Heather Bellow, a member of the investigations team, joined The Eagle in 2017. She is based in the South Berkshire County bureau in Great Barrington. Her work has appeared in newspapers across the U.S.
Activist Jahaira DeAlto speaks at a 2018 vigil for Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien, a transgender woman slain at the hand of her husband in North Adams. DeAlto reportedly was killed in Boston on Sunday.
You can leave an 8.4-pound iron cannonball out in New England weather for two centuries, it turns out. It still will be round, though a little cracked. How it got to a Russell hillside, though, remains fuzzy.

Zackary Cernak came across just such a thing late last month, in woods in Russell while creating a dirt bike trail about a mile from the route of the famous General Henry Knox Trail. Today, that path is all but forgotten. A few historical markers, including one in Russell, offer a reminder: Through this place passed Gen. Henry Knox in the winter of 1775-1776 to deliver to Gen. George Washington the train of artillery from Fort Ticonderoga used to force the British Army to evacuate Boston.

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In the area that yielded up the cannonball, Cernak, a high school senior in Westfield, also found evidence of old fire pits. If the ball was left behind by Knoxs troops, one of the yet unproved theories, it would be at least 245 years old.

The family reported the find to a local historian, is reading up on Knox Trail history and is waiting for wider confirmation. But, Jessica Cernak, the teens mother, believes the area could have been an encampment used by an early military force of some kind.

This is without a doubt, a very notable moment in time for not only my son, but myself, family, and local historians, she said in a post on Facebook. She did not make herself available for an interview with The Eagle but told MassLive that the familys historical exploration continues.

Its just fascinating. We just want to know more, she told reporter Jim Kinney.

Kinneys account of the find notes that historians are cautious about its significance, pending further study. One called the discovery intriguing but noted that iron balls also were used in manufacturing.

Interactive map of Knox Trail People interested in the route taken by Gen. Henry Knox, as he and his troops brought captured weapons to Boston in the winter of 1775-1776, can visit an interactive Google map at tinyurl.com/eymauws3.

Thomas Ragusa, a local historian who lives in Otis, told MassLive that he is dubious about the connection to the Knox Trail because that route is relatively far from where Cernak found the iron ball. Ragusa, a past president of the Otis Historical Commission and current alternate member, has worked to mark the trails passage through his town.

Ragusa supports the idea that the ball could be even older than the winter Knox made his way through Western Massachusetts. It could have been left decades earlier by troops traveling with a British military leader, Lord Jeffery Amherst, during what is known as the French and Indian War of 1754-63.

With further study, the family hopes to pin down what might have taken place on that piece of land, a long, long time ago.

In her Facebook post, Jessica Cernak cautions people against visiting the site, which is on private property.
Community News Editor / Librarian

Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. She can be reached at jmaschino@berkshireeagle.com.
Developers plan to buy the Cork N Hearth restaurant in Lee and convert it into a marijuana-manufacturing/retail facility. The Select Board cleared the plan Tuesday, despite opponents concerns about odor and traffic, but said it would review both issues periodically over the first year of operation.
Statehouse Reporter

Danny Jin is the Eagle's Statehouse reporter. A graduate of Williams College, he previously interned at the Eagle and The Christian Science Monitor. Danny can be reached at djin@berkshireeagle.com or on Twitter at @djinreports.
Lynn Burdick, of the Berkshire County town of Florida, went missing 39 years ago. The niece, who was a toddler at the time of her disappearance, is leading a renewed effort to find out what happened to Burdick, who was an 18-year-old high school senior at the time.
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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Soy Milk market is accounted for $14.44 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $28.40 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 7.8%. The factors such as increasing demand for lactose-free food products due to the ease of digest which is likely to contribute significantly to the revenue growth of soy milk market. However, the exceptional taste of the soy milk which significantly differs from the cow milk, the rise of other dairy alternatives and rivalry from beverage manufacturing industries are restraining the market growth.

Soy milk is a kind of grain milk, which is a steady emulsion of oil, water, and protein. It is delivered by drenching dry soybeans and grinding them with water. Soy is normally wealthy in basic unsaturated fats, proteins, fiber, nutrients, and minerals, which makes a sound beverage just as it is a brilliant wellspring of nutrient A, nutrient D, nutrient B, and magnesium. Since soy milk does not contain lactose, it is a reasonable solid beverage for lactose narrow minded individuals, and it gives all the nourishing advantages to the buyers with no antagonistic impacts.

Based on type, sweetened soymilk is estimated to have a lucrative growth due to high consumer demand for flavored beverages over the bland flavor of unsweetened soymilk. By geography, The Europe region likely to have a huge demand due to increasing focus of the population on healthy alternatives in emerging countries such as Germany and United Kingdom.

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Some of the key players in the Soy Milk market include The Hershey Company, Vitasoy International Holdings LTD, Organic Valley, Eden Foods, Inc., Soy Fresh, Kikkoman Corporations, Alpro, PUREHARVEST, Vitasoy International Holdings LTD and WhiteWave Foods.

Flavors Covered:

 Chocolate

 Vanilla

 Coffee

 Mango

 Cardamom

 Saffron

 Almond

 Other Flavours

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 Low-fat soy milks

 Other Products

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 Store-Based

 Online Stores

 Retail Stores

 Supermarket/Hypermarket

 Other Distribution Channels

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 Snacks

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 Health Beverages

 Non-Dairy Cheese

 Beverages

 Cold-Pressed Milk

 Functional Beverages

 Weight Loss

 Bakery Products

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End Users Covered:

 Toddlers

 Infants

 Consumers With Lactose Intolerance

 Kids

 Adults

 Elder

 Other End Users

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

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 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

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o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

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o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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Investigations editor

Larry Parnass, investigations editor, joined The Eagle in 2016 from the Daily Hampshire Gazette, where he was editor in chief. His freelance work has appeared in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Hartford Courant and CommonWealth Magazine.
Bill Everhart: On the need for more spine in the world of books
A South Carolina fire chief resigned after causing controversy with an offensive Facebook post saying police should stop responding to Black neighborhoods.

According to the Associated Press, Lancaster County administrator Steve Willis told The State newspaper that Francis Butch Ghent quit on Friday as chief of the McDonald Green Volunteer Fire Department.

Following an internal investigation, Ghent had been suspended since making the post on April 22.

The post said police should stop responding to calls in Black neighborhoods and read, They will eventually kill each other and the fake news wont have a story.

RELATED: Volunteer Fire Chief Apologizes For Racist Rant About Black People And Police

Ghent issued an apology to the fire department for the Facebook post.

I realize this has placed the department in a poor light and continues to cause mistrust and controversy in the community we all serve, the statement read.

Ghent asked for forgiveness and said he hoped that the community will begin to heal after he resigned. In an earlier apology, he had said the post was meant as a jab at news media.

McDonald Green is an all-volunteer department, according to Lancaster County officials. Firefighters there are not county employees and county officials said they have no authority to discipline Ghent, although county leaders including Lancaster County Council issued a statement condemning the post as offensive, the Associated Press reported.
Attorney General Merrick Garland wants $209 million from Congress for the U.S. Department of Justice to continue its Civil Rights work. He argued that the agency must do more to protect voting rights, support community policing and put an end to hate crimes against Asian Americans among other priorities.

From protecting voting rights to prosecuting hate crimes like those experienced by our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, DOJs civil rights work is critical to protecting the American dream, Garland said in a statement in his first appearance before a House subcommittee in his position.

In his presentation, a virtual appearance, Garland asked Congress for a $35 billion budget to accomplish his long list of goals, up five percent from 2020. It also seeks to do more to support gun control and focus on domestic terrorism. "Our budget supports my commitment to protecting our national security, including addressing both international and domestic terrorism, while respecting civil liberties," he said.

Garland testified that he wants improved funding for the Community Relations Service, a part of the Justice Department that has provided mediation for racial, ethnic and gender conflicts that have increased nationwide, USA Today reports. Over the past four years of the Trump administration, funds for the office have plummeted.



"That service has badly withered over the years," Garland testified. "An important part of our request for the Civil Rights Division is to increase hiring for CRS."

RELATED: Joe Biden Policies Likely To Pivot Civil Rights Division From Those Of Trump Administration



In the final weeks of the Trump Administration in January, the DOJ under former Attorney General Bill Barr tried to pare back Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits recipients of federal funding from discriminatory actions. This ploy happened Jan. 5, but the attention of the federal government was mainly concentrated on the insurrection at the Capitol that took place the next day.



With President Joe Biden in the White House, a new call for strengthening Civil Rights protections has risen and has found support among legislators.



"This is an historic opportunity to address systemic barriers to full participation in society, ensure access to economic opportunities and protect the right to vote," Democratic Pennsylvania Rep. Matt Cartwright said, according to USA Today. "As we face unprecedented threats from domestic violent extremism, such as the attack on the Capitol on January 6 this year and the national epidemic of firearm deaths and injuries, your proposed increases to address those problems are critical."



But at least one Republican opposed the proposal to increase the DOJs budget. "I'm concerned that if implemented, this budget would irresponsibly invest taxpayer dollars in initiatives that lack proper grounding and evidence or insights," said Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt.
The death of Mikayla Miller is under investigation by the Middlesex District Attorneys office after the 16-year-old was found hanging from a tree in Hopkinton, Massachusetts on April 18.

CBS Boston reported that flowers mark the spot where Miller was found on a trail off West Main Street located behind the apartments where she lived.

Mikaylas mother turned to social media and shared a post that accused police of turning a blind eye to the children who she said bullied, ambushed, and murdered her daughter.

My daughter was jumped by a group of kids on Saturday April 17th, 2021, and was then murdered hours later in Hopkinton, tied to a tree and left, read the statement allegedly from Millers mother and tweeted by Violence in Boston Inc.
A 68-year-old Black librarian is accusing North Carolina police officers of using excessive force against her during a traffic stop via a federal lawsuit.

Body camera footage released of the incident shows law enforcement grabbing Stephanie Bottom by her hair and throwing her to the ground after she was stopped for speeding in May 2019, according to CBS News.

Driving from Georgia to North Carolina for her great-aunts funeral, Bottom said she was stopped for speeding 10 miles over the speed limit and not pulling over for officers in Salisbury, North Carolina, the report says.

According to CBS This Morning, Bottom said she couldnt hear the officers in their squad car behind her because she was listening to loud music. In the video, the grandmother of five is seen face down on the ground after being dragged out of her car.

RELATED: Police Officer Who Killed George Floyd Has A History Of Using Excessive Force

"I was shocked," she told the program. "I was in fear. I was scared for my life. I didn't know whether they were gonna shoot me."

Bottom's attorney Ian Mance said she was no threat to law enforcement and they knew that.

"They also pull up alongside her and talk amongst themselves that this is an older Black female," Mance said. "She's by herself. They later wrote an incident report where they said that when they pulled up alongside her she held her hand up in a manner that suggested she was not sure what was going on."

Body camera footage taken while in pursuit of Bottom reveals one officer saying, "Pretty exciting chase here, "I'm at the edge of my seat, baby, and "What's wrong with this f*****g r*****d?"

In Bottoms lawsuit she alleges that after the incident the officers congratulated one another.

"That's good police work, baby," an officer says in the bodycam footage.

Subsequently, one brags about grabbing a "handful of dreads."

"At that point she earned it," an officer says.

The three officers are being sued for excessive force and alleges they tore her rotator cuff.

The Salisbury Police Department and the Rowan County Sheriff's Office did not return calls for comment to CBS News, the report notes.

Editors note: the body camera footage, accessible here, is graphic.
Garrett Rolfe, the fired Atlanta policeman who shot and killed Rayshard Brooks after a confrontation in a parking lot last June, was reinstated Wednesday after filing an appeal, saying he was terminated unjustly.

The citys Civil Service Board voted to reinstate him saying procedures revolving around giving him due process were not followed. Due to the Citys failure to comply with several provisions of the Code and the information received during witnesses testimony, the Board concludes the Appellant was not afforded his right to due process, the board said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Therefore, the Board grants the Appeal of Garrett Rolfe and revokes his dismissal as an employee of the APD.

The police department placed Rolfe on administrative leave. But since he was charged with murder in the Brooks case, he cannot go back on active duty as a condition of his bond which prohibits him from possessing a firearm or being around other police officers, his attorney Lance LoRusso told the AJC.



The Civil Service Board (CSB) has reversed the termination of officer Garrett Rolfe only on the basis that they were not done in accordance with the Atlanta City Code, said an APD statement to the media. It is important to note that the CSB did not make a determination as to whether officer Rolfe violated Atlanta Police Department policies. In light of the CSBs rulings, APD will conduct an assessment to determine if additional investigative actions are needed.



RELATED: Atlanta Officer Fired In Rayshard Brooks Shooting Seeks Reinstatement



Rolfe, 28, who is white, came across Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man who was found asleep in a Wendys drive-thru line last June 12 after a night of drinking.

Their interaction, caught on bodycam video, was at first calm, but quickly transformed once Rolfe tried to handcuff Brooks. After an attempt to taser Brooks failed and skirmish with Rolfe and Devin Brosnan, the other officer at the scene, Rolfe opened fire on Brooks as he ran away.



Rolfe was fired the next day and charged by the then-Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Paul Howard with 11 counts including felony murder later that same week.



"We are very excited that the Civil Board says that due process matters," LoRusso said in a statement to CNN, adding that he will work to get him back to full duty.



RELATED: Ex-Atlanta Police Officer Charged In Rayshard Brooks Shooting Granted $500K Bond

Meanwhile, the status of Rolfes murder case is unclear. Although Howard charged him, his successor Fani Willis, reportedly tried to have the case moved to a new prosecutor, alleging her predecessor mishandled the case. A judge ruled that it must stay with her office.



Willis is attempting to convince Georgia judicial authorities that her office should be recused from the case. She is due in court to argue her point in May. Although Rolfe is free on bond, it may not be known until Willis case is decided if a trial will proceed.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday on a case that could determine federal policy on federal sentencing for many low level crack cocaine offenders, an issue that has long held racial and equal justice implications.

In the final case of the term, justices heard Terry v. United States, whose petitioner Tarahrick Terry was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison after being convicted in 2008 of possessing 3.9 grams of crack, according to TIME magazine. Although he filed a 2019 petition for a reduction in his sentence under the First Step Act, which had been passed a year prior, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta denied him, ruling that the law only dealt with high and mid-level offenders, not low-level offenders whose category Terry fell into.



However, various courts have disagreed on whether or not that is true. In Terrys petition to the Supreme Court, his lawyers argue that the First and Fourth Circuit courts say it is under the Fair Sentencing Act and district courts may reduce sentencing for low-level crack offenders, but the Third, Sixth, Tenth and Eleventh Circuits say that the offenders do not have a covered offense.



This circuit split is untenable, the petition says. There are countless pre-Fair Sentencing Act crack offenders who are still serving their sentences. But geography alone now determines whether they are even eligible for relief.



And although relief is discretionary, it continues, district courts have granted significant relief to eligible crack offendersan average sentencing reduction of 26% or 71 months. Moreover, because many offenders are nearing the end of their sentences, this Court should intervene now. Otherwise, time may obviate a large swath of available relief.



RELATED: NAACP Fights To Help Texas Man Sentenced To 90 Years In Prison For Selling Synthetic Marijuana



Controversy over sentencing guidelines and their racial implications has gone on for years, but this latest presentation to the judges is expected to speak to how sentencing is applied.

The Fair Sentencing Act was signed by then-President Barack Obama in 2010 to reduce the disparity between how much crack cocaine as opposed to powder cocaine was needed to spur federal criminal penalties from 100:1 to 18:1. The larger ratio mean that people who were convicted of crack possession -- many of whom were people of color -- faced a longer sentence than for those convicted of the powder form of the drug.

The First Step Act was signed by former President Donald Trump in 2018 reformed sentencing laws to help reduce prison recidivism, but it also can apply retroactively to people convicted before the Fair Sentencing Act was signed and help them get their sentences reduced if they petition. Terrys petition argues that this applies to him.



RELATED: 2,200 Incarcerated People To Be Released Early Under First Step Act



There has been bipartisan support of Terrys petition from lawmakers who feel that he is right. Among them, Republican senators Chuck Grassley and Mike Lee and Democrat senators Dick Durbin and Cory Booker, according to TIME. Each of them were co-sponsors of the First Step Act. Had Congress intended to exclude individuals with low-level crack cocaine offenses from relief, Congress of course could have done so, they wrote in a brief.

Also, in an amicus brief, filed in February by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the ACLU of Florida, supporters say under the First Step Act that Terry is indeed entitled to a reduction in sentencing. To illustrate the point, they offer the racial disparity in sentencing between powder cocaine and crack.

Enforcement of the crack-powder differential led to vast racial disparities, as crack cocaine defendants were disproportionately Black, while powder cocaine defendants were not, the brief said.



A decision in the case is expected this summer, according to The Hill.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the only Black Republician in the Senate, lit social media on fire when he said America is not a racist country during his rebuttal to President Bidens first joint address to Congress on April 28. The statement was confusing, considering President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris nor any other sitting Democratic Senator has ever said America was a racist country.

While many people were blasting Scotts comments, which also appeared to dismiss systemic racism, Lamar County Democratic Party Chairman Gary O'Connor crossed the line when he called Scott an oreo. OConnor has now apologized and resigned.

According to The Washington Examiner, OConnor said in a statement on May 4, I am deeply and sincerely sorry for my inappropriate and hurtful use of racist term I used to describe Sen. Tim Scott on my personal Facebook page. It was insensitive, and I have embarrassed myself and my party by its use.



He also added, As a result, I feel compelled to offer my resignation as chair of the Lamar County Democratic Party for consideration by the County Executive Committee.



OConnors original post read, "I had hoped that Scott might show some common sense, but it seems clear he is little more than an oreo with no real principles.

Oreo is a term that refers to a Black person who appears to be white in mentality and politics.
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According to Stratistics MRC, Global Organic Farming is accounted for $53.16 million in 2017 and is expected to reach $129.97 million by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 10.4% during the forecast period. Increasing demand for organic food, rising awareness of natural, and new food safety standards for health and well-being coupled with consumers to pay for organic farm food are the key driving factors for the market growth. However, high production cost of organic farming is some of the factors hindering the market growth.

Organic farming is a method that involves growing and nurturing crops with the use of biological materials preventing the use of synthetic based fertilizers and pesticides. Also, the use of genetically modified organisms is not permitted. Organic farming systems have a great potential to provide the world with healthy, high-quality food.

Based on the method, Weed management has considerable demand during the forecast period. Organic weed management promotes weed suppression, rather than weed elimination, by enhancing crop competition and phytotoxic effects on weeds. Organic farmers integrate cultural, biological, mechanical, physical and chemical tactics to manage weeds without synthetic herbicides. By geography, Asia Pacific is expected to have a good demand during the forecast period, owing to increasing government initiative in promoting organic farming by providing subsidies on organic fertilizers.

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Types Covered:

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 Integrated Organic Farming

Methods Covered:

 Composting

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 Cutting

 Mulching

 Polyculture

 Soil Management

 Weed Management

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

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o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

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o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

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o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey, who shot and paralyzed Jacob Blake last summer, was suspended for three days earlier this year because his borrowed service weapon was stolen mere weeks after he repeatedly shot Blake. It has taken officials seven months to investigate. Meanwhile the weapon has still not been recovered.

Blake was shot on August 23, 2020. Investigators from the Wisconsin Department of Justice seized the weapon Shesky used to shoot Blake. The officer was given a loaner weapon while he remained on the job. On September 15, Sheskey reported that his borrowed Glock 17 service weapon had since been stolen from his girlfriends vehicle.

RELATED: Jacob Blake Files Lawsuit Against Police Officer Who Shot Him

The April 2021 gun theft investigation came three months after Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley announced he would not seek criminal charges against Sheskey for shooting Blake.

Kenosha Police Lt. Joseph Nosalik said in a television interview that the Kenosha police chief had all the information about the theft but wanted to see what the decision regarding charges would be. After Shesky returned to work on March 31, Nosalik said the chief authorized the investigation into the gun theft.

RELATED: Jacob Blake Released From Hospital And Moved To Rehab

TV station WISN reported Sheskey told investigators he regularly left the weapon in his girlfriends locked vehicle. The officer said he had secure locations for firearms at his Kenosha home, but after receiving death threats he moved and did not have an opportunity to provide a safe location inside the home in which he was now living in.

Sheskey was suspended for three days without pay for the infraction.

Sheskey shot Jacob Blake seven times after he and two other Kenosha officers tried to arrest Blake on an outstanding warrant. Blake picked up a pocketknife which fell from his pants before trying to return to his vehicle. Blake said he was going to surrender once putting the knife into his car. Sheskey claimed that he was fearful for his own safety.

The Blake shooting happened just three months after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nearly ten minutes. Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter charges last month.

BET has been covering every angle of the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and other social justice cases and the subsequent aftermath and protests. For our continuing coverage, click here.
BET.com's THE GLAM GAP is a weekly video series spotlighting Black entrepreneurs and influencers in the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle space. When Tiffini Gatlin graduated from Clark Atlanta University and entered the finance industry, she had no idea that some years later shed turn her fascination with Black womens hair as a form of expression into a beauty brand. However, the former banking executive did just that in 2010, when she resigned from banking to blaze her own trail as a serial entrepreneur.

I started my own magazine, I started a concierge service, I had created an awards show for bloggers, I became a blogger, and I worked as an influencer for several years, says the biz whiz wife and mother of four, who also decided to revisit the side hustle shed started at age 16, styling and installing weaves and protective styles for friends and family. Now, enriched by wisdom and experience, Gatlins realization of the potential dangers of dipping her clients hair into boiling water to secure loose strands and lock in curls led her to launch her first beauty company, Curlkalon Hair Collection, in 2015, before selling it in 2018 after building it into a million dollar business. My start into the beauty product industry was actually creating the first pre-curled and looped synthetic hair made to prevent hot water burns while performing protective hair styling, says Gatlin.

The concept for Latched & Hooked Beauty, her current company, actually came to her after her oldest daughter had a negative experience with her first professionally-installed hair extensions. She sat for eight hours, and we paid over $200 for her to get her hair braided, the hair maven recalls. And two days later, her scalp was inflamed and irritated We took the style out, and she had bruising on her scalp. Gatlin began researching and found communities of women online who were complaining of a similar issue. She also found that most synthetic hair used for braiding contained harmful toxins. That knowledge inspired her to pivot and focus her business on creating non-toxic synthetic hair extensions for Black women. Shes also currently working to create clean and sustainable products, to be manufactured in the United States.

One of the most important lessons Gatlin says she has learned is that success requires a community, a network, and a willingness to ask for help. I learned that asking for help doesnt make you weak. It doesnt mean that youre not being resourceful. Its showing that you trust other people to help you on your journey It shows you that people really want you to succeed, she says. Gatlin remains laser-focused on executing her mission to expand Black womens and girls access to more safe beauty products, while actualizing her vision for Latched & Hooked to become known for making beauty simple for Black women. And shes paying it forward by paving a way for Black hair enthusiasts coming behind her by supporting STEM programs that help young girls learn the chemistry behind creating synthetic hair.

In the future, Gatlin sees a more diverse and inclusive beauty industry, where Black founders are considered the norm, rather than the exception, and where hair extensions are viewed as an expression of self-love and self-expression, instead of as symbols of hair shame. She also wants to see Latched & Hooked beauty products in mass retail outlets, instead of just local beauty stores, where Black women tend to experience less-than-pleasant service and limited ability to touch or sample products before buying. At Lashed & Hooked, we feel that women shouldnt have to compromise their skin, their health, or their confidence. We believe that products that are safe should be accessible for every woman.

As is said in social media memes: Gatlin clearly understands her assignment. Follow Tiffini Gatlin on Instagram @tiffinigatlin and watch THE GLAM GAP episode below!

Written by BET Staff
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The School of Art in the College of Arts and Sciences was like a big family that supported me and made me feel confident in what I was doing, Walton said. The graphic design program was perfect. It was different than what I was expecting, but it challenged me and my design thinking and critical thinking  how design not only affects you but how it affects others, other products, in a more organic way.

There were times that were difficult but those times pushed her to do her best.

I wouldnt have wanted it any other way, she said. If I was bored, I knew I wouldnt be in the right place, and I was never bored at BGSU.

Creative minds can change the world and creative design is what uplifts things in the world, was one of the most enduring lessons she learned from a guest artists lecture.

If we didnt have design, things wouldnt function the way they do every day. To be a part of that is very, very special. I want to help change peoples minds with design, which leads to my thesis, Walton said.

The creative process

The idea of exploring her heritage had been percolating since she reconnected with her father and other family members on the Cherokee reservation after she started college. They helped validate her heritage.

They told me, You are Native enough. You dont have to prove those things to others.

She also participated in a BGSU summer experience visiting a Navaho reservation, which deepened her connection to the Native American community even more.

The foundation for her senior thesis may have started when she was born, but the creative process started with a big sketch pad whose pages were filled with questions to ask herself and others, about a goal she had in mind, and ideas for nine different design projects over the summer between her junior and senior year.

She also spent time talking with several artists and designers from different tribes to find out how they were talking about their communities within the Native American community. She realized that Native American activism is not talked about much where she grew up and where she was going to college.

Thats where it started. Thats what I wanted to change, to bring this conversation about the Native American community to outside communities, Walton said.

Some of the projects she created to further explore the direction of the thesis project included branded candles that referenced the Native American community, and a reflection about what protest signs might say and look like if they were for Native American people, in response to the Summer of 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

Ultimately, she knew she wanted her installation to include her own typography and to address the diminishing use of Native American languages. In one of her prototypes, she represented the languages on three layers of paper with Cherokee, Creek, Navajo and English words that when they were held up to the window light, the words would show through. She and the faculty were intrigued by that, and eventually, that was the basis for the panels of her final project.

I ended up taking the Cherokee language  the language that a few of my relatives know but that I never got to learn  and putting them together with the English language to be the symbolism for the project.

Native American languages are completely different than English. It is very difficult to learn especially when you dont learn it from a young age, she said. Theres a concept of something that you belong to but which isnt necessarily a part of you that was really interesting to me.

Walton used the suggestion of another art faculty member to create a more personal and powerful feeling by making the installation like a voting booth. Its a secluded space and youre there on your own. You hear your own breath because the space is so enclosed.

Visitors experienced many senses when they walked into the installation including the closeness of the space, the sounds of the Native American music playing and the visual representation of words artistically layered on the walls. Walton also designed a take-away coin that encouraged visitors to explore the accompanying website and 360-tour of the space once they left the exhibit.

The idea was for all these things to come at you all at once so you really got to think, understand and adjust to the information flooding your senses, Walton said.

Mission accomplished

The Revelation Booth, named for the word revelations definition to inspire for change or the discovery of change, had double meaning for Walton. She reveled in the irony that the final project of her college career referenced Revelation just as the final project of her high school art class.

To see something to discover was the heavy meaning for the title, she said. I wanted to step forward for Native American activism. I wanted to advocate for the Native American community and to make sure people get the truth, they understand it and they respect it.

One of the most important messages was for people to understand what privilege they have and what privileges they live with every single day of their lives, because people in other communities dont have those same privileges, Walton said. So, if you have the ability, its awesome to go out and help other communities, donate to organizations that provide water, education and support to Native Americans, but I believe learning the facts and respecting the ancestry and the culture are most important.

The project recently earned her the Kurt F. Hofmeister Student Award from the BGSU Center for Public Impact and was featured in the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper.

To experience the power of Waltons The Revelation Booth," visit the website and read the artists statement. For more of Waltons work visit her personal website.
By Bob Cunningham 18

Janae Johnson didnt know what to expect when she first arrived at Bowling Green State University in Fall 2017. In fact, Johnson said she didn't know anything about college, the business world or anything at all.

A lot can change in four years.

Now, Johnson is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a double specialization in finance and business, analytics and intelligence from the Allen W. and Carol M. Schmidthorst College of Business.

She also has a job lined up with Eaton Corp.s information technology as part of a rotational leadership program. For her first year, she will be a solution design analyst for Eatons Business Intelligence Center of Excellence Beechwood in Cleveland. Then, in her second year, she can do something completely different if she chooses to do so.

Johnson said the education system in her hometown of Euclid, Ohio, was failing, so she applied for and received a grant to attend Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School in Cleveland for free.

From there, her economics teacher, a BGSU alumna, suggested that Bowling Green would be a good fit for her personality, ambition and goals.

I come from a low-income, single-parent household where nobody in my household went to college, Johnson said. It wasn't like I really had people who I could ask or like my school counselor. So that was definitely a challenging experience. Once I came here, I absolutely fell in love with the campus. It's only two hours away from my hometown  so it's still pretty close  but I still get that sense of independence. And BGSU has felt like home from the beginning.

Johnson cites 12 scholarships, especially the Robert and Ellen Thompson Scholarship Program for Working Families, for enabling her to get involved with everything the University has to offer.

I cannot say enough good things about that foundation and the people who work there, especially my advisor, Mary Kay Inkrott Hiser. The Thompson scholarship has provided me with much more than just financial support and help  it also has provided a lot of emotional support and its just been very personable.

After Johnsons first semester, she was still a little unsure about some things, almost out of money and homesick. Hiser listened to her problems and consoled her.

She was like, OK, so these are completely normal feelings and fears, but there are solutions to them, Johnson said. She helped me find a job on campus. She connected me with other people from organizations that I was interested in so they could give me more information. Mary Kay has done so much, really. I know there are so many things that I'm not even thinking about right now, but the one thing I really love about my advisor is that she always gave me advice that was tailored to me. It was never what she would do. It was always, let me get in the mindset of Janae and what do I think would be best for her in this situation.

Johnson said that the University has done a great job in preparing her for life after college.

My professors were always willing to help me and answer my questions, and I like to say that my teachers here actually helped me to see my potential, she said. I've been very fortunate to have had an internship every single summer since my freshman year  with Quicken Loans, STERIS Corp. and Eaton Corp. all in Cleveland  and I also had a research internship with the dean of the Schmidthorst College of Business. So, yes, 100%, BGSU has prepared me. All the advice and opportunities I have had definitely contributed and was the ultimate result of me getting a job offer before the first day of my senior year even began.

In addition to her internships, Johnson was active in organizations on campus as well, such as Undergraduate Student Government, Business District Learning Community, Student Ambassadors and the Deans Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion (DACODI), and through it all she remained hard at work within the Thompson scholarship.

I think my involvement increased my sophomore year because that's when I really started to be an ambassador and a peer mentor for the foundation, she said. We have this summer bridge program for incoming freshmen, and I served as a mentor for them. I had about 6-8 students that I was in charge of and helped acclimate them to life on campus.

Janae has excelled academically and as a student leader, said Raymond Braun, dean of the Schmidthorst College of Business. She is graduating with honors, served as a Schmidthorst College of Business Student Ambassador, and was the council organizer for the Deans Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion. To recognize her outstanding achievements, Janae is the recipient of the 2021 Karl E. Vogt Outstanding Senior Award. We are proud of her achievements and wish her well as she begins her professional career.

Johnson said she never got behind in her coursework due to the COVID-19 pandemic because, thanks to her Thompson scholarship, she had already learned that her professors were always available when she needed help.

Despite all the different obstacles and adversity that Ive gone through, I've been able to thrive at BGSU because of my professors, the Thompsons, the College of Business, Dean Braun and just by always holding myself to a higher standard and doing everything that I could do for myself, she said. In the beginning, I just wanted to get a degree and make my family proud and now I've been able to make my wildest dreams come true.

I've been able to do so many different, incredible things. I was elected to serve as the executive member of the Student Ambassadors and I was the first council organizer for DACODI. I've actually been to the State House in Columbus with President Rogers to lobby for higher education. Then, when the quad was named in honor of the Thompsons, I gave a speech from the undergraduate students perspective, thanking them for all their generosity and their dedication to us. I also got to speak on behalf of the students during the University dedication for the Robert W. and Patricia A. Maurer Center.

This is what I mean by having my wildest dreams come true because I'm definitely walking away with more than just a degree; I'm walking away with the support system, knowing that I can accomplish any goal I set my mind to.
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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Dental Ultrasonic Micromotor Market is growing at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2017 to 2026. Rising product demand, growing awareness and inexpensive prices are some of the key driving factors for the market growth. However, high maintenance cost may hamper Ultrasonic Micromotor market growth.

Micromotors are small particles that propel themselves autonomously in specific directions when placed in a chemical solution. Dental Ultrasonic Micromotor is the masking of server resources, including the number and identity of individual physical servers, processors, and operating systems of server users.

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On the basis of Product, Desktop Micromotor is estimated to have a lucrative growth during forecast period as desktop micromotor has a feedback control system so that it maintains power at low speeds and helps to maintain a comfortable work environment with extended use. By geography, Asia pacific is constantly enhancing during forecast period due to the growth in spending power, rising healthcare awareness, and implementation of favorable government initiatives in this region.

Some of the key players in Dental Ultrasonic Micromotor Market include MARIOTTI & C, Bonart, BTI Biotechnology Institute, CARLO DE GIORGI SRL , Dental USA , EMS Electro Medical Systems , ESACROM, Guilin Woodpecker Medical Instrument Co., Ltd., KLS Martin Group, NSK France, Satelec, Submit, Sweden & Martina S.p.A. and W&H Dentalwerk International.

Products Covered:

 Desktop Micromotor

 Portable Micromotor

End Users Covered:

 Hospital

 Clinic

 Other End Users

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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What our report offers:

 Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

 Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

 Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

 Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

 Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

 Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

 Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

 Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

 Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:

All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

 Company Profiling

o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)

o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)

 Regional Segmentation

o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check)

 Competitive Benchmarking

o Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances

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IDAHO FALLS - Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden has announced investigators with his Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit arrested an Idaho Falls man on Tuesday, May 4, for alleged sexual exploitation of a minor.

30-year-old Jordan R. Blatter was booked into the Bonneville County Jail. He is alleged to have possessed sexually exploitative material.

The Bonneville County Sheriffs Office, Idaho Falls Police Department, United States Postal Inspection Service and Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorneys Office assisted the ICAC Unit with the arrest.

Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact local police, the Attorney Generals ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

The Attorney Generals ICAC Unit works with the Idaho ICAC Task Force, a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, to investigate and prosecute individuals who use the internet to criminally exploit children.

Parents, educators and law enforcement officials can find more information and helpful resources at the ICAC website, ICACIdaho.org.
So, last week, it was reported that Rudy Giuliani was warned by the FBI that Russians were using him. This was reported by NBC News, by The Washington Post, by The New York Times, primarily. They all broke the story, citing their usual anonymous sources.

However, just as fast as the news organizations went to print, they all had to turn around and submit a retraction because the story wasnt true!

The outlets dont care about the facts like we do here at the No Spin News. They are all in it for the money, true reporting be damned!
Astika Chetram is the co-founder and MD of a small marketing agency called Imajinnation Marketing with extensive experience in the automotive industry.

Astika Chetram

Whats really behind your mask - literally and figuratively speaking?

Astika, as MD of Imajinnation Marketing, tell us more about your role and what it is you do exactly on a day-to-day basis.

Growing up, what did you want to be?

What did you study, where did you expect your career to take you and how does this measure up to your current reality?

You gave up corporate after two decades. Tell us more about this.

You have extensive experience in the automotive industry. When and why did you decide to venture into other industries?

Career highlights to date?

How has the pandemic and subsequent national lockdowns affected your work?

What do you love most about the marketing industry and digital and social media marketing more specifically?

What's your typical workday routine?

When you're not busy working, what do you do? How do you socialise these days?

What are you reading/listening to/watching at the moment?

Whats the first thing you plan to do when things go back to normal?

After having studied Public Relations Management in Durban, I have been working in the automotive industry since 2002, starting my experience with Toyota South Africa, and later with Fiat Chrysler South Africa, followed by Mahindra South Africa before exploring my own business, offering marketing services to other brands.Here, she tells us whats really behind her mask and why she gave up left corporate after two decades to venture into marketingBehind this mask is a woman who has finally found her niche and is content with where I am in my life.As MD of a small company, my role is strategic and operational. Most of my days are spent creating strategies, content plans or presentations. I am very involved in my clients business and I spend a lot of my time trying to take their business to the next level.Its funny. I went through about six or seven different careers during my childhood from a botanist or anthropologist to lawyer, FBI agent or a writer. I didnt really think too seriously about it until I was in matric and fell into marketing purely because I had to choose something! Who would have known, it would be my passion?I studied Public Relations Management and I expected to be a very glamorous events manager. Ive worked in many different marketing roles and event management is my least favourite marketing function. My reality is much more fulfilling than the glamour I was expecting in marketing as a student. I create real solutions, offer real value and Im exposed to various industries, cultures and challenges.I was brought up with the belief that you start with a company and stay there forever. I wasnt a risk-taker by nature, when you come from humble beginnings, risks are a luxury. I found myself wanting more flexibility, I wanted to be able to add real value to business challenges but never really finding the right opportunity to do so in corporate. After joining a company that just wasnt a cultural fit, I decided to take some time off to find myself. It was then that my partner and I started Imajinnation Marketing and the rest is history, as they say!Ive always wanted to explore different industries but as many people in automotive will attest, once youre in automotive, its tough to change industries. Most of my business is still in automotive but being able to work with clients in different industries is refreshing and inspiring. I love to challenge myself and learn new things. As a service provider, I get to learn a lot about many industries and their nuances in a short period of time.I will never forget my first big vehicle launch for the Toyota Yaris. It was such a fun campaign to work on. I was still so young and every part of it was just so exciting.Aside from that, Ive published a couple of childrens books, which I absolutely loved doing, and even got asked for my autograph  definitely another highlight.Well, I had started working from home in October 2019 so being homebound wasnt really an issue. Balancing home-schooling three kids and maintaining a business, while running a homenow that was a challenge. I salute all teachers!I love that this industry has such a strategic role to play in any business. Im intrigued at how much the roles and landscape have changed in the past few years. Its exciting to be able to do something different each day and learn something new with every new project. The digital marketing landscape has something new and interesting to offer at every turn. It keeps me on my toes and drives me to be a better, more flexible marketer!I believe in balance and Ill usually start my day with the school run. Once Im back home, its into emails, presentations and client meetings until the late afternoon. I try to be completely focused on work during work hours so I can be completely available to my family in my downtime. Once the kids are in bed, I usually catch up on reporting and presentations for a bit.I spend quality time with my family. I love binge-watching series or watching movies to totally chill out. Im a recreational baker, and I write childrens books as a hobby as well. Were still keeping socialising to a minimum so I do miss entertaining friends and family at home. I cant wait to be able to do that again.I wish I could say Im reading. I just dont have the attention span to read lately. Ive been watching a lot of HGTV, series and I absolutely love horror and Superhero movies when I totally want to relax.See friends, and travel! I love to travel and I want to see the rest of the places on my bucket list.
The Best Documentary Feature gong for My Octopus Teacher at this year's Academy Awards has been seen by many critics as the type of underdog story Oscar loves. The film, directed by Pippa Erlich and James Reed, was - like the other South African-themed documentary to wow the Oscars, Searching for Sugarman - the feel-good choice.
This job expired on 12 May 2021.
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The global halal cosmetics market is anticipated to reach USD 22.53 billion by 2026 according to a new study published by Polaris Market Research. The market growth is primarily due to increase in Muslim populations and their purchasing power. This has created a surge in demand for halal cosmetics. Increasing demand has also compelled market players to engage in new product development.

Currently, consumers are exhibiting growing interest in halal cosmetics and personal care. This is primarily due to the increasing consumer awareness about the importance of personal hygiene and improving lifestyles as a result of increasing disposable income. Halal cosmetics being different from conventional cosmetics are gaining popularity, as these cosmetics do not contain alcohol, porcine-by products and their derivatives. Basically, they do not contain contents or ingredients that are against Islamic beliefs.

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Halal cosmetics are expected to be produced, packaged, stored, and distributed as per Islamic teachings. Moreover, these products are considered to be safe, clean, and high quality. The significant growth in Muslim populations across the globe is expected to offer immense opportunities to personal care and halal cosmetics industry. In addition, the rapidly accelerating economic power of Islamic countries is anticipated to largely influence them to spend additional money on beauty and personal products.

The growing issues over the environmental and health hazards are also responsible for such as significant impact on the cosmetic industry. Some of the health hazards such as distortion, breast cancer, and abnormalities pertaining to genital are usually blamed to occur as a result of excessive usage of cosmetics products comprising nano-particle ingredients. The increasing in number of such events has promoted consumer awareness about the substance of beauty products, thus, driving demands for halal personal care and cosmetic goods.

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Low level of awareness about the presence of halal cosmetic brands is acting as a challenge to the industry. As a consequence, the industry is not experiencing heavy demands as expected out of its potentials. Moreover, halal issues within the sector are considered quiet minor among consumers in comparison to food consumption. Thus, this requires manufacturers to improve their marketing strategies and production facilities. Furthermore, it becomes difficult to understand consumer perspective about halal cosmetic brands.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to dominate the global halal cosmetics market, owing to the presence of emerging nations such as India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Pakistan. These nations have significant population that follow Islamic beliefs.

The list of key companies that are operating in the market include Ivy Beauty Corporation Sdn Bhd, Mena Cosmetics, MMA Bio Lab Sdn Bhd, The Halal Cosmetics Company, Talent Cosmetic Co., Ltd., PHB Ethical Beauty, Saaf SkinCare, One Pure, Sampure Minerals, Amara Cosmetics, Wardah Cosmetics, Inika, Clara International, Prolab, and IBA Halal Care. These players are observed engaging in activities aimed at the development of new products.

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Market Definition:

Monochloroacetic Acid (MCAA) Market is having a prolific run at present and can expect a safe passage growth-wise is owing to its popularity in the agricultural sector. Monochloroacetic acid is a specialty organochlorine compound that is colorless, crystalline structured mass, and highly soluble in water. The product is becoming widely popular in all the major agricultural countries where the cultivability and infertility of land are perturbing issues. The component is also required in the production of carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC), a necessary water retention agent and viscosity modifier for oil drilling activities. The global monochloroacetic acid market is expecting robust growth with which it can exceed the expected market valuation during the forecast period (2020-2023), explains Market Research Future (MRFR). This extensively studied report encompasses segmental analysis depending on various parameters, drivers that can impact the global market significantly in the coming years, and the latest updates of different market players.

Market Scenario and Growth Factors:

Monochloroacetic Acid Market Analysis is becoming popular among pharmaceutical manufacturers where its use as a component in the production of maleates, ibuprofen, diclofenac sodium, n-glycine, and others. Personal care and cosmetics industry is also having significant use of the component as a thickener. In the production of PVC resins, the component is gaining traction as well. As a by-product of monochloroacetic acid, sodium chloroacetate is garnering accolades as herbicide which can propel the Monochloroacetic Acid Market Analysis. In the textile industry, monochloroacetic acid finds use as an intermediate in the production of indigo dyes. The demand is burgeoning as the fashion industry is finding it challenging to maintain the pace with the constantly changing trends of fashion. But the monochloroacetic acid market can find it difficult to stay apace as the price of the raw materials fluctuates quite often.

Competitive Analysis:

Notable players of the Monochloroacetic Acid Market as profiled in the report of MRFR are:

Akzo Nobel N.V. (Netherlands)

The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.)

CABB GmbH (Germany), Denak Co., Ltd (Japan)

Daicel Corporation (Japan)

PCC SE (Germany)

Niacet (U.S.)

Xuchang Dongfang Chemical Co. Ltd. (China)

Shiv Chem Industries (India)

Abhishek Impex (India)

Shandong Minji Chemical Co., Ltd. (China)

Jubilant Life Sciences Ltd. (India)

Merck KGaA (Germany)

Alfa Aesar, Thermo Fisher Scientific (U.S.)

Anugrah IN-ORG (P) LIMITED (India).

In 2020, PCC SE declared their plan to expand their monochloroacetic acid plant in Poland to keep up with the demand generated by various end-user industries. The production capacity would increase from 42,000 metric tons to 100,000 metric tons.

AkzoNobel and Atul agreed on setting up a production unit in Gujarat in 2020. AkzoNobel plans to expand their incremental investments through this tie-up. Both the companies would benefit from their plans. Atuls growing popularity would be substantiated by the production.

Segmentation:

MRFR segments the Monochloroacetic Acid Market Size by form, application, and end-use industry for a better understanding of the market prospect in the coming years.

Based on the form, the monochloroacetic acid market can be segmented into crystalline, liquid, powdered, and flakes.

Based on the application, the monochloroacetic acid market includes carboxyl methyl cellulose, thioglycolic acid, thickening agent, surfactants, intermediates, and others. As a thickening agent, its utility in food & beverage industry is quite substantial.

The end-user segment of the monochloroacetic acid market comprises agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetic & Personal care, textiles, plastics, oil & gas, and others. The component is witnessing significant traction from the agrochemicals sector and having a great run in the pharmaceuticals.

Browse Complete Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/monochloroacetic-acid-market-5991

Regional Analysis:

MRFR report region-specifically segments the monochloroacetic acid market into North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Middle East & Africa (MEA).

Growing demand from agriculture, textile, and pharmaceuticals are boosting the APAC market, riding on which the region is fetching the maximum market share. Furthermore, a lot of major companies are based out of India, China, and Japan which is substantially assisting the market in having unprecedented growth.

North America has the second largest market. The regional market is getting driven by the pharmaceutical industry and the personal care & cosmetic industry. Europe and Latin America are also going to register a significant hike in terms of revenue.

Note: Our Team of Researchers are Studying Covid19 and Its Impact on Various Industry Verticals and Wherever required we will be considering Covid19 Footprints for a Better Analysis of Market and industries. Cordially get in touch for more details.
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According to a new research published by Polaris Market Research, the ultrasound devices market is anticipated to reach over USD 12,556 million by 2026. In terms of revenue, the diagnostic devices segment dominated the global market. Geographically, North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue in 2017.

The rapidly increasing geriatric population with several chronic diseases and the lower cost and relative safety of ultrasound devices are together boosting the market growth. Increasing awareness among patients regarding early diagnosis coupled with government initiatives aimed at spreading awareness among the masses regarding breast cancer, regular check-up during pregnancy and other health related issue are boosting the market growth.

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Several technological advancements such as enhancing image quality and increasing portability has made ultrasound devices accessible to a larger user base. Also, several private and public institutions are investing in research and development in the field of ultrasound imaging. Improving healthcare facilities and increasing disposable incomes in developing countries is further fuelling the market growth. However, stringent FDA regulations and lack of trained professionals have limited the market penetration of this technology. Furthermore, several developing countries prohibit the use of ultrasound for gender determination which in turn impedes that industry growth. Identification of newer fields of application and untapped markets in developing countries would provide several opportunities for growth in the near future.

North America was the highest revenue generating region in 2017 and is expected to head the global market during the analysis period. The large patient pool, favorable reimbursement policies, well-defined government and healthcare policies, widespread adoption of remote patient monitoring and healthcare services drive the market growth in the region. Asia-Pacific is expected to exhibit the fastest growth during the forecast period owing to improving medical facilities, increasing disposable income and rapidly increasing patient pool in emerging countries such as China, Japan, and India.

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The types of ultrasound devices include diagnostic and interventional devices. In 2017, the diagnostic devices segment accounted for the highest market share owing to government initiatives to carry out routine check-ups and increasing adoption of fetal health monitoring. The improving medical facilitates and increasing demand due to rising number of patients, especially in developing countries, supports the market growth in this sector.

The key players profiled in this report include Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation, SonaCare Medical, Analogic Corporation, GE Healthcare, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Philips Healthcare, Siemens AG, FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation Hitachi Medical Corporation, Esaote S.p.A. Samsung Medison, Shimadzu Corporation and Mindray Medical International Limited among others. These companies have adopted new product launches to gain a competitive edge in the market.

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The people of Ecuador were hit by a surprise in the April 2021 presidential election: Hard-right banker Guillermo Lasso, one of the richest and most corrupt oligarchs in the country, who had unsuccessfully run in two previous races, scored a narrow victory over leftist Andres Arauz.

Arauz, a progressive young economist, had served as a minister in the government of Ecuadors socialist President Rafael Correa, who had declared a Citizens Revolution that transformed the country during his term from 2007 to 2017.

What was not conveyed in most media reports on Lassos surprising victory, however, was that Lasso only won thanks to the support he received, both directly and indirectly, from environmental and Indigenous groups that have been co-opted over that last 15 years by the US government and its soft-power networks.

The leaders of these opportunistic, pseudo-left organizations have benefited from millions of dollars in funding from CIA cutouts like the US Agency for International Development and National Endowment for Democracy. Together, they formed an alliance of convenience with Lasso against the Correista movement.

Some even endorsed the multimillionaire banker openly, overlooking his well-documented corruption, including offshore bank accounts and tens of millions of dollars of real estate in Florida. Others, including right-leaning leaders in Ecuadors powerful Indigenous confederation, CONAIE, called on their followers to vote null in the April 11 presidential election rather than support the leftist Arauz.

CONAIEs decision to call for a null vote was perhaps the most important factor in making Lasso Ecuadors next president. The 2021 election saw a massive increase in politically motivated null votes, with 1.1 million more than in the previous election in 2017. The total of 1.76 million null votes greatly outnumbered the 420,000 votes that Arauz lost by.

The role that conservative leaders of CONAIE, the confederations political arm Pachakutik, and green NGOs played in getting a notoriously corrupt neoliberal banker elected in Ecuador was hardly a secret. In fact, Pachakutiks presidential candidate, Yaku Perez, boasted of defeating Arauz immediately after the election, triumphantly tweeting in all caps, Pachakutik and the null vote bury Correismo.

PACHAKUTIK Y EL VOTO NULO ENTIERRAN AL CORREISMO https://t.co/tuHiXc3ZPS via @@agenciaprensaec  Yaku Perez Guartambel (@yakuperezg) April 13, 2021

The Grayzone documented how Yaku Perez ran a right-wing, pro-US campaign while marketing himself as the face of the new left in Ecuador, adopting a US Democratic Party-style marketing scheme that combined neoliberal economic policies and support for imperialism with liberal environmentalism and identity politics.

Perez revealed after the first round of the election that he had the support of the US embassy. He also has a history of publicly boasting of friendly meetings with Washingtons ambassador to Ecuador, Michael J. Fitzpatrick.

It is unsurprising then, that among the CONAIE and Pachakutik supporters who did not vote null, the vast majority ended up backing Lasso.

A review of the official results published by Ecuadors National Electoral Council (CNE) shows that roughly half of people who had voted for Perez in the first round of the presidential election in February ended up voting null in the second round, whereas approximately 40 percent of Perezs supporters voted for Lasso.

Only around 7 percent of Perez supporters ended up voting for Arauz, according to a rough estimate provided to The Grayzone by an electoral expert.

Yet in much of the punditry about the surprising loss suffered by Arauz, who had been leading in nearly all polls before the election, the names Yaku Perez and Pachakutik are not even mentioned. The omission is particularly prevalent among English-speaking analysts.

Eduardo Enriquez Arevalo, an academic expert on Ecuadorian politics at the Simon Bolivar Andean University, explained in an interview with The Grayzone, In general one can say that Pachakutik has had a process of shifting to the right, or at least becoming increasingly close to the right wing by the 2010s.

Pachakutik and CONAIE are also deeply embedded in the non-profit industrial complex. Leaders and prominent activists from the groups work in well-funded NGOs, some of which are bankrolled by foreign governments.

Pachakutiks rightward drift, then, is partially an organic phenomenon, but it has also been heavily incentivized by the huge sums of money flowing into Ecuador from the United States and Western European governments and foundations.

The grim reality is that Perez and Pachakutik are at the heart of a 15-year-long US destabilization project that is little known outside of Ecuador.

Declassified government documents show how, on the eve of Correas historic election 2006, Washington began reaching out to Indigenous and environmental leaders and poured millions of dollars into cultivating these groups, as part of a campaign to divide the countrys left.

State Department cables published by WikiLeaks clearly demonstrate that the US embassy was recruiting opportunistic leaders of CONAIE and Pachakutik to undermine Correa and his leftist movement.

The documents show that figures from CONAIE and Pachakutik were acting as informants for the embassy, regularly providing intelligence to a US political officer. Some right-leaning Indigenous leaders even themselves contacted the US ambassador and held friendly meetings reassuring Washington of their support.

A confidential 2009 US embassy cable notes how Ecuadors socialist President Correa faced attacks from the left " data-medium-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WikiLeaks-US-embassy-Ecuador-Correa-left.png?fit=300%2C231&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WikiLeaks-US-embassy-Ecuador-Correa-left.png?fit=1024%2C790&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" />

CIA fronts like the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Endowment for Democracy also launched programs to build and finance an anti-Correista opposition. These multimillion-dollar initiatives focused especially on Ecuadors environmental and Indigenous organizations.

USAID worked closely with the CIA during Washingtons terrorist war on the revolutionary Sandinista government of Nicaragua in the 1980s, funneling money into far-right Contra death squads. The agency has also been integral in financing the US governments ongoing coup attempt in Venezuela, forking over hundreds of millions of dollars to the unelected parallel regime of Juan Guaido.

A review of USAID contracts reveals that a company called Chemonics was the agencys main private partner in Ecuador. One of the largest for-profit recipients of US foreign aid, with $2.5 billion in USAID funding from 2018 to 2019 alone, Chemonics is closely linked to intelligence agencies, and functions as a private intelligence agency. Its wealthy founder said he created the firm to have my own CIA.

Chemonics has been involved in a series of scandalous US regime-change operations targeting leftist governments in Latin America, aimed at destabilizing the socialist Presidents Evo Morales of Bolivia and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

Chemonics played a similar role in the US dirty war on Syria. The Grayzone editor Max Blumenthal has documented how USAID used Chemonics to funnel tens of millions of dollars to the White Helmets, a regime-change lobby group that collaborated closely with Salafi-jihadist extremist militants, including al-Qaeda, as part of a Western intelligence operation aimed at overthrowing the government in Damascus.

As USAIDs top partner in Ecuador, Chemonics was given an $11 million contract in the year 2013 alone, greatly surpassing any other contractor, in order to fund Environmental Protection initiatives.

When regime-change operations from USAIDs Office of Transition Initiatives were exposed in Venezuela and Bolivia, the Correa government froze relations with USAID in December 2013, and then expelled the agency in 2014.

But USAID renewed its activities at an all-time high in Ecuador in 2018, when Correas successor Lenin Moreno took a hard-right turn and allied with Washington.

In 2013, USAID poured millions into environmental groups to counter Correas infrastructure projects " data-medium-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/USAID-Ecuador-2013-climate-change-environment.png?fit=300%2C159&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/USAID-Ecuador-2013-climate-change-environment.png?fit=1024%2C543&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" />

These Washington-backed environmentalist groups organized large, and often violent, campaigns to oppose Correas ambitious infrastructure projects, which sought to develop Ecuadors impoverished and rural regions and better integrate the country.

In the name of anti-extractivism  a buzzword that has become popular among the same astroturfed pseudo-left networks in North America  these US government-funded NGOs in Ecuador also tried to block the socialist-oriented Correa administration from using the countrys plentiful oil and mineral resources to fund universal education, healthcare, and social programs aimed at poverty reduction.

Skeptical local media outlets noted at the time that the environmental protection projects run by USAID and Chemonics in Ecuador happened to be in the areas with the most natural resources, leading peasants to raise concerns about ulterior motives and undemocratic US meddling.

The fact that many of Correas infrastructure projects involved contracts with Chinese state-owned companies further motivated Washington to undermine them.

Correa worked closely with China during his time in office, becoming one of Beijings most important allies in Latin America. The anti-Correista opposition on the other hand is staunchly pro-US, and has vowed to distance Ecuador from Beijing, hyperbolically claiming, the Correista discourse of an independent country ends in the doorway of the Chinese banks.

Much of the pseudo-left environmental and Indigenous opposition to Correismo has harshly condemned China while cozying up to Washington. Pachakutik candidate Yaku Perez made his name opposing Chinas development projects in Ecuador, and was avidly promoted by a British foundation dedicated to monitoring Beijings activities in Latin America. At the same time, Perez insisted he will not think twice to sign a free trade agreement with the United States.

Supplementing the tens of millions of dollars that USAID spent in Ecuador to help build this pseudo-left opposition were grants from the National Endowment Democracy, another CIA front.

2020 NED contracts for womens rights groups in Ecuador " data-medium-file="https://i1.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NED-Ecuador-womens-rights-2020.png?fit=300%2C191&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i1.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NED-Ecuador-womens-rights-2020.png?fit=1024%2C652&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" />

The NED bankrolled major anti-Correista politicians, while focusing especially on environmental, Indigenous, and womens rights groups, along with opposition media outlets.

A prime example of a US-backed, astroturfed Indigenous organization in Ecuador is the Pachamama Foundation. With the help of annual grants from the NED going back years, the foundation relentlessly attacked Correa, trashing him as an authoritarian extractivist, while constantly promoting Yaku Perez as a noble defender of the environment.

2020 NED contracts for Indigenous and environmental groups in Ecuador, like the Pachamama Foundation " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NED-Ecuador-Indigenous-journalism.png?fit=300%2C163&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NED-Ecuador-Indigenous-journalism.png?fit=1024%2C556&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" />

Given its role as a US government-funded opposition group aimed at destabilizing his elected administration, Correa closed the Pachamama Foundation in 2013. But President Lenin Moreno re-opened the group in 2017, the year he openly betrayed his former ally and began to aggressively repress Correas leftist movement.

The NED-funded Pachamama Foundation promoting Yaku Perez " data-medium-file="https://i1.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Fundacion-Pachamama-Yaku-Perez-Ecuador-NED.png?fit=300%2C229&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i1.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Fundacion-Pachamama-Yaku-Perez-Ecuador-NED.png?fit=1024%2C781&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" />

The National Democratic Institute (NDI), which is funded by the NED and loosely linked to the US Democratic Party, was also an active supporter of the anti-Correista opposition. It had its own website specifically focused on Ecuador, which boasted of the US government-backed institutes activities in the country (this webpage was later removed).

Leaders of the Indigenous Pachakutik party were directly trained by the NDI, alongside other right-wing groups from Latin America, including Venezuelas conservative Primero Justicia party and Mexicos National Action Party (PAN).

The NDI also published lengthy how-to manuals for the Ecuadorian opposition, which helped them lobby against Correas reforms and sought to replicate the US political system in their country.

A 2007 document showing how the US governments National Democratic Institute (NDI) trained the Ecuadorian opposition group Pachakutik " data-medium-file="https://i1.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/US-NED-NDI-Pachakutik-Ecuador-coup-Correa.png?fit=300%2C195&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i1.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/US-NED-NDI-Pachakutik-Ecuador-coup-Correa.png?fit=1024%2C667&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" />

Washingtons strategy of recruiting Indigenous leaders to oppose Correismo echoes an operation the CIA ran in Nicaragua in the 1980s, in which the spy agency cultivated disgruntled leaders of the Native Miskito community in order to destabilize the revolutionary Sandinista government.

Similarly, the far-right government of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro won support from Indigenous communities living on the border with Venezuela and used them to help launch attacks on Venezuelan soldiers. In Mexico, meanwhile, the US government has funded environmental and Indigenous NGOs that oppose progressive President AMLOs infrastructure programs, such as the Maya Train, which aim to develop the countrys impoverished southern region.

This is not to say that the left-wing governments of Ecuador, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Mexico have had perfect relations with Indigenous peoples, or that these communities do not sometimes have justifiable grievances. But Washington and its right-wing allies, even open racists like Bolsonaro, have shown a willingness to exploit and mislead Indigenous communities to advance their geopolitical interests.

When Washington embarked on its strategy to use Indigenous people as a wedge against Correa, it was in fact actively working against the rights of Native peoples internationally. A declassified State Department cable published by WikiLeaks shows that the US ambassador in Ecuador condemned and lobbied against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, arguing it was fundamentally flawed. (The Correa administration, for its part, supported the UN declaration.)

A 2006 State Department cable in which the US government condemns the UN Declaration on the

Rights of Indigenous Peoples as fundamentally flawed. " data-medium-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WikiLeaks-Ecuador-US-UN-Declaration-Rights-Indigenous.png?fit=300%2C242&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/WikiLeaks-Ecuador-US-UN-Declaration-Rights-Indigenous.png?fit=1024%2C825&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" />

For the imperial US bureaucrats assigned to South America, and dedicated to pushing back its leftist Pink Tide, weaponizing minority identities against popular movements became practically second nature.

The same tactics were honed back at home. The US Democratic Party and neoliberal leaders like Hillary Clinton have mastered the art of using unsubstantiated allegations of racism and sexism to undermine social-democratic figures like Bernie Sanders, while the Republican Party has leveraged corporate money to cultivate a small handful of Black and Latino voices, promoting them to disrupt civil rights coalitions and advance regressive policies. (In a particularly glaring example of the tactic, Black Republican Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was mentored by Jay Parker, a former registered lobbyist for the Transkei bantustan of apartheid South Africa.)

The CIA itself has openly adopted this strategy, promoting intersectional feminism and liberal anti-racist and LGBTQ rhetoric in its recruitment ads.

Actual quotes from this new CIA recruitment ad: "I am a woman of color" "I am a cisgender millennial" "I have been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder" "I am intersectional" I think it's safe to say the contemporary American left has failed.pic.twitter.com/ruUzWSeIur  Aisha Ahmad (@aishaismad) May 2, 2021

It is an age-old imperial tactic: divide and conquer. And the United States has perfected this strategy in Latin America  one of the most impoverished regions of the world, where the many millions of dollars that Washington throws around to advance its interests go a long way.

In April 2021, the US governments 15-year program finally saw its first major success with the election of Guillermo Lasso, a member of far-right Catholic sect Opus Dei, whose neoliberal policies represent the legacy of the CIA-backed Chicago Boys who wreaked havoc on Chiles economy under the iron-fisted rule of General Augosto Pinochet.

A look at how Ecuadors anti-Correista opposition successfully divided the left, with US backing, is very instructive, because these tactics have been refined and exported in Washingtons operations throughout Latin America and across the globe.

How US-backed banker Guillermo Lasso won the 2021 election

Much of the analysis of Andres Arauzs surprise electoral loss has focused on the fact that the media was uniformly against him, and constantly spread lies about Correismo; or that the multimillionaire banker Guillermo Lasso had an enormous campaign war chest that overpowered his opponent.

Both points are correct, and these factors were important; but, alone, they are not sufficient to explain the outcome. Over the course of multiple successful campaigns for the presidency, Rafael Correa had faced the same obstacles.

In fact, some of the fake news stories used to smear Arauz were just slightly modified versions of attacks on Correa. Right-wing media outlets, for example, simply replaced the name of the Colombian guerrilla group FARC with the name of another, ELN, to generate a phony scandal based on the lie that it had supposedly funded the Ecuadorian leftists campaign. But Correa always had a substantial enough support base to overcome the odds.

Then there is the fact that Ecuadors current president, Lenin Moreno, had been Correas vice president, and had originally claimed fidelity to the Citizens Revolution during the 2017 electoral campaign, before later doing a political 180. Moreno allied with the right-wing oligarchy and Lasso, humiliatingly subjugating his country to the United States, and withdrew from regional institutions like the ALBA economic alliance and UNASUR political union, while implementing unpopular neoliberal economic reforms and overseeing large-scale corruption.

The past associations that the deeply unpopular President Moreno enjoyed with Correa did repel some voters from Arauz. But this association should not be overstated, because for his entire term, Moreno had openly persecuted Correa and his movement, exiling and imprisoning leftist politicians and activists who supported the Citizens Revolution, and clearly throwing his weight behind Lasso and other conservative forces.

By the end of Morenos term, his alliance with Lasso was so clear that the Correistas were campaigning on the slogan Lasso is Moreno.

Some progressive Ecuadorian activists who spoke with The Grayzone also privately conceded that Arauz, a young, highly educated, and soft-spoken technocrat who ran a relatively moderate, center-left campaign, was seen as a relatively weak candidate. In contrast, Correa was a firebrand populist who had played on popular anger against the countrys parasitic oligarchy and was willing to challenge the US empire head on.

All of these variables contributed to Arauzs loss. But the most important factor came in the form of a call for ideological null voting, dividing the left and giving Lasso just enough electoral space to swing ahead.

According to official results from the Ecuadorian governments National Electoral Council (CNE), Arauz got 4,236,515 votes compared to Lassos 4,656,426  a difference of just 419,911 votes.

The official CNE results from Ecuadors April 2021 presidential election " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CNE-results-Ecuador-election-2021-null-votes.png?fit=300%2C114&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CNE-results-Ecuador-election-2021-null-votes.png?fit=1024%2C388&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" />

But there was a very significant third group that ended up swinging the election for Lasso: null voters. According to the official CNE results, there were 1,761,433 null votes, making up a staggering 16.3% of total votes.

This was a whopping 10% increase in null votes in comparison with the previous election. Official CNE statistics from previous Ecuador elections show much smaller levels of null voting.

In Ecuadors 2009 election, only 496,687 null votes were cast, comprising just 6.3% of the total. In 2013, there were 684,027 null votes, or 7.2% of the total. And in 2017 there were 670,731 null votes, 6.3% of the total.

Voting in Ecuador is legally mandatory, and participation in 2021 held at the median level: 83% participation in 2021, compared to the same as in 2017 and 82% in 2013.

There are reasons to doubt the accuracy of the CNEs results, given the councils clear politicization under the corrupt government of Moreno, which declared all-out war on the Correista movement and stacked the body exclusively with opposition figures from Pachakutik and Lassos party CREO.

The left-wing Union for Hope (UNES) party of Arauz said it detected irregularities in 5,000 actas, or vote tallies, a significant problem given that the average acta in Ecuador includes roughly 270 votes. However, several technical experts told The Grayzone that, although there indeed appeared to have been irregularities, they were not substantial enough to change the result of the election.

The most salient difference in 2021 was simply the gigantic increase in null votes. And what accounted for this massive increase? Ecuadors Indigenous confederation CONAIE, its political arm Pachakutik, and their presidential candidate Yaku Perez had called on their constituents to vote null.

Official CNE results from previous Ecuador elections, showing much smaller levels of null votes " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CNE-Ecuador-elections-null-votes.png?fit=300%2C179&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CNE-Ecuador-elections-null-votes.png?fit=1024%2C611&ssl=1" data-recalc-dims="1" />

The right-wing shift of Ecuadors US-backed Indigenous party Pachakutik

CONAIE does not represent all Indigenous communities in Ecuador, although it is the largest and most influential Native organization. The countrys Indigenous leaders are divided, and Native politicians, both inside and outside CONAIE, can be found across the political spectrum.

Some Indigenous leaders, such as Citizens Revolution National Assembly candidate Ricardo Ulcuango, a former vice president of CONAIE, are avid supporters of the Correista movement. But numerous prominent politicians from CONAIE and its political arm Pachakutik have a history of forming opportunistic alliances with Ecuadors conservative elites, and with the United States, especially when Correa was in power.

In 2017, Pachakutiks Yaku Perez openly endorsed Guillermo Lasso for the presidential election. Just days before the vote in February 2021, Lasso returned the favor, stating that, if Perez won in the first round, the banker would endorse him.

That same year, a small Ecuadorian environmentalist organization called Yasunidos met with Lasso and signed an agreement in support of the banker. Yasunidos, whose protests against Correa were strongly promoted by the Western press, then went on to strongly advocate for Perez in the 2021 election.

Perez was by no means the only rightist Indigenous leader to support Lasso. In the 2017 election, Fanny Campos, a former coordinator of the Pachakutik party, not only backed Lasso but even joined his campaign.

Pachakutik politician Salvador Quishpe also publicly endorsed the wealthy banker. And he revealed in 2016 that the Indigenous party was discussing potentially running Pachakutik leader Lourdes Tiban as Lassos vice-presidential candidate.

In 2021, Perez, Pachakutik, and CONAIE decided to indirectly help Lasso by calling on their followers to null vote in protest of Correismo. This decision, which led to Arauzs defeat, also created conflicts within the Indigenous confederation.

CONAIEs then-president, Jaime Vargas  who represented a left-wing faction that had led huge protests against Morenos neoliberal IMF-mandated economic reforms in 2019  broke with his own organization and endorsed Arauz for president in April.

Days after his endorsement, Pachakutik expelled Vargas for daring to support a Correista candidate. Next, CONAIE condemned him, announced it would sanction Vargas, and vacated his seat as the confederations president. Vargas responded by criticizing Pachakutik for acting against the interests of Ecuadors Indigenous communities, accusing it of collaborating with the right wing.

Meanwhile Perezs running mate, Virna Cedeno, the official vice-presidential candidate of Pachakutik, publicly endorsed Lasso. Echoing conservative rhetoric, she claimed the banker could help save Ecuador from the clutches of the failed and deceptive Socialism of the 21st Century, a reference to the leftist economic model created by Hugo Chavez in Venezuela and Rafael Correa in Ecuador. (To save face, Pachakutik decided to expel Cedeno as well.)

La excandidata vicepresidencial por Pachakutik y binomio con Yaku Perez, Virna Cedeno, hizo publico su apoyo al candidato presidencial Guillermo Lasso https://t.co/L5ojgCzZym  Revista Vistazo (@revistavistazo) April 1, 2021

The Grayzone documented how Yaku Perez personally advanced a raft of right-wing and imperialist policies, while deceptively claiming fidelity to the left. He supported the violent US-backed coup in Bolivia in 2019, which overthrew the countrys first and only ever Indigenous president, Evo Morales, as well as the soft coup against Brazils Workers Party government in 2016. Perez also backed right-wing putsch attempts in Venezuela and Nicaragua.

Perezs support for coups and alignment with US foreign-policy interests in Latin America led Rafael Correa and other Correista leaders to brand him Yankee Perez.

During his presidential campaign, Perez demonized his countrys impoverished masses, opposing a proposal by Andres Arauz to give $1000 checks to 1 million working-class Ecuadorian families by claiming they would spend it on beer in one day. At the same time, Perez said he would happily sign a free-trade agreement with the United States, telling a journalist, I will not think twice.

While Perez ran on clearly right-wing policies, his campaign weaponized themes of identity, environmentalism, and gender and sexuality to attack the leftist Correista movement (and to smear The Grayzones reporting).

Perezs candidacy was heavily amplified by Western corporate media outlets and US right-wing lobby groups like the Americas Society / Council of the Americas (AS/COA), which is funded by Western corporations, including a whos who of the extraction industry.

Perez quickly became a favorite on CNN en Espanol, where he spread baseless accusations of fraud after narrowly losing first round of the presidential election. And in a friendly interview on CNN following Lassos April 11 victory, Perez absurdly claimed that socialist former President Correa and his leftist movement represent the new right.

Yaku Perez: El expresidente Correa representa la nueva derecha #Conecta2 https://t.co/vSRdK91hFB  CNN en Espanol  PR (@CNNEPrensa) April 19, 2021

Eduardo Enriquez Arevalo, an Ecuadorian sociologist, spoke with The Grayzone about the shifting political orientation of CONAIE and Pachakutik.

Pachakutik was born as an electoral instrument of CONAIE in the mid-90s, but in the 2010s it became increasingly autonomous of CONAIE, which is visible in CONAIEs criticism of the closeness that Pachakutik has had to Lasso and the right wing in recent years, Enriquez explained.

In the 2010s, as Correa solidified a massive support base in Ecuador and expanded mining to fund popular social programs, Pachakutik began to openly ally with the right. In the 2014 mayoral election for the capital city Quito, Pachakutiks candidate Milton Castillo openly endorsed conservative Mauricio Rodas, calling on Indigenous supporters to vote for the right wing in order to defeat the Correista candidate, Augusto Barrera.

Thanks in part to the Pachakutik candidates endorsement, the rightist Rodas won the election and began to use Quitos local government to undercut President Correa. CONAIE leadership responded by publicly criticizing Castillo.

That right-wing shift can be understood possibly as a clarification of the ideological differences of the different classes within Indigenous communities in Ecuador, Enriquez said, but also as a generational conflict between younger leaders like Leonidas Iza and Jaime Vargas, who maintain a more left-wing perspective, or are at least more radical in their forms of struggle, when compared to the older leaders who are closer to the political elites of the country, such as Assembly member Salvador Quishpe and Lourdes Tiban, who show a clear willingness to collaborate with the right wing.

In 2019 Pachakutik not only found itself supporting the right-wing government of Moreno but also taking a turn toward social conservatism, when it opposed the decriminalization of abortion in cases of rape, when even the majority of the legislative bloc of the Citizens Revolution supported that decriminalization, the scholar noted.

CONAIE again censured Pachakutik, its own political arm, for this vote against decriminalizing abortion in cases of rape.

In October 2019, the Moreno government tried to ram through a series of unpopular neoliberal economic reforms demanded by the International Monetary Fund. The left-wing faction of CONAIE helped organize protests against the proposed austerity measures.

After 10 days of demonstrations, CONAIE met with Moreno and came to an agreement to end the protests. The confederations willingness to negotia
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Healthcare Analytical Testing Services Market Growth & Trends

The global healthcare analytical testing services market size is expected to reach USD 23.9 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 9.8% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Growing emphasis on biosimilars, increased outsourcing of the aforementioned services by pharmaceutical companies, and rise in the number of clinical trials are some of the key factors expected to drive the global market in the years to come.

Biosimilars are FDA-approved treatments and possess highly identical properties to approved biologic drugs. They serve as a low-cost and effective treatment option when compared to biologics, which is anticipated to increase its demand remarkably in the coming years. An article on biosimilars published by Sandoz International GmbH, highlights analytical testing as a key stage in biosimilar development, thus creating demand for such services.

The global COVID-19 pandemic is expected to offer high growth opportunities to the providers of such services. As pharmaceutical companies across the world have started clinical trials for the development of vaccines and drugs for the treatment of COVID-19, the demand for analytical testing has increased. Also, to combat the coronavirus, there is a surge to meet the global needs including medical devices and pharma products that require rigorous testing before delivering the final product to the clients. This is expected to boost the demand for such services.

Request a free sample copy or view report summary: Healthcare Analytical Testing Services Market Report

Healthcare Analytical Testing Services Market Report Highlights

The stringent regulation in the medical device & pharmaceutical industry is fueling the adoption of analytical testing services

The pharmaceutical product type segment led the global market with the largest revenue share of over 57% in 2020

This growth was owing to high outsourcing of analytical testing by pharmaceutical companies as it requires highly skilled staff and specialized equipment

North America dominated the global market with the largest revenue share of 42.0% in 2020 owing to the presence of the largest clinical trials market in the U.S.

Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing regional market during the forecast period owing to the expansion of the biosimilar market in countries such as India

Access Press Release@ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-healthcare-analytical-testing-services-market

Healthcare Analytical Testing Services Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global healthcare analytical testing services market on the basis of product type and region:

Healthcare Analytical Testing Services Product Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

Medical Device Extractable & Leachable Material Characterization Physical Bioburden Sterility Other Tests

Pharmaceutical Bioanalytical Method Development & Validation Stability Other Services



Healthcare Analytical Testing Services Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

North America US. Canada

Europe UK. Germany France Italy Spain

Asia Pacific India Japan China Australia South Korea

Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Colombia Chile

MEA South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE



List of Key Players of Healthcare Analytical Testing Services Market

PPD, Inc.

ICON plc

LabCorp

Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.

Syneos Health

SGS SA

Eurofins Scientific

Toxikon, Inc.

Intertek Group

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.


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San Francisco, 5 May 2021: The Report Gas Detection Equipment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product, By Technology (Infrared, Catalytic, PID), By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

The global gas detection equipment market size is expected to reach USD 8.38 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 9.7% from 2021 to 2028. The market growth can be attributed to the growing awareness among governments regarding the harmful effects of greenhouse gases, coupled with their increased efforts toward protecting the environment. Major industries such as petroleum, oil, and gas, among others are needed to comply with safety and environmental regulations which are also major factors driving the market growth.

Many companies are focused on introducing drone-based gas detection equipment, which is expected to create new opportunities for market growth in the coming years. For instance, in February 2019, FLIR Systems, Inc. announced the launch of FLIR MUVE C360, a multi-gas detector built for unmanned aerial systems. FLIR MUVE C360 aims to transform the way emergency teams approach environmental, chemical, and industrial incidents.

IR camera-based gas detectors are gaining traction owing to their capability of detecting combustible gases that are not visible to the human eyes. Uncooled IR cameras are widely in demand by various industries, which has resulted in increased efforts by companies worldwide to address this demand. For instance, in February 2019, FLIR Systems, Inc. announced the launch of FLIR GF77 Gas Find IR, an uncooled thermal camera for detecting methane.

The COVID-19 pandemic is anticipated to favorably impact market growth in the near future. Hospitals have been using gas detection equipment for monitoring oxygen tanks during the pandemic. During the COVID-19 situation, the U.K. government laid down guidelines highlighting the hazards caused by the increased oxygen level due to the high density of ventilators. This initiative is expected to contribute to market growth.

Access Research Report of Gas Detection Equipment Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/gas-detection-equipment-market

Gas Detection Equipment Market Report Highlights

In terms of product, the fixed gas detector segment is expected to retain its dominance over the forecast period. The ability of fixed gas detectors to ensure workforce safety is driving the segment growth

In terms of technology, the infrared gas detection technology segment dominated the market in 2020 and is expected to witness growth over the forecast period. Infrared gas detectors are maintenance-free, which is one of the major factors driving the market growth

In terms of end-use, the industrial segment dominated the market in 2020. The increasing demand for detectors in the mining industry is driving the segment growth

The increasing adoption of gas detection equipment in emerging economies such as India and China is expected to create growth opportunities for the market players in the Asia Pacific region over the forecast period

List of Key Players in the Gas Detection Equipment Market

ABB

Airtest Technologies, Inc.

FLIR Systems, Inc.

Fluke Corporation

General Electric Company

Honeywell International Inc.

Lynred

Opgal

Siemens

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Access Press Release of Gas Detection Equipment Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-gas-detection-equipment-market
Founded by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Dubai Watch Week is set to reunite members of the watch industry and audiences in the region from 24th to 28th November 2021 under the theme "A Moment in Time".

The 5th edition of Dubai Watch Week will continue to provide an educational platform, position Dubai as a cultural & horological hub for industry peers; whilst engaging with a wider audience in the UAE. The event is poised to take place at The Gate, Dubai International Financial Centre.

A pioneer in the industry, Dubai Watch Week will return with a richer event programme under the umbrella of Connecting, Creating and Celebrating. This years edition will tap into activations and programmes that intersect the world of luxury and horology with other key industries. A core event objective is to create an experiential event with the support of participating brands and partners on ground.

This is a milestone year for the U.A.E and Dubai Watch Week, with U.A.E celebrating its 50th anniversary and this being the 5th edition of DWW," commented Hind Seddiqi, Director General, Dubai Watch Week. "Our goal this year is to continue to expand on the unique platform we have built and champion innovative concepts & experiences that appeal to a wider audience. We are delighted to reunite soon with our partners, exhibiting brands, members of the press and enthusiasts on ground to celebrate the industry and the aforementioned milestones.
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The global phenolic resin market size is expected to reach USD 18.1 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period according to a new study published by Polaris Market Research. The report Phenolic Resin Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report By Product (Novolac, Resols), By Application (Wood Adhesives, Molding, Insulation, Laminates, Paper Impregnation, Coatings, Refractory Materials, Friction Material, Rubber & Tire, Electronics, and Abrasives); By End-Use (Building & Construction, Automotive, Electrical & Electronics, Furniture); By Regions, Segments & Forecast, 2020  2026 gives a detailed insight into current market dynamics and provides analysis on future market growth.

The market is projected to witness a significant growth over the forecast period. Phenolic resins exhibit favorable properties such as heat & chemical resistance, moisture resistance, superior mechanical strength among others. In addition, ability to customize these products into different grades has resulted in the further expansion of application portfolio of phenolic resins.

Get sample copy of this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/phenolic-resin-market/request-for-sample

Favorable versatility and diversity of phenolic resins also makes them suitable for innovative product designs with high aesthetic appeal, such as in architecture, aerospace structural components and others. Furthermore, product and application innovation in impregnated materials is likely to present lucrative opportunities for growth in this market over the forecast period.

Phenolic resins for molding compounds are anticipated to emerge as the fastest growing market segment over the forecast period. Phenolic resins in molding compounds lend high heat stability & lower the curing times required. Expansion of the aerospace and retail transportation sector in countries such as Mexico, India, Indonesia, and Thailand are encouraging the demand for large parts with higher mechanical strength, which in turn is driving phenolic resins consumption.

The R&D efforts in Europe by market participants are also expected to impact phenolic resins production and processing technologies in other regional markets of the globe. Recent innovations have led to the development of unique prepreg resins that completely eliminate the need for refrigerated shipping and storage, enable increased service temperatures and improve safety, while lowering residual stress as compared to conventional phenolic resins raw materials. This may lead to greater substitution of phenolic resins across the globe over the near future.

Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/phenolic-resin-market

Market participants are concentrating more on providing customized products to their clients. Companies strive to provide a one stop solution to all the client needs. To achieve this scenario, companies are considerably investing in R&D to develop novel products as product differentiation and ability to modify existing products are critical success factors in this market.

Some of the major players in the market participants include Owens Corning, Arclin Inc., Ashland Inc., DIC Corporation, Hexcel Corp., Momentive Specialty Chemicals, Sumitomo Bakelite Co. Ltd, Olympic Panel Products LLC, BASF SE, SI Group Inc, Hexion, Asahi Kasei, GUN EI Chemical Industry, Kangnam Chemical Co. Ltd., Changchun group, DYNEA, Zhejiang Hangmo, Yushiju Chemical, Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd., and Red Avenue New Materials.

Polaris Market research has segmented the Phenolic Resins market report on the basis of product, application, end-use, and region

 Phenolic Resins Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons, Revenue, USD Million, 2015  2026)

Novolac

Resol Liquid Solid

Others

 Phenolic Resins Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons, Revenue, USD Million, 2015  2026)

Wood Adhesives

Molding

Insulation

Laminates

Paper Impregnation

Coatings

Refractory Materials

Friction Material

Rubber & Tire

Electronics

Abrasives

 Phenolic Resins End-Use Outlook (Volume, Kilotons, Revenue, USD Million, 2015  2026)

Building & Construction

Automotive

Electrical & Electronics

Furniture

Others

 Phenolic Resins Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons, Revenue, USD Million, 2015  2026)

North America U.S. Canada

Europe France Germany UK Italy Spain Russia Turkey

Asia Pacific Japan China India Southeast Asia South Korea

Latin America Mexico Brazil

Middle East & Africa Saudi Arabia



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About Polaris Market Research

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world.

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Market Research Future published a Cooked Research Report on Cosmetic & Personal Care Ingredients Market

Market Research Future (MRFR) recognizes the following companies as the key players in the MENA/G.C.C./China Cosmetic & personal care ingredients market: SABIC, Artec Chemical Company Limited, Dongming Jujin Chemical Co., Ltd., Ittihad International Chemicals Trading LLC (IICT), Reza Chemical Industries (RCI) (REZA Investment Company Ltd.), Chemanol and DOGOIDE Group among others.

Market Highlights:

Commenting on this report, an analyst from Market Research Future (MRFR)s team said, mena/g.c.c./china cosmetic & personal care ingredients market size is expected to grow at 5.5% CAGR by 2023.

Cosmetics & Personal Care Ingredients are gaining importance in the applications such as skincare, bath & shower, color cosmetics and hair care among others. Increasing affinity of the youth population towards skin lightening and color cosmetic products is expected to augment the skincare ingredients market. Moreover, substantial spending on Cosmetics & Personal Care in Middle East are expected to boost the personal care ingredients market. However, stern regulations on usage of some personal care ingredients in the products owing to carcinogenic dioxane banned in shampoo by Saudi Arabia Food & Drug Administration will restraint the market demand in coming years. Hence, with research & development, companies are focusing on multi-functionality requirements by consumer in order to cater the market demand.

Access Report Details: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/cosmetics-personal-care-ingredients-market-3889

Segment Analysis:

Cosmetic & personal care ingredients refer to the raw materials which are used for manufacturing of cosmetic products. The ingredients can be processed naturally as well as synthetically which are blended and formulated to enhance the properties of cosmetic products.

The different categories of ingredients used in manufacturing of cosmetics include, emulsifiers, emollients, rheology modifiers, surfactants, and antioxidant among others. Ingredients used under this categories include  tocopherols, dimethicone, parabens, formaldehydes, sodium lauryl sulphate, titanium dioxide, glycerine and alcohols among others. With dominance of skincare, hair care and fragrance products along with multi-functionality ingredients to boost the personal care ingredients market.

Green surfactants and emulsifiers are heading high in personal care formulations owing to high demand for sustainable products as well as adopting renewable feedstock. Ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate provides primary foam, cleaning and has good tolerance and emulsifying properties.

For instance, tocopherols, dimethicone and isopropyl esters are majorly used as antioxidants and conditioning polymers respectively in personal care and cosmetics products. Similarly, Sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium laureth sulphate are used as foaming agent in hair conditioners and shampoo products. The formaldehyde market segment is estimated to account for maximum market share of 16.87% in terms of value. The major factors such as increasing concern about skin lightening and color among the consumers are anticipated to drive the market demand over the forecast period.

In terms of application of these ingredients, the market is segmented into  skincare, hair care, fragrance, color cosmetics, bath & shower and other cosmetic products. The skincare segment is estimated to be the prominent revenue generating segment over other application segments in the cosmetic and personal care ingredients market. The growth impeding the market demand of skincare are growing demand of anti-aging skincare products such as moisturizers, creams among young population and increase in spending on skincare products. However, in some of the Middle East countries such as UAE, the fragrance segment was dominating as the market value for fragrance products was considerably on the higher end as compared to other product segments, the resultant demand for fragrance products in the market has witnessed adjacent demand for ingredients used in fragrance products in the country. Furthermore, color cosmetic have gained market share owing to high demand for facial makeups, lipsticks and eyeliners among other products. Hijab tradition which states women are allowed to show only face in public has also boosted the demand of color cosmetics and skin care, thus, augmenting further the demand of Personal Care Ingredients Market.
The City of Brandon and HMCS Brandon have teamed up to brighten young Canadians during social distancing and lockdowns through a global teddy bear hunt.

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The City of Brandon and HMCS Brandon have teamed up to brighten young Canadians during social distancing and lockdowns through a global teddy bear hunt.

"We hope the people of Brandon will follow us on social media to see all the neat and fun things our raccoon teddy bear will do on the ship," said Lt.-Cmdr. Maude Ouellet-Savard.

Mayor Rick Chrest is seen with the teddy bears on display at Brandon City Hall. The City of Brandon and its namesake, HMCS Brandon, have joined forces and will display teddy bears at city hall, civic buildings and the ship as a way to spread cheer to young Canadians and their families during the pandemic. (Submitted)

"For example, driving the ship and sneaking into dry stores, where we store our dry goods and food."

Ouellet-Savard hopes the project "brings many smiles to our friends and families, especially during these difficult times in a global pandemic," she said in an emailed response to The Sun.

"Please follow us on Facebook over the next two weeks to find our special teddy all over the ship. We look forward to your comments taking a guess at where its hiding on board!"

Teddy bears will be displayed in the windows of city hall and other civic buildings to show their support as a reminder of HMCS Brandons ongoing relationship with Brandon and the commitment of Canadian Armed Forces sailors during long absences from family members, the release said.

Residents are encouraged to follow HMCS Brandons social media accounts to see pictures of the teddy bear in various locations on the ship.

Followers will be able to guess the teddy bears location and take part in a naming contest.

Updates can be found on HMCS Brandons Facebook account (@HMCSBrandon), Instagram (@HMCSBrandon) and Twitter (@HMCSBrandon).

HMCS Brandon departed Esquimalt Harbour on Feb. 18. It was joined by the U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 103.

They are patrolling in the eastern Pacific in operation CARIBBE to support Joint Interagency Task Force South. It is responsible for the detection and monitoring of illicit trafficking in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean regions.

HMCS Brandon aims to be one of the first Canadian warships on a mission that is launching the teddy bear initiative, the release from the City of Brandon said.

"To the crew of HMCS Brandon, we take this opportunity to recognize your professionalism, dedication and sacrifice in the service to our Nation," said Mayor Rick Chrest.

 kkielley@brandonsun.com
Testing the limits of human morality, outlier religious leaders have banded together to fight the provinces COVID-19 restrictions in court.

Testing the limits of human morality, outlier religious leaders have banded together to fight the provinces COVID-19 restrictions in court.

"We have no authority scripturally based and based on Christian convictions to limit anyone from coming to hear the word of God," said Tobias Tissen, a minister at the Steinbach-based Church of God Restoration, according to The Canadian Press.

Scripture doesnt explicitly map out the parameters for many of our laws  and rightfully so, given the context of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which is often used in case law as the reason for the religious neutrality of the state.

But lets not look too hard for logic in their rationale. These religious leaders either dont believe in the objective realities of the COVID-19 pandemic or theyre dismissive of these realities.

The unbelievers are perhaps the easiest to empathize with. The pandemic has been difficult for all of us, and while their adherence to fake news in order to cope with a difficult reality is troubling, few of us can claim to have never fallen victim to falsehoods. They believe theyre helping us by misinforming us the pandemic is "just a flu" or altogether fake and that global health measures are part of an elaborate conspiracy to fatten the pocketbooks of the one per cent and throw the balance of society under a communist regime.

Although these disturbing beliefs have contributed to rising rates of COVID-19, and needless deaths by extension, a dash of empathy prevents us from seeing them as the demons they might otherwise be seen as.

Those dismissive of the realities of the pandemic, however, are far more insidious. They cite broader annual mortality statistics to dismiss the deaths of almost 1,000 Manitobans whose lives have ended prematurely as a result of COVID-19. They also lean heavily on the fact the majority of fatalities thus far in the pandemic have been seniors, thereby implying certain lives are more valuable than others.

This mentality is morally reprehensible and grotesque, which is why its so disturbing to see churches band together to fight public health orders aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.

They either believe in falsehoods, are dismissive of certain lives, or are a dangerous combination of the two.

While theres no denying our collective mental health has plummeted during the pandemic  an idea supported both anecdotally and in spiking overdose rates  fighting public health restrictions in court is a bad look for churches.

Finding alternative, safe means of reaching out to congregants during these troubling times would be much more in keeping with their respective mandates. That is, if their purpose centres on the betterment of their communities, as is what weve been led to believe.

To be perfectly clear, these problematic churches are rare outliers, with the vast majority of religious organizations in Manitoba dedicated to serving the greater good.

This much was affirmed last month when the Sun reached out to various churches for their reaction to the loosened restrictions of the day, which allowed for in-person Easter services.

McDiarmid Drive Alliance Church lead pastor Darryl McAuley said he joined what he believed to be the balance of the local church community in cringing at the actions of those breaking health restrictions.

"It doesnt feel like a very loving response in the midst of a pandemic," he said.

St. Georges Anglican Church rector Jonathan Hoskin shared a similar sentiment, saying that although people havent exactly been excited about health restrictions, his congregation is a law-abiding group intent on looking out for one another.

"We have a number of elder folks as well, so thats been part of our consideration," he said. "We dont want to put anyone at higher risk in jeopardy."

To those outlier religious leaders intent on doing just that  what are you thinking? Are you thinking?

To quote the book those leaders claim to follow:

"Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ."

 Galatians, 6:2

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

 Philippians, 2:4

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."

 Hebrews, 6:10
The Branson Board of Aldermen on Thursday (now postponed to July 28) will consider an ordinance that would require face coverings in public spaces. The aldermen might approve it, disapprove it, or approve an amended version. Would you be in favor of some form of mandatory face covering ordinance in the city of Branson?

You voted:
Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts and Pats is the place to do it.
American daily newspaper The Washington Post is establishing a bureau in Australia in a bid to report more extensively on issues that resonate with US readers, including the countrys relationship with China and its position on climate change.

The publication, owned by Amazons billionaire founder Jeff Bezos, has appointed reporter Michael Miller as its bureau chief to be based in Sydney. Foreign editor Douglas Jehl said the decision to move Miller to Australia will allow the newspaper to deepen its coverage of the region.

The Washington Post, an American daily newspaper owned by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, will establish an Australian presence. Credit:Andrew Harrer

So much thats happening in Australia resonates with our global readership in Washington and around the world, he said. Australia reckons with challenges from climate change, to migration, to the relationship with China, to interaction with technology companies and its experience really resonates in so many parts of the world.

Chinas increasing assertiveness and its increasing friction with Australia remind us that the competition between the United States and China ... is playing out in really interesting and complex ways all over the world and we want to get an even better handle on that in Australia and the Pacific, he said.
Billionaire steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta has won a reprieve on the potential closure of his Whyalla steel mill and coking coal mine in Tahmoor after his businesses brokered a deal with new lenders.

Mr Guptas Liberty Primary Metals Australia business which holds the companies that operate the Whyalla steel mill and the Tahmoor mine on Wednesday said the new financing arrangement would help it pay out the debts it owes to Greensill Capital in full.

The refinancing deal comes as Mr Guptas businesses that own the South Australian steel mill and NSW coal asset were preparing to face the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday to challenge a request to wind up the businesses and place them in liquidation.

Parts of Mr Guptas business empire were plunged into financial strife after the collapse of Greensill in March, threatening the future of the Whyalla and Tahmoor operations.
A week that could set in motion the eventual collapse of the 314-year union between England and Scotland is concentrating trading desks on market disasters ahead.

As Scots enter a May 6 vote pitched on whether there should be a second independence referendum, fund managers and sell-side strategists see potential for massive chaos across Britains economic landscape in the years to come. Yet in an echo of the early days of the Brexit poll, few are hedging for this disruptive prospect.

This weeks vote on whether there should be a second independence referendum for Scotland is stirring uneasy Brexit memories in financial markets. Credit:Getty

While the stakes could hardly be higher, its not clear the UK government will agree to another referendum, even if pro-independence parties win a majority on Thursday. But with the vote stirring uneasy memories of Britains split from the European Union, fund managers are dusting off old playbooks for how to trade a binary risk event where timing is everything.

Youd have massive uncertainty, financial chaos and recession, and a 10 per cent devaluation of the pound, said Mark Nash, a money manager at Jupiter Investment Management.
However, inferring from this that quotas do not make sense more generally would be grossly misleading, she concludes. As data improves, Bohnet says the pendulum of evidence is pointing against the pipeline problem and towards the conclusion that quotas actually boost the pipeline of well-qualified women. In areas such as politics, the pendulum of evidence is pointing towards the conclusion that quotas actually boost the pipeline of well-qualified women. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen This is most likely to occur in professions which require a broad set of skills  politics being one example. In the main, Bohnet says quotas have been found to encourage more talented women to compete for roles  women who should have competed all along but held back due to lack of self-confidence and self-stereotyping.

Prominent female leaders also create a role model effect, inducing younger women to invest more heavily in both developing their skills and putting themselves forward for promotion, believing, quite rightly, that they will have a better chance at success. But getting to a critical mass matters for women. When women work in groups where they exist in the extreme minority, or perhaps as the only woman, they are commonly treated as tokens, viewed more as representatives of their sex than people able to contribute their actual skills to the table. Women are often treated as representative of their gender as opposed to having a real contribution to make. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The Hispanic accountant is very often considered the spokesperson for Hispanics, rather than the expert in accounting, says Bohnet. Tokenism of this sort is uncomfortable and can easily undermine the group members credibility. In addition, tokens may feel the need to over achieve to prove their worth.

This can result in the queen bee syndrome or the lonely woman at the top, yielding counter-productive outcomes. Loading Rather than pave the way for those who follow them, token members look up to their majority peers, and assimilate and distance themselves from new entrants of their own social category. This seems particularly true for first-generation women in counter-stereotypical roles. In more balanced groups, stereotypes lose their importance and minority members are regarded as individuals rather than just token representatives. Bohnet says it is not clear exactly what proportion of women is necessary in a group to guard against these negative outcomes.

While the exact tipping point from scarcity to balance is hard to determine, it appears as if equal representation is not required to change experiences and team performance. Many argue that a critical mass of one-third in relative terms and at least three in absolute numbers is required to move groups from being haunted by the dynamics of categorisation to being able to seize the benefits of diversity. Today, more than half the countries in the world have adopted gender quotas for political representation. Credit:iStock Today, more than half the countries in the world have adopted gender quotas for political representation. Formal quotas on company boards are commonplace, too, although Australia has yet to impose either. Have quotas improved outcomes globally? Its hard to say, concludes Bohnet.

One study by the Credit Suisse Research Institute found companies with a higher proportion of women on their boards fared better in the immediate aftermath of the global financial crisis. But its hard to establish causality. Did having women on boards cause the outperformance? Or do companies that outperform in the first place also tend to hire more women? Or did economic conditions at the time happen to favour industries which tend to be more female-dominated, like public service, health or education? Credit Suisse Research Institute found companies with a higher proportion of women on their boards fared better in the immediate aftermath of the global financial crisis. Credit:Alamy The short answer is that based on the available data, it is impossible to prove either way. Yet.

But if you happen to believe human intelligence and talent is equally distributed among the sexes  as I confess I do  it follows that a more even uptake of that talent into positions of leadership is to the betterment of society. Loading Sure, the imposition of gender quotas is a disruptive process. But disrupting the current status quo of women existing in minority representation may be no bad thing, Bohnet concludes. Their beauty is that they change numbers quickly, sparing the team the stereotyping and painful assimilation process that go along with a more incremental approach, which can depress performance. Quotas should be a central part of our current debate about improving economic outcomes for both women and society at large.
The Sleepers 

Made in 2019 for HBO Europe, this espionage drama series starts in Prague in the spring of 1977 as two secret police break into an apartment. They have a terse, contemptuous discussion about the sex life of the owner. They plant some bugs. Then one of them gathers a number of objects  ceramic figurines, records, clearly prized personal items  bundles them into a bedspread and stomps them into pieces. Before departing, he climbs on the bed and urinates on the pillow.

The Sleepers is set in Czechoslovakia in the 1970s and 80s, when changes were sweeping through Europe. Credit:SBS

Its a deft depiction of the malicious environment that the absent resident, dissident academic Viktor Skala (Martin Mysicka), is endeavouring to escape. When we meet him its August 1989 and hes living in London with his violinist wife, Marie (Tatiana Pauhofova). In the UK, Viktor is regarded as a high-profile emigre who has fled a communist hell.

However, change is sweeping through Europe: Solidarity has won the elections in Poland and there are hopes of a Russian withdrawal from Czechoslovakia following decades of post-war occupation. Marie wants to visit her home and family as her sister will soon become a grandmother. Viktor is resistant until he receives a letter whose contents he doesnt share with Marie. We learn that theyre under surveillance because weve seen that letter carefully steamed open before Viktor receives it.
A 73-year-old Australian man stranded in Bangalore, India, has filed a legal challenge to the Morrison governments coronavirus travel ban that has made it a crime for him to return home.

Lawyers for Gary Newman filed an urgent application in the Federal Court on Wednesday, seeking to challenge an emergency declaration made by Health Minister Greg Hunt on April 30 under the Biosecurity Act.

The declaration took effect on Monday and makes it a crime, punishable by a maximum $66,000 fine, five years jail, or both, for people including citizens and permanent residents who have been in India in the past 14 days to enter Australia.

The temporary ban will be reviewed by the government and may be lifted before it lapses on May 15. It is not yet clear if it could be reintroduced.
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Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Construction in Saudi Arabia - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2025 (Q1 2021) under Construction category. The Construction Industry in Saudi Arabia is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports.

Saudi Arabias Construction Industry is forecast to recover in 2021, growing by 2.9%, after contracting by an estimated 0.5% in 2020. In 2022, the industry is projected to continue to recover, growing by 3.2%, and then expand by 4.3% over the remainder of the forecast period (2023-2025). Over this period, the industrys output is expected to be supported by the governments focus on the development of overall infrastructure, as well as energy and utilities construction projects, in a bid to diversify its economy away from oil.

With the collapse of oil prices and disruptions due to the COVID-19 outbreak, in December 2020 the government announced a SAR990 billion (US$263.9 billion) budget for 2021. The Kingdom's budget statement showed a cut to government spending of 7% in 2021, implying that the main policy goal for the Kingdom in the short term is to reduce the budget deficit, rather than boost economic growth. However, there is a huge pipeline of projects related to the long-term diversification plans under Vision 2030. This was underlined by the crown prince's announcement in January 2021 that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) is to invest SAR3 trillion (US$800 billion) on projects in the country over the next decade.

Request a free sample copy of Saudi Arabia Construction Industry Report @

http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/sample/reports/2423461

This report provides detailed market analysis, information, and insights into Saudi Arabias construction industry, including -

- Saudi Arabias construction industry's growth prospects by market, project type and construction activity

- Critical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues, as well as an analysis of key risks and opportunities in Saudi Arabias construction industry

- Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, focusing on development stages and participants, in addition to listings of major projects in the pipeline.

Scope

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in Saudi Arabia. It provides -

- Historical (2016-2020) and forecast (2021-2025) valuations of the construction industry in Saudi Arabia, featuring details of key growth drivers.

- Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sector

- Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, including breakdowns by development stage across all sectors, and projected spending on projects in the existing pipeline.

- Listings of major projects, in addition to details of leading contractors and consultants

Reasons to Buy

- Identify and evaluate market opportunities using standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies.

- Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts.

- Understand the latest industry and market trends.

- Formulate and validate strategy using critical and actionable insight.

- Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures.

- Evaluate competitive risk and success factors.

Browse our full report with Table of Contents: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/construction-in-saudi-arabia-key-trends-and-opportunities-to-2025-q1-2021-/2423461

About Us

Market Reports on Saudi Arabia provides you with an in-depth industry reports focusing on various economic, political and operational risk environment, complemented by detailed sector analysis. We have an exhaustive coverage on variety of industries  ranging from energy and chemicals to transportation, communications, constructions and mining to Food and Beverage and education. Our collection includes over 3000 up-to-date reports all researched, analysed and published by top-notch international research firms.

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Once again, the Liberal Party of Victorias powerful state assembly makes its regular pilgrimage on Friday to Scots Church. And high on the agenda (although not as high as the national anthem, obviously) is a quartet of bad boys up for expulsion.

First on the chopping block is CBD favourite Sol Green over his stellar performance in March at the Prahran state electorate conference annual general meeting. Green was chairing the event when he called the police to the Toorak Bowling Club in a vain attempt to block state party treasurer Owen Guest from attending.

Delegates will vote on a motion to find Green guilty of conduct gravely detrimental to the partys best interests.

Then there is the matter of poisonous emails to party members.

Peter Adamis, who describes himself as a freelance journalist and commentator, retired military serviceman and avid blogger, is up for expulsion on account of his repeatedly sending to large numbers of party members newsletters defaming, denigrating and harassing a wide range of party members.
Gas cookers in homes and unflued gas heaters used in thousands of NSW classrooms pose serious health risks for children with asthma or allergies, a new report into the dangers of the fossil fuel has found.

The Climate Council research highlights the danger of gas used domestically, as gas cooking can have the same impact as passive smoking on children with asthma, and says the fuel should be consigned to the past like coal, wood and kerosene.

A health risk that we can no longer need nor can afford, the report said.

Gas cooking at home has the same impact on children with asthma as passive smoking Credit:John Woudstra

Many classrooms across NSW use unflued gas heaters, which draw cold air from the room, and then pump the exhaust from the fire back into the living or learning space. The heaters have been banned in other states and countries.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was bracing for more community cases of COVID-19 after a man tested positive after visiting a number of venues in Sydneys east and north while potentially highly infectious.

On Wednesday night, NSW Health revealed fragments of the virus had been detected in an inner west sewerage network and asked tens of thousands of people to monitor for symptoms.

The man, who has no known links to the virus or hotel quarantine, returned a positive result on Wednesday morning.

Aged in his 50s, the man had not recently returned from overseas, did not work in quarantine and had no contacts with the hospital system, prompting urgent genomic testing to determine any genetic links to cases in the quarantine system or in other states.
Global cyber criminals have given the NSW Labor Party 10 days to pay a ransom after gaining access to its computer network in a major cyber attack.

The ransomware group Avaddon, which originated in Russia, is behind the breach and is threatening to release a trove of sensitive information including images of passports, drivers licences and employment contracts.

NSW Labor has confirmed they have been targeted by a ransomware attack.

NSW Labor, the company does not want to co-operate with us, so we give them 240 hours to communicate and co-operate with us, Avaddon said in a post on its website.

If this does not happen before the time counter expires, we will leak valuable company documents.
Major delays were still affecting Sydneys train network on Wednesday night after an earlier police operation at Town Hall station halted services around City Circle.

Police were called at 10.45am on Wednesday and the station in Sydneys CBD was evacuated. Commuters were told to catch buses.

People were blocked from entering Town Hall station. Credit:Rhett Wyman

A NSW Police spokeswoman said officers searched Town Hall station as part of the police operation.

Police said on Twitter at 12.16pm the police operation had concluded with nothing found. It said reports of a suspicious package are incorrect.
The health effects from the gas industry across Australia were still poorly understood and under-reported, the latest report from the Climate Council has warned.

The report, Kicking the Gas Habit: How Gas is Harming our Health, examines the available scientific literature on the health effects of natural gas being used for heating and cooking, as well as the effects of the broader industry.

Cooking with gas contributes 12 per cent to childhood asthma, a Climate Council report has claimed. Credit:iStock

Climate Council spokeswoman and report author, Queensland University of Technology epidemiologist Hilary Bambrick, said they had trouble sourcing many scientific papers looking at the issue, and many of the ones they did find had been commissioned by the gas industry.

However, of the papers they could source, they found some concerning trends, including that cooking with gas is estimated to be responsible for up to 12 per cent of childhood asthma burden in Australia.
Joining a 1989 protest rally in Prague against the secret police that governed Czechoslovakia for 40 years gave Richard Fidler a burning desire to return to the capital to explore its history.

Now the author and ABC radio presenter will discuss the result of this fascination  The Golden Maze, a history of Prague  on May 9 as part of the sold-out Brisbane Writers Festival.

Richard Fidler delved deep into Pragues folklore and history for his book, The Golden Maze.

And the former Doug Anthony All Stars member said he was delighted to be returning to Brisbane for the festival.

A couple of years ago I moved to Sydney from Brisbane, so I havent been able to go back since COVID, he said.
Where we have disagreements over the last year, weve always tried to do it publicly [and] lightly, but theyve taken swift actions and therefore I support the actions theyve taken, Mr Hunt said. We have confidence in the quarantine system right around the country. The first infection control complaints at the Novotel arose within days of it accepting guests. Incident reports ranged from a worker disposing of their personal protective equipment in the wrong location to serious problems such as an employee walking directly from a red zone into a green lift, potentially infecting the area. Of the 51 incident reports in the first month at the Novotel, 15 directly related to infection control breaches.

Professor Sutton, senior public health officials and Ms Cassar were notified of the problems and prioritised visits to the Novotel where they gave the manager and the infection control head repeated warnings to improve the hotels performance. In late April, less than a month after the hotel opened, CQV became convinced the duo were not improving the Novotel and decided to replace them. The Age has chosen not to name the two workers. International flights resumed into Melbourne on April 8. Credit:Getty Images Ms Cassar said incident reports were part of an if you see it, report it culture and were often minor transgressions. It is really important to ensure that we maintain this culture of active reporting, she said.

A CQV spokesman said the hotel quarantine program has embedded continuous improvement processes at all locations, with new sites requiring refinement in the first few weeks of operation. All staff are trained and encouraged to report any ... breaches, regardless of the risk, so they can be immediately investigated and acted on. A spokeswoman for the federal Department of Health said the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee met every week to consider the lessons learnt from managing quarantine, including the findings of audits, evaluations and reviews. When asked if the Victorian government should be more transparent about its failures in hotel quarantine, the spokeswoman said: States and territories are responsible for managing public communications within their respective jurisdictions.

Separately, the Grand Chancellor hotel in Melbourne CBD was recruited by CQV to host guests in January but was released from its contract in April because its ventilation was deemed unacceptable. The hotel received several million dollars without hosting a single returned traveller. The state opposition has targeted Victorias hotel quarantine for its overspending and issues with infection control and Liberal leader Michael OBrien said the Andrews government had learnt nothing since last years second wave. This is an outbreak waiting to happen. This is a lockdown waiting to happen, he said on Wednesday. The leaked incident reports suggested the cause of a hotel quarantine leak at the Holiday Inn hotel in February was not the use of a nebuliser by a guest who was suffering asthma, as the Victorian government claimed at the time. Instead, it said the outbreak was triggered when a health worker swabbed a woman in an open doorway inside the hotel, causing the virus to be blown down the corridor before pooling outside the man with the nebulisers room.

Loading The Australian Medical Associations Julian Rait said the nebuliser incident highlighted the need for purpose-built facilities outside of the CBD, and urged more transparency. If a prolonged COVID-19 test in an open doorway initiated the outbreak, then it points again to the need for air separated quarantine facilities in places other than CBD hotels, Associate Professor Rait said. There is a need for greater transparency around these incidents, and indeed about mistakes made, because an effective hotel quarantine system, along with a successful vaccine rollout, is what stands between us and a third wave. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is bracing for more community cases of COVID-19 after a man tested positive having visited a number of venues in Sydneys east while potentially highly infectious.
A Victorian public servant in charge of infection control in hotel quarantine has been stood down after reports emerged they had been reported to authorities for refusing a COVID-19 test and not replacing their face mask.

Danny Pearson, Victorias acting Police Minister, said on Wednesday that Matiu Bush, general manager of COVID-19 Quarantine Victorias infection prevention and control, had been stood down overnight.

Last night I become aware of reports in relation to [Matiu Bush] and I formed the opinion overnight that [they need] to be stood down pending a review, Mr Pearson said.

Mr Pearson was responding to reports in The Australian that also revealed secret incident reports that suggested the cause of the hotel quarantine leak in February was not in fact the use of a nebuliser by a guest who was suffering asthma, as the Victorian government claimed at the time.
Weve identified a number of other altercations leading up to this incident involving members of the Pacific Islander community, in and around the same Westwood Drive venue and other similar venues in the northern suburbs, and are working to establish if any these incidents are linked to the shooting, he said. Detective Inspector Day said members of the Hells Angels and Comanchero bikie gangs often visit the pool hall and hookah bar that are located in an industrial area next to a Ravenhall hire car company and mechanic, and across the road from a funeral home. Loading He said the night before the fatal shooting another incident occurred at the pool hall in which someone pulled a gun, and investigators were trying to establish whether the two incidents were linked. Both organisations do have members of Tongan descent, he confirmed.



Its not outside the realms of possibility that our two victims were innocent parties in the rivalry between [outlaw motorcycle] groups that have either mucked it up targeting the wrong group or fired indiscriminately into the crowd, Detective Inspector Day said. As we know  the type of characters running around in [outlaw motorcycle gangs] are generally not rocket scientists and there are a number of examples over recent years of OMCG groups not doing their homework and killing an unintended innocent victim.

Detective Inspector Day said he was unable to say whether police had recovered the weapon used in the shooting. Mr Tuivasas father, who did not wish to reveal his name, cried at a police press conference on Wednesday as he described his eldest son as a good boy. Detective Inspector Tim Day (right) addresses the media with Mr Tuivasas relatives. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui He is someone who looked after us, me and my wife and [his] mother, he said. He said he had forgiven his sons killer, but wanted to know who they were. Mr Tuivasas sister also said she was able to forgive her brothers killer. It hurts but ... I forgive, theres nothing that can bring him back, she said.

In my heart I forgive, but please come forward, thats all we want  to release the pain. Mr Tuivasas partner, who also did not wish to have her name published, said he was a loving and devoted partner and the best father to our five kids who are all under the age of 11. Sio was loyal to his family and was loved by so many as he had an outgoing personality and loved to laugh. Police also released CCTV footage on Wednesday of the ute believed to be driven by the assailants. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video

Detective Inspector Day said after the shooting, the dark grey 2017 Toyota Hilux SR5 dual-cab ute, sped off towards Ballarat Road, and was last seen travelling on the Western Highway towards Rockbank. Pictures released of the vehicle show it has a chrome roll bar on the rear tray and stock wheels. Today, theres no intelligence to suggest the vehicle was stolen at the time of the shooting, and no vehicle of that make or model or description has been recovered or otherwise destroyed, Detective Inspector Day said. Investigators believe the vehicle was a dark grey 2017 Toyota Hilux SR5 dual-cab ute, with a chrome roll bar on the rear tray and stock wheels. Police and Mr Tuivasas family pleaded for anyone who was at the pool hall on the night of the shooting and who hasnt yet spoken to police to come forward.
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Market Reports on South Africa Provides the Trending Market Research Report on South Africa After-Sun (Suncare) Market Research Report under Life Sciences category. The South Africa 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.

South Africa After-Sun (Suncare) Market Research Outlook 2025 Report Highlights:

After-Sun (Suncare) Market in South Africa - Outlook to 2025; Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics (updated with COVID-19 Impact) is a broad level market review of After-Sun market in South Africa.



After-Sun - All mass and premium Moisturizing cream formulated for sunburned skin. The purpose of after sun lotion is to protect the skin from severe burning once it has been exposed to the sun. Moisturizing cream formulated for sunburned skin.



After-Sun market in South Africa registered a positive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.61% during the period 2015 to 2020 with a sales value of ZAR 79.57 Million in 2020, a decrease of -15.27% over 2019. The market achieved its strongest performance in 2016, when it grew by 7.05% over its previous year and its weakest performance in 2020, when it fell by -15.27% over 2019. The fastest growing segment of the After-Sun market in South Africa between the year 2015 and 2020 was Mass After-Sun which registered a CAGR of 1.69%. The weakest performing segment of the market was Premium After-Sun with a CAGR of 1.49%. In 2020 Mass After-Sun segment in South Africa After-Sun market accounted for a major share of 60.31%, while Premium After-Sun stood in second position representing 39.69% of the markets 2020 share.



The research handbook provides up-to-date market size data for period 2015-2020 and illustrative forecast to 2025 premised on Covid-19 hit, covering key market aspects like Sales Value and Volume for After-Sun and its variants Mass After-Sun & Premium After-Sun.



Furthermore, the research handbook details out Sales Value and Volume for top brands for the year 2017 to 2020 and overall market sales by Distribution Channel (Dollar Stores, Variety Store & General Merchandise Retailers, Cash & Carries and Warehouse Clubs, Convenience Stores & Gas Stations, Department Stores, Drug Stores & Pharmacies, Chemists/Pharmacies, Parapharmacies/Drugstores, eRetailers, Food & Drinks Specialists, Health & Beauty Stores, Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Direct Sellers, Others, On Trade, Vending Machines, Other Specialist Retailers, Tobacco Specialists) where ever applicable.



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Western Australia has recorded no new community cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, paving the way for restrictions in the Perth and Peel regions to relax.

Another day of no community cases means on Thursday authorities will make a final decision on whether restrictions can be eased by the weekend.

Bear in mind whatever decision you make can always be disrupted by events as they occur, but hopefully well be able to make that decision tomorrow, WA Premier Mark McGowan said.

On Tuesday, six new exposure sites were linked to the Pan Pacific hotel cluster, which started after a security guard, known as case 1001, caught the virus from a returned traveller from the US.
On Thursday last week, Reubenstein said he had written to point out what he viewed as government hypocrisy in allowing Wade to tweet but firing other public servants who broadcast political opinions. [Wade] is absolutely entitled to his free speech, Reubenstein said. I disagree with his opinions but hes more than entitled to have them and express them. He contrasted Wade with former Immigration Department official Michaela Banerji, who was sacked in 2013 after a series of anonymous tweets criticising the then-Labor governments immigration policy came to light. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Reubenstein, a former SBS journalist, may have intended only to make that argument but his articles were a broadside on Wade, including suggestions his Twitter use was partisan and questioning whether it breached a public service code of conduct. It seemed to have an immediate effect: Wades boss told Senate estimates she had asked him to take a tweeting pause while the department looked into some ancillary matters.

Loading Senator Paterson and Labor senator Kimberley Kitching, the co-chairs of a global coalition of MPs critical of the CCP known as the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, registered their concerns about the initial article in the Senate in March. I have reason to believe that the campaign against this researcher is state-sponsored or initiated, Senator Paterson said. Its very similar to campaigns of intimidation and coercion of other researchers who work in this area internationally. Senator Kitching declared the researchers treatment was a bipartisan concern and he was providing a very important public service. Senators Paterson and Kitching both declined to elaborate on their remarks.

Michael Danby, a former Labor MP who chaired Parliaments foreign affairs committee, told this masthead because Wade had a profound understanding of China and how its political influence organisations operated, it would be a great public loss if he was stopped from contributing information that was used by other experts. Reubenstein said if he was the target of Patersons comments made under parliamentary privilege, they were entirely false. He said he had previously done some public relations work for Chinese cultural and tourism events between 2014 and 2017 but not for the CCP. I invite Senator Paterson to step outside of the Parliament and repeat his claims, Reubenstein said, adding he had written to Senator Paterson asking for clarification and requested the right to make a formal response via the Senate. A disclaimer on APAC News site says it does not enter into arrangements with foreign media entities. Adam Ni, a researcher at the Australian National University, said he understood the principles raised by Wades proponents: more information about the CCPs interference activities was useful, transparency was good and tweeting shouldnt trigger harassment. But I think about the Australian Chinese community and the harm this debate does to them, Ni said. Just going to a conference or dinners also attended by someone with links to the Chinese state was not evidence someone was a patsy for Beijing, he said.

Loading It should be based on evidence of wrongdoing rather than guilt by association, Ni said. Wade, for his part, engaged lawyers Meyer Vandenberg to demand Reubensteins articles be taken down, an apology and compensation for the damage, hurt and embarrassment he has suffered. Letters also went to people who had retweeted or reproduced Reubensteins articles, including journalist Michael West, who republished one of the articles on his independent site, an academic and a Canberra Chinese school principal. Wade has not released the letters and declined to comment on his lawyers advice. In a vlog-style video, West said he, like Reubenstein, viewed the legal threats as an attack on his free speech.

Im not critical of Wade so much as the ambulance-chasing lawyers and the government for protecting those who would attack basic human rights, principally the right to free speech, West said in a separate text. This is the sort of behaviour you could expect from the CCP, not Australians. Defamation bills can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars in Australia and the fact the Australia-China Twitter community is replete with barbed exchanges that do not result in lawsuits is no barrier to Wade bringing one. West said he was not planning to settle financially because the matter was one of high principle but was looking to negotiate some other solution. Reubenstein has threatened to bring his own defamation claim against Wade. A spokeswoman for the Department of Parliamentary Services, which oversees the parliamentary library, said it had no involvement, financial or otherwise, in Wades legal processes. The department does not comment publicly on any individual employees performance or conduct, however, its employees are entitled to use personal social media accounts within policy guidelines, she said.
At least two repatriation flights will be dispatched to India every week once the controversial travel ban ends on May 15 as the Morrison government faces an uphill battle to get thousands of its citizens home from the coronavirus-stricken country.

The government is facing mounting pressure from the Indian community to end the ban, with a 73-year-old Australian man stranded in Bangalore on Wednesday filing a legal challenge to the directive that has made it a crime for people stuck in the country to come to Australia.

Qantas was running repatriation flights from India before the latest outbreak. Credit:Paul Jones

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke confirmed that once flights resume the Commonwealth must also overcome the logistical challenge of helping people safely travel from villages, towns and cities around India to larger cities before boarding flights home.

Logistically, its quite a big undertaking to work through the best way to get people safely repatriated, Mr Hawke said.
NSW Liberal upper house MP Natasha Maclaren-Joness reign as president of the Legislative Council may well be the shortest in the states history. But her 90-minute tenure cannot be reduced to an issue of gender.

Maclaren-Jones, at the urging of the government, assumed the chair on Tuesday night after an unedifying five-week spat in the upper house over the rightful successor to retiring Liberal president John Ajaka. Maclaren-Jones was Premier Gladys Berejiklians handpicked candidate.

Liberal MP Natasha Maclaren-Jones claimed the presidents seat in the NSW upper house only to be ejected following a vote of no confidence. Credit:NSW Parliament webcast

The position of president is a plum role, which comes with a $300,000 salary, extra staff and an office which once hosted Queen Elizabeth for lunch. However, the role is decided by a vote of the house, not by appointment, and this is where the government made a misstep.

The Coalition does not control the upper house, which has proven to be a source of contention for this government. It is regularly subjected to orders to release otherwise secretive government documents and has to swallow politically sensitive issues being referred to parliamentary inquiries.
Rome: Two American tourists have been found guilty of murdering a policeman near their Rome hotel in 2019 and have been sentenced to life in prison, a judge said in a verdict read out to a packed court.

Finnegan Lee Elder, who was 19 at the time, had admitted to stabbing Mario Cerciello Rega in the early hours of July 26, 2019, while his friend Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth, then 18, was tussling with another police officer.

Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, from the US, left, and his co-defendant Finnegan Lee Elder sit during a break of a hearing in Rome. Credit:AP

However, they say they had acted in self defence because they thought the two police officers, who were not in uniform at the time, were thugs out to get them after a botched attempt to buy drugs.

The court rejected their testimony and handed down the toughest punishment possible in Italy. Under the penal code, criminals serving a life term can be eligible for parole after 21 years, if they have a good behaviour record.
Look and you shall see: a generation of the shortsighted is growing up before your eyes. A largely unrecognised epidemic of nearsightedness, or myopia, is afflicting the eyes of children.

People with myopia can see close-up objects clearly, such as the words on a page. But their distance vision is blurry, and correction with glasses or contact lenses is likely to be needed for activities like seeing the blackboard clearly, cycling, driving or recognising faces down the block.

The growing incidence of myopia is related to changes in childrens behaviour, especially how little time they spend outdoors, often staring at screens indoors instead of enjoying activities illuminated by daylight. Gone are the days when most children played outside between the end of the school day and suppertime. And remote learning and lockdowns during the pandemic may be making matters worse.

researchers across the world have charted a rise in myopia, or shortsightedness, in children Credit:Fairfax Photographic

Susceptibility to myopia is determined by genetics and environment. Children with one or both shortsighted parents are more likely to become myopic. However, while genes take many centuries to change, the prevalence of myopia in the United States increased from 25 per cent in the early 1970s to nearly 42 per cent just three decades later. (About a quarter of Australians, approximately 6 million people, were estimated to be myopic in a 2018 National Health Survey, in what was seen as a slow but steady increase over the past decade.) And the rise in myopia is not limited to highly developed countries. The World Health Organisation estimates that half the worlds population may be myopic by 2050.
Without me, you wouldnt even be here, Bill Gates snr once told his billionaire son. Credit:AP The Gates family that young Microsoft product manager Melinda French was attracted to after she started dating Bill in 1987 was a Gates family shot through with the personality of her future father-in-law. He was the bridge between them, the glue, said one observer who knows Bill. This wouldnt have happened before he died. Empty nest In so many ways, this is a split beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals. How could it be otherwise, when the principals are between them worth more than $US 130 billion ($168 billion). But some of the stresses and strains in their marriage are, despite all that, deeply familiar, and rooted in the simple business of bringing up the children. In her book, The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World, Melinda writes of growing frustrated by always being the one to clean up after dinner. A fiercely independent woman who gave up her career to raise their family, she found herself carrying the burden of domestic duties. Only in 2001, a year after he stepped down as Microsoft CEO, did her husband start doing the odd school run. Raising Jennifer, Rory, 21, and Phoebe, 18, has been a project which sometimes divides but more often than not unites. Over the last 27 years, the pair wrote in their joint announcement, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world. Its clear they view their children and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as the twin pillars, the two great achievements, of their married life.

But Phoebe, pictured above with her father in 2018, is now 18. How many couples stay together, tough it out in the hard times, for the children? And there have been hard times. I can remember some days that were so incredibly hard in our marriage where you thought, Can I do this? Melinda said in 2019. Loading The bottom line and the other woman Whatever their disagreements, Bill and Melinda Gates have always been united on one thing  the desire to give their money away. Cash is unlikely to be behind this split. Indeed, on a trip to Africa while they were engaged, a few years after Bill, at 31, had become the worlds youngest billionaire, they jointly decided that, as Melinda put it, the vast majority of resources from Microsoft [which Gates co-founded] would go back to society.

There was never any dispute. It was, Melinda said, an easy discussion and, while their lifestyle is hardly spartan (they live in a vast mansion called Xanadu 2.0 overlooking Lake Washington, just outside Seattle), they are determined to give away their wealth  the children will reportedly get $US10 million ($13 million) each, a fraction of a fraction of a per cent of the family fortune. While their personal lives are going in separate directions, the pair have also made it clear that they will continue to run the foundation together. Nor is there any suggestion that anyone else is involved. Bezos, of course, famously left his wife, Mackenzie, for broadcaster Lauren Sanchez. Melinda was even apparently happy to let Bill head off each year to spend a weekend with his ex-girlfriend, software entrepreneur Ann Winblad, at her beach house in North Carolina. Yet it was innocent, even geeky fun. We play putt-putt while discussing biotechnology, Gates once said. Winblad, who is five years older than Gates, was the one before the one. They split in 1987, the year he met Melinda, and remained on good terms: he even called her and asked her to sanction his marriage. Winblad did so because she thought Melinda had the brains not to bore or be bored by Bill. Intellectual stamina, she called it. Indeed, if there was another woman in Bill Gates life, it was always his career  first his fierce focus on establishing Microsoft and crushing the competition, and secondly his intense desire to address global ills through the foundation. In the early days of dating, this little something on the side was understood. She had other boyfriends, Gates said in the documentary Inside Bills Brain, and I had Microsoft. Not always so cuddly

One doesnt necessarily become a tech titan by being easygoing. Its hard to remember  now that he is the epitome of an avuncular philanthropist  that Bill Gates was once deeply feared, unforgiving and ruthlessly competitive, so desperate to establish his company as the peerless global leader that Microsoft was eventually taken to court by the US government on monopoly charges. He was, and clearly remained, deeply uncompromising on aspects of his life that were of supreme importance to him. His wife would tell the story of how, when in 2013 she wanted to co-write the forward to their foundations annual report, he refused. It got hot, Melinda wrote in The Moment of Lift. Bill said the process had been working well and he didnt see why it should change. Eventually, after several years of compromise, the couple did co-sign the letter. But as Melinda has said: Hes had to learn how to be an equal, and Ive had to learn how to step up and be an equal. Too much time in lockdown  and not enough It may have been the pandemic that broke their marriage. As with all families, it transformed the Gates life. Global travel, the backbone of their often separate working lives, was curtailed. Bill and Melinda, like husbands and wives around the world, found themselves marooned with one another. And as they faced each other at home, the issue that had run like a thread through their marriage will have become inescapable: time. Could Bill  a man some say divides his day into five-minute segments the better not to waste a second  devote time enough to his family?

It was a question that had dogged the couple from the beginning. A couple of weeks after they first met sitting next to each other at a business dinner (I could sense he was interested), they bumped into each other in the company car park and, according to her, he struck up a conversation and asked me out for two weeks from Friday. A fortnights wait  how romantic. Melinda gave him her number and demanded more spontaneity. A couple of hours later, he rang to ask her out the very same evening with the line: Is this spontaneous enough for you? After dating for seven years, it was, he recalled, decision time: There were only two possibilities: either, we were going to break up or we were going to get married. Bill was tormented  not because he didnt love Melinda but because he was unsure he could commit enough time to his family: When he was having trouble making the decision about getting married, he was incredibly clear that it was not about me, it was about Can I get the balance right between work and family life? So, like the methodical man he remains, Gates famously drew a line down a whiteboard, dividing it into two halves: the pros and cons of getting married. Melinda walked in to find him, in his bedroom, totting up the list. Melinda and Bill Gates announce the launch of their joint foundation in 1998, then worth $US17.1 billion. Credit:Reuters

In the end, of course, the couple went for it. But the tension of time, for a man on a mission to make very most of and do the very best with his power and fortune in the rest of his life, has never gone away. They have done the things that over-stretched couples do  scheduling fun, rather than having it spontaneously as Melinda initially demanded. Weve learnt how to communicate well with one another, she said. Sometimes youve just got to go out and play: doing something fun together; going out to a movie together; going on a date night. We are very purposeful about it, she noted. We lead incredibly busy lives with work and three children so we literally put date nights on our calendar to make sure we do things together. Even when she realised she was pregnant, she considered not telling Bill because the couple were about to go away together on a rare holiday. The trip was a huge deal for us. Bill rarely took time off from Microsoft and I didnt want to mess up the trip. Two years ago, asked the secret of their quarter-century marriage, she answered unambiguously: I have learnt it takes time.
China has drawn up plans to upgrade an airstrip and bridge on one of Kiribatis remote islands south-west of Hawaii, in a bid to revive a site that hosted military aircraft during World War II.

The plans, which have not been made public, involve construction on the tiny island of Kanton (also spelt Canton), a coral atoll strategically located midway between Asia and the Americas.

Kiribati opposition MP Tessie Lambourne told Reuters she was concerned about the project, and wanted to know whether it was part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative.

The Pacific archipelago of Kiribati. Credit:AP

The government hasnt shared the cost and other details other than its a feasibility study for the rehabilitation of the runway and bridge, Lambourne said. The opposition will be seeking more information from government in due course.
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ECG monitoring devices are experiencing a paradigm technological shift from resting ECG systems to portable Holter monitoring systems. According to a new report by Persistence Market Research (PMR), titled, Holter Monitoring Systems Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016-2024, this is attributed to advantages such as patient mobility, low prices, and longer period of patient monitoring.

Holter monitoring systems are proving to be more efficient in ECG monitoring due to advancements in technology, thereby allowing healthcare providers to monitor recorded data remotely, and enhancements in Holter monitoring software, which enable better analysis of data. These factors are expected to promote drive growth of the global Holter monitoring systems market at a CAGR of 4.5 % between 2016 and 2024.

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Some key market participants included in the report are

GE Healthcare

Koninklijke Philips N.V

Welch Allyn (Hill-rom Company, Inc.)

Schiller AG

Fukuda Denshi Co. Ltd.

Nihon Kohden Corporation, Mortara Instrument, Inc.

Spacelabs Healthcare, Inc.

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PMRs report offers market forecast and analysis on the global Holter monitoring systems market. The global market has been segmented on the basis of product, enduser, and region. On the basis of region, the market has been segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), and Asia Pacific (APAC). As per regional analysis, North America (the U.S. and Canada) is the most lucrative market for Holter monitoring systems globally.

This region is expected to hold highest market share over the forecast period (20162024) and is expected to exhibit more than average growth rate. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to witness fastest growth owing to high population and increasing incidence rate of cardiovascular diseases. APAC market is estimated to account for around 27 % revenue share by end of 2016 in the global Holter monitoring systems market.

The market in MEA is also expected to expand significantly in revenue terms over the forecast period, owing to high public healthcare expenditure in countries in the region. Revenue from the market in the region is expected to expand at CAGR of 5.2% over the forecast period.

On the basis of product, the global Holter monitoring systems market has been segmented into Holter monitoring devices, event monitoring devices, and Holter monitoring software segments. Holter monitoring devices segment is expected to remain the dominant segment in the global market throughout the forecast period. This is attributed to high adoption rate of these devices globally.

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On the basis of end user, the Holter monitoring systems market has been segmented into hospitals, diagnostic centers, clinics, and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). PMR estimated the hospitals segment to account for highest revenue share among other end user segments, and it is expected to witness fastest growth over the forecast period. Factors such as increasing number of private hospitals in developing countries is expected to boost revenue share of the hospitals segment. Diagnostic centers segment is also expected to gain significant market share during the forecast period.

The report discusses various factors positively impacting growth of the global Holter monitoring systems market such as increasing healthcare expenditure, key strategies of market players, regional reimbursement policies, and others.

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It was February 14, 2019, in the early afternoon, and for perhaps the first time in the 25-year history of com Inc, was prepared to explain himself to his employees.

Bezos was a master compartmentalizer; his ability to keep the intricate threads of his personal and professional lives separate was unrivaled. This talent had allowed him to build while also running a space company, Blue Origin LLC, and reviving the Washington Post  all while keeping his family life private. But those threads had gotten tangled. Bezos, a father of four, was the subject of tabloid stories in the National Enquirer about his relationship with a married former television host.

Rather than doing what most billionaires do under such scrutiny  keep quiet and wait for the storm to pass  Bezos had gone public. Hed written a salacious blog post that included descriptions of photos the Enquirer claimed it had acquired  among them: a below the belt selfie. Hed suggested that the paper was doing this as political retribution for the Posts reporting on the Enquirers connections to the Trump administration.

Now, facing Amazons leadership group, the S-team, Bezos addressed the elephant in the room. The story is completely wrong and out of order, he said. MacKenzie and I have had good, healthy, adult conversations about it. She is fine. The kids are fine. The media is having a field day. Then he tried to refocus the conversation on the matter at hand: personnel projections for the current year. All of this is very distracting, so thank you for being focused on the business, he said.

The affair came as a shock to most senior executives, though recently some had noticed changes in their bosss behavior. Meetings for Op1, Amazons term for its annual late-summer planning cycle, had been delayed or postponed; longtime deputies were finding it difficult to get time on his calendar. There were also those helipads that had requested for its planned outposts in New York City and Arlington, Va. These had enraged local officials, already skeptical about giving billions of dollars in tax breaks to a company with a trillion-dollar market value, and had contributed to the scrapping of a planned second headquarters in Queens.

As some in the meeting were now well aware, the bosss new girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez, was a helicopter pilot. Bezos had taken flying lessons himself. And then there was the curious matter of the stock. On Jan. 9, Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos had announced their divorce via Twitter. But a few weeks before that, Amazons legal and finance departments had begun asking the companys largest institutional shareholders whether they would support the creation of a new class of stock with reduced voting rights. Dual-class stock structures had been used at Facebook, Google, and Snap to concentrate voting power among company founders, giving them ultimate sway over matters of corporate governance. Amazon had gone public a decade before those structures were in vogue, so Bezos hadnt had such power. Now he apparently wanted it.

Amazon vigorously disputed that Bezos personal life had anything to do with these moves. Public-relations representatives claimed that having helipads in New York City would have been useful for certain events, like receiving dignitaries. The official story about the share classes was that Amazon was exploring ways to keep giving stock to fulfillment center workers and that it could use the second class of stock to pursue acquisitions. Those explanations had always seemed a little thin. But after Bezos tweeted news of his divorce, some whod heard about the stock plan came to assume that it was all about Bezos remaining firmly in control of the company in the face of a costly divorce settlement that would end up reducing his stake from 18% to 12%.

It was the first time some senior executives could remember seeing Bezos cornered by adversaries, who now included, improbably, a Hollywood manager looking to peddle explicit selfies. On the other hand, the episode was the culmination of Bezos decade-long transformation from a single-minded tech geek to the master of a trillion-dollar empire. His enemies now included Donald Trump, who despised the Post, and Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, who was embittered by the papers coverage of the murder of dissident reporter Jamal Khashoggi and would later be implicated in a supposed plot to put spyware onto Bezos smartphone. Bezos was navigating all of this as he always had: by thinking unconventionally and manipulating the levers of media. Somehow, his way usually worked.

Back at Amazons headquarters complex in Seattle, on the sixth floor of Day 1 tower, the planning meeting stretched into the early evening. Harried finance executives scurried in and out of the room distributing spreadsheets. Bezos might not be able to control the scrum of tabloid press gleefully chronicling his sybaritic escapades with Sanchez, but he could control head count growth across all of Amazons divisions.

As the sun set over the Olympic Mountains, casting a golden glow into the conference room, executives started furtively glancing at their phones and responding to texts from their significant others. Finally, at 7:30, Senior Vice President Jeff Blackburn spoke up and said what everyone else was thinking: Hey Jeff, how long do you think this meeting is going to go? A lot of us have plans. It was, after all, Valentines Day.

Amazon Unbound: and the invention of a global empire; Author: Brad Stone; Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Price: $30; Pages: 496

Oh, thats right, said Bezos, laughing. I forgot about that.For years, Bezos wove the story of his courtship and marriage to MacKenzie Bezos (now MacKenzie Scott) into his public persona. In speeches, he joked about his bachelorhood quest to find a woman resourceful enough to get me out of a Third World prison, as if the bookish MacKenzie, a novelist with an English degree from Princeton, might one day rappel down from the roof of some godforsaken jail with a lock pick in her teeth.

But while Bezos and his handlers crafted the image of a doting husband and family man, he and his wife developed diverging appetites for public attention. After Amazon opened a Hollywood outpost and began producing movies, Bezos attended the Golden Globes and Academy Awards, showed up at premieres, and hosted an annual gathering at a palatial property in Beverly Hills, high above the Sunset Strip. At one such party in December 2016, for Manchester by the Sea, Amazon Studios first Oscar winner, he was photographed with Sanchez and her then-husband, Patrick Whitesell, the powerful chairman of the Endeavor talent agency.

MacKenzie accompanied her husband to some Hollywood events but, by her own admission, wasnt a social person. Cocktail parties for me can be nerve-racking, she told Vogue. The brevity of conversations, the number of them  its not my sweet spot. Friends said both parents were committed to their four children and to keeping them as far away as possible from the corrosive impact of celebrity and garish wealth.

By 2018, Bezos was seeing Sanchez, legal documents later showed, while keeping up the appearance of an intact marriage.

Bloomberg. Adapted from the book Amazon Unbound: and the Invention of a Global Empire by Brad Stone. Reprinted by Bloomberg with permission of Simon & Schuster


By Eric M. Johnson, David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski

SEATTLE/WASHINGTON/CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. air safety officials have asked Boeing Co to supply fresh analysis and documentation showing numerous 737 MAX subsystems would not be affected by electrical grounding issues first flagged in three areas of the jet in April, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The extra analysis injects new uncertainty over the timing of when Boeing's best-selling jetliner would be cleared to fly by the U.S. Federal Administration (FAA).

The electrical problems have suspended nearly a quarter of its 737 MAX fleet.

U.S. airlines have said they expected Boeing to release the service bulletins as soon as this week that would allow them to make fixes and soon return the planes to service, but this latest issue will likely push that timelime back.

"We continue to work closely with the FAA and our customers to address the ground path issue in affected 737s," a Boeing spokeswoman said.

Asked about the status of the planes, a FAA spokesman said "we are continuing to work with Boeing."

Airlines pulled dozens of 737 MAX jets from service early last month after Boeing warned of a production-related electrical grounding problem in a backup power control unit situated in the cockpit on some recently built airplanes.

The problem, which also halted delivery of new planes, was then found in two other places on the flight deck, including the storage rack where the affected control unit is kept and the instrument panel facing the pilots.

The glitch is the latest issue to beset the 737 MAX, which was grounded for nearly two years starting in 2019 after two fatal crashes.

The slog of questions over a relatively straightforward electrical issue illustrates the tougher regulatory posture facing America's largest exporter as it tries to emerge from the 737 MAX crisis and the overlapping coronavirus pandemic.

Late last week, Boeing submitted service bulletins advising airlines on how to fix the problems with grounding, or the electrical paths designed to maintain safety in the event of a surge of voltage, the two people said.

The FAA has approved the service bulletins but then, in ongoing discussions with Boeing, asked for additional analysis over whether other jet subsystems would be affected by the grounding issue, one of the sources said. The FAA will review Boeing's analysis and any necessary revisions to the service bulletins before they can be sent to airlines.

Boeing has proposed adding a bonding strap or cable that workers screw onto two different surfaces creating a grounding path, two people said.

Boeing had initially told airlines a fix could take hours or a few days per jet.

The electrical grounding issue emerged after Boeing changed a manufacturing method as it worked to speed up production of the jetliner, a third person said. A fourth person said the change improved a hole-drilling process.

The FAA issued a new airworthiness directive last week requiring a fix before the jets resume flight, saying the issue impacts 109 in-service planes worldwide. Sources said it impacts more than 300 planes in Boeing's inventory.

(Reporting by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle, David Shepardson in Washington, and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With India continuing to reel under the second wave of COVID-19 infections, multinational financiers pitched in with relief efforts on Wednesday, led by a Rs 200 crore commitment by

The relief efforts of the financial sector multinationals -- a majority of whom depend on Indian personnel to handle back-office work for their global operations -- were focused on providing immediate medical relief to ease the pressure on oxygen availability and healthcare infrastructure.

Other financiers which offered support included Citi's peer from the US (USD 3 million), Swiss bank UBS (USD 1.5 million) and alternate investment manager Apollo Global Management (USD 1 million).

Till now, a slew of global companies, especially from the technology sector, and also foreign governments have announced help to India, which is reporting nearly 4 lakh new infections and 3,500 deaths due to the virus everyday.

"We have been in India for more than 100 years, and the country is home to over 20,000 of our colleagues. We are determined to support India through this unprecedented health crisis," Peter Babej, the Asia Pacific chief executive of Citi, said.

The bank's efforts will include an immediate relief of Rs 75 crore towards medical and humanitarian needs, a statement said, adding this is in addition to the Rs 75 crore worth of expenditure already incurred in FY21.

The Rs 75 crore relief will focus on procurement of oxygen supplies, adding beds to hospitals, diagnostic testing systems, personal protection kits and other supplies for India's frontline healthcare workers, it said. Funds will also be utilised towards food and hygiene supplies for low-income families.

The remaining pledged amount for India will be used to fund public and private healthcare infrastructure and to impart employable skills to the youth, thereby promoting economic revival, important for India's recovery, the bank said.

The bank has already deployed Rs 75 crore of pandemic relief in initiatives like 1.15 lakh RT-PCR tests in Maharashtra, delivering 850 tonnes of ration supplies to 26,200 families across 20 locations nationally, and funding six startups incubated at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore's Society for Development and Innovation.

In addition, employees and customers participated in an engagement programme that helped raise Rs 2.25 crore towards the PM-Cares Fund, it said.

Meanwhile, its peer Wells Fargo, which runs an offshore unit in the country to support the global operations, also announced donating USD 3 million (over Rs 22 crore) to civil society bodies in the country to help the COVID-19 relief efforts.

The money will be routed through non-government organisations and used to increase hospital capacity, supply oxygen concentrators and critical medical equipment, provide emergency transportation, and support health care workers, a release said.

"These grants can help nonprofits quickly provide much needed medical equipment and build capacity while providing care for those affected and support for health care professionals tirelessly working to save lives," its Vice Chairman of Public Affairs, Bill Daley said.

Grants will go to United Way agencies in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai; Nirmaan Organization; Akshay Patra Foundation; Mantra Social Services; and NASSCOM Foundation, it said.

The funding will provide portable hospital annex units with 200 beds, deploy oxygen concentrators to hospitals, deliver COVID-19 isolation kits for people recovering at home and support ICU ambulances to help transport patients to hospitals, the statement said.

Meanwhile, global alternative investments manager Apollo Global Management has also announced a donation of USD 1 million (around Rs 7 crore) to ACT Grants via United Way to immediately deploy thousands of oxygen concentrators and other lifesaving medical equipment to fight the COVID surge in India, as per a statement on LinkedIn.

UBS Group AG, the world's largest wealth manager, said it is donating USD 1.5 million (around Rs 11 crore) to support a range of relief programs in India.

The first tranche will focus on supply of oxygen, medical supplies and medicine to those most in need.

The bank had donated USD 1 million to support emergency relief for frontline and migrant workers last year in the first wave.

UPS Foundation, the social responsibility arm of the logistics major, has announced a USD 1 million commitment, which will be a a combination of emergency funding, in-kind transportation movements and technical expertise to provide urgent relief, a statement said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the Centre and social media platforms and to reply to a PIL challenging the new privacy policy of the instant messaging app on the grounds that it violates "informational privacy" of users.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh issued notice to the Centre, and and sought their stand on the petition by May 13.

told the bench during the hearing that private conversations of individuals are protected by end to end encryption.

The petitioner, Harsha Gupta, urged the court for some interim orders as the Facebook-owned WhatsApp intends to bring its policy into effect from May 15. The court then listed the matter for hearing on May 13.

Senior advocate Vivek Sood, appearing for Gupta, told the bench that under the new privacy policy of WhatsApp the information it collects from users and the way it is proposed to be used, violates their "informational privacy".

Sood said the users were not being provided the option to deny the collection and/or use of the data for purposes other than that for which the information is sought.

"WhatsApp has offered its users a 'take it or leave it' offer which coerces the users to consent to share their data with third-party to use WhatsApp's services," he argued in court.

"Further the said terms of services are instances of abuse of dominant position by WhatsApp," the petition filed through advocate Dhruv Gupta has said.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for WhatsApp, said the messaging platform has not violated any laws or rules.

(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.)
With the having hit a 10-year high recently, Indian shipping are not just benefitting from the high freight but also from increased trade with Bangladesh and Vietnam, industry experts said on Wednesday.

Construction activity has picked up significantly in Bangladesh as the country is focusing on infrastructure growth. Due to this, Indian shipping are witnessing increased cargo volumes with a lot of bulk raw material getting shipped. This is going to be a long-term trend as infrastructure push is expected to continue, Captain Rahul Bhargava, chief operating officer (COO) at Essar Shipping, told Business Standard.

Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Great Eastern Shipping, Tolani Shipping, and Essar Shipping are into bulk carriers along with other segment fleets in the domestic market. All vessels on spot charter will earn more and most keep a combination of spot and contracted vessels. So, the benefit would vary depending upon the portfolio, said Anil Devli, chief executive officer (CEO) at Indian National Shipowners Association.

Another trade route, which has strengthened for India, though a seasonal one, is export of rice to both Bangladesh and Vietnam.

Export of rice has emerged as a new business for domestic shipping companies in the last few weeks. We have already shipped close to 200,000 tonne rice to Vietnam and Bangladesh and another 150,000 tonne would be shipped soon. This trend, however, is expected to be short-lived and would last for another two months. But its a new commodity for domestic shipping companies, said Bhargava.

Meanwhile, with China switching its trading partners due to geo-political issues, increased trade with South Africa for bauxite and with the US for coal is also auguring well for vessels with tonne miles going up.

China earlier imported coal from Australia but has now switched to the US for the fuel, leading to increased tonne mile. This is also another reason for the index to go up, said industry insiders. (see chart)



Among domestic shipping players, it is the better deployment of Kamsarmax and Supramax vessels that yields strong earnings for companies.

Kamsarmax is the preferred vessel for bulk transport at present and a lot of bauxite is getting transported by domestic shipping companies. These vessels are getting well employed in South Africa, said an industry executive.

Both Great Eastern Shipping and SCI have Kamsarmax as part of their fleet.

Meanwhile, Supramax vessel freights have almost doubled to $5,000 per tonne from $2,500 per tonne on the Indonesia-India route. This is auguring well for domestic shipping companies, said industry executives.

Global trade, despite the pandemic, is stable. It is stable, not strong. Also, the increase in index is because several global shipping companies have gone bust. So, there is a shortage of vessels which is driving the index up, said Hitesh Avachat, group head of corporate ratings at CARE Ratings.
The has deferred to June 28 hearing the dispute between and Future dispute as it attends to cases related to Covid-19 pandemic, Mint reported on Wednesday.

The feels this case be kept on hold until the surge in covid-19 cases is contained. Cases related to oxygen supply to hospitals, provision of covid beds, vaccines and medicines are more urgent," Mint quoted a person close to the matter.

The top court was scheduled to hear the case between US-based e-commerce giant and Kishore Biyanis Future Group over the Rs 24,713 crore deal between Future and Ltd on Tuesday.

The delay may come as a temporary setback for since it will give Future Group and RIL two more months to work towards their proposed deal and realign operations, restructure businesses and transition Future Groups staff and retail stores such as Big Bazaar and fbb.

The has so far not stopped Future Group and RIL from working towards the deal.

The top court wants to focus its attention and resources only to resolve super-urgent" cases for the time being until the wave of this raging pandemic recedes," it quoted a second person as saying.

According to the people Mint quoted, the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) may conduct its own hearing in the meantime and pass the final arbitration award before Indias top court hears the matter.
By Elizabeth Dilts Marshall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Working from home does not work for everyone, especially those who want "to hustle," JPMorgan Chase & Co's chief executive said on Tuesday at a conference in New York.

The largest American bank recently told it workers that it expects all U.S.-based employees back in offices on a rotational basis by early July, subject to current public health rules limiting office capacity to 50%.

Bank CEO Jamie Dimon said he wants people back at work because exclusively working from home "doesn't work for young people."

"It doesn't work for those who want to hustle. It doesn't work for spontaneous idea generation. It doesn't work for culture," Dimon said at a conference hosted by the Wall Street Journal.

Dimon said he is open to some employees working from home a few days a week, a policy other banks like Deutsche Bank, HSBC and UBS are reportedly exploring.

But starting on May 17, Dimon said he wants employees bank in the office a few days a week to reacclimate themselves to the workplace after working from home for over a year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dimon's "get used to it" approach, which could include requiring employees get vaccinated, has faced a backlash. Dimon said he received a "nasty email" from an employee's wife who disagreed with the push to return to work.

"But that's life," Dimon said, saying the bank will be more competitive and work better for clients with employees meeting in person again.

"In my view, September, October, it will look just like it did before and everyone's going to be happy with it."

(Reporting by Elizabeth Dilts Marshall. Editing by Mark Potter)

(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.)
An 11-day complete lockdown,



imposed in the wake of a state-wide COVID 19 surge on an unprecedented scale, got underway on Wednesday in Bihar where the authorities had a tough time ensuring compliance from people.

Police personnel had begun patrolling the streets since early in the morning, anticipating heavy rush and overcrowding between 7 A.M. and 11 A.M., the four-hour period during which shops selling vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, and grocery items have been allowed to do business.

Owners of many shops, not dealing in items deemed as essentials, faced a rude shock as they were made to down their shutters, besides being slapped with fines, by the men in uniform.

The policemen were also seen striking their canes against the ground at many places to scare away and disperse people who had come out to make purchases and gathered at shops or around hand-pulled vegetable and fruit carts throwing physical distancing norms to the winds.

Many motorcycle-borne youths, loitering around to enjoy high-speed rides on the deserted streets, tried to brazen it out when stopped by police personnel whom they told with a sheepish grin that they had come out for "hawakhori" (breath of fresh air).

Some of them ended up being fined and even their vehicles being impounded. The luckier ones were let off after being made to undergo, in public, the humiliation of doing squats with their hands grabbing their earlobes.

Some of the businessmen and residents, whose behaviour was deemed to be recalcitrant, also ended up being arrested.

The number of arrests made, vehicles seized and amount of money recovered by way of fines is likely to be provided by the state police headquarters by the evening.

The from May 5 to 15 was announced by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday on his official Twitter handle, a day after the Patna High Court pressed the panic button and told his government that it will have to pass a judicial order if the state failed to show the resolve to impose restrictions necessitated by the raging "second wave" that has wrought huge devastation across the country.

Meanwhile, many people complained of alleged high- handedness by the authorities in enforcing the and claimed that the guidelines issued by the state home department have left plenty of room for ambiguity.

"We are in the restaurant business. In the morning some police personnel came and ordered us to down our shutters. The guidelines say we can do home delivery of food from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. but in the same breath, they add that restaurants have to remain closed.

'Why could they not be more specific and make it clear that our kitchens be allowed to function and our delivery boys be allowed to perform their jobs", said a Boring Road resident who did not wish to be named.

A male nurse, residing in Sipara locality who visits Shri Krishna Nagar, about five kilometres away, to attend to an elderly patient, said, "it is not clear whether or not auto rickshaws are allowed to ply. During my commute today, I could see the driver of the three-wheeler I rode paying bribes to constables at three places.

"The burden fell on my shoulders, finally. The autorickshaw driver insisted that I cough up Rs 50 for my daily commute which costs less than half of that. I had to do as he said. But how are we going to survive in this manner? We have limited means", he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said it appears that the Delhi government has not taken steps for creation of a buffer of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) and for streamlining its distribution in the national capital.

A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli said it is for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to explore the various possibilities to create storage facilities for LMO and oxygen cylinders in the city.

The court said that the GNCTD may take help of the Delhi Technological University to prepare a blueprint for storage and distribution of oxygen in the city.

It said the obligation to create an oxygen buffer fell on both the Centre and GNCTD as per the Supreme Court's April 30 order.

The observations and directions by the bench came after one of the lawyers present in the hearing said that large static cryogenic tanks for storing LMO are available and can be installed in the city to create a buffer of the life saving gas.

The lawyer, Aditya Prasad, said that smaller tankers can pick up oxygen from the larger tanks and distribute it in the city and in this way Delhi need not fall upon other states or Centre for tankers to transport oxygen.

He said the tanks can be installed with the help of the Army.

The court also noted that oxygen supplier INOX manufactures such static cryogenic tanks and there may be others and it was for the Delhi government to explore all the possibilities for creating storage facilities for oxygen.

The bench asked the Delhi government to identify the necessary areas where such tanks can be installed and to also create infrastructure for the purpose of distribution of both LMO and oxygen cylinders in the city.

Prasad told the court that his research has identified several vendors providing oxygen storage tanks, oxygen generation plants and Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) plants and said that the Delhi government should also carry out research like he did and procure the necessary equipment to create the infrastructure for generation, transportation and storage of oxygen in the city.

The court asked Prasad to share his research with the Delhi government and amicus curiae Rajshekhar Rao.

It directed the Delhi government to examine the quotations obtained by Prasad and to also look for other vendors who could meet the requirements and asked them to file a report on the aspect by Friday, May 7.

The court was hearing several pleas regarding the issues related to COVID-19 that Delhi is grappling with presently.

(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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Mixed clouds and sun this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Heavy and torrential downpours at times. High 86F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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The entire Indian delegation for the G7 summit in London was on Wednesday asked to self isolate after some of its members tested positive for Covid-19.

In a tweet, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who is heading the Indian delegation at the G7 summit in London, revealed that he is attending the meetings virtually because he may have been exposed to the infection.

"Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well," Jaishankar tweeted.

Posting a picture of him attending the meeting virtually, he further tweeted, "A cyber participation at the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. So far, yet so near."

Jaishankar also revealed that he had a useful virtual meeting with the Foreign Minister of Canada, Marc Garneau, on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

"Discussed our respective Covid challenges. Talked about various aspects of our bilateral relationship. Also exchanged views on Myanmar," he said.

The Indian delegation, as per the British media, had tested negative for Covid-19 before departing for the UK. But on arrival in London, in the tests conducted by Public Health England (PHE), two of the members tested positive.

British media reported that all physical meetings between the Indian delegates and their counterparts from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US were cancelled immediately. The meetings are being held virtually.

Though not a part of the G7, India was invited by the Boris Johnson government to join the summit as a guest.

In a virtual meeting between UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, India and the UK had agreed to begin formal talks on a free trade deal next month.

--IANS

aat/arm

(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.)
India on Wednesday reported a net increase of 40,096 in active cases to take its count to 3,487,229. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 18.83 per cent (one in 5). The country is second among the most affected countries by active cases. On Wednesday, it added 382,315 cases to take its total caseload to 20,665,148. And, with 3,780 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 226,188, or 1.09 per cent of total confirmed infections.

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The national capital received 555 tonnes of on Tuesday, the highest till now, said MLA as the city hospitals struggled with a shortage in the supply of the life-saving gas amid a spurt in cases.

While issuing the bulletin on Wednesday, he said the High Court has scolded the Centre and even "compared it to an ostrich".

"Maybe because of this rap, Delhi received 555 metric tonnes (MT) of Liquid Medical as against the requirement of 976 MT, which is the highest till now.

"However, this oxygen was not made available from regular sources but from an ad hoc arrangement. We did not receive it from our regular sources but Centre arranged it from other states and gave Delhi the oxygen that was being sent elsewhere," Chadha claimed.

He also said the Delhi government received 48 SOS calls regarding oxygen shortage and cylinders not being refilled, and they were addressed.

"We supplied 36.40 tonnes of oxygen to address SOS calls. Theses hospitals had a total of 4,036 oxygen-supported beds. It means, we helped 4,036 lives," Chadha said in an online briefing.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to show cause as to why contempt not be initiated against it for failing to comply with order on supply of oxygen to Delhi for treating COVID-19 patients.

"You can put your head in sand like an ostrich, we will not," the high court told the central government.

It added that the Supreme Court has already directed, and now the high court is also saying that the Centre will have to supply 700 MT oxygen daily to Delhi right away by whatever means.

On May 1, 12 COVID-19 patients, including a senior doctor, had died at south Delhi's Batra Hospital after the facility ran out of medical oxygen for around 80 minutes in the afternoon.

The tragic incident occurred in less than two weeks of 20 patients dying at Jaipur Golden Hospital and 25 at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, amid the oxygen crisis in the national capital.

(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.)
IT services major has doubled its commitment towards COVID relief efforts to Rs 200 crore that will be used to add hospital beds and augment the supply of concentrators and ventilators among other activities.

In an email to employees, Chief Executive Officer Salil Parekh said the company has established vaccination centres for employees and their families at seven of its development centers (DC) across the country, and work is in progress to establish them in other DCs.

has also collaborated with over 130 hospitals across India, where staff and their family members can get vaccinated.

"We had committed Rs 100 crores last year to support the fight against this pandemic including contribution towards the PM Cares fund. We will continue our efforts across the country in the coming year and have expanded our original commitment to Rs 200 crores for COVID relief efforts," he said in his email, a copy of which was seen by PTI.

Some of this will be directed to help set up and expand the capacity of COVID care hospital beds, augment the supply of concentrators and ventilators, as well as provide ration and support funds to migrant labourers and families impacted by the lockdowns, Parekh noted.

He added that the company has contributed to providing PPE kits, sanitizers, medicines, masks, and gloves to support law enforcement officials, health officials, and health institutions.

The Bengaluru-based company is also supporting the Karnataka government with an app called Apthamitra.

"To each of you, I want to say that we are doing everything possible to support you now and, in the weeks ahead. Our company is coming together to help us all be better prepared for what lies ahead," he said.

The massive rise in infections in the second wave of the pandemic has led to hospitals in several states reeling under a shortage of medical and beds. Social media timelines are filled with SOS calls with people looking for oxygen cylinders, hospital beds, plasma donors, and ventilators.

Organisations across the spectrum have come forward to source and donate oxygenators, breathing machines, and ventilators.

IT companies like Tata Consultancy Services and HCL Technologies are taking a number of steps to contribute to these efforts, including setting up COVID care centres at their facilities.

Capgemini has committed Rs 50 crore to augment medical infrastructure in India, while SAP said it is doubling its COVID-19 Emergency Fund that was announced last year to 6 million euros. Accenture has pledged USD 25 million (about Rs 185 crore) for pandemic relief efforts in the country.

Parekh said employee Covid Care Centres have been set up at Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mysore, Mangalore, and Gurugram.

"We are working as fast as we can to set up similar Covid Care Centers in other cities, subject to approvals from local policymakers. To support employees who are now working from their hometowns around the country, we have partnered with over 1,500 hospitals across India, for the treatment of employees and their families," Parekh said.

He added that the company has collaborated with ambulance providers, testing labs, video medical consultations, etc. in most of the major cities to support staff.

The executive highlighted that several clients of Infosys have communicated their support.

"Our clients have increasing needs that we are best positioned to provide, and we will ensure we deliver the highest quality of service while keeping all of your health and safety foremost...We will walk, one step at a time, through this current situation, and emerge with strength and grace," 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.)
External Affairs Minister on Tuesday (local time) held discussions with his French and Australian counterparts Jean-Yves Le Drian and Marise Payne, respectively and also discussed the Indo-Pacific strategic landscape.

"Substantive discussions with my colleagues FM @JY_LeDrian and FM @MarisePayne at the first India-France-Australia Trilateral Ministerial Dialogue. Thanked them both for their strong support in meeting the Covid challenge," tweeted Jaishankar.

"Discussed the Indo-Pacific strategic landscape and agreed on the importance of enhancing our cooperation," added Jaishankar.

These discussions took place at the first India-France-Australia Trilateral Ministerial Dialogue, held on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

Jaishankar is currently in the UK for the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers Meeting on the invitation of UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

(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 COVID-19 cases continue to rise dangerously in Karnataka, five cabinet ministers have been appointed by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to manage the pandemic in the state.

While Industries Minister Jagadish Shettar will manage oxygen supply, Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan will be in charge of Remdesivir, other COVID-related drugs and human resource management.

Home minister Basavaraj Bommai and Revenue minister R Ashok have been given charge of bed availability and bed-related issues in medical colleges, private and government hospitals.

Minister of Forest Department Arvind Limbavali has been given the responsibility of in-charge of the COVID-19 war room call centre and management of treatment to patients in proper time.

Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has established a 100-bed COVID Care Centre to help the state government's efforts to combat the surge of COVID-19.

"In accordance with guidelines of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), this COVID Care Centre facility has been established by the BMRCL at Hotel Ekaa in Bangalore," the BMRCL said.

Amid the devastating second COVID-19 wave in the country, fresh cases have been rapidly rising in Karnataka. As many as 44,631 new cases, taking the total active cases to 4,64,363. With 292 fresh deaths were reported in the stateThe death toll stands at 16,538.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TMC supremo was Wednesday sworn-in as the chief minister of for the third consecutive term after securing a massive mandate, and vowed to not "give respite" to those behind political violence sweeping the state since the election results were announced.

Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar administered her the oath of office and secrecy at a low-key ceremony at Raj Bhavan held amid the raging COVID pandemic.

Banerjee took the oath in Bengali language.

She is the 21st chief minister of and 8th person to hold the office.

The oath-taking ceremony was held even as the BJP, which has emerged as the main opposition party in the state, held a protest at its Hastings office against attacks on its workers allegedly by the TMC since Sunday night. The party has claimed several of its workers were killed and party offices set on fire and vandalised. Party president J P Nadda and state unit chief Dilip Ghosh were present.

Banerjee alone was sworn-in on Wednesday and her cabinet will be expanded with the induction of other ministers on May 9, the birth anniversary of Bengali cultural icon nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, TMC sources said.

"Our first priority is to control the COVID situation," she said after taking the oath.

Banerjee said she will hold a meeting on the pandemic situation at state secretariat Nabanna soon after leaving Raj Bhavan.

Referring to incidents of violence which have reportedly claimed the lives of several BJP and TMC workers, Banerjee said, "I will tackle law and order from today and deal with these sternly. This is my second priority."



"We will not give respite to anyone (perpetrators of violence), and do everything to restore law and order," she told journalists after taking oath.

She urged all political parties to help maintain peace and order.

Congratulating Banerjee on assuming office for a third time, Dhankhar expressed hope and expectation that she will govern the state according to the Constitution and rule of law.

"We are at the moment in a very difficult crisis," Dhankhar said, adding he has brought the issue of post-poll violence to the notice of the chief minister.

"Our first priority is to end the horrendous and senseless violence that has affected society at large. Post poll violence, if it is retributive, is antithetical to democracy," said Dhankhar, who has repeatedly pulled up the state government over the violence and has had a running feud with Banerjee over several issues.

The governor said he hopes that the chief minister will, on an urgent basis, take all steps to restore the rule of law and ensure that relief reaches those who have been affected, particularly women and children.

"I would also expect from the new government a new commitment, a new approach of cooperative federalism," he said, addressing the media after the brief oath-taking ceremony at the Throne Room, as the chief minister stood beside.

He urged Banerjee to rise to the occasion and expressed the hope that she will do it, while contending that it is not usual for a person to get a third term in a row.

"There are occasions when a state faces crisis, we have to rise above partisan interests," he said, while addressing Banerjee as his sister.

After the governor had concluded, Banerjee said she has taken charge "just now" and that the police administration was run by the Election Commission for three months.

She said some political parties were indulging in atrocities in places where they won.

While the BJP has accused the TMC of targeted attacks against its workers and vandalisation of its offices, the ruling party has also claimed that its supporters were attacked and killed at places where the saffron party won.

Hinting at a change in the police administration, Banerjee said, "I will form a new set up and ensure that no one (indulging in violence) is spared."



The Election Commission had transferred several police officers during the election process, including the state DGP and ADG (law and order) and SPs of a number of districts.

Banerjee claimed there was inefficiency as the police administration was not under her government for the last three months.

Nadda, meanwhile, led another oath ceremony at the Hastings office of the BJP where its leaders vowed to protect democracy and save the people of from the vicious cycle of political violence.

"I am going to districts like North 24 Parganas to be by the side of our members who were at the receiving end of brutal violence not witnessed in Independent India. We want to tell the entire country about this," Nadda said.

Apart from senior TMC leaders like Partha Chatterjee and Subrata Mukherjee, poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who played a key role in TMC's victory, and Banerjee MP nephew Abhishek Banerjee were present.

Leaders of opposition parties including the BJP, the Left and the Congress did not attend the ceremony.

(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.)
Members of the small delegation accompanying External Affairs Minister to the UK have tested positive for Covid-19, forcing the minister to take his remaining schedule here virtual as a "measure of abundant caution".

"Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases," Jaishankar said on Twitter on Wednesday.

"As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well," he said.

According to numerous sources, two members of the delegation tested positive on Tuesday with further test results still awaited.



Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 5, 2021

Jaishankar arrived in London on Monday for a four-day visit at the invitation of UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to join the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers Meeting as one of the guest ministers.

The addition of our friends from Australia, India, the Republic of Korea and South Africa, as well as the chair of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) reflects the growing significance of the Indo Pacific region for the G7, said Raab.

Jaishankar was to join ministers from the other guest nations for the first formal gathering of the summit over a working dinner on Tuesday evening. Now a bilateral meeting scheduled with Raab at Chevening in Kent on Thursday may have to take on a virtual form.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has been approached for a comment.

A diaspora-focussed event as part of the Global Dialogue Series, hosted by the Indian High Commissioner to the UK Gaitri Issar Kumar on Wednesday, took on a completely virtual shape instead of a planned hybrid format.

Earlier on Tuesday, the External Affairs Minister met UK Home Secretary Priti Patel to sign a new Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement.

A fruitful meeting this morning with Home Secretary Priti Patel. Signed the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement that would facilitate legal travel and encourage talent flows, he tweeted after the meeting.

This was followed by talks with Josep Borrell Fontelles, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, whom he thanked for the support and goodwill extended by the EU at a critical time in India's COVID-19 pandemic.

He also participated in the first India-France-Australia Trilateral Ministerial Dialogue during which he said he had "substantive discussions" with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

Jaishankar also held discussions with South African Foreign Minister Dr Naledi Pandor, with a focus on working together on fighting the COVID pandemic, economic recovery and Commonwealth issues.

On his arrival in the UK on Monday, the minister held talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, which focussed on detailed discussions on the global pandemic challenge, vaccine production capacity and reliable supply chains.

The G7 summit had been pitched as the first in-person summit since the pandemic and the first for the Group of Seven ministers comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, US and UK as well as the European Union (EU) to be hosted at a COVID-secure venue.

The protocols in place involve staff and delegates required to complete daily COVID-19 tests throughout the summit before entering any of the venues.

An on-site testing facility has been set up, which can test up to 50 delegates per hour.

According to reports, more than 35 litres of hand sanitiser in G7-branded bottles were to be provided for the premises.

Besides, there is strict guidance on social distancing in place for the whole summit and delegates often separated by Perspex screens in meetings and during working lunches/dinners.

The scale of the delegations had also been reduced to minimise risk, with room headcounts indoors also cut down significantly.
The Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday took cognisance of the alleged post-poll violence in West Bengal and ordered an investigation fact-finding team to conduct a spot inquiry and submit a report at the earliest, preferably within two weeks.

In a statement, the pointed out allegations of deaths of a few people in the violent incidents.

"The political workers allegedly clashed with each other, party offices were torched down and some homes were ransacked & valuables also looted. District Administration & local Law & order enforcement agencies appear not to have acted to stop such violation of human rights of the affected persons," the commission said.

It further said, "Considering as a fit case of alleged violation of Right to Life of the innocent citizens, the Commission has today taken suo-motu cognizance of the matter and has requested its DIG (Investigation) to constitute a team of the officers of the Investigation Division of the Commission to conduct an on the spot fact finding investigation and to submit a report at the earliest, preferably within two weeks."

A day after the Trinamool Congress emerged victorious in the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Asansol was allegedly vandalised by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) alleged that 15-20 party goons of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attacked ABVP West Bengal's Kolkata office and engaged in an altercation with the activists, assaulted them and vandalised the organization's state office.

They further alleged that TMC party goons deliberately vandalised the idols of Hindu deities and freedom fighters.

(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 third phase of the pandemic is inevitable given the high level of circulating virus, principal scientific advisor K Vijayaraghavan said on Wednesday, without giving a timeframe. While the country is still battling the devastating second wave, he said, we should prepare for the new waves.

Previous infections and vaccines will cause adaptive pressure on the virus for new changes and we should be prepared scientifically, Vijayraghavan said. He said it was gut wrenching to see what was happening.

He said the variants were just one of the factors that contributed to the second wave. Immunity could have kept new infections low in the first wave but those uninfected may have been large in number. As cautionary steps decreased, new opportunities for the spread increased.

According to the findings of Indias Sars-Cov-2 genomic consortium, the B1.1.7 lineage of SARS CoV-2 or the UK variant is declining in proportion across the country in the last one and a half months.

The double variant classified as the B.1.617 variant has been found in Maharashtra and is also connected to the surge in some states in the last one and a half months.

The principal scientific advisor said the variants which increase transmission are likely to plateau but those which show immune evasive variants will affect disease severity. Our scientists are prepared to deal with that. We have to anticipate these changes from a scientific perspective...Variants do not alter the message, he said.

On whether India needs to go into a national lockdown, the government said detailed guidelines had been given to the states to implement night curfews and depending upon the positivity rate impose restrictions on movement and close public spaces. V K Paul, member-health, Niti Aayog, however, said, The states should make a careful analysis. We have given very balanced advisories. If anything more is required, those options are always being discussed...those decisions if required will be taken.

India on Wednesday reported 3,780 Covid deaths, the highest single-day toll so far. Health ministry data showed that 12 states were showing early signs of decline in the daily number of cases, including Maharashtra and Delhi. The ministry did not give any comparison with the total number of tests being conducted in these states. Cases, however, are increasing north-eastern states.

So far more than 671,000 in the age group of 18-44 years have received their first dose of the Covid vaccine. A total of 160 million doses have so far been administered.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday announced phased opening of shops after a few of his cabinet colleagues raised the issue of resentment among shopkeepers over selective closure of shops amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Chairing a virtual cabinet meeting, Singh ruled out a complete while stating that the restrictions currently in place in Punjab were more stringent than the conditions in many other states.

Besides phased opening of shops, he also announced various incentives for the housing sector, including three-month extension in permission period of construction of plots/projects for allotments, whether private or allotted, by state urban development authorities.

Amid spiralling COVID-19 cases, the CM ordered limiting the number of teachers in government schools to 50 per cent, with the rest taking online classes from home.

Taking note of the resentment among shopkeepers over selective closure of shops, he asked district administration officials to work out phased shop reopening plan for their respective districts, according to a government statement.

Several cabinet ministers, including Manpreet Badal, Tripat Bajwa and Bharat Bhushan Ashu, said the shopkeepers, especially in urban areas, were upset about selective shop shutdown as part of the restrictions imposed in the state.

The chief minister added that the objective of the closure had been to prevent crowding, but phased opening could be worked out by the district administrations.

Shopkeepers in Punjab had on Tuesday held protests against the state government's order of closure of shops dealing in non-essential items till May 15, saying this will further hit them hard.

The state government, however, had allowed liquor vends and some other shops selling items like fertilizers, grocery and hardware to open till 5 pm during weekdays.

The CM on Wednesday also directed the food department to prepare five lakh additional food packets for distribution among COVID-19 patients to ensure that every patient gets a packet even when there are more than one patient in a family.

The state government has also announced additional 10 kg 'Atta' (wheat) for 1.41 crore smart ration card beneficiaries.

The food aid is in addition to the 1 lakh food kits, containing 10 kg 'atta' (wheat flour), 2 kg 'chana' (pulses) and 2 kg sugar already sanctioned for all poor people testing positive for the infection.

Singh compared the restrictions in Punjab with the curbs in place in Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, among others, and pointed out that it was not necessary to impose a total to tackle the COVID-19 situation.

He also said that to meet immediate and urgent needs of the people at the local level, it had been decided by the government to authorise 'sarpanches' (village heads) to spend up to Rs 5,000 per day, subject to a maximum of Rs 50,000, out of panchayat funds for providing emergency relief by way of food and medicines to the poor and needy in the villages.

All urban local bodies have also been empowered to provide emergency relief, including food and medicines, to the poor and needy, from the municipal fund.

Taking cognisance of problems resulting from the restrictions, the Congress leader asked the social welfare department to immediately release social security/pension amounts to ensure that people do not suffer further amid the current crisis.

He also directed all urban development authorities not to charge non-construction charges/extension fee/license renewal fee for the period April 1-July 31, 2021.

Further, these authorities have been asked to waive the interest to be charged on any delayed installment, which was otherwise due between April 1 and July 31, 2021, provided that it is paid in equated monthly installments after August 1, 2021.

Singh also directed the health department to investigate the matter and take stringent action against such private hospitals.

(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 on Wednesday struck down the law granting quota to Marathas in admissions and government jobs, terming the statute as unconstitutional".

It also refused to refer the 1992 Mandal judgement, setting a 50 per cent cap on reservation, to a larger bench for reconsideration.

A five-judge bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan concurred on three major issues, framed during the hearing, and said that no exceptional circumstances or the case was made out by to breach the 50 per cent cap on reservation.

The top court unanimously refused to refer the Mandal judgement to a larger bench for reconsideration on issues including permitting the state to breach the 50 per cent ceiling on quota in extraordinary circumstances.

The judgement came on a batch of pleas challenging the Bombay High Court verdict which had upheld the grant of reservation to Marathas in admissions and government jobs in the state.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The sixth batch of three more fighter jets took off from France for India on Wednesday, the Indian embassy in France said.

They will be part of the Indian Air Force's second squadron of the jets.

"Next batch of three #Rafales leave from France to India today; wished the pilots smooth flight and safe landing," the Indian embassy in France tweeted.

After the arrival of the new batch, the number of jets with the IAF will go up to 21.

The new squadron of Rafale jets will be based in Hasimara airbase in West Bengal.

The first Rafale squadron is based in Ambala air force station. A squadron comprises around 18 aircraft.

India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 58,000 crore.

The first batch of five Rafale jets arrived in India on July 29 last. The fifth batch had landed on April 21.

Last month, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria visited France, during which he took stock of the delivery of the remaining Rafale aircraft to India.

(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.)
Indian lenders will not rush to send companies to the NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) for debt resolution under the IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code), 2016 -- taking into account the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.

Instead taking a cue from the industry, lenders are planning to ask the government to suspend the IBC process yet again so as to give an opportunity to companies to restructure their finances to cope up with pandemic, say lawyers. Lawyers said due to restrictions imposed by various state governments in some form or the other, working of the NCLT all over India, ...
India has reached out to top American pharma companies seeking investment in the country's pharmaceutical and medical devices sector, which gains urgency in view of a devastating second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has held virtual meetings with Alberta Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer, Thermo Fisher CEO Marc Casper, Bernd Brust, the chairman and CEO of Antylia Scientific, and Joseph Repp, the CEO of Pall Life Sciences.

He also had a call with Emmanuel Ligner, the CEO and president of Cytiva.

During his interactions with the pharma companies, Sandhu mentioned that India is seeking to encourage into the pharmaceutical and medical devices sector.

India, he said, has recently launched a production linked incentive scheme that will provide the US companies new opportunities for investment.

"Discussed ways in which Pfizer could support healthcare efforts, including vaccines in India, and strengthen our pandemic response, Sandhu said after his meeting with Bourla last week.

On Monday, Bourla had said that Pfizer was following with a deep concern the critical COVID-19 situation in India and his company was doing everything possible to provide support.

"Today we have announced we are mobilising the largest humanitarian relief effort in our company's history to help the people of India fight the vicious second wave of coronavirus that is currently ravaging the nation, he said.

Among other things, it announced to donate enough of its medicines worth USD 70 million to ensure that every COVID-19 patient in every public hospital across India can have access to them in the next 90 days free of charge.

"This effort has the potential to impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients, Bourla said.

In his meeting with Thermo Fisher CEO Marc Casper, Sandhu underlined their important role in the fight against the pandemic, including expediting supplies to India of raw materials for Covishield vaccine as well as for essential medicines such as remdesivir.

Massachusetts-based Thermo Fisher is a company critical in the supply chain for biopharma products. It offers analytical instruments, laboratory equipment, chemicals and supplies to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, hospitals and clinical diagnostic labs, universities, research institutions, and government agencies.

During his meeting with Repp, CEO of Pall Life Sciences, the Indian ambassador discussed strengthening supply chains, and expediting inputs for critical medicines such as remdesivir, and Novavax vaccine.

Pall biotech products have played a key role in life-saving drugs that range from Ebola vaccines to cancer-curing monoclonal antibodies. Its products have huge relevance given the current pandemic situation and are part of critical supply chains in the industry.

The company has an extensive network in India, including offices in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Delhi, and Bangalore.

Sandhu in his call with Bernd Brust, the chairman and CEO of Antylia Scientific, appreciated the efforts of his company to ensure timely inputs for Covishield and Novavax vaccines.

Antylia Scientific is a global peristaltic and single-use bioprocessing solution expert, with a diverse portfolio of life sciences and diagnostic products for the pharma, biopharma, healthcare and environmental markets.

The ambassador also had a call with Emmanuel Ligner, the CEO and president of Cytiva which is a global provider of technologies and services that advance and accelerate the development and manufacture of therapeutics.

(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.)
Investment in health, education and social protection alongside deeper regional cooperation can help countries in Asia Pacific region in achieving equitable recovery from the pandemic, (ADB) said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the board of governors meeting, ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa said the region can emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic even stronger than before by addressing climate, inequality, infrastructure, regional cooperation and resource mobilisation related challenges.

Highlighting that ADB was quick to respond to the outbreak by granting assistance followed by USD 20 billion Covid-19 assistance package, he said ADB will continue to deliver its "unique synergy of finance, knowledge and partnerships".

"We will prioritize the quality of our assistance over quantity, meeting near-term needs with a clear vision for the future. If we stay on this course, I am confident the region will emerge from the current crisis even stronger than before," Asakawa said while speaking on 'Toward a Lasting and Equitable Recovery: ADB's Leadership and Country Presence during the COVID-19 Crisis'.

He counted five areas to be critical to achieving a lasting and equitable recovery for Asia and the Pacific.

"First, we must place ambitious climate actions at the centre of development, with increased focus on adaptation and resilience, and with full commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement. Second, we need to address inequality including the gender gapwhich has worsened during the pandemicby investing in health, education, and social protection," he said.

Further, high quality green and digital infrastructure should be promoted to rebuild smartly while closing the digital gap and attracting substantial private investment, he said, adding regional cooperation and integration should be deepened, so that the developing member countries can seize the opportunities of renewed globalization and strengthen regional security.

"And fifth, we need to strengthen domestic resource mobilization, to ensure that governments have the resources they need to finance sustainable growth and respond effectively to future crises," he added.

Despite the pandemic hitting hard the global economies, he said ADB did not lose sight of its key long-term development programmes with around half of ADB's commitments in 2020 going outside the pandemic response.

The funding agency remained on track to achieve its target of promoting gender equality in at least 75 per cent of its total operations by 2030, committed USD 4.3 billion in climate finance, besides support to private sector remaining at 21 per cent of the total number of operations.

Seeking re-election later in November as President of ADB, Asakawa hoped the path laid out by the agency will help the region come out of these uncertain times.

Of the ADB's USD 20 billion Covid assistance package, USD 16.1 billion was committed in 2020, including USD 10 billion for quick disbursal budget support under Covid-19 Pandemic Response Option or CPRO.

The Manila-headquartered funding agency also mobilised a record USD 16.4 billion co-financing.

"We embarked on an unprecedented borrowing programme of over USD 35 billion to ensure ready resources to mount a robust pandemic response while remaining financially stable. And our donor members approved over USD 4 billion for replenishment of the Asian Development Fund for 2021 to 2024affirming that our developing member countries most in need will not be left behind," said the ADB President.

It announced a USD 9 billion Asia Pacific Vaccine Access facility, or APVAX, to help member countries procure and deliver safe and effective vaccines as swiftly and equitably.

"Vaccines are a global public good, and international organizations can play a leading role in making them accessible to all. And so, we are collaborating closely with our partners, including multilateral development banks, COVAX, the World Organization," Asakawa said while speaking at the 3-day '54th Annual Meeting of the ADB Board of Governors' at a virtual session, that concluded on Wednesday.

He said 2020 was a landmark year in ADB's history, adding the agency willcontinue to serve its members during this critical period in the history.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday announced a Covid package of Rs 50,000 crore for vaccine makers, medical equipment suppliers, hospitals, and even patients in need of funds to treat the disease, while opening up another round of restructuring of loans for individual and small borrowers for up to two years.

The also said it would be buying Rs 35,000 crore of bonds from the secondary market on May 20. This will be part of the Rs 1 trillion Government Securities Acquisition Programme (G-SAP) scheduled for the quarter, of which Rs 25,000 crore has already been done. Yields reacted positively to the measures and the 10-year bonds dropped below 6 per cent.

Governor Shaktikanta Das announced these and other measures in an unscheduled press conference on Wednesday morning, in the first concrete effort by a central agency to fight the stress brought forward by the rising second wave of Covid.

The immediate objective is to preserve human life and restore livelihoods through all means possible, Das said, adding, We are committed to go unconventional and devise new responses as and when the situation demands.



The central bank stood in battle readiness to ensure that financial conditions remain congenial and markets continue to work efficiently.

The Rs 50,000 crore emergency health services loans, which can be given by banks till March 31, 2022, will be classified as priority sector loans for three years or repayment, whichever is earlier. Priority sector loans are exempted from maintaining cash reserve or statutory liquidity ratios, and so banks can extend them at concessional rates too.

Moreover, banks can avail of the funds at repo rate, currently at 4 per cent, for providing fresh loans to a wide range of entities related to Covid care. Banks can lend this amount directly, or through intermediaries, and should create a 'Covid loan book under the scheme.

To incentivise the lenders, the RBI said banks would be eligible to park their surplus liquidity up to the size of the Covid loan book with the RBI at repo rate minus 25 basis points, or at 3.75 per cent. Presently, banks park their excess funds at the reverse repo rate, which is 3.35 per cent.

According to Soumya Kanti Ghosh, group chief economic advisor of the State Bank of India (SBI) group, the health loan will have a trickle effect on other sectors as well. The amount of Rs 50,000 crore is roughly 9 per cent of Indias total health expenditure of Rs 6 trillion.

A direct support to the sector will generate total output demand of roughly Rs 80,000 crore. The sectors to benefit include organic chemicals, rubber, plastics among others where the limit utilisation is close to 55 per cent, Ghosh said.

To ease the Covid stress, the RBI governor extended another round of restructuring for individual borrowers and small businesses.

The governor said such borrowers with a loan outstanding of up to Rs 25 crore, and who did not avail of moratorium or restructuring relief last year, could ask for restructuring of their loans for up to two years.

The window remains open up to September 30, and banks will have to do the restructuring within 90 days of receiving the request. For this purpose, loans that were standard as on March 31 will be considered.

Individual borrowers and small businesses that availed of the facility last year but allowed restructuring of less than two years can now demand to stretch their repayment period up to two years, the RBI governor said.

Bankers cautioned that this was not a moratorium of loans, but leaving the discretion to banks to extend relief as they deem fit.

Sunil Mehta, chief executive officer of Indian Bank's Association (IBA), said about 90 per cent of borrowers would be eligible for the restructuring.

Since it will be for standard assets, those with dues of 89 days can also avail of recast benefit. The room to increase moratorium term for those who availed of restructuring last year will give them support during the present phase, which may impact business prospects," said Mehta.

That means, even when an account is categorised as stressed for not servicing loans for a month or two can avail of the restructuring.

The RBI also opened up a special long term repo operation window for small finance banks (SFB), whereby the banks can borrow funds up to Rs 10,000 crore at repo rate for deploying for fresh loans of up to Rs 10 lakh per borrower.

Loans given by SFBs to small microfinance institutions (MFIs) that have asset size of up to Rs 500 crore will now be considered under priority sector. Banks don't need to maintain CRR or statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) on their priority sector loans.

For example, it allowed banks to exclude loans up to Rs 25 lakh given to the micro, small and medium enterprises from its net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) for the purpose of calculating cash reserve ratio (CRR). This scheme was to end on October 21, now it can be done till December 31.

Banks were also allowed to use 100 per cent of their floating provisions set aside as buffers for bad times to cover their specific bad debts.

Many economists saw the surprise measure as a precursor for other measures to come. Some of those measures could come in the monetary policy meet scheduled in early June.

The interesting part here is that as the RBI believes that the impact this time will be less than that of last year, there will probably be no announcement of a moratorium as of now. Depending on the evolving circumstances there can be more measures expected from the RBI in the coming months," said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist of Care Ratings.

According to Kaushik Das, chief India economist of Deutsche Bank, the measures announced were only the first step while it is reasonable to expect more regulatory measures in the upcoming June policy and thereafter, depending on the evolving Covid-19 trajectory and macro situation.



However, Deutsche Bank doesnt expect any immediate measures from the government as the RBI measures were taken after consultation with banks and the government.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its special address today meant strict business, with a chiselled focus on alleviating financing constraints for economic stakeholders at the grass root level bearing a disproportionate burden of the ravaging second wave of COVID in the country. Wide ranging in scope, these stakeholders included: 1) On the retail side small individual borrowers; 2) On the business side, small business borrowers and MSMEs; 3) Among financial entities  Small Finance Banks (SFBs) and MFIs; and 4) On the sectoral side  Health/healthcare sector. Despite RBIs stepped-up efforts, support to the widely crippled contact-intensive services sector remains less than desired; hopefully in the offing.

Of the measures announced, the conception of a COVID loan book for banks, earmarking funds lent under a Term Liquidity Facility (of Rs 50000 crore up to 31st March 2022 for healthcare infrastructure and services) with a tenor up to 3 years at the repo rate, is the most laudable. The classification of the loan book as PSL along with parking of surplus liquidity up to the size of this book at reverse repo +40 bps under liquidity adjustment facility (LAF), is definitely an attractive reward to ensure an effective take-off.

To further support lending capacity of small finance banks (SFBs), the will conduct a special three-year Long-Term Repo Operations (SLTRO) of Rs 10,000 crore at the repo rate. It can be deployed for fresh lending of up to Rs 10 lakh per borrower, which along with fresh lending to smaller MFIs is permitted to be classified as PSL. For individual, small borrowers and MSMEs, the has allowed the extant Resolution framework 1.0 to be reassessed for working capital limits and for increasing the period of moratorium and/or extending the residual tenor up to a total of 2 years.

Taking a step forward, a fresh lease of life via Resolution Framework 2.0 for entities having aggregate exposure of less than Rs 25 lakh and who had not availed any of the restructuring frameworks earlier was also announced. In effect, and rightly so, the has categorically refrained from fresh moratoriums and relied on one-time restructuring.

In an adverse economic environment and its amplified impact on businesses across sectors, to buffer banks balance sheets and enable capital conservation, RBI permitted 100 per cent of floating provisions / countercyclical provisioning buffer (as on December 31, 2020) for making specific provisions for NPAs with prior approval of their Boards.

Amidst a second wave of infections that is yet to peak, India is staring at an unprecedented economic state. Our Daily Activity and Recovery Tracker (DART) Index, capturing early signals and turning points, posted an eighth consecutive weekly decline for the week ending May 2. The slowdown has been pronounced in the preceding three readings led by consumption-based indicators, pegging a sequential loss in economic activity to the tune of 15-20 per cent in April 2021. While we expect a likely peaking of COVID wave in May-21 but localised lockdowns are expected to remain in place through the month, with gradual unlocking only beginning from Jun-21 onwards. This would mean a sequential setback to growth in Q1 FY22, dominated by demand deferment as opposed to Q1 FY21 which saw massive supply disruptions. Basis the current scenario and our assumptions outlined above; we recently revised downwards (by 150 bps) our FY22 GDP growth estimate to 10 per cent.

Indeed, RBIs response function was proactive, loaded and well timed. It truly exemplifies the popular adage of A stitch in time saves nine. Akin to last year (at the time of outbreak of the pandemic), the RBI has displayed its agility to rise to the needs of the economy. The evident downside risks to growth will mean that the central bank maintains an accommodative policy stance while remaining nimble footed on regulatory relaxations in FY22.

Shubhada Rao, Yuvika Singhal and Vivek Kumar are with QuantEco Research. Views are their own.

Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard.
The Indian health care industry welcomed the of Indias move to open an on-tap liquidity window of Rs 50,000 crore, but some felt it may not make much difference now.

While some companies said they were open to borrowing, others felt their working capital cycle was comfortable.

The on Wednesday opened up a liquidity window of Rs 50,000 crore with tenors of up to three years to boost the provision of immediate liquidity for ramping up Covid-related health care infrastructure and services.

The biggest shot in the arm could come to the vaccine industry here, which is struggling to ramp up capacities to churn out adequate supplies of vaccines needed to inoculate Indias 1.4 billion people.

Serum Institute of India (SII) Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla had recently said that they borrowed Rs 1,500 crore in April to manage additional opex requirements of these large volumes. SII had also sought a grant of Rs 3,000 crore from the government to start a new facility to make Covishield vaccines. The Centre approved a supplier credit of Rs 3,000 crore to SII for vaccine supplies.

Poonwalla did not comment on the move on Wednesday. Queries sent to Bharat Biotech, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, and Dr Reddys Laboratories remained unanswered.

Pune-based Gennova, which is making an mRNA Covid vaccine, plans to fund a capex of Rs 250 crore for facility expansion by Rs 70 crore government grants, Rs 135 crore debts, and remaining from internal accrual, CRISIL had said in a statement.

Rahul Prithiani, director of CRISIL Research, said the major beneficiaries would be the pharmaceutical manufacturers, vaccine makers, health care equipment manufacturers, hospitals, and diagnostic players.

Penetration of hospitals/dispensaries may increase as players can now opt for funding towards capex in the view of the pandemic. Also, diagnostic chains can take up this opportunity to penetrate in tier-II and beyond cities, he said.

CRISIL felt the scheme was a good boost to the stalled capex plans by players, thus encouraging adequate health care delivery in the country.

Hospital players such as Manipal Group said the move was an encouraging step for organisations to embark on a rapid scale-up programme. Since the capabilities created would be versatile, it would contribute beyond the pandemic to improving the overall ability to raise the standards of health care delivery, said Dilip Jose, MD and CEO of Manipal Hospitals.

We have invested already, but may need to do more to scale up ICUs and higher-end infrastructure, he said.

Some medical devices players, however, felt the move may not mean much now. Invasive ventilator manufacturers like Skanray and Max say it will not so much benefit the greenfield capex requirement of the industry as much as working capital.

The liquidity push will be extremely useful for med-tech companies for working capital. During the previous wave many companies could not avail working capital, said Alva V, founder of Skanray Technologies.

However, according to Max Ventilators Founder and MD Ashok Patel, the liquidity push will only make sense if ventilator buyers like hospitals are also equally incentivised.

Hospitals need to be incentivised because once ventilators are bought what will they do after Covid subsides? Also, timely disbursement from banks will have to be pushed by since by the time this is implemented it would be some months since the announcement," Patel added.

Small and medium players in segments like oxygen manufacturing and personal protective equipment (PPE) kits believe the liquidity push should be complemented by manufacturing subsidies from the government, too.

Some of the health care infrastructures like medical oxygen are highly capital intensive and once we invest into something that big and the Covid situation comes under control, then the demand will suddenly go down as it went during January-February 2021. In such a scenario, repaying in two years is going to be a challenge. Hence, on one hand, RBI and banks should look at extending repayment schedules. On the other hand, the government should also look at providing a manufacturing subsidy on investments in the current scenario, said Shwetanshu Patel, director at Aims Industries, one of the leading medical oxygen suppliers in Gujarat.

Some players are, however, comfortable with their capital requirements. For example, leading syringe maker Hindustan Syringes and Medical Devices (HMD) said that it was using reserves that it had conserved. Last four-five years, we were stagnating as imports flooded the market and we built reserves for the rainy day. If our distributors can borrow, then our cash flow issues are addressed, said Rajiv Nath, CMD of HMD.

Pharma major Cipla, which is making key Covid-19 drugs like remdesivir, favipiravir, molnupiravir, and also importing tocilizumab, said they did not think they needed liquidity support at this stage. Our working capital cycle is decent, said Kedar Upadhye, global CFO of Cipla.

Lab chains that have expanded to handle the surge in Covid testing demand, felt the move would largely benefit MSMEs and smaller players.

According to Neuberg Supratechs group Vice Chairman A Ganesan, with the current testing infrastructure in the country still needing ramp-up, the move could benefit setting up more greenfield labs, especially in tier-II and tier-III cities.

Traditional testing has come down which has affected smaller labs and this move might mitigate the impact, he felt.

A Velumani, Founder and Chairman of Thyrocare Laboratories, echoed the same: For us funds were never a limitation. We are a zero-debt company. Let those who need to borrow. It is a good scheme.





(With Inputs from Aneesh Phadnis in Mumbai)
[The fake report] contains not only absurd Islamophobia and homophobia, but it also indicates that theres a white supremist or Neo-Nazi presence, said Farhan Memon, chairman of the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights and advocacy group. It references 14/88, which according to the literature available on this topic, references back to white supremist doctrines and [the report] refers to the 8th letter of the alphabet, which refers back to H, and 888H refers back to Hail Hitler. The initials HH are in the conclusion of the document. Obviously, this is someone who knows some things about that movement and that community, and has affiliation toward it.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin will take oath as Chief Minister of on Friday.

Stalin called on Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Wednesday at Raj Bhavan and submitted a letter intimating of his election as the leader of legislature party.

A Raj Bhavan release said the Governor appointed him as the Chief Minister of and invited him to form the ministry.

The swearing-in ceremony will be held on May 7 at 9 am at Raj Bhavan in Chennai.

Stalin was unanimously elected as legislature party leader on Tuesday.

won 133 seats on its own in the 234-member assembly and fought the polls in alliance with some other parties including Congress.

(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 Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment along with transfer of management control in Ltd, government said on Wednesday. The extent of respective shareholding to be divested by GoI and shall be decided at the time of structuring of transaction in consultation with RBI.

Government of India (GoI) and together own more than 94% of equity of (GoI 45.48%, 49.24%). LIC is currently the promoter of with Management Control and GoI is the co-promoter.

LICs Board has passed a resolution to the effect that LIC may reduce its shareholding in IDBI Bank Ltd. through divesting its stake along with strategic stake sale envisaged by the government with an intent to relinquish management control and by taking into consideration price, market outlook, statutory stipulation and interest of policy holders.

This decision of LICs Board is also consistent with the regulatory mandate to it to reduce its stake in the Bank.

"It is expected that the strategic buyer will infuse funds, new technology and best management practices for optimal development of business potential and growth of IDBI Bank Ltd. and shall generate more business without any dependence on LIC and Government assistance/funds. Resources through strategic disinvestment of government equity from the transaction would be used to developmental programmes of the government benefiting the citizens," said government.





The RBI, in March, removed IDBI Bank from its enhanced regulatory supervision or Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework after a gap of nearly four years on improved financial performance.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had placed IDBI Bank under PCA framework in May 2017, after it had breached the thresholds for capital adequacy, asset quality (net NPAs was over 13 per cent in March 2017), return on assets and the leverage ratio.

The performance of IDBI Bank was reviewed by the Board for Financial Supervision (BFS) in its meeting held on February 18, 2021.

It was noted that as per published results for the quarter ending December 31, 2020, the bank is not in breach of the PCA parameters on regulatory capital, net NPA and leverage ratio, the RBI said.

The bank has also provided a written commitment that it would comply with the norms of minimum regulatory capital, net NPA and leverage ratio on an ongoing basis and has apprised the RBI of the structural and systemic improvements that it has put in place which would help the bank in continuing to meet these commitments.
To soften the blow of the second pandemic on low-income groups, the of India (RBI) will provide Rs 10,000 crore for three years at the repo rate to banks (SFBs) to lend individuals, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), etc.

The incentivised SFBs to lend institutions (MFIs) by granting priority sector lending status to such exposures.

Credit will be up to 10 per cent of a banks priority-sector portfolio as of March 31, 2021. While the facility is there until March 31, 2022, loans disbursed will continue to be classified as priority-sector lending till the date of repayment/maturity, whichever is earlier.

Governor Shaktikanta Das said the central bank would conduct special three-year long-term repo operations (SLTROs) of Rs 10,000 crore at the repo rate to provide cheap liquidity to SFBs. They can deploy such funds for fresh lending of up to Rs 10 lakh. This facility will be available for SFBs until October 31.

Rajeev Yadav, managing director and chief executive, Fincare Small Bank, said the window gave liquidity. It will help more individuals and micro units and SMEs.

Agreeing with him, Krishnan Sitaraman, senior director, CRISIL Ratings, said the credit flow to small borrowers was being incentivised in two ways: One, by opening a special long-term repo operation (SLTRO) window for



SFBs; and two, by classifying on-lending by SFBs to as priority-sector lending.

While the benefits from the liquidity window are clear, usage may vary. Eventual utilisation under this window (SLTRO) would depend on the risk appetite of SFBs as these advances are not guaranteed by the government, unlike the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme, which was fully guaranteed, said Ramya Muraledharan, director (ratings), Brickwork Ratings.

Unlike the asset-quality stress cycle five years ago, which involved large companies, this time smaller accounts, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and retail, are more vulnerable to the pandemics second wave. Ajay Kanwal, chief executive officer, Jana Small Bank, said cheap funds from the were welcome. The focus of the package is on financial inclusion.

Analysts flagged risks saying while funds are coming cheap, the slippage risk would remain uncovered. The risk of defaults in hard times such as pandemic are high. The RBIs moves are targeted accordingly: A one-time restructuring for individual borrowers and MSMEs, and allowing lenders to offer a more supportive repayment structure under last years restructuring package.

CRISIL said incentivising SFBs to lend MFIs, which typically face higher borrower vulnerability, was salutary.

What helps is that eight of the 11 SFBs were MFIs, so they would be in a better position to evaluate the credit profiles of smaller ones. Secondly, extending priority-sector lending eligibility to MFIs with an asset size up to Rs 500 crore will encourage credit flow to smaller MFIs.

Getting priority-sector status for exposure to MFIs will give incentives to a direct flow of money to institutions that fund people at the bottom of the pyramid, Yadav said.

The MFIN ( Institutions Network), the representative microfinance industry association, said the RBIs initiative to infuse liquidity for small MFIs should lead to tangible liquidity flow because SFBs understood the market well.

Liquidity is the key, said Alok Misra, chief executive officer, MFIN.
Insurers will have to take a fundamental relook at the way they do business to align with IFRS 17  International Financial Reporting Standards-2017  which are set to kick in from January 1, 2023.

 firms write policies with specific and exotic risks. It is assumed that they can manage the risk, as well. With IFRS-17, they will have to change the way they go about it, said Nilesh Sathe, former board member of the Regulatory and Development Authority.

Sathe explained the accounting standards will combine the current measurement of future cash flows with the recognition of profit over the period of contracts. It calls for the presentation of service results  including the presentation of insurance revenue  separately from insurance income or expenses. And insurers will have to make a choice whether to recognise all insurance income or expenses in profit or loss; or recognise some of the same in other comprehensive income.

Sathe was part of a panel discussion at Business Standards webinar, organised with SaS, on IFRS17: From Compliance to Business Transformation. Others on the panel were Asha Murali, appointed actuary at ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, Niraj Shah, chief financial officer (CFO) at HDFC Life Insurance, Avdhesh Gupta, appointed actuary and head data sciences at Bajaj Allianz Life, Mandeep Mehta, executive vice-president and deputy CFO at Max Life Insurance, Subhrajit Mukhopadhyay, executive director, Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance, and Joshua Teng, senior solutions advisor-risk research and quantitative solutions at SAS. The discussion was moderated by Tamal Bandyopadhyay, consulting editor of Business Standard.

This (shift to IFRS 17) is very complicated and has many nuances. It will give you



more insights into the business. Its not to suggest we are quite there, but we will get access to more granular information. Rather than just being reactive to market developments, said Murali.

There will be a need to better educate customers and shareholders, and the board of directors about the way data is collected and processed, noted Shah. He felt that given the magnitude of changes that IFRS 17 will entail, there will be a need for a time-frame to transition and do a dry run of the new framework, as well.



The history of IFRS17 is as follows. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) had in March 2004 issued IFRS-4 Insurance Contracts as an interim standard. This was to be in place until IASB completed its project on insurance contracts and allowed insurance companies to have varied norms for insurance contracts in line with their national accounting protocols, albeit subject to relatively limited improvements and specified disclosures. In May 2017, IASB came out with IFRS 17, which replaced IFRS 4. In June last year, amendments were made to IFRS 17 to help insurance companies transit without unduly disrupting its implementation.

What we are talking about is a common business language. Take for example data. It is not merely a question of how data is being reconciled but is being generated too, noted Gupta.

It will lead to a better appreciation of market risks. As to how you value the profitable and non-profitable business, and then make a subjective decision, opined Gupta. He added that Max Life had taken on the cost to get its staffers IFRS certified. And they (personnel) were not only from the department. This is a clear signal that insurance companies will have to invest to upgrade the skill-sets of people they employ in the days ahead.

Insurance companies can no longer be structured in silos. It (IFRS 17) will also call for a closer working of the people who run the liabilities and asset business, observed Mukhopadhyay. This will also call for investments in the business from a resources standpoint, and help better synergies and deliverables. While it may not lead to changes in the product design, in the short-run, what firms push may need a relook, he added. That is because insurers are not able to hedge their risks in matching assets; they will have to weigh the option of taking exposure to derivatives and the returns they promise to policyholders.

In effect, the challenge is to manage both internal changes to the grind of running the business. And like in other parts of the financial system, it will hasten the need to hire from more diverse fields. And those with the right resumes will be a hit with head-hunters. I believe that insurance companies will do well to ensure that they set up their pillars right. You cant put up a skyscraper if the foundation is weak. So get your priorities right, said Teng.

The run for cover will leave a lot more short of breath.
Twelve Republican lawmakers have urged the Biden administration to not support a proposal by India and South Africa to the World Trade Organisation to temporary waive some Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) rules amid the pandemic.

If the US gives up intellectual property rights, it will harm innovation and production, and result in fewer people getting vaccinated, the 12 influential Congressmen said in a letter to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Tuesday.

The letter is in response to the proposal in this regard by 60 developing countries, led by India and South Africa.

"The United States should continue to oppose the request by India, South Africa, and other nations to waive certain portions of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) for all members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)," the letter said.

Spearheaded by Congressmen Jim Jordan and Darrell Issa, the lawmakers said the requested waiver is extraordinarily broad and unnecessary to accomplish the goal of giving as many people as possible access to vaccines and treatment for COVID-19.

They claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressed President to support the waiver during a phone call in early May.

Among other signatories to the letter are Steve Chabot, Louie Gohmert, Matt Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Tom Tiffany, Thomas Massie, Dan Bishop, Michelle Fischbach, Scott Fitzgerald and Cliff Bentz.

"The justification for the waiver rests on an incorrect assumption that IP rights are a significant bottleneck to the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, the letter said.

"The waiver's sponsors have presented no convincing evidence to support this assertion. Instead, the sponsors mainly just point out that relevant IP rights exist and speculate that those rights could serve as a barrier to access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments - not that IP rights have actually blocked or significantly hindered their availability, it added.

If anything, the examples of IP 'disputes' cited by the waiver sponsors generally demonstrate that IP rights have not prevented the involved parties from supplying vaccines and other medicines, the letter said.

Respect for intellectual property rights has been a cornerstone of the US trade policy for decades and should not be set aside lightly, the Republican Congressmen said.

"Although some flexibility may be warranted in emergency situations, the waiver of TRIPS IP protections requested by India, South Africa, and other countries would do little to improve public health during this critical period in the COVID-19 pandemic. The scope of the requested waiver is overbroad and unjustified in light of the economic harm it would cause and the negligible benefits it would provide, they said in the letter.

"Existing aspects of TRIPS and global public health initiatives, along with the existing actions of key IP rights holders and innovators, make the waiver unnecessary. While considerable work can still be done to improve access to COVID-19 medicines and other innovations, that work can be done without the drastic step of suspending IP rights, and significant progress has already been made to address the real obstacles hampering the global COVID-19 response, they said.

The lawmakers argued that relevant intellectual property rights have been successfully licensed to expand access to COVID-19 innovations while maintaining IP protections. For example, the Serum Institute of India has secured licenses to produce multiple vaccines, including Astrazeneca and Novavax vaccines.

South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare has secured a license to produce the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Several vaccine makers have licensed direct competitors to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity.

Moderna has announced that it would not seek to enforce any of its COVID-related patents against other vaccine makers for the rest of the pandemic and has pledged to license its COVID-19 vaccine patents.

Gilead has licensed nine generic pharmaceutical manufacturers (including in India) to produce its COVID-19 therapeutic drug remdesivir for 127 countries, most of which are developing nations.

Moreover, TRIPS already allows countries to impose compulsory licenses to access vital IP rights, and no country has availed itself of that capability to date for COVID-19 vaccines or treatments, the lawmakers noted.

The proposed waiver is not limited to patents on vaccines or treatments for COVID-19 - the waiver would also gut protections for copyrights, industrial designs (e.g., textile patterns or other ornamental designs), and trade secrets. The waiver's supporters have only offered vague, unsubstantiated explanations for how waiving IP protections for copyrights or industrial designs would lead to improved vaccine or therapeutics availability, they said.

It is also unclear how a waiver of TRIPS obligations would provide more access to trade secrets and proprietary technologies, which are confidential by definition and typically closely guarded, they said.

"Gifting away our technological leadership and competitive advantage at a time when the US economy remains vulnerable would be irresponsible and send the wrong message to millions of American taxpayers. The damage would extend beyond even the considerable value of COVID-19 vaccines and medicines, also endangering the far greater value of the jobs and economic growth promised by these IP rights and the advanced technologies they represent," the Republican Congressmen said in the letter.

(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.)
On Tuesday, one of the most influential couple in the world and heads of announced that they will be filing for a after 27 years of marriage. Both have promised to work together for the largest charitable organisation in the world, the news of has sent flutters around the world. Even though both have promised to donate most of their wealth to The Giving Pledge, which they started with billionaire Warren Buffet in 2010, the will still be the largest division of assets till date. As per Forbes, is the fourth richest person in the world with a net worth of $130.5 billion. The Washington state law dictates that the property acquired during a marriage belongs jointly to each partner and is divided equally.

Till date, Jeff Bezos' split with his wife MacKenzie Scott has been the costliest divorce, with the Amazon founder having to part with $36 billion of his wealth (all in Amazon stock). An amount that would have covered nearly half of Indias trade deficit in 2019.

The other expensive divorce was at least two decades ago when art dealer and racehorse breeder, Alec Wildenstein split with his wife, parting with $3.8 billion of his net worth. Media mogul, Rupert Murdoch had to shell out $1.7 billion in divorce settlement in the same year.

Heres a list of most expensive divorces:

Details of Google co-founder Sergey Brins divorce with his wife Anne Wojcicki in 2015 are not know, but if we were to account for another costliest settlements in todays dollars then well-known businessman and arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi cost $875 million in 1979, which would translate nearly $4.9 billion.

Jeff Bezos divorce has led to more donations from the now separated couple towards charities. Although Jeff Bezos has not signed The Giving Pledge, MacKenzie Scott in 2019 promised to donate half of her wealth in 2019. Last year, Bezos donated $10 billion to charities, whereas Scott donated $5.7 billion.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - said on Wednesday it was concerned that India had not allowed Chinese to conduct 5G trials in the country.

India will allow foreign mobile carriers to carry out 5G trials with equipment makers, New Delhi said on Tuesday, but did not name China's Huawei among the participants.

"Chinese have been operating in India for years, providing mass job opportunities and making contribution to India's infrastructure construction in telecommunications," Wang Xiaojian, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in New Delhi said in a statement.

"To exclude Chinese telecommunications from the trials will not only harm their legitimate rights and interests, but also hinder the improvement of the Indian business environment."

(Reporting by Sanjeev Miglani; Writing by Alasdair Pal. Editing by Jane Merriman)

(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 Group of Seven foreign ministers' meeting in London was hit by a COVID-19 scare on Wednesday when India's foreign minister and his entire team said they were self-isolating after two delegation members tested positive.

Britain is hosting the three-day meeting - the first such event in two years - which has been heavily billed as a chance to restart face-to-face diplomacy and a opportunity for the West to show a united front against threats from China and Russia.

India, currently undergoing the world's worst surge in COVID-19 cases, is attending the as a guest and had been due to take part in meetings on Tuesday evening and throughout Wednesday.

"Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases," Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Twitter.

"As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the Meeting today as well."

The meeting is a precursor to the main G7 summit due to take place at a rural English resort in June, with U.S. President Joe Biden and other world leaders set to attend.

A British official confirmed the two positive tests and said the entire Indian delegation was self-isolating. British rules require a 10-day self-isolation period.

The Indian delegation had not yet attended the main summit venue at Lancaster House, and so meetings scheduled for Wednesday went ahead as planned.

Asked if, in light of the positive tests, it had been a mistake to hold the summit in person, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "I think it's very important to try to continue as much business as you can as a government."

Johnson said he would speak with Jaishankar later on Wednesday by Zoom.

British foreign minister Dominic Raab was seen greeting and fist-bumping other G7 members as they arrived at the venue.

"We deeply regret that Jaishankar will be unable to attend the meeting today in person," a senior UK diplomat said. "This is exactly why we have put in place strict COVID protocols and daily testing."

On Tuesday, pictures from inside the grand Lancaster House conference venue showed the reality of diplomacy in the age - delegates separated by plastic screens, and a "family photo" of ministers carefully spaced two metres apart.

Jaishankar was pictured meeting British interior minister Priti Patel on Tuesday, although Patel did not have to self-isolate because the meeting had been held in line with existing rules. Both were wearing masks in the photograph.

India is not a G7 member but was invited by Britain to this week's summit, along with Australia, South Africa and South Korea.

The Indian High Commission in London did not respond to requests for comment.

(Reporting by Andy Bruce, William James and Elizabeth Piper; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Angus MacSwan)
Eli Lilly & Co employees have accused a factory executive of altering documents required by government regulators in an effort to downplay serious quality control problems at the U.S. plant producing the drugmaker's COVID-19 treatment, according to an internal Lilly complaint and a source familiar with the matter.

The unsigned report, filed April 8 in Lilly's confidential employee complaint system and reviewed by Reuters, is the latest sign of manufacturing problems at the drug giant. The complaint asserts that the executive, a top quality official at the company's factory in Branchburg, New Jersey, rewrote findings by Lilly technical experts at the plant, which has been under investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, to make the conclusions appear more favorable to the company.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the findings involved the production of drugs including Lilly's COVID-19 therapy, whose use in the United States is funded by the federal government. The antibody treatment, bamlanivimab, has been authorized by the FDA for emergency use in combination with a second Lilly drug for mild to moderate infections in people at high risk of severe illness.

Separately, FDA inspectors in March identified numerous manufacturing lapses at a second Lilly facility in Indianapolis that bottles the COVID-19 therapy and other drugs. The problems included substandard sanitation and quality control procedures, according to a preliminary FDA inspection report released to Reuters under open records laws. The Indianapolis inspection findings have not been previously reported.

The troubles at the two factories, along with a succession of internal complaints in recent years, deepen the regulatory, production and leadership issues facing Lilly, one of the largest drugmakers in the world. In addition to the FDA investigations, Lilly's chief financial officer resigned in February over what the company called "inappropriate personal communications" with an employee. He has declined to comment in the past and could not be reached Tuesday.



Astra, Pfizer 87% effective after first shot: Study



One dose of COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca Plc (AZN.L) and Pfizer (PFE.N) was 86.6% effective in preventing infections among people aged 60 and older, real world data released by South Korea showed on Wednesday. One dose of COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca Plc (AZN.L) and Pfizer (PFE.N) was 86.6% effective in preventing infections among people aged 60 and older, real world data released by South Korea showed on Wednesday.

Data by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) showed the Pfizer vaccine, jointly developed by BioNTech , was 89.7% effective in preventing infection at least two weeks after a first dose was given, while the AstraZeneca shot was 86.0% effective.

Its analysis is based on more than 3.5 million people in South Korea aged 60 and older for two months from Feb. 26 and included 521,133 people who received a first dose of either Pfizer or AstraZeneca shot.

There were 1,237 COVID-19 cases in the data and only 29 were from the vaccinated group, the KDCA said.

"It is shown that both vaccines provide a high protection against the disease after the first dose. (People) should get full vaccinations according to recommended schedule, as the protection rate will go up further after a second dose," it said.

The findings come as South Korea seeks to drum up participation in its immunisation drive after reports about potential safety issues discouraged some people from getting vaccinated. read more

"Around 95% of people who died from the in our country were senior citizens aged 60 or older, and the vaccines will sharply lower risks for those people," health ministry official Yoon Tae-ho told a briefing on Wednesday.

Yoon said the possibility of side effects including blood clotting are "extremely low" and they are mostly curable.

South Korea has so far vaccinated 6.7% of its 52 million strong population, but has set an ambitious target of giving shots to 70% of its people by September and reaching herd immunity by November.

As Reuters reported in March https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-elililly-special-report/special-report-insider-alleges-eli-lilly-blocked-her-efforts-to-sound-alarms-about-u-s-drug-factory-idUSKBN2B31K5, a human resources officer at the Branchburg factory said she was forced out of her job after raising concerns about quality control, record-keeping and staff shortages in the Branchburg factory. The company has denied any retaliation against employees.

Contacted by Reuters for this story, Lilly confirmed it had received the recent employee complaint about the Branchburg plant. The company said it could not comment further given that an investigation was underway by an independent third party, which it did not identify.

"Depending on the outcome of that investigation, we will take appropriate action," said Lilly spokeswoman Kathryn Beiser. "Lilly has long-standing policies and procedures designed to enable - and encourage - individuals to come forward with information about any potential issues or concerns without fear of retribution."

Lilly also confirmed that it had submitted a response to the FDA about its recent inspection of the Indianapolis plant. The company declined to share the document with Reuters, and said none of the issues identified by the FDA at either plant has affected the quality of products released in the marketplace.

Amid the escalating manufacturing problems, however, the Branchburg plant has not shipped new batches of the COVID-19 drug bamlanivimab in nearly two months, according to the employee complaint and the source familiar with the matter. Reuters could not independently confirm that the Branchburg plant was not releasing bamlanivimab to the Indianapolis bottling plant or other facilities.

Lilly did not respond to questions about whether shipments have stalled at Branchburg, though the company said it expected to meet its production commitments for the COVID-19 treatment.

The Branchburg factory executive named in the complaint, Lydia Wible, did not respond to requests for comment made via email and telephone. On her behalf, Lilly said she declined to comment.

Lilly did not make Chief Executive Officer David Ricks available for comment. Reuters found no evidence he knew of the problems described in the complaint.

The new complaint about the Branchburg facility refers to "13 employees involved in this investigation." It does not identify them, saying they fear retaliation. The source familiar with the matter said the group that submitted the complaint comprises more than 10 employees, including managers.

The source claimed that many of the staffers had seen the relevant documents both before and after they were altered.

The complaint did not specify what alterations the employees believed were made to the documents but said Wible "rewrites factual data provided by subject matter experts to formulate responses she feels are more beneficial."

It is not clear whether any of the documents have been submitted to the FDA, although the agency routinely reviews such records.

The FDA declined to answer questions on the Lilly inspections or the employee complaint, but said "the agency takes the safety and quality of FDA-regulated products seriously" and noted that it imposed quality control measures when it authorized bamlanivimab.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees vaccine and therapeutics production, did not respond to requests for comment.

Nathan Cortez, a law professor who specializes in FDA regulation at Southern Methodist University in Texas, said the employee accusations regarding Branchburg and Indianapolis could amplify Lilly's problems with regulators.

"If you have a string of manufacturing problems across multiple facilities and you're starting to develop a not-so-great manufacturing track record, the FDA will probably consider harder responses," he said. Referring to the internal complaint, he said: "If somebody is sticking their neck out, that strikes me as a pretty big deal and evidence of some deeper problems within the company."

DISCOMFORT AND DISMAY

The April complaint asserts that Wible, the Branchburg factory executive, altered information provided by internal technical experts, saying she is "solely responsible for providing written responses to the FDA" regarding the types of quality control problems that regulators flagged.

The complaint said that Wible - who did not respond to questions from Reuters - used "her authority to rewrite technical investigations for which she has little or no experience."

According to the complaint, staff members who gather information for the FDA were concerned about presenting altered material to regulators. They "are uncomfortable and do not feel confident in defending the reformulated responses in the event they are called upon by the FDA," the complaint said.

The complaint also expressed impatience with company leaders.

"How long is it going to take for the company to pay attention and do something about this?" it said, referring to the accusations against Wible. "We are all working very hard to meet the commitments to the FDA and cannot do so under these conditions."

The complaint said Wible had, prior to recently altering the records required by the FDA, provided "fabricated" information including "fictitious numbers" to a Branchburg human resources investigator looking into potential manufacturing lapses.

Asked by Reuters about the matter, former human resources investigator Amrit Mula confirmed that she had concluded through an internal inquiry in 2018 that Wible had given her fabricated information. Mula said she was looking into unsanitary conditions in a warehouse, as well as information about the improper disposal of quality-control records for Trulicity, a blockbuster diabetes drug then made at the plant.

Reuters reported in March that Mula claimed to have identified serious violations of FDA manufacturing rules at the plant and to have been forced out of the company in early 2019. Mula has since sought compensation from Lilly, arguing the company retaliated against her for raising legitimate concerns as part of her job.

Senior executives at Lilly headquarters in Indianapolis, including Leanne Hickman, vice president of quality, knew about the alleged fabrications and retaliation and protected Wible, doing nothing to address the problems, according to the complaint.

Hickman did not respond to requests for comment conveyed by email and telephone. On her behalf, Lilly said she declined to comment.

In November 2019, roughly eight months after Mula's departure, FDA inspectors showed up at the Branchburg plant for a routine inspection and cited some of the same problems Mula said she had repeatedly flagged to her bosses. The preliminary FDA report found that quality control data on various manufacturing processes had been deleted and not appropriately audited.

The FDA red-flagged the problems as "Official Action Indicated," or OAI, which is its most serious category of violation. If not addressed, an OAI can lead to a prohibition on the sale of drugs from a facility, regulatory experts say. The FDA has not taken further public action.

Inspectors returned in July https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-elililly/exclusive-fda-faults-quality-control-at-lilly-plant-making-trump-touted-covid-drug-idUSKBN26Z0CH and found several more problems, including that the company failed to properly investigate quality-control problems to prevent recurrence and that batches of drugs had been discarded because of manufacturing mistakes.

In October, the Trump administration ordered $375 million worth of bamlanivimab and shortly afterward authorized its use on an emergency basis to help curb the pandemic. Bamlanivimab is combined with a second Lilly drug, called etesevimab, to treat COVID-19.

'A LOT OF WORK TO DO'

A condition of the emergency authorization was that an outside auditor inspect batches of bamlanivimab to ensure they met FDA standards. Lilly and the FDA have not responded to questions from Reuters about whether this requirement was carried out.

Lilly said in March that its combination antibody therapy reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 87% in a study of more than 750 high-risk COVID-19 patients.

Around he same time, the FDA inspected the Indianapolis plant, which receives the kinds of injectable drugs manufactured in New Jersey, fills them into vials and syringes, and distributes them to customers.

Preliminary FDA reports, which are partially redacted, show inspectors found that procedures to ensure certain areas remain sterile were substandard and that Lilly failed to thoroughly investigate drug batches that had failed quality control tests. In addition, when vials from outside vendors were discarded as defective, the company failed to thoroughly investigate.

"The FDA found serious concerns on multiple fronts," said Steven Lynn, a former head of the FDA's Office of Manufacturing and Product Quality, who reviewed the inspection report for Reuters. "Lilly has a lot of work to do."

(Dan Levine reported from San Francisco and Marisa Taylor from Washington, D.C. Editing by Michele Gershberg and Julie Marquis)

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
There were no civilian injuries or occupants in the building, McCarthy said. As far as we could tell, everybody had made it out on their own, but there was a dog rescued from the building, and when I left the scene there was still a search on the way for another dog. It was unsure whether the dog got out, or if it was in the building.
Israeli Prime Minister has failed to meet a midnight deadline to put together a new governing coalition, raising the possibility that his Likud party could be pushed into the opposition for the first time in 12 years.

The deadline closed a four-week window granted to Netanyahu by Israel's figurehead president.

The matter now bounces back to President Reuven Rivlin, who announced just after midnight that he would contact on Wednesday the 13 parties with seats in parliament to discuss the continuation of the process of forming a government.

Rivlin is expected in the coming days to give one of Netanyahu's opponents a chance to form an alternative coalition government.

He also could ask the parliament to select one of its own members as prime minister. If all else fails, the country would be forced into another election this fall the fifth in just over two years.

The turmoil does not mean that Netanyahu will immediately be forced out as prime minister. But he now faces a serious threat to his lengthy rule.

His opponents, despite deep ideological differences, already have been holding informal talks in recent weeks in hopes of forging a power-sharing agreement.

Netanyahu had struggled to secure a parliamentary majority since March 23 when elections ended in deadlock for the fourth consecutive time in the past two years.

Despite repeated meetings with many of his rivals and unprecedented outreach to the leader of a small Islamist Arab party, Netanyahu was unable to close a deal.

Rivlin gave Netanyahu the first chance to form a coalition after 52 members of parliament endorsed him as prime minister last month. That was short of a majority, but the highest number for any party leader.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who received the backing of 45 lawmakers, now seems to be the most likely candidate to get a chance to form a government.

Naftali Bennett, head of the small religious, nationalist Yamina party, is also a possibility. Bennett, a former Netanyahu ally turned rival, controls just seven seats in parliament, but he has emerged as a kingmaker of sorts and appears to carry the votes that Lapid would need to secure a parliamentary majority.

Lapid already has said he is ready to share the prime minister's job with Bennett, with Bennett serving first in a rotation. So far, they have not reached any firm agreements.

In a brief statement, Netanyahu's Likud party blamed Bennett for the prime minister's failure.

"Because of Bennett's refusal to commit to a right-wing government, something that would have certainly lead to the formation of a government along with other members of Knesset, Prime Minister Netanyahu returned the mandate to the president, the statement said.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz, leader of the centrist Blue and White party, called on Netanyahu's opponents to line up behind Lapid.

"The Israeli people have taken one blow after another: a pandemic, unemployment, ugly politics, loss of faith in leadership, and deep polarization, he said.

"We can work everything out within a matter of hours. It is our duty to form a government as swiftly as possible for the sake of the state of and all of its citizens," he added.

Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, has become a divisive figure in Israeli politics, with the last four elections all seen as a referendum on his rule.

Most of his struggles stemmed from obstacles created by former allies in his own religious and nationalist base.

The New Hope party, led by a former Netanyahu aide, refused to serve under the prime minister because of deep personal differences.

Religious Zionism, a far-right party that espouses an openly racist platform, supported Netanyahu but ruled out serving in a government with the Arab partners he has courted.

Bennett, who has had a strained relationship with Netanyahu, was unable to reach any agreements with his former mentor.

Looming over Netanyahu has been his corruption trial. Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and bribery in a series of scandals. The trial has moved into the witness phase, with embarrassing testimony accusing him of trading favours with a powerful media mogul.

Netanyahu denies the charges.

In recent weeks, Netanyahu had appeared increasingly frustrated, coddling potential partners one day and then lashing out at them with vitriol the next.

Last week's deadly stampede at a religious festival, in which 45 ultra-Orthodox Jews were killed, only complicated his task by creating an unwelcome diversion and calls for an official investigation into possible negligence on his watch.

Netanyahu has also suffered a series of embarrassing and uncharacteristic defeats in parliament.

On Tuesday, Likud failed to push ahead a proposal calling for direct election of the prime minister.

Opponents had panned the measure as a desperate attempt by Netanyahu to find a new way to hold on to power.

Despite all of Netanyahu's vulnerabilities, it remains unclear whether his opponents can form an alternative government.

The opposition includes a vast spectrum of parties that have little in common except for their animosity toward Netanyahu. He is expected to do his utmost in the coming weeks to prevent his opponents from finalizing a deal.

If they fail, he would remain in office until the next election. That would give him several months to battle his corruption charges from the perch of the prime minister's office and grant him yet another chance to win a new term, along with possible immunity from prosecution.
lowered prices for oil shipments to customers in its main market of Asia as a surge in coronavirus cases crimps energy demand in India, the worlds third-largest crude importer.

The kingdoms state energy firm, Saudi Aramco, reduced pricing for June shipments to the continent by between 10 and 30 cents per barrel.

India Oil Demand to Drop 670k B/D in May as Outlook Darkens: FGE

The key Arab Light grade for Asia was cut to $1.70 a barrel above the benchmark from $1.80 for May shipments. Thats the first reduction in official selling prices for the grade since December, signaling potential weakness in Asian oil





Aramco had been expected to lower Arab Lights premium by 20 cents, according to a Bloomberg survey of seven traders and refiners.

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has urged fellow members of OPEC+ to be cautious as the group eases supply cuts started last year when the pandemic was hammering energy The 23-nation cartel plans to increase daily output by just over 2 million barrels through to July, beginning with 600,000 this month. That would still leave production roughly 5 million barrels a day below pre-pandemic levels.

Brent crude has climbed almost 35% this year to around $69 a barrel as vaccination rollouts enable the U.S., Europe and some other major economies to reopen. Aramcos chief executive officer, Amin Nasser, said on Tuesday hes more optimistic about the outlook for oil.

Still, the pandemic has rapidly worsened in India since the start of April. The countrys now reporting around 400,000 cases every day.

Aramco sets its pricing for Europe and North America separately. Its OSPs are seen as a bellwether for oil
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai has not yet made a recommendation to President on India and South Africa's proposal before the WTO to temporary waive some of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) during the COVID-19 emergency, the White House has said.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) during its general council meeting in Geneva on May 5 and 6 is scheduled to take up the proposal.

After regular agenda items, TRIPS waiver proposal is on top of the list of WTO's general council.

Several Democratic lawmakers have launched #FreeTheVaccine campaign in support of India and South Africa.

"We will have something to say about this once the WTO session gets underway. Obviously, Ambassador Tai would be making a recommendation to the president. That's not something that has happened at this point, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference.

"While we're talking about the United States position, it's a WTO process, and what ultimately happens here will not be up to the United States alone, Psaki said.

In a communique to the WTO on October 2, 2020, India and South Africa had called for TRIPS waiver of certain intellectual property provisions of COVID-19 vaccines so that people in developing countries get access to the life-saving vaccines and therapeutics as soon as possible.

"Given this present context of global emergency, it is important for WTO members to work together to ensure that intellectual property rights such as patents, industrial designs, copyright and protection of undisclosed information do not create barriers to the timely access to affordable medical products including vaccines and medicines or to scaling-up of research, development, manufacturing and supply of medical products essential to combat COVID-19, India and South Africa had said in a joint communication.

India and South Africa are now supported by scores of countries, hundreds of non-profit organisations, advocacy groups and rights bodies.

The previous Trump administration had opposed this proposal. The Republican party, which is now in the opposition, has expressed its opposition to the proposal.

A group of GOP senators and Congressmen have written to Biden and Tai respectively.

US industry, pharma companies and eminent philanthropists like Bill Gates too are opposed to COVID-19 IP waiver.

However, more than 100 Democratic lawmakers have come out in support of the move by India and South Africa.

They have written letters to Biden on this issue and have been very vocal in the public domain as well.

The White House and the US trade representative for the past one month are having extensive consultations with various stakeholders over the issue.

Diplomats from India and South Africa have been coordinating to reach out to US policy makers and lawmakers in this regard.

On Monday, India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu had a virtual meeting with Kenyan Ambassador to the US, Lazarus O Amayo.

"Discussed issues relating to cooperation in affordable COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics to ensure global public health and strengthen the fight against the pandemic," Sandhu had tweeted.

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Shares of hit a new high of Rs 1,750 after rallying 7 per cent on the BSE in intra-day trade on Wednesday after the company announced a bonus issue plan. The stock surpassed its previous high of Rs 1,687.40 on Tuesday.

The meeting of the board of directors of the Company is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 to consider, recommendation of issue of bonus shares. Earlier, in 2019, had issued bonus shares in the ratio of 1:1 i.e. one bonus share for every one share held in the company on record date.

The company further said, the board will also consider, approve and take on record audited financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2021. The board will consider and recommend final dividend, if any, for the year ended March 31, 2021, the company said.

(AIL) is one of the leading speciality chemical companies in the world. It is one of the largest producers of Benzene-based basic and intermediate chemicals in India and manufactures 125 products with chemistry of benzene, aniline, sulphuric acid, toluene and methanol. AIL is one of the leading global suppliers of dyes, pigments, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and rubber chemicals. Benzene accounts for around 60 per cent of the companys revenues, while aniline and sulphuric acid compounds contribute around 12 per cent to revenues.

AIL has two business segments, specialty chemicals  largest manufacturer of specialized pigment & paint Intermediates in India and leading player globally. Also, manufactures intermediate for agrochemicals. This segment accounts for around 85 per cent of total revenues and enjoys 20-22 per cent margins. Pharmaceuticals business has backward integrated facilities for most APIs, intermediates and formulations. This segment contributes around 15 per cent to revenues.

Analysts at Edelweiss Broking expects the significant capex on value-added products along with focus on expanding into new chemistries is likely to drive AILs earnings over the next two-three years. Management remains confident of embarking on strong growth trajectory from FY22 given improvement in demand across specialty chemicals and pharma space. Over FY20-23, the company expects to deliver 15 per cent CAGR in overall profitability driven by heavy capex and new product contribution, the brokerage firm said in a note.

At 10:29 am, the stock was trading 2 per cent higher at Rs 1,668 on the BSE, against 0.45 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. A combined 765,000 equity shares have changed hands on the counter on the NSE and BSE, so far.
The government has eased personal account number (PAN) requirements for foreign investors in the international financial services centre.

The requirement had been an impediment for category III alternative investment funds based out of the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City International Financial Services Centre (GIFT IFSC). The move will help foreign investors on GIFT-based exchanges, according to an expert.

A gazette notification on Tuesday said that Section 139A, which requires people to get PAN, would not apply to such investors.

The provisions of section 139A shall not apply to a non-resident, being an eligible foreign investor, who has made transaction only in a capital asset referred to in clause (viiab) of Section 47 which are listed on a recognised stock exchange located in any International Financial Services Centre and the consideration on transfer of such capital asset is paid or payable in foreign currency, it said.

The government has been in discussions to promote such international financial services centres within India as alternatives to places like Singapore. Many foreign investors trade in Indian assets through such centres abroad. The setting up of international financial services centres in India is a means of attracting these investors to set up base within the country.

It had previously eased PAN requirements for foreign investors in category I and category II alternative investment funds. A category III includes hedge funds that can use sophisticated trading strategies to make money whether the market goes up or down. A category I is one that can invest in start-ups, small and medium enterprises, social venture funds, and infrastructure funds. Category II AIFs are private equity funds that buy stakes in more mature companies. They also invest in distressed assets. The easing of PAN requirements for them if they are based out of happened in August 2020.

The provisions of Section 139A shall not apply to a non-resident, not being a company, or a foreign company, (hereinafter referred to as the non-resident) who has, during a previous year, made an investment in a specified fund... which has been granted a certificate of registration as a category I or category II and is regulated under the Sebi (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012, and which is located in any International Financial Services Centre; said the earlier gazette notification.
Banks and financial stocks will be in focus as the Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das will make an unscheduled address at 10:00 IST today.

Wipro announced the setting up of an Innovation Centre in Holborn, London. Wipro will invest 16 million over the next four years in the 20,000 sq. ft. Innovation Centre which will serve as Wipro's flagship centre in the United Kingdom and offer technology expertise to companies in the UK and globally.

On a consolidated basis, Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) posted 285% jump in net profit to Rs 1287.80 crore on 21.1% rise in total income to Rs 4072.42 crore in Q4 FY21 over Q4 FY20.

On a consolidated basis, profit before tax soared by 500% to Rs 1539 crore in Q4 FY21 as against Rs 256.73 crore in Q4 FY20. The company's operating revenue grew 24% year on year to Rs 3,608 crore in Q4 FY21. EBITDA (excluding forex gain of Rs 24 crore in Q4 FY21 versus forex loss of Rs 1,004 crore in Q4 FY20) jumped 39% year on year to Rs 2287 crore in Q4 FY21.

On a consolidated basis, Larsen & Toubro Infotech posted 5.1% rise in net income to Rs 545.70 crore on 3.7% rise in revenue to Rs 3269.40 crore in Q4 FY21 over Q3 FY20.

On a standalone basis, Procter & Gamble Hygiene and Health Care posted 7.94% rise in net profit to Rs 98.33 crore on 15.49% rise in total income to Rs 774.41 crore in Q4 FY21 over Q4 FY20.

On a consolidated basis, Adani Total Gas posted 18.38% rise in net profit to Rs 143.73 crore on 27.36% rise in total income to Rs 603.66 crore in Q4 FY21 over Q4 FY20.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Rolls-Royce have signed an MoU to establish packaging, installation, marketing and services support for Rolls-Royce MT30 marine engines in India. Through this MoU. Rolls-Royce and HAL will expand their long-standing partnership in India and work together in the area of marine applications for the first time.

Interglobe Aviation said that the meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled on 7 May 2021, to consider and approve raising of funds by issue of equity shares through qualified institutions placement.

Aarti Industries informed that the meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled on 11 May 2021, to consider and approve issue of bonus shares.

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Bharat Forge Ltd is quoting at Rs 638.85, up 1.12% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 124.32% in last one year as compared to a 57.06% jump in NIFTY and a 73.33% jump in the Nifty Auto.

Bharat Forge Ltd gained for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 638.85, up 1.12% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.44% on the day, quoting at 14561. The Sensex is at 48488.23, up 0.49%. Bharat Forge Ltd has gained around 3.13% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Auto index of which Bharat Forge Ltd is a constituent, has gained around 1.61% in last one month and is currently quoting at 9577.7, up 0.48% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 16.88 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 21.88 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark May futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 641.75, up 0.96% on the day. Bharat Forge Ltd is up 124.32% in last one year as compared to a 57.06% jump in NIFTY and a 73.33% jump in the Nifty Auto index.

The PE of the stock is 228.01 based on TTM earnings ending December 20.

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Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) rose 1.67% to Rs 969.60 after the company said it signed an MoU with Rolls-Royce to establish packaging, installation, marketing and services support for Rolls-Royce MT30 marine engines in India.

Through this MoU, Rolls-Royce and HAL will expand their long-standing partnership in India and work together in the area of marine applications for the first time.

MT30 is a naval gas turbine currently in-service with naval programs worldwide in various propulsion arrangements across seven ship types.

R Madhavan, CMD, HAL said, "Rolls-Royce has been our valued partner for several decades. We now look forward to working together to explore business opportunities in marine applications. This partnership will leverage the rich experience of HAL's 'MGT Division that works on marine gas turbines with Indian shipyards. Further, we are also exploring the option of using MT7 marine engine on the hovercraft being planned by the shipyards in India."

On a consolidated basis, HAL reported 85.3% jump in net profit to Rs 853.46 crore on 21.8% rise in net sales to Rs 5,425.46 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20.

HAL is engaged in carrying out design, development, manufacture, repair and overhaul of aircraft, helicopter, engines and related systems like avionics, instruments and accessories primarily serving Indian defence programme.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom held a Virtual Summit yesterday. An ambitious 'Roadmap 2030' was adopted at the Summit to elevate bilateral ties to a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership'. The Roadmap will pave the way for a deeper and stronger engagement over the next ten years in the key areas of people to people contacts, trade and economy, defence and security, climate action and health. The two leaders discussed the Covid19 situation and ongoing cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, including the successful partnership on vaccines. Prime Minister Modi thanked Prime Minister Johnson for the prompt medical assistance provided by the UK in the wake of the severe second wave of Covid19 in India. Prime Minister Johnson appreciated India's role in extending assistance to the UK and other countries over the last year, including by way of supply of pharmaceuticals and vaccines.

The two Prime Ministers launched an 'Enhanced Trade Partnership' (ETP) to unleash the trade potential between the 5th and 6th largest economies of the world and by setting an ambitious target of more than doubling bilateral trade by 2030. As part of the ETP, India and the UK agreed on a roadmap to negotiate a comprehensive and balanced FTA, including consideration of an Interim Trade Agreement for delivering early gains. The enhanced trade partnership between India and UK will generate several thousands of direct and indirect jobs in both the countries.

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Global economies exhibiting incipient signs of recovery although outlook still remains uncertain and subject to downside risk, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das said during an unscheduled speech today. India had flattened curve in March 2021 but situation has altered drastically over the past month, said Governor Das. RBI will continue to monitor the emerging COVID-19 situation and will deploy all resources and instruments at its command especially for the citizens, business entities, and institutions beleaguered by the 2nd wave, the Governor said.

Among the host of measures taken by the central bank to ameliorate the impact of the second wave of the pandemic on the finances, the governor announced on-tap liquidity of 50,000 crore for a tenure of three years for banks to be able to extend Covid loans for all healthcare entities. Banks will also be eligible to park surplus liquidity with RBI to the extent of Covid loan book, says governor Shaktikanta Das.

Das also announced special long-term repo operations for small finance banks to provide further support to micro, small and other unorganized sector entities. RBI provides 2nd window to individual, small borrowers having up to Rs 25 crore loans for restructuring loans if not availed earlier, said the RBI governor. RBI has also decided that second purchase of G-SEC for Rs 35,000 cr under G-SAP 1.0 will be conducted on May 20, considering the encouraging response from the first round of purchase.

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Shots rang out in the residential neighborhood on Norwich Street at dinnertime, leaving three men wounded. Two men in their 20s were shot, one in his leg and the other in his back, police said.
The domestic equity indices were trading firm in early afternoon trade. At 12:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, rose 248.31 points or 0.51% at 48,501.82. The Nifty 50 index gained 70.90 points or 0.49% at 14,567.40.

In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index added 0.47% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index rose 0.51%.

The market breadth was strong. On the BSE, 1,654 shares rose and 1,099 shares fell. A total of 175 shares were unchanged.

RBI Governor Speech:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das in his address to the media said that wide-ranging and swift actions are needed against the spread of the second COVID-19 wave. The central bank is monitoring emerging developments while Das said the global economic outlook is highly uncertain and clouded with downside risks. Das further added that in India's fight against second wave of COVID-19, the RBI proposed to take extra measures. The bank will continue to monitor the emerging situation and deploy all instruments at its command, Das said. Disruption in manufacturing units so far is minimal. Consumption demand is holding up, he added.

RBI announced several measures to protect small and medium businesses, individual borrowers from the adverse impact of the intense second wave of COVID-19 across the country. RBI will undertake a purchase of government securities of Rs 35,000 crore in the next two weeks under the newly introduced GSAP-2.0. RBI announced term liquidity facility of Rs 50,000 crore to ease access to emergency health services. The central bank has also decided to conduct special three-year long-term repo operations (SLTRO) of Rs 10,000 crore at repo rate for the small finance banks (SFBs).

Coronavirus Update:

Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 15,43,66,761 with 32,27,887 deaths.

India reported 34,87,229 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 2,26,188 deaths while 1,69,51,731 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

India records 3,780 fresh fatalities, over 3.80 lakh cases in single day.

Derivatives:

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, dropped 2.83% to 22.3575. The Nifty 27 May 2021 futures were trading at 14,620.75, at a premium of 53.35 points as compared with the spot at 14,567.40.

The Nifty option chain for 27 May 2021 expiry showed maximum Call OI of 26.5 lakh contracts at the 15,000 strike price. Maximum Put OI of 34.9 lakh contracts was seen at 14,000 strike price.

Buzzing Index:

The Nifty IT index rose 1.12% to 25,775.60. The index fell 0.73% in the previous session.

MindTree (up 2.85%), Wipro (up 2.28%), Larsen & Toubro Infotech (up 2.22%), Oracle Financial Services Software (up 1.57%) and TCS (up 1.14%) advanced.

Stocks in Spotlight:

InterGlobe Aviation rose 1.79% after the aviation company said that a meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled on 7 May 2021, to consider and approve raising of funds by issue of equity shares through qualified institutions placement (QIP).

Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) gained 1.70% after the company said it signed an MoU with Rolls-Royce to establish packaging, installation, marketing and services support for Rolls-Royce MT30 marine engines in India. Through this MoU, Rolls-Royce and HAL will expand their long-standing partnership in India and work together in the area of marine applications for the first time. MT30 is a naval gas turbine currently in-service with naval programs worldwide in various propulsion arrangements across seven ship types.

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Boston [United States]/ Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 5 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Learn with Leaders and The Harvard College Project for Asian & International Relations (HPAIR) is announcing a notable partnership to expand their global reach.

This new unprecedented partnership will extend the accessibility of HPAIR to selected high school students. The HPAIR Asia Conference will be held in August 2021, and details about how to apply as a high school student for this exclusive opportunity will be released soon.

HPAIR recently concluded a four-day 'HPAIR Harvard Conference, 2021,' featuring un-paralleled prominent leaders such as the Director-General of WHO and the former Prime Minister of Thailand. With 2,400 delegates attending from over 60 different countries, the virtual conference was programmed to ensure everyone could access it across all time zones.

"HPAIR has been conducting these conferences for university students and young professionals for over 30 years -- a legacy we are deeply proud of. For the first time in our history, we are very excited to collaborate with Learn with Leaders in India and present a vision of the HPAIR Asia Conference for high school students. We're thrilled to have the opportunity to continue democratizing information globally by expanding HPAIR's efforts to include a more diverse group of students -- many of whom we know include ambitious and deeply talented youth in Asia. To us, age should never be a barrier to entry!" says Esther Xiang, HPAIR's Co-Director of Marketing and Communications.

Following up on those remarks, fellow Co-Director of Marketing and Communications Kevin Lin adds, "Holding the conference for the first time in a virtual format opened the doors for so many more participants to join in around the world. We hope to do the same with this upcoming conference -- the HPAIR Asia Conference will provide mentorship to students along with networking and guidance for their future endeavors."

HPAIR is a global social movement led by students from Harvard University. They are known to organize the largest student-run conferences in Asia, connecting the leaders of today and tomorrow. Observing the conference held in January 2021, Business Insider dubbed HPAIR as 'The Davos of Harvard.'

"We cannot be more thrilled to have HPAIR as a partner. Learn with Leaders always ensures that high school students worldwide gain IVY-quality experiences that go beyond academics and grow their thought processes. The conference we are about to conduct in August 2021 with HPAIR will definitely be stimulating for these young minds. We are getting expert keynote speakers who can guide these students and help them flourish in life," said Gunjan Aggarwal, Co-founder, Learn with Leaders.

Learn with Leaders has previously conducted and continued curating programs for high school students to give them an Ivy League tier education. Their programs aim to inspire creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities in students, among other life skills. With the HPAIR Asia Conference, LwL is offering students a rare chance to be a part of a never-before experience to hear the thoughts, opinions, and advice of global mentors.

"This is going to be a life-changing experience for high school students. The HPAIR Asia Conference will be unlike what HPAIR has conducted before. Both Learn with Leaders and HPAIR have a common motive of democratizing information and making it available to everyone instead of limiting it to a handful. We are excited to collaborate with HPAIR on this unique chance to bring world-class gurus to our students," said Shubham Gupta, Co-founder, Learn with Leaders.

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Jodhpur (Rajasthan) [India], May 5 (ANI/NewsVoir): Agetech startup Sarathi Healthcare has announced that it has raised a funding of Rs 1 crore in a seed funding from a clutch of investors from 'bharat'.

The angels who participated are in the round seasoned entrepreneurs and investors Nitin Sethi, Vishal Dhikale, Swapnil Bagul, Gaurav Satbhai and Jayshree Harak from Jodhpur, Nasik, Surat and Pune.

Sarathi Healthcare is currently being accelerated by India's fastest growing startup accelerator Marwari Catalysts Ventures.

Caring for the elderly has become tougher with time. In a traditional joint family system, the elders receive care from the family members. But now, the young ones from the family move out of their hometown leaving their families - elderly parents - behind. This leaves the elders alone, vulnerable and neglected, left to fend for themselves. Further, COVID-19 has unleashed a wave of fear across all sections of the consumer market, especially leaving eldery feeling the dread of venturing outside.

Sarathi, which means 'companion' in Hindi, aims to do just that - prioritise and deliver holistic care for the elderly by providing them well-rounded preventive and emergency healthcare. 'Sarathi Healthcare', is a premium healthcare provider with top-notch services that brings 24X7 medical services at your doorstep at times of need.

Commenting on the announcement, Sushil Sharma, Founder and CEO at Marwari Catalysts says, "Sarathi Healthcare has a great potential and we hope this association will help them build the fastest growing healthcare organisation for senior citizens care in India."

Sarathi Healthcare will use the funds to support its 20x growth, with geography expansion, adding new towns, medical specialties in turn bolstering their team and tech product. Saarthi Healthcare has already impacted around 5000+ lives including patients suffering from chronic diseases, since its incorporation in the middle of the pandemic.

Sarathi's services include disease management, consultation with healthcare officials on demand as well as on recommendation, regular health check-ups and lab tests, consultation on eating habits, food supplements and nutrients, appointment management, home deliveries of medicines and medical equipments, bookings in hospitals and ambulance facility.

Highly supportive for Sarathi Healthcare's mission, Devesh Rakhecha, Founder and Director at Marwari Catalysts, says, "Sarathi Healthcare is poised to become a national brand and top-level leader in the elderly care market. Through an empathetic approach and authentic customer engagement, they've formed a strong community and laid a solid foundation built on trust. We're thrilled to support the Sarathi Healthcare's team in expanding their impact and improving the everyday lives of an even greater number of elders."

Today, India is poised as the country with the maximum youth population in the world. Directly proportional to youth is the old population. The technology boom and a globalised world opened a plethora of opportunities for people around the world, where India was in a bright spot. Literacy and employability rate became much better than ever before, spoiling the Indian youth for options and opportunities.

To usher in this new era of growth, Sarathi Healthcare's key leadership positions include Amol Bagul - Founder & CEO (Ex-EY, MIT Media lab, Ex-COEP); Aditi Poyam - Co-founder & COO (Ex-TATA, Ex-JBIMS, Ex-COEP); and Lavender Singh Rathore - Co-founder & Head of Operations (11+ years of experience in Pharma, and logistics management).

"We have created and catered our services for customers within Rajasthan. Now, we are aware of the fact that these kinds of services are highly required in other states of India as well. Because we are not just influencing positively the lives of patients, but people around them. So soon, we'll be starting our operations In Nasik, Jaipur, Ajmer, Nagpur and Pune," said Amol Bagul - Founder & CEO, Sarathi Healthcare.

"Ignorance towards their needs is the biggest impediment for senior citizens to live the best quality of life. Our intention for fundraising was for more efficient penetration of our services into smaller cities and towns with aggressive marketing and technology building," added Amol.

Lavender Singh Rathore - Co-founder & Head of Operation said that even in today's date, in the wake of the pandemic, the company has been providing care to several elderly COVID-19 patients by managing their home isolation processes.

The leadership team behind Sarathi healthcare takes highest honour to provide care for those who once cared for us.

"Our vision is to provide optimum healthcare services, at the shortest span of time to the elderly patients. In short, we are your Health Sarathi where distance is no longer a barrier & instant solution is provided to tackle all the healthcare issues most effectively," said Aditi Poyam - Co-founder & COO, Sarathi Healthcare.

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Kotputli (Rajasthan) [India], May 5 (ANI/PNN): Every story needs to be heard. It needs to reach out to every single person who can possibly connect to it and learn from it. But to our dismay, many voices are left unheard.

The reason behind these unheard voices is patriarchy, shining up and bright even in the world of today where nearly every country talks about equality.

However, some people put all of this behind and make sure that these voices reach millions and billions around the world. When we talk about such voices, a lot of them seem to be coming from Fuzia, the brainchild of Riya Sinha and whose co-founder and Director is Shraddha Varma.

They both have an age difference of 12 years, and yet their mind seems to align together without many differences. All they want is to bring forward the experiences of women who have been discriminated against. They have made sure that their goal is to promote women's empowerment and to end any discrimination or harmful practices against women.

"To give a voice is to take a step and to take a step is to make a stand", and for every stand that gets taken, one less voice of the discriminator can be heard from around. Fuzia (https://www.fuzia.com) is one such platform that has created a community that is not dependent upon the give and take. From young photographers to opinionated writers to creative artists, everyone has a space in Fuzia.

Besides having the users showcase their various talents on the website, Fuzia believes in nurturing their talents through live sessions, campaigns, online learning, webinars, workshops, experiential learning, contests, and so on. These initiatives help women develop their skills and grow enormously. This talent is then showcased and amplified in every possible way through their website and various social media platforms. They also aspire to be of their audiences' economic benefit.

They plan and organise various interviews with empowered women, who tell their inspiring stories on Fuzia TV and help other women come out of their shells. They also collaborate with their in-house talents and experts/ social media influencers, entrepreneurs, and inspirational women and organise interactive live sessions so that the audience can get their doubts sorted and get the right training to start their ventures. Additionally, Fuzia provides an opportunity for developing skills by providing English courses through informative video content.

Fuzia as a platform has become a lifeline for many around. Even during the pandemic, they are making sure that all the concerns are heard and taken care of. They are providing support and are empowering women to use coping mechanisms and deal with almost every kind of mental health situation. "I wonder if a platform like Fuzia can bring forward such amazing ideas and can provide freedom to be oneself, what could this world provide if it becomes a stage for every expression to be let out?" said Riya Sinha at a recent interaction when asked about what she thinks of Fuzia.

It took 5 years for the initially established writing club to become a huge global online platform of millions of people in the network, seamlessly managed by Shraddha Varma. Due to her leadership skills, Fuzia has expanded across geographical boundaries and age groups to bring together creative talents under a common umbrella to connect, collaborate, inspire and grow. Today, it is a community of 2 lakh+ active contributors and a network of 5million + supporters across the website and social media globally. Their Instagram page @fuziaworld is pretty quirky and empowering. Even their Facebook page @fuziaworld has grown into a huge community.

Fuzia also brings forward some of the major concerns that need to be handled, including suicide, discrimination, demotivation, and alike. Unmarried, divorced, married, gays, bisexuals, lesbians, single mothers, each one of them is welcome here to bring forward their story and gain their lost confidence, respect, and dignity. It has become one rapidly growing platform on Facebook, and women from India, Pakistan, United States, Indonesia, Egypt, Bangladesh, and many other places have been joining this community.

Shraddha says, "A fusion of ideas and cultures, Fuzia seems to be handling it all. With the philosophy of providing a voice and for being a supporter, our community has solutions and support for every woman". For her, this community is something substantial, and this something is becoming larger with every voice that reaches out. This platform thrives to combine their audiences' consciousness with their talent.

The duo wishes to look forward step by step towards attaining pillars of creative empowerment, community growth, individual strength, and artistic magnification. They aspire to build a space for women where they can be free to express themselves with true liberty. Henceforth, The Fuzia Website and the Fuzia App is indeed a promising game-changer in the field of social media bringing about a global impact.

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Surat (Gujarat) [India], May 5 (ANI/ThePRTree): Ajay Ajmera, CO of Ajmera Fashion, a textile entrepreneur from Surat has been awarded the Champions of Change Award for his excellence in the field of women empowerment. The city's textile entrepreneur Ajay Ajmera has done commendable work in the direction of making women self-reliant.

With this award, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Shripad Nayak Minster, Ministry of AYUSH, former chairman of Censor Board Anish Bajmi, film star Hemamalini, Susmita San, Sonu Nigam, Sonu Sood, Shatrughan Sinha, Raj KK Many champions including Purohit, Iqbal Singh Chahal, Commissioner BM Singh were also honored by the Governor of Maharashtra and Goa, Bhagat Singh Koshyari for their outstanding work.

More than 3500 women made self-reliant

Textile entrepreneur Ajay Ajmera has made more than 3500 women self-reliant by providing self-employment to women for almost 10 years. Through them, the self-employed women are joining the textile sector and giving the message of self-reliance. Textile entrepreneur Ajay Ajmera said that so far, more than 3500 women have been linked with employment by making them self-sufficient. At the same time, many women have joined us for employment from India and more than 30 countries. Social media proved to be the most effective for us for this work. People trusted us, that's why today we are becoming meaningful in making people self-reliant in the field of textiles.

Those who do excellent work in social and community services get this award

The Champions of Change is an Indian award for promoting Gandhian values, (voluntary), community service and social development (in the Aspirational District in India), selected by constitutional jurors. Balakrishnan, former Chief Justice of India and former Chairman NHRC. It is given annually in four categories, and is usually presented by the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister of India, or a prominent figure. Shri Nandan Jha is the founder and head of the Champions of Change Award.

Link - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we4h2W6pI-w)

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New Delhi [India], May 5 (ANI/NewsVoir): The UK India Business Council warmly welcomes the commitment of Prime Minister Boris Johnson MP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deepening collaboration between our two countries.

As well as overcoming the immediate challenge of the pandemic, the collaboration extends to building a long-term partnership that creates jobs and prosperity, tackles medium- and long-term healthcare challenges, addresses climate change, and enhances the national security of both countries.

In particular, we welcome the UK-India Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) and the intention to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Prime Ministers also announced GBP 1 billion of new UK-India trade and investment. This is a great start, but only the beginning.

The ETP, part of a 10-year roadmap of bilateral co-operation agreed by the Prime Ministers, aims to double the annual trade between the UK and India by 2030. The UKIBC believes this is the right ambition and is achievable. UK-India trade is already strong: in the year before the pandemic bilateral trade grew by 10 percent to GBP24 billion.

The ETP is a great opportunity to grow this rapidly, particularly in sectors such as food and drink, life science and healthcare, advanced engineering, energy, digital technology, defence, education, and legal, financial and professional services.

Similarly, an FTA is the right eventual goal. It will require momentum. As such, it is hugely encouraging that the ETP will address market access barriers and ease of doing business immediately and on an ongoing basis.

In this regard, it was great news that the ETP, signed by the UK's Secretary of State for International Trade, Liz Truss, and Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, removed barriers to trade in the food and drink, services, and healthcare sectors. Non-tariff barriers on fruit and medical devices will be lowered. There was also a commitment to deepen co-operation in educational services including the recognition of UK higher education qualifications, which will help Indian students to study and work more fluidly between the UK and India.

A pledge to work to remove barriers in the Indian legal services sector is another step that could significantly increase trade and collaboration. It is also hugely encouraging that lowering or removing current tariffs such as those of up to 150 per cent on whisky and up to 125 per cent on automotive have been highlighted as objectives of the ETP.

"Our countries are already close partners and friends, and today's announcement of a 10-year roadmap working towards an FTA will take the bilateral relationship to the next level. In the immediate term, the focus will rightly be on removing market access barriers. Businesses in both countries are enthused by the opportunities to enter and expand across the UK-India economic corridor and the ETP, leading to an FTA, will make that more appealing and easier than ever," said UKIBC Group Chair Richard Heald, OBE.

"It matters when the 5th and 6th biggest economies in the world form a trade partnership, so the Enhanced Trade Partnership is a potential game-changer for businesses and consumers - doubling trade to GBP50 billion per year. Both governments should be congratulated in getting it to this stage," said Kevin McCole, Managing Director UKIBC.

"While the ETP will rightly tackle immediate barriers to trade, it is also important that it is future-proofed. Alongside growth in goods trade, we expect significant trade growth to be in services, particularly the technology, digital, financial, and IP-rich services where the UK and India are globally competitive and where there is scope for far greater bilateral activity. By focussing, now, on the trade of the future, the UK-India ETP and FTA can be a model for all trade deals that follow," added Kevin McCole.

The UKIBC also laud the UK's continued support for India in combatting the ongoing pandemic. The UK Government and UK businesses have been playing their part through the provision of critical equipment such as ventilators and oxygen concentrators. The UKIBC has been working with both countries' High Commissions and partners like the CII and FICCI to coordinate UK businesses' efforts to assist India.

It was great to see cooperation on COVID-19 and other diseases set to continue as a new GBP 240 million investment by the Serum Institute of India in the UK will create a large number of jobs and is expected to generate new business worth over GBP 720 million, support clinical trials, research and development, and possibly manufacturing of vaccines.

Through continued dialogue with our members and clients, namely UK and Indian businesses, and with both Governments, the UKIBC will support the journey to greater UK-India trade and investment and ultimately the achievement of a comprehensive and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement.

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New Delhi [India], May 5 (ANI/ThePRTree): 'Placebo', a documentary shot by the investigative filmmaker, Yuvraj Kumar, won the National Award presented by the President of India. It also premiered in IDFA in Amsterdam, a respectable film festival in the Netherlands.

Catering to the sensitive issues of peaceful integration and redevelopment of Kashmir, Yuvraj is all set to bring along his upcoming film, 'Kashmir - The Final Resolution'.

Founder of Atlantic Films Production House, Yuvraj Kumar is a young filmmaker who plans to conceptualize and present the issues of the world in a creative and inventive manner. Having completed 70 per cent of the movie's shoot, he has quite high hopes for 'Kashmir - The Final Resolution'.

A sequel to 'ISIS - Enemies of Humanity' released in 2017, 'ISIS 2' is also set to grace the screen. The former film received an international release and was applauded by the Afghanistan Consulate. Yuvraj debuted as an actor in the film 'ISIS' and is going to be portrayed in a series format and 'ISIS 2' is the second installment, but not the last. This is because the concept of terrorism and radicalization that he has tried to portray has many layers to it. For the message to be clear, one film is not enough.

Having specialized in deradicalizing methods, Yuvraj has studied this subject for 10 years, so he exhibits these ideas in a creative form. "I want the viewer to go and realize the difference between a good ideology and a bad one. Besides that, the viewers would understand how young minds are being manipulated by seeing the characters in the film," he said.

Yuvraj also has a play to his credit called 'Between the Truths' that is based on the movie ISIS, which he performs like a monologue. He has performed 'Between the Truths' in Mumbai at St. Andrews auditorium and in New York at Times Square. This play is a further message of deradicalizing the youth, specially, so that they don't fall for any violence or terrorism or don't get brainwashed. "I believe that we are in a very sensitive zone right now as a people, where if things continue to go on like this, there are chances of a civil war breaking out, in India, especially," he added.

Getting ISIS screened in Kashmir is a desire Yuvraj keeps close. Since, there are no theatres over there he plans to get a private auditorium. "There are going to be obstacles in the way, no doubt about that, but I really want people there to see the movie and understand the message that I have tried to convey through it," Yuvraj added.

When asked about why he chose such delicate subjects for his films, he said, "I'm an investigative filmmaker. You can say I have been kind of an activist all along. I was originally studying to be a lawyer from Government Law College. But being introduced to all kinds of current affairs of the country, and the political climate, studying all the case studies just ignited a spark in me...I just felt I had to do something...I felt it was my responsibility to make the unheard voices reach out to the people, and the most effective way of doing that is by being creative," he smiled. Yuvraj Kumar has been trained in the art of filmmaking from the prestigious Whistling Woods International; so naturally, he is very skilled in his craft.

Having the precision to put a subject in the form of a movie, Yuvraj is skilled to cast the characters right that can make the utmost impact. His decision of playing multiple roles of producing a film, directing it, acting in it, editing it is so because there are very few people today who can understand the subject he has been dealing with. Since these are sensitive trajectories he treads on, he chooses to produce his own films.

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Two PM CARES-funded medical oxygen plants have been installed at AIIMS, New Delhi, and RML Hospital in a week. This will help the national capital in meeting the medical oxygen requirement at a time Covid-19 is rising at an unprecedented pace across the country.

Delhi government has slammed the Centre for not providing enough medical oxygen even as patients die because of a shortage of oxygen. Delhi has been receiving about 490 MT medical oxygen from the Centre against the Kejriwal government's demand of 976 metric tonnes of oxygen.

The Centre has said these two plants were installed in record time. "Carried out on a war footing, the two plants were swiftly airlifted from Coimbatore and installed yesterday. Both the plants will start supplying oxygen by today evening," a health ministry statement said.

PM CARES recently allocated funds for the installation of 500 medical oxygen plants across the country. These plants are planned to be set up in 3 months. In all, five high flow medical oxygen plants will be installed at AIIMS Trauma Centre, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML), Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, and AIIMS, Jhajjar, Haryana.

Delhi, like many other cities of India, has been grappling with the shortage of oxygen and insufficient beds as Covid-19 cases continue to rise. Hospitals in Delhi are sending SOS calls to authorities about their dwindling oxygen stocks.

Also read: Delhi gets 1st oxygen plant at Commonwealth Games village's Covid care centre

Just two weeks before, 20 coronavirus patients had died at Jaipur Golden Hospital and 25 patients at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital due to the shortage of oxygen. The situation is no different in many other hospitals of the national capital.

On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court directed the Centre to show cause as to why "contempt" should not be initiated against it for failing to comply with the order on the supply of oxygen to Delhi for treating COVID-19 patients. "You can put your head in the sand like an ostrich, we will not," the high court told in a stern warning to the Centre.

The Centre on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court against the HC notice, which was issued over the non-compliance of the SC's May 2 order that directed the Centre to rectify the issue of shortage of medical oxygen in Delhi hospitals on or before midnight of May 3.

The Allahabad HC also observed the death of COVID-19 patients just for the non-supply of oxygen to hospitals is a criminal act, "not less than a genocide" by authorities entrusted the task to ensure oxygen supply chain is maintained.

Also read: 24 patients die at hospital in Karnataka due to oxygen shortage

Meanwhile, India reported 3,82,315 new cases and the highest 3,780 deaths in the last 24 hours. Ten states including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Haryana, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan report 70.91 per cent of the new cases.

Maharashtra has reported the highest daily new cases at 51,880, followed by Karnataka with 44,631 and Kerala with 37,190 new cases. India's total active caseload has reached 34,87,229, which is 16.87 per cent of India's total positive cases.

Also read: Centre, state govts should consider lockdowns, ban super spreader events: SC

Also read: COVID-19: SC asks Centre to consider fixing ceiling price for drugs
More than 94.47 lakh COVID-19 vaccine dosesare still available with the states and UTs which will receive over36 lakh fresh doses in the next three days, the Union Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

The Government of India has so far provided nearly 17.02 crore vaccine doses (17,02,42,410) to states and UTs free of cost. Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 16,07,94,796 doses, according to data available at 8 am.

"More than 94.47 lakh COVID vaccine doses (94,47,614) are still available with the states and UTs to be administered.

"Furthermore, more than 36 lakh (36,37,030) vaccine doses will be received in addition by the states and UTs within the next three days," the ministry said.

Implementation of the Liberalised and Accelerated Phase 3 Strategy of Covid-19 Vaccination to inoculate those in the age group of 18-44 years has started from May 1.

Potential beneficiaries can either register directly on the CoWIN portal or through the Aarogya Setu app.

Also read: Centre moves SC against Delhi HC's show cause notice over oxygen shortage
Arvind Subramanian, former chief economic advisor of India and US economist Justin Sandefur have joined the increasing number of global experts calling for compulsory licensing, voluntary licensing and technology sharing of Covid-19 vaccines for more equitable vaccine response to the pandemic.

In a joint analysis published by US based Center for Global Development, Sandefur and Subramanian wanted US President Joe Biden to take the lead to end the "vaccine apartheid" by encouraging such measures.

The experts said that Covid-19 vaccine "manufacturing capacity was planned to supply Western markets almost exclusively, with a proprietary, intellectual property (IP)-based approach guaranteed to limit its spread. And money from donors was derisively small and never close enough to buy- or even signal to producers that there was sufficient demand for - vaccine doses to cover much of the developing world".

Also read: COVID-19 crisis: COVAX urgently needs 20 million vaccines to cover supply disruption, says WHO

According to Sandefur and Subramanian, augmenting the supply of mRNA vaccines requires more than waiver of IP rights as regardless of the IP regime, no developing country has the technical wherewithal to produce the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines without significant technical assistance from these companies.

"If there can be progress on expanding manufacturing of these vaccines, the US government along with other governments will have to incentivise and force western pharmaceutical companies to share their technology and knowhow via voluntary licensing to similar companies in the developing world. The incentivization could take the form of guaranteeing commercial or near-commercial royalty rates by the international community", they propose.

Unlike the mRNA vaccines, the production of other vaccines, especially the ones which India already manufactures, can be boosted through compulsory licensing provisions as technology capability is already there with the developing world, they opine. According to them, if developing countries are still wary of issuing compulsory licenses due to fear of retaliatory action from the US or fear of losing future investments, it should be addressed.

"To signal that their seriousness and responsibility, developing countries should make good faith efforts to secure commitments on voluntary licensing from Western pharmaceutical companies before issuing compulsory licensing; committing to near-commercial terms for compulsory licenses would also signal good faith by clarifying that the motive is production not expropriation. Another sign of good faith would be if, e.g., India were to apply compulsory licensing not just to foreign vaccines, but also to domestically developed technology such as Bharat Biotech," the experts suggest.

Also read: 'Countries must share vaccine tech; no space for vaccine nationalism': Nirmala Sitharaman

They also wanted the governments of the US and Europe to forswear any recourse to legal proceedings against countries that use compulsory licensing. "The United States has a choice between two forms of soft power: Technological superiority and global apartheid or human immunity and Pax Americana," Sandefur and Subramanian say.

Also read: Lockdown unviable, COVID-19 vaccine the only solution; here's why
They pulled off the crime despite surveillance cameras and fences that completely surround the building at 148 Roberts St. District staff thinks the thieves were dropped off about 1:30 a.m. on a nearby dirt access road and were able to sneak under a chain-link fence into a lot behind the building, which has more cameras in front than in back, Shotland said.
West Bengal has announced lockdown-like restrictions in the state due to an increase in the number of coronavirus cases. Mamata Banerjee, soon after taking oath as Chief Minister for the third time, announced a list of restrictions. She also suspended local train services from Thursday onwards to curb the spread of coronavirus.

While local train services have been suspended in the state, metro rail and government-run transport services will operate with 50 per cent occupancy, said the Chief Minister.

Shopping complexes, markets, gyms, cinema halls, and beauty parlours have been closed, while all sorts of social and political gatherings have been prohibited. "Looking at the Covid-19 situation, we are going to take some steps. Wearing masks will be mandatory. There will only be 50 per cent attendance in state government offices. Shopping complexes, gyms, cinema halls, and beauty parlours shall remain closed. Social and political gatherings will be prohibited," CM Mamata Banerjee said.

Work from home has been allowed for 50 per cent of staff in the private sector. Meanwhile, jewellery shops will remain open for three hours -- from 12pm to 3pm -- every day. Banks will remain open from 10 am to 2 pm.

Food delivery shall be allowed and the government encouraged more people to have food delivered at home than to dine out.

The CM also said that no one will be allowed at the domestic and international airports without a negative RT-PCR report not older than 72 hours. "Those who test positive shall be sent to 14-day quarantine arranged by the airport authority in collaboration with the state government," she said.

These restrictions come as Bengal saw highest single-day deaths of 107 people on Tuesday, while it saw 17,639 new cases, taking the COVID-19 infection tally to 8,98,533 cases.

Also read: 'Centre's target to vaccinate everyone above 18 unrealistic': Mamata Banerjee tells PM Modi
The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has told the Supreme Court that a critical shortage is being faced in the water being supplied from Punjab and Haryana. The Delhi Jal Board has told the court that Delhi will struggle for water in the coming days if the water supply does not improve.

The DJB said it may have to cut down the water being provided to hospitals in Delhi due to the water shortage from Punjab and Haryana. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court (SC) has agreed to hear the DJB's plea on Thursday. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Vice Chairman Raghav Chadha on May 1 had said depleting water level in the Yamuna river is leading to a shortage of drinking water in several parts of Delhi and may also affect hospitals in the city in the coming days.

He urged Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar to release more raw water into the Yamuna so that sufficient drinking water is available for the national capital. The water level at Wazirabad pond has dipped to 667.20 feet from the normal level of 674.5 feet as Haryana has been releasing less raw water into the river, Chadha said.

The water from the Wazirabad pond is drawn for treatment at Wazirabad, Okhla and Chandrawal treatment plants. Drinking water supply has been hit in parts of Central Delhi, North Delhi, South Delhi, West Delhi due to decreasing water levels in the river, the DJB had said.

Also read: Scientists says Centre ignored warnings of new, contagious variant amid COVID-19 surge

Also read: Big boost for vaccine producers, pharma players! RBI unleashes Rs 50,000 cr liquidity for emergency healthcare

Also read: RBI Governor Speech Live Updates: Banks to be incentivised for quick lending amid 2nd Covid wave
Twelve Republican lawmakers have urged the Biden administration to not support a proposal by India and South Africa before the World Trade Organisation to temporarily waive some Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) rules amid the coronavirus pandemic.

If the US gives up intellectual property rights, it will harm innovation and production, and result in fewer people getting vaccinated, the 12 influential Congressmen said in a letter to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Tuesday. The letter is in response to the proposal in this regard by 60 developing countries, led by India and South Africa.

"The United States should continue to oppose the request by India, South Africa, and other nations to waive certain portions of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) for all members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)," the letter said.

Spearheaded by Congressmen Jim Jordan and Darrell Issa, the lawmakers said the requested waiver is extraordinarily broad and unnecessary to accomplish the goal of giving as many people as possible access to vaccines and treatment for COVID-19. They claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressed US President Joe Biden to support the waiver during a phone call in early May.

Among other signatories to the letter are Steve Chabot, Louie Gohmert, Matt Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Tom Tiffany, Thomas Massie, Dan Bishop, Michelle Fischbach, Scott Fitzgerald and Cliff Bentz. "The justification for the waiver rests on an incorrect assumption that IP rights are a significant bottleneck to the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, the letter said.

"The waiver's sponsors have presented no convincing evidence to support this assertion. Instead, the sponsors mainly just point out that relevant IP rights exist and speculate that those rights could serve as a barrier to access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments - not that IP rights have actually blocked or significantly hindered their availability, it added.

If anything, the examples of IP 'disputes' cited by the waiver sponsors generally demonstrate that IP rights have not prevented the involved parties from supplying vaccines and other medicines, the letter said. Respect for intellectual property rights has been a cornerstone of the US trade policy for decades and should not be set aside lightly, the Republican Congressmen said.

"Although some flexibility may be warranted in emergency situations, the waiver of TRIPS IP protections requested by India, South Africa, and other countries would do little to improve public health during this critical period in the COVID-19 pandemic. The scope of the requested waiver is overbroad and unjustified in light of the economic harm it would cause and the negligible benefits it would provide, they said in the letter.

"Existing aspects of TRIPS and global public health initiatives, along with the existing actions of key IP rights holders and innovators, make the waiver unnecessary. While considerable work can still be done to improve access to COVID-19 medicines and other innovations, that work can be done without the drastic step of suspending IP rights, and significant progress has already been made to address the real obstacles hampering the global COVID-19 response, they said.

The lawmakers argued that relevant intellectual property rights have been successfully licensed to expand access to COVID-19 innovations while maintaining IP protections. For example, the Serum Institute of India has secured licenses to produce multiple vaccines, including Astrazeneca and Novavax vaccines.

South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare has secured a license to produce the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Several vaccine makers have licensed direct competitors to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity. Moderna has announced that it would not seek to enforce any of its COVID-related patents against other vaccine makers for the rest of the pandemic and has pledged to license its COVID-19 vaccine patents.

Gilead has licensed nine generic pharmaceutical manufacturers (including in India) to produce its COVID-19 therapeutic drug remdesivir for 127 countries, most of which are developing nations. Moreover, TRIPS already allows countries to impose compulsory licenses to access vital IP rights, and no country has availed itself of that capability to date for COVID-19 vaccines or treatments, the lawmakers noted.

The proposed waiver is not limited to patents on vaccines or treatments for COVID-19 - the waiver would also gut protections for copyrights, industrial designs (e.g., textile patterns or other ornamental designs), and trade secrets. The waiver's supporters have only offered vague, unsubstantiated explanations for how waiving IP protections for copyrights or industrial designs would lead to improved vaccine or therapeutics availability, they said.

It is also unclear how a waiver of TRIPS obligations would provide more access to trade secrets and proprietary technologies, which are confidential by definition and typically closely guarded, they said.

"Gifting away our technological leadership and competitive advantage at a time when the US economy remains vulnerable would be irresponsible and send the wrong message to millions of American taxpayers. The damage would extend beyond even the considerable value of COVID-19 vaccines and medicines, also endangering the far greater value of the jobs and economic growth promised by these IP rights and the advanced technologies they represent," the Republican Congressmen said in the letter.

Also read: Dr Anthony Fauci advises India to go for nationwide lockdown, massive COVID-19 vaccination drive

Also read: Second COVID-19 wave: US to limit travel from India starting May 4
Even as the second wave of coronavirus infections continue to wreak havoc across the natipn, Principal Scientific Advisior to Centre K VijayRaghvan has warned that a third wave is inevitable. During a press briefing by Health Ministry on Wednesday, the top scientist said that India needs to be prepared for new waves.

"A phase three is inevitable, given the higher levels of circulating virus but it is not clear on what time scale this phase three will occur. We should prepare for new waves," VijayRaghvan said.

Explaining how variants work, VijayRaghvan said," Variants are transmitted same as original strain. It doesn't have properties of new kinds of transmission. It infects humans in a manner that makes it more transmissible as it gains entry, makes more copies & goes on, same as original."

ALSO READ: 57% non-Covid patients cancelled treatment during Mar-Dec 2020: survey

During the briefing, the Principal Scientific Advisior emphasised on upgrading the vaccines to fight against new variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus. "Vaccines are effective against current variants. New variants will arise all over the world and in India too but variants that increase transmission will likely plateau. Immune evasive variants and those which lower or increase disease severity will arise going ahead," he said.

"Scientists of India and all over world are working to anticipate these kinds of variants and act against them rapidly by early warning and developing modified tools. It's an intense research programme, happening in India and abroad," he further added.

VijayRaghvan also suggested laboratories to prepare a map of all possible changes that can happen due to the coronavirus, adding that only sometimes can viruses erode immunity so rapidly.

ALSO READ: COVID-19 crisis: India accounts for 46% of world's new cases, quarter of deaths, says WHO

India has reported more than 3.82 lakh new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours to Wednesday. Over 3.38 lakh people recovered from the contagion during this period, taking the total number of people discharged to more than 1.69 crore.

India's total active caseload currently stands at over 2.04 crore and the total number of fatalities reported is 2.26 lakh, according to the Health Ministry data. India reported the highest daily deaths at 3,780 on Wednesday.

Over 16.04 crore people were inoculated against the novel coronavirus till May 4 (Tuesday). Out of these, over 13 crore people received the first dose, and over 3.04 lakh people got the second dose of the lifesaving jab.

ALSO READ: Indians stack up oximeters, masks, disinfectants to fight 2nd Covid-19 wave
Facebook's Oversight Board on Wednesday upheld the social media giant's decision to suspend former US president Donald Trump's account in January after the Capitol riots, but criticised the indefinite suspension and gave the company six months to reexamine its arbitrary penalty.

"(The then) President Trump's actions on social media encouraged and legitimised violence and were a severe violation of Facebook's rules," said Thomas Hughes, Director of the Oversight Board Administration, which was created by Facebook as an independent oversight body.

"By maintaining an unfounded narrative of electoral fraud and persistent calls to action, Trump created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible. Facebook's decision to suspend the President on January 7 was the right one," he said as the board upheld Facebook's decision on January 7 to suspend Trump from Facebook and Instagram.

Noting that Facebook failed to impose a proper penalty, the Board said that instead of applying one of its established account-level penalties for severe violations, Facebook devised an indefinite' suspension which is not included in their content policies.

Also read: India could suffer world's highest COVID-19 death toll: Report

This arbitrary penalty gave Facebook total discretion over whether to lift or maintain the suspension, with no criteria that can be scrutinised by users or external observers, it said in a statement.

"The Board rejects Facebook's request for it to endorse indefinite suspension, which gives the company total discretion over when to lift or impose and isn't supported by their content policies. Anyone concerned about the power of Facebook should be concerned with the company making decisions outside of its own rules," Hughes said.

Within six months of the Board's decision, Facebook must reexamine this arbitrary penalty and impose one consistent with its own rules. This penalty must be based on the gravity of Trump's violation and the prospect of future harm. This time period allows Facebook to implement the Board's extensive policy recommendations, it said.

In its set of recommendations, the Board said that in the future, if a head of state or high government official repeatedly posts messages that pose a risk of harm, Facebook should either suspend the account for a definitive period or delete the account.

Also read: Oxygen crisis: Supreme Court stays Delhi HC's order on contempt proceedings against Centre

Facebook's rules should ensure that when it imposes a time-bound suspension on an influential user, the company should assess the risk of inciting harm before the suspension ends. Influential users who pose a risk of harm should not be reinstated.

The Board recommended that Facebook should publish a full report on its potential contribution to the narrative of electoral fraud and political tensions that led to the events of January 6.

This should be an open reflection on Facebook's design and policy choices that may allow its platform to be abused, it said.

Recommending Facebook to publish a new policy which would govern its response to crisis situations, the Board said that the social media giant should explain its strikes and penalties process, giving users more information, including how many strikes' have been assessed against them.

Also read: Bengal issues COVID-19 restrictions; suspends local trains, shuts markets, gyms, cinema halls
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday announced the second purchase of government securities worth Rs 35,000 crore under the G-sec Acquisition Programme (G-SAP 1.0) on May 20.

This will allow an orderly evolution of the yield curve as the second Covid-19 wave ravages the Indian economy.

The first purchase of Rs 25,000 crore in April received an enthusiastic response from the market, Das said, while announcing a slew of measures to provide relief to various Covid-19 hit segments of the economy.

Also read: RBI Governor Speech Live Updates: Banks to be incentivised for quick lending amid 2nd Covid wave

The RBI will do a second purchase of government securities (G-secs) aggregating Rs 35,000 crore in two weeks, he said.

Das had announced on April 7 that the central bank will put in place what is termed as a "secondary market G-sec acquisition programme" or G-SAP 1.0 for the year 2021-22.

Under G-SAP 1.0, the RBI will commit upfront to a specific amount of open market purchases of government securities to enable a stable and orderly evolution of the yield curve amidst comfortable liquidity conditions.

The Reserve Bank's objective is to eschew volatility in the G-sec market given its central role in the pricing of other financial market instruments across the term structure and issuers, both in the public and private sectors.

RBI Governor, in an unscheduled announcement on Wednesday, said the central bank will continue to monitor the situation from the resurgence of COVID-19 cases and deploy all resources. "We have to marshal our resources for fighting the virus with vigour," he added.

Also read: Big boost for vaccine producers, pharma players! RBI unleashes Rs 50,000 cr liquidity for emergency healthcare
The Supreme Court of India struck down a law seeking more than 50 per cent reservation for Maratha community in jobs and educational institutions. There is no valid ground to breach the 50 per cent cap and revisit the Indira Sawhney verdict in case of Maratha reservation.

The top court stated that the Maratha community cannot be classified as an educationally and socially backward community to bring them within the reserved category.
A forum of scientific advisers set up by the government warned Indian officials in early March of a new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus taking hold in the country, five scientists who are part of the forum told Reuters.

Despite the warning, four of the scientists said the federal government did not seek to impose major restrictions to stop the spread of the virus. Millions of largely unmasked people attended religious festivals and political rallies that were held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition politicians.

Tens of thousands of farmers, meanwhile, continued to camp on the edge of New Delhi protesting Modi's agricultural policy changes. The world's second-most populous country is now struggling to contain a second wave of infections much more severe than its first last year, which some scientists say is being accelerated by the new variant and another variant first detected in Britain. India reported 386,452 new cases on Friday, a global record.

The spike in infections is India's biggest crisis since Modi took office in 2014. It remains to be seen how his handling of it might affect Modi or his party politically. The next general election is due in 2024. Voting in the most recent local elections was largely completed before the scale of the new surge in infections became apparent.

The warning about the new variant in early March was issued by the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genetics Consortium, or INSACOG. It was conveyed to a top official who reports directly to the prime minister, according to one of the scientists, the director of a research centre in northern India who spoke on condition of anonymity. Reuters could not determine whether the INSACOG findings were passed on to Modi himself.

Modi's office did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters. INSACOG was set up as a forum of scientific advisers by the government in late December specifically to detect genomic variants of the coronavirus that might threaten public health. INSACOG brings together 10 national laboratories capable of studying virus variants.

INSACOG researchers first detected B.1.617, which is now known as the Indian variant of the virus, as early as February, Ajay Parida, director of the state-run Institute of Life Sciences and a member of INSACOG, told Reuters.

INSACOG shared its findings with the health ministry's National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) before March 10, warning that infections could quickly increase in parts of the country, the director of the northern India research centre told Reuters. The findings were then passed on to the Indian health ministry, this person said. The health ministry did not respond to requests for comment.

Around that date, INSACOG began to prepare a draft media statement for the health ministry. A version of that draft, seen by Reuters, set out the forum's findings: the new Indian variant had two significant mutations to the portion of the virus that attaches to human cells, and it had been traced in 15% to 20% of samples from Maharashtra, India's worst-affected state.

The draft statement said that the mutations, called E484Q and L452R, were of "high concern." It said "there is data of E484Q mutant viruses escaping highly neutralising antibodies in cultures, and there is data that L452R mutation was responsible for both increased transmissibility and immune escape."

In other words, essentially, this meant that mutated versions of the virus could more easily enter a human cell and counter a person's immune response to it. The ministry made the findings public about two weeks later, on March 24, when it issued a statement to the media that did not include the words "high concern." The statement said only that more problematic variants required following measures already underway - increased testing and quarantine. Testing has since nearly doubled to 1.9 million tests a day.

Asked why the government did not respond more forcefully to the findings, for example by restricting large gatherings, Shahid Jameel, chair of the scientific advisory group of INSACOG, said he was concerned that authorities were not paying enough attention to the evidence as they set policy.

"Policy has to be based on evidence and not the other way around," he told Reuters. "I am worried that science was not taken into account to drive policy. But I know where my jurisdiction stops. As scientists we provide the evidence, policymaking is the job of the government."

The northern India research centre director told Reuters the draft media release was sent to the most senior bureaucrat in the country, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, who reports directly to the prime minister. Reuters was unable to learn whether Modi or his office were informed of the findings. Gauba did not respond to a request for comment.

The government took no steps to prevent gatherings that might hasten the spread of the new variant, as new infections quadrupled by April 1 from a month earlier. Modi, some of his top lieutenants, and dozens of other politicians, including opposition figures, held rallies across the country for local elections throughout March and into April.

The government also allowed the weeks-long Kumbh Mela religious festival, attended by millions of Hindus, to proceed from mid-March. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of farmers were allowed to remain camped on the outskirts of the capital New Delhi to protest against new agriculture laws.

To be sure, some scientists say the surge was much larger than expected and the setback cannot be pinned on political leadership alone. "There is no point blaming the government," Saumitra Das, director of the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, which is part of INSACOG, told Reuters.

STRICT MEASURES NOT TAKEN

INSACOG reports to the National Centre for Disease Control in New Delhi. NCDC director Sujeet Kumar Singh recently told a private online gathering that strict lockdown measures had been needed in early April, according to a recording of the meeting reviewed by Reuters.

"The exact time, as per our thinking, was 15 days before," Singh said in the April 19 meeting, referring to the need for stricter lockdown measures. Singh did not say during the meeting whether he warned the government directly of the need for action at that time. Singh declined to comment to Reuters.

Singh told the April 19 gathering that more recently, he had relayed the urgency of the matter to government officials.

"It was highlighted very, very clearly that unless drastic measures are taken now, it will be too late to prevent the mortality which we are going to see," said Singh, referring to a meeting which took place on April 18. He did not identify which government officials were in the meeting or describe their seniority.

Singh said some government officials in the meeting worried that mid-sized towns could see law and order problems as essential medical supplies like oxygen ran out, a scenario that has already begun to play out in parts of India. The need for urgent action was also expressed the week before by the National Task Force for COVID-19, a group of 21 experts and government officials set up last April to provide scientific and technical guidance to the health ministry on the pandemic. It is chaired by V.K. Paul, Modi's top coronavirus adviser.

The group had a discussion on April 15 and "unanimously agreed that the situation is serious and that we should not hesitate in imposing lockdowns," said one scientist who took part. Paul was present at the discussion, according to the scientist. Reuters could not determine if Paul relayed the group's conclusion to Modi. Paul did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

Two days after Singh's April 18 warning to government officials, Modi addressed the nation on April 20, arguing against lockdowns. He said a lockdown should be the last resort in fighting the virus. India's two-month-long national lockdown a year ago put millions out of work and devastated the economy.

"We have to save the country from lockdowns. I would also request the states to use lockdowns as the last option," Modi said. "We have to try our best to avoid lockdowns and focus on micro-containment zones," he said, referring to small, localised lockdowns imposed by authorities to control outbreaks.

India's state governments have wide latitude in setting health policy for their regions, and some have acted independently to try to control the spread of the virus. Maharashtra, the country's second-most populous state, which includes Mumbai, imposed tough restrictions such as office and store closures early in April as hospitals ran out of beds, oxygen and medicines. It imposed a full lockdown on April 14.

'TICKING TIME BOMB'

The Indian variant has now reached at least 17 countries including Britain, Switzerland and Iran, leading several governments to close their borders to people travelling from India.

The World Health Organization has not declared the India mutant a "variant of concern," as it has done for variants first detected in Britain, Brazil, and South Africa. But the WHO said on April 27 that its early modelling, based on genome sequencing, suggested that B.1.617 had a higher growth rate than other variants circulating in India.

The UK variant, called B.1.1.7, was also detected in India by January, including in the northern state of Punjab, a major epicentre for the farmers' protests, Anurag Agrawal, a senior INSACOG scientist, told Reuters. The NCDC and some INSACOG laboratories determined that a massive spike in cases in Punjab was caused by the UK variant, according to a statement issued by Punjab's state government on March 23.

Punjab imposed a lockdown from March 23. But thousands of farmers from the state remained at protest camps on the outskirts of Delhi, many moving back and forth between the two places before the restrictions began.

"It was a ticking time bomb," said Agrawal, who is director of the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, which has studied some samples from Punjab. "It was a matter of an explosion, and public gatherings is a huge problem in a time of pandemic. And B.1.1.7 is a really bad variant in terms of spreading potential."

By April 7, more than two weeks after Punjab's announcement on the UK variant, cases of coronavirus began rising sharply in Delhi. Within days, hospital beds, critical care facilities, and medical oxygen began running out in the city. At some hospitals, patients died gasping for air before they could be treated. The city's crematoriums overflowed with dead bodies.

Delhi is now suffering one of the worst infection rates in the country, with more than three out of every 10 tests positive for the virus. India overall has reported more than 300,000 infections a day for the past nine days, the worst streak anywhere in the world since the pandemic began. Deaths have surged, too, with the total exceeding 200,000 this week.

Agrawal and two other senior government scientists told Reuters that federal health authorities and local Delhi officials should have been better prepared after seeing what the variants had done in Maharashtra and Punjab. Reuters could not determine what specific warnings were issued to whom about preparing for a huge surge.

"We are in a very grave situation," said Shanta Dutta, a medical research scientist at the state-run National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases. "People listen to politicians more than scientists." Rakesh Mishra, director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, which is part of INSACOG, said the country's scientific community was dejected.

"We could have done better, our science could have been given more significance," he told Reuters. "What we observed in whatever little way, that should have been used better."

Also read: CDSCO nod to import of COVID-19 vaccines; to be used by private entities, states

Also read: ICMR revises COVID-19 testing guidelines; no RT-PCR needed if you've tested positive via RAT
The Delhi High Court Tuesday directed the Centre to show cause as to why contempt not be initiated against it for failing to comply with order on supply of oxygen to Delhi for treating COVID-19 patients. "You can put your head in sand like an ostrich, we will not," the high court told the central government.

It added that the Supreme Court has already directed, and now the high court is also saying that the Centre will have to supply 700 MT oxygen daily to Delhi right away by whatever means. "You are part of the city and not seeing the situation yourself. Are you living in ivory towers?," the bench said.

A bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli also rejected the Centre's submission that Delhi was not entitled to 700 metric tonnes of medical oxygen in light of existing medical infrastructure. It said the Supreme Court's April 30 detailed order directed the central government to provide 700 MT of oxygen per day to Delhi and not just 490 MT.

"We had told you contempt is the last thing in our mind but it is certainly in our mind and don't drive us to that last point. We mean business now. Enough is enough. Be clear on this. We are not going to take no for an answer. There is Supreme Court order and now we are also saying that you will have to supply 700 MT oxygen daily to Delhi right away by whatever means. We would not hear anything except compliance," an annoyed bench orally observed.

The bench, which heard for nearly five hours the matter relating to oxygen crisis and other COVID-19 related issues that Delhi is grappling with, said, "We see grim reality every day of people not able to secure oxygen or ICU beds in hospitals which have reduced beds due to the gas shortage."

"We, therefore, direct the central government to show cause why contempt be not initiated for not only non-compliance of our order of May as also of order of the Supreme Court dated April 30. To answer the said notice, we direct the presence of Piyush Goyal and Sumita Dawra (senior Central government officers) tomorrow," it said.

The bench also said just because the Delhi government earlier demanded less oxygen, the people of the city should not suffer and the Centre shouldn't ignore the revised requirement and let people die.

On the submission of ASG Chetan Sharma that the compliance affidavit of April 30 order will be filed in the Supreme Court by tomorrow morning, the bench said, "We fail to understand what good a compliance affidavit will be do when as a matter of fact 700 MT of oxygen is not delivered to Delhi. Even the earlier allocated 490 MT and revised 590 MT is not delivered even for a single day."

Sharma submitted that the apex court has not directed supply of 700 MT of oxygen per day to Delhi. The court disagreed with him and said a plain reading of the top court's order showed that it had directed the central government to supply 700 MT of liquid medical oxygen by making good the deficit.

The bench noted that the apex court's order recorded Delhi government counsel's submission that as against the demand of 700 MT of oxygen per day, manufacturers have been able to supply only 440 MT. It said the apex court noted that the projected demand of Delhi in coming days will be 976 MT of oxygen by increasing the medical infrastructure and that the situation must be remedied forthwith.

It asked as to what does this direction of the apex court mean and what was the doubt in it. "This itself is sufficient to show that the Supreme Court has directed that Delhi should be provided with 700 MT of oxygen per day. If there was any doubt, it could be cleared by further reading of the paragraph."

The bench said the top court had noted the assurance given by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the national capital will not suffer and its demands of oxygen will be met. However, the high court said this assurance has not been met and it has seen how big and small hospitals have been rushing to court on SOS basis due to lack of oxygen to treat critical patients.

It pains us that the aspect of supply of oxygen for treatment of COVID-19 patients in Delhi should be viewed in the way it has been done by the Centre, it said. It added that on one hand there is need to augment capacities to meet the rising numbers, while on the other hand, the existing infrastructure is crumbling and available beds cannot be put to use.

After the court dictated its order, ASG Sharma said that he has taken the order and it may be uploaded tomorrow morning only. To this, the bench said, "No, we will upload it today itself."

Also read: Scientists says Centre ignored warnings of new, contagious variant amid COVID-19 surge

Also read: 'COVID-19 shared problem; what you call aid, we call friendship': EAM S Jaishankar
Bill Gates, who on Tuesday, announced his divorce from Melinda Gates, had in an interview in 1997 said that he took annual vacations with his ex-girlfriend, software entrepreneur and venture capitalist Ann Winblad, even after his marriage. It is, however, not ascertained if the tradition still stands. The founders of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation filed for divorce on May 3. They said that hey have come to an agreement on how to split their assets.

Bill Gates and ex-girlfriend Ann Winblad met in 1984 at a Ben Rosen-Esther Dyson computer conference. Gates and Winblad broke up in 1987 because she was five years older and was more ready for marriage, stated the Time article from 1997. Even after his marriage to Melinda, Gates and Winblad had an arrangement that they could keep one vacation tradition alive. For more than a decade till the article was published, Gates would spend a long weekend with Winblad at her beach cottage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. They would ride dune buggies, hang-glide and walk on the beach.

Elaborating that they are kindred spirits, Gates told the magazine that they could play putt-putt while discussing biotechnology. "We share our thoughts about the world and ourselves. And we marvel about how, as two young overachievers, we began a great adventure on the fringes of a little-known industry and it landed us at the centre of an amazing universe," Winblad had said.

The duo had previously -- before Gates' marriage -- gone to Brazil for vacation where they studied bioengineering together. In yet another vacation to a Santa Barbara ranch in California, they took tapes of Richard Feynman's lectures and studied physics. They learned about human evolution, helped by anthropologist Donald Johanson, in an excursion in Zanzibar. In each trip they would go to the beach with other couples for bonfires and games and a tradition called the sing-down -- where each team would be given a word and they would have to come up with songs that feature that word. So after his marriage, the two reached an agreement with Melinda that they could both take an annual vacation to keep up the tradition.

Winblad had even persuaded him to stop eating meat for a few years. He abandoned the experiment a few years later.

Bill Gates, before marrying Melinda, sought Ann Winblad's approval. She gave her approval. "I said she'd be a good match for him because she had intellectual stamina," said Winblad as mentioned in the report.

Also read: Bill and Melinda Gates file for divorce, end their 27-year-old marriage

Also read: Bill and Melinda Gates agree to divide over $130 billion of assets
The U.S. death toll stands at more than 578,000. The CDC paper gives no overall estimate of how high the number of dead might go. But a closely watched projection from the University of Washington shows the curve largely flattening out in the coming months, with the toll reaching about 599,000 by Aug. 1.
Sensex and Nifty are likely to open lower as Nifty futures on the Singapore Exchange traded 14 points, or 0.10 per cent, lower at 14,518.50. On Tuesday, benchmark indices fell for the third straight session amid weak investor sentiment arising out of record Covid-19 cases. Sensex fell 465 points to 48,253 and Nifty ended 137 points lower at 14,496. Top Sensex losers were Dr Reddy's, Reliance Industries, Sun Pharma, HDFC twins, Infosys, M&M and Bharti Airtel falling up to 2.26%. Here's a look at stocks, which may remain in news today.

Alembic Pharmaceuticals: The drug firm reported a 11.60 percent rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 250.70 crore in Q4, mainly on account of robust sales. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 224.63 crore for the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

RBL Bank: The bank reported a 34 per cent fall in Q4 profit to Rs 75 crore compared to Rs 114 crore in the year-ago period due to provisioning for possible loan losses that it sees in the retail unsecured segments.

Maruti Suzuki: The firm expects some impact on its production if lockdowns and curfews imposed across various states continue amid the second wave of COVID-19 sweeping across the country.

L&T Infotech: The IT company reported a 27.6 per cent rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 545.7 crore in Q4 against a net profit of Rs 427.5 crore in the same period a year ago.

RIL, Vodafone Idea, Airtel: Department of Telecom approved applications of telecom companies -- Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and MTNL -- for conducting 5G trials but none of them will be using technologies of Chinese entities.

Adani Ports: Adani Group company's net profit almost quadrupled to Rs 1,321 crore from Rs 340 crore in the year-ago quarter on the back of 27 per cent growth in cargo volume to 73 MMT. For FY21, Adani Ports reported a 33 per cent year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 5,049 crore.

DCM Shriram: The chemical manufacturing firm reported a 15.42 per cent rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 232 crore in Q4 against net profit of Rs 201.27 crore in the same period of the previous fiscal.

Wipro: The company said it will invest about $22 million over the next four years to set up a 20,000 sq. ft. innovation centre Holborn, London. The centre will serve as Wipro's flagship centre in the UK and offer technology expertise to companies globally.

Sensex closes lower for third session; Dr Reddy's, RIL, Sun Pharma top losers
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COVID second wave, lockdowns threaten Q1 growth: UBS

With the second wave of the pandemic and the resultant localised lockdowns pulling down economic activity in April, Swiss brokerage UBS on Tuesday said this will impact the first quarter GDP to some extent. The UBS India activity indicator, which is a measure of a complex set of real-time economic activity numbers, fell 7 percentage points to 95 last month.

Foxconn, Wistron, Dell, Lava and 15 other firms apply for PLI investments

Apple's contract manufacturers Foxconn and Wistron, computer firm Dell and domestic company Lava are among the 19 companies that have applied for investments under the production linked incentive scheme for IT hardware manufacturing, the Ministry of Electronics and IT said on Tuesday. According to the ministry, the scheme is expected to lead to total production worth around Rs 1.6 lakh crore.

South India's N440K COVID variant 15 times more lethal

Amid the already raging COVID-19 second wave in India, a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 - 'N440K' - has been discovered in many parts of the country. Scientists at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) have found that lineages with N440K are not the dominant ones in the second wave of COVID pandemic in the country. CCMB scientists discovered the new coronavirus variant, which is believed to be at least 15 times more lethal than the earlier ones.

Oxygen crisis: Show cause why contempt action should not be taken, says Delhi HC to Centre

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to show cause as to why contempt action should not be taken against it for violating the court's order on supply of medical oxygen to the national capital. The court said the Centre has not been supplying 700 MT of oxygen as per the Supreme Court's order or 490 MT as per the High Court's order to Delhi. The court asked the Centre to supply 700 MT of oxygen immediately to Delhi.

Modi-Johnson virtual summit: Britain finalises new trade, investment with India worth 1 bn pounds

Britain has finalised 1 billion pounds worth of new trade and investment with India, creating over 6,500 jobs in the UK. Britain and India announced 1 billion pounds ($1.39 billion) of private-sector investment and committed to seek a free trade deal as Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed a new era in bilateral relations.

Govt approves 5G trials; to be conducted in urban, semi-urban, rural areas

The Telecom Department on Tuesday gave permission to telecom service providers (TSPs) to conduct trials for use and application of 5G technology. The Telecom Department has granted the permissions as per the priorities and technology partners identified by TSPs themselves. The duration of the trials, at present, is for a period of six months.
Highlights Dogecoin has grown by 45 per cent in last few days.

Cryptocurrency doubles from mid-April value.

Dogecoin co-creator had sold all his coins in 2015.

Dogecoin has exploded. Yes, that's the statement to define the recent surge of the cryptocurrency. Dogecoin had a difficult end to April 2021, sliding down to almost Rs 16 but has grown by over 45 per cent on Monday night, taking its value to Rs 51 (at the time of writing). The latest hike has helped DOGE surpass automaker Honda Motor Co. Ltd in terms of market capitalisation. Honda has a market cap of $54.52 billion and Dogecoin has grown past that to whopping $86 billion.

This is a significant development because Dogecoin co-creator Billy Markus recently revealed that he sold off his entire cryptocurrency holdings in 2015 so that he could afford a Honda Civic. Markus had later revealed that he never went on to buy the car and spend $10,000 earned from Dogecoin sale to pay his rent.

"I've always said was I sold everything for about as much as it would cost to buy a used Honda Civic. This was all my crypto too, I had Litecoin and Bitcoin and DOGE and a bunch of other ones," Markus had said.

Least did he know that his meme cryptocurrency will end up as one of the hottest digital currencies in the world. Dogecoin was created as a joke in 2013 by software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, and was never meant to be a serious cryptocurrency. Dogecoin's market capitalisation also puts the joke cryptocurrency ahead of companies like Emerson Electric Co and Vodafone Group Plc.

The Shiba Inu-themed cryptocurrency is now the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, as per CoinMarketCap data. Dogecoin has given the highest returns among cryptocurrencies in 2021. It has grown by over 8000 per cent while Bitcoin has given 91.29 per cent returns. The latest surge came ahead of Elon Musk's Saturday Night Live appearance on May 7 where he is expected to talk about the Doge.

The Tesla chief has been a huge promoter of Dogecoin and recently called himself Dogefather in a cryptic tweet.

Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency has seen so much interest in the last two days that major trading platforms, both in India and abroad, crashed. WazirX, one of India's largest cryptocurrency trading platforms, was down for almost an hour. Robinhood's trading app also crashed because of investor interest. A
Crown Bioscience (CrownBio), a JSR Life Sciences company and leader in preclinical services that help biopharmaceutical companies accelerate new drug development programs, has acquired OcellO B.V., a privately owned contract research organization located in the Netherlands. Through the acquisition, CrownBio will expand its portfolio of in vitro services, integrating OcellOs expertise in high content imaging alongside CrownBios in vitro and in vivo screens and immunotherapy assessment services. Financial terms are not being disclosed.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005619/en/

CrownBio and OcellO believe that the key to improving clinical research success is to utilize more patient-relevant models and assays that can generate reliable efficacy data as early as possible in the drug development process, said Armin Spura, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of CrownBio. This acquisition brings together the complementary strengths of our two companies, enhancing our in vitro services portfolio and offering customers the ability to better evaluate multiple drug combinations and targets, across a wider range of tumor and cancer types, with improved predictability and clinical relevance moving from in vitro to in vivo phases of drug discovery.

The acquisition establishes CrownBio as the only global source licensed to offer customers specialized Hubrecht Organoid Technology (HUB) for drug development programs. Under the terms of the agreement, Leo Price, PhD, OcellOs Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer, will join CrownBio as Senior Vice President, In Vitro, to lead the Companys in vitro business in the US and Europe.

I am delighted to join CrownBio and help grow the companys in vitro portfolio, said Dr. Price. We will continue our shared heritage of innovation and dedication to customer service to serve complex needs in early-stage cancer drug development. Our combined expertise is particularly suited for disease-relevant large-scale screening, allowing our customers to evaluate multiple drug combinations in a rapid, scientifically rigorous, and cost-effective way.

About Crown Bioscience Inc.

Crown Bioscience, a JSR Life Sciences company, is a global drug discovery and development service company providing translational platforms to advance oncology, immuno-oncology and inflammatory disorders. With an extensive portfolio of relevant models and predictive tools, Crown Bioscience enables clients to deliver superior clinical candidates. For more information, visit: www.crownbio.com

About OcellO B.V.

OcellO is a leading provider of compound testing services using advanced organotypic human tissue models of cancer, inflammation, and polycystic kidney disease. Automated 3D cell culture technology is combined with high content 3D imaging and analysis in a robust platform that provides scalability without compromising biological complexity. Cancer drug discovery services utilize organoids, PDX- derived tumoroids and patient tumor-derived models representing most solid tumor types and incorporating different components of the immune system.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005619/en/
Forge Global, Inc. (Forge), the leading global private securities marketplace, announced today that it has received FINRA approval to operate as a single broker dealer with SharesPost, which Forge merged with in 2020, and that it closed an oversubscribed round of more than $150M in new funding. Total funding raised to date exceeds $250M with the latest round including existing investor Deutsche Borse and Forges new investors Temasek, Wells Fargo Strategic Capital, LUN Partners Group and others. The continued interest from global strategic and financial investors validates Forges leadership position as it continues to develop new, innovative products and services to meet the needs of the private market.

Were excited to have these incredible companies partner with Forge as we continue to build the operating system for the private market, said Forge CEO Kelly Rodriques. With their support and backing, and the momentum coming from the SharesPost merger, we are in an excellent position to continue to build world-class solutions and bring data, technology and liquidity at scale to the private markets.

Since inception, Forge has completed more than $9B in transactions in nearly 400 private companies. In the months since its acquisition of SharesPost, the company tallied three consecutive record-breaking quarters including in Q1 2021 when Forge completed 1400 transactions totaling more than $730M of volume.

Forge intends to use the increased funding to continue to expand service offerings in the US and beyond. Jane Atherton, Managing Director, Investment at Temasek International and Paul Hilgers, Managing Director of Deutsche Borse's cash market business, will join Forges board.

The importance of private markets is growing  for companies and investors alike, explains Christoph Hansmeyer, Head of Group Strategy & M&A at Deutsche Borse. Investing in Forge pays testament to our commitment to help companies access liquidity both publicly and privately, and allows global investors to participate in the wealth created in both the public and private markets.

With more than 642 private unicorn companies globally totaling $2T in collective valuation and with many of those staying private for 10 years or more, unicorn companies are increasingly turning to the private market for liquidity solutions that Forge provides. Global institutions, through their investments in Forge, are signaling increased interest in innovative new products and services that build on the core secondary trading capabilities that the Forge platform delivers.

"The private securities market plays an increasingly important role in todays financial landscape, and Wells Fargo recognizes the significance of a digital platform like Forge in the ongoing evolution of this marketplace, said Tom Richardson, Head of Principal Technology Investments at Wells Fargo Strategic Capital. Forge's liquidity solutions simplify the complexities of private market transactions and introduces further transparency into the price discovery process. Were excited about the opportunities this brings to our customers and look forward to seeing Forges continued growth.

In February 2021, Forge launched Forge Company Solutions, a comprehensive liquidity solution suite for private, high-growth companies to facilitate custom liquidity programs including executive liquidity, company-sponsored employee liquidity, tender offers and direct listings.

About Forge

Forge serves the complex and emerging needs of the private market ecosystem by forging new connections through our technology, data and expertise. Founded in 2014, the firm empowers investors and shareholders by facilitating liquidity in the private markets. Forge is backed by top Silicon Valley investors and large, global institutions including Deutsche Borse, Temasek, Wells Fargo, BNP Paribas, FT Partners, Draper Associates, Peter Thiel, Munich Re Ventures and LUN Partners Group. . Securities related services are offered through Forge Market, LLC (Forge Markets) and SharesPost Financial Corporation (SPFC), each of which is a member of FINRA/SIPC and wholly owned subsidiaries of Forge Global, Inc. Transactional information includes trades conducted through SPFC, Forge Markets, and Emerson Equity, LLC (Member FINRA/SIPC and a broker dealer for SharesPost, Inc.) in 2011.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210504005348/en/
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (600028.SH/0386.HK) plans to invest 200 billion yuan ($30.9 billion) over the next five years to double the size of its natural gas business, as the countrys energy giants look to bring themselves in line with national climate goals.

The state-owned company  also known as Sinopec  aims to set up a new gas subsidiary and increase its overall gas trading volume to 100 billion cubic meters by 2025, up from 44.5 billion cubic meters last year, according to Mou Haiyong, the chief engineer of the companys existing gas branch.

Under pressure from Beijing to reduce planet-warming carbon dioxide emissions, Chinese energy firms are increasingly pivoting toward tried-and-tested natural gas as well as dabbling in renewable sources.

While burning gas still produces carbon emissions, it does so in lower quantities than other fossil fuels like coal and oil. Energy companies argue that gas is a good way to reduce emissions in the short term, pending a larger shift toward zero-carbon energy.

Shanghai- and New York-listed Sinopec aims to have 10 liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects underway by 2025, with a total receiving capacity of nearly 40 million tons per year, a nearly threefold rise on its current interests, Mou said.

He added that the company will also extend its network of feeder pipelines to 8,787 kilometers over the same period, some 5.5 times its current length.

Competition for downstream sales of oil and gas products has intensified since the creation last year of China Oil & Gas Network Corp., also known as PipeChina, which saw the Asian nations energy majors hand over much of their pipeline networks to a new national carrier.

The move landed Sinopec with a 14% stake in the new pipeline giant but unable to generate profit from its own conveyance network. The challenges for us have become bigger and bigger, said Wang Jinjun, the general manager and Communist Party secretary of a Sinopec gas subsidiary based in the eastern province of Shandong.

Unable to rely on pipelines, gas companies are vying to snap up customers at LNG terminals, Wang said. The terminals store and process LNG prior to import or export.

While officials said Sinopec had managed its pivot to terminals well, the firm is also battling an upstream production squeeze that is making it more reliant on imports, said Xi Haihong, an official in the sales management department of the companys main gas branch.

In terms of further development, resources are still our shortcoming, he said, citing Chinas relatively limited gas reserves and low growth rates as exacerbating factors.

Sinopec produced 1.1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas last year, up 2.3% from 2019, according to its annual report. Last month, the company announced a quarterly net profit of $2.8 billion, reversing losses made during the equivalent period of last year when Chinas Covid-19 outbreak forced production suspensions and a collapse in demand.

By comparison, rival PetroChina Co. Ltd. (601857.SH/00857.HK/NYSE: PTR) produced nearly 4 trillion cubic feet, a year-on-year rise of about 10%, according to its annual report. PetroChina also sold around four times as much gas in the domestic market as Sinopec.

The company said in March that gas will account for about 55% of its portfolio by 2025, up from 43% last year. It also swung back to profit in the first quarter, posting net gains of $4.3 billion.

Contact reporter Matthew Walsh (matthewwalsh@caixin.com) and editor Joshua Dummer (joshuadummer@caixin.com)

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There will be pockets of people that choose not to get vaccinated, and those pockets of people will provide opportunity for COVID to continue to lurk, Lamonts chief operating officer Josh Geballe said. Thats likely the mode were going to be in for some time. And therefore this is why were so focused on getting everyone vaccinated that we can, despite the fact that the cases and the test positivity and the hospitalizations are all declining so rapidly.
Whats new: Authorities in the southwestern city of Chongqing have confirmed that three Chinese flight passengers have been infected with a variant of the coronavirus that is emerging in India after returning from the South Asian country last month, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC).

The patients, with full protective measures, tested positive of Covid-19 upon arrival at Chongqing Customs on April 21 and were subsequently transferred to the designated Covid-19 hospital, the Chongqing Public Health Medical Center, the China CDC said in a field note published Saturday.

After sequencing specimens of the three patients last week, the Chongqing municipal CDC confirmed they were infected with the variant and concluded that their infection probably occurred in India, according to the note.

All in their 20s, the three patients worked for a cellphone company with a factory located in Noida, India, the field note said. The three had been working in the country since late 2019.

More than two weeks ago, the patients took business trips to several cities in India and Nepal, including Noida, New Delhi and Kathmandu, the note said, citing epidemiological investigation reports. They then stayed for two days at a hotel in Kathmandu before flying to Chongqing on April 21.

The background: Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the China CDC, said at a press conference Thursday that the coronavirus strain B.1.617, which was detected in India in October, has been found in several Chinese cities.

On Tuesday, the Chinese mainland reported (link in Chinese) seven confirmed Covid-19 cases, all imported, bringing the total number to 90,721, according to the National Health Commission. The mainlands death toll remained unchanged at 4,636.

Quick Takes are condensed versions of China-related stories for fast news you can use.

This story has been updated with additional information.

Contact reporter Wang Xintong (xintongwang@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)

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The southern metropolis closed farmers markets and entertainment and culture venues in medium and high-risk areas in ongoing efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19. The city reported 115 cases, including 106 confirmed cases and nine asymptomatic cases, as of Tuesday. The government has taken measures to meet the needs of residents living in locked-down areas

Jun 09, 2021 05:58 PM
Here you'll find our latest collection of Caledonian-Record reports on the coronavirus outbreak and local response, from the beginning of April. Our January, February and March stories are here: https://www.caledonianrecord.com/news/local/our-coronavirus-coverage/collection_5885178c-692e-11e
Police responded June 12 to complaints that Brooks had fallen asleep in his car in the drive-thru lane of a Wendys restaurant. Police body camera video shows the 27-year-old Black man struggling with two white officers after they told him hed had too much to drink to be driving and tried to arrest him. Brooks grabbed a Taser from one of the officers and fled, firing it at Rolfe as he ran. An autopsy found that Brooks was shot twice in the back.
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However, Dorsey, the board of educations attorney, said: She was never available to come to work, and all of her doctors notes said she couldnt come to work until next school year. Only when she was told that she was going to receive the [termination] letter from the superintendent ... she suddenly came in the next day with a note saying, Oh yes I can work now. 
A nurse administers one of the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to a Carteret Health Care employee in December. Since those initial few doses, the hospital and the Carteret County Health Department report administering more than 35,000 doses. (Elise Clouser photo)
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Former Red Lion Hotel in downtown Hartford sells for $22 million. See what plans the new owners have for the building.

Former hotel overlooking Dunkin' Donuts Park get new owners.
Mexico Citys Cinema Fantasma is working on a stop-motion kids show for HBO Max. Ahead of its push into Latin America, the streamer has greenlit Frankeldas Book of Spooks, an anthology series from the buzzy Mexican studio.

Frankeldas Book of Spooks will tell a different creepy tale in each episode; five 7-minute episodes have been commissioned. The ghostly character of the title will narrate the stories, accompanied by her friend, a talking book. Cartoon Network Latin America released a pilot episode on Youtube in November 2019. Watch it below (English subtitles are available):

Cinema Fantasma has a close relationship with Cartoon Network (which, like HBO Max, is owned by Warnermedia). The studio has produced idents and shorts for the channel and its late-night brand Adult Swim, as well as a stop-motion segment for its series Victor and Valentino.
Opening

The all-new Thar is the outcome of Mahindras serious effort to make it a life statement. One that passes off as oh-so desirable in all of its rugged glory. It doesnt end there though. This iteration is a new generation thats underpinned by a new platform with fresh drivetrain options. The good thing is that the fit and finish are much better, it certainly looks more modern now, and gone is the utilitarian air it once had about it. As we had the petrol variant with an automatic gearbox for a few days, heres our detailed experience.

Appearance Exterior

This is by far the most enticing bit that reels most prospective owners to Mahindra showrooms. But unlike its predecessor, the new Thar doesnt look like an afterthought. Everything that can make it look its best is part of the original package. This also means that you dont have to drive straight to the aftermarket guys from the dealership for a makeover; barring of course the seriously exotic hardware. That aside, regardless of the angle you look at the rugged Thar, it's love at first or every sight. Hell, even the ladies drool over it!

Appearance Interior

If youre familiar with the older Thar, the new ones cabin layout and finish will startle you, to say the least. A dazzling concoction of a utilitarian design with modern-day features. Nevertheless, its quality levels still cant match the similarly priced SUVs such as the Creta and the likes. Now, although the visibility off the front and side glass area along with the huge door mirrors is adequate, the spare wheel restricts the view out of the rear glass, and the absence of a rearview camera is sorely felt.

As for the front seats, they offer an overall supportive backrest (with lumbar support) with lavish head and shoulder room. Sadly though, it lacks thigh support and the tiny seat squab can only cling to your butt due to the hefty lateral supports. As expected, the rear twin front-facing seats can seat two passengers, but they couldve had more padding for comfortable seating, and should have offered more foot room.

On the flip side, the backrests can be reclined, theres decent leg- and headroom thats coupled to enormous shoulder room, and since the seats are slightly offset (in the centre), occupants don't have to struggle for a view out the front. Moreover, the twin-opening boot lids use a sideways opening door and an upwards-opening glass lid thats flashy, but the minuscule boot space can only hold some soft bags.

Jeep lovers can rave about the rexine door restraints, a fuel lid that only opens by sliding the key in, hood fasteners, and enough Thar badging to keep reminding you of what you drive. Then there are the 18-inch alloys, a moulded side footstep, a six-speaker touchscreen infotainment system, tilt-adjustable steering with multifunction controls, electric door mirrors and windows, and cruise control. As for safety, it gets tyre pressure monitoring, rear parking sensors, ESP, ABS with EBD, dual airbags, and a roll cage.

Performance Drive

This petrol 150bhp/320Nm 2.0-litre mStallion engine is a gem from Mahindra; smooth, silent, and powerful to be exact. Youll be extremely surprised to see the utter lack of NVH as it creeps off the mark to go about the regular runabout chores. This motor uses a six-speed torque convertor transmission, which although isnt a smooth-shifting box, sure gets the transmission duties done.

Be it driving in packed city traffic or at legal highway speeds, driving this petrol Thar is effortless because the power is smacked down on the tarmac from as low as 1,500rpm. To put things in perspective, this powertrain may feel like it pumps out the horses leisurely, but the 0-100kmph sprint takes just 10.17 seconds! So is the overtaking; only 5.80 and 7.80 seconds for the 20-80kmph and 40-100kmph runs.

The gear lever itself has a smooth-shifting actuation with well-defined gates that also makes shifting in a hurry (like reversing) a no-brainer. On the downside, the gear shifts could have been quicker to match the sporty engine because theres a perceptible lag in kick down as the throttle is floored. Besides that, the only other concern being the below-10kmpl fuel efficiency it returned with a light foot. This later dropped to around 7.7kmpl while driving fast.

Sure, the ride is jiggly like with most ladder-on-frame SUVs, but unlike the older one, the new Thars ride quality is way cushier. Like earlier, this ones rear suspension too hops over sharp bumps or expansion joints, its still considerably controlled. But we stress that the ride quality isnt as accomplished as the Hyundai Cretas or some. Otherwise, the new Thar feels almost indestructible, treading where others wouldve shied away from far.

What we didnt like though, is the slow steering which has a yawning three and one quarter turns from lock-to-lock. This, mated to the steerings heft at slow speeds, and a relatively large turning circle means its a wrestle to drive and park the new Thar in the more compact situations. Thankfully, as it picks up highway speeds the steering frees up somewhat, and unlike the older one, it hardly gets any of the vibrations either.

Conclusion

It all starts with appreciating the new Thar for the giant leap its taken from its predecessor. And even before thats done, youre smitten by the dynamics of this petrol automatic. I never expected this Thar edition to be such a fire-cracker that it is; smooth, silent, and just as capable off-road. All said and done, stacking this Thar to similarly priced rivals doesnt do justice because it still falls short in areas such as fit and finish, some ergonomic and occupant discomfort, and overall frugality. But if theres anything out there with wheels that simply tugs at my heart, other than the topless ones (pun intended), its the Thar for me any day!

Pictures by Kapil Angane

Mahindra Thar  12.12 Lakh Onwards

Mahindra Mahindra Thar | thar | Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra Mahindra
Photo: Contributed B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner Michael McEvoy

Making privacy a priority is an urgent consideration as the world moves past the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic, B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner Michael McEvoy says.

Remote workspaces, video conferencing, virtual doctors appointments  were benefiting tremendously from technology that helps us stay safe and connected during the pandemic, McEvoy said in an online discussion May 4.

But, its been in the world of health care privacy issues that the pandemic has had significant impacts.

Laws have been somewhat relaxed around the world to allow collection and sharing of peoples personal information in order to fight the virus. In B.C alone, laws were relaxed to allow health information to be shared across international borders.

Joining McEvoy in conversation was Privacy Commissioner of New Zealand John Edwards, who said his countrys success in returning to normalcy has been helped by a sense of common purpose. He said people accepted some infringement on personal information for new uses. However, Edwards was clear that any data collection must be in line with its intended use.

Yes, there have been some compromisings of privacy. There have been some victims, he said.

But, Edwards said, any regulations allowing for increased information collection in the pandemic in New Zealand have sunset clauses, as do those in B.C.

Edwards said countries must review how they have handled privacy issues during the pandemic to see what has worked for future such situations. Anything that didnt should be thrown out, he said.

And, certainly, Canada has avoided using draconian measures to deal with emergencies.

Former privacy commissioner of Canada Jennifer Stoddart said shes surprised the federal Emergencies Act hasnt been invoked in the pandemic, but added it was an interesting comment on how Canada hesitates on wide-ranging power use.

Governments in Canada really hesitate to use authoritarian powers, she said.

The commissioners also discussed the fleeting issue of contract tracing apps.

They said people didnt want to be tracked so any data generated through such apps became inconsequential.

The uptake has got to be very high in order to be effective, Edwards said. I dont think weve seen any jurisdiction where its reached that optimal level.

Further, he said, when Singapore first introduced such an app, data was not going to be available to police, and usage got to 20% of the population. But when lawmakers changed their mind on the police issue, usage fell.

The discussion marked the start of Privacy Awareness Week and come just before the Vancouver International Privacy & Security Summit kicks off May 5.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Former President Donald Trump wont return to Facebook  for now.

The social networks quasi-independent Oversight Board voted to uphold his ban from the platform after his account was suspended four months ago for inciting violence that led to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

While upholding the suspension, the board faulted Facebook in a statement for the way it made the decision.

The board said the ongoing risk of serious violence justified Facebooks suspension at the time, but said it was not appropriate for Facebook to impose an indefinite suspension.

The board said Facebook was seeking to avoid its responsibilities by applying a vague, standardless penalty and then referring the case to the board to resolve.

Indefinite penalties of this sort do not pass the international smell test," oversight board co-chari Michael McConnell said in a conference call with reporters. We are not cops, reigning over the realm of social media.

The board agreed with Facebook that that two of Trumps Jan. 6 posts severely violated the content standards of both Facebook and Instagram.

We love you. Youre very special, he said in the first post, and great patriots and remember this day forever in the second. Those violated Facebooks rules against praising or supporting people engaged in violence, the board said.

Helle Thorning-Schmidt, a former Danish prime minister who sits on the board, said in the call that Facebook shirked its responsibility to enforce its own rules. Facebook should either permanently disable Trumps account or propose a suspension for a specific period of time, she said.

The board says Facebook has six months to reexamine the arbitrary penalty it imposed on Jan. 7 and decide on another penalty that reflects the gravity of the violation and the prospect of future harm.

It didn't say exactly how Facebook should do this, but offered a number of recommendations. One advised against drawing a firm distinction between political leaders and other influential users because anyone with a big audience can potentially cause serious risks of harm.

Thorning-Schmidt said considerations of newsworthiness should never take priority over the risk of harm.

The board says the new penalty must be clear, necessary and proportionate and consistent with Facebooks rules for severe violations.

The board says if Facebook decides to restore Trumps accounts, the company must be able to promptly address further violations.

A Trump spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump has also been permanently banned from Twitter.
Photo: PNE

For the second year in a row, the grounds of the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver will remain silent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PNE announced Wednesday that even a modified, lower capacity in-person fair will not be possible in 2021.

As the largest employer of youth in the province, the PNE is a first job employer for generations of British Columbians. In total, the PNE employs 4,300 direct and up to 9,500 indirect jobs, including 4,200 CUPE 1004 members.

Despite our planning for a number of scalable versions of the PNE Fair, it is now clear that the number of guests required to make an in-person fair financially viable will not be allowed under anticipated public health orders this summer, says PNE spokesperson Laura Ballance.

We understand the implications this decision will have on our staff team, our exhibitor and concessionaire partners as well as hundreds of thousands of annual guests, with whom we will look for ways to connect with once informed about what the summertime health orders will allow. We are committed to continuing to work with the Provincial Health Office to see what might be possible as the summer progresses.

Andrew Ledger CUPE 1004 president says losing the fair for the second year is a massive loss of much-needed employment for union members.

We are deeply concerned about the thousands of CUPE members that depend on the fair each summer to pay their way through school or to help support their families, Ledger said. We do want to thank the more than 4,000 people who have engaged the www.savethepne.ca website and sent letters to the BC government to save PNE jobs, we hope their voices will be heard.

The PNE expects further announcements about plans to connect with our guests in ways other than our traditional in-person Fair in the coming months.
Photo: The Canadian Press Passengers from New Delhi wait in long lines for transportation to their quarantine hotels at Pearson Airport in Toronto on Friday April 23, 2021. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says the resumption of international travel requires a coordinated approach for testing and a common platform for recognizing the vaccinated status of travellers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Transport Minister Omar Alghabra says the resumption of international travel requires a co-ordinated approach for testing and a common platform for recognizing the vaccinated status of travellers.

Following participation at the G7 transport ministers' meeting, Alghabra says Canada's goal is to establish a system that will protect privacy and personal information, and that will be accessible, fair and equitable.

Algabra says G7 countries have a leading role to play in advancing a new global framework for international travel that will be essential to safely resume the free movement of people and goods, and the return to a barrier-free global travel environment.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau says he and his G7 counterparts discussed global issues that threaten to undermine democracy, freedoms and human rights including the relations with Russia, China, and Iran, as well as the ongoing crises in Myanmar, Ethiopia and Syria.

He says the ministers called on China to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms and expressed their deep concerns about the human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.

The G7 includes the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the European Union.
Photo: Mario Bartel

A timeline of events leading up to the revelation that Trina Hunts body was found in Hope, B.C. at the end of March  more than two months after she went missing  shows how much devastation her disappearance caused her family and friends.

Now a memorial of flowers, photos and candles is growing outside her Heritage Mountain home.

The timeline shows Port Moody police stopped issuing press releases a month after the 48-year-old woman went missing, however, for at least two months after her disappearance, there were vigils, unfurling of a missing persons banner and the continuation of community searches.

In addition to the familys efforts, Hunts disappearance generated huge interest from community members who used social media to both raise awareness and speculate on what happened in the case.

At least two websites, an unofficial sub-Reddit, several YouTube videos and an unofficial Facebook group were started to discuss the case. Several websites have also been set up in the late womans name, one set up only three days before Hunt was announced dead, is run by roughly a dozen amateur digital sleuths galvanized by the circumstances surrounding Hunts disappearance.

Jenn Lamont, who leads the group, said they have collectively dedicated thousands of hours to piecing together evidence and confirming rumours. Lamont says the group even travelled out to Hope to search for the missing woman last month (police had already recovered Hunts remains but had not yet publicly identified them).

I never have been involved in something like this, said Lamont, who used to live in the Tri-Cities and shared several mutual friends with Hunt. None of us could shake it.

Lamont says her and her groups sleuthing hasnt come without risk, and she says she has been subject to a number of anonymous threats.

I get a lot of oh, Im watching you, she said.

Its not likely such armchair sleuths, nor the social media speculation that surrounds their work will come to an end despite the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team revealing May 1 that remains found in Hope, south of Silver Creek are that of missing Port Moody woman Trina Hunt.

Family spokesperson Stephanie Ibbot, who has been in contact with Lamont and helped verify some of the information they collected, says she and the rest of Hunts family appreciate both the outpouring of support and efforts to get to the bottom of what happened. At the same time, shes worried others offering hot takes on YouTube and not connected to the community could do more harm than good.

Were just trying to do things one step at a time and wait. We dont want to get lost in speculation. Its not a safe, said Ibbot.

At the same time, Hunts family is not letting up in their push for justice.

Ibbott added: We continue to fight. Because we found Trina but we still dont have any answers.

As the investigation is has now transitioned into a case of homicide, and is active and ongoing, police said no further details will be provided at this time.

However, anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448) or by email at [email protected]

Those who wish to remain anonymous, can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Heres a compilation of activities since Trina Hunt went missing:

Jan. 18 - Trina Hunt is reported missing, Port Moody police begin investigation.

Jan. 19 - Port Moody police issue public plea for help in locating 48-year-old Trina Hunt who was reported last seen by her husband at 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18. Massive community search underway, with the support of Coquitlam Search and Rescue combing the area near her Heritage Woods home and and RCMP helicopter and a canine unit contributing to the search effort.

Jan. 21 - Port Moody Police Department (PMPD) seeks dash cam footage of the area for the hours of 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 18. Community ground search called off, family issues a statement via police thanking community members for supporting them in the search to find Trina.

IN JANUARY, PORT MOODY POLICE REPORT FOUL PLAY IS NOT SUSPECTED

Jan. 22 - Police issue two media releases: one stating there are no updates from overnight. The investigation into the disappearance of Trina Hunt is active and ongoing. Another that says Trinas family has been cooperative and foul play is not suspected.

Jan. 25 - PMPD send Tri-City News a statement via email that there is no specific update on the missing Trina Hunt case. We will not be discussing future investigational steps.

Jan. 27 - Family posts a video on Facebook containing photos and a description of the 48-year-old woman on Facebook, asking people to share it widely.

FEBRUARY

Feb. 7 - Coquitlam RCMP ask people to stop spreading information about abductions on social media. Speculation that concerns about missing Trina Hunt and a Chilliwack woman are creating a climate of fear.

Feb. 17 - PMPD say via a statement that they contacted the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, responsible for cases where foul play is suspected. However,this missing person case does not meet IHITs mandate.

Feb. 28 - a GoFundMe page is set up to cover the costs in continuing to search for Trina. It is currently at $22,285.

MARCH

March 1 - Family of Trina Hunt holds a press conference to display a missing persons banner on the Murray Street overpass in Port Moody. Our anguish is unbearable. It is simply impossible to function at times, said Hunts cousin-in-law Stephanie Ibbott.

March 20, 21 - Family and friends re-start community searches of the Heritage Mountain area for Trina Hunt.

March 29 - A body is found in Hope; Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) reveals that human remains have been recovered in the area south of Silver Creek and it will be working with forensic services and the B.C. Coroners Service to gather evidence. No reference is made to Trina Hunt.

APRIL

April 18 - A special livestream vigil is held on Facebook for Trina Hunt, to mark three months since her disappearance, with participants encouraged to light a candle.

MAY

May 1 - IHIT reveals the remains found in Hope have been identified as being those of Trina Hunt. It states that foul play is suspected in her death and it is working with the Port Moody police to further the investigation.

The missing person investigation of Trina Hunt has now transitioned into a case of homicide, stated Sgt Frank Jang of IHIT in a statement to the Tri-City News. As this is an active and ongoing investigation, there will be no further details provided at this time.

May 5 - Police have not revealed any further information.
In today's National Post, letter writer Allan Garneau asks many excellent questions about the COVID response thus far in Canada - questions such as, "Who botched the vaccine deal with China?", and "Who is accountable for the extending the date of the second vaccination?", and "Who decided that border closures were not effective or needed?" He believes that "authorities will have to be held accountable".

Letter writer Donald Cangiano suggests that "now is not the time to see who is at fault for Canada's mediocre attempts to curb the spread of COVID but accountability must be reckoned with" sometime in the future.

My question is much more simple - What does "accountability" actually look like? Let's say, for argument's sake, that Justin Trudeau admits that he personally screwed up the deal with the Chinese. Or Patty Hajdu says that she is responsible for extending the time between doses and that it causes many hospitalizations and/or deaths.

So what? Outside of (possibly but not necessarily) losing an election, how can they be held "accountable"? They would still receive lifetime pensions courtesy of you and me and they would still be able to go back to whatever life they had before politics. Big deal! Other than (possibly) a little bit of shame (I find it hard to believe that either of them know what shame even means), what "penalty or accountability" would there be, or could there be? Absolutely none!

But the dead would still be dead, the bankrupt businesses would still be bankrupt, and the trillion dollar (+) debt would still need to be paid by someone else - not by Trudeau or Hajdu or Tam. They get off unscathed. Seems to me, no matter who is to "blame", it's the citizens and taxpayers who will be responsible to mourn the dead, to clean up the mess, and to pay the tab. Same old, same old. Politicians are always long gone when the time comes to pay the piper. Nothing new there. No sense wasting even more money on an inquiry - just more good money after bad. We had inquiries after SARS and H1N1 and what good did it do us?

Lloyd Vinish


Omar Delaney is accused of raping a wedding guest before he was set to get married in Las Vegas, according to an arrest report.
We spoke about equity legislation  righting wrongs, Duff said on the Senate floor. None of that happens with one wave of a wand. This is a process we need to have over a series of pieces of policy. ... This policy is a step in the right direction. While I see other states moving in the opposite direction ... I believe we are working hard here in this body and this building to fulfill the promises that were made in changing policies and righting wrongs.'
On May 5, 2021, this report was posted online as an MMWR Early Release.

The B.1.427 and B.1.429 variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, were first described in Southern California on January 20, 2021 (1); on March 16 they were designated variants of concern* (2). Data on these variants are limited, but initial reports suggest that, compared with other lineages, they might be more infectious (1,2), cause more severe illness (2), and be less susceptible to neutralizing monoclonal antibody products such as bamlanivimab, an investigational treatment for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 (13). On January 24, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) identified the first Colorado case of COVID-19 attributed to these variants. B.1.427 and B.1.429 were considered a single variant described as CAL.20C or B.1.427/B.1.429 in the 20C clade (1,3); in this report B.1.427/B.1.429 refers to B.1.427 or B.1.429 lineage, including those reported as B.1.427/B.1.429 without further differentiation.

In Colorado, most routine SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing (WGS) is performed by the CDPHE laboratory, generally on a convenience sample of available specimens. Whereas reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) S-gene target failure, which suggests the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant, is used to prioritize specimens for sequencing (4), no such indicator exists for B.1.427/B.1.429 and other variants of concern. To improve convenience sampling to identify and track emerging variants, CDPHE established a 30-site statewide sentinel surveillance system. Sites submit a random sample of up to 30 SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCRpositive specimens from inpatients and outpatients to CDPHE for sequencing each week. COVID-19 B.1.427/B.1.429 variant cases were identified through tiled amplicon WGS., Assembly of sequencing data into whole genomes was performed using CDPHEs publicly available Illumina and Nanopore data workflows. Phylogenetic Assignment of Named Global Outbreak Lineages (Pangolin)** (5) and Nextstrains Nextclade tools (6) were used to assign lineage designations to each assembled genome. CDPHE conducted enhanced case investigation and contact tracing, including reinterview of previously interviewed persons, upstream contact tracing, increased testing of asymptomatic contacts, resource coordination to assist persons with successful isolation or quarantine, and involvement of CDPHEs Cultural Navigation program, which ensures culturally informed communication with immigrants, refugees, and other groups that are disproportionally affected by COVID-19.

By March 31, CDPHE reported 327 COVID-19 B.1.427/B.1.429 cases with specimen collection dates during January 4March 20, including 90 (28%) B.1.427, 218 (67%) B.1.429, and 19 (6%) not differentiated by the reporting commercial laboratory. B.1.427/B.1.429 case sequences were identified a median of 14.5 days after specimen collection (range = 738 days). Median patient age was 39 years (range = <195 years); 186 (57%) patients were male. Cases were identified in 31 (48%) of Colorados 64 counties. Enhanced interviewing of all patients with variant cases was attempted through February; 60 (83%) such interviews were completed. Among these, nine (15%) persons reported travel outside Colorado (three to California, two to Nevada, and one each to Georgia, Minnesota, Utah, and the District of Columbia); none reported international travel. Through March, among 211 patients with symptom information available, 193 (91%) were symptomatic. Forty-six (14%) hospitalizations and eight (2%) deaths were reported; not all ill persons had recovered at time of data analysis. Based on available data, seven (2%) vaccine breakthrough cases were identified. Although Colorado variant data were derived from a convenience sample, when compared with national estimates of 85% symptomatic illness and 5% hospitalization rates among patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results, these data suggest that B.1.427/B.1.429 might more frequently cause discernible and severe illness than do nationally circulating lineages overall.

CDPHE tracked a steady increase in the proportion of sequenced specimens that were B.1.427/B.1.429, from 3%4% in late January to 20%22% in early March; during this time, national genomic surveillance data were insufficient to provide variant prevalence estimates for Colorado. Although sequencing performed for surveillance or research should not be used for individual clinical decision-making, these statewide population-level data provided general treatment decision support to clinicians for patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results in Colorado. Because of the increasing proportion of Colorado B.1.427/B.1.429 variant cases and their association with resistance to bamlanivimab, CDPHE issued a Health Alert Network advisory on March 22 recommending against monotherapy with bamlanivimab. On April 16, the Food and Drug Administration revoked the Emergency Use Authorization for monotherapy with this product.*** Establishing a state public health laboratorybased sequencing program and sentinel surveillance system in Colorado and merging laboratory and epidemiologic data has improved SARS-CoV-2 variant situational awareness and efforts to control the spread of variants, and also has provided data to guide Colorado clinicians and contributed timely data to inform important national clinical policy decisions. Given delays in sequencing results and increasing proportions of variant cases, all COVID-19 cases should be considered potential variant cases upon initial report.
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Carbon reduction on paper

Published 04 May 2021

The European kraft paper and paper sack industry has put further efforts into improving its carbon footprint. The latest carbon impact analysis on European paper sacks carried out by the Swedish research institute RISE on behalf of the European Paper Sack Research Group (ESG)  a collaboration between EUROSAC and CEPI Eurokraft  shows the significant progress made in recent years. By EUROSAC, France.

Analysis into the carbon footprint of European paper sacks has been carried out by the Swedish research institute RISE using two different methods. Both calculations are based on tools developed by the International Confederation of Paper and Board Converters in Europe (CITPA) and by the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI).

 As the first step, a cradle-to-gate calculation of the fossil carbon impact of sack kraft paper and paper sacks was carried out following the CEPI and CITPA guidelines established in 2007.

 In the second step, the study included the total carbon impact (ie, fossil carbon emissions, biogenic carbon emissions and biogenic carbon removals).

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Buena Vista, CO (81211)

Today

Abundant sunshine. High 83F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 48F. SE winds shifting to WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Cut Bank, MT (59427)

Today

Cloudy this morning. Scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 63F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 46F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
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Chatham, VA (24531)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 88F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College healthcare students have navigated a global pandemic during the past year. For graduating students like Amanda Blackwell, the rise of COVID-19 has shown her what being a nurse and working in healthcare is all about.Ms. Blackwell was one of 15 GNTC students who volunteered to administer the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines at CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga on Jan. 4.I administered dose one of the vaccine at the hospital, Ms. Blackwell said. It was an eye opening experience.It was her first clinical rotation and first time being face-to-face with patients since the pandemic began.Ms. Blackwell administered vaccines to healthcare workers at the hospital as well as adults over the age of 65 who volunteer at the hospital.Each student vaccinated over 50 patients, she said. Memorial made a huge deal out of it and let everyone who got vaccinated ring a bell.The 40-year-old GNTC student will receive an associate degree in nursing this month, completing a 22-year journey to become a nurse.Ms. Blackwell said she was attending Dalton State College in 1999 when she found out she was pregnant with her first child.My plans to be a nurse had to be put on hold, she said. I changed course and went to school to be a cosmetologist.Ms. Blackwell rented a space to cut and style hair for 10 years before opening Alchemy Salon in Fort Oglethorpe. When her third child started pre-K, Blackwell enrolled in GNTCs nursing program.Finishing my nursing degree was always the plan, she said. I dont think I would have ever forgiven myself if I didnt go back and finish what I started.Now, Ms. Blackwell is working two days a week in the salon and two days a week in Labor and Delivery at Erlanger Health System. After graduation, she plans to work three 12-hour shifts a week at the hospital and one day in the salon.One of the benefits of owning your own salon is setting your own hours, she said. Both of my jobs are about caring for people and I think the two professions go hand-in-hand. At the end of the day we are servants of others.Lauren Elsberry, instructor of associate degree nursing at GNTC, said her students have remained on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, completing their clinical rotations while also volunteering to administer vaccines.Amanda is a phenomenal student who helped administer one of the first vaccines in our area, said Ms. Elsberry. This year was a challenging time for all students, but despite everything Amanda and her classmates really seemed to shine.For Ms. Blackwell, the pandemic showed her the true meaning of being a nurse. She said her instructors were great examples and a tremendous resource to her and her classmates.Our instructors made sure they did everything they could to get our program completed on time, Ms. Blackwell said. I really loved being a part of the program.Georgia Northwestern Technical Colleges Spring Commencement Ceremony will be held in Rome at the Floyd County Campus as a drive-thru ceremony this Thursday at 7 p.m. Spring semester GNTC graduates from all six campuses are invited to attend the ceremony.
Cempa Community Care, a Chattanooga-based community health organization, applauds the Tennessee Legislature for passing SB1617/HB1398, a bill that, if signed by Governor Bill Lee, would protect patients and community health groups across the state by safeguarding the integrity of the federal governments 340B Drug Pricing Program. This program, administered by the Health Resources & Services Administration, enables covered entities to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services.

Last year, Senator Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville) and Rep. Esther Helton (R-East Ridge) paved the way to advance Section 1 of this bill, but it was designated to summer study for further review. SB1617/HB1398, a more comprehensive reform bill, was introduced in this legislative session by Senator Shane Reeves (R-Murfreesboro) and Rep. Helton. The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Lee and will await his signature to become law.

I commend our legislators for passing this bill so that organizations like Cempa across our great state can continue to eliminate health barriers and disparities through the 340B program, said Cempa Community Care CEO, Shannon Stephenson. We have fought tooth and nail against predatory Pharmacy Benefit Managers whove wanted to undercut the program to capture revenue for their own coffers. I now urge Governor Lee to sign this bill into law so that we can continue to promote a safer and healthier Tennessee.

The strength of this bill is built upon five key pillars, said officials. Those are:

Eliminating 340B discriminatory efforts potentially employed by PBMs that might undercut the financial benefits inherently delivered through the 340B program.

Safeguarding patient choice by (a) requiring health plans to accept coverage for prescription drugs; by (b) prohibiting a PBM from imposing coverage or benefit limitations; and by (c) ensuring that PBMs do not interfere in decisions regarding where a patient chooses to receive their drugs.

Protecting effective mechanisms that already allow medications to be acquired by patients at more affordable prices.

Cementing the fiduciary obligation PBMs have to report any entitlement benefit percentage to both the plan and covered person.

Ensuring heightened transparency by challenging the opaqueness within the healthcare system by freeing up data to provide accurate information at the point of care, empowering conversations and decisions about medicines a patient can afford.

For additional Cempa Community Care information, please visit www.cempa.org



For more information about the 340B program, click this link
The Red Bank City Commission, following a tumultuous two-hour session before a packed crowd on Tuesday night, will have a revote on a 10-month exit contract for City Manager Tim Thornbury.

Many in the crowd, including several former city officials, urged Mr. Thornbury to stay.

Many also blamed new Mayor Hollie Berry and Vice Mayor Stefanie Dalton for running him off. Some others said Mr. Thornbury had resigned and should depart without the pay package.

The mayor and vice mayor, who had voted April 26 against the Thornbury pay proposal, said the action at that session was invalid because the commission did not properly have legal representation. City Attorney Arnie Stulce had recused himself and brought in attorney Harry Cash. Mr. Thornbury had his attorney, Sam Elliott, with him. Mayor Berry said a special meeting was needed to formally hire a fill-in attorney. That will be on Friday at 4:15 p.m. at City Hall. Then another meeting on the issue will be next Tuesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Mr. Thornbury, a 35-year Red Bank employee who has been city manager for 30 months, said Tuesday night that "two members of the commission have made my working conditions intolerable."

But he said, "I have not resigned. I will come back to work until we get this resolved."

Mr. Thornbury said he believed his offer to the commission to continue working on current projects for the next 10 months with his full pay in place was "a win/win solution. It's fair to me and it's fair to the city."

Vice Mayor Dalton said she had received "countless emails and texts" since the recent meeting and said it was "still confusion surrounding the terms of his separation." She said no action had been taken by anyone on the commission to terminate him, and she called him "a wonderful asset."

She said the appropriate action, since the letter said he was resigning, was for him to be paid "a negotiated hourly rate for a short amount of time." She said that is what happened when Ruthie Rohen left her longtime recorder job, then came back to help.

Vice Mayor Dalton said at the April 26 meeting "the city had no legal representation." She said there are "multiple questions and concerns" remaining.

Of the upcoming meetings, she said, "I hope to see everybody there."

Commissioner Ruth Jeno, who earlier voted along with Ed LeCompte and Pete Phillips to approve the Thornbury terms, said, "Our city is desperately in need of prayer. Our employees are in turmoil."

She said she had received "overwhelming support" since the recent meeting. She called Mr. Thornbury "a loyal and dedicated employee who has been under attack." She said the mayor and vice mayor had repeatedly gone around him - consulting with other city managers and having discussions with employees while leaving him out of the loop. She said they had gotten involved themselves in the issue about what to do with the old school property on Dayton Boulevard - contacting the National Park Service and interested developers.

Commissioner Jeno said the mayor and vice mayor had promised city employees a pay increase. She said they were "tearing our city apart."

She said Mr. Thornbury was being paid $109,000 - the same as the prior city manager - and was continuing to do his public works and building inspector jobs.

Commissioner Phillips said the majority of the board was behind Mr. Thornbury, but said the mayor and vice mayor "have gone behind his back." He said the city manager is the commission's only employee, and he is hired to make all the decisions about running the city.

He said the result had been "to drag Mr. Thornbury's career through the mud."

Commissioner Phillips said under the current circumstances he did not see how anyone else could come in and be successful in the job.

He said Mr. Thornbury had saved the city over $300,000 in his 30 months as city manager by continuing to do the public works and building inspector jobs.

A number of citizens came to the podium to express their feelings.

One speaker said if commissioners "were going around the city manager that should be grounds for their dismissal. They should be held accountable."

Another said, "This is stressing me out. This could happen to the next city manager and the next, and this city will be devastated."

Former school board member Kathy Lennon said Commissioner Jeno "had made some very strong accusations. I didn't think that was very fair to do that." She said those involved should get together and work things out.

Commissioner Jeno interjected, "The best thing to happen to the city would be for Mr. Thornbury to rescind his resignation. I have begged him to stay. It just breaks my heart that he's leaving. He's a wonderful person."

John Lennon, a teacher, said it was "not weird for the mayor and vice mayor to be out seeking advice." Of Mr. Thornbury, he said, "If the man wants to retire, he retires."

Jeff Cannon told the commission, "You can't offer a handout to people who retire."

One citizen said, "We have an election, then all of a sudden the rookies are running the place."

A businessman who said he has been considering a large office investment in Red Bank said, "I have nothing but fear after this meeting." He said it was unlikely the firm would make the investment under the current political climate.

Former Mayor John Roberts said he had been out of office since 2018, but "since all this came up my phone has been ringing off the hook." He told the commissioners, "We do not need to come to a standstill." He said he would urge Mr. Thornbury to reconsider leaving. He said, "We ought to name something after him."

Tyler Howell, a former commissioner, said Mr. Thornbury "has an impressive range of major accomplishments."

Businessman Greg Jones said the actions of some commissioners were "inappropriate, unprofessional and really embarrassing to me as a citizen."

A woman said, "If we lose Tim Thornbury, we're up a creek without a toothpick."
Sprinkled liberally throughout the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerces CEOs for Racial Equity  Pledge, to be signed by its members, are the words Equity, Equality and Prosperity. Lets call these words the new virtues. The Pledge is asking that these virtues be embraced, and that the business community admit its past indiscretion of systematic racism.

A friend, who I greatly admire, shared some thoughts on his theory of what is behind the Pledge. He said, after a close read of the Chamber Pledge 

Equitable, in common parlance, means just and fair. I dont understand what just and fair prosperity is. I dont understand just prosperity or fair prosperity. I dont understand the ability for everyone to prosper either. All we can provide, and what we should provide, is the opportunity for everyone to prosper. We cannot make people able to prosper. We can and should make education and training a level playing field and, in some instances, a field slanted to be favorable for people who need it. The pledge insinuates we as a community have not addressed these problems. But they have been addressed, and more than addressed, by most any business leader who would have the opportunity to sign the pledge. The Pledge, pure and simple, is virtue signaling.

So, what is virtue signaling? My Google search reveals that  Virtue signaling is the conspicuous expression of moral values. Academically, the phrase relates to signaling theory and describes a subset of social behaviors that could be used to signal virtue. Since 2015 the term has been more commonly used within groups to criticize those who are seen to value the expression of virtue over action. Virtue signaling is a pejorative term.

Business owners should signal to the Chamber leadership that it needs to focus on its mission of attracting businesses and well-paying jobs to the Chattanooga area. Call your County Commissioner and ask that the county demand the Chamber leave social justice warrioring to our local foundations and to leftist political activists.

Second, withhold your membership dues to the Chamber as your Pledge to help get the Chamber back on track.

Tom Decosimo

* * *



I found it interesting, yet disappointing, to read Mr. Decosimos opinion regarding the Chambers CEO Pledge for Racial Equality. If Mr. Decosimo is under the impression that systematic racism does not or has not existed in this community, then I would recommend about 20 minutes with Google to bring him up to speed. Further, I would steer him toward the Harvard Business Review article in which he will note: Research has shown that companies with effective Corporate Social Responsibility programs are more profitable than those that arent.

Perhaps we can chalk his opinion up to implicit bias. Mr. Decosimo may be one of those folks who has no conscious knowledge of his own prejudices. This, sometimes, can be a powerful obstacle to overcome.

I applaud the courage and the risk taken by Ms. Gillenwater with her willingness to lead the charge in this rather politically sensitive endeavor. Numerous corporations around the nation have for some time embraced social responsibility and, now more than ever, corporations are implementing social justice programs into their business models.

The claims made by Mr. Decosimos admired friend are also disheartening. He (or she) states: The pledge insinuates we as a community have not addressed these problems. But they have been addressed, and more than addressed, by most any business leader who would have the opportunity to sign the pledge. What? We have more than addressed the problems of inequity and racially discriminatory problems in the Chattanooga regions private sector? Really? This speaks to textbook implicit bias.

The old guard is clinging tenaciously to the status quo and the disinformation that surrounds it. As a nation, we seem to be finally waking up to our long, insidious efforts to oppress and deny power to people of color. Ms. Gillenwater is suggesting a call to action by CEOs. Hers is not a case of virtue signaling; I repeat, it is a call to action.

Now, if Mr. Decosimo and friend do not support or do not want to participate in social justice, thats their prerogative. But to attempt to throw shade at an important, timely and needed initiative from the Chamber is, in my opinion, totally unnecessary and strongly counterproductive to much needed change.

Mr. Decosimo seems to fairly clearly indicate that he frowns on social justice, stating in essence that it only belongs in foundations and with leftist political activists. Okay, we understand. He also seems unable to understand that the Chamber can incorporate into its mission positive, proactive components that can and will benefit the entire community.

Lastly, to suggest that businesses withhold their Chamber dues is simply an undignified proposal for which I trust Mr. Decosimo is regretful.

Gregory Smith

* * *

I do not know Mr. Smith, but I suspect that the Decosimo family has done more to alleviate poverty and provide opportunity in Chattanooga then his lecturing rhetoric on the Chattanoogan will accomplish.

John Hollingsworth
The Tennessee State Legislature, in its final week in session, is working tirelessly to ban critical race theory from being taught in the states public schools. Mind you, it is just a theory but has become a volatile subject in American politics and there is good reason. Unfortunately, some of the few, the liberal elites, have taken the challenge to advance the critical race theory, and the biggest problem with classroom turmoil is few really understand what it means or whats at play.

About six weeks ago Christopher Rufo gave a talk at the Hillsdale College on What it is & How To Fight It. His talk was summarized in Hillsdales Imprimis, a monthly speech digest of Hillsdale College dedicated to educating citizens and promoting civil and religious liberty by covering cultural, economic, political, and educational issues. Due to the Tennessee Legislatures aggressive stance, allow me to share Rufos insight.

Incidentally, Chris Rufo is an esteemed and very knowledgeable expert on topics including critical race theory, homelessness, addiction, and crime.

Rufo is founder and director of Battlefront, a public policy research center. As executive director at the Documentary Foundation, he has directed four films for PBS, including most recently America Lost, which explores life in Youngstown, Ohio, Memphis, Tennessee, and Stockton, California.

* * *

CRITICAL RACE THEORY: WHAT IT IS

By Christopher Rufo, Battlefront

(NOTE: The following is adapted from a lecture delivered at Hillsdale College on March 30, 2021.)

Critical race theory is fast becoming Americas new institutional orthodoxy. Yet most Americans have never heard of it - and of those who have, many dont understand it. Its time for this to change. We need to know what it is so we can know how to fight it.

In explaining critical race theory, it helps to begin with a brief history of Marxism. Originally, the Marxist Left built its political program on the theory of class conflict. Marx believed that the primary characteristic of industrial societies was the imbalance of power between capitalists and workers. The solution to that imbalance, according to Marx, was revolution: the workers would eventually gain consciousness of their plight, seize the means of production, overthrow the capitalist class, and usher in a new socialist society.

During the 20th century, a number of regimes underwent Marxist-style revolutions, and each ended in disaster. Socialist governments in the Soviet Union, China, Cambodia, Cuba, and elsewhere racked up a body count of nearly 100 million of their own people. They are remembered for their gulags, show trials, executions, and mass starvations. In practice, Marxs ideas unleashed mans darkest brutalities.

By the mid-1960s, Marxist intellectuals in the West had begun to acknowledge these failures. They recoiled at revelations of Soviet atrocities and came to realize that workers revolutions would never occur in Western Europe or the United States, where there were large middle classes and rapidly improving standards of living. Americans in particular had never developed a sense of class consciousness or class division. Most Americans believed in the American dream - the idea that they could transcend their origins through education, hard work, and good citizenship.

But rather than abandon their Leftist political project, Marxist scholars in the West simply adapted their revolutionary theory to the social and racial unrest of the 1960s. Abandoning Marxs economic dialectic of capitalists and workers, they substituted race for class and sought to create a revolutionary coalition of the dispossessed based on racial and ethnic categories.

Fortunately, the early proponents of this revolutionary coalition in the U.S. lost out in the 1960s to the civil rights movement, which sought instead the fulfillment of the American promise of freedom and equality under the law. Americans preferred the idea of improving their country to that of overthrowing it. The vision of Martin Luther King, Jr., President Johnsons pursuit of the Great Society, and the restoration of law and order promised by President Nixon in his 1968 campaign defined the post-1960s American political consensus.

But the radical Left has proved resilient and enduring - which is where critical race theory comes in.

* * *

WHAT EXACTLY IS CRITICAL RACE THEORY?

WHAT IT IS

Critical race theory is an academic discipline, formulated in the 1990s, built on the intellectual framework of identity-based Marxism. Relegated for many years to universities and obscure academic journals, over the past decade it has increasingly become the default ideology in our public institutions. It has been injected into government agencies, public school systems, teacher training programs, and corporate human resources departments in the form of diversity training programs, human resources modules, public policy frameworks, and school curricula.



There are a series of euphemisms deployed by its supporters to describe critical race theory, including equity, social justice, diversity and inclusion, and culturally responsive teaching. Critical race theorists, masters of language construction, realize that neo-Marxism would be a hard sell. Equity, on the other hand, sounds non-threatening and is easily confused with the American principle of equality. But the distinction is vast and important. Indeed, equality - the principle proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence, defended in the Civil War, and codified into law with the 14th and 15th Amendments, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 - is explicitly rejected by critical race theorists. To them, equality represents mere nondiscrimination and provides camouflage for white supremacy, patriarchy, and oppression.



In contrast to equality, equity as defined and promoted by critical race theorists is little more than reformulated Marxism. In the name of equity, UCLA Law Professor and critical race theorist Cheryl Harris has proposed suspending private property rights, seizing land and wealth and redistributing them along racial lines. Critical race guru Ibram X. Kendi, who directs the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, has proposed the creation of a federal Department of Antiracism. This department would be independent of (i.e., unaccountable to) the elected branches of government, and would have the power to nullify, veto, or abolish any law at any level of government and curtail the speech of political leaders and others who are deemed insufficiently anti-racist.



One practical result of the creation of such a department would be the overthrow of capitalism, since according to Kendi, In order to truly be anti-racist, you also have to truly be anti-capitalist. In other words, identity is the means and Marxism is the end.



An equity-based form of government would mean the end not only of private property, but also of individual rights, equality under the law, federalism, and freedom of speech. These would be replaced by race-based redistribution of wealth, group-based rights, active discrimination, and omnipotent bureaucratic authority. Historically, the accusation of anti-Americanism has been overused. But in this case, its not a matter of interpretation - critical race theory prescribes a revolutionary program that would overturn the principles of the Declaration and destroy the remaining structure of the Constitution.



HOW IT WORKS



What does critical race theory look like in practice? Last year, I authored a series of reports focused on critical race theory in the federal government. The FBI was holding workshops on intersectionality theory. The Department of Homeland Security was telling white employees they were committing micro-inequities and had been socialized into oppressor roles. The Treasury Department held a training session telling staff members that virtually all white people contribute to racism and that they must convert everyone in the federal government to the ideology of anti-racism. And the Sandia National Laboratories, which designs Americas nuclear arsenal, sent white male executives to a three-day reeducation camp, where they were told that white male culture was analogous to the KKK, white supremacists, and mass killings. The executives were then forced to renounce their white male privilege and write letters of apology to fictitious women and people of color.



This year, I produced another series of reports focused on critical race theory in education. In Cupertino, California, an elementary school forced first-graders to deconstruct their racial and sexual identities, and rank themselves according to their power and privilege. In Springfield, Missouri, a middle school forced teachers to locate themselves on an oppression matrix, based on the idea that straight, white, English-speaking, Christian males are members of the oppressor class and must atone for their privilege and covert white supremacy. In Philadelphia, an elementary school forced fifth-graders to celebrate Black communism and simulate a Black Power rally to free 1960s radical Angela Davis from prison, where she had once been held on charges of murder. And in Seattle, the school district told white teachers that they are guilty of spirit murder against black children and must bankrupt [their] privilege in acknowledgement of [their] thieved inheritance.



Im just one investigative journalist, but Ive developed a database of more than 1,000 of these stories. When I say that critical race theory is becoming the operating ideology of our public institutions, it is not an exaggeration - from the universities to bureaucracies to k-12 school systems, critical race theory has permeated the collective intelligence and decision-making process of American government, with no sign of slowing down.



This is a revolutionary change. When originally established, these government institutions were presented as neutral, technocratic, and oriented towards broadly-held perceptions of the public good. Today, under the increasing sway of critical race theory and related ideologies, they are being turned against the American people. This isnt limited to the permanent bureaucracy in Washington, D.C., but is true as well of institutions in the states, even in red states, and it is spreading to county public health departments, small Midwestern school districts, and more. This ideology will not stop until it has devoured all of our institutions.



FUTILE RESISTANCE



Thus far, attempts to halt the encroachment of critical race theory have been ineffective. There are a number of reasons for this.



First, too many Americans have developed an acute fear of speaking up about social and political issues, especially those involving race. According to a recent Gallup poll, 77 percent of conservatives are afraid to share their political beliefs publicly. Worried about getting mobbed on social media, fired from their jobs, or worse, they remain quiet, largely ceding the public debate to those pushing these anti-American ideologies. Consequently, the institutions themselves become monocultures: dogmatic, suspicious, and hostile to a diversity of opinion. Conservatives in both the federal government and public school systems have told me that their equity and inclusion departments serve as political offices, searching for and stamping out any dissent from the official orthodoxy.



Second, critical race theorists have constructed their argument like a mousetrap. Disagreement with their program becomes irrefutable evidence of a dissenters white fragility, unconscious bias, or internalized white supremacy. Ive seen this projection of false consciousness on their opponents play out dozens of times in my reporting. Diversity trainers will make an outrageous claim - such as all whites are intrinsically oppressors or white teachers are guilty of spirit murdering black children - and then when confronted with disagreement, they adopt a patronizing tone and explain that participants who feel defensiveness or anger are reacting out of guilt and shame. Dissenters are instructed to remain silent, lean into the discomfort, and accept their complicity in white supremacy.



Third, Americans across the political spectrum have failed to separate the premise of critical race theory from its conclusion. Its premise - that American history includes slavery and other injustices, and that we should examine and learn from that history - is undeniable. But its revolutionary conclusion - that America was founded on and defined by racism and that our founding principles, our Constitution, and our way of life should be overthrown - does not rightly, much less necessarily, follow.



Fourth and finally, the writers and activists who have had the courage to speak out against critical race theory have tended to address it on the theoretical level, pointing out the theorys logical contradictions and dishonest account of history. These criticisms are worthy and good, but they move the debate into the academic realm, which is friendly terrain for proponents of critical race theory. They fail to force defenders of this revolutionary ideology to defend the practical consequences of their ideas in the realm of politics.



POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT



No longer simply an academic matter, critical race theory has become a tool of political power. To borrow a phrase from the Marxist theoretician Antonio Gramsci, it is fast achieving cultural hegemony in Americas public institutions. More and more, it is driving the vast machinery of the state and society. If we want to succeed in opposing it, we must address it politically at every level.



Critical race theorists must be confronted with and forced to speak to the facts. Do they support public schools separating first-graders into groups of oppressors and oppressed? Do they support mandatory curricula teaching that all white people play a part in perpetuating systemic racism? Do they support public schools instructing white parents to become white traitors and advocate for white abolition? Do they want those who work in government to be required to undergo this kind of reeducation? How about managers and workers in corporate America? How about the men and women in our military? How about every one of us?



There are three parts to a successful strategy to defeat the forces of critical race theory: governmental action, grassroots mobilization, and an appeal to principle.



We already see examples of governmental action. Last year, one of my reports led President Trump to issue an executive order banning critical race theory-based training programs in the federal government. President Biden rescinded this order on his first day in office, but it provides a model for governors and municipal leaders to follow. This year, several state legislatures have introduced bills to achieve the same goal: preventing public institutions from conducting programs that stereotype, scapegoat, or demean people on the basis of race. And I have organized a coalition of attorneys to file lawsuits against schools and government agencies that impose critical race theory-based programs on grounds of the First Amendment (which protects citizens from compelled speech), the Fourteenth Amendment (which provides equal protection under the law), and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which prohibits public institutions from discriminating on the basis of race).



On the grassroots level, a multiracial and bipartisan coalition is emerging to do battle against critical race theory. Parents are mobilizing against racially divisive curricula in public schools and employees are increasingly speaking out against Orwellian reeducation in the workplace. When they see what is happening, Americans are naturally outraged that critical race theory promotes three ideas - race essentialism, collective guilt, and neo-segregation - which violate the basic principles of equality and justice. Anecdotally, many Chinese-Americans have told me that having survived the Cultural Revolution in their former country, they refuse to let the same thing happen here.



In terms of principles, we need to employ our own moral language rather than allow ourselves to be confined by the categories of critical race theory. For example, we often find ourselves debating diversity. Diversity as most of us understand it is generally good, all things being equal, but it is of secondary value. We should be talking about and aiming at excellence, a common standard that challenges people of all backgrounds to achieve their potential. On the scale of desirable ends, excellence beats diversity every time.



Similarly, in addition to pointing out the dishonesty of the historical narrative on which critical race theory is predicated, we must promote the true story of America - a story that is honest about injustices in American history, but that places them in the context of our nations high ideals and the progress we have made towards realizing them. Genuine American history is rich with stories of achievements and sacrifices that will move the hearts of Americans - in stark contrast to the grim and pessimistic narrative pressed by critical race theorists.



Above all, we must have courage - the fundamental virtue required in our time. Courage to stand and speak the truth. Courage to withstand epithets. Courage to face the mob. Courage to shrug off the scorn of the elites. When enough of us overcome the fear that currently prevents so many from speaking out, the hold of critical race theory will begin to slip. And courage begets courage. Its easy to stop a lone dissenter; its much harder to stop 10, 20, 100, 1,000, 1,000,000, or more who stand up together for the principles of America.



Truth and justice are on our side. If we can muster the courage, we will win.

---

Hooray for the courage of Tennessees State Legislature!
Ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts from severe storms throughout the southern United States were disrupted from a new round of thunderstorms on Tuesday.The Carolinas to Louisiana and portions of northeastern Texas were on watch into Tuesday night, while robust storms also continued to erupt across parts of the Ohio Valley and central Appalachians.Storms turned deadly early on Tuesday when a Tennessee woman was killed by a falling tree as severe thunderstorms moved through Weakley County, located in the northwestern part of the state, WKRN in Nashville reported.The potent storms tracked through the area around 4 a.m. local time and damaged at least six mobile homes. The victim was reportedly sleeping in her bed when the tree toppled onto her bedroom WKRN reported, citing local law enforcement.The worst of the severe weather on Tuesday focused on the Gulf Coast states with a moderate threat for damaging storms in parts of Mississippi and Alabama. Just over 1 million people reside in this area, which includes the city of Hattiesburg, Ms.Thunderstorms started to gather over northern Louisiana and southeastern Arkansas early in the day before eventually coming together into an intense line over Mississippi early Tuesday afternoon.This is an extremely dangerous situation with tornado like wind speeds expected, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Jackson, Ms., said as the storms approached Mississippis capital. These storms have the potential to cause serious injury and significant property damage.The primary hazard from the storms on Tuesday was the damaging winds, AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rossio said. He added that the line of storms created localized straight-line winds as well as a couple of tornadoes.A 75-mph wind gust was clocked in Philadelphia, Ms., located northeast of Jackson, as the storms rushed through with downed trees and power lines reported across the region.A radar-confirmed tornado tracked dangerously close to Jackson shortly after 2:30 p.m. CDT, but the extent of the damage that it caused is still unclear.Power outages began to skyrocket on Tuesday afternoon with more than 100,000 outages across Mississippi alone with additional outages in states including Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. At one point more than 300,000 outages were reported.People across the Washington, D.C., area hunkered down for a strong storm that passed through the area right around the Tuesday evening commute.In Van Buren, Ar., a tornado-warned storm wreaked havoc on power lines, causing them to spark.Some roads in Alabama were impassable on Tuesday evening, not only because of downed trees and power lines, but also due to extensive flooding.The National Weather Service announced a flash flood emergency for the Birmingham, Alabama, metro area late Tuesday afternoon, calling it a "particularly dangerous situation." The warning encompasses southeastern Jefferson County and northwestern Shelby County in central Alabama.Around 5 p.m. CDT, emergency management personnel reported thunderstorms produced heavy rain across the warned area that unleashed between 3 and 5 inches of rain.The NWS in Birmingham reported 3.46 inches of rain had fallen at their office within two hours. Around 5 inches of rain typically falls in Birmingham in the entire month of May."Lot of flooding around the airport property here. Folks, the heavy rain/flash flooding threat is NO joke. Please stay off the roads if in Jefferson/Shelby Counties," NWS Birmingham tweeted.The NWS in Birmingham asked residents to seek higher ground now due to the hazardous, life-threatening flash flooding and thunderstorms. The life-threatening flash flooding particularly targeted low water crossings, small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.Tuesdays severe weather and damaging storms were a continuation from the weekend and Monday when storms tracked across Texas and Mississippi, including a tornado in Mississippi that prompted a rare tornado emergency for nearly 100,000 people. Two separate fatalities were reported in Georgia on Monday.
Hamilton County Sheriffs Office deputies were notified on Saturday, at approximately 11:30 a.m., that Sequatchie County Sheriffs Office personnel were in pursuit of a suspect who had intentionally rammed a Sequatchie County Deputys vehicle and had thrown a firearm out the window. Dispatchers further advised the suspect vehicle was headed into Hamilton County on Highway 111 and that Sequatchie County dispatch had lost radio contact with the solo pursuing deputy.

A short time later, Soddy Daisy Police personnel advised that the vehicle was stolen as they were attempting to catch up to the pursuit.

HCSO deputies intercepted the pursuit in Lakesite, Tn.

The pursuit continued south on Hixson Pike where deputies observed the driver of the suspect vehicle, a white 2005 Chevrolet Astro van, show disregard for the safety of the motorists around them.

Near the 5900 block of Hixson Pike, the decision was made to use a Precision Intervention Technique (PIT) if possible, due to the fact the pursuit was headed towards a heavily populated area.

At the intersection of Hixson Pike and Middle Valley Road, the suspect vehicle turned onto Old Hixson Pike. As the vehicle turned back onto Hixson Pike conditions were conducive for deputies to attempt a PIT maneuver. As the suspects vehicle reached the 5400 block of Hixson Pike, HCSO deputies utilized a PIT maneuver and successfully stopped the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody and identified as William J. Jordan. While taking Jordan into custody he resisted arrest and had to be pulled from the vehicle, during which time he was tased by a Sequatchie County Deputy.

Jordan was transported to Memorial North to be medically evaluated after being tased and was turned over to the Sequatchie County Sheriffs Office as the pursuit originated in their county.

The HCSO is charging William Jordan with the following charges for his actions while in Hamilton County:

 Reckless endangerment

 Evading arrest and resisting

 Stop halt frisk

During the pursuit, one HCSO patrol unit sustained minor damage to the units front push bar.


Lincoln, NE (68508)

Today

Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. Hot. High 94F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 71F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
If you were to imagine someone with the perfect skills to teach stand-up comedy at the Chattanooga Theatre Centres Summer Academy, perhaps that person would have experience as both a teacher and a stand-up comic. Hard as that person might be to come by, the CTC found him in Chris Williamson.

Mr. Williamson, an art and theatre teacher at Tyner Middle Academy, has appeared on the CTC stage several times, most recently as a rogue cop in Novembers Lobby Hero. Before going into teaching, however, he spent some time performing at comedy clubs around the South, and he brings that experience to bear when he teaches sketch and stand-up comedy for the CTCs summer program, something hes done for nearly 18 years.

I just love being at the Theatre Centre, Mr. Williamson says. I love the people that I work with during the summer. Its a fun atmosphere. I like working with the kids. I enjoy getting to see the kids get creative and write and perform their own material. He teaches students to develop comic material based on their own lives and observations.

Mr. Williamson believes that exposure to the arts sparks excitement, creativity, and other important life skills, which is why he has dedicated most of his adult life to teaching and working in the field. He finds fulfillment in teaching classes in the arts.

Just watching kids create, seeing them put effort and get involved in what theyre doing, and be happy with what theyve done. I find theres a lot of encouragement between kids when theyre creating something new in the classroom. Whether it be in art or theatre, says Mr. Williamson, who this year began teaching eighth-grade theatre in addition to art classes at Tyner.

From my experience, the kids need it, he says. I make sure they get up in front of the class every day, so they get to the point where they are not nervous. It helps them learn how to stand up in front of people. Weve talked about how important that is for future job interviews or oral presentations for another class.

Mr. Williamson said he has seen how theatre has helped the students learn to work better with others. They learn to give and take, he says. Ive seen kids in my class that have not spoken to each other before but work so well together on stage. It teaches you how to react and how to be a better listener.

He says theatre has been such a popular class, sixth- and seventh-grade students are asking when they get to participate.

Though he was born in Rocky Mount, N.C., Mr. Williamson considers himself a Chattanooga native because his family moved here when he was in the second grade. Following high school, he attended King University in Bristol, Tn. It was there that he first got involved with theatre. He got a part in the musical Carousel and fell in love with acting.

He graduated with a bachelors degree in art and theatre and moved to Nashville where his parents had relocated during his college years. During the year he lived and worked there, he took a class in stand-up comedy at a local comedy club, which concluded with a night performing at the club. He enjoyed stand-up so much, he began performing at clubs all around Tennessee and Alabama.

Mr. Williamson later moved back to Chattanooga and decided to pursue his masters degree in secondary education and a teaching certificate at UTC. During this time, he first auditioned at CTC and was cast as the telephone repairman in Barefoot in the Park and won a Miss Annie Award for his performance.

The bug had bitten me again, he says. I started auditioning for everything I could at CTC. I was in several shows in the Circle and on the Mainstage. Some of my favorite shows Ive been in are Visiting Mr. Green, The NerdI was the nerdand Glengarry Glen Ross. That was very challenging and intense. I really liked that one.

He had the opportunity to work on stage with the kids and with CTC director Scott Dunlap when he was cast as Mr. Murray in the Youth Theatre production of A Wrinkle in Time.

Most recently, Scott directed me in Lobby Hero, he says. It was a challenging role and also very intense. I like those types of challenges. I had to think about that one. It was hard to get hold of the character.

I was the oldest person in the cast by about 12 to 14 years, but it doesnt matter, he adds. Because from my experience, the people in the cast always bond because CTC has such a friendly atmosphere. I enjoy meeting new people there and seeing the talent Chattanooga has on stage.

After completing his masters degree, he earned a long-term substitute position teaching art at Tyner Academy that turned into a permanent teaching position.

During his early years of teaching, he continued performing stand-up comedy at various clubs mostly throughout the South. He also participated in a comedy contest in Las Vegas in which he finished in eighth place. Out of a lot of people, so I count that as a win, he laughs.

My experience in theatre helped in stand-up and in teaching and vice versa, he says. After a while, teaching became more important to me, so I started to focus more in that area.

Sometime following his participation in Barefoot in the Park, Rodney Van Valkenburg, then CTCs director of Programs and now executive director, approached Mr. Williamson about assisting newly hired CTC Director of Education and Outreach Chuck Tuttle with presenting a series of shows at area schools.

We would put on a play at the school and the students would get to ask questions afterwards, Mr. Williamson says. I had a lot of fun doing that. I remember when we were doing the school tours, sometimes two shows per school. We would come back to the Theatre Centre, unload the set, and I would take a nap on Chucks couch and wake up that night in time to go rehearse for the CTC play I was in at the time. Thats a good memory.

Talking about other memorable CTC moments, he says, I really enjoy the process of beginning a play. The blocking and everything like that. Reflecting on that after we have a performance. My favorite thing is when my friends and family can come see me and see a different side of me in the plays.

As a teacher, Mr. Williamson says he sees the importance of arts in education and how theatre can be such a wonderful outlet for students.

Its something that Ive found that kids are hungry for, he says. They have a lot of distractions and live theatre is something thats new for them.

He adds, I didnt know how much they wanted and needed it until I offered theatre as a class this year. Its a new experience for me teaching it in a school setting. And I didnt know how well it would translate from teaching it at the CTCs Summer Academy, which is a different kind of format.

Mr. Williamson is delighted with the students positive response to the class. Its been a pleasant surprise for me and Im really enjoying it, he says.

Mr. Williamson says CTCs value to the community and local youth cannot be understated. Its a place that encourages creativity, he says. In an artistic city, its another form of art that we have available to everyone.

He concludes, Its like family to me. I may not see somebody for a long time, but I see them at the Theatre Centre and I have all these good feelings and memories flood back. When Im there for the summer teaching, even though Ive been gone a while, its like I never left.

To learn more about Summer Academy, visit TheatreCentre.com/Learn/Summer-Academy.
An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment and arrest of a former Winchester police officer.

On Oct. 2, 12th District Attorney General J. Michael Taylor requested that the TBI to investigate Tristan Delacruz, 28, who was at that time a Winchester police officer, on sexual assault allegations. During the course of the investigation, agents developed information that identified Delacruz as the individual responsible for multiple incidents of sexual assault during March 2020. He is no longer an employee of the Winchester Police Department



On Monday, the Franklin County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Tristan Xavier Delacruz with six counts of rape, six counts of sexual battery, two counts of domestic assault, one count of false imprisonment, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, and one count of aggravated assault.



With the assistance of the Lincoln County and Franklin County Sheriffs Departments, Delacruz was arrested Tuesday in Lincoln County. He was transported to the Franklin County Jail, where he was booked on a $1,000,000 bond.


On Tuesday, May 4, 2021, Mary Elizabeth Parker Fuller-Gerald, of Chattanooga, passed at home, one day shy of her 90th birthday.

Elizabeth was born May 5, 1931. A Godly matriarch of her family, she came from humble beginnings, being widowed at the young age of 28 with four small children, ages two to ten, and raising them as a single mother for many years. She was a gifted designer, builder, and decorator. She designed, built, and decorated one of the largest and most impressive homes in Chattanooga - Windy Hill Estate. She worked alongside her husband, Clyde Fuller, in building Southwest Motor Freight, one of the nation's largest private trucking firms. She loved her family dearly, and she truly had a servants heart, always willing to help her family and friends in any way possible.

Some of the Christian ministries and endeavors in which she was involved included serving as a Board Member for: Bethel Bible Village, House of Grace, Teen Challenge, Turning Point Ministries, Channels of Love, Resurrection Time Church, and Jimmy Swaggart International Ministries.

She and her husband, Bishop Roy Gerald, who was a pastor for over 50 years had a passion for evangelistic and mission work. She went on many mission trips, including to India, Africa, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, Peru, Turkey, and Greece.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, R. L. Parker, of Dalton, GA, and by her second husband, Clyde M. Fuller, of Chattanooga; parents, Charlie and Gertrude Hughes; sisters, Lucille Gaddis and Bobbie Hicks; brother, Colin Hughes.

Survivors include her husband, Bishop Roy Gerald from St. Louis, MO; children, Dale King, Debbie Cain, Carol Whitney, David Parker, Max Fuller, Nancy Landreth, Mary Goodner, Annette Roach, of Lake Charles, LA, Melodye Munsey, of Munster, IN, and Kevin Gerald, of Tacoma, WA; brothers, Charles and George Hughes; sister, Shirley Tatum; 20 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth was known for her kindness and compassion. One of her greatest enjoyments in life was spending time with her family and friends. She was an excellent role model and demonstrated Christianity through her life experiences and involvements.

The funeral service will be at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 7, at City Church, 7122 Lee Highway, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421, with Dr. Mike Chapman officiating.

In lieu of flowers, it was Elizabeths wishes to consider a donation to: Turning Point Ministries, 6101 Preservation Dr. Ste B. Chattanooga, TN 37416

The family will receive friends on Friday, from 2-3 p.m. at City Church.

Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.
It's easy to put stories of the crisis facing our nation at a distance when you live and work more than a thousand miles north of the US-Mexico border. But as the effects of mass illegal immigration spread northward, Tennesseans are facing a stark new reality: when our border isn't secure, every town becomes a border town and every state a border state. Perhaps no one understands that better than Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David Rausch, who describes the crisis as "out of control."

Last week, I had a virtual conversation with Rausch, who leads statewide investigations into human and drug trafficking. Our discussion made it abundantly clear that communities throughout Tennessee are already feeling the effects of cartel control at the southern border. Rausch explained, "The way the border is being handled right now is causing all of us to be border states, [and] we're seeing that in Tennessee."

Border patrol agents and sheriffs began warning officials in Washington about the pernicious influence of cartels and traffickers well before the most recent wave of migrants made their way north. According to Rausch, human smuggling is occurring "in unprecedented numbers" in Tennessee; Rausch also pointed to the unprecedented availability of drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamines as evidence that the border crisis has evolved into a universal threat. "It is coming across so freely and so readily," he cautioned. "It is a major concern." The knowledge that cartels are abusing Biden's border crisis to profit at the expense of American lives makes the increasing rate of overdoses attributed to the pandemic that much more heartbreaking.

Despite the insistence of open borders advocates, encouraging more illegal immigration isn't an empathetic policy. Instead, it directly puts the fate of women, children, and families in the hands of cartels and traffickers. While some in the current administration refuse to condemn or even witness the atrocities, Republicans in Washington are leading the charge towards tangible solutions.

I am currently working with my colleagues in the Senate to introduce the Make the Migrant Protection Protocols Mandatory Act of 2021, which will reinstate the Trump administration's Remain in Mexico policy. By taking official action to restore mandated migrant protection protocols, limit asylum abuse, and eliminate ineffective catch and release policies, we will enable immigration officials to regain control over the border and stem the flow of illegal entry.

There is no longer any question of shielding Tennesseans from the border crisis fallout. It's too late for that. But through conversations like the one I had with David Rausch, we can learn new ways to respond to this latest, massive push against our southern border. The Volunteer State is all too quickly becoming a border state, and another day of inaction by the Biden administration is another day our communities are at risk.

Senator Marsha Blackburn




Daniel Gibbs of Decatur, Alabama, passed away at the age of 74 on Monday, May 3, 2021.

Dan entered this world on a cold, Monday morning in Louisville, Ky., on Dec. 23, 1946. He grew up on a farm in Dickson, Tn. He graduated from Tennessee Technical University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and then spent most of his life living in Chattanooga, working for the Electric Power Board as an electrical engineer for 30 years. After he retired, he continued his career as an engineer at the Decatur Utilities for 16 years.

Dan entered the US Army during the Vietnam conflict and served in the artillery division. He was proud of his service and was the type of man who revered duty and responsibility.

Dan spent 50 years married to the love of his life, Donna Scruggs, traveling the U.S. and showing her all the new places she wanted to visit. Together they raised two daughters, Jennifer and Mendy, running them to play rehearsals, church events and cheerleading practice. He loved his three grandsons, Evan, Owen and Fox, and never minded getting into the floor to teach them a new game or play with a new toy.

Dan was a member of First Bible Church in Decatur, AL. Throughout his life, he always volunteered in the church, serving in the media ministry and as a deacon.

He was a quiet, gentle, generous soul. He was smart, with a silly sense of humor. He was a loving, empathetic husband and father.

Dan was preceded in death by his father, Harry, and his mother, Mary Sue.

He is survived by his wife, Donna, his two brothers, Bill (Joyce) and Kenny (Betty), his daughters, Jennifer (John) and Mendy (Jason), his grandsons Evan, Owen and Fox and multiple nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held at the Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel at 1pm Eastern on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Visitation will begin at 11am and precede the service. A Decatur visitation will be held Saturday, May 8 from 3-6pm Central at Roselawn Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest in the Chattanooga National Cemetery with military honors provided by the United States Army Honor Guard and the American Legion Post 95.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gideons International. Donations can be made at the funeral home.

The family would like to thank Comfort Care Home Health, Kindred Home Health Services, the Veterans Administration and Comfort Care Hospice.

We respectfully request that all current mandates set forth by the CDC and the Hamilton County Health Department be adhered to. This includes social distancing and wearing masks at all times while on the premises.

Arrangements are under the care of Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist East Chapel, 404 South Moore Road, East Ridge, Tn. 37412.

Please share your thoughts and memories at
When Jackie (Bobbi Charlton) appeared on A Million Little Things, she told Eddie Saville (David Giuntoli) what everyone else wanted to say. We thought she was a patient in his rehabilitation center that we might not see again, but now Jackie continues to pop up. Heres everything we know about Jackies role and the actor who portrays her. Jackie returns again for A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 12, Junior on May 5, 2021.

A Million Little Things: Bobbi Carlton plays Jackie | Jack Rowand/Getty Images

A Million Little Things recap: Jackie got honest with Eddie

After admitting to his wife, Catherine (Kim Park), that he was taking prescription pills, Eddie went to rehab in A Million Little Things Season 3 Episode 9. During a group therapy session, he complained that everyone is against him. However, another patient, Jackie, told him to stop pitying himself and think about his damage to those around him.

So, what youre saying is you took pills knowing what could happen, Jackie began. You lied to your family, stole from your friends, broke your vows, and the person you are most worried about in all this is you?

Meet Jackie tonight on #AMillionLittleThings pic.twitter.com/s2H81IyqRO  A Million Little Things (@AMillionABC) April 14, 2021

RELATED: Where Is Delilah on A Million Little Things? Stephanie Szostak Hints at Her Return

When Eddie explained that his family is everything to him, Jackie countered with even more compelling words. Then, in the next episode, Eddie and Jackie talked again while playing cards. She told him that they are more alike than he thinks.

Ive already accepted the fact that I cant be the version of them who they want me to be, Jackie explains. What I chose was to be myself, so you were right, accidentally. What I didnt choose was to be born in a mans body. All the pressure that you are facing to be the husband and dad and friend you think you should be. But maybe like me, theres a beautiful person inside.

Who is Bobbi Charlton (Jackie) on A Million Little Things?

Bobbi Charlton is a Canadian actor, born in Calgary but moved to Edmonton in her teenage years. Before joining A Million Little Things cast, she produced an autobiographical documentary, Finding Bobbi, with Scot Morison. According to the Vimeo trailer, the 2019 production chronicles her transition story and how her gender dysphoria led to depression.

A heartache-filled but triumphant life journey of a transgender actor unfolds against the backdrop of her return to stage after 23 years, as a woman, in an LGBTQ+ production of Oklahoma! at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the description of the documentary reads.

According to IMBd, a few of Charltons credits include The Magicians (2015), Discovery Street: The Web Series (2010), and Dead of Summer (2016). She is currently a recurring guest on A Million Little Things as Jackie.

What day does A Million Little Things come on?

A Million Little Things episodes alternate between Wednesdays and Thursdays each season. The last half of season 3 airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on ABC. A Million Little Things Season 2 aired exclusively on Thursday nights, while season 1 switched from Wednesday to Thursday for the last half of the season. So, we can see how fans might be confused.

The next episode of A Million Little Things is on May 5, 2021, at 10 p.m. EST. It will continue to air on Wednesday evenings for the remainder of season 3. Viewers hope to see more episodes with Jackie later this season.
When legendary actor Andy Griffith began work on his eponymous television comedy in 1960, he had a vision for what he wanted for the series.

As the first season progressed, that vision developed. When the shows producer insisted on introducing a new character to the series, Griffith was dead set against it. And he was proven right.

Actors Jim Nabors, Andy Griffith, and Don Knotts of The Andy Griffith Show |

CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

The Andy Griffith Show did not reflect the headlines of the day

The now-classic comedy aired from 1960 to 1968, throughout some of the United States most trying times. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, the Civil Rights movement, and the Vietnam War changed the nation forever. Yet, the town of Mayberry remained untouched by events that thrashed the world about.

Because the war in Southeast Asia and the racial and student riots of the sixties were running simultaneously against the Griffith Show, it is little wonder that a town like Mayberry was so appealing, Richard Kelly, author of The Andy Griffith Show wrote.

As Kelly noted, the overarching character of this enduring series is the town of Mayberry itself.

The real hero of The Andy Griffith Show is the town of Mayberry, presided over by the sheriff without a gun, Andy Taylor, Kelly said. It is a small world, one that, ironically, is more colorful on simple black-and-white television sets.

A deputy was added to The Andy Griffith Show early on

On the shows pilot episode, there was Andy Taylor and his son Opie, but no Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife.

Knotts caught the pilot, which aired on The Danny Thomas Show in 1960, from his home. Newly unemployed after the cancellation of The Steve Allen Show on which hed been a regular, Knotts reached out to his old pal Griffith for work.

RELATED: The Andy Griffith Show: Aunt Bee Actor Frances Bavier Had a Tell When She Was Angry or Disturbed

Griffith, upon hearing from his future co-star, urged him to immediately contact the shows producers. They liked what they saw in Knotts, and Barney Fife came to be.

The character Andy Griffith didnt think would work  and he was right

Speaking to the Television Academy Foundation in 1999, Andy Griffith explained that in the first season, show creator Sheldon Leonard announced that the character of Andy Taylor needed a boss figure.

Griffith was actively involved with approval of jokes, scripts, and characters. While he felt Leonard might have had a point, he didnt like the direction he was going in. It led to the colleagues sole argument.

The only fight Sheldon and I ever had in my whole acquaintanceship with him was over a story idea, Griffith said. He wanted to introduce a character that I knew wasnt going to work. And it didnt.

The character Griffith referred to was the mayor of Mayberry.

They wanted me to have a boss figure, he continued. Thats a good idea for the lead to have a boss figure. Like Lucys boss figure was her husband. They wanted to introduce a mayor as the boss figure.

The show had two actors in the role of town mayor. The first was Dick Elliott who appeared as Mayor Pike in 11 episodes and died in 1961. Parley Baer then took on the role of the easily irked Mayor Stoner. Griffiths argument against having the mayor as Andy Taylors boss was a technical detail, but one he felt could not be ignored.

I told them before we started, That cant work because the mayor cannot be the boss to the sheriff, he explained. A sheriff is a county official. A mayor is just a little local town official. So, it didnt work.

Baers final appearance as Mayor Stoner was in the third season episode Rafe Hollister Sings. With no fanfare or explanation, the character quietly disappeared from the show.
Before Anna Faris found love with Chris Pratt, she was married to her first husband, Ben Indra. The pair tied the knot in 2004 and were together for four years before Faris pulled the plug on their romance via a phone call.

Anna Faris and Chris Pratt at the Los Angeles premiere of Guardians Of The Galaxy in 2014 | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Anna Faris had an immediate attraction to Chris Pratt

Before Faris made it big in the 2000 slasher comedy Scary Movie, she made an appearance in the 1999 movie Lovers Lane, in which Indra also appeared.

After working on the film together, the pair began dating. In 2004, the couple tied the knot after Indra proposed to Faris  twice.

Ben Indra and Anna Faris attending Scary Movie 4 afterparty | Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic

RELATED: Anna Faris Is Ashamed of Doing This After She Became Famous

Three years into their marriage, Faris met Pratt on the set of the 2007 film Take Me Home Tonight. In her 2017 autobiography, Unqualified, the House Bunny star revealed that she and the actor developed a close friendship while filming the movie.

She shared how the Guardians of the Galaxy star would walk her to her door and even tracked down her credit card once when she had lost it.

It wasnt long before Faris had built up an attraction to Pratt, which had gotten so strong that she would get incredibly jealous of the background actresses he was hooking up with at the time.

Faris feelings toward Pratt reached an all-time high one evening at a co-stars apartment; where she realized that their chemistry was undeniable.

Anna Faris dumped her husband to be with Chris Pratt

After accepting the fact that she was incredibly smitten with Pratt, Faris decided to end her marriage to Indra, which, she revealed in her book, was crumbling at the seams.

Before pulling the plug on her marriage, Faris confided in her friend Dan Fogler, telling him that she was ready to call it quits from Indra.

Dan also told me that if I was going to leave my husband, I had to be a surgeon with a scalpel about it, she recalled in her book, per The Daily Mail. Do it immediately and effectively, he said.

Faris then picked up the phone and told Indra that they were over. According to the actor, Indra didnt take her seriously at first and dismissed her as just being tired.

Youre just tired; youre really tired, Faris remembered her husband telling her at the time. I just said: Nope, Im leaving you. And that was that.

Anna Faris and Chris Pratt had an eight-year marriage

Shortly after breaking up with Indra over the phone, Faris says she headed over to Pratts house, where she told him that she was ready to get boned.

She described their hookup as hot and heavy in a way that [shed] never experienced before.

In April 2007, Faris officially filed for divorce from Indra, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized a year later.

On July 9, 2009, Faris and Pratt eloped after attending a friends wedding in Bali, Indonesia. Three years later, they welcomed their son, Jack, in August 2012.

To fans, it seemed like Faris and Pratt had the perfect relationship as many considered them to be one of Hollywoods most adorable couples.

Anna Faris and Chris Pratt attending The CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards in 2014 | Michael Buckner/Getty Images for CinemaCon

RELATED: Anna Faris Was So Cool With Ex-Husband Chris Pratt Proposing To Katherine Schwarzenegger She Offered To Marry Them  Im an Ordained Minister!

Unfortunately, the pairs relationship came to an end in 2017, with them announcing their separation on social media.

The same year their divorce was finalized, in 2018, Pratt began dating author Katherine Schwarzenegger. They were married on June 8, 2019, and welcomed their first child together, Lyla Maria, in August 2020.

Meanwhile, Faris is currently in a relationship with cinematographer Michael Barrett, whom she reportedly started dating in September 2017. In February 2020, the actor confirmed that she and Barrett were engaged.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwalls children arent in the spotlight as much as Prince William and Prince Harry. Some though may recognize the duchesss son, Tom Parker Bowles, from his appearances on a few cooking shows including MasterChef.

Tom recently spoke to a publication about his mother and Prince Charles when talk turned to his stepbrother, Prince Harry, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Heres what Tom had to say about the drama between the royal family and the Sussexes.

(L) Tom Parker Bowles in a tuxedo at awards ceremony | David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images, (R) Meghan Markle wearing a beige dress and Prince Harry wearing a blue suit in Johannesburg, South Africa | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Who is Tom Parker Bowles?

Tom is the only son of Camilla and her ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles. He is a food critic and author of several cookbooks.

I loved eating and could just about string a sentence together, so I thought I could write about food, Tom previously said about how he chose his career.

Tom married Sarah Buys in 2005 and they had two children together. They separated in 2018 and he began dating former journalist Alice Procope who he was with for almost two years before she died of cancer on March 17, 2021.

He is close with his stepdad Prince Charles

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles wedding photo next to Camillas son, Tom Parker Bowles, and daughter, Laura Lopes |  Pool Photograph/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Tom has stated that he is close with his stepfather and told The Times that his kids call the Prince of Wales Umpa.

The restaurant critic has talked about his relationship with Charles in the past as well and said that he is delighted at how happy the prince makes his mom.

All you care about with your parents is theyre happy and my mother is exceptionally happy. Ive always adored my stepfather; hes always been a kind and good and lovely man, Tom explained (per Hello!). He is a man of warmth, intelligence, and humanity and I think if it ever happens, he will make a fantastic king.

RELATED: Will Prince Charles Retire While His Mother Is Still Queen? Camilla Makes Rare Comment About Their Retirement Plans

What Tom said about the royal family and the Sussexes drama

Prince Harry and Tom Parker Bowles seated next to each other during a Thanksgiving service at St. Marys Church | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Tom was also asked about all the drama involving the royal family and the Sussexes following the duke and duchesss explosive interview in which they claimed they werent treated fairly when they were senior royals.

I stay out of that, Tom said. Thats nothing to do with me.

He added that he did not watch Meghan and Harrys interview with Oprah Winfrey but thinks that everyone will be able to work through things one day saying: Families are never easy but theyll work it out in the end.

RELATED: How Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie Disprove Claim Meghan Markle Made During Interview With Oprah
Dexter fans can hardly wait for the reboot. Originally debuting in 2006, the show followed a forensic analyst moonlighting as a serial killer. It ran for eight seasons before ending in 2013 with a widely-panned finale. But the revival will hopefully provide viewers with a more satisfying ending.

Michael C. Hall (Dexter Morgan) has offered up some details about the revival, saying itll follow his character in a different setting surrounded by different people. But what about the other members of the Dexter cast? Will the revival include them?

So far, Hall is the only person confirmed for the show, but that hasnt stopped other actors from chiming in on it. Here, find everything the top actors have said about the show.

Michael C. Hall on the red carpet at an event in July 2012 in San Diego, California | Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images

Michael C. Hall

Hall said in a 2018 interview with Variety that he was open to a reboot but had yet to hear an idea convincing enough. But by 2020, the revival was on.

Hall later explained to The Daily Beast that hed been approached with a revival idea he couldnt pass up. So Im excited to step back into it, he continued. Ive never had that experience of playing a character this many years on.

The show, which will jump years ahead to show what Dexters life is like now, started filming earlier in 2021.

Jennifer Carpenter

As production on the revival continues, Carpenter (Debra Morgan) shared several social media posts fueling speculation that shes involved in the show.

Among them is an Instagram photo showing her on the set of an unknown production, dressed in an outfit reminiscent of one Deb would wear. Desmond Harrington (Joey Quinn) even commented on the photo. But she hasnt commented on the speculation.

Carpenter did, however, re-post the teaser trailer to her Instagram, showing that shes still a fan of the show whether shes involved or not.

RELATED: Dexter Fans Notice Something Disturbing in Background of Season 9 Teaser

Yvonne Strahovski

Fans were excited when rumors emerged claiming that Strahovski (Hannah McKay) was allegedly seen on the set of Dexter, but her representatives refuted the speculation in an email to Showbiz Cheat Sheet.

Strahovski herself hasnt commented on the show or whether shes going to return to her role so until more details are available, lets just assume that Hannah is still in Argentina with Harrison.

David Zayas

Zayas portrayal of Angel Batista earned him plenty of praise from viewers and made him a fan favorite. But hes been quiet about the revival. A look at his social media shows that hes seemingly more focused on other projects and causes these days.

Desmond Harrington

Like Zayas, Harrington hasnt commented on the revival. But it looks like hes at least kept in contact with some of the cast members, as evidenced by his aforementioned comment on Carpenters Instagram post.

RELATED: Dexter: New Cast Additions Offer Insight Into the Plot of the Revival Series

C.S. Lee

Months before the show was announced, an Instagram account that purportedly belongs to Lee (Vince Masuka) shared a post that fans now think was a clue about its return.

It includes a picture of a knife along with the caption, Exciting things about to happen. #whereisdexter #darkpassenger. That prompted a big theory that the revival would center a search by Miami police for Dexter. But that has since been debunked.

Lee later wrote his past post meant nothing specific. He added, Sorry to mislead you. But many ideas are being pushed.

James Remar

Remar (Harry Morgan) said in a video post that hes not involved in the show, explaining: They didnt ask any of the original cast back.

Many people refused to believe him, with some doubling down on their belief that Deb will take over as the voice inside of Dexters head. But Remar noted in his post that he really has no idea what happens in the revival.

Fans will find out for certain when Dexter returns in the fall of 2021. Stay tuned.
What could be seen as a skirmish between minority party leaders trying to find a way back to the majority has become a more politically profound moment for Republicans and the country. The party of Abraham Lincoln is deciding whether to let Trumps false claims about the election of Democrat Joe Biden go unchecked  or to hold him accountable, as Cheney does, by arguing the country cannot whitewash the former presidents role in the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
I Love Lucy is one of televisions most iconic shows, a series that made Lucille Ball a star and eventually, propelled her to a position as the head of a major TV studio. While most fans know of the show as a showcase for Lucille Ball, the truth of the matter is that Ball had a stellar cast of supporting players around her, all helping to make I Love Lucy the success that it became. One of the supporting actors in I Love Lucy was Vivian Vance, a former stage performer who not only went on to become one of Balls best friends but became a television groundbreaker in her own right.

How did Vivian Vance get her start in show business?

Happy Birthday, #VivianVance!



To honor what would've been her 108th bday, here are 9 reasons we love her: https://t.co/0snn3fVnbl pic.twitter.com/rQRoZkRhSs  MeTV (@MeTV) July 26, 2017

RELATED: Why This I Love Lucy Star Hated 1 of Her Castmates

Vance was born Vivian Roberta Jones in 1909. Raised in a small town in Kansas, Vance was one of six children.

From a very early age, Vance developed a love of performing, but when her parents disapproved of acting as a career choice, she moved to New Mexico, where she started pursuing roles in stage productions. Vance eventually made a name for herself acting in local productions, and after a few years in New Mexico, she moved to New York City.

In New York City, Vance experienced continued success, earning rave reviews for both her acting and singing skills. By the early 50s, Vance had decided to explore other career opportunities, and in 1951, she landed the role of Ethel Mertz in the brand-new television comedy I Love Lucy.

Although it was Vances first television production, she proved that she could handle the demands of television, and right away, the actress became a fan-favorite.

Vivian Vance became famous as Ethel Mertz

(L-R) Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo, and Vivian Vance as Ethel Mertz | CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

RELATED: I Love Lucy: Why Lucille Ball Wore Black on Her Wedding Day

Vances character Ethel Mertz was Lucy Ricardos best friend, a middle-aged woman who often wore frumpy clothes and played second fiddle to Ricardos wild antics. Still, Vance shone as Ethel, and in 1953, she became the first actor to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Vance and Ball became the best of friends, mirroring their onscreen relationship in many ways.

While some sources claim that Vance didnt always love being typecast as Ethel, her unique relationship with Ball helped to open the door to other career opportunities, and even after I Love Lucy went off the air, the two women looked for ways to work together.

Vivian Vance broke a significant television barrier

#VivianVance  a TV icon as Ethel Mertz  was born on this day!



Here's a rare look at #ILoveLucy behind the scenes  in color! https://t.co/lRFUK0B3iI pic.twitter.com/m218RH3XDc  getTV (@gettv) July 27, 2019

RELATED: The First Thing Lucille Ball Did After I Love Lucy Ended

Years after I Love Lucy ended its run on television, Lucille Ball began looking for her next television opportunity  and she found it with the bespoke series The Lucy Show. When planning out the series, Ball knew that she wanted Vance at her side.

According to historian and I Love Lucy expert Geoffrey Mark, Ball courted Vance relentlessly to try to get her on board for The Lucy Show. Mark told Closer Weekly: Lucille shows up one day with this script in her purse and Vivian says, Dont even take it out. Im not doing this again. And Lucille said, Vivian, I cant do this without you. And Vivians provisos were all honored: they had to pay for her to come out to California and her expenses, because she didnt move back there.

Mark also revealed that Vances new character on The Lucy Show was truly groundbreaking for the time, detailing: On the new series, The Lucy Show, Vivian plays a character named Vivian, not Ethel Mertz. She has a modern hairstyle and modern hair color and can wear whatever clothes she wants. And she plays televisions first divorcee.
When most people break up with their partners and claim that they still want to be friends, they dont really mean it. Bill Gates and ex-girlfriend Ann Winblad actually did. They maintained a close relationship throughout Bills entire marriage to his wife, Melinda Gates. The two werent just casual friends, either, they vacationed together once a year and Bill valued her opinion so much that he went to her before making big life decisions.

Bill Gates | Takaaki Iwabu/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Bill and Ann Winblads relationship

Bill and Winblad went on virtual dates even before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic made them a thing. After Winblad and Bill met at a Ben Rosen-Esther Dyson computer conference in 1984, the two would go on dates by driving to a movie and watching it at the same time in different cities and talking on the phone, according to Time magazine.

Winblad became an early investor in Microsoft and the two connected over shared interests.

They were kindred minds as well as spirits, the Time profile reads. On a vacation to Brazil, he took James Watsons 1,100-page textbook, Molecular Biology of the Gene, and they studied bioengineering together. On another vacation, to a Santa Barbara, California, ranch, she took tapes of Richard Feynmans lectures at Cornell, and they studied physics.

The two broke up in 1987 because Winblad was ready for marriage and Bill wasnt. However when Bill did finally find someone he wanted to marry, he asked for Winblads permission.

When I was off on my own thinking about marrying Melinda, I called Ann and asked for her approval, Bill told the outlet. Winblad gave her blessing as she thought that Melinda had the intellectual stamina to keep up with Bill.

RELATED: Inside Bill and Melinda Gates $147 Million Mega House

Bill Gates vacations with his ex-girlfriend

Even though Bill married someone else, he made sure that Melinda was OK with him still spending time with Winblad.

Even now, Gates has an arrangement with his wife that he and Winblad can keep one vacation tradition alive, the Time profile claimed in 1997. Every spring, as they have for more than a decade, Gates spends a long weekend with Winblad at her beach cottage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where they ride dune buggies, hang-glide and walk on the beach.

According to Bill, the activities they engaged in on these trips were innocent enough.

We can play putt-putt while discussing biotechnology, he told the outlet.

We share our thoughts about the world and ourselves, Winblad added. And we marvel about how, as two young overachievers, we began a great adventure on the fringes of a little-known industry and it landed us at the center of an amazing universe.

Bill Gates and wife Melinda Gates divorce

Bill and his wife Melinda announced earlier this week that they would be ending their 27-year marriage.

RELATED: Will Bill Gates Divorce Change How Much His Children Inherit?

We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives, they said in a statement. We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life.
Josh Duggar has been sitting in an Arkansas jail for a week without bail, and hes ready to go home. The US Marshals Service arrested the former 19 Kids & Counting star on Wednesday, April 28 after a grand jury indicted the father of six on two counts pertaining to child pornography.

But Josh isnt interested in fighting his legal battle from behind bars. According to his lawyers, Josh should be granted bail because hes way too famous to be a flight risk.

Josh Duggars mugshot following his 2021 arrest | Washington County Sheriffs Office/Getty Images

Josh Duggar was booked into jail in Washington County, Arkansas

According to USA Today, a federal grand jury in the Western District of Arkansas indicted Josh due to allegations that he knowingly received images of children under the age of 12. After federal agents arrested Josh, he was booked into the Washington County Jail in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

A news release from the US Attorneys Office states that the former reality star could be facing up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 on each count.

Duggar allegedly possessed this material, some of which depicts the sexual abuse of children, the release said.

Project Safe Childhood is involved in the case

When Josh appeared virtually in court on Friday, April 30, he already had representation from his legal team  attorneys Justin Gelfand, Travis Story, and Greg Payne. Josh pleaded not guilty to both counts.

Judge Erin Widermann made it clear that if he was to be released on bond prior to trial, he couldnt live in a home with minor children. Involved with the prosecution in this case is the national initiative Project Safe Childhood. The Department of Justice launched this program in 2006 to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse.

Josh Duggars attorneys promise to defend this case aggressively and thoroughly

On Monday, Duggars attorneys promised via a joint statement that they will defend Joshs case aggressively and thoroughly.

In this country, no one can stop prosecutors from charging a crime. But when youre accused, you can fight back in the courtroom  and that is exactly what Josh intends to do, read the statement.

RELATED: Is Counting On Canceled? Outraged Viewers Petition TLC to End Duggar Familys Show After Josh Duggar Arrest

According to public affairs officer Charlie Robbins, the government has requested that Josh stay in jail without bond until trial. But the former reality star wants to fight the charges against him as a free man.

Hes willing to follow the rules

On Tuesday, May 4, Joshs lawyers filed a document with the court requesting that Josh be let out of jail on bond until trial. In their motion, Joshs legal team has asked for his release subject to a combination of conditions.

Duggar  has no criminal convictions and has known about this federal criminal investigation since November 2019 when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a search of Duggars prior workplace, his lawyers wrote.

Josh Duggars lawyers say hes too famous to be a flight risk

To support his bail request, Joshs lawyers argued that he poses neither a risk of flight nor a danger to the community.

Duggar has a widely-recognizable face and has spent the majority of his life in the public spotlight  making any concern that he is a risk of flight all the more unwarranted, the motion says.

The legal team promised the court that Josh would follow any conditions set for his release. Hes even willing to live with a third-party custodian where no minor children reside. That means he wouldnt be able to go home to his pregnant wife Anna and their six children.

The bond hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5. Showbiz Cheat Sheet will continue to follow this story as it develops.

How to get help: If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 for free and confidential support.
Dolly Parton has been an icon for decades. But in recent years, it seems shes become more popular than ever. And even The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond recognizes Partons importance to the world. However, the celebrity chef once revealed that the country music star had an impact on Drummonds own life, too.

Ree Drummond; Dolly Parton | Tyler Essary/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank; Rich Fury/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond has grown incredibly popular for how real she is

When The Pioneer Woman premiered on Food Network back in 2011, Drummond had already built a promising fan base through her popular blog of the same name. Drummond has lived on an Oklahoma ranch with her husband and four kids since she and Ladd Drummond wed back in 1996. And over the years, Drummonds down-to-earth personality has garnered her millions of fans.

Drummond has an inviting sense of humor, which she often utilizes on her show. But beyond that, she keeps her life incredibly real. Those who follow The Pioneer Woman on Instagram know that, while shes a celebrity chef, shes also a mother who loves spending time with her kids. Drummonds family-oriented nature has helped her become even more relatable to her fan base.

The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond in 2017 | Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Pioneer Woman Magazine

RELATED: The Pioneer Woman: Ree Drummond Made 1 Major Business Decision After Watching Little House on the Prairie

Ree Drummond revealed that Dolly Parton has had a huge impact on her life

Though some look up to Drummond in such a way, theres another celebrity who has impacted The Pioneer Womans own life: Country music icon Dolly Parton. In an interview with TODAY in November 2020, Drummond was asked what it was about Parton that moved her so much.

Shes basically been there my whole life, Drummond said. I watched 9 to 5 as a little girl. Drummond said that she and her husband talked about Drummond meeting Parton, too. Even he was a little be verklempt of trying to figure out how to describe what she means to the world.

Were pretty sure that people feel that way about you, too, TODAY host Savannah Guthrie told Drummond.

Ree Drummond once revealed the celebrities shed want to be stuck in an elevator with

Though Drummond clearly has a soft spot for Dolly Parton, it turns out that when asked who shed like to be stuck in an elevator with, Parton wasnt one of the celebrities she named.

Any of the Real Housewives, Drummond said when TODAYs Savannah Guthrie asked the all-important question. All of them  so we probably wouldnt all fit in the elevator, she added.

Drummond wasnt joking about her love for the Real Housewives franchise. It turns out her Mother of the Bride dress she wore to daughter Alex Drummonds spring wedding was inspired by an episode of Real Housewives of New York City. Drummond revealed that the Jovani dress was one she knew she had to wear after it caused a fight between Luan De Lesseps and Dorinda Medley in one of the earlier seasons of the show.
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Havent we already agreed that consent in early Disney movies is a major issue? That teaching kids that kissing, when it hasnt been established if both parties are willing to engage, is not OK? Its hard to understand why the Disneyland of 2021 would choose to add a scene with such old fashioned ideas of what a man is allowed to do to a woman, especially given the companys current emphasis on removing problematic scenes from rides like Jungle Cruise and Splash Mountain, reads the review. Why not re-imagine an ending in keeping with the spirit of the movie and Snow Whites place in the Disney canon, but that avoids this problem?
As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes widely available to Americans, a high proportion of white evangelicals have stated they probably or definitely will not get the vaccine. Media outlets such as The New York Times and CNN have expressed fear that vaccine hesitancy could be a roadblock to America attaining herd immunity and endanger the unvaccinated and their communities.

In the midst of this alarm, the large (and varied) demographic of white evangelicals has been labeled anti-science, further entrenching the suspicion of those who are vaccine-hesitant that a pro-vaccine message is tied to a hostile media and government overreach. As deepening chasms of distrust separate followers of Jesus from all backgrounds into self-sorted ideological tribes, we face the question: Can we find a way to display love to one another and our neighbors, as a witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ?

The reality is that people are more complex than demographics. The anti-science label often generates more heat than light. As a cancer patient, Ive learned its not anti-science to thoughtfully consider a medical intervention. Theres a difference between accepting a newly approved treatment and asking doctors to set a broken arm. As I explored in my recent book, exercising discernment with modern medicine is part of our vocation as mortals who are followers of Jesus. God alone can deliver us from sin and death. But the Lord can also offer medicine as an extraordinary gift on this short mortal journey.

For evangelicals, the crux of the vaccine question does not hinge upon trust in a particular political party or agenda, but upon our response to Gods workmanship in creation. With trust in God as the creator of the complex harmony we observe in the creation, we can receive the vaccine as a divine gift.

Like many evangelicals, I was raised to be deeply responsive to the Psalmists declaration: O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures (104:24, NRSV). The connection was clear: As Christians, we worshiped the Lord and delighted in the order, complexity, and sublime harmony of his creation.

Only later did I discover that this evangelical piety about creation aligns with an older biblical tradition of creational theology. From Augustine in the West to Gregory of Nyssa in the East, and from early Christianity through the Reformation and into the Enlightenment, many Christians shared this theology. Drawing upon Scripture, creational theology rejoices in the manifold works of God in the order and complexity of creation and enjoins humans to grow in their understanding of creations wonders. As scholarship on the history of science has shown, through the centuries it has encouraged many to pursue serious scientific inquiry and exploration.

Sixteenth-century Reformer John Calvin taught this creational theology with particular verve. Wherever you cast your eyes, he wrote in Institutes, there is no spot in the universe wherein you cannot discern at least some sparks of Gods glory. What many today call the natural world was, for Calvin, a dazzling theater of Gods glory. He lamented that scarcely one man in a hundred is a true spectator of it!

How does all of this relate to our discernment about vaccines in our contemporary moment? Many of my fellow evangelicals hesitate about the COVID-19 vaccine because they worry about government overreach. They note the painful economic consequences of the government-imposed shutdowns and worry that the government messaging has been inconsistent during different points in the pandemic. If one disapproves of the government response to the pandemic, why trust the vaccine?

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While these concerns can arise from genuine hardship, if we believe a biblical creational theology, they are actually beside the point. Yes, the development, testing, and distribution of the various vaccines have involved government support and coordinationfirst from a Republican president, and then a Democratic one, as well as from other governments around the globe that dont fit American partisan categories. But no president or governor or mayor did the hard work of investigationthe thousands of hours of inquiry and observation and testing carried out by scientists around the world.

In a truly astonishing way, leading scientists from across the globe, from numerous political contexts, worked together to amass a huge body of knowledge about COVID-19. This took place in a relatively short amount of time, but they shared their hypotheses, insights, data, and conundrums with one another in an unprecedented manner.

As The Atlantic showed, the year 2020 was like the Apollo project in energizing a huge number of scientists and studies, with online archives to share the results of studies immediately with scientists elsewhere bypassing the processes of print publishing and expensive paywalls. At the beginning of 2020, one archive for biomedical research had 1,000 papers giving data from the results of investigations. By October, because of COVID-19, it had over 12,000 papers.

Christians can rejoice in the fact that a solution to a widespread disease was so deeply investigated by these scientists in 2020. The scientists need not have been Christian for their work to share some key convictions with creational theology: that order and symmetry characterize the natural world in deep ways, and that the human mind can understand aspects of this complex cosmos. As non-Christian scientists like Albert Einstein have observed, there is a deep harmony and marvellous order in the universe, without which scientific investigation and progress would not be possible.

As evangelicals who affirm that this order and complexity are part of Gods design, that humans are created in Gods image to rejoice in and discover creation, we have all the more reason to cherish the past years scientific progress. The decision about whether to get the vaccines based on this research is not a question about whether we approve of the president, governor, or mayor. For followers of Jesus, its a question of whether we trust in the order and design of creation that makes scientific understanding possible, as scientists from around the globe have paid deep and close attention to the theater of Gods glory in creation.

At this point, some readers will object: Am I assuming that our current knowledge of COVID-19 is perfect? And am I guaranteeing that there are no possible risks to taking these vaccines which the CDC says are safe and effective?

Im not assuming a positive answer to either question. Science is a fallible human enterprise seeking to understand the extraordinary order and complexity of Gods creation, and our understanding is always progressing. And although the vaccines are safe and effective in relative terms, I think its wise to recognize that absolute certainty is simply not possible. For mortals like us, there is simply no way through this pandemic that is guaranteed to be safe. Opting out of the vaccine is far from risk-free. With the psalmist, its time to bring our fears before God and ask the Lord to help us to number our days, for we are mere mortals (Ps. 90:12).

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In December, a pastor friend of mine shared that he was invited to be among the earliest to receive the vaccine in his state because a significant part of his work was in the hospital. He was honest with me and others: He had that gut feeling of fear about putting it in his body. He talked to his doctor, trusted Christian friends, and sought to prayerfully discern. In the end, he received the vaccine in faith that in life and in death, he belongs to Jesus Christ. He had the right to decline. But more important was his recognition that he is a mortal who belongs to Jesusthe one who laid down his own rights to show us his love. For the love of his God and of others, he refused to let his fear have the final word.

Our understanding of COVID-19 is not perfect, and we need not assume that science is infallible to receive the vaccine as a gift. But perfect medicines have never been an option. Consider Calvin, who applied his theology of creation to insist that medicine, as a knowledge of carefully using the gifts of creation, is in fact a divine gift.

Would Calvin assume that these medicines are devoid of risk? Certainly not. Calvin encouraged his hearers to take medicine based upon the best available (yet provisional) understanding of the world. Imagine what he might say about the extensive safety testing for treatments like the COVID-19 vaccine. But even without large-scale testing, Calvin insisted that through medicine God provides us with the capacity to attend to our illnesses. Indeed, he exclaims, whoever does not take account of the means [medicine] which God has ordained does not have confidence in God but is puffed up with false pride and temerity.

We can give thanks for the marvelous theater of Gods glory in creation and the gifts that come from exploring it. As our congregations learn about the vaccine in this tumultuous time, we can remember Pauls admonishment to be patient, bearing with one another in love (Eph. 4:23). Our bodies are not our own but belong to Jesus, the one through whom all things were created (Col. 1:16).

Even as we recognize our own rights and fears, we are called to consider the body we steward, the bodies of those in our spiritual family, and the bodies of our neighbors whom Jesus calls us to love. May we seek to display the love and trust that comes from God so that with love that seems strange to our divided age we can join together singing, they will know we are Christians by our love.

J. Todd Billings is the Gordon H. Girod Research Professor of Reformed Theology at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. His latest book is The End of the Christian Life: How Embracing Our Mortality Frees Us to Truly Live.

Speaking Out is Christianity Todays guest opinion column and (unlike an editorial) does not necessarily represent the opinion of the publication.

[ This article is also available in Portugues, , Indonesian, and . ]
Image: Eerdmans Publishing

Today I want to feature another installment of my ongoing 20 Truths series. This installment features Eugene Cho and Samira Izadi Page most recent release No Longer Strangers: Transforming Evangelism Among Immigrant Communities . In this book, curated by Cho and Izadi Page, a diverse group of contributors offer guidance for how to bring evangelism and discipleship to communities who have often been marginalized.

1. "The editors of this volume and the contributors believe wholeheartedly that evangelism is a necessary and beautiful part of our discipleship. However, while the book affirms the important commitment of evangelism, we highlight the dangers when North American Christians, in particular, underestimate how their education, race, language mastery, and other factors impact their ability to love and express the gospel (in word and deed) to refugees and immigrants coming from backgrounds that include trauma, oppression, colonialism, persecution, etc." Eugene Cho and Samira Izadi Page (1)

2. "This book, . . . will guide churches, individuals, and Christian leaders in the ways of healthy discipleship and instruct them in how to avoid evangelism that causes harm to immigrants through abuses of power dynamics and intercultural blind spots." Eugene Cho and Samira Izadi (2)

3. "[The church] at times feels like it's lost its footing in the chaos and craziness of our polarized, political world where it seems as if more and more Christians are in a space where their politics inform their theology rather than our biblically rooted theology informing our politics." Eugene Cho and Samira Izadi (5)

4. "What we are seeing now is a new work of the Spirit. While the pattern of migration and refugee resettlement can be explained factually using social and political sciences, the Christian must look above and beyond and seek the purposes of God amidst these facts. In light of the sovereignty of God, why are refugees and immigrants brought to our doorstops?" Eugene Cho and Samira Izadi (6)

5. "We are in the midst of the largest mass migration in human history. . . there are 70.8 million forcibly displaced people in the world. . . . What is God up to? How can I be a part of it?" Eugene Cho and Samira Izadi (8)

6. "Evangelism means sharing the good news, and people who are traumatized are in desperate need of good news that brings them healing and restoration." Issam Smeir (36)

7. "But can a faith journey with God in the form of a personal relationship bring healing and restoration to those who have been traumatized? The answer in the literature is yes." Issam Smeir (37)

9. "Church was meant to be the safest place on Earth. Jesus always demonstrated his love before telling people who he was. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, and comforted those who were hurting. He cried with them. Evangelism should always be conducted with compassion." Issam Smeir (44)

10. "The first lesson we learned about service is that proximity changes everything. We didn't have to look across the world for the poor, the marginalized, the immigrants, and orphans. We only had to look across the street. They were right there next to us." Laurie Beshore (48).

11. "People don't want a handout, they want dignity." Laurie Beshore (51).

12. "Compassion is always a safe topic; justice is challenging." Laurie Beshore (60).

13. "Evangelism in a Western context has been seen as communicating truths. Biblical witness is about operating in a way that shows the transformative reality of Jesus." Sandra Maria Van Opstal (81).

14. "Speaking up and telling the truth about refugees as individuals made in the image of God who deserve our dignity and respect is the first way we can remind people of our common humanity." Jenny Yang (92).

15. "Advocacy can be carried out in three ways: (1) by the poorempowerment; (2) with the pooraccompaniment/partnership; and (3) for the poorrepresentation." Jenny Yang (96).

16. "Because God is allowing refugees to be brought to America in the twenty-first century, I believe Westerners traveling overseas for evangelism must begin in their neighborhood." Torli H. Krua (107).

17. "Most Americans are unaware that refugees don't come to America to live and die; many receive everlasting life and return to their homelands a business and civic leaders and as Christian leaders who bring the Word of God to their own people in their native language and cultural settings." Torli H. Krua (112).

18. "Many of us have treated the Great Commission as if it were the only thing Jesus said, and we have reduced it to a mere call for evangelism. This reductionism can lead to methodologies that prioritize isolated evangelism, often at the expense of loving our neighbors. This then becomes our metric for measuring obedience, and sometimes even maturity. We seem to forget that Jesus also said that loving our neighbor is part of the great commandment and explains all the rest of the Bible." K.J. Hill (131).

19. "One side [of justice] is retributive, which means people receive the punishment they deserve for doing wrong. The other side is restorative, which is actually the more common usage in the Bible and means making sure people have what they need to flourish. So, one side of justice is stopping people from doing wrong, as in Leviticus 24 (eye for an eye, etc.), while the other side is ensuring that the weak and vulnerable have what they need, as in Proverbs 31:9." K.J. Hill (134).

20. "The connection from the Great Concern (Mic. 6:8) to the Great Commandment (Luke 10) is the same thread that runs from the beginning of the Bible to the end, from Abraham through the church." K.J. Hill (135).
A compilation of racial reconciliation resources and efforts as the United States continues to grapple with racial injustice and tension.

Image: Unsplash/Aaron Blanco Tejedor

Recently, I was invited to a dialogue hosted by the Agora Institute of Johns Hopkins University on racial justice and reconciliation efforts of evangelical churches. You can watch the conversation, which was described by the hosts as: This event will convene prominent evangelical leaders, including those working to build racial justice within the church, for a follow-up discussion focusing specifically on what evangelicals are doing and can do to confront this divisive moment. Evangelical Christians have been engaging in racial justice conversations across the United States. Many of these conversations were accelerated after the murder of George Floyd, which brought racial justice conversations into the mainstream. In addition to the protests exploding across the country which received wide coverage, churches and church leaders began to work together to understand, to learn, and to be a part of change. In preparation of the Agora meeting, we reached out to find examples of churches and leaders engaging in efforts toward justice and reconciliation and were pleasantly surprised to receive hundreds of responses. The following series offers a sampling of responses in five categories: church leaders and churches, individual churches taking action, training and curriculum available to help, some examples of denominational engagement, and ministry initiatives related to reconciliation. While there are far more initiatives and activities taking place than these, we can be encouraged that the conversation continues. Note: These lists are, therefore, intended to provide links and ideas, not full endorsements of all the information and efforts here. Note: You might also find helpful the American Bible Society conversation from Martin Luther King Day this year, called Repairing the Breach, including AR Bernard and Nicole Martin. Read part one in this series here. Read part two in this series here. Read part three in this series here. Read part four in this series here.

A number of ministry initiatives were either birthed or accelerated during this season. The following gives a sampling of some of the many responses we received.

Eric Torrence (@EricTorrence83) and Jon (@JonWarren_TX) commended U nity Table, noting that it is a collaboration of churches in north Dallas.

Started by One Community Church in Plano, Dr. Conway Edwards believes "proximity leads to empathy." On the site you can see a conversation between Bryan Loritts (@bcloritts) and Matt Chandler (@MattChandler74). Unity Table offers a training guide and resources through Right Now media. One such resource is the free document produced by One Community Church called "The Unity TableSetting the Table: A Practical Guide to Conversations That Lead to Reconciliation, also available on the site.

Tim Simmons (@TimSimmonsMusic) told us: "the lead pastor at Life Fellowship, a suburb of Memphis, launched an outstanding project called The Listening Project, a digital listening room to hear and respond real stories that challenge your own racial ideologies." The site says it offers "a 4-step journey designed to foster much-needed conversation and intentional listening about matters of race."

A number of people chimed in on the UNDIVIDED movement. Erin Caproni (@erin_cinci) told us how Crossroads Church and the UNDIVIDED movement have been very active in this space for several years. It offers a six-session curriculum.

Judith Roberts (@jrobertslatech) also mentioned this Undivided emphasis: She encouraged us to see "The Springs on Instagram and Facebook. We hosted an #undivided study this fall and our church mission is to be multi-cultural, ethnic, and generational."

Mike Sharrow (@mikesharrow) told us about the work of Dr. David Anderson (@AndersonSpeaks) at Bridgeway Community Church (@BridgewayMD).

David Heiliger (@HeiligerDavid) also linked to the Gracism Roundtable series they hosted a few months ago featuring five panel discussions on Racial Healing with groups that are multi-racial & multi-generational.

Madison Church (@madisonchurch) located in Madison, WI told us about Dr. Alex Gee (@alexgeejr) who planted Fountains of Life (@folmadison) 40 years ago. Dr. Gee also started Nehemiah Madison (@NehemiahMadison), the Center of Urban Leadership Development, and Justified Anger (@ja_madison). He recently launched the award-winning podcast, Black Like Me Podcast (@BlackLikeMeAG).

Madison Church (@madisonchurch) has recently joined their new Church Partnership Pathway and commended Tyler Nylen (@tynylen7) as a resource to help primarily white churches to be better allies in working for justice and healing.

Wellness101Life (@wellness101life) shared the following from a national movement called L .O.V.E. Is The Answer: "L.O.V.E. Is The Answer movement has worked with many churches, using their award-winning film, 'WALKING WHILE BLACK: L.O.V.E. Is The Answer,' & book, L.O.V.E. Is the Answer, to guide courageous conversations about racial reconciliation. Here's a press release about one of the events...
Harry Potter event canceled over JK Rowling's comments on gender: 'Causing distress'

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Organizers of a book festival in New Zealand have canceled an event featuring the popular children's book series Harry Potter over past comments on the transgender debate made by author J.K. Rowling.

The news website Stuff reported that the upcoming Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival, an annual event scheduled to occur this weekend in New Zealands Wellington Region, decided to remove a Harry Potter-themed quiz because of the past comments on gender and women's rights made by Rowling.

This action comes as this years book festival is slated to focus on the phenomenon of cancel culture.

The term cancel culture refers to the effort embraced by many in popular culture to silence people with unfashionable views on certain topics by boycotting their products or canceling their engagements with organizations or events.

According to Stuff, this years festival will feature a panel discussion hosted by veteran broadcaster Ian Fraser examining the phenomenon of cancel culture and its impact on New Zealand art and literature.

In response to the outcry over the inclusion of the Harry Potter-themed quiz in the program, the festivals board chairman, Peter Biggs, stressed that decision to pull the quiz event was not made lightly.

However, the festival elected to nix the segment after consulting with members of the LGBT community, the literary sector and local supporters.

The overwhelming response was there was a risk around causing distress to particular members of the community and that was the last thing we wanted to do, Biggs said. We always thought Booktown should be an inclusive, welcoming place for everyone, so we took the decision not to go with Harry Potter.

Rowling, a self-described feminist, came under fire last year for comments that critics have deemed transphobic.

Addressing an op-ed that contained the phrase people who menstruate in the headline, Rowling sarcastically tweeted: Im sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud? The point of that tweet was to highlight that the correct word for those people is women.

In a separate Twitter thread sent out on the same day, Rowling pushed back on the idea that sex isnt real.

If sex isnt real, theres no same-sex attraction. If sex isnt real, the lived reality of women globally is erased, she wrote.

I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isnt hate to speak the truth.

Additionally, Rowling has criticized the use of cross-sex hormones.

In an early July tweet, she specifically warned that the long-term health risks of cross-sex hormones have now been tracked over a lengthy period, adding these side effects are often minimized or denied by trans activists.

In December, Rowling revealed that she had received heartbreaking letters from women who regret taking cross-sex hormones.

She stressed that everybody should be free to live a life that is authentic to them, and that they should be safe to do so. However, the author illustrated a need to have a more nuanced conversation around womens rights and around the huge increase in the number of girls and young women who are seeking to transition.

While most people who spoke with Stuff about the decision to pull the Harry Potter quiz from Booktown expressed support for the decision, one resident of Featherston held a divergent view.

Jenny Whyte, a lesbian and feminist activist, accused the book festival of trying to capitalise on the current fad of cancel culture.

Featherston Booktown has a session selling tickets to a panel discussing cancel culture, so theres an irony certainly, she added.

In addition, Whyte said that she shared some of Rowlings views, describing them as quite compassionate and reasonable. She said that the fact that a world-famous writer from London faced pushback in tiny little Featherston over her views encapsulates the whole madness of [cancel culture] quite well.
Illegal immigrant sex offenders released due to Biden's detainer policy

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Dozens of criminal illegal immigrants were released in Texas, including at least two sex offenders, due to the Biden administrations guidance to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding deportations.

In March, more than 36 inmates at the Bexar County jail with ICE detainers were not picked up [by ICE] and had to be released to the streets of San Antonio, Fox News' San Antonio affiliate reported.

Instead of being deported, the convicted felons were released in Bexar County, which has a population of 2 million people. The felons' charges range from assaulting a police officer, family violence and drug-related charges. Other felons released in the state are sex offenders.

Sources within law enforcement and ICE told Fox San Antonio that the U.S. Marshals Office is having to release detainees, allegedly because ICE will not pick them up.

That includes two sex offenders with ICE detainers, who were both released from the custody of the U.S. Marshals after they served their state time or settled their state proceedings, one in Del Rio, the other in Austin, Fox San Antonio reporter Yami Virgin said.

Sources at the U.S. Marshals tell us that in some districts, deputies now release the detainees to probation officers and then onto the streets since ICE wont honor all of their own detainers and pick them up, Virgin added.

Federal agents are not picking up the offenders despite the fact that there are ICE detainers saying that they must do so, she added. Instead, these criminals are going free and walking the streets right here at home.

Aristides Jimenez, the former agent in charge of South Texas Homeland Security Investigations, told the outlet that detainers are intended to keep criminals out of local communities.

How its done is by allowing ICE officers to take custody of a criminal alien within the confines of a jail, Jimenez said.

Virgin described detainers as the way the federal government asks state and local law enforcement to notify ICE when an undocumented detainee or inmate is to be released. Under normal circumstances, ICE picks them up and sends them back to their country of origin, she added.

However, the Biden administration has taken a different approach to immigration enforcement.

Theyre basically telling the state and locals to just release them into the community, Jimenez added.

When ICE is not responding, underscore the importance of information sharing and good public safety and policing between state, local and federal entities, he added.

According to Fox San Antonio, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas stopped deportations for 90 days, starting back on Feb. 18.

The Feb. 18 guidance identifies three priorities for civil immigration enforcement and removal.

The guidance urges ICE officials to prioritize the removal of those believed to have engaged in terrorism or espionage, crossed the border since Nov. 1, 2020, and were convicted of an aggravated felony or participation in a street gang or a transnational criminal organization.

Deportations of individuals that do not fall into one of these three categories require preapproval.

In a statement to Fox San Antonio, ICE stated that the guidance provided to them by the federal government focuses on the agencys stated interim priorities, and does not prohibit the arrest, detention, or removal of any noncitizen.

The report comes as Texas and Louisiana are suing the federal government over this issue.

The lawsuit alleged that the Feb. 18 memorandum and a previous memorandum issued on the first day of the Biden administration established a two-tier system that led federal immigration authorities to rescind detainer requests relating to incarcerated criminal aliens, to not issue detainer requests even for individuals subject to mandatory removal, and to release individuals from federal detention facilities.

As a consequence, dangerous criminal aliens are being released into communities, the lawsuit continued.

The lawsuit accuses federal immigration officials of breaking federal law by refusing to take custody of aliens convicted of serious crimes, specifically referring to drug offenses or crimes of moral turpitude.

Examples of crimes of moral turpitude listed include evading arrest with a vehicle, failing to stop and render aid after being involved in an automobile accident, theft, and crimes in which fraud is an ingredient.

The lawsuit asks a federal judge to invalidate portions of the Feb. 18 and Jan. 20 memorandums and require the federal government to take custody of criminal illegal aliens as mandated by federal law.

Paxton is not the only Texas official sounding the alarm about immigration enforcement policies.

When asked about the allegations that convicted felons are being released by ICE and not deported, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that [t]hese allegations are outrageous and irresponsible and reckless and dangerous.

Lives of people in this country are at risk if the allegations are true that felons are being released, he said.

Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, told Fox San Antonio that two coyotes transporting 15 people in their truck were released even though they had ICE detainers.

The interim guidance will remain in effect until the Biden administration issues new enforcement guidelines. The new guidelines are expected in the coming weeks.
Puerto Rico bill seeks to ban conversion therapy for minors

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The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States, is considering legislation that would ban the controversial practice of sexual orientation "conversion therapy" for minors.

Also known as reparative therapy or sexual orientation change efforts therapy, the practice involves helping those with unwanted same-sex attraction.

The legislation, known as P.S. 184, is now in the Puerto Rican Senate and would prohibit the practice for minors. The bill was introduced in February and is still pending a vote.

Bishop Daniel Fernandez Torres of Arecibo is among the legislation's ardent critics, warning in an interview with LifeSiteNews that if passed, it would effectively outlaw Catholic Church teaching.

What will happen to a parent who asks his son or daughter why she thinks or feels that, instead of immediately saying, live as you feel or want? the bishop asked.

What will happen to a father who goes with his children to church, where they receive the teachings of the Catechism on the natural family and Gods creation? Will he be considered a child abuser for that?

Torres went on to explain that the bill had other negative consequences, such as only allowing support for a minor to live a sexual orientation or gender identity different from the natural one.

As written, health professionals should only take action toward affirmation of homosexuality or transgenderism in kids, even if children only were to experience temporary confusion, he continued.

Supporters of the proposed ban include the Madison, Wisconsin-based atheist legal group, Freedom From Religion Foundation, which released an action alert on Tuesday in both English and Spanish.

Conversion therapy is a dangerous and discredited practice aimed at altering a childs sexual orientation or gender identity, often basing the therapy in religious shame and guilt, stated FFRF.

Many governmental health organizations have denounced the practice as both physically and psychologically traumatizing. Individuals who endure this so-called treatment are at a higher risk for suicide and depression.

In March 2019, Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo A. Rossello signed an executive order that prohibited medical facilities seeking to be licensed by the Health Department from conducting such therapies.

I firmly believe that the idea that there are people in our society who need treatment because of their gender identity or whom they love is not only absurd, it is harmful to so many children and young adults who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, the governor said at the time, as reported by The New York Times.
SC Episcopal diocese elects first female bishop amid $500 million legal battle over church property

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The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, which is still in the midst of a yearslong legal battle with a breakaway group over several church properties, has elected its first female bishop.

The Rev. Canon Ruth Woodliff-Stanley won the election on the second ballot at a special meeting of the convention held by the diocese on Saturday, beating out four other candidates.

On the second ballot, Woodliff-Stanley received 13 votes in the Lay Order, which required at least 10 votes to win, and 26 votes in the Clergy Order, which required at least 18 votes to win.

Molly Hamilton, director of communications for the diocese, told The Christian Post that a few canonically-required consents are still needed from the Standing Committees and bishops of The Episcopal Church before Woodliff-Stanley can begin working.

We expect this to occur in the coming two to three months, noted Hamilton, who directed CP to a letter that Woodliff-Stanley wrote to the diocese while still a candidate for bishop.

In her letter, Woodliff-Stanley detailed her church leadership ground, ties to South Carolina, and past work with regional bodies that experienced division.

Ive worked with dioceses experiencing conflict and schism and comprehend the scope and magnitude of the challenges ahead, wrote Woodliff-Stanley. I understand the ministry of a bishop to be humble and holy work, joyful and collective work we do together on behalf of Jesus.

In 2012, then-South Carolina Diocese Bishop Mark Lawrence and a majority of the diocesan leadership voted to leave The Episcopal Church, due to theological differences and the reported poor treatment of Lawrence by the denomination.

Since then, there have been extensive legal battles over the $500 million worth of property and the trademarks of the diocese between the breakaway group and those still loyal to The Episcopal Church.

In 2017, the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled in favor of The Episcopal Church and its local group, the Episcopal Church in South Carolina, concluding that at least 29 of the 36 properties belong to the national denomination.

However, in June 2020, South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Edgar Dickson, who had been tasked with enforcing the ruling, instead issued an order concluding that each parish owned their own properties.

Hamilton of the Episcopal Diocese told CP that, at present, both sides are waiting for the state Supreme Court to determine whether they will uphold their earlier ruling.

The Federal Court ruled in September 2019 in favor of our diocese granting that The Episcopal Church in South Carolina is the historic Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina with all rights to the name, trademarks, and the diocesan seal, Hamilton explained.

The opposing side has appealed that ruling and all appeals are currently awaiting the South Carolina Supreme Court decision on the state property issues.
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Last October, Simon & Schuster, a giant in the publishing industry, announced it would be releasing Senator Josh Hawleys book titled The Tyranny of Big Tech. As reported by AP News, Hawley had frequently criticized the various social media giants for everything from alleged anti-conservative bias to monopolistic control of the online market.

As Hawley explained, At a time when these platforms are determining elections, banning inconvenient political views, lining politicians pockets with hundreds of millions of dollars, and addicting our kids to screens, I want to draw attention to the robber barons of the modern era. This is the fight to recover Americas populist democracy. That is why I am writing this book.

The book was targeted for a June 2021 release date, but on January 7, 2021, one day after the storming of the Capitol, which was also one day after Sen. Hawley called for an investigation into claims of election fraud, Simon & Schuster released this statement:

After witnessing the disturbing, deadly insurrection that took place on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., Simon & Schuster has decided to cancel publication of Senator Josh Hawleys forthcoming book, THE TYRANNY OF BIG TECH. We did not come to this decision lightly. As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints: at the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom.

So, a book exposing the tyranny of big tech got canceled because of a knee-jerk reaction to Hawleys actions on January 6, actions that were neither dangerous nor unpatriotic. And this happened at the same time that President Trumps Twitter account was being shut down for life, along with many other conservative accounts being purged. Oh, the irony!

But the story doesnt end there.

On January 18, 2021, Regnery Books, one of the conservative publishing giants, announced that their company would now be publishing the senators book, with a release date of May 2021.

As Mollie Hemingway reported on The Federalist, Simon and Schuster canceled the book Jan. 7, quickly caving to a pressure campaign organized by leftist activists and making the Missouri Republican one of the highest-profile victims of cancel culture.

Said Thomas Spence, the president of Regnery Books, Its discouraging to see them cower before the woke mob, as Senator Hawley correctly calls it. Regnery is proud to stand in the breach with him. And the warning in his book about censorship obviously couldnt be more urgent.

Not surprisingly, interest in the book exploded after its cancellation and reinstatement, and now, it has debuted on Amazon as one of top books in the nation. And, quite appropriately, it is the #1 bestseller in Censorship and Politics on Amazon.

Simon & Schuster inadvertently confirmed Hawleys concerns, spiking interest in his book rather than drawing attention away from it.

This is how cancel culture backfires. This is how attempts to silence us can ultimately amplify our voices. This is how we push back.

But this is not the first time this has happened, nor will it be the last.

Were you aware of Prof. Jordan Peterson before he suddenly skyrocketed to international fame? Did you know of him when he was a respected but relatively obscure psychology professor at the University of Toronto? Were you one of the rare readers who waded through his serious, academic work, Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief, which took him thirteen years to write and which was published in 1999?

That was all before 2016, when quite suddenly and unexpectedly, Peterson became an international bestselling author and a man hailed by some as the most influential public intellectual in the Western world right now. What launched him into worldwide fame?

It was when he refused to bow down to the spirit of political correctness in Canada, specifically, being forced to use certain pronouns when addressing transgender-identified people.

When he was asked on TV what would happen if the government required him to comply with its new speech rules, he answered, If they fine me, I wont pay it. If they put me in jail, Ill go on a hunger strike. Im not doing this. And thats that. Im not using the words that other people require me to use. Especially if theyre made up by radical left-wing ideologues.

But in Petersons case, instead of going to jail or being taken to court or being disciplined by his university, Peterson became an overnight sensation.

According to his publisher, his second book, 12 Rules for Life has sold over five million copies worldwide and his global book tour has reached more than 250,000 people in 100 different cities.

His Twitter account now has 1.7 million followers and his YouTube channel has 3.5 million subscribers.

Instead of his voice being silenced, Dr. Petersons voice has now been amplified to reach multiplied millions around the globe, providing another graphic example of what can happen when you make a principled decision not to cave in.

Ive been working on a major book that addresses how we can overcome cancel culture, due out early next year. But suffice it to say now that we should be encouraged by the examples of Sen. Hawley and Prof. Peterson. The more the culture tries to silence us, the more we will get our message out.

We will not be silenced.
100K Bibles distributed to prisoners nationwide during COVID-19 pandemic: 'God-inspired' Prison Fellow, Tyndale Publishers partner together for ministry milestone

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The nations leading prison ministry has given over 100,000 Bibles in the past nine months to incarcerated men and women across the country amid heightened demand for Gods word during the COVID-19 pandemic.

James Ackerman, CEO of Prison Fellowship, the leading Christian ministry serving prisoners and their families, told The Christian Post in an interview that the scale of the Bible distribution is nothing short of God-inspired and miraculous.

He explained how the hopelessness of the pandemic created a high demand for Bibles among many prisoners. Ackerman assured that Prison Fellowship has never seen this level of demand for the Gospel inside prisons in its 45-year history.

During a time when prisons had shut down, and incarcerated men and women had to go without visitations or programming, theres this sense of hopelessness in prisons, he said.

God put on peoples hearts and encouraged chaplains to promote the Word of God. And [the fact] that hope of the Gospel found itself in such high demand is so encouraging to me.

Ackerman, who became president of the ministry founded by the late Chuck Colson in 2016, believes that God created greater demand for His word and provided the resources we needed to meet that demand.

Prison Fellowship partnered with Tyndale House Publishers in 2018 to provide the New Living Translation ofThe Life Recovery Bible to prisoners at no cost.

The Life Recovery Bible was co-branded with Inside Journal, Prison Fellowship's quarterly newspaper published for the incarcerated.

The Bible has special devotional content based on the 12-step recovery model. It helps men and women overcome addictions and strongholds while pointing to God himself as the primary source of recovery with essential tools and features that help free people from the grip of addiction.

Prison Fellowship, founded in 1976, has always distributed Bibles. But the ministry teamed up with Tyndale House to provide large-print Bibles with content to guide people dealing with addiction recovery, which is prevalent among prisoners.

Having a Bible that speaks to addiction recovery and needs was also a priority for us, Ackerman said. The Life Recovery Bible by Tyndale was the perfect fit for what we were exploring.

Around 65% of inmates in the U.S. meet the medical criteria for substance use and addiction, yet only 11% receive the treatment they need, according to the behavioral healthcare system Vertava Health.

[The Life Recovery Bible] brings the opportunity to step into new beginnings with Jesus. And because its a recovery Bible, its also speaking directly to the journey and narrative thats consistent with so many of the lives of these men and women, Ackerman said. [The aim is for] people who have struggled with addiction and that addiction [led] to other unproductive activities in their life to realize that they can be healed of that addiction, that Jesus wants to heal them of that addiction and to allow them to start a life of new beginnings.

A Prison Fellowship survey of prison chaplains showed that most prisoners do not have easy access to their own Bible or have a Bible in a difficult-to-read translation or small font.

We rejoice with Prison Fellowship in reaching this milestone of distributing 100,000 copies of The Life Recovery Bible in just nine months, Tyndale House Ministries CEO Scott Mathews said in a statement.

We value their partnership and are grateful for their efforts in getting Gods Word into the hands of prisoners who need the freeing power of the Scriptures, he continued. Tyndale shares this mission of making the Bible accessible for everyone.

Prison Fellowship has distributed over 162,000 Bibles to men and women in prison since partnering with Tyndale in 2018.

Over 3 million copies of The Life Recovery Bible, Tyndales bestselling recovery Bible, have been printed. It is available in English and Spanish.

Ackerman said many correctional facilities worried prisoners would become agitated and violent with lockdowns and canceled programs due to the pandemic. The Bibles, however, have provided the exact opposite effect, the Prison Fellowship president said.

The feedback weve gotten is that these Bibles are helping to keep people calm and to keep people focused on either strengthening their faith for those who are already believers  but also encouraging others who have never considered the Christian faith before to really sit down and crack open that Bible and read it, Ackerman said. It is creating an environment of calmness in the prison that the Department of Corrections feared might not be there.

God provided us all we needed to meet the demand to supply those 100,000 Bibles, he added. That, to me, it just shows you when the Lord is in something, He not only opens the door to create the demand, but He provides the resources needed to fulfill the expectation.

Prison employees have commended the difference in their facilities since the prisoners received these Bibles.

Mac Mullings, program and services coordinator at Oklahoma County Detention Center, called the Bibles lifesavers.

Every time I go to the floors, I make sure I bring one of these Bibles, and I say, I dont know if youre interested in this, but here it is if you want it. And eight times out of 10, they want it, Mullings said in a statement.

The importance of [providing these Bibles] cannot be overstated, Mullings added. Its like a second chance. When you supply one of these Bibles, youre changing somebodys life.

Prison chaplains can order the Bibles, devotionals and ministry materials for prisoners through Prison Fellowships online store for prison chaplains called The Storehouse.

Of the 100,000 Bibles ordered in the past nine months, 70,000 of them were ordered through The Storehouse.
Former Tavistock psychiatrist explains why he blew the whistle on gender clinic

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A Tavistock whistleblower whose detailed report raised concerns about the treatment children with gender identity struggles received at the London gender clinic recently detailed the various ways the NHS Trust attempted to silence him.

Dr. David Bell, a psychiatrist, said he feels vindicated by the court ruling against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust last December that was brought, in part, by Keira Bell, a 24-year-old formerly transgender-identified woman who was a patient at the clinic as a teenager.

The decision held that minors age 16 and younger are not capable of giving informed consent to experimental practices such as puberty-suppressing drugs and cross-sex hormones in pursuit of changing their physical appearance to look more like the opposite sex. The clinic is appealing the ruling and the matter will be heard this summer.

Bell, a practicing psychoanalyst, wrote a 2018 report about what was occurring in the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), a clinic within the Tavistock facility. His report said clinicians were fast-tracking young adults into medicalized gender transitions without fully exploring the contributing factors that led to their psychological distress.

I felt concerned that wed moved away from the values [of care] the Trust has embodied for so long, Bell told The Guardian of the verdict against the Tavistock clinic, adding that he's shocked by how little has changed since the ruling regarding the management structure of the institution.



What has changed feels like window-dressing, he said.



Among the findings in the high court's ruling was that the clinics record-keeping was substandard, and it hadn't adequately maintained data regarding how many patients were being treated who are autistic. Those findings mirrored the concerns Bell had previously raised in his 2018 review, which was first set in motion when 10 members of the GIDS staff spoke to him about their own alarm about what they saw happening.



One of the concerned staffers recounted how an 8-year-old child was referred to an endocrinologist for the experimental drugs. Another staffer reportedly told him: I could not go on like this  I could not live with myself given the poor treatment the children were obtaining.

Yet when he submitted the report, the Trust was not receptive. Instead, they were defensive.

I believed I was doing the right thing, he said of his efforts to document the unscrupulous practices. I never doubted that, and most of my colleagues in the adult department supported me, so when I went up to my floor at the Tavistock, I could be oblivious and get on with my work. The real betrayal wasnt of me personally, but of the Trusts duty to whistleblowers and to its wider mission.

The institution, however, tried to squelch his voice, he said. They did this by telling media outlets that Bells claims were historical and that the clinic was following proper protocols, the Guardian reported. The tactics they used were sinister, he added.

When Bell tried to obtain relevant data from GIDS to write his report, he received no answers. He was subsequently sent an unpleasant letter from the Trusts chief executive informing him that the clinic and its staff were under no obligation to reply to him. Bell maintains that the clinic didn't have the data in question (due to poor record-keeping) nor did they want him to have access to any records they did have.

After he submitted his 2018 review, the clinic removed a book, for which he had written the introduction, from its library. The clinic also sent a GIDS staffer to spy on him when he spoke at a conference in Manchester about de-transition  the process formerly trans-identified individuals go through to return to their birth sex. Bell was eventually told that he was not allowed to speak publicly or write about anything not connected to his employment within the NHS.

In November 2018, he received two letters threatening disciplinary action, accusing him of bullying, though he was not told whom he had bullied. The letters additionally asked him to agree not to speak anymore with the Trusts director of child safeguarding.

In his interview with The Guardian, Bell raised warnings about the use of puberty blockers for children suffering from gender dysphoria. Such drugs are used to cease puberty growth in otherwise physically healthy children. He vehemently rejects assertions from transgender activists that hormone suppressants simply buy patients time to decide whether they wish to continue with a transition.

The child will never want to come off the hormones and 98% do now stay on them. This could be a dangerous collusion on the part of the doctor. The body is not a video machine. You cant just press a pause button. You have to ask what it really means to stop puberty, he said.

The whistleblower psychiatrist believes that a case like Keira Bells was inevitable and that care for distressed young people should be carried out locally. Gender dysphoria clinics should be part of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and available nationwide, Bell said. At the moment, children who are suffering extreme distress in relation to their bodies are sent to the Tavistock and the problem then goes away at local level, where psychotherapy services are on their knees.



Earlier this year, Marcus Evans, another Tavistock whistleblower who was a consultant psychotherapist on an internal review that the clinics medical director led, detailed his own reasons for exposing the troubling culture within the facility where minors were being persuaded to pursue experimental transgender medical practices. Following the Trusts board and council of governors approval of the internal report, Evans resigned, accusing the NHS Trust of possessing overvalued belief in GIDS expertise.



"As a mental health practitioner who is proud to be in the business, I'm really quite ashamed ... this is political belief and ideology over rational, scientific argument," Evans said of the Tavistock clinic's practices in an interview with Triggernometery.



Evans noted that trans activist groups had an outsized influence in an institution that should be governed by medical science and that the issue of gender dysphoria was highly politicized.



"Once your decision-making is based on a pre-existing belief structure, maybe embedded within the clinicians, maybe met by some of the parents ... you're not in a clinical environment," he said.






A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville in August 2017. A federal judge on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, has ordered a right-wing think tank led by white nationalist Richard Spencer to pay $2.4 million to an Ohio man severely injured during a white supremacist and neo-Nazi rally two years ago in Virginia organized by Spencer. Bill Burke says he was struck by a car driven by James Alex Fields Jr. , in a crash that killed counterprotester Heather Heyer, during the August 2017 rally in Charlottesville. (The Daily Progress via AP) (Ryan M. Kelly/AP)
John Piper shares how Christian parents can protect children from 'state indoctrination'

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Pastor and author John Piper has weighed in on how Christian parents can best protect their children from state indoctrination in societies where children are forced to learn "unbiblical views of what is true and false, and right and wrong, and beautiful and ugly.

Recently, an individual from Sweden wrote into Piper's DesiringGod website, asking the pastor how to parent well in a country he described as coercive and socialist in a lot of ways.

We must send our children to school, or the government threatens to take them away from us, the reader said. Christian schools are practically illegal, and a school may have a Christian profile, but its a meaningless title. These few Christian schools are still not allowed to be religious or teach a Christian worldview. Theyre still forced by law to abide to the same teaching plan as secular, atheistic schools to give children a secular education and must even teach our children LGBTQ as a positive norm.

In response, Piper first stressed that God has assigned to parents, and not the state, the rearing and shaping of the minds and hearts of the children in the knowledge of God and in how to live that out in the world.

According to Scripture, the government is to have the good of its people at heart (1 Peter 2:14), which implies that it will have a compelling interest in whether its people are educated  at least educated enough to make society function, Piper said. However, this interest becomes evil when it preempts the more foundational right of the family to educate its children, he said.

Governments should find a way to encourage an educated populace by respecting the rights of families and promoting multiple avenues of all kinds of lower and higher education, as parents seek out ways to partner with those who have expertise in equipping their children to function wisely and morally and productively in the world, he added.

For Christian families living in countries like Sweden that require state education with all of its indoctrination of the modern worldview, Piper offered three suggestions.

First, seek freedom and move elsewhere; second, keep children home  although Piper acknowledged that in certain countries, governments have removed the children from the home in such cases  and third, send the kids to school, but still educate at home and church.

[A] radically Christian education at home, alongside the state education (which is going to be diametrically opposed in many ways), will be needed in order to build into the childrens lives two deep and unshakable convictions, he explained.

Piper also emphasized the importance of a healthy church life and God-honoring peers, adding: We must band together as Christian parents to help each other provide the kind of alternatives for our children and young people that they can enjoy, so that when theyre offered alternatives that would not be healthy from their non-Christian peers, they are able to stand.

There is no safe place in the world to raise children  not in America, for sure, not in Sweden, not in China, not in North Korea. Theres no safe place to raise Christian children  children who will treasure Christ above everything. Only God can work the miracle in the hearts of our children that we long for, he said.

So with all of our teaching, and all of our modeling, and all of our friendships in church, and all of our rejoicing, we must pray without ceasing for the miracle of regeneration in our children.

Homeschooling is illegal in several countries, including the Netherlands, Germany and Spain, and heavily regulated in others.

In 2018, the 12-year-old son of a Christian couple was forcibly removed from their home in Norway by government officers in response to their decision to homeschool him. The parents had pulled him from a public school after he was bullied.

In 2010, a 7-year-old boy in Sweden was removed from his Christian parents for being homeschooled.

In a 2020 issue of Harvard magazine, Harvard Law School professor Elizabeth Bartholet argued in a piece titled The Risks of Homeschooling that the U.S. should similarly enact a presumptive ban on homeschooling. Bartholet asserted that most homeschooling families are conservative Christians who she says hold to extreme religious ideologues and question science and promote female subservience and white supremacy.

Steven Craig Policastro, founder and executive vice president of the International Association for Creation, told The Christian Post in 2019 that in recent years, the most significant change in state-sponsored resistance to homeschooling has been a shift from attempts to ban homeschooling to extremely oppressive regulations.

Opponents of home education have realized that since they are unable to make homeschooling illegal, they can at least attempt to place extremely burdensome regulations on parent-led, home education to make it difficult or nearly impossible, Policastro said.

There also are constant attempts by school districts all over the country to require things of homeschool students and parents that are not required by law. There are times in which the school districts do not properly know the law, but in other instances, the school board leaders do not care and they want their regulations mandated regardless of the law.
Laura Lentz makes first public statement following husbands infidelity, Hillsong firing

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Months after Hillsong Church fired her and her husband following his moral failures and infidelity, Laura Lentz has opened up for the first time about what shes learned about herself in this challenging season.

Lentz took to Instagram on Wednesday for the first time since October to share a photo looking upward toward several tall palm trees. The wife of the celebrity pastor Carl Lentz started her caption off by explaining how symbolic the trees are to her current season.

They are strong, can weather the biggest storms, they always grow upwards, she wrote, equating those facts to Freedom, righteousness, reward, resurrection.

I have taken time away from social media because it was not good for my soul, I have blocked & deleted more people & comments than I can count, she continued.

Lentz and her husband were the focus of many headlines following his cheating confession last November and termination by the Australia-based international church network.

The attention on her family brought out negativity. And in her post, she maintained that Trolls are cowards, SOME Christians are anything but kind, gracious, or loving but that wont stop me from growing upwards & getting stronger.

I have learnt a lot about myself over the past few months. now more than ever I know the kindness of God, His grace, forgiveness & strength, she continued. I have found true friendships the ones who have been with me on the mountaintops are the same ones who are with me during my darkest valley!!

Carl Lentz, who led all Hillsong campuses across the east coast of the United States, was often pegged a celebrity pastor in mainstream media. His friends and congregants included A-list stars such as Justin and Hailey Bieber, Kevin Durant, Selena Gomez, Kylie Jenner and others.

He is also credited for baptizing Justin Bieber in the bathtub of former New York Knicks player Tyson Chandler. But following the scandal, Bieber publicly distanced himself from Hillsong, saying that he was never a member of the church and that his pastor has always been Judah Smith of Churchome.

Laura Lentz's post continued by saying: I will not forget who abandoned us, but I choose to keep my heart free of bitterness & remain thankful for those that have stayed & loved us. I dont want to judge others nor do I want to be judged.

She concluded the statement with a powerful quote about treating people with grace.

One thing a friend told me during this time is, I would rather be accused of being too gracious toward someone, over being accused of judging someone too harshly, she wrote. I want to be known as a woman who sees the good in people & truly loves people unconditionally. She included the hashtags #youcanonlychangeyou, #lovewins, #growupwards.

In a statement sent to The Christian Post in 2020 by Hillsong, Hillsong Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston revealed that Lentzs termination was due to leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus a recent revelation of moral failures.

The church then launched an investigation after additional details of his affair with a Muslim designer and actress were made public.

The Lentzs have been married for 17 years and they have three children together.

Carl Lentz admitted to the affair in an Instagram post after his firing from Hillsong.

When you lead out of an empty place, you make choices that have real consequences, he wrote. I was unfaithful in my marriage, the most important relationship in my life and held accountable for that. This failure is on me, and me alone and I take full responsibility for my actions.

Houston, who founded Hillsong in 1983, first announced Lentz's termination in an email to staff and members of Hillsong East Coast on Nov. 4.

I know this will come as a shock to you, but please know that this action was not taken lightly and was done in the best interests of everyone, including Pastor Carl, Houston, whose church has locations across the globe, wrote in the email.

Houston said how much he and his wife appreciate Lentz, his wife and all of their work with Hillsong over the past decade.

In his post, Lentz said that he and his family gave all they had to serve and build Hillsong NYC over the years. But now, he will focus on rebuilding his family.

I now begin a journey of rebuilding trust with my wife, Laura, and my children and taking real time to work on and heal my own life and seek out the help that I need, Lentz stated.

I am deeply sorry for breaking the trust of many people who we have loved serving and understand that this news can be very hard and confusing for people to hear and process. I would have liked to say this with my voice, to you, in person because you are owed that. But that opportunity I will not have. So to those people, I pray you can forgive me and that over time I can live a life where trust is earned again."
Pastors warn smartphone addiction 'major issue' in Church, offer solutions

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Two pastors have offered practical advice for combating smartphone addiction  an issue they said is permeating the Church at an unprecedented rate.

Smartphone addiction is one of the major pastoral issues of today, Joe Rigney, an author, seminary professor, and pastor at Cities Church, said in a video posted on the Gospel Coalition website, yet it only emerged in recent years.

I think anytime when were preaching at our church and we make an application to technology and smartphones ... you can feel it palpably from our people that theres a hunger for, Yes, we feel like theres something wrong here, and we just dont know exactly what to do. Because we feel like theyre so essential to living. Theyre so useful in so many ways, yet it feels like theres something thats off, he said.

The first step in combating smartphone addiction, Rigney said, is admitting theres a problem to begin with.

I think the first thing is just to admit and recognize that if youre a pastor or if youre a layperson, youre not the only one, and this is a more widespread problem, and you need to admit that it is a real problem, he said. I think that probably the first thing is just to really face it squarely  these little devices have been designed by some of the smartest people on the planet to make sure that youre on them all the time, and youre not Superman.

Instead of reaching for a smartphone at the beginning of the day, Rigney recommended reaching for the Bible or spending time in prayer.

If I resist [my phone] and get to prayer, Bible ... all of a sudden when Im getting out the door Im like, Oh, that was good. That was a good morning. I feel different than if I had been scrolling around the house for 30 minutes before the kids woke up, he reflected.

Dave Mathis, the executive editor for desiringGod.org and a pastor at Cities Church, agreed that to get a bigger sense of what your life is for, what your life is about, its important to pray first thing, and to pray last thing, rather than check the world. He stressed that smartphone addiction takes away from the important things in life, like spending time with ones children.

[One] of the great tragedies is to live with such gifts and count them as small things, or to count them as an annoyance, or to count them as pulling us away from these amazing and silly devices that we carry around, he said.

I find extended time on the smartphone is depleting, Mathis added. Its draining. I come away and my eyes feel strange, emotionally I feel like I have less energy. In contrast, spending time with loved ones or expending energy in the service of others makes him feel better.

Theres brain chemistry behind that, too, not just spiritual significance. So one thing about these phones is also how inactive they make us, and God didnt make us to be inactive. Thats one thing to fight in the process, he said.

Rigney encouraged believers to intentionally put their phones aside to find refreshing freedom, adding: Im putting it over there because I want to deliberately remove this shackle, not accidentally remove the shackle.

Numerous studies have linked smartphone addiction to depression, stress, anxiety and other mental health issues. A recent OnePoll survey of 2,000 adults that was commissioned by Vision Direct found that adults are spending 4.5 hours a day on smartphones.

Nina Schroder, a mental health therapist at Virginia Commonwealth University, told The Christian Post that in light of these statistics, students have to understand what is going on with the risks of excessive screen time.

I dont think they completely understand the effects of screens, she said. I want people to understand that there are negative effects of high screen use.

Im not saying that everything about screen use is bad, because there are some great uses. But we have to be mindful about how much were using it, how were using it, when were using it, and how its affecting us.

In a recent op-ed for CP, Pastor Greg Laurie said the antidote to smartphone addiction is to simply be still.

We need to make a conscious effort to disconnect from this barrage of media. This doesnt have to be a permanent thing (though that wouldnt be the worst idea ever) but it does need to be intentional, he said. We need to sit down, look at each other, and talk.

"This is a critical time for the Church and faith communities to step forward. This doesnt mean we have to offer our version of everything culture has, but rather something the culture is severely lacking. Im talking about authentic, loving community filled with people who go out of their way to engage with others  especially those who are young  and then take them under their wing to mentor and disciple them.
Record number of people died by physician-assisted suicide in the Netherlands in 2020: report

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A record number of people were euthanized in the Netherlands last year.

Some who died suffered from psychiatric issues, according to Dutch News NL. Both the Netherlands and neighboring Belgium are known for their progressive euthanasia laws that have expanded the scope beyond patients suffering from a terminal disease.

Each year, the RTE Regional Euthanasia Review Committees analyze all deaths by euthanasia to check whether they met the six criteria dictated by the law for euthanasia or doctor-assisted suicide. In total, 6,938 patients died in this manner in the Netherlands last year. The RTE determined that two cases didn't meet the six requirements.

These requirements stipulate, in part, that the patient's request must be voluntary, their condition is so severe that their body cannot heal, and they are suffering "unnecessarily and this cannot be reduced." The doctor is also required to "perform the euthanasia (or assisted suicide) in a medically careful manner, for example with the right medicines and in the right steps."

2020 saw a 9% increase in deaths by euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide from the previous year, when 6,361 people elected to die amid a culture that, according to RTE chairman Jeroen Recourt, is increasingly accepting of the practice. Before 2020, the previous record of deaths was set in 2017 when 6,585 people were euthanized.

These figures are part of a larger development, Recourt told the Dutch daily newspaper Trouw, noting he was not surprised by the uptick.



More and more generations see euthanasia as a solution for unbearable suffering  and the thought that euthanasia is an option for hopeless suffering brings [many people] peace.

The majority of those who died by euthanasia last year had terminal cancer. Mirroring the data in previous years, dementia was a factor in 2% of the cases, and psychiatric disorders were a factor in approximately 1% of euthanasia deaths.

Contracting COVID-19 was reportedly a contributing factor for four people who requested to end their lives by doctor-assisted suicide. The RTE chairman stressed, however, that social problems such as loneliness do not meet the criteria for euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide.



The increasing number of deaths by doctor-assisted suicide in 2020 comes on the heels of proposed plans announced in October in the Netherlands to expand the euthanasia law to allow children ages 1-12 to be euthanized under certain circumstances. The practice was already permitted for youth ages 12 and older and possible for infants during their first year of life.

In 2004, Dutch medical directives stipulated that doctors would be allowed to perform "active ending of life on infants" without fear of legal repercussions  called the Groningen Protocol  provided they have a serious disability or a terminal illness.

While euthanasia is widely accepted in Dutch society, a proposal that would allow people age 75 or older with no severe illness to choose to end their lives through doctor-assisted suicide is considered controversial. A measure permitting elective dying for over-75s was introduced in July after government research published in January 2020 showed that approximately 10,000 people age 55 and older wanted to die.












Episcopal Church commission recommends removing theologian from saints calendar over racist views

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A commission of The Episcopal Church has recommended the removal of a prominent theologian from their calendar of saints due to his history of supporting white supremacy.

William Porcher DuBose, a prominent theologian who died in 1918, is listed as an Episcopal saint on the Lesser Feasts and Fasts of the Episcopal Church calendar.

The Churchs Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music recently released a report recommending that the 80th General Convention, slated to meet in Baltimore, Maryland, in July 2022, remove DuBose from the calendar.

At issue, according to the report, was that DuBose served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War, advanced the pro-South Lost Cause arguments in some of his writings after the war, and expressed sympathy for the Ku Klux Klan.

Long after 1865, DuBose clung to the ideology of the slaveholding Confederacy, explained the Commission in its report. As the Church continues to strive against white supremacy and the sin of racism, we must not raise as examples of heroic service those who in their lives actively worked to devalue whole classes of human persons.

By telling the truth about racism and acting to delegitimize those who perpetuate racism, Christians can continue to fulfill the high call of the Gospel to walk in the love of Christ, the justice of God, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

The Rev. Paul Fromberg, chair of the Commission, told Episcopal News Service in an interview published Monday that DuBose was a sort of self-avowed white supremacist.

He was not repentant of white supremacy and, in fact, he wrote in his secular writings in support of white supremacy, said Fromberg, adding that when it becomes clear that people on the calendar become a scandal to the church, they have to be removed.

Earlier this year, The School of Theology at The University of the South of Sewanee, Tennessee, where DuBose once served as seminary dean, removed his name from a prominent lecture series.

For decades, the School of Theology hosted what they labeled The DuBose Lectures, likewise citing the theologians history of supporting white supremacy and the KKK.

In April, the faculty of the School of Theology voted to remove his name from the lectures, with the Rev. Benjamin King, associate dean for academic affairs, defending the decision.

Theology always arises in a context. Even if DuBoses theology retains an international reputation, his writings on this region and on race bear witness to his context, King stated.

DuBose is not the name that best represents our context and what the School of Theology and our alumni have to offer the 21st century Church.
'Unprecedented': Over 500 pro-life bills filed in 2021, more than 60 enacted nationwide

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A new report from a pro-choice research organization found that in the first four months of 2021, more than 500 pro-life bills have been introduced at the state level and more than 60 have been enacted nationwide.

While the federal government has come under the control of the Democratic Party, pro-life legislation has made much progress at the state level in 2021.

According to Elizabeth Nash and Lauren Cross of the Guttmacher Institute, 2021 is on track to become the most devastating antiabortion state legislative session in decades.

Since January, there have been 536 abortion restrictions, including 146 abortion bans, introduced across 46 states, the report, published Friday, explained. A whopping 61 of those restrictions have been enacted across 13 states, including eight bans.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life grassroots lobbying group Susan B. Anthony List, praised the progress the pro-life movement has made at the state level this year.

The unprecedented surge of pro-life activity in state legislatures this year proves life is winning in America, she said.

Across the nation, state lawmakers acting on the will of the people are taking bold steps to humanize our laws and challenge the radical status quo imposed by Roe v. Wade, Dannenfelser added.

As Dannenfelser noted, the bills enacted include legislation to stop late-term abortions after five months of pregnancy, end lethal discrimination against unborn children for reasons like a Down syndrome diagnosis, protect unborn babies from the moment their heartbeat can be detected, safeguard women from dangerous abortion drugs, and more.

There could not be a stronger rebuke to the Biden-Harris administration, whose pro-abortion agenda is deeply unpopular with Americans of all stripes, the activist argues. The states are sending an unmistakable message to pro-abortion Democrats nationwide  and to the Supreme Court  that the pro-life movement will never rest until unborn children and their mothers are protected in the law.

The Guttmacher Institute, originally founded as a branch of Planned Parenthood before splitting in 2007, characterized the rapid passage of the legislation in several states as part of an effort testing the limits of what the new U.S. Supreme Court majority might allow." The group also claims that the bills are "laying the groundwork for a day when federal constitutional protections for abortion are weakened or limited entirely.

Since late last year, the Supreme Court has consisted of six Supreme Court justices appointed by Republicans and three justices appointed by Democrats.

The courts composition has given pro-lifers optimism that the justices will be more likely to rule in their favor should any of the multiple pro-life laws passed in recent months come before the nations high court.

Meanwhile, a handful of congressional Democrats, who find themselves on the other side of the abortion debate, have called for expanding the number of Supreme Court justices to mitigate the effect of the conservative majority.

The Guttmacher report lamented that between April 26 and 29, 28 new restrictions were signed into law in seven states  almost half (46%) of the restrictions passed so far in 2021.

Arkansas is singled out as the state that passed the most abortion restrictions in one year. After enacting 20 restrictions so far in 2021, the Natural State has tied Louisianas 1978 record for the most abortion restrictions implemented by one state in a single year.

According to the Family Council, pro-life laws passed in Arkansas include a bill prohibiting abortion in almost all cases, a requirement that women seeking abortions view an ultrasound, a ban on the state government doing business with abortionists, a prohibition on abortionists in public schools and a ban on the delivery of abortion pills by mail.

Additionally, the state enacted a law enabling cities to declare themselves pro-life.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed three pro-life bills into law last week. Newly passed pro-life measures in Oklahoma include a law banning abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, a law classifying abortion as unprofessional conduct and a requirement that abortion doctors have board certification in gynecology and obstetrics.

On the same day that Stitt signed multiple pro-life measures into law, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed into law restrictions on access to the abortion pill, a requirement that doctors give women seeking an abortion the opportunity to undergo an ultrasound and a law banning abortions after the point when an unborn child can feel pain.

The Guttmacher Institute expressed concern about states continued focus on restricting medication abortion, specifically mentioning four new restrictions in Montana, three in Indiana and another restriction in Arizona that were implemented last week.

Other pro-life laws passed last week include a ban on abortions of babies with Down syndrome in Arizona, a heartbeat bill in Idaho, a requirement that abortion doctors in Arkansas obtain a license by the State Department of Health and another Oklahoma law that would automatically outlaw abortions in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court were ever to revisit its Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem signed four pro-life bills into law in late March. The laws included a ban on abortions performed with the knowledge that the unborn baby had Down syndrome, a ban on contracts forcing women to have abortions, a law establishing a definition of abortion that labels a fetus an unborn human being and a law requiring doctors to inform women seeking abortions about their option to receive an abortion pill reversal.

In February, Noem signed into law a measure that requires doctors to provide care for infants who survive botched abortions. A similar bill was passed in Kentucky in January.

The surge in pro-life laws at the state level comes as Republicans control most state legislatures nationwide.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Republicans currently control 30 state legislatures across the U.S. while Democrats control 18. The Minnesota legislature has split control, with each party holding one of the two chambers. Although the Nebraska legislature is unicameral and officially nonpartisan, a majority of its members are registered Republicans.
Democrats call out Biden, Harris for not addressing border crisis

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Two border-state Senate Democrats have called out President Joe Biden for failing to make policy changes to fix the border crisis a priority in his first 100 days in office.

Vice President Kamala Harris has also been criticized by Republican lawmakers for refusing to go to the border. Instead, Harris will speak with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on May 7 to discuss a tree planting proposal in Central America in an attempt to provide more jobs and reduce migration. This proposal doesn't address the influx of fentanyl, heroin and meth trafficked into the U.S. by drug cartels and illegal border crossings by people from China and other nations.

Harris has also pledged $310 million in additional humanitarian aid for Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The majority of the funds, $255 million, would be allocated to help asylum seekers and disaster relief projects in the region. Another $55 million would go to Guatemalas farming industry and literacy programs in that country and Honduras.

The Biden administration has yet to speak on the impact the border crisis is having on healthcare, education and public safety in communities most affected by the migrant surge.

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., who's up for re-election in 2022, said Wednesday that Biden had not paid enough attention to the border crisis during his address to Congress.

While I share President Bidens urgency in fixing our broken immigration system, what I didnt hear tonight was a plan to address the immediate crisis at the border, and I will continue holding this administration accountable to deliver the resources and staffing necessary for a humane, orderly process as we work to improve border security, support local economies, and fix our immigration system, Kelly said in a statement.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, also a Democrat from Arizona, has said the Biden administration needed to address the border crisis and support Arizona border communities.

Shes spoken directly with administration officials on this, Sinemas office told Fox News.

At least 46% of Americans believe the situation at the U.S. border has worsened compared with what it was under former President Donald Trump about two years ago, according to a recent Fox News poll, which revealed that only 15% of Americans think otherwise.

Fox News also reported on Friday that Harris had neither visited the border region nor held a news conference about her border-related duties since she took on a special border assignment from Biden on March 24.

Today would be a good day for Vice President Harris to visit the southern border, Republicans of the House Judiciary Committee wrote on social media on Friday.

This comes as police in Houston, Texas, found over 90 people, all men except five women, packed inside a room in what could be a human smuggling case as they were responding to a kidnapping call at a separate location Thursday night, according to Houston Police Assistant Chief Daryn Edwards.

Edwards said its definitely more of a smuggling thing and not a trafficking thing, according to The Epoch Times. He also cautioned that there may be some positive COVID-19 cases inside the house.

In many cases, children have been used to pose as families to get adults into the U.S.

Last month, a 36-year-old Brazilian man was caught crossing the border with an 8-year-old girl he claimed was his daughter.

The man later confessed that he had brought a friends daughter in Brazil so that U.S. authorities would be more lenient toward him, The Washington Times reported.

The Times noted that Homeland Security was still not using DNA testing often enough to validate family relationships of adults accompanying children.

Earlier last week, Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, a ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, pressed the issue of Harris not going to the border. Vice President Kamala Harris visited North Carolina yesterday. Shes set to visit New Hampshire on Friday. Whens the border czar going to visit the southern border? Jordan asked in a tweet.
Pro-abortion Catholic politicians shouldn't receive communion: Nancy Pelosi's archbishop declares

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A Roman Catholic archbishop whose territory includes the church that Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi belongs to has recommended that pro-abortion Catholics should not receive communion.

Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of California released a pastoral letter on Saturday that addressed whether Catholics who actively campaign on behalf of pro-choice policies should be allowed to receive communion.

The Catholic Church official directed his comments at figures like Pelosi, who, while being a practicing Catholic, is known for her strong support of legal abortion.

Your Catholic ideals inspire you in your work to help those who experience discrimination, violence, and injustice, and you deserve the gratitude of your fellow Catholics and our nation for this service. But we cannot empower the weak by crushing the weakest, wrote Cordileone.

If you find that you are unwilling or unable to abandon your advocacy for abortion, you should not come forward to receive Holy Communion. To publicly affirm the Catholic faith while at the same time publicly rejecting one of its most fundamental teachings is simply dishonest.

In the conclusion of the letter, Cordileone emotionally implored pro-abortion Catholics to reconsider their stance and work to end abortion, stating the killing must stop.

God has entrusted you with a prestigious position in society. You have the power to affect societal practices and attitudes. Always remember that you will one day have to render an account to God for your stewardship of this trust, he added.

And please stop pretending that advocating for or practicing a grave moral evil  one that snuffs out an innocent human life, one that denies a fundamental human right  is somehow compatible with the Catholic faith. It is not.

The archbishop went on to ask pro-abortion Catholics to return home to the fullness of your Catholic faith, saying they await you with open arms to welcome you back.

The question over whether pro-abortion Catholic politicians can be denied communion has been given increased focus in the wake of the election of President Joe Biden.

In October 2019, then-presidential hopeful Biden was denied communion at a mass at Saint Anthony Catholic Church in South Carolina due to his policy stances on abortion.

A Pew Research Center poll released in late March found that two-thirds of American Catholics believe that Biden should not be denied communion, despite his views on abortion.

Pew found a partisan divide over the issue, as 55% of Catholic Republicans thought he should be denied the sacrament, while 87% of Catholic Democrats thought he should not be denied it.

For his part, Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego stated in February that he felt denying Catholic officials communion over their support for abortion was very destructive.

I do not see how depriving the President of other political leaders of Eucharist based on their public policy stance can be interpreted in our society as anything other than the weaponization of Eucharist, said McElroy, as reported by CRUX Now.

In June, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will consider a draft document that, if approved, would recommend that pro-abortion Catholic politicians not receive communion.

Even if approved, however, the draft document would only recommend the denial of communion, with local dioceses still being allowed to make their own rules on the issue.
Christian lawmaker defends dropping F-bomb in outrageous classroom encounter

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A Christian Kansas state lawmaker arrested Thursday after he used expletives, scuffled with a high school student and encouraged his class to kick the student in the balls while working as a substitute teacher defended his actions as a planned event to get the students' attention.

Altercation is a strong word. There was no altercation. Im sure there are one or two students that probably perceived it as one, but it was exactly as we planned it, Mark Samsel, a Republican member of the Kansas House of Representatives, told KSNT News Friday about his work in the Wellsville School District.

Samsel, who is also a member of Wellsville Family Church in Kansas, acknowledged that his conduct disclosed in series of videos recorded by his students and published online was intentionally outrageous. In a social media post, Samsel stated that it was all "planned" to send a "message" about "art, mental health, teenage suicide, how we treat our educators and one another."

If I hadnt been outrageous, if I hadnt dropped the F- bomb, if I didnt say Im gonna bring the wrath of God on [the student]! then nobody cares. Everyone keeps their head down and keeps on going, he said.

Samsel tells students in one video reviewed by The Kansas City Star about a sophomore whos tried killing himself three times, adding that it was because he has two parents and theyre both females.

Hes a foster kid. His alternatives in life were having no parents or foster care parents who are gay, Samsel tells students in the video, according to The Star. How do you think Im going to feel if he commits suicide? Awful.

In another video, Samsel tells students to make babies" and asks, "Who likes making babies?"

"That feels good, doesnt it? Procreate ... You havent masturbated? Dont answer that question. ... God already knows," he was quoted as saying.

Samsel is also shown in another video telling a male student, Youre about ready to anger me and get the wrath of God. Do you believe me when I tell you that God has been speaking to me? He then pushes the student, who then runs off to the other side of the classroom.

You should run and scream, he declares.

The teacher is reportedly shown in another video giving his class permission to kick the student in the balls.

Parents explained to The Star that Samsel put hands on the student and allegedly kneed him in the crotch. Other video that appears to have been taken directly after that incident shows Samsel asking the student did it hurt?

Im a concerned parent who doesnt want this swept under the rug, Joshua Zeck told The Star. Hes around kids all the time. Hes a state representative. Hes in a position of power.

Zeck said that he felt Samsel was bullying the student.

Samsel, 36, was booked into the Franklin County Adult Detention Center after 3:30 p.m. Thursday. According to The Kansas City Star, Samsel was charged with misdemeanor battery. But, he was released on a $1,000 bond. Superintendent Ryan Bradbury also stated that Samsel will no longer be allowed to work for the school district in Wellsville.

The Democratic Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas agrees that Samsel should not be working with kids.

What the hell is going on with the #KSLeg this session? Quinton tweeted. He shouldnt just be terminated from substituting. He should be blocked from being around all kids.

Parents told the newspaper that Samsel works with kids in various capacities: as a referee and through church groups.

The Christian Post reached out to Samsels church for comment Monday. A response is pending.

Samsel doesnt believe that he did anything wrong.

[There were] a few kids that were scared.  I didnt even know that they were scared because they were surrounded by their friends in their comfort zone. We were in the art room. Nobody was ever in danger. Did we make it look like we were in anger or outrageous or hurting kids? Yeah, we did. We made it look that way, he said. I didnt do anything wrong. ... I get way more messages of support than are blasting me because they know me.

According to the Associated Press, Samsel will appear in district court on May 19.
Pro-life organizations awarded $85,000 in grants at National Prayer Luncheon for Life

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Three pro-life organizations, including Students for Life of America, were awarded $85,000 in grants at the sixth annual National Prayer Luncheon for Life on Friday, where several prominent pro-life activists gathered to recognize the efforts of those working to end abortion.

Attendees gathered online and in person at the Gaylord Texan National Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, to pray, unite, save lives and honor pro-life organizations for their impact on the movement.

This event is designed to bring pro-lifers across America together to pray and to honor high-impact pro-life groups, said Karen Garnett, vice president of culture for Heroic Media who's also the executive director of National Prayer Luncheon for Life, in a statement ahead of the event.

She added, The five nominees for the 2021 National Prayer Luncheon for Life Pro-Life Impact Award have been selected for their demonstrated significant, quantifiable impact and measurable successes in saving lives and winning battles against the abortion industry.

In addition to the Pro-Life Impact Award, which comes with a $50,000 National Prayer Luncheon for Life Pro-Life Impact Grant, a $20,000 Pro-Life Impact Grant, and a $15,000 Pro-Life Impact Grant were given to two other organizations.

At the luncheon, Garnett unveiled the new vision for the National Prayer Luncheon for Life, where she said they will be researching  and helping to educate and raise awareness of really impactful, effective pro-life organizations who are making a big difference moving the ball down the field.

That is what we have done with this first years National Prayer Luncheon for Life Pro-Life Impact Award nominees, she said. Heroic Media produces and publishes Pro-Life Magazine four times a year and were doing the work of reaching out and researching and learning about  doing in-depth interviews with pro-life organizations  to raise their profiles, and for people to be able to understand these are organizations that are returning measurable results. Theyre reporting measurable results and making a significant impact.

For this first year, we chose five nominees who Pro-Life Magazine had already interviewed and published, Garnett added. Next year, were going to open up the nominations process to the country because there may be some amazingly effective pro-life organization demonstrating significant, measurable impact and theyre in a small town and no ones heard of them. Were going to open up the nominations process next year."

While officials with the National Prayer Luncheon for Life picked the nominees this year, Garnett stressed, Were not the ones making the decision about who gets the Pro-Life Impact Award and the three Pro-Life Impact Grants. We put that out to pro-life America, for you all to go on our website, read about each one of them, read about the statistics that they are returning, pray about it and let the Holy Spirit make the decision, she added.

Students for Life of America received the $50,000 National Prayer Luncheon for Life Pro-Life Impact Award.

As Garnett noted, Students for Life of America has trained over 120,000 life advocates and has the most conversations online and in-person with those most targeted by the abortion industry with a 31% minds changed rate with our young people targeted.

Lauren Castillo, SFLAs director of mission advancement, accepted the award on behalf of the pro-life organization. She described it as an absolute honor and privilege to have even been considered for this award, standing next to incredible organizations and their courageous teams.

Castillo added, The Students for Life team across the country are excited to accept this award and we will make great use of it and train thousands of new young leaders in their goal to become not just the pro-life generation, but to [ensure] the future is anti-abortion.

We know that we can abolish abortion in our lifetime," she continued. "We know that with our army of this pro-life generation, were not just saving lives and changing culture, but were standing bold and proclaiming the truth. We want to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who makes this mission possible.

She urged pro-lifers to not just stand with our team and to pray for our young people and for our team and our families, but every single pro-life organization out there because the spiritual battle in pro-life work is very real.

We are standing firm against the enemy every single day, not just Planned Parenthood and not just all the abortionists across the country, but the culture of death, Castillo added, promising that SFLA will continue to get out there and change hearts and minds of this next generation.

Accumulating the second-highest number of votes, Abby Johnson's organization called And Then There Were None, received the $20,000 Pro-Life Impact Grant. Johnson is a former Planned Parenthood clinic director turned pro-life activist.

Highlighting the pro-life organizations accomplishments, Garnett said: And Then There Were None helped 574 workers and seven full-time abortion providers in 43 states escape from their jobs in the abortion industry and experience the peace and joy they were missing. These clients work with state and federal agencies has helped close 26 abortion facilities.

The $15,000 Pro-Life Impact Grant, which was sponsored by Support After Abortion, went to Sidewalk Advocates for Life. Garnett credited "the compassionate outreach of Sidewalk Advocates for Life at 202 abortion facilities nationwide for helping to save 12,709 babies in seven years and helping 72 abortion workers leave the industry and working to effectively close 25 abortion facilities.

The other nominees were Focus on the Family, whose Option Ultrasound Program has resulted in almost 1 million ultrasounds, leading to 465,000 women choosing life for their preborn babies and Susan B. Anthony List, which works to support pro-life candidates and legislation.
When he was 15, McClenney was prosecuted as an adult and convicted in an armed robbery he committed with a friend. They used a BB gun and netted $95 and cigarettes. He was out on bond, charged in another armed robbery, when he was shot in the 7-Eleven holdup.
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Emily Smith is an epidemiologist at Baylor University, the wife of a Baptist pastor, and a mother. She has been working hard to help her fellow evangelicals understand the urgency of getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

Though she has received vociferous criticism and even death threats, she is committed to her calling: I just feel such a sense of obligation, especially from a Christian perspective, to be the Good Samaritan, and hopefully get people to band together and still wear their mask and get a vaccine.

Jamie Aten is executive director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College. In his work, he has helped his fellow evangelicals deal with hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and other disasters. His ministry has been widely received with gratitude.

When he began urging his fellow evangelicals to get vaccinated against COVID-19, however, some of the responses he received were ugly. He even had to file a report with the sheriffs office where he lives after getting an email claiming his work on vaccines was punishable by death.

Biblical citation labeled 'hate speech'

C. S. Lewis observed that courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.

A new policy in China went into effect last Saturday. It requires all clergy and religious leaders in China to support the leadership of the Communist Party of China, support the socialist system, and practice the core values of socialism while adhering to the autonomous management of religion. As a result of this policy, Chinese Communist officials removed Bible apps and public Christian WeChat accounts. Bibles in hard copy are no longer available for sale online.

Communist authorities recently closed Catholic Church-run childrens homes and orphanages and have ordered Christians to fly the Chinese flag and sing patriotic songs in their services. A recent publication includes China among sixty-two countries, comprising two-thirds of the worlds population, that violate religious freedom.

Finland is not on the list, but a member of its parliament is facing six years imprisonment for allegedly committing three crimes, including hate speech. A medical doctor and the mother of five, she has publicly voiced her opinion defending biblical sexual morality. One of her crimes was quoting Romans 1:2427, a tweet for which she was accused of hate speech and interrogated by the police.

I will not back down from my views, she said. I will not be intimidated into hiding my faith. The more Christians keep silent on controversial themes, the narrower the space for freedom of speech gets.

'Gods story, my story, and their story'

Jacob Bland is the new president and CEO of Youth for Christ, a ministry that began in 1944 when Billy Graham served as its first full-time staff member. Today, it operates in over one hundred nations and has more than 160 chapters across the U.S. Bland explained his organizations strategy in a way I found compelling: The way we look at it, there are three stories that are overlapping: Gods story, my story, and their story.

To advance Gods kingdom, we learn the stories of those who need Jesus, then we share his story by showing how he has changed our story and can change their story.

In yesterdays Daily Article, I described the urgency of defending biblical morality in an increasingly antagonistic culture. I also noted the importance of living the truth we proclaim, knowing that our lives must be the first sermon we preach.

How can we be the change we wish to see? Pauls letter to a church in an antagonistic culture offers us clear and compelling guidance.

When Paul came to the Greek city of Thessalonica, a mob responded to the gospel by attacking followers of Jesus (Acts 17:110). Nonetheless, the apostle encouraged Thessalonian Christians to stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us (2 Thessalonians 2:15). He reminded them that their salvation came through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth (v. 13), that divine-human partnership by which we accept Gods word as true and the Spirit uses that truth to transform our lives.

The basis for our salvation is our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace (v. 16). Paul could therefore pray for the Lord to comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word (v. 17).

Four empowering imperatives

This passage calls us to four simple commitments that are transforming for us and our influence:

One: Remember that God is love (1 John 4:8). Because he loved us in the past, he has given us good hope through grace for the present and eternal comfort for the future. No matter who you are or where you are, God loves you.

Two: Believe Gods word is truth (John 17:17). What the Bible says about sexuality or any other issue we face is the unchanging, life-giving truth of God.

Three: Submit to the sanctification of the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; 1 Peter 1:2). He alone can make us like Jesus (Romans 8:29), transforming us into the kind of people whose lives will draw the world to our Lord.

Four: Stand firm for your Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58; 16:13). The greater the opposition to Jesus, the greater the opportunity for courage that glorifies our Lord.

A song on the radio

As we choose to follow Jesus with courage, it is vital to remember that we need Gods grace just as much as anyone who rejects Gods grace. The other day, I was driving home from the office and heard a powerful song by Sidewalk Prophets on the radio. Titled You Love Me Anyway, it includes these lyrics:

I am the thorn in your crown

But you love me anyway

I am the sweat from your brow

But you love me anyway

I am the nail in your wrist

But you love me anyway

I am Judas kiss

But you love me anyway

Originally published at the Denison Forum
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Some of us have taken the message of Christianity and put it in a box marked, Dont askdont tell. Ever feel like you need permission to weep when you lose a loved one? Or feel intimidated about admitting, I really dont know for sure?

In John 20:25, Jesus disciple Thomas confesses, Unless I see I will not believe.

The story of doubting Thomas teaches us that its okay to admit our doubts and reservations. In fact, if you dont, you wont grow. Youll wind up with somebody elses answers, and in many cases they will be inadequate for your questions  even if youre honest enough to ask them. If you go your whole life without breaking open that box of hard questions, youll end up facing the difficult times in life without the proper tools to deal with them.

Like many of us, Thomas felt unequipped when facing the difficult questions surrounding Gods redeeming power. Before his interaction with Jesus in the Gospel, he relied on the faith of others around him. And its hard to blame him for this when we consider he was in the company of Jesus disciples!

After hearing of the resurrection of Jesus, Thomas admitted he would be doubtful until he saw in [Jesus] hands the print of the nails. The Bible tells us: After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, stood in the midst, and said, Peace to you! Then He said to Thomas, Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God! (John 20:26-28).

It is important to note that Jesus did not chastise Thomas in front of the other disciples  who clearly did not need physical proof  for his doubts. Instead, He had grace with Thomas and ensured he got the proof he needed.

He understood that any question arising from an honest heart isnt a skeptical question; its a search for truth. Ultimately, God relishes these moments when our doubts are cast away by His truths. Times of doubt can become classrooms of learning when they drive you to God for answers.

More than anything, God wants us to pursue Him and develop a deep, personal relationship with him, something that is only possible when we address our doubts without shame. We need our own personal experiences with the Lord, and our questions can lead us to a deeper relationship with Him. A personal inquisition of Gods truth will always produce a more meaningful and lasting revelation than hearing second-hand about these experiences in someone elses life.

This means we ought to liberate ourselves from the shame of praying, Lord, like Thomas, I still struggle with some doubts. None of us have fully come to terms with the many broken pieces of our lives. Know that you are not alone in this. In fact, on this side of eternity, some pieces of the puzzle will remain a mystery. But its comforting to know that our Father accepts us in our doubts and hesitations and that he doesnt ignore our questions.

The good news is, Thomas finally reached the place where he could say, My Lord and my God. And he will be patient with you as you strive to reach that place as well.

So how do we get through our doubts? Like Thomas. By facing them honestly, bringing them to Jesus, and walking out our faith in a more personal way along our journey through life.
China shuts down Bible App, Christian WeChat as new crackdown policies go into effect

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Chinas communist authorities are continuing their crackdown on Christianity by removing Bible Apps and Christian WeChat public accounts as new highly restrictive administrative measures on religious staff went into effect Saturday.

Father Francis Liu from the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness said in a tweet that some Christian WeChat accounts, including Gospel League and Life Quarterly, were no longer available online, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern reported.

When someone tries to access those accounts, a message reads, (We) received report that (this account) violates the Internet User Public Account Information Services Management Provisions and its account has been blocked and suspended.

Bible Apps have also been removed from the App Store in China, and Bibles in hard copy are no longer available for sale online either, ICC added. Bible Apps can only be downloaded in China with the use of a VPN.

Another sign of the ongoing crackdown is that bookstores owned by the state-sanctioned Three-self churches have increasingly been selling books that promote President Xi Jinpings thoughts and communist ideology.

Even their WeChat accounts are turning into propaganda channels for CCP, ICC said.

On Saturday, new regulations on religion that Chinas State Administration for Religious Affairs released in February went into effect. The regulations Article 16 under Chapter III states that Catholic bishops must be approved and ordained by the state-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Bishops Conference.

According to the interpretation of the Union of Catholic Asian News, the regulations indirectly assert that the election of Catholic bishops will be done by the state-approved system under the Chinese Communist Partys direction and the Vatican and Pope Francis will have no role in it [] It runs contrary to the laborious China-Vatican deal on the appointment of Catholic bishops, signed in September 2018.

A 2018 China-Vatican Agreement, renewed last year, permits the Chinese government to propose new bishops to the Vatican through its state-approved Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, with the pope having veto power on the decision. At the time of the signing, the Vatican said it hoped the deal would promote unity among Chinas estimated 10 million to 12 million Catholics.

Further, Article 27 states that senior religious leaders will remain in their position for a term of three to five years, after which the individual must again submit their personal information to the authorities, said the U.K. based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide, explaining that it could be used to punish any criticism or failure to obey regulations by refusing their application to re-register.

The regulations in Article 3 include requirements that clergy support the leadership of the Communist Party, CSW added.

Furthermore, Article 12 stipulates that clergy must not endanger national security or be dominated by foreign forces.

Last month, Asia News reported that Chinese authorities punished a man who provided a worship venue for believers, fining him $30,000 under the charge of hosting illegal religious activities."

According to recently-released reports, religious persecution in China intensified in 2020, with thousands of Christians affected by church closures and other human rights abuses.

Under the direction of President Xi Jinping, CCP officials are enforcing strict controls on religion, according to a report released in March by the U.S.-based persecution watchdog China Aid.

Christians in both official, state-run churches and house churches were ordered to fly the Chinese flag and sing patriotic songs in services.

Last October, internet censorship targeting Christians in China became so severe that even official government-sanctioned Christian groups started using the Chinese Pinyin initials JD to replace Chinese characters for Christ, China Aid reported at the time.

Two official government-sanctioned religious organizations  the Christian Council of China and the Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches of China  updated titles and descriptions of all their books on Tianfengshuyuan, their official WeChat bookstore, reported China Aid.

In 2018, the Chinese government banned the sale of Bibles at online bookstores across the country to comply with a white paper that dictated compliance with the core values of socialism.

Australia's ABC News reported at the time that copies of the Gospels had been removed from online retailers following the release of a regime document titled Chinas Policies and Practices on Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief.

The white paper declared that Chinese faith communities should adhere to the direction of localizing the religion, practice the core values of socialism, develop and expand the fine Chinese tradition and actively explore the religious thought which accords with China's national circumstances.

China is ranked as one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians, according to Open Doors USAs World Watch List.

The communist regimes crackdown on religious freedom has also led the U.S. State Department to label it as a country of particular concern for continuing to engage in particularly severe violations of religious freedom.

In an earlier interview with The Christian Post, the then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it was certainly the case that the Chinese Communist Party [engages in] efforts to stamp out religious freedom every place that they find.
Nigeria: 3 students escape Fulani militants after attack on Christian missions school; 1 remains captive

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Christians in Nigeria are praying for the safe return of a student held captive by Muslim Fulani herdsmen who attacked a Christian missions school in Nigerias Plateau state.

Four students were kidnapped Thursday from The Kings School, a Christian missions school established by Calvary Ministries, in Gana Ropp village in Plateau states Barkin Ladi County. While three of the kidnapped students escaped after security forces deployed to the area, one student remains captive, Morning Star News reported.

The herdsmen broke into the rear fence at the school to enter the compound and abduct the students.

Bayo Famonure, head of the school, was quoted as saying that the student who remains captive "phoned us to say they were already in the Fulani herdsmens camp, barely 20 minutes after he was captured and taken away.

Had it not been for security forces, the attack could have led to another mass abduction, the Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam, president of the Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, was quoted as saying.

Lets pray that God will work out the release of the abducted student, and as many that are also in captivity elsewhere in the country, he said.

Concerted efforts are on toward rescuing the victim and arresting the perpetrators, police spokesman Ubah Gabriel Ogaba said in a statement.

Meanwhile, notorious gang leader Auwalu Daudawa, who is said to have kidnapped possibly as many as 500 students in Katsina state on Dec. 11, 2020, has been killed by a rival gang, BBC reported.

Daudawa was given an amnesty as part of a peace deal in February but was reported to have returned to his gang last month.

About a week after the mass abduction at a boys' school last December, security forces rescued 344 of the kidnapped students.

The attack bore similarities to the kidnapping of the 276 Nigerian schoolgirls in 2014, which gained international attention with the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, executive director of Save the Persecuted Christians, Dede Laugesen, told The Christian Post at the time.

In 2014, over 276 schoolgirls were kidnapped by Boko Haram in the town of Chibok in Borno state. Over 112 remain missing.

While Nigerian officials deny they pay to free hostages, security analysts say kidnapping for ransom is becoming a lucrative industry for terrorist groups in the West African nation where weapons are readily available to militants thanks to war-torn Libya.

According to The Wall Street Journal, a kidnapper who recently turned himself in to the government in exchange for amnesty said that buying guns in the countrys North is now like buying bread.

The Global Terrorism Index ranks Nigeria as the country third-most affected by terrorism globally, as over 22,000 people were killed by acts of terror from 2001 to 2019.
You can now find out how many people in your neighborhood are vaccinated.

The state of California released a new data set last week that shows how many residents are fully vaccinated or have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the state's more than 1,700 ZIP codes.

The data reveals that many counties in the nine-county Bay Area have populations that are among the most vaccinated in the state.

In Santa Clara County's 94304 ZIP code, 98.9% of residents have received at least one dose. Among the 3,171 residents age 16 and over who live in Los Altos Hills and Palo Alto, 2,303 people are fully vaccinated.

In the East Bay, ZIP code 94707  which extends across the North Berkeley hills, Kensington, Albany and Richmond  98.7% of residents have gotten at least one shot. And in 94582, a Contra Costa ZIP code that encompasses a large swatch of San Ramon, 94.8% have received one dose or more.

California has administered more than 30 million COVID-19 vaccine doses since the start of the rollout in December. Forty-one percent of residents who are eligible for the vaccine are fully vaccinated and 19% partially vaccinated, according to state data.

Here's a look at 10 of the most vaccinated ZIP codes in the Bay Area based on what percentage of the population has received at least one dose.

10 most vaccinated ZIP codes in SF Bay Area

94304 - Santa Clara County, 98.9% of residents have received at least one dose

94707 - Alameda 98.7%

94582 - Contra Costa 94.8%

94111 - San Francisco 91.8%

94929 - Marin 91.6%

94583 - Contra Costa 91.6%

94925 - Marin 90.7%

94924 - Marin 90.6%

94022 - Santa Clara 90.3%

94939 - Marin 89.9%

To see how all ZIP codes across the state are doing you can find the state data in a raw format here and also in map view here.

Note: A list of the least vaccinated ZIP codes in the Bay Area was removed from this story on May 5 at 7 p.m. and the story now points readers directly to the most up-to-date data posted online by the state of California.
The traditional 9-5 workday is dead.

Covid-19 changed the way we work, bringing millions of workers out of the office and into their homes. This introduced flexibility into the workplace: making a once rare-to-find concept the new normal across the world. Now that organizations have adjusted to these changes, their leadership is also ready to take the next step toward agility: blended workforces.

During the recent health crisis, it became clear that organizations need to be agile and adaptable to survive; and the key to this agility is flexible, contracted talent. Many business leaders have already acknowledged the need to integrate flexible talent in their organization, with 60 percent of leaders saying they would increasingly prefer to rent, borrow, or share talent with other companies. However, the road to successfully bringing flexible talent into the organization can seem overwhelming, especially when transitioning from an older, full-time workforce model to an agile one.

The good news is, youre not alone in this transition. Millions of business leaders everywhere are facing the same challenges. There are, however, ways you can easily overcome them to make your workforce more efficient than ever and bring your employees, both full-time and flexible, together in harmony.

Get buy-in from staff.

One of the first and, quite possibly, most difficult challenges many leaders face is introducing the initial idea to their staff. For leadership, the bigger picture of how flexible talent fits into the organization is clear; however, for employees, the idea of flexible talent is likely very new to themand can even feel like a threat to their routine or even role.

When proposing the introduction of flexible talent into your organization, its best to address your staff personally: this isnt something to send in an email or a Slack message. Whether its in-person or an all hands or Zoom call, speak to your employees and inform them of any plans moving forward well ahead of time of action. Emphasize that these independent workers are not a threat to anyones role within the organizationthey are necessary to building agility and helping full-time staff achieve outcomes faster with in-demand skills that employees would typically not have access to. Flexible workers are an asset that full-time staff will have the ability to work with on work or projects on an as-needed basis.

Blended workforces don't happen overnight: let them know that this will take time to integrate successfully, and there may be some bumps in the road as the organization learns. The most important part when explaining this change to staff isnt just telling, but listening. Ask for feedback and everyones thoughts on the change: through feedback, youll be able to determine what methods for integrating talent will work best for your team, and even what skills full-time employees would like to see added to their team. A win-win!

Align with management.

The alignment doesnt stop at full-time staff: its likely your management doesnt fully see the value of flexible talent, either. When asked about the value of flexible talent matching platforms, 60 percent of CEOs claimed they were very important to future competitive advantage, whereas less than 40 percent of senior management agreed. In many organizations, possibly even within your own, there is a clear misalignment on the value proposition of flexible talent.

Similar to staff, management may feel as if flexible talent is a threat to their role or processes. Dont shy away from this issue or attempt to brush it off: embrace conflict and use it as an opportunity to make management a part of the integration process. Take their concerns and ensure theyre all addressed within the integration process, so leaders feel even more comfortable letting flexible workers into their teams.

Rethink culture.

Relationships and culture matter just as much for flexible talent as they do for your full-time employees. The traditional office culture of water cooler conversations and conferences are irrelevant for blended workforces, let alone in the present day itself. With the ability to hire from anywhere in the world, both full-time staff and flexible talent can be situated in multiple time zones, or even countries, away from one another.

To build connections between full-time and flexible staff, invite flexible workers into team and all hands meetings: make them feel a part of the team and give them a voice in the decision-making process. Doing so can help flexible workers to feel more included while also giving full-time staff the opportunity to get to know new team members in a supportive setting. Recognizing achievements and milestones is also just as important with flexible workers as with full-time ones; a virtual lunch or swag gift box can go much farther with building trust than you know.

The value of flexible talent to organizations is immeasurable; however, the road to integrating these workers can seem almost impossible when transitioning from a traditional talent model. Luckily, there are many tactics you can use to easily overcome them by connecting with staff, implementing their feedback, and welcoming flexible talent into your team with open arms. Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Hi, I'm here to steal and can I get some nuggets please! Ruddi Batten was jailed after robbing two restaurants, including a McDonald's . The 22-year-old man turned himself in to police, the DailyMail reports.

According to the Avon and Somerset police in the United Kingdom, the young man would have robbed a fast food restaurant the night of February 7 with a toy gun and the next morning he would repeat the scene at a McDonald's from which he took cash and he asked for some nuggets, the last ones he couldn't get.
The FDA will approve the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for 12-to 15-year-old teens as early as next week, a government official told CNN.

The official, who asked for anonymity, said that the FDA has to modify the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine. The agencys Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee had previously held meetings to decide whether to recommend emergency use authorization for the Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, but this process will not happen when extending the use of the Pfizer vaccine to teens, the FDA told CNN.

Related: One Dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca Vaccine Can Slow Covid-19 Spread in a Household by About 50%, Study Reveals

The FDA is currently reviewing Pfizers data for extended use, the network further added.

Pfizer said that its vaccine clinical trial on 2,260 teens of ages ranging from 12 to 15 showed a 100% efficacy, according to the companys statement in March. Moderna is currently testing its vaccine on other age groups, including children and infants. Both are set to ask for FDA approval to cover these age groups later in 2021, according to CNN.

More than 250 million people across the U.S. have either been fully vaccinated or received one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. However, government data obtained by Kaiser Health News recently revealed that thousands of doses have been wasted since the authorized vaccines (including one from Johnson & Johnson) were first rolled out at the start of 2021.

According to the CDC,182,874 doses were wasted as of March. CVS was responsible for around half of those doses, while Walgreens was responsible for 128,500 shots. Of the shots that were tossed, 60% came from Pfizer, according to Kaiser Health News.

The publication notes that the data suggests that CVS and Walgreens wasted more shots than federal agencies, states and U.S. territories combined. Its not completely clear as to why both pharmacies wasted more vaccines, although CDC spokesperson Kate Fowlie told Kaiser Health News that it was possibly a result of a mass effort from the two companies to administer a large number of doses during an early vaccination effort.

In a statement to Kaiser Health News, CVS spokesperson Michael DeAngelis added that the pharmacy wasted its doses due to issues with transportation restrictions and limits on redirecting unused shots, among other factors. Still, CVS was able to limit waste to around one dose per onsite vaccination clinic, DeAngelis said.

Walgreens vaccine wastage, on the other hand, made up less than 0.5% of shots the pharmacy administered through March 29, Walgreens spokesperson Kris Lathan told Kaiser Health News.

Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
(Bloomberg) -- Oil climbed to the highest since the middle of March as reopening efforts and vaccination pushes from the U.S. to Europe underpin hopes for a return to normal demand in the worlds largest economies.

Futures in New York gained 1.9 percent on Tuesday, the biggest daily jump in nearly three weeks, while gasoline futures settled at the highest since July 2018. The U.S. is setting a new target of 70 percent of U.S. adults receiving at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot by July 4, while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his countrys lockdown rules are set to be scrapped in seven weeks. Thats offsetting concerns about weaker oil consumption in parts of Asia, including key importer India, where COVID-19 remains rampant.

West Texas Intermediate crude for June delivery rose $1.20 to settle at $65.69 a barrel. Brent for July settlement added $1.32 to $68.88 a barrel, posting the largest daily gain since April 14. The contract is at its highest in roughly seven weeks.

Gasoline inventories in the U.S. are well below where they were a year ago and weve taken out refinery capacity, said Peter McNally, global head for industrials, materials and energy at Third Bridge. Weve seen the impact on demand as more people get vaccinated, so were going to get that tailwind plus seasonality coming later this month.

U.S. crude futures are up more than 35% this year -- amid a broad advance across commodity markets -- as investors bet that the rollout of vaccines will permit a return to pre-pandemic conditions. The European Union plans to ease curbs for vaccinated travelers this summer, while in the U.S., New York plans to lift most of it virus restrictions this month. More broadly, the worlds 20 major economies are set to back efforts to introduce so-called vaccine passports to boost the beleaguered travel and tourism industry.

The news from Europe on the outlook toward reopening is providing a good sense of optimism for global demand continuing to rise, said Gary Cunningham, director at Stamford, Connecticut-based Tradition Energy.

Crudes gains on Tuesday were outpaced by those in petroleum products, most notably gasoline. In the U.S., the spread between gasoline and crude futures hit the highest since April of last year in intraday trading. That comes as green shoots of a return to normal demand in the worlds largest oil-consuming country continue to emerge. CVR Energy Inc.s Oklahoma and Kansas refineries are running all out amid a significant increase in gasoline demand since March, Chief Executive Officer David L. Lamp said during a conference call with investors.

At the same time, cash-market gasoline in New York Harbor rose to a six-week high following the shutdown of a key fuel-making unit at Phillips 66s Bayway refinery in New Jersey. The refinerys sole fluid catalytic cracker -- one of the largest in the world -- is expected to be down at least several days for repairs.

OPEC kept its crude production steady in April, ahead of a planned output hike this month. Production fell by 50,000 barrels day, with a setback in Libya largely offset by further gains for Iran. Underscoring plans from producer nations to bring barrels back into the global market, total global flows of seaborne oil from many of the worlds largest exporters rose in April.

See also: Total Oil Flows Climb But Shipments to China Dip: Tanker Tracker

2021 Bloomberg L.P.
Two men who talked to The Pilot then said Ryan had abused them while they were students at Star of the Sea Catholic School in the late 1970s. The men said they were 14 and 15 at the time and that the abuse occurred at the church rectory and at a home where one of them lived. They also said Ryan gave them alcohol and marijuana.
While Ramadan is normally a month of celebration, worship and togetherness, these past two Ramadans have looked a bit different for Muslims.

Last year, in-person celebrations were non-existent as COVID-19 ravaged our country, but in 2021, with vaccinations on the rise, some Houston mosques are opening their doors to more in-person events. But disparities remain  vaccination rates across neighborhoods and racial demographics havent exactly been equitable.

IFTAR PLANS: Here's where to break your fast in Houston this Ramadan

Clear Lake Islamic Center, for instance, located in the majority white Clear Lake neighborhood of Houston, is able to offer in-person events that most other mosques across Houston are not. The masjid hosts both virtual and in-person prayer, with social distancing and mask mandates in place.

Just recently, maybe about a month after the CDC came out with different guidance for people who have been fully vaccinated, weve been allowing them to be in closer proximity to each other, Director Kabir Mohammed said over the phone. Weve set up an area in the prayer hall. Its kind of a partition. So anybody whos been fully vaccinated can resume praying shoulder to shoulder like normal, still wearing a mask.

This allows the masjid to accommodate more people for their Friday Jummah prayers, as well as Tarawih, the nightly Ramadan prayers.

In March, the Texas Tribune reported that Black and Hispanic Texans, who have already been disproportionately killed and hospitalized after being infected with COVID-19, appear to be vastly underrepresented among those getting shots across the state, according to state health data that still paints an incomplete picture. The article reported that White Texans were being vaccinated at nearly double the rate of Hispanic Texans and more than six times that of Black Texans, based on state data.

Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

In fact, many vaccine centers across Texas are located primarily in white neighborhoods. In January, lawmakers voiced their concerns in a letter to Gov. Greg Abbot, in which Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, wrote, A cursory glance at my local map of vaccination locations suggests that providers are much less concentrated in areas that have a higher percentage of minority residents. The Texas Tribune during that time noted that a majority of Texas vaccine sites were located in more white and affluent neighborhoods.

Houston's Masjid Taleem Muhammed, located in the majority Hispanic and Black Independence Heights neighborhood of Houston, is only hosting virtual prayer at the moment.

We dont have physical events in the masjid because of COVID, Director Basil Abdullah said over the phone. On the weekends, people can drive through and get meals, but thats about it. And just the virtual Jummah [Friday prayer]. COVID has restricted us from doing a lot of things  We have to be careful.

While there have since been attempts to remedy the situation, specifically in Houston, where FEMA vaccination hubs were established to specifically target underserved communities, according to the Texas Tribune, this still means that non-white communities have a lot of catching up to do.

Clear Lake is one of the few mosques in Houston thats able to host Ramadan iftar dinners on the weekends. While its not hosting anything indoors, they do have an outdoor space with picnic tables, Mohammed says. Currently, the masjid is seeking out options for an outdoor Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan. Mohammad says theyre looking into either a park or a stadium or something like that, where we can have a large crowd, but it can be in a place with a lot of space and open air.

Clear Lake has been sending out surveys to its members in order to gauge how many congregants are fully vaccinated. The first survey went out a few weeks back, and of the people that responded, Mohammad says 55% had been vaccinated. Another survey went out about three weeks later, and 68% of the Clear Lake Islamic Center community said they were fully vaccinated.

Other mosques across Houston are doing drive-thru food pick-up, including the mosques affiliated with the Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH), says Tauqeer H. Shah, the Outreach Director for ISGH.

Sarah Raslan

Abdullah pointed out that many in his community are not vaccinated, some because they are hesitant. I know for a fact they are being hesitant, and thats not good.

In fact, Jill Ramirez, CEO of the Latino Health Forum, told the Texas Tribune that health authorities also will have to work hard to gain the trust of communities of color.

Some mosques, though, have found a middle ground between the optimism of Clear Lake Islamic Center and the necessary precautions of Masjid Taleem Muhammad. Pearland Islamic Center, located in a majority white neighborhood, is one such example. The mosque is part of a larger group of mosques, all falling under the jurisdiction of the ISGH, and so they follow ISGH board guidance, said Associate Director Dr. Mohammad Elias Biswas and Imam Daniel Abdullah Hernandez.

Biswas and Abdullah say that right now, the mosque is hosting both virtual and in-person prayer. For in-person prayer, there is a limited capacity; they check temperatures at the door, everyone brings their own prayer mat, social distancing is enforced and masks are mandatory. Also, bathrooms are off-limits except for emergencies, and only one person is allowed in at a time. This means that congregants have to complete their pre-prayer ablutions at home, before they arrive at the mosque. And for those who dont feel comfortable coming in person, there is plenty of virtual programming.

ISGH as a whole, which has several mosques across Houston, is working to encourage vaccinations.

We are recommending all of our congregants and participants to be vaccinated if they are coming to the centers, Shah said. In fact, we are providing the resources to get vaccinated, and we are also offering vaccinations with the help of Harris County, the city of Houston, and other county judge commissioners offices to provide [vaccinations] for the Muslim community.

Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle

ISGH centers are spread out throughout Houston, both in white communities and communities of color, where there is still disparity in vaccination rates. For this reason, a hybrid system, as Shah says, makes sense. Those who are vaccinated and feel safe can attend in-person prayer, while those who have not been able to get the vaccine yet can attend any of the many virtual events and activities, which are listed on the ISGH website.

As vaccination rates rise, though, its possible more Muslims will be able to celebrate Eid together and in person this year.
City of Laredo and Webb County officials confirmed one new fatality and 54 COVID-19 positives over the last two days in their Wednesday coronavirus report, breaking a span of six days without a death due to the virus reported in the Laredo area.

The fatality confirmed today marks the 835th death due to the virus since its emergence in Laredo in March of 2020 and the first reported this month. Though confirmed today, the death, of a man in his mid 60s, dates back to April 10, 2021.

In comparison with April, in the first six days of the month, only one death to be reported. The city ended April with 15 deaths, the least amount of deaths recorded in a single month, excluding the first four months of the pandemic.

Today's report is a total of the 33 positives confirmed on Tuesday and 21 reported on Wednesday.

After six days with a decline in active cases, the city has once again reported an increase in the metric and is only a short distance from 150 active cases. As of Wednesday, 147 persons are estimated to be actively infected with the virus, with 42,949 persons estimated to have recovered.

Should the health department report four more actives in Friday's report, the city could once again return to level 3 of its color-coded COVID-19 advisory system, which indicates more than 150 active cases in the community. According to the action plan, citizens should be vigilant and minimize all contact with others not living in the same household.

On Monday, Laredo health authority Dr. Victor Trevino told city council that Laredo hospitals were reaching a "critical point" due to a lack of medical professionals serving the Laredo medical sector. At that time, 16 persons were reportedly hospitalized in Webb County. On Wednesday, the city reported an equivalent number of hospitalizations. However, the number of ICU patients dropped by 2, with only 3 persons under intensive care.

The Texas Department of State Health Services reports a COVID hospitalization rate of 3.23% for the Laredo hospital region on May 4. However, DSHS data also reported that only two ICU beds were available on the same date. With Laredo expected to further demobilize state assistance, it's hard to say how exactly the medical sector would cope with a surge of infections.

However, vaccine distribution continues in the Laredo area as a possible solution to any future issues.

The latest update issued by the city states 51.69% of the eligible population in Webb County, or 101,785 persons, have now been fully vaccinated against the virus. 143,093 persons, totaling 72.67% of the population has received at least one dose.

In the population aged 65 and older, 23,312 persons or 83.54% of the population has received at least one dose of the vaccine.

As of noon Wednesday, 337,833 tests for the virus have been administered in the Laredo area. In total, 43,931 persons have tested positive and 835 deaths have been recorded in the Laredo area since the start of the pandemic.
In June of last year, oddsmakers put Dwayne The Rock Johnson as the third most likely person to win the presidential election, despite not actually running. Then this April, the wrestler-turned-actor hinted that hes kinda, maybe, potentially considering a bid.

In this world where The Rock succeeds, as Libby Watson, who covers politics for The New Republic, told us last year, I think its sort of a fantasy that you could have this figure who wins by being universally beloved and becomes the president that everyone can get behind.

Howard Stern doesnt buy that fantasy. In fact, the legendary radio host recently laid down some real talk for both Johnson and Matthew McConaughey, another celebrity with political ambitions.

You know what it is with these guys is that they dont understand, once you run for office, you actually have to give an opinion, he said on his SiriusXM show on Tuesday, as reported by the New York Daily News.

Stern knows a thing or two about trying to make the transition from beloved celebrity figure into the polarizing world of politics. In 1994, he ran for governor of New York only to withdraw after refusing to disclose his personal finances. And though he hosted Donald Trump on his show many times, Stern became a vocal critic of the former president as soon as he announced his campaign. But while Stern has always been opinionated, much of the appeal for the candidacies of Johnson and McConaughey has been their refusal to wade into the most contentious political issues of the day, instead choosing a milquetoast, inoffensive middle-ground approach (although McConaugheys favorite phrase in recent months has been the illiberal left).

But once you run for office, there is no middle ground, at least not one where you can appease everyone. As Stern said, once The Rock has to explicitly lay out his beliefs on abortion rights, Oops! Suddenly people dont like The Rock.

People in the military assume The Rock is pro-military, he added. People in the police force believe The Rock is a law and order guy. People who are Trumpy believe The Rock really secretly loves Trump. The people who are liberals are going You know what? The Rock is with us.

We dont know the full truth now (though Johnson did support Joe Biden in the most recent presidential election), but if either celebrity moves out of the contemplation phase and into the political arena, you can rest assured the truth will come out, and their beloved status wont remain universal.

As Adam Chandler wrote in the fall, One truth about career trajectories in American politics, especially in recent decades, is that they can both ignite and incinerate in virtually no time at all.

Thanks for reading InsideHook. Sign up for our daily newsletter and be in the know.

The post Howard Stern Shares Some Harsh Truths on The Rock and Matthew McConaugheys Political Ambitions appeared first on InsideHook.
Storage 105 owner Jack McClanahan found the biggest American flag he could find and hoisted it up the tallest flag pole he could afford to show his support of veterans.

Since 2009, a series of American flags have flown over Storage 105 as a beacon of patriotism to all those traveling along Texas 105. The spot has also been a popular gathering spot for veterans following the end of the Lone Star Honor Flight program that brought 515 local World War II veterans to Washington DC.

Because of the exposure to the outdoors, the flags are changed out every six months and mended about once a month.

With the flag rotation also comes a flag dedication. On Wednesday morning, a 100-pound, 30-foot-tall, 60-foot-long American flag unfurled in the crisp blue sky in recognition of 102-year-old Lewis Shannon.

Shannon, a World War II veteran, spends the winter months with his Montgomery daughter Becky Schuster. He spends the other half of the year in Franklin, Indiana with Schusters sister.

Shannon has not been to Montgomery since June 2020 because of COVID-19, but was finally cleared by his doctor to return to Texas and arrived back last weekend.

Im so blessed to have my father still with us and doing so well, she said. Its quite an honor to be recognized for his service all these years later.

Shannon was born in Sidney, Ohio the son of a building plasterer. He was one of eight children.

After high school, he was a painter until being drafted in 1941.

He did basic training at Fort Stevens, Oregon. He then trained as a diesel engine mechanic in Tennessee before returning to Fort Stevens for the duration of World War II.

In Oregon he was among the soldiers who protected the West Coast from a Japanese attack.

He mustered out in Washington State in December 1945. His civilian career started in Ohio in 1949 and took him to Wisconsin and Indiana before working for RCA. He also started his own business later in life.

He and Ruth were married for 65 years and raised two daughters. Ruth passed away in 2006.

These World War II veterans came home from defending the country and they went to work, never asking for anything and quite frankly not getting anything and they kept quiet about it.

Now McClanahan celebrates these veterans in a number of ways.

In addition to the flag at Storage 105, he also offers a space for veterans to gather every Wednesday morning at 9 at the Poplar Business Park off Old Highway 105.

He said the pandemic has been very hard on the veteran population.

For some of these veterans, the only time they leave home is on Wednesday mornings, he said.

A meeting space that is part military memorabilia museum and part meeting area is in Suite 201 of the Poplar Place Business Park. An American flag and patriotic statue welcomes visitors to Suite 201.

Veterans continue to meet there each Wednesday at 9 a.m.

shernandez@hcnonline.com
I think it is important to note that Dr. Herron is receiving the same salary increase that W-JCC PS employees are averaging in the new fiscal year. In fact, a compelling feature of this contract is the fact the School Board will not be re-negotiating her salary each year, as is typical in superintendent contract negotiations, Cook said in a news release. Her salary will match the average increase employees receive. I think it important to note that Dr. Herron felt this was the most equitable way to proceed and the Board honored her request.
Of the more than 4.1 million Illinoisans fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the state, the Illinois Department of Public Health says 97 have been hospitalized for COVID-19 and 32 have died.

A breakthrough case is when a fully vaccinated person contracts the virus. On April 12, the state health department reported 581 people who had COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated. The department didnt immediately respond when asked for an updated total number of breakthrough cases, but it now is providing weekly updates on other breakthrough statistics.

As of April 28, the department reported 97 fully vaccinated people in the state were hospitalized because of coronavirus. There also were 32 people who died from COVID-19 complications, which the department says is 0.59% of COVID-19 deaths since Jan. 1.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, told WMAY on Tuesday that such cases are rare.

Its a point zero, zero, zero four seven percent chance that you would get a COVID infection once vaccinated that will put you in the hospital, Davis said. Thats less of a chance than being struck by lightning.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported Tuesday that the states seven-day positivity for cases as a percentage of total tests conducted is 3.3%. Thats down from the week before, when the rate was 3.5%.

.

Total cases in west-central Illinois counties as of Tuesday, according to individual county health departments, and vaccination rates, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, were:

Brown County

695 total, 681 recovered, seven deaths

Fully vaccinated: 20.93%; 65 or older: 69.77%

Cass County

1,984 total, 1,931 recovered, 33 deaths

Five new cases since Friday.

Fully vaccinated: 33.36%; 65 or older: 71.76%

Greene County

1,417 total, 1,363 recovered, 48 deaths

Fully vaccinated: 24.18%; 65 or older: 56.8%

Jersey County

2,662 total, 2,582 recovered, 49 deaths

Fully vaccinated: 32.79%; 65 or older: 76.78%

Macoupin County

4,823 total, 4,500 recovered, 111 deaths

Nine new cases and one additional death.

Fully vaccinated: 30.92%; 65 or older: 75.67%

Morgan County

3,934 total, 3,781 released from restrictions, 102 deaths

No new cases, but one additional death, that of a man in his 60s.

Fully vaccinated: 32.14%; 65 or older: 74.91%

Pike County

1,754 total, 1,698 recovered, 47 deaths

Fully vaccinated: 24.82%; 65 or older: 63.59%

Sangamon County

18,437 total, 234 deaths

50 new cases and one additional death, that of a man in his 70s.

Fully vaccinated: 37.74%; 65 or older: 82.65%

Schuyler County

702 total, 673 recovered, 16 deaths

Seven new cases.

Fully vaccinated: 30.91%; 65 or older: 67.09%

Scott County

477 total, 471 recovered, one death

Six new cases since April 26.

Fully vaccinated: 25.58%; 65 or older: 62.82%

Statewide, 2,211 new cases of coronavirus disease and 19 deaths were reported Tuesday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

There have been 1,343,988 cases and 22,066 deaths in Illinois.
We are partnering with a community resource to be able to get that scheduled. I hope to have some details to share later this week, Keever said. Certainly if there are additional emergency authorizations we would work to include greater and greater numbers of our students in that opportunity.
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The court has examined the data as to how much of the oxygen was supplied to the state since April 25. (Representational Photo: AFP)

HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday advised the additional solicitor general representing the Union Government to ensure that the central government supplied 600 metric tonne of oxygen as also enough of the life-saving drugs and vaccines to the Telangana state.

Responding to the states complaint that it is not getting the full allocation of 430 metric tonnes (MT) of oxygen due to non-supply of 55 MT of oxygen from a unit at Perambadur of Tamil Nadu, a division bench of the Telangana High Court headed by Chief Justice Hima Kohli advised the Centre to take up the matter with the authorities in Tamil Nadu so as to ensure that there is no hindrances in the supply of oxygen to TS.

If this is not possible, the government is advised to make alternative arrangements from other states, the court said.

The court has examined the data as to how much of the oxygen was supplied to the state since April 25. It found fault with the director of the medical health department for his failure to inform the court as to the extent of demand for oxygen in Telangana now. The court sought details as regards the quantity of oxygen being supplied to private hospitals and government hospitals and what is the shortfall of oxygen.

Director of health has only submitted that there is the necessity of 600 metric tonnes of oxygen in Telangana State, whereas the Union government has allocated only 430 MT (306 MT from other states, 124 MR from Telangana).

The Telangana government told the court that there is a daily requirement for 25,000 vials of remdesivir in Telangana, whereas, an average of 4,300 vials are allotted to the state by the Union government.

Public health director Dr Srinivasa Rao submitted that people from other states are also coming to Hyderabad and other cities in Telangana for treatment due to the best medical facilities available in this state. Some 35 per cent of the patients being treated for Covid in Telangana came from other states, he said and stressed that there is a higher demand for oxygen and life-saving drugs. The Union Government does not allocate the required quantity, he stated.

Zero plan on Vaccination

The High Court has faulted the state government on its vaccination programme. The court took note of the prevailing confusion among the citizens due to the huge shortfall in vaccine supply even for the second dose for the age-group of above 45 plus. It said the state government has zero plan on vaccination.

How many of you (state government) have placed orders for vaccines and how many of you have got it? Did you write a letter to the Union Government explaining the situation, a division bench of the Telangana High Court headed by Chief Justice Hima Kohli asked the state government. The court sought from the state government details of the vaccine stocks supplied to private hospitals.

Public health director Dr Srinivasa Rao submitted that there is no choice before the state government to procure the vaccines directly from the manufacturers. Only 3.03 lakh doses of vaccines have been allotted to the state by the Centre in May so far, and this will be used as the second dose for those above 45 years.

Apart from this, the Union government has allotted some quota to private hospitals directly from manufacturers. But he was unable to cite the figures as to how much would be allotted to private hospitals.

The court expressed its dissatisfaction on the vaccination programme.
The Internet noticed something very small and subtle in Thursday night's GOP debate. It looked like it fell out of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's nose, and it definitely went into his mouth.

By late Thursday night, thousands of tweets called it a booger, and YouTube was flooded with video clips zoomed in on the mysterious facial anomaly, trying without avail to verify its identity.
From the outside, on a quiet, unpretentious residential side street in Arroyo Grande, on California's Central Coast, all you can see is a generic beige stucco tract house with a drought resistant rock garden, some two-tone buoys hanging here and there as beach town decor, and little else to suggest whats hidden behind the driveways sturdy metal gate.

But then I stepped inside our AirBnB for the next two nights and felt like I was entering a miniature theme park, a surfy, beachy astroturf-and-tchotchke backyard paradise. There, on one small lot, Anton and Sarah Selzer  a couple of longtime Burning Man enthusiasts and the parents of a 7-year-old  have transformed their backyard into an elaborate, colorful, over-the-top playground with, among other things, a two-story, two-slide playhouse, a large trampoline and a life-size Hot Wheels ramp. To the eyes of my two young kids, denied their first theme park experiences by the pandemic, it might as well have been Disneyland.

But the reason for our visit, and the yards defining feature, was something even more out of place: a robin's egg blue lifeguard tower smack in the middle of southern San Luis Obispos Five Cities beach town sprawl.

Lifeguard Tower No. 2, as it was once known by the Pismo Beach Fire Department, was barely bigger than a closet, with three huge oddly angled windows and a surprisingly cushy double bed. In this incongruous setting, this towering symbol of California beach culture at first looked like any other backyard treehouse  a cute little box nestled among the leaves.

But this is a more ambitious project, and a bigger story, than that.

---

In 2017, Sarah was working as a financial analyst at a bank while Anton was working for his familys third-generation plumbing business in Santa Barbara during the week and returning home on weekends. At the same time, the couples son, Huxley, then 3 years old, was struggling. Sarah began getting calls from his day care: Theyd say things like, Hes hiding under the table, or throwing things. Hes waking the other kids up or pushing over their cots. Huxley was soon diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.

All of a sudden, Sarah writes (her preferred form of communication), I was a single mom during the week, juggling a stressful job, and taking care of our son alone. She was struggling, and she knew it, but it was still a shock when, for the first time in her life, she was fired.

I remember my manager saying, Now you can go home and take care of your son.

Sarah was hurt and concerned about her familys financial situation. But when she called Anton to tell him what had happened, he didnt panic. Instead, he said, Great! Now you and Huxley can come to Burning Man. Anton was already there.

Though she and Anton loved Burning Man, shed decided to sit the arts festival out that year because didnt have the paid vacation time. I never think of Burning Man as a vacation but as an adventure. If youre immersed in the community of Burning Man ... theres an unfathomable amount of work to be done to make it all happen, said Sarah. [It] blows my mind every time we go. After she got fired, paid time off didnt matter anymore. She decided to go  and take Huxley on an adventure, too.

I really didnt know how Huxley would do, says Sarah. She had the usual parental worries about him getting sunburned or dehydrated out there on the Playa of Nevadas Black Rock desert. But those things, she said, were surprisingly manageable. And Huxley took to that environment like he was made for it, she said.

The lights, the sounds, and all the amazing interactive art was so fascinating to him, she said. It was the easiest place to keep him happy and entertained, which was a different experience than what he was like in our regular lives.

---

One of Sarahs favorite places at the Playa is on the outer edges of the expansive Burning Man territory where relatively few people venture. That area, the trash fence, is an orange plastic barrier erected to keep festival garbage from being blown into the surrounding desert. But, Sarah explains, its also where some of the more interesting art pieces find a home. That year, there was a brothel, which Sarah describes as a collection of weathered buildings that looked like they were from an Old West movie.

Among them, some had riddles that needed solving to open a door; others required finding the right key. The one I was particularly drawn to looked like an old water tower, she said. It had a rusty old bed frame at the bottom and then a ladder that went up to a little deck that wrapped around the tower and a metal slide coming down from the top. It reminded Sarah of a lighthouse.

Back home in Arroyo Grande, after her familys magical time at the Playa, Sarah couldnt stop thinking about how to bring the spirit of Burning Man to her backyard. And, equally important for a burned-out mother, how she could turn her creativity into something that would help support her family.

She had been miserable in her banking job, she realized. I felt stifled, depressed, and my mind was so shot from looking at financial statements all day that by the time I got home I didnt want to think about anything else.

The lighthouse-like piece of brothel art became her inspiration, her obsession almost. With relatively little space to work with, the idea of building up, rather than out, stayed with the couple. But, Sarah is quick to credit, the idea for the lifeguard tower itself came from Anton, the real mad scientist.

Through a Google search and a phone call to the city, Sarah learned that Pismo Beach, a neighboring town in the Five Cities region  along with Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, Shell Beach and Oceano  was about to auction one of its lifeguard towers. It was, she says, serendipity. After all, she explains, these well-built, weatherproof fiberglass structures arent retired often. Up against only one other bidder in the February 2018 auction, the couple ended up paying just about $600 for the tower.

---

When I first saw Sarah and Antons Airbnb listing, I had a hard time really wrapping my head around it. Not because there was anything inaccurate in the description, but because what the Selzers created wasnt easy to characterize.

When I booked it, I envisioned a sort of glamping situation, where wed be staying in a converted lifeguard shack, but with a nearby bathroom and kitchenette as backup. In reality, though, everything about the space felt like an elaborate craft project, a low-key but purposeful piece of interactive art.

And when I arrived, I realized the listing wasnt just for the lifeguard tower and a few conveniences, but the entire complex, a small but encompassing retreat from the suburban world outside. The main structure is actually what the Selzers dubbed the Bait Shack  a thoughtfully executed granny unit with a nautical theme, some offbeat touches and the kinds of amenities that you could only dream a hotel might provide.

There was stencil art on the walls  a mermaid kissing a scuba diver, a sunken pirate ship with tattered sails  and a fire pit equipped with metal roasting sticks and smores fixings. There was the nautical decor (model ships on a high kitchen shelf, dried starfish dangling above a window, a porthole mirror, a lobster throw pillow) and all the practical stuff a traveling family might need: a well-stocked kitchen, a washer-dryer, a spare crib, spare chairs, spare beach towels in the closet.

"Our guests are essentially strangers that are staying in our home," says Sarah. But, she adds, "we knew that by building the tower wed attract like-minded people and become part of a bigger community. Because we have this unique structure, we get guests that really appreciate it for what it is."

The spirit of experiential art permeates the Selzer's backyard. And because the tower structure itself is ideal for hanging swings, thats what the family has done. Before we knew it, she says, the couple had created a playground full of spinning, swinging, jumping, and movement thats perfect for [Huxleys] self-regulation.

Early in its life, Sarah and Antons rental appealed primarily to adventurous couples and Baywatch lovers. But over the past year, their audience has shifted, and Huxleys backyard Disneyland has become a much-needed escape for families, including families with kids on the autism spectrum.

---

On the second night of our recent trip, after putting my kids  five and two  to bed, I climbed up to the lifeguard tower by myself while my husband Tim stayed below in the Bait Shack. Theres a hot pink bistro table on the towers deck, which would have made a fine place for a sunset drink. But the weather was a bit chilly, into the 50s, so I went inside to the small space, turned on the heat and perched myself on the towers loft bed.

Up there alone above a sea of suburban rooftops, staring out from behind three huge oddly angled windows, I felt like I was dangling in a bird feeder. Peering into neighboring yards, with their rose bushes and pomelo trees weighed down by hefty, bowling ball-sized fruit, I could see past the Spanish tile roofs and into the distance, where the hills  orange ridges and hazy purple shadows  were cloaked in the Central Coasts persistent marine layer.

Though Id intended only to stay long enough to watch the sunset, I collapsed into the comfortable bed and fell asleep without meaning to. And I slept like I hadnt slept in over a year.
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A. Transportation. There's a strong need for a long-term mobility plan, especially on U.S. 19 and State Road 44.

B. Resiliency. Crystal River needs blueprints for the future, especially focusing on sea level rise and health of bay waters.

C. Downtown. Areas within the city's CRA need more projects like the Town Square.

D. Revitalization. Abandoned shopping centers and older structures like the mall need a makeover.

E. Residential neighborhoods. Interconnecting communities and maximizing the potential in Crystal River neighborhoods is the key to happy living.

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Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

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Canadian immigrant labour market outcomes were improving before COVID A recent Statistics Canada report examines how immigrant employment rates and wages compared to Canadian-born workers over the past two decades.

Canadian immigrant labour market outcomes were improving before COVID A recent Statistics Canada report examines how immigrant employment rates and wages compared to Canadian-born workers over the past two decades.

Canadian immigrant labour market outcomes were improving before COVID A recent Statistics Canada report examines how immigrant employment rates and wages compared to Canadian-born workers over the past two decades. Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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Before the pandemic, labour market performance gaps between Canadians and immigrants were either closing or remaining steady.

In a recent report, Statistics Canada compared immigrant and Canadian employment and wages between 2000 and 2019. They found the outcomes differed depending on which outcome they were measuring, gender, and years in Canada. The study looked at employment rate, that is instances of employment, as well as weekly wages of men and women ages 25 to 54.

Immigrant men who had been in Canada for less than 10 years were getting jobs at a faster rate than Canadian-born men during the study period. The relative employment rate of immigrant women who had been in Canada for less than five years also improved slightly.

The earnings gap between immigrant and Canadian-born workers with similar socioeconomic characteristics widened between 2000 and 2015. There was some improvement in the earnings gap for both men and women in the subsequent study years. The improvements could be due to the rising demand for labour in the late 2010s.

Find Out if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Factors contributing to improved outcomes

The study brought up some of the key contributors to improved outcomes for Canadian immigrants.

Improved immigrant outcomes in the labour market can generally be attributed to policy changes, and economic conditions. Policy changes affecting immigrant selection throughout the study period, as well as an improved economy post 2009 may have helped immigrants perform better in the labour market.

In summary, the study found improved outcomes for immigrants were informed by:

favourable economic conditions;

more emphasis on immigrants with Canadian experience;

higher selection criteria for language and education;

more support for settlement programs; and

selection based on regional population and labour market needs.

Immigrant economic outcomes tend to be more sensitive to economic changes than those of their Canadian-born counterparts. This is especially true for employment rates, and earnings, the study says. For instance, there was a strong demand for labour in the study years after 2015. This resulted in improved earnings, especially for new and recent immigrant men. However, these improvements were not felt among all groups equally. Immigrant women fell behind their Canadian counterparts in terms of earnings. The wage gap for immigrant men and women who had been in Canada for 10 years or more saw little improvement during the study period. The employment rate for these long-term immigrants improved slightly among men, but not among women.

Another factor that may have contributed to immigrants recent economic outcomes was Canadas increasing trend towards two-step immigration selection. In other words, more immigrants are being selected from a pool of temporary foreign workers. The study suggested that expanding two-step immigration selection may have been more important than any other single factor in improving immigrant economic outcomes since 2000. Other studies have shown new permanent residents who have Canadian work experience tend to do better in the job market compared to immigrants who were selected from abroad.

In the early 2000s, Canada revised its points grid in the immigrant selection system. Immigrants with higher levels of education got more points. Language requirements were also strengthened. As a result of these changes, the study suggests entry earnings of new immigrants increased.

Canada also changed settlement policies to address employment barriers such as foreign credential recognition. In the late 1990s and 2000s, Canada also put more money into settlement programs and also introduced licensing regulation, as well as bridge training and mentoring.

In the early 2000s, there were concerns that the immigration system was not adequately responding to labour shortages. Provinces also needed to grow their populations, and meet labour demands. As a result, some existing programs expanded, and some new ones were created. More immigrants were selected through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), especially in Western Canada. Previous studies have shown PNP candidate tend to earn more than their Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) counterparts during their first few years in Canada. FSWP candidates, do not necessarily need Canadian experience to be eligible for permanent residence. In 2008, Canada created the Canadian Experience Class, allowing temporary workers with eligible work experience to become permanent residents. Then in 2013, Canada created the Federal Skilled Trades Program to focus more on candidates who had more practical experience than formal education.

Analysis: What about immigrant performance post-pandemic?

During the pandemic, a high concentration of immigrants worked in hard-hit sectors, resulting in immigrants being disproportionately affected by coronavirus-related closures.

Furthermore, travel restrictions and other public health measures have been barriers for new immigrant arrivals. This has forced Canada to admit more immigration candidates who are already in the country, since they are less likely to be affected by these measures.

In the most recently-published Labour Force Survey from March, Canadas economy was closer to pre-pandemic levels than ever. Industries that employed high numbers of immigrants were starting to see some resurgence. These gains were likely short-lived, however, as the third wave of the coronavirus forced tighter restrictions across Canada in April.

The federal governments 2021 Budget lays out Canadas spending priorities for immigrants. Some items that may have implications for immigrant outcomes include reforms to the Express Entry system, enhancements to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, support for racialized newcomer women, and pathways to permanent residence for essential workers and graduates.

As was seen during economic downturns in the two decades prior, immigrants may feel the effects harder than Canadian-born workers. Post-pandemic immigrant outcomes may not necessarily improve, we may still see gaps in wage and employment while the economy stabilizes. As such, policymakers will need to keep a close eye on the post-pandemic labour market outcomes of immigrants to ensure they are not left behind.

Find Out if Youre Eligible for Canadian Immigration

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Retno Rianti, Country Director Human Resources Indonesia and Timor Leste, Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Retno Rianti, Country Director Human Resources Indonesia and Timor Leste, Hilton Hotels & Resorts

What are some of the major challenges and trends that have been impacting the Employee Wellness space lately?

With the current pandemic situation, our employees are having major concerns that include their health, the health of their families, and their job security. This certainly will cause stress where they feel demotivated.

The hotel industry is one of the industries that experience a major impact with this pandemic. Not only in terms of business but also safety since our job is to serve people. I am very proud to say that I am working with a company that cares about the well-being of our team members (employees). Many activities have been done by Hilton Hotel Worldwide to motivate our team members such as the e-learning program from online learning platforms, some great articles from the professionals to for our self-thrive, and a lot of tips on how to maintain our health and well being. Not forgetting to mention that the company keeps on making innovations on how we recognize employees by having recognition activities, which are thoughtfully designed to demonstrate our appreciation for our amazing Team Members all around the world whose passion and commitment deliver extraordinary hospitality experiences every day.

When were up against such challenges, carving out time to take care of our physical and mental wellbeing might seem like a luxury we cant afford. It starts by acknowledging the challenges people are facing right now. Many employees have been working from home for months. Many have experienced health problems, financial difficulties, isolation, and an unrelenting sense of burnout.

What keeps you up at night when it comes to some of the major predicaments in the Employee Wellness space?

When I decided to be a professional HR, I fully realized the consequences. I am not only taking care of the employee but also their family members. I must stand by 24/7 where my colleagues need me.

Recently I have had a lot of thoughts. I thought that I should be creative which honestly made me difficult to have a good nights sleep or sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night. I keep saying to myself, whats next I could do or we could do to create a positive work environment, to manage the companys expenses in order to secure some of the jobs. we use technologies (WhatsApp, Zoom Call, WebEx, Microsoft Team) to communicate and to update/ get updates on information.

Our line staff especially from stewarding, housekeeping, or kitchen, mostly they are not familiar with these kinds of tools. Its my obligation to teach the team and share with the team how easy and useful those media communication could be. Some were reluctant before but now proudly share that they have now become familiar and experts.

Which are some of the technological trends which excite you for the future of Employee Wellness space?

I plan to maximize health applications on our mobile phones. In a very simple way, I will challenge them with how many steps that they earned / day. It is simple but could be fun and motivate them to move more and walk more.

Another thing I want to create is a link where we can challenge our self to do a great thing every day and when they do that, they will get points. Well, I need to work with a professional to share this idea.

leaders, team, and colleagues. They never complain and keep motivating me.

Both family and work are significant in my life. Without the full support from my family, I would not be who I am today and they have my ultimate priority. I believe success is achieved when we maintain a balance between all aspects and when we learn to manage time wisely and never forget that anticipation is an important part of life. Works important, the familys important, but without excitement, we have nothing.

Can you tell us about the latest project that you have been working on and what are some of the technological and process elements that you leveraged to make the project successful?

I am mostly working closely with humans and to be honest, so far, I did not use any technology. However, since we are mostly applying for work from home systems and reducing traveling, I am glad that we have technology innovation for expansion. Mostly 5. How can budding and evolving companies reach you for suggestions to streamline their business?

I like to build a network for myself. If people come to me and ask for suggestions, I feel honoured. I will study and learn their situation and analyze before I make any suggestions. I understand that a suggestion will differ from one company to another or it is not possible to do the same practice.

I like to use old methods such as finding the root cause, use fishbone theory or 5-Ws theory, or share any best practices. I am not typical of a person who likes to judge people or their company as we all know that each company has its uniqueness and challenges. In the end, I will leave it to them if they would like to apply or not.

The only thing that I will not share if they ask for is any confidential information of my company such as SOP, finance performance, clients, or personal information.
In the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City, the battle for the races left lane may come down to two first-time candidates: Dianne Morales and Maya Wiley.

If endorsements are any measure, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringers campaign is sputtering in the wake of an accusation of sexual assault, which he denies. Most of his high-profile endorsers pulled away from his campaign, including Rep. Jamaal Bowman, the Working Families Party and a slew of young, progressive legislators who were supposed to lend Stringer, a career Democratic insider, credibility with the left wing of the party.

Its possible, given the growing evidence that older Democrats are less moved by sexual harassment allegations than they used to be, that Stringers campaign will not entirely collapse, especially with the $7 million he still has in the bank. But Stringer was never at the front of the pack to begin with, typically placing third in recent polls behind Andrew Yang and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. Stringers hope was a last-minute surge as progressive voters coalesced behind him to stop Yang and Adams, both of whom are running on centrist platforms.

If Stringers path to the Democratic nomination on June 22 is foreclosed, who among the left-leaning candidates can rise to the top? The two remaining options with progressive credentials are Wiley and Morales. Wiley has greater institutional ties and a potentially higher ceiling, but she has struggled to build grassroots excitement. Morales is far more charismatic, yet potentially limited in how shes trying to appeal to an electorate in which 800,000 people of varying ideologies might vote.

Wiley, de Blasios former counsel in City Hall, has enjoyed far more media attention than Morales and may be, with Stringers scandal, the most likely recipient of a New York Times endorsement. The influential healthcare workers union that helped Bill de Blasio win the mayoralty in 2013, 1199 SEIU, is supporting her campaign. As a Black candidate, she is positioned, theoretically, to recreate de Blasios winning coalition, joining educated progressives of all races and across boroughs with working-class and middle-class Black voters.

In prestige press coverage, Wiley is presented as the alternative to Stringer, the beneficiary of his potential collapse and the place where all his endorsers may just flock. Maya Wiley, a former counsel to Mayor Bill de Blasio, has been competing for some of the same deeply progressive voters Mr. Stringer has sought, and some political observers see an opening for her as well, the Times reported on April 30.

That report, other than in the context of decisions endorsers have made already, doesnt mention Morales as an alternative for these votes. Its easy to see why: Wiley, who also gained fame as an MSNBC pundit, worked in the de Blasio administration and spent a longer time building up political relationships and making herself known.

But Wiley has a fundamental problem: she isnt raising enough money and not many people seem excited by campaign. She has almost never polled ahead of Stringer, let alone Adams or Yang, or shown much upwards momentum for Wiley.

In one recent NY1/Ipsos poll, she clocked in at 7 percent, behind Stringers 11 and far off Yangs 22 percent. As more voters tune in, they may be drawn to Wileys message of pragmatic, experienced progressivism and fall away from Yang, who can come off as a dilettante. She has released detailed policy platforms and she could begin to attract the upper middle-class liberal voters in neighborhoods like Manhattans Upper West Side, Brooklyns Park Slope and the Bronxs Riverdale, who may have backed Stringer before the assault allegation.

But will she have the money to connect with these voters? Yang is sitting on $5 million and is raising more, with an outside PAC stepping in to assist him. Adams and Stringer crossed the $7 million threshold. Despite the early hype around her candidacy, Wiley has banked just $2.5 million in a mayoral race that will feature heavy TV and digital advertising. In the expensive New York media market, TV buys can run $1 million a week.

Wiley doesnt seem to be connecting yet. Like a lot of candidates in this race, she has lacked an overarching theme or message. In 2013, de Blasio was the tale of two cities'' candidate, with a message of combating inequality through reforming the NYPD and creating universal pre-K. His campaign understood the Democratic electorate was tired of the billionaire then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg and ran against him.

A look back at every successful mayoral campaign finds something similar: a succinct message rooted in the moment. In 1977, Ed Koch ran on a law-and-order platform, emphasizing his support for the death penalty, even though that could only be decided at the state level, in an era of high crime. Pitching himself as a liberal with sanity, Koch positioned himself against his two predecessors, Abe Beame and John Lindsay, who were blamed for the citys deteriorating finances.

In 1989, David Dinkins, the citys first and only Black mayor, built a multiracial coalition, his gorgeous mosaic framed as a repudiation of the race-baiting Koch years. In 1993, the revanchist Rudy Giuliani ran on white resentment, narrowly driving Dinkins out of office. (At the time, though its hard to remember, Giuliani also sought to portray himself as an anti-machine, liberal Republican in the mode of Fiorello LaGuardia.)

So far, Wileys policy blueprints dont add up to any particular message or vision. At times, it can seem like she is running a version of the Democratic presidential campaigns of 2020 that did not gain any traction with the electorate, like Beto ORourkes or Kirsten Gillibrands.

For most voters, choosing a leader is a visceral experience, with a campaigns message far outweighing whatever particular policy prescription is offered. This is a lesson her consultants have not seemed to have internalized.

Like Stringer, Wiley has been caught in no-mans land  too moderate to please the rising left, which really wants the NYPD gutted, and too liberal to coalition-build with the large number of moderates in the outer boroughs. Firm lanes in the race do not exist, but branding does. Wileys has been muddled.

Morales, a former nonprofit executive, is more compelling for many on the left. She is Afro-Latina and would, like Wiley, make history in a city that has, with one exception, only elected white men. As the former executive of Phipps Neighborhoods, a social services nonprofit that belongs to the more controversial real estate developer, Phipps Housing, she can credibly claim experience running a large organization. Phipps Housing, however, is consistently ranked among the worst evictors in the city and Morales will have to keep answering for their record.

When the WFP backed Stringer, they ranked Morales second and Wiley third, since ranked-choice voting will be used in this primary. That shows just how far Morales, once an unknown, had come. Typically, outsider insurgent candidates like Morales can be discredited because they havent raised enough money to compete. Morales, though, has banked about $2.5 million, matching Wileys haul.

Morales has excited many of the young, hard-left voters who handed victories to Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman, state Sen. Julia Salazar and other left-wing first-time candidates in New York. Other politicians, like state Sens. Jabari Brisport and Gustavo Rivera, endorsed both Stringer and Morales, meaning they are now just supporting her campaign.

Morales, though, has her own limitations  and theyre derived from the very policy that has injected great momentum into her campaign. Unlike every other candidate in the race, Morales wants to slash the NYPDs operating budget in half, by $3 billion. Shed redirect the funds into social services and create a new, nonviolent agency to respond to mental health and homelessness calls.

Its an admirable idea. But many Democratic voters do not want to significantly defund the police, especially with gun violence on the rise. The issue polls dreadfully nationally. Locally, many Black and Latino voters, especially those who are middle-aged and older, do not want to see policing disappear in their neighborhoods. In the predominantly Black neighborhoods of Southeast Queens, one of the long-sought goals was an additional police precinct. De Blasio announced recently, to much local fanfare, hed be delivering on that.

Given the challenge of gun violence, its hard to see Morales defund message connecting with the broad swath of the electorate beyond the gentrifying belts of Brooklyn and Queens. Wiley can argue that as someone whos staked out a middle ground on the issue  she supports cutting $1 billion, not $3 billion  she can better appeal to moderates and grow her coalition. Lacking Morales charisma, shell have to find a way very soon.

The truth is that it may be getting much harder for any of the progressive candidates to overtake Adams and Yang.

Correction: Wiley has led Stringer in one poll.
A group of seven Democratic candidates running for the New York City Council District 20 seat in Flushing, Queens, have come together to form a coalition against Queens Democratic Party-backed candidate Sandra Ung.

The coalition includes Democrats across the ideological spectrum. Theres John Choe, a former chief of staff to state Sen. John Liu, who heads the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce and was backed by the Working Families Party; Anthony Miranda, a retired NYPD sergeant who chairs the National Latino Officers Association; and Neng Wang, the former head of the Chinese American Planning Council who has been endorsed by the New York City Police Benevolent Association.

Members of the coalition said they want to give people a choice of who to support rather than have the party decide the outcome through its endorsement.

We feel that its better to have a change in the political leadership here, which means that we would support each other, even if we have some disagreement over specific policies. We would rather have one of us be the council member than someone who represents the status quo, said Choe, who was endorsed by the Queens Democratic Party in 2009 when he ran for this seat. The county Democratic Party tends to really be unaccountable and less (transparent) when it comes to how they come up with these nominations and selections of their favorite candidates.

Another candidate in the Democratic Coalition for Council District 20, former Assembly Member Ellen Young, also had the Queens Dems endorsement in her 2006 and 2008 races. Of course, support from the county party may help some candidates, but its far from a guaranteed victory. Youngs loss to Grace Meng in 2008, and more recent victories by candidates like Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson over party-backed candidates are just two examples. Still, the candidates now banding together against Ung would have liked the chance to earn support from Rep. Gregory Meeks organization. Choe and Miranda told City & State they were not invited by the party to be considered for its endorsement and believe the party already had a slate of candidates predetermined. The party could not be reached for comment on Choe and Mirandas concerns about its endorsement process.

Their coalition is the byproduct of the citys new ranked-choice voting system, Choe said, which allows voters to rank up to five candidates in order of preference. He believes there are other races across the city where candidates can band together to encourage voters to support one another over the partys pick.

Their coalition enables a reframing of the election as one thats not just about particular policies, but also about changing the political dynamics of which policies win, said Bright Limm, a co-chair of the Queens chapter of the Working Families Party (which endorsed Choe) and Queens chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. I would say that this coalition, and ranked-choice voting more broadly, shows how in many, many neighborhoods and districts what you might call the establishment actually reflects a minority of the views of voters.

Longtime Democratic political consultant Neal Kwatra said that coalition building will be beneficial for certain candidates but could lead to tactical campaigning.

In many races up and down the ballot there will likely be a value add for certain candidates to coalesce and work in coalition around a message of mutual validation for their respective supporters and voters whose support theyre trying to earn, Kwatra said. However, perhaps more importantly, will we see certain candidates in races aligning together to specifically brand a certain candidate as unqualified and try and send a unified message to voters of anybody but x? We have seen some of that kind of tactical campaigning in other RCV municipal elections around the country, like Oakland and San Francisco. Remains to be seen if it happens here too.

Ranked-choice voting may be encouraging coalition-building against party-backed candidates all over the city. In District 3, on the west side of Manhattan, five of the six candidates on the ballot have talked about forming a coalition against the perceived front-runner, Erik Bottcher, who previously served as chief of staff to Council Speaker Corey Johnson. Everybody (else) whos running is running because they dont think Erik is qualified, said Arthur Schwartz, an attorney who is also running for the seat. We have a very friendly relationship for opponents. The only one thats outside the circle is Erik.

On Staten Island, four progressive Democratic candidates running for borough president signed a pledge to not challenge their petitions  all except party-backed candidate Mark Murphy, which resulted in a nasty petition challenge. Cesar Vargas, one of the five Democrats in the race, told City & State that he and the three other progressive candidates have had conversations about forming an official coalition together, but have so far only been working together informally.

I think ranked-choice voting has made (the campaign) more collegial, Vargas said. I can see my competitor not just as a candidate to compete against me, but also as someone who can also support me by working with his community because I can do the same for him, because at the end of the day he or she can be part of my voters options.

But coalition-building is not a one-size-fits-all approach. In Brooklyns City Council District 46 race, in which former Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Frank Seddio waged petition challenges against five candidates. One Democrat in the race, Mercedes Narcisse, told City & State that she reached out to candidates to form a coalition but got no response.

She claimed all of the other Democrats in the race met with Seddio but the invitation was not extended to her. (Seddio could not immediately be reached for comment.)

It would have been a great thing for the community, Narcisse said of a coalition. But if you have one person, one group, putting (together) all the candidates, hows the coalition going to work?
Humor and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have not always gone well together in recent years. One incident of note was the way the governor talked about his brother, CNN host Chris Cuomo, to a group of state Democratic Party dignitaries in 2018. Its actually a funny story, the governor said. He was found at our front door in a basket and he was 16 years old. So he has certain development issues.

The governor has delivered high-profile policy victories for historically disadvantaged groups. His record includes the legalization of same-sex marriage, criminal justice reforms, expansions of the social safety net like paid family leave and a domestic terrorism law aimed at combating antisemitism. But advocates for people with disabilities offer mixed reviews about his record during three terms in office. The past several years have been tough, state Senate Disabilities Committee Chair John Mannion of Syracuse said in an interview. As it relates to people with disabilities, they seem to be the first to get caught and the last to be invested in.

Cuomos record with people with disabilities belies the image he projects as a justice warrior. Their needs have gone missing in gubernatorial pet projects. Legislators and advocates warn state support for key programs has remained relatively flat in recent years despite the growing need. And then there are the times when people with disabilities have faced the governors political wrath for seemingly no real reason.

His once-celebrated COVID-19 briefings last year were a good example of this last point. We are Americans at the end of the day, he said on March 17, 2020, at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Thats who we are and thats who we are when we are at our best so this hypersensitivity about politics and reading every comment and wanting to pit one against the other  there is no time for this. Yet, this message was not reaching deaf people because the Cuomo administration had not hired an American Sign language interpreter yet. They didnt want to extend the service, Jessica Barlow, a senior staff attorney at Disability Rights New York, said in an interview. He seems to be rather dismissive of the disabled community. A lawsuit by the advocacy group eventually forced the governor to share the screen with a sign language interpreter.

The episode highlights a disconnect between the rhetorical support that the governor offers people with disabilities and the concrete help that he delivers to people with physical or intellectual disabilities. You can talk the talk, but walking the walk is where the money is, Matthew Shapiro, associate director of public affairs at the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said of the governor in an interview. The recently passed $212 billion state budget offers a few examples of how Cuomo has leveraged funding for programs benefiting people with disabilities to meet the greater political end of passing a budget to his liking.

About 1 in 5 New Yorkers have some type of disability, according to the state Department of Health. Those numbers cover a range of conditions from blindness to mobility issues to autism spectrum disorder, but the people who arguably need the help of state government the most are the more than 100,000 New Yorkers who receive services from the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. Every year, we have to fight to just maintain the budget, Assembly Member Thomas Abinanti of Westchester County, who chairs the Committee on People with Disabilities, said in an interview. This included getting the governor to back down from a proposed $93 million reduction for the offices services. Lawmakers and activists also had to push Cuomo to give up on deferring a cost-of-living adjustment for nonprofit workers who deliver services on behalf of the agency.

He seems to be rather dismissive of the disabled community.  Jessica Barlow, a senior staff attorney for Disability Rights New York

The governor justified these proposed cuts because of the budget deficit that existed before billions of dollars arrived from the latest federal stimulus package and higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers. And once the money arrived, any increases for programs benefiting people with disabilities had to be balanced with restoring cuts to other government agencies while directing resources to the states recovery from the pandemic. Yet, hundreds of millions in federal stimulus funding for supportive services remain unused after state legislators made the governor give up control of it, according to Abinanti. He made a big, big deal in his budget (proposal) about a crisis response program  didnt fund it, Abinanti added. There was no money in the budget to fund it.

A provision in the state budget permits the state to direct more stimulus money toward programs benefiting people with disabilities once federal guidance is received, according to Department of the Budget spokesperson Freeman Klopott. This administration cares deeply about supporting New Yorkers with developmental disabilities and their families, he said in a statement. An 8% increase for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities in the new state budget, and other increases for certain support services, are two demonstrations of the administrations commitment, he added.

This hardly means that the governor had done nothing for people with disabilities during his time in office. His early years included pushing for accessible New York City taxis and updating the outdated handicap symbol created four decades ago. Cuomo established the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs in 2012 to monitor state agencies and nonprofit contractors for abuse. Despite some scandals, the state as a whole appears to be doing a lot better at taking care of people with disabilities compared to decades ago when it operated state institutions like Willowbrook on Staten Island. The recently passed budget for example increased the minimum wage for caregivers, which could reduce staff attrition rates. Ongoing efforts by the Cuomo administration include a $710 million investment in salaries since 2015 as well as ongoing expansions of programs promoting employment, independent living and community-based residential programs.

Yet, advocates say the governor has ignored the needs of people with disabilities on gubernatorial pet projects like public transit. The governor has notoriously micromanaged projects down to the blue and yellow subway tiles used by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which Cuomo controls through his appointments to its board, and a subway tunnel repair project under the East River.

Just a quarter of subway stations are currently accessible, with plans to make the transit system fully accessible by 2034. Three lawsuits against the MTA by the Center for Independence of the Disabled New York remain ongoing because the governor will not work together with the advocacy group, according to Executive Director Susan Dooha. We are disappointed with the governor, she said in an interview. We think that the governor and his appointees on the MTA board should instead be looking proactively how they can reach an agreement with the community.

Dooha added other sources of gubernatorial frustration. Cuomos self-imposed cap on Medicaid spending growth limits how much money the state spends on services for people with disabilities, like long-term care. Other policies have affected people with disabilities, such as the pace of distributing COVID-19 vaccines in prisons and jails whose populations have higher numbers of people with disabilities compared to the general population. The COVID-19 death toll in congregate facilities was made worse by a policy allowing patients discharged from hospitals to be sent to recover at congregate living facilities, similar to the governors controversial policy on nursing homes. This comes after the administration has blocked additional funding for oversight programs in past years, according to Dooha. The starvation of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program is another signal from this administration that it doesnt value that protection of people with disabilities, she added.

People with disabilities and their advocates have plenty of fiscal grievances with the governor. They also lament how he has not applied his political talents to their various causes as much as they would like. Sometimes, they just want the governor to stop making jokes at their expense, like that time several years ago when dwarfs asked the governor to avoid Mini Me attacks on his political rivals moving forward. Longtime political insiders like Abinanti say gubernatorial recognition is evidently hard to come by for people with disabilities. Theyre not at the top of his list or at the bottom of his list, Abinanti said. He sees services for people with disabilities as a place to cut and save money.

Abinanti, who has a child who is autistic, was also frustrated with the governors track record of making jokes at the expense of people with disabilities. The governor never apologized to Abinanti when he demanded an apology after Cuomo joshed a crowd of political supporters about his brothers purported development issues. Three years later, Abinanti is seeing a connection with how the governor is using his questionable sense of humor as a shield against allegations of sexual harassment from multiple women. He never admits he is wrong, Abinanti said. He never apologizes. Just look at the apology to the women who accused him of wrongdoing. Almost like it was their fault for taking his humor the wrong way!

 With reporting by Jasmine Sheena
Nowhere is the difference between knowing something and understanding something more evident than when it comes to the relationship between totaling a vehicle for insurance purposes and the concept of salvage vehicles under state law. Everybody knows what it means to total a vehicle. But very few people actually understand the relationship between a totaled vehicle and state law regarding when such a vehicle can be titled and driven on public roads. Because these concepts play a key role in understanding collision losses and subsequent subrogation efforts, we pull back the curtains on these mystical terms in this article.

On April 2, 2021, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 230 into law, increasing the damage threshold requirement for a salvage title to 70% of fair market value. This was considered a victory for the Iowa Collision Repair Association, the Iowa Insurance Institute, and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, whose members coalesced in a rare moment of cooperation between insurers and the repair industry. Repair shops were losing money because so many vehicles were being totaled. The previous law defined a wrecked or salvage vehicle as one for which the cost of repair exceeds 50% of the fair market value of the vehicle.

When and whether a vehicle involved in a collision is considered totaled or a total loss for first-party insurance claim purposes or for purposes of handling salvage and branding titles of vehicles which are considered salvage are two different but related concepts within the insurance industry which are often conflated. A total loss is a function of the insurance policy and the particular insurance companys practices regarding when to pay a total loss as opposed to paying for repairs to a damaged vehicle. A total loss is not instantly considered salvage and a consolidated reference to a salvage/total loss vehicle isnt always an accurate one. The subject matter becomes even more complicated when you consider that there are 51 different jurisdictions which approach the subject in 51 different ways.

First-Party Total Loss Claims

In insurance parlance, the phrase Total Loss in a first-party claim setting simply means that the cost of repairing a vehicle, plus projected supplements, projected diminished resale value, and projected rental costs, exceed the Actual Cash Value (ACV) of the pre-accident vehicle less the projected proceeds of selling the damaged vehicle for salvage. This is known as an Economic Total Loss. If the vehicle is badly damaged and beyond repair, it is known as a Constructive Total Loss. To determine the ACV of a vehicle, it is compared to similar vehicles being sold in the area, private databases such as Kelley Blue Book are referenced, or an appraiser is used. To that amount the insurance company sometimes adds sales tax, title, and registration fees. Insurance companies sometimes have their own formulas for determining when to total a vehicle. Some do so if a vehicles repairs are found to be at 51% of the vehicles value, and others use a figure as high as 80%. Much depends on the language of the insurance policy involved. For example, typical language found in an auto insurance policy under Part D  Coverage For Damage To Your Auto, might read as follows:

Our limit of liability for loss will be the lesser of the:

Actual cash value of the stolen or damaged property; Amount necessary to repair or replace the property with other of like kind and quality; or Amount stated in the Declarations of this policy.

Another example of policy language regarding total losses is as follows:

We will pay the cost to physically repair the auto or any of its parts up to the actual cash value of the auto or any of its parts at the time of the collision. The most we will pay will be either the actual cash value of the auto or the cost to physically repair the auto, whichever is less. We will, at our option, repair the auto, repair or replace any of its parts, or declare the auto a total loss. If, the repair of a damaged part will impair the operational safety of the auto, we will replace the part.

Therefore, the policy language of a typical policy will usually allow the insurer to consider a vehicle to be a total loss if:

The damage to the vehicle is so severe that it cant be repaired safely; The repairs will exceed the value of the vehicle itself, or The amount of damage is so severe that state regulations require the vehicle to be declared a total loss.

The insurance company will then pay its insured the ACV of the vehicle, plus applicable state fees and taxes, if provided for in the policy language, less any deductible owed. (Note: A chart entitled Recovery of Sales Tax After Vehicle Total Loss In All 50 States can be found HERE.) The policy language usually dictates what is owed. If the vehicle is owned free and clear, the payment is made to the insured. If the vehicle is leased, the leasing company is usually paid. If the vehicle is financed and the lender is listed on the policy or on the title, the financing company is usually paid first.

Typically, cars are totaled when the cost to repair the vehicle is higher than the ACV of the vehicle. However, it is not always practical to repair a vehicle, even if the cost of repair is less than its ACV. A vehicle worth $4,000 requiring $3,000 in repairs might be considered totaled by an insurer even though the cost of repair is less than its value before the accident. In the case of Iowa, if a car requires a salvage vehicle with repairs at 50% of fair market value, the onus and stigma of obtaining a salvage title usually results in the insurance company treating such claims as total losses anyway. Insurance companies will typically consider such a vehicle to be a total loss, even though the repairs are only 75% of ACV or pre-damage value, or if the vehicle is stolen and not recovered. The damage threshold varies from company to company. An insurer will usually take possession of a totaled vehicle and obtain its title. If the owner is okay with the carrier totaling the vehicle but still wants to keep the vehicle, the carrier will pay its insured the ACV of the vehicle, minus any deductible that is due and the amount the vehicle could have been sold for at a salvage yard. It then will be up to the insured to make repairs and take care of any title issues. Many states like Iowa do not have a statutory correlation between total loss claims and salvage title requirements. However, in many instances the two do go hand-in-hand because the fact that state law requires a damaged vehicle to obtain a salvage title if repaired often means an insurer will total the vehicle anyway.

Total Loss Thresholds, Vehicle Title Branding, and Resale of Salvage Vehicles

A total loss is a function of the insurance policy and a particular insurance companys practices regarding when they declare a vehicle a total loss as opposed to paying to repair it. A total loss is not automatically considered salvage. Every state has its own title-branding laws and requirements and some of them leave it up the insurance company. The issue of total loss of a vehicle discussed above often goes hand-in-hand with a states salvage/vehicle title branding laws and the two concepts are often conflated. When a vehicle is declared a total loss, the insurance company usually takes ownership of the vehicle. The title is transferred into the insurance companys name, and it then sells the vehicle to a salvage dealer, who in turn sells it to a parts yards or a recycler. On occasion, the insured may want to keep the salvage vehicle for sentimental or financial reasons. In that case, the insurance company pays the insured the ACV less the deductible and salvage value of the vehicle. Some states have salvage laws which prevent an insured from keeping a total loss vehicle. If the insured keeps the salvage vehicle, it should not be removed from the insurance policy until a rental vehicle is no longer being used and the vehicle is no longer registered in the insureds name. Many totaled vehicles are repaired and sold to the public after they are totaled. Insurance companies are required to declare a car totaled and apply for a salvage title once damage reaches a certain point under a states law.

Salvage laws help the public know what it is paying for when it buys a salvaged vehicle. The definition of a salvage vehicle differs from state to state. Generally, however, a salvage vehicle is one that has been in some sort of accident or had damage occur and has been declared a total loss due to that damage at some point in its history. It could also be as simple as a vehicle which was stolen and not recovered in a specified period of time. Often, its not clear who has to declare the vehicle a total loss (the insurance company or the state, as in Minnesota, which has a total loss definition). Therefore, what qualifies as a salvage vehicle varies from state to state, but often overlaps with a total loss label from either the state or an insurer.

Title-Washed Vehicles

Depending on the type and extent of damage, the salvage buyers will occasionally have these cars repaired and will then attempt to sell them as a running vehicle. When insurance companies write off a vehicle as a total loss, the law in most states requires the vehicles title of ownership to be given a brand. That brand permanently marks the car as damaged goods to all potential future owners, but there are ways for unscrupulous dealers to make the brand disappear. In the old days, it was literally done with chemicals. Today, photo-editing software and digital scanners are used to print new titles. There are no national titling laws. Cars can also simply be re-registered in different states until the brand falls away. According to the vehicle history provider CarFax, 800,000 cars in the U.S.  including at least 500 taxis  have been title washed to conceal their troubled histories.

Whether or not a vehicle is required to have a salvage title issued varies from state to state. In a small number of states, a salvage title is required if a vehicle is stolen and not recovered within 21 days. Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, and Oregon use salvage titles to identify stolen vehicles. Not all total loss vehicles result in a DMV-reported branded title, however. For example, there will be no branded title if an insurance companys definition of total loss is different from that of the DMVs threshold requirement for a branded title, or when the owner of the vehicle is a self-insured company, such as a fleet or a rental car company.

Salvage vehicles which are repaired and the salvage title is removed or replaced with a rebuilt salvage brand so that a buyer knows that the vehicle has been purchased as salvage, repaired, passed an inspection, and has been deemed as safe to drive. While the procedure varies slightly from state to state, the insurance company will typically take ownership of the totaled vehicle (known as salvage) and may obtain a salvage title for the vehicle. After it pays its insured the pre-loss ACV of the vehicle and forwards the certificate of ownership, license plates, and a required fee to the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV), the DMV then issues a Salvage Certificate for the vehicle. In some cases, the vehicle is repaired, re-registered with the DMV, and then classified as a revived salvage or salvaged vehicle. Of course, if the insured wants to keep the totaled vehicle, the insurance company will deduct the value of the salvage from the claim payment.

The detailed laws and regulations regarding whether a vehicle is considered a total loss and what sort of branding or titling requirements follow, are in place in order to avoid fraud which often occurs when total loss vehicles do not get classified as salvage by insurers and other sellers or are not appropriately branded, and are not properly and swiftly reported into the appropriate state and federal databases by those entities, such as auto auctions that are handling the vehicles prior to their being offered for resale. Unscrupulous buyers of salvage vehicles often take advantage of an undocumented damage status to then offer these cars for resale to an unsuspecting public, including instances of title-skipping, where the seller  which in many cases is a major insurance company or salvage auction company, but also can include Internet focused junk-my-car solicitation companies, tow-to-acquire companies, charity organizations, and other companies that buy used and salvage vehicles from the public for resale  engages in a practice of title skipping to hide its part in the chain of ownership of the total loss vehicle.

In some states, such as Florida, if the vehicle is damaged to 80% of its pre-accident ACV, it is considered salvage vehicle. In other states, such as Minnesota, the vehicle becomes a salvage vehicle when the insurance company declares it to be a total loss and the vehicle is worth at least $5,000 and is less than six-years-old. This means that in some states, a vehicle worth less than $5,000 or older than six years cannot be deemed salvage, making those who buy vehicles which fit this description open to fraud and unsafe vehicles. In most states, vehicles which carry a salvage title may not be registered and driven on public roads. In order to resell the vehicle and operate it on the public roadways, the title must be rebranded with a rebuilt salvage brand.

The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) is a system that allows the titling agency to instantly and reliably verify the information on the paper title with the electronic data from the state that issued the title. NMVTIS is designed to protect consumers from fraud and unsafe vehicles and to keep stolen vehicles from being resold. Insurance carriers are required to provide NMVTIS with information on every salvage vehicle obtained, including total loss vehicles. The Department of Justice recognizes that many state laws have differing requirements and definitions of terms such as salvage. The NMVTIS requirements do not alter these state laws and the state laws do not prevail over federal definitions and requirements. However, as stated in the NMVTIS regulations, a determination of total loss under a state law will trigger the requirement for an insurance company to report a total loss vehicle. The information reported to NMVTIS is not required to be used by any future state that titles a vehicle included in an insurance carrier report.

Total Loss Threshold (TLT)

In determining whether a vehicle is subject to a states salvage title laws, insurance companies will calculate the Total Loss Ratio (cost of repairs/actual cash value) and then compare the resulting ratio/percentage to limits set and/or established by state law. The Total Loss Ratio is also sometimes referred to simply as the damage ratio. Some states have pre-determined percentages which dictate by law how high this damage ratio needs to be in order to be able to declare a vehicle a total loss and be eligible for a salvage title or certificate. This is referred to as the Total Loss Threshold (TLT). In order to total a vehicle, the damage ratio must exceed the state-established TLT percentage. States frequently dictate this TLT as part of legislating salvage titles and it varies from state to state. A car with damage totaling 75% of its value is totaled in New York, but considered repairable in Texas, where the threshold is 100%. As an example, in Wisconsin,  342.065(1)(c) reads as follows:

(c) If the interest of an owner in a vehicle that is titled in this state is not transferred upon payment of an insurance claim that, including any deductible amounts, exceeds 70% of the fair market value of the vehicle, any insurer of the vehicle shall, within 30 days of payment of the insurance claim, notify the department in writing of the claim payment and that the vehicle meets the statutory definition of a salvage vehicle, in the manner and form prescribed by the department.

In addition, Wis. Stat.  340.01(55g) provides the definition of a salvage vehicle: Salvage vehicle means a vehicle less than seven-years-old that is not precluded from subsequent registration and titling and that is damaged by collision or other occurrence to the extent that the estimate or actual cost, whichever is greater, of repairing the vehicle exceeds 70% of its fair market value. Many states have exceptions to these rules for older vehicles which tend to complicate the issue.

When state law does not dictate a TLT, an insurance company must determine internally when a vehicle becomes a total loss. This means that the insurance company applies a Total Loss Formula (TLF), which is usually set forth in the policy and sometimes governed by state law. It should also be noted that in some TLT states, rental costs are also considered in determining whether a vehicle is a constructive total loss.

When a TLT is not dictated by the state, an insurance company might apply its own internal TLT or percentage, or simply default to something known as the Total Loss Formula (TLF). However, this internal TLF cannot be less than the TLT determined by state law. This TLF can be summarized or expressed as follows: Cost of Repair + Salvage Value > Actual Cash Value. If the sum of the first two quantities is greater than the ACV, the car can be declared a total loss. As an example, a damaged 2002 Toyota Echo with 185,000 miles in good condition has an ACV of approximately $2,800. Total repair costs are estimated at $2,000, for a damage ratio of 72%. This car would be considered a total loss in Arkansas, where the TLT is 70%, but not in Florida where the TLT is 80%. In Illinois, the TLF would be used and, if the salvage were worth $700, the car would not be totaled ($2,000 + $700 < $2,800). Of course, states utilizing the TLF rely on and defer to the judgment and opinions of licensed appraisers. In determining ACV, insurers often use data unavailable to the consumer. This information is often obtained through subscription to a private database of car values  the largest provider being CCC Information Services, used by the many of the top insurers across the country.

A chart depicting the laws of each state with regard to total loss thresholds, salvage titles, and the duty of an insurance company when obtaining title to unrepairable vehicles can be found HERE.
CAIRO  An Egyptian court on Tuesday ruled that the container ship which blocked the Suez Canal in March could continue to be held in the waterway, rejecting an appeal by its Japanese owner against its detention, a judicial source said.

The Ever Given, one of the worlds largest container ships, got jammed across the canal on March 23 and remained stuck for six days, stopping traffic in both directions.

It has been held in a lake between two stretches of the canal since being dislodged on March 29, amid a dispute over a $916 million claim by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) against Japanese owner Shoei Kisen for compensation over the incident.

The SCA has been conducting investigations into the cause of the ships grounding, but has yet to announce the results.

The court in the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, which had approved the detention of the ship following the submission of a report by the SCA, upheld that decision on Tuesday, rejecting an appeal made late last month.

The reasoning for the ruling was not immediately clear, but the SCA argued that the plaintiff had not notified all the required parties of its challenge to the ships detention within the required time limit.

The ships protection and indemnity insurer, UK Club, said the owners were reviewing their options in light of the decision, and had until May 20 to appeal.

UK Club and the Ever Givens technical manager Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) have expressed disappointment at the ships detention.

UK Club said last month the appeal was made on several grounds, including the validity of the arrest obtained in respect of the cargo and the lack of supporting evidence for the SCAs very significant claim.

International supply chains were thrown into disarray when the 400-meter (430-yard) Ever Given ran aground in the canal, with 18,300 containers on board.
WASHINGTON  President Joe Bidens top labor official said most gig workers in the United States should be classified as employees deserving of related benefits, in what could be a policy shift that is likely to raise costs for companies that depend on contractors such as Uber and Lyft.

Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, a son of Irish immigrants and a former union member, has been expected to boost President Bidens efforts to expand workers protections and deliver a win for the countrys organized labor movement.

We are looking at it but in a lot of cases gig workers should be classified as employees in some cases they are treated respectfully and in some cases they are not and I think it has to be consistent across the board, Walsh told Reuters in an interview on Thursday, expressing his view on the topic for the first time.

These companies are making profits and revenue and Im not (going to) begrudge anyone for that because thats what we are about in America but we also want to make sure that success trickles down to the worker, he said.

His work at the Department of Labor is expected to have a major impact on U.S. workplace laws and regulations, including vigorous enforcement of occupational safety and health rules, overtime payments and proper administration of employee benefit plans.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2017 that 55 million people in the United States were gig workers  or 34% of the workforce  and was projected to rise to 43% in 2020.

Walshs views on the issue could usher in new rulings from the department, which sets legal guidelines for how employers treat workers. Before his appointment, the Labor Departments Wage and Hour Division (WHD) proposed rescinding a rule adopted in January that would have made it easier to classify workers as independent contractors.

Walsh said the Department of Labor will have conversations with companies that employ gig labor in the coming months to make sure workers have access to consistent wages, sick time, health care and all of the things that an average employee in America can access.

The Departments decision could have far-reaching implications on ride-hailing services such as Uber Inc, Lyft and food delivery apps such as Grubhub Doordash and Postmates. The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Gig workers are independent contractors who perform on-demand services, including as drivers, delivering groceries or providing childcare  and are one-third more likely to be Black or Latino, according to an Edison Research poll.

Walsh also spoke about the risks that result from not having gig companies paying unemployment insurance for such workers  a scenario that has played out during the pandemic, leaving the U.S. government to foot the bill.

If the federal government didnt cover the gig economy workers, those workers would not only have lost their job, but they wouldnt have had any unemployment benefits to keep their family moving forward wed have a lot more difficult situation all across the country, he said.

The last decade has seen a surge in the number of gig workers, indicating broad economic and demographic shifts and raising concerns around long-term financial security for a growing share of the workforce, according to some experts.

About the photo: In this July 1, 2020 file photo, Instacart worker Saori Okawa loads groceries into her car for home delivery in San Leandro, Calif. AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)
SAN DIEGO (AP)  A tractor-trailer slams into an SUV at an intersection on a remote California desert highway, killing 13 of 25 people crammed inside the late model Ford Expedition.

A man dangles a toddler over a border wall near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, allowing her to fall on her face before he disappears into Mexico.

A 40-foot (12.2-meter) cabin cruiser overloaded with 32 people capsizes just off the San Diego coast, killing three and critically injuring another person. The others aboard survived, with one in critical condition.

The incidents, which occurred over the last two months, show how smugglers put migrants at extraordinary peril for profits, whether by car, on foot or at sea.

The Coast Guard on Monday ended its search for survivors of the San Diego boat wreck, which happened on a bright Sunday morning near tidepools of Cabrillo National Monument, a popular spot for tourists and hikers.

All but two people on the boat were Mexican citizens without legal status in the U.S. The others were a Guatemalan citizen without legal status in the U.S. and a U.S. citizen who was identified as the pilot, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday. Among the 28 in CBP custody were a 15-year-old boy traveling alone and 21 men and six women, ages 18 to 39.

Mexicos Foreign Relations Secretary said Mexican passengers were being turned over to U.S. immigration authorities to be returned to Mexico.

The boat captain was in custody but Kelly Thornton, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorneys office in San Diego, declined to comment, saying prosecutors were carefully reviewing the matter.

The SUV crash occurred in March and authorities said it was one of two vehicles crammed with occupants that entered the U.S. through an opening cut into the border wall. All were being smuggled. Those inside the other SUV were not involved in the accident and were picked up by the Border Patrol.

The toddler in the New Mexico incident was believed dropped into the country by a smuggler and survived the fall.

Smuggling off the California coast has ebbed and flowed over the years but has long been a risky alternative for migrants to avoid heavily guarded land borders. Small boats with single- or twin-engines known as pangas enter from Mexico in the dead of night, sometimes charting hundreds of miles north. Recreational boats, like the one that capsized Sunday, try to mix in unnoticed with fishing and pleasure vessels during the day.

Later Sunday, U.S. authorities stopped an unaccompanied 13-year-old boy, seven men and one woman suspected of entering the country illegally at sea after getting off a recreational boat in Newport Beach, about 100 miles (162 kilometers) north of the border.

The Border Patrol tallied 1,273 smuggling arrests on the California coast during the 12 months that ended Sept. 30, a 92% increase from the same period a year earlier. Since Oct. 1, it has made more than 900 arrests.

Boats are known to launch in Mexico from Playas de Rosarito, a city that borders Tijuana and is popular with American expatriates. Its about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of San Diego.

There are many secluded, private beaches with gated entrances between high-rises with magnificent ocean views, some only partially built because funds dried up during construction. Popotla, a fishing hamlet where narrow streets are lined with vendors selling a wide variety of local catch, is favored among smugglers for its large, sandy beach and relatively gentle waves.

In October, a 42-year-old Mexican man was sentenced to nearly seven years in federal prison for his role as captain of a panga boat with six migrants aboard, two of whom died after the engine stalled in rough waters off the coast of Imperial Beach, California. The pilot, who had a handheld GPS device, told investigators he was paid $5,000 to guide the boat, which launched in Ensenada, a port city south of Playas de Rosarito.

The same pilot was convicted of smuggling for leading a vessel to Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station near Los Angeles, in January 2019. Police found 14 people hiding amid brush and buildings in Huntington Beach.

On Friday, the Border Patrol alerted the public and boaters to increased surveillance in San Diego over the weekend, one day after intercepting a panga-type vessel off the San Diego coast. All 21 people aboard _ 15 Mexican men and six Mexican women _ were taken into custody and two were likely to be charged with smuggling crimes.

The pilot in Sundays wreck was likely trying to blend in with pleasure craft, said Mike Unzueta, who witnessed an increase in marijuana smuggling from Mexico at sea when he led U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations unit in San Diego in the late 2000s, then a shift to people and finally to hard narcotics.

Its a tragic story and its a sad, sad story but it just underscores the risks that desperate people are willing to take, he said.

The original call was for a handful of people overboard, said San Diego Lifeguard Services Lt. Rick Romero, who was among the first on scene. There were life preservers on board, but it wasnt known how many or whether any passengers were wearing them.

There are people in the water, drowning, getting sucked out the rip current there, Romero said.

The passengers got lucky that a Navy sailor was in the area with his family and jumped in to assist. Cale Foy, an active duty rescue swimmer, told KGTV-TV in San Diego that he and a Navy SEAL trainee who was also there instantly knew what to do.

Before we jumped in the water we looked at each other and said, `Yeah Im comfortable going into the water and shore break, washing machine effect is what we call it, and hes like, Yeah, Im good for it too, so we smiled at each other and we jumped in and did what we had to do, Foy said.

Under pandemic-related public health orders in effect since March 2020. Mexicans and people from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador who are in the country illegally are immediately expelled to Mexico without an opportunity to seek asylum.

President Joe Biden exempted unaccompanied children from expulsions but the vast majority of adults are still quickly removed from the country without facing legal consequences, prompting many to try again until they succeed.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
DOVER, Del. (AP)  A Delaware judge on Monday ordered lawyers representing Tesla Inc. directors to turn over certain communications that CEO Elon Musk may have shared with the companys top in-house attorneys before the board approved a compensation plan in 2018 that could net Musk more than $50 billion.

The ruling by Vice Chancellor Joseph Slights Jr. came in response to a motion to compel filed on behalf of shareholders who have accused Musk and Teslas board of directors of breaching their fiduciary duties to the company and its stockholders, granting unjust enrichment to Musk and wasting corporate assets.

While granting the plaintiffs access to certain documents that Musk either sent or received, Slights denied access to a broader range of other documents that defense attorneys have argued are similarly protected by attorney-client privilege.

Slights said documents that Musk shared with Tesla general counsel Todd Maron or deputy general counsel Jonathan Chang before the board signed off on the compensation plan should be provided to the shareholder plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs have argued that Chang and Maron, who was Musks former divorce attorney, worked to advance Musks interests and negotiated on his behalf against the boards compensation committee.

Leveraging his control, close personal relationships, and reputation for retribution, Musk co-opted Maron and Chang to help him structure the plan free from committee involvement, plaintiffs attorneys wrote in asking Slights to force the company to turn over documents.

Musk and his agents handed the committee a fully-baked plan, they added.

While Slights agreed that communications directly involving Musk should be disclosed, he refused to order defense attorneys to turn over other communications among board members, Chang and Maron, and an outside law firm.

The judge said there was no basis for him to order the production of documents that may be protected by attorney-client privilege when the information might be available from other sources. He noted that Musk, Maron, Chang and compensation committee chair Ira Ehrenpreis have yet to be deposed in the case.

The plaintiffs argued in their motion to compel that Tesla was improperly shielding hundreds of documents that Maron or Chang shared with the compensation committee and its advisers.

Attorney Gregory Varallo told Slights on Monday that the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed in 2018, still dont have an answer to a simple question: Whose idea was the largest compensation plan ever designed?

If you read the record to date, no one seems to know, said Varallo.

There was quite a lot of sausage-making taking place before this was even a twinkle in the eye of the compensation committee, he added.

Vanessa Lavely, an attorney representing the Tesla directors, told Slights that the board followed a robust process to develop and approve the compensation plan.

There was absolutely no rubber-stamping here, and the defendants look forward to the opportunity to present this record to the court, she said.

In 2019, Slights refused to dismiss the breach-of-duty claims against Musk and Tesla directors, and an unjust enrichment claim against Musk.

Under Delawares business judgment rule, courts typically give strong deference to a corporate boards decision-making unless there is evidence that directors had conflicts or acted in bad faith. If a plaintiff is able to overcome the business judgment rules presumption, the boards action is then subject to an entire fairness analysis, which shifts the burden to the corporation to show that the deal involved both fair dealing and fair price.

Slights said that because the plaintiffs had adequately pleaded that Musk was a controlling shareholder and had a conflict of interest, the case lent itself to heightened judicial suspicion.

Under the plan, Musk stands to reap billions if the electric car and solar panel maker hits ambitious market capitalization and operational milestones. For each of 12 milestones the company achieves, Musk, who already owned more than 20% of Tesla when the plan was approved, would get stock equal to 1% of outstanding shares at the time of the grant.

Each milestone includes growing Teslas market capitalization by $50 billion and meeting aggressive revenue and pretax profit growth targets. Musk would receive the full benefit of the pay plan, $55.8 billion, only if he leads Tesla to a market capitalization of $650 billion and unprecedented revenues and earnings within a decade.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
TACOMA, Wash. (AP)  Insurance companies are paying $6 million to settle a lawsuit brought against Kiwanis International and local Kiwanis clubs by seven men who were sexually abused at a Centralia group home for boys decades ago, attorneys for the men said Monday.

Washington state placed 11- to 17-year-old boys who had trouble adjusting to their foster families at the Kiwanis Vocational Home, which operated from 1979 to 1994. The facility proved a nightmare for many.

Boys were molested by other boys, by staff and by directors, and in some cases they were sent to do odd jobs at homes in the community where they were further abused. Reports of the abuse date to the early 1980s, when one boy called police for help only to have the executive director of the home interrupt the call to downplay the report, records cited in the lawsuit show.

Attorney Darrell Cochran said that in recent years, Washington state has paid $29.6 million to settle claims brought by 54 former residents. The state similarly paid out tens of millions of dollars to former residents of the O.K. Boys Ranch operated by the Olympia Kiwanis club after allegations there prompted news stories and legislative hearings in the 1990s.

The evil that existed at the Kiwanis Vocational Home is impossible to overstate, Cochran said Monday.

The most recent settlement was reached Friday, shortly before opening statements were to begin in a trial in Pierce County Superior Court. There were 10 plaintiffs originally; three were dismissed from the case earlier.

Kiwanis is a nonprofit organization devoted to helping children around the world. In court documents, the defendants argued that the areas Kiwanis clubs had no role in the day-to-day operation of the boys home, which was established by an entity called Lewis County Youth Enterprises. That entitys board members were required to be Kiwanis members, and Kiwanis granted the home permission to use its name.

It was the job of Washingtons Department of Social and Health Services  now known as the Department of Children, Youth and Families  to oversee the facility, the Kiwanis argued.

Plaintiffs have not brought claims against their actual abusers. Instead, they seek to hold various non-profit Kiwanis entities liable for the alleged criminal acts of third parties, the defendants wrote in a trial brief filed last month.

The lawsuit alleged that Kiwanis knew of allegations of abuse  as well as mismanagement that included embezzlement  but allowed the facility to remain open.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Claremore, OK (74018)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
BLANCHESTER, Ohio  Board members for a school district in Southwest Ohio have voted to roll back mask requirements for students and staff, ignoring recommendations from state health officials on preventing the spread of the coronavirus, according to reports.

Beginning immediately, students in Blanchester Public Schools will no longer be required to wear masks while playing outside or while riding on a school bus with the windows down, Fox 19 reports. On June 1, there will be no requirement to wear masks at all, including in the districts buildings.

The school districts Board of Education approved the changes Monday with a 4-1 vote, reports say.

Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association, questions the timing and the reasoning of the decision, WCPO Channel 9 reports.

Why not continue to follow the state and the CDC and the medical communitys clear guidance? DiMauro tells WCPO. It seems blatantly illegal, but its also just poor judgment. There is still significant spread of COVID.

Coronavirus cases have been declining in Ohio, but there still were 1,285 more cases reported between Monday and Tuesday. And while nearly 3.9 million people have completed the vaccine in Ohio, most students remain ineligible to receive an inoculation. The Pfizer vaccine could become eligible for children ages 12 to 15 by early next week.

Jeremy Kaehler, a member of the school board, said they made decision after parents expressed concerns about their kids being forced to wear masks, the News Journal reports. He also said a consensus of staff members believe wearing masks is not effective.

Centers for Disease Control, the Mayo Clinic and other health agencies say wearing masks properly is effective in stopping the spread of the virus.

The News Journal reports teachers in the districts middle school and high school were concerned about the change in policy.

Im a strict parent in my house. You follow the rules and you follow the guidelines, Michelle Elston, also a Blanchester Middle School teacher, told the school board, according to the News Journal. I hate masks. I wish they were gone  I wear them because people who are way smarter than me have statistically proven that the mask protects others. I just dont understand why were doing this.

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Are the coronavirus vaccines effective in people who are overweight or obese?

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Read the new Ohio health orders lifting testing requirements for vaccinated nursing-home workers
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Local activists and a civil rights attorney criticized a West Park attorney tapped by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWines choice to be the next Cleveland Municipal Court judge over a pro-police Facebook post.

Nathan J. Hudak, a 42-year-old former business contracts attorney who has not practiced law since 2015 and most recently worked as a marketing manager for Destination Cleveland, joined the bench Monday. He must run for re-election this fall if he wants to retain his seat.

DeWine announced Hudak as his choice in an April 21 news release. One week earlier, Hudak posted an image of a thin-blue line flag on his Facebook page with the phrase West Park Backs the Blue, a pro-police refrain that grew in popularity in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Cleveland activists and a civil rights attorney told cleveland.com that the post calls into question whether Hudak will be able to remain impartial should he preside over cases where police officers are accused of using excessive force or making untruthful statements in their reports or during their testimony.

Stanley Jackson Jr., an attorney at the Cochran Firm, said he believes the post shows that Hudak could favor police officers.

I would have no confidence that [Hudak] would be objective, and I would ask for him to be recused almost immediately, he said.

Cleveland NAACP chapter president Danielle Sydnor and Black Lives Matter Cleveland co-founder Kareem Henton also said they found the post troubling.

It is deeply disturbing that someone who is going to be sitting on the bench would wade into this divisive issue and say back the blue, Sydnor said. People who are leaders in the community and want to be judges are supposed to be objective.

Two experts in judicial ethics said the post by itself does not mean that Hudak would be an impartial judge once he takes the bench.

In a phone interview Friday, Hudak said that his post was meant to show support for several of his friends and neighbors in West Park who are police officers and not meant to be a political statement.

That was a post basically to show support for them and the job that they were doing, and continue to do, he said. Really, theres nothing more to it than that. Just to show support for my neighbors, many of whom have been working a lot of extended hours serving the city. That was important to me, to show a sign of support for them.

Hudaks qualifications

Hudak is an unusual choice for the bench in that he has no trial court experience and has not practiced law since 2015. Until October of last year, his law license was under suspension for failing to pay the registration fee required to keep it active.

The native of West Park and Case Western Reserve University law school graduate joined the Cowden & Humphrey Co. law firm in 2007 and as a corporate contract attorney. He worked there until he left for Destination Cleveland in June of 2015 and worked as a marketing manager on the convention sales team and helped attract conventions in the city.

The Ohio Supreme Court suspended Hudaks law license in December 2018 after failing to pay the bi-annual registration fee attorneys must pay to keep their law licenses active. Hudak was also one of 246 attorneys that year who did not file paperwork showing he completed the required number of Continuing Legal Education courses to maintain an active law license. The court imposed a $75 fine.

Hudak said his work at Destination Cleveland did not require him to have a law license. It became financially unfeasible for him and his family to take the legal training courses and pay the registration fee every two years to maintain his license, so he let it lapse.

He said Destination Cleveland eliminated his position in May 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. He paid the registration fee and the fine with the Ohio Supreme Court that October, and the court reinstated his license that same month, the records show.

DeWines spokesman Dan Tierney said Hudak was one of two candidates the Cuyahoga County Republican Party submitted to DeWines office for consideration. The other candidate was personal injury attorney Jason Ralls.

Hudak said representatives from the state interviewed him in January and learned DeWine picked him for the job earlier a few days before the announcement.

Henton, who said he did not know Hudak, criticized DeWines choice of a person whose brief legal experience is limited to serving corporate clients and who is disconnected from the folks that are going to be before him on that bench.

Hes used to dealing with people in the corporate sector, not the common rank-and-file citizen, and definitely not the black and brown people who are going to be among the majority of people coming before him in that court, Henton said.

Hudak said he understood that his background is unique when it comes to municipal court judges. He said he would continue to learn through training for judges that the Ohio Supreme Court provides for new judges and has watched his future colleagues on the bench conduct court hearings.

He said the same motivation to better his community that drove him to leave his attorney job to help attract tourism and industry to Cleveland would also motivate his work on the bench.

DeWines office defended Hudaks background in a statement this week.

Mr. Hudaks significant education, civil experience, and business experience qualify him for this position, of which there is a large civil caseload, Tierney said in a statement.

The post

Hudaks Facebook post came at 9:21 p.m. April 14, while he was waiting to find out if the governor would tap him to fill the seat vacated when Judge Emmanuella Groves joined the 8th District Court of Appeals. Hudak will join the municipal court bench in the states largest majority Black city, where the police department has since 2016 been under a federally enforced consent decree to root out a pattern of excessive force against its citizens.

It also came as the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murder in the death of George Floyd, dominated news headlines and social media feeds. A former police officer in suburban Minneapolis who shot a man and later said she thought she grabbed her Taser was arrested that same day, and a DEA agent in Cleveland shot a man during an undercover operation just hours before Hudak made the post.

Jonathan Coughlin, the states former disciplinary counsel who was in charge of sanctioning attorneys and judges for misconduct from 1997 through 2013 and now defends lawyers facing discipline, said he did not see anything unethical about Hudaks post.

Judges are allowed to have personal opinions about hot-button political topics such as policing, abortion or the death penalty, but they cannot let those opinions result in rulings that run counter to the pleadings before them, Coughlin said.

Those personal perspectives alone dont mean they cant be fair or impartial, he said. The question will be whether or not [Hudak], in being a judge, has done something to create a question about his ability to be impartial.

Charles Geyh, an Indiana University law school professor who focuses on judicial ethics and judicial conduct, said that judges can be forced to recuse themselves in cases where comments they made before ascending to the bench would lead a reasonable person to conclude they couldnt be fair on a particular issue.

But like Coughlin, Geyh found no ethical issues with the post absent any other actions from Hudak.

Reposting a meme stating that his community backs the blue raises understandable concerns, he said. But those who post such memes can run the gamut from racists who trivialize police violence against people of color to civic-minded souls who simply want to show support for their local police department, and without more, I dont think that this meme provides a reasonable person with enough information to draw an informed conclusion.

Geyh said it would have been worse had Hudak been a sitting judge when he made the post because judges are required to act in such a way to maintain the impartiality of their courtroom at all times. But lawyers, he said, are not subject to the same code of ethics.

We have to assume that lawyers will do what they can to keep their personal views in check when they become judges -- unless those views are so stridently held that that the assumption is contradicted, Geyh said.

Henton and Sydnor both said phrases and imagery such as Back the Blue and the Thin Blue Line flags have come to represent more than simple expressions of support for someones local police officers. The use, particularly on social media, has skyrocketed over the last few years as the Black Lives Matter movement for greater police accountability and reform in the wake of strings of police killings of unarmed citizens began to take hold.

Knowing how polarizing the Blue Lives flag is because it showed up in different gatherings in the hands of white supremacists and folks who wish to unconditionally support law enforcement even when innocent unnamed people get murdered, hes drawing a line in the sand, Henton said.

Police unions and mostly conservative politicians and pundits across the country sought to paint the Black Lives Matter movement as being anti-police rather than pro-police reform and pushed slogans such as Blue Lives Matter and Back the Blue as a way to signal that not only do they support local safety forces, but they also do not support Black Lives Matter, Sydnor said.

The post is all the more troubling to Sydnor because most defendants who appear in Cleveland Municipal Court are Black, and it came as the nation reckons with systemic racial disparities in policing and the justice system.

It has become a rallying cry of those individuals who are not willing to acknowledge that there are issues within policing that have been there for a long time and that need to be immediately fixed, Sydnor said. Having a judge that would use that image demonstrates to me that we have somebody that is entering into a very crucial role in our community that will not be objective when it comes to matters of disparity on issues that will come before the bench.

Hudaks response

Hudak said he did not make the post in response to any national or local incident involving police. He said he believed Chauvins trial and guilty verdict showed that the criminal justice system does work.

When asked about the perception that slogans like back the blue have come to serve as a retort to the greater movement for police reform and expressing it shows a bias in favor of police, Hudak said he did not mean for his post to serve as a message of exclusion for any other groups or causes.

Backing the blue, my idea of that, is supporting police force members that are doing their job properly and within the rules of their position, Hudak said. In the event that theres an allegation of someone acting outside of that, I would fully support the judicial process rendering a decision on that, whether through a jury trial or however that would play out.

Hudak said he could not comment on whether he believed there is a need for police reform.

Certainly, Im not an expert on policing or training of police or those issues, he said. I certainly dont feel comfortable, as a judge elected to serve, having an opinion either way.
AKRON, Ohio  A 16-year-old girl has been charged with murder and felonious assault in connection with the shooting death of an 18-year-old man in March.

Police say they quickly identified the girl as a possible suspect in the death of Imani Tolbert on March 11, but conducted multiple interviews and an extensive review of the evidence before taking her into custody. The girl surrendered to police Monday night after a warrant was issued for her arrest. She is being held in the Summit County Juvenile Detention Center.

Police responded just before 10:30 on March 11 to the shooting at a home on the 700 block of Boulevard Street on the north side of the Summit Lake neighborhood, just south of downtown. Officers found Tolbert inside the home with a gunshot wound and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators say its believed the suspect knew Tolbert. Police have not released information on a possible motive for the shooting.

More crime-related content on cleveland.com:

Akron man found guilty in 2019 double shooting that killed 18-year-old

Two men released from Cuyahoga County Jail after serving 14 years for crime they say they didnt commit

Streetsboro city councilman sent inappropriate Snapchat photos to Mayfield Heights boy, police say

Woman charged with aggravated murder in shooting death of Lakewood man, police say

Man charged with shooting three people at Lorain nightclub, police say

Man charged with shooting man to death in car in Lorain, police say
WASHINGTON  A federal judge has ordered the release of a legal memorandum the Trump-era Justice Department prepared for then-Attorney General William Barr before he announced his conclusion that President Donald Trump had not obstructed justice during the Russia investigation.

The Justice Department had refused to give the March 24, 2019, memorandum to a government transparency group that requested it under the Freedom of Information Act, saying the document represented the private advice of lawyers and was produced before any formal decision had been made and was therefore exempt from disclosure under public records law.

But U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, in a sharp rebuke of Barr, said the Justice Department had obscured the true purpose of the memorandum when it withheld the document.

She said the memo from the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel contained strategic, as opposed to legal advice and that both the writers and the recipients already understood that Trump would not be prosecuted. Though government agencies may withhold from disclosure documents that reflect internal deliberations before a decision is made, that protection does not apply in this case since a conclusion had already been reached, the judge wrote.

In other words, the review of the document reveals that the Attorney General was not then engaged in making a decision about whether the President should be charged with obstruction of justice; the fact that he would not be prosecuted was a given, Jackson said in an order dated Monday.

The decision by Barr and senior Justice Department leaders to clear Trump of obstruction, even though special counsel Robert Mueller and his team pointedly did not reach that conclusion, was a significant moment for the president that he touted as vindication.

Barr issued a summary of Muellers report a full month before the entire 448-page document was released, helping shape the public perception of the investigations conclusions in a way that was favorable to Trump. Mueller subsequently complained to Barr that his summary had not fully captured the investigations findings and had caused public confusion.

In her order this week, Jackson chastised Barr for his general handling of the Mueller report, saying his characterization of what hed hardly had time to skim, much less, study closely, prompted an immediate reaction, as politicians and pundits took to their microphones and Twitter feeds to decry what they feared was an attempt to hide the ball.

She also noted that another judge had rebuked Barr last year for what he said were misleading public statements that spun Muellers findings in the presidents favor.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a public records request seeking communications about the obstruction decision after Barr said that he and other senior officials had reached that conclusion in consultation with the Office of Legal Counsel, which provides legal opinions to executive branch agencies.

At issue in a lawsuit pending before the judge were two particular documents the group wanted.

Jackson ruled that one of the documents, described by a Justice Department official as an untitled, undated draft legal analysis that was submitted to the attorney general as part of his decision-making, was properly withheld from the group.

But she ordered the release of the other memo, which concludes that the evidence assembled by Muellers team would not support an obstruction prosecution of Trump.

In her order, Jackson noted that the legal memo prepared for Barr, and the letter from Barr to Congress that describes the special counsels report, were being written by the very same people at the very same time.

The emails show not only that the authors and the recipients of the memorandum are working hand in hand to craft the advice that is supposedly being delivered by OLC, but that the letter to Congress is the priority, and it is getting completed first, the judge wrote.

The judge said the Justice Department has until May 17 to file any motion to stay the order.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- With just over half of precincts counted in the May 4 primary, school tax increases are failing in North Olmsted, Parma and Rocky River.

In Strongsville, voters are rejecting a fire and EMS tax increase in early returns. Strongsville has 19% unofficial voter turnout, according to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

In Cuyahoga County, 11 municipalities had elections Tuesday. About 9% of the 203,000 registered voters in those municipalities requested early ballots. According to the countys Board of Elections, 81% of mail-in ballots were returned. Early in-person votes are in for all 11 municipalities.

Of the three school districts with tax increases, Rocky River has the highest unofficial voter turnout at 27%. North Olmsted and Parma are second and third, respectively, at 22% and 20%.

Here are the results so far for each of the four tax increases. Check back for final results.

North Olmsted

North Olmsted residents are currently heavily leaning no to the tax increase for the citys school district, with 70.75% against the increase and 29.25% for it, with only early voting reported. No precinct votes had been counted by 9:45 p.m.

The district asked for an 8.5-mill increase on current expenses, an increase to $297.50 a year in new taxes per $100,000 of home value.

Superintendent Michael Zalar said in February that the district was at a point where the request needed to be made to keep providing a good school system for the community. Zalar said if voters didnt approve the tax there could be major consequences.

If were not successful, the district will be forced to look at areas in our operations that we will need to reduce or eliminate services and programs for students, Zalar said. Thats certainly not something we want to do.

Parma

With two issues on the ballot, Parma residents are currently voting no as 63.11% are against the bond issue and levy and 36.89% are for it. Thirty-one of 60 precincts were counted by 9:45 p.m.

The first one is a 5.9-mill, $271 million bond issue for 37 years that would amount to $206.50 a year in new taxes per $100,000 of home value. It would be for two new school buildings and facilities for grades 6-12, and upgrades and renovations to other buildings, including improvements for the existing Parma Senior High School.

The second issue was a 0.4-mill increase in taxes for construction, enlargement, renovation, and financing that would amount to $14 a year in new taxes per $100,000 of home value. There is no expiration date.

Our need is real, said district spokeswoman Audrey Holtzman in February. Quite simply, we should no longer be a three high school district. Passage of this bond issue will allow us to cut the number of high school and middle school buildings we operate from six to two.

Rocky River

Issue 11 in Rocky River is currently leaning toward not passing, with 53.63% of voters against the levy and 46.37% for it. Nine of 12, or 75%, of precincts had been counted by 9:45 p.m.

Rocky River schools requested a 4.9-mill increase in taxes for current expenses, amounting to $171.50 a year in new taxes per $100,000 of home value. There is no expiration date.

The district has a 1-mill tax expiring, so if the new tax passes, the actual increase on tax bills will be $140.88 a year in new taxes per 100,000 of home value.

Superintendent Michael Shoaf said in February that the planning for the request has gone on for more than three years, with the money needed to cover operational costs and current building operations. The tax will also allow the district to purchase new buses, technology and textbooks.

Strongsville

Strongsville residents are currently against the citys desires to expand staffing in its fire department, as 57.11% oppose the levy and 42.89% support it. Nine of 24 precincts, or 38%, had been counted by 9:45 p.m.

The city wanted a 2-mill increase in taxes for fire and emergency medical service equipment and personnel, amounting to $70 a year in new taxes per $100,000 of home value. There is no expiration date.

The tax levy would help increase staffing, said Strongsville Fire Chief Jack Draves in February. Draves said the goal is to increase staffing by up to 20 firefighters. The city asked voters to pass a similar tax increase last fall but it was not approved.

Since it failed in the fall, were going back to the voters with a revised amount of millage and the language and has been reworded to be more clear, which is some feedback we got from residents, Draves said.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Want live election results for todays Ohio primary election?

Eleven municipalities in Cuyahoga County, with 196 precincts, are hosting elections today. To find your polling place, check the countys board of elections website. Polls close at 7:30 p.m., so the first set of results -- usually from early-voting ballots -- should show up about 8 p.m.

Here are links to the board of elections results pages in Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Summit and Portage counties:

Cuyahoga

Geauga

Lake

Lorain

Medina

Portage

Summit
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio voters approved 68% of school tax issues on Tuesdays primary election ballot, the Ohio School Boards Association announced Wednesday.

With 50 of 73 issues passing, it marked a slight increase from the 2020 primary election, when voters approved 64% of school tax issues, according to a news release.

According to the release, 50% of new school tax requests were approved, with the approval rate increasing from last years primary election of 38%. Renewal school tax proposals continued to receive support from the states voters as 91% of issues passed. That number, though, is a slight drop from 93% in last years election.

School tax increases in North Olmsted, Rocky River and Parma were all rejected, with North Olmsted voters having the strongest opposition of the three at 71.89% of the total vote.

Election results are complete, but they still must be certified by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

Tuesdays results show that communities realize the significance of their public schools, said Jennifer Hogue, Ohio School Boards Association Director of Legislative Services, in the release. However, most of the issues approved by voters were renewals; the passage rate for new funding was much lower. Those districts that were unsuccessful will face challenges in meeting the educational needs of their students.
Rotunda Rumblings

Penalty flag: The Republican Partys not-so-civil war over its members who voted to impeach ex-President Donald Trump opens a new front in Columbus on Friday with an Ohio Republican Party vote to censure Rocky River Rep. Anthony Gonzalez and the other nine House Republicans, Sabrina Eaton writes. A copy of the resolution obtained by cleveland.com describes efforts to impeach Trump as meritless partisan acts driven by retribution, and says Januarys impeachment process conducted by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats was unfairly expedited - with no hearings or presentation of evidence.

Parenting politics: An effort in the Ohio Senate would update the language describing couples who adopt children from husband and wife to legally married couple, to reflect the gay Ohioans who adopt children. Laura Hancock writes that this push comes after the Ohio House rejected a recommendation by Gov. Mike DeWine to change the outdated wording, although it likely wont affect LGBTQ couples since the U.S. Supreme Court has extended marriage rights to them.

TMI: An Ohio State Highway Patrol sergeant was demoted for sharing information with a Summit County defense attorney (and former contestant on The Bachelor) he was romantically involved with. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, state officials concluded the officer didnt break any laws but violated highway patrol policy not to reveal information that might be embarrassing or damaging to any person or the division.

Capital punishment push: A recent study shows that Cuyahoga County has been one of the leading counties in the country in imposing the death penalty since 1972, John Caniglia reports. Researchers say that the county and a cluster of others with large numbers of death cases are expected to continue pushing the sentence based upon their knowledge of the complex legal process and the culture of their communities. Hamilton County also was among the leaders.

Tuesday totals: Sixty more Ohio residents have died with COVID-19, according to federal figures, bringing total deaths to 19,344, Hancock reports.

Passing the tests: Fully vaccinated staff at Ohio nursing homes, residential-care facilities, senior centers, and adult day centers no longer have to get weekly coronavirus tests, under new orders issued by DeWines administration on Tuesday. Pelzer has details and copies of the new orders here.

Save the children? Potential Ohio GOP Senate candidate J.D. Vance published a Wall Street Journal opinion piece that criticizes President Joe Bidens push to expand child care as a bad deal for American parents and children. Young children from average, healthy homes can be harmed by spending long hours in child care, says the piece Vance co-authored with Wheatley Institution Research Fellow Jenet Erickson. Moving millions of young children out of their homes into nonparental group care will have unintended negative effects on childrens emotional and social well-being.

The hand that feeds: Former Treasurer Josh Mandels beef with Big Tech apparently stops as soon as there is money to be made. As the Daily Beasts Roger Sollenberger writes, the Republican Senate hopeful made tens of thousands of dollars on stock like Facebook, Intel and Microsoft. The campaign said he no longer holds Facebook stock.

More settlements planned: Ohio State University plans to set up an individual settlement program that could help resolve remaining claims against Richard Strauss, the former team doctor accused of abusing hundreds of young men over two decades, Andrew Welsh-Huggins and Kantele Franko of the Associated Press report. OSU in court filings said it was committed to providing an average settlement of up to about $252,000 per person.

Pet project: A seven-year-old Ohio law that allows pets to be included in protection orders and removed from violent situations has rarely been enforced, according to Jo Ingles of the Statehouse News Bureau for public radio and television. The coronavirus has been stressful for pets, Ingles reports, especially those in homes with domestic abuse.

Up ahead: The Ohio Supreme Court will hear a case next week about whether the states criminal vehicle forfeiture law violates the U.S. Constitutions Eighth Amendments prohibition of government imposing excessive fines. The case comes from Medina County, where James OMalleys $31,000 pickup was seized after his third operating a vehicle under the influence offense. OMalley is arguing that the seizure is excessive because it was his only personal asset, mostly paid for by relatives, and he lost his job without the vehicle, writes Marianna Brown Bettman for Legally Speaking Ohio.

Tourism tour: Gov. Mike DeWine has scheduled a Northern Ohio road trip on Wednesday to promote Ohio Tourism Day. DeWine, along with First Lady Fran DeWine, and Ohio Development Services Agency Director Lydia Mihalik, are set to hold a photo op in Mihaliks hometown of Findlay, followed by press conferences in Toledo and Cleveland. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, meanwhile, is set to tour an education center in Newark to highlight In-Demand Jobs Week.

Out of gas: Ohios Sen. Sherrod Brown joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York in unveiling a $73 billion plan to transition all the nations public transit systems to zero-emission fleets. A statement from Brown said the effort would address climate change, reduce pollution and invest in American workers. It is the kind of transformative investment we need in public transit that will put Americans to work, connects people with opportunity, and invests in the communities that have been left on their own by Washington and Wall Street for too long, said Brown.

Lobbying Lineup

Ten organizations represented by the CJR Group, a government relations firm that specializes in advocacy at the state and federal levels.

1. Charter Communications

2. Cleveland-CliffsInc.

3. General Motors

4. Giant Eagle

5. University Hospitals Health System

6. Perry Local Schools

7. Western Reserve Land Conservancy

8. Jo-Ann Stores

9. Bellefaire Jewish Childrens Bureau

10. Cleveland State University

Birthdays

Logan Kolas, economic policy analyst, Economic Research Center at The Buckeye Institute

Straight From The Source

Well if its systemic, give me the numbers. Theres never been any number that shows that.

- Scott Huddle, board member of Mad River School District in Southwest Ohio and president of the Ohio School Boards Association, saying theres no evidence of systemic racism in America. He was objecting to a school district newsletter that included columns, poetry and discussion questions about diversity, Jordan Laird reports for the Journal-News.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
CLEVELAND -- MaKhia Bryants funeral was last Friday. You remember her, right? Probably not. On April 20, 16-year-old MaKhia was killed outside of her home by Columbus Police officer Nicholas Reardon. The killing occurred about 30 minutes before the verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was announced.

Protests began soon after news of the incident spread. People were understandably outraged at the death of yet another Black person at the hands of the police. The outrage was amplified by the fact that it occurred while the nation was focused on the trial of an officer for killing a Black person.

City officials released some body camera footage of the shooting the same day and more the following day. Officer Reardon arrived on scene. As he approached the driveway, he saw MaKhia push one girl over. Then he saw MaKhia direct her attention towards a different girl in pink clothing. MaKhia, with her left hand, pushed the girl up against a vehicle parked in the driveway and, with her right hand, readied a knife. Officer Reardon drew his weapon and fired four shots. MaKhias body crumpled to the pavement. The whole thing happened in about ten seconds.

If public outcry were a balloon, the video footage took the air out of it. Sympathy for victims of police brutality is generally only extended to those who were unarmed. MaKhia Bryant was not unarmed. She had a knife. She was going to use it to stab, and thereby potentially kill, someone else. An officer saw a crime about to happen. He stopped it. The system worked. Case closed. Nothing to see here. Move along.

And move along most of us did. Ill admit that I can see why. This shooting was different. Its inarguable that MaKhia was about to cause harm with a knife. Even if you dont agree with what Officer Reardon did, you can at least understand why he acted. He had to do something.

MaKhia could have killed that girl. Presumably, that girl has a family, too. What would that family have said if Columbus Police officers had allowed MaKhia to kill her while they were on scene? Instead of the Bryant family, a different family in mourning would have been holding a press conference. Only at this one, instead of criticizing police action, they would have been criticizing police inaction. In either scenario, the police would once again have been accused of doing a disservice to the Black community.

Doing nothing was not a reasonable option. Officer Reardon definitely had to do something. But the question is, did he have to that? Did he have to kill MaKhia? Was pulling his service weapon and shooting MaKhia until she fell over his only option?

Many will answer that question in the affirmative without a second thought. Officer Reardon arrived on scene and saw someone about to be assaulted with a deadly weapon. He used deadly force to prevent deadly force from being used against someone else. Hes a hero.

That is not an unreasonable position to take after viewing the video. But remember, Ohio is a state which allows its citizens to stand their ground. In other words, citizens may use force, including deadly force, to protect themselves from imminent danger of death or great bodily harm. How would an officer who has just arrived on scene know in ten seconds whether someone was a criminal or a person defending themselves?

MaKhias family reported that she was the one who called the police for help. That claim has not yet been confirmed or denied by city officials. Regardless, people in Ohio have long had a right to defend themselves from harm. That right was just expanded at the beginning of this year by the elimination of the duty to retreat before using force in self-defense.

Given this longstanding right, and the recent passage of legislation encouraging citizens to exercise this right anywhere, at any time, should police be utilizing deadly force so quickly?

I would argue no, they should not. I think we can agree it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for an officer to arrive on scene and accurately determine who is the perpetrator and who is the victim in a mere ten seconds. Thats just not enough time to gather enough information to accurately assess what is happening. With no context to the situation, all an officer can and will do is make a judgment call. Thats just another way of saying, it could have gone either way, I had to choose one.

Judgment calls are a part of life. We all make them. However, the concern with the use of judgment calls in this context arises first out of the lasting consequences of the decision. Using deadly force means someone will die. And unlike Jesus or Lazarus, that person is not coming back. Thus, because the decision creates an irreversible result, deadly force should not be used in a situation where it could have gone either way. It should only be used where we are certain it could only have gone one way.

Concerns about the use of judgment calls also arise out of the influence that prejudice and bias have on judgment. A 2014 study by the American Psychological Association found that Black boys are more likely to be mistaken as older and be perceived as guilty by police officers than their white peers. Similarly, a 2017 Georgetown University study found that Black girls are seen by adults as more sexually mature and as knowing more about adult topics than their white peers. It would be absurd to believe that these misperceptions do not influence how police do their job.

A higher standard of certainty for the use of deadly force would do three main things:

1) It would acknowledge the need to balance a police officers duty to protect with an individuals right to defend oneself.

2) It would limit the influence of prejudice and bias by slowing down the use-of-force process, and

3) It would serve as a reminder to both police and the public that the preservation of life, all life, is the priority.

If I had to choose, the last one is the most important. Preservation of life, including the lives of criminals, should be foundational to good policing. Life is sacred, right? Of course it is. Thats why many believe Officer Reardon was correct in his actions. He took those actions to preserve a life.

Eric Foster is a columnist for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com.

But if you truly believe that life is sacred, where is your concern for MaKhias life? Wouldnt someone who believes life is sacred be asking whether Officer Reardon absolutely had to take MaKhias life? Wouldnt they be wondering why less-than-lethal force, such as a Taser, was not used?

If youre not asking these questions, then perhaps you need to re-examine your views on the sanctity of life. Your ease of acceptance of MaKhias killing stems not from your view that life is sacred, it stems from your view that the lives of perpetrators are worth less than the lives of victims. And because the lives of those who commit crimes are worth less, you readily accept when police kill them. And MaKhia was a perpetrator.

But suppose that the Bryant familys allegation is true and MaKhia was the one who called the police for help. That would make her the victim, right? That would make her someone who was standing her ground and was killed for it. Would that change your opinion in any way? Would that increase your empathy for the Bryant family?

If not, Ive got something I want you to think about. Please dont take offense to this. Maybe  just maybe  the reason you cant empathize is because  MaKhia Bryant was Black.

Eric Foster, a community member of the editorial board, is a columnist for The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com. Foster is a lawyer in private practice. The views expressed are his own.

To reach Eric Foster: ericfosterpd@gmail.com

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Beachwood, OH (44122)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 78F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4) Despite recent issues between both nations, China on Tuesday said it will continue to provide assistance "within its capacity" to the Philippines to help in its COVID-19 pandemic response.

In a statement shared by the Chinese Embassy in Manila, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the "differences and disputes" between the two countries with regards to some issues will not affect their friendship and cooperation.

"China has always been and will remain committed to properly handling differences and advancing cooperation with the Philippines through friendly consultation, and will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to the Philippines in its efforts to fight the epidemic and resume economic development," the Chinese official said.

China earlier donated shipments of its locally-developed Sinovac vaccines the first batch of doses to reach Philippine shores in March.

RELATED: Lawmakers raise concerns about China's vaccine donations amid new tensions in West Philippine Sea

On Monday, the Foreign Affairs Department said it filed two fresh diplomatic protests against China for the illegal presence of the Chinese Coast Guard, their "belligerent" actions against their Filipino counterparts in Bajo de Masinloc, as well as the continued presence of Beijing's vessels in Philippine waters.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. also earlier called out the East Asian giant for its persistent activity in the country's waters.

"China, my friend, how politely can I put it? Let me see OGET THE F*** OUT. What are you doing to our friendship? You. Not us. We're trying," he replied to a news article on the diplomatic protests.

China says 'mind basic manners'; Locsin apologizes to Beijing exec

In the same statement, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the "certain individual from the Philippine side will mind basic manners and act in ways that suit his status."

Locsin, for his part, revealed he has already apologized to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi himself after his viral tweet.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, and has repeatedly rejected the 2016 arbitral ruling that recognized Manila's sovereign rights in areas of its exclusive economic zone.

The tribunal also invalidated China's sweeping "historic rights" claims to the waters.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4) - Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Tuesday questioned the government's spending priorities amid the COVID-19 pandemic, noting the "hasty" release of over 10 billion to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

"Bakit po parang nagmadaling ilabas ang budget? Bakit yung pondo sa Marawi rehabilitation mabagal ang paglabas ng pondo? Saan po gagamitin itong 10.68 bilyon?" Drilon said in a statement.

[Translation: Why is there a rush to release the budget? Why is the release of funds for Marawi rehabilitation taking so long? Where will they use the 10.68 billion?]

The budget of the NTF-ELCAC for this year is 19 billion, with 16.4 to be spent for its Barangay Development Program as incentives for barangays cleared of insurgency threats.

Drilon emphasized that while the national government's financial assistance for private sector workers remains a "proposal and unfunded," data from the Department of Budget and Management showed 10.68 billion of the NTF-ELCAC's budget had already been released from March 24 to April 29.

He said addressing unemployment and hunger during the health crisis should be prioritized.

"Defeating the virus and addressing the effects of the pandemic such as unemployment and hunger should be our priority. There are 62% of Filipino households who experienced hunger due to COVID-19 pandemic. There are 4.4 million Filipinos who lost jobs in 2020," Drilon said.

"Yet, the government is giving priority to NTF-ELCAC's anti-insurgency program rather than use the funds to expand ayuda (cash assistance), buy vaccines and feed the poor," he added.

Drilon said the Senate should scrutinize the use of the NTF-ELCAC's budget and compel the task force to submit a report to Congress.

"Saan po ba napunta ang 10.68 billion? Anong barangay? Anong siyudad o bayan ang nakinabang dito? [Where did the 10.68 billion go? In which barangay? What city or town benefited from this?] In the spirit of transparency, let us publish the data and inform the public," Drilon said.

The NTF-ELCAC has been criticized recently after two of its spokespersons linked community pantry volunteers and organizers to the communist movement. Some senators pushed to defund the task force next year.

But National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who is also the NTF-ELCAC's vice chairperson, warned that defunding the task force would affect its anti-insurgency efforts.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)  Regardless of age or social status, each Filipino will be entitled to a 2,000 cash aid under the draft of the third COVID-19 stimulus package to help them cope with the effects of the pandemic.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Wednesday, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo said the proposed Bayanihan to Arise as One Act or the Bayanihan 3 will allot 216 billion for the cash grant, out of the 406-billion total budget of the draft measure.

"The pandemic affected everyone regardless of age, regardless of income status. We all got affected," she said. "Katulad ng sinasabi ng marami, kung hindi ka man mamatay sa COVID, baka naman gutom ang ikamatay mo" (Like what the others would say, if you will not die because of COVID, you might die of hunger).

She said Bayanihan 3, which has already hurdled the House ways and means committee, covers aid for the country's 108 million population to be distributed in two tranches by the local government units.

"This is largely an ayuda bill. 405.6 billion will be largely for ayuda...1,000 for Filipinos for two tranches. 108 million times 1,000 is 108 billion for the first tranche. And another 108 billion for second tranche," she added.

READ: Bayanihan 3 bill hurdles House committees

Quimbo explained that the distribution of aid  marred in earlier Bayanihan programs by a lack of an updated list of eligible beneficiaries  was simplified under the proposed measure by allotting a budget for every Filipino. She added that it's going to be the fourth time that aid will be distributed during the pandemic and "it's going to be a much-improved version."

The measure also seeks to allot 30 billion to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the provision of a separate cash assistance of up to 10,000 for each household with a member who got infected by the virus.

The Department of Labor and Employment will also be given 25 billion to help displaced workers while 20 billion will be set aside for wage subsidies. Some 30 billion would be given to the agri-fishery sector, to help farmers and hog raisers to augment their resources and means of livelihood which were largely impacted by the African swine flu and the previous typhoons.

The Education Department will also be given a 5.6-billion budget to provide teachers and students with gadgets or internet connectivity and let them fulfill their functions under distance learning. Some 54 billion will also be allocated for the pension of retired military and police officers.

Quimbo expressed hope that the Senate and President Rodrigo Duterte will be as optimistic about the measure as the lower chamber is, especially when economic managers start identifying sources for the fund.

RELATED: Econ managers now identifying sources for Bayanihan 3  Velasco

The substitute bill for Bayanihan 3 still needs to be forwarded to the House appropriations committee before it undergoes plenary debates. Sessions in the House and Senate will resume on May 17.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)  Six passengers from India have tested positive for COVID-19 when they arrived in the country before the travel ban, while the Health Department continues to locate six missing travelers.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Wednesday said the samples of the six COVID-positive patients have been sent to the Philippine Genome Center to determine if they were carrying the B.1.617 variant first found in India.

It is unclear why six other passengers have yet to be traced if they are supposed to go straight to a government-accredited quarantine facility upon landing.

DOH said over 100 travelers from India who arrived in the country before the 15-day travel restriction was imposed on April 29 are currently under quarantine.

The agency is hopeful that even if the variant dubbed as a "double mutant" was able to reach the Philippine shores, its spread could still be controlled.

"Kailangan lang natin paigtingin ang border control, na kahit makapasok man itong mga variants na ito, dapat handa tayo," she said in a media briefing.

[Translation: We need to strengthen our border control, that even if the variants do enter, we are ready for them.]

The country has yet to record a case of the B.1.617 variant. This variant is feared as it is is a virus strain that carries two mutations. It's not yet clear how many infections have been linked to this double mutant variant, or whether the strain is any more dangerous, but India's health ministry said "such mutations confer immune escape and increased infectivity."

Former COVID-19 task force adviser Dr. Tony Leachon said the Philippine government does not have a good track record when it comes to issuing timely border controls, such as during the start of the pandemic and when variants started cropping up.

"Historically, our government has always never been proactive in border control... We should be agile and forward looking. We should be equipped with genomic surveillance centers with rapid turnaround time," he said.

Other variant cases

Meanwhile, the DOH said the "bulk" of new COVID-19 variant cases are located in Metro Manila and Calabarzon.

Vergeire said Metro Manila has recorded 602 cases of the B.1.351 variant first detected in South Africa, 358 cases of the B.1.1.7 first found in the United Kingdom, and 39 cases of the P.3 variant under investigation that has been first discovered in the Philippines.

In Calabarzon, there are 121 cases of the B.1.351 variant, 145 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, and six cases of the P.3 variant.

The country has a total of 1,075 cases of the South Africa variant, 948 cases of the UK variant, 157 cases of the P.3 variant, and 2 cases of the variant first found in Brazil.

CNN Philippines correspondent Carolyn Bonquin contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)  The Food and Drug Administration authorized Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use on Wednesday, FDA Director General Eric Domingo announced.

"Today, after rigorous and thorough review by regulatory and medical experts using the currently available published and unpublished data, FDA is granting an emergency use authorization to Zuellig Pharma Corp. for the...COVID-19 vaccine Moderna," Domingo said in a briefing.

Moderna's vaccine has shown an overall efficacy rate of well over 94% in preventing COVID-19, based on clinical trials involving thousands of participants, with side effects mostly limited to "mild and transient," Domingo noted. But he said they will keep an eye on allergic reactions linked to the shot.

He added that while the efficacy rate among some groups is less than 94%, it is "consistently above 80%" among all age groups above 18 years old, and special groups including healthcare workers, people with comorbidities, and the elderly.

The two-dose vaccine is given four weeks apart, the FDA chief said. Under its EUA, Moderna's vaccine can only be administered to those aged 18 and older.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a separate briefing Moderna's vaccine can be stored at freezers with temperatures of 2 degrees Celsius to 8 degrees Celsius for up to 30 days. But its "normal storage requirement" is between -25 degrees Celsius and -15 degrees Celsius, she added.

An initial shipment of nearly 200,000 doses of Moderna's vaccine, which was co-developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Vaccine Research Center in the United States, is scheduled to arrive in the country on June 15.

The Philippines earlier signed a tripartite agreement with the American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company for 20 million doses.

Under the deal, 13 million will be allocated to the government, while seven million will go to the private sector.

The Philippines is also mulling to procure Moderna's coronavirus booster shot candidate, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said last month.

Other COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use in the country are those made by Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Gamaleya, Sinovac, Bharat Biotech, and Janssen.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)  The Philippine Coast Guard has spotted a total of 12 Chinese maritime militia vessels loitering at Sabina Shoal, just off Palawan in the West Philippine Sea.

In two separate instances, they dispersed the area, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea and Philippine Coast Guard said on Tuesday.

Philippine officials reported seven maritime militia vessels from China were seen in a stationary linear formation at Sabina Shoal, also known locally as Escoda Shoal, on April 27. The local crew of BRP Cabra issued three radio communications, but there was no response from the Chinese crew. After around 20 minutes, the foreign vessels left the shoal after being "challenged" by local personnel.

"Nakipag-komunikasyon ang PCG sa mga ito para ipahayag na ang Sabina Shoal ay bahagi ng Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas," the PCG said in a statement.

[Translation: The PCG made radio communications to tell them that Sabina Shoal is part of the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone.]

Two days later, a similar incident happened in the same location, according to the NTF-WPS. The BRP Cabra returned to Sabina Shoal on April 29 to conduct maritime exercises and found five Chinese maritime militia vessels anew. The vessels left after the arrival of the Philippine Coast Guard.

Sabina Shoal is located nearly 130 nautical miles west of Puerto Princesa in Palawan and east of Ayungin Shoal. The Department of Foreign Affairs previously said it "is within Philippine sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction."

Amid these incursions, the NTF-WPS said the country will continue law enforcement activities in Philippine waters.

The Philippines maintains the deployment of law enforcement patrols and maritime exercises of the Philippine Coast Guard and Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels on a rotational basis over the waters of the Municipality of Kalayaan and our Exclusive Economic Zone, National Security Adviser and NTF-WPS chief Hermogenes Esperon said in a statement.

However, when asked about the proposal to deploy the bigger ships of the Philippine Navy to the waters, Esperon said it would be better to stick to the norm for now, that is, having the Coast Guard in the area.

It is better to use the Coast Guard, that is the norm, as well as the Bureau of Fisheries vessels, Esperon said in a separate interview with CNN Philippines News Night. Were doing that right now. The Navy is there, but they are designed for other things."

Gov't tells Filipino fishermen: Continue fishing

Following China's recent announcement about the implementation of a unilateral" fishing ban in some areas of the South China Sea from May 1 to August 16, Esperon urged Filipino fishermen to continue with their livelihood as they are not covered by China's pronouncement.

"Go out and fish in our waters in the West Philippine Sea," he said.

Esperon said authorities are conducting regular patrols around the Pag-asa Islands, including the sandbars to the west and reefs to east of the main island, as well as regular patrols to Pag-asa Cay 2, contrary to claims that the Philippines has 'lost' this feature which is part of our territory.

The Philippines has filed several diplomatic protests against China in the past weeks to object the continued illegal presence of its Coast Guard vessels and fishing boats in the country's maritime zones.

They have recently been spotted in Bajo de Masinloc, and Julian Felipe Reef, among others areas. There are also "illegal" man-made structures built on Pagkakaisa Banks.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Monday hurled expletives at China for its persistent activity in the country's waters, saying its refusal to leave is putting a strain on the two nations' cordial ties.

He later apologized to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi after China urged the Philippines to observe "basic etiquette."

The Department of Foreign Affairs has filed 83 diplomatic protests against China under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Danville, WV (25053)

Today

Showers this morning then scattered thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. High 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
The Coastal Point is a local newspaper published each Friday and distributed in the Bethany Beach, South Bethany, Fenwick Island, Ocean View, Millville, Dagsboro, Frankford, Selbyville, Millsboro, Long Neck and Georgetown, Delaware areas.
U.S. District Court Senior Judge John L. Kane agreed to amend his judgment from last year that the Justice Departments requirement for states and localities to cooperate with the federal government on immigration enforcement infringed on Congresss spending authority. Kane rescinded the finding to avoid the unnecessary resolution of a constitutional question.
This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!
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The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
05/05/2021

Photo (c) Sally Anscombe - Getty Images The 9th U.S.Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that social media company Snap can face a lawsuit by parents who claim the popular app contributed to the deaths of their teenage sons.

The justices were unanimous in their ruling, finding that Snap was not shielded from litigation by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA). That provision has generally protected media companies from litigation over content posted on their sites by third parties.

"We appreciate the careful attention that the 9th Circuit paid to this case, and the well-written, unanimous opinion reflects such thoughtful work by the panel," attorney Naveen Ramachandrappa, representing the plaintiffs, said in an email to Reuters.

The parents of Jason Davis, Hunter Morby, and Landen Brown brought the case after their sons died in a 2017 fatal car accident in Wisconsin. Attorneys for the plaintiffs argue that Snap bears some responsibility because the teenagers were using a feature called Speed Filter.

Speed Filter

According to the complaint, the feature lets users share images that are superimposed with images of the speedometer showing how fast the vehicle is traveling. The car carrying the three boys was reportedly going in excess of 100 miles an hour when it left the road and hit a tree.

The parents filed the lawsuit in 2019, claiming that Snap was negligent in designing a feature that encouraged reckless and dangerous behavior. In the first hearing, Snap was absolved of blame.

But in making its decision, the 9th Circuit reversed that lower court ruling. U.S. District Judge Michael Fitzgerald originally granted Snap's motion to dismiss the case citing the protections under the CDA. The appeals court, however, said the suit was not attempting to portray Snap as a publisher but rather as a products manufacturer.

The appellate court has sent the case back to district court and ordered Snap to face the plaintiffs lawsuit.
Earnest Washington, Jr., 74, of Dallas passed away on May 30, 2021. Funeral will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at Saintville COGIC in Dallas at 10:30 a.m. Burial to follow in Little Bethel in Duncanville. Emanuel Funeral Home of Corsicana will handle funeral arrangements.
Research led by Ludger Kolbe, Ph.D., Chief Scientist of Photobiology for Beiersdorf AG, has refuted reports that artificial blue light causes harmful effects in skin.

In a company press announcement, Kolbe stated that such public discourse is characterized by a lack of scientific knowledge and studies. Beiersdorf studied this misconception and reported these findings in a poster presented at the 27th EADV Congress in Paris. Results showed that the amount of blue light emitted during conventional use of devices is, as Kolbe put it, "nowhere near enough to trigger harmful skin effects."

See related: The Dark Side of Visible Light; Oxidative Damage, Aging and More; A Discussion

He explained that one week, uninterrupted, sitting just 30 cm in front of a monitor is equal to one minute outside on a sunny summer day in Hamburg; and that natural blue light is the actual danger. The much-feared negative impact of increased screen use due to the coronavirusfor example, as a result of more online meetings or increased use of smartphonesis therefore scientifically untenable. The effect on the skin is negligible, which means concerns about negative impacts on the skin are unfounded, explained Kolbe.

Discussions surrounding artificial blue light should not distract from the actual danger of natural blue light.

The company underlined, however, that discussions surrounding artificial blue light should not distract from the actual danger of natural blue light, which has sufficiently been proven by years of research at Beiersdorf. "Visible light accounts for about 50% of solar radiation, one-third of which is natural blue light. It penetrates much deeper into the skin than UVA rays, which make up just 5% of sunlight. As a result, scientists have long labelled this light as 'potentially dangerous,'" the company wrote.

A separate Beiersdorf study, published in Photodermatology Photoimmunol Photomed, showed that high energy visible (HEV) light generates oxidative stress, thus accelerating skin aging and increasing hyperpigmentation. The same study also verified the protective effect of antioxidant ingredients such as licochalcone A, which the company notes is used in most of the its Eucerin brand sunscreens, as well as the Sensitive-Allergy and UV Face range of Nivea Sun products.

See related: A Melanin Derivative to Shield the Skin from High Energy Visible Light
It's a common predicament we've all been in at one point or another  One day, you're minding your own business, working on your farm located squarely on the French/Belgian border, when you come across a rock intersecting the forest path you intend to plow with your tractor. Annoyed, you toss that pesky stone aside, roughly 7.5 feet, and in doing so, you inadvertently move a 200-year-old land marker of the two nation's official boundary, opening the potential for an international incident.

Well, folks, it seems a Belgian farmer is seemingly the latest person to fall privy to this all-too-relatable pickle, apparently throwing a centuries-old stone aside while completing yard work, a faux pas only noticed by an eagle-eyed history enthusiast who noticed the rock was approximately 2.29 meters off of its intended location.

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"He made Belgium bigger and France smaller, it's not a good idea," said David Lavaux, the mayor of the border village of Erquelinnes in Belgium, in what may easily be the understatement of the past two centuries. Although Lavaux was seemingly a-okay with the change, enlarging the jurisdiction of his village by roughly the size of roughly 0.999 Yao Ming-s, he says the mayor of the neighboring French town wasn't too pleased with the countries inadvertent new border. "I was happy, my town was bigger," he quipped with a laugh, per the BBC. "But the mayor of Bousignies-sur-Roc didn't agree."
Dozens of criminal illegal immigrants were released in Texas, including at least two sex offenders, due to the Biden administrations guidance to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding deportations.

In March, more than 36 inmates at the Bexar County jail with ICE detainers were not picked up [by ICE] and had to be released to the streets of San Antonio, Fox News' San Antonio affiliate reported.

Instead of being deported, the convicted felons were released in Bexar County, which has a population of 2 million people. The felons' charges range from assaulting a police officer, family violence and drug-related charges. Other felons released in the state are sex offenders.

Sources within law enforcement and ICE told Fox San Antonio that the U.S. Marshals Office is having to release detainees, allegedly because ICE will not pick them up.

Source:The Christian Post
Pastor and author John Piper has weighed in on how Christian parents can best protect their children from state indoctrination in societies where children are forced to learn "unbiblical views of what is true and false, and right and wrong, and beautiful and ugly.

Recently, an individual from Sweden wrote into Piper's DesiringGod website, asking the pastor how to parent well in a country he described as coercive and socialist in a lot of ways.

We must send our children to school, or the government threatens to take them away from us, the reader said. Christian schools are practically illegal, and a school may have a Christian profile, but its a meaningless title. These few Christian schools are still not allowed to be religious or teach a Christian worldview. Theyre still forced by law to abide to the same teaching plan as secular, atheistic schools to give children a secular education and must even teach our children LGBTQ as a positive norm.

In response, Piper first stressed that God has assigned to parents, and not the state, the rearing and shaping of the minds and hearts of the children in the knowledge of God and in how to live that out in the world.

Source:The Christian Post
The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States, is considering legislation that would ban the controversial practice of sexual orientation "conversion therapy" for minors.

Also known as reparative therapy or sexual orientation change efforts therapy, the practice involves helping those with unwanted same-sex attraction.

The legislation, known as P.S. 184, is now in the Puerto Rican Senate and would prohibit the practice for minors. The bill was introduced in February and is still pending a vote.

Bishop Daniel Fernandez Torres of Arecibo is among the legislation's ardent critics, warning in an interview with LifeSiteNews that if passed, it would effectively outlaw Catholic Church teaching.

Source:The Christian Post
A record number of people were euthanized in the Netherlands last year.

Some who died suffered from psychiatric issues, according to Dutch News NL. Both the Netherlands and neighboring Belgium are known for their progressive euthanasia laws that have expanded the scope beyond patients suffering from a terminal disease.

Each year, the RTE Regional Euthanasia Review Committees analyze all deaths by euthanasia to check whether they met the six criteria dictated by the law for euthanasia or doctor-assisted suicide. In total, 6,938 patients died in this manner in the Netherlands last year. The RTE determined that two cases didn't meet the six requirements.

These requirements stipulate, in part, that the patient's request must be voluntary, their condition is so severe that their body cannot heal, and they are suffering "unnecessarily and this cannot be reduced." The doctor is also required to "perform the euthanasia (or assisted suicide) in a medically careful manner, for example with the right medicines and in the right steps."

Source:The Christian Post
A Texas city has withdrawn its eminent domain request to take property owned by a local predominantly African American congregation as part of an effort to build a new fire station.

In the Dallas suburbs, the city of Duncanville garnered headlines last year when it filed a petition to seize a vacant lot owned by Canaan Baptist Church.

The citys attorney Robert Hager confirmed to The Christian Post Wednesday that the town had filed a request to withdraw the eminent domain petition.

The First Liberty Institute of Plano, Texas, which represents the church in court, celebrated the decision to withdraw the condemnation petition.

Source:The Christian Post
A new report from a pro-choice research organization found that in the first four months of 2021, more than 500 pro-life bills have been introduced at the state level and more than 60 have been enacted nationwide.

While the federal government has come under the control of the Democratic Party, pro-life legislation has made much progress at the state level in 2021.

According to Elizabeth Nash and Lauren Cross of the Guttmacher Institute, 2021 is on track to become the most devastating antiabortion state legislative session in decades.

Since January, there have been 536 abortion restrictions, including 146 abortion bans, introduced across 46 states, the report, published Friday, explained. A whopping 61 of those restrictions have been enacted across 13 states, including eight bans.

Source:The Christian Post
You never stop being a mom. From the day you learn you have a bun in the oven to the day you breathe your last, your child is always on your mind and in your heart.

Mary, Jesus mother, encourages me. Her struggles are my struggles.

1. Being a mom is scary. Mary taught us to entrust our kids to God.

Pregnancy is terrifying for every expectant mother.

Will I get fat? Will labor and delivery hurt? Will my baby be healthy? Will my husband still love me? Can I handle being a parent?

Pregnancy for Mary was more than scary, it was life-threatening.

Luke tells the story of the angels announcement to Mary in Luke 1:26-38:

The angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

How will this be, Mary asked the angel, since I am a virgin?

The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.'

Mary knew the cost of being an unwed mother. She risked losing the man she loved, the reputation she guarded, and even excruciating execution by stoning (Leviticus 22:23-24).

I became pregnant with our first child right after we moved 1,000 miles away from family and friends to the sweltering Arizona desert. Roger, my husband, was a young pastor. This was our first full-time church. We had 500 Bible commentaries and no money. But God called us to go there. I was petrified. How could we afford to have a baby?

Mary accepted the risks of Gods call. She believed that God would be a Father to His Son. I was inspired by her to trust Him and be obedient to His timing and perfect plan.

2. Mary didnt face motherhood alone. Neither will you.

People dont often realize that when the angel came to Mary, he told her about Elizabeths pregnancy at the very same time.

Luke 1:36: Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age.

Mary immediately went to visit her cousin Elizabeth when Gabriel disappeared. What reassurance and encouragement Elizabeth gave in Luke 1:41-45!

When Elizabeth heard Marys greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She exclaimed: Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!

Mary was not alone when she carried her child. She didnt know Joseph would marry her until she returned from her visit with Elizabeth, three months into her pregnancy. Elizabeths encouragement sustained Mary and kept her focused on Gods promise.

Roger and I learned our first baby was in danger ten weeks into my pregnancy. I carried our daughter to term, but she was born with a genetic defect that would eventually take her life. We fed her milk with a tiny syringe for nine months. But we werent alone. Ten of our church ladies appeared at our door and rotated overnight stays with our baby girl so we could sleep. Even with parents so far away, we never felt alone.





Photo Credit: Getty Images/Nadezhda1906

3. Mary wanted to protect her son. We must let our kids go and grow.

We witness a telling episode between Mary and her son as she loses Jesus while traveling.

When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.

Why were you searching for me? he asked. Didnt you know I had to be in my Fathers house? But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:45-52)

Note that Mary and Joseph frantically searched for Jesus. They felt mistreated. Jesus answer didnt reassure them (v. 50). Yet Mary pondered (ruminated upon) Jesus words. She trusted God to bring about His plan for Jesus life.

Brianna, my oldest daughter, sailed through puberty. Yes, there were wardrobe battles, but she was a people-pleaser. My younger daughter, Bronwyn, was a rebel determined to break the pastors kid mold. She died her hair orange and pierced her belly button with a safety pin before she turned 13. How could I let her grow up safely without locking her in a closet?

My girls are grown now. They are brilliant, beautiful women. However, I still struggle with being overprotective. I need to watch God work even when I dont understand what He is doing.

4. Mary wanted Jesus to fulfill his destiny her way. Our job is to help our kids open Gods Sealed Orders for their lives.

Mary tried to jump-start Jesus ministry at the wedding feast in Cana:

When the wine was gone, Jesus mother said to him, They have no more wine. Woman, why do you involve me? Jesus replied. My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you. (John 2:3-5)

Mary was also eager for Jesus to perform a miracle because people may have accused her of bearing an illegitimate son.

In an especially rancorous exchange, the Jews retort to Jesus We are not illegitimate childrenThe only Father we have is God himself. (John 8:41)

Were not illegitimate! The syntax of the assertion puts the emphasis on the we and thus implies, Were not illegitimateyou are!

Im sure Mary thought she was helping Jesus. She wanted to prove Jesus power and clear her name. But Marys overprotective nature could have hurt Christs work!

Mark 3:20-21 describes a moment when Jesus mother and brothers wanted to take Jesus away from his ministry. They thought He had gone off the deep end.

Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples were not even able to eat. When His family heard about this, they went to take charge of Him, for they said, He is out of His mind!

Mary was worried. But how many sick and injured people would have missed Jesus healing touch if He had followed Mary home?

Gods plan was different. Jesus did and said the unexpected. He was an unconventional Messiah.

Rogers mother wanted a preacher in the family. Fortunately, God called my husband to preach when he was seven. His Mom tirelessly trained him, forcing him to practice his sermons behind the counter in the kitchen to his congregation in the den. She dreamed her Golden Boy would one day become a famous Texas pastor.

But God called Roger to a small church in Arizona. When we first arrived in Tucson, there were only a handful of Christians. It was the wild, wild West! And his Mom was a world away.

Rogers mom saw Gods Hand at work over time, but it wasnt Plan A for her.

We cant force our children into our mold. God uniquely calls our kids, and His plan may surprise us.





Photo Credit: Unsplash/Kelly Sikkema

5. Mary had to watch her Son suffer. We must allow our children to suffer for their good.

The road Jesus walked would lead to a bloody cross. John 19:25-27 reads:

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mothers sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, Woman, here is your son, and to the disciple, Here is your mother.

Mary knew about Jesus calling. She probably taught Him the Psalm of the Cross (Psalm 22) while He sat on her lap. She remembered Gabriels words, the star, the wise mans gift of myrrh, the prophecies of Simeon and Anna. Mary watched in horror as Jesus hung, suspended between heaven and earth. She knew His destiny, but Im sure Jesus mother hoped for another way to save His people. His suffering was hers as well.

My oldest daughter suffers from chronic pain and nausea every day. Today she just finished a regular 12-hour IV infusion to fortify her immune system. It is a hard-won fight. Every time I take in a breath, I think of her. I eagerly await little victories instead of devastating setbacks.

No mother wants to see her child suffer. Not one.

But Jesus suffering brought sinful mankind eternal life. And suffering builds character in our sons and daughters.

Mary continues to inspire me to be a mother of faith, a mother of patience, and a mother of prayer.

I hope to love my girls like she loved her Son, and that this will inspire you to do the same.

Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/x-reflexnaja

Dr. Julie Barrier, along with her pastor-husband, Dr. Roger Barrier, have taught conferences on marriage and ministry in 35 countries. The Barriers are founders and directors of Preach It, Teach It providing free resources in 10 languages to 5 million visitors in 229 countries and territories. The Barriers pastored 35 years at Casas Church in Arizona, Julie has served as a worship minister, concert artist and adjunct professor at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. She has authored or composed of over 500 published works.
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This new research is informed by what happened to the Antarctic Ice Sheet in the geological past.

Warming of 3C could cause major jump in Antarctic ice melt

Global warming of 3C could lead to a major jump in melting of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, according to a new study.

The paper, published today in Nature, uses computer model simulations to test the impact of several warming scenarios, including the Paris Agreement targets.

If the 1.5 or 2C Paris Agreement temperature targets are achieved, the Antarctic Ice Sheet would contribute between 6 and 11 centimetres of sea-level rise by 2100.

But if the current course towards 3C is maintained, the model points to a drastic acceleration in the pace of sea-level rise, with a tipping point reached around 2060.

Unless ambitious action to rein in warming begins well before 2060, no human intervention, including removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, would be able to stop 17 to 21 centimetres of sea-level rise from Antarctic ice melt alone by 2100.

The study involved University of Exeter researcher Dr Edward Gasson and was led by Professor Rob DeConto of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

"The Paris Agreement is a good start, however this study highlights the importance of more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reductions ahead of the critical COP26 climate summit in Glasgow later this year," Dr Gasson said.

The implications of exceeding Paris Agreement warming targets become even starker on longer timescales.

Antarctica contributes about one metre of sea-level rise by 2300 if warming is limited to 2C or less, but reaches globally catastrophic levels of 10 metres or more under a more extreme warming scenario with no mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.

This new research is informed by what happened to the Antarctic Ice Sheet in the geological past.

The model was tested against how well it simulates past changes in the Antarctic Ice Sheet before being used to simulate what might happen in the future.

The very architecture of the Antarctic Ice Sheet itself plays a key role in ice loss.

Ice flows slowly downhill, and the Antarctic Ice Sheet naturally creeps into the ocean, where it begins to melt.

What keeps that ocean-bound ice flowing slowly is a ring of buttressing ice shelves, which float in the ocean but hold back the upstream glacial ice by scraping on shallow sea-floor features.

Those buttressing ice shelves act both as dams that keep the sheet from sliding rapidly into the ocean, and as supports that keep the edges of the ice sheet from collapsing.

As warming increases, the ice shelves thin and become more fragile.

Meltwater on their surfaces can deepen crevasses and cause them to disintegrate entirely  this causes the tipping point in the model.

This not only lets the ice sheet flow toward the warming ocean more quickly, it leaves the exposed edges of the ice sheet vulnerable to breaking off or calving into the ocean, adding to sea level rise.

Dr Gasson, a lecturer in Environmental Science at Exeter, is funded by the Royal Society as a University Research Fellow.

The paper is entitled: "The Paris Climate Agreement and future sea-level rise from Antarctica."
A graduate of the University of Denver, John Miller worked for six years as a reporter and editor in New Mexico before returning to Colorado in 2020. He has covered domestic terrorism, economic development and the opioid epidemic, among other subjects.

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NEW HAVEN  A local company has agreed to occupy about 160,000 square feet of the citys latest biotech lab space complex  101 College Street  which hasnt even been built yet.

Officials with Arvinas announced Tuesday the company has signed a 10 year-lease for three of the 10 floors in the building, or about one-third of the space in the 500,000-square foot-building. Massachusetts-based Winstanley Enterprises is developing the multi-tenant project, with construction scheduled to get underway by the end of June, according to company officials.

Arvinas has always been a New Haven company and always will be, said Sean Cassidy, the companys chief financial officer. We looked at all the logical locations and developers. But with Winstanleys reputation and the location of the new building so close to Yale, this made made the most sense for us.

Arvinas was founded by Craig Crews, a professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology at Yale University. The companys focus is developing treatments for cancers and other difficult-to-treat diseases.

Arvinas is expected to move into its portion of the building in 2024. The company will remain in its existing office and lab space in Science Park, in the citys Newhallville section.

Arvinas moved into Science Park in 2013 into about 8,000 square feet of space, according to Cassidy. It currently occupies 63,000 square feet in Science Park and employs about 200 people, he said.

Our business is requiring new hiring and we need more people to support that growth, Cassidy said. We would expect our head count to have at least doubled by the time we move into 101 College Street.

While the coronavirus pandemic exacerbated weak demand for office space in Connecticut and elsewhere, the same cant be said for lab space, he said.

It is really at premium and its not just in New Haven, Cassidy said. Its anywhere you go in the country, whether its Boston or Raleigh-Durham. A lot of venture capital was invested in biotech since the start of the pandemic.

The building at 101 College Street is the latest part of the citys Downtown Crossing revitalization project, designed to reclaim a section of the city that was designed for roadways in order to link downtown to western suburbs.

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker called the companys decision an exciting milestone for Arvinas, New Haven, and Connecticut.

New Haven has a lot to offer, and we look forward to continuing the progress of the Downtown Crossing project, Elicker said in statement.

Gov. Ned Lamont called Arvinas decision a clear reinforcement of Connecticuts commitment to the bioscience sector.

This is another critical step in realizing New Haven and Connecticuts shared vision for the Downtown Crossing project - an important revitalization effort and economic investment, Lamont said in a statement.

John Houston, Arvinas president and chief executive officer, said the company has experienced significant growth over the last several years as we have led the development of a completely new treatment approach for cancers and other difficult-to-treat diseases.

As a company incubated out of Yale, our commitment to New Haven is strong, Houston said. Were proud to continue to be a part of this rapidly growing biopharmaceutical hub and contribute to the continued development of the downtown area.

Donald Klepper-Smith, chief economist and director of research for DataCore Partners, said biotech jobs create a ripple effect across the regions economy.

The multipliers on spending and jobs are significant, Klepper-Smith. These jobs are highly desirable. They create good incomes for the people who work there and that circulates throughout the entire economy.

When Downtown Crossing is completed, city officials say it will create a connected, walkable community in New Havens life sciences district and boost Connecticuts economy. The project, which will connect Yales medical and central campuses, is being funded by the U.S. Department of Transportations TIGER II grant, the city and the state.

Cassidy said Science Park is currently fully leased and he praised the management team at the technology center for working with Arvinas officials to accommodate the companys needs.

As we migrate to the next level there's going to be a beautiful space left for another company to move in, he said. I dont expect they will have any trouble filling it.

Paul Pescatello, senior counsel and executive director of the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations Bioscience Growth Council, said what Cassidy is describing is the natural order of how a region develops into a biotech cluster.

Companies move out and free up space for start-ups, Pescatello said. There always a need for more lab space because there are always nascent companies coming out of Yale. The biotech sector here has definitely steadily grown and the more companies there are, the more lab space there is, that is when it will really take off.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com
BRIDGEPORT  The Board of Education convened to consider a new contract for Superintendent Michael Testani, but butted heads on whether he should be asked to live in Bridgeport, as a past superintendent was.

The board ultimately ended the meeting without a resolution to the issue.

Most if not all board members were in agreement that Testanis performance, particularly throughout the pandemic, was exemplary, and that his contract should be extended.

But deliberations fell apart when board members couldnt settle on what to do about a residency requirement, which would have Testani, who lives in a neighboring community, move into the city.

I want to stay here, said Testani. This is where I want to be. These are the kids and the family Im committed to, and the staff that I believe in and can get the job done.

Testani initiated a conversation with the board about a new contract earlier this spring. On the table was his term length ending in June 2023, a base salary of $245,000 plus a $5,000 annuity contribution, and a requirement to live in Bridgeport, which he agreed to last year and his predecessors were asked to follow.

School superintendent contracts in Connecticut are not allowed to exceed a three-year period. If a local school board wants to keep its superintendent past that time, it must enter into a new agreement to tack on additional years.

Testanis original contract contained a common provision, according to the boards chairman, John Weldon, that let him ask members to consider a new agreement before the end of the first year. If the board follows through and voids the existing document, it in effect extends his contract by pushing back an end date.

The board briefly debated whether to have the discussion in a public forum. Testani, who said he had nothing to hide but was concerned about the groups deportment, did not require the Teams meeting be public.

Board member Joseph Sokolovic, who had previously opposed closed-door votes when Testani was acting superintendent and was offered the full-time gig without notice, did.

Here we sit, in the comfort of our own homes, hiding behind our computers, once again in a special meeting prohibiting public input on the most important function we were elected to carry out as board members, he said. The board does itself, Superintendent Testani and the public a disservice by doing things in this matter.

The board ultimately decided, 5-3, not to move into executive session, with Sokolovic, Chris Taylor, Albert Benejan, Sybil Allen and Bobbi Brown in the majority. Weldon, Sosimo Fabian and Joseph Lombard voted to discuss the agreement privately.

Testani then began to make his case, citing his success in offering in-person learning, and state and national recognition for navigating the pandemic. But most of what he had to say was about serving the school community.

Bridgeport Public Schools has had five superintendents over the last 10 years... We cannot continue on this revolving door of leadership, said Testani. I like to think that because of my leadership, weve been able to accomplish so much for our kids, and yet we sit here today and try to rehash things that happened in the past.

He noted he had been coming into the office throughout the pandemic.

Since Day 1, when we closed on March 12, I didnt hide at home. I didnt work in my living room, or in my basement, or on the couch, he said from his office. I was here because this is where I needed to be to set the example of what I expected from my staff and what the community expected from me. When this building was closed, I snuck in here every day.

Testani asked the board to extend his contract and increase the annuity contribution upon good reviews. He also requested more time or support to move to Bridgeport, given the pandemic and no real rationale as to why someone who lives five minutes away from the office wouldnt be afforded more time  or nixing the requirement entirely.

The plea was a non-starter for some, who accused long-standing board members of preferential treatment for Testani over former superintendent Aresta Johnson, a Black woman, who had to move from Waterbury to Bridgeport.

Dr. Aresta Johnson was forced by members of this board to move, said Taylor. (Testanis) navigated the pandemic like no other superintendent. The guy is phenomenal... Tell him to move into Bridgeport, he has 100 percent of Chris Taylors support.

Testani did an amazing job, and he will continue to do an amazing job, said Brown, who wasnt on the board when it voted to require residency. Unless something has changed I do want to honor that (precedent).

Testani backtracked his request, and the board voted 6-2 to enter into a new agreement extending his employment by a year. Sokolovic and Taylor voted no.

The board then moved on to the terms of the agreement.

Sokolovic asked to postpone the discussion until Testani establishes residency in Bridgeport, which Taylor and Allen simultaneously seconded. Testani said he could move before the original contract expires, but Weldon asked to define residency and if it could be met by a second address within city limits.

Stuck on Testanis address, the group questioned what happens to the new agreement hanging in the balance.

Somebody who voted for it can make a motion to reconsider, said Sokolovic.

With that, the board made a motion to adjourn for the night with more questions than answers.

We should be complimenting this man, encouraging him to continue to excel, said Fabian, a vocal supporter of Testanis throughout the meeting. This is less than inspirational  the way that we have addressed him, the way that we have treated him.
A Kenyan doctor who became a vociferous opponent of Covid-19 vaccines has succumbed to the virus, weeks after saying the jabs were "totally unnecessary".

He clashed with the Catholic church over the safety of Covid jabs.

Health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) rejected his claims.

"[The vaccine] being distributed in Kenya, has been reviewed and found safe not only by the WHO rigorous process but also by several stringent regulatory authorities," the WHO said in March.

The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops also distanced itself from Dr Karanja's view on Covid-19 vaccines, saying the vaccines were "licit and ethically acceptable."

Kenya received just over a million vaccine doses from the global Covax initiative, most of which have been administered.

The country has confirmed more than 160,000 cases and 2,707 deaths. In March, the government imposed another lockdown restricting movement in five counties after a surge in new infections.

What did Dr Karanja say about Covid vaccines?

In a letter dated 3 March Dr Karanja said that "there are drugs that have been repurposed and used effectively to treat Covid-19," adding that "we also know that vaccination for this disease is totally unnecessary making the motivation suspect."

He went on in different forums to advocate alternative treatments, including steam inhalation and a cocktail of drugs - including hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin, which have not been approved by the WHO to treat Covid-19.

Dr Karanja, who was an obstetrician and gynaecologist, died on Thursday a week after he was admitted to hospital suffering from complications caused by a Covid-19 infection.

What else has Dr Karanja said?

Before falling out with the Catholic church in Kenya about the safety and efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine, Dr Karanja often allied with the religious leaders to oppose mass vaccination campaigns.

In 2019 he led opposition against vaccination of schoolgirls against cervical cancer, saying the jab against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) was unnecessary because it affected those "whose lifestyle involves irresponsible sexual behaviours".

In 2014, his association opposed the government's rollout of a tetanus vaccine targeting women, claiming it was a sterilisation campaign, despite local health authorities, the WHO, and the UN children's agency Unicef saying the vaccine was safe.
Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  A city teen suffered non-life-threatening injuries when he was shot in both legs while sitting in his parked car early Tuesday morning, police said.

Minutes after midnight, officers responded to the 500 block of Capitol Avenue for a report of a male victim suffering from gunshot wounds to his legs, Capt. Kevin Gilleran said.
It's been nearly a year since the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer spurred a nationwide movement to address racial inequities.

The issue is still being discussed at the municipal level, and in Connecticut, there has been a push to declare racism a public health crisis.

According to the advocacy group Health Equity Solutions, which aims for "every Connecticut resident to attain optimal health regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status," Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford and Middletown are among the list of 20 municipalities that have signed on to the resolution.

Still, officials in towns like Old Lyme have opted not to discuss or sign such a resolution, as they believe declaring racism a public health crisis in their community sends a wrong message to their residents.

Here are the 20 Connecticut towns that have declared racism a public health crisis.
OLD LYME  Almost a year has passed since the death of George Floyd unleashed a new wave of racial unrest on the nation and, with more recent police shootings, the conversation about racial equity has continued in all levels of society.

In Old Lyme, though, there is some reticence to have that conversation as a town government. Since August, Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal, a Democrat, has been trying to put a resolution on the Board of Selectmens agenda that would declare racism a public health crisis.

But neither First Selectman Timothy Griswold nor Selectman Christopher Kerr, both Republicans, are willing to put it on the agenda for discussion.

Since August, there has not really been any interest in discussing it, Nosal said. I just keep bringing it up under other business, with the exception of a few meetings where I havent brought it up.

Discussing it and examining the issue of racism, Nosal said, would keep Old Lyme open, inviting, safe and welcoming to all comers.

In his view, Griswold said, the resolution is written in a way that makes it appear Old Lyme has a public health crisis with racism, which he does not subscribe to.

It sets up a lot of process and I just think its way inappropriate for the town, he said. Certainly, I think we all believe racism is a bad thing, but to admit that we have a public health crisis in town is not a fair statement at all.

Griswold said the resolution has been discussed repeatedly, albeit not officially, in the other business portion of Board of Selectmen meetings. He said Nosal has pointed out that more than 20 municipalities have signed on to the resolution.

But, out of 169 towns, that means that theres 148 towns that have not, he said. I just think passing it because its a current topic... its not worded in a way that it should be adopted.

According to the advocacy group Health Equity Solutions, which aims for every Connecticut resident to attain optimal health regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford and Middletown are among the list of municipalities that have signed on to the resolution. The list also includes the shoreline communities of Old Saybrook and New London.

As written, the resolution seems to be largely symbolic, with different sections explaining the town acknowledges racism is a multifaceted and systematic issue that impacts the living standards of specific groups in a number of ways.

While the resolution does direct the town to take steps, such as promoting equity through all policies and advocating locally for relevant policies that improve health in communities of color, there are no enforceable aspects or timelines established.

Nosal said the resolution would be important to discuss amid a national conversation on racism. She said the feedback she has seen in Old Lyme about the resolution has been in favor of at least talking about it.

Griswold said the idea has been very polarizing in town, adding he knows people who are in favor of the resolution and those who are against it. He said the First Congregational Church has taken up the cause.

But to make the town government do this, I think, is a mistake, he said.

Rev. Steven Jungkeit, of First Congregational Church, who co-wrote an op-ed in support of the resolution, said communities across the country have a responsibility to address racial inequities and injustice that have long-standing histories and have become very apparent over the past year.

That sense has been heightened even more as weve all been watching the Derek Chauvin trial, and the trial of three more officers, he said, referring to the Minneapolis police officer who has been convicted in Floyds death. It raises the ante I think, for communities all across the United States.

Jungkeit disagrees with Griswolds stance on the issue, saying government has a role to play in stepping up to preserve the dignity and humanity of people.

I think a local government can set the tone for people about the limits of acceptable discourse  about who counts and who is valued, Jungkeit said. To say that that work belongs to a church, I think abdicates a massive responsibility on the part of local governments.

Jungkeit said the resolution is a symbolic step in that direction. He said it offers people of color in and around the town the message that Old Lyme understands the reality of the racism crisis.

I think not having the resolution is tantamount to saying, We just dont see it, and, ultimately, we dont see you, Jungkeit said.

Jungkeit said a lot of the anti-resolution comments he has seen online are defensive in nature.

The point that were trying to make is not that individuals in Old Lyme are secret racists or something like that, he said. That is not whats an issue. Whats an issue is that there is a long-standing history, which is embedded in some of our statutes and laws, and we need to address that.

Nosal said she will continue raising awareness to the issue.

Im going to continue like Im doing  bringing it up under other business, she said. As the issue gets more national play ... Im hoping that if we can continue to bring it up that maybe theyll reconsider their stance.

Griswold said he and Kerr are going to continue to block it from being put on the agenda.

Its not like this is the only way to have a public discussion about it, so I think thats where it stands, Griswold said.

Jungkeit said not putting it on the agenda and passing it sends a strong message to residents of Old Lyme and the communities around it about the towns values.

I find it really unfortunate, he said. Its a message that I wish werent being sent.

But, Jungkeit said, there are things residents can do outside of town government that can be meaningful.

We are working with the school district, he said. We are working with the Historic District Commission. We are working to promote and share the history of Old Lyme in such that a different, new history might be created.

We are not limited in our work by town government, Jungkeit said. But I just think its unfortunate that theyre unwilling to bend or to participate or to really listen.
The U.S. economy saw a 6.4% annualized increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in first quarter of 2021, according to CUNAs latest Economic Update Video. In the video CUNA Senior Economist Jordan van Rijn examines the pandemics continued effect on the economy, and what the rest of 2021 may look like.

After the second half of last year, this is the fastest pace of growth weve seen in about 40 years. We saw really big increases in consumer spending, government spending, and business investment, van Rijn said. This is really being led by consumers who got these big stimulus checks and are beginning to get vaccinated and getting more confident in spending, as well as businesses starting to re-open and feel more confident.

Van Rijn says he expects the economy to grow at around 6% in 2021, with the growth leveling off to around 4% in 2022.

Thats really strong growth, but we have to remember we had a record decrease in growth last year, so were sort of starting at a lower point and just catching up, he said. At this pace we expect that later this year well be back to the same economic activity we were at pre-pandemic.
Responding to racism will be a journey.

Nothing in recent history more effectively shows this idea than the events of April 20, 2021.

On that day, a jury in Minneapolis found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts brought against him in the May 2020 murder of George Floyd. At about the same time the verdict was being read in Minneapolis, 16-year-old MaKhia Bryant was shot dead by a police officer in Canton, Ohio.

So, as many were rightfully taking stock in the jurys message of accountability, new tears were being shed.

To be sure, the complex problem of systemic racism wont be solved overnight. Its not even a 12-month exercise. CUES is in it for the long haul to provide actionable learning experiences about diversity, equity and inclusion that will put credit union leaders in a position to make a positive difference in their organizations and their communities. One of our most recent initiatives is our DEI Resource Center, which includes links to content and courses, resources and tools, and partners and programs.

As an organization, CUES is enthusiastic about all the communication thats been shared by credit unions and other players in our industry focused on addressing racial equity. Most recently, were pleased to support the formation and growth of the CU DEI Collective. The collective not only recognizes that diversity, equity and inclusion are more important than ever but also provides the opportunity to connect with others so no one in the credit union space has to take the DEI journey alone.

As you reflect on the news, what your organization has done to promote DEI in the past year, and your leadership of DEI so far, consider these three possible steps as a framework for your efforts.

Recommit to being a leader who works to promote diversity, equity and inclusion ideals in your industry, your organization, your team, your community and your life. Make time to learn more about DEI and how to effectively lead people to a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging. You can find lots of excellent resources for this on the DEI Resource Center webpage. Participate in industry dialog on this subject. The newly redesigned CU DEI Collective webpage provides opportunities to pledge support, share your story and get involved.

Leading people to address racial and other kinds of inequality means creating a long-term vision that includes accountability, effective communication, motivating people and, ultimately, deliveringtime and againon your ideals. I hope this column is helpful to you in your efforts.
Galt, CA (95632)

Today

Sunny. High 73F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 47F. SSW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Account holder digital expectations are often being driven by innovative fintechs and credit unions have turned to open banking as an effective way to meet this demand through partnerships with third-party providers (TPPs). Open banking relies on the use of application programming interfaces (APIs) to boost performance and reduce latency, and as with any digital data-sharing process, security and consumer privacy are of top concern.

The most recent F5 Labs research shows that the number of API security incidents is growing every year, and most API incidents during the last two years were related to a low level of security maturity, which is often caused by tool sprawl.

Why APIs Matter in Open Banking

APIs offer many benefits. They give account holders more choice, control, and convenience when sharing their data with TPPs. Credit unions also reap benefitsnot only by achieving data-sharing efficiency but also by getting a more comprehensive view of their members financial lives.

Without API-centric security, the benefits of open banking will never excel over other data-sharing technologies. Earlier this year, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a supplement to OCC Bulletin 2013-29: Third-Party Relationships, in which it cites APIs as an efficient and secure portal through which banks can share sensitive consumer data with data aggregators. According to the OCC, financial institutions that establish bilateral agreements with data aggregators can use APIs to reduce the use of less effective methods like screen scraping while also allowing their account holders to better define and manage the data they wish to share.

APIs dont require members to provide their account login credentials to third-party entities. The ability to safeguard their personal information provides an added comfort level for consumers who enjoy the convenience of using popular financial apps like Venmo, Mint, and others, but because of privacy concerns would prefer not to share usernames and passwords beyond their core banking usage.

The Open Banking Regulatory Outlook

The USA has yet to implement any regulations governing the use of open banking standards, although the OCC has sent out an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR), which would indicate that regulations are on the horizon. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is also preparing an ANPR in the area of consumer-authorized access to financial records, though the Bureaus approach to date has been to allow the industry to develop standards in this area without direct regulatory intervention.

With North America yet to experience regulatory intervention in the open banking arena, globally it is a different story. In Europe, the EU has enacted the Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2), which requires banks to create mechanismsmost commonly APIsto provide data quickly, securely, and reliably to TPPs with the consent of their customers. Other countries, such as the U.K., Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, and Australia likewise are progressing with open banking standards.

Without official regulations in the U.S., the banking industry is moving forward to advance the use of API protocols. Competitive forces are compelling many of the larger banks, such as Wells Fargo and Bank of America, to prioritize implementation of their own API solutions. Joint industry efforts also are underway and may serve as a template for the eventual regulatory standards that dictate the use of APIs.

Achieving Open Banking Standardization

There are signs that federal financial regulators and other government agencies are encouraging industry-driven efforts as a means of enhancing security, privacy, and innovation. The most notable industry effort has come from the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC), which in 2018 launched the Financial Data Exchange (FDX) as a consortium of financial services institutions working together to define, standardize, and secure data transfers.

The mission at FDX is to define an API framework that will put the consumer in the drivers seat regarding how they control and share their financial data. A big step toward that goal occurred earlier this year, when the consortium introduced FDX API 4.0, an updated API standard designed to enhance interoperability and performance for a full range of supported use cases that will enable consumers to have greater control over their savings, investments, digital payments, and tax history.

A Sense of Urgency Around Open Banking

Competitive forces, as well as the potential for imminent regulatory action, provide a sense of urgency around credit unions exploring refined approaches around their APIs. One way to proceed efficiently with the development of an evolved API strategy is to call on an outside expert and deploy the right solutions.

Look for a high-performance, low-latency API management solution and a secure API gateway solution, which permits credit unions to leverage modern security protocols to support microservices-based apps.

Open banking is the way forward in this era of fintech. By being proactive about advancing their open banking initiatives, credit unions will have a leg up on the competition.



F5 has been working closely with our financial services customers worldwide on their Open Banking initiatives. F5 and the analyst firm Twimbit recently collaborated to publish research on the worldwide trends in Open Banking.
From 5 to 6 p.m. on May 6 and 11, the Illinois Coalition for Community Services, Kankakee City Life and Men of Standard are collaborating to host training events for the Police Stops Initiative.
Local

EC police charge Rivers, 3 others with impeding traffic during Brown protest

cday / Chris Day/The Daily Advance Kirk Rivers is seen leading a march in protest of Pasquotank County sheriffs deputies fatal shooting of Andrew Brown Jr., April 25. cday / Chris Day/The Daily Advance A group of protesters are shown on Ehringhaus Street in Elizabeth City protesting the death of Andrew Brown Jr., Thursday, April 22.

Elizabeth City police arrested four protesters, including former City Councilor Kirk Rivers, Monday, charging them with impeding traffic as they marched on Ehringhaus Street calling for release of sheriffs deputies body camera footage in Andrew Brown Jr.s shooting death.

According to Rivers, he and about 50 protesters had a permit to march from the Public Safety Building on Colonial Avenue to the Burger King at the intersection of Ehringhaus Street and Halstead Boulevard.

Rivers, who has led or participated in protests of Browns shooting death every day since they began on April 21, said conditions were rainy, so the marchs participation was smaller than expected. The march was scheduled to take place just hours after Browns funeral at Fountain of Life Church on U.S. Highway 17 South.

Rivers said the marchers were being escorted by police vehicles  10 in front of protesters, 15 behind them  along Ehringhaus Street when the front line of police vehicles suddenly stopped at the intersection of Brooks Avenue.

The officers got out and made a beeline to the young lady who was leading the chant, Rivers said. He said she was using a bullhorn to call out to marchers: Say his name! Release the tapes!

Rivers said he approached officers and told them that the march was being conducted peacefully.

But they kept saying, Youre stopping, youre stopping, Rivers said. I told them if they hadnt stopped, we wouldnt have stopped.

Police officers arrested and handcuffed the woman who had been leading the chant and then arrested and handcuffed him, Rivers said. They also arrested two other protesters and took them all to the Pasquotank Magistrates Office where they were each charged with impeding traffic, sitting, standing or lying, and issued $250 secured bonds, Rivers said.

An official with the Pasquotank County Clerk of Courts Office confirmed the charges and secured bonds and said the other three people arrested included Melissa Matthews, 22, of the 900 block of Small Drive, Elizabeth City; James Goar, 45, of the 1000 block of Honeycutt Ave., Elizabeth City; and Mallory Thornton, 33, of the 1800 block of Daniels Farm Road, Mebane. All have first appearances scheduled for June 24.

Rivers, who took part in another protest on Ehringhaus Street Tuesday night, said he was puzzled by police officers decision to arrest him and the three other marchers.

I guess they decided enough was enough, he said. But Im still a little puzzled because peaceful protests is what weve been all about. Is it disruptive? Yes. But what took place (with Browns shooting) disrupted a familys life.

Asked why police chose to arrest only four protesters, Rivers said thats a question youll need to ask the officers.

A post on the Elizabeth City Police Departments Facebook page at 6:15 p.m. Monday warned motorists to expect delays and road closures on Road Street, Colonial Avenue and Ehringhaus Street as police redirected traffic around citizens exercising their constitutional right to a peaceful protest.

Two subsequent posts, however, said police had issued a warning to protesters who are blocking the roadway and intersections and not walking.

Neither City Manager Montre Freeman nor city police Chief Eddie Buffaloe responded to phone calls Tuesday seeking comment on the arrests.

But during an interview over the weekend, Freeman explained his decision to start requiring protest leaders to secure a permit.

The citys long-standing policy requires a permit to protest on public property, but Freeman said he waived the requirement during the first 10 days of protests following Browns fatal shooting.

We did not want to make an angry, frustrating situation even more tumultuous by requiring a permit to protest, he said. We just did not want to do that.

Freeman believes now, in the third week of protests over Browns shooting death by deputies, and especially after discussing the matter with protest leaders, the city is in a better position to begin enforcing the protest permit ordinance.

Requiring a permit explaining when and where protests will take place and estimates of how many protesters will participate will allow the city to better respond to the protests, Freeman said.

It will allow us to better plan for the protests and inform our citizens where theyll be taking place so we can redirect traffic, he said.

Having more information about the protests will also allow first responders to respond quicker to crimes and other emergencies like fires and to residents who are suffering health crises, he said.

Under the existing ordinance, those seeking to protest are required to get an approved permit 15 days prior to their event on city property. However, Freeman said he planned to waive that requirement for the next 14 days.

Under what he described over the weekend as a two-week grace period, protest leaders can seek a daily permit from the city and get approval the same day, Freeman said.

Rivers said he doesnt agree with either the curfew or the permit to protest, believing they are both infringements on the right to peacefully assemble. He said he met with city officials to discuss the curfew and left the meeting appreciative for officials transparency but still not convinced it was necessary, especially since the protests hes been leading have typically wrapped up at 10:30 p.m.

He said regardless of the obstacles  curfew, permit and now, apparently, no stopping in the street  the protests hes leading dont want to lose focus on their goal: getting the body camera footage of deputies shooting of Andrew Brown Jr. released to Brown familys and the public.

Weve adjusted as the city adjusts, he said. We definitely dont have to agree with them about the curfew or the permit. We will do what we have to do to get our point across about releasing the tape.

The four arrests Monday night werent the first during the Brown protests for impeding traffic. In fact, two other people were charged with impeding traffic at the intersection of Elizabeth and Water streets near the Camden Causeway Bridge on Saturday. Another 18 people have been arrested since the curfew went into effect for violating the curfew.

Asked how the city planned to handle permit violations, Freeman said hell leave that up to Buffaloe. He said he did not envision police shutting down a protest or arresting protesters who violate the conditions of their groups permit.

Sometimes people do things without knowing theyre violating a permit, he said.

He noted the patience police have exercised up until now responding to curfew violators.

During the first night after the curfew, we did not make the first arrest until 9:42 p.m., which was about an hour and 42 minutes later, he said. The next night it (the first arrests) was more than two hours after the curfew.

Freeman said he believes effective community policing requires such restraint, particularly in highly tense situations like Browns shooting death by law enforcement.

Asked what the city plans to do after the two-week grace period, Freeman said it will enforce the 15-day notice requirement.

Responding to criticism Friday from several civil rights groups about the citys decision to enforce the protest permit requirement, Freeman said the city is following the Constitution.

We can regulate the time, place and matter of protests, he said.

Freeman also noted that responsible governance requires the city to be able to balance peaceful protesters rights with the needs of citizens.

I support the protesters, but the protests are not the only thing that is happening in they city, he said. I have to make sure we can respond to the rest of whats going on in the city, too. When a 911 call goes out, our emergency responders need to be able to get to (the caller) to provide the assistance they need.

Freeman encouraged citizens to be patient as we work through this as best we can. He also applauded protesters for honoring their word.

We want to continue to do what we need to to keep the protesters safe and respond to the needs of the citizens of Elizabeth City, he said.
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Caln Township Police Cpl. J. Whisler is shown wearing one of the new department-issued body-worn cameras now in use by every officer.
A stable democracy doesnt threaten to cut off its neighbours energy supplies. That is the sort of behaviour we associate with rogue states.

Putins Russia, for example, sometimes resorts to gas diplomacy to browbeat Ukraine and other nearby states. An energy blockade is calculatedly bellicose  if not exactly an act of war, then certainly a declaration of hostile intent.

Incredibly, such a threat is now being made by the French government against Jersey, a British Crown dependency 14 miles from the Normandy coast, in a row over fishing licences.

In a dramatic development last night, as Boris Johnson pledged his unwavering support for the island, it was announced that two Royal Navy patrol vessels will be sent to monitor this planned French blockade of Jerseys main port.

A stable democracy doesnt threaten to cut off its neighbours energy supplies. That is the sort of behaviour we associate with rogue states. Pictured: French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron stand in front of the tomb of French Emperor Napoleon during a ceremony marking the 200th anniversary of his death in Paris on May 5

Jersey gets most of its electricity from cables that run under that short stretch of water from France. A contract with the French firm EDF, which runs until 2027, provides for over 90 per cent of the islands power  though Jersey Electricity insists that, if supplies are disrupted, it can generate whatever is needed.

Whether or not the French government has the legal authority to override Jerseys contract with EDF, it certainly has the practical capacity: EDF is state-owned.

So when Frances Maritime Minister Annick Girardin threatens retaliatory measures and says France has many levers, notably on the supply of electricity by undersea cables to Jersey, we should take her seriously.

By we, I mean all of us in the United Kingdom, which is responsible for Jerseys international relations. For this is a Brexit dispute  part of a wider EU campaign of intimidation since our decision to leave.

Jersey was never in the EU, and so was never fully part of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Yet it has now been dragged into this argument because of French resentment of the UKs reassertion of control over its territorial waters.

The details of the dispute are technical, almost petty. The UK and the Channel Islands recognise the historic rights of boats that have always fished in their waters. A new system for verifying such claims was brought in when we left the CFP, but not all French skippers were able to comply with it.

Putins Russia, for example, sometimes resorts to gas diplomacy to browbeat Ukraine and other nearby states. An energy blockade is calculatedly bellicose  if not exactly an act of war, then certainly a declaration of hostile intent

This is, in other words, a situation broadly comparable to the imposition of extra checks on British exporters, especially of shellfish, who sold to Continental markets. New procedures mean extra paperwork and, in some cases, lost sales.

How did our Government respond to that earlier dispute? It worked patiently to overcome the new bureaucracy and, in the meantime, it compensated the affected industries.

French ministers, by contrast, have issued public threats rather that engaging quietly with their opposite numbers.

Why such hysterical escalation? This is not the first time that the Channel Islands have been in our front line. Jersey was attacked in 1406 during the Hundred Years War, and again in 1779 and 1781 when France sought to take advantage of the revolution in America.

The island was also occupied by Germany from July 1940 until the surrender in May 1945  a wretched experience that saw its children evacuated to mainland UK, and thus all but killed off the dialect of Norman French that had been widespread.

These days, France is supposed to be a Nato ally. Yet here it is threatening the sort of sanctions that might be more aptly deployed against an enemy, such as North Korea.

Part of the explanation might lie in Emmanuel Macrons increasingly dictatorial behaviour. It is extraordinary to think that the French president was once hailed as a liberal centrist.

During the recent row over vaccines, for example, he made the kinds of statements that get anti-vaxxers banned from social media, claiming that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was ineffective, but simultaneously demanding legal action to get more of it.

His grandiose gestures  yesterday, he laid a wreath at the tomb of Napoleon, who destroyed the French republic with a putsch then plunged Europe into a series of disastrous wars  suggest autocracy rather than moderation.

His grandiose gestures  yesterday, he laid a wreath at the tomb of Napoleon, who destroyed the French republic with a putsch then plunged Europe into a series of disastrous wars  suggest autocracy rather than moderation. Pictured: Macron and his wife stand in front of the tomb of Napoleon during a ceremony on May 5

Perhaps he is worried about the rise of Marine Le Pen, who is catching up with him in the polls. Last week, the leader of the National Rally endorsed a letter written by 20 retired generals that hinted at a military intervention to prevent France sliding into chaos  a letter backed, according to the polls, by 58 per cent of French voters.

Perhaps Macron wants to burnish his nationalist credentials. Perhaps he calculates that bashing the Brits (in the eyes of most French voters, Jerseymen count as Brits) plays well with the home crowd. Or perhaps he sees himself as another Bonaparte, leading France to glory.

Whatever the explanation, he plainly likes to exaggerate his quarrels with the UK, not least over fisheries.

If it were solely a row about fishing vessels licences, we might be able to shrug it off. But this is the latest in a series of salvoes that have been fired at Britain since the Brexit vote.

Some of these have been micro-aggressions: sneering tweets from Eurocrats or outrageous claims by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, that the UK is prohibiting vaccine exports.

Others have been more serious. The UK, for example, has granted what is known as equivalence to EU financial services companies, allowing them to operate here as if regulated in the UK. This is a normal courtesy among developed countries. But the EU refuses to reciprocate.

Then there was the vaccine blockade, in which Macron played such a low role. Embarrassed because they had been slow to place orders, and desperate to deflect blame, the European Commission announced a targeted embargo from which every neighbouring country was exempted except the UK.

Most seriously, there is the determination in Brussels to use the Northern Ireland Protocol to force Britain to follow its rules. Many of the EUs constituent nations are our allies, but the Brussels institutions cannot be considered well-disposed.

Eurocrats see our economic success, not as an opportunity to sell more to their largest market, but as an affront. They view Britain, not as a partner, but as a renegade province.

And how should we respond?

One obvious step is to reduce our dependence on electricity generated in the EU. We mustnt be in a position again where we can be blackmailed as Jersey is.

More widely, we need to rethink our geopolitical goals. Just as our trade is going global, so should our strategic assumptions. For decades, we rightly focused on the defence of Europe through Nato.

But can we continue to defend an antagonistic EU, with all the joint operations and intelligence-sharing implied?

Our truest friends, like our richest prospects, lie across the oceans. It is clearly time to raise our eyes.

Lord Hannan is a former Conservative MEP and serves on the UK Board of Trade.
Promises are sacred in politics as in life, and despite all that has happened, governments usually do their utmost to keep them.

Many fair-minded people welcomed a pledge in the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto that a Tory administration would introduce legislation to 'create a system which prevents vexatious claims being brought against Armed Forces veterans'.

This undertaking was not to be delivered at some unspecified time in the future. It would be fulfilled within 'the first 100 days of a Tory Government'.

Many more than 100 days have passed since Boris Johnson's stunning election victory, and the Overseas Operations Bill only passed into law last week. It provides some protection against 'vexatious claims' being brought against British servicemen.

But there is a whopping hole in what is now an Act that was not prefigured in the Tory manifesto. British Army veterans who served in Northern Ireland are excluded. They still face 'vexatious claims', most of which go back half a century.

Indeed, while servicemen who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan are probably now safe from baseless prosecution, there are about 200 former soldiers who, having served Queen and country in Northern Ireland, live in a state of dread.

They are old now. Forty or 50 years ago, they were young, usually working-class men, often recruited in the North of England or Scotland, who were plunged into the mindless violence of Belfast and Londonderry, where their lives were threatened by ruthless terrorists.

Johnny Mercer speaks to a group of veterans and their supporters as the trial of two Northern Ireland serving paratrooper veterans accused of murdering Official IRA member Joe McCann in 1972 collapses, on May 4

Flawed

We saw two of them in court in Belfast this week. Soldier A (aged 71) and Soldier C (70) were charged with the murder of Joe McCann in 1972. McCann was a 24-year-old IRA killer and 'skilled gunman' who has been blamed for the deaths of 15 soldiers in Northern Ireland.

Fortunately, Soldier A and Soldier C were acquitted after the judge ruled that the prosecution was using inadmissible evidence. It had accepted that statements made by the defendants in 1972 were defective, and yet relied on the fact that they had then gone along with these flawed statements in 2010. The judge wisely ended the trial.

Why the Northern Ireland Prosecution Service has pursued this case since 2016 one can only speculate, though some allege it has come under political pressure from Sinn Fein.

What is clear is that the exoneration of Soldier A and Soldier C, after what must have been a gruelling and bewildering few years for both of them, had nothing whatsoever to do with the British Government.

The 200-odd veterans who face prosecution may draw some comfort from the collapse of the trial since they too could be the victims of an appalling abuse of process.

But these old men, who once served their country and put their lives on the line, will not be able to live in peace until or unless the Government makes good its manifesto promise.

Boris Johnson once understood their plight. During his campaign for the Tory leadership in the summer of 2019, he said: 'We need to end unfair trials of people who served their Queen and country when no new evidence has been produced and when the accusations have already been exhaustively questioned in court.' Quite right.

He has subsequently discovered, or been advised, that protecting Northern Ireland veterans from 'vexatious claims' could be a legal minefield. If ex-servicemen were to be granted an amnesty, former IRA and Loyalist killers would claim the same indulgence.

Boris Johnson rides a bike near the towpath of the Stourbridge canal in the West Midlands during a Conservative party local election visit Wednesday May 5

Shameful

The fact remains that there is a de facto amnesty for former terrorists while a large number of veterans face possible legal action. Following the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, Tony Blair covertly authorised 'letters of comfort' which were sent to more than 200 suspected terrorists, guaranteeing them that they would not be prosecuted.

This led, in 2014, to the collapse of the trial of John Downey, a suspect in the 1982 IRA bombing in Hyde Park which killed four soldiers, after it emerged that he had been sent one of these comfort letters.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of former terrorists walking the streets of Northern Ireland whom the authorities have either chosen not to prosecute, or else can't for lack of evidence.

Meanwhile, Army veterans are targeted because they are law-abiding citizens and easy pickings. One of them, Dennis Hutchings, was interrogated by police on 25 separate occasions, ten of them on one day, despite his having a debilitating kidney disease.

He is due to stand trial later this year in Belfast at the age of 80 on charges of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm in County Tyrone in 1974. This is notwithstanding the fact that he was cleared at the time, and told in 2011 that the case was closed.

Isn't the grotesquely unequal treatment being meted out to former terrorists and ex-servicemen shameful? What kind of country have we become that hounds veterans while sparing killers?

I have no doubt that some soldiers behaved recklessly and, on a few occasions, illegally. But even then they were not in the same moral sewer as the terrorists. British soldiers did not deliberately kill women and children, or blow up shops and hotels, or extort protection money. They were trying to keep the peace.

Note, too, that of the more than 3,500 people killed in the Troubles, fewer than 10 per cent were attributable to the British Armed Forces. Yet it is these Armed Forces, not the terrorists, who find themselves in the dock.

How depressing  if predictable  that the BBC should have responded to the collapse of the Belfast trial by parading Aine McCann (daughter of Joe McCann, and aged three at the time of his death) as though she were some kind of victim.

On Radio 4's Today programme, for example, she was unchallenged during an interview when she claimed that her father had been 'defamed' during the case and faced 'ridiculous accusations'. She denied, without being taken to task, that he had killed 15 soldiers, though it was part of agreed evidence in court that the IRA claimed he had.

Stain

Perhaps the BBC is simply ignorant about the recent past. Or perhaps it, too, has accepted the monstrous falsehood that there is no moral distinction between what terrorists did in Northern Ireland and the activities of British servicemen.

The Prime Minister may have a lot on his plate, but a promise is a promise. He originally backed the cause of the veterans  including Northern Ireland ones  because he believed in it. He must not drop it now because of legal complexities.

Incidentally, I can raise only half a cheer for Johnny Mercer, who resigned last month as Veterans' Minister, citing the Government's failure to help former Northern Ireland servicemen. He had been piloting the Overseas Operations Bill through Parliament for a year in the knowledge that they were excluded.

We cannot go on watching the persecution of old men who served their country while terrorists are allowed to get off scot-free. It is a shameful betrayal, a stain on the Government's honour. Boris Johnson made a promise, and he must keep it.
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A former paratrooper who had her military dreams crushed after she was diagnosed with bladder cancer has revealed how her boyfriend dealt her a further blow by breaking up with her because she had become 'too skinny' during her recovery.

Stephanie Pilipovich, now 23, from San Bernardino, California, first joined the US military in February 2017, having graduated as a paratrooper that same year.

But just 18 months later, Stephanie was diagnosed with bladder cancer while stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, and her dream of a long military career came crashing down around her.

Stephanie first began experiencing bladder issues in April 2018, when she started suffering from recurrent UTIs. However doctors initially put her symptoms down to tiredness from all the hard work she had put in during her paratrooper training - as well as the extreme conditions that she faced while camping in the cold.

Battle: A former paratrooper has revealed how her military dreams were dashed when she was diagnosed with bladder cancer - only for her boyfriend to then dump her during recovery

Upset: Stephanie Pilipovich, now 23, was diagnosed with cancer in 2018, after battling UTIs for six months, and she had to undergo surgery to remove a tumor from her bladder

Shrinking: During her recovery, Stephanie had to give up her rigorous paratrooper training and quit the gym, and her weight plummeted to 105lbs (pictured), prompting her ex to leave her

Transformation: In 2020, Stephanie was also diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, which contributed to her weight loss - however she has since found a way to get healthy again

But six months later her symptoms had failed to go away, so she was referred to a urologist - who discovered that Stephanie had a tumor on her bladder.

'I was so scared but also a little relieved to finally have some answers after suffering for six months,' she told Jam Press.

'Bladder cancer is much more common in elderly women in the 60- to 80-year-old category so for half a year it wasn't on the doctors' radar.

'I just kept trying to stay hydrated and rest to get rid of UTIs but they came back every month without fail. I knew something wasn't right and now I could get treatment.

'I had to go to all my appointments alone as I was stationed so far from home.

'Finally I was referred to see a specialist and I had so many tests  a cystoscopy, CAT scan, MRI and two biopsies  which eventually confirmed I had a cancerous tumor.

'After my diagnosis I felt so hopeless. I've never felt so alone.

'My anxieties meant I became really withdrawn and isolated myself from everyone in my life. I didn't have the energy to stay in touch.'

Thankfully, the doctors explained that Stephanie had Stage Ta noninvasive papillary carcinoma  the earliest stage of bladder cancer that involves only the surface layer of the bladder.

Luckily, the disease hadn't spread and doctors swiftly booked in Stephanie to have the tumor removed in a procedure called TURBT, where the tumor is extracted through the urethra instead of open surgery.

That was in November 2018 and because the tumor hadn't spread Stephanie didn't have to endure chemo or radiotherapy  although doctors continue to monitor her to make sure it doesn't come back.

Stephanie struggled with the changes to her life, saying: 'I had to quit the gym and I'd always been really fit. I just wanted to hide away.

Nervous: When Stephanie left the military in 2020, she was devastated, and felt completely lost because she didn't know what she could do with her life

Then and now: After her break-up and her hypothyroidism diagnosis, Stephanie (pictured left at 110lbs) reinvented herself as a model

Rise above it: Although she was devastated to have to leave the military because of her medical issues, Stephanie says modeling has given her a new purpose in life

Heartbreak: 'I wanted to make the military my whole life,' she said. 'This was where I thought I would belong forever. 'When I had to leave, I went back into a state of deep depression'

'I had 10 days leave from work after my surgery and then I went back to work on light duties for two weeks.

'It took all my strength to show up and be strong. I had to put on a mask because inside I was in a really dark place.

'When I was on my own I just cried.

'It felt like a chapter in my life book that I would just burn. I hated every moment but now I can see how much I learnt from reaching my lowest point.

'It took me some time but after making a good physical recovery from surgery I took up weightlifting to build up my physical and mental resilience.

'I was a paratrooper. I needed to feel strong to perform well in my job.'

After her surgery, Stephanie had a very hard time recovering from the weight loss that happened as a result.

She first put this down to anxiety and depression, turning to yoga and medication to control her health and fitness levels.

The model also claims one of her exes ex, not named for privacy reasons, said she was 'too skinny' and broke up with her because of it.

Experienced: Stephanie has put her time in the military (left) to good use in her modeling career, posing for themed shoots with weapons brands and modeling camouflage gear

New direction: While she no longer gets the thrill of jumping out of planes with the military, Stephanie is flown to all kinds of exotic locations for photo shoots

She said: 'He told me I was too skinny and needed to put on some weight, and I found out he was repeatedly cheating on with me with other people who were more his type.'

On a routine follow-up for the bladder cancer, Stephanie told her doctor that she was still losing weight at an alarming rate.

In July 2020, the model was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, an overactive immune system condition which along with other conditions was likely contributing to the difficulty in gaining weight.

Doctors believed there might also be a genetic link to the model's medical issues  but unfortunately, as she was adopted, they were unable to do the required testing to find this out for sure.

Stephanie was medically retired from the US Army in 2020, due to continued health complications.

She said: 'I wanted to make the military my whole life. This was where I thought I would belong forever.

'When I had to leave, I went back into a state of deep depression, not knowing what I would do after I got out.

'I had a friend who had left a year before and she offered to help me find some direction on what to do.'

Stephanie turned to social media  the first step in her journey to becoming a model.

She said: 'In September 2020, I set up my OnlyFans and tried to grow my Instagram profile with lingerie modelling and military-themed sexy shoots.'

While she misses life in the military, Stephanie's new job does come with some great perks.

Instead of jumping from planes, she now flies inside them to luxury locations for photoshoots in Miami and Las Vegas.

Stephanie has posed for military shoots with weapons brands and modelled camouflage gear  but a lot of her income is also generated through OnlyFans.

She added: 'I was just 18 when I joined, the army was my whole personality, I was on 24/7.

'Leaving the career I loved has been a huge transition. I took six months off and tried to create a plan for myself going forward.

'Jumping from planes was such a high scale adrenaline-filled existence. So I am trying to find a balance in my life now that my time is my own.

'A year ago, I could barely afford my car payment and I lived in a one-bedroom apartment and had to depend on assistance to meet my bills.

'Now, I am able to live in a three-bedroom home, financing my next business adventure and finally able to pay back all the people who helped me along the way.

'Modeling takes a different kind of bravery from my army days.

'In a way it is much more frightening putting my true self out there.'

Her medical condition is still an issue but Stephanie is working with doctors to map her genetics, which they hope will help in learning more about her symptoms.

She added: 'I have risen above my demons and I am thankful for the life I have and as dark as it may seem sometimes, I know that if I am able to make it through, then others can as well.'
An Australian country bakery has issued an irresistible challenge for its customers and brave foodies alike - to demolish one of their huge one-kilogram doughnuts.

The Kenilworth Country Bakery is tucked away in the Sunshine Coast's hinterland and is famous for its doughnuts.

The bakery opens at 7am and closes at 1pm - unless they sell out of their delicious pastries sooner.

An Australian country bakery has issued an irresistible challenge for its customers and brave foodies alike - to demolish one of their huge one-kilogram doughnuts

The Kenilworth Country Bakery is tucked away in the Sunshine Coast's hinterland and is famous for its doughnuts

The bakery opens at 7am and closes at 1pm - unless they sell out of their delicious pastries sooner

One of their most popular doughnuts is the one kilogram challenge doughnut.

It costs $20, but if you finish it and take a video of you finishing the doughnut, you get your money back.

Poll Could you eat this donut? Yes No Could you eat this donut? Yes 65 votes

No 31 votes Now share your opinion





The challenge doughnuts are available in six flavours.

There is a giant custard and cream filled creation as well as jam and cream and Nutella and cream creations.

For those looking for something a little more unique there's the beestings variant, but that costs $25.

For people who like their doughnuts served with a little less cream there's the more traditional chocolate and strawberry glazed options on offer.

And customers are stepping up to the challenge - giving themselves 'points for trying' when they fail to get through the huge dessert.

One of their most popular doughnuts is the one kilogram challenge doughnut, it costs $20 but if you finish it you get your money back

The challenge doughnuts are available in six flavours

'Only made it half way through!' one woman exclaimed, sharing a picture of herself grinning with a jam and cream filled doughnut.

While one woman shared a time lapse video of herself methodically tackling the whole thing.

And another was keen to do the challenge again.

'Take me back, this was only a week ago but I am ready for more doughnuts,' one woman said.

There is a giant custard and cream filled creation as well as jam and cream and Nutella and cream creations

'Take me back, this was only a week ago but I am ready for more doughnuts,' one woman said

Others were keen to give it a go.

'I could probably give this one kilo doughnut challenge a fair crack,' one man said.

Some know their limits without trying the challenge.

'Their doughnuts are bloody good, but there is no way I could eat that,' one man laughed.
Foodies are rejoicing over the return of a wildly popular Aldi cheese that has previously sold out twice.

The 200g blocks of Le Pave cheese were re-stocked on store shelves around Australia after being discontinued for more than a year.

The French cheese has a decadent, creamy texture and is said to be better than the popular French cheese, D'Affinois - which retails for three times the price.

This time the $5.99 buy is accompanied by a new Le Pico cheese made from goat's milk.

Aldi Australia has rereleased their wildly popular Le Pave cheese (right) after being discontinued for over a year, and this time a new Le Pico cheese made from goat's milk was also added to store shelves (left)

The two products were spotted by Aldi customers who shared the news on social media.

'Pave is back!!! And it brought a friend!' one woman wrote online and shared an image to the Aldi Mums Facebook group.

'My prayers have been answered,' one shopper said and shared her excitement, while another added: 'Yes! It's been gone for a year now.'

The Le Pico cheese is also already proving popular and selling out.

The two products were spotted by loyal Aldi customers who shared the news on social media

Both cheeses would be ideal to enjoy on a baguette or with crackers and quince paste on a grazing platter

Both cheeses are ideal to enjoy on a baguette or with crackers and quince paste on a grazing platter.

The alternative D'Affinois cheese retails for up to $18 in major supermarkets - a figure more than three times the $5.99 price of Aldi's Le Pave.

'We are proud of the award-winning cheese range on offer at Aldi, including our popular Le Pave cheese,' an Aldi spokesperson previously told Daily Mail Australia.

'Le Pave is produced within the Pays de la Loire region of France at one of the largest remaining dairy cooperatives in the country. To ensure its quality, the product is airfreighted to Australia on a weekly basis.'
Holiday-starved Australians are flocking to a hidden cliff overlooking the ocean that looks just like a spot along the Mediterranean coast.

You'd be forgiven for thinking the Pillars was an upscale European resort, but it's really a set of sandstone cliffs on the Mornington Peninsula, 83 kilometres south of Melbourne.

Travellers have been visiting the cliffs to sate their hunger for adventure while Australia's international borders remain closed, with any reopening beyond New Zealand's trans-Tasman bubble unlikely until October at the earliest.



Popular among swimmers, cliff jumpers and photographers in search of scenic landscape shots, the 'Instagrammable' destination has been thronged with millennials since the start of summer.

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Holiday-starved Australians are flocking to a hidden cliff overlooking the ocean that looks just like a spot along the Mediterranean coast

Travellers have been visiting the cliffs to sate their hunger for adventure while Australia's international borders remain closed

The cliffs can be reached by driving to Marguerita Avenue in Mount Martha, parking along a few streets back from the beach and walking towards Deakin Drive.

There are no signs for the Pillars, but a well-worn walking trail just off Deakin Drive leads down to the water.

Social media is littered with rave reviews from visitors, with many branding it one of Victoria's 'must see' attractions.

'Proof we don't need to travel very far for a taste of Europe,' one woman wrote under an Instagram photo of the crystal clear water.

'Glorious spot,' said a second, while a third added: 'Major Mediterranean vibes.'

Social media is littered with rave reviews from visitors, with many branding it one of Victoria's 'must see' attractions

Popular among swimmers, cliff jumpers and photographers, the 'Instagrammable' destination has been thronged with millennials since the start of summer

Travellers say the Pillars (pictured) are 'proof we don't need to travel very far for a taste of Europe'

A video uploaded to TikTok by travel blogger The Wanderlust Times shows visitors plunging into the turquoise water as the sun beams down on the golden cliff face.

The clip, which has racked up over 700,000 'likes' since it was posted online on February 28, has drawn hundreds of delighted responses.

However local viewers were less impressed, with some slamming the videographer for encouraging tourists to 'invade' the area.

The Pillars are not the only breathtaking Australian attraction drawing record numbers of tourists this year.

An 'enchanting' laneway (pictured) tinged with a yellow haze is drawing tourists to the Blue Mountains of New South Wales

Tucked down a side street in Meadow Flat, the lane comes alive in autumn when the leaves of the trees turn gold

Further north, Sydneysiders are spending their weekends at an 'enchanting' laneway tinged with a yellow haze that's hidden in the Blue Mountains.

Tucked down a side street in Meadow Flat, a tiny town of 311 about 166 kilometres west of Sydney CBD, the lane comes alive in autumn when the leaves of the trees turn gold.

Millennials have been flocking to the lane to take photos to fill their Instagram feeds while overseas travel remains a distant dream.

Meadow Flat, a tiny town of 311 residents 166km west of Sydney

Travel-starved millennials have been flocking to the lane (pictured) to take photos to fill their Instagram feeds while Australia's international borders remain shut

These photos have drawn delighted responses online, with many marvelling over the vibrancy of Australia's landscape.

'Those colours are incredible,' one woman wrote.

'In disbelief at how gorgeous this is,' said a second.
A first time mum is swearing by a 'miracle' $9.95 beauty product for clearing up her stretch marks just months after giving birth.

Eliza, from Brisbane, noticed a huge difference with her tummy after using Original Coffee Scrub by Australian brand Frank Body.

She shared a glowing review on Instagram, along with pictures, taken 10 months apart, showing how just much her skin has improved since using the product.

Eliza, from Brisbane, is swearing by a 'miracle' $9.95 beauty product for clearing up her stretch marks just months after giving birth. She shared photos

The best-selling beauty buy, which costs $9.95 for 100grams or $16.95 for 200grams, claims to remove dry skin while helping to fade stretch marks, reduce cellulite and breakouts

'I just wanted to say your coffee scrub is amazing and really works! First picture taken one week postpartum and the second taken 10 months postpartum,' she said.

The best-selling beauty buy, which costs $9.95 for 100grams or $16.95 for 200grams, claims to remove dry skin while helping to fade stretch marks, reduce cellulite and breakouts.

Described as a 'must-have', the product has been a huge hit among thousands of shoppers around the world, with a near-perfect average star rating of 4.8 out of five.

Many fans of the brand revealed they have been using the exfoliating scrub for 'years' because it 'never fails to disappoint'.

Described as a 'must-have', the product has been a huge hit among thousands of shoppers around the world, with a near-perfect average star rating of 4.8 out of five

Many fans of the brand revealed they have been using the exfoliating scrub for 'years' because it 'never fails to disappoint' (picture of a shopper using the coffee scrub)

'I was so sceptical the first time someone suggested Frank body scrub. But that was six years ago now and it is still something I use every week,' one customer wrote.

'It's amazing! It leaves my skin feeling so fresh and smooth. I use it top to toe and I feel so invigorated after using it and love the smell of coffee.'

Another added: 'I've been using the scrub for about eight years and it's an absolute staple in my shower. It's cute but actually works! Hello glowing, bump free skin.'

Dozens claimed the product has helped removed blemishes from their body, including cellulite, stretch marks, lumps and bumps and even fake tan.

'I started using this when I was pregnant with my second baby because my skin became so dry and itchy. This scrub was brilliant in helping both skin issues. I have minimal stretch marks and my skin is the smoothest it has ever been,' one wrote.

And another added: 'I have eczema and very sensitive skin, this is the only body scrub I can use that does not irritate or flare up my eczema. It also helps to get rid of my eczema as well as reduce the appearance of my stretch marks.'
Before accepting a new job offer, career experts have revealed the signs you should rethink the position - and how to politely decline the role if needed.

Sue Ellson, a self-described LinkedIn specialist and career advisor from Melbourne, said it's critical to consider the offer prior to writing a written acceptance letter.

'You need to assess every job offer, even if you applied for the role, with a range of criteria,' Sue told Daily Mail Australia.

Before accepting a new job offer, career experts have revealed the signs you should rethink the position - and how to politely decline the role if needed (stock image)

The role won't help you reach your goals

Before accepting the new position, it's essential to consider whether the role aligns with your values and goals.

As many job hunters often have clear career prospects, it's important to ask yourself if the new position will allow you to achieve these targets.

Sue Ellson (pictured) said it's critical to consider the offer received prior to writing a written acceptance letter

The role doesn't align with your strengths

Next, question whether the position aligns with your strengths and acquired skills.

Resident psychologist at recruitment company Seek, Sabina Read, said those who use their strengths at work are likely to be more productive and have a greater wellbeing.

'When we use our strengths, work generally feels easier and more enjoyable,' she said.

'On the flip side, in a role where we can't use our strengths we may procrastinate, feel bored and lose confidence.'

The role doesn't align with the context of your life

Other factors that may impact the decision-making process might include how the position would impact the context of your life.

This could include the location of the company and commute times, the benefits and if your lifestyle would need to change significantly.

'It's natural to want to do the 'right thing' and accept an offer, but it's okay to recognise that while it's a compliment, not every role will be the best fit for you right now,' Ms Read said.

Other factors that may impact the decision-making process might include how the position would impact the context of your life

The offer was quick and unexpected

How to politely decline a job offer: Don't procrastinate Keep it simple and to the point Say 'thank you' Provide a reason but don't get specific Consider offering to stay in touch Source: Indeed Advertisement

Sue advised to be wary if the role was offered quickly after the interview process, as some companies often have a desire to 'fill the position' and rush potential employees into making a decision.

'If it was an unexpected contact from a recruiter with a short deadline to make a decision, you must not rush your decision,' she said.

'It can be very flattering to be "head hunted" and particularly if it is for a similar role with a higher pay, but remember that the recruiter is not interested in your goals, they are interested in placing you and securing their fee.'

She also highlighted that all job offers do not need to be accepted.

'Just because you have received an offer, it does not mean you have to accept it,' she said.

'You can politely say, "Thank you for the offer. Unfortunately it is not the right fit for me at this time and I wish you all the best in your search for the right candidate".

'If you would like to maintain contact for a future offer, you could add, "If another opportunity within your enterprise in the area of X becomes available, please contact me again".'
The Duchess of Sussex has been accused of ripping off writer Corrinne Averiss' story with her debut book The Bench - but the British author has insisted she sees 'no similarities' between the two.

In a statement announcing the book yesterday, Meghan Markle, 39, said her children's book, which will be published on June 8 by Random House, was inspired by a poem she wrote for Prince Harry at the time of the birth of their son Archie.

Royal watchers have been quick to point out similarities between the story and a children's book by Manchester-based Corrinne Averiss, The Boy and The Bench, which was released in 2018.

Both books feature similar colourful illustrations and a story centred around the 'special bond' between a father and son as they sit on a bench together.

One Twitter user commented: 'Almost identical to Corrinne Averiss book 'The Boy On the Bench', even the cover.'

However, in a statement, Corrinne insisted: 'Reading the description and published excerpt of the Duchesss new book, this is not the same story or the same theme as The Boy on the Bench. I dont see any similarities apart from the use of a bench - which exist in as many stories as they do parks and gardens.'

It comes as sources told Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl Meghan plans to write more books in the future, revealing: 'She wanted to have a go at writing a childrens book first and depending on the success of this, there will be more. She is also keen to write books for adults too.'

The Duchess of Sussex, 39, has been accused of ripping off a British children's author with her debut book The Bench

Corrinne Averiss' book features similar illustrations of a father and son sitting on a bench together, and is described online as a 'gentle, empathetic story about overcoming fears and being yourself'

One illustration from Corrinne's book captures a birds-eye view of a father and son sitting together on a park bench (left), while Meghan's new book features a similar image (right)

According to Corrinne's author biography on Amazon, she is 'drawn to themes of identity and belonging' in her books and aims to 'deliver big feelings with humour and tenderness'

Another wrote: 'I hope the author she ripped off is going to sue her, the cheek of this woman! The Boy on the Bench by Corrinne Averiss.'

Corrinne's book features a story about a father and son enjoying nature from a bench and their bond with one another.

According to an online description, the book follows the father and son as they visit a playground but the main character, Tom, doesn't feel brave enough to join in with the other children.

The description continues: 'Tom can't see a space for himself anywhere in the playground. Not on the slide, or on the roundabout or on the swings.

Royal fans were quick to point out similarities between the boys, suggesting the covers, graphic and story were 'almost identical'

'But when a little girl loses her teddy, will Tom have the courage to help?'

Online, it is described as a 'gentle, empathetic story about overcoming fears and being yourself'.

Illustrations in the story, which was released months before Meghan gave birth to son Archie, include a father and son sitting together on a bench, as well as a birds-eye view of the duo together.

Meanwhile, other illustrations show a diverse group of children playing together.

Meanwhile another illustration in Corrinne's book, which came out in 2018 months before Meghan and Harry welcomed their son Archie, sees a father and son cuddling up on a bench (left). The Duchess' book contains a similar image (right)

Who is Corrine Averiss, the author who began writing children's books while working for kid's TV? Corrinne Averiss grew up in the Midlands, before going on to study English Literature in St Andrews. She has since settled in Manchester with her husband, daughter and tabby cat. She began working as a writer and producer, and worked her way up to head of CITVs creative team. She created the four-time Childrens BAFTA-winning Share a Story competition. She also worked at CBBC and co-created Pip Ahoy! for Milkshake. Her first book, A Dot in the Snow, was published in 2014 and was shortlisted for the CILIP Greenaway award, featured on CBeebies Bedtime Stories and in The Sunday Times Books of the Year 2016. She has since ten published titles for Andersen Press, Egmont, Oxford University Press, Quarto, Stripes and Hachette, including The Boy on the Bench. My Pet Star illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw won Sainsburys Childrens Book of the Year in 2019 and will reach over 450,000 homes as part of Booktrusts Pyjamarama campaign in 2020. Corrinne is currently developing a new stop-motion preschool series called Tweedy & Fluff. Advertisement

Corrinne, who has spent much of her life working in childrens TV as a producer and director at companies including Ragdoll, CITV and CBeebies, has written several books for children.

According to her Amazon biography, she is also 'drawn to themes of identity and belonging' in her books and aims to 'deliver big feelings with humour and tenderness'.

Meanwhile Meghan's book, The Bench similarly aims to explore the 'special bond between father and son' as 'seen through a mother's eyes.'

It will be illustrated by bestselling Californian artist Christian Robinson, who called it a 'celebration of the relationship between father and son.'

A publicity release said Meghan, who chose to use her title on the cover of the book, wanted the story to be told through an 'inclusive lens' and will feature a 'diverse group of father and sons'.

In one illustration, a red-headed soldier wearing an American-style Army cap is seen holding his young son aloft as a woman watches on crying from a window. This is a likely reference to her and Harry, who served in Afghanistan with the Blues and Royals. The words read: 'This is your bench, Where life will begin, For you and our son our baby, our kin'.

In another, a father and son can be seen from a birds-eye view as they rest together on a park bench.

Royal fans were quick to point out similarities between the two story books, with one person commenting: 'This was stolen from Corinne Averiss - The Boy on the Bench, check it out on Amazon.

'The graphics and the colours are almost identical. She is about as authentic as a $3 bill.'

Another wrote: 'Before you run and out and waste money on the book by Harry's wife, read The Boy on the Bench by Corrinne Averiss and Gabriel Alborozo. The original.'

Meghan, who went by the pen name 'Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex', announced in a statement yesterday: 'The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father's Day, the month after Archie was born.

'That poem became this story. Christian layered in beautiful and ethereal watercolour illustrations that capture the warmth, joy, and comfort of the relationship between fathers and sons from all walks of life; this representation was particularly important to me, and Christian and I worked closely to depict this special bond through an inclusive lens.

'My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the makeup, as much as it does with mine.'

Sources close to the Duchess have revealed she has long aspired to write a children's book and hopes to write more in the future.

They told Vanity Fair the royal 'loves writing' and is 'very good at it.'
'No nonsense' Princess Anne could be offered Prince Harry and Prince Philip's royal and military patronages because she has commanded 'the respect of the armed forces', an expert has claimed.

According to Thomas Mace-Archer-Mills, founder of the British Monarchists Society, the Queen's only daughter, 70, should receive the titles because she is considered the 'hardest-working' member of the Royal Family.

He also noted that the Princess Royal is married to 'military man' Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence - adding that her 'no nonsense' attitude is 'what the military is about'.

'Princess Anne is very happy where she is: she's not one for fuss, just like her father,' he said, speaking to The Daily Star. 'She's time after time considered the hardest working member of the Royal Family.

Pictured, Princess Anne walks past the Australian war memorial during a Dawn Service to commemorate Anzac Day, in London, Britain April 25, 2021

Pictured, Prince Harry during the funeral of Prince Philip on April 17, 2021 in Windsor

'It would be a shock if she was not at least given the opportunity to decline some of those patronages that have opened up.

'She is no nonsense, duty, to the point, she's not one for small talk, she tells it straight and that's what the military is about.

'Her very demeanour is very good for the patronages that her father had.'

Buckingham Palace previously announced Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had been stripped of their remaining roles following their move to California.

Pictured, Prince Philip at the battle of Trafalgar Bicentenary Commemoration service at St Paul's Cathedral, London, on 23 October, 2005

The Princess Royal (left) alongside Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence (right) attends a Dawn Service at the Australian war memorial at Wellington Arch in London earlier this morning

Their patronages have been returned to the Queen before being re-distributed among remaining working royals - including Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Anne.

The Duke of Edinburgh was associated with 992 organisations, either as President, Patron, Honorary Member until his death at Windsor Castle earlier this month, where they were returned to Her Majesty.

Since then, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence attended two commemorative services in London on behalf of the royal family.

They were among a reduced number attending the Anzac Day Dawn Service at Wellington Arch, where the princess laid a wreath at both the Australian and New Zealand War Memorials, and signed a book of remembrance.

The couple then visited Westminster Abbey for the Anzac Day Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving.

Thomas Mace-Archer-Mills added: 'She is constantly doing what's expected of the Crown and there's a very big difference between her work and those of her nephew Harry's, so she's going to be picking up a lot of work in the coming years because the Crown is down a player.

'There's a few that are open from the patronages that where returned to the Queen from Harry.'
The father of one of the UK's youngest transgender children, insists that his four-year-old son has 'never been a girl' from birth.

Matthew Stubbings, and wife Klara Jeynes, both 44, from Doncaster, say their son Stormy, who was born a twin and assigned female gender at birth, first began showing signs of identifying as male at just 18-months-old.

Stormy's father says his son 'hated pigtails and dresses' or even 'pretty shoes', and at the age of two-and-a-half told his family: 'I'm not a girl, I think I'm a boy'.

However, he says the family have faced a struggle getting some adults to accept Stormy's decision - with many still insisting on calling him a girl.

Father-of-two Matthew Stubbings, from Doncaster, says his transgender son Stormy, four, has never identified as female despite being assigned that gender at birth (Pictured Stormy in a recent photograph)

Dad Matthew, a Highway Maintenance Manager, says his son knew as soon as he could talk that he wanted to express that he was a boy and not a girl

Stormy, born Emerald, was assigned the female gender at birth, but has now been referred to the Tavistock Clinic in London

Twins: Stormy's mother, Klara Jeynes, with her son Arlo, left, and trans son Stormy, right, pictured when she was living as a female toddler

Matthew, a divisional manager of a highways maintenances company, told his story in a post on LinkedIn, urging people to 'accept others for who they are in life', sharing a photo of Stormy with a new short and spiky haircut.

In his post, the South Yorkshire dad said: 'This is one of my sons. A bright, happy boy who loves his life.

'What many people don't know is that when he was born he was 'sexed' as a girl. His gender identity, what's in his head, doesn't match his physical sex.

'I am so proud that he knows who he is and isn't constrained by societal norms and prejudices. We can all learn something from this small boy and I learn every day. Everyone is different.'

He added in the post: 'We all need accept that people are different and not try to force those around us to fit into a box that suits us.

'Accepting people for who they are is the only way to encourage innovation, embrace growth and harness the best in everyone. I have permission from my son to post this. He is proud of who he is.'

Sharing photos on LinkedIn of Stormy's new haircut, dad Matthew said 'nine times out of 10', his son will say he's a boy

His dad's emotive post has seen hundreds of positive comments about Stormy's story

The twins pictured as babies, with Arlo wearing traditional boys clothes and Stormy, left, dressed in garments considered more female

By the age of two-and-a-half, Stormy had made clear to her parents that she thought she was a boy and asked to stop wearing pigtails

The LinkedIn post received almost 300 reactions and dozens of comments from people heaping on praise for the 'inspirational' note.

Matthew said: 'I decided to post about Stormy because I'm exceptionally proud of him.

'He'd just had his hair cut and he was really proud of his hair. Stormy has never been a girl. He has never verbally expressed to us that he's a girl.

'We've explained to him and his brother what different genders are, [that] non-binary is a thing and you can be that, but he's said 'I'm not a girl, I think I'm a boy'. He's never been a girl.

'She's known since she was three': The UK's youngest trans children Referrals of children with gender dysphoria  a mismatch between birth sex and the person a child feels they are - to the Tavistock Clinic have steadily increased over the last decade. In December 2020, a landmark case against the Tavistock, ruled that NHS clinics must seek a court's permission before giving puberty blockers to under-16s. Luna Schofield (left), pictured in 2019 at the age of seven, has identified as a girl since the age of three and her mother Jeneen (right) has supported her trans daughter throughout However, many parents with transgender children say they are desperate to let their child live in the gender they feel is right for them as soon as they can. Luna Schofield, from Liverpool, has identified as a girl since the age of three and her mother Jeneen has supported her throughout the journey. Luna, who was born biologically male, asked to be a girl for every Christmas and birthday present growing up and in 2019, at the age of seven, her name was changed by deed poll. Luna wears a skirt to school and even has a passport with her female identity on it, confirming her as one of Britain's youngest transgender children. In 2019, Jeneen, an NHS worker, told the Sunday Mirror: 'My family felt she was too young to make the decision to be a girl, but I didn't want to tell her how she felt and knew this wasn't going away.' Ash Lammin, from Ramsgate, Kent, also became one of the country's youngest transgender children after she started transitioning at the age of just 12 in 2019. Ash had told her parents, she was in the 'wrong body' aged just three. Terri Lammin from Ramsgate, Kent said that watching her daughter Ash (pictured) - born Ashton - grow up confused and uncomfortable in her own body was 'heartbreaking'. At the age of 12 in 2019, Ash began transitioning by taking hormone blockers to prevent puberty Ash's mother Terri Lammin said that watching her daughter - born Ashton - grow up confused and uncomfortable in her own body was 'heartbreaking.' She said: 'Although she was born male, from the moment she could speak Ash insisted she was a girl. Ash said in 2019 that it has been difficult growing up as a trans girl, but says she feels that she is firmly on the right path Advertisement

'There are times, strange enough, when he says he's non-binary, whether his understanding of that is correct, I don't know, but primarily, nine times out of 10, he'll say he's a boy.

'We're accepting who Stormy is. He's got a referral to the Tavistock Clinic.

'We went to the GP to explain what the situation was and got a referral. We got a reply from Tavistock in Leeds to say he's registered with them, but they don't seem to do anything until they're 10, or they start puberty. Whichever comes first.

'I can't stress how important I think it is to accept people for who they are. It's so important in life. It's not the first time I've posted things that's related to understanding others. I have previously posted a couple of things about trans awareness and gender awareness.'

He says he's been 'taken aback' by how strangers have responded positively to Stormy's story.

Matthew says many adults have struggled to accept that their trans son is no longer living as a female and some even insist on calling him a girl

Double trouble: the family say that Stormy is keen to look just like his twin brother (Pictured: Stormy, right, with Arlo, left)

According to his dad, little Stormy first started showing signs of gender dysphoria before he could even speak, eager to wear boys clothing like his twin Arlo.

The tot also showed interest in firefighters and police officers, while becoming distressed by his pigtails, leading his parents to have some 'fairly grown up' chats with him about his identity.

Matthew said: 'Stormy would have been two, just before when we first noticed.

At some point, I can't remember when, Stormy just said he was a boy. I can't remember the moment when we first asked him, or if he just said it one day... Stormy's father Matthew Stubbings

'We did the things that people do. Dressed his brother is boy clothes and gave Stormy pigtails.

'He got to the point where his hair started getting longer and he didn't want his pigtails anymore. We took them out.

'He didn't like wearing dresses anymore and it got to the point where unless he was wearing stereotypical boys clothes, he wasn't happy.

The twins at birth, wrapped in traditional blue and pink - the family say it was only when Stormy began to talk that he could verbalise how he viewed his gender

Stormy as a baby; her parents say she was just 18-months-old when she started to identify as male

Difficulty: The family say they've had to sign up Stormy to school using his 'dead name', something which has been stressful for them

'He refused to wear pretty shoes. It got to the point where he was upset about being forced to wear them.

'He likes being a firefighter and police officer, but they're actually things girls can do too. His friends are all boys. They've always been all boys.'

By the time he was three years old, Matthew and Klara noticed Stormy was beginning to understand more about his gender, with their son confidently announcing he was a boy.

The couple spent a long time trying to clarify if Stormy was certain he was not a girl, but by his third birthday, they accepted their child's identity.

Stormy now lives completely as a boy - with his nursery recognising him as male, and all of his friends addressing him as a boy, say the family

His decision: his parents say Stormy 'knows his gender is for him to decide, not us'

Matthew said: 'When he started to speak, around two and a half, where he understood the context of what he was saying, he was very clear he wasn't a girl.

'At some point, I can't remember when, Stormy just said he was a boy. I can't remember the moment when we first asked him, or if he just said it one day.

'We had a conversation with him, which is difficult, when it was around his third birthday.

WHAT IS THE TAVISTOCK CLINIC? The Tavistock, formally known as the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), is Britains biggest transgender clinic for children. Over the past five years it has seen almost 11,500 children with gender dysphoria  meaning a distressing mismatch between their birth sex and the person they feel they are. The number referred annually has risen from 97 in 2009 to 2,728 in 2019. After a landmark case in December 2019, judges tuled that the NHS would have to apply for a court order every time it wanted to prescribe puberty blockers to 'gender dysphoric' children under 16. Advertisement

'We asked 'are you just not a girl, or are you a boy?' Both myself and my wife have fairly grown up conversations quite regularly about his gender.

'He knows his gender is for him to decide, not us. It was maybe 12 months ago that we accepted he wasn't a girl.'

When Stormy and Arlo started nursery at around one, the little lad had not started transitioning, but as the years went on and Stormy began to live as a boy full-time, Matthew claims adults struggled to come to terms with the change.

Matthew said: 'We've had problems with adults. He now lives as a boy, goes to nursery as a boy, all his friends know he's a boy. I could talk for 35 minutes about the problems I have with adults accepting how he lives his life.

'Adults have on many occasions insisted on calling him a girl. It was really difficult for them to accept he's not called Emerald anymore, he's Stormy, and he's not a girl, he's a boy.

'It's really difficult. It's hard. It's hard with people who know the situation. To people who see him in the street, he's a boy, no problem.'

Although Matthew insists Stormy isn't worried about starting school in September, he claims he has his own concerns about how the youngster will cope in bathrooms or PE changing rooms.

Hey brother: The twins are super close, say their parents and says brother Arlo doesn't mind his sibling changing gender 'at all'

Fears: The family say they worry about Stormy facing issues with toilets and changing for PE when he starts school in September

Matthew says he hopes that people in education will be more sympathetic to transgender families

Matthew and Klara have also been forced to sign the tot up for school under his 'dead name', meaning they worry about facing the same challenges as they have with staff currently.

Matthew said: 'I'm really for people being inclusive of others. I'm not just talking about gender diversity; I'm talking about people understanding those around them. It's really important to me.

'Stormy's fortunate that society is changing. I'm worried because they start reception in September and I'm worried about toilets, changing for PE. That does worry me. Stormy's not worried. He's fine with it and his brother doesn't mind either.

'The sad thing is that wherever he goes to school, he's always registered under his birth name. His birth certificate is his birth name, so wherever you fill in forms to go somewhere, you have to use their birth names and prove who they are with their birth certificate.

'I have a little fear that the school will have an issue with it. I just hope people in schools are more professional and more open to it.'
The Duchess of Cambridge looked perfectly polished in a cobalt blue blazer for a video call with a pioneering Ugandan midwife.

Kate Middleton, 39, interviewed community Nurse Midwife Harriet Nayiga for the latest edition of industry publication Nursing Times, which is released today to coincide with the International Day of the Midwife.

Photographs of the March video call were released today and show the Duchess of Cambridge in a 59.99 Zara blazer.

Kate wore the statement piece over a simple black top and twisted her long locks into an elegant half updo.

Working from home: Kate Middleton, 39, interviewed community Nurse Midwife Harriet Nayiga for the latest edition of industry publication Nursing Times

Pioneer: Harriet (seen on screen) is the founder of the MILCOT (Midwife-led Community Transformation), which is a community organisation providing advice and support for vulnerable women and girls in Nansana, Uganda

The video call took place in a simply decorated room, which could be in either Kensington Palace or Sandringham.

A photograph of Prince George with Princess Charlotte on her first day of school is displayed on an ornate wooden side table in the background.

The interview marks the end of Nursing Now, the Duchess of Cambridge's three-year global campaign to raise the status and profile of nurses.

Harriet is the founder of the MILCOT (Midwife-led Community Transformation), a community organisation providing advice and support for vulnerable women and girls in Nansana, Uganda.

She spoke to the Duchess of Cambridge about the challenges she faces, such as high maternal mortality rates, teenage pregnancies, domestic and sexual violence towards women, and transport issues due to remote locations.

Harriet also spoke about the ways in which her organisation, MILCOT, is working to alleviate these issues through sexual reproductive health advice, and bespoke support for marginalised adolescents and young people.

The interview is published today to coincide with the International Day of the Midwife

Nursing Now have supported Harriets work by introducing her to a network of global health leaders and helping her to build self-confidence.

With support from the UK's Burdett Trust for Nursing, Harriet also participated in Nursing Nows Nightingale Challenge leadership programme to provide training and development opportunities for a cohort of her fellow midwives, nurses and other health professionals.

The Duchess of Cambridge launched the Nursing Now campaign in February 2018 at Guys and St Thomas' Hospital.

Last year Kate year marked the International Day of the Nurse alongside Sophie, the Countess of Wessex by videocalling nurses in seven different Commonwealth countries to thank them for their work during the pandemic.

Over the last three years more than 31,000 young professionals have signed up for Nursing Nows Nightingale Challenge, 64 Nursing Now groups have reported increased investment in nursing and there has also been an increase of nurses in leadership positions, as Chief Nursing Officers and on boards, who are able to exercise greater influence in shaping policy and service delivery
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Gold medal-winning rowing star Helen Glover was left stunned today after Sky News anchor Stephen Dixon questioned how she juggles work and family life because 'most' new mothers are 'just bothered' about regaining their figure.

The sportswomen, 34, who lives in Cookham, Berkshire, with her husband, the TV presenter Steve Backshall, appeared on the programme to discuss how GB athletes are preparing for the Tokyo Olympics, which is currently scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 8.

During the brief interview, Stephen laughed as he asked Helen, who is mother to Logan, two, and twins Beau and Kit, one: 'After having had twins that are not even 18 months old yet, how do you have the time, nevermind regaining the fitness [to compete]?

'Most people are just bothered about getting their waistline line back.'

Gold medal-winning rowing star Helen Glover was left stunned today after Sky News journalist Stephen Dixon praised her for juggling work and life as a mother because 'most people are just bothered about getting their waistline back' (pictured with her children Logan, Beau and Kit)

The rower won gold in London 2012 and Rio 2016, and is now heading to Tokyo Olympics as a mother (pictured in 2016)

Helen appeared on Sky News alongside fellow athlete Jamie Ramsay, who is embarking on a 80 day mission travelling 10,000km around the UK to get people excited about the Olympics.

Stephen asked Helen: 'I know you're planning to go to Tokyo for the Olympics but you've had a change of heart haven't you, after retiring, to get back into the swing of it all.'

She explained: 'Yes, I retired after Rio after four years out and three children, including twins in January 2020.

'I was very ready to watch from my sofa with the rest of the country.'

During the brief interview, Stephen laughed as he asked Helen how she juggled life and work, saying said that 'most people' are 'only bothered' about losing weight after they give birth

Helen continued: 'Lockdown has meant I was just spending time on the rowing machine and I just started thinking, "Would it be possible to make a late comeback?"'

She added: 'It's been challenging but I am crossing my fingers to make the tea for Tokyo.'

Stephen went on to question how Helen 'had the time' to train given that she is a 'mother-of-three' and said that 'most people are only bothered about getting their waistline back.'

There was a brief pause before Helen responded, awkwardly saying: 'I mean I definitely am looking forward to getting some sleep back when Tokyo is done.

The mother-of-three briefly paused before answering the question and said she was looking forward to 'getting some sleep'

'Sleepless nights are tricky, let alone when you're trying to train as well.'

She continued: 'A lot of it is about training when they've gone to bed, training at home. It's a fine balance every day.'

Stephen went on: 'How important is it to drum up support for the Olympics and showing people just how important it is to get out and exercise as much as we can?'

Helen responded 'I love what Jamie is doing, on behalf of all GB athletes, we say a big thankyou to Jamie.

Helen shot to fame when she won Team GB's first gold of London 2012 alongside Heather Stanning, before they repeated their success in the women's pair four years later in Brazil

'This really is the start of the build up, preparing ourselves. i really hope the Olympics will be an event for people to cheer on athletes from a far.'

In January, Helen revealed she was back in a boat in a bid to become the first mother to make a British Olympic rowing team.

'To try and be the first woman to do that is a huge part of my motivation,' the 34-year-old told Sportsmail. 'I think it can be done and if I'm the person to do that it would be amazing.

She shot to fame when she won Team GB's first gold of London 2012 alongside Heather Stanning, before they repeated their success in the women's pair four years later in Brazil.

Helen took time out of rowing to start a family with her husband, TV explorer Steve Backshall, and had son Logan in July 2018, before giving birth to twins Kit and Bo, a boy and girl, last January (pictured with Steve)

She then took time out to start a family with her husband, TV explorer Steve Backshall, and had son Logan in July 2018, before giving birth to twins Kit and Bo, a boy and girl, last January.

Glover never intended to return to rowing but the postponement of the Olympics from 2020 to 2021 opened the door.

Last month, the head of the Tokyo Olympics was forced to assure the world again that the postponed games will open in just over three months and not be canceled despite surging COVID-19 cases in Japan.

It comes as Japan decided to raise the coronavirus alert level in the capital's three neighbouring prefectures and a fourth area in central Japan to allow tougher measures as a more contagious coronavirus variant spreads.
It is a union between two of Spain's richest families.

So there is of little doubt the wedding of Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y Solis, Count of Osorno, and Belen Corsini will be one to remember.

The couple, who announced their engagement in September, will tie the knot on 22 May at Liria Palace, in Madrid, an 18th century estate that has been in Carlos' family for centuries.

Bride and groom: Carlos Fitz-James Stuart y Solis, Count of Osorno, and Belen Corsini will tie the knot on 22 May at Liria Palace, in Madrid, an 18th century estate that has been in Carlos' family for centuries. It will mark the union of two of Spain's richest families

Glamorous in-laws: Among the guests will be Fernando Fitz-James Stuart, the Duke of Huescar, and Sofia Palazuelo, who welcomed their first child together in September last year

Breathtaking venue: Liria Palace in Madrid, which is the family seat of the Duke of Alba. The event will mark the biggest society wedding of the last 18 months after scores of aristocrats across Europe were forced to put plans for their lavish nuptials on hold due to the pandemic

The event will mark the biggest society wedding of the last 18 months after scores of aristocrats across Europe were forced to put plans for their lavish nuptials on hold due to the pandemic.

However it is thought the couple have still cut down on the guest list.

When Carlos' older brother Fernando Fitz-James Stuart, the Duke of Huescar, married Sofia Palazuelo at the estate in 2018 there were 750 guests including Queen Sofia of Spain.

Bride-to-be Belen is the great-granddaughter of Carlos Corsini Senespleda, engineer and founder of the construction and public works company Corsan, which was sold for 325 million euros in 2004.

Royal ties: When Carlos' older brother Fernando Fitz-James Stuart, the Duke of Huescar, married Sofia Palazuelo at the estate in 2018 there were 750 guests including Queen Sofia of Spain. Pictured, Carlos with Queen Sofia and his father, the Duke of Alba at the wedding

Her father Juan Carlos Corsini Munoz de Rivera remains on of Spain's richest businessmen thanks to his farming and real estate investments.

University graduate Belen has worked her way up the family business and is now her father's 'right-hand man', according to local reports.

Like her soon-to-be sister-in-law Sofia, Belen keeps a low profile and avoids outlandish displays of wealth.

The Duke and Duchess of Huescar, who welcomed their first child together last year, will no doubt be among the guests, as will the groom's parents, the Duke and Duchess of Alba.

The Duke of Alba is the son of the late Duchess of Alba. Worth an estimated 2.2billion, the Spanish duchess was one of Europe's wealthiest aristocrats when she passed away in November 2014 at her Seville residence, Duenas Palace.
Queen Letizia of Spain stepped out in style in a recycled high-street dress which she wore for a third time as she attended the Red Cross Fundraising Day in Madrid today.

The royal, 48, put her best fashion foot forward in a 69.99 floral pattered dress from Zara which she first wore when she hosted an audience for medical representatives at Madrid's Zarzuela Palace in October 2017.

She then opted for the long-sleeved summer gown again during a visit to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao in July last year.

But the mother-of-two gave the frock a whole new look today by pairing it with some trendy metallic pink block heels rather than the nude wedges and berry hue pumps she had worn it with previously.

Queen Letizia of Spain , 48, stepped out in style as attended the Red Cross Fundraising Day in Madrid today

The royal put her best fashion foot forward in a recycled floral pattered dress which she first wore in July last year

Keeping her jewellery to a minimum, Letizia completed her ensemble with a pair of dainty floral earrings and a oval-shaped gold ring.

Putting safety first and in keeping with Covid-19 guidelines, Letizia could be seen wearing a mask which covered most of her face.

The monarch wore her brown hair down and loose with a simple curl at the end, and showed off her natural beauty by keeping her make-up simple - adding just a smokey eye.

The event is held on occasion of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day under the motto 'From Society for Society.'

Letizia first sported the frock in 2017, then for her visit to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao in July 2020 and again, today (pictured left, centre and right, today)

The Spanish Queen completed her look with a pair of dainty floral earrings and an oval shaped-gold ring (pictured)

Queen Letizia of Spain (R) chats with Spanish Health Minister, Carolina Darias (L), as she arrives to attend an event held on occasion of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day under the motto 'From Society for Society' in Madrid

Putting safety first and in keeping with the Covid-19 guidelines, Letizia covered most of her face with a protective mask. Pictured, with Spanish Health Minister, Carolina Darias (L)

The monarch wore her brown hair down and loose with a simple curl at the end (pictured, left), and showed off her natural beauty by keeping her make-up simple (right)

It comes just days after the Spanish Queen stunned in a red an white outfit as she attended the Educational Congress on Rare Diseases in Totana, Murica.

A week earlier, King Felipe VI's wife attended Royal Academy of the Language in Madrid.

Former journalist Letizia attended a discussion hosted by the FundeuRAE (Urgent Spanish Foundation), which was founded in February 2005 to help promote the proper use of Spanish in the media.

Looking typically stylish, Letizia teamed her 333 black and white coat, from Spanish brand Mirto, with an elegant white blouse.

Letizia enjoyed a long career in TV and newspaper reporting before marrying her husband King Felipe, 53, in 2004.

Queen Letizia of Spain (R) is greeted by Spanish Health Minister, Carolina Darias (2R), as she arrives to attend an event held on occasion of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day

The royal highlighted her natural beauty by keeping her makeup minimal - adding just a smokey eye (pictured, left and right)

Putting safety first and in keeping with Covid-19 guidelines, Letizia could be seen wearing a mask which covered most of her face

The mother-of-two paired the long-sleeved summer frock with metallic pink block heels and kept her jewellery to a minimum. Pictured, with Minister of Health Carolina Darias (right)

She worked for the La Nueva Espana before moving on to the ABC, a popular national newspaper.

She then worked for the EFE news agency, a Mexican local paper Siglo 21, the Spanish version of Bloomberg, before moving to CNN+.

When she met her husband-to-be, Letizia was working for the popular TV channel 24Horas as both a breaking news reporter and anchor for their popular Telediaro 2 evening news bulletin.

She met Felipe VI at a dinner party in 2002, and the pair enjoyed an instant connection, leading to their royal wedding in May 2004.

The former newsreader is the granddaughter of a taxi driver and the eldest daughter of Jesus Jose Ortiz Alvarez, a journalist, and first wife Maria de la Paloma Rocasolano Rodriguez, a nurse and hospital union representative.

She attended public high school and did a degree at the Complutense University of Madrid. She later gained an MA in Audiovisual Journalism at the Institute for Studies in Audiovisual Journalism.
A disabled mother says she was kicked off a Facebook group for new mothers after revealing that she was an amputee who uses a mobility scooter.

Poppy, from Cambridge, began chatting with a group of women online after joining a Facebook community for new mothers during lockdown in March last year.

But after revealing that she was in a wheelchair, Poppy claims she was removed from the group - with one cruel woman saying she 'couldn't be seen with her' and didn't want to be 'babysitting both her and her child'.

Seeking advice on This Morning's phone-in segment today, Poppy said that she is now too nervous to join any local mother and baby groups in her area - with viewers branding the women who ostracised Poppy as 'scum'.

Poppy, from Cambridge, sought advice from hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield and agony aunt Deirdre

Poppy said she became a mum in March last year, and began chatting with a group of women online after joining an Facebook community for new mothers during lockdown

'I became a mum in March last year and was on this Facebook group for lockdown babies,' she said. 'We were going to meet up in the park and they said "Oh what pram will you be pushing?" and things like that.

'I said I'd be in my mobility scooter and they said "Oh why?" and I said because I'm an amputee.

'She said "Well no, I can't be babysitting you and your daughter, I can't even be seen with you" and then blocked me. And they deleted me off the Facebook site and everything.'

She added: 'I don't know whether to go to the baby groups, I'm a bit nervous going to the baby groups I'm nervous going to them, I don't know how they'll react on me being an amputee.'

Viewers were furious after the story, calling the women 'disgusting' and saying hearing Poppy's story had 'broken their hearts'

Viewers were furious after the story, calling the women 'disgusting' and saying hearing Poppy's story had 'broken their hearts'.

One wrote: 'Omg being judged for being in a wheelchair. What kind of society are we actually living in honestly especially in 2021. My heart breaks for Poppy.'

Another said: 'You are who you are and other peoples opinions dont matter as long as the person is happy with themselves .. I am who I am and if people dont like it then bye.'

Agony aunt Deirdre advised going back to the GP and getting them to give her advice on the local groups and offered to talk to Poppy off air to discuss which other organisations can support her

'Omg, Poppy! Im disabled too and have had my fare share of hate but thats abhorrent. You are better than them, never forget that.', said another angry viewer.

A fourth agreed: 'Poppy you did not want to have a friend like that anyway!!!!! If you had met up with them and they said that to your face you would feel so much worse! call yourself lucky you dodged that b***h! What a horrible person, I would absolutely report her! Disgusting.'

Agony aunt Deirdre advised going back to the GP and getting them to give her advice on the local groups and offered to talk to Poppy off air to discuss which other organisations can support her.
The Prince of Wales personally thanked some of the soldiers who took part in the Duke of Edinburghs funeral today, saying they did his father proud.'

Prince Charles, 72, was undertaking his first official engagement since Prince Philips funeral service at St Georges Chapel, Windsor, last month, visiting the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards at Combermere Baracks, also in Windsor, in his role as Colonel of the Regiment.

Twenty men were picked to represent the regiment in the Windsor Castle quadrangle in honour of the duke, who had previously served as Colonel from 1953 until 1975, when his son took over.

Speaking in he grounds of the barracks, Charles told them: I was so enormously proud of those of of you who formed part of the compliment during my fathers funeral recently.

'If I may say so, what a wonderful credit not only to the Welsh Guards but also the Households Division and all those who were on parade, for what you all did.

The Prince of Wales, 72, personally thanked some of the soldiers who took part in the Duke of Edinburghs funeral today, saying they did his father proud.' Pictured, received by Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Llewelyn-Usher as he arrives for a visit to Combermere Barracks in Windsor, Berkshire

Prince Charles looks in good spirits as he walks with Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Llewelyn-Usher during the visit

He continued: I know my family and I were deeply moved by the way you all performed your duties. People from other countries rang me up to say that they had never seen anything quite so marvellous, so beautifully done and with such dignity and style.

Of course it is something with which you are all rightly famed, but I know my father would have been also enormously touched because he had dreamt up this particular way he wanted it done. So you did him proud and you certainly did make your old Colonel very proud indeed.

The prince arrived at the barracks in his new electric Tesla car and was greeted by a Quarter Guard before being received by the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Llewelyn-Usher.

Inside the Officers Mess, the prince presented three non-operational awards.

The visit marked the royal's first official engagement since Prince Philips funeral service at St Georges Chapel, Windsor, last month. Pictured, speaking with soldiers

Speaking to the twenty men who were picked to represent the regiment in the Windsor Castle quadrangle in honour of the Duke of Edinburgh, Charles said: I was so enormously proud of those of of you who formed part of the compliment during my fathers funeral recently'

The royal praised those who represented the regiment at his father's funeral and said: 'What a wonderful credit not only to the Welsh Guards but also the Households Division and all those who were on parade, for what you all did'

In the garden, Charles made a point of speaking to more than 40 soldiers, standing in socially distanced groups comprised of men and women from The Prince of Wales Company Number Two Company, Number Three Company and Headquarter Company.

He chatted to each and every one present about their service and plans for the future, and was heard asking several whether they had taken part in my fathers funeral recently.

He told Guardsman Trystan (c) Phillips, 23, from Swansea, that he still remembered the silence that greeted him as he stepped out behind his fathers coffin.

In the quadrangle it was so quiet, you couldnt hear anything, he said.

Prince Charles told everyone present (pictured) how immensely grateful he was for all the work they did

The Prince of Wales chatted to some members of the Welsh Guards at Combermere Barrack about their fitness and the strain of carrying kit

The Prince of Wales (pictured, with a soldier) has been Colonel of the Welsh Guards since 1975

Prince Charles could be seen laughing and joking with the soldiers as he engaged in conversation today (pictured)

He chatted with others about their fitness and the strain of carrying kit.

Its alright when you are young, he said ruefully, its when you go past 30!

The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards are Light Role Infantry, and were amongst the first to help set up mobile COVID 19 test sites last year.

They are currently preparing for an operational tour to Iraq on Operation SHADER, the UKs contribution to the US-led anti Daesh mission, and will also deploy to Africa as part of the MODs ongoing efforts to counter wildlife poaching operations.

Inside the Officers Mess, the prince presented three non-operational awards. Pictured, Prince of Wales gestures as he meets members of the Welsh Guards

In the garden, Charles made a point of speaking to more than 40 soldiers, standing in socially distanced groups comprised of men and women from The Prince of Wales Company Number Two Company, Number Three Company and Headquarter Company (pictured)

The Prince of Wales, Colonel Welsh Guards, helps plant a tree next to Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Llewelyn-Usher

The Prince of Wales, who opted for a smart tweed blazer, cream trousers and red and blue striped tie, helped plant a tree next to Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Llewelyn-Usher

The Prince of Wales wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty as he helped to plant a tree during his visit today

Prince Charles chatted to each and every one present about their service and plans for the future. Pictured, during the visit

The royal (pictured) was heard asking several whether the soldiers had taken part in my fathers funeral recently'

They also carry out ceremonial duties and last year took part in the Queens socially-distanced birthday tribute at Windsor Castle.

Charles told them how immensely grateful he was for all the work they did, reminding them: Of course as you know I followed in my fathers footsteps. He was Colonel of the Welsh Guards for 22 years and he then handed over to me back in 1975.

'You have had to put up with me for the last 46 years, during which time I have managed to see grandfather, fathers and now grandsons coming through this regiment.

'So for me it has been something very special and given me a real sense of the family connections this battalion has. I am enormously proud of what you do. 

Prince Charles' appearance comes days after it was revealed the royal has shared a touching childhood picture with royal fans to thank them after they sent notes of sympathy to Clarence House following his father, the Duke of Edinburgh's death. Pictured, at Combermere Barracks in Windsor

Prince Charles's (pictured, today) son Prince Harry served two tours in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2008 and qualified as an Apache aircraft commander during his decade in the forces

Speaking afterwards Guardsman Phillips, who has been in the regiment for 14 months, and took part in the Duke of Edinburghs funeral service, said: It was such an honour to be chosen.

'Everyone volunteered but only 20 in the regiment were chosen. When I told my parents and my grandmother they were welling up. It was like being part of history. You could really feel it on the day. To actually be there made you feel so proud.

The prince said to me how proud it would have made his father and how proud it had made him.

Guardsman Ryan Edwards, 25, from Mochdre, North Wales, who will join Guardsman Phillips in Iraq later this year, added: There was a sense of pride for the whole regiment.

Sergeant Neil Ford, 32, from Jersey, who has been stood down from the forthcoming tour to Iraq as he and his partner are expecting their first child, said of the Princes visit: I have had the privilege of speaking to him a number of times and have always been impressed how much he knows about the regiment and what an interest he takes in it.

The prince arrived at the barracks in his new electric Tesla car and was greeted by a Quarter Guard before being received by the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Llewelyn-Usher (pictured)

The Prince of Wales smiles as he walks alongside Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Llewelyn-Usher (pictured, together)

Prince Charles received a military welcome as he visited the regiment who protects the Queen at Buckingham Palace and at Windsor. Pictured, the royal is received by Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Llewelyn-Usher
Our Yorkshire Farm's Amanda Owen has been prasied by viewers for refusing to mollycoddle her children, after leading two of her youngest daughters on an active challenge to evade mountain rescue.

Last night's episode saw Amanda, 46, and seven of her nine children take part in the exercise, organised with the Swaledale Mountain Rescue team, volunteers who help locate people who get lost in the Yorkshire Dales.

Split in groups of two or three, the Owen children had to hide in a spot of their choosing around the 2,000 acres of land on Ravenseat Farm while the team tried to find them under two hours.

Edith, ten and Violet, 12, decided to go together, while Sid, nine and Miles, 15, - armed with a hearty lunch - went their own way. Big brother Reuben, 16, who hoped to impress and join the team of volunteers, went alone.

While youngest daughter Nancy, three, stayed at home with her father Clive, 67, Amanda teamed up with Clemmy, five and Annas, six, to navgiate cliffs, bogs and rivers, warning them that it was a 'very real and serious thing'.

It comes after Amanda criticised the 'snowflake generation' in an interview with Radio Times, saying: 'They cant do anything. They dont know anything about how to look after themselves, or a work ethic  all of that has gone out of the window.'

Amanda Owen, 46, teamed up with her daughters Clemmy, five and Annas, six, pictured, in a mountain rescue drill on Ravenseat, which was shown last night on Channel 5's Our Yorkshire Farm

Viewers were deeply impressed with the search drill, which was a giant game of Hide and Seek for the children

The mother-of-nine took off with her two daughters, determined to make it to the hiding place they had chosen and evade the rescue team.

Each group had a 30 minutes head start before the search team started looking for them and Amanda, armed with a camera, explained her 'cunning plan.'

'We're going to cross lots and lots and lots of rivers in a bid to throw the tracker dogs off our scent,' she said.

'We also have another little cunning plan, whereby we're gonna dump some clothes before we find our hiding place an settle and play dead,' she added.

Volunteers of the Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team had to track down the Owen children who had hidden around their farm. Pictured: Sydney, nine, with one of the rescuers and their tracker dogs

Edith, 12, and Violet, ten, teamed up, while Reuben, 16, went by himself, Miles, 15 went with Sydney and Amanda went with Clemmy and Annas

Clemmy and Annas rose to the challenge, crawling under wire fences to get to rivers and then crossing by jumping from rock to rock, encouraged by their mother.

'Come on, girls, I know it's hard work,' she told them.

While Amanda admitted the giant rescue seemed like a fun game of hide and seek, and that the family was having 'a bit of fun,' she stressed that the drill was serious business.

'Its a lot of cliffs, bogs, and places where people can, and do, get lost,' she said.

'So this is a very real and serious thing.'

Amanda, pictured with Edith and member of the rescue team, said the drill was 'a bit of fun,' but stressed it was still an important exercise

And the mother, who prides herself on letting her children experience risk for themselves, had a few 'close ones' during her trek with Clemmy and Annas.

While crossing a river, Clemmy's foot slipped on a wet stone, and the five-year-old's foot went into the water.

Thankfully, Amanda grabbed Clemmy's arm in the nick of time and helped her stay up on the stone.

'We dont really want Swaledale mountain rescue to have to stretcher you off, do we?' the mother-of-nine said.

A bit later, Clemmy almost fell into the river again, with Amanda jesting: 'Blooming heck that was a close one.

Thankfully, the mother and the two daughters reached their hiding place in one piece, and the drill continued as planned.

But it was 16-year-old Reuben who emerged victorious: He was the only Owen taking part that the rescue team couldn't find under two hours.

Five-year-old Clemmy, pictured, put her whole into the exercise, in spite of almost falling into a river a few times

After hiding in a dried out waterfall, the eldest Owen son returned home, to find he was the only one of his clan who had not been detected.

It was a proud moment for the teenager, who hopes to one day join thre Mountain Rescue team as a volunteer.

The episode delighted fans of Our Yorkshire Farm, who applauded the Mountain Rescue team's work, and Amanda's parenting.

'Just good for the soul - what a lovely way to spend your childhood,' one said.

'Another fantastic episode of #OurYorkshireFarm and probably the greatest game of Hide & Seek. Well done @SwaledaleMRT, and most of all, well done Reuben,' another said.

Sydney and Miles noticed a goat that had got stuck in wires and helped free her during the exercise, pictured

'Brilliant to see the Swaledale Mountain Rescue team tonight. What a fantastic job they,' one said.

'Love #ouryorkshirefarm what an amazing upbringing these kids are having! Theyre so self sufficient, and will happily hide out somewhere in a field eating chocolate,' one wrote.

One mother said she was left questioning her parenting techniques after seeing Amanda with her children.

'I buy my sons a Five Guys and I think Im mother of the year. Amanda is bringing up nine children, all stunningly wonderful offspring, runs a farm, is a public figure and looks like a model. I need to re-evaluate sharpish,' they said.

Viewers were impressed with the episode and praised Amanda's parenting, with some saying they were reflecting on how they were raising their children

Our Yorkshire Farm airs at 9pm on Tuesdays on Channel 5.
Three American women who were forced into arranged marriages as teenagers are lifting the lid on the horrors that they faced at the hands of their husbands, recalling incidents of verbal and physical abuse, and even rape, to bring to light the ongoing, yet often unspoken, consequences of arranged matrimony in the US.

As part of a new documentary, Knots: A Forced Marriage Story, the trio of women - each of whom is from a different religious background - share their personal experiences with arranged marriages, including one who was wed to a stranger at the tender age of 15, and another who was physically abused by the man she married at 19 - who repeatedly threatened to murder her.

The film features candid interviews with Nina Van Harn, who was brought up in a conservative Christian community and forced to marry a stranger at age 19; Fraidy Reiss, whose Orthodox Jewish husband turned abusive; and Sara Tasneem, who was pregnant when her conservative Muslim father forced her to marry a much older man.

Serious subject: A new documentary focuses on forced marriages in the United States and shares stories of three women who were forced to marry men they didn't choose

Strict: Nina Van Harn was in the Christian Patriarchy Movement, a conservative religious community that places men in positions of authority and women in subservient roles

Young: When she was 19, her father said he'd found her a husband. She felt no choice but to agree, and was told she'd be shunned if she refused

Nina Van Harn: Married at 19 after her father joined the Christian Patriarchy Movement - who believe women's only role in life is that of 'a wife and mother'

Nina Van Harn, now 38, grew up on a 40-acre farm in rural west Michigan with three siblings.

Speaking to the AHA Foundation, she said her upbringing was 'fairly typical' until about halfway through third grade, when her parents pulled her and her siblings out of school and began homeschooling them.

Directed by Kate Ryan Brewer, Knots: A Forced Marriage Story will be released in theaters and online on May 7

'We started living a more and more conservative lifestyle and only closely socialized with family and friends that held similar views,' she said.

By the time she was 11, they had 'fully adopted the beliefs and lifestyle' of the Christian Patriarchy Movement, a conservative religious community that places men in positions of authority and women in subservient roles.

'Father was the absolute head of the home and the woman and childrens place was to support, honor, respect, and most importantly, obey him at all times,' Nina said.

'The concept of marriage, the concept that I was going to get married was a conversation that we started to have right around the time I was maybe 11,' she says in the new documentary.

'By the time I was 13, I firmly believed that the only role God intended for me to play in life, was that of wife and mother.'

Days after Nina turned 18, her father told her he found a husband for her. Nina was not involved at all in the arrangements, and instead, her father communicated with the man's father.

But before Nina even met the man, the arrangements fell through.

The marriage was not good. Nina alludes to abuse and sexual assault, and the documentary points out that forced marriage also means forced consummation

Awakening: She said that eventually, while seeing a counselor, she recognized for the first time that she hadn't had a choice in getting married and was forced to do so

When she was 19, her father came to her again and said he'd found her a husband. Though Nina dreamed of traveling, she learned that the groom her father has picked was a 'homebody'  yet her preferences didn't matter.

'I was thoroughly trained to believe that my dad knew what was best for me, much more so than I ever could. I had learned to trust him with my life,' she said.

Still, she said, her father gave her 'ultimatums' telling her she must marry this man or be 'condemned by God and shunned by my family.'

She said she felt no choice but to agree, particularly because she'd never had the opportunity to make an important decision on her own before.

'I knew that I wasn't going to say no,' she added in an interview with PBS News Hour. 'This was God's will. God had spoken. And it was just not even an option. I didn't think consciously in my head I'm being forced.'

Even on her wedding day, the most important thing to her was earning her father's approval.

The marriage was not good. Nina alludes to abuse and sexual assault, and the documentary points out that forced marriage also means forced consummation.

Leaving: Nina  who shared children with her husband  spent six weeks planning to get out. Ultimately, Michigan declared the marriage illegal on the basis that it was forced

Helping others: Nina is now an activist and advocate for other victims of forced marriages

'At any moment, someone can just barge in and take your body,' she says.

She said that eventually, while seeing a counselor, she recognized for the first time that she hadn't had a choice in getting married and was forced to do so. Days later, she had an epiphany that she was in a cult.

'It was terror and relief all at the same time. The people you thought were your protectors were actually your captors,' she said.

Actually getting out what 'almost impossible.' She had no one she could ask for help, and had been conditioned and 'brainwashed' to distrust the police or government agencies.

So on her own, Nina  who shared children with her husband  spent six weeks planning to get out.

Ultimately, Michigan declared the marriage illegal on the basis that it was forced.

'It meant freedom. And it meant a peace in my conscience,' she said. 'I had to run very fast. And that was heart-wrenching thing to do. But I did it because staying was more frightening than leaving.'

Nina is now an activist and advocate for other victims of forced marriages.

Arranged: Fraidy Reiss was married at 19 to a man she'd known for a matter of months and had never been alone with. They were set up by a matchmaker

Limited: She was raised in an Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn, New York, where she, too, was told her whole life that her fate was to be a wife and mother

Scary: Her husband was abusive and would threaten to kill her, sharing details of how he would do it

Fraidy Reiss: Orthodox Jew wed at age 19 to an 'abusive' husband she had only known for three months

Fraidy Reiss was raised in an Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn, New York, where she, too, was told her whole life that her fate was to be a wife and mother.

'Where I was raised, I was groomed basically from infancy to become a wife and a mother,' she said.

'Your whole life, you have been told, you need to get married right away. You're terrified,' she told PBS.

But that didn't mean that she was socializing with the boys are choosing a partner.

'My upbringing was so separated from boys and from men. I had very little interaction with them,' she said. 'You're not going to find your own husband. The matchmaker is going to find you a marriage.'

When she was 19, she entered into an arranged marriage with a man she had only known for three months. She barely knew him at all, and had never been allowed to be alone with him or have physical contact before the wedding.

'It never occurred to me that I was doing anything other than what I had always dreamed of doing,' she told PBS.

The honeymoon didn't last long, if there even was one. Fraidy's husband showed his temper within a week of their wedding, growing angry when he overslept and punching a hole in the wall.

No help: Family members dismissed it as 'a little bit of a temper,' and when Fraidy went to the police after a violent episode and requested a restraining order, she was pressured to drop it

Education: Fraidy, pictured with Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, managed to get out by attending Rutgers University; she graduated as valedictorian with a journalism degree at age 32

The anger and violence escalated, and during the 12 years that Fraidy was married, her husband would abuse her and talk about murdering her.

'When he first threatened to kill me, he would describe to me in detail how he was going to kill me, and it was very graphic and very scary,' she says in the documentary.

But family members dismissed her husband's behavior as 'a little bit of a temper,' and when Fraidy went to the police after a violent episode and requested a restraining order, she was pressured to drop it.

In fact, rabbis turned up at her house to drive her to court and tell the judge she wanted to drop the restraining order.

Fraidy managed to get out by attending Rutgers University, from which she graduated as valedictorian with a journalism degree at age 32.

But her family, rather than being proud that she was the first to graduate college, declared her 'dead.'

Fraidy came to file for divorce, and moved to New Jersey with her two daughters, of whom she won custody.

She has since launched a career as an investigative reporter and private investigator, and now runs a nonprofit called Unchained at Last, which advocates for laws ending forced marriage.

Shipped off: Sara Tasneem's father married her to a man 13 years her senior when she was just 15. She says he was part of a religious cult and picked the man himself

After a religious ceremony when she was 15, her husband took her back to his native country and impregnated her. At 16, she was brought back to the US and the pair were legally married

She said: 'He essentially took custody of me, since I was underage, and took me out of the country. And once we left the country there was nothing that anybody could do to help me.'

'I got really depressed, and I just remembered seeing kids my age going to school and thinking I want to be one of those kids. Why cant I go to school?' she recalled

Sara Tasneem: Married at age 15 to a stranger 13 years older than her during Islamic cult ceremony

Sara Tasneem's parents divorced when she was five, and she grew up with her mom in Colorado. By the time she started high school, she planned to join the Air Force and go to law school.

But everything changed when she went to visit her father in California the summer after her freshman year, when she was 15.

'My dad had become involved in a very  its basically kind of like a cult. Its separate from the religion of Islam; its different in its practices and beliefs,' she told TOA News.

'Growing up in the group, it was your role as a girl that you would just be a wife and a mom.'

During that trip, her dad told her that since she was now drawing attention from boys, so she had to marry immediately.

'My dad sat me down and told me that, "You're not allowed to have sex out of marriage [and] you're gonna get married," she recalled.

He picked out a man who was 28, 13 years older than her, and the pair were spiritually married the night they met.

'After the ceremony, I was handed over to this man,' she told Global Citizen. 'He essentially took custody of me, since I was underage, and took me out of the country. And once we left the country there was nothing that anybody could do to help me.'

Sheer will: Her husband was abusive. And though he told her he could go to school, he would make it hard for her. Still, she managed to get her GED and go to culinary school

When she graduated, at age 23, she got a job as a chef and was able to leave. It took several years for her to file for divorce

Moving forward: Though she is now free from him and has since remarried (pictured), she is outspoken about the need for laws that protect this from happening in the first place

Sara was 16 and pregnant when they returned to the US, and she was taken to Reno, Nevada, for the legal ceremony. She hoped that someone would notice something was wrong and help her, but no one did.

In Nevada, a minor can 16 or older can get married with the consent of just one parent.

'Theres really no way to make somebody whole after taking away their freedom,' she said

Only after she was legally married was she allowed to call her mother and tell her what had happened.

'I got really depressed, and I just remembered seeing kids my age going to school and thinking I want to be one of those kids. Why cant I go to school?' she recalled.

Sara would go on to have two children, including a son when she was 19.

Her husband was abusive. And though he told her he could go to school, he would make it hard for her. Still, she managed to get her GED and take computer programming classes, and eventually went to culinary school.

When she graduated, at age 23, she got a job as a chef and was able to leave. It took several years for her to file for divorce, which she did when her husband was out of the country with their children.

Though she is now free from him and has since remarried, she is outspoken about the need for laws that protect this from happening in the first place.

'Theres really no way to make somebody whole after taking away their freedom,' she said.

Knots: A Forced Marriage Story also spotlights the ongoing problem of child marriages in the US, which is in fact legal in most states

While only Sara was a minor when she was forced into marriage, Knots: A Forced Marriage Story also spotlights the ongoing problem of child marriages in the US, which is in fact legal in most states.

Only Delaware, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania require marrying parties to be at least 18 years of age without exceptions. Most states allow minors to marry with a parent's permission, and 20 states do not even have a minimum age for marriage.

The makers of the documentary say that between 2000 and 2010, nearly 250,000 children in the US were married, and 77 per cent were young girls married to significantly older men.

Event though Nina and Fraidy were both legal adults at the time of their weddings, both were raised in patriarchal communities wherein they were expected to continue to obey their fathers as even after turning 18.

Directed by Kate Ryan Brewer, Knots: A Forced Marriage Story, will be released in theaters and online on May 7
A British-Australian model has become ELLE UK's first non-binary cover star - and has opened up about finally discovering an 'in-between place' after years of 'despising' their body.

Olly Eley, who is agender, meaning they are devoid of any gender altogether, said they did not have the language to understand how they felt when they were younger.

The model, who was born female, said they wished they had known when they were growing up that it was 'OK to exist in this 'in-between place''.

Eley told the magazine: 'After years of despising the body that I was born with, unable to relate in any way to the gender I was assigned at birth, I had at last found a way of existing in the world that made sense to me.

British-Australian model Olly Eley (pictured) has become ELLE UK's first non-binary cover star - and has opened up about finally discovering an 'in-between place' after years of 'despising' their body

'I've never felt female, but then neither have I felt male. If there was a thin line that connected the two genders, I would be a dot floating somewhere between the two, but untethered to the line altogether. It's the only way I can describe it.'

The model said it was only when they moved to one of Australia's largest cities that they first heard the pronouns they/them, adding: 'Before I moved to Sydney, I didn't have the language or the role models to understand how I felt.

'I'd never really had the chance to consider that 'gender' could be something I could control if I wanted to.

'Once I moved to the city, that all changed. My mind opened and was flooded with light - there was this whole queer community that I had no idea existed.

'When someone first introduced themselves to me with their name and the pronouns 'they/them', it felt so safe to me. Woah, that's the answer to everything right now, I thought.'

Eley (pictured), who is agender, meaning they are devoid of any gender altogether, said they did not have the language to understand how they felt when they were younger

Eley, who grew up in Australia, also explained why they chose not to have a mastectomy and instead opted to bind their chest.

'There are countless different surgeries that some trans people choose to have to feel more comfortable in their bodies; for me I feel so disconnected from any gender that no body will ever feel perfect,' they admitted.

'I chose not to have full 'top surgery' [a mastectomy], as that body wouldn't have served me either. Instead, I wanted the option to bind [a method of compressing the chest to give a flatter appearance] and the size of my chest previously meant that I wasn't able to do so effectively.

The June issue of ELLE UK (pictured) is on sale from May 6

'So I had a reduction to give me that control over my appearance. I bind not because I'm ashamed of my body but because the autonomy of doing so makes me feel safe.

'I'm not fluid where I shift between genders and pronouns. I am agender (devoid of gender altogether) and what I do with my body, whether I'm naked or in a full snowsuit, doesn't change it.

'I've accepted that I'm a non-binary person living in a binary world - that I have every intention of disrupting,' they added.

Eley also discussed being a role model for trans and non-binary children, saying: 'When someone is neither, both or all of the above in terms of their gender  like I am  people can be defensive and reluctant to accept that such a grey area exists.

'I wish I'd known that it was OK to exist in this "in-between" place when I was growing up. I wish someone had told me that I could be whoever I wanted to be, do whatever I wanted to do and that I was so valid and important.

'Trans and non-binary kids need to hear that they are beautiful and worthy of love and a fulfilling life.'

The June issue of ELLE UK is on sale from May 6
Faye, 40, (pictured) has been single for a year and has no children

FAYE, 40

Dating Past

Ive had a few long-term relationships and even moved to Australia to be with someone in 2014, which was a disaster.

Ive been more or less single for about six years now. Lockdown hasnt helped. I went on one socially distanced date on Wimbledon Common and saw someone for two months when restrictions lifted last year.

Pre-Date Nerves?

I always get nervous before a date. I bought a bottle of Cremant and drank that with some snacks.

VITAL STATISTICS Single for a year, no children. CURRENT ROLE Founder of a pet care business. WOULD LIKE TO MEET Someone open, honest, and tall. Hell love nature and animals as I do. Advertisement

First Impressions?

James is a handsome guy who put me at ease. Hes not my usual type, but I liked his accent and energy.

Easy To Talk To?

We bonded over our love of the outdoors. I go wild swimming while James adores the Welsh countryside. When I revealed I had never been to Wales, but met Tom Jones at a bar in the Savoy, James started singing one of his songs. It was great fun.

For the date, I sat in front of a blank wall, which James thought was funny. He said I looked like I was in prison!

James has a lovely calm nature and is a great storyteller. I discovered he had been in the police for 20 years and has three children. I was impressed hed been to Reading Festival with his son who is 28.

Id prefer not to date someone with children. At 29, my younger sister is only a year older than his eldest child.

Embarrassing Moments?

He serenaded me with a Tom Jones song  great fun!

FAYE'S VERDICT: 8/10 LIKED? Hes very friendly. REGRETS? None. SEE HIM AGAIN? If he was in London. Advertisement

James stood at the kitchen counter for most of the date, which felt awkward so I told him to sit down.

Did Sparks Fly?

He was a charming older man, but we are from different backgrounds. Ive lived all over the world, whereas James enjoys the UK. That said, we had a lot in common. I couldnt tell if there was chemistry over a video call. He suggested he might come to London to see me, and since the date weve been in touch by text.

Would you like to meet in person?

If he lived in London I would see him again as we had fun, but because hes based in Wales, it may be too far.

What do you think he thought of you?

I think hes such a gentleman, hed always be nice to whoever was in front of him. The date went well.

Would your family like him?

I would be comfortable introducing him, but I do feel were quite different. That said, this last year has taught us to appreciate people so much more.

James, 50, (pictured) is single and has three children

JAMES, 50

Dating Past

Since my divorce in 2003 Ive had three longish-term relationships, but have been single for two years after I decided to take some time for myself. Im now ready to find love again.

Pre-Date Nerves?

Im not usually nervous, but I was a little bit before the date. It was my first ever blind date.

First Impressions?

The first thing I was struck by was Fayes beautiful hair and how attractive she was. From the word go, she was warm and friendly, and the conversation flowed.

VITAL STATISTICS Single with three children, aged 28, 20 and 14. CURRENT ROLE Owner of a heating company. WOULD LIKE TO MEET A woman who is gentle, kind, intelligent, fun and enjoys being outdoors. Advertisement

Easy To Talk To?

There was loads of banter and she has a great sense of humour, so we were on the same wavelength. I ride a bike so she made fun of me for wearing Lycra which made me laugh. We spoke for two hours, but its difficult to get a real sense of someone in this space.

We had an honest conversation about the kind of relationship we want. At this age, neither of us wants to play games or be dishonest. She mentioned shed like to travel round Italy in an open-top vintage car, which is what I wanted to do for my 50th. We both love food and wine and have worked as chefs. I have Italian family and wine has been a huge part of my life.

Embarrassing Moments?

I realised I didnt know her name and had to ask her at the beginning! Thankfully, she laughed it off. I did break into song at one point because Im Welsh so I sang the Welsh national anthem. I also mentioned her hair about three times which is embarrassing.

She played with her hair and told me I was handsome

Did Sparks Fly?

JAMES'S VERDICT: 8/10 LIKED? Shes charming and funny. REGRETS? None. SEE HER AGAIN? Yes. Advertisement

I was flirting because I liked her. I found her warm, natural and friendly. Sometimes I thought she was flirting with me. She was playing with her hair and said I was handsome. Im not used to compliments so thought she had guts.

Would you like to meet in person?

I did tell her I would like to see her again. Distance isnt a big deal for me.

What do you think she thought of you?

I think she thought I was pleasant and handsome, but Im not sure if she saw me as a romantic partner.

Would your family like her?

Absolutely. My family are loving and open so they would like Faye.

Would you like us to find you a date ? Fancy a date with an eligible single like you? Or would you like to play Cupid for someone else? Email your  or their  details and a photo to blinddate@dailymail.co.uk
The Duchess of Cambridge has shared a glimpse of her photography book Hold Still ahead of its release on Friday.

It comes just a day after Kate's sister-in-law Meghan Markle unveiled her own 12.99 children's story, The Bench, sparking a battle of the royal publications.

Kate, 39, a keen photographer, launched a campaign during the first lockdown last year to ask the public to submit images which captured the period.

Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020, features 100 final 'poignant and personal' portraits selected from 31,000 entrants.

Meanwhile, Meghan's book was inspired by Prince Harry and her son Archie and comes illustrated with pictures of a red-headed soldier.

The Duchess of Sussex, 39, said the book - which will come out in the UK and US simultaneously - was inspired by a poem she had written for Harry on Father's Day the month after Archie was born.

The Duchess of Cambridge has shared a glimpse of her photography book Hold Still (pictured) ahead of its release on Friday

The Duchess of Sussex said her book - which will sell for 12.99 ($18.99) - would explore the 'special bond between father and son' as 'seen through a mother's eyes'

Kate (pictured), a keen amateur photographer, wrote the introduction to the book, which showcases pictures from her Hold Still campaign of 2020

The Duchess announced the Hold Still book would be going out on Friday (pictured). Proceeds will go to Mind and the National Portrait Gallery

Kate's book, created in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery, will be available in UK bookshops and online from May 7, one year since the project was first launched and a month before Meghan's book is published.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who announced earlier today they'd be starting their own YouTube channel, shared a video which flicked through the pages of the book to their Instagram, with the caption: 'Coming this Friday #HoldStill2020'.

The fast-paced video shared by the Cambridges on Instagram showed the different pages of the Hold Still book, and some of the 100 portraits that were selected.

Excited royal fans praised the Duchess's work, as some said she was 'smashing it'. 'Wonderful. I love the way this woman goes about her business,' one said.

'This was such a fantastic project! Congratulations to the Duchess of Cambridge for this awesome initiative,' another said.

The new book includes an introduction from Kate, in which she explains why launching Hold Still was so important to her.

The cover of Hold Still immortalises a NHS worker wearing PPE, frowning at the camera in a moving portrait, pictured

The book showed portraits taken during the pandemic (pictured), and will be released on Friday online and across UK bookstores

The new book includes an introduction from Kate, in which she explains why launching Hold Still was so important to her

She writes: 'When we look back at the COVID-19 pandemic in decades to come, we will think of the challenges we all faced  the loved ones we lost, the extended isolation from our families and friends and the strain placed on our key workers.

'But we will also remember the positives: the incredible acts of kindness, the helpers and heroes who emerged from all walks of life, and how together we adapted to a new normal.

'Through Hold Still, I wanted to use the power of photography to create a lasting record of what we were all experiencing  to capture individuals' stories and document significant moments for families and communities as we lived through the pandemic.'

She goes on: 'For me, the power of the images is in the poignant and personal stories that sit behind them. I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to some of the photographers and sitters, to hear their stories first-hand - from moments of joy, love and community spirit, to deep sadness, pain, isolation and loss.

'A common theme of those conversations was how lockdown reminded us about the importance of human connection and the huge value we place on the relationships we have with the people around us.

'Although we were physically apart, these images remind us that, as families, communities and as a nation, we need each other more than we had ever realised.'

She concludes by thanking everyone who took the time to submit an image, adding: 'Your stories are the most crucial part of this project.

The announcement comes after the UK marked the one-year anniversary of the first national lockdown earlier this week. Pictured: an image from the new book

'I hope that the final 100 photographs showcase the experiences and emotions borne during this time in history, pay tribute to the awe-inspiring efforts of all who have worked to protect those around them, and provide a space for us to pause and reflect upon this unparalleled period.'

Net proceeds raised from the sale of the book will be split between the mental health charity Mind and the National Portrait Gallery.

The funds will help to support arts and mental health projects across the UK, including Mind's work in local communities and the National Portrait Gallery's education and community projects.

As well as showcasing the final 100 images and the stories that accompany each of them, the book - which has been put together with support from the Co-op - will look back at highlights from the community exhibition which took the portraits to billboards and outdoor poster sites in 80 towns, cities and areas in October 2020.

Net proceeds raised from the sale of the book (pictured) will be split between the mental health charity Mind and the National Portrait Gallery

Over the course of the project the Duchess shared a number of her favourite images on the Kensington Royal Instagram page, including one of a young girl seen drawing a huge rainbow onto a window pane, which made it into the book (pictured)

Over the course of the project the Duchess shared a number of her favourite images on the Kensington Royal Instagram page, including a Black Lives Matter protester holding a sign reading: 'Be on the right side of history.'

Another of the snaps was a black and white image showing a man embracing his daughter, while one shows a child kissing their godmother through a window.

Meanwhile others featured a student holding her exam qualifications, and a young girl seen drawing a huge rainbow onto a window pane.

Dr Nicholas Cullinan, director of The National Portrait Gallery said: 'The public response to Hold Still, which was spearheaded by our Patron, the Duchess of Cambridge, has been phenomenal.

'The photographs submitted have helped to create a unifying and cathartic portrait of life in lockdown. We are honoured to have been able to share a selection of these photographs with the nation, first through the online and community exhibition and now through this new publication.

'The proceeds raised from the book will help us to continue to care for and share our national Collection and to provide free access, inspiration and learning, through the work we do at the Gallery and our UK wide community and education projects.

'Hold Still is an important record of this extraordinary moment in our history  expressed through the faces of the nation  and we hope will remain so for generations to come.'

As well as showcasing the final 100 images and the stories that accompany each of them, the book - which has been put together with support from the Co-op - will look back at highlights from the community exhibition which took the portraits to billboards and outdoor poster sites in 80 towns, cities and areas in October 2020

In Meghan's book, one illustration by artist Christian Robinson shows a red-headed soldier wearing an American-style Army cap holding his young son aloft as a woman watches on crying from a window, in a likely reference to her and Harry, who served in Afghanistan with the Blues and Royals. The words read: 'This is your bench, Where life begins, For you and our son our baby, our kin'

Another image features a father with his baby boy sleeping on a lounger outside. A media release said the book featured a 'diverse group of fathers and sons'

Who is Christian Robinson, the artist Meghan Markle chose to illustrate her first children's book Christian Robinson, 34, is the American illustrator behind what Meghan Markle dubbed the 'beautiful and ethereal watercolour illustrations' in her first children's book The Bench. The Duchess of Sussex said she 'worked closely' with the California-based artist to depict father-son relationships through 'an inclusive lens'. Robinson was born in 1986 in Hollywood, California. The Bench's illustrator, Christian Robinson, is from Meghan's home state of California He was brought up by his grandmother in a one-bedroom flat also shared with his brother, two cousins and aunt. He used drawing as a way to 'make space for himself and to create the kind of world he wanted to see', his website states. Robinson - who is now based in Sacramento, California - studied animation at the California Institute of the Arts. He worked on animations with The Sesame Street Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios. Nina: A Story of Nina Simone, written by @tracintodd and illustrated by Mr Robinson, tells the story of Eunice Last Stop of Market Street (pictured) won him several awards During an internship with Pixar, Robinson was asked to do some drawings of characters for the film Up. Pete Doctor - Up's director - spotted his illustrations and asked Robinson to make the children's-book version of the film. From there, Robinson did various projects - including teaching children art - before he was ask to illustrate more books. His drawings for New York Times bestseller Last Stop on Market Street - about a young boy's bus journey - won him several awards, including a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. Advertisement

Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, added: 'The coronavirus pandemic is a mental health emergency as well as a physical one. The devastating loss of life, the impact of lockdown, and any recession that lies ahead means there has never been a more crucial time to prioritise our mental health.

'This inspiring collection of portraits illustrates the impact of the pandemic in all its complexity, but also how creativity, art and human connection can help us find meaning in unprecedented challenges.

'Thank you to everyone who submitted a portrait to tell such a moving and deeply human story of the pandemic. And to the National Portrait Gallery and The Duchess of Cambridge for choosing Mind as a joint beneficiary of proceeds from the sales of this book.'

For more information or to pre-order a copy of the book, visit the National Portrait Gallery's website.

Yesterday, Meghan revealed her book would explore the 'special bond between father and son' as 'seen through a mother's eyes'.

The story, which will be published on June 8 by Random House Children's Books, will be illustrated by bestselling Californian artist Christian Robinson, who was brought up by his grandmother in a one-bedroom flat also shared with his brother, two cousins and aunt.

The Sussexes were seen sitting on a bench in the garden of their Montecito home in September last year when they urged Americans to 'reject hate speech' in a controversial intervention before the US election. However, in quotes promoting the book Meghan refers to a poem she wrote a month after Archie was born, when they were still in the UK.

Photos from inside the book shows a boy being lifted into the air by a red-haired man in military uniform as a woman weeps from the window.

The words accompanying the picture say: 'Looking out at My Love and our beautiful boy. And here in the window I'll have tears of joy'.

Another image features a father with his baby boy sleeping on a lounger outside.

The words say: 'From here you will rest, see the growth of our boy'.

A media release reads: 'Inspired by her own husband and son, The Duchess of Sussex's debut touchingly captures the evolving and expanding relationship between fathers and sons and reminds us of the many ways that love can take shape and be expressed in a modern family.

'Evoking a deep sense of warmth, connection, and compassion, The Bench gives readers a window into shared and enduring moments between a diverse group of fathers and sonsmoments of peace and reflection, trust and belief, discovery and learning, and lasting comfort.'

The press statement described the Duchess of Sussex as a 'mother, wife, feminist, and activist' who 'currently resides in her home state of California with her family, two dogs, and a growing flock of rescue chickens'.

Meghan previously wrote a blog, The Tig, and has also penned an article for Time magazine. Her other publishing experience includes guest editing Vogue in September 2019.

The Bench's illustrator, Christian Robinson, is from Meghan's home state of California and has previously worked with Sesame Street and Pixar.

He recently received a Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for his art in Last Stop on Market Street.

Other royals to have written books include Prince Charles, who penned A Vision of Britain: A Personal View of Architecture (1989) and a children's book, The Old Man of Lochnagar, in 1989.

The Queen's first cousin, Princess Michael of Kent, has written several historical novels and the autobiographical A Cheetah's Tale, about her early life travelling Africa and raising a cheetah cub.

The book is published by Penguin Random House and will be released on June 8.

It is the latest venture since the Sussexes signed a 75million Netflix deal and a lucrative partnership to produce podcasts for Spotify.
Damascus Government forces resumed their ground bombardment of the so-called "De-escalation" Zone, carrying out artillery fire after midnight on Monday-Tuesday, on areas in Qastun, Zizun and Zayadiyah in the western countryside of Hama, and other areas of Jebel Al-Zawiya in southern Idlib countryside.

The South Idlib and Mizanaz-Kafr Nouran hubs in western Aleppo also witnessed mutual machine-gun attacks between Damascus government forces and Turkish mercenaries, without information of casualties, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

In relevant, yesterday Monday, the Damascus Government forces fired rocket shells that landed in areas of Sfuhen, its surroundings, Al-Bara and its outskirts, Fleifel and Banin within Jebel Al-Zawiya in the southern sector of Idlib countryside, as well as targeting heavy machine guns to clashes' axes with mercenaries in the northwestern of Hama in the Ghab Plain.

T/S

ANHA
Melanie McDonagh (pictured) argues vaccinating teens could ensure schools stay open

NO

by Melanie McDonagh

Whats not to like about vaccinating teenagers against Covid? I asked my daughter whether shed be up for a jab and she rolled her eyes. Do I look like an anti-vaxxer? she said wearily.

My children, 14 and 17, cant see any reason why they shouldnt have a vaccination, always supposing older groups have been vaccinated first. The very few young people under 30 whove suffered blood clots after getting the AstraZeneca vaccine is nothing by comparison with the victims of the actual virus.

I cant see any problem with NHS England considering vaccinations for children over 12 when the new school year starts in September, if the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation approves it.

Young people are far less likely to be hospitalised or die if they contract Covid than the elderly, so they shouldnt get vaccines until older people and the vulnerable have been double-jabbed. And perhaps old people in developing countries need vaccines more than our children.

Its a small price to pay to keep schools open

But youngsters are not invulnerable; in the U.S., 300 children and young teenagers have died from Covid. And as more older people get their jabs, young people become the group who are susceptible. Vaccination would protect them from even this small risk.

More importantly, children can be unwitting carriers of the virus. I know of one elderly couple who shielded scrupulously throughout the pandemic, but died after contracting Covid from their asymptomatic grandchildren. As the Queen observed, in considering this question, we should think of others  that means everyone who can, should take up the offer of a vaccine so theyll be less likely to transmit it. But the real reason the Government is considering vaccinating teenagers is to guard against another possibility: school closures in the event of a further outbreak.

My childrens cohort lost more than a years normal education as a result of the school lockdowns. The first one was a disgrace; unlike private schools, some state secondaries like theirs simply posted homework for pupils online and effectively left them to it. This years lockdown was better managed, but it was still woeful, proving simply that pupils were expert in dodging remote scrutiny.

And the cancellation of exams meant there was no fair way of judging pupils performance.

If vaccinating every child in the country is a way of ensuring schools stay open, then its a small price to pay. Mine will be first in the queue.

Rowan Pelling (pictured) says low risk age group should be given a choice about vaccinations when they turn 18

YES

By Rowan Pelling

As my husband was hesitating over booking his Covid vaccine, I told him he was mad: hes 67, slightly overweight, has high blood pressure and is, without doubt, at risk from coronavirus. In this context, vaccination is a lifesaver  he had his jab.

Its clear most adults  and the older you are, the truer this is  are advised to have their jab pronto, for their own sake and that of others (mines this week).

So why dont I want my two teenage boys vaccinated?

Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication at Cambridge University (basically the chap who explains statistics to lay people) has described the risk to children from Covid as being staggeringly low.

So I see no greater reason for a vaccine for children now than I do in flu season, when only grown-ups in our household are jabbed.

My older son (whos just turned 17) has a history of severe allergies, so Id need cast-iron reassurance from his GP that whichever jab he was offered was safe for him to take. Meanwhile, our 13-year-old had Covid last October, so probably has a measure of resistance. He also takes a Covid test twice a week as part of his schools safety measures. How much more reassurance does the world need?

Its my sons choice to have the jab at 18

Im not an anti-vaxxer. My sons have had all their routine jabs, including the MMR as babies, and Ive just signed the form for the HPV vaccine for one of them after weighing up the evidence.

The key difference with the Covid vaccination is that we have no sense, as yet, as to whether it confers meaningful long-term cover. It seems possible, if not likely, well be having annual Covid booster jabs for years to come, so I simply believe in leaving the choice to my sons when they turn 18.

Their age group is at such low risk from Covid that, to me, its not worth taking even the tiniest risk of experiencing a side-effect from the vaccine. Id just be happier for my sons to be jabbed when theres several years data to scrutinise.

Finally, Ive never believed its the job of the young to restrict or modify their behaviour in order to safeguard adults  including taking medication they may not strictly need.

To me, that choice only makes sense if you have a vulnerable person in your household, such as someone being treated for cancer or who has an autoimmune disorder.

But in most homes the emphasis should be on the adults to act responsibly and look after their own health.
Amazon is selling homeopathy products made from the pus of syphilis and scabies blisters, MailOnline can reveal.

The retail giant also offers pills comprising diseased human tissue, including breast cancer cells and urethral gonorrhea discharge, as well as sperm whale vomit.

Critics today accused Amazon of misleading customers by allowing the listings to pose as genuine medicines.

Amazon today took down three flagged by MailOnline but not identical ones listed by the same sellers. It said third party sellers must follow its guidelines and said those who do not could face removal of their account.

Amazon has been slammed for selling bogus homeopathy products made from the pus of syphilis blisters (pictured)

Birmingham-based Urenus UK is listing thousands of unproven $9.99 homeopathic products, including psorinum which is made from dissolved pus from scabies blisters

Malaysian company MyBestDeals is listing a 11ml Dr Reckeweg 'medicine' for $24.99 with $9.99 shipping (25.21 in total). It is made out of ambergris  a mysterious substance formed in the intestines of sperm whales

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WACKIEST HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES ON SALE ON AMAZON MADE FROM? Remedy name What is it really? Syphilinum Psorinum Ambra Grisea Thyroidinum Tuberculinum bovinum Carcinsonum Caninum Medorrhinum Lyssin Pus from syphilis blisters Pus from scabies blisters Sperm whale intestinal secretion Sheep thyroid gland Cow's tuberculosis gland Human (usually breast) cancer tissue Dog milk Male urethral gonorrhea discharge Rabid dog saliva Advertisement

WHAT IS AMBRA GRISEA? THE HOMEOPATHIC REMEDY MADE OF 'WHALE VOMIT' Ambra grisea is made out of ambergris (pictured), a sperm whale secretion which is made in the intestines and is commonly referred to as 'whale vomit' Ambra grisea is a popular homeopathic remedy which is supposed to help people treat shyness, bladder and rectum pain. It is made from a heavily dissolved ambergris, which is a secretion sperm whales make in their their intestines. The hard substance can build up in a whale's rectum for decades and is commonly referred to as 'whale vomit' because it is believed to be regurgitated by the animals many times before it is passed. It has a fecal smell when it is first passed by the whale but takes on an earthy sweet smell as it dries out, which historically made it popular as an incense in ancient Egypt. Ambergris is legal in the UK but illegal in the US under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The substance is usually found washed up on shorelines or in the sea, but some homeopathic people have been known to search the carcasses of dead sperm whales to harvest it. They believe ambra grisea can be used to treat various ailments, including face-twitching, sleeplessness and vertigo. Advertisement

Homeopathy is an alternative 'treatment' based on using heavily diluted samples of substances  often flowers.

It is based on the principle of 'like cures like', so materials that are known to cause certain symptoms can also cure them.

Advocates of the practice say it can treat a plethora of conditions, including arthritis, piles and nausea.

But homeopathy is no longer funded on the NHS because there is no evidence it is effective.

Critics say the remedies are so heavily diluted with water that they are placebo in all but name. Practitioners say the more diluted a substance is, the more effective it is.

Professor Edzard Ernst, one of the most high-profile critics of homeopathy, said none of the remedies found by MailOnline were ever proven to be effective.

Bizarre homeopathic listings were first uncovered by MailOnline two years ago, and prompted the retail giant to take down some listings.

But British and US Amazon customers can still buy bizarre homeopathic products today, including syphilinum for just $9.99 (7.20).

It is traditionally made from the diluted 'pus obtained from a syphilitic ulceration'  a blister caused by syphilis  and works better at higher potencies, according to the Homeopathic Recorder.

The journal, which is not peer-reviewed, was created by a society set up to preserve the teachings of German doctor Samuel Hahnemann, considered to be the founding father of homeopathy before he died in the 1800s.

Homeopathy advocates say syphilinum can be prescribed to treat not only syphilis but constipation, asthma and menstruation pains.

One of the now-removed syphilinum products sold by Birmingham-based firm Urenus has received several five-star ratings on Amazon, with a verified customer saying 'right way I saw results'.

Likewise, Urenus also sells psorinum  made from the pus of human scabies blisters, which are caused by mites burrowing under the skin.

The so-called remedy is supposed to treat heart complaints and eczema. It costs the same amount as syphilinum.

And the company is also listing hundreds of other remedies derived from human body parts, including diseased cancer tissue (carcinosinum) and urethral discharge from men with gonorrhea (medorrhinum).

Carinosinum is said to cure indigestion, as well as pain in the mammary glands and uterus.

Medorrhinum is said to cure chronic pelvic disorders in women, joint pain and even help children grow.

Amazon also had listings for a solution made of the intestinal secretion of a sperm whale  commonly known as 'whale vomit'  for $24.99 (18.02).

There are six listings for ambra grisea on Amazon, with Malaysian firm MyBestDeals listing a 11ml 'medicine' for $24.99 with $9.99 shipping (25.21 in total).

It is supposed to help heal shyness, bladder and rectum pain among other unrelated conditions.

The remedy is made from a heavily dissolved ambergris, a natural byproduct specific to sperm whales.

The hard substance can build up in a whale's rectum for decades and is commonly referred to as 'whale vomit' because it is believed to be regurgitated by the animals many times before it is passed.

It has a fecal smell when it is first passed but takes on an earthy sweet aroma as it dries out, which historically made it popular as an incense in ancient Egypt.

The substance is usually found washed up on shorelines or in the sea, but some homeopaths have been known to search the carcasses of dead sperm whales to harvest it.

Carinosinum  made of dissolved human breast cancer tissue  is said to cure pain in the mammary glands, uterus and from indigestion. Homeopathic doctors also claim it can reduce wait loss in cancer patients

Medorrhinum is made out of the urethral discharge of men with gonorrhea. The US-based National Center for Homeopathy says it can treat asthma, epilepsy, warts, period pain and even psoriasis

Lac caninum is prepared from the milk of dogs. Advocates say it can treat gonorrhoea and varicose veins, among other ailments

WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF HOMEOPATHY? Homeopathy was first coined in 1807 by German doctor Samuel Hahnemann, and focuses on three principles: like cures like, dilution, and 'water remembers.' Dr Hahnemann believed that medicine in his time was doing more harm than good, so he began to conduct experiments on volunteers and himself. One such experiment included eating the bark of a cinchona tree, which was then used as a treatment for malaria. Scientists have since found that this bark contains quinine, an antimalarial drug. After eating some of the bark, Hahnemann experienced symptoms which he likened to those of malaria, spawning the first principle 'like cures like.' The doctor thought that if a substance in large doses causes certain symptoms, it can be used in small doses to cure them. According to the British Homeopathy Association, the remedies are used by over 200 million people worldwide to treat both acute and chronic conditions. Advertisement

Urenus also has four listings for tuberculinum bovinum  derived from cows' glands that are infected with tuberculosis. The remedy is said to cure stubborn intermittent fevers and difficulties with breathing.

Critics slammed all the homeopathic remedies listed on Amazon for misleading customers, with many listed as medicines.

And this could be potentially dangerous if people assume the products can actually be used to treat serious conditions instead of using recognised medicines.

Professor Ernst told MailOnline: 'None of these remedies have ever been shown to be effective against any condition.

'If Amazon or other firms sell such products, implying they are medicines, they mislead consumers.

'And if people assume that such remedies are effective treatments for serious diseases, they might even risk their lives.

'Homeopathic remedies are typically so highly diluted that they do not contain a single molecule of the often exotic ingredients advertised on the bottle.'

Asked why unproven remedies continued to be sold on Amazon two years after MailOnline first drew attention to the issue, the company said companies found to be breaking its guidelines could face being banned.

It took down some of the flagged products at the time but would not say how many and did not punish the sellers further.

Two years later, it today took down three products flagged by MailOnline.

It said: 'Third party sellers are independent businesses and are required to follow our selling guidelines when selling in our store.

'Those who do not will be subject to action including potential removal of their account.'
Nearly half of older millennials already have chronic health conditions, a new survey suggests.

Some 44 percent of people born between 1981 and 1988 have already been diagnosed with at least one chronic medical condition, according to the CNBC/Harris poll.

The most common conditions among the group were migraines, depression and asthma, diabetes type 2 and high blood pressure weren't far behind.

For most conditions, older millennials had higher rates of chronic illness compare to the general public - including those older than them.

And experts warn that the mysterious fallout of 'long-covid' could mean that rates of chronic health problems are only set to soar higher in the years to come.

About 46 percent of the 831 older millennials in the poll of 4,000 people said they had at lease one chronic health condition (green) - more than the share in general population (gray)

Gene therapies, cancer treatments, artificial hearts, the ability to restore sight and the measles vaccine - the world has made astounding progress in treating and even curing many devastating health problems.

But some of the most nagging and deadliest health issues are still plaguing millions of Americans, and rates may be on the rise at younger ages.

Among 831 survey respondents between ages 33 and 40, the survey found that 15 percent had high blood pressure, or hypertension.

That's only about half the rate in the general population, but the risks typically go up with age. By ages 55-65, the risk of hypertension skyrockets to about 90 percent, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Eleven percent of respondents also said they have high cholesterol, for which risks similarly increase with age.

And already heart disease was half as common among this age group compared to the general population, with four percent already having been diagnosed with the number one killer of Americans.

Each condition has a web of underlying drivers, including genetic predispositions.

But experts have a particular suspect in mind: obesity.

At present, just 10 percent of the survey respondents reported being obese, compared to 13 percent of the general population of respondents (the survey was completed by more than 4,000 U.S. adults in total).

But obesity is generally on the rise in the U.S., especially among young people.

Dr Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, told CNBC that there is 'no question' that millennials have more health problems than doctors anticipated.

'Hypertension, diabetes and obesity drives a lot of that.'

He added that obesity drives up risks of the other two conditions, as well as risks for some cancer, such as colorectal cancer, which has seen an alarming surge in young people.

Annual cases among under-50s, the rate of bowel cancer increased by about 2.2 percent each year between 2011 and 2016 and 18 percent of all cases in 2020 were expected to be in Americans younger than 50.

The most common conditions among the group were migraines, depression and asthma, diabetes type 2 and high blood pressure weren't far behind

Among the survey group, cancer was almost as common among older millennials as it was in the general population.

About four percent of the 33- to 40-year-olds said they'd been diagnosed with cancer, compared to five percent of the overall survey group.

Millennials also reported high rates of depression (23 percent), migraines (26 percent), asthma (19 percent), IBS (12 percent) and hyperactivity an psychotic disorders (10 percent).

They had above-average rates of alcohol and substance abuse as well (nine and eight percent, respectively).

It's too soon to say how exactly the COVID-19 pandemic will affect rates of chronic health conditions, but the early warning signs are not good

An estimated one in 20 people who had COVID-19 wind up with 'long covid' - lingering symptoms that range from trouble breathing to brain fog and fatigue, to name a few.

That suggests that millions of millennials who had coronavirus could be facing a whole new set of chronic health concerns, as well as higher risks for known conditions.
Eli Lilly & Co employees have accused a factory executive of altering documents in order to downplay serious quality control problems at a plant producing the company's COVID-19 treatment.

The internal complaint was filed on April 8 in Lilly's confidential employee system, and reviewed by Reuters, against top quality official Lydia Wible at the drugmaker's factory in Branchburg, New Jersey.

It alleges that she rewrote findings by Lilly technical experts at the plant, which has been under investigation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to make the conclusions appear more favorable to the company.

According to a source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, it involved the antibody treatment bamlanivimab, which is approved by the FDA to use with another Lilly drug to treat mild-to-moderate infections in people at high risk of severe illness.

Separately, in March, FDA inspectors identified numerous manufacturing lapses at a second Lilly facility in Indianapolis that bottles the COVID-19 antibody therapy and other drugs.

The problems included substandard sanitation and quality control procedures, according to a preliminary FDA inspection report released to Reuters under open records laws.

The troubles at the two factories, along with a succession of internal complaints in recent years, deepen the regulatory, production and leadership issues facing Lilly, one of the largest drugmakers in the world.

Eli Lilly & Co employees have accused top quality official, Lydia Wible, of altering documents with findings written by technical experts at the drugmaker's factory in Branchburg, New Jersey (above)

Staff allege she rewrote findings about bamlanivimab (above), which is FDA-approved along with another drug to treat mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19 in high-risk people, to make the conclusions appear more favorable to the company

The Branchburg factory executive named in the complaint, Wible, did not respond to requests for comment made via email and telephone.

On her behalf, Lilly said she declined to comment.

The complaint about the Branchburg facility refers to '13 employees involved in this investigation' and does not identify them, saying they fear retaliation.

The source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the group that submitted the complaint comprises more than 10 employees, including managers.

The complaint did not specify what alterations the employees believed were made to the documents, but said Wible 'rewrites factual data provided by subject matter experts to formulate responses she feels are more beneficial.'

She allegedly altered information provided by internal technical experts, saying she is 'solely responsible for providing written responses to the FDA' regarding the types of quality control problems that regulators flagged.

The complaint said that Wible used 'her authority to rewrite technical investigations for which she has little or no experience.'

According to the complaint, staff members who gather information for the FDA were concerned about presenting altered material to regulators.

They 'are uncomfortable and do not feel confident in defending the reformulated responses in the event they are called upon by the FDA,' the complaint said.

The complaint also expressed impatience with company leaders.

'How long is it going to take for the company to pay attention and do something about this?' the document said, referring to the accusations against Wible.

'We are all working very hard to meet the commitments to the FDA and cannot do so under these conditions.'

Separately, FDA inspectors found that procedures to ensure certain areas remain sterile at an Indianapolis plant (pictured) making the COVID-19 drug were substandard

Contacted by Reuters for this story, Lilly confirmed it had received the recent employee complaint about the Branchburg plant.

The company said it could not comment further given that an investigation was underway by an independent third party, which it did not identify.

'Depending on the outcome of that investigation, we will take appropriate action,' said Lilly spokeswoman Kathryn Beiser.

'Lilly has long-standing policies and procedures designed to enable - and encourage - individuals to come forward with information about any potential issues or concerns without fear of retribution.'

It is not clear whether any of the documents Wible is accused of rewriting have been submitted to the FDA, although the agency routinely reviews such records.

The FDA declined to answer questions on the Lilly inspections or the employee complaint, but said 'the agency takes the safety and quality of FDA-regulated products seriously' and noted that it imposed quality control measures when it authorized bamlanivimab.

Amid the escalating manufacturing problems, however, the Branchburg plant has not shipped new batches of the COVID-19 drug bamlanivimab in nearly two months, according to the employee complaint and the source familiar with the matter.

Reuters could not independently confirm that the Branchburg plant was not releasing bamlanivimab to the Indianapolis bottling plant or other facilities.

Lilly did not respond to questions about whether shipments have stalled at Branchburg, though the company said it expected to meet its production commitments for the COVID-19 treatment

NOT THE FIRST TIME

According to the complaint, this is not the first time Wible has altered records.

She allegedly provided 'fabricated' information including 'fictitious numbers' to a Branchburg human resources investigator looking into potential manufacturing lapses.

Asked by Reuters about the matter, former human resources investigator Amrit Mula confirmed that she had concluded through an internal inquiry in 2018 that Wible had given her fabricated information.

The complaint alleges that Wible also fabricated information in 2018 after a Lilly employee flagged violations of FDA manufacturing rules regarding diabetes drug Trulicity (above)

Mula said she was looking into unsanitary conditions in a warehouse, as well as information about the improper disposal of quality-control records for Trulicity, a blockbuster diabetes drug then made at the plant.

Reuters reported in March that Mula claimed to have identified serious violations of FDA manufacturing rules at the plant and to have been forced out of the company in early 2019.

Mula has since sought compensation from Lilly, arguing the company retaliated against her for raising legitimate concerns as part of her job.

Senior executives at Lilly headquarters in Indianapolis, including Leanne Hickman, vice president of quality, knew about the alleged fabrications and retaliation and protected Wible, doing nothing to address the problems, according to the complaint.

In November 2019, roughly eight months after Mula's departure, FDA inspectors showed up at the Branchburg plant for a routine inspection and cited some of the same problems Mula said she had repeatedly flagged to her bosses.

The preliminary FDA report found that quality control data on various manufacturing processes had been deleted and not appropriately audited.

Inspectors returned in July and found several more problems, including that the company failed to properly investigate quality-control problems to prevent recurrence and that batches of drugs had been discarded because of manufacturing mistakes.

'A LOT OF WORK TO DO'

Lilly's treatment, a mixture of drugs bamlanivimab and etesevimab, was developed by Lilly and the Canadian company AbCellera.

It recognizes the virus once a person is infected and attaches to it, preventing the pathogen from entering human cells, and therefore neutralizing it.

It was authorized for emergency use in February and, as a condition, an outside auditor would inspect batches of bamlanivimab to ensure they met FDA standards.

Lilly and the FDA have not responded to questions from Reuters about whether this requirement was carried out.

In March, Lilly said its combination antibody therapy reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 87 percent in a study of more than 750 high-risk COVID-19 patients.

Eli Lilly says its combination antibody therapy reduced the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 by 87% compared to a placebo (above),

Around the same time, the FDA inspected the Indianapolis plant, which receives the kinds of injectable drugs manufactured in New Jersey, fills them into vials and syringes, and distributes them to customers.

Preliminary FDA reports, which are partially redacted, show inspectors found that procedures to ensure certain areas remain sterile were substandard and that Lilly failed to thoroughly investigate drug batches that had failed quality control tests.

In addition, when vials from outside vendors were discarded as defective, the company failed to thoroughly investigate.

'The FDA found serious concerns on multiple fronts,' said Steven Lynn, a former head of the FDAs Office of Manufacturing and Product Quality, who reviewed the inspection report for Reuters.

'Lilly has a lot of work to do.'
Advertisement

Coronavirus cases and deaths are continuing to plummet across the United States as more and more people get vaccinated against the disease.

Several former epicenters on the West Coast, in the Midwest, and on the East Coast, are seeing deaths and hospitalizations on the decline and test positivity rates falling to record low numbers.

Los Angeles County, which was at one point, reporting a COVID-19 dearth every eight is now seeing fewer than 300 new cases per day and fewer than 20 deaths.

New York City, the country's very first epicenter, cases had plateaued for at least two months, and have now fallen by more than percent to around 1,200 per day.

And North Dakota, which at one time had the second-highest infection rate in the country is recording around 150 cases per day.

During the height of the pandemic in January, Los Angeles County was reporting as many as 17,000 new Covid infections per day and 300 deaths. On Tuesday, the county recorded just 273 new cases and 18 deaths

Los Angeles County's coronavirus test positivity rate has fallen to just 0.7%, a record-low number

During the height of the pandemic in late January, Los Angeles County officials reported a death due to COVID-19 every eight minutes on average, about 300 per day, and a new infection every six seconds, as many as 17,000 per day.

However, on Tuesday, the county recorded just 18 deaths and 273 new cases, some of the lowest numbers seen since the start of the crisis.

What's more, the test positivity rate has fallen to just 0.7 percent, a record-low number.

On Tuesday, Los Angeles County was declared eligible to move to the yellow tier, which is the least restrictive tier of the state's color-coded designations.

Entering the yellow tier allows a higher capacity for several businesses, including fitness centers, bars, outdoor venues and even amusements parks.

In a statement on Tuesday, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti said the progress 'is a tribute to everything Angelenos have done to stay safe, stop the spread, and defeat COVID-19.'

Coronavirus cases have declined by 65% in New York City over the last month from more than 3,500 cases to 1,256 cases recorded on Tuesday

Deaths have also fallen drastically in the former epicenter, which saw about 60 COVID-19 deaths per day one month ago to just 22 reported on Tuesday

New York City is also seeing a drastic decline in cases and deaths after holding steady for weeks.

Over the last two months, cases had plateaued between 3,500 and 5,000 average cases per day and there were about 60 fatalities per day.

On Tuesday, there were 1,256 new infections recorded and 22 deaths, representing a 65 percent decline and a 63 percent decline, respectively.

This led Mayor Bill de Blasio to declare on Thursday that New York City is expected to be 'fully reopen' for business on July 1.

'This is going to be the summer of New York City,' he said on MSNBC's Morning Joe.

'You're going to see amazing activities, cultural activities coming back. I think people are going to flock to New York City, because they want to live again.'

The seven-day rolling average of coronavirus cases in Michigan has fallen by 48% from more than 6,000 per day to 3,096 per day

Even in the most recent hotspot of Michigan, coronavirus cases have dramatically fallen.

Just three weeks ago, the seven-day rolling average of new infections had reached more than 6,000 per day.

However, as of Tuesday, the number of new infections has fallen by 48.4 percent to an average of 3,096 per day, according to data from Johns Hopkins.

With the still high - but falling  numbers, Gov Gretchen Whitmer issued a new directive stating that masks are no longer required at small outdoor weddings, graduation parties and while playing some outdoor sports.

'The commitment by Michiganders to receive the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is allowing us to move toward a return to normal,' said department director Elizabeth Hertel on Tuesday.

'The vaccines work. That means once Michiganders are fully vaccinated, they do not have to abide by as many health guidelines because of the protection the vaccine provides from the spread of the virus.'

In North Dakota, daily cases surpassed more than 1,000 - with thew orst infection rate with 99 cases per 100,000 people - and have fallen to 149 on Tuesday

In late October, when states in the Midwest and Great Plains were getting battered, few were hit harder than North Dakota.

On October 30, health officials reported a record of 1,222 new cases on Thursday after three straight days of declines and shattering the previous high of 1,038 on October 22.

The state had the second worst infection rate with 99 cases per 100,000 people.

'This is what may appear to be the beginning of the fall surge' that experts such as Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, has warned about for months, said Gov Doug Burgum during a briefing on Thursday.

With holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, he added: 'This is going to be a real challenging time.'

Meanwhile, 149 new cases were recorded on Tuesday with no new deaths reported, with active cases falling below 1,000.

On Tuesday, the U.S. recorded 40,733 new coronavirus infections with a seven-day rolling average of 47,704, the lowest number seen since October 9

Additionally, 933 COVID-19-related deaths were reported, marking the fourth day in a row that fatalities have been below 1,000

On Tuesday, the U.S. recorded 40,733 new infections with a seven-day rolling average of 47,704, which is the lowest number seen since October 9, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of Johns Hopkins University data.

The figure is not only far below January's peak of about 247,000 average new cases, but also below even the July surge, when daily cases were averaging about 68,000.

A total of 933 coronavirus deaths were also reported on Tuesday, marking the fourth day in a row that fatalities have been below 1,000.

The seven-day rolling average currently sits at about 723 deaths per day, which is the third-straight week that the average has been a three-digit figure.

Just four states - Hawaii, Louisiana, New Mexico and Wyoming - are reporting an increase in COVID-19 infections with all other states are either holding steady or seeing a decline.

Meanwhile, former epicenters, including Los Angeles County and New York City, are seeing deaths and hospitalizations on the decline and test positivity rates falling to record low numbers.

Forty-six states are reporting steady or declining cases with just four states - Hawaii, Louisiana, New Mexico and Wyoming - recording upticks

Coronavirus cases in the U.S. have dropped by about 80 percent since the peak in January and deaths have declined by 78 percent.

Not only that, but the seven-day rolling average for fatalities has decreased regularly since the start of 2021, a DailyMail.com analysis found.

On January 12, the seven-day average sat at 3,288 deaths. By February 17, the average had fallen to 2,482, then 1,951 by March 2 and 1,057 by March 22. On March 26, the rolling average fell below 1,000 for the first time since November.

Many public health experts say the decreasing numbers are due to the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

As of Tuesday morning, 147.8 million Americans - 44.5 percent of the population - has received at least one dose and 106 million - 32 percent - are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

All three vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization - Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson - were close to 100 percent effective in clinical trials at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death.

Health experts say that vaccinations have helped drive down cases and deaths, with all three approved vaccines nearly 100% effective at preventing severe illness and death

As more people become vaccinated, doctors say that cases and deaths have stopped yo-yo-ing up and down every few weeks

This has led to death rates among particularly vulnerable populations dramatically falling, such as among senior citizens, Dr Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told CNN.

'If you look, for example at populations that have been highly vaccinated like nursing home residents, you will see that deaths in nursing homes have plummeted, and overall, the death rate has been falling over time,' Adalja said.

'It's really a function of how many of the high-risk individuals have been vaccinated and that is becoming more evident.

Adalja explained that prior to vaccines, cases would rise and deaths, a lagging indicator, would rise a few weeks later. When cases would finally begin to fall, it would take a few weeks for deaths to catch up.

'With the vaccine, it's a little bit different because if you go to a nursing home and you've vaccinated the whole population, it's going to take a while for them to be fully vaccinated and have that protection,' he said.

'Really to see the full impact of the vaccines, you want it to be two weeks after the final dose of whatever vaccine they're getting.'

Meanwhile, former epicenters have been seen sharp declines in cases and deaths.
The Biden administration is throwing its support behind efforts to waive intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines in an effort to speed the end of the pandemic.

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the government's position in a Wednesday statement, amid World Trade Organization talks over easing global trade rules to enable more countries to produce more of the life-saving vaccines.

'The Administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for COVID-19 vaccines,' Tai said in the statement.

But she cautioned that it would take time to reach the required global 'consensus' to waive the protections under WTO rules, and U.S. officials said it would not have an immediate effect on the global supply of COVID-19 shots.

Until now, the WTO's push to loosen intellectual property protections have been blocked by a handful of nations, including the U.S., the U.K and the E.U.

More than 100 countries, NGOs and many public health experts have insisted that lifting the burden of these protections is essential to getting shots to the unvaccinated world.

But others say waiving intellectual property rights sets a dangerous precedent - and that the call to do so from countries like India and South Africa - both hard-hit by the pandemic - could be a thinly veiled ploy to pad their own profits off of others' inventions.

Waiving intellectual property protections could cut into profits for vaccine makers like Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, for whom business has boomed amid the pandemic.

On Tuesday, Pfizer said it had made $3.46 billion in first-quarter vaccine sales. The New York Times estimated that would come out to about $900 million in pretax profits from vaccines in the past three months alone.

Johnson & Johnson reported $100 million in vaccine sales - despite the 11-day pause on the shot in the U.S. - and Moderna will report earnings on Thursday.

Shares Pfizer fell from a day-peak of $41.08 to a low of $39.12 on Wednesday, before rebounding slightly to $39.83 after the bell.

J&J shares closed at $167.07, down 0.42 percent, while Moderna's share price dropped 6.19 percent to $162.84.

Protestors called on the US to waive intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines so the formulas for shots could be shared with other countries to make their own versions

The Biden administration said Wednesday it supports waiving intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines so that other countries can make their own versions of the shots

Protestors gathered in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to call on the Biden administration to 'free the vaccine.'

The move is controversial and viewed with suspicion by some, especially Republicans and some moderate Democrats who are worried other nations have the means to make or acquire enough vaccines, but just want unfettered access to companies' inventions.

House Democrats who received the most donations from the pharmaceutical industry are declining to support a push to release the patents on COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries, even as Pfizer reports soaring revenue from its vaccine.

Pfizer on Tuesday reported $3.46 billion in first-quarter vaccine sales in all but three countries. BioNTech, which which it splits vaccine costs and profit, will report the remaining revenue on May 10.

The company almost doubled its sales projections for the COVID-19 vaccine this year, from $15 billion to roughly $26 billion, citing strong demand for its vaccine.

Meanwhile, the nine House Democrats among Congress's top 25 recipients of donations from pharmaceutical industry PACs have all declined to sign on to a letter urging the Biden administration to waive intellectual property rights for the vaccine to let developing countries produce their own supply, according to the Huffington Post

Pfizer has seen its share price soar over the past year. Shares stagnated at $39.97 on Wednesday

Shares for J&J dipped slightly late Wednesday on the heels of the Biden administration's announcement

Moderna's shares tumbled by 6.19 percent on Wednesday to $162.84 ahead of its Thursday earnings report

A total of 110 of the 218 House Democrats have signed the letter, which Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat, plans to present to President Joe Biden on Tuesday, the outlet reported. It was not clear whether any Republicans were invited to sign on.

The letter asks Biden to heed the appeals of India, South Africa, and other developing countries and temporarily lift Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) that prevent them from manufacturing patented COVID-19 vaccines or treatments.

Such a move could potentially cut into the profits of New York-based Pfizer and Massachusetts-based Moderna, but proponents say it would be a vital step to ending the pandemic and assisting hard-hit developing countries.

According to the Huffington Post, Democratic Reps. Scott Peters and Ron Kind, both on the top-25 list for pharma donations, have even asked colleagues to support an opposing letter asking Biden not to wave the intellectual property rules.

Democratic Reps. Scott Peters (left) and Ron Kind (right), both on the top-25 list for pharma donations, have even asked colleagues to support an opposing letter asking Biden not to wave the intellectual property rules

The other Democrats on the list who have not signed the letter are House Energy and Commerce Committee chair Frank Pallone of New Jersey, House Ways and Means Committee chair Richard Neal of Massachusetts, and Reps. Anna Eshoo of California, Brad Schneider of Illinois, Kurt Schrader of Oregon and Raul Ruiz of California.

While Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca promised they would make their shots at no profit, Moderna's CEO signaled that it would only take a minimal profit for the shots, and Pfizer's said it would 'make a very, very minimal profit,' in a 2020 interview with Time.

But in Tuesday's earnings report, Pfizer said that it earned $4.9 billion in the first three months of the year thanks in part to strong demand for its COVID-19 vaccine.

Some patient advocacy and consumer groups now accuse COVID-19 vaccine makers of profiteering as they've only pledged to stick to nonprofit prices until the pandemic emergency ends. Some want patents suspended to enable poor countries to get cheaper vaccines sooner.

On a conference call Tuesday, Pfizer noted its three price tiers for the vaccine, depending on each countrys financial situation. In the U.S., Pfizer charges $19.50 for each dose, far below what Prevnar and many other vaccines cost here.

Pfizer reported quarterly net income of $4.88 billion, or 86 cents per share, on Tuesday. That was up from $3.36 billion, or 60 cents per share, in the same period last year, when the global coronavirus pandemic began triggering lockdowns, and doctor visits, diagnostic tests and new prescriptions for other medicines dropped significantly.

Adjusted earnings jumped 48 percent to $5.26 billion, or 93 cents per share, far above the 79 cents Wall Street was expecting. Revenue was $14.58 billion, up 45 percent and also well above forecasts of $13.49 billion.

Moderna is scheduled to report quarterly earnings on Thursday before the opening bell.
Aspiring entrepreneurs know that an impressive office address can be a powerful asset.

Customers assume that if a business can afford to be based in an affluent area, it must be successful. But a Money Mail investigation today shows why you should think twice before trusting a grand-sounding location.

Number 207 Regent Street is a smart Portland stone building in central London, with five floors based above a shoe shop.

You might assume the rent would be eye-watering. Yet floor three could be yours for just 24 a month  as long as you don't mind sharing with 3,900 other companies.

That's because 207 Regent Street is what's known as a virtual office.

It means that none of the firms' staff are based at the address, and any post is just forwarded on to their 'real' location.

Virtual office: Number 207 Regent Street is a smart Portland stone building in central London, with five floors based above a shoe shop

They are paying to be able to use the address on business cards and websites.

As the firm that rents out the space, Hold Everything boasts on its website: 'Having a virtual office on London's Regent Street exudes the height of professionalism and ensures your business looks established and trustworthy'.

Companies purporting to be based at the address range from retailers to private investigators. U.S. businesswoman, Jennifer Arcuri, who claims to have had a four-year affair with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, uses the address for her firm, Hacker House Ltd.

But while most businesses have a justifiable reason for wanting a virtual office address, some unscrupulous owners are exploiting the system.

Fraud and cybercrime reports have rocketed during lockdown, with individuals' losses totalling around 148.8 million just last month, says Action Fraud.

And City watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority, has issued about half a dozen warnings about unauthorised firms claiming to be registered at 207 Regent Street.

These include the now-dissolved Coombes and Kiwonski Investments and a loan firm, Sky Quid, which conned victims out of about 20,000 by convincing them to pay deposits for loans that never materialised.

It's around 11am on a Thursday when we arrive at the Regent Street office. A postman is heaving two bags of mail towards the entrance and opens the door for us.

Forwarding service: None of the firms' staff are based at 207 Regent Street, and any post is just forwarded on to their 'real' location

Far from glamorous, inside there are piles of boxes and parcels filling up much of the cramped space. There is also a small boardroom clients can reserve for meetings.

Hold Everything's owner, Richard Cooper, 52, is taking phone calls in the office. Wearing jeans and a fleece, he is a little defensive at first and insists his business is not doing anything wrong. And he is right. It is perfectly legal to rent out a virtual office space.

The problem is unscrupulous firms often target addresses where a lot of companies are registered as it can be easier to go undetected.

Usually, these business owners don't even bother paying Mr Cooper the monthly fee. They just list his company's address on their websites without his knowledge.

In fact, when Money Mail presented Mr Cooper with a list of six firms the FCA has issued warnings about, he said he did not recognise any of them  although they claimed to be registered at his Regent Street address.

Richard Howard arrives for sentencing at Leeds Crown Court after being convicted of a 1.6m passport scam

Coombes and Kiwonski was even listed at Companies House as being registered at No 207.

Yet Mr Cooper says he has no record of the firm ever being a client.

'I feel disgusted when I think that fraudsters have used the address to dupe victims,' he says.

Experts say it is far too easy for crooks to register misleading information at Companies House, which holds a list of all limited businesses in the UK.

This is because Companies House is not authorised to check the accuracy of documents submitted, and is required only to ensure they have been completed and signed.

Fraud campaigner Mark Taber says: 'If a customer searches for the address on Google maps and sees a legitimate office and other genuine firms registered there, it seems more credible.

'If Companies House had to check addresses it would close another loophole.'

Many customers do not realise the address is a virtual office.

Mr Cooper, who has run the firm for 19 years, says people have turned up to complain. 'One man stormed into the room shouting. I had to take him to the boardroom to calm down,' he says.

Virtual offices are regulated by HMRC under money-laundering rules, which means they are required to verify the identities of customers and their addresses.

Mr Cooper says he always alerts the authorities to companies he is concerned about.

Details he provided about one client, Richard Howard, in 2018 were used to help convict him of a 1.6 million passport scam.

The crook had duped victims into paying fees of up to 117 to renew their passport, and was fined 200,000 and given a one-year suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty.

Mr Cooper's Regent Street virtual office is just one of many up for grabs. Another address in Finchley, North London, is the first floor of a two-storey office block on a quiet residential road.

Some 4,475 companies are registered there, and Money Mail identified three about which the FCA has issued warnings, including an unscrupulous loan business. The firm which runs the virtual office, A1 Company Services, did not respond to our requests for comment.

Our sister title, This is Money, also reported in 2019 on a West Sussex firm which cold called elderly people to sell them TV and electrical warranty schemes which was based out of the same address.

The Finchley office also appeared in the 31-page indictment of Donald Trump's former presidential campaign manager Paul Manafort.

A Companies House spokesman says: 'We recognise the concerns around the use of people's data for fraudulent purposes and refer cases to law enforcement partners where it is suspected.'

New rules will soon require it to verify directors' identities before they can be appointed.
Mobile phone users are being hit by a 100million-a-year loyalty penalty.

Customers who fail to switch to a new deal when their contract expires routinely overpay each month.

This is because they are still being charged for their handset when they should be paying only for calls and data.

Yet tens of thousands of loyal mobile customers are unaware of the rip-off, warns Citizens Advice.

Tens of thousands of loyal mobile customers are unaware they are still being charged for their handset when they should only be paying for calls and data

Its research revealed one in three mobile customers whose contract has ended since lockdown started in March 2020, has not switched to a cheaper tariff and could be overpaying hundreds of pounds a year.

In a survey of more than 4,000 adults, one in four said they found the prospect of shopping around for a new deal 'confusing, stressful or overwhelming'.

In one case, Graham, a 60-year-old father from North Devon, discovered he had been overcharged 600 for a mobile phone he'd paid off three years earlier.

'I feel as though they have stolen from me,' he says.

Following a super complaint from Citizens Advice in 2018, the telecoms watchdog Ofcom pledged to clamp down on the practice.

But, so far, only three providers, 02, Virgin Mobile and Tesco, have committed to stamping out the loyalty penalty.

Vodafone and EE offer small discounts, of 5 and 10 per cent respectively, after three months of customers' contracts ending. Three does not offer any reduction.

Citizens Advice is calling on the Government to intervene, and estimates the loyalty penalty is costing customers 113million a year.

An Ofcom spokesman says: 'We've used our powers to make switching easier, and required providers to alert you when your contract ends.'

A Three spokesman says it has some of the best deals on the market and that applying 'an arbitrary discount' does not help customers find a contract that is best suited to their needs.

Vodafone and EE say they remind customers their contract is coming to an end to ensure they are aware of their options.
Millions of households are paying for green energy tariffs that may not be as environmentally-friendly as they seem.

Energy giant Scottish Power is now threatening to report its rivals to the advertising watchdog over concerns they are misleading customers.

And ministers are poised to launch a consultation later this year in response to calls for more transparency.

Green energy deals have soared in popularity as customers strive to do their bit to protect their planet.

Green energy deals have soared in popularity as customers do their bit to protect their planet

Yet a third of the electricity supplied through tariffs marketed as 'green' is 'greenwashed', according to a new report.

This is where suppliers claim to provide '100 per cent green tariffs' yet do not buy all, or any, energy from renewable sources such as solar, wind and hydro, research shows.

Instead, they buy cheap certificates known as a Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin Certificates (Regos).

Usually, these are sold alongside the green energy produced, but they can also be traded separately.

Providers say that by purchasing Regos they are matching the amount of green power generated with what customers consume.

But critics say energy suppliers should be more upfront about where that green energy they claim to provide is really coming from.

The worst culprits for 'greenwashing' include Bulb Energy, Pure Planet and Shell Energy, according to a report by consultancy firm Baringa in partnership with major energy firms.

Critics say energy suppliers should be more upfront about where green energy comes from

It shows that as little as 3 per cent of the power supplied by providers is 'genuinely green'.

Andrew Ward, chief executive of Scottish Power Retail, says: 'Consumers are being misled by too many energy companies. Snazzy marketing cannot make up for the fact that lots of these tariffs aren't as green as they might seem'.

More than half of energy tariffs available are marketed as providing 100 per cent green electricity.

Comparison site Uswitch has launched a new service that ranks green energy tariffs.

Just one tariff from British Gas and seven from Good Energy have so far achieved a gold rating, which means all gas and electricity is from renewable sources.

A Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy spokesman says: 'We want greater transparency in the energy market to ensure consumers can make informed decisions over their energy supplier's green credentials. We are launching a call for evidence later this year.'

An Advertising Standards Authority spokesman says it is working with the Competition and Markets Authority to review how effective its rules are and will take proactive action against greenwashing claims to ensure its standards are fit for the 2020s and beyond.

A Pure Planet spokesman says its electricty is classed as renewable in line with watchdog Ofgem rules.

Bulb says it only uses certificates it knows support renewable generators in the UK.

Shell says its customers can feel confident they are doing their bit to support renewable generation.

v.bischoff@dailymail.co.uk
My electricity bill from Eon suggested that my monthly usage rose by 600 per cent in October.

The previous quarter had been 95 but the bill suggested in one month I had used 295 worth.

I have tried to make contact many times to sort this out.

I sent a message to question it but it was ignored. I phoned and waited over 30 minutes to speak with someone.

Electric shock: A reader was offered no explanation and threatened with fines if she didn't when Eon hiked her bill 600%

A letter on October 13 said my complaint would be addressed. I missed one phone call (I have a baby) then I received an email which did not answer my query.

I emailed three times in December but have only received warnings of a 20 late payment charge. On January 19, I paid 100 but I am not going to pay the rest.

Now I have recieved a letter saying a debt collection agency has been appointed.

A. S., High Peak, Cheshire.

Tony Hazell replies: It seems your October bill was an estimate based on the usage of a previous occupant who lived in your property.

When you tried to resolve the issue Eon ignored you and went down the debt recovery route.

Eon has now used actual readings and says your usage has remained constant. The late payment fee will be credited back to your bill.

An Eon spokesman says: Weve contacted Mrs S to apologise for the concern caused by what appeared to be a large increase in usage on her online account.

This was an estimate based on energy use from the previous year, before Mrs S lived at the property and we are sorry this wasnt made clear when she first contacted us.

Eon has also paid 85 in compensation.

Anger at power giant is mounting over billing farce Two weeks ago, Money Mail reported that energy giant Eon was hitting customers with big bills based on out-of-date meter readings. Since then, our postbag has been flooded with emails from Eon customers coming forward to share their experiences. One woman was asked for more than 9,000 from bills she had accrued in 2019. Others told us they have been left terrified they will be cut-off or be chased by debt collectors. Money Mail has since approached Eon with these complaints and has asked for them to be investigated. And many of these debts have now been cleared after the supplier admitted its back-billing team has made an error. Allan Weaire, 75, was told he owed Eon 1964.39. After our intervention, Eon realised this was down to a miscommunication meaning his bills were based on incorrect, estimated readings. An Eon spokesman says: We strive to provide good levels of service and any customer who experiences issues is one too many. We have investigated and resolved the individual complaints that have been shared with us and would encourage any customer who is concerned to contact us directly to see how we can help. moneymail@dailymail.co.uk

Tesco insurance left my home a danger zone

I had a leak in my bathroom in November 2019 which damaged the kitchen, hallway and fuse board.

My electrics failed. Tesco Home Emergency fixed the leak and got my electricity back on.

I was advised to get quotes to repair the damage. We then entered the pandemic.

My electrics failed again, leaving me with just three working sockets in the house.

Tesco Insurance advised no one could come out due to Covid. An electrician advised my house was dangerous. I have a four-year old child.

I called Tesco Insurance begging them to sort this out. They then finally agreed to replace my fuse box. Tesco suggested I could stay in a hotel but they were closed.

C. Y., Winchester.

Tony Hazell replies: I was shocked when I read of your ordeal. Living in those conditions with a young child must have been so hard.

I spent considerable time trying to unpick your case and have come to the conclusion you became entangled in a mesh of companies and were influenced by others to your detriment.

I suspect you were confused over the roles of Tescos home insurance and its attached Axa Home Emergency cover.

Axa Home Emergency made the electrics safe and advised you would need an electrician to do remedial work.

Tesco said it could obtain costings via its own system once it had both photos and measurements.

You rejected Tescos own suppliers in favour of those suggested by your mother.

You brought in a second builder before calling Tesco again on February 24 last year.

You contacted Axa again on April 13, 2020 to advise about your lack of sockets but this is not covered by the Home Emergency so the electrician again suggested you needed to progress your claim with Tesco.

You provided quotes to Tescos surveyor but it says these included substantial private work not related to the incident. Tesco has now settled your claim for 9,562.24 which you have accepted.

A Tesco spokesman says: We believe the main cause of delay has been the time taken by the policyholders own trades people to complete the necessary work, and the subsequent high claim amount supplied by those trades people, which also added time to the resolution.

While I have considerable sympathy for the mess you have lived in, my gut feeling is that you, your mother and the trades people have brought some of this on yourselves.

Where's my winter fuel payment?

You are my last resort. I have tried phoning, emailing and written a recorded letter to find out why I havent received my winter fuel payment.

J. M., Kent.

Tony Hazell replies: Your winter fuel payment was paid on December 10. DWP has contacted you to confirm this.

Perhaps more time checking bank statements might be more productive?
FEMA awards money to Spencer Dam the dam was destroyed in the bomb cyclone of March 2019. NPPD stated that the dam will not be rebuilt.
When it comes to investment advice, few names command as much respect as Warren Buffett.

With a net-worth of more than $100 billion, the U.S. investor is regarded as one of the world's best stock-pickers.

His influence is such that stocks often experience a 'Buffett bounce'  gaining around 3 per cent  after he invests.

Sharon Stone in a scene from the film Casino. Respected investor Warren Buffett has warned some investors are 'gambling' on markets when picking hot stocks

Yet addressing his annual shareholder conference this weekend, the investment guru had cautionary advice for would-be stock-pickers.

Warning 'the average person cannot pick stocks', Buffett expressed his view that many investors were 'gambling' on markets  even if they didn't know it.

His comments follow a boom in retail investing, with lockdown savers buying up billions in company shares through online investment platforms.

Are amateur investors underestimating the risk of picking stocks rather than funds run by a professional? And how can they protect against shocks?

The DIY investor

Buffett certainly isn't wrong about the wider investing trend.

The unprecedented events of 2020/21 - from the Covid crash to the great vaccine rally - have contributed to a 'perfect storm' for retail investors.

Lockdown boredom, unexpected savings, and rocketing stock markets (albeit after a historic fall) saw UK savers looking to the markets.

...if you do want to invest in shares Why do people invest directly in shares rather than letting a fund manager do the work for them? For some it is because they think they can beat the market and the manager, for others it's the attraction of owning a direct stake in a company, and for many share investors it comes down to the simple fact that they find it interesting. If you are interested in buying shares, want to understand the difference between investing and trading, or know more about unearthing good companies and valuing them, read our guide to share investing. > Guide: How to invest in shares and be a successful stock-picker

Online platform Interactive Investor reported a 370 per cent rise in new accounts in January, compared to the same period in 2020.

While Hargreaves Lansdown reports overall money invested rose 15 per cent.

From time to time, this investment rush has made headlines of its own  such as in January, when an army of retail traders propelled U.S. retailer GameStop's share price by 2000 per cent.

But it's also led to warnings  not least from government-backed regulators  that hasty investors could end up losing money.

This was certainly the case with GameStop (one of the most purchased shares by UK investors in January) which fell more than 80 per cent in just three weeks.

And takeaway platform Deliveroo had been tipped to be worth almost 9 billion ahead of its stock-market debut in March.

Yet after falling sharply in its first weeks of trading, the company has struggled since  with initial investors still out of pocket by 7 per cent.

Sage advice: Omaha-born investor Warren Buffett has a net-worth of more than $100bn and is widely regarded as one of the world's best stock-pickers

Understand the risk you are taking

Every saver should be aware of these kinds of risks, but the truth is that, for most investors, the experience is less bruising.

That is, of course, provided that you stick to tried-and-tested rules about how to reduce unnecessary risk.

These include spreading your money across different investments, choosing products that suit your risk appetite, and, crucially, being sensible with your timescale.

Anyone buying shares directly should also research the companies themselves, and how they are likely to perform in future.

Funds are considered less volatile than shares. Over the past five years, for example, the average FTSE All-Share fund has returned around 30 per cent, making a 10,000 investment in 2016 worth 13,000.

Meanwhile, shares in the top 50 companies in the FTSE 250 have more than doubled in value in five years, but the bottom 50 stocks have all lost at least 10 per cent.

How holding more shares cuts risk This chart shows how Elton and Gruber's Risk Reduction and Portfolio Size paper illustrated how holding more shares reduces total risk. Among the influential work on portfolio size and risk done over the years has been that by New York finance professors Edwin J Elton and Martin J Gruber, writes Simon Lambert. In an article published in the Journal of Business in 1977, entitled Risk Reduction and Portfolio Size, they looked at how the number of different shares in a portfolio affected risk. Using data from a sample of 3,290 securities on the New York Stock exchange, they looked at portfolio size from one single share up to 200 different shares and compared it to an equally weighted portfolio of all securities in the population. (All the shares in the index held equally). This variance between performance of the limited portfolios and the equally weighted portfolio of all securities in the population was used to define total risk. Elton & Gruber: Risk Reduction and Portfolio Size (Journal of Business, 1977) The chart and table above, using Elton and Gruber's data, shows how total risk figure drops dramatically as more shares are added up to about ten shares and then starts to decline more slowly. A ten to 20 share portfolio represents considerably less risk than a four to six share portfolio. The total risk score for a single security portfolio was 46.8, falling to 26.9 with just two shares, and more than four times smaller at 11 with ten shares. Total risk fell to 7.9 with 50 shares and 7.3 with 200 shares, compared to a minimum risk figure was 7.07. They noted: While total risk does go down at a slower and slower rate as more securities are added the decrease may still be of importance to management. For example, a 15 stock portfolio has 32 per cent more risk than a 100 stock portfolio.

A tracker or fund manager will spread the risk for you

It's understandable that many investors prefer to leave stock-picking to the experts.

'Choosing from the wealth of stocks available can be daunting to seasoned investors  let alone novices,' says Myron Jobson, a personal finance campaigner with Interactive Investor who says beginners should adopt a 'walk-before-you-run' approach.

For most, this involves investing in actively managed funds, which spread their money across different shares and assets.

They have a specialist manager, who assesses companies and chooses those likely to out-perform the market. This is similar to the role Buffett plays at his investment company.

It isn't risk free but it's considered safer than stock-picking.

Other investors may choose to take the advice of Buffett, who has advocated for novice investors to stick to passive 'tracker' funds.

These funds spread your money in a chosen index, so your capital grows with the market. Studies have suggested that over the long term these funds outperform actively managed counterparts.

They're also having a strong year: with the UK's FTSE 100 and 250 up 10 per cent and 7 per cent respectively.

Passive investors won't see the double digit gains of high-performing active funds  but they won't expect to get burnt either.
American drugs giant Pfizer is predicting sales of nearly 19billion from its coronavirus vaccine this year as the world recovers from the pandemic.

The company's latest forecast is up from a previous estimate of 11billion.

Pfizer is set to deliver 1.6bn doses of its life-saving Covid jab in 2021, as nations reduce deaths and return to normal life.

Its two-shot vaccine BNT162b2 was the first to be approved in the UK and US last year. It was developed in partnership Biontech, which was founded by husband-and-wife team Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci.

Life saver: Pfizer is set to deliver 1.6bn doses of its life-saving Covid jab in 2021, as nations reduce deaths and return to normal life

The first patients received the jab from the NHS in early December. And it has since become a key component of the vaccine rollouts in most western nations.

But unlike British rival Astrazeneca, which is selling its jabs globally at no profit, Pfizer's extra sales from the pandemic have proved highly lucrative.

The firm reported revenues of 10.5billion for the first three months of this year, up from 7.3billion in 2020.

And of that figure, 2.5billion came from sales of the vaccine. That helped Pfizer's profit for the quarter rise from 2.4billion to 3.5billion.

Dr Albert Bourla, the firm's boss, said: 'I am extremely proud of the way we have begun 2021.

'We have achieved important clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones across our pipeline and portfolio while continuing to increase our capacity to supply doses of BNT162b2.

'Each of these accomplishments further demonstrates our commitment to Pfizer's purpose: breakthroughs that change patients' lives.'

So far some 430m Pfizer doses have been shipped to 91 countries. It received emergency authorisation last winter, and plans to secure full approval from American regulators later this year.

Pfizer's two-shot Covid vaccine was developed in partnership Biontech, which was founded by husband-and-wife team Ugur Sahin (left) and Ozlem Tureci (right)

Clinical trials have established the jab is safe and 91 per cent effective in preventing Covid-19, and 100 per cent effective at preventing serious disease or death.

The vaccine is not yet approved for use in children aged below 16 but Pfizer is expected to seek this for those aged 12 to 15 in the coming days.

The company expects its jab to remain in demand even after the worst of the pandemic has passed.

'Based on what we've seen, we believe that a durable demand for our Covid-19 vaccine  similar to that of the flu vaccines  is a likely outcome,' Bourla said. By next year, Pfizer expects to have capacity to produce another 3bn doses annually.

The jab is among the new breed of mRNA vaccines, which have been developed in record time during the pandemic.

Traditional vaccines use a weakened form of a virus, which is introduced into the body to train the immune system to fight it.

However, mRNA vaccines are made using the genetic code of a virus.

Once injected, they work by giving the body the genetic instructions to produce antibodies needed for an immune response.

Whereas traditional vaccines can take up to a decade to produce, Pfizer says new potential mRNA jabs can be generated in as little as a week  once a virus's genetic code has been sequenced.
Saudi Aramcos profits soared by almost a third after vaccine rollouts brought hope of an economic recovery  sparking a rally in the oil price.

The worlds largest oil company made 15.6billion in the first quarter, smashing analysts forecasts of 14billion.

Its profits had tumbled in the first three months of 2020, when crude prices nosedived as most of the world went into strict lockdowns.

Gushing profits: Saudi Aramco - the worlds largest oil company - made 15.6bn in the first quarter - smashing analysts forecasts of 14bn

But chief executive Amin Nasser yesterday said better days are coming as it committed to paying a whopping 13.5billion dividend for the first quarter alone.

Virtually all of this will go to the Saudi government.

The update sent oil stocks higher, with BP up 2.4 per cent and Royal Dutch Shell by 0.7 per cent.

Aramco said its refining and chemicals arms had performed well. But most of the boost was from higher crude prices, which rocketed from $51.80 a barrel at the start of 2021 to $65 at the end of March.

The profit boost came even as Saudi Arabias daily production fell to 8.6m barrels, from 9.8m a year before.

Several countries in the Opec+ cartel, which includes Saudi Arabia, cut down on the amount they produced for months as demand slid during the lockdowns.

Aramco is the latest major energy group to report a rebound in profits. BP and Shell, and foreign firms such as Frances Total, have all reported spiralling earnings.

Nasser said: There are more reasons to be optimistic that better days are coming.

And while some headwinds still remain, we are well positioned to meet the worlds growing energy needs as economies start to recover.

Aramcos results came as oil prices climbed by 2 per cent to reach $68.50 as several US states lifted Covid restrictions.

Tamas Varga, analyst at PVM Oil Associates, said the market was focused on the successful rollout of vaccine programmes in the US and in other developing countries and not on the devastation in India and Brazil.

Other major commodities have also surged in value, including copper and iron ore.

This has prompted talk of a commodity supercycle as the global economy bounces back from the pandemic and governments plough money into programmes that will raise demand for raw materials.
Rio Tinto is bracing for a shareholder rebellion tomorrow after handing 7.2million to its boss who oversaw the destruction of a sacred site.

A huge row is brewing over the decision to grant the windfall to former chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques  despite him being ousted after the company blew up two 46,000-year-old rock shelters.

Rio is one of several major London-listed firms preparing for a showdown with investors in the coming weeks over issues including executive pay, corporate governance and climate change.

Ousted: Jean-Sebastien Jacques was sacked after the company blew up two 46,000-year-old scared rock shelters to expand an iron ore mine

It has prompted speculation that the 2021 AGM season could bring bruising encounters like that seen in 2012.

Laith Khalaf, analyst at AJ Bell, said: 'Investors are putting companies under the microscope on environmental, social and governance [ESG] issues, so we could be set for another 'shareholder spring'.

I think rebellions are increasingly regular occurrences as ESG concerns have risen up the priority list for investors, and institutions flex their muscles to influence boardrooms.'

Among those likely to suffer revolts are BAE Systems and Just Eat Takeaway. Others including Foxtons, Pearson and Glencore have already suffered a bloody nose at their annual meetings.

Shareholder advisory groups Glass Lewis, Pirc and Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) urged investors to vote down Rio's 2020 pay report at its annual UK meeting.

The meeting was held last month but the results have not been released as Rio is also listed in Australia.

The results from both its UK and Australian annual meetings will be published after the Australian event tomorrow.

Rio provoked global outrage when it destroyed the caves in Juukan Gorge, Australia last May to expand an iron ore mine.

The disaster, which earned it the nickname 'Rio TNT', prompted an Australian parliamentary inquiry and led to a management clear-out.

Outrage: The caves in Juukan Gorge, Australia, (pictured) were destroyed in May last year

But it was also driven by a huge backlash from heavyweight investors, including Legal & General and Australian superannuation funds.

Jacques and two other executives resigned last September.

Jacques had 2.7million deducted from his package  1million of which was from long-term performance share awards and the rest from a cash bonus. But he still holds shares worth 27million.

ISS claims Rio should have used its power to claw back more from Jacques by invoking a 2018 policy that said pay can be docked following a 'catastrophic environmental event'.

BAE Systems also faces a shareholder revolt tomorrow  and the contentious vote will be linked to Rio.

The defence giant faces push-back over a 2million bonus for chief executive Charles Woodburn  for staying instead of joining Rio. All three major proxy advisers have come out against the proposal.

BAE said the pay was justified in part because it had been a difficult hiring process the last time it hired a chief executive.

Luke Hildyard, executive director at the High Pay Centre, said: 'It's a huge sum required to stay. One would expect leading a renowned international company like BAE and the responsibility and prestige that brings would be reward enough.'

Just Eat Takeaway could also come under fire. Pirc has told shareholders to consider opposing the most recent pay report. It says that the policies and targets the company uses makes it too hard to tell if bosses are receiving the appropriate pay.

Trading platform operator Plus500 had also been tipped to suffer a bruising revolt, with Pirc and ISS urging people to vote against potentially excessive pay for finance boss Elad Even-Chen, who stands to get a one-off bonus of 927,000.

Plus500 said 45 per cent of votes at the annual meeting were cast against the payout.
Sir Martin Sorrell has poured cold water on the idea of a 'roaring twenties' and warned that tax rises could dampen economic growth over the coming decade.

The advertising tycoon believes a rapid rebound is set to take place over the next 18 months but that by 2023 businesses could be hamstrung by hikes in corporation and income tax as governments tackle the huge debt accumulated to fight the coronavirus pandemic.

Sorrell said: 'The chickens may well come home to roost in 2023, given the debt burden that most countries will have and the tax increases that will have to be implemented.

Sir Martin Sorrell believes a rapid rebound is set to take place over the next 18 months but that by 2023 businesses could be hamstrung by hikes in corporation and income tax

'We have to pay the price for the coronavirus measures, taxes will impact the wider economy. The money was wisely spent but at some point the budgets have to be balanced.'

Global debt climbed to an all-time high of 202trillion last year and is expected to rise further in 2021. In the UK, government debt currently stands at 2.14trillion and in the US the figure is 20trillion.

To combat this Rishi Sunak announced in the March Budget that corporation tax in the UK would increase from 19 per cent to 25 per cent by 2023, making him the first chancellor to raise the levy since Labour's Denis Healey in 1974.

Likewise, President Joe Biden has promised to raise US taxes on capital gains and top earners as part of plans to find 1.1trillion over the next ten years.

As a result Sorrell predicts the UK economy will grow by 6 per cent this year, 5 per cent in 2022 and then cool to around 2 per cent after that.

Sorrell's stark comments come as sales at his new venture S4 Capital grew by 35 per cent to 122million between January and March this year. Profits were up by a third to 104million over the period.

Jessica Pok, analyst at Peel Hunt, said: 'New business activity has been frenetic and the pipeline is significantly above the level at this time last year.'

Sorrell's new venture S4 Capital grew by 35 per cent to 122m between January and March this year. Profits were up by a third to 104m over the period

S4's current market cap is 3billion and Sorrell believes the digital ad firm could double in size by 2023.

To make that happen Sorrell, a prolific deal maker, is eyeing companies to buy and issued a bond that gives it 500million of 'merger transaction firepower'.

He said: 'We have targets in mind, were are fighting private equity rather than industry players for them.'

The company was founded in May 2018 just weeks after Sorrell left WPP under a cloud, having run the company for 33 years.

Sorrell's departure came amid allegations about his sex life which he strongly denied.

WPP has struggled ever since, with critics claiming it lacks direction under chief executive Mark Read.

Since Sorrell launched his dramatic comeback, shares in his new company have risen more than 400 per cent while WPP has lost over a fifth of its value.

There remains bad blood between Sorrell and WPP, who is still one of WPP's top shareholders, with a 2 per cent stake.

In yesterday's S4 update, the company pointed out he built WPP 'into the world's largest advertising and marketing services company with a market capitalisation of over 16billion on the day he left'. The statement added: 'Today its market capitalisation is 12billion.'

Last week WPP sought to deny the tycoon 600,000 worth of bonus payments, which Sorrell described as 'petty' and another case of 'peanut envy'.

He has called in lawyers to contest the decision but for now remains focused on S4's future.

'All the roles I've held have had their attractions but S4 Capital is the most interesting because the tech disruption is so violent.'
Boohoo's bumper surge in sales over the past year has garnered attention this morning, but the retailer's share price appears to tell a somewhat different story.

For a start, at the time of writing shares in AIM-listed Boohoo were down 1.23 per cent or 4.00p to 322.50p. A year ago the group's share price was 313.70p.

While the retailer has added a string of big-name brands like Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins and Oasis to its portfolio in the last year, its share price has made little progress, growing only around 10 per cent.

Still wow? It's worth taking a closer look at Boohoo's share price performance

A glance at the group's share price over the past year tells a tale of some fairly hefty volatility. In early July 2020 the share price was around 400p, but by the middle of the month it was around 210p. By the end of September it had climbed back to 378p.

Unlike bricks-and-mortar based retailers, Boohoo has been shielded from enforced closures during each lockdown and benefited from people's desire for comfy clothes to wear at home and while exercising. On its website, its sales section currently has dresses available for as little as 3.

John Moore, senior investment manager at Brewin Dolphin, thinks there are a number of reasons for Boohoo's lacklustre share price performance over the past 12 months.

He said there were ongoing questions around 'ethics, sustainability and supply chain issues.'

He added: 'The second reason is the feeling that the acquisition of some brands over the last year or so may not offer the sales reach and density of the core brands and, therefore, could potentially dilute its proposition.

'Finally, the acquisition of a new headquarters in London seems a curious decision when there could be other investment opportunities around, not least buying back the company's shares.

'There is a cautious tone to today's statement from Boohoo, but that is understandable given the wider economic context in which the business finds itself.'

Last month Boohoo announced it had cut its supplier network by around 400 as it seeks to move on following last year's allegations of low pay and shoddy working conditions across its network.

The retailer has been battling to improve oversight of its supply chain since ordering an independent review last summer. The Alison Levitt QC-headed review concluded that Boohoo 'did not deliberately allow poor conditions and low pay to exist within its supply chain, it did not intentionally profit from them and its business model is not founded on exploiting workers in Leicester.'

Volatility: A chart showing what's been happening to Boohoo's share price in the past year

The review also concluded that Boohoo could have been a force for good if it had been 'willing to take a different approach to how it both views and interacts with the Leicester supply chain.'

Allegations had surfaced of lengthy working hours for pay packets as low as 3.50 an hour across pockets of the firm's suppliers. The dismal allegations sparked a 1billion hit to the group's share price.

In November, Boohoo appointed a former High Court judge to examine its business practices.

Sir Brian Leveson, who is best known for leading the inquiry into press ethics after the phone hacking scandal, was appointed to chair an independent review of the company's supply chain and ethics.

Danni Hewson, an analyst at AJ Bell, said: 'Disruption to air freight has impacted global growth and governance with a capital G is front and centre as the group look to put supply chain issues firmly in its rear-view mirror.'

She added: 'Its commitment to transparency includes publishing a list of its international manufacturers in September and a decision to cut loose a number of UK suppliers which didn't mesh with the group's values.

'What investors are waiting for is the commitment from bosses to link these targets with financial reward.

'Boohoo has confirmed that discussions have been had and further details will be shared in the annual report due out later this month. This is the crucial part of the jigsaw, a tangible link between social responsibility and fiscal reward.'

Meanwhile, Susannah Streeter at Hargreaves Lansdown commented: 'The supply chain issues are still hovering with a whiff of scandal, but the company will be hoping its root and branch review of factories, will calm investors' concerns about its ethical credentials. It will be highly conscious that any flare up of concerns could derail its global expansion plans.'

Looking ahead, Boohoo said it expects the benefit of lower return rates to start falling as the year rolls on. It will also be facing mounting competition from other retailers amid the continuing easing of lockdown restrictions.

It said: 'Trading in the first few weeks of the financial year has been encouraging, however, the economic outlook remains uncertain and we expect the benefits seen from reduced returns over the last twelve months to begin to unwind this year, whilst still experiencing significantly elevated levels of carriage and freight costs.'

Boohoo added: 'Margins for established brands are expected to be in line year on year. We expect investment in newly-acquired brands to dilute the group's overall adjusted EBITDA margin by 50-100bps, with the group's adjusted EBITDA margin expected to be in the region of 9.5-10% for the full year.'

Revenue growth for the year to February 2022 is expected to be around 25 per cent at group level.

What should investors do now?

As ever, the key question for Boohoo's shareholders is whether to hold, sell or buy shares in the retailer.

This is a tricky issue as its unclear whether the surge in online shopping will continue as lockdowns ease up. The group will also continue to be under heavy scrutiny when it comes to ethics, corporate governance, sustainability and supply chain issues.

Analysts at Liberum said: 'While the continued strong financial performance suggests a BUY rating, we remain cautious given the scale of the ESG challenges facing the group, the possibility of follow-up investigations and potential financial impact from an ethical supply chain though the company guidance dismisses this. We therefore rate Boohoo group HOLD.

'If Boohoo can adequately deal with its ESG issues, there remains significant upside to the share price. Greater clarity on ESG issues and that there will not be any future financial impact from implementing an ethical sourcing and supply chain model or penalties for past breaches; is required for us to return to BUY.'

Speaking to This is Money, Mr Moore of Brewin Dolphin, added: 'It's reasonable to remain hopeful about Boohoo's prospects; but, the caveat to that is the business will likely have a quieter next six months, as spending could be re-focussed elsewhere with the economy opening up and the summer months ushering in better weather.

'That shouldn't put off long-term investors, though, and key to the company's direction will be its strategy and opportunity set, which should become a little clearer by the next trading statement.

'We should also see more clarity on some of the short-term aspects that have recently affected Boohoo's share price and the measures it will take to overcome them. Investors will need to have patience and evidence that changes will be forthcoming.'
After years of hard work and saving, Carole Patterson was overjoyed to finally get on the property ladder a decade ago.

But the 170,000 one-bed flat in South London has become her worst nightmare as she faces an annual ground rent bill that will eventually cost her 1 million every year.

Carole, 44, is now one of a growing number of scorned buyers taking legal action against lawyers who they say failed to point out costly clauses in leasehold contracts.

Double trouble: Carole Patterson's one-bed flat in South London has become her worst nightmare as she faces a ground rent bill that will eventually cost her 1 million every year

The mum-of-two's contract means her annual ground rent  a charge paid to the freeholder  will double every five years.

So while her bill is around 1,050 this year, in 50 years' time she would have to pay 1,075,200 a year to keep the home, rising to half a billion pounds in 100 years' time.

The Government launched an investigation into the leasehold scandal in 2017 after experts raised concerns about how developers sold residential properties with spiralling ground rents.

In January, ministers proposed new reforms to crack down on 'unfair and abusive' leasehold contracts.

Huge shock: Carole Patterson faces ever growing bills

These included allowing leaseholders to extend their lease agreements 'at zero ground rent, for a term of 990 years'. But the plans have yet to be debated in Parliament and may not start until 2022.

Meanwhile Carole must start paying the excessive ground rent bills and there is no guarantee the reforms will help her case.

Instead, the freeholder has offered to change the terms of the lease for a one-off payment of 100,000 - a quarter of the value of the property.

Carole, an HR administrator, is hoping to cover this cost by suing her former law firm FBC Manby Bowdler for negligence after it failed to alert her to the 'ridiculous' clause.

She says she only became aware of it in 2018 when the freehold was bought by MEA Real Estate Ltd who told her their plan to bill her for the spiralling costs.

Three other residents live in the same building, in East Dulwich, but do not have to pay any ground rent. Carole says this is because their lawyers likely spotted the clause and had it taken out.

She now fears her home is worthless with the onerous clause attached to it.

Her case has been taken on by London firm Osbornes Law who are one of many firms advertising to help leaseholders sue their lawyers who failed to spot clauses that allow ground rents to double.

The increasing scrutiny around these agreements has caused law firms to start encouraging leaseholders to sue solicitors who let them sign the contracts in the first place

Osbornes argues that Carole's original law team failed to provide a 'reasonable standard' of service when she first bought the flat.

Carole, who now rents out the flat, says: 'It has been a very stressful situation.

'I first got the letter finding out about the clause when the freehold was sold on. I had no idea about it before. I was pregnant at the time and it was such a horrible position to be in.

'I just feel so frustrated that something I worked so hard for and saved for has no value at all now. I bought this flat as an investment for my pension.

'The ground rent on Buckingham Palace wouldn't be as much as what I would be paying at the end of my lease.'

Last month the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ordered two of the nation's biggest housebuilders  Countryside Properties and Taylor Wimpey  to remove clauses in their contracts that saw ground rent double every ten to 15 years.

The increasing scrutiny around these agreements has caused law firms to start encouraging leaseholders to sue solicitors who let them sign the contracts in the first place.

Shilpa Mathuradas, head of litigation at Osbornes Law, says: 'Our client has been left in a horrendous position of not being able to sell her property while the ground rent doubles every five years.'

FBC Manby Bowdler says it is an independent firm of solicitors regulated by the Law Society that adheres to the Solicitors' Professional Code of Conduct.

A spokesman says: 'The issues which arise in this case are much broader than relating to a particular firm of solicitors and are being addressed by Parliament.' Money Mail could not reach the freeholder MEA Real Estate Ltd for comment.

moneymail@dailymail.co.uk
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday failed to meet a midnight deadline to put together a new governing coalition, raising the possibility that his Likud party could be pushed into the opposition for the first time in 12 years.

The deadline closed a four-week window granted to Netanyahu by Israel's figurehead president. The matter now bounces back to President Reuven Rivlin, who announced just after midnight that he would contact on Wednesday the 13 parties with seats in parliament to discuss 'the continuation of the process of forming a government.'

Rivlin is expected in the coming days to give one of Netanyahu's opponents a chance to form an alternative coalition government. He also could ask the parliament to select one of its own members as prime minister. If all else fails, the country would be forced into another election this fall - the fifth in just over two years.

The turmoil does not mean that Netanyahu will immediately be forced out as prime minister. But he now faces a serious threat to his lengthy rule just as his corruption trial is kicking into high gear.

His opponents, despite deep ideological differences, already have been holding informal talks in recent weeks in hopes of forging a power-sharing agreement.

Netanyahu had struggled to secure a parliamentary majority since March 23 - when elections ended in deadlock for the fourth consecutive time in the past two years. Despite repeated meetings with many of his rivals and unprecedented outreach to the leader of a small Islamist Arab party, Netanyahu was unable to close a deal.

Rivlin gave Netanyahu the first chance to form a coalition after 52 members of parliament endorsed him as prime minister last month. That was short of a majority, but the highest number for any party leader.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday failed to meet a midnight deadline to put together a new governing coalition, raising the possibility that his Likud party could be pushed into the opposition for the first time in 12 years

Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who received the backing of 45 lawmakers, now seems to be the most likely candidate to get a chance to form a government.

Naftali Bennett, head of the small religious, nationalist Yamina party, is also a possibility. Bennett, a former Netanyahu ally turned rival, controls just seven seats in parliament, but he has emerged as a kingmaker of sorts and appears to carry the votes that Lapid would need to secure a parliamentary majority.

Lapid already has said he is ready to share the prime minister's job with Bennett, with Bennett serving first in a rotation. So far, they have not reached any firm agreements.

In a brief statement, Netanyahu's Likud party blamed Bennett for the prime minister's failure.

'Because of Bennett's refusal to commit to a right-wing government, something that would have certainly lead to the formation of a government along with other members of Knesset, Prime Minister Netanyahu returned the mandate to the president,' the statement said.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz, leader of the centrist Blue and White party, called on Netanyahus opponents to line up behind Lapid.

'The Israeli people have taken one blow after another: a pandemic, unemployment, ugly politics, loss of faith in leadership, and deep polarization,' he said. 'We can work everything out within a matter of hours. It is our duty to form a government as swiftly as possible for the sake of the state of Israel and all of its citizens.'

Israel's figurehead president Reuven Rivlin (pictured) said he would contact on Wednesday the 13 parties with seats in parliament to discuss 'the continuation of the process of forming a government'

Netanyahu has become a divisive figure in Israeli politics, with the last four elections all seen as a referendum on his rule. He has been desperate to remain in office while he stands trial, using his position to lash out at prosecutors and seek possible immunity from prosecution.

Most of his struggles stemmed from obstacles created by former allies in his own religious and nationalist base.

The New Hope party, led by a former Netanyahu aide, refused to serve under the prime minister because of deep personal differences. Religious Zionism, a far-right party that espouses an openly racist platform, supported Netanyahu but ruled out serving in a government with the Arab partners he has courted.

Bennett, who has had a strained relationship with Netanyahu, was unable to reach any agreements with his former mentor.

Looming over Netanyahu has been his corruption trial. Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and bribery in a series of scandals. The trial has moved into the witness phase, with embarrassing testimony accusing him of trading favors with a powerful media mogul. Netanyahu denies the charges.

In recent weeks, Netanyahu had appeared increasingly frustrated, coddling potential partners one day and then lashing out at them with vitriol the next.

Last week's deadly stampede at a religious festival, in which 45 ultra-Orthodox Jews were killed, only complicated his task by creating an unwelcome diversion and calls for an official investigation into possible negligence on his watch.

Netanyahu has also suffered a series of embarrassing - and uncharacteristic - defeats in parliament. On Tuesday, Likud failed to push ahead a proposal calling for direct election of the prime minister. Opponents had panned the measure as a desperate attempt by Netanyahu to find a new way to hold on to power.

Despite all of Netanyahu's vulnerabilities, it remains unclear whether his opponents can form an alternative government.

The opposition includes a vast spectrum of parties that have little in common except for their animosity toward Netanyahu. He is expected to do his utmost in the coming weeks to prevent his opponents from finalizing a deal.

If they fail, he would remain in office until the next election. That would give him several months to battle his corruption charges from the perch of the prime minister's office and grant him yet another chance to win a new term, along with possible immunity.
A black man was shot dead by two police officers in Texas after he allegedly charged at them with a 'knife and club' - though his family and witnesses have reportedly insisted he was only carrying a walking cane.

Dallas resident Ashton Pinke, 27, was shot by officers in the suburb of Mesquite on Tuesday after the Mesquite Police Department received a 911 hang-up call where a woman was heard screaming and crying in the background, police said in a release.

Cops said in the release that he was holding a 'knife and a club' but witnesses and family members have insisted that he was shot holding a walking stick that he uses daily when he was shot.

Family members who spoke to WFAA at the scene said Pinke was known to police because of a history mental health but said they were 'stunned' by the shooting.

Dallas resident Ashton Pinke, 27, was shot by officers in the suburb of Mesquite on Tuesday

An aerial view shows police responding to the scene where a black man was shot to death in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite

Family members said Pinke was known to police because of a history mental health

Cops said in the release that he was holding a 'knife and a club'

Pinke's uncle, whose name was not provided, told WFAA that 'it's not equal force.'

'A walking stick - he got to run up to you. You're fighting with bullets. That's distance. You're winning. You can't - you can't win against a gun,' the uncle said.

He added: 'Why you can't just tase him? That's the only thing I'm saying? Why you couldn't just tase him?'

Local activists have already started calling for Mesquite Police to release body camera footage for transparency on what happened, which cops said that will be released to the public later this week, WFAA reported.

Officers were dispatched to the Audubon Park Apartments in the 5800 block of Northwest Drive in Mesquite after pinging the phone's address during the hang-up call, police said in the news release.

A victim allegedly told police who responded that Pinke was 'armed with a knife.' When police confronted him, he allegedly 'charged at the officers, armed with a knife and a club,' according to police.

Witnesses and family members have insisted that he was shot holding a walking stick that he uses daily when he was shot. PICTURED: The Audubon Park Apartments in the 5800 block of Northwest Drive in Mesquite

The officers then performed first aid on Pinke until he was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Cops said that another ambulance was also requested for an 'assault victim.'

Police did not provide the names for the two veteran officers involved in the shooting: a female cop with 25 years of experience and a male cop with 21 years of experience. Officials said that no officers were injured during the shooting.

Officials said that the two officers have been placed on administrative leave with pay under a departmental policy and investigators with the Dallas County District Attorney's Office responded to the scene.

According to WFAA, Pinke's family has retained civil rights attorney Justin Moore to represent them.

'Unfortunately, the lack of a proper response by the Mesquite Police department ended in Ashton being shot and killed,' the statement reads.

'By all accounts, Ashton was not armed with a gun or deadly weapon to justify the use of lethal force by officers on the scene. My office is committed to investigate any and all civil rights claims for Ashton's family, while demanding full transparency in any and all investigation that will be conducted by law enforcement going forward.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Moore for more information and additional comment.
House Democrats who received the most donations from the pharmaceutical industry are declining to support a push to release the patents on COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries, even as Pfizer reports soaring revenue from its vaccine.

Pfizer on Tuesday reported $3.46 billion in first-quarter vaccine sales in all but three countries. BioNTech, which which it splits vaccine costs and profit, will report the remaining revenue on May 10.

The company almost doubled its sales projections for the COVID-19 vaccine this year, from $15 billion to roughly $26 billion, citing strong demand for its vaccine.

Meanwhile, the nine House Democrats among Congress's top 25 recipients of donations from pharmaceutical industry PACs have all declined to sign on to a letter urging the Biden administration to waive intellectual property rights for the vaccine to let developing countries produce their own supply, according to the Huffington Post.

A New Mexico resident poses for a portrait with his vaccination card after receiving his coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine last month. Calls are mounting for the Biden administration to release the patents on COVID-19 vaccines to developing countries

Workers carry the body of a COVID victim on Monday in Guwahati, India, which is asking to produce its own versions of patented vaccines and treatments

A total of 110 of the 218 House Democrats have signed the letter, which Rep. Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Democrat, plans to present to President Joe Biden on Tuesday, the outlet reported. It was not clear whether any Republicans were invited to sign on.

The letter asks Biden to heed the appeals of India, South Africa, and other developing countries and temporarily lift Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) that prevent them from manufacturing patented COVID-19 vaccines or treatments.

Such a move could potentially cut into the profits of New York-based Pfizer and Massachusetts-based Moderna, but proponents say it would be a vital step to ending the pandemic and assisting hard-hit developing countries.

According to the Huffington Post, Democratic Reps. Scott Peters and Ron Kind, both on the top-25 list for pharma donations, have even asked colleagues to support an opposing letter asking Biden not to wave the intellectual property rules.

The other Democrats on the list who have not signed the letter are House Energy and Commerce Committee chair Frank Pallone of New Jersey, House Ways and Means Committee chair Richard Neal of Massachusetts, and Reps. Anna Eshoo of California, Brad Schneider of Illinois, Kurt Schrader of Oregon and Raul Ruiz of California.

Democratic Reps. Scott Peters (left) and Ron Kind (right), both on the top-25 list for pharma donations, have even asked colleagues to support an opposing letter asking Biden not to wave the intellectual property rules

Protesters in Honduras demand the vaccine against the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, during a demonstration marking International Workers' Day, in Tegucigalpa on May 1

On Tuesday, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said that making vaccines more widely available throughout the world is needed to end the coronavirus pandemic and foster economic recovery.

In remarks to a Council of the Americas conference, Tai said the world had made real strides toward ending the pandemic but that a lot of work lies ahead.

'That includes making the vaccine widely available and addressing the global inequity in vaccine access,' she said. 'This is not just a public health requirement. Our economic recovery depends on it.'

Tai is due to discuss demands from developing countries for a World Trade Organization waiver of intellectual property rights on coronavirus vaccines during a WTO General Council meeting later this week.

She has been meeting with the chief executives of the major vaccine manufacturers in recent days to discuss the waiver proposal and ways to boost vaccine production and distribution.

In Tuesday's earnings report, Pfizer said that it earned $4.9 billion in the first three months of the year thanks in part to strong demand for its COVID-19 vaccine.

A one-year view of Pfizer stock shows the stock's gains since its introduction of the vaccine

A one-year view of Moderna stock shows the stock's gains since its introduction of the vaccine

Pfizer also is testing both a pill and a different drug that's injected as COVID-19 treatments.

Some patient advocacy and consumer groups now accuse COVID-19 vaccine makers of profiteering as they've only pledged to stick to nonprofit prices until the pandemic emergency ends. Some want patents suspended to enable poor countries to get cheaper vaccines sooner.

On a conference call Tuesday, Pfizer noted its three price tiers for the vaccine, depending on each countrys financial situation. In the U.S., Pfizer charges $19.50 for each dose, far below what Prevnar and many other vaccines cost here.

Pfizer reported quarterly net income of $4.88 billion, or 86 cents per share, on Tuesday. That was up from $3.36 billion, or 60 cents per share, in the same period last year, when the global coronavirus pandemic began triggering lockdowns, and doctor visits, diagnostic tests and new prescriptions for other medicines dropped significantly.

Adjusted earnings jumped 48 percent to $5.26 billion, or 93 cents per share, far above the 79 cents Wall Street was expecting. Revenue was $14.58 billion, up 45 percent and also well above forecasts of $13.49 billion.

Moderna is scheduled to report quarterly earnings on Thursday before the opening bell.
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Cornell University has opened up a 'BIPOC only' rock climbing course to white students amid accusations that they are encouraging racial segregation on campus.

An online description of the course, which runs during spring semester and is titled PE 1641: BIPOC Rock Climbing, initially stated that the class was 'for people who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other people of color'.

BIPOC is an acronym which stands for black, indigenous and people of color.

The prestigious Ivy League university quickly came under fire for the course, which sparked outrage on the internet.

Critics claimed Cornell was 'disgustingly racist' and actively discriminating against white people, prompting administrators to open up the rock climbing course to students of all races.

The course - which costs students $315 - still retrains its 'BIPOC Rock Climbing' name, but an updated course description states: 'This class is open to all Cornell students interested in learning rock climbing with this special focus.'

Cornell University has opened a 'BIPOC only' rock climbing course to white students amid accusations that they are encouraging racial segregation on campus. An online description of the course, titled PE 1641: BIPOC Rock Climbing, initially stated that the class was 'for people who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other people of color'

The prestigious Ivy League university quickly came under fire, with the course sparking outrage on the internet

The course sparked heated debate on Reddit, with one user claiming the course was an example of Critical Race Theory (CRT), which asserts that 'institutions are inherently racist and that race itself.. is used by white people to further their economic and political interests at the expense of people of color'.

'This has been going on all over higher education in all different programs,' the user proclaimed. 'Critical race theory is f**king toxic!'

Another chimed in wondering whether Cornell preferred 'drinking fountains to be segregated for whites and BIPOCS too?'

A third wrote: 'I didn't know Cornell liked Jim Crow.'

A University spokesman did not address the change, simply telling The Cornell Daily Sun: 'While some [activities] may include a focus on students with specific identities, they are not restricted to only those students.'

However, an instructor leading the course told the publication it was 'unlikely' white students would now enroll.

According to CollegeSimply, 59 percent of students at Cornell are BIPOC or from overseas. Just 41 percent are white Americans, far below the national average of 76 percent

Another instructor claimed that the course was simply designed to help BIPOC students feel comfortable with the 'white-centric' sport of rock climbing, and was not intended to be discriminatory.

'From larger issues such as cost of entry and accessibility, to smaller microaggressions like the names of some outdoor climbing routes, its difficult to be a minority and feel welcomed in the outdoors. Just under the surface, the climbing world especially is affected by racism, sexism and sizeism,' they stated.

The instructor did not specifically name the routes that might be 'microaggressions', and many popular rock climbing spots in New York state are located in national parks with Native American names.

Meanwhile, there have been some BIPOC students who were supportive of the exclusionary rock climbing course and wish it was not opened up to those who identify as white.

'Hearing people complain about this class, saying its taking away from our white peers is laughable and frustrating,' one told The Cornell Daily Sun.

According to CollegeSimply, 59 percent of students at Cornell are BIPOC or from overseas.

Just 41 percent are white Americans, far below the national average of 76 percent.
States that voted for President Joe Biden in the 2020 election experienced significantly larger declines in total employment during the pandemic than those that went for Donald Trump, a new analysis shows.

Between February and December of last year, states that went for Biden saw the total number of people working drop an average of 6.2 percent, versus a 2.5 percent decline in those voting for the Republican, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of federal jobs data.

The 13 states that saw the lowest decline in employment all lean strongly Republican, led by Alaska and Utah which actually saw employment increase by 0.7 and 0.3 percent respectively.

On the other end of the spectrum, 13 of the 14 states with the most significant pandemic job losses went for the Democratic candidate, led by Nevada with job losses of 10.2 percent, and Hawaii at 9.3 percent.

This chart shows the change in the employed civilian labor force between February and December 2020, by state

Writing for Reason magazine, Matt Welch examined a slightly different data set but reached a similar conclusion.

'What explains this partisan pattern in COVID-era jobs reports? Certainly not the virus itself. Hawaii is not just the job-loss leader; it's also the state with the least mortality from the pandemic,' he wrote. 'New York is third in job loss, second in death rate.'

Welch points the finger at the dramatic variation in how states handled pandemic restrictions on businesses and school closures.

'Blue-state governors in California and New York and Michigan have been far more strict about shutting down economic and physical activity than their red-state counterparts in Florida, South Dakota, and Texas,' he wrote.

'The comparative death tolls are roughly the same (California tracks with Florida, New York with South Dakota, and Michigan with Texas); the economic performances are anything but,' he added.

People wait in line, resumes in hand, while waiting to apply for jobs during an outdoor hiring event for the Circa resort and casino last week in Las Vegas

To be sure, there are other possible explanations for the wide disparity in economic performance between red and blue states.

Red states tend to be more rural, with a different employment mix including more industries such as farming and mineral exploration, which continued apace through the pandemic.

The job-loss leaders, Hawaii and Nevada, both have economies that are heavily dependent on tourism, which essentially halted for much of last year as air travel plunged.

However, Florida, which also relies on tourism but has a Republican governor, performed significantly better than Hawaii and Nevada, with job losses of 6.3 percent, on par with largely rural Vermont.

People line up outside a newly reopened career center for in-person appointments in Louisville, Kentucky last month. Partisan differences are apparent in job loss data

And in swing states, it is possible that job losses influence voting decisions, rather than the other way around.

Voters who experienced more economic misery may have been more eager for a change in governance, swaying them against the incumbent Trump.

Nationally, the U.S. unemployment rate reached 6.7 percent last December, up from 3.5 percent when the pandemic began.

The DailyMail.com analysis examined U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data on the change in the employed civilian labor force in each state from February to December of last year.

States that split their electoral college votes were considered to fall in the column of the candidate who garnered the majority of electoral college votes there.
A sprawling rainforest property owned by a Chinese billionaire has hit the market after his dream to transform it into an adventure park was dashed.

Property developer Riyu Li bought the 162 hectare property for $3.5 million back in 2016 through one of his investment firms.

The nature retreat is nestled deep in the Tallebudgera Valley on the Gold Coast, just a 35-minute drive from Surfers Paradise or Coolangatta airport.

A sprawling rainforest property nestled in the Tallebudgera Valley on Queensland's Gold Coast has hit the market with an asking price of $6million

The hinterland enthusiast dreamed of transforming the property into a wellness retreat and extreme adventure park to host visiting tourists.

His plans would have seen the addition of a 2.3km zipline, a luge for speeding down the Tallebudgera mountain, and a 14km 4WD track.

But the billionaire's dreams for the retreat were ruined when the Gold Coast City council denied his proposal and Mr Li was forced to abandon the project.

Instead he decided to part ways with the expansive land for a reduced asking price of $6 million.

The property was previously owned by Chinese billionaire and property developer Riyu Li, who had dreams of converting the site into a extreme adventure park

The mountaintop property boasts 360 degree views of the entire Gold Coast coastline as well as glimpses of Moreton Bay Island and the Byron Bay lighthouse.

Principal at Raine & Horne Broadbeach Debbie Frizelle described the property to Daily Mail Australia as a 'lush, untouched tropical rainforest'.

The listing defines the property as '162 hectares of pristine rainforest with superb stands of palms, waterfalls and streams, together with a broad range of native flora and fauna'.

'There is a 4WD track to the top of the mountain and about 14km of gently descending trails throughout the rainforest highlighting points of interest and many of the giant majestic trees which are to be found on the property,' it reads.

The lush property is complete with natural waterfalls and streams and is home to a range of native flora and fauna, including koalas

'Majestic sheer cliffs rise approximately 250m perpendicularly from the forest at the base of the mountain, offering the opportunity for abseiling to those experienced in the sport.'

Improvements to the property include a 425sqm machinery shed, 20kW of solar power, a 650,000 rainwater tank, two timber cottages, and a laboratory building.

The home on the property has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a garage with space for six vehicles.

The listing also includes five hectares of cleared space at the top of the Tallebudgera Mountain, an ideal landing spot for any incoming helicopters.

The mountaintop property has 360 degree views of the entire Gold Coast coastline, as well as glimpses of Moreton Bay Island and the Byron Bay Lighthouse

Earlier this year, Mr Li put his Tallebudgera Valley mansion, Bellagio La Villa, which he has owned since 2014, on the market for an asking price of $50 million.

The sprawling 49 hectare property was compared to a grand European estate, complete with 10 bedrooms, an indoor swimming pool, and two horse stables.

The billionaire is one of the largest property developers in China's Guangdong province and has been operating in Australia for over 20 years.
Australians in India have been warned not to get on a plane home if they want to avoid five years in jail and a $60,000 fine.

Direct commercial flights from India were banned last week as the nation of 1.4 billion battles a surge in illnesses and death, with 357,229 fresh cases on Tuesday.

The government also took the 'extraordinary' step of threatening anyone who gets around the ban with fines and jail under the Biosecurity Act.

Direct commercial flights from India were banned last week. Pictured: A cremation site in New Delhi

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the powers would not be used and no-one would be jailed.

But Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said the best way to avoid jail is to obey the rules.

'So, I understand the concerns that people have at the moment and quite frankly the best way to avoid the prospect of any fines, any sanctions, is to not get on a plane and come here in the first instance,' she told the ABC.

'Would I like to see the sanction applied? Clearly not. The best way for that not to happen, as I've just said, is for people not to get on those planes.'

The ban is legally contentious because international human rights law states that 'no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his own country'.

Minister Andrews defended the ban, saying: It's a balance of making sure that we are protecting all of the Australians who are here now.

'We have done so well in making sure that Australians are safe and secure and that's a big credit to all Australians.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said the best way to avoid jail is to obey the rules

'What this government is not going to do is put Australians at risk. We will look to reopen as soon as we can. We are working on that every single day.

'This is a temporary pause and we will do our best to get those vulnerable Australians home as quickly as we can.'

Earlier, Mr McCormack was quizzed about why the government has threatened jail time if it wasn't going to be enforced.

He said: 'Obviously, there needs to be a hard line taken as far as the overall act being in place, but nobody's going to be jailed... at this time. The prime minister made it clear.

'We have taken this pause. We have made it in the national interest. We have done it, based on the best possible medical advice. It's until May 15. We review it constantly, as you'd expect us to do.'

Opponents have called the move 'horrific and racist' and accused the government of abandoning 9,000 Australian citizens and residents by suspending rescue flights until May 15.

But many Indian-Australians are pleased with the uncompromising stance to keep the nation safe from the lethal virus, which has caused 3.2 million deaths and infected 153 million people around the world.

Migration consultant Alexandra Forwood (left), 35, and her partner Ashish Dube (right), 34, applauded the border closure

Commerce and law student Rishab Jain, from Ryde in north-west Sydney, said the ban was not racist but medically necessary.

'I believe the relative risk of allowing 9,000 people to enter the country from India is too high,' he told Daily Mail Australia on the steps of the Murugan Hindu temple in Mays Hill, western Sydney.

'It's not about racism, it's because India has the most cases in the world at the moment.

'The situation warrants the measures that the government has implemented.'

His 59-year-old father Rajesh, who migrated to Australia two decades ago and now runs a wholesale business, also supported the ban.

'I think it's a good move and it's designed to keep everyone here safe,' he said.
The rental situation in one of Australia's fastest growing cities is so dire that desperate renters are having to sleep in their cars and in caravan parks.

Rental vacancy rates have plummeted below one per cent in most parts of the Gold Coast - down to below half a per cent in many suburbs - including Burleigh, Arundel, Coolangatta, Coomera and Varsity Lakes.

The rental squeeze is being driven by a range of factors, including Covid refugees coming from Melbourne and Sydney and also returning home from overseas.

The Gold Coast's 'surf, sun and sand' reputation can be a trap for people who try to move there without enough money, as one community manager warns 'don't come here' unless you are loaded

9 Tallon Street, Upper Coomera - 26km from the beach - will cost you $700 a week.

9 Tallon Street, Upper Coomera has an open house on Wednesday afternoon

The Gold Coast has long had steep population growth but if anything it appears to have increased in recent years and the city's housing is evidently not coping.

Leading demographer Mark McCrindle said recently population projections keep changing and the city reach a population of one million by 2034 - 16 years earlier than previously expected.

The imbalance between available properties and people who want them is so severe that it is creating an accommodation crisis leading to a homelessness problem in the city many Australians falsely romanticise as a dream place to reboot their lives.

Vicky Rose, manager of the Nerang Neighbourhood Centre, told Daily Mail Australia that 80 per cent of her enquiries are about 'accommodation stress', with increased homelessness inevitable.

Location, location: 1/30 Bullimah Avenue, Burleigh Heads went on the market yesterday for $750 a week and the agency has already been flooded with enquiries and applications.

Gold Coast real estate agents are saying

'We are saying 'don't come here', unless you have a job and plenty of money behind you,' she said said.

'People dream of the sun, surf and sand and yes it's a great holiday destination, but it's not a great place to live unless you can afford it.

'The coast of living is up there with Sydney and Melbourne and people mistakenly assume its going to be cheaper.'

She said shonky landlords are making the situation worse by trying to cash in on the red hot market.

'There's a marked marked increase in long terms tenants - average joes - seeing their tenancy ended abruptly because they can't increase the rent as much as they want.

'So the owner kicks the tenants out saying they want to renovate, they paint one door and put it back on the market for an extra hundred dollar a week.'

Two property managers Daily Mail Australia spoke to both said the rental market was busier than they'd ever seen it, with applications for properties flooding inboxes.

Misty Kelly, of agency The Blue Door had received 50 enquiries and seven applications within two days of listing a four bedroom house with a pool at Upper Coomera, 26km from Main Beach.

'There's a huge demand, not enough properties and that creates a lot of pressure,' she said.

'People are sounding desperate.'

'I've been an agent for 15 years and this is nothing like I've ever seen before.'

Ms Kelly said because there is more demand than supply, she advises young people not to move out of home because 'prices are inflated'.

'They need to let those people really in need get a property and not go homeless.'

Aside from people moving from interstates, she's also seen people coming home from overseas move into their investment properties.

Carmen Kennedy, of Coomera Realty told the Gold Coast Bulletin people are 'desperate'.

Ashmore Palms Holiday Village has seen a big increase in people moving in after they couldn't find a rental property on the Gold Coast

1/25 Port Peyra Crescent, Varsity Lakes is listed for $745 a week - but good luck getting your application approved with dozens of people applying for properties the chances of securing a home are slim

'They were just so desperate, staying in cars and sleeping at caravan parks. It's been pretty tough couple of months for people out there,' she said.

Both Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park and Ashmore Palms Holiday Village confirmed to the Daily Mail they had seen increases in people booking in because they couldn't find a home to rent.

'I've never seen it like this before,' Carly Stanaway of JW Prestige, told Daily Mail Australia.

'A lot of people are struggling, they are all applying for same property at once,' she said.

'They keep putting in applications getting knocked back, even though they have good applications, it's just because so many people are applying.'

She was holding two open houses within two days of listing a modest brick semi at 30 Bullimah Avenue, Burleigh Heads, where the rent looks Sydney-like at $750 a week.

The suburb's vacancy rate is just 0.4.
A Gold Coast ice dealer earned up to $57,000 a week from her criminal operation and had drugs worth up to $500,000 buried in her backyard.

Allira Jade Campbell climbed the ranks of the criminal underworld until she was supplying street dealers and was convinced she would never be caught, the Courier Mail reported.

Even when she was behind bars she was chasing drug debts and in a phone call to a drug associate bragged that she would beat the charges.

'I hope they f**king try to get me for 10 years... I'm going to get out and f**king do it again, I'll sell it to my grandchildren and get them hooked on it,' she said in the recorded call on January 2, 2020.

But her confidence was ill-placed, as she was jailed for 10 years in the Queensland Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Gold Coast woman Allira Jade Campbell was sentenced to 10 years in jail in Queensland's Supreme Court on Tuesday after she was charged with 13 offences, including trafficking in ice

Campbell was busted with 1kg of drugs, containing 757g pure meth, in a raid on her home in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast in 2019.

Her buried backyard stash was worth between $105,000 and $500,000, depending on how the drug was sold, the court heard.

The court heard Campbell, 36, tried to shove $80,000 worth of cash into her daughter's bag while appearing to give her a hug and poured GHB down her sink during the police search.

Cops also uncovered six phones during their search but could only access one of them because Campbell had refused to provide the passcodes to the other five.

She was hit with 13 charges including trafficking drugs between June 4 and December 4, 2019 - after she had been released from jail on parole on March 18, having been jailed for five years for earlier drug trafficking.

That time she was dealing drugs to users, but after getting out of jail moved up to supplying drugs to dealers in ounces at a time, the court heard.

The court heard Campbell fled police when they tried to pull her car over and later falsely swore on a statutory declaration that an associate of hers was behind the wheel of the car at the time.

The court heard Campbell trafficking drugs between June 4, 2019 and December 4 of that year, when she was arrested

Crown prosecutor Matt Hynes told the court the Crown could prove Campbell had 25 customers.

'We can't discern the true revenue or profit from the operation, other than to say when she spoke on phone (during an intercepted call), she said she was earning up to $57,000 a week,' he said.

'There was a level of sophistication - she was using a cipher phone, which cannot be hacked into.'

Mr Hynes told the court Campbell had people to drop off drugs and collect money on her behalf and though she did not personally threaten customers, she spoke to her agents 'about the need to inflict violence in future'.

He said she tried to chase down drug debts while in pre-sentence custody and despite Campbell pleading guilty, Mr Hynes said she showed no remorse for her crimes.

Campbell's family cried in court as she was sentenced to a maximum 10 years' jail by Justice Francis Williams.

She was convicted of 13 charges including trafficking methamphetamine, possessing 750g of the drug, and supplying the drug GHB six times.

Campbell was also charged with perverting the course of justice, destroying evidence, failing to provide passcodes for mobile phones and possessing a used glass pipe.
A child predator who raped two young girls in a toilet block has admitted he wanted his vile attraction to young children 'out of his system'.

Darren Richard Williams, 55, pleaded guilty in Queensland's Maryborough District Court on Tuesday to one count of indecent treatment of a child and two counts of rape.

The court heard Williams lured the girls, aged 7 and 8, separately into the women's bathrooms at Torbanlea, in the Fraser Coast Region, last January.

At the time of the assault the girls were playing together in a park, with their parents at a nearby bowling club.

A child predator who raped two young girls in a Queensland toilet block has admitted he wanted his vile attraction to young children 'out of his system' (stock image)

The horrific incident was in a women's public toilet at Torbanlea, in Queensland's Fraser Coast Region, last January (stock image)

Williams told the first victim he needed to check her for 'vaginitis', before digitally raping her.

Seconds before the attack, Williams exposed his penis to the youngster.

Soon after he used the victim to lure the younger girl into the toilet block - before he also digitally raped her.

The two young girls later told police they had been touched by Williams, but after he admitted to digitally penetrating them both, he was charged with rape.

Williams, who had no criminal history before the dual sexual assault, admitted having sexual urges towards children in the past - but had never acted on them.

When an opportunity 'presented itself' in the toilet block, he acted on it impulsively.

Williams' lawyer said his client felt 'remorse, guilt and shame' over his depraved conduct.

Following the attack, both girls started counselling with one unwilling to walk to school or go to the playground alone.

The other victim refuses to sleep in her own bed, according to the Courier Mail.

Williams was jailed for eight years, with his 467 days in custody following his arrest to be included as time served.
A pair of humpback whales have put on a show for a group of snorkelers by twirling near the ocean's surface.

Footage posted online shows two orcas frolicking beside a dozen snorkelers during a day trip to Rowley Shoals, a marine park 332km off the coast of Broome, Western Australia.

One of the cetaceans flipped over onto its back, puffing its chest up towards the top of the water as the other swam gracefully nearby, swaying its tail.

The adventure seekers stopped to tread water as the whales performed in front of them before swimming away.

The video was captured by Western Australia charter company The Great Escape, which runs cruises and water activities along the state's coast line, before it was circulated on social media.

Online viewers were dlighted by the close encounter.

'My God. Breathtaking view,' one person wrote.

'Just WOW!' another said.

'What a dream!' a third added.

One of the whales rolled in the water, puffing up its chest into the water's surface

Rowley Shoals, south of the Timor Sea, is made up three coral atolls and is home to diverse marine life, including fish, molluscs, sea turtles, manta rays, dolphins and whales, such as orcas and humpback whales.

Humpback whales are highly sociable and intelligent mammals that live in groups in all oceans across the world.

An apex predator, they are the only known natural predator of great white sharks and also feed on seals, fish, sea birds, and whales bigger than them.

Orca attacks on humans in the wild are extremely rare and no deaths have been recorded, and the creatures have been known to work alongside whalers to help them hunt whales.
A magazine ad for fashion brand Max Mara has been banned for including a model who appeared to be unhealthily thin.

The ad for Sportmax, a subsidiary label of Max Mara, seen in The Sunday Times Style magazine on February 28, featured a female model pictured from the side and wearing a long-sleeved ankle length black dress with boots.

Three readers, who believed the model was unhealthily thin, complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that the ad was irresponsible.

Max Mara said it did not agree that the model was unhealthily thin or that the ad was irresponsible.

This ad featuring Spanish model Miriam Sanchez, has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority after three readers complained she appeared to be 'unhealthily thin'

It said the model, 22-year-old Miriam Sanchez, was well known and chosen for her particular beauty and 'extraordinary aspect', adding that she took part in fashion shows in Paris where models who were unhealthily thin had not been allowed on the runway since 2017.

Ms Sanchez entered the fashion world after a casting director spotted her Instagram page while studying business management in her hometown of Madrid in 2019, according to Vogue.

She appeared at fashion shows in Paris from 2019 to 2021 and has modelled for labels including Fendi, Luis Vuitton and Prada as well as H&M.

Max Mara provided two other images of Ms Sanchez which they said showed she was healthy, with a normal appearance.

They said the image communicated a particular style and clothing choice but had nothing to do with food choices and would not lead people to serious eating disorders.

The Sunday Times Style magazine said it had no comment and would await the outcome of the ASA's investigation. It confirmed it had received no complaints about the ad.

Spanish model Miriam Sanchez, who entered fashion in 2019, featured in the Sportmax advert

The ASA said the model was photographed from the side, which drew attention to the shape of her body and highlighted her very thin frame and the protrusion of her hip bone which was visible through the fabric.

The ASA said: 'We also considered that the contrast of the ad's background lighting, which had a sepia tone, against the black dress, further accentuated the silhouette of her frame and the model's sombre facial expression and posture gave her a gaunt appearance. We therefore considered that she appeared unhealthily thin.

'For those reasons we considered that the model appeared underweight and therefore concluded that the ad was irresponsible.'

The ASA ruled that the ad must not appear again, adding: 'We told Max Mara to ensure that the images in their ads were prepared responsibly.'

Representatives for Ms Sanchez have been contacted by MailOnline.
Amazon's European business paid no corporation tax last year despite record sales of 38billion.

Sales rocketed from 27.9billion in 2019 as the pandemic fuelled demand for internet shopping.

The global giant racked up revenues of more than 4million an hour in 2020. However, it paid no corporation tax after recording its biggest annual loss so far.

Accounts filed in Luxembourg, where the companys European division is based, showed losses soared from 508million to 1billion. Because of this, Amazon actually received a tax credit  money it can deduct from future bills  worth 49million.

The company has denied claims that it struck a sweetheart deal with Luxembourg tax chiefs. Paul Monaghan, of the Fair Tax Foundation, said: These figures are mind-blowing, even for Amazon.

Amazon's European business paid no corporation tax last year despite record sales of 38billion, skyrocketing from 27.9billion in 2019 as the pandemic fuelled demand for internet shopping (stock image)

We are seeing accelerated market domination across the globe on the back of income that continues to be largely untaxed  allowing it to unfairly undercut local businesses that take a more responsible approach.

Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge accused Amazon of a relentless campaign of appalling tax avoidance. She told The Guardian: These big digital companies all rely on our public services, our infrastructure and our educated and healthy workforce. But, unlike smaller businesses and hard-working taxpayers, the tech giants fail to pay fairly into the common pot for the common good.

The Fair Tax Foundation said Amazon had now built up more than 1.9billion in carry-forward losses, which it can use to reduce future tax bills.

Mr Monaghan said: The bulk of Amazons UK income is booked offshore in the enormous loss-making Luxembourg subsidiary, which means that not only are they not making a meaningful tax contribution now, but are unlikely to do so for years to come given the enormous carried forward losses they have now built up there.

Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge (pictured) accused Amazon of a relentless campaign of appalling tax avoidance

The firms sales rocketed in the UK in 2020  up from 12.6billion to 19.1billion, according to filings in the US. Mr Monaghan said Amazon had paid an effective corporation tax rate of just 9.8 per cent on global profits over the past decade. The UK rate is 19 per cent. US President Joe Biden recently proposed a tax crackdown on technology giants and other multinational firms amid concern they are not paying enough.

He has called for a new system that would force companies to pay more in the countries they operate in alongside a global minimum corporation tax rate.

An Amazon spokesman yesterday insisted it pays all the taxes required. He added: Corporate tax is based on profits, not revenues, and our profits have remained low. He stressed the firm had invested over 56billion in Europe since 2010, helping to create many thousands of new jobs, significant local tax revenue and support for small European firms.
Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 90F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Low 61F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
New images of a notorious serial killer have emerged after the triple-killer appeared on a Facebook page under a different alias.

Reginald Arthurell, 75, served 23 years of a 24-year sentence for the murder of his fiancee Venet Mulhall, 54, in the northern New South Wales town of Coonabarabran in 1995.

The murderer walked out of Sydney's Long Bay jail in November 2020 after the NSW Parole Authority concluded it was the 'only viable option'.

Arthurell has reportedly been going by the name 'Regina', which violates his parole conditions that say he is not allowed to alter his appearance.

The 75-year-old has also allegedly been making threats against the family of his partner who he brutally killed, according to reports by 2GB.

Serial killer Reginald Arthurell has been found on Facebook pages speaking to people under the alias 'Regina'

Notorious New South Wales serial killer Reginald Arthurell (pictured) was released from prison after spending 23 years behind bars on strict parole conditions

Arthurell was released a year early on parole rather than a year later because it was safer to do so than to let him out 'cold turkey', State Parole Authority chair David Frearson SC said.

In 1997 Arthurell was sentenced to 24 years jail for the brutal bludgeoning killing of his deeply religious fiancee Venet Mulhall with a piece of wood in 1995 while on parole.

She allowed Arthurell to live in her home in Coonabarabran after she helped him with his parole for two other killings.

Arthurell had already been jailed for the manslaughter of his stepfather Thomas Thornton in Sydney in 1974 and naval officer Ross Browning in the Northern Territory in 1981.

He's now been active on a Facebook page, under the name Regina.

The source, who spoke to Ben Fordham, says they've contacted police after alleging Arthurell has been in contact with and making threats to Mulhall's grieving family.

Paul Quinn, who found his sister's body, said the sentencing judge should have set a life term without parole.

'When the judge sentenced him to 24 years in prison that should have been life, never to be released,' he said.

Serial killer Reginald 'Tex' Arthurell (pictured with his former fiancee and victim Venet Mulhall) was released from prison in November last year

Arthurell's release was six months earlier than the end of his 24-year term for the murder of Ms Mulhall.

'There comes a time when it becomes dangerous to let someone out without supervision at all,' Mr Frearson said last month.

Arthurell is required to wear an ankle bracelet, participate in psychological programs and abstain from alcohol in addition to 11 standard parole conditions.

'There wouldn't be a member of the (parole) board that would like this person living in their neighbourhood, let alone living as a neighbour,' Mr Quinn told the parole hearing in November.

Arthurell (pictured) was also jailed for the manslaughter of naval officer Ross Browning in the Northern Territory in November 1981 and his stepfather Thomas Thornton in Sydney in May 1974

'The NSW Attorney-General, Mark Speakman could have applied to have him kept in jail beyond his sentence but that boat appears to have sailed.'

Mr Frearson, a former crown prosecutor and District Court judge, said he understood Mr Quinn was frustrated with the original sentence, which expires on May 24, 2021, but said the parole board couldn't interfere with it.

'Strict supervision in the community presents as "the only sensible and viable option for community safety", Mr Frearson said.

NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman previously said there were 'unfortunately zero' prospects of getting a continuing detention order for Arthurell.
Growing numbers of Chinese Americans and other expats from Asia have embraced far-right groups like the Proud Boys because they fear Antifa and Black Lives Matter want to create a communist dictatorship in the US.

Chinese Americans and expats from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong donated around $86,000 as part of a crowdfunding effort to help Proud Boys pay for medical expenses after members of the group were stabbed in Washington, DC this past December, according to a USA Today report published Tuesday.

The newspaper spoke to several of those donors who said they supported the fundraiser because they believe the Proud Boys and others including former President Donald Trump and radio host Alex Jones stand between America and a communist takeover.

'You have to understand how we feel  we came from communist China and we managed to come here and we appreciate it here so much,' explained Rebecca Kwan, who donated $500 to the fundraiser.

'The Proud Boys are for Trump and they are fighting Antifa, and can you see anything good that Antifa did except destroy department stores and small businesses?'

Members of the Proud Boys are seen above in Washington, DC on November 14. The group has drawn support from a small but vocal minority of Chinese-Americans and expats from China, according to hacked data

A group of vocal Chinese-Americans support Proud Boys and its leader, Enrique Tarrio, as well as conspiracy theories Alex Jones because they view them as protecting America from a possible takeover by Black Lives Matter and Antifa. Tarrio and Jones are seen left and second from left in Washington, DC on November 14

A fundraiser for the Proud Boys was held through a crowdfunding site called GiveSendGo, which bills itself as the number one free Christian crowdfunding site. Chinese-Americans and Chinese expats donated 80 per cent of the money raised

A minority of Chinese expats have also voiced support for former President Donald Trump (seen above on January 12 in Alamo, Texas)

The fundraiser was set up through a site called GiveSendGo on December 17 - five days after several Proud Boys members were injured during clashes with Black Lives Matter counter-demonstrators in Washington, DC.

In total, the crowdfunding effort raised $106,107 - 80 percent of which came from Asian expats, according to hacked data from GiveSendGo that was posted on the whistleblower site Distributed Denial of Secrets.

'You are the true heroes and patriots!' Janice Wang wrote after donating $100.

'Thank you for your courage to fight for our freedom!!' Ao Liu wrote after donating $30.

'Thank you, proud boys. You are my heroes,' wrote Nancy Chang, who sent $300 to the group on January 5 - one day before members of the Proud Boys helped storm the US Capitol.

GiveSendGo bills itself as the number one free Christian crowdfunding site.

D.C.: A member of the Proud Boys is treated after being stabbed by an anti-Trump protester on December 12. Proud Boys raised more than $106,000 to help cover medical expenses

The donations from Chinese natives was a surprise given that Proud Boys and other far-right groups have been accused of white supremacy. Proud Boys denies the claim.

Founded in 2016, the Proud Boys began as a group protesting political correctness and perceived constraints on masculinity.

It grew into a group with distinctive colors of yellow and black that embraced street fighting.

In September their profile soared when then-President Trump called on them to 'Stand back and stand by.'

Enrique Tarrio, based in Miami, became the national chairman of the group in 2018 after the organization's founder, former Vice Media chairman Gavin McInnes, quit.

McGinnes departed in November 2018 after the FBI categorized the Proud Boys as 'an extremist group with ties to white nationalism.'

A group of Chinese-Americans show their support for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at a campaign event in Tampa, Florida on October 24, 2016. Some expats' opposition to communism is at the root of their support for Trump and allied groups like the Proud Boys

In November and December of last year, Tarrio led the Proud Boys through the streets of DC after Trumps election loss.

Video shows him on December 11 with a bullhorn in front of a large crowd.

To the parasites both in Congress, and in that stolen White House, he said.

WHO ARE THE PROUD BOYS? Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes started the all-male Proud Boys in 2016. McInnes and the Proud Boys have described the group as a politically incorrect men's club for 'Western chauvinists' and deny affiliations with far-right extremist groups that overtly espouse racist and anti-Semitic views. The Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center designated the Proud Boys as a hate group, saying that its members often spread 'outright bigotry' and 'anti-Muslim and misogynistic rhetoric' over the internet, and have posted social media pictures of themselves with prominent Holocaust deniers, white nationalists and 'known neo-Nazis.' Current national leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, marched in the infamous Charlottesville Unite the Right rally in 2017. Proud Boys have been involved in a series of high-profile violent clashes at political events. In New York City in October 2018, police arrested several Proud Boys members who brawled with anti-fascist protesters following a speech by McInnes at a Manhattan Republican club. Proud Boys members also have frequently clashed with counterprotesters at rallies in California and Oregon. Most recently, the group took part in the siege on the Capitol on January 6, where some members were seen breaking into the building. In February, they were designated a terrorist group by Canada. Advertisement

You want a war, you got one! The crowd roared. The next day Tarrio burned the BLM banner.

In court filings, prosecutors have described the Proud Boys as among the instigators of the fatal MAGA riot on January 6, in which extremists sought to keep Trump in office despite his electoral defeat.

At least 18 Proud Boys have been arrested on charges ranging from conspiracy to assaulting police officers.

At least six others associated with or accompanying the group have been charged.

Nonetheless, the group generates support from those who say the bigger threat is Antifa and BLM.

'The Proud Boys are protecting the innocent people,' said Donald Wang of Queens, New York.

Wang told USA Today he gave the group a $50 donation.

'A lot of people in my community support them.'

A small sliver of Chinese-Americans have also been vocal in their support for Trump.

While most Chinese-Americans, like other immigrant groups, supported the Democratic candidate in 2016, Hillary Clinton, a vocal minority among them expressed enthusiastic backing of Trump.

Ironically, Chinese expats who back Trump formed pro-Trump group chats on WeChat, a social media app that the former president wanted banned due to its alleged connection to the Communist Party-run Chinese government.

The Biden administration has reversed attempts by Trump to ban WeChat and TikTok due to alleged ties to Beijing.

Chinese-Americans supported Trump for many of the same reasons that other native-born Americans did as well.

US conservative culture is very similar to the culture of our fathers and grandparents, Mr. Tian, a 31-year-old engineer living in Missouri, told Financial Times.

People value family, promote hard work and oppose many modern ideas, such as homosexuality and sexual freedom.
Kamala Harris on Tuesday said that climate change was a factor in driving migrants from their home countries to the United States, in her first remarks on the issue - five weeks after being given the job.

Harris was asked by President Joe Biden on March 24 to lead his response to the crisis at the southern border.

It is a job she has assumed with apparent reluctance: she is yet to visit the border, or the region, and Tuesday's remarks to the Washington Conference on the Americas were her first on the issue.

Harris, in her 13 minute speech, said 'the lack of climate adaptation and climate resilience' was one of the factors in the current migrant surge.

'We want to help people find hope at home, and so we are focused on addressing both the acute factors and the root causes of migration,' she said, addressing the virtual event.

'First, the acute factors, the catastrophes that are causing people to leave right now; the hurricanes, the pandemic, the drought, and extreme food insecurity.

'Then there are the long standing issues, the root causes. Im thinking of corruption, violence and poverty, the lack of economic opportunity, the lack of climate adaptation and climate resilience, the lack of good governance.'

Vice President Kamala Harris held her first public event on Tuesday as 'border czar'

Migrant children are seen playing on the Mexico-US border in Tijuana on April 24

Migrants in Tijuana on April 24, awaiting their attempt to cross into the United States

Republicans have argued that wiping out Trump-era policies such as the border wall and Remain In Mexico plan are to blame for the soaring arrivals.

In March the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents encountered more than 172,000 individuals attempting entry along the Southwest border - a 71 per cent increase over February 2021, and a 10-year high.

Nearly 19,000 unaccompanied children entered U.S. border custody in March, an all-time monthly high.

April's figures will be out this week, and are expected to show another increase.

The White House has denied Republican insistence that Biden's policies are to blame, and has instead doubled down on its emphasis on root causes such as violence and poverty.

'The United States has announced we will send an additional $310 million to the region,' she said at the 51st Annual Washington Conference on the Americas on Tuesday

To address this, Harris announced on Tuesday the U.S. is sending millions in aid to Central American countries, as she blamed 'corrupt' governments for the surge in migrants.

'The United States has announced we will send an additional $310 million to the region,' she said.

The administration plans push Congress to pass a bill sending $4 billion in aid to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador over the next four years.

'We want to help people find hope at home,' Harris said in encouraging people to stay in their home countries.

'And so we are focused on addressing both the acute factors and the root causes of migration.'

She did not mention the border at all in her speech.

Harris also made clear if 'corruption' in the region is not addressed, it could undo any other progress made there.

'No matter how much effort we put in on curbing violence, on providing disaster relief, on tackling food insecurity, on all of it, we will not make significant progress if corruption in the region persists,' she said.

Harris flew to Milwaukee after her speech, and then back to Washington, landing in rain (above)

Harris has garnered a lot of criticism from Republicans for not yet visiting the border to see the crisis for herself, but traveling to other parts of the U.S. to tout trillions in spending proposals

Harris added: 'If corruption persists, history has told us, it will be one step forward and two steps back. And we know, corruption causes government institutions to collapse from within.'

She added the administration 'believes in the potential of the region.'

'Eight years ago, President Joe Biden addressed this conference. Then Vice President, he led our nation's diplomatic efforts within the Northern Triangle and with Mexico,' she said.

'Recently, he asked me to take the lead,' Harris said.

'This is a priority for our nation and a role that I take very seriously.'

She continued: 'We want to pick back up the kind of work President Joe Biden started when he was Vice President.'

Harris departed shortly after her speech for Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she will promote Joe Biden's proposed $2 trillion American Jobs Plan plan

Harris has held two closed-door meetings with outside experts and philanthropists related to the mass migration crisis at the southern border.

She has not, however, visited the border or before this point held any public remarks or events in her capacity in the five weeks since being named in charge of the crisis.

'Our Administration is implementing a comprehensive strategy with governments, international institutions, the private sector, foundations, and community organizations,' she said.

'The idea here is that our work will be coordinated and that every sector will have a role to play.'

Harris' remarks Tuesday came just before she jetted off for a day trip to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where she will promote the proposed $2 trillion American Jobs Plan plan.

The White House has repeatedly tried to rebrand Harris' position, claiming she is looking to help fix situations in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to help quell migration to the U.S. by making situations in Central American countries more desirable.

Since she was named 'border czar', Harris has traveled to many other places in the U.S. other than the border, where she has touted the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan and Biden's proposed trillions in spending for real and 'human' infrastructure development.

This has garnered even more criticism from those on the left who say she isn't taking her role  or the crisis  seriously.

The White House says it is planning a trip for Harris to visit Guatemala and Mexico this summer, but she will not stop at the border.

Last week, Harris had a bilateral meeting with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei and will meet virtually with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Friday.

This week, the administration also plans to start reuniting families separated under former President Donald Trump's 'zero tolerance' immigration policies, which led to thousands of children being separated from their families.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a call with reporters on Sunday night that four families of the estimated 1,000 that remain separated will be reunited this week.

Two of the four include mothers  one Mexican and one Honduran  who were separated from their children in 2017.

He described the children as ranging from three-years-old at the time of separation to 'teenagers who have had to live without their parent during their most formative years.'

The Department of Homeland Security released photos Monday showing near-empty border facilities to tout there has been an 88% drop in the number of unaccompanied minor migrants in CBP custody  with the majority now transferred to Health and Human Services facilities

The same facility shown above on March 30 was overflowing with unaccompanied minors migrants who were apprehended crossing the border without parents or adult family members

Republicans are also furious over President Biden's plan to send $4 billion in aid to Northern Triangle countries in order to address 'root causes' of mass migration.

Two top House Republicans are demanding the Biden administration hand over documents related to the plan, which would send the money over four years to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Representatives James Comer, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, and Jason Smith, ranking member of the House Budget Committee, wrote a letter to acting Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young calling Biden's plan 'naive and misguided.'

'In the midst of a border crisis propelled by the Biden Administration reversing successful deterrent policies, it is worrisome that the Administration's solution isn't to reinstate those policies or replace them with workable solutions, but instead to funnel more money to pay countries to dissuade their citizens to break U.S. laws, particularly countries with corruption concerns,' they wrote in the letter.

Harris' remarks Tuesday come as pictures from border facilities released by the DHS Monday show a more optimistic image of the crisis.

The images show the McAllen, Texas holding and processing facility nearly empty, when pictures from the same facility last month showed overflowing pens with children nearly stacked on top of each other on mats on a concrete floor with mylar blankets.

Mayorkas also revealed there was an 88 per cent drop in the number of unaccompanied minor migrants in Customs and Border Protection custody compared to five weeks ago.

These children, for the most part, are likely still in federal custody, just transferred from CBP facilities to Health and Human Services facilities that are better equipped and staffed to handle the cases and work on reunification with their family.

New numbers from over the weekend show only 677 unaccompanied minor migrants remain in CBP facilities compared to March 28, when there were 5,767.

CBP has been able to almost double the rate it processes children and more quickly transfer them to shelters and emergency housing facilities set up by HHS.

Despite the expediting processing, the number of illegal crossings have not slowed.
A Malian woman has given birth to nine babies in a world record multiple birth after medics missed two on her scans and told her she was expecting seven.

Halima Cisse, 25, from Timbuktu, spent two weeks in hospital in the Malian capital of Bamako before being flown to Morocco in March to give birth in a specialist hospital via cesarean section.

Should all nine babies survive, the birth would break the current world record set by 'Octomum' Nadya Suleman in 2009, who gave birth to eight babies that survived.

Details about Ms Cisse's pregnancy unclear, but such multiple births are typically the result of IVF - were multiple fertilised eggs are simultaneously implanted into a woman's womb to increase the chances she will fall pregnant.

In rare cases, several of embryos will develop into babies, causing extreme cases of multiple birth that almost never occur naturally.

Pictured: One of the nine babies delivered in Morocco on Tuesday. Should all nine babies survive, the birth would break the current world record set by 'Octomum' Nadya Suleman in 2009, who gave birth to eight babies that survived

Halima Cisse, 25, from Timbuktu, spent two weeks in hospital in the Malian capital of Bamako before being flown to Morocco in March to give birth in a specialist hospital via cesarean section. Pictured: Ms Cisse arrives in Morocco

Halima Cisse, 25, from Timbuktu in Mali, gave birth to nine babies via cesarean section at a hospital in Morocco on Tuesday - after doctors initially thought she was pregnant with seven

Local media suggests she gave birth around eight months into her pregnancy, having been initially taken to hospital when she was just six months pregnant.

According to Mali 24, doctors in the impoverished country estimated that there was a less than 50 percent chance that a single one of the nine fetuses would survive.

Ms Cisse spent two weeks in Point G Hospital in Bamako, Mali's capital, before she was transferred to Morocco thanks to the intervention of Mali's President of Transition Bah N'Daw.

She was admitted to the Ain Borja private clinic in Casablanca on March 20, and spent over six weeks in hospital before reportedly giving birth on Tuesday (May 4).

Mali's health ministry said in a statement that Cisse had given birth to five girls and four boys by cesarean section, and the Ain Borja later confirmed to the Associated Press she had given birth there.

'The newborns (five girls and four boys) and the mother are all doing well,' Mali's health minister, Fanta Siby, said in a statement.

The minister added that she had been kept informed by a Malian doctor who accompanied Cisse to Morocco.

The new family are due to return home in several weeks' time, she added.

Siby offered her congratulations to 'the medical teams of Mali and Morocco, whose professionalism is at the origin of the happy outcome of this pregnancy'.

Pictured: People wait in front of the Ain Borja private clinic in Casablanca, Morocco, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, where Ms Cisse gave birth on Tuesday

The pregnancy - while it was believed to involve septuplets - drew national attention in Mali, as organisations worked to ensure that Ms Cisse and her expected babies received the necessary medical care.

On April 15, 2021 it was announced that the Orange Mali Foundation would donate five million CFA Francs (around 6,580) to the cause, after the country's The Department for the Promotion of Women, Children and the Family appealed for aid.

Cases of women successfully carrying septuplets to term are rare - and nonuplets even rarer - due to the strain multiple babies can put on the mother's body.

Ms Cisse's pregnancy has become the third reported instance of nonuplets in history, with the other two occurring in Sydney and Malaysia.

In both cases, none of the babies survived.

Medical complications in multiple births of this kind often mean that some of the babies do not reach full term.

Nadya Suleman, or 'Octomom' made headlines in the United States on January 26, 2009, when she gave birth to six boys and two girls in California.

The first recorded case of nonuplets came in Sydney in the 1970s, although sadly none of the babies survived, according to The Independent.

In March 1999, a set of nonuplets was born in Malaysia to a woman named Zurina Mat Saad, though none of them survived for more than six hours.

In January 2009, Nadya Suleman - dubbed Octomum - gave birth to octuplets including six boys and two girls at a hospital in California.

All survived the birth, and recently celebrated their 12th birthdays.

The babies were a result of IVF treatment, and were nine weeks premature when they were delivered via c-section.

To this day. the octuplets are still the only full set of eight babies born alive in the United States, and after one week after their birth they surpassed the previous worldwide survival rate for octuplets.

Before the record-breaking birth, Suleman already had six children, who were also conceived via IVF treatment.

The doctor who delivered the embryos, and who implanted twelve embryos in Suleman's womb, had his license revoked in 2011 after charges were brought against him in relation to the octuplet's conception.

In a more recent case, a woman in Texas gave birth to sextuplets - two sets of twin boys and one pair of twin girls - in 2019.
A family of Tamil asylum-seekers being held on Christmas Island could soon be released into community detention

A family of Tamil asylum-seekers being held on Christmas Island could soon be released into community detention.

Priya, Nades and their two young daughters have been kept in immigration detention centres for more than 1,000 days.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has indicated the family could be released into the community while their claims for protection go through the courts.

'The welfare of that family on Christmas Island is clearly an issue that I have turned my mind to,' she told ABC radio on Wednesday.

'I am seeking advice on that at the moment and I will continue to seek advice.'

Ms Andrews said the family was being very well supported in detention.

'In terms of other accommodation that may be available to them on Christmas Island, that's an ongoing discussion that I am having with our officials,' she said.

'I will make a response in the not too distant future.'

Kopika (right) and Tharunicaa, the daughters of the Biloela Tamil family at the detention centre on Christmas Island

In a separate interview, Ms Andrews was asked whether she felt compassion for the Biloela family.

'I am a very compassionate person by nature. I will never walk away from that. But compassion takes many different forms,' she told ABC News.

As the home affairs minister, Ms Andrews could intervene and grant the family protection, allowing them to return to their adopted home in central Queensland.

But she has been reluctant to step in while the legal case remains afoot.

'The matter is currently before the courts, so there is nothing I am prepared to say or do at this point in time that would either jeopardise the positions of the government or of the family concerned,' Ms Andrews said.

'So, at this point, it is a wait and see what the results are through the court systems.'
Nicola Sturgeon last night faced a backlash over her never-ending focus on independence despite the prospect of a gruelling coronavirus recovery.

In the final televised debate of the election campaign, opposition leaders warned of the threat of five more years of arguments on splitting up the United Kingdom if there is a pro-independence majority after tomorrow's election.

The First Minister was warned by the Conservatives leader Douglas Ross that she could not properly conduct a referendum campaign while being in charge of the recovery from coronavirus.

'Nicola Sturgeon has been clear. If she gets a majority, she'll take her eye off the ball for Scotland's recovery, for rebuilding this country from this pandemic and seek to hold another independence referendum,' he said.

In a tense back and forth the 38-year-old, who became Tory leader last year, claimed that even if Boris Johnson was forced to reject a referendum request from an SNP government then Ms Sturgeon would try hold her own 'illegal wildcat referendum'.

Nicola Sturgeon last night faced a grilling from Scottish party leaders over her never-ending focus on independence despite the prospect of a gruelling coronavirus recovery

The SNP leader rejected the accusation, saying: 'No we won't. I've always said that, Douglas.'

'I've said consistently all along, sometimes to criticism from people in my own side of the argument, I would not countenance an illegal referendum - not least because it would not deliver independence and I want Scotland in the fullness of time and due course to become an independent country.'

Ms Sturgeon was also criticised for failing to have answers to 'basic questions' about her plan to tear Scotland out of the UK.

The leaders also clashed on tax policies, with Miss Sturgeon refusing to rule out income tax rises in the next five years despite her manifesto pledge to freeze rates and bands.

Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: 'You can't lead a referendum campaign and lead the recovery at the same time, it is simply not credible.'

In a tense back and forth, the First Minister was warned by the Conservatives leader Douglas Ross that she could not properly conduct a referendum campaign while being in charge of the recovery from coronavirus

Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: 'I don't want this to be the argument for the next five years, I do want to focus on recovery.

'Because the people who are waiting an age for mental health treatment I think deserve better than this.

'People that are desperate for a job deserve better than this. The children who have lost out on a lot of education in the last period, and Scottish education plummeting the inter-national ranking, I think we deserve better than all of this. And that is what will happen if we get a Nationalist majority later on this week.

'Because despite Nicola's best intentions, there will be all the different factions of the nationalism movement will argue among themselves for the next five years about the timing, about the Border, about the currency, about Europe. All of those things will be the focus of the parliament for the next five years.'

Miss Sturgeon also failed to say how long an independent Scotland would use the pound under her currency plans.

Miss Sturgeon also failed to say how long an independent Scotland would use the pound under her currency plans

She said a separate Scotland would use the pound for 'as long as necessary' before switching to a new currency when the conditions are right.

When asked how long that would take, she said: 'Not absolutely fixed, we would have to judge that. The Growth Commission set out tests based on economic stability, trading cycle, fiscal position, the interests of consumers.

'But can I make this fundamental point right now. We are voting in a Scottish parliament election on Thursday, we are not voting yes or no for independence.

'I want, once the crisis has passed and we are into recovery, for us to be able to choose our own future.

'At that point, just as happened in 2014, what didn't happen in the Brexit referendum, we will put forward a case for independence. The others here will no doubt put forward a case against independence. And people will have the right to choose.'

Presenter Glenn Campbell asked what would happen if an independent Scotland faced another crisis, pandemic or financial collapse while it was using somebody else's currency and did not have its own central bank. Miss Sturgeon said: 'We would borrow money the way other countries borrow money.'

A Survation poll found that 53 per cent would vote 'no' in an independence referendum - down two points on a week earlier

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross said: 'Nicola Sturgeon has said tonight she has supported independence her whole life.

'I would then think you would be able to answer a pretty basic question about currency if you were to separate Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom. But you haven't answered it.

'This is the problem  if the SNP get a majority and go unchecked in the next parliament, this will be the debate we have in Scotland, not the debate about recovery.'

Ms Sturgeon also failed to rule out income tax rises, saying she does not support an increase but would admit 'unforeseen circumstances' such as cuts to the block grant may necessitate such a move.

She said: 'For the next parliament, given that we are going to be recovering economically from Covid, tax stability really matters. And, therefore, we have no plans to increase income tax.'

Mr Ross' party has also said it wants to bring taxes in Scotland back into line with the rest of the UK, but claims this would only happen towards the end of the parliamentary term, if the economic outlook allows.

'I am not saying this is a cast-iron commitment,' the Conservative said.

'But our pledge is to seek parity in the tax system, for 1.1 million people in Scotland who are taxed more for doing the exact same job than they are in the rest of the United Kingdom.'

Mr Sarwar, who has also said he is against a tax rise but would want to see such a move for those earning at least 150,000 per year in the first instance, accused the Tory leader of wanting to give himself a tax cut - to Mr Ross' protestations.

'What Douglas is trying to say... is he would give himself a tax cut rather than people across the country.'

Mr Ross is already an MP, and is seeking to become an MSP, as well as being the leader of the Scottish Tories.

'You want to give yourself a tax cut for perhaps all three salaries you want to earn,' Mr Sarwar told him.
Gladys Berejilikan has warned Australia cannot stay a bubble forever and the nation should open international borders as soon as possible

The NSW Premier said her state was losing $1.5 billion a month without overseas tourists and the border closure couldn't be sustained much longer.

She warned of massive job losses if the ban continued too long and urged residents to get a Covid jab after reports of vaccine hesitancy in the community.

Ms Berejiklian said the vaccine was critical and necessary for Australia's re-engagement with the world, adding the rollout needed to be completed quickly as she did not want the country to risk 'falling behind the rest of the world'.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Australia 'can't live in a bubble forever' and needed the Covid vaccine rollout to be completed quickly so the country can reopen its international borders. Pictured, a passenger arriving at Perth Airport

She said if the rest of the world opened up r but Australia was late to the party, the NSW economy would suffer the most.

'I know there's a degree of comfort in the bubble we have and I understand that [but] until the vast majority of our population is vaccinated, we can't move beyond the bubble,' she said.

'We can't live in the bubble forever.

'And what worries me is not only do we still run the risk of community transmission whilst the population isn't vaccinated, we also have a huge risk of our community being impacted by the economic consequences, of job losses.

'You can only sustain a bubble for so long. Whether we like it or not, the vaccine rollout is critical for us being able to re-engage with the rest of the world and prevent job losses that might emerge.'

Deputy Premier John Barilaro on Monday blamed complacency and a Covid-free environment in NSW for residents not being in any rush to get the vaccine, with supply far outweighing demand.

'Right now here in NSW one of my greatest concerns is that people aren't rolling up to get vaccinated... we have capacity and we have more vaccines than demand,' he said.

'And that's because in NSW we are living in a period of normal [because] the reality is there is no virus and there is complacency.'

New South Wales is losing $1.5billion a month in lost economic activity because international tourists outside New Zealand are locked out of Australia. Pictured, passengers at Sydney Airport before flying to New Zealand

Ms Berejiklian (pictured) said the rollout of the Covid vaccine was critical and necessary for Australia's re-engagement with the world

Ms Berejiklian on Tuesday announced the government was exploring a plan to manufacture mRNA vaccines like those created for Covid by Pfizer and Moderna.

She said comments from Australia's Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly that there should be a maximum of two per cent of people infected with Covid in the quarantine system did not dictate how NSW ran their program.

'The capacity constraint we have is how many people can be in our quarantine system safely at any one time,' Ms Berejiklian said.

'The advice from police is between 5,000, and at a stretch 5,500 and when you go over 5500 it means you're putting extra pressure on health, on the hotels and on the police force.'

The federal government used the two per cent cap in justifying the ban on citizens returning from India.

Deakin University epidemiologist Professor Catherine Bennett said the ban 'will change everybody's thinking about the uncertainty and whether it's safe to travel'.

'Now we see they will go to more extreme measures to stop arrivals who may be infectious,' she said.

'That's on the table and will apply to other countries, even though they don't look particularly high risk when people (Australians) leave the country.'
Vaccines that protect against new virus variants will be developed much more quickly thanks to a major new research hub, Matt Hancock has pledged.

The Health Secretary is investing 29.3million into a series of new laboratories at the Porton Down research centre in Wiltshire.

Government officials are concerned a third virus wave could be triggered by the emergence of a new variant that cannot be protected by vaccines in use now.

While scientists are confident existing vaccines provide some protection against the Kent and South African variants, little is known about their effectiveness against others, including the Brazilian and Indian variants.

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured) is investing 29.3million into a series of new laboratories at the Porton Down research centre in Wiltshire, which will mean vaccines that protect against new virus variants will be developed much more quickly

The money will quadruple the number of tests carried out each week at the site of potential new vaccines  from 700 to 3,000.

It currently takes several months from a variant being identified to a jab being developed that protects against it and is safe.

But officials hope this wait will be slashed to several weeks. The first jabs capable of protecting against the South African variant and potentially others are likely to be ready in September or October.

Mr Hancock said: The UK has proven itself to be a world-class force in the production of Covid-19 vaccines, with the Oxford/AstraZeneca, Novavax and Valneva vaccines all researched, developed or manufactured on British soil.

Dr Jenny Harries said they expect the existing vaccines to offer protection against new variants but it is important they continue to monitor the picture as it develops

This multi-million pound funding for a state-of-the-art vaccine testing facility at Porton Down will enable us to further future-proof the country from the threat of new variants.

He insisted: We are committed to supporting the UKs flourishing life sciences industry.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: While we expect the existing vaccines to offer protection against new variants  particularly preventing serious illness and death  it is important that we continue to monitor the picture as it develops.
James Chadwell II, 42, (in mug) is accused of luring a 9-year-old girl into his home on April 19 before attacking, strangling and sexually assaulting her. His own brother now claims he could be capable

A man being eyed over the unsolved unsolved murders of two teenage girls in Delphi, Indiana is 'absolutely capable' of having committed the horrific crimes, his own brother says.

Detectives last week confirmed they are 'looking into' 42-year-old James Chadwell II in relation to the deaths of 13-year-old Abigail 'Abby' Williams and 14-year-old Liberty 'Libby' German in 2017.

They have not formally named him as a suspect in the girls' unsolved killings.

The girls went missing on February 13 of that year while hiking along the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi, and their bodies were discovered in nearby woods the following day.

The case has baffled investigators and remains unsolved after four years, but detectives have declared they are now examining Chadwell after he was arrested over an unrelated crime in Indiana last month.

On April 19 this year, Chadwell is accused of luring a 9-year-old girl into his home in Lafayette to pet his dogs. He then allegedly took her down to his basement where he attacked, strangled and sexually assaulted her before she was rescued by police.

The attack took place just 20 miles away from Williams and German were found dead four years ago.

Now, in an exclusive interview with Inside Edition, Chadwell's family members say its possible that he could have killed the teenage girls four years ago.

Police investigating the unsolved 2017 murders of Libby German (left) and Abby Williams (right) in Delphi, Indiana, have confirmed they are 'looking into' Chadwell

Libby German posted this photo of Abby Williams on Snapchat as they walked along an abandoned railroad bridge hours before they vanished

Brother Ashley Chadwell told the program on Tuesday: Do I think that he's capable of that kind of crime? Absolutely, absolutely.'

Ashley Chadwell claims his brother even tried to drown him when he was a child.

'He's shown numerous times not only to his friends, but his family as well that he has that kind of evil streak to him,' he stated.

'Hes a monster. Hes an absolute evil person.'

Chadwell has been in and out of prison since he was a teenager.

Ashley Chadwell said his brother 'should be locked up and never let loose again, because hes a monster'.

Meanwhile, Chadwell's own stepfather also told Inside Edition that his stepson could be responsible for the double murders.

'Is he capable? Probably. And you know, should they let him back out on the street? Not ever. Throw away the key this time,' he stated.

Chadwell's own brother (left) and stepfather (right) say he could have killed Libby German and Abby Williams in 2017

Last week, local sheriff Tobe Leazenby told WRTV that investigators are 'looking into' Chadwell to determine if he has any connection to the unsolved murders.

'The information has obviously been shared with us and our investigators are looking into him,' Leazenby said.

The murders of Libby German and Abby Williams made international headlines four years ago.

The two teenage girls were dropped off at the Delphi Historic Trails to go on a hike on February 13 2017.

They were reported missing when they failed to show up when a parent came to pick them up.

A search was launched to find the teens and, the next day, their bodies were discovered in a secluded wooded area off the main trail.

Their cause of death has never been released by authorities.

Investigators believe the girls were approached by an unknown man while they were hanging out on a bridge along the route.

The case has long focused on a man captured on camera on Libby's phone walking along the abandoned railroad bridge on the day they went missing.

Days after the killings, authorities released two grainy photos of the suspect found on her phone.

The man was dressed in blue jeans and a blue jacket.

Investigators also released an audio clip from her phone which they believe she recorded 'during possible criminal activity'.

In it, the suspect is heard telling the girls: 'Go down the hill.'

The man has never been identified.

The case has long focused on a man captured on camera on Libby German's phone walking along the abandoned railroad bridge on the day they went missing (pictured above)

Libby (left) and Abby (right) were kidnapped and killed in Delphi, Indiana. More than four years later, very little is known about their murder and no one has been arrested

Meanwhile, Chadwell remains in prison after being charged over last month's alleged kidnapping.

According to court documents, the 42-year-old lured the girl into his home to pet his dogs on the evening of April 19.

Once inside, the suspect allegedly hit her in the head multiple times and strangled her.

'Chadwell was also choking her with his hands on her neck and also using his arm in a headlock, to the point where she passed out,' prosecutors say.

When the girl came round, she said most of her clothes were off and Chadwell took her down to the basement where he forced her to perform sexual acts, the documents state.

The girl told police Chadwell had warned her that if she screamed or told anyone what happened he would kill her.

The girl was reported missing by her mom at around 7pm - around 30 minutes after she said she had last seen her at their home near Sagamore Parkway.

When officers were searching the neighborhood for the missing girl, Chadwell allegedly told them the girl had entered his home earlier but had left, the documents state.

Police said they asked Chadwell if they could search his home and he said yes.

Officers found the girl within an hour of her disappearance 'visibly distraught and crying, with her clothing on the floor beside her' in Chadwell's basement which was locked with a chain lock, the documents state.

The girl had suffered multiple injuries and was covered in bruises, strangulation marks and had a dog bite mark on her leg.

Police said she told investigators she thought she was going to die.

Anyone with information on the Delphi case is asked to contact abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com
Josh Duggar pleaded not guilty to the federal child porn charges on Friday during a virtual court hearing

Josh Duggar has filed a motion in an Arkansas federal court to get out of jail on bail for his child pornography charges claiming he is not a flight risk because he has 'a widely-recognizable face.'

The former 19 Kids and Counting star, 33, is facing charges of one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography but has pleaded not guilty to both counts.

Security video has shown Duggar's first moments behind bars when he was booked in to an Arkansas jail on May 3.

He has now requested to be allowed to return home to his pregnant wife and their six children - though a judge had previously ruled that he would be barred from living with them if he were to be released on bail while awaiting trial.

The reality star has argued in the court documents, filed on Tuesday and obtained by DailyMail.com, that he 'poses no flight risk' because of his 'deep roots' in the community and his 'widely recognizable face.'

'He was born and raised in this community and, with the exception of a stint working in politics in Washington, D.C., this has always been his home,' reads the filing, made by his lawyers Travis Story and Justin Gelfand.

'Indeed, Duggars life and that of his parents and 18 siblingshas been largely documented on camera and in the media.'

Security video has shown Duggar's first moments behind bars when he was booked in to an Arkansas jail on May 3. He claims that he does not pose a danger to the community and that he has 'fully complied' with law enforcement

Duggar, center, noted that he was permitted to 'voluntarily self-surrender in connection with this case

The filing continues: 'In that vein, Duggar has a widely-recognizable face and has spent the majority of his life in the public spotlightmaking any concern that he is a risk of flight all the more unwarranted.'

Duggar claims that he does not pose a danger to the community and that he has 'fully complied' with law enforcement and has no prior criminal convictions.

'[He] has known about this federal criminal investigation since November 2019 when Homeland Security Investigations ('HSI') executed a search of Duggar's prior workplace,' the filing reads.

Duggar alleged that he has 'maintained an open dialogue with the U.S. Attorney's Office in connection with this investigation' and noted that he was permitted to 'voluntarily self-surrender in connection with this case.'

Josh and Anna Duggar, and their six children. Anna is pregnant with their 7th child while Josh is trying to make bail

'Indeed, while child pornography crimes are unquestionably serious, the indictment certainly does not allege that Duggar personally interacted with a single child,' the document reads.

Duggar suggested in the filing that, if he is not permitted to return home, he has provided the name of a 'third-party custodian' with whom he can live where no minor children live.

He noted in the legal document that he will obey any bail conditions made by the court if it is granted.

After entering his not guilty plea at a court in Arkansas on Friday, US Chief Magistrate Judge Erin L. Wiedemann told Duggar that if he is released on bond, he would not be permitted to reside in a house with children, according to a release from the US Attorney's Office.

This would prohibit Duggar from returning to the home he lives in with wife Anna, and their six children, the eldest of which is just 11 years old.

Judge Wiedemann advised Duggar he would have to work out an alternative residence where he could stay while awaiting trial.

'Given the nature of the charges against him, the court would likely require a third-party custodian that he could reside with and that would ensure compliance with conditions of bond,' Judge Wiedemann said.

Duggar's sister Jill (pictured with her husband) said: 'We're very sad about the whole thing, it's horrible. It's all very sad'

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar said they still loved Josh and were praying for him after his arrest

Wiedemann said a probation officer would interview Duggar to determine his suitability for bail.

Duggar is accused of allegedly using 'the internet to download child sexual abuse material'.

Duggar allegedly possessed this material, some of which depicts the sexual abuse of children under the age of 12, in May 2019, according to the US Attorney's office.

It's not clear if any of Duggar's family would offer him accommodation while he awaits trial.

Several members of the family have spoken out since news of his arrest broke last week.

Duggar's sister Jill told The Sun: 'We're very sad about the whole thing, it's horrible. It's all very sad. Josh's wife Anna is pregnant with their seventh child, I cannot imagine how she is feeling.'

Jill's husband Derick told The Sun that 'obviously if there is anything there related to child pornography, we hope that justice is done'.

Another of Josh's sisters, Jinger, and her husband, Jeremy, have also reacted to Duggar's charges after they were made public Friday.

'We are disturbed to hear of the charges against Josh. While this case must go through the legal system, we want to make it clear that we absolutely condemn any form of child abuse and fully support the authorities and judicial process in their pursuit of justice,' the couple wrote in a statement shared to Instagram.

Jinger Duggar, center, husband Jeremy Vuolo, left, who went shopping in Hollywood on Saturday, released a joint statement to say they were 'disturbed' to hear about the charges

Duggar's parents and fellow 19 Kids and Counting stars Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar also issued a statement Friday.

'We appreciate your continued prayers for our family at this time. The accusations brought against Joshua today are very serious,' they said in the statement obtained by People magazine.

'It is our prayer that the truth, no matter what it is, will come to light, and that this will all be resolved in a timely manner.'

They added: 'We love Josh and Anna and continue to pray for their family.'

A trial date for his case has been set for July 6, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for July 1.

If convicted, Duggar faces up to 20 years of imprisonment and fines up to $250,000 on each count.
05/04/2021





Jacksonville State recently welcomed a new victim service counselor to campus to support students dealing with sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking. The position is financed by the US Department of Justice, which awarded the university a $300,000 grant through the Office on Violence Against Women in 2019.

Giselle Sharp, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, has been on campus since February, working out of the Counseling Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Having spent her career helping young people and families navigate from trauma to a place of healing, she intends to do the same for JSU students.

If you have an understanding of whats happening to a person physically, psychologically, emotionally, spiritually and biologically after theyve experienced trauma, you can help them focus more on healing, Sharp said. Having a deeper understanding of what trauma is and how it affects every part of a persons life is a tremendous benefit. Im there to tell them what theyre going through is normal. It helps for them to know that they are going to be OK, that they can make it through this.

Sharps services are free of charge for all JSU students, no matter when or where they may have experienced violence. She may be reached at gsharp@jsu.edu or by calling Counseling Services at 256-782-5475.

In addition to expanding counseling on campus, the OVW grant has also established the Victim Service Fund for student survivors of sexual assault who have accumulated expenses not covered by other assistance funds, explained Jana Pickette, grant project coordinator. Our victim fund can fill financial gaps in crisis situations, she said.

The grant office is also currently working closely with the district attorneys office and community victim service provider, 2nd Chance, to develop a victim advocate presence on JSUs campus.

We now have a growing team of students, faculty, staff and community partners who all bring their specific strength to our goal of fostering a culture of respect at JSU, Pickette said. Only united as a community can we stand up against violence and develop a supportive environment in which we all look out for each other. The grant program is crucial in bringing all of us together to accomplish this.

If anyone feels unsafe or uncomfortable on campus, they should always contact the University Police Department first at 256-782-8888 for immediate assistance.

There are so many great, supportive resources  on and off campus, said Jennifer Argo, Title IX coordinator. I very much want all of our students, faculty and staff to know that I am here to help and to guide them to resources that can best assist them.

Argo recommends students review the Sexual Assault Information Guide. Created by JSU social work student Bailey Nelson, it details JSUs polices and additional sources regarding sexual assault.

The OVW grant works through four tracks that make up JSUs Coordinated Community Response Team:

 Victim Services

 Student Conduct

 Prevention

 Law Enforcement

The Student Conduct and Law Enforcement tracks ensure policies, protocols and procedures reflect best practices and are coordinated with community partners to ensure an optimal, coordinated response in case a crime occurs. Each track trains its team members on sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking.

We are cooperating with JSUs own Center for Best Practices in Law Enforcement and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators to create an education program with nationally recognized trainers, free of charge, for all local law enforcement and first responders, Pickette said.

The Victim Services track works closely with the other tracks and 2nd Chance to streamline resources for victims and survivors. The Prevention track is developing an online prevention module for all incoming and transfer students that will empower JSUs newest students to look out for one another. Lastly, JSU is in the process of launching Bringing in the Bystander, a program proven to teach safe intervention skills to those who witness a potentially dangerous situation.

While the initiatives are numerous, Pickette said, the goal is simple  fostering the necessary skills to build a safe and supportive culture.

Everyone can do their part to prevent these crimes and build a healthier community, Pickette said. You can contribute in fostering a culture of respect by going to bystander intervention trainings, workshops and events  but if you cant, you can always share a social media post, check-in with a friend who might be struggling, or attend a meeting.

Even the small things matter, Pickette continued.

Be the friend who cares, she said. And should you experience any violence yourself, whether on campus or off, whether while at JSU or before you ever got to campus  know that we are your team. We will support you in whatever way we can.
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Almost from its first edition, the Daily Mail has not just been reporting the news but making it too, with campaigns on issues from bread to barrage balloons, from aviation to unleaded petrol.

This week we are celebrating our first 125 years with commemorative editions dating from 1896.

Today we highlight our many important campaigns down the decades and our crusades for justice. Many of them have affected not just the way we live  for example our battle to abolish the plastic bag  but also the way we treat others. To make them that much more impactful, we are reporting these issues as we would today.

Only three years into our existence, we commissioned a poem from Rudyard Kipling, set to music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, to raise money for the families of Boer War servicemen.

It was the first of many occasions we asked you, our generous readers, to help. Ever since, you have responded magnificently  whether for the 2004 Tsunami appeal or the incredible campaign for PPE for frontline workers during the pandemic.

We have changed the world in other ways too, from airlifting Vietnamese orphans out of war-torn Saigon in 1975 (above) to demanding justice for the killers of Stephen Lawrence.

There have been countless innovations from the Mail too. The first person to fly across the Channel did so to claim a prize put up by the Mail's proprietor, Lord Northcliffe.

And for 100 years until 2008, there was the Mail-sponsored Ideal Home Exhibition, invariably opened  as it was by Princess Diana in 1992  by a member of the Royal Family.
Stood down: Quarantine manager Matiu Bush

The general manager of Victoria's hotel quarantine program has been stood down after reports emerged that he refused a Covid-19 test and breached infection control protocols while in charge.

Matiu Bush reportedly refused to have the test - which is required of all quarantine workers every day - when leaving the Intercontinental Hotel at 12.05pm on April 20.

Government incident reports obtained by The Australian newspaper stated that when an army corporal told him to get tested, he replied words to the effect of 'I'm the head of IPC and I override that protocol' before walking off.

Another operational incidents review said he and two other public servants refused to sign in using their QR codes when entering the Pullman Hotel on March 1.

The review said: 'When signing in they were asked to sign in via their personal QR code... They refused, stating that as they have been vaccinated they are not required to do so and instead manually signed in the visitor log.'

Later that same afternoon, the same group entered the Mercure Hotel and, according to the incident review, 'walked past the sanitising station without sanitising and also did not change masks'.

The group told reception staff they 'had ducked out for coffee, and that the hotel is empty anyway,' the review said.

The review also said Mr Bush 'did not sign out upon his departure from the hotel'.

A spokesman for Quarantine Victoria said Mr Bush initially had been 'counselled' over both incidents but further action was taken on Wednesday morning.

Other incidents include contractors and bureaucrats being allowed to enter or trying to enter hotel sites in Melbourne despite not be being vaccinated, as is required

'Last night I become aware of reports in relation to Mr Bush and I formed the opinion overnight that Mr Bush needs to be stood down pending a review,' Mr Pearson said.

Mr Bush trained as a nurse and worked as an intensive care nurse and a sexual health Nurse Practitioner before doing a master's in public health.

While employed by home care service Bolton Clarke, he worked on 'designing a good death in residential care.'

Mr Bush later founded One Good Street, a website to help elderly residents connect with neighbours, before taking a job with the Department of Justice and Community Safety in June 2020.

The government's daily incident review documents, published in The Australian on Wednesday, also revealed a shocking series of infection control breaches by staff and nurses.

On April 15 a nurse was given a guest's nebulizer in a box with a sign saying it was not be given to guests.

But she got on the guest's bus from the airport and asked if they needed it during their stay.

She was told that nebulizers are not to be used because they may increase the risk of viral spread.

On April 10, at Stamford Plaza, a pathology assistant was openly vaping 'an aloe vera substance' in front of other Covid-19 testers, even though vaping was banned because it could set off the fire alarm of help spread viral particals.

An incident review said she twice refused to stop and 'became very dismissive'.

The woman was also caught vaping again at 4.45pm that day while walking down the hotel corridor stairs.

The next day she was asked to leave by a manager.

Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said the government had failed to learn from its mistakes. Pictured: The Holiday Inn hotel at Melbourne Airport

Other incidents include contractors and bureaucrats being allowed to enter or trying to enter hotel sites in Melbourne despite not be being vaccinated, as is required.

While nearly all were told to leave once their vaccination status was known, in some cases it was not checked when they entered.

Victoria's quarantine program was overhauled after the state's second wave, which last year resulted in more than 18,000 new infections, 800 deaths and an 112-day lockdown.

Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said the Andrews government had failed to learn from its mistakes.

'Every single day we see new evidence that this government still hasn't got hotel quarantine right,' he told reporters outside parliament on Wednesday.

'Now all Victorians are at risk, every Victorian is exposed because this government is just incompetent, they can't do the basics right.'
Students and other short-term visa holders from Myanmar will be allowed to stay in Australia until it is safe to return home.

The federal government is writing to all Myanmar citizens temporarily in Australia with advice on how to stay.

Various options will be made available, including the granting of new visas.

'These arrangements will support Myanmar nationals in Australia who are affected by the ongoing unrest in Myanmar, consistent with Australia's international obligations,' Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said.

Protesters taking part in a demonstration against the military coup on 'Global Myanmar Spring Revolution Day' in Kyaukme in Myanmar's Shan State

'Australia continues to strongly urge the Myanmar security forces to exercise restraint and refrain from violence against civilians, release those detained arbitrarily and engage in dialogue.'

Meanwhile, the Department of Home Affairs has launched an investigation into relatives of Myanmar's military living in Australia, over concerns they are either harbouring assets or receiving financial support following the military coup.

Nine Entertainment reports the government will assess whether to cancel, or not renew, the visas of at least 22 relatives of senior members of Myanmar's new government who are living in Australia.
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Covid will be treatable like flu by next year and this year's autumn vaccine booster drive for over-50s may be the start of annual jab programme, No10's vaccine minister said today.

Nadhim Zahawi said plans for a second vaccine rollout and huge investment in testing for variants would 'future-proof' the country against coronavirus, scrapping the need for any future lockdowns.

His comments came after Professor Neil Ferguson, the SAGE adviser whose warning that hundreds of thousands could die if Britain didn't go into lockdown in March 2020, said Britain might never need another Covid lockdown and looks set for a 'steady course out of the pandemic' thanks to the vaccine roll-out.

He admitted to the BBC there 'may be a need to roll back on some of these measures' if a vaccine-resistant variant were to appear later in the year but he didn't think it would happen.

To cut the risk of this happening the Government will, in autumn, offer a third jab to everyone over the age of 50 or in a clinically vulnerable group. One unnamed minister claimed it is hoped the move means Covid will have 'faded away into the background like any other illness' by Christmas.

Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, is currently supervising trials of two ways to deliver autumn boosters, including giving third doses of existing jabs or using updated vaccines specifically tailored to target new variants. The current jabs are modelled on the Wuhan variant which is no longer dominant.

Early research has raised hopes in the Government that either of the two approaches can nullify the threat from existing and new variants, it is understood. Matt Hancock last week announced Number 10 had bought 60million more doses of the Pfizer jab to use for the second rollout.

Public Health England, soon to become the UK Health Security Agency, will also pump an extra 30million into analysing positive swab samples to track Covid variants and develop new vaccines to fight them if necessary. The project will be co-ordinated from its Porton Down lab in Wiltshire.

Mr Zahawi said the scheme would 'future-proof the vaccination programme for next year and the years beyond that, as we move from pandemic to endemic and deal with it in the way we would deal with the annual flu vaccination programme'.

He warned, however, the virus was still capable of spreading 'like wildfire' in places where vaccine uptake was low and that officials were looking at postcode level data to spot which communities were at risk of flare-ups.

Discussing the plans to wheel out booster doses to millions of adults this autumn, a senior government minister told The Times: 'We think that the level of protection in the population to any variant will be so high that, by Christmas, Covid should have just faded away into the background like any other illness in circulation.

'So much so we don't think there will be any need to give a booster shot to younger people because transmission will have got so low.'

Official figures today revealed more people in England and Wales are now dying from flu and pneumonia than Covid for the first time since the second wave took off.

Boris Johnson is under mounting pressure to speed up the easing of England's lockdown because of the hugely successful vaccination drive and cases and deaths dwindling. Restrictions won't be loosened until May 17, when foreign holidays are set to be given the go ahead. Pubs will also be allowed to open indoors. Measures will stay in place until June 21, at the earliest.

More than 34.6million Britons have been given at least a first dose of Covid vaccine, with 15.6million adults fully immunised.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi (left) said the 30million investment in Porton Down to fight Covid variants would 'future-proof the vaccination programme for next year and the years beyond that, as we move from pandemic to endemic and deal with it in the way we would deal with the annual flu vaccination programme'. Boris Johnson (right) waves as he rides a bike ride along the towpath of the Stourbridge canal in the West Midlands during a Conservative party local election visit

The 60million extra doses of Pfizer's vaccine ordered by the UK will put it on par with AstraZeneca's as the most widely available in the country, with 100million doses of each. The UK has enough supplies on order to vaccinate the entire population many times over

29m to 'future-proof' UK against Covid variants Vaccines that protect against new virus variants will be developed much more quickly thanks to a major new research hub, Matt Hancock has pledged. The Health Secretary is investing 29.3million into a series of new laboratories at the Porton Down research centre in Wiltshire. Government officials are concerned a third virus wave could be triggered by the emergence of a new variant that cannot be protected by vaccines in use now. While scientists are confident existing vaccines provide some protection against the Kent and South African variants, little is known about their effectiveness against others, including the Brazilian and Indian variants. The money will quadruple the number of tests carried out each week at the site of potential new vaccines  from 700 to 3,000. It currently takes several months from a variant being identified to a jab being developed that protects against it and is safe. But officials hope this wait will be slashed to several weeks. The first jabs capable of protecting against the South African variant and potentially others are likely to be ready in September or October. Mr Hancock said: 'The UK has proven itself to be a world-class force in the production of Covid-19 vaccines, with the Oxford/AstraZeneca, Novavax and Valneva vaccines all researched, developed or manufactured on British soil. 'This multi-million pound funding for a state-of-the-art vaccine testing facility at Porton Down will enable us to further future-proof the country from the threat of new variants.' He insisted: 'We are committed to supporting the UK's flourishing life sciences industry.' Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: 'While we expect the existing vaccines to offer protection against new variants  particularly preventing serious illness and death  it is important that we continue to monitor the picture as it develops.' Advertisement

Professor Ferguson told the BBC he felt 'optimistic' about the UK's immediate future, adding: 'In the worst case scenario, if we have a new variant pop up which does manage to evade the vaccines, say late summer early autumn, there may be a need to roll back on some of these measures at least temporarily until we can boost people's immunity.

'Do I think it's likely to happen? No, I don't. I think we are much more likely to be on a steady course now out of this pandemic, at least in this country.'

Fears about a devastating third wave of disease this summer, which the Prime Minister had been forced to accept was inevitable, are now calming.

Even SAGE experts think it is 'very unlikely' that there will be a devastating spike in cases when lockdown ends.

Thanks to vaccines effectively cutting transmission as well as preventing serious illness, modellers trying to predict future outbreaks suggest the danger has been lessened.

New possible scenarios are set to be published next week by government scientists, The Times reports, that will show a reduced risk from reopening in the summer.

Professor Graham Medley, SAGE adviser and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told the paper: 'The good news about the vaccination effect means that some of the scenarios about very large waves later in the summer are now very unlikely.'

With science now proving the Covid vaccines work well in the real world, Britain has has ordered an extra 60million doses of the Pfizer jab, taking its total order to 100m in preparation for the booster rollout later in the year.

These doses are the same as the Pfizer ones currently being given out and have not been tweaked to target new variants specifically. But pharmaceutical companies are also developing and trialling variant-specific jabs and either type could be used for the autumn rollout, due to begin in September.

And the Department of Health said it will 'future-proof' the country's defences against new variants by setting up a research hub to quadruple the number of variant tests carried out each week from 700 to 3,000.

This will speed up the recognition of new strains and help officials to work out which ones are circulating in the UK and where, allowing them to do surge testing and develop new vaccines if necessary.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: 'While we expect the existing vaccines to offer protection against new variants  particularly preventing serious illness and death  it is important that we continue to monitor the picture as it develops.'

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said on BBC Breakfast this move would 'future-proof the vaccination programme for next year and the years beyond that, as we move from pandemic to endemic and deal with it in the way we would deal with the annual flu vaccination programme.'

The NHS will do another Covid vaccine rollout in the autumn to make sure people are protected against new variants of the coronavirus, because the current vaccines are targeted at the Wuhan strain which has now been overtaken by others in most places (Pictured: A woman receives a jab in Reading, Berkshire)

More people in England and Wales are now dying of flu and pneumonia than Covid for first time since the second wave took off More people are now dying from flu and pneumonia than Covid in England and Wales for the first time since the second wave took off, official figures revealed today. Office for National Statistics data showed the virus was mentioned on 260 death certificates that occurred in the week ending April 23  down 30 per cent on the week before. But Covid was only listed as the underlying cause for 176 of the victims. For comparison, flu and pneumonia was behind 278 deaths in the same seven-day spell but mentioned on 1,203 certificates. Covid was the leading cause of death during the second wave, claiming more than 1,000 lives a day at the peak of the crisis in January. Experts said a successful vaccine roll-out forcing down Covid deaths combined with more mixing leading to a resurgence in the flu was behind the common illness now causing more deaths than the pandemic virus. The promising figures will inevitably pile more pressure on Boris Johnson to speed-up his ultra-cautious lockdown exit strategy, which will not permit holidays or pubs and restaurants to serve indoors until May 17. Restrictions will remain in place until June 21, at the earliest. Scientists are already predicting the successful vaccine roll-out  which has already jabbed 34million Britons may mean the country never needs another blanket lockdown. Professor Neil Ferguson, the Imperial College London epidemiologist and SAGE adviser who warned hundreds of thousands could die if Britain didn't go into lockdown in March 2020, said he thinks it is unlikely the country will have to shut down again. Advertisement

Speaking to Sky News about the booster vaccines he said the country was stockpiling the extras, adding: 'Pfizer is one option, were going to give [people] an AstraZeneca option  were working with the team on a vaccine variant.

'Clinicians havent yet made the decision when they will need to boost, whether to give more immunity to the most vulnerable, to increase the durability of the protection or to deal with the variant.'

The news comes after Britain dropped demands for India to release five million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine destined for the UK.

Whitehall sources said efforts to lift the export ban imposed in March by the Indian government had been put on the backburner.

It comes amid concern about the dire state of the pandemic in the country, where Covid cases have soared past 20million.

Mr Johnson held wide-ranging talks via video link with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi as part of plans to deliver a quantum leap in relations between the two countries in the next decade.

Downing Street said the two leaders talked about the need to boost pandemic resilience.

In a statement released afterwards, Mr Johnson highlighted Britains assistance with the crisis in India, which includes the provision of oxygen equipment and ventilators.

He said: In the last week the British people have stepped up in their thousands to support our Indian friends during this terrible time in a demonstration of the deep connection between the UK and India. This connection will only grow over the next decade as we do more together to tackle the worlds biggest problems and make life better for our people.

In March, the Prime Minister despatched his senior aide Lord Lister to try to secure the release of five million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India.

At the time, the institute  the worlds largest vaccine producer  indicated that the export had been blocked by the Indian government.

The decision dashed hopes that the UK Government could fast-track the vaccination of all adults here ahead of the July target.

The issue was not directly raised during talks between the two leaders, although there was discussion of the need to firm up international supply chains to ensure critical medicines, vaccines and other medical products reach those who need them most.

But a Whitehall source said the UKs request for the release of the doses had been shelved in the face of a crisis that has seen Indian hospitals overwhelmed in recent weeks.

I think its fair to say it has been put on the backburner, the source said. It is not an immediate prospect. While the UK has given at least one vaccine dose to more than half the population, the equivalent figure in India is less than 10 per cent.

There were 6million Covid cases globally last week, compared to 6million in the first five months of the pandemic

Public Health England has divided the Indian variant in three sub-types because they aren't identical. Type 1 and Type 3 both have a mutation called E484Q but Type 2 is missing this, despite still clearly being a descendant of the original Indian strain. It is not yet clear what separates Type 1 and 3

The talks followed the cancellation of the PMs planned visit to India last month, which was ditched at the last minute because of the crisis. Mr Johnson sees India as a key post-Brexit ally, both economically and strategically.

The two leaders agreed a '2030 roadmap' covering co-operation across health, climate change, education, science and technology, and defence. It also included a commitment to an enhanced trade partnership paving the way for a full free trade agreement aimed at doubling bilateral trade over the next decade.

Mr Johnson said: The UK and India share many fundamental values. The UK is one of the oldest democracies and India is the worlds largest. We are both committed members of the Commonwealth. And there is a living bridge uniting the people of our countries.

A free trade agreement with New Delhi is seen as a huge prize for the UK Government following Britains withdrawal from the EU.

Ahead of the talks, Mr Johnson announced a 1billion trade deal with India which he said would create more than 6,000 jobs.

A strategic tilt towards the Indo-Pacific region was one of the key objectives set out in the Governments recent Integrated Review of foreign and defence policy.
An angus cow was left thoroughly unimpressed recently after being covered in spider webs during the arachnid's breeding season.

Taking the opportunity to graze on a property in Woolsthorpe, a rural village in western Victoria, the cow soon regretted the choice of field, with a spider quickly covering the majority of the animal's face.

Graeme, a local resident from Woolsthorpe, told ABC Ballarat the plethora of webs appear on his grass every April and May.

'A number of spiders spin their webs on my grass every autumn,' he said.

An angus cow (pictured) was left thoroughly unimpressed recently after being covered in spider webs when grazing

'This angus cow ended up with a face-full while grazing.'

The recent floods in some parts of NSW saw thousands of spiders forced to climb to higher grounds in a bid to avoid the torrential rainfall.

Graham Milledge, an Arachnology Collection Manager at the Australian Museum, revealed many arachnids such as wolf spiders had no choice but to find a new habitat.

'They are ground dwellers so their local environment was flooded,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Normally they use their web to help them travel... it is a process known as ballooning, which helps them travel long distances.'

Following the floods earlier this year in NSW, Tim Faulkner, the Australian Reptile Park Director, said the combination of record rain and humidity was 'the perfect storm' to set off a spider 'boom' across the state.

'Under normal circumstances, the humidity that is generated from warm weather after a rain event would see an increase in activity amongst funnel webs. This situation is completely different,' he warned.

'Not only are we seeing increased movement due to humidity, but we are already seeing a plague of ground-dwelling spiders searching for higher ground, out of the floodwaters.

Mass spider webs (pictured) are regular features on farms across Australia in April and May - with Autumn the peak mating season

'With the incredible flooding that we experienced across the Greater Sydney area, they have been forced out of their habitat and are seeking refuge in dryer areas.

'Unfortunately, this could mean that they'll be finding their way into residential homes in high numbers.'

Alternatively, funnel webs also seek cooler conditions such as swimming pools in heatwave temperatures.

Numbers dramatically increase during mating season - with the venomous male spiders venturing out of their burrows in search of a mate.
The number of illegal Indian migrants being deported from the UK is set to soar under a major deal signed yesterday.

At least 40,000 undocumented migrants from the subcontinent are living in Britain, but the figure may be as high as 100,000, according to Home Office estimates.

As part of the deal, the UK will accept more students and talented young people from India.

The Mobility and Migration Agreement will also allow young Britons to work in India. Home Secretary Priti Patel signed the deal with Indias foreign minister. She said the landmark agreement would provide new opportunities for young Britons and Indians to live, work and experience each others cultures.

The number of illegal Indian migrants being deported from the UK is set to soar under a major deal called the Mobility and Migration Agreement, signed by Priti Patel (pictured) yesterday

But she added: This agreement will also ensure the British Government can remove those with no right to be in UK more easily and crack down on those abusing our system. Deportations to India stand at 2,000 a year, but insiders believe they could soon hit tens of thousands.

The deal, the first of its kind, was signed by Miss Patel and Indias foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar yesterday.

Under the deal, Delhi has agreed to make it easier to provide travel documents for Indian nationals living illegally in the UK, as well as increasing the timescale for deportations.

Young professionals aged 18 to 30 from both countries will be able to gain work visas for up to two years.

More Indian nationals will also be able to study here.

According to most recent data, more than 53,000 students from India came to the UK to study last year, up 42 per cent on the previous year.
Leaders at St Pauls Cathedral last night praised the overwhelming support shown by Daily Mail readers for the drive to create a new national memorial to Britains Covid victims.

Readers have given more than 115,000 towards the memorial since the Mail launched the Remember Me campaign to help build it at the weekend, smashing the 100,000 milestone in less than 72 hours.

The cathedral is planning a magnificent new entrance and chapel with screens showing a virtual book of remembrance immortalising the names and pictures of those lost to the coronavirus pandemic.

It is hoped the memorial  which will be open to those of any faith or none and will feature a grand oak portico engraved with the words Remember Me  will become an important place of pilgrimage for generations to come.

Healthcare assistant Becky Regan, 29, died in February after contracting Covid while pregnant with her fourth child, baby Jasmine

The cathedrals Director of Development Nicky Wynne said the community at St Pauls had been left feeling humbled and honoured by the generosity of Mail readers, more than 3,000 of whom have already contributed.

She said: Bringing the Remember Me online Book of Memorial into St Pauls is so important to so many. On behalf of the St Pauls community I am humbled and honoured by the overwhelming support of the Daily Mail and you, its readers.

NHS heroine, 29, never met her baby daughter Tracey Buckland, 54, is now raising three-month-old Jasmine after losing her daughter Becky to Covid Healthcare assistant Becky Regan was 28 weeks pregnant with her fourth child and had been working at North Tyneside Hospital when she was struck down with Covid. As her health had deteriorated quickly, doctors were forced to prematurely deliver baby Jasmine by emergency C-section. But before the 29-year-old mother could even meet her baby girl  who weighed less than 3lb  she tragically passed away a week later on February 1. Her devastated mother Tracey Buckland, 54, who is now raising three-month-old Jasmine, said: My daughter was just 29, she was a mother and her children needed her. It is heartbreaking. The children say that their mum is an NHS hero they are proud of her. Miss Regan, from Blyth in Northumberland, also leaves behind her older daughters Sophie, ten, Stacey, eight, and three-year-old Connie, who are being cared for by her partner. The grandmother and her husband gave up their jobs and home in London to move closer so she could take care of Jasmine and be near to the girls. Backing the campaign, Mrs Buckland added: I dont want Becky to just die and be forgotten about. When Jasmine is older, the Covid pandemic will hopefully be a distant memory. A permanent memorial will help her understand the magnitude of what happened. Advertisement

Thanks to you, the 100,000 milestone was reached in a staggering 72 hours from 3,093 supporters!

Prince Charles, the Prime Minister and bereaved families are among those to have already given their heartfelt backing to the Mails drive to help raise the 2.3million needed to create the commemorative space.

Since the campaign launched on Saturday, grieving relatives have contacted St Pauls in droves to add tributes to more than 900 lost loved ones to the virtual book of remembrance.

The book  which was launched online last year  now contains poignant stories of 8,175 people who lost their lives, directly or indirectly, to Covid.

Each victims story is dealt with individually by St Pauls Remember Me moderators who support their bereaved loved ones throughout the process.

Its Crowdfunder page has also seen donations flood in from people grieving the loss of relatives who are sadly among more than 127,500 people to have died in the pandemic.

Almost 99,000 plus 17,000 in Gift Aid has been given online in the last three days, bringing the total already raised by St Pauls to just over 555,000.

Winifred Whitehead, who lost her husband, was among more than 2,000 people to claim one of the Mails limited edition Remember Me candles, pictured left, after making a donation of more than 25.

This is a lovely idea. I lost my husband of 61 years last year and it has been so hard. I shall cherish this candle forever, she wrote.

Bereaved mother Barbara Curno is also among those to give. She said: Donated in memory of my son Geoff Curno who had Down syndrome and died from this terrible virus in January.

I hope to be able to visit the physical memorial to remember him and all who suffered.

Diane Jayes, who lost her 42-year-old sister, added: This project really makes me feel happy that there will be a physical memorial to her and all the others lost to this disease.

Catherine Hendrick said: I lost my kind, lovely dad to Covid and I think this is a special way to remember all the precious people whove been taken by this disease and show that each one is more than just a statistic.

Judith Eileen Nicholls, whose husband was among those who indirectly lost their lives to the virus only seven weeks ago, said: His appointments kept being cancelled and he couldnt see a doctor. In a roundabout way Covid was responsible for his death.

So much pain and suffering for so many people, it is only right that there should be a memorial.

It is free to add an entry for a loved one to the virtual book of remembrance, while the physical memorial that displays tributes on screens will also be free to enter.

The philanthropist behind the plan to remember loved ones

By Robert Hardman

Over the years, he has been banging the drum for everything from the National Theatre (where an auditorium bears the family name) and the Royal Opera House to medical research and young people (he is chairman of Princes Trust International).

Sir Lloyd Dorfman, founder of the Travelex currency exchange (which he sold in 2014), is seldom short of ideas. So after Britain went into lockdown last year, St Pauls Cathedral sought his advice. The philanthropist and businessman had already supported Westminster Abbeys efforts to raise funds for its Diamond Jubilee Galleries.

Now the coronavirus was forcing St Pauls to close its doors to the tourists  up to a million of them each year  who traditionally keep the place afloat. At the same time, Wrens great cathedral also wanted to play its part.

Almost as an afterthought, they mentioned this virtual Book of Remembrance and I thought it was brilliant  just what we needed, says Sir Lloyd. This is not any church. This is St Pauls, its part of all our history, whatever your faith. Think of how it stood as a symbol of defiance during the Second World War. It is the perfect place to build the national memorial. Im Jewish and Im as passionate about it as anyone.

Sir Lloyd Dorfman, with a model of the Covid memorial, provided a substantial six-figure sum towards designing and creating the website along

He provided a substantial six-figure sum towards designing and creating the website along with the staff required to get it off the ground.

Within just five weeks, the new website was ready and people could start to include their loved ones. A cousin has already registered an entry for Sir Lloyds aunt, Fay Laub, who died early in the pandemic, in the virtual Book of Remembrance.

Surveying the site of the new memorial portico and the adjacent commemorative area in the North Transept, Sir Lloyd is full of enthusiasm for the next phase of this great project. Everyone will be welcome here so now we need to fund the physical memorial too, he says. The public will be able to enter the Remember Me area of the cathedral free of charge.

They can then gather their thoughts and view the Book of Remembrance in the Middlesex Chapel. This is named after the Middlesex Regiment, which was disbanded in the Sixties when it was absorbed into what is now the Princess of Waless Royal Regiment.

By sheer coincidence, Sir Lloyd is also a very proud Honorary Colonel of its Third Battalion. Its the right place and right time, he says firmly. We just need to get on with it.

Catholic, Muslim and Jewish leaders back Mails campaign

By Martin Beckford

Religious groups across Britain united to hail the Covid memorial as a fitting way to remember those lost during the pandemic.

Senior figures in Catholic, Muslim and Jewish organisations from around the country are all backing the Mails campaign to establish a commemorative space inside St Pauls.

Their comments illustrate the support for the Remember Me campaign from those of all faiths and none, following on from endorsements by major Sikh and Hindu groups for the project started by leading clergy in the Church of England.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the most senior Roman Catholic in England and Wales, said: We are living through a pandemic which will long stay in all of our memories. Its trauma has rocked every aspect of our lives. Generations to come will look back at this period of devastation, and we wish for them to remember and pray for those who died.

A national monument will help this to be the case.

The president of the Roman Catholic Bishops Conference of Scotland, Bishop Hugh Gilbert, added: A healthy society is a society with a memory. In supporting this memorial for all who have died as a result of Covid, I commend them and all the bereaved into the merciful hands of God our Father.

Zara Mohammed, the first female secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: It is not only a fitting tribute to honour and remember those who have lost their lives, but also to remember the sacrifices people have made to fight this deadly pandemic.

Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews  the historic organisation known as the voice of the British Jewish community, said: The Jewish community, in common with many others, have suffered a heavy death toll during the pandemic. A permanent memorial and a virtual book of remembrance will be a fitting way to remember the many friends and family members taken before their time by this dreadful disease.

And the Right Reverend Dr Martin Fair, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: We recognise the very human need for a memorial to those we have lost through the Covid-19 pandemic.

What is the plan?

To create a memorial in St Pauls Cathedral to those who died as a result of the pandemic, whether direct victims of Covid or those whose medical treatment was disrupted by lockdown restrictions. The memorial will let people of any faith pay their respects to family and friends at a permanent site.

How will it work?

St Pauls has set up Remember Me  an online book of remembrance. Anyone wishing to remember a loved one can submit, free of charge, the name, photograph and a short message in honour of their loved one at www.rememberme2020.uk

At least four virtual books of remembrance will be installed in the cathedrals Middlesex Chapel. Visitors will be able to light candles or simply sit in contemplation.

The memorial will be in a newly built wooden portico, set in the north transept of the cathedral, away from the busier main doors

Where will it be?

A newly built wooden portico will be set in the north transept of the cathedral, away from the busier main doors. Entrance will be free. It will sit on the site of an earlier hallway which was destroyed by a Luftwaffe bomb in 1941.

Alongside works of non-religious art, the words Remember Me will be written in all the main languages of the UK. Visitors will walk through the portico to reach the remembrance area in the Middlesex Chapel.

How much is needed?

2.3million. Of this, 1.13million is needed to pay for the portico and 670,000 to run the exhibition for two years. Money is needed for the preparatory design work, symbolic artwork and signage. The hope is to open it in March 2022 for the second anniversary of the pandemic. Around 440,000 has already been raised.

Any money raised over the 2.3m required will be used in a variety of ways to help preserve the memorial.

St Pauls has set up Remember Me  an online book of remembrance. Anyone wishing to remember a loved one can submit, free of charge, the name, photograph and a short message in honour of their loved one

Is it part of Mail Force?

No, the Mail is supporting the St Pauls Cathedral Foundation to raise funds for the memorial.

Is this the official national memorial?

There are no other current plans for a national memorial. What started as an online St Pauls memorial, backed by the Prince of Wales and all major faith leaders, has now turned into a project for a physical and living memorial inside the cathedral.

How can you donate?

Go to crowdfunder.co.uk/rememberme. You can donate any sum you like but the first 5,000 people to donate online using the special 25 Limited Edition Candle from the Daily Mail button will receive a free Remember Me frankincense scented candle funded by the Mail. By clicking this button, you will have the option of adding a larger sum. Donors using the 50 Reward button will receive a years free membership to St Pauls Cathedral, worth 30. Regrettably, donations made by cheque will not be eligible for the free candle or St Pauls membership.

Make cheques payable to St Pauls Cathedral Foundation and send it to Remember Me, Chapter House, St Pauls Churchyard, London, EC4M 8AD. To boost your donation by 25p of Gift Aid for every 1 you donate, please fill in and cut out the form and add this to your envelope.
Boris Johnson failed to tell his most senior civil servant about the plans for his Downing Street refurbishment to be paid for by a charitable trust, according to reports.

Simon Case, who was appointed cabinet secretary in September, only discovered about the controversial plans in the newspaper.

The mandarin is now conducting a review and leading the fallout from the 200,000 refurbishment plans which Dominic Cummings claimed 'almost certainly broke the rules'.

Simon Case, who was appointed cabinet secretary in September, only discovered about the controversial plans in the newspaper

The Prime Minister has insisted he met the cost himself but has refused to say whether initial bills were paid by donors.

An Electoral Commission investigation is currently underway into allegations that donors were asked to pay for a redecoration of the flat Mr Johnson, 56, shares with fiancee Carrie Symonds and their son.

Case, who is leading a separate internal review, first learned of Johnson's plans after reading an article on February 27 which revealed the prime minister's alleged plans to ask Conservative donors to pay for the costs of the redecoration, The Times reports.

He then discovered that Lord Brownlow of Shurlock Row, a multimillionaire Tory donor, would become the chairman of a trust and had already offered trustee positions to members of the House of Lords.

The Prime Minister has insisted he met the cost himself but has refused to say whether initial bills were paid by donors

Brownlow had consulted Baroness Jay of Paddington, the former Lords leader and daughter of prime minister James Callaghan, and Lord Powell of Bayswater, a former adviser to Margaret Thatcher.

Powell said he received a call from Brownlow on February 11 but details were initially scant.

He claims Brownlow did not mention the trust might organist the redecoration of the private residence and said he did not know how it would be funded.

Jay said she was told it was the public part of Downing Street that would benefit from the refurbishment, not the private residence.

A Cabinet Office spokesman confirmed that Case did not know anything about the plans until late February, saying: 'He met Lord Powell and Baroness Jay on March 11 to discuss the facts around the trust. They did not discuss matters relating to historic funding.

'Cabinet Office officials have been engaged and informed throughout and official advice has been followed.'

Case first learned of Johnson's plans after reading an article on February 27 which revealed the prime minister's alleged plans of a refurbishment inspired by the designer Lulu Lytle (her designs pictured)

The revelations come after Downing Street refused to deny claims that Tory donors were asked to stump up cash to pay for a nanny to look after Johnson's son.

The Prime Minister again found himself under fire over claims that he sought financial help to fund childcare for Wilfred, one.

Reports at the weekend cited a donor who said they had been approached, saying: 'I don't mind paying for leaflets but I resent being asked to pay to literally wipe the Prime Minister's baby's bottom.'

The Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters today that Mr Johnson had covered all the costs for childcare for his one-year-old son Wilfred himself.

However the spokesman refused to be drawn on whether the PM had previously approached supporters to pay for a nanny.

It prompted another furious attack by Labour, urging No10 to come clean on his dealings with Tory donors.

The Prime Minister again found himself under fire over claims that he sought financial help to fund childcare for Wilfred, one.

An Electoral Commission investigation is currently underway into allegations that donors were asked to pay for an expensive redecoration of the flat Mr Johnson, 56, shares with fiancee Carrie Symonds and their son.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner called on Mr Johnson and the Conservative Party to publish all correspondence relating to his attempts to get Tory donors to fund his lifestyle.

'We are seeing what looks like another cover up from the Prime Minister, who is trying to hide his attempts to fund his lifestyle through secret payments from wealthy Tory donors,' she said.

'Boris Johnson forcing his MPs to vote against free school meals and making stealth cuts to schools at the same time as asking Tory donors to pay for his own childcare is yet more evidence that it's one rule for him and his mates, another for everyone else.

'What did these donors expect in return for their generosity, and what were they promised?'

In response, Mr Johnson's spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister has covered the costs of all childcare.

'I have nothing more to add to that. I am not going to be getting into any more detail.'
A husband who was accused of domestic abuse after he asked his wife to dress 'more like a woman' has been cleared of wrongdoing after arguing he was only calling her out over her scruffy clothing.

Paul Marsden, 55, was charged with controlling and coercive behaviour after he berated spouse of 17 years Lesley for wearing tatty leggings, jeans and T-shirts.

During their stormy marriage Marsden told his wife she had fat legs and asked her to wear skirts and take more pride in her appearance.

Wheelchair-bound Marsden, who suffers from osteoporosis and arthritis, faced up to five years jail if convicted but was found not guilty at Manchester Magistrates' Court.

Paul Marsden (pictured), 55, was charged with controlling and coercive behaviour after he berated spouse of 17 years Lesley for wearing tatty leggings, jeans and T shirts

Mrs Marsden has now moved in with her best friend and has not spoken to her husband since June 2020.

The court heard the couple, from Rochdale, Manchester, married in 2004, had two children together and lived with Marsden's parents Paul snr and Elaine.

But Mrs Marsden, also in her 50s, claimed the marriage began to deteriorate in 2016 after he refused to let her have contact with her two children from a previous relationship.

She said: 'I had a good relationship with them but they did not get on well with Paul. My eldest daughter was always arguing with him and my son only stayed every so often.

'I asked him if I could see my children at the weekend, but he would say no and he used to check the phone to see who I had been speaking to.'

Mrs Marsden said her husband would accuse her of cheating on him, call her an unfit mother and accuse her of always staying in bed. She said: 'It made me feel horrible and scared.'

She said she used to cook for her husband, his parents and their two children but if he did not like it he would throw the food in the bin.

And whenever she went out to the shops she had to give him a kiss, the court heard.

'He would say, "are you not giving me a kiss" and he would say it in a nasty way. I would never have cheated on him,' she said.

'I used to wear jeans a T-Shirt and a jumper but he would say "you need to start dressing more like a woman". He wanted me to wear skirts, but I did not like wearing them. I did not want to get dressed or go out. I just felt ashamed of myself.'

She said her teeth were corroding so she had dentures and her husband would force her to wear them. 'I could not eat with my original dentures,' she added. 'They were always sore. He picked my new ones up and threatened to put them in my mouth. I cooked whatever he wanted and what he did not want he threw it away.'

And she accused her husband of not giving her enough money. 'He kept me short of money, he gave me 30 every fortnight and kept the rest of his money in his pocket to buy beer and pay board to his mum and dad,' she said. 'I just wanted to open my own bank account.'

Marsden's mother Elaine said she 'felt embarrassed' by the way her daughter-in-law dressed. Pictured, Manchester Magistrates' Court

Prosecutor Helena Williams told the court Marsden would not let his wife leave the house and had ultimate control over her life.

Ms Williams said: 'Paul controlled where she was going and what she was doing. He would say "You are not going out, you need to look after me".

'On one occasion, she went to the local shop with Paul's son and when Paul found out, he accused her of having an affair. He would say, "You do not love me" if she did not give him a kiss.'

But Marsden denied the allegations, telling the hearing his wife had either lied or exaggerated her experience.

He said: 'Her clothing had holes in it and she just wore leggings. I was being sarcastic when I said she should dress more like a woman and I was being sarcastic when I told Lesley that her legs looked fat.

'Her teeth were rotten into her gums and I wanted her to get dentures for her own hygiene. I never said I don't want people thinking my wife does not look after her teeth.'

'The money just came into my bank but I did not know the pin number and I just let her do everything. I never restricted her access to the bank account. She got money every single day off me.'

His mother Elaine Marsden said she 'felt embarrassed' by the way her daughter-in-law dressed.

She added: 'She always had holes in her leggings, it was like she did not care. Paul asked her to wear some decent jeans or skirts because he wanted her to take pride in herself. She did not look very nice with holes in her clothes and she would even wear his clothes.'

She said her son gave his wife his card so she could get money from the bank every two weeks. 'I've heard him say "how much do you want?" and that was enough for what she wanted.'

Acquitting Marsden, chair of the bench Dr Ahsan Saleem said: 'There was evidence of coercive behaviour but insignificant evidence to prove there was fear of violence in the day-to-day activities with Mrs Marsden.

'Therefore we cannot be sure that you engaged in controlling or abusive behaviour.

'There has been no attempts to contact Mrs Marsden since June and because of the time span since the last contact we do not feel it is necessary to impose a restraining order.'
The scale of the mouse plague gripping regional Australian towns has been laid bare by footage of a rodent clinging to the fur of a sunbathing cat.

The mouse was pictured perching on the cat's forehead as he laid down on a ledge in Coonabarabran in New South Wales' central west on April 25.

'Quick look up - he's on your head. Get the mouse,' a voice can be heard urging the cat from behind the camera.

Farmers in northern parts of the state and southern Queensland have battled plagues of mice in recent months, complaining that they are ravaging crops and spread potentially fatal bacterial diseases.

The owner of the cat said the feline had been chasing mice endlessly in recent weeks and vomited up three whole mice in a single evening.

Australia's regional mouse plague is so widespread even the nation's cats have been overrun by the tiny creatures. Pictured a cat with a mouse on his head in Coonabarabran in NSW's central west

'This day he was enjoying the sunshine on the front step when my partner hung a mouse in front of his face for a reaction, but nothing,' the owner said.

'Then he dragged it in front of him waiting for a playful strike, and nothing.'

The owner told how Mojo seemed undisturbed even when the mouse was placed on his head.

'He couldn't care less,' the owner said. 'Obviously, he had a big night and was completely over them by this point.'

Countless rural properties have become overrun with mice in the wake of heavy floods and record-breaking rainfall across Australia's east coast.

The cat's nonplussed response comes just a day after it emerged Australians in one rural town were spreading peanut butter onto bin lids in a desperate attempt to kill the masses of rodents.

A fed up woman in Tamworth, in northern NSW, explained she had bought a bin with a swinging lid to use as a cheap alternative to a mouse trap after struggling to find one in stores.

She said when the mice crawled onto the lid to taste the peanut butter they would fall down inside the bin, which she would then fill with water to drown them.

Louise Hennessy, a resident of Elong Elong in the New South Wales central west, posted this photo to social media of dead mice in the filter of her tank that supplies her property's drinking water

'I have the bin in the corner of two brick walls so the mice have been climbing up the bricks to get to the top of the bin but if that's not an option I'd suggest some kind of ramp for them to climb up,' the woman wrote on Facebook.

The grim method was quickly picked up by other rural residents in NSW who struggled to find a real mouse trap, with many admitting it was slowly ridding their homes of the unwanted guests.

The rodents have caused headaches for farmers trying to protect their crops.

In March, paramedic Louise Hennessy discovered close to a dozen rodents dead in a rural resident's water tank which supplies drinking water to locals.

Dead mice are seen at a property in Coonamble in central west NSW on February 2

She uncovered the 'horrifying' sight at Elong Elong, in the New South Wales central west region, where mice have been ravaging food crops.

Ms Hennessey posted an image of the dead mice and clumps of fur tangled in the filter to social media as health authorities begged residents to take precautions to protect themselves against the potentially fatal disease leptospirosis.

The disease is spread from animals to humans by bacteria found in infected animal urine and tissues and is most commonly reported in Australia when the country is in the grips of a mouse plague.

In Coonamble, about two hours north of Dubbo in central western NSW, resident Anne Cullen said mice were running rampant across the town as recently as March - and she even woke up with a rodent in her hair one morning.

'It's terrible. It's unbelievable. I came home after a couple of nights away staying down in Dubbo with my daughter, and I went into the house, there were just mice running everywhere,' she told the Today show.

'They have eaten my clothes. They have gotten into my wardrobe. There are holes in the couches. They are eating everything.'

In early February, Ben Storer filmed the mice as he drove through the horde in a ute on his family farm in Warren in central northern NSW (pictured)

She said farmers in the town were having to burn crops that weren't safely stored in silos because of contamination.

In early February Ben Storer filmed a wave of the mice as he drove through them in a ute on his family farm in Warren, NSW.

The video showed mice running in all directions, surrounding an empty grain shed and crawling over a surface drill.
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A Florida middle school student has accused her teacher of sexual harassment for remarks she made over her outfit - and revealed she was suspended for 10 days after a heated clash with school administrators over the comments.

Alice Wagner, an eighth grader at Yulee Middle School, claims her teacher made a remark about her breasts during class, saying her outfit was 'letting them hang out for the whole world to see.'

The young teen was wearing a white tank top underneath a long-sleeve gray cardigan sweater with a bohemian skirt.

Wagner told WJXT she was stunned by the comment by the female teacher, who has not been named, and left the class without permission.

She said: 'I went to the bathroom and I came back and I said, "You need to stop sexualizing 14-year-old girls." I grabbed my stuff and I removed myself from the situation.'

Scroll down for video

Alice Wagner in the outfit she was wearing to school - a white tank top underneath a long-sleeve gray cardigan sweater with a bohemian skirt

Alice Wagner says she got into a heated debate with administrators, and was hit with a ten-day suspension

Wagner then went to the administration office to call her parents but claims she was not allowed to make the call.

She then got into a heated debate with administrators, and was hit with a ten-day suspension, she told WJXT.

Wagner's suspension went into effect on April 28, the young teen said.

Wagner says she was told her undergarments could be seen through the top - contravening the school's dress code.

But she claims her sweater made that impossible.

In messages made online, Wagner said the comments from her teacher made her 'feel very uncomfortable.'

She noted that she was suspended after she reacted in a way she 'shouldn't have' towards the school's assistant principals, but did not detail what those were.

Her mother, Sarah Wagner, told WJXT that her daughter's behavior went too far when she argued with administrators, but claimed that she was 'basically sexually harassed by her teacher.'

Alice Wagner's mom Sarah (left), told WJXT that her daughter (right) went too when she argued with administrators, but claimed that she was 'basically sexually harassed by her teacher'

Alice Wagner, an eighth grader at Yulee Middle School, had a heated exchange over the dress code with school administrators

Wagner, 14, posted about the incident on Facebook and said it made her feel 'very uncomfortable'

'I don't think it's okay for her to talk to teachers that way but I understand why she was angry. She was basically sexually harassed by her teacher,' the mother said.

'The teacher did apologize, she did understand what she did was wrong.'

It is unclear if the family have made a formal complaint of sexual harassment.

The young teen added that the situation has left her 'extremely disappointed in the school system.'

'I feel powerless and silenced,' she said.

Wagner said that students have previously tried 'to stop sexism on school grounds' but 'to no avail.'

The young teen said she wants 'to make students, parents, teachers, and many others aware of the injustice that is taking place here, because nobody anywhere deserves to feel oppressed, no less in a place as vital as school.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Sarah Wagner as well as the Nassau County School District, which oversees the school, for more information and additional comment.

The Nassau County School District has a dress code policy that bans clothing that reveals undergarments.
A mother has shared in devastating detail how her sons were poisoned by a faulty heater while she slept with them.

Tyler and Chase Robinson, aged 6 and 8 respectively, died from carbon monoxide poisoning in the family home at Mooroopna, Victoria on May 30, 2010 while sleeping with their mum, Vanessa Robinson.

Her last memory of the boys was waking to them crying in the night before she passed out.

Tyler, 6, and Chase, 8, died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a gas heater that was left on at their home

Vanessa and Scott Robinson in a scene from a 2015 EnergySafe Victoria video about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning

'They were with me in my bed, I think about that at times,' Ms Robinson, now 40 and living in Melbourne, told Daily Mail Australia.

'I remember them crying in the night. I don't think that they went gently.

'I was right there and I couldnt save them.

'That was my entire life, gone in one night. I was shattered. I will never get over my boys.'

Ms Robinson was going in and out of consciousness and only survived because she was woken up by the persistent knocking of the boys' father - her ex, Scott.

Vanessa Robinson remembers her two sons crying during the night they died

Ms Robinson says she cannot turn on the gas heater in her rented home 11 years after the tragedy that destroyed her family

The poisoning that took the boys' lives also left their mother seriously ill 'for a very long time'

After she struggled to the door, it became clear a tragedy had occurred.

Because Ms Robinson was also poisoned by the same heater, she was 'very sick for a long time'.

She suffered acute kidney failure for a month after the accident and long-term memory and nerve damage that resulted in her almost losing an arm.

Safety Alert - Gas Log Fires Do you have one of the following gas fire logs? Regency i31 supplied by Fireplace Products Australia Pty Ltd Regency F38 and FG38 supplied by Fireplace Products Australia Pty Ltd  branded and supplied by Masport prior to 2006 (excludes LP model) Nectre 2000 (manufactured from 2007) supplied by Glen Dimplex Australia Pty Ltd, or a Real Flame Pyrotech (manufactured from 2012) also supplied by Glen Dimplex Australia Pty Ltd People with these gas log fires in their homes need to contact the supplier and get them checked by a qualified gasfitter immediately. Laboratory tests show that under certain circumstances these heaters produce too much carbon monoxide. Source: Chase and Tyler Foundation Advertisement

'Carbon monoxide patients often lose limbs,' she said.

'My left arm was trapped underneath me, so I have nerve damage and shoulder damage that will never get better.

'I stopped breathing - that's what carbon monoxide does, it suffocates you to death. My memory is shot to pieces.

'I got PTSD too. That doesn't go away.'

The Victorian coroner later found that a build-up of soot, dust and lint in the Robinsons' heater prevented oxygen getting in, and created a dangerously high level of carbon monoxide.

Ms Robinson's landlords, Jeffrey and Tracey Watt, had cleaned or serviced the heater for five years, but the coroner found they could not have known of the problems with the heater.

An unnamed tradesman was found to have not performed proper checks on the heater in 2004, but he wasn't charged.

Ms Robinson describes coping with the deaths of Chase and Tyler by throwing herself into raising awareness about the dangers of gas heaters.

She set up the Chase and Tyler Foundation in 2010.

'It was my coping strategy, but I wanted to make a difference,' she said.

'Some really great, amazing things have come out of that. We worked with government and industry and raised awareness in Australia and internationally.'

Her foundation unsuccessfully pushed for compulsory checking and servicing of heaters and mandatory carbon monoxide alarms at a national level, which flowed to improved tenancy regulations at Victorian state level.

Partly because of her work - and her terrible losses - gas heater safety checks are now widely recommended in every state every two years.

Most importantly, she has been told many times that her advocacy work helped people who were 'very close to serious incidents and long-term poisoning'.

A graphic from the Climate Council's new report 'Kicking the habit: How gas is harming our health'

After a decade of campaigning about the danger of gas heaters, Vanessa Robinson says it is time to concentrate on her own life

Today she works as a receptionist/manager in a private hospital and rents a home in inner Melbourne.

On Thursday, Ms Robinson was part of a report released by the Climate Council which highlights the many health dangers of using gas in the home.

The report claimed that although most states and territories have banned unflued gas heaters in schools because they release pollutants directly into the classroom, the majority of New South Wales schools still use them.

Asthma was also a major focus of the report, which claimed that a child living with gas cooking in the home faces a comparable risk of asthma to a child living with household cigarette smoke.

'We need to think about where we are going in the future in terms of our fuels, but also because there a lot safer fuel options out there to use at home,' Ms Robinson said.

Gas is still commonly used for heating and cooking in Australia - sometimes in unsafe ways

After running nine annual Carbon Monoxide Awareness Weeks, she plans to wind down her foundation after this month.

'I'm tired. It's been a long time, I wasnt particularly great towards myself,' she explained.

Ms Robinson told Daily Mail Australia that she still cannot switch on the gas heater in her rented Melbourne home.

'It's a similar model to what killed my children, I can't use it.

'Not only does it give me panic attacks, it's too much of a safety risk.'

She still regularly sees unflued heaters in cafes and restaurants and no longer points out the danger.

'It's terrifying to think of the danger. It might be safe and the next minute it could be emitting dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to you and your family.

'But the warning is better coming from government than some crazy lady off the street.

'There is still a lot of work to be done, but I need to concentrate on myself.'
A multimillionaire businessman hoping to become the first Republican governor of Virginia in over a decade has accused the state of derailing children's education, in an effort to become more 'woke'.

Glenn Youngkin, 54, appeared on Tucker Carlson's Fox News show on Tuesday to blast a proposal to remove advanced and remedial math classes in state schools while at the same time introducing lessons on critical race theory.

Youngkin, who has never held elected office, is one of seven Republicans competing in the May 8 nominating convention.

Democrats hold theirs a month later, and all are looking to succeed the current governor, Ralph Northam, a Democrat, who cannot serve consecutive terms. The election will be held on November 2.

He told Carlson that one of the reasons he retired as co-chief executive of the Washington private equity giant Carlyle Group - a job which saw him earn an estimated $254 million - is to correct Virginia's course.

'In education, they want to teach our kids what to think,' said Youngkin.

'They want to teach them critical race theory and they want to take accelerated math out of the curriculum.

'I want to teach our kids how to think and not have critical race theory in the curriculum, and actually yes, teach accelerated math.'

Gubernatorial hopeful Glenn Youngkin appeared on Tucker Carlson's show on Tuesday night

Youngkin retired from the Carlyle Group to run for governor, having earnt $254 million

The issue of math in schools has become a hot topic in the state, after the Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative (VMPI) launched a consultation to look at 'modernizing' the curriculum.

Critics were angered by the group proposing doing away with both accelerated and remedial math classes, so that all students studied the same topics.

They were also upset at the suggestion of getting rid of the labels 'algebra' and 'geometry', in favor of lists of 'essential concepts.'

State officials denied they were getting rid of the various math levels, but parents remain unconvinced.

And critical race theory - an academic framework that looks at how policies contribute towards systemic racism - has united all the Republican candidate in opposition.

One area of Virginia, Loudoun County, has for months been riven by a dispute over whether CRT should feature in classrooms.

Youngkin told Carlson that Virginia was trapped by Democrat dogma, claiming the state's officials wanted to remove Fourth of July celebrations from the curriculum, and get rid of things that 'unite us as Americans and Virginians.'

Youngkin, who has never held elected office, is one of seven Republicans competing in the May 8 nominating convention

He attacked the leading Democratic contender, Terry McAuliffe - who was governor of the state from 2014-18 - as being 'on the wrong side of every issue'.

Youngkin said: 'It just seems that Terry McAuliffe and the left liberal Democrats here want to take our education policy from having everybody in the fast lane to putting everybody in the broken down lane.

This is exactly what we are seeing from the Democrats, and particularly from Terry McAuliffe, is that they are on the wrong side of every issue.'

Youngkin said he would maintain Virginia's current Right To Work law, which prevents employees being forced to join a union.

He said he would support law enforcement, and protect their qualified immunity, while also defending the First and Second Amendments.

Terry McAuliffe (above) is considered the most likely Democrat nominee for November's vote

Asked by Carlson how Virginia had become 'so radical', he replied: 'This is why I quit my job last summer.

'You know, I actually could not recognize my home state of Virginia.

'Virginians are ready for a change. We are ready for a governor who has got a business career.

'He knows how to get things done and deliver results, not empty promises, and to put Virginia back on the path to be the best state in the country to live, work, and raise a family.'

Youngkin's rivals include retired Army Colonel Sergio de la Pena; former think-tank executive Peter Doran; businessman Pete Snyder and former Roanoke sheriff Octavia Johnson.

His most centrist opponent is Kirk Cox, a veteran state delegate and retired teacher who served two years as House speaker.

He also faces a challenge from the stridently pro-Trump state senator Amanda Chase, who said that the conviction of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd made her 'sick'.
Police launched an urgent appeal to find a 14-year-old girl after she had been missing for over 24 hours.

Leya was last seen at an address in St Kilda East, in Melbourne, around midday Tuesday.

She is described as 170 cm tall, with a skinny build, sandy-blonde shoulder length hair and light blue eyes.

Police are appealing for help to find missing Melbourne teenager Leya, 14, (pictured) who was last seen in St Kilda around midday Tuesday

She was last seen wearing grey hoodie, grey track pants, white shoes and possible Nike runners.

Police had concerns for her welfare due to her age.

The search ended after Leya was found safe on Wednesday afternoon.
A group of school students are believed to be behind the shutdown of Sydney's Town Hall station after leaving a threatening hoax note.

The train station was evacuated about 11am on Wednesday after reports of threats and a suspicious package.

All entrances were sealed off as a police operation got underway.

But police have since confirmed their search of the station ended about 12:15pm, with no such suspicious package found.

Sydney's Town Hall train station was evacuated about 11am on Wednesday after a 'suspicious package' had been reported to authorities. Pictured, police at the station

All entrances to the station were sealed off while police carried out a search of the area

'A police operation at Town Hall Station has concluded with nothing found,' NSW Police tweeted.

'Reports of a suspicious package are incorrect.'

The reported suspicious package is understood to be a hoax note left behind on a train seat by a group of school students.

All trains were stopped from travelling through the station due to the police operation, causing major flow on delays to the city's rail network.

'Due to a major police operation at Town Hall Station, no trains are travelling through Town Hall. Major delays are expected on some lines,' Sydney Trains posted on Twitter.

Trains are also suspended between Town Hall and North Sydney on the North Shore Line.'

Police are pictured outside an entrance to Town Hall train station on Wednesday morning while they searched the area for more than an hour

NSW Police confirmed about 12:15pm their operation had 'concluded with nothing found'

One commuter said there were on a train that was 'stopped underground in a tunnel between Central and Town Hall station', which they said was 'apparently getting approvals to go "back" to Central'.

Northern Line trains had to terminate at Strathfield and City Circle services were unable to operate.

Travellers evacuated from the station, or arriving at the station due to catch a train, were told to take a bus.

Nearby St Andrew's Cathedral School was put into a 'partial lockdown' until given police clearance.

'SACS is in partial lockdown due to a suspicious package found at Town Hall station, a message sent to parents said.

'We will advise when given police clearance.'
A magnitude 3.2 earthquakes has rocked the NSW Snowy Mountains as locals report hearing a 'loud bang' before it felt like their homes were being lifted off the ground.

The quake hit around 19km south of Jindabyne about 10.15am on Wednesday, at a depth of 10km, with the tremors picked up in seismic stations in Sydney, Tasmania, and as far as central South Australia.

A Moonbah resident, who lives around 10km from the epicentre, said it 'sounded like a bomb going off'.

One person, in Dalgety, about 30km away, told the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre they experienced a 'tremor then boom and [the] house felt like it lifted'.

A magnitude 3.2 earthquakes has rocked the NSW Snowy Mountains (pictured)

Jindabyne (pictured) residents reported hearing a 'loud bang' before their homes started to shake

Meanwhile, a Jindabyne resident said they heard a thunderous sound before the ground rumbled beneath their home.

'Huge thunder-like noise then a rolling shake like a domino effect one side of the house to the other,' they told Volcano Discovery.

Another local said it was like a 'short sharp shock, more like an explosion' that sent their windows rattling, while someone else said it 'sounded like my house was going to fall down on my head'.

One man wrote on Twitter said the earth tremor made his dogs start barking.

The quake struck 19km south of Jindaybyne about 10.15am on Wednesday, at a depth of 10km

One man said his dogs started barking after the earth tremor made a huge sounds and left the ground shaking

There have been no reports of any injuries or property damage.

The event comes hours after a 3.2 magnitude earthquake was registered in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.

The quake struck about 3.15pm with locals reporting their homes objects shaking out of their kitchen cupboards, and children at a local primary school screaming in fear amid the tremors.
Julie Walrand, 35, is facing a string of charges over the April 18 incident, including offensive words and willfully threatening a person based on their perceived characteristics, KRON4 reports.

A white woman could be charged with a hate crime after she called police on a black delivery driver and shouted racial abuse at him in Berkeley, California.

Julie Walrand, 35, is facing a string of charges over the April 18 incident, including using offensive words and willfully threatening a person based on their perceived characteristics, KRON4 reports.

Walrand and her boyfriend, who has not been identified, allegedly called 911 on Amazon driver Kendall McIntosh, claiming he was speeding through the streets of North Berkeley.

When McIntosh then stopped to make a delivery, Walrand pulled up next to him in her car and allegedly launched into an abusive tirade.

The black delivery driver claims he was subjected to a series of racial slurs, including the N-word.

Kendall McIntosh claims he was subjected to a series of racial slurs, including the N-word

'[She] instantly just started cursing me out like, first sentence I'm getting cursed at,' McIntosh told KRON4.

'Very derogatory language, you know I was getting constant F bombs thrown at me. I was getting just racially profiled from the jump.'

The incident caught the attention of a neighbor, who managed to film 51 seconds of the altercation.

'Hey, I got that on film lady!' the neighbor can be heard stating in the clip.

McIntosh later told KVTU he was 'scared' during the altercation.

'I didn't know how it was going to run out so I thought the best thing to do was leave the situation,' he said, saying he went on to deliver the package he had stopped for.

Police eventually arrived at the scene, where they ended up arresting Walrand.

McIntosh says he is thankful for the neighbor who caught the fight on camera.

The incident caught the attention of a neighbor, who managed to film 51 seconds of the altercation. Walrand (right, in the striped top and blue jeans) is pictured confronting McIntosh (left)

Walrand is seen in video captured by a neighbor

McIntosh later took to Twitter saying he was still able to 'find joy in his day'

'What constantly was running through my mind was you know it could be me in handcuffs instead of her so no matter what the situation is, just protect yourself,' he told KRON 4.

'If you feel like you have to videotape it or anything, definitely do that because I felt like if there wasn't a video. It wasn't being recorded, she probably could've gotten away with saying that'.

McIntosh later took to Twitter saying he was still able to 'find joy in his day'.

Charges against Walrand have not yet been filed, and she was released from custody on April 19.

The clip of the altercation was condemned by Berkeley Police.

'The Berkeley Police Department recognizes and places a high priority on the rights of all individuals guaranteed under state and federal law,' the organization said in a statement.

'The commission of a hate crime is a serious offense, which will not be tolerated in the City of Berkeley.'

McIntosh is seen in a social media snap taken several years ago

McIntosh says he is thankful for the neighbor who caught the fight on camera

There have been numerous reports of hate crimes taking place in Berkeley in recent months.

The incidents have shocked many, given that the city - northeast of San Francisco - has long been considered a bastion of open-minded liberalism.

Back in February, Oakland police arrested a Berkley man for allegedly posting 'troubling statements directed towards the Asian community on social media'.

In January, a white woman was arrested in Berkley for reportedly yelled 'hateful statements about people of Mexican descent' at a Hispanic woman.

Meanwhile, in October of last year, a man was charged with a hate crime for tying a noose to a tree at Berkeley Marina.
New York City's public school system has eliminated the Columbus Day holiday, replacing it with 'Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous People's Day' while also adding Juneteenth as a school holiday for the first time.

On Tuesday morning, the city's Department of Education posted the 2021-22 school calendar online without fanfare, replacing Columbus Day on October 11 with Indigenous People's Day.

After backlash from the city's Italian American leaders, the calendar was taken offline on Tuesday evening, and re-posted with the holiday changed to 'Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous People's Day.'

'City Hall wants Italian Heritage Day and Indigenous People's Day so no one is left out,' Mayor Bill de Blasio's spokesman told the New York Post.

Regardless of what New York City does, Columbus Day remains a federal holiday, as it has been since 1937. While all federal offices are closed on the holiday, not all states recognize it as an off day.

New York City's public school system has eliminated the Columbus Day holiday, replacing it with 'Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous People's Day'. Mayor Bill de Blasio is seen above

People attend the annual Columbus Day Parade in New York in 2019. The annual event celebrates the day that Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas in 1492

Asked whether City Hall had been aware of the decision to wipe Columbus Day from the school calendar, the spokesman told the outlet only: 'We do not agree with not including Italian Heritage Day.'

Juneteenth, which celebrates the June 19 date in 1865 when the final slaves in the U.S. were emancipated, falls on a Sunday in 2022 and will be observed by the school system on June 20.

Monday, June 27 will be the final day of the school year for students in the city.

The initial removal of Columbus Day without any mention of an 'Italian Heritage Day' drew angry reactions from New York's leaders in the Italian American community.

City Councilman Joe Borelli of Staten Island called the change 'insulting woke nonsense' in a tweet.

After the Department of Education backtracked on the name of the holiday, he remarked: 'They tried, they got caught, they changed it, they covered the mistake. Cowards. Just have the gumption to cancel the day. Wonder what our mayoral candidates think?'

In March, Meisha Porter took over as Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and would ultimately oversee any changes to the school holiday calendar.

Participants march in the Juneteenth celebration parade through the streets of Harlem in New York in a file photo. Juneteenth will be a new holiday for NYC schools next year

In March, Meisha Porter took over as Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, and would ultimately oversee any changes to the school holiday calendar

Porter, the first black woman to hold the Chancellor role in the city, was promoted internally after climbing the rungs of the NYC school system, starting as an English teacher and most recently serving as Bronx executive superintendent.

The debate over Columbus Day, and the legacy of Christopher Columbus more generally, has been simmering across the country for years.

Italian Americans view the explorer, born in Genoa, as a source of national and ethnic pride. Columbus made the first documented European contact with the Caribbean and Central and South America in 1492.

Columbus Day parades were originally celebrated in the 1800s, and the holiday was made official as a gesture of support for the community, which at the time suffered from xenophobia and discrimination.

Columbus' detractors view him as a genocidal colonizer, however, and there is good evidence that Columbus brutally subjugated and enslaved the native Taino people in his quest for gold in the Caribbean.

As early as 2014, Seattle's city council voted unanimously to to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day, a move angering the local Italian American community but cheered by Native American activists.

Chicago's controversial statue of Christopher Columbus is hoisted away by a crane in the early hours last year, watched by a municipal crew who helped to remove it from Grant Park

It is a debate that has played out across the country, with city's and states voting to rename Columbus Day, which remains a federal holiday observed the second Monday in October.

Last year, statues of Columbus were a frequent target of vandalism during Black Lives Matter protests across the country.

In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot 'temporarily' removed two prominent statues of Columbus citing safety concerns. The statues have still not been replaced, drawing angry outcry from Italian Americans last month.

In Philadelphia, an alliance of Italian American groups is suing Mayor Jim Kenney and the city for a 'long pattern of discrimination', including canceling the Columbus Day parade and ripping down a statue of former Mayor Frank Rizzo.

They accuse Kenney of trying to erase Italian-American identity in the city, favoring rioters over people trying to protect statues, and demoting a beloved police captain.

Mari Caraballo, with Golden Slippers Brigade, center, waves her Italian flag as part of the Columbus Day parade on Broad Street in Philadelphia in 2017

Last month, the Maine Monument at Columbus Circle was vandalized with red paint by BLM protesters. The Columbus monument in the circle remains hotly debated

They claim Mayor Kenney had been part of efforts to unfairly recast Columbus as a racist, when he had been the 'first recorded civil rights activist of the Americas'.

The groups equated the mayor's alleged persecution of Italian-Americans to the way the Ku Klux Klan had tried to 'destroy Columbus Day' in the 1920s and 1930s because of their 'bigotry toward Catholics and Italian immigrants'.

Mayor Kenney has called the lawsuit a 'patently meritless political ploy' that will waste resources.

The most prominent statue of Columbus still standing in the U.S. may be the monument atop a 76-foot column in Manhattan's Columbus Circle.

The statue has remained behind police barricades for nearly a year, and its future remains hotly debated.
A pair of playful koalas took a nasty tumble while fighting with each other as they climbed a gum tree at a wildlife park.

The mischievous marsupials entertained visitors to Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria as they chased each other through their enclosure.

The usually docile animals, named Audrey and Hazel, bit and grabbed at one another as they scaled a precariously thin gum tree standing more than 10m high.

The mischievous koalas are seen scampering up a nearby gum tree while lunging and biting at one another, the larger seeking solace in higher branches

The smaller of the pair continued to relentlessly chase the larger koala up the tree, who attempted to take refuge from their attacker in higher branches.

'What if it falls off the tree?', one nervous spectator asked in the background, as children laughed at the playful animals.

As the larger koala turned to ferociously bite it's younger companion, a loud snap echoed across the enclosure as the animals fell onto the ground.

Laughs quickly turned to screams as witnesses to the nasty tumble watched the marsupials land heavily on their backsides.

The resilient koalas quickly recovered, one chasing the other up another nearby gum tree where they continue to bicker.

Spectators to the vicious brawl are heard screaming as the pair free-fall onto the ground below, landing heavily on their backsides

The larger koala took a fearless leap to a neighbouring branch to escape the other, much to the amazement of the crowd.

Calm was restored to their enclosure as the marsupials finally agreed to part ways.

Healesville Sanctuary Life Sciences Manager Bronwyn Macreadie told Daily Mail Australia that the pair have lived together for ages and usually get along very well.

'This kind of minor squabble does happen from time to time', Ms Macreadie said.

'It looks dramatic because the branch they're sitting on breaks, probably due to the weight of both of them at once.

'We can see they're not really trying to injure each other - this is the way many animals sort out minor disputes, from koalas, to kangaroos, to even domestic dogs.'

Ms Macreadie said neither Audrey or Hazel sustained injuries from the fight and the pair were back to being friends.

'Even after a squabble like this you can go back thirty minutes later and they're perfectly relaxed around each other again.'
Police arrested a man who they say is suspected of stabbing two Asian American women on Tuesday afternoon in San Francisco's Mid-Market area.

Officers were sent to 4th and Stockton streets shortly before 5p.m. and found the wounded women, who were taken to San Francisco General Hospital.

Sources told ABC one of the women was bleeding profusely, while the other still had a knife in her arm when they were found by police.

They were both in a stable condition in the hospital's ICU after having surgery on Tuesday night.

Police arrested a man who they say is suspected of stabbing two Asian American women without warning on Tuesday afternoon in San Francisco's Mid-Market area

Officers were sent to 4th and Stockton streets, where the found the two injured women shortly before 5 p.m.

The women were 65 and 85, authorities said, and were waiting for the bus when they were attacked.

Witnesses told KPIX-TV that a man clutching a knife was walking down Market Street when he approached a bus stop, stabbed the women, and then walked away.

A 54-year-old San Francisco man was arrested on suspicion of committing the attack several hours later, police told the station.

Witnesses said the suspect had used a military-style knife, with knuckles on the handle and holes in the blade, to carry out the attack.

Witness Patricia Lee told ABC: 'I'm kind of worried because my back was turned, it could have been me instead'.

She explained one of the women was stabbed from behind.

'All I could see was the feathers coming out of her jacket, so I'm very sure that she got sliced'.

Lee added the suspect did not flee the scene, 'he walked away like nothing happened, like Sunday morning.'

Witness Patricia Lee told ABC the suspect had 'walked away' from the scene 'like nothing happened'

Police didn't immediately indicate whether the women were specifically targeted or whether the attack might be a hate crime.

One of the women was bleeding profusely, while the other still had a knife in her arm when they were found by police on Tue

Police didn't immediately indicate whether the women were specifically targeted or whether the attack might be a hate crime.

Asian Americans have been the target of several unprovoked attacks in the San Francisco Bay Area in recent months.

Prosecutors have filed assault and hate crime charges against a man accused of an attack last week in which he allegedly yelled racial slurs before knocking down Carl Chan, president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce.

In separate San Francisco attacks in March, an 83-year-old Vietnamese man was knocked down and broke his neck in the fall, and a 77-year-old woman was similarly attacked. Police arrested a man for assault and elder abuse in both cases.

Another 83-year-old man was pushed down in February, broke a hip and spent weeks in the hospital and in rehabilitation.

Researched published by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University showed a surge in Asian hate crimes across the country.

The research compared data from the first quarter of 2021 and the same period in 2020 across 15 major cities, including San Francisco.

The two women were both in a stable condition in the hospital's ICU after having surgery on Tuesday night

In April, the US senate passed an anti-Asian hate crimes bill in a vote of 94 to 1. The legislation aims to help law enforcement combat the rising number of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Meanwhile, a recent Pew Research study found around one-third of Asian American fear someone might threaten or physically attack them.

And, one-fifth believed the rise in hate crimes was directly related to former President Donald Trump and his rhetoric on China.

Last month, Joe Biden appointed Erika Moritsugu as the administration's Asian American and Pacific Islander senior liaison amid the spike in hate crimes.

Also in April, the US Senate passed an anti-Asian hate crimes bill in a vote of 94 to 1. The legislation aims to help law enforcement combat the rising number of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Dale Palmer was more than three times over the legal drink-driving limit when she trapped her 27-year-old daughter beneath a Toyota Starlet in the early hours of Sunday morning on May 2, police say

A mother accused of driving into her daughter and dragging her 100 metres in Sydney's south has been reminded in court not to breach an order to protect her daughter.

Dale Palmer was more than three times over the legal drink-driving limit when she trapped her 27-year-old daughter beneath a Toyota Starlet in the early hours of Sunday morning on May 2, police say.

Emergency services took more than an hour to free Keely Palmer at Ash Avenue in Caringbah South, and an AVO was subsequently taken out on her behalf.

Her 58-year-old mother was granted bail and appeared before Sutherland Local Court on Wednesday charged with high-range drink driving and aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Magistrate Joy Boulos adjourned the case for six weeks after the prosecution said further charges could 'potentially' be made.

'Keely Palmer is in need of protection,' Ms Boulos told Ms Palmer.

Emergency services took more than an hour to free Keely Palmer (pictured) at Ash Avenue in Caringbah South, and an AVO was subsequently taken out on her behalf

The magistrate said it was important she did not breach any of the AVO conditions which included not to assault or threaten her daughter, stalk or intimidate her or recklessly destroy her property.

Palmer is also not allowed to approach Keely Palmer or be in her company for at least 12 hours after consuming any alcohol.

The 27-year-old was taken to St George Hospital after she was freed from the car about 2am on Sunday in a serious condition with significant injuries to her right leg and right arm, police say.

Palmer's matter is next due in court on June 16 but she has been excused from appearing if represented by a lawyer.

Dale Palmer (pictured leaving court on Wednesday) is also not allowed to approach Keely Palmer or be in her company for at least 12 hours after consuming any alcohol
Racist and anti-Semitic posts left on the Google reviews page of two leading Jewish community institutions appear to have been ignored by the tech giant.

The vicious troll posted a fake review of Bondi's Central Synagogue in mid 2020, then another about The Sydney Jewish Museum in January which appeared to deny the Holocaust.

Appalled members of the Jewish community contacted Google asking them to delete the ugly reviews in the past two weeks - but they still appear on their page.

The disgusting reviews of two prominent Jewish institutions are still online despite being posted nine months and four months ago

The Sydney Jewish Museum was targeted online by the cowardly troll

'Didn't like it. Smelled like fish and tears. Defo wouldn't go back,' said the first review of The Central Synagogue.

The synagogue is a place of daily worship and has a long history in Sydney, beginning in 1913.

The fake review of The Sydney Jewish Museum read: 'I couldn't get tickets to the comedy festival so I went here instead.

'Had a great time, funniest stuff I've seen in a long time. The actors were great, you could see they almost believed the lies they were telling.

'12/10 would defo visit again'.

The Sydney Jewish Museum was established in 1992 by a generation of Holocaust survivors who came to Australia.

A statement given to Daily Mail Australia said: 'As the grandson of Holocaust survivors, including a grandmother who was sent to Auschwitz, I am hurt by the fact that Google would choose to keep racist, anti-Semitic content online for ten days after being alerted to it by numerous people.

'The fact that fact that after being brought to Google's attention it remains online is inexcusable.'

He wished to remain anonymous.

It has been claimed four separate attempts were made to contact Google, in addition to Daily Mail Australia's request for comment to the company.

The posts appear to be clear breaches of several aspects of Google policies.

The most obvious relates to Google Help Communities prohibited content policy surrounding hate speech.

Bondi's Central Synagogue was the troll's first target with a cruel fake review

Dvir Abramovich, of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said Google must not get a 'free pass' for allowing anti-Jewish posts and being slow to act

It says: 'We don't allow the promotion of hatred toward groups of people based on their race, ethnic origin or nationality, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or affiliation with any other protected group.'

The posts are also arguably illegal.

The Commonwealth has prosecuted public Holocaust denials under racial vilification and hate speech laws, even though Holocaust denial is not a crime per se.

Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission called out Google saying it had dropped the ball and 'must do more'.

The Sydney Jewish Museum was established in 1992 by the generation of Holocaust survivors who came to Australia

'The fact that this keeps happening is unacceptable and it is clear that Google must do more in enforcing best practises to respond to this growing problem.

'[Google] will not get a free pass if their pages are flooded by anti-Jewish posts and they are slow to remove them.

'It is our hope that following this incident, Google will have the good sense to implement better monitoring systems, and to remove such ugly posts immediately before they are viewed by more users and spread virally across the net.

'We all have to take seriously our responsibility to foster civility and respect in the online sphere.'

Daily Mail Australia contacted Google, The Sydney Jewish Museum and The Central.

Update: Google Australia contacted Daily Mail Australia confirming it had removed the reviews in question on Friday, May 7.
Western Australia is closer to further easing coronavirus restrictions as it gets on top of a small outbreak, but the state government is also considering extending its emergency powers to impose lockdowns and shut borders until 2022.

No new local cases have been recorded for a fourth straight day after a hotel security guard and his two housemates tested positive on the weekend.

WA Health on Wednesday said test results had confirmed that a man in his 30s who returned a weak positive test result this week was a historical case.

Premier Mark McGowan said the remaining restrictions in Perth and Peel, including a ban on crowds at major sporting events, were on track to be lifted

The man had recently returned to the town of Collie, 200km south of Perth, after spending 14 days in quarantine in Melbourne.

He had travelled back to Australia from Poland.

Further testing has confirmed the man is no longer infectious but is shedding the virus from a historic infection.

He and his close contacts are no longer required to self-isolate.

Premier Mark McGowan said the remaining restrictions in Perth and Peel, including a ban on crowds at major sporting events, were on track to be lifted.

'The chances are, hopefully we'll be back to a normal situation this weekend or the following weekend,' he told reporters.

The government is also introducing a bill to parliament to extend its coronavirus state of emergency powers until January 4, 2022.

The passage of the bill is in no doubt, as Labor controls both the lower and upper houses of parliament.

WA has been under a rolling state of emergency since March last year, allowing the government to enforce border closures and quarantine measures.

Western Australia is closer to further easing coronavirus restrictions as the government looks to extend its emergency powers until 2022

Authorities now believe the latest hotel quarantine outbreak may have stemmed from the guard at the Pan Pacific handling the luggage of two returned overseas travellers.

Genomic testing indicates the guard has the same US variant of the virus as the two guests who were staying on the same floor.

Mr McGowan said he had been advised the guard was wearing gloves when he handled their luggage in a lift.

He defended the safeguards in place for hotel quarantine workers, who were already subject to strict personal protective equipment requirements.

'The measures that are in place are as strong as you can make them,' he said.

'There's not much more we can do.'

The guard, aged in his 20s, spent several days in the community after becoming infected.

On his days off work from April 27 to 30, he moved through the community going shopping, seeing friends and visiting Mirrabooka Mosque.

A full list of exposure sites is available on the HealthyWA website.

The guard and his seven housemates, two of whom also tested positive after working as food delivery drivers, were moved into hotel quarantine at the weekend.

WA Health has so far identified 108 close contacts and 75 have tested negative. Results are pending for more than 250 casual contacts.
A father who pulled his daughter out of her $43,000-per-year New York City school said other parents are unaware of how bad the 'woke' teaching in the city's schools has become, and should follow his lead and withdraw their children.

Harvey Goldman took his nine-year-old out of Heschel School, a Jewish day school on the Upper West Side, because he felt its curriculum 'teaches children to feel bad about the color of their skin'.

'They are teaching these kids terrible things,' he said on Tuesday. 'Teaching them to feel bad about themselves and it is really awful.'

Goldman and his family moved to Florida after learning that the fourth-grader was being tutored on her 'white privilege'.

On Tuesday night, he told Tucker Carlson that other parents had got in touch with him to seek advice, and he recommended they follow suit.

Harvey Goldman on Tuesday night discussed taking his daughter out of Heschel School

'I've gotten quite a few calls from parents of the school and they are pulling their kids out,' said Goldman.

'They are not happy about what is being taught to their children.

'I'm not sure what else they could do but teach the school lesson by pulling their kids out. And getting their money out.'

Goldman is just one of many parents and teachers who have complained about the 'woke' curriculum in New York City's schools, private and fee-paying.

He said that his family was much happier in Florida, where critical race theory (CRT) was not taught.

CRT is a theoretical framework which views society as dominated by white supremacy, examines systemic racism, and categorizes people as 'privileged' or 'oppressed' based on their skin color.

He pulled his daughter out of the $43k a year Heschel School and said its 'woke' curriculum 'teaches children to feel bad about the color of their skin'

Asked why other parents did not follow his example, he said many were unaware of the extent of the problem.

'I think a lot of them are unaware about how bad this really is and what they are teaching the kids in these schools,' he said.

'And also, if you are in New York, it's really difficult to find another place to go because so many schools are teaching this critical race theory.

'And they are together in this. Someplace like Florida, never heard of it.'

Carlson asked whether he was finding the situation better in Florida.

'Much better,' Goldman replied.

'The schools never heard of critical race theory. They don't teach critical race theory.

'They don't know about it. These children go to a park and they want to play.

'They don't care what color the other kids are. They care that they are having fun.'

Goldman has said he first questioned the curriculum change after reading about it in a newsletter.

He approached the head of the school in a supermarket, and was rebuffed.

He then wrote to the school in September calling it 'child abuse, not education'.

The school said in a statement: 'We are a Jewish day school and very proud of our secular and religious curriculum, which Mr. Goldman is fundamentally misrepresenting.

'His family informed us last summer that they would likely relocate to Florida for financial reasons.

'We were surprised to read about his new explanation for the move and question his motives for making such statements at this time.'

Goldman acknowledged the family had planned the move to Florida, but said he wrote to them last September.

In that letter he wrote: 'First and foremost, neither I, nor my child, have 'white privilege,' nor do we need to apologize for it. Suggesting I do is insulting. Suggesting to my nine-year-old child she does is child abuse, not education.'

The head of Heschel School is Ariela Dubler

Goldman told The New York Post that administrators were 'arrogant and dismissive' in response, suggesting he pull his daughter out of the school if he was unsatisfied.

He did, and moved the family to Florida, where his daughter now attends a free public school, which he vetted to ensure CRT was not part of the curriculum. The head of Heschel School is Ariela Dubler.

There is a growing backlash against 'woke' ideology on race in New York's elite private schools with a number of parents speaking out on the issue.

Riverdale Country School parent Bion Bartning said he was so upset with the ideologies being taught there that he pulled his children out of the $54,000-a-year school.

Bartning then went a step further, founding the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism (FAIR) to fight back against what he calls a dangerous new 'orthodoxy'.

Bartning, who is Mexican and Yaqui on one side and Jewish on the other, said he was shocked to learn that schoolchildren are being forced to label themselves as privileged or oppressed by skin color.

'I don't fit into any of those race buckets,' Bartning told the Post. 'I think it is wrong to be teaching kids these socially constructed race categories.'

'It's a destructive ideology, teaching children to be pessimistic and full of grievance rather than being optimistic and full of gratitude. It goes against all the values I was raised with, and there are many out there who feel as I do,' he said.

Riverdale Country School parent Bion Bartning, pictured, said he was so upset with the ideologies being taught there that he pulled his children out of the $54,000-a-year school

Math teacher Paul Rossi, left, was 'relieved of his teaching duties' at the $57,000-a-year Grace Church School in Manhattan after he penned an essay accusing the school of indoctrinating students last week. Andrew Gutmann, right, announced in an April 13 letter that he has chosen not to reenroll his daughter in her all-girls school where annual tuition is $54,000

Bartning said he had even encountered instances of children being given color palettes to match with their skin tone to assess their level of privilege.

Some public school parents also joined the growing movement opposed to CRT.

Maud Maron, a City Council candidate with four children in local public schools, slammed so-called anti-racist philosophy, as CRT is often branded.

'It's a really divisive, ugly orthodoxy and it's a multi-million dollar industry as well,' Maron told The Post. 'It's also very insidious because on the face of it, who wouldn't want to sign up to be less racist?'

Maron's campaign co-chair, Yiatin Chu, says she has been vilified for speaking out against CRT.

'I've been called a 'Karen' and they've tried to pressure me into not speaking up,' Chu told The Post.

'It can be very stressful, physically, emotionally and mentally. It feels like a mob is descending on you and calling you a racist for fighting for the kind of education you want for all children. it's really nasty. I've seen it ruin lives.'

Melissa Chen, an advisory board member at FAIR, told Fox News that children are 'being taught a very cynical, intolerant, kind of new racist orthodoxy' in schools that 'forces everyone to see each other by their immutable characteristics' such as by the color of their skin.

She called for education institutions to go back to Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of 'judging people on the content of their character and not by the color of their skin'.

The backlash at the private and public high schools comes in the wake of a growing number of controversies at elite NYC prep schools, where some parents and teachers have complained about the antiracism ideology being taught to children.

Maron's campaign co-chair, Yiatin Chu, pictured, says she has been vilified for speaking out against CRT: 'I've been called a 'Karen' and they've tried to pressure me into not speaking up'

Maud Maron, a City Council candidate with four children in local public schools, slammed so-called anti-racist philosophy, as CRT is often branded

In one incident, math teacher Paul Rossi was 'relieved of his teaching duties' at the $57,000-a-year Grace Church School in Manhattan after he penned an essay accusing the school of indoctrinating students last week.

Rossi then released a recorded phone call in which the head of the school George Davison admitted to him that 'we're demonizing white people for being born.'

In a letter obtained by DailyMail.com, Davison claims his remarks were was taken out of context and doesn't actually believe the school is demonizing white students.

He suggested Rossi had an axe to grind when he recorded their conversation and then released the audio on Twitter.

Conservative commentator Candace Owens has said parents need to start suing woke schools who want to cancel conservative thinking.

She told Fox News: 'Parents have to start speaking out, not just speaking out, but suing. You have to start suing the schools because they're ruining the lives of young children.'

Woke, Inc author Vivek Ramaswamy also blasted what he calls a culture of 'indoctrination'.

He said American schools are 'going down the tubes' because they have been 'infected' with 'woke culture' that has 'sacrificed the idea of excellence' by 'indoctrinating' students.

That came after Andrew Gutmann, 45, announced in an April 13 letter shared by journalist Bari Weiss that he has chosen not to reenroll his daughter in her all-girls school where annual tuition is $54,000.

He pulled his daughter from Brearley School over its woke antiracism 'obsession.' He accused the school of 'teaching what to think not how to think.'

The school responded by slamming him for being 'offensive.'

The head of the elite Manhattan school Dalton also announced he would be stepping down this year after being slammed by parents for pushing an 'obsessive', antiracism agenda on students.

Jim Best said he would see out the year at the $50,000-a-year institution then step down to pursue 'other opportunities'.

His resignation is in response to parents' complaints that Dalton, like other prestigious private schools Grace Church and Brearley, is indoctrinating students with its woke agenda.

Dalton parents also penned an anonymous open letter to the school.

'Every class this year has had an obsessive focus on race and identity, 'racist cop' reenactments in science, 'de-centering whiteness' in art class, learning about white supremacy and sexuality in health class.

'Wildly inappropriate, many of these classes feel more akin to a Zoom corporate sensitivity-training than to Dalton's intellectually engaging curriculum,' it read.

The Spence School, a $54,000-a-year Manhattan all-girls private school, sent an email to families supporting Derek Chauvin's conviction in the murder of George Floyd.

An alum who asked not to be named received the letter and was appalled, telling DailyMail.com she was shocked at 'how they forced students to get involved' in the trial.

In 2020 billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson threatened to stop donating to the Spence School because of 'anti-white indoctrination' in the curriculum being taught to his two daughters.
A security guard who caught coronavirus while working at a quarantine hotel may have got it from touching a luggage trolley.

The man aged in his 20s caught the US strain of the virus while working at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth and tested positive on Saturday.

Genomic testing indicates the guard has the same variant as the two guests who were staying on the same floor.

WA Premier Mark McGowan suggested he may have caught the virus from handling their luggage.

The man aged in his 20s caught the US-strain of the virus while working at the Pan Pacific Hotel and tested positive on Saturday

The guard's two roommates also tested positive to Covid-19, prompting masks to be enforced both indoors and outside as well as banning fans from attending Sunday's AFL Western Derby.

Mr McGowan said he was advised the guard was wearing gloves when he handled their luggage in a lift.

'He was masked up, he was wearing PPE, all the precautions were in place, he entered the lift that they had been in, we know that, and he handled some luggage,' he said.

'We think that he may have handled their luggage. Was there transmission there? We can only speculate.'

The premier said 75 out of the 108 close contacts related to the hotel cluster returned negative tests.

A further 221 casual contacts out of 476 have also returned a negative result.

The guard, aged in his 20s, spent several days in the community after becoming infected. He'd worked at the hotel on April 24 and 26 before testing positive on Saturday (pictured health worker in Perth)

The rest are expected to be known soon.

Mr McGowan also stressed the safety measures taken in hotel quarantine were not lacking.

'People wear gloves, they're required to wash, they're required to wear masks, they're required to wear face shields,' he said.

'There's not much more that we can do.'

Western Australia recorded its fourth day with no local cases on Wednesday.

The guard, aged in his 20s, spent several days in the community after becoming infected. He'd worked at the hotel on April 24 and 26 before testing positive on Saturday.

On his days off work from April 27 to 30, he moved through the community going shopping, seeing friends, and visiting Mirrabooka Mosque.

Restrictions had been in place in Perth and Peel following a snap three-day lockdown.

Premier Mark McGowan said the remaining restrictions in Perth and Peel, including a ban on crowds at major sporting events, were on track to be lifted

A full list of exposure sites is available on the HealthyWA website.

The guard and his seven housemates, two of whom also tested positive after working as food delivery drivers, were moved into hotel quarantine at the weekend.

Health advice suggested the risk of transmission was very low given the two delivery drivers were required to wear face masks and had minimal contact with customers.

Mr McGowan said he was advised the outbreak was not related to ventilation issues which had been detected in several other quarantine hotels.

The remaining restrictions in Perth and Peel, including a ban on crowds at major sporting events, were on track to be lifted by this weekend, the premier said.
Police are cracking down on laser pointers after 'dozens' have been directed at helicopters and planes in recent weeks.

Frustrated officers in Sydney have called for the dangerous behaviour to end immediately, with the safety of pilots and crew potentially jeopardised.

Police Force Aviation Command and PolAir confirmed laser pointers have been aimed at aircraft.

Police aircraft monitoring the Pendle Hill area in Sydney's west last month observed a laser being pointed directly at a helicopter.

Police are cracking down on laser pointers (pictured) after 'dozens' have been directed at helicopters and planes in recent weeks in Sydney

A man from Sydney's west was charged with doing an act (pictured) with the intent to prejudice the safety of an aircraft last month after pointing a laser directly at a helicopter

Officers on the ground were alerted, with a man, 45, from nearby Toongabbie later arrested at his home on April 21.

He was taken to Parramatta Police Station and charged with doing an act with the intent to prejudice the safety of an aircraft.

The man was granted conditional bail and will appear at Parramatta Local Court.

Police will allege a tactical flight officer and a senior constable, 41, suffered temporary blurred vision and discomfort following the incident, which could have been fatal.

'At no distance and in no circumstance is it safe to point a laser at aircraft,' Aviation Commander Detective Superintendent Brad Monk told 7 News.

'The laser beams can impair the eyesight of those on board and endanger the lives of the crew and the public.'

Detective Superintendent Monk also had a message for those participating in the dangerous anti-social behaviour - you will be caught and prosecuted.

'Remember, we have a bird's-eye view from the air and can easily identify where a laser beam is coming from,' he added.
Highway patrol officers have been seen joking around with swearing teens hanging out in a parking lot.

Tree cutter Tyler Greening was hanging out with friends on the top level of a carpark at Quaker's Hill in Sydney's north-west when the patrol car approached them last month.

The cops are seen revving their squad car, using a speedometer on a kid running past and laughing as a youngster pretended to write up car violations while using a vape as a pen.

A youngster pretended to write up car violations while using a vape as a pen as police officers laughed along

As one of highway patrol cars drove past, the teens made car siren sounds and one yelled, 'do a burnout mate' to which the police officers revved their engine.

Another video showed a young person running past a police officer who used a speedometer to check how fast he was.

In a clip captioned 'only defects that got handed out that night, again shout out to the cops', one of the teenagers walked around the car and jokingly inspected it for defaults, miming notetaking with a vaping pen.

A video showed a youngster running past a police officer who used a speedometer to check how fast he was (pictured)

'You're missing rubber mate,' he joked as onlookers laughter.

'Another f**king defect. There's a defect over there. Do you mind popping the bonnet mate. One, two, three, four. Unsecured gauges mate. Ah mate, are these standard?'

The officers laughed along as he imitated inspecting the patrol car's tires.

'Mate you been doing burnouts. You been doing f**king burnouts,' the jokester said.

Some social media users applauded the officers for what they called 'community policing.'

'Good to see the boys in blue having a laugh we need more like it,' one person wrote.

'Tell me you're Australian without telling me you're Australian,' said another.

News South Wales Police said Quakers Hill Highway Patrol officers attended the organised car meet to 'build positive relations with local car enthusiasts'.
Australia's tough border closure with India is working to reduce the number of positive coronavirus cases in Australia, Scott Morrison said today.

Direct commercial flights from India were banned last week as the nation of 1.4 billion battles a surge in illnesses and death, with 357,229 fresh cases on Tuesday.

Chartered rescue flights were suspended until May 15 after the Howard Springs quarantine facility near Darwin suffered an explosion of cases among returned travellers from India.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in Townsville, Mr Morrison said the travel ban was working to keep Australians safe

After the ban was implemented on April 27, there have been only two new cases in the facility and none since April 30.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in Townsville, Mr Morrison said the travel ban was working to keep Australians safe.

'The pause will be in place until May 15, as we said, and that pause is already working,' he said.

'This is enabling us to get on the right foot to restore repatriation flights and we are making good progress to that.

'We are starting to see, as a result of the pause, the results of cases at Howard Spring is coming down - we have more of a distance to travel there - but it is working.'

Mr Morrison said that without the pause 'we would be eroding our capability' to get people home in the medium and long term.

'This was a necessary step to ensure that we could help more Australian citizens and residents get home, safely, in a way that did not risk a third wave in Australia. That is what we want to achieve,' he said.

The government also took the 'extraordinary' step of threatening anyone who gets around the ban with a $60,000 fine and up to five years in jail under the Biosecurity Act.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said the powers would not be used and no-one would be jailed.

But Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said the best way to avoid jail is to obey the rules.

Relatives and family members carry the dead body of a Covid-19 victim for a cremation at Nigambodh Ghat Crematorium, on the banks of the Yamuna river in New Delhi in the early hours of Thursday

'So, I understand the concerns that people have at the moment and quite frankly the best way to avoid the prospect of any fines, any sanctions, is to not get on a plane and come here in the first instance,' she told the ABC.

'Would I like to see the sanction applied? Clearly not. The best way for that not to happen, as I've just said, is for people not to get on those planes.'

The ban is legally contentious because international human rights law states that 'no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his own country'.

Minister Andrews defended the ban, saying: It's a balance of making sure that we are protecting all of the Australians who are here now.

'We have done so well in making sure that Australians are safe and secure and that's a big credit to all Australians.

'What this government is not going to do is put Australians at risk. We will look to reopen as soon as we can. We are working on that every single day.

'This is a temporary pause and we will do our best to get those vulnerable Australians home as quickly as we can.'
Cops responsible for drunken bashings, 'sustained abuse' and sharing 'official secrets' were allowed to keep their jobs, a secret dossier reveals.

Internal documents from Western Australia Police show 32 officers were hit with assistant commissioner's warning notices for behaviour deemed to have fallen 'well below' standards in the 12 months to June 2020.

The documents, obtained under a Freedom of Information request by The West Australian, reveal how one senior constable was pulled up for 'abusing, antagonising, and intimidating' a person 'over a sustained period'.

That officer's behaviour first came to management's attention in 2018 and despite invention by his superiors his conduct 'continued, if not escalated'.

Internal documents from Western Australia Police has revealed 32 officers were hit with Assistant Commissioner's Warning Notices for exhibiting behaviour deemed to have fallen 'well below' standards (file image of Western Australia police officers)

But they were allowed to remain in their job after being issued with a cautionary notice that read 'please consider this notice a final warning, one which I encourage you to accept, learn from, and move forward from'.

WA Police said the senior constable's behaviour will 'continue to be monitored and managed by supervisors to ensure it is aligned to the values of the WA Police Force'.

The 68-page police report, of which The West Australian was able to gain access to 19 of the 32 internal documents, all of which were heavily redacted,

Another report was about an off-duty sergeant who assaulted a person while drunk at a function. The officer then abused police who arrived on scene but no charges were ever laid.

One constable was found to have got behind the wheel of a police car after drinking and then lied about his actions.

And a senior constable, who was off-duty at the time, was at an incident attended by cops when he decided to punch a hole in a wall, while a new recruit shared 'official secrets' from a police computer.

A Western Australia police spokesperson said the organisation issues an Assistant Commissioner's Warning Notice prior to making a decision about disciplinary charges or dismissal (file image of Western Australia police officers)

In another incident, a senior sergeant came under scrutiny for 'accumulating (redacted) for your own personal use' after being found to have knowingly allowed a person to make a false police-related tax invoice.

Some officers were slammed for 'unnecessary use of force', including in one case where a person in custody was injured.

Only 11 officers were sacked in the 12 months to June, 2020.

'The Western Australia Police Force integrity framework provides a range of managerial interventions that are scalable based on the severity of the misconduct,' police said.

'The purpose of an assistant commissioner's warning notice is a formal notice to the subject officer.

Western Australia's police minister Paul Papalia (pictured) said the vast majority of the state's 7,000 cops 'do the right thing'

'The process of physically serving the notice is intended to convey the seriousness of the misconduct and provides the assistant commissioner with an opportunity to adequately convey the likely consequences of repeated misconduct, including disciplinary proceedings or potential dismissal proceedings.

'When an assistant commissioner's warning notice has been delivered the matter is finalised, and a permanent record of the misconduct and outcome is created.

'The officer's senior management team will be advised of the outcome and monitor the officer's future conduct and performance.'

The spokesperson added the warning notice 'is the highest level of managerial intervention prior to either disciplinary charges or dismissal'.

The state's police minister, Paul Papalia, said the 'overwhelming majority' of Western Australia's 7,000 officers 'do the right thing'.

But Civil Liberties Australia chief Bill Rowlings said any officer 'whose proven abusive and intimidating behaviour gets worse when he/she is warned formally by superiors should be sacked'.
A teenage girl cried out for her mother after she was dragged inside to be raped by a man who promised to drive her home from a nightclub.

The woman was sitting alone on a couch at the Orange Whip Nightclub in Ringwood, in Melbourne's east after having 'too much to drink' in December 2018.

Kushan Palliyaguruge, 28, hadn't met the woman before but told security he would take her home, claiming she was his girlfriend.

But instead he drove her back to his own house after telling her 'we'll quickly go to my house for a f**k', the Victorian County Court heard.

The intoxicated woman was sitting alone on a couch at the Orange Whip Nightclub in Ringwood, in Melbourne's east in December 2018 before she was approached by the man

A jury found Palliyaguruge, who moved to Australia from Sri Lanka in 2017, guilty of rape, the Herald Sun reported.

The 28-year-old escorted the young woman out of the club in the early hours of the morning after she told security he was her friend.

After she was raped, the teenager told police she thought she was getting into an Uber and not the car of a stranger.

During the ride back to Palliyaguruge's home, the teenager was sitting in the back seat but the man reached around his arm and assaulted her.

The young woman cried and begged the man to take her home and hand back her phone, but instead he pulled over and assaulted her again.

When the pair arrived at his house, Palliyaguruge 'dragged' the woman inside and raped her.

After the terrifying ordeal she asked for her phone back to call a friend and asked her attacker: 'Can I go home now?'.

Palliyaguruge drove her home and tried to assault her another time as she cried out for her mother.

The teenager has been left with mental health issues after the terrifying ordeal and no longer drinks alcohol

Eventually arriving back home at around 4am, the teenager told her mother what just happened to her.

The teenager is still struggling with the trauma from her attack that left her battling mental health issues, bulimia, and PTSD.

She no longer drinks alcohol, is too scared to walk alone, and has issues trusting men.

Palliyaguruge was 'sorry' for the situation and his victim, his lawyer told the court.

His case was adjourned so he could be assessed for a psychological report after the court heard he had poor mental health.




Kim Kardashian found herself caught up in an unlikely international art smuggling row Tuesday involving an ancient Roman sculpture that was imported to California under her name.







U.S. prosecutors last week called for the statue fragment  which was seized at a Los Angeles port in 2016  to be forfeited and returned to Italy, citing an Italian archaeologist who found it saying the piece had been "looted, smuggled and illegally exported."







Court documents said the consignee and importer name was listed as "'Kim Kardashian dba Noel Roberts Trust' in Woodland Hills, California" and referred to an invoice "for the sale of the defendant statue by Vervoordt to Noel Robert Trust, dated March 11, 2016."







The Noel Roberts Trust is an entity linked to real estate purchases and sales made by Kardashian and her estranged husband Kanye West in the United States.







Axel Vervoordt is a Belgian art dealer who was responsible for the decoration of Kardashian's mansion near Los Angeles, according to the Artnet News website.







But a spokeswoman for Kardashian on Tuesday dismissed U.S. media reports tying the reality star to the statue, telling AFP they did not contain "accurate information."







The statue itself  referred to as "Fragment of Myron Samian Athena"  is thought to date to the early- to mid-Roman Empire, and depicts a person's lower half.







The Italian archaeologist who studied the statue declared it "of classical Peplophoros style... which represents a copy of an original Greek sculpture."







It was seized at the Los Angeles port in May 2016 as part of a larger 5.5-ton (5,000 kg) shipment worth $745,000, on suspicion it could be "protected cultural property from Italy" in violation of a law requiring proper documentation for importing rare archaeological items.







Deepening the mystery, prosecutors said the invoice provided to them by the customs broker for the fragment's previous 2012 sale to Vervoordt by a gallery in Paris appeared to refer to a different statue entirely.







Vervoordt did not immediately reply to AFP's request for comment. (AFP)


The psychotic mother that shot dead her three-year-old daughter before killing herself claims she'd 'given birth to Jesus' as dark thoughts pushed her towards the murder-suicide.

Aisha Beck killed young Aziza by shooting her in the head on January 29, 2017 at their Pascoe Vale home in Melbourne's north before turning the gun on herself.

Mrs Beck, who had been on a series of medication and battled through mental health issues all her life after as a result of her own mother's suicide, was suffering from religious delusions in the lead up to their deaths.

'Mrs Beck stated that she was the Mother Mary and she had just given birth to Jesus,' counsel said at Coroners Court on Wednesday according to the Herald Sun.

Aisha Beck killed young Aziza by shooting her in the head on January 29, 2017 at their Pascoe Vale home in Melbourne's north before turning the gun on herself (stock picture)

The mother, originally from Myanmar, had made a series of disturbing requests and statements to police when they were called to her house in 2015 when she was asking to speak to then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

She told police she needed to speak to the Norwegian Embassy and made a number of references to religious delusions, including telling people she believed God was 'ready to take her'.

Mrs Beck was also in debt $23,000 to Centrelink, adding to her dwindling mental state.

She had been seeking psychiatric help and was on antipsychotic medication, but the Coroner's Court heard she had been repeatedly changing the dosage in the months before the murder suicide.

Her husband Mohamed Beck had taken seven months off work to help his wife through her mental health battle after his wife's condition worsened.

He came home one day and wasn't met by the Aziza meeting him at the door, something the three-year-old always did when he returned.

Instead Mr Beck found his daughter and wife lying lifeless on the floor.

The State's Deputy Coroner told the court a combination of financial stress, a lack of social interaction and her deteriorating mental state led to the murder-suicide

The State's Deputy Coroner told the court a combination of financial stress, a lack of social interaction and her deteriorating mental state led to the murder-suicide.

Deputy State Coroner Caitlin English found Mrs Becks mental health issues, isolation in the community and financial concerns all contributed to her decision to take her life.

This decision also meant for Aisha that she would have to take the life of her daughter as she felt that Aziza would not be able to be cared for if she wasnt there, Deputy State Coroner Caitlin English said.

She recommended that GPs be more 'assertive' in following up with patients experiencing serious mental health issues.
Dramatic new footage shows the moment that an overhead rail carrying a Mexico City subway train collapsed, sending the carriage crashing to the ground and killing 24 people.

In the clip, from local surveillance cameras, the train suddenly plummets to the ground.

A plume of dust and ash then rises to the sky. As the dust settles, the train is seen concertinaed in the middle.

Authorities have opened an investigation into the tragedy, which will include the attorney general's office and an independent agency from Norway.

The train crash happened at 10:30pm on Monday night in Mexico City

An aerial view shows the site of a metro train accident after an overpass partially collapsed

The subway carriage was left dangling in the air on Tuesday after Monday night's crash

A trailer takes away one of the train cars that crashed after the train overpass collapsed

Relatives of the victims embrace outside the prosecutor's office in the Mexico City suburb

A car is seen squashed under the collapsed overpass

The country's president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, vowed the government would not hide any details that come out of the joint investigation.

'There's no impunity for anyone,' he said.

'I share the outrage that there is, I celebrate the position that the head of government has, which is essentially to clarify what happened.

'And secondly, when you clarify what happened with evidence, with authorities, you establish what responsibilities there are - who has responsibility, and what action was taken in consequence, no matter who it is.'

The Line 12 train was transiting through the overpass that connects the Olivos and Tezonco stations when the support column gave way around 10:30pm local time on Monday.

Claudia Sheinbaum, the mayor of Mexico City, said it appeared a girder had given way on the overpass, which she said was inspected last year.

She said the collapse seemed to indicate a 'structural failure.'

'It is not possible to say categorically, but it seems this is what happened,' Sheinbaum said.

Four people who live in the area told Reuters they observed the support structures below the elevated tracks visibly shaking when trains crossed.

Some recalled warnings about the humid soil being unfit for major construction.

'Every time I saw the train, I saw the columns and beams shake,' said Victor Lara, a daily commuter on the line.

'They're not well made.'

'They killed him': Mother of boy, 12, who died with 23 others in Mexico City subway crash blames officials for 'flawed' structure as she learns his fate after frantic hours spent searching for her son Brandon Tapia was travelling on the train with his father when the overhead rail collapsed, sending two carriages crashing onto the busy road below on Monday night A 12-year-old boy has been identified among the 24 victims of the Mexico City subway collapse, bringing to an end his mother's desperate search. Brandon Tapia was travelling on the train with his father when the overhead rail collapsed, sending two carriages crashing onto the busy road below on Monday. Brandon's mother Marisol Tapia, 28, who made desperate pleas to TV crews at the scene for help to find her son, was shown his body at a city morgue last night. 'Nothing is going to give me back my son. Nothing is going to give him back. They killed him,' Ms Tapia told reporters outside the prosecutor's office. Ms Tapia had spent frantic hours trying to find her son at hospitals across the city and had rushed to the scene of the accident after turning on the news on Monday. 'I'm looking for my son,' Ms Tapia told reporters at the scene. 'I can't find him anywhere, in any of the ambulances.' Marisol Tapia is pictured yesterday evening learning the news that her son was among the 24 dead The boy was travelling on the metro with his father on Monday night when the line collapsed The desperate mother was forced to return to the crash site the following morning to ask for information as officials held a press conference. 'I went to all the hospitals and they say he's not there,' Ms Tapia said through sobs as local politicians stood by. 'The metro wasn't built on its own - this flaw has been there for a long time and no one did anything.' Yesterday evening, she was finally able to find Brandon's body at one of the city's morgues. His father Rigoberto remains in hospital, but Ms Tapia said she had spoken with him. Marisol Tapia told Azteca TV that her son, Brandon Hernandez, 12, had called her to say he was on his way home. She had visited at least eight Mexico City hospitals in search of her child Ms Tapia shows pictures of her son to TV crews on Monday night at the scene of the accident Outside the prosecutor's office last night she was asked what support the authorities were providing. Ms Tapia said: 'What support can they give you if they never supported you from the beginning? Now what is the government going to wash its hands of?' She remembered how she and her boy had plans for May 10, Mother's Day in Mexico. 'We were going to go for a walk that day. And now I'm going to bury him,' she added. Advertisement

Twenty four died and 79 were injured in the tragedy on Monday night

Cable wires were place on a train car (left) to keep it from crashing to the ground while another wagon (right) dangles from the track

The train car makes it's way away from the scene of the tragedy on a flatbed truck

Rescue workers could be seen sifting through rubble on Tuesday morning as they continued to search for potential victims.

Four dead passengers were removed from one of the cars on Tuesday, the mayor said.

Florencia Serrania, the general director for the Mexico City Metro Collective Transportation System, said an inspection report filed in January 2020 did not show any 'anomalies' throughout the Line 12 overpass.

A second inspection was conducted following the June 2020 earthquake that struck the southern state of Oaxaca and was felt in the Mexican capital, but no structural damages were reported.

Marcelo Ebrard, currently Mexico's foreign minister, presided over the opening of the line in 2012, when he was mayor of the city.

Emergency workers rushed to the site, in the southeast of Mexico City, but were temporarily called off amid warnings the train is unstable and could collapse further

Rescue workers carry a body out from underneath a train that collapsed on to a highway in Mexico City, killing 24 people

Forensic workers, protected by riot police, arrive on Tuesday to investigate the crash scene

Media stand at a police barricade barring access to the scene of Monday night's collapse that left 24 people dead and 79 injured

Rescuers transport an injured person on a stretcher near Olivos station in southeast Mexico City

Yet by 2014, the line was already in need of repair, and was closed for 18 months to repair parts of the rails that suffered excessive wear and tear

Myriam Urzua, Secretary of the Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection, said French firm SYSTRA recommended the continued supervision of the train line after it was shut down in 2014.

Urzua said that TCO, also a French company, has been contracted since 2016 to conduct daily inspections of the train line.

Sheinbaum said the firm did not provide any reports that would have raised concerns over a possible collapse.

France's Alstom SA was part of a consortium that built the metro line which suffered the collapse.

On Tuesday, Alstom offered to help authorities in Mexico if necessary.

Passersby rush an injured man into an ambulance at the scene of the bridge collapse, in Mexico City's southeast

An aerial view of the collapsed bridge shows how the train fell on to the street below, killing 24 people

'Alstom reiterates its willingness to cooperate with and to aid authorities responsible for investigations in any way necessary,' the company said in a statement.

Service throughout Line 12, which transports an average of 220,000 passengers a day, has been completely suspended.

Rescuers rushed to the scene on Monday night and and quickly began searching the train for survivors.

But rescue efforts were soon halted amid fears the train was unstable and could collapse further.

At least one person got trapped in their car underneath the bridge as chunks of concrete collapsed on to the road, but they were pulled out alive and taken to hospital.
Stood down: Quarantine manager Matiu Bush

A senior manager in Victoria's hotel quarantine program who was stood down for breaching protocols previously worked on 'designing a good death'.

Matiu Bush - who prefers to be referred to as 'they' or 'them' instead of 'he' or 'him' - was stood down on Wednesday after it emerged they refused a Covid-19 test, and failed to hand sanitise or properly use face masks.

Bush began working for Victoria's hotel quarantine program in June 2020 and became the General Manager of Infection Prevention and Control in October, following the state's horrific second wave which killed 801 people.

The move into public service was a marked departure from the trained nurse's previous career working for aged care companies.

While employed by home care service Bolton Clarke, Bush even worked on 'designing a good death in residential care.'

In an online article in 2017, they wrote: 'Death is a part of reality, and though some people may shy away from the topic  it is something everyone will have to eventually face.'

Bush travelled all over the east coast, talking to retirees, medical students, funeral directors, vets and design professionals to develop 'a model for best practice end of life care in residential aged care communities.'

Bush's aim was to provide 'clear recommendations and practical, tangible strategies that will enrich the experience of residents and create exceptional end of life care.'

Later, the nurse founded One Good Street, a website to help elderly residents connect with neighbours, before taking a job with the Department of Justice and Community Safety in June 2020.

Prior to entering the aged care sector, Bush worked as an intensive care nurse and a sexual health Nurse Practitioner and did a master's in public health.

Other incidents include contractors and bureaucrats being allowed to enter or trying to enter hotel sites in Melbourne despite not be being vaccinated, as is required

It emerged on Wednesday that Bush refused to have a Covid-19 test - which is required of all quarantine workers every day - when leaving the Intercontinental Hotel at 12.05pm on April 20.

Government incident reports obtained by The Australian newspaper stated that when an army corporal told them to get tested, they replied words to the effect of 'I'm the head of IPC and I override that protocol' before walking off.

Another operational incidents review said Bush and two other public servants refused to sign in using their QR codes when entering the Pullman Hotel on March 1.

The review said: 'When signing in they were asked to sign in via their personal QR code... They refused, stating that as they have been vaccinated they are not required to do so and instead manually signed in the visitor log.'

Later that same afternoon, the same group entered the Mercure Hotel and, according to the incident review, 'walked past the sanitising station without sanitising and also did not change masks'.

The group told reception staff they 'had ducked out for coffee, and that the hotel is empty anyway,' the review said.

The review also said Bush 'did not sign out upon his departure from the hotel'.

A spokesman for Quarantine Victoria said Bush initially had been 'counselled' over both incidents but further action was taken on Wednesday morning.

'Last night I become aware of reports in relation to Mr Bush and I formed the opinion overnight that Mr Bush needs to be stood down pending a review,' Mr Pearson said.

Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said the government had failed to learn from its mistakes. Pictured: The Holiday Inn hotel at Melbourne Airport

The government's daily incident review documents, published in The Australian on Wednesday, also revealed a shocking series of infection control breaches by staff and nurses.

On April 15 a nurse was given a guest's nebulizer in a box with a sign saying it was not be given to guests.

But she got on the guest's bus from the airport and asked if they needed it during their stay.

She was told that nebulizers are not to be used because they may increase the risk of viral spread.

On April 10, at Stamford Plaza, a pathology assistant was openly vaping 'an aloe vera substance' in front of other Covid-19 testers, even though vaping was banned because it could set off the fire alarm of help spread viral particals.

An incident review said she twice refused to stop and 'became very dismissive'.

The woman was also caught vaping again at 4.45pm that day while walking down the hotel corridor stairs.

The next day she was asked to leave by a manager.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt (pictured) praised the Victorian government for taking 'swift action' to stand down Bush

Other incidents include contractors and bureaucrats being allowed to enter or trying to enter hotel sites in Melbourne despite not be being vaccinated, as is required.

While nearly all were told to leave once their vaccination status was known, in some cases it was not checked when they entered.

Victoria's quarantine program was overhauled after the state's second wave, which last year resulted in more than 18,000 new infections, 800 deaths and an 112-day lockdown.

Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said the Andrews government had failed to learn from its mistakes.

'Every single day we see new evidence that this government still hasn't got hotel quarantine right,' he told reporters outside parliament on Wednesday.

'Now all Victorians are at risk, every Victorian is exposed because this government is just incompetent, they can't do the basics right.'
A man has been charged with raping a woman after offering her a free ride home from a night out in Melbourne.

The 20-year-old woman got into what she thought was a ride share vehicle after being offered a free lift home from Collingwood about 2.25am last Friday, police said.

The 20-year-old woman got into what she thought was a ride share vehicle after being offered a free lift home from Collingwood about 2.25am last Friday, police said (stock picture)

The 50-year-old man is accused of driving the woman to a different area and then sexually assaulting her inside the car.

The woman alerted a friend via text and police arrived shortly afterwards.

The driver from Mill Park is due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon charged with two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.
A thought popped into footy great Sam Newman's head that his wife might be dead.

It was Saturday afternoon and he was enjoying a feed with mates at his favourite fish and chip shop.

On the outside, it must have sounded like a joke.

But by then, Newman was already worried that something was seriously wrong.

Sam Newman had a feeling something was not right when his wife Amanda Brown didn't return his text messages (pictured leaving his Melbourne home for the first time since her death)

Sam Newman and Amanda Brown had been together for 20 years before they were married last year (pictured, the couple enjoying a camel ride together on sunny holiday)

Taking to his popular podcast You Cannot Be Serious on Wednesday, Newman detailed the tragic final moments of his wife Amanda Brown's life.

He had found the 50-year old unresponsive on the floor of their inner city apartment just hours after his premonition.

'We get down to where we were going, Kippers in Werribee, and I tried to ring her,' Newman said.

'Id rang her six times.

'We got down there and we were sitting around eating the fish and chips and I said "I wonder where Amanda is?"

Sam Newman's wife Amanda Brown (pictured on their wedding day on November 27) was found dead in their Docklands apartment aged 50

A gutted Sam Newman gets about town on Tuesday. He would pour his heart out a day later on his podcast

'We were joking about she might be out at a venue, or at the pub or out with the girls, or doing something and I said, "She is probably lying dead up in the flat."

'Just as you know, as an aside. They said, "oh she could have been in an accident".'

'So I get home and I walk in the door and the television is on in the bedroom and so I look down there and she is lying there on the tiles outside the laundry.

'As soon as I saw her I knew she was dead.'

Newman called triple-0.

On Tuesday, Newman stepped out in public for the first time since the tragedy.

He was spotted carrying a bunch of flowers after leaving his home in Melbourne.

Sam Newman's wife Amanda Brown (left) was found dead in their Docklands apartment aged 50. She had enjoyed a wonderful day out on Port Phillip Bay with Newman in 2019 (pictured)

Newman has received an outpouring of support since news his wife had died on Saturday broke (pictured in Melbourne on Tuesday)

Sam Newman (right) with good mate Don Scott (left) and Mike Sheahan (centre)- who are supporting him after Ms Brown's sudden death

On Wednesday, Newman spoke at length about his heartache at losing his partner of almost 20 years.

'I get home and I walk in the door and the televisions on in the bedroom. So I look down there and lying in her underwear  shed obviously been in bed or she got out of bed to get something to eat,' Newman said.

'Shes lying there on the tiles outside the laundry and as soon as I saw her I knew she was dead, I just knew it.

'I rang 000 and the very helpful person said you better try and give CPR and she talked me through that.

'Ive got the phone on speaker and Im pumping this poor woman whos lying there looking so peaceful, obviously dead, but the operator said keep doing it in case theres a spark of life in her, I think she said.

'So for 20 minutes Im giving CPR to what I knew was a corpse.'

Sam Newman gets about Port Melbourne, just out of the CBD, on Tuesday - the first time he was seen since her death

Amanda Brown (centre) with mates in happier times on Sam Newman's boat

Detailing the heartbreaking days since his beloved wife died, Newman explained how he unexpectedly crawled into her side of the bed in an effort to be close to her.

'When I got home after the coroner and the police had been and the ambulance, I got into bed,' he said.

'Now heres the interesting thing  I sleep on the left-hand side of the bed and my partner Amanda sleeps on the right-hand side.

'And when I got in after the ambulance had been and the police and the coroner, I didnt think about this, I just instinctively got into her side of the bed. I was lying there for about half an hour and I thought, "What am I doing on this side of the bed?"

'I tried to go to sleep. The coroner left at about one in the morning and at about half-past two I thought Id have a crack at going to sleep, and of course I couldnt.'

An emotional Newman said he wanted to speak about losing his wife, whom he married last November after a 20-year relationship, but was unsure if they would ever actually air the podcast.

'I want to do this,' he said.

Newman (pictured on Tuesday) has received an outpouring of love and support from the footy community

'Ive had a pretty tough week so before I start, I dont want anyone listening to this to feel sorry for me.'

A humble Newman said there were plenty of other people within the community who had suffered greater adversity than him.

'Im not singling myself out for sympathy or anything like that,' he said.

Speaking to great mate and former AFL legend Don Scott, Newman said he had been overwhelmed by the support he had received over the past few days.

'Ive had people reach out to me, you wouldnt believe the people whove reached out to me whove suffered similar episodes in their life,' he said.

'Therell be a significant amount of people that dont have sympathy for me and thats fine too.

'Theyll say I got what I deserved and good luck and good riddance and all that, and I understand that and I dont mind if you have that opinion of me and what happened to me. Thats fine because Im a polarising influence I suppose.'
A 73-year-old Australian stuck in India has asked the Federal Court to overturn Health Minister Greg Hunt's ban on citizens returning from the COVID-ravaged country.

Lawyers for Bangalore-based Gary Newman made an urgent application on Wednesday for judicial review of the travel ban, in force since Friday.

Mr Hunt announced anyone who attempted to defy the rules would be hit with fines of up to $66,600 or five years in prison, or both.

Mr Newman's application is made on four grounds, with two centring on the application of the relevant laws.

More than 9000 Australians in India are registered as wanting to return, including 650 people registered as vulnerable.

The decision was based on the number of positive cases from India detected in the country's quarantine facilities, Mr Hunt said.

India's official count of cases surpassed 20 million on Tuesday, nearly doubling in the past three months, while the death toll has passed 223,000.

During a brief hearing, the Federal Court agreed to expedite the case.

A hearing date will be announced in the next 48 hours once an available judge is found.

One of the four grounds put forward by the elderly man's legal team questions the proportionality and reasonableness of Mr Hunt's determination, while a fourth argues the determination is not constitutional.

'We appreciate the urgency of this matter,' the barrister representing the health minister told the court.
Seven British Army veterans at the centre of historic Northern Ireland allegations from the Troubles could have cases against them dropped - after a separate murder trial of two soldiers collapsed for relying on old statements.

The Public Prosecution Service, based in Belfast, is re-examining files on the former soldiers, who were either being considered for charge or already proceeding through the courts.

They are specifically checking whether any of the cases rely on statements from the Historic Enquiries Team, a now disbanded police group which had looked at British services roles in deaths during the Northern Ireland conflict.

It comes after the murder trial of two veterans over the shooting of IRA commander Joe McCann collapsed last week, with them being formerly acquitted yesterday.

That case was decimated after a judge ruled statements obtained by the HET - given by the soldiers in 2010 to try help McCann's family reach some closure - had attempted to be used to try and prosecute them.

It comes after sources suggested soldiers implicated in about 50 other deaths could be at risk of further prosecutions.

MailOnline can disclose four cases where proceedings have already been started are being looked at again. It is understood the suspects in those cases are Dennis Hutchings and David Jonathan Holden, as well as two other veterans known only as Soldier B and Soldier F.

The three other men have not been named and have not yet been charged over any alleged offences.

Dennis Hutchings, 79

Cases being reviewed include the attempted murder case against Dennis Hutchings, 79

Mr Hutchings, 79, is facing a trial later this year over the attempted murder of John Pat Cunningham, 27.

He was shot running from a British Army patrol in Benburb, Co Tyrone, back in June 1974.

Mr Hutchings, who requires kidney dialysis twice a week and has heart problems, was in the British Army for 26 years.

He served five tours of Northern Ireland when the Troubles were at their worst.

The former corporal major has already been cleared twice over the events which took place in the mid-1970s.

Despite no fresh evidence, no witnesses and no new forensic leads, the retired soldier has been accused again of attempted murder.

David Jonathan Holden, 50

Mr Holden, 50, is accused of gross negligence manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie( pictured)

Mr Holden, 50, is accused of the gross negligence manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie, 23, in Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, in February 1988.

The former Grenadier Guardsman says he shot him accidentally when his finger slipped on his machine gun under wet conditions.

Mr Holden was only 18 years old at the time of the incident.

The serviceman had previously been charged with manslaughter, but the charge was dropped in 1990.

At the time of the charge Colonel Richard Kemp, a former commander in Afghanistan, tweeted: 'This British soldier was dealt with through properly constituted British legal process in 1990. Charging him again now is part of a politically motivated vendetta against our troops facilitated by the British government.'

Soldier B, age unknown

Fifteen-year-old Daniel Hegarty was killed in an Army operation near his home in July 1972

Soldier B - who is also unable to be named - is charged with the murder of 15-year-old Daniel Hegarty.

He was shot twice in the head in Londonderry during the Northern Ireland Troubles in an Army operation near his home in the Creggan in July 1972.

It was in April 2019, when the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) announced the veteran would be charged with the teenager's murder.

The call came three years after he had been told he would not be prosecuted, but this was challenged by the young boy's family.

Back in 2011, an inquest jury found Daniel had posed no risk and was shot without warning as 'no-go areas' were cleared.

Soldier F, age unknown

Patrick Doherty, Bernard McGuigan, John 'Jackie' Duddy and Gerald Donaghey, (bottom row, left to right) Gerard McKinney, Jim Wray, William McKinney and John Young who were killed on Bloody Sunday

Soldier F - another anonymised defendant - is accused of murdering James Wray and William McKinney on January 30, 1972, when British troops opened fire on civil rights on Bloody Sunday.

He is also accused of the attempted murders of Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon and Michael Quinn and a seventh charge on an unknown person.

At the time the PPS said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute 16 other soldiers and two Official IRA men.

Soldier F is known to have given evidence anonymously to an inquiry in 2003 and admitted firing 13 rounds.

He is anonymous because he was granted nameless status through the Saville Inquiry into the circumstances around the killings.

The ruling that triggered cases review Ministers have been urged to end the hounding of Northern Ireland veterans after the sensational collapse of a landmark murder trial. Almost 50 years after first being questioned over the shooting of Official IRA commander Joe McCann, two former Paratroopers, now 71 and 70, were allowed to walk free from court on Tuesday. A trial judge ruled that crucial interview evidence was inadmissible, raising grave questions as to why prosecutors pursued charges against the pair for five years. It was the first case against servicemen deployed during the Troubles since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. Its collapse will bolster an estimated 200 other veterans at risk of prosecution. But it was a day of shame for the Government, which has repeatedly failed to bring in promised legislation to protect the former soldiers. Johnny Mercer, a former veterans minister, described the witch-hunts as an 'appalling national scandal'. And a retired detective chief superintendent whose report on the death of McCann was used to justify the charges accused prosecutors of failing to act 'in the interests of justice'. In bombshell comments, Paul Johnston, who was deputy director of the Historical Enquiries Team, said his investigators had found no 'new or compelling evidence' against the ex-Paras, identified as Soldier A and Soldier C, in 2010 and concluded there should be no criminal probe. But the case was referred without his support to the Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service, which charged the men with murder in 2016. He said: 'The PPS boast they act impartially and in the interests of justice at all times, applying the highest professional standards and treating everyone fairly and with respect. 'They failed on every count. Nothing they did in this case was professional, nor was it in the interests of justice.' Soldiers A and C were manning a checkpoint in Belfast in April 1972 when a Royal Ulster Constabulary officer asked for their help in arresting the 24-year-old. As McCann fled he was shot three times. Following his death, plaques commemorating 'IRA staff captain' McCann were erected in Belfast. The soldiers gave statements about the shooting on the day and were told they would face no action. Advertisement

The historic prosecutions of British servicemen have been controversial and attacked by many commentators as 'witch hunts'.

Yesterday as Soldiers A and C were formerly cleared of the murder of IRA Commander McCann there were questions on how it had ever got to court.

A lawyer for the two former paratroopers acquitted of the murder of Official IRA leader Joe McCann during the Northern Ireland Troubles has called for an inquiry the 'morally indefensible' prosecution of the 1972 killing.

The Army veterans, who cannot be named, were formally acquitted after prosecutors offered no further evidence at Belfast Crown Court.

It came after previous statements the two men had given years ago were ruled inadmissible last week, collapsing the case.

The court heard that the prosecution accepted that if they were excluded the charges against the defendants must fail, but had until 2pm yesterday to consider an appeal.

But in the end they told Mr Justice O'Hara this afternoon they offered nothing further, ending the controversial case against them.

The judge had earlier described as 'remarkable' the fact the ex-soldiers had been prosecuted for 24-year-old McCann's murder on the basis of a report by a police legacy unit, the Historical Enquiries Team (HET), and not as a result of a follow-up criminal investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

This was despite the HET telling the court this week - which was sitting without a jury over tamper fears - it did not think there was any evidence to reopen the case.

Philip Barden, a senior partner at Devonshires who represents the soldiers, has called for an urgent independent review of the approach taken by the PPS in the case, including their decision to prosecute.

He said: 'It is extraordinary that one of the first cases following the work of the HET to come to trial was that of a man who lived by the gun and who shot and killed at will.

'McCann and men like him caused the very violence which led to so many innocent people dying, yet their families are in the queue for justice behind him. This is not justice or fairness.

'Morally this is indefensible and a strong indication that there is a desire to use the criminal justice system to settle old scores.

How was it that Joe McCann's death became a priority before the Public Prosecution Service?

'The stress of these proceedings on the soldiers and their families cannot be underestimated.

'This is a prosecution that should never have got off the ground.'

News of the acquittal was hailed by MP Johnny Mercer and first Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland Danny Kinahan.

Photograph said to show Joe McCann with an American M1 carbine during a gun battle for Inglis Bakery in Eliza Street in The Markets area of Belfast in 1972

The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonated two 6-pound gelignite bombs at two pubs in Guildford, England. Police escort members of one of the families from the Old Bailey.

IRA terrorist suspects are rounded up by British soldiers on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry

Mr Mercer said: ''Not guilty' Should never have happened. Hopefully this marks the lowest point in this Nation's treatment of her Veterans. Government must act.'

Mr Kinahan said: 'I welcome that soldiers A&C were found not guilty. It should never have got to this stage.

'I pay tribute to the two veterans and their families for the dignity and fortitude they have shown. I hope they will be allowed to get on with their lives in peace.'
One of Australia's most iconic tourist destinations will be closed to visitors this holiday season, with traditional landowners slamming Parks Australia for 'a lack of respect' at their sacred sites.

The Gunlom area in the Northern Territory is often referred to as the jewel of Kakadu and sees thousands of tourists every year flock to the stunning infinity rock pool which sits atop of the Gunlom Falls.

But last year controversy erupted after the federally-run Parks Australia constructed a walkway leading to the top of the Instagram-worthy spot.

One of Australia's most iconic tourist destinations - Gunlom in the Kakadu National Park (pictured) - will be closed to visitors this holiday season

The Gunlom area in the Northern Territory is often referred to as the jewel of Kakadu

The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) launched legal action claiming the work was done in close proximity to a sacred site without their permission.

Under the Northern Territory Aboriginal Sacred Sites Act, all construction work must be agreed to and signed off by the AAPA.

Gunlom Land Trust chairperson Mick Markham broke the news that in light of Parks Australia allegedly breaching their lease agreement, the gate at the South Alligator River would be locked within the week and remain shut until the legal drama is resolved.

'In that area there are certain elements and remains of people that have gone by thousands of years ago. We don't want people going there,' he told the ABC.

'The traditional owners apologise to the tourists but for us to get our point across, we feel this is the only way.'

Mr Markham the site has religious significance and has been there for over 10,000 years, when the salt water was eroding the cliff face.

The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA) launched legal action claiming the work was done in close proximity to a sacred site without their permission. Pictured: Gunlom Falls infinity pool at Kakadu National Park

Mr Markham the site has religious significance and has been there for over 10,000 years, when the salt water was eroding the cliff face

'We'd redirect the track, to where it was supposed to be in the first place, and then let's move on to getting the place back as a place to go,' he said.

Surrounding sites in Kakadu will remain open.

Parks Australia National Parks director Jody Swirepik has disputed claims the walking track was built without the relevant certificates from AAPA.

'In the Open Letter to AAPA, the Director of National Parks acknowledged that there were concerns surrounding the process that was followed in relation to the Gunlom site and was genuinely sorry for any distress caused,' she said.

'The Director of National Parks acknowledges the importance of sacred sites and the shortcomings in the process adopted for the Gunlom works and has provided an assurance to Traditional Owners that the shortcomings will not be repeated in the future.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Parks Australia for further comment.
A woman has revealed the story of how she lost more than 113,000 to a Facebook fraudster during lockdown following an elaborate scam.

Rachel Elwell, 50, from Brownhills, West Midlands, says she is facing bankruptcy after becoming the latest victim of an increasingly popular online scam - 'romance fraud'.

The export manager was contacted by an 'attractive' and 'intelligent' man on Facebook at the start of 2021, and the pair struck up an instant connection.

But after speaking for months and convincing her that he was being held captive in Eastern Europe and in desperate need of money, Ms Elwell sent the scammer tens thousands of pounds.

By April 1, 2021, Ms Elwell realised the magnitude of her problem after giving the fraudster nearly 113,000 and her world 'came crashing down'.

Rachel Elwell, 50, from Brownhills, West Midlands, lost 113,000 and is facing bankruptcy after an elaborate four month scam

Ms Elwell first started speaking to the man, who said they lived in nearby Coventry, on January 1, after he contacting her on Facebook's dating app.

The pair planned to meet up after the Covid-19 lockdown period, but the crook was whisked away to Ukraine to complete an engineering contract they had secured with the UK government.

By Tuesday January 19, the conman told Ms Elwell the engineering contract had been forcibly stopped and his equipment seized.

The fraudster said they would cover the costs of covering this unforeseen circumstance, but asked Ms Elwell to send 250 to pay for food and taxis.

Pictured is the 'scammer', whose face has been blurred for legal reasons, allegedly being held captive in a cellar by loan sharks in Ukraine

The conman (above) initially requested small sums of money, but managed to eventually convince Ms Elwell to transfer him tens of thousands of pounds at a time

After pondering the request for two days, she eventually gave in and transferred the money, explaining it seemed 'such a small amount of money at the time'.

But the fraudster didn't stop there, and doubled down on the story, claiming they were held captive in a Ukrainian cellar by loan sharks.

The scammer called Ms Elwell, crying down the phone and begging for her help.

Ms Elwell was forwarded documents allegedly from the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, explaining her love interest owed 102,940.

Feeling like the only person who could save him, she said the pressure she was under at the time 'felt as if I had a gun to my head'.

After speaking with her family, she then sent the con artist 7,500 from her own savings and secured a bank loan, transferring him 22,940 on February, 4.

She secured a further 12,000 loan and forwarded it the following day.

When asked by the BBC why she sent a man she had never met tens of thousands of pounds, Ms Elwell said: 'When he said his life was in danger and I didn't hear from him, I thought he'd been murdered.

'Can you imagine feeling you're responsible for whether someone lives or dies?'

The fraudster sent Ms Elwell pictures of everything from him boarding flights (above) to smiley snaps of him and his supposed daughter

The alleged Ukranian building site that the conman said he was working from. He promised to repay all the money Ms Elwell had sent him once he returned to the UK

After sending a further 45,000 from a third loan and her second credit card on March 5, it appeared the man had been saved and would be flying home.

He was due to fly back on March 16, but a supposed email from Heathrow Airport officials said he had been arrested.

While waiting four hours at the airport, Border Force pulled Ms Elwell aside and explained it was probably all a scam.

She even went to his supposed address in Coventry, but soon discovered no-one by that name lived there.

Ms Elwell described the pictures her scammer sent as showing an 'attractive' and 'intelligent' man, after the pair struck up an immediate connection on Facebook's dating app

Ms Elwell said: 'It was at that moment I realised it was all a lie. I felt sick, numb.

'These thoughts kept me up at night and stopped me from eating.

'How could a human being make up such elaborate lies, send such convincing pictures and documents, tell someone that their life was in your hands?

'How could this be all a lie? A cruel scam?'

The export manager was sent 'official' documents and told that her love interest owed tens of thousands of pounds after being held captive by loan sharks in Ukraine

Ms Elwell has gone public with her story as she wants to warn others of the scams employed by 'sophisticated and manipulative' criminals.

West Midlands Police explained that her case is a 'prime example' of the UK's ever-increasing 'romance fraud'.

Last year, 'romance fraud' cases in the UK hit a record high of 7,000, as scammers started targeting vulnerable people locked indoors during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Graeme Biggar, head of the National Crime Agency's National Economic Crime Centre, said the agency had been combating a surge in fraud over the past 12 months.

According to the NCA, the average victim of romance fraud loses just over 10,000.

Mr Biggar warned social media companies such as Facebook would 'need to be regulated' if they did not co-operate in tackling fraud on their platforms.
A man accused of sparking Victoria's five-day lockdown after using a nebuliser in his hotel quarantine room said he's relieved that a report found it wasn't his fault.

A secret report into the lockdown found the virus escaped from a quarantine hotel in February when an unmasked woman was swabbed in a open doorway.

The report delivered in March said the virus leaked out into the corridor of the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport because a health worker took 'extended time' to test the woman for coronavirus.

The virus then started 'pooling outside the door' of the room where a 38-year-old man who was using a nebuliser was quarantining with his infant child and partner.

Victoria Health officials previously claimed the virus escaped from his room - sparking a five-day 'circuit-breaker' lockdown to control the spread of the outbreak.

'I am very glad this has come out, though it continues to show there's systemic problems that need to be resolved,' the man told 3AW.

The virus escaped from the Holiday Inn hotel at Melbourne Airport in February when an unmasked woman was swabbed in a open doorway, a report has found. The hotel is pictured on April 8

The father claimed he received permission from the health authorities to use the nebuliser - a device used to vaporise medicine so it can be inhaled - while inside quarantine.

Opposition Health Minister Georgie Crozier branded the criticism of the man as an 'absolute disgrace'.

'How he has been blamed for the outbreak in Holiday Inn, when in actual fact, this cover-up showed there was swabbing and other issues in the hotel quarantine program that were actually the cause of the outbreak,' she said.

The Covid-19 Quarantine Victoria Commander Emma Cassar apologised to the man but said the theory remained the outbreak was sparked from the nebuliser.

She said staff were still swabbing those in quarantine with the door open because if it was closed it put those health workers at greater risk of infection.

'The working hypothesis is still, as I understand, that this was caused by the nebuliser,' she said.

'Our swabbing process has gone through some improvements since February and residents are swabbed with the door open so that we can ensure the safety of nurses when swabbing,' she said.

'But the recommendation that the door is closed for swabbing was not supported by CQV, the Alfred and [Health Care Authority] due to safety concerns for our staff.'

International travelers entering Melbourne's Intercontinental Hotel on April 8. Authorities had previously believed the source of the February outbreak was a man who was using a nebuliser (woman pictured is not the woman involved in the breach)

The Covid-19 Quarantine Victoria Infection Prevention and Control report found though either the man with the nebuliser or his partner caught the virus when they stepped out of their room to collect a meal or leave rubbish.

The virus then spread further down the corridor to a food and beverage worker in a room next to the family, according to the review obtained by The Australian.

An officer who dealt with the family's entry and release from the quarantine hotel also contracted the virus.

The family tested positive on February 4 and the officer later tested positive to the virus after showing symptoms for the first time on February 7.

The report said CCTV footage and staff interviews meant the 'proposed working hypothesis' was that the unmasked woman was the source of the outbreak.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said in February the use of the nebuliser was believed to be the source of the outbreak

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said in February the use of the nebuliser was believed to have spread the virus.

'We think the exposures are all to that event, the use of the nebuliser, which then meant the virus was carried out into the corridor and exposed the authorised officer, the food and beverage service worker and also the other resident,' he said.

The Victorian man who was carrying the nebuliser in February said the backlash to the outbreak mad him feel 'like a criminal'.

He said he had declared the device to authorities.

'If I was told that I couldn't use it, I never would have used it,' he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

'The way it has all come out in the news and through the government has made it sound like I was using it illegally or that I have snuck it in or something like that. It's been very distressing.

'You are left feeling like a criminal or that you've done the wrong thing. That has been the hardest thing in all this.'
Actors Angelina Jolie, bottom left, and Finn Little, bottom right, talk during an online press conference for "Those Who Wish Me Dead," Tuesday. Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea



By Kwak Yeon-soo



Angelina Jolie, who plays a traumatized firefighter risking her life to protect a 12-year-old boy in the thrilling crime drama, "Those Who Wish Me Dead," told Korean reporters in an online press conference on Tuesday, that she found the film to be a therapeutic experience.



Based on Michael Koryata's book of the same title and directed by Taylor Sheridan, "Those Who Wish Me Dead" tells the story of Hannah, who struggles with PTSD after failing to save three children from a fire.



She then comes across Connor (Finn Little), who witnesses his father's murder and is pursued by the assassins as she tries to protect him from the dangers that follow.



In the press conference, held via Zoom, Jolie explained that her experiences of parenting and directing helped her portray the character better.



"I loved that this character (Hannah) is so broken and overwhelmed, and what saves her is him (Connor). She finds a purpose in helping him get through and survive. That's what parenting can often do. My life has been enhanced through my love for children. You live for someone else and that gives you strength," she said.



"With every film I directed, I learned and changed a lot. I've become an even more understanding actor who's able to support the director."



The production team rigged an enormous forest and burnt it down to bring authenticity to the film.



"The forest was in the desert. When we were filming, we could feel the heat of the fire. The great thing about director Sheridan is that he gave us the environment to help improve our acting," Little said.



Jolie recalled that the most challenging part was having to be physical and emotional at the same time. "I was impressed with how Finn could stay focused during his emotional scenes under such circumstances. Holding our breath underwater was challenging, but it was exciting as well," she said.





Actors Angelina Jolie, right, and Finn Little in a scene from "Those Who Wish Me Dead" / Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea
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British supermarkets today issued a new warning to Brazil that they could stop sourcing products from the country if it passes a law which threatens the Amazon.

Retailers including Tesco, Aldi, Marks & Spencer, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Co-op, Waitrose and Iceland are among those raising fears over a new effort by Brazil to legalise the private occupation of public land, mostly in the Amazon.

Asda, Morrisons and Greggs are also included on a list of dozens of companies signing an open letter warning against the proposed law, along with other retailers, producers, investors and industry bodies.

It is feared the move, which was first attempted a year ago but was withdrawn after more than 40 major organisations made the same threat over supply chain sourcing, will drive deforestation.

Conservationists have previously warned it will legitimise previous illegal land grabs and pave the way for more forests to be burned and cleared for agriculture such as beef and soy, used as an animal feed for livestock.

Among the products stocked in UK supermarkets from Brazil are the Union Hand-Roasted Coffee Bobolink Brazil Cafetiere Grind at Sainsburys from Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza (left), and the Brazilian Pinot Noir from Serra Gaucha at Aldi (right)

Tesco Organic Fair Trade Brazil Nuts are collected from the Amazon rainforest (left) and Asda corned beef is from Brazil (right)

They have also said it will make it harder to meet international targets to tackle climate change, as forests are huge carbon stores, and undermine the rights of indigenous communities in the region.

In the open letter to Brazilian politicians, the businesses said the new law being put forward for a vote posed 'potentially even greater threats to the Amazon than before'.

The companies warn that in the past year they had seen circumstances 'result in extremely high levels of forest fires and deforestation in Brazil' and that the targets and budgets to reduce the problem were inadequate.

Existing protections and land designations enshrined in Brazilian law help companies have trust that their products and investments are aligned with the commitments they have as environmentally and socially responsible businesses, they wrote.

British supermarkets including Waitrose have warned Brazil that they could stop sourcing products from the country

A fallen tree lies in an area of the Amazon jungle that was cleared by loggers and farmers near Porto Velh in Brazil last August

The companies say they want to help develop sustainable land management and agriculture in Brazil, and support economic development while upholding indigenous community rights, without putting at risk progress in protecting vital natural systems that are essential for the world.

'However, if this or other measures that undermine these existing protections become law, we will have no choice but to reconsider our support and use of the Brazilian agricultural commodity supply chain,' the letter warned.

Cathryn Higgs, head of food policy at the Co-op, said: 'The Amazon faces a new threat with legislation that undermines the credibility of environmental protections.

'Its rainforest is essential to planetary health and it's imperative the proposed legislation isn't given any airtime by the Brazilian government.

Logs are stacked at a lumber mill surrounded by recently charred and deforested fields near Porto Velho in Brazil in 2019

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is pictured in Brasilia in March. Major British food companies and supermarkets have raised concerns over a new effort by Brazil to legalise the private occupation of public land, mostly in the Amazon

'We are joining forces with environmentally and socially responsible organisations to oppose the measures being put forward. If these new laws are brought in we will have no choice but to reconsider our support and use of the Brazilian agricultural commodity supply chain.'

Mike Barrett, executive director of science and conservation at WWF-UK, said: 'We cannot fight the climate crisis without the Amazon, yet its future hangs in the balance as deforestation pushes it closer to the point of collapse.

'If passed, this vote in the Brazilian Congress will fuel further destruction and place greater risk on the lives of the people and wildlife who call it home.

'As global efforts to protect the Amazon threaten to be undermined, it's encouraging to see major businesses sounding the alarm.'
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Boris Johnson last night sent two Royal Navy gunships to Jersey 'as a precaution' in a major escalation of the 'unacceptable' row with France over post-Brexit fishing rights.

Armed with cannon and machine guns, the vessels will patrol the Channel after Paris warned yesterday it could cut off electricity to the British Crown dependency which is largely supplied via an undersea cable.

It is understood the Prime Minister made the decision to deploy the patrol boats after intelligence suggested a fleet of 100 fishing boats was threatening to block all access to the port at Saint Helier this morning.

French maritime minister Annick Girardin yesterday accused Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, of dragging its feet over issuing new licences to French fishing boats.

She said France was ready to take 'retaliatory measures'  suggesting it could cut power to Jersey, which receives 95 per cent of its electricity from France.

Maritime tracking websites last night showed that HMS Severn was en route to Jersey 'to conduct maritime security patrols'. It is an older Batch 1 patrol vessel equipped with 20mm cannons and 7.62mm machine guns.

HMS Tamar, a Batch 2 vessel with a 30mm MK44 Bushmaster cannon, has also been deployed.

The Ministry of Defence said: 'HMS Severn and HMS Tamar are deploying to Jersey to conduct maritime security patrols. This is a strictly precautionary measure and has been agreed with the Jersey Government.'

It is understood that the ships, based in Portsmouth, are due to arrive today.

Last night's move evokes memories of the Cod Wars which took place in the North Atlantic during the 1970s, when at times the Royal Navy stopped Icelandic boats from interfering with British trawlers.

The row is the result of Jersey implementing new requirements under the terms of the UK-EU trade deal for boats to submit evidence of their past fishing activities in order to receive a licence to carry on operating in its waters.

Boris Johnson last night sent two Royal Navy boats to Jersey 'as a precaution' to monitor the situation following an 'unacceptable' threat from France to cut off electricity. Pictured: HMS Tamar in April

The Royal Navy's HMS Severn Offshore Patrol Vessel enters the River Tyne on a previous deployment

The Royal Navy's HMS Severn is armed with a 20mm cannon and two general purpose machine guns

The HMS Tamar, which is expected to arrive in Jersey this morning, has three general purpose machine guns on board

Post-Brexit rules that kicked in on Friday last week means French fishing vessels now need a licence to fish the waters around Jersey, which are issued by the island's government

Mr Johnson yesterday 'stressed the urgent need for a de-escalation in tensions and for dialogue between Jersey and France on fishing access' in talks with Chief Minister of Jersey, John Le Fondre, and the island's minister of external affairs, Ian Gorst.

'The Prime Minister underlined his unwavering support for Jersey. He said that any blockade would be completely unjustified,' a Downing Street spokesperson said.

'As a precautionary measure the UK will be sending two offshore patrol vessels to monitor the situation.

'They agreed the UK and Jersey governments would continue to work closely on this issue.'

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Trade Minister Greg Hands also spoke to their French counterparts on Wednesday and raised concerns about the recent provocations.

Government sources said Environment Secretary George Eustice has repeatedly tried to set up a meeting with Mrs Girardin in the past 48 hours but the French minister has been unable or unwilling to attend.

Speaking yesterday, Mrs Girardin warned France was prepared to use 'retaliatory measures' outlined in the Brexit deal following the bitter row over fishing rights.

She added: 'Regarding Jersey, I remind you of the delivery of electricity along underwater cables even if it would be regrettable if we had to do it, we'll do it if we have to.'

Around 95 per cent of Jersey's electricity supply comes via a 40million undersea electricity cable which was laid between the island and France in 2016.

Known as Normandie 1, the 16.7-mile cable took over a week to install and also provides power to Guernsey.

A senior Government source said Mrs Girardin's comments were 'surprising and disappointing, especially from a close neighbour', adding: 'This is just the latest example of the EU issuing threats as a first resort at any sign of difficulty.'

Maritime tracking websites showed that HMS Severn was en route to Jersey. It is an older Batch 1 patrol vessel equipped with 20mm cannons and 7.62mm machine guns

Jersey foreign minister Ian Gorst (left) yesterday hit back at 'disproportionate' threats by French seas minister Annick Girardin (right) to cut off electricity to the island amid a fishing row

HMS SEVERN STATS Displacement: 1,700 tonnes Length: 79.5 m (260 ft 10 in) Beam: 13.5 m (44 ft 3 in) Draught: 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in) Speed: 20 kn (37 km/h) Propulsion: Two Ruston 12RK diesel engines Range: 5,500 nmi (10,200 km) Endurance: 21 days Capacity: 50 Armament: 1  Oerlikon 20 mm cannon 2  General purpose machine guns Advertisement

HMS TAMAR STATS Displacement: 2,000 tonnes Length: 90.5 m (296 ft 11 in) Beam: 13 m (42 ft 8 in) Draught: 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in) Speed: 24 kn (44 km/h) Propulsion: Two V16 main engines Range: 5,500 nmi (10,200 km) Endurance: 35 days Capacity: 70 Armament: 1  30mm Mark 44 Bushmaster II mounted cannon 2  General purpose machine guns 2  Miniguns Advertisement

Jersey's foreign affairs minister Mr Gorst also vented fury at the threat, saying 'it is not the first ... that France has made' over fisheries and warning the 'confusing' EU trade agreement had caused the feud.

Mr Gorst said that of the 41 boats which sought licences under the new post-Brexit rules last Friday, all but 17 had provided the evidence required.

He asserted that the fishermen have simply failed to provide enough data about their historic fishing routes, and as soon as this data is provided the licences will be updated to allow them access.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Gorst said: 'We absolutely respect the historic rights of French fishermen to fish in Jersey waters as they have been doing for centuries.

'But the trade deal - that Jersey didn't negotiate, and nor did France - says that fishing vessels have to... provide all of the evidence of the amount of fishing they have actually done [in the last three years].

'We can all see that this is not the first threat that the French have made, either to Jersey or the United Kingdom, since we're into this new deal.

'It would seem disproportionate to cut off electricity for the sake of needing to provide extra details so we can refine the licences.

'The trade deal is clear that when fishermen provide the evidence, we will provide the licences.'

Boris Johnson (seen yesterday) waded into the row tonight with a government spokeswoman branding the 'disproportionate' sabre-rattling towards the Channel Island by Paris - insisting there were other ways of working out the issues

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks at the Academie Francaise Bicentenary of the death of Napoleon Bonaparte

It is understood the Royal Navy vessels deployed are patrol boats HMS Severn and HMS Tamar. Pictured: HMS Tamar last May

Didier Leguelinel, from the Normandy fishing committee, last night told the Daily Telegraph he could not stop the anticipated blockade, saying: 'The general feeling is that we have been insulted by the Jersey Government.'

David Sellam, the head of the Normandy-Brittany sea authority, added he believes Jersey has been taken over by an 'extremist fringe who want to reduce French fishing access and profit from Brexit.'

He said: 'We're ready for war. We can bring Jersey to its knees if necessary.'

Simmering tensions between France the UK over rights to fish in the Channel suddenly boiled over last Friday when post-Brexit trading rules came into force around the island of Jersey.

The new rules mean that any large French fishing vessels that want to enter the waters will need a licence provided by Jersey's government.

But fishermen have complained that the licences have been issued with conditions that they were previously unaware of and which had not previously been cleared with French authorities.

French regional officials spoke out about the issue at the weekend, before the French government got involved and ramped up the rhetoric on Wednesday.

Angered fishermen also began calling for a blockade of the island, and for their British counterparts to be banned from landing their catch at French ports.

At the moment, under the terms of the trade deal, French fishermen have to apply for their licence to their government, which then sends the application to Westminster, before it is passed on to Jersey.

In another sign of fraying tensions, it was revealed that Normandy will not reopen its honorary diplomatic premises in Jersey post-Covid - effectively cutting ties with the Channel Island.

Mr Gorst described the decision as 'disappointing' and added that 'those historic ties are really important to us.'

Mr Gorst insisted the row come down to just 17 licences for French boats that have not provided enough data about their historic fishing routes (file image, French fishermen protest the licences last month)

French fishermen have also called for a blockade of Jersey and for British vessels to be banned from landing their catches in French ports until the licences are sorted (file image, French fishermen protest the licences last month)

Around 95 per cent of Jersey's electricity supply comes via a 40million undersea electricity cable which was laid between the island (above, Saint Helier) and France in 2016

Energy links to France 'reviewed' By Elliot Mulligan for the Daily Mail Britain could review its energy links with France in the wake of the row over Jersey, it was claimed last night. Britain currently imports about 8 per cent of its power from foreign nations and Northern Ireland via underwater interconnectors. But as the UK becomes more reliant on wind power, there are plans to increase foreign electricity imports to about 25 per cent, which would be relied upon when the renewable source is low. However, a Whitehall source told The Daily Telegraph the UK would have to take a more cautious view of the French as an energy partner in the wake of its threat to cut off Jersey's electricity supply. It is understood the Government now views the Netherlands as a more reliable ally and is looking at projects with that country. The move could jeopardise a controversial 1.1billion scheme to build a cable between Hampshire and Le Havre to provide electricity to millions of homes. Alexander Temerko, an energy tycoon and Tory donor who is leading the project, said a link to Jersey could be added to his or other interconnectors to cut the island's reliance on its undersea cables to France. He said: 'We need to avoid putting people under humanitarian risk.' Advertisement

He held talks with Marc Lefevre, the president of the La Manche region of northern France, yesterday on the 'difficult set of issues relating to fishing licences'.

'There are a number of important matters which we will continue to work through,' he said.

Mr Gorst added the Jersey government is now seeking permission from London and Brussels to speak directly with the French fishermen concerned to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, UK vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi urged all sides to 'work constructively' to find a solution.

'This is an issue for the [EU] commission to work with our team and all the indications from minister (David) Frost and his team is that the commission is taking seriously some of these operational challenges that we need to fix together,' he said.

The French fisheries ministry asserts that London has effectively made new zoning rules for the waters - 'where the ships can go and cannot go', as well as the number of days the fishermen can spend at sea and with which machinery.

Paris claims London has made new demands while insisting that French fishing vessels carry data-tracking gear 'which were not arranged or discussed, and which we were not notified about.'

Dimitri Rogoff, president of the regional fishing committee of Normandy in northern France, said that if French fishermen continued to be blocked from the waters off Jersey, there should be reprisal measures.

'Fishermen from Jersey should not be able to land at Granville,' he said, referring to the French port nearest the island.

French fishermen last month began a protest movement, blockading trucks bringing fish from Britain to France, over complaints that few of their vessels have obtained licences to operate in British waters.

France and Britain have increasingly clashed over fishing in recent weeks, with French fishermen saying they are being prevented from operating in British waters because of difficulties in obtaining licences.

The French fisheries ministry said Britain had introduced 'new technical measures' relating to licences for fishing off the Channel Islands which had not been properly declared to the European Union under the terms of the Brexit deal.

'We consider that if the new demands for sea zoning or fishing equipment are integrated into the licences - when the European Commission has not been notified - they are null and void,' the ministry said.

It added it was adhering 'strictly to the deal' agreed on fishing under the terms of Britain's exit from the European Union on January 1.

'If the United Kingdom wants to introduce new measures, it must notify the European Commission which in turn notifies us - that allows for us to engage in a dialogue,' the ministry said.

Tonight's decision followed talks between the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Jersey, John Le Fondre (above), regarding threats of a blockade of Saint Helier made as a dispute over post-Brexit access to Jersey waters escalated

Fishing boats are seen at a port in France. Dimitri Rogoff, president of the regional fishing committee of Normandy in northern France, said that if French fishermen continued to be blocked from the waters off Jersey, there should be reprisal measures

Downing Street confirmed the Prime Minister has spoken to the Chief Minister of Jersey John Le Fondre regarding threats of a blockade of Saint Helier - the only town on the Channel Island

'These new technical measures are not applicable to our fishermen as things stand.'

Fishing proved one of the most fraught issues in the frantic negotiations leading up to Britain's departure from the EU, with London tightly guarding control over its waters as a symbol of its sovereignty.

France said it had voiced its displeasure at the surprise measures with the European Commission.

Commission spokeswoman Vivian Loonela said the EU was engaged in 'intense joint work' with the British government to resolve the issue.

'Any condition should be notified in a timely way to allow the other party sufficient time to comment or adapt,' she said of the new British requirements.

'In addition, any such conditions cannot be discriminatory towards our fishermen.'

DANIEL HANNAN: Emmanuel Macron, the new Napoleon? No, he's a Poundland Putin

A stable democracy doesn't threaten to cut off its neighbour's energy supplies. That is the sort of behaviour we associate with rogue states.

Putin's Russia, for example, sometimes resorts to 'gas diplomacy' to browbeat Ukraine and other nearby states. An energy blockade is calculatedly bellicose  if not exactly an act of war, then certainly a declaration of hostile intent.

Incredibly, such a threat is now being made by the French government against Jersey, a British Crown dependency 14 miles from the Normandy coast, in a row over fishing licences.

In a dramatic development last night, as Boris Johnson pledged his 'unwavering support' for the island, it was announced that two Royal Navy patrol vessels will be sent to monitor this planned French blockade of Jersey's main port.

A stable democracy doesn't threaten to cut off its neighbour's energy supplies. That is the sort of behaviour we associate with rogue states. Pictured: French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron stand in front of the tomb of French Emperor Napoleon during a ceremony marking the 200th anniversary of his death in Paris on May 5

Jersey gets most of its electricity from cables that run under that short stretch of water from France.

A contract with the French firm EDF, which runs until 2027, provides for over 90 per cent of the island's power  though Jersey Electricity insists that, if supplies are disrupted, it can generate whatever is needed.

Whether or not the French government has the legal authority to override Jersey's contract with EDF, it certainly has the practical capacity: EDF is state-owned.

So when France's Maritime Minister Annick Girardin threatens 'retaliatory measures' and says 'France has many levers, notably on the supply of electricity by undersea cables to Jersey,' we should take her seriously.

By 'we', I mean all of us in the United Kingdom, which is responsible for Jersey's international relations. For this is a Brexit dispute  part of a wider EU campaign of intimidation since our decision to leave.

Jersey was never in the EU, and so was never fully part of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Yet it has now been dragged into this argument because of French resentment of the UK's reassertion of control over its territorial waters.

The details of the dispute are technical, almost petty. The UK and the Channel Islands recognise the historic rights of boats that have always fished in their waters.

A new system for verifying such claims was brought in when we left the CFP, but not all French skippers were able to comply with it.

Putin's Russia, for example, sometimes resorts to 'gas diplomacy' to browbeat Ukraine and other nearby states. An energy blockade is calculatedly bellicose  if not exactly an act of war, then certainly a declaration of hostile intent

This is, in other words, a situation broadly comparable to the imposition of extra checks on British exporters, especially of shellfish, who sold to Continental markets. New procedures mean extra paperwork and, in some cases, lost sales.

How did our Government respond to that earlier dispute? It worked patiently to overcome the new bureaucracy and, in the meantime, it compensated the affected industries.

French ministers, by contrast, have issued public threats rather that engaging quietly with their opposite numbers.

Why such hysterical escalation? This is not the first time that the Channel Islands have been in our front line. Jersey was attacked in 1406 during the Hundred Years War, and again in 1779 and 1781 when France sought to take advantage of the revolution in America.

The island was also occupied by Germany from July 1940 until the surrender in May 1945  a wretched experience that saw its children evacuated to mainland UK, and thus all but killed off the dialect of Norman French that had been widespread.

These days, France is supposed to be a Nato ally. Yet here it is threatening the sort of sanctions that might be more aptly deployed against an enemy, such as North Korea.

Part of the explanation might lie in Emmanuel Macron's increasingly dictatorial behaviour. It is extraordinary to think that the French president was once hailed as a liberal centrist.

During the recent row over vaccines, for example, he made the kinds of statements that get anti-vaxxers banned from social media, claiming that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was ineffective, but simultaneously demanding legal action to get more of it.

His grandiose gestures  yesterday, he laid a wreath at the tomb of Napoleon, who destroyed the French republic with a putsch then plunged Europe into a series of disastrous wars  suggest autocracy rather than moderation.

His grandiose gestures  yesterday, he laid a wreath at the tomb of Napoleon, who destroyed the French republic with a putsch then plunged Europe into a series of disastrous wars  suggest autocracy rather than moderation. Pictured: Macron and his wife stand in front of the tomb of Napoleon during a ceremony on May 5

Perhaps he is worried about the rise of Marine Le Pen, who is catching up with him in the polls.

Last week, the leader of the National Rally endorsed a letter written by 20 retired generals that hinted at a military intervention to prevent France sliding into chaos  a letter backed, according to the polls, by 58 per cent of French voters.

Perhaps Macron wants to burnish his nationalist credentials. Perhaps he calculates that bashing the Brits (in the eyes of most French voters, Jerseymen count as Brits) plays well with the home crowd. Or perhaps he sees himself as another Bonaparte, leading France to glory.

Whatever the explanation, he plainly likes to exaggerate his quarrels with the UK, not least over fisheries.

If it were solely a row about fishing vessels' licences, we might be able to shrug it off. But this is the latest in a series of salvoes that have been fired at Britain since the Brexit vote.

Some of these have been micro-aggressions: sneering tweets from Eurocrats or outrageous claims by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, that the UK is prohibiting vaccine exports.

Others have been more serious. The UK, for example, has granted what is known as 'equivalence' to EU financial services companies, allowing them to operate here as if regulated in the UK.

This is a normal courtesy among developed countries. But the EU refuses to reciprocate.

Then there was the vaccine blockade, in which Macron played such a low role. Embarrassed because they had been slow to place orders, and desperate to deflect blame, the European Commission announced a targeted embargo from which every neighbouring country was exempted except the UK.

Most seriously, there is the determination in Brussels to use the Northern Ireland Protocol to force Britain to follow its rules. Many of the EU's constituent nations are our allies, but the Brussels institutions cannot be considered well-disposed.

Eurocrats see our economic success, not as an opportunity to sell more to their largest market, but as an affront. They view Britain, not as a partner, but as a renegade province.

And how should we respond?

One obvious step is to reduce our dependence on electricity generated in the EU. We mustn't be in a position again where we can be blackmailed as Jersey is.

More widely, we need to rethink our geopolitical goals. Just as our trade is going global, so should our strategic assumptions. For decades, we rightly focused on the defence of Europe through Nato.

But can we continue to defend an antagonistic EU, with all the joint operations and intelligence-sharing implied?

Our truest friends, like our richest prospects, lie across the oceans. It is clearly time to raise our eyes.

Lord Hannan is a former Conservative MEP and serves on the UK Board of Trade.
Four people have been killed after a plane crashed into a home in Mississippi.

Emergency crews rushed to the street in Hattiesburg at about 11.20pm on Tuesday.

Police did not confirm whether the causalities were in the aircraft or if they were residents of the house.

The entire length of Annie Christie Drive was closed off for hours last night as fire trucks and ambulance crews lined the sidewalk

The entire length of Annie Christie Drive was closed off for hours last night as fire trucks and ambulance crews lined the sidewalk, WDAM7 reported.

Ryan Moore, of Hattiesburg Police Department, asked local residents not to touch or move any fragments of the plane that they might find, and to notify the police.

The Federal Aviation Administration will now investigate the cause of the accident.
A collection of battered 17th century trading tokens, including ones minted in the year of the Great Fire of London in 1666, could fetch 20,000 at auction.

Roger Green, who is from Kent, spent 35 years collecting the tokens on the muddy banks of the River Thames.

They were issued by traders instead of money due to a lack of available small change at the time.

Many of the money tokens bear the names of the traders who once issued them, including 'Walter' and 'William'.

The entire collection is expected to fetch between 15,000 and 20,000 when it is sold at Hansons Auctioneers, in Derbyshire, later this month.

A quarter of the 360 tokens in the collection display the year of the London fire, which six people and left around 100,000 people homeless.

Alan Smith, head of Hansons' Historica department, speculated that it was likely many of the tokens 'flew out of pockets and bags' amid people's panicked attempt to escape the flames.

A collection of battered 17th Century trading tokens, including ones minted in the year of the Great Fire of London in 1666, could fetch 20,000 at auction. Pictured: This coin was issued by trader Marie Allen, from Wye in Kent

Many of the money tokens were found buried in the muddy banks of the River Thames after lying undiscovered for more than 300 years. Pictured: The other side of the token issued by Marie Allen

Mr Green said one of his most prized tokens is one from Erith, south-east London, which is only a mile from where he used to live. The coin is dated 1671

Mr Green said: 'I started collecting coins but gradually moved to tokens. I find them more interesting as they're personal to the people who issued and used them.

'I joined the Society of Thames Mudlarks and Antiquarians in 1985.

'River digging opened a whole new area and over the years I managed to find quite a few tokens, mostly from London and Southwark but also from other areas of the country.

'One of my most prized tokens is from Erith, an area of south-east London only a mile or so from where I used to live.

A quarter of the 360 tokens in the collection display the year of the London fire, which killed 70,000 people. Alan Smith, head of Hansons' Historica department, speculated that it was likely many of the tokens 'flew out of pockets and bags' amid people's panicked attempt to escape the flames

Roger Green, who is from Kent, spent 35 years collecting the tokens, which were issued by traders instead of money due to a lack of available small change at the time

What were trading tokens? Trading tokens were coins which were issued by English tradespeople in the 17th century. They circulated between 1648 and 1672, when copper coinage in England was in disarray. Small denominational coins were considered less important and so circulated in low numbers among the public. After the English Civil war, Parliament resumed the minting of precious metal coinage, but small denominational coins were again neglected. To facilitate transactions of low value, individual tradesmen and some local town authorities issued their own tokens in place of small change. These tokens were redeemable in the shops or premises where they were issued and would not have circulated widely beyond the area in which they were issued. Advertisement

'It was found at Billingsgate in London and was my reward for a particularly arduous dig.

'Tokens from the river are usually in good condition as they're in a sealed layer of silt which preserves them from the ravages of time.

'Now I've decided it's time to let my collection go. I'm getting older and have fewer opportunities to add new pieces.

'Also, as I now live in Dorset, the draw of Kent pieces is not so strong.

'I have my grandma to thank for my passion for collecting. She bought me an album and packet of foreign stamps when I was eight.

'I found these fascinating and learned much about the world.

'For me, the 17th century is a particularly fascinating period as it was the time of the English Civil War and then the Commonwealth before a return to the monarchy.

'I hope the sale of my tokens will inspire others to enjoy collecting them.'

Auctioneer Mr Smith said: 'During the panic and chaos of The Great Fire of London, the Thames offered water to quell the flames and a means of escape by boat.

'In the panic, it's likely many of these tiny trading tokens flew out of pockets and bags.

'At the time, tokens were used as currency in London as no small-value coins were being minted by the government.

'To enable them to do business, traders pressed their own farthing or half-penny tokens to give as change.

Auctioneer Mr Smith said: 'During the panic and chaos of The Great Fire of London, the Thames offered water to quell the flames and a means of escape by boat. In the panic, it's likely many of these tiny trading tokens flew out of pockets and bags'. Pictured: This token bears the name 'Milton' and the initials 'WN'

The other side of the same token bears the name 'Walter Ninn'. Mr Green said: 'I started collecting coins but gradually moved to tokens. I find them more interesting as they're personal to the people who issued and used them

'They could be spent locally and were widely used between 1648 and 1673.

'This token collection is impressive. We hear about Bitcoin and a cashless society but finding new ways to trade and pay for items is nothing new.

'Hundreds of years ago, people came up with innovative ways to do just that.'

The Great Fire of London raged for days between September 2-6, 1666.

This token, which is dated 1668, is in the shape of a heart and bears the name William. On one side it reads 'His Half Peny'

It gutted the medieval City of London, destroyed 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches, St Paul's Cathedral and most City authority buildings.

It's estimated that 70,000 of the city's 80,000 inhabitants lost their homes.

The Roger Green Tokens Collection will go under the hammer on May 21-22 at Hansons Auctions in Etwall, Derbyshire.

This coin was issued by tradesman Robert Dier, who appears to have been based in Chatham, Kent
The family of an engineer who died when his car sank in floodwaters in Sydney's west has been farewelled by his family, who were forced to watch from a car after arriving from Pakistan.

Ayaz Younus, 25, died while driving to his first day at a new job in Glenorie when his car sank in rising floodwaters on March 24.

His parents flew from Pakistan to attend the funeral for their son on Wednesday, however they were unable to join the mourners for the service because they were still in Covid-19 quarantine - only allowed out, wearing masks and in a car, under a special exemption.

Three of his siblings had not even been allowed into Australia, despite the family applying under compassionate grounds.

Ayaz Younus's parents watch from a car window as he is buried at Riverstone Cemetery in Marsden Park

Ayaz Younus was farewelled on Wednesday by crowds of people after he died in floodwaters in Sydney

Mr Younus's parents were granted permission to leave quarantine to attend a prayer service and burial.

They were forced to view their son's casket alone, his mother, Maqsooda Bibi was seen sobbing as she farewelled her son.

A large crowd attended Masjid Baitul Huda in Marsden Park to farwell Mr Younus on Wednesday.

Mr Younus's parents film from a car as his grave is filled with dirt - unable to attend in person due to strict Covid-19 quarantine

Mr Younus's parents released a rerecorded a statement by his father Muhammad which was played during his funeral service.

'When I stepped out of Sydney Airport, my eyes were looking for him,' his father said.

'I wished we could have hugged him once more. I wished we could have embraced him and kissed his forehead.'

Mr Younus was a software engineer who had recently completed his masters degree, and was about to start working as a driver for a multinational company.

The grieving parents of 25-year-old Ayaz Younus (pictured) flew from Pakistan to attend the funeral for their son on Wednesday

The funeral for Mr Younus was delayed by a coronial inquiry and because of the complications involved getting permission for his family to attend.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Association of Australia helped pay for the family's travel, accommodation and funeral costs.

His parents arrived in Australia on Sunday and immediately went into quarantine, but Mr Younus' three siblings were denied permission to fly from Pakistan.

A partially submerged car abandoned in the NSW suburb of Windsor during the horror floods which claimed the much-loved student's life

Friend Hamad Chaudhry remembers Mr Younus as a keen sportsman who was very involved with the community.

'Ayaz was a very happy and friendly person who loved his sport and was extremely community-minded. He is deeply missed,' Mr Chaudhry said.

Mr Younus will be honoured with a prayer service at Marsden Park before being buried at Riverstone Cemetery.
A murder suspect has been charged after being extradited from the US over the fatal stabbing of a 21-year-old music producer in a drill rap feud.

Jahtel Williamson, 25, was extradited from Washington DC on Saturday and handed over to police following his arrival at Heathrow Airport.

He has been charged with the murder of Dean Pascale-Modeste, for which four other men have already been jailed.

Corey Donaldson and Alex Scott, both 18, were jailed for life for stabbing Mr Pascale-Modeste 14 times on February 24, 2017, as the music producer was on his way to a recording session in Mottingham, south-east London.

Jahtel Williamson, 25, has been charged with the murder of Dean Pascale-Modeste (pictured), for which four other men have already been jailed

Devone Pusey, 20, and Kai Stewart, 18, were also found guilty of the murder the following year. Stewart, who initially fled the country to Jamaica, was jailed for a minimum of 17 years while Pusey was jailed for a minimum of 20.

Williamson appeared at the Old Bailey today charged with murdering Mr Pascal-Modeste.

Peter Ratcliffe, prosecuting, said: 'That afternoon, the victim had travelled from East London to southeast London with two friends, Mr [Keanu] Noble and Mr [Gabriel]Tovarez.

'The victim and Mr Noble were outside at Grove Park when a moped drove towards them.

'One of them pointed a gun at them.'

The two friends ran off in different directions but Mr Pascal-Modeste ended up at a dead end.

'He was set upon by a group of males in dark clothes.

'That group were carrying weapons, including knives and machetes,' said Mr Ratlife.

Mr Pascale-Modeste was mobbed by a group of teenagers on mopeds, then chased by a second group through the Chinbrook estate in Grove Park before being repeatedly stabbed.

He was hunted down by members of the B Side gang from Lewisham because he was friends with their rivals the Splash gang, who were locked in a 'poisonous' YouTube rap feud, exchanging barbs in their online videos on TimWestwoodTV.

And Westwood, the 63-year-old son of a Cambridge bishop, was mentioned in the Old Bailey murder trial by Judge Nicholas Cooke QC who said drill music was putting innocent people in 'harm's way'.

Corey Donaldson (left) and Alex Scott (right), both 18, were jailed for life for stabbing Mr Pascale-Modeste 14 times on February 24, 2017, as the music producer was on his way to a recording session in Mottingham, south-east London

A Met Police database that tracked more than 600 suspected gangsters across 1,100 YouTube clips, named 32 videos on his channel that potentially incite violence.

The DJ, who hosted the BBC Radio 1 Rap Show for 20 years until 2013, earns money from advertising on the channel.

It has amassed 388million views by broadcasting clips including hundreds of rap videos from mainstream stars and suspected gang members.

In 2018, the family of a murdered teenager accused Mr Westwood of glamorising knife crime after he recorded a video with a gang celebrating the killing.

Abdullahi Tarabi, 19, was stabbed after being chased through a west London estate in daylight on April 11, 2017.

Devone Pusey (left), 20, and Kai Stewart (right), 18, were also found guilty of the murder the following year. Stewart, who initially fled the country to Jamaica, was jailed for a minimum of 17 years while Pusey was jailed for a minimum of 20

Screenshot of B Side gang members in a freestyle rap video for Tim Westwood's YouTube channel

Two 17-year-old defendants were cleared following an Old Bailey trial in October 2017.

Around the same time, Mr Westwood posted a music video he had recorded with a rap gang when they boasted that the victim 'got splashed and I don't feel sorry for his mum'.

The victim's mother, Fawziya Ahmed, said: 'This is hurtful. I can't believe someone would say that.'

Mr Westwood's spokesman has previously said: 'TimWestwoodTV gives up-and-coming artists a platform to be heard by a wider audience. The YouTube channel provides a non-profit outlet for young artists to express their talent and help provide them with an opportunity to get into the music industry.'

Williamson, formerly of Greenwich, was remanded in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at the Old Bailey on July 21.
Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab today tried to shrug off the Indian delegation to the G7 foreign ministers' summit in London going into self-isolation after positive coronavirus cases.

The Foreign Secretary said 'we are all having to adapt in agile ways' as he kicked off the second day of the gathering after the dramatic news.

And the PM went ahead with joining the session this evening, rejecting suggestions the in-person talks should not have gone ahead. 'I think it is very important to try to continue as much business as you can as a government,' he said.

Government sources have confirmed to MailOnline that two members of the Indian delegation have tested positive, and the whole group is now believed to be in isolation as a precaution.

India is not part of the G7 but they are attending the gathering - the first major face-to-face meeting since the pandemic erupted. The delegation was exempted from strict quarantine rules, but has been tested daily.

The cases were picked up by Public Health England last night, before the delegation was due to join G7 meetings at Lancaster House today.

Priti Patel met the Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the Home Office yesterday, although he is not believed to be one of the positive cases. He is now taking part in the meetings remotely.

Another government source said PHE had advised that the UK delegation does not need to isolate, as social distance was observed and masks were worn. During the formal sessions the ministers sit round a table separated by clear screens to minimise risks.

The revelation threatens to throw the summit into chaos. It was meant to be Covid secure and demonstrate that international diplomacy can get back to normal ahead of the full G7 summit in Cornwall next month.

That is due to be attended by US president Joe Biden among other world leaders.

Dr Jaishankar tweeted this morning: 'Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases.

'As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well.'

Dr Jaishankar had been due to see Mr Johnson this afternoon, but the talks were changed to take place over Zoom.

A senior UK diplomat said: 'We deeply regret that foreign minister Dr Jaishankar will be unable to attend the meeting today in person and will now attend virtually, but this is exactly why we have put in place strict Covid protocols and daily testing.'

Keir Starmer waded into the situation this morning, insisting questioned need to be answered about how the outbreak happened.

Boris Johnson held talks with Indian PM Narendra Modi over video link yesterday.

The news came amid rising fears about Indian Covid variants, with figures suggesting they now make up one in 10 cases in London.

Data from the Sanger Institute, which analyses positive swabs for different variants, suggest the mutant strains spread widely during April.

Boris Johnson went ahead with joining the G7 session this evening, after rejecting suggestions the in-person talks should not have gone ahead

Dominic Raab (pictured with French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian today) has tried to shrug off the Indian delegation to the G7 foreign ministers' summit in London

G7 foreign ministers were welcomed by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured with Canada's Marc Garneau) at Lancaster House this morning for the second day of the summit

Mr Raab, wearing a face mask, arrived at the venue ahead of officials from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, the US and the EU. Pictured left, Italy's Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio

G7 ministers pose for a 'family photo' yesterday. India is not part of the G7 but they are attending the gathering as guests

Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar tweeted confirming the news today

Priti Patel met the Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the Home Office yesterday, but he is not believed to be one of the positive cases

Public Health England has divided the Indian variant in three sub-types because they aren't identical. Type 1 and Type 3 both have a mutation called E484Q but Type 2 is missing this, despite still clearly being a descendant of the original Indian strain. It is not yet clear what separates Type 1 and 3

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE INDIA VARIANTS? Real name: B.1.617  now divided into B.1.617.1; B.1.617.2; B.1.617.3 When and where was it discovered? The variant was first reported by the Indian government in February 2021. But the first cases appear to date back to October 2020. Its presence in the UK was first announced by Public Health England on April 15. There have since been at least 400 cases spotted in genetic lab testing. What mutations does it have? It has 13 mutations that separate it from the original Covid virus that emerged in China  but the two main ones are named E484Q and L452R. Scientists suspect these two alterations can help it to transmit faster and to get past immune cells made in response to older variants. PHE officials said it has split into three distinct virus types, with types 1 and 3 both having the E484Q mutation but type 2 missing the change, despite having all the other hallmarks of the variant. Is it more infectious and can it evade vaccines? The L452R mutation is also found on the Californian variant (B.1.429), even though the two evolved independently. It is thought to make the American strain 20 per cent more infectious than the original Wuhan version  even with the extra 20 per cent it is likely slower than the Kent variant. The E484Q mutation is very similar to the one found in the South African and Brazil variants known as E484K, which can help the virus evade antibodies. The South African variant is thought to make vaccines about 30 per cent less effective at stopping infections, but it's not clear what effect it has on severe illness. Professor Sharon Peacock, of PHE, claimed there was 'limited' evidence of E484Q's effect on immunity and vaccines. Lab studies have suggested it may be able to escape some antibodies, but to what degree remains uncertain. Early research suggests both the AstraZeneca vaccine, known as Covishield in India, and the Pfizer jab, still work against the variant, as well as India's own jab, Covaxin. A paper published by SAGE last week suggested two doses of the Pfizer vaccine is good enough to protect against all known variants. How deadly is it? Scientists still don't know for sure. But they are fairly certain it won't be more deadly than the current variants in circulation in Britain. This is because there is no evolutionary benefit to Covid becoming more deadly. The virus's sole goal is to spread as much as it can, so it needs people to be alive and mix with others for as long as possible to achieve this. And, if other variants are anything to go by, the Indian strain should not be more lethal. There is still no conclusive evidence to show dominant versions like the Kent and South African variants are more deadly than the original Covid strain - even though they are highly transmissible. Doctors in India claim there has been a sudden spike in Covid admissions among people under 45, who have traditionally been less vulnerable to the disease. There have been anecdotal reports from medics that young people make up two third of new patients in Delhi. In the southern IT hub of Bangalore, under-40s made up 58 percent of infections in early April, up from 46 percent last year. There is still no proof younger people are more badly affected by the new strain. Should we be worried? Scientists are unsure exactly how transmissible or vaccine-resistant the Indian variant is because it hasn't been studied thoroughly. The fact it appears to have increased infectivity should not pose an immediate threat to the UK's situation because the current dominant Kent version appears equally or more transmissible. It will take a variant far more infectious strain than that to knock it off the top spot. However, if the Indian version proves to be effective at slipping past vaccine-gained immunity, then its prevalence could rise in Britain as the immunisation programme squashes the Kent variant. The UK currently classes the Indian strain as a 'Variant Under Investigation', a tier below the Kent, South African and Brazilian variants. But there are calls to move it up to the highest category. Scientists tracking the constantly-evolving virus say it's still not clear if India's third wave has been caused by the variant, or if it emerged at the same time by coincidence. Advertisement

Mr Johnson said: 'We have a very important relationship with India and with our G7 partners.

'As I understand it, what has happened is the individuals concerned are all isolating now.

'I will be seeing the Indian foreign minister later this afternoon and that will be a Zoom exchange, I'm given to understand.'

G7 foreign ministers were welcomed by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at Lancaster House this morning for the second day of the summit.

Mr Raab, wearing a face mask, arrived at the venue ahead of officials from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, the US and the EU.

He greeted them in the courtyard, including guests invited as part of the UK's tilt to the Indo-Pacific region, with an elbow bump replacing the usual handshake.

Coronavirus measures in place at the foreign ministers' meeting include regular testing and cleaning  with one insider joking there is 'hand sanitiser running down the walls' of Lancaster House.

On a visit to Yorkshire today, Sir Keir said there were questions that needed answering about the outbreak.

'Firstly, my thoughts are with those who have been affected by this and those who may be affected by this,' Sir Keir told reporters.

'I do think we need to ask questions about how this happened, if only to make sure it is not repeated.

'It is a reminder of how vigilant we need to be about our borders  we've been challenging Government on this for some months.

'Let's get to the bottom of how this happened  we cannot have a repeat.

'More broadly, my thoughts are with all those in India who are suffering  we've all seen those images, we must all do whatever we can to help the Indian people in their hour of need.'

Across the UK the three different Indian variants  which are all genetically similar  account for 2.4 per cent of all infections in the most recent week, ending April 17, up 12-fold from just 0.2 per cent at the end of March.

But the same figures suggest one in 10 cases in London were caused by the B.1.617 variants.

Data also showed the proportion ranged as high as 46 per cent in Lambeth and 36 per cent in Harrow  but the figures are based on tiny numbers of cases so clusters or super-spreading events have an amplified effect that may fade quickly.

Not much is known about the Indian variant, linked to an explosion of cases in India that has seen dead bodies spill out onto the street and mass cremations taking place in public car parks because hospitals have ran out of oxygen.

But one scientist said the most recent data  which doesn't include travellers' tests and is intended to be a snapshot of community infection rates  suggests it could be 'outcompeting' the Kent variant, which is dominant in the UK.

The proportion of cases being caused by the variants is rising whereas it would be expected to fall alongside the Kent variant if they were equally as fast-spreading.

But it could also just be a coincidence that outbreaks were happening where the variants were present, said Professor Christina Pagel, a mathematician at University College London and member of the Independent SAGE panel of experts.

There are too few cases in the UK to actually be able to tell anything about how the variants behave, Professor Pagel added, and not enough genetic testing in India.

Early research suggests both the AstraZeneca vaccine, known as Covishield in India, and the Pfizer jab, still work against the variant, as well as India's own jab, Covaxin. A paper published by SAGE last week suggested two doses of the Pfizer vaccine is good enough to protect against all known variants.

Public Health England's Dr Susan Hopkins said the agency was 'still investigating' the cases and added there is 'no evidence that the variant causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines currently deployed any less effective'.

'The numbers are still low but certainly in London right now, B.1.617 and its subtypes are the only variant that appears to be growing,' Professor Pagel told MailOnline yesterday.

'That could be because it is outcompeting other strains, including the dominant Kent strain, or it could be circumstantial in that there were some spreading events that happened that, just by chance, were the Indian strain.

'However, I think the experience of India and now its neighbours do provide plenty of reason to be cautious and assume that B.1.617 is more transmissible.'

PHE has designated the Indian strains 'variants under investigation' because they are not well understood.

The Kent and South Africa variants are 'variants of concern' because they are known to spread faster and escape some types of immunity  this means officials do surge testing to stamp out the South Africa variant when it's found, but they don't currently for India.

Another 357,229 Covid cases and 3,449 new fatalities were recorded by the health ministry in India yesterday but medics believe the real figures could be between five and 10 times higher.

Some have suggested the fast-spreading Kent variant could be behind the surge  similar patterns were seen when it took hold in the UK and Europe.

But others say it was a perfect storm of rules that weren't tight enough, people's inability to keep social distancing and also new variants emerging.

Data from the Wellcome Sanger Institute suggests it detected 100 test samples with the Indian variants in the most recent week, up from 52 in the week to April 10. This does not include tests from people travelling internationally.

During that time the proportion of national cases they accounted for rose from one per cent to 2.4 per cent. Dr Pagel also said the proportion nationally was slightly higher, at around 4 per cent.

This ate into the market share of the Kent variant, which fell from 97.8 to 96.2 per cent of cases. The Brazil and South Africa variants together account for less than one per cent.

They have now been found in dozens of local authorities across the country with hotspots in London and the Midlands, and Public Health England has officially confirmed 400 infections caused by the viruses.

As well as Lambeth (46 per cent of cases) and Harrow (36 per cent), the Indian variants also made up large proportions in Eastleigh, Hampshire (31 per cent); Bromley (25 per cent); Bolton (24 per cent); Stafford, Haringey and Hounslow (22 per cent).

Professor Pagel: 'It rapidly became dominant in India and, again the sequenced data there is sparse, but early modelling shows that it might well be more transmissible than our B.117 Kent strain.

'What we have also seen in India is that B.1.617.2 is becoming the dominant subtype  exactly the same pattern we see here in the UK.

'While this could reflect the situation in India through importation, the Sanger data tries to exclude travel related cases or surge testing and we still the rise of B.1.617.2 in that.

'So we cannot be definitive. But that doesn't mean we should be complacent either  as so often with Covid, waiting to be absolutely sure is waiting too long.'

Although the Sanger Institute data tries to filter out test results from people who have travelled internationally, its numbers likely reflect cases that are parts of clusters than began with a traveller.

India is now on Britain's red list, meaning only UK residents and citizens are allowed to make the journey into the country.

They must quarantine for 10 days in a hotel and test themselves three times  before departure and then twice during self-isolation.

Mr Raab welcomes South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor (left) this morning
A man has been accused of raping a young Melbourne woman who allegedly got into his car believing it was a rideshare service, as businesses urge users to always check the vehicle's make, model and licence plate.

Police allege the woman, 20, got into the vehicle near the intersection of Peel and Oxfords streets in inner-city Fitzroy shortly before 2.30am on April 30.

The driver is alleged to have offered the woman a lift home after leaving a licensed premises in nearby Smith Street.

He drove the woman to a location 2.5km away in Rowe Street, Fitzroy North where he allegedly sexually assaulted the woman in the vehicle.

Uber and other rideshare services urge users to always check the licence plate and car's make and model before getting in, and always to book their car using the official app.

The woman got into what she thought was a ride-share vehicle near the intersection of Peel and Oxfords streets (pictured) in Fitzroy in the early hours of last Friday

The victim managed to raise the alarm and alert a friend via text message, who reported to the incident to police, who arrived a short time later.

The driver, 50 from Mill Park in Melbourne's north-east was arrested by Sexual Crimes Squad detectives on Tuesday night.

He has since been charged with two counts of rape and one count of sexual assault and was due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court late Wednesday.

Ride-share company Uber urges customers to keep safe by checking the vehicle they get in matches the plate number, make and model details provided beforehand in the app.

Passengers are also urged to check the drivers photo.

HOW TO STAY SAFE IN A RIDESHARE CAR 1. Check your ride, every time You can make sure the car youre getting into matches the details shown in your rideshare app in 3 easy steps: Match the licence plate number. Match the cars make and model. Check the drivers photo. 2. Begin every ride with the app Using the app is the only way to request a ride. Its the simplest and safest way to get where you need to go, and we dont offer the capability to hail a ride on the street. 3. Make sure your pickups and drop offs are safe When you request your ride, keep an eye out for road hazards and no-stopping zones. Try to find somewhere safe for your driver to stop close by and use the anonymised calling and messaging feature in the app to let them know where you are. Before exiting a vehicle always look over your shoulder, and keep an eye out for cyclists, cars, pedestrians and scooters. 4. Share your journey with friends or family With a quick tap, you can share where you are and where youre headed with anyone in your devices contact list so they can follow your ride in real time. Source: Uber Advertisement
A man has been hailed as a hero for scaling a two-storey building to rescue an elderly neighbour who was about to fall from her balcony.

Camilo Medina, 24, climbed up to rescue the 80-year-old woman who had gotten stuck on the balcony of a building in Calahorra, a city in Spain's La Rioja region, on Monday afternoon.

The woman, who has not been named, is believed to be suffering from Parkinson's disease.

A video of the dramatic rescue shows Medina balancing perilously on the rail of the first-floor balcony while the woman hangs over the edge of the balcony above - almost 10 metres from the ground.

A man has scaled a two-storey building to rescue an elderly neighbour after noticing she was about to fall from her balcony. Camilo Medina, 24, climbed up to rescue the 80-year-old woman who had gotten stuck on the balcony of a building in Calahorra, a city in Spain's La Rioja region, on Monday afternoon

After balancing perilously on the first-floor balcony railing, Medina uses a ledge to pull himself up onto the second floor and runs over to the woman

Medina then uses a ledge to pull himself up onto the second floor and runs over to the woman.

He scoops her up and lifts her off of the rail to safety as onlookers cheer from the street below.

In the video, which appears to be shot from a window across the street, a man and a woman are heard commenting on Medina's bravery.

Medina, a psychology student, was passing by the woman's building, which is located near his family's business, when he heard her screaming in distress.

'I was in the store with my mother when my father came in saying that a lady was about to fall out of the window, Medina told local news outlet Diario La Rioja.

'Without thinking, I took the ladder from the store, climbed to the first-floor balcony and kept climbing up however I could.

Once he reaches the woman, Medina scoops her up and lifts her off of the rail to safety as onlookers cheer from the street below

Police arrived shortly after the rescue and the woman, who is believed to be suffering from Parkinson's, was taken to hospital for a check-up

'When I made it to her I felt very nervous and I remembered that she had told us this winter that she had Parkinson's,' he told the outlet, adding that the woman lives with relatives but was alone at the time.

Police arrived shortly afterward the woman was rescued but could not enter the woman's flat as it had been locked from the inside and Medina could not find the keys.

Officers contacted the woman's son-in-law who came and let them into the flat.

The woman was later transferred to a local hospital for a check-up.

Medina has been hailed as a hero by local media and social media users for his quick thinking and bravery.
This is the moment paedophile hunters confront a couple who they claim were attempting to meet and rape a teenage girl.

Footage shows the hunters speaking to the couple, who they claim were waiting at Sheffield station for the arrival of a 13-year-old girl.

The couple, from South Yorkshire, were apparently going to pick up the young girl who was travelling 250 miles from Dorset to meet them.

However the group, who were pretending to be the 13-year-old girl, turned up and met them instead.

One of the hunters taking part in the alleged sting can be heard to say: 'You've been talking to who you believe to be a 13-year-old child. It's actually not a 13-year-old child OK.

Footage shows the hunters speaking to the couple (pictured - pixelated for legal reasons), who they claim were waiting at Sheffield station for the arrival of a 13-year-old girl.

'I don't even know where to start with you. If I'm perfectly honest this is just so horrific, the pair of you, that I don't even know where to begin.

'You are here to meet a 13-year-old child, who has travelled on a train from Dorset today, with the purpose of taking her straight back to your place now with your girlfriend and raping her.'

During the video, the girlfriend can be seen putting her head in her hands and asking the hunters to 'just stop now'.

Hunters from the group, called Confronted and Caught, also accuse the couple of sending the 13-year-old girl a picture of two sex toys, as well lube and a condom.

During the video, taken outside Sheffield Station (pictured) the girlfriend can be seen putting her head in her hands and asking the hunters to 'just stop now'

They claim the man asked the girl around 60 times if they were having sex and sent her pornographic images.

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: 'A 33-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of causing or inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity and have been released under investigation.

'Enquiries are ongoing.'
McKinsey & Company Senior Partner Richard Lee speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at The Plaza Seoul, April 19. Courtesy of McKinsey & Company



This article is the third in a series of interviews with ESG experts intended to make suggestions for Korea's financial, industrial and public sectors to come up with better ESG strategies for sustainable growth.  ED.



Senior partner explains concerns of global investors





By Park Jae-hyuk



Domestic private equity firms (PEFs) have not been an exception among Korean companies that are emphasizing environmental, social and corporate governance standards (ESG) as their core management strategy for this year, as they speed up efforts to follow their foreign peers that have already established investment guidelines to take ESC into account.



MBK Partners, which signed the U.N.-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2012, said in co-founder Michael ByungJu Kim's annual letter last month that it had worked with its portfolio companies more closely than ever last year to advance numerous ESG initiatives.



IMM Private Equity plans to conduct "ESG due diligence" starting this year, while STIC Investments formed an in-house policy taskforce. Hahn & Company has encouraged its portfolio firms to organize their own ESG committees.



These measures are viewed as "beneficial" to the firms themselves by McKinsey & Company Senior Partner Richard Lee, head of private equity and principal investing practices in the global consulting firm's Seoul office.



"PEFs are doing this because they know there's money to be made," he said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. Hanon Systems, a vehicle air-conditioning and heating systems manufacturer owned by Hahn & Co., can be seen as an example of a PEF-held portfolio company related to the environmental sector, which is considered an area of great growth.



The private equity industry expert, however, saw that domestic managers are still in the early stages in their ESG efforts. He urged them to follow the example of BlackRock that has made public commitments and shared what it is doing regarding investments.



"I think that will be a very big step going forward," he said. "That will also force companies to become more transparent about their ESG activities."



Lee emphasized that although Korea's labor practice issues may not be a concern of global institutional investors in domestic PEFs, the governance, environmental and supply chain issues could be important for firms to attract investments from foreign limited partners, most of which are public pension funds from Canada, the U.S., Singapore and Norway.



Some PEFs in Korea are in conflict with unionized workers of their portfolio companies, who are threatening to demand foreign limited partners stop investing in their employers. Lee interpreted such actions as irrelevant to ESG, saying it does not necessarily mean that union members' employment will be guaranteed.





McKinsey & Company Senior Partner Richard Lee speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at The Plaza Seoul, April 19. Courtesy of McKinsey & Company
Seychelles, the world's most Covid-vaccinated nation with more than 60 per cent of its adult population having received two jabs, has reintroduced restrictions because of a spike in cases.

All schools have been closed and sporting activities cancelled for two weeks in the idyllic Indian Ocean archipelago, as infections continue to surge.

Measures also include a ban on household mixing, some types of gatherings, and the early closure of shops, bars and casinos. Non-essential workers are also being encouraged to work from home, and an 11 pm curfew will remain in force.

The restrictions come despite the country fully vaccinating over 62 per cent of its adult population with two doses  the second highest rate in the world.

Only Gibraltar, a British overseas territory, has had a more successful roll-out, data shows.

There are currently 1,068 active Covid cases in the Seychelles, of which a third have been detected in people given two doses of either AstraZeneca's or China's Sinopharm's vaccine.

It unclear what has triggered the surge in cases but testing has detected the South African variant spreading on the islands.

Scientists believe the mutant strain can evade immunity and make jabs up to 30 per cent weaker at preventing infections  but they think Western vaccines should still stop people falling severely ill if they get infected.

There is more doubt about how well Chinese-made vaccines work because Beijing has refused to publish full data from trials. Chile has suffered a devastating second wave, fuelled by the Brazilian variant, despite vaccinating half its population with at least one dose of a different Chinese jab, called CoronaVac.

Because Seychelles is not actively analysing a large amount of positive tests - which the UK and other countries are doing to monitor the spread of variants - it is difficult to tell exactly which strain has taken hold in the country.

But its close links to South Africa means it is likely the B.1.351 variant could be behind the rise. Seychelles was added to Britain's travel 'red list' in January along with nine southern African countries and Mauritius in a bid to keep imports of the strain to a minimum.

Seychelles, the world's most Covid-vaccinated nation with more than 60 percent of its adult population having received two jabs, has reintroduced Covid-19 restrictions. Pictured: A medical worker give the first dose of the Chinese Covid-19 vaccine produced by Sinopharm at the Seychelles Hospital in Victoria, on January 10, 2021

Despite the country's successful vaccination campaign, the country has recorded a total of 6373 coronavirus cases, resulting in a reported 146 deaths. Pictured: A graph showing the 7-day rolling average daily new coronavirus cases in the Seychelles

The new restrictions in Seychelles come despite the country fully vaccinating over 62 percent of its adult population with two doses and over 68 percent with one dose, more than any other country in the world

'Despite of all the exceptional efforts we are making, the Covid situation in our country is critical right now with many daily cases reported last week,' Peggy Vidot, the nation's health minister, said during a Monday press conference.

But officials at the press conference did not give much detail about what was causing the rising cases in the country of around 98,000 people, other than saying people were taking fewer precautions against the virus than last year.

The country acted quickly to begin its vaccination program in January, using doses from China's Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV) vaccine that were donated from the United Arab Emirates. It also received doses of AstraZeneca from India.

So far, 62.2 per cent of its eligible population has been fully vaccinated, with 68.82 per cent being given at least a single dose. In both metrics, Seychelles leads globally.

By comparison, Israel in second place has given 55.9 per cent of its eligible population two doses of Covid vaccines.

When Seychelles president Wavel Ramkalawan first announced the start of the country's vaccination drive, it had recorded a total of 531 coronavirus cases and a single death, according to data from its health ministry.

But now, almost four months later and despite the country's successful vaccination campaign, the country has recorded a total of 6373 coronavirus cases, resulting in a reported 146 deaths.

On Monday, the country recorded its record number new infections of 500 in a single day.

Chile, another country that has been heavily reliant on vaccines developed in China, has also seen rising cases despite its successful inoculation campaign.

The South American country has given at least one Covid dose to 42.44 per cent of its population, but saw a third coronavirus wave peak in the middle of April, which has only just begun to recede.

Its use of China's CoronaVac vaccine - believed to be around 50 per cent effective - is thought to have played significant factor in Chile's case numbers.

China's Sinopharm vaccines being used in the Seychelles is thought to be more effective, with provisional figures suggesting it was around 86 percent effective against Covid-19.

However, no detailed efficacy data of the vaccine has been published in peer-reviewed journals.

The new measures were announced by Public Health Commissioner Jude Gedeon in a press conference on Tuesday, following a meeting of the country's Covid Platinum Committee on Monday.

'These are an upward trend. We do not know how long it will last but this will depend on what measures are taken and how the new measures are respected,' she said.

The new measures will also include a ban on household mixing, some types of gatherings, and the early closure of shops, bars and casinos. Non-essential workers are also being encouraged to work from home, and an 11 pm curfew will remain in force. Pictured: People wearing masks queue to vote in the country's presidential elections last year [file photo]

Pictured: Passemgers leave a Boeing 777-300ER plane that has performed the first SU244 flight of Aeroflot - Russian Airlines to Mahe Island since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, on April 2, 2021

Of the 1,068 active cases in the country, 84 per cent are among Seychellois, with 16 per cent being among foreigners.

The latest measures - similar to those imposed in the country at the end of 2020 - will be reviewed close to May 24, and depending on the situation will either be lifted or extended, health officials said.

Seychelles, which has a population of around 98,000, is heavily dependent on tourism for much of its foreign trade.

Travel Weekly reported last month that Seychelles could be one of the 30 counties put on the expected travel green list by the UK from May 17.

However, it was later reported by Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, that Seychelles could be one of the countries to stay on the amber list.

'We are concerned by possible #India-related infection increases in #Seychelles #SriLanka and #Maldives so these won't be green on May 17,' he wrote.

Officials said during the press conference that the Family Hospital at Perseverance  the main COVID-19 treatment centre in Seychelles  is running at its capacity.

'This means the amount of bed we have to expand. It is for this reason that we are looking at another possibility for patients at the Anse Royale Hospital,' explained Peggy Vidot.

'Obviously when we have a pandemic like this, and we have seen the number of health workers infected, there will always be workers who are off because they have got the virus or is a contact, so this is always a pressure on human resources.'

Vidot added: 'For the time we are assuring the public that with our current capacity we can continue our services.'

Health professionals in the country have renewed their call for its citizens to cooperate by wearing masks, sanitising their hands, to practise social distancing and to abide by the new restrictions to limit community transmissions.
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Two California students have been convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison over the 2019 killing of an Italian police officer in a drug deal gone bad.

A jury in Rome deliberated for just over 12 hours before delivering the verdicts against Finnegan Lee Elder, 21, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, 20, on Wednesday and handing them Italy's stiffest sentence for the murder of Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega, 35.

Elder and Natale-Hjorth, who became friends while attending Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, California, were found guilty on all charges: homicide, attempted extortion, assault, resisting a public official and carrying an attack-style knife without just cause.

Prosecutors alleged that Elder stabbed Rega 11 times with a Rambo-style knife that he brought with him on his trip to Europe from California and that Natale-Hjorth helped him hide the knife in their hotel room.

The stabbing unfolded on July 26, 2019, after Natale-Hjorth and Elder tried to buy cocaine with 80 euros ($96) from a man outside the hotel where they were staying in Rome's Trastevere nightlife district, but were sold a crushed-up bag of aspirin instead.

The pair then allegedly stole a bag belonging to the suspected drug dealer and demanded 100 euros and a gram of cocaine for him to get it back.

The man agreed and told the pair he would meet them to exchange the bag, but instead called police to report the theft. Rega and his partner, wearing plainclothes, were dispatched to the agreed meeting spot where they confronted the two Americans and identified themselves in Italian as police before Elder stabbed Rega.

A jury in Rome, Italy deliberated more than 12 hours before delivering the verdicts against Finnegan Lee Elder (left), 21, and Gabriel Natale Hjorth (right), 20, handing them Italy's stiffest sentence - life imprisonment

Finnegan Lee Elder listens to the verdict in the trial for the slaying of an Italian plainclothes police officer on a street near the hotel where he and his co-defendant Gabriel Natale-Hjorth were staying while on vacation in Rome in summer 2019, in Rome on Wednesday

The other American on trial, Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, is escorted by police officers during the trial for the slaying of an Italian plainclothes police officer in summer 2019, in Rome, on Wednesday

Elder and Natale-Hjorth (pictured being escorted by police after court decision) were found guilty on all charges: homicide, attempted extortion, assault, resisting a public official and carrying an attack-style knife without just cause

Rosa Maria Esilio, widow of slain Carabinieri military police officer Mario Cerciello Rega, reacts after Finnegan Lee Elder and Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth were found guilty of the murder of her husband

Elder, 20, and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, 19, (right) were charged with stabbing Deputy Brigadier Rega to death in Rome. The pair are pictured here in a photo released by Italian Carabinieri

The pair, both from California, are accused of stabbing Cerciello to death in a botched drug deal while he and another officer were in plain clothes.

Prosecutors allege that the police officer was stabbed 11 times with a knife whose blade measures seven inches long

The victim's widow Rosa Maria Esilio was seen weeping as she left following the court decision in the trial of two US citizens on charges of murdering her husband, Italian Carabinieri paramilitary police officer Mario Cerciello Rega

Rega's widow Rosa Maria Esilio, who held a photo of her dead husband while waiting for the verdict, sobbed as she left after the court decision following a deliberation of more than 12 hours

Rega's widow, Rosa Maria Esilio, weeps in court after Elder and Natale-Hjorth were convicted on Wednesday

Rega's widow Rosa Maria Esilio, who held a photo of her dead husband while waiting for the verdict, sobbed and hugged his brother Paolo as it was read out in court.

The defendants were led immediately out of the courtroom after hearing 'guilty' declared on all counts.

As Elder was being walked out, his father Ethan Elder called out, 'Finnegan, I love you.'

Both men maintained their innocence and claimed they were jumped from behind by their adversaries, whom they believed to be thugs sent by a drug dealer who had swindled them when they earlier tried to buy cocaine.

They both told investigators they did not know Rega and his partner were police because they were not in uniform.

The killing of the officer from the storied Carabinieri paramilitary police corps - who had recently returned from his honeymoon - shocked Italy and he was mourned as a national hero.

Finnegan Lee Elder listens as the verdict is read, in the trial for the slaying of an Italian plainclothes police officer in summer 2019

Leah Lynn Elder (above), the mother of Finnegan Lee Elder, reacting after her son was found guilty of the murder of Carabinieri military police officer Mario Cerciello Rega

Finnegan Lee Elder was pictured listening to the verdict after a jury in Rome deliberated for just over 12 hours. Along with Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, 20, they were handed Italy's stiffest sentence for the murder of Vice Brigadier Mario Cerciello Rega

Rosa Maria Esilio (right), widow of Italian Carabinieri paramilitary police officer Mario Cerciello Rega, waits for the verdict to be read in the trial in which two American tourists are accused of murdering her husband

Rosa Maria Esilio, widow of slain Carabinieri military police officer Mario Cerciello Rega, was seen breaking town into floods of tears after Finnegan Lee Elder and Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth were found guilty of the murder of her husband

Rosa Maria Esilio, widow of Italian Carabinieri paramilitary police officer Mario Cerciello Rega, is hugged by Paolo, the brother of Mario Cerciello Rega, after listening to the verdict

Rosa Maria Esilio burst into floods of tears after the court decision in the trial of two US citizens on charges of murdering her husband

Finnegan Lee Elder (left) was seen crying after the court decision on May 5 during his trial, which saw a jury in Rome deliberate for more than 12 hours

The murder sparked a national outcry. The funeral was held in the same church where Rega had married just months before

The image above was taken from surveillance video showing Elder and Hjorth fleeing the scene after the stabbing on July 26, 2019 in the Trastevere nightlife district of Rome

After the stabbing, the Americans ran to their hotel room, where, according to Natale-Hjorth, Elder cleaned the knife and then asked him to hide it

Elder and Natale-Hjorth were allowed out of steel-barred defendant cages inside the courtroom to sit with their lawyers before the case went to the jury, which consisted of presiding judge Finiti, a second judge and six civilian jurors.

'I'm stressed,' Elder said to one of his lawyers.

Just before the brief court appearance, Elder took a crucifix he wears on a chain around his neck and kissed it.

He also turned to his co-defendant, Natale-Hjorth, and held out the crucifix toward him through a glass partition, motioning heavenward.

Elder was joined in the courtroom by his parents. He and his father crossed their fingers toward each other for good luck after the jury went to deliberate.

Natale-Hjorth was greeted by his Italian uncle, who lives in Italy.

While it was Elder who drove the knife into Rega, Natale-Hjorth faced the same charges because under Italian law, an accomplice in an alleged murder can also be charged with murder even without materially doing the slaying.

Prosecutor Maria Sabina Calabretta demanded life imprisonment for both defendants.

Elder (left) and Natale-Hjorth (right) were on vacation together without their families when the killing happened

Gabriel Natale-Hjorth (right) talks to his uncle Claudio Natale-Hjorth before a jury began deliberating his fate in Rome on Wednesday

Gabriel Natale-Hjorth (right) talks to his uncle Claudio Natale-Hjorth before a jury began deliberating his fate in Rome on Wednesday

Elder's parents await the verdict in their son's trial on Wednesday in Rome

At the time of the slaying, Elder was 19 and traveling through Europe without his family, while Natale-Hjorth, then 18, was spending the summer vacation with his Italian grandparents, who live near Rome.

Former schoolmates from the San Francisco Bay area, the two had met up in Rome for what was supposed to be couple of days of sightseeing and nights out.

During the trial, which began on February 26, 2020, the defendants told the court that several hours before the stabbing, they attempted to buy cocaine in the Trastevere nightlife district of Rome.

With the intervention of a go-between, they paid a dealer, but instead of cocaine they received an aspirin-like tablet.

A leaked photo shows Natale-Hjorth handcuffed and blindfolded during a police interrogation

Before Natale-Hjorth could confront the dealer, a separate Carabinieri patrol in the neighborhood intervened, and all scattered.

The Americans snatched the go-between's knapsack in reprisal, and used a cellphone that was inside to set up a meeting with the goal of exchanging the bag and the phone for the cash they had lost in the bad drug deal.

When they arrived at the set spot for the exchange with the dealer they were met instead by Rega, wearing a T-shirt and long shorts, and his partner Andrea Varriale, in a polo shirt and jeans.

Prosecutors alleged that Elder thrust a seven-inch military-style attack knife repeatedly into Rega, who bled profusely, like a 'fountain,' Varriale had testified, and died shortly after in hospital.

Elder told the court that the heavy-set Rega, scuffling with him, was on top of him on the ground, and he feared that he was being strangled.

Elder said he pulled out the knife and stabbed him to avoid being killed, and when the officer didn't immediately let him go, he stabbed again.

After the stabbing, the Americans ran to their hotel room, where, according to Natale-Hjorth, Elder cleaned the knife and then asked him to hide it.

Natale-Hjorth testified that he hid the knife behind a ceiling panel in their room, where it was discovered hours later by police.

The defendants told the court that they acted in self defense because they thought Rega and Varriale were thugs or mobsters out to assault them on a dark, deserted street.

They said they didn't know the men were police because they didn't show their badges and spoke in Italian, which the defendants didn't understand.

From practically its start, the trial largely boiled down to the word of Varriale against that of the young American visitors.

Varriale, who suffered a back injury in a scuffle with Natale-Hjorth while his partner was grappling with Elder, testified that the officers did identify themselves as Carabinieri.

As the trial neared its end, one of Elder's defense lawyers, Renato Borzone, argued in court that deep-set psychiatric problems, including a constant fear of being attacked, figured in the fatal stabbing.

Borzone told the court his client saw a world filled with enemies due to psychiatric problems and that something 'short-circuited' when Elder was confronted by the officer.

Fabrizio Natale (right), the father of Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, and uncle Claudio Natale wait for the verdict to be read in the trial for the slaying of an Italian plainclothes police officer on a street near the hotel where Finnegan Lee Elder and his co-defendant Gabriel Natale-Hjort were staying while on vacation in Rome in summer 2019
An Arkansas judge is under investigation after he became embroiled in a dispute with a former state lawmaker whose son accidentally took his parking space.

Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren, 58, was caught on camera having an argument with the former Arkansas House Speaker Davy Carter, 46, and at one point angrily hurled his cane to the ground.

The Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission has reviewed the footage and is now probing the judge's conduct. David J. Sachar, commission executive director, said a panel will conduct the probe.

The incident happened in Bentonville at just after 7pm on Friday evening, after Carter had met his wife for an early dinner at local restaurant The Hive.

Afterwards, the couple had planned to meet their eldest son for a walk around the square.

Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren, 58, (right) was caught on camera having an argument with the former Arkansas House Speaker Davy Carter, 46, and at one point angrily hurled his cane to the ground

The son parked in a downtown parking lot outside Karren's courthouse, unknowingly in a space reserved for the county judge.

A sign at the lot entrance states 'Benton County employee parking only, 7 am to 5 pm.'

A sign in front of the spot where Carter's son parked states, 'Reserved parking 24/7 violators towed', according to a report in Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

Former Rep. Carter said that he, his wife and his son repeatedly apologized to Karren and explained that the parking lot had been marked: 'Reserved 7 am to 5 pm.'

Despite this, an argument ensued in which the enraged judge refused to accept Carter's apology.

According to Carter, the whole incident lasted three to five minutes, and only the last part of it was filmed.

'I understand,' he can be heard on the video telling the judge. 'I understand. He's my son.'

'I don't care,' the judge fires back.

The heated argument continues and Karren steps toward Carter and throws his cane to the ground.

At that point, Karren's bailiff, Kevin Trevathan, steps between Carter and Karren.

Defending his son, Carter says: 'He's a kid, he did not know.'

The judge replies: 'He did not know, what did he not know about.'

Carter shared the footage on Twitter after the incident but later deleted it. He slammed the judge as showing 'insane and rabid behavior'.

'This is basically how he treated my wife and son in the minutes before. Rabid, insane behavior,' he wrote.

Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren, 58, pictured left, was slammed by former Arkansas House Speaker Davy Carter, 46, right, as 'unfit to be on the bench'

'Unfitting for a good citizen much less a sitting circuit judge. Mr. Karren, you owe my wife and son an apology. You should be embarrassed. You are unfit to be on the bench.'

He added: 'And you're lucky I was in a good mood.'

Carter served in the state Legislature from 2009 to 2015 as a Republican from Cabot.

Karren was first elected as administrative judge for Benton County's seven circuit court in 2012 and recently began a new six-year term in January.

Karren previously attracted media attention in 2019 for sentencing a reporter to 10 days in jail, with seven days suspended, for violating his prohibition against recording court proceedings during murder cases.

He overturned the sentence after just a few hours.
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More people are now dying from flu and pneumonia than Covid in England and Wales for the first time since the second wave took off, official figures revealed today.

Office for National Statistics data showed the virus was mentioned on 260 death certificates that occurred in the week ending April 23  down 30 per cent on the week before.

But Covid was only listed as the underlying cause for 176 of the victims. For comparison, flu and pneumonia was behind 278 deaths in the same seven-day spell but mentioned on 1,203 certificates.

Covid was the leading cause of death during the second wave, claiming more than 1,000 lives a day at the peak of the crisis in January.

Experts said a successful vaccine roll-out forcing down Covid deaths, combined with more mixing leading to a resurgence in pneumonia-causing infections was behind the trend.

The promising figures will inevitably pile more pressure on Boris Johnson to speed-up his ultra-cautious lockdown exit strategy, which will not permit holidays or pubs and restaurants to serve indoors until May 17. Restrictions will remain in place until June 21, at the earliest.

Scientists are already predicting the successful vaccine roll-out  which has already jabbed 34million Britons may mean the country never needs another blanket lockdown.

Professor Neil Ferguson, the Imperial College London epidemiologist and SAGE adviser who warned hundreds of thousands could die if Britain didn't go into lockdown in March 2020, said he thinks it is unlikely the country will have to shut down again.

In other coronavirus developments:

The entire Indian delegation that travelled to London for the G7 summit must self-isolate after two Covid cases were detected;

Top SAGE adviser Professor Neil Ferguson said it was unlikely the UK will have to lock down again because the vaccine rollout is going so well;

One in five adults experienced some form of depression at the start of 2021  double what was recorded before the pandemic.

Covid was responsible for 2.6 per cent of all deaths in England and Wales in the week to April 23, the latest available

More people in England and Wales had their deaths put down to flu and pneumonia than Covid for the first time since the second wave took off, the figures also showed

Deaths from all causes - including dementia, heart disease and Covid - remained below the five-year average

And there were more deaths among people aged 75 to 84 compared to over-85s for the first time since last summer

Britain may never need another lockdown, experts say Britain might never need another Covid lockdown and looks set for a 'steady course out of the pandemic' thanks to the vaccine rollout, which will add a third jab for over-50s in a booster programme to start in autumn. Professor Neil Ferguson, whose warning that hundreds of thousands could die if Britain didn't go into lockdown in March 2020, said he thinks it is unlikely the country will have to shut down again. He admitted to the BBC there 'may be a need to roll back on some of these measures' if a vaccine-resistant variant were to appear later in the year but he didn't think it would happen. To cut the risk of this happening the Government will, in autumn, offer a third jab to everyone over the age of 50 or in a clinically vulnerable group. One unnamed minister claimed the move would hopefully mean Covid would have 'faded away into the background like any other illness' by Christmas. Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, is currently supervising trials of two possible ways to deliver the autumn boosters, including giving third doses of existing jabs or using updated vaccines specifically tailored to target new variants. The current jabs are modelled on the Wuhan variant which is no longer dominant. Early findings from trials have raised hopes in the Government that either of the two approaches can nullify the threat from existing and new variants, it is understood. Matt Hancock last week announced Number 10 had bought 60million more doses of the Pfizer jab to use for the second rollout. A senior government minister told The Times: 'We think that the level of protection in the population to any variant will be so high that, by Christmas, Covid should have just faded away into the background like any other illness in circulation. So much so we don't think there will be any need to give a booster shot to younger people because transmission will have got so low.' Public Health England, soon to become the UK Health Security Agency, will also pump an extra 30million into analysing positive swab samples to boost Britain's ability to fight variants. The project will be co-ordinated from its Porton Down lab in Wiltshire. Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said the scheme would 'future-proof the vaccination programme for next year and the years beyond that, as we move from pandemic to endemic and deal with it in the way we would deal with the annual flu vaccination programme'. Advertisement

Doctors list a disease such as Covid as the underlying cause of death when they consider it to be to blame for someone dying.

They can, however, also mention other conditions as contributors, meaning they were not the main cause but played a role.

Professor Lawrence Young, a molecular biologist at Warwick Medical School, said flu and pneumonia were now behind more deaths than Covid because of vaccinations and lockdown easing measures.

'There is no question that the vaccine roll-out is driving down Covid deaths,' he told MailOnline.

'What we are seeing is that vaccination is clearly biting now and having a massive impact not only on the level of the disease but also on the spread.'

He added: 'I think (the rise in deaths due to flu) is a consequence of as you ease lockdown restrictions, you are going to see more mixing and more virus spread.

'We have all been living in isolation over the winter. Often, what happens with these infections is they travel around through the year in new forms and boost our immunity against them.

'But in a year without mixing this hasn't been the case - a load of us have not had colds we would normally get.

'As a result, some people are more vulnerable to infections but have not had that boost you get from infection every year may be more at risk.'

Studies suggest the Covid jabs roll-out may be arresting the spread of the virus even as lockdown measures are eased because more than three in five Britons have been jabbed and they are highly effective (at least 70 per cent) at blocking infections.

On the other hand, a mass roll-out was also carried out for flu vaccines. But these are generally less effective at blocking infections with the common virus (possibly as low as 30 to 40 per cent), giving it a window to resurge once people start mixing more regularly.

The promising ONS figures come after the UK yesterday recorded just four Covid deaths, and one on Monday, in a sign the virus is ebbing away.

Experts cautioned these low figures may be down to the early May bank holiday, because fewer people would have been available to process paperwork to register a death.

But they said the numbers were still a positive sign that deaths were falling amid dropping Covid cases and hospitalisations.

ONS figures showed Covid only made up 2.6 per cent of all fatalities recorded in England and Wales two weeks ago, compared to more than 40 per cent at the peak of the second wave.

Three out of nine regions in England  North East, East Midlands and the South West  went at least one day without a single Covid fatality occurring over the latest week.

And eight out of nine went at least one day with just one Covid death occurring, with only the West Midlands not hitting this level.

There were 9,941 deaths from all-causes  including dementia, heart disease and Covid  which was 5.3 per cent below the five-year average, or 556 fewer deaths, for the number of deaths expected at this time of year.

Experts had said all deaths were likely to fall below average for some time because more people had died earlier than they otherwise would have without the spread of the virus.

There were also 26 deaths involving Covid among care home residents, almost half the 44 recorded in the previous seven-day period.

Amid the promising figures Mr Johnson is yet to budge on his lockdown easing strategy, despite insisting he will be led by 'data not dates'.

Professor Neil Ferguson, the SAGE adviser and Imperial College London epidemiologist whose warning that hundreds of thousands could die if Britain didn't go into lockdown in March 2020, said he thinks it is unlikely the country will have to shut down again thanks to vaccinations.

He admitted to the BBC there 'may be a need to roll back on some of these measures' if a vaccine-resistant variant were to appear later in the year but he didn't think it would happen.

To cut the risk of this the Government will, in autumn, offer a third jab to everyone over the age of 50 or in a clinically vulnerable group.

Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, is currently supervising trials of two possible ways to do this, including third doses of existing jabs or using an updated vaccine specifically tailored to target new variants. The current jabs are modelled on the Wuhan variant which is now mostly obsolete.

Eight out of nine regions of England went at least one day when they recorded only one Covid death two weeks ago

Covid fatalities also continued to drop among care home residents, who have all been offered at least one dose of the vaccine

Boris Johnson waves as he rides a bike ride along the towpath of the Stourbridge canal in the West Midlands during a Conservative party local election visit

29m to 'future-proof' UK against Covid variants Vaccines that protect against new virus variants will be developed much more quickly thanks to a major new research hub, Matt Hancock has pledged. The Health Secretary is investing 29.3million into a series of new laboratories at the Porton Down research centre in Wiltshire. Government officials are concerned a third virus wave could be triggered by the emergence of a new variant that cannot be protected by vaccines in use now. While scientists are confident existing vaccines provide some protection against the Kent and South African variants, little is known about their effectiveness against others, including the Brazilian and Indian variants. The money will quadruple the number of tests carried out each week at the site of potential new vaccines  from 700 to 3,000. It currently takes several months from a variant being identified to a jab being developed that protects against it and is safe. But officials hope this wait will be slashed to several weeks. The first jabs capable of protecting against the South African variant and potentially others are likely to be ready in September or October. Mr Hancock said: 'The UK has proven itself to be a world-class force in the production of Covid-19 vaccines, with the Oxford/AstraZeneca, Novavax and Valneva vaccines all researched, developed or manufactured on British soil. 'This multi-million pound funding for a state-of-the-art vaccine testing facility at Porton Down will enable us to further future-proof the country from the threat of new variants.' He insisted: 'We are committed to supporting the UK's flourishing life sciences industry.' Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: 'While we expect the existing vaccines to offer protection against new variants  particularly preventing serious illness and death  it is important that we continue to monitor the picture as it develops.' Advertisement

Early findings from trials have raised hopes in the Government that either of the two approaches can nullify the threat from existing and new variants, it is understood. Matt Hancock last week announced Number 10 had bought 60million more doses of the Pfizer jab to use for the second rollout.

A senior government minister told The Times: 'We think that the level of protection in the population to any variant will be so high that, by Christmas, Covid should have just faded away into the background like any other illness in circulation. So much so we don't think there will be any need to give a booster shot to younger people because transmission will have got so low.'

Public Health England, soon to become the UK Health Security Agency, will also pump an extra 30million into analysing positive swab samples to 'future-proof' the UK against variants. The project will be co-ordinated from its Porton Down lab in Wiltshire.

Boris Johnson is under mounting pressure to speed up the easing of England's lockdown because of the hugely successful vaccination drive and cases and deaths dwindling. Restrictions won't be loosened until May 17, when foreign holidays are set to be given the go ahead. Pubs will also be allowed to open indoors. Measures will stay in place until June 21, at the earliest.

More than 34.6million Britons have been given at least a first dose of Covid vaccine, with 15.6million adults fully immunised.

Professor Ferguson told the BBC he felt 'optimistic' about the UK's immediate future, adding: 'In the worst case scenario, if we have a new variant pop up which does manage to evade the vaccines, say late summer early autumn, there may be a need to roll back on some of these measures at least temporarily until we can boost people's immunity.

'Do I think it's likely to happen? No, I don't. I think we are much more likely to be on a steady course now out of this pandemic, at least in this country.'

Fears about a devastating third wave of disease this summer, which the Prime Minister had been forced to accept was inevitable, are now calming.

Even SAGE experts think it is 'very unlikely' that there will be a devastating spike in cases when lockdown ends.

Thanks to vaccines effectively cutting transmission as well as preventing serious illness, modellers trying to predict future outbreaks suggest the danger has been lessened.

New possible scenarios are set to be published next week by government scientists, The Times reports, that will show a reduced risk from reopening in the summer.

Professor Graham Medley, SAGE adviser and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told the paper: 'The good news about the vaccination effect means that some of the scenarios about very large waves later in the summer are now very unlikely.'

The 60million extra doses of Pfizer's vaccine ordered by the UK will put it on par with AstraZeneca's as the most widely available in the country, with 100million doses of each. The UK has enough supplies on order to vaccinate the entire population many times over

London's G7 is hit by Indian Covid outbreak: Two members of Indian delegation test positive Dominic Raab today tried to shrug off the Indian delegation to the G7 foreign ministers' summit in London going into self-isolation after positive coronavirus cases. The Foreign Secretary said 'we are all having to adapt in agile ways' as he kicked off the second day of the gathering after the dramatic news. Government sources have confirmed to MailOnline that two members of the Indian delegation have tested positive, and the whole group is now believed to be in isolation as a precaution. India is not part of the G7 but they are attending the gathering - the first major face-to-face meeting since the pandemic erupted. The delegation is thought to have been exempted from quarantine rules, but have been tested daily. The cases were picked up by Public Health England last night, before the delegation was due to join G7 meetings at Lancaster House today. Priti Patel met the Indian foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the Home Office yesterday, although he is not believed to be one of the positive cases. He is now taking part in the meetings remotely. Another government source said PHE had advised that the UK delegation does not need to isolate, as social distance was observed and masks were worn. During the formal sessions the ministers sit round a table separated by clear screens to minimise risks. The revelation threatens to throw the summit into chaos. It was meant to be Covid secure and demonstrate that international diplomacy can get back to normal ahead of the full G7 summit in Cornwall next month. That is due to be attended by US president Joe Biden among other world leaders. Dr Jaishankar tweeted this morning: 'Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. 'As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well.' Boris Johnson held talks with Indian PM Narendra Modi over video link yesterday. The news came amid rising fears about Indian Covid variants, with figures suggesting they now make up one in 10 cases in London. Data from the Sanger Institute, which analyses positive swabs for different variants, suggest the mutant strains spread widely during April. Advertisement

With science now proving the Covid vaccines work well in the real world, Britain has has ordered an extra 60million doses of the Pfizer jab, taking its total order to 100m in preparation for the booster rollout later in the year.

These doses are the same as the Pfizer ones currently being given out and have not been tweaked to target new variants specifically. But pharmaceutical companies are also developing and trialling variant-specific jabs and either type could be used for the autumn rollout, due to begin in September.

And the Department of Health said it will 'future-proof' the country's defences against new variants by setting up a research hub to quadruple the number of variant tests carried out each week from 700 to 3,000.

This will speed up the recognition of new strains and help officials to work out which ones are circulating in the UK and where, allowing them to do surge testing and develop new vaccines if necessary.

Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: 'While we expect the existing vaccines to offer protection against new variants  particularly preventing serious illness and death  it is important that we continue to monitor the picture as it develops.'

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said on BBC Breakfast this move would 'future-proof the vaccination programme for next year and the years beyond that, as we move from pandemic to endemic and deal with it in the way we would deal with the annual flu vaccination programme'.

Speaking to Sky News about the booster vaccines he said the country was stockpiling the extras, adding: 'Pfizer is one option, were going to give [people] an AstraZeneca option  were working with the team on a vaccine variant.

'Clinicians havent yet made the decision when they will need to boost, whether to give more immunity to the most vulnerable, to increase the durability of the protection or to deal with the variant.'

The news comes after Britain dropped demands for India to release five million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine destined for the UK.

Whitehall sources said efforts to lift the export ban imposed in March by the Indian government had been put on the backburner.

It comes amid concern about the dire state of the pandemic in the country, where Covid cases have soared past 20million.

Mr Johnson held wide-ranging talks via video link with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi as part of plans to deliver a quantum leap in relations between the two countries in the next decade.

Downing Street said the two leaders talked about the need to boost pandemic resilience.

In a statement released afterwards, Mr Johnson highlighted Britains assistance with the crisis in India, which includes the provision of oxygen equipment and ventilators.

He said: In the last week the British people have stepped up in their thousands to support our Indian friends during this terrible time in a demonstration of the deep connection between the UK and India. This connection will only grow over the next decade as we do more together to tackle the worlds biggest problems and make life better for our people.

In March, the Prime Minister despatched his senior aide Lord Lister to try to secure the release of five million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India.

At the time, the institute  the worlds largest vaccine producer  indicated that the export had been blocked by the Indian government.
A drugs gang hid a cannabis farm worth 1.4million on an old World War Two airbase where the Queen Mother inspected RAF Lancaster bomber crews in 1944.

Over 1,600 plants were found growing in 19 rooms in a warehouse built on the site of the former RAF Warboys heavy bomber station in Cambridgeshire.

Police were called at around 10.30pm on Sunday by a member of the public who suspected a burglary was taking place at an industrial estate on the old airfield.

Officers arrived to find that one of the warehouses had been broken into and was being used as a two-storey cannabis factory, housing 1,647 cannabis plants.

RAF Warboys become operational in July 1941 and its long runway was used by heavy bomber squadrons and the Pathfinder force.

Three years after its opening, the site was visited by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II's mother, who inspected flight and ground crews.

Over 1,600 plants were found growing in 19 rooms in a warehouse built on the site of the former RAF Warboys heavy bomber station in Cambridgeshire

The cannabis plants discovered by police at the old RAF Warboys heavy bomber station. Police were called at around 10.30pm on Sunday to reports of a suspected burglary

Queen Elizabeth II's mother seen inspecting flight and ground crews on a visit to Warboys, a station of the No 8 Pathfinder Group, in February 1944. An Avro Lancaster of No 156 Squadron, Royal Air Force, is seen in a T2 hangar

The drug farm, which filled 19 rooms, consisted of plants of varying sizes, with a street value of 1.38million.

Cambridgeshire Police officers saw two vehicles making off from the scene as they arrived.

No arrests have yet been made, but investigations are ongoing.

Detective Sergeant Emma Garwood said: 'With thanks to the information provided by a member of the public, a substantial amount of illegal drugs have been stopped from finding their way to the streets.

'Drug trafficking is a source of revenue for organised crime groups, many of whom are involved in other forms of serious crime including modern slavery.

'We would encourage people to continue to look out for signs of illegal cannabis factories.

Fans pictured at the cannabis factory. Cambridgeshire Police officers saw two vehicles making off from the scene as they arrived and no arrests have yet been made

The drug farm (pictured above), which filled 19 rooms, consisted of plants of varying sizes, with a street value of 1.38million

'These may include blacked-out windows of caravans, disused buildings and warehouses, and people coming and going at various times of the day.'

The bust comes two years after two men were jailed for a combined total of three years and eight months, over a 1.8million cannabis factory on the same airfield industrial estate.

Paulin Prenga, 28, and Sajmir Basha, 29, were jailed in March 2019 for two years, and one year eight months, respectively.

The pair grew more than 2,000 cannabis plants at the Warboys airfield.
Nicola Sturgeon's SNP could miss out on an overall majority at Holyrood in Thursday's elections amid a surge in support for the union in Scotland, a new poll suggested today.

A poll by Savanta suggests the First Minister could lose four seats to fall six seats short of control of the Scottish Parliament.

The same firm also found a majority of support for remaining in the Union if there was a second Scottish independence referendum.

Falling short of the 65 MSPs required for an outright majority would leave Ms Sturgeon needing another coalition with the pro-independence Greens and show how a bitter row with former boss Alex Salmond has hit the party's ambitions.

However the news was tempered by more polls in Scotland today which suggest the SNP could achieve a narrow majority.

YouGov, Survation and IpsosMori have an outright SNP majority with 68, 66 and 68 seats respectively.

It sets the stage for a dramatic vote on Thursday that will set the direction of travel in Scottish politics for the next five years.

However the polls are a blow for Mr Salmond. Only YouGov show his new Alba Party picking up any seats, and it predicts just a single one from the list vote.

It came as Boris Johnson today reaffirmed his opposition to holding a new independence vote in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon last night said the Scottish Government will not hold an 'illegal, wildcat referendum' as the Scottish Tories have alleged.

The polls are a blow for Mr Salmond. Only YouGov show his new Alba Party picking up any seats, and it predicts just a single one from the list vote.

Speaking to broadcasters in the West Midlands today (pictured) Mr Johnson said: 'This is not the time to have a reckless and I think irresponsible second referendum'

How does the Holyrood election work? On May 6 Scots will be electing 129 MSPs for Holyrood. But unlike at Westminster, there is a form of proportional representation to decide who gets the seats. There are two routes for MSPs to be elected, with each voter having two ballots to cast. Specific 'constituency' MSPs are returned to represent the 73 constituencies in Scotland. Those are 'first past the post' contests, the same as Westminster elections. The second ballot is used to elect 56 'list' members. Each of the eight Parliamentary regions returns seven MSPs. But in this instance, voters back parties rather than candidates. The parties are then allocated a number of 'list' MSPs on the basis of their support - and they have a list of candidates by priority to take the seats. The aim is to make the result more proportional. Advertisement

Speaking to broadcasters in the West Midlands the PM said: 'This is not the time to have a reckless and I think irresponsible second referendum.

'We had one only a few years ago. I think that most people want us to focus on the country and take it forward and rebuild our economy and get people back into work.'

The Savanta ComRes poll for The Scotsman projects the SNP will secure 42 per cent of the constituency vote and 34 per cent of the list vote.

This would see it return 59 MSPs, four below the 2016 result, with 65 needed for a majority.

However, there would still be a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament as the Scottish Greens are projected to return nine MSPs, three more than in 2016, with 9 per cent of the list vote.

The poll found support for Scottish independence is split, with 50 per cent saying they would vote No if a referendum were held tomorrow, 42 per cent Yes and the remaining 8 per cent said they do not know.

When those who are undecided are excluded, support for the union is at 54 per cent and backing for independence at 46 per cent.

The poll projects the Scottish Conservatives will return 30 MSPs, one down on 2016, with 25 per cent of the constituency vote and 23 per cent of the list vote.

Scottish Labour is predicted to return 26 MSPs, two more than five years ago, with 22 per cent of the constituency and 19 per cent of the list vote.

According to the poll, the Scottish Lib Dems will secure 8 per cent of the constituency and 6 per cent of the list vote which would see them return five MSPs, no change on 2016.

Alex Salmond's Alba Party would return no MSPs, according to the poll of 1,001 Scottish adults aged 18 or over which was carried out between April 30 and May 4.

It comes after a survey for The Times, published on Tuesday evening, suggested the SNP is set for a four-seat majority.

The study by YouGov for The Times of 1,144 Scots, released just hours before the last televised debate, put the SNP on 52 per cent in the constituency and 38 per cent on the regional list, and suggests the Scottish Greens will take 13 per cent of the regional vote.

It also found 45 per cent of people would vote Yes in a referendum on Scottish independence while 55 per cent would vote No, when undecided voters are excluded.

Scotland operates a version of proportional representation, and Alba is only standing 'list' - or 'additional' MSP - candidates rather than running in the first-past-the-post constituency contests that could have inflicted more serious damage to the nationalists. Pollsters say that means it is more likely to hurt opposition parties, who typically end up with most of the list seats. The chart shows the result from the last Holyrood election in 2016

Ex-Blair minister Harris votes for the Tories A former minister in Tony Blair's government has revealed he has voted for the Scottish Conservatives in this week's crucial Holyrood election. Tom Harris, who was a junior transport minister between 2006 and 2008, said he voted tactically when he gave his support to the Tories in the regional section of the ballot paper. Mr Harris, who was the Labour MP for Glasgow Cathcart from 2001 to 2015 but later left the party, wrote in the Scottish Daily Mail that backing the Conservatives on the list ballot is 'a small price to pay if it helps elect one more pro-UK MSP in place of either of the nationalist parties hoping for success in Glasgow, the Greens and Alex Salmond's Alba'. It came as Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Conservative leader who is now leaving Holyrood for the House of Lords, made a last-ditch plea to supporters of other parties to back the Tories with their second vote in a bid to stop an SNP majority and prevent Nicola Sturgeon from being able to hold another independence referendum. Ms Davidson appealed to people who 'don't for a second' consider themselves Conservatives to back her party 'even if it's the most difficult decision you've ever had to make'. She insisted Scots face a 'choice of two stark futures - referendum or recovery'. Advertisement

Modelling by polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice has the SNP on 68 seats, a majority of four, while the Greens will take 13 seats, more than double their current haul of five.

The Alba Party would also pick up a seat after receiving 3 per cent of the vote, with the seat likely to come in the Mid Scotland and Fife region - where it received 7 per cent of the vote in the YouGov study.

A seat for Mr Salmond's party would see Eva Comrie take her place in Holyrood among 81 other independence-supporting MSPs.

The Scottish Tories, according to the poll, are set to win 26 seats, down five from the last election, but will retain a tight hold on second place as Labour could drop to 17 seats - losing seven.

YouGov surveyed 1,144 people aged 16 or older between May 2 and May 4.

Meanwhile a poll for The Courier, by Survation, projects the SNP will return 66 MSPs and the Scottish Conservatives 24.

The poll, published on Wednesday, predicts Scottish Labour will secure 23 seats, the Scottish Greens will return 11 MSPs, the Scottish Lib Dems five and the Alba party none.

On the question of independence it found that 48 per cent would vote Yes to Scottish independence if a referendum on the issue were held tomorrow, while 52 per cent would vote No, when do not knows are excluded.

The Survation poll was based on responses from 1,008 adults in Scotland and was carried out between April 30 and May 4.

The final survey by Ipsos Mori for STV News projects Nicola Sturgeon's party could take 68 seats, a majority of three, picking up 50 per cent of the vote in constituencies and 39 per cent in the regional list.

But 12 per cent of the 1,502 people asked said they could still change their vote ahead of polls opening on Thursday.

The poll has the Tories and Labour both losing seats, dropping to 27 and 19 respectively, while the Greens will jump to 11 seats and the Lib Dems will lose one, ending on four.

Commenting on The Times poll, SNP depute leader Keith Brown said the outcome of the election is on a 'knife-edge'.

He said: 'Anything less than both votes for the SNP risks leaving Scotland's future in the hands of Boris Johnson and the Tories instead of the safe hands of Nicola Sturgeon.'
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The 'heartbroken' mother of the Brent Cross shopping centre stab victim today paid an emotional tribute to her son - describing him as a 'wonderful and respectful boy'.

Thethe Elonga broke down in tears outside the shopping centre, in north London, as she visited to lay flowers in memory of her son Gedeon Ngwendema.

The 21-year-old was tragically stabbed to death after a brawl broke out in front of terrified onlookers at the shopping centre yesterday.

Mr Ngwendema, known as 'Tonkz' to his friends, had been out shopping with his mother on the day he was killed, his family said today.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Ms Elonga said: 'I'm heartbroken. He was a wonderful boy, respectful and lovely.

'He did very well at school and had a very bright future ahead of him. I don't know how this could have happened. He was a great boy and loved by everyone.'

Today Mr Ngwendema's uncle, Freddy Unbha, told MailOnline that his nephew had been shopping earlier in the day with his mother, before returning home.

He said: 'He was relaxing with his family when he took a call from a friend. He didnt really want to go out but his friend persuaded him and he went out.

That was the last the family saw of Mr Ngwendema, as he left the house in Colindale, North London, in the early evening.

Mr Unbha added: Gedeon was a lovely boy, a very good student, particularly at maths. He wanted to start his own business one day, a food and clothing business.

Yesterday police rushed to the scene at around 6.45pm after reports of a large brawl between a group of young men outside the Apple Store in the shopping centre.

Witnesses claim they saw the attacker pull out a 'Zombie knife' and stab the victim in the neck, the Evening Standard reports.

They claimed a defibrillator was used on the knife victim as he lay dying outside the Marks and Spencer store.

An 18-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder while a second man, also believed to be aged 18, has been arrested on suspicion of affray.

One witness said: 'I was waiting in a queue and I saw a fight of around 10-12 young guys outside of M&S, they got the attention of security, staff and everyone.

Gedeon Ngwendema (pictured left), 21, was tragically stabbed to death after a brawl broke out inside the shopping centre in front of terrified onlookers. Today family described Mr Ngwendema (pictured right) as 'a wonderful boy, respectful and lovely'

Thethe Elonga, who spoke to the Evening Standard today, broke down in tears as she arrived to lay flowers outside Brent Crossing shopping centre in memory of her son Gedeon Ngwendema

Gedeon Ngwendema, 21, was stabbed to death after a fight broke out inside Brent Cross shopping centre in London on Tuesday evening

Terrified shoppers who witnessed the event say the young man was stabbed near to the Apple Store - before being helped by passers-by outside the M&S store

'First they argued and fought then one of them took out the knife. It was big, something similar to a Zombie knife. He stabbed the guy in the neck. I'm not sure he even knew what he did, it all happened so quick.

'They were fighting between each other so I am assuming he took out the knife and did it without thinking twice. I saw them fighting and then one fall on the ground. People rushed to help him as the other youngsters escaped.'

Another witness said: 'We were really worried. We got ushered away, then there were a lot of officers that stormed in.'

The shopping centre was evacuated and multiple police cars and an air ambulance were in attendance.

Police said members of the public and officers attempted first aid but the 21-year-old died at the scene. A murder probe has now been launched.

Witnesses initially said the attack took place near the Apple store but a store spokesman later confirmed the stabbing took place elsewhere in the shopping centre.

Chief Superintendent Sara Leach, who is in charge of policing in north west London, said: 'My thoughts are with the loved ones of the young man who has been killed in this incident.

Multiple police cars and an air ambulance were seen outside the shopping centre in north west London

Footage shared on social media showed police ushering away shoppers near a cordon set up inside the shopping centre

'I would like to offer my thanks to the members of the public who came to his aid. They showed considerable courage.

'Two people have been arrested and an investigation is already under way. We will do all we can to identify and bring to justice those responsible.

'The public can expect to see a heightened police presence in the area through the rest of this evening and in the days to come.'

Anyone with information should call 101, providing the reference CAD6136/04MAY.

In the past four months, 12 teenagers have been stabbed to death in the capital, and there are fears the killings could reignite the gang wars that have plagued the city during Sadiq Khan's term as London Mayor.

Barring a political earthquake, voters are set to give the Labour politician another five years in office at the local elections this week.

Londoners cite crime as their No 1 concern but Mr Khan's critics accuse him of being preoccupied with traffic-calming measures and crippling increases to the Congestion Charge.

Police said members of the public and officers attempted first aid but the 21-year-old died at the scene. A murder probe has now been launched

Police rushed to the scene and quickly dispersed panicked shoppers on Tuesday evening

Conservative mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey previously said: 'How many tragedies will it take before Sadiq Khan actually takes responsibility for rising crime in London?'

Since Mr Khan came to office in May 2016, at least 114 teenagers have been murdered. Of those, ten were killed in Newham  including two last month.

Fares Maatou, 14, died in an attack in Barking Road, Newham, last month. Two boys aged 14 and 15 have been arrested on suspicion of murder, while another 15-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident.

Witnesses said the teenager was wearing his school uniform when he was stabbed and struck over the head repeatedly with an iron bar.

A close friend of Fares described him as a 'really nice' person who 'loved life'.

The tearful 15-year-old, accompanied by her 33-year-old mother, neither of whom wished to be named, said: 'He was really nice. He had nothing to do with the gang stuff around here. He would just be there for you. If you ever needed him he would be there.'

In another attack, Junior Jah was killed after being attacked in broad daylight just a few feet from his front door in Coolfin Road, Canning Town.

Back in 2017, his brother, Ahmed Jah, then 21, was also stabbed to death just 150 yards from the scene in Freemasons Road as he went to buy a soft drink from a convenience store.

Fares Maatou (pictured), 14, died at the scene of the attack in Barking Road, Newham, on Friday afternoon, the Metropolitan Police said

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has found that offences involving knives or sharp instruments rose from 47,388 to 50,019 in England and Wales

According to police statistics, 6,335 crimes have been reported to police within walking distance of the new City Hall in the past three years, including 1,357 violent or sexual offences.

Earlier this year it was revealed knife crime offences in the UK have doubled in just six years to go above 50,000 for the first time since records began.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that offences involving knives or sharp instruments rose by six per cent from 47,388 to 50,019 in England and Wales in the year before the first Covid-19 lockdown was imposed.

Of these offences, 22,012 (44 per cent) were for assault with injury or assault with intent to cause serious harm, and 21,961 (44 per cent) were used in a robbery.

However, NHS hospitals in England reported an eight per cent fall in admissions for assault by a sharp object between April 2019 and March 2020.

The ONS also found that homicides have risen seven per cent to 695 offences including the Grays lorry incident with 39 homicide victims in the same period.

Recent figures also show that knife crime soared by 25 per cent after the first lockdown was eased last summer and have sparked concerns of an 'eruption' of violence once current Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Annual Home Office statistics published in February show that between April 2019 and March 2020, police recorded 4,344 threats to kill with a knife - a 22 per cent increase on the previous year.

The number of robberies also went up from 18,518 to 20,196, while there were 20,425 knife assaults with intent to cause serious harm - roughly the same as the previous year.

The past six years have seen a rise in the number of recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument, following a previously downward trend.

The year ending March 2020 was the highest number since the year ending March 2011, the earliest point for which comparable data are available.

The ONS said these increases are thought to largely reflect a real rise in the occurrence of knife or sharp instrument offences.

However, improvements in crime recording practices may have also contributed to the recent increases in these types of crime.
A man who tested positive for Covid-19 in Sydney visited an optometrist located below a quarantine hotel, perhaps shedding light on how the mystery infection occurred.

The positive test result on Wednesday sent shockwaves through the city because the man, who is in his 50s and lives in the eastern suburbs, had not returned from overseas, does not work in border control, health care or at a quarantine facility.

Several venues are now on alert, including a HineSight optometrist at 1pm on April 30, which is located below Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney's CBD - currently being used as a quarantine hotel.

The optometrist has its own street-facing entrance, but it is still part of the same building.

The surprise new case is Sydney's first locally-acquired infection since April 1, when a man in Byron Bay tested positive having been at the same pub as an infected Queenslander.

Pictured: A nurse collects Covid-19 test samples at the Bondi drive-through testing clinic on May 5 after the surprise new case sent shockwaves through Sydney's east

Pictured: The Sofitel Wentworth in Sydney's CBD is being used as a quarantine hotel - and the infected man's optometrist is in the same building

Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said all Sunshine State residents must home quarantine if they've been to a venue in Sydney connected to a Covid case, and take a test on Thursday morning.

'NSW Health has already made it clear that anyone who has been to any of those venues, should be quarantining, and not getting on flights,' Dr Young said.

'We're working closely to get a better understanding of the risk associated with this case, so as an interim measure, we're mirroring NSW Health's advice.

NSW Health said genome sequencing had begun and authorities were urgently notifying the man's close contacts and advising them to get tested and isolate.

The Covid-positive man also visited the cinemas and several barbecue retailers while infectious.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the surprise community case on Wednesday afternoon.

A man in his 50s visited HineSight optometrist (pictured), which is located in the same building as the quarantine hotel

On Friday night the Covid-infected man attended a screening of The Courier at Event Cinemas Bondi Junction

SYDNEY VENUES ON ALERT Anyone who attended one of the following venues at the times specified is asked to immediately get tested and isolate until NSW Health provides further information. District Brasserie, 2 Chifley Square in Sydney Friday April 30, 11am - 11:45am HineSight Optometrist, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth - P2/61-101 Philip Street in Sydney Friday April 30, 12pm - 1pm Barbetta, 2 Elizabeth Street in Paddington Friday April 30, 1:30pm - 2:30pm Event Cinemas Bondi Junction, screening of The Courier Friday April 30, 6pm  8pm Figo Restaurant, 3/56-60A Bayswater Road in Rushcutters Bay Friday April 30, 8.45pm  11pm Joe's Barbeques & Heating, 142 Silverwater Road in Silverwater Saturday May 1, 1pm 1.45pm Tucker Barbecues, 138 Silverwater Road in Silverwater Saturday May 1, 1pm  1.45pm Barbeques Galore, G1/212-220 Parramatta Road in Annandale Saturday May 1, 2pm  3pm Barbeques Galore, The Crossroads, Unit 12B, Parkers Farm Place in Casula Saturday May 1, 4pm  5pm BP Mascot, 1077 Botany Road in Mascot Saturday May 1, 4.30pm  5pm The Meat Store, 262 Oxford Street in Bondi Junction Sunday May 2, 3pm  4pm Advertisement

She said the man was 'very active in the inner east' and he frequented a number of venues while infectious.

On Friday night he attended a screening of The Courier at Event Cinemas Bondi Junction.

He then dined at Figo Restaurant in Rushcutters Bay from 8.45pm to 11pm.

On Saturday, the man went to barbecue shops all across the city - in Silverwater, Annandale and Casula.

NSW Health said anyone who visited the venues at the times specified must get tested immediately and stay in isolation until further updates are provided.

'This advice applies to everyone, including those people who may have been partially or fully vaccinated,' they said.

Ms Berejiklian said the Covid-infected man 'did everything right' and thanked him for checking in everywhere he went through the Service NSW app.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the surprise community case on Wednesday afternoon

Pictured: A nurse collects COVID-19 test samples at the Bondi drive-through testing clinic on May 5

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was a 'little bit disappointing' that only 100 people checked in at Event Cinemas Bondi Junction on Friday.

'I urge anyone who knows anyone who went to the Bondi Junction cinema - Event Cinemas at that time to reach out to them and alert them if they haven't seen this in the media,' she said.

Ms Berejiklian said it was too early to say if coronavirus-related restrictions would need to be tightened, but anticipated more locally-acquired cases.

'We have to assume there's other cases and our response will be proportionate as it always has been in NSW,' Ms Berejiklian said.

'Everybody in the state needs to be on high alert.'
Russia is to carry out three tests of its new deadly hypersonic 'Satan-2' intercontinental ballistic missile this year, it was announced today.

The 208-ton weapon, officially called RS-28 Sarmat, is the biggest beast in Vladimir Putin's modernised nuclear arsenal, and is due to go into service in 2022.

'Three launches of the Sarmat ICBM will be carried out as part of flight development tests in 2021,' a defence source told TASS state news agency.

The launches are expected to be from an underground silo at Plesetsk space centre in northwestern Russia hitting targets in Kamchatka on the country's Pacific coast.

Russia is to carry out three tests of its hypersonic 'Satan-2' intercontinental ballistic missile (pictured: a drop test of the super nuke in 2018) this year, a defence source claimed

The 208-ton weapon, officially called RS-28 Sarmat (pictured), is the biggest beast in Vladimir Putin's modernised nuclear arsenal, and is due to go into service in 2022

One test is likely to be at a maximum range of 11,200 miles.

The first of the three test launches are expected in the third quarter of this year, according to another TASS source.

Previous footage of the 'invincible' hypersonic weapon, known in the West as 'Satan-2', during a drop test shows it emerging from its silo - pausing as if hovering above the ground, and then speeding to its target in a cloud of white smoke.

Moscow boasts the new weapon can evade the United States' defence shield and is capable of destroying an area the size of England and Wales  or Texas.

This comes amid the highest tension since the Cold War between Moscow and the West over Ukraine, alleged election interference, and cyber attacks.

Next year, the Sarmat will start state trials before going into service late in 2022.

Previous footage from 2018 (pictured) of the 'invincible' hypersonic weapon, known in the West as 'Satan-2', during a drop test shows it emerging from its silo

The three launches (pictured: testing the missile's engine) are expected to be from an underground silo at Plesetsk space centre in northwestern Russia

'The Defence Ministry is already purchasing serially produced missiles,' TASS were told.

Russia previously said they were planning on conducting the flight tests, which will take place this year, after missile ejection tests, or drop tests, had positive results.

Sarmat replaces the R-36M2 Voevoda missiles, seen as the most powerful in the world and operational since the 1970s.

The payload of the new-age missile is almost ten tons.

'Sarmat engines rapidly boost the missile to the safe zone and make it invulnerable for the missile defence until it reaches the main flight trajectory,' said a TASS report.

It can fly by 'unpredictable route' bypassing missile defence systems, say its designers.

It is also able to fly over the North and South Pole and 'approach targets from directions that are not envisaged for interception'.

Serial production of Sarmat is starting at Krasmash, a machine-building offshoot of the Russian Space Agency in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.

Sarmat (pictured) replaces the R-36M2 Voevoda missiles, seen as the most powerful in the world and operational since the 1970s

Vladimir Putin (pictured) previously confirmed in December the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic system was nearing completion

The RS-28 Sarmat will be capable of unleashing ten large thermonuclear warheads or 16 smaller ones, or a combination of both, to overwhelm enemy missile defences, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence.

The strategic missile was previously said to be able to travel around 6,200 miles and has the capacity to wipe out areas the size of Texas or France.

Putin previously confirmed in December the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic system was nearing completion.

'Work on the Sarmat proceeds actively, and is now at the final state,' he told TASS news agency at the time.

While Russia's Strategic Missile Forces commander Sergey Karakayev said in December the Sarmat will enter combat duty by 2022.

The Sarmat missile is capable of carrying up to 24 of Russia's new Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles, designed to sit atop of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Meanwhile, Russian jet bombers, helicopters and fighter jets were seen flying over the capital of Russia on Wednesday during rehearsals of the Victory Day military parade.

The annual event marks the anniversary of Russia's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II and is set to take place in Moscow's Red Square on May 9 despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, Russia's Air Force Sukhoi Su-24M2 were seen flying over the Spasskaya Tower (pictured) in Moscow on Wednesday during rehearsals of the Victory Day military parade

The annual event (pictured: military helicopters fly over Triumph Palace during rehearsal) marks the anniversary of Russia's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II

The parade will take place in Moscow's Red Square on May 9 despite the Covid pandemic (above: Russia's Air Force strategic bomber Tu-160, top, and Sukhoi Su-35S fighter jets fly over St Basil's Cathedral)

The defeat of Nazi Germany is celebrated one day earlier on May 8 in Europe, otherwise known as Victory in Europe Day, due to the time difference between Moscow and other European cities.

Wednesday's rehearsal for the upcoming military parade saw Russian TU-160 military jet bombers and Russian military helicopters fly over Moscow.

Pictures also captured Russia's Air Force Sukhoi Su-24M2, a supersonic, all-weather attack aircraft developed by the Soviet Union, flying over the Spasskaya Tower during the rehearsal.

During the parade, six Su-25 fighter jets will be used to carry out stunts and paint the Russian flag in the skies above Red Square.

Last month, the Russian Ministry of Defence also announced that several missile carriers will be showcased in the parade, including the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS.

The Tu-160 is one of the heaviest supersonic aircraft ever produced and is currently the faster bomber in the world.

'We are planning a flight in a traditional formation over Red Square but this year a group of a Tu-160 aircraft escorted by four Su-35 fighters of the Russian Knights aerobatic group has been added,' Alexander Ivashkin, the aerial weapons and tactical training chief of the Aircraft Demonstration Center said last month.

It is the first time Su-35S multirole fighters will escort a Tu-160 strategic missile-carrying bomber, Russia's TASS news agency previously reported.

Wednesday's rehearsals for the upcoming military parade saw Russian TU-160 military jet bombers (pictured) and Russian military helicopters fly over Moscow

The parade, in its 76th year, is held in remembrance of the 20million Soviet lives lost during World War II (pictured: Russian military helicopters fly over the Triumph Palace on May 5)

Last month, the Russian Ministry of Defence also announced that several missile carriers will be showcased in the parade, including the Tu-160 (pictured) and Tu-95MS

During the parade, six Su-25 fighter jets will carry out stunts and paint the Russian flag in the skies above Red Square (pictured: military helicopters fly over Moscow during rehearsal)

The parade - now in its 76th year - is held in remembrance of the 20million Soviet lives lost during World War II.

It is considered the most important military parade in the country and is attended by President Vladimir Putin.

He is the keynote speaker at the event in his role as Supreme Commander of the Russian Armed Forces.

Thousands of cadets and high-ranking officials from the Russian military attend the event including service commanders, military generals and deputy ministers from the Ministry of Defence.

Last year's parade was postponed to June 24 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Despite that, it drew 13,000 military personnel along with an enormous crowd.
A 12-year-old boy has been identified among the 24 victims of the Mexico City subway collapse, bringing to an end his mother's desperate search.

Brandon Tapia was travelling on the train with his father when the overhead rail collapsed, sending two carriages crashing onto the busy road below on Monday.

Brandon's mother Marisol Tapia, 28, who made desperate pleas to TV crews at the scene for help to find her son, was shown his body at a city morgue last night.

'Nothing is going to give me back my son. Nothing is going to give him back. They killed him,' Ms Tapia told reporters outside the prosecutor's office.

Ms Tapia had spent frantic hours trying to find her son at hospitals across the city after rushing to the crash scene when she learnt of the tragedy on Monday.

Brandon Tapia was travelling on the train with his father when the overhead rail collapsed, sending two carriages crashing onto the busy road below on Monday night

Marisol Tapia is pictured yesterday evening learning the news that her son was among the 24 dead

The boy was travelling on the metro with his father on Monday night when the line collapsed

'I'm looking for my son,' Ms Tapia told reporters at the scene. 'I can't find him anywhere, in any of the ambulances.'

The desperate mother was forced to return to the crash site the following morning to ask for information as officials held a press conference.

'I went to all the hospitals and they say he's not there,' Ms Tapia said through sobs as local politicians stood by. 'The metro wasn't built on its own - this flaw has been there for a long time and no one did anything.'

Yesterday evening, she was finally able to find Brandon's body at one of the city's morgues.

His father Rigoberto remains in hospital, but Ms Tapia said she had spoken with him.

Outside the prosecutor's office last night she was asked what support the authorities were providing.

Ms Tapia said: 'What support can they give you if they never supported you from the beginning? Now what is the government going to wash its hands of?'

She remembered how she and her boy had plans for May 10, Mother's Day in Mexico.

'We were going to go for a walk that day. And now I'm going to bury him,' she added.

The mother was among dozens of relatives who were left to frantically visit hospitals and check social media for any information about their loved ones after the accident at 10.30pm on Monday.

Details of the 79 injured in the crash began to emerge but there was no immediate identification of the dead.

Even into Tuesday morning relatives like Ms Tapia were still without confirmation.

'Friends I need your help, we can't find her (Nancy Lezama Salgado),' one user tweeted. 'She was also on the subway, we've only found her sister, please share.'

Authorities have opened an investigation into the tragedy, which will include the attorney general's office and an independent agency from Norway.

The country's president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, vowed the government would not hide any details that come out of the joint investigation.

Marisol Tapia told Azteca TV that her son, Brandon Hernandez, 12, had called her to say he was on his way home. She had visited at least eight Mexico City hospitals in search of her child

Ms Tapia shows pictures of her son to TV crews on Monday night at the scene of the accident as she desperately appealed for information about him

'There's no impunity for anyone,' he said.

'I share the outrage that there is. I celebrate the position that the head of government has, which is essentially to clarify what happened.

'And secondly, when you clarify what happened with evidence, with authorities, you establish what responsibilities there are - who has responsibility, and what action was taken in consequence, no matter who it is.'

The Line 12 train was transiting through the overpass that connects the Olivos and Tezonco stations when the support column gave way around 10.30pm local time on Monday.

Claudia Sheinbaum, the mayor of Mexico City, said it appeared a girder had given way on the overpass, which she said was inspected last year.

She said the collapse seemed to indicate a 'structural failure.'

'It is not possible to say categorically, but it seems this is what happened,' Sheinbaum said.

Four people who live in the area told Reuters they observed the support structures below the elevated tracks visibly shaking when trains crossed.

Some recalled warnings about the humid soil being unfit for major construction.

'Every time I saw the train, I saw the columns and beams shake,' said Victor Lara, a daily commuter on the line.

'They're not well made.'

The train crash happened at 10:30pm on Monday night in Mexico City

An aerial view shows the site of a metro train accident after an overpass partially collapsed

Rescue workers could be seen sifting through rubble on Tuesday morning as they continued to search for potential victims.

Four dead passengers were removed from one of the cars on Tuesday, the mayor said.

Florencia Serrania, the general director for the Mexico City Metro Collective Transportation System, said an inspection report filed in January 2020 did not show any 'anomalies' throughout the Line 12 overpass.

A second inspection was conducted following the June 2020 earthquake that struck the southern state of Oaxaca and was felt in the Mexican capital, but no structural damages were reported.

Marcelo Ebrard, currently Mexico's foreign minister, presided over the opening of the line in 2012, when he was mayor of the city.

Yet by 2014, the line was already in need of repair, and was closed for 18 months to repair parts of the rails that suffered excessive wear and tear

Myriam Urzua, Secretary of the Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection, said French firm SYSTRA recommended the continued supervision of the train line after it was shut down in 2014.

Urzua said that TCO, also a French company, has been contracted since 2016 to conduct daily inspections of the train line.

Sheinbaum said the firm did not provide any reports that would have raised concerns over a possible collapse.

France's Alstom SA was part of a consortium that built the metro line which suffered the collapse.

On Tuesday, Alstom offered to help authorities in Mexico if necessary.

The subway carriage was left dangling in the air on Tuesday after Monday night's crash

A trailer takes away one of the train cars that crashed after the train overpass collapsed

Relatives of the victims embrace outside the prosecutor's office in the Mexico City suburb

'Alstom reiterates its willingness to cooperate with and to aid authorities responsible for investigations in any way necessary,' the company said in a statement.

Service throughout Line 12, which transports an average of 220,000 passengers a day, has been completely suspended.

Rescuers rushed to the scene on Monday night and and quickly began searching the train for survivors.

But rescue efforts were soon halted amid fears the train was unstable and could collapse further.

At least one person was trapped in their car beneath the bridge as chunks of concrete collapsed on to the road, but they were pulled out alive and taken to hospital.




Officials from a coalition of financial consumer groups, along with a lawyer representing them, hold a press conference before filing a complaint against Kakao Corp. at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Tuesday. Yonhap
Australian motorists have been warned to check their cars and national recall lists after a spate of terrifying explosions that could have been deadly.

The chilling warning from a motoring expert and fire chief emerged as several drivers recalled their horrifying narrow escapes with popular brands.

Sydney fashion designer Kate Anderson had just paid off her Jeep Wrangler when her car burst into flames on the side of the M1 in January.

She and her partner Chris were heading home when they stopped at a roadside fruit stall to buy mangoes, where they were told flames were coming from underneath the car.

Ms Anderson turned off the ignition, grabbed her belongings and fled before watching on in horror as her beloved car exploded minutes later.

Kate Anderson (pictured) recalled her terrifying escape moments before her Jeep Wrangler burst into flames on the M1 in January

'It was terrifying. I was in shock, I think. Obviously inconsolable seeing your only asset go up in flames, like, that's obviously devastating,' Ms Anderson told A Current Affair.

Ms Anderson is now furious after she was told by the car manufacturer that no design or material defects were found to be the cause of the fire.

The manufacturer suggested it may have been caused by accumulation of vegetation or roadside debris flicked up into the engine.

'I think it had only done 45,000km in six years, well serviced, how can that happen to a car like that?' Ms Anderson said.

'I find it really hard to believe that a four-wheel drive that's meant for off-roading and marketed as an off-road vehicle that that would happen to it so easily.'

Kate Anderson watched on in horror as her Jeep Wrangler (pictured) burst into flames on the side of the road

Another Sydney woman Shellie recalled how her Holden Captiva was destroyed after it burst into flames in her office's car park.

'The engine was smoking pretty badly, flames were coming out, we managed to pull other cars out from around it and I managed to get something out of the boot of my car. I was in shock, yeah,' she recalled.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

Television personality Jessica Rowe and her teenage daughter had a very lucky escape when her $66,000 Volvo XC 60 burst into flames on March 25.

Rowe was picking up her 14-year-old daughter Allegra from school in Sydney's eastern suburbs when the car began billowing smoke on New South Head Road in Rose Bay.

A passing school bus driver flagged the vehicle down and helped the pair escape from the vehicle and to safety as the car burst into flames.

Shellie's Holden Captiva (pictured) burst into flames in an office car park. The cause of the fire is unknown

The traumatised TV host refused to reveal how close they both came to dying, telling Kyle and Jacki O the next day: 'We're not going down that path.'

The more technologically advanced the car, the more likely something could go wrong, according to drive motoring expert Trent Nicolic.

'They have electrics, they have batteries, they've got a fuel tank full of petrol or diesel,' Mr Nicolic told the program.

Five recalls have been issued in the last three days alone on Peugeots, Scania trucks, Jaguar Land Rovers and Mercedes Benz.

Hyundai was also forced to issue a recent recall specifically related to a fire hazard.

Last week, Mercedes Benz issued an urgent recall for 719 vehicles amid fears they could catch fire or short circuit over a steering control unit defect.

Product Safety Australia announced for Mercedes-Benz C, GLC and EQC vehicles with the Model Year 2020 sold nationwide last year, which may contain a damaged wiring harness in the steering control unit that could cause a short circuit which may lead to a fire.

Mr Nikolic said recalls affect different manufacturers for different reasons.

Jessica Rowe and her daughter were forced to flee her $66,000 Volvo XC 60 after it burst into flames (pictured) in Rose Bay on March 25.

He says the onus is on car manufacturers to issue recalls, a matter he says they take very seriously.

'It doesn't matter which manufacturer or which brand - it is not in their best interest for people to be driving a car where something could go wrong,' Mr Nikolic said.

'We always urge consumers, if there's been a recall for a car you own, check the VIN and get it in there to get it fixed.'

Cars in Australia catch on fire on a regular basis, according to Rural Fire Service Superintendent Scott Dodson.

If your car catches fire, the first thing is to stop, put the hand brake on and turn the vehicle off.

'Get your family out of the car as fast as possible and moved to a safe area, up and away from the smoke,' Superintendent Dodson said.

'Then call triple zero. Don't go back to your car, everything in that car is replaceable.'

Go to productsafety.gov.au/products/transport/cars to the full list of car recalls.
Indonesian police have arrested several employees of a pharmaceutical company for allegedly selling used Covid nasal swab test kits that were used at a busy international airport.

As many as 9,000 passengers at the Kualanamu airport in Medan, North Sumatra, may have been tested using swab sticks that had been washed and reused, police said.

Between 100 and 200 passengers were tested every day, some with real kits and others with the repackaged ones.

The scheme at the airport is believed to have been running since last December, with police estimating that the employees reused swabs from 150 kits up to 20,000 times.

Medan's police chief, RZ Panca Putra Simanjuntak, told reporters that Kimia Farma charged 200,000 rupiah (10) for each test and alleged that the employees collected this sum each time a swab was reused.

As many as 9,000 passengers at the Kualanamu airport in Medan, North Sumatra, may have been tested using swab sticks that had been washed and reused, police said [File photo]

The employees may have pocketed as much as 1.8billion rupiah (89,674) and that police had seized more than 149million (7,421) in cash during arrests.

He said authorities are now investigating whether anyone was infected as a result of the reused swabs.

Kimia Farma, a state-owned company is facing a potential lawsuit launched on behalf of the passengers, according to the South China Morning Post.

The company has condemned the workers allegedly involved, saying that they had been dismissed.

In a statement, director Adil Fadhilah Bulqini said that reusing swabs was against the Kimia Farma's standard operating procedures.

Erick Thohir, Indonesia's state-owned enterprises Minister, said in a Twitter post last week that the individuals receive 'very strict punishment.'

'I strongly condemn the actions of unscrupulous Kimia Farma officers,' Thohir wrote.

'Such action must be subject to very strict punishment.'

In order to fly, travellers had to test negative beforehand. The airport offered onsite testing using nasal swabs as part of rapid test kits provided by Kimia Farma.

Local news outlet Detik said police had sent an undercover officer to pose as a passenger last week after passengers complained that they had received false positive test results.

The officer was swabbed and received a positive test result. He was then tested again at a separate facility and received a negative result.

Officers then raided the airport test site and found a used test kit that had been recycled was found at the site.

Medan's police chief, RZ Panca Putra Simanjuntak, told reporters that Kimia Farma charged 200,000 rupiah (10) for each test and alleged that the employees collected this sum each time a swab was reused. The employees may have pocketed as much as 1.8billion rupiah (89,674) [File photo]

Health experts have long criticised Indonesia's testing procedures as inadequate.

Dr Irma Hidayana, a public health consultant, told abc.net.au that there was little oversight of the testing by central and local governments and that there was a lack of political will to implement and enforce restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Indonesia has recorded 1.69million cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic began last spring and at least 46,137 deaths from the disease, though experts suspect the true numbers of both cases and deaths are likely much higher.

On Tuesday, official figures recorded 4,369 new infections and 188 deaths.

There is concern in the Muslim-majority country that the upcoming Eid Al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, may lead to an uptick in cases.
A fake political manifesto promising a 'nude revolution' for one British city has been posted to shocked residents ahead of Super Thursday's local elections.

While major political parties across the UK have been gearing up for this week's elections, Newport residents were left stunned by one unorthodox campaigning leaflet.

Hoax 'Welsh Nude and Proud' party pamphlets, adorned with bold manifesto promises and topless pictures of a man claiming to be Dennis Smith, have been posted throughout the Welsh city.

Among his more shocking statements, Mr Smith promises to strip the city centre and encourages voters to 'say YES to NO clothes' as part of a 'nude revolution' for Newport West.

Twitter users were left in fits of laughter after reading the fake flyers.

Newport residents were shocked to receive these campaign leaflets from the 'Welsh Nude and Proud Party'

Forget political posturing.

The Welsh Nude and Proud party have laid everything on the table in their fight for the Newport West seat - including promises for cleaner air, more hygienic measures on public transport and nudist-friendly hotspots.

Their manifesto states: 'When it comes to tackling crime, we think naked is better.

'Statistics have shown that naked men are almost 90 times less likely to be mugged.'

And as part of plans to transform public transport, the 'party' said: 'Not only do we want all buses to be electric, we also want them to be fitted with wipe down seats as standard'.

As part of plans to 'liberate' the area, 'political candidate' Dennis Smith says a vote for him is a vote for a 'better, more naked Newport'.

Social media users loved the pioneering pamphlets - with some even wishing for a nudist candidate of their own.

Sheila Provins wrote: 'Shame this party is not standing on other constituencies. Hope they remembered to apply plenty of factor 50, though.'

Daniel Adams asked: 'The bit that sticks out (calm down) is the vote to renude Newport centre. Does that suggest it was once nude and now isn't?'

While Drew Davies said he was excited to see Mr Smith on Super Thursday: 'Can't wait to see them on stage after the county announcing who who!

'Where will he pin his rosette?'

Twitter users loved the Welsh Nude and Proud Party's manifesto and its bold promises for a 'better, more naked Newport'

Those running for election in Newport West on Super Thursday are: Kevin Boucher (Reform UK), Jayne Bryant (Labour), Johnathan Clark (Plaid Cymuu), Michael Enea (Conservative and Unionist), Steve Marsh, (Freedom Alliance), John Miller (Lib Dems) and Amelia Womack (Greens).

Ms Bryant has held the seat since May 2016, after winning a majority of 4,115 votes.

But it's unlikely the other seven local candidates standing in the Senedd Cymru election will be quaking in their boots - as the Welsh Nude and Proud Party candidate did not complete and submit their nomination papers ahead of deadline.

The 'political party' has been contacted to provide a statement.

When voting for members of the Senedd, eligible residents get two votes - one for a constituency member, and one to represent the Welsh region.
Pupils at a 15,000-a-year boarding school have been banned from Leavers' Day after bingeing on alcohol in a 'Grand Prix' car pub crawl race.

More than 20 cars and 50 sixth formers from Haberdashers' Adams' Grammar School in Newport, Shropshire, took part in an 'unofficial tradition' which involves driving to landmarks with passengers participating in an alcohol challenge.

Whoever returns first from the race, which takes place in Telford Town Park, Lilleshall Monument and Priorslee Lake, wins a pot of money raised through entry fees.

Now the students have been handed two-day exclusions, meaning they miss their Leavers Day, and the school also said the police could be involved after the event last Wednesday.

No one has been arrested or charged with any criminal wrongdoing, said West Mercia Police, and it is understood there were non-drinking designated drivers.

Gary Hickey, headmaster at Haberdashers' Adams' Grammar School in Newport, Shropshire, pictured above. Sixth formers have been handed two-day exclusions following the event

Headmaster Gary Hickey said in a letter to parents: 'Dear parents and guardians, I am writing to you regarding recent events that have involved people in our upper sixth form, including your child.

'Yesterday they were one of a large group of pupils who took part in a pre-planned 'Grand Prix' event which involved a car race around various local landmarks in Telford, during school time, and something they knowingly signed out of school to participate in.

'Not only is any form of unauthorised race on public roads illegal (regardless of the speed travelled), but unfortunately one of the challenges along the way involved drinking alcohol.

'As a result, we have received today written complaints from other pupils, complaints from members of the public, and a number of the Upper Sixth who were not involved feeling very uncomfortable about even coming into school.

'Your son/daughter did admit they willingly and knowingly took part in this event. As a result, as we told the pupils today, they will now have a fixed-term exclusion.'

He added: 'We know that you will share our disappointment, upset and anger about this matter and the outcome. Obviously, some pupils feel angry about this and will seek to blame the school for not allowing them in tomorrow.

'If they indeed want to blame anyone for this it needs to be themselves for engaging in such a reckless, selfish and totally inappropriate act that potentially could have jeopardised not only public safety, but their own too.'

The school, founded in 1656 and attended by Jeremy Corbyn's brother, Piers, is often among the top 50 schools throughout the UK.

Haberdashers' Adams Grammar School, pictured above. No one has been arrested or charged with any criminal wrongdoing, said West Mercia Police

Parents choosing to board their children pay up to 15,000 a year for sixth formers.

In a statement, Mr Hickey said: 'I am conscious that numbers and facts have become exaggerated over the weekend with the full details not being available to everyone, so I would like to take this opportunity to confirm that the activity was not part of a long-established school tradition and was not sanctioned by the school.

'In fact, it left many of the remaining 130 Upper Sixth pupils who chose not to take part feeling very uncomfortable about being at school on the day. The behaviour is inexcusable and the school has taken a very firm approach.

'Following a full investigation, all 50 pupils received a two-day exclusion from school which included missing out on their Leavers Day.

'This is certainly not the send-off we had wanted or planned for them, especially in light of the incredibly challenging times they have had over the last 12-plus months, and we know many of their parents are as saddened as we are by what has happened and have conveyed their support for our actions.

'Many of the pupils involved have also since expressed their remorse and sorrow for taking part in the activity and, once the exclusion has been served, we will continue to support them on their studies and their final assessments at this critical time in their school year.'
The London mayoral race has tightened ahead of polling day tomorrow, with a new survey giving Sadiq Khan a 12 point lead over Tory rival Shaun Bailey.

YouGov's final poll before the capital votes puts the Labour incumbent on 43 per cent in the first round.

That is down four points on last month while Mr Bailey is up one point to 31 per cent.

The numbers suggest Mr Khan is on course to win the contest in a second round run-off with Mr Bailey by 59 per cent to 41 per cent.

Overall, Mr Khan's lead over Mr Bailey has fallen from 19 points to 12 points.

A separate survey conducted by Opinium suggested that the capital's violent crime crisis could prevent Mr Khan from winning a majority in the first round with a majority of Londoners of the view that knife crime is getting worse.

Some 52 per cent of people said tackling knife crime should be the next mayor's top priority, followed by 37 per cent who said the focus should be on building more affordable homes and 35 per cent who said it should be on getting the capital back up and running after the coronavirus crisis.

A YouGov survey suggests Sadiq Khan's poll lead over Shaun Bailey has narrowed ahead of the London mayoral election tomorrow

YouGov suggested the fall in Mr Khan's lead is due to 2019 Tory voters changing from 'don't knows' last month to now backing Mr Bailey.

Some 23 per cent of 2019 Tory voters in the capital in April said they did not know who they would vote for but that number has now dropped to 13 per cent.

The London mayoral election uses a supplementary vote system with a candidate required to secure more than 50 per cent of the vote to win.

If no candidate is able to get past 50 per cent in the first round, the top two candidates then progress to a head-to-head run off, with second preference votes from the eliminated candidates then counted.

The YouGov survey puts Green candidate Sian Berry on 10 per cent, Lib Dem Luisa Porritt on five per cent, Reclaims Laurence Fox on three per cent, Brian Rose from the London Real Party on two per cent, WEPs Mandu Reid on one per cent and Ukips Peter Gammons on one per cent.

A Labour source told Politico that the YouGov survey 'reflects our internal polling which shows a similarly reduced lead'.

The source said that because of a combination of 'complacency about the result and Covid' the party is 'expecting a considerably worse night than many pundits have predicted'.

A senior ally of Mr Khan told MailOnline that they did not believe the polls were taking into account apathy among Labour voters.

'We genuinely think it is closer than that because of turnouts,' they said.

But a senior London Tory described the claims as a 'laughable' attempt by Labour to encourage their voters to turn out.

The YouGov survey found that 46 per cent of Londoners believe Mr Khan has done a good job during his first term while 42 per cent believe he has done a bad job.

Some 41 per cent of Londoners believe Mr Khan has been a better mayor than his predecessor Boris Johnson while 32 per cent believe he has been worse.

Mr Bailey campaigned alongside Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi in Kennington this morning as the race for London mayor nears its close

A separate Opinium survey for the Evening Standard suggested Mr Khan could end up with 48 per cent in the first round with Mr Bailey on 29 per cent.

The Labour mayor could then get 63 per cent in the second round run-off with Mr Bailey receiving 37 per cent.

The poll found that crime is the most important issue for Londoners as they prepare to vote.

On the specific issue of knife crime, some 64 per cent of people said they believed the situation is getting worse while 11 per cent said it is getting better.

In terms of general crime, 58 per cent of respondents said they believe it is getting worse compared to 13 per cent who said they believe it is getting better.
The heartbroken father of a young woman who died when she fell off the back of a ute shocked a courtroom when he said he felt sorry for the teenager who was behind the wheel.

Grace Ruhle, 23, died when she fell from the tray of a ute driven by Hunter John Stojczan along Springvale Road in Springvale, west of Brisbane, at about 10.30pm on April 2.

The 19-year-old was charged with failing to provide a breath test and driving with a person in part of the vehicle that's only designed to carry goods and appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning.

In an incredible letter read out to the court, Grace's devastated father Craig Ruhle wrote that he had 'no malice' towards the teenager who was driving when his daughter died and was 'more concerned' for his mental health.

Ms Ruhle has been remembered by family and friends as a 'one in a million' individual, who will be 'missed by so many'

'I hold absolutely no malice toward Hunter whatsoever. I'm more concerned for his future and the welfare of his family,' Mr Ruhle said, according to the Dalby Herald.

Defence lawyer Christopher Copley told the court that Stojczan was paralysed with fear as he held Grace's body on the side of the road.

He was surrounded by friends and family, who removed him from the tragic scene.

In his statement, Mr Ruhle said he was glad the man had loved ones there to help him.

'I am actually glad he had loving adults around him in a time of need, particularly that he had just witnessed something nobody should ever have to see, the death of one of his best friends,' Mr Ruhle's said.

Grace Ruhle (pictured), a 23-year-old Queenslander, died on April 2 after falling from the back of a ute

'My personal opinion is that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, a culmination of circumstances which lead to Hunter being the one [who] was chosen to drive my daughter's vehicle at that time.'

He said he has no ill feelings towards the teenager, and is 'more concerned for his future and the welfare of his family'.

Magistrate Tracy Mossop said Mr Ruhle's statement was important when considering sentencing and praised him for supporting Stojczan.

She told him to honour Mr Ruhle's sentiments and ensure he continues on 'the right path'.

Stojczan pleaded guilty and was fined $900 for failing to provide a specimen of breath, and disqualified from driving for nine months and there was no conviction recorded.

In his statement, Mr Ruhle said he was glad the man had loved ones there to help him. Pictured: The scene of the tragedy

He was also fined $1,200 and convicted for driving with a person in the tray of his ute.

Following her death, Grace's friends and family took to social media to pay tribute to the young woman.

'Gracie girl, your unique spark will be remembered by all who where lucky enough to know you. You're cherished by countless and will be missed by so many,' one friend posted on Facebook.

Ms Ruhle was also described as 'unique' in an emotional post, with one friend noting she will be 'forever missed'.

'I love you Gracie but sleep well for now and we'll see you soon.'

Another said: 'Forever in our hearts Gracie, such a blessing to have you in my life. Fly high beautiful'.
This the adorable moment a three-year-old boy was fighting to remain awake while medics gave him sedatives ahead of surgery.

Little Messiah Ferrell, from Louisville, Kentucky was being filmed by his mother Jayla Ferrell while the youngster was about to undergo surgery on his broken arm.

A doctor tried to gently coax the young boy to lean back as the sedatives were making their way into his system.

Little Messiah Ferrell, pictured, from Louisville, Kentucky, pictured, was determined not to fall asleep despite the best efforts of medics to prepare him for surgery

Doctors tried to gently ease Messiah on his back in preparation for surgery on his arm

Despite being given sedatives, the three-year-old boy tried gamely to keep upright

Eventually, the compulsion to sleep became too much for the little boy

But the determined young boy refused to lean back and tried to battle the weariness caused by the drugs.

One of the medics said the young boy was fighting sedation.

The doctor said: 'He's stubborn, even stubborn high.'

The medic attempted to lean the young boy back onto the hospital bed, when he said: 'His trunk is still trying to fight lying down, I can feel it.'

The youngster, who had broken his left arm, was in hospital for the bone to be reset.

However, after 40 seconds of the sleep-inducing medication, little Messiah still kept trying to raise his head.

Even when the doctor was able to place Messiah on his back, the child battled to raise up his head - despite his eyelids being heavy due to the anesthetic in his system.

His mother Jayla Ferrell later posted another video of her son recovering from the successful operation.
The BBC was criticised today for allowing the daughter of an Official IRA leader to refute claims that he murdered 15 soldiers during an interview on Radio 4.

Aine McCann, 52, was three when her father Joe McCann was shot dead aged 24 in Belfast in 1972 in disputed circumstances, allegedly by a group of three soldiers.

At the time a police investigation failed to result in a prosecution, and nearly 50 years on the 'witch-hunt' trial of two former soldiers collapsed yesterday.

But Ms McCann told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning that her father had been 'defamed' during the court case and faced 'ridiculous accusations'.

This included doubts over whether he killed 15 soldiers - a claim which was not challenged during the interview, despite it being in agreed evidence in the case.

It comes after two former paratroopers accused of the murder of Mr McCann were formally acquitted after prosecutors offered no further evidence at their trial.

Joe McCann's family (left to right) daughter Nuala, widow Anne, daughter Aine, and son Fergal, are pictured during a press conference outside Laganside Court in Belfast yesterday

The veterans' trial at Belfast Crown Court collapsed after the Public Prosecution Service confirmed it would not appeal against a decision by Mr Justice O'Hara to exclude statements given by the ex-soldiers about the shooting of Mr McCann.

Today, the Radio 4 presenter told Ms McCann it was accepted in court that her father was a commander in the Official IRA and was thought to have been involved in the deaths of 15 soldiers.

But Ms McCann said: 'Well, I can tell you that you can get away with defaming people in a court of law, and not be held to account for it, and when the family had to sit there and listen to those ridiculous accusations, and that's all I can say that they are.'

The presenter then pointed out that Mr McCann was in the Official IRA, and that her mother Anne had spoken about that at the time, specifically about her pride in it.

Ms McCann responded: 'Absolutely, yes absolutely. But to say that he went riot and he shot 15 soldiers, he must have been all over the place, do you know what I mean?

'Because no British soldiers were actually shot in the North of Ireland until 1971. And between that time, 1971, and then until the death of my father, a total of 30 soldiers were shot in Belfast, so according to them... I'll tell you what way it was.

Official IRA leader Joe McCann, 24, was shot dead by paratroopers as he attempted to evade arrest by a plain clothed police officer in the Markets Area of Belfast in April 1972

'First of all it started out with one soldier, then it started out with a possible assassination on a politician, then all of a sudden, you know, there's 15, there's 11, there's 15, there's 19  I don't know, where's the evidence for this? Nowhere.'

Full transcript of Aine McCann's interview on BBC Radio 4's Today PRESENTER: 'Joe McCann was 24 when was shot dead in Belfast in 1972, allegedly by a group of three soldiers. At the time a police investigation failed to result in a prosecution, and nearly 50 years on the trial of two former soldiers collapsed yesterday, sparking starkly different reactions across Northern Ireland's political divide. Joe McCann's daughter Aine was three when he was killed, and she joins us now. Good morning.' AINE MCCANN: 'Good morning.' 'What do you remember of that time and the death of your father? ' 'Well, surprisingly, given my age, I remember actually quite a lot. I remember his body lying in the coffin in the living room. 'Lots of people in the house, family sitting around in the living room, I remember trying to give him some sweets, a bag of sweets. I remember my aunt lifting me up to the coffin, I caught him by the nose and I said 'wake up daddy, wake up', because as far as I was concerned he was asleep, and as the mind of a three-year-old goes, it's not strange or bizarre that he was lying asleep in a wooden box in the middle of the room surrounded by his family or a lot of other people. And I remember my great-grandmother remarking to other people 'God help her, she doesn't know what's going on.' 'We didn't attend my father's funeral because we were taken away, myself and my sister, to stay with our pre-school teachers, and I remember all of that, getting put to bed at night, that night in their house, and getting up and coming down the stairs, and saying to herself and her husband: 'I want to go home to my mummy and daddy, where's my mummy and daddy?' And then I was put back up into bed. So people often think that, you know, it's often been remarked, actually you were very young at that time and you wouldn't really remember it, you know, but...' 'But you do.' 'Absolutely.' 'Can you accept nearly 50 years on that when it came to this trial there were deficiencies? There was no new evidence, and there was a lack of interviewing under caution.' 'Absolutely, the cards were stacked against this case from the very beginning when there was an illegal arrangement between the Attorney General and the General Officer commanding the British Army at the time to deliberately not prosecute in these cases and to make sure that the initial investigations were carried out, that you would have included that they were brought to the RUC and questioned under caution by the RUC. 'That didn't happen, it was described as a tea and sandwiches affair, so it meant that the RMP, the Royal Military Police, instead carried out that investigation. So when that illegal arrangement was lifted, the case still was not reinvestigated after that, and it should have been after then in 1974, so we have a litany of deliberate oversight, professional malpractice, corruption and collusion at all levels of the British Government, right from that time and right up to and including the disgraced and defunct Historical Enquiries Team who were disbanded by the Police Constable here, Chief Constable.' 'But the circumstances at the time, and the personal circumstances of your father  it was accepted in court that he was a commander in the Official IRA and it was also said in court that he was thought to have been involved in the deaths of 15 soldiers.' 'Well, I can tell you that you can get away with defaming people in a court of law, and not be held to account for it, and when the family had to sit there and listen to those ridiculous accusations, and that's all I can say that they are' 'But he was in the Official IRA? Your mother spoke about that at the time, of her pride in that.' 'Absolutely, yes absolutely. But to say that he went riot and he shot 15 soldiers, he must have been all over the place, do you know what I mean? Because there was no British soldiers were actually shot in the North of Ireland until 1971. And between that time, 1971, and then until the death of my father, a total of 30 soldiers were shot in Belfast, so according to them... I'll tell you what way it was, first of all it started out with one soldier, then it started out with a possible assassination on a politician, then all of a sudden, you know, there's 15, there's 11, there's 15, there's 19  I don't know, where's the evidence for this? Nowhere.' 'So where does this leave you, Aine? Do you think that are there other options that you can pursue?' 'Absolutely, and we are going to have a take at those options now, and that includes going for an inquest.' 'OK. Aine McCann, thank you very much for talking to us.' Advertisement

Ms McCann was also asked what she recalled of the time around the death of her father in 1972, and she said: 'Well, surprisingly, given my age, I remember actually quite a lot. I remember his body lying in the coffin in the living room.

'Lots of people in the house, family sitting around in the living room, I remember trying to give him some sweets, a bag of sweets. I remember my aunt lifting me up to the coffin.

'I caught him by the nose and I said 'wake up daddy, wake up', because as far as I was concerned he was asleep, and as the mind of a three-year-old goes, it's not strange or bizarre that he was lying asleep in a wooden box in the middle of the room surrounded by his family or a lot of other people.

'And I remember my great-grandmother remarking to other people 'God help her, she doesn't know what's going on.'

'We didn't attend my father's funeral because we were taken away, myself and my sister, to stay with our pre-school teachers, and I remember all of that, getting put to bed at night, that night in their house, and getting up and coming down the stairs, and saying to herself and her husband: 'I want to go home to my mummy and daddy, where's my mummy and daddy?' And then I was put back up into bed.'

Ms McCann was also asked if she could accept nearly 50 years on that when it came to the trial there were 'deficiencies', with no new evidence and a lack of interviewing under caution.

And she replied: 'Absolutely, the cards were stacked against this case from the very beginning when there was an illegal arrangement between the Attorney General and the General Officer commanding the British Army at the time to deliberately not prosecute in these cases and to make sure that the initial investigations were carried out, that you would have included that they were brought to the RUC and questioned under caution by the RUC.

'That didn't happen, it was described as a tea and sandwiches affair, so it meant that the RMP, the Royal Military Police, instead carried out that investigation. So when that illegal arrangement was lifted, the case still was not reinvestigated after that, and it should have been after then in 1974, so we have a litany of deliberate oversight, professional malpractice, corruption and collusion at all levels of the British Government, right from that time and right up to and including the disgraced and defunct Historical Enquiries Team who were disbanded by the Police Constable here, Chief Constable.'

Directly after the interview, the programme also heard from Danny Kinahan, Veterans' Commissioner for Northern Ireland.

He said: 'I want to just correct one thing that she was saying - it was actual in the agreed evidence between the prosecution and the defence that Joe McCann had shot 15 soldiers, so it was agreed - and we never got into that because of the technicalities of the case.'

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald was also interviewed on the programme earlier this morning.

A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Our presenter pointed out during the interview that it was accepted in court at the time that Ms McCanns father was a commander in the Official IRA.

'A subsequent guest on the programme, the Veterans' Commissioner for Northern Ireland, also pointed out on air that it was agreed in court that Joe McCann had shot 15 soldiers.'

The Office of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland would not confirm today whether an inquest will be launched into the death of Mr McCann.

Reacting to the interview, Conservative campaigner Ben Obese-Jecty tweeted: 'Rather than speak to the daughter of Joe McCann, an Official IRA commander, perhaps @BBCr4today should interview the parents, widows and children of the 722 British servicemen murdered by the IRA, or the 15 murders McCann was believed to have personally been involved in. #r4today'

Another Twitter user, solicitor Rosina Carley said: I find myself very cross at the interview with Joe McCann's daughter on @BBCr4today programme. She suggested that he could not have killed any British soldiers. Can anyone confirm the facts to me please?'

A third, called 'Somerset Veteran', tweeted: 'It was a disgusting interview. I was shouting at the radio. Odious woman and the reason why there will always be tensions on the island of Ireland.'

The latest case was the first trial in several years that involved charges against former military personnel who served in the Northern Ireland conflict.

Decisions to prosecute have been taken in four other cases involving veterans, while decisions are pending in three others.

The PPS has defended its decision to take the prosecution against soldiers A and C, but has said it will assess whether the judge's ruling will have an impact on the other military cases before the courts.

Mr McCann, 24, was shot dead by paratroopers as he attempted to evade arrest by a plain clothed police officer in the Markets Area of Belfast in April 1972.

The trial opened last Monday and heard a full day of evidence.

It then moved into a separate voir dire hearing to determine whether statements and interviews given by the ex-soldiers, who are now in their 70s, would be admissible as evidence.

On Friday, Mr Justice O'Hara ruled that the soldiers' evidence could not be admitted.

With the PPS having conceded the material was the only evidence before the court that could be used to prove the soldiers fired at Mr McCann, its decision not to appeal against the judge's ruling means the case could not proceed.

After the prosecution confirmed it would be presenting no further evidence in the case, judge Mr Justice O'Hara told the defendants: 'In the circumstances Mr A and C I formally find you not guilty of the charge of murder.'

Prosecutors to review evidence in seven other veteran cases after trial collapse Prosecutors are to examine the evidence in seven other cases involving veterans in Northern Ireland following the collapse of the Joe McCann murder trial. Senior lawyers in the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) are awaiting Mr Justice O'Hara's written ruling on the inadmissibility of evidence before conducting the exercise. In four of the cases, including Bloody Sunday, a decision to prosecute has already been taken. In the three other cases involving former military personnel a decision is still pending. The examination will establish whether evidence in the cases involves material obtained through the now defunct police legacy unit - Historical Enquiries Team (HET). In the cases that do involve HET evidence, prosecutors will consider that material in light of the ruling by the trial judge. Mr Justice O'Hara ruled interviews and statements provided by soldiers A and C to the HET in 2010 as inadmissible, raising various concerns in relation to the process through which the evidence was obtained. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Michael Agnew said: 'When the full written judgment becomes available, the PPS will carefully consider whether it has the potential to impact upon any other cases that are currently before the courts.' Mr Agnew also defended the decision to take the prosecution, insisting it involved a 'very thorough and careful examination' of the evidence by a team of experienced lawyers, including senior counsel. 'Despite today's outcome, the PPS remains satisfied that this case was properly brought before the courts,' he said. 'The case overcame a number of legal challenges before reaching trial.' One of the challenges Mr Agnew was referring to was a defence abuse of process application that was rejected by a high court judge before the case got to trial. That application did not focus on the admissibility issue, rather whether a prosecution was fair so long removed from the event and in light of a no prosecution decision in 1972. However, in his ruling Mr Justice Maguire did make clear that risk of criminal prosecution was an inherent feature of the HET process. That point became the subject of contention during the trial, with the defence insisting that the soldiers believed they were participating in a fact-finding exercise to benefit the family. The PPS contention that HET material could be relied on in a criminal trial was undermined by evidence given by a HET investigator during the trial. The investigator claimed that he did not believe he had secured any evidence of an offence having been committed and expressed surprise that the resultant HET report had resulted in a prosecution. The admissibility of that evidence was only going to be properly tested at the trial stage. 'The complex and wide-ranging challenges of prosecuting legacy cases are well recognised,' said Mr Agnew. 'Where such cases fall to be considered for potential prosecution the PPS will continue to impartially apply the Test for Prosecution, without fear or favour, as it does in all other cases.' Questions have been asked why the PPS did not appeal against Mr Justice O'Hara's decision on admissibility. Prosecutors concluded they did not have any grounds to appeal against it. In order to do so, they would have had to argue that the decision was unreasonable on the basis of the evidence presented or that the trial judge had made a legal error in coming to his ruling. Advertisement

Moments later the two accused, dressed in suits and ties, walked from the court.

After yesterday's short hearing, lawyers for the soldiers demanded an 'urgent independent review' of the PPS's handling of the case.

Philip Barden, the senior partner at Devonshires solicitors who represented soldiers A and C, said the firm made legal submissions back in 2016 making clear that the evidence from their clients would not be admissible.

'The stress of these proceedings on the soldiers and their families cannot be underestimated,' he said.

'This is a prosecution that should never have got off the ground. Before initiating the prosecution, the PPS had all the relevant information to conclude that the evidence was clearly inadmissible. Despite this, the prosecution proceeded.'

He added: 'I call for an inquiry by a senior judge to investigate the decision-making process and to ensure that the decision to prosecute these veterans was not political.'

The family of Mr McCann are to apply to the Attorney General to open an inquest into his killing.

Speaking outside the court yesterday, solicitor for the family Niall Murphy said: 'This ruling does not acquit the State of murder.

'This ruling does not mean that Joe McCann was not murdered by the British Army.

'He was shot in the back whilst unarmed, from a distance of 40 metres, posing no threat. It was easier to arrest him than to murder him.'

He added: 'Today is not the end of the McCanns' journey for justice.

'They will now apply to the current Attorney General to open the inquest at which Soldiers A and C will be compelled to appear and give evidence and be cross examined.'

The voir dire heard that the evidence implicating the defendants, known in court as soldiers A and C, came from two sources.

The first was statements they made to the Royal Military Police in 1972, the second source was statements and interview answers they gave to a police legacy unit, the Historical Enquiries Team (HET), in 2010.

The PPS accepted that the 1972 statements would be inadmissible in isolation.

That was due to a series of deficiencies in how they were taken, including the fact the soldiers were ordered to make them, they were not conducted under caution, there was no access to legal representation and the Army policy of not asking soldiers to provide an explanation or rationale for their actions.

However, prosecutors argued that the information in the 1972 statements became admissible because they were adopted and accepted by the defendants during their engagement with the HET in March 2010.

In his ruling last Friday, Mr Justice O'Hara agreed with the defence contention that none of the evidence should be admitted to the trial.

He said it was not legitimate to put the 1972 evidence before the court 'dressed up and freshened up with a new 2010 cover'.

The judge questioned why the re-examination of the case by the HET did not prompt a fresh investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, with the veterans interviewed under caution for the specific offence of murder.

He suggested that course of action might have made a prosecution more sustainable.

The prosecution was taken after Northern Ireland's Attorney General referred the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions in 2014 after receiving the findings of the HET report.

Former defence minister Johnny Mercer has called on the Government to include veterans who served in Northern Ireland in a new Bill to protect soldiers from prosecutions.

Mr Mercer left the Government in April after it emerged the Overseas Operations Bill would not include soldiers who served in Northern Ireland.

Speaking after the verdict, he said: 'I'm delighted for the soldiers who can now hopefully go and live the rest of their lives in peace.

'But the Government has made very clear promises, and the Prime Minister has made very clear promises, on legislation to end the relentless pursuit of those who served their country in Northern Ireland. It is time to deliver on that.'

A photograph which is said to show Joe McCann with an American M1 carbine during a gun battle for Inglis Bakery in Eliza Street in The Markets area of Belfast in 1972

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions at the PPS Michael Agnew said the decision to prosecute was taken after a 'very thorough and careful examination'.

'Despite today's outcome, the PPS remains satisfied that this case was properly brought before the courts,' he said.

Mr Agnew added: 'When the full written judgment becomes available, the PPS will carefully consider whether it has the potential to impact upon any other cases that are currently before the courts.'

General Sir Peter Wall, who served as Army chief under David Cameron, told the Daily Telegraph the trial was a 'politically motivated witch-hunt'.

General Sir Richard Dannatt, head of the Army from 2006 to 2009, said: 'Boris Johnson promised he would stop these prosecutions, but they are still going on.'
The chips are down in the tense elections battle today - and Rishi Sunak took the chance to tuck in as he campaigned in Wales.

The Chancellor risked a snack in full glare of cameras as he canvassed in Rhyl on the eve of crucial ballots across Britain.

Meanwhile, Boris Johnson was in the West Midlands desperately trying to calm expectations that the Tories will hang on to the mayoralty there, as well as the keeping control of Tees Valley and seizing the Hartlepool Commons seat from Labour.

And Sir Keir Starmer has been in Yorkshire as he faces a hard-Left threat if the results over the coming days are as dire as many fear. He insisted he will take 'responsibility' for the outcome - but argued that he has not had long enough to change the party's fortunes after the disastrous Corbyn era.

Asked whether he would put money on getting the 'hat-trick' of Hartlepool, Teeside and West Midlands, Boris Johnson said: 'Obviously with those, I think Andy Street has done an outstanding job in the West Midlands, I think Ben Houchen is a fantastic mayor in Teeside and obviously we are fighting for every vote in Hartlepool.

'But these are tough contests and Hartlepool in particular you'd have to say, that hasn't been a Conservative since its inception  46 years ago or whatever it was.

'So I think that will be a very tough fight but I hope everybody gets out to vote.'

Rishi Sunak risked a snack in full glare of cameras as he canvassed in Rhyl (left) on the eve of crucial ballots across Britain. Keir Starmer (right) was in Yorkshire

Mr Johnson took a bike ride with West Midlands mayor Andy Street (left) on the last day before voters go to the polls

Mr Sunak sampled the chips at Marine Holiday in Rhyl during his campaigning today

Nicola Sturgeon (pictured in Aberdeen today) is fighting the Holyrood elections on a promise to force another independence referendum - but support for splitting the union appears to be dropping

The graphic shows Labour's poll position in the upcoming elections at the end of this week

One survey has shown the Conservatives set for a stunning 17-point victory in the Hartlepool by-election, continuing Mr Johnson's demolition of the 'Red Wall'.

Labour's own canvassing data shows only 40 per cent of the party's previous supporters in Hartlepool have pledged to back it tomorrow, according to the Guardian. The figures come from 10,000 doors knocked during the campaign.

It would be only the second time in 38 years that a ruling party has snatched a seat from the Opposition in a by-election.

Meanwhile, other polls have indicated that Andy Street and Ben Houchen, the Tory mayors in former Labour strongholds of the West Midlands and Tees Valley, are on course to score victories.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has looked to be coasting to victory over Conservative Shaun Bailey, but a YouGov poll today suggests that the race has narrowed significantly.

Corbynites in Sir Keir's party already appear to be sharpening their knives, with warnings that the leader will have to 'consider his position'.

Asked during a campaign visit to Pontefract in west Yorkshire whether he accepted that this week's elections were a test of his leadership, Sir Keir told reporters: 'We are fighting for every vote into those elections tomorrow.

'We are having a very positive reception on the doorsteps, we are going into tomorrow in good spirit.

'Whatever the results are, I will take responsibility, as I take responsibility for everything in the Labour Party.'

Pressed on whether he might have to rethink his leadership approach if the results are poor, the party leader added: 'Well, look, I took over the Labour Party after the worst general election result since 1935.

'We've got to rebuild into the next general election  that is the task in hand.

'This is the first test and we go into that test fighting for every vote, but I never thought we would climb the mountain we have to climb in just one year  it is going to take longer than that.'

With the coronavirus pandemic delaying a host of elections by 12 months, there will be two years' worth of polls taking place across Great Britain tomorrow.

Voters will have their say on the make-up of English councils, the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd and decide who holds power in city halls, with a number of areas choosing regional mayors.

The Tories' London mayor hopeful Shaun Bailey was campaigning with vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi in Kennington today
A Titan Airways jet made an emergency landing at Gatwick when one of its engines caught fire and the other stalled after fuel was contaminated by a mechanic, a report has revealed.

Investigators found disaster may only have been averted near the Sussex airport as it was flying light with no passengers and just seven crew, in quiet airspace and in clear conditions on February 26 last year.

The report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said that an engineer had added 38 times too much biocide, an anti-bacterial chemical, to fuel tanks before the flight because he did not understand that 'ppm' meant 'parts per million'.

The excess quantity of Kathon treatment contaminated the fuel and caused the partial failure of the jet's engines due to the build up of residues, the report concluded.

A diagram shows the flightpath of the jet, which had to make an emergency landing after issues with its engines were discovered

The terrifying incident began soon after the Airbus A321-211 took off from Gatwick airport on a short flight to Stansted, and the pilot noticed that his number one engine was 'banging and surging' at a height of 500ft.

He told investigators how the jet was 'yawning and fishtailing all over the place' as his cabin crew told him by intercom that flames were billowing out of the engine's tailpipe in the darkness.

The 28-year-old pilot sent out a Mayday alert just 47 seconds after taking off and disengaged his autopilot so he could take manual control of the 236-seat plane and land back at Gatwick.

But as he turned his jet, he noticed that controls of his number two engine had also begun to fluctuate and he received three alerts in quick succession, saying that it had stalled, according to the AAIB report.

The pilot levelled the plane at 3,582ft, and managed to stabilise the engines by operating them at just under half power, before landing safely at 12.20am on February 26 last year, just 11 minutes after taking off.

The report said that the actions of the pilot and co-pilot in 'flying a prompt and accurate approach' back to the runway using less thrust than usual 'contributed to the safe outcome.'

It added: 'The circumstances of the incident flight were that the aircraft was relatively light in weight, the airspace was quiet, and the weather conditions were calm and clear.

'Crew A did not have sufficient time to consider shutting down engine No 1 before engine No 2 began stalling and were therefore able to use power from both engines for the remainder of the flight.

Investigators found disaster may only have been averted near the Sussex airport as the plane (pictured) was flying light with no passengers and just seven crew, in quiet airspace and in clear conditions

'Had the conditions been less favourable, engine and aircraft performance could have been insufficient to maintain a safe flightpath - possibly while over-flying the built-up areas near Gatwick Airport.'

The report said that the Kathon biocide treatment was supposed to be added to the fuel tanks at 100 parts per million while the aircraft was being serviced at an overseas maintenance depot.

But an engineer instead added the equivalent of 3,814 parts per million into the aircraft's fuel tanks in its wings.

The report said that he only spoke English as a second language and did not understand what the term 'ppm' meant, meaning he struggled to work out what quantity to use.

The engineer who had never used biocide treatment before ended up searching the internet and using an online calculator, but was unable to recall which website he had used.

He ended up pouring 30kgs of Kathon into each wing tank when he should have used 0.8kgs on each.

The report found that he had also made an error by pouring the biocide directly into the tanks, so that it pooled in the bottom, rather than mixing it up with fuel and then putting it in.

His actions made the contamination problem even worse because the fuel pump inlets would have been submerged in the Kathon-rich layer when the aircraft was angled up while taking off and increasing height.

The excess quantity of Kathon treatment contaminated the fuel and caused the partial failure of the jet's engines due to the build up of residues, the report concluded

Problems with the two engines were noted over the following 24 hours when the plane wasflown four times.

A fuel valve alert message was displayed when the plane was on the ground at Stansted before flying to Gatwick and going on a return flight to Krakow, Poland.

One engine took three attempts to start on the return from Krakow and the crew noticed a slight vibration in the airframe while descending to land at Gatwick.

An engineer at Gatwick examined the aircraft on the ground using a troubleshooting procedure and found nothing wrong, but the document he used was for a different class of engines to the ones on the jet.

The plane took off again for Stansted after three attempts had to be made to start the number one engine. The same engine then began to surge just 15 seconds after take off.

An examination of the engines after the incident found 17 compressor blades had been damaged in one of them.

Fuel filter debris in both engines also showed a high level of magnesium which is a constituent element of Kathon while the combustion chambers and blades were coated with a thin layer of white material which later crystallised due to condensation.

Brown sticky deposits, consistent with coming from Kathon, were also found in the engines, said the report.

An engine valve contaminated with brown residue caused by the fuel contamination

Investigators made safety recommendations, calling for the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to classify the use of biocide additives as a 'critical maintenance task' and subject to tighter rules and procedures.

The report said that Airbus was also in the process of replacing the term 'parts per million' or 'ppm' in its maintenance literature to the more easily understood 'ml/1,000ltrs'.

Crispin Orr, Chief Inspector of Air Accidents said: 'This was a very serious incident that in different circumstances could have had a catastrophic outcome.

'The safety of commercial air transport aircraft depends in part on redundancy of safety critical systems such as engines. However, fuel contamination can affect all engines simultaneously and so it is essential that maintenance regimes are resilient to errors that could lead to fuel system contamination.

'Five Safety Recommendations have been made in this report to regulators to promote the classification of biocide treatment of aircraft fuel systems as a critical maintenance task. This would ensure that an error-capturing method is included as part of the task.'


By Park Jae-hyuk, Kim Hyun-bin



Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn's youngest son, Kim Dong-seon, who is in charge of global strategies at affiliate Hanwha Energy, has come under the spotlight recently for his close relationship with potential buyers of Daewoo Engineering & Construction (Daewoo E&C).





Hanwha headquarters in Seoul
Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego, was shot and killed when she and other Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6

The family of Ashli Babbitt says she was murdered when she was fatally shot by a police officer during the US Capitol riots - as they plan to file a multi-million dollar wrongful death lawsuit against the police department.

Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego, was shot and killed when she and other Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6.

A police officer, who has never been identified, fired a single gunshot when Babbitt tried to climb through the broken part of a door leading to an area outside the House Chamber where lawmakers were holed up.

Federal prosecutors decided last month not to bring charges against the officer who fired the fatal shot due to a lack of evidence.

Babbitt's family, however, believe she was murdered.

'In the eyes of her family? Of course she was,' the family's attorney, Terry Roberts, told WUSA.

'I mean, there was just no legal justification to take her life.

'She could have easily been stopped by the officer who shot her or numerous other officers who were around and been arrested, if that's what they wanted to do. There was no need to shoot her.

Video footage from the riots, which was a failed bid to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's election victory, showed Babbitt (top right) trying to enter the Speaker's Lobby through the broken door

'Any rookie police officer with a set of handcuffs could have taken her into custody. She's an Air Force veteran. She was actually a military police officer herself. I am sure that she would have complied.'

The family is planning to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the Capitol Police over Babbitt's death.

The attorney has previously estimated that $10 million would be the total amount sought.

It is not clear when the lawsuit will be filed.

The attorney argued that Babbitt was simply a protester who was exercising her right to air grievances against the government.

'You know, we don't shoot protesters in this country unless they're an immediate threat to somebody,' the attorney said.

'And so I don't see the difference between Ashli Babbitt's case and any other protests which occurred in 2020.'

The pending lawsuit follows the Justice Department's decision not to bring charges against the officer involved.

Prosecutors said they had reviewed video of the shooting, along with statements from the officer involved and other officers and witnesses, examined physical evidence from the scene and reviewed the autopsy results.

She was struck in the shoulder by the bullet. A police tactical team rushed into the area and gave first aid but Babbitt was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Blood is seen on the floor of the Capitol where Babbitt was shot

Prosecutors had argued that Babbitt was part of the mob that was trying to get into the House as Capitol Police officers were evacuating members of Congress from the chamber. Pictured is the broken window Babbitt tried to climb through when she was shot

'Based on that investigation, officials determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution,' the department said in a statement on April 14.

Prosecutors had argued that Babbitt was part of the mob that was trying to get into the House as Capitol Police officers were evacuating members of Congress from the chamber.

The officers used furniture to try to barricade the glass doors separating the hallway from the Speaker's Lobby to try to stave off the rioters, who kept trying to break through those doors, smashing the glass with flagpoles, helmets and other objects.

Video footage from the riots, which was a failed bid to stop Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's election victory, showed Babbitt - who was wearing a stars and stripes backpack - trying to enter the Speaker's Lobby through the broken door.

The video shows her stepping up and beginning to go through the waist-high opening when a gunshot is heard and she falls backward.

Another video shows other unidentified people attempting to lift Babbitt up before she can be seen slumping back to the ground.

She was struck in the shoulder by the bullet.

A police tactical team rushed into the area and gave first aid but Babbitt was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Donald Trump endorsed New York Representative Elise Stefanik on Wednesday to take over as GOP Conference Chair as top members of the party continue to turn on Liz Cheney for speaking out against the former president.

'Liz Cheney is a warmongering fool who has no business in Republican Party Leadership,' Trump wrote in a statement from his Save America political action committee. 'We want leaders who believe in the Make America Great Again movement, and prioritize the values of America First.'

'Elise Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL Endorsement for GOP Conference Chair. Elise is a tough and smart communicator! ' he wrote.

The statement was also posted to the former president's new webpage 'From the Desk of Donald J. Trump,' where he posts all of his statements in a Twitter feed-like manner.

Stefanik was one of Trump's biggest defenders in his second impeachment trial and she voted to overturn the election results in the January 6 joint session to certify the outcome for Joe Biden.

The endorsement from Trump comes after top Republicans have made clear they prefer Stefanik take over as GOP Conference chair if they end up ousting Cheney.

House Whip Steve Scalise and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy are working to clear the field for Stefanik to sail to a leadership position.

McCarthy is also working behind the scenes to boost the 36-year-old's chances of clinching the GOP's third-highest leadership role in the lower chamber.

'House Republicans need to be solely focused on taking back the House in 2022 and fighting against Speaker Pelosi and President Biden's radical socialist agenda, and Elise Stefanik is strongly committed to doing that, which is why Whip Scalise has pledged to support her for Conference Chair,' Scalise's spokesperson Lauren Fine told Punchbowl News.

Donald Trump endorsed New York Representative Elise Stefanik to replace Liz Cheney as GOP Conference Chair as the party continues to turn against her for speaking out against Trump

The former president wrote in a statement Wednesday that Stefanik is the 'far superior choice' for Republican leadership than Cheney, who is critical of Trump and voted for his impeachment

Endorsement comes as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (left) and House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (right) work to clear the field for Stefanik to replace Cheney

When asked Wednesday about the GOP efforts to oust Cheney from leadership, President Joe Biden said: 'I don't understand the Republicans.'

Cheney is being pushed out for speaking too frequently and publicly about Trump's claim the 2020 presidential election was stolen and 'rigged' against him.

She also was the highest-ranking Republican to vote to impeach Trump for incitement of insurrection after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

Cheney survived one attempt to oust her from leadership, with the help of McCarthy  but now even he has turned against her and there hasn't been any real public effort by Cheney's to hold onto the role.

McCarthy, a close ally of Stefanik's, has expressed to colleagues  including possible challengers  his preference for Stefanik as he works to ensure her ascendance to the post.

Also helping her chances is the fact that Representative Jackie Walorski of Indiana, once seen as a potential opponent to Stefanki, has decided not to run for conference chair and instead is whipping for her New York colleague.

Another Indiana congressman, Republican Study Committee Chairman Jim Banks, also isn't running.

Stefanik has served New York's 21st congressional district since 2015. At the time of winning her 2014 election she was 20-years-old and the youngest woman serving in Congress.

New York Rep. Elise Stefanik (left) has emerged as the favorite to replace Liz Cheney (right) as GOP chairwoman as the party plans to meet next week  where Cheney will likely be ousted from her leadership role

A spokesperson for Scalise said he 'has pledged to support [Stefanik] for Conference Chair'. Scalise is seen speaking to reporters with Cheney behind him following a meeting April, 20

After graduating from Harvard in 2006 with a degree in government, she joined George W. Bush's administration and worked as staff to the Domestic Policy Council.

She also managed former Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan's debate preparation during the 2012 presidential election, but following his primary loss to Senator Mitt Romney, she returned to upstate New York to join her parents' business.

As a representative, Stefanik currently serves on the House Armed Services, Intelligence, and Educations and the Workforce Committees.

Hours after the January 6 Capitol attack this year, Stefanki was one of the GOP members who still voted to object to Pennsylvania's electoral college results.

Many Republican have recognized that Cheney, if ousted, should be replaced with a woman  or at least not a white male like those who already fill the top two GOP posts in the House.

She has also not ruled out the potential of running for governor of New York  despite it's statehouse being completely controlled by Democrats.

Since controversy surrounding current New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ramped up in the fall, Stefanik has repeatedly called him 'the WORST governor in America' on social media.

'Congresswoman Stefanik continues to receive encouragement from all corners of the state as she would immediately be the strongest Republican candidate in both a primary and general gubernatorial election,' Alex DeGrasse, a senior advisor to Stefanik, said in a statement last week.

'She continues to set records as the most prolific New York Republican fundraiser ever in state history consistently earning the strongest performance at the ballot box cycle after cycle on Election Day,' DeGrasse continued.

'She appreciates the widespread encouragement and is not ruling anything out  nor will she make her decision based on others' timetables.'

McCarthy was caught on a hot mic Tuesday saying he's lost confidence in Wyoming Representative and current Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney.

He also indicated in public remarks that her days in the party's leadership are numbered.

The California congressman raised questions about Cheney's ability to carry out her leadership duties and told Fox News he's heard from fellow GOP lawmakers they are worried she can't carry out the party's message.

Ahead of his interview, he was heard, on a hot mic, telling Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy he's lost confidence in Cheney, Axios reported.

'I think she's got real problems,' McCarthy said. 'I've had it with ... I've had it with her. You know, I've lost confidence. ... Well, someone just has to bring a motion, but I assume that will probably take place.'

McCarthy was caught on hot mic before a Fox News interview Tuesday claiming of Cheney: 'I've had it with her'

He then said that members of his party were growing increasingly worried about roll and how it could hurt the future of the party.

'I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out the job as conference chair - to carry out the message. We all need to be working as one if we're able to win the majority. Remember, majorities are not given; they are earned. And that's about the message about going forward,' he said on 'Fox & Friends.'

But, off camera, McCarthy was even more candid about the Republican congresswoman from Wyoming.

For Cheney to be removed from leadership, a GOP lawmaker would have to make a motion to do so that would be voted on by the Republican House members. Cheney survived a secret ballot vote to remove her from leadership earlier this year but the criticism against her has escalated in the past few weeks.

It's now looking like the Republican Conference could move next week to boot Cheney from leadership as the hard-right House Freedom Caucus files a motion to remove her.

If adopted, the GOP leadership will be able to schedule the election to replace her.

Cheney's spokesperson shot back, calling on Republicans to speak up against former President Donald Trump's falsehoods.

'This is about whether the Republican Party is going to perpetuate lies about the 2020 election and attempt to whitewash what happened on Jan 6. Liz will not do that. That is the issue,' said Jeremy Alder.

But McCarthy claimed the internecine battle had nothing to do with Cheney being one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the January 6th MAGA riot.

'I haven't heard members concerned about her vote on impeachment. It's more concern about the job ability to do and what's our best step forward that we could all work together instead of attacking one another,' he said on 'Fox & Friends,' which is Trump's favorite morning show. The former president is a regular viewer.

In February, Cheney - the No. 3 Republican in the House - survived a leadership vote 145-61 on a secret ballot. The vote was called for by Trump allies in the GOP after her impeachment vote.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney defended Cheney and said she 'refuses to lie' as calls to oust her from the party leadership grew

McCarthy, who wants to speaker, has been clear his focus is on the 2022 election and winning back control of the House.

He listed his priorities to talk about in next year's midterms.

'Combating Joe Biden and what he's done to this border by making it unsecure and what's coming across. Just what he's doing here about small businesses, not opening schools, not getting us back to work, back to health, back to normal. That's the message we should be talking about,' he said on Fox News.

The fight over Cheney is part of the wider battle over the role of former President Trump in the Republican Party. She has emerged as one of his fiery critics and has repeatedly challenged his false assertion he won the 2020 presidential election - one of the few Republicans to call him out on it.

Trump, in turn, has given as good as he got, attacking Cheney himself through statements and using surrogates and his son, Donald Trump Jr., to attack her on social media.

But the former president still has a strong and vocal base of MAGA supporters who are expected to be active in next year's primary and general election.

And some Republicans are worried that fight will be a distraction that could hurt the party.

Former President Donald Trump still has a large base of supporters who are expected to be active in next year's primary and general elections

Other Republicans, however, want to move away from Trump's fiery rhetoric and controversial stands.

Several Republicans said Trump should have done more to rein in his supporters who stormed the Capitol on January 6th, leaving five dead and a trail of destruction in their wake.

McCarthy even called him out on the House floor the day, saying Trump bears responsibility for the riot. Trump was impeached for his role but acquitted in the Senate. After that acquittal, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said the former president was 'practically and morally responsible' for the events.

Trump erupted in fury. McCarthy flew down to Mar-a-Lago, Trump's residence in Palm Beach, to make peace. McConnell and Trump remain at odds.

McCarthy, who will be speaker if the party can flip five seats in 2022, said Trump remains a force in the GOP that must be considered.

'He could change the whole course of history,' McCarthy told The New York Times. 'This is the tightest tightrope anyone has to walk.'

McCarthy isn't looking for a GOP Civil War in the House while he tries to become speaker.

With Cheney and Trump at each other's throats, he and his allies are making it clear she needs to go.

In order to remove her, Republicans in the House would have to vote on it.

'There is no way that Liz will be conference chair by month's end,' one key McCarthy ally told The Hill newspaper on Monday. 'When there is a vote, it won't be a long conference; it will be fast. Everyone knows the outcome.'

McCarthy's allies made it clear their focus is on winning back the House.

'This is a broad range of lawmakers who have had it with her,' a second McCarthy ally said. 'She's a liability, and McCarthy's as fed up as the rest of us that she is focused on the past rather than winning back the House.'

Meanwhile, most of the members of the GOP Conference recognize they can't replace Cheney in leadership with a man.

So the names floating around are Reps. Elise Stefanik of New York, Ann Wagner of Missouri, and Jackie Walorski of Indiana, Axios reports.

Stefanik has started calling Republican lawmakers to express her interest in the job should Cheney be shown the door, Politico reported.

Rep. Liz Cheney slammed former President Donald Trump in a Monday morning tweet, standing her ground as the highest-ranking anti-Trump Republican in Congress

Cheney knocked Trump for continuing to spread election falsehoods, writing that he and others pushing the 'BIG LIE' are 'poisoning our democratic system'

On Monday, however, Trump tried to push that the big lie is 'The Fraudulent President Election of 2020,' instead of it referring to the falsehoods he's said about the election being fraudulent

Later Monday, Trump released a statement hitting Cheney, suggesting she would lose her House seat next year

Cheney has stayed defiant. On Monday she slammed Trump for 'poisoning our democratic system' as he continued to falsely spout that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

Trump's office sent out a statement saying: 'The fraudulent presidential election of 2020 will be, from this day forth, known as the big lie!'

Cheney snapped back.

'The 2020 presidential election was not stolen,' she tweeted. 'Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system.'

Trump then fought back with an emailed statement, as he remains banished from Twitter and Facebook.

'Heartwarming to read new polls on big-shot warmonger Liz Cheney of the great State of Wyoming. She is so low that her only chance would be if vast numbers of people run against her which, hopefully, won't happen,' the ex-president said. 'They never liked her much, but I say she'll never run in a Wyoming election again!'
It was once a dirty, smelly hive of activity which was home to hundreds of Roman soldiers.

Today, the only remaining visible part of Ardoch fort, built by the Romans in Perthshire, Scotland, is a series of ditches and mounds.

But a new documentary reveals how the fortification - which experts know was occupied in the AD80s during the reign of Emperor Domitian - might have once looked.

The programme, which was recently released on streaming site History Hit, shows how the fort would have housed a network of wooden barracks and administrative headquarters.

To the north were a series of marching camps, just one of which was 130 acres in size.

The History Hit show hears from archaeologist Dr Rebecca Jones, who explains that the Romans abandoned the fort before returning to it in the second century.

The first fort was built when the Romans planned to invade the whole of Scotland, before they retreated amid repeated attacks from Celtic tribes.

They then returned to the site and used it as an outpost beyond the short-lived Antonine Wall, which marked the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire for eight years before that too was abandoned.

Today, the only remaining visible part of Ardoch fort, built by the Romans in Perthshire, Scotland, is a series of ditches and mounds

But a new documentary on streaming platform History Hit reveals how the fortification - which experts know was occupied in the AD80s during the reign of Emperor Domitian - might have once looked

What were Roman 'marching' camps? The Roman 'marching' camps were typically square or rectangular and could be built at the end of a day's march - which averaged 20miles for a legionary army. The camps could accommodate military personnel, along with their equipment, animals, and a headquarters. They could be used defensively - as a secure base to which an army could retreat; and offensively - as a staging area for assaults. The camps were intended for operations deep in the heart of enemy territory. With each step of the army's advance, their construction would strike fear in their adversaries, as the camps were a sign of their huge military might. Once the Romans had conquered a territory, the camps could be transformed into more permanent fortifications. Advertisement

Dr Jones said in the History Hit programme: 'Ardoch is a Roman fort in central Scotland in Perthshire and its one of the best surviving examples of its type anywhere in the Roman Empire.

'As you can see from the massive ramparts and ditches around its perimeter, it really survives in good quality condition.

'It was fist built in the first century AD when the Roman armies were intent on conquering the whole of Scotland and coming through that area.'

The site was first excavated at the end of the 19th Century.

It is believed the fort would have had 'some kind of timber structure' on top of ramparts, Dr Jones said.

'You've got to imagine a succession of timber buildings in the interior. Barrack blocks for the soldiers, the central headquarters building, the commanding officer's house and all that kind of thing.'

As well as the impressive remnants of both the first and second fort, the site also boasts the remains of a medieval chapel, which was built centuries after the Romans left Britain in around AD 400.

Dr Jones stressed the sharp contrast between how the site looks today and how it would have once been.

'Obviously when you visit Ardoch today, it seems quite quiet and peaceful, the wind blowing across a relatively empty field,' she said.

'You get to the ramparts and then you get an idea of the majesty. But what that does is hide the hive of activity that you would have had going on there.

'You would have had these wooden barrack blocks, you would've had the headquarters building.

'You've got to imagine the noise of hundreds of men. You would've had soldiers on guard at night time. And you've really go to imagine something that's quite busy.'

The Romans first tried to invade Britain in 55BC. When that force was met by fierce resistance, they retreated and did not return until 43 AD. Pictured: Roman soldiers depicted in film The Eagle

To the north of Ardoch fort were a series of marching camps, just one of which was 130 acres in size

The History Hit show hears from archaeologist Dr Rebecca Jones, who explains that the Romans abandoned the fort before returning to it in the second century. The first fort was built when the Romans planned to invade the whole of Scotland, before they retreated amid repeated attacks from Celtic tribes. They then returned to the site and used it as an outpost beyond the short-lived Antonine Wall

Above: Where the fort's headquarters, the 'Principia', would have once stood. Seen behind are the remains of a medieval chapel which was built centuries after the Romans left Britain

Asking viewers to conjure up the 'dirty and smelly' image of the Roman camp depicted in Hollywood film Gladiator, she added: 'This isn't this lovely windswept moor, this was a busy active place full of soldiers.'

In around AD 80, around 40 years before Hadrian's Wall was built, the northern frontier of Roman Britain was marked by a series of forts and watch towers.

They were built along what is known as the Gask Ridge  the high ground running between Dunblane and Perth. It was this network which the Ardoch fort was part of in the first century.

The site was first excavated at the end of the 19th Century. Pictured: An image taken during the original dig

Dr Jones said in the History Hit programme: 'Ardoch is a Roman fort in central Scotland in Perthshire and its one of the best surviving examples of its type anywhere in the Roman Empire'

The fort was abandoned when, beset by attacks from Celtic tribes, the Romans retreated to what is now the Scottish-English border in around AD120 and built Hadrian's Wall.

The fort was then re-occupied in around AD140, when the Romans began building the Antonine Wall.

By then, the fort had become one of the largest stations in Roman Britain.

With 'commanding' views to the south, Ardoch was in a prime position from which the Romans could base themselves

The watchtower network which Ardoch (dot nearest the Antonine Wall) was part of was built along a road which ran north further into Scotland

Dr Jones said: 'So we have this line of communication, this frontier road running through Perthshire'

With 'commanding' views to the south, Ardoch was in a prime position from which the Romans could base themselves.

The watchtower network which Ardoch was part of was built along a road which ran north further into Scotland.

Dr Jones said: 'So we have this line of communication, this frontier road running through Perthshire.'

'And its similar to what you get elsewhere in the empire. This idea of this road which is watched over by a number of towers is really quite common in other parts of the empire.

'So we have got an awful lot of comings and going. And Ardoch is one of the best places in Britain to see that.'
South Korean student Jong-Ok Shin, 26, known as Oki, was stabbed to death in 2002

A man jailed for nearly 20 years for a murder he says he did not commit hopes that new CCTV footage discovered by a BBC investigation will give him an alibi and clear his name.

South Korean student Jong-Ok Shin, 26, known as Oki, was stabbed to death in the street while walking home from a night out in Bournemouth in 2002.

Omar Benguit, 48, a heroin addict and petty crook, was tried three times for the killing and finally convicted in 2005 after a key prosecution witness, a prostitute and heroin addict known as BB, claimed that she had witnessed the murder.

She told police and the jury that following the murder at 2.50am she went with Benguit to a crack house in St Clements Road, Bournemouth.

Now, BBC reporter Bronagh Munro has discovered CCTV images which cast serious doubt on the vital evidence  and Benguits conviction  appearing to show him more than a mile away from where the witness claimed, less than half an hour after the murder.

The series of CCTV images from the night first show Benguit at the Richmond Arms pub in Charminster  he was caught on camera at 8.36pm  before moving to the Slam bar, in Bournemouth town centre, pictured at 10.28pm, which all accords with the prosecution timeline.

Now, BBC reporter Bronagh Munro has discovered CCTV images which cast serious doubt on the vital evidence  and Benguits conviction  appearing to show him more than a mile away from where the witness claimed, less than half an hour after the murder

Omar Benguit (pictured), 48, a heroin addict and petty crook, was tried three times for the killing and finally convicted in 2005 after a key prosecution witness, a prostitute and heroin addict known as BB, claimed that she had witnessed the murder

Munro believes that the police have always known about the footage which might clear him. Whats shocking is that the police knew about the crucial CCTV images back in 2002 but Omar wasnt shown them, she said. Pictured, Benguit at the Richmond arms and Slam Bar

But at 3.16am, he was filmed walking past a phone box in the Charminster Road on his way home, not in the crack house getting cleaned up following the horrific murder, as BB suggested.

If this man is Omar, it changes everything, said Munro. Its impossible for Omar to be both on the street by the phone box and in the crack house.

Benguits lawyer Des Jenson, who yesterday joined his sister Amie Benguit in applying to the Criminal Cases Review Commission for a third appeal, is convinced there has been a grave miscarriage of justice.

I think this is the key to the whole case, he told the programme. This is a still that I have never seen, that bears a strong resemblance to Omar.

BB gave police three different accounts of the night  in her final statement she claimed that she had given Benguit a lift to the murder scene and then onto a crack house. She stands by her evidence.

According to the evidence given by BB at trial at this time Omar was in a crack house with her. If he is shown to be walking down Charminster Road at this time it completely undermines the evidence that she has given, said Munro.

When I first picked up this case, my initial impression was that this is a miscarriage of justice and everything Ive read since then, everyone Ive spoken to, everything Ive seen has only further convinced me that my initial impression was the right one.

Ok Sin is pictured, left, in CCTV footage of her before her death and, right, the appeal launched to find information surrounding the murder

The investigation into the murder of Oki Shin was complex as 13 of the witnesses were addicts. She was able to tell police before her death she was brutally stabbed in the back with a six-inch knife by a man in a mask. Pictured, Oki Shin's clothes at the murder scene

Munro believes that the police have always known about the footage which might clear him. Whats shocking is that the police knew about the crucial CCTV images back in 2002 but Omar wasnt shown them, she said.

I found a statement from the police officer who conducted all Omars interviews. He says he knows what Omar looks like because of this. Hes the same officer who identifies him in other CCTV images that night.

In his statement he talks about the man that I found at 3.15am beside the phone box and he says: This man resembles the appearance of Omar Benguit. So its not just me that thinks this man could be Omar Benguit. The police thought it could too.

The investigation into the murder of Oki Shin was complex as 13 of the witnesses were addicts. She was able to tell police before her death she was brutally stabbed in the back with a six-inch knife by a man in a mask.

In the programme Unsolved: An Alibi for Omar, Munro tracked down 12 witnesses, all of whom claimed that they were pressurised by police into making false statements. Five admitted lying in court.

Munro believes police should focus a new investigation into convicted double murderer Danilo Restivo, known as the hair fetishist, who lived just three streets away from the murder scene in Bournemouth at the time.

He was jailed for life in 2011 for the horrific murder of his neighbour Heather Barnett, after he bludgeoned her with a hammer, cut her throat and mutilated her body, leaving a clump of someone elses hair in her hand.

Months later he was convicted in his absence of a similar ritualistic slaughter of a 16-year-old girl in his home town of Potenza, in Italy, in 1994.

Intriguingly, both murders occurred on the 12th of the month -- as did Okis.

Restivos girlfriend, now wife, Fiamma Marsango, had given him an alibi for the night of Okis murder, claiming she was a light sleeper and was certain he was in bed at the time of her death.

BBC journalist Bronagh Munro says police should further investigate double murderer Danilo Restivo (left) who lived in Bournemouth at the time of the murder Benguit (right) was jailed for

The knife that was found in Restivo's bag when he was arrested in a park while spying on women matched the type that pathologists believed killed Oki

Restivo was jailed for life in 2011 for the horrific murder of his neighbour Heather Barnett (pictured) after he bludgeoned her with a hammer, cut her throat and mutilated her body

But Munro tracked down a friend of Marsango who cast doubt on the alibi, claiming that the couple slept in different rooms.

The woman, who did not want to be identified, went to police after she heard the couple talking about the murder but, she claimed, the officers werent interested.

Restivo was saying she was killed with a kitchen knife, a chefs knife, she said, but the thing I thought is: How does he know? How does he know that she was killed with whatever because it had never been said then how she was killed.

They (the police) didnt want to know. They said: "Hes the right one Benguit." That was it. They were adamant that he was the one that did it.

He (Restivo) used to disappear a lot and Fiamma used to wonder where he was. He used to go missing for quite a long time and she always said: I dont know where he goes but he goes missing.

She told me he was sleeping downstairs. They didnt sleep in the same bedroom room. Her room was upstairs. His was downstairs by the door.

Munro believes that Restivos questionable alibi casts even more doubt on Benguits conviction. Theres a victim whose dying words were ignored, a double murderer who wasnt investigated properly, five prosecution witnesses who admit lying in court and CCTV footage that could give Omar Benguit an alibi, she added. But hes now spent almost 20 years in prison for murder.

Speaking in a BBC documentary, Omar Benguit said he'd rather die in jail saying he didn't do the crime than be free

Dorset Police refused to be interviewed but released a statement saying that the investigation into Okis murder was thorough, detailed and very complex. There was sufficient evidence to charge Omar Benguit, they said, and he was unanimously convicted.

The police said they would instigate investigations if directed by the courts and responsible authorities and that our thoughts are with Okis family and friends who remain devastated by their loss.

Unsolved: An Alibi for Omar is on BBC3.
Chilling audio reveals the moment a crying woman dialed 911 to report a black man had walked into her Airbnb in Honolulu minutes before police arrived and shot dead the South Africa Idol contestant and Zulu 'prince'.

Lindani Myeni, a married father-of-two from the Zulu Kingdom in South Africa, was shot and killed by Honolulu Police officers back on April 14 after he allegedly entered a property in the Nuuanu neighborhood.

Officials released the 10-minute 911 call that led to the fatal encounter, with the female occupant crying and wailing in distress as she tells the dispatcher 'I don't know him'.

Police said Myeni, who lived down the road from the property, followed the woman into the home, took off his shoes and exhibited 'odd' behavior.

Myeni then allegedly 'charged' at and assaulted the three cops who arrived on the scene with the police chief saying their 'lives were in jeopardy', before they fired four shots at him.

Myeni's family has cast doubts on this version of events with their attorney claiming Myeni had peacefully left the Airbnb prior to the cops' arrival when the renters made him unwelcome due to his race.

Scroll down for audio

Chilling audio reveals the moment a crying woman dialed 911 to report a black man has walked into her Airbnb in Honolulu minutes before police arrived and shot dead the South Africa Idol contestant and Zulu 'prince'. Lindani Myeni in his South Africa Idol audition

The Airbnb on Coelho Way in the Nuuanu neighborhood where the married father-of-two from the Zulu Kingdom in South Africa was shot and killed by Honolulu Police officers on April 14

They have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and the three cops involved in his death, claiming wrongful death, negligence and assault and battery.

The suit claims both the renters of the home at 91 Coelho Way and the officers racially discriminated against Myeni because he was black, with the cops 'treating him as less than a human being.'

Police bodycam footage shows none of the officers identified themselves as police until they had already fired three gunshots at Myeni.

Myeni's American wife has also insisted he was not a violent person and has suggested his actions may have been the result of cultural differences after he moved to Hawaii in January.

Myeni's death came one week after Honolulu Police officers also 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 10-minute 911 audio begins with the dispatcher asking for the address from the caller, identified as Shiying 'Sabine' Wang.

Wang was staying in the property with her husband Da Ju 'Dexter' Wang at the time.

The caller does not respond but inaudible voices are heard in the background.

The woman is then heard shouting: 'Please leave.'

The dispatcher asks again for the address and name, which the caller then gives.

'Someone entered my house,' the woman says.

The dispatcher asks: 'Do you know who they are?'

The woman replies: 'He said Lindan from South Africa.'

'Do you know who he is personally, do you know this man?' the dispatcher asks.

'I don't know him. I don't know this man,' she replies.

Lindani Myeni with his wife and two children. Officials released the 10-minute 911 call that led to the fatal encounter, with the female occupant crying and wailing in distress as she tells the dispatcher 'I don't know him' after he entered the Airbnb

The dispatcher asks about Myeni's clothing and race.

'What is he Asian, white, black?' the dispatcher asks.

'He's in the house,' the woman replies.

'I don't know if he knows the owner or not. He just comes in and says some strange [inaudible].'

The dispatcher repeats 'is he white, is he black, is he local' to which the caller repeats: 'I don't know him.'

The woman later confirms he is black and describes that he is wearing a black T-shirt and jeans and is wandering around in the house.

When asked if Myeni has any weapons on him or is yelling at her or other occupants, the woman says 'no'.

'I don't know why he he tried to go outside I don't know,' she says.

The dispatcher tells her to go outside to wait for police, but the woman says 'he is inside but he is close to the front door' so they cannot get out.

She later says - around four minutes in - that Myeni has gone outside.

The caller's voice becomes less audible throughout the call as she appears to become more hysterical and upset.

Around five minutes into the call, officers arrive on the scene and the woman is heard shouting 'that's him' repeatedly as she sobs uncontrollably.

An officer's voice is heard ordering Myeni to the ground before shots ring out.

'The officer shot him. He's attacking the cop,' the woman says.

'Oh my God. I just heard shots fired,' the dispatcher says.

The dispatcher tells the woman to hide in the bathroom and that more officers are on the way.

Myeni was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds where he later died from his injuries.

One cop was hospitalized with major facial injuries and concussion following the incident while the other two also sustained injuries.

Honolulu police body camera footage of the fatal shooting shows three gunshots rang out before an officer says 'police'

The officer yells repeatedly for Myeni to get on the ground. Shots ring out and then after a pause, an officer said, 'police'

James J. Bickerton, the attorney who is representing Myeni's family in the lawsuit, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser are trying to depose the woman who called 911, her husband and the owner of the home - identified as James H. Hall - to question them over the incident.

Bickerton said Myeni peacefully spoke with the Wangs and left the property, accusing the couple of calling 911 and reacting how they did due to his race.

'After Mr. Myeni arrived by car and removed his shoes upon entering the transient accommodations house on the Property, Mr. Myeni became aware that he was unwelcome and left the house peacefully,' the suit filed on April 22 claims.

'The response by the occupants of the Property was motivated by Mr. Myeni's race and constituted racial discrimination in public accommodation.'

The attorney said, as an Airbnb rental, discrimination by persons owning, operating or controlling the establishment on grounds of race is illegal.

Before Myeni's shooting, police had been called to numerous other incidents at the Airbnb including a vehicle break-in and the property was also subject to seven complaints from 2019 to 2020 of it being used as an illegal short-term rental.

The suit also claims the responding officers treated Myeni differently because of his race.

'This conduct towards Mr. Myeni, treating him as less than a human being regardless of whatever alleged 'crime' was being investigated and callously not deigning to explain themselves, their identity, or their purpose, was motivated by racial discrimination towards people of Mr. Myeni's African descent,' it reads.

Myeni's family claim had peacefully left the Airbnb (above) prior to the cops' arrival when the renters made him unwelcome due to his race

Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard has denied race was a factor in Myeni's death previously saying it 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.

The family's suit also claims the officers tried to take Myeni 'by surprise' as they did not announce they were law enforcement officers.

'Unbeknown to Mr. Myeni, the police decided to treat this non-violent and peaceful entry into, and departure from, a place of public accommodation, as a crime in progress, and arrived at the scene without lights, sirens or other indicators of their presence in an apparent attempt to take the 'perpetrator' by surprise,' the suit reads.

'As there was no moon present in the sky at the time and this was a residential street in Nuuanu, it was dark.

'As Mr. Myeni stood still, unarmed, on the side of the driveway just a few feet off the street, one of the Officers, while hysterical screams of 'that's him' emanated from a person standing in the doorway of the house on the Property, suddenly shone the flashlight directly in Mr. Myeni's eyes and held a pistol in the flashlight beam pointed at Mr. Myeni.'

It continues: 'At the same time, without ever announcing that he was an officer or using the word 'police,' or stating his purpose, that officer shouted several times in a rough, aggressive, disrespectful, and threatening manner 'get on the ground.'

The family also claim the Honolulu Police Department has also refused to hand over Myeni's cellphone to either them or to prosecutors probing the man's death.

'What are they hiding?,' Bickerton said to the Star-Advertiser.

The lawyer said the family wants to both retrieve personal family photos and try to use the call and map history on the phone to piece together the night's events.

Officials 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.'

Myeni (pictured with his wife). They also claim cops treated 'him as less than a human being' due to being black

Myeni pictured with his wife. The family filed a suit on April 22 against the cops and the city

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.

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.'

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.

Police said 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.

Police said the taser was ineffective in subduing Myeni, who then charged at the third officer and punched him.

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

Police said Myeni, who lived down the road from the property, followed the woman into the home, took off his shoes and exhibited 'odd' behavior then allegedly 'charged' at and assaulted the three cops who arrived on the scene

Myeni then allegedly ran back at the first officer who fired a single gunshot at him.

The shot did not stop the Myeni, who tackled the officer to the ground, straddling him and punching him repeatedly, police said.

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.

Both the police chief and Myeni's wife said the 29-year-old did not know them prior to the incident.

Myeni's wife Lindsay Myeni, who was born in the US but met her husband while she was on missionary work in South Africa, previously 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.

'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.

Lindsay 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

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.

Myeni was supposed to have his green card interview the following week after his death, 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.'

Myeni's death came 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.

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.

These officer-involved shootings come as the nation is reeling from multiple other police killings of predominantly black men across the US.
Britain's social care system is a 'stain in the nation', Boris Johnson was told today amid claims that reform could again be delayed.

Sir Andrew Dilnot, who recommended sweeping changes a decade ago, said a lack of action since was 'extremely disappointing' ahead of an announcement expected in Tuesday's Queen's Speech.

The Prime Minister said today that fresh proposals to create a fairer system for the elderly would emerge 'in the course of the next few months'.

But reports today suggest that departments are at war over how to pay for it. The Telegraph reported that Mr Johnson supports Sir Andrew's 2011 recommendation to cap costs at between 25,000 and 50,000, with the taxpayer covering the rest.

His report also recommended lifting the means-tested threshold for state support from 23,250 to 100,000.

But the Treasury is said to be resisting, saying the cost to the public finances would be huge in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

Speaking to the BBC today, Sir Andrew said the current system was 'extremely disappointing and that is probably a rather polite way of putting it.'

He lashed out at both Labour and Conservative Governments for their handling of the issue in the past 25 years, adding: 'This is a problem that has affected governments of all persuasions  all political parties and all of us have failed to get this done and it is a stain on our nation.

The Prime Minister said today that fresh proposals to create a fairer system for the elderly would emerge 'in the course of the next few months'.

Sir Andrew Dilnot, who recommended sweeping changes a decade ago, said a lack of action since was 'extremely disappointing' ahead of an announcement expected in Tuesday's Queen's Speech.

'We saw through covid how difficult it can be to be in the social care sector both as a provider and as a consumer, we desperately need to sort this out.'

The Prime Minister was asked whether social care reform would feature in the Queen's Speech next week as he visited the West Midlands today.

'Social care is a massive priority for this Government,' he said.

'I think the pandemic has helped to expose, well, it's shown, the amazing work that social care workers do and all the help they give to our society.

'They have been absolutely fantastic. They've borne the brunt of the pandemic, so we invest hugely in social care as a Government.

'We support local councils, who have to bear much of the cost of social care, massively.

'We put billions more into helping local government but we also have to think about the long-term issues, the long-term costs and how we should be funding it.

'We're determined to bring forward new proposals - there will be something about it in the course of the next few months.'



Experts warned in January this year that the failure to reform the crumbling care system is a major reason Britain has suffered one Europes worst death toll from Covid.

Of the 103,000 people in the UK who had died at the time from Covid-19, one in three  31,000  lived in care homes.

Fifteen medical bodies joined forces to demand Boris Johnson drastically overhauls social care after the broken system was brutally exposed by the pandemic.

The report warns social care spending has fallen by 12 per cent in the past decade, with 1.4million adults missing out on vital support. This has devastating consequences for the NHS, as vulnerable patients end up in A&E needlessly and become stranded in hospital beds.

And in march the National Audit Office said the middle classes face a 20billion social care time bomb unless Boris Johnson delivers on his promise to reform the system,.

It reveals that the amount the middle classes will have to contribute towards their own old-age care is set to more than double in 20 years.

It also found that a quarter of over-65s had an unmet care need as a result of failures in the system.

The NAO, the Government's own spending watchdog, said the amount paid out by self-funders will go up from 10billion in 2018 to 21.2billion by 2038  a 113 per cent rise.

This is because an ageing society means the number of pensioners requiring care will soar by 57 per cent. In addition, the expectation that more of them are likely to own their own home will make them liable for more of the cost.
A school lunch lady invited boys as young as 13 to her home for sleepovers, gave them alcohol, let them watch porn and molested them, it is claimed.

Dawn Marie Baye, 38, was arrested and charged over claims she groomed and sexually assaulted multiple boys aged between 13 and 16 while working at Lacache Middle School in Chauvin, Louisiana.

Some of her victims are said to have attended the school, with Baye's alleged crimes coming to light after a parent complained on April 21.

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office conducted multiple interviews and decided to charge Baye after finding the allegations made against her were consistent.

They discovered Baye had been holding 'parties' with her alleged victims at her home, it is claimed.

Dawn Marie Baye, pictured, was arrested over claims she hosted 'parties' for boys aged 13 to 16 where the youngsters were molested after being given booze and shown porn

Deputies said the teen boys went to Bayes home on multiple occasions and consumed alcohol and watched pornography.

They allege there were multiple sexual encounters involved. The age of consent in Louisiana is 17.

Baye was subsequently charged with eight counts of indecency with a juvenile, and 10 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office refused to comment further when asked how many alleged victims there were, or how exactly the allegations came to light.

Police say that 38-year-old Bayes met some of her victims at Lacache Middle School (pictured) where she worked as a cafeteria worker. She has since been fired from her job there

During the course of the investigation detectives discovered that the minors would sleep over at Bayes home during the time the parties occurred.

In a news release, Sheriff Tim Soignet encouraged parents to know where their minor children are and whose home they are going to for a sleep over.

Baye was booked into the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex and her bail was set at $50,000.

Baye has since bonded out of the jail, and has been fired from her job at her old school, The Houma Times reported.

DailyMail.com has contacted the school for further comment.

A Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman would not say when she is due back in court.
This is the moment a six year-old girl ran for her life after coming within inches of a shark just a few feet from the shoreline of a Hawaiian beach.



Anela Rezentes was splashing in the shallow water and jumping over some waves, while visiting Oahu's Kalama Beach on Sunday, when the shark - believed to be a blacktip - began circling her.

The youngster was filmed with a terrified expression on her face as she began running out of the water towards her mom Sheri Gouveia, who was filming her daughter's day at the beach and did not realize what was happening.

'My soul left my body,' Rezentes told local television station KHON. 'I saw the shark. I didn't notice it was behind my back, so I really wanted to run out. I was really scared.'

Fortunately, she was able to get out of the water without coming to any harm, and was seen clutching her goggles as she ran, Gouveia's video shows.

A shark came within inches of Anela Rezentes when she was splashing in the water off the coast of Oahu on Sunday. The creature's fin is visible

It proceeded to circle her just a few feet from the shore of the beach, and Rezentes said she was 'really scared'

Rezentes was able to run out of the water, clutching her goggles. Her mom Sheri Gouveia, who was filming, said the close encounter left her young daughter 'hysterical'

'By the time she came out of the water, she was hysterical,' Gouveia told KHON, recounting how she thought she was just taking a video of her daughter enjoying a day at the beach when it happened.

'She just started freaking out, like 'Mom, there's a shark in the water,' Gouveia said in a subsequent Good Morning America interview.

Realizing what had happened, Gouveia said she 'dropped everything' and ran up to Rezentes, but still failed to spot the shark.

'I was looking for it, but couldn't see it,' she recounted in the KHON interview. 'I didn't realize it was actually a shark. That's what shocked me.'

Experts say the shark in the video was likely a Blacktip shark, which feeds on bait fish. It is not uncommon for them to swim in shallow waters, especially when the weather starts to get warmer, and bait fish start to migrate.

It was unlikely the shark was targeting Rezentes, experts told KHON. Blacktips are generally timid around humans, but can behave aggressively if they come into contact with people while hunting.

Rezentes and her mother, Sheri Gouveia, frequent the beach almost every other weekend - and say they're glad the encounter with the shark didn't cause any injuries

Gouveia, right, filmed the incident, thinking she was just filming Rezentes enjoying a day at the beach. When she realized what had happened, she told Good Morning America, she 'dropped everything' and ran to her daughter

Experts have identified the shark in the video as a blacktip shark, which swims in shallow waters to catch bait fish as they migrate in the warmer weather

'I'm just so glad that she left there that day with all 10 fingers on two hands,' Gouveia said in the GMA interview, noting to KHON that she and Rezentes go to the beach there almost every other weekend.

'I guess there really are angels looking over my angel.'

Experts say the best thing to do if you see a shark is to get out of the water and give the shark its space. If that is impossible - they also advice 'facing up' to the shark and punching it on the nose.

In 2020, there were 129 shark attack reports, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. 57 of which were unprovoked attacks and 39 of which were provoked attacks.

Of the remaining 33 cases, six involved bites to boats, one involved a shark-inflicted post-mortem bite, and one case involved a diver in a public aquarium. Three cases were regarded as doubtful, or incidents that likely did not involve a shark, including one attributed to a stingray, one attributed to an eel and one attributed to a large bony fish.

Figures show 13 of those attacks were fatal, with 10 of those deadly attacks reportedly unprovoked.

In six cases, a shark-human interaction was confirmed, but the nature of the incident was unclear with the available data and an additional 16 cases could not be confirmed as a shark-human interaction.
Nashville cop Brian Sherman was shot in the arm while responding to a 'setup call' about a woman who had been shot

A Nashville police officer was responding to a fake report that a woman had been shot overnight when he walked into an ambush and was wounded by a gunman who then killed himself.

Metro Nashville Officer Brian Sherman was taken to a hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the arm. He was expected to recover.

The attack took place after 6pm at a home in the 7200 block of Sugarloaf Drive in South Nashville.

Sherman and two other officers were called to the address on a report that someone was actively shooting and that the caller's mother had been wounded by gunfire, said police spokesman Don Aaron.

Police arrived at this residence on Sugarloaf Drive in Nashville on Tuesday evening after getting a frantic call from a man, saying there was a shooting in progress at his home

As officer Sherman approached the home, police say Salman Mohamed, 22, opened fire, striking him in the left arm

When officers arrived and attempted to enter the house, someone began shooting at them. Aaron called the initial 911 call 'a ruse or a setup to get police to the scene.'

The spokesperson told WKRN: 'On the 911 call you can hear [the suspect] saying that he's scared the shots are continuing to be fired hurry, hurry, please get here in a hurry.'

Police said the gunman, identified as 22-year-old Salman Mohamed, shot Sherman in the left arm.

When officers attempted to negotiate with Mohamed, he fatally shot himself in the head with a rifle in the driveway.

Mohamed then fatally shot himself in the head in the driveway as police attempted to negotiate with him

A SWAT vehicle is seen at the scene of the fatal shooting in South Nashville on Tuesday. Police said they fired no shots during the incident

Police said no officers fired their weapons. Mohameds mother and three siblings were at the home at the time and were unharmed.

Sherman, who has served on the force in Nashville for two years, was released from University Medical Center, shortly before 10pm.

Police said Mohamed had no arrest history. As of Wednesday morning, no motive has been determined.
Jeff Bezos told Amazon executives about his affair with Lauren Sanchez in a lengthy meeting that cut into their Valentine's Day plans, according to a new book.

The CEO and founder of the online retail giant, 57, met with his senior staff to explain his split from then wife MacKenzie, 51, in February 2019, telling them 'this is very distracting'.

He is also said to have broken the ice by asking his colleagues: 'Raise your hand if you think you've had a harder week than I've had.'

That came after the National Enquirer revealed the tech entrepreneur had been having an affair with former news anchor Sanchez, 51.

New details surrounding the affair and its resulting fallout are disclosed in a Bloomberg extract from 'Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire, by Brad Stone'.

The book also describes how Bezos told executives during the meeting: 'The story is completely wrong and out of order.

'MacKenzie and I have had good, healthy, adult conversations about it. She is fine. The kids are fine. The media is having a field day.

'All of this is very distracting, so thank you for being focused on the business.'

But as the Valentine's Day meeting overran Senior Vice President Jeff Blackburn is said to have asked at 7:30pm: 'Hey Jeff, how long do you think this meeting is going to go? A lot of us have plans.'

Bezos is said to have replied, laughing: 'Oh, that's right. I forgot about that.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Amazon for comment.

Jeff Bezos, right, told Amazon executives about his affair with Lauren Sanchez, left, in a lengthy meeting that cut into their Valentine's Day plans, according to a new book

The CEO and founder of the online retail giant met with his senior staff to explain his split from then wife MacKenzie in February 2019, telling them 'this is very distracting'. That came after the National Enquirer revealed the tech entrepreneur had been having an affair with Sanchez

Bezos and MacKenzie had announced they were divorcing after 25 years of marriage and four children in a tweet in January 2019.

The National Enquirer then revealed that the tech entrepreneur had been having an affair with former news anchor Sanchez.

On February 7 Bezos wrote a Medium post, accusing the Enquirer's publisher AMI of 'extortion and blackmail' and suggesting his ownership of The Washington Post was behind a drive for the story.

He also mentioned a 'below the belt selfie' - something the book suggest was not. in fact, Bezos. Instead it says Lauren's brother Michael had taken it a random photograph from a male escort website.

The books claims that was 'a public-relations masterstroke' saying by writing it Bezos 'cast himself as a sympathetic defender of the press'.

A week later Bezos held his meeting with Amazon executives.

Bezos, left, and MacKenzie, right, had announced they were divorcing after 25 years of marriage and four children in January 2019. The divorce split the company stocks, and made MacKenzie the richest woman in the world with a settlement of around $38billion

The new book also details an alleged change in Bezos' behavior ahead of news of the affair breaking - it claims meetings were delayed and his calendar became full.

It also notes enquiries were made about dual-class stock structures where some shareholders would have more power ahead of the most expensive divorce in history.

And it describes how Jeff and MacKenzie had initially drifted apart as he attended more showbiz events and she preferred to avoid the limelight.

The book also points the finger at Sanchez's brother Michael as the source for the Enquirer story. It details how he set up meetings with Enquirer editors, showing them messages from him sister.

Michael Sanchez has previously said: 'I would never sell out anyone.'

He last month doubled down on his claim that he didn't leak an explicit selfie of Bezos to the National Enquirer.

His attorney told DailyMail.com via email that he neither served as the Enquirer's source for the affair story, nor did he share any of the photos that backed it up.

On February 7 Bezos wrote a Medium post, accusing the Enquirer's publisher AMI of 'extortion and blackmail' and suggesting his ownership of The Washington Post was behind a drive for the story. A week later Bezos held his meeting with Amazon executives

The new book also details an alleged change in Bezos' behavior ahead of news of the affair breaking - it claims meetings were delayed and his calendar became full

The National Enquirer had trailed Bezos and Sanchez for months when they met up secretly, then splashed photos of them together across the magazine.

Bezos split from MacKenzie ended up being the most expensive divorce in history.

In February this year Bezos announced he would be stepping down as the CEO of Amazon, 27 years after founding it with his ex-wife and building it into one of the most successful companies of all time now worth $1.7 trillion.

Bezos announced the move in a letter to his 1.3 million Amazon employees where he insisted he isn't retiring but wants to focus on his 'passions' including his space and climate change ventures.

He will be replaced by 53-year-old Andy Jassy, the current CEO of the Amazon empire cloud business Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the man behind the move to cancel Parler back in January.
A statue symbolizing "comfort women" installed in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul / Korea Times file



Lee Yong-soo, a survivor of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, will appeal the recent court decision to dismiss the damages suit filed by her and 19 other plaintiffs against the Japanese government, an advocate group involved in the matter said Wednesday.



On April 21, the Seoul Central District Court dropped the case seeking compensation from Tokyo, citing the principle of "sovereign immunity" under international law that stipulates a country is immune from the judicial jurisdiction of a foreign country.



The 92-year-old Lee, one of the 14 registered surviving South Korean victims of sexual slavery, has strongly objected to the ruling. She has also called for Seoul to bring the forced sexual slavery issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).






Cindy McCain said she would serve the Biden administration in 'any capacity' amid reports she'll be named US ambassador to the World Food Program.

'I would serve in any capacity if the president were to ask me to do so,' she told CNN on Tuesday night in an interview on Cuomo Prime Time.

McCain, who endorsed Joe Biden over Donald Trump in the 2020 election, would be Biden's first Republican appointee to a Senate-confirmed position.

President Biden has not named many ambassadors, including to several top overseas positions such as the UK, France, Israel, China and Japan.

Those positions are usually awarded to prominent supporters and donors of the president.

Cindy McCain said she would serve the Biden administration in 'any capacity' amid reports she'll be named US ambassador to the World Food Program

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday that announcements will come 'soon.'

'We haven't named many ambassadors quite yet -- and we hope to soon; stay tuned,' she said in her press briefing.

The World Food Program, based in Rome, works with U.S. policymakers, corporations, foundations and individuals to help provide financial and in-kind resources and develop policies needed to alleviate global hunger, according to its website.

As chair of the McCain Institute board of trustees, Cindy McCain has worked on curbing world hunger and human trafficking, among other issues.

McCain, the widow of the late Senator John McCain, campaigned with Biden in Arizona and helped him win that state. Biden became the second Democrat in 70 years to win Arizona. He beat Trump by 10,457 votes, or 0.3 percent of the nearly 3.4 million ballots cast.

She also attended Biden's inauguration in January. Biden and John McCain became friends when they served together in the Senate. Biden spoke at one of the late senator's funeral services.

Trump, in contrast, disparaged John McCain, saying of the late senator, who was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War: 'I like people who weren't captured.'

Trump also was furious when McCain gave a thumbs' down to the Republican attempt to undo Obamacare, ending their effort to try and repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act.

Cindy McCain endorsed Joe Biden in the 2020 election and helped him win Arizona - above the two visit the American Indian Veterans National Memorial in October 2020

Cindy McCain attended Joe Biden's inauguration in January

As the Republican Party struggles with its identity in the post-Trump presidency, Cindy McCain told CNN the GOP needs to become more inclusive.

'Our party does have to be careful in making sure that we're a party of inclusion, and that's not just women,' she said, 'but people of color, our gay folks, our folks of whatever gender they choose to be, all need to be a part and welcome within in our party.'

She also expressed her hope the party moves on from the influence of Donald Trump.

'I watched Joe and John work together across the aisle, and the difference in those days is they did it for the good of the country. Right now we're seeing a party so misguided that they're doing it for themselves, what's good for themselves,' McCain said. 'As I said before, I truly believe that the pendulum will swing back. I think we're going to hit some more bumpy roads, though, along the way. Clearly, Trump's not going to let it go down easy.'
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Divers who discovered the wreckage of a military plane stolen by a homesick US airmen believe they are about to finally solve a 52-year mystery over what caused his crash into the English Channel.

USAF mechanic Sergeant Paul Meyer, who had been stationed in the UK, took the Hercules from RAF Mildenhall in a desperate bid to return home to see his wife Jane in Virginia, 3,800 miles (6,100km) away.

The Vietnam veteran was said to be drunk when he posed as a pilot to commandeer the colossal aircraft from the base in Suffolk on May 23, 1969.

Ninety minutes after taking off and around 200 miles south, the plane disappeared from radar and plunged into the sea.

His demise was shrouded in mystery for the next 50 years, with conspiracy theories that the four-engined aircraft was deliberately shot down by the Americans, who were embroiled in the Cold War.

But now professional diver Grahame Knott is planning to return to the wreck site that he and his team first discovered in 2018. Further investigations were delayed, not least by the pandemic, and now his team of four men will use high-res cameras to gather further and conclusive evidence about the cause of the tragedy.

Sgt Paul Meyer with his wife Jane. The Vietnam War veteran was aged just 23 at the time of his death. The couple had been married just eight weeks before he was posted to Mildenhall

The Lockheed Hercules transport plane which Sgt Meyer stole from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk on May 23, 1969

A sonar image of a wreck called the Alex Van Opstal that shows how Mr Knott and his team are able to locate the remains of the Hercules Meyer crashed into the sea after flying about 200 miles southwest from the air base

But Mr Knott revealed that so far their research and findings confirmed that the wreckage was actually located soon after it crashed and that about half of it was salvaged.

He said: 'We are pretty sure we know what happened to the aircraft and the pilot, but we need to collaborate evidence.

Historians believe that Sgt Meyer may have been suffering from PTSD from the Vietnam War when he decided to try and fly home

'Our research has found that a few weeks after the crash there was a body in a grey oversuit seen floating on the surface by people on a passing ferry and a yachtsman. We believe that body was Paul Meyer.

'What we found on the seabed in 2018 confirmed that aircraft had been got at at the time, we assume by the Americans.

'Some of the plane had been salvaged and taken back to the airbase. What is left of it on the seabed suggests that is what happened and it wasn't randomly cut.

'We don't know exactly when this was done but we think the site was probably given away soon afterwards by fuel or oil slick on the surface.

'We believe the Americans knew where it was and arranged for it to be taken apart and various parts turned up back at the airbase.

'One eye witness has told us what he saw at the airbase at the time and that matched perfectly with what there is left on the seabed.

'One of the theories behind the crash is that the plane was show down to prevent Paul Meyer from landing it and to safe lives.

'We think we know how it came to be on the seabed but we need to get back down there with remote, high resolution cameras which we will be able to do in the next few months.'

Mr Knott said they had pored over eyewitness accounts of the tragedy and spoken to local fishermen.

The wreck, which has been described as a 'scrapyard' on the seabed over 200ft below the surface, is due south of Portland in the middle of the Channel.

Details of the accident showing the time Sgt Meyer took off and the coordinates of the accident in the English Channel

An accident report filed by the US Air Force after Meyer's crash into the sea

Sgt Meyer, a Vietnam War veteran who had only been married eight weeks before he was posted to the UK, had been arrested for being drunk and disorderly following a party the night he took the controls of the Hercules C-130.

The 23-year-old was escorted back to his barracks but later left to go to the airbase, where he posed as a Captain Epstein and ordered the Hercules to be prepared for take off.

Mr Knott said: 'I first heard of the story over 12 years ago and initially didn't believe it because it sounds crazy that a mechanic would steal a Hercules plane and try to fly it back to the US.

'But the more I looked into it, the more I realised what a story we've got.

'Sgt Meyer had a lot of problems in his life and was deeply missing his wife Jane in America, who has being harassed by an ex.

'He was told he would be granted leave in mid-June of 1969 but decided to steal the aircraft anyway as he had been mucked about in the past and didn't believe his superiors.

'It would have been one thing to get the plane off the ground but another thing for him to have landed it.

'Nowadays, we would recognise he was probably suffering from PTSD from the Vietnam War, but that was not recognised back then.'

He added: 'It was not easy (to find it). To get the search area down to a sensible size we read as much documentation as possible of eyewitness accounts and talked to fishermen to see if they came across any wreckage.

Grahame Knott of Deeper Dorset and Simon Brown of Deep3D who have been investigating the wreckage in the Channel

'We started with a 20 sq miles area and eventually got it down to two one sq mile patches.

'We went out into the middle of the Channel with sonar and remote cameras in the summer of 2018 and found it on our final trip of the year that November.

'It was quite an understated moment surprisingly, and we marked it with a celebratory cup of tea.

'Sadly my wife Penny died in 2019 and then Covid happened so we have not been able to get out to the wreck site since.'

The mission to solve the mystery has been supported by Meyers stepson, Henry Ayer, who is understandably keen to find out what happened to the stepfather he describes as an affectionate family man.

'We have an opportunity after almost 50 years of wondering what happened to Paul,' he said in 2018. 'I get emotional thinking about it. He was 23 years old and took on so many responsibilities.

He married my mum Jane, who had three young children at the time. We were his babies. In letters home, he always wrote, "Kiss my babies for me." We were his, and he wanted to come home and help out.'

Mr Knott said there have been discussions with a film maker about retelling Sgt Meyer's final journey, which has previously been dramatised in a BBC radio play 'Bird In The Sky'.
The French Navy will sell its clothing as a brand for the first time.

The collection will feature the classic Breton striped tops and a 'young, chic and dynamic' range of bags made of recycled sails.

The mariniere tops with blue and white stripes will be sold from Thursday under the brand name 'Marine National 1626', referencing the year Cardinal Richelieu, chief minister to King Louis XIII, established the French Navy.

The French Navy will sell its clothing as a brand for the first time. Above, French Navy soldiers are pictured in June 2020

They will also sell watches and other accessories, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph.

The brand's logo is identifiable by an anchor with a red pompom on top.

French Navy's chief-of-staff, Admiral Pierre Vandier, said that the Navy aimed 'to be better known by the French people who it serves everyday, all over the world'.

According to Admiral Vandier, the money made will go towards 'improving the working conditions of sailors on board and to fund our charities, which notably look after the wounded,'

The blue-and-white mariniere uniform was adopted by the French Navy in 1858.

A model walks the runway during the Jean-Paul Gaultier Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2020 show as part of Paris Fashion Week in January last year

A genuine mariniere has, front and back, twenty navy blue stripes each 10 millimetres wide, spaced 20 millimetres apart, and on the sleeves fourteen navy blue stripes spaced the same.

Sailors used to say that the stripes made it easier to see men who had fallen into the sea.

Although it originated in the Navy, the mariniere has been an important fashion item ever since, inspiring the likes of Coco Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier.

German fashion designer Karl Lagerfield regularly recreating the mariniere for his fashion shows.
The IRS is continuing to send out letters to millions of Americans bearing President Joe Biden's signature promoting the economic relief checks that the government has sent their way.

The latest version of the letter contains language touting the effort and saying the payment 'fulfills a promise I made to you.'

The move has drawn pushback from one prominent watchdog group for at least echoing a move by former President Trump  although Trump had his name slapped on relief checks themselves, as IRS officials scrambled to recode documents to distribution of payments during the height of the pandemic.

While both presidents were required to sign the the law passed by Congress to pay for the checks, neither had to sign the relief checks themselves or sign the letter explaining them.

'My fellow American, On March 11, 2021, I signed into law the American Rescue Plan, a law that will help vaccinate America and deliver immediate economic relief to hundreds of millions of Americans, including you,' Biden writes in a single-page letter distributed by the IRS to those getting the payments.

It calls the $1,400 payment a 'key part' of the plan.

President Joe Biden's name is on a letter informing Americans about their $1,400 stimulus checks

'This fulfills a promise I made to you, and will help get millions of Americans through this crisis,' he writes.

CNN reported on the latest letter, after an earlier version went out last month.

The coronavirus relief law included legislative language directing the Treasury Secretary to provide information to recipients  but did not require the president's name be attached.

Biden drew a rebuke from watchdog group Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington for the letter, even if it stopped short of Trump's own tactics.

The letters are distributed by the IRS but are on White House stationary

'While what we see here from President Biden is not as bad as what we saw from President Trump  namely insisting the checks feature his signature, potentially delaying them at the worst possible time  that doesn't make it good,' said Jordan Libowitz of the group.

He called Trump's efforts a 'troubling trend of using taxpayer resources to send self-serving letters to the public. Biden would be smart to put this practice out to pasture along with a lot of the behavior from his predecessor,' he said, USA Today reported.

The law states that the IRS and the Treasury 'shall provide such taxpayer with a written notice ... (including) the aggregate amount of such payments made to such taxpayer during such calendar year, and such other information as the Secretary determines appropriate.'

In March, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki held up Biden's decision not to require his name go on the checks.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in March President Joe Biden's name would not be on the fresh round of $1,400 checks. 'This is not about him. This is about the American people getting relief,' she told reporters

Former President Donald Trump had his name inked on the stimulus checks that were given out to Americans as part of the first COVID-19 stimulus last spring, which delayed the payments for three weeks

Former President Trump reportedly spoke to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin about having his name go on the checks. The IRS ended up putting Trump's name in the memo line. Here Mnuchin and his wife Louise Linton hold a 2017 50 subject uncut sheet of $1 dollar notes bearing Mnuchin's name for a photograph at the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 2017

'Well, we are doing everything in our power to expedite the payments and not delay them, which is why the president's name will not appear on the memo line of this round of stimulus checks,' she said. 'This is not about him. This is about the American people getting relief.'

'He did not think that was a priority or a necessary step,' Psaki said.

It took more than two weeks for the IRS to begin sending the first $1,200 electronic payments to taxpayers last April after Trump signed the $2.3 trillion CARES Act relief package into law on March 27, including a three-week lag for paper checks, after changes were made to print Trump's name on it.

Checks started going out in March.

Nearly 160 million households are expected to get payments, the White House estimated.

Last April, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it 'shameful' that officials put Trump's name on the checks. 'People are really desperate to get a check,' she told CNN at the time.

The checks bearing Trump's name went out months before Trump and Biden were to face off in the elections.

Trump denied knowing much about the effort to attach his name to the memo section  although the Washington Post reported he privately asked Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin about being the one to formally sign the checks.

'I don't know too much about it. But I understand my name is there,' Trump said at the time. 'I don't know where they're going, how they're going. I do understand it's not delaying anything, and I'm satisfied with that. I don't imagine it's a big deal. I'm sure people will be very happy to get a big, fat, beautiful check and my name is on it.'
A 12-year-old schoolgirl has been found safe and well after raising fears when she went missing in south London two days ago.

Ellie-Mae Murphy went missing at around 11.20pm on Monday in the Brixton Hill area but was found this morning, said Lambeth police.

The force had previously appealed for information on her whereabouts and said officers were 'concerned for her welfare'.

It tweeted this afternoon: 'Pleased to confirm that 12-yr-old Ellie-Mae Murphy missing from #Brixton #Lambeth was found safe and well this morning (5 May).'

Ellie-Mae Murphy, 12, from Brixton, Lambeth, was found 'safe and well' this morning after going missing at around 11.20pm on Monday in the Brixton Hill area

Police previously appealed for people to come forward if they had seen the schoolgirl.

Lambeth Police tweeted yesterday: '#MISSING police are concerned for the welfare of 12-year-old Ellie-Mae Murphy.

'She was last seen in SW2 at 23:20pm yesterday. If you see Ellie please call police on 101 quoting 21MIS012270.'

Police had earlier said it was believed she could be in the Bedfordshire area.

Bedfordshire Police tweeted: 'It is believed #MISSING Ellie-Mae Murphy could be in the Bedfordshire area.

'If you have any information of her whereabouts please get in touch.'
A British law graduate murdered in Pakistan on Monday died from bullet wounds to her neck and arm, a post mortem has revealed.

Forensic examiners said Mayra Zulfiquar, 24, bled to death, as they effectively ruled out strangulation after initial reports suggested it may have been used in the killing.

Mayra, originally from Feltham in south west London, also had bruising on her right hand and left foot, according to the report.

It is thought the Briton was killed after four men broke into the rented apartment in Lahore where she was staying on Monday with a friend.

Police believe the killing was a 'crime of passion' carried out after Mayra rejected marriage proposals from two of her alleged attackers.

Police are now hunting for those two men - named locally as Saad Ameer Butt and Zahir Jadoon - but have yet to make any arrests.

Mayra Zulfiquar, 24 a British law graduate found dead in Pakistan on Monday, bled to death from gunshot wounds in her neck and arm, a post mortem report has said

Mayra had been in Pakistan for just two months before she died. She had gone out for a cousin's wedding but decided to stay after the country was placed on the UK's Covid travel red list, a family member told Mail Online.

Police said they have opened a first information report (FIR) on the case after receiving a complaint from Ms Zulfiquar's uncle, Lahore resident Mohammad Nazeer.

The FIR said Mr Nazeer was aware of two men who had been acting aggressively towards Mayra and threatened her with 'dire consequences' if she refused them, and had vowed to speak with the pair.

But on Monday he got a call from Mayra's father in London to say she had been shot to death.

Police were informed of the attack by an anonymous tipster and rushed round to the apartment to find Mayra in a pool of blood.

It is thought they then informed Mayra's father, who made the call to her uncle.

Mayra's parents are thought to have flown from London to Lahore today to attend her funeral service which was held within 24 hours of her death in keeping with Islamic tradition, Sky News reports.

Ziaur Rehman, who runs a market stall in Feltham, told the site: 'Her father called me on Monday and asked me to come to his house.

'He was crying, I sensed there was something wrong, then I went there and the news was shocking.

'Her mother she is really struggling now, she is not well at all.'

Sayyed Ali, an operations superintendent at Punjab Police, told Pakistani newspaper Dawn that Mayra had been found in her room with her phone near her body.

It is thought Mayra was killed when four men broke into the Lahore apartment where she was staying with a friend (pictured)

Police are now hunting two men thought to have organised the raid after Mayra rejected marriage proposals from both of them

'We are also after two suspects and will share further details at a later stage,' Mr Sayyed added. 'We have seized the mobile phone for forensic analysis.'

Mr Sayyed also said police are analysing footage from nearby CCTV cameras in the hope of finding suspects.

Another senior police source told the BBC that addresses in Islamabad and Lahore are being targeted in raids.

Ms Zulfiquar's parents are expected to arrive in Lahore from their home in London later this week.

In a statement, Duncan Blackett Law said Ms Zulfiqar had been briefly enrolled on its legal mentorship programme before it was postponed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak and she was an 'excellent mentee who demonstrated a keen interest in commercial law'.

Gracie Duncan, of Duncan Blackett Law, told the Daily Mail: 'She was a lovely girl, very quietly spoken, very keen to learn and to get into the profession. I am very shocked to learn what has happened to her.'

The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said in a statement: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who died in Pakistan and are urgently seeking more information from the local authorities.

'Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.'

Dawn reported Ms Zulfiquar had dual British-Belgian citizenship.

According to a family source who spoke to Mail Online, Mayra had decided to stay in the country after Pakistan was placed on the UK's Covid red list of countries - meaning she would have to pay 1,750 for a stay in a quarantine hotel on her return.

Mayra had allegedly complained to relatives about the cost of the ten-day quarantine, saying she preferred to sit it out in Pakistan in the hope that it would be removed from the red list next month.

A family source said: 'She didn't want to come back and pay all that money to quarantine in Britain so decided to stay in Lahore, where she was living with her grandmother.

Ms Zulfiqar (pictured) is understood to have gone to Pakistan around two months ago to attend a cousin's wedding, and stayed after the country was put on the Covid travel red list

'She was angry that it was too much money for ten days in a grotty hotel. Instead, she thought she'd have more fun in Lahore and was having a lovely time after making a new group of friends.'

The family source also revealed that Mayra had made three complaints to local police about being harassed by Saad Ameer Butt, one of two men who have been arrested.

The source added: 'A local gangster who is closely connected to the police in Lahore took a shine to her but despite reporting him for harassment, they did nothing. The police are very corrupt over there and don't take crimes against women seriously.'

Her murder is believed to have taken place in a house rented by one of her friends in the Defence area shortly after 4am.

Devout Muslim Mayra had just shared a meal with her pals before staring their Ramadan fast for the day.

Neighbours reported hearing screaming and at least two-gun shots before police arrived to find Mayra's body in an upstairs bedroom, which had also been trashed.

Mayra had ambitions to be a lawyer and start her own law firm. Prior to travelling to Pakistan for the wedding, she did an internship with a legal company in Dubai.

Her mother and father, Muhammad flew to Pakistan on Tuesday morning just hours after finding out about Mayra's death. They have three other sons who have remained at the family home and are being consoled by friends and relatives.

The family source said: 'As you can imagine, the family is devastated. Mayra was a beautiful, fun, intelligent girl and a dutiful daughter and sister.

'The parents had to go to Pakistan to make sure that the police find her killer because they felt helpless sitting in London while waiting for news.'
A man who was arrested for the murder of two women and three one-year-old babies at a day care center was reportedly bullied by classmates at the high school he attends in southern Brazil, a law enforcement official said.

Santa Catarina Police superintendent Jeronimo Marcal Ferreira told reporters following Tuesday's tragic incident that Fabiano Kipper Mai, 18, was constantly intimidated by students at the school he attended in the town of Saudades and that he had reacted by harming neighborhood animals.

'He was a problematic young man, who, according to what people close to him told me, suffered from bullying and had been abusing some animals,' Ferreira said during a press conference.

'He was an introvert and locked himself in the room (at his home) for hours' and was a big video game fan, Ferreira said.

Ferreira also said Kipper Mai became disinterested in attending school because of the abuse he experienced.

According to Ferreira, Kipper Mai did not have a criminal record.

Family members told authorities that Kipper Mai had purchased two machetes and had joked that he was going to use them on his sister's pets.

The adult victims of his attack were identified as Keli Adriane Aniecevski, 30, and Mirla Renner, 20. The children were named as Sarah Luiza Mahle Sehn, Murilo Massing and Anna Bela Fernandes de Barros.

Fabiano Kipper Mai was arrested in Saudades, Brazil, on Tuesday after he killed two female staffers and three one-year-old babies at Aquarela day care center. Santa Catarina Civil Police superintendent Jeronimo Marcal Ferreira told reporters Kipper Mai was constantly bullied by students and that he had directed his aggression by harming neighborhood animals. The 18-year-old tried to kill himself by puncturing his neck when he was confronted by day care workers, who held him until the police arrived

Keli Adriane Aniecevski (left) who worked as a teacher at the Aquarela day care center in Saudades, Brazil, was killed Tuesday morning when an 18-year-old Fabiano Kipper Mai entered the building and attacked her with a machete. She followed him to a room in the facility before he murdered Miria Renner (right) and the three children

Anna Bela Fernandes de Barros (left) and Sarah Luiza Mahle Sehn (right) were laid to rest Wednesday

Murilo Massing was one of the three one-year-old babies who were killed by an 18-year-old at a day care center in Brazil on Tuesday

Kipper Mai struck each of the victims struck five times with the machete, police said.

He had arrived at the Aquarela nursery approximately at 10am and first attacked Aniecevski. He then proceeded to a room where Renner was with the three children and continued the deadly assault.

The teen attempted to enter a locked room where a group of teachers were protecting at least 20 children but couldn't bypass the locked door.

Kipper Mai later tried to take his own life by puncturing his neck and was pounced on by day care center employees, who held him until the police arrived. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

All of the victims except for Renner were declared dead at the scene. Renner was pronounced dead after arriving at a local hospital.

A one-year-old boy, who has not been named, suffered stab wounds to the abdomen, face and had a punctured lung. He underwent surgery and was recovering in the intensive care unit at Chapeco Regional Hospital.

Friends and family gathered for a funeral service for the five victims that was held at a gym Tuesday evening in the small town of Saudades, with a population of just 9,800.

A police officer holds an evidence bag containing the machete believed to have been used during the day care center attack Tuesday. Kipper Mai, 18, was arrested for killing two female staffers and three children, all aged 1. He also wounded a one-year-old boy

Relatives gather outside the Aquarela preschool in Saudades, a city in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, on Tuesday after an 18-year-old entered the day care center with a machete and stabbed and killed three children and two female staffers. A one-year-old boy suffered multiple stab wounds and underwent surgery. The teen suspect wounded himself and was taken to a hospital, where he is under police custody

A mass was held Wednesday morning before the victims were buried.

Aniecevski had been a teacher at Aquarela for 10 years and was said to always place the well-being of others first.

'She was a cheerful person, always willing, friendly, charismatic always, helping others when she could,' her cousin Silvane Elfel told Brazilian online news portal G1.

Renner worked at Aquarela as an education agent and was in her fourth semester at Santa Catarina State University, where she majored in chemical engineering.

Leonardo Felipe Fernandes de Barros recalled 'affection' was the first word spoken by his daughter, Anna Bela Fernandes de Barros.

'She is a real angel. One of her first words was just 'affection', because she loved to do it all,' he said. 'She was always running and smiling. She always made friends wherever she was.'

Relatives console each other outside the Aquarela day care center in Saudades, Brazil, after an 18-year-old male entered the site and killed two female staffers and three children with a machete

Authorities searched the suspect's home and discovered two packages of new knives as well as $2,000 he had saved up from odd jobs he performed.

Municipal education secretary Gisela Hermann said she arrived at the Aquarela day care center, but could not enter the room because it was locked.

'We got there, a scene of terror. I managed to enter the school,' Hermann said. 'There was a guy lying on the floor, but still alive, a dead teacher, a dead child, too. The room was closed, they wouldn't let us in.'

Aline Biazebetti told NSC TV that she was scheduled to work the afternoon shift Tuesday and rushed to the center after hearing calls for help.

She credited the actions of her fellow workers, who took the children into a changing room and locked themselves from the attacker.

'He tried to open it, but in the end he [aggressor] ended up giving up,' Biazebetti said. 'They started to close the windows to try to protect themselves.'

Biazebetti said she rushed the wounded one-year-old boy to a local hospital.

'He was badly injured. It is very sad,' she said. 'We never expected that, ever, for someone to come in and do something like that. There is no explanation for what this guy did.'

Classes in the municipality of Saudades have been cancelled for the rest of the week, according to mayor Maciel Schneider.

'It is a very sad moment in our small town,' Schneider said. 'We put all of our teams on to support this, decree official mourning, cancel all classes this week. We put our health teams (at disposal), psychologists are accompanying families.'
A massive Droughtmaster bull has been named Australia's biggest bull at the Rockhamption Beef Australia event in Queensland.

Banjo the bull weighs in at a whopping 1,140kg and hails from Theodore, about 200km south west of Rockhampton.

Big Moo, formally one of Australia's largest steers, died in June 2020 while the renowned Knickers weighs in at 1,400kg - but is also a steer, not a bull.

Steers are castrated male cattle raised for beef, while bulls are used for breeding.

Banjo (pictured) was named Australia's largest bull, weighing in at a whopping 1,140kg

Banjo was officially recognised on Wednesday as Australia's biggest bull, with the acknowledgement ensuring that Queensland was named as the nation's bull capital.

Despite being smaller than both Big Moo and Knickers, they are both steers which explains why Banjo was acknowledged as Australia's biggest bull.

Big Moo passed away last year in June leaving Knickers as Australia's record holding largest steer.

Droughtmaster cattle evolved in north Queensland by crossing Brahman and Shorthorn cattle.

They are often red, have large ears and a medium hump.

The Beef Australia event runs in Rockhampton between May 2-8 and hosts a number of Australian musicians such as Brad Cox.
A nurse who treated COVID-19 patients, her boyfriend, and her father were killed in a New Jersey house fire that police are investigating as a possible murder-suicide.

The victims, identified by neighbors as Katherine Guiterrez, 34, her father Carlos, and her boyfriend Nic, were pronounced dead at the scene on Monday night.

Evidence at the site of the fire on Jackson Avenue in Wayne, New Jersey, indicated a possible-murder suicide, sources told WABC-TV.

Investigators have not commented further on how the three victims died, or on who is suspected of carrying out the murder suicide.

Guiterrez and her boyfriend leave behind a four-year-old daughter, Adrianna, as well as her three sisters and her mother.

Katherine Guiterrez, 34, her boyfriend, and her father were killed in a New Jersey house fire that police are investigating as a possible murder suicide

The trio were pronounced dead at the scene of the blaze on Jackson Avenue, Wayne, NJ on Monday night

She was an ICU nurse at Hackensack Meridian Health who had spent the last few months working with COVID-19 patients. Her father worked for a landscaping company.

Her sister Pamela paid tribute in a statement posted to a GoFundMe page for the trio's funeral costs.

She said: 'We lost a very smart, gorgeous, individual with a beautiful soul. Anyone that knew my sister knows how smart, and goal oriented she was...

'There is no amount of tears or words to describe what we are feeling right now.' Katherine was truly an amazing person, a great big sister to us all and we will miss her dearly.'

Guiterrez and her boyfriend, named in a GoFundMe page as Nic, leave behind a four-year-old daughter, Adrianna

Her sister Pamela paid tribute in a statement that said: 'Katherine was truly an amazing person, a great big sister to us all and we will miss her dearly'

Neighbors said they had smelt gas and heard a loud explosion from the property moments before the deadly fire.

The house's windows were blown out in the explosion before bright orange flames were seen engulfing the rear of the property.

Firefighters managed to get the fire, which broke out around 6pm, under control just after 7.30pm.

The massive blaze spread to another house on the street, scorching a garage and melting a fence, but was quickly extinguished.

Neighbour Joe Sasso told NBC News: 'My wife was outside with the dogs in the backyard, she heard a loud bang and glass shattering,

'She immediately came to the front of our building, starting running toward the house calling 911.'

The house's windows were blown out in the apparent explosion before bright orange flames were seen engulfing the rear of the property. Firefighters managed to get the blaze under control by 7.30pm

Other neighbors also rushed towards the house in an attempt to pull survivors from the wreckage, but there were none.

Guiterrez's family home sustained extensive damage and has been cordoned off by police pending further investigations by the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office.

The bodies believed to be those of Guiterrez's boyfriend and father, who is in his 60s, were found in a room upstairs. The nurse's body was discovered in the basement.

Police said they were unable to share more details at this time.

The family are originally from Chile, but moved to Wayne in 2019. Another woman and Adrianna who normally live at the house were out of the country at the time of the fire.

Neighbors said they had smelt gas and heard a loud explosion from the rear of the property moments before the deadly fire
An 18-year old woman 'was treated like a rag doll as she was raped by a laughing pair' who are also accused of a sex attack on a 15-year-old girl, a court has heard.





Zahid Hassan, 32, is accused of raping the 18-year-old from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in 2006 with another man who went by the nickname Fred.





Leeds Crown Court heard that, a few years later, the pair began abusing a 15-year-old girl after her number was passed to them by other men who had also assaulted her.

Hassan, also known as Manny, pleaded not guilty to five charges - four counts of rape and one count of attempted rape - in relation to the two complainants.

Fred, who is not on trial, was described in court as a 'charming and good-looking organiser' who would strike up relationships with girls.

Hassan, formerly of Huddersfield, is on trial alongside two others - Saqib Raheel and Sholan James.

The 18-year-old girl from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, was allegedly raped in 2006 by Zahid Hassan (pictured above, in April 2018) and another man who went by the nickname Fred

Raheel, 34, of Cradley Heath, West Midlands, denies rape of an underage girl and sexual assault of an underage girl in relation to the second complainant.

James, 30, of Sheepridge, Huddersfield, denies assault of an underage girl by penetration in relation to the second complainant.

Kate Batty, prosecuting, told jurors the first complainant had been getting to know Fred when he invited her to 'chill' in a flat in a high-rise block.

She said Hassan went too and the trio drank vodka together before her and Fred were left alone.

While they were alone, Fred topped up her drink 'again and again and again' until she was too drunk to stand up, the trial heard.

Ms Batty said: 'And then, Manny [Hassan] reappeared. Together Fred and Manny carried her to a bed. They undressed her.

'She was so drunk she had no control over her body. She couldn't say anything, she couldn't do anything. She felt like a rag doll as Fred and Manny moved her around the bed into different positions.'

She added: 'Even when she cried out in pain, they laughed. Once they had finished with her, they left her lying on the bed.

'They left the flat, still laughing about what they had done.'

Ms Batty said Hassan was being physically 'harsh' and the complainant was left injured. The jury was told the second complainant was aged 15 and new to town when she was first abused.

The prosecutor said Raheel and two of his friends saw her at Huddersfield bus station one night before asking her: 'What's a pretty young thing like you doing alone this time of night?'

She said the girl was invited to a party at James' flat the following night and she went with a friend.

Hassan, 32, pleaded not guilty to five charges - four counts of rape and one count of attempted rape - in relation to the two complainants. Pictured: Leeds Crown Court (file photo)

The prosecution say she was drugged before passing out and later waking up naked in front of three men in a room.

Raheel was insulting her body and telling James what to do while James was performing a sex act on her, the court was told.

Ms Batty said the girl fled the house but Raheel convinced her to come back in before raping her while she was unconscious again, adding: 'She told him to stop it and get off but he carried on.

'After that event, she saw the men again and they made her believe she'd enjoyed it. That was confusing for her. She was also told that if she didn't do what she was told, there would be consequences.'

The court was told that the child's phone number was passed around to men who phoned her for sexual activity, including in time Fred and Hassan.

The girl described herself as a 'wreck' by that point and the court was told Fred 'charmed' her by making her feel as though they were in a relationship.

Ms Batty said Fred once slapped her so hard that she went to the ground, so she did not feel able to stand up for herself when he told her: 'You've got to look after my boys.'

She said the second complainant performed a sex act on Hassan on two separate occasions while Fred watched on, having told her what to do.

Ms Batty said: 'On that second occasion, Manny also got into bed with her at some point and tried to have sex with her but she managed to push him off.

'He wasn't happy with that and threatened to break her nose the next day.'

Ms Batty said the complainants were treated as 'objects' by the defendants, adding: 'The two girls were different.

'They were different ages, their family lives were very different and their experience of life very different.

'Those factors made no difference to way they were treated and it goes to show that anyone can be a victim of sexual abuse. There is no typical victim.'
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry speaks during a press conference in Seoul, April 18. He said U.S. intervention in Japan's plan to dump radioactive wastewater from Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant was not appropriate. Yonhap



This is the third in a series of articles to highlight the possible effects of, and concerns over, Japan's decision to discharge radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean.  ED.



'Biden administration supports Japan for political reasons'



By Kang Seung-woo



Korea's attempts to thwart Japan's plan to dump radioactive wastewater into the Pacific Ocean is becoming an uphill battle as it is failing to persuade the United States to join its campaign against the discharge.



Last month, the Japanese government approved a plan to release more than 1 million tons of contaminated water from the destroyed Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean beginning 2023. The water was contaminated after the nuclear plant was destroyed by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 2011.



Following Tokyo's announcement, Seoul initiated efforts to stir up sentiment against the controversial plan that it believes was made without full consultation with neighboring countries.



However, the move has hit a major snag, with the U.S. supporting Japan's decision, as evidenced by statements from senior officials of President Joe Biden's administration, including U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry. Washington is regarded as the sole presence that can exert influence on Tokyo.



Diplomatic observers believe the coincident political interests of the U.S. and Japan have resulted in Washington's endorsement.



"I think that the Biden administration supports Japan for political reasons because this is an issue of crucial importance to Tokyo, and the administration would have supported its decision regardless of whether there was the Quad or not," said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, an associate professor of international relations at King's College London.



As part of its Indo-Pacific Strategy, the U.S. formed the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) with Australia, India and Japan, a strategic forum many believe is designed to contain China. Unlike Japan, Korea has been reluctant to join the initiative as China is its largest-trading partner.



"So I think it is a case of the U.S.-Japan alliance serving Tokyo's political interests because of its long endurance, not due to short-term considerations," Pacheco Pardo added.



Kim Yeoul-soo, chief of the Security Strategy Office at the Korea Institute for Military Affairs, also said the U.S. support had to do with Japan's importance to its regional strategy.









"As Japan is well aware, the country fully stands behind the U.S. I guess the Japanese government must have explained its plan to the Biden administration sufficiently ahead of the announcement," he said.



Kim added that the Korean government should have made efforts beforehand to persuade the U.S. to support its protest against the water discharge.



"If the government had shown that Korea and the U.S. were on the same page in terms of the latter's regional strategy (like Japan), things might have been different. However, currently, the U.S. must approve what Japan wants," he said.



Yang Ki-ho, a professor of Japanese studies at Sungkonghoe University, said the U.S. approval has to do with its decades-long involvement in the building of Japanese nuclear power plants.



"Four reactors at the Fukushima nuclear plant were designed or co-designed by General Electric and in that respect, the U.S. commitment to the Japanese nuclear industry cannot be discounted in Washington's favorable position toward Japan," Yang said.





Workers demolish old storage tanks including water processed in ALPS after transferring to new tanks at tsunami-devastated Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Okuma town, Fukushima Prefecture in this Jan. 22, 2020 photo. Korea Times file
Parsons Green Tube bomber Ahmed Hassan called a judge an 'evil man' when he appeared in court today accused of assaulting a prison officer in Belmarsh jail.

Hassan, 21, and Manchester Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi, 23, are charged with assaulting prison officer Paul Edwards at the maximum-security prison in Woolwich last May.

Abedi, Hassan, and fellow inmate Muhammed Saeed, 23, snuck into an office and attacked Mr Edwards as he sat at his desk, it is alleged.

Abedi is also accused of assaulting an emergency worker in the same incident.

Abedi did not appear at Woolwich Crown Court but Hassan appeared via video-link from HMP Frankland in County Durham with a short beard wearing a grey polo neck jumper.

A court artist sketch from an earlier hearing of Manchester Arena terrorist Hashem Abedi (right) and tube bomber Ahmed Hassan (left), who are charged over attack of a prison officer

Ahmed Hassan was convicted of attempted murder in 2018 and sentenced to 34 years in jail

He did not reply to any questions and muttered to himself while looking away from the camera.

When Judge Michael Evans, QC, asked him if he had any questions Hassan replied: 'I hate you very much, you are an evil man.'

Saeed appeared via video link from HMP Whitemoor in Cambridgeshire wearing a salwar kameez with a red scarf over his head.

Before the hearing formally started, Saeed entered his video booth smiling and greeting Hassan over the link, saying: 'Yes Hassan, salaam my brother.

'I wrote you a letter but the prison took it.'

The defendants are yet to formally enter pleas to the charges but Judge Michael Evans QC set a date of December 6 for what is expected to be a two-week trial.

Mr Edwards received cuts to his head and bruising, and was also kicked. He has ongoing hearing problems as a result of the attack at Belmarsh (pictured), the court heard

All three were remanded into custody ahead of a formal plea hearing on July 12.

Earlier Nicholas Alexander, prosecuting, said: 'They had a period of time out of the cells and on their return back to the cells they took the opportunity of entering into an office where the prison officer Edwards was seated at the desk.

'The three defendants proceeded to assault Mr Edwards.

'Other prison officers went into the office as quickly as they could to pull the three defendants off Mr Edwards.'

Mr Alexander said the officer sustained lacerations to the top of his scalp, bruising, and a blow to the side of his ear that has caused permanent auditory loss.

Abedi is also charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker, related to a second officer Nick Barnett in the same incident.

Abedi, 24, Hassan, 21, and 23-year-old Muhammed Saeed (pictured left to right), were out of their cells when they entered an office and assaulted Paul Edwards, a court heard

He was jailed for a minimum of 55 years last August for murdering 22 men, women and children attending an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017.

Abedi had acted as the quartermaster for his brother Salman, 22, who blew himself up in the foyer of the arena.

Hassan detonated a bomb in Parsons Green injuring 51 people in 2017.

He was convicted of attempted murder at the Old Bailey in 2018 and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum jail term of 34 years.

Saeed, from Old Trafford, Manchester, last year admitted five counts of possessing terrorist material and awaits sentence.

All three were remanded in custody.
Donald Trump attacked a trifecta of Republicans on Wednesday, blasting Liz Cheney, Mike Pence and Mitch McConnell for refusing to support his false claim he won the 2020 election.

Trump's statement came as House Republicans prepare to oust Cheney from its leadership team amid a GOP civil war over the role of the former president in the party.

He has attacked Cheney repeatedly after she voted to impeach him after the Capitol riot, but expanded his fury on Wednesday to include Pence and McConnell, calling the Senate Republican leader 'gutless and clueless.'

'Warmonger Liz Cheney, who has virtually no support left in the Great State of Wyoming, continues to unknowingly and foolishly say that there was no Election Fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election when in fact, the evidence, including no Legislative approvals as demanded by the U.S. Constitution, shows the exact opposite,' Trump said in a statement.

He went on to criticize Pence for refusing to overturn the lection results when he oversaw the certification of the electoral college on January 6th, the same day Trump supporters rioted on Capitol Hill, swarming the building and threatening to hang the then-vice president.

Trump also blasted McConnell, who gave a fiery rebuke to Trump's attempt to overthrow the election results.

'Had Mike Pence referred the information on six states (only need two) back to State Legislatures, and had gutless and clueless MINORITY Leader Mitch McConnell (he blew two seats in Georgia that should have never been lost) fought to expose all of the corruption that was presented at the time, with more found since, we would have had a far different Presidential result, and our Country would not be turning into a socialist nightmare! Never give up!,' he said.

Donald Trump attacked a trifecta of Republicans, blasting Liz Cheney, Mike Pence and Mitch McConnell for refusing to support his false claim he won the 2020 election

The 2020 contest showed no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Several recounts in states confirmed Joe Biden's win. Multiple courts threw out Trump's legal challenges.

Trump had heavily pressured Pence, whose role overseeing the certification of the election is purely symbolic, to over turn the results.

Ahead of the certification, Pence released a statement saying he would follow the constitution.

'It is my considered judgment that my oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not,' he wrote in a letter to Congress.

Pence, in South Carolina last week, said it was an honor to serve in the Trump administration. He has not publicly spoken out against Trump.

'Thank you for the privilege of serving as your vice president and the privilege of serving alongside President Donald Trump. It's the greatest honor of my life,' he said.

McConnell, on January 6th, spoke from the Senate floor to decry members of his own party who raised objects to the certification of the election results on Trump's behalf.

'Nothing before us proves illegality near the massive scale that would have tipped the entire election,' McConnell said.

'The voters, the courts, the states  they've all spoken. They've all spoken. If we overrule them, it would damage our republic forever. This election was actually not unusually close. Just in recent history, 1976, 2000 and 2004 were all closer,' he added.

Rep. Liz Cheney has emerged as one of Trump's fiery critics meanwhile the former president remains angry at Mike Pence for his role in overseeing the certification of the electoral college and at Mitch McConnell for not supporting efforts to object to the election

Trump's statement came as House Republicans prepare to oust Cheney, likely next Wednesday when lawmakers hold their weekly meeting on Capitol Hill. There must be a motion to remove her followed by a formal vote.

Cheney, a member of the prominent Republican family and only woman in House GOP leadership, has emerged as one of Trump's fiery critics and has repeatedly challenged his false assertion he won the 2020 presidential election - one of the few Republicans to call him out on it.

Trump, in turn, has given as good as he got, attacking Cheney himself through statements and using surrogates and his son, Donald Trump Jr., to attack her on social media.

But, as Republicans focus on winning back control of the House, they are increasingly turning to Trump, who still has a strong and vocal base of MAGA supporters who are expected to be active in next year's primary and general election.

And some Republicans are worried that fight will be a distraction that could hurt the party.

Other Republicans, however, want to move away from Trump's fiery rhetoric and controversial stands.

Several Republicans said Trump should have done more to rein in his supporters who stormed the Capitol on January 6th, leaving five dead and a trail of destruction in their wake.

McCarthy even called him out on the House floor the day, saying Trump bears responsibility for the riot. Trump was impeached for his role but acquitted in the Senate. After that acquittal, McConnell said the former president was 'practically and morally responsible' for the events.

Trump erupted in fury. McCarthy flew down to Mar-a-Lago, Trump's residence in Palm Beach, to make peace. McConnell and Trump remain at odds.

McCarthy, who will be speaker if the party can flip five seats in 2022, said Trump remains a force in the GOP that must be considered.

'He could change the whole course of history,' McCarthy told The New York Times. 'This is the tightest tightrope anyone has to walk.'

Former President Donald Trump still has a large base of supporters who are expected to be active in next year's primary and general elections

McCarthy isn't looking for a GOP Civil War in the House while he tries to become speaker.

With Cheney and Trump at each other's throats, he and his allies are making it clear she needs to go.

McCarthy raised questions about Cheney's ability to carry out her duties as GOP conference chair and told Fox News he's heard from fellow GOP lawmakers they are worried she can't carry out the party's message.

Ahead of his interview, he was heard, on a hot mic, telling Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy he's lost confidence in Cheney, Axios reported.

'I think she's got real problems,' McCarthy said. 'I've had it with ... I've had it with her. You know, I've lost confidence. ... Well, someone just has to bring a motion, but I assume that will probably take place.'

He then said that members of his party were growing increasingly worried about roll and how it could hurt the future of the party.

'I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out the job as conference chair - to carry out the message. We all need to be working as one if we're able to win the majority. Remember, majorities are not given; they are earned. And that's about the message about going forward,' he said on 'Fox & Friends.'

Cheney's spokesperson shot back, calling on Republicans to speak up against Trump's falsehoods.

'This is about whether the Republican Party is going to perpetuate lies about the 2020 election and attempt to whitewash what happened on Jan 6. Liz will not do that. That is the issue,' said Jeremy Alder.

In February, Cheney - the No. 3 Republican in the House - survived a leadership vote 145-61 on a secret ballot. The vote was called for by Trump allies in the GOP after her impeachment vote.

'There is no way that Liz will be conference chair by month's end,' one key McCarthy ally told The Hill newspaper on Monday. 'When there is a vote, it won't be a long conference; it will be fast. Everyone knows the outcome.'

McCarthy's allies made it clear their focus is on winning back the House.

'This is a broad range of lawmakers who have had it with her,' a second McCarthy ally said. 'She's a liability, and McCarthy's as fed up as the rest of us that she is focused on the past rather than winning back the House.'

Meanwhile, Steve Scalise and McCarthy are working to clear the field for New York Representative Elise Stefanik to replace Cheney as GOP Conference Chairwoman

'House Republicans need to be solely focused on taking back the House in 2022 and fighting against Speaker Pelosi and President Biden's radical socialist agenda, and Elise Stefanik is strongly committed to doing that, which is why Whip Scalise has pledged to support her for Conference Chair,' Scalise's spokesperson Lauren Fine told Punchbowl News.

Stefanik was a vocal and public defender of Trump during his impeachment hearings.

Rep. Liz Cheney slammed former President Donald Trump in a Monday morning tweet, standing her ground as the highest-ranking anti-Trump Republican in Congress

Cheney has stayed defiant. On Monday she slammed Trump for 'poisoning our democratic system' as he continued to falsely spout that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

Trump's office sent out a statement saying: 'The fraudulent presidential election of 2020 will be, from this day forth, known as the big lie!'

Cheney snapped back.

'The 2020 presidential election was not stolen,' she tweeted. 'Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system.'

Trump then fought back with an emailed statement, as he remains banished from Twitter and Facebook.

'Heartwarming to read new polls on big-shot warmonger Liz Cheney of the great State of Wyoming. She is so low that her only chance would be if vast numbers of people run against her which, hopefully, won't happen,' the ex-president said. 'They never liked her much, but I say she'll never run in a Wyoming election again!'
The estranged son of a cult leader whose mummified corpse was found wrapped in Christmas lights says he is more upset about his mother's victims than her death.

Cole Carlson, 25, revealed he had always expected his mom Amy Carlson - known as Mother God to her Love As Won cult followers - to die prematurely. But he says he still found the details of the 45 year-old's passing in Moffatt, Colorado, 'shocking.'

He told of his horror at learning a 13 year-old girl and two year-old boy had been living at a cult shrine where his mom's mummified corpse was displayed, saying: 'Heartbreak, absolute heartbreak. It tears me up that she was doing damage to other people's families and also children, like other children,' he told WKRN.com.

Cole Carlson pictured as a child with his late mom Amy, left, says he was abandoned by her when he was 10 so she could found her cult

25-year-old Cole Carlson said he was surprised to hear of the circumstances surrounding his mother's death but that her lifestyle lead him to believe she would not be around for long

The body of Amy Carlson (pictured), leader of the' Love Has Won' cult, was found wrapped in a sleeping bag and decorated with Christmas lights in a room adorned with murals on the walls

'I honestly, like, that's the most upsetting news to me, out of all of this, is the fact that there's kids found on the premises for sure, who probably saw, you know, her body.

'If it was in a shrine, the way I heard it described. That's very disturbing.'

'Some of the details that have slowly continued to come out have been rather shocking to me, honestly, but they are also a cult. You kind of expect weird things to come out, and I had been expecting for her not to be around much longer,' Carlson, who was abandoned by his mom aged 10, told WKRN.com

He added: 'Everything in my life is very average except my mom is a cult leader, or was a cult leader, I should say.'

Amy Carlson, who founded the Love has Won cult, was discovered dead by sheriff's deputies in a trailer in Moffatt, Colorado, on April 28.

Her body was discovered wrapped in a sleeping bag and decorated with Christmas lights as what investigators believe may have been a ghoulish shrine for her followers to worship at.

The corpse's eyes were rotted away with their sockets smeared with glitter, and its teeth poked out through Carlson's lips.

'Mummified and eye makeup but no eyes, very disturbing that's the best word I can think. The whole thing is so disturbing,' Carlson said about the state his mother's corpse was found in.

He says he met up with his mother once a few years ago and their communication was limited to occasional Skype calls throughout the years where she would 'ramble' about her cult.

Carlson's corpse was found in a decomposed state with her eyes missing and appeared to have been cared for, Saguache County Sheriff Dan Warwick told the Daily Beast.

The cause and manner of death are yet to be confirmed but investigators believe Carlson died sometime in March after ingesting colloidal silver, which the cult had been selling as a 'cure' for COVID-19. They did so despite a warning from US regulators that drinking the silver-infused water can cause potentially fatal kidney damage.

Love Has Won worshipped mummified mother as 'divine being' Love Has Won was set up in Colorado in 2018 under the belief that Carlson was a divine being who had been trying to save humanity for 19 billion years. The cult believed she would one day lead 144,000 chosen people into a new mystical fifth dimension. They believed she communicated with angels and was leading them to a great awakening. One of the cult's other bizarre beliefs was that Donald Trump was the cult leader's loving father in a past life. Former cult members accused Carlson of brainwashing and abusing them, and forcing them to wait on her hand and foot while living with her in the cult HQ. It is thought to have about 20 'full-time' followers Members have posted daily live streams on YouTube. Carlson set up the cult in 2018 after leaving her third marriage and job at McDonald's. Advertisement

Carlson's mummified remains were set up in a makeshift shrine and the 45-year-old was found with what appeared to be glitter makeup on her eyes, the affidavit said.

Carlson allegedly set up the cult, which authorities estimate had around 20 full-time followers, in 2018 after leaving her third marriage and job at McDonald's.

Her followers believed she was a divine being who had been trying to save humanity for 19 billion years and would one day lead exactly 144,000 chosen people into a new fifth dimension. The members of the cult, which was founded in 2018, also believed Donald Trump was Carlson's father in a past life.

The group, which established itself in southern Colorado in 2018, offers 'spiritual intuitive ascension sessions' and sells spiritual healing products online.

It has about 20 full-time followers in Colorado who post daily live streams on YouTube as well as other followers all around the world.

Former cult members accused Carlson of brainwashing and abusing them, and forcing them to wait on her hand and foot while living with her in the cult HQ.

They have also claimed they are underfed, banned from sitting, and never paid for their work.

After the discovery of her corpse, alleged cult members Ryan Kramer, John Robertson, Jason Castillo, Obdulia Franco Gonzalez, Karin Raymond, Christopher Royer, and Sarah Raymone were taken into custody on charges including abuse of a corpse and child abuse after law enforcement made the grim discovery, the sheriff confirmed on Monday.

No charges have been brought over Carlson's death.

Karin Raymond (left) and Sarah Raymone (right) were among the seven cult members arrested

Ryan Kramer (left) and Obdulia Franco Gonzalez (right). No charges have been brought in connection to Carlson's death

Jason Castillo (left) and Christopher Royer (right). The cause and manner of Carlson's death is not yet known

John Robertson pictured in mug. Two children - a 13-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy - were also found asleep in the home at the time

Castillo is said to be the current Father God of the cult. He has a history of criminal behavior, including drinking and driving, breaking and entering, and child neglect.

Carlson's corpse was found in the trailer home of Miguel Lamboy, who claims he wasn't in the cult, but simply had taken in a group of people - the alleged cult members - who needed a place to stay. (His name is listed on federal papers as part of the silver 'medicine' scheme despite him saying he has no connection.)

Police found two children - a 13-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy - asleep in the home where Carlson's corpse was discovered.

The teen has since been placed with social services while the toddler belongs to Lamboy, the Beast reported.

Lamboy and Carlson may have been in a relationship, former cult member Andrew Profaci told the Daily Beast.

Amy Carlson, 45, (pictured) who was known as 'Mother God' by her followers of the spiritual group 'Love Has Won', was found dead in a home in the tiny, rural town of Moffat on Wednesday, according to arrest affidavits

Investigators believe Carlson was ingesting colloidal silver. Pictured the cult had been selling the product above as a 'cure' for COVID-19 last year drawing a warning from US regulators

The cult has not publicly announced the death of its leader but one female follower posted a Facebook Live video on the group's social media page saying she had 'ascended.'

'A lot is going on. And the most beautiful thing of all is that Mother of God has ascended,' said the woman who called herself Bobby.

She cheered and clapped her hands before adding: 'She is not in any more pain and that's all that matters. She has ascended and she is in full power again.

'And we celebrate because she fulfilled her contract. She did everything she came here to do which is to wake people up and she passed the torch to us.'

The 25-year-old is Carlson's is next of kin and is awaiting autopsy reports to confirm his mother's cause of death.

Due to the extent of decomposition, the body has yet to be formally identified, reported the Daily Beast.

The Saguache County coroner's office is using dental records to try to confirm an ID.

Foul play has not yet been ruled out but Saguache County Coroner Tom Perrin said he suspects Carlson was ingesting colloidal silver, a liquid with small particles of silver in it.

Ingesting large amounts of silver cause the silver to build up in the body and lead to serious side dffects, including kidney damage; it also can turn skin and other organs blue.

Carlson says his mother told him the cult was selling the silver as a cure for COVID-19 under a business calked Gaia's Whole Healing Essentials, LLC.

The Food and Drug Administration sent the company a warning letter on April 1 2020 for selling 'Unapproved and Misbranded Products Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019'.

Carlson says he hopes his mother's death would signal the end for the cult.

'It makes me mad, and I really don't want to see this work continued, especially with her name attached or in her honor,' Carlson said.
Sir Frederick Barclay has been ordered to pay his estranged wife 100million after a judge blasted the Telegraph owner for selling a luxury yacht and keeping the proceeds for himself.

Mr Justice Cohen said Sir Frederick Barclay, 86, sold a luxury yacht and 'applied the equity for his own use' in breach of orders.

He said he regarded that as 'reprehensible', in a ruling published on Wednesday.

The judge said he had ruled that Lady Hiroko Barclay should receive lump sums totalling 100million. She had wanted 120million.

Judge Mr Justice Cohen said he had ruled that Lady Hiroko Barclay (pictured with lawyer Fiona Shackleton outside the High Court in London at an earlier hearing) should receive lump sums totalling 100million

Sir Frederick had made an offer which might have led to Lady Barclay receiving nothing, the judge said.

Mr Justice Cohen, based in London, oversaw the dispute between Sir Frederick and Lady Hiroko Barclay, who is in her late 70s, at private hearings in the Family Division of the High Court.

He considered arguments over how big a payout she should get at a trial in March, following the breakdown of their 34-year marriage.

The judge, who heard that Sir Frederick and Lady Hiroko Barclay were married in May 1987, allowed journalists to attend hearings but placed wide limits on what could be reported.

Sir Frederick (right, with his twin brother David receiving their knighthoods in January this year) had made an offer which might have led to Lady Barclay receiving nothing, the judge said

He said on Wednesday that he had decided not to publish his entire ruling - which has been given to Sir Frederick, Lady Barclay and their legal teams - but to reveal some detail.

'The principal criticism that I made of (Sir Frederick) related to his treatment of orders made for the production of documents and answers to questions,' said Mr Justice Cohen in the ruling published on Wednesday.

'Those orders were made specifically in the context of (him) seeking to argue that loan notes to which he was entitled and which constituted the vast bulk of his wealth were not likely to be honoured, in full or in part, by reason of an alleged absence of liquidity in the underlying family businesses.'

The judge said Sir Frederick 'repeatedly' ignored orders to produce documents or answer questions.

He added: 'Part of (Sir Frederick's) available assets included a luxury yacht which was on the market for sale.

'I made orders intended to control the sale and the use of the proceeds. He completely ignored those orders, sold the yacht, and applied the equity for his own use.

'I regarded that behaviour as reprehensible.'

Sir Frederick and his twin brother Sir David were among the UK's most high-profile businessmen.

Sir David died aged 86 in January.

Their interests included the Telegraph Newspaper Group and The Ritz hotel in London.

The family also has links to the Channel Islands and Monaco.

Mr Justice Cohen recently signalled an end to the Barclays' marriage at a separate hearing, by issuing a divorce decree.

Lady Hiroko Barclay had petitioned for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour, he was told.

Mr Justice Cohen pronounced a decree nisi.

A marriage does not formally end until a decree absolute is made.

Sir Frederick said, in a statement after the ruling: 'I am saddened that after 34 years my marriage has come to an end.

'This was not something I wanted.'

He said he hoped that Lady Hiroko Barclay could find happiness and wished her well.
The coronavirus pandemic has destroyed millions of lives, wrecked global economies, stolen our basic freedoms and left all of us feeling deeply deeply p*ssed off.

(Well, apart from Amazon's billionaire boss Jeff Bezos who got massively richer as he sent us all the things that we weren't able to go to stores to buy.)

And for the poor citizens of countries like India and Brazil, it has now evolved into a raging catastrophe of horrific proportions.

But for some people, Covid-19 has been of secondary importance.

The lunatic woke brigade, seemingly oblivious to what's happening in the real world, have spent the past 15 months continuing to bleat about any 'micro-aggression' that upsets them,

And as we know, that means pretty much everything  from chess being 'racist' (white always starts) to fat-free frozen yoghurt triggering eating disorder distress (thank you, Demi 'dimwit' Lovato).

Today though, we've reached the absolute nadir of mind-numbingly stupid wokery, an achievement for which the bar is staggeringly low.

Extreme illiberal liberals have sparked a furore which even by their standards is so absurd, so pathetic, so indescribably dumb that I can barely believe it's real.

But it IS real, which is ironic because it's about something that isn't.

The latest target of their whiny self-righteous ire is Disney's newly revamped Snow White's Enchanted Wish ride at the theme park in Anaheim, California, which has just reopened after 400 days.

In a review of Disneyland's revamped Snow White ride (pictured), posted at the weekend, two female journalists expressed their outrage at the Prince's conduct. Katie Dowd and Julie Tremaine were appalled by 'a kiss he gives to her without her consent, while she's asleep, which cannot possibly be true love if only one person knows it's happening'

In a review of Disneyland's revamped Snow White ride, posted at the weekend, two female journalists on SFGate, digital arm of the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, expressed their outrage at the Prince's conduct. Katie Dowd and Julie Tremaine were appalled by 'a kiss he gives to her without her consent, while she's asleep, which cannot possibly be true love if only one person knows it's happening.'

The latest target of the woke brigade's whiny self-righteous ire is Disney's newly revamped Snow White's Enchanted Wish ride at the theme park in Anaheim, California, which has just reopened after 400 days. It now ends with the Prince giving Snow White a kiss

Changes to the ride, which was originally called Snow White's Scary Adventure and has existed in various forms since 1955 without offending anyone, include new audio and visual technology, laser projections, and a state-of-the-art animation system.

Disney said visitors would be 'absolutely blown away by this dazzling attraction and such a sweet storyline.'

However, it now ends with the famous scene from the smash hit movie of the iconic 'true love's kiss' between the Prince and Snow White as she sleeps.

And it's this addition to the ride that has sent the wokies out of their minds because they say the Prince didn't get consent before kissing Snow White and is therefore a sickening sexual predator whose actions will encourage others to commit similar acts of depravity.

Changes to the ride, which was originally called Snow White's Scary Adventure and has existed in various forms since 1955 without offending anyone, include new audio and visual technology, laser projections, and a state-of-the-art animation system. Disney said visitors would be 'absolutely blown away by this dazzling attraction and such a sweet storyline'

The ride (pictured) now ends with the famous scene from the smash hit movie of the iconic 'true love's kiss' between the Prince and Snow White as she sleeps. And it's this addition to the ride that has sent the wokies out of their minds because they say the Prince didn't get consent before kissing Snow White

Disney said visitors would be 'absolutely blown away by this dazzling attraction and such a sweet storyline'. Pictured: Visitors to Disneyland in Anaheim, California on April 30

At this stage, I think it would be useful to remind ourselves exactly what actually happens in the movie:

1. A beautiful, orphaned princess, Snow White, lives with her evil stepmother, the wicked Queen, who is insanely jealous of her beauty. She meets and falls in love with a handsome Prince.

2. The wicked Queen creates a poisoned apple that will put whoever eats it into the 'Sleeping Death' and tricks her stepdaughter into eating it by saying it will make all her dreams come true (Snow White wishes for a reunion with her Prince so they can marry and live in a castle happy ever after). She falls into a deathlike sleep.

3. The spell can only be broken by 'love's first kiss,' but the Queen presumes Snow White will be pronounced dead and buried before any such kiss can be administered.

4. The devastated seven dwarves are so upset on finding Snow White 'dead' that they cannot bring themselves to bury her, and instead place her in a glass coffin in a clearing in the woods.

5. A year later, the Prince learns of Snow White's fate and visits what he believes to be her dead body. And he gently kisses her, believing he is saying a final farewell to his beloved.

6. The kiss breaks the spell and awakens her from her trance, and to the delight of the dwarves, they depart to live happily ever after in his castle.

There's not a single part of this delightful, charming and uplifting tale that couldn't warm even the stoniest of hearts.

The bad guys lose  the wicked Queen dies  and the good guys win.

Self-evidently, none of the Prince's behavior could be remotely described as 'problematic' because he saved his sweetheart's life.

There's not a single part of this delightful, charming and uplifting tale that couldn't warm even the stoniest of hearts. The bad guys lose  the wicked Queen dies  and the good guys win. Pictured: A scene from the Snow White's Enchanted Wish attraction at Disneyland

But the wokies have hearts of Graphene - a hexagonal carbon lattice that is the world's strongest and most impregnable material - towards anyone that doesn't conform to their intransigently intolerant joyless view of life.

So, naturally, they find the whole thing incredibly offensive and believe the Prince to be a malevolent sexual deviant because he didn't ask Snow White for consent  something that may not have struck his mind given that HE THOUGHT SHE WAS DEAD.

This crucial fact cuts no ice with the wokies.

In a review of Disneyland's revamped Snow White ride, posted at the weekend, two female journalists on SFGate, digital arm of the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, expressed their outrage at the Prince's conduct.

Katie Dowd and Julie Tremaine were appalled by 'a kiss he gives to her without her consent, while she's asleep, which cannot possibly be true love if only one person knows it's happening.'

Then they fumed: 'Haven't we already agreed that consent in early Disney movies is a major issue? That teaching kids that kissing, when it hasn't been established if both parties are willing to engage, is not OK? It's hard to understand why the Disneyland of 2021 would choose to add a scene with such old-fashioned ideas of what a man is allowed to do to a woman.'

Their ridiculous load of virtue-signalling guff soon went viral on social media, with many other wokies rushing to praise them for calling out the Prince's abusive conduct.

But the truth is that by gallantly and tenderly kissing his love goodbye something that grieving people do to their deceased loves ones every minute of every day all around the world - the Prince saved her life. Then they got married and lived happily ever after.

Oh, and there's another rather important point to consider: none of this is real. It was an animated film, a cartoon.

Snow White didn't exist, and nor did the Prince, the wicked Queen, or any of the Seven Dwarves.

So, there's nothing sinister about any of this, unless your mind is so utterly twisted by the demented desire to be offended by absolutely everything that you've taken leave of your senses.

New York Rangers star Matt Traynor wrote on Twitter: 'I'm sorry, this is what's wrong with the world. Snow White, a fictional character getting brought back to life by a kiss by her future husband. Y'all taking things too far and ruining the gullible by making them believe this is what to flip out about instead of REAL issues...'

'I'm sorry, this is what's wrong with the world,' tweeted New York Rangers star Matt Traynor. 'Snow White, a fictional character getting brought back to life by a kiss by her future husband. Y'all taking things too far and ruining the gullible by making them believe this is what to flip out about instead of REAL issues...'

Exactly.

My question for the wailing wokies is this: given that the ONLY way for Snow White to come out of her 'sleeping death' is to receive a 'true love's kiss', and given that the Prince is her only true love, and given that he thinks she'd dead.if he hadn't kissed her when he did, then she would never have come out of her sleeping death.

In other words, she would remain effectively dead.

So, the logical conclusion of the woke campaign to stop the Prince kissing her is that they would prefer for Snow White to be dead, and that seems a highly 'problematic' place for these supposed feminist warriors to find themselves.

I refuse to let this happen.

I stand with the chivalrous Prince and won't let the wokies kill Snow White.

And my message to these murderous imbeciles is a simple one:

Can you just shut the f**k up?

Seriously.

You're pathetic & exhausting, and nobody in the real world agrees with you  about anything.

I send this advice with a non-consensual kiss in the hope it saves you from an otherwise slow, agonising woke death. Mwah.
Former Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, who was found not guilty of murdering an injured ISIS detainee, has now claimed his entire platoon agreed to kill the captured fighter as part of a plan to practice medical procedures on him.

The 41-year-old retired SEAL made the bombshell admission in an interview on Apple's 'The Line' podcast on Tuesday regarding the 2017 death of a 17-year-old militant captive in Iraq.

'The grain of truth in the whole thing is that that ISIS fighter was killed by us and that nobody at that time had a problem with it,' he said.

'We killed that guy. Our intention was to kill him. Everybody was on board... It was to do medical scenarios on him until he died.'

Gallagher was acquitted by a military jury in 2019 of stabbing the ISIS fighter to death but was convicted of unlawfully posing for photos with his dead body.

His trial drew widespread controversy at the time after then-President Trump repeatedly intervened on his behalf and had him released from pretrial detention.

It's not clear what his admission could mean for him legally - if anything.

Prosecutors claimed during his high-profile trial that Gallagher had briefly treated the ISIS fighter by inserting a breathing tube in his neck after he was brought to the US operating base in Mosul when he was severely injured in an airstrike.

Gallagher's platoon members told investigators they then saw Gallagher stab the fighter in the neck several times.

Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, who was found not guilty in 2019 of murdering an injured ISIS detainee, has now claimed his entire platoon agreed to kill the captured fighter as part of a plan to practice medical procedures on him

Gallagher, who was the platoon chief during the Iraq deployment, has always claimed the war crimes charges brought against him were made up by six platoon members who wanted to force him out.

In the podcast interview, Gallagher continued to deny that he stabbed the fighter.

He claimed, instead, that the SEALs did not treat the fighter for his injuries and jointly decided to practice medical procedures on him until he died.

'I didn't stab him. I didn't stab that dude,' Gallagher said. 'That dude died from all the medical treatments that were done  and there was plenty of medical treatments that were done to him.

'I mean, he was going to die, regardless. We weren't taking any prisoners.'

It is not clear exactly what procedures were allegedly performed on the ISIS fighter, who died about 20 minutes after being brought to the US base.

When he was asked why he cut the airway into the fighter's throat to insert the breathing tube, Gallagher said in the podcast: 'Just for practice. I was practicing to see how fast I could do one in.'

The Navy would not comment on Gallagher's latest claims.

Gallagher was acquitted by a military jury in 2019 of stabbing the ISIS fighter to death but was convicted of unlawfully posing for photos with his dead body

In the podcast interview, Gallagher continued to deny that he stabbed the fighter. He claimed, instead, that the SEALs did not treat the fighter for his injuries and jointly decided to practice medical procedures on him until he died

His attorney Timothy Parlatore told military news outlet Task & Purpose that prosecutors and defense already knew that the SEALs had practiced medical procedures on the ISIS fighter before he was pronounced dead.

He said prosecutors chose not to bring up the claims during his marital court trial so he did not address them.

'When the terrorist came in, they did the initial assessment and they knew that he was going to die,' Parlatore said.

'There was no way that he was surviving this thing. And, exactly what he said there: They decided  ok, he's going to die anyway, let's use this as an opportunity for training. We'll just do procedures on him.'

Parlatore argued that none of the procedures carried out on the fighter sped up his death.

Gallagher's attorney said none of his clients recent comments made on the podcast changed his defense.

'They all knew that this is how the guy died and they made up a story after the fact,' Parlatore said.

'Everything that I said at the trial is absolutely true.

'The prosecutors chose not to make this argument at the trial because, quite frankly, it was inconsistent with their theory of the case. So they didn't want to make these arguments at the time. And I didn't need to make them at the time because it didn't matter.'

Gallagher, who was the platoon chief during the Iraq deployment, has always claimed the war crimes charges brought against him were made up by six platoon members who wanted to force him out. He is pictured above with his wife Andrea following his acquittal for murder

Gallagher's case drew widespread controversy with President Trump repeatedly intervening on his behalf. Gallagher and his wife Andrea met with Trump and First Lady Melania at Mar-a-Lago back in 2019 following his acquittal for murder

Court records obtained by the Navy Times have previously indicated that the fighter's body was covered in medical devices, including a trachea tube and two tubes in his chest, when he died.

The knowledge that the fighter was used for medical training was detailed as part of a defense motion filed back in 2019.

'At the time that the ISIS fighter was brought to the compound, he was at or near death and, although SOC Gallagher initially attempted to save his life, these efforts quickly proved to be fruitless,' the motion read.

'Once it was clear that the ISIS fighter was beyond saving, the platoon's medic... took over and began using the newly dead or nearly dead ISIS fighter as a training aid to practice performing medical procedures.'

The court records and defense motion did not detail how much, if any, pain medication was given to the fighter while the medical training was carried out.

In unseen videos that emerged after his trial, Gallagher's platoon SEALs chillingly described him as 'freaking evil', 'toxic' and trigger-happy.

The SEALs were interviewed by naval criminal investigators before Gallagher was charged in September 2018 and the later acquitted.

In addition to the video interviews, combat footage and text message exchanges between the SEALs were also released.

They were all part of the investigative files used in Gallagher's 2019 court martial trial, which is essentially a military version of a civil trial.

Gallagher has always maintained that the charges brought against him were made up by six members of his platoon who wanted to force him out

Gallagher's recent admission about his fellow SEALs is the latest unexpected turn in his high-profile case.

His trial drew widespread controversy at the time after then-President Trump repeatedly intervened on his behalf and had him released from pretrial detention.

Gallagher was demoted following the trial but was later allowed to keep his Trident Pin and retire a SEAL following Trump's intervention.

Trump took an interest in the case after Bernard Kerick, a former business partner to Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, became an advocate for the family and made appearances in conservative media.

He tweeted in support of Gallagher, praising his service to the country and saying the case was 'handled very badly from the beginning'.

Shortly after the trial, Trump got involved again by ordering the Navy to withdraw commendations that prosecutors received for their work.

Trump then directed the Navy to restore Gallagher to his previous rank.

The then-President gave the direct order to allow Gallagher to retire without losing his SEAL status.

Trump tweeted: 'Eddie will retire peacefully with all of the honors that he has earned.'
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez along with other progressive lawmakers are looking to create a 1.5 million-strong 'climate corps' as part of a sweeping overhaul of the way the government addresses climate change.

'The Civilian Climate Corps aims to employ 1.5 million young Americans - putting them to work remediating blight, maintaining our parks and natural lands - and ultimately put them on a path to a long-term career, providing support like student loan relief and child/eldercare,' the New York congresswoman wrote on Twitter Tuesday of the new initiative.

She continued: 'Much like the CCC of the New Deal-era, the GND's Civilian Climate Corps closes the gap between those who need work and work that needs to be done.'

Progressives are aiming to brand their 'CCC' as the modern day Civilian Conservation Corps, which was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his New Deal as a way toward recovery during the Great Depression.

The New Deal-era program gave unemployed young men jobs related to conserving and developing government-owned rural lands.

The climate corps program will cost the U.S. $10 billion.

An aide to co-sponsor Ed Markey told Fox News the climate corps would be passed as part of Joe Biden's $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan  and the president has already voiced his support for the initiative.

Progressive Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is pushing a new program to create 1.5 million jobs with the 'Civilian Climate Corps' as part of her larger Green New Deal climate change initiative

AOC is pushing the program is like that of FDR's New Deal creating the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of his New Deal to create jobs recovery in the Great Depression

The Senate's 'Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act' creating the new workforce was introduced last month by Senators Ed Markey, Bernie Sanders, Alex Padilla and Kristen Gillibrand. If passed, it would seek to employ 1.5 million Americans over the next five years, who would make up the so-called Civilian Climate Corps.

'The Corporation for National and Community Service has the ability to recruit, select, fund, and oversee 1,500,000 members of service corps by 2025 to complete important projects across the entire country to help address the climate crisis,' the bill reads.

Other national service programs and initiatives, such as AmeriCorps, fall under the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Jobs in this line, however, are not known for their excellent pay  so appear on the surface to be an odd way to tackle unemployment. In fact, usually Americorps workers are seen more as volunteers who receive a stipend and are encouraged, since they are compensated so little, to sign up for food stamps.

Therefore, Markey and Ocasio-Cortez are proposing climate corps members be paid at least $15 an hour, progressive's ideal federal minimum wage.

They are also seeking to get corps members other benefits like child care, counseling and a $25,000 grant per year they can put toward student debt or future education.

They are hoping the climate corps will create a path toward a future career in the 'clean economy workforce.'

The workers would receive on-the-job training and work with community groups, including unions, on initiatives to 'reduce carbon emissions, enable a transition to renewable energy, build healthier and more resilient communities, implement conservation projects with proven climate benefits, and help communities recover from climate disasters.'

If adopted, the measure would be paid for just like all other federal spending  congressional appropriation of taxpayer money.

It would cost an estimated $10 billion.

The $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan would allocate $10 billion to 'put a new, diverse generation of Americans to work conserving our public lands and waters, bolstering community resilience, and advancing environmental justice through a new Civilian Climate Corps, all while placing good-paying union jobs within reach for more Americans.'

The proposal would be paid for by a slew of tax hikes, including raising the corporate tax rate from the current 21 per cent to 28 per cent and imposing a higher global minimum on U.S. businesses' foreign earnings.

Although it's unclear if the climate corps would create a tax hike on its own, the larger Green New Deal would see a significant raise in federal spending  and therefore Americans' taxes  over the next decade.

Even members of the Democratic party have pushed back against the proposal to raise the corporate tax rate, claiming it could hurt the U.S. in terms of global competitiveness.

According to a 2019 analysis by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, raising taxes on only the wealthy would bring in less than $3 trillion over the next 10 years, while the cost of the Green New Deal during that time would cost several times that.

AOC and other progressive lawmakers reintroduced the Green New Deal in April  the climate corps part of the proposal would be part of Biden's American Jobs Plan and cost $10 billion

Ocasio-Cortez's proposed 70 per cent marginal tax rate could raise around $190 billion in the next decade.

At least 50 per cent of the funding  and workforce  is reserved for 'environmental justice' while another 10 per cent in funding will be allocated for tribal communities.

The lawmakers proposing the climate corps are seeking in the bill '[t]o amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to establish a Civilian Climate Corps to help communities respond to climate change and transition to a clean economy, and for other purposes.'

The new workforce would be assigned to federally funded projects specifically addressing climate change as part of the Green New Deal.

When reintroducing the Green New Deal in April, Ocasio-Cortez told reporters: 'What we're going to do is make sure communities like Flint, Baltimore, the South Bronx, St. Louis, rural communities whose infrastructure was never properly built in the first place, are first in line to rectify the injustices of the past and make sure they get everything they need to thrive in the future.'
A British academic has sued United Arab Emirates (UAE) security and intelligence officials for up to 350,000 in damages after being held in ankle cuffs, denied sleep and fed a cocktail of drugs when he was jailed as a spy.

Matthew Hedges, who was 31 at the time, was detained in Abu Dhabi between May and November 2018 after being accused of working for MI6.

In papers filed at the High Court in London, he is now claiming damages against four officials for assault, false imprisonment and psychiatric injury.

Mr Hedges, originally from Exeter, was sentenced to life imprisonment but was pardoned by the nation's president days later.

Matthew Hedges (pictured with his wife Daniela Tejada), who was 31 at the time, was detained in Abu Dhabi between May and November 2018 after being accused of spying (file photo)

He has previously described how he was questioned for up to 15 hours a day and forced to wear ankle cuffs during his ordeal.

The Durham University PhD student has also said he faced sleepless nights, PTSD and was reliant on a cocktail of drugs that were fed to him in jail.

Mr Hedges has brought the case against Abu Dhabi's head of State Security Public Prosecution at the time, Saqr Saif Al Naqbi, and the commander in chief of the emirate's police force, Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi.

Inspector General in the Ministry of the Interior, Major General Ahmed Naser Ahmed Alrais Al Raisi, and senior UAE intelligence official, Ali Mohammed Hamad Hammad Al Shamsi, are also defendants in the claim.

According to court documents, Mr Hedges is expecting to recover between 200,000 and 350,000 in damages.

Neither the UAE government's communications office nor the UAE foreign affairs ministry immediately responded to requests for comment on the case.

Defence papers are expected to be served in the coming weeks.

The UAE has previously said Hedges had not been subjected to any physical or psychological mistreatment during his detention.

Mr Hedges is claiming damages against four UAE officials, including Inspector General in the Ministry of the Interior, Major General Ahmed Naser Ahmed Alrais Al Raisi (left) and the commander in chief of the emirate's police force, Major General Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi (right)

Mr Hedges said: 'On May 5, 2018, I was detained and tortured in the UAE. Three years later, I am still waiting for the truth and justice.

'The UAE authorities have refused to answer the complaint that was submitted to them through the UK Foreign Office.

'It is clear they have no interest in finding out who was responsible for my abuse.

'This total lack of redress has prolonged my trauma and made it very difficult to move on with my life.'

He added: 'I hope it will ensure that what happened to me should never be allowed to happen again.'
A university director who had faced calls to resign after he used the N-word in a video meeting will keep his job after students campaigned to get him sacked.

The director of the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, Professor Adam Habib, had said the word as he explained that action would be taken against staff who use it.

But it sparked outrage among student at the university, who set up a petition calling for the removal, resignation or dismissal of Mr Habib within 31 days.

They claimed his actions were 'emblematic of the experience that black students go through at SOAS' and accused the university of failing to address black students' concerns.

He issued an apology and stepped down just weeks into the job, but will now resume his role following an investigation into allegations of 'anti-black conduct' at the institution.

Professor Adam Habib, 56, (pictured) had said the word as he explained that action would be taken against staff who use it

Prof Habib had been discussing students' concerns about lecturers historically using the slur without repercussions.

The 56-year-old, who is of Indian descent, said during the webinar: 'The issue around that... firstly, on the n*****, somebody making that allegation, then bring it to me.

'I don't know the case, this is the first I've heard of it.'

One of his students cut him off, telling him: 'Adam, that's not acceptable to be saying that in a meeting.'

Another student said that they had taken offence to its use before Mr Habib replied: 'You do? Well, I don't actually. I come from a part of the world where we actually do use the word... The context matters.'

Prof Habib, who only started in the role in January, will resume his duties as SOAS director from May 10 after the investigation ruled that his vocalisation of the word did not make him racist.

However, a restorative justice process will be adopted after the report was critical of the director's response to students at the meeting and on Twitter.

In March, Prof Habib agreed to step aside while an external investigation into complaints received about anti-blackness at the institution was underway.

He issued an apology for using the racial slur in a student meeting, but he said he only used it while explaining that action would be taken against its use.

The board of trustees at SOAS have accepted in full the recommendations of the independent external investigation into the all-student meeting in March.

Students at the university (pictured) set up a petition calling for the removal, resignation or dismissal of Mr Habib

The 56-year-old (pictured centre), who is of Indian descent, used the racial slur during a webinar

A clear policy for the SOAS community on the use of the N-word will be developed by the board - and the university will provide specific advice for the director on equality and diversity issues in the sector.

Marie Staunton, chair of the board of trustees, said: 'I want to be clear especially on the use of the N-word: the report notes that the director spoke the word in full while trying to say that it should not be used within the SOAS community, and that he has since acknowledged that speaking the word in full was a mistake, for which he has apologised.

'The report was nonetheless critical of his response to students at the meeting and in his subsequent tweets. The report found that Professor Habib's mistake of vocalising of the N-word in full, while trying to say that using the word offensively is unacceptable, did not in itself make him a racist.'

In a statement, Prof Habib said: 'I want to again apologise to all the Soas community for my conduct, for the offence and hurt, and for the disruption this has caused.

'I reiterate my commitment to act against all forms of racism, and to work with the Soas community in identifying and fashioning specific interventions to address the exclusionary experiences of black people and other communities within the institution.

'There is a lot to do to rebuild from this. There is action to be taken to address racism and anti-blackness. I believe we can and should do this together.

'I understand why some in our community will take a long time to trust me. I promise I will do all I can to re-earn your trust and respect.'
Abdul Salam (pictured outside court today) wanted revenge after feeling rejected when Razia Azhar ended the illicit sexual trysts - which they had started a decade after their first relationship ended

A former special constable who stalked his married ex-lover and put a tracking device on her car when she broke off their affair has today been jailed for 12 months.

Abdul Salam, from Dundee, Scotland, wanted revenge after feeling rejected when Razia Azhar ended the illicit sexual trysts - which they had started a decade after their first relationship ended.

The 37-year-old stalked his secret lover for months before she became suspicious about him and set up a honey trap to catch him out and confront him.

Today, Salam was jailed for a year and made the subject of a lifelong non-harassment order, after Mrs Azhar told Dundee Sheriff Court she was living in fear of him.

Sheriff Lorna Drummond said: 'You pled guilty to a course of conduct against the complainer which involved you following her over two or three months, going to her children's school and the gym, and texting her husband pretending she was having an affair, and placing a tracking device on her car.

'You showed no insight into the distress, fear and alarm it would have caused to the complainer. It is clear this has had a profound impact on her.

'She stated you were someone who would stop at nothing. Her whole independence and confidence have been taken away and destroyed.

'She feels a prisoner and is left in constant fear. Your behaviour was not impulsive. It was planned. Placing a tracking device on a vehicle requires preparation and planning.

'According to the reports your angry, obsessive, unrepentant thoughts about the complainer indicate an elevated level of concern for risk to her.'

The court was told that the married father-of-four had set up an elaborate ruse to try and convince Mrs Azhar's husband that she was cheating on him.

The former special constable - a voluntary officer with the same powers as police officers - posed as a woman called 'Samantha' and reported Mrs Azhar's movements to her husband in a bid to convince him his wife was having an affair.

But Mr and Mrs Azhar set up a sting operation to out Salam and that led to an angry confrontation involving police and the discovery of the secret tracking device.

Salam - whose original pre-marriage relationship with his victim lasted two years and ended in 2008 - admitted stalking Mrs Azhar for more than two months.

He admitted that between 1 April and 7 June 2019 he engaged in a course of stalking against Razia Azhar at PureGym, Brown Street and West Marketgait, Dundee.

He admitted following her, placing a tracking device on her car, pretending to her husband she was having an affair, taking a photo of her car and sending it to him and verbally harassing her.

Today, Salam was jailed for a year and made the subject of a lifelong non-harassment order, after Mrs Azhar told Dundee Sheriff Court (pictured) she was living in fear of him

Fiscal depute Stewart Duncan told the court: 'The accused was formerly in a relationship with Razia Azhar which ended in 2008. They were in a relationship approximately two years.

'She states that over a three month period she began to notice the accused would frequently turn up at locations where she was.

'In May 2019 she was in PureGym when she was approached by the accused asking to get back with him. He became aggressive and was shouting.

'The accused was removed from the building. A staff member had seen him hanging around the building on a number of occasions - always when Razia Azhar was using the gym.'

Her husband Mobeen Azhar began receiving WhatsApp messages from a number he did not know, with the sender claiming to be a parent at his child's school.

'The person claimed to be called Samantha and said they had evidence Razia Azhar was cheating on him. This person seemed to have in-depth knowledge of her movements.'

The couple discussed what was going on and - coupled with Salam's frequent unexplained appearances - they realised he must be involved in the plot.

Soon after, Salam turned up outside the school and told Mrs Azhar that he had been in touch with her husband and he knew she was cheating on him.

The couple then hatched a plot to trap Salam and Mr Azhar sent a text to 'Samantha' in order to lure him into meeting them in a public place.

Salam was asked to take a picture of his victim if he could find her - as the couple suspected he would be able to track her down to where they parked in Brown Street.

'They both got into her car and Mr Azhar concealed himself in the back. A short time later the accused arrived,' Mr Duncan told the court.

'He approached Razia Azhar and said he wanted to talk. Mobeen Azhar got out of the car and confronted the accused and they began pushing each other.'

The fracas took place in view of police HQ and a detective rushed out to intervene. Salam ran to his car to get away but the officer grabbed his keys and he was detained.

'Mrs Azhar approached the officer and said she could see an item which she thought was a tracking device which had been cable tied to her front wheel.

'The tracking device was examined and found to be branded 'Rewire Security' which had cellphone technology and provided location information.

'A DNA match for the accused was discovered on the device and the cable ties which had been used to keep it in place on the complainer's vehicle.'

Solicitor Larry Flynn, defending, said: 'From February 2018 to April 2019 they were involved in an affair. They were both married and it involved going to hotels on a regular basis for sexual relations.

'The complainer broke off the relationship in April 2019 and told him she wanted no more to do with him. The report indicates this offence was fuelled by revenge for the rejection.

'There are other victims of this. By his behaviour he has caused devastation to his wife, but he has had to deal with that. He has managed to hold that together.'
A group of activists who support democracy in Myanmar hold an online meeting, Tuesday, with 12 Korean lawmakers, including Rep. Lee Yong-sun and Rep. Lee Yong-bin of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), to propose and discuss a plan to build a refugee camp, using funds from the Korean government. Courtesy of the Myanmar Democracy Network of the Republic of Korea



By Jung Da-min



A group of activists who support democracy in Myanmar has urged the Korean government to build a refugee camp in a border area between Myanmar and Thailand.





The poster for an online meeting held Tuesday between activists who support democracy in Myanmar and 12 Korean lawmakers / Courtesy of the Myanmar Democracy Network of the Republic of Korea
Police are 'urgently' searching for a private schoolgirl who has been missing for four days.

Vietnamese-born Thi Khanh Ly Duong, 17, was last seen getting dropped off by a taxi after she went shopping.

Staff at her boarding school in Staffordshire raised the alarm when she failed to return on Saturday evening.

The teenager left Asda in Cannock, Staffs., just before 6.30pm and was picked up by a taxi outside the store at around 6.45pm.

Thi Khanh Ly Duong has not been seen for four days and police are appealing for help

She was later dropped off in Holly Road, near to Grove Lane in Handsworth, Birmingham, but has not been seen or heard from since.

Thi, also known as Ly, was born in Vietnam but has guardians in Handsworth.

She is 5ft tall and slim with long black hair and was last seen wearing jeans and a light coloured hoody with a black jacket, Nike flip flops and a large black handbag.

A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: 'We're urgently appealing to trace a teenager who has gone missing in Handsworth.

'If you have any information about where she might be, please contact us as soon as possible via live chat at www.west-midlands.police.uk 8am  midnight, or call 101 anytime.

'If seen, please call us on 999. Thank you.'
New York City students will no longer get to enjoy snow days after officials said schools will shift to remote learning when winter weather strikes.

From September, students will be expected to login for class from home if snow and ice forces schools to close.

Remote learning was used when the schools were closed because of lockdown and will now be carried over into the 2021-2022 academic calendar for snow days, but the decision has not been warmly received online.

Covid ends snow days! New York City students will no longer get to enjoy snow days after officials said schools will shift to remote learning when winter weather strikes

'What about kids who can't access internet at home, or have a laptop at home... it's a snow day... y'all want them to walk somewhere??,' one person tweeted.

Several teachers pointed out how hard it is to plan an online lesson without much notice - exactly the scenario they would be in if a remote learning day was suddenly announced because of snow.

'If I'm the teacher and it's a snow day and they'd still want me to teach, I'm marking this down as one of my movie days,' one user wrote.

The decision received a frosty reaction online, with users quick to point out kids who do not have access to internet from home will end up missing school

People were quick to point out how little snow New York gets each year. The city sees snowfall on average 11 days of the year and receives a total of 25.1 inches of snow

Children enjoy a day off school in December 2020 and manage to go sledding New York City's Central Park

Another pointed out how rare it is to have a snow day in New York, saying: 'New York City BARELY does snow days as it is! There needs to be a LOT of snow for schools to shut down in the city. There were many years growing up when there were none of them!'

The city sees snowfall on average 11 days of the year, and receives a total of 25.1 inches of snow.

But other users were just sad to see an end to snow days. One wrote: 'Those kids will never experience the anticipation of and joy of a snow day. Such a shame really. I can still remember the feeling when they called our town.'

Several teachers pointed out how hard it is to plan an online lesson without much notice, exactly the situation they would be in under the new system

Kids use the impromptu days off to play in the snow across the city of New York

Other users were just sad to see an end to snow days and upset 'those kids will never experience the anticipation of and joy of a snowday'

New York City's Department of Education announced the changes in the 2021-2022 Academic Calendar on Tuesday

Announcing the change on Tuesday, the Department of Education said: 'The DOE will shift all students to remote instruction in lieu of canceling schools due to severe weather conditions'.

The new rules, which also include a day of remote learning on Election Day, come into force on September 13, when the new school year starts.

As per state law, the year includes 180 days of school days, including four days set aside for staff development.

A holiday day for Indigenous People's Day was added to the calendar on October 11, while Columbus Day was removed.

New York sees snowfall on average 11 days of the year, receiving a total of 25.1 inches of white powder (pictured, a snowy Times Square)

New York City's public school system has eliminated snow days, replacing them with remote learning days'. (pictured, Mayor Bill de Blasi)

The DOE posted the new school calendar without fanfare on Tuesday morning, but later removed and reposted it after facing backlash from the city's Italian American leaders.

The reposted version revised the October 11 holiday to 'Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous People's Day'.

A statement from the DOE said: 'Over the years, the DOE introduced additional holiday observances as part of the school calendar, and has contractual obligations which limit the number of possible school days,

'The pandemic has also created the ability to switch seamlessly to remote learning, and DOE central and schools have distributed hundreds of thousands of devices to ensure that learning can continue remotely during school closures.

'To ensure we are meeting the required 180 days in session we are adopting two practices from this past school year.'
Atlanta police have reinstated cop Garrett Rolfe who was fired for killing Rayshard Brooks outside a Wendy's last year and charged with his murder.

The Atlanta Civil Service Board reversed the termination of Rofle's employment, saying the fired officer was 'not afforded his right to due process' on Wednesday.

He will now be put him on administrative leave because the terms of his bond mean he is banned from possessing a firearm or being around other police officers.

Rolfe, 27, shot Brooks, also 27, twice in the back as he ran from officers outside the fast food joint in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 12.

The white cop and fellow Officer Devin Brosnan, 26, had been called to the drive-thru by customers who said a man was asleep at the wheel.

A scuffle broke out when the officers tried to arrest him, with Brooks taking Brosnan's taser and pointing it behind him in the direction of the cops.

Rolfe, a six-year police veteran, was charged with 11 counts over Brooks' death including felony murder.

He was also fired by the Atlanta Police Department one day after the fatal shooting.

Rolfe and his legal team have repeatedly challenged the investigation into Brooks' death, including lodging the appeal over his firing, filing a lawsuit against the mayor and police chief and calling for the first DA prosecuting his case to be removed.

Garrett Rolfe seen in a June 18 booking photo. Atlanta police have reinstated the cop who is charged with the murder of Rayshard Brooks after shooting him outside a Wendy's last year

Bodycam footage of Rolfe left and Brooks right above. The Atlanta Civil Service Board announced its decision to reverse the termination of Rofle's employment with the force Wednesday

'Due to the City's failure to comply with several provisions of the Code and the information received during witnesses' testimony, the Board concludes the Appellant was not afforded his right to due process,' the board concluded Wednesday.

'Therefore, the Board grants the Appeal of Garrett Rolfe and revokes his dismissal as an employee of the APD.'

However, the decision does not mean Rolfe will return to work as law enforcement officer, his attorney Lance LoRusso told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

The terms of his bond over his criminal charges mean he is banned from possessing a firearm or being around other police officers.

'He'd essentially be on administrative leave pending the outcome of the charges against them,' LoRusso told the outlet.

Atlanta police spokeswoman Chata Spikes said she could not comment on whether Rolfe will receive back pay or will be paid while on administrative leave.

Rolfe had lodged an appeal against his firing last month, claiming the force dismissed him without following the correct procedures and that his rights were 'grossly violated.'

In a hearing of the Atlanta Civil Service Board on April 22, his attorney LoRusso said Rolfe was not given enough time to respond to his 'notice of proposed adverse action' - typically a 10-day period - before he was fired.

He also argued that the then-police chief, Erika Shields, did not sign Rolfe's dismissal form - and resigned her position that same afternoon.

Shields is now head of Louisville Metro Police Department in Kentucky.

Instead, his dismissal form was signed by the assistant chief Todd Coyt, who testified that he believed Rolfe behaved appropriately during the fatal shooting.

Rolfe, 27, (left) shot and killed Brooks, also 27, (right) on June 12 when he and Officer Devin Brosnan were called to the drive-thru at the fast food joint in Atlanta, Georgia, by customers who said a man was asleep at the wheel

He said Rolfe and Brosnan had 'acted accordingly and were trying to show compassion and did everything they could to calm the situation down.'

Rolfe's attorney also said Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms pushed for his immediate firing in a press briefing, leaving the officer without a fair amount of time to defend himself against his ousting.

'It is clear that we do not have another day, another minute, another hour to waste,' she said at the time.

Brooks' family's attorney said the board's decision sends a 'message that this city and the DA and the police department are not really serious about civil rights.'

'It appears that Rayshard Brooks' life didn't really matter and that the world has moved on,' said L. Chris Stewart.

He added that Rolfe has 'received more justice' than Brooks following his death.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms stood by the officer's firing in a statement.

'Given the volatile state of our city and nation last summer, the decision to terminate this officer, after he fatally shot Mr. Brooks in the back, was the right thing to do,' she said.

'Had immediate action not been taken, I firmly believe that the public safety crisis we experienced during that time would have been significantly worse.'

She pointed out that the board did not determine whether Rolfe violated police department policies.

Rolfe's reinstatement does not have bearing on his murder charges.

The officer was charged with felony murder, five counts of aggravated assault, four counts of violation of oath of office and one count of criminal damage to property over the shooting death of the father-of-four.

He was released on June 30 after posting $500,000 bond.

In August, prosecutors asked a judge to revoke his bond saying he violated the terms of his release by traveling to Florida without permission.

Brosnan was charged with aggravated assault and violating his oath.

He was not fired from the force but was placed on desk duty following the shooting.

Both say that their actions were justified.

Bodycam footage (above) showed the moments leading up to Brooks death. Brooks ran away and was shot twice by Rolfe when he turned to fire the Taser in Rolfe's direction

The Atlanta Civil Service Board announced its decision to reverse the termination of Rofle's employment with the force Wednesday

No date has yet been given for Rolfe's murder trial, as the case is currently embroiled in a legal limbo.

Then-Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard brought the charges against the officers less than five days after the killing.

Fani Willis then took office as DA in January and sought to recuse her office from the case, citing her predecessor's mishandling of the investigation.

But her recusal was denied by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, leaving the case up in the air with no prosecutor and awaiting a judge's decision to decide on the next steps.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Christopher Brasher asked Willis to provide evidence showing why she should not be involved in the case by this past Monday.

Brooks was killed on June 12 as he ran from the two cops in the Wendy's drive-thru.

Bodycam and dashcam footage shows the officers arriving on the scene to find the black father-of-four asleep at the wheel of his car.

The cops and Brooks are seen having a calm conversation for more than 40 minutes with Brooks initially cooperating with the officers.

When Brooks failed a sobriety test and the officers tried to arrest him, a scuffle broke out.

Brooks then reached for and grabbed one of the officer's Tasers and ran away.

He was shot twice by Rolfe, with the officer claiming Brooks turned to fire the Taser in his direction.

Brooks was pronounced dead in a nearby hospital soon after.

An autopsy found he was shot twice in the back.

Brooks' death came less than a month after another white police officer Derek Chauvin killed another black man George Floyd during an arrest in Minneapolis, when he knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes.

Protesters, already on the streets for the George Floyd protests, were enraged by Brooks' killing

The Wendy's where Brooks was shot and killed was set alight on June 13

The burnt remains of the Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was killed after it was torched last year

Footage of Floyd's death sent shockwaves around the world and sparked protests across America demanding justice and an end to police brutality and systematic racism.

Brooks' death reignited tensions and sparked protests in the city of Atlanta last June.

The Wendy's where he was killed was torched to the ground during the unrest last years.

Rolfe has repeatedly argued that the city and police force did not handle the case correctly as they fired him just 24 hours after the shooting.

Officer Devin Brosnan (in mugshot) was charged with aggravated assault and violating his oath

As well as the now-successful appeal over his firing, he is also suing Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Police Chief Rodney Bryant claiming they 'violated his civil rights' when they fired him.

He filed a lawsuit in Fulton County Superior Court in August, saying his firing violated his constitutional rights and the city code.

This came one month after his attorneys sought to remove then-DA Howard from the case.

Howard repeatedly made comments to inflame public sentiment against the ex-cop, issued contradictory statements about whether a stun gun is a deadly weapon and is under investigation himself, Rolfe'a attorneys argued.

The DA was later beaten in the run-off race by Willis amid questions circling his handling of the case, his use of city funds and allegations of harassment.

In February, Rolfe's attorneys then filed to have the murder case dismissed because there was no prosecutor on the case following Willis' attempted recusal.

The Atlanta Civil Service Board hears the appeals of firings and other employment actions taken against public city employees.

In February, the board reinstated officers Mark Gardner and Ivory Streeter, who were fired last June after video surfaced showing them deploying Tasers on two college students during last summer's protests in downtown Atlanta.

The veteran officers still face a variety of criminal charges, including aggravated assault and simple battery.
This is the moment a garage owner saved his business from being burned to the ground after spotting that a car had caught fire while being welded.

Abid Hussain, 49, who owns Buck Street Motors in Bradford, West Yorkshire, was working on another car when he smelled burning.

He looked up to see a mechanic standing underneath a raised Honda Jazz, welding the inner sill in preparation for the MOT.

Dramatic CCTV footage shows the mechanic working, oblivious to the flames threatening to engulf the car above him after sparks from his welder ignited the vehicle's carpet.

The mechanic, pictured, was welding underneath a Honda Jazz, completely unaware that the interior of the car had caught fire after sparks ignited the vehicle's carpets

CCTV cameras covering the garage showed how the blaze quickly caught hold of the interior of the small car.

Mr Hussain believes if he had not spotted the danger the car may have exploded.

Despite the damage, the garage completely refitted the interior and gave it a new paint job within 24 hours of the fire.

Mr Hussain said: 'In my 19 years' of business it is the first time this has ever happened. We do welding all the times, but it was just one of those things.'

The mechanic was using a Mig welder to replace rotten metal on the car's sill so it would be able to pass the MOT.

The car was up on the garage's lift to provide easier access for the mechanic. However, he was unable to see the sparks jumping around in the footwell of the car which then caught fire.

Mr Hussain said: 'The carpet has caught light, the guy working on it can't see a thing, and then the fire has spread to upholstery, the door panels, the roof lining, the seat belts, the lot.'

Quick-thinking Abid Hussain, 49, who owns Buck Street Motors in Bradford, West Yorkshire, rushed to the car carrying a fire extinguisher to douse the flames before the Honda exploded

As the car is consumed by flames and his staff flee the area, Mr Hussain grabs his CO2 extinguisher and blasts the fire.

He said: 'I think it could well have blown up in another 30 seconds if I'd not put out the fire.

'People have said I must have balls of steel to run towards the car and put it out. The workers ran away, but it was my business at risk.'

The owner was told the car he been damaged and Mr Hussain promised to have it good as new by the next day.

'When we told the owner, the first thing he said was "'f*** the car, are you lot alright?" ' said Mr Hussain.

The incident happened on April 21, and Mr Hussain's team were able to repair the damage to the Honda and get it through its MOT within 24 hours.

Mechanic Saqib Kamran, 34, said: 'Watching the CCTV back we can see the danger we were in. Thankfully nobody was injured and no lasting damage was done.'
A mother who suffered life-changing burns after a portable heater exploded has revealed her injuries were caused by a drunk man adding ethanol to it for 'a laugh'.

April Charlesworth, 28, suffered severe burns to her face, chest and hands after the blast at the Kings Head pub in Great Cornard, Suffolk.

She had planned to spend the evening enjoying birthday drinks with her cousin, Ashleigh, but ended up being rushed to Queen Victoria Hospital, London for urgent treatment.

Speaking from hospital today, the 28-year-old, from Sudbury, revealed the explosion happened after a drunken man in her group poured ethanol into the portable heater for 'a laugh'.

And April insists she was saved from further harm after a quick-thinking member of the public doused the flames by throwing white wine over her.

April Charlesworth, 28, has suffered life-changing burns after a portable heater exploded while she was having celebratory birthday drinks at a Suffolk pub

The mother-of-one, pictured before the incident, says she has avoided worse injuries after the flames were doused in Pinot Grigio

Investigators are seen at the King's Arms pub after the horrific incident involving the outdoor heater

The heater involved in the incident was fuelled by ethanol and had an open flame.

It is believed that April and her cousin were burned when a drinker at the pub sprayed ethanol from a spare bottle on to the naked flame as a prank, causing the bottle to 'explode'.

April's whole head remains bandaged and she says all she remembers of that moment was her face being covered in flames.

The mother-of-one said: ' A certain person, who was part of the group I was with, thought it was funny to keep filling the heater up with ethanol.

'He was in a bit of a drunken state, and we kept telling him not to do it.

'Another member of our group was stopping him from doing it - but they went off to the toilet for just a minute, and everything happened so quickly.

'All I remember was my face just being on fire.'

April (shown) was celebrating her 28th birthday with family and friends at The Kings Head, Great Cornard before the pub heater blast changed her life forever

April Charlesworth (above) and her cousin, children's nurse Ashleigh, both face a long road to recovery after suffering horrific facial burns

Police survey the scene at the pub after the pair were rushed by ambulance to a specialist burns unit

An investigator picks up a pair of burned coats near where the pair suffered the horrific burns

April added that the wine that was thrown over her was a bottle of Pinot Grigio, which helped to douse the flames.

The Kings Head pub was closed following the incident - but the landlords said they were 'limited' as to what they could say, in light of an ongoing police investigation.

Posting on its Facebook page, a spokesperson for the pub added: 'We can however confirm that the heating appliance was not one supplied by the pub, but was brought onto the premises without our knowledge.

'Our focus is on supporting the enquiry that is taking place while keeping them, and their families, at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.'

The King's Head pub has since confirmed the heater was 'brought onto the premises without their knowledge' before it exploded injuring three customers including April Charlesworth

Police forensic officers carried out an investigation in the pub garden which was cordoned off with blue and white police tape

28-year-old April (above) was rushed to Bury St Edmunds Hospital, before being taken to Queen Victoria Hospital, London for urgent treatment

April says she is still is hoping for an apology from her drunken friend.

'I haven't spoken to the guy since who kept pouring ethanol into the heater - I haven't even had a text or anything to apologise.

'He was able to walk out of hospital after just 36 hours, whereas here I still am 12 days later.'

Jeremy Woodcraft, licencing and regulatory solicitor at Keystone Law, has warned against punters bringing their own heaters to beer gardens.

He told the Morning Advertiser: 'It would be very difficult to manage risks created by heaters brought on to site by customers.

'Part of the duty of the pub is to ensure that as far as reasonably practicable what their customers do does not create a risk to others.

'Allowing customers to bring their own heaters onto site would create an obvious risk that is very difficult for the pub to manage.'

April's cousin and children's nurse Ashleigh Charlesworth (pictured) was also left with potentially life-changing injuries after the portable heater exploded

Officers were seen examining coats which were left at the scene and appeared to be burned. Pictured: Police at the scene

April said she believes she is on a 'long journey' to recovery.

'I've had skin donor skin put on my face and my chest, which I'm told is working well.

'But it's just a waiting game to see if I'll need anything more done, like a skin graft.'

April added that she has been speaking to her cousin Ashleigh most days, and they are supporting each other through their recovery.

A spokesperson for Suffolk Police, who have launched an investigation into the incident, said: 'Officers were called shortly before 10pm on Saturday, April 24, following reports of an explosion in the outside area at the Kings Head pub in Bures Road.

'It is believed the fire was caused by a small portable fuel heater.

'Emergency services attended including the fire service and ambulance service, and three people were taken to hospital for treatment.

A man, in his 20s, who suffered burns in the explosion has since been released from hospital.
Fire, police and ambulance crews have rushed to Risdon Prison on Hobart's eastern shore after fires were lit in two cells.

Tasmania Police said in a statement on Wednesday night that the prison was contained during an 'unfolding incident' and police remained on the scene patrolling the perimeter as a precaution.

Emergency crews were sent to the prison around 7.30pm.

Emergency services were called the Risdon Prison, Hobart (pictured) at around 7.30pm

Acting Director of Prisons David Jackson said in a statement that fires had been lit in two cells but were quickly put out by prison staff.

'There was no risk to the community. No one was injured as a result of the incident,' he said.

A number of prisoners were relocated within the jail following the incident.

'An internal investigation has begun and the perpetrators will face disciplinary action,' Mr Jackson said.

Martin Bryant is the prison's most famous inmate and is responsible for Australia's largest mass shooting, the Port Arthur Massacre.

In 1996, Bryant, 28 at the time, entered a cafe at the site of a historic penal colony at Port Arthur, Tasmania where he had lunch before embarking on a merciless killing spree.

By the time he was caught the next morning he had killed 35 people and injured another 23 making him Australia's worst mass murderer.

He was sentenced to 35 life sentences and was later assessed and found to have the IQ of an 11-year-old.

In the wake of the shooting the Australian government introduced the National Firearms Agreement which outlawed all automatic, semi-automatic rifles and pump action shotguns.
When David Berkowitz  known as the Son of Sam  was arrested on August 10, 1977, New York City breathed once again. With random shootings and killings in the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn, the fear that tightly gripped a city already plagued with crime dissipated. His summer reign of terror was over.

Berkowitz confessed, pleaded guilty to six murders and wounding seven others, and was sent to prison. Case closed.

But a new Netflix docuseries, The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness, examines the official and accepted story that Berkowitz acted alone and points to discrepancies in sketches based on witnesses' statements.

'Some witnesses say he had curly hair, others, straight hair, and the most recent, light hair,' according to a news report at the time.

Michael Zuckerman, a former reporter that investigated the case, said that after Berkowitz's arrest, some noted that the sketches didn't add up. 'The police dismissed it, saying, you know, "Oh, eyewitnesses are frequently wrong." In my experience, eyewitnesses are wrong within a certain range,' Zuckerman said in the docuseries.

'You're not going to mistake Berkowitz for being, uh, six feet tall and blond.'

At the center of the series is Maury Terry, an investigative reporter who became obsessed with the case. In the late 1980s, Terry published a book called The Ultimate Evil: An Investigation of America's Most Dangerous Satanic Cult, which theorized Berkowitz was part of a nationwide Satanic cult that was allegedly linked to the Manson murders.

Joshua Zeman, the director of The Sons of Sam, who knew Terry, told Rolling Stones that the investigative journalist, who died in 2015, 'made a deal with the devil. Maury Terry's initial investigation of how David Berkowitz did not act alone was extremely well-researched and well-investigated. He had a preponderance of evidence to suggest that David Berkowitz did not act alone, whether they were sketches, clues in the letter, police reports, even investigations by former NYPD themselves to suggest that Berkowitz did not act alone.

'When he presented that evidence publicly, and when he went against the both police narrative and the press narrative that had been codified - David Berkowitz and the talking dog - when he went against that narrative, the police called him a crackpot. That's when I think he doubled down.'

David Berkowitz, above, smiling on the day of his arrest on August 10, 1977 and being taken to the 84th precinct in Brooklyn. Berkowitz is known as the Son of Sam because that is what he called himself in his taunting letters to the police and the press. He was 24

A new four-part Netflix docuseries, The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness, examines the official and accepted story that Son of Sam killer David Berkowitz acted alone and points to discrepancies in sketches based on witnesses' statements and gaps in the police investigation. Above, the July 31, 1977 crime scene in which Stacy Moskowitz, 20, was killed. She was with her boyfriend, Robert Violante, in a lovers' lane in Brooklyn. Violante was shot in the eye and permanently blinded

Between July 1976 until his arrest on August 10, 1977, David Berkowitz, known as the Son of Sam, killed six people and wounded seven in New York City. During the summer of 1977 was the height of fear over what seemed to be random shootings. 'You were vulnerable any place, that was the fear,' Lawrence Klausner, author of Son of Sam, said during the new docuseries. 'Fear became pervasive.' Above, Son of Sam victims Valentina Suriani and Alexander Esau, who were shot and killed in the Bronx on April 17, 1977

Berkowitz's first shooting was on July 29, 1976: Donna Lauria, 18, and Jody Valenti, 19, were parked in a car in the Bronx. Lauria, above, died but Valenti survived. In the docuseries, his father, Mike Lauria, said after she was murdered: 'That's what he took out of my heart, 18 years.' At the time, there was not a lot of attention paid to the shooting

It all started on July 29, 1976.

Donna Lauria, 18, was hanging out with her friend, Jody Valenti, 19, at around 1am in car in the Bronx. A man walked up to them and shot them. Lauria died instantly, but Valenti survived. At the time, according to the series, there wasn't much attention paid to the shooting.

In the 1970s, New York City was in deep financial trouble. Facing a huge debt, Mayor Abraham Beame laid off about '10,000 police officers, firemen and other safety officers.' According to the series, '4,000 people were assaulted, robbed, raped or murdered.'

'People living in New York City are constantly being told that it is the dirtiest, noisiest, crummiest and most rat-and-crime infested place in the country,' according to a TV news report at the time.

The next shooting took place three months later in Flushing, Queens on October 23, 1976. Carl Denaro, the victim, described it as a typical Friday night of bar hopping and drinking. He and Rosemary Keenan left the bar about a quarter to two.

'We get into her car, and we just pull in front of this house on 159th Street,' he said in the docuseries. 'Next thing you know, it felt like the car exploded.'

He had been shot in the head. Keenan was not seriously harmed.

Denaro told the New York Post that he didn't see the shooter and claimed that 'a "mysterious occult priestess" named "Big Breasted Wendy" or "Amy" was one who fired at him and Keenan.

In January 1977, 26-year-old Christine Freund was shot and killed. There seemed to be no apparent motive. By March, there was another murder: Virginia Voskerichian, 19.

When asked about the shootings, the NYPD was then telling the press there was no connection. Joseph Borrelli, a retired lead detective with the NYPD, noted in the docuseries that there was a hiring freeze, layoffs and a cutting back on time.

'There were a lot of things working against us,' Borrelli said.

Still, there were rumbles that there was a serial killer on the loose. The press called him the '.44 Caliber Killer' because of the type of revolver used in the shootings.

On April 17, 1977, Valentine Suriani, 18, and her boyfriend, Alexander Esau, 20 were killed in the Bronx. A letter signed Son of Sam was left at the scene.

At the center of the new docuseries is Maury Terry, an investigative reporter who became obsessed with the case. In the late 1980s, Terry published a book called The Ultimate Evil: An Investigation of America's Most Dangerous Satanic Cult, which theorized Berkowitz was part of a nationwide Satanic cult that was linked to the Manson murders. Above, Terry, is a still from The Sons of Sam

Berkowitz owned a 1970 Ford Galaxy, which is seen above in the garage of NYPD headquarters in Manhattan on August 11 - the day after his arrest. The docuseries points out that the police searched the car without a search warrant. They found .44 caliber Bulldog revolver that ballistics experts identified it as the gun used the attacks

Above, a member of the NYPD holds up the revolver that was found in Berkowitz's car and that was used in the shooting in a still from a new docuseries, The Sons of Sam

After well-known New York Daily News columnist Jimmy Breslin wrote that the killer should stop, the Son of Sam wrote him a letter. The Daily News published it in June.

The press attention escalates and fear grows in the city. The killer seemed to target couples and young women who had long dark hair. Pepper spray flew off the shelves and sales of wigs reportedly went up. Women were hiding, cutting and dyeing their hair, according to the docuseries. 'Street and residential areas are deserted late at night. Lovers' lane were emptied.'

Another couple - Judy Placido and Sal Lupo - were shot in Queens on June 26, 1977, and they survived.

'It was a horror,' is how one woman described the shooting of Stacy Moskowitz, 20, and her boyfriend, Robert Violante, 20, on July 31, 1977. They were both taken to the hospital where Moskowitz died. Violante was shot in the eye and permanently blinded.

Police caught Berkowitz after one detective checked if there were any summons issued that night. His car, 1970 Ford Galaxy, had gotten a parking ticket near the scene of the Moskowitz shooting. When he was arrested, Berkowitz reportedly disavowed his name and, 'No, I'm the Son of Sam. And you got me.'

In photos, the 24-year-old is seen smiling while being taken to the 84th precinct station in Brooklyn.

A media frenzy around his arrest ensues with the New York Daily News and the New York Post battling it out.

After his arrest, Berkowitz told authorities that a dog named Sam ordered him to commit the killings - a story he later recanted in 1979 in an interview with reporters, according to The New York Times.

Maury Terry was working as an editor at an IBM in-house magazine in the suburbs of New York during the Son of Sam summer of terror in 1977. 'A summer I would remember for the rest of my life,' Terry, who died in 2015 and who is voiced by Paul Giamatti, said in the docuseries. 'A case of madness that would change my career and my life forever.'

Terry became obsessed with the case and eventually would leave his IBM job to investigate it full-time. Several sketches, which were based on witness accounts to the police, were released to the public. After Berkowitz's arrest, Terry wondered: 'Comparing his likeness to the sketches, it didn't make sense. How could all of those witnesses and all of those sketches be wrong?'

One of the composites looked like a man Berkowitz knew: John Carr, according to the docuseries.

Sam Carr was one of Berkowitz's neighbors. Carr had two sons: John and Michael.

When speaking to authorities after his arrest, Berkowitz said Sam Carr was 'my master,' according to Terry's book, The Ultimate Evil.

In the docuseries, there is speculation that Berkowitz, John and Michael Carr, who both died under suspicious circumstances not long after his arrest, were part of a Satanic cult called The Children. Terry's book looks into The Children's ties to the Process of Church of Final Judgement. The Process was allegedly linked to Scientology and Manson, according to the book.

Terry wrote: 'Over the years, I have been asked many times why I put any faith in Berkowitz. How did I know he hadn't fooled me as well? My reply has always been that I didn't believe Berkowitz per se; I believed in the evidenceevidence which was uncovered long before he ever whispered the word 'cult.'

After his arrest, Berkowitz told authorities that a dog named Sam ordered him to commit the killings - a story he later recanted in 1979 in an interview with reporters, according to The New York Times. Above, Berkowitz at his arraignment on August 11, 1977

Above, a mugshot of Berkowitz from March 2003. According to Bustle, he is serving his time at maximum security Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Ulster County, New York
Fact-checking website PolitiFact only conducted 13 checks on Joe Biden in his first 100 days - compared to 52 for Donald Trump, a new study has revealed.

PolitiFact, which insists it is non-partisan, carries out checks on statements made by or about politicians and scores them with its 'Truth-O-Meter.'

Not only did it publish four times as many fact-checks on Trump, but the website flagged 106 statements which were made about Biden.

It comes as Trump was permanently banned from Facebook today over posts he made ahead of the deadly Capitol riot on January 6.

Fact-checking website PolitiFact only conducted 13 checks on Joe Biden in his first 100 days - compared to 52 for Donald Trump, a new study has revealed (pictured: Biden speaks at the White House on Tuesday)

Donald Trump in the Oval Office in September 2019. His Facebook ban was upheld today

PoltiFact, which stands against 'misinformation,' has carried out checks on hundreds of Trump statements, finding that the majority are false, with 17 per cent in the worst category of 'Pants on Fire.'

Among them was a line from Trump's speech to the MAGA mob shortly before they descended on the Capitol.

'We won. We won in a landslide. This was a landslide,' Trump said.

Meanwhile, in its analyses of statements by Biden, PoltiFact found that more than half were true, with just 3 per cent of his checked comments ranked as 'Pants on Fire' lies.

However, in the period of the first 100 days, despite far more checks of Trump, the pair were found to have the same 'Truth-O-Meter' score of 61.5 per cent.

Thirty-two of Trump's 52 statements were flagged as false, while eight of Biden's 13 remarks were also branded untrue.

None of Biden's warranted a 'Pants on Fire' flag but two of Trump's statements from 2017 did.

Meanwhile, the Pulitzer Prize-winning site has flagged many posts made about Biden in that worst category, including statements made by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and one each for Fox News and for Tucker Carlson.

Liz Cheney was also called a liar for claiming that less than 6 per cent of Biden's infrastructure plan was actually about infrastructure.

It comes as Trump was permanently banned from Facebook today over posts he made ahead of the deadly Capitol riot on January 6

'In other words, they're much more sensitive about someone "lying" about Biden than they are about Biden lying,' said Tim Graham, executive editor of NewsBusters which carried out the study of PoltiFact.

PoltiFact is operated by the Poynter Institute, a journalism school based in Florida which owns the Tampa Bay Times.

The school has partnered with The Washington Post to promote diversity in media.
The former partner of Babes in the Wood killer Russell Bishop was a 'prolific liar' who was 'at the heart' of inventing the alibi which kept him out of prison, a court heard.

Bishop murdered nine-year-old friends Karen Hadaway and Nicola Fellows in 1986 in a case which became known as the Babes in the Wood.

Jennifer Johnson, now 55, admits she lied under oath at his first trial in 1987.

He was freed and tried to murder another seven-year-old girl in 1990.

Bishop was serving a life sentence for the second attack when he was finally convicted of the Babes in the Wood murders after a double jeopardy retrial in 2018.

New DNA techniques linked him to the murder through a blue sweatshirt.

Jennifer Johnson, now 55 (left), admits she lied under oath at Russell Bishop's (right) first trial in 1987

Ms Johnson first told police the jumper was his then denied it in the witness box.

Alison Morgan QC for the prosecution told the court Ms Johnson knew the significance of the jumper and kept up her support for Bishop even after he was jailed for life.

Ms Morgan told her: 'You are a prolific liar and you lie when you chose to lie.

'You lied to protect your position and you lied to protect Russell Bishop. Nobody made you do it, you chose to do it.'

Ms Johnson said: 'No, I did not.'

New forensic techniques led to Bishop's conviction over the murders of nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows (left) and Karen Hadaway (right) in 2018 - and he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 36 years

Pictured: A blue Pinto sweatshirt, allegedly worn by Russell Bishop and said to contain vital DNA evidence, which was found beside a path behind Moulsecoomb railway station

Ms Morgan told her: 'You are now so confused over the lies you've told, you don't even know what the truth is now.

'You lied to secure the acquittal of Russell Bishop, didn't you.'

'No, I did not,' Ms Johnson said.

Ms Johnson denies perverting the course of justice and perjury.

She told Lewes Crown Court despite admitting she was never threatened and could not remember any details, she was in fear of her life.

In an intense exchange, Ms Morgan challenged Ms Johnson about her evidence at the first trial.

Johnson (pictured under a coat outside Lewes Crown Court) - who had three children with Bishop - claims she had no choice due to violent and controlling relationship

'Russell Bishop is acquitted and you know from that moment on that you have lied on oath in a trial that resulted in him being acquitted,' Ms Morgan said.

'I had no choice,' Ms Johnson said.

'You knew,' Ms Morgan said.

'I had no choice.'

'You knew,' Ms Morgan said.

'I had no choice,' Ms Johnson said.

'From the moment you walked out of that courtroom, you knew you had lied on oath,' Ms Morgan said.

'Yes,' Ms Johnson said.

'From the moment he was acquitted, you carried with you the knowledge you had lied on oath about a key part of the evidence,' Ms Morgan said.

'No,' Ms Johnson replied.

'You knew that you had lied about the key exhibit,' Ms Morgan said.

'I had no choice,' Ms Johnson said.

Ms Morgan accused Ms Johnson of being at the heart of keeping Russell Bishop out of prison.

Alison Morgan told her: 'It's not about threats or duress.

'It's about you being absolutely besotted with him and doing whatever you could do to have him acquitted,' Ms Morgan said.

'You were right at the heart of all of the little pieces of the evidence.'

'No,' Ms Johnson said.

Ms Johnson insisted she could not remember the details of what happened around the time the father of three of her children murdered the friends and attempted to murder a third girl.

She told the jury: 'It was 35 years ago, you can't expect me to remember, it's too long ago.'

The court heard Ms Johnson went to Brighton police when Bishop was arrested in 1986 to change her story after telling friend Sonia Maskell he was not at home the night the girls disappeared.

Ms Morgan told her: 'This crucial time period became a problem, didn't it?

'The reason why you were at the police station was because you told Sonia that when you got home Russell Bishop wasn't there and you didn't see him till the next morning,' Ms Morgan said.

'If I said that 35 years ago, I can't remember,' Ms Johnson said.

'It was crucial, it meant Russell Bishop did not have an alibi for the murders and you knew that and that is why you went to try and explain away the conversation you had with Sonia.

'The panic was you realised what you said to Sonia meant he did not have an alibi for the night the girls were murdered,' Ms Morgan said.

'No, I can't remember. If I said that, I must've said it,' Ms Johnson said.

'I can't remember that far back.'

During her third day in the witness box, Ms Johnson admitted no member of Russell Bishop's family had ever threatened her with violence.

Ms Johnson admitted physically and verbally abusing police who came to speak to Bishop after another young girl disappeared in 1990.

'I was angry, yes, because they came to my house yet again,' Ms Johnson said.

'Yes, I was mad that they came to my house yet again, turned my life upside down yet again.

'Because he was acquitted, so in my eyes he was innocent.

'I know he was violent to me but I wouldn't think any normal person would do that to children.

'So if he was innocent of the first one, they were trying to frame him for the second one.

'I was fed up with the police coming to my property,' Ms Johnson told the court.

Jennifer Johnson denies perverting the course of justice and perjury.

The trial at Lewes Crown Court continues.
A three-year-old boy with Down syndrome survived plunging from a fifth-story window in The Bronx after witnesses say a store awning broke his fall.

Jose Garcia was at his family's apartment on East Tremont Avenue on Monday afternoon when he pushed away the cardboard flap of an air conditioner in the window and plummeted to the street below.

On his way down, the child hit an overhang attached to the wall of the building, which likely saved his life.

Harrowing video shows the moment Jose Garcia, a 3-year-old with Down syndrome, lands on the sidewalk on East Tremont Avenue in The Bronx after falling from a fifth-story window

Surveillance video shows the child appearing upset and struggling to stand up following the accident that took place on Monday afternoon

The boy was picked up by a Good Samaritan while first responders were called to the scene

Jose's aunt, who was looking after him when he fell, is pictured covering her face with her hands on the sidewalk

Surveillance video from the scene obtained by NBC New York shows the crying toddler sitting in the middle of the sidewalk and struggling to stand up as passersby surround him.

Jose's family said he suffered a broken femur and underwent surgery, but was expected to recover.

Jose's very close call came just before 1pm on Monday while he was in the care of his aunt and his older sister, Mia Jimenez.

Jimenez told CBS New York that one moment Jose was in the kitchen with them while their aunt was preparing food, and the next he moved to the bedroom and proceeded to remove the piece of cardboard separating the air conditioner from the window.

'And then he just fell,' the sister said.

Jose suffered a broken leg and underwent surgery (pictured left before the accident, and after). He will spend the next month in the hospital recovering

The building on East Tremont Avenue that Jose fell out of is pictured above

Jose's family said the toddler tumbled out of this fifth-story window after moving aside an air conditioner's cardboard flaps

On his way down, Jose hit this store's awning, which broke his fall and likely saved his life

Video from a nearby store shows the boy's panic-stricken aunt rushing outside and covering her face with her hands in terror as bystanders surround the boy on the sidewalk.

Hector Nazario is the owner of the tax preparation business whose awning broke the boy's fall

Jose's aunt said in Spanish that he seemed scared and was looking at the people around him in surprise.

Hector Nazario, the owner of the tax preparation business whose awning broke the boy's fall, said it was distressing to watch the drama unfold.

'It's a miracle the child is still alive, and it could have been worse,' he said.

Jose's family said the three-year-old will have to stay at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi under medical observation for up to a month to make sure his leg heals property.

Police classified the boy's fall as an accident and said that no criminal charges will be filed.

Firefighters and paramedics are seen rendering aid to the boy as his emotional aunt, pictured in the yellow shirt, looks on

Jose was in the care of his aunt (left) and his older sister, Mia Jimenez (right) when tragedy struck on Monday

The Administration of Children's Services spoke to Jose's relatives on Tuesday as part of its own investigation.

The superintendent of the apartment building where Jose and his family reside said that air conditioning unit has seen been removed from the window and replaced with a window guard, which previously had been taken out to install the cooling device.
Jose Villarreal, center, the late president of the Korean War Veterans Association in Mexico / Courtesy of Ministry of Patriot and Veterans Affairs



By Kang Seung-woo



Jose Villarreal, the president of the recently launched Korean War Veterans Association in Mexico, died Saturday, according to the Ministry of Patriot and Veterans Affairs. He was 90.



Villarreal, who was born in Los Angeles, Calif. and left for Mexico later, joined the U.S. Army and participated in the Korean War from September 1950 to February 1952, during which he was involved in the Incheon Landing Operation, also known as Operation Chromite, and the Second Battle of Seoul during the Korean War.



Last month, he and three other Mexican veterans, who also fought in the three-year armed conflict under the U.S. armed forces, were conferred with Ambassador for Peace Medals by Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun on the sidelines of the launch ceremony of the Korean War Veterans Association in Mexico.



In addition, Villarreal was elected as the first president of the association, whose establishment was supported by the Korean government. Plus, the veterans affairs ministry delivered 10,000 face masks to the association on the occasion of the launch ceremony.



According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 100,000 Mexican nationals or Mexican Americans fought in the Korean War as members of the U.S. Army.



Upon news of his death, Veterans Affairs Minister Hwang Ki-chul paid tribute to the Mexican veteran.



"I offer prayers for salvation of the departed soul," Hwang said. "Following his wishes, we will make various efforts to help future generations remember the sacrifices and devotion of Mexicans who fought in the Korean War."



According to the government, an exhibition is expected to be organized in Seoul next year to make visible to the Korean population the sacrifices of Mexican soldiers during the Korean War. The year 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Korea.


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Incredible footage from inside a Moroccan maternity unit has captured the astonishing birth of nine babies to a single mother - as the premature newborns beat the odds to survive.

Doctors today revealed how they delivered the five girls and four boys on Tuesday, and have confirmed that all nine newborns and their mother Halima Cisse, from Timbuktu in Mali, are currently 'doing well'.

Ms Cisse, 25, had expected to deliver seven babies following ultrasound scans in Mali and Morocco, but medics were shocked to find two more when they performed a caesarean section yesterday.

It is expected the mother, whose husband remains in Mali, will return home in several weeks, with health minister Fanta Siby today confirming she is 'doing well' following heavy bleeding and a blood transfusion.

The mother had spent two weeks in hospital in the Malian capital of Bamako before being flown to Morocco in March for specialist care. She gave birth prematurely at 30 weeks into her pregnancy.

Ms Cisse's nonuplets are the third-ever recorded case of the extremely rare phenomenon, with previous mothers in Australia and Malaysia sadly losing their babies not long after giving birth.

Should all nine babies survive, the birth would break the current world record set by 'Octomum' Nadya Suleman in 2009, who gave birth to eight babies that survived.

Babies born at 30 weeks measure an estimated 39.9cm in length and weigh 2.8lbs, according to the NHS.

Astonishing video shared today by the Ain Borja private clinic in Casablanca shows how doctors and nurses worked hard to ensure that all nine babies were delivered safely and alive.

Scroll down for video

Halima Cisse, 25, from Timbuktu, spent two weeks in hospital in the Malian capital of Bamako before being flown to Morocco in March to give birth in a specialist hospital via cesarean section. Pictured: Ms Cisse arrives in Morocco

Ms Cisse gave birth to nine babies (one seen above after birth) via caesarean section at a hospital in Morocco on Tuesday

Pictured: One of the nine babies rests in an incubator at the maternity ward of the private clinic of Ain Borja in Casablanca, Morocco, Wednesday, May 5, 2021

The babies, born on Tuesday, are said to be 'doing well' following their record-breaking birth in Casablanca, Morocco

Pictured: One of the nine babies is successfully removed from the mother's womb during the delivery in Morocco on Tuesday

Two of the newborn nonuplets are seen inside an incubator shortly after 25-year-old Ms Cisse gave birth on Tuesday

A nurse takes care of one of the newborn nonuplets, lying in an incubator, at the private clinic of Ain Borja in Casablanca

Pictured: A view of the premature infant ward where are the nine babies at the maternity ward of the private clinic of Ain Borja in Casablanca, Morocco, Wednesday, May 5

A heavily pregnant Ms Cisse is shown arriving in Morocco by plane, where she was pushed in a wheelchair across the tarmac. Afterwards, a doctor speaks to the camera and explains the complicated procedure.

The babies were born at around 30 weeks into Ms Cisse's pregnancy, Doctor Yazid Mourad says, adding that efforts were made to slow the delivery by another five weeks to give them a better chance of survival.

'She was going to have seven babies normally. [..] At 25 weeks, 6 months, she has been here for five weeks, we tried everything [..] so we managed to earn an extra five weeks with the suitable treatment and care,' Dr Mourad says.

'Fortunately, or unfortunately [..] we found nine babies which were taken into the NICU. Most of the babies are intubated, some are on oxygen, [] but at first sight the babies are well.'

Dr Mourad says that he estimates a baby's chance of survival increases to around 80 per cent if they are born at around 30 weeks, and if they are given proper treatment.

Pictured: Two of the nine babies delivered in Morocco on Tuesday. Should all nine babies survive, the birth would break the current world record set by 'Octomum' Nadya Suleman in 2009, who gave birth to eight babies that survived

Pictured: A maternity nurse cleans one of the nine babies at the Ain Borja private clinic in Casablanca, Morocco, soon after it has been born and before it is put in an incubator

Pictured: Two healthcare workers are seen giving one of the nine babies oxygen shortly after they were born in Morocco

The babies were born sometime between 25 and 30 weeks into Ms Cisse's pregnancy, Doctor Yazid Mourad (pictured) explains, adding that efforts were made to slow the delivery by another five weeks

'I can't imagine all nine would have survived at 25 weeks given they will naturally be smaller  which will be why they needed to buy some time,' he said.

From inside the operating theatre, footage shows the doctor preparing for the surgery and donning PPE as other healthcare workers frantically prepare around him.

The surgeon is then shown operating on Ms Cisse, successfully removing the tiny babies from her stomach and passing them to post-natal nurses in the room, who are shown cleaning and caring for them.

For some of the babies, healthcare workers are shown administering oxygen before placing them in incubators.

Mali's Health Ministry on May 5 2021 confirmed that a Malian woman had given birth to nine children at a hospital in Morocco

A Moroccan nurse takes care of one of the nine babies protected in an incubator at the maternity ward of the private clinic of Ain Borja in Casablanca, Morocco, Wednesday, May 5

Pictured: Incubators with some of the newborn nontuplets are pictured at a neonatal station in a hospital in Casablanca, Morocco, May 5, 2021

A Moroccan nurse takes care of one of the nine babies after Malian woman Halima Cisse has given birth to nonuplets

The babies are being cared for by nurses at a specialist hospital in Casablanca following the record-breaking birth

For some of the babies, healthcare workers are shown administering oxygen and intubating them, before putting them into incubators. Pictured: One of the babies is shown on oxygen and inside an incubator

Ms Cissse's husband Adjudant Kader Arby - who is still in Mali with the couple's older daughter - today told the BBC he is not worried about his newborn children's future.

He said: 'God gave us these children. He is the one to decide what will happen to them. I'm not worried about that. When the almighty does something, he knows why.

'Everybody called me! Everybody called! The Malian authorities called expressing their joy. I thank them Even the president called me.'

Details about Ms Cisse's pregnancy remain unclear, but multiple births are typically the result of IVF.

In these cases, multiple fertilised eggs are simultaneously implanted into a woman's womb to increase the chances she will fall pregnant.

In rare cases, several of embryos will develop into babies, causing extreme cases of multiple birth that almost never occur naturally.

One of the nine newborns, measuring an estimated 39.9cm in length and weighing 2.8lbs, seen following the birth

A team of medics worked to deliver the babies at 30 weeks at the Ain Borja private clinic in Casablanca, Morocco, yesterday

Ms Cissse's husband Adjudant Kader Arby - who is still in Mali with the couple's older daughter - today said he is not worried about his children's future

Mali's health ministry said in a statement that Cisse had given birth to five girls and four boys by cesarean section, and the Ain Borja later confirmed to the Associated Press she had given birth there

One of the newborn nonuplets is seen in an incubator at the private clinic of Ain Borja, in Casablanca, Morocco

A nurse takes care of one of the newborn nonuplets, lying in an incubator, after its mother gave birth on Tuesday

Incubators with some of the newborn nontuplets are pictured at a neonatal station in a hospital in Casablanca, Morocco

According to Mali 24, doctors in the impoverished country estimated that there was a less than 50 per cent chance that a single one of the nine fetuses would survive.

Ms Cisse spent two weeks in Point G Hospital in Bamako, Mali's capital, before she was transferred to Morocco thanks to the intervention of Mali's President of Transition Bah N'Daw.

She was admitted to the Ain Borja private clinic in Casablanca on March 20, and spent over six weeks in hospital before reportedly giving birth yesterday.

Mali's health ministry said in a statement that Cisse had given birth to five girls and four boys by caesarean section, and the Ain Borja later confirmed to the Associated Press she had given birth there.

'The newborns (five girls and four boys) and the mother are all doing well,' said Fanta Siby.

Mali's health ministry said in a statement that Cisse had given birth to five girls and four boys by caesarean section, and the Ain Borja later confirmed to the Associated Press she had given birth there

'The newborns (five girls and four boys) and the mother are all doing well,' said Fanta Siby. Pictured: The maternity ward

Siby offered her congratulations to 'the medical teams of Mali and Morocco, whose professionalism is at the origin of the happy outcome of this pregnancy'

The pregnancy - while it was believed to involve septuplets - drew national attention in Mali, as organisations worked to ensure that Ms Cisse and her expected babies received the necessary medical care. Pictured: The birth

The minister added that she had been kept informed by a Malian doctor who accompanied Ms Cisse to Morocco.

The new family are due to return home in several weeks' time, she added.

Siby offered her congratulations to 'the medical teams of Mali and Morocco, whose professionalism is at the origin of the happy outcome of this pregnancy'.

The pregnancy - while it was believed to involve septuplets - drew national attention in Mali, as organisations worked to ensure that Ms Cisse and her expected babies received the necessary medical care.

On April 15, 2021 it was announced that the Orange Mali Foundation would donate five million CFA Francs (around 6,580) to the cause, after the country's The Department for the Promotion of Women, Children and the Family appealed for aid.

Pictured: The plane on which Ms Cisse arrived in Morocco in is shown on the tarmac, as a lift is shown taking her from the plane, with an ambulance waiting to collect her

Pictured: People wait in front of the Ain Borja private clinic in Casablanca, Morocco, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, where Ms Cisse gave birth on Tuesday

Cases of women successfully carrying septuplets to term are rare - and nonuplets even rarer - due to the strain multiple babies can put on the mother's body.

Ms Cisse's pregnancy has become the third reported instance of nonuplets in history, with the other two occurring in Sydney and Malaysia. In both cases, none of the babies survived.

Nadya Suleman, or 'Octomom' made headlines in the United States on January 26, 2009, when she gave birth to six boys and two girls in California.

Medical complications in multiple births of this kind often mean that some of the babies do not reach full term.

The first recorded case of nonuplets came in Sydney in the 1970s, although sadly none of the babies survived, according to The Independent.

In March 1999, a set of nonuplets was born in Malaysia to a woman named Zurina Mat Saad, though none of them survived for more than six hours.

In January 2009, Nadya Suleman - dubbed Octomum - gave birth to octuplets including six boys and two girls at a hospital in California.

All survived the birth, and recently celebrated their 12th birthdays.

The babies were a result of IVF treatment, and were nine weeks premature when they were delivered via c-section.

To this day. the octuplets are still the only full set of eight babies born alive in the United States, and after one week after their birth they surpassed the previous worldwide survival rate for octuplets.

Before the record-breaking birth, Suleman already had six children, who were also conceived via IVF treatment.

The doctor who delivered the embryos, and who implanted twelve embryos in Suleman's womb, had his license revoked in 2011 after charges were brought against him in relation to the octuplet's conception.

In a more recent case, a woman in Texas gave birth to sextuplets - two sets of twin boys and one pair of twin girls - in 2019.
The Democratic Party is casting a wide net as it begins the process of digging up dirt on a group of Republicans who might challenge President Joe Biden in 2024.

They have identified 20 targets including Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson, Ted Cruz, Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Nikki Haley and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell for opposition research.

They have 49 potential GOP candidates in their sights, but haven't released a full list, and are expecting a crowded field.

Democrats already have a playbook to use against former President Donald Trump, should he choose to run again. Trump overcame all manner of dirt during his successful 2016 run, including multiple women accusing him of harassing or assaulting them over decades. Trump denied the charges.

Democrats have spent years digging up material on former President Donald Trump, and prosecutors are looking over his tax returns. Now the DNC is also looking into opposition research on a list of other potential GOP presidential candidates

To prepare for contingencies, the DNC is digging up 'oppo' research on at least 20 Republicans candidates, Politico reported.

THE DIRT DIGGING BEGINS: DEMOCRATS EYE 2024 OPPONENTS Democrats have started their opposition research early for the 2024 election and have identified potential rivals including: Donald Trump Tucker Carlson Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley Texas Senator Ted Cruz Former VP Mike Pence MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell Advertisement

This time, Democrats will pore over Trump's public comments leading up to the January 6th riot, as well as his comments since then. Trump launched a new web site that will served as his platform for comments, and is assuming an active public profile while not ruling out another run in 2024  even as he faces new legal challenges that could dredge up new material. Prosecutors in New York have obtained his tax returns.

Many top Democrats do not believe Trump will go through with a run  but the party is trying not to be caught off guard.

On their list of people to research is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

One opponent for governor, Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist, is already pointing to DeSantis' administration opening a vaccine distribution center in a wealthy error, and accusing DeSantis of benefitting his campaign contributors.

MyPillow exec Mike Lindell, who visited the White House in the last days of the Trump administration and who has continued to make claims the election was stolen, is also coming under review. He is launching a new social media platform, and is being sued by voting machine companies over his post-election claims.

Democrats are not overlooking Fox News prime time host Tucker Carlson, who recently went on a tear on his show when he said parents who let their kids wear masks outside 'child abuse.'

Carlson shot down a comment by GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, under investigation for allegedly paying an escort for sex when she was 17, when Gaetz said the two had gone to dinner.

Gaetz denies the allegations against them.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is a potential candidate. He will be judged in part by how his state responds to his move to lift coronavirus restrictions. MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is a Trump ally who is facing litigation following his assertions of election fraud

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz met with Trump ad Mar-a-Lago and posted it Tuesday

Democrats are eying Fox host Tucker Carlson and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley as potential candidates

'You and I went to dinner about two years ago, your wife was there, and I brought a friend of mine, youll remember her,' Gaetz told him in the March interview. He said she had been 'threatened' by the FBI.

'I dont remember the woman you are speaking of or the context at all, honestly,' Carlson told him. Later Carlson called it 'one of the weirdest interviews I've ever conducted.'

Also getting the research treatment is former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, who has long been seen as a potential 2024 contender, but indicated she would defer if Trump decides to run.

The team already has 25 investigators, with plans to add 50 more. Some of the jobs are being advertised on LinkedIn.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who Trump brought up in a statement Wednesday complaining about election fraud, is another potential contender.
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President Biden checks out his tacos

President Joe Biden visited a Mexican restaurant partly owned by immigrants on Wednesday, marking Cinco de Mayo and touting his American Rescue Plan.

He stopped at Las Gemelas at Union Market in northeast Washington D.C., where he spoke to workers and picked up some tacos and enchiladas.

'These are my tacos,' he asked inside the restaurant, according to a video it posted to its Instagram stories.

Tacos run between $3.75 and $5.5, according to the restaurant's online menu. There are pork, chicken, beef and vegetable options.

Biden ordered four tacos to-go on homemade corn tortillas: pork al pastor, beef barbacoa, lengua (tongue), and carnitas. He also picked up a homemade green chorizo and a mushroom quesadilla.

The restaurant is owned in part by Mexican immigrants Yesenia Neri Diaz and Rogelio Martinez. It also received funding from the president's $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan.

'The restaurant industry was so badly hurt nationwide, and that's why we put this restaurant revitalization fund back together -- together. Like I said, this morning, as of this morning, 790,000 restaurants applied for help,' Biden said.

President Joe Biden visited a Mexican restaurant owned by immigrants on Wednesday, marking Cinco de Mayo and touting his American Rescue Plan

President Biden stopped at Las Gemelas at Union Market in northeast Washington D.C., where he picked up some tacos and enchiladas

President Biden spoke to workers at the restaurant, which received funds from his American Rescue Plan

Las Gemelas means 'the twin girls' in Spanish. The restaurant is named after Diaz's twin daughters.

The American Rescue Plan included $28.6 billion for the hospitality industry that was hard hit in the economic downturn that came with the coronavirus.

Applications opened on Monday and Las Gemelas is the first to be approved for a grant from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Biden said the restaurant received $677,000.

'I guess he [Biden] wanted to tell us in person,' co-owner Josh Phillips told Washingtonian magazine.

The taqueria was scheduled to open last July, but didn't until March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

'Opening this place was big challenge,' Phillips said. 'We opened up severely underfunded. This was quite an honor.'

Biden spoke of the importance of the restaurant industry to a community in remarks at the White House on Wednesday afternoon.

'Restaurants are more than a major driver of economy. They're woven into the fabric of our communities. And so for many families restaurants are the gateway to opportunity,' he said.

'More than half of all Americans have worked in a restaurant at some point in their lives. Before the pandemic restaurants and bars employs 12% of all the workers in our country,' he noted.

President Biden at the order window of the restaurant

President Biden has been touting the benefits of his COVID relief package, which included $28.6 billion for the restaurant industry

Biden holds a card with his talking points about his American Rescue Plan

President Biden spoke about the restaurant industry at the White House on Wednesday afternoon

The administration is touting the work of the fund.

'The restaurant revitalization fund provides $28.6 billion in direct relief to restaurants and food and beverage establishments and prioritizes those that are women owned veteran owned and owned by other socially and economically disadvantaged individuals,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at her briefing on Wednesday.

She said in the first two days of the program 186,200 restaurants, bars and other eligible businesses applied and that 97,600 applications came from establishments owned and controlled by women, veterans, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.

During the pandemic, Las Gemelas went from 55 employees to seven, according to the White House. Through the Paycheck Protection Program, Las Gemelas was able to rehire their employees and provide back pay to those who returned.

Biden has pushed to promote his administration's signature package. He and other officials have traveled around the nation to tout its benefits and pitch his two other plans: his $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan and his $1.8 trillion American Families Plan.

On his way out of the restaurant, Biden was asked about the effort among House Republicans to oust Rep. Liz Cheney from their leadership because she has challenged Donald Trump when the former president makes his false claim he won the election.

'I don't understand the Republicans,' Biden said.
More than one in four income protection claims were triggered by mental health conditions in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, a study has found.

The proportion of such claims triggered by mental health issues doubled last year, according to data from insurer Zurich.

It said 27 per cent of income protection claims were prompted by mental health conditions in 2020, compared with 13 per cent in 2019, making it the most common cause of claim.

The insurer released the findings ahead of Mental Health Awareness week from May 10 to 16.

Around 1.7 million of payments were made to individual policy holders who claimed. Some sought clinical support as part of their policy for conditions including depression, stress and anxiety, Zurich said.

More than one in four income protection claims were triggered by mental health conditions in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic, a study has found. (stock image)

The firm also said that 28 per cent of new group income protection claims last year were for mental illness, making it the second most common reason for people seeking support, after cancer.

This is cover provided by an employer as part of an employee's benefits package.

Nicky Bray, Zurich's chief underwriter for its life business, said: 'We know around one in four of us will experience a mental health problem at some point in our lives, which means it is vital that products such as life and income protection insurance are available to as many people as possible.

'To help boost uptake, we continually look to simplify the application questions and only request further information when needed to give a fair decision, making the process of buying life insurance easy to understand and quick to apply for.

'We are also progressing various initiatives as part of our work with the ABI (Association of British Insurers) on the mental health standards for the industry.'

Money worries: Around 1.7 million of payments were made to individual policy holders who claimed. Some sought clinical support as part of their policy for conditions including depression, stress and anxiety, Zurich said. (stock image)

10million people 'face mental health crisis in wake of Covid' Up to 10million people could need mental health support in the wake of the pandemic, a report warned before Britain's second wave of coronavirus. Experts said around 8.5million adults and 1.5million children in England will likely need help to deal with the fallout from coronavirus, including losing loved ones and jobs. They will mostly need help for depression and anxiety, according to analysis from the Centre for Mental Health, which consulted experts from the NHS. But others - including NHS workers - could develop conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), more commonly associated with service personnel following armed conflicts. Advertisement

Insurer AIG Life Limited also said it had experienced a growing demand for private services to help people with mental health issues. It said young people in particular were seeking help.

AIG said demand was rising for mental health help among members of group risk schemes via its well-being service, Smart Health by AIG, a digital healthcare service.

It said demand for appointments with mental health psychologists leapt in the first three months of the year.

Lee Lovett, managing director, group protection at AIG Life, said that as lockdown restrictions eased, 'many will have been psychologically scarred by the fear and worry of the pandemic'.

Mr Lovett said: 'This will have left people's emotional resilience for coping with the new thought of contact risks significantly reduced.

'This could manifest as fears for the commute, for sitting in the office space, for venturing into built-up, heavily populated areas again, and leaving behind the one constant that has provided security - home.

'We should expect that people are going to feel anxiety and need mental health support.'

AIG's usage data showed younger people and women were most likely to ask for help. Over half (57 per cent) of those seeking Smart Health mental health and psychologist consultations were aged 18 to 35 and 5 per cent were under 18, while 63% of psychology service appointments were for women.

Research commissioned by AIG Life found one in four (25 per cent) adults wanted some training to help others and identify the signs of mental health issues in themselves.

Some employers were already addressing the need for training, it found, with around one in five (18 per cent) employees saying they had had training through work. A further 13 per cent said they had gone online to find out more about mental health issues.

Alison Esson, propositions manager at AIG Life, said: 'Attitudes to mental health have changed massively, especially in the last year, and people are much more aware of the risks to themselves and others.'
Met Police racially profiled a black driver who was handcuffed and faced with a Taser during a stop and search, a watchdog has found.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said today that one officer had a case to answer for misconduct due to bias linked to the man's race.

The Range Rover driver, aged 27, was stopped on the Old Kent Road in Southwark, south London on May 2 last year, then placed in handcuffs while the black vehicle and three passengers were searched for drugs.

During the stop the officer also used the red-dot function on his Taser - an aiming dot that shines on the person the stun gun is pointed at.

The IOPC upheld complaints that the driver had been racially profiled, that the officer had failed to provide adequate reasons for a stop and search, and that he failed to wear proper personal protective equipment to stop the spread of Covid.

The Range Rover driver, aged 27, was stopped on the Old Kent Road in Southwark, south London on May 2 last year, then placed in handcuffs while the black vehicle and three passengers were searched for drugs (pictured: General view of Old Kent Road)

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said today that one officer had a case to answer for misconduct due to bias linked to the man's race (file image)

Met bosses have agreed that the issues will be dealt with internally, and that the officer should 'focus on what constitutes reasonable grounds for stop and search and consider the impact of the disproportionate use of stop and search on black and minority ethnic communities'.

The IOPC rejected the driver's complaints that excessive force was used, that damage was caused to his car and mobile phone and that officers failed to observe data protection rules.

However it did find that the officer could have de-escalated the situation rather than handcuffing the man and using the red dot on his Taser.

IOPC regional director Sal Naseem said: 'Stop and search is an important policing tool but can also be very intrusive and affect the trust and confidence that black communities have in the police service.

'It is vital it is used with care. Our investigation found evidence that racial bias played a part in an officer's decision to stop the member of the public and the officer will now have to reflect and learn from this.

'It is this sort of incident that can undermine the legitimacy of stop and search as a policing tactic.

'For those members of the community affected disproportionally by the use of stop and search, they must have confidence that racial bias plays no part in how this policing power is used.'
The risk of blood clots after the Oxford jab is small with people three times more likely to die if they have not had the vaccine, a study has found.

Researchers in Denmark and Norway looked at the nationwide rates of blood clots and related conditions in 280,000 people who had had the jab between February and March this year.

They found slightly increased rates of vein blood clots including clots in the veins of the brain, compared with expected rates in the general population.

However, the researchers stress that the risk of such adverse events was low while those who were unvaccinated were almost three times more likely to die than those who had it.

In a linked editorial, UK scientist Professor Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia, said the findings showed countries were wrong to pause using the Oxford jab.

He said the results confirmed the benefits far outweigh its risks for most age groups.

He added: It remains the case that for most age groups, the probability of surviving the year is much greater for people who accept any vaccine when offered than if they decline it.

Those countries that delayed their own vaccination programmes at a time of high transmission rates by declining to use available Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines should know that their decision will have contributed to an increase in the number of avoidable deaths from Covid-19.

The risk of blood clots after the Oxford jab is small with people three times more likely to die if they have not had the vaccine (file)

Using national health records, researchers identified rates of events, such as heart attacks, strokes, deep vein blood clots and bleeding events within 28 days of receiving a first vaccine dose and compared these with expected rates in the general populations of Denmark and Norway.

The team of researchers compared data on 281,264 people - about four fifths were women - and compared this with data from the general population.

The researchers found 59 blood clots in the veins compared with 30 expected in the general population.

This equates to 11 excess blood clotting events per 100,000 vaccinations, including 2.5 additional blood clots in the brain per 100,000 vaccinations.

They found no increase in the rate of arterial clots, such as heart attacks or strokes, according to the findings in the British Medical Journal.

Among recipients of ChAdOx1-S (the Oxford /AstraZeneca vaccine) increased rates of venous thromboembolic events, including cerebral venous thrombosis, were observed, they said.

Absolute risks of events were small and should be interpreted in the context of the benefits of Covid-19 vaccination at both the societal and the individual level.

Meanwhile, researchers found 15 deaths from all causes after vaccination with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine compared with an expected 44 deaths, showing a lower chance of death after the vaccine.

The vaccine has been linked to rare blood clots and last month, several European countries including Denmark and Norway, went against World Health Organisation advice and halted their rollouts amid concerns over the risks.

The UK medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, previously concluded that there is a possible link between the AstraZeneca jab and extremely rare blood clots.

It said that the benefits of vaccination continue to outweigh any risks, but it has recommended that adults under 30 should be offered an alternative to the vaccine - such as the Pfizer or Moderna jabs.

Officials at the MHRA, which monitors possible side effects of the jabs, have counted 168 cases of blood clots following vaccination with the British jab in the UK so far. More are expected to be announced tomorrow in its weekly report.
Residents are protesting against the upmarket retail giant Ocado for its plans to set up a storage and distribution centre next to a London primary school.

Schoolchildren gathered outside the High Court on Wednesday ahead of a bid by the online supermarket to overturn a council's decision to revoke a certificate for the facility in a residential area of north London.

Ocado is taking legal action against Islington Council over its reversal of approval for use of the site at Bush Industrial Estate in Tufnell Park.

Pupils from Yerbury Primary School hold a banner aloft reading 'Nocado' outside the High Court in London on Wednesday

Residents are protesting against the upmarket retail giant Ocado for its plans to set up a storage and distribution centre next to a London primary school

Schoolchildren gathered outside the High Court on Wednesday ahead of a bid by the online supermarket to overturn a council's decision to revoke a certificate for the facility

Residents and school staff say the proposals would endanger pupils due to high levels of pollution

Pupils from Yerbury Primary stood outside the Royal Courts of Justice before the case, chanting 'Hey, Ocado, leave our school alone' while holding placards reading 'No noise, no pollution, no Ocado' and 'Education over Convenience'.

In 2019 the council granted property company Telereal Trillium Ltd (TT) a certificate of lawful development for the site and the court heard that Ocado went into a lease agreement for the units that year having 'relied upon the certificate as conclusive evidence that its intended use of the premises was lawful'.

But the council said 'false information' had been provided by TT and 'material information (was) withheld' with regard to the nature and extent of the plan and the nature of the use and occupation between 1992 and 2019.

The local authority said the 'totality of the picture painted was of a single planning unit, occupied throughout as such' and that 'each part of that factual analysis was central to the application and was flawed'.

Pupils from Yerbury Primary stood outside the Royal Courts of Justice before the case on Wednesday

They chanted 'Hey, Ocado, leave our school alone' while holding placards reading 'No noise, no pollution, no Ocado' and 'Education over Convenience'

The court heard that Ocado went into a lease agreement with property company Telereal Trillium Ltd (TT) for the units in 2019

Locals known as the Concerned Residents of Tufnell Park oppose use of the units 'by anyone in an unrestricted manner'.

In a court document they cited concerns about the 'inevitable effects of the resulting development, particularly the impacts of (most critically) engine fumes but also of noise, light, other forms of pollution and traffic intensification, residential amenity, and on the health and wellbeing of the 450 primary school children who attend Yerbury Primary School'.

Yerbury headteacher Cassie Moss said the site is opposite the school 'literally along the whole length of our playground'.

Speaking outside court ahead of the hearing, she said: 'It's about health, it's about pollution, it's about air quality and it's also about noise pollution.

Yerbury headteacher Cassie Moss said the site is opposite the school 'literally along the whole length of our playground'

The head teacher said there had been 'so much work' done in recent years to improve air quality around the school and the outdoor environment for the children

'We're a 120-year-old building and our classrooms look directly over the site.'

She said there had been 'so much work' done in recent years to improve air quality around the school and the outdoor environment for the children.

'If Ocado come in, in one swoop all of that work is undone.'

A spokesperson for Ocado said the site would be 'one of the greenest and quietest grocery facilities in the UK' thanks to its fleet of 100 per cent electric vans.

The hearing is expected to last a day and a half.
British holidaymakers were today handed a much-needed boost after Gibraltar confirmed UK tourists will not need to be tested for Covid-19 following May 17.

Chief minister Fabian Picardo said the Rock will offer a 'great British staycation in the Mediterranean' after travel restrictions are eased in Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown.

The British Overseas Territory, close to the south coast of Spain, became the first nation to fully vaccinate its entire adult population in March.

Gibraltar is home to 33,000 people and has had 4,286 cases as well as 94 deaths.

Mr Picardo told Sky News: 'Gibraltar has an open frontier with Spain and the rest of the European Union, and we don't require PCR testing for those who come across our land frontier.

'We therefore don't think it would be appropriate for us to require PCR testing of those who are coming from the United Kingdom, which has a higher vaccinated population and a lower incidence of Covid than the rest of the European Union.

Chief minister Fabian Picardo said the Rock will offer a 'great British staycation in the Mediterranean' after travel restrictions are eased in Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown

'When you're coming to Gibraltar you're coming to a part of Britain, and therefore you're going to be very welcome here without the need for a PCR test.

'It's thanks to the United Kingdom Government that Gibraltar can proudly say that all of our adult population is now vaccinated.

'Gibraltar has zero cases of Covid today.'

Many popular European Union destinations will require UK visitors to have been vaccinated, received a recent negative test or have coronavirus antibodies.

Sharon Ehrlich Bershadsky, head of the Israeli government's London tourist office, said the Middle Eastern country is 'definitely ready and wants British tourists to visit'.

It will initially reopen its borders to groups of foreign tourists who have had both doses of a coronavirus vaccine from May 23.

Visitors will be required to take a serological test on arrival to prove their vaccination status, but Ms Bershadsky said this could be dropped for UK holidaymakers.

She said: 'We will eliminate this test in the future, hopefully, by a bilateral agreement between countries.

'So for example, if Israel and the UK will have this agreement, the British tourists that come to Israel will not need this antibody test.

'I'm really, really hoping with the impressive advanced case of the vaccination here in the UK, we will get this agreement as soon as possible.'

Professor Adam Finn, a member of the Government's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said unregulated international travel 'can be very dangerous indeed' but there are steps which can minimise the risk.

The British Overseas Territory, close to the south coast of Spain, became the first nation to fully vaccinate its entire adult population in March

He told Sky News: 'We certainly got our hands very comprehensively burned in March 2020 when very large numbers of people returned from holidays in Europe with the virus and set the pandemic going in the UK at a very fast rate.

'So, we've learned our lesson that international travel in an unregulated way can be very dangerous indeed.

'I think while travel is inevitably going to start happening, we really do need to do everything we can to minimise the risks associated with that: think about the places where people are going to travel; to make sure that people have been immunised before they travel; and if necessary, implement quarantine and control measures to stop the virus being imported and spreading about.'

The Government is expected to announce on Friday that the ban on overseas leisure travel for people in England will be lifted on May 17.

It will publish the lists it will use as part of the new risk-based traffic light system, with different rules for returning travellers from green, amber and red destinations.

People arriving from a 'green' location will not have quarantine, while those returning from somewhere on the amber list must self-isolate for at least five days.

The 'red list' requires a 10-night stay in a quarantine hotel.

The 'green list' could include destinations such as Portugal, Gibraltar, Israel and Malta.

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.
George Jung, the drug trafficker known as El Americano who inspired Johnny Depp's film Blow and helped Pablo Escobar smuggle planeloads of cocaine into the United States, has died aged 78.

The notorious cocaine smuggler died at his home in Boston on Wednesday morning where he was receiving hospice care.

His cause of death was not immediately known but he had recently been battling liver and kidney failure, sources told TMZ.

Jung, who was often referred to as El Americano and 'Boston George' because of where he was from, died with his girlfriend Ronda and friend Roger by his side.

He was a notorious drug smuggler who worked with Pablo Escobar's Medellin Cartel to traffic cocaine into the United States.

Jung, who ended up spending more than 20 years of his life in prison, was responsible for more than 85 percent of the cocaine smuggled into America in the 1970s and 1980s.

George Jung, the drug trafficker known as El Americano who inspired Johnny Depp's film Blow, died aged 78 at his home in Boston on Wednesday morning

Jung was part of the infamous Medellin drug cartel and supplied the United States with 80 percent of its cocaine in the 1980s

'Basically I was no different than a rock star or a movie star. I was a coke star,' he told PBS in a 2000 interview.

'I was a guy who had a lot of money and unlimited access to cocaine and even if I looked like Bela Lugosi I still had the most beautiful women on the planet because everybody at that time, especially women, were in love with cocaine and of course in love with the money... the access to the automobiles, the clothes, the dinners, the lifestyle.'

Jung first entered the drug underworld in the 1960s when he started selling marijuana to his college student friends.

He upped his game when he realized how much money he could make and started trafficking marijuana between California and the East Coast.

'Of course, as time wore on, the business began to expand and grow. It went from more or less a college fun thing to a serious business. As the money grew, the power grew,' he said.

Jung started flying down to Mexico so he could buy marijuana directly from suppliers and triple his profit.

He ended up getting caught with 660 pounds of marijuana in Chicago back in 1974 and was sent to federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut.

It was during this stint in prison that he was sharing a cell with a Colombian man named Carlos Ledher.

Ledher ended up facilitating his entry into cocaine trafficking and eventually became his long-time business partner.

'He was looking for a way to transport cocaine out of Colombia and people to sell it in the United States - and there I was,' he said.

'It was like a marriage made in heaven, or hell in the end. But that's basically how it worked out. Carlos and I spent close to a year together, working and planning everyday.'

Jung was released from New Jersey's FCI Fort Dix prison in 2014 after serving 20 years for drug trafficking. He had been caught with more than 1,700 pounds of cocaine in Kansas

Jung, who was often referred to as El Americano and 'Boston George' because of where he was from, died with his girlfriend Ronda and friend Roger by his side. George and Ronda are pictured above together in 2018

Lehder ended up introducing Jung to Pablo Escobar's Medellin Cartel, while Jung taught Lehder how to smuggle the drugs into the US.

'Basically Pablo was there for supplying. Carlos and I were in the transporting and distribution of it,' he said. Escobar died in 1993.

They would traffic the cocaine from Colombia to the US on planes, with a detour via the Bahamas.

Jung said they would initially fly a plane full of cocaine from Pablo's ranch in Colombia to the Bahamas on a Saturday. The plane would stay under police protection until the Sunday when they would take off again.

They chose this route because Sunday afternoons often saw an increased number of planes leaving the Bahamas back for the United States.

'They're basically known as mom and pop planes and so you get caught up there and lost in the radar. They're all many dots on the screen. Nobody's really paying attention,' Jung said.

Using this plan, Jung and Lehder went on to earn millions of dollars together.

At one point, Jung claimed to have had $100 million hidden in a secret bank account in Panama.

Jung was convicted of cocaine trafficking and sentenced to 15 years in prison back in 1985. His sentence was reduced to four years in exchange for testifying against Ledher.

Ledher was later sentenced to life in prison.

Jung ended up being the inspiration behind Johnny Depp's 2001 cult classic film 'Blow'. Jung is pictured on the left, while Depp is pictured right portraying Jung in the film

He was arrested again in 1994 after being caught with a truckload of Mexican marijuana and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

During that stint in FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, Jung met with Johnny Depp as the actor prepared to portray him in the 2001 cult classic 'Blow'.

'It's very rare in life that any person opens up their heart and soul to you with unlimited access to their most profound thoughts, dreams, fears, regrets, intimacies,' Depp wrote in a letter regarding his visit to Jung.

'Even more rare when you've just met that person and, because of the obvious predicament, it's highly unlikely that you will be spending too much time with them in the near future. So for this and more, I owe a great debt of gratitude to George.'

Jung was released from his stint in prison in 2014 when he was 71 years old.

He met with Depp again following his release after the Hollywood star, who was then engaged to Amber Heard, reportedly reached out and invited him to his loft in downtown Los Angeles.

After he was released from prison and returned home to Massachusetts, Jung engaged in a series of money-making ventures to cash on his so-called fame linked to the Blow film.

It involved merchandise and a self-published book.
Tawanda Zuva, 38, stroked and pinched the leg of a 17-year-old at the student union in an early afternoon of February 2020

A sex attacker who assaulted two students at Westminster University has been jailed for more than two years - and banned from chatting up women for six years.

Tawanda Zuva, 38, stroked and pinched the leg of a 17-year-old at the student union in an early afternoon of February 2020.

Later that day he gripped her wrists violently, apologised but then pulled at her dress and pinched and slapped her bottom as she walked away.

Zuva, a computer science student from Zimbabwe, was also convicted of slapping and pinching a Muslim man's bottom the same day in the university canteen.

He had just been released from ten weeks imprisonment for two sexual assaults on women in a train station in late 2019 and had been made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).

The order prohibited him from 'approaching in public any female unknown' to him unless in normal circumstances.

Zuva admitted breaching his SHPO, but denied groping the students.

He was jailed for two and a half years and made the subject of another SHPO for six years.

The terms of the new SHPO prohibit Zuva from approaching women outside his family other that family members 'other than in relation to employment, courses, or medical and emergency personnel.'

It means that if Zuva speaks to a woman on a social level he is breaking the law.

The order further prohibits him from making any 'intimidating movements' towards any woman.

An administrative failure meant Zuva had to wait seven months to be sentenced after his conviction at Hendon Magistrates court last summer.

He was jailed by a judge at Southwark Crown Court because of the seriousness of his offending.

Bramble Badenach-Nicolson, defending, said Zuva has served the equivalent of a 24 month sentence.

She added: 'It seems he has suffered a troubled past, there are discreet references in the pre-sentence report to some form of trauma suffered in Zimbabwe.

'It would seem that the trauma suffered has been aggravated by his drug and alcohol use, he's had no assessment for either in prison due to the pandemic.

'He was arrested at the gates of prison after serving the equivalent of eight months for the breach of the SHPO.

'Had these all been dealt with together he wouldn't have been in the position he is now.'

Zuva, a computer science student from Zimbabwe, was also convicted of slapping and pinching a Muslim man's bottom the same day in the university canteen

Judge Jeffrey Pegden told Zuva: 'I take into account the significant delay in your case coming to this court for reasons which are far from clear.

'It seems there was a misunderstanding as to who had jurisdiction between the magistrates' court and this court, it is worth emphasising that this not your fault.'

Judge Pegden said the repeated and persistently violent offences were further aggravated by the previous convictions for 'absolutely like offences' on his record.

Hendon Magistrates' earlier convicted Zuva of two counts of sexual assault after both victims gave evidence from behind a screen

The first victim, who was 17 at the time, told the court last year: 'I was listening to music and ended up falling asleep on my seat for about half an hour.

'What woke me up was I was on my side and could feel some body was stroking my right leg.

'I was really confused because I had never seen this man before, I raised my voice and asked him to get off me.

'He looked at me and he had a blank stare and his hand was on my right knee and I could feel his nails dig in.'

The young woman said she left the student union but returned later, where she saw him sitting down.

'He's just looking at me with just a blank expression and puts both hands up in front of me,' she said.

'I put them up and said ''what does this mean?'' he grabbed both hands, he gripped really tight and dug his nails in.'

Her friends made him apologize, but as she walked away he pulled her skirt up, slapping her bottom with one hand and painfully gripping it with the other.

The young woman's mother sat in the public gallery and cried as her daughter gave evidence.

'I have never grabbed,' Zuva said, sitting in the witness box wearing a dark blue hoodie and imitation leather black trousers with Timberland boots.

'I have never touched any woman. I don't do sexual grateful.'

'I don't play with gays, not muslim gays,' he told the court twice.

'In my criminal record, I'm not gripping anyone.'

Zuva, of Croydon, denied but was convicted of two counts of sexual assault and was sentenced to two years and six months.

He will be subject to the SHPO for the next six years.
The Tokki Soju team, top row from left: Douglas Park, Willie Dale; bottom row: Kwangseob Shim, Bran Hill, Brian Yi / Courtesy of MAHT Studios



By Hallie Bradley



Ever wondered how well Korean soju pairs with Italian cuisine? Find out at the newly launched Tokki Bar located in Ryse, a trendy hotel near Hongik University in western Seoul.



What started out as a onetime invitation for the first American distiller of traditional Korean liquor to participate in Ryse's Sunday Rooftop Party last October, has now become an entire bar on the fourth floor of the popular hotel.



"After successfully serving some cocktails made with our products, we were asked if we would want to build something on an empty space on the fourth floor of the hotel," explained Brian Yi, Tokki Soju's F&B director.





The interior of the new Tokki Bar / Courtesy of MAHT Studios



Tokki Bar will be Tokki Soju's first F&B outlet, which they see as an incredible partnership that makes sense, as Ryse is just as into design and craftsmanship as Tokki Soju is.



Italian-American food will be served as an homage to Tokki Soju's New York roots, where there is a strong Italian culinary scene, due to the fact that, in the early 1900s, the majority of New Yorkers were Italian. The menu will feature Italian-American classics including chicken parm, as well as bar snacks such as jalapeno poppers. The overall vibe of Tokki Bar is meant as an homage to Tokki Soju's beginnings in Brooklyn.





Tokki Bar will serve Italian-American food. / Courtesy of MAHT Studios



Having lived in Korea in 2011, Bran Hill, master distiller and founder of Tokki Soju, had an understanding of Korean soju and was ready when the opportunity to create a traditional-quality soju presented itself in New York. He was distilling whisky and rum in Brooklyn when the area became a hot spot for high-end Korean restaurants.



"Unfortunately, only green-bottle soju was really available at the time in the U.S.," Hill explained, "And that was unable to be paired with this new high-end Korean cuisine."



Rather than serving the low-quality "green-bottle soju," as Hill called it, which is made with neither traditional techniques nor ingredients, the restaurants were pairing their Korean cuisine with wine.



Then Insa, a Korean restaurant in Brooklyn, tapped Hill to create a quality soju for their restaurant. One thing led to another, and in 2016, Hill founded Tokki Soju with Douglas Park.



Though the idea and company were born in Brooklyn in the U.S., the founders decided to officially set up shop here in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province. "We thought that if we wanted to properly elevate the soju category on the world's stage, we should start at the source and bring it back to its Korean roots," Hill said.





Bran Hill / Courtesy of MAHT Studios
A man accused of murdering a Trainspotting T2 actor has denied ever seeing a gun alleged to have been used in the killing.

Bradley Welsh, 48, was fatally shot at his flat in the west end of Edinburgh on April 17 2019.

Sean Orman, 30, had pleaded not guilty to all 15 charges against him, including murder, attempted murder, firearms and drugs offences, and is on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The Crown removed 13 of the charges from the indictment on Wednesday, including assault, drug and driving offences.

Bradley Welsh, 48, who starred alongside Ewan McGregor in the film, died after a shooting at his flat in New Town, Edinburgh, on April 17, 2019

Judge Lord Beckett told him he had been acquitted of these allegations.

Orman remains charged with murdering Mr Welsh and the assault and attempted murder of David McMillan in March 2019.

The trial heard later on Wednesday that Orman became aware of a shotgun being linked to him and the killing in September 2020.

Giving evidence, Orman said: 'I have never seen it in my life.'

Defence counsel Ian Duguid QC said: 'On April 17 2019 had you been on Chester Street in a Ford Kuga and shot and murdered Bradley Welsh?

Sean Orman, 30, had pleaded not guilty to all 15 charges against him, including murder, attempted murder, firearms and drugs offences, and has now seen 13 of the charges, including assault, drug and driving offences against him removed

Orman replied: 'No.'

The court was told Orman had been in a vehicle matching that description earlier that day and was then told to collect a car from the Kirknewton area of West Lothian.

The court heard he cycled from his mother's home to the location during Channel 4 News but there was nothing for him to collect.

He said: 'I remember I wasn't happy that night, I had been left in Kirknewton.

'I wouldn't get paid and I had been sent on a dummy run.'

Orman also told the court he had not heard of Mr McMillan until the trial got under way.

Edinburgh's High Court heard today that Orman became aware of a shotgun being linked to him and the killing in September 2020. In evidence, Orman said he had 'never seen it (the gun) in my life' and also said he had not heard of Mr McMillan until the trial got under way

The 30-year-old denied being at a property in Pitcairn Grove, Edinburgh, on March 13 2019 when the attempted murder was said to have taken place. He said he could not recall where he was.

Orman said: 'I can't remember, I have no reason to remember.'

He claimed to have got involved with being paid to move stolen cars by a man he had met in prison, known as Omar, after his release in February 2019.

Orman had received a five-year jail term for assault and robbery at a bookmakers, the court has heard.

The trial continues.
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Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff kissed through their masks Wednesday  even though they are both fully-vaccinated  before heading their separate ways on flights.

The vice president traveled to Rhode Island where she stopped by a local store to buy four books, including one on 'white male rage', while Emhoff went to Pennsylvania to tour a micro brewery.

As Harris prepared to board Air Force Two for a day trip to Providence, she shared a peck with Emhoff without removing their face coverings.

Both Harris and Emhoff are vaccinated against coronavirus and new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance says those vaccinated do not need to wear masks while outside.

The move is yet another confusing display on what the White House is recommending vaccinated Americans do in reference to wearing face coverings in public.

Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff shared a kiss in the lip-area through their masks before going their separate ways on Wednesday  even though both are vaccinated

The second couple said a quick goodbye before Harris boarded Air Force Two for Rhode Island on Wednesday, a trip with which Emhoff did not accompany her. Without removing their face coverings, the couple shared a kiss

Once in Providence, Rhode Island, Harris made an unannounced visit to a book store as she promoted the Biden administration's dedication to helping small businesses

The vice president purchased four books, which she says she plans to make time to read

Emhoff visited Allentown, Pennsylvania on Wednesday to promote President Joe Biden's jobs plan  he did not accompany his wife to Rhode Island.

Harris made an unannounced stop at 'Books on the Square' while in Providence, where the vice president purchased The Topeka School, which explores the roots of white male rage; The Nickel Boys, centered around the underground railroad; Simply Julia, a cookbook that looks at 'food equity'; and the novel The Dutch House.

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, who served as Rhode Island's governor from 2015 until March when she was tapped for the administration post, greeted Harris when she arrived fro the day trip to promote President Joe BIden's $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan.

'This is my neighborhood store,' Raimondo told Harris as they entered the book store on Wednesday. 'The best place ever.'

Harris held up the books for press when exiting the store and said she has been wanting to read them.

'I'm going to find time to do it,' she insisted.

Harris was also greeted in Rhode Island by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed, Representatives David Cicilline and Jim Langevin and Governor Daniel McKee.Harris' trip north of Washington, D.C. was part of the 'Getting Back on Track Tour' highlighting the Biden administration's support for small businesses.

Upon leaving the bookstore, Harris held up the four books she purchased. The Nickel Boys is a novel about the Underground Railroad and The Topeka School is a non-fiction story about 'white male rage'

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo joined Harris for the trip in her home state of Rhode Island, where she was governor for more than 5 years before being tapped to joined the administration

Second gentleman Emhoff then went to a brewery in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to celebrate small businesses
known to each other and police are not looking for anyone in connection with the deaths

Bodies of a man and woman in their late 30s/early 40s were found at the scene

Police are investigating after the bodies of a man and a woman were found dead in a hotel room hundreds of miles from home.

Officers were called to Doubletree by Hilton hotel in Harrogate at around 10.20pm last night.

They discovered the remains of a man and a woman thought to be in their late 30s or early 40s. They are believed to have known each other and had come from the London area.

North Yorkshire Police said a 'detailed' investigation is underway but that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with their deaths.

Police are investigating after the bodies of a man and a woman were found dead in a Hilton hotel room in Harrogate, North Yorkshire

The force has described it as likely being an 'isolated incident'.

Detective Superintendent Wayne Fox, of North Yorkshire Police's Major Investigation Team, said: 'We were called at around 10.20pm by hotel staff at the Majestic Hotel to a report that the bodies of a man and a woman had been located in a hotel room.

'On arrival, a man and a woman, both in their late 30s/early 40s from the London area, were pronounced dead at the scene by colleagues from the ambulance service.

'Their families have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers.

'A detailed investigation is under way looking into the circumstances of both deaths.

'We can confirm that we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths and would like to reassure the local community that we believe that this is an isolated incident.'

A spokesman for the DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa said: 'Following an incident last night, the police were called and we are currently assisting them with their enquiries.'
Britain has agreed to grant full diplomatic status to the EU's first ambassador to the UK as the Government finally resolved a long-running dispute with Brussels.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and EU High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, met this afternoon on the sidelines of a G7 foreign ministers summit in London.

They said in a joint statement that they were 'pleased to have reached an agreement together, based on goodwill and pragmatism, on an Establishment Agreement for the EU Delegation to the UK'.

The deal means the EU's ambassador to the UK, Joao Vale de Almeida, 'will have a status consistent with heads of missions of states, including agrement and presentation of the credentials to the Head of State'.

The decision should finally bring to a close a rumbling row over Mr Vale de Almeida's status.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and EU High Representative and Vice President of the Commission, Josep Borrell met this afternoon on the sidelines of a G7 foreign minister summit in London

They said in a joint statement that they were 'pleased to have reached an agreement together, based on goodwill and pragmatism, on an Establishment Agreement for the EU Delegation to the UK'. It means the EU's ambassador to the UK, Joao Vale de Almeida, 'will have a status consistent with heads of missions of states'

Who is Joao Vale de Almeida? Joao Vale de Almeida became the EU's first ambassador to the UK in February last year after Brexit was confirmed. Born in Portugal, the 63-year-old father of two and granfather was a journalist before joining the EU commission in 1982 - when Jacques Delors was president. He became a spokesman for the commission before being promoted to take charge of the Education and Culture directorate. He was chief of staff to Jose Manuel Barroso for five years from 2004, before taking on a series of ambassadorial roles. He was the first EU ambassador to the US from 2010 to 2014, launching the abortive TTIP trade negotiations. And after that he spent five years in New York as the bloc's ambassador to the UN. Advertisement

He took up the role in February last year after the UK formally left the bloc but he was not given the same status as other ambassadors.

It was reported last month that Foreign Office sources believed the move had an 'unhealthy, chilling effect' on talks with Brussels as discussions took place on granting the ambassador full credentials.

One source told The Times that it was 'a silly dispute but has had a corrosive effect'.

In January, Downing Street had underlined that the bloc is 'not a nation state' as it backed Mr Raab over his refusal to grant full diplomatic status to the EU's ambassador. But the UK now appears to have backed down.

Brussels previously said the EU's 143 delegations and staff in other parts of the world had been accorded a status equivalent to countries' embassies under the Vienna Convention, which governs the rules of international diplomacy.

Without the full protection of the Vienna Convention, diplomats do not benefit from immunity from detention, criminal jurisdiction and taxation.

Mr Raab and Mr Borrell said in a joint statement: 'We are pleased to have reached an agreement together, based on goodwill and pragmatism, on an Establishment Agreement for the EU Delegation to the UK.

'The EU Ambassador will have a status consistent with heads of missions of states, including agrement and presentation of the credentials to the Head of State.

'EU Delegation staff will have the privileges and immunities needed to function effectively, while allowing for effective administration of justice, and we look forward to moving ahead and tackling global challenges together.'

Asked about his status last week, Mr Vale de Almeida said he was 'confident that we will find a solution that is in line with international practice'.

He added: 'It is about recognition. It is about respect. It is about the formalities of diplomatic life and that is an important aspect.'
Police body worn camera footage has captured the moment a killer appeared to be in a daze as he was arrested by police just minutes after a deadly attack on his son's grandfather.

James Rutherford, 37, overpowered Andrew Saint, 64, and punched him to the ground before kicking him in the head when he turned up at his door in Bedlington, Northumberland, last February.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Mr Saint was 'furious' about an earlier confrontation involving his daughter Toni Saint and Rutherford at her home. He went to Rutherford's home to speak to him about it.

During the violence that followed, Mr Saint suffered a devastating brain injury and died in hospital three weeks later.

Rutherford, who was initially arrested for assault, was caught on police body worn camera as he was led away from the scene of the fatal attack.

Video has emerged showing James Rutherford after he was arrested for the assault of Andrew Saint, who later died

He has now been jailed for nine years. In a victim statement, Toni said: 'I can't believe my dad died as a result of James' actions.

'I am devastated at the loss of my dad and also devastated that (my son's) dad has killed his grandad. How does a child understand that?

Rutherford (pictured) has been jailed for nine years at Newcastle Crown Court

'Every time I close my eyes I see my dad. My last memory is him lying in hospital, knowing he would never come home. My dad can never be replaced, he was my hero.

'He would do anything for me and my children. He doted on his grandchildren.'

In a victim impact statement, Andrew's wife of 30 years, Janice, said her husband's death had left a huge void in her life.

Mrs Saint last saw her husband when he left the house to visit the supermarket to pick up food for packed lunches. While he was out he decided to visit Rutherford and never came back.

The statement read: 'Every day I get up and have to face the fact that Andrew is no longer here. This is hard when we had spent pretty much every day of our married life together. My whole daily routine has changed since his death and I struggle every day to deal with this. I am still struggling to make sense of it all.

'Whatever sentence James Rutherford gets will never compensate me for the loss of my husband, the loss of a father and loss of a grandfather.

'This has left me destroyed and broken, I can be going about my daily routine and all of a sudden break down in tears when I think about Andrew and our time together.'

Rutherford, whose claim that Mr Saint had confronted him with a knife was rejected, was convicted of manslaughter after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

Jurors cleared him of murder.

Rutherford, whose claim that Mr Saint (pictured) had confronted him with a knife was rejected, was convicted of manslaughter after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court

John Elvidge QC, defending, said Rutherford will have to 'come to terms' with the fact he killed his own son's grandad. Pictured, Rutherford at the time of his arrest

Judge Penny Moreland sentenced Rutherford to nine years behind bars. The judge said Rutherford was a 'tall, strong man' whereas Mr Saint was a 'diminutive man in his 60s in poor health'.

Judge Moreland told Rutherford: 'You readily overpowered him, you punched him to the ground and then, I am satisfied, you kicked him, at least once, to the head.'

John Elvidge QC, defending, said Rutherford will have to 'come to terms' with the fact he killed his own son's grandfather.

Mr Elvidge added that there was no premeditation and added: 'He does regret the consequences of his actions.'

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Ed Small from Northumbria Police's Homicide and Major Enquiry Team added: 'This has been an upsetting case for Mr Saint's family and I am pleased with the jury's verdict.

'This is a tragic incident which will forever affect the lives of all those involved. The impact of Andrew's death on the Saint family has been utterly devastating and they have shown nothing but courage and dignity throughout these court proceedings. I hope this verdict bring them one step closer to the closure they deserve.'
Omar Delaney, 35, of Fircrest, Washington, was arrested on April 20 on three counts of sexual assault and one count of lewdness

A man has been accused of raping a woman in a Las Vegas hotel room on his wedding day, and his new wife insists she is standing by him.

Omar Delaney, 35, of Fircrest in Tacoma, Washington, was arrested on the morning of April 20, the same day he was due to marry another woman.

He is charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of lewdness.

When the DailyMail.com reached out for comment on Facebook, bride Tamara Rojas, now known by her married name of Tamara Delaney, commented she is standing by her husband.

The couple appear to be happily married in Facebook posts on both of their profiles.

'Im happy to tell you everything after the trail [sic]. She verbally consented and is lying. And yes I am still by my husbands side,' she added.

Omar Delaney, 35 and Tamara are pictured celebrating on their wedding day. The newlywed told DailyMail.com she is standing by her husband's side during the trial

Delaney, along with his bride-to-be and other wedding attendees, went out to see the sights on the evening of April 19, the day before they were due to get married.

The wedding party visited stops on Fremont Street and the Las Vegas Strip, according to the details of a police report published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

A woman says she arrived in Las Vegas on the same date as the wedding party.

She said she drank three shots of vodka during the course of the evening and Delaney offered to walk her back to her room at the Luxor to ensure she returned safely.

She says she felt tipsy but did not feel out of control and remained conscious the entire time.

When they returned to her room, Delaney allegedly followed her into the room, performed a sex act on her and raped her.

A key to his accuser's room was later found by police in Delaneys hotel room.

Delaney reportedly said he didnt want to speak to detectives until he had spoken with an attorney.

Omar Delaney, 35 went ahead and married his bride Tamara, on April 21 despite his arrest

Delaney's accuser's statement detailed his alleged actions. Key records and surveillance video from the Luxor were obtained by police.

DNA evidence was also collected during their investigation, according to 8NewsNow.

Delaney went ahead and married his bride, Rojas, on April 21 just hours after he was booked into the Clark County Detention Center.

He was released after posting a $10,000 bail earlier in the day.

Dulaney has a court hearing in Las Vegas scheduled for July 26.
The two-year-old boy kidnapped from a Virginia church nursery has been reunited with his mom after police revealed he was snatched by a stranger who shaved his head.

Noah Gabriel Trout was found safe in Clifton Forge on Monday afternoon - a day after he went missing.

Nancy Fridley, 44, has been charged with abducting Noah. Authorities have also charged her boyfriend, Bobby Lee Taylor, with one count of abduction.

'All indications point to this being a stranger abduction, and Noah being chosen by Fridley at random,' Chief Deputy Scott Moye of the Giles County Sheriff's Office said.

Trout was found at Fridley's trailer home about 75 miles away from the Riverview Baptist Church in Ripplemead from where he was taken.

Fridley is also said to have been in the area of two other churches - New Valley Fellowship Church and Mountain View Ministries - in the weeks before the kidnapping and on the day Noah went missing.

'There was another incident that was reported to us, sometime around 11.30am on Sunday,' Moye said. 'She had been to one other church we believe.'

Noah Gabriel Trout was found safe in Clifton Forge on Monday afternoon - a day after he went missing. His head had been shaved by the suspects, police said. He is pictured back with his mother

Nancy Fridley, 44, left, has been charged with abducting Noah. Authorities have also charged her boyfriend, Bobby Lee Taylor, right, with one count of abduction

Both Fridley and Taylor are currently being held in the Alleghany Regional Jail.

During a press conference, the Giles County Sheriff's department said investigators tracked a person of interest to a home in Clifton Forge, Virginia.

After conducting surveillance there, they found a boy who matched Noah's description.

Although Noah 'seemed fine', he was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

Noah disappeared on Sunday and was last seen being led away from the nursery at Riverview Baptist Church in Ripplemead, which is near the border of West Virginia, by a woman

Deputies and the Virginia State Police issued the Amber Alert for Noah at 7pm. Sunday, believing the boy to be in 'extreme danger'. An image taken from surveillance footage shows Noah being led out of the church building by an unknown woman

Noah disappeared on Sunday and was last seen being led away from the nursery at Riverview Baptist Church in Ripplemead, which is near the border of West Virginia, by a woman.

Deputies and the Virginia State Police issued the Amber Alert for Noah at 7pm. Sunday, believing the boy to be in 'extreme danger'.

An image taken from surveillance footage shows Noah being led out of the church building by an unknown woman.

In a statement to WAVY 10 on Monday, Riverview officials said they fully cooperated with law enforcement.

Trout was found at Fridley's home about 75 miles away from the Riverview Baptist Church, pictured, in Ripplemead from where he was taken

During a press conference, Giles County Sheriff's department said investigators tracked a person of interest to a home in Clifton Forge, Virginia, pictured

The church said they have also started 'examining ways to make our campus and facilities even more safe and secure for families wishing to come worship with us'.

'We hope that this criminal act on our campus allows other churches to evaluate their own childcare safety procedures.

'We believe that transparency, child safety, and accountability are essential for successful ministry, and we are fully committed to ministering to your children in a safe and responsible manner,' the statement reads.
For the second time in three days, Southwest Airlines kicked a family off a plane because their young child with a disorder had trouble with his facemask - but this family was given the boot before anything ever happened.

Caroline Scott told Southwest in advance of their Friday flight that their 3-year-old son Orion has a sensory processing disorder and might take his mask off, even showing them notes from a doctor and an occupational therapist, FOX Denver reported.

They were buckled in for their five-hour flight from Colorado to Florida when a Southwest employee said they had to get off the plane because 'the captain doesn't feel comfortable with you on it,' Scott told the Denver news station.

'We were not de-boarded for behaviors, but preemptively in case he might take off his mask, and he's also three,' Scott said.

'It's not ok. There was no empathy. There was no understanding. We were just humiliated. It was traumatizing and humiliating.'

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Southwest Airlines kicked Orion Scott, 3, who has a sensory processing disorder, and his family off a plane on Friday because Orion might take his mask off

The Scott family was buckled in for their five-hour flight from Colorado to Florida when they were told to de-board

Orion's mom claimed a Southwest employee told her family: 'The captain doesn't feel comfortable with you on it'

Caroline Scott, Orion's mom, said she tried to do the right thing by telling Southwest Airlines about her son's disorder, showing them doctor notes, but feels she was punished for it

The Scott family was forced to book a last-minute flight on United Airlines for $1,700 the next day, according to FOX Denver.

'We thought we were doing the right thing and for being forefront and honest, we were punished for it,' Caroline Scott said.

On Sunday, the Petek family had a nearly identical run in with Southwest Airlines.

The Iowa family wasn't allowed on their connecting flight from St. Louis to Iowa because their 5-year-old son, who is nonverbal and has autism and a sensory processing disorder, was struggling to wear his mask, KCCI reported.

Vince Hassel, who was also flying back to Des Moines, told KCCI that other passengers fought to get the boy and his family on board.

'He just wasn't having it and throwing a fit. Just to watch this play out was absolutely horrible,' Hassel said.

The young boy had a seizure during the struggle, according to KCCI, and the Petek family ultimately had to drive nearly six hours in a rental car.

In prepared statements, South Airlines essentially said they followed federal mandates.

That is 'is corporate gobbledygook,' Anthony L. Marchetti, a lawyer representing the Petek family, told DailyMail.com, and alluded to the TSA policy that says people with disabilities who cannot wear a mask are exempt.

The New Jersey Civil Trial lawyer said the Department of Transportation allowed carriers, such as Southwest, to set up their own processes on how to address mask mandates.

The issue, Marchetti said, is the mandates are not clearly defined like change fees and seat requirements.

'Masks have been a political issue. This should not be,' Marchetti told DailyMail.com 'Advance notice requirements don't work, because you are in a position in which, like the Colorado family, a crew member can just decide they do not want to fly with someone with a disability - which basically flies right in the face of the Airline Carrier Access Act's guarantee that our nation's airways be equally open to those with disabilities.'

Marchetti stressed that neither of these situations should've happened but it's likely going to become more frequent as the country reopens and families fly to vacation spots.

'More and more of these situations happen where there is chaos at the airport gate because an unempathetic gate agent, who isn't even following the mask rules herself, decides to ignore the CDC's directive that those with disabilities are exempted from the mask mandate,' he said. 'It does not need to be this way.'

Three days after the Scott family's incident, the Petek family, whose five-year-old son is nonverbal and has autism and a sensory processing disorder, was kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight because he was struggling with his mask

The Petek family was on their way from St. Louis to their home in Iowa when Southwest Airlines told them they had to de-board

Southwest provided the following statement to The FOX31 Problem Solvers about the Scott family's situation:

'Southwest Airlines regrets any inconvenience this family experienced while traveling, and our Customer Relations Team is contacting the family directly regarding their experience. Southwest Employees are working each day to ensure the requirements of the federal mask mandate with sensitivity during these challenging times. We appreciate the ongoing understanding and cooperation among our Customers and Employees as we work collectively to support the comfort and wellbeing of all who travel with us during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.'

Southwest Airlines issued a statement in both cases saying they 'regret any inconveniences' but they were following federal law

They issued a similar statement to KCCI after Sunday's issue involving the Petek family:

'While we regret any inconvenience this family experienced while traveling, federal law requires each person, 2 years of age and older, to wear a mask at all times throughout the travel journey ... To assist travelers with disabilities, there is a narrow exception to the mask mandate for specific types of disabilities that prevent a person from wearing a mask.

'Southwest Airlines considers applications for exemptions from this mask requirement from passengers with a disability who cannot wear a mask, or who cannot safely wear a mask because of the disability... In this case, a traveler was not wearing a face covering prior to boarding and did not have an exemption to the federal mask mandate.

'Southwest Employees tried to assist the family by encouraging the child's face covering be placed over the mouth and nose. Once the family was unable to meet the federal requirement, Southwest offered the family a hotel for the night and to rebook them on a flight today to allow them additional time to comply. Instead, the family chose not to fly and was granted a full refund.

'It's the responsibility of Southwest employees to enforce federal regulations. As always, we appreciate the spirit of compliance to the federal mask mandate and the ongoing cooperation among our customers and employees as we work collectively to support the comfort and wellbeing of all who travel with us during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.'
A former speaker of the Oregon House and current lobbyist has been arrested in a prostitution sting after allegedly soliciting sex from an undercover police officer.

Democrat Dave Hunt, 53, is a married father-of-two who represented parts of northern Clackamas County in the state Legislature for a decade, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

He was one of eight men arrested in April by the Portland Police Bureaus Human Trafficking Unit undercover operation. According to a news release, officers posted decoy ads online and Hunt responded to arrange payment for sexual acts.

Dave Hunt, a Democratic former speaker of the Oregon House, was arrested in April for commercial sexual solicitation (pictured in 2009)

Hunt, 53, pictured above with wife Tonia and their two children, was busted in a prostitution sting after police say he answered a fake online ad offering sex for money

He was taken into custody at a Ramada Inn hotel on April 28, and was charged with commercial sexual solicitation, a misdemeanor punishable by up to nearly a year in jail.

'Mr. Hunt denies the allegations, but respects the criminal justice process and will refrain from saying more until he has his opportunity in court,' Hunt's attorney, Michael De Muniz, said in a statement to Portland Tribune.

Hunt lives in Milwaukie, Oregon, with his wife of nearly 30 years, Tonia. The couple have two grown children.

Hunt served in the state Legislature from 2003 until 2013. In 2007, he co-sponsored a bill that made sex trafficking a crime in Oregon.

From 2009 to 2011, Hunt served as speaker of the House and he previously served one term as House majority leader.

In 2011, while serving as Oregon House speaker, Hunt voted for a bill that created the crime of commercial sexual solicitation, for which he was arrested (pictured in 2011)

Toward the end of his term as speaker, Hunt voted for legislation that created the crime of commercial sexual solicitation, for which he was arrested last month.

Hunt lobbies the Legislature on behalf of a dozen clients including the Northwest Grocery Association, the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association and Oregon AFSCME 75, according to state records.

Hunt is also an elected member of the Clackamas Community College Board, and is running unopposed for another term in the May 18 election. He is currently on leave from that post, according to the colleges website Monday.

'We will take appropriate actions that serve the interest of our students and our community,' college officials stated.
The Mexico City elevated subway line that collapsed, killing 25 people and injuring 79 Monday night, had been plagued with issues and architectural flaws since the day it was inaugurated in 2012.

Passengers and authorities alike came to fear that the screeching and bouncing of wheels on the lines tight curves were quickly wearing away the tracks, raising fears of a derailment.

But few expected that the overpass, where an average of 220,000 passengers ride through each day would give way, in an accident in which the youngest victim was a 12-year-old, who was traveling with his father, who was injured.

The boy was one of several victims who were buried Wednesday.

Friends and family members gathered to bid farewell to Cristian Lopez Santiago, 41, a lawyer who recovered from a battle with COVID-19 after spending two months connected to a respirator.

Jose Antonio Lopez Meza, an experienced structural engineer, is convinced the tragic incident could have been prevented following the 7.1 magnitude earthquake in 2017 that caused significant structural damage to the overpass.

Marisol Tapia leans over the casket of her 12-year-old son, Brandon Hernandez, during a wake held Wednesday in Mexico City. Hernandez was the youngest of the 25 victims who were killed in Monday night's train line collapse

Relatives carry the coffin with the remains of Juan Luis Diaz Galicia during a funeral service in Mexico City on Wednesday

Marisol Tapia leans over the casket of her son, Brandon Hernandez, during a wake in Mexico City on Wednesday

Relatives carry the coffin containing the body of Jose Hernandez, one of 25 people who died after an overpass partially collapsed with train cars

A survey of damage showed indications of construction defects that should have shut the line down immediately, Lopez indicated.

He said the defects detected in the subway system report - a sagging section of too-weak steel near the latest accident - is the kind of thing that could have contributed to the collapse.

Instead, authorities decided on quick patches, welding props under the bowed beams and reopening service.

'Here in Mexico, nothing is taken care of until a tragedy occurs,' said Lopez Meza, who also is a seismic consultant who has worked on government projects. He said they are often not held to the same on-site inspection standards as private builders.

But authorities weren't concentrating on structural defects. They had their hands full over the last decade simply trying to keep the subway train on its tracks, to avoid what could arguably have been have an even more nightmarish failure than Monday's collapse involving two subway cars.

Considered one of the largest and busiest in the world, the Mexico City train system has encountered at least two serious accidents since it opened half a century ago.

Two trains rammed into each other leaving 23 dead and 55 injured in October 1975.

The latest incident comes after two subway trains collided in March 2020, leaving one dead and around 40 injured as panicked passengers escaped through dense smoke.

Jesus Sanchez places his hand on the casket containing the remains of his wife Liliana Lopez, 37, who died in overpass collapse disaster. The service was among a series that were scheduled throughout Mexico City on Wednesday

Cristian Lopez Santiago, a 41-year-old lawyer, was among the 25 people who died after an overpass collapsed in Mexico City on Monday, sending two trains crashing to the street. Lopez Santiago spent two months hospitalized and connected to a respirator while battling COVID-19

Commuters who normally depend on Line 12 to travel search for transportation Wednesday in the Mexico City borough of Tlahuac, where an elevated train line collapsed Monday

Brandon Hernandez, 12, was traveling with his father Monday night when the train car he was in collapsed after a section over the overpass gave way in Mexico City

The $1.3 billion Number 12 Line, the newest section of a vast subway system opened in 1969, was ill-fated from the start. It was heralded as the 'Gold Line' and cost half again as much as officials originally projected.

The train line suffered repeated construction delays and was hit with allegations of design flaws, corruption and conflicts of interest.

A top executive of one of the companies that built it was the brother of the man who oversaw the project for the government.

The scandal over forced closure of the costly new line in 2014 - just 17 months after it was inaugurated - essentially forced former Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard into political exile until he was rescued by his patron, new President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador - who had helped make him mayor in 2006 and resuscitated him by naming him foreign relations secretary in 2018.

Despite the subway scandal, Ebrard was put in charge of Mexico's efforts to obtain coronavirus vaccines and was considered a top contender to succeed Lopez Obrador in 2024. That was before Monday's accident. Ebrard has said he'll cooperate with the investigations.

Reports by engineering firms revealed Ebrard's city government had made a series of startlingly wrong choices when the subway line was designed and built between 2008 and 2012.

Experts said unusually sharp curves in the route exacerbated problems with the wheels-on-steel track design, which more resembles New York's subway rather than the European-style rubber tires used on the rest of the system.

View of the site of a train accident after an elevated subway line collapsed in Mexico City on Monday night

A view of a crushed car where the subway car collapsed Monday night. According to the Mexico City government, 25 people were killed and 79 suffered injuries

An aerial view of subway cars dangle at an angle from a collapsed elevated section that services Line 12 in Mexico City. The elevated section of Mexico City's metro collapsed late Monday, killing 25 people and injuring 79. Some of the victims were buried Wednesday, including 12-year-old Brandon Hernandez

The Gold Line line chattered. It bumped. It shook. It screeched. The rails began to take on a wavy pattern. Drivers had to slow trains to as little as 3 mph on some stretches.

In 2014, the Gold Line had to be shut down for months for the tracks to be replaced or ground into shape.

Following investigations into the design and corruption scandals, more than 38 government employees were hit with fines or other punishments for improperly contracting out work on the train, as well as some criminal charges.

According to a 2014 congressional report: 'If the rails are unprotected and the shape of the wheels doesn't comply with international standards, we have a potential risk of derailment.' The probe concluded the line should have use rubber-wheel suspension, rather than railroad-style steel wheels, but by then it was too late to change.

But most reports had cleared the elevated track bed of any structural concerns until the 2017 quake revealed what the subway line was made of.

The tracks rise about 16 feet (5 meters) above a median strip and roadway in the southern borough of Tlahuac. Slender, reinforced concrete columns are topped by horizontal steel beams, which in turn support prefabricated concrete track beds on which gravel, railway ties and tracks are laid.

It was one such stretch of horizontal beam that apparently broke Monday, sending a train car hurtling down onto the median strip and leaving another part of the train dangling.

Not far from the site of that crash, a city report on the 2017 quake had detailed damage to the base of a vertical column supporting the tracks. It had cracked and shed its outer layers of concrete because there were not enough steel rebar stirrups in it.

In 2017, authorities patched and widened the column by injecting resins, swathing it in carbon fiber, and building a jacket of additional rebar and concrete around the base.

Rescuers erect ladders to make their way inside the train carriages, before being temporarily called off amid warnings it is unstable and their movements could cause another collapse

Rescue workers make their way on to the train to help the wounded after two trains collapsed from an overpass track

Rescue workers pull a body from one of the train carriages before work temporarily halted. Mexico City's mayor has warned that more people are still inside the train, but it is unclear if they are alive or dead

Passersby rush an injured man into an ambulance at the scene of the bridge collapse, in Mexico City's southeast

While the problem with a lack of rebar might have been repeated throughout the hundreds of columns on the line, Lopez Meza said it probably wouldn't have contributed directly to Monday's collapse.

More worrisome was the fact that inspections after the quake found that one of the horizontal beams had come loose from its support at the top of a column and was sagging downward.

'Immediately, that is a warning sign,' Lopez Meza said, noting the sag meant the correct thickness or width of steel hadn't been used in the beams.

Authorities in 2017 welded steel diagonal and horizontal braces - splints - to the bottom of the beam, and chipped out and replaced fractured or worn-out support elements.

'They put on some splints in order to open the line; they performed a partial corrective solution,' Lopez Meza said. 'There should have been a total shutdown of the line and lots of inspections, which would have cost more.'

Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum refused Tuesday to speculate on the possible cause of the collapse, promising a thorough investigation and pledging, 'We will not hide anything.' She promised something the subway line hasn't gotten in almost a decade since its problematic birth: a detailed structural inspection.

To be fair, Mexico City's subway, which serves 4.6 million riders every day, has never had the one thing it needs most: money. With ticket prices stuck at 25 cents per ride, one of the lowest rates in the world, the system has never come close to paying its own costs, and depends on massive government subsidies.

Lopez Meza is sure about one thing.

'We will never know the truth,' Lopez Meza said. 'They are going to look for a scapegoat, the least important person, and they're going to go after him.'
President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook smile during an online meeting with a group of elementary school students, at Cheong Wa Dae, May 5 (Children's Day). Yonhap



President Moon Jae-in held an online meeting with a group of elementary school students on the occasion of Children's Day.



He joined the event from his Cheong Wa Dae office on Tuesday, together with first lady Kim Jung-sook, and a related video clip was released Wednesday, which marks the 99th Children's Day in South Korea.



Invited to the meeting were all 38 students at Doseong Elementary School in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. Located in the county, 180 kilometers east of Seoul, the tiny school is known for its play-at-school program.



"Children's Day is a day when children are the protagonist of the world," Moon told the kids.






An Austrian prince will be investigated over allegations he illegally shot and killed what is believed to be Romania's largest brown bear during a trophy hunt in the country's Carpathian Mountains in March, Romanian authorities said Wednesday.

Prince Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein was granted a four-day hunting permit in March in Romania's Covasna County and on March 13 he 'harvested' a 17-year-old male bear, for which he allegedly paid the princely sum of 7,000 euros (6,042), according to official hunting documents seen by The Associated Press.

The prince, who is a resident of Riegersburg in Austria and from the Liechtensteins royal family, is reported to have 'wrongly' killed the massive male bear during the trophy hunt.

He had been given special approval by the Romanian environment ministry to shoot a female brown bear - but instead he killed the male bear known as 'Arthur', environmental groups claim.

Prince Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein had been given special approval by the Romanian environment ministry to shoot a female brown bear - but instead he killed the male bear known as 'Arthur' (pictured in October 2019), environmental groups claim

Romania's National Environment Guard (NEG) launched a probe on April 29 into the death of a bear from a protected species in central Romania after noticing documents were missing, NEG senior official Octavian Berceanu said. He added that poaching is one of the suspicions in the case.

'We knew that a female bear was supposed to be extracted, but we afterwards found a (dead) male bear,' Berceanu said.

Environment Minister Tanczos Barna, who oversees the NEG, said a hunting permit had been issued to shoot a female bear in Covasna because she was a nuisance to residents, but did not say to whom the permit was issued.

'All of the papers from National Environmental Guard will go to the police,' Berceanu said, referring to a branch of the ministry.

Berceanu also said that some official papers that are required after a bear kill are missing.

'The local environment agency should inform the Environmental Guard after the shooting, but this didn't happen,' Berceanu said.

Agent Green, an environmental nongovernmental organization that monitored the large male bear they called 'Arthur' for nine years, says that it lived 'deep in the wild' and had no contact with human settlements.

'Arthur was 17 years old and was the largest brown bear seen in Romania and probably in the European Union,' Agent Green president Gabriel Paun said in a statement.

The sheet confirming the bear's measurements, published by Agent Green and Austrian branch of Association Against Animal Factories (VGT), named 'Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein' - a Liechtenstein royal who lives in Austria - as the hunter.

The will be investigated over allegations he illegally shot and killed what is believed to be Romania's largest brown bear during a trophy hunt in the country's Carpathian Mountains (pictured in file photo) in March, Romanian authorities said Wednesday

'NGOs Agent Green and VGT are condemning the killing of the brown bear Arthur by the trophy hunter Prince Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein who came to Romania in March to shoot him,' they said.

Repeated attempts to contact the prince's estate were unsuccessful. Switzerland's Blick newspaper quoted the prince as saying he wouldn't comment on the matter.

Romania officially banned trophy hunting in 2016, but hunting permits for 'problematic' bears - ones that damage things such as farm crops or domestic animals - can be issued to hunting associations but only as a last resort, after relocation measures fail. These permits are then sold to trophy hunters.

But Agent Green claims that the environment authorities issued the hunting permit based on a complaint about a 'problematic' cub-rearing female bear that had caused damage in the village of Ojdula in Transylvania last summer.

'It was always about shooting the biggest bear and not about solving the problem of the community,' Gabriel Paun, president of Agent Green, told the AP.

'I wonder how the prince mistook the biggest male living deep in the wild against the much smaller female next to the village.'

Due to Arthur the brown bear's large size, it was considered in hunting parlance a 'Golden' trophy, prized specimens which can fetch upward of 20,000 euros (nearly 17,259).

'Every farmer I spoke to in the village of Ojdula said that nothing had changed since the male bear was shot and that the female bear continues to come daily to the households. This is poaching as the prince shot the wrong bear - it was murder,' Paun said.

Environment Minister Barna Tanczos told local media on Wednesday that determining whether the correct bear was killed was 'extremely complicated.'

A petition launched yesterday by Agent Green calling for a total trophy hunting ban in Romania has garnered more than 13,000 signatures.

For brown bear expert Csaba Domokos of the nature conservation NGO Milvus Group, the killing of Arthur 'is nothing exceptional.' He also said that for many hunters, killing a female with cubs would go against hunting 'ethics.'

'The hunting associations use damages as a pretext to shoot the trophy bears. The exceptions are the cases when they use it to shoot a problematic bear,' Domokos told The Associated Press.

'They just get someone from a village to give some evidence that there was a bear causing problems . then a (hunting permit) is given out and they just go and shoot a big bear because they get more money than shooting a smaller one,' he said.

Romania is home to Europe's biggest population of brown bears, officially around 6,000. But some scientists dispute these figures claiming that the methodology behind the count was inadequate.

The killing of the large carnivore took place in a protected Natura 2000 Site, areas of special natural interest and home to some of Europe's most valuable and threatened species, protected under EU law.

'The current law is poor, there are too many gray areas and it's facilitating trophy hunters to come to Romania,' Paun said.

'At the moment anyone can make a fake complaint about a bear and send it to a hunting association who will do all the necessary work to obtain a hunting permit - then a hunter comes and shoots any bear they wish.'
The Biden administration for the first time Tuesday reunited a family separated under Donald Trump's 'zero tolerance' immigration policies.

A mother-and-son duo, identified by the Today Show as Sandra and Bryan, were able to see each other for the first time in three years.

The reunification was caught on camera with the two embracing each other and crying.

Sandra and Bryan were the first family to be reunited under President Joe Biden's initiative to get the more than 1,000 families still separated during the previous policies back together.

Three other families are being reunited this week  it is known at least one of those families is another mother and child who fled to the U.S. from Honduras.

The first family was reunited Tuesday that had been separated under Donald Trump's 'zero tolerance' immigration policies in 2017

Sweet Reunion: Sandra and her son Bryan were able to embrace on Tuesday for the first time in more than three years

Bryan told the Today Show before the reunion with his mom that he was told three days before he would get to see her again. 'It was really  hard to grow up without a mom,' he said. 'Like let's say when I graduated she wasn't here and my birthday she wasn't there'

Sandra and Bryan crossed into the U.S. illegally in 2017 and under then-President Trump's policies were separated. Bryan was sent to shelter for minors and Sandra was eventually deported back to her home country of Mexico.

Bryan was released from the shelter into the custody of family members in the U.S. He graduated from an American high school and is now looking to help others in his position.

At the time of apprehension, Bryan was 15 and his lawyers told NBC News his mother decided to flee with him after cartels who had kidnapped and murder Bryan's father and uncle and were demanding he join their gang.

'It's just a really cruel experience that I just hope no one has to go through,' Bryan said.

'It was really  hard to grow up without a mom,' he continued. 'Like let's say when I graduated she wasn't here and my birthday she wasn't there.'

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas revealed Sunday night that four families of the estimated 1,000 that remain separated will be reunited this week.

Bryan's lawyers say when he was 15 the two fled to the U.S. from Mexico in 2017 after cartel members who kidnapped and killed his father and uncle demanded he join the gang

NEW: Bryan and his mom were separated by Trump admin and didnt see each other for 3+ years  until yesterday. Theyre the first of what Biden admin hopes will be over 1,000 reunions. After graduating HS early, Bryan is now working to help others like him. pic.twitter.com/OcVObnzDBE  Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) May 5, 2021

He described the range of children from 3-years-old at the time of separation to 'teenagers who have had to live without their parent during their most formative years.'

The administration is trying to amend the crisis at the border where minor migrant facilities saw overcrowding by sometimes more than 2,000 per cent capacity.

Customs and Border Protection, DHS announced, had 677 unaccompanied children in custody over the weekend compared to the record 5,767 the agency had in its custody on March 28  an 88 percent decrease.

'The Family Reunification Task Force has been working day and night, across the federal government and with counsel for the families and our foreign partners, to address the prior administration's cruel separation of children from their parents,' Mayorkas said in a statement announcing the family reunification.

'Today is just the beginning,' he added. 'We are reuniting the first group of families, many more will follow, and we recognize the importance of providing these families with the stability and resources they need to heal.

Over the weekend, a group of migrant children started arriving at the Pomona Fairplex fairgrounds in southern California, which the Biden administration has set up as temporary housing for unaccompanied minors who arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Officials say these children, ranging in age from 7 to 14, will remain at the site until they can be reunited with family or placed with sponsors.

Joe Biden's administration announced over the weekend it would begin reuniting families this week who were separated when crossing the border under Donald Trump's 'zero tolerance' immigration policies. Here an immigrant mother carries her children into the U.S. after crossing illegally from Mexico

Four of the 1,000 families who remain separated will be reunited this week as Biden's Family Reunification Task Force charges forward with starting the process. Pictured: Migrant families overcrowded in a U.S. border facility in McAllen, Texas in June 2019

The Fairplex can house up to 2,500 minors

It is not immediately clear how DHS selected these four families to be reunited first and the agency has not yet responded to a request for more information from DailyMail.com.

The president promised during his campaign that he would reunite families separated after crossing the border and created a task force shortly after taking office dedicated to reunification.

Mayorkas, who heads the task force on reuniting separated families, told reporters Sunday: 'Our team is dedicated to finding every family and giving them an opportunity to reunite and heal.'

'We continue to work tirelessly to reunite many more children with their parents in the weeks and months ahead,' he said during the call. 'We have a lot of work still to do, but I am proud of the progress we have made and the reunifications that we have helped to achieve this week.'

The administration's Family Reunification Task Force Executive Director Michelle Brane said the parents will return to the U.S. on humanitarian parole as authorities consider longer-term legal status.

Under Trump's policies, families arriving at the border were separated into different facilities, upon which time most parents and adults were deported, while children were kept in federal custody.

Now, Biden will begin the process of allowing parents who were previously deported to return to the U.S. to be with their children.

Record numbers of illegal immigrants continue to cross into the U.S. as Biden promises no unaccompanied children will be turned away and said during his campaign he would accept all asylum-seekers. Here a smuggler paddles immigrants across the Rio Grande River on April 30

Starting in the summer of 2017, Trump implemented 'zero-tolerance' policies to easier criminally prosecute illegal immigrants, which led to more than 5,000 children being separated from their parents. The practices officially ended by court order in June 2018.

Brane believes there are still 1,000 families who are separated.

Despite the reunification process kicking off this week, the Biden administration is still facing its biggest issues at the southern border.

In recent months, Biden has seen record-numbers of illegal immigrants crossing as he vowed during his campaign all asylum-seekers would have a place in the U.S.

There are also tens of thousands of unaccompanied minor children in federal custody after public messaging from the White House promised not to turn away any children arriving at the border without an adult.

The new Pomona Fairplex migrant holding facility has a capacity to hold 2,500 children. The new measure comes after the Long Beach Convention Center in Los Angeles also opened its doors to house unaccompanied minors.

'These children as you know have endured abuse, persecution, deep poverty, and violence and they are simply seeking refuge,' LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis said Thursday, according to KTLA.

The Pomona and Long Beach centers are meant as a temporary means to house the hundreds of minor migrants apprehended every day at the southern border without an adult accompanying them.

Migrants from Northern Triangle countries continue to take dangerous measures to get into the U.S.

Four people were killed and more than two dozen others were hospitalized Sunday after a boat capsized and broke apart in rough water just off the San Diego coast during a suspected human smuggling operation, authorities said.

Smugglers continue dangerous tactics to get immigrants to the U.S. Four people were killed and nearly two dozen others were hospitalized after a boat capsized Sunday just off the San Diego coast

Video footage shot by horrified beachgoers shows the boat tipping over in the water before breaking apart as it was battered by the waves and rocks.

Lifeguards, the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies responded around 10 a.m. following reports of an overturned vessel in the waves near the rugged peninsula of Point Loma, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

The original call was for a handful of people overboard but as rescuers arrived in boats and jet skis they quickly realized 'it was going to be a bigger situation with more people,' said San Diego Lifeguard Services Lt. Rick Romero.

'There are people in the water, drowning, getting sucked out the rip current there,' he said. 'Once we arrived on scene, the boat had basically been broken apart. Conditions were pretty rough: 5 to 6 feet of surf, windy, cold.'
A Texas county's Democratic Party has sparked outrage by refusing the resignation of the chairman who called Republican Tim Scott an 'Oreo'.

Gary OConnor, the Lamar County Democratic Party chairman, said he was 'deeply sorry' for using the 'racist term' and announced his plans to step down.

But his colleagues then issued their own statement to MyParisTexas.com saying: 'Our local Democrats have taken the last few days to reflect upon this incident.

'After much discussion  especially among our local [b]lack Democrats  we chose not to accept Mr. OConnors resignation'.

'Mr. OConnor has written a public letter of apology to Sen. Tim Scott, and Lamar County Democrats join him in this apology,' the statement added.

The party said O'Connor had been with the organization for seven years and his 'life of service, collaboration, and activism for racial justice is well known throughout this community.

'His recent remark is incompatible with his core values,' they insisted.

O'Connor wrote the Facebook post in response to Scotts rebuttal to President Joe Bidens first address to a joint session of Congress last Wednesday.

Gary OConnor, the Lamar County Democratic Party chairman in Texas, said he was 'deeply sorry' for using the 'racist' term and announced his plans to step down. But his colleagues have refused his resignation

OConnor wrote on Facebook: I had hoped that Scott might show some common sense, but it seems clear he is little more than an Oreo with no real principles'

Scott, the only black Republican in the United States Senate, was chosen by the GOP to give a response to the presidents address. The senator from South Carolina said that the United States is not a racist country.

OConnor wrote on Facebook: I had hoped that Scott might show some common sense, but it seems clear he is little more than an Oreo with no real principles.

Oreo is a reference to the famous sandwich cookie made by Nabisco. It consists of two dark-colored wafers separated by a white, creme filling.

In a racial context, Oreo refers to a black person who is perceived as 'acting white.'

House Rep. Pat Fallon, a Republican from Texas, put out a statement last week demanding that OConnor resign.

'Gary OConnor's comment against Senator Tim Scott is abhorrent, insulting, and unforgivable,' Fallon said.

'Both he and the entire Lamar County Democratic Party should be ashamed of this racist behavior.

He has yet to comment on the decision to let O'Connor keep his position.

'This kind of behavior is not tolerable in Texas, the United States, or any political party,' he added.

Scotts rebuttal speech and the response to his remarks from Democratic-leaning Twitter users have sparked controversy, particularly after the term Uncle Tim was trending for about 12 hours.

The three-term South Carolinian angered Democrats and their supporters when he denied that America was a racist country.

Biden reacted to Scott's remarks by saying that while he doesn't think the American people are racist, African Americans have been left 'so far behind the eight ball in terms of education and health, in terms of opportunity.'

Vice President Kamala Harris also agreed with Scott, saying that while America is not a 'racist country,' the nation needed to 'speak the truth' about its history.

Another prominent black politician from South Carolina, Democratic House Majority Whip James Clyburn, told The Washington Post on Friday that he agreed with Scott's assessment that the US is not a racist country.

'I agree with him on that,' said Clyburn, the third most powerful Democrat in the House whose endorsement of Biden during the party primaries last year is thought to have helped turn the tide in favor of the former vice president.

'I dont think a racist country would have elected Barack Obama as president, or Kamala Harris as vice president.

'Thats not the issue, thats a red herring. The issue is they allow the jurisdictions in this country that have institutionalized the history and legacy of race.

Another prominent black politician from South Carolina, Democratic House Majority Whip James Clyburn (seen left on February 25, 2019), told The Washington Post on Friday that he agreed with Scott's assessment that the US is not a racist country. Vice President Kamala Harris (right) also agreed with Scott, saying that while America is not a 'racist country,' the nation needed to 'speak the truth' about its history

'Thats what is happening.'

In an interview with Fox News on Saturday, Clyburn defended his comments in support of Scott.

He told the network that America is 'not about being perfect, but when you see a fault repair it.'

'We got a fault today in our law enforcement. Lets repair it. Theres a fault today with 47 states now coming out with these voter suppression laws.

Scott and Republicans were outraged on Wednesday after the senator from South Carolina was referred to as 'Uncle Tim' by Democratic-leaning supporters on Twitter. The term was trending on Twitter for some 12 hours before it was taken down on Thursday morning. A spokesperson for Twitter told Fox News that an algorithm allowed the term to trend

Author Yvette Nicole Brown said: 'Uncle Tim lost me when he said Biden was dividing us after he had sat quietly while Tang destroyed this country for four years. #BoyBye'

'Come on, United States of America, let's repair that.'

Clyburn is urging Congress to pass legislation that would reform policing in America as well as secure voting rights.

Scott appeared on CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday during which he said 'thank goodness' that Biden, Harris, and Clyburn agree with him.

'America is not a racist country,' Scott said on Sunday.

'The question is, is there a lingering effect after a couple of centuries of racism and discrimination in this nation? The answer is absolutely.

'The question we should be debating and fighting over is how do we resolve those issues going forward.

'One side says "I'm going to take from some to give to others." Fighting bigotry with bigotry is hypocrisy. It just doesn't work.

'The second - our side, what I've suggested is let's expand opportunity and make sure that we are fully equipped for the challenges of the future.'

Scott has accused the left of 'hypocrisy' following their attacks on his Wednesday night rebuttal of Biden's speech to Congress, saying the slurs left him saddened, but more convinced than ever that he was right to be a Republican.

He was mocked on Twitter as 'Uncle Tim', a play on the 'Uncle Tom' racial slur, used to describe black people who were too deferential to whites.

Twitter took 12 hours to remove the term from its trending list, and on on Thursday night Scott asked where the left-wing outrage was at the racial slur.

Policy analyst Javon Price Flagsaid: 'The fact that 'Uncle Tim' is trending on Twitter tells you all you need to know about the left'

Conservative writer Carmine Sabia: 'Not stunned that Uncle Tim is trending because how dare even one black person not follow the Democrats like the Pied Piper. How dare Sen. Tim Scott have his own opinions and principles?'

Yale professor Phillip Atiba Goff said: 'White people. Please do not use terms like Aunt Jemima, coon, and Uncle Tom. It's gross and racist and not the thing you seem to think it is. Even if you live in Brooklyn. Especially if you live in Brooklyn'

'It is really saddening to see that what the left is doing is fighting bigotry with bigotry,' Scott told Sean Hannity on Fox News.

'They have expose their hypocrisy and their true motivation,' he said.

'It has nothing to do with ending prejudice. It has everything to do with claiming or getting more power.

'Uncle Tom' is derived from an 1852 novel: It's become an offensive racial caricature The term Uncle Tom is derived from the lead character of white abolitionist author Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1852 novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. Uncle Tom is a gentle character, a smiling, wide-eyed servant who offered no resistance to the horrors of slavery. Described as the most enduring fictional slave, he later became 'synonymous with servility and self-hatred', according to a 2008 NPR documentary Why African-Americans Loathe 'Uncle Tom'. According to the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, the Tom caricature 'is often old, physically weak, psychologically dependent on whites for approval'. Uncle Tom's Cabin sold over two million copies within two years of its publication. Advertisement

'I have never seen such power grab and using people in such a despicable way.'

Speaking directly after Biden's maiden address to Congress, Scott gave his party and its former leader, ex-President Donald Trump, credit for the COVID response - saying Biden had 'inherited a tide that had already turned' - while blasting Democrats for prolonged closures of schools and churches.

Scott also defended the GOP-backed Georgia voting bill, blasting Democrats for lying about the controversial legislation and labeling it 'mainstream.'

The South Carolina Republican started out his remarks, delivered elsewhere in the U.S. Capitol, by saying Biden 'seems like a good man,' and adding that his 'speech was full of good words.'

'But President Biden promised you a specific kind of leadership. He promised to unite a nation.

'To lower the temperature. To govern for all Americans, no matter how we voted. That was the pitch. You just heard it again,' Scott said. 'But our nation is starving for more than empty platitudes.'

Scott blasted Biden and the Democrats for 'pulling us further apart.'

Scott, who is facing re-election in 2022, said that it was a depressing spectacle.

'It is really disheartening to see the left response, and frankly even Twitter's response to racism and racial slurs.

'If it comes from the left, and must be okay according to Twitter's response 12 hours later.'

Scott said he was confident there would soon be a 'backlash' to the 'paternalism' of the left.

'What we are seeing happen is this response from good intentioned people who happen to be black, who happen to be Hispanic, who happened to be white, who happen to be Asian, rising up and saying you won't tell me what to think.

'I'm going to decide that for myself.

'There is a coming backlash to this liberal oppression that is becoming front and center.'

Scott, 55, also said that he was frequently attacked by liberals for his skin color.

'Intolerance so often comes from the left with words like Uncle Tim and the n-word being used against me,' Scott said.

'And last night what was trending in social media was Uncle Tim, and they doubled down on this concept of liberal oppression.

'It is stunning in 2021 that those who speak about ending discrimination want to end it by more discrimination.

'The left has doubled down that they are going to, not attack my policies, but they're literally attacking the color of my skin.'
A New Jersey school nurse has been suspended from her job after claiming masks were child abuse, and refusing to wear one herself.

Erin Pein, 35, had refused to wear a mask to school for two days in April as a form of protest against the Strafford Township School District's mask mandate, and was suspended without pay on April 20.

Speaking to Republican gubernatorial candidate Hirsh Singh: 'I think the mask mandate is 100 percent child abuse.'

Pein also said she had witnessed young children suffering from severe anxiety and depression during the pandemic, and it's 'heartbreaking' to witness their anguish.

The nurse said in a separate interview with Fox & Friends on Wednesday that she was 'deeply concerned' that the children in the Strafford Township School District were wearing the masks 'incorrectly.'

'I've seen kids come in with all kinds of dirty masks, the same masks for weeks, surgical masks that have food and dirt on them,' she said, recounting how one student had been 'shockingly' wearing a bandana as a mask for two weeks straight.

Erin Pein told 'Fox & Friends' on Wednesday that she was 'deeply concerned' that the children in the Strafford Township School District were wearing the masks 'incorrectly'

Pein said the student told her he could not take his mask off, and she thought, 'How could this be? This kid sleeping and showering in this mask for two weeks.'

The child was unable to get the mask off, she said, 'so we actually had to cut it off and throw it away.'

In another instance, Pein said, a young girl came to the nurse's office crying.

'She had vomited in class,' Pein said. 'I pulled her mask off, it was full of vomit.'

Pein told Singh that she felt sad that the child had to wear the vomit-filled mask down the hallway as she walked to the nurse's office.

'They shouldn't have this problem,' Pein told Singh. 'It's harmful, it's dangerous.'

She said children 'learn how to be adults by recognizing faces and facial expressions' and 'masks were never supposed to be used this way.'

Pein, a nurse for 13 years, has three children of her own who all wear masks to school.

She explained that people should wash their hands before they put on masks and should only touch the ear loops, as the front of the mask can get filled with bacteria.

Masks should also be placed in a sealed bag, she told New Jersey 101.5, and 'you want to inspect it when you take it off.'

'Look at it,' she said. 'Make sure it doesn't have any moisture on it, it doesn't have any dirty spots, doesn't have any food on it.'

She also questioned the effectiveness of the masks at preventing COVID, and said children should not have to worry about wearing masks, as they are less likely to die from the respiratory virus.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children accounted for 0.21 percent of all COVID-19 related deaths, and 10 states reported zero child deaths.

Of the states surveyed in the report, only 0.03 percent of all child COVID cases resulted in death, although the disease remains dangerous for children with underlying conditions.

It can also trigger an inflammatory disorder called Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), which can prove fatal if left untreated.

And while children are at lower risk of serious COVID symptoms, they can still pass on the virus to adults who are more likely to get seriously-ill with it.

A Facebook page has been set up in support of Pein, pictured, after she was suspended from her job for claiming masks were harmful to children and refusing to wear one herself

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy issued an order last year that mandated students who return to in-person learning in school buildings wear a mask at all times. Parents who did not want their children to wear a mask while in school had the option of learning remotely.

She expressed her concerns to her supervisor, she said, but 'they just bluntly told me we are going to be following the mandates put in place by Gov. Murphy and that includes wearing masks.'

'I let them know that, as a nurse, I don't feel comfortable enforcing something that I can see and know that is harming someone.'

So instead, Pein said, she decided to stage her own form of protest - and refused to wear a mask.

She went into her job without one for two days before being told on April 20 that she would be suspended without pay.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Stafford Township School District for comment. School board attorney Martin Buckley has previously told The Hill that the school district cannot comment on personnel issues.

'Unfortunately, it is a personnel matter and I do not have the ability to comment or discuss the matter, nor can I discuss any of the information that Ms. Pein has already chosen to make public,' he said in a statement.

The school board is set to determine Pein's future in the district on May 10, when her supporters have planned a protest of her suspension.

The Strafford Township School District sent out a letter to parents on May 4 informing them about a planned 'Unmask our Kids' protest in support of Pein

A Facebook page has been set up in support of Pein, which accepts donations for her, and Strafford Township School District Officials sent a letter out to parents on May 4 to make them aware about the upcoming 'Unmask Our Kids' protest.

'In collaboration with the Strafford Township Police Department, we are aksing that this protest remains peaceful and organized for the health and safety of our students, staff and community,' George Chidiac, the superintendent, wrote in the letter, noting that the district has set up three designated protest areas.

Anyone who enters one of the buildings, the Strafford Township Performing Arts Center will be expected to wear masks, he said, 'unless they have a doctor's note exempting them from such.'

'Our number one priority is everyone's safety and well-being,' he said. 'We are taking every precautionary measure to ensure this is a peaceful protest.'




The mother of a teenage boy shot dead in Seattle's CHOP autonomous zone says the 'summer of love' hailed by city mayor Jenny Durkan became 'a summer of blood.'

Donnitta Sinclair launched a furious attack on Durkan, as well as Seattle's Emergency Services, Police Department, City Council and the State of Washington over her 19 year-old son Horace Lorenzo Anderson's murder in CHOP in 2020.

Speaking in a federal wrongful lawsuit filed against Durkan and multiple official agencies last month, Sinclair says: 'Considering the more than adequate knowledge of the danger and violence associated with the CHOP area, Seattle leaders failed Lorenzo and the community.

'The summer of love predictably became the summer of blood.

'Only after the preventable death of Lorenzo and others did Mayor Durkan finally announce Seattle would take back CHOP.'

19-year-old Horace Lorenzo Anderson (pictured) died after he was shot four times within Seattle's CHOP zone last summer

Anderson, a rapper known as 'Lil Mo,' was shot dead while visiting CHOP in the early hours of June 20.

Anderson's trip to the seven block police-free zone set up in one of Seattle's most desirable neighborhoods in the wake of George Floyd's murder allegedly saw him clash with Marcel Long.

Long is said to have been held back by friends after he and Anderson, who had graduated from high school the day before, exchanged words.

He allegedly shot his rival dead minutes later.

Long fled the scene shortly afterwards, and is yet to be apprehended.

The federal civil rights lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Lorenzo Anderson Estate, alleges that Seattle Police Department, Seattle Emergency Medical Services, and Seattle city officials were negligent and 'breached the duty of reasonable care' in failing to care for Anderson after he was shot four times within the CHOP area.

Donnitta Sinclair, left, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkin, right, and others over the June 2020 murder of her son Horace Lorenzo Brown in the city's CHOP zone

Horace Lorenzo Anderson, 19, was killed last June during the Black Lives Matter protest (pictured) in the wake of the George Floyd murder

CHOP saw seven blocks of Seattle's desirable Capitol Hill neighborhood become an 'autonomous zone' for almost a month, leaving police too scared to enter it

The suit claims that Seattle Police and Seattle Fire responders were only two blocks away from where Anderson lay bleeding after being shot but 'failed to assist because of botched communication between the two city agencies and lack of sufficient planning and preparation.'

Seattle's Fire Department previously claimed it was too dangerous for them to enter CHOP without a police escort, with the lawsuit claiming that decision wasted time that could have saved Anderson's life.

The suit continues: 'Lorenzo Horace Daeshawn WRONGFUL DEATH was the result of the negligence of many. Essentially the system let him down...

'This WRONGFUL DEATH was both PREVENTABLE & PREDICTABLE.'

The suit also alleges that Long shot Anderson because he knew the area was a cop-free zone when he is said to have fired the four shots that killed Anderson around 2:19am.

Bodycam footage released by the Seattle Police Department shows several officers enter the CHOP zone to reach Anderson as protestors yell at them to put their guns down

911 was called immediately by civilians who were attempting to treat Anderson and pleading with medics to rush to Anderson's aide, the Seattle Times reported.

By 2:29am ambulances and fire vehicles sat a block and a half way waiting for police clearance to enter the CHOP zone and were told to wait for police officials to give them the all clear to enter.

In the 20 minutes it took for first responders to finally reach a dying Anderson, police, EMS and fire responders miscommunicated locations and procedures to provide Anderson medical attention, the suit alleges.

By 2:39 am police moved into the CHOP zone and at 2:45 am Anderson was pronounced dead at a local hospital he was brought to by civilians.

The suit, which is seeking unspecified damages, says that Seattle EMT was less than a minute away as Anderson bled out and Seattle Police were less than five minutes away.

'Essentially Lorenzo (Anderson) was left to die' the claim says.

After the shooting, Seattle Police Department released a statement that said they were met with a violent crowd that prevented officers safe access Anderson.

The police said they had bodycam footage that showing several officers enter the CHOP zone as protestors yelling at them to put their guns down.

By the time officers entered the CHOP zone, Anderson had already be transported to a local hospital by a civilian.

Marcel Long, pictured, is accused of shooting Anderson dead, and remains at large

Anderon's dad Lorenzo Anderson Sr, pictured, filed a separate $3 billion lawsuit against the City of Seattle over his son's alleged wrongful death in August 2020

Autopsy reports revealed that although Anderson suffered four gunshot wounds, to his knee, buttocks, hand and shoulder, and suggested he could have been saved had he been treated earlier.

'The people and institutions we entrust to protect public safety must not be rewarded for their incompetence, indifference and inaction leading to the wrongful death of citizens.'

Attorney Evan Oshan, who is representing Sinclair, said in a statement. 'They need to be held accountable for their contemptible conduct that encouraged lawlessness to reign. Justice will reign and the negligent governmental actions will be held accountable.'

CHOP - previously known as CHAZ (Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone) was finally cleared by July 1.

A total of five people were shot during the CHOP protest, with 16 year-old Antonio Mays Jr also killed on June 16. The three other men shot survived their injuries.

Seattle City Attorney's Office said Wednesday that the city intends to fight the lawsuit.

Anderson's father Horace Anderson Sr, 50, filed a separate $3 billion lawsuit against the City of Seattle last August.
Bill Gates transferred $1.8billion in stock to his wife Melinda the day they announced their divorce in what appears to be the first of many public transactions the pair will make as they start to divide up their extraordinary assets.

The Microsoft founder is the fourth richest man in the world with an estimated fortune of $130billion. He and Melinda have been married for 27 years and have three adult children, but announced in a joint statement on Monday they were parting ways.

She said in court filings that the marriage was 'irretrievably broken'.

The pair's divorce settlement hasn't been finalized in court but they have agreed on a some of the terms of their separation. It's likely that the pair will settle privately, and that the only glimpses into their division of assets will come from SEC filings about how many shares they own in public companies.

One such filing on Monday revealed that Bill gave Melinda more than 14million shares of the Canadian National Railway Company worth $1.5billion. He also gave her 2.9 million shares of AutoNation.

The shares were transferred from Cascade Investment LLC, an investment company controlled by Gates.

On Monday, one such filing revealed that Bill gave Melinda more than 14million shares of the Canadian National Railway Company worth $1.5billion. He also gave her 2.9 million shares of AutoNation

The two companies Bill has given Melinda stock in this week are Canadian National Railway and AutoNation, above. They are a drop in the bucket of what she is likely to receive in their division of $130bn in assets

He knew Munger from their time at Berkshire Hathaway, Warren Buffett's holding company, where Bill served on the board for 16 years and where Munger remains Vice Chairman.

Munger's expertise is not in family law but in business.

Melinda has also hired a powerhouse batch of attorneys to represent her.

What specifically prompted their divorce is unclear. Melinda has previously described Bill's hesitancy over getting married in the early 1990s.

In her petition for divorce, Melinda says spousal support is 'not needed' - meaning she won't seek regular payments from Bill but take a settlement which is likely to be privately negotiated, if it hasn't already been decided upon.

Lawyers are shocked there was no prenup, given Bill had already made his first billion dollars at the age of 31 in 1987 - the same year he met Melinda. Now, their myriad assets are up for grabs.

The couple met in 1987 - the same year Bill became the world's youngest billionaire at the age of 31 - married in Hawaii in 1994, and have three children together: Jennifer, 25, Rory, 21, and Phoebe 18.

They also established the world's largest charitable foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in 2000 which has contributed more than $50billion to causes including eradicating polio and malaria. The foundation has also been a major investor in coronavirus treatments.

Melinda filed a petition for divorce from Bill on Monday in the Superior Court of Washington - King County. In the petition (pictured) she described their marriage as 'irretrievably broken'

The couple are pictured with their three kids in a 2019 family photo. The kids - Jennifer (center), Rory (right) and Phoebe (left) are now aged 25, 21 and 18

In a joint statement posted to their Twitter accounts on Monday, the pair said their work with the foundation will continue but their marriage will not, adding: 'We no longer feel we are able to grow as a couple in this next phase of our lives.'

While the couple have no prenup, it appears a lot of the work of dividing up their estate - which includes properties in five states, a private jet, an astonishing art collection and a fleet of luxury cars - has already been done, as their divorce papers repeatedly refer to a 'separation contract' which both have signed. The contract itself has not been made public.

The documents, which were obtained by DailyMail.com, came to light after the couple's eldest daughter revealed their family has been going through a 'challenging stretch of time'.

Jennifer Gates, 25, spoke out about the divorce announcement on Instagram on Monday afternoon, writing: 'I'm still learning how to best support my own process and emotions as well as my family members at this time and am grateful for the space to do so.'
Barry Morphew is seen in his mugshot after he was arrested for the murder of his wife Suzanne on Wednesday

New video captured the moment Barry Morphew was arrested by police over the murder of his missing wife, Suzanne.

The 52-year-old landscaping boss was handcuffed by the side of a road near his home in Pocha Springs, Colorado, on Wednesday morning - almost a year to the day after Suzanne vanished.

He is now being held in Chaffee County Jail on charges of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and attempting to influence a public official.

Suzanne, 49, disappeared without a trace on May 10 last year after reportedly setting off on a solo bike ride from the home she shared with Barry near Salida.

Video shared with KDVR shows Barry standing at the side of the road talking with a police officer during his arrest around 9am on Wednesday.

Barry's white truck was also seen in the short clip, which was captured by a driver who happened to be traveling along the road at the time the arrest occurred.

The husband of missing Colorado mom Suzanne Morphew has been charged with her murder almost one year after she vanished without trace on Mother's Day. Barry and Suzanne together

Meanwhile, Barry was photographed with a mystery woman on two separate occasions back in February, DailyMail.com can now exclusively reveal.

Photos taken that month show the father-of-two enjoying dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Salida with the younger redhead before dropping her off at a nearby hotel.

The pair were seen again two days later having an animated conversation in his distinctive white truck outside the Salida Comfort Inn.

Suzanne was reported missing on May 10 last year, with police subsequently searching the $1.5 million mansion she shared with Barry.

Investigators also scoured a plot of land close to Poncha Springs where cadaver dogs picked up the scent of human remains during a search organized by Suzanne's brother Andy Moorman in September

Barry Morphew was photographed with a mystery woman just two months before he was arrested and charged with missing wife Suzanne's murder, DailyMail.com can reveal

Exclusive photos taken in late February show the father-of-two enjoying dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Salida with the younger redhead before dropping her off at a nearby hotel

The identify of the mystery woman with Barry is unknown

Barry's distinctive white drunk was seen sitting outside of a Mexican restaurant as he and a mystery woman grabbed food

The pair were seen again two days later, having an animated conversation in his distinctive white truck outside the Salida Comfort Inn

DailyMail.com revealed that the land - which Barry sold in February - was then dug up by FBI search teams, although no body was found.

Barry has now moved into a modest condo in Poncha Springs.

Photos taken by DailyMail.com in February show he has continued to work on his landscaping business and was pictured driving an excavator on a site behind his new home the same month.

On Wednesday, Barry was taken into police custody on three separate charges. He will make his first court appearance on Thursday morning.

His arrest comes despite the fact that investigators have not found Suzanne's body.

In a press conference held Wednesday evening, Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze and District Attorney Linda Stanley defended their investigation from criticism that it has taken almost 12 months for detectives to make an arrest, and insisted that their case was strong.

The pair admitted that they do not know Suzanne's cause of death, but implied that they have knowledge of an 'incident' that led to her killing.

Barry's arrested affidavit remains sealed amid the ongoing investigation, and he has retained legal counsel ahead of his court appearance.

Barry has long insisted he had nothing to do with his wife's disappearance but Suzanne's brother has said he believes him responsible

Barry and Suzanne pictured together with their daughters Mallory and Macy in a social media snap taken several years ago

Last month, Barry sold off the $1.5million family home he shared with Suzanne (pictured). The home was twice searched by investigators, and was reportedly the last place Suzanne had been before she set off on a bike ride on May 10 last year

A map shows the distance between Morphew's home and where a personal item belonging to the missing mom was discovered

Court documents posted online show that all three charges are for offenses dated May 10, 2020, the day Suzanne disappeared. This indicates police believe she was murdered that day.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Barry faces up to life in prison.

Suzanne's sister Melinda Moorman told FOX 21 the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office had told the family about Barry's arrest that morning.

Moorman said her first reaction was 'relief' to finally have answers over her sister's disappearance and that the family was 'so grateful' for the 'tireless' work of investigators on the case.

'Today, justice is beginning for my sister. It's been a journey that no one ever imagines that they'll take,' she said.

'I want the world to know that my sister was the darling of our family. She was the rose among thorns. That's what I used to call her.'

She added that she still loves her brother-in-law in a message to Suzanne's daughters, as she said she wanted to tell them: 'I'm here for you.'

'I love your dad even though he's done a terrible thing,' she said.

Barry has long maintained his innocence, issuing a bizarre video online in the days after she went missing pleading with her to come home and saying: 'Honey, I love you and I want you back so bad' (above)

Suzanne, 49, disappeared on May 10 last year after reportedly setting off on a bike ride from the home she shared with Barry in Salida, Chaffee County

Barry and Suzanne are pictured on their wedding day in 1994. The couple shared two children together

Barry released love letters penned by his missing wife last October as he shared his belief that she was still alive

A sweet note penned by Suzanne recounts all of her memories with her husband

TIMELINE OF SUZANNE MORPHEW'S DISAPPEARANCE May 8, 2020: Suzanne is last seen by locals in her hometown of Salida, Colorado May 10: Suzanne is reported missing after her daughters, Mallory and Macy, return from a camping trip in Idaho and were unable to make contact with their mom. Police theorize Suzanne had set off on a solo bike ride as her bicycle was missing from her home. Her husband, Barry, is reportedly out of town at the time. Her bike was discovered a short distance from her $1.5 million home the same day. May 11: Police launch large-scale search of the rural areas around Salida, complete with drones and cadaver dogs. There is no sign of Suzanne May 15: A personal item of Suzanne's - believed to be her bike helmet - is discovered a short distance from her home May 17: Barry Morphew releases a public video tearfully begging for Suzanne to come home and offering a $100,000 reward for her safe return May 19: Investigators seize the Morphew home to carry out a thorough search of the property. They are seen leaving the property with evidence bags. The home is later handed back to the family May 22: Investigators conduct a three day search at a riverfront property around 12 miles from Barry and Suzanne's home. Barry had reportedly completed landscaping work at the residence shortly before Suzanne's disappearance July 10: Police search the Morphew home for a second time, seizing more evidence from the property August 11: Barry gives his first interview since Suzanne's disappearance. He insists he has nothing to do with her mysterious vanishing September 3: Barry's co-workers reveal he spent the night before Suzanne's disappearance at a cheap hotel in Denver and left the room reeking of chlorine September 24: Suzanne's brother, Andy Moorman, launches his own six-day search to find his sister, saying he believes she was 'murdered' October 14: Barry shares old photos and love letters from Suzanne in a bid to prove his innocence November 18: Suzanne's father, Gene Moorman, passes away. In his obituary, Suzanne is 'presumed dead' March 5, 2021: Barry and Suzanne's $1.5 millionhome in Salida is sold after six months on the market May 5, 2021: Barry is arrested on charges for murdering Suzanne Advertisement

Barry has repeatedly tried to convince the public, authorities and Suzanne's family that he had nothing to do with his wife's disappearance.

He has also thrown out several theories as to her whereabouts including that an animal attacked her while she was on a bike ride, that she had gotten into an accident on the road or - later - that she had been abducted by an unknown assailant.

The 52-year-old has also taken aim at cops for 'screwing up' the investigation and shared private photos and love notes between the couple in an effort to prove his innocence.

Suzanne was reported missing on May 10, 2020 after reportedly vanishing while riding her bike close to her Salida home.

Her bike was found the same day by a bridge close to the luxury home and she had not been heard from since May 8.

Two days later, a personal item  thought to be her bike helmet  was found, while police divers were photographed searching a local dam by DailyMail.com.

A week later, Barry posted an impassioned video on Facebook begging for her safe return.

'Oh Suzanne, if anyone is out there and can hear this, that has you, please, we'll do whatever it takes to bring you back. We love you, we miss you, your girls need you,' Barry said in the video on May 17.

'No questions asked, however much they want  I will do whatever it takes to get you back. Honey, I love you, I want you back so bad.'

Barry also offered a $100,000 reward for her safe return.

He told police he had spent the night before her disappearance on a firefighter training course in Denver, before switching stories to claim he had been on a work job in Broomfield.

Last September, DailyMail.com revealed Barry had spent the night before Suzanne's disappearance in a Holiday Inn in Broomfield, Colorado, and had left his room stinking of chlorine and littered with mail.

Contractor Jeff Puckett, 49, of Salida, Colorado, said he was ordered to Denver by Barry on the day Suzanne vanished but didn't see him because he had already left 'due to a family emergency'.

Puckett said: 'I got there Sunday night and the room smelled like chlorine real bad.

'It was his room and he'd taken a shower  his towels were all over the floor.'

A manager at the $92-a-night property confirmed to DailyMail.com that they do not use chlorine to clean guest rooms and have handed security footage from the weekend of May 9 to police.

Puckett also said he discovered a pile of mail in the room  including a letter about property insurance  and later turned it over to the FBI.

Police demanded security footage from businesses in the area close to the hotel between Thursday May 7 and Sunday May 10, DailyMail.com learned.

Barry fired back at the revelation in an interview with Fox 21 saying: 'I did nothing wrong in the hotel. There's cameras all over the hotel, I did nothing wrong.'

He admitted that the room smelled strongly of chlorine, but claimed he had nothing to do with the stench.

A landscaper hired by Barry to work with him that weekend also denied rumors she was having an affair with him.

Morgan Gentile did, however, say Barry was acting strangely at the time of his wife's disappearance and said she was 'scared' of her former boss.

Contractor Jeff Puckett, 49, of Salida, Colorado, said he was ordered to Denver by Morphew on the day Suzanne vanished but didn't see him because he had already left 'due to a family emergency'

DailyMail.com revealed in September that a co-worker of Barry's took over his Holiday Inn hotel room (pictured) on May 10 and found it scattered with wet towels and stinking of chlorine

Barry was seen barbecuing at his home in Salida in July - just two months after his wife went missing

Photos taken by DailyMail.com in February show Barry continued to work on his landscaping business and was pictured driving an excavator on a site behind his new home the same month

Suzanne Morphew's sister says she FORGIVES brother-in-law Barry as he is charged with murder Suzanne Morphew's sister says she forgives brother-in-law Barry in an emotional appeal to reconnect with the couple's two adult daughters. Melinda Moorman made her moving comments to KXRM-TV on Wednesday after Barry was arrested over Suzanne's murder. Moorman said that it has been over a year since she has been able to have any contact with her nieces, Mallory and Macy. 'I would say to Mallory and Macy that I've been praying for you every day and that I adore you girls as the offspring of my beautiful sister and I will never stop loving you,' Moorman said. 'I am here for you whenever you need me girls, I am here and I have all the love in the world for you. And I love your dad, though he has done a terrible thing, I still love him girls, and I will pray for him and I will continue to pray for him, and I will never stop.' She added: 'I am here waiting for you girls, whenever you need me.' Suzanne Morphew posted this picture to Facebook with her two daughters, Mallory and Macy, the day before she disappeared. They have not spoken publicly about their mom's mysterious vanishing Advertisement

Meanwhile, Suzanne's family, who live in Indiana, have long been skeptical about Barry's innocence.

Her brother Andy Moorman, 58, has repeatedly spoken about his suspicions and in September, called for Barryto take a lie detector test.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, he said: 'I think he should have done a lie detector and voice analysis. I know that's not admissible in court but it kind of clears you.

'It says, look, I'm here and I'll tell you everything you need to know. I'll take several of them if you need me to. And that didn't happen. That kind of made me suspicious as well.'

He also launched a crowd-funded search for Suzanne that included cadaver dogs and lasted five days but failed to find his sister.

In October, Barry then released unseen photos and love letters penned by his missing wife in an apparent effort to portray their loving relationship.

A letter allegedly written by Suzanne on Valentine's Day 2020 read: 'Just want you to know - my life would be nothing without your love and the excitement you bring to our marriage and my life. All my love - Suzanne.'

Barry has long insisted he had nothing to do with his wife's disappearance but Suzanne's brother has said he believes him responsible
President Joe Biden on Wednesday said the Republican Party was going through a 'mini-revolution' as a movement grows to oust Liz Cheney from House Republican leadership over her criticism of Donald Trump.

'It seems as though the Republican Party is trying to identify what it stands for,' he said when asked about the GOP infighting. 'And they're in the midst of a significant sort of mini revolution.'

Biden, who's spent more than 40 years in politics, said Democrats, who have long seen its moderate and progressive wings fight it out, have never had a disagreement like this.

'I've been a Democrat for a long time. We've gone through periods and we've had internal fights and disagreements. I don't ever remember any like this,' Biden said.

Cheney is not fighting to keep her leadership job, according to reports, and an up-and-coming Republican congresswoman is campaigning for the position - with the blessing and support of Donald Trump.

President Joe Biden said the Republican Party was going through a 'mini-revolution'

President Biden's comments came as a movement grows to oust Liz Cheney from House Republican leadership over her criticism of Donald Trump

President Biden argued, however, the country needs 'a two-party system.

'It's not healthy to have a one-party system. And I think the Republicans are further away from trying to figure out who they are and what they stand for than I thought they would be at this point,' he said.

The president was asked to clarify his thoughts on the GOP after, earlier in the day, when asked about it, he said: 'I don't understand the Republicans.'

House Republicans are preparing to oust Cheney, a member of a prominent Republican family and the highest ranking GOP woman in the House, over her criticism of Trump for his false claims he won the election and her demand Republican acknowledge the role the former president played in the January 6th MAGA riot on Capitol Hill.

And for Cheney, a Republican congresswoman from Wyoming, the clock is ticking. She is not fighting to hold onto her leadership post, Politico reported.

Cheney has told people that if holding onto her leadership role requires having to lie or stay quiet, she doesnt believe thats a price worth paying, a source close to her told the news outlet.

New York Representative Elise Stefanik is actively campaigning for Cheney's job of GOP conference chair. Trump has endorsed Stefanik, who was one of his top defenders during impeachment. Top House Republicans Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise are helping Stefanik.

The show down will likely come next Wednesday when GOP lawmakers hold their weekly meeting on Capitol Hill. There must be a motion to remove her followed by a formal vote. Three months ago, Cheney survived a similar vote on a secret ballot after some Trump supporters tried to remove her after she voted for his second impeachment.

As Republicans focus on winning back control of the House, they are increasingly turning to Trump, who still has a strong and vocal base of MAGA supporters who are expected to be active in next year's primary and general election.

A few Republicans have defended Cheney, including Senator Mitt Romney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger, but most are either staying quiet or working against her.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, at an event in Kentucky on Wednesday, dodged a question about Cheney, saying '100% of my focus is on stopping this new administration.'

Trump repeatedly attacked Cheney repeatedly after she voted to impeach for his role in the Capitol riot and, on Wednesday, blasted her yet again.

'Warmonger Liz Cheney, who has virtually no support left in the Great State of Wyoming, continues to unknowingly and foolishly say that there was no Election Fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election when in fact, the evidence, including no Legislative approvals as demanded by the U.S. Constitution, shows the exact opposite,' Trump said in a statement.

The 2020 contest showed no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Several recounts in states confirmed Joe Biden's win. Multiple courts threw out Trump's legal challenges.

Several Republicans said Trump should have done more to rein in his supporters who stormed the Capitol on January 6th, leaving five dead and a trail of destruction in their wake.

McCarthy even called him out on the House floor the day, saying Trump bears responsibility for the riot. Trump was impeached for his role but acquitted in the Senate. After that acquittal, McConnell said the former president was 'practically and morally responsible' for the events.

Trump erupted in fury. McCarthy flew down to Mar-a-Lago, Trump's residence in Palm Beach, to make peace. McConnell and Trump remain at odds.

McCarthy, who will be speaker if the party can flip five seats in 2022, said Trump remains a force in the GOP that must be considered.

'He could change the whole course of history,' McCarthy told The New York Times. 'This is the tightest tightrope anyone has to walk.'

President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized Liz Cheney

Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York is actively campaigning to replace Liz Cheney in House GOP leadership

McCarthy isn't looking for a GOP Civil War in the House while he tries to become speaker.

With Cheney and Trump at each other's throats, he and his allies are making it clear she needs to go.

McCarthy raised questions about Cheney's ability to carry out her duties as GOP conference chair and told Fox News he's heard from fellow GOP lawmakers they are worried she can't carry out the party's message.

Ahead of his interview, he was heard, on a hot mic, telling Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy he's lost confidence in Cheney, Axios reported.

'I think she's got real problems,' McCarthy said. 'I've had it with ... I've had it with her. You know, I've lost confidence. ... Well, someone just has to bring a motion, but I assume that will probably take place.'

He then said that members of his party were growing increasingly worried about roll and how it could hurt the future of the party.

'I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out the job as conference chair - to carry out the message. We all need to be working as one if we're able to win the majority. Remember, majorities are not given; they are earned. And that's about the message about going forward,' he said on 'Fox & Friends.'

Cheney's spokesperson shot back, calling on Republicans to speak up against Trump's falsehoods.

'This is about whether the Republican Party is going to perpetuate lies about the 2020 election and attempt to whitewash what happened on Jan 6. Liz will not do that. That is the issue,' said Jeremy Alder.

In February, Cheney - the No. 3 Republican in the House - survived a leadership vote 145-61 on a secret ballot. The vote was called for by Trump allies in the GOP after she was one of 10 House Republicans to vote for his impeachment.

'There is no way that Liz will be conference chair by month's end,' one key McCarthy ally told The Hill newspaper on Monday. 'When there is a vote, it won't be a long conference; it will be fast. Everyone knows the outcome.'

McCarthy's allies made it clear their focus is on winning back the House.

'This is a broad range of lawmakers who have had it with her,' a second McCarthy ally said. 'She's a liability, and McCarthy's as fed up as the rest of us that she is focused on the past rather than winning back the House.'

Meanwhile, Steve Scalise and McCarthy are working to clear the field for New York Representative Elise Stefanik to replace Cheney as GOP Conference Chairwoman

'House Republicans need to be solely focused on taking back the House in 2022 and fighting against Speaker Pelosi and President Biden's radical socialist agenda, and Elise Stefanik is strongly committed to doing that, which is why Whip Scalise has pledged to support her for Conference Chair,' Scalise's spokesperson Lauren Fine told Punchbowl News.

Stefanik was a vocal and public defender of Trump during his impeachment hearings.

Rep. Liz Cheney, a member of the prominent GOP family and the highest ranking Republican woman in the House, has been a fiery critic of Donald Trump

Cheney has stayed defiant. On Monday she slammed Trump for 'poisoning our democratic system' as he continued to falsely spout that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

Trump's office sent out a statement saying: 'The fraudulent presidential election of 2020 will be, from this day forth, known as the big lie!'

Cheney snapped back.

'The 2020 presidential election was not stolen,' she tweeted. 'Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system.'

Trump then fought back with an emailed statement, as he remains banished from Twitter and Facebook.

'Heartwarming to read new polls on big-shot warmonger Liz Cheney of the great State of Wyoming. She is so low that her only chance would be if vast numbers of people run against her which, hopefully, won't happen,' the ex-president said. 'They never liked her much, but I say she'll never run in a Wyoming election again!'
President Joe Biden delivered an impassioned defense of his plans to hike the top income tax rate for the wealthiest filers and hike taxes on corporations  saying it won't affect the lifestyles of wealthy CEOs even a 'little tiny bit.'

Biden backed his tax hikes in his American Jobs Plan and other proposals and insisted it wouldn't impact 'multi-millionaires' but will help the people he grew up with in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Biden referenced his decades in Congress representing Delaware  a state where man top companies are incorporated due to its beneficial tax and disclosure laws  and made the case that CEOs would still prosper even if his tax hikes go through.

'We're not going to deprive any of these executives of their second or third home. Travel by jet. Not going affect your standard living at all  not a little tiny bit,' said Biden, who himself maintains homes in Wilmington and the beach community of Rehoboth, and gets to travel on Air Force One.

As part of his $4trillion infrastructure spending spree, Biden has said he will be taxing the top 0.3 percent of American earners and has promised he won't hike rates for anyone earning under $400,000 a year.

He is also raising corporate tax rates from 21 percent under Donald Trump to 28 percent. Around 500,000 people in the US, or 0.32% of the population, have recorded a gross income of over $1million.

For those earning more than $1 million in high-tax states, the total rate will be even higher given the combined federal and state tax capital gains. In New York it could be as high as 52.22% and for Californians it could be 56.7%

'I'm going to have to be able to explain this. And I'm going to keep banging at it,' said President Biden Monday, saying his tax hikes won't hurt the very wealthy a 'little tiny bit'

Joe Biden's tax hikes targeting the rich: Who will have to pay Capital gains tax on investment sales for those earning more than $1million a year: Current law: 20% Proposal: 39.6% With an effective rate of 43.4% when the Medicare surcharge is added. Investors currently pay 23.8% as the top capital gains rate along with the 3.8% net investment income tax, known as the Medicare surtax. Around 500,000 people in the US, or 0.32% of the population, have recorded a gross income of over $1million. For those earning more than $1 million in high-tax states, the total rate will be even higher given the combined federal and state tax capital gains. In New York it could be as high as 52.22% and for Californians it could be 56.7% Wealthy residents pay Capital Gains on the growth in value of investments when they are sold. They are mainly placed on profitable stock trades and real estate deals. They can also apply to sales of collectible cars, art, businesses, gold. Investors are taxed on the difference between what they paid for the asset and what they sold it for. Investments held for at least one year tops out at 20% and those held under a year are taxed the same as salaries and wages. An additional 3.8% tax applies to those earning at least $200,000. Corporate taxes Current top rate: 21% Proposed top rate: 28% These hikes have already been proposed in the first part of his infrastructure plan. He is also targeting US firms' profits overseas and companies who use offshore businesses. Biden has still vowed that no one earning under $400,000 a year will pay more taxes in his administration. Advertisement

'The average CEO of a fortune 500 companies makes like 36 times with the average employee of that corporation made. Its over 450 times as much now. As my mother would say, who died and left them boss?' Biden said.

'No seriously what rationale? Tell me, what benefit?' he asked, alternately raising his voice, leaning into a podium, and sometimes bringing his voice down to a whisper to make a point.

'But I can affect the standard of living of people I grew up with  if they have a job,' said the Scranton-born Biden.

'Making sure that standard of living and who I grew up with if they have childcare and can afford it, so 20 million women can be back in the workforce,' he said.

'This is  this makes no sense to me. But, I'm going to have to be able to explain this. And I'm going to keep banging at it.'

He told reporters who came to hear his speech about providing assistance to restaurants struggling in the pandemic that, 'I think most of you understand what I said, whether you agree with me or not, I think you understand what I'm saying.'

'It's fair to say this is about making the average multimillionaire, pay just a fair share. It's not gonna affect their standard of living a little bit. Thank you all very much.'

An August 2020 study by the Economic Policy Institute found the average CEOs of the largest firms earned 320 times what the typical worker got paid. That was far more than they earned in the 1990s.

Biden's infrastructure would raise corporate tax rates from 21 per cent, where they went in the 2017 tax cut signed by President Trump, and raise them to 28 per cent.

He wants to restore income tax rates for the top bracket to 39.6 per cent, from 37 per cent.

And he wants to nearly double capital gains rates from 20 per cent for those earning more than $1 million a year.

Biden indicated a willingness to compromise on things like corporate tax rates when he meets with Republicans next week. Some have suggested a 25 per cent corporate tax rate.

'Yes, it doesn't have to be exactly what I say ... I'm willing to compromise, but I'm not willing to not pay for what we're talking about. I'm not willing to deficit spend. [What] we already have is $2 trillion in the hole,' referencing the costs of the 2017 tax cuts.

He said he would negotiate 'seriously' with Republicans.
Elijah Prince, 28, has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault stemming from a brutal attack on a Chicago couple who had chunks of their ears bitten off

A Chicago man has been arrested in connection with a savage attack on a married couple who had chunks of their ears bitten off by the assailant.

During a court hearing this week, a Cook County judge likened the violent assault that took place on Saturday in the Fernwood neighborhood to a 'horror movie.'

Prosecutors said that the suspect, identified as 28-year-old Elijah Prince, approached a man who was doing yardwork in the 10500 block of South Emerald Avenue and tried to sell him something, as Chicago Sun-Times reported.

When the man refused to buy whatever Prince was hawking, Prince allegedly put him in a chokehold and hit him in the head with his own shovel.

Prosecutors revealed in court that Prince then proceeded to punch the victim in the face, gouge his eyes with his fingers, bite his ears and the top of his head, before spitting into his mouth.

In the course of the attack, Prince also allegedly jammed a three-inch-long wooden block into the man's left eye, damaging his vision.

The male victim's wife heard the scuffle and ran outside, where prosecutors said she was also attacked by Prince.

The 28-year-old man allegedly pulled the woman's hair, gouged her eyes, bit off 'large chunks' of her ears and spat on her.

The victims' daughter identified them as Renee Johnson, 56, and Timothy Johnson, 58. Both suffered serious injuries in the attack on Saturday

When the female victim collapsed to the ground, Prince allegedly kicked her in the head several times.

Police officers who were summoned to the scene by the badly injured husband found Prince in the area. The suspect was covered in blood, which he said was not his own but 'the blood of peasants,' according to prosecutors.

Prince was arrested on charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery, and later was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

Pieces of the victims' ears were recovered at the scene of the attack but could not be reattached, according to prosecutors.

Officials have not released the names of the victims to the public, but the couple's grown daughter identified them as Timothy and Renee Johnson.

Destinee Johnson wrote in the description of a GoFundMe campaign that both her parents suffered 'life changing injuries that will impact them and our familiy [sic] forever.'

The Johnsons were doing yardwork at a 95-year-old relative's home in the 10500 block of South Emerald Avenue when Prince allegedly walked up to them offering something for sale

Destinee also revealed that her 58-year-old father, who is a pastor, has been battling cancer for a decade while caring for his 95-year-old mother-in-law.

'This has been a devastating blow to our family and our finances,' she said of the attack.

During Prince's bond hearing on Monday, Judge John Lyke said the allegations against him 'shock the conscience.'

The judge set Prince's bail at $5 million. He is due in court on May 10.
Foreign residents participate in mock early voting at Seoul Station, in this file photo taken on May 31, 2018, ahead of the June 13 local elections in that year. Korea Times photo by Shin Sang-soon



By Jun Ji-hye



Growing anti-China sentiment is leading some to call for taking away the right of foreign permanent residents to vote here.



The move is intended to target Chinese residents, as they make up the majority of eligible immigrant voters in Korea. Recent disputes have pitted the people of the two countries against each other over various cultural issues, including recent claims coming from China that some elements of Korean culture, including kimchi, hanbok and samgyetang, originated there.



A Korean citizen, who identified himself as a former professor at Korea National University of Welfare, posted a petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website, saying that giving non-Korean permanent residents the right to vote was "a violation of the Constitution, and thus should be rescinded."



"The Constitution stipulates that sovereign power resides with the people, not with local residents, thus giving voting rights to foreign residents is unconstitutional," the petitioner wrote.



Under the Public Official Election Act, all foreign-born permanent residents aged 19 or older here may vote in local elections here after holding permanent residency for three years. They can vote for municipal representatives and mayors, but not in National Assembly or presidential elections.



"About 80 percent of foreign residents eligible to vote in this country are Chinese," the petitioner wrote. "Allowing them to vote amounts to allowing them to meddle in Korea's elections, and this fact raises the possibility for them to meddle in National Assembly and presidential elections."



According to Ministry of Justice data, the number of foreign eligible voters stood at 121,806 as of March 31. Among them, the number of Chinese nationals was 95,385, accounting for 78.3 percent, followed by Taiwanese at 9 percent, Japanese at 5.9 percent, Vietnamese at 1.1 percent and Americans at 0.8 percent.



The petition, posted April 28, has garnered more than 37,000 supporters as of Wednesday afternoon.





A petition posted on April 28 on the Cheong Wa Dae website calls for depriving foreign permanent residents of Korea of their right to vote in local elections. Captured from the Cheong Wa Dae website
Ivanka Trump received her second COVID vaccine shot on Wednesday and urged people to get fully inoculated amid an increasing skip rate for the second dose.

'This afternoon, I gratefully received my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Getting fully vaccinated is the best way to end this pandemic and protect ourselves and one another,' she wrote on social media.

She got her second shot at the same CVS in Miami where she got her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on April 14.

Wearing a $684 Alexis dress white shirt dress and a face mask with a brightly colored print pattern, the former first daughter was dressed for the warm, sunny weather.

And, in exclusive photos obtained by DailyMail.com., she is seen posing with CVS staff, nurses and people in the drug store.

Ivanka moved to Miami after her serving as a counselor to her father in the White House. She and husband Jared Kushner currently living in a sprawling oceanfront condo with their three children - Arabella, nine, Joseph, seven, and Theodore, five.

A source close to the former first daughter told DailyMail.com that Ivanka 'thinks it's incredibly important to underscore the need to get fully vaccinated - both shots.'

Ivanka Trump received her second COVID vaccine shot on Wednesday and, in exclusive pics, is seen posing with nursing staff at the CVS in Miami where she was inoculated

Ivanka Trump received her second shot - she got the Pfizer vaccine - at the same CVS where she received her first shot

Ivanka Trump urged people to get their second dose amid a rising skip rate

Ivanka Trump wore a $684 Alexis dress white shirt dress and a face mask with a brightly colored print pattern for her inoculation

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said about 8 percent of people who get vaccinated don't get the second shot, diminishing their immunity levels.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines both require a second dose. The second shot for the Pfizer vaccine is supposed to be administered 21 days after the first. For the Moderna, the second dose is 28 days later.

More than 105 million people - 31 percent of the population - have been fully vaccinated and 147 million - 44 percent - have had at least one shot, according to CDC data.

Ivanka Trump is the first member of the former first family to post about her vaccination.

She was given the opportunity to receive the vaccine during her time at the White House but wanted to wait until it was her turn to do so, DailyMail.com learned.

She waited until she was eligible in her new home state of Florida.

President Trump and Melania Trump received their first vaccination shot before leaving the White House in January and got their second one at Mar-a-Lago.
The federal government is considering using the Howard Springs quarantine facility to exclusively house Australian travellers fleeing Covid-ravaged India.

The facility, which was once an inactive mining camp in Darwin's outskirts, became a makeshift quarantine centre at the beginning of the pandemic.

Flying stranded Australians home on planes used to carry aid to India is another proposal being considered.

There are 9,000 Australians trapped in India, with 650 considered vulnerable, waiting for the government to lift the travel ban. More than 350,000 Covid cases were recorded in the country on Wednesday alone.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said the Howard Springs facility could 'be used holistically for India'.

'We want to keep everyone there so we can maintain and manage that, to keep the numbers (of cases) under control,' he told The Australian.

The Federal Government is considering using the Howard Springs quarantine facility (pictured) in the NT to exclusively house Australian travellers fleeing Covid-ravaged India

More than 350,000 Covid cases were recorded in India on Wednesday alone. Pictured: a banquet hall temporarily converted into a coronavirus ward in New Delhi

Scott Morrison has pledged to lift the capacity of Howard Springs (pictured) from 850 to 2000 beds this month

Scott Morrison has pledged to lift the capacity of Howard Springs from 850 to 2000 beds this month in a move crucial to allowing repatriation flights from India to restart.

The NT government has recruited less than half of the 400 staff it needs to manage Howard Springs when it takes over from the federal AUSMAT team now in charge.

A final decision on the Howard Springs proposal has yet to be made by the Government.

NT Nationals senator Sam McMahon has warned it would be foolish to expand the quarantine centre amid a staffing shortage.

He believes the capacity 'absolutely can't' be lifted to 2000 beds because of the staffing shortage.

'It would be foolish to try and ramp up the facility to 2000 unless the required staff are there,' she told reporters in Darwin on Wednesday.

Senator McMahon said she also had major concerns about transferring responsibility from the AUSMAT team to the NT government.

'It is an extremely well-managed and functioning facility under AUSMAT,' she said.

'But I have received assurances from the Northern Territory government and also from federal minister Greg Hunt that AUSMAT will remain involved as long as they are needed to be involved.'

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said Howard Springs is one of the best quarantine facilities in the world.

'We have recruited an extra 170 staff and are going to have an anticipated peak of 1200 people in our care during May,' he said.

He said the additional 230 staff would be recruited in May from 2500 applicants to help with new arrivals, which are expected to reach 2000 people per week during June.

'There is a soft handover with AUSMAT. They are exceptional at their work and along with NT Health are one of the reasons Howard Springs is gold standard,' he said.

The Morrison government has been heavily criticised for stranding Australians in India. Pictured: Relatives perform the last rites for their loved one who died from coronavirus in Moradabad

There are 9000 Australians trapped in India, with 650 considered vulnerable, waiting for the government to lift the travel ban. Pictured:

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has warned some could die as a result of the flight pause, which he recommended was necessary to stop quarantine from being overwhelmed.

Mr Morrison expressed confidence in allowing the NT to take over Howard Springs during a visit to Darwin and surrounds last week.

'We wouldn't have entered into those arrangements were our expert advisers and medical experts not comfortable,' he said.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government will resume repatriation of Australians as soon as possible, but is sticking by the planned date for the removal of the pause on May 15.

He said the suspension of flights is working.

Of the 23,000 arrivals in the past seven days there had been 80 positive cases, or a rate of 0.3 per cent.

'We have dropped from 13 per cent (positive rate) to 0.3 per cent, so that's the significance,' Mr Hunt said.

The Morrison government has been heavily criticised for stranding Australians in India, with many questioning the harshness of the pause and the potential for fines or even jail to be imposed for breaches of biosecurity rules.
Shortly after Christmas, I undertook the poignant duty of reciting the Kaddish at the funeral of my beloved older sister Shirley.

Sadly, it was the second time in only two weeks that I had read out the traditional Jewish mourning prayer, having lost my brother Derek just a fortnight earlier.

Both in their eighties, my siblings had suffered ill health for some time: but it was the coronavirus that had ultimately taken them from us, leaving their loved ones  me, my surviving sister Daphne, our children and Derek and Shirleys many friends  to grieve their loss.

My own grief was compounded by distance. In September, I had flown to Australia to film the local version of The Apprentice, and the strict Covid laws Down Under meant it was impossible for me to return home for my siblings funerals.

I was grateful that, thanks to modern technology, I could join the small, socially distanced ceremonies from the other side of the world.

These experiences, I know, have been shared by so many across the country in the past 15 months, of all backgrounds and all ages.

Fame, fortune and status have been no barrier to this terrible virus or to the many tens of thousands of lives it has claimed. Surely there are few families left in Britain who have not been affected.

Sir Alan Sugar (pictured left, with his wife Ann) has pledged a six-figure sum to the Mail's campaign to build a memorial for victims of coronavirus after he lost two of his siblings, both in their eighties, to the virus

Its one reason that I have decided to donate a six-figure sum to the Mails wonderful and heartfelt campaign to build a lasting national memorial to the countrys Covid victims at the entrance to St Pauls Cathedral.

The campaign struck a chord with me the moment I learned about it.

Private grief is one thing. But we will all need, as a nation, somewhere to remember the devastating toll wrought by the pandemic.

It has to be the right sort of memorial: a suitably sombre but welcoming focal point for our collective grief, one that both honours our dead and provides a place of pilgrimage and remembrance for all races and faiths to come, mourn and reflect.

The fitting portico planned for the entrance of St Pauls is just such a memorial.

For while the cathedral may be a historic symbol of Christian worship, it also serves a twin duty as a national monument and place of civic pride which has long welcomed all through its doors and which has long stood as a symbol of British resilience, perhaps most memorably when it stood undaunted as Nazi bombs hammered London during the Blitz.

While I may be of Jewish heritage, I believe remembrance has no barriers. And today, I am struck by how rapidly Covid exerted its deadly grip.

I was on business in America when, early last year, reports of a lethal new virus in the Far East started to emerge.

They were reports I took seriously. I quickly closed my offices, and, stuck in the US, kept in regular touch with my family, thinking especially of Shirley, my 88-year-old bubbly elder sister, who lived in a care home, and 86-year-old twins Daphne and Derek. At 74, Im the youngest of the Sugar siblings by some years, with a longstanding family joke that my appearance in the world was the result of an inebriated evening shortly after the war.

Because he was in Australia filming for The Apprentice, the businessman couldn't make it back to the UK for Shirley (front row, far left) and Derek's (back row, second from right) funerals, instead having to join the ceremonies virtually

The age gap meant that as my boyhood unfolded, my older sisters and brother were embarking on their adult lives. But while we all forged our own paths, we remained a close family and shared many happy times together. To this day, I still smile when I recall how thrilled Derek, a passionate Tottenham Hotspur supporter, was when he learned I had bought the club in 1991.

Sadly, both Shirley and Derek suffered ill health in later years, but Derek had remained at home until, in early December, he contracted Covid and had to be hospitalised, passing away a few days later.

Shirley was also admitted to hospital a few days later after catching the disease, dying shortly after Christmas.

Their loss has been felt keenly by all the family.

Many of you reading this will have experienced something similar in recent months: I know only too well that my familys sad experiences are far from unusual.

After sharing the loss of my siblings on social media, I received an outpouring of sympathy from people who got in touch to offer their condolences, many of whom had their own heartbreaking stories to share.

Moreover, those stories are far from over: while Britains marvellous vaccine programme means the country may soon be returning to normality, there is no room for complacency, as the latest catastrophic images from India remind us.

Derek (pictured centre with twin Daphne, right), who suffered from ill health, had remained at home until, in early December, he contracted Covid and had to be hospitalised, passing away a few days later (pictured left: Lord Sugar)

In the US, where I travelled on business in March, my wife and I have been horrified by the casual way so many have been treating the virus. I am certainly thankful I have received my vaccine.

We are unlikely to know the true extent of Covids devastating legacy for many years  not just the losses to the virus itself, but the toll it took on livelihoods and our mental health.

It is another reason why a national memorial is so essential, straddling the present day and the future.

In only a few days, you, the Mails readers, have already been extraordinarily generous with your donations  and I urge anyone who can afford it to give whatever they can to this vital campaign.

I am honoured to make my own contribution, which I give not just in memory of my dear siblings Derek and Shirley, but also to help commemorate of all those who have lost their lives in this terrible pandemic.

The memorial, of course, will not bring our loved ones back. But my hope is that it will be a great and lasting comfort to all of us who remain.

Lord Sugar is a British businessman and crossbench peer

Lord Sugar says he is 'honoured' to make his own contribution to the campaign, which he gives in memory of his siblings Derek and Shirley and also to commemorate all of those who have lost their lives during the pandemic (pictured: Shirley, the taller girl, with twins Daphne and Derek)

He said the age gap meant when he was a boy his elder siblings were embarking on their adult lives (pictured: Lord Sugar, right, as a page boy at Derek's wedding)

Sugar's huge boost for memorial: Businessman hit by double family tragedy donates a six-figure sum to help remember victims of pandemic

By Inderdeep Bains for the Daily Mail

Lord Sugar has generously pledged a six-figure sum to the Remember Me campaign to create a national memorial to Covid victims.

The businessman  who lost a brother and sister to the virus said he was honoured to wholeheartedly support the drive to help bereaved families remember their loved ones with a tribute at St Pauls Cathedral.

His endorsement comes as the campaign received another boost from another donor  who wishes to remain anonymous  who gifted 25,000 to St Pauls yesterday.

The staggering donations, as well as the funds already donated by Mail readers, mean that more than 250,000 has been raised for the memorial since the Mails campaign was launched at the weekend.

Together with money donated to St Pauls, it means that almost 700,000 has now been pledged toward the 2.3million cost of the memorial.

Last night Lord Sugar, who lost brother Derek and sister Shirley within weeks of each other, said it was important to remember all of the victims with a fitting and lasting memorial.

He said: Coronavirus has taken a terrible toll on families across the UK, and I wholeheartedly support this campaign for what will be a fitting and lasting memorial within St Pauls Cathedral. So many families including my own have lost a loved one, we must remember them. It is right that we come together to honour the memories of all those we have sadly lost and I am honoured to support such an important campaign.

The Apprentice star, who is the youngest of four siblings, revealed at the end of December that his 88-year-old sister had died after contracting Covid a fortnight after his brother Derek, 86. Paying tribute on social media, Lord Sugar said of his sister: She had been sick for a while but I guess Covid got her in the end to join our brother Derek, who passed two weeks ago. RIP Shirl.

The entrepreneur had earlier announced Derek, who had underlying conditions, died on December 15, describing it as a sad day for us all in the family. Posting on Twitter, Lord Sugar said: Today I lost my long-suffering brother Derek, another victim of Covid which added to his underlying health issues.

He was a lifetime, passionate Spurs supporter. I never forget my sister-in-law joking with me, thanking me for buying him the club. Lord Sugars siblings are just two of the UKs 127,500 Covid victims.

It is hoped the memorial, which is open to those of any faith or none, will be completed by March next year.

For the memorial, a newly built wooden portico will be set in the north transept of the cathedral, away from the busier main doors. Entrance will be free. It will sit on the site of an earlier hallway which was destroyed by a Luftwaffe bomb in 1941

It includes a stunning commemorative space which features a grand oak portico engraved with the words Remember Me. Through the portico, a chapel inside the cathedral will house screens displaying a virtual book of remembrance, launched last year to immortalise the names, pictures and stories of those lost.

The Mails campaign has already been endorsed by Prince Charles, Boris Johnson and leaders of the Catholic, Muslim and Jewish faiths as well as grieving families.

More than 3,500 people have so far donated online since the Mail launched its campaign. Tributes to more than one thousand victims have been added to the virtual book of remembrance by grieving relatives this week alone.

The book, which was launched online last year, now contains the poignant stories of more than 8,300 people who lost their lives directly or indirectly to Covid. Among those to add a tribute to the book as well as show her support on the cathedrals Crowdfunder page was Rhona Moffat, who wrote: My mum passed away May 20 with Covid and I have her photo and message in St Pauls digital memory book.

To have a permanent memorial in St Pauls Cathedral is a wonderful idea.

It is free to add an entry for a loved one to the virtual book of remembrance while the physical memorial, which will display the tributes on screens, will also be free to enter. Readers can still receive one of the Mails limited edition Remember Me candles by donating at least 25. More than 2,380 of the 5,000 bespoke candles have already been claimed.
Boris Johnson received a triple boost from the vaccine drive last night ahead of today's Super Thursday elections.

Around 48million voters can cast ballots today in the biggest test of electoral opinion since the 2019 general election.

Both Labour and Tory sources believe the jab triumph, coupled with the slow return to normality after a year of lockdowns and Covid deaths, could improve the Government's prospects.

Boris Johnson received a triple boost from the vaccine drive last night ahead of today's Super Thursday elections

In the first boost, a study in The Lancet found that vaccines rather than lockdowns have been the 'key driver' in cutting infections, raising hopes of a definitive end to devastating virus restrictions.

The report in the respected medical journal said 'high vaccine coverage might provide a sustainable path towards resuming normal activity'.

In a second development, Whitehall sources said the impact of vaccines was so profound that the Prime Minister expected the one-metre rule to be axed next month, allowing life to return to near normal.

This will let ministers lift the 'work from home' order, breathing life back into offices and town centres.

It will also allow for the return of normal socialising in pubs and restaurants.

And in a third boost, analysts expect the Bank of England to 'significantly' increase its growth forecasts today as the success of the vaccine programme becomes clearer.

It predicted in February that the economy would grow by 5 per cent this year. But Barclays believes it could be 6.5 per cent, the fastest rate since records began in 1948.

Thousands of council seats across England are up for grabs, along with key mayoral contests, elections to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments and a by-election in Hartlepool.

Senior Tories were optimistic last night that they would defy the normal mid-term slump and deal a demoralising blow to Labour.

Polls also suggested that the one-sided contest in London is tightening, even though Sadiq Khan is still expected to secure a second term for Labour. In other developments:

The entire Indian delegation to G7 talks in London was forced into isolation after two members contracted Covid;

The PM rejected 'reckless' calls for a second referendum on Scottish independence, as polls put the SNP's chances of securing an outright majority at Holyrood on a knife edge;

Preparations are being stepped up for an autumn booster jab campaign;

Covid infections have continued to fall despite the reopening of many pubs, restaurants, gyms and hairdressers;

Confirmed cases are now averaging only around 2,000 a day  down almost 97 per cent from the January peak;

Virus-related deaths are averaging barely 13 per day  a 40 per cent fall in a week.

Downing Street has resisted Tory calls to accelerate the roadmap out of lockdown, despite the collapse in Covid cases.

But a Whitehall source said it was now the 'central expectation' that the one-metre rule would be axed from June 21. Businesses will be encouraged to facilitate testing for staff and masks are likely to continue on public transport for some time.

The Prime Minister is already set to lift the blanket ban on foreign holidays from May 17.
The co-founder of a veterans' suicide prevention network backed by Prince Harry is facing calls to resign over claims of misuse of funds and inappropriate relationships.

Stephen James, 33, launched All Call Signs following the tragic death of a former soldier in his old regiment. The award-winning company runs SOS services for traumatised troops and is credited with saving many lives.

Mr James, who served in Northern Ireland with the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, is alleged to have misused company funds generated from public donations, sponsorships and NHS contracts.

Speaking to the Mail last night, Mr James admitted 'things could have been done better' on the financial side of the business. He denied any misconduct but refused to comment on 'individual transactions' from company accounts.

Disputes over the management of All Call Signs are understood to have led another co-founder Dan Arnold, and Vivienne Marshall, the mother of a soldier whose suicide inspired the formation of the company, to quit in recent months.

Meeting: Harry and Meghan meet Vivienne Marshall at an awards ceremony in 2019

All Call Signs Limited was set up in October 2018 following the death of Afghan war veteran Danny Johnson, 35, who killed himself after losing a battle with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The former infantryman, who also served in Iraq and Bosnia, was found dead in woods near his home in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, three days after his disappearance.

In a bid to reduce the numbers of traumatised troops taking their lives, Mr Johnson's mother joined forces with two of his former comrades, Mr James and Mr Arnold, to form All Call Signs.

Under scrutiny: Northern Ireland veteran Stephen James

The company, which does not have charitable status, runs a text messaging service and a helpline for troops who are feeling suicidal and has pioneered 'Beacon' technology to locate missing soldiers who may harm themselves.

All Call Signs, based in Portsmouth, recovered 66 veterans within a 12-month period using its support network of former soldiers, volunteers and families.

These successes led to a 'Points of Light' award from the Prime Minister. In a letter to Mr James and Mr Arnold, Boris Johnson said he was 'lost in admiration' for how they had drawn on their military expertise to create technical support services for PTSD sufferers.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wore All Call Signs wristbands when they met Mr Johnson's mother at an awards in 2019.

But according to Companies House, All Call Signs Limited was struck off in March 2020. It had failed to present any accounts and it remains unclear how much money it received and how much was spent on veterans services, staff salaries and administration.

The company now trades as The All Call Signs Group. It was incorporated in May 2019 but again has yet to file accounts.

An adviser to All Call Signs, Lana Watson, also resigned and in emails to Mr James she questioned various expenditures apparently not covered by his salary, understood to be less than 30,000.

All Call Signs Limited was set up in October 2018 following the death of Afghan war veteran Danny Johnson, 35, who killed himself after losing a battle with post-traumatic stress disorder

She also queried Mr James's personal relationships with a corporate sponsor of All Call Signs and later with a senior health worker at Solent NHS Trust.

Mr James confirmed last night that since 2020 the firm has been contracted by Solent NHS Trust to provide 'peer support staff'. He declined to reveal the contract's value but insisted it was in place before he met the health worker.

He added: 'I acknowledge things could have been done better, managed better. But that is for me and my team to discuss in privacy. I deny there has been financial misconduct of any kind. I am not going to comment on individual transactions. But I would strongly deny that one or two transactions being taken out of context constitutes anything like mismanagement.

'There was also no wrongdoing in either of those relationships and Solent NHS Trust is aware of my current relationship. It has been cleared by the trust.'

On why Mr Johnson's mother and Mr Arnold had resigned, Mr James said: 'There has been some explanation as to their side of things. But I am not going to speak for somebody else.'

Solent NHS Trust said: 'We have recently been made aware of some concerns raised by other parties regarding All Call Signs. The service being provided by All Call Signs continues to perform well and we are working with them to look into the issues raised as per our usual contractual assurance processes.'
AN ARMCHAIR GUIDE TO BUDGET TERMINOLOGY

BUDGET: Like a household budget, it estimates government income and spending. Income is generated through taxes and investments. Spending is on things like welfare, schools, roads, health and defence.

BUDGET OR FORWARD ESTIMATES: The budget covers this financial year - the 12 months ending June 30 - and a further four-year period, known as the estimates. The first two years are forecasts, the latter two are projections.

GDP (gross domestic product): The value of a nation's output. As the economy grows, the government collects more revenue from company taxes and income tax. Things like deficits, revenue, spending and debt are often measured as a proportion of GDP.

UNDERLYING CASH BALANCE: The best guide to the nation's financial health. It estimates the balance of income and spending, removing one-off events like asset sales (Telstra and Medibank Private are past examples).

BALANCING THE BUDGET: The government can change tax rates, impose new taxes, abolish old ones, cut spending, introduce new programs and ditch existing ones. When outgoings exceed income, the government has to borrow to cover the shortfall (see GOVERNMENT DEBT).

The federal budget will be delivered to Australians on May 11 next week (Scott Morrison pictured)

CYCLICAL DEFICIT: During lean economic times governments can decide to do things like offer short-term tax breaks for business or pump money into the economy, with schemes like Labor's controversial schools building program during the GFC. Because jobs disappear during an economic downturn, the government has to pay more in welfare and dole payments. These are known as 'automatic stabilisers'. That may force the budget into a cyclical or temporary deficit, but it should return to surplus when the economy improves.

STRUCTURAL DEFICIT: The gap between income and spending that is not the result of changes in the economy. For example, income tax cuts in the 2000s when the government was enjoying the 'rivers of gold' from the mining boom still have to be accounted for when revenue is not so abundant. It's like a household taking on a mortgage based on overtime or bonuses that are flowing at the time. It still has to be paid for when that extra money dries up.

GOVERNMENT DEBT: To balance the books while the budget is in deficit, a government has to raise money through government securities or bonds - a type of IOU that pays interest. Gross debt is the amount of bonds a government has on issue. Net debt is the amount on issue minus government financial assets.

CONTINGENCY RESERVE: Money set aside for policies yet to be announced or negotiated for commercial or security reasons. It may also include decisions made too late to be counted in the current budget or budgeted expenses incurred outside the current financial year.

BUDGET PAPERS: Books containing nuts-and-bolts things like economic forecasts, financial strategy, spending and revenue measures, and management of government debt. Masses of tables for the 'pointy heads' who love that sort of thing.
Kelly Wilkinson and Brian Johnston on their wedding day. He had been arrested earlier in April

An investigation into the death of a young mother's death has been launched, while the coroner will probe police's actions in the lead up to her alleged murder.

Kelly Wilkinson's badly burnt body was found on April 20 in the backyard of her home in Arundel on the Gold Coast, after neighbours reported hearing screams and the sound of an explosion.

Her estranged husband Brian Earl Johnston, 35, was found two blocks away on a front lawn in a 'semiconscious state' and was later charged with her murder.

Queensland Police admitted to failing Ms Wilkinson after she had visited a police station twice to complain he had breached the conditions of a protection order.

Ms Wilkinson's three children aged between two and nine, who were at home at the time of the alleged attack, have since moved in with their selfless aunt Danielle Carroll, who has five children of her own.

The Coroner, who has since launched an independent investigation, has called on the Ethical Standards Command to look into police's actions prior to Ms Wilkinson's death.

The committee will examine claims police told Ms Wilkinson to give her estranged husband 'space' after she went to them for help over fears for her safety.

The committee will examine claims police told Ms Wilkinson to give her estranged husband 'space' after she went to them for help over fears for her safety

Queensland Police admitted to failing Ms Wilkinson after she had visited a police station twice to complain he had breached the conditions of a protection order

Late last month, Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd and Gold Coast Superintendent Rhys Wildman announced an internal review of the tragic case and admitted they had failed to protect Ms Wilkinson.

'Ultimately it's a failure,' said Codd. 'A woman has died. She's been killed. Somewhere along the line she has engaged with the system, and we were unable to prevent this from occurring.'

A major aspect of the review will be why Johnston was granted police bail after he was arrested on April 11 for what were described as 'serious crimes' allegedly committed in February. Police bail is a decision made by a police officer rather than a magistrate.

Superintendent Wildman revealed that police had been in touch with Kelly Wilkinson after a Personal Protection Order was issued following a domestic violence incident police became aware of on March 29.

She then visited Southport police station a further two times complaining that Johnston had not abided by the terms of the order.

Codd defended the decision and said police assessed that Johnston had not breached his conditions.

'Contact was made [by Ms Wilkinson] because of suggestions there were breaches of conditions and they were looked at and assessed and it was determined the scenario was consistent with the conditions.'

Ms Wilkinson had also been in touch with Gold Coast domestic violence agencies seeking help due to her fear of how the situation had evolved.

'I'm aware there was contact made with one of the domestic and family violence entities on the Gold Coast around April 13,' said Assistant Commissioner Codd. 'Engagement was made with our Gold Coast District domestic and family violence unit.

The pair married when she was just 18, before separating a couple of months ago

The Coroner, who has since launched an independent investigation, has called on the Ethical Standards Command to look into police's actions prior to Ms Wilkinson's death

'I can't go into the explicit detail but it was to highlight concerns on behalf of Kelly about understanding the process about why the [alleged] offender was not in custody.'

Ms Wilkinson met Johnston online 10 years ago and shortly after travelled to the US to meet him in person. The pair married when she was just 18, before separating a couple of months ago.

Her family claimed Johnston dictated what clothes she wore and how she styled her hair, as well as keeping her from her friends and family, and not allowing her to drive or work - leaving her with no money.

Her sister Danielle told 7News that Ms Wilkinson's death 'wasn't an accident' and wasn't the first time violence had occurred in their turbulent relationship.

Ms Wilkinson eventually opened up about Johnston's alleged abuse to her mother, who died seven weeks ago.

'We only lost mum seven weeks ago and she thought, 'mum is the only one who knows', and said 'I need to speak up and say something now',' Natalie said.

Mr Wilkinson's father Reg said his daughter's death 'totally preventable'.
South Australia is a step closer to having a voluntary assisted dying regime, after the state's upper house passed legislation overnight.

Members of the Legislative Council voted 14 votes to seven to pass a bill sponsored by Labor shadow attorney-general Kyam Maher and his lower house colleague Susan Close.

'Half way there,' Mr Maher tweeted at 1.24am on Thursday after the conscience vote, which followed a long debate that began on Wednesday afternoon.

The bill now goes to the lower house for a final conscience vote by MPs and if it passes, SA will be the fourth state to legalise voluntary assisted dying laws.

This is the state's 17th attempt in 25 years to introduce such laws.

Mr Maher, who took up the cause in 2020 after watching his mother's suffering, had been optimistic the bill would pass the upper house following a groundswell of public support.

The bill requires patients to show they have decision-making capacity and are capable of informed consent and to undergo an assessment by two independent medical practitioners not related to the applicant (stock image)

The bill presented to MPs included 68 safeguards and a provision that people wishing to end their lives must be resident in SA for at least 12 months and at least 18 years old.

The bill requires patients to show they have decision-making capacity and are capable of informed consent and to undergo an assessment by two independent medical practitioners not related to the applicant.

They must have their request verified by two independent witnesses and must be experiencing intolerable suffering that cannot be relieved.

A terminal diagnosis and a life expectancy of less than six months, or 12 months for a person with a neurodegenerative disease, must also be confirmed.

The SA bill is based on Victoria's legislation and system, which Mr Maher has described as the 'Australian model of voluntary assisted dying'.

Most concerns amongst MPs about the bill related to coercion and pressure, especially on elderly people.

But Mr Maher said ahead of the vote 'there's just been no evidence' of that happening in Victoria, which has been operating its system for two years.

Usually, children try to talk their parents out of it, rather than the other way around, he added.

However, Labor MP Clare Scriven told parliament on Wednesday it was too early to judge the impact of the Victoria laws, which came into effect in mid-2019.

A terminal diagnosis and a life expectancy of less than six months, or 12 months for a person with a neurodegenerative disease, must also be confirmed

'The law may not change but practice does, with safeguards ignored, which is the main drawback of any voluntary assisted dying law,' she said during the debate.

'In the first years of new legislation there tends to be strict adherence, but culture changes over time and therefore practice changes over time.

'The less than two years of experience in Victoria is insufficient to form an informed view about whether that legislation is working in the way it was intended.'

On Wednesday, several dozen people rallied on the steps of the parliament urging MPs to pass the bill.

Shelly Nieuwenhuizen wants to ensure others don't have to endure what her parents experienced at the end of their lives.

The 60-year-old Largs Bay resident lost her mother after a prolonged battle with dementia, and her father after he opted to allow an infection 'run rampant' and take his life.

'My mother used to have two false teeth that we never saw her take out growing up because she had too much self-pride,' she told AAP.

'That dignity was taken away from her in her last days. Shouldn't people who believe in God have compassion?'

A new survey of 511 people by The Australia Institute found four in five South Australians support assisted dying laws similar to Victoria's.

Western Australia recently passed similar laws that come into force later this year, while legislation has also passed in the Tasmanian parliament.
Two more Extinction Rebellion protesters who blockaded a printing press and prevented millions of newspapers from being delivered have walked free from court on a technicality.

Three other activists were acquitted last week after a judge said it was unclear if they had staged their protest on private land.

The failure of both prosecutions means it is increasingly unlikely that any of the demonstrators who parked a yellow boat and blue van at the entrance to the Knowsley print works in Merseyside will face punishment.

About 20 more individuals charged with similar offences are due before the courts in the coming months.

Two more Extinction Rebellion protesters  Mirian Instone (left), 22, and Peaceful Warrior (right), 55  who blockaded a printing press and prevented millions of newspapers from being delivered have walked free from court on a technicality

Their protest was part of a night of chaos in September at two print works  the other in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire  involving 81 activists in total.

They prevented 1,100 retailers from receiving newspapers that night, including the Daily Mail, The Sun and the Daily Telegraph, and cost publishers 1.2million.

The blockades were criticised as an affront to free speech and drew condemnation from across government. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was 'completely unacceptable to seek to limit the public's access to news in this way'.

Last week a trio of middle-class activists  Katie Anne Ritchie-Moulin, 22, Harrison Radcliffe, 21, and Luca Vitale, 22  were found not guilty of aggravated trespass by District Judge Paul Healey at Liverpool Magistrates' Court.

More than 100 protesters targeted Newsprinters printing works at Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, and Knowsley, near Liverpool, on September 4. Roads were blocked and XR protesters chained themselves to structures. The blockade disrupted the distribution of newspapers

Yesterday at the same court a different judge, Deputy District Judge Roger Lowe, acquitted another two  Mirian Instone, 22, and Peaceful Warrior, 55  of trespass for similar reasons.

The court was told that Instone and Warrior were arrested at about 7am on September 5 after spending the night chained together underneath the trailer of the boat at the entrance to the Newsprinters print works.

Police bodycam footage shown in court revealed 'confusion' among officers over what charges to bring, including trespass, obstruction of the highway or obstruction of the workplace.

Lee Taylor, senior operations manager at Newsprinters, told the court the protesters were trespassing because the boat had 'encroached' up to 10ft on to block paving at the site entrance.

Last week a trio of middle-class activists  Katie Anne Ritchie-Moulin, 22, Harrison Radcliffe, 21, and Luca Vitale, 22  were found not guilty of aggravated trespass by District Judge Paul Healey at Liverpool Magistrates' Court

He said the paving, bushes, signs and security lodge in the vicinity were maintained by Newsprinters and rejected the idea that members of the public would not be aware they were on private property.

But Judge Lowe accepted arguments on behalf of Instone and Warrior that the public had been crossing the entrance for at least 20 years because it was a continuation of the public footpath. He added there was no sign to suggest the entrance was private property.

Judge Lowe said: 'There is no case to answer ... You are both free to leave.' He also ordered their costs be paid from the public purse.

The court was told that Instone and Warrior were arrested at about 7am on September 5 after spending the night chained together underneath the trailer of the boat at the entrance to the Newsprinters print works

Dentist's daughter Instone, of Cambridge, has been arrested before for taking part in protests against HS2 and has been involved in Extinction Rebellion demonstrations all over the UK. She studied anthropology at Birmingham University.

Warrior, of Sleaford, Lincolnshire, who changed his name by deed poll from Andrew Gardiner, once stood for the Green Party in his home town.

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said the upcoming cases would be kept under review because the defence had successfully argued that the private land had been accessible to the public for over two decades.

More than 50 activists took part in the Broxbourne protest, chaining their hands together inside a tube filled with cement. Last year two of them were fined over the disruption and another received a conditional discharge.
Boris Johnson is on course to take a wrecking ball to the Red Wall again today by securing a hat-trick in Labour's former heartlands - as a poll puts the Tories ten points ahead.

The Conservatives are on the brink of a historic victory in the Hartlepool by-election, as well as the two key mayoral races in the West Midlands and Tees Valley.

Today's bumper set of local elections, which have been dubbed 'Super Thursday', mark a major test for both Mr Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Ballots will be cast in every part of Great Britain, with elections for the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments, London Assembly, and Hartlepool by-election. More than 5,000 council seats in England will also be contested, along with 13 mayoralties and 39 police and crime commissioner positions.

There was growing alarm in Labour last night that Mr Johnson will further demolish what is left of the so-called Red Wall.

YouGov research found that the Conservatives had a ten-point lead over Labour, with the Tories on 43 per cent nationally, The Times reports.

The poll, conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, found 40 per cent of people had a favourable view of Boris Johnson, compared to just 31 per cent for Sir Keir Starmer.

Boris Johnson is on course to take a wrecking ball to the Red Wall again today by securing a hat-trick in Labour's former heartlands

Almost nine in ten voters thought the government handled the coronavirus vaccination programme well, with just over half of those credited the success to Boris Johnson.

One fifth of people polled said they believed Sir Keir Starmer would have handled it better, while one third said it would have been 'much the same' under Labour and 29 per cent said it would have been worse.

Reports earlier this week revealed the Conservatives had a 17-point lead over Labour, according to a Survation poll for ITV's Good Morning Britain between April 23 and 29.

A Tory win in Hartlepool would be only the second time in 38 years that the Government has snatched a seat from the Opposition in a by-election.

Lord Mandelson yesterday said he will 'go into a meltdown' if the constituency, where he was MP from 1992 to 2004, turns blue for the first time in its 47-year history.

Sadiq poll lead shrinks over London's knife crime crisis Londoners' fears about the capital's crime crisis have seen Sadiq Khan's lead over his Tory mayoral rival Shaun Bailey shrink. The Labour candidate is set to win a second term  but worries following a spate of knife killings could deprive him of a first round victory in today's election. An Opinium survey yesterday showed 52 per cent of Londoners think tackling knife crime should be the next mayor's top priority. The London election has tightened, with a YouGov poll yesterday giving Mr Khan a 12-point lead, based on first preference votes, down from 21 points a month ago. It suggested Mr Khan will win the contest in a second round run-off with Mr Bailey by 59 per cent to 41 per cent. Knife crime in the capital has increased by more than 60 per cent between May 2016, when Mr Khan took office, and March last year, according to the Office for National Statistics. Advertisement

Sir Keir last night pledged to 'carry the can' if Labour fares badly at the ballot box, but insisted his focus is on 'winning the next General Election'.

'When things go right, the leader takes the plaudits; when they don't go right, the leader carries the can and takes responsibility,' he said.

'That's what I will do with these elections, as I will do in everything that the Labour Party does.'

Mr Johnson sought to downplay expectations as he insisted it will be a 'very tough set of elections' for the Tories.

The Prime Minister joined West Midlands mayor Andy Street for a cycle ride on a canal path in Stourbridge. Mr Street, the former boss of John Lewis, is expected to be re-elected, along with Ben Houchen, who is Tory mayor in Tees Valley.

In an eve-of-poll message last night, Mr Johnson argued the pair had done more in a few years than Labour did in the decades it had a stranglehold on the regions.

He said: 'It's Conservative mayors who are bringing new investment and local jobs to their areas. A new freeport and green jobs are on their way to Teesside and new trams, Metro lines and station upgrades to the West Midlands.

'More has been delivered by Conservatives in four years than complacent Labour politicians have delivered in decades.'

Earlier, Mr Johnson tried to calm talk of the Tories winning the Hartlepool seat, saying it would be a 'very tough fight'.

As Sir Keir's hard-Left critics sharpened their knives, his allies insisted he be given more time to turn around Labour's fortunes.

As Sir Keir's hard-Left critics sharpened their knives, his allies insisted he be given more time to turn around Labour's fortunes

Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds said parts of the UK were a lot 'warmer' towards Labour than they were in the General Election.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4, he said: 'We hope the public will see how we have changed since 2019  we have a new leader, we have a new direction, but to be frank it's not been the easiest of years to make those wider messages. That's just how it is, there's no use complaining about that.'

Mr Reynolds added: 'It's a lot warmer for Labour than it was in 2019. People might not be totally convinced yet but they want to have that conversation.'


By Jung Da-min



Rep. Lee Won-wook of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), a close aide to former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, has called for a presidential pardon for Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics and de facto head of Samsung Group.





Rep. Lee Won-wook of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea / Korea Times file
Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney has penned a slashing op-ed where she lays out a stark choice for her party between Donald Trump's crusade to 'delegitimize' Joe Biden's election and her own and fidelity to the U.S. Constitution.

Cheney issued the withering attack on elements of her own party as she prepares to confront difficult odds to maintain her elected leadership post.

Trump and Trump loyalist in Congress are already coming out against her, and Trump backer Elise Stefanik is already launching a campaign to replace her.

Republican Liz Cheney said her party is at a turning point. She called for fellow Republicans to 'steer away from the dangerous and anti-democratic Trump cult of personality.' She faces an effort to remove her from her leadership post next week

But Cheney, the daughter of the former vice president, cast the battle as one far bigger than her own political career.

'The Republican Party is at a turning point, and Republicans must decide whether we are going to choose truth and fidelity to the Constitution,' she wrote in the Washington Post Wednesday.

'In the immediate wake of the violence of Jan. 6, almost all of us knew the gravity and the cause of what had just happened  we had witnessed it firsthand,' she said bringing up the Capitol riot that preceded her vote to impeach Trump.

'The question before us now is whether we will join Trump's crusade to delegitimize and undo the legal outcome of the 2020 election, with all the consequences that might have. I have worked overseas in nations where changes in leadership come only with violence, where democracy takes hold only until the next violent upheaval. America is exceptional because our constitutional system guards against that. At the heart of our republic is a commitment to the peaceful transfer of power among political rivals in accordance with law. President Ronald Reagan as our American 'miracle.'

She notes that rival Republican minority leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, who has undermined her position in recent comments, said in January that Trump 'bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Congress by mob rioters.'

But McCarthy and GOP leaders have coalesced around Trump since then  in a development Cheney writes could bring about further violence by undermining the rule of law.

She also ripped Trump's election fraud claims  which the president repeated again Wednesday while once again calling her a 'warmonger.'

'The electoral college has spoken. More than 60 state and federal courts, including multiple Trump-appointed judges, have rejected the former president's arguments, and refused to overturn election results. That is the rule of law; that is our constitutional system for resolving claims of election fraud,' she writes.

She called for her own party to back criminal investigations into the rioters; back a Jan. 6th commission complete with subpoena powers that does not go into matters she considers side issues that McCarthy backs; and 'steer away from the dangerous and anti-democratic Trump cult of personality.'

She only alludes to the political stakes for herself. She has floated a presidential campaign, faces a Trump-backed primary challenge in Wyoming, and her leadership job is in peril.

'History is watching. Our children are watching. We must be brave enough to defend the basic principles that underpin and protect our freedom and our democratic process. I am committed to doing that, no matter what the short-term political consequences might be.

Her defiant op-ed comes as she faces a reckoning in next week's vote to replace her. With party leaders publicly backing her opponent, Cheney's position appears to be in grave danger. Her op-ed does not appear to make any concessions to mollify her opposition within the conference.

One Republican source told Politico Cheney was carrying out an 'exit strategy' and another compared her to an 'agitator' in a party where Trump ran on 'law and order.'

'It's like she's trying to be an agitator,' said the GOP lawmaker. 'It's like she's trying to stoke the fire to precipitate her own downfall.'

Cheney's blunt op-ed came after President Joe Biden said the Republican Party was going through a 'mini-revolution' as the movement grew to topple Cheney.

'It seems as though the Republican Party is trying to identify what it stands for,' he said when asked about the GOP infighting. 'And they're in the midst of a significant sort of mini revolution.'

Biden, who's spent more than 40 years in politics, said Democrats, who have long seen its moderate and progressive wings fight it out, have never had a disagreement like this.

'I've been a Democrat for a long time. We've gone through periods and we've had internal fights and disagreements. I don't ever remember any like this,' Biden said.

Cheney is not fighting to keep her leadership job, according to reports, and an up-and-coming Republican congresswoman is campaigning for the position - with the blessing and support of Donald Trump.

President Joe Biden said the Republican Party was going through a 'mini-revolution'

President Biden's comments came as a movement grows to oust Liz Cheney from House Republican leadership over her criticism of Donald Trump

President Biden argued, however, the country needs 'a two-party system.

'It's not healthy to have a one-party system. And I think the Republicans are further away from trying to figure out who they are and what they stand for than I thought they would be at this point,' he said.

The president was asked to clarify his thoughts on the GOP after, earlier in the day, when asked about it, he said: 'I don't understand the Republicans.'

House Republicans are preparing to oust Cheney, a member of a prominent Republican family and the highest ranking GOP woman in the House, over her criticism of Trump for his false claims he won the election and her demand Republican acknowledge the role the former president played in the January 6th MAGA riot on Capitol Hill.

And for Cheney, a Republican congresswoman from Wyoming, the clock is ticking. She is not fighting to hold onto her leadership post, Politico reported.

Cheney has told people that if holding onto her leadership role requires having to lie or stay quiet, she doesn't believe that's a price worth paying, a source close to her told the news outlet.

New York Representative Elise Stefanik is actively campaigning for Cheney's job of GOP conference chair. Trump has endorsed Stefanik, who was one of his top defenders during impeachment. Top House Republicans Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise are helping Stefanik.

The show down will likely come next Wednesday when GOP lawmakers hold their weekly meeting on Capitol Hill. There must be a motion to remove her followed by a formal vote. Three months ago, Cheney survived a similar vote on a secret ballot after some Trump supporters tried to remove her after she voted for his second impeachment.

As Republicans focus on winning back control of the House, they are increasingly turning to Trump, who still has a strong and vocal base of MAGA supporters who are expected to be active in next year's primary and general election.

A few Republicans have defended Cheney, including Senator Mitt Romney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger, but most are either staying quiet or working against her.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, at an event in Kentucky on Wednesday, dodged a question about Cheney, saying '100% of my focus is on stopping this new administration.'

Trump repeatedly attacked Cheney repeatedly after she voted to impeach for his role in the Capitol riot and, on Wednesday, blasted her yet again.

'Warmonger Liz Cheney, who has virtually no support left in the Great State of Wyoming, continues to unknowingly and foolishly say that there was no Election Fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election when in fact, the evidence, including no Legislative approvals as demanded by the U.S. Constitution, shows the exact opposite,' Trump said in a statement.

The 2020 contest showed no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Several recounts in states confirmed Joe Biden's win. Multiple courts threw out Trump's legal challenges.

Several Republicans said Trump should have done more to rein in his supporters who stormed the Capitol on January 6th, leaving five dead and a trail of destruction in their wake.

McCarthy even called him out on the House floor the day, saying Trump bears responsibility for the riot. Trump was impeached for his role but acquitted in the Senate. After that acquittal, McConnell said the former president was 'practically and morally responsible' for the events.

Trump erupted in fury. McCarthy flew down to Mar-a-Lago, Trump's residence in Palm Beach, to make peace. McConnell and Trump remain at odds.

McCarthy, who will be speaker if the party can flip five seats in 2022, said Trump remains a force in the GOP that must be considered.

'He could change the whole course of history,' McCarthy told The New York Times. 'This is the tightest tightrope anyone has to walk.'

President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized Liz Cheney

Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York is actively campaigning to replace Liz Cheney in House GOP leadership

McCarthy isn't looking for a GOP Civil War in the House while he tries to become speaker.

With Cheney and Trump at each other's throats, he and his allies are making it clear she needs to go.

McCarthy raised questions about Cheney's ability to carry out her duties as GOP conference chair and told Fox News he's heard from fellow GOP lawmakers they are worried she can't carry out the party's message.

Ahead of his interview, he was heard, on a hot mic, telling Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy he's lost confidence in Cheney, Axios reported.

'I think she's got real problems,' McCarthy said. 'I've had it with ... I've had it with her. You know, I've lost confidence. ... Well, someone just has to bring a motion, but I assume that will probably take place.'

He then said that members of his party were growing increasingly worried about roll and how it could hurt the future of the party.

'I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out the job as conference chair - to carry out the message. We all need to be working as one if we're able to win the majority. Remember, majorities are not given; they are earned. And that's about the message about going forward,' he said on 'Fox & Friends.'

Cheney's spokesperson shot back, calling on Republicans to speak up against Trump's falsehoods.

'This is about whether the Republican Party is going to perpetuate lies about the 2020 election and attempt to whitewash what happened on Jan 6. Liz will not do that. That is the issue,' said Jeremy Alder.

In February, Cheney - the No. 3 Republican in the House - survived a leadership vote 145-61 on a secret ballot. The vote was called for by Trump allies in the GOP after she was one of 10 House Republicans to vote for his impeachment.

'There is no way that Liz will be conference chair by month's end,' one key McCarthy ally told The Hill newspaper on Monday. 'When there is a vote, it won't be a long conference; it will be fast. Everyone knows the outcome.'

McCarthy's allies made it clear their focus is on winning back the House.

'This is a broad range of lawmakers who have had it with her,' a second McCarthy ally said. 'She's a liability, and McCarthy's as fed up as the rest of us that she is focused on the past rather than winning back the House.'

Meanwhile, Steve Scalise and McCarthy are working to clear the field for New York Representative Elise Stefanik to replace Cheney as GOP Conference Chairwoman

'House Republicans need to be solely focused on taking back the House in 2022 and fighting against Speaker Pelosi and President Biden's radical socialist agenda, and Elise Stefanik is strongly committed to doing that, which is why Whip Scalise has pledged to support her for Conference Chair,' Scalise's spokesperson Lauren Fine told Punchbowl News.

Stefanik was a vocal and public defender of Trump during his impeachment hearings.

Rep. Liz Cheney, a member of the prominent GOP family and the highest ranking Republican woman in the House, has been a fiery critic of Donald Trump

Cheney has stayed defiant. On Monday she slammed Trump for 'poisoning our democratic system' as he continued to falsely spout that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

Trump's office sent out a statement saying: 'The fraudulent presidential election of 2020 will be, from this day forth, known as the big lie!'

Cheney snapped back.

'The 2020 presidential election was not stolen,' she tweeted. 'Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system.'

Trump then fought back with an emailed statement, as he remains banished from Twitter and Facebook.

'Heartwarming to read new polls on big-shot warmonger Liz Cheney of the great State of Wyoming. She is so low that her only chance would be if vast numbers of people run against her which, hopefully, won't happen,' the ex-president said. 'They never liked her much, but I say she'll never run in a Wyoming election again!'
The sister of Suzanne Morphew has said she forgives her sister's husband - who has been charged with her murder - in an emotional appeal to reconnect with the couple's two adult daughters.

Suzanne's sister Melinda Moorman made her moving comments to KXRM-TV on Wednesday after Barry Morphew, 52, was arrested on charges of first-degree homicide, tampering with evidence, and attempting to influence a public servant.

Moorman said that it has been over a year since she has been able to have any contact with her nieces, Mallory and Macy.

'I would say to Mallory and Macy that I've been praying for you every day and that I adore you girls as the offspring of my beautiful sister and I will never stop loving you,' Moorman said.

'I am here for you whenever you need me girls, I am here and I have all the love in the world for you. And I love your dad, though he has done a terrible thing, I still love him girls, and I will pray for him and I will continue to pray for him, and I will never stop.'

She added: 'I am here waiting for you girls, whenever you need me.'

The sister of Suzanne Morphew, pictured before her disappearance, has said she forgives her sister's husband, Barry Morphew, who has been charged with her murder

Melinda Moorman, not pictured, said that it has been over a year since she has been able to have any contact with her nieces, Mallory and Macy, pictured

Suzanne Morphew's husband, Barry, was arrested on charges of first-degree homicide, tampering with evidence, and attempting to influence a public servant

Suzanne, 49, vanished without a trace on May 10, 2020 after reportedly leaving for a bike ride from the family's home near Salida, in Chaffee County, Colorado.

Barry has maintained his innocence in the case over the last 12 months but his apparently odd behavior before and after his wife's death, and some encounters that have been described as 'weird', has come under increased scrutiny.

It is not clear what developments in the case led to Barry's arrest over her murder.

'It's been a long journey of a lot of heartache, a lot of brokenness, a lot of sadness for two families. This isn't just about Suzanne. This is about a ripple effect into the lives of so many people that I care about. Barry's family. My family,' Moorman told KXRM-TV.

'But you know, it's almost a year and it's been a year of growth for a lot of us. And it's a relief. I have a lot of mixed emotions today. I have a great joy for my sister and yet a deep sadness for the family of Barry Morphew, a deep sadness there too.'

Moorman also remembered her sister as a 'delight' and a 'rose among thorns' while noting that Suzanne 'would only want people to forgive and reconcile the brokenness in this world.'

'She would never ever want bitterness or hatred to enter any of our hearts,' she said.

'I don't know what the future brings, just like I couldn't have ever predicted this. I've had to live one day at a time through this journey and that's the way I'll continue, one day at a time with God's grace and his direction.'

Moorman sang praises for Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze and how he has handled the investigation - as he and District Attorney Linda Stanley defended it from criticism that it has taken almost a year for an arrest.

Moorman praised Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze in an interview on Wednesday

Moorman, not pictured, also remembered her sister as a 'delight' and a 'rose among thorns'

Barry Morphew had offered a $100,000 reward for the return of his wife and claimed she was abducted - though he has now been arrested and charged with her murder nearly a year later

Spezze and Stanley admitted in a press conference held Wednesday evening that they do not know what caused Suzanne's death - but implied that they know of an 'incident' that may have led to her killing.

Moorman called Spezze a 'man of his word' and 'a man of integrity' while saying she has 'the highest regard for him.'

'A year ago, when my sister went missing, he reached out to me with sincerity and concern and he promised be that when the perpetrator was found and arrested, I would be the first person he would call,' she told KXRM-TV.

'I took him at his word. He did what he said he was going to do. He has never faltered and he has my forever gratitude, forever.'
The government is reportedly planning to make British veterans and terrorists exempt from prosecution for actions in the Troubles following a landmark court ruling.

Ministers are looking at putting in place a statute of limitations to stop soldiers being charged with incidents before the 1998 Good Friday agreement.

Any actions involving war crimes, genocide or torture however will not be included.

According to The Times, the government plans to draw a line under the continuing threat of prosecution for Army veterans, including scrapping a 150million unit to investigate the so-called legacy issues.

In a 'truth and reconciliation' process styled on the one Nelson Mandela implemented in South Africa after the end of apartheid, a commission will be set up to report on those who died to fulfil human rights obligations and give families on both sides closure.

While the proposals have not yet been signed off they are expected to be ready in time for the Queen's Speech next week.

Prosecutors in Northern Ireland are set to start re-examining evidence against 16 veteran facing charges over shootings following the collapse of a landmark trial against two officers this week.

On Tuesday Soldiers A and C were acquitted of the killing that year of Official IRA commander Joe McCann.

At least 16 Army veterans facing charges over shootings during the Troubles will have their cases reviewed following the collapse of a landmark trial. Pictured: A British soldier sits on patrol in the Falls Road area of Belfast in July 1970

A judge ruled statements given by the men, now 71 and 70, in the immediate aftermath of the shooting  and again in 2010  were inadmissible.

His scathing comments, which led the prosecution to offer no evidence on the sixth day of the trial on Tuesday, could place a number of prosecutions of ex-military personnel in doubt.

Four soldiers have already been charged with offences including murder. A further 12 are awaiting decisions on prosecutions following historic investigations by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Seven were members of a covert military unit made up of members of the SAS, Royal Marines and Parachute Regiment instructed to 'eliminate' suspected members of the IRA.

While a statute of limitations brought in by the government would protect the majority of these men from prosecution, it is unlikely to apply to cases that are already going through the courts.

Such a move will likely cause anger on both amongst Sinn Fein, who want accused soldiers to be prosecuted, and the DUP, who want to see terrorists held to account.

Mary Lou McDonald, the president of Sinn Fein, previously described any move to give an 'amnesty to their troops' as 'disgraceful'.

A source denied the plan amounted to an 'amnesty', telling the publication: 'We need an approach to the legacy of the Troubles which focuses on the recovery of information for loved MOD ones and efforts towards lasting reconciliation for all communities.'

The failed prosecution of Soldiers A and C was the first carried out against ex-servicemen in Northern Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.

The province's deputy director of public prosecutions said lawyers would now 'carefully consider' whether the judge's comments would affect other cases.

Mr Justice John O'Hara dismissed the statements Soldiers A and C gave following the shooting of McCann, saying they were 'compelled' to make them and did not have legal representation.

Soldiers involved in fatal incidents were not questioned by police under caution until a year later, in 1973.

Prosecutors will re-examine evidence dating back to 1972 after Soldiers A and C were acquitted of the killing that year of Official IRA commander Joe McCann. Pictured: Solicitor Niall Murphy (left) with Joe McCann's family leaving Laganside Court in Belfast after the murder trial collapsed on Tuesday

Official IRA leader Joe McCann, 24, was shot dead by paratroopers as he attempted to evade arrest by a plain clothed police officer in the Markets Area of Belfast in April 1972

Justice O'Hara also ruled that the interviews the veterans voluntarily gave to the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) in 2010 were inadmissible because they were largely based on their 1972 statements.

He said investigators did not caution the men under suspicion of murder as they were not aware their report would be used in a criminal prosecution.

Inquest pain for cleared pair? The agony for Soldiers A and C is set to continue after the family of IRA man Joe McCann yesterday demanded a new inquest into his death. Despite being cleared on Tuesday of the murder of the 24-year-old in 1972, the two former Paratroopers could be compelled to appear as witnesses in proceedings where they would be quizzed by lawyers. This could take years. The hearings are designed to find out 'how' someone died  information already in the public domain. The McCann family first urged Soldiers A and C to cooperate with a 'legacy' inquiry into his death in 2010, stating they wanted 'truth not retribution' and insisting the IRA man would 'not have born a grudge' over what happened. But in contrast to their earlier assurances, after the trial collapsed on Tuesday McCann's family and legal team turned on the soldiers. Confirming their push for an inquest, their solicitor Niall Murphy said: 'This trial has heard very clear evidence that Joe McCann was murdered. The two cowards who hid behind anonymity did shoot Joe McCann in the back. Today is not the end of the McCanns' journey for justice.' Advertisement

In any event, Paul Johnston, deputy director of the HET, concluded in his report into the death of McCann that there was 'no new or compelling evidence'. Despite his findings, charges were brought without the veterans even being arrested or interviewed by police.

Philip Barden of Devonshires Solicitors, which represents Soldiers A and C and other Northern Ireland veterans, said any statements obtained prior to 1973 should be ruled inadmissible in future cases.

He added that proceedings stemming from HET statements would also need to be 'carefully looked at' to ensure defendants were cautioned for specific offences. A veteran known as Soldier B is charged with the murder of teenager Daniel Hegarty in Londonderry in 1972 during an Army operation.

Another known as Soldier F is charged with two counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder in relation to 1972's Bloody Sunday deaths.

And Dennis Hutchings, a 79-year-old former soldier in the Life Guards, is charged with attempted murder over a shooting in County Tyrone in 1974.

He believes the case will proceed and told the Mail: 'The Government should now be stepping in. This ruling shows there are problems with these cases. That stands out a mile.'

His legal team wrote an open letter to prosecutors yesterday requesting an 'urgent review' of the decision to charge him in light of the collapse of the trial.

Robin Horsfall, a former paratrooper in Northern Ireland and part of the SAS unit which stormed the Iranian embassy, last night joined Northern Ireland veterans commissioner Danny Kinahan in calling for an urgent review of all pending cases.

'The judge tore the prosecution to pieces,' he said. 'This sets a precedent now for the dozens of other men fearing prosecution.

'Anything prior to 1973 needs to be looked at very carefully, as well as anything stemming from HET interviews.'
A large factory fire has forced the closure of a Melbourne primary school and sent plumes of toxic smoke across three suburbs.

The suspicious blaze at the packaging factory, opposite South Melbourne Primary School, started just before midnight on Wednesday.

Students and staff were told not to attend the school in Southbank on Thursday.

Residents in South Melbourne, South Wharf and Southbank have been advised to take care due to the lingering heavy smoke.

Fire Rescue Victoria assistant chief fire officer Mick Tisbury said despite the school not sustaining any damage, there was still a lot of smoke.

The suspicious blaze opposite South Melbourne Primary School started just before midnight on Wednesday

Fire Rescue Victoria assistant chief fire officer Mick Tisbury said despite the school not sustaining any damage, there was still a lot of smoke

'There's still a fair bit of smoke in the area and it's right opposite the primary school,' he told 3AW.

'If you've got kids attending that school, don't bring them to school today, they've got a day off, including the teachers and the staff as we take the health and safety of the community, especially kids, very seriously.'

The blaze was brought under control at about 2:20am after fire crews used ladder trucks to stop it from spreading.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by Victoria Police, who are treating it as suspicious.

Its expected the streets surrounding the factory, including Ferrars and Buckhurst street, will be closed for most of Thursday as the investigations and clean up take place.

Anyone in the area at the time of the fire or anyone with dashcam footage was driving near Buckhurst or Ferrars streets is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Australia's international borders will not be 'flung open next year' due to the slow vaccination rollout and uncertainty of new coronavirus variants that are causing havoc around the rest of the world.

Aussies have been banned from leaving the country since March 2020 unless granted special exemptions and only citizens and permanent residents have been allowed to enter under some of the strictest Covid-19 border rules in the world.

Last year the Government predicted international borders would be open in October 2021 after the whole adult population has been offered a vaccination - but this timeline will be pushed back, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said on Thursday.

Australia's international borders will not be 'flung open next year,' finance minister Simon Birmingham has said. Pictured: A Covid tester at Bondi Beach on Wednesday

In an interview with The Australian ahead of Tuesday's budget, Mr Birmingham said: 'We recognise that if Australians want to be kept safe and secure and given uncertainties that exist not just in the speed of the vaccine rollout but also the extent of its effectiveness to different variants of Covid, the duration of its longevity and effectiveness, these are all consideration that mean we won't be seeing borders flung open at the start of next year with great ease.'

The minister went on to say that any significant overseas leisure and business travel might not restart until well into 2022.

He warned the world was facing greater uncertainty than a few months ago, largely due to a surge in cases and deaths and new mutant strains in India, which are more infectious than the original Covid-19.

'The ferocity of recent Covid outbreaks, the uncertainty in many countries around vaccine rollouts all create an environment in which, although Australia's enjoying very high levels of business and consumer confidence, there's a fragility that underpins all of that,' he said.

His warning is a hammer blow to millions of Australians who have not been able to see family members overseas for more than a year.

According to the 2016 census, half of Australians were either born overseas or have at least one parent who was born overseas.

Earlier this month, Trade Minister Dan Tehan revealed the Government will take a 'systematic' approach to opening the borders which will see travel bubbles set up with individual nations.

'Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam have all been mentioned as potentials in that area,' he said, without giving any dates for when bubbles may start.

Australia has had a two-way travel bubble with New Zealand since April 18.

A nurse collects COVID-19 test samples at the Bondi drive-through testing clinic on Wednesday

As of Tuesday night, Australia had delivered just 2,405,378 vaccines - well short of the Government's target of 4 million by the end of March.

That translates to around 9,000 vaccinations per 100,000 people, compared to 75,000 per 100,000 in the US, or 123,000 per 100,000 in world-leading Israel.

In a speech at the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will insist that he has no desire to open the international borders soon.

'[This] will be a budget that continues to be framed by the brutal reality of the global pandemic,' he will say.

'We cannot put it at risk, or go with those who would take us in a different direction.'

Mr Morrison on Wednesday said the country's tough stance on borders had kept Australia safe.

The nation has only suffered 22,399 locally acquired Covid cases and 901 deaths.

However with only one person in the entire country in intensive care treatment due to Covid, the Government's policy has shifted significantly from the initial goal of 'flattening the curve' of transmission to allow the health system to manage the virus.

Last week direct commercial flights from India were banned as the nation of 1.4 billion battled a surge in illnesses and death, with more than 350,000 cases per day.

Chartered rescue flights were suspended until May 15 after the Howard Springs quarantine facility near Darwin suffered an explosion of cases among returned travellers from India.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in Townsville, Mr Morrison said: 'The pause will be in place until May 15, as we said, and that pause is already working.

'This is enabling us to get on the right foot to restore repatriation flights and we are making good progress to that.

'We are starting to see, as a result of the pause, the results of cases at Howard Spring is coming down - we have more of a distance to travel there - but it is working.'

Relatives and family members carry the dead body of a Covid-19 victim for a cremation at Nigambodh Ghat Crematorium, on the banks of the Yamuna river in New Delhi last week

Stark warning Australia could end up 'like North Korea' and be cut off from the world for FIVE years unless we start accepting Covid cases and deaths like we do with flu

Australia could end up being cut off from the rest of the world for five years if we don't accept some Covid-19 cases and deaths, a leading disease expert has warned.

ANU Professor Peter Collignon said the nation would become like hermit kingdom North Korea where residents are never allowed to leave if our attitude to the virus doesn't change.

'Eventually we're going to have to accept some Covid cases,' he told Daily Mail Australia on April 20.

'Unless we want borders closed for the next four to five years. That's how long it's going to take for the world to get on top of this.'

ANU Professor Peter Collignon said the nation would become like hermit kingdom North Korea if we don't accept cases of Covid-19. Pictured: The 109th birth anniversary of state founder Kim Il Sung in North Korea last week

Australians are only allowed to fly to New Zealand. Pictured: Passengers queue for check-in at Sydney Airport on Monday

Poll Should Australia open the international border once the over 70s are vaccinated? Yes No Undecided Should Australia open the international border once the over 70s are vaccinated? Yes 1246 votes

No 708 votes

Undecided 116 votes Now share your opinion





Professor Collignon said that in some ways Australia is a victim of its own success because people are terrified of Covid and don't want a single case in the country whereas other countries are now accustomed to it circulating.

'There are some people who want to keep cases to zero and keep the borders closed - it seems the majority.

'But I can't see how that's sustainable - you would turn into a nation like North Korea,' he said.

'A lot of Australians have friends and family overseas. You can't ban travel forever, I don't think that's sustainable for social and economic reasons,' he added.

Mr Morrison has said he wants the nation to treat Covid like flu once vaccinations dramatically reduce the risk of severe disease and deaths.

'If we want to treat Covid like the flu, then we have to have the same tolerance for Covid as we have for the flu,' he told The West Live podcast last week.

'If the international borders were lifted, there would be cases and we'd have to be confident and comfortable that that would be in Australia's interest'.

Professor Collignon said if Australians want to rejoin the world then they should be prepared to accept a similar number of Covid deaths as flu deaths annually.

He pointed out that in 2017 - which was a bad year for flu - 1,255 people died of influenza and that was acceptable to most people.

New Zealand travelers embrace at Sydney International Airport. Australians can travel to New Zealand but no-where else

'I expect that Covid will become a seasonal respiratory virus like flu which isn't ideal but you can have reasonable travel and fewer restrictions on your movement,' he said.

The infectious diseases expert warned that Australia cannot keep cases to zero even if everyone in the country got vaccinated.

'There is an expectation that vaccines are 100 per cent effective and we will keep transmission to zero - but this is not the case,' he said.

'Vaccines don't make the risk zero but we really markedly decrease the risk.'

In March AstraZeneca announced test results which found the vaccine was 76 per cent effective at stopping someone from catching Covid-19 and 100 per cent effective at stopping severe symptoms.

A recent Pfizer study found its jab is 91.3 per cent effective at stopping Covid infection and 100 per cent effective in preventing severe symptoms.

Passengers wearing face masks are met by flight crew as they board Qantas flight QF143 bound for Auckland from Sydney

These figures mean that Australia is bound to see transmission and therefore deaths because not everyone will agree to take the jab.

Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid made this point last week when he said: 'We don't have Covid now, but Covid is coming.

'We cannot keep this virus out of Australia forever unless we become a true island nation with no travel,' he told ABC radio.

Mr Morrison has insisted that he will not rush opening the borders and will wait at least until the most vulnerable Australians have been offered a vaccine before thinking about introducing a home quarantine system.

Professor Collignon also said it's still too early and feared that not enough Aussies will have had their jab by winter.

'I worry about this coming winter. We need to strive to get the over 70s vaccinated and that will markedly decrease death rate, he said.

'What we need to do is have those most at risk of dying have their Covid vaccine'.
Bank credit officers are more likely to approve loan requests early and late in the working day  and reject those processed around noon, a study found.

UK psychologists studied the decisions made on 26,501 loan restructuring requests by a major bank's team of 30 credit officers over the course of one month.

They found the officers appeared to develop 'decision fatigue' around the middle of the day, making them more likely to default to the safer option of saying no.

Processing loan-related requests involves weighing up the customer's financial strengths against their risk factors  and is therefore cognitively demanding.

Making the wrong decision can be costly, as although restructuring often results in a loss compared to the original payment plan, defaulting can be worse for the bank.

According to the team, the findings highlight how having regular breaks amid long periods of intense work can make employees more productive overall.

Bank credit officers are more likely to approve loan requests early and late in the working day  and reject those processed around 12pm, a study found (stock image)

DECISION FATIGUE Decision fatigue is the mental exhaustion caused by having to make difficult decisions repeatedly over the course of long period of time. Past research showed that this fatigue leads people to fall back on whatever the 'default' choice is  the option that either seems easier or safer. Advertisement

'Credit officers were more willing to make the difficult decision of granting a customer more lenient loan repayment terms in the morning,' said paper author and psychologist Simone Schnall of the University of Cambridge.

'But by midday they showed decision fatigue and were less likely to agree to a loan restructuring request.'

'After lunchtime they probably felt more refreshed and were able to make better decisions again,' she added.

In the study, the loan applications the credit officers were processing were so-called restructuring requests.

These are cases where a struggling customer who already has a loan is asking the bank to adjust their repayment schedule to help them.

By studying decisions at a bank, the team were able to provide the first calculation of the economic impacts of decision fatigue in a specific context.

Customers were seen to be more likely to completely repay their loan if their schedule was restructured than if the original repayment terms were maintained.

This meant that the trend of declining more requests around lunch resulted in an avoidable financial loss for the bank.

The researchers concluded that the bank could have collected an additional $500,000 in loan repayments if all decisions had been made in the early morning, before the fatigue had set in.

UK psychologists studied the decisions made on 26,501 loan restructuring requests by a major bank's team of 30 credit officers over the course of one month. They found the officers appeared to develop 'decision fatigue' around the middle of the day (left), making them more likely to default to the safer option of saying no (right)

'Even decisions we might assume are very objective and driven by specific financial considerations are influenced by psychological factors,' said paper author and psychologist Tobias Baer, also of the University of Cambridge.

'This is clear evidence that regular breaks during working hours are important for maintaining high levels of performance.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
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Scientists warn 90 percent of the worlds corals reefs will disappear from Earth by 2043 due to climate change and human interference, but a new and innovated method could save them from extinction.

Researchers, working with the cat food brand Sheba, are using Reef Stars to recover 45 acres of coral in Indonesias Spermonde Archipelago , which had decayed to a killing field of just rubble.

A Reef Star is a steel frame made of locally sourced materials and coated with sand that is planted on the bottom of the seafloor to encourage coral growth.

The structure acts as a base for young coral to latch on, allowing them to settle in the bed and regrow in the new location.

For two years, the team has been using Reef Stars to regrow coral in what is the world's largest coral reef restoration program, and have unveiled their progress in what they call the Hope Reef.

Coral cover has increased from five to 55 percent off the coast of Sulawesi, fish abundance has increased and other species like fish and sharks have returned.

Dr. Tim Gordon, a marine biologist at the University of Exeter and Mars Inc, told DailyMail.com: It is impossible for natural corals to settled in a degraded rubble field, as the baby coral is washed around by waves and die.

The frame gives coral a place to land and is a strong stable platform. Reef Stars are an anchor you need to start the reef over.

Scroll down for videos

 Slide me  Researchers, working with the cat food company Sheba, are using Reef Stars to recover 45 acres of coral in Indonesias Spermonde Archipelago , which had s decayed to a killing field of just rubble. Coral cover has increased (right) from five to 55 percent off the coast of Sulawesi, fish abundance has increased and other species like fish and sharks have returned

'The reef, which can be seen on Google Earth, has been built to spell the word H-O-P-E and is a symbol to show the world how positive change can happen within our lifetime,' Sheba shared in a statement.

Gordon and his colleagues have been working on the project in Indonesia for 13 years, where they have developed different tools, collaborated with scientists around the world and formed bonds with the local communities.

The reef is one of the largest in the world, but it is also one of the most decayed to due to human interference.

And those that call the region home rely on it to survive.

'The reef, which can be seen on Google Earth, has been built to spell the word H-O-P-E and is a symbol to show the world how positive change can happen within our lifetime,' Sheba shared in a statement

A Reef Star is a steel frame made of locally sourced materials and coated with sand that is planted on the bottom of the seafloor to encourage coral growth

Researchers hope to have the entire reef regrown by 2029, which is now flourishing with brightly colored corals sprouting from the seafloor and marine life that fled what was once a wasteland.

In just two to three years, you cant see them [Reef Stars] anymore, said Gordon.

The coral has completely dwarfed the Reef Stars and they are invisible. The reef has now taken over.

That is part of the beauty of the system, it really takes your breath away. It was barren when that natural recovery starts to roll, but the recovery is powerful.

Gordon said they are already using the Reef Stars in two reefs on the Great Barrier Reef  Moore Reef and Green Island.

Previous researched from last month showed that up to 99 percent of the Great Barrier Reef could soon disappear due to climate change.

The Australian Academy of Science revealed that if 2.7F (1.5C) degrees of warming continues, the worlds largest coral reef system will eventually perish.

The structure acts as a base for young coral to latch on, allowing them to settle in the bed and regrow in the new location

The reef is one of the largest in the world, but it is also one of the most decayed to due to human interference. And those that call the region home rely on it to survive

Researchers hope to have the entire reef regrown by 2029, which is now flourishing with brightly colored corals sprouting from the seafloor and marine life that fled what was once a wasteland

The natural wonder is expected to shrink, but if the Earth experiences warming of 3.6F (2C) only one percent of coral will remain.

Researchers say that immediate transformative action to reverse global warming is the only option for saving the Great Barrier Reef, but reaching the goal seems to be virtually impossible.

However, the team also notes that with Earth's current rates of emissions, it is likely we will surpass 2.7F (1.5C) by 2025.

In just two to three years, you cant see them [Reef Stars] anymore, said Gordon. The coral has completely dwarfed the Reef Stars and they are invisible. The reef has now taken over. That is part of the beauty of the system, it really takes your breath away. It was barren when that natural recovery starts to roll, but the recovery is powerful'

The important thing is that restoration in key areas is really important in choosing your sites, he said.

If you plant a Reef Star in a place currents will pick up your coral and carry to another place then your reef upstream will have benefits downstream.

It is not working how we can replant everything, but find best places. It is like a strategy game. When we plant this it will be one of the factors.

Coral reefs our one of the world's most beautiful natural wonders and are among one of the most threatened.
Elon Musk says his new Starlink satellite internet service has already had half a million preorders, but reassures there won't be any 'technical problems meeting that demand.'

Musk addded that the only limitation would be high density of users in urban areas.

He wrote: 'Only limitation is high density of users in urban areas. Most likely, all of the initial 500k will receive service. More of a challenge when we get into the several million user range.'

SpaceX has not set a date for Starlink's public launch, but a commercial service would not likely be offered in 2021 as it had previously planned.

The firm has 1,300 satellites in orbit as part of its mega constellation, and plans to deploy 12,000 as part of the full deployment, at a cost of about $10 billion.

Elon Musk says his new Starlink satellite internet service has already had half million preorders and there won't be any 'technical problems meeting that demand'

The firm has 1,300 satellites in orbit as part of its mega constellation, and plans to deploy 12,000 as part of the full deployment, at a cost of about $10 billion

HOW MANY ITEMS ARE THERE IN ORBIT? Rocket launches since 1957: 5450

5450 Number of satellites in orbit: 8950

8950 Number still in space: 5000

5000 Number still functioning: 1950

1950 Number of debris objects: 22300

22300 Break-ups, explosions etc: 500

500 Mass of objects in orbit: 8400 tonnes

8400 tonnes Prediction of the amount of debris in orbit using statistical models Over 10cm: 34 000

34 000 1cm to 10cm: 900 000

900 000 1mm to 1cm: 128 million Source: European Space Agency Advertisement

Starlink is SpaceX's internet service that aims to provide connections to areas of the globe where this has typically been a challenge.

SpaceX explained: 'Unbounded by traditional ground infrastructure, Starlink can deliver high-speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable or completely unavailable.'

On Tuesday, SpaceX launched a new batch of Starlink satellites into orbit on a recycled Falcon 9 rocket, taking off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The flight, called Starlink 25, is the 13th mission of 2021 for the Elon Musk-owned firm and the third time this Falcon 9 rocket has ventured into space.

SpaceX has launched 370 Starlink satellites so far this year, as part of Musk's masterplan to have 1,500 devices orbiting Earth by the end of 2021.

This will allow SpaceX to provide better, faster internet to its more than 10,000 current paying customers, according to CEO Gwynne Shotwell.

Building and sending rockets to outer space is a capital-intensive business, but two of the world's richest men, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Musk have invested billions of dollars over the years to make inroads in this market.

Musk and Bezos have sparred publicly over the competing satellite plans, with both firms given permission to use the 550km orbital zone.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) last month approved SpaceX's plan to deploy some Starlink satellites at a lower earth orbit than planned, in the 550km rather than 1,200km range, but included a number of conditions.

Musk tweeted that the only limitation would be high density of users in urban areas, but even that would be 'more of a challenge in the several million user range'

SpaceX agreed to accept that their satellites may encounter interference from satellites deployed under Amazon's Kuiper Systems satellite project.

The FCC had previously gave permission for Amazon to launch some 3,000 satellites into low Earth orbit for its Kuiper satellite broadband service.

This is a growing industry that is predicted to be worth billions per year, with a shift from ground-based fibre broadband to satellite based infrastructure.

As well as SpaceX and Amazon, British firm OneWeb is launching over 600 satellites into the 1,200km zone to provide broadband services and satellite giant Echostar is launching a satellite broadband and 5G service from space.

SpaceX has launched 370 Starlink satellites so far this year, as part of Elon Musk's (pictured) masterplan to have 1,500 devices orbiting Earth by the end of 2021

Starlink satellites have proved controversial among astronomers, not just for the train they produce while moving to their orbit, but for the glare when they are in position

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On Starlink alone, estimates suggest that if SpaceX obtains 25 million subscribers, it would generate about $30 billion every year - ten times its earnings as a launch provider, sending satellites into space for governments and other firms.

More than 10,000 users are connected to the Starlink satellite internet, according to a SpaceX filing with the FCC, with 500,000 waiting to sign up.

The document said the service is 'meeting and exceeding 100/20 megabits per second (Mbps) throughout individual users' and many are seeing latency 'at or below 31 milliseconds.'

'As we launch more satellites, install more ground stations and improve our networking software, data speed, latency and uptime will improve dramatically.'

However, these low orbiting satellites aren't without controversy, with astronomers concerned about the impact on observations and the risk of collisions generating increased debris that could one day prove fatal as more humans go into orbit.

Over the past 50 years there have been 6,000 satellites sent into orbit around the Earth, with about 4,000 going up in the last decade alone.

That is expected to increase dramatically over the coming decade, with 3,000 from Amazon, hundreds from OneWeb, thousands from SpaceX and constellations planned by China, Japan, India and Europe.
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Long March 5B, the out-of-control 21-ton Chinese rocket, is expected to crash back to Earth on Saturday (May 8), possibly hitting an inhabited area, the US government warns.

A Department of Defense spokesperson revealed the date of its expected reentry into Earth's atmosphere, but said its exact entry point can't currently be determined.

Daily updates on its location are being posted on Space Track, and the government will be providing additional information 'as it becomes available', the spokesperson added.

Other satellite trackers have also detected the 100-foot-long, 16-foot-wide rocket body, now designated as '2021-035B', travelling at more than four miles per second  fast enough to loop the Earth in under two hours.

'U.S. Space Command is aware of and tracking the location of the Chinese Long March 5B in space, but its exact entry point into the Earth's atmosphere cannot be pinpointed until within hours of its reentry, which is expected around May 8,' said US Department of Defense spokesperson Mike Howard.

Long March rocket 5B was responsible for sending Tianhe, the first building block of China's upcoming space station, into orbit last week.

Tianhe was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in Hainan, China on the Long March 5B, China's largest carrier rocket, on Thursday (April 29).

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A Department of Defense spokesperson revealed the date of its expected reentry into Earth's atmosphere, but said its exact entry point can't currently be determined. Pictured is the rocket's current orbit

China's 21-ton Long March 5b core stage rocket is orbiting the planet in a path that could lead to the massive vehicle crashing back to Earth within the next few days, experts warns. Pictured is the rocket when it launched last week

Position of the Long March 5B rocket, according to the N2YO satellite tracker, as of Wednesday morning (May 5)

'It's potentially not good,' Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, told the Guardian.

'Last time they launched a Long March 5B rocket they ended up with big long rods of metal flying through the sky and damaging several buildings in the Ivory Coast.

'Most of it burned up, but there were these enormous pieces of metal that hit the ground. We are very lucky no one was hurt.'

Earlier this week, McDowell said that the rocket's core stage  essentially the backbone of the rocket  will re-enter Earth's atmosphere 'uncontrolled'.

He told SpaceNews that its path takes it to a latitude approximately level with New York and Madrid, and as far south as southern Chile and Wellington, New Zealand'.

The core stage launched Thursday to deliver the first modular of the nation's new space station, called Tianhe. Systems that track space debris picked up the core stage's location (red)

China previously launched Long March 5b in May 2020 (pictured) to test the vehicle in preparation of sending people to the moon, but this mission also ended with an uncontrolled reentry

It could land anywhere in this range, although it is hoped that most of it would burn up in the atmosphere prior to hitting Earth.

Debris that doesn't burn up could hit the oceans or uninhabited areas, 'but the risk remains of damage to people or property', SpaceNews reported.

Space debris trackers observed it moving slowly and unpredictably to Earth over the past few days, and reentry of the vehicle would be one of the largest uncontrolled descents on record.

The previous Long March 5B launch saw the fourth biggest uncontrolled re-entry ever in May last year.

At the time, it splashed down in the waters off the west coast of Mauritania just off the coast of West Africa, after flying over Los Angeles and New York City.

Pictured is predicted paths of the rocket over the eastern coast of the US. Calculations reveal six possible paths Long March 5B could take

He added that the Long March 5B is seven times more massive than the Falcon 9 second stage that caused a lot of attention a few weeks ago when it re-entered above Seattle.

'I think by current standards it's unacceptable to let it [the core stage] re-enter uncontrolled,' he added.

What's more, the Tianhe launch was just the first of 11 missions needed to complete China's upcoming space station, intended to rival the ISS.

China aims to complete its Chinese Space Station, known as Tiangong (Heavenly Palace) by the end of 2022, state media reported, after more modules are launched.

When complete, Chinese Space Station will orbit Earth at an altitude of 340 to 450 km (211 to 280 miles).

3D rendering of the Chinese Space Station, or Tiangong Space Station, as it'll look when fully constructed. Tianhe will form the main living quarters for three crew members. Shenzhou is an existing spacecraft that would dock at the station with crew. Tianzhou is an existing cargo transport spacecraft

Chinese Space Station modules - Tianhe: Core module. Launched on April 29, 2021 - Wentian: Experiment module I. Launch planned for 2022 - Mengtian: Experiment module II. Launch planned for 2022 - Xuntian: Space telescope module. Planned launch in 2024 to co-orbit with Chinese Space Station Advertisement

It's expected to have a mass between 180,000 and 220,000 pounds (80 and 100 metric tonnes)  roughly one-fifth the mass of the ISS, which is 925,335 pounds.

In later missions planned for 2021 and 2022, China will launch the two other core modules, four manned spacecraft and four cargo spacecraft.

Work on the space station programme began a decade ago with the launch of a space lab Tiangong-1 in 2011, and later, Tiangong-2 in 2016.

Both helped China test the programme's space rendezvous and docking capabilities.

China aims to become a major space power by 2030 to keep up with rivals, including the US, Russia and the European Space Agency, and create the most advanced space station orbiting Earth.

ISS, currently in orbit, took 10 years and more than 30 missions to assemble from the launch of the first module back in 1998.

The ISS is backed by five participating space agencies  NASA (US), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada)  but China was originally barred from participating by the US.

China has ramped up its space programme with visits to the moon  which returned the first moon samples to Earth in more than 45 years years  and the launch of an uncrewed probe to Mars, as well as construction of its own space station.

Last Thursday's liftoff was a proud moment for China and a watershed event in its quest to become a dominant force in humankind's quest for advancement in space
This century's sea level rise from climate change could be halved if nations meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 2.7F (1.5C), scientists have said.

Meeting this target  instead of reaching 5.4F [3C] of warming  might lower average global sea level rise from 9.8 inches (25 cm) down to 5.1 inches (13 cm).

London-led researchers modelled the effect of melting glaciers and ice sheets on sea level rise by 2100 under various possible warming scenarios.

The team found that limiting warming to 2.7F (1.5C) would reduce losses from the world's glaciers by 50 per cent and the Greenland ice sheet by 70 per cent.

Their findings for Antarctica, however, were less clear, with present uncertainties in competing ice losses and snow gains making future predictions difficult.

Meanwhile, a second set of researchers has warned that 5.4F (3C) of warming could end up seeing sea levels rise some 0.2 inches (0.5 cm) each year by 2100.

Exceeding this tipping point, they warned, could stop us halting sea level rise for centuries  even with optimistic future advances in atmospheric carbon removal.

This century's sea level rise from climate change could be halved if nations meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 2.7F [1.5C], scientists have said. Pictured: icebergs float down the Sermilik Fjord in south-east Greenland

THE ANTARCTIC ICE SHEET PROBLEM The Antarctic ice sheet is Earth's largest land-based ice reservoir. The complete melting of the just Antarctic peninsula alone could increase the global mean sea level by 9.4 inches [24 centimetres]. Predicting the future of the Antarctic ice sheet is difficult at present, however, as there are still many uncertainties around the extent to which snow fall in the sheet's interior is counteracting ice loss at its edges. As a result, Dr Edwards and colleagues' modelling revealed no clear difference in the fate of the Antarctic ice sheet under the different greenhouse gas emissions scenarios they explored. 'Coastal flood management must therefore be flexible enough to account for a wide range of possible sea level rise, until new observations and modelling can improve the clarity of Antarcticas future,' Dr Edwards said. Advertisement

'Ahead of COP26 [the UN Climate Change Conference] this November, many nations are updating their pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement,' said climate modeller Tamsin Edwards of King's College London.

'Global sea level will continue to rise, even if we halt all emissions now, but our research suggests we could limit the damage.

'If pledges were far more ambitious, central predictions for [average] sea level rise from melting ice would be reduced from 25 cm [9.8 inches] to 13 cm [5.1 inches] in 2100.

Furthermore, she added, there would be 'a 95 per cent chance of being less than 28 cm [9.8 inches] rather than the current upper end of 40 cm [15.7 inches].

'This would mean a less severe increase in coastal flooding.'

Since 1993, the melting of ice on land has been responsible for around half of global increases in sea level, with this contribution expected to grow as the world warms.

(The rest of the sea level rise is largely a product of the oceans themselves as expanding as they increase in temperature.)

Previous predictions of sea level rise had been based on older emissions scenarios and were limited in their ability to explore uncertainty in the models of the future because they were limited in the number of simulations they ran.

In their new work, Dr Edwards and colleagues updated the climate scenarios and collected a more complete picture of the sources of melting land ice that could contribute to global sea level rise.

'We used a larger and more sophisticated set of climate and ice models than ever before,' explained Dr Edwards.

Her team, she added, combined 'nearly 900 simulations from 38 international groups using statistical techniques to improve our understanding of uncertainty about the future.'

London-led researchers modelled the effect of melting glaciers and ice sheets on sea level rise by 2100 under various possible warming scenarios. The team found that limiting warming to 2.7F (1.5C) would reduce losses from the world's glaciers by 50 per cent and the Greenland ice sheet by 70 per cent. Pictured: icebergs in south-east Greenland's Sermilik Fjord

The new approach still found a challenge in the Antarctic ice sheet  the land's largest ice reservoir which is believed to be melting at an increasing rate.

'Antarctica is the "wildcard" of sea level rise: difficult to predict, and critical for the upper end of projections,' Dr Edward noted.

In fact, the team's modelled revealed no clear difference in the fate of the Antarctic ice sheet under the different greenhouse gas emissions scenarios they explored.

They attribute this to current uncertainties in the competing processes of ice loss at the coasts and the snowfall accumulation at the cold interior that helps to replenish the sheet's lost ice.

The researchers did, however, model a worst-case scenario for Antarctica  one in which there is significantly more melting than snowfall resulting in five times the loss of ice from the sheet.

'In [this] pessimistic storyline, where Antarctica is very sensitive to climate change, we found there is a 5 per cent chance of the land ice contribution to sea level rise exceeding 56 cm in 2100 even if we limit warming to 1.5C [2.7F],' Dr Edwards said.

'Coastal flood management must therefore be flexible enough to account for a wide range of possible sea level rise  until new observations and modelling can improve the clarity of Antarcticas future.'

In the other study, climate expert Robert DeConto of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and colleagues found that curbing warming to 3.6F (2C, an alternative Paris Agreement target) would maintain Antarctic ice loss (pictured) at current rates

In the other study, climate expert Robert DeConto of the University of Massachusetts Amherst and colleagues found that curbing warming to 3.6F (2C, an alternative Paris Agreement target) would maintain Antarctic ice loss at current rates.

However, their modelling indicated that under a 'business-as-usual' scenario  with current levels of fossil fuel emissions leading to a 5.4F [3C] warming  ice loss will increase substantially from 2060.

This, they warned, could trigger increases in sea level of 0.2 inches [0.5 cm] each year come 2100.

After this rapid sea level rise threshold has been crossed, modelling suggested, theoretical approaches to remove CO2 from the atmosphere could only slow sea-level rise over the coming centuries, not halt it entirely.

The researchers' results will be used to inform the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Sixth Assessment report, which is to be published later this year.

The full findings of the two studies were published in the journal Nature.
Members of the civic group, Political Mamas, cover themselves in paint during their "Pink No More" campaign in front of the Government Complex Seoul in this March 14, 2019, photo. Yonhap



By Bahk Eun-ji



The nation's human rights watchdog has called for changes to the practices in which girls' items are colored pink while boys' toys are blue, saying these practices can make children develop gender stereotypes.



The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) expressed this opinion in response to a complaint filed by the civic group, Political Mamas, against eight children's products manufacturers. But it dismissed the complaint, which it viewed did not meet legal requirements.



In January of last year, the civic group said that companies use blue for boys' items and pink for girls' items, ranging from clothes, toothbrushes and pacifiers to toys and stationery, often putting labels saying "For girls" on pink items and "For boys" on blue ones.



The civic group said that such classifications deprive children and parents of their rights to choose. It also pointed out that some toys, like toy kitchens, are displayed only in sections for girls and that this segregation pushes stereotypical gender roles on children.



In response, the NHRCK said that producing and selling children's products according to the categorization of pink for girls and blue for boys has negative effects, reinforces gender stereotypes among children and leads to social prejudice and discrimination.



"Companies should change this practice towards a more gender-neutral direction, recognizing their social responsibility," it said.



However, the watchdog dismissed the complaint itself, concluding that the petition was not subject to review as there were no specific discriminatory acts. "Although the companies put 'For girls' and 'For boys' labels on products based on their pink or blue color, they don't limit consumers' choices," it said, meaning that, despite the labels, girls are free to buy blue items and boys can buy pink ones.


Flat-pack pasta which only takes on its iconic shape after cooking has been created by scientists.

A study found imprinting strips of raw pasta with grooves in a specific pattern allows them to be stored flat but morph into classical pasta arrangements when served.

The breakthrough was tested on pasta but could apply to other foodstuffs and would allow food manufacturers to reduce packaging and improve transport efficiency.

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Flat-pack pasta which only takes on its iconic shape while cooking has been created by scientists. They successfully created flat-packed versions of penne, rigatoni and farfalle

A study found imprinting raw pasta with grooves in a specific pattern allows them to be stored flat but morph into various classical pasta arrnagments when cooked and served

The team from Syracuse University and Carnegie Mellon University also suggested flat pasta may cook faster than dry tubular pasta, reducing cooking emissions.

About 14.3 million metric tons of pasta is produced annually worldwide, with almost a quarter (22.7 per cent) coming from Italy.

To make the pasta industry more eco-friendly the US-based researchers developed the morphing version of the Italian cuisine staple.

Pictured, one of the pasta shapes created using the flat-pack, grooved method. The breakthrough was tested on pasta but could apply to other foodstuffs and would allow food manufacturers to reduce packaging and improve transport efficiency

To make the pasta industry more eco-friendly the US-based researchers developed the morphing version of the Italian classic. About 14.3 million metric tons of pasta is produced annually worldwide, with almost a quarter (22.7 per cent) produced in Italy

Traditional pasta already morphs when cooked, expanding and softening when boiled. The team harnessed these natural properties to create a flattened version which was made of only semolina flour and water

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They stamped grooves into flat pasta sheets which, when boiled, swelled into penne, rigatoni and farfalle.

Traditional pasta already morphs when cooked, expanding and softening when boiled.

The team harnessed these natural properties to create a flattened version which was made of only semolina flour and water.

Assistant Professor Lining Yao, from Carnegie Mellon, said: 'We were inspired by flat-packed furniture and how it saved space, made storage easier and reduced the carbon footprint associated with transportation.

'We decided to look at how the morphing matter technology we were developing in the lab could create flat-packed pastas that offered similar sustainability outcomes.'

Dr Teng Zhang, at Syracuse University who led the modelling analysis, said: 'The groove side expands less than the smooth side, leading the pasta to morph into shape.'

Dr Ye Tao, leading author, tested the flat-packed pasta by packing it for a hiking trip.

The food took up less room, did not break while hiking and cooked successfully on a portable camp stove.

She said: 'The morphed pasta mimicked the mouthfeel, taste and appearance of traditional pasta.'

The findings were published in the journal Science Advances.
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Jewish pilgrims traveled to the Temple Mount 2,000 years ago where they lit a ritual burial offering to pray for good fortune, and this specific lamp has been uncovered in the City of David.

The rare oil lamp, shaped like a grotesque face, was formed from bronze and still includes the original wick made of flax.

Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said it is estimated to be from the 1st century to the early 2nd century AD.

'The offering of this lamp may attest to the importance of the building, which may have been linked to the protection of the Siloam Pool, the city's primary water source,' said Dr. Yuval Baruch and Ari Levy, according to the IAA statement.

'This lamp is a very unique find, and as far as we know, the first of its kind discovered in Israel,' they were quoted as saying. 'The uniqueness of the current object is that it is only half a face.'

Experts believe the lamp was originally attached to a flat object or wall inside the sacred Temple, which was lit during prayer ceremonies.

Jewish pilgrims traveled to the Temple Mount 2,000 years ago where they lit a ritual burial offering to pray for good fortune, and this specific lamp has been uncovered in the City of David

'Foundation deposits (offerings) were prevalent in the ancient world, and were intended for luck, and to ensure the continued existence of the building and its occupants, and they were usually buried under the floors of buildings or foundations,' the archaeologists said.

Liquid bronze was poured into a mold shaped like half of a face of a bearded man when it was first constructed, experts believe, Times of Israel reports.

The lamp's tip is fashioned into a crescent moon, and the handles look like an acanthus plant, which is a flowering plant native to tropical and warm regions.

And the object is decorated with a common Roman artistic motif that is similar to a theatrical mask.

The rare oil lamp, shaped like a grotesque face, was formed from bronze and still includes the original wick made of flax. Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said it is estimated to be from the 1st century to the early 2nd century AD

The lamp was unearthed at the foundation of a building erected in Jerusalem's City of David shortly after the destruction of the Second Temple almost 2,000 years ago

The lamp was unearthed at the foundation of a building erected in Jerusalem's City of David shortly after the destruction of the Second Temple almost 2,000 years ago.

Researchers discovered the well-preserved wick after receiving the artifact from city officials.

Dr. Naama Sukenik, curator of organic materials at the IAA, examined the thin material under a microscope, finding it was made of flax.

Sukenik and her team plan to conduct more research to identify any oil residue left behind that will reveal how the lamp was used and what oil was used to light it.

Liquid bronze was poured into a mold shaped like half of a face of a bearded man when it was first constructed

The lamp was originally attached to a flat object or wall inside the sacred Temple, which was lit during prayer ceremonies. The lamp's tip is fashioned into a crescent moon, and the handles look like an acanthus plant, which is a flowering plant native to tropical and warm regions

'The building where the lamp was discovered was built directly on top of the Pilgrimage Road at the end of the Second Temple period,' said Ari Levy, director of the IAA excavations.

'The construction of such a massive structure in the period after the destruction of Jewish Jerusalem demonstrates the importance of the area even after the destruction of the Second Temple.

'It is possible that the importance of the building, and the need to bless its activity with luck by burying a foundation deposit, was due to its proximity to the Siloam Pool, which was also used in the Roman period as the central source of water within the city,' he said.

'Collections around the world contain thousands of these bronze lamps, many of which were made in intricate shapes, indicating the artistic freedom that Roman metal artists possessed,' said Baruch.

'Meanwhile, this half of a lamp, and in fact half a face, which was discovered in the City of David, is a very rare object, with only a few discovered in the whole world, and is the first of its kind to be discovered in Jerusalem.'
Computer scientists have created an 'intelligent' shoe that helps blind and visually-impaired people avoid multiple obstacles.

The 2,700 (3,200) product, called InnoMake, has been developed by Austrian company Tec-Innovation, backed by Graz University of Technology (TU Graz).

The product consists of waterproof ultrasonic sensors attached to the tip of each shoe, which vibrate and make noises near obstacles.

The closer the wearer gets to an obstacle, the faster the vibration becomes, much like a parking sensor on the back of a vehicle.

Tec-Innovation is now working on embedding an AI-powered camera as part of a new iteration of the product.

The shoe as it is now already available on the market. The ultrasonic sensor is attached to the toe of the shoe. In the future, a camera plus a processor running the algorithm will be integrated there

'Ultrasonic sensors on the toe of the shoe detect obstacles up to four meters [13 feet] away,' said Markus Raffer, a founder of Tec-Innovation and himself visually impaired.

'The wearer is then warned by vibration and/or acoustic signals. This works very well and is already a great help to me personally.'

The product price includes one device per foot, along with one pair of shoes (or installation on an exiting pair of shoes), as well as a USB charger.

Markus Raffer, a founder of Tec-Innovation and himself visually impaired is managing director of Tec-Innovation. He's pictured here with his creation

The system detects two pieces of information that are key to avoiding obstacles, the scientists say  the nature of an obstacle and its directional path, especially if downward facing, such as holes or stairs leading into a subway.

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'Not only is the warning that I am facing an obstacle relevant, but also the information about what kind of obstacle I am facing, because it makes a big difference whether it's a wall, a car or a staircase,' said Raffer.

The 'approved medical device, which is available to buy on Tec-Innovation's website, is just the first version of the product, however.

The scientists are working on integrating a camera-based recognition system that's powered by machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence (AI).

Images captured by the embedded camera will essentially allow it to detect more about each obstacle as the wearer walks around.

'We have developed state-of-the-art deep-learning algorithms modelled on neural networks that can do two main things after detecting and interpreting the content of the image,' said Friedrich Fraundorfer at TU Graz.

'They use camera images from the foot perspective to determine an area that is free of obstacles and thus safe to walk on, and they can recognise and distinguish objects.'

Tec-Innovation is now working on integrating the camera system into a new prototype so it's both robust and comfortable.

David Schinagl in front of three shots from the perspective of shoes. The algorithm developed by TU Graz (excerpts of which are on the screens) recognises and marks areas that can be walked on without danger

The firm also want to combine the information collected while wearing the shoe into a kind of 'street view navigation map' for visually impaired people.

'As it currently stands, only the wearer benefits in each case from the data the shoe collects as he or she walks,' said Fraundorfer.

'It would be much more sustainable if this data could also be made available to other people as a navigation aid.'

A funding application is currently being submitted to the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG to bring the navigation map to fruition, which researchers say would likely happen in the 'distant future'.
A scientist dubbed the 'Space Tiger King' has claimed that strange 'puffball-like' blobs on Mars are actually mushrooms, despite NASA tests showing that they are merely rocks.

Dr. Rhawn Gabriel Joseph made the claim along with microbiologist Dr Xinli Wei from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and astrophysicist Dr Rudolph Schild from Harvard-Smithsonian.

The group studied images snapped by NASA's Curiosity rover on the Red Planet and the orbiting HiRISE craft.

Their study, which has been met with skepticism from the scientific community, argues that what NASA called rocks are actually fungus-like specimens growing in the Martian landscape.

The trio claim that these 'mushrooms' seem to shrink, appear and disappear over a period of days, weeks and months. In one example, the team says there is evidence of fungi resembling Puffballs on Earth 're-sprouting' in tracks left behind by the NASA Curiosity rover.

They examined images of nine 'spherical specimens' which they say are similar to fungal puffballs on Earth with 12 specimens emerging from under the soil three days later.

But scientists at NASA have poured cold water on their claims.

Andrew Good, a spokesman for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told leadstories: 'Needless to say, no, this is not evidence of fungi on Mars.

Scientists claim there are mushrooms growing on Mars. The team says there is evidence of fungi resembling Puffballs on Earth (right) 're-sprouting' in tracks left behind by the NASA Curiosity rover (left). Nasa has clarified that they are rocks.

Taken three days apart with the first on the left and later image on the right. The researchers argue that these are mushrooms, with more 'growing' by the third day of observation

'The images that are being posted are from the Opportunity rover, which discovered mineral spherules that were nicknamed 'blueberries' based on their size and shape. Scientists didn't rely solely on visual information to identify them; they used instruments on the rover to measure chemical and mineral information within these spheurles, confirming they were in fact minerals that formed in the presence of water.

'The blueberries are one of the best-known discoveries of the Opportunity mission, something countless Mars scientists from around the world would be familiar with and have studied the data for.

FORMATIONS RESEARCHERS CLAIM ARE MARTIAN FUNGI Araneiforms: Black spider like channels appear on the surface of the upper northern and lower southern hemispheres of Mars. NASA says the channels are the result of thawing carbon-dioxide ice, but the team argue they are massive colonies of fungi, lichens and algae. Puffballs: In images the team spotted nine puffball shaped specimens that were joined by an additional 12 specimens three days later. Arctic meltwater: Researchers claim complex repeating patterns in sand dunes are characteristic of biology. Suggesting, based on earlier research, that brackish viscous meltwater is jetted onto the surface creating black streaks and other shapes. The team argue this meltwater can nourish a range of biological species including simple plants. Advertisement

'The authors ignore other data that easily disprove their claims; for example, many features claimed to be biological are known to typical martian rocks, sand, dust, and ice that change in appearance due to weather, lighting, or rover interactions. Other features superficially resemble fungi but actually are commonly observed, abiotic features in rocks that occur from geochemical changes or by erosion from wind.'

Wei, Armstrong and Joseph have been sifting through NASA images of Mars for years and have shared their many dubious 'discoveries' with the world on numerous occasions.

In April 2020, Armstrong and Joseph released a similar study on Research Gate that also claimed mushrooms were growing on Mars.

'Throughout its mission at Eagle Crater, Meridiani Planum, the rover Opportunity photographed thousands of mushroom-lichen-like formations with thin stalks and spherical caps, clustered together in colonies attached to and jutting outward from the tops and sides of rocks,' reads the 2020 paper that was not peer-reviewed.

'Those on top-sides were often collectively oriented, via their caps and stalks, in a similar upward-angled direction as is typical of photosynthesizing organisms.'

Their wild claims of life on Mars were controversial in the scientific community.

Richard Silber, a member of the Mycological Association of Washington, D.C., told Leadstories: 'With no oxygen or water available, the likelihood of mushrooms growing on Mars seems highly unlikely.'

Not exactly helping group's credibility is Joseph's 'Space Tiger King' nickname which appears to have been inspired by his personal brainmind.com website which shows him posing with oversized sunglasses in front of a badly photoshopped space-themed background. The 90s-style picture does bring to mind the flamboyant zoo owner Joseph Maldonado-Passage whose documentary gripped the nation last year.

Joseph has made headlines in the past when he sued NASA in 2014 demanding they examine a 'putative biological organism' which he says he saw in Opportunity rover images.

The alleged organism later turned out to be a rock.

In the latest study, Joseph and his team insist they have seen proof of life on the Red Planet and included over 40 images that they say support their claims.

The researchers point to 'araneiforms', dark channels in the Martian soil, seen by Curiosity, as evidence of black fungi, mold, lichens, algae and other sulphur reducing species.

Pictured is an image of Mars taken by the Mars HiRISE orbital. The scientists claim it shows fungus-like specimens traveling up and over terrain with those in the center growing toward each other

Photographed by Opportunity, this shows vast fields of spherical specimens, many with stalks above the surface. NASA said: 'Features superficially resemble fungi but actually are commonly observed, abiotic features in rocks that occur from geochemical changes or by erosion from wind'

They say these forms can grow up to 980 feet in the spring when temperatures can reach 42F during the day and disappear by winter when temperatures drop to -9F.

Study authors say this is a pattern repeated each spring and may represent massive colonies of black fungi, mold, lichens, algae, methanogens and sulfur reducing species, growing on the Martian surface.

NASA has previously stated that these massive araneiforms are the result of the thawing of seasonal carbon-dioxide ice.

Wei, Armstrong and Joseph also looked through images of Mars taken by NASA's Opportunity rover that explored the Red Planet from 2003 through 2018.

One image Opportunity captured shows chalky-white colored spherical formations on the surface, which the researchers claim are capped mushrooms sprouting from the soil.

The Opportunity team, however, recorded the structures as hematite, which are a common rock-forming mineral that could actually prove large amounts of water flowed on Mars.

Photographed by Curiosity, the image (left) documents area of soil with spherical structures (circled in red). Then seven days later (right), at least 18 spherical structures appeared in that same area. NASA says the change in appearance is due to weather, lighting, or rover interactions

The paper provides examples of mushrooms on Earth (left) to the structures seen on Mars (right) and claims the two are nearly the same. The team says the right image shows a mushroom stalk. NASA says many features claimed to be biological are known to typical martian rocks, sand, dust, and ice

'The question of if there is, or was, life on Mars, is extremely controversial. Even those favouring biology have not yet claimed to have found definitive proof,' the study authors wrote.

The team admits that similarities in morphology between the rocks and mushrooms are not proof of life.

However, the team argues there is enough evidence of 'life' in images captured by NASA and other agencies to suggest there is life on the Red Planet.

'It is well established that a variety of terrestrial organisms survive Mars-like conditions,' the team explained in their paper.

'Given the likelihood Earth has been seeding Mars with life and life has been repeatedly transferred between worlds, it would be surprising if there was no life.

'However, in contrast to terrestrial organisms, Martian fungi, lichens, moulds, algae and other putative life-forms, would have evolved on and already be adapted to the low temperatures,' the study authors explained.

HiRISE orbital photo. Statistical comparisons done by the researchers indicate that arctic 'araneiforms', dark and long channels in the soil, significantly increased in length in parallel following an initial growth spurt. NASA has previously stated that these massive araneiforms are the result of the thawing of seasonal carbon-dioxide ice

Pictured are images of Opportunity's tire marks in the Martian dust that are surrounding by white structures that the paper says are mushrooms growing in the tracks
Pregnant women could soon be able to find out when they will give birth using a blood test.

Due dates for women expecting a child are notoriously unreliable, with most women giving birth at anywhere between 37 to 42 weeks of pregnancy.

The timing of labour is currently estimated imprecisely, based on the average 40-week pregnancy, and the size of the baby from an ultrasound scan.

But scientists have now created a blood test which indicates the 'pre-labour' stage two to four weeks before a baby is born.

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The timing of labour is currently estimated imprecisely, based on the average 40-week pregnancy, and the size of the baby from an ultrasound scan. But scientists have now created a blood test which indicates the 'pre-labour' stage two to four weeks before a baby is born (stock)

It picks up a surge in hormones as a woman's body prepares for birth, a reduction in blood cell formation as the placenta prepares to break away from the womb, and various immune cells and proteins.

So far the blood test, which has been trialled on 63 women, can only predict the day a full-term woman will go into labour within 17 days.

But researchers, who expect the blood test to be available for women within two years, say its accuracy will improve after being tested on larger numbers.

So far the blood test, which has been trialled on 63 women, can only predict the day a full-term woman will go into labour within 17 days. Researchers expect the blood test to be available for women within two years and say its accuracy will improve (stock)

Dr Virginia Winn, a co-author of the study and associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Stanford University in the US, said: 'The mother's body and physiology start to change about three weeks before the actual onset of labour.

'It's not a single switch - there's this preparation that the body has to go through.'

Andrew Shennan, professor of obstetrics at King's College London, who was not involved in the research, said: 'Women want to know when they are going into labour because a five-week window makes it so difficult to plan their life, in terms of taking time off work, packing hospital bags and telling family members.

Women who experience more stress around the time of conception are twice as likely to give birth to a GIRL Women are twice as likely to give birth to a girl if they experienced more stress around the time of conception, a study has found. Researchers from Spain recorded the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the hair of 108 women from around week nine of their pregnancy through to delivery. Each hair measurement covered the cortisol levels for the preceding three months  meaning the first one taken covered the period prior to and including conception. The findings confirm that foetuses are vulnerable to the effects of maternal stress and that such can play a key role in their development. Women are twice as likely to give birth to a girl if they experienced more stress around the time of conception, a study has found. Pictured: a newborn baby girl Advertisement

'This blood test would prevent the need for invasive cervical examinations to predict labour, which are often used close to birth, and may also help in predicting early labour.'

Using blood samples from 63 pregnant women, all of whom gave birth naturally without being induced, researchers searched for more than 7,000 biological markers which might help to predict their due dates.

They found 45 which were important, including a surge of the steroid hormone progesterone, which is known to play a vital role in the countdown to giving birth.

But the study also found a regulatory immune protein, IL-1R4, which spikes during the 30 days before labour.

This protein may play an important role in dampening down the body's immune response to the stress of giving birth, so that the immune system does not get out of control.

The blood tests showed proteins which help the placenta form blood vessels decrease steadily in the approach to birth, as the placenta prepares to disconnect the blood supply from the womb.

Proteins which will help the mother heal after birth, by stopping bleeding, also increase in the 100 days before a woman is expected to give birth, based on the three blood tests given to study volunteers during this period.

Together, the rate of the changing levels of proteins, immune cells and hormones help experts to estimate a due date for women.

In the study of the test, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, researchers also predicted due dates for five women who unexpectedly gave birth early before 37 weeks.

These premature births were predicted less well, with the blood test wrong by 27 days on average.

But if it becomes more accurate, it could help doctors predict premature births and give babies steroids to strengthen their lungs before they are born early.

Dr Ina Stelzer, lead author of the study from Stanford University, said: 'We found a transition from 'progressing pregnancy' to a 'pre-labour' phase that happens two to four weeks before the mother goes into labour.

'We've identified a novel way to use the maternal blood to predict when a mother will go into labour.'
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SpaceX has successfully launched and landed its Starship Serial Number 15 rocket  the only one of its prototypes to survive a high altitude flight test.

The Elon Musk-owned company launched SN15 around 6:24pm ET on Wednesday, following a day of delays and anticipation, from its testing facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

SN15 ignited its three massive Raptor Engines that released out streams of white smoke from the base before fire blew out to shoot the rocket into the air.

The prototype climbed through the sky until it reached six miles, hovered for a moment and then performed the infamous sideways flip, dubbed a 'belly flop' maneuver by Musk.

'Starship landing nominal,' Musk tweeted moments after his pride and joy made a safe and successful landing on the pad.

The successful landing brings the billionaire one step closer to fulfilling his dream of sending the humans to Mars.

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SpaceX has successfully launched and landed its Starship Serial Number 15 rocket - the only prototype to survive a high altitude flight test

SpaceX completes successful flight and landing of Starship SN15 in Boca Chica, Texas. Starship SN15 is short for 'serial number fifteen'

SpaceX SN15 starship prototype liftoffs from the company's starship facility. SN15 launched in light fog and achieved a soft landing

'Starship landing nominal,' Musk tweeted moments after his pride and joy made a safe and successful landing on the pad

SpaceX is planning to send humans to Mars using a two-stage spacecraft composed of Starship (the passenger-carrying section) and the Super Heavy rocket booster.

However, the firm has some work to do to finish the construction of the $216 million Starship, previously known as 'BFR', at SpaceX's Texas development site.

Musk aims to use Starship testing to finalise the final rockets to take humans to Mars  however, his company was yet to see one survive the first test flight on Earth.

SN15 is the first Starship prototype that was not blown to pieces after a high-altitude test  although a fire sparked at the base after it touched down.

'Not unusual with the methane fuel that we're carrying,' SpaceX engineer and livestream announcer John Insprucker said  but the flames were extinguished a few minutes later.

SpaceX SN15 starship prototype comes in for a successful landing for the first time from the company's starship facility in Boca Chica

SN15 seen from afar during the launch. Musk has previously said the rocket would take its first trip to Mars in 2022, carrying only cargo, followed by a manned mission in 2024

SpaceX SN15 Starship prototype powers itself into the sky from the company's facility. The firm, which is owned by Elon Musk, routinely launches its prototypes in preparation for trips to Mars

Musk has had his eye on the skies all week and had two previous scrubs, but luck appeared to be on his side.

After hitting the six-mile mark, the rocket hovered in place for a few seconds using just a single rocket and then performed a controlled aerodynamic descent.

This mimics the technique Starship will use when returning through Earth's atmosphere from space  presenting the 'belly' as it enters the atmosphere and reduces the speed of descent as it approaches the ground.

SN15 ignited its three massive Raptor Engines that shot out streams of white smoke from the base before fire blew out to shoot the rocket into the air

Another shot from liftoff. Musk said in January 2020 he plans to send 1 million people to Mars by 2050. Once built, Musk believes the rocket could also be used for travel on Earth - and get passengers anywhere in the world in under an hour

Musk has had his eye on the skies all week and had two previous scrubs, but luck appeared to be on his side when SN15 finally took off

Musk aims to use Starship testing to finalize the final rockets to take humans to Mars, however his company has yet to see one survive the first test flight on Earth. Pictured is a view from a camera strapped to SN15 as it soared through the sky

SN15's Raptor engines reignited as the vehicle attempted a landing flip maneuver immediately before touching down on the landing pad adjacent to the launch mount, it shut down the Raptor Engines and stood tall on the pad.

Musk aims to use Starship testing to finalise the final rockets to take humans to Mars  and before SN15's perfect landing, things were looking a little grim for the billionaire.

The previous test flight, on March 31, ended with SN11 in pieces on the launch pad.

SN15 soared up into the air using its three massive Raptor Engines that shutdown one-by-one as the rocket climbed to the six-mile mark

SpaceX Starship SN15 with its fins untied and open on May 4, 2021, in Boca Chica, Texas, after a scrubbed launch attempt

SN15's Raptor engines reignited as the vehicle attempted a landing flip maneuver immediately before touching down on the landing pad adjacent to the launch mount, shut down its Raptor Engines and stood tall on the pad. (Pictured is an image of the rocket performing the flip maneuver)

SN15 is the first Starship prototype that was not blown to pieces after a high-altitude test- although a fire sparked at the base after it touched down, but it was quickly contained

This photo screengrab made from SpaceX's live webcast shows the Starship SN15 as it prepares to complete its successful landing

Fog had covered SN11 as it stood tall on the launch pad, only revealing itself when it ignited its three Raptor engines that sent streams of fire flowing out from the base.

SN11 took off, soaring above the testing facility as it attempted to reach a goal of six miles into the sky.

However, 2.5 minutes into its flight, SpaceX's livestream froze  leaving the ground team and world in the dark.

Moments later, a loud boom was heard, the sky lit up around the launch pad and debris started falling from the sky. One bystander found a piece of the charred rocket about five miles outside.

SN11 exploded while mid-launch and pieces of the rocket rained down over SpaceX's Boca Chica, Texas testing facility. Pictured, pieces of debris in a National Wildlife Refuge from SN11

Minutes into the launch, SpaceXs livestream froze and engineer John Insprucker, who hosted the livestream, said: Starship 11 is not coming back, dont wait for the landing. Pictured is a piece of SN11 that landed five miles from the launch pad

Insprucker said: 'Starship 11 is not coming back, don't wait for the landing. We do appear to have lost all the data from the vehicle.'

Musk later revealed on Twitter that 'a (relatively) small' methane leak led to its demise, which was what caused SN10 to explode weeks earlier.

SN15 is the first launch since SN11. The reason the prototype skipped 12 through to 14 is due to SpaceX's rapid advances in design upgrades  SN12, SN13 and SN14 were scrapped due to being obsolete.

SN10 was the first out of the four previous Starships to survive the landing, but the massive rocket exploded roughly 10 minutes after due to a methane leak.

Elon Musk shared details of SN11 on Twitter saying a (relatively) small methane leak led to its demise, which was what caused SN10 to explode weeks earlier

Musk aims to use Starship testing to finalise the final rockets to take humans to Mars and before SN15's perfect landing, things were looking a little grim for the billionaire. The previous test flight, on March 31, ended with SN 11 in pieces on the launch pad

The failure occurred after SpaceX declared it a success, as SN10 flew, flipped and landed without crashing and burning like the previous prototypes SN8 and SN9. Musk praised the rocket in a tweet for 'landing in one piece'.

'Third time's a charm, as the saying goes,' Insprucker said during SpaceX's livestream on March 3.

'We've had a successful soft touchdown on the landing pad that's capping a beautiful test flight of Starship 10.'

Some sources speculate the landing legs attached to the base did not deploy, which sent the rocket toppling over, and crushed pipes holding methane.

The force of the explosion was enough to send the body of the large rocket  which was slightly tilted to one side after landing  into the air, causing it to flip and land on the ground on its side.

An object that could be a methane tank was seen lying on the Boca Chica landing area after the fire and smoke from the massive explosion had cleared.

SpaceX Starship SN10 explodes after landing at South Padre Island, Texas, March 3, 2021 in this still image taken from a social media video

SpaceX's Starship Serial Number 10 (SN10) exploded roughly 10 minutes after landing on the launch pad following its first high altitude test flight that sent the massive rocket soaring six miles into the air.

However, SN10 was able to complete its mission of gathering data on controlling the rocket during re-entry and many called the launch a success rather than another Starship failure.

And both SN8 and SN9 exploded into a ball of flames the moment they touched down.

SN9 was unable to maneuver into the vertical position before landing on the launch pad, hindering its ability to stick the landing.

It landed with a deafening crash, and exploded into bright orange flames and a dust cloud, but the fire did not spread.

SN8 took to the skies on December 10 last year  marking the first high altitude attempt of a Starship prototype.

The rocket hit all the marks including shutting down its Raptor engines, reaching an altitude of 7.8 miles and performing the belly flop.

SN9 was unable to maneuver into the vertical position before landing on the launch pad, hindering its ability to stick the landing. It landed with a deafening crash, and exploded into bright orange flames and a dust cloud, but the fire did not spread.

SN8 took to the skies on December 10 - marking the first high altitude attempt of a Starship prototype. The rocket hit all the marks including shutting down its Raptor engines, reaching an altitude of 7.8 miles and performing the belly flop. The only thing it was unable to perfect was the landing, but Musk said previously that the rocket was unlikely to land safely

The only thing it was unable to perfect was the landing, but Musk said previously that the rocket was unlikely to land safely.

The moment the rocket touched down, it ignited in flames and left nothing behind but its nose cone.

The Starship is constructed of stainless steel, which stands 160 feet tall, and is fitted with a nose cone and flaps at the side.

Each rocket that has launch was tasked with collecting data throughout the flight to better improve the next.
Celebrity chef Rachel Khoo checks into our travel Q&A

This week celebrity chef Rachel Khoo checks into our travel Q&A.

She recalls some of her foodie adventures, plus her earliest holiday memory, most memorable trip - and more.

EARLIEST HOLIDAY MEMORY?

My mother is Austrian so I visited her family, who live near the Swiss border, a lot as a child. Wed go walking in the mountains, pick wild blueberries and swim in the lakes.

YOUR CHILDHOOD HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHT?

Visiting the Milka chocolate factory on one of my Austrian holidays. My cousins and I went crazy in the shop there  Ive been mad about chocolate ever since.

FAVOURITE FOREIGN CITY?

Paris, which is the city where I lived for eight years.

TOP PARIS TIP?

Go to one of the local fresh food markets (Tuesday-Sunday) such as the Marche dAligre in the 11th district. Get a baguette, cheese and a bottle of wine and have a picnic by the Seine.

Rachel said her favourite foreign city is Paris, where she lived for eight years

WORST THING ABOUT PARIS?

The dog muck on the streets. As the French joke: Do you know how to cross the road in Paris? Look left, right and then look down!

ANYWHERE ELSE CLOSE TO YOUR HEART?

Yes, Stockholm in Sweden, where I now live  Ive got a Swedish husband. Its a small, green city with lots of pretty islands nearby. Its the perfect destination for spring  and everyone speaks English, too.

STOCKHOLM FOODIE MUST-SEE?

I love the Swedish fika tradition (having a coffee or tea and a bun at 11am or 3pm), and get my cinnamon buns from my favourite city bakery, the Lillebrors bageri. Its sourdough bread is to die for, too.

MOST MEMORABLE TRIP?

Going to Japan for the first time was an adventure. I love it that I dont understand anything and when I walk into a shop and look at something, I think: Do I eat it or do I wash with it?

Rachel said that going to Japan for the first time was an adventure

ANY ADVICE FOR TRAVELLERS TO JAPAN?

If someone gives you their business card, dont put it in your back pocket, as its rude  its like sitting on that person. Put it in your handbag or backpack.

TOP TRAVEL BEAUTY TIP?

A lovely-smelling Neals Yard hydrating spray, which I sprinkle on my face after a long journey.

HANGOVER CURE?

Have a fry-up, or if in Japan a ramen [noodle soup]  thatll do the trick.

DREAM DESTINATION?

To revisit all those cities I love, such as Paris and Vienna, which I havent been able to see for so long.
BRIAN VINER: Cinemas are back. The way motion pictures were meant to be seen when they were invented in the 19th century and the way they have been best enjoyed and cherished ever since.
Phil Gould of Level 42 is releasing an album

Former Level 42 star Phil Gould is releasing a new solo album featuring his late brother and former bandmate, Roland.

The drummer's track Russian Submariner, with Boon on guitar, is included on his upcoming release Beautiful Wounds.

They recorded the song two months before Boon took his own life and Phil is thankful fans will get to hear his brother's last work.

Speaking to MailOnline, Phil, 64, said: 'I am really pleased with the fact that it is going to be heard as his guitar playing is incredible.

'It is his legacy and I am determined for people to hear it.'

Phil and Roland, nicknamed Boon, were members of Level 42 during the band's Eighties heyday, selling millions of albums featuring hits including Lessons in Love, Leaving Me Now and Running in the Family.

They headlined Glastonbury in 1986, a year before Phil quit due to creative differences, saying he felt 'betrayed' by the band 'selling out' to a new pop sound while also admitting constant touring had affected his mental health sparking panic attacks on stage.

Phil's new offering will feature his late guitarist brother Boon (right) who died in 2019

Brothers Phil and Boon were founders of Level 42 with Mike Lindup, Mark King (all pictured)

Boon, a founder member of Level 42 along with Phil, Mike Lindup, Mark King, left shortly afterwards.

The brothers' relationship was fractious during the aftermath of their exit and they didn't speak for a number of years, during which time Phil suffered a nervous breakdown after being diagnosed with depression and spent time in the Priory.

Boon (pictured) wrote the band's biggest hit, the 1986 classic Lessons in Love

But the pair patched up their differences before Boon's suicide, which thankfully for Phil meant they could work together in the studio again on a track which would eventually appear on his latest album.

He explains: 'There was an instrumental for which I had been working on for TV or film called Russian Submariner and I asked my dear, departed brother to play on it.

'I told him 'Give me some 'Novichok' and he was just brilliant. He cranked it up. He played this incredible guitar.

'And then when we were putting the album together, in the early part of 2019, I heard the track and I thought it was amazing. I called my brother and I asked him if we could use it.'

However, the editing process was tinged with sadness as that was when Phil was told Boon, who struggled with bi-polar disorder, had died.

Phil recalls: 'Two months later on April 30, I walked into the studio and sat down with an engineer and was going through the guitar tapes.

'It was then that I got the call that my brother wasn't here anymore. It was a really weird thing. A really wild experience.

'It was at that moment that the bombshell was dropped that he was no more.'

Phil admitted himself and Boon, who is two years his senior, both suffered from the effects of their 'weird childhood', which featured time spent in Hong Kong where Phil was born before re-settling in the Isle of Wight.

Phil (pictured) says he is looking forward to his fans listening to his brother's brilliant music

He added: 'My mother was like a single parent and working. It was an empty childhood.

'We had been in the Far East, but my father stayed and never came back.

'There wasn't a lot of guidance. There was a big empty space with my mum out the whole time. The fact that my brother and I discovered music meant we were able to fill that space.

'We had some pretty skewed thinking over things. We were confronted with the reality of life as we went through it.

'So there were a lot of issues to address.'
Emma Willis shared rare snaps with her daughter Trixie as she marked the tot's fifth birthday.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the mother-of-three shared throwbacks and a gushing post before giving fans a glimpse at the family's rainbow-themed party.

The Circle presenter, 44, shared an adorable throwback from Trixie's birth as she was seen cuddling the newborn in hospital, alongside a recent shot hugging her daughter.

Adorable: Emma Willis shared rare snaps with her daughter Trixie as she marked the tot's fifth birthday in an Instagram tribute on Tuesday

Emma captioned the images: 'Then and now... Holding her the same way, since the day she was born.

'Happy birthday little one, we love you so very much. May the fourth be with you, always. '

She then took to Stories to show off the mountain of gifts she had wrapped for her little one, writing 'My little Trix is 5 today...' alongside a heart emoji and Stevie Wonder's version of Happy Birthday playing.

Doting mumma: The Circle presenter, 44, shared an adorable throwback from Trixie's birth alongside a recent shot hugging her daughter

Trixie was also treated to a fruit and marshmallow arrangement, with Emma quipping: 'I feel like I'm 5 again.'

Emma went on to post a picture of her daughter's adorable dog birthday cake, in which her husband Matt Willis could be seen in the background sporting a 'dad' top.

Emma and Matt also proud parents to 11-year-old daughter Isabelle and nine-year-old son Ace.

Birthday girl: She then took to Stories to show off the mountain of gifts she had wrapped for her little one, writing 'My little Trix is 5 today...' alongside a heart emoji

Yum: Emma went on to post a picture of her daughter's adorable dog birthday cake, in which her husband Matt Willis could be seen in the background sporting a 'dad' top

The birthday celebrations come after Emma praised her three children for openly 'expressing themselves' in a post shared to mark Children's Mental Health Week.

The TV presenter took to Instagram in February to share a snap of her offspring showcasing their eclectic styles as she commended them.

Captioning the image which showed the children with their backs to the camera, she wrote: 'Expressing themselves for #childrensmentalhealthweek. Raised in exactly the same way, yet all completely unique.'

Proud parents: Emma and Matt are the proud parents of five-year-old Trixie, 11-year-old Isabelle and nine-year-old son Ace.

Listing each one of their attributes she has come to admire, she continued: 'My teenager before her time, my boss lady baby and my rainbow boy .

'This week Ive watched them discuss and explore their own mental health with their teachers and class mates and I couldnt be prouder.

'I dont remember experiencing anything like this when I was at school but its so obviously necessary for our kids, so their little minds can start to understand their thoughts, feeling, and emotions and that they feel comfortable expressing them.'

Praise: The birthday celebrations come after Emma praised her three children for openly 'expressing themselves' in a post shared to mark Children's Mental Health Week

Last year, Emma expressed her shock at the outpouring of support she received after sharing a picture of her son Ace wearing a pink top and sporting long blond hair.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain back in October, the presenter said she was 'overwhelmed' by the reaction, sweetly saying: 'He's just my son in a pink top.'

She continued: 'For me thats normality. He loves colour, hes always had long hair, hes a free and able-minded boy.

'Hes like, " why do I have to dress in green and blue and grey, when I love red and pink and purple?" Hes always been that way.'

She continued: 'Were trying to raise him as an open-minded, inclusive individual. There were some negative bits, but thats where the block button is great!'
By Park Yoon-bae





The Moon Jae-in administration and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) are still reeling from the crushing defeat in the April 7 mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan. Now the question is whether they can regain public trust and escape the political deadlock.







From the start, the DPK stood little chance of winning the elections. It should not have fielded candidates in the country's two largest cities as it had promised earlier in accordance with the then party rules.







But the DPK changed the regulations designed to withhold it from fielding candidates in any by-elections if its elected members lost their posts due to corruption or other serious criminal acts. The change ran counter to President Moon's much-touted pledge to create a fair and just society.







The by-elections were indeed held because the mayoral posts  both occupied with DPK members  were vacated because of sexual harassment scandals. Then Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon committed suicide in July 2020 over allegations that he had sexually harassed his secretary. Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don resigned over similar allegations in April 2020, and was later indicted.







The DPK cannot deflect criticism for going too far in its bid to recapture the vacant mayoral posts. Revising the party regulations and fielding the candidates was a clear indication that the governing bloc had become too arrogant and self-righteous.







The big mistake was the party's total disregard for the values of fairness and justice. This led the people to believe that the progressive ruling party and the government were applying double standards for their own benefit.







The ruling elite must have forgotten that Moon took power by taking advantage of massive candlelit rallies that led to the impeachment and ouster of then President Park Geun-hye over a large-scale corruption and power abuse scandal in 2017.







President Moon has frequently said he has concentrated on eliminating the "old evils" of the previous conservative administration and restoring the constitutional order and democracy which were undermined by Park's rule.







His government made considerable progress in this regard, enabling the DPK to win a landslide in the April 2020 general election by securing 180 seats in the 300-member National Assembly. Earlier in 2018, the party also had a sweeping victory in local elections.







In Korea, politicians used to say that if a party wins a presidential election, it may lose a parliamentary poll. But, the DPK won all three elections  presidential in 2017, local in 2018 and parliamentary in 2020. This winning streak, however, has made the DPK and the Moon administration too overconfident about their rule.







But voters put the brakes on the march, shifting their support to the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP) in the mayoral by-elections. Centrist voters in particular have been increasingly disgruntled with the left-of-center DPK for its failure to stabilize runaway housing prices, narrow the widening income gap between the rich and the poor, and improve the people's livelihood amid the COVID-19 pandemic.







Government officials and DPK lawmakers already came under criticism for their hypocrisy in 2019 when they went all-out to stop then Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl from investigating then Justice Minister Cho Kuk, a close aide to President Moon, over corruption and admissions fraud allegations.







Yoon, widely regarded as an anti-corruption crusader, once said that he would not pledge loyalty to anyone, implying that he would continue to dig up the dirt on corrupt people whoever they were. And when appointing Yoon as the top prosecutor in July 2019, Moon told him that the prosecution should investigate the incumbent political power if allegations of corruption arose.







However, the government and the DPK launched an attack on Yoon specifically because he began to investigate Cho. Former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae went so far as to try and suspend Yoon from duty and take disciplinary action to dismiss him. The fight against Yoon continued until he resigned in March this year to protest the government's apparent bid to take direct control of the law enforcement agency in the name of prosecutorial reform.







Another case in point is the land speculation scandal surrounding employees of the state-run Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH). About 30 former and incumbent LH workers were found to have bought farmland in two satellite cities, south of Seoul, for speculative purposes by illegally using inside information about urban development projects. The scandal has deepened the people's anger at these civil servants' hypocritical and deceptive behavior.







The government and the DPK will be unable to regain the people's trust without drastically changing their governance style. They should lower themselves and become humble to listen carefully to different voices from all walks of life. They should no longer go it alone.







They should also abandon their "I am right, you are wrong" mentality. Scrap the unilateral way of governing and dog-eat-dog partisan struggles. They must work together with the opposition parties to make bipartisan efforts to fight real estate speculation, overcome the pandemic, and speed up economic recovery.







It is also urgent to end divisive politics and promote national unity and social cohesion. Without doing all of these, the ruling party will have little chance of winning the next presidential election set for March 2022. Keep in mind that its No. 1 enemy is its arrogance and self-righteousness.









The author (





byb@koreatimes.co.kr ) is the chief editorial writer of The Korea Times.
Jo Whiley has revealed her frustration at the fact her sister Frances was not able to get her COVID-19 jab when the vaccination programme began, despite being eligible.

Frances, 53, has Cri Du Chat syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that results in delayed development.

Due to her condition, Frances resides in a care home, with citizens of these establishments being some of the first adults to become eligible for a vaccination when the programme was first rolled out in the UK last December.

Although Frances has since had the vaccine in March, it came after she was left 'fighting for her life' following an outbreak at her care home.

Frustration: Jo Whiley has revealed her frustration at the fact that her sister Frances was not able to get her COVID-19 jab when the vaccination programme began despite being eligible

Radio 2 presenter Jo, 55, has explained the 'rage' she felt when she found out that her sister's local GP would not be able to give her a dose as she was 'not in the right tier'.

Speaking to Good Housekeeping magazine, she explained: 'I remember watching breakfast TV and they were saying: "Everyone in care homes is being vaccinated".

'I thought, "Hang on, Frances is in a care home - no they're not". When I contacted her GP, they just said, "She's not in the right tier; we can't do anything".

'I felt utterly powerless and angry, too. As the nightmare unfolded and Frances became ill, I had this rage inside me. I realised how people with disabilities had been neglected, because they don't have a voice.'

Rare condition: Frances, 53, has Cri Du Chat syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that results in delayed development. Due to her condition, Frances resides in a care home

Jo also opened up her relationship with husband Steve Morton - who she has been married to since 1991 - and how despite their different personalities, they have been able to work together as a 'good team'.

She continued: 'Because we're so different, I'm quiet and calm and Steve's loud and vivacious. I also now appreciate what a good team we are.

'When we were going through these horrific decisions with Frances, he was there, asking the right questions and helping my parents. I saw a strength in him that I'd never seen before.'

'Rage': Radio 2 presenter Jo, 55, explained the 'rage' she felt when she found out that her sister's local GP would not be able to give her a dose as she was 'not in the right tier'

In March, the star revealed her relief at the fact that Frances would finally be able to get her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, a month after she battled the illness.

Frances was left seriously ill in February after an outbreak at her care home, with her family even discussing 'end of life' care.

Speaking on her radio show at the time, Jo said: 'My sister gets her vaccination this coming weekend. It has been a long time coming.

'You have to wait a month after you have had Covid but it finally comes this weekend so we could not be happier about that as well.'

Jo said: 'I felt utterly powerless and angry, too. As the nightmare unfolded and Frances became ill, I had this rage inside me. I realised how people with disabilities had been neglected'

In February, Jo revealed her heartbreak that she was offered the vaccine while her sister was desperately ill in hospital with the virus.

She said: 'I would give up my vaccine in a heartbeat, if I could, for my sister and any of the residents in her house to have their vaccine it does not feel right.

'She's fighting for her life in hospital. It couldn't be crueller.'

Jo also claimed Frances 'refused to talk to [her]' or her family when she was offered the Covid-19 vaccine first.

Striking: Jo made the admission in an interview with Good Housekeeping, alongside which she posed for a striking cover shoot

Making an appearance on This Morning, the BBC Radio DJ said her sibling's reaction was 'the cruellest twist' and detailed how the situation was like 'the worst disastrous movie'.

She explained to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: 'It played out like the worst disastrous movie. I got offered my vaccine, which felt like the cruellest twist, she refused to take our calls.

'She refused to talk to me, she refused to talk to my mum and dad, we were calling the home and that showed the impact on her mental health.'

At the time she was offered the vaccine, 'fit and healthy' Jo said it was 'mind boggling' she was offered a jab before her younger sister Frances.

Happy couple: Jo also opened up her relationship with husband Steve Morton, saying they have been able to work together as a 'good team' (pictured in 2010)

Adults with learning disabilities were then offered Covid vaccines as part of the top six priority groups, Britain's health chiefs said in February after the campaign by Jo to get her sister jabbed.

The JCVI, which decides on who gets the life-saving jabs first, said people with learning disabilities of any kind should be bumped up the pecking order.

Out now: Read the full interview with Jo Whiley in Good Housekeeping

They were added into priority group six, which includes all adults with a long-term health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe illness.

Jo called for people with learning disabilities to get vaccines sooner after her sister, who has a developmental disorder and lives in residential care, was hospitalised with Covid-19.

Of her sister's battle with coronavirus, Jo went on: 'We got the news that she had tested positive for Covid, all the people on the care home tested positive and many of the carers, so it was catastrophic.

'It got very serious, this time last week, the next 24 hours we thought we were gonna lose her. I would say to everyone you need to get a oxymeter, that's how we knew she was dangerously ill and we couldn't get the mask on her.

'Because we couldn't get the oxygen in her, and then we ended up 4am on Friday night, Saturday AM, discussing end of life care.

'I woke up on Saturday just imagining this Christmas without my sister, and my mum saying 'this is our worst nightmare come true' and it was the thing in the last 12 months we had dreaded.'

Vaccination: In February, Jo revealed her heartbreak that she was offered the vaccine while her sister was desperately ill in hospital with the virus

Heaping praise on the NHS staff who helped take care of Frances, Jo gushed: 'The staff have been incredible, and that proves how challenging it is for people with learning disabilities as they're all so different.

'And staff will try and do whatever they possible can. I Tweeted does anyone know what we can do, and they did put an oxygen tent around Francis, we couldn't sedate her anymore because she reacted in the opposite way.

'You put so much sedatives in her body, they took the sedation away and we just watched, and she fought it on her own.'

'Mind boggling': At the time she was offered the vaccine, 'fit and healthy' Jo said it was 'mind boggling' she was offered a jab before her younger sister Frances

She claimed NHS staff believed it was thanks to Frances having a loud voice that she was able to boost her oxygen levels, and she felt they had been 'extremely lucky' as one person in Frances' care home sadly died from the virus.

Frances was moved into residential care in Northamptonshire in 2015 after her 'challenging behaviour' resulted in her needing specialist care.

She was released from hospital mid-February, with Jo taking to Twitter to give an update on her sister's condition, while also thanking NHS staff for their efforts.

Read the full interview with Jo Whiley in the June issue of Good Housekeeping on sale the 5 of May. It is available in all supermarkets and online at MagsDirect.
Nicky Hilton made her love for Chanel known as she stepped out to do a bit of shopping in the Soho area of New York City.

The 37-year-old hotel heiress sported one of the brand's signature tweed jackets and a quilted leather purse while making a pitstop at the upscale store after grabbing lunch.

The always chic mother of two flashed a wave as she looked to be in good spirits on a cheery spring day in the city after finding time to do a little retail therapy.

Chic in Chanel: Nicky Hilton Rothschild, 37, made her love for Chanel known as she strolls through Soho in a signature tweed jacket while making a pitstop as the upscale store

The blonde beauty strolled through the streets in a classic look that featured a pair of black skinny jeans and ballet flats.

She added a pop of white to the monochromatic look by way of her tweed jacket and toted a silver accented quilted Chanel bag while typing away on her phone.

Hilton  whose married name is Rothschild  hid her eyes beneath glamorous sunglasses and kept it simple with striking diamond earrings.

The designer recently returned from Dallas, Texas where she promoted her new sustainable shoe collection for French Sole.

The sourced materials for the line include recycled fabrics like polyester, cotton, and linen and some of the shoes feature a biodegradable sole.

Keeping it classic: The blonde beauty strolled through the streets in a classic look that featured a pair of black skinny jeans and ballet flats

On the go: Despite being a business woman and a mother of two she found time for herself as she grabbed lunch with a pal and did a bit of retail therapy

And she spoke to Drew Barrymore on her talk show recently, where she shared that creating an environmentally conscious footwear line is something she'd 'wanted to do for a while,' while calling it a 'small yet big step in the right direction.'

The younger sister of pop culture icon Paris Hilton was seen walking sans-face mask as a new CDC mandate now allows those who have gotten their shots to go without a covering while outside.

She took to Twitter on May 2 to express her sadness over people failing to show up for their appointments. 'Just overheard a pharmacist at CVS saying how so many people aren't showing up for their vaccine appointments- so they have to throw them away at the end of day. So awful!,' she wrote.

And though she has expressed excitement over life starting to return to normal, she said she 'strangely liked' being locked down with family in conversation with People.

'I strangely liked the not leaving the house for days at a time. There was something so cozy about being locked down with my family. That quality family time was definitely the silver lining of the pandemic.'
RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under is in full swing, with a bevy of Australian and New Zealand queens battling it out to become the next drag superstar.

But after the first episode of the Stan Original Series aired over the weekend, eagle-eyed fans noticed a hilarious detail which has since gone viral.

One of the show's most popular queens is Karen from Finance (a.k.a. Richard Chadwick), and viewers who read the closing credits noticed the program's actual head of finance is coincidentally also called Karen.

Fancy that! Eagle-eyed fans have noticed a hilarious detail about RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under after studying the show's closing credits: Pictured: drag queen Karen from Finance

'You're telling me that in #DragRaceDownUnder they have a real life Karen from Finance?' one Twitter user wrote, quickly raking in thousands of likes.

'Dying!' one fan wrote, while another added: 'Karen is Dragulous!'

'All they needed as the Art Director to be a Simone,' another added, referring to fellow drag queen Art Simone.

What are the odds! One of the show's most popular queens is Karen From Finance (a.k.a. Richard Chadwick), and viewers who read the closing credits noticed the program's actual head of finance is coincidentally also called Karen

One Twitter user who appeared to know the 'real' Karen responded: 'She's fantastic, and has been on the scene for years!'

Karen from Finance was clearly amused by the coincidence, taking to her Instagram Stories to repost the original viral tweet.

With almost 86,000 Instagram followers, Karen has built an international fan base and toured the world with her singular brand of office-themed character drag.

Brilliant: Fans flocked to social media to comment on the amusing coincidence

She wowed the judges in week one, winning the challenge with her incredible runway - while fellow queen Jojo Zaho was sadly booted off.

The new series marks the first time there has been a local version of the hit Drag Race franchise here in Australia.

RuPaul himself is hosting, with drag icon Michelle Visage and Australian comedian Rhys Nicholson by his side on the main judging panel.

Pop sisters Kylie and Dannii Minogue will also star as celebrity guest judges.

Watch RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under on Stan in Australia.
Entourage star Jerry Ferrara is a dad again.

The excited actor, 41, announced via Instagram on Tuesday that he and wife Breanne had welcomed their second child - and second son - on April 30.

Alongside a photo of the couple with their newborn, he wrote: 'My heart is so full and we are ready to do our best to raise good men! To my 2 boys I promise to always love you and to be there for you in every way I can be.'

Dad again: Entourage star Jerry Ferrara, 41, announced via Instagram on Tuesday that he and wife Breanne had welcomed their second child - and second son - on April 30

Ferrara also posted some sweet close-up snaps of the infant as well as pics of him with his big brother Jacob who turns two this month.

The Brooklyn native gushed over his wife of four years as well.

'To my amazing wife @breanneracanoferrara what can I say. You're the greatest thing that ever happened to me who also gave me two of the greatest gifts I have ever received,' he shared.

'I marvel at what you have done and you are the glue that holds us all together. Not enough words to ever thank and honor you. So for now I'll just say thank you and I love you forever and ever!'

In love: 'My heart is so full,' the actor wrote as he shared several photos of the adorable newborn

Cute: The baby is a little brother to Ferrara's first born son Jacob who turns two this month. To my 2 boys I promise to always love you and to be there for you in every way I can be,' he wrote

Couple: The Brooklyn native gushed over his wife of four years as well, calling her 'amazing' and 'the greatest thing that ever happened to me'

Ferrara had announced his family was expanding back in December.

Sharing a photo of himself and son Jacob cuddling up to Breanne's pregnant belly, he wrote on Instagram: 'Its been a rough year for sure. But I am grateful to being adding another little boy to our family.

'3 of us becomes 4 of us! And I probably lose the rest of whatever hair I have left...' he joked.

'3 of us becomes 4 of us': Ferrara had announced his family was expanding back in December, sharing a photo of himself and son Jacob cuddling up to Breanne's pregnant belly

Happily wed: The couple, pictured in New York in 2018, tied the knot in June 2017
She ruffled plenty of feathers on Matt Agnew's season of The Bachelor in 2019.

But fans of the show would be forgiven for not recognising Sogand Mohtat after she debuted a dramatic hair makeover on Tuesday.

The former civil engineer, 32, looked very different to her reality TV days as she showcased her edgy new look, including heavy eyeshadow and twin blonde streaks in her raven tresses.

Who's that girl? Fans of The Bachelor would be forgiven for not recognising 2019 star Sogand Mohtat after she debuted a dramatic hair makeover on Tuesday. Pictured on The Bachelor

Wow! The former civil engineer, 32, looked very different to her reality TV days as she showcased her edgy new look, including twin blonde streaks in her raven tresses

Sogand shared a photo of her 'do on Instagram, revealing she'd taken the snap in the middle of Pitt Street in Sydney's CBD during the busiest part of the day.

'Picture me standing with a ring light & @nardinmakeupartist telling me how to pose on Pitt street at lunch time!' she wrote in the caption.

'The stares were strong I tell ya but I didnt blink! Getting good at "street content"!'

She signed off by revealing she'd actually got changed in public too, writing, 'Including getting changed and all! (sorry mum, sorry dad).'

Then and now: Sogand is pictured left in 2019, and right earlier this week

Sogand made it to the final seven of her season of The Bachelor in 2019, before being eliminated in the eleventh episode.

Last March, the influencer revealed her experience on the show gave her a 'drinking problem' and resulted in her losing her job as a civil engineer.

Sogand made the admission on Instagram, posting a short video of herself downing a whole glass of wine.

'Although the show left me unemployed with a slight drinking problem, it was all worth it in the end because well... swipe left to see for yourself,' she captioned it.

Toll: Last March, Sogand revealed her experience on the show gave her a 'drinking problem' and resulted in her losing her job as a civil engineer. Pictured: The Bachelor 2019 cast, including suitor Matt Agnew

That same month, she also revealed her career as a civil engineer often intimidated men and made it difficult for her to date.

'The amount of times I've had conversations with guys and as soon as I say "I'm a civil engineer", their face goes weird,' Sogand told The Daily Telegraph.

She added: 'The funny thing is, I only did it because I enjoy doing mathematics. I don't even enjoy working in the industry.

'If a guy is intimidated by that, I don't want him in my life.'
They're taking another shot at love.

And Matt James appeared to be enjoying some time with his on-again girlfriend, Rachael Kirkconnell, while on a stroll in New York City on Tuesday morning.

The 29-year-old reality star wrapped his arms around the former Bachelor contestant after confirming he's 'pursuing' another relationship with Kirkconnell despite calling it quits earlier this year when racism controversies came to light.

Back at it: Matt James appeared to be enjoying some time with his on-again girlfriend, Rachael Kirkconnell, while on a stroll in New York City on Tuesday morning

Matt stayed comfortably casual wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt with dark ankle-length track pants.

He sported another layer of warmth with a black beanie and wore grey socks with a pair of white trainers.

Rachael looked equally as cozy wearing an oversized denim jacket on top of a hoodie, paired with leggings and Nikes.

At one point, James placed a protective hand across Kirkconnell's back as they entered a building in Manhattan.

City slickers: The 29-year-old reality star wrapped his arms around the former Bachelor contestant after confirming he's 'pursuing' another relationship with Kirkconnell despite calling it quits earlier this year when racism controversies came to light

'I've seen Rachael a handful of times,' he told PEOPLE magazine. 'I'm not pursuing any relationships right now outside of that. I said I was going to focus on my relationship with her and that means focusing on it'

Matt recently confirmed that he's 'pursuing' a relationship with Rachael after splitting earlier this year.

'I've seen Rachael a handful of times,' he told PEOPLE magazine. 'I'm not pursuing any relationships right now outside of that. I said I was going to focus on my relationship with her and that means focusing on it.'

The Bachelor ended in heartbreak and controversy in March after James, the show's first Black lead, gave Rachael his final rose but opted not to propose, but then revealed he broke up with her while their pre-taped episodes were still airing when 'racist' images of her attending a plantation-themed party were exposed online, along with evidence of past racially-insensitive social media posts.

James addressed a number of topics on the ABC show After the Final Rose which was hosted by Emmanuel Acho as Chris Harrison stepped aside after a heated debate with Rachel Lindsay where he defended Rachael's attendance at the 2018 college party on a plantation where she also dressed up.

A nicer time: While Matt didn't offer a proposal on the finale of The Bachelor, he did end up giving Rachael his final rose

Not great: Photos surfaced of contestant Rachael Kirkconnell at a plantation-themed party in 2018 as well as a history of liking photos with the Confederate flag

Difficult: Matt James discussed seeing Rachael Kirkconnell for the first time on the After the Final Rose episode while chatting with Michael Strahan on Good Morning America Tuesday

Matt, who had been with Rachael since Thanksgiving last year when the show wrapped, said he initially dismissed reports of her social media activity as 'dark and nasty' rumors when they emerged in late January.

But when an image of her attending a plantation-themed sorority ball photo was revealed in early February, Matt  whose After The Final Rose special wasn't taped until March  said he decided to call it quits after feeling that Rachael 'might not understand what it means to be Black in America.'

'If you don't understand that something like that is problematic in 2018, there's a lot of me that you won't understand. It's as simple as that,' he told Michael Strahan on Good Morning America.

The After The Final Rose special marked the first time that the former couple had come face to face since their split, and saw Rachael apologizing to Matt in-person, while describing him as 'the love of her life.'

Secrets: But when an image of her attending a plantation-themed sorority ball photo emerged in early February, Matt  whose After The Final Rose special wasn't taped until March  said he decided to call it quits after feeling that Rachael 'might not understand what it means to be Black in America'

She also insisted that she is taking the time to educate herself about racism.

Rachael made the apology in front of host Emmanuel Acho, a stand-in for long-time host Chris Harrison who agreed to step back from hosting duties for a time after initially leaping to Rachael's defense, then backtracking with his own apology.

During the special, Matt said: 'You wanna believe that you know your person better than anybody else knows your person. This controversy swirling around who Rachael is and events she might've attended, pictures that she liked and people that she's associated with.

'I'm trying to be there for her, and I dismissed them as rumors, because that's what they were to me. You hear things that are heartbreaking and you just pray they're not true. And then, when you find out that they are it just makes you question everything,' he added.
Andrew Garfield says he will NOT be making a cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The actor, 37, put rumors to rest on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where he claimed he 'did not get a call' about reprising the iconic role for the forthcoming film.

Garfield famously played the web-slinging crime fighter for two feature-length films, before abruptly handing off the role to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's current Spider-Man, Tom Holland.

Not happening: Andrew Garfield says he will NOT be making a cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home

The rumor dispelling conversation commenced when Happy Sad Confused podcast Josh Horowitz brought up the upcoming Marvel film with hesitance, stating he didn't want to 'ruin anything' if Garfield happened to be tied to the project.

'There isn't anything to ruin, bro!' Garfield stressed with a laugh. 'I had to just quickly cut you off because there's nothing to ruin.'

Andrew admitted that he has seen the rampant Spider-Man buzz on social media, which he deemed 'hilarious' due to its unfoundedness.

'It's f***ing hilarious to me because I do have this Twitter account and I see how often Spider-Man is trending and it's people freaking out about a thing I wish I could be able to speak to everyone and say, 'I recommend that you chill!'' he explained.

Rumors to rest: The actor, 37, put rumors to rest on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where he claimed he 'did not get a call' about reprising the iconic role for the forthcoming film

Spider-Man: Garfield famously played the web-slinging crime fighter for two feature-length films, spanning from 2012 to 2015; Andrew pictured in 2012

Garfield went on to compare his experience desperately trying to quash rumors of his involvement in Spider-Man: No Way Home to that of a game of Werewolf and Mafia.

'I feel like I'm in a game of f***ing Werewolf or Mafia where I'm like 'I'm not the werewolf! I promise you I am not the werewolf!' and everyone's like 'You're the werewolf! You're the f***ing werewolf!'' said Garfield lightheartedly.

Wanting to make things abundantly clear for Marvel fans still holding onto hope, Horowitz asked Garfield straight up if he would be returning for the upcoming film.

'I did not get a call,' the Tony winner replied. 'I would've gotten a call by now, that's all I'm saying.'

Hesitance: The rumor dispelling conversation commenced when Happy Sad Confused podcast Josh Horowitz brought up the upcoming Marvel film with hesitance, stating he didn't want to 'ruin anything' if Garfield happened to be tied to the project

Not so fast! 'There isn't anything to ruin, bro!' Garfield stressed with a laugh. 'I had to just quickly cut you off because there's nothing to ruin'

Andrew first slipped into the iconic red and blue suit for 2012's highly anticipated Spider-Man flick, titled The Amazing Spider-Man.

He would take on the role for the second and final time in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which premiered in theaters in the summer of 2014.

Andrew reflected on the experience during an Actors on Actors conversation with Amy Adams in 2016, where he admitted that his abrupt departure from the franchise left him 'heartbroken a little bit.'

'There were great things about it, I got to work with incredible actors, a really great director I learned a lot about what feels good and what doesn't feel good, and what to say 'yes' to,' he explained to Adams.

The Amazing Spider-Man: Andrew first slipped into the iconic red and blue suit for 2012's highly anticipated Spider-Man flick, titled The Amazing Spider-Man; Andrew pictured in 2012

A little heartbreaking: Andrew reflected on the experience during an Actors on Actors conversation with Amy Adams in 2016, which he admitted left him 'heartbroken a little bit'

'There's something about being that young in that kind of machinery which I think is really dangerous I was still young enough to struggle with the value system, I suppose, of corporate America really, it's a corporate enterprise mostly.

'There's something that happened with that experience for me where story and character were actually not top of the priority list, ultimately,' he admitted of the film's script.

'And I found that really, really tricky. I signed up to serve the story and to serve this incredible character that I've been dressing as since I was three, and then it gets compromised and it breaks my heart.

Learned a lot: 'There were great things about it, I got to work with incredible actors, a really great director I learned a lot about what feels good and what doesn't feel good, and what to say 'yes' to,' he explained to Adams; Andrew pictured in 2019

'I got heartbroken a little bit, to a certain degree. Not entirely,' the Social Network star concluded.

Prior to Garfield and Holland, who assumed the role of Spider-Man for the first time in 2017, Hollywood veteran Tobey Maguire portrayed the Stan Lee-created character on screen.

He appeared as Spider-Man for three films, spanning from 2002 until 2007.

Spider-Man: No Way Home, starring the MCU's current Spider-Man Tom Holland, is slated for a December 17 theatrical release.

Current hero: , The Marvel Cinematic Universe's current Spider-Man is being portrayed by actor Tom Holland, who first took on the role in 2017
Emilee Hembrow has been skewered online for suffering an embarrassing sponsored post faux pas.

The influencer, who is the older sister of fitness queen Tammy Hembrow, had uploaded an Instagram post spruiking a skincare brand on Tuesday when she accidentally pasted a pre-written caption written by a publicist.

Her post began: '[Skincare brand] new image approved. They want the swipe across. [Here] is the image of the bottle through (sic).'

Whoops! A sponsored post gaffe has landed influencer Emilee Hembrow, 29, (pictured) on a copycat account of popular Instagram page Celeb Spellcheck

It continued: 'Please and here is the amended caption. Reminder this one is to go live tonight.'

A copycat of Celeb Spellcheck - a now-defunct 'snark' page - quickly reposted Emilee's blunder alongside a sassy caption that read: 'Love when influencers are too lazy to edit their own captions.'

The anonymous account made sure to tag Emilee as well as the skincare brand she was promoting.

Blunder: The influencer had uploaded an Instagram post spruiking a skincare brand on Tuesday when she accidentally pasted a pre-written caption written by a publicist

Burn: A copycat of Celeb Spellcheck - a now-defunct 'snark' page - quickly reposted Emilee's blunder alongside a sassy caption that read: 'Love when influencers are too lazy to edit their own captions'

Emilee has since deleted the caption and re-posted it without the publicist's instructions.

The impostor account's followers couldn't help but roast the Queensland glamazon for her cringeworthy faux pas, with one commenting: 'How hard is it?'

'One job!' another added.

Guess who's back? It comes just a week after the administrator behind the original Celeb Spellcheck quietly rebooted her page, despite claiming she was 'retiring' on April 11.

It comes days after the administrator behind the original Celeb Spellcheck quietly rebooted her page, despite claiming she was 'retiring' on April 11.

The hugely popular account was created several years ago, with the intention of mocking celebrities for making typos in sponsored Instagram posts.

But it later transformed into a platform for holding influencers to account for their lies and irresponsible behaviour.

Due to the nature of its content, Celeb Spellcheck has been publicly criticised by a number of influencers.

Love Island star Tayla Damir and Skye Wheatley were among the celebrities who were highly-critical of the account.

Criticism: Love Island star Tayla Damir and Skye Wheatley (pictured) were among the celebrities who were highly-critical of the account
Tara Moss has shared a touching tribute to her late mother, Yanni.

The model and author shared some photos from a recent visit to Yanni's grave with her daughter Sapphira.

'I am deeply grateful for every moment that I got to spend with my late mother Janni, who passed at just 43, and her beautiful parents, my Oma and Opa,' the 47-year-old captioned the images.

'I am deeply grateful for every moment': Model and author Tara Moss visited her late mother's grave with her daughter Sapphire this week

'They made me into so much of the woman I am today, the mother I am today, the advocate,' she continued.

'Having a place to go to honour that connection is so important. For many years I did not have that - I could not just get in a car and visit her grave. I am grateful to now have this magical place close to home, to visit and pay my respects.

'This is by no means my first visit, or Sapphiras for that matter (she first came when she was one), but this time felt different. For the first decade or so, I wept every time I visited.

'Now, I feel connection and gratitude. I feel peace and belonging. I even feel joy,' she finished.

'For the first decade or so, I wept every time I visited,' Tara wrote on Instagram

This week, Tara broke down on Anh's Brush With Fame as she discussed the death of her mother, Janni, who died of the rare cancer, multiple myeloma, in 1990 at age 43.

Tara was just 19 at the time, and described how her grief galvanised her to achieve something meaningful in her life.

'I remember the next morning waking up and it seemed impossible to me that the sun rose and life went on and people went about their days and my mum was gone.

'I remember hearing crying at night in the house, and realising it was my dad alone. You know, they'd been married for 25 years and they were... they were a team and he lost his love.

Emotional: This week, Tara broke down on Anh's Brush With Fame as she discussed the death of her mother, Janni, who died of the rare cancer, multiple myeloma, in 1990 at age 43

'And I just remember hearing these little noises at night and realising that he was crying by himself in his room with his partner gone. That was shattering.'

She added: 'Her passing lit a fire under me and I needed to feel like I was worth the sacrifice she made to try to stay alive for me.'

Tara has relied on her walking stick for the past three years as a result of a hip injury, and shared details of her daily pain with Anh.

'I was injured about four and a half years ago. It is something called complex regional pain syndrome, which is related to nerves and nerve damage. So that's a part of my world,' she said.

'I remember the next morning waking up and it seemed impossible to me that the sun rose and life went on and people went about their days and my mum was gone,' she said

The writer uses a cane she calls 'Wolfie' and runs an Instagram account devoted to normalising walking stick use.

Tara began modelling at the age 14, before turning her attentions to writing, publishing her first novel, Fetish, in 1999.

She is now a bestselling author who has published 13 books in 18 countries and 13 languages around the world, and is considered one of Australia's best crime novelists.

The former model lives in the Blue Mountains with her Australian poet husband Berndt Sellheim and their 10-year-old daughter Sapphira.
She is making a killing selling raunchy snaps online.

And Sahara Ray took part in yet another sultry shoot in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The Aussie model, 28, put on an eye-popping display, showing off her surgically-enhanced assets in a racy PVC outfit.

She's no angel! Lottie Moss naughty BFF Sahara Ray put on an eye-popping display on Tuesday when she showed off her surgically-enhanced assets in a raunchy PVC outfit and angel wings

She teamed the ensemble with a pair of fluffy pink angel wings, white knee-high socks and Perspex heels.

The brunette wore her hair in pigtails and some pink gloss on her pout.

Last July, Sahara made headlines when she promised to release a sex tape if she reached enough subscribers on OnlyFans.

OnlyFans is a subscription-based social media platform that allows users to sell adult content for a monthly fee.

Sahara charges AUD$20 per month for unlimited access to her OnlyFans account.

Uniform: She teamed the ensemble with a pair of fluffy pink angel wings, a pair of white knee-high socks and a Perspex heels

Sahara is the daughter of Australian big wave surfer Tony Ray.

Like her famous father, she was an avid surfer, but she put down the surfboard at the age of 16 to pursue a career in modelling and fashion.

The beauty then moved to the bright lights of Los Angeles, where she enrolled in The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM).

She forged a successful career as a swimsuit model and launched her own of swimwear line, Sahara Ray Swim.

Sahara is best friends with Lottie Moss, who also sells raunchy photos of herself on adult platform Glow.

Naughty! Last July, Sahara made headlines when she promised to release a sex tape if she reached enough subscribers on OnlyFans

And Lottie recently sent fans into a tailspin when she claimed she was engaged to BFF Sahara, as she shared snaps of the pair jewellery shopping and passionately kissing.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, the glamour model, 23, posted a shot which showed her window shopping in Beverly Hills with Sahara and wrote: 'We've been waiting to tell u guys but me and Sahara are engaged.'

She followed up the post with an upload showing herself kissing her close friend on the lips, alongside the words 'I said yes'  but as she made the claims in the final hours of April 1st, questions have been raised as to whether it's not just a late prank.

'I said yes': Lottie recently sent fans into a tailspin when she claimed she was engaged to BFF Sahara, as she shared snaps of the pair jewellery shopping and passionately kissing

Lottie, youngster sister of supermodel Kate Moss, is often seen spending time with Sahara, and the pair regularly pose together for racy photoshoots, the majority of which is seen adult platform Glow  much to the reported chagrin of her family.

Last month, Lottie defiantly marched forth with her penchant for sharing racy posts, when she uploaded footage of herself posing in a corset.

In the black-and-white self-shot footage, she was seen writhing around while running her fingers through her wavy flaxen locks.

Shopping: Taking to her Instagram Stories, the glamour model, 23, posted a shot which showed her window shopping in Beverly Hills with Sahara, 28

Racy photoshoots: Lottie, youngster sister of supermodel Kate Moss, is often seen spending time with Sahara, and the pair regularly pose together for racy photoshoots

'Chat with me I'm bored... Pay attention to me,' she captioned the brief clip, which featured a link to her page on adult platform Glow.

Lottie's posts come after it was claimed that Storm Management appears to be fighting a desperate campaign to stop her from ruining her career.

Blonde beauty Lottie has, who rose to prominence as a starlet with promise of a successful fashion career, now sells raunchy photos of herself on a website called Glow, where erotic photos of influencers sell for as little as 3.

Sources say Storm is working frantically to protect Lottie and 'save her from herself'  though some family members fear she could have already sabotaged her future.

A source told The Mail On Sunday's Charlotte Griffiths: 'These photos and the path she's on will affect her future as a model, but also as a woman. What if one day she wants a normal job?

'Storm can't let Lottie become another victim of this crazy influencer-meets-celebrity, image-obsessed culture. Her mental health needs to be protected.'

Another source close to the agency said: 'Storm feels very protective of the lovely Lottie. They are hoping this phase will pass.'

In years gone by, an agency like Storm, which takes pride in its high-end reputation, would not have kept Lottie on the books after she started selling photos on Glow.

Tongues wagging: Lottie recently shared a similar snap of herself tongue-kissing Saraha

Lingerie: Sahara and glamour model Lottie regularly shares snaps of herself scantily-clad on social media

But thankfully, these are more responsible times and agencies no longer throw their clients to the wolves the moment they are 'over'.

The source added: 'Lottie is still pretty and is far from finished, but she needs to stop messing with her appearance and underselling herself.

'Not so long ago she... was modelling for Chanel and appearing in Vogue. She showed a lot of promise and now she has lost her way.'

Over lockdown, Kate, who has been sober for more than a year, brought her sister in for a spell at her secluded Cotswold home, taking her away from her wild circle of reality TV friends.

Model behaviour: Storm Management was said to be fighting a desperate campaign to stop Lottie, the younger sister of their most famous signing Kate, from ruining her career

Lottie has complained her modelling work has declined and even blamed her figure, though it would be the envy of most women.

'So many designers and other clothing brands only use skinny tall models to model their clothes,' she has said. 'There are so many beautiful incredible women who aren't a size zero.'

Lottie has vociferously defended her choices, saying: 'Why should I be made to feel [ashamed] because I'm doing something I enjoy?

'Everyone always says 'be yourself and do what you love' until it's something that isn't considered 'reputable' or to their standard of what is considered OK.'

Sisters: Over lockdown, Kate Moss (pictured in 2104) brought her sister in for a spell at her secluded Cotswold home, taking her away from her wild circle of friends

A spokesman for Storm said 'we're incredibly fond of Lottie', but declined to comment further.

It comes after Lottie told The Sun On Sunday that her new money-making endeavour of selling nude photos and videos on adult site Glow has caused a rift in her family.

The model, who reportedly has a naked video available on the platform for 1,000, said last month: 'I've had a really s**tty day... I've been getting a lot of hateful comments to do with me doing Glow.

'I've had family members not be happy about it and honestly, I'm out here living my best life in LA. I feel happier here than I've felt in a long time. I just need to feel good about myself because if you can't love yourself, no one else can.'
No company can survive without consumers' confidence



Namyang Dairy Products Chairman Hong Won-sik offered to resign Tuesday, apologizing for causing controversy over false claims about the anti-viral effects of the company's yogurt drink, Bulgaris. In a press conference at the company headquarters in southern Seoul, he also vowed not to hand over management of the company to his children.



Hong's resignation came three weeks after Namyang's research chief claimed in a symposium that Bulgaris reduces the chance of COVID-19 infections by 78 percent. Following the announcement, the company's shares soared and the yogurt drink sold out in many retail stores.



But experts questioned the validity of the claim, saying that the chief's claims had not been clinically trialed or demonstrated. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety accused Namyang of violating the food labeling and advertising act with misleading information and imposed a two-month suspension on its main dairy plant in Sejong, which accounts for 40 percent of the company's output. The police raided the company's factories and headquarters last week to look into allegations that Namyang exaggerated the results of its research on Bulgaris' anti-viral properties.



This incident is not the first time that Namyang has created a huge wave of public resentment. In 2013, the company took flak when a voice recording revealed a salesman verbally abusing distributors to force them to buy more products. A boycott movement started soon, displacing Namyang from the top position in the market. The chairman's eldest son was also dismissed from his position of managing director last month for allegedly misappropriating corporate money to lease foreign-made luxury cars for personal use.



Certainly, Namyang has no excuses for its clear attempt to fool customers with inaccurate information. Public anger is bound to be greater, given the norm that food companies should pay more heed to people's health. It remains to be seen whether Hong's resignation and pledge not to pass on the management of the company to his children will help Namyang restore public confidence. What is clear is that no company can survive without the confidence and trust of the people.


They starred together in the 1999 teen comedy 10 Things I Hate about You.

And now. 23 years later, the movie's director Gil Junger has decided to reveal that Julia Stiles and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were actually an item during filming.

'They were very, very attracted to each other, which was cute,' Junger said in an interview on Spanish-language YouTube channel Mira a Quien Encontre, People reported Tuesday.

They starred together in the 1999 teen comedy 10 Things I Hate about You. And now. 23 years later, the movie's director Gil Junger reveals that Julia Stiles (pictured 2019) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (pictured 2018) were actually an item during filming

In the movie, Stiles played the love interest of actor Heath Ledger's character.

'She's professing her love to Heath and she's in love with a guy waiting in his trailer to shoot the next scene,' Junger observed.

'Watching them, it was beautiful how much they enjoyed each other,' he added.

Stars: In the movie, Stiles played the love interest of actor Heath Ledger's character

Supporting actor: 'She's professing her love to Heath and she's in love with a guy waiting in his trailer to shoot the next scene,' Junger observed in a recent interview

Looking back: 'They were very, very attracted to each other, which was cute,' Junger told Spanish-language YouTube channel Mira a Quien Encontre, People reported Tuesday

'Watching them, it was beautiful how much they enjoyed each other,' the filmmaker commented (Stiles and Gordon-Levitt are pictured with co-star Larisa Oleynik)

Stiles, 40, is now married to Preston Cook, a camera assistant and focus puller, whom she met while making the 2015 thriller Blackway.

The couple share a three=year-old son.

Meanwhile, Gordon-Levitt, 40, married to scientist Tasha McCauley in 2015 and they have two sons together aged five and three.

According to People, the actor marked the 22nd anniversary of the release of 10 Things I Hate About You back in March by posting a photo of himself and his co-stars Stiles, Ledger and Larisa Oleynik.

He wrote on Instagram: '10 Things I Hate About You came out today, March 31st, back in 1999.

'I'll never forget that summer, making that movie with such wonderful people. The best of times. Still can't believe it was over 20 years ago,' he shared.

Memories: 'I'll never forget that summer, making that movie with such wonderful people. The best of times. Still can't believe it was over 20 years ago,' Gordon-Levitt shared in March
Ashlee Simpson seemed to be inspired by a recent trip to Joshua Tree with husband Evan Ross as she stepped out on Tuesday in a whimsical kimono.

The 36-year-old songstress was seen pairing the airy overcoat with jeans and a black tank top as she filled up her gas tank in Sherman Oaks, California before heading to the mall with daughter Jagger, five.

The doting mother of three was seen spending quality time with her only daughter who she dressed in an equally eye-catching outfit as they geared up for a little retail therapy.

Tuesday errands: Ashlee Simpson, 36, looks whimsical in a patterned kimono as she fills up her gas tank before a shopping outing with daughter Jagger, five, in LA

The former punk rock princess slipped into ripped boyfriends jeans which she cuffed at the bottom and a gold floral kimono for a flirty twist.

And she geared up for warmer months in a stylish pair of black sandals with a large gold buckle detailing on top.

Her cellphone was draped over her body as she filled up her white SUV and her blonde locks were slicked back into a stylish low bun.

Despite being near the confines of her vehicle she continued to protect herself with a forest green face mask while at the gas pump.

And after taking her newly-filled vehicle to the Westfield shopping mall she was seen walking hand in hand with budding fashionista Jagger who looked adorable in a flouncy tie dye dress with a pair of iridescent Doc Martens.

On the go: Her cellphone was draped over her body as she filled up her white SUV and her blonde locks were slicked back into a stylish low bun

Stylish duo: After taking her newly-filled vehicle to the Westfield shopping mall she was seen walking hand in hand with budding fashionista Jagger who looked adorable in a flouncy tie dye dress with a pair of iridescent Doc Martens

The tot's hair was styled with two front braids and she matched her look with a bright face mask while making her way through the parking structure.

Ashlee played with patterns as she draped a furry Fendi backpack over her shoulder and carried a pink Fendi bag charm, which seemed to be attached to her keys.

And as she and Jagger took on the mall her other children Bronx, 12,  who she shares with ex Pete Wentz  and Ziggy Blu  who was born in late October  seemed to be back at their $5M Encino home.

She and the son of Diana Ross, 32, have been married since 2014, and recently enjoyed a parent's retreat to Joshua Tree over the weekend to celebrate the launch of Vanessa Hudgen's new line of cactus water called Cali Water.

Fun with Fendi: Ashlee played with patterns as she draped a furry Fendi backpack over her shoulder and carried a pink Fendi bag charm, which seemed to be attached to her keys

Parent's weekend: The duo recently enjoyed a parent's retreat to Joshua Tree over the weekend to celebrate the launch of Vanessa Hudgen's new line of cactus water called Cali Water; pictured April 30

The duo slipped into their chicest desert attire as Ashlee marveled at the 'desert breeze,' while posting a photo from the VIP event that included retro airstreams, designer gift bags and lots of live music.

And although the world is starting to open up amid the vaccine rollout, The United States Vs. Billie Holiday actor said he feels 'lucky' to have moments at home with their growing kids over the past year.

'You've got to remind yourself of how lucky we are in the sense that we get to have these moments that we may have not had the same way, if we [would have had] to work,' he told People in March.

Despite spending virtually 24/7 at home with the kids, the pair spoke to Drew Barrymore about how they continue to keep the spark alive. 'We're constantly on right now [changing diapers]...but for us...we find the time,' they said, adding that sneaking away to the bedroom doesn't have to be limited to 'at night.'
They celebrated their engagement last month with a lavish bash at her $2.25million mansion on the Central Coast.

And Sophie Monk and her fiance Joshua Gross proudly put their love on display as they stepped out for a ritzy date night in Melbourne on Thursday.

Looking every inch the glamour couple, the duo arrived at an upmarket restaurant in a chauffeur-driven car before making their way to the entrance hand in hand.

Engagement bliss! Sophie Monk, 41, and her fiance Joshua Gross, 40, proudly put their love on display as they stepped out for a ritzy date night in Melbourne on Thursday

Sophie, 41, dressed to the nines for the occasion, sporting a plunging emerald pencil dress that clung to her figure in all the right places.

She added height to her statuesque frame with a pair of nude strappy heels, and completed her look with a Louis Vuitton handbag worth $2,000.

The Love Island host styled her neatly curled blonde mane in a side parting, and painted her face with a bronze-toned makeup look.

Putting on the ritz! Looking every inch the glamour couple, the duo arrived at an upmarket restaurant in a chauffeur-driven car before making their way to the entrance hand in hand

Are you THE Sophie Monk? At one stage, the smitten pair were approached by a fan who looked thrilled to be in the presence of reality TV royalty

Meanwhile, robotics consultant Joshua, 40, dressed to impress in a grey three-piece suit and black tie.

His slick look was completed with a pair of polished black dress shoes.

Ever the gentleman, Joshua carried Sophie's camel duster coat as they made their way towards the venue.

All smiles: Proving fame hasn't gone to her head, former Bachelorette Sophie happily chatted with the woman for some time before parting ways

At one stage, the smitten pair were approached by a fan who looked thrilled to be in the presence of reality TV royalty.

Proving fame hasn't gone to her head, former Bachelorette Sophie happily chatted with the woman for some time before parting ways.

Last year, Sophie spoke about her relationship with Joshua and admitted it was very different to her previous ones.

Making them green with envy! Sophie dressed to the nines for the occasion, sporting a plunging emerald pencil dress that clung to her figure in all the right places

Expensive taste: She added height to her statuesque frame with a pair of nude strappy heels, and completed her look with a Louis Vuitton handbag worth $2,000

The Beauty and the Geek host, who has been engaged four times, told TV Week in September it was 'nice' having Joshua around every day after he relocated from the U.S. to Australia.

'I've never had someone move in with me ever. I love it. I wake up, he gets me coffee. It's so nice having him there. He's perfect,' she said.

The couple first met on a flight from Europe to Australia in August 2018, and shared a kiss after enjoying 'three champagnes' in business class.

Move over, 007! Robotics consultant Joshua dressed to impress in a grey three-piece suit

They grew closer when Joshua helped Sophie recover from endometriosis surgery in November.

Around this time, she also began the process of freezing her eggs.

Sophie recently revealed she and Joshua would consider adopting a child if she couldn't fall pregnant.

Thanks, babe! Ever the gentleman, Joshua carried Sophie's camel duster coat as they made their way towards the venue
Chelsea Houska revealed she has no regrets leaving Teen Mom after 10 seasons to ensure her four children's privacy before her eldest prepared to enter her teen years.

In a rare update since leaving the hit MTV franchise last year, the 29-year-old reality star spoke about when she knew it was officially time to say goodbye to cameras.

'There just came a pointand I think it was a buildup almostthis feeling in my gut, or my heart, I guess,' she told E! News. 'It just didn't feel like I was supposed to be on that show anymore.'

Doting mom: Chelsea Houska revealed she has no regrets leaving Teen Mom after 10 seasons to ensure her four children's privacy as her eldest prepared to enter her teen years

She continued: 'There were conversations that [my daughter] Aubree and I were having from time to time, and there came a point where I was just worried because I don't want her to ever be like, she can't tell me things because it's going to be aired to millions of people or whatever.'

Additionally, the doting mom reflected that the show's 'point of view' shifted from hers to Aubree's perspective, which felt like a violation of the preteen's privacy.

'That was ultimately what kind of pushed me to decide to step away and leave that chapter of life,' Houska stated of her little girl, who she shares with ex Adam Lind.

Open book: In a rare update since leaving the hit MTV franchise last year, the 29-year-old reality star spoke about when she knew it was time to say goodbye to cameras this week

'There just came a pointand I think it was a buildup almostthis feeling in my gut, or my heart, I guess,' she told E! News . 'It just didn't feel like I was supposed to be on that show anymore'

Houska also shares three kids Watson, four, Layne, two, and three-month-old Walker with husband Cole DeBoer.

Despite parting ways with the show, she remains close with the producers, who documented a decade of her life from the births of her babies to wedding day.

'I think we'll always, always be close,' she said of the show's producers. 'They were here in our house with our kids, seeing conversations about some personal things, and you just form a relationship with people and it truly is a meaningful relationship.'

Happy in love: Houska also shares three kids Watson, four, Layne, two, and three-month-old Walker with husband Cole DeBoer

Houska and her husband recently moved into their South Dakota dream home, not long after she launched her home decor brand called Aubree Says in January 2021.

She also noted she hasn't ruled out returning to reality TV if the focus wasn't about her 'kids' personal life' and was 'light-hearted and fun.'

Despite having their hands full raising four little ones, she and DeBoer make time for date nights after their children's bedtime, which include watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians and the Real Housewives.
They rose to fame on the first winter series of Love Island in 2020.

And Jess and Eve Gale looked every inch the starlets as they were spotted arriving at the Hart Lounge in North London to celebrate their 22nd birthday with pals on Tuesday.

Jess turned heads as she put on a busty display in a skimpy chocolate brown coloured minidress, which also showcased her toned physique.

All glammed up: Jess and Eve Gale looked every inch the starlets as they were spotted arriving at the Hart Lounge in North London to celebrate their 22nd birthday with pals

She posed up a storm for the camera as she worked her best angles, while highlighting her peachy posterior.

Jess added height to her frame with a pair of clear heels, while she accessorised with a Gucci Dionysus handbag.

Meanwhile, twin sister Eve sported a matching outfit in a pale-pink colour, while she clutched a Louis Vuitton purse in her hand.

The duo both wore their blonde tresses in slick ponytails, while finishing off their looks with smoky make-up to enhance their features.

Turning heads: Love Island star Jess turned heads as she put on a busty display in a skimpy brown-coloured minidress, which also showcased her toned physique

Stunning: She posed up a storm for the camera as she worked her best angles, while highlighting her peachy posterior

In March, Eve told fans that she was pining for sunnier climates 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, as she captioned the post: 'Oh to be this tanned again #June2020.'

Both Jess and Eve recently returned to the UK following their 'work' trip to the United Arab Emirates.

The reality stars were just two of many celebrities who jetted to Dubai throughout the pandemic.

Pretty in pink: Meanwhile, twin sister Eve sported a matching outfit in a pale-pink colour and clutched a Louis Vuitton purse in her hand to finish her look

They joined many other Love Islanders including Joanna Chimonides, Hayley Hughes and Francesca Allen.

After Dubai joined the 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.

Many stars insisted that 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.
The Violence Paradox

Rating:

The Money Maker

Rating:

Brain scans show that, when we tuck into a Mars bar or nibble on a square of Fruit & Nut, a specific region of our grey matter lights up with joy  our pleasure centre.

Curiously, exactly the same area of our brains is stimulated when we carry out an act of calculated vengeance.

'The old saying, 'Revenge is sweet', is literally true,' remarked psychologist Steven Pinker in his two-part study The Violence Paradox (BBC4).

With his greying rock-star curls and black leather jacket, Pinker looks like he'd sacrifice all the letters after his name if only he could be the lead guitarist in a Led Zeppelin tribute band.

Professor Steven Pinker from BBC4's The Violence Paradox argues the world is getting less violent

He argues that the world is getting less violent  despite the chocolatey delight we get from tit-for-tat reprisals. In the Middle Ages, or so his figures show, the murder rate was 20 times higher than today.

And even though modern international conflicts  with megaton bombs and armies bristling with automatic weapons  are infinitely more destructive than the old methods of swords and spears, our ancestors were still much more likely to die in wars.

Genghis Khan and his Mongol hordes in the 13th century worked really hard at mass slaughter. They didn't have nuclear weapons but they still made sure that, when they laid waste to a city, not a single man, woman or child survived.

In fact, they wiped out about 10 per cent of the entire global population, Pinker said. Pol Pot was a peacenik by comparison.

It's an intriguing idea, though it did feel like we were being bamboozled with statistics. The numbers were carefully lined up to create a misleading impression, one that fits the usual academic pattern of dewy-eyed optimism.

Robert Cieri takes skull measurements at Duke University in the Violence Paradox

In the late Nineties, a similar theory swept Left-wing intellectuals, proposing that humanity had reached 'the End of History'. Everything was so wonderful, what with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the arrival of matey politicians such as Bill Clinton and Tony Blair, that everlasting peace and prosperity beckoned.

At the same time, economists pronounced the 'Long Boom' meant recessions were over. Both those notions went quickly out of date.

Pinker's 'self-domestication hypothesis', which aruges that humans have tamed their own wild instincts and are evolving beyond violence, also seems unlikely to last. It's the smug, over-privileged viewpoint of a scientist who doesn't have to live in an inner city or Third World slum, or see his work censored by dictatorial officials.

As one mild-mannered professor countered sadly: 'It depends on who you are and where you live.'

A possibility Pinker didn't investigate was that violence subsides as prosperity increases. Far from being the root of all evil, money is what prevents us from slaughtering each other.

In that case, entrepreneur Eric Collins from Alabama is on track for a Nobel peace prize. He's a venture capitalist, investing in ailing businesses on The Money Maker (C4). Eric isn't really doing this out of saintliness, of course. He expects a fat slice of the profits  taking 25 per cent of Mancunian Jasen Jackiw's repair business in exchange for 100,000 up front.

Jasen Jackie, Eric Collins, Steve Monaghan from Channel 4's The Money Maker

I've never understood the financial logic behind shows like this or Dragons' Den. If your business is sound and you need investment, why not go to a bank? Once the loan is paid off, the banker won't still own a quarter of your life's work!

It was good to see Jasen use the money to take on trainees, though. Never mind fancy theories, it's real jobs that matter.

Superstar of the night: Lisa Eldridge celebrated Twenties dance sensation Josephine Baker for her much-imitated looks, in Make-up: A Glamorous History (BBC2). The segment ended too soon  this incredible woman needs a three-part series all to herself.
She returned home to Australia with her actor husband Sam Worthington and their three children earlier this year.

And it seems there is no shortage of modelling jobs for Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) as she revealed her edgy new look during a photo shoot on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old shared footage of herself getting ready in the makeup chair on her Instagram stories.

Having a ball! Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) had fun with Instagram filters on Wednesday as she prepared for a photo shoot

Her first look was a vampy burgundy red lip, which contrasted her flawless and youthful visage, created by Chanel make-up artist Victoria Baron.

The blonde beauty's shoulder-length tresses were styled in a side part and slicked back.

Although she added a floral Instagram filter to her clip, her light shimmering eye shadow and feathered brows stood out.

The lady is a vamp! Her first look was a vampy burgundy red lip, which contrasted her flawless and youthful visage, created by Chanel make-up artist Victoria Baron

Getting wiggy with it! In another image, the model shared another behind-the-scenes look showing her in a black cap - likely for preparing for wearing a wig for the shoot with hair stylist Michele McQuillan

In another image, the model shared another behind-the-scenes look showing her in a black cap - likely for preparing for wearing a wig for the shoot with hair stylist Michele McQuillan.

She appeared to be makeup free in the photo as she showed off her ageless visage in the selfie.

Lara's behind-the-scenes sneak peek comes after she recently spoke to The Daily Telegraph about being back Down Under with her young family.

Back home: Lara's behind-the-scenes sneak peek comes after she recently spoke to The Daily Telegraph about being back Down Under with her young family. She explained that she loves the 'fresh air, unspoilt nature, beaches, seeing my family and mangoes' that Australia brings

She explained that she loves the 'fresh air, unspoilt nature, beaches, seeing my family and mangoes' that Australia brings, before opening up on family life with her boys.

'I love that no matter how glamorous my day can be, being a mother pulls me right back into my wild and wonderful reality,' Lara, who is the new face of swimwear brand Seafolly, said.

'Also spending time with my family at the beach is something I am cherishing. These moments at the beach are special and remind me of my childhood.'

Lara said that during her downtime, she loves to make food or have dinner with her girlfriends, or go down to Cronulla in Sydney to see her family.

Down Under: Lara and Sam, who have lived both New York and California in the past, arrived back in Australia with their sons - Rocket, five, Racer, four, and 10-month-old son River - in January

On the job: Sam currently has a lead role in the Wesley Enoch-directed stage play Appropriate, while Lara has several modelling jobs lined up in Sydney

The loved-up couple, who have lived both New York and California in the past, arrived back in Australia with their sons - Rocket, five, Racer, four, and 10-month-old son River - in January.

Sam currently has a lead role in the Wesley Enoch-directed stage play Appropriate, while Lara has several modelling jobs lined up in Sydney.

Reports surfaced last year that the couple were planning to move Down Under on a permanent basis after spending years living in the U.S.

Lara and Sam began dating in 2013 and married in secret a year later.
He has just been confirmed as a cast member on Netflix's controversial new series, Byron Baes.

But former Bachelorette contestant Nathan Favro was partying up a storm on the Gold Coast late last month.

The tattooed reality star was spotted ordering some drinks at a local bar.

He's not even in the Bay! Bachelorette contestant Nathan Favro was spotted partying at a bar on the Gold Coast just days before being announced as a cast member on Netflix's new controversial series Byron Baes

He showed off his body ink in a white T-shirt teamed with some beige trousers.

He was seen chatting closely to a blonde woman at the bar.

Nathan lives in Byron Bay, but often post pictures of his travels all around Australia.

Fans of The Bachelor franchise will remember party boy Nathan from Ali Oetjen's season of The Bachelorette in 2018.

He was infamously kicked off the show after Ali, 34, accused him of spreading rumours in the mansion about her sexual history.

Last year, he was rumoured to be dating former Bachelorette star Bella Veralis.

Thirsty work being a star! The tattooed reality star was spotted ordering some drinks at a local bar

But Bella shot down the rumours after paparazzi photos emerged of Nathan leaving the marketing consultant's apartment in Bondi.

At the time, Bella told The Kyle and Jackie O Show that the pair were nothing more than friends.

Radio host Kyle Sandilands asked Bella: 'By looking at Daily Mail the other day, your person has come in the form of Nathan from Bachelor in Paradise. You had a little sleepover, didn't you?'

'Nathan and I are just good mates,' she replied.

She went on to explain that she'd asked Nathan to come over with his puppy, but he had a few too many glasses of wine and slept on the couch.

Close: Nathan was seen chatting to a blonde at the bar

She added: 'Haven't you ever had someone come over and have too many wines and crash on the couch?

'I had asked him if he could bring his puppy over because I'm in love with the puppy.'

The cast behind Netflix's upcoming reality show Byron Baes was finally this week revealed after weeks of speculation.

While filming is already underway in Byron Bay, the show's producers have until now remained tight-lipped about who will appear in the series.

It can now be revealed the controversial new show will feature a variety of local influencers.

Uncovered: The cast behind Netflix's upcoming reality show, Byron Baes, has finally been revealed after weeks of speculation. Pictured, Elias Chigros

Joining Nathan and the cast is Elias Chigros, who appeared on Love Island.

Co-creative director of local boutique BISQUE Hannah Brauer will also appear, alongside Byron Bay couple Dave Frim and Saskia Wotton.

Others in the cast include investment company employee Elle Watson, influencer Jade Kevin Foster and spiritualistic therapist Simba Ali.

Coming soon: According to a report by The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday, the controversial new series will feature a variety of local influencers. Pictured, Elle Watson

Rounding out the cast is Kyle Sandilands' former assistant-turned-manager Alex Reid, fashion designer Jess Bell and her model sister Lauren.

The unveiling of the cast comes after Netflix were recently forced to apologise to the stars of the show for painting them as 'influencers' and 'hot Instagrammers'.

Netflixs Director of Originals in Australia Que Minh Luu confirmed that the cast 'hated' a recent PR post describing the upcoming series.

Secret's out: While filming is already underway in Byron Bay, the show's producers have until now remained tight-lipped about who will appear in the series. Pictured, Saskia Wotton

'They are artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, business owners, models, on a spiritual journey and more,' Que wrote to her 7k followers.

'Most of them hated the press release too! Did a lot of apologising that week. Fired the PR team (lol joking about firing, we're all learning together).'

She added: 'They understand the power of influence. They are part of Byron. They understand the creative vision of the show that has been developed with them over several months.

Que was responding after many mocked the press release, which read: 'It's not just Chris and Zac's backyard, it's the playground of more celebrity-adjacent-adjacent influencers than you can poke a selfie stick at'.

Que continued: 'A postcard's worth of copy doesn't tell the whole story of what the show is.

'It looks at human connection, ambition, image and what lies underneath - not all glossy, often contradictory. Like the place itself.

Making a name for herself: Co-creative director of local boutique BISQUE Hannah Brauer (pictured) will also appear, alongside Byron Bay couple Dave Frim and Saskia Wotton

'Byron is a symbol to so many Australians.

'The participants number in the double digits, a quarter born/raised in the area, most have lived there a meaningful length of time, a few newer to the area... kinda like how Byron works.

'Mayor Simon Richardson had it right when I spoke to him weeks ago and he described the show as "young people having a go", not the "wrong sort of person".'

Life of luxury: Others in the cast include investment company employee Elle Watson, influencer Jade Kevin Foster (pictured) and spiritualistic therapist Simba Ali

It comes after a handful of so-called Byron locals recently paddled out into the ocean to protest the show, while others stood by with placards that read 'give Netflix the flick' and 'consult traditional owners'.

Ben Gordon, owner of The Byron Bay General Store, led calls to snub production - and is asking other local businesses to do the same.

'They've simply turned up unannounced and they are proposing to drag our name through the mud, and make millions of dollars without offering anything back to the community,' he told Today hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon.

Sorry: The unveiling of the cast comes after Netflix were recently forced to apologise to the stars of the show for painting them as 'influencers' and 'hot Instagrammers'. Pictured, couple Dave Frim and Saskia Wotton

Mr Gordon said the prospective reality series is 'a complete misrepresentation of who we are as a community'.

'Today, what we've seen, is the real Byron, the community coming together for issues that we believe in,' he said.

Nick O'Donnell, Netflix's director of public policy, recently travelled to the NSW town 'for crisis talks with stakeholders' as the backlash continues to grow.
She's back filming a fourth season of her hit Amazon series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

And on Tuesday, Rachel Brosnahan was all business on the streets of New York City as she filmed a tense scene with co-star Alex Borstein.

Brosnahan, who plays the titular 50s housewife turned standup comedienne, wore a striking red ensemble and large white hat for the sequence.

On location: Rachel Brosnahan wore a striking red ensemble with a large white hat as she filmed scenes for the fourth season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Tuesday in NYC

Her red dress had a Peter Pan collar and was belted at the waist.

She wore a matching colored coat left unfastened and a pair of red peep toe heels.

Her hat had a turned up brim and a red band with a bow at the front.

She had earlier been seen on the location set rehearsing the scene while wearing a black jumpsuit with black socks and white sneakers.

Period style: Her red dress had a Peter Pan collar and was belted at the waist. She wore a matching colored coat left unfastened and a pair of red peep toe heels

Filming: The actress had earlier been seen on the location set rehearsing the scene while wearing a black jumpsuit with black socks and white sneakers

For the scene, Brosnahan, 30, was seen rolling up at an address in a yellow taxi cab.

On exiting the vehicle, she was greeted by Borstein who plays streetwise talent manager Susie Myerson.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel first premiered on the Amazon Prime Video streaming service in March of 2017 and was an instant hit.

Action: For the scene, Brosnahan, 30, was seen rolling up at an address in a Big Apple yellow taxi cab

Cameras were rolling: On exiting the vehicle, she was greeted by co-star Alex Borstein who plays streetwise talent manager Susie Myerson

Scowled: It was clear that the scene was a tense one as Brosnahan looked less then happy as she rehearsed and then shot the sequence

Supporting actress: Borstein, 50, had rehearsed wearing a gray coat and black leather boots with her hair tied back into a ponytail

Hit show: The Amazon prime series follows a New York City housewife who discovers she is a talented standup comic and begins a career in the burgeoning comedy scene of the late 1950s

The series follows a New York City housewife who discovers that she is a talented standup comic and begins a career in the burgeoning comedy scene of the late 1950s.

In addition to Borstein, Brosnahan's supporting cast includes Tony Shalhoub as her character's father.

In addition to having a devoted fan base, the show has also won the show 20 Emmys and three Golden Globes.
She was the breakout star of Married At First Sight's blockbuster sixth season.

And now Jessika Power is ready to take a second chance at marriage by appearing on the British version of the reality show.

Speaking to the Erasing the Bar podcast, the 29-year-old admitted she was keen to appear on the upcoming UK season.

Making a comeback? Married At First Sight's Jessika Power is ready to take a second chance at marriage by appearing on the British version of the social experiment

'100 per cent I would,' she responded when asked if she'd like to join the series.

Jessika - who infamously cheated on her 'husband' Mick Gould with co-star Dan Webb during her season of MAFS - also hinted she might be interested in starring on the UK's Celebs Go Dating too.

The British version of Married At First Sight recently got a revamp to emulate the dramatic format of the Australian series.

'100 per cent I would': Speaking to the Erasing the Bar podcast, the 29-year-old admitted she was keen to appear on the upcoming UK season

The fifth season began filming last month, with Australian relationship expert Mel Schilling joining the panel.

The TV star and dating guru, 49, came over to the UK to match British singletons after appearing on eight successful seasons Down Under.

She said the new season will bring more drama than ever and that things will 'kick off' as she teased an 'Australian-style' version of the series.

Icon: Jessika infamously cheated on her 'husband' Mick Gould with co-star Dan Webb during her season of Married At First Sight Australia

'Honestly, I was so excited meeting them all and let me tell you a little secret, they are not going to disappoint,' she said.

'They all have their own very unique story to tell and I cannot wait for you all to fall in love with them.

'The couples will soon be tying the knot, so the process is really starting to kick off! E4 and UK watch out  it's going to be one not to miss.'

Married At First Sight UK will air on E4 later this year, but an exact premiere date is yet to be revealed.
President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with economy-related ministers at Cheong Wa Dae, April 15. Join Press Corps



By Baek Byung-yeul



A bill to support the local semiconductor industry being considered by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK)  a Korean version of the Special Chip Act  will include a corporate tax rate cut and various deregulation measures to encourage firms to invest more in production facilities, according to sources from the party and government officials, Wednesday.



"We are preparing to propose a bill to cut taxes and loosen regulations for semiconductor manufacturers, with possible submission to the National Assembly scheduled for August," a lawmaker from the ruling party said



"We fully understand that calls are growing for the government to revise some regulations pertinent to the punishment for workplace disasters, the chemical substances control act, the registration and evaluation of chemical substances, and the occupational safety and health act, which are major factors causing companies to hesitate in investing in production facilities," he added. "The party will recommend the government to accept the requests for amelioration."



The need to enact various support measures for the semiconductor industry surfaced after U.S. President Joe Biden began to strongly push forward with his "CHIPS for America Act" that offers an investment tax credit of 40 percent on equipment and facility costs.



Since the industry is also central to Korea's economy, the DPK is working on legislating a local equivalent of this support measure by August.



The move is in line with President Moon Jae-in's commitment to help companies here become leaders in the global semiconductor supply chain. During a meeting with economy-related ministers April 15, he pledged that the government would come up with various support measures.



"The semiconductor industry is a key national strategic industry that can determine the present and future of our economy. We should continue to lead the global semiconductor supply chain. We will vigorously support our country's emergence as a comprehensive semiconductor powerhouse by using the semiconductor super cycle now facing the world as an opportunity to take a new leap forward. Diverse support measures will be formulated to maintain our current No. 1 global ranking and increase our lead further," President Moon said at that time, according to Cheong Wa Dae press pool reports.



A official said, "The special act will reflect opinions of the local chip industry as much as possible as there is a consensus among the presidential office, the government and the ruling party that support measures are needed."



"At a time when chips have become a strategic item, a consensus has been formed that the government needs to provide more support to solidify the country's status as a semiconductor powerhouse," the official added.



However, the lawmaker said the request to amend the so-called "Severe Disaster Law" seems unlikely to be accepted, given it was enacted in January and will go into force next January.



The National Assembly passed the law with the aim of increasing the level of accountability for business owners in order to prevent workers' deaths due to insufficiently applied safety measures.



As business owners and CEOs can be imprisoned for at least one year or fined up to 1 billion won ($887,974) for workplace accidents caused by poor safety measures, calls have been made from businesses to postpone implementation of the new act until they can establish proper safety systems.


Luke Bryan addressed the rumor that he fathered Maren Morris' one-year-old baby boy Hayes during an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, set to air on Thursday.

The 44-year-old country star, who shares two sons Tatum, ten, and Thomas, 13, with his wife Caroline Boyer, was mistakenly reported to be the dad of Morris' firstborn last month, instead of her husband of two years, Ryan Hurd, by The Sun.

After Bryan's mother, LeClaire, came across the article, she called him as he was still drinking his first coffee of the day to discuss if he 'fathered Maren Morris' child.'

Real talk: Luke Bryan addressed the rumors that he fathered Maren Morris' one-year-old baby boy Hayes during an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show , set to air on Thursday

'Oh my gosh. I don't need this today,' the American Idol judge recalls telling her, after admitting he was surprised to learn his mom 'subscribes to' any online gossip' sites.

Once he ended their chat, Bryan cheekily forward the article to Hurd, who he has worked with on singles like Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset and, most recently, Waves.

'I shared it from my mother straight to Ryan, and I said, 'Buddy I think we need to talk,' he mused, while dispelling any speculation he was Morris' baby daddy.

Parents: The 44-year-old country star, who shares two sons Tatum, ten, and Thomas, 13, with his wife Caroline Boyer, was mistakenly reported to be the dad of Morris' firstborn last month, instead of her husband of two years, Ryan Hurd (pictured with his wife in 2021), by The Sun

Funny: After Bryan's mother, LeClaire, came across the article, she called him as he was still drinking his first coffee of the day to discuss if he 'fathered Maren Morris' child'

Bryan even joked he would 'call Maury Povich' for a paternity test to prove the truth.

When the article first came out in April, both The Bones hitmaker, 31, and Hurd, 34, found the mistake humorous.

'I guess the cat's outta the [bag] @lukebryan,' she wrote on her Instagram Story.

Pals: In reality, Bryan and his wife have been happily married for 14 years, have two kids and adopted his nephew Til and nieces Kris and Jordan after the sudden death of Bryan's brother-in-law in 2014 (the couples seen together in 2017)

In reality, Bryan and his wife have been happily married for 14 years, have two kids and adopted his nephew Til and nieces Kris and Jordan after the sudden death of Bryan's brother-in-law in 2014.

Meanwhile, Morris and Hurd are doting parents to their son, whose face they don't share on social media anymore for privacy and to avoid mom shaming.

'I would just have to say to anyone that is a mother who is shaming another mother, it obviously comes from just a deep insecurity in your own motherhood that you have to criticize someone else, especially [someone] who is brand new at this,' she said last year on the Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
He has been represented in court by a fellow former Masterchef contestant

Ungermann strenuously denies the allegations and will defend the charges

Ungermann disappeared from MasterChef: Back to Win without any explanation

Ben Ungermann faces three charges of sexual assault allegedly in Melbourne

MasterChef's Ben Ungermann had a 'sexual interest' in a teenage girl he is accused of molesting while on a trip to Melbourne, a court has heard.

Daily Mail Australia revealed in May last year that Ungermann faced three separate charges of sexually assaulting his alleged teenage victim.

On Wednesday Ungermann appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court for the very first time - albeit via video link from his home in Queensland.

Ben Ungermann has appeared in a Melbourne court via video link in Queensland. He is expected to eventually have to return to Melbourne to face child sex allegations

Ben Ungermann continues to post videos and photos of himself to social media flexing his guns to adoring fans

Ben Ungermann was quietly removed from MasterChef last year

Dressed in a white shirt and loosely hanging tie, Ungermann sat before a poster that read: 'On Top Of The World' and preened his hair throughout the hearing, which will determine how his alleged child victim is cross-examined in court.

The buff reality star will travel to Melbourne next week where he will reunite with fellow season nine contestant and his solicitor, Ben Bullock, in a contested hearing.

In a day of revelations, the court heard Ungermann's alleged victim had made an earlier statement to police against him alleging three separate instances of inappropriate sexual conduct.

The allegations were made about 13 months before Ungermann allegedly assaulted her in Melbourne on February 23 last year.

It is evidence the prosecution hopes to have deemed admissible as 'tendency evidence' at his upcoming trial.

The court heard Ungermann's young accuser had a history of mental health issues and would need regular breaks while being grilled by Ungermann's barrister Abbie Roodenburg.

The teenager has already made four video statements to Queensland detectives - spanning more than an hour - outlining her allegations.

Court documents state police allege Ungermann intentionally touched his alleged child victim without her consent - and he knew it - at least three times.

One of the charges includes graphic detail of one of the alleged attacks against the young girl.

Police allege the teenage girl states that Ungermann 'sexually touched her right breast skin-to-skin' against her wishes.

Perth based lawyer turned chef Ben Bullock appeared alongside Ungermann in the 2017 season of Masterchef and has now represented him in court

Former MasterChef contestant Ben Ungermann makes regular Instagram posts

Ungermann has 97,000 followers on Instagram, where he continues to post videos and photos. He appeared on crutches in a post just days ago

The court heard the alleged attack happened while another child was present in the room.

That child will be among three other child witnesses to give evidence when the matter returns to court.

Ms Roodenburg claimed the alleged eye witness had 'seen and heard nothing' of the alleged attack.

Unlike Ungermann, the alleged victim and child witnesses will not be required to attend court in Melbourne.

Prosecutors hope to get approval for court-approved minders from Melbourne to travel to Queensland to sit with the children while they deliver their evidence.

The hearing is expected to take seven days when it gets underway later this month.

When it does, 13 witnesses will be called, including five other interstate witnesses, one from Melbourne and three police officers.

Ungermann himself hopes to call a 'civilian witness' from South Africa, who is expected to give evidence via videolink from abroad.

At the time of the alleged offending, Ungermann had been in a relationship with South African TV star and radio personality Leigh-Anne Williams.

Ungermann continues to post buff photos of himself on Instagram

Ungermann likes to show-off on Instagram where he continues to receive support from fans

We all got problems: Ungermann took to Instagram to declare no-one cares about his problems

Ungermann has hotly denied all allegations he is a sex offender and has expressed an urgency to resolve the matters.

For now, he remains in Queensland where this Sunday he is scheduled to cook up a storm for Mother's Day at Ungermann Brothers in Ipswich.

Tickets to the spread continue to sell for up to $127 a head.

Ungermann remains active on social media where just days ago he posted a video of him enjoying himself out on a camping trip while celebrating his birthday.

Days earlier he had appeared in another Instagram post on crutches.

Daily Mail Australia revealed last year that Ungermann had been staying in a serviced apartment in Melbourne's Docklands precinct when he put an urgent call out to Williams.

His life was quickly falling apart after being charged on March 6 last year with sexually assaulting the teenage girl.

He was about to slip a ring on the South African TV star's finger and was on the verge of being cast into the spotlight again on a new MasterChef show.

Ben Ungermann faces multiple sex assault charges in Melbourne after he was arrested in Docklands in February last year

Ben Ungermann was quietly removed from the latest season of MasterChef.

But less than a week after being charged, the hulking Ungermann didn't make a phone call to his supposed bride to be and he didn't directly text her phone.

Instead, Ungermann placed a public message on Instagram from an account he does not normally outwardly use.

And it appeared to be a call for help.

'Honey, Leigh please call me asap at Quest New Quay room 1705B,' he messaged her sometime in early March.

The post and its responses have since been removed.

Victorian sexual crime squad detectives had already moved in and charged Ungermann, who had been filming in Melbourne for the MasterChef: Back to Win program.

In June, Sydney lawyer Adam Houda told Daily Mail Australia his client was completely blindsided by the charges.

'My client is distressed by the charges, which came as a huge shock to him,' he said at the time.

'The allegations, I am instructed, are a complete fabrication and are denied.'
She recently graced the cover of L'Officiel magazine in head-to-toe Chanel.

But Stella Maxwell showcased her casual side on Tuesday afternoon as she grabbed lunch in the trendy Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

The 30-year-old supermodel, who carried her pup in her arms, was joined by fellow catwalk star Jordan Barrett and another male pal.

Out and about: Stella Maxwell showcased her casual side on Tuesday afternoon as she grabbed lunch in the trendy Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California

Maxwell sported an oversized brown Love Thy Neighborhood tee, which she paired with some baggy trousers.

She slipped her feet into a pair of high-top Converse All Star sneakers and had a single pendant chain fastened around her neck.

The Victoria's Secret Angel wore her blonde hair down in a zigzag part, while keeping her piercing blue eyes concealed behind a pair of gold framed shades.

Jordan, who was famously named 'Model It Boy of the new Era' in the early days of his modeling career by Vogue, also cut a casual figure in a t-shirt and baggy pants.

Best seat in the house: As she dined, Stella allowed her adorable dog to remain in her lap

The 24-year-old had a white bandana tied around his neck and donned a pair of black slip-on sandals.

Maxwell and her crew were headed towards a Los Feliz eatery to chow down on a healthy lunch.

As she dined, Stella allowed her adorable dog to remain in her lap.

The covergirl appeared to be enjoying a salad with toast on the side and a bowl of fresh fruit.

Lunch crew: The 30-year-old supermodel, who carried her pup in her arms, was joined by fellow catwalk star Jordan Barrett and another male pal

After finishing their meals, Stella, Jordan and their male pal took a leisurely stroll around the trendy Los Angeles neighborhood.

Maxwell carried a to-go coffee in hand, which she snagged from the restaurant before she left with her friends.

Days prior to her outing on Tuesday, the runway star used Instagram to unveil her stunning L'Officiel magazine cover.

'Thank you team,' began Maxwell, who posed with a bottle of Chanel No. 5. 'exclusive for @chanelofficial shot by the talented @renee_parkhurst.'

Best friend: Stella's sweet dog often makes appearances on her Instagram page, which boasts 5.5million followers; Stella and her dog pictured in November

Covergirl: She recently graced the cover of L'Officiel magazine in head-to-toe Chanel

For the Chanel-themed shoot, Stella donned a wavy, jaw-length wig with a wispy fringe.

She sported a minimal amount of makeup and kept covered with a black lacy top in order to make the perfume bottle the focus.

Although she is most famous for her modeling, Stella has also gained recognition for her several high profile romances with the likes of Kristen Stewart and Miley Cyrus.

Love life: Although she is most famous for her modeling, Stella has also gained recognition for her several high profile romances with the likes of Kristen Stewart and Miley Cyrus

'Honestly, I never worried about my sexuality,' Maxwell told The Advocate back in September.

'I look forward to the world getting to the point where we don't think about what someone's sexual preference is, what their gender is. Let's really just live and accept and celebrate people's individuality.'

If the Monot FW/21 catwalker has a type, it's 'kind and honest' people who 'love dogs and animals' and 'have the space in your life to share.'
She failed to find love on the 2019 season of Love Island Australia, following a brief romance with Matthew Zukowski.

But this month, Love Island Australia star Cartier Surjan, 20, proudly flaunted her new relationship with 19-year-old NRL hunk Jake Simpkin - confirming the duo are blissfully 'in love' in the process.

Cartier, who shot to fame as the beautiful 'born-again Christian' on Nine's match-making show, shared a very cosy snap with Jake on the beach on Tuesday.

From reality to rugby! Love Island Australia star Cartier Surjan, 20, proudly flaunted her new romance with 19-year-old NRL star Jake Simpkin this month - confirming the duo are blissfully 'in love' in the process

She captioned the cute shot: 'I'll pick days with you over anything.'

She also shared a picture of the two canoodling a few weeks prior, captioned: 'Happy and in love'.

Meanwhile, Jake - who joined Sydney's Wests Tigers ahead of the 2020 season - debuted their relationship with a cute selection of shots from the pair's loved-up trip to Nelson Bay on March 6.

Happiness: She also shared a picture of the two canoodling a few weeks prior, captioned: 'Happy and in love'

Debut: Meanwhile, Jake - who joined Sydney's Wests Tigers ahead of the 2020 season - debuted their relationship with a cute selection of shots from a loved-up trip to Nelson Bay on March 6

'Little get away with this one,' he captioned the pictures.

One of the photos included the duo flaunting their incredible beach bodies while enjoying a cheeky smooch by the sea.

It's not known exactly how the pair met or were introduced.

Limelight: Cartier rose to fame as the long-haired brunette 'born-again Christian' on Love Island

Cartier was coupled up with Adam Farrugia, 27, on Love Island, who she dated for four weeks. In that time, the two developed a strong connection.

It ran its course however, and the two decided to be friends. Cartier then moved on with co-star Matthew Zukowski, 24.

Cartier and Matthew called it quits just two weeks after the finale episode.
Married At First Sight bride Elizabeth Sobinoff has shared a powerful message about suffering from chronic illness.

The 29-year-old posted a gallery of throwback photos to Instagram on Wednesday from two years before her debut on Nine's social experiment in 2019.

The images showed a seemingly carefree Lizzie soaking up the sun at the beach and socialising with friends - but she revealed they actually disguised her debilitating health problems at the time.

Look deeper: Lizzie Sobinoff has shared rare throwback snaps from before she was on Married At First Sight, but says the photos disguise her debilitating health problems at the time

She captioned the photos: 'You never know what's really going on with someone. This was right before I started work again [after] being on a disability pension.'

Lizzie also explained the beach snaps were taken shortly after doctors had told her she was extremely sensitive to sunlight.

'I was having the best time but I then was really sick afterwards,' she said. 'Message is, don't judge a book by its cover.'

Sun-soaked: The images show her soaking up the sun at the beach and socialising with friends

Beyond the camera: 'You never know what's really going on with someone. This was right before I started work again [after] being on a disability pension,' Lizzie captioned the posts

'I still love the beach': Lizzie revealed the beach snaps were taken shortly after doctors had told her she was extremely sensitive to sunlight

Supportive pal: She also thanked her best friend for helping her through her health battles

It comes after the former jewellery store manager revealed last Thursday she'd just undergone a round of medical procedures for a mystery ailment.

She posted a series of photos to Instagram 'from the last seven days', and also updated fans on her health.

While the photos showed Lizzie enjoying a day out with her friend, she explained in the caption she'd just 'had steroid injections and part of my ear cut off'.

Staying positive: It comes after Lizzie posted a series of photos to Instagram last Thursday 'from the last seven days' and also updated fans on her health issues

What happened? While the photos showed Lizzie enjoying a day out with her friend, she explained in the caption she'd just 'had steroid injections and part of my ear cut off'

She promised she would explain her health situation in depth on IGTV at a later date.

'A few pics from the last seven days. Mortal Kombat with one of my mains, gelato with my aunt, the fur babies, takeaway Thai food with my girls and dirty chai before I was a judge at an event,' she wrote.

'I also had steroid injections and part of my ear cut off which Ill do an IGTV soon.'

Lizzie showed off her slender figure in activewear in the accompanying photos from her trip to the cinema with a friend to see Mortal Kombat.

Day out: Lizzie showed off her slender figure in activewear in the accompanying photos from her trip to the cinema with a friend to see Mortal Kombat

Glamorous: Other snaps showed her enjoying a night in with pals, and attending an exclusive event for Channel Nine's Beauty and the Geek

Other snaps showed her enjoying a night in with pals, and attending a glamorous event for Channel Nine's Beauty and the Geek.

While Lizzie did not specify why she required steroid injections and part of her ear removed, she has faced chronic health issues in the past.

She told 9Honey in 2018 she'd been diagnosed with two debilitating illnesses, which have caused her weight to fluctuate over the years.

'I was on a disability pension': While Lizzie did not specify why she required steroid injections and part of her ear removed, she has faced chronic health issues in the past

The first illness is porphyria, a blood disorder that can affect the nervous systems and other organs, including the skin.

The second is autoimmune disease, a mild form of Lupus that causes her body to attack itself.

She revealed in September last year she'd spent 'more than a decade' on a disability pension in her late teens and twenties because she was unable to work.

Battle: She told 9Honey in 2018 she'd been diagnosed with two debilitating illnesses, which have caused her weight to fluctuate over the years. Pictured left on MAFS 2019, and right in February 2020

Her health problems were exacerbated, she said, because of an early misdiagnosis.

'Before I went on Married At First Sight, I hadn't worked for more than a decade. I was on a disability pension because I had a misdiagnosis and everything,' she said on In the Bath with Aunty Garth.

'It was a horror story come to life, what had happened,' she added.
Retired NRL star Sam Burgess was spotted leaving court in the Southern Highlands on Tuesday with noticeably greying hair.

The former South Sydney Rabbitohs player, 32, used to have dark brown hair but appears to have gone grey in recent months.

A source close to the sportsman said Burgess was 'amused' to learn some people were more focused on his silvery locks than his recent court victory.

New look: Former NRL star Sam Burgess, 32, has admitted he's 'ageing like the rest of the population' after sporting noticeably greying hair during a recent court appearance

'Yes, I'm ageing like the rest of the population. It's just silly.' Burgess told a friend of the speculation about his greying hair.

Burgess also insisted he had never dyed his hair, which had been gradually going grey for years.

'Just a few more greys these days,' he said.

Some studies show that hair can lose pigment due to chronic or high levels of stress.

However, most scientists believe genetics and age are the primary factors in the development of prematurely grey hair.

Ageing: A source close to Burgess said the former Rabbitohs star, 32, was 'amused' to learn some people were more focused on his grey hair than his recent court victory. Pictured: Sam with dark brown hair on April 18, 2017

It comes after Burgess escaped conviction for driving with cocaine in his system while on his way to pick up his two young children.

Burgess pleaded guilty on Tuesday afternoon to driving with traces of cocaine present in his saliva.

Magistrate Mark Douglass said in Moss Vale Local Court that Burgess had shown remorse, contrition and insight into his behaviour.

Changes: He has some flecks of grey in June 2018

Brunette: Sam had fully dark locks without a trace of grey in 2015 (pictured)

Mr Douglass said Burgess had undergone a 'very arduous and rigorous' four-week residential rehabilitation program after his offending. That program did relate specifically to drugs.

Solicitor Bryan Wrench said his client had attended a residential program and had returned clean drug tests since the offence.

Mr Douglass placed Burgess on a nine-month conditional release order in relation to the drug matter and fined him $581 for each of two traffic offences.

Burgess has also pleaded guilty to driving without a NSW licence and driving while unregistered.

Result: It comes after Burgess escaped conviction for driving with cocaine in his system while on his way to pick up his two young children. He was placed on a nine-month conditional release order in relation to the drug matter and fined him $581 for each of two traffic offences

He was not accused of driving under the influence of cocaine, only with the less serious offence of having the drug present in his system when he was behind the wheel.

He was subjected to a random roadside drug test after being pulled over by highway patrol officers in the Southern Highlands about 1.30pm on Monday, February 22.

Burgess had been on his way to collect daughter Poppy and son Billy from Bowral, about 8km away, when police stopped his BMW X5 on the Hume Highway at Braemar.

Charges: Burgess was subjected to a random roadside drug test after being pulled over by highway patrol officers in the Southern Highlands about 1.30pm on Monday, February 22. He had been on his way to collect four-year-old daughter Poppy and two-year-old son Billy from Bowral when police stopped his BMW X5 on the Hume Highway at Braemar

A preliminary test detected signs of cocaine in his saliva and Burgess was taken to Southern Highlands police station where a secondary oral fluid test was undertaken.

That test returned positive to cocaine.

He had celebrated his older brother Luke's 34th birthday in Sydney's eastern suburbs at Coogee beachside restaurant Marrah two nights earlier.

Burgess was pulled over three weeks after he was found guilty of intimidating his father-in-law Mitchell Hooke during a heated clash at the Hooke family home near Bowral in October 2019. That conviction was subsequently overturned on appeal.

Burgess has no criminal record in Australia or the United Kingdom.

Test: Burgess was surprised by the initial positive test and was concerned by any suggestion his driving could have been inhibited. He had celebrated his older brother Luke's 34th birthday in Sydney's eastern suburbs at Coogee beachside restaurant Marrah two nights earlier

Burgess and ex-wife and Phoebe Burgess split in October 2019, after four tumultuous years of marriage.

They had initially separated in December 2018 - shortly after the birth of their son, Billy - but reconciled in April, only to end things for good six months later.

Burgess has been filming the second season of SAS Australia, the top-rating Channel Seven TV series which puts contestants through a modified special-forces selection regime.
Tesla boss Elon Musk found himself mobbed by fans as he stepped out for dinner in New York City with his girlfriend Grimes and a handful of Saturday Night Live stars ahead of his controversial hosting debut this weekend.

The 49-year-old billionaire and his musician girlfriend were joined by a host of SNL stars and producers, including Pete Davidson, Colin Jost, Kenan Thompson, Ego Nwodim and Chloe Fineman on Tuesday night.

The SNL cast were putting on a united front after Musk's hosting had become controversial, with his ultra-billionaire status and past stances on COVID-19 attracting naysayers on social media - and among some cast members.

Bowen Yang and Aidy Bryant, the two SNL stars who appeared to take a swipe on social media over Musk hosting, were not at the dinner.

They dined at an upmarket Italian restaurant, Il Gattopardo, just a few blocks away from SNL's studio in Manhattan's Midtown neighborhood.

Producers Lindsay Shookus, who is Ben Affleck's ex-girlfriend, and Steve Higgins were also spotted arriving after the show's first rehearsal.

Musk was mobbed by fans near the restaurant and ended up signing multiple autographs.

At one point, Musk could be seen sitting in the backseat of his car signing a model Tesla car that one fan had handed him.

Tesla boss Elon Musk was mobbed by fans in New York City on Tuesday night as he headed to dinner with girlfriend Grimes and Saturday Night Live's Pete Davidson and Ben Affleck's ex Lindsay Shookus

The 49-year-old billionaire and his musician girlfriend Grimes (above together) wore disposable black face masks while outside in Manhattan

Musk was mobbed by fans near the restaurant and ended up signing multiple autographs. At one point, Musk could be seen sitting in the backseat of his car signing a model Tesla car that one fan had handed him

Grimes, who was born Claire Elise Boucher, showcased her eccentric style in a white knit hat, goggle-style shades, a purple top, and 'Human' leggings.

The couple, who have both had COVID-19, wore disposable black face masks as they made their way to the car despite the CDC's new guidelines saying it only required indoors or in large crowds.

Musk had come in for criticism among some during the height of the coronavirus, when he questioned the response of county officials in California and initially balked at shutting down his factories there.

Pete and Lindsay - both wearing masks - followed closely behind as they rounded out the star-studded dinner.

Musk and his girlfriend's dinner date came on the same day they celebrated their son X  A-Xii's first birthday.

Elon and Grimes originally bonded over Twitter before making their official red carpet debut as a couple at the Met Gala in May 2018.

Musk, who is renowned for his controversial tweets, has been touting his SNL hosting gig for more than a week now.

When he was first announced as this week's host, Musk tweeted alongside a purple devil emoji: 'Let's find out just how live Saturday Night Live really is'.

The billionaire also referred to himself as the 'Dogefather' in reference to the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, which has seen prices soar since it was first championed by Musk.

The cryptocurrency once again surged 30 percent on Tuesday, with one analyst crediting Musk's upcoming SNL gig as the reason.

'Dogecoin is surging because many cryptocurrency traders do not want to miss out on any buzz that stems from Elon Musk's hosting of Saturday Night Live,' Edward Moya, a senior market analyst at Oanda, said.

Gang's all here! Elon and Grimes were joined at dinner by SNL funnyman Pete Davidson (L) and SNL producer Lindsay Shookus (R), who've both made headlines for their respective celebrity flings

SNL star's Colin Jost, Kenan Thompson, Ego Nwodim and Chloe Fineman (left to right) were all spotted arriving at the dinner with Musk on Tuesday night

SNL star Chris Redd (left) and producer Steve Higgins (right) were also spotted attending the dinner with Musk

Musk has also repeatedly tweeted out suggestions for SNL skits that he could take part in while on the show.

He tweeted about his desire for a Godfather-style SNL sketch about the trendy cryptocurrency Dogecoin asking fans: 'Is Doge your number one choice? We'll see...'

The thrice-divorced father-of-six also tweeted about a 'Baby Shark Tank' skit.

It is not yet clear if those sketches will become a reality.

Cast members Michael Che and Pete Davidson have since publicly expressed excitement over Musk hosting - despite a wave of controversy about the decision.

'He's the richest man in the world, how could you not be excited for that?' Che told Late Night with Seth Myers.

Davidson, ahead of his dinner with Musk, joked to Meyers that he was going to ask the billionaire for a free Tesla.

When asked if he would go to space for Musk, or even smoke a joint with him, Davidson responded: '100,000 percent'.

'That guy's a genius. I don't know why people are freaking out. They're like, ''I can't believe that Elon Musk is hosting.'' And I'm like, ''The guy that makes the Earth better kind of, makes cool things and sends people to Mars?'',' he said.

Davidson, himself, has been the subject of controversy after it emerged he broke COVID-19 quarantine rules in the UK after flying to visit his Bridgerton star girlfriend Phoebe Dynevor.

Grimes, who was born Claire Elise Boucher, showcased her eccentric style in a white knit hat, goggle-style shades, a purple top, and 'Human' leggings

Ready to entertain? Only time will tell if the SNL writers and producers will also get on board with Musk's ideas about The Dogefather and Baby Shark Tank

Still going strong! Elon and Grimes (born Claire Elise Boucher) originally bonded over Twitter before making their official red carpet debut as a couple at the Met Gala in May 2018

Incognito: The pop experimentalist - who just signed with Columbia Records -showcased her eccentric style in a white knit hat, goggle-style shades, a purple top, and 'Human' leggings

Musk and his girlfriend's dinner date came on the same day they celebrated their son X  A-Xii's first birthday. Elon was seen with their little boy earlier in the day (above)

Musk reiterated his desire for a Godfather-style sketch about the trendy cryptocurrency Dogecoin asking fans, 'Is Doge your number one choice? We'll see...'

Earworm: The thrice-divorced father-of-six was so excited about a 'Baby Shark Tank' skit he dreamed up last Saturday that he started singing the infectious 2016 children's song

Grammy nominee Miley Cyrus, who will be SNL's musical guest, tagged Elon in a supportive message on Tuesday following the controversy about him hosting.

The pop diva - who boasts 236.9M social media followers - wrote in the caption: 'Imma keep workin' from dawn to dusk so I can keep buyin' cars off @ElonMusk,'n.

'See you soon dude!'

Despite the controversy about having him host the show, the Tesla CEO told TMZ he felt 'good' about it considering he's watched the NBC sketch show since he was in college in the nineties.

When asked if he could perform any impersonations, Elon scoffed: 'I don't know. Do I seem like an actor?'

It comes after several SNL cast members took thinly veiled swipes about having Musk host the show.

After Musk initially tweeted he wanted to find out how live SNL really was, Bowen Yan wrote on his Instagram story: 'What the f*** does this even mean?'

Aidy Bryant put up an Instagram story quoting a March 25 tweet from Senator Bernie Sanders about the 'moral obscenity' of the '50 wealthiest people owning more than 165M Americans'.

Following the controversy, a source told Page Six last Friday that 'No cast members have pulled out of the show yet' as a result of Musk's hosting gig.

'SNL boss Lorne Michaels won't ever make cast members do anything they don't want to do...Whether you like him or not, Elon is a very interesting character. He's very much a showman.'

When the industrial designer wisecracked, 'Let's find out how live Saturday Night Live really is' - Bowen Yang Instastoried: 'What the f*** does this even mean?'
Married At First Sight wrapped the eighth season of the show just weeks ago.

And it seems TV bride Beck Zemek is intent on not wasting her 15 minutes of fame as she reached out to companies to help her organise her upcoming birthday in an Instagram Story post she shared on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old, who was 'married' former AFL star Jake Edwards on the show, used the social media platform to make a public call out to party companies.

Shameless: Married At First Sight's Beck Zemek has shamelessly put a call out for party companies to 'DM' her and help organise her upcoming birthday

She shared an upside down photo of herself looking very glamorous as she posed with a wine glass.

In the caption, the Perth-based former bride wrote: 'It's my birthday in two weeks, any party hire companies/balloon garland twisters out there please DM ME!

'Let's make this big,' she added to her call out to her more than 69,000 followers.

It comes after Beck was recently roasted for putting her newly gained Instagram popularity to use by promoting a skin therapy mask.

Shameless call out! She shared an upside down photo of herself looking very glamorous as she posed with a wine glass. In the caption, the Perth-based former bride wrote: 'It's my birthday in two weeks, any party hire companies/balloon garland twisters out there please DM ME!

Beauty duty: It comes after Beck was recently roasted for putting her newly gained Instagram popularity to use by promoting a skin therapy mask

Cheeky! Laughing off the sponsored post, her co-star Sam Carraro cheekily commented: 'Is that a welding mask, Beck?'

As she uploaded a video of herself spruiking the product with LED lights, Rebecca candidly discussed her battle with acne.

Upon seeing her sponsored post, her co-star Sam Carraro cheekily commented: 'Is that a welding mask, Beck?'

Beck remains to be one of the few participants from the Channel Nine experiment who is yet to officially ink a deal with an influencer agency.

The next It couple? Beck remains to be one of the few MAFS yet to ink a deal with an influencer agency. Her co-stars Johnny Balbuziente and Kerry Knight signed with talent agent Benji Hart (right) last week

Daily Mail Australia recently revealed that six participants have already signed with management and PR firms following the finale.

Johnny Balbuziente and Kerry Knight, both 30, are being represented by Benji Hart's THE.mgmt.

The couple shared announced the news in an Instagram post last week, sharing a selfie with the popular talent agent.

Management: Perth-based musician Booka Nile, who failed to find love with Brett Helling, is also represented by THE.mgmt

Signing on: Meanwhile, Melbourne fashion designer Sam Carraro (left) and FIFO worker Chris Jensen (right) will be represented by talent agent Max Markson

Perth-based musician Booka Nile, who failed to find love with Brett Helling, is also represented by THE.mgmt.

Melbourne fashion designer Sam Carraro and FIFO worker Chris Jensen are being repped by Max Markson.

Max is known to have inked major sponsorship deals for the likes of Sam Ball, Jessika Power and many other reality stars.

Meanwhile, Liam Cooper will be represented by an independent agent.
She's usually seen wearing designer gowns and opulent accessories.

But MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong, 39, swapped her signature glamour for a more sporty style as she posed in activewear for Prevention magazine's 100th issue this month.

Appearing on the magazine's cover, the 39-year-old looked effortlessly chic as she modelled a vibrant red crop top and matching high-waisted leggings.

Chic and sporty! MasterChef Australia judge Melissa Leong, 39, looked effortlessly stylish as she posed in vibrant activewear on the cover Prevention magazine's 100th issue this month

She completed her look with an oversized white-and-blue jacket and a series of gold rings.

The age-defying glamazon wore her brunette locks down in loose waves, and painted her face with a subtle application of foundation, blush and rust-toned lipstick.

Posting to Instagram on Wednesday, Melissa uploaded a picture of the magazine alongside a gushing caption about how proud she felt to be Prevention's covergirl.

Proud: Posting to Instagram on Wednesday, Melissa uploaded a picture of the magazine alongside a gushing caption about how proud she felt to be Prevention's covergirl

'Thank you @preventionaus for having me on the cover this month,' she cooed.

'It's very out of my comfort zone in many ways, but as the ever wise @stylebydeni reminded me: the bigger picture is more important than any self consciousness,' Melissa said.

Melissa, who has Chinese-Singaporean heritage, also explained the cultural significance of her Prevention cover.

Represented: Melissa, who has Chinese-Singaporean heritage, also explained the cultural significance of her Prevention cover, writing: 'Representation matters, and to be an Asian on a magazine cover anywhere in the world right now matters now more than ever'

'Representation matters, and to be an Asian on a magazine cover anywhere in the world right now matters now more than ever,' she explained.

She completed her post with the hashtags: #diversitymatters, #stopasianhate, and #masterchefau.

Melissa is an outspoken advocate for diversity within the fashion and beauty industry, having recently accused a company of 'whitewashing' a traditional Chinese skincare tool called gua sha.

Posting to Instagram Stories, the food journalist uploaded a post from a beauty company advertising the tool with a white model.

Furious: Melissa is an outspoken advocate for diversity within the fashion and beauty industry, having recently accused a company of 'whitewashing' a traditional Chinese skincare tool called gua sha

'Yep. It's just a 'skin fitness tool'. Let's not talk about the cultural and medical significance of gua sha (in this case) in Chinese or Asian culture or how much we largely ignore appropriation in the beauty industry,' she began.

In a second post on Instagram Stories, she included a link to an article which appeared on UK Glamour magazine titled 'How wellness got whitewashed'.

Melissa urged her followers to read it 'if you want to know more about why us women of colour feel this way'.

'Even though we're all aware that appropriating cornrows, feathered headdresses and bindis is abjectly wrong, when appropriation veers into the wellness sphere, we just seem to care less,' wrote author Anita Bhagwandas.

She added: 'Don't be that basic wellness b***h - you should care.'
Chezzi Denyer recently welcomed daughter, Sunday.

And the 41-year-old revealed the reality of motherhood as she sat in her car breastfeeding the infant on Thursday.

Taking to Instagram, Chezzi showed herself makeup free on the school run as she cradled the adorable little one.

Parent: Chezzi Denyer (pictured) has revealed the reality of motherhood as she breastfed her daughter Sunday at school drop-off on Wednesday

'I'm just a Mum, trying to breastfeed my hungry baby in my car, at School drop off, with Bluey blaring through the speakers,' she began.

Chezzi went on to comedically describe how her baby's bottom was accidentally pressing on the horn.

'[I'm] blissfully unaware that my horn is continuously being pressed by my babies bottom, wondering why everyone keeps turning and staring at me.'

'I'm just a Mum, trying to breastfeed my hungry baby in my car, at School drop off, with Bluey blaring through the speakers,' she began. Pictured here with Sunday and Scout, five

She finished: 'Hello this is my Tuesday....'

Chezzi has three children: Sailor, Scout and youngest, Sunday.

The Denyers recently moved into Chezzi's parents' home in Bathurst as their house undergoes renovations.

Three little ones: Chezzi and Denyer are parents to three children: Scout, Sailor and Sunday

The renos were were supposed to take place last year but were postponed due to Covid-19 and Chezzi's unexpected pregnancy.

Chezzi revealed the couple's living situation on Instagram back in March.

'The reno was put on hold during lockdown and then started back up in June, and then we discovered I was pregnant,' she wrote.

Changes: The Denyers recently moved into Chezzi's parents' home in Bathurst as their house undergoes renovations

'Since we started in June last year, we've had record amounts of rain, bogged work vehicles, more rain and a mouse plague problem. It's been fun!'

Chezzi explained she was moving her three daughters and two dogs into her parents' home without Grant's help, as he was away filming at the time.

'My poor parents - three kids and two dogs and hopefully not a box full of mice LOL! Packing after limited sleep due to a new baby is an interesting affair,' she wrote.




Unionized workers at Renault Samsung Motors Corp., the South Korean unit of Renault S.A., said Wednesday they will continue to walk out unless the management rolls back its decision to close its sole plant here.







Renault Samsung on Tuesday shut down its sole plant in Busan, 450 kilometers south of Seoul, as the 1,900-strong union extended its strike for the third consecutive working day.







The union and the management have held nine rounds of wage negotiations but failed to narrow their differences over wages and working conditions for the year of 2020.







The strike came as the automaker struggled with falling sales.







From January to April, Renault Samsung's sales fell 24 percent to 31,412 vehicles from 41,477 units in the same period of last year due mainly to a lack of new models.







The strikes make it more difficult for the company to secure further production volume of the XM3 SUV for export to Europe.







In January, Renault Samsung entered emergency management after reporting an operating loss of 70 billion won in 2019 for the first time in eight years. It announced its plans to cut the number of executives by 40 percent and their pay by 20 percent. It also offered a voluntary retirement program to all employees.







Its current passenger car lineup includes the all-electric SM3 Z.E. sedan, the SM6 sedan, the XM3 SUV and the QM6 SUV. (Yonhap)


Sean Penn and his 29-year-old wife Leila George, who he wed in secret last summer after four years of dating, stepped out for a romantic dinner on Tuesday.

As the loving couple prepared to enjoy a meal at an eatery in Malibu, they sported matching black t-shirts and dark-wash jeans.

While the 60-year-old two-time Oscar winner accessorized his look with a green bomber jacket and sneakers, George rocked a structured jacket and black booties.

Matching outfits: Sean Penn and his wife Leila George, who he wed in a secret ceremony last August ceremony after four years of dating, stepped out for a romantic dinner on Tuesday

Penn kept his mouth and nose covered under a protective face mask, which featured the logo of his non-profit organization CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort).

Meanwhile, his stunning spouse, the daughter of actor Vincent D'Onofrio and actress Greta Scacchi, wore her long blonde hair in loose waves for a touch of Hollywood glamour.

Over the weekend, they attended the highly-anticipated Global Citizen Vax Live: The Concert To Reunite The World.

Happy couple: As the loving couple prepared to enjoy a meal together at an eatery in Malibu, they sported matching black t-shirts and dark-wash denim bottoms

The star-studded concert, hosted by Selena Gomez with performances by Jennifer Lopez, Eddie Vedder, and more, was held at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

He was scheduled to make an appearance on stage, along with Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, David Letterman, Gayle King, Jimmy Kimmel, Nomzamo Mbatha and Olivia Munn.

Global Citizen's Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World is, 'celebrating the hope that COVID-19 vaccines are offering families and communities around the world.'

Date night: Penn and Leila were both spotted attending the highly-anticipated Global Citizen Vax Live: The Concert To Reunite The World on Sunday

The official Global Citizen website, also reveals, 'We are calling on world leaders to step up to make sure vaccines are accessible for all so we can end the pandemic for everyone, everywhere.'

Penn recently started production on Gaslit alongside Julia Roberts and Dan Stevens, who replaced the controversial Armie Hammer after his alleged sexual misconduct/cannibalism scandal came to light.

He also has Flag Day in post-production, which he not only stars in alongside Josh Brolin and Miles Teller, but also directs.

The actor is also attached to star in Black Flies alongside Tye Sheridan.
She's the outspoken star from The Block who is never afraid to speak her mind on her morning radio show.

So it's no surprise that Jess Eva gave a bouncer a mouthful a couple of weeks ago, after her husband Norm was refused entry to a Sydney bar for wearing thongs - while she got in sporting a pair of UGG boots and a tracksuit.

Recalling the tale with her co-hosts on Triple M's Moonman in the Morning on Friday, the 36-year old started: 'A couple of weeks ago, I was at The Bayview [Hotel] in Gladesville...'

Fuming: On Wednesday, Jess Eva revealed she gave a bouncer a mouthful a couple of weeks ago after her husband Norm was refused entry to a Sydney bar for wearing thongs

After revealing the pair had arrived at around 11:30pm, Jess continued: 'I got in, with some track pants and UGG Boots - the good ones, the black UGG Boots, I'm not an animal.

'Norm was wearing his thongs, and they wouldn't let him in. He was looking nice, he had a shirt on!'

Not quite believing that her partner was being refused entry, Jess continued through laughter: 'I said to the bouncer "are you joking?" and he was like, "nah, he's not coming in."

Not happy! Not quite believing that Norm was being refused entry, Jess continued through laughter: 'I said to the bouncer "are you joking?" and he was like, "nah, he's not coming in." Pictured: Jess and Norm on The Block

'I looked at the bouncer like - come on! Norm was like... come on, we're going!'

A manager at The Bayview Hotel later told Daily Mail Australia: We know Jess and Norm as they are semi regular customers and we enjoy having them here.

I cant be certain of the exact circumstances surrounding Norms refusal, but we have a dress code on the busier weekend nights, so It may have been his overall appearance on the night.

I hope Jess and Norm are happy to return to the venue.

Rise to fame! Jess and Norm became household names after starring on the 2018 season of The Block

Many bars have a house rule that bans the wearing of thongs in a bar, and it's reasonable to expect refusal of entry as long as no anti-discrimination laws are breached.

Jess and Norm became household names after starring in the 2018 season of The Block, and share son Fred, six, and daughter Matilda, four, together.

During the show's finale, the couple sold their apartment at auction for $2,859,000, making a tidy profit of $209,000.
Pete Davidson joked Tuesday that he was going to ask Elon Musk for a Tesla upon meeting him before they were later spotted together in New York City.

The 27-year-old comedian was asked during an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers if had met Elon, 49, who will be hosting the upcoming episode of Saturday Night Live.

'I haven't met him yet. I'm having dinner with him tonight and Lorne,' said Pete, referencing SNL creator and producer Lorne Michaels, 76.

Tesla request: Pete Davidson joked Tuesday that he was going to ask Elon Musk for a Tesla upon meeting him before they were later spotted together in New York City

'So I will meet him. I'm really excited. I'm going to ask him for a Tesla or some s***,' Pete joked.

'Yeah, why not?,' Seth, 47, agreed.

'Be like, ''Hey, Mother's Day is coming up. My mom, you know, it would be cool...'',' Pete said.

Seth asked Pete if he would feel obligated to give the Tesla to his mother after implying it was for her.

Show host: Elon, 49, will host the upcoming episode of Saturday Night Live and went out to dinner Tuesday with the cast

Casual style: Pete kept it casual for dinner with the billionaire

Good one: 'So I will meet him. I'm really excited. I'm going to ask him for a Tesla or some s***,' Pete joked on the NBC talk show before meeting Elon

Hosting gig: The SpaceX and Tesla leader will host SNL with Miley Cyrus as musical guest

'Well, I would disguise it as a gift for my mom, so he gives it and then, as soon as she drives it once or twice, I would take it,' Pete quipped.

Seth asked Pete if he would go to space if Elon asked him and he answered, '100 percent'.

'Would you get stoned with him if he asked you?,' Seth followed up.

Warm welcome: Pete received a warm welcome as he joined the NBC talk show

Elbow bumps: Seth and Pete bumped elbows amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

Disguised gift: 'Well, I would disguise it as a gift for my mom, so he gives it and then, as soon as she drives it once or twice, I would take it,' Pete quipped about the Tesla he wanted

'100,000 percent. That guy's a genius. I don't know why people are freaking out. They're like, ''I can't believe that Elon Musk is hosting.'' And I'm like, ''The guy that makes the Earth better kind of, makes cool things and sends people to Mars?'',' Pete replied.

Pete wore a Late Night With Seth Meyers cap, blue sweatshirt and purple sweatpants while out for dinner with Elon who was joined by his Canadian art-pop musician girlfriend Grimes, with whom he has a one-year-old son X  A-Xii.

SNL producer Lindsay Shookus, 40, also joined the crew for dinner.

SNL producer: SNL producer Lindsay Shookus, 40, also joined the crew for dinner

More pals: Colin Jost, Chloe Fineman, Kenan Thompson, Ego Nwodim, Chris Redd and show producer Steve Higgins were also seen leaving together

Elon will host Saturday Night Live with Miley Cyrus, 28, as the musical guest.

Amid backlash over his appearance on SNL, the mogul told Page Six, it was 'much ado about nothing.'

He also agreed everyone was 'friendly and willing to work with him'.

British model and actress Jodie Turner-Smith, 34, also appeared on Late Night With Seth Meyers and told about meeting her husband Joshua Jackson, 42, for the first time.

Jodie was promoting her new movie Without Remorse that was released last week on Prime Video.

British actress: British model and actress Jodie Turner-Smith, 34, also appeared on Late Night With Seth Meyers and told about meeting her husband Joshua Jackson, 42, for the first time
She made a name for herself on this year's season of Married At First Sight.

But this former reality star was completely unrecognisable before finding fame on the hit Channel Nine reality show.

While she's been open about her surgically enhanced curves, she shared some rare pre-surgery pics to her Instagram account on Wednesday.

Changing faces: She made a name for herself on this year's season of Married At First Sight. But this former reality star was completely unrecognisable before finding fame

It's Alana Lister, with the former Married At First Sight star displaying a noticeably flatter chest in the throwback pictures.

The bombshell became known for her raunchy antics with 'husband' Jason Engler on the most recent season of Married At First Sight.

And Alana gave her Instagram followers an eyeful over the weekend as she celebrated her 31st birthday on the Gold Coast.

Now and then: While she's been open about her surgically enhanced curves, she shared some rare pre-surgery pics to her Instagram account on Wednesday

The former reality star slipped her curves into a figure-hugging blue dress, which featured a plunging neckline and daring cut-outs.

Alana seemed quite pleased with her outfit choice as she did a little wiggle in front of the mirror.

The stunning frock highlighted her surgically enhanced cleavage and trim pins.

Beauty: Alana opted for a glossy makeup palette, and wore her caramel tresses in loose waves

She paired the outfit with nude heels, opted for a glossy makeup palette, and wore her caramel tresses in loose waves.

It comes after Alana answered one of the questions she gets asked the most: what exactly is her ethnicity?

She revealed during an Instagram Q&A on Thursday that she is Sino-Mauritian, or a Mauritian of Chinese descent.

Statuesque: Alana seemed quite pleased with her outfit choice as she did a little wiggle in front of the mirror

Alana explained her father is Chinese and her mother is South African, and that she was born in Mauritius before moving to Australia as a child.

Mauritius is an island nation about 2,000 kilometres east of Africa in the Indian Ocean.

'This one gets asked all the time. My mum is South African and my dad is Chinese, but my family is from Mauritius,' Alana told fans.

Background: Alana revealed during an Instagram Q&A on Thursday that she is Sino-Mauritian, or a Mauritian of Chinese descent

'So we grew up in Mauritius. That's where my mum and dad met, because South Africa is really close to Mauritius.

'My older sister, she started primary school there, and then we all moved over to Australia. So we are Sino-Mauritian.'

Alana was born Sinead Chong and went by this name throughout primary and high school, Daily Mail Australia revealed in February.

Family: Alana (seen on her second birthday) explained her father is Chinese and her mother is South African, and that she was born in Mauritius before moving to Australia as a child

She changed her name to Alana Lister after graduating in 2009, and began to overhaul her appearance with cosmetic enhancements around this time.

Alana's name change was supposedly inspired by Brisbane street artist Anthony Lister, whose work she admired.

Some friends noticed her name could be shortened to 'A. Lister' and joked that she may have been planning to become famous.
She's the Married At First Sight stunner who is never afraid to push boundaries when it comes to fashion.

But on Wednesday, Jessika Power appeared to suffer a very awkward wardrobe malfunction as she posed for photos with a glass of wine in Byron Bay.

The newly single beauty, 29, posed in a sheer white blouse while enjoying a glass of red wine - yet didn't appear to notice that her nipple was visible underneath.

Feeling nippy? On Wednesday, Jessika Power appeared to suffer a very awkward wardrobe malfunction as she posed for photos with a glass of wine in Byron Bay

'Jessika, the wine is for the photo - you arent supposed to drink it,' the outspoken starlet captioned the string of snaps.

The photo shoot comes after Jessika recently revealed she is ready to take a second chance at marriage by appearing on the British version of the reality show.

Speaking to the Erasing the Bar podcast, the blonde beauty admitted she was keen to appear on the upcoming UK season.

Whoops! The newly single beauty, 29, posed in a sheer white blouse while enjoying a glass of red wine - yet didn't appear to notice that her nipple was visible underneath

Sassy lassy: 'Jessika, the wine is for the photo - you arent supposed to drink it,' the outspoken starlet captioned the string of snaps

Making a comeback? Jessika recently revealed she is ready to take a second chance at marriage by appearing on the British version of the social experiment

'100 per cent I would,' she responded when asked if she'd like to join the series.

Jessika - who infamously cheated on her 'husband' Mick Gould with co-star Dan Webb during her season of MAFS - also hinted she might be interested in starring on the UK's Celebs Go Dating too.

The British version of Married At First Sight recently got a revamp to emulate the dramatic format of the Australian series.

'100 per cent I would': Speaking to the Erasing the Bar podcast, Jessika admitted she was keen to appear on the upcoming UK season

The fifth season began filming last month, with Australian relationship expert Mel Schilling joining the panel.

The TV star and dating guru, 49, came over to the UK to match British singletons after appearing on eight successful seasons Down Under.

She said the new season will bring more drama than ever and that things will 'kick off' as she teased an 'Australian-style' version of the series.

Icon: Jessika infamously cheated on her 'husband' Mick Gould with co-star Dan Webb during her season of Married At First Sight Australia

'Honestly, I was so excited meeting them all and let me tell you a little secret, they are not going to disappoint,' she said.

'They all have their own very unique story to tell and I cannot wait for you all to fall in love with them.

'The couples will soon be tying the knot, so the process is really starting to kick off! E4 and UK watch out  it's going to be one not to miss.'

Married At First Sight UK will air on E4 later this year, but an exact premiere date is yet to be revealed.
Former Bachelor star Tara Pavlovic welcomed her first child last week.

And on Wednesday, she shared some adorable videos of the newborn baby boy to Instagram.

In one clip, little Paddy George was stretching and yawning after a nap.

Baby joy: On Wednesday, Tara Pavlovic shared some adorable videos of the newborn baby boy to Instagram

'Big stretches after a big sleep,' Tara wrote, before adding: 'Because God forbid we put him to sleep in his [bassinet].'

She later took the tiny tot out to the doctor to get weighed, but made sure to stop at a KFC drive-thru on the way there first.

Tara welcomed her baby son Paddy with husband Nick Shepherdson on Friday.

So cute: In one clip, little Paddy George was stretching and yawning after a nap

Earlier this week, the 30-year-old revealed she had taken her little one home from the hospital and that he's doing well.

'Thank you everyone, we are very happy and healthy over here,' she said in an Instagram Stories video where she cuddled her newborn.

She added: 'This guy is going to cry for milk any minute, he loves it.'

Home: Tara (pictured) welcomed her baby son Paddy with husband Nick Shepherdson on Friday

Tara said the birth, 'went well. I am as good as someone who squeezed a baby out of their vagina can possibly be. It's sore but I'm good'.

The former reality star shared the good news of Paddy's arrival in an Instagram post on Sunday, sharing a sweet photo of her newborn son.

She wrote in the caption: 'Welcome to the world Paddy George Shepherdson.

Sweet: 'Thank you everyone, we are very happy and healthy over here,' she said in an Instagram Stories video where she cuddled her newborn

'Words can't describe how beyond in love we are with you. We are so grateful that you arrived happy and healthy and we will love and protect you forever.'

In the image, little Paddy lays alongside an ornate plaque that reveals he was born on April 30, at 2.26pm, weighing in at 3.505 kilos and at a height of 52cm long - with the tot having arrived slightly earlier than expected.

Tara revealed she was expecting her first child in October, only a month after she and Nick had married.

Happy days: Tara and her husband Nick Shepherdson (left) shared the good news of Paddy's arrival in an Instagram post earlier on Sunday, sharing a sweet photo of her newborn son

She wrote in the caption: ' Welcome to the world Paddy George Shepherdson. Words can't describe how beyond in love we are with you. We are so grateful'

She shared a drone clip of the happy couple sitting on a beach while spraying Champagne, with the words written in sand: 'Baby Shep due May 2021.'

Tara and Nick tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in September 2020, after being forced to postpone their wedding in April due to the pandemic.

The beauty rose to fame on Matty 'J' Johnson's season of The Bachelor in 2017.
She's been soaking up the sun in Miami and the Caribbean in recent months.

And Kimberley Garner was flaunting her enviable physique yet again as she shared a slew of sizzling bikini snaps to her Instagram on Wednesday.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, showcased her tanned and toned figure in a skimpy brown two-piece as she posed up a storm at her swanky hotel in Miami.

Incredible: Kimberley Garner was flaunting her enviable physique yet again as she shared a slew of sizzling bikini snaps to her Instagram on Wednesday

Peachy: Kimberley wore her light tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for bronzed dewy makeup to show off her tanned glow

The blonde beauty looked incredible in the swimwear which had high rise straps and a halter neck design as she fixed the camera with a sultry stare.

Kimberley wore her light tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for bronzed dewy makeup to show off her tanned glow.

The swimwear designer kept her accessories minimal to keep attention on her lithe figure but did wear a delicate gold chain necklace.

Amazing: The former Made In Chelsea star, 30, showcased her tanned and toned figure in a skimpy brown two-piece as she posed up a storm at her swanky hotel in Miami

Wow: The blonde beauty looked incredible in the swimwear which had high rise straps and a halter neck design as she fixed the camera with a sultry stare

Kimberley jetted to the Caribbean after flying to out Miami with her boyfriend in late December, after spending Christmas in Barbados and is now back in Florida.

But it hasn't all been carefree partying as she took to Instagram to defend herself from backlash over her international travel.

The TV star said she jetted out of the UK on December 14  a week before London moved into Tier 4  to 'check on my apartment'.

Details: The swimwear designer kept her accessories minimal to keep attention on her lithe figure but did wear a delicate gold chain necklace

The London native said at the time: 'I bought my place here this time two years ago.

'It was a massive achievement, still really can't believe it sometimes. I run a business - I'm not an influencer.

'I am here, but I am very very strict still. I see people in Tulum and all over going to parties and it doesn't feel right to me.

'I haven't been out to any parties and turned down invites from friends as feel it's just not right to be in a crowd - it's not OK at the moment.

'I'm really lucky to be in the sun and outdoors, and am valuing that totally, but not going to live normally as it's not a normal world at the moment.

'I really think and feel for everyone home at the moment, it really sucks, please be brave, please be kind to each other.'
She's known for her vibrant personality on MasterChef Australia.

And while she's a food journalist by trade, judge Melissa Leong, 39, has revealed the creepy term she's been called in the past.

In a teaser trailer for Wednesday night's episode, the remaining cooks are seen scurrying around the MasterChef kitchen.

That's different! MasterChef judge Melissa Leong [pictured] has revealed the creepy term she's been called in the past

As Melissa informs them they only have a limited amount of time on the clock to complete their dishes, she's acknowledged with a chorus of 'Yes Chefs'.

It wasn't long before she awkwardly reminded them, 'Im not a chef.'

In between a chuckle, she then cheekily blurted out: 'Just dont say "yes mum" which Ive heard before.'

This comes after Melissa graced the cover of Prevention for their 100th issue.

For the cover shoot, she swapped her signature glamourous looks for a more sporty style as she posed in activewear.

Chic and sporty! This comes after Melissa graced the cover of Prevention for their 100th issue

She looked effortlessly chic as she modelled a vibrant red crop top and matching high-waisted leggings.

Melissa completed her outfit with an oversized white-and-blue jacket and a series of gold rings.

The age-defying glamazon wore her brunette locks down in loose waves, and painted her face with a subtle application of foundation, blush and rust-toned lipstick.

Posting to Instagram on Wednesday, Melissa uploaded a picture of the magazine alongside a gushing caption about how proud she felt to be Prevention's cover girl.

Proud: Posting to Instagram on Wednesday, Melissa uploaded a picture of the magazine alongside a gushing caption about how proud she felt to be Prevention's covergirl

'Thank you @preventionaus for having me on the cover this month,' she cooed.

'It's very out of my comfort zone in many ways, but as the ever wise @stylebydeni reminded me: the bigger picture is more important than any self consciousness,' Melissa said.

Melissa, who has Chinese-Singaporean heritage, also explained the cultural significance of her Prevention cover.

Represented: Melissa, who has Chinese-Singaporean heritage, also explained the cultural significance of her Prevention cover, writing: 'Representation matters, and to be an Asian on a magazine cover anywhere in the world right now matters now more than ever'

'Representation matters, and to be an Asian on a magazine cover anywhere in the world right now matters now more than ever,' she explained.

She completed her post with the hashtags: #diversitymatters, #stopasianhate, and #masterchefau.

MasterChef Australia continues Wednesday at 7.30pm on Channel 10
She has a slew of films due for release in the coming months including Big Gold Brick and Till Death.

And Megan Fox looked nothing short of sensational as she shared a series of snaps of herself donning a skintight sheer top on Tuesday.

The actress, 34, showcased her modelling skills as she fixed the camera with a sultry stare while also sporting a pair of black leather trousers.

Stunning: Megan Fox looked nothing short of sensational as she shared a series of snaps of herself donning a skintight sheer top on Tuesday

The Transformers star styled her brunette locks into a ponytail and added to her look with a smoky eye.

The mother-of-three posed in front of a pink and purple cloud background with a halo above her head.

Alongside the snap, Megan wrote in upside down font: 'A case of mistaken identity'.

It comes after the first stills from Megan's upcoming thriller Midnight In The Switchgrass were released on Friday.

Looking good: The Transformers star styled her brunette locks into a ponytail and added to her look with a smokey eye

The actress stars alongside Bruce Willis in the film along with her boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly whom she met for the first time on the set back in March of 2020.

Megan, who plays Bruce's partner in the film, sits down with him for some coffee in a more low-key image from the production.

Karl Helter (Bruce) and Rebecca Lombardi (Megan) are in the midst of an investigation to break up a sex-trafficking ring in Texas when they find their investigation intersecting with the path of a notorious Texas serial killer, known in real life as the Truck Stop Killer.

In order to track down the serial murderer, they team up with Texas Ranger Byron Crawford, played by Once Upon A Time In Hollywood's Emile Hirsch, who has been on the killer's tail for years.

First look: It comes after the first stills from Megan's upcoming thriller Midnight In The Switchgrass were released on Friday (pictured with co-star Bruce Willis)

Chilling: They star as FBI agents who run across a serial killer's trail while trying to break up a sex-trafficking ring in the creepy crime film

Helping hand: They team up with Texas Ranger Byron Crawford, played by Once Upon A Time In Hollywood's Emile Hirsch, who has been on the killer's tail for years

But Bruce and Emile's characters are forced to kick their investigation into high gear after Fox's agent is kidnapped by the killer, leaving them with little time to find her alive.

Although the killer in the film is inspired by the Truck Stop Killer Robert Ben Rhoades, the film has little connection to the real case, and Rhoades never abducted an FBI agent.

Rhoades is currently serving a life sentence without parole after being convicted of murdering three women, though he may have slain more than fifty women during his active years.

Lukas Haas is also featured in the film, as is Orange Is The New Black's Jackie Cruz.

New love: Not featured in the first batch of film stills was Megan's boyfriend, rapper and rocker Machine Gun Kelly, 31, whose credited in the film by his given name, Colson Baker

Not featured in the first batch of film stills was Megan's boyfriend, rapper and rocker Machine Gun Kelly, 31, whose credited in the film by his given name, Colson Baker.

Megan has seemingly been inseparable from the rapper since the start of their relationship.

She recently shared a short clip of herself jumping into MGK's arms while at UFC 261, the first indoor sporting event to allow full attendance since the start of the pandemic.

Megan was previously married to Beverly Hills, 90210 star Brian Austin Green from 2010 until their separation last year.

The former couple share three sons, Noah, eight, Bodhi, seven, and Journey, four.
Coronation Street's Nina Lucas star Mollie Gallagher has said she 'wanted to cry' after seeing her character's injuries following a horrific hate crime attack.

On Wednesday's episode, Nina and her boyfriend Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni) are attacked by a gang of thugs who shout abuse about the character's goth identity.

The storyline has many similarities to what happened to Sophie Lancaster, who was murdered in a Lancashire park in 2007, and the soap has worked with a foundation set up by the late 20-year-old's mother Dr Sylvia Lancaster OBE.

Awful: Coronation Street's Nina Lucas star Mollie Gallagher has said she 'wanted to cry' after seeing her character's injuries following a horrific hate crime attack (pictured in soap still)

Hard-hitting: On Wednesday's episode, Nina and her boyfriend Seb Franklin (Harry Visinoni) are attacked by a gang of thugs who shout abuse about the character's goth identity

Talking about the hard-hitting storyline ahead of the episode, Mollie said she 'wanted to cry' after seeing her character Nina's injuries in make-up.

The actress added that she hopes to do the important scenes 'justice' and that it 'breaks her heart' knowing this has happened and does happen in real life.

Speaking to The Sun, Mollie said: 'I remember the first time I had the make-up done, I hadn't filmed any scenes yet and I'd just been rehearsing it in my mirror at home by myself. As soon as the makeup was done, I just wanted to cry.

'I remember looking at my reflection and thinking: "Wow". I already knew it was awful but when you're actually in it, I thought I could cry.

Murdered for dressing differently: Sophie Lancaster was just 20-years-old when she was murdered by a group of teenage boys in a park in Lancashire on 11 August 2007

'It was a really strange feeling. I kept thinking about all the scenes and what was coming up. It did help in a way as I was able to hold that feeling when we filmed the scenes. It was a massive help.'

Mollie added to the Mirror: 'Because this stuff has happened its such an important story to tell. I felt a lot of emotions. I am really privileged to be given such an important storyline but I am also nervous because I want to do the story justice.

'I have really put my all into it and hopefully it shows. You see the human effect this has on someone who you would say is strong. Knowing this has happened and does happen breaks my heart.'

Mollie said that she worked closely with the late Sophie Lancaster's mother Dr Sylvia Lancaster OBE to make sure she was as 'accurate' as possible during the storyline.

'Justice': Talking about the hard-hitting storyline ahead of the episode, Mollie said that she hopes to do the important scenes 'justice' (Seb pictured after the attack in soap still)

Sylvia told the publication it was 'lovely' to speak to Mollie and that people are 'looking behind' her character Nina's clothes and image.

She added: 'It so important to get the message out there, intolerance and prejudice, we have to get it out of society. Alternative people like other minorities deserve to walk down the street without being abused physically or emotionally.'

Sylvia also appeared on Wednesday's This Morning where she praised Coronation Street for handling the storyline 'sensitively'.

She said: 'You can tell, they sort of live and breathe the work they're doing, and you know they're going to do things with sensitivity and the best they can, and you can't ask any more than that.'

Sylvia said that due to Covid her foundation has not been able to go into schools or festivals but they have still 'kept busy' by 'working in a different way'.

She added: 'Sometimes it only takes a couple of seconds stand back and think about and see what we can do and make a difference to people's lives.'

Important: Mollie said that she worked closely with the late Sophie Lancaster's mother Dr Sylvia Lancaster OBE to make sure she was as 'accurate' as possible during the storyline (Sylvia pictured on Quest Red series Britain's Deadliest Kids)

Sophie and her boyfriend Robert Maltby, then 21, were set upon and beaten in a park simply because of the way they looked on 11 August in 2007.

Sophies injuries were so severe, she died in hospital 13 days later, aged 20. Ryan Herbert and Brendan Harris, then both 15, were sentenced to life in prison.

Her mum, Sylvia, set up the Sophie Lancaster Foundation in her daughter's memory to focus on creating respect and understanding of subcultures in communities.

When the storyline was first discussed producers and the research team approached Sylvia who was delighted to be able to work with them to help highlight the issue.

Corrie viewers have seen Nina and Seb have fall head over heels in love in recent weeks, but her goth identity has resulted in some prejudiced reactions.

Among those is character Corey Brent (Maximus Evans), the boyfriend of Nina's best friend Asha, he has long made his intolerance towards Nina known.

Hard-hitting: Coronation Street will tackle the issue of hate crime when characters Nina Lucas and Seb Franklin are violently attacked because of her appearance on Wednesday's episode

In the dramatic episode on Wednesday, the couple are set to be out walking when Corey and a gang of drunken mates including Kelly Neelan, corner and goad the pair.

As Corey starts hurling abuse, Kelly finds herself egged on by the crowd and slaps Nina. Seb and Nina hurry away as the gang gives chase and they find themselves subject to an unprovoked attack.

Back on the Street Abi and Kevin's hen and stag night parties are brought to an abrupt halt when the police arrive with news of the attack.

As Abi and Roy rush to the hospital to be with Seb and Nina, the police start the investigation to get to the bottom of which of the teenage gang was responsible for the vicious assault that has left the young couple with horrific injuries.

The story will draw in the street's other teenagers as Summer, Asha and Amy find themselves caught up in the aftermath as potential witnesses in the police inquiry.

Sophie's mother Sylvia said that the soap covering a story about the abuse alternative people face 'means such a huge amount' to her.

She said: 'I know first-hand the abuse, harassment and violence that alternative people suffer.

New storyline: The tough storyline will draw in the street's other teenagers and is set to pan out over the year as police try to workout who was responsible for Nina and Seb's horrific injuries

'Hate crime is usually directed at already stigmatised and minority groups and Sophie was assaulted three times before that final, sustained and brutal attack that took her life - but she never reported the earlier assaults.

'Coronation Street covering this issue means such a huge amount to me. We want alternative people to know that they shouldn't be putting up with this prejudice and intolerance, and they should report it.

'We want the wider community to really appreciate the horror of this violence and understand that difference in itself, is not frightening, it just makes us all who we are.

'We will also use this platform to continue raising awareness of Sophie's case with the police and judiciary to make sure that hate crime against alternative people is recognised and treated with the degree of severity that it deserves.'

On the importance of tackling this storyline Coronation Street, producer Iain MacLeod said: 'The issue of intolerance and hatred towards people from different cultures and subcultures is arguably more relevant now than it's ever been.

'This incredibly hard-hitting storyline, which centres on a senseless act of violence, will draw in characters from all corners of our narrative universe and will, we hope, leave the audience with a clear message: everyone, regardless of how they look, how they dress or any aspect of how they live their life, should be treated with tolerance and respect.

'The story will run across the rest of the year and beyond, with many twists and turns, and will be heartbreaking and dramatic in equal measure. In the end, the story will see an optimistic outcome emerge from the traumatic attack.'

Coronation Street continues on Wednesday evening at 7:30pm on ITV.
OB CEO Ben Verhaert poses with a bottle of Cass beer in his hand during a press conference held at Sebitseom in Seoul, March 12. Courtesy of OB



By Kim Jae-heun



The country's largest beer maker Oriental Brewery (OB) paid 400 billion won in dividends to its Belgian mother company Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) for the second consecutive year despite its poor performance affected by COVID-19.



OB is owned 100 percent by AB InBev and the entire dividend was paid to the headquarters in Leuven, Belgium.



Until last year, OB had been paying dividends once every two years. But this changed when the brewery sent 439 billion won in 2019 and 400 billion won last year.



The dividend payments have been exceeding its profits recently. OB's net profit in 2020 showed 274.3 billion won, which is 125.7 billion won lower than the 400 billion won it paid. A year earlier, the brewery remitted 58.4 billion won more in dividends than the net profit of 380.5 billion won it created.



From April 2014, when AB InBev took back OB from local private equity fund KPR for $5.8 billion, the Belgian company received a total 1.55 trillion won in dividends.



OB has been saying the amount of dividends only seems high because it was making the payments only every two years. But when it paid out for two years straight, OB said its mother company had overinvested in other acquisition deals thus necessitating the dividend for this year.



"We predict this annual dividend trend will continue for the time being," an OB official said.



AB InBev is the biggest beer maker in the world, and it acquired No. 2 player SAB Miller in 2016. The Belgian brewer borrowed a large amount of money during the acquisition deal and its debt reached 100 trillion won by last year.



OB has also been showing losses every year since 2019. Its sales and net profit last year declined by 12.2 percent and 41.6 percent year-on-year to record 1.35 trillion won and 160 billion won, respectively.



OB's main rival HiteJinro, on the other hand, is putting all its efforts into taking away the No.1 title in the market and OB is not in a position to pay high dividends to its mother company. OB has continuously held the top position here since 2012.


Former Home and Away star Lincoln Lewis has finally addressed rumours he is being considered for the role of Steve Irwin in a yet-to-be-titled upcoming biopic.

Uploading a side-by-side photo of him alongside the late conservationist, Lincoln, 33 said he was honoured to be considered for the role.

'To even be mentioned in the same sentence as that great man is an honor,' he wrote. 'Fingers crossed a biopic can happen'.

Keen for it! Australian actor Lincoln Lewis, 33, [L] finally broke his silence about rumours he's set to play Steve Irwin [R] in upcoming biopic

Lincoln, who will soon star in Christopher Sun's upcoming horror film The Possessed, alongside Angie Kent, and John Jarratt, said he is yet to audition for the role.

According to Woman's Day, the as-yet-untitled project is 'gaining momentum' in Hollywood with major studios and A-list actors said to be interested.

Movie executives are apparently drawn to the biopic because of Steve's popularity in America, where he was known for his long-running Animal Planet TV series and late-night chat show appearances in the late '90s and early '00s.

Honoured: Lincoln, who will soon star in Christopher Sun's upcoming horror film The Possessed, alongside Angie Kent, and John Jarratt, said he is yet to audition for the role

Hollywood treatment: A biopic about the late conservationist Steve 'The Crocodile Hunter' Irwin is rumoured to be in the works. Pictured here on June 26, 2002, in San Francisco

Australia is also one of the few destinations where films can be shot safely during the Covid-19 pandemic, making a biopic of a famous Australian particularly appealing.

Steve's widow, Terri, and daughter, Bindi, are said to be involved in discussions about the film, which will follow Steve's life as a zookeeper's son growing up in Queensland the 1970s to achieving global fame as the larger-than-life Crocodile Hunter.

'There's no way this project can go ahead without Terri and Bindi involved every step of the way,' a source told Woman's Day.

Work in progress: The as-yet-untitled project is 'gaining momentum' in Hollywood with major studios and A-list actors said to be interested, reports Woman's Day. Steve's widow, Terri (left), and daughter, Bindi (right), are said to be involved in discussions about the film

'Steve's international appeal, particularly to Americans, can't be ignored and this isn't the first time a project like this has been presented to [the Irwin family].'

Several names have been mentioned in connection with the film, with Marvel actor Chris Hemsworth reportedly being considered for the role of Steve.

However, Terri has allegedly said she would prefer a lesser-known Australian actor like Lincoln to portray her late husband.

Appeal: Movie executives are apparently drawn to the biopic because of Steve's popularity in America, where he was known for his long-running Animal Planet TV series and late-night chat show appearances in the late '90s and early '00s. Pictured with actor Bruce Willis in 2002

Famous face: Several names have been mentioned in connection with the film, with Marvel actor Chris Hemsworth (pictured) reportedly being considered for the role of Steve

Another candidate: However, Terri has allegedly said she would prefer a lesser-known Australian actor like Lincoln Lewis (pictured) to portray her late husband

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Australia Zoo and Animal Planet for comment.

Steve, who died in September 2006 at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a wildlife documentary in Queensland, was involved in several Hollywood films during his lifetime.

He had a cameo in Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), provided his voice for Happy Feet (2006), and starred alongside his wife in 2002's The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course.
Kayla Itsines has spoken candidly about her battle with endometriosis in a new interview for this month's issue of Australian Women's Health magazine.

Speaking to the publication, the 29-year-old celebrity fitness trainer revealed she was forced to undergo recent surgery for the condition.

'I had so many cysts burst in the 12 months leading up to that surgery,' she said in the magazine's latest issue, as reported by The Daily Telegraph.

Health issues: Kayla Itsines has spoken candidly about her battle with endometriosis in a new interview for this month's issue of Australian Women's Health magazine

'I was just glad to have my body back - just internally to feel like it's my body again. I got my first period which was a lot lighter - it wasn't an ice pack here and a heat pack there and needing to sit on the shower floor. There wasn't that big drama.'

Kayla added that she's now in less pain as a result of the surgery, and added: 'It's just different, it's way better.'

Endometriosis is a condition where the tissue that lines the inside of a woman's uterus grows on the outside.

Road to recovery: Speaking to the publication, the 29-year-old fitness queen revealed she was forced to undergo recent surgery for the condition. Pictured with daughter Arna

It often causes severe pain, menstrual irregularities and can lead to infertility, and it's sometimes treated with surgery.

The multimillionaire is a mum to a two-year-old daughter, Arna, who she shares with her ex-fiance, Tobi Pearce.

Kayla previously spoke about her battle with endometriosis in an open editorial for Cosmopolitan magazine in March.

'I had so many cysts burst in the 12 months leading up to that surgery,' she said in the magazine's latest issue

'Every month I still suffered debilitating cramps, nausea, and heavy bleeding,' she said at the time.

'What used to be several excruciating but bearable days each month turned into cancelling plans with friends and family and missing work.

'When my period arrived, all I could do was lie in bed and wait for it to be over.'
Charlotte Crosby stepped out in Newcastle on Wednesday as she was seen for the first time since Channel 5 pulled an 'appalling' documentary about her looks.

The reality star, 31, put on an animated display as she was reunited with Geordie Shore co-stars Scotty T and James Tindale to head to a studio to record her new podcast.

Charlotte looked in high spirits despite breaking down last week and slamming Channel 5 bosses for the 'immoral and insensitive' documentary about her changing appearance.

Moving on: Charlotte Crosby stepped out in Newcastle on Wednesday as she was seen for the first time since Channel 5 took down a documentary about her plastic surgery

The star looked casual in a tight olive-green leggings and a white crop top as she chatted and laughed with her friends.

She wore a green shirt over the midriff-baring top and completed the look with white socks and sandals.

Charlotte wore her dark tresses in a poker straight style and opted for a typically glamorous makeup look.

Stepping out: The star looked casual in a tight olive-green leggings and a white crop top as she chatted and laughed with her friends

Pals: She looked like she was having a great time as she larked around with the boys who even picked her up and carried her at one point

She looked like she was having a great time as she larked around with the boys who even picked her up and carried her at one point.

James and Scotty T were loving life during the reunion.

James' appearance comes amid his participation in the It's Gone Viral Mental Health campaign where has partnered with numerous familiar faces including Cara Delahoyde and Dan Spragg.

There will be bite-sized episodes of the campaign dropping across all social media platforms that discuss all things mental health.

It comes after last week Channel 5 was forced to remove its documentary critiquing Charlotte's history of plastic surgery from its online player My5 after sparking a backlash.

Charlotte had shared a lengthy statement beforehand saying she was 'appalled' by the program which criticised her 'plastic face' and 'duck lips,' after years of being targeted by trolls due to her appearance.

Sporty: She wore a green shirt over the midriff-baring top and completed the look with white socks and sandals

Funny: Charlotte roared with laughter as she spoke with Scotty T as they met at the recording studio

Out and about: Charlotte wore her dark tresses in a poker straight style and opted for a typically glamorous makeup look

Moving on: Charlotte looked in high spirits despite breaking down last week and slamming Channel 5 bosses for the 'immoral and insensitive' documentary

In a statement shared with MailOnline, a spokesperson confirmed the show had been taken down and that they 'apologise for any upset caused'.

It read: 'Channel 5 and the program's producers, Crackit Productions, take duty of care very seriously,' the spokesperson said.

'While we acknowledge that the programme was OFCOM compliant, we have taken on board Charlotte's feedback and removed the episode from our streaming platform My5. We apologise for any upset caused.'

Work: Charlotte arrived in a car at the recording studio in Newcastle where she is putting together her new podcast

Casual: James dressed down in a light grey tracksuit and white Nike trainers as he chatted to Charlotte

All smiles: Meeting up with her two good friends seemed to cheer her up after a difficult few weeks

Happy days: The trio looked like they were enjoying each other's company as they larked about

Charlotte had taken to Instagram a few days before to share an emotional video thanking her fans for their support, revealing she had received messages calling the show 'vile' and that her phone almost 'exploded' with kind messages.

Addressing her fans make-up free from her home, Charlotte revealed her initial thoughts after the documentary aired were 'I've done this to myself, I deserve it'.

Tearfully explaining her point of view, the TV personality told her friends and fans that they had made her realise her 'self worth'.

Awkward: It comes after last week Channel 5 was forced to remove its documentary critiquing Charlotte's history of plastic surgery from its online player My5 after sparking a backlash

Hugs: Charlotte was clearly delighted to be reunited with Scotty as she gave him a huge hug when he arrived

Relaxed: The reality star had opted for a low-key look as she arrived in her car at the studios

She explained how her phone 'almost exploded' after sharing her heartfelt statement about the show and said she couldn't believe 'how kind everyone has been'.

Previously the reality star had shared a lengthy statement saying she was 'appalled' by the programme which criticised her 'plastic face' and 'duck lips,' after years of being targeted by trolls for years due to her appearance.

Charlotte went onto write that while she is 'grateful' for her fame, she's struggled with 'self-confidence and personal trauma' for years, and urged bosses to use their airtime to raise awareness of mental health.

She wrote: 'I cannot quite believe I am saying this but here goes. Last night, Channel 5 & Crackit Productions put out a one-hour documentary called 'Celebrities - What Happened To Your Face - Charlotte Crosby.

Busy: The Geordie trio all met at a recording studio in Newcastle as Charlotte has started her own podcast series

Good to see you: The Geordie Shore star embraced Scotty T as he arrived to meet her

Animated: Charlotte showed no signs off her recent upset as she laughed with her pals on Wednesday

Off we go: Scotty T looked in great spirits as he headed home in his red car after the meet up

'In 2021, a main UK channel and production company believe it would be a good use of airtime, to dissect my physical appearance.

'I have seen how many of you saw it, switched off and complained - many not even 'fans' of me, just good people who know right from wrong. Thank you for that, and for your messages of love and support.

'I am aware I have put myself and my face in the public eye. TV and broadcasting had given me and my family a life we could never have dreamed of. I enjoy it, am enormously grateful for it and many of my respected closest friends work within the industry.'

Tough: It comes after last week Channel 5 was forced to remove its documentary critiquing Charlotte's history of plastic surgery from its online player My5 after sparking a backlash

Charlotte, who has openly discussed having various procedures including a nose job, lip filler and breast enhancement, told fans she'd spent years being trolled for her appearance.

'I have had a public battle with my appearance, and have had to go through personal trauma & issues of self-confidence in the spot-light. I like to think I'm an honest, balanced person - I get it, I understand the interest.'

'One quick Google or look at my Instagram page, you'll see how intensely I've been targeted by trolls and how I've learnt to ignore the hate, focus on the positives and work on loving myself again. It's a process, it's taken time, compasion, personal and professional support.'

Awful: Celebrities: What's Happened to Your Face? saw a panel of surgeons dissect and offer their thoughts on Charlotte's history of surgical procedures (pictured in 2011)

Charlotte also claimed that TV bosses decided to continue work on the show despite furious objections from her team, and even aired extracts of nasty comments despite such words affecting her mental health.

She continued: 'At a time when the broadcast & media world were backing a policy of 'be kind', Channel 5 and Crackit decided to commission this one hour special on 'rubber lip Charlotte' (their words not mine).

'Their ''experts'' dissected my ''plastic face'' with disgust, discussing my fluctuating weight (with images), and then decided to flash up the worst troll comments from the past 5-6 years.

Emotional: Charlotte had taken to Instagram previously to share an emotional video thanking her fans for their support, revealing she had received messages calling the show 'vile' and that her phone almost 'exploded' with kind messages

'I want to say here for context. When this was commissioned last March 2020, my agent found out about it and was appalled.

'She very clearly outlined to Crackit Porductions not just how immoral and insensitive it was but how detrimental this would be to my mental health. They ignored her, despite repeated correspondance, and ran with it regardless.

'We only found out this week when it was in the TV listings that it was still going ahead - unbelievable.

'Dealing with trolls is one thing, you ignore, you block. BUT where are we as a society, when the trolls are in the mainstream TV channels?

'Will they not take responsibility for my dip in mental health and my plummeted self-esteem? Do they take responsibility for the resulting press from the show, again discussing how ''shocking'' my face is.'

Urging TV bosses to air programmes focused on raising mental health awareness, Charlotte finished: 'Channel 5 have a list of mental health helplines on their website - is this for viewers, or the subjects of their poor choice in programming like me?

'Broadcasters are so keen to do psych tests for shows, yet at the same time give space to programmes which destroy the mental health of its subjects.

Taken down: Charlotte also claimed that TV bosses decided to continue work on the show despite furious objections from her team

'That hour could have been used to host a mental health documentary. That hour could have educated the public in the many issues & good causes which need publicity.

'That hour didn't need to go after a 31-year-old woman for her appearance, choices and ''rubber lips.''

Celebrities: What's Happened to Your Face? saw a panel of surgeons dissect and offer their thoughts on Charlotte's history of surgical procedures.

MailOnline contacted representatives for Crackit Productions for comment at the time.
Hollyoaks star Jeremy Edwards and his wife Lydia have welcomed their second child, a son called Theodore Huckleberry following an IVF journey.

In December, the couple announced they were expecting their second child following a 'stressful' two and a half year journey to get pregnant.

The couple, aged 50 and 36 respectively, are already parents to daughter, Scarlett, three, and have introduced their son to the world in the latest issue of OK! but insisted they would not be having anymore children.

Happy news: Hollyoaks star Jeremy Edwards and his wife Lydia have welcomed their second child, a son called Theodore Huckleberry following an IVF journey (pictured in 2017)

Jeremy and Lydia could not contain their glee as they confirmed the news.

Speaking about the birth, Jeremy and Lydia revealed Theodore was five days early and was born via C-section which was not their original choice.

Lydia said: 'I really wanted a natural labour but the choice was taken away. So I had to get over that but it was actually a lovely peaceful birth'.

Jeremy said: 'Yes, even though it wasn't what we would have chosen it worked out for the best. It went smoothly and was the safest option. It wasn't worth the risk'.

Throwback: In December, the couple announced they were expecting their second child following a 'stressful' two and a half year journey to get pregnant (pictured in 2017)

Prior to the arrival, Jeremy said: 'Were incredibly excited but the main feeling has been relief. Scarlett was conceived through IVF and so was this baby. We feel very blessed, as the process is actually really tough on Lyds.'

Lydia added at the time: 'Its been very stressful, but we feel so lucky that it worked both times for us on the first attempt.'

The couple have been married since 2009 and Jeremy said their planned IVF was delayed at first due to coronavirus.

They were given a window of opportunity by the clinic in June, when lockdown ended, and they were offered an appointment.

Devoted daddy: Jeremy pictured with their daughter Scarlett, who was also conceived through IVF

Lydia said the process is very tough and she has worked out she has had around 340 injections.

Jeremy admitted they both cried when they got the happy news, saying: 'There are no guarantees with IVF.'

'Poor Lyds injects all these hormones into her body and goes on this invasive journey. But there are no guarantees  and that is a hard thing to go through.'

The couple have said this is probably the last child for them, with Jeremy joking that he is not paying for another round of IVF - but they might try to get pregnant naturally.

Comeback: Hollyoaks star Jeremy Edward, 49, recently returned to the soap as Kurt Benson

The news comes three months after Jeremy returned to Hollyoaks as Kurt Benson.

The actor made a dramatic return on his signature motorbike to the village after leaving the soap 21 years ago in 1999.

Kurt starred in the 25th anniversary trailer, leaving his friend Tony Hutchinson, Nick Pickard, reeling in shock after believing he had died in a jet ski accident.

Kurt appeared in the first episode of the Channel 4 show in 1995 where he arrived on a motorbike and went onto play an iconic role in the soap.

The X Factor: Celebrity star featured in many storylines in the soap including a turbulent love life as well as a toxic rivalry with notorious villain Rob Hawthorne, Warren Derosa.

The character was accused of attempted murder for pushing Spike, Tom Vaughan, from scaffolding, but went on to marry his teenage love Ruth Osborne, played by Terri Dwyer.

Young star: Kurt appeared in the first episode of the Channel 4 show in 1995 where he arrived on a motorbike and went onto play an iconic role in the soap

However he went on to have an affair with Katie Patrick, Natasha Symms, which forced Kurt and Ruth to separate and he left the soap on a motorbike in 1999.

Yet tragedy struck when the rockstar-hopeful was said to have died in a jet ski accident leaving his best friend Tony distraught.

Jeremy last appeared in the soap in Hollyoaks Later in 2013 where he was a vision in Tony's mind seen protecting his son Harry Thompson, Parry Glasspool, from danger.

In October 2019, Jeremy competed on the ITV series The X Factor: Celebrity as part of a duo with Brendan Cole but was eliminated in the auditions stage.

He is also known for finishing fourth in the third series of Celebrity Big Brother and his role as Danny Shaughessy, a student nurse in Holby City.

Jeremy was engaged to Rachel Stevens of S Club 7 in 2002 before breaking up the year after and eventually meeting his now wife Lydia.
Daniel Hayes is arguably one of the most controversial housemates to appear on this year's season of Big Brother Australia.

But on Wednesday night, the 48-year-old real estate agent revealed he has become the victim of online trolling.

Uploading a video to his Instagram story, Daniel said high profile people have been sending him hateful messages and he finds it 'really sad'.

Not impressed! Big Brother villain Daniel Hayes revealed he's being trolled by 'some high profile influencers' on Wednesday night - and he's threatening to name and shame them

In the footage, Daniel admits he is having a blast on Big Brother, before revealing the dark side that comes with reality TV.

'I've been trolled a lot, including by some pretty high profile people. I won't name them, but they're pretty sort of high profile and it's really sad, he says in the video.

Daniel explains that he finds the hypocrisy of some of the influencers sending him hate quite amusing.

'I really find it, the hypocrisy of some of these high profile people - how they talk about mental health issues and how they're being trolled themselves yet they're out there trolling other people - it's quite amusing really,' he said.

Game on! On Wednesday night, the 48-year-old real estate agent revealed he has become the victim of online trolling

Daniel concluded his post, warning his trolls: 'If you troll me, I'm going to screenshot it and I'm going to post it online.'

'I've got 130,000 followers, including my YouTube channel. So good luck with your trolling and hopefully you'll stop it.'

Daniel's post was quickly inundated with comments of support by his fellow housemates.

Support: Daniel's post was quickly inundated with comments of support by his fellow housemates. Mary Kalifatidis wrote: 'We know. It's just a game, we lived it, before adding: 'Viewers don't see everything we do and go through'

Mary Kalifatidis wrote: 'We know. It's just a game, we lived it, before adding: 'Viewers don't see everything we do and go through.'

'We had so much fun playing the Big Brother game and that is all it was. A game. No need to troll.'

Tilly Whitfield who also appears on the series, described Daniel 'like a puppy, scary on the inside [sic] but a really cute little nice man on the inside.'

'Well said mate, well said!' wrote Marley Biyendolo, while sheep farmer Melissa "Mel" McGorman cheekily urged fellow housemate Nick Benton to 'stop trolling' Daniel.

Big Brother continues Sunday at 7pm on Seven
Catherine Zeta-Jones wed Michael Douglas in 2000 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

And on Tuesday when on the Drew Barrymore show, the 51-year-old Welsh actress revealed how the two have stayed close over two decades.

'Theres something that really does connect us, even our handwriting,' said the Oscar winning star. She and Michael, 76, have the same birthday: September 25.

Still in love: Catherine Zeta-Jones wed Michael Douglas in 2000. And on Tuesday when on the Drew Barrymore show, the 51-year-old Welsh actress revealed how the two have stayed close over two decades

She added, 'Its like if we go to restaurants, well before Covid we used to go to restaurants, and if we were in a big long family or friends dinner it could be 20 people or 24 people, we always like to mix, we never like to next to each other when we go to dinner parties because we want to talk to other people and so if Michael is down one end of the table and Im down the other you can guarantee we are ordering the same appetizer, main course and dessert'

Drew added, 'It sounds like you are made for each other.'

Catherine then said she and Michael are in for a big change

Tight bond: 'Theres something that really does connect us, even our handwriting,' said the Oscar winning star. She and Michael have the same birthday: September 25; seen in 2020

The early days of love: Douglas (L) and Zeta-Jones arrive for the premiere of the film The Muse in Beverly Hills in 1999

'Yeah, its just so bizarre because Michael and I are just about to become empty nesters and that term for me is like so cold, "What do you mean empty nesters? They are not going anywhere, they are just going off to school,"' she said.

But she said it gives her joy to be an empty nester.

'Because I see what both Michael and I have done and Im not bragging, you never know as a parent what you are going to get. The best laid plans, whatever, its just two people come together and there is a creation and then you guide them.

Drew listens: She added, 'Its like if we go to restaurants, well before Covid we used to go to restaurants, and if we were in a big long family or friends dinner it could be 20 people or 24 people, we always like to mix, we never like to next to each other when we go to dinner parties because we want to talk to other people and so if Michael is down one end of the table and Im down the other you can guarantee we are ordering the same appetizer, main course and dessert'

'I had a mother whowho was a wonderful,' she shared.

She also said her mini-me Carys is determined to get into acting, and even though she excels at history and politics, being in front of the camera is her passion.

She has even been warned by father Douglas, whose dad is the recently passed Kirk Douglas, that if she pursues Hollywood she will always be referred to as 'the daughter of.'

The gang: Michael and Catherine with their kids Carys and Dylan in 2015 in London

Will lightening strike twice? Zeta-Jones, right in 1992, has talked about how her daughter Carys, left, wants to follow in her footsteps

Catherine - who is currently starring on Prodigal Son - also said son Dylan Michael Douglas, 20, is also interested in being an actor, and she was honest with Drew about what her kids will face as she talked via Zoom with the star.

'Their love of the craft of acting is so strong that even when Michael, their brains they are doing politics and history in school, but their passion is acting,' said the Zorro star.

'And theyve never done anything professional, but they would like to go into acting.

'And you know you come from a family where your name is synonymous, very much like Michael, very similar stories where you both had to be, "The kids of."' Kirk was a massive star thanks to Spartacus when Michael got his start.

But Catherine came up on her own in London. 'I never had that I was like, "Audition? I am in. They dont want me, Ill just queue up around the corner and line up again,"' she joked.

'But my kids, Michael has said to them what it is like to be, "the daughter of" in the same industry, which I guess is similar if you are in business. If you are successful in business, your kids have, its not an easy way in, in fact one has to prove oneself more, so even with that deterrent my kids are like, "No, sorry we still want to do it."'

Yes, he too: Catherine also said son Dylan is also interested in being an actor, and she was honest with Drew about what her kids will face as she talked via Zoom with the star

'And Ive had a wonderful life being an actor and if they get half the joy that Ive had.

'All I want is my kids to be happy and healthy, everything else is a bonus right,' stated the Chicago star.

The Ocean's 12 star then said: 'With my children I tried to instill those qualities the best I could and both Michael and I the best, best joy is when we get complimented about our kid's behavior and their manners and how they are just good two grounded kids.'
Demi Moore was seen celebrating her daughter Tallulah Willis's engagement after longtime beau Dillon Buss proposed on Tuesday.

The Ghost actress, 58, was seen arriving at Tallulah's home in Los Angeles wearing all black with chic sunglasses and a white watch.

Her youngest daughter, 27, displayed her dazzling diamond engagement ring while in a T-shirt as she took out the trash.

Party time: She just got engaged to her beau Dillon Buss. And Tallulah Willis was seen out disposing of some garbage while celebrating the big occasion in Los Angeles on Tuesday

Looking fab: Her movie star mother Demi Moore, 58, was also spotted arriving on the scene wearing a fashionable basic black ensemble

Jake Miller, the boyfriend of Scout Willis, 29, was also seen coming to the house. Rumer, 32, was also there, but out of view.

Tallulah got engaged to beau of one year Buss on Tuesday afternoon.

The designer joyously announced on her Instagram that he had popped the question in her back yard with their dog nearby.

The 27-year-old daughter of Moore and Bruce Willis posted a heart-melting album of herself accepting his proposal.

In one sweepingly romantic photo she leapt into his arms and wrapped her legs around him while they shared a passionate kiss.

Getting everyone together: Musician Jake Miller, who is currently dating Tallulah's elder sister Scout Willis, was glimpsed there as well the same day

An apparently hidden photographer captured several snaps of the moment he got down on one knee and popped the question.

Tallulah gleefully clapped her hands to her face in the first snap, then leaned down and affectionately held his face.

She gushed in her caption: 'with absolute most certainty,' presumably referring to the way she agreed to marry Dillon.

Shortly after putting up the photo album she uploaded a brief video that offered a close-up view of her glittering ring that appeared to have a yellow diamond.

The thrill of it all: Tallulah gleefully clapped her hands to her face in the first snap, then leaned down and affectionately held his face

Happy day: The artist then jumped into his arms and gave him a kiss as their dog looked on

Joy: Shortly after putting up the photo album she uploaded a brief video that offered a close-up view of her glittering ring that appeared to have a yellow diamond

HANDS STILL SHAKIN  MOMS SPAGHETTI  Im FIANCENCHED,' Tallulah exclaimed in the caption of the video.

Dillon, who is a filmmaker, was involved with Tallulah for approximately a year before he popped the question to her.

He celebrated the engagement on his own Instagram page by posting a sweet snap of himself and his bride-to-be cuddling up to one another.

'I can finally call you my fiance. Love you forever Buuski Lu, you are my best friend #maythefourthbewithus,' he wrote on his caption.

So sweet: Dillon, who is a filmmaker, was involved with Tallulah for approximately a year before he popped the question to her

Dillon also included a few pictures of Tallulah flaunting the ring, and one of them also showed her obscuring her face behind a bouquet.

Tallulah celebrated the big news with her sisters Scout and Rumer as seen on Scout's Instagram page that afternoon.

Scout uploaded an album that featured a picture of the three sisters sitting outside together in their swimsuits - with Tallulah flashing her engagement ring.

'Im so buoyed by this JOYOUS LOVE CELEBRATION!!!! HIP HIP HURRAY!!!!!' Scout crowed in her caption for her more than 200,000 followers.

Such fun: Tallulah celebrated the big news with her sisters Scout, 29, and Rumer, 32, as seen on Scout's Instagram page that afternoon

Bringing the family together: Scout wrote on her Insta Stories that 'I spelled congratulations wrong because I'm so excited'

Goofing around: Dillon, who is a filmmaker, was involved with Tallulah for approximately a year before he popped the question to her

Family matters: Bruce Willis has five daughters - the three with Demi and two more called Mabel, nine, and Evelyn, six with his current wife Emma Heming

She went on: '@buuski @dillonbuss today is a blessing because of your love! 5/4/21 Welcome the first official WILLIS BROTHER.'

Bruce has five daughters - the three with Demi and two more called Mabel, nine, and Evelyn, six with his current wife Emma Heming.

Scout exulted on her Insta Stories that she was 'f***ing freaking out' while Rumer told Dillon on hers that she was 'so stoked to have you as a brother.'

Rumer also warmly uploaded pictured that showed Tallulah smiling mischievously at the camera from over her engagement ring.

'My Liddo engaged elf': Rumer also warmly uploaded pictured that showed Tallulah smiling mischievously at the camera from over her engagement ring

An essential part of the day's festivities was Tallulah's beloved chihuahua Cowboy who was featured in several Instagram snaps.

Tallulah wrote on Instagram last August about how Dillon made her experience new levels of gratitude while she was having a tough day.

She explained that she was having 'flare ups' of body dysmorphia, disassociation and obsessive compulsive disorder on that particular day.

'I texted my partner I was having an off day and needed some alone time, he told me he understood and was here to hold whatever space he could,' she wrote.

'Forty minutes later, the door creaked open and there he was with a picnic basket carrying my favorite snacks and drinkies.'

Tallulah, who quit drinking in 2014, dished: 'We sat outside and talked about our first kisses. I felt today, the word "grateful" become unspooled and reframed. I knew what it was, I never knew it could be felt to this magnitude.'
Lily James has gushed over her upcoming drama The Pursuit Of Love, in another promotional interview without co-star Dominic West.

The Downton Abbey alum, 32, spoke on a Q&A panel for the BFI & Radio Times Television Festival alongside director Emily Mortimer and co-stars Andrew Scott and Emily Beecham about the upcoming drama.

In October, co-stars Lily and married Dominic, 51, were caught enjoying what appeared to be a racy weekend in Rome, leading to his wife Catherine FitzGerald assuring the public they were fine - but banning him from working with Lily.

Wow! Lily James has gushed over her upcoming drama The Pursuit Of Love, in another promotional interview without co-star Dominic West

Earlier in the week, Lily declined to discuss the media storm in an interview with The Guardian - but admitted there is in fact much to discuss, saying: 'Ach, Im not really willing to talk about that. There is a lot to say, but not now, Im afraid.'

Emily's novel adaptation follows the story of Linda Radlett - played by Lily - and her hunt to find love and marriage, while Dominic plays her Uncle Matthew.

The period drama focuses on two best friends - Linda and Emily's character Fanny - in the interwar years navigating their way in very different styles.

Speaking about bringing the story to life, Lily said the idea for the series came about eight years ago: Its been years, this idea that came about from my agents...

Oh! In October, co-stars Lily and married Dominic, 51, were caught enjoying what appeared to be a racy weekend in Rome, leading to his wife Catherine FitzGerald assuring the public they were fine - but banning him from working with Lily

Starring role: Dominic plays Lily's character's Uncle Matthew

'Wed talk about it at dinners and there was this impulse to create this story now on screen with just how intoxicating and precious and wonderful the story and the characters are.

Emily said of her directorial debut: I want to feel the excitement, the danger, the longing and irreverence that I feel when I read this book when I watch this show and I was trying to think of all the ways of communicating that visually.

Fleabag's 'Hot Priest' Andrew Scott, who plays Lord Merlin, said: The thing I loved about the character is that hes fluid, audacious and brave

Hard work! Emily Mortimer was on the panel to discuss her directorial debut

Starring role: Fleabag's 'Hot Priest' Andrew Scott, who plays Lord Merlin, said: The thing I loved about the character is that hes fluid, audacious and brave'

'I love the fact that within the relationship [between Merlin and Linda], you dont necessarily know what it is all the time...

'Sometimes we are in love with our friends and were not in love with the people were supposed to be with and its a little bit messy  love is messy!

Emily Beecham said of the contrast between Fanny and Linda: Theyre like magnets, they pull together and the next minute theyre strangers

Staunch refusal: It is believed that part of Dominic and Catherine's agreement is that he won't do any promo with Lily for the series, in a bid to save their marriage - which BBC bosses have apparently reluctantly agreed to

'Which can possibly be natural for friends who have grown up together and have been polar opposites and take different directions in life.

The production was filmed between July and October last year, with Lily and Dominic's Italy trip taking place shortly after filming on the period drama wrapped.

It is believed that part of Dominic and Catherine's agreement is that he won't do any promo with Lily for the series, in a bid to save their marriage - which BBC bosses have apparently reluctantly agreed to.

It was also revealed earlier in the week that Dominic was issued a stern warning by his own mother-in-law Olda before leaving to film The Pursuit Of Love.

Starring roles: The Pursuit of Love starts on Sunday 9th May at 9.00pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. All three episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer as a boxset

He admitted his wife Catherine's mother told him he couldn't 'mess up' the part as she was a lifelong fan of the book.

Speaking about his character, Dominic told The Daily Star: 'His attitude to life is so not what most people think today in regards to political opinions; how to raise children, the role of women in society they are all so backwards.

'My mother in law very sternly told me how much she loved the books and told me not to mess it up.'

You can watch the whole panel on the BFI YouTube page from 7pm BST tonight (Thursday 6th May).

The Pursuit of Love starts on Sunday 9th May at 9.00pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. All three episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer as a boxset
Demi Rose has showed off her incredible figure in a selection of sexy images from her PrettyLittleThing collection.

The 23-year-old model put on a busty display in a black and a nude bikini, cinching in her waist with a matching sarong.

She also showed off her enviable curves in a series of sexy ensembles which included a patterned pink mini dress which had a cut-out to reveal a matching bikini.

Wow: Demi Rose was commanding attention yet again with her jaw-dropping figure as she modelled pieces from her new collection with PrettyLittleThing on Wednesday

Incredible: The influencer, 26, looked stunning in a series of skimpy dresses and swimwear looks as brand ambassador for the new shoot

For other snaps the brunette beauty flashed her underboob in a cut-out orange mini dress with statement sleeves and a ruched skirt.

In another outfit Demi displayed her incredible physique in a yellow patterned bandeau bikini and matching high rise briefs.

She also flashed her pert posterior in a tiny beige thong and sheer patterned crop top as she wore huge pink-tinted sunglasses and had her hair in a poker straight style.

Peachy: She also flashed her pert posterior in a tiny beige thong and sheer patterned crop top as she wore huge pink-tinted sunglasses and had her hair in a poker straight style

Daring: The model flashed some underboob in a tiny pink bikini and matching patterned cover up dress (left) and there was also a stunning yellow ensemble (right)

In a slightly more demure look Demi slipped into a black mini dress with an off-the-shoulder design which she accessorized with gold hoop earrings.

Last week, Demi appeared to have caught the eye of someone special, as she shared a post which saw her posing in front of dozens of white roses.

The beauty displayed her figure in a barely-there nude bikini by PrettyLittleThing, as she showcased her ten incredible bouquets of flowers.

Commanding attention: For other snaps the brunette beauty flashed her underboob in a cut out orange mini dress with statement sleeves and a ruched skirt

Style: In a slightly more demure look Demi slipped into a black mini dress with an off-the-shoulder design which she accessorized with gold hoop earrings

Demi was wearing a skimpy white bikini top, which she teamed with a matching sarong in the snaps which she captioned: 'Vibe so high the universe matched it.'

On her Instagram Stories, Demi revealed she had been sent the floral delivery as she filmed the bouquets arriving at her house.

She shared the handwritten note which had come with the delivery, which read: 'To Demi, the Goddess, from...', however the sender's name was blanked out.

Radiant: The beauty showed off her glowing complexion in a black swimsuit while wearing a towel on her head

Glowing: The star wore her long brunette locks in a sleek low pony and opted for typically glamorous makeup

Demi also wrote: 'Thank you. This is paradise', as she further shared her appreciation.

The new snaps come after the brunette beauty recently opened up to MailOnline about how she shot to stardom at the age of 14 after being bullied in school.

Demi recalled: 'I was bullied in school, I wanted to make friends outside of it so I ended up spending a lot of time online.

'I was even interested in virtual reality as a kid, I was always on the computer and then MySpace came around and I found my calling.'

She experienced her first taste of fame when pictures of her on the beach as a young teenager went viral on Instagram.

Birmingham native Demi shared: 'I only ever got Instagram because someone made a fake profile of me on there with 3,000 followers and I was really envious.

Hourglass: Her enviable curves were on display as she wore a yellow off-the-shoulder bikini top while fixing the camera with a sultry stare

'I was like, "wow, how can someone using my pictures get that much?" And then I started an account and it went from there.'

From the age of 18, the bombshell  who currently boasts 16 million followers  signed with a modelling agency and her career went from strength to strength.

Demi has been sharing a slew of snaps from her sunny travels in recent months  including trips to the Maldives and Tanzania. She is currently residing in Ibiza.
Victoria Beckham has insisted that she doesn't cringe over her past make-up looks during the Spice Girls as it was all a 'journey' and she 'didn't care' at the time.

Talking about her time in the girl band in a new candid podcast, the fashion designer, 47, even joked that her four children often comment on how 'cool' she used to be - to which she quipped: 'Oh, wow. Does that mean I'm not now?'

Victoria also revealed that superstar Beyonce once told her that it was the Spice Girls - made up of Victoria, Mel B, Emma Bunton, Geri Horner and Mel C - that initially inspired her own singing career.

'Journey': Victoria Beckham has insisted that she doesn't cringe over her past make-up looks during the Spice Girls, (left), as it was all a 'journey' and she 'didn't care' at the time

The group shot to fame in 1996, they split up in 2000 after Geri (Ginger Spice) decided to leave in 1998, but have briefly reunited over the years. Although Victoria decided to not join the foursome for their most recent tour Spice World in 2019.

Talking on Dear Media's Breaking Beauty podcast alongside Sarah Creal, co-founder of Victoria Beckham Beauty, Victoria reflected: 'You know, I've been so lucky to work with the best makeup artists in the industry, which has just been so, so great.

'And I look back at pictures and people always say, "Oh, do you cringe at any of the pictures?" You know. Do I cringe at that heavy lip liner? No, it was, it was a journey.

'Do I cringe at those skinny eyebrows? No, it was a journey and way too much blush, you know, we were working so hard and we were so exhausted.

'Cool': Talking about her time in the girl band in a new candid podcast, the fashion designer, 47, even joked that her four children often comment on how 'cool' she used to be - to which she quipped: 'Oh, wow. Does that mean I'm not now?' (pictured centre with the group in 1996)

Talking on Dear Media's Breaking Beauty podcast, Victoria reflected: 'People always say, "Oh, do you cringe at any of the pictures?". Do I cringe at that heavy lip liner? No!'

'There was a time where we were in a different country every few days. And the more and more tired that we got, the more and more blusher that we put on.'

Victoria joked that they even used to get told off by their makeup artists at the time as they would go on stage with an 'entire palette' on their faces.

She continued: 'Our makeup artists used to say: "Now I'm going to be the blusher police", you know, because we would just go on stage, honestly, looking like someone had thrown an entire palette at us.

'Because the more tired you are, you feel more awake if you have more blush and more and more lip gloss, if you like. So I don't look at anything and cringe. Um, I look at us all and it makes me smile because, you know, we didn't care.

'We wore what made us feel good. And we weren't worried is this the newest, coolest, and we set trends because there was no fear.

Family: Victoria shares Brooklyn, 22, Romeo, 18, Cruz, 16, and Harper, nine, with her husband David (pictured together)

'You know, knowing what I know now, when I have the nerve or the guts to go on stage in a PVC catsuit. Absolutely not, but back then it was okay. And that was great.'

Victoria revealed that her four children who she shares with husband David Beckham - Brooklyn, 22, Romeo, 18, Cruz, 16, and Harper, nine - often comment on how 'cool' she used to be while looking at old photos from the Spice Girls.

The star quipped: 'It seems like such a long time ago. My God, my kids say to me, They look at old paparazzi pictures and they're like: "Mum, you were so cool."'

To which Victoria jokingly added: 'Oh wow, does that mean I'm not now?'

The star added that the Spice Girls was always about 'accepting who you are' and that it was 'okay to be different', a message which inspired none other than Beyonce.

Amazing! Victoria also revealed that superstar Beyonce, pictured recently, once told her that it was the Spice Girls - made up of Victoria, Mel B, Emma Bunton, Geri Horner and Mel C - that initially inspired her own singing career

Victoria recalled: 'Let's not try and change who we are. Let's celebrate who we are. Let's celebrate the fact that we're all different, which is why inclusivity is so important to us, you know, I mean, when we talk about Spice Girls.

'I don't talk about it that much anymore, but what I remembered as you were just talking to me about it and how we inspired lots of young women.

'You know, when I'm I met Beyonce a few years ago and she actually said to me, it was the Spice Girls that inspired me and made me want to do what I do and made me proud to be a girl, proud to be who I am.

'And when someone like Beyonce, who is so iconic and such a strong woman, says that she was inspired by the Spice Girls. You know, I think that that's quite something.'

Victoria went on to reveal what lessons she might want to pass onto her four children and said that it's important people shouldn't 'care too much'.

'No fear!': 'We wore what made us feel good. And we weren't worried is this the newest, coolest, and we set trends because there was no fear,' Victoria insisted (pictured in the 90s)

She said of her life: 'I think that it's a journey and I never look back at any old pictures and cringe. I look back at all those pictures and I just think, you know what, there's something so nice about when you're young, you shouldn't care too much.

'You should feel free to experiment, have fun, figuring out what works and what doesn't work. Try out different trends accept who you are and embrace who you are.

'And be kind and be kind to other girls out there because everybody feels a little bit insecure and not fight against that.'

Victoria added that she always encourages daughter Harper to be the 'kindest girl in the room' as she used to be bullied when she was a child.

The star continued: 'I always just say, you know, be the kindest girl in the room. It's not important who is the smartest at school? It's not important. Who is the prettiest?

Life lessons: Victoria added that she always encourages daughter Harper to be the 'kindest girl in the room' as she used to be bullied when she was a child (pictured with her family)

'It's who is the kindest - be that little girl, but if there is someone in the playground that's on her own. Be kind to her, because guess what? Mummy was that little girl. I was bullied at school and I was miserable.

'So always be the little girl that's that's encouraging for whatever reason. Um, and have, have fun, have fun with beauty. And I think that what's nice now is I feel that we are being kinder to each other.'

Victoria was also asked what her favourite Mother's Day gifts are and she admitted that she still carries a little tiny house Brooklyn once made her.

She insisted: 'I keep everything that the kids ever give me. And those things really are so valuable. And I genuinely, I genuinely mean that.'

Victoria also said that despite the coronavirus pandemic being 'tough' it has been 'wonderful' spending time with her family.

Family: Victoria also said that despite the coronavirus pandemic being 'tough' it has been 'wonderful' spending time with her family (pictured with David in May 2020)

Although the star joked that she once 'lost it' due to the Beckhams' busy schedules and various Zoom meetings.

Victoria said: 'I think the last year being at home, um, you know, look, it's been tough for a lot of people, but I, I think it's been a wonderful time to really spend time with, with the family.

'You know, myself and David, we all spend so much time travelling and working and the fact that we haven't been able to really do a lot of either.

'I mean, even the working has been remote, which has been, uh, it's been fun. It's been a challenge. It's been goodness. I mean, there was a time when we were here in Miami and I was working remotely.

'We had Paris on the Zoom. We had New York on the Zoom. We had London on the Zoom. We had Miami on the Zoom and then there was Harper in one room doing her lessons.

'There was Cruz doing his mock GCSEs in the other room and I just lost it because it was so much going on. I mean, you know, but all joking aside, it's been great to spend real quality time with the family.

'I think it's probably made a lot of us really look at our work life balance. It's made us realise that we can work remotely so we can spend more time at home. That doesn't mean we have to compromise as a professional.'

Victoria admitted that she can find her multiple Zoom meetings 'soul destroying' and that she likes to unwind with dancing or her daily remote Tracy Anderson sessions, which she has been doing since pregnant with Harper in 2011.

Listen to Victoria's full interview on the Breaking Beauty Podcast, available on Apple.
A nurse holds a syringe containing a coronavirus vaccine made by the Beijing Institute of Biological Products, a unit of Sinopharm subsidiary China National Biotec Group, at a vaccination center during a government-organized visit in Beijing, April 15. Reuters-Yonhap



WHO experts have voiced "very low confidence" in data provided by Chinese state-owned drugmaker Sinopharm on its COVID-19 vaccine regarding the risk of serious side-effects in some patients, but overall confidence in its ability to prevent the disease, a document seen by Reuters shows.



There was no immediate reply from the World Health Organization to a query about any concerns linked to the Sinopharm vaccine, BBIBP-CorV. In Beijing, Sinopharm was not immediately reachable for comment outside working hours.



The "evidence assessment" document was prepared by the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) for its review scheduled this week of the Sinopharm shot, authorized by 45 countries and jurisdictions for use in adults, with 65 million doses administered. The experts review evidence and give recommendations on policy and dosages associated with a vaccine.



The document includes summaries of data from clinical trials in China, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.



Vaccine efficacy in multi-country Phase 3 clinical trials was 78.1 percent after two doses, the document said. This was a slight drop from 79.34 percent announced previously in China.



"We are very confident that 2 doses of BBIBP-CorV are efficacious in preventing PCR confirmed COVID19 in adults (18-59 years)," the document said.



But it added: "Analysis of safety amongst participants with comorbidities (was) limited by the low number of participants with comorbidities (other than obesity) in the Phase 3 trial."



Among "evidence gaps", it cited data on protection against severe disease, duration of protection, safety for use in pregnant women and in older adults and identification/evaluation of rare adverse events through post-authorization safety monitoring.



"We have very low confidence in the quality of evidence that the risk of serious adverse events following one or two doses of BBIBP-CorV in older adults (60 years) is low," it said.



"We have very low confidence in the quality of evidence that the risk of serious adverse events in individuals with comorbidities or health states that increase risk for severe COVID-19 following one or two doses of BBIBP-CorV is low," it added.



The SAGE analysis was prepared as a WHO technical advisory group currently reviews the vaccine for an emergency use approval, which would not only pave the way for its use in the global COVAX vaccine sharing platform but also provide a crucial international endorsement for a vaccine developed in China.



A WHO spokesman said that a decision on the listing was not expected on Wednesday. (Reuters)




He's enjoyed a successful career since with huge tracks under his belt including Butterflies and the hugely popular Ladbroke Grove, while he's also nominated for three Brit Awards this year.

And AJ Tracey has reflected on his rise to fame since soaring to popularity in 2016, as he noted that connecting with his loved ones, especially his mother, takes precedence over any money he makes.

Speaking in an interview with Man About Town magazine, the rapper, 27, stated: 'When I was broke, I thought I needed money in order to be happy', but soon realised that it's not the material things that matter.

Reflections: AJ Tracey has reflected on his rise to fame since soaring to popularity in 2016, as he noted that connecting with his loved ones, especially his mother, takes precedence over any money he makes

AJ, real name Che Wolton Grant, who grew up in Ladbroke Grove, west London, discussed the stark contrast of wealth in the area, explaining how when he was younger he used to aspire to have the 'flash cars' he can now afford.

He explained: 'It is a beautiful place but if you take a left or right off the main roads you are right in the middle of the hood. We grew up having to look at all these affluent things, people with Rolexes, fast cars and in suits  we never had any of that. Its a very stark contrast between the poverty and the affluence that is there.

The Dinner Guest hitmaker also contemplated that having money is no good if there's no one to share it with as he told how his busy career has stopped him from seeing his mother as much as he'd like

Important: Speaking in an interview with Man About Town magazine, the rapper, 27, stated: 'When I was broke, I thought I needed money in order to be happy', but soon realised that it's not the material things that matter.

He said: 'When I was broke, I thought I needed money in order to be happy but now I realise what was making me happy is my mum, being around my family and my friends. Now that I cant see my mum as much, Ive realised that a lot more.

He added that he's in possession of 'all this money', but questioned what he would 'do with it own your own?'

Meanwhile, AJ, who is up for Best British Male at this year's Brit Awards, told how he is 'grateful' to move away from his old life, but commented that success is not measured by wealth, but the experiences and memories you make.

Growing up: AJ, real name Che Wolton Grant, who grew up in Ladbroke Grove, west London, discussed the stark contrast of wealth in the area, explaining how when he was younger he used to aspire to have the 'flash cars' he can now afford

Family matters: When I was broke, I thought I needed money in order to be happy but now I realise what was making me happy is my mum, being around my family and my friends'

He explained: Im grateful to have made it out the hood but I dont think success is down to how much wealth you accumulate. Its about making memories, creating moments and the impact you can have.

The artist, who recently released his album Flu Game, when on to to say how his growth as a person also saw his music change, as his old freestyles that he produced while being broke and angry feature lyrics he would now look at in horror.

Read the full interview in the new issue of Man About Town magazine.
Line Of Duty star Tommy Jessop has highlighted the importance of giving roles to actors with learning disabilities.

The actor, 36, who has Down's Syndrome, touched on the topic while answering questions for Mencap charity, which works with people with learning disabilities.

Tommy has been a break out star in the series and has since landed a role in World War II drama Masters Of The Air, executive produced by Steven Spielberg.

Interview: Line Of Duty star Tommy Jessop has highlighted the importance of giving roles to actors with learning disabilities

The TV star also revealed the highlight his series six highlight, which was getting a 'warm hug' from Vicky McClure after filming the 'freezing' lake scene.

Discussing offering to roles to actors that have learning disabilities, Tommy said: It is really important to include people with learning disabilities of all ages to show what they are truly capable of.

'Because I really do want people to believe in us because we really are different people with different skills and ambitions.'

Chatting: The actor, 36, who has Down's Syndrome, touched on the topic while answering questions for Mecap charity, which works with people with learning disabilities

He added: 'And to quote a certain person that I played nine years ago called Hamlet, "We fools of nature are wondrous too".

Tommy who said he was 'honoured' to be on the show, added: 'I really am grateful to Jed for such a brilliant role and crime really does happen because it can be hard to tell your story because people don't actually believe you.'

'So keep talking and keep listening, that means really listen to people.'

Hollywood came calling! Tommy has been a break out star in the series and has since landed a role in World War II drama Masters Of The Air, executive produced by Steven Spielberg

Aw! The TV star also revealed the highlight his series six highlight, which was getting a 'warm hug' from Vicky McClure after filming the 'freezing' lake scene (pictured with Ryan Pilkington)

He went on to discuss the lake scene where Ryan Pilkington (Gregory Piper) drove a car which Tommy was travelling in into a lake in a bid to drown and kill him.

Luckily, DI Kate Fleming spotted the vehicle and followed them to the scene where she came to Terry's rescue.

When asked how he 'warmed up' after the nighttime scene, Tommy said: 'In order to warm up, my highlight was Vicky McClure giving me a night warm hug!'

Show: Tommy claimed he 'had a feeling' who H was ahead of Sunday's dramatic series six finale which saw DSI Ian Buckells (Nigel Boyle) unveiled as The Fourth Man

Tommy went on to reveal that he got into acting through a BBC talent fund, which he auditioned for.

Earlier this week, Tommy claimed he 'had a feeling' who H was ahead of Sunday's dramatic series six finale which saw DSI Ian Buckells (Nigel Boyle) unveiled as The Fourth Man.

Appearing on Monday's Good Morning Britain, the actor also told how he did much of his own stunts on the series, including the crash scene where his character Terry ended up in the river.

Intense: Tommy impressed viewers with his acting during several intense interview scenes

Fan favourite: The star's character Terry has been involved with the show since the beginning, with bent copper Ryan Pilkington using him to hide evidence for the OCG

Asked if he knew who 'H' was ahead of time, Tommy said: 'I had a feeling I knew who H was. I kind of had Jed (Mercurio) really does keep things top secret until the very last minute.'

GMB co-host Sean Fletcher also asked the actor: 'Did you have a stunt double?'

Tommy said: 'I mostly did the lake scenes by myself but I did have a body double when Ryan pushed Terry out of the water.'

Tommy said: 'I had a feeling I knew who H was. I kind of had Jed (Mercurio) really does keep things top secret until the very last minute' (Nigel Boyle pictured as DSI Ian Buckells)

He added: 'At one point in the lake scene, it was like living in a freezer in Antarctica.'

Tommy appeared on the show alongside his mother Jane who hinted that all may still have not been revealed.

When asked if Tommy had told her who he thought 'H' was, she said: 'No, obviously we had a lot of theories and ideas but do we even know everything now?'

Co-host Kate Garraway then asked Tommy how he got involved in the hugely successful procedural drama.

Nail-biting: Terry was previously at risk of drowning after being targeted by corrupt cop Ryan Pilkington

The actor said: 'Well, they actually checked to see if I was happy enough to do the big scenes and I was really happy about it. I really did love filming all of it.'

Tommy is now rubbing shoulders with Hollywood royalty following his appointment in Masters Of The Air, with Speilberg and Tom Hanks.

The actor was previously spotted shooting scenes on the set of the show, which is based on the actions of the Eighth Air Force of the US Army Air Forces in the sleepy Buckinghamshire village of Bledlow.

Asked if 'rumours' of him working on a Spielberg film were true, Tommy coyly replied: 'Possibly, there might be a really top secret film.'

Clues: Tommy appeared on the show alongside his mother Jane who hinted that all may still have not been revealed

Tommy's mother also gushed how proud she is of her son, saying: 'Really pleased and excited for him yes.

'He takes everything in his stride and just goes back to his everyday life, he doesn't let it go to his head or anything. Very proud, yes. It's terribly exciting and amazing that Tommy has had so much support.'

She also told how the actor was sworn to secrecy and couldn't tell any of his friends about his Line of Duty storylines.

She said: 'A lot of Tommy's work is top secret. He kept Line of Duty secret for a year, he couldn't tell any of his friends.'
Megan Fox looked like she had time traveled from the Nineties when she was seen after sitting for an interview in the Los Angeles area on Wednesday.

The Jennifer's Body star, 34, had on a black blazer that doubled as a mini dress and made the most of her long, toned legs as she added black platform heels with an ankle strap.

The Hollywood icon was on her way to the car when she made the impressive fashion statement.

She's got legs! Megan Fox looked like she had time traveled from the Nineties when she was seen after sitting for an interview in the Los Angeles area on Wednesday

It was all business for this mother of three who used to be wed to Beverly Hills, 90210 star Brian Austin Green.

The raven-haired looker was spotted leaving a taping of The Kelly Clarkson Show in Universal City, California.

The actress looked stunning in a black corset blazer by Thierry Mugler and a pair of towering platform shoes with ankle straps.

The Transformers star styled her locks down in soft waves and added to her look with a smoky eye and a blood red pout.

She was seen getting into the driver's seat of her own car as she left the show which is operating with a small Covid-safe staff as they adjust back into live studio tapings.

So stylish! The Jennifer's Body star, 34, had on a black blazer that doubled as a mini dress and made the most of her long, toned legs as she added black platform heels with an ankle strap

Was on a chat show: It was all business for this mother of three who used to be wed to Beverly Hills, 90210 star Brian Austin Green. The raven-haired looker was spotted leaving a taping of The Kelly Clarkson Show in Universal City, California

The star is promoting her upcoming thriller Midnight In The Switchgrass, which comes out in July.

The actress stars with Bruce Willis in the film along with her boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly whom she met for the first time on the set back in March of 2020.

Megan, who plays Bruce's partner in the film, sits down with him for some coffee in a more low-key image from the production.

Getting behind the wheel of an SUV: The Transformers star styled her locks down in soft waves and added to her look with a smoky eye and a blood red pout

Karl Helter (Bruce) and Rebecca Lombardi (Megan) are in the midst of an investigation to break up a sex-trafficking ring in Texas when they find their investigation intersecting with the path of a notorious Texas serial killer, known in real life as the Truck Stop Killer.

In order to track down the serial murderer, they team up with Texas Ranger Byron Crawford, played by Once Upon A Time In Hollywood's Emile Hirsch, who has been on the killer's tail for years.

But Bruce and Emile's characters are forced to kick their investigation into high gear after Fox's agent is kidnapped by the killer, leaving them with little time to find her alive.

First look: It comes after the first stills from Megan's upcoming thriller Midnight In The Switchgrass were released on Friday (pictured with co-star Bruce Willis)

Chilling: They star as FBI agents who run across a serial killer's trail while trying to break up a sex-trafficking ring in the creepy crime film

Although the killer in the film is inspired by the Truck Stop Killer Robert Ben Rhoades, the film has little connection to the real case, and Rhoades never abducted an FBI agent.

Rhoades is currently serving a life sentence without parole after being convicted of murdering three women, though he may have slain more than fifty women during his active years.

Lukas Haas is also featured in the film, as is Orange Is The New Black's Jackie Cruz.

New love: Not featured in the first batch of film stills was Megan's boyfriend, rapper and rocker Machine Gun Kelly, 31, whose credited in the film by his given name, Colson Baker. In this post she called her beau a 'blonde angel baby'

Not featured in the first batch of film stills was Megan's boyfriend, rapper and rocker Machine Gun Kelly, 31, whose credited in the film by his given name, Colson Baker.

Megan has seemingly been inseparable from the rapper since the start of their relationship.

She recently shared a short clip of herself jumping into MGK's arms while at UFC 261, the first indoor sporting event to allow full attendance since the start of the pandemic.

And in April she called the rocker her 'blonde angel baby.'

Stunning: Fox looked nothing short of sensational as she shared a series of snaps of herself donning a skintight sheer top on Tuesday

Megan was previously married to Beverly Hills, 90210 star Brian Austin Green from 2010 until their separation last year.

The former couple share three sons, Noah, eight, Bodhi, seven, and Journey, four.

The siren was also seen in a sheer black tank top on Instagram this week.

The cover girl posed in front of a pink and purple cloud background with a halo above her head. Alongside the snap, Megan wrote in upside down font: 'A case of mistaken identity'.
Rooney Mara opened up about motherhood in rare comments she shared ahead of her first Mother's Day.

The 36-year-old actress made the remarks in an open letter for the Farm Sanctuary Mother's Day campaign that she shared with People magazine on Wednesday.

'As a new mom, Mother's Day has taken on a special meaning this year,' Rooney said, who shares a baby boy, River, nine months, with Joaquin Phoenix, 46.

Speaking out: Rooney Mara opened up about motherhood in rare comments she shared ahead of her first Mother's Day. The 36-year-old actress made the remarks in an open letter for the Farm Sanctuary Mother's Day campaign that she shared with People magazine on Wednesday. Seen in 2019

'Raising our baby, River, has opened my heart to a whole new life filled with hope and more determination than ever to create a kinder and more sustainable world,' said the movie star.

'I feel so fortunate to be able to nurture my son in all of the ways that nature intended,' the Academy Award nominee continued, 'and I wish all mothers in the animal kingdom could experience that sacred maternal bond with their young, devoid of exploitation by humans.'

Founded in 1986, Farm Sanctuary is an American animal protection organization that shelters farm animals and advocates for laws and policies that promote animal welfare, animal protection and veganism. Joaquin and Rooney are both vegans.

To celebrate Mother's Day, Farm Sanctuary's campaign is seeking donations of $35 for the care of cow Jackie and her adopted calf, Dixon, goat Cynthia and her son Bruce, and Henrietta, a turkey who is also a grandmother.

Baby makes three: The notoriously private couple never officially announced the birth of their firstborn and Rooney's pregnancy, speaking about him for the first time in a 2020 op-ed. Seen in 2019

The private couple confirmed the arrival of their son in November 2020 after quietly welcoming him into the world last September.

The couple spoke about their child for the first time publicly in an impassioned People op-ed about the 545 children who have yet to be reunited with their parents after being separated at the US-Mexico border.

Phoenix and Rooney called the thought of being separated from their own child 'unbearable', and imagined having to answer to him as he grew curious about the subject later in life.

'How will we explain it to our son': Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara have spoken about their son for the first time since quietly welcoming him into the world two months ago (pictured 2020)

'As new parents, it's unbearable to imagine what it would feel like to have our child taken away from us for a day, let alone years,' the engaged couple wrote.

'But that's the very situation those 545 children and their parents have been living through. As Americans, it's our responsibility to continue paying attention to the plight of these families and get answers for why they still have not been located.'

The couple also wondered how they would be able to explain the situation to their son once he grew more curious about the topic.

'We have to ask ourselves: Is this the country that we want? Are these our values? How will it feel to explain to our son, when he asks us about this time and how we treated scared, defenseless children, some of whom may never see their parents again?' Rooney and Joaquin wondered.

Being held accountable: The couple imagined having to answer to their own son, who may one day grow curious about the subject. Seen in 2017

'For the sake of our nation's character, I hope we will be able to tell him that America unequivocally rejected this cruelty and demanded that our representatives did everything in their power to find those missing parents.'

A recent court filing revealed that the parents of 545 migrant children separated from their offspring at the US border have yet to be located.

The separations occurred in 2017, during a crackdown on illegal crossings at the US southern border, which Donald Trump promised to make a key part of his Presidency.

New addition: Joaquin and Rooney reportedly welcomed a baby boy named after the actor's late brother River Phoenix in August. Pictured in 2013

More than 1,000 parents were separated from their children during a 'pilot program', which occurred from April and December 2017, according to NBC.

The children separated from their parents allegedly include '22 children who were one year old and 28 children who were two years old'.

Joaquin and Rooney reportedly welcomed a baby boy named after the actor's late brother River Phoenix in August.

Director Victor Kossakovsky spilled the beans at the 2020 Zurich Film Festival after a screening of the film Gunda, on which Joaquin served as executive producer.

'He just got a baby by the way... A beautiful son called River,' the director told audience members at a Q&A.

The couple never officially announced the birth of their firstborn and Rooney's pregnancy, making the op-ed the first time they had ever spoken about him.
Junior Andre has told fans that he 'doesn't want to die' while sharing a dramatic update on how he's feeling amid his coronavirus battle.

The teen, 15, detailed how his symptoms have been changing, explaining that he's now suffering from a 'sore throat' but originally had a banging head and achey body.

Speaking during an Instagram Live, the son of Peter Andre and Katie Price also reassured fans that although not feeling 100 per cent it's 'not severe, just annoying'.

Update: Junior Andre has told fans that he 'doesn't want to die' while talking on Instagram Live to share an update with his fans amid his coronavirus battle (pictured in October)

During the Live video chat, filmed while he's in isolation with his family at his dad's house, some of Junior's followers asked if he was worried.

Staying positive, Junior replied: 'Don't manifest it. Listen, if it happens it happens. But I know God wants me to live my life to the finish, so I'm not gonna die from Covid and if I do, I do. I don't wanna die.'

Junior then detailed how his 'severe... just annoying' symptoms have changed since he started feeling poorly, before admitting that he's a little baffled as to why he's been getting them as a young person.

He said: 'The first few days, my head was the worst. My head was banging so much. I don't know how I got symptoms, because I'm a child, I'm 15. But my head was banging, my body was aching, my throat was fine.

Changes: The teen, 15, detailed how his symptoms have been changing, explaining that he's now suffering from a 'sore throat' but originally had a banging head and achey body

'And then all of a sudden my body's sort of stopped aching... my head still bangs but not as much... but my throat is so sore. It's killing me.

'It's not part of the symptoms I don't think, but maybe I've got something else with Covid. Yeah, I have Covid.'

Junior also detailed how feeling achey and having a 'bad backache' has meant he's had trouble staying occupied as he can't play his PlayStation 5.

He explained that looking at his phone or the TV screen while playing his games can make his 'head hurt' so he 'doesn't actually know what to do'.

He then continued that although he does have Covid and is showing a series of symptoms: 'It's not severe it's just annoying.'

Bad news: Junior announced he has tested positive for COVID-19 in an Instagram post shared last Thursday (pictured with his dad Peter in 2019)

Announcement: The eldest child of Peter Andre, 48 and Katie Price, 42 shared a message with his followers that read: 'I have tested positive for COVID'

Junior's sister Princess also gave fans an insight into their time in isolation as she shared a video to Instagram on Wednesday.

The teenager filmed herself while she was waiting for dad Peter to prepare the family's lunch, admitting that she was 'so bored'.

Showing their close bond, Princess and her doting dad bantered about making cups of tea each evening before having an 'opera-off' and him belting out 'Figero'.

Princess also received a call from her mum Katie while she was on live with her 410 Instagram followers, but declined the call saying it was probably her sister Bunny.

Trying to pass the time: Junior's sister Princess also gave fans an insight into their time in isolation as she shared a video to Instagram on Wednesday

Isolation: The teenager filmed herself while she was waiting for dad Peter to prepare the family's lunch, admitting that she was 'so bored'

Junior announced he has tested positive for COVID-19 in an Instagram post shared last Thursday evening.

He shared a message with his followers that read: 'I have tested positive for COVID.'

In the message, which was posted on a black background, the teenager also included anguished and fuming emojis.

It marks Junior's third brush with the virus. In March 2020, Junior revealed that he was showing symptoms of coronavirus, just hours after his father expressed fears over his children contracting it.

Taking to Instagram Stories, Junior said that while he has not been diagnosed, he was making sure he was staying safe.

Third time: It marks Junior's third brush with the virus. In March 2020, Junior revealed that he was showing symptoms of coronavirus (pictured with mum Katie last year)

Unwell: Both Peter and his wife Emily McDonagh, 31, have battled COVID (Peter pictured with Emily and daughter Princess, 13, who he shares with ex Katie)

Junior said: 'These aren't easy times as we know. I am videoing this to tell you I am showing symptoms of the coronavirus. It is not me saying I have it , I am showing symptoms. Everyone please stay safe these aren't easy times like I said.'

In November, Junior was forced to isolate again due to a coronavirus outbreak at his school. According to his dad, Junior was annoyed he still had to complete his lessons at home but luckily didn't have any symptoms.

The teenager splits his time between his father and mother's homes, as does his sister Princess Andre, 13, who Peter 48, also shares with Katie, 42.

Peter split from the former glamour model in 2009 after four years of marriage and went on to welcome Amelia, seven, and Theo, four, with his current wife Emily McDonagh, 31.

Katie is mum to Harvey, 18, from her relationship with Dwight Yorke. While she welcomed Bunny, six, and Jett, seven, with ex Kieran Hayler.

Peter also tested positive for Covid in December, while his wife Emily - who has been working as a frontline NHS doctor during the pandemic - tested positive in June.

As for Junior's mum Katie, she received her first vaccine in April alongside her beau Carl Woods, with both falling sick with a fever and nausea afterwards.

Katie's eldest son Harvey has now been fully vaccinated against the virus. The teen was rushed to hospital in February after his first dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine caused his temperature to sky-rocket.

He has allegedly suffered little reaction to his second dose.
Brenda Song has been seen for the first time since she welcomed her first child on April 5 with partner of four years, Macaulay Culkin of Home Alone fame.

The former child actress, 33, held her baby close to her chest in a leopard print carrier as she was spotted walking in Los Angeles.

By her side was her mother Mai Song, 55, who wore a black dress.

There they are! Brenda Song has been seen for the first time since she welcomed her first child on April 5 with partner Macaulay Culkin of Home Alone fame

The Suite Life Of Zach and Cody star wore a Louis Vuitton bucket hat that put shade on her sunglasses.

The star added an oversized grey and white plaid blouse, soft beige linen trousers, and Golden Goose trainers. A black purse hung from her shoulder as she added several bracelets and rings.

Her mother had on a black tank dress and Birkenstock sandals with sunglasses and a small necklace.

Easy style: The former child actress, 33 held her baby close to her chest in a leopard print carrier as she was spotted walking in Los Angeles. By her side was her mother Mai Song who wore a black dress

Culkin, 40, and Song has their first child in early April.

The couple welcomed baby boy Dakota into the world in Los Angeles, California, who weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces, according to Esquire magazine.

In a joint statement, the couple admitted they were 'overjoyed' with the arrival.

Last February, Macaulay previously revealed he is trying for a baby with Brenda.

Baby joy! The couple welcomed baby boy Dakota into the world in Los Angeles, California, who weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces, according to Esquire magazine

He confessed: 'We practice a lot. We're figuring it out, making the timing work. Because nothing turns you on more than when your lady comes into the room and says, "Honey, I'm ovulating."'

Culkin arrives for the 2018 American Music Awards in Los Angeles

Macaulay - who is best known for starring in the Home Alone franchise as a child - is eager to have children soon, as he's noticing his body is changing as he gets older, and wants to start a family while he's still young.

He added: 'I got an ulcer or two I gotta deal with. I don't poop like I used to. My body's like, "Oh, is this what the beginnings of dying feel like?"'

The actor describes himself as a 'homebody', and Brenda agrees.

She said: 'People don't realize how incredibly kind and loyal and sweet and smart he is. Truly what makes Mack so special is that he is so unapologetically Mack.

'He knows who he is, and he's 100 percent okay with that. And that to me is an incredibly sexy quality. He's worked really hard to be the person he is.'

Kissing on camera: The lovebirds attended the sixth biennial Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) telecast at the Barkar Hangarin 2018 in Santa Monica, California

Macaulay says he's also a man of 'simple pleasures', and loves nothing more than taking a hot bath before spending time with his girlfriend.

He said: 'You know what I'm going to do after this? I'm gonna take care of my back - I'm gonna take a hot bath. I have a video queued up: the history of Castlevania, the Nintendo game.

' It's fifty-five minutes long, and that's the perfect bath-time amount of time. I'm gonna stretch my back out, kiss my animals, and go to sleep with my lady. I'm a man of really simple pleasures.'
He's in the process of rebuilding his life following an intense season of The Bachelor rife with multiple racial controversies.

And Matt James admitted he's 'spoken to therapists' after putting his heart on the line in front of millions of viewers as the first Black Bachelor in the 18-year history of the ABC dating program.

The 29-year-old reality show star also spoke with WSJ. Magazine about giving a second chance to winner Rachael Kirkconnell after the pair broke up when past mistakes came to light shortly after the show aired.

Blooming: Matt James admitted he's 'spoken to therapists' after putting his heart on the line in front of millions of viewers as the first Black Bachelor in the 18-year history of the ABC dating program

The Bachelor ended in heartbreak and controversy in March after James gave Rachael his final rose but opted not to propose, but then revealed he broke up with her while their pre-taped episodes were still airing when 'racist' images of her attending a plantation-themed party were exposed online, along with evidence of past racially-insensitive social media posts.

'I have spoken to therapistsI wouldn't say I have a specific therapist,' he said. 'As you talk about things, that's when the healing can start.'

Matt, who had been with Rachael since Thanksgiving last year when the show wrapped, said he initially dismissed reports of her social media activity as 'dark and nasty' rumors when they emerged in late January.

But when an image of her attending a plantation-themed sorority ball photo was revealed in early February, Matt  whose After The Final Rose special wasn't taped until March  said he decided to call it quits.

Doing his best: The 29-year-old reality show star also spoke with WSJ. Magazine about giving a second chance to winner Rachael Kirkconnell after the pair broke up when past mistakes came to light shortly after the show aired

'I have spoken to therapistsI wouldn't say I have a specific therapist,' he said. 'As you talk about things, that's when the healing can start'

A nicer time: While Matt didn't offer a proposal on the finale of The Bachelor, he did end up giving Rachael his final rose

The pair recently decided to give their relationship a second chance and have been spotted reconnecting in New York.

'I think the best way to put it is that we can have critical conversations about being in this relationship and what I need in a partnerespecially if that woman isn't Blackto understand what comes with me and my life and being Black,' he said.

'It's on people who care about being allies to do the work to be truly antiracist,' James says. 'And I think it's unfair to leave people without the ability to unlearn and be better.'

The After The Final Rose special marked the first time that the former couple had come face to face since their split, and saw Rachael apologizing to Matt in-person, while describing him as 'the love of her life.'

Making it work: The pair recently decided to give their relationship a second chance and have been spotted reconnecting in New York; seen on Instagram last year

Photos surfaced of contestant Rachael Kirkconnell at a plantation-themed party in 2018 as well as a history of liking photos with the Confederate flag

She also insisted that she is taking the time to educate herself about racism.

Rachael made the apology in front of host Emmanuel Acho, a stand-in for long-time host Chris Harrison who agreed to step back from hosting duties for a time after initially leaping to Rachael's defense, then backtracking with his own apology.

During the special, Matt said: 'You wanna believe that you know your person better than anybody else knows your person. This controversy swirling around who Rachael is and events she might've attended, pictures that she liked and people that she's associated with.

'I'm trying to be there for her, and I dismissed them as rumors, because that's what they were to me. You hear things that are heartbreaking and you just pray they're not true. And then, when you find out that they are it just makes you question everything,' he added.

He also told WSJ. Magazine that during his time on the show, he never had sex with any of the women in the elusive fantasy suite, a place where final contestants can connect the chosen suitor without cameras rolling.

'I can't speak for anybody but myself, but I think the women appreciated it,' he said, 'Because I did learn things about them that I hadn't gatheredthat I don't think I would have learned if I hadn't used that time to really dive deeper into something that they might not have been comfortable talking about on camera.'
Stranger Things stars Maya Hawke, Joe Keery and Gaten Matarazzo were back throwing themselves into character on the set of their hit Netflix series on Tuesday.

The trio were spotted filming season four at Hawkins High School, where a police car, military truck and tent sat mysteriously outside.

Following safety precautions, all three of the stars wore face masks in between takes of the award-winning sci-fi show.

Lights, camera, action! Stranger Things stars Maya Hawke, Joe Keery and Gaten Matarazzo were back throwing themselves into character on the set of their hit Netflix series on Tuesday

The stars appeared to already be dressed in character as they waited for their cue.

Joe, 29, wore a blue sweater, jeans, and white Nike trainers, while costar Maya, 22, sported suspenders over a plaid top.

Gaten, 18, sported an unbuttoned shirt over a long-sleeve top and belted slacks.

In addition to their eighties apparel, photos showed all the action yet to unfold in the upcoming fourth season.

Camera ready: Keery was spotted wearing a blue long-sleeve top, jeans, and Nike trainers

Safety first: Like his co-stars, Gaten sported a protective face mask as a precaution against coronavirus

Parked outside of Hawkins High School was a school bus, a Hawkins Police Department car, and a military Jeep.

A military tent was also set up outside the school.

The new photos come amid the release of a new Stranger Things teaser posted to YouTube, entitled 'HNL Control Room.'

Set to French opera music, the eerie teaser focuses on six different monitors, all playing static.

Something's happening: A police car sat parked outside of Hawkins High School

Mysterious: A military truck and tent were also set up outside the school

As the video progresses, however, mysterious images briefly flicker on each screen, including a blood-stained magic eight ball and game of chess.

The description promised news coming soon: 'Due to technical difficulties, Hawkins National Laboratory will be closed until further notice. We will be back in service tomorrow at 9:00AM ET.'

Stranger Things fans took to the comments section and social media to speculate on what was to come.

So far, a release date for season four has yet to be announced.

Since 2016, Stranger Things has been mesmerizing viewers with the story of a mysterious young girl, her friends, and the supernatural forces up against them.

What does it mean? The new photos come amid the release of a new Stranger Things teaser posted to YouTube and entitled 'HNL Control Room'

Creepy: The video focused on seven different monitors, all playing static before briefly displaying creepy images
Australian comedian Hamish Blake and his beauty entrepreneur wife Zoe Foster Blake have debuted their new Tourism Australia ad.

The duo chase waterfalls, go snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef and explore the stunning Kimberley region in the campaign.

The pair bring their own brand of humour to the ad as they encourage viewers to 'holiday here' and 'go big' by exploring Down Under.

New campaign: Australian comedian Hamish Blake and his beauty entrepreneur wife Zoe Foster Blake thrill fans in a new Tourism Australia ad

The commercial begins with the pair standing in front of the iconic Big Prawn in Ballina near Byron Bay, which is a hit with tourists on road trips.

'Oh Australia, no one loves the big things more than me. The big pineapple, big banana, big potato, prawny, but I reckon we can find an even bigger big thing,' Hamish begins in the clip, as they move from the Prawn to the Great Barrier Reef.

'What about the big barrier reef?' Hamish says as he jumps into the crystal blue water in a bright blue wetsuit.

Iconic locations: The ad begins with the pair standing in front of the iconic Big Prawn in Ballina, near Byron Bay, which has become a hit with tourists on road trips, before exploring the Great Barrier Reef

Cheeky: The pair bring their own humour to the ad as they encourage viewers to 'holiday here' and 'go big' by exploring Down Under. 'What about the big barrier reef?' Hamish says as he jumps into the crystal blue water in a bright blue wet suit

The pair soon head to South Australia's Kangaroo Island to eat lobster and admire seals on the beach.

They also explore the Purnululu National Park in Western Australia, in the Kimberley region, and go swimming in a waterfall at Litchfield National Park in the Northern Territory.

'You know Zo, I think Australia IS the big thing,' Hamish says as they float in the water.

Seeing the sights: They also explore the Purnululu National Park in Western Australia, in the Kimberley region

How nice! They even go swimming in a waterfall at Litchfield National Park in the Northern Territory

'You know Zo, I think Australia IS the big thing,' Hamish says as they float in the water

'Yep,' Zoe replies as they relax in the water.

Hamish is then heard saying: 'Let's go big Australia, because there's nothing bigger or better than a holiday here.'

Zoe shared the campaign on Instagram and said it was the 'complete stuff of dreams.'

'My husband and I are the luckiest pigs in Australia getting to shoot (together) at these breathtaking locations, places we'd always dreamed of visiting (e.g the Kimberley, pictured) but "never made the time."

She added: 'Time to go big, Australia.'
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, attends a press conference with India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar following a bilateral meeting in London, Monday. AFP-Yonhap



India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in Britain for G7 meetings, said on Wednesday he would hold his talks virtually after being exposed to possible coronavirus cases.



The foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States are wrapping up three days of talks in London ahead of a G7 leaders' summit next month in Cornwall in southern England.



India is not part of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies but was invited to the talks by Britain, which holds the rotating presidency of the group throughout 2021.



"Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases," Jaishankar tweeted.



"As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well."



Sky News earlier reported there had been two positive cases among the Indian delegation.



A senior British diplomat said in a statement that "we deeply regret" Jaishankar's absence for the in-person meeting on Wednesday.



"But this is exactly why we have put in place strict COVID protocols and daily testing."



Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in-person, with both wearing masks, on Monday evening on the sidelines of the foreign ministers summit.



Blinken has already received two coronavirus vaccine doses.



The US State Department said it had been advised, including by public health professionals in Britain, that its health protocols "would permit us to continue with our G7 activities as planned".



"We have no reason to believe any of our delegation is at risk. We will continue to follow the guidance of public health professionals going forward and abide by the same strict Covid-19 protocols," spokesman Ned Price said.



India, the world's second-most populous nation, has been hit by a devastating wave of infections in recent weeks that has taken its total number of cases to more than 20.6 million.



The massive spike  which has badly hit major cities including the capital New Delhi and financial hub Mumbai  has pushed the healthcare system to breaking point, overwhelming hospitals and leading to severe shortages of beds, oxygen and other critical medical supplies.



The country of 1.3 billion people on Wednesday reported more than 382,000 new infections and 3,780 deaths  its highest number of fatalities yet in the pandemic.



The G7 was due to discuss coronavirus vaccines Wednesday amid growing pressure on the group to share stockpiles and know-how with poor nations. (AFP)


In this file photo taken on Jan. 23, 2015, Melinda and Bill Gates attend a session at the Congress Center during the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos. The shock announcement that billionaire philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates are to divorce after 27 years of marriage has raised questions about the future of their hugely influential charity. AFP-Yonhap



As much as Bill and Melinda Gates might want to keep their pending divorce private, the split between the billionaire co-founders of the world's largest private foundation is sure to have very public consequences, with the breakup having already sent a wave of anxious uncertainty through the worlds of philanthropy and community health.



The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with an endowment of nearly $50 billion, donates about $5 billion annually to causes around the world. Last year, it donated $1 billion to combat COVID-19 through the administering of vaccines.



In a statement after the Gateses' announced their divorce on Twitter, the foundation said the two would remain co-chairs and trustees and that no changes in the organization were planned.



''They will continue to work together to shape and approve foundation strategies, advocate for the foundation's issues and set the organization's overall direction,'' the foundation said.



Despite such assurances, some say they worry that the split could shake up the foundation's plans. According to a filing in King County Superior Court Monday, the Gateses had no prenuptial agreement but have signed a separation contract.



The couple pledged in 2010 to donate the vast bulk of their fortune _ estimated by Forbes at around $133 billion _ to the foundation. Divorce attorneys say the committed money would no longer be considered marital property. Yet it remains unclear how the divorce might affect future donations to the foundation.



''There's no precedent for this, for what the Gateses represent both in their wealth and their status,'' said Benjamin Soskis, a historian of philanthropy and a senior researcher at the Urban Institute. ''Even more importantly, this reflects this new era that we're in which these engaged living donors really dominate the landscape in a way they haven't for a century.''



Through their philanthropic efforts, the Gateses reshaped attitudes about the obligation of the uber-wealthy to leverage their vast fortunes for the public good in enduring ways. Years ago, they created the Giving Pledge, along with Warren Buffett, to persuade their fellow multi-billionaires to commit to give away the majority of their wealth.



Linsey McGoey, author of ''No Such Thing as a Free Gift: The Gates Foundation and the Price of Philanthropy,'' suggested that the philanthropy world is most likely concerned about the divorce in part because past such marital breakups have sometimes caused disruptive changes at foundations.



When the British hedge fund billionaire Chris Hohn and his wife, Jamie Cooper, divorced in 2013, it resulted in management problems at their charity, the Children's Investment Fund Foundation. The breakup also triggered a prolonged legal fight over whether another member of the fund should vote to approve a $360 million grant to a new charity founded by Cooper. The United Kingdom's Supreme Court eventually ruled last year that the money should be given to Cooper's initiative, Big Win Philanthropy.



''People do fear that when a divorce like this happens, it can really emphasize the volatility surrounding private giving and the fact that private giving is so contingent on the whims of a couple,'' McGoey said. ''The fact that we don't really know the long term ramifications of this divorce on the foundation just highlights the fact that we are too reliant as a society on the whims of wealthy people when it comes to voluntarily distributing their excess wealth.''



At the same time, some experts note that for years the Gateses, who were married in Hawaii on New Year's Day 1994, have each pursued their own interests within the foundation as well as their own separate investment funds. Since 2008, Bill Gates has had Gates Ventures. And, in 2015, Melinda Gates founded Pivotal Ventures, which focuses on helping women and families in the United States.



''In a sense, they've decoupled already,'' Soskis said. ''They have emerged as two distinct individuals with distinct approaches and focus areas already. And in some sense that might make the divorce easier in an institutional setting because they already have the distinct lines.''



One definite change, though, is that when Bill and Melinda Gates tackled an issue together as philanthropy's ultimate power couple people naturally paid it significant attention. Especially in recent years, Soskis said, Melinda Gates' impact on the foundation could be seen in its approach to education funding and gender equity issues.



''She's done this not only behind closed doors but by being somebody who kind of tempers Bill Gates,'' Soskis said. ''It was actually a part of her public personality, her public identity and we all could see it sort of happening.''



A dominant player in development and global health, the foundation wields outsize influence as the largest private donor to the World Health Organization. That's why recent comments from Bill Gates about protecting intellectual rights for coronavirus vaccine manufacturers upset some global health experts. Gates has come out against sharing the intellectual patents for the COVID-19 vaccines, arguing that the manufacturing process for the shots needs scrutiny. Some critics faulted his sentiments as favoring profits over supply.



''It was a crushing disappointment to hear that,'' said Lawrence O. Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University. ''It's not just a side issue; it's the most consequential issue facing the world today.''



Because the foundation has been a long-established entity with a large professional staff, experts say any changes that might happen because of the divorce would likely be incremental and happen over an extended period.



A shakeup, McGoey argues, could even be beneficial for a foundation that is managed by three trustees: the Gates and Buffett. She suggested that ''having an organization so tightly run by a small group of people is not necessarily good for creating a diversity of ideas, and for ensuring that different ideological perspectives are widely represented.''



Though questions have circulated about how the divorce might affect the couple's pledge to donate a majority of their wealth to the foundation, Susan Moss, a New York-based divorce attorney who has worked with high net-worth clients, says that shouldn't be a concern.



With philanthropic commitments, Moss says, there's usually a three-pronged test to determine how it's going to play out in divorce proceedings.



''Both spouses need to know about it, both spouses need to agree and the commitment needs to have happened prior, and not on the heels of the divorce,'' she said. ''All three prongs have been met in this case.''



''The money that has been committed to the foundation will stay going to the foundation,'' she added. It ''likely will not be held up because there is so much evidence that each party knew, each party agreed and it's not on the heels of a divorce.'' (AP)


Neel Bhatt, a UW assistant professor of otolaryngology, specializes in treating patients with voice problems. Through his work, he began to realize people did not like the sound of their own voices. With the transition to school over Zoom, many students can relate to the discomfort of hearin
According to a media outlet, G-Dragon paved the way for Korean idols to become brand ambassadors for high-profile luxury brands.

Keep on reading to know more.

G-Dragon Named as the Reason Why Luxury Brands Started Selecting Korean Idols as Brand Ambassadors

It is quite evident that over the past couple of years, there has been an increase in Korean idols being selected to become brand ambassadors for many high-profile luxury brands, such as BTS for Louis Vuitton, EXO's Kai for Gucci, BLACKPINK's Jennie for Chanel and more.

However, what propelled these luxury brands to select Korean idols as their brand ambassadors? According to Money Lab, BIGBANG's leader and rapper, G-Dragon, was the one who paved the way.

According to the media outlet, Chanel held a fashion show in Paris, France, back in 2015. In this show, G-Dragon was present at the time, which later became a hot topic among netizens and media outlets as it was the first time an Asian star, let alone a Korean idol, to be invited to the show.

Since G-Dragon's Chanel's fashion show appearance, Korean idols have gradually started to become representatives and ambassadors in the luxury goods industry.

Back then, the term "ambassador" only meant that the brand would borrow the celebrity's image and name for marketing purposes. But in recent years, ambassadors have started promoting products and services more effectively by wearing the product itself or using it.

Korean Idols' Influence as a Brand Ambassador to Luxury Brands

As more Korean idols become brand ambassadors for these luxury brands, there is a noticeable increase in sales for the latter.

In March 2020, EXO's Kai, who is an ambassador for Gucci, partnered with the brand for a special collaboration on an exclusive collection, making him the first-ever Korean celebrity to do so with the luxury brand.

The Kai x Gucci collection featured knitwear that retails for 1.77 million won (approximately $1,570 USD), and just less than a day of its release, the knitwear, along with the others in the collection, was completely sold out, showing tremendous popularity.

BTS, who became a brand ambassador for Louis Vuitton in April, already led the brand to have its products go out-of-stock even before their ambassadorship.

After Virgil Abloh, Louis Vuitton's artistic director for the men's collection, posted a video interview with BTS on his Instagram account, a T-shirt that was worn by Jimin immediately went out-of-stock in all countries, showing BTS's brand power.

According to Jeong Do-jin, a professor of Business Administration at Chung-Ang University, now that recognition of Korean idols has expanded throughout the world, ambassador marketing has become suitable for expensive brands. He adds that ambassador marketing is not suitable for low-cost and mass-produced products. That is why there is a tendency for luxury brands to select Korean idols with intangible values.

However, there are also mixed concerns that this type of marketing of luxury brands is promoting over-consumption by the younger generation who have a desire to "show off" their purchases of these luxury goods.

But it is quite clear that Korean idols have led fans to learn Korean and the Korean culture, which created a value that cannot be converted to economic value alone.

For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Robyn Joan
Fresh off the success of their hit Where You Come From, American record producer DJ Khaled shared with Bounty Killer that he should reach out to Jamaicas Prime Minister to get his Jamaica birth certificate.

The Dancehall artist assured him that he would be reaching out to Andrew, Jamaicas Prime Minister, to make it official. This is a big marketing tool for the Jamaica tourist board so Edmond Bartlett, (the islands Tourism Minister) he should take note of this.

Both men had an impromptu Instagram Live today, where they revealed that DJ Khaled will also be producing a song off Bounty Killers upcoming album King of Kingston.

DJ Khaled said Bounty Killer was the first to co-sign him when he only had $100 dollars in his pocket and was making $100 per week. You were always rich in soul Khaled, your soul is of Gold man, Bounty Killer assured him.

I know you genuinely love this. This record is for the culture to give you your Jamaican birth certificate. They know that you are a yard man at heart.

DJ Khaled asked Bounty Killer what was his favorite Bounty Killer song and he replied Look Into My Eyes is my biggest song but Mama She Is Not In A Good Mood is my favorite due to the sentimental value.

Khaled asked why he didnt do a video and Bounty confessed he was never a Video artist.

I was a sniper I think I was not too good for the screen its just in the new era of YouTube and they say you gotta do videos but if you notice all of my great hits Anytime, look into my eyes, poor people fed up none of them had no videos.

DJ Khaleds Khaled Khaled is currently the number one album on iTunes and Spotify. The single Where You Come From featuring Bounty Killer, Buju Banton, Capleton, and Barrington Levy is number 71 worldwide and number 12 on the Hip Hop chart. The music video is number 3 on the iTunes Hip Hop chart.

Bounty Killers King of Kingston will come 18 years after his last album Ghetto Dictionary, which was released by VP Records in 2002. It will be executive produced by Damian Marley.
Thank you for reading!

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Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has imposed curfew from 12 noon to 6 am the next day from May 5 for two weeks.

The state government issued an order on Tuesday, stating that all firms, shops, establishments, offices, educational institutions, restaurants and others would remain closed from 12 noon and would reopen after 6 am the next day. However, hospitals, diagnostic labs, pharmacies and those dealing with supply of essential services were given exemption. They include: print and electronic media; telecommunications, internet services, broadcasting services, IT and IT-enabled service; petrol pumps, LPG, CNG, petroleum and gas outlets; power generation, transmission and distribution; water supply and sanitation; cold storage and warehousing services; private security services; all manufacturing industries to operate duly following Covid appropriate protocol and all agriculture operations including procurement of agriculture produce to be allowed with Covid protocols.

The order said that movement of all persons to be prohibited from 12 noon to six am the next day. However, officers of GoI and GoAP including those of AP High Court, other courts, urban local bodies and panchayat raj institutions would be allowed on emergency duty on production of valid duty pass and identity card. All medical personnel including doctors, nursing staff, paramedics and providers of hospital services will be allowed. Pregnant women and persons receiving medical care would be allowed to move. Persons coming from/going to airports, railway stations, bus stands would also be allowed on production of valid tickets.

All inter-state and intra-state movement of essential and non-essential goods are permitted. Intra- and inter-district public transport shall not be allowed and inter-state public transport shall also remain suspended from 12 noon to six am the next day. Functions like marriages and others which are already scheduled and cannot be rescheduled shall be carried out with a maximum of 20 persons with due permission from the local authorities duly following Covid appropriate behaviour.

Any violation of the instructions shall result in prosecution under Sections 51 to 60 of Disaster Management Act, 2005, and Section 188 of IPC and other applicable laws.

EXEMPTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS

 Movement of individuals with valid passes, IDs

 All those engaged in essential services

 State/Central govt employees on emergency duty

 All medical, nursing and paramedical personnel

 Pregnant women and persons receiving medicare

 Travellers on production of valid tickets
Hyderabad: Allaying fears of an imminent lockdown, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar said the Telangana state government was not in favour of any such measures as they were unlikely to serve the purpose. He said the government was, however, taking every possible step to control the spread of Covid-19 in the state, adding that the situation in Telangana was much better than in many other states, including Telanganas neighbours.

Somesh Kumar, while addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, also spoke about Telanganas strategy for containing the spread of coronavirus saying that anyone with symptoms should visit the Covid-19 out-patient clinics at all government health centres and get themselves checked. Those who are determined to have symptoms, will be given medicine kits for Covid-19 and should start medication and isolate themselves. In the event the symptoms persist even after five days of medication, they should seek medical help again and will be given additional medications as needed, he said.

The Indian Council of Medical Researchs latest guidelines suggest to begin treatment if someone has symptoms, something Telangana is already doing. If this is done, then people get early treatment and the chances of Covid-19 patients turning serious will be reduced, and bring down hospitalisations. The ICRM guidelines are a paradigm shift in Covid-19 management, he said.

The Chief Secretarys comments come in the wake of the government earlier issuing instructions to all testing centres it runs across the state to limit the number of daily tests for Covid-19. The government had previously said that anyone with symptoms must assume that he or she has caught Covid-19 and should begin medication.

He said the state had stocks of testing kits, and was in the process of starting new RT-PCR testing centres in all districts soon, adding that the state as on Wednesday, had a stock of 11 lakh Rapid Antigen Test, and 3 lakh RT-PCR test kits. We are in the process of getting more, he said. Telangana has a stock of 9,00,100 Remdesivir doses. But there is no guarantee that Remdesivir saves lives but there are indications that it might reduce hospital stay among Covid-19 patients. As the days go by, I see a downward trend coming with regard to demand for Remdesivir, he said.
The MLA distributed PPE kits to all Muslim JAC members and was there when 21 bodies were being placed on Mahaprasthanam and JAC vehicles.  DC file photo

NELLORE: Even as blood relations are abandoning bodies of their kin, who succumbed to Covid, Tirupati legislator Bhumana Karunakar Reddy arranged the last rites of 21 unclaimed bodies lying in the mortuary of Ruia Hospital at Tirupati on Wednesday.

He garlanded the decomposed bodies, most of which were emanating foul-smell, and handed them over to his followers, who are members of Muslim Joint Action Committee, for cremation.

Incidentally, the JAC team had performed last rites to 501 bodies during the first phase of Covid last year with the cooperation of Karunakar Reddy.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, he lamented that fearing infection people were leaving their kin in the lurch.

Stressing that financial constraints are not the reason for the relatives to ignore last rites, he said the fear over possible Covid infection has been keeping them away from lighting the pyre.

I am above 60 years old. I have twice tested Covid positive. Yet I am not afraid to participate in funerals. My intention is to drive away baseless fears among people he explained.

The MLA distributed PPE kits to all Muslim JAC members and was there when 21 bodies were being placed on Mahaprasthanam and JAC vehicles.

Tirupati civic body members Venkatesh, Narendra and SK Babu, chairman of Ruia Hospital development committee Chandrasekhar and superintendent Dr Bharathi was present.
A video clip of a board being positioned again from where it was removed in the canteen is also being widely shared by the DMK men.  DC file photo

Chennai: A video clip of two DMK men removing and throwing away two flex boards embossed with the name and picture of 'Amma' from a state-run canteen here went viral on Tuesday and they were expelled from the party.

The AIADMK and PMK condemned the vandalism and sought tough action against those responsible.

The party filed a police complaint against them and the duo was arrested, DMK leader and former Mayor of Chennai, Ma Subramanian told reporters.

The boards were placed again in the same spots in the canteen and the two men have been booked under various sections of the IPC, he said.

'Amma' is a popular moniker of late Chief Minster and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa and low cost 'Amma Canteens' are run by civic bodies in Tamil Nadu and here by the Chennai Corporation.

The flex type boards had Tamil words announcing 'Amma Canteen,' in addition to information on food that was being served in the eatery.

Subramanian said party chief M K Stalin ordered expulsion of the two men from the party, filing a police complaint against them and putting the boards back in the same place.

They don't hold any posts in the party. They were ordinary members and have been expelled. Party mouthpiece Murasoli will carry the news on their expulsion in tomorrow's edition, Subaramanian said.

The video, apparently shot on a mobile phone by unknown people also showed women, who appeared to be workers quietly standing and witnessing the vandalism.

The clip that went viral in social media was also posted by the AIADMK on its twitter handle.

The AIADMK also shared photographs that showed a framed picture of Jayalalithaa lying on the floor, vegetables and some utensils strewn around the canteen kitchen.

In another picture, two policemen were seen assessing the scene of vandalism while workers looked on.

A video clip of a board being positioned again from where it was removed in the canteen is also being widely shared by the DMK men.

The AIADMK, in a statement, alleged that violence and political incivility of people belonging to the DMK has started to rear its head again and it is condemnable.

The attack on Amma Canteen cannot be accepted, party top leaders O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami said, adding the low cost eatery chain was launched by late 'Amma' Jayalalithaa to ensure that no one suffered due to hunger.

During heavy rains, deluge and the present COVID-19 pandemic too, the Amma Canteens have done yeoman service to people and damaging the picture of Amma caused anguish, they said and condemned it.

The top leaders wanted Stalin to ensure stringent action against those who cause a disruption of law and order.

PMK founder S Ramadoss condemned the vandalism and sought tough action against those responsible for it. He said the people would not pardon such acts.
Explaining that the experience of conducting a physical survey of 18 acres of land owned by him, the Judge said, the report of the District Collector indicates that he might have conducted the survey by sitting in his car and going around the land and prepared an enquiry report in sitting in his room.  Twitter

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday found fault with the Medak district collector and other officials in conducting a survey and inspection in the lands of Jamuna Hatcheries, which belongs to the family members of former minister Etela Rajender, without issuing notices or intimation to them. The court said that the action was a clear violation of Articles 14, 19, 21 and 300-A of the Constitution, and Section 153 of the Telangana State Land Revenue Act.

There is no provision of law which is shown to the court under which the district collector has conducted a detailed survey and filed a report. The only reason shown is that a complaint was received against the petitioners stating that assigned lands have been encroached by the petitioners, the court said.

These observations were made by Justice Tadakamalla Vinod Kumar on Tuesday while hearing a house motion petition filed by Jamuna Hatcheries Private Limited, represented by its director Etala Nithin and his mother E. Jamuna. The petition was against trespassing by the Medak district collector and other revenue officials into their lands in Hakimpet and Achampet villages of Medak district and conducting the survey without issuing notices to them.

The petitioners urged the court to direct the authorities to not take any coercive steps against them based on a report prepared by the officials, which stated that the petitioners had encroached on 66 acres of assigned land.

Responding to the officials hotfoot in preparing a report within 24 hours by conducting a survey and enquiry on allegations, Justice Tadakamalla Vinod Kumar wondered if the Chief Secretary, collectors and other officials showed similar quick response to all complaints, which came to their notice.

If so, what the authorities have acted on the complaints about violations of GO111. Have the authorities never received complaints, which are grievous to it? Justice Vinod Kumar asked.

Stating that prima facie there has been a serious violation of the principles of natural justice and also non-adherence of the provisions of the Telangana State Land Revenue Act, Justice Vinod Kumar suggested, If the government finds any violations and illegalities of encroachment of assigned lands by Jamuna Hatcheries, then go ahead at the front gate, not go by the back gate by violating the rule of law and using the force, Justice Vinod Kumar observed.

Amazed at the 42-page report submitted by the officials within 24 hours of an order for enquiry issued by the Chief Minister of Telangana, the judge said, When the Chief Secretary has directed the collector to conduct an enquiry, vis-a-vis, when the collector had ordered a tahsildar to conduct survey and inspection? At what time, the tahsildar gave back the report by inspecting the site and conducting a survey? When did it reach the collector? Is it possible within one hour? What Mr Advocate General, in your long service, have you ever seen this swinging response from the state machinery, Justice Vinod Kumar asked Advocate-General B.S Prasad.

Replying to the questions posed by the Judge, the advocate-general said the allegations were made against the minister. So an immediate report was asked.

The Advocate-General, however, said that it was a preliminary report and a summary report will be prepared by following the due process of law. Mr Prasad said there was no embargo in law or the Revenue Act, which restricts the collector or revenue officials of designated rank to enter into agriculture lands owned by individuals or the government to inspect.

Reacting sharply to the contentions of the A-G, the judge questioned as to which law empowers the collector or his officials to go directly into private properties to conduct inspections and to erect boards stating that the land belongs to the government, without hearing the affected parties.

The Constitution ensures every citizen has something called freedom or fundamental rights, they cannot be breached by authorities. If so, how can it be tolerated, Judge said.

While reading the report of the district collector, which says that a detailed and full survey has been conducted, the Judge wondered as to how could the District Collector conduct a detailed survey of 120-odd acres of land in a single day. Even if it is a digital survey, a person has to go for the survey by holding a digital compass on the land, the Judge asked.

Explaining that the experience of conducting a physical survey of 18 acres of land owned by him, the Judge said, the report of the District Collector indicates that he might have conducted the survey by sitting in his car and going around the land and prepared an enquiry report in sitting in his room.

Mr D. Prakash Reddy, senior counsel appearing for Jamuna Hatcheries, opposed the contention of the A-G, who informed the court that the report of the district collector is preliminary in nature. The senior counsel insisted that no law permits an official to hold a preliminary enquiry, without putting the petitioner on notice.

After lengthy arguments and considering oral undertaking by the Advocate-General that the officials would proceed further by following due process of law, the court directed the district collector, Medak, to follow the procedure of relevant laws on the complaints received against the lands pertaining to Jamuna Hatcheries in Hakimpet and Masaipet villages of Medak district.

The court has further directed the Director-General of Police, Director-General, Vigilance and Enforcement, ACB and Medak Superintendent of Police against taking any coercive steps against the petitioners.

The court also issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Medak District Collector, Toopran RDO, Masaipet mandal revenue officer directing them to file their responses to the contentions raised by Jamuna Hatcheries within four weeks and adjourned the hearing to July 6.
The doctor is in. A recreation of the Peanut's psychiatric help is seen on Wadas Avenue in Upper Darby. The need for mental health has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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A new 4 million retail store is set to open in Limavady at the weekend, bringing 90 new jobs to the County Derry town.

Home Bargains, one of the UK's largest family-run retailers, will officially open their new store on Catherine Street at 8.00am on Saturday May 8.

One local charity is set to benefit from the retailer's presence, with cross-community charity Limavady Community Development Initiative (LCDI) to receive a 2,000 donation from the company.

The group employ 70 people and have delivered a range of innovative projects throughout the area and further afield since their foundation in 1987.

Wendy McAleese, LCDI's Finance Officer, said the group were grateful for the donation.

"On behalf of LCDI, I want to say how delighted we are to have been selected by Home Bargains as its nominated charity on the opening of the new store here in the town," she said.

"This generous donation will help support a number of our projects across the borough, such as Roevalley Community Meals, Limavady Food Bank & Social Supermarket, Limavady Toy Bank and many others.

The 17,567 sq ft store in Limavady joins over 500 similar stores throughout the UK, and will come with its own in-store bakery.

Manager Ryan Kealy has expressed his pride at the development.

"Having worked in retail for eight years, Im thrilled to be joining the Home Bargains team," he said.

"This is certainly a special moment and one Ill cherish for the rest of my career. Catherine Street will be a great location for us and were proud to be able to offer local people top-branded goods at exceptionally low prices.

East Derry MLA Cara Hunter also welcomed the addition of Home Bargains to the north Derry town.

"This is great news that Home Bargains is opening in Limavady this weekend with the creation of 90 jobs," she said.

"This is an excellent retail addition to the town. I am delighted to see this investment in East Derry and it will be a boost to the local economy, particularly as we emerge from lockdown and the economy recovers from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"It is particularly good news as well that the local charity Limavady Community Development Initiative is to receive a 2000 donation from Home Bargains."
Arjun Bijlani Opens Up About Choosing Khatron Ke Khiladi 11 Over Dance Deewane This Year

Naagin actor Arjun Bijlani was one of the first contestants to confirm that he will be participating in Rohit Shettys stunt reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi season 11. His fans were over the moon with joy and eagerly waited to see him do stunts. Arjun also shared that he was thrilled and was looking forward to the new adventure. He will soon be travelling to Cape Town with the rest of the contestants, where the team will shoot for a month.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arjun Bijlani (@arjunbijlani)

This isnt the first time that Arjun was offered the stunt reality show. However, it would always clash with Dance Deewane, which is hosted by the actor. But this time he decided to choose Khatron Ke Khiladi instead. He shared, It's been quite some time now that they wanted me to do Khatron Ke Khiladi but my dates always clashed with Dance Deewane. So this year I am doing KKK instead. That will surely be refreshing for fans!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arjun Bijlani (@arjunbijlani)

Arjun further shared that leaving his family behind is tough, but the show must go on. So now hes trying to get vaccinated before he leaves the country. While he is going in with a positive attitude, the actor is worried about creepy crawlies! He explained, These crawlies moving on our body is gross. I am not sure how I'll react to that.

Well, we wish him all the best!
Varun Sood Reveals He And Girlfriend Divya Agarwal Were Offered Bigg Boss Thrice, Here's Why They Rejected It

Varun Sood is all set to take some adventure and perform daredevil stunts in the latest season of Khatron Ke Khiladi, whose shoot is all set to start in Cape Town in a few days. Varun has risen to popularity with his stint in another adventure-based reality show, Roadies. Now, he has revealed that he and girlfriend Divya Agarwal had been offered Bigg Boss thrice, but they rejected it.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Varun Sood (@varunsood12)

Talking to ETimes, Varun revealed, "I am not keen on doing Bigg Boss. I have been getting the offer to do the show for the last 3 years but I've always turned them down. I won't be able to do Bigg Boss because it is a very difficult show. Right now we are in a lockdown situation and it has been very difficult for me to cope up with lockdown, so going inside the BB house and without any outside communication or contact would be very difficult for me. I don't think I will ever be able to do the show."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Varun Sood (@varunsood12)

He further added, "Divya and I have been offered the show together and individually also but we have always denied the offer in these last 3 years. It's such a difficult show that I don't think we will be able to do it together also. In Bigg Boss you are staying inside a house for close to six months and you meet different characters there and there are times when you don't get along. If Divya and I agree to do the show also, we will have to stay with people who we don't get along well with and it gets very messy and difficult. There's never a problem between Divya and me, we live a very peaceful life, but living inside the BB house with people who you don't get along well with can get difficult and that's the reason we don't want to do the show. I think there will be a lot of mental pressure if we do that show."

Well, we can't complain since we would soon see him in Khatron Ke Khiladi. He will be flying to Cape Town tomorrow.
Cayman Islands ISP Logic Communications has launched a new fixed-wireless home broadband service in eastern districts of Grand Cayman not currently covered by its fibre-optic network.

According to a statement from the telecommunications outfit, the new 4G LTE service replaces a fixed-wireless network withdrawn in 2020 and provides download/upload speeds of 10Mbps/5Mbps for KYD65 (USD78) a month or 30Mbps/15Mbps (KYD105).

We are excited to finally be able to offer residents and businesses in the Eastern Districts of the island a great internet experience, Rob McNabb, CEO of Logic, said in a release from the company. Its been far too long that theyve gone without an internet product that can meet all of their needs, he added.

The launch of the service in the Eastern District marks the beginning of Logics yearlong roll-out of wireless broadband into other underserved and rural areas in Grand Cayman and its sister islands Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, said the release.

It plans to expand the footprint of its wireless and fibre-optic networks over the coming year to provide reliable broadband to 100% of Grand Cayman and Sister Island.

The operator also noted the LTE network will be upgradeable to 5G in the future.

McNabb, in his remarks, also thanked local regulator OfReg for a good job pushing us to expand our broadband coverage.
The Bookmonger is Barbara Lloyd McMichael, who writes this weekly column focusing on the books, authors and publishers of the Pacific Northwest. Contact her at barbaralmcm@gmail.com.
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Photo by Shannon Bunsen [enlarge] Representatives of the University of Washington, which is shown here, will discuss pathways to decarbonization.





AIA Seattle's Committee on the Environment will present a free program titled University of Washington's Pathway to Decarbonization: Planning, Policy and Practice from noon to 1 p.m. May 13.





. . .
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SEATTLE  The Christian Science Organization at the University of Washington building, at 4101 University Way N.E., sold for almost $6.5 million, according to King County records.

The buyer was Sandbox39 LLC, which is associated with related local companies Stripes39 and Chasing Unicorns, its investment arm.





. . .
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RENTON  Building E3 at Oakesdale Commerce Center, at 710 S.W. 34th St. in Renton, sold for over $7.6 million, according to King County records. The seller was BIT Properties LLC, which acquired the property in 2005 for about $2.5 million.

The buyer was BCIF Oakesdale LLC, associated with Black Creek Group of Denver. The deal was worth about $251 per square foot.





. . .


Senior iOS Software Engineer- Apple Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino) , California , United States Software and Services Summary

Posted: May 3, 2021 Weekly Hours: 40 Role Number: 200242372 The Apple Mobile & Messaging Apps team crafts mobile e-commerce and retail experiences through the Apple Store App, used by millions of Apple customers around the world. By integrating with revolutionary iOS technologies and high performance services, along with adopting the latest HI design standards, the Apple Store App sets the bar for iOS apps. In addition to the app, we also build the next generation of Apple's engagement and communication with customers through Messaging Apps, which powers the company's official accounts on WeChat and iOS Business Chat. Key Qualifications Strong object-oriented design skills

Deep understanding of object-oriented design patterns

Knowledge of multi-threaded, asynchronous code

Proven debugging and performance testing skills

Ability to write clean, well factored UI code

Real passion for quality and attention to detail Description The Apple Mobile & Messaging Apps team is seeking a Senior iOS Engineer to provide great user experiences for our customers who are seeking to purchase or learn more about our products. Come help us build a shopping experience that only Apple could provide. Experience building and shipping iOS applications is required. Experience with 3D engines is strongly preferred. You will work with hardworking engineers in a dynamic, technically fast paced environment. You'll be encouraged to demonstrate creativity in problem solving with the ability to think quickly to come up with solution in time-condensed situations. You should be self-motivated and passionate about driving forward the customer experience with an eye for detail. We promote the ability for you to experiment with new Apple technologies that can have a strong impact on the applications our team produces. We're looking for a hardworking and passionate person to join this amazing team, if you feel this is you, we'd love to hear from you. Education & Experience Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field, or equivalent work experience.


Dundalk Chamber has been shortlisted for three national awards.

Chambers Ireland have announced the shortlist for the Chamber Awards 2021.

The shortlist demonstrates the strong level of activity that was maintained by Chambers around the country despite the difficulties presented by the ongoing pandemic.

Cross-Chamber collaboration is evident from the list of nominations.

Two infrastructure projects, both recognised in the Most Successful Policy Campaign category, were the result of cooperation between Chambers.

Dundalk Chamber and Drogheda Chamber have been shortlisted for their work on the M1 Corridor project.

Dundalk Chamber was also short listed in the Category Best Virtual Event for their - Cross Border Tourism Conference "Learn from the Best which was moved online in April 2020 and was attended by over 200 delegates from all over Ireland.

Dundalk Chamber Skillnet was also shortlisted in the category Most Innovative Project for the Working from Home Series.

President of Dundalk Chamber Sean Farrell said: Dundalk Chamber was delighted to be shortlisted in three categories.

"These projects display the ongoing commitment of the Chamber to provide high quality events, training, and projects to the business community of Dundalk and its environs."

The winners of the Chamber Awards will be announced over an eight-day period from June 17-25.

Awards will be presented for excellence in seven individual categories with one Chamber also taking home the award for Chamber of the Year 2021.
Over 115,000 has been spent on clearing diesel sludge in Louth the first four months of 2021, according to Sinn Fein councillor Edel Corrigan who added that the latest dump happened in broad daylight close to the border.

Cllr Corrigan said: "We continue to see illegal dumping activity throughout Louth and unfortunately on May 1, in broad daylight between 12:30 and 1:30pm a further six cubes of sludge where dumped at The Annie's area of Faughart

"Having made many reports of similar activity in the area I queried the council about the financial costs and impacts of clean ups in addition to the obvious environmental problems of such activities.

"The council has told me the estimated cost of removal / cleanup of each sludge waste cubes is cost per cube is 1,250.

"The total amount of cubes recovered in 2021 so far is 93.

"The total cost of this is funded by the Department of Environment, but this is, of course, taxpayers money that could be better spent.

"That is a total of 116,250 so far this year.

"Unfortunately it appears to be a reoccurring theme that people dump in more remote areas and often in our areas of outstanding beauty.

"In the past year, there have also been a number of cases where dumping of these cubes have been in close proximity to rivers and streams which could cause irreversible damages to our wildlife and environment.

"We need to encourage people to report any activity of dumping to stop the ongoing damage to our local environment and waste of funding that could be far better spent on improving our local communities.

"The work and efforts by the local litter wardens, council staff and local communities to clear waste as quick and effective is much welcomed and appreciated as their quick reactions help prevent areas becoming hotspots.

Cllr Corrigan said that it is "disappointing and disheartening" that there is still no clarity on the issue of the use of CCTV for litter enforcement.

"This is due to a legal issue has arisen about the transposition of the EU directive into Irish law which prevents the deployment of CCTV for litter enforcement at present", she continued.

"The government needs to act on this right now as preventative measures are needed and this is a better way to spend cash rather than on clean ups.

"Anyone with information should contact the relevant authorities if they witness illegal dumping activities."
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Claremont, NH (03743)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 53F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Where are the best places to shop? Who gives the best haircut? Who cooks the best burger? Join our readers in selecting the "Best of Windham."

Make your picks!


A Brand's Guide to Digital Shelf Analytics | eBook

What can you do to improve your digital commerce game? The first rule of the digital shelf is to make sure your products can be found. Some might say its mission impossible. Unless, of course, you use digital shelf analytics (DSA). Get the eBook Today!

A legal dispute between Google and Oracle over software copyrights has now been decided, with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of Google. The Court's decision in Google LLC v. Oracle America Inc. was released on April 5, 2021.

The decision ended 10 years of tortuous litigation. While the Court definitively addressed the dispute between the two high tech giants, it put aside answering one critical infringement factor. Still, the ruling appeared to reduce the legal leverage available to software developers who seek copyright protection.

Oracle contends the decision could have a chilling effect on copyright protection. "The Google platform just got bigger and market power greater -- the barriers to entry higher and the ability to compete lower. They stole Java and spent a decade litigating as only a monopolist can. This behavior is exactly why regulatory authorities around the world and in the United States are examining Google's business practices," said Dorian Daley, executive vice president and general counsel at Oracle.

The case centered on Google's use of portions of Oracle's Java code in the development of Google's Android technology. The long journey of the dispute actually started after Google acquired Android in 2005. "To allow the millions of programmers" who were familiar with the existing Java SE programming language to work with its new Android platform, "Google copied roughly 11,500 lines of code from the Java SE program," according to the Supreme Court's case summary.

Android Development Triggered Code Copying

Litigation began in 2010 after Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems, the originator of the Java program. When discussions between Oracle and Google over the use of Java failed, Oracle initiated the litigation with a suit against Google, claiming that Google had violated both patent and copyright protections related to Google's use of the "declaring" Java codes. Potential damages were estimated at $8 billion.

The copied lines are part of a tool called an application programming interface or API, which allows programmers to call upon "prewritten" computing tasks for use in their own programs.

Over the course of protracted litigation, the lower federal courts considered two basic issues. The first was the issue of legal 'copyrightability' -- that is whether Oracle, as owner of Java SE, actually had the legal right to claim protection for the code in the first place.

The second was that assuming Oracle's Java SE did enjoy copyright protection, whether Google was exempted from honoring that protection by virtue of the "fair use" legal principle.

Fair use is a legal doctrine that promotes freedom of expression by permitting the unlicensed use of copyright-protected works in certain circumstances, according to the U.S. Copyright Office. As guidance, the office uses four 'fair use' factors. The Supreme Court essentially ruled that Google qualified for the exemption because it complied with the copyright office criteria.

The litigation bounced between federal district and appeals courts with decisions in favor of each party at various stages. Eventually, a federal circuit court of appeals found that Google's use of the relevant portions of Java code was not permissible. Google then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, contending that software interfaces are not entitled to copyright protection, and that, even if they were, Google's use of the Java APIs would constitute fair use.

The Supreme Court, applying the four factors, agreed with Google, and said Google's use of the code did not violate copyright protections.

Why Google Won, Lessons Learned

While the Supreme Court's 36-page ruling included detailed descriptions of programming technology and related legal concepts regarding "fair use," the decision essentially boiled down to the Court's conclusion that Google's use of the Java code served more of a functional and operational purpose rather than the hijacking of an original and creative work.

The Court asserted that the portion of the Java code at issue, categorized as declaring code, was far at the legal margin of an acceptable original and protected work.

Instead, the Court reasoned that the Java code used by Google was "inherently bound together with uncopyrightable" technology for the creation of a new expression and thus permissible as fair use under the four factors criteria. By use of an API, the Java code essentially morphed into a functional form which allowed Google to adapt it for Android purposes.

Also, the Court held that Google's use was "transformative" because it offered programmers a tool for creating additional software programs -- for a "further purpose or of a different character" -- which themselves could become eligible for copyright. That building block nature of the use was well within legally permissible bounds, the Court reasoned.

Regarding other factors, the Supreme Court determined that Google's use had virtually no negative impact on Oracle's market for Java. Lastly, the court observed that Google used only the portion of the Java code that was necessary for the Android project. The 11,500 lines of code at issue amounted to a small fraction of the 2.8 million lines of Java code, the court noted.

Blueprint for Fair Use Defense

The Supreme Court's decision was somewhat of a mixed bag. For example, the Court consciously declined Google's request to address whether or not the Oracle software was actually "copyrightable," at all.

To do so would have required the Court "to articulate a clear standard, which in turn would serve as a threshold" for all future software copyright cases, said David Herrington, a partner at Cleary Gottlieb. "But it was clear from oral argument that several justices struggled with how to draw that line," he told the E-Commerce Times.

On the 'fair use' issue, the Court noted that such cases are highly specific in terms of the facts and the circumstances of each different case, with the implication that outcomes could differ as well.

In a direct legal sense, that may be true, according to Herrington. But at the same time, the Google-Oracle decision is "broadly impactful" because it capitalizes on fair use as a "robust defense" for parties accused of copyright infringement, he said.

"In one of the most interesting passages of its opinion, the Court spelled out how fair use can come into play in a way that should serve as a road map for defendants seeking to develop this defense," Herrington said. Thus, defendants in a copyright case are well advised to not only focus directly on copyright law, but also include fair use as a key element of their legal strategy, he noted.

For a plaintiff seeking copyright protection, the Court's decision "will be seen as erecting another hurdle to overcome," Herrington said.

Win for Software Devs

Others are more emphatic about the benefits of the Supreme Court decision in opening up access to various software offerings. For example, the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) has advocated in favor of more openness for decades and filed an amicus brief supporting Google in the Supreme Court case.

"After years of legal wrangling on this issue, the Supreme Court has confirmed that using limited amounts of functional code to promote interoperability is fair use, not infringement," CCIA president Matt Schruers told the E-Commerce Times.

"This is a significant win for software developers now; and future innovators that want to enter the market with competing products without having to negotiate a license with the very company that they would be competing with," he noted.

John K. Higgins has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2009. His main areas of focus are U.S. government technology issues such as IT contracting, cybersecurity, privacy, cloud technology, big data and e-commerce regulation. As a freelance journalist and career business writer, he has written for numerous publications, including The Corps Report and Business Week. Email John.


Effingham, IL (62401)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 81F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable.
Manx National Heritage welcome proposed registration of historic buildings

Manx National Heritage has welcomed proposals to include a number of buildings and war memorials on the Isle of Mans Protected Buildings Register.

The Isle of Mans Protected Buildings Register marks and celebrates the special architectural and historic significance of a building, and brings it under the consideration of the planning system, so that it can be protected for future generations.

The oldest roofed building on the register is the Old Grammar School. Owned by Manx National Heritage, the building was built around 1200AD as the first town church in Castletown.

Under the latest round of proposed registrations, buildings have been identified under themes, the maritime buildings theme includes towers, lifeboat stations, and the boat house at the Nautical Museum. Five lighthouses are also under consideration including two on the Calf of Man designed by the world renowned engineer Robert Stevenson.

Steve Blackford, Head of Properties for Manx National Heritage (MNH) said: Manx National Heritage welcomes proposals to register a number of historic buildings across the Isle of Man. We are particularly delighted to see the Nautical Museum considered for registration. Our Conservation Management Plan for the site supports this conclusion and we welcome the registration process.
Athens, AL (35611)

Today

Rain showers this morning with numerous thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. High 82F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 69F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
In what's sure to be great news for Uber drivers and on-demand delivery workers, the US Department of Labor announced that it's rescinding the Trump administration's "independent contractor rule," which would have made it simpler for employers to classify gig workers as contractors, rather than employees. The move, which takes affect on May 6th, is meant to ensure that gig workers retain worker protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Those include guaranteeing minimum wage payment and time-and-a-half minimums for overtime, protections that don't exist if you're classified as an independent contractor.

By withdrawing the Independent Contractor Rule, we will help preserve essential worker rights and stop the erosion of worker protections that would have occurred had the rule gone into effect, US Secretary of Labor, Marty Walsh, said in a statement. Legitimate business owners play an important role in our economy but, too often, workers lose important wage and related protections when employers misclassify them as independent contractors. We remain committed to ensuring that employees are recognized clearly and correctly when they are, in fact, employees so that they receive the protections the Fair Labor Standards Act provides.

Rescinding the Trump-era rule is just the first step, though. According to Reuters, Walsh says he plans to speak with on-demand companies about ensuring their workers have access to steady wages, as well as benefits like sick time and healthcare. For gig workers, it means they'll finally be treated like legitimate employees, rather than fairly disposable labor. Given just how hard Uber and Lyft fought for Prop 22 in California though, which classified their drivers as contractors, employers likely won't accept the government's new demands easily.
Facebook is testing Neighborhoods, a Nextdoor-like feature that gives you a way to join community-based groups, in Canada. The company will expand its availability to select US cities "soon," as well. People started seeing glimpses of an early version of the feature last year, and the social network admitted at the time that it was indeed testing such a tool. Now, Facebook has detailed what Neighborhoods can do for you in a post by product manager Reid Patton. Simply put, the feature is a dedicated section for groups, which can help you connect with the local community and find new places to explore nearby.

Patton wrote:

"People have always used Facebook to connect with their neighbors... Throughout the pandemic and especially in the past year, weve seen just how crucial these connections can be. Facebook Neighborhoods makes it easier to do this, bringing the local experience across Facebook into one place."

When you get access to the feature, you'll be able to join a Neighborhood (or "Neighbourhood" in Canada) group for your own town, as well as groups for surrounding towns. You can create a special Neighborhoods profile that's different from your main one if you want neighbors to know only certain things about you, but you'll have to be 18 and above to be able to join. If you're looking to find people with shared interests, you can find groups for specific activities (say, video or board gaming) or create your own that will be accessible within the Neighborhood tab.

The section will also have a Recommendations feature where you can find suggestions from the community for local places to explore. You can vote on polls for your favorite places and businesses in the area, as well, or check out what others are voting for if you're new to the neighborhood.

Facebook will show a screen reminding you to be kind and inclusive when you join a group. "Make neighbors feel welcome, regardless of their race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity or ability," the notice reads. Neighborhoods will have moderators to police posts, and users will be able to report posts, which Facebook could remove if they truly violate the website's community guidelines.

That Patton's introduction to Neighborhoods discusses the new feature's moderation and safety measures does't come as a surprise. A lot of people use online platforms to spew racism and hatred, and companies have to think of ways to deal with the issue. Nextdoor, for instance, recently introduced "anti-racism notification," which pops up if it detects phrases such as "All Lives Matter" or "Blue Lives Matter" and will prompt the author to reconsider using such language. Last year, the service also pulled the "Forward to Police" feature, since it was being used to make racially-biased reports.
With some Google employees returning to the company's offices voluntarily last month, CEO Sundar Pichai says the tech giant will adopt a new hybrid work week. In an expansion of a pilot that started in December, most employees will spend approximately three days working out of the office and the other two "wherever they work best." How that split will work out in practice will depend on a worker's product focus and the team they're a part of.

Additionally, Google will offer more opportunities for employees to move around. By mid-June, it will introduce a process that will allow workers to apply to work from a different office. What's more, all employees will have the chance to work up to four weeks away from their assigned office temporarily. Google also plans to develop more remote roles and even teams made up entirely of people that aren't all in one place. The company will also allow employees to apply for remote work within their product area. When it comes to working out of a different office and taking on a remote role, the company says it will consider the needs of the employee's team.

"Whether you choose to transfer to a different office or opt for completely remote work, your compensation will be adjusted according to your new location," Pichai says of the policy. With the above changes, the executive estimates about 60 percent of the company's workforce will work onsite a handful of days every week. Twenty percent will work from home, while another 20 percent will end up in new office locations.
Google has a new way to preserve endangered languages: give cultures the AI tools they need to protect the languages themselves. The company has launched Woolaroo, an open source photo translation web app (also available through Google Arts & Culture for Android and iOS) that uses machine learning and image recognition to help preserve languages on the brink. As a user, you just have to point your phone's camera at an object to have the AI recognize and describe it in a given language, complete with pronunciation.

Woolaroo's real power comes from its open nature, however. Communities can use the platform to expand vocabularies on their own terms. If you remember a word that hasn't been covered yet, you can add it (and its pronunciation) with relatively little trouble. That could be particularly important for languages that don't have unique words to describe modern concepts like phones or computers. You can modify or delete entries if they're inaccurate, too.

The app initially offers exploration of 10 languages from around the world, including Maori, Yiddish and Australia's indigenous Yugambeh. We won't be surprised if that expands quickly, though. UNESCO has determined that "at least" 2,572 of the world's estimated 6,000 languages face at least some danger. Although Woolaroo won't guarantee that languages will stay in active use, it could keep them and their associated histories from fading into obscurity.
Its amazing that the Star Wars juggernaut (enabled by the Disney industrial complex) has managed to ringfence one entire day each year to peddle new shows, movies, toys and the rest. If you survived yesterday without seeing Gandalf doing the Spock salute with some white text saying May The Fourth Be With You, youre living a better life than me.

Sneering aside, I got something out of May 4th  the briefest glimpse of a working lightsaber that extends and retracts a blade of what looks like light. The device definitely looks far more expensive than my double-edged Dark Maul saber from 1999, and there doesnt appear to be a plastic tube in sight. Patents unearthed after Disney showed off the saber suggest the blade is composed of LED-illuminated plastic, bright enough to obscure the fact it isnt actually a laser that could cut a robot in half.

The saber will feature first in an immersive two-day hotel experience at the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser luxury hotel.

There are also Star Wars-themed Instant Pots on sale and our thoughts on the first episode of the new animated series, The Bad Batch. That should be enough until next year.

 Mat Smith

Samy Bengio will reportedly head a new AI unit.

Apple has hired Google AI veteran Samy Bengio, who was among the company's most prominent employees to quit amid the fallout from its firing of two women researchers. Bengio will reportedly lead a new AI research unit at Apple. Bengio left Google last week after 14 years following the company's controversial dismissal of two ethical AI co-leads who reported to him. They had separately warned of the dangers of large language models and algorithmic bias. Bengio wont be alone as Google alumni: Apple has plucked several AI experts over the past few years, including John Giannandrea, who Bengio will report to. Continue reading.

There's no Google Store listing for the new buds, yet.

Twitter

The official Android Twitter account just revealed some previously unannounced new audio hardware, by tweeting (and then deleting) a post about the Pixel Buds A-Series. The post itself didn't say much about the new earbuds other than they include Google's new fast Bluetooth pairing experience, which first appeared on Fitbits Luxe wearable. (Fitbit is now owned by Google.) The last generation of Pixel Buds werent particularly sluggish at pairing, so hopefully there are some other improvements  or perhaps that A designation will mean a cheaper price. Expect to hear more at Google I/O, which kicks off May 18th. Continue reading.

They cant ban you from your own site.

Mere hours before Facebook's Oversight Board announced its ruling on whether or not it will allow the former president back on to its platform, Trump seized the initiative and unveiled a brand new communications platform of his very own. Take that, Big Social Media!

Behold the awesome golden glory of From the Desk of Donald J. Trump, a whole entire web page dedicated to giving Trump what he so desperately desires: somewhere on the internet to complain about how the rest of the internet is so mean and unfair to him. If you dont feel like clicking through, then know its just like every other blog youve seen for the last 20 years, filled with tweet-length posts that Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey cant delete even if they wanted to. Continue reading.

The LA Clippers star wore them in a game on Tuesday night.

Nike

Following an Instagram leak in March, Paul George and Nike officially unveiled the white PlayStation 5 colorway of his PG 5 signature sneaker. Nike and Sony designers worked together to develop the shoe before the PS5 had been unveiled and without Nike actually seeing it.

As such, they relied on SIE Art Director Yujin Morisawa's artistic vision and creative ethos" for the PS5 to inspire the shoes, which feature PlayStation shapes along the upper and references to the PS5's design on the upper and outsoles. In "select" global regions, you may be able to snag a pair starting on May 14th, and theyll be released in North America on May 27th. They will go on sale via Nike.com, the SNKRS app and at certain retail locations for $120. Continue reading.

Even Pixel phones aren't supported for that long.

After a lengthy four years of support for Android updates, Samsungs Galaxy S8 series (circa 2017) is being put out to pasture. Whats notable is just how long Samsung has pumped out security updates for the phones, longer than even Google does for its own Pixel devices. If youre still carrying an S8  and are cautious on security  it might be time to upgrade. Continue reading.

"Best Shape of My Life" leads YouTube's new original lineup.

Rachel Murray via Getty Images

Will Smith will helm a new YouTube original series about how he got fit mid-life, facing all the relatable struggles of keeping in shape when youre a wealthy celebrity with lots of money, free time and connections. Hopefully, Smiths charm should help assuage some of our cynicism. But probably not all of it. Continue reading.

But wait, theres more...

What's on TV this week: 'Mythic Quest,' 'Jupiter's Legacy' and 'Resident Evil'

Apple's 512GB MacBook Pro M1 is $200 off at Amazon

Apple TV+ snaps up another Tom Hanks movie

Valve adds a $1 per month stat tracking service to 'CS:GO'

Tesla may have paid $3 to buy patents for making cleaner EV batteries

The best gifts for grads under $50
It's no secret TikTok is popular among young people. As of 2021, Statista estimates 25 percent of the app's users fall into the 10 to 19 age bracket. They're the platform's lifeblood, creating some of its most memorable videos. So it makes sense then that TikTok is taking additional steps to protect those individuals. On Wednesday, the company said it had joined the Technology Coalition, an organization that includes the likes of Apple and Google and that works towards protecting children from online sexual exploitation and abuse.

"We hope to deepen our evidence-based approach to intervention and contribute our unique learnings from addressing child safety and exploitation," TikTok says of its reason for working with the Technology Coalition. As part of the move, the company will join the organization's board and several committees devoted to pushing forward protections for children. Working with experts on the issues that affect its app has been TikTok's primary approach to addressing problems like online child abuse. As just one recent example, the company announced earlier in the year it would work with the National Eating Disorders Association to promote body inclusivity.

With today's announcement, TikTok also pointed to some of the safeguards it has in place to protect minors. By default, the accounts of individuals between the ages of 13 and 15 are set to private, and only people over the age of 16 can use the app's live streaming and direct messaging features. The company introduced many of those measures after the US Federal Trade Commission fined it $5.7 million in 2019. At the time, the agency said TikTok had failed to handle the data of children properly. "There is no finish line when it comes to protecting the TikTok community," the company said. "We work each day to learn, adapt, and strengthen our policies and practices to keep our community safe and we look forward to building on all of these efforts through our partnership with the Technology Coalition."
U.S. Air Force Sr. Airman Francis Andrew explains the unlikely path that led him to enlist in the New York Air National Guard, from war-torn Sudan at the age of 7 followed by a series of refugee camps to U.S. citizenship 14 years later. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jamie Spaulding)
The Memorial Services celebrating and honoring the life of Susan Shorter, 72, of Enid, are pending under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.Brown-Cummings.com.
Prince Philip's cause of death has officially been revealed.

The 99-year-old monarch "peacefully" passed last Apr. 9, according to an announcement by Buckingham Palace.

Almost a month after his death, Prince Philip's official cause of death has finally been disclosed and it's simply stated as "old age," per the Daily Telegraph.

Though some are thinking that perhaps the royal family members, including his widow Queen Elizabeth II, are hiding something, there's nothing to hide.

According to experts in the UK, citing old age as the official cause of death for someone over 80 years old, who had only a doctor look over his care throughout the years is perfectly acceptable.

This would also mean that there's no other identifiable disease or injury responsible for Prince Philip's death.

Though it's obvious that the Duke of Edinburgh had several illnesses in the latter part of his years, including a heart scare just months before his death and throughout his final years, "old age" is still what the Palace is saying.

The Duke's death certificate was certified by Sir Huw Thomas, who is the head of the royal medical household.

The document was registered with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead by his private secretary, Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell, four days after he passed away.

Prince Philip's Full Name and Occupations on Death Certificate

Prince Philip's death certificate also gave a nod to his Greek heritage and his last name, Mountbatten, which is something he had reportedly fought for other British family members to use.

His full name was listed on the document as "His Royal Highness, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh formerly known as Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark formerly known as Philip Mountbatten."

Queen Elizabeth II's husband's first occupation listed two things: "Naval Officer" and "Prince of the United Kingdom."

But his second occupation is listed as "Husband of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, The Sovereign."

READ ALSO: The One Royal Family Member Struggling Following Prince Philip's Death Aside From Queen Elizabeth Revealed

Prince Philip's Private Secretary's Final Task

Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell served as the informant and his qualification was listed as "causing the body to be buried."

Since the start of the pandemic, the UK council requested that all deaths should be registered by phone.

While normally it's a relative who would register a death, anyone who was present at the death, whether an aide where they were present during the time of death or the person arranging with the funeral, are allowed to do so.

Miller-Bakewell headed a small team of staff who walked behind Prince Philip's coffin when it made its way to St George's Chapel from Windsor Castle on the day of his funeral.

READ MORE: Queen Elizabeth II Should Retire Following 95th Birthday, Royal Expert Explains Why

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
CW's The Flash is going to lose two key characters from the show, the next season won't look the same without Carlos Valdes (Cisco Ramon) and Tom Cavanagh (Harrison Wells). Both actors have been in the show for 7 seasons before bidding their goodbyes.

The Flash is one of America's most successful TV series with a whopping 7 seasons and has been airing since 2014, season 8 is set to air next year and the cast is expected to have a shakeup.

Two of the original cast members are Carlos Valdes who plays the role of Cisco Ramon Team Flash's resident nerd who's one of the creators of Flash's super-suit, his role was later on revealed to have metahuman powers and took the superhero persona of Vibe. and Tom Cavanagh who takes on the role of Harrison Wells  a brilliant scientist, as well as Flash's nemesis, Eobard Thawne.

Cavanagh was originally set to end his role as a series regular after Season 6 but because of the pandemic shutdown, Cavanagh continued to film three episodes of Season 7 for the sake of storylines. He's been credited as a guest star since.

Executive Producer and showrunner Eric Wallace issued a statement to Deadline regarding the actors' departure from the show "Tom and Carlos have been an integral part of our show for seven seasons and will be greatly missed,"

Wallace also added that both actors are welcome for future appearances "Both are incredible talents who created beloved characters that fans and audiences around the world have come to love. Which is why we are happily keeping the door open for return appearances." the executive producer stated.

READ MORE: 'The Flash' Star Ray Fisher: DC Film Removes Actor After Racism and Abuse Accusations

How will this exit affects the show's plot?

Ever since season 6 introduced Chester Runk and Allegra Garcia (both characters remained as a regular until Season 7) as new members of Team Flash, the show lessen their focus on Cisco and Harrison because the writers already knew that the actors will leave the series.

The biggest lost in the plot is their contribution to Team Flash because one character is key to a certain problem. Harrison Wells is a scientist that always solve science technology-related issues within the team. On the other hand, the group will also lose its resident techy geek Cisco Ramon/Vibe who has the power to read other people's thoughts.

Another big mystery is the future of Cisco Ramon's (Carlos Valdes) girlfriend Kamilla Hwang? It is still uncertain whether Kamilla will stay for Season 8 or will also exit the show alongside her love interest.

There is still a void on how Eobard Thawne/Reverse Flash's (Tom Cavanagh) character will continue. There is still no confirmation on how their characters will carry on but one thing's for sure, their characters will have an open-ended plot in the finale because the showrunner already stated that the show is open for future guest appearances from both actors.

READ MORE: 'Loki' Trailer Secrets: 5 Most Notable Scenes on MCU Flick's Special Look

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
The Kardashian-Jenner clan was emotional as seen in the mid-season teaser for "Keeping Up With The Kardashians". After a successful 20-season run, the family have been a household name to many Americans since the show's first airing in 2007. A short trailer was recently released for the next episode which will air on May 6, let's break down the teaser before the new episode comes out.

Kim Kardashian Crying Over Divorce With Kanye West?

Back in February, Kim Kardashian filed a divorce from Kanye West after seven years of marriage citing "irreconcilable differences" as the main reason for the breakup as well as the "big fight" rumors that allegedly happened in December. The former couple had 4 children.

It is not clear whether Kim was sobbing over the divorce situation but her statement in the clips shown in the teaser says a lot: "Think about all the times he's had big change hasn't been positive for him" Kim said in a clip, "I feel like a loser, you know?" Kim stated in a different clip while crying.

Whatever situation Kim Kardashian is in, momager Kris Jenner always got her back: "I just want you to be happy and joyful." Kris said, "Yeah, and I'm ready too." Kim replied. (watch the full teaser below)

READ ALSO: Will There Be A KUWTK Spinoff of Kim Kardashian's New Life As A Single Mom?

Other family members on the teaser

Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson became a hot topic these past few weeks after Khloe allegedly DM an instagram model named Sydney Chase who accused Tristan of cheating. Fans had also noticed that Khloe was ringless in a recent Instagram story post, the massive diamond ring was given to her last year and sparked engagement rumors.

Khloe was also seen in the one-minute teaser second-guessing her surrogacy decision: "I'm starting to wonder if surrogacy is really gonna work for me and my family" Khloe stated in a clip.

Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick was seen in the teaser arguing about their future together and there are still no signs of getting back with each other.

In the last part of the teaser, Kris Jenner emotionally thanked fans for their support throughout the show: "All of our fans and all of our followers had been so loyal, thank you, just thank you."

READ MORE: Kali Uchis Opens Up on "Telepatia" and Opportunities for Latina Women

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
MINNEAPOLIS - Chronic kidney disease is when a person's kidneys progressively lose their ability to filter waste from the blood and eliminate fluids. Now a new study has found that people with reduced kidney function may have an increased risk of developing dementia. The study is published in the May 5, 2021, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Chronic kidney disease affects approximately 15% of adults in the United States and it is more common as people age. However, since many people don't experience symptoms until later stages, it is estimated that 90% of people with chronic kidney disease don't know they have it.

"Even a mild reduction in kidney function has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and infections, and there is growing evidence of a relationship between the kidneys and the brain," said study author Hong Xu, M.D., Ph.D., of Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. "Just like with chronic kidney disease, the risk of dementia increases as people age. With no effective treatments to slow or prevent dementia, it is important to identify possible modifiable risk factors. If we could prevent or delay some cases of dementia by preventing or treating kidney disease, that could have important public health benefits. Our study shows that reduced kidney function is linked to the development of dementia, however it does not prove that it is a cause."

For the study, researchers used a database to identify nearly 330,000 people 65 years and older who received health care in the city of Stockholm and were followed for an average of five years. None of the participants had dementia or had undergone kidney transplants or dialysis at the start of the study. Over the course of the study 18,983 people, or 6% of participants, were diagnosed with dementia.

Creatinine is a waste product from muscles that is removed from the blood by the kidneys and released into the urine. Using blood tests of plasma creatinine, researchers estimated the glomerular filtration rate for each participant, a measure of how well the blood is filtered by the kidneys and that is commonly used to approximate kidney function. An estimated filtration rate of 90 milliliters (mL) per minute or higher is considered normal in most healthy people.

Using this measure, researchers then determined the rates of dementia in people with different levels of kidney function. They used person-years to calculate the difference. Person-years take into account both the number of people in the study and the amount of time each person spends in the study.

Researchers found as kidney function decreased, the rate of dementia increased. In people with a normal kidney filtration rate of 90 to 104 mL per minute, there were seven cases of dementia per 1,000 person-years. In people with severe kidney disease, or a filtration rate of less than 30 mL per minute, there were 30 cases of dementia per 1,000 person-years.

After adjusting for other factors that could affect dementia risk like smoking, alcohol use, hypertension and diabetes, researchers determined that people with filtration rates of 30 to 59 mL per minute, which indicates moderate chronic kidney disease, had a 71% higher risk of developing dementia compared to those with normal kidney function, and people with filtration rates of less than 30 mL per minute had a 162% higher risk.

Researchers also examined data on 205,622 participants who had multiple blood tests over one year. They used those tests to estimate the speed of kidney function decline. They found that a steeper decline in a person's filtration rates during this time frame was also associated with a higher risk of a dementia diagnosis later on.

According to researchers, 10% of the dementia cases could be attributed to a filtration rate of 60 mL per minute or less, which is a higher proportion of dementia cases than those attributed to other dementia risk factors like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

"Our study identifies chronic kidney disease as a possible risk factor for dementia, however while it shows an association, it does not prove that it is a cause," said Xu. "More research is needed to determine the exact reasons for the association. Still, our findings raise awareness of the link between these two conditions and may help health professionals develop and implement strategies to screen for kidney disease and monitor kidney function in people at risk of dementia. Identifying and treating cases sooner may reduce the risk of dementia."

A limitation of the study was that dementia was identified by clinical diagnoses. Access to participants' medical records may have helped to identify more cases.

###

The study was supported by the Swedish Research Council and Karolinska Institute.

Learn more about dementia at BrainandLife.org, home of the American Academy of Neurology's free patient and caregiver magazine focused on the intersection of neurologic disease and brain health. Follow Brain & Life on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

When posting to social media channels about this research, we encourage you to use the hashtags #Neurology and #AANscience.

The American Academy of Neurology is the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with over 36,000 members. The AAN is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit AAN.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Media Contacts:

Renee Tessman, rtessman@aan.com, (612) 928-6137

M.A. Rosko, mrosko@aan.com, (612) 928-6169
Top researchers, clinicians and educators will be recognized for their outstanding contributions virtually this year during NUTRITION 2021 LIVE ONLINE

The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and the ASN Foundation are proud to announce the 2021 recipients of its scientific achievement awards.

"The 2021 ASN award recipients are an esteemed group of scientists whose contributions and dedication to advancing nutrition research, education and practice are inspiring," stated ASN President, Lindsay Allen, PhD. "We are thrilled to shine the light on our members' remarkable achievements."

As previously announced, due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns and uncertainty around travel restrictions, the ASN Board of Directors made the decision to host Nutrition 2021 as an interactive, engaging, and safe virtual event: NUTRITION 2021 LIVE ONLINE, June 7-10.

In lieu of in-person recognition, ASN will celebrate both 2020 and 2021 award winners virtually leading up to and during NUTRITION 2021 LIVE ONLINE. Connect with ASN across all social media platforms to stay up to date on all festivities surrounding the world's largest online gathering of nutrition professionals #NutritionLiveOnline. Senior Investigator Lectureships

George Bray Outstanding Scientific Achievements Award in Obesity Research

Endowed by Dr. George W. Bray and his wife Marilyn Bray

Eric Ravussin, PhD, Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Gilbert A. Leveille Lectureship and Award

Steven H. Zeisel, MD, PhD, Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Mid-Career Awards

Nevin Scrimshaw Mid-Career Award in Global Nutrition

Supported by the Sight and Life Foundation

Alison Gernand, PhD, MPH, RD, The Pennsylvania State University Young Investigator Awards

Bio-Serv Award in Experimental Animal Nutrition

Supported by Bio-Serv Inc.

Andrew Steelman, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

E.L.R. Stokstad Award

Endowed by the Stokstad Family

Aditi Das, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Mead Johnson Award

Endowed by Mead Johnson Pediatric Nutrition Institute

Hannah D. Holscher, PhD, RD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Mary Swartz Rose Young Investigator Award

Supported by the Council for Responsible Nutrition

Nancy E. Moran, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine

Norman Kretchmer Award in Nutrition and Development

Taren Swindle, PhD University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Vernon Young International Award for Amino Acid Research

Endowed by Ajinomoto Co., Inc

Marlou Dirks, PhD, University of Exeter Scholarships and Fellowships

ASN Predoctoral Fellowship: Mars, Inc. Predoctoral Fellowship

Supported by Mars, Inc.

Cynthia Klobodu, MBChB, MPH, Drexel University

ASN Predoctoral Fellowship: The Gerber Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

Endowed by the Gerber Foundation

Akriti Shrestha, MS, RN, Syracuse University

Herbalife Nutrition Scholarship

Supported by Herbalife Nutrition

M. Alan Dawson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, Florida State University

Science Policy Fellowships

Heather E. Schier, MS, The Ohio State University

Jessica Garay (formerly Redmond), PhD, RDN, CSCS, FAND, Syracuse University Other Awards

ASN Industry Recognition Award

Andrea W. Wong, PhD, Council for Responsible Nutrition

ASN's Understanding Nutritional Science Video Competition

To be announced, learn more at: nutrition.org/contest

ASN Volunteer of the Year Award

Presented to the Minority and Diversity Affairs Committee (MDAC)

Sonia Vega-Lopez, PhD, Arizona State University, MDAC Chair

Stavros Kavouras, PhD, Arizona State University

Deshanie Rai, PhD, FACN, OmniActive Health Technologies

Nadine R. Sahyoun, PhD, RDN, University of Maryland, College Park

April Stull, PhD, RDN, FAND, Baylor University

Margarita Teran-Garcia, MD, PhD, FTOS, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Lisa M. Troy, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Korean Nutrition Society (KNS) Award

Christos S. Mantzoros, MD, DSc, Harvard Medical School

Milton L. Sunde Award

Endowed by the Sunde Family

Simone Passarelli, MS, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health

### About NUTRITION 2021 LIVE ONLINE

Following last year's highly successful virtual event that attracted 30,000 attendees from around the world, NUTRITION 2021 LIVE ONLINE will once again bring together top scientific researchers, practitioners, global and public health professionals, policy makers and advocacy leaders, industry, media and other related professionals to learn and share in a safe way. Mark your calendars for NUTRITION 2021 LIVE ONLINE to be held June 7 - 10, 2021. Register today to save your spot.

Follow #NutritionLiveOnline on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn About the American Society for Nutrition (ASN)

ASN is the preeminent professional organization dedicated to a healthier world through evidence-based nutrition. Founded in 1928, the society brings together researchers, medical practitioners, policy makers and industry leaders around the globe to broaden our knowledge and application of nutrition. ASN publishes four peer-reviewed journals and conducts activities to advance nutrition research, practice and education including hosting the annual meeting, NUTRITION. Visit http://www. nutrition. org to learn more.

Media Contact: media@nutrition.org
NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 -- Rein Ulijn, founding director of the Nanoscience Initiative at the Advanced Science Research Center at The Graduate Center, CUNY (CUNY ASRC) and Einstein Professor of Chemistry at Hunter College, has been awarded a U.S. Department of Defense's Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship -- the agency's most prestigious single-investigator award. The fellowship supports top-tier researchers at U.S. universities whose high-risk, high-reward work is of strategic importance to the Department of Defense. The five-year fellowship will provide $3 million to support Ulijn's work to understand how complex mixtures of molecules acquire functionality, and to repurpose this understanding to create new nanotechnology that is inspired by living systems.

"I'm very excited to have been selected as a 2021 Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellow," said Ulijn. "It's a true honor and massive credit to my research team that the Department of Defense has chosen to support our research. The award comes at a very good time for my lab. We have made a lot of progress recently in our ability to analyze the behavior of molecules in complex mixtures using both experiments and computation. The Award will give us the critical mass to accelerate this research and the freedom to explore new directions and connections. I am excited about what lies ahead."

The fellowship is supporting research rooted in the knowledge that all living systems are made from conserved sets of chemically simple biological building blocks. Nature's complexity and functionality arise from the endless number of interactions between these building blocks in time and space. The molecular basis of biological functions has mostly been studied using reductionist approaches that focus on one or a small number of biological molecules at the time. Ulijn's approach is fundamentally different because it does not start with the study of individual, known biomolecules. Instead, it begins with an unbiased, holistic study of mixtures of molecules that individually are simple and non-functional. As components of complex interacting systems, however, they give rise to functions such as chemical recognition, catalysis, energy conversion and motility. Using this method, Ulijn's expects to identify insights that allow his team to repurpose nature's molecules to design new functions that currently are not known in biology. The combination of complex science, biophysical chemistry and nanoscience could ultimately produce breakthrough materials and modalities with diverse applications in biomedicine, green technology and more.

"Professor Ulijn's work expresses fearless creativity," said Nina Gray, Graduate Center Associate Dean for the Sciences and Executive Director of the CUNY ASRC. "Evolution has created an impressive array of building blocks that don't constrain, but inspire, his and his team members' imaginations. With this important support from the Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship, Ulijn's research will expand and refine our bio-inspired nanotechnology toolkit and understanding of systems-level networks and design. This could allow us to achieve truly novel nanomaterials for a broad range of medical, environmental and defense applications. We are enormously proud to have Professor Ulijn recognized by the Department of Defense with this honor, and only two years after another member of the ASRC, Professor Andrea Alu."

"I am delighted that Professor Ulijn is being recognized for his pioneering research on adaptive biomimetic materials," said Graduate Center President Robin L. Garrell. "He is the second faculty member at the CUNY ASRC, following Andrea Alu in 2019, to receive this fellowship. Their success exemplifies the impact of the ASRC as a state-of-the-art interdisciplinary research center, and demonstrates our commitment to advancing science and engineering research in areas that are of critical importance to the nation."

###

The Vannevar Bush Fellowship supports out-of-the-box ideas where researcher creativity intersects with the unknown. Fellows are free to pursue unfettered research, with the results of the work informing and providing invaluable direction to the Department of Defense's research and efforts to train the next generation of scientists and engineers. The 2021 Class of Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellows can be found here.

About the Advanced Science Research Center

The ASRC at The Graduate Center elevates scientific research and education at CUNY and beyond through initiatives in five distinctive, but increasingly interconnected disciplines: environmental sciences, nanoscience, neuroscience, photonics, and structural biology. The ASRC promotes a collaborative, interdisciplinary research culture with renowned researchers from each of the initiatives working side-by-side in the ASRC's core facilities, sharing equipment that is among the most advanced available.

About The Graduate Center of The City University of New York

The Graduate Center of The City University of New York (CUNY) is a leader in public graduate education devoted to enhancing the public good through pioneering research, serious learning, and reasoned debate. The Graduate Center offers ambitious students more than 40 doctoral and master's programs of the highest caliber, taught by top faculty from throughout CUNY -- the nation's largest public urban university. Through its nearly 40 centers, institutes, and initiatives, including its Advanced Science Research Center (ASRC), The Graduate Center influences public policy and discourse and shapes innovation. The Graduate Center's extensive public programs make it a home for culture and conversation.
Team from Stanford and Cincinnati Children's uses patient-derived stem cells as screening tool to identify AG1296 as superior candidate for controlling dangerous pulmonary arterial hypertension

One of the dangerous health conditions that can occur among premature newborns, children born with heart defects, and some others is pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Commonly mistaken for asthma, this condition occurs when blood vessels in the lungs develop excessive resistance to blood flow. This forces the heart's right ventricle to work harder, causing it to enlarge, thicken and further elevate blood pressure. While early treatment usually succeeds, the condition can become persistent and progressive, which can lead to heart failure and death.

The exact incidence and prevalence of PAH remains unclear, but reviews of patient registries in Europe have estimated that the condition occurs in nearly 64 of every 1 million children, including transient cases. So far, there is no cure.

Now a team of scientists at Stanford University and Cincinnati Children's report finding a potentially effective needle in a haystack.

"In this study, we screened a library of 4500 compounds at different stages of clinical development in eight different doses. Of the six compounds that improved cell survival, we identified the tyrosine kinase inhibitor AG1296 as the lead compound for further investigation," says Mingxia Gu, MD, PhD, lead author of a study published May 5, 2021, in Science Translational Medicine.

This compound has been available for research for several years but has not been approved for medical use. Its potential value as a PAH treatment emerged only after testing an entire library of compounds using several lines of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) grown to reflect the genetic signatures of actual patients with the condition.

The researchers found that AG1296 outperformed several other TKI inhibitors on a series of gene expression, cell signaling and mechanistic measures. Most importantly, the compound reversed key biomarkers of the disease in human cells and improved vascular function in animal models.

Center of Excellence

The Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic at Cincinnati Children's is one of eight pediatric centers in the nation to earn accreditation from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) as a Pulmonary Hypertension Accredited Comprehensive Care Center.

Cincinnati Children's also hosts the PAH Biobank, an NIH/NHLBI funded resource of biological samples, genetic data, and clinical data for the PAH research community.

Next Steps

The use of human, PAH-specific stem cells as a drug screening platform reflects a crucial step forward, Gu says. In previous studies, about 90% of potential treatments that showed promise in animal studies failed to show benefits in human clinical trials.

"This is the first time for using iPSCs to screen for compounds for PAH, but people have been using similar strategies to screen for new therapy for other conditions," Gu says. "Overall, using patient-specific iPSCs for developing precision medicine is a new and promising field."

Launching a clinical trial for AG1296 likely will require a year or more of preparation and safety evaluations, Gu says. If a trial is launched, it could take a few more years to complete. Then an application process to seek approval from the US Food and Drug Administration would begin.

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About the Study

This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01 HL122887, P01HL108797, R00 HL135258, U19 AI109662, U19 AI057229, and R01 AI125197); the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (OPP1113682); and the Department of Defense (W81XWH-18-1-0253 and W81XWH-19-1-0235).

Learn more about pulmonary hypertension
The first civilisations to build monumental palaces and urban centres in Europe are more genetically homogenous than expected, according to the first study to sequence whole genomes gathered from ancient archaeological sites around the Aegean Sea. The study has been published in the journal Cell.

Despite marked differences in burial customs, architecture, and art, the Minoan civilization in Crete, the Helladic civilization in mainland Greece and the Cycladic civilization in the Cycladic islands in the middle of the Aegean Sea, were genetically similar during the Early Bronze age (5000 years ago).

The findings are important because it suggests that critical innovations such as the development of urban centres, metal use and intensive trade made during the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age were not just due to mass immigration from east of the Aegean as previously thought, but also from the cultural continuity of local Neolithic groups.

The study also finds that by the Middle Bronze Age (4000-4,600 years ago), individuals from the northern Aegean were considerably different compared to those in the Early Bronze Age. These individuals shared half their ancestry with people from the Pontic-Caspian steppe, a large geographic region stretching between the Danube and the Ural rivers and north of the Black Sea, and were highly similar to present-day Greeks.

The findings suggest that migration waves from herders from the Pontic-Caspian steppe, or populations north of the Aegean that bear Pontic-Caspian Steppe like ancestry, shaped present-day Greece. These potential migration waves all predate the appearance of the earliest documented form of Greek, supporting theories explaining the emergence of Proto-Greek and the evolution of Indo-European languages in either Anatolia or the Pontic-Caspian Steppe region.

The team took samples from well-preserved skeletal remains at archaeological sites. They sequenced six whole genomes, four from all three cultures during the Early Bronze Age and two from a Helladic culture during the Middle Bronze Age.

The researchers also sequenced the mitochondrial genomes from eleven other individuals from the Early Bronze Age. Sequencing whole genomes provided the researchers with enough data to perform demographic and statistical analyses on population histories.

Sequencing ancient genomes is a huge challenge, particularly due to the degradation of the biological material and human contamination. A research team at the CNAG-CRG, played an important role in overcoming this challenge through using machine learning.

According to Oscar Lao, Head of the Population Genomics Group at the CNAG-CRG, "Taking an advantage that the number of samples and DNA quality we found is huge for this type of study, we have developed sophisticated machine learning tools to overcome challenges such as low depth of coverage, damage, and modern human contamination, opening the door for the application of artificial intelligence to palaeogenomics data."

"Implementation of deep learning in demographic inference based on ancient samples allowed us to reconstruct ancestral relationships between ancient populations and reliably infer the amount and timing of massive migration events that marked the cultural transition from Neolithic to Bronze Age in Aegean," says Olga Dolgova, postdoctoral researcher in the Population Genomics Group at the CNAG-CRG.

The Bronze Age in Eurasia was marked by pivotal changes on the social, political, and economic levels, visible in the appearance of the first large urban centres and monumental palaces. The increasing economic and cultural exchange that developed during this time laid the groundwork for modern economic systems--including capitalism, long-distance political treaties, and a world trade economy.

Despite their importance for understanding the rise of European civilisations and the spread of Indo-European languages, the genetic origins of the peoples behind the Neolithic to Bronze Age transition and their contribution to the present-day Greek population remain controversial.

Future studies could investigate whole genomes between the Mesolithic and Bronze Age in the Armenian and Caucasus to help further pinpoint the origins of migration into the Aegean, and to better integrate the genomic data with the existing archaeological and linguistic evidence.

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Announcing a new article publication for BIO Integration journal. In this editorial the authors Hui Liu and Juan Chen from Shanxi Eye Hospital, Taiyuan, China discuss biophotonics in photomedicine.

As a cross-disciplinary field, biophotonics is a natural platform for innovation, e.g. researchers have taken advantages of the recently developed nanostructures in Photomedicine to optimize imaging signals and improve drug delivery efficiency. Active investment in healthcare also contributes to the quick clinical transitions of biophotonic innovations.

However, to genuinely and successfully improve people's lives, many gaps have to be bridged. Horizontally, the gaps are between scientists from different fields to make new fundamental breakthroughs through knowledge merging; vertically, the gaps lie in scientists, engineer medical professionals, and physicists to make innovated, reliable, and practical products. Learning another field's language is never easy; promoting this learning requires leaders to advocate communication and understanding among experts. Although it is still a relatively young field, with abundant success so far and booming innovations coming along, it is reasonable to expect giant waves of healthcare transformation involving biophotonics to continue for the next few decades.

Article reference: Hui Liu and Juan Chen, Biophotonics in Photomedicine. BIO Integration, 2021, https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 15212/ bioi-2020-0043

BIO Integration is fully open access journal which will allow for the rapid dissemination of multidisciplinary views driving the progress of modern medicine.

As part of its mandate to help bring interesting work and knowledge from around the world to a wider audience, BIOI will actively support authors through open access publishing and through waiving author fees in its first years. Also, publication support for authors whose first language is not English will be offered in areas such as manuscript development, English language editing and artwork assistance.

BIOI is now open for submissions; articles can be submitted online at:

https:/ / mc04. manuscriptcentral. com/ bioi

Please visit http://www. bio-integration. org to learn more about the journal.

Editorial Board: https:/ / bio-integration. org/ editorial-board/

Please visit http://www. bio-integration. org to learn more about the journal.

Editorial Board: https:/ / bio-integration. org/ editorial-board/

BIOI is available on the IngentaConnect platform (https:/ / www. ingentaconnect. com/ content/ cscript/ bioi ) and at the BIO Integration website (http://www. bio-integration. org ).

Submissions may be made using ScholarOne (https:/ / mc04. manuscriptcentral. com/ bioi ).

There are no author submission or article processing fees.

Follow BIOI on Twitter @JournalBio; Facebook (https:/ / www. facebook. com/ BIO-Integration-Journal-108140854107716/ ) and LinkedIn (https:/ / www. linkedin. com/ company/ bio-integration-journal/ ).

ISSN 2712-0074

eISSN 2712-0082

Keywords: Biophotonics, Photomedicine.

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Biodiversity is of crucial importance to the marine ecosystem. The prohibition of trawling activities in the Hong Kong marine environment for two and a half years has significantly improved biodiversity, an inter-university study led by City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has found. Research results showed that the trawl ban could restore and conserve biodiversity in tropical coastal waters.

The research team was led by Professor Kenneth Leung Mei-yee, CityU's Director of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution (SKLMP) and Chair Professor in the Department of Chemistry. The findings were published in the journal Communications Biology, titled "Recovery of tropical marine benthos after a trawl ban demonstrates linkage between abiotic and biotic changes".

Trawling captures animals of all sizes

Trawling is the practice of dragging fishnets across the seabed to sweep up fishes. "Trawlers capture animals of all sizes and cause severe damages to the seabed. Also, trawling raises plumes of sediment from the seabed and induces their suspension in the water. Therefore, organisms living on the seabed which feed on those sediments would be lack of food, and biodiversity loss has resulted," said Professor Leung.

Since 31 December 2012, the Hong Kong SAR Government has implemented a territory-wide trawling ban in Hong Kong waters with the hope of rehabilitating the marine benthic habitat. To investigate whether such intervention can facilitate ecosystem recovery, the research team led by Professor Leung collected sediment samples with five replicates from each of 28 locations in Hong Kong waters in June 2012 (half-year before the trawl ban) and two and a half years after the trawl ban and then examined for physicochemical properties of the sediment and diversity of benthic animals (usually live at the bottom of a body of water).

Substantial increases in richness of species and abundance of benthic marine organisms

The results of this study suggested the trawling ban has reduced pressure on the marine environment from fishing and has led to substantial increases in the richness of species and the abundance of benthic marine organisms.

Compared to the survey conducted in 2012, the average amount of suspended solids was reduced by 1.36 mg/L, a reduction of about 25%, in the water column while the average amount of total organic matter was increased by 1.6 mg/L (an increase of about 29%) in surface sediment after the ban, indicating decreased disturbance on marine benthic habitats.

In addition, there were significant increases in abundance and species richness of benthic organisms after the ban. The average number of benthic species found in sediment samples increased from 27.5 to 48.3 species (an increase of 76%). In each 0.5 m2 of the sampling area, the average amount of all benthic organisms found in sediment samples increased from 253 to 848 individuals (an increase of 235%). Such increases were more prominent in polychaete worms and bivalves.

Rapid recovery in benthic marine ecosystem

"These small benthic organisms actually play a very crucial role as they are the main source of food for fishes, crabs and mantis shrimps. Because of the trawl ban, their abundance increases lead to an increase in the abundance of the bigger creatures, hence rehabilitating the fisheries resources," said Professor Qiu Jianwen from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), one of the corresponding authors of this paper and a member of SKLMP.

Parallel studies conducted by the team revealed that fish and crustacean stocks in eastern and western waters in Hong Kong had recovered after comparing their diversity before (2004 and 2012) and after the trawl ban (2013 to 2016). It is revealed that in each km2 sampling area, the average number of predatory crabs increased 5 times from 86 in 2004 to 516 individuals in 2015 to 2016 in eastern waters, while in western waters, the number of predatory crabs greatly increased 12 times from 157 to 2101 individuals. Similarly, the number and weight of all fishes or all predatory fishes also increased in eastern and western waters after the trawl ban.

"After the trawl ban, the mantis shrimps samples we collected were longer and heavier than the previous ones. Moreover, the biomass of fish and crustaceans in the eastern and western waters has increased, which is encouraging. Our study suggested a rapid recovery of Hong Kong's benthic ecosystem and the fisheries resources in 3.5 years after the trawl ban," stressed Professor Leung.

The team conducted over 100 times of on-site survey. A postdoctoral fellow, 4 PhD students and a master student helped in the species identification and numeration of a large number of samples, as well as data processing and analysis.

Multi-pronged approach to promote ecosystem restoration

"Our results are highly encouraging and supportive of the Hong Kong SAR Government's trawl ban policy. Gratifyingly, Hong Kong has provided such a good example of successful management intervention for promoting sustainable fisheries development and marine biodiversity conservation. We hope that other countries, especially those in the tropics, will refer to our study and join forces to prohibit destructive trawling activities," said Professor Leung.

He described this study as "rare but essential" because their investigation only represented the second trawl ban study carried out in the tropics among the 71 relevant studies in the world. He hoped that the results of this research could draw the attention of governments around the world to the impact of trawl fishing on marine ecosystems. After the paper was published, Professor Leung was invited by Sciaena, a marine science and cooperation organisation in Portugal, to share the findings. He was also interviewed by the staff of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

"Apart from trawl ban, a multi-pronged approach can promote ecosystem restoration. For example, stop illegal trawling by increasing enforcement, improve water quality, impose a fish moratorium, control fishing gears, restrict the size of harvested fishes, establish fishery protection areas, and also minimise marine construction works," elaborated Professor Leung.

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Professor Leung and Professor Qiu Jianwen from HKBU are the co-corresponding authors of the paper. Wang Zhi, a PhD student from HKBU, is the first author. Other collaborators are from Lingnan University and the University of Hong Kong.
Charge transfer is highly important in most areas of chemistry, including photosynthesis and other processes in living things. A SLAC X-ray laser study reveals how it works in a molecule whose lopsided response to light has puzzled scientists.

When light hits certain molecules, it dislodges electrons that then move from one location to another, creating areas of positive and negative charge. This "charge transfer" is highly important in many areas of chemistry, in biological processes like photosynthesis and in technologies like semiconductor devices and solar cells.

Even though theories have been developed to explain and predict how charge transfer works, they have been validated only indirectly because of the difficulty of observing how a molecule's structure responds to charge movements with the required atomic resolution and on the required ultrafast time scales.

In a new study, a research team led by scientists from Brown University, the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and the University of Edinburgh used SLAC's X-ray free-electron laser to make the first direct observations of molecular structures associated with charge transfer in gas molecules hit with light.

Molecules of this gas, called N,N?-dimethylpiperazine or DMP, are normally symmetric, with a nitrogen atom at each end. Light can knock an electron out of a nitrogen atom, leaving a positively charged ion known as a "charge center."

Intriguingly, this process is uneven; light absorption creates a charge center in just one of the two nitrogen atoms, and this charge imbalance deforms the molecule's atomic scaffolding, so atoms compensate by shifting position with respect to each other. But within three trillionths of a second, the charge redistributes itself between the two nitrogen atoms until it evens out and the molecules become symmetric again, the researchers report in a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences today.

Their study is the first to directly observe how a molecule's structure changes as charge is redistributed, with some chemical bonds getting longer and some shorter, before finally relaxing back into its original state.

"We see the molecules breaking symmetry and reforming symmetry," said Peter Weber, a chemistry professor at Brown University whose research group started studying DMP almost a decade ago. He led the study with Adam Kirrander of the University of Edinburgh and SLAC senior staff scientist Michael Minitti.

A lopsided response

Scientists in Weber's group, including Xinxin Cheng - a PhD student who is now a SLAC associate staff scientist - discovered the molecule's lopsided response to light eight years ago. It turned out that the molecule's nitrogen atoms are just the right distance apart to make it an ideal model for studying charge transfer, a discovery that triggered a lot of discussion among theorists working to understand these processes as well as efforts to observe them in more detail.

In this latest study, Haiwang Yong, a PhD student in Weber's lab, worked with SLAC scientists to provide a much more direct observation of DMP's response to light. They hit DMP gas with pulses of light followed by extremely short, ultrabright X-ray laser pulses from the lab's Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). The LCLS X-rays scattered off the molecules in a way that revealed the positions of individual atoms, the lengths of the bonds between them and how they changed over just a few trillionths of a second.

"It is fascinating to see how the X-rays can resolve the changes in molecular structure that arise from charge transfer," Kirrander said.

Weber said the results demonstrate the value of the technique for extracting more detailed information than in previous experiments. The research team used that information to test theoretical models of how molecules respond, revealing flaws in the conventional approach known as density functional theory. Weber noted that the data seems to support detailed theoretical calculations of how these charge transfers take place by Hannes Jonsson of the University of Iceland, who was not involved in this study.

Minitti, who has been working on DMP with the Brown lab from the start and participated in this study, said it has been difficult to get a theoretical understanding of how these asymmetric systems work because the experimental data on them has been so sparse and indirect.

"This work is a significant step forward," he said, "giving us critical information about how the molecule responds during the charge transfer process. Research like this takes a village - we need experiments to inform the theory, and vice versa, to help us visualize this thing."

Going forward, a big increase in the pulse repetition rate of the LCLS X-ray source is underway, with a leap from 120 pulses per second to 1 million pulses per second. This will allow researchers to study much more complex systems, informing the development of new approaches to solar energy generation and energy storage technologies, among many other applications.

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LCLS is a DOE Office of Science user facility, and the Office of Science funded this work.

Citation: Haiwang Yong et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 3 May 2021 (10.1073/pnas.2021714118)

SLAC is a vibrant multiprogram laboratory that explores how the universe works at the biggest, smallest and fastest scales and invents powerful tools used by scientists around the globe. With research spanning particle physics, astrophysics and cosmology, materials, chemistry, bio- and energy sciences and scientific computing, we help solve real-world problems and advance the interests of the nation.

SLAC is operated by Stanford University for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
In about a quarter of patients with hereditary diseases, the cause of the disease remains unclear even after extensive genetic testing. One reason is that we still do not know enough about the function of many genes. Of the 30,000 known genes, just a little more than 4,000 have been found to be associated with hereditary diseases.

At the Department of Clinical Genetics of the University of Tartu Institute of Clinical Medicine, under the leadership of Professor Katrin Ounap, patients with hereditary diseases of unclear cause have been studied in various research projects since 2016. In collaboration with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, these patients have undergone extensive genome-wide sequencing analyses at the level of the exome (the sequence of all genes), genome (whole DNA sequence), and transcriptome (RNA transcribed from the genome).

Professor Katrin Ounap described that in a girl with progressive muscle weakness, they found two changes in the JAG2 gene that had not been associated with any hereditary disease before. "In cooperation with an international team of researchers, we found 22 other patients with similar problems and changes in the JAG2 gene from all over the world," said Ounap.

The study showed that the misfunction of the JAG2 gene interferes with the development of muscle cells and their ability to recover, thereby causing progressive muscle damage.

Estonian researchers conducted a transcriptome (RNA) analysis of the patient's muscle tissue, which provided important information on pathological changes in gene expression in muscle cells. "Also, for the first time in Estonia, our patient underwent a special muscular magnetic resonance imaging scan, which revealed a pattern of muscle involvement characteristic of pathogenic variants in JAG2 in lower limb muscles," explained Ounap.

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The article was published in the American Journal of Human Genetics in cooperation with researchers from Estonia, Belgium, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Poland, Iran, Egypt and Japan.
With many businesses and schools in the United States now open post COVID-19, employers are faced with new challenges to keep the workplace safe for their employees, customers and students. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science have received a two-year $698,801 grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to test the effectiveness of various types of personal protection measures against airborne viral transmission. Building on their prior research, the project will result in experimentally verified computational strategies for mitigating airborne transmission of aerosolized droplets for a safe workplace environment.

Researchers will test and quantify the effectiveness of various protective measures under new American Society for Testing Materials standards and best safety practices in the workplace. They will evaluate facemasks and other personal protection equipment; physical safety barriers; interior designs of spaces; air filters, humidifiers; safe seating arrangements in a classroom setting and queuing at checkouts, as well as other measures.

"Employers are considering various protective measures in the workplace such as facemasks, placing safety barriers in offices and at workstations, reviewing ventilation/air conditioning systems in buildings, redesigning interior spaces as well as arranging safe queuing procedures at checkouts and other high-density environments," said Manhar Dhanak, Ph.D., principal investigator, chair of FAU's Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, and professor and director of SeaTech. "With this CDC grant, we will conduct experimental simulation studies that will result in observations and analyses in support of social distancing and other preventative measures for mitigating airborne transmission of viral infections, which will be of particular interest to businesses, schools and the general public."

In their prior studies, Dhanak and Siddhartha Verma, Ph.D., co-principal investigator and an assistant professor in the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, qualitatively investigated the spread of aerosolized droplets from coughs and sneezes that were mechanically emulated through pumping a mixture of air and mist/fog from the mouth of a mannequin. The process generates puffs of air containing aerosolized droplets that are representative of the smaller droplets typically present in respiratory exhalations. Their visualization of airflow revealed the structure and evolution of the unobstructed air puffs and show that in still air, aerosolized droplets can travel distances of more than 12 feet from the source and remain suspended in the air for several minutes.

"Previous public health guidelines have suggested social distancing of a minimum of 6 feet to mitigate airborne transmission of virus-carrying saliva droplets from infectious coughs, sneezes and exhalations," said Verma. "These aerosolized droplets range in size, with the larger droplets generally falling to the ground within 6 feet. However, our research has shown that much smaller droplets can remain suspended in the air for a significant amount of time and can travel far."

Dhanak and Verma also examined the efficacy of various types of commonly available facemasks in mitigating the spread of aerosolized droplets as well as the effectiveness of a face shield, with and without a facemask, as a measure to protect others. Their latest study investigated droplets generated from flushing a toilet and a urinal in a public restroom under normal ventilation conditions. Results demonstrate how public restrooms could serve as hotbeds for airborne disease transmission, especially if they do not have adequate ventilation.

With this CDC grant, Dhanak and Verma plan to develop a state-of-the-art testing facility for flow visualization-based studies of transmission of aerosol-sized droplets, which can be quantified in terms of droplet size and density distribution, including improved emulation of respiratory exhalations. Because the role of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems as a measure for controlling airborne transmission of viral infections is well recognized, they also will quantify the effect of ventilation in the laboratory setting. Furthermore, to support architects who are looking to redesign buildings and interior spaces in a post-COVID-19 world, they will examine the transmission of the respiratory droplets under various mockup setups of interest in a range of environmental conditions.

"There has been much debate about social distancing, wearing facemasks or face shields as well as how far airborne transmission of virus-carrying saliva droplets can travel," said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean, College of Engineering and Computer Science. "With their cutting-edge COVID-19 research, professors Dhanak and Verma have illuminated the world with their simulation experiments and visualization of the flow patterns of aerosolized droplets. This grant from the CDC will help to propel their research to the next level, which will ultimately enhance public safety and mitigate the unnecessary spread of infectious diseases at school, in the workplace and at other public venues."

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About FAU's College of Engineering and Computer Science:

The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science is internationally recognized for cutting edge research and education in the areas of computer science and artificial intelligence (AI), computer engineering, electrical engineering, bioengineering, civil, environmental and geomatics engineering, mechanical engineering, and ocean engineering. Research conducted by the faculty and their teams expose students to technology innovations that push the current state-of-the art of the disciplines. The College research efforts are supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Education (DOEd), the State of Florida, and industry. The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science offers degrees with a modern twist that bear specializations in areas of national priority such as AI, cybersecurity, internet-of-things, transportation and supply chain management, and data science. New degree programs include Masters of Science in AI (first in Florida), Masters of Science in Data Science and Analytics, and the new Professional Masters of Science degree in computer science for working professionals. For more information about the College, please visit eng.fau.edu.

About Florida Atlantic University:
5 May 2021, Bristol - In one of the most advanced applications of in-vitro 3D human lung models in vape research to date, a new peer-reviewed Imperial Brands study shows that, unlike combustible cigarette smoke, blu aerosol had little to no impact on numerous toxicological endpoints under the conditions of test using laboratory models.

Published in the journal Current Research in Toxicology, the experiments compared the toxicological responses of an in vitro 3D lung model (MucilAir from Epithelix) after repeated exposure to undiluted whole blu aerosol (1.6% tobacco flavour) or diluted whole cigarette smoke (3R4F Kentucky Reference) over a 28-day period.

After repeatedly exposing the model to smoke or aerosol from each product for four weeks, scientists assessed the biological activity of the 3D lung tissue model against five endpoints related to respiratory function:

Cytotoxic response (general toxicity to cells or tissue)

Barrier integrity (measuring the intactness of tissue structure )

Immunohistochemistry (general assessment of tissue structure)

Cilia beat frequency and active area (detecting abnormal lung cell function)

Pro-inflammatory response (identifying lung tissue inflammation)

This is the first peer-reviewed vaping study evaluating repeated whole cigarette smoke and whole aerosol exposure to a 3D lung model (at the air liquid interface) for this extended 28-day time period.

The use of a 3D lung model and extending the exposure scenario produced a more clinically relevant setup than previous applications, because the model is a closer representation of how the human lung is exposed to aerosol or smoke.

The Toxicity Testing in the Twenty-First Century (TT21C) driven study reinforces Imperial Brands commitment to using advanced 3D tissue models and cellular assays to as part of a global movement to reduce industry reliance on in-vivo (animal) experiments. (Imperial does not test any products on animals, unless formally required to do so by governments or recognised regulatory authorities. See our Position here.)

Results consistent with previous findings

Correlating with Imperial's previous published applications of using a similar method, in the previous study an acute exposure to undiluted whole vape aerosol showed similar biological impact to the lung cell model as humidified air under the experimental conditions. However, diluted combustible cigarettes smoke elicited a significant dose-dependent response in all measured endpoints listed above.

As expected, in the present repeated exposure study, cigarette smoke produced a significant and dose-dependent biological response against all endpoints as the puff number was increased. "Cytotoxicity and inflammatory markers were all elevated in cigarette smoke," said Fan Yu, Pre-Clinical Toxicologist at Imperial Brands and corresponding author. "Likewise, diluted cigarette smoke disrupted normal cilia beat function, cell barrier integrity, as well as tissue structure."

At each puff dose, undiluted blu aerosol contained at least seven times more nicotine relative to cigarette smoke, but for all endpoints elicited no statistically significant difference with the negative control exposed only to humidified air. "Our results suggest nicotine is not the driver of the model's cytotoxic response to cigarette smoke," Yu explained. "More likely it is the many toxicants created through burning tobacco causing the responses that are absent, or substantially reduced, in vape aerosol."

The study is further evidence that vaping may have significant harm reduction potential compared to combustible cigarettes for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke.

"For adult smokers who are uninterested or unwilling to stop smoking, this study adds to a growing body research demonstrating Next Generation Products such as vapes offer a potentially reduced harm alternative if adult smokers choose to transition to these products," said Dr Grant O'Connell, Head of Tobacco Harm Reduction Science.

He added: "To ensure adult smokers are fully informed of the scientific evidence base underpinning NGPs , we urge regulators, policy makers and media alike to recognise and communicate the scientific evidence, such as that presented here, as well as many other findings in the literature, and support a role for high quality, scientifically substantiated products in maximising tobacco harm reduction."

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See release on IMB Science website: https:/ / imperialbrandsscience. com/ timeline/ repeated-exposure-to-vape-aerosol-causes-minimal-damage-in-human-lung-tissue-lab-model-compared-to-cigarette-smoke/

Read the full study here: https:/ / www. sciencedirect. com/ science/ article/ pii/ S2666027X21000098?via%3Dihub
Ishikawa, Japan - Inside our cells, and those of the most well-known lifeforms, exist a variety of complex compounds known as "molecular motors." These biological machines are essential for various types of movement in living systems, from the microscopic rearrangement or transport of proteins within a single cell to the macroscopic contraction of muscle tissues. At the crossroads between robotics and nanotechnology, a goal that is highly sought after is finding ways to leverage the action of these tiny molecular motors to perform more sizeable tasks in a controllable manner. However, achieving this goal will certainly be challenging. "So far, even though researchers have found ways to scale up the collective action of molecular motor networks to show macroscopic contraction, it is still difficult to integrate such networks efficiently into actual machines and generate forces large enough to actuate macroscale components," explains Associate Professor Yuichi Hiratsuka from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan.

Fortunately, Dr. Hiratsuka, in collaboration with Associate Professor Takahiro Nitta from Gifu University and Professor Keisuke Morishima from Osaka University, both in Japan, have recently made remarkable progress in the quest to bridge the micro with the macro. In their latest study published in Nature Materials, this research team reported the design of a novel type of actuator driven by two genetically modified biomolecular motors. One of the most attractive aspects of their biologically inspired approach is that the actuator self-assembles from the basic proteins by simple light irradiation. In a matter of seconds after light hits a given area, the surrounding motor proteins fuse with rail-like proteins called microtubules and arrange themselves into a hierarchical macroscopic structure that resembles muscle fibers.

Upon formation around the target (illuminated) zone, this "artificial muscle" immediately contracts, and the collective force of the individual motor proteins is amplified from a molecular scale to a millimeter one. As the scientists showed experimentally, their approach could be ideal for small-scale robotics applications, such as actuating microscopic grippers to handle biological samples (Figure 1). Other millimeter-scale applications also demonstrated include joining separate components together, such as miniature cogwheels, and powering minimalistic robotic arms to make an insect-like crawling microrobot.

What's also very remarkable about this technique is that it is compatible with existing 3D printing techniques that use light, such as stereolithography. In other words, microrobots with built-in artificial muscles may be 3D printable, enabling their mass production and hence increasing their applicability to solve various problems! "In the future, our printable actuator could become the much-needed 'actuator ink' for the seamless 3D printing of entire robots. We believe that such a biomolecule-based ink can push forward the frontier of robotics by enabling the printing of complex bone and muscle components required for robots to further resemble living creatures," highlights Dr. Hiratsuka.

One potential improvement to the present technique would be finding ways to efficiently decontract the artificial muscles (reversibility). Alternatively, the present strategy could also be changed so as to produce spontaneous oscillatory behavior instead of contraction, as is observed in the mobile cilia of microbes or in insect flight muscles.

In any case, this study effectively shows how mimicking the strategies that nature has come up with is often times a recipe for success, as many scientists in the field of robotics have already figured out!

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Reference

Title of original paper: A printable active network actuator built from an engineered biomolecular motor

Journal: Nature Materials

DOI: 10.1038/s41563-021-00969-6

About Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

Founded in 1990 in Ishikawa prefecture, the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) was the first independent national graduate school in Japan. Now, after 30 years of steady progress, JAIST has become one of Japan's top-ranking universities. JAIST counts with multiple satellite campuses and strives to foster capable leaders with a state-of-the-art education system where diversity is key; about 40% of its alumni are international students. The university has a unique style of graduate education based on a carefully designed coursework-oriented curriculum to ensure that its students have a solid foundation on which to carry out cutting-edge research. JAIST also works closely both with local and overseas communities by promoting industry-academia collaborative research.

About Associate Professor Yuichi Hiratsuka from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

Yuichi Hiratsuka obtained a PhD in physical sciences from Hokkaido University, Japan. In 2006, he joined the School of Materials Science at JAIST. He currently works there as an Associate Professor and specializes in applied biofunctional and bioprocess engineering, biophysics, nanobioscience, and nano/micro-systems. He has authored approximately 20 papers.

Funding information

This study was supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO, No. 16100859-0), MEXT (KAKENHI 'Molecular Robotics' JP24104004), and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS, KAKENHI JP18H01407).
A study involving researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Gothenburg University in Sweden has found that low levels of a protein called PDGFRb are associated with particularly good results of radiotherapy in women with early-stage breast cancer. The study, which is published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, also suggests that the efficacy of radiotherapy can be improved with drugs that block this protein.

Some 900 women in Sweden are diagnosed with DCIS (ductalcarcinoma in situ), the earliest possible form of invasive breast cancer. Standard treatment is surgery and subsequent radiotherapy. Although the prognosis is generally good, some ten per cent of patients suffer a recurrence within ten years of diagnosis.

"It is well-known that the benefits of radiotherapy are individual, so we need to find predictive markers that can be used to avoid unnecessary or ineffective radiotherapy," says the study's co-last author Fredrik Warnberg, professor at the Department of Clinical Sciences at Gothenburg University's Sahlgrenska Academy.

While previous studies have focused mainly on markers in the tumour cells themselves, recent findings show that supporting tissue around the tumour cells can affect the therapeutic effect of DCIS. Studies in cell and animal models have demonstrated that the efficacy of radiotherapy can be influenced by fibroblasts, which are a type of supporting cell in the breast cancer tissue.

Arne Ostman's research group at Karolinska Institutet and Professor Warnberg's group have now analysed a large tissue collection from a randomised radiotherapy study (SweDCIS). Their analyses showed that low levels of a particular fibroblast protein, PDGFRb, are associated with especially high radiotherapeutic efficacy for women with DCIS.

Several new studies have been launched, one a collaboration with the US company PreludeDx on breast cancer diagnostics.

"The treatment guidelines of DCIS might need to be changed if these studies confirm our original findings," says the study's first author Carina Strell, researcher at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, and the Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet.

The results of this newly published study also indicate that the efficacy of radiotherapy can be improved if combined with the blocking of PDGFRb. The researchers now plan to interrogate this further in experimental cell and animal models before any studies on patients can begin.

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The study was financed by the Swedish Cancer Society, BRECT, the Swedish Research Council, STARGET the Linne grant scheme, the Cancer Research Funds of Radiumhemmet, the EU Caffein ITN network, BRECT at Karolinska Institutet, Region Stockholm and the Research Council of Norway.

Arne Ostman receives research grants from Eli Lilly and IPSEN. Co-authors Erik Holmberg and Per Karlsson have a research contract with PFS Genomics. Jonas Bergh receives research grants from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Merck, Roche, Pfizer and Sanofi Aventis, all with Karolinska Institutet and/or Karolinska University Hospital as recipient. Fredrik Warnberg has received financing from PreludeDx for tumour collection with Uppsala University Hospital (Akademiska sjukhuset) as recipient. Troy Bremer is employed and has proprietary interests (including patents) in PreludeDx, receives commercial research grants on behalf of the company from the National Cancer Institute, and is the co-inventor of one or more patents/patent applications licensed to or owned by PreludeDx.

Publication: "High PDGFRb expression predicts resistance to radiotherapy in DCIS within the SweDCIS randomized trial". Carina Strell, Dick Folkvaljon, Erik Holmberg, Aglaia Schiza, Viktoria Thurfjell, Per Karlsson, Jonas Bergh, Troy Bremer, Lars A. Akslen, Fredrik Warnberg, Arne Ostman. Clinical Cancer Research, online 5 May 2021, doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-4300.
Mammals see with their eyes, hear with their ears and smell with their nose. But which sense or organ allows them to orient themselves on their migrations, which sometimes go far beyond their local foraging areas and therefore require an extended ability to navigate? Scientific experiments led by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), published together with Prof. Richard A. Holland (Bangor University, UK) and Dr. Gunars P?tersons (Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies) now show that the cornea of the eyes is the location of such an important sense in migrating bats. If the cornea is anaesthetised, the otherwise reliable sense of orientation is disturbed while light detection remains unimpaired. The experiment suggests the localisation of a magnetic sense in mammals. The paper is published in the scientific journal Communications Biology.

A research team led by Dr Oliver Lindecke and PD Dr Christian Voigt from Leibniz-IZW demonstrated for the first time that environmental signals that are important for navigating over long distances are picked up via the cornea of the eyes. They conducted experiments with Nathusius' bats (Pipistrellus nathusii) during the late summer migration period. In bats of one test group, the scientists locally anaesthetised the cornea with a drop of oxybuprocaine. This surface anaesthetic is widely used in ophthalmology, where it is used to temporarily desensitise the patients' cornea when eyes of humans or animals get overly irritated. Effects on orientation, however, had not been previously recorded. In another test group of bats, the research team anaesthetised the cornea of only one eye. The individuals in the control group were not anaesthetised, but instead received an isotonic saline solution as eye drops. All animals in this scientific experiment were captured within a migration corridor at the coastline of the Baltic Sea and released singly in the open field 11 kilometres inland from the capture site immediately after treatment. The scientists first used bat detectors to make sure that there were no other bats above the field at the time of release that the test animals could have followed. The person observing the direction of movement of released bats was unaware about how bats were treated experimentally. "The control group and the group with unilateral corneal anaesthesia oriented themselves clearly in the expected southerly directions, whereas the bats with bilateral anaesthetised corneas flew off in random directions," explains Dr Oliver Lindecke, first author of the paper. "This evident difference in behaviour suggests that corneal anaesthesia disrupted a sense of direction, yet orientation apparently still works well with one eye." As corneal treatment wears off after a short time, the bats were able to resume their journeys south after the experiment. "We observed here for the first time in an experiment how a migrating mammal was literally blown off course - a milestone in behavioural and sensory biology that allows us to study the biological navigation system in a more targeted way."

In order to rule out the possibility that the anaesthetisation of the cornea also affects the sense of sight and that the scientists would thus come to the wrong conclusions, they carried out a complementary test. Once again divided into experimental and control groups, they tested whether the response of bats to light changed after anaesthesia of the corneas on one or both sides. "We know from previous research that bats prefer an illuminated exit when leaving a simple Y-shaped labyrinth," explains PD Dr Christian Voigt, head of the Leibniz-IZW Department of Evolutionary Ecology. "In our experiment, the animals with one-sided or two-sided anaesthesia also showed this preference; we therefore can rule out that the ability to see light was altered after corneal treatment. The ability to see light would of course also influence long-distance navigation."

Many vertebrates such as bats, dolphins, whales, fish and turtles, for example, are able to safely navigate in darkness, whether it is under the open night sky, when it is cloudy at night or in caves and tunnels as well as in the depths of the oceans. For many decades, scientists have been searching for the sense or a sensory organ that enables animals to perform orientation and navigation tasks that seemed difficult to imagine for people. A magnetic sense, so far only demonstrated in a few mammals but poorly understood, is an obvious candidate. Experiments suggest that iron oxide particles within cells may act as "microscopic compass needles", as is the case in some species of bacteria.

Recent laboratory experiments on Ansell's mole-rat, relatives of the well-known naked mole rats that spend their lives in elaborate underground tunnel systems, suggest that the magnetic sense is located in the eye. Such a (magnetic) sense of orientation has not been checked in migratory mammals nor has it been possible to identify the specific organ or tissue which could provide the morphological basis for the required sensory receptors. The experiments of the team around Lindecke and Voigt now provide, for the first time, reliable data for the localisation of a sense of orientation in free-ranging, migratory mammals. Exactly what the sense in the cornea of the bats looks like, how it works and whether it is the long sought-after magnetic sense must be shown in future scientific investigations.

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Publication

Lindecke O, Holland RA, P?tersons G, Voigt CC (2021): Corneal sensitivity is required for orientation in free-flying migratory bats. Communications Biology. DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02053-w

Contact

Carl von Ossietzky Universitat Oldenburg

Carl-von-Ossietzky-Strae 9-11

26129 Oldenburg, Germany

_ Dr. rer. nat. Oliver Lindecke

AG Neurosensorik/Animal Navigation, IBU

Phone: +49 (0) 441 798 3806

Email: oliver.lindecke@uni-oldenburg.de

Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW)

in the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V.

Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315 Berlin

_ PD Dr Christian Voigt

Head of the Department of Evolutionary Ecology

Phone: +49 30 5168 511

Email: voigt@izw-berlin.de

_ Jan Zwilling

Science communication

Phone: +49 30 5168 121

Email: zwilling@izw-berlin.de
A team of researchers sets out to discover the connections that lie at the heart of a protein that might prove beneficial to the treatment of cancers

Researchers from Lehigh University, the University of Virginia, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have joined forces in an effort to unlock the mysteries of a protein that plays a crucial regulatory role in human health and disease. Understanding the protein's function could lead to better therapies for cancers and other diseases.

Funded by a $1.6 million Project Research Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, Damien Thevenin, associate professor of chemistry at Lehigh, leads the effort with co-principal investigator Matthew Lazzarra, associate professor of chemical engineering at the University of Virginia. They are joined by collaborating investigator George White at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

At the center of the team's focus is a protein known as protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type J (PTPRJ), a member of the family of receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTP), which target and dephosphorylate, or deactivate, proteins involved in cell proliferation and survival. The team envisions that their work on the PTPRJ protein will provide expanded insights that are relevant across the receptor-like protein tyrosine phosphatase family.

Thevenin has dedicated his career to understanding and manipulating to good effect the countless collections of biochemical compounds at the cellular level. The problem is elementary, he says. "How do you go from an outside stimulus to a response in an organism? How do cells respond?" From there, complications increase exponentially. "Essentially, this begins a cascade of events inside the cells that allow the cells to respond in very specific ways. You may have tens or hundreds of different proteins and molecules inside the cell that interact with each other," he explains. "You can view this as a network, with an extremely complicated mesh of interactions. It's highly complex and crazy, but it's fascinating."

Current treatment protocols that target tumor-promoting kinases are limited to pharmacological inhibitors and antibodies, Thevenin says. While some drug treatments can be highly effective, at least initially, resistance to these inhibitors virtually always arises through mutations or bypass signaling via alternative receptor tyrosine kinases. Promoting the activity of RPTPs could be an effective alternative approach to overcoming common acquired resistance mechanisms, as it should be immune to the effects of gatekeeper mutations.

"Mutations in growth hormone receptors within cancer cells can blunt the effectiveness of cancer drugs," Thevenin says. "This development of resistance happens in most cancers and drugs become ineffective after a relative short period, resulting most often in patient relapse. Since our peptides do not target directly those receptors that are the most susceptible to mutations in cancers, we expect that our strategy will bypass the development of resistance."

Lazzara is widely renowned for his prolific research in cell signaling and cellular decision-making. White will contribute to the project by using mass spectrometry to quantify protein phosphorylation events that change in response to modulating PTPRJ function in the lab. Use of mass spectrometry to quantify signaling protein phosphorylation is an area of expertise for which he is well known.

A second project goal is to identify the circumstances under which interfering with PTPRJ dimerization might be most effective for changing how cells function. The broader efficacy of Thevenin's research, the possibility that it could combat many different types of cancers, is a tantalizing one, but it is a difficult puzzle to solve given the intricate landscape of the biological interactions inside the body. "It's too early to tell, but that's one of our main questions. What happens when we activate PTPRJ or other RPTPs ? Do we see the same responses in every type of cancer cell? What other effects are there? You may put out one fire here but start another one over there," Thevenin says.

"My guess is it will be specific not to particular cancers but to certain cancer profiles. This is important to know to identify cancers that may be more susceptible to our peptides. The other promising possibility is combining our peptides with approved drugs. We expect that treating cancer cells with our peptides will reveal weaknesses that can be exploited to improve the efficacy of existing therapies. We're looking into that as well both in vitro and in animal models."

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In the Bolivian Tsimane, who supports who is affected by physical size, social status, and existing cooperative and antagonistic relationships

Daniel Redhead, from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, and Chris von Rueden, from the University of Richmond, published a new study that describes coalition formation among men in Tsimane Amerindians living in Amazonian Bolivia, over a period of eight years. In two Tsimane communities, the authors describe the inter-personal conflicts that tend to arise between men, and the individual attributes and existing relationships that predict the coalitional support men receive in the event of conflicts.

Conflicts that arise between men concern disputes over access to forest for slash-and-burn horticulture, as well as accusations of theft, laziness, negligence, domestic abuse, and sexual affairs.

Men tend to reciprocate coalitional support

Key findings are that men who are kin or who exchange food and labor are more likely to subsequently provide support to each other in the event of a conflict. Men tend to reciprocate coalitional support over time, and an ally of a man's current ally is likely to become a future ally. The authors also find evidence that men who share a common adversary become allies, though this finding did not hold consistently across the eight years of the study.

In reference to the impact of these findings, Redhead, said: "Coalition formation among men is multiply determined in the Tsimane, and likely in other human societies. Importantly, the social network analyses we used show that properties of the network, not just the individual, affect coalition formation."

Higher status men more likely to provide coalitional support

Furthermore, Tsimane men who are physically formidable or who have more informal influence in their community are more likely to provide coalitional support to others. Evidence was mixed that they receive more coalitional support. These higher status men are hubs of their community's coalitional support network, and there is little indication that this network is partitioned into clearly separable coalitions that divide the community.

"In the Tsimane, men who have higher informal status strategically deploy coalitional support to build up a diverse, community-wide following. In many cases, both disputants in a conflict will report the same higher status man as having provided coalitional support, which points to the often blurry line between coalitional support and conflict mediation", von Rueden said. "Politics is the art of persuading enough people you have their interests at heart. In less egalitarian societies where there is more privately available wealth and community sizes are larger, status is less contingent on providing direct support to a broad swath of community members, there is greater homophily by status, and coalitional divides within a community are more likely to be pronounced."

Redhead and von Rueden focus their study on men because they at present lack longitudinal data on women's coalition formation. However, there is reason to analyze coalition networks separately by gender, given evidence of gender differences in how men and women build and leverage their social relationships, particularly in societies like the Tsimane where there is a pronounced gendered division of labor.

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Original publication:

Daniel Redhead and Christopher R. von Rueden

Coalitions and conflict: A longitudinal analysis of men's politics

Evolutionary Human Sciences, 05 May 2021, https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1017/ ehs. 2021. 26

Contact:

Dr. Daniel Redhead

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig

+49 341 3550-338

daniel_redhead@eva.mpg.de

Dr. Christopher R. von Rueden

Jepson School of Leadership Studies, University of Richmond

+1 804 287-6098

cvonrued@richmond.edu
After reviewing a database of gene mutations in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a team of Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) researchers decided to study a specific gene mutation that likely caused ASD in a girl. They demonstrated that the mutation was damaging to the gene, and that female, but not male, mice lacking a working copy of the gene also showed ASD-associated symptoms. Better understanding the interplay between genetics and sex in ASD could set the stage for developing sex-specific treatments for autism.

The MUSC team was led by Christopher Cowan, Ph.D., the William E. Murray SmartState Endowed Chair in Neuroscience and chair of the Department of Neuroscience, and Ahlem Assali, Ph.D., research assistant professor in the same department. Their findings are published in Nature Neuropsychopharmacology.

One in 54 children is diagnosed with an ASD. Of the children with ASD, four boys are diagnosed for every girl. Individuals with ASD typically have deficits in communication and social interaction and exhibit restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, activities, or interests. Many people with ASD also present with associated symptoms, such as hyperactivity, attention deficits, epilepsy and intellectual abilities that can range from severely disabled to gifted.

Cowan and Assali investigated the effect of a mutation in the gene, EPHB2, detected in a female patient with autism. EPHB2 is important for forming connections, or synapses, in the brain. The patient had a version of EPHB2 that caused the protein to be cut short. "It's as if a sentence had a period in the middle instead of the end," said Cowan. The shortened protein can no longer serve its function, leaving this ASD individual with less functional protein than neurotypical people.

To confirm that this gene can cause autism, Cowan and Assali created mice that had only one of two working copies of EPHB2. They found that these animals showed repetitive behaviors, hyperactivity and learning and memory problems as well as changes in brain cell function.

Cowan and Assali went a step further and divided the animals based on sex. They did this because the child with ASD and the EPHB2 mutation was a female. They found that the female mice showed much stronger behavior symptoms and brain cell dysfunction than the male mice. Understanding the interplay between genetics and biological sex could be important for understanding autism risk and eventually for developing therapeutics.

"We know that 80% to 90% of autism risk is genetic, but this is a very clear-cut case where the gene and the sex of the animal are interacting to alter neurotypical development," said Cowan.

Historically, ASD has been diagnosed mostly in boys, so research on ASD has often been biased toward male subjects. The work of Cowan and Assali highlights the importance of sex-specific differences in ASD and the need to examine those differences in research studies that include both sexes. This could set the stage for developing sex-specific treatments for ASD.

"That's the only way we're going to start to change research inequalities that have happened in the past," said Assali.

In future studies, Cowan and Assali hope to explore more deeply the mechanisms of EPHB2 actions in the developing brain. They want to understand why this gene causes symptoms predominantly in female subjects and how hormones might affect autism risk. Their aim is to improve the understanding of the interplay between genetics and biological sex in autism, with a view to informing future personalized, sex-specific treatments for ASD.

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About the Medical University of South Carolina

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is home to the oldest medical school in the South as well as the state's only integrated academic health sciences center, with a unique charge to serve the state through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and nearly 800 residents in six colleges: Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. MUSC brought in more than $271 million in biomedical research funds in fiscal year 2020, continuing to lead the state in obtaining National Institutes of Health funding, with more than $129.9 million. For information on academic programs, visit musc.edu.

As the clinical health system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest quality patient care available while training generations of competent, compassionate health care providers to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Comprising some 1,600 beds, more than 100 outreach sites, the MUSC College of Medicine, the physicians' practice plan and nearly 275 telehealth locations, MUSC Health owns and operates eight hospitals situated in Charleston, Chester, Florence, Lancaster and Marion counties. In 2020, for the sixth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.

MUSC and its affiliates have collective annual budgets of $3.2 billion. The more than 17,000 MUSC team members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers and scientists who deliver groundbreaking education, research, technology and patient care.
On March 17, Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) students and researchers in the NPS Spacecraft Robotics Laboratory, working with NASA and the International Space Station research team, including astronauts Dr. Shannon Walker and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Victor Glover, an NPS alumnus, conducted the first of five experiments in the NPS "Astrobatics" project.

The Astrobatics project, led by Dr. Marcello Romano, aims at developing and testing new dynamic models, and guidance and control techniques for the maneuvering of autonomous robotic spacecraft. The project utilizes the NASA "Astrobee" free-flying robotic vehicle, inside the International Space Station.

For more than a decade, robotic assistants called SPHERES (Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites) have helped astronauts conduct experiments in areas of formation flight, docking and autonomy.

NASA's Astrobees free-flyer, designed by NASA Ames and lifted up to the ISS in 2020, brings a new iteration to these astronaut assistants. They are small, one-foot cube autonomous spacecraft that come with many improvements, including auto-docking capability, artificial vision navigation, and an on-board robotic arm.

The NPS Astrobatics project is currently supported by the NPS Alumni Association and Foundation with a seedling-level gift fund with Romano as principal investigator, and involves critical technical collaboration by NASA Ames Research Center Intelligent Robotics Group, as well as operational collaboration by the Department of Defense Space Test Program.

According to NPS Astrobatics Engineering and Operations Team Lead, Dr. Jennifer Hudson, the team is possibly the first to demonstrate how an autonomous vehicle can use a robotic arm to maneuver an orbiting space vehicle from the surface of another spacecraft. This opens the door for new orbital robotics applications.

"I think projects like ours that are helping to advance robotic capabilities in space are really contributing to this revolution in the technology that's going to enable more and more complex operations in space over the next decade - things that aren't even possible now," said Hudson. "I think we're the first ones who have demonstrated use of a robotic arm to propel a vehicle from one location to another on a spacecraft."

To conduct the first experiment, NPS researchers worked with NASA Ames to upload flight software developed by NPS students. In turn, the flight software took control of the Astrobee spacecraft, and successfully flew it performing "hopping" maneuvers by using the small robotic arm as a jumping "spring."

With the first experiment complete, the Astrobatics team has had some time to analyze the data collected, and are determining what series of experiments will be needed for their next iteration.

Dr. Stephen Kwok-Choon, NPS' Astrobatics deputy team lead, notes the experiment involved eight different self-toss maneuvers that encompassed 18 different runs. Each self-toss maneuver started with the Astrobee grasping on a handrail, then the Astrobee robotic arm was commanded to move to a final flight state, followed by releasing the arm's grip. This allowed the Astrobee to perform a launch from a handrail projecting itself into motion, explained Kwok-Choon.

"I am grateful and excited to report that overall, the experiment session was a resounding success," said Kwok-Choon." "Our experiment highlighted that both the Astrobee vehicles can be successfully utilized for different payload developers onboard the ISS. This will lead to greater flexibility and coordination for future experiments."

With the collaboration with NASA's Ames Research Center of Mountain View, California, NPS students, faculty and staff get a unique experience to work on research with space and robotics technology that astronauts on the ISS can test.

"This is special because nothing has been done like this before," said NPS student U.S. Navy Lt. James "Dillon" Summerlin. "Having a free environment using a toss maneuver to move could allow drones to reach spaces that they have never been to before."

Students not only get the chance to work with the NASA team but get to use cutting-edge technology to explore theories.

"Being able to work on these experiments in collaboration with NASA provides an excellent opportunity to expand my experience outside of my military sphere," said NPS student U.S. Navy Lt. Dan T. Watanabe. "To work with actual astronauts on the ISS is not an opportunity that comes around every day."

Hudson said one of the most exciting aspects of this project is the students' opportunity to work closely with NASA Ames on the development and utilization of the Astrobee, and on the future of spacecraft robotics.

"It's a great educational opportunity for the students in astronautical engineering," said Hudson. "This is a very nice, accessible hands-on project where the students can work on projects in the lab and then see them implemented in space in a very short time frame. We certainly look to continuing that relationship and working on other Astrobee projects in the future."

The NPS Astrobatics Team stressed that the effort would not have been possible without great support from the NASA Ames Intelligent Robotics Group, Romano noted, whose assistance has been invaluable throughout this endeavor. He added a special recognition for the "excellent work" of current and previous Astrobatics team members who have contributed to the project, and in particular to Dr. Josep Virgili-Llop, Romano added, who left the project in 2019 to become a senior flight engineer in the SpaceX Crew Dragon team.

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Marine scientists are calling on the EU to adopt a comprehensive plan to protect dolphins and porpoises from fisheries bycatch in European waters.

Marine scientists are calling on the EU to adopt a comprehensive plan to protect dolphins and porpoises from fisheries bycatch in European waters.

A team of conservation experts, including Newcastle University's Professor Per Berggren, highlight limitations in EU's efforts to address and mitigate bycatch. The scientists argue this infective response is a result of scattered and complicated management responsibility for the conservation of dolphins and porpoises in Europe, and from a lack of quantitative conservation objectives, including biological reference points that will guide management action to ensure that bycatch does not exceed sustainable levels.

To help address the bycatch issue, which is the primary global threat to dolphins and porpoises, the researchers put forward a framework to reduce bycatch levels.

Publishing their recommendations in the journal Fish and Fisheries, the scientists outline a two-step approach that involves establishing a quantitative management objective for each population and implementing monitoring programmes.

To ensure an accurate estimation of bycatch levels, the experts recommend using electronic monitoring systems that allow a more comprehensive and representative sampling of the fleets.

The scientists also recommend regular formal assessments of small cetacean populations, including generation of estimates of abundance and bycatch mortality. If total bycatch has been estimated to exceed the calculated biological reference point, then a mitigation strategy needs to be put in place while monitoring is continued until levels are below the reference points.

The research team, involving experts from University College Cork, Ireland and Duke University, USA, argue that European countries outside the EU also have a responsibility to address the bycatch of dolphins and porpoises in their Exclusive Economic Zones. This includes the UK, which has an important responsibility to develop frameworks to address bycatch.

Professor Per Berggren, of Newcastle University's School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, said: "Among the most distinctive species of marine wildlife in Europe, cetaceans are vital to the history and culture of European maritime communities and generate significant revenue from ecotourism. However, bycatch of small cetaceans in European fisheries is widespread, including very large numbers of common dolphins in trawl fisheries and bycatch of the critically endangered population of harbour porpoise in the Baltic Sea."

Professor Andrew Read, of Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment, said: "The failure to effectively conserve Europe's dolphins and porpoises is not a result of a lack of scientific knowledge or difficulties in monitoring fisheries and bycatch. Instead, it reflects a lack of political will to ensure that these iconic animals are protected from unsustainable mortality in commercial fisheries throughout European waters. We can and must do better."

Professor Emer Rogan, from University College Cork, added: "Despite a number of EU Regulations and Directives, there is no clear European framework to reduce the mortality of dolphins and porpoises in fisheries to sustainable levels. This limitation hampers the effective implementation of effective management actions."

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Reference:
Singapore, 5 May 2021 - The rapid advancement of Autonomous Vehicles (AV) technology in recent years has changed transport systems and consumer habits globally. As countries worldwide see a surge in AV usage, the rise of shared Autonomous Mobility on Demand (AMoD) service is likely to be next on the cards. Public Transit (PT), a critical component of urban transportation, will inevitably be impacted by the upcoming influx of AMoD and the question remains unanswered on whether AMoD would co-exist with or threaten the PT system.

Researchers at the Future Urban Mobility (FM) Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) at Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), MIT's research enterprise in Singapore, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), conducted a case study in the first-mile mobility market from origins to subway stations in Tampines, Singapore, to find out.

In a paper titled "Competition between Shared Autonomous Vehicles and Public Transit: A Case Study in Singapore" recently published in the prestigious journal Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, the first-of-its-kind study used Game Theory to analyse the competition between AMoD and PT.

The study was simulated and evaluated from a competitive perspective?where both AMoD and PT operators are profit-oriented with dynamically adjustable supply strategies. Using an agent-based simulation, the competition process and system performance were evaluated from the standpoints of four stakeholders--the AMoD operator, the PT operator, passengers, and the transport authority.

"The objective of our study is to envision cities of the future and to understand how competition between AMoD and PT will impact the evolution of transportation systems," says the corresponding author of the paper, SMART FM Lead Principal Investigator and Associate Professor at MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Jinhua Zhao. "Our study found that competition between AMoD and PT can be favourable, leading to increased profits and system efficiency for both operators when compared to the status quo, while also benefiting the public and the transport authorities. However, the impact of the competition on passengers is uneven and authorities may be required to provide support for people who suffer from higher travel costs or longer travel times in terms of discounts or other feeder modes."

The research found that the competition between AMoD and PT would compel bus operators to reduce the frequency of inefficient routes and allow AMoDs to fill in the gaps in the service coverage. "Although the overall bus supply was reduced, the change was not uniform", says the first author of the paper, a PhD candidate at MIT, Baichuan Mo. "We found that PT services will be spatially concentrated to shorter routes that feed directly to the subway station, and temporally concentrated to peak hours. On average, this reduces travel time of passengers but increases travel costs. However, the generalised travel cost is reduced when incorporating the value of time." The study also found that providing subsidies to PT services would result in a relatively higher supply, profit, and market share for PT as compared to AMoD, and increased passenger generalised travel cost and total system passenger car equivalent (PCE), which is measured by the average vehicle load and the total vehicle kilometer traveled.

The findings suggest that PT should be allowed to optimise its supply strategies under specific operation goals and constraints to improve efficiency. On the other hand, AMoD operations should be regulated to reduce detrimental system impacts, including limiting the number of licenses, operation time, and service areas, resulting in AMoD operating in a manner more complementary to PT system.

"Our research shows that under the right conditions, an AMoD-PT integrated transport system can effectively co-exist and complement each other, benefiting all four stakeholders involved," says SMART FM alumni, Hongmou Zhang, a PhD graduate from MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning, and now Assistant Professor at Peking University School of Government. "Our findings will help the industry, policy makers and government bodies create future policies and plans to maximise the efficiency and sustainability of transportation systems, as well as protect the social welfare of residents as passengers."

The findings of this study is important for future mobility industries and relevant government bodies as it provides insight into possible evolutions and threats to urban transportation systems with the rise of AV and AMoD, and offers a predictive guide for future policy and regulation designs for a AMoD-PT integrated transport system. Policymakers should consider the uneven social costs such as increased travel costs or travel time, especially to vulnerable groups, by supporting and providing them with discounts or other feeder modes.

The research is carried out by SMART and supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore under its Campus for Research Excellence And Technological Enterprise (CREATE) programme.

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About the Future Urban Mobility (FM) Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG)

The Future Urban Mobility (FM) Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) is one of five IRGs in the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Centre (SMART). FM harnesses new technological and institutional innovations to create the next generation of urban mobility systems to increase accessibility, equity, safety and environmental performance for the citizens and businesses of Singapore and other metropolitan areas, worldwide. SMART-FM is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore and situated in the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE).

For more information, please log on to: https:/ / fm. smart. mit. edu

About Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART)

Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) is MIT's Research Enterprise in Singapore, established by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in partnership with the National Research Foundation of Singapore (NRF) since 2007. SMART is the first entity in the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) developed by NRF. SMART serves as an intellectual and innovation hub for research interactions between MIT and Singapore. Cutting-edge research projects in areas of interest to both Singapore and MIT are undertaken at SMART. SMART currently comprises an Innovation Centre and five Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs): Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Critical Analytics for Manufacturing Personalized-Medicine (CAMP), Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP), Future Urban Mobility (FM) and Low Energy Electronic Systems (LEES).

SMART research is funded by the National Research Foundation Singapore under the CREATE programme.

For more information, please visit http://smart. mit. edu

For media queries, please contact:

Glenn Tan

SMART@bluetotem.co

+65 9658 5749
Israel is the first country to report national data on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with observational analysis showing that two doses provide more than 95% protection against COVID-19 infection, hospitalisation, and death, including among the elderly, at a time when the B.1.1.7 variant was the dominant strain.

A single dose of the vaccine was associated with 58% protection against infection, 76% against hospitalisation, and 77% against death, emphasising the importance of fully vaccinating adults.

Challenges to controlling the pandemic remain, including uncertainty about the duration of immunity, the possible emergence of vaccine-resistant variants, and the need to increase vaccine coverage.

Two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine provide more than 95% protection against infection, hospitalisation, severe illness, and death, including among the elderly, according to the first national-level observational assessment of its effectiveness in Israel, published in The Lancet.

The analysis, based on de-identified national data, also reveals for the first time the public health benefits of a national vaccination programme, which was found to be the key driver of a decline in COVID-19 infections in Israel.

While the findings are encouraging, the authors stress that a number of challenges to controlling the pandemic remain. The duration of immunity to COVID-19 - both from infection and immunisation - remains unknown, and it is possible that new, vaccine-resistant variants could emerge in the future. In addition, achieving herd immunity will require a continued increase of vaccination coverage worldwide.

By April 2021, COVID-19 had resulted in over 131 million cases and more than 2.8 million deaths worldwide. Preliminary vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates of one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine - which was approved for emergency use in Israel in December 2020 - have been reported in the UK, Denmark, Israel, and the USA. VE estimates for two doses have also been carried out in a subset of the population in Israel. However, until now, national-level VE estimates of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine - the only COVID-19 vaccine available in Israel during the study period of 24th January to 3rd April 2021 - were not available for a range of key outcomes, including VE among the elderly.

Lead author, Dr Sharon Alroy-Preis, of the Israel Ministry of Health, says: "As the country with the highest proportion of its population vaccinated against COVID-19, Israel provides a unique real-world opportunity to determine the effectiveness of the vaccine and to observe wider effects of the vaccination programme on public health.

"Until this point, no country in the world had described the national public health impact of a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign. These insights are hugely important because, while there are still some considerable challenges to overcome, they offer real hope that COVID-19 vaccination will eventually enable us to control the pandemic." [1]

The authors used national pandemic surveillance data recorded by the Israel Ministry of Health to produce VE estimates of two doses of the vaccine against outcomes including COVID-19 infection, severe and critical hospitalisations, and deaths. Data was analysed in groups based on participants' age. The average follow-up time for people who had received two doses was 48 days. An evaluation of the nationwide impact of Israel's vaccination programme on public health, in terms of COVID-19 cases, was also conducted.

Vaccinations with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine began amid a surge of infections that led to a national lockdown on 27th December 2020. Daily infections peaked at 10,213 cases on 20th January 2021, and lockdown was lifted on 7th March 2021. By 3rd April, 2021, 72% (4,714,932/6,538,911) of people over 16 years, and 90% (1,015,620/1,127,965) of those over 65 years, had received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

During the analysis period, there were 232,268 confirmed COVID-19 infections in the country. The most prevalent strain was B.1.1.7 - also known as the UK variant - which accounted for 94.5% (8,006/8,472) of specimens tested through Israel's free and widely available PCR testing service. Two-thirds of cases were in people over 16 years (66.6%, 154,648/232,268), and there were 7,694 hospitalisations - of which 4,481 were severe and 188 were critical - and 1,113 deaths.

The analysis revealed that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is highly effective against COVID-19 for all people over the age of 16 years, providing 95.3% protection against infection and 96?7% protection against death seven days after the second dose. Protection against symptomatic and asymptomatic infection was 97.0% and 91.5%, respectively. The vaccine is also highly effective for preventing hospitalisations and severe illness, providing 97.2% protection against hospitalisation overall and 97?5% protection against severe and critical hospitalisation. By 14 days after vaccination, protections conferred by a second dose increased to 96.5% protection against infection, 98.0% against hospitalisation, and 98.1% against death. More data on the duration of VE will become available over time.

Protections among the elderly were as strong as those for younger people, with analysis indicating that people over 85 years had 94.1% protection against infection, 96.9% against hospitalisation, and 97% against death 7 days after receiving their second dose. People aged 16-44 years had 96.1% protection against infection, 98.1% against hospitalisation, and 100% against death.

By assessing VE after one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the authors demonstrated the importance of fully vaccinating adults. Protections were considerably lower between seven and 14 days after receiving the first dose compared to two doses, with 57.7% protection against infection, 75.7% against hospitalisation, and 77.0% against death. The authors also highlight that little is known about the duration of protection of one dose and how this compares to two doses, and caution that one dose may provide a shorter window of protection, particularly in an environment where new variants continue to emerge.

Observed correlations between declines in national COVID-19 infections and the timing of high vaccine uptake for each age group, rather than the start of lockdown on 27th December, suggest that the vaccination programme also had public health benefits.

Infections among those over 65 years continued to rise until mid-January, peaking at around 55 cases per 100,000. However, infections started to decline as people began receiving their second vaccine doses, with daily cases of around 30 per 100,000 by the first phase of reopening on 7th February. Daily infections continued to decline markedly as more people received the vaccine. Steeper and swifter declines were observed for people over 65 years of age - reflecting higher and earlier vaccination rates among older people - however, similar patterns were identified in all age groups.

"As vaccination programmes continue to ramp up around the world, more data is needed urgently about the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against severe disease and death, and about the levels of protection it provides to elderly people. Research examining long-term vaccine effectiveness will ultimately play a vital role in tackling the pandemic," says Dr Luis Jodar, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Vaccines at Pfizer, Inc., USA. [1]

The authors acknowledge some limitations. Given the differences between countries in how vaccines are rolled out and how the pandemic continues to evolve, caution should be used in generalising these findings to other nations. Further real-world studies of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and other vaccines, in other countries and settings are needed.

The dominant COVID-19 strain during the study period was the B.1.1.7 variant. However, another prominent variant, B.1.351 - known as the South Africa variant - has recently been identified in Israel. It was not possible to produce VE estimates for B.1.351 in this report due to the limited number of identified B.1.351 infections in Israel during the analysis period, so this should be investigated in future studies. While VE estimates accounted for factors including age and sex, there was no analysis of the possible effects of other covariates, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or likelihood of seeking a COVID-19 test, and these should be evaluated in future research. With nearly seven weeks of follow-up after the second vaccine dose, the study has the longest reported follow-up to date. However, longer-term data on effectiveness are needed. Variations in the time from symptom onset to hospitalisation and death may have prevented identification of all hospitalisations and deaths during the analysis period.

Writing in a linked Comment, Prof Eyal Leshem of the Chaim Sheba Medical Centre, Israel, and Prof Annelies Wilder-Smith of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, who were not involved in the study, note, "Haas and colleagues' findings from Israel suggest that high vaccine coverage rates could offer a way out of the pandemic. Regrettably, rapid population-level coverage cannot be easily replicated in many other countries. The global use of BNT162b2 vaccine is limited by supply issues, high costs, and ultra-cold chain storage requirements."

They continue, "Israel's experience provides impetus for countries to proactively pursue high vaccine coverage to protect the population; however, rollout would need to follow the WHO prioritisation roadmap to maximise the public health impact, in light of vaccine supply constraints. More post-introduction vaccine effectiveness studies will be required. Timely reporting of vaccine effectiveness against variants of concern, the duration of protection across age groups and geographical settings, and the effectiveness of alternative dosing regimens is crucial to provide data-driven immunisation policies."

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Peer-reviewed / Observational study / People

NOTES TO EDITORS

The study received no direct funding. The Israeli Ministry of Health and Pfizer separately provided in-kind support to this study. The study was conducted by researchers from Israel Ministry of Health, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd, Israel, and Pfizer, USA.

The labels have been added to this press release as part of a project run by the Academy of Medical Sciences seeking to improve the communication of evidence. For more information, please see: http://www. sciencemediacentre. org/ wp-content/ uploads/ 2018/ 01/ AMS-press-release-labelling-system-GUIDANCE. pdf if you have any questions or feedback, please contact The Lancet press office pressoffice@lancet.com

[1] Quote direct from author and cannot be found in the text of the Article.

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Reflexes protect our bodies - for example when we pull our hand back from a hot stove. These protective mechanisms could also be useful for robots. In this interview, Prof. Sami Haddadin and Johannes Kuhn of the Munich School of Robotics and Machine Intelligence (MSRM) of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) explain why giving test subjects a "slap on the hand" could lay the foundations for the robots of the future.

In your paper, published in Scientific Reports, you describe an experimental setup where people were actually slapped on the hand - to study their reflexes....

Kuhn: Yes, you can put it that way. For our study, in cooperation with Imperial College London, the test subjects needed their reflexes to protect them against two different pain sources: first, a slap on the hand. And, while pulling their hand and arm out of harm's way, they also had to avoid an elbow obstacle. We studied the hand retraction and discovered that it is a highly coordinated motion.

We also observed that the pain anticipated by a person shapes the reflex: If I know that the object behind me will cause similar pain to the slap on my fingers, I will withdraw my hand differently than when I know that the object will cause no pain.

How can such a seemingly simple experiment contribute to the development of intelligent high-tech machines like robots?

Haddadin: Humans have fascinating abilities. One could speak of a built-in intelligence in the human body that is indispensable for survival. The protective reflex is a central part of this. Imagine the classical "hand on the hot stove" situation. Without thinking, we pull back our hand as soon as the skin senses heat. So far, robots do not have reflexes of this kind. Their reactions to impending collisions tend to be rather mindless: They just stop and don't move until a person takes action.

In some situations this might make sense. But if a robot simply stopped moving when touching a hot stove, this would obviously have fatal consequences. At the MSRM we are therefore interested in developing autonomous and intelligent reflex mechanisms as part of a central nervous system for robots, so to speak. Humans are serving as our role models. How do their reflexes work and what can we learn from them for the development of intelligent robots?

What conclusions can you draw from your experiment for the development of robots?

Kuhn: We gained an insight into how the reflex motion works in detail: The way humans coordinate the reflex can be seen as throwing the shoulder forward, in a sense, in order to accelerate the withdrawal of the hand. This principle could be applied in the development of reflex motions in humanoid robots, with a signal sent to one part of a robot in order to influence the motion of another one.

This knowledge will also be helpful in the design of robot-enabled prosthetics that are expected to perform in "human-like" ways.

You mentioned that "anticipated pain" played a role in your experiment. Should robots be able to anticipate pain, too?

Kuhn: That would be a big advantage. It could help to classify potential collisions based on danger levels - and to plan evasive actions if appropriate. This would not only ensure the safety of the robot.

If the robot were capable of anticipating human pain, it could intervene in a dangerous situation to save a person from experiencing this pain.

Would robots then need to learn how to feel pain in the same way as humans?

Haddadin: No. Our pain perception is highly complex and linked to emotions. So we can't compare this to a human's "pain sensation". Robots are tools and not living creatures. Artificial pain is nothing more than a technical signal based on data from various sensors. At the MSRM we have already developed an initial reflex mechanism for robots based on "artificial pain". When touching hot or sharp objects, our robot withdrew its arm in a reflexive movement.

What are your next steps on the way to a robot with a fully developed protective reflex?

Haddadin: The big challenge in our research field between humans and machines is that we still have only a rudimentary understanding of our role model: the human reflex system, working with the sensorimotoric learning mechanisms of a complex, neuromechanical motion apparatus. And that is where the exciting scientific challenge lies: with all of the unknowns, to continually improve the human-inspired abilities of our intelligent machines, while using what we learn to arrive at a better understanding of how humans function. Basically, we can say that this has continued since the days of Leonardo Da Vinci and will carry on for many years to come.

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Diba Mirza, an associate teaching professor of computer science at UC Santa Barbara, has received the Mentoring Award for Undergraduate Research (MAUR) from the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT). The national award recognizes four faculty each year who have demonstrated outstanding mentorship by providing high-quality research opportunities to students, recruiting women and other underrepresented students, and encouraging and advancing undergraduates in computing-related fields.

"The MAUR is very prestigious, and I am very honored to receive it," said Mirza, who joined UCSB's faculty in 2016. "The award serves as a reminder to continue my commitment to students and carve out time every week to mentor them. It also celebrates the computer science department's success in supporting undergraduate research and the collaborative culture that makes such efforts possible."

NCWIT commended Mirza for starting the Early Research Scholars Program (ERSP) at UCSB. Supported by a five-year grant from the National Science Foundation, the year-long research apprenticeship program helps undergraduates, especially women and underrepresented students, gain foundational knowledge and skills for engaging in research in the discipline. Students work with computer science faculty members on a project that ties into the faculty member's research area. ERSP was originally developed at UC San Diego, where Mirza worked prior to teaching at UCSB. She was able not only to institutionalize the successful model at UCSB, but also help her department meet its goal of increasing support for undergraduate research.

"The project excited me in several ways because it created the opportunity to mentor undergraduates in their first research project, develop long-term collaboration across multiple partner institutions, study the impact of early research, and collaborate with colleagues and graduate students within our department to implement the program," said Mirza, who previously received the 2020 UCSB Academic Senate Distinguished Teaching Award. "When students engage in research, they are challenged all the time. Without proper support and mentoring, it is easy for students to give up, particularly those who feel like they don't belong in the mainstream community of computer science. That effect perpetuates existing inequities in our discipline. My main goal is to reverse this effect by normalizing the challenges of research for new students."

ERSP, which launched in 2018, and is already producing results. According to Mirza, the program has had no attrition, more than 50% of students have been women and 20% have been from traditionally underrepresented groups. Three student teams have published a total of four first-author papers at peer-reviewed conferences in natural language processing and computer architecture. In addition, 42% of students who completed ERSP have remained actively involved in research and applied to graduate school or expressed an intention to do so.

"I credit the success of ERSP to Professor Mirza's exceptional mentoring skills and effort," said Tevfik Bultan, chair of the computer science department and an ERSP research advisor. "Professor Mirza recruits a diverse group of undergraduate students to ERSP and provides incredible mentorship that enables them to take on challenging research projects. She very much deserves this recognition for mentoring, and I am very proud to be her colleague."

Mirza thanked Bultan and professor Elizabeth Belding, noting that their efforts and strong support of diversity and undergraduate research have helped the department make notable strides. She also thanked the numerous faculty and graduate students who helped launch and sustain ERSP, and mentor students. As further evidence of the program's impact, ERSP students have received the department's Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award the past two years. The 2020 recipients, Andrew Gaut and Tony Sun, both of whom worked on a research project with assistant professor William Wang, were finalists for a prestigious national honor, the Computing Research Association's Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award.

The NCWIT also commended Mirza for teaching an undergraduate research methods course, mentoring nearly thirty students, and organizing an annual student research showcase. Mirza said that she enjoys working with the exceptional undergraduates in computing at UCSB and feels invested in their success.

"Mentoring is a powerful way of helping students see themselves in a new light and prepare them for life beyond UCSB," said Mirza, who was selected by graduating seniors as the computer science department's Faculty of the Year in 2018-19 and 2019-20. "It's also a great way to build the kind of community and culture we can collectively be proud of. Mentors and role models have played an important role in my career, and it's my way of paying it forward. It is the best part of my job."

Among the students mentored by Mirza through ERSP were Jacqueline Mai, who received the department's Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award in 2019, and April Sanchez, a first-generation college student. They praised Mirza for the extraordinary amount of effort she puts into supporting undergraduates, particularly women and underrepresented minorities.

"I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award than Professor Mirza. She was my first computer science professor and had a profound impact on me from the very beginning," said Sanchez, who is enrolled in the department's five-year bachelor's and master's degree program. "I think it's so important that she reaches out to underrepresented students, like myself, because no one in my family went to college and many of them didn't understand what I meant when I said I studied computer science. I wasn't aware of graduate school, how to apply, or if it was even something I wanted to do. I didn't even understand what imposter syndrome was. All I knew was that it was some unnamed feeling that I struggled with being a woman in computer science. Professor Mirza gave me the clarity, motivation and guidance that I needed to succeed."

Sanchez says that Mirza kept her motivated, and provided advice and encouragement. She credits the skills she learned in ERSP for helping her obtain internships at Google the past two summers and secure a research project on security this spring with computer science Professor Giovanni Vigna.

"She showed me that I can hold my own and thrive in a field that I'd heard was unwelcoming toward women and people of color," said Sanchez, who hopes to join Google as a full-time software engineer after she completes her master's degree next June.

Mai echoed Sanchez's sentiments, saying that Mirza helped set her on a path to success. She earned her bachelor's degree last year and will complete her master's degree in computer science this June.

"Professor Mirza has provided me with so much valuable advice and support throughout my time as an undergraduate," said Mai, who after completing the ERSP participated in multiple research projects focused on programming languages and computer architecture in labs on campus. "Through ERSP, I learned how to conduct a research project and publish a paper. I attended conferences, networked with other researchers and gained confidence that I belonged in computer science."

For winning, Mirza is featured on NCWIT's MAUR website and will receive a $5,000 gift to cover research expenses. NCWIT is the only national non-profit focused on women's participation in computing, helping 1,400 organizations recruit, retain and advance women from higher education through industry and entrepreneurial careers by providing support, evidence, and action.

Zoe Wood, a recent addition to the department, received the MAUR in 2018 while teaching at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

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Proteins perform a vast array of functions in the cell of every living organism with critical roles in almost every biological process. Not only do they run our metabolism, manage cellular signaling and are in charge of energy production, as antibodies they are also the frontline workers of our immune system fighting human pathogens like the coronavirus. In view of these important duties, it is not surprising that the activity of proteins is tightly controlled. There are numerous chemical switches that control the structure and, therefore, the function of proteins in response to changing environmental conditions and stress. The biochemical structures and modes of operation of these switches were thought to be well understood. So a team of researchers at the University of Gottingen were surprised to discover a completely novel, but until now overlooked, on/off switch that seems to be a ubiquitous regulatory element in proteins in all domains of life. The results were published in Nature.

The researchers investigated a protein from the human pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae that causes gonorrhea, a bacterial infection with over 100 million cases worldwide. This disease is typically treated with antibiotics but increasing rates of antibiotic resistance pose a serious threat. In order to identify new treatments, they studied the structure and mechanism of a protein that is a key player in carbon metabolism of the pathogen. Surprisingly, the protein can be switched on and off by oxidation and reduction (known as a "redox switch). The scientists suspected this was caused by a common and well-established "disulfide switch" formed between two cysteine amino acids. When they deciphered the X-ray structures of the protein in the "on" and "off" state at the DESY particle accelerator in Hamburg, Germany, they were hit by an even bigger surprise. The chemical nature of the switch was completely unknown: it is formed between a lysine and a cysteine amino acid with a bridging oxygen atom.

"I couldn't believe my eyes," says Professor Kai Tittmann, who led the study, when he remembers seeing the structure of the novel switch for the first time. "We thought initially that this must have formed artificially as a by-product of the experimental process as this chemical entity was unknown." However, numerous repetitions of the experiments always gave the same result and an analysis of the protein structure database further disclosed that there are many other proteins that very likely possess this switch, which apparently escaped earlier detection as the resolution of the protein structure analysis was insufficient to detect it for certain. The researchers admit that good fortune was on their side because the crystals they measured allowed the protein structure to be determined at extremely high resolution, meaning the novel switch couldn't be missed. "The extensive screening for high-quality protein crystals has really paid off, I couldn't be happier," says Marie Wensien, first author of the paper.

The researchers believe the discovery of the novel protein switch will impact the life sciences in numerous ways, for instance in the field of protein design. It will also open new avenues in medical applications and drug design. Many human proteins with established roles in severe diseases are known to be redox-controlled and the newly discovered switch is likely to play a central role in regulating their biological function as well.

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Researchers from the Gottingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Gottingen, the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry and the Hannover Medical School contributed to the study.

Original publication: Marie Wensien et al. A lysine-cysteine redox switch with an NOS bridge regulates enzyme function. Nature 2021. DoI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03513-3

Contact:
A new mutation found in a gene associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation poses a significantly increased risk for heart failure in Black people.

The discovery, made by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago, could change current guidelines that recommend against genetic testing in people with atrial fibrillations, also known as AFib.

"We found that this new variant confers a significantly increased risk in African Americans, and this mutation has a 50% chance of being passed on to offspring," said Dr. Dawood Darbar, UIC professor of medicine and pharmacology at the College of Medicine. "Since it increases risk for heart failure, it would be wise to test people with atrial fibrillation to see if they carry this dangerous gene."

AFib is the most prevalent heart rhythm disorder worldwide and increases the risk of stroke, heart failure and even dementia.

Previous research from Darbar's lab identified several genes with variations or mutations that increased the risk of early-onset AFib in white people. One of these variants is in a gene called Titan -- the largest gene in the human genome.

Darbar and colleagues sequenced the genes associated with increased risk of early-onset AFib in 227 Black and Latino patients with early-onset AFib who were seen at UI Health, UIC's health care system.

"With early-onset AFib, which we defined in our research as younger than age 65, the likelihood that AFib is genetic, or familial in its cause, is much higher," Darbar said.

They found that 7% of these patients had at least one genetic variation associated with an increased risk of AFib. Among these patients, 50% had a mutation in the Titan gene.

"The Titan mutation is very strongly associated with an increased risk for heart failure as well as AFib, which suggests that African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos with early-onset AFib be screened for this dangerous gene," Darbar said.

Darbar and colleagues also discovered a new genetic variation they think might be associated with an increased risk of early-onset AFib.

"The new gene we discovered was present in six families with two or more individuals with early-onset AFib, making this gene very suspicious," Darbar said. "We will be looking into the significance of this variation in our future studies."

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Brandon Chalazan, Denise Mol, Faisal Darbar, Aylin Ornelas-Loredo, Bahaa Al-Azzam, Yining Chen, David Tofovic, Arvind Sridhar and Zain Alzahrani of UIC and Patrick Ellinor of Massachusetts General Hospital are co-authors of the paper.

This work was supported in part by grants from the American Heart Association (17MCPRP33420153) and the National Institutes of Health (R01HL138737, T32HL139439).
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 5, 2021) - Collaborative research between the University of Kentucky (UK) and University of Southern California (USC) suggests that a noninvasive neuroimaging technique may index early-stage blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction associated with small vessel disease (SVD). Cerebral SVD is the most common cause of vascular cognitive impairment, with a significant proportion of cases going on to develop dementia. BBB dysfunction represents a promising early marker of SVD because the BBB regulates a number of important metabolic functions, including clearance of toxic brain substances.

Advanced BBB dysfunction can be detected with neuroimaging measures such as positron emission tomography (PET) scanning and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI. However, these methods require exposure to radiation or contrast agents and may only detect moderate to advanced stages of BBB tissue disruption. The UK-USC study used a novel, noninvasive MRI method called diffusion-prepared arterial spin labeling (DP-ASL), which was developed by Xingfeng Shao, Ph.D. and Danny Wang, Ph.D. at USC. The DP-ASL method indexes subtle BBB dysfunctions associated with altered water exchange rate across the BBB.

In the UK-USC study, healthy older adults (67-86 years old) without cognitive impairment were scanned with the DP-ASL sequence at the UK's Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Center. In addition, study participants volunteered for lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) draw as part of their enrollment in the study at UK's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging (SBCoA). The study focused on CSF levels of amyloid-beta (A), which are abnormally low when this protein is not adequately cleared from the brain into the CSF.

Results indicated that low CSF levels of A were associated with a low BBB water exchange rate assessed with the DP-ASL method. "Our results suggest that DP-ASL may provide a noninvasive index of BBB clearance dysfunction prior to any detectable cognitive impairment," said Brian Gold, Ph.D., professor in the UK department of Neuroscience and SBCoA.

Gold is the lead author of the article, which appears in a recent issue of Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. Wang, a professor of Neurology and Radiology at USC, the study's senior author, said, "Our data indicate the important role of BBB water exchange in the clearance of amyloid-beta, and the potential for using DP-ASL to noninvasively assess BBB water exchange in clinical trials of SVD."

In addition to Gold, several others from UK contributed to the research including Dr. Gregory Jicha, professor in the department of Neurology and SBCoA, Donna Wilcock, Ph.D., professor in the department of Physiology and SBCoA, Tiffany Sudduth and Elayna Seago.

Results from the UK-USC study also support growing evidence that BBB dysfunction may represent a link between SVD and clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Excess accumulation of A is a hallmark feature of individuals who receive a clinical diagnosis of AD. However, A pathology is also seen in many cases of SVD. Results from the UK-USC study are consistent with theories suggesting that insufficient clearance of A through the BBB may impair BBB function which, in turn, may further accelerate accumulation of A in the brain. Gold noted that "an important topic for future research is why some individuals with BBB dysfunction and impaired A clearance may develop cognitive declines associated with AD while others develop more vascular-like cognitive declines."

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Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01AG055449, National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number S10OD023573, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers UH3-NS100614 and R01NS114382, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01EB028297.The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
AMHERST, Mass. - The world is currently on track to exceed three degrees Celsius of global warming, and new research led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Rob DeConto, co-director of the School of Earth & Sustainability, shows that such a scenario would drastically accelerate the pace of sea-level rise by 2100. If the rate of global warming continues on its current trajectory, we will reach a tipping point by 2060, past which these consequences would be "irreversible on multi-century timescales."

The new paper, published today in Nature, models the impact of several different warming scenarios on the Antarctic Ice Sheet, including the Paris Agreement target of two degrees Celsius of warming, an aspirational 1.5 degree scenario, and our current course which, if not altered, will yield three or more degrees of warming. If the more optimistic 1.5 and 2 degree Paris Agreement temperature targets are achieved, the Antarctic Ice Sheet would contribute between 6 and 11 centimeters of sea level rise by 2100. But if the current course toward 3 degrees is maintained, the model points to a major jump in melting. Unless ambitious action to rein in warming begins by 2060, no human intervention, including geoengineering, would be able to stop 17 to 21 centimeters of sea-level rise from Antarctic ice melt alone by 2100. The implications of exceeding Paris Agreement warming targets become even more stark on longer timescales. Antarctica contributes about 1 meter of sea level rise by 2300 if warming is limited to 2 degrees or less, but reaches globally catastrophic levels of 10 meters or more under a more extreme warming scenario with no mitigation of greenhouse-gas emissions.

DeConto and colleagues' research shows the very architecture of the Antarctic Ice Sheet itself plays a key role in ice loss. Ice flows slowly downhill, and the Antarctic Ice Sheet naturally creeps into the ocean, where it begins to melt. What keeps that ocean-bound ice flowing slowly is a ring of buttressing ice shelves, which float in the ocean but hold back the upstream glacial ice by scraping on shallow sea-floor features. Those buttressing ice shelves act both as dams that keep the sheet from sliding rapidly into the ocean, and as supports that keep the edges of the ice sheet from collapsing.

But as warming increases, the ice shelves thin and become more fragile. Meltwater on their surfaces can deepen crevasses and cause them to disintegrate entirely. This not only lets the ice sheet flow toward the warming ocean more quickly, it allows the exposed edges of the ice sheet to break off or "calve" into the ocean, adding to sea level rises. These processes of melting and ice shelf loss, followed by faster glacial flow and rapid calving are seen on Greenland today, but they haven't become widespread on the colder Antarctic ice sheet -- at least not yet. DeConto points out that "if the world continues to warm, the huge glaciers on Antarctica might begin behaving like their smaller counterparts on Greenland, which would be disastrous in terms of sea level rise." The authors of the study, which was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation and the NASA Sea Level Change Science Team, write that missing Paris Agreement temperature targets and allowing extensive loss of the buttressing ice shelves "represents a possible tipping point in Antarctica's future."

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Contact: Rob DeConto, deconto@geo.umass.edu

Daegan Miller, drmiller@umass.edu
OKLAHOMA CITY - Andrew T. Hattersley, DBE, FMedSci, FRS, has been named the recipient of the 2021 Harold Hamm International Prize for Biomedical Research in Diabetes. Hattersley, Professor of Molecular Medicine, University of Exeter Medical School, U.K., was nominated by Alvin Powers, M.D., Vanderbilt University; and Juleen Zierath, Ph.D., Karolinska Institute, Sweden, and University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Hamm Prize recognizes and encourages lasting advances in the field of diabetes research. It is awarded to an individual who has either demonstrated lifelong contributions to the field or realized a singular advance, especially one that promotes curative potential. The honor includes a $250,000 award - the largest of its kind in the world - and will be awarded by OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

"This unprecedented international research prize was established as a means to fuel global scientific interest and innovation. Its purpose is to drive discovery of a cure for diabetes in this generation," said Harold Hamm, chairman and CEO of Continental Resources Inc., headquartered in Oklahoma City.

Following his lead gift in 2007 to create Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, Hamm also provided the endowment to establish the prize. Provisions of the endowment include awarding the prize every other year in perpetuity. The endowment represents a unique private/public partnership that leverages philanthropic contributions as a catalyst for medical advances where needs are acute. It is particularly significant in an environment marked by the decline of federal funding for medical research.

"This award puts an international spotlight on essential research to address this terrible disease, and helps attract the most brilliant minds in diabetes research and treatment to the OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center," said University of Oklahoma President Joseph Harroz Jr. "It is with deep gratitude, once again, that I thank Mr. Hamm for his generosity and commitment to our important work. We're ever hopeful that these efforts will bring to an end the pain and negative impact of diabetes."

"It is a distinct honour to be selected as the recipient of the 2021 Harold Hamm Diabetes International Prize for Biomedical Research in Diabetes," Hattersley said. "As I consider previous applicants and recipients, it's clear that I follow in the footsteps of some real giants of diabetes research. I'm still in grateful shock that I was chosen to join this elite company."

The recipient is selected by an international jury of diabetes scientists. Jury members who gathered in Oklahoma City for final deliberation are: David A. D'Alessio, M.D., Duke University; David M. Nathan, M.D., Harvard Medical School; Alvin C. Powers, M.D., Vanderbilt University; Philipp E. Scherer, Ph.D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; and Juleen R. Zierath, Ph.D., University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Jury member Alvin Powers, M.D., physician scientist and active researcher, directs the diabetes center at Vanderbilt University, and nominated Hattersley for consideration as a prize recipient.

"It's exciting to hear that Andrew Hattersley from Exeter has been chosen as this year's Hamm scientist. Professor Hattersley's work makes a huge impact on how we think about diabetes and how we begin to approach and individualize therapies," Powers said. "He and his team have collaborated with people around the world to identify individuals with certain forms of diabetes, and then to individualize therapy based on their unique forms of diabetes. His work provides great insight into the mechanisms that cause diabetes at an individual level." He explained that Hattersley's findings will drive scientific exploration at the molecular level, and that clinicians and patients will benefit from better testing and diagnostic tools, and treatments that more specifically target diabetes.

Powers said the increasing frequency of diabetes and its complications constitute a global problem. "We lack the ability to treat diabetes as effectively as we'd like. Unless we have better therapies, more and more people will face these terrible problems." Part of the challenge, he said, is the language used to discuss diabetes, as if it were a single disease. "We don't yet have the diagnostic tools to be more specific in our language. Current practice, then, is to treat almost everyone with diabetes in the same way." He said we need greater understanding of why a certain person develops a form of diabetes and create more personalized therapies.

The importance of the Hamm Prize lies not only in the recognition of outstanding work, but also as it serves to call attention to the disease itself. Despite vast numbers of people affected, Powers said diabetes is not taken as seriously as it should be, and there's a persistent tendency to minimize the impact of this major health problem, which merits greater attention at all levels.

"We need government-funded research, and we need people with diabetes to participate," Powers said. We also need philanthropic support - people like Mr. Hamm - who decide to make a difference by investing in people and programs that can change the trajectory of diabetes and how it impacts society."

Juleen Zierath, Ph.D., professor of physiology, Karolinska Institute, Sweden, and executive director of Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, also nominated Hattersley for the Hamm Prize. She said the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the damaging health consequences of obesity and Type 2 diabetes into sharp focus, showing more clearly that diabetes is more than a state of glucose dysregulation, but also a multi-faceted syndrome, driven by a variety of medical and social risk factors, often associated with patho-physiological changes throughout the body.

"Professor Hattersley has truly excelled, as evidenced by a clear, fundamental discovery of human genetics and developing paradigm-shifting clinical applications to improve the quality of life of people living with diabetes. That's monumental," Zierath said. "With his profound knowledge and clinical expertise in managing patients with monogenetic forms of diabetes, he's also a global reference for diagnostic and therapeutic questions related to what we call MODY - mature-onset diabetes in youth - and neonatal diabetes. It's a great illustration of understanding the genetic forms of some cases of diabetes and using it to personalize treatment and care for these patients. It's an elegant display of clinical and experimental research."

Hattersley's career began as a research student working at Oxford. His early work at Exeter included establishing a lab that now leads the world in the study of MODY and neonatal diabetes research and diagnosis. Here, a major breakthrough occurred with genome-wide analysis; the collaborative approach paved the way to discovery of new susceptibility polymorphism, a predisposition for Type 2 diabetes.

For nearly three decades, Hattersley has continued to make fundamental discoveries in diabetes research in both basic and clinical sciences, and his prolific work includes more than 600 peer-reviewed publications. Directing his research into the area of monogenic beta-cell diabetes, Hattersley has pushed beyond gene discovery to explore development and function of the human beta-cell, providing the clinical research that has become the basis of clinical care worldwide. One major advance has been the incorporation of beta-cell science into patient treatment. Recent work has revealed new insights into the beta-cell potassium channel.

Hattersley said the work of his research team in rare patients with genetic diabetes has shown that defining the cause of a person's diabetes can lead to dramatic improvements in treatment, including thousands of patients coming off insulin therapy. "This has led to testing for genetic diabetes throughout the world. The challenge for future generations of researchers is to define the different subtypes of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and to develop improved treatment specific for these subtypes."

Hattersley's work continues to exert influence on clinical care on a global scale. The monogenic genes discovered at Exeter are currently tested in routine diagnostic laboratories worldwide. In neonatal diabetes, pharmacogenetic findings that allow insulin to be avoided have made it possible to perform genetic testing immediately after a diabetes diagnosis. In MODY, which varies from both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, Hattersley's research guides recognition of cases clinically and by biomarkers as well as treatment, including treatment during pregnancy.

An active researcher and clinician, Hattersley continues to identify new and important genes for beta-cell development, function and destruction with particular work on monogenic cause of monogenic autoimmunity, causing early diabetes. He has established that routine, clinical features may be used to individualize the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, and has developed new diagnostic tools that have proven particularly helpful to diagnose Type 1 diabetes in adult patients.

In addition to research and scholarly activities, Hattersley has a passion for the education and development of young researchers. His success in this endeavor is seen in the performance of the students and fellows he has supervised and mentored. Many are successful and independent academics leading their own research teams.

Hattersley is a Fellow of the Royal Society, Academy of Medical Scientists and Royal College of Physicians, London, U.K. He has presented and more than 400 national and international meetings for diabetes, endocrinology and islet biology. He is the recipient of numerous national and international research awards, including the 2020 Baillet Latour Health Prize, Belgium's highest scientific award for outstanding achievement in biomedical research.

"Professor Hattersley's discoveries continue to propel us toward a cure. The goal - to conquer diabetes in this generation - is a step closer because of his relentless exploration," said Jacob E. "Jed" Friedman, Ph.D., director of OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center. "Untold numbers of people throughout this nation and the world will benefit from Professor Hattersley's brilliant work."

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OU HEALTH HAROLD HAMM DIABETES CENTER

OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center is committed to curing diabetes and ending the diabetes pandemic in the 21st century. It is among the world's largest and most comprehensive institutions of its kind, integrating top-flight academic research with clinical care and disease prevention. The center oversees the world's top research prize in the diabetes field. It has facilities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa as well as affiliated sites across the state, including partnerships with Native American communities. An innovative range of services includes support groups, cooking classes, lifestyle-intervention programs, and a summer camp for children and teens. For more information, visit hammdiabetescenter.org. OU HEALTH

OU Health is the state's only comprehensive academic health system of hospitals, clinics and centers of excellence. With 11,000 employees and more than 1,300 physicians and advanced practice providers, OU Health is home to Oklahoma's largest doctor network with a complete range of specialty care. OU Health serves Oklahoma and the region with the state's only freestanding children's hospital, the only National Cancer Institute-Designated OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center and Oklahoma's flagship hospital, which serves as the state's only Level 1 trauma center. Becker's Hospital Review named University of Oklahoma Medical Center one of the 100 Great Hospitals in America for 2020. OU Health's oncology program at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center was named Oklahoma's top facility for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report in its 2020-21 rankings. OU Health also was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as high performing in these specialties: Colon Surgery, COPD and Congestive Heart Failure. OU Health's mission is to lead healthcare in patient care, education and research. To learn more, visit ouhealth.com.
R21/Matrix-M becomes the second malaria vaccine candidate ever to start a phase III licensure trial

This builds on the recent finding of high level efficacy of this vaccine in a phase IIb trial in children in Burkina Faso, published today in The Lancet

The first phase III trial doses were administered by the team at the Malaria Research and Training Centre, Bamako, Mali, one of five trial sites across West and East Africa

The malaria vaccine was designed at the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, who have partnered with the Serum Institute of India for commercial development

The annual death toll from malaria is over 400,000, with most of these deaths amongst children in sub-Saharan Africa. There has been little improvement noted in the last 5 years despite the large amounts of funding allocated to bed nets, insecticide spraying and antimalarial drugs. An efficacious vaccine is needed to try and reach the WHO goal of reducing malaria deaths by at least 90% by 2030.

R21/Matrix-M, a malaria vaccine developed at the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, showed efficacy of 77% over 12 months in a recently reported phase IIb trial. First vaccinations have now begun in Mali in a larger phase III trial which is hoped to lead to licensure of this malaria vaccine by 2023. This phase III trial will assess efficacy and safety in 4800 children across five sites in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali and Tanzania. This is a double-blind, randomised, controlled trial where participants, aged 5-36 months, will receive three vaccinations 4 weeks apart and a booster vaccination 1 year later. The vaccine is being assessed in areas of differing malaria transmission and seasonality.

The University of Oxford has partnered with Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd. (SIIPL) for the manufacturing of R21/Matrix-M to ensure provision of low high volumes of low-cost vaccine, and access in countries where it is required the most. SIIPL has confirmed its commitment to the provision of >200 million doses per year after licensure, which will be adequate supply for children most at risk of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Quotes

Professor Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford said: "The start of a phase III licensure trial is always an import milestone in the development of a vaccine. This large malaria trial is the culmination of many years of laboratory research and assessment of numerous candidate vaccines in early-stage clinical trials with large numbers of collaborators."

Professor Alassane Dicko, Head of the Bougouni Clinical Research Unit, MRTC-P, USTTB and Malian Principal Investigator said: "We are very pleased to see the enthusiasm with which the communities of Bougouni received the first doses of this new candidate malaria vaccine. We are hopeful that the encouraging Phase 2 results will be confirmed in this larger Phase 3 trial".

Professor Abdoulaye Djimde, Director of the Malaria Research and Training Centre - Parasito (MRTC-P), University of Science, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB), said: "We are thrilled to be the first site to enroll volunteers in the Phase 3 trial of this very promising R21 vaccine. We will utilize our more than two decades of experience in malaria vaccine testing towards successful completion of this trial"

Professor Halidou Tinto, Principal Investigator of the Nanoro, Burkina Faso trial site, said: "This is a very important moment in the development of the R21 malaria vaccine candidate. We hope that the public-private partnership behind this pivotal Phase III trial will confirm the high efficacy and good safety profile seen in our phase II trial in Nanoro. The five African institutions involved in this partnership have here a historic role to play. We are all committed to work hard in order to generate data that will provide regulators and policy makers with the evidence needed to support the registration of this vaccine. If successful, this vaccine should be made available as quickly as possible to complement existing malaria prevention tools''

Professor Jean Bosco Ouedraogo, Principal Investigator at The Institute of Sciences and Techniques in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso said: "The R21 vaccine is a promising malaria prevention tool to help accelerate malaria elimination, particularly in high burden countries in Africa. The Phase II trial demonstrated high vaccine efficacy in children and I'm proud that it was done in Burkina Faso. I am really happy to be part of this key new trial to evaluate the vaccine's safety and efficacy in an area of perennial transmission near Bobo-Dioulasso."

Dr Umesh Shaligram, Chief Scientist at the Serum Institute of India said: "Malaria has been one of the most difficult diseases to make an effective vaccine against. We are committed to ensuring that the supply of this very promising vaccine, manufactured here in Pune, India, meets public health needs by supplying over 200 million doses annually."

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About Malaria

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that malaria causes over 400,000 deaths each year globally and progress in reducing malaria mortality has stalled in recent years. Most deaths are amongst children in Africa where very high transmission rates are found in many countries. 229 million cases of clinical malaria were reported in 2019. Current malaria control measures include the use of insecticide treated bed net, insecticide spraying and seasonal malaria chemoprevention where drug are administered monthly to children at time of highest transmission. No vaccine has been licensed for widespread use although efforts to develop vaccines have spanned over fifty years. Over 100 malaria vaccine candidates have entered clinical trials over recent decades but none has previously shown the >75% efficacy targeted by World Health Organization's Malaria Vaccine Technology Roadmap. It is likely that an effective vaccine could add to the current control measures and have significant impact. Vaccines could have many applications: reduction of disease and death in malaria endemic areas; contributions to malaria elimination and eventual eradication; protection of malaria-naive travellers to malaria-endemic regions. About Vaccine Clinical Trials

Vaccine clinical trials are used to test if new vaccines are safe and effective. A phase I trial aims to test the safety of a new vaccine, a phase II tests the new vaccine to see if it is safe and effective and a phase III tests this in larger numbers to provide further safety and efficacy data.

About the University of Science, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali

The Malaria Research and Training Center - Parasitology Section (MRTC-P) within the University of Science, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, is a renowned African-led research institution which is divided into several research units, including the Bougouni and Ouelessebougou Clinical Research Units and many others. During the past 20 years, MRTC-P in collaboration with the US National Institutes of Health, University of Maryland, EDCTP, Wellcome Trust, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford, African Academy of Sciences, WHO and others has built state-of-the-art facilities including several clinical research sites, parasite culture facilities, insectaries, genomic data storage and bioinformatics facilities.

About the Jenner Institute:

The Jenner Institute is based within the Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, and is headquartered at the Old Road Campus Research Building, in Headington, Oxford. The Jenner Institute also supports senior vaccine scientists, known as Jenner Investigators, within many other departments across the University of Oxford, as well as externally within The Pirbright Institute and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

The Jenner Institute brings together investigators who are designing and developing numerous vaccines to generate an exceptional breadth of scientific know-how and critical mass, whilst still allowing the individual investigators to remain independent and accountable to their funders and stakeholders.

The Jenner Institute is supported by the Jenner Vaccine Foundation, a UK registered charity and is advised by the Jenner Institute Scientific Advisory Board. About the University of Oxford

Oxford University has been placed number 1 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the fifth year running, and at the heart of this success is our ground-breaking research and innovation.

Oxford is world-famous for research excellence and home to some of the most talented people from across the globe. Our work helps the lives of millions, solving real-world problems through a huge network of partnerships and collaborations. The breadth and interdisciplinary nature of our research sparks imaginative and inventive insights and solutions.

Through its research commercialisation arm, Oxford University Innovation, Oxford is the highest university patent filer in the UK and is ranked first in the UK for university spinouts, having created more than 200 new companies since 1988. Over a third of these companies have been created in the past three years.
PITTSBURGH, May 5, 2021 - Subtle differences in the shape of the brain that are present in adolescence are associated with the development of psychosis, according to an international team led by neuroscientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Maastricht University in the Netherlands.

In results published today in JAMA Psychiatry, the differences are too subtle to detect in an individual or use for diagnostic purposes. But the findings could contribute to ongoing efforts to develop a cumulative risk score for psychosis that would allow for earlier detection and treatment, as well as targeted therapies. The discovery was made with the largest-ever pooling of brain scans in children and young adults determined by psychiatric assessment to be at high risk of developing psychosis.

"These results were, in a sense, sobering," said Maria Jalbrzikowski, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at Pitt. "On the one hand, our data set includes 600% more high-risk youth who developed psychosis than any existing study, allowing us to see statistically significant results in brain structure. But the variance between whether or not a high-risk youth develops psychosis is so small that it would be impossible to see a difference at the individual level. More work is needed for our findings to be translated into clinical care."

Psychosis is an umbrella term for a constellation of severe mental disorders that cause people to have difficulty determining what is real and what is not. Most often, individuals have hallucinations where they see or hear things that others do not. They also may have strongly held beliefs, or delusions, even when most people do not believe them. Schizophrenia is only one disorder associated with psychosis, and psychotic symptoms can occur in other psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder, depression, body dysmorphic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. In people who receive a diagnosis of psychosis, there is a great deal of heterogeneity in outcomes over time.

Diagnosis usually happens in later adolescence and early adulthood, but most often symptoms begin to manifest in the teen years, when clinicians can use psychological assessments to determine a person's risk of developing full-blown psychosis.

Jalbrzikowsi and Dennis Hernaus, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Mental Health and Neuroscience at Maastricht University, are co-chairs of the Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics Through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Working Group. This group pooled structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 3,169 volunteer participants at an average age of 21 who were recruited at 31 different institutions. About half--1,792 of the participants--had been determined to be at "clinical high risk for developing psychosis." Of those high-risk participants, 253 went on to develop psychosis within two years. The co-chairs emphasized that this study would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of the 100-plus researchers involved.

When looking at all the scans together, the team found that those at high risk for psychosis had widespread lower cortical thickness, a measure of the thickness of the brain's gray matter. In high-risk youth who later developed psychosis, a thinner cortex was most pronounced in several temporal and frontal regions.

Everyone goes through a cortical thinning process as they develop into an adult, but the team found that in younger participants between 12 and 16 years old who developed psychosis the thinning was already present. These high-risk youth who developed psychosis also progressed at a slower rate than in the control group.

"We don't yet know exactly what this means, but adolescence is a critical time in a child's life--it's a time of opportunity to take risks and explore, but also a period of vulnerability," Jalbrzikowski said. "We could be seeing the result of something that happened even earlier in brain development but only begins to influence behavior during this developmental stage."

Hernaus stressed that these findings underscore the importance of early detection and intervention in people who show risk factors for developing psychosis, which include hearing whispers from voices that aren't there and a family history of psychosis.

"Until now, researchers have primarily studied how the brains of people with clinical high risk for psychosis differ at a given point in time," Hernaus said. "An important next step is to better understand brain changes over time, which could provide new clues on underlying mechanisms relevant to psychosis."

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Other authors for this study are the members of the ENIGMA Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Working Group, listed in the JAMA Psychiatry manuscript.

This research received support from numerous funders listed in the JAMA Psychiatry manuscript. Jalbrzikowski received support from National Institute of Mental Health grant K01 MH112774.

To read this release online or share it, visit http://www. upmc. com/ media/ news/ 050521-Jalbrzikowski-ENIGMA .

About the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine As one of the nation's leading academic centers for biomedical research, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine integrates advanced technology with basic science across a broad range of disciplines in a continuous quest to harness the power of new knowledge and improve the human condition. Driven mainly by the School of Medicine and its affiliates, Pitt has ranked among the top 10 recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1998. In rankings recently released by the National Science Foundation, Pitt ranked fifth among all American universities in total federal science and engineering research and development support.

Likewise, the School of Medicine is equally committed to advancing the quality and strength of its medical and graduate education programs, for which it is recognized as an innovative leader, and to training highly skilled, compassionate clinicians and creative scientists well-equipped to engage in world-class research. The School of Medicine is the academic partner of UPMC, which has collaborated with the University to raise the standard of medical excellence in Pittsburgh and to position health care as a driving force behind the region's economy. For more information about the School of Medicine, see http://www. medschool. pitt. edu .

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In a Danish-Norwegian collaboration, researchers have shown a slightly increased rate of rare but serious types of cerebral blood clots as well as a generally increased rate of venous blood clots following vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine

The new Danish-Norwegian study is the first study to document possible adverse events in relation to the COVID-19 vaccine Vaxzevria? from AstraZeneca, in which all vaccine recipients have been followed systematically, as opposed to previous studies, which have relied primarily on reported adverse reactions.

The new study was a cooperation between Danish and Norwegian research institutions.

- In this study, we were able to identify all hospital contacts among vaccinated persons by utilising the unique Danish and Norwegian health registers. This ensures that we get a comprehensive of the rate of adverse reactions. Previous studies have been dependent on spontaneous reporting of adverse events in individual patients, which carries a risk of under-reporting, says Anton Pottegard, who is a professor at the University of Southern Denmark and co-author of the study.

Study results have been continuously disseminated to Danish, Norwegian and international authorities and have already been accounted for in the assessments that have been made. Therefore, it is not expected that the publication of the study results will prompt new assessments by regulators.

The researchers behind the study stress that their findings do not conflict with the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) assessment that the vaccine is generally safe. The effects of the vaccine should be seen in the light of the benefits of using the vaccine, which protects against a potentially fatal infection. Depending on how severely affected the individual countries are by the epidemic, the benefits will therefore in many situations outweigh the risks of using the vaccine.

- The balancing of effects and risks of the vaccine depends on many factors. In many countries, for example those where there are no other vaccines available, where the elderly are not fully vaccinated or where there is a large spread of infection, the benefits of the vaccine will outweigh the risk, both at a societal level and for the individual vaccine recipient, says Anton Pottegard.

Systematic study of 280,000 vaccinated people aged 18-65

The study is based on data from the reputable Danish and Norwegian health registries, which allowed for systematic follow-up of all 280,000 vaccinated people aged 18-65 who have received Vaxzevria? in Norway and Denmark. The recipients of the vaccine were followed for 28 days after vaccination regarding hospital contacts in relation to a number of conditions and disorders that could represent adverse events. The incidence of these conditions and disorders was compared with the incidence in the background population.

The study is generally reassuring as researchers have not found an increased incidence for most of the studied adverse events. However, they identified an increased incidence of blood clots in the veins (venous blood clots), including a slightly increased incidence of blood clots in the veins of the brain, corresponding to one additional such clot per 40,000 vaccine recipients.

These rare blood clots in combination with low platelet counts are referred to as the VITT syndrome. The occurrence of VITT after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine has led to the removal of the vaccine from the Danish and Norwegian vaccination programmes against COVID-19.

The absolute risk to the individual vaccine recipient is still considered to be low.

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The ways in which Latin American states shaped, and were themselves in turn shaped by, the development of the complex of international norms, institutions, and practices that help structure world politics will be better understood thanks to a new research grant won by Dr Tom Long of the University of Warwick's Department of Politics and International studies, and Dr Carsten-Andreas Schulz, an assistant professor at Pontificia Universidad Catolica in Chile.

The researchers have been awarded a 250,000 Arts and Humanities Research Council grant for their four-year project, Latin America and the peripheral origins of nineteenth-century international order.

A better understanding of how Latin America's engagement shaped international order during its foundation will also help to shape our understandings of the 'crisis' of international order today.

The state of the international order - the complex of international norms, institutions, and practices that helps structure world politics - has become a pressing issue for global leaders. Institutions are perceived to be challenged from without by the rise of new powers, and weakened from within by a lessening of support from key states.

This attention has driven scholarly attempts to better understand the international order's foundation and evolution.

The nineteenth century is now regarded by scholars as a pivotal moment in the development of the international order, with disparate diplomatic initiatives beginning to coalesce into forms that resemble today's international organizations. Many of these bodies still exist today or were reborn in the post-Second World War institutional architecture.

The period was also pivotal for Latin American state consolidation and emergence on the world stage. Latin America often occupied a distinct place as a group of sovereign states that was accorded lesser status by European powers. However, Latin America's own vibrant republican institutions spurred vital contributions to international practices, norms, and institutions.

Drawing on multinational archival work, Long and Schulz will examine Latin America's role in the development of international order during the nineteenth century, and the ways international order influenced domestic hierarchies, through research in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States.

The research will benefit global historians, international relations scholars, and historians of republicanism and liberalism in Latin America's nineteenth century.

Dr Long said: "I am thrilled to have received this grant from the AHRC, and for this opportunity to work again with Dr Carsten-Andreas Schulz.

"We think this project will contribute to debates that have been central to historical International Relations. It also dialogues with work in Global History, giving an international dimension to new currents that examine republicanism and liberalism in Latin America's nineteenth century.

"The region was deeply engaged with British commercial expansion during that period, so looking back to the late nineteenth century is also important for thinking about British-Latin American relations moving forward."

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The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funds world-class, independent researchers in a wide range of subjects from history and archaeology to philosophy and languages. AHRC also funds more contemporary research including the design and effectiveness of digital content and the impact of artificial intelligence. Find out more: https:/ / ahrc. ukri. org/ about/

Dr Tom Long is Associate Professor in New Rising World Powers within the University of Warwick's Department of Politics and International Studies. His research primarily focuses on U.S.-Latin American relations and the dynamics of asymmetry in IR, as well as topics related to emerging powers, Latin American politics, North America, and small states. His first book, Latin America Confronts the United States: Asymmetry and Influence, was published in late 2015 by Cambridge University Press and was named one of the best books of 2016 by Foreign Affairs. More information about publications and projects can be found on his publications page: https:/ / warwick. ac. uk/ fac/ soc/ pais/ people/ long/ publications/

CONTACT

`Sheila KigginsMedia Relations Manager, Faculty of Social Science, University of Warwick07876 218166
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An analysis of published studies indicates that Twitter may be a useful learning tool in dental education.

The analysis, which is published in the Journal of Dental Education, included 7 studies. Studies indicated that the real-time question and answer sessions using Twitter work well in an educational setting. Also, the semi-anonymous interactions on Twitter can be beneficial for students unwilling to speak in front of their peers. Twitter can also make lectures more engaging, and it can be used to ask questions that assess student comprehension.

The investigators noted that there are significant barriers to Twitter's use in dental education, however, including privacy and concerns about professionalism.

"We live in a dynamic world where the use of social media such as Twitter has become part of our daily life. It is amazing that many dentists and dental students from all over the world use Twitter as a live platform in discussing clinical cases and sharing news, knowledge, and experiences," said senior author Omar Kujan, DDS, PhD, of The University of Western Australia. "Our study is the first to collate the current evidence regarding the use of Twitter in dental education. Our findings supported the potential for Twitter as a useful learning tool in dental education, but there were some barriers. Future research would help in refining Twitter's use and improve its efficacy in dental education."

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When investigators in the UK recorded the calls of migratory birds called thrushes at night, they found that call rates were up to five times higher over the brightest urban areas compared with darker villages.

The findings, which are published in Ibis, provide support to previous and ongoing research indicating that artificial light at night affects migratory birds.

"We harnessed the respective strengths of citizen science, passive acoustic monitoring, and machine learning to gather evidence of the impact of artificial light at night on migratory birds," said corresponding author Simon Gillings, PhD, of The British Trust for Ornithology. "Finding that even modest urban areas without high-rise buildings can influence migration highlights the need for improved management of urban lighting."

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A new study published in the British Journal of Educational Technology has identified the different needs of students across primary, middle, and high school related to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the study, investigators surveyed 1,170,769 Chinese students from the Guangdong Province of China.

Based on their findings, the researchers recommend that educational authorities and schools provide sufficient technical support to help students overcome potential internet and technical problems, and customize the delivery of online learning tools for students in different school years.

"Utilizing data from a large sample, we identify that student requirements of online learning are not homogeneous. For young children, there is a need for guidance from teachers and parents. In contrast, older students require opportunities to collaborate," said lead author Lixiang Yan, of the Centre for Learning Analytics at Monash University, in Australia. "Our study also showed an overwhelming use of smartphones over other devices by all age groups. This finding has direct implications for the design of online courses in K12 education; however, this can potentially pose a significant limitation for an effective learning experience."

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PULLMAN, Wash. -- A count of the Western Monarch butterfly population last winter saw a staggering drop in numbers, but there are hopeful signs the beautiful pollinators are adapting to a changing climate and ecology.

The population, counted by citizen scientists at Monarch overwintering locations in southern California, dropped from around 300,000 three years ago to just 1,914 in 2020, leading to an increasing fear of extinction. However, last winter large populations of monarchs were found breeding in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas. Prior to last winter, it was unusual to find winter breeding by monarchs in those locations.

"There's more to it than just counting overwintering butterflies," said David James, an associate professor in Washington State University's Department of Entomology. "It seems that Monarchs are evolving or adapting, likely to the changing climate, by changing their breeding patterns."

The larger numbers of reported sightings of winter breeding monarchs around the San Francisco Bay area prompted James to write a new commentary article in the journal Animal Migration.

The only way to count breeding populations last winter was to look at online citizen scientist observations, supported by limited field work, James said.

"There has been a huge increase in caterpillars in the Bay area, indicating that those populations are breeding," he said. "The data are limited and preliminary, but we think the population is at least double what has been reported. However, it's hard to tell since they're dispersed over much of California."

Past becomes present

James said this pattern of Monarch butterflies adapting looks familiar to him because he saw something similar while working on his Ph.D. dissertation over 40 years ago in Sydney, Australia.

In the late 1970s, the Monarch population in Australia saw huge declines. Scientists thought it was due to habitat loss, a common guess at one factor causing population declines in the western U.S. now.

"In Australia, Monarchs haven't gone extinct," James said. "They've just adapted and moved along with a smaller population. And there's no effort to preserve them there because they aren't a native species. They're just very resilient."

Sunnier outlook

Though the declining population is a concern, James believes Monarchs in the western U.S. will experience a similar plateau and not go extinct.

"San Francisco is very similar, climate-wise, to the area around Sydney," James said. "And seeing this winter breeding, which is something new we saw in Australia in the late 1970s, leads me to think that Monarchs will adapt well to the changing climate in the western US."

He is now working with citizen scientists to collect more data on winter breeding in California that can show this evolution and adaptability.

"The Monarch is like the cockroach of butterflies," James said. "It's very persistent and adaptable all around the world. The population decline is very worrying, but I remain optimistic that it will persist in the western US, although maybe at lower levels than before."

Why Monarchs matter

Monarchs are iconic and very popular, basically the poster insect when anyone thinks about butterflies. Their large orange wings with black accents are immediately recognizable. They're also important pollinators all along their migration routes, which in the western U.S. is basically from the Pacific Northwest to southern California. The loss of habitat for their favored milkweed is one reason for their dramatic population decline.

"Beyond their beauty is their role in ecology," James said. "They pollinate and they are also an important part of the food chain. There's a whole range of reasons why people care about them and don't want them to go extinct."

James is continuing his long-running Monarch tagging program, in which the butterflies are raised and tagged by people in the Northwest, including inmates at a prison, then released so they can migrate south for winter. He thinks he'll find more tagged monarchs around the Bay area in breeding, instead of in non-breeding overwintering colonies, as happened last winter.

He plans to work with citizen scientists to collect and crunch the data to come to solid scientific conclusions. Until then, he maintains his optimism about how well these butterflies adapt.

"We don't know if this adaptation will continue and how successful it will be," James said. "The western Monarch population is quite precarious right now. It's at a tipping point, and something is happening. We need to do more work to find out exactly what is happening."

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Mastery of fire has given humans dominance over the natural world. A Yale-led study provides the earliest evidence to date of ancient humans significantly altering entire ecosystems with flames.

The study, published on May 5 in the journal Science Advances, combines archaeological evidence -- dense clusters of stone artifacts dating as far back as 92,000 years ago -- with paleoenvironmental data on the northern shores of Lake Malawi in eastern Africa to document that early humans were ecosystem engineers. They used fire in a way that prevented regrowth of the region's forests, creating a sprawling bushland that exists today.

Yale paleoanthropologist Jessica Thompson describes the earliest evidence of humans altering their ecosystem with fire in this video.

"This is the earliest evidence I have seen of humans fundamentally transforming their ecosystem with fire," said Jessica Thompson, assistant professor of anthropology in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the paper's lead author. "It suggests that by the Late Pleistocene, humans were learning to use fire in truly novel ways. In this case, their burning caused replacement of the region's forests with the open woodlands you see today."

Thompson authored the study with 27 colleagues from institutions in the United States, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Thompson led the archaeological work in collaboration with the Malawi Department of Museums and Monuments; David Wright of the University of Oslo, who led efforts to date the study's archaeological sites; and Sarah Ivory of Penn State, who led the paleoenvironmental analyses.

The artifacts examined by the researchers are of the type produced across Africa in the Middle Stone Age, a period dating back at least 315,000 years. The earliest modern humans made their appearance during this period, with the African archaeological record showing significant advances in cognitive and social complexity.

Thompson and Wright logged several field seasons of archaeological work in the region before a conversation with Ivory helped them make sense of the patterns they observed in their data. The researchers discovered that the regional archaeological record, its ecological changes, and the development of alluvial fans near Lake Malawi -- an accumulation of sediment eroded from the region's highland -- dated to the same period of origin, suggesting that they were connected.

Lake Malawi's water levels have fluctuated drastically over the ages. During the lake's driest periods, the last of which ended about 85,000 years ago, it diminished into two small, saline bodies of water. The lake recovered from these arid stretches and its levels have remained high ever since, according to the study.

The archaeological data were collected from more than 100 pits excavated across hundreds of kilometers of the alluvial fan that developed during this time of steady lake levels. The paleoenvironmental data are based on counts of pollen and charcoal that settled to the floor of the lakebed and were later recovered in a long sediment core drilled from a modified barge.

According to the researchers, the data revealed that a spike in charcoal accumulation occurred shortly before the flattening of the region's species richness -- the number of distinct species inhabiting it. Despite the consistently high lake levels, which imply greater stability in the ecosystem, the species richness went flat following the last arid period based on information from fossilized pollen sampled from the lakebed, the study found. This was unexpected because over previous climate cycles, rainy environments had produced forests that provide rich habitat for an abundance of species, Ivory explained.

"The pollen that we see in this most recent period of stable climate is very different than before," she said. "Specifically, trees that indicate dense, structurally complex forest canopies are no longer common and are replaced by pollen from plants that deal well with frequent fire and disturbance."

The increase in archaeological sites after the last arid period, paired with the spike in charcoal and absence of forest, suggests that people were manipulating the ecosystem with fire, the researchers conclude. The scale of their environmental impact over the long term is something typically associated with farmers and herders, rather than hunter-gatherers. This suggests early ecological manipulation on par with modern people and may also explain why the archaeological record formed.

The burning paired with climate-driven changes created the conditions that allowed for preservation of millions of artifacts in the region, the researchers explained. "Dirt rolls downhill unless there is something to stop it," Wright said. "Take the trees away, and when it rains, there is a lot of dirt moving downhill in this environment."

Previous transitions from dry to wet conditions in the region didn't yield a similar alluvial fan and were not preceded by the same charcoal spike, the researchers noted.

It's not clear why people were burning the landscape, Thompson said. It's possible that they were experimenting with controlled burns to produce mosaic habitats conducive to hunting and gathering, a behavior documented among hunter-gatherers. It could be that their fires burned out of control, or that there were simply a lot of people burning fuel in their environment that provided for warmth, cooking, or socialization, she explained.

"One way or another, it's caused by human activity," she said. "It shows early people, over a long period of time, took control over their environment rather than being controlled by it. They changed entire landscapes, and for better or for worse that relationship with our environments continues today."

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This work was funded by the Australian Research Council, the National Geographic-Waitt Foundation, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, the University of Queensland Archaeological Field School, the Korean Research Foundation Global Research Network, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Emory University, and the Belmont Forum.
BRUSSELSEuropean Union leaders, aiming to turn the hardship of the coronavirus pandemic into opportunity, are finalizing plans to release almost $1 trillion into the blocs struggling economy, reshape industrial policy and strengthen trade defenses.

Underpinning the plans is a push to profit more from the blocs brain power, which over recent years has enriched foreign investors at least as much as Europeans. EU programs and draft laws that will kick off or be presented over coming weeks seek to make the 27-country economy more digital, entrepreneurial and environmentally friendly. The need for fast action has been driven home by recent data showing the bloc fell back into recession during the first quarter while the U.S. and China recovered robustly.

The plans, including the 750 billion Next Generation EU recovery funding, equivalent to about $905 billion, and the 1 trillion European Green Deal environmental program, leverage Europes bountiful flow of innovation, which Covid-19 has highlighted. Pfizer Inc.s vaccine was developed by a German company, BioNTech SE; Johnson & Johnsons offering was developed in a Dutch laboratory and Moderna Inc. is led by a French engineer.

Europe is an engineering hothouse that nurtures new technologies and constantly improves old ones. Bluetooth, MP3 and the World Wide Web all emerged from European labs, as did Procter & Gamble Co. s Tide Pods. U.S. corporate giants from Alphabet Inc. to Qualcomm Inc. have worked extensively with European universities, established research centers across Europe and bought up European companies, boosting U.S. profits and U.S. share prices. Chinese companies over recent years have followed that model. Yet the coronavirus pandemic and its economic shocks are aggravating a problem European officials have grappled with for years: how to turn the EUs size, wealth and brain power into world-class companies, high-quality jobs and abundant tax revenue by commercializing its breakthroughs. Unless Europe sees the entirety of the innovation cycle, it risks becoming an incubator for the world, said Ann Mettler, vice president for Europe at Breakthrough Energy, a company started by Bill Gates to foster clean technologies, and former director of the EUs internal think tank.

The result is fewer corporate giants. European companies last year accounted for only 21 of Fortune magazines global top 100, down from 31 in 1995. Alcatel, Philips and Nokia are fractions of their former selves and havent been replaced by newcomers in the vein of Tesla Inc. in the U.S. or Alibaba in China. The slide is significant because big companies spend proportionally more than small ones do on research enabling future blockbusters. Now, as the U.S. and Chinese economies recover robustly, their companies and investors have deeper pockets than Europeans to pay for talent, intellectual property and acquisitions. The passing shock of the pandemic-induced recession threatens to cause lasting damage to Europes broader economic prospects, just as the euro crisis a decade ago did.

Two decades after EU leaders promised to make Europe the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, the bloc is less competitive and, many say, less dynamic. Rather than becoming a seamless market of a half-billion consumers, the EU faces political and commercial divisions among its members, epitomized by the U.K.s exit last year. Europe needs to rediscover its taste for risk, said French President Emmanuel Macron recently, reflecting on the EUs failure to finance and accelerate vaccine endeavors last year as the U.S. and U.K. did. We were wrong to lack ambition, to lack the madness, I would say, to say: Its possible, lets do it.

The seeds are in place: Europeans launched roughly 50,000 startups last year, compared with fewer than 10,000 a decade ago, according to GlassDollar, a consulting firm for startups in Germany. But that new entrepreneurial energy is overwhelmingly going to foreign buyers. U.S. and Asian investors accounted for 61% of Europes tech-startup buyout money over the past four years, outpacing 38% from Europeans, according to Dealroom.co, a tech-industry data provider. In the venture capital world, European funds share of deals done in Europe fell to 62% last year from 72% in 2016, according to a report from Index Ventures, a fund operating in the U.S. and Europe. The funding is there, Index Ventures partner Martin Mignot said, but added, a lot of that capital is American.

European officials are trying to respond. The EU recently launched the European Innovation Council, a new body endowed with 10 billion for technologies, startups and growth capital. EU officials are also pushing a raft of initiatives, dubbed Europes Digital Decade, that aim to foster digital industries and help old-line companies go digital. And the European Green Deal aims to promote EU green industries, an emerging field in which European companies are world leaders. Recent experience, though, offers reason for caution. European companies were leading producers of cutting-edge solar panels and e-bikes more than a decade ago, until China ramped up production and slashed prices, prompting some European rivals to file dumping suits and driving many out of business. Europeans are now pioneering new environmental technologies, but their prospects remain uncertain. We find that too often in Europe, innovation cannot scale up, and thats really a problem, said Ms. Mettler.

A study prepared for Breakthrough Energy recently found that while EU environmental startups garner almost 23% of world-wide seed-stage venture capital funding, the proportion plunges as companies expand. The EU companies attract less than 7% of global VC growth equity, compared with more than 54% for North American rivals and 32% in Asia. The imbalance is condemning promising ventures to move to North America or Asia to reach scale, said the report, by Cleantech Group. Clean technology is just the latest industry to face this barrier. Many European startups that struggled to grow at home have found foreign buyers or listed overseas. Skype, invented in Estonia in 2003, was bought by eBay in 2005 and then Microsoft. Apple acquired Shazam, a U.K. startup, in 2018. Spotify, from Sweden, gained global heft thanks to U.S. investors with its listing on the New York Stock Exchange the same year.

Its not a lack of entrepreneurship, said Jacob Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics based in Brussels. Its going from being a new company to being a great big one thats a problem. Fledgling startups in Europe raised more seed-stage funding than did their counterparts in Asia or North America over the past two years, grabbing 38% of investments that were doled out in chunks of less than 4 million, according to Index Ventures report. But as funding-round size grows, Europes share plunges. In fundraisings above 250 million, European startups garnered only 9%, Indexs analysis found.

Not so long ago, European multinationals were global tech leaders. A Dutch engineer at Philips invented the cassette tape in 1963 and helped develop compact discs, unveiled in 1982. AT&T in 1984 raced to catch up in the personal computer market by slapping its logo on stylish desktops made by Italys Olivetti. Nokia, Siemens and Alcatel into this century dominated GSM, the worlds first digital-cellular standard, created in France. Tectonic shifts came with the internet-inspired shift to a world dominated by software. Europe, like Japan, had excelled in mechanical and electrical engineering, industrial design and precision manufacturing. The internet made many physical products obsolete and increased demand for software engineersa specialization not valued in Europe or Japan until recently.

Europe also lost a global financing race where it once competed. A wave of deals starting in the 1990s to create pan-European stock exchanges that could rival top U.S. and Asian exchanges failed to reach critical mass. Forays into investment banking and risky ventures this century by one-time European banking powerhouses including Deutsche Bank, Credit Lyonnais and Dutch ABN-Amro ended in massive losses. As a result, European financial firepower faded just as U.S. hedge funds and venture-capital fundsfunding vehicles new to Europebecame global players and sovereign-wealth funds from other countries began prowling for deals world-wide.

Entrepreneurs say one way Europe could better retain talent and help small companies grow is by making it easier to use stock options, which give startups employees a shot at future riches. France and the tiny Baltic states treat options favorably but Germany and other big European economies impose heavy taxes and regulatory burdens, investors and founders say.

The only way local companies can compete for talent is with stock options, said Mr. Mignot at Index Ventures. Its all about talent.

Daniel Michaels

: wsj.com
Havas Media Group announces the launch of Meaningful Marketplaces, a new, more impactful way of investing in trusted news sources and minority-owned and operated media. Built from a consumer-first perspective, Meaningful Marketplaces provide a direct connection to trusted, influential, and engaging media curated by humans and never machines. Havas Media Groups full roster of clients will have access to this new offering globally.

Meaningful Marketplaces offer an immediate reduction in sell-side fees for media partners, giving them a more equitable share of investment and greater opportunity to invest in content and creators. Under this ecosystem, advertisers have a guaranteed brand-safe environment, wherein they can support media that matters. Plus, the system includes transparent costs from the buy to sell sides available to both advertisers and media partners.

Havas Media Group understands that some media, Meaningful Media, matters more by making a difference to the brands, businesses, and people it impacts. But too often, the path to the most Meaningful Media isnt straight forward. Media buyers must navigate a complex system of intermediary technologies and media partners can shoulder high sell-side technology fees. Worse, some of these technologies fund disinformation while denying funding to news content, LGBTQ+ creators, and minority-owned businesses.

In joining the Conscious Advertising Network (CAN) last fall, Havas Media Group committed to the organizations best practice manifestos in six key areas: Anti Ad-Fraud, Informed Consent, Diversity, Fake News, Hate Speech and Childrens Wellbeing. The manifestos enable and encourage brands, agencies, and adtech companies to make conscious decisions around how they operate and the content they produce. In working to bridge the gap between technology and ethics, Havas Media Group recognized that systemic problems require systemic change, leading to the development of Meaningful Marketplaces.

The launch of Meaningful Marketplaces builds on Havas Media Groups industry leading 2020 launch of Social Equity Marketplaces in the US, UK, Germany, and France. It marks the latest step in the agencys commitment to working hand in hand with partners to deliver real and lasting change within and beyond the industry.

Meaningful Media has never been more important. To thrive, it needs an equitable and self-sustaining ecosystem, said James Gyngell, Global Managing Director of Partnerships at Havas Media Group. We developed Meaningful Marketplaces to function as that ecosystem, ensuring transparency for all stakeholders and investing for positive change. Launching first with MediaMath, Pubmatic, and Magnite, we invite all participants in the industry to join us.

Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India)
Wednesday, May 5, 2021

AIP Consulting collects valuable data and turns it into better customer experiences for businesses around the globe

AIP created innovative technology pre-pandemic that gave them a head start over competitors who were struggling to adapt to the COVID crisis

About AIP Consulting

AIP Consulting is a market research agency that helps organizations collect valuable data and turns it into better experiences for customers. AIP Consulting also offers customer experience technology solutions, adding value to businesses by effectively tracking and analyzing customer feedback. Founded in 2016, the company operates in Cyprus, Greece, Romania, and Ukraine. AIPs services include mystery shopping, digital contacts, focus groups, face-to-face surveys, feedback collection tools, and data analysis.

Beginning in 2019, AIP Consulting started connecting with startups from around the globe in order to develop the companys services and instill a culture of diversity within the organization. AIP created a suite of technologies around CX in an era that coincided with low ability to use traditional services due to social distancing guidelines in order to improve customer service and collect valuable feedback that was vital to brands, especially during the pandemic. These services gave AIP a head start over competitors who were trying to adjust and catch up during COVID.

AIP Consulting increased its revenue by over 180% in 2020 in the midst of the COVID crisis due to prepping with a pre-pandemic operational model that outshone competitors during the crisis. AIP is projected to increase revenue by another 200% in 2021 by helping develop the brand as a strong, all-encompassing agency in all things CX.

AIP Consulting won the Silver Stevie for Business Development Achievement of the Year - Services Industries in the 2021 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.

Interested in entering the 2022 Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service?
From: Peggy Sands Orchowski -- Immigration Expert Washington , DC Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Clearing Up Misinformaton About Immigration By Peggy Sands Orchowski On May 3, my local paper like many in the country, published a series of photographs of hundreds of advocates marching on May 1 in Washington DC for illegal immigration. The accompanying articles were full of misinformation from the event that insinuated that citizenship is a right for any foreign national in the country no matter their legal status. The reporters and editors like the advocates, conflated into one, important differences between immigration statuses established by law. That spins and confuses the immigration issue. Not acknowledging differences is a dereliction of journalism duty. I am a fully credentialed congressional journalist who has covered immigration for almost twenty years for Hispanic magazines. I have written two books about the evolution of immigration laws and politics in the United States. Here briefly are the critical differences in the five groups referred to in the photo article: "11 million undocumented" immigrants". Foreign nationals living and working without authorization in the United States are referred to in immigration laws as "illegal aliens" (I have heard Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor refer to them as such). But the politically correct obedient press calls them "undocumented". That is disingenuous. Most illegal immigrants have documents  mostly fraudulent including green cards and social security cards easily bought for less than $100. Two facts: 1) For the past 10 years the number 11 million has never changed  which is suspicious.Some experts say the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. currently is over 20 million. 2) Increasingly, illegal immigrants have not snuck over the southern border but came in legally (as visitors and foreign students and the like). They then choose to break the law by overstaying their temporary authorizations putting them in illegal status. Advocates demand citizenship for them. DACA recipients are about 580,000 illegal immigrants, mostly in their 20s, who before they hit 30 years old individually applied for and were accepted into the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that President Obama's created in 2012 via an executive memo. It grants most any foreign national who can prove they came into the U.S. before the age of 16, have been here for five years, and are presently in illegal status, a temporary waiver from deportation and a two year renewable work permit. DACA is NOT a law and does NOT grant "legal" immigration status  only a temporary waiver from deportation. DACA recipients could be called "documented (undocumented) illegal immigrants"

are about 580,000 illegal immigrants, mostly in their 20s, who before they hit 30 years old individually applied for and were accepted into the program that President Obama's created in 2012 via an executive memo. It grants most any foreign national who can prove they came into the U.S. before the age of 16, have been here for five years, and are presently in illegal status, a temporary waiver from deportation and a two year renewable work permit. DACA is NOT a law and does NOT grant "legal" immigration status  only a temporary waiver from deportation. DACA recipients could be called "documented (undocumented) illegal immigrants"

DREAMers are some 4 million illegal immigrants who might qualify for some kind of legalization depending on what version of the DREAM Act -- Direct Relief and Education for Alien Minors -- passes into law. If ever. The bar keeps lowering for eligibility. Senate leader Chuck Schumer's 2021 DREAM Act would give legal status to any foreign national who "entered or came into the United States before the age of 18 four years before the bill is signed into law, is currently in illegal status, with no age limit to apply. It can be seen as encouraging temporary visas holders to overstay. NOTE: no DREAM Act proposal has ever limited DREAMer eligibility to illegal immigrants who "were brought into the country illegally by their parents at an early age".None of those words appear in any DREAMer proposal although the press and the media continually describes DREAMers as such. UAMs (Unaccompanied Minor Aliens) include the 200,000 plus "minors" who have surged over the Mexican border in 2021 and are being released into the United States most without covid19 checks. The vast majority are older teenagers. Even Biden administrators acknowledge that almost all of their claims for asylum will not be approved. But they allow them to stay for their court dates which are often years in the future. It is expected most will not show up. TPSers -- There are some 2 million "Temporary Protective Status" permit holders -- who are LEGALLY in the country on time limited non-immigration permits. They were supposed to be allowed to stay only until conditions in their countries improved, but many have renewed the status for over a decade. The issue is whether to give all or some of these legal temporary immigrants the right to get a green card granting Permanent Legal Status which could lead to citizenship if they choose. Refugees, Asylees, Migrants and Immigrants are also distinct groups that need to be distinguished in the press. Their differences are crucial to understanding immigration, but not complicated. Will explain next posting. # # # ## # # We cant know where were going if we dont know where weve been. Vice President of the Brookings Institution Darrell West wrote in recommending Peggy Sands Orchowskis books "The Law That Changed The Face of America: The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965" and "Immigration and the American Dream: Battling the Political Hype and Hysteria" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015 and 2008 respectively). Peggy is a credentialed Senior Congressional journalist in Washington DC. She is available for interviews, article assignments and speaking engagements about immigration porchowski@hotmail.com


Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Another Dont Miss Animal Book from WCY Publishing!

Brave Cat, Barn Cat

From the Farm Tales Series: Oliver & Friends

Written by Stephanie Itle-Clark

Illustrated by Jessie Miller

Being brave can be scary. Join barn cat Onyx, the newest addition to the Farm Tales Series family, and follow the journey of a shy barn cat who takes small steps toward courage. This fun rhythmic text introduces the reader to the work and life of barn cats. Will this shy kitty be able to save the day? Readers will be inspired to face new situations with bravery.

The Farm Tales Series is written just for early readers in grades Pre-K-2. The book text incorporates early sight words as well as discussion questions for parents and educators to support growth in critical thinking and empathy for others.

Buy in Paperback | Buy on Kindle

Publisher : Who Chains You Books (April 25, 2021)Language : EnglishPaperback : 40 pagesISBN-10 : 1954039093ISBN-13 : 978-1954039094Item Weight : 4.2 ouncesDimensions : 8.5 x 0.1 x 8.5 inches

About the Author

Stephanie Itle-Clark is a public-school teacher, as well as the founder and president of the Academy of Prosocial Learning, a group which supports prosocial and empathy education and provides resources and professional development for educators. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their pack of tiny rescue dogs.

Stephanie is the author of Tiffany Rolls On, Olivers Big Problem, Flock of Friends, Out of the Dog House, and Brave Cat, Barn Cat. She is also the editor of Humane Education in Higher Education.

About the Illustrator

Jessie Miller is founder of the non profit organization EPIC Outreach, which focuses on teaching kindness to inspire compassion. In 2019 Jessie started and now runs the farm sanctuary, One EPIC Farm, with rescued farm animals that serves as an education outreach center.

Jessie lives in Florida, where she spends time at the beach, running, writing, or hanging out with the rescued animals. Visit epicoutreach.org for more info. Jessie is the author of ChanceWings of Hope and Winne: A Wet and Windy Adventure, and the illustrator of the Farm Tales: Oliver and Friends series.
RTHK: Calm urged after deadly Colombia protest clampdown

The international community has decried what the UN described as an "excessive use of force" by security officers in Colombia after numerous deaths during days of anti-government protests.

The United Nations, United States, European Union and rights bodies joined a chorus of criticism after official data showed 19 people were killed and 846 injured in running clashes with the security forces.

Colombia's human rights ombudsman  a state agency independent from the government  said 89 people were listed as "disappeared".

Tens of thousands of Colombians have taken to the streets in demonstrations that began last Wednesday against a proposed tax reform but have since morphed into broader protests against the government of President Ivan Duque.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights voiced "profound shock" on Tuesday at an overnight incident in Columbias third-biggest city Cali in which police allegedly "opened fire" on demonstrators, reportedly killing and injuring several.

"What we can say clearly is that we have received reports, and we have witnesses, (of) excessive use of force by security officers, shooting, live ammunition being used, beatings of demonstrators and as well detentions," spokeswoman Marta Hurtado told reporters in Geneva.

A local security official said five people died in Cali overnight and 33 people were injured.

The UN called for calm ahead of fresh rallies planned for Wednesday, saying security forces should use firearms only as a last resort when facing an imminent threat of death or serious injury.

The European Union also condemned the reported deaths  18 civilians and a police officer countrywide so far.

Duque's government has officially acknowledged one civilian and one police death, and blames violence orchestrated by armed groups operating in the country.

EU spokesman Peter Stano said it was a priority to stop the escalation of violence "and to avoid any disproportionate use of force by security forces."

And US State Department deputy spokeswoman Jalina Porter underlined the right of all people to protest peacefully.

The anti-government protests come at a time of economic despair for many, fuelled by the global health crisis. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-05-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Woodville, AL (35768)

Today

Rain showers in the morning with thunderstorms developing for the afternoon. High 81F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall may reach one inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Wednesday, May 5, 2021

With COVID-19 restrictions lifting across the country, it may be time to check out some Book Fairs and Festivals. After writing diligently for weeks and months on end its time to get invigorated! Nothing does the job like meeting people who love books and write books. Check out this list of book festivals and fairs that I compiled that authors can attend for 2021. These events are an excellent way for authors to meet book buyers and reviewers, interact with fellow authors and publishers, meet your readers and find new ones too. As an author you can network with book industry leaders, locate the help you need, such as a publicist or book editor, and learn whats new in the marketplace.

Book fairs usually want speakers. By volunteering to speak, authors not only gain great exposure but can also add that appearance to their resume and press releases. One of my author clients was a member of a panel of authors at a Southern Book Festival. I issued a press release about it and added it to her accomplishments on her bio. Not only is she a respected author but shes now an author admired by her peers. Its these little things that all add up in the minds of reviewers and the media when they decide who they will write about. If you want to land a panel slot or speaking gig you must plan ahead; dates for panel participants, speakers and autograph sessions are usually arranged months in advance.

For more upcoming book events check out C-SPAN2 at: https://www.BookTV.org and click on the Book Fairs tab. For more information about book events and book marketing visit https://www.Book-Marketing-Expert.com.

Heres my list of upcoming book fairs and events that are worthy of your attendance in 2021 as of the date of this publishing:

1. The RBMS Booksellers Showcase, June 8-10, 2021, Virtual. The RBMS Booksellers Showcase features a variety of exhibitors and products like original art and illustration and manuscripts. https://rbms2021.us2.pathable.com/showcase

2. American Library Association Annual Conference, June 23-29 2021, Virtual. Some 25,000 experts in the market who will help you advance your career. https://2021.alaannual.org/

3. International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) June 25-June 28, 2021, Atlanta, GA. CBAs International Christian Retail Show Considered the best show for Christian authors according to Sara Bolme, author of Your Guide to Marketing Books in the Christian Marketplace. https://www.Marketingchristianbooks.com

4. Harlem Book Festival, July 2021 Harlem. This festival is visited by over 30,000 readers the third week of every July and viewed by millions on C-Span https://www.harlembookfair.com

5. Printers Row Lit Fest, September 11-12, 2021, Chicago. A large book fair attended by more than 150,000 book lovers. https://printersrowlitfest.org

6. The Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors, September 25, 2021, Virtual and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Bookmarks connects people and books through its annual festival, which has been around for over 17 years. https://www.bookmarksnc.org/festival

7. The South Dakota Festival of Books, September 30-October 3, 2021 in Brookings and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It brings together about 4,000 attendees and more than 50 noteworthy authors, scholars, and publishers. https://sdhumanities.org/festival-of-books/

8. The Brooklyn Book Festival, September 26- October 4, 2021, Brooklyn, NY. This festivals mission is to celebrate published literature and nurture a literary cultural community. https://www.brooklynbookfestival.org

9. The Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair, October 9-10, 2021, Seattle, WA. The Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair boasts exhibitors from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. https://www.seattlebookfair.com

10. The Southern Festival of Books, October 2021, Nashville, Tennessee. This festival connects readers and writers from Tennessee and beyond. https://www.visitmusiccity.com/visitors/thingstodo/southernfestivalofbooks

11. The Texas Book Festival, late October or early November 2021, Virtual or Austin, TX. This festival was founded in 1955 and features over 250 authors as well as over 100 exhibitors. https://www.texasbookfestival.org

12. The Baltimore Book Festival, dates TBD, Baltimore, MD. The Baltimore Book Festival offers storytellers, poetry readings, panel discussions, cooking demos, live music, and more. https://www.baltimorebookfestival.com

13. Writers at Woody Point, 2021 dates TBD, Woody Point, Newfoundland. Travel to Canada and see what creativity and talent lies across the border. https://www.writersatwoodypoint.com

14. Decatur Book Festival, 2021 dates TBD, Decatur, GA, largest independent book festival in the country. Since its launch, more than 1000 authors and hundreds of thousands of people have attended this event in downtown Decatur. https://www.decaturbookfestival.com

The Bottom Line: Authors, put down your pen and go explore the many book fairs and festivals around the country. You wont be sorry!

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether its their first book or their 15th book. Hes handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Womans World, & Howard Stern to name a few.

Learn more about Westwind Communications book marketing approach at https://www.book-marketing-expert.com/ or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com, or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenzs new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book. Buy it at: www.booktitlegenerator.net/
Usually, Bexar County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores would take her birthday off and head to the beach. This year, she hosted a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination clinic.

She even took a jab in the arm of the single-dose vaccine Wednesday.

The Cinco de Mayo-themed vaccination event at the University Health Zarzamora Clinic on the South Side featured tamales, mariachis, birthday cake and free vaccinations for people with or without appointments. County and University Health officials encouraged everyone 16 and over to get vaccinated.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio shifts to pop-up clinics amid concerns about vaccine hesitancy

Kyle Qubrosi, a 58-year-old retiree, wanted to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine before its use was paused April 13 by the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The federal agencies took the time to review evidence on blood clots reported by seven people whod received the vaccine.

Qubrosi, who has auto-immune issues and has been pretty much quarantined for about a year with his wife and daughter, felt the Johnson & Johnson vaccine offered the lowest risk of an adverse reaction by virtue of its single dose and ability to protect against known COVID-19 variants. Qubrosi had an appointment to get the shot the week it was suspended and took advantage of Wednesdays chance to get it.

My opinion is always to err on the side of caution. We dont know what kind of variants exist out there, Qubrosi said. Being in a high-risk category, I prefer to be careful rather than take any chances.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine was temporarily suspended but resumed last week in the United States. A review of all available data shows the vaccines benefits outweigh its risks, county officials said.

Clay-Flores, who took office Jan. 1 as the commissioner representing the South and Southwest areas of the county, initially planned a Johnson & Johnson clinic in April at Texas A&M University-San Antonio because I wanted to take one shot and be done. But the CDC suspension forced her to cancel.

I decided, because of the controversy with Johnson & Johnson, it would be important for me to make a public announcement that Im taking the Johnson & Johnson to encourage the rest of the community to come out and take it, she said over the joyful strains of mariachi music.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio providers halt use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine

I feel great! she shouted.

But Clay-Flores is worried about vaccination rates in the community.

Officials reported Monday that 40 percent of Bexar County adult residents were fully vaccinated. Health experts believe at least 70 percent need to be fully vaccinated to contain the virus.

Demand has slowed down. We really need to get our community vaccinated. I have cousins in Mexico my age right now who cant get vaccinated because theres not enough supply. We have places like India that are being ravaged by death, Clay-Flores said. We as Americans should appreciate our privileges, and part of that is going ahead and taking the vaccine. Its even free.

University Health has a limited supply of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but it is accepting people without appointments at its vaccination center in the Wonderland of the Americas Mall from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Walk-ups also are accepted at UHs Robert B. Green Campus downtown, 903 W. Martin St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

For more information, visit UHs vaccination hub link at universityhealthsystem.com.

shuddleston@express-news.net
Rock star Phil Collins entire collection of Alamo artifacts is finally getting a home.

Work on the two-story, 24,000-square-foot Alamo Exhibit Hall & Collections Building begins this summer. The $15 million facility will be constructed on state-owned Alamo grounds. The Alamo Trust, a nonprofit that manages the state-owned site and is heading the project, estimates it will be complete in summer 2022.

Among other pieces from the Alamo Collection, the entire $15.5 million Phil Collins Collection will be displayed in a 10,000-square-foot exhibit space, which is five times larger than what the Alamo has today. The building also includes space to store and conserve artifacts.

On ExpressNews.com: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick vows to secure funds to complete Alamo project

Under a 2014 gift agreement with the Texas General Land Office, Collins offered the collection on the condition that a facility to exhibit all 200-plus historical artifacts would have to be in the schematic phase of build out or construction by October 2021. While some items in his collection have been exhibited at the Alamo, including a Spanish short sword and a Mexican howitzer cannon, most of the artifacts have not been publicly displayed.

Alamo officials emphasized the new collections building will not replace a visitor center and museum, currently planned at more than 100,000 square feet.

2 1 of 2 Gensler | GRG Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Rendering by Gensler | GRG Show More Show Less



The museum plans were delayed when some of the major fundraisers pulled out of the project after the Texas Historical Commission denied a request in September to relocate the Alamo Cenotaph  a 56-foot-tall monument to the fallen Alamo defenders in the plaza. Moving the Cenotaph was a key component of the plan, and many believed the commissions rejection essentially killed the project. However, an updated plan to repair the monument but not move it is moving forward.

The Alamo Trust still is targeting a 2025 museum launch. Once it is completed, the Collins collection will be moved to the new museum.

Meanwhile, the trust also has been focused on saving the two remaining mission-era structures at the Alamo. It finished installing eight high-tech moisture monitors inside and outside the iconic Alamo church in April. The churchs preservation is a top priority, Alamo Executive Director Kate Rogers told the Alamo Citizen Advisory Committee on Tuesday. Data from the monitors will be collected for at least a year.

The trust remains concerned, as it has been for years, that the church is suffering from a lot of deterioration, Rogers said. Its limestone walls have no interior steel reinforcements and could be vulnerable to rising moisture from the ground, as well as exposure to the elements. Engineers also have wondered whether the weight of a 1920 concrete roof might be adding structural stress to the walls.

This project will be going on for one year to really analyze the damp inside the walls, the salination inside the walls, to really understand what is happening both at the foundation level and within the walls of the church, Rogers said.

She vowed to keep the preservation of the church and Alamo Long Barrack front and center in the project.

Kristi Miller Nichols, director of archaeology, collections and historical research at the Alamo, noted the exhibit and collections facility will be built outside of the historic footprint of the mission-fort.

Rendering by Gensler | GRG

On ExpressNews.com: City Council approves updated Alamo plan

Improved security and environmental controls, along with a significant increase in storage space, will help us preserve the hundreds of priceless artifacts in our care, Nichols said.

During the summer, the diverse, 30-member citizen panel will meet twice a month to discuss how the Alamo project might depict the history of the mission.

The next committee meeting, on May 18, will delve into the historical periods of the site and the different groups who lived there. A June 1 session will focus on the church and Long Barrack, while a June 15 meeting will look into the factors that fueled the Texas Revolution, including the role of slavery.

The two-hour sessions will include a presentation by design consultants, a panel discussion of subject matter experts and deliberations of the committee. The sessions will be recorded and archived for public viewing, said Assistant City Manager Lori Houston, the lead city staff member helping the panel.

shuddleston@express-news.net
Police officers are trained to do many things  console victims, control their emotions, act tough when needed  but nothing quite prepares them for the day they might have to thank the people who saved their lives.

Sgt. Joey Sepulveda of the Balcones Heights Police Department got that chance Wednesday as he was reunited with the medical team from Methodist Hospital | Texsan who stabilized Sepulveda after he was shot on Feb. 3 while handling a possible burglary call.

Gathered outside the emergency room entrance of the hospital for the media event were nurses in blue scrubs, a linebacker-sized surgeon, security personnel, the Balcones Heights mayor, the hospitals CEO and the police chief, all awkwardly holding ice-cream-cone-shaped balloons as Sepulveda and his partner, patrolman Edgard Ortiz, arrived in an unmarked white vehicle with flashing red and blue lights.

I cannot thank you enough, Sepulveda, an 18-year veteran of the small department, said to Emily Garza, a registered nurse.

Chris Lewis, a critical care tech, and Darrell Steidley, the ICU director, hugged the officer like family, all wearing masks, of course. Someone laughed, Were just glad to see you walking, man.

There are not words to explain my gratitude, Sepulveda said as he earnestly shook every hand.

Im just so happy for you and your family, said Dr. Umar Khan. We handle these kinds of cases all the time. Its what we do, but this was special.

At 422 acres, Balcones Heights is a small city with about 3,000 people bordered by Interstate 10, Loop 410 and Northwest San Antonio. Its police department has 18 officers, and its chief, John Jahanara, 47, said he thinks Sepulveda is only the second officer in the departments history to have been shot while on duty.

I was in my office just doing admin work. It was about 1:15 that afternoon, recalled Jahanara, a former Bexar County sheriffs deputy. He knew he had two officers handling a call at the Sol Apartments, 6945 Interstate 10, but that was just chatter on the police radio.

Then I hear a voice I know like my own moms. Its garbled, sort of gurgling  Im shot.

I knew that was Joey. We are very close. He helped train me when I first came to the department. I grabbed my vest and raced out to get in my car.

Sepulveda picked up the story. The call that got him to the apartment parking lot had advised there was a suspicious white Ford pickup. Might be connected to a burglary  I made contact with the driver. The drivers window was partially down  And then one shot, or more, came from the back seat.

The sergeant lay on the ground, conscious, with wounds to his neck, shoulder and right elbow.

I didnt even feel much pain at the moment. There was just so much adrenaline pumping, said Sepulveda, having described it so many times that it now comes out in quick snippets.

Ortiz, who was not shot, had been with the Balcones Heights department just two years  hes from Laredo  as a trained paramedic, he knew Sepulveda was bleeding badly. He put a tourniquet on him, didnt wait for an ambulance and got two onlookers to help lift his burly partner into his police vehicle.

A chorus of people, mainly medical, said Wednesday that Ortiz was the hero in this story.

Meanwhile, Jahanara rolled up at the apartments to find a traumatized apartment manager who mistakenly thought a shooter was up on the second floor.

But where are my officers? the chief yelled, ducking for cover. All he saw on the ground was a trail of blood, a Smith & Wesson police revolver and a pair of Oakley sunglasses he knew were Sepulvedas.

He didnt know that he had just missed Ortizs vehicle rushing past him to take Sepulveda to Methodist Texsan. More police flooded the parking lot, alerted by Ortiz activating whats known as an E-tone GPS device that signals all police departments in the area that an officer is in danger.

In critical condition from loss of blood, Sepulveda was treated at Methodist Texsan for 32 minutes, according to staff. He then was transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center, where he says he spent about two weeks across two visits.

All I remember is someone (at Methodist) saying were gonna put you out right now, and then the next day I woke up at Brooke Army, said Sepulveda, who was raised on the South Side and graduated from Holy Cross High School.

He is talking and walking fine, but still in rehab, and hopes to return to the force in June.

Two brothers  Wilfredo Montemayor, 28, and Sijifredo Montemayor, 30  have been arrested and charged with attempted murder. They remain in Bexar County Jail.

bselcraig@express-news.net
In 2013, Julian Castro won a third term as mayor of San Antonio with a little more than 29,000 votes.

Last Saturday, Ron Nirenberg won a third term as mayor of San Antonio with more than 92,000 votes.

Even when you factor in this citys population growth over the past eight years, its a remarkable difference. But it doesnt tell us much about Nirenberg or his standing with local voters.

Certainly, Nirenbergs 2-1 victory over former Councilman Greg Brockhouse was a declaration of support for the mayors calm, steady handling of the COVID-19 crisis and a confidence in the economic recovery we sense is on the way.

It wasnt the mayoral election, however, that motivated San Antonians to go to the polls. The Nirenberg-Brockhouse contest was an afterthought, a snoozefest, a sequel that failed to match the drama of its 2019 predecessor.

Fix SAPD Interview

Of course, the big attraction in this years city election was Proposition B, a ballot measure created by the reform group Fix SAPD and designed to repeal the San Antonio Police Officers Associations right to collective bargaining.

There are few moral victories in politics, but Saturday night we saw one in San Antonio as Proposition B received more than 73,000 votes and lost by a margin of only 2.3 percentage points.

Keep in mind that Fix SAPD has been in existence for less than a year. Its leaders are young, sharp and impassioned, but they had little political experience. They got important canvassing and funding help from the Texas Organizing Project, but minimal support from people in the political or business establishment, most of whom didnt want to tangle with the police union.

That included Nirenberg, who has been one of the unions most persistent critics over his eight years as an elected official. In 2016, he was one of only two council members to vote against a mediated agreement between the city and SAPOA, because he thought it was too costly for the city.

Last June, during a gathering with police-reform advocates, the mayor declared his allegiance to their cause.

Hold me accountable for it, he said, because Im the mayor of this goddamn city and were gonna make change together.

But Nirenberg floated above the battle when it came to Prop B. He and most of his council colleagues hid behind City Attorney Andy Segovias directive that they not weigh in on a ballot proposition that could affect ongoing contract negotiations with the police union.

The Danny Diaz Interview

Nirenberg walked a rhetorical tightrope, emphasizing his support for reform, but indicating to SAPOA leaders that he thought collective bargaining was a good way to achieve those reforms.

The campaign politics behind Prop B were complex and contradictory.

Eight years ago, you could find many local conservatives who were extremely critical of SAPOA. They regarded the union as an overly powerful entity that used its bargaining leverage to soak the taxpayers of San Antonio for rich benefits packages.

In 2021, being conservative in San Antonio (or most U.S. cities, for that matter) means championing the cause of the police union.

When Gov. Greg Abbott served as attorney general, he introduced a Workers Bill of Rights to keep Texas workers from being compelled to join a union or pay union dues.

On Saturday night, however, Abbott celebrated the fact that a Texas union  albeit a public-sector one  had preserved its collective bargaining power.

Thank you San Antonio for voting AGAINST Prop. B, Abbott tweeted. If it had passed it could have been harder for the police department to recruit & retain good officers.

For Republicans, this wasnt a referendum on union bargaining power. Voting against Prop B was a Back the Blue statement.

Democrats were split on the proposition, with some old-school, pro-labor liberals simply unwilling to vote against the concept of collective bargaining.

Given such strong headwinds, its amazing that Fix SAPD nearly won.

They had to deal with blatant deception from SAPOA. Union reps falsely argued that the proposition would defund the police. In fact, Prop B didnt address any specifics of police funding or disciplinary procedures.

Its framers simply believed that collective bargaining gave SAPOA too much bargaining leverage and they wanted to put a new system in place.

Houston, Dallas, Austin and Fort Worth manage to function without collective bargaining for their police officers. San Antonio is the outlier. But SAPOA reps suggested that our police department would collapse if we joined those cities in using a meet-and-confer bargaining process.

The spirit of Prop B carries into two council runoffs, where movement progressives Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and Teri Castillo  both of whom backed Prop B  appear to be on the cusp of victory.

Hopefully, that spirit will also carry over into SAPOAs contract negotiations. Its a new day in San Antonio. If SAPOA leaders didnt already know it before Saturday night, they should know it now.

ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
The past 14 months have been some of the most challenging many of us have faced. In so many ways, weve been pushed to the brink  and then some. And without a doubt, were all ready to move on and return to many aspects of our lives that have been put on hold. We want to return to the things that bring us joy, and without special conditions or any strings attached.

But we must be cautious. And we must not rush to do so before the facts prove we are ready.

Certainly, our ultimate goal is to attain herd immunity, bringing us out of the woods and a return to life as it was before COVID-19. Unfortunately, we remain far from that point and Texans must understand the reality of where we are to continue moving forward in our efforts.

Its true that herd immunity is the key to ensuring we can return to normal safely. There is only one way we get there: vaccinations.

Were not there, yet. Vaccines remain as significant as ever, and its critically important every Texan get a shot as soon as possible. Tens of millions more vaccinations must happen before we can declare victory.

On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases

Creating a premature false sense of security can have dangerous consequences. If people do not recognize the urgency for getting vaccinated, fewer of them will feel compelled to get their shots. This will allow the coronavirus and its multiple strains to strengthen, setting us further back and putting more people at risk.

About 36 percent of Texans age 16 and older are fully vaccinated, or about 8 million Texans. Another 2.5 million cases of COVID have been recorded, with patients recovering and presumably having some level of natural immunity to the virus. In total, this 10.5 million amounts to about 47 percent of the states adults with immunity  a far cry from the 70-90 percent we need to get to for us to achieve herd immunity.

Getting more Texans vaccinated is the only way to arrive at true herd immunity. The quicker we do so, the quicker we will be able to get our lives back to normal  safely.

The good news is everyone 16 and older is eligible for a vaccine, and health care workers are dedicated to getting shots in more arms every day.

Herd immunity is within our reach, but we cannot suggest we are there, yet. Public health depends on honest, fact-driven dialogue. Right now, there is still much work to do in fighting COVID-19  but together as Texans looking out for each other, we can do it.

Dr. Gillian Schmitz is the vice-chair of education at the Brooke Army Medical Center, president-elect of the American College of Emergency Physicians and member of the Texas College of Emergency Physicians.
There is a quote from Ralph Reed that I often return to when trying to understand how the right builds political power. I would rather have a thousand school board members than one president and no school board members, the former leader of the Christian Coalition said in 1996. School board elections are a great training ground for national activism. They can pull parents, particularly mothers, into politics around intensely emotional issues, building a thriving grassroots and keeping it mobilized.

You could easily write a history of the modern right thats about nothing but schools. The battles were initially about race, particularly segregation and busing. Out of those fights came the Christian right, born in reaction to the revocation of tax exemptions for segregated Christian schools. As the Christian right grew, political struggles over control of schools became more explicitly religious. There were campaigns against allowing gay people to work in schools and against teaching sex education and evolution.

Now the Christian right has more or less collapsed as anything but an identity category. There are still lots of religious fundamentalists, but not, post-Donald Trump, a movement confidently asserting itself as the repository of wholesome family values. Instead, with the drive to eradicate the teaching of critical race theory, race has moved back to the center of the public-school culture wars.

I put critical race theory in quotes because the right has transformed a term that originally referred to an academic school of thought into a catchall for resentments over diversity initiatives and changing history curricula. Since I first wrote about anti-critical race theory activism in February, its become hard to keep up with the flurry of state bills aimed at banning the teaching of what are often called divisive concepts, including the idea, as a Rhode Island bill puts it, that the United States of America is fundamentally racist or sexist. We will reject Critical Race Theory in our schools and public institutions, and we will CANCEL Cancel Culture wherever it arises! the irony-challenged Mike Pence tweeted last week.

Part of the reason the right is putting so much energy into this crusade is because it cant whip up much opposition to the bulk of Joe Bidens agenda. Bidens spending plans are much more ambitious than Barack Obamas were, but theres been no new version of the Tea Party. Voters view this president as more moderate than Obama, a misconception that critical race theory scholars would have no trouble explaining. Republicans have groused about how hard Biden is to demonize. They need a more frightening, enraging villain to keep their people engaged.

Critical race theory  presented as an attack on history, a program to indoctrinate children and a stealth form of Marxism  fits the bill. The recent elections in Southlake show how politically potent the backlash to critical race theory can be.

In 2018, the affluent Texas suburb was in the news for a viral video of a group of laughing white students shouting the N-word. Black residents told reporters about instances of unambiguous racism. A diversity council of parents, teachers and students was created to come up with a plan to make their school more inclusive. The council, in turn, created a document called the Cultural Competence Action Plan.

The reaction from conservative parents was furious. A PAC formed to fight the plan. At a contentious school board meeting, the Dallas Morning News reported, a Black student on the diversity council was booed after testifying: My life matters. Two school board members who supported the plan were indicted on charges they violated Texas Open Meetings Act, merely because they texted about the plan before a board meeting. Conservative radio host Dana Loesch, who lives in Southlake, appeared on Tucker Carlson to denounce very far-left Marxist activists trying to implement critical race theory education.

This weekend, in a Southlake election that drew three times the ordinary number of voters, opponents of the Cultural Competence Action Plan dominated, winning two school board seats, two City Council seats and the mayors office by about 40 points in each race. Their victories will likely serve as an example to conservative organizers nationwide. The Federalist, a right-wing website, heralded the election as the early stage of a new cultural Tea Party marshaled against critical race theory instead of government spending.

The Christian Coalition took off during Bill Clintons presidency, when the religious right engaged locally because it felt shut out of national power. Clearly, some conservatives think that opposition to critical race theory could be the seed of something similar. Telling parents that liberals want to make their kids hate their country and feel guilty for being white might be absurd and cynical. It also looks like it might be effective.
Its easy to see what fast-growing Texas is set to gain with the latest census count: Two congressional seats and greater national influence.

The Lone Star State, which added 3.9 million people over the last decade, will have 38 congressional seats and 40 Electoral College votes, second to California.

Far harder to see is who was not counted in Texas and how that undercount will not only diminish federal funding but also representation, particularly for people of color, as Texas moves forward with redistricting. Texas fell short of a third congressional district by 190,000 people. Just imagine if the state had invested in trying to count so-called hard-to-reach populations.

Yes, we understand a certain objection to the state bolstering a federal effort, but this is off target. Its in the states interest to have an accurate count. There is the question of representation and political power, which isnt being maximized; but the federal government also allocates billions in funding to states, counties and cities based on the census.

As we have previously noted, its been estimated about 7 million Texans are living in hard-to-count neighborhoods. Many of these areas are in South and West Texas, which are predominantly Hispanic and tend to vote Democratic.

The politics are inescapable, especially if one considers the Trump administrations failed attempt to add a citizenship question to the census. Lets remember that the late GOP redistricting operative Thomas Hofeller produced a 2015 study that made the case for adding a citizenship question to reduce Hispanic participation and, therefore, ease Republican gerrymandering.

Many experts have said the mere specter of that question likely dampened response rates.

As Michael Li, a redistricting expert who serves as senior counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, recently noted: Well have to wait for more granular data, but it certainly looks like the Texas Legislatures decision not to budget money to encourage census participation combined with the Trump administration efforts to add a citizenship question cost Texas a congressional district.

The updated census numbers will be used to guide the next round of redistricting. And this time, Texas lawmakers will plow ahead without federal oversight and preclearance rules to counter discrimination.

Expect partisan gerrymandering in the most extreme sense.

As U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a Democrat who is no stranger to Republican gerrymandering, recently warned, Extreme gerrymandering dilutes our democracy and just means that representatives are less accessible and less accountable for both Republicans and Democrats.

This is the process by which elected officials choose their voters, rather than voters choosing their elected officials. It begins with a census undercount, and continues with mapmaking designed to maximize party power until the next decade.

It leads to candidates who know the most important race to win is a party primary and fuels skepticism among voters about the political process and a lack of transparency. It diminishes democracy.

Something to ponder: What if Texas funded robust census outreach and relied on an independent redistricting commission to draw the states political maps?


The Serbian government has said it will continue to provide support for its national carrier as minority stakeholder Etihad Airways continues re-sizing itself into a mid-sized airline after disposing of its stake in Air Seychelles. Etihad currently holds an 18% share in the Serbian carrier, making it the last remaining investment in its portfolio. The Abu Dhabi airline said it sold its 40% stake in Air Seychelles back to the Seychelles government. Although Etihads management contract at Air Seychelles has been terminated, the CEO and CFO appointed by the Emirati national airline will remain in their posts respectively until June 30, to assist with the transition. The Serbian government has said it will continue to provide support for its national carrier as minority stakeholder Etihad Airways continues re-sizing itself into a mid-sized airline after disposing of its stake in Air Seychelles. Etihad currently holds an 18% share in the Serbian carrier, making it the last remaining investment in its portfolio. The Abu Dhabi airline said it sold its 40% stake in Air Seychelles back to the Seychelles government. Although Etihads management contract at Air Seychelles has been terminated, the CEO and CFO appointed by the Emirati national airline will remain in their posts respectively until June 30, to assist with the transition.





The Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabic, said, I am proud of all the support the government of the Republic of Serbia has provided to Air Serbia. All of it. If there is a need, I will fully support any additional assistance required, in line with the European Unions state aid rules. We pay careful attention not to be in violation of these rules as the penalties are extensive. However, anything else that is necessary for our national carrier will be provided by the government. Air Serbia saved us. Without it our citizens would be unable to return from abroad when everyone closed their boarders and cancelled flights. Without Air Serbia we would be unable to get vaccines as quickly as we have.





Linus Benjamin Bauer, Managing Director of Bauer Aviation Advisory, a consulting firm exclusively working for the aviation industry, believes Etihad will dispose of its minority stake in Air Serbia in the coming period. Selling its last stake in Air Serbia would be very much in alignment with Etihad's new strategy to become a boutique airline with a focus on premium in the post pandemic era, Mr Bauer said. In mid-March, following talks with the de-facto ruler of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the two discussed Air Serbias and Etihads partnership among other things, noting that there will be more meetings concerning that matter.




Picture a beautiful dining room table, set with our finest china for the perfect Mothers Day. A large salad bowl with my wifes amazing salad is in the center of the table. The heavenly aroma of a wonderful roast is filtering from the oven along with roasted vegetables.

Its the perfect Mothers Day dinner...just not at our house.

Mind you, as much as that pretty image might have been real at one time, this year well actually be celebrating the way we have been for the past several years  with take out and paper plates, very minimalist  with our older daughter Stacey and our two miracle grandsons. My beautiful wife, still the love of my life after nearly 55 years and a great mom, will wear her favorite and finest pair of sweats, lounge around the house and watch her favorite cooking programs or Hallmark. Of course, Ill remind her like I always do that it is Mothers Day, that were having company and how grateful I am that shes such a great mom.

In turn, my wife will remind me yet again that she really isnt a great mom and probably didnt do the best job with the girls, now 50-plus and 47, so what does she have to celebrate? Ill reassure her, as I do annually, that thanks to her lousy mothering job, we have two wonderful and independent daughters, who are living excellent lives.

Our older daughter, poor, messed-up Stacey, is a terrific single mom and an excellent special education teacher with a masters degree and reading certification. Determined and committed to have a family, Stacey adopted Lucas, a beautiful little boy from China, the first love of our lives; and soon after was finally able to have a wonderful in-vitro pregnancy and deliver Caleb, the second of our miracles.

Our other daughter, poor incapable Jeri, works as an optical technician. She married Gervasio, the love of her life, eight years ago and has a great life in Ann Arbor, Mich. Gervasio is a chef and loves cooking delicious dishes for Jeri.

The reality is that while my wife chastises herself for her perceived shortcomings, she has actually been a terrific, albeit unorthodox, late-bloomer mom who had dreams and achieved them. At first, she made up her mind when we were living in Reading, Penn. that she wanted to become a dental hygienist. That decision meant our deciding that my wife needed to live in Philadelphia if she was going to succeed. For the two years she spent at Community College of Philadelphia, my wife lived in a tiny apartment near the Penn Campus.

Meanwhile, I worked full time and took care of the girls during the week and my wife was home every weekend making up for lost time with our daughters. But she made everything work and graduated as a dental hygienist.

Right after her graduation, my new job took us to Connecticut in 1982, where this unorthodox mom got a job as a hygienist. But she still found the time to drive car pool for religious school, take on a community tablecloth project from our temple, bake for school projects, quilt and offer time and that all-important moral support to the girls.

Barely two years later, after deciding that she preferred talking to patients more than cleaning their teeth, she decided to pursue a degree in mental health. While maintaining her busy work schedule, she found a weekend social work program from New Hampshire College. All of this was accomplished and my wife remained involved in the girls various activities, like piano and religious school.

My wife also managed to save every dime, despite our tight Connecticut budget, for Staceys beautiful Bat Mitzvah in 1984 at Oronoque Country Club. And two years later, after recovering from a severe brain aneurysm in 1986, she planned another wonderful, more low-key Bat Mitzvah party for Jeri at home. For both events she looked like the gorgeous mom she is.

In 1988, with the aneurysm behind her, my wife was accepted to Yeshiva University in Manhattan for a two-year masters degree program in social work and graduated in 1990. A month later she took the exam for Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) and passed.

I wanted to add that during her entire education at Yeshiva, this always tough-on-herself mom managed to attend 90 percent of Staceys track meets from then Fairfield High School and cheer her daughter on to victory or hug her when she didnt win.

My wife was already a practicing social worker during the girls college years. Both attended Southern Connecticut State University, but Jeri completed her degree in Spanish at Eastern Michigan University in Ann Arbor. That meant trips to Michigan and a lot of support from mom when Jeris original journey to occupational therapy didnt work out and she had to change majors.

There were other tough years when both girls struggled with job challenges and Jeri had to overcome a serious illness that sent my wife to Ann Arbor for several weeks to provide care and support.

And after planning a fairy tale wedding for Stacey in 2000, there was the pain of her divorce after 11 years. That was followed by Staceys desire for a family on her own and my wifes countless trips with her to the fertility clinic. Then mom had to be there for the agony of a daughters loss when in-vitro didnt work.

But joy came for all of us in 2017 when we traveled to China for Staceys adoption of Lucas, a six-year-old bundle of joy. Suddenly, we became Loyeh (grandpa) and LoLo (grandma) and LoLo lit up like a Christmas tree when Lucas came into the hotel lobby. These days, she still kvells (gushes) over Lucas every time he comes to visit or stay over.

And another joyous day came for my wife in 2019 when she entered the delivery room with Stacey for her Caesarian and watched little Calebs entrance to the family. Watching my wife holding and cuddling our second miracle grandson gave her a glow that only a grandparent knows. And thats still the case as Caleb approaches his second birthday.

This Sunday, our daughter and our two special grandsons will arrive about 5 p.m., and well probably be heading to Boston Market, Fairfield Pizza or Dannys Hot Dog stand for some kind of lactose-safe feast. All of those places are Lolo/grandmas favorites and theres very little need to dress up. Her sweats will be just fine.

Mothers Day gifts probably include a gift card to Joann Fabrics, a dark chocolate KitKat or Hershey bar and maybe a small dairy-free ice cream cone later.

Do I miss the fancy Mothers Day celebrations? Heck no! I couldnt be prouder of my wifes accomplishments as a mom and Im pretty sure, except for an occasional blip, that her two daughters feel the same way. Happy Mothers Day, Mare. You carved out your own unorthodox motherhood and its been a slam dunk.

Steven Gaynes is a Fairfield writer, and his In the Suburbs appears each Friday. He can be reached at stevengaynes44@gmail.com.
Enduring problems throughout Central America drive the southern U.S. border crisis. President Biden wants to address them with costly programs like those that haven't worked for decades.

By Vince Bielski, RealClearInvestigations

May 5, 2021

The journey of Central American migrants to the U.S. border  a perilous trip across thousands of miles of mountains and deserts  starts in places like the dry corridor in western Honduras.

Many of the regions 1 million small farmers still live in adobe huts with no running water and suffer acts of humans and nature. Corrupt Honduran officials have invested too little in stabilizing or modernizing the region, allowing violent gangs to extort families. Recent droughts and hurricanes have created widespread hunger.

Its been one crisis after another, says Conor Walsh, the Honduras representative for Catholic Relief Services in Tegucigalpa, the capital. Many people have already migrated and others are evaluating whether they can stay on their farms.

These longstanding problems throughout Central America are driving the current crisis on the southern U.S. border, where more than 170,000 migrants arrived in March in search of jobs and asylum. As the Biden administration grapples with this mounting surge, its also proposing a $4 billion long-term plan to attack the root causes of migration  corruption, violence and poverty in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

The initiative is as ambitious as it is familiar. Presidents as far back as John F. Kennedy have pursued similar aims only to come up short. Joe Biden himself ran the troubled Central America initiative during the Obama administration. It encountered the same obstacles that have stymied past U.S. efforts  governmental leaders and business elites who resist good governance and anti-corruption reforms to protect their own interests, according to a study by the Wilson Center, a policy research group in Washington.

Consider Honduras, a showcase of government criminality. President Juan Orlando Hernandezs election in 2017 was tainted by fraud. He is now under investigation by U.S. prosecutors who have brought a string of cocaine smuggling cases against prominent Hondurans. Members of the National Congress in Tegucigalpa have a habit of embezzlement, thereby robbing citizens of funding for health care, education, and jobs.

Nonetheless, U.S.-funded programs have struggled to make a difference in a nation in which government is a big part of the problem. Catholic Relief Services, for one, has helped boost the corn and bean yields and income of thousands of subsistence farmers in the Honduran dry corridor, offering a glimmer of hope. But a lack of roads, electricity and credit for farmers means that only a sliver of them benefit from the technical aid. As a result, an unprecedented 47% of families in the dry corridor that stretches across Central America are moderately to severely food deprived, according to an alarming 2017 United Nations study.

Now comes Bidens crack at the region. Hes tweaking the U.S. aid playbook in hopes of a better outcome. The administration says fighting corruption is now the top priority since nothing will change until elected officials stop stealing and the governments become more accountable to citizens. Countries will have to meet stricter conditions, such as adopting governance reforms, before receiving aid, and officials face the threat of financial sanctions and revoked visas. The proposed $4 billion strategy, the biggest ever for the region, gives the administration some added leverage.

Vice President Kamala Harris heads the strategy team, which includes White House aide Juan Gonzalez and Ricardo Zuniga, the special envoy to the region. Zuniga was born in Honduras and both men worked on Western Hemispheric affairs in the Obama White House. In March, they traveled to the region and had very frank discussions with leaders about transparency, good governance and anti-corruption, said one administration official.

The Treasury Department followed up those talks with sanctions in late April against Felipe Alejos Lorenzana, a Guatemalan Congressman, and Gustavo Adolfo Alejos Cambara, a former official. They reportedly facilitated payments to lawmakers and judges to try to interfere with the appointment of magistrates and protect against corruption prosecutions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

You have to create a system of accountability that goes after the very corrupt elements within these governments, added Steven Dudley, co-founder of InSight Crime, which investigates organized crime in Latin America. The people Biden put in place have the experience and ideas, but the bridge between that and actually doing something is long.

The get-tough diplomacy is already hitting resistance. In early April, Zuniga visited El Salvador to press the case against corruption. But President Nayib Bukele, miffed over criticism from a State Department official about his commitment to the rule of law, refused to meet with the envoy.

The snub would be familiar to a long line of presidents who have stumbled in the region. Since 1960 administrations have strategically deployed about $24 billion in foreign aid to Central America and the Caribbean.

During the Cold War years, aid was meant to reduce poverty to build support against leftist movements in El Salvador and its neighbors. It didn't work. When the decades-long civil wars in the region finally ended in the 1990s, peace did usher in a long stretch of economic growth and declining poverty rates. In the ensuing decade, as drug trafficking and gang violence soared, the George W. Bush administration took its turn in Central America. It sent assistance to combat crime. But the programs lacked coordination and had a limited impact, according to another Wilson Center report.

The Obama administration had bigger ambitions. It expanded on Bushs security initiative by adding governance and economic programs. The $2.4 billion strategy for engagement for El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras began in 2014 and included 370 projects to make local officials more accountable, reduce crime and create jobs. In an op-ed supporting the strategy, Vice President Biden praised the nations commitment to reform and even met with President Hernandez at the White House in 2015  an endorsement that proved too bullish.

After five years, the Government Accounting Office was blunt in its assessment of the projects that were mostly run by the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Those reviewed by GAO achieved only 40% to 70% of their own technical targets, such as the number of police officers trained. Officials didnt even bother to evaluate most of the projects or whether they helped improve governance, security and economic opportunity.

When the biggest wave of migrants in more than a decade hit the U.S. border in 2019, the Trump administration pulled the plug on the Obama root cause strategy. USAID, now run by Samantha Power, former envoy to the U.N. under President Obama, didn't provide a spokesperson to comment for this story despite several requests.

Honduras: Corruption Juggernaut

Biden, who now has a second chance to get it right, faces his biggest test in Honduras. Its economy, which was once dominated by exports of coffee and bananas to the U.S., has produced a number of ultra-wealthy clans resistant to the idea of cleaning up corruption.

Miguel Facusse, whose nephew served as president of Honduras, became rich from palm oil production and consumer products. But his legacy is tainted by accusations from human rights investigations that his security forces were involved in deadly clashes with small farmers over their claim to land in the region where his plantations operate.

As the economy became more service oriented, former Vice President Jaime Rosenthal made a family fortune estimated in 2015 at $690 million from banking, telecommunications and other businesses. But before his death two years ago, Rosenthal was indicted by U.S. prosecutors for participating in a money-laundering scheme with Honduran drug traffickers.

Honduras emerged as a cocaine transshipment point between South America and the U.S. a few decades ago. The 2009 coup in Honduras that ousted President Manuel Zelaya opened the door to more trafficking. Zelaya, a Liberal Party politician, had raised the minimum wage by 60% and defended land rights of small farmers. Even more worrisome to business leaders like Facusse was that Zelaya had become cozy with leftist despots in the region and pushed to amend the constitution in an apparent attempt to extend his own presidency.

Zelayas ouster by the military led to a period of internal tumult, forcing the National Police to focus on restoring order, often violently cracking down on protesters. By 2015, 90% of cocaine coming to the U.S. passed through Central America, with Honduras as the major hub. More recently Hondurans have developed labs to produce cocaine, extending its tentacles in the economy, according to a report by InSight Crime.

Today, President Hernandez tops a list of Honduran politicians, military and police officers who are under investigation or have been convicted of operating what seems like a state-sponsored drug cartel, according the U.S. prosecutors. They say in 2013 Hernandez, who was then in Congress and campaigning for the presidency, got access to millions of dollars in cocaine from a murderous trafficker. In return, the politician allegedly told the trafficker, who was convicted in a U.S. court in March, that the military and attorney general would protect his operation. The president has repeatedly denied any involvement in trafficking.

The presidents brother, former congressman Tony Hernandez, was involved in every aspect of the cocaine trade. The end game was political power. He funneled millions of dollars in profits into National Party campaigns for three presidential elections, including the two his brother won in 2013 and 2017, prosecutors say. Tony Hernandez was handed a life prison sentence in March.

The Biden administration points to the silver linings in the dark clouds of the regions recent history. In the last five years, an effort to root out political corruption made remarkable progress before it was quashed. In 2016, large street demonstrations over the looting of at least $300 million from the public health care system  a small amount of which found its way into Hernandezs first presidential campaign  forced the president to set up an anti-corruption commission in partnership with the Organization of American States. The U.S. embraced the move with funding and political support.

The commissions quasi-independence  it was led by Peruvian prosecutor Ana Maria Calderon Boy and others from outside Honduras  keyed its initial success. The commission set up a new unit of vetted prosecutors within the national government. It went on to reveal an embezzlement scam that later allegedly implicated more than 350 politicians, including President Hernandez, according to the Wilson report. Amid the scandal, he essentially disbanded the commission last year  a decision that brought condemnation from a bipartisan group of U.S. House leaders.

The Biden administration now aims to set up a new anti-corruption group as its main weapon. This time even more independence will be crucial if its to work. Zuniga, the special envoy, had discussions with nonprofits in Central America that want to form a U.S.-backed civil society commission. It would draw on the expertise of these groups in exposing corruption and operate outside the reach of national governments to shut it down. But local prosecutors would still have to pursue the cases.

Instead of creating another commission that the governments can kick out, the U.S. can support nonprofits that have years of experience doing this work, says Kurt Ver Beek, co-founder of the Association for a More Just Society in Honduras, who joined the talks with Zuniga. We will make the corruption cases public and along with the U.S. pressure the governments to bring charges.

Purging the Police

The U.S.-backed effort to reform the National Police also got off to a promising start five years ago. The police served as a tool of cocaine smugglers, who easily exploited lowly paid officers with payoffs for dirty work. Officers hijacked cars from citizens, dealt drugs for gangs, and lent out their services as hitmen, according to 2016 report by Ver Beeks ASJ, the Christian nonprofit, which received funding from the State Department.

The revelation in 2016 that top police officials organized the assassination of Hondurans anti-drug czar finally forced President Hernandez and Congress to set up another commission. Two ASJ leaders joined the group, which moved quickly to purge a remarkable 5,000 tainted and inexperienced beat cops and top officials  including six generals  equaling a third of the entire force.

The purge was a watershed moment showing that Hondurans could topple a fortress of criminality. But four years later drug smugglers are beginning to penetrate the police again, forcing good officers to choose whether to take a bribe or a bullet. Traffickers tell cops, Ill kill you if you dont help me, or take a bunch of money, says Ver Beek, a Cornell University-trained sociologist. So they take the money.

U.S. agencies funded other projects such as community policing to reduce crime in Honduras, which a decade ago had the highest murder rate in the world. In her congressional confirmation hearing, Power, Bidens new USAID administrator, pointed to the agencys record of crime fighting in the country as a bright spot to build on. In districts where USAID had programming aimed at curbing violence, there was a drop in homicide rates, she told senators in March. That is encouraging.

However, extortion of businesses by criminal gangs  a major driver of migration  may be getting worse. Gang members approach small businesses, such as barbers, food merchants and taxi drivers, and demand a small monthly payment that keeps going up until the owner can no longer pay it and flees. Hondurans refer to extortion as a war tax, which victimizes as many as half of all small businesses, Ver Beek estimates.

Struggling to Create Jobs

While officials pilfer public funds and gangs drive businesses to close, its no wonder that half of the Honduran population remains almost locked in poverty. The high rate hasnt improved much over the last decade and is twice the level of neighboring El Salvador. As the Obama administration learned, foreign aid alone cant do much to help kids escape this poverty trap.

USAIDs Future Employment program had ambitions in 2016 to train 7,500 at-risk youth in Honduras and place half of them in jobs to lure them away from gangs. The program struggled to find enough recruits in tough neighborhoods and enough employers willing to take a chance and hire them. Then the Trump administration cut off funding for projects across the three countries. By the end of 2019, fewer than 1,000 participants had found some employment, mostly in retail, in the year following training, according to a USAID evaluation.

While they certainly benefited from a job in the short term, their prospects of upward mobility are dim without more support from the Honduran government. For instance, the country has a federal minimum wage law thats set above the poverty line and could help close the inequality gap. But almost half of employers ignore it and the government does little to enforce it, academic studies show.

We have not produced the same kind of results that Ive pointed to when it comes to physical security and crime, Power said of USAIDs economic programs. Hopefully we can begin to make a dent.

Power could start by changing the way her agency runs projects in places like Honduras, nonprofit veterans believe. Aid experts have criticized the agency for hiring U.S. and international contractors to administer most of the program funding. The setup marginalizes local organizations that better understand on-the-ground issues and misses an opportunity to develop local advocates to push for reforms, says Sarah Bermeo, who specializes in foreign aid in Central America at Duke University.

U.S. contractors are certainly overused compared to their ability to deliver results, Bermeo says. There is certainly room to improve outcomes by increasing the involvement of local groups in the design and implementation of AID-financed efforts.

Meanwhile, migrants from Central America are streaming to the U.S. border. The increase that began a year ago has accelerated under Biden, threatening to top 1 million this year, the highest total in more than a decade. Bidens root-cause strategy wont change anything at the border in the short run. Advocates say progress will be incremental at best and measured in decades, not years.

Its going to be difficult but not impossible for the administration, says Ariel Ruiz Soto, an analyst at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington. The U.S. investment has to occur over decades for there to be a real change.
UPDATE: MAY 4 AT 5:02 P.M.

SPOKANE, Wash. - In the release issued earlier by Avista Corporation, please note that the company is not pursuing legal action against the State of Montana. Rather, the company is taking legal action against a recently-enacted statute in the state.

The headline has been corrected and the updated news release follows:

Avista Corporation took legal action to challenge a statute recently enacted in the State of Montana today, filing a lawsuit with the Pacific Northwest Colstrip ownersPuget Sound Energy, PacifiCorp and Portland General Electricafter Montana Governor Gianforte signed Senate Bills 265 and 266 into law.

As we shared in a letter to Governor Gianforte last month, we believe Senate Bills 265 and 266 disrupt a contract between and among the Colstrip owners that has existed for nearly 40 years, Avistas Senior Vice President of Energy Resources Jason Thackston said. We urged Governor Gianforte to veto the bills because we believe they are both unlawful and unconstitutional, and we have pursued legal action today with other Colstrip owners to protect the rights of our customers and shareholders under the existing contract.

Avista said they have worked for years to find a solution that addresses the needs of Montana, the Colstrip community, their customers and other stakeholders affected by the plants future, and will continue to seek those solutions.

Avista has contributed $3 million to the Montana Foundation to distribute through a donor-advised fund for aiding the communitys transition.

We are disappointed that the State of Montana has chosen to pass these bills and that we have been forced to take legal action as a result, said Thackston. Nonetheless, we remain committed to engaging with the State of Montana on issues relating to Colstrip and to searching for potential solutions that balance the interests of all involved stakeholders.

The lawsuit filed is directed specifically at Senate Bill 265 which purports to amend Section 27-5-323 of the Montana Code to invalidate the Colstrip Ownership and Operating Agreements provision governing the arbitration of disputes arising under the contract.

That provision has been in place for the nearly 40 years that the agreement has been in effect and has been used effectively by the co-owners to resolve disputes on multiple occasions in the past.

SPOKANE, Wash. - Avista Corporation took legal action against the State of Montana Tuesday, filing a lawsuit with the Pacific Northwest Colstrip ownersPuget Sound Energy, PacifiCorp and Portland General Electricafter Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed Senate Bills 265 and 266 into law.

As we shared in a letter to Governor Gianforte last month, we believe Senate Bills 265 and 266 disrupt a contract between and among the Colstrip owners that has existed for nearly 40 years, Avistas Senior Vice President of Energy Resources Jason Thackston said. We urged Governor Gianforte to veto the bills because we believe they are both unlawful and unconstitutional, and we have pursued legal action today with other Colstrip owners to protect the rights of our customers and shareholders under the existing contract.

Avista said they have worked for years to find a solution that addresses the needs of Montana, the Colstrip community, their customers and other stakeholders affected by the plants future, and will continue to seek those solutions.

Avista has contributed $3 million to the Montana Foundation to distribute through a donor-advised fund for aiding the communitys transition.

We are disappointed that the State of Montana has chosen to pass these bills and that we have been forced to take legal action as a result, Thackston said. Nonetheless, we remain committed to engaging with the State of Montana on issues relating to Colstrip and to searching for potential solutions that balance the interests of all involved stakeholders.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday is directed specifically at Senate Bill 265 which purports to amend Section 27-5-323 of the Montana Code to invalidate the Colstrip Ownership and Operating Agreements provision governing the arbitration of disputes arising under the contract.

According to a press release, that provision has been in place for the nearly 40 years that the agreement has been in effect and has been used effectively by the co-owners to resolve disputes on multiple occasions in the past.
British Wool will abolish onward carriage fees for approved collection sites as part of changes to producer haulage charges for the 2021 season.

The Bradford-based co-operative has confirmed that producers will not have to pay for transporting their wool to collection sites this year.

A charge of 5.15 per wool sheet is usually made for deliveries to haulier depots and authorised collection sites.

British Wool said the change would 'further support' farmers following a tough year due to the pandemic's impact on the sector.

Andrew Hogley, British Wool's newly-appointed CEO, said the move demonstrated its 'commitment in delivering a high level of service to producers'.

Throughout the pandemic British Wools depots and collection sites remain open in a Covid secure manner," he said.

"We continue to accept all types of wool from all producers, a principal which lies at the core of our cooperative ethos."

Mr Hogley added that a small number of producers chose to hold on to their wool last year, which meant British Wool handled less wool.

This, in turn, had a negative impact on the co-op's operating cost per kilo, he explained.

"The more wool we handle the more cost effective our operations become which in turn allows us to return more value to all producers.

"With this in mind please encourage your colleagues in the farming community to support British Wool and deliver their wool this year.

The news follows this week's appointment of Mr Hogley as British Wool's new permanent chief executive officer.

British Wool chairman Jim Robertson said: Andrew has done an excellent job driving the business forward and implementing the restructuring plans we announced at the beginning of the year.

The Board look forward to working with Andrew, ensuring we continue to represent the best interests of our producers and in maximising the value of their wool.
Tributes have been paid to a leading Northern Ireland agri-food businessman who died following a tragic quad bike accident.

Denis Lynd, founder and chairman of food production firm Finnebrogue Artisan, died at his home in Killyleagh, Co Down, on Sunday (2 May).

The 63-year-old businessman employed 1,000 people across four sites in Northern Ireland.

The multi-million pound business produces own-brand bacon, sausages and burgers for UK supermarkets such as Asda and Waitrose.

Mr Lynd's death was announced by his company, which described him as 'our founder, leader and inspiration.'

Our thoughts are with Deniss wife Christine, his children Kerry, Clare, Tara and Ciara and the entire family at this incredibly difficult time, the firm said.

Denis was an innovator and a visionary with an infectious passion for delivering positive change for the planet and its people.

"He leaves behind an extraordinary list of achievements."

Mr Lynd started his agri-food career by 'selling pizzas and pies out of a little white van,' the statement went on to say.

And in the 1990s, he began to farm beef and venison after purchasing Finnebrogue Estate outside Downpatrick.

Denis established Finnebrogue as the largest farmer and processor of deer in the UK, supplying Michelin star restaurants, top supermarkets and celebrity chefs," the firm said.

Between 2015 and 2018, he opened three new sites in Co Down and helped to boost the firm's turnover to nearly 100 million.
Meadow Foods has announced that it will be increasing its milk price by 1.25p per litre from 1 June for its producers.

The announcement means that suppliers will see their standard A litre milk price rise to 28.25p per litre.

The Cheshire-based firm sources more than 650 million litres of milk a year from its 650 producers.

Chief executive of the processor, Mark Chantler said: We promised that as soon as we were able to achieve better prices, we would pass the benefit back to our producers and we are pleased to do that.

This increase reflects a more positive market for the dairy products we sell and lower than anticipated milk volumes.

"We continue to closely monitor the markets closely and remain conscious that there is the main spring flush to come.

It follows numerous other dairy processors increasing their milk prices from next month and July.
Farmers will see a slight fall in payment rates under the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS) as the number of eligible animals claimed has increased.

Direct support to help maintain sheep flocks in remote areas of Scotland started to reach farmers' bank accounts this week, the Scottish government confirmed.

The upland support scheme issues funds to help farming businesses reliant on poorer quality rough grazing.

The individual payment rate for the 2020 scheme year is 67.12 (59.80) per eligible ewe hogg, with the conversion rate set at 1 = 0.89092.

Under the 2019 scheme, the payment rate was 70.00 (62.36) per animal, with the 2019 conversion rate set at 1 = 0.89092.

According to NFU Scotland, the reduction in payment rate for 2020 of 2.88 (2.56) per animal is due to the increase in ewe hoggs claimed.

The union's LFA committee chairman, Robert Macdonald said 'better targeting' should be introduced.

He said this could be achieved by limiting the number of ewe hoggs claimed by each eligible applicant to 20% of their breeding flock.

This would be in addition to the existing requirement that claimants require four hectares of Region 3 land per ewe hogg claimed," he explained.

As a consequence, this would secure an increase in support going to those actively farming the most challenging land where lambing percentages are always restricted by a host of physical factors.

He added: "SUSSS remains a vital support stream for hill farmers and is one that the LFA committee believes could still benefit from further rule revision."
Three young farmers have won the use of a New Holland tractor for a year as part of a scheme to help develop their business.

The 'Up to Speed' scheme, by the Princes Countryside Fund and New Holland Agriculture, opened in January for applications.

It aims to support farming businesses by lending the use of a New Holland TH telehandler, a T6 tractor and a Boomer compact tractor.

Isobel and James Wright, first generation farmers from West Sussex, have won the use of the telehandler.

They are halfway through their first tenancy on the Wiston Estate where they keep a herd of suckler cows and have started rearing calves too.

They said: The farm is our first step into farming in a big way and our hope is to move from here in a few years to a larger farm.

"Winning the use of the telehandler for the year will be a great asset to the business, right now we are reliant on contractors and our old loader tractor which struggles to start on cold mornings.

Sam Walton from Knutsford, Cheshire has won the use of a T6 tractor. He works at Tatton Park, which attracts 90,000 visitors a year to learn about farming.

Alongside this, he has his own herd of pedigree Hereford cattle on some rented land and he has been breeding Herefords since he was 12 years old.

Sam said: Im absolutely thrilled to be the winner of the T6, it will make such a difference to my business over the next 12 months.

James Miller from Hatherleigh, Devon has won the use of a Boomer tractor to use on his 30-acre smallholding, which keeps sheep and pigs.

He also has his own business JRM Countryside Services, which provides agricultural contracting services.

James said: The use of the boomer tractor over the next year will allow the business to expand into other markets and test how viable a compact tractor will be.

"It will make such a big difference to the business and small holding.

The Up to Speed scheme will be open again for applications in early 2022.
A national sky lantern ban is needed to stem environmental crime due to the harm they cause to livestock, habitats and farms, a new coalition has said.

The group, made up of 18 organisations, has written to Environment Minister Rebecca Pow to explain how the UK governments current approach is now 'out of date'.

The UK is also 'out of line' with other countries where sky lanterns are considered an environmental crime due to their risk to animals and the countryside.

By enacting Section 140 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the groups say Ms Pow has the power to prohibit or restrict the importation, use, supply or storage of injurious substances or articles, such as sky lanterns.

152 local councils  including all 22 local authorities in Wales - have already banned the release of sky lanterns on council property.

But with no national legislation the countryside and farms remain unprotected, the coalition, which includes NFU Cymru, says.

The union's president John Davies said the dangers of sky lanterns had been recognised by countries across the world.

"Its high time we joined this growing global community and implement a ban on them here in the UK," he added.

It is great that all of our Welsh local authorities have already showed the leadership to ban the release of sky lanterns from council-owned land and property here in Wales.

"We are now calling on government to take this important, logical next step to ban the unnecessary risk posed by sky lanterns and protect property, animals and farmland.

The Countryside Alliance, also a member of the new coalition, added that sky lanterns were a blight on the countryside and incredibly dangerous.

"There is no way of knowing where they will end up and all too often they end up strewn over fields, causing a major hazard for grazing livestock," Tim Bonner, chief executive said.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has also given its backing for a full UK-wide ban on the release of sky lanterns.

Paul Hedley, NFCC wildfire lead said: "Sky lanterns have been proven to start wildfires and property fires, kill or injure livestock, as well as polluting our natural environment.

"They put unnecessary strain on our critical services. Our advice is simple - dont use them."
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Magnolia, AR (71754)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 88F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms mainly during the evening. Low 73F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
SHEBA unveils Hope Reef

Leading cat food brand SHEBA has begun work on the world's largest coral restoration program, which aims to restore more than 185,000 square meters of coral reefs around the world by 2029

The coral reef, which can be seen on Google Earth, has been regrown to spell the word HOPE to drive awareness and show how positive change can happen within our lifetime

Visit the first-of-its-kind YouTube Channel where with every video view, advertising revenue is donated to The Nature Conservancy to support its reef restoration initiatives

LONDON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hope Reef, the start of the world's largest coral reef restoration program, has been unveiled off the coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The reef, which can be seen on Google Earth, has been built to spell the word H-O-P-E and is a symbol to show the world how positive change can happen within our lifetime.

Scientists estimate that if the world does nothing, 90% of the world's tropical reefs will be gone by 2043, impacting nearly 500 million people who depend on them for food, income and coastal protection[1]. The effort to solve this requires global cooperation on a massive scale and SHEBA hopes to play the role of catalyst, helping to ensure the future has coral reefs and fish.

While the unveiling of Hope Reef takes place today, its restoration began two years ago. Since then, coral cover has increased from 5 to 55%, fish abundance has increased and we have seen the return of species such as sharks and turtles. By the end of 2029, SHEBA's ambition is to restore more than 185,000 square meters of coral reef at sites around the world - roughly the size of 148 Olympic Swimming Pools.

Viewers who watch the SHEBA Hope Reef story, "The Film That Grows Coral" on YouTube will help raise money for reef restoration. With every view, the advertising money generated is invested into coral reef restoration through campaign partner, The Nature Conservancy. This is the first time ever that 100% of the funds from a YouTube channel have been monetized for sustainability efforts.

Providing a simple but effective solution, Hope Reef uses innovative 'Reef Star' technology - 90cm-wide, star-shaped, steel structures that are handmade by the local community in Indonesia. Each star is joined underwater to create a strong web that covers the seabed and provides a stable base for coral fragments to regrow.

Professor David Smith, Chief Marine Scientist at Mars Inc., said: "We're thrilled to unveil Hope Reef and show that there really is hope for our oceans. Our efforts around the world to restore and regenerate these precious ecosystems are showing exciting results and having a positive impact on local communities, which we're delighted to see. We hope our efforts inspire others to join us so we can all play our part in helping to prevent the extinction of our coral reefs."

Dr. Elizabeth McLeod, The Nature Conservancy's Global Reef Systems Lead, said: "Coral reefs are the heart of our oceans, supporting over a quarter of marine life. Reefs also supply millions of people worldwide with food, livelihoods, life-saving medicines, and protection against storms. It's imperative that we scale up our work to protect and restore the long-term health of these vital ecosystems, as well as addressing the threats that have caused their decline and building their resilience to a changing climate."

Since 2008, SHEBA's parent company, Mars, Incorporated, has invested more than $10m in research, restoration and community engagement as part of its coral reef program. In addition, the company has invested $1 billion to drive action for the protection and restoration of the planet and those who inhabit it through its Sustainable In A Generation Plan.

Tracey Massey, Global President of Mars Pet Nutrition said: "This is a symbol of hope - hope for the future of our oceans and the start of a movement to restore these vital ecosystems. The Nature Conservancy and our other long-standing partners on coral restoration around the world ensure a promising start to drive further action, acting as catalyst to inspire others and help create a healthy, thriving planet for both people and pets."

To play a role in reef restoration, so that we have more coral today and more fish tomorrow, watch and share this video hopegrows: The Film That Grows Coral

About SHEBA

The SHEBA Brand knows that cat owners love cats for their independent spirits, personalities, and discerning palates. That's why the SHEBA brand puts cats at the heart of everything it does, creating premium recipes with irresistible real meat, no artificial preservatives or flavors, and designed to entice cats' unique tastes and desires. The SHEBA Brand appreciates the relationship between cats and their owners and uses that understanding to celebrate and fuel their unique bond. Look for SHEBA premium cat food and cat treats at retailers nationwide. For more information, visit www.sheba.com.

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 72 countries and territories: 38 by direct conservation impact and 34 through partners, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

About Mars Petcare



Mars Petcare is a diverse and growing business with 85,000 Associates across 50+ countries dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 75 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world's pets - including brands PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, ROYAL CANIN, NUTRO, GREENIES, SHEBA , CESAR, IAMS and EUKANUBA as well as The WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through a network of over 2,000 pet hospitals including BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL, PET PARTNERS, VCA, LINNAEUS and ANICURA. We're also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in - and we choose to fight for: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.

About Mars, Incorporated

For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This idea is at the center of who we have always been as a global, family-owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating and evolving in ways that affirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us.

Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of confectionery, food, and petcare products and services, we employ 133,000 dedicated Associates who are all moving in the same direction: forward. With $40 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world's best-loved brands including DOVE, EXTRA, M&M's, MILKY WAY, SNICKERS, TWIX, ORBIT, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, SKITTLES, BEN'S ORIGINAL, WHISKAS, COCOAVIA, and 5; and take care of half of the world's pets through our pet health services AniCura, Banfield Pet Hospitals, BluePearl, Linnaeus, Pet Partners, and VCA.

We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles - Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom - inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive. For more information about Mars, please visit mars.com.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

[1] IPPC Special Report (2018): https://report.ipcc.ch/sr15/pdf/sr15_spm_final.pdf

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1501768/Mars_Inc_Hope_Reef.jpg

sheba@freuds.com
- Accomplished SaaS leader will guide InMoment's rapidly-growing European footprint and help the innovative technology company fulfill increasing demand in France

InMoment, the leading provider of Experience Improvement (XI), today announces that Nicolas Herz has joined the company as Country Sales Director to lead the expansion into France, and to strengthen InMoment's position in Benelux and across Europe.

After a record-breaking start to 2021 for InMoment, Nicolas joins at a pivotal time, when the company's global growth is further accelerating.

Nicolas has 23 years' experience and a successful track record in the CX industry, opening French and S-EMEA offices for Zendesk and HappyOrNot, and most recently helping Phenom People accelerate its expansion in France.

"I am delighted to be joining InMoment and take charge in developing the French and Benelux markets. InMoment seemed an obvious choice for me," said Nicolas Herz, Country Sales Director at InMoment. "InMoment has established themselves as a leader in the market by combining leading-edge technology and decades of human expertise to help businesses create effective and profitable programs that improve customer, employee, business, and market experiences."

"With fast growing customer demand in France for our offering it is the right time to further strengthen our presence in this important market," commented Stephan Thun, Managing Director and President of InMoment EMEA. "I am excited to welcome Nicolas on board to accelerate our expansion into France and the Benelux region and to leverage his experience of helping businesses to rapidly grow by delivering better employee and customer experience in the market."

About InMoment

Improving experiences is why InMoment exists. Our mission is to help our clients improve experiences at the intersection of value-where customer, employee, and business needs come together. The heart of what we do is connect our clients with what matters most through a unique combination of data, technology, and human expertise. With our hyper-modern technology platform, decades of domain authority, and global teams of experts, we uniquely deliver a focus on Experience Improvement (XI) to help our clients own the moments that matter. Take a moment and learn more at inmoment.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210504005052/en/

Contacts:

Rebecca Sanghera, InMoment, rsanghera@inmoment.com
Falcon Private Holdings, LLC ("Falcon Private Holdings" or "Falcon"), the private investment arm of Jamshid Keynejad and Barry Siadat, announced today that it has closed the acquisition of a controlling interest in the EuroCave Group ("EuroCave" or the "Company"), the global leader in premium wine cabinets, from Talis SA ("Talis"), a French, diversified industrial group. Talis, the owner of EuroCave since 1997, will retain a significant minority ownership position and their active engagement with the Company will continue.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210504005932/en/

EuroCave, the French wine cabinet pioneer founded in 1976, designs and produces its wine conservation and storage products exclusively in France. EuroCave generates approximately 30 million of global sales with activity on all relevant continents for more than forty-five years. EuroCave's operations include manufacturing and logistical facilities in the north of France (Fourmies), a headquarters and R&D facility in the south of France (Lyon), and distribution subsidiaries in France, the UK, and Germany. The Company utilizes a portfolio of brands including EuroCave, EuroCave Professional, ArteVino, and Transtherm to offer freestanding and built-in solutions for the consumer and professional channels.

David Walker, chairman of EuroCave and a principal of Falcon Private Holdings, noted: "As the leader in the premium segment and the only global business exclusively dedicated to wine preservation, EuroCave is well-positioned to drive household penetration and grow market share. We are excited to join forces with Talis, a like-minded partner who will ensure EuroCave's French heritage remains prominently featured as investment and growth accelerate."

Philip Marxen, a director of EuroCave and a managing director of Falcon Private Holdings, added: "EuroCave is an iconic brand, evoking the French art de vivre. Consumption growth and the premiumization of wine are sparking awareness of the importance of proper preservation. We expect EuroCave will continue to lead the migration of wine bottles from refrigerators and racks to purpose-built cabinets and cellars that regulate temperature and humidity while blocking ultraviolet rays and minimizing vibration."

Robert Leon, a director of EuroCave and CEO of Talis, commented: "Talis is excited to continue advancing the EuroCave brand following twenty-four years of rewarding ownership. In this next chapter, we look forward to active collaboration with Falcon, another long-term investor with deep operating capabilities, particularly in catalyzing international growth."

Pascal Marchand, a director of EuroCave and CEO since 2010, remarked: "Our Company will always belong to the wine community and our mission remains unchanged: to preserve and serve wine. Our premium solutions ensure that the moment of tasting offers an intact emotion, that of an encounter with the wine maker."

For Falcon, Jeantet and Morgan Lewis acted as legal counsel, EY acted as accounting and tax advisor, and Kepler Corporate Finance acted as debt financing advisor. For Talis, Kepler Corporate Finance acted as M&A advisor, Argos Avocats acted as legal counsel, and Benichou Rontchevsky acted as tax advisor. Omnes Capital acted as Arranger of the unitranche financing and Credit du Nord acted as Arranger of the revolving credit facility.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210504005932/en/

Contacts:

Agnes Giordano

EuroCave

Communication Marketing Manager

+33 (0)4 72 69 94 60

agiordano@eurocave.com

Philip Marxen

Falcon Private Holdings

Managing Director

pmarxen@falconph.com
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO (dpa-AFX) - Swiss drug major Roche (RHHBY) announced Wednesday that the European Commission has approved Tecentriq (atezolizumab) for people with specific type of lung cancer. Tecentriq has been approved as a first-line (initial) treatment for adults with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC whose tumours have high PD-L1 expression, with no epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) genomic tumour aberrations. Roche noted that Tecentriq is now the first and only single-agent cancer immunotherapy with three dosing options, allowing administration every two, three or four weeks. This gives physicians and patients greater flexibility on how they manage their treatment. The latest approval is based on data from the Phase III IMpower110 study, which showed that Tecentriq monotherapy improved overall survival by 7.1 months compared with chemotherapy in people with high PD-L1 expression (TC3 or IC3-wild-type). Roche said the approval marks Tecentriq's fourth indication in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and fifth indication in lung cancer overall in the EU. Levi Garraway, Roche's Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development, said, 'Tecentriq monotherapy has been shown to improve overall survival in people with high PD-L1 expression, when compared to chemotherapy, and therefore represents a new treatment option for people living with this difficult-to-treat disease.' Tecentriq has shown clinically meaningful benefit in various types of lung cancer, with five currently approved indications in markets around the world. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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St. Louis, MO, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RadioMedix Inc. and its commercial partner Curium announced today that Detectnet is now included in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology - Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors, version 1.2021 for the evaluation of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Detectnet is a positron emission tomography (PET) agent indicated for the localization of somatostatin receptor positive neuroendocrine tumors in adults.

This information follows the recent news that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has simplified the coding for Detectnet. Effective April 1, 2021, all sites of care will use code A9592 to submit for reimbursement for all patients. While Transitional Pass-Through Status remains in effect for Detectnet, C9068 was replaced with A9592 beginning April 1, 2021.

"We are grateful that the NCCN acted quickly to include Detectnet in their Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology - Neuroendocrine and Adrenal Tumors," said Curium Vice President of Marketing, North America, Michael Patterson. "This agent is the only ready-made PET somatostatin receptor targeted diagnostic widely available throughout the U.S. Our unique manufacturing and distribution capabilities allow us to provide a reliable supply of Detectnet to physicians and imaging centers serving neuroendocrine patients regardless of geography."

"Neuroendocrine cancer continues to be an area of research for RadioMedix," said Ebrahim Delpassand, MD, CEO of RadioMedix. "The Phase III results demonstrate the high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of Detectnet. Further, the 12.7 hour half-life of Detectnet enables it to be produced centrally and shipped to sites throughout the U.S, which is particularly important as we continue to navigate through the pandemic. We are pleased the NCCN members have updated their Clinical Practice Guidelines to reflect the important clinical utility of Detectnet."

About Detectnet

INDICATIONS

Detectnet is indicated for use with positron emission tomography (PET) for localization of somatostatin receptor positive neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) in adult patients.

IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Radiation Risk

Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, including Detectnet, contribute to a patient's overall long-term cumulative radiation exposure. Long-term cumulative radiation exposure is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Ensure safe handling and preparation procedures to protect patients and health care workers from unintentional radiation exposure. Advise patients to hydrate before and after administration and to void frequently after administration.

Risk for Image Misinterpretation

The uptake of copper Cu 64 dotatate reflects the level of somatostatin receptor density in NETs, however, uptake can also be seen in a variety of other tumors that also express somatostatin receptors. Increased uptake might also be seen in other non-cancerous pathologic conditions that express somatostatin receptors including thyroid disease or in subacute inflammation, or might occur as a normal physiologic variant (e.g. uncinate process of the pancreas).

A negative scan after the administration of Detectnet in patients who do not have a history of NET disease does not rule out disease.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In clinical trials, adverse reactions occurred at a rate of < 2% and included nausea, vomiting and flushing. In published trials nausea immediately after injection was observed.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Somatostatin Analogs

Non-radioactive somatostatin analogs and copper Cu 64 dotatate competitively bind to somatostatin receptors (SSTR2). Image patients just prior to dosing with somatostatin analogs. For patients on long-acting somatostatin analogs, a wash-out period of 28 days is recommended prior to imaging. For patients on short-acting somatostatin analogs, a washout period of 2 days is recommended prior to imaging.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Pregnancy

All radiopharmaceuticals, including Detectnet, have the potential to cause fetal harm depending on the fetal stage of development and the magnitude of the radiation dose. Advise a pregnant woman of the potential risks of fetal exposure to radiation from administration of Detectnet.

Lactation

Advise a lactating woman to interrupt breastfeeding for 12 hours after Detectnet administration in order to minimize radiation exposure to a breastfed infant.

Pediatric use

The safety and effectiveness of Detectnet have not been established in pediatric patients.

Geriatric use

In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.

OVERDOSAGE

In the event of a radiation overdose, the absorbed dose to the patient should be reduced where possible by increasing the elimination of the radionuclide from the body by reinforced hydration and frequent bladder voiding. A diuretic might also be considered. Please see Full prescribing information by clicking here.

About RadioMedix

RadioMedix, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company, based in Houston, Texas, focused on innovative targeted radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy of cancer. The company is commercializing radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging and therapeutic. For more information about this press release, please contact: media@radiomedix.com

About Curium

Curium is the world's largest nuclear medicine company. We develop, manufacture and distribute world-class radiopharmaceutical products to help patients around the globe. Our proven heritage combined with a pioneering approach are the hallmarks to deliver innovation, excellence and unparalleled service.

With manufacturing facilities across Europe and the United States, Curium delivers SPECT, PET and therapeutic radiopharmaceutical solutions for life-threatening diseases to over 14 million patients annually. The name 'Curium' honors the legacy of pioneering radioactive researchers Marie and Pierre Curie, after whom the radioactive element curium was named and emphasizes our focus on nuclear medicine. To learn more, visit www.curiumpharma.com. For more information about this press release, please contact Janet Ryan, media contact for Curium: janet@ryan-pr.com.

About Neuroendocrine Tumors

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of rare neoplasms that originate from neuroendocrine cells. These neoplasms occur mostly in the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas and liver, but can also occur in other tissues including lung, thymus and other uncommon sites such as cervix, heart and prostate. Most NETs strongly express somatostatin receptors (SSTRs).
Geostationary Program to provide reachback support, enhancing accuracy and intelligence capabilities for the missions

SES Government Solutions (SES GS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES, today announced it was awarded a new USD 35 million geostationary (GEO) satellite communications program contract in support of a major Department of Defense combatant command.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210504006364/en/

SES Government Solutions Wins USD 35 Million Contract to Support Major Combatant Command (Photo: Business Wire)

To provide reachback capabilities from forward-stationed units in remote locations to Europe, the solution includes a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) network which has the performance to support emerging mission needs and is capable of handling smaller, sub-meter, antennas.

The VSAT network provides over 100 Mbps of throughput using multiple access methods, from time division multiple access (TDMA) that is shared sequentially and frequency division multiple access (FDMA) allowing simultaneous transmission, to various types of remote deployments and end-users. The satellite service provides expansive coverage of countries from Turkey to Pakistan, with reachback to Europe, enabling collaborative tools and enhanced situational awareness in a distributed way.

"We are proud to provide satellite communications support for this critical combatant command mission," said President and CEO of SES Government Solutions, Brigadier General Pete Hoene, USAF (retired). "This new program allows personnel to reach out to the tactical edge for fast and dependable real-time data and represents a further extension of our current mission support to warfighters using both GEO and medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite communications capabilities."

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About SES Government Solutions

SES Government Solutions (SES GS) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES, the leader in global content connectivity solutions. SES GS operates under a proxy board allowing them to provide services through contracts with the U.S. Government, including classified work. SES GS is exclusively focused on meeting the satellite communications needs of the U.S. Government. Leveraging more than four decades of experience in the government SATCOM market, SES GS offers robust and secure end-to-end satellite communications solutions. Further information can be found at www.ses-gs.com.

About SES

SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world's only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world's leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES's video network carries over 8,200 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 361 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210504006364/en/

Contacts:

Jon Bennett

Government Affairs, Marketing Communications, SES GS

Tel. +1 703 610 0998

jon.bennett@ses-gs.com
Atlas Mara Limited's Update on Strategic Review and Restructuring Discussions

Key Highlights:

Atlas Mara announces progress in strategic review with regulatory approval of two previously announced transactions.

Extension of Standstill Agreement agreed with creditors to 17 May 2021 in order to provide additional time to complete binding legal agreement relating to restructuring discussions.

TORTOLA, BVI / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / Atlas Mara Limited ("Atlas Mara" or the "Company" and including its subsidiaries, the "Group"), the sub-Saharan African financial services group, hereby provides updates on the strategic review and its discussions with bilateral lenders and certain principal holders of the Group's convertible bonds due 31 December 2020.

The Company remains focused on executing on its strategic review to maximize value for its stakeholders. To date, the Company has announced assets sales in Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, and more recently in Botswana. Having secured regulatory approval for the transactions in Mozambique and Botswana, the Company is now working towards completion of these previously announced transactions. Atlas Mara has also received several indications of interest regarding other assets and continues to assess these options with the aim of realizing value for the best interests of all its stakeholders. The Company will provide any updates to the market in due course.

On 1 April 2021, the Company announced: (i) that it had reached in principle agreement with the majority of its creditors on the key commercial terms for its debt restructuring and (ii) that all of the creditors of the Company and its subsidiary, ABC Holdings Limited ("ABCH"), who entered into the Standstill Agreement announced on 29 December 2020 had agreed to extend the Standstill Agreement until 30 April 2021.

Since that announcement, the Company has substantially agreed the framework terms of the legally binding agreement that will implement the restructuring transaction with the creditors of the Company who have entered into the Standstill Agreement. In parallel, ABCH has also made progress with a majority of its creditors (by principal amount owed) towards agreeing the key commercial terms for the debt restructuring. In recognition of the progress made so far, the creditors of the Company and ABCH who have entered into the Standstill Agreement have agreed to a further extension of the Standstill Agreement until 17 May 2021 to enable parties to finalize the restructuring documentation.

In parallel, the Company continues to engage with the minority creditors that have not signed up to the Standstill Agreement or agreed to the commercial terms of the restructuring in order to encourage them to do so. As noted in previous announcements, TLG and Norsad have filed legal applications against the Company and ABCH respectively. With the support of its creditors, the Company and ABCH continue to robustly contest these applications for the benefit of their creditors as a whole and other stakeholders. In addition, the Company and ABCH consider that the significant levels of support given to them by the vast majority of the Group's creditors in progressing the restructuring discussions and granting a further extension of the Standstill Agreement will support the Company and ABCH in their efforts to contest these actions.

These matters relate to the holding companies only and exclude the Group's operating companies.

Contact Details:

Investors

Kojo Dufu, +1 212 883 4330

Media

Apella Advisors, +44(0) 7818 036 579

Anthony Silverman

About Atlas Mara

Atlas Mara Limited (LON: ATMA) is listed on the London Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.atlasmara.com.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Atlas Mara

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644687/ATLAS-Mara-Limited-Announces-Strategic-Review-and-Restructuring-Discussions
This Definitive Agreement is expected to generate an excess of $47,5M CAD in revenue for Tetra

OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc. ("Tetra" or the "Company") (TSX:TBP)(OTCQB:TBPMF) ( FSE:JAM1 ), a leader in cannabinoid-derived drug discovery and development announced today the signing of a Definitive Agreement with DanCann Pharma A/S (SS: DANCAN) for the exclusive distribution of Reduvo Adversa, QIXLEEF and ENJOUCA in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Germany.

Subject to registration with the European Medicines Agency (EMA), DanCann Pharma will handle the exclusive sales and distribution in the Nordics and Germany for Reduvo Adversa and QIXLEEF, a botanical cannabinoid-derived medicine, as well as Tetra's medicinal cannabis product ENJOUCA.

The Agreement encompasses a sum of upfront and milestone payments of up to $1,5M CAD, and expected cumulative royalties in excess of $46M CAD on DanCann's cumulative sales for Reduvo Adversa, QIXLEEF and ENJOUCA from 2021 to 2028.

According to Guy Chamberland, CEO at Tetra Bio-Pharma: "I am glad that we were able to sign this definitive agreement with DanCann Pharma. Both organizations strongly believe that cannabinoid-derived medicines will help improve the quality of life of patients suffering from pain and chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). We look forward to working with DanCann Pharma in the Nordic Countries and Germany. Both organizations set the bar very high when it comes to delivering impactful therapeutic value medicines to patients. This partnership will strengthen our business model and demonstrates that Tetra keeps delivering on our commitment to shareholders to monetize our assets and transitioning from a pre-revenue biopharma company to an in-revenue biopharma company."

"We have very high expectations for the collaboration with Tetra Bio-Pharma. They have a unique portfolio within the pain management and CINV segments, and we look forward to introducing these lines to our markets. We have mutual expectations for the sales to commence during the first half of 2022. DanCann Pharma estimates reaching peak sales of CAD 67 - 81 million by 2028, depending on the development of the markets" says DanCann Pharma's CCO John Morell Frellsen.

About Tetra's Three Products Covered in This Definitive Agreement:

Reduvo Adversa is a dronabinol administered product through an innovative mucoadhesive-tablet delivery system. It is indicated for the treatment of patients living with CINV as well as those suffering from AIDS-related anorexia associated with weight loss.

The Reduvo Adversa technology will allow DanCann to launch a largely improved version of dronabinol in the Nordic countries and Germany. The clinical benefits are numerous including limited first-pass metabolism leading to an improved bioavailability and consequently to a reduced gastro-intestinal exposure and side-effects. The dosage regimen is likely to become twice a day as opposed to 4 times a day. This new technology signifies important intellectual property.

QIXLEEF is a botanical cannabinoid-derived medicine, anticipated to become the first prescription drug product for this class to be dispensed through pharmacies and prescribed by healthcare professionals. QIXLEEF is inhaled via vaporization through a Health Canada approved class 2 medical device. It is well characterized and will benefit from data protection, once approved by the EMA. The indications for this product are expected to be for advanced cancer pain and breakthrough pain.

Lastly, ENJOUCA is a medicinal cannabis therapeutic option (non-registered) which will help European patients manage their pain.

About DanCann Pharma

DanCann Pharma A/S (DANCAN) was founded in 2018 and is a Danish biopharmaceutical company powered by cannabinoids. DanCann Pharma is a vertically integrated, licensed production and distribution company based in Denmark. The company focuses on discovering, developing, manufacturing, and commercializing new therapeutic cannabinoids in a wide range of disease areas. For more information, visit www.dancann.com.

About Tetra Bio-Pharma

Tetra Bio-Pharma (TSX:TBP)(OTCQB:TBPMF) ( FRA:JAM1 ) is a leader in cannabinoid-derived drug discovery and development with a FDA and a Health Canada cleared clinical program aimed at bringing novel prescription drugs and treatments to patients and their healthcare providers. Our evidence-based scientific approach has enabled us to develop a pipeline of cannabinoid-based drug products for a range of medical conditions, including pain, inflammation, and oncology. With patients at the core of what we do, Tetra Bio-Pharma is focused on providing rigorous scientific validation and safety data required for inclusion into the existing biopharma industry by regulators, physicians and insurance companies.

For more information, visit www.tetrabiopharma.com.

Neither the TSX Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some statements in this release may contain forward-looking information. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding potential acquisitions and financings) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, the inability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to execute the Company's business plan; competition; regulation and anticipated and unanticipated costs and delays, the success of the Company's research and development strategies, including the success of this product or any other product, the applicability of the discoveries made therein, the successful and timely completion and uncertainties related to the regulatory process, the timing of clinical trials, the timing and outcomes of regulatory or intellectual property decisions and other risks disclosed in the Company's public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results or events not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities legislation.

For further information, please contact Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc.:

Tetra Bio-Pharma Inc.

Ms. Natalie Leroux

Phone: + 1 (833) 977-7575

Email: investors@tetrabiopharma.com

media@tetrabiopharma.com

SOURCE: Tetra Bio-Pharma

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644628/Tetra-Bio-Pharma-Signs-a-Definitive-Distribution-Agreement-with-DanCann-Pharma-to-Monetize-Its-Dronabinol-and-Botanical-Product-Portfolios
Tampere is famous for having more public saunas than any other city in Finland. Now Tampere, the self-declared sauna capital of the world wants to be also the European Capital of Culture in 2026.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005424/en/

In sauna we all are equal. That is what we say in Finland." Photo: Laura Vanzo Visit Tampere

Finns say that in a sauna everyone is equal. Tampere26 project has chosen Equality as the main theme of its Culture of Capital year.

Tampere26's application is built around the values of equality, diversity, accessibility and sustainability. The aim is to increase equality through culture, discuss social and environmental issues, increase diversity and togetherness and work on a common European identity.

"Equality has been a fundamental right for citizens of the European Union since its foundation. Tampere26 slogan Equally European is a long-term development project where we invite Europeans to take care of equality, a value that is under threat. We still have a lot to learn on this matter", says Tampere26 Project Director Perttu Pesa.

Finland has a great history regarding equality. It was the first country to grant women full political rights in 1906 and Tampere played a significant role in this process. In 1905 a total of 40,000 people gathered in the central square of Tampere to demand general suffrage.

The cultural program of Tampere26 promises cultural enriching happenings, from massive shows to small-scale events like village fetes in the rural areas of the Tampere Region. 19 municipalities of the region are participating in this project with Tampere.

Moomin on Ice ballet takes place in the brand new Uros Live Arena, a venue for over 13,000 spectators. On the other hand, some activities will happen in the national parks far away from the city.

Tampere26 celebrates the opening of Tampere Art Museum's extension and at the same time dedicates part of the program to the vibrant skateboarding culture. Of course, sauna is included. The program is compiled from over 1000 proposals, and it was developed in cooperation with 150 international partners.

Tampere26's operating budget for the seven-year period (2021-2027) is 53.18 M. The final selection will be made by a panel of European experts on the 2nd of June 2021. They choose between Tampere, Oulu, and Savonlinna.

More information at website: https://tampere26.fi/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005424/en/

Contacts:

Project Director

Perttu Pesa

tel. +358 50 587 6200

email perttu.pesa@tampere.fi
Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) (TSX: NCM) announces that Gerard Bond, the Company's Finance Director and Chief Financial Officer, has decided to retire effective 3 January 2022 when he will mark 10 years in the role.

Mr Bond said, "It has been an honour and privilege to serve as the Finance Director and CFO over the past decade and be part of the transformation of the Company".

"Today, Newcrest has a clear purpose, a clear strategy and an exceptionally strong balance sheet. The Company is well positioned to fund its pipeline of organic growth opportunities and deliver strong returns to shareholders," said Mr Bond.

Newcrest Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sandeep Biswas, thanked Mr Bond for his strong leadership and dedicated service to the Company. "Gerard is the longest serving member of the Newcrest Executive Committee and Board and has materially contributed to Newcrest's success. Gerard has been instrumental in orchestrating the turnaround of Newcrest, across all measures, over his tenure here. I have always valued his leadership, energy and drive for excellence. He has been a great partner to me and an inspiration to many across the organisation. I thank him for his outstanding contribution to Newcrest and, on leaving the Company, wish him every success for the future," said Mr Biswas.

Newcrest Chairman, Peter Hay, also expressed his deep appreciation for Mr Bond's contribution to the Newcrest Board. "Gerard is highly respected by his fellow Directors for his strong and insightful contribution as a Director across the spectrum of matters considered by the Board, and we are grateful that the length of notice he has given us of his retirement will facilitate a smooth transition", said Mr Hay.

The Company will shortly commence a process to select Mr Bond's successor, with both internal and external candidates to be considered for the role.

Authorised by the Newcrest Disclosure Committee

For further information please contact

Investor Enquiries

Tom Dixon

+61 3 9522 5570

+61 450 541 389

Tom.Dixon@newcrest.com.au Ben Lovick

+61 3 9522 5334

+61 407 269 478

Ben.Lovick@newcrest.com.au North American Investor Enquiries

Ryan Skaleskog

+1 866 396 0242

+61 403 435 222

Ryan.Skaleskog@newcrest.com.au Media Enquiries

Tom Dixon

+61 3 9522 5570

+61 450 541 389

Tom.Dixon@newcrest.com.au Annie Lawson

+61 3 9522 5750

+61 409 869 986

Annie.Lawson@newcrest.com.au

This information is available on our website at www.newcrest.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82922
Esbjerg and Paris, 5 May 2021 - Atos and the Port of Esbjerg, one of the largest harbours in Scandinavia, today announced a joint co-innovation project to create a leading Carbon Neutral Harbour with a dedicated ambitious decarbonization solution for their customers. The two parties were matched up through efforts from Invest in Denmark, which is the national investment promotion agency of Denmark under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

The Port of Esbjerg and Atos are collaborating to create a trimodal solution that will contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions in route networks. By calculating carbon footprint according to different transport modes and routes, the harbour aims to be an effective central logistic location, where sea, rail and truck logistic companies will have the opportunity to be proactive in their decarbonization strategies, choosing the mode and the route with the lowest carbon footprint and, at the same time, leveraging cost savings thanks to cooperation with the port.

Atos will provide the Port of Esbjerg an integrated and end-to-end IoT solution with technology features based on smart high-performance data analytics with built-in AI components such as machine learning and neural networks. With intelligent selection due to AI, the trimodal solution will incorporate all cargo requests into one digital analytical platform, including available routes and it will calculate carbon footprint according to the different transport mode and route. In this way, the solution will enable companies to select the best mode and route with the lowest carbon footprint, taking into account time and cost.

"The Danish government has its eyes fixed on how we can push the green agenda forward and reduce the carbon footprint through public-private cooperation. This collaboration holds the potential to make a huge difference for Europe's leading port for shipping of offshore wind turbines. At the same time, it will bring green jobs to Denmark. I hope this combination of green transition and sustainable business will serve as inspiration for other ports across Europe", said Jeppe Kofod, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

"Having a weighted approach to the various transport modes and route possibilities is an important challenge in reducing the carbon footprint whilst at the same time considering hinterland, port and sea in the planning", said Dennis Jul Pedersen, CEO of the Port of Esbjerg."The trimodal solution in partnership with Atos will be instrumental in achieving carbon neutrality for the Port of Esbjerg and with an integrated system across the available transport networks in Europe it will also grant better transparency on transport modes and save costs."

"With Denmark set to reduce emissions to 70% of its 1990 carbon levels by 2030, we are proud to be working in collaboration with the Port of Esbjerg to build a sustainable future for Denmark. As a worldwide leader in secure and decarbonized digital with a set ambition to reach net zero by 2028, Atos takes pride in leveraging its unique know-how in industry to support and shape its clients' decarbonization priorities. We focus on carbon reduction to improve efficiencies, reduce costs and drive innovation to achieve success", said Claus Larsen, Head of Atos in Denmark.

Atos, with a total R&D investment of about 250 million a year and more than 15 R&D centers worldwide, has made cutting-edge innovation a top priority. The Group aims to pioneer secure and decarbonized solutions that provide value to society. As part of its mission, Atos set its own ambitious to reach Net Zero emissions as early as 2028 and developed a unique end-to-end portfolio to support its clients on their decarbonization journey.

***

About Invest in Denmark

Invest in Denmark, part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, is a customised one-stop service for foreign companies looking to set up business or research activities in Denmark.

Located in central hot spots in Denmark and around the world, the specialised staff of Invest in Denmark has the corporate background, industry insight and well-connected networks to advise companies on every aspect of locating in Denmark.

Invest in Denmark provides tailor-made solutions including connecting companies with key local contacts, arranging fact-finding tours and providing comprehensive benchmark analyses.

The aim of Invest in Denmark is to contribute to foreign businesses looking to establish a business in Denmark and collaborate with one of Europe's most skilled talent pools.

Press Contact: Nicholas Enersen, Market Director Europe at Invest in Denmark, nicene@um.dk



About the Port of Esbjerg

The Port of Esbjerg is Denmark's largest port on the North Sea. It is the primary service and supply port to the Danish oil and gas industry and a Northern European hub for cargo, especially RoRo-transport, i.e. wheeled cargo that is driven on and off vessels.

The Port of Esbjerg is the European market leader when it comes to handling and shipping out wind power. More than 4/5 of the offshore wind capacity installed in Europe was shipped out from the port.

The Port of Esbjerg is home to more than 200 companies, which together employ more than 10,000 people. The companies represent the entire supply chain within the offshore and energy industries.

About Atos

Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 105,000 employees and annual revenue of over  11 billion. European number one in cybersecurity, cloud and high performance computing, the Group provides tailored end-to-end solutions for all industries in 71 countries. A pioneer in decarbonization services and products, Atos is committed to a secure and decarbonized digital for its clients. Atos operates under the brands Atos and Atos|Syntel. Atos is a SEis to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

Press contact: Marion Delmas | marion.delmas@atos.net | +33 6 37 63 91 99

Attachment
VoltaFinanceLimited (VTA/VTAS)

Notification of transactions by directors, persons discharging managerial

responsibilities and persons closely associated with them

NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES

*****

Guernsey,5 May 2021

Pursuant to the announcements made on 5 April 2019 and 26 June 2020 relating to changes to the payment of directors fees, Volta Finance Limited (the "Company" or "Volta") has today purchased 3,495 ordinary shares of no par value in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") at an average price of 6.06 per share.

Each director receives 30% of his Director's fees for any year in the form of shares, which they are required to retain for a period of no less than one year from their respective date of issue.

The shares will be issued to the Directors, who for the purposes of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on Market Abuse ("MAR") are "persons discharging managerial responsibilities" (a "PDMR")

Paul Meader, Chairman and a PDMR for the purposes of MAR, acquired 1,059 additional Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Mr Meader & persons closely associated with Mr Meader will have an interest in 44,015 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.12% of the issued shares of the Company;





Paul Varotsis, Director and a PDMR for the purposes of MAR, acquired 742 additional Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Mr Varotsis will have an interest in 209,923 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.57% of the issued shares of the Company;





Steve Le Page, Director and a PDMR for the purposes of MAR, acquired 900 additional Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Mr Le Page will have an interest in 38,153 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.10% of the issued shares of the Company;





Graham Harrison, Director and a PDMR for the purposes of MAR, acquired 794 additional Ordinary Shares in the Company. Following the settlement of this transaction, Mr Harrison will have an interest in 21,787 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.06% of the issued shares of the Company;





The notifications below, made in accordance with the requirements of MAR, provide further detail in relation to the above transactions:

Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a)

Paul Meader

Chairman and Director b)

Paul Varotsis

Director c)

Steve Le Page

Director d)

Graham Harrison

Director 2 Reason for the notification (a) Position/status



Director (b) Initial notification/Amendment



Initial notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor (a) Name



Volta Finance Limited (b) LEI



2138004N6QDNAZ2V3W80 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted (a) Description of financial instrument, type of instrument

Identification code Ordinary Shares







GB00B1GHHH78 (b) Nature of the transaction



Purchase and allocation of Ordinary Shares relation to the part-payment of Directors' fees for the quarter ended 30 April 2021



(c)



Price(s) and volume(s)







Price(s) Volume(s) 6.06 Total 3,495



(d)

Aggregate information











Aggregated volume



Price a)

Paul Meader

Chairman and Director







1,059











6.06 b)

Paul Varotsis

Director











742











6.06 c)

Steve Le Page

Director











900











6.06 d)

Graham Harrison

Director











794











6.06 (e) Date of transaction 5 May 2021 (f) Place of transaction On-market - London

CONTACTS

For the Investment Manager

AXA Investment Managers Paris

Serge Demay

serge.demay@axa-im.com

+33 (0) 1 44 45 84 47

Company Secretary and Administrator

BNP Paribas Securities Services S.C.A, Guernsey Branch

guernsey.bp2s.volta.cosec@bnpparibas.com

+44 (0) 1481 750 853

Corporate Broker

Cenkos Securities plc

Andrew Worne

Daniel Balabanoff

Will Talkington+44 (0) 20 7397 8900

*****

ABOUT VOLTA FINANCE LIMITED

Volta Finance Limited is incorporated in Guernsey under The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities. Volta's home member state for the purposes of the EU Transparency Directive is the Netherlands. As such, Volta is subject to regulation and supervision by the AFM, being the regulator for financial markets in the Netherlands.

Volta's investment objectives are to preserve capital across the credit cycle and to provide a stable stream of income to its shareholders through dividends. Volta seeks to attain its investment objectives predominantly through diversified investments in structured finance assets. The assets that the Company may invest in either directly or indirectly include, but are not limited to: corporate credits; sovereign and quasi-sovereign debt; residential mortgage loans; and, automobile loans. The Company's approach to investment is through vehicles and arrangements that essentially provide leveraged exposure to portfolios of such underlying assets. The Company has appointed AXA Investment Managers Paris an investment management company with a division specialised in structured credit, for the investment management of all its assets.

*****

ABOUT AXA INVESTMENT MANAGERS

AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a multi-expert asset management company within the AXA Group, a global leader in financial protection and wealth management. AXA IM is one of the largest European-based asset managers with 679 investment professionals and 858 billion in assets under management as of the end of December 2020.

*****

This press release is for information only and does not constitute an invitation or inducement to acquire shares in Volta Finance. Its circulation may be prohibited in certain jurisdictions and no recipient may circulate copies of this document in breach of such limitations or restrictions. This document is not an offer for sale of the securities referred to herein in the United States or to persons who are "U.S. persons" for purposes of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or otherwise in circumstances where such offer would be restricted by applicable law. Such securities may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration from the Securities Act. The company does not intend to register any portion of the offer of such securities in the United States or to conduct a public offering of such securities in the United States.

*****

This communication is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The securities referred to herein are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.

*****
A global reach, one exclusive member per country and an approach that offers more than legal advice are main drivers and benefits

unyer is a game changer and addresses client's needs in drastically changing markets

unyer's members share a compelling industry focus and closeness and will advise in all matters across all jurisdictions

Founding members Luther and Fidal share a similar fit and approach and expect new members to match this

COLOGNE, GERMANY and PARIS, FRANCE / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH (Luther) and FIDAL (Fidal) are today announcing the foundation of unyer, a new global organisation. Fidal and Luther plan to expand their international reach by forming a branded organisation of leading international professional services firms. Luther and Fidal, both leading independent law firms in Germany and France respectively, are joining forces as founding partners and are thus taking the next step in their strategic development. unyer has a global reach, one exclusive member per country and provides much more than legal services.

unyer is unique. With a global platform, shared culture and a full-service offer, unyer will meet the expectations of new members that will remain independent in their jurisdictions while globally connected through unyer. This organisation is already made up of more than 2,000 lawyers and professionals in more than 10 countries across Europe and Asia and has a turnover of more than EUR 500 million. unyer's strategy is to expand into the top 20 economies worldwide in the coming years.

A global approach and connectivity with strong local expertise in major markets and regions will increasingly become pivotal in decision making. unyer is the perfect answer to this megatrend. The members of unyer will have the capabilities to perform high-value legal work in an increasingly complex environment, stemming from cross-border flows of money to the proper use of ideas or innovation or the structuring of international transactions in various fields of today's economies.

"Today, we are very proud to be announcing the foundation of a truly unique global organisation: unyer." says Christine Blaise-Engel, CEO of unyer and Senior Partner at Fidal, and continues: "We believe that with our new organisation and approach we are fulfilling all our client's requirements in a drastically changing environment. With unyer we can provide all services in all jurisdictions, legal and beyond."

Dr Markus Sengpiel, member of the unyer Executive Committee and Co-Managing Partner at Luther, adds: "Our strongest motivation in creating unyer was a broader internationality and exclusivity, which other organisations do not have to the same extent. By adding scale, a compelling industry focus and a distinctive innovative power we are now forming a game changer. And we are open for new members if they have a similar fit and approach."

unyer is a game changer

Clients' needs in the international market are changing rapidly and significantly. unyer accompanies clients as a pioneer, offering complementary and scalable services and tools, e.g. in legal tech or other innovative solutions. This will shape future markets - in respect of professional services and also with regard to clients' international success. unyer combines the professional skills of highly experienced lawyers together with a broad range of advisors in other practice areas - the members of unyer are strategists and innovators. They anticipate and adapt to the needs of the market. unyer reflects the desire to set new standards for international professional services firms and shows a new way of perceiving business advisory practice.

unyer is the only organisation worldwide that will admit only one member from each jurisdiction - on an exclusive basis. New member firms will have a full-service offering and a strong industry focus. With these very clear criteria for its members, unyer will offer a significantly higher degree of identification and is therefore well positioned to compete with large global law firms. unyer's clients will benefit from the knowledge and leading position of unyer's members in their respective countries.

A compelling industry focus

unyer's industry mindset reflects the needs of an industry focused market. Luther and Fidal have significant ties in their respective industries, based on the geographical spread of strong and well-established offices nationwide that are closely connected to the business networks. unyer anticipates the changes of markets and industries and incorporates megatrends in the solutions proposed to its clients and can therefore better orientate them in the changing demands of the markets.

unyer's members advise in all matters across all jurisdictions. Together, they seamlessly manage their client's full-service needs and build a leading global organisation for the next generation and beyond. This allows unyer to offer its clients the most notable benefit: the best possible solutions with a one-stop approach under an international overarching brand.

A perfect fit

Fidal and Luther as founding partners have much in common, share the same vision and values and have a very similar hands-on approach. Both operate alike, being full-service firms with multiple decentralised offices and in close proximity to their clients. Both are powerful players in their respective markets. Both are innovative and offer tailor-made solutions for a global client base. Both have strong brands and have similar industry expertise and focus; both know how a global organisation operates.

unyer intends to attract new members, which will be considered if they have a similar fit and culture, pragmatic approach, and strong position and reputation in their respective markets. The organisation is not only open to law firms across the globe, but is also promoting other professional services, especially innovative legal tech. A Swiss Verein is the umbrella for each member firm, which will retain their separate legal status and branding in their respective local markets.

unyer is taking the first step in creating a new global player.

About unyer

unyer, founded by Luther and Fidal in 2021, is a global organisation of leading international professional services firms. Besides law firms, unyer is also open to other related professional services, especially from the legal tech sector. unyer is based in Zurich as a Swiss Verein. unyer is globally connected but has strong local roots in their respective markets. unyer has an exclusive approach and only accepts one member firm from each market. unyer offers their clients full services across all jurisdictions with a compelling industry focus. Currently the organisation has a total revenue of more than EUR 500 million and comprises over 2,000 lawyers and professionals in more than 10 countries across Europe and Asia. www.unyer.com

About Fidal

Fidal, an independent French law firm, has been a benchmark in the business world since 1922. We strive to use the law as a driving force to bring value-added to benefit economic players and our regions. Convinced that beyond exigency and technical expertise, it is the audacity and personality of our lawyers which makes the difference, we are committed to building lasting relationships, based on trust, transparency and mutual respect. Our distinctive organisation enables us to exercise our profession in a unique way, working closely with our clients and their challenges, in France and internationally. The firm draws on the expertise of its 1300 lawyers located in 90 offices across France. Fidal is a member of the WTS Global tax network. Fidal was named "Law Firm of the Year" and "French Law Firm of the Year" by the Monde du Droit in 2020. www.fidal.com

About Luther

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH is a leading German commercial law firm that offers comprehensive legal and tax advice. The full-service law firm employs over 420 lawyers and tax advisors and is represented in ten German economic hubs as well as with ten of its own international offices in key investment locations and financial centres in Europe and Asia. Its clients include medium-sized enterprises and large corporations, as well as the public sector. Luther is a law firm with a business approach: their innovative awareness aspires them to provide their clients with customised legal advice that addresses individual needs and delivers the greatest possible economic benefit. All of Luther's lawyers and tax advisers have a solid understanding of interdisciplinary matters and a wealth of experience in collaborating on complex tasks. Luther was named "Law Firm of the Year 2019" by the German legal publisher JUVE. Further information is available at: www.luther-lawfirm.com

Press Contact

Germany France

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH FIDAL

Saskia Leininger Alexandra Niare

saskia.leininger@luther-lawfirm.com alexandra.niare@fidal.com

T +49 221 9937 24679 T +33 7 87 95 32 30

SOURCE: Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644688/Luther-and-Fidal-are-Founding-Unyer--A-New-Global-Organisation-of-Leading-International-Professional-Services-Firms
Traditional BI is being enhanced with automated business monitoring to lower costs and improve customer experience

LONDON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In Business Reporter, David Drai, a founder of AI analytics startup Anodot, explains how machine learning (ML) is transforming the way financial service companies monitor their business and how this technology is poised to change the banking industry.

Teams tasked with monitoring data typically rely on dashboards and static thresholds - manually set for each KPI - to identify anomalies across the business. While this may work well enough for hardware-related KPIs, static thresholds prove far too fixed to accommodate the dynamic behavioral patterns of business metrics. An unusual slowing of a rise in revenue may not trigger an alert because it falls within fixed thresholds.

Monitoring customer experience is particularly challenging. Without automation, banks struggle to monitor their large customer bases and millions of daily usage events.

ML-driven monitoring can track millions of business metrics autonomously and in real time. Algorithms continuously perform granular, rapid analysis of every individual customer account, to extract valuable insights into their behaviour. From there, banks can automatically respond with targeted offers and messaging that enhance customer experience, to reduce churn and more effectively cross-sell. ML models are trained to improve over time, providing more accurate insights and more timely alerts.

Faster insights help to accelerate incident management. Companies using Autonomous Business Monitoring saw YoY time to detection drop by as much as 80 percent and YoY incident costs decrease up to 70 percent.

To learn more about Autonomous Business Monitoring, read the article and watch the video.

About Business Reporter

Business Reporter is an award-winning supplement published in the Sunday and Daily Telegraph, City AM and online, delivering news and analysis on issues affecting businesses to a global audience. It also hosts conferences, debates, breakfast meetings and exclusive summits.

www.business-reporter.co.uk

About Anodot

Anodot Autonomous Business Monitoring is a machine learning platform that analyzes every metric in your business data to find the incidents that threaten customer experience and revenue. Their real-time alerts present anomalies in context, helping teams reduce time to remediation and prevent revenue loss. The analytics world is taking notice: Forbes and CRN recently named Anodot a top machine learning startup to watch.

Learn more about Anodot Autonomous Business Monitoring.
Launch of new-to-market testing kits for pharmacies will reduce complexity of current medical cannabis preparation process

Materia will have the exclusive right to sell the products across its existing national pharmacy network, as well as into new pharmacy and wholesale customers

LONDON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Materia, a medical cannabis and wellness company focused on the European market, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Materia Deutschland GmbH ("Materia Deutschland") has entered into a partnership with German diagnostics company Saxonia Diagnostics GmbH ("Saxonia Diagnostics") for the exclusive distribution of its branded cannabis testing products across Germany.

These products, which will be sold under the CannaFix-ID brand, offer a highly efficient alternative to cannabis dispensing pharmacies, which are required under German regulations to test medical cannabis due to its status as a magisterial preparation. The innovative technology is expected to ease the cumbersome process by which cannabis products are currently tested in Germany.

"The German DAB monograph requires pharmacies to test products with the time-consuming, often expensive thin layer chromatography or an otherwise comparable method. This is often a barrier for broad adoption of medical cannabis by pharmacies. The CannaFix-ID portfolio represents an exciting alternative that is qualified as a comparable method. This makes testing for pharmacies much easier and more economical," said Sebastian Blote, Managing Director of Materia Deutschland. "We are happy to be working with Saxonia, whose team has deep pharmaceutical expertise, especially in the area of medical cannabis. Their vision of offering convenient and efficient solutions to pharmacies is perfectly aligned with our own."

The first product to be made available under the partnership will be a validated THC test kit that can be used for flower, extracts and dronabinol. The second will offer both THC & CBD testing of flower and extracts. Both tests have been successfully validated for a bundle of different medical cannabis products.

"The comprehensive validation with an easy-to-use approach is an essential prerequisite to overcome hurdles for the broader dispensing of medical cannabis", said Michael Pfeffer, Managing Director of Saxonia Diagnostics.

The products have been developed, validated and tested in Germany. The official market launch into German pharmacies is planned for May 2021.

About Materia

Materia's vision is to be the enabler of global cannabis access. Materia is developing a robust pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution ecosystem to grow the legal cannabinoid market across Europe. With its research-driven team and regulatory expertise, Materia focuses on the high-margin downstream activities of processing, formulation and distribution into markets wherever there is a patient in need of cannabis medicine or CBD consumers seeking innovative new products.

About Saxonia

Saxonia Diagnostics was founded with the deep conviction to radically simplify the testing of medicinal cannabis through offering validated and best in class solutions for pharmacies. As an independent diagnostics company, Saxonia Diagnostics can offer solutions for all available medicinal cannabis products such as flowers, extracts and dronabinol within the German market.
LISBON, Portugal, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The wealth and uniqueness of century-old Portuguese companies guide the Portuguese Trade and Investment Agency's (AICEP) MADE IN PORTUGAL naturally campaign, which seeks to affirm the country's home and construction excellence materials cluster.

There are more than 200 companies that are more than 100 years old in Portugal. Most are family-run and retain the know-how while investing in innovation and excellence. These competitive factors characterise the MADE IN PORTUGALnaturally brand.

AICEP CEO Luis Castro Henriques says: "With many century-old companies, Portugal is a country combining tradition and experience with a vision of the future leveraged on the boldness of new generations. This new generation contributes towards the recognition of a country in which design and innovation assume particular importance and an evolution in which the research and development of new processes and methods are fundamental."

Portuguese excellence is recognised and appreciated by many international creators, architects and designers seeking out Portuguese companies for their authenticity, know-how, and quality.

Sampedro (1921), a trusted brand in the international home textile markets that produces bed, table and bath linen.

Herdmar (1911) is one of the world's major cutlery producers focusing on a democratic design philosophy in which cutlery is a fashionable complement to the table.

ACH Brito (1918), a soap and fragrances company that combines the tradition and elegance of the past with the best of modern technology.

Vasicol (1900), a ceramic producer that has grown through its continuous investment in innovation and design.

Technological capacity and many years' experience are the trademarks of A Metalurgica (1826), a manufacturer of baked and pastry products.

Specialising in the manufacture of chairs and other furniture, Adico (1920) is a family company that focuses on Portuguese design.

Innovation, technology, and design are the hallmarks of Cifial's (1904) bathroom and kitchen products (taps and sanitary ware) that are renowned internationally for their quality.

CIN (1917) is today the largest Iberian manufacturer - and one of the largest in Europe - of paints and varnishes, a leadership that is the fruit of experience, knowledge, innovation and a commitment to sustainability.

These and other companies can be found in the 360 Virtual Showroom and in the catalogue at www.portugalnaturally.pt.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503364/Made_In_Portugal.jpg
BOSTON and MONTREAL, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American Tower Corporation (NYSE: AMT) and Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), a global investment group, today announced that CDPQ will acquire a 30% stake in ATC Europe as part of a new long-term strategic partnership through a transaction valued at over 1.6 billion, implying an enterprise value of more than 8.8 billion for ATC Europe. Pursuant to the partnership agreement, American Tower will retain managerial and operational control, as well as day-to-day oversight of ATC Europe, while CDPQ will obtain seats on ATC Europe's Board of Directors, along with certain governance rights.

The transaction will position American Tower and CDPQ to jointly benefit from sustainable, long-term secular wireless growth trends in select European markets as 5G deployments and demand for communications infrastructure accelerate. ATC Europe's portfolio, pro forma for the closing of American Tower's pending Telxius acquisition, will consist of nearly 30,000 communications sites.

Tom Bartlett, American Tower's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are pleased to partner with CDPQ in Europe, where we expect to create tremendous value. CDPQ's extensive infrastructure experience, deep knowledge of the region and long-term investment philosophy are in close alignment with American Tower's European strategy, operational excellence and long track record of historical success. This transaction not only contributes to the funding of our pending Telxius acquisition, which will transform our scale and leadership position in highly attractive markets like Germany and Spain, but also creates a solid, adaptable framework through which future expansion opportunities can be evaluated and financed."

Emmanuel Jaclot, CDPQ's Executive Vice-President and Head of Infrastructure, said, "Through this new long-term strategic partnership with American Tower, CDPQ is thrilled to play an active role in establishing one of Europe's largest independent communications infrastructure providers. This dedicated growth platform with a global leader enables us to increase our exposure in key European markets - including Germany, France and Spain - while contributing to the development of critical carrier-neutral telecom networks, at a time where telecommunications needs are more important than ever."

BofA Securities, Inc. and CDX Advisors are serving as financial advisors to American Tower. HSBC is serving as financial advisor to CDPQ. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

About American Tower

American Tower, one of the largest global REITs, is a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications real estate with a portfolio of approximately 187,000 communications sites. For more information about American Tower, please visit the "Earnings Materials" and "Investor Presentations" sections of our investor relations website at www.americantower.com .

About CDPQ

At Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), we invest constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public retirement and insurance plans, we work alongside our partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. We are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at December 31, 2020, CDPQ's net assets total CAD 365.5 billion. For more information, visit cdpq.com, follow us on Twitter or consult our Facebook or LinkedIn pages.

Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements about future events and expectations, or "forward-looking statements," all of which are inherently uncertain. We have based those forward-looking statements on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed closing of the transaction described above and the value and future investment activities of ATC Europe. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the information contained in Item 1A of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 under the caption "Risk Factors" and in other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances.

CONTACT: ATC, Igor Khislavsky, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1 617 375-7500, investor.relations@americantower.com; CDPQ, Conrad Harrington, Senior Director - International Media Relations, + 1 514 847-5493, charrington@cdpq.com




Original-Research: Eloro Resources Ltd. - von Sphene Capital GmbH

Einstufung von Sphene Capital GmbH zu Eloro Resources Ltd.

Unternehmen: Eloro Resources Ltd.

ISIN: CA2899003008



Anlass der Studie: Update Report

Empfehlung: Buy

seit: 05.05.2021

Kursziel: CAD 15,80 (unverandert)

Kursziel auf Sicht von: 24 Monate

Letzte Ratinganderung: -

Analyst: Peter Thilo Hasler



Major Mineralized Zone Outlined in the Central Breccia Pipe

After publication of the first drill results from the Central Breccia Pipe of Eloro Resources' silver-tin polymetallic Iska Iska project, we are reiterating our Buy rating for Eloro Resources and our fully diluted price target of CAD 15.80 per share. Our price target is derived from an in-situ valuation of Iska Iska's Santa Barbara Breccia Pipe, for which significant drill results have already been disclosed and for which we calculated a NAV estimate of CAD 1,476.5 million. We applied a 0.8x multiple to our net asset value per share estimate to arrive at our target price of CAD 15.80 per share. Other assets (among them the Central Breccia Pipe) were not included in our valuation, for we prefer to await further testing of the target. Therefore, we like to highlight again that the recent pullback in the company's stock price could be an excellent entry point for investors, as Eloro Resources is now ideally positioned, in our view, to aggressively advance its current portfolio of development projects. Should the company be able to make a discovery and eventually delineate a mineral resource at its flagship project Iska Iska in the prolific Southern Mineral Belt of Bolivia, we believe the share price could quickly re-rate towards our price target.



Eloro Resources began drilling in the Central Breccia Pipe (CBP) and intersected a broad 483m wide mineralized zone. The highest-grade interval returned 196 g Ag eq/t over 27.5m. 19 intersections were greater than 31 g Ag eq/t, representing 61% of the overall mineralized interval. According to the geologists, the intersection appears to be the top of a very extensive mineralized zone in the Central Breccia Pipe that may be as thick as 500m. With a final length of 1,019m, one of the holes is the longest drilled at Iska Iska so far, reflecting the remarkable size of the mineralized system in the CBP. The target area for mineralization in the Santa Barbara Breccia Pipe (SBBP) and CBP is now more than 1km long and at least 800m wide with mineralization open in all directions. All of the holes drilled to date have encountered mineralization.



Leduc Drilling, Eloro's contractor responsible for drilling, has mobilized a high-capacity underground drill to Iska Iska, which is capable of drilling up to 600m long underground drill holes. The drill is currently being setup at the west end of the Huayra Kasa underground workings to test underneath the Santa Barbara adit where a recent continuous channel sample returned 442 g Ag eq/t. An additional surface drill will be mobilized to test the Porco target, located in the southern part of the Iska Iska Caldera Complex.



Die vollstandige Analyse konnen Sie hier downloaden:

http://www.more-ir.de/d/22403.pdf



Kontakt fur Ruckfragen

Peter Thilo Hasler, CEFA

+49 (89) 74443558/ +49 (152) 31764553

peter-thilo.hasler@sphene-capital.de



ubermittelt durch die EQS Group AG.

Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung bzw. Research ist alleine der Herausgeber bzw. Ersteller der Studie verantwortlich. Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss bestimmter Borsengeschafte.




PERTH, Australia, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MiX Telematics has joined with the road safety leader Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) to promote road safety initiatives across our nation.

"With the launch of this year's National Road Safety Week only weeks away, there could not be a better time to talk about how MiX Telematics' solutions can provide a significantly positive impact to reducing death and serious injuries on our roads and highways," said Peter Frazer, SARAH President.

"Road Safety is at the core of our being at MiX and we are pleased to enter into this exciting new partnership, which aligns with our purpose in delivering meaningful information to our customers that creates safer roads, a cleaner planet and improved efficiencies. National Road Safety Week is an excellent platform providing a national focus on the pivotal topic of road safety, something that our Australian and New Zealand team and customers care deeply about. It further resonates on a global scale to our greater team and customer base, aligning with the UN Global Road Safety week initiative taking place at the same time," says Brodie von Berg, Managing Director MiX Telematics Middle East and Australasia.

Peter adds: "The fundamental purpose of both organisations is to ensure that we get everyone home safe to their loved ones, every day, with no exceptions! Because the promotion of road safety is at the heart of everything we do, SARAH could not be prouder of the alignment of our two organisations as we work together! And as both SARAH and MiX Telematics have local and global footprints, we anticipate that our work together can also influence road safety outcomes globally."

Background Information

Safer Australian Roads and Highways (SARAH) works cooperatively with road safety stakeholders at local, state, national and international levels to:

foster improved road safety awareness and responsibility by drivers;

ensure road policy focuses on harm elimination/ minimisation; and

demonstrate solidarity and support for those affected by road tragedy.

National Road Safety Week, an annual initiative of SARAH, is also aligned with and has been an event of the biennial United Nations Global Road Safety Week. In 2017, National Road Safety Week through the Commonwealth Government, was the host for the launch of United Nations Global Road Safety Week (Western Pacific).

The 2021 launch of National Road Safety Week, will be held in Adelaide and will be supported by the South Australian Government, with Hon Vincent Tarzia MP, Minister for Police and Emergency Services as this year's host.

In joining with SARAH to improve Australia's road safety, MiX Telematics has also become a major business supporter of Safer Australian Roads and Highways, and joins SARAH's other major supporters including SG Fleet Australian Trucking Association, 3MAustralia, as well as its Principal Partners, Altus Traffic Australia, Australian Automobile Association, Ennis Flint Asia-Pacific, Roads Australia and Volvo Cars Australia.

National Road Safety Week was created by Safer Australian Roads and Highways and is supported by the Commonwealth as well as all State and Territory jurisdictions.

For More Information

MiX Telematics is a leading global provider of?fleet?and mobile asset management solutions delivered as SaaS to more than three-quarter of a million subscribers in over 120 countries. The company's products and services provide?enterprise fleets, small fleets and consumers with solutions for efficiency, safety, compliance and security. MiX Telematics was founded in 1996?and has offices in South Africa,?the United Kingdom, the United States,?Uganda, Brazil, Mexico, Australia and the United Arab Emirates as well as a network of more than 130 fleet partners worldwide. MiX Telematics shares are publicly traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: MIX) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MIXT).

For more information on MiX Telematics go to: https://www.mixtelematics.com.au/

For more information on National Road Safety Week 2021 go to:

https://roadsafetyweek.com.au/

For more information on Safer Australian Roads and Highways go to:

https://www.sarahgroup.org/

SARAH Contact:

Peter Frazer

0466 968700 (m)

MiX Telematics Contact:

Saphia Verdiglione

0427 700426 (m)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Tracesafe Inc. (CSE: TSF) ("TraceSafe"), a global leader in wearable safety tech and connected workforce solutions, including large-scale venue management and asset tracking, announced today a two-year wearable technology agreement with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines on-board their fleet of cruise ships.

As Fred. Olsen Cruise lines returns to cruising, TraceSafe is proud to support the cruise line's health and safety protocols for guests and crew. The partnership will see TraceSafe's intelligent wearable technology initially deployed on three of Fred. Olsen's ships: Borealis, Balmoral, and Bolette. With over 15 million contacts per day, TraceSafe's cloud processing can facilitate contact tracing for even the world's largest enterprise - and its unique wearables are built with low energy connectivity, making them a perfect choice for environments such as cruise lines.

"By partnering with TraceSafe, we are able to ensure our guests have the safest possible return to cruising. This investment in innovative technology also ensures we continue to enhance the future of cruise safety for our guests," notes Damon Impett, Director of IT with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

"We are excited to be working collaboratively with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines to deploy our health & safety technology. Our solution is uniquely designed to meet even the most complex of guidelines, such as contact tracing 15 minutes accumulative in any 24 hour period," said Susanne MacKillop, Vice President Sales at TraceSafe. "Our goal is to provide seamless guest experiences -- all while meeting the health and safety requirements needed for cruise lines as they return to sailing."

Founded in 1848, the cruise line today employs more than 2000 people from around the globe, offering smaller, intimately-sized cruise holidays. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has always been committed to delivering a safe cruising experience aboard their ships, and this is reflected in this commitment to delivering safe guest experiences aboard their ships with a wearable technology agreement with TraceSafe. Over 150 years later, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines operate cruises with their guest's safety and comfort always in mind. TraceSafe and Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines look forward to the future of their partnership over the next two years - as they work together to innovate and enhance the guest experience and safety.

About TraceSafe

TraceSafe is a full suite of real-time location management services and contact tracing solutions enabled through advanced low-power Bluetooth beacons and enterprise cloud management. TraceSafe's leading cloud management solution ensures both user privacy and comprehensive administrative control. TraceSafe's patented contact tracing bracelet has already been deployed in mission-critical quarantine applications around the world in partnership with leading governments. In addition to their government work, TraceSafe is developing leading-edge solutions for Enterprise, Healthcare, Education, Government, and large-scale venue management.

For further information, please contact:

Wayne Lloyd, CEO

+1 (604) 629-9975

wayne@tracesafe.io



Emily Graham, CFO

+1 (604) 356-8111

emily@tracesafe.io

The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Statements in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on TraceSafe's expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates, including with respect to expectations regarding the TraceSafe assets and their application, future business plans and relationships, future developments in respect of COVID-19 and solutions adopted in response to the virus, and the deployment and acceptance of the TraceSafe technology. Although TraceSafe believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict, including the suitability of our products to help businesses and governments reopen, competition, the spread or containment of COVID-19 and government responses thereto and general economic and market conditions. Therefore, outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and TraceSafe undertakes no obligation to update them publicly to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances unless otherwise required to do so by law.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82901.


BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks rose sharply on Wednesday after data showed Eurozone private sector growth continued for second consecutive month as manufacturing and services industries expanded.



The IHS Markit composite purchasing managers' index rose to 53.8 in April from 53.2 in March. That was slightly stronger than a preliminary reading of 53.7.



Sentiment was also underpinned after U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen downplayed earlier comments that rate hikes may be needed to stop the economy overheating.



The pan European Stoxx 600 rallied 1.4 percent to 439.56 after losing 1.4 percent on Tuesday. The German DAX climbed 1.4 percent, France's CAC 40 index gained 1 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 added 1.2 percent.



Tech stocks rebounded, with AMS climbing 5.4 percent and Infineon Technologies rising 2 percent.



German logistics company Deutsche Post jumped nearly 4 percent after lifting its operating profit forecast for 2021.



Daimler dropped 2.2 percent after Nissan Motor decided to sell all 1.54 percent of shares in the German carmaker owned by Renault Motors in France.



Fashion house Hugo Boss surged 5.3 percent. The company expects to double sales and remains optimistic of generating a positive EBIT in the second quarter.



Delivery Hero tumbled 3.8 percent after former owners of Woowa Brothers sold shares worth about 1.25 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in the online food ordering company.



Rio Tinto, BHP Group, Glencore and Anglo American jumped 3-4 percent in London as copper prices rose past a key psychological level of $10,000 a ton, supported by prospects for higher demand.



Total SE rallied 2.2 percent, BP Plc gained 1.3 percent and Royal Dutch Shell added 0.9 percent as oil extended an overnight rally.



McBride shares plunged 20 percent as the cleaning product supplier McBride downgraded its annual earnings guidance, citing rising input costs and weaker sales.



Resource management firm Veolia Environnement was fluctuating, giving up initial gains. The French company said it is ahead of 2021 objectives and plans to recover the pre-crisis dividend policy in 2021.



Danish wind turbine company Vestas Wind Systems soared 8 percent after narrowing its Q1 loss and maintaining FY21 views.



Shipping company Maersk climbed 3.6 percent after it booked record earnings in the first quarter.



Stellantis NV, the new auto group formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group, rallied 2.8 percent after reporting better-than-expected quarterly revenue.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Heliostar Metals Limited (TSXV: HSTR) (OTCQX: HSTXF) (FSE: RGG1) ("Heliostar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated April 8, 2021 and April 14, 2021, it has closed its marketed private placement offering of 5,348,616 units (the "Units") at a price of $1.05 per Unit for gross proceeds of $5,616,047 (the "Offering"). As previously announced, the Offering was made pursuant to an agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp., as lead agent, on behalf of a syndicate of agents including Sprott Capital Partners LP. Haywood Securities Inc. and Agentis Capital (collectively, the "Agents").

Each Unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable for one Common Share at an exercise price of $1.70 for a period of 12 months following the Closing Date.

The Warrants may be accelerated by the Company, at its sole option, at any time after the closing date of the Offering provided that the closing price of the common shares of the Company on the TSX Venture Exchange exceeds $2.00 for a period of 15 consecutive trading days at any time after the date that is four months and one day following closing, by giving notice to the holders thereof and, in such case, the Warrants will expire at 4:00pm (Toronto time) on the earlier of: (i) the 30th day after the date on which such notice is given by the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrants, and (ii) the date that is 12 months following the Closing Date.

The Company has paid, to the Agents and one exempt market dealer, an aggregate cash commission equal to six percent (reduced to three percent for certain subscribers on the Company's President's List) of the gross proceeds from the Offering and issued an aggregate of 310,921 non-transferable broker warrants ("Broker Warrants"), being equal to six percent (reduced to three percent for certain subscribers on the Company's President's List) of the number of Units sold in the Offering. Each Broker Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $1.05 until expiry on the day that is 12 months following the closing date.

All of the securities issued in the Offering are subject to a four month and one-day restricted resale period expiring September 5, 2021 in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange and securities laws applicable in Canada. In addition, securities issued in the Offering to U.S. purchasers are subject to resale restrictions imposed by federal and state securities laws applicable in the United States.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to advance the Company's Alaskan and Mexican projects, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The Offering included participation from Charles Funk and Sam Anderson, the Company's CEO and Vice President of Exploration, respectively. Accordingly, the Offering constitutes a "related party transaction" as such term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), which requires that the Company, in the absence of exemptions, obtain a formal valuation for, and minority shareholder approval of, the related party transaction. However, such Related Party Transaction is exempt: (i) from the formal valuation requirement of MI 61-101 pursuant to the exemption contained in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 as none of the Issuer's securities are listed on any of the markets specified in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101, and (ii) from the shareholder approval requirement of MI 61-101 pursuant to the exemption contained in section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 because the fair market value of the Private Placement insofar as it involves interested parties does not exceed 25% of the Issuer's market capitalization at the time the Related Party Transaction was agreed to.

The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered, sold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in the United States, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction or to, or for the account or for the benefit of a U.S. person, unless an exemption from registration is available. This news release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction.

About Heliostar Metals Ltd.

Heliostar is a junior exploration and development company with a portfolio of high-grade gold projects in Alaska and Mexico. The Company's flagship asset is the 100% controlled Unga Gold Project on Unga and Popof Islands in Alaska. The project hosts an intermediate sulfidation epithermal gold deposit, located within the district-scale property that encompasses 240km2 across the two islands. Additional targets on the property include porphyry, high sulphidation and intermediate sulphidation epithermal veins. On Unga Island, priority targets include: the SH-1 and Aquila, both on the Shumagin Trend, the former Apollo-Sitka mine, which was Alaska's first underground gold mine and the Zachary Bay porphyry gold-copper prospect. Gold mineralization at the Centennial Zone is located on neighbouring Popof Island within four kilometres of infrastructure and services at Sand Point.

In Mexico, the Company owns 100% of three early stage epithermal projects in Sonora that are highly prospective for gold and silver. Cumaro forms part of the El Picacho district, while the Oso Negro and La Lola projects are also prospective for epithermal gold-silver mineralization.

For additional information please contact:

Charles Funk

Chief Executive Officer

Heliostar Metals Limited

Email: charles.funk@heliostarmetals.com

Rob Grey

Investor Relations Manager

Heliostar Metals Limited

Email: rob.grey@heliostarmetals.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this press release include Heliostar's planned use of proceeds. Although Heliostar believes that the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, weather, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82836
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
New capital will support Cymulate's aggressive expansion to meet rising demand for on-demand security posture testing following the Solarwinds and Microsoft Exchange attacks

NEW YORK and RISHON LETZION, Israel, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cymulate , the industry standard SaaS based Continuous Security Validation platform leveraging the MITRE ATT&CK framework end-to-end, announced today a Series C funding round of $45M, led by One Peak , together with existing investors Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE) , Vertex Ventures Israel , Vertex Growth and Dell Technologies Capital . Cymulate has raised $71M to date, including a seed investment from Eyal Gruner.

The funding will be used to further accelerate Cymulate's impressive growth as the company closed 2020 with double the revenue year-over-year and grew its staff by over 150%. Cymulate serves hundreds of customers including leading enterprises and F500 companies and most recently announced a partnership with global telecom giant NTT .

"The increasing pace of global cyber security attacks has resulted in a crisis of trust in the security posture of enterprises and a realization that security testing needs to be continuous as opposed to periodic, particularly in the context of an ever-changing IT infrastructure and rapidly evolving threats. Companies understand that implementing security solutions is not enough to guarantee protection against cyber threats and need to regain control," said David Klein, Managing Partner at One Peak. "We love Cymulate's effective, easy-to-use security testing platform as it empowers companies to assess attack vectors and security controls and closes any security gaps. We are excited to back Eyal, Avihai and the entire Cymulate team in their next leg of explosive growth." Watch this video for more.

Cymulate has developed a comprehensive platform, which is the industry standard for organizations to validate their cyber posture continuously and on-demand, by testing their cloud and on premise networks against the latest threats in the wild. Their recent survey of over 700 security professionals revealed that 70% believe their existing testing methodologies are somewhat or not at all effective, and only 7% feel that they have strong cyber defenses in place. The survey also highlighted 56% of respondents have concrete plans to implement a solution such as Cymulate, particularly in 2022. The full survey can be accessed here .

"Cymulate saw a 50% increase in the number of unique attacks in the wild in 2020, and as APT groups are becoming increasingly aggressive and disruptive, there is a real need for companies to run daily or weekly assessments of their security posture. A loss of customer trust due to the fallout of a major attack is extremely hard to regain," said Eyal Wachsman, CEO and co-founder of Cymulate. "This Series C funding is yet another vote of confidence in Cymulate and will enable us to expand our reach across the globe at a faster pace and continue our vision to be the largest and most comprehensive consultant-free security validation company."

Cymulate's SaaS-based Continuous Security Validation platform plays a critical role in empowering organizations to automatically assess and improve their overall security posture. Simulations of the latest threats in the wild test an organization's security defenses and controls, across the entire kill chain of attack vectors and APT attack configurations, individually and interconnected. Simulations can run on-demand or be scheduled to run at regular intervals, with either an out-of-the-box option or customized by more advanced security professionals. Within minutes, the platform provides specific, actionable insights and data on where a company's network is vulnerable, highlighting security gaps and mitigation procedures to optimize the security posture.

In just four years, Cymulate has successfully launched its technology across the US, EMEA, APAC and LATAM, having acquired commercial and enterprise customers across all verticals, particularly in the financial services and healthcare sectors. Cymulate continues to develop its technology and remain at the forefront of Continuous Security Validation, #1 leader in innovation according to the Frost Radar , most recently launching the Purple Team simulation, enabling their customers to create, store, modify and execute both simple and sophisticated assessments using custom built or out-of-the-box templates.

The company has been lauded by the industry in recent months including:

Frost and Sullivan: #1 Innovation Leader in its Radar report on the Global Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) Market for 2020.

on the Global Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) Market for 2020. SANS endorsed Cymulate's continuous security validation platform in new report

Cymulate's Co-founder and CTO Avihai Ben Yosef included in Forbes Israel 30 under 30

30 under 30 Winner: Gold in Breach and Attack Simulation by Cybersecurity Excellence Awards 2021

in Breach and Attack Simulation by Cybersecurity Excellence Awards 2021 Winner: Gold in the Breach and Attack Simulation, Detection and Protection category by Info Security's PG Global Excellence Awards

in the Breach and Attack Simulation, Detection and Protection category by Info Security's PG Global Excellence Awards Winner: First place in the Breach and Attack Simulation category in the InfoSec Awards 2020 by Cyber Defense Magazine

About Cymulate

Cymulate Continuous Security Validation enables companies to challenge, assess and optimize their cyber-security posture against the evolving threat landscape, simply and continuously. The platform provides out-of-the-box, expert and threat intelligence led RISK assessments that are simple to use for all skill levels, and constantly updated. It also provides an open framework for ethical hackers to create and automate red and purple team exercises and security assurance programs tailored to their unique environment and security policies. Cymulate helps security professionals to know and control their dynamic environment.

For more information, visit www.cymulate.com and register for a Free Trial .

About One Peak

One Peak is a growth equity firm investing in technology companies in the scale-up phase. The firm provides growth capital to exceptional entrepreneurs with a view to transform innovative and rapidly growing businesses into lasting, category-defining leaders. In addition to Cymulate, One Peak's investments include HighQ, Neo4j, DocPlanner, Spryker Systems, Pandadoc, Keepit, Concentra Analytics, Quentic, Coople, DataGuard, and Brightflag. To learn more, visit http://www.onepeakpartners.com .

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT-JGLknYoo

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1336659/Cymulate_Logo.jpg

Contact for Cymulate:

Levona Simha, Marketing Director at Cymulate

levonas@cymulate.com

+972 523 536638
YOUnified is the next upcoming software within the world of Unions, and is now making its way to New Brunswick, Canada

LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / DLT Resolution Inc. (OTC PINK:DLTI) is pleased to announce its wholly owned, Union Strategies' opening of new offices in Moncton NB as YOUnified continues to deploy across Canada.

YOUnified is the next upcoming software within the world of Unions, and is now making its way to New Brunswick, Canada.

Union Strategies already has clients in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, but is now looking to aggressively pursue opportunities on the East Coast to present this game changing platform to the many different locals within the region.

Union Strategies will open an office in Moncton New Brunswick, in June 2021 - putting boots on the ground in the East Coast territory. Once this happens, USI will be able to begin presenting YOUnified to the over 200 locals within the province. Union Strategies inc., is very excited to begin developing business in a new province. The company will take the summer to begin learning of the many different locals within New Brunswick, and present YOUnified as the one-stop-shop for Unions all over.

About YOUnified?

YOUnified combines the many required services to run the business of a union into one unified platform. YOUnifieds goal is to assist in increasing member engagement, decrease the local's expenses, and save everyone time. With this app, Unions will have everything they require to connect with your members, as well as maintain the local's needs.

Union Strategies made every effort to make this app as adaptable and simple as possible for every age demographic. Members will be blown away on how easy and effective this platform will be for them.

YOUnified allows the union to push notify members of any, and every, important update with just a simple click of a button. You can notify members of an important meeting, election, or reminders of significant dates. In short, this app is truly made for everyone - from the Executive to the members. Some of the basic features include the following:

YOUnified holds different features for different viewers. An example being, an Executive member will have access to perform call drops, text blasts, email blasts, and everything in between, where as a member will be able to receive these important updates, connect with their Executive Board, purchase "swag" and much more!

YOUnified holds different features for different viewers. An example being, an Executive member will have access to perform call drops, text blasts, email blasts, and everything in between, where as a member will be able to receive these important updates, connect with their Executive Board, purchase "swag" and much more.

Delay in the filing of its 10-K Annual Report

Management would also like to update its shareholders on the filing of its annual report for the fiscal December 31, 2020 period. The period in question is the first consolidation and audit of the Company with Union strategies with our current auditor. As such there were some unintended delays in making the filing on the due date. Management is working tirelessly with the auditors to ensure the report is filed as soon as possible. We are confident the report will be filed shortly.

About Union Strategies

USI has been providing a suite of products and services to Unions for over 10 years. The company designs, builds, and executes programs resulting in greater success for unions. Programs are designed to engage the membership, decrease expenses, and save time for a more productive business. The Company's suite includes secure electronic voting, Telecommunications, Event Management, Professional Writing, Social Media Management, Web Design, Graphic Services, and Promotional Offerings. The company is a one-stop-shop for all things union. The company has more than 130 clients that are considered "mid-market" in terms of overall size of the particular local with more than 450,000 members. USI operates nationally in Canada and looks to expand into the USA in 2021.

Learn more at: UnionStrategiesinc.com

About DLT Resolution Inc.

DLT Resolution Inc. currently operates in three high-tech industry segments: Blockchain Applications & Cyber Security; Telecommunications; and Data Services which includes Image Capture, Data Collection, Data Phone Center Services, and Payment Processing. Its clients represent some of the top businesses from a variety of sectors. DLT Resolution helps organizations that have invoices, ledgers, statements, applications, surveys, employee and customer rewards programs and a wide range of other non-core functions benefit from data management. DLT Resolution also operates a Health Information Exchange providing the ability to request and retrieve medical information & records while meeting all of today's Security & Compliance demands for HIPAA, PIPEDA and PHIPA. Through RecordsBank, the Company offers an easy to use online gateway to its centralized system for patients, lawyers and insurers to retrieve and access medical records.

Learn more at: DLTResolution.com

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

The use of the word "company" or "Company" refers to DLT Resolution Incorporated and its wholly owned subsidiaries. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In accordance with the safe harbor provisions of this Act, statements contained herein that look forward in time that include everything other than historical information, involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company's actual results. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. DLT Resolution may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, in its annual report to stockholders, in press releases and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and there are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by the company, including, but not limited to, plans and objectives of management for future operations or products, the market acceptance or future success of our products, and our future financial performance. The company cautions that these forward-looking statements are further qualified by other factors including, but not limited to, those set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (available at http://www.sec.gov). DLT Resolution undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Nothing within this communication is meant to be a solicitation to buy or sell our securities. Investing in over the counter (OTC) securities often carries a high degree of risk. Please contact your financial advisor before investing in our securities.

CONTACT:

Website: www.dltresolution.com

SOURCE: DLT Resolution Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644654/DLT-Resolutions-Union-Strategies-to-Open-New-Offices-in-Moncton-NB-as-YOUnified-Continues-to-Deploy-Across-Canada
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - BELGRAVIA HARTFORD CAPITAL INC. (CSE: BLGV) ("Belgravia Hartford", "Belgravia" or the "Company") provides the following corporate update and announces the proposed issuance of shares.

Belgravia Hartford's current unaudited Net Asset Value per share (NAV) is $0.32. Audited financial statements were released on April 21, 2021.

Belgravia will continue to update shareholders on all corporate affairs and disclose unaudited NAV on a monthly basis going forward commencing June 1, 2021.

Core Holding Highlights:

Blackrock Gold Corp (TSXV: BRC) 8,249,500 common shares 1,000,000 warrants at $.30 expiring January 20, 2022

Imperial Mining Group (TSXV: IPG) 15,000,000 common shares 4,000,000 warrants at $.11 expiring September 10, 2022

Nexus Gold Corp. (TSXV: NXS) 13,009,091 common shares 1,895,653 warrants at $.10 expiring February 26, 2022 1,500,000 warrants at $.15 expiring October 7, 2022 1,863,637 warrants at $.075 expiring November 30, 2022 2,890,909 warrants at $.075 expiring December 31, 2022 360,000 warrants at $.07 expiring July 3, 2023 8,000,000 warrants at $.07 expiring January 31, 2025

Azincourt Energy Corp. (TSXV: AAZ) 6,100,000 common shares 2,500,000 warrants at $.07 expiring March 20, 2024 8,000,000 warrants at $.07 expiring May 20, 2025 6,000,000 warrants at $.07 expiring March 3, 2026



Zonetail (TSXV: ZONE)

By way of a judicial mediation scheduled for May 13, 2021, the parties are attempting to resolve their differences. While Belgravia is extremely confident of its legal position, management recognizes the savings in time and money that a negotiated settlement can bring.

However, if the parties are unable to arrive at a satisfactory resolution on May 13, 2021, Belgravia is committed to pushing forward with its court proceedings against Zonetail on an expedited basis and to collecting the debt owed by Zonetail.

Share Issue

The Board of Directors of Belgravia Hartford has unanimously approved the issuance of 8,910,000 common shares of Belgravia Hartford (the "Bonus Shares") to members of Belgravia Hartford management (the "Recipients") for past services provided by the Recipients. The Bonus Shares issued to Belgravia management after a review by and upon the unanimous recommendation of the Board's independent Compensation Committee. Bonus Shares are being issued in lieu of cash payment in recognition of their significant contributions to the Company in achieving among other things material net asset value growth since completion of the Company's business change in 2017 from IC Potash Corp. to Belgravia Hartford, which contributions the Board concluded were substantially in excess of those contemplated in their consulting services agreements with the Company. From Q4 2016 until end of Q4 2020 the Company's debt to asset position went from approximately $28M in debt while holding the Ochoa asset in New Mexico, USA (Ochoa asset ownership was diluted away due to previous management agreements). Currently the Company has approximately $15M in net assets. The Bonus Shares represent approximately 11% of the net asset growth since the business change from IC Potash Corp. to the end of 2020 Q4 as Belgravia Hartford Capital.

The Bonus Shares which will be issued at a price of $0.20 consistent with CSE policies will represent approximately 18.42% of the total issued and outstanding shares after completion of the issue. No new insiders will be created, nor will any change of control occur, as a result of the issuance of the Bonus Shares. The Bonus Shares will be subject to a four month hold period pursuant to applicable securities laws. In addition, the Recipients of the Bonus Shares have agreed to enter into voluntary lock-up agreements which will restrict the trading of the Bonus Shares for one year from the date of issuance. The Company is relying on an exemption from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") for the issue of Bonus Shares because the fair market value of the Bonus Shares received by the Related Parties does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101.

The Recipients of the Bonus Shares include Macher Inc., a corporation controlled by Mehdi Azodi, President and CEO of the Company, acquired 6,180,000 Bonus Shares representing 12.77% of the total issued and outstanding shares. As a result, Macher Inc., either directly or indirectly, will exercise control over 17.08% of the total issued and outstanding shares. PLK Accounting and Finance Inc., a corporation controlled by Paul Kania, CFO of the Company, acquired 1,800,000 Bonus Shares representing 3.72% of the total issued and outstanding shares. As a result, PLK Accounting and Finance Inc. will, either directly or indirectly, exercise control over 3.95% of the total issued and outstanding shares. Spark Corp., a corporation controlled by Deena Siblock, COO of the Company, acquired 930,000 Bonus Shares representing 1.92% of the total issued and outstanding shares and, as a result, she will, either directly or indirectly, exercise control over 2.02% of the total issued and issued shares. The total issued and outstanding shares of the Company will be 48,384,248 after completion of the issue of the Bonus Shares. The issue of the Bonus Shares has been completed within the price protection time period under the CSE rules.

About Belgravia Hartford

Belgravia Hartford Capital Inc. is a Canadian publically traded investment holding company which invests in public and private companies in legal jurisdictions and under the rule of law. Belgravia Hartford and its investment holdings are high risk business ventures and expose shareholders to financial risks.

For more information, please visit www.belgraviahartford.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements that use forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding planned investment activities & related returns, the timing for completion of research and development activities, the potential value of royalties, and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, changes in market trends, the completion, results and timing of research undertaken by the Company, risks associated with resource assets, the impact of general economic conditions, commodity prices, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory, environmental, and governmental approvals, and the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

For More Information, Please Contact:

Mehdi Azodi, President & CEO

Belgravia Hartford Capital Inc.

(250) 763-5533

mazodi@blgv.ca

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82905.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - BELGRAVIA HARTFORD CAPITAL INC. (CSE: BLGV) ("Belgravia Hartford", "Belgravia" or the "Company") announces the appointment of Mr. Tommy Cope to its Water Royalty Advisory Committee.

Mr. Tommy Cope has been appointed as an advisor to Belgravia Hartford's Water Royalty Advisory Committee. Mr. Cope is a business graduate of Texas A&M University, 1971. Mr. Cope is a long-standing resident of Hobbs, New Mexico and was a senior executive and officer of IC Potash Corp. from 2010 to 2017. Prior to IC Potash, he was the Manager of Procurement and Contracts of Louisiana Entergy Services.

Mehdi Azodi, President & CEO of Belgravia Hartford, said "The appointment of Mr. Cope is very beneficial to provide local guidance in the State of New Mexico in order to monetize the outstanding USD$12.2M from its current Royalty Agreement which was announced on August 8, 2017."

About Belgravia Hartford

Belgravia Hartford Capital Inc. is a Canadian publically traded investment holding company which invests in public and private companies in legal jurisdictions and under the rule of law. Belgravia Hartford and its investment holdings are high risk business ventures and expose shareholders to financial risks.

For more information, please visit www.belgraviahartford.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements that use forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding planned investment activities & related returns, the timing for completion of research and development activities, the potential value of royalties, and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, changes in market trends, the completion, results and timing of research undertaken by the Company, risks associated with resource assets, the impact of general economic conditions, commodity prices, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory, environmental, and governmental approvals, and the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

For More Information, Please Contact:

Mehdi Azodi, President & CEO

Belgravia Hartford Capital Inc.

(250) 763-5533

mazodi@blgv.ca

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82908.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Blackrock Silver Corp. (TSXV: BRC) (the "Company") is pleased to announce more high-grade gold and silver drill intercepts from its core and RC drilling program on the 100% controlled Tonopah West project located in the Walker Lane trend of Western Nevada. These results support the high-grade nature of the DPB and Victor targets; validate the Company's understanding of the structural orientation of the vein structures at DPB; and highlight the considerable silver and gold potential within these two growing target areas.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Step-out drilling to the west intersected high-grade silver and gold in TW21-068 with 16.0 g/t Au and 1,722 g/t Ag or 3,322 g/t AgEq within a broader zone of 4.5 metres grading 6.56 g/t Au and 743 Ag or 1,399 g/t AgEq on the strike extension of the Merton vein (AgEq=silver: gold ratio 100:1). The Merton vein now has 1.5 kilometres of mineralized strike with high-grade shoots showing up to 400 metres of vertical elevation;

At the Victor target TW21-077 cut two zones grading 3.075 g/t Au and 310 g/t Ag or 617.5 g/t AgEq over 3 metres and 7.6 metres grading 2.139 g/t Au and 230 g/t Ag or 444 g/t AgEq including 1.5 metres grading 4.89 g/t Au and 512 g/t Ag or 1,001 AgEq. The silver-gold results bolster the Victor target and confirm the thick, high grade nature of the Victor vein. The Victor/Murray veins system has 500 metres of strike from the eastern project boundary to the Pittsburgh-Monarch fault system;

TW21-093C represents a step out along the Victor/Murray vein system. This drillhole cut 1.93 g/t Au and 203 g/t Ag or 400 g/t AgEq over 0.8 metres and extends the mineral system to the east;

Drilling has discovered a new mineralized vein on the footwall side of the Pittsburgh-Monarch fault system with 2.2 metres grading 1.53 g/t Au and 141 g/t Ag or 294 g/t AgEq in TW21-092C and 3.9 metres grading 0.48 g/t Au and 67 g/t Ag or 115 g/t AgEq in TW21-033C. This new vein may represent the faulted offset portion of the Victor/Murray vein system; and

The first hole of the core in-fill drilling program on the Denver vein returned 3.1 metres yielding 1.3 g/t Au and 136 g/t Ag or 265 g/t AgEq in TXC21-001.

"In under one year, we have completed 53,000 metres of drilling and have successfully identified ten high-grade veins ranging in size from 400 metres up to 1.5 kilometres in strike, almost all of which remain open for expansion. This silver-gold project continues to deliver world class results as drilling advances, expanding the footprint of known mineralization, both along strike and at depth. Not only is our geologic model predictive at this point, our understanding of the controls of the high-grade distribution are becoming readily apparent," commented Andrew Pollard, President & CEO. "On the Merton vein, we have now established 1.5 kilometres of strike, in addition to having identified two distinct high-grade zones, highlighting a vertical mineralized extent of over 400 metres. Merton represents just one of the six different veins that make up our DPB target, all of which shall form the basis for our maiden resource estimate we plan to deliver by the end of the year. Drilling continues to expand our Victor target, with 500 metres of mineralized strike now established to the eastern extent of our property, and the first drillholes testing the western extension of the system on the footwall side of the Pittsburgh-Monarch fault have returned impressive grades that highlight the potential for an additional 600 metres of strike within a new vein. With more assays pending, four rigs in operation, and 17,000 metres of drilling remaining for our 2021 program, investors have a lot to look forward to in the near term."

Table 1: Summary of significant Au and Ag assay results using a 200 g/t AgEq cut-off grade.

HOLE ID Area From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Au g/t Ag g/t AgEq g/t TW21-063 Step Out 580.6 582.2 1.6 No values above 200 g/t AgEq cutoff TW21-064 Step Out NSV TW21-065 Step Out NSV TW21-066 Step Out 329.2 332.2 3.0 No values above 200 g/t AgEq cutoff TW21-067 Step Out 539.5 541.0 1.5 No values above 200 g/t AgEq cutoff TW21-068 Step Out 385.6 387.1 1.5 1.600 178 338 TW21-068 Step Out 410.0 414.5 4.5 6.564 743 1,399 Including 411.5 413.0 1.5 16.000 1722 3,322 TW21-069 Step Out NSV TW21-070 Step Out NSV TW21-072 Step Out NSV TW21-073 NW Step Out Assays Pending TW21-074 NW Step Out Assays Pending TW21-075 DPB Assays Pending TW21-076 DPB Assays Pending TW21-077 Victor 599.0 602.0 3.0 3.075 310 618 Including 599.0 600.5 1.5 4.190 443 862 TW21-077 Victor 606.5 614.2 7.6 2.139 223 442 Including 609.5 611.1 1.5 4.890 512 1,001 TW21-078 DPB Assays Pending TW21-079 DPB Assays Pending TW21-080 Ohio Assays Pending TW21-033C Victor W. Ext. 589.5 593.4 3.9 No values above 200 g/t AgEq cutoff TW21-091C Victor 685.2 686.7 1.5 No values above 200 g/t AgEq cutoff TW21-092C Victor W. Ext. 467.7 469.9 2.2 1.533 141 294 Including 467.7 468.7 1.0 2.860 250 536 TW21-093C Victor 494.3 495.1 0.8 1.930 207 400 TXC21-001 DPB 439.8 442.9 3.1 1.291 136 265 AgEq_g/t = Ag_g/t + Au_g/t*100; True thickness unknown. NSV = No significant values, Intervals with no assays are <200 g/t but > 50 g/t AgEq

DPB Target

The DPB target is developing into a world-class vein system with the Merton vein leading the pack in size and grade over significant thickness. Drilling to date shows the Merton vein has a strike length of 1.5 kilometres and ore shoots measuring several hundred metres vertically.

The Merton vein shows two high-grade silver-gold zones. The upper zone is associated with an elevation control along the 1600 m RL. High-grade values (>250 g/t AgEq) range from 554 g/t AgEq to 3,039 g/t AgEq along a constant elevation. The zone is open to the east and west.

The second zone appears associated with the intersection of the Merton vein with the high-angle Bermuda vein. High grade silver and gold are along the intersection zone with values ranging between 386.8 g/t AgEq to 3,322 g/t AgEq. The zone is open to the east and west.

The highest values within the 1.5 kilometres include 3,039 g/t AgEq, 1,997 g/t AgEq, 1,554 g/t AgEq and now the highest value of 3,322 g/t AgEq. Drillholes TW21-075, -076, -078 and -079 are targeting the Merton vein. Assays for these drillholes are pending at this time.





Figure 1: Merton Vein Long Section, looking southwest

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/676/82915_e13bc5cd84ee7a23_002full.jpg

TXC21-001 is the first core hole penetrating the Denver vein. The drillhole intersected a vein and quartz stockwork zone where the Denver vein was predicted. The results from the core hole confirm previous intercepts from surrounding RC drillholes and demonstrate 600 metres of mineralized strike with a vertical extent spanning several hundred metres.





Figure 2: Denver Vein Long Section, looking south

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/676/82915_e13bc5cd84ee7a23_003full.jpg





Figure 3: Paymaster Vein Long Section, looking southwest

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/676/82915_e13bc5cd84ee7a23_004full.jpg

Drilling at the Paymaster vein has encountered 1.2 kilometres of mineralized strike, with high-grade shoots highlighting a vertical elevation beyond 300 metres.

Additional core drilling is ongoing to produce the first resource estimate for the Denver, Paymaster, Bermuda and Merton vein system. The resource is anticipated for year end.

Victor Target

Drilling on the Victor vein continues to generate success along strike to the east. TW21-077 confirms the down plunge orientation and grade distribution within the Victor vein. The drillhole was completed 50 metres NNW of drillhole TW20-001, which encountered 29 metres grading 5.29 g/t Au and 436 g/t Ag (965 g/t AgEq). TW21-077 contains two zones separated by 6 metres of low-grade material. The first zone starting at 599 metres contains 3 metres of 3.07 g/t Au and 310 g/t Ag (617 g/t AgEq). The second zone starts at 606.5 metres and contains 2.14 g/t Au and 230 g/t Ag (444 g/t AgEq) over 7.6 metres including a 1.5 metre section grading 4.89 g/t Au and 512 g/t Ag (1001 g/t AgEq).

Drilling to the west on the footwall side of the Pittsburgh-Monarch fault system has been successful in identifying a new vein between the Pittsburgh-Monarch and McKane faults. The vein has potential for 600 metres of strike. Drillhole TW21-092C cut 2.2 metres grading 1.5 g/t Au and 141 g/t Ag. This intercept combined with the intersection established in TW21-033C, 3.9 metres grading 0.48 g/t Au and 67 g/t Ag, show the potential vein orientation. A third drillhole, TW20-013C, provides data for the orientation of the new vein.

Drillhole TW21-093C intersected the Merger vein and shows continuity from drillhole TW20-021 for approximately 250 metres. TW21-091C contained three vein zones; however, the assays did not meet the cutoff grade but show continuity of the vein system. Drillholes TW21-094C and -095C are testing the structure to the east. If successful, a total of 470 metres will have been confirmed on the Murray/Merger vein. Assays for TW21-094C, -095C and -096C are pending at this time.

2021 Exploration

The Company has completed over half of its 2021 exploration and resource definition programs. More than 52,000 metres of drilling has been completed since June 15, 2020, and a total of 23,000 metres has been completed since the start of the year.

The 2021 program is approximately 65% complete and is utilizing three diamond core drills and one reverse circulation drill. The core drills are focused on the Victor target and DPB resource delineation while the RC drill continues to evaluate Step Out targets on the project.

The DPB resource definition program consists of ~30,000 metres of diamond core drilling from 20 drill sites within this large multi-vein target. This broad multi-vein, high-grade system sits within an area measuring 1,500 by 600 metres. Drilling to date has identified four new veins bringing the total to six veins within the DPB. The 2021 drill program will focus on delineating a resource across all known veins in this area.





Figure 4: Plan map of significant Intercepts

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/676/82915_e13bc5cd84ee7a23_005full.jpg

Table 2: Drillhole location information for drillholes in this news release

Drillhole ID Target Type NAD27 East NAD27

North Elevation

metres Azimuth Dip Total Depth

metres TW21-063 Step Out RC 477575.2 4212822.6 1773.4 180 -90 599.2 TW21-064 Step Out RC 477574.9 4212822.5 1770.9 180 -70 579.1 TW21-065 Step Out RC 477277.0 4213848.0 1755.9 0 -90 548.6 TW21-066 Step Out RC 477277.4 4213847.0 1756.0 180 -70 640.1 TW21-067 Step Out RC 477277.2 4213845.4 1756.1 180 -50 612.6 TW21-068 Step Out RC 477549.8 4213852.8 1762.1 0 -90 563.9 TW21-069 Step Out RC 477549.7 4213851.6 1761.4 180 -70 579.1 TW21-070 Step Out RC 478461.5 4213815.2 1794.0 0 -90 609.6 TW21-072 Step Out RC 478461.5 4213814.4 1794.0 180 -70 624.8 TW21-073 Step Out RC 476766.3 4215195.4 1740.9 0 -90 548.6 TW21-074 Step Out RC 476766.8 4215194.4 1740.2 180 -70 513.6 TW21-075 DPB RC 478384.0 4213224.7 1803.6 0 -90 457.2 TW21-076 DPB RC 478384.0 4213224.0 1803.6 180 -70 457.2 TW21-077 Victor RC 478720.0 4214175.0 1791.0 0 -90 623.3 TW21-078 DPB RC 477960.0 4213285.0 1780.0 0 -90 457.2 TW21-079 DPB RC 477960.0 4213285.0 1780.0 180 -70 In Progress TW21-080 Ohio RC 478870.0 4213680.0 1805.0 0 -90 In Progress TW21-081C Victor Core 478730.4 4214251.9 1800.5 0 -90 798.0 TW21-091C Victor Core 478730.2 4214250.5 1800.5 180 -85 779.2 TW21-092C Victor Ext Core 478222.4 4214288.4 1782.8 180 -80 652.9 TW21-093C Victor Core 478890.0 4214355.0 1807.0 180 -80 806.5 TW21-094C Victor Core 478886.6 4214368.9 1811.3 0 -90 844.7 TW21-095C Victor Core 478970.0 4214250.0 1794.0 0 -90 751.2 TXC21-001 DPB Core 477959.9 4214235.3 1768.8 0 -90 761.2

All sampling is conducted under the supervision of the Company's project geologists, and a strict chain of custody from the project to the sample preparation facility is implemented and monitored. The core and reverse circulation samples are hauled from the project site to a secure and fenced facility in Tonopah, Nevada, where they are loaded on to American Assay Laboratory's (AAL) flat-bed truck and delivered to AAL's facility in Sparks, Nevada. A sample submittal sheet is delivered to AAL personnel who organize and process the sample intervals pursuant to the Company's instructions.

The core, reverse circulation, and QA/QC samples are crushed and pulverized, then the pulverized material is digested and analyzed for Au using fire assay fusion and an Induced Coupled Plasma (ICP) finish on a 30-gram assay split. Silver is determined using five-acid digestion and ICP analysis. Over limits for gold and silver are determined using a gravimetric finish. Data verification of the assay and analytical results are completed to ensure accurate and verifiable results. Blackrock personnel insert a blind prep blank, lab blank or a certified standard approximately every 15th to 20th sample.

Blackrock's exploration activities at the Tonopah West Project are being conducted and supervised by Mr. William Howald, Executive Chairman of Blackrock Silver Corp. Mr. William Howald, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist #11041, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

About Blackrock Silver Corp.

Blackrock is a junior gold-focused exploration company that is on a quest to make an economic discovery. Anchored by a seasoned Board, the Company is focused on its Nevada portfolio of properties consisting of low-sulphidation epithermal gold & silver projects located along the established Northern Nevada Rift in north-central Nevada and the Walker Lane trend in western Nevada.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Pollard, President & CEO

Blackrock Silver Corp.

Phone: 604 817-6044

Email: andrew@blackrocksilver.com

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements concern the Company's strategic plans, completion and exercise of the Tonopah option agreement, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration and drilling programs, estimates of mineralization from drilling, geological information projected from sampling results and the potential quantities and grades of the target zones. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: conditions in general economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results; geological interpretations from drilling results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related services; future operating costs; and the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and grades of target zones. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the risk factors including the ability of the Company to complete the Tonopah lease option, the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and uncertainties of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on historical data, and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82915
AMSTERDAM (dpa-AFX) - Connect America.com, LLC has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Aging and Caregiving business from Royal Philips (PHG). Financial terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Philips will maintain an equity stake in the company. Headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., Connect America is a provider of connected health solutions dedicated to improving access to care, safety, independence, and quality of life. Rockbridge Growth Equity remains the lead investor and will continue to provide strategic support for Connect America. 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.


Speaking at today's ceremony to mark the launch of the Hong Kong Start-up Fiesta campaign, HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Stephen Liang said the HKTDC will work with different organisations to co-create a series of start-up-focused activities in May and June.



Stephen Liang, Assistant Executive Director, HKTDC (front row, second from right), Jason Chiu, Chairman, Hong Kong Start-up Council (front row, from right) and Mark Lo, CEO, AMTD (front row, from left) took a group photo with the 10 selected scale-ups for the Start-up Express Master League, including Contact Beverage, CYC Motor, Film Players, Gense Technologies, Incus, Koofy Development Limited, MAD Gaze, Return Helper, MedEXO Robotics and Miscato.



MAD Gaze employs mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to produce the next generation of smart eyewear.

HONG KONG, May 5, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) today announced the launch of the inaugural Hong Kong Start-up Fiesta campaign that will run in May and June. Comprising a full range of activities organised by the HKTDC and other organisations, the aim of the campaign is to support and foster the local start-up eco-system and help innovative new companies capture business opportunities amid the challenges of the pandemic.The number of start-ups in Hong Kong has more than doubled over the past six years, surging from 1,558 in 2015 to 3,360 in 2020. In order to empower local start-ups, the HKTDC will work with different organisations for Start-up Fiesta, including Cyberport, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks, InvestHK, universities and the start-up community, to co-create about 20 different start-up-focused activities. Anchored by the Start-up Express Master League and annual Start-up Express Pitching Final, the campaign also features a series of booster workshops, mentorship programmes and networking events.Speaking at today's opening ceremony, HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Stephen Liang said the HKTDC would continue its commitment to supporting entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses, in addition to promoting the city's capabilities in innovation and technology. "The COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on the global economy, which means start-ups need our help more than ever. Giving start-ups the chance to use their creativity to explore business opportunities will help them continue to grow during this challenging time. The debut Start-up Fiesta campaign enlists the support of different organisations in the ecosystem, co-creating an array of activities to promote local entrepreneurship."Start-up Express Master League promotes local scale-upsThe Start-up Fiesta kicked off with the Start-up Express Master League, which aims to encourage and support local entrepreneurs, selecting programme alumni that have demonstrated the most vigorous business growth since joining the cohort. The selected scale-ups will be granted an extra year of marketing support from the programme to help them build their brands.The 10 scale-ups joining the Start-up Express Master League were selected based on their business resilience, growth and expansion strategy. They include Contact Beverage, CYC Motor, Film Players, Gense Technologies, Incus, Koofy Development Limited, MAD Gaze, Return Helper, MedEXO Robotics and Miscato.At today's opening ceremony, the companies shared their experiences in overcoming obstacles and working to achieve breakthroughs during the pandemic. Among them, Contact Beverage has combined technology with traditional wisdom to produce the Lify smart beverage device. Using the Internet of Things, big data and smart mobile technologies, Lify aims to provide natural remedies and beverages in the simplest and most effective way. The company is also looking to launch its innovation in overseas markets with the help of networking and promotional activities organised by the HKTDC.Another start-up, Incus, has developed disruptive source separation technology that can separate different human voices in complex environments with real-time processing. MAD Gaze is smart glasses company employing mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies to create the next generation of eyewear. The company recently launched its latest smart glasses model, which allows users to experience the benefits of AR, and has successfully expanded its global footprint with the HKTDC's support.The winning scale-ups in the Start-up Express Master League will be able to join a range of local and international activities and events, exploring networking opportunities with potential investors, buyers and business partners. They can also participate in exhibitions and conferences organised by the HKTDC in Hong Kong that have a dedicated start-up zone, such as the Asian Financial Forum, the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring & Autumn Editions) and the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair. Moreover, they will also have the opportunity to join the Hong Kong Pavilion at international exhibitions such as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in the United States and the Mobile World Congress (MWC) event in Barcelona, Spain, to broaden their connections and experience.Fourth Start-up Express helps start-ups to growStart-up Express, a start-up development programme launched by the HKTDC, is returning for its fourth edition to assist local start-ups in building connections, exploring markets, seeking partners and developing brand awareness. Applications are invited until 12 May and the programme will culminate in the Pitching Final on 29 June, with the winners given the opportunity to join local and overseas trade promotions and activities organised by the HKTDC, as well as exhibit at international start-up events to expand their business networks."Start-up Express has been giving tremendous support to local start-ups over the past three years, helping them explore global markets, seal major orders and win international awards, assisting them in growing their businesses to the next level. With the global economy severely impacted by the pandemic, it is harder than ever for start-ups to find funding and business partners, making it all the more important to assist them in promoting their innovative technologies to corporations," Mr Liang said.The shortlisted start-ups in last year's Start-up Express mainly focused on areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, biotech, the Internet of Things, fintech and robotics. In 2021, more new technologies are explored, including augmented reality, virtual reality, green tech, health tech and retail tech. In recent years, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria have become increasingly important among venture capitalists and corporations, so the Social Impact Award has been established to recognised innovative and ground-breaking start-up ideas that create real social impact.Holistic support for start-upsCo-organised with the Hong Kong Startup Council, Enterprise Connect: Solution Day will be held in mid-June and invites start-ups in medtech, food tech and wellness tech to present their ideas under the theme "Well Being Tech", pitching to business users and fostering collaboration between start-ups and user enterprises. Co-organised with The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, the Young Founders' Camp equips young entrepreneurs via brainstorming workshops and mentorship sessions, offering a testing ground for them to implement their start-up ideas through HKTDC-organised events such as SmartBiz Expo and Entrepreneur Day. Meanwhile, the success stories of various Start-up Express alumni will be brought together in the Start-up Express Digital Book: A Journey to Success.Partner organisations of the Start-up Fiesta, including W-Hub, Entrelink, Advantage Austria, Junior Achievement Hong Kong and more, will organise various seminars and workshops to provide networking opportunities to support local start-ups.Attracting investorsThe AMTD Group is the Sole Strategic Partner of Start-up Express for the third consecutive year. Calvin Choi, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of AMTD Group, Founding Chairman of the Greater Bay Young Entrepreneurs Association ("GBYEA"), Vice Chairman of Greater Bay Area Homeland Youth Community Foundation and the Vice President of China Young Entrepreneurs Association believes that core values and fundamental business models for start-ups must be solid, sustainable and resilient. Accordingly, there will be opportunities available for the more ready start-ups no matter during good times or bad times, and even during extreme situations such as the COVID pandemic, as long as the entrepreneurs have clear vision and strategy to navigate beyond status quo to rise up as a winner in due course."The global economy has been severely affected by the pandemic, and inevitably this has also impacted the investment sentiment. This makes it even more crucial for founders of start-ups to embrace developments and visions beyond the current points in time but into a sustainable long term future," Mr Choi shared his perspectives, given that the AMTD Group has invested in many start-ups around the world, paying close attention to factors such as the comprehensiveness of business solutions, cross-region and cross-platform features, growth trajectory, sustainability, scalability and the team's vision and resilience.Websites- Hong Kong Start-up Fiesta: https://hkstartupfiesta.hktdc.com- Start-up Express: http://info.hktdc.com/startupexpress/en/index.html- HKTDC's media room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en- Photo download: https://bit.ly/3b3DP7sMedia enquiriesPlease contact the HKTDC Communications & Public Affairs Department:Christine Kam, Tel: +852 2584 4514, Email: christine.kam@hktdc.orgSource: HKTDCCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
MARKHAM, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / iFabric Corp. ("iFabric" or the "Company") (TSX:IFA.TO), today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary company, Intelligent Fabric Technologies (North America) Inc. ("IFTNA") has entered into a license agreement with Tumi Inc. ("TUMI").

"I am extremely pleased to announce a new and exciting partnership with one of the worlds most recognizable and premium travel brands. The license with TUMI is non-exclusive and covers the integration of our class leading PROTX2 anti-microbial technologies in select TUMI luggage and backpacks. When you think about all of life's major touch points, home, work, travel, school, and recreation, TUMI products cover all of those categories. Integrating our technologies offers TUMI customers a broad range of cleaner products, that perfectly blend TUMI style with the unique protection of their products," stated Giancarlo Beevis, President and Chief Executive Officer of IFNTA.

"Studies have shown the direct connection between travel and harmful microbes. Luggage can encounter up to 80 million bacteria before it ever reaches your home or hotel room," continued Mr. Beevis. "This new line of TUMI products powered by PROTX2 technologies can deliver some much-needed comfort to consumers today and in to the future of travel," concluded Mr. Beevis.

ABOUT TUMI

Since 1975, TUMI has been creating world-class business, travel and performance luxury essentials, designed to upgrade, uncomplicate, and beautify all aspects of life on the move. Blending flawless functionality with a spirit of ingenuity, we're committed to empowering journeys as a lifelong partner to movers and makers in pursuit of their passions. The brand is sold globally in over 75 countries with approximately 2,000 points of sale.

For more about TUMI, visit https://www.TUMI.com

ABOUT IFTNA

Since our inception in 2008, IFTNA have been working to build a platform of performance technologies created by innovators and thought-leaders to help solve today's hardest challenges and drive brand loyalty. These technologies range from having powerful and eco-friendly anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, supercharged moisture-wicking technologies, Fluorine-free eco-friendly water repellents, UV protection and therapeutic technologies that work with the human body to facilitate skin healing and muscle relaxation.

With the help of our highly skilled worldwide team, we develop and implement a wide range of innovative textile and hard surface technology solutions working with today's most sought after consumer and specialty brands.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Forward-looking statements provide an opinion as to the effect of certain events and trends on the business. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward looking statements. The use of any words such as "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the development potential of the Company's products.

Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements as the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors affect the Company's business, or if the Company's estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate. Therefore, the Company cannot provide any assurance that forward-looking statements will materialize. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason except as required by applicable securities laws.

Any financial outlook or future oriented financial information in this news release, as defined by applicable securities legislation, has been approved by management of iFabric. Such financial outlook or future oriented financial information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's reasonable expectations as to the anticipated results of its proposed business activities. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please contact:

Hilton Price, CFO

Tel: 647.465.6161

Email: hilton.price@rogers.com

Tina Byers - Investor Relations

Tel: 905.330.3275

Email: tina@adcap.ca

Gary Perkins - Investor Relations

Tel: 416.882.0020

Email: garyperkins@rogers.com

Jean-Francois Dube (Quebec) - Investor Relations

Tel: 514.233.9551

Email: jfdube@mac.com

Website: www.ifabriccorp.com

SOURCE: iFabric Corp

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644626/iFabric-Announces-Signing-of-License-Agreement-with-Performance-Luxury-Brand-Tumi-to-Integrate-PROTX2-Technology
Ameresco expands international presence through partnership with renewables subsidiary of Greece's largest power generation company, Public Power Corporation

Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE: AMRC), a leading cleantech integrator specializing in energy efficiency and renewable energy, today announced that its wind turbine project at Xerakia Dilinata of the Municipality of Kefalonia, Greece has completed construction and is in operation. The project is Ameresco's first international wind project completed on continental Europe and expands the company's presence as a leader in renewable energy. It was secured as part of a design, build, operate and maintain contract (DBOM) contract awarded to Ameresco in 2019 by PPC Renewables SA (PPCR), a wholly owned subsidiary of Public Power Corporation SA, Greece's largest power generation company.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005316/en/

Ameresco's 9.2MW Wind Project for PPC Renewables Completes Construction in Kefalonia, Greece. (Photo: Business Wire)

Located against the picturesque backdrop of Kefalonia Island, the Kefalonia Wind Project tasked Ameresco with the design and construction of four 2.3 MW wind turbines that will be operated and maintained under an additional 14-year fixed price contract. The 9.8 million renewable energy project will supply clean energy to the area, ensuring that the island's natural beauty and resources are preserved for future generations.

"In benefitting our local communities with enhanced renewable energy solutions, we contribute to Greece's standing as a notable international player in the renewable energy space," said Konstantinos Mavros, ceo of PPCR. "We have been pleased to work together in partnership with the Ameresco team and are proud to be a part of such a meaningful initiative."

The Kefalonia Wind Project will advance Greece's environmental sustainability goals by improving the country's overall environmental footprint and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 22,000 tons each year. That figure results in savings equivalent to 4,753 passenger cars not driven, 2,475,526 gallons of gasoline not burned or 28,731 acres of pine forest conserved. PPCR will also return 3% of revenues received from the project to local governments and communities as an added cost savings benefit from the project.

"The beauty of Kefalonia is unmatched and we're thrilled to be contributing to the preservation and betterment of the municipality and its residents both fiscally and environmentally," said Britta MacIntosh, senior vice president at Ameresco. "This project demonstrates our commitment at Ameresco to providing renewable energy solutions that advance sustainability goals globally."

To learn more about the energy efficiency solutions offered by Ameresco, visit www.ameresco.com/energy-efficiency/.

About Ameresco, Inc.

Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading cleantech integrator and renewable energy asset developer, owner and operator. Our comprehensive portfolio includes energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions delivered to clients throughout North America and the United Kingdom. Ameresco's sustainability services in support of clients' pursuit of Net Zero include upgrades to a facility's energy infrastructure and the development, construction, and operation of distributed energy resources. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with Federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,000 employees providing local expertise in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.

About Public Power Corporation Renewables SA

PPC Renewables SA (PPCR), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Public Power Corporation SA, Greece's largest power generation company. In 2006, PPCR inherited all Renewable Energy Source (RES) related activities (wind, small hydroelectric, solar and geothermal) from PPC, including all its technological innovation, know-how and expertise in the field of power generation. The company owns 32 Wind Farms, 18 Small Hydro and 28 Photovoltaic Power Plants with its total installed capacity reaching 250MW. For more information, visit www.ppcr.gr

The announcement of a customer's entry into, or completion of, a construction project contract is not necessarily indicative of the timing or amount of revenue from such contract, of the company's overall revenue for any particular period or of trends in the company's overall total project backlog. This project was included in our previously reported contracted backlog as of March 31, 2021.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005316/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Ameresco: Leila Dillon, 508-661-2264, news@ameresco.com
5 May 2021 For immediate release

Anglo African Agriculture plc

("AAA" or the "Company")

Results of the Annual General Meeting

At the Annual General Meeting ("AGM") of Anglo African Agriculture plc ("AAA" or the "Company") held earlier today, 5 May 2021, all resolutions were duly passed. These were as follows:

To receive the accounts for the period ended 31 October 2020 , together with the report of the directors and auditors. To re-elect Matthew Bonner as a director. To re-elect Andrew Monk as a director. To re-appoint Jeffreys Henry LLP as auditors of the Company. To authorise the directors to determine the auditors' remuneration. To approve the directors' remuneration report. To authorise the directors to allot shares. To dis-apply pre-emption rights. To permit the Company to hold general meetings (other than its AGM) on 14 clear days' notice.

Resolutions 6, 8 and 9 were decided by a poll vote, results are below:

RESOLUTION VOTES FOR % OF VOTES CAST VOTES AGAINST % OF VOTES CAST VOTES CAST IN TOTAL TOTAL VOTES CAST AS A % OF ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL VOTES WITHHELD 6 2,489,621 99.99% 200 0.01% 2,489,821 11.33% 0 8 2,489,621 99.99% 200 0.01% 2,489,821 11.33% 0 9 2,489,621 99.99% 200 0.01% 2,489,821 11.33% 0

The full text of the resolutions can be found in the Notice of Annual General Meeting dated 12 April 2021 on the Company's website at www.aaaplc.com.

For further information please contact:
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - CDW Corp. (CDW) announced that Collin Kebo, chief financial officer, plans to retire upon completion of a search and successful transition process for his successor. Kebo joined the company in 2008 as vice president, financial planning and analysis; assumed responsibilities as CFO for international operations in 2015; and became CFO of CDW in January 2018. CDW Corporation announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.40 per common share to be paid on June 10, 2021 to all stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 25, 2021. This represents a 5.3 percent increase over last year's dividend. CDW Corp. delivered a 26 percent year-over-year increase in first quarter non-GAAP net income per share. The company now expects 2021 constant currency non-GAAP net income per share growth of low double-digits. 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.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / Tartisan Nickel Corp. (CSE:TN)(OTC PINK:TTSRF)(FSE:A2D) ("Tartisan", or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the Kenbridge Nickel Project, Kenora Mining District, Ontario. The Company had contracted Crone Geophysics & Exploration Limited to perform a surface Time Domain Electromagnetic ("TDEM") survey at Kenbridge North, 2.5km to the north of the Kenbridge Deposit, as well as borehole geophysics at the known Kenbridge Deposit. The Kenbridge North target is interpreted to represent similar rock types that host the Kenbridge Deposit.

Results of the surface "TDEM" survey at Kenbridge North shows a strong conductor known as "KBN1" which appears to extend minimally over 400 meters with a similar strike direction as the Kenbridge Deposit. A second conductor, "KBN2" was also identified on Kenbridge North, specifically on the northern portion of the grid. "KBN2" requires further ground follow up in the upcoming exploration program. Interpretation of the Kenbridge North area has highlighted gabbro hosted mineralization similar to the Kenbridge Deposit. Previous shallow historical drilling from the 1950's intersected gabbro host rocks with disseminated sulphide. The current "TDEM" survey indicates that the 'KBN1" anomaly represents a stronger conductor than historical drilling had suggested. Additional modelling of the data is on-going and will help to determine the optimal depth to drill these conductors.

Results of the borehole "TDEM" survey conducted on historic drill holes KB07-180 and KB07-194 at the Kenbridge Deposit, suggest that conductive material does in fact continue to depth and to the north of the Kenbridge Deposit. Historical drill hole KB07-180 located on the north side of the Kenbridge Deposit intersected 2.95% Ni over 21.5 meters with the "TDEM" modelling indicating a strong in-hole anomaly. Tartisan first pass drilling will be focused on testing below and along strike to the north of the known Kenbridge Deposit and at Kenbridge North. Results from the borehole geophysics will be utilized to assist in drill hole target identification and focus on targets with the highest conductivity and potentially higher-grade sulphide concentrations. The Tartisan first pass drill program intention will be to increase the mineral resource estimate and overall nickel and copper grade of the Kenbridge Deposit.

Tartisan Nickel Corp. has begun preparations and intends to commence a drill program on the down plunge, down dip and north strike extensions to the known Kenbridge Deposit as well as the Kenbridge North targets. The Company will inform shareholders when drilling has commenced at the Kenbridge Project.

Tartisan Nickel Corp. has previously news released the updated Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") of the Kenbridge Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project, Atikwa Lake Area, NW Ontario (September 17, 2020). Tartisan has also previously news released that P&E Mining Consultants Inc. has been contracted to oversee and proceed with the updating of the historic Preliminary Economic Assessment technical report ("PEA") on the Kenbridge Project (February 2, 2021). The "PEA" will identify the critical next steps the Company needs to take to move the Kenbridge Deposit towards a Bankable Feasibility Study including permitting, geotechnical, environmental, and geological considerations.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Dean MacEachern, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

About Tartisan Nickel Corp.

Tartisan Nickel Corp. is a Canadian based mineral exploration and development company whose flag ship asset is the Kenbridge Nickel Deposit located in the Kenora Mining District, Ontario. Tartisan also owns; the Sill Lake Silver Property in Sault St. Marie, Ontario as well as the Don Pancho Manganese-Zinc-Lead-Silver Project in Peru.

Tartisan Nickel Corp. also owns an equity stake in; Eloro Resources Limited, Class 1 Nickel and Technologies Limited, Peruvian Metals Corp. and Silver Bullet Mines Corp.

Tartisan Nickel Corp. common shares are listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE:TN)(OTC PINK:TTSRF)(FSE:A2D). Currently, there are 104,333,606 shares outstanding (110,358,714 fully diluted).

For further information, please contact Mark Appleby, President & CEO and a Director of the Company, at 416-804-0280 (info@tartisannickel.com). Additional information about Tartisan Nickel Corp. can be found at the Company's website at www.tartisannickel.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (operated by CNSX Markets Inc.) has neither approved nor disapproved of the contents of this press release.

SOURCE: Tartisan Nickel Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644667/Tartisan-Nickel-Corp-Provides-Ground-and-Borehole-Electromagnetic-Update-for-the-Kenbridge-Nickel-Project-Kenora-Mining-District-Ontario
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - While reporting financial results for the first quarter on Wednesday, energy infrastructure company Sempra Energy (SRE) affirmed its adjusted earnings guidance for the full-year 2021. For fiscal 2021, Sempra Energy continues to project adjusted earnings in the range of $7.50 to $8.10 per share. On average, 16 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report earnings of $8.07 per share for the year. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. 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.
BERKELEY, Calif., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kiwa is partnering with PV Evolution Labs (PVEL) to support PVEL's growth and strengthen the Kiwa Group's presence in renewable energy

Kiwa, an international leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) has signed a partnership agreement with PVEL, the leading independent test lab for the global downstream solar and energy storage industry. Kiwa is investing in PVEL's growth as a new member of the Kiwa Group. The companies will collaborate to advance their industry-leading test programs and certification schemes, and to better serve their clients around the world.

Jenya Meydbray, CEO of PVEL, commented, "We are thrilled to join the Kiwa Group and establish a physical presence for PVEL in the European market and beyond. Thanks to our new partnership, we can leverage Kiwa's global consortium of laboratories to bring PVEL's bankability testing to a broader network of solar and energy storage manufacturers, investors and project developers."



Paul Hesselink, CEO of Kiwa, said: "While Kiwa is already active in the solar and energy storage markets, our partnership with PVEL significantly expands our footprint in renewables, particularly in the U.S. By welcoming PVEL into the Kiwa Group, we can provide our customers worldwide with a one-stop-shop for testing, inspection and data services that de-risk solar and energy storage projects."

About Kiwa

Kiwa is an independent global leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC). The company's core businesses are supported and strengthened by (strictly separated) training and consultancy services. With its TIC and adjacent services, Kiwa creates trust in its customers' products, services, processes, (management) systems and employees. It does so in a wide variety of market segments, ranging from drinking water and (renewable) energy, construction and healthcare to food, feed & farm and medical & pharma. Kiwa has clients in manufacturing and process industries, (business) services, public and private utilities, governments and international institutions. Kiwa employs over 5000 people from more than 100 offices in over 30 countries across Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America. The company generates an annual turnover of over 500 million euros. Kiwa originates from and has its headquarters in Rijswijk, the Netherlands. (www.kiwa.com)

About PV Evolution Labs (PVEL)

PVEL is the leading independent lab for the downstream solar and energy storage industry and a member of the Kiwa Group. As a bankability testing pioneer, PVEL has accumulated more than a decade of measured reliability and performance data for PV and storage equipment. Today PVEL provides developers, investors and asset owners with a suite of technical services for mitigating risk, optimizing financing and improving system performance throughout the project lifecycle. PVEL's flagship Product Qualification Programs for PV modules, inverters and energy storage systems connect manufacturers with a global network of 400+ downstream partners representing 30+ gigawatts of annual buying power. Learn how PVEL makes data matter at pvel.com.

Contact for more information

For more information, please contact:

Tori Clifford , PVEL Head of Marketing, Tori.Clifford@pvel.com, phone +1 (301) 717 6796.

, PVEL Head of Marketing, Tori.Clifford@pvel.com, phone +1 (301) 717 6796. George Mentjox , Kiwa Corporate Communication, George.Mentjox@kiwa.com, phone +31 6 5331 5701.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1501315/PVEL_LLC_partnerships_Kiwa.jpg
Offering Expertise and Custom-Built Models for its Clients to Enable Client-Specific AI Value and Differentiation

NEW YORK, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Epiq, a global technology-enabled services leader for corporate legal departments and law firms, today announced that it is providing a unique combination of pre-built AI models, a team of experts, and an innovative program to help its Epiq eDiscovery Managed Services clients create, build, and nurture their own AI model libraries based on their specific practices and data sets. Epiq's dedicated eDiscovery Managed Services organization has long led the industry with its programmatic and tailored approach to eDiscovery and service delivery innovation. Its application of advanced AI technology within a proven eDiscovery managed services delivery model makes Epiq the first to offer law firms and corporate legal departments managed AI services-including unlimited access to industry-leading AI platforms such as Brainspace and NexLP from Reveal, a global provider of the leading AI-powered eDiscovery platform.



According to the 2021 ELM MarketView report to be released this month by Hyperion Research*, over 42% of law departments plan to invest in AI and machine learning in the next two years, with 34% investing in this technology for the first time. While corporate law departments and law firms are increasingly adopting advanced technologies to digitally transform their work, many teams have had challenges implementing AI, or harnessing their own data to train AI models to give them unique value and competitive advantage. Even experienced eDiscovery teams may lack sufficient knowledge, ample staff to train, or the ability to utilize AI beyond basic use cases such as Technology Assisted Review (TAR) and Continuous Active Learning (CAL).

"Partnering with Epiq's experienced team of experts has helped us reshape processes by applying AI in a programmatic, consistent way," said Mira Edelman, senior corporate counsel, DISH Network L.L.C. "Epiq enables us to continuously improve and evolve our discovery workflows." According to an analysis by Epiq of DISH's projects over the past two years, DISH has been able to reduce the volume of document reviews by 80-95%. "This has resulted in faster reviews and significant cost savings."

An early adopter of AI, Epiq has developed workflows with the platform to solve complex challenges. Epiq works with its clients to utilize Reveal's pre-built AI models, including models for common litigation topics including sensitive data, employment, and labor disputes, as well as providing models to eliminate irrelevant data during an investigation. Beyond using pre-built models, Epiq can help its clients fine-tune these models for their own environment, build models based on their prior eDiscovery activities, and/or Epiq's anonymized data, or create models from scratch.



"With our AI models library program, our goal is to empower our clients to harness AI to create sustainable value that is distinctive to their organizations," said Roger Pilc, president of Epiq Legal Solutions. "This differs from the common industry approaches of many service providers and emerging SaaS vendors, which range from not helping clients harness cumulative learning from their projects, to leveraging client data to train vendor AI models and yield benefits for the vendor, rather than for the client."



Through its partnership with companies such as Reveal, in addition to hands-on support by Epiq's AI implementation experts, and use of Epiq's proprietary technologies, Epiq can help ensure that its clients are successful in taking full advantage of AI's capabilities to achieve new levels of control and efficiency across all phases of eDiscovery and capture important value for their own organizations.



"Reveal and Epiq have a strong partnership centered around our shared passion for providing technology and solutions that drive success and optimize outcomes for our mutual clients," said Wendell Jisa, founder, and CEO of Reveal. "Reveal's recent merger with Brainspace and acquisition of NexLP have solidified our status as the leader in AI technology, further strengthening our partnership with Epiq. Our stack of AI technology, including our AI capabilities, combined with Epiq's world class subject matter experts and innovative client services, puts clients in a superior position to achieve success. We are excited to grow our partnership with Epiq and make the massive benefits of AI technology in the practice of law a reality for our clients."



"As the leading eDiscovery managed services provider, we are constantly pushing the envelope on how our clients can elevate their day-to-day work and achieve better results," said senior vice president, eDiscovery Solutions, Scott Berger. "Our new AI Model Library program, developed with direct input and insights from our active Managed Services client community, will ultimately help our clients find evidence earlier in a case, reduce spend, mitigate risk, and continuously improve outcomes."

To learn more about Epiq's industry leading Managed Services offering, visit us here.

*Hyperion Research is now part of Epiq, with its acquisition of Hyperion Global Partners in November 2020.

About Epiq

Epiq, a global technology-enabled services leader to the legal industry and corporations, takes on large-scale, increasingly complex tasks for corporate counsel, law firms, and business professionals with efficiency, clarity, and confidence. Clients rely on Epiq to streamline the administration of business operations, class action and mass tort, court reporting, eDiscovery, regulatory, compliance, restructuring, and bankruptcy matters. Epiq subject-matter experts and technologies create efficiency through expertise and deliver confidence to high-performing clients around the world. Learn more at https://www.epiqglobal.com.

About Reveal

Reveal, with Brainspace technology, is a global provider of the leading AI-powered eDiscovery platform. Fueled by powerful AI technology and backed by the most experienced team of data scientists in the industry, Reveal's cloud-based software offers a full suite of eDiscovery solutions all on one seamless platform. Users of Reveal include law firms, Fortune 500 corporations, legal service providers, government agencies and financial institutions in more than 40 countries across five continents. Featuring deployment options in the cloud or on-premise, an intuitive user design and multilingual user interfaces, Reveal is modernizing the practice of law, saving users time, money and offering them a competitive advantage. For more information, visit http://www.revealdata.com.

Press Contact

Catherine Ostheimer

Epiq

+1 203 921 9700

costheimer@epiqglobal.com
Malibu, CA (90265)

Today

Abundant sunshine. High 68F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

Tonight

A clear sky. Low 53F. NW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (OTCQB:CLSH) (CSE:CLSH), the 'Company' or 'CLS', a diversified cannabis company operating as Cannabis Life Sciences, was featured on The Stock Day Podcast this week. President and COO of the Company, Andrew Glashow, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly.

Jolly began the interview by commenting on a recent release detailing the Company's expansion outside of Nevada. "We are now in New Mexico with our City Trees brand. We will be rolling that out this week, which provides us with a really interesting market opportunity," shared Glashow. "New Mexico just enacted a recreational cannabis bill," he added. "We hope to be a major brand [in] the marketplace; we already have penetration through our partnership with Herbal Edibles."

When asked if there are any other states the Company is eyeing for the future, Glashow noted, "Currently, we are in discussions with two other jurisdictions, one on the East Coast and the other one is a little bit closer to Nevada," explained Glashow.

"We're comfortable operating a dispensary in a highly competitive market. We have also taken our City Trees brand and relaunched it about six months ago, and the traction that we're getting is really phenomenal in the state of Nevada. So, we want to bring those same practices, principles, and SOPs to other jurisdictions," said Glashow. "We are the number one selling tincture in the state of Nevada, and we think we can be a force in whatever market that we go to."

Jolly then asked about the return of Nevada tourism and its effect on revenues. "We've been focused on the local business. We try to focus on locals as it represents about 85% to 95% of our business," said Glashow. "By 2022 or 2023 at the latest, Vegas could be a place where 45 or 50 million people visit, and we will absolutely be a beneficiary of that," said Glashow. "In the meantime, our business continues to grow and set record after record," he added. "With our City Trees products, we've seen 2x to 2.5x growth over the past year and that's a testament to every single person that is currently working at City Trees and every single person that is working at Oasis Cannabis as well."

When asked about April results for the Company, Glashow noted that results for the month would likely come by early next week. "I can only say that it was a really terrific month for us on a number of fronts," Glashow stated. "We had a very strong month of April across all categories."

To close the interview, Glashow shared that the Company continues to execute at a high level. "We think that our best days are in front of us and we could not be more excited for our relationship with the wonderful people of New Mexico," said Glashow, before elaborating on the Company's expansion outside of Nevada. "We could not be more excited about CLS today."

To hear Andrew Glashow's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here.

Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/

About CLS Holdings USA, Inc.

CLS Holdings USA, Inc. (CLSH) is a diversified cannabis company that acts as an integrated cannabis producer and retailer through its Oasis Cannabis subsidiaries in Nevada and plans to expand to other states. CLS stands for "Cannabis Life Sciences," in recognition of the Company's patented proprietary method of extracting various cannabinoids from the marijuana plant and converting them into products with a higher level of quality and consistency. The Company's business model includes licensing operations, processing operations, processing facilities, sale of products, brand creation and consulting services. https://www.clsholdingsinc.com/

Twitter: @CLSHoldingsUSA

Oasis Cannabis has operated a cannabis dispensary in the Las Vegas market since dispensaries first opened in Nevada in 2015 and has been recognized as one of the top marijuana retailers in the state. Its location within walking distance to the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas in combination with its delivery service to residents allows it to efficiently serve both locals and tourists in the Las Vegas area. In February 2019, it was named "Best Dispensary for Pot Pros" by Desert Companion Magazine. In August 2017, the company commenced wholesale offerings of cannabis in Nevada with the launch of its City Trees brand of cannabis concentrates and cannabis-infused products. http://oasiscannabis.com

Founded in 2017, City Trees is a Nevada-based cannabis cultivation, production and distribution company. Offering a wide variety of products with consistent results, City Trees products are available in numerous dispensaries throughout the state of Nevada. https://citytrees.com

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and 'forward-looking statements' as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, the 'forward-looking statements'). These statements relate to, among other things, the impact of the COVID-19 virus on our business, the results of our initiatives to retain our employees and strengthen our relationships with our customers and community during the pandemic, the effect of our initiatives to expand market share and achieve growth during and following the pandemic, results of operations and financial performance, anticipated future events, and the effectiveness of our business practices during the pandemic. The continued spread of COVID-19 could have, and in some cases already has had, an adverse impact on our business, operations and financial results, including through disruptions in our cultivation and processing activities, supply chains and sales channels, and retail dispensary operations as well as a deterioration of general economic conditions including a possible national or global recession. Due to the uncertainties associated with the continued spread of COVID-19 and the timing of vaccinations, it is not possible to estimate its impact on our business, operations or financial results; however, the impact could be material. In some cases, you can identify forward looking statements by terminology such as 'may,' 'might,' 'will,' 'should,' 'intends,' 'expects,' 'plans,' 'goals,' 'projects,' 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'estimates,' 'predicts,' 'potential,' or 'continue' or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, are uncertain and involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, levels of activity or performance to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity or performance. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date that they were made. These cautionary statements should be considered together with any written or oral forward-looking statements that we may issue in the future. Except as required by applicable law, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform these statements to reflect actual results, later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. See CLS Holdings USA filings with the SEC and on its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com for additional details.

Contact Information:

Corporate:

Chairman and CEO

Jeff Binder

President and COO

Andrew Glashow

888-438-9132

Investor Relations:

investors@clsholdingsinc.com

About The "Stock Day" Podcast

Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America.

Stock Day Media

(602) 821-1102

SOURCE: CLS Holdings USA, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644491/CLS-Holdings-USA-Inc-Discusses-Expansion-into-New-Mexico-and-Other-Jurisdictions-with-The-Stock-Day-Podcast
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / XS Financial Inc. ("XS Financial", "XSF" or the "Company") (CSE:XSF)(OTCQB:XSHLF), a specialty finance company providing equipment leasing solutions to cannabis companies in the United States, is pleased to announce that David Kivitz, CEO of XS Financial, will be presenting at Canaccord Genuity's 5th Annual Global Cannabis Conference on Tuesday May 11, 2021, which is being held virtually this year. Canaccord Genuity's Annual Global Cannabis Conference is an investor-focused event that engages a global network of leading players in the cannabis industry

Conference Details

Date: Tuesday, May 11th, 2021

Presentation Details: Tuesday, May 11th at 3:30-3:55pm EDT

David Kivitz will also be conducting 1x1 meetings throughout the conference with institutional investor groups and family offices. In order to schedule a meeting, please do so through the conference portal or email IR@XSFinancial.com.

About XS Financial

XS Financial provides the U.S. cannabis industry access to competitively-priced, non-dilutive CAPEX financing solutions. Founded in 2017, the Company specializes in providing financing for equipment and other qualified capital expenditures to growing cannabis companies, including cultivators, processors, manufacturers and testing laboratories. In addition, XSF has partnered with over 150 original equipment manufacturers (OEM) through its network of Preferred Vendor partnerships. This powerful dynamic provides an end-to-end solution for customers, resulting in recurring revenues, strong profit margins, and a proven business model for XSF stakeholders. The Company's subordinate voting shares are traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "XSF" and in the United States on the OTCQB under the symbol " XSHLF." For more information, visit: www.xsfinancial.com.

For inquiries please contact:

XS Financial Inc.

David Kivitz

Chief Executive Officer 310.683.2336

ir@xsfinancial.com Antony Radbod

Chief Operating Officer

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements", collectively "forward-looking information", within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking information is not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent the beliefs and expectations regarding future events about the business and the industry and markets in which XS Financial operates, as well as plans or objectives of management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". Forward-looking information contained herein may include but is not limited to, any additional leasing opportunities and the ability to capitalize on such and the timing thereof. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. XS Financial Inc., does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: XS Financial Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644649/XS-Financial-to-Present-at-Canaccord-Genuitys-5th-Annual-Global-Cannabis-Conference
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / EYEFI Group Technologies Inc. (CSE:EGTI) ("the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Sharp to EYEFI's Australian based advisory board to assist with expansion activities. Mr Sharp is General Manager of Technology Partnerships and Innovation at Transurban (a $40B road network operator in Australia, the United States and Canada). Mr Sharp has extensive experience and personal contacts in many industries including information technology, telecommunications, transport, mining, health and construction industries.

EYEFI's IOT products are being sold to large enterprise and government clients having signed channel partnerships with Telstra and Fujitsu. EYEFI is accelerating its sales and marketing activities and seeking to pitch to more customers that require large scale deployments of tens of thousands of IOT devices with situation awareness, asset protection and monitoring capabilities.

Mr Sharp has joined EYEFI's based advisory board to assist the Company with strategic introductions to potential new customers and channel partners. Several key targets have already been identified.

Mr Sharp said:

"I'm very much looking forward to supporting and collaborating with EYEfi, leveraging their innovative products across a range of exciting and new applications".

Jeff Sharp's remuneration will include 20,000 options with an exercise price of $1.18 with 12-month expiry. An additional 100,000 options will be granted with an exercise price of $1.30, with vesting conditions (remain as consultant and provide a minimum of 3 strategic referrals) with 18-month expiry. On exercising the options, the shares will have 4 months and 1 day hold period.

---- end ---

About EYEfi in detail:

EYEfi is connecting the world's people and devices with the world around them, in real-time and in ways not previously possible.

EYEfi is a software and electronics engineering company that has developed, patented and commercialized an innovative spatial technology; spatial, predictive, approximation and radial convolution (SPARC) and an associated product suite, that turns sensors, cameras and smartphones (fixed, mobile, airborne, portable or handheld) into geo-target co-ordinate acquisition devices.

EYEfi has also developed IIoT sensor hardware and associated cloud software, as a second pillar within its product offering. EYEfi Cloud is a next generation cloud platform that provides a secure and centralized environment where customers can manage their EYEfi product deployments and applications.

On behalf of the board of directors of

EYEFI GROUP TECHNOLOGIES INC.

"Simon Langdon"

Simon Langdon, CEO

For more information contact:

Simon Langdon

Chief Executive Officer

EYEfi Group Technologies Inc.

Mark van der Horst

Investor Relations

EYEfi Group Technologies Inc.

Telephone: +1 (604) 760 7604

Email: mark@galecapital.com

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information.

The forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable assumptions, estimates, opinions and analyses of management made in light of its experience and perception of historical trends in the delivery of services through its Cloud, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors management of the Company believes are appropriate, relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made. All of these assumptions, estimates and opinions will necessarily be subject to change due to future events and other circumstances outside the control of the Company, including the effect of the Covid 19 virus. The Company has based the forward looking information on various material assumptions, including: despite the threat of the Covid 19 virus, the Company will sustain or increase profitability although on a slower projection then previously planned, and will be able to fund its operations with existing capital and projected revenue from its current agreements with its Channel Partners; the Company will be able to attract and retain key personnel in future if required; the general business, economic, financial market, regulatory and political conditions in which the Company operates will remain positive as its services can be provided in the Company's Cloud although deliver of its hardware may be affect by supply chain disruptions; that the general regulatory environment will not change in a manner adverse to the business of the Company; the tax treatment of the Company and its subsidiary will remain constant and the Company will not become subject to any material legal proceedings; the economy generally; competition, and anticipated and unanticipated costs.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors, assumptions and exclusions is not exhaustive.

The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws or the Canadian Securities Exchange. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

SOURCE: EYEFI Group Technologies Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644672/EYEFI-Appoints-Industry-Veteran-to-Assist-with-Sales-and-Marketing
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - LaSalle Exploration Corp. (TSXV: LSX) ("LaSalle" or the "Company") is pleased to provide the following overview of its 2021 exploration plan to aggressively explore all three of its high-grade gold and gold-copper properties Radisson, Blakelock and Egan located in Quebec and Ontario.

Commented Ian Campbell, President and CEO of LaSalle "We are really pleased to launch fully funded comprehensive exploration programs on all three of our high-grade gold properties which will drive an exciting year for our shareholders. The program will include our first ever drill program at Radisson in July".

Radisson Property

Winter geophysical survey identified several new high priority targets

Largest ever field program set to begin

First diamond drill program to commence mid-July

The Radisson Property, is located in the Eeyou Istchee - James Bay Territory in Quebec. Field work is set to commence in early June and will begin with follow-up prospecting and mapping on the Goldhawk and Goldfang high grade gold discoveries as well as numerous new high-priority targets identified throughout the survey area in a recently completed 84 line-kilometre induced polarization survey.

The Goldhawk and Goldfang Zones were discovered by prospecting late in the 2020 field season. At Goldhawk, grab samples of quartz veins hosted in diorite ranged from 1.55 grams per tonne (g/t) gold to the higher grades of 36.71 g/t and 64.50 g/t gold while grab samples of biotite-altered diorite host with no quartz veins but with 1% to 4% fine-grained disseminated pyrite and pyrrhotite returned high grade assays of 6.72 g/t and 9.30 g/t gold. Goldfang, located 2.5 km east of the Goldhawk Zone, returned anomalous to high-grade copper and gold from grab samples with values ranging from 1.01 g/t to 5.93 g/t gold and up to 48 g/t silver and 2.34% copper.

The summer program will also include geological mapping, prospecting and sampling on numerous other areas that have received little work to date, particularly on the eastern and southwestern portions of the property.

In mid-July, the Company will initiate its first drill program on Radisson, which will consist of a minimum of 3,000 metres testing 8-10 prioritized targets. All contracts related to the drilling program have been executed.

Blakelock Property

15 kilometres on Casa Berardi Break

LiDAR and high-resolution airborne magnetic survey set to begin

Land position increased

The 2021 field season will begin with LiDAR and detailed high resolution airborne magnetic surveys over the entire property. Contracts with geophysical contractors have been executed and this work is set to begin shortly and will be completed by mid to late May. These surveys will provide detailed structural information designed to directly assist in geological mapping and delineating possible gold structures under shallow overburden covering large portions of the Property. These surveys will be particularly useful in expediting exploration of the sediment package which traverses the central portion of the Property. This sequence of rocks is typical of those hosting the Casa Berardi gold deposit and is a prime exploration target for additional gold discoveries at Blakelock; significantly, these rock sequences have seen only very little exploration.

Diamond drill testing by previous operators on the Porphyry Creek Zone (PCZ) discovered a significant gold system characterized by the presence of multiple anomalous gold zones with some significant high-grade mineralized intervals returning: 10.9 g/t gold over 10.25 metres, including 210 g/t gold over 0.4 metres; 6.16 g/t gold over 4.55 metres; and 11.53 g/t gold over 6.0 metres, including 81.9 g/t gold over 0.7 metres. The PCZ has been identified over a 500-metre strike length and has been tested to generally shallow depths of 150 metres vertical depth, with the deepest hole testing to only 250-metres vertical depth on one section.

Blakelock is central to one of the world's most prolific gold-producing regions in the Abitibi greenstone belt, covering 15 kilometres of the Casa Berardi Break ("CBB"), 55 kilometres west of the multi-million ounce Casa Berardi mine operated by Hecla Mining Company.

Egan Property

Prospecting high grade gold targets underway

LiDAR and high-resolution airborne magnetic survey in May

Central to world class gold camps

Field work has been initiated on the Egan Property with a prospecting crew onsite, focussed on priority areas indicated by the winter compilation work.

A LiDAR and detailed airborne magnetics survey is set to be flown over the entire property. Contracts with geophysical contractors have been executed and this work is set to begin shortly and is expected to be completed by late June. These surveys will provide detailed structural information designed to directly assist in prioritizing areas to focus geological mapping, tracing gold bearing structures such as those hosting the high grade E1 and E2 gold occurrences and delineating possible additional structures under shallow overburden which covers portions of the property for the purpose of defining first drill targets.

In August, the Company will launch a full-scale exploration program including geological mapping, line-cutting, geophysics and surface trenching for the purpose of defining drill targets.

Field Work and COVID-19 Protocols

The health and safety of the staff at site, and the communities in which the Company operates, is of paramount importance to LaSalle. All employees and contractors work according to the most recent government protocols on COVID-19 restrictions, which define the measures and constraints to be adopted in order to limit the risks associated with COVID-19, ensuring the health and safety of everyone involved in the exploration programs.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release was reviewed and approved by Alan Sexton, P.Geo., Vice-President, Exploration of LaSalle Exploration Corp., who is a non-independent qualified person for the technical disclosure as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

About LaSalle Exploration Corp.:

LaSalle Exploration Corp.is an exploration company focused on less explored districts of the Abitibi, recognized for mining investment based on mineral potential, policy and success, and the developing Eeyou Itschee-James Bay region in Quebec as well as the high-grade gold Blakelock and Egan properties located in northeastern Ontario. LaSalle Exploration Corp. is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") under the symbol "LSX". Additional information about LaSalle can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.lasallecorp.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

LASALLE EXPLORATION CORP.

"Ian Campbell"

President and Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: (604) 647-3966

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82895
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - B2B marketing and lead generation firm Mezzanine Growth has announced the appointment of Andrew Green to the role of Vice President, Client Strategy. In this new role, Andrew will lead Mezzanine's work with B2B companies that are transforming their marketing to increase their sales pipelines and revenues.

Andrew's experience in diverse industries, especially helping Global 500 manufacturers and technology companies build scalable and measurable lead generation systems, will enable Mezzanine's clients to achieve best-in-class capabilities and quickly get to ROI. A key facet of Andrew's new role is solution design and architecture, which includes determining the best tools and technology for a company's growth objectives and working closely with clients to implement systems and processes at the right time.

The pandemic has accelerated the trend to digital purchasing, which means digital marketing has become more powerful - and more important than ever. B2B companies are using more sophisticated marketing and lead generation strategies that are measurable and closely tied to business results. And that's where Andrew's strength lies: bringing together marketing, lead generation and ROI is his "sweet spot."

"Andrew's new role gives all of Mezzanine's clients access to his extensive strategic experience in building growth engines," says Lisa Shepherd, Mezzanine President. "Mezzanine has grown significantly in the last two years in response to B2B companies investing more in marketing to generate leads, and Andrew will help them accelerate their success.

"I am a driver of growth," says Andrew. "This new role lets me harness the shared knowledge of all our marketing and lead generation experts so we can help B2B companies grow. A new framework for how we deliver client work will set us up for scale, repeatability, enhanced quality and ultimately, greater impact. I'm excited to further refine our successful approach - and be able to do it for more B2B companies looking to take their success to the next level."

###

About Mezzanine

Mezzanine Growth works with senior leaders in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and technology companies to generate leads and accelerate sales pipelines. We deliver immediate impact through lead generation and marketing programs while developing your processes, people, and technology with our proven framework. Since 2005 Mezzanine's award-winning process has helped over 250 business-to-business companies create powerful growth engines and achieve a 3x return on investment.

CONTACT

Lisa Shepherd

President, Mezzanine Growth

416-583-5831

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82904
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Masivo Silver Corp. (TSXV: MASS) ("Masivo or the "Company") is very pleased to announce that it is quickly moving forward to define drill targets for a "Phase I" drilling program in the mineralized JP mining claims on primarily private land, which cover the historic "Boston" and "Montgomery" mines.

The Boston mine and surrounding area has seen minimal exploration since it closed at the onset of WWII. Historical shipments of high-grade silver, gold and copper reported grades up to 226 g/t silver, 9 g/t gold and 6.8% copper, with localized zones of up to 2,880 g/t silver, 25.7 g/t gold and 32% copper (USGS Publication: Bulletin 847-A).

Previous exploration work completed by Tenneco Minerals (1987) and Minnova U.S. (Falconbridge) (1990) has resulted in grades up to 26.19 g/t gold and 59.31 g/t silver reported in RC drill hole "Con-5" from 70 to 75 feet and rock chip samples of 29.29 g/t gold and 169.03 g/t silver (sample 83770) from the Montgomery mine area.

Masivo Silver QP Brian Brewer and Geo/Board Member Tom Quigley have recently been on site in Nevada at the Boston and Montgomery Mines as well as their Western Skarn areas to collect samples and review the historic data to help define the drill program.

Permitting is expected to be easily obtainable in the short term, as the majority of the drilling will be conducted on wholly controlled private land and the NOI level of disturbance will be quite restricted on BLM land. The permitting process has begun and falls under the supervision of independent QP Brian Brewer.

A Phase I core drilling program will be proposed in the very near future, taking into consideration the new assay results as well as the historical data.

Independent QP Brian Brewer stated, "It is apparent that the Boston Mine project is host to widespread Skarn type mineralization. I was able to observe visible gold (VG) in several hand specimens that were collected from the Boston and Montgomery mine areas. This further supports that high-grade gold mineralization is associated with the Skarn alteration."

David Coburn, Masivo Silver Corp. CEO, stated, "We are very happy and excited to be advancing quickly into a drilling program and to further explore these historical claims located in close proximity to very important mines that are currently and have been in production for so many years in the State of Nevada."

Rock samples have been sent to Paragon Geochemical of Sparks, Nevada for analysis. These samples will be assayed utilizing fire assay/metallic screen for Au and Ag and Aqua Regia and ICP-OES for a multi element suite.

Historical data reviewed included, but was not limited to; drill data, geophysical data, underground mapping and sampling results and a wide array of various historical reports.

Brian T. Brewer, M.Sc., CPG #11508, is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

About Masivo Silver Corp

Masivo is a silver and gold exploration, development, and ore processing company exploring an aggregate of 14,000+ hectares strategically located in the gold/silver-rich Sierra Madre Occidental Trend in western Mexico. The Company's mill, located on its El Colomo property, is capable of processing up to 300 tons of ore per day. Additional information on Masivo, its current operations and its vision, is available on the Company's website at www.masivosilver.com or from info@masivosilver.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"David Coburn" Chief Executive Officer

For information, please contact the Company:

Phone: 602-315-1231

E-mail: info@masivosilver.com

Website: www.masivosilver.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82916.
Intersects 80.00m @ 1.08 g/t Au including 11.15m @ 3.50 g/t Au

Intersects 2.00m @ 27.32 g/t Au

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Ready Set Gold Corp. (CSE: RDY) (FSE: 0MZ) (OTC PINK: RDYFF) ("Ready Set Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the remaining (7) seven drill holes from its recently completed 13-hole, 2,900 metre, Phase 1 diamond drilling program at its 100%-owned flagship Northshore Gold project, located in the Schreiber-Hemlo greenstone belt in Ontario.

Highlights:

All seven holes have intersected gold mineralization within the A, B and C zones in areas with limited historical drilling.

Hole RSG-21-068 - intersected 80.00 metres (m) of 1.08 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) - including 11.15m @ 3.50 g/t Au hosting a higher-grade interval of 5.00m @ 7.25 g/t Au

Hole RSG-21-069 - intersected 86.50m of 0.89 g/t Au - including 10.5m @ 3.02 g/t Au

Hole RSG-21-070 - intersected 2.00m @ 27.32 g/t Au

Current results provide further confirmation of Ready Set Gold's new geological model for the Northshore project which has re-defined the overall geometry and orientation of the gold zones and increased the exploration potential along strike and to depth. Phase 1 drillhole orientation has also aided in understanding the structural controls on higher-grade mineralization within each of the zones. These structural controls will be evaluated further during near term exploration field programs and used to help design the Phase 2 program.

Phase 1 intersected gold mineralization in all 13 drill holes and in targeted areas with low, historic drill density, or no drilling.

The Northshore project remains underexplored with only ~5% of the area systematically evaluated. Additionally, the depth potential of the gold mineralized zones remains untested with the deepest drill intercepts at 250-300m. The Company believes that the Northshore property shows excellent potential at depth including the potential for high-grade gold zones.

Intersection Highlights Table:

Hole ID From To Length (m) Au (g/t) Zone RSG-21-065 115.70 124.95 9.25 1.38 B RSG-21-066 154.60 156.10 1.50 1.07 B RSG-21-068 24.00 104.00 80.00 1.08 A including 24.00 32.00 8.00 2.66 and including 61.50 104.00 42.50 1.21 and including 92.85 104.00 11.15 3.54 and including 92.85 97.85 5.00 7.25 RSG-21-069 115.50 202.00 86.50 0.89 A including 115.50 158.00 42.50 1.19 and including 115.50 126.00 10.50 3.02 and including 120.00 126.00 6.00 4.71 and including 189.00 202.00 13.00 1.39 RSG-21-070 54.00 57.00 3.00 1.19 A and 130.00 132.00 2.00 27.32 RSG-21-071 64.50 68.00 3.50 1.29 B and 159.00 162.00 3.00 1.62 and 214.00 221.45 7.45 0.83 RSG-21-072 82.00 86.00 4.00 0.88 C and 96.00 96.60 0.60 7.31 and 109.70 110.00 0.30 15.81

*Lengths reported are drill-core lengths, as insufficient drilling has been completed to determine true-widths at this time. All grades are calculated with un-capped gold assays, as insufficient drilling has been completed to determine cap levels for higher-grade intersects.

Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip RSG-21-065 479956 5401379 265 355 -55 RSG-21-066 479825 5401458 275 0 -50 RSG-21-068 479826 5401310 255 350 -50 RSG-21-069 479826 5401310 256 350 -63 RSG-21-070 479745 5401288 256 350 -58 RSG-21-071 479919 5401384 266 0 -63 RSG-21-072 480199 5401476 292 170 -55

*UTM NAD 83 Zone 16 coordinate system

Interpretation:

Holes RSG-21-068 and RSG-21-069 were drilled to crosscut the gold-bearing zones in Zone A in a manner that conforms with the new geological model as illustrated in Figure 1. Both holes intersected significant widths of higher-grade gold mineralization, which indicates the potential of higher-grade, continuous zones within Zone A that were not properly interpreted with historical drilling. Historical drilling for the most part, was oriented sub-parallel to these zones and only targeted one vein orientation. The results of both holes will aid in better understanding how to grow Zone A at depth and along strike.

RSG-21-065, 066 and 071 were all drilled in a south to north direction into the B Zone Structure and are continuing to give the Company confidence in the continuity of this newly modeled northwest-southeast Zone. Further systematic summer/fall field work will help to continue to understand the structural controls on high-grade gold mineralization within Zone B. RSG-21-066 was a 70m step-out to the northwest along the B-zone in an area with no historical drilling and intersected gold-bearing prospective rock.

RSG-21-070 was drilled into an area of gold mineralization with limited exploration on the southwest edge of Zone A, where historical drilling intersected anomalous gold mineralization. The hole was designed to confirm historical results and intersected a high-grade gold-structure. This is interpreted to open up a new potential high-grade area within Zone A.

RSG-21-072 was drilled into the newly interpreted C-zone which has limited historical drilling. The holes intersected several horizons of high-grade and anomalous gold-mineralization within strongly altered and fractured host rock with intense quartz veining. Further surface work this summer/fall is planned on this area to better understand structural controls on high-grade mineralization as well as strike potential.

Brad Lazich, VP of Exploration comments; "These drill results, in addition to those previously reported, continue to increase our confidence in the results of the historical drilling and our new geological model. The information that is provided by the Phase I drill program will now be used to help plan a systematic surface exploration program. This will aid us in developing the Phase II drill program, which will continue testing the different zones along strike and at depth."

Christian Scovenna, CEO & Director comments; "We are extremely happy to report that all holes drilled in Ready Set Gold's first drilling campaign encountered gold mineralization. The intersecting of broad intervals of gold mineralization hosting higher-grade structures is showing us that our understanding of Northshore and our new geological model is certainly progressing in the right direction. What is also greatly exciting for Ready Set Gold and our shareholders, is that our modelling indicates that the mineralization may be open along strike and at depth. By considering a different model of mineralization than previous operators of the project we have potentially unlocked the door to a regionally significant deposit. As very little of the historic drilling has occurred below 250m at Northshore and along strike in our modeled mineralized zones we look forward to completing the next phase of surface exploration and plan for drilling that we hope will continue to expand the known zones and potentially identify new ones."

Phase 1 Summary and Northshore Summer/Fall Programs:

With the Phase 1 maiden drill program now complete the company is planning a systematic surface exploration program at Northshore, which will commence once ground conditions improve. The results of Phase 1 drilling have helped the company establish a new geological model for Northshore, confirmed areas of low drill density within the historic resource estimate and have proven the continuity of the newly modeled zones. These results along with the planned near-term exploration program will aid in designing a Phase II drill program to target growth of each zone along strike and at depth focusing on areas that host higher-grade potential. The near-term surface exploration program will consist of more detailed lithological and structural mapping, sampling, and trenching at targeted areas. The objective of the surface program will be to continue to develop the geological model at Northshore and gain an even better understanding of the structural controls on higher-grade within each of the zones. The company is expecting to release a market update with further details on the objectives and deliverables for said program in the near-term.





Figure 1 - Exploration plan map of Northshore with reported results

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7393/82921_cb1cd48d645c184a_002full.jpg





Figure 2 - Cross-Section A-B showing reported results.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

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Targets:

As a result of Ready Set Gold's new geological model for Northshore the Afric zone has now been divided into Zones A, B and C. This interpretation better fits the modelled lithological and structural controls on the gold mineralization at Afric and will aid the company in growing the resource. Therefore, going forward, we will refer to Zones A, B, C, Gino and Main Vein as the gold bearing zones at Northshore.

"A" Zone - hosts a wide, potentially open pit target, with pervasive gold mineralization over significant widths with multiple higher grade-lenses. The zone is characterized by brittle-ductile shearing hosting pervasive quartz-carbonate veining with sulphide mineralization in stock-work veins, disseminated in host lithologies, and in shear-extensional and extensional quartz veins. The A zone has only previously been explored to approximately 200-250m depth and is also believed to be open along strike for more than 1km in both directions.

"B" Zone - a newly modelled zone that is geologically similar to Zone A (wide, lower grade gold zones hosting higher grade lenses within the broader envelope). The B Zone is 150m north of the A Zone and is interpreted as a parallel structure with a generally east-west strike. The zone is characterized by areas of intense alteration and brittle-ductile shearing defined by pervasive quartz-carbonate veining which hosts sulphide mineralization disseminated in host lithologies and in shear-extensional and extensional quartz veins. The zone remains underexplored and is believed to remain open along strike for more than 1km in both directions.

Additional Zones to be Explored: At least three gold bearing zones to the north of the A and B zones remain underexplored. The C, Gino and Main zones are modelled to be sub-parallel to the A and B zones and have the potential to significantly increase the scope of the Northshore project.

QA/QC and Core Sampling Protocols

Drill core is logged and sampled in a secure core storage facility in Schreiber, Ontario. All samples are cut in half using a diamond saw and shipped to SGS in Sudbury, Ontario for sample preparation. All samples are analysed for gold by SGS using standard Fire-Assay AA techniques. Samples identified with visible gold are also analyzed with up to 1kg metallic screen fire assay. Certified standards and blanks are inserted routinely as part of Ready Set Gold's quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. No QA/QC issues were noted in the results referenced in this release.

Qualified Person and NI-43-101 Disclosure

Brad Lazich, P.Geo. (ON), VP Exploration of Ready Set Gold Corp, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has verified the disclosed data and has approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.

About Ready Set Gold Corporation

Ready Set Gold Corp. is a precious metals exploration company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under symbol RDY and the Bourse Frankfurt Exchange as 0MZ. The Company has consolidated and now owns a 100% interest in the Northshore Gold Property, located in the Schreiber-Hemlo Greenstone Belt near Thunder Bay, Ontario which is prospective for gold and silver mineralization. The Company also owns a 100% interest in two separate claim blocks totaling 4,453 hectares known as the Hemlo Eastern Flanks Project. The Company also holds an option to acquire a 100% undivided interest in a continuous claim block totaling 1,634 hectares comprising the Emmons Peak Project located 50 km south of Dryden, Ontario that is near the Treasury Metals Goliath and Goldlund advanced gold development projects.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

READY SET GOLD Corporation

"Christian Scovenna"

Chief Executive Officer & Director



Email: info@readysetgoldcorp.com

CEO Direct Line: +1 (416) 453-4708

For further information please contact:

Investor Relations

Sean Kingsley - Vice President Corporate Communications Tel: +1 (604) 440-8474



Email: skingsley@readysetgoldcorp.com

www.readysetgoldcorp.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian Securities laws, including that statements related to exploration potential and timing for the remaining assay results. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Ready Set Gold's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analyses made by the Company and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this press release including that the Company will complete the drilling program and on the timeline as anticipated by management and that information will allow Ready Set Gold to gain more confidence in its geological model and to design additional drill programs. Although Ready Set Gold believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; the Covid-19 pandemic; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of Ready Set Gold to implement its business strategies; competition; the Company will not complete the remainder of the Phase 1 drilling program on the timeline as anticipated by management or at all and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial outlook that is incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82921
Fort Lauderdale, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Splash Beverage Group, Inc. (OTCQB: SBEV) (https://www.SplashBeverageGroup.com) ("The Company", "Splash", "SBEV") , a holding company of leading portfolio of beverage brands, announces today that it has consummated an agreement with Copa di Vino distributor Pepin Distributing (https://pepindistributing.com) for its SALT Naturally Flavored 100% Agave Tequila line.

SALT Naturally Flavored 100% Agave Tequila

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Tampa, Florida's Pepin Distributing has been serving its community since 1967 and distributes over 168 premier brands, including Splash's Copa di Vino and now, SALT Naturally Flavored Tequila. The Pepin family has built a beverage empire that has experienced constant growth and has diversified their portfolio of products to better serve their customers.

Since its founding, Pepin Distributing has seen considerable growth, now with annual sales that exceed 10 million cases and 150,000 half barrels of Anheuser Busch and other craft beers and a growing wine and spirits portfolio. The company now employs ~280 people giving SALT Tequila even stronger distribution reach in the rapidly growing Tampa Bay area.

Pepin Distributing

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"We're honored to be in business with the Pepin family enterprise in SE USA," states Splash President & CMO Bill Meissner. "It further proves the synergy among our portfolio of brands and our ever-expanding relationships with each of our distributors. The acquisition of Copa di Vino was a boon for us in a number of ways, and this further proves out our investment model, which is conducive to exponential growth as we continue to expand our sales force and selective acquisitions and/or brand developments."

Try Splash's SALT Naturally Flavored CHOCOLATE Tequila TODAY!





Cannot view this video? Visit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIGzXaraPe4

Follow Splash Beverage Group on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SplashBev

Splash Beverage Group Inc.

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SALT Naturally Flavored Tequila is 100% agave, 80 proof naturally flavored tequila. SALT Tequila is remarkably smooth with a clean and delicate taste. Grown, distilled, and bottled in the region of Jalisco, Mexico, each handcrafted bottle of SALT Tequila is the result of years of hard work, determination and countless blends until they reached perfection. SALT Tequila offers a variety of naturally flavored tequilas including Berry, Citrus and Salted Chocolate.

About Splash Beverage Group, Inc.:

Splash Beverage Group specializes in manufacturing, distribution, sales & marketing of various beverages across multiple channels. SBEV operates in both the non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverage segments which they believe leverages efficiencies and dilutes risk.

SBEV believes its business model is unique as it ONLY develops/accelerates brands it perceives to have highly visible pre-existing brand awareness or pure category innovation.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements and factors that may cause such differences include, without limitation inability to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to the proposed transaction or to complete the transactions contemplated by the non-binding term sheet, matters discovered by the parties as they complete their respective due diligence investigation of the other. Other factors include the possibility that the proposed transaction does not close, including due to the failure to receive required security holder approvals, or the failure of other closing conditions. The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.

Contact Information:

Splashbeveragegroup.com

info@splashbeveragegroup.com

954-745-5815

SOURCE: Splash Beverage Group, Inc.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82923


BONN (dpa-AFX) - Shares of Deutsche Post DHL Group were gaining around 5 percent in German trading after the logistics company reported Wednesday significantly higher profit and revenues in its first quarter. Further, the company raised fiscal 2021 earnings guidance significantly due to positive business performance. The company expects further growth in the coming quarters, even with growth rates normalizing over time.



Looking ahead for fiscal 2021, the company now expects EBIT to increase to more than 6.7 billion euros, compared to the prior outlook of significantly above 5.6 billion euros. EBIT in the prior year was 4.8 billion euros.



The revision in outlook is mainly driven by the DHL divisions, which now expect to deliver an EBIT of more than 5.4 billion euros.



Further, for 2023, Deutsche Post DHL now expects EBIT of more than 7.0 billion euros, compared to a previous forecast of more than 6.0 billion euros.



According to the company, the impact of COVID-19 now presents an opportunity with high significance for 2021.



For the first quarter, consolidated net profit attributable to shareholders surged to 1.19 billion euros or 0.94 euros per share from 301 million euros or 0.24 euros per share last year.



Operating profit or EBIT more than tripled to 1.91 billion euros from 592 million euros last year, making it the strongest opening quarter ever. All five divisions were able to significantly increase EBIT.



EBIT after asset charge or EAC was 1.24 billion euros, compared to last year's loss of 80 million euros.



Consolidated revenue for the first quarter rose 22 percent to 18.86 billion euros from last year's 15.46 billion euros. All divisions and regions contributed to this growth



Revenue in the Express division increased 32.5 percent from last year to 5.50 billion euros mainly with double-digit growth in Europe, Americas and Asia Pacific. Global forwarding, freight revenue was up sharply 32.7 percent to 4.75 billion euros.



The company recorded growth of 18.2 percent in air freight volumes in the first quarter of 2021, due mainly to increased demand from Asia and the United States. Available market capacity remained at a low level on account of the limitations on passenger flights. First-quarter air freight revenues rose 59.3 percent. Ocean freight volumes were up 8.8 percent year-on-year and revenues grew 49.2 percent.



Supply chain revenues edged up 0.3 percent. eCommerce Solutions revenues grew 46 percent and Post&Parcel Germany revenues went up 15.1 percent.



In Germany, Deutsche Post shares were trading at 50.82 euros, up 4.5 percent.



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DEUTSCHE POST-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Tres-Or Resources Ltd. (TSXV: TRS) (OTC: TRSFF) ("Tres-Or" or the "Company") is pleased to present the new photomicrographs of the Type II microdiamonds that dominate at the Guigues Kimberlite Pipe in southwestern Quebec. Photographs of all 21 Guigues microdiamonds greater than 0.150 mm are now available to view on Tres-Or's website at: www.tres-or.com .

Highlights:

Type II diamond dominates microdiamond populations from the Guigues Kimberlite in southwest Quebec

16 out of 21 microdiamonds measured by SRC Labs, Type II, as defined by a lack of the common impurity nitrogen

Type II diamonds are rare (less than 2% of gem diamonds sold) but can be extremely valuable and include many of the most famous and largest stones ever sold

In addition to being favorable Type II diamonds, 90% of recovered microdiamonds from Guigues (53 out of 58) are described by SRC Labs as "white/colourless, and transparent"

Photographs of all 21 Guigues microdiamonds >0.150 mm are available for viewing on www.tres-or.com

Recommended work includes processing most of the remaining December 2019 drill core to recover diamonds larger than 0.425 mm

Subsequently, Tres-Or will drill 2 to 5 additional drill holes to better define the pipe (currently assessed at a substantial 4.5 to 6 hectares)

The photomicrographs were produced by the Saskatchewan Research Council Geoanalytical Laboratories Diamond Services ("SRC") from all 21 microdiamonds recovered from Guigues greater than 0.150 mm. Of those 21 microdiamonds, 16 were reported to be Type II diamond signifying a lack of any nitrogen impurity as determined at SRC using the industry-standard technique of micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)(refer to Tres-Or news releases dated December 8, 2020, January 5, 2021 and April 6, 2021).





Diamond Figure 1

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Diamond Figure 2

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Diamond Figure 3

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Type II diamonds (sometimes referred to as Type IIa) lack nitrogen and famously include some of the largest, highest quality diamonds recovered at mines around the world (e.g. including the historic 1,758 Sewelo, the 1,109 carat Lesedi La Rona and the 813 carat Constellation diamonds from the Karowe Mine in Botswana, as well as the famous +3,000 carat Cullinan diamond from the Premier Mine in South Africa, and a flawless D color, 271 carat stone from De Beers' Victor Diamond Mine in northern Ontario), although they are rare and only make up an estimated 1 to 2% of diamond production world-wide (see Table 1 from Tres-Or December 8, 2020 news release).

The Guigues microdiamonds are also described dominantly (90%) by SRC evaluators as white/colourless and transparent.

[Note: Type II diamonds are defined as lacking nitrogen; they are equivalent to Type IIa diamonds which are additionally defined as lacking trace boron impurities which results in a blue color, such as the famous Hope diamond. Nitrogen measurements were conducted by the Saskatchewan Research Council Geoanalytical Laboratories Diamond Services (SRC) on all Guigues +0.150 mm microdiamonds, using the industry-standard technique of micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). SRC does not report boron, thus all analyses lacking nitrogen are reported as Type II.]

Note that although the recovery of Type II microdiamonds from the Guigues Kimberlite is suggestive of the occurrence of larger stones, this does not mean that the Guigues Kimberlite will necessarily host large Type II diamonds.

Recommended Work Program:

In light of the successful recovery of dominantly Type II microdiamonds in abundances closely comparable to those reported from the Victor Diamond Mine (Winzar, 2001), as well as similar diamond indicator mineral chemistry, further work is recommended at the Guigues Kimberlite.

The next work steps, which are anticipated to begin immediately, include testing the remaining drill core from the December 2019 drill program for macrodiamonds, followed by additional microdiamond tests, and later this summer, drilling 2 to 5 additional new core holes at the Guigues Kimberlite Pipe to refine its shape in 3 dimensions, and enhance understanding about macro- and microdiamond distribution throughout the kimberlite body.

Reference:

Winzar, D.J., 2001. Assessment Report on the Winter 2001 Reverse Circulation Drill Programme of the Alpha-1 and Alpha-1 North Kimberlites. De Beers Exploration Inc. Filed with Ontario's Geoscience Assessment Office and available online from http://www.geologyontario.mndmf.gov.on.ca

Tres-Or Closes Third Tranche of Flow-through Private Placement:

Tres-Or Resources Ltd. also announces that, further to its news releases of December 14, 2020 (first tranche) and February 2, 2021 (second tranche) it has closed the third tranche of its private placement of flow through (the "FT Units"). In this closing, the Company issued 564,000 FT Units at a price of $0.15 per FT Unit for total gross proceeds of $84,600 (the "Offering").

Each FT Unit consists of one flow-through common share (a "FT Share") and one-half of one common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant (a "Warrant") entitles the holder to purchase one non-flow-through common share of the Company for a period of 24 months from the date of issue at a price of $0.20 per share. The FT Shares entitle the holder to receive the tax benefits applicable to flow-through shares, in accordance with provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

The gross proceeds from the issuance of FT Shares will be used solely for Canadian Exploration Expenses ("CEE") that are "flow-through mining expenditures" (as such terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)) on the Company's Guigues Kimberlite Pipe in Quebec.

All securities issued in this third tranche of the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period ending September 8, 2021 in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

About Tres-Or Resources Ltd.

Tres-Or Resources Ltd. is a Canadian resource company focused on exploring for diamonds and gold resources in the Temiscamingue and Abitibi regions of Quebec and is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol "TRS". Additional information related to the Company is available on SEDAR and on the Company's website (www.tres-or.com).

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Laura Lee Duffett"

Laura Lee Duffett, P.Geo.

President and CEO

For further information:

Laura Lee Duffett, President & CEO: +1 (604) 541-8376 - info@tres-or.com

Dean Claridge, Business Development: +1 (604) 688-8700

Website: www.tres-or.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Qualified Persons

Disclosure of a scientific or technical nature related to the Company's projects and exploration activities in this news release was prepared under the supervision of Dr. Harrison O. Cookenboo, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., P.Geo., the Company's independent Qualified Person (as such term is defined in National Instrument 43-101), and Ms. Laura Lee Duffett, P.Geo., the Company's President and CEO, who is a non-independent Qualified Person, both of whom have reviewed and approved the technical and scientific portions of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains projections and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, statements regarding the potential extent of mineralization, resources, reserves, exploration results and plans and objectives of the Company. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not restricted to, the early stage development of the Company and its projects; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; capital market conditions and market prices for securities, junior market securities and mining exploration company securities; commodity prices, the amount of geological data available, the uncertain reliability of drilling results and geophysical and geological data and the interpretation thereof and the need for adequate financing for future exploration and development efforts. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82906
HIGHLIGHTS

2021 FLEM survey of Loop G identifies multiple conductors located 2 km to the east of historical resources of Eastmain Mine.

Conductors currently being tested as part of Benz's 50,000m fully funded drill 2021 program.

Visible gold observed in two holes in this area, collared 250m apart.

E Zone represents another new discovery in an area that has never been previously drilled and is open in all directions.

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Benz Mining Corp. (TSXV: BZ) (ASX: BNZ) (the Company or Benz) is pleased to give an update on results of the 2021 geophysical survey conducted at Loop G and preliminary observations from core recently drilled in this area of the Eastmain Gold Project, Quebec, Canada.

Fixed Loop Electro-Magnetics (FLEM) survey completed in 2021 and located to the east of the 2020 high grade Eastmain Mine and Kotak trends discoveries has returned EM responses significantly expanding the footprint of the Eastmain Project. The second drill rig has allowed the fast-track drilling of the new conductors. Drilling encountered visible gold in drillhole EM21-166 and EM21-167 establishing confidence in the continuity with drillhole EM20-142 which returned 5.4m at 3.8g/t gold including 1.4m at 7.2g/t gold and 1m at 4.4g/t gold.





Figure 1: Eastmain Property with newly acquired FLEM loop G and new 2021 modelled conductors



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CEO, Xavier Braud, commented:

"The exploration model we successfully started applying in 2020 is delivering better than expected results. New FLEM surveys over new areas are generating new targets. Thanks to the second rig we can now test and define more of those targets this year. Identifying visible gold in sulphide rich mineralisation coincident with those conductors is auguring well for the future. The footprint of the Eastmain Project keeps growing with each completed survey and additional drilling. Our aggressive 50,000m 2021 drilling campaign is designed to expand quickly and substantially the size of the whole system via discovery of new high grade zones using electromagnetics as a direct targeting tool. So far, all the drilling to date has returned the right geology and the right style of mineralisation."

Kotak and Mine trends extended to the east

FLEM Loop G covers an area located east of the easternmost survey conducted in 2020. It identified EM anomalies that could extend the Kotak and Eastmain Mine trends more than 500m past what is currently known of those trends.

In late 2020, E Zone was first discovered by drilling EM20-142, a single hole into a newly identified FLEM conductor from an Abitibi Geophysics TDEM survey conducted last July. EM20-142 returned 5.4m at 3.8g/t gold with gold associated with sulphide rich mylonite with strong biotite and garnet alteration.

Loop G also identified a strong response conductor over 200m in length centred on hole EM20-142 using a Crone Deep EM TDEM system.





Figure 2: Simplified map with loop G, newly defined conductors and location of drillholes EM21-166 and EM21-167



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In addition, the FLEM survey identified 2 additional conductors in what appears to be along strike from EM20-142. To date, 6 DDH have been drilled in the E Zone area.

Hole EM21-166 was designed to test 100m downdip of the mineralisation intersected in EM20-142 and encountered mineralisation in two distinct horizons, one as the continuance of the sulphide rich zone encountered in EM20-142 and a deeper one associated with sheared and albite altered tonalite with quartz, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and tourmaline veins where visible gold grains was observed.

EM21-167 was designed to target conductors identified in Loop G TDEM survey. This hole intersected sulphide mineralisation with quartz veins within an altered and sulphide rich mylonite similar to what was intersected in EM20-142. Visible gold grains were observed in quartz veins with pyrrhotite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite.

An additional FLEM conductor has been identified approximately 1km further east of E Zone. This small conductor is highly encouraging as it is located proximal to a historical drill hole which returned 1.1m at 6.3g/t gold.

Samples from the current drill program are being submitted for a combination of fire and screen fire assay at ACTLABS. Current assay turnaround time has been slow given the outbreak of second and third waves of COVID-19 in Canada, combined with increased exploration in the province, with the current turnaround time for assays being in excess of 8 weeks.





Figure 3: Visible gold associated with quartz-pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite and sphalerite vein into a mineralised and strongly altered mylonite -Hole EM21-167 (4 grains 1mm in circle)

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Rejects from 2020 drilling shipped for PhotonAssayTM, in transit to Australia

All of the laboratory rejects (the fraction of samples unused in the assays process) from the 2020 drilling campaign have been sent to Australia to be analysed by PhotonAssayTM. This assay technology is not yet available in North America. Shipping was affected by lockdown measures in place in Canada as well as industrial action at the port of Montreal. Samples are now on a ship and have been booked in the laboratory schedule to be analysed shortly after delivery, in an effort to offset the current laboratory delays faced by exploration companies.

This press release was prepared under supervision and approved by Dr. Danielle Giovenazzo, P.Geo, acting as Benz' qualified person under National Instrument 43-101.

About Benz Mining Corp.

Benz Mining Corp. brings together an experienced team of geoscientists and finance professionals with a focused strategy to acquire and develop mineral projects with an emphasis on safe, low risk jurisdictions favourable to mining development. Benz is earning a 100% interest in the former producing high grade Eastmain gold mine, Ruby Hill West and Ruby Hill East projects in Quebec.

The Eastmain Gold Project is situated within the Upper Eastmain Greenstone Belt in Quebec, Canada and currently hosts a NI 43-101 and JORC (2012) compliant resource of 376,000oz at 7.9gpt gold. The existing gold mineralization is associated with 15-20% semi-massive to massive pyrrhotite, pyrite and chalcopyrite making it amenable to detection by electromagnetics. Several gold mineralization occurrences have been identified by previous explorers over a 10km long zone along strike from the Eastmain Mine with very limited testing outside the existing resource area.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benz Mining Corp.

Xavier Braud, CEO

For more information please contact:

Paul Fowler

Head of Corporate Development (Canada)

Benz Mining Corp.

Telephone: +1 416 356 8165

Email: info@benzmining.com

Xavier Braud

CEO, Head of Corporate Development (Aus)

Benz Mining Corp.

Telephone +61 8 6143 6702

Email: info@benzmining.com

Forward-Looking Information: Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that the Company obtains regulatory approval. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to prove not to be valid or reliable, that occurrences such as those referred to above are realized and result in delays, or cessation in planned work, that the Company's financial condition and development plans change, and delays in regulatory approval, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Competent Person's Statements: The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results is based on and fairly represents information and supporting information compiled by Mr Xavier Braud, who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG membership ID:6963). Mr Braud is a consultant to the Company and has sufficient experience in the style of mineralization and type of deposits under consideration and qualifies as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Braud holds securities in Benz Mining Corp and consents to the inclusion of all technical statements based on his information in the form and context in which they appear.

The information in this announcement that relates to the Inferred Mineral Resource was first reported under the JORC Code by the Company in its prospectus released to the ASX on 21 December 2020. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original market announcement and confirms that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimate continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement.

Table 1: Drill collar information

HOLE_ID UTMx_East

(m) UTMy_North

(m) Elevation

(m) Total Depth

(m) Azimuth

() Dip

()* EM21-166 701160 5797442 494 411 215 -60 EM21-167 701401 5797480 503 In progress 180 -70

*down dip is negative

Appendix 1: JORC Tables

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.)

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling.

Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used.

Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report.

In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. FLEM (TDEM) Survey:



Loop G, representing 25 line-km of fixed loop survey was commissioned by Benz Mining to TMC Geophysics at the Company's Eastmain Property in Quebec.



The survey was conducted using a conventional Crone Deep-EM- system.



Downhole/Borehole Electromagnetics was conducted by TMC geophysics using a Crone Deep EM system. No sampling results. Visual information from drill core observation. Drilling techniques Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). Triple tube NQ core drilling.

Core was oriented using downhole orientation tool. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed.

Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples.

Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. Core recoveries are measured by comparing the length of core recovered against the length of drill rods used and recorded by the drilling contractor.

Typical recoveries in fresh rock at Eastmain are between 95 and 100%. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies.

Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography.

The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. All core was logged for

Lithology Alteration Mineralisation Mineral species abundance Veining Structures

Both qualitative and quantitative logging was conducted.

100% of the core drilled is being logged. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken.

If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry.

For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique.

Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples.

Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling.

Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. Geological observations reported were done on whole core. This release does not include analytical drill results. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total.

For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc.

Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established. Only visual observations reported in this release. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel.

The use of twinned holes.

Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols.

Discuss any adjustment to assay data. This release does not include drill results. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation.

Specification of the grid system used.

Quality and adequacy of topographic control. All drillhole locations have been surveyed by handheld GPS with a typical accuracy of +/-4m. Downhole surveys are conducted using a Reflex Multishot Gyro. Grid: UTM NAD83 Zone 18N. Topographic control is cross-checked with a 2013 LIDAR survey. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results.

Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied.

Whether sample compositing has been applied. Not applicable Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type.

If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. Exploration drilling in area with no historical drilling.

Structures in the area are not well enough defined to determine whether drilling orientation is orthogonal to the structures encountered. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. Core samples mentioned in this release are kept at the Eastmain Mine site under control of Benz Mining. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. The Company is constantly reviewing its sampling and assaying policies. No external audit has been conducted at this stage.

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings.

The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. The Eastmain Mine Project comprises 152 contiguous mining claims each with an area of approximately 52.7 ha covering a total of 8,014.36 ha plus one industrial lease permit that are owned by Eastmain Mines Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fury Gold Mines. The claims are numbered 1133433 to 1133583 consecutively plus claim 104458. All of the claims are located within NTS sheet 33A 08. The former Mine Lease BM 817 was issued on January 10, 1995 and expired in 2015 after a 20-year term. This former Mine Lease was converted to Industrial Lease 00184710000 on September 1, 2015 and contains all normal surface rights. The former mineral rights for BM 817 are now included in the expanded Claims 1133523, 1133524, 1133525, 1133505, 1133506 and 1133507. The claims are 100% held by Fury Gold Mines subject to certain net smelter royalties ("NSR"). On August 9, 2019, Benz Mining Corp. announced that it has entered into an option agreement with Eastmain Resources Inc. (now Fury Gold Mines) to acquire a 100% interest in the former producing Eastmain Gold Project located in James Bay District, Quebec, for CAD $5,000,000. Eastmain Resources would retain a 2% Net Smelter Return royalty in respect of the Project. Benz may, at any time, purchase one half of the NSR Royalty, thereby reducing the NSR Royalty to a 1% net smelter returns royalty, for $1,500,000. The Eastmain Mine, as defined by the perimeter of a historic mining lease, is subject to a production royalty net smelter return ("NSR") of 2.3% through production of the next 250,000 oz produced and 2% thereafter. A package of claims surrounding the mine precinct is subject to a production royalty (NSR) of 2% in favour of Goldcorp as a result of their succession to Placer Dome in an agreement dated December 30, 1988 between Placer Dome, MSV Resources Inc. and Northgate Exploration Limited. The 152 claims that form the Eastmain Mine Property are all in good standing with an active status. Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. 1930s & 1940s - Prospecting of gossans. 1950s & 1960s - Riocanex - Exploration of the Upper Eastmain Greenstone Belt. Mid 1960s - Fort George - Diamond drilling of a gossan zone. 1696 - Canex Aerial Exploration Ltd & Placer Development Ltd - Airborne magnetic and EM surveys with ground geophysics follow up. 1970 - Placer Development Ltd - Seven holes testing an EM anomaly. Discovery of A Zone with 1.5m @ 13.71g/t Au. 1974 - Nordore - Aerodat airborne AEM survey and Ground geophysics. 3 holes returned anomalous gold values adjacent to B Zone. 1974 - Inco Uranerz - Airborne geophysical survey over the whole greenstone belt. 1981 & 1982 - Placer - Airborne and ground EM, ground magnetics. Drilling of EM anomalies discovered B zone and C zone. 1983 to 1985 - Placer - Airborne and ground EM, downhole PEM, 91 holes over A B and C zones. 1986 - Placer - 25 holes into A B and C zones. 1987 &1988 - Placer Dome / MSV JV - Drilling of A, B and C zones. 1988 to 1994 - MSV Resources - Drilling, surface sampling, trenching, regional exploration, Seismic refraction over ABC Zones. 1994 & 1995 - MSV Resources - Mining of 118,356t at 10.58g/t Au and 0.3%Cu, processed at Copper Rand plant in Chibougamau, 40,000oz recovered. 1997 - MSV Resources- Exploration, mapping, prospecting, trenching. 2004 - Campbell Resources - M&I resource calculation for Eastmain Mine. 2005-2007 - Eastmain Resources - Purchase of the project from Campbell Resources, VTEM, Prospecting, regional exploration. 2007-2019 - Eastmain Resources - Sporadic drilling, regional exploration, mapping, sampling, trenching. Surface geochemistry (soils) Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. In the Eastmain Gold Deposit, gold mineralization occurs in quartz veins with associated massive to semi-massive sulphide lenses/ veins and silicified zones associated with a deformation corridor. The mineralized zones are 3 m to 10 m thick and contained in a strongly deformed and altered assemblage (Mine series) consisting of felsic, mafic and ultramafic rocks. Mineralized quartz veins and lenses show a variable thickness between 10 cm and 13 m, and sulphide contents average 15% to 20% in the mineralized quartz veins and sulphide lenses. In order of decreasing abundance, sulphides consist of pyrrhotite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite, with minor sphalerite, magnetite and molybdenite. Visible gold occurs in the mineralized quartz veins as small (<1 mm) grains associated with quartz and (or) sulphides in the A, B and C Zones. Drill hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: easting and northing of the drill hole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar dip and azimuth of the hole down hole length and interception depth hole length.

If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. See Table 1 above. Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated.

Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail.

The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. No quantitative results reported. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results.

If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported.

If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (eg 'down hole length, true width not known'). No downhole intervals reported. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. See figures in the body of text. Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. It is the Company's intention to report all exploration results together when they become available. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. Benz Mining Corp conducted a 26 line-km Fixed Loop Time-Domain Electromagnetics survey over loop G on the Eastmain Property. The FLEM (TDEM) survey identified several first order conductors modelled as thin plates through Maxwell modelling. Benz conducts systematic BHEM of each hole drilled as well as BHEM surveying of historical holes located within the TDEM loop limits.





BHEM identified numerous in-hole and off-hole conductors coincident or not with drilled mineralization. Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling).

Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. Benz Mining is currently executing a 50,000m drilling campaign which started in January 2021. This drilling campaign is conducted concurrently with regional Electromagnetic surveys. This release reports results from a completed regional survey over a new area of the project. All newly drilled holes are systematically surveyed by BHEM. A selection of historical holes has been surveyed surveyed by BHEM.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82911
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Altamira Gold Corp. (TSXV: ALTA) (FSE: T6UP) (OTC Pink: EQTRF) ("Altamira" or the "Company") announces that the Company has raised $1,432,087 since the February 5th, 2021 closing of the most recent placement. These funds were received as a result of the exercise of 12,334,466 share purchase warrants that were issued in connection with several previous non-brokered private placements. Altamira currently has 59,126,224 warrants outstanding, with a weighted average exercise price of $0.20 and a weighted remaining contractual life of 1.32 years.

Officers and directors of the Company exercised a total of 1,072,800 warrants for proceeds of $160,920. Of this total, the CEO of the Company exercised a total of 672,800 warrants representing proceeds of $100,920, and the Company's Chairman exercised a total of 400,000 warrants representing proceeds of $60,000. In connection with the exercise of the warrants, the CEO and the Chairman sold 284,000 and 170,000 common shares respectively for proceeds of $102,458 and $61,320.

Michael Bennett, President & CEO commented "We would like to thank our long-term shareholders, for supporting the Company through the process of exercising these warrants. The exercise of these warrants provides sufficient funds to ensure the completion of a well-financed exploration drill program well into 2022."

Qualified Person

Guillermo Hughes, P. Geo., a consultant to the Company as well as a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Altamira Gold Corp.

The Company is focused on the exploration and development of gold projects within western central Brazil. The Company holds 8 projects comprising approximately 190,000 hectares, within the prolific Juruena gold belt which historically produced an estimated 7 to 10Moz of placer gold. The Company's advanced Cajueiro project has NI 43-101 resources of 5.66Mt @ 1.02 g/t gold for a total of 185,000 oz in the Indicated Resource category and 12.66Mt @ 1.26 g/t gold for a total of 515,000oz in the Inferred Resource category.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

ALTAMIRA GOLD CORP.

"Michael Bennett"

Michael Bennett

President & CEO

Tel: 604.676.5660

Toll-Free: 1-833-606-6271

info@altamiragold.com

www.altamiragold.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this document which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future exploration drill program. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we do not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82924
OAK BROOK, IL / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / Affluence Corporation (OTC PINK:AFFU.PK), a diversified technology company focusing on innovative IoT and 5G enhancing technologies today announced and initiates implementation of its strategy to build business in Asia and Africa. The strategy includes identification of potential target companies and businesses for acquisition and partnerships and establishing the management team for development and management of business in Asia and Africa. As part of this strategy, all opportunities in India are being consolidated under ISLP Technologies, its subsidiary in India.

"The ISLP Technologies acquisition is the beginning of a very carefully thought out and patient strategy," said James E. Honan, Jr., Affluence's CEO. "We are currently finalizing negotiations and engagement with one of the largest telecom companies in Asia. Under this engagement, we will build fiber technology-based complementary infrastructure and deliver technology products and services through an 'Aggregation Platform' to the existing and new subscribers of the said telecom company in addition to our OneMind Smart City Software. We are in active discussions to either acquire or partner with multiple technology companies to provide a comprehensive technology platform and services with cutting-edge technologies. The technologies that we are currently looking to add in our portfolio are edge cloud computing, additional IoT solutions, big data analytics, cyber security and emergency response systems," said Honan.

"We are building a team of highly talented, well qualified and experienced senior management to develop and manage business in Asia and Africa. As part of this exercise, we are setting up a Global Services Delivery Centre in India to further strengthen our 'Project Delivery Capacity'. This GSDC will assume the responsibility of delivery of large-scale projects globally on product development, services and remote infrastructure management in IT and Telecom sector," said Avinash Bector, President and CEO of Affluence Asia and Africa. "The senior professionals joining our team have prior C-Level global experience with multi-national corporations such as Motorola, Accenture and Infosys, as well as large companies in India such as BSNL, a leading Telecom Tower company, and Government agencies such as Department of Telecom, in India. The senior management has significant experience in IT and Telecom industry and have worked with the highest levels in the Industry and Government on multiple large-scale projects in their respective careers," said Bector.

About Affluence Corporation

Affluence Corporation (AFFU.PK) is a diversified technology company focused on innovative software solutions that capitalize on IoT, AI and 5G technologies. We are investing in mid-market businesses to create a cohesive unit that brings together technology for the next generation of internet.

About ISLP Technologies

ISLP is a diversified technology company focused on telecom services and technologies. ISLP is one of the many success stories from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Incubator in Delhi. ISLP builds customized digital solutions utilizing cutting edge technologies such as block chain, AI, Machine Learning, Business Intelligence and Data Science.

About OneMind Technologies SL

OneMind Technologies SL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Affluence Corporation. The OneMind Intelligent IoT solution builder is used to create applications for smart construction and smart city operations. Functioning as systems of systems, OneMind connects data sources to one single point of insight to provide real-time information on operational processes. It is a key component in the enterprise solutions currently being offered by several Fortune 50 companies that resell, distribute and integrate smart city enterprise solutions. The OneMind Smart City solution is deployed in Barcelona, San Francisco, Guadalajara, Oslo and many other cities throughout the world. For more information go to https://www.onemindtechnologies.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements, including: general economic business conditions, competitive and technological factors, markets, services, products and prices, availability and the cost of capital, success of growth initiatives, limited operating history and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commissions. Additionally, this release may not be considered as legal, accounting, or investment advice, and is not, and may not be considered, a solicitation for the purchase of any securities issued by Affluence Corporation.

For further information, contact Affluence Corporation Investor Relations at 720-295-6409.

SOURCE: Affluence Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644705/Affluence-Corporation-Reveals-Asia-Africa-Strategy-After-ISLP-Technologies-Acquisition
PARIS, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HR Path, a member of French Tech, has announced a 113 million financing from banks, to accelerate its growth and become the global reference in terms of human resources.

HR Path offers a support service for the HR performance of companies. These services cover HR transformation consulting, implementation of software solutions and payroll outsourcing (BPO).

This new round of financing was made possible by the following banks: Societe Generale, BNP, Credit Agricole, Banque Palatine, LCI and Caisse d'Epargne. The total amount is 113 million and will give HR Path the means to achieve its goals.

HR Path plans to expand its value proposition in all countries where the group is already present, with priority given to the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Spain.

HR Path also announce today the acquisition of Whitaker-Taylor is an HR technology consulting firm with expertise in SAP SuccessFactors and SAP HR. Founded in 2007, they find strength in their team members and global customer base with a strong presence in the US and in Europe.

"We would like to thank our banking partners and our advisors, Volt Associes, who have supported us in this adventure. The HR transformation is accelerating given the current health constraints. In recent months, human capital issues have become a priority: talent management and adaptation to change are increasingly critical and the use of outsourcing of the HR function and in particular payroll is growing. HR Path is positioned to meet the new challenges facing companies in the field of human resources. This new round of financing supports our development ambitions to support our current and future customers," said Francois Boulet and Cyril Courtin, founding partners of HR Path.

About HR Path

HR Path, a global leader and expert in the field of human resources, supports companies for whom human capital is at the heart of their digital transformation. Advise, Implement & Run are the 3 levers of the HR Path Group to improve the HR performance of organizations. Founded in 2001 HR Path serves more than 1,300 customers in 18 countries. Its turnover is currently $130 million.

Please visit www.hr-path.com and follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hr-path.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1279017/HR_Path_Logo.jpg

Press Contact:

fabienne.latour@hr-path.com
Anona Medical Center Marks the Company's 9th in its Series of Acquisitions

MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / ClareMedica Health Partners, LLC ("ClareMedica") one of Florida's premier health care organizations focused on the delivery of primary care to seniors, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of the practice of Dr. William T. Keweshawn, Dr. Allison Howard, and Dr. Chris Patterson, locally known as the Anona Medical Center, in Pinellas County, Florida.

"The acquisition of the Anona Medical Center represents a significant milestone for our company," commented Roberto L. Palenzuela, Chief Executive Officer of ClareMedica. "With almost 1000 Humana Medicare Advantage customers, the acquisition deepens our relationship with one of our premier plan partners and sets the stage for our continued expansion in Pinellas, a county with a robust Medicare Advantage population and one we have been targeting for some time now," Palenzuela remarked.

Commenting further, Palenzuela stated, "The team of Drs. Keweshawn, Howard, and Patterson have spent years establishing this practice as a pillar of primary health care in the community and we are delighted to welcome them to the ClareMedica family. Through patient advocacy, education, and community engagement, this diverse group has earned a reputation for high-quality, compassionate care and they stand ready to continue to meet the needs of the Medicare eligible population in the region. Our shared goal of quality care delivery makes for a perfect combination and in addition to broadening our network of quality ClareMedica providers in the county, the acquisition also highlights our commitment to the area and lays the groundwork for the continued expansion of our wholly owned and affiliated practice network."

"With this acquisition we now have 34 owned and affiliated primary care practices throughout the state, delivering care to a rapidly growing base of Medicare eligible Floridians. We expect to continue our expansion during the year," Palenzuela concluded.

About ClareMedica Health Partners

ClareMedica is a growing health care company that provides and coordinates comprehensive health care services for Medicare, Medicaid, and other customers through a network of employed and affiliated physicians. We deliver valued-based care for all health care stakeholders by employing a patient-centric care model that adds accountability and provides solutions for a changing health care industry. With locations throughout the state, our health care network has an expanding roster of high-quality primary care providers, dedicated to proactive patient care. To learn more about ClareMedica Health Partners, LLC, please visit the company's website at www.claremedica.com.

Contact:

Al Palombo

Chief Marketing Officer

ClareMedica Health Partners, LLC

(786) 758-3133

albert@claremedica.com

SOURCE: ClareMedica Health Partners, LLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644713/ClareMedica-Expands-Footprint-in-Pinellas-County-With-Its-Largest-Acquisition-to-Date
*NY joins Kingstone's other states' personal property insurance on the WaterStreet System*

KALISPELL, MT / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / WaterStreet, a technology company with a cloud-based policy administration platform for the insurance industry, announced today that Kingstone Insurance Company ("Kingstone"), a publicly-traded property-casualty insurance company with offices in Kingston and Valley Stream, New York, recently began writing its new and renewal personal property policies, produced through its extensive New York network of independent agents, on WaterStreet Company's Policy Administrative system. New York now joins Kingstone's business written in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island on the WaterStreet system.

"Kingstone is a formidable and reputable property-casualty player in the Northeast" shared WaterStreet President, Gregg Barrett, "and we were fortunate a few years ago to help them build their business in states outside New York. It gave Kingstone's leadership a chance to watch us perform, establish a strong collaborative atmosphere among our teams, and support their expansion."

Meryl Golden, Chief Operating Officer of Kingstone affirmed that "In 2020 we launched our Kingstone 2.0 modernization initiative which includes updating our systems, moving away from multiple core systems and consolidating to a single policy management system for all products and states. The WaterStreet system provides Kingstone with the platform and flexibility to achieve our goal in modernization. WaterStreet's successful partnership with Kingstone in states outside of New York proved their ability to provide exceptional service and adapt to our needs making WaterStreet a natural fit to partner with as we move ahead with this important initiative."

It is Kingstone's aim to continually provide its agents, policyholders and company personnel an efficient, intuitive experience that marries quality customer experience with low operating costs. WaterStreet believes its system meets those aims today, and it will continue to meet those challenges in the future.

Founded in 2000, WaterStreet is a company of property & casualty insurance industry experts passionate about transforming and optimizing our clients' operations through remarkable customer experience, workflow optimization, and cutting-edge technology to grow with our customers as they achieve success. We offer a cloud-based P&C insurance platform along with a suite of policy administration services to our clients to help them scale and grow their business optimally.

Contact Information:

Jon Moskal, Sales Director

Phone: (406) 333-1989 x1811

Email: jon.moskal@waterstreetcompany.com

SOURCE: Kingstone Companies, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644099/Kingstone-Implements-WaterStreets-Policy-Management-System-In-New-York
WEST MELBOURNE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / BK Technologies Corporation (NYSE American:BKTI) will host an investor conference call on May 13, 2021, at 9:00 AM eastern time, to discuss its financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. On the call will be Timothy Vitou, President, and William Kelly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

The Company plans to release its financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 prior to the call on May 13, 2021, at 9:00 AM eastern time.

Shareholders and other interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing 888-506-0062; entry code 415220 (international participants dial 973-528-0011; entry code 415220) and asking to be connected to the "BK Technologies Corporation Conference Call" a few minutes before 9:00 AM eastern time on May 13, 2021. The call will also be webcast at https://www.bktechnologies.com. Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the site. An online archive of the webcast will be available on the Company's website for 30 days following the call at https://www.bktechnologies.com. A replay of the conference call will be available one hour after the completion of the call and will be available until May 27, 2021. The replay will be accessible by dialing 877-481-4010; PIN #40775 (international participants dial 919-882-2331; PIN #40775).

About BK Technologies

BK Technologies Corporation manufactures high-specification, American-made communications equipment of unsurpassed reliability and value for use by public safety professionals and government agencies. BK Technologies is honored to serve our public safety heroes with reliable equipment when every moment counts. The Company's common stock trades on the NYSE American market under the symbol "BKTI". Maintaining its headquarters in West Melbourne, Florida, BK Technologies can be contacted through its website at www.bktechnologies.com or directly at 1-800-821-2900.

Company Contact:

Hayden IR

James Carbonara

james@haydenir.com

(646)-755-7412

SOURCE: BK Technologies Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644295/BK-Technologies-to-Host-First-Quarter-2021-Conference-Call-on-May-13-2021
Green Brings Senior Executive Experience Leading Sales Organizations Both in the US and Across the Globe

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / PowerBand Solutions Inc. (TSXV:PBX)(OTCQB:PWWBF)(FRA:1ZVA) ("PowerBand", "PBX" or the "Company"), an innovative automotive fintech leader providing digital and virtual platform solutions to buy, sell, trade, lease, or finance vehicles to consumers, dealers, and OEMs is pleased to announce the appointment of Brent Green as Chief Revenue Officer of DRIVRZ Financial. DRIVRZ Financial is the lending and leasing component of PowerBand's DRIVRZ virtual marketplace, where leases can be approved for drivers and automotive dealers in seconds. In his role, Mr. Green will report to Craig Vaughn, the President of DRIVRZ Financial.

Mr. Green is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with over 20 years' experience in the Automotive Industry. His automotive career began with Cox as a Manager Trainee at the Atlanta Auto Auction. With 17 years at Manheim Brent saw his career grow from Auction Operations (GM Manheim Colorado), to representing the company in Joint Ventures Internationally (General Manager Turkey), and Sales Leadership roles with Commercial clients in both Auto and Power Sports. Brent then moved to a Senior Leadership role at Cox Automotive with the AutoTrader, KBB, and Dealer.com brands, where his most recent role was Vice President of Sales. "Brent's experience leading large national sales teams, as well as building sales organizations from inception, make him the perfect candidate for the growth of DRIVRZ Financial," said Jon Lamb, CEO DRIVRZ Financial.

Kelly Jennings, CEO and Founder of PowerBand, commented: "We are extremely pleased that Brent is joining the DRIVRZ team. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the Automotive Industry and we are looking forward to his leadership as key factor in our continued development and success. Brent's experience and skill set will help us take advantage of the many opportunities that DRIVRZ has in the US, Canada and globally."

About PowerBand Solutions, Inc.

PowerBand Solutions Inc., listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the OTCQB markets, is a fintech provider disrupting the automotive industry. PowerBand's integrated, cloud-based transaction platform facilitates transactions amongst consumers, dealers, funders, and manufacturers (OEMs). It enables them to buy, sell, trade, finance, and lease new and used, electric- and non-electric vehicles, on smart phones or any other online digital devices, from any location. PowerBand's transaction platform - being trademarked under DRIVRZ - is being made available across North American and global markets.

For further information, please contact:

Kelly Jennings

Chief Executive Officer

P: 866-768-7653

E: info@powerbandsolutions.com

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize, and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by Canadian securities law.

SOURCE: PowerBand Solutions Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644653/PowerBand-Appoints-Brent-Green-as-Chief-Revenue-Officer-of-DRIVRZ-Financial
Utility Stocks Continue To Rally  Sending A Warning Signal Yet?

We have experienced an incredible rally in many sectors over the past 5+ months. My research team has been pouring over the charts trying to identify how the next few weeks and months may play out in terms of continued trending or risks of some price volatility setting up. We believe the Utilities Sector may hold the key to understanding how and when the US markets will reach some level of stronger resistance as many sector ETFs are trading in new all-time high price ranges.

Utilities Sector Resistance At $71.10 Should Not Be Ignored

The Utilities Sector has continued to rally since setting up a unique bottom in late February 2021. A recent double top setup, near $68, suggests resistance exists just above current trading levels. Any continuation of this uptrend over the next few weeks, targeting the $70 Fibonacci 100% Measured Move, would place the XLU price just below the previous pre-COVID-19 highs near $71.10 (the MAGENTA Line).

My research suggests the momentum up this recent uptrend may continue to push prices higher into early May, quite possibly setting up the Utilities ETF for a rally above $70. Yet, we believe the resistance near $71.10 will likely act as a strong barrier for price and may prompt a downward price correction after the completion of the Fibonacci 100% Measured Price Move. In other words, the recent rally across many sectors will likely continue for a bit longer before key resistance levels begin to push many sectors into some sideways trading ranges.

What Goes Straight Up  Typically Comes Crashing Down At Some Point

The XLRE Weekly Chart (SPDR Real Estate ETF) highlights the recent rally above the pre-COVID-19 highs, near $42.00, and how the recent rally trend has extended nearly 4+ months after a solid base/bottoming pattern in early 2021. Extended market stimulus and very low interest rates have created a market demand for home purchases that we have not seen in decades. The rally in the Real Estate sector ETFs has pushed price levels just above the pre-COVID-19 highs, a sign that the current rally is extended. We have not seen a measured market pullback in XLRE for almost the entirety of 2021.

Be sure to sign up for our free market trend analysis and signals now so you dont miss our next special report!

Using our Fibonacci 100% Measured Move technique, we can see that previous price ranges set up Fibonacci 100% Measured Move targets near $41.06 & $41.57. Currently, XLRE has rallied above both of these targets recently and has broken the previous high price level of $42.00, set just before the COVID-19 collapse. We believe this upward price trend has reached a point where an exhaustion pullback may setup as price typically moves in a series of waves within a trend.

Financial Sector ETF Reaches New Multi-Decade Highs

The Ishares Financial ETF, see the IYF chart below, has reached the highest levels ever recorded since the start of this ETF in 2000. The exuberant rally in this sector, which started just after the November 2020 elections with a large price GAP, has continued to extend higher recently. At this point, the IYF price level has completed two separate Fibonacci 100% Measured Move targets and may push a bit higher before attempting to reach the third Fibonacci Measured Move Target.

Recently, I have published a number of research articles highlighting some of my market analysis suggesting the reflation trade trending may have already reached a critical mass in terms of acceleration and momentum. At this point, we believe this momentum will continue pushing price levels higher for a bit longer before key resistance levels begin to shift market trends. You can review some of my previous research entitled Have The Global Markets Already Reached A Critical Mass In Terms Of Recovery? and Metals & Miners May Have Started A New Longer-Term Bullish Trend  Part II

The key to understanding and trading market trends is to stay properly positioned and prepared for changes in market trends. We like to use the term live to trade another day when we discuss this technique with clients. The recent rallies have shown incredible upward strength and, in some cases, have pushed much higher than the pre-COVID-19 highs.

Many of the strongest sectors over the past 12+ months have already experienced measured price contractions. The Technology, Energy, Oil & Gas, and Biotech have all fallen from the top of our sector ranking strategy, the Best Asset Now (BAN) strategy, and been replaced with other sectors that are strengthening. We feel the global markets are starting to shift again  where capital is actively seeking out new opportunities and/or moving into hedging positions in preparation for increased market volatility.

VIX May Spike Before The End Of May 2021  Be Prepared

We believe these market sectors are starting to show signs that capital is actively shifting away from previous strong trends and actively seeking out more protective investment solutions. This means we may see a spike in the VIX over the next 30+ days and we may also see some extended sideways price trending while the markets shift gears as we move into the early Summer months. This is why we are focusing on the Utilities Sector, Bonds, the US Dollar, and Precious Metals/Miners.

Traders and Investors need to be aware of these sector changes and how new opportunities will setup over the next few days and months. We may continue to see another 10 to 20+ days of bullish trending before these bigger capital shifts become more evident, yet our research team believes this broad market capital shift is already underway.

Staying ahead of these types of sector trends is going to be key to developing continued success in these markets. As some sectors fail, others will begin to trend higher. Learn how BAN strategy can help you spot the best trade setups. You can learn how to find and trade the hottest sectors right now in my FREE course. For those who believe in the power of relative strength, cycles and momentum then the BAN Trader Pro newsletter service does all the work for you in determining what to buy, when to buy it, and how to take profits while minimizing downside risk!

Chris Vermeulen

www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic



Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better.



His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility.



He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk

Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect.

Chris Vermeulen Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




THE WOODLANDS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / BJ Energy Solutions (the "Company") has entered into a fracturing services agreement to provide Comstock Resources with its TITAN next-generation fracturing technology. A TITAN fleet will be deployed to Comstock's Haynesville operation in early 2022, representing the Company's second TITAN fleet in the basin.

This contract will support Comstock's completions program over the next three years. With the deployment of a 100 percent natural gas-powered TITAN fleet, the Company will work closely with Comstock to improve greenhouse gas emissions and overall well economics through the elimination of diesel fuel use, well site minimization, and improved operational efficiencies.

"We have taken considerable time to evaluate BJ's next-generation technology. The TITAN solution will provide a substantial contribution toward Comstock's CO2e and methane reduction goals while also improving our economics. We are thrilled to be working with BJ on this initiative," comments Dan Harrison, Comstock's Chief Operating Officer.

"BJ Energy and Comstock have a longstanding relationship and we are excited about this next chapter of innovation. We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Comstock, an early adopter in progressing environmental stewardship," says Caleb Barclay, Chief Operating Officer, BJ Energy Solutions. "This latest development further demonstrates BJ's ongoing commitment to the Haynesville."

About BJ Energy Solutions

With almost 150 years of rich history in serving our clients across North American oil and natural gas basins, BJ is committed to providing innovative technologies to supporting sustainability and emission reductions. For more information, please visit our website at www.bjenergy.com.

About Comstock

Comstock Resources is a leading independent natural gas producer with operations focused on the development of the Haynesville Shale in North Louisiana and East Texas. For more information, please visit Comstock's website at www.comstockresources.com.

Media Contact:

Lindsey Word

346.867.8910|

lword@bjenergy.com

Related Images

SOURCE: BJ Energy Solutions

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644302/BJ-Energy-Solutions-and-Comstock-Resources-Enter-Into-Three-Year-TITANTM-Next-Generation-Fracturing-Services-Agreement
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Nicola Mining Inc. (TSXV: NIM) (FSE: HLI), (the "Company" or "Nicola") is pleased to announce that it and Blue Lagoon Resources Inc. (CSE: BLLG) have signed an amending agreement (the "Amending Agreement") to the Milling and Smelting Profit Share Agreement dated March 31, 2017 (the "Original Agreement"). The Amending Agreement extends the Original Agreement by two years, through to March 31, 2023.

The Amending Agreement comes at a particularly exciting time, as Blue Lagoon has received permission allowing it to extract more than 6,000 tonnes1 of underground stockpiled material. Nicola has ordered spare parts, prepped its mill, and is in the process of hiring key employees2 prior to commencing production at its mill, which is located near Merritt, B.C.

On April 1, 2021 Blue Lagoon Inc. sent to Nicola the first truck of gold and silver mill feed from its Dome Mountain Gold-Silver Mine (See Diagram 1). After having considered various options, BLLG selected NIM's Merritt Mill as the province's top site to process gold and silver mill feed.

Nicola's Merritt Mill site is a unique milling and processing facility because the Company owns the industrial-zoned site free-hold. The approximate $30.0 million facility is also the location of the historic Craigmont Copper Mine, which had a historic production grade of 1.3% Cu.

The Company and BLLG continue to monitor snowpack indices for BC, which is 113% of normal. Upon confirmation of the roads opening after spring runoff, BLLG expects to increase the daily trucking of stockpile to the Merritt Mill.







Diagram 1: Truck unloads first shipment of material from Dome Mountain Gold-Silver Mine

To view an enhanced version of Diagram 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4873/82894_nicola.jpg

Peter Espig, CEO of Nicola, commented, "We are very excited to have signed the Amending Agreement with Blue Lagoon, a well-run company under the tutelage of Rana Vig. While the capital markets often focus on mineral exploration, it's exciting to be part of a project that is focused on gold and silver production."

Rana Vig, CEO of Blue Lagoon Resources commented, "Having reviewed several options, it became clear to us that Nicola's modern milling facility and leadership team was a logical choice as a partner. We are excited about the prospect of commencing production and continuing a long term relationship with Nicola Mining Inc. as we shift from stockpile to mining."

Qualified Person

Kevin Wells, P.Geo, a consulting geologist to the Company, is the independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects for the technical disclosure contained in this news release.

About Nicola Mining

Nicola Mining Inc. is a junior mining company listed on the TSX Venture and Frankfurt Exchanges that maintains a 100% owned mill and tailings facility, located near Merritt, British Columbia. The fully-permitted mill can process both gold and silver mill feed via gravity and flotation processes. The Company also owns 100% of the New Craigmont Project, a high-grade copper property, and an active gravel pit that is located adjacent to its milling operations.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Peter Espig"

Peter Espig

CEO & Director

For additional information

Contact: Peter Espig

Phone: (778) 385-1213

Email: info@nicolamining.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

1 Tonnage estimate provided by Blue Lagoon Resources Inc.

2 April 20, 2021 News Release: The Company announced that that Cameron Lilly, P.Eng., has accepted the role as Mill Manager for the Merritt Mil

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82894
Kelso, Washington--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Vibe Cannabis Company, a recreational dispensary in Kelso, Washington, is moving to a more convenient location in downtown Kelso. Kelso's cannabis lovers will enjoy a new, more convenient location, a spacious open floor, expansive selection, and a beautifully crafted showroom that features a custom "Canna Cooler" with temperature and humidity controls for the freshest flower.

Washington recreational dispensary, Vibe Cannabis Company, will be moving to 311 Oak S, Kelso, WA 98626 very soon. Customers are excited to experience the more convenient location in downtown Kelso. Vibe Cannabis Company focuses on offering friendly and knowledgeable service with a variety of high quality products at every price point. The company also strives to offer the freshest flower and largest selection of cannabis products in town. At Vibe Cannabis Co's new location, customers will enjoy helpful budtenders on the open floor. Budtenders are eager to assist and educate customers. Vibe Cannabis takes pride in their friendly and knowledgeable staff. The dispensary combines this with fresh, high quality products at every price point and a very expansive menu. Vibe Cannabis partners with many growers to ensure a wide selection of marijuana products. Vibe Cannabis Co delivers on their promise to offer the freshest flower and largest selection of cannabis products in Kelso with their custom "Canna Cooler" in the showroom. The "Canna Cooler ' is a cooler that has temperature and humidity controls for maintaining optimal flower. Customers will be excited to enjoy fresh flower without any terpene loss. Humidity is an integral part in the quality of cannabis and Vibe Cannabis Co's "Canna Cooler' protects the flower's original terpenes and cannabinoids.



Vibe Cannabis Company offers customers a variety of highly competitive specials for every day of the week. The dispensary has weekly specials such as High End Happy Hour featuring 10% off their best products, Senior/Service Sunday featuring 10% off for seniors and veterans, Monday Munchies with deals on edibles, Vape Tuesday with up to 15% off vapes, Wax Wednesday with up to 15% off concentrates, Thrifty Thursday with 15% off select gear, and Friday Spin to Win. Customers love Vibe Cannabis Co's Friday Spin to Win offering them a chance to win up to 40% off. Vibe Cannabis Company's mission is to be Kelso's premier cannabis dispensary that offers a wide range of marijuana products at affordable prices. The dispensary's motto is "Good weed, Good Vibes."

Vibe Cannabis Co. serves their community by providing cannabis products they can trust. The dispensary moved from Kelso, WA near the city of Longview, to a more centralized location in downtown Kelso. Vibe Cannabis Co. offers a high end customer experience with knowledgeable budtenders and a vast selection of marijuana infused products. Vibe Cannabis Co. has customers covered if they are looking for cannabis flower, extracts, concentrates, cartridges, topicals or edibles. Vibe Cannabis Co. has what you need. Good Weed, Good Vibes.

For further information, please contact Vibe Cannabis Co. Recreational Marijuana Dispensary Longview and Kelso at (360) 998-3038, or vibethc@yahoo.com.



Visit at https://vibethc.com/ to see current offerings or make a reservation, or come by at 311 Oak Street, Kelso, WA 98626.

Media Contact:

Rebecca and Ryan Cooper,

(360) 998-3038, vibethc@yahoo.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82864
Leading Canadian insurers to share strategies for transforming change into growth this August 24-26th

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Insurers have been masters of resilience for years but now is the time to use these skills to go from simply surviving to thriving, by reinventing insurance as we know it. Set up to provide direction to an industry tackling enormous disruption, the Future of Insurance Canada will be taking place alongside the inaugural Connected Claims Canada creating the only platform bringing senior executives to discuss the future of the industry.

It is now an undisputed truth that to stay relevant in the digital economy, insurance must catch up with the crowd and match the high customer expectations set elsewhere. Considering the rise of the 'disruptors' in the insurance space, there is a tangible emphasis on legacy insurance carriers to make themselves fit for the 21st century digital economy, or risk falling into irrelevance.

Featuring an agenda researched, composed and curated alongside renowned industry thought leaders, the Future of Insurance & Connected Claims Canada (August 24-26, Online) will provide insurance carriers with proven strategies to transform each of the core pillars of insurance in a holistic, all-encompassing manner. With topics ranging from product development, innovative technology and customer engagement, over 40 expert speakers will share their insights, giving attendees the tools they require to surpass customer expectations, embed innovative technology and transform product development, underwriting, the customer experience and claims.

Download the event brochure now for more details

Confirmed speakers to date include:

Guy Cormier, Chief Executive Officer, Desjardins

Marc Lipman, Chief Executive Officer, Lloyds Canada

Irene Bianchi, President & Chief Executive Officer, Peel Mutual Insurance Company

Tony Ngo, President & CEO, Collectivfide Insurance Group Inc.

Tatjana Lalkovic, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer , Economical Insurance

Danish Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer, Zensurance

Nathan LaFayette, Chief Insurance Officer, BCAA

Peter Primdahl, Vice President of Emerging Business Models, The Co-operators

Sarah Thompson, Chief Marketing Officer, HUB International

Eugene Wen, Vice President, Group Advanced Analytics, Manulife

Anna Foat, Director, Global Digital Transformation Office, SunLife

Bryant Vernon, Chief Claims Officer, Aviva Canada

Mylene Cote, Vice President of Claims, Everest Insurance

As the agenda takes its final shape, download the detailed event brochure today to be kept up to date with the event's latest developments. For more information, visit the website or simply get in touch.

Mariana Dumont

Project Director

Reuters Events

Telephone: +4420 7536 7210

mariana.dumont@ThomsonReuters.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82926
SARASOTA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / Perform[cb] (Perform[cb], LLC), named the #1 Performance Marketplace Worldwide by mThink Blue Book Survey for five consecutive years, announced today that it has been acquired by Beringer Capital, a leading North American private equity fund specializing in the media, marketing services, and technology sectors.

Over the past five years, as a portfolio company of Centre Lane Partners, Perform[cb] has invested heavily in developing proprietary technologies that help marketers and affiliate partners scale their customer acquisition initiatives. Since its inception as Clickbooth in 2002, and comprised of Perform[cb] Network and Perform[cb] Agency, the company has achieved consistent growth via organic means and, more recently, a series of strategic acquisitions. It is now trusted by a cadre of household brands-including LendingTree, Freshly, and BET+-to deliver consistent, quality customer acquisitions at high volumes through exclusive affiliate channels.

"This partnership with Beringer Capital is an exciting milestone for Perform[cb] and is a testament to the hard work and passion our team of industry veterans has poured into the business," says Erin Cigich, CEO of Perform[cb]. "The performance marketing space is rapidly expanding and evolving, and we are confident in Perform[cb]'s ability to drive the industry forward. We believe that, with their expertise in digital marketing and advertising, Beringer is the ideal partner to help Perform[cb] bring further innovation and continuous momentum to the industry. We have enjoyed our partnership with Centre Lane Partners and appreciated their support of the Perform[cb] journey."

Perform[cb]'s status as an industry pioneer has, in part, been cemented by its signature end-to-end marketing platform PerformLEAP. Built on advanced AI algorithms that align partner performance with marketer Customer Lifetime Value, PerformLEAP empowers brands to acquire new customers on a pay-for-results model, guaranteeing return on investment. With a strong emphasis on results and transparency, and powered by PerformLEAP, the Perform[cb] Network allows for in-platform campaign optimizations, hyper-targeting of consumers, real-time reporting, and more. It also affords access to built-in brand protection and compliance monitoring capabilities, thanks to Perform[cb]'s anti-fraud software PerformSHIELDTM. Perform[cb] Agency is a premium content, mobile, and marketing agency providing an all-encompassing, effective customer acquisition solution suite for emerging and established brands.

Beringer Capital has established a formidable track record of partnering with companies in the marketing services industry, notably including media and events company Adweek, to unlock tangible value and drive lasting results. With deep expertise in digital marketing, technology, and customer experience-combined with proven experience implementing successful digital transformation initiatives-the Beringer Capital team is well-positioned to support the next phase of Perform[cb]'s growth.

"Perform[cb] has become a distinguished leader in the performance marketing space because of their groundbreaking technology and talented team," says Gil Ozir, Managing Partner of Beringer Capital. "We are committed to providing Perform[cb] with the resources and support they need to expand their success, and we look forward to advancing the Company's vision of providing leading and emerging brands with accountable, transparent, and brand-safe opportunities to acquire customers at scale."

"We are grateful to have partnered with the Perform[cb] management team. Under their leadership, the Company has grown significantly and we are excited about all the opportunities ahead for Perform[cb] and their new partners," says Kenneth Lau, Managing Director of Centre Lane Partners.

Perform[cb] was advised in the transaction by investment bank Canaccord Genuity. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Perform[cb]:

Founded as Clickbooth in 2002, Perform[cb] experienced exponential organic growth enabling the company to complete a series of strategic acquisitions; each providing unique performance-based solutions for modern marketers and affiliate partners. Recognized as the #1 Performance Network Worldwide since 2015, Perform[cb] is a distinguished leader within the performance marketing industry. Through their Network and Agency, Perform[cb] is a provider of online marketing services leveraging over two decades of experience, proprietary technology, and the best talent in the industry to empower brands to acquire new customers across diverse digital channels on a pay for results model. To learn more, visit performcb.com .

About Beringer Capital:

Beringer Capital is a private equity firm specializing in the rapidly evolving media, marketing services, commerce, data, and technology sectors. The firm leverages its financial and intellectual capital to invest in middle-market companies that are strongly positioned to benefit from the accelerating trend toward digital transformation. Beringer's collaborative approach, as well as its strong track record with add-on acquisitions, helps visionary leadership teams to deliver exceptional customer experience and achieve impressive results.

Beringer Capital has offices in Toronto and New York. For more information, visit beringercapital.com

About Centre Lane Partners:

Centre Lane Partners is a private investment firm that invests in the equity and debt of middle-market companies in North America. Centre Lane Partners employs a flexible strategy that approaches situations with a solutions orientation and seeks to partner with strong management teams that can benefit from patient, long-term capital, and Centre Lane Partners' operational, financial and strategic expertise and support. For more information, visit centrelanepartners.com .

Press Contact:

Ami DeWille, VP Marketing Perform[cb]

Ami@performcb.com

SOURCE: Perform[cb]

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644456/Performcb-is-Acquired-by-Leading-Equity-Firm-Beringer-Capital
- Rise in adoption of IoT in developed and developing economies and increase in demand for cloud platform drive the growth of the global IoT insurance market.

PORTLAND, Ore., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "IoT Insurance Market By Component (Solution and Service), Insurance Type (Life & Health Insurance, Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance, and Others) and Application (Automotive, Transportation & Logistics, Life & Health, Commercial & Residential Buildings, Business & Enterprise, Agriculture and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027." According to the report, the global IoT insurance industry was estimated at $8.63 billion in 2019, and is expected to hit $304.31 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 57.1% from 2019 to 2027.

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities-

Rise in adoption of IoT in developed and developing economies, increase in demand for cloud platform and other value-added services in the insurance industry, and surge in investment in IoT by insurance companies drive the growth of the global IoT insurance market. On the other hand, security and privacy issues and lack of knowledge among workers impede the growth to some extent. However, upsurge in need of insurance for various IoT enabled applications is expected to pave the way for lucrative opportunities for the key players in the industry.

Download Report Sample (266+ Pages PDF with Insights) @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/10149

Covid-19 scenario-

The outbreak of the pandemic led to rise in adoption of digital technology among insurance provider companies to receive client information for claim management. This, in turn, has impacted the global IoT insurance market positively.

This drift is likely to continue post pandemic as well, since most insurance provider companies have been adopting IoT technology to delivers usage-based-insurance services.

The solution segment to retain its dominance by 2027-

Based on component, the solution segment contributed to around two-thirds of the global IoT insurance market share in 2019, and is expected to rule the roost by the end of 2027. This is due to the fact that various insurance companies started adopting several new technologies, such as machine learning and predictive analytics for increasing the capabilities of claim management process. The service segment, on the other hand, would also register the fastest CAGR of 58.9% throughout the forecast period, owing to increase in use of IoT solutions in insurance sector and rise in need for IoT technology services

Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the IoT Insurance Market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/10149?reqfor=covid

The property & casualty insurance segment to rule the roost-

Based on insurance type, the property & casualty insurance segment accounted for more than two-thirds of the global IoT insurance market revenue in 2019, and is anticipated to lead the trail by 2027, owing to increase in adoption of smart home across the world. Simultaneously, the life & health insurance segment would grow at the fastest CAGR of 58.6% from 2019 to 2027. Increase in need of data generated from fitness trackers, smartphones and smartwatches among the insurance companies for calculating and estimating the premium of policies drive the segment growth.

North America had the major share in 2019-

Based on region, North America had the major share in 2019, garnering nearly two-fifths of the global IoT insurance market. This is due to presence of large number of insurance companies in the U.S. and Canada and availability of high speed internet connection across the province. Simultaneously, the market across Asia-Pacific would register the fastest CAGR of 59.8% by 2027. This is due to increase in adoption of connected medical devices like wearables and fitness trackers among individuals in this region.

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Frontrunners in the industry-

Aeris Group Ltd

Concirrus, Google LLC

Accenture PLC

Microsoft Corporation

Cisco Systems Inc.

Oracle Corporation

SAP SE

Telit

International Business Machines Corporation

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Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Tamino Minerals Inc (OTC Pink: TINO) ("Tamino" or the "Company") signed a Strategic Planning Contract with Pervasip Corp. (OTC Pink: PVSP) where the Company has been requesting Pervasip Corp's assistance to further develop its mining properties. One of Pervasip's divisions is Private Equity Markets (www.PrivateEquityMarkets.us) which has great expertise on Strategic Planning.

Tamino Minerals, Inc. issued 5 Million Shares to Pervasip Corp. for their services and Pervasip has received the shares.

It's also important to mention that Here To Serve (OTC Pink: HTSC) has received 30 million restricted shares of TINO for its financial reporting services.

TAMINO MINERALS, INC.

TAMINO MINERALS INC. is exploring for high-grade gold deposits within a prolific gold producing geologic state, Sonora.

www.facebook.com/taminominerals

www.twitter.com/taminominerals

www.instragram.com/taminominerals

www.linkedin.com/company/taminominerals

On behalf of the Board,

Pedro Villagran-Garcia, President & CEO

Tamino Minerals, Inc.

www.taminomineralsinc.com

For further information, please contact the Company at 1-307-212-4657 or by email at info@taminominerals.ca

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this press release, including any information as to our strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "will," "anticipate," "contemplate," "target," "plan," "continue," "budget," "may," "intend," "estimate," "project" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82952
Kamoa-Kakula aims to become the first net-zero carbon emitter among the top-tier copper mines by electrifying its mining fleet

London, England--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Robert Friedland, Ivanhoe Mines' Executive Co-Chair, announced today that Ivanhoe Mines has pledged to achieve net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) at the industry-leading Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mr. Friedland made the announcement in advance of his participation in a virtual fireside discussion at the 2021 Goldman Sachs Copper Day later today.

In support of the Paris Agreement on climate change, and in the spirit of the commitments at the recent virtual global climate conference by the Chinese and American governments to sharply cut emissions, Ivanhoe Mines has committed to work with its joint-venture partners and leading underground mining equipment manufacturers to ensure that Kamoa-Kakula becomes the first net-zero operational carbon emitter among the world's top-tier copper producers.

Since the Kamoa-Kakula mine and concentrator plant already are powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity, the focus of the company's net-zero commitment will be on electrifying the project's mining fleet with new, state-of-the-art equipment powered by electric batteries or hydrogen fuel cells.

"Emissions from all gasoline and diesel vehicles not only harm our planet, they harm our health. Electric and fuel-cell vehicles now include cars, transit buses, trucks of all sizes, and even big-rig tractor trailers," said Mr. Friedland.

"Industrial-scale electric and fuel-cell mechanized underground mining equipment currently is being tested around the world, and it is only a matter of time until they become available for commercial use in the size that we require for our large-scale, bulk mining operations. We plan to be among the first of the early adopters of the technology."

Kamoa-Kakula is expected to soon begin producing its first copper concentrates. Kakula is projected to be the world's highest-grade major copper mine, with an initial mining rate (Phase 1) of 3.8 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) at an estimated early average feed grade of more than 6.0% copper, ramping up to 7.6 Mtpa (Phase 2) in Q3 2022. Phases 1 and 2 combined are forecast to produce approximately 400,000 tonnes of copper per year. Based on independent benchmarking, the project's phased expansion scenario to 19 Mtpa would position Kamoa-Kakula as the world's second-largest copper mining complex, with peak annual copper production of more than 800,000 tonnes.

"Kamoa-Kakula already is powered by one of the greenest electricity grids in the world, so we have a considerable head start in achieving our net-zero goal," said Mr. Friedland.

"Once we achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions, we will turn our focus on achieving a net-zero total emissions project, which will include Scope 3 emissions. We have the opportunity to be an industry leader in the fight against climate change, and we look forward to spearheading the drive for a future free of fossil fuels, initially at Kamoa-Kakula, but eventually at all of our mines - for a better tomorrow for our children and grandchildren. Through collaboration and creativity, we can be a positive force in addressing our industry's most pressing challenges, working together to find the right path forward.

"The carbon footprint of production will eventually be priced into finished copper, enabling buyers to better evaluate how much the metal contributes to the environmental impact of their products. This will become increasingly important to purchasers of copper-intensive products, such as electric vehicles.

Mark Farren, Kamoa Copper's CEO, remarked: "Given the extraordinarily high copper grades and access to abundant clean, renewable hydropower, Kamoa Copper is uniquely positioned to achieve the net-zero operational target much sooner than other major copper producers. We are working closely with our mining equipment suppliers to decrease the use of fossil fuels in our mining fleet, and evaluate the viability, safety and performance of new electric, hydrogen and hybrid technologies. We plan to introduce them into our mining fleet as soon as they become commercially available.

"Unlike diesel equipment, electric underground mining equipment produces zero emissions, thus making for more sustainable operations while also increasing the health and safety of those working in the mine. Ventilation costs also would be significantly reduced with electric equipment."

A 2020 independent audit of Kamoa-Kakula's greenhouse gas intensity metrics performed by Hatch Ltd. of Mississauga, Canada, confirmed that the project will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of copper produced.

For more information about Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, view the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard here: https://ghgprotocol.org/corporate-standard.





The dam at the Mwadingusha hydropower complex, one of two public-private partnerships that Kamoa Copper has with the DRC state-owned power company to provide Kamoa-Kakula with 240 megawatts of long-term, permanent renewable electricity.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/82938_ce7fd543145fd83f_002full.jpg









The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project is a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines (39.6%), Zijin Mining Group (39.6%), Crystal River Global Limited (0.8%) and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (20%).

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/82938_ce7fd543145fd83f_003full.jpg





Last month, Kamoa-Kakula joint-venture's energy company signed an agreement with the DRC's state-owned power company to upgrade Turbine 5 at the Inga II hydropower complex on the Congo River. Aerial view of the Inga I (rear) and Inga II (front) hydropower plants, with the penstock funneling water to turbine 5 at Inga II circled in red

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/82938_ce7fd543145fd83f_005full.jpg









Kamoa-Kakula's new 220-kilovolt substation that is energized with hydropower from the national grid.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/82938_ce7fd543145fd83f_006full.jpg

Qualified Persons and Ni 43-101-compliant Technical Reports

Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature regarding development scenarios at the Kamoa-Kakula Project in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Steve Amos, who is considered, by virtue of his education, experience and professional association, a Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101. Mr. Amos is not considered independent under NI 43-101 as he is the Head of the Kamoa Project. Mr. Amos has verified the technical data disclosed in this news release.

Ivanhoe has prepared an independent, NI 43-101-compliant technical report for the Kamoa-Kakula Project, which is available on the company's website and under the company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com:

Kamoa-Kakula Integrated Development Plan 2020 dated October 13, 2020, prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd., China Nerin Engineering Co., Ltd., DRA Global, Epoch Resources, Golder Associates Africa, KGHM Cuprum R&D Centre Ltd., Outotec Oyj, Paterson and Cooke, Stantec Consulting International LLC, SRK Consulting Inc., and Wood plc.

The technical report includes relevant information regarding the assumptions, parameters and methods of the mineral resource estimates on the Kamoa-Kakula Project cited in this news release, as well as information regarding data verification, exploration procedures and other matters relevant to the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release.

About Ivanhoe Mines

Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal joint-venture projects in Southern Africa: the development of major new, mechanized, underground mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper discoveries in the DRC and at the Platreef palladium-platinum-nickel-copper-rhodium-gold discovery in South Africa; and the extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the DRC.

Kamoa-Kakula is expected to begin producing copper in late May or early June 2021 and, through phased expansions, is positioned to become one of the world's largest copper producers. Kamoa-Kakula and Kipushi will be powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity and will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of metal produced. Ivanhoe also is exploring for new copper discoveries on its wholly-owned Western Foreland exploration licences in the DRC, near the Kamoa-Kakula Project.

Information contacts

Investors:

Bill Trenaman

+1.604.331.9834

Media:

Matthew Keevil

+1.604.558.1034

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release.

Such statements include without limitation, the timing and results of: (i) statements regarding Ivanhoe Mines' pledge to achieve net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine; (ii) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula aims to become the first net-zero carbon emitter among the top-tier copper mines by electrifying its mining fleet; (iii) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula plans to be among the first of the early adopters of the electric technology in industrial-scale, underground mining equipment; (iv) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula is expected to soon begin producing its first copper concentrates. Kakula is projected to be the world's highest-grade major copper mine, with an initial mining rate (Phase 1) of 3.8 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) at an estimated early average feed grade of more than 6.0% copper, ramping up to 7.6 Mtpa (Phase 2) in Q3 2022; (v) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula's Phases 1 and 2 combined are forecast to produce approximately 400,000 tonnes of copper per year; (vi) statements regarding based on independent benchmarking, the project's phased expansion scenario to 19 Mtpa would position Kamoa-Kakula as the world's second-largest copper mining complex, with peak annual copper production of more than 800,000 tonnes; and (vii) statements regarding once Kamoa-Kakula achieves net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions, the Kamoa-Kakula will focus on achieving a net-zero total emissions project, which will include Scope 3 emissions.

As well, all of the results of the Kakula definitive feasibility study, the Kakula-Kansoko pre-feasibility

study and the Kamoa-Kakula preliminary economic assessment, constitute forward-looking statements or information, and include future estimates of internal rates of return, net present value, future production, estimates of cash cost, proposed mining plans and methods, mine life estimates, cash flow forecasts, metal recoveries, estimates of capital and operating costs and the size and timing of phased development of the projects. Furthermore, with respect to this specific forward-looking information concerning the development of the Kamoa-Kakula Project, the company has based its assumptions and analysis on certain factors that are inherently uncertain. Uncertainties include: (i) the adequacy of infrastructure; (ii) geological characteristics; (iii) metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization; (iv) the ability to develop adequate processing capacity; (v) the price of copper; (vi) the availability of equipment and facilities necessary to complete development; (vii) the cost of consumables and mining and processing equipment; (viii) unforeseen technological and engineering problems; (ix) accidents or acts of sabotage or terrorism; (x) currency fluctuations; (xi) changes in regulations; (xii) the compliance by joint venture partners with terms of agreements; (xiii) the availability and productivity of skilled labour; (xiv) the regulation of the mining industry by various governmental agencies; (xv) the ability to raise sufficient capital to develop such projects; (xvi) changes in project scope or design; and (xvii) political factors.

Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed below and under "Risk Factors", and elsewhere in this release, as well as unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release.

The company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors set forth below in the "Risk Factors" section in the company's Q3 2020 MD&A and its current annual information form.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82938
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / Grid Metals Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV:GRDM)(OTCQB:MSMGF) is pleased to report new results from three additional drill holes from the Central Parisien Lake Zone at its East Bull Lake palladium property (the "Property") located near Sudbury, Ontario. Drilling hit multiple zones of palladium-dominant mineralization including a footwall copper sulfide vein containing 1.2 ounces per tonne palladium. Drilling results received over the last ten months combined with geophysical data confirm the presence of a persistently mineralized layer along the base of the East Bull Lake intrusion having the potential to host multiple, near surface palladium-rich copper-nickel sulfide deposits.

The Company will be hosting a webinar to discuss results and corporate developments at 4:05 pm EST on May 5, 2021. The link to sign up is: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2167789843061448719'source=co

Highlights

Drillhole EBL 21-09 intersected three discrete zones of palladium-rich sulfide mineralization including a footwall copper sulfide vein which grades 37.6 g/t Pd (1.2 oz/tonne Pd), 6.68 g/t Pt and 21.3% Cu over 0.54 metres within a two metre mineralized interval averaging 10.7 g/t Pd and 5.87% Cu . Similar grades are present in footwall copper sulfide veins in major magmatic systems, globally - including both the Sudbury and Noril'sk mining camps. An offhole conductor adjacent to this vein was subsequently detected by borehole geophysics.

Drill hole EBL21-07, drilled 70 metres southeast from EBL21-09, also intersected wide zones of palladium mineralization having local higher-grade sections including 1.0 metres of 11.5 g/t Pd from 6.0 metres depth.

EBL21-08, the most northerly and westerly hole drilled in the target area, is a 350 metre step out from the main area of drilling. It intersected a narrow, higher-grade section in the Basal Layer (0.75 metres with 4.64 g/t Pd and 1.19 Pt).

The area between hole EBL21-08 in the west and holes EBL21-07 and 09 in the east is over 200 metres wide and is centered on a potential north-striking feeder fault that remains to be drilled.

Palladium mineralization continues to be associated with an extensive, inclusion-rich gabbro layer that blankets the base of the East Bull Lake intrusion, herein referred to as the "Basal Layer." The Company is now confident in its ability to predict the position of the Basal Layer to depths exceeding several hundred metres across the entire >20 km strike length of the property using a combination of resistivity, conductivity and magnetic survey data.

Selected analytical results for Drill Holes EBL21-07, EBL21-08 and EBL21-09, Central Parisien Lake Zone. See Figure 1 for hole locations and Appendix 1 for hole specifications.

Hole

ID From

(m) To

(m) Length

(m) Pd

(g/t) Pt

(g/t) Au

(g/t) Cu

(%) Ni

(%) Pd Eq

(g/t) EBL21-07 4.85 128.68 123.83 0.43 0.13 0.02 0.03 0.03 0.62 inc. 6.00 7.00 1.00 11.5 1.75 0.23 0.00 0.01 12.5 and inc. 59.00 94.66 35.66 0.68 0.22 0.04 0.07 0.04 1.00 with 91.00 94.66 3.66 2.72 0.75 0.21 0.25 0.12 3.72 EBL21-08 199.25 202.00 2.75 2.05 0.65 0.04 0.01 0.01 2.46 inc. 199.25 200.00 0.75 4.64 1.19 0.11 0.04 0.003 5.44 EBL21-09 48.00 56.00 8.00 1.78 0.49 0.05 0.04 0.02 2.18 inc. 48.00 51.00 3.00 3.44 0.85 0.06 0.05 0.02 4.05 with 49.00 50.00 1.00 6.46 1.70 0.10 0.07 0.02 7.59 and 79.76 115.00 35.24 0.37 0.16 0.05 0.16 0.07 0.87 inc. 103.00 114.00 11.00 0.51 0.21 0.06 0.27 0.09 1.22 and 158.00 160.00 2.00 10.7 1.89 0.53 5.87 0.23 13.6 inc. 158.76 159.30 0.54 37.6 6.68 1.46 21.3 0.60 68.0

Notes:

Based on current 3D geological interpretations, the true thickness is estimated to range between approximately 50-80% of the length of the reported mineralized intervals.

Pd Eq is the palladium equivalent grade expressed in grams per tonne that is calculated using the following long-term consensus price forecasts ($US) sourced from S&P Global Metals and Mining Research and dated October 30, 2020: Pd - $1,813.90/oz; Pt - $955.55/oz; Au - $1,832.01/oz; Cu - $2.96/lb; Ni - $6.87/lb.

Dr. Dave Peck, the Company's Vice-President of Exploration and Business Development, stated "We continue to see good widths of near surface, palladium-rich disseminated sulfide mineralization in the Parisien Lake area associated with what we now refer to as the Basal Layer. We have now expanded the strike length of the Parisien Lake Zone to approximately two kilometres. And this is just one segment of the laterally extensive Basal Layer. We are also encouraged by the intersection of the very high grade massive copper sulfide vein in hole EBL21-09, which adds a new dimension to our ongoing exploration programming. We want to accelerate our efforts to discover and delineate multiple near-surface palladium deposits at East Bull Lake, especially at a time when palladium has reached a new record high of nearly U.S. $3,000 per ounce."

Figure 1. Location of drill holes EBL21-07 to 09, Central Parisien Lake Zone, East Bull Lake palladium property. An interpreted north-trending fault, a possible feeder structure, separates the main area of recent drilling in the east from the widely scattered drill holes in the west.

Analysis

PGE and base metal sulfides in the Central Parisien Lake Zone appear to be most strongly concentrated in the vicinity of a potential northerly-trending feeder structure (Figure 1), which has not yet been tested by drilling. The Central Parisien Lake Zone is open for another two kilometres to the west, where it appears to connect with another area of outcropping palladium mineralization at Moon Lake, where limited historical drilling intersected the Basal Layer very close to surface. No drilling has been done in the gap between these two areas. The recent drilling results at Parisien Lake indicate that the combination of magnetic, resistivity and conductivity data are very effective in mapping out the Basal Layer to significant depths - opening up the full potential of the >20 km long Property for efficient exploration drilling and new discoveries.

Ongoing Activities

Results from the remaining six holes completed in the Q1 2021 Parisien Lake drilling program will be reported as they become available. To help prioritize the next phase of drilling on the Property the Company will complete a several-week-long summer prospecting and mapping program set to commence in June. Preliminary rhodium analyses for selected samples from the Parisien Lake area are expected to be received within the next few weeks. Results from the recently initiated metallurgical study on three composite core samples from recent Parisien Lake area drill holes, which is being conducted by XPS Expert Process Solutions facility in Sudbury, are expected to be available this summer.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Grid Metals applies best practice quality assurance and quality control ("QAQC") protocols on all of its exploration programs. For the current drilling program, core is logged and sampled at a core facility located in the town of Massey, Ontario - approximately 30 km south of the property. NQ-size drill core samples are cut into halves using a diamond saw. Standard sample intervals of 1.00 metre length are used unless a major geological, structural or mineralization boundary is encountered. Samples are bagged and tagged and transported by courier to, for this news release, the Actlabs Thunder Bay analytical facility. Actlabs analyzes each sample for Pd, Pt and Au using a lead collection fire assay on a 30 g pulp split and an ICP-OES finish. Copper, Ni and Co are analyzed using a 'near total' fusion multi-acid digestion and an ICP-OES finish. The Company uses two PGE certified reference materials ("CRMs") and one analytical blank purchased from Canadian Resource Laboratories to monitor analytical accuracy and check for cross contamination between samples. One of the CRMs or the blank are inserted every tenth sample within a given batch. The analytical results for the two CRMs and the blank for the sample batches reported here did not show any significant bias compared to the certified values and the results fell within the acceptable limits of variability.

Dr. Peck, P.Geo., has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release for purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

About Grid Metals Corp.

Grid Metals Corp. is an exploration and development Company that has a diversified portfolio of projects in the nickel-copper-platinum group metal sectors. These commodities are vital to the emerging battery metals, energy storage and automotive sectors. All of Grid's projects are located in secure North American mining jurisdictions. The Company is focused on timely advancement of its property portfolio through prudent exploration and development activities.

To find out more about Grid Metals Corp., please visit www.gridmetalscorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Grid Metals Corp.

Robin Dunbar - President, CEO & Director Telephone: 416-955-4773 Email: rd@gridmetalscorp.com

David Black - Investor Relations Email: info@gridmetalscorp.com

We seek safe harbour.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of the Securities Act (Ontario) (together, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements may include the Company's plans for its properties, the overall economic potential of its properties, the availability of adequate financing and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements to be materially different. Such factors include, among others, risks and uncertainties relating to potential political risk, uncertainty of production and capital costs estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, physical risks inherent in mining operations, metallurgical risk, currency fluctuations, fluctuations in the price of nickel, cobalt, copper and other metals, completion of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, the inability or failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis, and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the most recent financial period and Material Change Reports filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements.

Appendix 1. Specifications for Drill Holes Cited in this News Release

Hole Number Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip Length (m) EBL21-07 410042 5141816 356 350 45 228.7 EBL21-08 410003 5141920 360 350 45 224.0 EBL21-09 409770 5142005 358 190 50 230.0

SOURCE: Grid Metals Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644733/Grid-Metals-Intersects-376-gt-Palladium-and-213-Copper-in-Massive-Sulfide-Vein-at-East-Bull-Lake-Parisien-Lake-Zone-Continues-to-Expand
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Social media giant Facebook's Workplace business tool has breached the seven million paid subscribers mark at a time when jobs have gone remote and is now the new normal amid the ongoing pandemic. The number of paid subscribers has grown 40 percent from last year. 'We built Workplace as an internal version of Facebook to run our own company, and it was so useful we started letting other organizations use it too,' Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. Workplace from Facebook, launched in October 2016, is a simple and secure online collaborative enterprise software tool developed by Facebook which facilitates online groupwork, instant messaging, video conferencing, and news sharing. It is developed and run from Facebook's offices in London. Workplace had 2 million paid users in March 2019, 3 million paid users in October 2019 and 5 million paid users in May 2020. It has notched up some big customers such as Virgin Atlantic, Walmart, Telefonica, BT, Booking.com, Deliveroo, AstraZeneca, Starbucks, Spotify and the World Health Organization. The demand for business connectivity platforms such as Workplace, Zoom, Slack and Microsoft Teams, have soared after the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forced millions of executives to switch to working from home. Workplace's top rival Teams is said to have about 145 million daily active users, which was up 93 percent from 75 million in April 2020. In October lastyear, Facebook announced a global alliance with Deloitte to help companies use Workplace to meet the challenges of remote working. 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.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - KFC, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, and its franchisees are hiring 20,000 restaurant employees across the U.S., citing strong sales performance. The positions will be full-time and part-time, and cover a range of roles including cooks and restaurant general managers. The fried chicken chain said that employees can benefit from The KFC Foundation, an independent non-profit organization that provides charitable support to KFC U.S. restaurant employees through education, hardship assistance and personal finance programs. Through the KFC Foundation's REACH Grants, employees of any age, any position, pursuing any degree can receive tuition assistance to attend the accredited four-year or two-year college of their choice. The money can also be used at trade/vocational schools and for graduate study. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The Company Lowers NSR Royalty Buyout Costs Across Its Exploration Project Holdings in Nevada

RENO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / May 05, 2021 / Pershing Resources Company, Inc., ("Pershing" or the "Company") (OTC PINK:PSGR) today announced that it has amended the terms of the 100% mineral rights interest in its Klondyke and Divide properties as well as the Hot Creek parcel of the Company's West Bolo Gold and Silver properties located in Nevada. The amendments provide for comparable lease/purchase option agreements containing net smelter royalty (NSR) percentage obligations of 2% or less after takeaways for each of these properties. These amended terms are comparable to the previously amended mineral rights lease terms the Company negotiated with Americas Gold Exploration, Inc., for the Company's West Bolo property

Under the amended terms of the three lease agreements, the Company will continue the 20-year term lease/purchase option agreements on the Klondyke and Divide properties as well as the Hot Creek parcel on the West Bolo property. The Company recently negotiated a $2,000,000 reduction in the NSR percentage buyout price/cost for each agreement. The amended agreements for Klondyke and the Hot Creek parcel of the West Bolo property are 100% with Mountain Gold Claims, LLC, (MGC), while the amended agreement for the Divide Property is 50% with MGC and 50% with Blackrock Exploration, LLC. (BRE). Previously, the terms of the agreements for each of the properties included a 3% NSR, of which the first one percentage point could be bought out within five years from the date of the respective agreement for $1,000,000 and the second (of three) percentage points could have been purchased within ten years of the date of the respective agreement for $4,000,000. The amended agreements will now reflect NSR buyout terms of $1,000,000 and $2,000,000, respectively, for each NSR percentage point at the five and ten year timelines. In consideration for this, the Company will make an additional advanced royalty payment of 500,000 shares of restricted common stock to MGC in exchange for the $2,000,000 reduction in the purchase price of the buyout of the second percentage points of the 3% NSR on both the Klondyke property and the Hot Creek parcel of the West Bolo property lease agreements. The Company previously announced terms of the Divide Agreement which was signed in 2019 and amended in April of 2021. In consideration for the amended Klondyke and Hot Creek agreements, the Company will make an additional royalty payment of 1,000,000 shares of restricted common stock to MGC in exchange for the $2,000,000 reduction in the purchase price of the buyout of the second percentage points of the 3% NSR on any future production on both properties.

As was stated in the press release of April 19th 2021, In consideration for the amended lease agreement for the Divide Property, the Company has made an additional royalty payment of 500,000 shares of restricted common stock to MGC and 500,000 shares of restricted common stock to BRE in exchange for the $2,000,000 reduction in the purchase price of the buyout of the second percentage points of the 3% NSR on any future production from the property.

About Pershing Resources Company, Inc.

Pershing Resources Company, Inc., is a precious and base metals exploration company with a growing portfolio of exploration projects in Arizona and Nevada. The Company is based in Reno, Nevada and is currently focused on the exploration and development of its 100% owned New Enterprise and Mohave-Standard properties, collectively referred to as the New Enterprise project. The New Enterprise Project is located between the Mineral Park Porphyry Cu-Mo mine (approximately 20 miles to the northwest) and the Baghdad Cu-Mo mine (approximately 45 miles to the southeast). The Company's other assets are comprised of mining properties in various early stages of development located in Arizona and Nevada. Pershing Resources is committed to responsible exploration and mining practices.

Sign up for email news alerts on the Company, at: http://ir.pershingpm.com/

Forward-Looking Statements

The information contained in this press release, as well as the information on the Company's website, is provided solely for the reader's general knowledge. Such information is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all matters pertaining to the Company. Certain statements included herein, and, on the Company's, website constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current knowledge, assumptions, judgment, and expectations regarding future performance or events. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such statements are reasonable, these forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of, assumptions made by, and information currently available to the Company's management. When used in this press release and on the Company's website, words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "hope," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "possibility," "potential," "predict," "project," "should,' "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, and/or achievements of the Company or of the mining industry, in general, to be materially different from future results, performance, and/or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include uncertainties related to fluctuations in gold, silver, copper, and other precious and base metals commodity prices, uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology of the Company's properties, uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, the need for cooperation of government agencies in the development of the Company's mineral projects, the need to obtain additional financing to develop the Company's mineral projects, the possibility of delay in development programs or in construction projects, uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for the Company's mineral projects and the risks associated with the pandemic caused by the coronavirus known as COVID-19.

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The Company has no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, revise, or correct any of the forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

CONTACT:

Pershing Resources Company, Inc.

200 South Virginia Street, 8th Floor

Reno, NV 89501

Phone: 775-398-3124

Email: j.adams@pershingpm.com

http://www.pershingpm.com/

SOURCE: Pershing Resources Company, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644765/Pershing-Resources-Amends-Lease-Terms-of-Klondyke-Divide-and-Hot-Creek-Parcel-of-its-West-Bolo-Property-Agreements
KINGSTON, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV:FMS) (the "Company" or "Focus Graphite") announced today the closing of the first tranche of the previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of $1,822,800.08. The Company has issued 15,190,001 flow-through common shares (the "Flow-Through Shares") at a price of $0.12 per Flow-Through Share.

In connection with the closing of the first tranche of the Offering, the Company paid cash finder's fees totaling $117,236.00 and issued 976,966 non-transferable finder's warrants (the "Finders Warrants"). Each Finders Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one (1) non-flow-though common share of the Company at a price of $0.12 per common share until May 4, 2023.

The securities issued in connection with the closing of the first tranche of the Offering are subject to a four-month hold period expiring on September 5, 2021. The Offering is subject to the final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Two insiders of the Company participated in the Offering and subscribed for an aggregate of 2,500,000 Flow-Through Shares representing an aggregate amount of $300,000. Participation of insiders of the Company in the Offering constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("61-101"). The Offering is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of 61-101 as neither the fair market value of securities being issued to insiders nor the consideration being paid by insiders will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the closing of the Offering as the details of the participation of insiders of the Company had not been confirmed at that time.

The proceeds of the Offering will be used to support the exploration program on the Company's Tetepisca Graphite Project located southwest of the Manicouagan reservoir in the Cote-Nord administrative region of north-eastern Quebec.

About Focus Graphite

Focus Graphite Inc. is an advanced exploration company with an objective of producing flake graphite concentrate at its wholly owned Lac Knife and Lac Tetepisca flake graphite projects located in the Cote-Nord administrative region of Quebec. In a second stage, to meet Quebec stakeholder interests in developing second transformation industries within the province and to add shareholder value, Focus is evaluating the feasibility of producing value added specialty graphite products including battery-grade spherical graphite.

Focus Graphite is a technology-oriented graphite development company with a vision for building long-term, sustainable shareholder value. Focus also holds a significant equity position in graphene applications developer Grafoid Inc. For more information about Focus Graphite, please visit www.focusgraphite.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Information

This news release may contain certain forward-looking information and statements, including without limitation, the closing of the Offerings, statements pertaining to the use of proceeds, and the Company's ability to obtain necessary approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Focus Graphite's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Focus Graphite Investor Contact:

Scott Anderson

Investor Relations

(858) 229-7063

sanderson@nextcap-ir.com

Focus Graphite Inc.

Judith Mazvihwa-MacLean

CFO|

(613) 581-4040

jmazvihwa@focusgraphite.com

SOURCE: Focus Graphite Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644761/Focus-Graphite-Closes-First-Tranche-of-Non-Brokered-Flow-Through-Offering
Regulatory News:

Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) is pleased to announce that Jacek Olczak was appointed Chief Executive Officer following the company's 2021 Annual Shareholders Meeting earlier today. Mr. Olczak-most recently the company's Chief Operating Officer-was also elected to the Board of Directors. Andre Calantzopoulos, who served as PMI's Chief Executive Officer from 2013, was appointed Executive Chairman of the Board prior to the meeting. Mr. Lucio Noto stepped down from his role as interim Chairman of the Board and was reelected to the Board of Directors. The appointments follow the announcement of PMI's leadership transition in December 2020. When determined, PMI will announce the name of the Lead Independent Director on its website.

In accepting his appointment as CEO, Mr. Olczak committed to accelerating PMI's smoke-free transformation, announced in 2016. The company is focused on developing, scientifically substantiating, and responsibly commercializing smoke-free products that are less harmful than smoking, with the aim of replacing cigarettes as soon as possible.

Mr. Olczak said: "I am humbled and excited to lead PMI as we accelerate our transformation into a smoke-free company. PMI is an industry leader in scientific innovation, and our ambition is that more than half of our net revenues will come from smoke-free products in 2025. Our evolving portfolio will drive our long-term future. We will lean into our scientific research and expertise, using our collective skills and imagination to innovate beyond our existing portfolio and explore new areas of business development."

Mr. Olczak, 56, began his career with PMI in 1993. He started in finance and general management positions across Europe, including as Managing Director of PMI's markets in Poland and Germany and as President of the European Union Region, before being appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2012. He held that position until 2018, when he became PMI's Chief Operating Officer. He holds a master's degree in economics from the University of Lodz, Poland.

Mr. Olczak has been a vital driver of PMI's smoke-free transformation, which moved into its commercialization phase with the launch of IQOS in Nagoya, Japan, in 2014. Under his oversight as COO, PMI increased the portion of its net revenues derived from smoke-free products to 28 percent in the first quarter of 2021. Further, the company grew the geographical coverage of its smoke-free products from zero to 66 markets in key cities or nationwide as of March 31, 2021. And Mr. Olczak led PMI's commercial transformation, successfully developing it from a primarily business-to-business company to an increasingly business-to-consumer company.

Mr. Calantzopoulos said: "Jacek is ideally placed to deliver PMI's smoke-free vision in his new role as CEO. His passion for the company and our employees underpins his drive for results, as does his deep knowledge of our products, systems, values, and investors. I believe he is the ideal leader to ensure our business's continued growth and deliver shareholder value. I look forward to continuing to work with him in my new capacity as Executive Chairman of the Board."

Approximately 85 percent of the shares entitled to vote were represented at the meeting in person or by proxy. The shareholders elected 13 nominees for director; approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of named executive officers; and ratified the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers SA as independent auditors. Final voting results will be included in a Form 8-K that PMI will file with the SEC within the next few days.

An archived copy of the webcast of the meeting will be available for approximately one year from the date of the meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PMI2021. The presentation slides and script will also be available at the same website address.

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company and its shareholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free products, associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. In addition, PMI ships versions of its IQOS Platform 1 device and consumables to Altria Group, Inc. for sale under license in the U.S., where these products have received marketing authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway; the FDA has also authorized the marketing of a version of IQOS and its consumables as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP), finding that an exposure modification order for these products is appropriate to promote the public health. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMI's smoke-free product portfolio includes heat-not-burn and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of March 31, 2021, PMI's smoke-free products are available for sale in 66 markets in key cities or nationwide, and PMI estimates that approximately 14.0 million adults around the world have already switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains projections of future results and other forward-looking statements. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions. In the event that risks or uncertainties materialize, or underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. Pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, PMI is identifying important factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements made by PMI.

PMIs business risks include: excise tax increases and discriminatory tax structures; increasing marketing and regulatory restrictions that could reduce our competitiveness, eliminate our ability to communicate with adult consumers, or ban certain of our products; health concerns relating to the use of tobacco and other nicotine-containing products and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; litigation related to tobacco use and intellectual property; intense competition; the effects of global and individual country economic, regulatory and political developments, natural disasters and conflicts; changes in adult smoker behavior; lost revenues as a result of counterfeiting, contraband and cross-border purchases; governmental investigations; unfavorable currency exchange rates and currency devaluations, and limitations on the ability to repatriate funds; adverse changes in applicable corporate tax laws; adverse changes in the cost, availability, and quality of tobacco and other agricultural products and raw materials, as well as components and materials for our electronic devices; and the integrity of its information systems and effectiveness of its data privacy policies. PMI's future profitability may also be adversely affected should it be unsuccessful in its attempts to produce and commercialize reduced-risk products or if regulation or taxation do not differentiate between such products and cigarettes; if it is unable to successfully introduce new products, promote brand equity, enter new markets or improve its margins through increased prices and productivity gains; if it is unable to expand its brand portfolio internally or through acquisitions and the development of strategic business relationships; or if it is unable to attract and retain the best global talent. Future results are also subject to the lower predictability of our reduced-risk product category's performance.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant societal and economic disruption, and resulted in closures of stores, factories and offices, and restrictions on manufacturing, distribution and travel, all of which will adversely impact our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial position during the continuation of the pandemic. Our business continuity plans and other safeguards may not be effective to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Currently, significant risks include our diminished ability to convert adult smokers to our RRPs, significant volume declines in our duty-free business and certain other key markets, disruptions or delays in our manufacturing and supply chain, increased currency volatility, and delays in certain cost saving, transformation and restructuring initiatives. Our business could also be adversely impacted if key personnel or a significant number of employees or business partners become unavailable due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The significant adverse impact of COVID-19 on the economic or political conditions in markets in which we operate could result in changes to the preferences of our adult consumers and lower demand for our products, particularly for our mid-price or premium-price brands. Continuation of the pandemic could disrupt our access to the credit markets or increase our borrowing costs. Governments may temporarily be unable to focus on the development of science-based regulatory frameworks for the development and commercialization of RRPs or on the enforcement or implementation of regulations that are significant to our business. In addition, messaging about the potential negative impacts of the use of our products on COVID-19 risks may lead to increasingly restrictive regulatory measures on the sale and use of our products, negatively impact demand for our products, the willingness of adult consumers to switch to our RRPs and our efforts to advocate for the development of science-based regulatory frameworks for the development and commercialization of RRPs.

The impact of these risks also depends on factors beyond our knowledge or control, including the duration and severity of the pandemic, its recurrence in our key markets, actions taken to contain its spread and to mitigate its public health effects, and the ultimate economic consequences thereof.

PMI is further subject to other risks detailed from time to time in its publicly filed documents, including the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. PMI cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not a complete discussion of all potential risks and uncertainties. PMI does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that it may make from time to time, except in the normal course of its public disclosure obligations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005738/en/

Contacts:

David Fraser Corey Henry

Philip Morris International

T. +41 79 843 8603 +1 (202) 679 7296

E. David.Fraser@pmi.com Corey.Henry@pmi.com
Rye Brook, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Here To Serve Holdings Corp. (OTC Pink: HTSC) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the value of the Company's portfolio of equity securities has grown substantially from a value of $1,187,625 as of December 31, 2020, to a value of $4,478,400 as of yesterday, an increase of 300%.

Paul Riss, the Company's CEO, said, "Our Executive Industries business has profited by accepting equity securities for our services, in lieu of cash. For five engagements, we were paid in shares of common stock for work we performed for OTC-listed companies. We have held shares of stock in one of the issuers for more than one year and shares of stock in two issuers will be one-year one in June 2021. Our portfolio consists of AGDY, ATWT, IDGC, TINO and PVSP."

The Company searches for undervalued assets and accepts shares of common stock as a fee for its corporate advisory, SEC compliance, consulting, and marketing services. Although this activity builds asset value on the Company's balance sheet, it may prove to be more valuable as a non-dilutive resource to fund the Company's drilling and exploration program for nickel and gold in its 177 single cell mining claims in mineral-rich sections of the Timmins mining camp.

Nickel is a crucial battery metal in the electric vehicle ("EV") supply chain. Many governments, consumer groups and companies, such as the Biden Administration, EV100, and General Motors, have committed to make EV transport the new normal in this decade. Industry experts project the world does not have enough nickel production to supply the EV battery market, and the Company seeks to supply battery metals from its rare land position adjacent to rich world-class deposits.

About Here To Serve Holding Corp.

Here to Serve Holding Corp. is a holding company that hunts for undervalued assets in the mining, real estate, and securities industries. Run by an experienced team of professionals with diverse backgrounds, the Company formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Fortune Nickel and Gold Inc. Fortune is dedicated to the global acquisition, exploration, and development of mining properties in prolific jurisdictions. Fortune recently acquired mining projects known as the Gowan and Beck- Ottaway properties located in the Timmins mining camp in Ontario, Canada. The Timmins mining camp lies at the heart of the Abitibi greenstone belt, which contains some of the world's largest deposits of gold, silver, copper, zinc, nickel, platinum-group metals, and industrial minerals such as talc. Fortune believes its projects have substantial gold and nickel potential.

For more information:

Please call Investor Relations with any questions at 855-4NICKEL (855-464-2535) extension 1.

The information contained herein includes forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82983
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Entheon Biomedical Corp. (CSE: ENBI) (OTCQB: ENTBF) (FSE: "1XU1") ("Entheon" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company focused on developing psychedelic medicines to treat addiction, is pleased to announce that it has been approved for trading on the OTCQB Venture Market ("OTCQB") effective May 5, 2021.

"We are thrilled to be up-listing on to the OTCQB, which will allow for greater engagement with our U.S. investor base. As we advance our DMT addiction therapy program toward human trials, continue R&D on our diagnostic and patient-monitoring platform, and scale up commercial availability of our subsidiary, HaluGen Life Science's Psychedelics Genetic Test, we are pleased to be gaining increased visibility and investor access within the U.S. market," said Timothy Ko, CEO of Entheon.

The shares will trade on the OTCQB under trading symbol "ENTBF". The Company's shares will continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol "ENBI" as well as the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE) under the symbol "1XU1".

This U.S. listing will provide the Company with access to a broader base of U.S. and international retail and institutional investors, ultimately providing investors with increased access to data, transparency and liquidity.

Investors can find real-time quotes and market information for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com.

About Entheon Biomedical Corp.

Entheon is a biotechnology research and development company committed to developing and commercializing a portfolio of safe and effective N,N-dimethyltryptamine based psychedelic therapeutic products ("DMT Products") for the purposes of treating addiction and substance use disorders. Subject to obtaining all requisite regulatory approvals and permits, Entheon intends to generate revenue through the sale of its DMT Products to physicians, clinics and licensed psychiatrists in the United States, certain countries in the European Union and throughout Canada.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Timothy Ko"

Timothy Ko, CEO

For more information, please contact the Company at:

Entheon Biomedical Corp.

Joseph Cullen, Investor Relations

Telephone: +1 (778) 919-8615

Joe@entheonbiomedical.com

https://entheonbiomedical.com/

For media inquiries, please contact Crystal Quast at:

Bullseye Corporate

Crystal Quast

Telephone: +1 (647) 529-6364

Quast@BullseyeCorporate.com

Cautionary Note on Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to the engagement and advisory services of Nancy Maher as "Special Advisor", and other matters. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to raise further capital and the Company's ability to obtain regulatory and exchange approvals. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/82984


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - 40531 new coronavirus cases were reported in the United States on Tuesday, taking the national total to 33,274,659. The weekly average of daily infection is 48003.



890 new deaths were reported on the same day. With this, the COVID death toll in the U.S. increased to 592,409, according to the latest data from Johns Hopkins University. The 7-day average of COVID deaths is 7201.



131 deaths were reported from Michigan, while Florida reported the highest number of cases - 3,682.



A total of 25,966,389 people have so far recovered from coronavirus infection in the country.



Announcing the next phase of his administration's vaccination campaign, President Joe Biden said that coronavirus infection cases are down in 40 states in the past two weeks. Deaths are down dramatically since January - down by more than 80 percent among seniors. It includes a drop of 80 percent among Hispanics and 70 percent among African Americans.



Biden said the U.S. Government has already committed to work to send 60 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to other countries, starting this month and into June. 'That means by that time, we'll have given about 10 percent of all the vaccines we've produced for the United States to the rest of the world. It's a significant humanitarian commitment, in addition to our funding of COVAX.'



White House Press Secretary Jan Psaki said at a briefing that On Tuesday, COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients and members of the White House COVID Response Team held their weekly meeting with state governors. 'This week, more than 29 million doses of vaccine will go out across all of our channels, with two thirds of those doses going to jurisdictions and one third to federal channels,' she told reporters.



As India struggling to tackle the second wave of COVID-19, the nation's Health Ministry reported 382,315 new cases and another 3,780 fatalities on Wednesday.



BBC reported that India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has been forced to pull out of attending the G7 meeting of foreign ministers in London in person after two members of the Indian delegation were tested positive for coronavirus.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
NOIDA, India, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A comprehensive overview of the Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems is recently added by UnivDatos Market Insights to its humongous database. Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems Market report has been aggregated by collecting informative data of various dynamics such as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This innovative report makes use of several analyses to get a closer outlook on the Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems Market. Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems report offers a detailed analysis of the latest industry developments and trending factors in the market that are influencing the market growth. Furthermore, this statistical market research repository examines and estimates the In-Cabin Sensing Systems at the global and regional levels. Global Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems is expected to grow at a CAGR of 54.1% from 2021-2027 to reach US$ 6,877 million by 2027.

Market Overview

The market is expected to witness a boost on account of the rising incidences of vehicle crashes due to several reasons such as driver's mistakes such as fatigue and drowsiness, less attentiveness, night vision, careless behavior, etc. As per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every year about 100,000 police-reported crashes involve drowsy driving. These crashes result in more than 1,550 fatalities and 71,000 injuries.

Also, a rise in the spending on research and development in the automotive industry coupled with the emerging of new players and the offering of new technology enables solutions of in-cabin sensing systems is acting as a growth catalyst to the industry. As per a study by Auto Alliance, automakers spend more than US$100 billion globally each year on R&D, ranking the auto industry ahead of other technology-driven industries. In 2018, the global automakers spent more than US$ 125 billion on R&D.

Request Sample Copy of this Report @ https://univdatos.com/report/radar-based-in-cabin-sensing-systems-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2021-2027

COVID-19 Impact

The covid -19 pandemic has brought higher automation and digitalization in the global automotive industry. The features or concepts such as IoT, AI, and digitalization will become exceptionally applicable in the coming years and are going to define the new way of working. A rise in vehicle theft during the COVID-19 era is the key factor that would drive the demand for In-Cabin sensing in the forecast period. As per a study, vehicle burglaries shot up 63% in New York and nearly 17% in Los Angeles from Jan. 1 through mid-May 2020, compared with the same period last year (2019).

Ask for Price & Discounts @ https://univdatos.com/report/radar-based-in-cabin-sensing-systems-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2021-2027

Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems Market report is studied thoroughly with several aspects that would help stakeholders in making their decisions more curated.

By Application, the market is primarily bifurcated into

Driver Monitoring Systems

Passenger Occupant Systems

Gesture UI Control

Theft Prevention Systems

Others

The driver monitoring systems segment dominated the application type segment and gathered 45.5% of the Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems Market in 2020. Moreover, the market is expected to grow at 54.5% CAGR to reach US$ 3,176 million by the year 2027.

By Vehicle Type, the market is primarily segmented into

SUVs

Sedans

Hatchback

Others

Amongst vehicle types, the SUVs segment accounted for the largest share and is expected to grow at 53.1% CAGR during the forecast period 2021-2027. In 2020, the SUVs segment generated a revenue of US$ 199.3 million.

In-Cabin Sensing Systems Geographical Segmentation Includes:

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Rest of the World

Based on the estimation, the North America region dominated the Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems Market with almost US$ 148.6 million in revenue in 2020. At the same time, the Europe region is expected to grow remarkably with a CAGR of 55.5% over the forecast period owing to the launch of several government regulations such as EU-General Safety Regulations, Euro NCAP, Multilateral Agreements, etc.

Ask for Report Customization @ https://univdatos.com/report/radar-based-in-cabin-sensing-systems-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2021-2027

The major players targeting the market includes

Hyundai

Robert Bosch

Bit sensing

General Motors

Texas Instruments

Infineon Technologies

Denso Corporation

Jaguar (JRL)

NXP

Smart Radar Systems

Competitive Landscape

The degree of competition among prominent global companies has been elaborated by analyzing several leading key players operating worldwide. The specialist team of research analysts sheds light on various traits such as global market competition, market share, most recent industry advancements, innovative product launches, partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions by leading companies in the Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems Market. The leading players have been analyzed by using research methodologies for getting insight views on global competition.

Key questions resolved through this analytical market research report include:

What are the latest trends, new patterns, and technological advancements in the Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems Market?

Which factors are influencing the Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems Market over the forecast period?

What are the global challenges, threats, and risks in the Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems Market?

Which factors are propelling and restraining the Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems Market?

What are the demanding global regions of the Radar Based In-Cabin Sensing Systems Market?

What will be the global market size in the upcoming years?

What are the crucial market acquisition strategies and policies applied by global companies?

We understand the requirement of different businesses, regions, and countries, we offer customized reports as per your requirements of business nature and geography. Please let us know If you have any custom needs.

For more informative information, please visit us @ https://univdatos.com/report/radar-based-in-cabin-sensing-systems-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2021-2027

About UnivDatos Market Insights

UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) is a passionate market research firm and a subsidiary of Universal Data Solutions. We believe in delivering insights through Market Intelligence Reports, Customized Business Research, and Primary Research. Our research studies are spread across topics across the world, we cover markets in over 100 countries using smart research techniques and agile methodologies. We offer in-depth studies, detailed analysis, and customized reports that help shape winning business strategies for our clients.

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UnivDatos Market Insights

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Client Development Lead

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HANOVER (dpa-AFX) - German re-insurer Hannover Re AG (HVRRY.PK, HVRRF.PK) said that virtual Annual General Meeting of the company approved all proposed resolutions by a large majority. The shareholders approved the proposal of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board to pay an increased ordinary dividend of 4.50 euros per share for the 2020 financial year, compared to 4.00 euros per share paid last year. Hannover Re has set goals, including reducing its carbon footprint through concrete portfolio measures by 30% by the year 2025 and further expanding the proportion of sustainable investments. The next Annual General Meeting is scheduled to be held in Hannover on 4 May 2022. 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.
DGAP-Ad-hoc: OPDEnergy, S.A. / Key word(s): IPO

OPDEnergy, S.A.: Decision to postpone the Offering and the Admission



05-May-2021 / 17:36 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES (INCLUDING ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA), CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER STATE OR JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL





Madrid, May 5, 2021. OPDENERGY HOLDING, S.A. ("Opdenergy" or the "Company") hereby informs that, following the approval and registration of the prospectus for the initial offering of ordinary shares of the Company and the admission to listing on the Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia stock exchanges (the "Spanish Stock Exchanges" and the "Admission", respectively) with the Spanish Securities Market Commission (Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores, the "CNMV") on April 23, 2021 (the "Prospectus"), the Company and the selling shareholders, in consultation with the Joint Global Coordinators of the Offering, Banco Santander, S.A. and Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG, have decided to postpone the Offering and the Admission, in light of the challenging market conditions generally and, particularly, for renewable-energy companies.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

This announcement has been prepared by and is the sole responsibility of the Company. The information contained in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy, fairness or completeness.

This announcement and the information contained herein are not for release, distribution or publication in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Africa or any other jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of the relevant laws or regulations of such jurisdiction. The Offering and the distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy or subscribe for any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction where such offer, sale or subscription would be unlawful and the announcement and the information contained herein is not for distribution or release in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into such jurisdictions.

The Prospectus is available at the Company's registered offices and on the respective websites of the Company (https://www.opdenergy.com/inversores/) and the CNMV (www.cnmv.es). The approval of the Prospectus by the CNMV does not constitute an evaluation of the merits of the transactions proposed to investors. Investors should subscribe for the securities referred to herein solely on the basis of the Prospectus and should carefully read the Prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to invest in the securities referred to herein.

Before purchasing any of the securities referred to herein, persons viewing this announcement should ensure that they fully understand and accept the risks which are set out in the Prospectus.

Any of the securities referred to herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act or pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There is no intention to register any of the securities referred to herein in the United States or to make a public offering of the securities referred to herein in the United States. There will be no public offer of the securities referred to herein in Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa.

In member states of the European Economic Area (the "EEA"), this announcement is only addressed to and directed at persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC ("Qualified Investors"). In the United Kingdom, this announcement and any other materials in relation to the securities referred to herein are only being distributed to, and are only directed at, and any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to, and will be engaged in only with, a Qualified Investor (i) having professional experience in matters relating to investments so as to qualify as "investment professional" under Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); (ii) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order; or (iii) being a person to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). Persons who are not Relevant Persons should not take any action on the basis of this announcement and should not act or rely on it or any of its contents. This announcement and its contents must not be acted on or relied upon in any member state of the EEA or in the United Kingdom by persons who are not Qualified Investors or Relevant Persons. The communication of this announcement in any member state of the EEA or in the United Kingdom to persons who are not Qualified Investors or Relevant Persons is unauthorized and may contravene applicable law.

Banco Santander, S.A., Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG, Alantra Capital Markets, S.V., S.A., BofA Securities Europe S.A, Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG and RBC Capital Markets (Europe) GmbH (collectively, the "Managers")and their respective affiliates are acting exclusively for the Company and/or the selling shareholders and no-one else in connection with the Offering. They will not regard any other person as their respective clients in relation to the Offering and will not be liable to anyone other than the Company and the selling shareholders for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients, or for providing advice in relation to the Offering, the contents of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein.

In connection with the Offering, each Manager and any of its respective affiliates, may take up a portion of the securities referred to herein as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, sell, offer to sell, purchase or otherwise deal for its or their own account(s) such securities and any securities of the Company or related investments and may offer or sell such securities or other investments in connection with the Offering or otherwise. Accordingly, references in this announcement or the Prospectus to the securities being issued, offered, subscribed, acquired, placed or otherwise dealt with should be read as including any issue, offering, subscription, acquisition, placement of or dealing with such securities by or to the Managers and any relevant affiliate acting in such capacity. In addition, certain of the Managers or their affiliates may enter into financing arrangements and swaps in connection with which they or their affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of the securities referred to herein. The Managers do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so.

The Offering timetable, including the date of Admission, may be influenced by a range of circumstances such as market conditions. There is no guarantee that the Offering will proceed and Admission will occur and you should not base your financial decisions on the Company's intentions in relation to Admission at this stage.

Subscribing the securities to which this announcement relates may expose an investor to a significant risk of losing all or part of the amount invested. Persons considering making such an investment should consult an authorized person specializing in advising on such investments. This announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning the Offering. The value of the securities referred to herein can decrease as well as increase. Potential investors should consult a professional adviser as to the suitability of the Offering for the person concerned. Past performance cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance.

None of the Managers, or any of their respective affiliates or any of the respective directors, officers, employees, advisers, representatives or agents of any of their foregoing entities accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

The information, opinions and forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as at its date and are subject to change without announcement.
Live presentation of the AGM via web conference https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ykfVpnaURqCe3afIQ-Otsg

Regulatory News:

IMPLANET (Euronext Growth: ALIMP, FR0013470168, eligible for PEA-PME equity savings plans), a medical technology company specializing in vertebral and knee-surgery implants, notifies its shareholders that its AGM convened on May 5 2021 cannot validly conduct business due to the quorum required not being reached, and that a new AGM will be convened to vote on the same agenda on May 18, 2021 at 2:00 pm (CEST/Paris time) behind closed session and will be broadcast live via web conference.

Shareholders are hereby informed that an Annual General Meeting on second call will be convened on May 18, 2021 at 2:00pm. Following the same terms of participation as those set out in the press release published by the Company on 31 March 2021, the AGM on 18 May will be held behind closed session and will address the same agenda. A second notice of meeting will be published on May 7, 2021 in the French official legal announcement publication BALO and in the JAL

Moreover, in the absence of the President of the Board, the Shareholders' Meeting will be chaired by Mr Ludovic LASTENNET, CEO and Director in accordance with the by-laws of the Company. The scrutineers, appointed by Mr Ludovic LASTENNET, pursuant to the delegation of the Board of Directors of the Company shall be Mr Regis LE COUEDIC and Mr Denis PASQUET. Mr David DIEUMEGARD, CFO will perform the duties of secretary.

The participation of Implanet's shareholders is decisive in achieving the necessary quorum for this Meeting and voting on the Company's resolutions, and notably those pertaining to the acquisition of Orthopaedic Spine Development, which specializes in developing, manufacturing and marketing implants.

All the logistical elements enabling this Meeting to go ahead have been implemented to take into account the current public health situation:

Online voting is available and should be prioritized. To this end, the Company informs its shareholders that the secure VOTACESS voting platform will open on May 7, 2021. Procedures are detailed in the practical guide, available on the Company's website.



If your financial intermediary (your bank) subscribes to this VOTACCES platform, you can access it with your usual username and password via your share management web interface. Please note that you will no longer be able to log in to the platform from 3 pm CEST on May 17, 2021.



In order to avoid possible congestion of the VOTACCES website and given the importance of your vote, the Company recommends that shareholders do not wait until the day before the General Meeting to provide their voting instructions.

Alternatively, you can also vote by post by sending in the completed and signed paper voting form (subject to postal service operations), in accordance with the terms indicated in the notice of the Meeting published in the French official bulletin of legal notices ('Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoire' BALO) on May 7, 2021.

The documents pertaining to this General Meeting are available to shareholders on the Company's website. Shareholders can email the Investor Relations team at implanet@newcap.eu with any questions regarding the voting process.

Votes casted by shareholders by post or online for the first General Meeting will remain valid, and will be counted for the second call of the General Meeting.

Upcoming financial events:

H1 2021 revenue, July 6, 2021 after market

- H1 2021 results, September 21, 2021 after market

About Implanet

Founded in 2007, Implanet is a medical technology company that manufactures high-quality implants for orthopedic surgery. Its activity revolves around two product ranges, the latest generation JAZZ implant, designed to improve the treatment of spinal pathologies requiring vertebral fusion surgery, and the MADISON implant designed for first-line prosthetic knee surgery. Implanet's tried-and-tested orthopedic platform is based on product traceability. Protected by four families of international patents, JAZZ and MADISON have obtained 510(k) regulatory clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, the CE mark as well as the ANVISA authorization in Brazil. Implanet employs 29 staff and recorded 2020 sales of 6.0 million. For further information, please visit www.implanet.com. Based near Bordeaux in France, Implanet established a US subsidiary in Boston in 2013. Implanet is listed on Euronext Growth market in Paris.

The Company would like to remind that the table for monitoring the equity line (OCA, OCAPI, BSA) and the number of shares outstanding, is available on its website: http://www.implanet-invest.com/suivi-des-actions-80

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005787/en/

Contacts:

IMPLANET

Ludovic Lastennet, CEO

David Dieumegard, CFO

Tel.: +33 (0)5 57 99 55 55

investors@Implanet.com

NewCap

Investor Relations

Mathilde Bohin

Nicolas Fossiez

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Implanet@newcap.eu

NewCap

Media Relations

Nicolas Merigeau

Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94

Implanet@newcap.eu
EQS Group-Ad-hoc: PolyPeptide Group / Schlagwort(e): Borsengang

PolyPeptide Group gibt vollstandige Ausubung der Mehrzuteilungsoption bekannt



05.05.2021 / 17:40 CET/CEST

Veroffentlichung einer Ad-hoc-Mitteilung gemass Art. 53 KR

Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung ist der Emittent / Herausgeber verantwortlich.





NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, JAPAN OR AUSTRALIA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.



FOR RELEASE IN SWITZERLAND - THIS IS A RESTRICTED COMMUNICATION AND YOU MUST NOT FORWARD IT OR ITS CONTENTS TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM FORWARDING THIS COMMUNICATION IS PROHIBITED BY THE LEGENDS CONTAINED HEREIN.



PolyPeptide Group gibt vollstandige Ausubung der Mehrzuteilungsoption bekannt

Zug, 5. Mai 2021 - PolyPeptide Group AG (PolyPeptide oder die Gruppe), ein weltweit fuhrender Entwickler und Hersteller von Peptiden, hat heute bekannt gegeben, dass die Joint Global Coordinators die ihnen im Rahmen des Borsengangs (IPO) gewahrte Mehrzuteilungsoption zum Angebotspreis von CHF 64 pro Aktie vollstandig ausgeubt haben.

Am 29. April 2021 waren die Aktien von PolyPeptide kotiert und zum Handel an der Schweizer Borse (SIX) zugelassen worden. Heute haben die Joint Global Coordinators, im Namen der Joint Bookrunners, die Mehrzuteilungsoption zum Kauf von 1'728'261 bestehenden Aktien fur CHF 64 pro Aktie vollstandig ausgeubt, entsprechend 15% der 11'521'740 angebotenen Aktien des Basisangebots des IPO. Einschliesslich der Aktien aus der Mehrzuteilungsoption wurden beim IPO 13'250'001 Aktien platziert, davon 3'125'000 neue und 10'125'001 bestehende Aktien. Das Platzierungsvolumen belauft sich auf insgesamt CHF 848 Millionen. Nach der Ausubung der Mehrzuteilungsoption betragt der Streubesitz (Free Float) 40%.

Im Zusammenhang mit dem IPO wurde eine Sperrfrist (Lock-Up) fur einen Zeitraum von 180 Kalendertagen ab dem ersten Handelstag fur den verkaufenden Aktionar, die Gruppe sowie Mitglieder des Verwaltungsrates und der Geschaftsleitung vereinbart, dies vorbehaltlich ublicher Ausnahmen und Verzichtserklarungen der Joint Global Coordinators.

Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley und BofA Securities fungierten als Joint Global Coordinators und Joint Bookrunners fur den Borsengang. Berenberg, Danske Bank und Zurcher Kantonalbank fungierten als Joint Bookrunners. Rothschild & Co. war unabhangiger Finanzberater von PolyPeptide und des verkaufenden Aktionars.



Kontakt

PolyPeptide Group

Michael Staheli, Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

michael.staeheli@polypeptide.com

+41 41 723 20 34

Lemongrass Communications

karin.rhomberg@lemongrass.agency, andreas.hildenbrand@lemongrass.agency

+41 44 202 52 00



Uber PolyPeptide Group

PolyPeptide ist ein Auftragsentwickler und -Hersteller (CDMO) im Bereich proprietarer und generischer Peptide in GMP-Qualitat, die von Pharma- und Biotech-Unternehmen in zugelassenen pharmazeutischen Produkten, Medikamenten in der klinischen Entwicklung sowie in Generika eingesetzt werden. Das Unternehmen, dessen Anfange ins Jahr 1952 zuruckreichen, stellt heute rund die Halfte aller derzeit zugelassenen Peptidwirkstoffe her und verfugt uber eine globale Prasenz mit sechs GMP-zertifizierten Produktionsanlagen in Europa, den USA und Indien. Als multinationales Unternehmen mit uber 900 Mitarbeitenden vereint PolyPeptide umfassendes Wissen und Erfahrung. PolyPeptide ist organisch und durch selektive Akquisitionen bestehender Expertise gewachsen und ist heute ein fuhrendes Unternehmen in der ausgelagerten Peptidherstellung. Die Aktien von PolyPeptide (SIX: PPGN) sind an der Schweizer Borse kotiert. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter polypeptide.com.

PolyPeptide Group AG, Dammstrasse 19, 6300 Zug, Schweiz



Disclaimer

This document is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of offers to purchase or subscribe for shares. This document is not a prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act and not a prospectus under any other applicable laws. Copies of this document may not be sent to jurisdictions, or distributed in or sent from jurisdictions, in which this is barred or prohibited by law. The information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any jurisdiction.

A decision to invest in securities of PolyPeptide Group should be based exclusively on the offering prospectus published by PolyPeptide Group AG (the "Company") for such purpose. Copies of the offering prospectus and any other supplements to the offering prospectus are available free of charge in Switzerland for 12 months following the first day of trading on SIX Swiss Exchange at Credit Suisse AG, Zurich, Switzerland (email: equity.prospectus@credit-suisse.com). In addition, copies of the offering prospectus and any other supplements to the offering prospectus are available free of charge in Switzerland from PolyPeptide Group AG, Investor Relations, Dammstrasse 19, 6300 Zug, Switzerland (phone: +41 41 723 20 34; email: michael.staeheli@polypeptide.com).

This document is not for publication or distribution in the United States of America (including its territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of Columbia), Canada, Japan or Australia or any other jurisdiction into which the same would be unlawful. This document does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities in such countries or in any other jurisdiction into which the same would be unlawful. In particular, the document and the information contained herein should not be distributed or otherwise transmitted into the United States of America or to publications with a general circulation in the United States of America. The securities referred to herein (the "Securities") have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the laws of any state, and may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration under or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. There will be no public offering of the Securities in the United States of America.

This document does not constitute an "offer of securities to the public" within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the "UK Prospectus Regulation") of the Securities in the United Kingdom (the "UK"). Any offers of the Securities in the UK will be made pursuant to an exemption under the UK Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of the Securities. In the UK, this document is only addressed to qualified investors within the meaning of the UK Prospectus Regulation. In addition, this document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) to investment professionals falling within article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "FSMA Order") or (iii) persons falling within Articles 49(2)(a) to (d), "high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc." of the FSMA Order, and (iv) persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 may otherwise be lawfully communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The Securities are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such Securities will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

This document does not constitute an "offer of securities to the public" within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Union, as amended (the "Prospectus Regulation") in any member state of the European Economic Area (the "EEA"). Any offers of the Securities to persons in the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of the Securities. In any member state of the EEA, this document is only addressed to qualified investors in that relevant member state within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation.

Identification of Target Market

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the MiFID II Product Governance Requirements) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Securities have been subject to a product approval process by each underwriter (as defined below) established in the EEA, which has determined that the Securities are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "MiFID II Target Market Assessment").

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements of Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook (the "UK Product Governance Requirements"), and /or any equivalent requirements elsewhere, and disclaiming all and any liability, whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise, which any "manufacturer" (for the purposes of the UK Product Governance Requirements and/or any equivalent requirements elsewhere) may otherwise have with respect thereto, the Securities have been subject to a product approval process by each underwriter (as defined below) established in the UK, which has determined that the Securities are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all permitted distribution channels (the "UK Target Market Assessment").

Notwithstanding the MiFID II Target Market Assessment and the UK Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Securities may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Securities offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Securities is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom.

The MiFID II Target Market Assessment and the UK Target Market Assessment are without prejudice to any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the offering of the Securities.

Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the MiFID II Target Market Assessment, the underwriters (as defined below) established in the EEA will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties under MiFID II and that, notwithstanding the UK Target Market Assessment, the underwriters established in the UK will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties under Chapter 3 of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook. For the avoidance of doubt, the MiFID II Target Market Assessment and the UK Target Market Assessment do not constitute: (a) in the case of the MiFID II Target Market Assessment, an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II and in the case of the UK Target Market Assessment, an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of Chapters 9A or 10A respectively of the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the offered Securities. Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own relevant target market assessment in respect of the offered Securities and determining appropriate distribution channels.

This publication may contain specific forward-looking statements, e.g. statements including terms like "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may result in a substantial divergence between the actual results, financial situation, development or performance of PolyPeptide Group and those explicitly or implicitly presumed in these statements. Against the background of these uncertainties, readers should not rely on forward-looking statements. PolyPeptide Group assumes no responsibility to up-date forward-looking statements or to adapt them to future events or developments.

Except as required by applicable law, PolyPeptide Group has no intention or obligation to update, keep updated or revise this publication or any parts thereof following the date hereof.

None of the underwriters (as defined below) or any of their respective subsidiary undertakings, affiliates or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, advisers, agents, alliance partners or any other entity or person accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for, or makes any representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the group, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Accordingly, each of the underwriters and the other foregoing persons disclaim, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all and any liability, whether arising in tort or contract or that they might otherwise be found to have in respect of this announcement and/or any such statement.

Each of Credit Suisse AG, Morgan Stanley Europe SE, Merrill Lynch International, Danske Bank A/S, Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG and Zurcher Kantonalbank (the "underwriters") is acting exclusively for PolyPeptide Group and no one else in connection with any transaction referred to in this document. Each of the underwriters will not regard any other person as a client and will not be responsible to anyone other than PolyPeptide Group for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients nor for the giving of advice in relation to any transaction, matter or arrangement referred to herein.

This publication includes industry and market information based on the PolyPeptide Group's analysis of multiple internal and third party sources, including information extracted from market research, governmental and other publicly available information, independent industry publications and information and reports prepared by consulting firms (which has been produced based on publications comprising industry data, forecasts, market and customer surveys, analyst reports, other consultant strategy reports and other information made available to it by third party data providers, industry associations, competitors, published accounts, interviews with key market participants/primary interviews and virtual field visits it conducted with industry experts and participants, secondary market research and internal financial and operational information supplied by, or on behalf of, the Group). Readers should be aware that market data and statistics are inherently predictive and speculative and are not necessarily reflective of actual or future market conditions. Such statistics are based on market research, which itself is based on sampling and subjective judgments by both the researchers and the respondents. In addition, the value of comparisons of statistics of different markets is limited by many factors, including that (i) the underlying information is gathered by different methods with varying levels of access and information available in different markets and (ii) different assumptions are applied in compiling the data. Market studies are frequently based on information and assumptions that may not be exact or appropriate and their methodology is by nature forward-looking and speculative.
FORMALITIES FOR MAKING PREPARATORY DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE

Regulatory News:

Given the Covid-19 epidemic and in accordance with Order No 2020-321 of 25 March 2020 (as extended and amended by Order No. 2020-1497 of 2 December 2020) and Decree No. 2020-418 of 10 April 2020 (as extended and amended by Decrees No. 2020-1614 of 18 December 2020 and No. 2021-255 of 9 March 2021), the Combined Shareholders' Meeting of the Company of Thursday, 27 May 2021, by decision of the Board of Directors, will exceptionally be held behind closed doors, at the Company's headquarters, 65, Quai Georges Gorse, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt (France).

As a result, shareholders will not be able to attend the Meeting in person or be represented by another person.

The preliminary notice of the Meeting ("avis de reunion") was published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO) of 19 April 2021 and the notice of Meeting ("avis de convocation") will be published in the BALO on 7 May 2021. These documents, as well as the Convening notice, are also available on Ipsen's website at the following address: www.ipsen.com, under the Investors Shareholders' Meetings section. Documents and information relating to this Meeting are made available to shareholders under the legal and regulatory conditions in force.

This Meeting will be broadcast live and in full in video format, in French and English, on the Company's website (www.ipsen.com).

It is specified that shareholders will not be able to participate and vote on live due to the technical impossibility to proceed to their identification.

No admission cards will be issued for this Shareholders' Meeting. Shareholders will have to vote remotely before the Meeting is held (by post or online on the secure Votaccess voting platform) or give a proxy to the Chairman of the Meeting. They still have the possibility to give a proxy to a third party, who will have to send voting instructions by electronic mail to the address mentioned in the notice of Meeting. It is highly recommended to vote online or send the voting form as soon as possible.

Shareholders are invited to regularly consult the Investors Shareholders' Meeting section on the Company's website.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005747/en/

Contacts:

Ipsen
ATLANTA, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On May 4, J.M. Huber Corporation ("Huber") signed a definitive agreement with RHI Magnesita ("RHIM") to acquire their 50% ownership stake in the companies' 50/50 joint venture, MAGNIFIN Magnesiaprodukte GmbH & Co. KG ("MAGNIFIN"). This transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2021, pending regulatory approvals.



Huber originally acquired its 50% ownership interest in MAGNIFIN as part of the purchase of the Martinswerk operation from Albemarle in 2016. Located in Bergheim, Germany, Martinswerk became part of the Huber Engineered Materials (HEM) Fire Retardant Additives (FRA) strategic business unit (SBU), which produces a wide range of halogen-free products for flame retardant and smoke suppression applications and aluminum oxides.

Based in Breitenau, Austria, MAGNIFIN has been producing and selling premium magnesium hydroxide (MDH) products since 1991. MAGNIFIN coated and uncoated magnesium hydroxides are environment friendly, non-halogenated flame retardants used in a wide range of polymer applications, especially thermoplastic materials and elastomers requiring high processing temperatures in excess of 300 C. Typical flame retardant applications include energy and LAN (local area network) data cables, automotive wire and cable, engineering thermoplastics (e.g. connectors) and construction foils.

"This transition is a strong strategic fit with HEM's mission to own and operate specialty chemical and mineral companies with market leading positions," says Dan Krawczyk, President of Huber Engineered Materials.

"This step forward demonstrates our commitment towards our customers to support their growth and our clear strategy to grow our halogen-free fire retardant business globally," adds Victor Dean, General Manager of HEM's FRA Business.

About Huber Engineered Materials

Huber Engineered Materials (HEM), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (US), is a global leader in the production of fine precipitated alumina trihydrate and magnesium hydroxide, both non-halogenated fire retardants. Its FRA business unit has four manufacturing sites in North America and two in Europe, one of which is the MAGNIFIN plant.

HEM has been a trusted supplier of halogen-free fire retardants and smoke suppressants for almost 40 years, manufacturing a large portfolio of value-added Hydral, Hymod, Martinal and Micral alumina trihydrates; MAGNIFIN, Vertex and Zerogen magnesium hydroxides; and Kemgard molybdate compounds for a variety of end-use applications, including reinforced polyester molding and pultrusion, engineering thermoplastics, roofing, silicone rubber, wire and cable, coatings and carpet backing. In addition, Huber produces Martoxid calcined aluminum oxides, Compalox specialty oxides and Pergopak carriers and matting agents.

HEM is focused on engineered specialty chemical and minerals that enhance the performance, appeal and processing of a broad range of products used in industrial, agricultural and consumer applications and also has a portfolio of high value agricultural nutrients and adjuvants and industrial, food and USP grade calcium carbonate products. For more information, visit www.hubermaterials.com .

About J.M. Huber Corporation

J.M. Huber Corporation, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Cambridge (USA), Paris (France), May 5, 2021, 5:45 p.m. CET - Voluntis (Euronext Growth Paris, Ticker: ALVTX - ISIN: FR0004183960), a leader in the field of digital therapeutics, today presents a review of its recent years development and reveal its ambitions for the coming years.

Pierre Leurent, CEO of Voluntis, said: "It has been just over 10 years since we signed our first biopharma licensing agreement providing a pharmaceutical company access to our technological solutions. This decade has allowed us to build a solid foundation for a replicable and value-creating global business model. Just one year ago, we announced our intention to accelerate the commercial momentum on these fundamentals and the inflection is now clear, both in terms of the number of licensing agreements signed and the average size of the partnerships. Our agreement announced a few days ago with the Japanese laboratory Eisai is a further illustration of this.

Today, we have reached a degree of technological and commercial maturity that allows us to unveil the potential of this roadmap to 2025 through our ambitions for continued growth with profitability."

A decade to build a digital therapeutics leader

In 2011, Voluntis became the first company to sign a biopharmaceutical licensing agreement in the digital therapeutics industry and pioneered this emerging sector. At that time, Voluntis was the only company to have developed its own technology and convinced a global pharmaceutical company to combine this nascent technology with a medical treatment in order to increase the therapeutic effectiveness, improve the quality of life for patients and optimize follow-up by healthcare professionals.

Today, Voluntis has a rich and steadily growing commercial portfolio of digital solutions across multiple therapeutic indications and biopharma partnerships with global reach, making the company a leader in digital therapies with already:

6 active agreements with world-class pharmaceutical companies (Abbvie, Biocon, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, Novartis and Sanofi)

with world-class pharmaceutical companies (Abbvie, Biocon, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eisai, Novartis and Sanofi) 11 digital therapeutics in its portfolio of solutions partnered with pharmaceutical companies, of which 1 is already commercialized, and most of which are expected to be commercially launched between 2021 and 2024

in its portfolio of solutions partnered with pharmaceutical companies, of which 1 is already commercialized, and most of which are expected to be commercially launched between 2021 and 2024 3 main therapeutic areas , oncology, diabetes and immunology, with potential extensions in neurology

, oncology, diabetes and immunology, with potential extensions in neurology 16 billion dollars in annual revenue generated by our partners at peak sales[1] of the drugs associated with Voluntis' digital therapeutics

These agreements are based on partners' access to the Theraxium platform, developed by Voluntis and common to all of the company's digital therapeutics, and specific customization developments. Between 2011 and 2020, this business model has already generated 42 million in commercial invoicing, 52% of which are license revenues for technology access paid as upfront payments upon signature of the agreement and royalties during the commercialization and clinical evaluation phases.

Strong medium-term ambitions: 40+ million in commercial invoicing and 30%+ adjusted EBITDA margin by 2025

On the strength of its solid assets and numerous discussions with current and potential new partners, Voluntis confirms its objectives for 2021 (8 to 12 million in commercial invoicing and positive free cash flow in the second half of the year) and expresses strong commercial and financial ambitions.

By 2025, when most of the digital therapeutics currently in development will be commercialized, the company estimates that it will be able to:

Double the number of digital therapeutics in its portfolio, i.e. more than 20 solutions developed on the Theraxium platform

Multiply commercial invoicing by 4, to exceed 40 million in 2025, more than half of which will be licensing revenues

Achieve a positive adjusted EBITDA margin by 2022 and more than 30% of commercial invoicing by 2025

Beyond 2025, the royalties linked to commercial rollout would expand to become the majority of annual revenues and existing agreements might alone represent tens of millions of euros per year of revenues[2] (including the largest agreement concluded to date that may represent over 100 million revenues over its lifecycle). Thanks to the commercial ramp-up of its solutions, the ambition to sign an increasing number of commercial agreements every year to expand its portfolio of DTx solutions across therapeutic areas, and the scalability offered by its unique platform, Voluntis would gradually grow its adjusted EBITDA margin to exceed 45%.

A videoconference open to the entire financial community will be held this Wednesday, May 5, 2021, starting at 6:00 pm (Paris time).

To participate in this videoconference, which will be held in French, please register by writing to event@actus.fr.

The connection links will be communicated after validation of the registrations.

For more information, please visit: www.voluntis.com

About Voluntis

Voluntis creates digital therapeutics that empower people with chronic conditions to self-manage their treatment every day, thus improving real-world outcomes. Voluntis' solutions, combining mobile and web apps, use clinical algorithms to deliver personalized recommendations to patients and their care teams. For example, these recommendations are used to adjust treatment dosage, manage side effects or monitor symptoms.

Leveraging its Theraxium technology platform, Voluntis has designed and operates multiple digital therapeutics, especially in oncology and diabetes. Voluntis has long-standing partnerships with leading life science companies. Based in Cambridge, MA, and Paris, France, Voluntis is a founding member of the Digital Therapeutics Alliance.

For more information, please visit: www.voluntis.com

Mnemo: ALVTX - ISIN: FR0004183960

Contacts

ACTUS

Media Relations

Vivien Ferran

vferran@actus.fr

+33 (0)1 53 67 36 34 ACTUS

Investor Relations

Jerome Fabreguettes-Leib

voluntis@actus.fr

+33 (0)1 53 67 36 78 Voluntis

Chief Financial Officer

Guillaume Floch

investisseurs@voluntis.com

+33 (0)1 41 38 39 20

Alternative Performance Indicators :

Commercial invoicing: reflects commercial activity and the achievement of technical or regulatory milestones during the period, which are often deferred or spread out in accordance with IFRS 15 (Upfront payments, exclusivity fees and perpetual licenses + Development and integration services + SaaS fees, royalties, maintenance & support)

EBITDA: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization

Adjusted EBITDA: corresponds to the EBITDA amended with the variation in prepaid income and deferred charges pursuant to the application of IFRS 15 (income invoiced for items over which control has not been transferred, expenses for the execution of items produced under customer contracts and not yet transferred).

Adjusted EBITDA margin: Adjusted EBITDA / commercial invoicing

Free cash flow: cash flow from operations + cash flow from investing activities

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Voluntis Group and its business, including its prospects and product development. Voluntis believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions. However, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, as they relate to future events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future, and on various risks and uncertainties, including those described in the 2020 Half-year Financial Report and the 2020 Annual Financial Report published by Voluntis on September 29, 2020 and April 22, 2021, respectively, copies of which are available on the Group's website (www.voluntis.com), and on changes in economic conditions, financial markets and markets in which Voluntis is present. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks that are unknown to Voluntis or that Voluntis does not consider material at this time. The occurrence of some or all of these risks could cause the actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Voluntis to differ materially from the results, financial conditions, performance or achievements expressed in such forward-looking statements. Voluntis disclaims any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements.

[1] Cumulative peak sales of molecules with which digital therapeutics are associated (DTx at development stage in the portfolio of pharmaceutical collaborations).

[2] Based on the commercial launch of solutions, negotiated per-patient fees and projected number of end-users.

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Article L. 238-8-II of the French commercial Code and article 223-16 of the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority) general regulation

Regulatory News:

Veolia Environnement(Paris:VIE):

Corporate name of the issuer: Veolia Environnement 21 rue La Boetie 75008 PARIS FRANCE (ISIN code: FR0000124141-VIE)

Information closing

date Total number of

shares forming the

share capital Total number of voting rights April 30, 2021 578,611,362 Total number of theoretical voting rights (1): 614,991,065 Total number of voting rights that may be exercised (2): 602,625,093

Inclusion in the Veolia Environnement Articles of Association of a clause requiring a reporting obligation of the declaration of crossing a shareholding threshold, complementary to the one relating to the thresholds provided by the French law and the regulations in force (article 8).

(1) Number of theoretical voting rights after taking into account the number of shares with double voting rights as of April 30, 2021 (36,379,703 shares) and the number of treasury shares held as of April 30, 2021 (12,365,972 shares).

(2) Number of voting rights that may be exercised number of theoretical voting rights (or total number of voting rights attached to shares) shares without voting rights (number of treasury shares held as of April 30, 2021).

Veolia Environnement

Siege social/head office: 21, rue La Boetie 75008 PARIS France

Adresse postale/Correspondence address: 30, rue Madeleine Vionnet 93300 AUBERVILLIERS France

tel.: +33 (0)1 85 57 70 00 Fax: +33 (0)1 71 75 10 45

www.veolia.com



A Public Limited Company (Societe Anonyme) with a share capital of 2,897,915,945 euros

403 210 032 RCS PARIS

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005868/en/

Contacts:

Veolia Environnement
Napier, the London-based provider of next-generation anti-financial crime compliance solutions, has announced that it will be providing ClearBank, the cloud-based clearing bank, with its advanced Transaction Screening system.

As a purpose-built, technology-enabled clearing bank, ClearBank offers cloud-based banking services to financial service providers, FCA-regulated businesses and fintechs. Its new Transaction Screening system, built on Napier's AI-enhanced technology, will allow ClearBank to identify sanctioned individuals and entities in payments, while reducing false positives and accurately alerting on risk.

Stuart Morley, CIO of ClearBank, commented: "As with all financial organisations, it is imperative that ClearBank has a robust sanction screening programme in place to support the industry in its constant battle against financial crime. Having gone through a thorough vendor selection process, we are delighted to have now joined forces with Napier, whose next-generation technology and AI-enhanced capabilities are leading the way in AML compliance. We feel this has the potential to become a long-term partnership with the RegTech provider."

Napier works with institutions such as ClearBank around the globe to provide its AI-led platform for intelligent KYC, AML trade compliance. Doubling its annual revenue in 2020, Napier has recently been strengthening both its senior management team and its roster of global customers.

Former HSBC Group COO and BCG Global Banking Chair, Andy Maguire, joined Napier as Board Advisor, while the RegTech provider was also recently named as the official anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing technology platform for Australia Post.

Julian Dixon, Napier CEO, said:"We are honoured to be the vendor of choice to help ClearBank supercharge its Transaction Screening. Our technology will help provide its agency and transaction banking services with a faster, smarter way to meet regulatory requirements while driving business efficiency.

"We are going to be building on this new relationship with ClearBank by partnering on future cutting-edge product development too, so there's a lot to look forward to that will really raise the bar for the industry as a whole."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005871/en/

Contacts:

John Sullivan

napier@contextpr.co.uk

+44(0)300-124-6100
- The alarming rise in air pollution levels is leading to an unprecedented demand for quality air monitoring, thus boosting the growth opportunities across the air quality monitoring equipment market

- Technological advancements and the addition of novel features will further bring extensive growth to the air quality monitoring equipment market between 2021 and 2031

ALBANY, N.Y., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market: Growth Summary

Monitoring the air quality has become an essential component for the government bodies of numerous countries for making changes in the structure of the initiatives taken by them in terms of reducing pollution levels.

Air pollution is damaging the health of many individuals and the statistics can unfold the intensity of the damage. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 9 out of 10 people breathe polluted air across the globe. The WHO further estimates that nearly 7 mn people die due to exposure to polluted air every year. These statistics highlight the rising need for air quality monitoring. Based on all these factors, the air quality monitoring equipment market will observe a positive growth trajectory across the assessment period of 2021-2031.

Air quality monitoring is a long-term and systematic assessment of pollution levels. The quality is measured through the means of different quantities. The equipment used for air quality monitoring is a device used for measuring various types of pollutants along with weather parameters. Robust air monitoring helps in preventing extreme events and also alerts people for getting ready to tackle such events. Therefore, all these advantages bode well for the growth of the air quality monitoring equipment market.

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The experts at Transparency Market Research (TMR) have analyzed the various factors associated with the growth of the air quality monitoring equipment market and have projected the market to expand at a CAGR of ~5 percent during the forecast period of 2021-2031. The global air quality monitoring equipment market is extrapolated to surpass US$ 4.7 bn in 2031, the end year of the forecast period.

The rapid industrialization and globalization around the world have resulted in an increase in pollution levels to a great extent. This factor has influenced the growth of the air quality monitoring equipment market considerably. The emergence of megacities like Shanghai has further led to a rise in the urbanization levels, which will influence the growth opportunities across the air quality monitoring equipment market to a substantial extent.

Explore 292 pages of superlative research, current market scenario, and extensive geographical projections. Gain insights into the Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market (Type: Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Equipment and Outdoor Air Quality Monitoring Equipment; Component: Hardware and Services; Gas: Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, Ozone, and Others; and Application: Industrial, Commercial, and Residential) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2021-2031 at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/air-quality-monitoring-equipment-market.html

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Integration of Latest Technologies with Air Quality Monitoring Equipment to Sow the Seeds of Growth

Modernization of the air quality monitoring equipment market will help in turning the tables of growth during the tenure of 2021-2031. Technologies like the Internet-of-Things (IoT), robotics, and others are helping in improving the features of air quality monitoring equipment and providing accurate data. Smart technologies are rapidly transforming the growth landscape of the air quality monitoring equipment market.

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The utilization of smart air quality monitoring equipment for real-time monitoring of the pollutants present in the air will help the government bodies to take certain measures for reducing the intensity. These aspects are helping in increasing the growth rate of the air quality monitoring equipment market.

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Government Initiatives supporting reducing of Air Pollution Levels will invite Profitable Growth

Numerous countries are intensifying their fight against the rising pollution levels through various initiatives. The Indian Government has launched a string of initiatives for tackling pollution levels including the installation of sensors that will provide accurate data on air pollution levels. The Czech Republic has also announced an initiative that will install carbon dioxide monitoring equipment inside street lights in Prague. Such developments will bring immense growth opportunities for the air quality monitoring equipment market.

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Thermoelectric Assemblies Market - In terms of revenue, the global thermoelectric assemblies market is estimated to expand at a ~ CAGR of ~ 8% during the forecast period, owing to numerous factors, regarding which, TMR offers thorough insights and forecasts in its report on the global thermoelectric assemblies market.

Mass Spectrometer Market - Growth in pharmaceutical and life science markets, rise in demand for clinical analysis, increase in mergers and acquisitions, and increase in food and beverage testing has influenced the penetration and growth of the mass spectrometer market globally.

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Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

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ROCKVILLE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / The American Kidney Fund (AKF) commends New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and Washington Governor Jay Inslee for signing into law important protections for living organ donors. The new laws prohibit life, disability and long-term care insurers from discriminating against living organ donors by declining or limiting coverage due to someone's status as an organ donor and from precluding a person from donating all or part of an organ as a condition of their policy.

AKF worked closely with New Jersey A3199/S2315 primary bill sponsor, Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, to move the bill through the General Assembly, and with Washington SB 5003 sponsor, Sen. Karen Keiser, to move the bill through the State Legislature.

"We are grateful to Governors Murphy and Inslee for their signatures on these pieces of legislation and for taking the important step to remove barriers that can prevent New Jersey and Washington residents from considering becoming living organ donors," said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF president and CEO. "These laws will ensure that no New Jerseyan or Washingtonian who chooses to make the lifesaving gift of organ donation will be discriminated against because of that decision."

AKF is leading a nationwide effort to pass living donor protections at the state level, and since 2019, 15 states have signed these bills into law, including Kentucky and Pennsylvania within the past month. Earlier this year, AKF released its first annual State of the States: Living Donor Protection Report Card, which measures seven types of legislation states can enact to provide protections for living organ donors and encourage living donations. In the absence of federal legislation to protect living donors, there is an uneven patchwork of protections across the nation, with some states providing no protections at all.

New Jersey's bill is the first living donor protection legislation signed into law in the state, and it moves the state up from an F grade to a D on AKF's Report Card. Washington's bill is the second living donor protection legislation signed into law in the state, moving them up from a D grade to a C. The overall Report Card grade average for the United States is a D. While we applaud these efforts as important first steps, there is much more that needs to be done. At the federal level, AKF continues to advocate for the Living Donor Protection Act of 2021 (H.R.1255/S.377) which would ensure a uniform baseline of living donor protections nationwide.

Most transplanted organs are from deceased donors, but patients may also receive organs from living donors. Living donation offers an alternative for individuals awaiting transplantation from a deceased donor and increases the existing organ supply. Transplants from living donors generally have fewer complications than deceased-donor transplants and a longer survival of the donor organ.

There are more than 107,000 Americans on the organ transplant waiting list and nearly 93,000 of them, or 86%, are waiting for a kidney. More than 2,300 New Jerseyans, and more than 1,500 Washingtonians, are on the kidney transplant waiting list. Of the 23,644 kidney transplants performed in the U.S. in 2020, just 5,234 were made possible by living organ donors. In New Jersey, 148 of 513 kidney transplants were from living donors. In Washington, 76 of 440 kidney transplants were from living donors.

AKF provides long-term financial assistance that makes transplants and post-transplant care possible for low-income dialysis patients. In 2020, AKF grants helped 1,615 people nationwide receive kidney transplants-7% of all kidney transplants performed in the United States last year. AKF's program helps post-transplant patients for their full insurance plan year, ensuring continuity of care.

About Us

The American Kidney Fund (AKF) fights kidney disease on all fronts as the nation's leading kidney nonprofit. AKF works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, with an unmatched scope of programs that support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease-from prevention through transplant. With programs that address early detection, disease management, financial assistance, clinical research, innovation and advocacy, no kidney organization impacts more lives than AKF. AKF is one of the nation's top-rated nonprofits, investing 97 cents of every donated dollar in programs, and holds the highest 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Contact:

Ben Shannon

11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852

Work: 202-559-2813

Mobile: 919-360-3039

AKF@jpa.com

KidneyFund.org

SOURCE: American Kidney Fund

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/644831/American-Kidney-Fund-Applauds-New-Jersey-Washington-for-Enacting-Protections-for-Living-Organ-Donors
A limited impact on net income from the health crisis :  0.7m

:  0.7m A sound financial position: net debt of 4.32m for total equity of 9.33m.

net debt of 4.32m for total equity of 9.33m. 2021 outlook Plant Advanced Technologies PAT is confident that it will meet its growth targets. Deployment of a marketing strategy focused on adopting a product catalog and indirect distribution. Continuing internal research to prepare for the launch of new disruptive products. All subsidiaries have excellent visibility for their businesses.



Regulatory News:

PAT SA INCOME STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTS AT DECEMBER 31, 2020

(Parent company financial statements The annual financial statements presented below are not consolidated and concern exclusively the parent company PAT SA. In consequence, they do not include the subsidiaries StratiCELL, Cellengo (wholly-owned), PAT Zerbaz (99%-held), Temisis (98%-held) and Couleurs de Plantes (66%-held).

( thousands) 2020 2020* 2019 Revenue 1,256 1,256 1,172 Grants 148 148 250 Research Tax Credit 819 898 794 Operating profit (loss) (1,596) (1,952) (1,548) Net financial income (expense) (56) (57) (57) Net exceptional results 169 169 261 Net income (664) (940) (541)

*Like-for-like: excluding the partial contribution of assets (apport partiel d'actif) of the subsidiary CELLENGO at July 31 with retroactive effect on January 1, 2020.

On April 27, 2021, the Board of Directors approved the separate parent company financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2020 of Plant Advanced Technologies PAT SA. The Statutory Auditors completed their audit of these financial statements and issued their report as required by law.

PAT reported a net loss of k 664 in 2020 compared to a loss of k 541 in 2019.

Annual revenue rose 7% to k 1,256, up from k 1,172 in 2019).

Purchases increased in the period reflecting the increasing business activity of the subsidiary, PAT Zerbaz on a full-year basis in 2020. Based in the island of La Reunion, the subsidiary is specialized in the discovery of active ingredients and rare plant molecules sourced from the tropical biodiversity.

Staff expenses amounted to k 1,833 at 12/31/2020 compared to k 1,889 one year earlier. This amount represents 60% of the company's expenses (compared to 69% in 2019) Decrease reflects the transfer of researchers to the subsidiary Cellengo.

The level of investments remains high and is destined notably to support the growth of PAT Zerbaz's research activities.

Net financial expense remained stable at k 56 at December 31, 2020.

The operating loss for the period amounted to k 1,596 compared to k 1,548 in 2019 and includes a Research and Innovation Tax Credit in the amount of k 819.

BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS AT DECEMBER 31, 2020

ASSETS ( thousands) EQUITY AND LIABILITIES ( thousands) 2020 2019 2020 2019 Fixed assets 11,624 9,965 Shareholders' equity 9,337 10,003 Inventory, receivables and other assets 2,841 2,310 Financial debt and provisions 4,325 2,943 Cash and cash equivalents 291 1,533 Trade and other payables 797 637 TOTAL 14,815 13,888 TOTAL 14,815 13,888

PAT contributed the assets (k 1,512) and the liabilities (k 59) to the capital of its new subsidiary Cellengo on July 31, 2020 for a net amount of k 1,453 retroactive effect on January 1, 2020. Plant Advanced Technologies PAT obtained a French government-backed loan in the first half in the amount of 1.2 million that was supplemented in the second half by loans from the French public investment bank, BPI, namely in the form of Covid-relief aid "Pret Rebond" and Innovation funding, plus a k 200 loan in November 2020.

For the record, Temisis, PAT's subsidiary carried out a capital increase in the amount of 1.6 million based on a pre-money valuation of 40 million. After the completion of this rights issue, PAT retains 98.46% of its subsidiary's share capital.

PAT has a solid financial position with net debt of 4 million at 31 December 2020 and shareholders' equity of 9.3 million.

OUTLOOK

2020 was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this unprecedented context, all PAT customers remained loyal and certain projects delayed during this period are expected to be back on track in 2021.

This new distribution partnership with CLARIANT in the cosmetics sector has started to show results by registering significant orders at the beginning of this year.

For all other PAT subsidiaries (PAT Zerbaz, Cellengo, Temisis, Straticell and Couleurs de Plantes) visibility remains excellent for 2021 in terms of business development, R&D and strategic partnerships.

On that basis, Plant Advanced Technologies PAT is confident that it will meet its growth targets for 2021.

The Company also reaffirms its continuing commitment to its roadmap for:

Maintaining efforts to contain costs and preserve cash;

Deploying its marketing strategy focused on adopting a product catalog and indirect distribution.

Continuing internal research and collaborative efforts to prepare for the launch of new products

Finally, concerning the work on SARS-CoV-2, tests are currently underway for several active ingredients. PAT is investigating the research of original antiviral molecules, complementary to the current vaccination strategies.

A CAPITAL INCREASE AND GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK FOR ORDINARY SHARES TO PLANT ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES PAT EMPLOYEES AND SELECTED SUBSIDIARIES

On April 25, 2019, pursuant to the delegations of authority granted by the 17th resolution of the extraordinary general meeting of June 28, 2017, the Board of Directors decided to implement a Restricted Stock Unit Plan (attribution d'actions gratuites) for employees of PAT and selected subsidiaries.

On April 26, 2021, Mr. Jean-Paul Fevre, Chairman-CEO of Plant Advanced Technologies PAT duly noted the corresponding capital increase and formally completed the transaction.

Amount of the capital increase of April 26, 2021: 4,808 with the creation of 4,808 shares

Price of the newly created shares: 22.00 (opening share price on April 26, 2021)

The share capital increased in consequence from 1,085,906 to 1,090,714, divided by 1,090,714 shares of one euro per share.

Pursuant to the above, the number of voting rights and shares making up the share capital of Plant Advanced Technologies PAT totals: 1,090,714.

The purpose of this grant is to promote the retention and long-term contribution to the results of Plant Advanced Technologies PAT by all concerned employees.

FINANCIAL CALENDAR

The reporting scope for financial information will change in 2021. The first consolidated financial statements of Plant Advanced Technologies PAT will be published by June 30, 2021.

Forum Midcap Partners May 12, 2021

Publication of 2020 consolidated annual results by June 30, 2021.

SFAF analyst meeting by June 30, 2021

Annual General Meeting before July 31, 2021

About PAT www.plantadvanced.com

Plant Advanced Technologies PAT is specialized in the identification, optimization and production of rare new active plant compounds or cosmetics, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and fine chemicals markets. PAT possesses unique plant-based expertise with a portfolio of worldwide patents (PAT Target Binding and Plant Milking)

Plant Advanced Technologies is listed on Euronext Growth- Paris

ISIN: FR0010785790 Ticker: ALPAT

Reuters ALPAT.PA Bloomberg: ALPAT: FP

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005934/en/

Contacts:

PAT Investor Relations Louis-Nicolas Vallas +33 6 20 64 32 86 investisseur@plantadvanced.com

FIN'EXTENSO Media Relations Isabelle Aprile +33 6 17 38 61 78 i.aprile@finextenso.fr
Mauritius, being strategically located between Asia and Africa, praise itself as having one of the continents most stable regulatory environment. The Mauritius Financial Centre has built a reputation as a safe, trusted and competitive financial center, which has enabled it to position itself as the preferred jurisdiction for Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) flows to the continent, since the country can serve both the Francophone and Anglophone Africa.

Mauritius and the other Africa countries are long known for the ties they share, both politically and economically. Mauritius ranks first in Africa has also made its way to Africa by being a member to two of the continents most important trade blocs, namely the Southern African Development Community SADC, and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Through these memberships, many foreign entrepreneurs have set up their businesses in Mauritius to gain from the trade advantages offered.

Apart from SADC and COMESA, Mauritius is now part of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA). Launched on 1 January 2021, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is an exciting game changer for African trade. Currently, Africa accounts for only 2% of global trade and only 17% of African exports are intra-continental, compared with 59% for Asia and 68% for Europe.

The AfCFTA is the worlds largest free trade area in terms of the number of participating countries since the formation of the World Trade Organization with all African countries being signatories except for Eritrea. The main purpose of the agreement is for members to remove tariffs from 90% of goods, allowing free access to commodities, goods, and services across the continent. The general objectives of AfCFTA can be summarized as follows, to:

Create a single market, deepening the economic integration of the continent.

Establish a liberalized market through multiple rounds of negotiations.

Aid the movement of capital and people, facilitating investment.

Move towards the establishment of a future continental customs union.

Achieve sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development, gender equality and structural transformations within member states.

Enhance competitiveness of member states within Africa and in the global market.

Encourage industrial development through diversification and regional value chain development, agricultural development, and food security.

Mauritius has over the years been an offshore gateway to Africa. It has long been an advocate for developing economic bridges between itself and other African states, leveraging its position as Africas best place to conduct business as recognized by The World Bank. Through its Global Business sector, Mauritius has firmly established and promoted itself as a regional hub for facilitating investments on the continent. It is thus undeniable that AfCFTA will add further to the attractiveness of Africa as a place to do business. The AfCFTA provides a platform for Mauritius to contribute significantly to the new African impetus by making available to investors and businessmen an ecosystem that not only makes it easier for them to do business with Africa, but also enhances and safeguards their investments.

The AfCFTA also gives Mauritius market access estimated to be as large as 1.3 billion people across Africa, with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of $3.4 trillion which covers most service sectors, including financial services, telecommunications, ICT, professional services, construction, and health. The AfCFTA will eventually reach zero tariffs on most of traded items, boasting trade outside of its boarders.

The Mauritian economy is a mixed developing economy based on agriculture, exports, financial services, and tourism. Since the 1980s, the government of Mauritius has sought to diversify the countrys economy beyond its dependence on just agriculture, particularly sugar production. In 2018, Mauritius Intra-Africa exports accounted for 23% of Mauritius total exports and imports for 13% of total imports. Mauritius mainly exports textiles to the rest of Africa. Of the top 10 intra-Africa export products five products are items of clothing or fabric accounting for 30% of Mauritius intra-Africa exports for 2018. The AfCFTA will provide the country access to an African textile market worth billions of dollars such that the country will be poised to become a major supplier of textile in the African market. The recent 2020  2021 budget of the government has announced one measure that can boost Mauritian exports from the already existing supply capacity to the region. The plan to set up Mauritius Export Warehouse in Tanzania and Mozambique will definitely support a number of Domestic Oriented Industry. Some are already gearing for Tanzania which is a more immediately obvious market than Mozambique. Mauritius has good potential to export a range of services in the context of the priority services lines set by the AfCFTA, namely Business services, Financial Services, Tourism and travel.

Mauritius mainly imports manufactured goods, petroleum products, cars, packaged medicaments from China, India and South Africa. The AfCFTA calls for a reduction in tariff in intra- Africa which means there will be a lower expenditure on importation of the above-mentioned goods from South Africa. As a result, there will be a reduction in the prices, reducing the countrys negative balance of trade.

The movement of goods and services amongst African countries will create employment opportunities for citizens in Mauritius. It will provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to work together in a liberalized trade environment. Further, the AfCFTA will strengthen the existing commitment of deepening regional trade integration initiatives under regional bodies such as the African Union, COMESA and SADC. The geographical diversification brought about by the AfCFTA is likely to open up new markets for Mauritius thus boasting its economy.

The AfCFTA offers an opportunity for Mauritius to promote good governance both globally and across Africa, through the concept of Trade Integrity which is defined as international trade transactions that are legitimate, transparent and properly priced as a way to ensure the legitimacy the global trading system. Trade Integrity will provide investors with more confidence to increase their investments in the country.

The AfCFTA will also assist to alleviate some of effects brought about as a result of the COVID-19. The African Development Bank Groups African Economic Outlook (AEO) 2020 Supplement estimates that Africa could suffer GDP losses in 2020 between $145.5 billion (baseline) and $189.7 billion (worst case), from the pre-COVID19 GDP estimates. Further, trade in medical supplies and food has been disrupted. It is being fully recognized across the continent that AfCFTA presents a short-term opportunity for countries to build back better and cushion the effects of the pandemic. In the longer-term, the impact will increase the continents resilience to future shocks.

In conclusion diversifying exports, accelerating growth in its trade, competitively integrating into the global economy, increasing foreign direct investment, increasing employment opportunities and incomes, and broadening economic inclusion are just a few of the positive economic outcomes AfCFTA can bring to Mauritius. Mauritius having undergone a remarkable economic transformation from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a diversified, upper-middle-income country that has attracted considerable foreign investment should ensure that it fully takes advantage of the opportunities offered by the AfCFTA.

Authors: Chido Pamela Mafongoya & Veedushi Mooloo, Centurion Law Group

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pretium Resources Inc. (TSX/NYSE:PVG) ("Pretivm" or the "Company") announces the voting results from its Annual General and Special Meeting of shareholders held on May 4, 2021 (the "Meeting").



Meeting Results

A total of 127,506,744 (67.88%) of Pretivm's common shares were represented at the Meeting.

All matters brought forth at the Meeting were approved, including the election of the eight nominees listed in Pretivm's management information circular for the Meeting as directors of the Company. Detailed results of the votes are set out below.

Number of Directors

Setting the number of Directors at eight:

Votes for % For Votes Against % Against 111,761,225 97.80% 2,513,446 2.20%

Election of Directors

Nominee Votes for % For Votes Withheld % Withheld Richard O'Brien 110,080,641 96.33% 4,194,030 3.67% Jacques Perron 113,992,577 99.75% 282,094 0.25% George Paspalas 111,579,537 97.64% 2,695,134 2.36% David Smith 111,529,407 97.60% 2,745,264 2.40% Faheem Tejani 109,670,257 95.97% 4,604,414 4.03% Jeane Hull 112,031,434 98.04% 2,243,237 1.96% Thomas Peregoodoff 113,342,606 99.18% 932,065 0.82% Maryse Saint-Laurent 113,922,904 99.69% 351,767 0.31%

Peter Birkey, who did not stand for re-election as a director at the Meeting, completed his tenure on Pretivm's Board of Directors (the "Board") yesterday. Mr. Birkey joined the Company's Board in 2014 and served as Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and was a key member of the Audit Committee.

"On behalf of Pretivm's Board of Directors, I would like to thank Peter for his exemplary leadership over his considerable tenure as the Company evolved from exploration and development to a mid-tier gold producer," stated Richard O'Brien, Chair of the Board. "I would also like to acknowledge his contributions to the Company's other successes, including a steady record of strong cash flow generation since commencement of production, the implementation of ESG standards and reporting, and significant advances in corporate governance policies and practices. The Board wishes Mr. Birkey all the success in his future endeavours."

Pretivm also announced that Maryse Saint-Laurent has been elected as a new independent director of the Company.

Continued Mr. O'Brien, "We look forward to having Maryse join our Board. We will benefit from her wealth of experience as a business-oriented corporate, transactional and securities lawyer and governance advisor in the natural resource sector. Her diverse background in corporate governance and human resources will compliment our Board's capabilities."

Ms. Saint-Laurent has over 25 years of experience as a legal executive, corporate director and senior advisor in the energy, electricity and mining sectors. She has led several M&A and financing transactions and has a strong governance background. She possesses several years of experience in human resources, compensation and benefits/pension management. Ms. Saint-Laurent also serves as a director of the Alberta Securities Commission, Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. and North American Construction Group Ltd. She holds a LLM from York University, Osgoode Hall Law School, and an LLB, BA and Certification in Human Resources from the University of Alberta.

Appointment of Auditors

The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the Company's auditors and authorizing the directors to fix their remuneration:

Votes for % For Votes Withheld % Withheld 127,244,205 99.79% 262,539 0.21%

Amended Advance Notice Policy

To ratify, confirm and approve the amendments to the Company's Advance Notice Policy, which sets out the advance notice requirements for director nominations:

Votes for % For Votes Against % Against 69,221,309 60.57% 45,053,362 39.43%

Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

To authorize and approve a non-binding resolution accepting the Company's approach to executive compensation:

Votes for % For Votes Against % Against 111,495,542 97.57% 2,779,129 2.43%

Committee Appointments

Following the Meeting, the Board reconstituted its committee memberships as follows:

Committee Committee Membership Audit David Smith (Chair)

Faheem Tejani

Tom Peregoodoff Compensation Jeane Hull (Chair)

David Smith

Maryse Saint-Laurent Corporate Governance and Nominating Faheem Tejani (Chair)

Maryse Saint-Laurent

George Paspalas Safety, Sustainability and Technical George Paspalas (Chair)

Jeane Hull

Tom Peregoodoff

About Pretivm

Pretivm is an intermediate gold producer with the high-grade gold underground Brucejack Mine.

For further information contact:

Troy Shultz

Manager, Investor Relations &

Corporate Communications

Pretium Resources Inc.

Suite 2300, Four Bentall Centre, 1055 Dunsmuir Street

PO Box 49334 Vancouver, BC V7X 1L4

(604) 558-1784

invest@pretivm.com (mailto:invest@pretivm.com)

(SEDAR filings: Pretium Resources Inc.)
DGAP Post-admission Duties announcement: Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act]

Haier Smart Home Co.,Ltd.: Announcement on the Progress of Implementation of H-Share Buyback



05.05.2021 / 20:25

Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



Third country release pursuant to Section 50 para. 1 no. 2 German Securities Trading Act (WpHG) Announcement on the Progress of Implementation of H-Share Buyback Qingdao / Shanghai / Frankfurt / Hongkong, 05 May 2021 - Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. (the "Company" or "Haier Smart Home", D-Share code 690D.DE) published an announcement on the Hongkong Stock Exchange with regard to the Progress of Implementation of H-Share Buyback scheme. For details please refer to the publication on the Hongkong Stock Exchange at: https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2021/0505/2021050500967.pdf About Haier Smart Home D-Share: Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. is prime standard listed in Frankfurt (690D.DE) alongside its listing in Shanghai (600690.SH) and Hongkong (06690.HK). The three class-shares grant their investors with the same economic rights and ownership rights. About Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.: Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with a focus on smart home solutions. The Company develops, produces and distributes a wide range of household appliances. These include refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, water heaters, kitchen appliances as well as small household appliances and an extensive range of intelligent household appliances. The Company distributes its products through leading brands such as Haier, Casarte, Leader, Candy, GE Appliances, AQUA and Fisher & Paykel. Haier has launched Smart Home Experiential Cloud, which connects homes, users, enterprises and ecosystem partners, and facilitates the integration of Haier's online, offline and micro-store businesses and supports user interaction to further optimize the user experience. IR Contact: Yao Sun (Sophie) - Haier Smart Home Germany

T: +49 6172 9454 143

F: +49 6172 9454 42143

M: +49 160 9469 3601

Email: y.sun@haier.de

05.05.2021 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.dgap.de


Strategic acquisition cements InvestCloud as the leader in financial planning technology, offering a unified digital experience across all wealth segments

LOS ANGELES, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestCloud, the global leader in cloud-based financial digital solutions, has announced a strategic acquisition of Advicent, the premier cash flow, trust and tax financial planning provider.

Advicent, a Vista Equity Partners portfolio company, provides financial planning technology for over 140,000 financial professionals across nearly 3,000 firms worldwide. Through its NaviPlan platform, Advicent creates scalable financial planning software through industry-leading APIs as well as cash flow and goal-based planning engines. It aims to help thousands of financial professionals and their clients understand and impact their financial future. Advicent's global headquarters are in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and its European base is in the Netherlands.

InvestCloud is a global company specializing in digital platforms that enable the development of financial solutions, pre-integrated into the Cloud. It supports over $4 trillion of assets for more than 500 direct clients - including some of the world's largest banks. The company offers on-demand client experiences and intuitive operations solutions using an ever-expanding library of modular apps, to create powerful products.

The acquisition aims to create the world's leading financial planning solution. It does this by bridging the advisor-client communication gap by combining Advicent's cash flow, trust and tax financial planning engines with InvestCloud's digital client and advisor platform and existing market leading goal-based financial planning engines.

The acquisition comes as market volatility has accelerated a focus on financial planning - a market worth $52.9 billion in the US alone, and predicted to grow 3.5 percent in 2021. Advisors require connected experiences for their clients to enable seamless integration from financial plans to proposals, and on to implementation. The acquisition will give advisors a full-scope unified platform to achieve this, alongside providing client management and ongoing maintenance functions. It will offer a comprehensive digital experience across an advisor's entire book of business, from mass affluent to ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

John Wise, Co-founder and CEO of InvestCloud, said: "InvestCloud's planning engine will be enhanced with the combination of Advicent (NaviPlan). Advicent is a highly differentiated planning engine covering the simple goal-based assessments that most of the known financial planning engines cover; however, and importantly, Advicent also has advanced retirement income scenarios and estate/trust planning focusing on the very difficult planning aspects of tax and cash flow. This will be greatly leveraged by the market-leading InvestCloud planning solutions and platform used by advisors today. The Advicent team has created a great asset which, when combined with InvestCloud's expertise in Digital Design, Gaming Theory, Decision Theory and Data Science, will accelerate the Advisor experience and drive better adoption and better outcomes. I'm thrilled to welcome Advicent into the InvestCloud family."

Wise continues "I'm delighted that, with the support of our Investment partners Motive Partners and Clearlake Capital, we are able to substantially grow both organically and by enabling great acquisitions such as Advicent."

Angela Pecoraro, CEO of Advicent, said: "We deliberately focused on the most complex components in the functional area of financial planning. InvestCloud is functionally strong and also extremely well known for design of intuitive user experiences. We are delighted to be joining forces with InvestCloud, the world's best and most comprehensive financial digital platform for wealth, which specializes in intuitive and empathetic digital experiences, visualizations and workflows. The opportunity we see together is massive and our team has thought this for years - how powerful a partnership would be with InvestCloud. As digital plays a more and more critical role in the advisor experience, InvestCloud's platform will enable our clients to reduce complexities, increase flexibility, and be a game-changing power for client-to-advisor collaboration by applying behavioral science to improve client outcomes."

InvestCloud's latest acquisition further expands its global client base in North America and Europe, while deepening its dominance within wealth management, trust and estate planning, as well as private banking. The capabilities will be immediately available to InvestCloud's existing global client base through its Digital App Store. Clients will be able to leverage InvestCloud's design-first approach to digital and the power of the Advicent engines to create unparalleled empathetic plans for all clients.

About InvestCloud

InvestCloud is a global company specializing in digital platforms that enable the development of financial solutions, pre-integrated into the Cloud. The company offers on-demand client experiences and intuitive operations solutions using an ever-expanding library of modular apps, resulting in powerful products. Headquartered in Los Angeles, InvestCloud has over 20 global offices including New York, London, Geneva, Singapore and Sydney, supporting trillions in assets across hundreds of diverse clients - from the largest banks in the world to wealth managers, asset managers and asset services companies.

For more information, visit InvestCloud.com.

About Advicent

Advicent is the financial planning technology provider of choice for over 140,000 financial professionals across nearly 3,000 firms worldwide, including four of the top five custodians, 15 of the top 25 broker-dealers, seven of the top 10 North American banks, and seven of the top 10 North American insurance firms. Our decades of experience empower Advicent to create scalable financial planning software; compliance workflow management solutions; fully branded client experiences through industry-leading APIs; and superior cash flow and goal-based calculations. Advicent products are designed to satisfy the needs of every investor and are used in firms of all sizes. Through our innovative product capabilities and dedicated services, we are able to help thousands of financial professionals and their clients understand and impact their financial future.

To learn more, visit advicent.com.

InvestCloud Media Contact:

Rich Went

Metia Group

+44 (0) 7745 496 065

Rich.Went@Metia.com / InvestCloudUK@Metia.com
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Mosaic Capital Corporation (TSXV: M) (TSXV: M.DB) ("Mosaic" or the "Company") has released its consolidated financial results for the period ended March 31, 2021. The Company's financial statements and management's discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the period ended March 31, 2021 can be accessed under Mosaic's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.mosaiccapitalcorp.com.

SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS



Three months ended March 31, (in $000s, except as noted) 2021 2020 % Change CONTINUING OPERATIONS





Revenue $ 82,578 $ 76,036 9% Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 7,939 $ 5,435 46% Net income and comprehensive income $ 1,657 $ 3,977 -58% Free Cash Flow (1) $ 2,373 $ 538 341% DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS





Revenue $ - $ 2,480 NA Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ - $ 242 NA Net loss and comprehensive loss $ - $ (328) NA Free Cash Flow (1) $ - $ (35) NA AGGREGATE





Revenue $ 82,578 $ 78,516 5% Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 7,939 $ 5,677 40% per share $ 0.74 $ 0.53 39% as a % of revenue (%) 9.61 7.23

Net income and comprehensive income $ 1,657 $ 3,649 -55% Net income (loss) attributable to common equity holders $ (1,134) $ 1,257 -190% Free Cash Flow (1) $ 2,373 $ 503 372% per share $ 0.22 $ 0.05 368% Preferred securities distributions declared $ 1,479 $ 1,496 -1% Common share dividends declared $ - $ 1,116 -100% per share $ - $ 0.105 -100% TTM Preferred Distribution Payout Ratio (%) (1) 33.96 41.53

Weighted avg. common shares outstanding 10,705,665 10,621,420 1%

Note :

Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and Trailing twelve-month ("TTM") Preferred Distribution Payout Ratio are not recognized measures under IFRS. Refer to "Non-GAAP Measures".

FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

For the three month period ended March 31, 2021, Mosaic:

generated $82.6 million in revenue from continuing operations which was a 9% improvement over the same period in 2020 demonstrating a return to revenue growth since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (" Pandemic ");

"); generated Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of $7.9 million which exceeded the same period last year by 46% due to solid performances at certain portfolio companies and the receipt of Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (" CEWS ") funds;

") funds; delivered a 14% improvement in Adjusted EBITDA over the same period last year when measured before the receipt of CEWS funding, illustrating a return to pre-pandemic profitability levels;

increased Free Cash Flow from continuing operations by 341% over the same period last year, supported by profitability gains, disciplined cost management, and lower cash interest expense;

posted a trailing twelve month Preferred Distribution Payout Ratio of 34%; and

maintained a healthy balance sheet with $20.7 million in cash, $43.3 million in working capital and Total Debt to Gross EBITDA leverage of 0.98.

SEGMENTED FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE



Three months ended March 31, (in $000s, except as noted) 2021 2020 % Change







Revenue:





Infrastructure $ 49,812 $ 47,968 % Diversified 32,766 28,068 % Total revenue 82,578 76,036 %







Adjusted EBITDA: (1)





Infrastructure 4,165 3,340 % Diversified 5,040 3,300 % Corporate (1,266) (1,205) % Total adjusted EBITDA $ 7,939 $ 5,435 % as a % of revenue (%) 9.61 7.15

Government subsidies 1,743 - NA Adjusted EBITDA, net of government subsidies 6,196 5,435 % as a % of revenue (%) 7.50 7.15



Note :

Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measure under IFRS. Refer to "Non-GAAP Measures".

OUTLOOK

Mosaic's first quarter 2021 financial results exhibit an acceleration of the strong operational momentum that surfaced in the second half of 2020 as Pandemic-related influences began to ease for the underlying portfolio companies. Mosaic demonstrated a reduced reliance from government wage subsidies in the first quarter of 2021 with growth in both revenue and profitability levels over the same period last year when removing the benefit of CEWS funding in the current quarter.

Reflecting on the strong first quarter results and the increasing levels of customer demand across the portfolio, management has an expectation for solid overall growth in 2021 after normalizing for the CEWS funding received in 2020. Notwithstanding the current health impacts of the third wave of the Pandemic, Mosaic's portfolio has illustrated its resiliency and the benefits of its underlying diversification.

Mark Gardhouse, President and CEO commented "We are pleased to deliver a third consecutive quarter of improved operational and financial results since bottoming in the second quarter of 2020 with the beginning of the Pandemic. With the momentum we have exhibited year-to-date in 2021 coupled to continued improvements in the overall economy and further tailwinds expected from commodity prices, we believe Mosaic is well positioned to deliver healthy returns for our shareholders in 2021 and beyond."

CONFERENCE CALL

Management will hold a conference call to discuss first quarter 2021 results on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 10:00 AM ET. All interested parties are invited to join the conference call by dialing 1-855-353-9183 from within Canada or the U.S., then entering the participant Code 63121#. A recording of the conference call will be made available on Mosaic's website at www.mosaiccapitalcorp.com.

ABOUT MOSAIC CAPITAL CORPORATION

Mosaic is a Canadian investment company that owns a portfolio of established businesses which span a diverse range of industries and geographies. Mosaic's strategy is to create long-term value for its shareholders through accretive acquisitions, long-term portfolio ownership, sustained cash flows and organic portfolio growth. Mosaic achieves its objectives by maintaining financial discipline, acquiring businesses at attractive valuations, performing extensive acquisition due diligence, utilizing optimal transaction structuring and working closely with subsidiary businesses after acquisition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Cam Deller

Vice President, Corporate Development

Mosaic Capital Corporation 400, 2424 - 4th Street SW Calgary, AB T2S 2T4

T: (403) 930-6576 E: cdeller@mosaiccapitalcorp.com

Reader Advisory

Non-GAAP Measures

Selected financial information for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 are set out above and includes the following measures that are not recognized under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and are non-generally accepted accounting principles ("Non-GAAP") measures: Adjusted EBITDA, Free Cash Flow and Preferred Distribution Payout Ratio. This information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 and Mosaic's MD&A for the period ended March 31, 2021 available under Mosaic's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Further information regarding these Non-GAAP measures is contained in Mosaic's MD&A.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (herein referred to as "forward-looking statements") that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All information and statements in this press release which are not statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. The words "believe", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "project", "scheduled", and similar expressions, as well as future or conditional verbs such as "will", "should", "would", and "could" often identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements included in this news release include, but are not limited to:

the overall business strategy and objectives of Mosaic;

the Company's expectation to successfully manage the current business environment;

the Company's ability to manage the impact of the Pandemic and its impact on operations;

the Company's eligibility for government financial assistance programs; and

the Company's expectation to be positioned to capture attractive investment opportunities in the future.

Such statements or information, if any, are only predictions and reflect the current beliefs of management with respect to future events and are based on information currently available to management. Actual results and events may differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements due to these statements being subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur.

By their nature forward-looking statements involve assumptions and known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other things contemplated by the forward-looking statements will not occur. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results stated in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Pandemic impact, risks related to: general economic and business conditions; the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of Mosaic's recent and future acquisitions; adverse fluctuations in commodity prices; competition for, among other things, capital, equipment and skilled personnel; the inability to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet current and future obligations; the inability to obtain required debt and/or equity capital on suitable terms; competition for acquisition targets; adverse weather conditions; seasonality and fluctuations in results; and limited diversification of Mosaic's subsidiaries. Should any of the risks or uncertainties facing Mosaic and its subsidiaries materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance, activities or achievements could vary materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this news release.

Although Mosaic believes that the expectations represented by any forward-looking-statements contained herein are reasonable based on the information available to them on the date of this news release, management cannot assure investors that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements herein contained are made as of the date of this press release and Mosaic does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83018
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Sun Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (TSXV: SRES) today released its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2021. All amounts are in United States dollars.

Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $1,176,066 (same period, prior year - $835,781), net rental income was $864,401 (prior year - $472,180), and the net income for the three months was $473,795 (prior year - loss of $793,536). Since operations commenced January 28, 2020 when Sun acquired its first property, the results for the prior year are not directly comparable since the first quarter last year included only two months of operations as well as expenses resulting from the property acquisition and establishing Sun's corporate operations as a public company.

At March 31, 2021, Sun had total assets of $57.0 million (December 31, 2020 - $56.6 million), and cash and cash equivalents of $4.0 million (December 31, 2020 - $3.9 million). Working capital at March 31, 2021 was $4.2 million (December 31, 2020 - $3.9 million).

"Sun continues to show very good results, as our property is performing very well. We thank property management for an outstanding job during the challenges that have arisen from the pandemic," said Gordon Wiebe, CEO of Sun. He continued, "Our priority is to grow the business, and we are actively exploring options to resume our expansion."

Highlights (at March 31, 2021 unless otherwise noted)

Weighted average occupancy rate - 98%.

FFO (funds from operations) for three months ended March 31, 2021 - $97,044 (same period, prior year - loss of $184,879).

AFFO (adjusted funds from operations) for three months ended March 31, 2021 - $97,044 (same period, prior year - loss of $184,879).

Rent collection for March 2021 - 99%

Lease renewals for three months ended March 31, 2021 at an average rent increase of 3.2%.

Net operating income margin (three months ended March 31, 2021) - 57%

Debt to gross book value - 55%

For further information on the financial results as well as analysis of operational statistics, please refer to Sun's unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and its management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2021, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Sun's website at www.sunresreit.com.

Conference Call

Interested parties are invited to participate in a Zoom call with management on Thursday, May 6, which will follow the annual unitholders' meeting on May 6, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, to review the results. (To skip the annual meeting for which you will be required to register after you log on, please log on at 10:15 a.m.) To participate or listen to the call, please click on this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82026938434?pwd=MG1TVTRYUm5NVWVsWEIybGpScTA3Zz09.

About Sun Residential REIT

Sun Residential Real Estate Investment Trust is an unincorporated open-ended real estate investment trust established pursuant to a declaration of trust dated January 22, 2019, as amended and restated on March 22, 2019 and November 4, 2020. The business of Sun is to acquire multi-family residential properties in the Sunbelt region of the United States. Its business operations commenced on January 28, 2020, when it completed a financing and concurrently acquired a 51% interest in a multi-family residential property comprising 12 buildings with 288 rental units as well as various amenities for tenants located in Tallahassee, Florida.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

Weighted average occupancy rate, FFO, AFFO, rent collections, net operating income margin and debt to gross book value are key measures of performance commonly used by real estate investment trusts. They are not measures recognized under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS. Weighted average occupancy rate, FFO, AFFO, rent collection for March 2021, net operating income margin and debt to gross book value as calculated by Sun may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Please refer to Sun's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2021 for reconciliations to standardized IFRS measures.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of applicable securities laws) relating to the business of Sun. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "target", "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "plan", "will", "may", "estimate" and other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on certain assumptions. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Sun's management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2021, and for the year ended December 31, 2020, which are available at www.sunresreit.com. There can be no assurance that forward- looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Therefore, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, these forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by law, Sun assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Gordon Wiebe,

Chief Executive Officer

gwiebe@sunresreit.com

Jeffrey Sherman,

Chief Financial Officer

jsherman@sunresreit.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83016
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Battery Mineral Resources Corp. (TSXV: BMR) ("Battery" or "BMR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that drilling intercepted 4 main cobalt mineralized structures on the recently completed and initial diamond drill program at the White Reserve Project located about 120 kilometres northeast of Sudbury and 30 kilometers southwest of town of Elk Lake.

Highlights:

17 drillholes completed for 1,838 meters ("m");

Targets identified from recent three-dimensional model of historic underground mine workings and results of a recent geophysical model;

Samples have been dispatched for assay and results are pending.

About the White Reserve program

The White Reserve property comprises 616 mining claims totaling 12,984 hectares of contiguous mining claims located in Banks, Barber, Speight, Van Nostrand and Whitson townships (Figure 1). Much of the White Reserve property was burnt by a devastating forest fire during the summer of 2018 (Photo 1). The 2018 fires severely limited access to the property with only a limited number of reconnaissance prospecting, geological mapping and rock sampling traverses completed.

In 2019 a grid-based geophysical three-dimensional distributed induced polarization ("3D IP") survey was conducted by Canadian Exploration Services. Limited rock grab sampling of rock dumps and surface outcrops yielded anomalous cobalt values ranging from 0.02% to 3.90% cobalt and 0.26g/t to 5.90g/t silver.

BMR compiled a 3D geological model of the historic workings and main vein structures to identify targets and design the drill program (17 drillholes / 1,838m). The drilling targeted both strike and vertical extensions of the main veins and two high chargeability induced polarization geophysical targets.

The four main east-west striking quartz-carbonate-silver-cobalt vein structures were drill tested. Several of the holes were also planned to test a north-south high chargeability 3D IP geophysical anomaly located just west of the old mine workings in the Nipissing diabase (Figure 2 and Table 1). Targeting was as follows:

Holes WRS20-001 - 004: Tested the #21 Vein

Holes WRS20-005 - 006: Tested the #14 Vein

Holes WRS20-007 - 008: Tested the #10 Vein

Hole WRS20-009: Tested IP Chargeability Anomaly & #7 Vein

Hole WRS20-010: Tested IP Chargeability

Hole WRS20-011: Tested the #7, #8 & #9 Veins

Hole WRS20-012: Tested the #10 Vein

Holes WRS20-013 - 014: Tested the #14 Vein

Holes WRS20-015 - 016: Tested the #7 Vein

Detailed core logging and sampling has been completed. Samples have been dispatched for assay. Results are pending.

Battery CEO Martin Kostuik states: "We are encouraged that the 4 main mineralized vein structures targeted by this initial drill test were intercepted as-planned. This drilling targeted the historic mine area which includes 5 production shafts operating until approximately 1940. There remains an additional six known cobalt occurrences at White Reserve to be explored. We look forward to receiving the assay results and continuing this exciting portion of our Northern Ontario cobalt exploration program."

Background

The White Reserve project comprises a 15 km long, north-trending belt of Proterozoic Nipissing diabase that hosts seven cobalt-silver occurrences including the historic workings known as the White Reserve mine (Figure 3 and Figure 4). The minesite is nestled in a north-south trending valley bounded by high ridges of diabase.

The White Reserve mine was operated from 1909 - about 1940. Early mine development included sinking of a shaft to 45m with two levels at 21m and 43m. Four additional shafts and a total of 1105m of lateral underground workings were developed. Historically, 24 vein zones were located on the eastern and western rims of the diabase- enclosed valley. The more productive veins, #7, #10, #14, and #21 were explored with shafts and open cuts, the 3 former veins developed on the west side, and the latter, on the east. White Reserve mine "reported historic" production amounted to 19,775 ounces of silver & 452 pounds of cobalt from the #21 Vein.

The White Reserve project is dominated by a north-south striking Nipissing diabase sill, which intrudes quartzites and sandstones of the Lorraine formation, part of the Huronian Supergroup of the Cobalt Embayment. The diabase occurs mainly in the centre of the claim block. Regional north-south and northeast-trending faults transect the area.

Cobalt - silver mineralization is generally confined to the diabase in veins that parallel the numerous faults and structures. Cobalt - silver mineralization occurs as vein-filled fractures, ranging from hairline fractures to a maximum width of 0.08m. Vein selvages consist of epidote-hematite-altered zones. The dominant sulphide minerals are niccolite and smaltite, with minor amounts of native bismuth and silver. Disseminated cobalt sulphides are hosted in a granophyric phase of the Nipissing diabase. Additionally, disseminated cobalt-silver mineralization was noted up to 1.5 meters on either side of vein fractures.







Figure 1: White Reserve property location map

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6076/83029_b96cc4faf4c8797c_002full.jpg





Table 1



To view an enhanced version of Table 1, please visit:

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Note: *All coordinates are NAD83 UTM Zone 17N







Figure 2: White Reserve 2021 drill collar location plan on LiDAR topography

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

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Figure 3: White Reserve geology map with cobalt-silver occurrences

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Figure 4: 2018 White Reserve residual magnetic intensity (RMI) plot with cobalt-silver occurrences

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6076/83029_b96cc4faf4c8797c_006full.jpg







Photo 1: 1909 Minesite boiler after the 2018 forest fire

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Quality Control

Sample preparation, analysis and security procedures applied on the BMR exploration projects is aligned with industry best practice. BMR has implemented protocols and procedures to insure high quality collection and management of samples resulting in reliable exploration assay data. BMR has implemented formal analytical quality control monitoring for all of its field sampling and drilling programs by inserting blanks and certified reference materials into every sample sequence dispatched.

Sample preparation was performed by ALS Minerals Laboratories (ALS) in Sudbury, Ontario and sample analyses by ALS in North Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS analytical facilities are commercial laboratories and are independent from BMR. All BMR samples were bagged by BMR staff and delivered Upon receipt at the ALS Laboratory in Sudbury, samples were logged in a sophisticated laboratory information management system (LIMS) for sample tracking, scheduling, quality control, and electronic reporting. Samples were dried in special drying ovens prior to crushing. The samples were crushed to 70% < -2 mm and a riffle split of 250 grams was then pulverized to 85% of the material achieving a size of <75 microns. These prepared samples were then shipped to the ALS Laboratory in North Vancouver for analyses by the following methods:

ME-MS61: A high precision, multi-acid digest including Hydrofluoric, Nitric, Perchloric and Hydrochloric acids. Analysed by ICP (inductively coupled plasma) mass spectrometry that produced results for 48 elements.

ME-OG62: Aqua-Regia digest: Analysed by ICP- AES (Atomic Emission Spectrometry) or sometimes called optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for high levels of Co, Cu, Ni and Ag.

Ag-GRA21: Silver by fire assay and gravimetric finish; 30-gram charge. Weight. Used when samples contain > 1500 ppm silver.

Au-AA25: Gold was analysed by a 30-gram fire assay method, followed by AAS (atomic absorption spectroscopy).

Note that 48 element ICP trace element data was also collected and reported by the laboratory. Certified international standards were inserted into sample batches by ALS. Blanks and duplicates are inserted within each analytical run. The blank is inserted at the beginning, internationally certified standards are inserted at random intervals, and duplicates are analysed at the end of the batch.

Qualified Persons

P. J. Doyle, FAusIMM (#208850), Battery Mineral Resources Corp. - Vice President Exploration - Canada, supervised the preparation of and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release pertaining to the Canada Exploration Program.

Technical reports filed by the Company under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com: "Technical Report on Cobalt Exploration Assets in Canada" dated as of May 26, 2020 with an effective date of March 31, 2020, prepared by SRK Consulting - G Cole PGeo (APGO#1416).

About Battery Mineral Resources Corp

Battery is a multi-commodity resource company. Battery is engaged in the discovery, acquisition, and development of battery metals (cobalt, lithium, graphite, nickel & copper), in North America and South Korea. Battery is the largest mineral claim holder in the historic Gowganda Cobalt-Silver Camp, Canada, with various high-grade primary cobalt silver-nickel-copper targets located in the Cobalt Belt of Ontario and Quebec. In addition, Battery owns approximately 89.2% of ESI Energy Services, Inc., a pipeline equipment rental and sales company with operations in Leduc, Alberta and Phoenix, Arizona. Finally, Battery is currently pursuing a concurrent financing and acquisition to acquire the Punitaqui Mining Complex, a copper-gold mine located in the Coquimbo region of Chile.

For further information, please contact Battery Mineral Resources Corp.:

Martin Kostuik

Phone: +1 (604) 229 3830

Email: info@bmrcorp.com

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which may relate to the Company's future outlook and anticipated events or results. In some cases, but not necessarily all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, predictions, indications, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.

Forward-looking statements may include statements regarding management's beliefs, expectations or intentions regarding the size, completion, expenses and timing of the closing of an offering, industry trends, market growth rates and the Company's future growth rates, plans and strategies, projections of commodity prices and costs, the future financial or operating performance and condition of the Company, including its business, operations and properties, planned exploration and development activities and the costs and timing thereof, the intended use of the net proceeds of an offering, trends in the global cobalt, lithium and graphite markets, the adequacy of the Company's financial resources, timing, receipt and maintenance of approvals, consents and permits under applicable legislation. The foregoing list should not be construed as exhaustive.

These statements and other forward-looking information are based on opinions, assumptions and estimates made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances as of the date of this presentation, including, without limitation, assumptions about the ability to raise additional capital; future prices of cobalt, lithium and graphite; the Company's competitive advantages; current market dynamics; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; and the availability and amenability of metallurgical and processing technologies for processing extracted minerals. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. If any of the assumptions or estimates made by management prove to be incorrect, actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Accordingly, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. The foregoing list of assumptions should not be construed as exhaustive.

While such opinions, assumptions and estimates are considered reasonable by the Company as of the date such statements are made, they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to future requirements for additional capital, a limited operating history, the demand for and prices of lithium, cobalt and graphite, property title risk, exploration risk, mineral processing risk, uncertainty in relation to Inferred Mineral Resources, a negative cash flow; governmental regulation of the mineral exploration and development industry; the loss of an investor's entire investment; an arbitrary offering price; volatility in the price of the ordinary shares; the potential for additional dilution; absence of a market for the ordinary shares and future sales of ordinary shares by directors and officers of the Company. These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the Company.

The forward-looking statements included in this release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and are made as at the date of the release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83029
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 5, 2021) - Snowy Owl Gold Corp. (CSE: SNOW) (FSE: 84L) ("Snowy Owl" or the "Company") is pleased to report that Geologica Groupe-Counseil (Geologica), of Val d'Or, Quebec, has completed a geoscientific compilation on the Company's 100% owned Panache Gold Project (the "Property"), located in the Urban-Barry Greenstone Belt, Quebec, Canada.

The geoscientific compilation was successful in identifying several prospective areas in which to focus exploration efforts. The highlights of the geoscientific compilation are summarized below.

Panache Property Summary

As shown on the Figure 1 Compilation Map, the 12 claim, 676.74 hectare, Panache Gold Project is underlain by the same Urban-Barry Greenstone Belt geology which hosts the numerous Osisko Mining and Bonterra Resources' gold showings immediately surrounding the Property. Geophysically, within the Property the Urban-Barry formation displays several electromagnetic INPUT anomalies and high magnetic axis. In the southern half of the Property, a structural contact between the Urban-Barry Greenstone and a granitic pluton may be associated with a favourable metamorphic halo which could host altered fracture and mineralized zones. A fault is mapped in the northern portion of the property which may also represent a structural exploration target.

Very little exploration work has been done on the Property, in 1989 a small-scale mapping and outcrop sampling program was conducted in the northern portion of the property. A single grab sample from this program retuned 10 ppb Au, and mapping revealed the presence of intermediate to mafic volcano-sedimentary rock containing quartz-carbonate vein and veinlet hosted pyrite, and cherty bands (exhalite) with 1-2% pyrite.

The Property is located in the Quebec's Eeyou Istchee James Bay Region, approximately 100 km east of the town of Lebel-sur-Quevillon (Figure 2), it is easily accessible year-round via a network of logging roads.

"The Snowy team is looking forward to getting boots on the ground of our Quebec gold assets this year, and we are excited about the Company's recent listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange" stated Raymond Wladichuk, CEO.





Figure 1 - Panache Property Compilation Map

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

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Figure 2 - Panache Property Location Map

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Snowy Owl is pleased to announce that its common shares are now listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange ("FRA") and are under the trading symbol 84L.F.

The Frankfurt Stock Exchange, operated by Deutsche Borse AG, is one of the world's largest trading centers for securities and the largest of the eight stock exchanges in Germany. Snowy's Frankfurt listing is expected to facilitate the process of trading in its shares by investors in Europe and internationally. The Company's shares continue to be listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol SNOW.

Elyssia Patterson, CFO commented: "Our Frankfurt listing is an important step in the Company's growth, enabling European investors and capital managers to participate in our story. This opportunity to broaden our shareholder base comes at an excellent time as we develop our gold projects in North America. This is an important step towards furthering the objectives of improving our visibility with the investment community and increasing investor awareness globally."

Raymond Wladichuk, P.Geo., CEO of Snowy Owl, and a "Qualified Person" for National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

About Snowy Owl Gold Corp.

Snowy Owl Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing gold projects in Quebec, Canada. The Company has 100% interest in the Panache Gold Project, which consists of 12 map designated claims ("CDC") covering a total of 676 hectares, and the Golden Eagle Property, which consists of 161 map designated claims ("CDC") covering a total of 8,887.65 hectares (88.87 km2), Both projects are within the Abitibi region located in Quebec, Canada. Additional information on Snowy Owl Gold Corp. is available at http://www.snowyowlgold.com/

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

SNOWY OWL GOLD CORP.

"Raymond Wladichuk"

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Elyssia Patterson - CFO

Tel: +1 (778) 683 4324

Email: info@snowyowlgold.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor it's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the CSE policies) accepts responsibility for this release's adequacy or accuracy.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Snowy Owl Gold's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

Although Snowy Owl Gold believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature, forward-looking statements involve assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic conditions; the Covid-19 pandemic; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments in the mining sector; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; mining industry and markets in Canada and generally; the ability of Snowy Owl Gold to implement its business strategies; competition; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/83048
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 5, 2021 / Viva Gold Corp. ("Viva" or the "Company") (TSXV:VAU) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Research Capital Corporation, as sole agent and sole bookrunner (the "Agent") in connection with a best efforts, private placement offering of units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.21 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 (the "Offering").

Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall be exercisable to acquire one Common Share (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.30 per Warrant Share for a period of 36 months from the closing of the Offering.

The Agent will have an option (the "Agent's Option") to offer for sale up to an additional 15% of the number of Units sold in the Offering at the Offering Price, which Agent's Option is exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time up to 48 hours prior to the closing of the Offering.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes, including technical studies on the Tonopah Gold project.

"This financing will enable Viva to conduct technical activities required to advance the Tonopah gold project to and likely through feasibility study, which includes completing additional infill and step out drilling operations, metallurgical testwork, and updating and completing baseline environmental studies", states James Hesketh, President & CEO.

The securities to be issued under the Offering will be offered by way of private placement in each of the provinces of Canada, and such other jurisdictions as may be determined by the Company, in each case, pursuant to applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable securities laws.

The Offering is scheduled to close on or about the week of May 31, 2021, or such earlier or later date as agreed upon between the Company and the Agent (the "Closing") and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the Exchange. The Units to be issued under the Offering will have a hold period of four months and one day from Closing.

In connection with the Offering, the Agent will receive an aggregate fee equal to 6.0% of the gross proceeds from the Offering, including in respect of any exercise of the Agent's Option, payable in cash or Units, at the option of the Agent. In addition, the Company will grant the Agent, on date of Closing, non-transferable compensation options (the "Compensation Options") equal to 6.0% of the total number of Units sold under the Offering (including in respect of any exercise of the Agent's Option). Each Compensation Option will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price equal to the Offering Price for a period of 36 months following the Closing.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

About Viva Gold Corp.

Viva Gold is a gold exploration and project development company with a focus on Nevada. Viva's management team has extensive experience in mining exploration, development and production and are supported by a Board of Directors and advisors who are proven mine finders, deal makers and financiers. Viva trades on the TSX-V as "VAU", on the OTCQB in the US as "VAUCF" and on the Frankfurt exchange under "7PB". For additional information on Viva Gold and the Tonopah Gold Project, please visit our website: www.vivagoldcorp.com.

For Further Information, Contact:

James Hesketh, President & CEO

(720) 291-1775

jhesketh@vivagoldcorp.com

Valerie Kimball, Director Investor Relations

(720) 933-1150

vkimball@vivagoldcorp.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Information

This news release contains certain information that may constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information"). This forward-looking information entails various risks and uncertainties that are based on current expectations, and actual results may differ materially from those contained in such information. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the strength of the global economy; the price of gold; operational, funding and liquidity risks; the potential for achieving targeted drill results, the degree to which mineral resource estimates are reflective of actual mineral resources; the degree to which factors which would make a mineral deposit commercially viable are present; the risks and hazards associated with drilling and mining operations; and the ability of Viva to fund its capital requirements. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials filed with the security's regulatory authorities in Canada available at www.sedar.com. Readers are urged to read these materials. Viva assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such information unless required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.

SOURCE: Viva Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/645031/Viva-Gold-Announces-up-to-30-Million-Private-Placement-Financing-of-Units
CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Bank of Japan will on Thursday release the minutes from its monetary policy meeting on March 18 and 19, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. At the meeting, the bank widened the range at which it permits the yields of government bonds to fluctuate and scrapped the average exchange traded fund buying target and also maintained its benchmark lending rate at -0.1 percent. Also, the central bank decided to continue to purchase necessary amount of Japanese government bonds without setting an upper limit so that 10-year JGB yields will remain at around zero percent. Australia will see preliminary May results for the business confidence index from ANZ; the previous reading was -2.0. New Zealand will release March numbers for building permits; in February, permits tumbled 18.2 percent on month. Taiwan will see April figures for consumer and wholesale prices; in March, consumer prices were up 0.34 percent on month and 1.26 percent on year, while wholesale prices climbed an annual 4.36 percent. Thailand will see April results for its business confidence and consumer confidence indexes; in March, their scores were 50.1 and 48.5, respectively. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The Africa Energy Series from the Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA) and KURO is a range of webinars that will explore the energy industries of key African markets providing a complete portrait of each countrys energy sector via the perspective of government, industry and trade professionals.

The series explores the challenges, opportunities and risks facing those doing or looking to do business across specific key markets within the African continent including Senegal, Angola, Cameroon and Algeria with further events planned for Cote DIvoire, Nigeria, Egypt and Uganda in the coming months.

The webinars unique structure aims to provide an optimum user experience coupled with exceptional insight and regional opportunities. With topics ranging from General market overviews, Energy mix masterplan to Skills training, Production & Transmission, Renewables, Gas to Power and Decommissioning the format will provide the latest insight into national policy and operating outlook.

The next event as part of The Africa Energy Series will be Angola on the 5th May which will explore how to take advantage of the opportunities within the countrys energy sector.

A major oil-exporting country and OPEC member, Angola is sub-Saharan Africas third-largest economy. Angola and West Africa in general has been experiencing a higher demand for energy in recent years with an increasingly urban population, economic development and high European demand for its low sulphur oil. With the country having a mature Oil & Gas market they are now looking at not only how they extend the economic producing life of the fields using cost-effective, low-risk technologies but what will be needed for decommissioning, skills development and renewables.

In this webinar you will find out about the many opportunities that exist within the country and how companies and regulators are coming to terms with the amount of work to be done in the near future to maximise existing and fields, decommission depleted fields, and the financing, technical and regulatory challenges to do so.

Delegates can register at https://bit.ly/3eYr3Zg

A range of organisations are being engaged throughout the process and supporting with the events including Scottish Development International, UK Department for International Trade, African Energy Chamber (http://EnergyChamber.org), African Governments, Embassies and the private sector.

According to the African Energy Chambers SVP Verner Ayukegba who will be taking part in the event, Angola remains a prime target for investment, following reforms in the operating environment made in recent years by the government. We do believe Scotlands unique experience in the energy sector offers Scottish services companies unique opportunities in Angola.

Frazer Lang, Chief Executive at SABA said: These events provide a great opportunity to enhance trade and collaboration between Scotland and various countries across Africa at a time when the Scottish and UK government are growing and diversifying their global trading relationships. Im delighted that, despite the challenges created by the COVID pandemic, business partners in Scotland and Africa can establish and develop links virtually, discussing potential areas of business collaboration in a safe manner. Scotland has been on this energy journey from the early 70s and has faced the same challenges and opportunities and our experience creates a great opportunity to share this insight and knowledge to create growth and maximise potential.

James Crawford, Managing Director at KURO said: We are delighted to bring this series of events together with the aim of promoting links between Scottish and African leaders in the energy sector. Scotland has world class experience and expertise that can play an essential role in Africas economic diversification and sector innovation. The calibre of speakers is high meaning delegates will get valuable insight into the markets and the incredible opportunities that exist. The time is now to look at how these relationships can be built on for future years.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many industries are faced with unprecedented challenges. The Africa Energy Series will provide a platform to support organisations entering or expanding their presence within the energy sector across Africa hearing first hand from government, industry and trade professionals in order to explore the opportunities and challenges that exist.

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Paxton, IL (60957)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 67F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
If it says to take every day, like the Singulair, you have to do that even when youre not experiencing symptoms. And a lot of parents said, Well, you know, my child doesnt have breathing problems every day. So we only use the medication when he has breathing problems. And youre never going to get ahead of the condition that way, Cronin said.
BILOXI, Miss. --A 3-month-old child injured during a police chase and shootout in south Mississippi on Monday has died, according to the coroner in Harrison County.

Brian Switzer, from Harrison County Coroner, says the 3 month old baby died from a single gunshot wound.

He will turn over his findings to the Biloxi Police Department and Harrison DAs Office to determine where the bullet came from.

The baby suffered injuries as his father, Eric Derell Smith, died of multiple gunshot wounds following a vehicle pursuit with authorities.

Smith was wanted in two killings in Louisiana.

Law enforcement officials from Gulfport and Harrison County and also state troopers with the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol took part in the pursuit that led to the deadly shootout.

The baby was inside his fathers automobile at the time.

Switzer said the baby died at about 1:30 a.m. today at USA Childrens and Womens Hospital in Mobile.

The cause of death has not been determined and is pending the results of an autopsy, Switzer told FOX10 News. The child will be taken to Biloxi for that autopsy, he said.

Switzer said the baby would have been four months old later this month.

Biloxi Police Chief John Miller told the Sun Herald that authorities are trying to determine whether Smith shot himself or was shot by police during the chase on Interstate 10.

Smith, 30, was a suspect in two killings near Baker, La., early Monday. WBRZ-TV reported that the East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office said Smith entered the home and fatally shot his ex-girlfriend and her nephew. They were identified as Christin Parker, 32, and Brandon Parker, 26.
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) -- The Alabama School of Mathematics and Science says it is is taking an innovative approach to summer programming to reach homes throughout Alabama.

The school typically hosts an Adventures In Math and Science (AIMS) summer camp on its Mobile campus with 1,200-plus students. But in late fall when planning would normally begin, the decision was made to cancel the camp out of an abundance of caution during pandemic times, according to the school.

In its place, ASMS is offering two summer programs which are available to students across the state at a reduced cost without travel involved  a Virtual Cybercamp and a Virtual STEM Camp.

This summer sixth through 12th graders can learn cybersecurity and jump into STEM with ASMS. This years Cybercamp will feature the National Cybersecurity Teacher of the Year. ASMS instructor Deb Gray lead the ASMS Virtual Cybercamp from June 21 to June 25. Campers will be immersed in a week of Cybersecurity principles and programming along with a CyberPatriot competition at the end.

Then, ASMS instructors will lead a Virtual STEM Camp from July 12 to 23. Campers will engage in unique STEM courses like computer programming, the biology of vaccines, webpage basics, the science of super-villains and more.

Cybersecurity is quickly becoming one of the most important fields in our world today," said ASMS's director of admissions and outreach, Ken Robinson. "ASMS is excited to bring our premier computer science program to homes throughout the state with a fun, competitive curriculum. We also know that quality, engaging, and fun-filled STEM learning can take place even when students are not in a traditional classroom. Students who choose either camp are sure to develop new skills and experience just how awesome learning can be."

To register or for more information about the camps, students and families can visit the schools website at https://www.asms.net/outreach/summer-camp

Questions about the camp can be directed to admissions@asms.net.
A man accused of abducting his infant child after shooting the boys mother used the baby as a human shield during a shootout with police in Mississippi on Monday, a law enforcement source told FOX10 News.

What began as a domestic dispute in Louisiana and led to a shootout in Mississippi ended with the death of an infant child. The 3-month old, identified by Louisiana news organizations as LaMello Parker, was taken to the University and South Alabama University Hospital and later transferred to Childrens and Womens Hospital, where he died.

The boys father, Eric Derell Smith, died during the shootout.

According to Biloxi police, the East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office responded to a report of shooting on Monday afternoon and found two people dead  Christin Parker and her nephew, Brandon Parker.

That set off a search for Christin Parkers ex-boyfriend, Smith, and their 3-month-old baby.

Just before 3 p.m., the Biloxi Police Department got involved after learning the suspect had been spotted on Interstate 10 heading east and nearing Gulfport. Between the Gulfport and DIberville exits, the suspect drove into the grass median. A shootout ensued. Smith died

The events left Parkers neighbors in East Baton Rouge stunned.

Its quiet, said Kenneshia Cain. This has never happened before,  Weve been here over 11 years and have never had a murder to happen on this street.

Jamal Johnson said Richmond Street was quiet when he got home from work on Monday and then suddenly filled with police vehicles. He says his heart goes out to the babys four siblings.

I know its a rough thing, he said. So its mainly about the kids, how they feel about it. Thats the way everybody ought to look at it. Because its a real rough thing.

Cain said she is feeling the same way. She said her kids and Parkers often played together.

My heart goes out to her family, her children, she said. We are praying for them.

An autopsy will be conducted Wednesday to determine the exact cause of death. Biloxi police said a Harrison County sheriffs deputy and police officer who were involved in the shooting are administrative leave pending the investigation.

FOX10 News anchor/reporter Shelby Myers contributed to this report.
PRICHARD, Ala. (WALA) -- A 14-year-old male Vigor High School student was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds Wednesday morning in Prichard, according to police.

The victim's name has not been released.

The boy was found about 9 a.m. outside Truelight Baptist Church on West Main Street, police said.

No one has been arrested and no suspects have been named. Police said it is still early in their investigation.

Police are asking anyone with information that might help their investigation to call the Prichard Police Department at 251-452-2211.
(CNN) -- An era in late night television is coming to an end next month.

"Conan," Conan O'Brien's show on TBS, will end its run on June 24, TBS announced Monday. The conclusion of the show will end the host's nearly 30-year run in late night.

TBS said that the final weeks of the show will have special guests and "an extended hour-long finale with a look back on the past 11 years of this iteration of O'Brien's lengthy late-night career."

After the show ends next month, O'Brien won't be slowing down. Instead, he will host a new weekly variety series for HBO Max, WarnerMedia's new streaming service. (WarnerMedia is the parent company of CNN and TBS.)

O'Brien, known for his irreverent humor and friendly interview style, got his start in late night as the host of NBC's "Late Night" in 1993, taking over for David Letterman.

After 16 years at "Late Night," O'Brien became host of "The Tonight Show" in 2009. The stint didn't last long. When NBC tried to put Jay Leno, the man O'Brien took over the show from, back in late night  pushing "The Tonight Show" to a later time slot  O'Brien refused the change and eventually left the show.

O'Brien moved over to TBS in 2010, where he has been for more than a decade.

He discussed the ending of his show on "Conan" on Monday.

"A very old Buddhist monk once told me that to pick something up, you must first put something down," O'Brien said. "I'll be honest with you, he was drunk out of his skull and very belligerent. And I maintain you can pick up two things if you use both hands. He just got mad and started swinging at me, so I ended the conversation and took his advice."

O'Brien added that he's "very proud of what we've accomplished" at the show.

"And so what I'd like is I'd like these last couple of weeks to be a fond look back at all the absurd madness that my team and I have concocted," he said. "Best of all, I just want to point out, there will be shockingly few, if any, references to Donald Trump because that's always been my favorite kind of comedy."
I picked Stone Mountain Wine Cellars because Im a farm girl, flat out, Smith-Henninger said in an interview with the Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation. I know how difficult it can be if you have one bad season; it can really mess you up for years. So, I wanted to go with someone who had a good selection, good price, and someone who operates with a working farm. This family has been on their farm for generations.
From Strip business booming, to a different kind of business boom all across Nevada. Thousands of people have moved to the Silver State amid the pandemic, and local leaders say they're bringing their businesses with them.
The Hummus & Pita Co. Touches Down In California With Flagship Los Angeles Location

Mediterranean Fast-Casual Leader Enters The West Coast Market With First Stage Of Aggressive Expansion Plans

May 04, 2021 // Franchising.com // LOS ANGELES, CA - The Hummus & Pita Co. has announced its flagship location for all of California with a Grand Opening slated for late June of 2021. Making home in North Hollywoods premier development NOHO West Shopping Center, the California brick-and-mortar kicks off the five-unit franchise deal signed with well-known Southern California multi-concept operator, Dan Markel. Markel is an experienced franchise operator and restaurant investor with a portfolio that boasted one of the top revenue-producing stores in the country for Jersey Mikes before he decided to focus his efforts on expanding The Hummus & Pita Co. throughout California. To that end, he has already identified his second California location in Toluca Lake, a celebrity enclave in Los Angeles. Other potential locations are currently being scouted in Studio City, Burbank, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and Mission Hills with his long-term Operating Partner Narek Khudabakhshyan.

The concepts securement in the exclusive shopping center located on Laurel Canyon Boulevard joins household names like Starbucks, California Fish Grill, Robeks and more. The new location in the modern walkthrough mall includes a wraparound outdoor patio that seats 20 and feeds into a European piazza-style area where diners can people-watch while enjoying their meal. The Hummus & Pita Co.s well-positioned corner cap location, which seats 30 indoors, stuns with 25-foot ceilings and a line concept that creates a beautiful visual experience where guests can marvel at their food being prepared to their specific tastes and preferences.

Ever since first learning about The Hummus & Pita Co. and how the concept is really pioneering healthy fast-causal options, I knew I wanted to get involved. Ive researched plenty of franchise opportunities, but none I have seen are as inclusive or as innovative, said Markel. Were excited to introduce its menu of health-conscious eats to this neighborhood of Angelenos and were confident that it will be well-received among the community.

Markels decision to expand into Los Angeles vibrant market was based on his previous operations in the San Fernando Valley which garnered wild success amongst the populations large melting pot of ethnic demographics. Recognized as a mover and shaker on the forefront of healthy eating on a fast-causal level, The Hummus & Pita Co. has sights set on delivering good-for-you Mediterranean eats to the underserved market with an emphasis on targeting the younger and trendy populations that make up a solid segment of the market, making it the logical next step in further exploring the regions food scene.

Were thrilled to be working with Dan to bring The Hummus & Pita Co. to the West Coast and break into the regions food scene in this trendsetting market, said Dave Pesso, co-founder of The Hummus & Pita Co. Dan has his finger on the pulse of the LA area, which is demonstrated in his brilliant securement of a spot within NOHO Wests unbelievable facility. We know that the thriving and diverse population in North Hollywood will love our health-focused Mediterranean eats, and we are eager to introduce our innovative menu to even more diners all across the state.

The Brooklyn-born Hummus & Pita Co. has been delivering guilt-free, homemade cuisine to the masses since 2011. All menu items are made from scratch on the premises at each location, using only the freshest ingredients available to ensure high-quality, flavor-focused eats for every guest. The fast-casual leader stands out from other Mediterranean concepts for its freshly-baked pita and laffa breads, robust roster of vegetarian and vegan options like its proprietary Vegan Morrocan Meatballs and Shawarma, meats cooked in a traditional taboon oven, and signature hummus-based dessert offerings like the Chickpea Chiller, which has been recognized by national media outlets including ABCs The Chew, People Magazine, Business Insider, PopSugar, and more.

SOURCE The Hummus & Pita Co.

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No More Peach Fuzz Here, Georgia: LunchboxWax Signs Agreement for First Three Locations in Atlanta

Seasoned Entrepreneur to Bring Chic Speed-Waxing Salon Concept to Georgia

May 05, 2021 // Franchising.com // BOISE, Idaho - LunchboxWax, an all-inclusive place for Every Body, is smoothly making its way into the Peach State.

LunchboxWax, the premier full-service, speed-waxing salon, announced that it recently signed an agreement to open three salon locations with Atlanta native, Nicole LeBlanc. The waxing salon is set to make its first appearance in the heart of Metro Atlanta towards the end of 2021 or near the top of 2022. LeBlanc is also eyeing Buckhead, Midtown and other surrounding Atlanta suburbs for her other two locations.

With a goal of establishing a sense of ownership within her community, LeBlanc knew that LunchboxWax would be the perfect concept to combine her passion for both product design and the beauty industry. As she began to work more closely with the LunchboxWax team, LeBlanc was instantly drawn to the modern and upbeat atmosphere that the salons provide to guests.

Atlanta is a thriving city that loves all things beauty, and Im confident that a wax-only salon like LunchboxWax is a unique concept that will be extremely attractive in this area, said LeBlanc, a seasoned technology professional. As a millennial woman of color, I hope to lead by example and instill the premise that anything is possible for other young professionals of color with hard work and dedication. Im thrilled to be working with LunchboxWax and provide the Atlanta community with a new go-to luxurious waxing destination.

The forthcoming LunchboxWax salons will offer a full range of hair removal services from top to toes, bottoms to brows and cheeks to chest. Using its proprietary three-step speed-waxing process, LunchboxWax has a soft wax technique that is more effective and less painful than traditional waxing.

Nicole strongly embodies all of the diligent, cutting-edge and people-first qualities that we are looking for in a dedicated franchise partner, said Christo Demetriades, COO of LunchboxWax. Atlanta is a market that is prime for disruption in the waxing space, and we could not be more excited for her to be leading the charge as LunchboxWax enters the flourishing state of Georgia.

Since Lunchboxs inception in 2010, it has been the brands mission to empower our guests through waxing services that allow people to be confident, hair-free and carefree in mere minutes. It offers various options such as monthly Memberships and Wax Series which gives guests the option to stay smooth year-round and save money. Every detail of LunchboxWax is designed to bring the caring, authentic connection of an upscale boutique into the sensory-based concept providing a luxurious experience for the guest.

The Lunchbox culture, along with support from an executive team with extensive salon and franchise experience, is designed to attract individuals who are passionate about providing exceptional experiences and community impact.

For more information on LunchboxWax services, please visit www.lunchboxwax.com.

About LunchboxWax

LunchboxWax is a boutique speed-waxing franchise catering to men and women who are mindful about the businesses and people they choose to perform personal services. Founded as a culture-first business by Debi Lane in Boise, Idaho, in 2010, LunchboxWax began awarding franchises in 2013, and today has 48 salons across the country.

To learn more about LunchboxWax franchise opportunities, please visit www.lunchboxfranchise.com.

SOURCE LunchboxWax

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Keep the conversation about local news & events going by joining us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Recent updates from The News-Post and also from News-Post staff members are compiled below.
We have buildings up and down the corridor with parking in front of them. I cant believe this is as much of an issue as it is, Ronca said. We are literally talking about two buildings here. I cant for the life of me believe we are having the magnitude of conversation we are about two buildings.
The Service proposes to amend its 2013 Hunt Plan to expand mule deer hunting, which is currently allowed only on the Refuges Boundary Unit, to include the Buena Vista Unit. Only short-range weapons would be permitted. Malheur NWR would issue up to four permits annually through a lottery application system. Applicants must possess a controlled hunt mule deer tag for the Steens Mountain big game management unit (69) issued by the State of Oregon to be eligible.

We also propose to align hunting for migratory birds and upland game birds with State hunting seasons on the South Malheur Lake and Buena Vista hunt units. Currently, bird hunting on these units begins on the 4th Saturday in October. The proposed alignment with the State seasons would allow hunters an additional two weeks of hunting for waterfowl, snipe, and upland game birds, and an additional 54 days of dove hunting. We would also allow non-native Eurasian collared-dove to be taken during the State dove season.

Your Voice Matters!

We are seeking comments on the Draft Compatibility Determinations during a 60-day public comment period that coincides with the comment period on the 2021-22 Draft Sport Hunting and Fishing Rule. Comments can be submitted via email to: HuntFishRuleComments@fws.gov (please put Malheur NWR Hunts in the subject line) or via U.S. Mail to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Attn: Malheur NWR Hunts, 36391 Sodhouse Lane, Princeton, Oregon 97221.

All comments received from individuals become part of the official public record. All requests for such comments are handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and the CEQs NEPA regulations in 40 CFR 1506.6(f). The Services practice is to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular business hours. Individual respondents can request that we withhold their home address from the record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments.

Categorical Exclusion (600KB PDF)

Describes the minor amendment to the Refuges 2013 Hunt Plan.

Draft Compatibility Determination for Migratory Bird Hunting (290KB PDF)

The Draft CD describes proposed changes to the Refuges migratory bird hunting program.

Draft Compatibility Determination for Upland Game and Big Game Hunting (381KB PDF)

This CD describes proposed changes to the Refuges upland/big game hunting program.
Currently, Benton Countys weekly caseload per 100,000 residents  the metric that the Oregon Health Authority uses to determine county risk levels  is at about 210. Counties normally have to be lower than 200 in order to move back down to high risk or avoid a move to extreme risk.

The last time Benton County was at the extreme risk level was back in March; it had remained at that level for several months during the winter spike in positive cases. Benton County increased to extreme risk on Dec. 18 and wasnt dropped back down to high risk until March 11.

According to the new state guidance, its unlikely that any county will remain in the extreme risk category that long again, as the new orders from Brown place a maximum of three weeks on the highest restriction category.

Another difference between then and now is that every week will include an evaluation period to see if counties qualify to be dropped to a lower risk level. Before, a county that moved up in risk evaluation could expect to remain there for at least two weeks before another evaluation period from the state  a period known as a movement week.

Every week right now is a movement week, Locey explained. This latest movement is more to clamp down in order to get this spread under control. If we can reduce it to one week of increased restrictions, that will help get the spread and increased cases under control and help counties get moved back down from extreme risk.

Troy Shinn covers healthcare, natural resources and the Linn County government. He can be reached at 541-812-6114 or troy.shinn@lee.net. His can be found on Twitter at @troydshinn.

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Oregon State Universitys Dam Proud Day brought in more than 4,000 gifts from 48 states and 11 countries totaling more than $1.1 million last week, the university announced Tuesday.

The second Dam Proud Day, a 24-hour fundraising event hosted by the OSU Foundation, beat the total raised during the inaugural Dam Proud Day in 2019 by more than $500,000. The foundation says the majority of the proceeds will directly benefit students, including more than $130,000 raised for students experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic.

The Oregon State community has a great deal to be proud of, Interim President Becky Johnson said in a press release. The philanthropy provided as part of Dam Proud Day demonstrates that Beaver Nation is all in for our students and OSUs land grant mission in Oregon and beyond. Thanks to this incredible outpouring of philanthropic support, OSU will be aided in advancing student progress to graduation, assisting students impacted by the pandemic and helping to serve the public.

Dam Proud Day, largely virtual this year, allowed donors to select from more than 70 funds across the university.
Our goal is to always have giraffes. We obviously have space for more than one, and giraffes are herd animals, but we would never have a large herd, Shurr said. But we will work with the AZA institutions that are part of the [Species Survival Program] who will hopefully help us figure out if theres going to be another individual available and when.
Gettysburg, PA (17325)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms this evening. Clouds lingering later. Low around 70F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Gillette, WY (82718)

Today

Mostly sunny. Hot. High 93F. SSE winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. Gusty winds diminishing after midnight. Low 64F. Winds SSE at 20 to 30 mph.
The tweaks are a small step forward for Democrats, who have said the legislation is a top priority while they hold Congress and the presidency. President Joe Biden has said the bill  which would create automatic voter registration nationwide, promote early voting, require more disclosure from political donors and restrict partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts, among other changes  would restore the soul of America by giving everyone equal access to the vote.
An earlier proposed class-action lawsuit in federal court on behalf of Whitehall Township resident Adam Akarsoy seeking medical monitoring for residents of the area was voluntarily withdrawn last year after B. Braun asked a judge to dismiss it for failing to make a case that he had been harmed. Lawyers for Akarsoy did not respond to inquiries about whether it would be refiled.
The 47th Vice President of the United States recently formally recognized the death of Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire as genocide:

Each year on this day, we remember the lives of all those who died in the Ottoman-era Armenian genocide and recommit ourselves to preventing such an atrocity from ever again occurring 

 Let us renew our shared resolve to prevent future atrocities from occurring anywhere in the world. And let us pursue healing and reconciliation for all the people of the world.

Heres what happened to nearly two million Armenians:

 Armenians in the area were blamed for siding with the Russians and the Young Turks began a campaign to portray the Armenians as a kind of fifth column, a threat to the state 

 A later law allowed the confiscation of abandoned Armenian property. Armenians were ordered to turn in any weapons that they owned to the authorities. Those in the army were disarmed and transferred into labor battalions where they were either killed or worked to death  .....
OPake successfully argued to Baldwin that since the crimes of strangulation and possession of a weapon each contained an element that third-degree murder did not, they did not legally merge into the homicide charge and, therefore, the judge could make the sentences for all three be consecutive to each other.
During a roundtable discussion, Rebecca Migdal, co-owner of Book and Puppet Co. in Easton, told the group how much more helpful the federal government has been during the pandemic than after the Sept. 11 attacks. Her business dried up following the terrorist attacks in 2001, and the economic assistance from the Small Business Administration then amounted to cab fare to help clear out her office. She described the relief of having adults in the room at the federal government.
CLAYTON - Margaret was born and lived in Clayton, N.J., her whole life. She was married to Fredrick Kiefer Jr. for 48 years until his passing. A loving and wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her son, Fredrick Kiefer III and his wife Barbara Kiefer; her d
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., joined at left by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, speaks during a news conference about the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 5, 2020.
Goshen, IN (46526)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 86F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

A few thunderstorms this evening. Mostly clear skies late. Low 66F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Its a common problem, its a national problem, not in only our state, but I think our state has exacerbated the problem by not reinstating the work-search requirement and with the federal government now giving more money to people collecting unemployment, theres not a huge incentive for them to go back, said Greg Moreland, executive director of Pennsylvanias NFIB chapter.
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The movieis a hard one to forget. Its often judged to be one of the great courtroom dramas of all time, even though the action isnt in a courtroom. It takes place in a cramped, sweltering jury chamber. Eleven of the 12 jurors are determined to send a teenage boy to the electric chair for stabbing his father to death. Only Henry Fonda, in the role of a stubborn and idealistic architect who sees flaws in the evidence, believes in the boys innocence. One by one, he convinces all 11 of his opponents to see it his way, including a bitter, irrational and hot-tempered Juror No. 3, who bizarrely links the defendant to his own estranged son. After ranting angrily against Fonda, this juror breaks down in tears, changes his vote and the boy goes free.Nearly everyone who watches this film comes away awed by the architects heroism, and also satisfied that the American jury system works as it was designed to. It may take time and some distasteful moments, but in the end justice wins out.Ive watched this movie more than once, and I react a little differently. I admire the architects courage and persistence, but I cant help reflecting on the enormity of the task the legal process has forced on him. He cant afford to lose a single vote. If Juror No. 3 had remained intransigent (which seems to me the more probable outcome in real life), the result would have been a hung jury, a new trial and very likely a conviction for murder. Does it really need to be unanimous? Is it possible that 10-2 or 11-1 might produce a larger number of fair results? Im not saying it would; Im just saying its not a totally crazy question.As all of us know, the American legal system rarely asks this question. It is based virtually everywhere on the principle that no one should be convicted of a felony without a unanimous verdict. Only two states, Louisiana and Oregon, permit juries to render decisions with 10 or 11 votes out of 12.By the end of this year, the number of renegade states will probably be down to one. In May, Louisiana state Sen. J.P. Morrell succeeded in winning legislative approval of a constitutional amendment that would ban 10-2 and 11-1 guilty verdicts and conform the state to the principle of unanimity. The voters seem likely to go along in November.To say that the amendment has a broad range of elite support is to understate the case. The states major media are all on board, andhas weighed in. Majority rule is good when it comes to the democratic process, theeditorialized recently, but its not enough when someones constitutional rights and liberty are at stake. Other prominent supporters of the change include not only the American Bar Association and liberal advocacy groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union but also the Koch brothers Americans for Prosperity and the Christian Family Forum at the other end of the ideological spectrum. The only organized opponents have been the states prosecuting attorneys.To understand why this broad-based coalition exists, all you have to do is glance at the history of the Louisiana jury system. The state government and legal establishment approved the use of split verdicts in 1898 because they feared the impact of African-American jurors empowered by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.The establishment made no bones about this. Some years earlier, the New Orleanshad declared that newly emancipated black citizens were wholly ignorant of the responsibilities of jurors, unable to discriminate between truth and falsehood in testimony, and capable only of being corrupted by bribes. If one or two African-Americans ended up on a jury, it would be necessary to outvote them. So the legislature decided to permit guilty verdicts of 9-3, 10-2 or 11-1. In 1974, the law was changed to make 10 votes the threshold.Critics of the existing law link it to the fact that Louisiana in recent years has had the highest incarceration rate in the United States. Its been estimated that about 2,000 convicts are currently serving life sentences in Louisiana prisons on the basis of split verdicts.Louisianas racist heritage is more than sufficient to explain its jury law. But whats Oregons reason? Thats an interesting story, too. Oregon began allowing guilty verdicts with 10 votes in 1934, after a Jewish defendant named Jacob Silverman was acquitted of first-degree murder and ultimately served only three years for manslaughter because one lone juror held out for him. This sounds like a 12 Angry Men situation, but it was nothing like that. Silvermans light sentence, in the wake of powerful circumstantial evidence against him, triggered a backlash toward Jews and immigrants and a statewide referendum that initiated split verdicts to dilute the influence of immigrant jurors.The only current difference between the Louisiana and Oregon rules is that Oregon doesnt permit split verdicts in murder cases. For all other felonies, it does. The Oregon law has been challenged in federal court numerous times, including last year in a petition to the Supreme Court, but without success. The court has declined to reconsider a 1972 ruling that split-verdict systems in state courts are constitutional.But how serious a problem are split-verdict systems? The origins of such laws are offensive, but they arent in themselves sufficient to discredit the practice. Louisiana is still far from being a paragon of social justice, but African-Americans are eligible to serve on juries in reasonable proportion to their presence in the population and to insist on fair treatment when they get there. The real argument against split-verdict juries is that they tend to marginalize dissenters of all colors and creeds, because their votes are not needed when they are one or two against 10 or 11.The Baton Rougehas done some excellent research on this point and taken powerful testimony. A juror in a kidnapping case said that no one told me it was a 10-2 state. There was no attempt to change my mind. It was over and I was like, I dont know what just happened here.The newspaper found that split verdicts were 30 percent more common in cases where the defendant was black. African-American jurors were more than twice as likely to be on the dissenting side of a split verdict as their white counterparts. For many critics of the system, these numbers alone suggest residual racism. Strictly speaking, however, they arent a smoking gun -- they dont prove that split verdicts are in themselves a miscarriage of justice.One reason its possible to question the sacred status of the unanimity requirement is that we are living in a time when notions of jury nullification are an unavoidable part of the legal system and the trial process. Nullification in American courts goes back to the 18th century, when the printer John Peter Zenger was acquitted in a landmark libel case because a jury found his published words to be true, even though the law expressly said truth was no defense. The jury found the law unjust.In the centuries since then, millions of words have been written on the topic of when jurors are entitled to dispense with the law in the interest of what they consider to be higher justice. Many commentators have said this is permissible when the law or the trial is blatantly discriminatory. But what if a juror isnt concerned with the facts of the case? What if she believes the entire legal system -- or the whole society -- is tainted by racism, sexism or a disregard for individual liberty? Does that mean she can refuse to consider the evidence and free a guilty defendant?Some very smart lawyers think so. Paul Butler, a professor at Georgetown University Law School, has been making this case for more than two decades. If [jurors] think that the police are treating African-Americans unfairly, by engaging in racial profiling or using excessive force, Butler wrote a few years ago, they dont have to convict, even if they think the defendant is guilty.The arguments for nullification have become louder in the past few years amid the growing distrust of police tactics. Nullification T-shirts are easy to purchase online. Any controversial criminal trial is likely to generate at least a few protesters proudly wearing them.Todays nullifiers may be reviving a long-standing tradition in American jurisprudence. But just one of them on a jury can block a defendants conviction even in the face of the strongest evidence. Orin Kerr, a law professor at the University of Southern California, raised this issue eloquently in 2015. The evidence can be overwhelming, Kerr wrote, and 11 of the jurors can believe fervently that a particular case is the most compelling prosecution ever brought. But a single juror, accountable to no one, can put the kibosh on the case based on his own vision of justice that may have no connection to anyone elses. We dont normally think of placing all the power in one unelected person who answers to no one as a democratically accountable approach.I dont expect that state courts in this country will ever go back to 10-2, or 11-1. We have made a decision for mandatory unanimous verdicts (unlike England or Scotland, incidentally) and that decision has broad public support, even in Louisiana. Im just suggesting that this issue, like virtually all issues in American jurisprudence, is a bit more complicated than it may seem at first.
Weather & Science Observer

Climatologists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations office of National Centers for Environmental Information are recalculating the nations Climate Normals covering the span of 1991-2020. This process occurs every 30 years.

It started in 1935 when the International Meteorological Organization, now called World Meteorological Organization, asked its nation members to calculate climate normals using a 30-year period, starting with 1901-1930.

For the first time, the update will also include 15-year Normals. This should meet the needs of those who want a period closer to current time. Along with the 15-year Normals, NOAA will release high resolution monthly Normals data for the contiguous United States. There will be new tools and methods to access these data sets.

Mike Palecki, project manager for NOAAs 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals said, NOAAs Normals are rather complicated sets of calculations, not just simple averages. These calculations fill in missing data using surrounding weather stations and ensure that daily Normals match monthly Normals. They also remedy discrepancies that might arise when stations change locations.

Some recent research in the world of volcanology may bring better warnings when a volcano is in the brink of erupting. Findings of research conducted by NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the University of Alaska show a new method could be used to predict a volcanic eruption.

The study reviewed and analyzed over 16 years of radiant heat data from instruments on board both the Terra and Aqua Satellites. They combed over data for many different types of volcanos that erupted during the past 20 years.

They found that both thermal and deformation time series mimicked one another. A co-author of the study, Paul Lundgren of the JPL stated, Using the new thermal method that detects changes in the surface temperature around volcanoes and the InSAR ground-surface deformation measurements helps enable volcano observatories around the word to identify which volcanoes are the most likely to erupt and which volcanoes should be instrumented for closer observations.

Here is the review of the weather data for the month of April. All data is derived from my home weather station. The low temperature for April 2021 was 24.5F on the 12th, while the high was 81.6 on the 18th. The mean temperature was 51.8. The all-time low for April was 20 back in 1936, and the all-time high was 92, also in 1936. The all-time mean is 49.9. Again, like the previous month, we were on the dry side of precipitation. I measured 0.28 inches for the month. The all-time mean is 0.86 inches, and the wettest April was 1948 with 2.31 inches.

For the months of June, July and August, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) is showing our region to have a 40-percent chance of above normal temperatures and a below normal precipitation. Also, it appears that in the Tropical Pacific, home to the La Nina and El Nino events, that a transition is occurring. Predictions are ENSO-neutral to continue at least through the Northern Hemisphere summer (ENSO - El Nino Southern Oscillation). These events in the Pacific can and have affected the weather patterns here in the Inland Northwest.

With a generally clear sky at night this time of year, its a good time to view the night stars and visible planets of our solar system. Our friends at EarthSky.com share this regarding what to look for when you view the night sky: Mars is the only visible planet out after nightfall. Youll find it descending in the west each evening in May 2021. Also watch for brilliant Venus and little Mercury low in the west, for a brief time after sunset. Bright Jupiter and ringed Saturn grace the morning sky. A full Moon will occur on May 26th and is the second and last Super Full Moon of the year. This full Moon is also known as the Flower Moon in many cultures.

Being able to see Mars after nightfall is good. If you have a really nice super telescope, maybe, just maybe, you can see the little helicopter called Ingenuity, on one of its test flights that NASA is conducting on Mars  maybe!
Grand Haven, MI (49417)

Today

Thunderstorms. High 81F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
The relocation of the Russian GP became semi-official late on Tuesday - before the information was quickly denied.

We reported last weekend that concrete plans are afoot to have the race moved to a new circuit in Leningrad Oblast, Igora Drive, after this year's Sochi event.

On social media, someone posted a question on the official account of the Russian federal territory Sirius - in whose jurisdiction sits the Sochi circuit.

"Formula 1 will be held in Sirius (Sochi) on September 23-26," came the official reply. "Next year, the event will take place in St Petersburg and then return to Sirius yet again a year later."

However, the official press service of the Sirius federal territory then denied the information.

"The information that the social media specialist gave in the comments was wrong," a spokesperson told Russia's Championat.

"These comments have already been removed so as not to mislead any more people."

(GMM)
Formula 1 has made it "very clear" that Barcelona's future on the annual calendar is not in doubt, according to Carlos Sainz.

Recently, when it emerged that Miami would finally be added to the schedule in 2022, rumours emerged that the race could be at the expense of the Spanish GP - whose organisers are yet to agree a new contract beyond this year.

However, Spanish F1 driver Carlos Sainz says he is not overly worried.

"I think you have to separate things - you have to separate the grand prix here with Formula 1's intention to compete abroad," he told El Mundo Deportivo newspaper.

"Formula 1 has made it clear to us drivers that the heart of F1 is still in Europe - the old-school circuits in places like Spa, Barcelona, Silverstone.

"They have made it very clear to us that they want to continue being there," the Ferrari driver added.

"The reasons why the Spanish GP has not yet reached an agreement to stay on the calendar is a separate issue," Sainz insisted.

"It is clear to me, and the bosses have made it clear to me, that the heart of F1 is in Europe and a large part of the races will continue to be in Europe."

(GMM)
The Connecticut Post said Claudio-Diaz and the woman met through an online dating site. On Monday, he allegedly came to her house in Bethlehem and threatened to kill her if she didnt come with him. He took her to a motel and sexually assaulted her before forcing her into the car and heading north, the paper said, citing Connecticut State Police.
When asked by police if he looked at child porn on his computer, Wests face turned bright red and, while nodding his head yes, he answered, no  yes  no, Im not into child porn,  police said. Police asked what no, yes, no meant and West maintained hes not into child porn.
Gwozdz has been a Washington Township police officer for over 11 years, during which time he served as chief of the part-time Roseto Police Department for seven years. He has been on administrative leave with pay since the charges, and retired from the Roseto job.
Electrify America plans to invest $200 million in California Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) infrastructure and education programs over the next 30 months. This represents the third of four investment phases as part of its 10-year commitment of $800 million in the state. Additionally, the company will direct $25 million of the $200 million investment for an initiative in the City of Long Beach and the Wilmington neighborhood of Los Angeles (Long Beach-Wilmington), for a Green City program.

This initiative will have a specific focus on charging station investments for electric transit buses and medium- / heavy-duty trucks located in or serving the community.

Following the success and key learnings of building EV infrastructure from its previous $400 million investment in California over the last five years, Electrify America will focus the $200 million across three main categories: Infrastructure; Public Education, Awareness, Access & Marketing; and Green Cities. Additionally, Electrify America will strive to ensure that 35% of the investment is in low-income and disadvantaged communities, as guided by California Air Resources Board (CARB).





Cycle 3 California investments. Source: Electrify America

The California ZEV Investment Plan provides ultra-fast charging in more metro areas, and strengthens highway and regional charge routes while providing charging infrastructure and solutions for medium- and heavy-duty fleets. Approximately 90% of Californians now live within 15 miles of an Electrify America ultra-fast charger, with 96% living within 25 miles.

In addition to infrastructure, the investment will continue broad brand-neutral ZEV education and awareness efforts, and development of the second Green City program in the Long Beach-Wilmington community. Electrify America will begin implementation upon approval by CARB, and continue these investments through 30 June 2024.

Green City Investment: - $25 Million in Long Beach-Wilmington. One key part of the California plan is the $25 million investment in a Green City program in the Long Beach-Wilmington community, home to the nations busiest port complex and served by a fleet of more than 18,000 drayage trucks.





Building on Electrify Americas first successful Green City program in Sacramento, the company will work with Long Beach and Los Angeles city officials and fleet operators to implement projects focused on charging transit and heavy-duty electric vehicles, showcasing ultra-fast charging technology, energy storage and renewables and energy management for these two emerging use cases.

Efforts will focus on tackling medium- and heavy-duty emissions in a predominantly disadvantaged and low-income community, which is classified as an extreme non-attainment area under the Clean Air Act (64% of Long Beach/Wilmington community is classified as low-income and disadvantaged by the California Air Resources Board.)

Electrify America conducted a detailed and quantitative evaluation to determine where to focus Green City investments that would meet the greatest needs and most positively impact the host community. Insights from this analysis revealed that CARBs zero emission truck mandate, approved in June 2020, and CARBs Innovative Clean Transit Regulation, adopted in 2018, have spurred a significant, and serious new effort by fleet operators to electrify fleets. Working with that framework, Electrify America recognized the strong need for transit and heavy-duty truck charging solutions as part of this investment.

Electrify America will work within the greater Los Angeles region to identify additional opportunities to enhance charging infrastructure and technology, specifically for business fleets and larger scale operational efforts, a key growth area for the industry and a major contributor to emissions.

Additionally, Electrify America will focus resources on regional shipping as an opportunity to help encourage the electrification of equipment and vehicles to reduce emissions. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are breaking cargo records for the last seven months, with shipping volumes up 46% and 43% respectively, year-over-year.

Highlights of Californias Third ZEV Investment Plan. The central focus of electric vehicle charging infrastructure investment will focus on building strategically-placed charging stations in many of Electrify Americas existing metro areas, where electric vehicle (EV) drivers are expected to charge most often. DC Fast Charging stations will be placed in retail locations, but will also consider the needs of adjacent multi-unit dwellings, where Level 2 (L2) residential charging deployment is oftentimes challenging. In addition to existing metro investments, Electrify America will invest in five new metro areas:

Bakersfield

Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura

Santa Maria-Santa Barbara

Stockton

Visalia

Existing metro area investments to be expanded are:

Fresno

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario

San Diego-Carlsbad

San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara

Additional Investment Plan focus areas include:

Highways & Regional Routes: The new investment will expand highway network DC Fast Charging stations, featuring charging power up to 350 kilowatts for capable vehicles, adding density along major routes and investing in regionally significant routes to new destinations including Joshua Tree National Park.

Transit and Medium-Duty/Heavy-Duty Fleet Charging: Both the transit and medium/heavy-duty sectors are poised for significant growth over the coming decade. Electrify America is investing in infrastructure to support these emerging, but transformational, technologies.

Hardware Development and Capacity Building: Electrify America plans to invest in new tools and techniques, such as site-level energy management and energy modeling, to drive down both capital and operating costs, and ensure a fast, reliable, and customer-centric experience at all of our stations.

Rural Investments: As part of the plan, the company will build off its more than $81 million investment to date in rural parts of the state, including the Central Valley, where Electrify America has built more stations to date than any other charging provider.

Renewable Generation: Consistent with Californias broader air quality goals, Electrify America will invest in renewable generation for select stations as site-level energy management tools to help to reduce station operating costs and reduce the carbon consumption for EV recharging.

Brand Neutral Education and Awareness: Electrify America plans to drive increased ZEV education and awareness through educational marketing, ride and drives and other experiential marketing, bringing messaging directly to consumers through social media and other marketing channels.

Sponsoring and Supporting ZEV Education and Training Efforts of Others: Electrify America will continue investing to collaborate with local organizations working specifically within Californias low-income and disadvantaged communities to increase ZEV adoption, building on the more than $6 million of support for local organizations to date. Electrify America will also continue to sponsor the effective brand-neutral education, awareness, and workforce training efforts of other organizations, continuing our past support for the great work of organizations such as Veloz, EV Noire, Plug In America and the LA Cleantech Incubator.

This California ZEV Investment Plan benefited from collaboration with the California Air Resources Board and Staff and a comprehensive national outreach period, during which Electrify America evaluated more than 14 California communities and more than 160 submissions offering input on potential ZEV initiatives. The company held virtual community meetings across California focused on local government and community-based organizations, and engaged with Californias leading academics to ensure an effective, equitable and efficient plan to significantly increase broad electric vehicle adoption in the state.
Authorities call Mull, of Lower Saucon Township, a serial predator who created victims starting when he was 13 years old. In December 2018, he was convicted of rape, kidnapping and human trafficking after a trial in which four women testified he viciously assaulted them at hotels in the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia.
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A sleeping bag and Christmas lights enveloped the body, which was surrounded by a shrine. Glittery makeup encircled the eyes. Parts of the corpse were mummified, with the moisture naturally drained from the skin and bones.

That was the scene a Colorado sheriff's officer found last month upon arriving at a low-slung blue home where a man reported that he had discovered a woman dead. Officials said they believe the woman to be Amy Carlson, leader of the obscure religious group Love Has Won, but have not yet confirmed her identity.

Seven suspected group members have been taken into custody and accused of mishandling the corpse.

The deterioration of Carlson's body suggests she may have been dead long before she was found, said Saguache County Coroner Tom Perrin. Although an autopsy is pending, Sheriff Dan Warwick said there is no evidence of foul play.

Carlson's family said the woman they remember as bright and popular made mistakes - including abandoning her children and drinking too much - but never should have met such a tragic end.

"Even though she wasn't innocent in all this," said her sister, Chelsea Renninger, "she didn't deserve to die the way she did."

Carlson's death, first reported by the Guru Magazine, is the latest in a long line of cult leaders who have died prematurely. David Koresh, a self-proclaimed second Messiah who led the Branch Davidian cult, died after a 51-day standoff with law enforcement in 1993. Japanese officials executed Shoko Asahara, who ran a doomsday cult that attacked the Tokyo subway in 1995. Jim Jones led hundreds of members of the Peoples Temple in a mass suicide in 1978.

Members of Love Has Won looked to Carlson, whom they called "Mother God," as their spiritual leader. Carlson maintained that she was a divinity who had lived 534 lives, including as Jesus Christ and Marilyn Monroe. She claimed that she could heal people of cancer and described her group as a "paradigm" for bringing peace to Earth.

The Saguache County Sheriff's Office said it had received complaints from families across the country alleging that the group was brainwashing people and stealing from them. Law enforcement and former members have described the organization, which did not respond to an interview request, as a cult.

Carlson's death came to light after Miguel Lamboy walked into a police station to report a corpse in his home, according to an arrest warrant. Lamboy, allegedly a member of Love Has Won, identified the dead woman to police as Lia Carlson, 45. Renninger said she believes some of Carlson's acquaintances called her Lia.

Lamboy told police that on April 27 he returned to his home in rural Moffat, about 80 miles southeast of Colorado Springs, to find five people who said they needed a place to stay. After Lamboy left and came back to his home the next day, he said he saw Carlson's body.

Her eyes were missing, and her teeth showed through her lips, Lamboy told police. Lamboy said he tried to take his son and leave the house, but the other people there would not let him out with the child. That's when Lamboy drove to the Salida police station, he told officers.

Acting on a search warrant, a county sheriff's officer went to Lamboy's home. There, he found Lamboy's 2-year-old son and the 13-year-old daughter of one of the people at the house, both uninjured.

The sheriff's officer also saw a Nissan SUV, which Lamboy told police he believes the group used to transport Carlson's body from California. The back passenger seat was laid down as if a corpse had been placed on it, the arrest warrant says.

Jason Castillo, 45, John Robertson, 32, Obdulia Franco, 52, and Ryan Kramer, 30, are charged with tampering of deceased human remains and child abuse, Warwick said Tuesday. Christopher Royer and Sarah Rudolph, both 35, face charges of abuse of a corpse and child abuse. Karin Raymond, 47, is charged with abuse of a corpse, child abuse and false imprisonment.

The county's social services department took the 13-year-old girl into custody, and Lamboy's son was returned to him.

Over the weekend, Love Has Won posted a statement and a video to the group's now-deleted Facebook page acknowledging that Carlson had "ascended." The organization's website is no longer accessible.

Perrin, the coroner, said the body believed to be Carlson was so decomposed that he was not able to take fingerprints to make an identification. He said he hopes to use dental records but may have to resort to DNA.

The condition of the corpse made Perrin think Carlson may have been dead for a month or longer when she was found, he said. Carlson's mother, Linda Haythorne, said a friend of her daughter had seen her alive in California on April 10.

Carlson's family said she grew up in Dallas as a straight-A student who had a lot of friends and a beautiful singing voice. But sometime in early adulthood, Renninger said her sister started lurking in unusual corners of the Internet. Periodically, she would leave home to meet someone and come back talking about outlandish concepts, such as starships.

About 13 years ago, Renninger said, Carlson left her daughter and two sons permanently. Most of her family members never saw her again, although they said they kept in touch with her and unsuccessfully tried many times to get her to seek help.

The family went on the CBS talk show "Dr. Phil" in September in a desperate attempt to reach Carlson emotionally, but she remained at the helm of Love Has Won.

The last time the sisters video chatted, Renninger said she talked with Carlson about their family and reminded her that she could always come home. Carlson started to become emotional, Renninger said, and then looked at someone outside the camera frame and changed the conversation's direction.

Carlson's family said although they hold her responsible for leading the cult, they also feel that its members abandoned her at the end of her life. Haythorne added that she believes her daughter was brainwashed by others long before she became a cult leader herself.

"She was a victim in the beginning," Haythorne said. "And then it just developed over time."
HTC might be manufacturing very few smartphones these days, but the Taiwanese company is still going strong in the VR department. It will hold Vivecon on May 11-12 and at the event we expect to see two new VR headsets.

One will be a new standalone device called Vive Focus 3 Business Edition, while the other is likely to be the Vive Pro 2 - a high-end PC headset.

Set your expectations accordingly  pic.twitter.com/fh1dbPsyBF  Mike - VRO (@vr_oasis) May 4, 2021

The event, taking place virtually, has been teased with some hardware photos on social media. One image revealed a black device with outward-facing tracking cameras, under which HTC wrote Ready to work in virtual reality?. There might not be details about the device, but it clearly will be an enterprise device.

According to sources, the Focus 3 Business Edition has been listed in company documents with a price tag of 1,474/$1,771. The Pro 2 will definitely be cheaper - just 842/$1,012. Sadly, there are no specifications about any of the devices, but well hear more at Vivecon in just a weeks time.

Via
The premium Android tablet range for the past few years has been limited to say the least with Samsung and Huawei being the only viable options. According to new info uncovered in MIUI 12.5 system apps by Xiaomi tipster kacskrz and the XiaomiUI Telegram group, were in for at least three premium Snapdragon 8-series powered Xiaomi tablets.

The new info shows a hidden system navigation page for tablets inside MIUI Home alpha build. The source code reveals three distinct devices with the nabu, enuma and elish codenames.



Hidden system navigation page for tablets in MIUI Home (Credit: kacskrz)

Based on further research from tipster kacskrz, enumas model number ends in K81 while elish ends in K81A suggesting the two could be different variations of the same device. The former also appears to support voice calls which hints it will likely offer LTE or 5G connectivity.

The third device in the group  nabu has a model number ending in K82 which hints its an entirely different product. All three tablets are said to offer 25601600 pixel IPS LCDs with 120Hz refresh rates and 16:10 aspect ratios. The leaks claim nabu will come with a 10.97-inch diagonal.

Its also hinted that nabu will be powered by Qualcomms sm8150 platform which leaves the possibility of Snapdragon 855, 855+ or 860 chipsets. The other two tablets are said to feature the sm8250 platform which corresponds to the Snapdragon 865, 865+ and 870 SoCs.

Via
Batesville, AR (72501)

Today

Cloudy skies this morning followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High around 85F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, with mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
A recent article in The Morning Call presents an unfair account of Dana Grubb. The article hyperlinks to a previous article, noting that Mr. Grubb was forced to retire after fighting with another employee in City Hall. This is incomplete. Mr. Grubb did not start the altercation. One punch was thrown, fracturing Mr. Grubbs nose. Both parties were held accountable and resigned.
The Southern Way (lots of sugar)

The Yankee Way (no sugar or sweetener)

The Arnold Palmer (lemonade added)

Plantation Iced Tea (with fruit)

Half sweet and half unsweet mixed together.

Unsweet with a no calorie sweetener.

With fruit garnishment such as a lemon or lime.

I drink my iced tea in different way than listed here.

I don't drink iced tea.

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Haiti - Petit-Goave : After Bloody Friday the police go into action





Monday, 3 days after the "Bloody Friday" of street Benoit https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33621-haiti-insecurity-bloody-friday-evening-in-petit-goave.html a police operation in the near of Vallue crossroads (12th communal section of Petit-Goave) allowed to arrest around 10:00 am the alleged local Gang Leader Julio alias "Zo Poul".



Tuesday, May 4 around 7:00 am, a second police operation was carried out during which a woman named Victoria was arrested, accused of being a "manman baz" and of complicity with bandits active in street Benoit. During this eventful arrest, the woman was shot and taken to the Notre Dame Hospital by the police.



According to a hospital source, the victim's condition is very critical, she lost a lot of blood and her prognosis was threatened.



HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondent Petit-Goave)






















Haiti - Social : Mass arrival in French Guiana of Haitian asylum seekers





143 people of Haitian origin including unaccompanied minors, provided with a Covid test of less than 72 hours, presented themselves in Saint-Laurent du Maroni, a town on the border with French Guiana and were authorized to cross the Iracoubo road checkpoint (Covid control) in order to reach the Cayenne asylum seekers reception platform within a maximum of 48 hours



In a press release from the prefecture qualifies these Haitian nationals seeking asylum from Suriname as "mass arrival". This sudden migratory flow was caused by the arrival of 6 charter flights in Suriname totaling 600 Haitian passengers on tourist visas. The Prefecture recalls the will of the French State to "fight against illegal immigration, its abuses and its drifts" and underlines "beyond the individual administrative treatment of asylum seekers, whose deadline has been reduced to two months [...] Investigations are being carried out both in France and also in Suriname, in order to determine the possible existence of criminal networks specializing in human trafficking."



Note that following this massive and abnormal arrival of Haitians in two weeks, President Santokhi suspended all flights from Haiti until further notice related to the results of an ongoing investigation...



At the origin of this sudden flow of migrants is a Haitian businessman residing in Suriname Jean Mixon aka "Saya". If he recognizes the involvement of his Foundation "Team Haiti Foundation" he denies being involved in human trafficking explaining "I help my compatriots and I organize charter flights, but I am not involved. in human trafficking [...] What they do next is not my problem. If France doesn't want them, they can send them back. You cannot hold me responsible for what they do. If you go on vacation to the Netherlands, your travel agent won't be held responsible if you visit another country, right ?"



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33614-haiti-flash-suriname-suspends-all-flights-from-haiti.html



S/ HaitiLibre


















Romney, WV (26757)

Today

Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. High 79F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Chance of an isolated thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
By William Schwartz | Published on 2021/05/04

A recent interview with director Sim Na-yeon of "Beyond Evil" teased the possibility of a second season. The serial killer drama had drawn much acclaim for its serious portrayal of a long-term murder investigation, filtered with more standalone episodic elements. According to Sim Na-yeon, this was thanks to strong teamwork with screenwriter Kim Soo-jin-V, with whom she worked to make the drama. Sim Na-yeon described the process as fun, wondering if it could be replicated for a second season.

Buzz for a second season began after "Beyond Evil" ended on April 11th, and the drama was added to Netflix. "Beyond Evil" has done quite well on the platform despite being already finished. As of May 3rd it was still the second most popular drama in the South Korean region behind "Vincenzo" in first place. According to Sim Na-yeon, the story already had a seasonal structure. The director claimed that episodes one through eight were conceived as distinct from episodes nine through sixteen.

When asked to explain the success of her own drama, Sim Na-yeon stated that she considered the distinctly South Korean thriller elements to be a fairly significant enticement. "Beyond Evil" has been compared to "Memories of Murder" as well as to work from legendary director Bong Joon-ho. Sim Na-yeon quantified at least part of this genre distinction as being concerned with social messaging and commentary.

Sim Na-yeon was also not an obvious fit for such a project. Her previous works included such dramas as "Fantastic" and "A Midsummer's Memory" which were relatively social dramas by comparison. Sim Na-yeon herself claimed to have no confidence in her ability to adapt the story, but after reading the script became fascinated thinking about how she could make the story play out on screen. Sim Na-yeon also mentioned reviewing "Secret Forest" and "Signal" for ideas on what to do.

Compared to her previous work, Sim Na-yeon claims to have taken far more takes in an effort to get filming done just right, and that as a result the shooting process felt longer. Sim Na-yeon has no currently announced projects, but has said she's interested in doing any genre provided it has an interesting story. "Beyond Evil" ended on April 11th with ratings of 6%.

Written by William Schwartz
Published on 2021/05/04 | Source

Actor Kim Nam-gil is considering "Those Who Read the Mind of Evil".

According to his agency, "Those Who Read the Mind of Evil" is one of numerous offers he's considering at the moment.

"Those Who Read the Mind of Evil" is a crime thriller drama based on a web novel of the same name that contains the field experience of Kwon Il-yong, Korea's No. 1 profiler. Kim Nam-gil is said to have been proposed to play a profiler in the criminal behavior analysis team of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

Meanwhile, Kim Nam-gil has confirmed starring in the OCN drama "Island - Drama" and "Those Who Read the Mind of Evil" is being talked about being organized in SBS.
Korean Movie | 2010

 Omnibus  Drama

Directed by  Isao Yukisada ()  Jang Joon-hwan ()  Wisit Sasanatieng ( )

Written by

138min | Release date in South Korea: 2011/11/01

"Camellia" was formerly known as the "Busan Project".

"Kamome" segment is directed by the Japanese director Isao Yukisada

"Iron Pussy" segment is directed by the Korean director Jang Joon-hwan

"Love For Sale" segment is directed by the Thai director Wisit Sasanatieng



A feature film set in Busan involving Korea, Thailand, and Japan. Thailand's Wisit Sasanatieng, Japan's Yukisada Isao, and Korea's Jang Joon-hwan are directing.



Segment - 'Iron Pussy'. Set in the 1970s. A man dressed as a woman enters Busan as a secret spy from Thailand. He falls in love with an unidentified Korean man.



Segment - 'Kamome'. Set in 2010. The title means 'seagull' in Japanese. A fantasy melodrama about a movie director and a young woman who transcend space and time like a mirage.



Segment - 'Love for Sale'. Set in the near future in Busan. A story of lovers who forget about each other and fall into fatal love.



Synopsis

The film is composed of three different love stories: "Love for Sale" (JANG Joon-hwan), "Kamome" (YUKISADA Isao) and "Iron Pussy" (Wisit SASANATIENG). "Love for Sale", set in the future world where romantic memories can be easily traded for money, talks about a romanticist couple who was once obsessed with love, but learns how to let it go. "Kamome" is about a Korean cinematographer who accidentally meets and falls in love with an angel-like Japanese woman named Kamome amidst a troublesome film shoot. And "Iron Pussy" is a Thai drag queen who comes to Busan in the 1970s as a secret agent, and who becomes romantically involved with anonymous Korean man.

Source
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Hannibal, MO (63401)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 87F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable.
PRESS RELEASE

12500 N.E. Tenth Place  Bellevue, WA 98005  JPFO.org  800-869-1884  info@jpfo.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  May 5, 2021  Contact: Floyd Neeland

Birds of a feather DO flock together

Does "Positive Racism" Exist in America?

Schools are trying to "unlearn" racism, is that even possible?

Blacks LIKE each others' company, so do Jewsand that's OK.

Enforced diversity is a bad plan. Inclusion must be voluntary. Leftism is inherently flawed.

"The people charging racism typically are the racists, and evil."

While leftists (also formerly known as socialists, communists or generically Marxists) try to disarm Americans, the goal is to coalesce power solely into the hands of government, so it can enforce its will on the public. They want people with gunsarmed government agentsempowered "by law" to take your guns. That is not law, that is tyrannybrute force used against liberty. They charge "racism" as a ruse to justify disarming peaceful innocent people who have done nothing wrong. The president frontally assaulted the Second Amendment while saying he wasn't, and legacy media basically cheered, confirming their status as corrupted sycophants. This is the nature of our battle. Democrats have lost The American Way. Our public is armed to prevent rule by a powerful central government. We Jews know better than anyone what happens when power is allowed to gather in the halls of the elites. Been there, done that. Disarming the public is specifically banned here. It is why we are the great magnet to the world's oppressed massesour public remains fully armed. Traditional Marxist class war, widely recognized as an abominable failure, even by the intellectual class, has morphed into race war at the hands of clever activist progressive socialists. Using concocted ideologies like inclusion, diversity, equity and other enforced anti-social tools, incessant brainwash detergent is convincing people that anything Democrats hate is racist and bad. This is false. All Black dance clubs, Irish-named bars, White-dominated country music, these are fine, even if legacy media says otherwise. "The people charging racism are the racists," leading experts affirm. #####

Support JPFO, speaking truth to power https://store.jpfo.org/11-donations

Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, http://www.jpfo.org is Americas most aggressive civil-rights organization, dedicated to destroying the notion of 'gun control' as any kind of credible public-policy position. So-called 'gun control' does not control guns and doesnt control criminal behavior. What it does is disarm the innocent, leaving them helpless in the face of criminals, tyrannical governments and genocide. History repeatedly proves this fact. Founded in 1989 by Aaron Zelman as a response to the Holocaust, JPFO speaks with the moral authority and tenacious commitment of survivors of persecution, and knows that surrendering your personal and family safety to government protection courts disaster. You dont have to be Jewish to fight by our side, you just have to love liberty.
A Senate panel voted Wednesday to give themselves and their colleagues a big increase in their allowance  and do it as soon as possible.

You voted:
A series of farmers and flea market events in Chinook kick off Saturday, May 8, at the Blaine County Fairgrounds.

The Chinook Farmer & Flea markets Facebook group says it is a market for home-made crafts, farm produce, rummage items, food carts, and more.

The cost to be a vendor is $20 per table or booth per day whether indoor or outdoor. Interested vendors can visit https://blainecountyfair.net and fill out a vendor form. Interested vendors can email their form to [email protected] or send it to Blaine County Fair Farmer & Flea Market at P.O. Box 1207, Chinook MT, 59523.

If its too late to mail your form, just bring it with your $20 check to the market on Saturday and well squeeze you in if theres room. Or, call Debbie Ramberg at 945-3841 to let her know you want a booth, Facebook group administrator Chad McKenzie said in a group post on Tuesday.

Neither McKenzie or Ramberg could be reached by phone or online messaging for comment by publication deadline.

The market will be in operation the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m through October. For the full list of current vendors, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/429036825214372/permalink/478833810234673 .

An inflatable bouncy house will be available for young patrons as well as performances of live music for everyone.
COVID back in the schools

With the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the area again going up and the rate of COVID-19 vaccinations staying low, officials are urging people to take action.

"I am concerned that we are not getting more people vaccinated," Hill County Health Officer Kim Berg said. "We need to get more people protected to slow the number of cases in our community and across the state. I am nervous that we will begin to see a larger surge if we, as a community, do not continue to take this virus seriously and do our part to protect ourselves and those around us."

Officials have said that the number of people vaccinated is probably keeping the number of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths lower than it would be otherwise, but those numbers still are far too high.

People are urged to continue to take action to reduce the spread of COVID-19, wearing masks when around unvaccinated people, avoiding large gatherings, regularly washing their hands and cleaning and sanitizing surfaces.

But the only way to get back close to normal is for more people to get vaccinated, officials say.

Numbers going back up

Restrictions have been relaxed around the state with some of the first actions Gov. Greg Gianforte took when he assumed office were rescinding restrictions put in place by his predecessor and requirements in Hill County relaxed as well.

Numbers of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths had dropped significantly in the first part of this year, but numbers around the state are moving upward again.

April 1, Blaine, Chouteau, Hill and Liberty counties had no confirmed active cases of the disease.

By this morning, 36 confirmed cases were listed in the counties, with only Liberty County still reporting none active.

The county health departments reported Tuesday evening 23 active cases with one active hospitalization in Blaine County and 10 active cases with one active hospitalization in Hill County.

The state tracking map this morning reported three active cases in Chouteau County.

And the surge has slowed further relaxation of rules. Fort Belknap Indian Community, which went into lockdown mode last year and still has restrictions, announced Friday that planned moving to Phase 2 of its reopening plan would not be in the best interests of residents due to the surge and the reservation would remain in Phase 1 for at least another 30 days.

The tribal council adopted the Fort Belknap Incident Command recommendations including keeping a 10 p.m. curfew in effect, an alcohol ban continuing, requiring wearing masks and social distancing, and any people planning an event must submit a safety plan for approval.

If the number of cases increase significantly, the reservation may move back to a shutdown, the resolution says.

And Berg said the number of actual cases in the region may be higher, with the rate of testing down.

"I do believe that testing is low," she said. "It is around the state and country as well."

Vaccination rates down

And the rates of vaccination for COVID-19 are low as well, in this region and also around the country.

States and counties in the United States had started reducing the amount of vaccine they were requesting as the demand dropped, and the federal government just announced it is moving to shift doses from states with lower demand to regions with higher demand, rather than continuing to base allocations on population.

Hill County has stopped its weekly vaccination clinics and now is going to schedule people for shots the third Tuesday of each month, while other entities in Hill County are also offering vaccinations, as are health departments in Blaine, Chouteau and Liberty counties and on Rocky Boy's and Fort Belknap Indian reservations.

The vaccinations were in great demand as the vaccines were approved and distributed at the start of the year, but that has dropped significantly.

In Hill County, the state tracking map update this week showed Hill County with 5,865 of the 12,328 eligible having received shots, with 4,621 fully vaccinated.

That is up 227 people receiving shots from last week's update and up 366 for full vaccinations, leaving 6,463 eligible residents still needing a vaccination.

Blaine County is listed as having 1,940 of its 4,910 eligible residents fully vaccinated with a total of 2,499 having received any shot, while Chouteau County has 1,372 of its 4,545 eligible residents fully vaccinated with a total of 1,635 residents having received any shot.

Liberty County is listed as having 590 of its 1,917 eligible residents fully vaccinated with 626 having received at least one shot.

Officials hope numbers will go up as the eligible ages lowers, with U.S. Food and Drug Administration expected to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for youths 12 and older and the White House developing plans to vaccinate them.

Local officials are urging people to get the vaccination as confirmed numbers of cases go back up.

Officials also are warning that as long as the virus continues to circulate, the chance increases that the virus will mutate into more dangerous variations.

More young people infected, variants part of surge

And much of the surge going on in Montana and the rest of the country is of variants like the B.1.1.7 variant that developed in Europe, variants first detected in South Africa and Brazil and in California and New York.

And the surge now is focused on people younger than the main populations in the earlier part of the pandemic.

Kaiser Health News reported that doctors are seeing a demographic shift with young and middle-aged adults making up more and more of the COVID-19 patients in hospitals rather than the elderly.

Part of that is because the vast majority of the 32 percent of U.S. residents who are vaccinated are older than 65, Kaiser Health News reports.

Especially with the variants spreading in the U.S., while younger people still are less likely to die from COVID-19, they can become seriously ill and can have long-term problems, the report adds. People with underlying conditions also are more likely to become seriously ill.

And the local numbers back up the shift to younger people.

In Hill County, recent confirmed cases included three who were age zero to 10, three teens, one in their 20s, one in their 30s, three in their 40s, one in their 50s and one in their 80s.

The Fort Belknap resolution adopting the Fort Belknap Incident Command recommendations to stay in Phase 1 of its reopening plan also said a large number of people affected in the latest surge are children who cannot be vaccinated as yet.

And the spread is back in Havre Public Schools. Superintendent Craig Mueller issued a release Monday afternoon saying three new cases associated with the schools were confirmed, with eight people quarantined. Contact tracing had been completed in one case and was ongoing in another Monday, with another case not requiring contact tracing, the release said.

"It is imperative that face coverings continue to be worn when social/physical distancing of at least three feet cannot be maintained, such as during passing times or in common areas," Mueller said in the release, adding "At least two individuals associated with the district did not have to be quarantined because they were fully vaccinated and are asymptomatic. Thank you for all of your diligence during this difficult time."

Vaccine availability

Many opportunities in the area exist for vaccinations, with all three approved vaccines available.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the only one approved for 16- and 17-year-olds and expected to be approved for youths 12 and up, requires two shots, as does the Moderna vaccine.

The Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine only requires one shot.

The Rocky Boy Clinic, which has the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine approved in the U.S. for people 16 and older, is offering vaccinations to anyone Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with people needing to call 406-395-1655 to schedule an appointment.

The clinic also is taking a mobile clinic to areas on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation Tuesdays and Thursdays and is holding a drive-through clinic Friday, May 21, at the clinic parking lot starting at 11 a.m.

In Havre, Hill County Health Department is taking calls at 406-400-2415 to schedule appointments for the third Tuesdays of the month starting May 18 for Moderna vaccinations, and other locations also have vaccine available.

Bullhook Community Health Center is taking walk-in vaccinations with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at its pharmacy, and is taking calls at 406-395-4305 to schedule appointments for Moderna vaccinations.

Gary & Leo's Health Mart is taking walk-ins during pharmacy hours for Johnson & Johnson vaccinations, and Western Drug Pharmacy is taking Johnson & Johnson vaccination walk-ins for this week, and is taking calls at 406-265-9601 to schedule Johnson & Johnson and Moderna vaccinations after this week.

Walmart asks people to log into http://walmart.com/covidvaccine to schedule a vaccination.

Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines also are available at the Chouteau County Health Deparatment, 406-622-3771, and at Big Sandy Pharmacy, 406-622-5588. People need to call and get signed up at each facility in order to get a vaccine.

In Liberty County, people can call 406-759-5517 to schedule an appointment for a Johnson & Johnson or Moderna vaccination, and if enough people sign up, could get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for shots.

Blaine County Health Department is holding walk-in clinics Wednesday, May 12, and Thursday, May 20, with all three vaccine varieties, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson, from 3-7 p.m. at the Commercial Building at the Blaine County Fairgrounds in Chinook. People with questions can call 406-357-2345.

A post on the Fort Belknap Indian Community Facebook page listing two new cases confirmed on the reservation says COVID-19 vaccinations are available to the general public, 16 and older. People can call 406-353-3219 to schedule an appointment and walk-ins are welcome, the post says.
Two Fort Harrison, one Billings Nurse, recognized by Montana VA Health Care System for extraordinary care

From Montana VA Health Care System

The Montana VA Health Care System honored two outstanding nurses who are assigned to the Fort Harrison VA Medical Center in Helena and another at Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow VA Clinic in the Billings VA Clinics with recent Daisy Award recognition.

The Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses recognizes individual nurses and clinical teams throughout the year for their extraordinary, compassionate care. More than 4,500 health care facilities and nursing schools across the United States as well as 27 other countries participate in every year.

I am very grateful for the outstanding nurses we have serving our veterans, MTVAHCS Executive Director Dr. Judy Hayman said. Especially during a pandemic, when the need for exceptional nurses is more important than ever.

She added that she is proud of the recipients, saying they are not only a testament to their professionalism and dedication, but they also highlight the tremendous nurses in the Montana VA Health Care System.

This award validates what we already know; they are some of the best nurses in the world, Hayman said.

Elizabeth Liz Estes, a registered nurse at the Fort Harrison VA Medical Center, received the nomination for her attentive care of a patient going into an operating room. During the patients visit, Estes was one of the RNs taking care of surgical preparation. She patiently and methodically went over all the processes with the patient and explained every step, even covering what was currently happening, what to expect and why each step was important. Her calm and attentive presence to the patients needs set them at ease. Additionally, on subsequent visits after the surgery, Estes took the time to discuss the patients progress to ensure they were healing, getting the care they need and making the patient feel that she truly cares. Estes was nominated by the patient she cared for.

Susan Geubtner, a registered nurse and the Associate Chief Nurse for Outpatient Services at the Fort Harrison VA Medical Center, received the Daisy nomination by filling in for another nurse at a different location during an emergency. While her primary role is a nurse leader at Montana VA, when an outlying clinic was short-staffed due to a nurses family emergency, Geubtner drove more than 75 miles to fill in. Arriving early before the clinic opened, she spent all day providing personal, high-quality care to veterans during a busy clinic day. Her hands-on experience and professionalism gave both veterans and clinic staff a sense of ease. After the clinic closed, Geubtner drove back to Helena to continue the duties of her primary position. Her personal dedication, devotion and compassion for Montana veterans and her fellow medical staff, despite any personal sacrifices, inspired her nomination by a fellow nurse.

Rosemary Cook, a Licensed Practical Nurse at Medicine Crow Clinic at the Billings VA Clinics received the award for the care she provided to a patient with dementia. The veteran she cared for has dementia but is still very aware. During his appointment he told Rosemary, I am here. You can talk to me. The veterans spouse, who is also his caregiver, nominated Cook for the kindness, patience and dignity she showed her patient as she spoke with him and answered his questions and concerns, despite the challenges of dementia.

In order to receive the Daisy Award, each nurse had to first be nominated. Nurses can be nominated by anyone in their organization including patients, family members, fellow nurses, physicians and other staff members.

The nature of this award speaks volumes about the quality and professionalism of these nurses, Hayman said.  To be nominated by those impacted most by their care is a real testament to these nurses and what they provide to Montanas Veterans.

The Montana VA Health Care System serves more than 47,000 enrolled veterans across Montana  an area roughly 147,000 square miles in size. Veterans are cared for by a staff of 1,400 at 17 sites of care across the state. One third of Montana VA employees are Veterans.
Alissa Hewitt, president of Paws of Chinook, helps to calm a dog Tuesday during a spay and neuter event on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

A mobile veterinary hospital was in Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation this week, conducting spaying and neutering and other care for animals in what its organizers say they hope will be a regular occurrence.

Humane Society of Western Montana Executive Director Marta Pierpoint said the Rocky Boy stop was the third for a mobile clinic this year, having gone to Eureka and Browning in the past few weeks.

She said the mobile hospital will be back in Browning in two weeks and they hope to be back at Rocky Boy in June.

"Our goal is to be a regular presence," Pierpoint said, "so people get to know us and know that we're here to help care for their pets."

She said they primarily have been doing spaying and neutering, vaccination and installing micro chips, but have done other work as well.

Pierpoint said they worked on one dog that had been struck by a vehicle Tuesday - they X-rayed it and found no broken bones, were able to perform surgery, "So it should be OK."

The veterinarians also have removed porcupine quills from several dogs, she added.

Pierpont said it mostly has been dogs so far, only one cat.

"We would love to do more cats, whatever poeple need we are happy to help with," she said.

She said Havre Animal Control Officer Peter Federspiel and his wife, Kim, were instrumental in getting the mobile clinic to Rocky Boy, adding that she can't say enough about the work the Federspiels do.

She said the clinic, for now, is basically working in three areas, Eureka, Browning and Rocky Boy, although their goal is to provide help wherever in rural Montana people need veterinary services.

"I am inundated with calls from all over the state from people with need for access to care," she said. "We could be out in the state every week if we had the funding."

Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Dr. Caide Woofen examines a dog Tuesday during The Humane Society of Western Montana's pay and neuter event on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

She said the Alice Lee Lund Charitable Fund helped purchase the mobile clinic for Humane Society of Western Montana last fall, and they waited for the weather to turn to start going out to rural areas.

A private donation is paying for this trip, and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will help with funding in the future.

Chippewa Cree Tribe also has been very helpful setting up and providing help for this clinic, Pierpoint said.

She said organizing a team of veterinarians and support staff to do the clinics is expensive, and the society hopes to increase funding to increase how much time they can be out in the state.

For more information or to make a donation, people can visit the humane society website at http://myhswm.org/ , call its shelter at 406-549-3934 or could contact the Federspiels.

"Reaching out to them is reaching out to us," Pierpoint said.
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Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
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Columns by Madison County Historian Stephen T. Jackson are published monthly in The Herald Bulletin. Coming later this month: On Jan. 29, 1934, the Anderson Daily Bulletin reported that Firemen soon became living icicles and at times were almost unable to move about because of the heavy covering of ice over their coats.
Winchester, TN (37398)

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Cloudy with occasional rain showers. High near 80F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 69F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
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Five Falungong practitioners were persecuted to death as the policy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) party continues unabated. Beijing officials have denied what some say is the persecution of minorities.

Five Falungong practitioners die following CCP "purge"

From March 14 to April 12, sources say that the CCP victimized five mainland Chinese Falun Gong members in less than a month. They were sent to prisons and detention centers by communist authorities for their belief, reported the Epoch Times.

Falun Gong, also identified as Falun Dafa, is a Buddhist-inspired spiritual practice that started in the late 1990s with an estimated 70-100 million followers.

Suspecting its enormous popularity, former-Party leader Jiang Zemin started a campaign to eradicate Falun Gong on July 20, 1999. Since then, the Falun Gong practitioners have lost their right to practice peaceful exercises.

For following Falun Gong, millions of Chinese have been fired from their jobs, expelled from school, jailed, tortured, or killed. According to the Falun Dafa InfoCenter, they are brainwashed, abused, and even slaughtered for their organs, noted Falun Info.

Lu Guanru

Based on reports from Minghui.org, last April 4, 2021, Guanru was said to have died from a hemorrhagic stroke. He was in detention at the Tai Lai Prison in Daqing in Heilongjiang Province; his age was 69.

Mngui is the official website that reports on the global Falun community, according to its web page. Lu was reportedly kidnapped on November 9, 2018, along with 60 more in the province. The suspected cause of death was torture while imprisoned illegally. The five Falungong practitioners were persecuted to death by authorities.

Read also: Trump Doubts Biden Saying He Must Be Dishonest, or Forgot Vaccines Were Ready Before December

Retired Former Colonel Gong Piqi

An officer and practitioner from Qingdao City, Shandong Province, Gong, was tortured to death in Jinan Prison, Shandong Province, on the evening of April 12, 2021. He was 66 years old when he died.

He was convicted to seven and a half years in prison for his convictions on July 20, 2018. The CCP police repeatedly captured Gong and his family during the torture.

Mao Kun, Accountant

The Chengdu City Detention Center authorities killed Mao, an accountant and Falun Gong practitioner in Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, on April 11, 2021. During a violent arrest, Mao's arm was broken, and her face was bruised, according to the Minghui article.

Huang Qingdeng

An 83-year-old Falun Gong practitioner from Hongqiao Town, Yueqing City, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, Huang was tortured at Hangzhou No. 2 Prison on March 26, 2021.

On April 17, 2019, Huang was kidnapped, and his home was raided. Huang was abducted because he used his cellphone to spread the truth about the Falun Gong persecution.

Guo Baojun

According to reports on March 14, Guo died at the Zhengzhou No. 3 Detention Center in Henan Province. Officials in the detention center said that he died of respiratory problems that were never confirmed. The body was never seen, nor visits from relatives were allowed.

Related article: Australian Senator Asks US Embassy About Biden's Real Stance on Uyghur Genocide

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Regional

Assam Cong urges govt to enhance hospital beds, improve oxygen supply

GUWAHATI, MAY 5 (PTI): | Publish Date: 5/5/2021 10:54:23 AM IST

A delegation of Congress leaders in Assam on Wednesday met Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah and urged him to enhance the number of hospital beds and improve oxygen supply to medical facilities across the state to tackle the second wave of COVID-19.

The team, led by the partys state unit president Ripun Bora, submitted a memorandum to the CS, expressing concern over the prevailing COVID situation.

The party also demanded augmentation of testing capacity and inclusion of medical students, Asha workers, midwives and other trained health professionals in hospitals to strengthen human resources to fight against the pandemic.

Bora said they appealed to the government to take capacity-building measures, including enhancement of beds in all district hospitals and medical facilities in sub- divisional headquarters and ensure uninterrupted oxygen supplies across the state.

The state had on Tuesday reported 4,475 new COVID-19 cases, which pushed the tally to 2,67,925, and the death toll rose to 1,430 with 41 fatalities due to the infection.

The COVID situation in Assam has become little alarming, and the government has taken measures to scale up ICU facilities and hospital beds, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said on May 4.

The Congress also called for the procurement of more vaccines and requested the government to start the immunisation drive for those in the age group of 18 to 44 years.

The state has received a fresh batch of 1.5 lakh Covaxin doses from Bharat Biotech, Sarma said.

According to the National Health Mission bulletin, 27,45,383 people have been inoculated in the state till Tuesday, with 5,97,684 of them having received both doses of the COVID vaccine.

Following reports of many non-COVID patients being deprived of proper treatment in hospitals, the opposition party in the state requested the CS to take steps so that such people get care in medical facilities.

Contingency measures must be taken so that supplies of all essential commodities should not be affected and prices remain affordable, Bora said.

He said the Congress will extend full cooperation to the government in dealing with the COVID crisis.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to approve Pfizer for children in the coming days, making children as young as 12 cleared for the COVID-19 vaccine, which boosts the continued US vaccine rollout.

This as President Joe Biden sets a new goal to administer at least one COVID-19 vaccine for 70 percent of adults in the United States by July 4. A target he revealed on Tuesday, along with plans to vaccinate harder-to-reach communities and plans to vaccinate teenagers. The US vaccine rollout recorded a total of 56 percent of adults who have had at least one vaccination.

Pfizer for children may be available soon

Anyone 16 and older can get vaccinated for COVID-19 in the United States since mid-April, as per WEAU via MSN. More than a quarter of 16-17-year-olds (26.4 percent) have received at least one dose of the vaccine in Wisconsin.

That may change soon, as Pfizer awaits FDA approval to extend its patient base to include children as young as 12 years old. The DHS Bureau of Communicable Diseases' Dr. Ryan Westergaard says they eagerly await the FDA's decision.

Biden sets new vaccination goal for adults

The vaccination rate expected to hit 70 percent is much slower than the rate at which the country has reached its current levels. Vaccinators are expanding their reach beyond the most vulnerable groups and those most eager to be vaccinated, USA Today reported.

"There are millions of people in the United States who only need a little push to get the shot. We need your assistance. We're counting on you to get it back to us." The next step, according to Biden, could be more complicated than the first, which involved buying enough doses for every American and establishing an extensive distribution system.

According to a report published Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health research organization, most states are at or above the point where supply exceeds demand. Although less than half of adults in one out of every four states have received at least one vaccination, this is the case. But a lot lower than what is needed to keep outbreaks at ease. Alabama had the lowest rate of 41 percent as of April 29. The highest percentage was 74 percent in New Hampshire.

Eight of the 12 states with 60 percent or more adults receiving at least one dose are in the Northeast. The South is home to nine of the 13 states where less than half of adults have received a vaccine.

The administration announced on Tuesday that if states do not use all of their vaccine doses in a given week, they will be redistributed. States that want more will apply each week for any unclaimed doses.

Read Also: Thyroid Medicine Gets Third Major Recall Over Lack of Potency, Severely Affects 43 People

Pfizer's new vaccine version can be stored in the refrigerator

According to Daily Mail, Pfizer has informed US health regulators about a new version of its COVID-19 vaccine that can be kept in refrigerators for up to ten weeks. In an earnings report on Tuesday, the drugmaker giant said that it sent stability data to the FDA on Friday. The company expects the formulation to be approved for emergency use soon.

The two-dose vaccine can currently be stored for up to six months at ultra-cold temperatures ranging from -80C to -60C, or for two weeks at temperatures ranging from -25C to -15C. The vials can be held in the refrigerator for up to five days once opened, between 2C and 8C.

If accepted, the new version could be stored for 70 days or ten weeks at just above freezing temperatures. It comes as Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech SE, aim to seek FDA authorization for the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 11 and younger by September. President Joe Biden announced that children aged 12 to 15 could be vaccinated as early as next week.

Pfizer engineers designed special boxes to transport the vaccine at high temperatures once authorized and ship from Kalamazoo, Michigan before the FDA granted emergency use authorization.

Read Article: Joe Biden To Allow More Refugees In, but US Unlikely To Meet Goal This Year

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Former President Donald Trump launched a fresh communications platform on Tuesday. This will eventually provide him the ability to communicate directly with his followers following months of being banned from social media platforms Twitter and Facebook.

The platform, "From the Desk of Donald J. Trump," is visible on www.DonaldJTrump.com/desk. It will allow the former president to post comments, photos, and videos.

From the Desk of Donald J. Trump

The launch comes following months of promising his own social media platform for banned posters. The new section of his website is essentially a WordPress blog. The new website is designed like a generic version of Twitter. It is hosted as a running blog of commentary from Trump.

The move comes on the eve of a blockbuster decision that may restore his ability to be active again on Facebook. The 2.7-billion-member social media giant suspended his account indefinitely following a throng of his supporters rampaging through the US Capitol on January 6.

For many months, the former president's team has stated it is working on a new social media platform that will rival Twitter and Facebook. It added that it would serve as a place where he could communicate with his followers without any moderation.

Trump was also banned from YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat. According to a text on a video declaring the launch, "In a time of silence and lies, a beacon of freedom arises. A place to speak freely and safely. Straight from the desk of Donald J. Trump," reported WFLA.

Read also: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem Fast Becoming a Republican Presidential Prospect for 2024

Trump is the only one who could upload content on the new communications platform. It does not let users engage, as he teased to supporters that they will be very pleased when they hear his decision regarding his bid for the presidency again. However, the communications platform allows his followers to repost the statements he has been emailing to reporters on their Twitter and Facebook feeds.

Comments on social media regarding the announcement were of confusion. According to one source familiar with the space, "This is just a one-way communication. This system allows Trump to communicate with his followers," reported Independent.

Trump's website included echoings of his Twitter posts. These include one aimed at Mitt Romney, who Trump touts as a "stone cold loser."

According to Twitter's official website, he was permanently banned from its micro-blogging website due to "the risk of further incitement of violence." In Facebook's case, whether Trump could return to Facebook (and Instagram) will be deliberated on Wednesday when Facebook's Oversight Board concludes its ruling on the company's indefinite ban.

Not a New Social Media Platform

According to Trump adviser Jason Miller, what was launched on Tuesday was not his new communications platform. Miller stated that they would have additional information coming on that front very soon.

The technology seems to be powered by Campaign Nucleus - the digital ecosystem created for efficiently overseeing political campaigns and organizations. It was developed by Trump's former campaign manager, Brad Parscale.

Related Article: Nearly Half of Republicans Do Not Want a COVID-19 Vaccine

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Derek Chauvin's lawyer has requested a motion for a new trial, citing jury misconduct and the court's abuse of jurisdiction, just two weeks after he was convicted of George Floyd's death. In a petition filed in Hennepin County District Court in Minnesota, attorney Eric Nelson said that the court deprived Chauvin of a fair trial.

Derek Chauvin lawyer claims the court abused its authority during trial

Nelson wrote on the motion, "The Court abused its authority when it rejected Defendant's motion for a change of venue... in breach of Mr. Chauvin's constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial." The filing comes just one day after it was revealed that juror Brandon Mitchell while telling the court he had never been to a protest, attended a demonstration last summer where George Floyd's relatives spoke to the crowd.

According to Daily Mail, experts believed the discovery might be grounds for the cop's appeal, but Nelson's petition did not include the photo or the juror in his list of complaints. In the death of George Floyd on May 25, Derek Chauvin, a white man, was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, second-degree manslaughter, and third-degree murder.

Evidence presented at trial pointed at Chauvin holding down Floyd's neck with his knee for 9 1/2 minutes while the Black man pleaded that he could not breathe and went motionless. Floyd was accused of using a bogus $20 bill to purchase cigarettes at a convenience shop, and Chauvin and three other officers were trying to apprehend him.

When the court dismissed Chauvin's motion for a new trial on the basis that publicity during the hearings undermined the integrity of the trial, Nelson argued the court violated its discretion. Nelson said that the case's coverage was so pervasive and prejudicial that the prosecutions suffered from a structural flaw.

Read Also: Derek Chauvin Conviction in George Floyd Death Certain, Feds Had Backup Plans If Declared Innocent

The motion claims Derek Chauvin was deprived of a fair trial

Derek Chauvin's lawyer further argued that the court failed to sequester the jurors during the proceedings, claiming that the jury was subjected to prejudicial publicity and jury coercion, excluding his client from having a fair trial. He said that certain jurors might have been afraid of retaliation if they voted a certain way during the trial.

The petition was filed a day after concerns about juror Brandon Mitchell's impartiality were presented. Mitchell is seen in a photo shared on social media on August 28 in Washington, DC, commemorating Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech during the 1963 March on Washington.

Before the trial, all prospective jurors were asked to complete a questionnaire asking if they or someone close to them had engaged in protests against police brutality or the use of force. The sole juror to comment openly after convicting Chauvin, Brandon Mitchell, told The Star Tribune in Minneapolis this week that he had replied no to the issue.

Few conservatives have jumped on the revelation as evidence that the decision could be reversed, NY Times reported. But legal analysts say it is unlikely that Derek Chauvin will win an appeal on that basis.

Mitchell, who did not respond to calls for comment, told The Star Tribune that he was at the Washington rally to honor Dr. King and the civil rights movement, not to protest police brutality. "I really felt it was a wonderful chance to be a part of this being among thousands and thousands of Black people," Mitchell said as further reported by NY Times.

According to Mary Moriarty, the former chief public defender of Minnesota's Hennepin County, the motion is expected, and nearly all of the points made were already raised during the trial. Attorneys also do this to preserve future appeal issues.

The BK Law Group stated that requesting a new trial may be an intermediary move for criminal suspects before bringing an appeal. Nelson repeatedly urged Judge Peter Cahill to sequester the jury during the trial due to the high level of public involvement in the case. And he specifically brought up Congresswoman Maxine Waters' statement, made before deliberations, asking demonstrators to be more confrontational if Chauvin is not convicted.

The motion said it resulted in jury coercion and possible fear of retaliation. "I believe he (Nelson) wants a general investigation, which the judge would not allow. That is something I can almost assure you of," the USA Today quoted Moriarty.

One reason for the motion may be to bring alleged cases of juror wrongdoing into the legal record, which is something an appeals court will do to investigate possible issues that would include a new lawsuit, said Moriarty. Chauvin's sentencing is set for June. Last week, Minnesota's attorney general filed papers requesting that Derek Chauvin be sentenced to a longer jail term in the case, claiming that the former Minneapolis cop used brutal killing tactics as Floyd pleaded for his life.

Read Article: Derek Chauvin Trial: Jury Returns a Guilty Verdict but Ex-Cop Still Eligible To Keep His Pension

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Two women face election fraud charges in separate cases, said a Pennsylvania district attorney, after each attempted to cast votes on behalf of their deceased mothers during the November 2020 election. According to Bucks County authorities, the two women allegedly filled out mail-in ballots with the names of their dead mothers.

The Pennsylvania women put their mothers' names on the mail-in ballots

The incidents are isolated, said District Attorney Matthew Weintraub, who added there is no proof of systemic or organized election fraud in Bucks County. "The system caught the scam first in both of these cases, as it was intended to do," Weintraub said in a statement last week.

Danielle Elaine Dooner, 56, of Buckingham, and Melissa Ann Fisher, 51, of Quakertown, will be charged for the mail-in ballots breaches. Officials say they are each charged with violating laws related to absentee and mail-in voting, a third-degree offense.

According to Weintraub, Dooner submitted an application in late September or early October 2020 for her mother, who died on September 29, 2020. Fisher signed the ballot statement pretending to be her mother last year, and her mother died on September 21, 2020.

The district attorney's office stated that it is unaware of any of the woman's party registrations or candidates they voted for. Weintraub added that none of the supposedly forged ballots were opened or counted. Fisher was listed as a Democrat, while Dooner was registered as a Republican. Fisher told the Philadelphia Inquirer, "It wasn't something intentional."

Weintraub's statement further read that "In each of these cases, the detectives obtained DNA samples from ballots and voters for analysis. Handwriting samples from voters also took, prepared and served search warrants for IP addresses for electronic mail-in-ballot application submissions. Video surveillance was reviewed of county government facilities, contacted and spoke with postal carriers. And contacted and spoke with FBI agents assigned to the case."

In another case, since admitting to casting an improper vote during the election, a Delaware County man was sentenced to five years probation last week. During a hearing on April 30, Bruce Bartman, 70, apologized to Common Pleas Court Judge Richard Cappelli, admitting he made a mistake when he cast an illegal mail-in vote for his deceased mother.

Several states are debating reforming absentee and mail-in voting laws after the November 3, 2020 election, The Epoch Times reported. The Florida Legislature approved a bill this week that adds additional regulations to ballot drop boxes and increases the qualifications for residents who seek a mail-in ballot.

Read Also: Derek Chauvin Lawyer Wants New Trial, Says Cop Not Given Fair Trial in George Floyd Death

Restore trust through election transparency

According to The Hill via MSN, making the electoral process more open is one way to improve the well-run 2020 presidential election. Almost all local election authorities currently use paper-based voting systems, and a growing majority of them perform post-election audits to ensure that the votes are correct as tabulated.

To expand on these efforts and resolve the widespread loss of trust in our elections, Congress should pledge to finance what election officials want--stable live video streams of their vote tabulation centers, where mail-in ballots are often collected, checked and counted. Despite ample evidence that mail-in voting fraud is not commonplace, a significant number of electors are worried that their votes will not be correctly counted if mailed in.

And many of these voters are particularly concerned about mail-in ballot handling. Installing cameras in the rooms where ballots are sorted, checked, and counted will encourage more voters to observe the storage and sorting of these ballots at any time of day or night, reducing their manipulation concerns and increasing their confidence in the electoral process.

Read Article: Wisconsin Casino Shooter Who Killed Two Employees Was a Fired Staff, Cops Claim

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According to the aerospace company, the Bell 360 Invictus next general assault helicopter is at 30 percent completion. The prototype will be ready to fly by the end of 2022, when entirely constructed in Amarillo, Texas.

Bell 360 Invictus status

Keith Flail, Bell's vice president of next-generation vertical lift systems, stated parts like interior structure and fuselage skin of the X-aircraft are all install, reported Vertical Lift Mag.

He told reporters that structure and skins are getting assembled on the aircraft, next will installing systems to follow. This was said by the company official on the occasion of Bell's virtual media day last March 24.

Explained the groundwork for the preparations for the test flight of the Invictus in the summer of 2022 to test Bell's prototype finally.

Vice president Flail added that the nose-to-tail structural support is in place, including the cockpit to the firewall assembly for the engine, the tail of the aircraft. Saying the skeleton of the Invictus is ready for the other parts.

Invictus attack copter for Future Attack Recon Aircraft (FARA) trials

Bell calls their advanced chopper a conventional single-rotor helicopter with a canted tail rotor, featuring a low drag profile. It is involved in the U.S. Army's new Future Attack Recon Aircraft (FARA), competing with Sikorsky and another aerospace firm, cited Army Mil.

The Bell 360 Invictus is based on the Army's FARA specifications based on a 40-foot (12 meters) square box, with a minimum speed of 180 knots or faster. More specs needed is a combat radius of 135 nautical miles, and After 90 minutes on the station, reach a 4k/95F hover free of ground impact (HOGE).

Read also: Sikorsky S-97 Raider: Next Generation Light Tactical Helicopter with X2

Bell and Sikorsky's Raider X compound coaxial helicopter are selected to continue into the competitive design and risk-reduction phase of FARA in March 2020, mentioned Defense News. In 2023, the two prototypes will engage in a fly-off. The best performing chopper will get the contract.

Soon to fly FARA in the 2030s

The contract winner will have its prototype in use by the 2030s; it replaces the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, which was retired and whose roles are done by the AH-64 Apache gunships working with RQ-7 Shadow drones.

Flying in the 2030s, FARA should take on the armed scout helicopter role vacated by the retirement of the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior currently being performed by AH-64 Apache gunships teamed with RQ-7 Shadow drones. Future Attack Recon Aircraft is vital in the air cavalry, especially for scout missions or close air supports of troops.

An army body called the Army Requirements Oversight Council will decide what will pass in the chosen winner of the FARA chopper contract, indicated last April. Flail remarked the AROC would have the final say on the prototype in the fly-off completion.

Choosing the Invictus for Bell's FARA entrant came with how much the army is willing to spend. Going over the existing and developmental rotorcraft technologies to design and build the Bell 360 Invictus for the next-gen recon and attack chopper in one.

Its FARA pitch is designed with the Army's price in mind. The company has gone through its existing and developmental rotorcraft technologies to assemble a futuristic, more capable, but ultimately conventional FARA offering.

The rotor assembly, rotor dynamics, gearboxes, and flight control system of the Invictus are all taken from the 525 Relentless commercial helicopters.

Related article: Defiant X: Next Generation Successor to Venerable UH-60 Black Hawk

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Numerous employees of a pharmaceutical firm have been taken into custody in Indonesia for allegedly washing and reselling used COVID-19 nasal swab test kits. According to the police, a maximum of 9,000 passengers at a Medan airport may have been tested with the reused swab sticks.

Indonesia's Reused Nose Swab Scam

A pair of Indonesian attorneys are planning to sue the state-owned pharmaceutical company after the discovery. Last week, police officials arrested five workers at Kimia Farma, including its Medan business manager. They were accused of washing and repacking cotton swabs at the firm's main office in the city. They also reportedly sent them to Kualanamu International Airport, where they were used on travelers.

Indonesia's government has pledged "strict punishment" for many firm staff accused of reusing at a busy international airport. At least five individuals employed by Kimia Farma Diagnostika are accused of such since December 2020, reported ABC.

The employees are accused of using new swabs to test someone. They would reportedly wash, repackage, and use the same swabs to test other individuals, reported Insider.

The idea was basically: Why throw away used nasal swab test kits for the novel coronavirus when they could be used repeatedly? All it took was washing the cotton swabs used to take nasal samples and repackaging them as if they were new.

Kimia Farma is currently facing a potential lawsuit initiated on behalf of the travelers. Passengers are required to obtain a negative test if they would like to fly. The airport provides the option of being administered the swabs on site. Airport authorities had used antigen rapid test kits courtesy of Kimia Farma, reported BBC.

Read Also: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Cautions Unvaccinated People Could Kill the Elderly

Numerous passengers opt to have the procedure done at an airport instead of a local clinic or hospital to save precious time. Kualanamu airport provided the tests in cooperation with Kimia Farma, a major pharmaceutical producer and distributor, which recorded a yearly revenue of 9.4 trillion rupiahs (US$650 million) in 2019.

Police officials estimated that they reused swabs from 150 kits up to 20,000 times. According to the firm last week, it had sacked the workers allegedly involved and supported a police probing. Indonesia's state-owned enterprises Minister Erick Thohir stated, "I strongly condemn the actions of unscrupulous Kimia Farma officers."

In the scheme since mid-December, the Kimia Farma lab workers could have earned up to $125,000, according to the police chief. The firm was charging around $14 per test, which the lab workers have been accused of pocketing every time the reusing transpires.

The fraud was divulged this week when the laboratory workers were arrested in Medan, Indonesia. They are imprisoned for six years in prison for contravening medical waste, consumer protection, and contagious disease laws.

According to the North Sumatra Police, it sent an undercover officer to receive a rapid antigen test at the lab. After complaints from passengers in the previous week, they received false-positive results from the lab.

Related Article: Americans Fully Vaccinated Reaches 100 Million Mark: Fatalities Tumble, Will COVID-19 Restrictions Change?

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Reports about Prince Philip's cause of death is old age at the age of 99, as the royal family did not add more about the passing of Queen Elizabeth's husband.

Prince Philip cause of death mention but no more details

On April 9, the Duke of Edinburgh died at Windsor Castle, said Buckingham Palace, and no private information was published about the prince's passing, reported The Sun.

According to the Telegraph, the death certificate of the prince declared that he died of advanced age, based on the document.

Sir Huw Thomas, the royal doctor, confirmed the manner of death, saying that no disease or injury has contributed to his death.

This includes his heart condition, which required an operation just weeks before he passed away.

Sources stated that the prince is over 80-years old, and old age why he died was applied. The doctor in attendance has been taking care of Philip for a long time.

Brigadier Archie Miller-Bakewell, his private secretary, documented the death with both the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead four days following his death.

His full name is listed on the certificate: "His Majesty the King Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, known before as Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark, and Philip Mountbatten was used to be Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark."

Husband of Queen Elizabeth is listed as his first occupation, followed by "Naval Officer."

Bakewell was mentioned as the informant. He led a small group of loyal staff members who marched behind the Duke's coffin at his funeral. By this time, Prince Philip's cause of death was known.

Read also: Prince Charles Tests Positive for Coronavirus, Was He Exposed to Other Royal Families?

After the outbreak, the city council has asked that all deaths be reported by phone.

A relative is usually the one who reports a death. Still, somebody who was present at the death, an occupant of the house where the death occurred, or the one making the funeral arrangements is also permitted to do so.

The death must be reported in five days, according to the law.

Philip succumbed just weeks after being admitted to London's King Edward VII Hospital after getting unwell on February 16, said the BBC.

Last Tuesday, March 16, Buckingham Palace announced that he'd been released from the hospital and was well and comfortable.

The ailing Duke was admitted to St Bart's Hospital two weeks later to treat infection and a heart attack.

In recent years, the prince has battled with health, spending time in hospital before Christmas in 2019 following a fall.

In January 2019, he was also involved in a car crash at the Sandringham estate as his vehicle collided with another car. Heart problems, arthritis, stomach surgery, and bladder infections were among his health scares.

He underwent hip surgery in early April 2018 and healed just in time for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding a month later. Prince Philip's cause of death was stated as old age,

All other details of the duke's death are only known to the royal family. The loss of the prince was felt by the country and his immediate family the most.

Related article: Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip Relationship: Will the Pair Ever Be Together?





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A Mali woman gives birth to a surprising seven babies at once; the doctors did not expect to find two more.

Mali woman gives birth to nine children

About seven babies were expected before she gave birth, but there were two more not accounted for on the day of birthing. The woman gave birth to nine children, and is one of few to do that, reported the Guardian.

When the woman identified as Cisse captured the attention of the West African nation, even the leader of Mali, the country's transitional chief, Bah Ndaw, was told by doctors who are concerned they don't have the facilities to deal with the birthing properly, added Reuters.

A request was made to send the woman to Morocco to give the proper medical care needed. After getting sent there, Cisse had five girls and four boys, remarked the Mali Health Ministry, noted Aljazeera.

One thing to note, the woman is one of several women in Mali to give birth to nonuplets that is not common.

Cisse's pregnancy has enthralled the West African nation and drawn the attention of its leaders. According to Mali's health ministry, when doctors informed the country's transitional chief, Bah Ndaw, that Cisse needed specialist care, he requested her to be sent to Morocco, giving birth to five girls and four boys.

The government gives the Mali woman who gives birth to nine babies priority to ensure the end of the pregnancy does not harm both mother and babies.

Read also: Man Crosses Highly-Militarized Taiwan Strait in Rubber Dinghy, Escapes China

The health minister of Mali, Fanta Siby, spoke to Agence France-Presse that the Mali doctor updated the mother's condition with her to Morocco. The mother of nonuplets has captured the attention of the world press.

Siby told the press that the mother and doctor would be going home in several weeks before returning to Mali.

According to the health ministry spokesman of Morocco, Rachid Koudhari said that he had no idea if nonuplets were ever born to any Moroccan woman. Neither are there any records of births less than nine children in one instance like Cisse.

Doctors involved in the nonuplet birth are expressing several concerns about the mother and her kids. They say that giving birth to nine children simultaneously is very rare, especially that many at one time.

Specialists are expressing that medical problems are not impossible, and it impacts the health of both mother and babies.

Mali's health ministry said that the ultrasound conducted to check how many children were expected was only seven. How the ultrasound missed the two extra fetuses is yet to be explained by the Mali medical experts.

Siby sent her congratulations to both Mali and Moroccan doctors involved in the medical teams. She added their professionalism made the outcome of the pregnancy get better.

After the statement of the Mali official, the condition of the mother and nine newborns have yet to be updated. Mali woman gives birth to nine babies have hopes that they will be healthy in the coming days.

Related article: Taiwanese F-16 Crashes in Training Exercise, All 150 Planes Grounded After That

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In the future, Australia will have a military crisis with the possible invasion of Taiwan by Chinese forces. This scenario is likely as Canberra feels a war with increased aggression by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).

Australia will have a military crisis should Taiwan be attacked

Last year, Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared that he would allocate $270 billion spanning ten years to prepare for a "poorer, more hazardous" planet, cited SBS News.

Canberra is worried that the nation down under is threaten by a Chinese attack that begins with conquering Taipeh, reported News Au.

One official said that go to war with what you have, not with what is needed. Considered an old saying that Aussie officials are taking seriously.

Despite admirals, generals, and politicians warning that perhaps a new Pacific war may happen in the next three to five years, the question is, does Australia have the resources it requires?

Morrison plans on anti-ship missiles, intelligent mines, and an underwater surveillance network as part of an expensive must-have defense system. Included is the acquisition of 12 new submarines and nine new frigates for the navy and making a super-fast missile and unmanned aerial vehicles to follow as well.

These ambitious arms buildups by Canberra to defend and repulse any Chinese invasion to be ready by 2030 to 2040.

Although experts are convinced that ten years is too long and is needed now, China is on the move in Taiwan, the South and East China Seas, and the Himalayan border with India are danger signs.

If push comes to shove, Australia will have a military crisis to use everything it has. New plans are made, and old plans to combat China are devised.

Read also: US Admiral Forecasts China Could Soon Takeover Taiwan

Australia is abandoning its original war plans. It's racing to brace for the most severe threat it's facing since World War II. Canberra is realistic that it just too close and can't be ignored.

One admission is that the United States, its most potent ally, will not help if China assaults. Aussies will have to fend for themselves.

After the end of the Cold War, Canberra has concluded that any substantial threat will be anticipated by at least ten years of warning that something is coming. The Defence Strategic Update for 2020 did away with that presumption, Australia noted.

When the global and regional order crashed in the 1930s and 1940s, the Prime Minister warned that China is the biggest threat since World War II; this is obvious with what is happening with Taiwan and other Asian countries threatened by Chinese military forces today.

Because of this, Morrison said Australia would be defended as best it can and continues its business as a nation.

Beijing blitzes Asia

For sure, if Taiwan falls, that will give Beijing access to the Western Pacific with their other stolen artificial islands.

Next will be Major US bases at Okinawa and in Japan under danger of attack. Guam will be very exposed, which is dangerous for the US and its allies.

It will put Canberra on the defensive, But, unlike in the past, Australian defenses can no longer rely on a "sea-air gap" to our north. Australia will have a military crisis that will affect its allies with marching Chinese military that even endangers the US.

Related article: Japan's China Policy Becomes More Confrontational in 2021

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Despite the victory of a more conservation-friendly administration, things are looking grim for the gray wolves in the United States. Lawmakers in Idaho are pushing a highly controversial bill that would authorize the culling of over 1,000 wolves from the population.

The move has been one of the many sad consequences of the previous administration weakening the protections of the Endangered Species Act, enabling pro-hunting state politicians to take harsher actions against gray wolves.

American wolves - a history of survival

Throughout most of the 20th century, the gray wolf of North America was a critically endangered species. From the westward expansion over the wild frontier, all the way up to the rapid urbanization of the Roaring Twenties, these developments contributed to a near-catastrophic decline of the gray wolf packs across all states. The remaining few that survived eked a meager existence on the Canadian border.

It was only until the 1970s that the Endangered Species Act was introduced, and included the gray wolf in among the list of protected animals. In the next few decades, massive conservation and reintroduction efforts finally saved the gray wolf from extinction.

Yet sometime during the early 2000s, conflicts with farmers and local populations still threaten the stability of the species' survival. To date, their conservation status is classified as Least Concern, but aggressive legislation to further remove wolf hunting restrictions could still result in radical losses if left unchallenged.

Also read: Some Animals Observed to be Capable of Social Distancing to Avoid Diseases

Idaho bill still awaits final signature

The highlights of the new bill are as follows:

1. Hiring private contractors for wolf hunts.

The bill would empower the state of Idaho to hire private contractors to hunt down local wolf packs and even increase funding for its Wolf Depredation Board.

2. Remove restrictions on hunting equipment.

The bill would also allow hunters to use advanced equipment in their pursuit, including night-vision goggles and even snowmobiles.

3. Focus primarily on a small, set population.

The bill is also known for its very narrow focus on the specific number of 150 wolves, which is the bare minimum requirement by the Idaho Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.

Presently, the bill has already passed both the senate and the state house and all that is left is for the state governor to sign it to begin its implementation.

For many conservationists and even the state's own Fish and Game Commission, the bill opens the door to a number of abuses and overrides their authority to maintain the wolf population according to what the science declares as healthy. If it is not vetoed, then it could lead to many less scrupulous private contractors to hunt indiscriminately all under the guise of protecting local farms.

The minimum 150 requirement is also suspect, as it ignores the reality of how wolves interact with the populations of natural prey like elk and deer. A drastic reduction in wolf packs could result in diseases spreading more easily across the herbivore population, as the wolves (who naturally cull stricken members of herds are the only ones with immunity from them). Likewise, the bill also sets a precedent that would ultimately grant hunters all too much freedom to cull other wildlife species instead of letting nature take its course.

In any case, only time will tell if the bill will be in full effect and how local conservationists will mobilize in response.

Also read: Wolves Hunt Their Prey by Using Ambush Tactics


Current pledges by the United States and other nations could assist in capping global warming at 3.6 Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) towards the end of the century, but only if attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to "net zero" by 2050 is achieved, experts said Tuesday.

Average Rise in Temperature

Over 190 countries concurred six years ago in Paris to maintain the average rise in temperature below that point - ideally no greater than 2.7 F (1.5 C) - by 2100, in comparison to pre-industrial times, to prevent serious harm to the natural world and humans.

The Climate Action Tracker, composed by a group of researchers who convert targets and actual emissions into the estimation of temperature, predicts that the world is presently set to overshoot the accord of Paris's less aspiring goal by 0.9 degrees.

Niklas Hoehne of the New Climate Institute, one of the authors of the study said: "That's still disastrous climate change, a condition that is basically uncontrollable and which we have to keep away from by all means." By involving the current proposals from governments in their estimation, researchers discovered the estimate reduced to 2.4 C - an elevation of 0.2 C on the past optimistic forecast the group carried out in December.

Also Read: Human Health and Premature Death Influenced by Global Warming

New Climate Goals

The current ambitious new climate goals of U.S. President Joe Biden contributed remarkably to the revised estimate, together with China, the European Union, Britain, and Japan. Hoehne said if 131 countries that form nearly three-quarters of global emissions really meet their pledged or conversed about "net zero" goal, then the 2-degree target could be achieved. This would need further pledges though, basically halving global emissions in 10 years to come.

The estimate that was updated was disclosed this week ahead of a virtual meeting Germany hosted to converse further on international attempts to curb global warming.The environment minister of Germany said the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, which brings representatives from around 40 nations together, will focus on settling several technical problems in the run-up to this year's U.N. summit that will be held in Glasgow in November.

International Climate Policy

Svenja Schulze said more assistance to help countries that are poor prevent and adapt to climate change would also be talked about. Countries that are rich have failed to make available the $100 billion dollars a year they accepted to provide by 2020, much to the vexation of nations that are still developing.

The gathering is one of the final chances for Chancellor Angela Merkel to drop her mark on international climate policy. The long-time ruler, who isn't contesting again for the upcoming national election of Germany, has encountered criticism for failing to push through difficult emissions cuts domestically during the time of her four terms in office.

Related Article: Climate Change: Persistent Carbon Emission Levels Place Earth On Red Alert

For more news, updates about climate change and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News!
A biotechnology company has launched genetically modified mosquitoes in the open air for the first time in the United States, after a decade of battling for regulatory clearance and general recognition. The trial, which began this week in the Florida Keys against local opposition, is testing a strategy for controlling colonies of wild Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which can spread diseases like Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.

Field Tests

The mosquitoes were previously field-tested in Brazil, Panama, the Cayman Islands, and Malaysia by Oxitec, a company headquartered in Abingdon, UK.

Despite the fact that the country previously allowed tests of a genetically engineered diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) in New York and an engineered pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) in Arizona, no genetically engineered mosquito had been trialed in the United States due to a circuitous series of regulatory decisions and pushback from Florida residents (see 'A long road'), no genetically engineered mosquito had been trialed in.

"When something fresh and revolutionary comes along, a lot of people's first instinct is to say, 'Wait,'" says Anthony James, a molecular biologist at the University of California, Irvine, who studies bioengineered mosquitoes. "So it's a huge deal that [Oxitec] was able to get the litigation off in the United States."

Aedes Aegypti

In the Keys, a chain of tropical islands off the southern tip of Florida, Aedes aegypti makes up about 4% of the mosquito population. According to the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD), which is working closely with Oxitec on the initiative, it is responsible for virtually all mosquito-borne diseases spread to humans in the area. The project's researchers and technicians will unleash non-biting bioengineered male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to breed with the wild female population responsible for biting prey and spreading disease. The males that have been genetically modified possess a gene that is passed on to their offspring and kills female progeny in the early stages of development.

Related Article: After Rapid Advancements in Covid Vaccine, Malaria Vaccine Follows Suit



Genetically Modified Offspring

Instead of dying, male offspring may become carriers of the gene and carry it down to subsequent generations. The Aedes aegypti population should decrease as more females die.

Location

Project researchers positioned boxes containing Oxitec mosquito eggs at six locations in three areas of the Keys in late April of this year. During the first two weeks of May, the first males are supposed to emerge. For the next 12 weeks, almost 12,000 males will leave the boxes. According to Oxitec, nearly 20 million mosquitoes would appear over 16 weeks in a second step later this year to gather more results.

Insect Problem

Insecticides, which are heavily used in the United States to manage insect pests, are being replaced by genetically modified mosquitos. As a result, mosquitoes that are immune to insecticides have evolved.

According to Kofler, who has been watching this project for years, many of the questions derived from the uncertainty of new technology. Oxitec has been interacting with residents in the Florida Keys to address questions. They illustrated, for example, why female mosquitoes carrying the lethal gene have a very poor chance of reproducing. However, according to Kofler, several people are skeptical about what they're hearing because it's coming from a corporation.

Kofler hopes that adequate data is collected to determine the mosquitoes' effect, particularly on other Keys species and local habitats, and that it is achieved "in a straightforward, and in a manner that can make certain community members feel better about the whole thing."

Also Read: Small But Terrible: 5 Most Painful Insect Bites in the World

For more health and medicine related news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
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The company is also being accused of reneging on its promise to pay workers for leave days.

Irate workers said they were concerned over the arrogant conduct of their Chinese employer and called on authorities to intervene and rescue them from exploitation.

We are suffering at the hands of the Chinese in our own country, said one of the employees who preferred anonymity.

They are not paying us and in addition do not give us protective masks and clothing. We are given five disposable masks once after 15 days.

They are not paying us overtime. Some of us have gone for seven years without getting pay leave. Some workers are given four gloves once after 15 days. The gloves expire in one day.

The workers said they were being victimised for demanding their rights. Zimbabwe Diamond Allied Minerals Workers Union secretary-general Justice Chinhema yesterday confirmed the standoff between the workers and their Chinese employer.

ZZCC workers are earning $22 000 and everyone is without proper grading. The law stipulates that they should get US$145 from the $22 000, with the balance paid using the auction rate in Zimbabwe dollars, Chinhema said.

If the employer is genuine in the payments, the US$145 should be paid using the prevailing Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe foreign currency auction rate because its stipulated that it must be in US dollars. ZZCC produces coking coal which is sold to Zambia, South Africa and Democratic Republic of Congo, thereby bringing in foreign currency.

Its so sad that besides poor salaries, workers at ZZCC work long hours and are paid on earn as you work basis (maricho). There is no system that recognises that mining industry workers work eight hours per shift and 26 shifts in a month, he said. If you dont work, you are not paid. If you get sick, you are not paid.

He added: The Chinese dont even recognise the labour laws of this country. Our biggest challenge is some within our own people who are paid by these people for protection.

How can you be paid to suppress your own brothers? We also blame the investment laws. There must be a provision that compels these guys to commit to follow every law, failure which they get arrested and deported.

In a letter dated May 2, ZZCC official Steve Li advised employees that the company had been affected by depressed markets, resulting in low sales.

We kindly inform you that due to depressed markets and shortage of raw materials which results in low sales, as previously advised, at the moment it is not sustainable to offer salaries in US dollars, he wrote.

The company will abide by Zimbabwe dollar salaries as per NEC [National Employment Council] memo. However, we pray that the situation improves in the nearest future for the survival of both the employees and the company. We will continue to engage as usual.

Yesterday, Li said: If you check with all mining companies in Hwange, none of them are paying in US dollars. They all have stopped that. That is why we engaged NEC to advise the workers on this policy that it is not mandatory. We, however, are willing to negotiate. Newsday
Copyright  2020 at Sun Newspapers/ APG Media of East Central Minnesota. Digital dissemination of this content without prior written consent is a violation of federal law and may be subject to legal action.
Lima, OH (45805)

Today

Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and storms, especially in the afternoon. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Chance for an isolated shower or storm. Low 67F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Now Open

5 May 2021

The Industrialist Hotel, Autograph Collection , opens today in Pittsburgh's Central Business District, serving as a key development in the renaissance of the city's historic downtown. The highly anticipated 124-room hotel, owned by HRI Properties, LLC and managed by HRI Lodging, LLC, is housed within the iconic, 18-story landmark Arrott building effortlessly blending old and new by design.

The hotel joins Marriott International's Autograph Collection, a group of more than 200 hotels around the world hand-selected for their inherent craft and distinct perspectives on design and hospitality. The hotel, inspired by Pittsburgh's resilient history as a steel capital, was meticulously restored and renovated by Desmone Architects and designed by Stonehill Taylor, and features a dynamic lobby bar, social lounge with fireplace and communal seating, fitness center and signature modern American restaurant, The Rebel Room, also opening today.

DESIGN & HISTORY

The building, constructed in 1902 for James Arrott  known as the "Bathtub King of Pittsburgh" for being the first in the region to offer enameled iron bathtubs through his manufacturing business  was added to the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks list in 2000. While the historic facade holds rich architectural details, Stonehill Taylor intentionally designed the hotel's modernized interiors to reflect themes of smoke and molten metal juxtaposed with meticulously preserved details from the turn of the century, including original marble walls, ornate ceilings and iconic arched windows.

The focal point of the ground floor entrance are two modern metal sculptural chandeliers inspired by machinery and steel fabrication. Guestrooms feature a monochromatic color palette, leather accents, smoke-like abstract artworks and ambient lighting, while bathrooms feature dark granite tile, fire-colored custom wallcoverings and brass fixtures. The property's three stylish suite options, including a regal Presidential Suite overlooking the city, feature expansive layouts, distressed oak flooring and floor-to-ceiling skyline backdrops. Rooms are equipped with plush robes, free high speed WiFi, TV streaming capabilities, pet-friendly amenities upon request, access to the 1,000 square foot fitness center and services such as limousine and car rental options, grocery shopping concierge, dry-cleaning and valet parking.

The Industrialist features more than 1,200 square feet of multi-purpose event space, for meetings and social gatherings, including The Exchange Room, with views of the city and seating for up to 48 people, and The Founders boardroom and library.

EAT & DRINK

Helmed by Executive Chef Gavin Hetrick, The Industrialist features a vibrant second-floor lobby lounge, signature restaurant, in-room dining and robust catering capabilities. The Industrialist Lounge, the social center of the hotel and a hub for downtown's after-work crowd, offers DIY-projects served alongside craft cocktails. With drinks or seasonal nibbles in-hand, guests can embrace the maker spirit for which Pittsburgh is known via the "Makers Menu." The rotating roster of projects includes leather, parchment and candle making - many of which feature partnerships with local Pittsburgh artisans - along with hands-on workshops, communal seating and happy hour specials.

The Rebel Room, a stylish bar and signature restaurant influenced by Pittsburgh's revolutionaries, draws in passersby through its street-level entrance. Aligning with the strong mixology program, the bar itself is a focal point imitating a large hearth with warm backlighting, copper mesh coverings and a two-toned patina bar top reminiscent of molten steel. While wine, draft beer and signature craft cocktails like In Rebel Fashion with Basil Hayden's 10 year Rye may be sipped at the bar, guests can also indulge in menu standouts such as Sweet Potato Poutine and Peppercorn Crusted Ahi Tuna, or heartier dishes such as Short Rib and Steak Frites. The Rebel Room will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Now Open

5 May 2021

Red Roof, the leader in economy lodging, announced the opening of the 62-room HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof - Lake Jackson, bringing the total number of Red Roof properties in the state of Texas to seventy.

The 62-room HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof Lake Jackson is conveniently located on TX-322, just two miles from Brazosport College. It is also close to Sea Center Texas, Lake Jackson Historical Museum, and Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport (LJN).

The HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof Lake Jackson property features kitchenettes with full-sized refrigerators, free in-room Wi-Fi, HD flat-screen TVs with cable, weekly housekeeping and more. Kitchen kits are available for purchase at the front desk for a low fee. Guests are offered coin laundry service and free expanded cable package featuring HBO.

The HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof Lake Jackson is participating in Red Roof's RediClean program, which includes rigorous enhanced cleaning protocols that take cleanliness and hygiene to a whole new level.
Now Open

5 May 2021

Earlier this year TFE Hotels unveiled Australia's inaugural Quincy-branded property, bringing the exotic colour and zing of Southeast Asia to Melbourne's most iconic and 'original' laneway, Flinders Lane.

Rolling out a vibrant, red carpet welcome to the most curious of social urbanites, Quincy Hotel Melbourne raises the bar on accessible high-end luxe, infused with just the right amount of quirk-factor in the nation's hip-and-happening capital.

According to TFE Hotels Group COO, Chris Sedgwick, the 'long-wished-for Aussie metamorphosis' of Far East Hospitality's Quincy brand - out of Singapore - signals a welcome new normal anchored to 'anticipatory hospitality'.

Something he says unabashedly celebrates guests' individuality, delivering unique and 'surprisingly bespoke' service before demand. Anything and everything, from DIY bubble tea kits to 'pillow menus' or even tickets held for bucket list festivals and events.

Best described as an experiential nirvana - perfectly positioned in the upper midscale hotel category, while incorporating exclusive club levels and amenities expected of five-star properties - Quincy Melbourne celebrates the city's laneways and rooftop bars and promises a feast for the senses, at every turn.

True to brand, the 241-room boutique property - complete with lively laneway and rooftop bars - purposely invites meaningful connection via thoughtful spatial design, playful interiors, tactile artwork, and an extraordinary focus on 'out-of-the-ordinary' foodie adventures.

The kind you'd normally expect to trek far and wide through places like Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to discover. Think, hawker-inspired grazing at SingSong eatery, flowing through the Lobby to outdoor laneway dining; zesty rooftop bites and cocktails with 360-degree views of Melbourne CBD at The Q on Level 28 (shared by a glistening lap pool); and, for the piece de resistance, Salted Egg, a satellite restaurant, peppered with a bespoke bar and communal areas, spanning the whole of Level 1.
Appointment

5 May 2021

The Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa is proud to announce that Chef Matthew Foxon has join the team as Executive Chef on May 1 2021 overseeing the complete culinary journey at the hotel, bringing his passion for sustainability and his brand of classic cuisine with contemporary influences to bear across all the hotel's offerings.

His desire to become a chef stems from a very young age - as a second-generation chef he grew up in the kitchen. He has a great passion for sustainable dining, placing significant importance on fresh produce and respecting the ingredients.

His strong culinary background started off at the International Hotel School in Johannesburg in 2003, where he completed a 2-year advanced diploma in professional cookery. Following this training, he earned his stripes in luxury hotels across South Africa, including the Michelangelo and the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel. As a young chef, he proved his cooking prowess in a number of competitions, including being awarded 'Young Chef of the Year' for two consecutive years in 2003 and 2004 as well as being runner up in the 'Salon Culiniere South Africa' competition in 2004.

Chef Matthew relocated to London in 2005 where he ran the kitchens of the award-winning Greyhound at Battersea restaurant, receiving a coveted Restaurant Magazine Best Dish award in 2006. From here he moved on to The Rosendale in South London as head chef - awarded by Time Out Award as best gastropub of 2007, before joining the Criterion Restaurant in 2009 as Executive Chef. During his time at this legendary restaurant, Criterion won renewed critical acclaim, reclaiming their space in the forefront of the London restaurant scene. While at Criterion, Chef Matthew also appeared in the hit BBC series MasterChef UK - guest-starring in two seasons of the show as well as in Celebrity MasterChef in 2014. Furthermore, he also featured in 'Hotel GB' with Chef Gordon Ramsey in 2012.

From Criterion, Chef Matthew moved on to the New Street Grill as Head Chef in 2014. The New Street Grill is a re-invented traditional British Grill restaurant with a dedication to local produce - playing into Chef Matthew's passion for the finest ingredients.

In 2017 Chef Matthew returned to South Africa, being appointed the Executive Chef at 54 on Bath in Johannesburg. With him at the helm, the hotel's Level Four Restaurant became a popular destination in Johannesburg, with the menu featuring chef's bold signature style and distinctive flair.

Chef Matthew joins the Saxon team just before the hotel's re-opening. The inimitable Saxon Journey will be somewhat different with the new safety initiatives introduced, but the Saxon will continue to offer the warm South African hospitality that guests have come to expect. More details on the measures put in place to ensure the safety of guests can be found on the Saxon website at www.saxon.co.za/covid-19-hotelnews/
NORRIS Nyathi, the former Victoria Falls deputy mayor and senior executive in the Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T has resigned from the party in protest over its legislators voting alongside Zanu PF to amend the national Constitution.

Eleven MDC-T senators on Tuesday voted with 54 Zanu PF members to pass the Constitutional Amendment No 2 Bill, which now awaits President Emmerson Mnangagwas assent.

The Bill opposed by 10 opposition senators, required a two-thirds majority  or 54 votes to pass through the Senate.

In a letter dated May 4, addressed to the partys secretary-general and copied to the MDC-T Matabeleland North provincial office in Hwange, Nyathi said as a result of that deception, he had decided to sever ties with the opposition party.

Nyathi served as Victoria Falls deputy mayor from 2013 to 2018.

Part of the letter read: Failure to protect the citizens of Zimbabwe, I consider it gross misconduct by our MPs, senators, including the presidium to give Zanu PF the needed two-thirds majority in order to pass the repressive Constitutional Amendment Bill No 2. This is a direct provocation to the electorate who are the custodians of the Constitution which you have amended without going through a consultative process. Your soft tone to the injustices perpetrated against the people of this nation leaves a lot to be desired, Nyathi wrote.

He also raised concern over the composition of the partys top leadership, saying it did not reflect inclusivity.

Your composition of top leadership does not reflect inclusiveness or nationalism, you continue to sideline the people of Matabeleland from powerful positions like any other party headquartered in Harare. I want to also speak to the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment, it is a fact that part of the 27th December congress delegates were not the proper structures as at February 2018, this whole process was carried out to consolidate power and control of Richard Morgan Tsvangirai House, he said.

In the spirit of democracy and integrity the party was supposed to bring together all party members who were in the structures before the death of President Morgan Tsvangirai (MHSRIP) including those you regarded as your enemies. Your exclusion of other members was illegal, undemocratic and selfish.

Efforts to get a comment from MDCT spokesperson Witness Dube and his deputy Khalipani Phugeni were fruitless. Newsday
Appointment

5 May 2021

BENCHMARK a global hospitality company, today announces the promotion of Claire Lieberman to vice president of business development. As a leader within Benchmark's robust development team, Lieberman will drive forward the continual growth of the Texas-based management company that operates more than 80 assets worldwide.

Lieberman initially joined Benchmark in February 2020 as senior director of business development, bringing with her nearly a decade of hotel management, investment, acquisition, and development experience. Since then, Lieberman has proven instrumental in the stabilization and expansion of Benchmark's varied portfolio.

Prior to Benchmark, Lieberman was the senior director of development for Red Lion Hotel Corporation in Denver, CO where she spearheaded the national expansion efforts for the company's luxury boutique brand, Hotel RL. She also held multiple development positions with Two Roads Hospitality, playing an integral role in the merger of Destination Hotels & Resorts and Commune Hotels & Resorts in 2016 and supporting the growth of the portfolio through the 2018 acquisition by Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

Lieberman also spent time working for Denver-based brokerage firm Hospitality Real Estate Counselors, assisting with the valuation and marketing of more than $1 billion of hospitality assets. She began her career in operations with White Lodging Management after graduating from the University of Denver with both a bachelor's degree in hospitality management and an MBA.
Press Release

5 May 2021

A new paper co-authored by international property consultancy Gleeds, global engineering and design consultancy Arup, global hospitality company IHG Hotels & Resorts, and energy management and automation specialist Schneider Electric has revealed how the hotel industry can tackle the net zero carbon challenge and save millions in the process.

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A new paper co-authored by international property consultancy Gleeds, global engineering and design consultancy Arup, global hospitality company IHG Hotels & Resorts, and energy management and automation specialist Schneider Electric has revealed how the hotel industry can tackle the net zero carbon challenge and save millions in the process.

Entitled 'Transforming Existing Hotels to Net Zero', the team compiling the research used a real-life case study to consider what opportunities exist to decarbonise existing hotels and drive operational energy to net zero carbon. With energy consumption typically accounting for as much as 60% of a hotel's emissions they considered a range of interventions, the initial cost of which was balanced against the potential long-term savings in a bid to develop a methodology that could be applied industry wide.

Before intervention, the test premises used for research was found to produce the equivalent of the carbon sequestered by 24,000 trees planted in the UK. Through the implementation of operational changes alone, the study revealed that huge potential reductions in carbon emissions of more than 130 tonnes CO2e and substantial savings of over 112,000 in yearly energy bills could be achieved.

Gillian Breen, Director for Hotels and Hospitality at Gleeds added, "Gleeds is passionate about the future of our planet and committed to creating a sustainable built environment for the people and communities that live on it. This paper identifies opportunities to improve performance and reduce energy use, using both physical interventions and intelligent review of building operations. The real-life case study considers realistic, pragmatic interventions that will absolutely deliver energy and cost savings for hotel operators across the globe."

The study offers invaluable insights into how controlling and optimising operations can play its part, before going on to suggest a raft of 'active' measures, such as switching from gas powered equipment to low carbon electricity and outlining the impacts of generating renewable energy. In total, the test case was revealed to have the potential to reduce its annual energy bill by 467,000 per annum and cut its carbon emissions by a whopping 483 tonnes if all measures were implemented.

Spearheading the project, Simon Gill, Hotels and Leisure Business Leader at Arup said, "We are acutely aware that the majority of the hotels we'll be using in 2050 are already built, so it is essential that we start to scrutinise these buildings if we're to avoid them becoming stranded assets. The last year of lockdowns has actually given us a once in a lifetime opportunity to scrutinise their carbon footprint with negligible human influence. This enabled us to conduct in-depth analysis and significantly improve the industry's understanding of how we can transform existing hotels to be net zero carbon."

Catherine Dolton, Chief Sustainability Officer & Vice President, Global Corporate Responsibility, IHG Hotels & Resorts said, "The hotel industry's global footprint presents an important opportunity to reduce emissions at scale. This research reinforces the fact that progress will be best achieved through collaboration, best practice sharing and solutions that make a positive difference. Given the impact of Covid-19 on the hotel industry, the availability of government incentives will also be key to enable hotel owners to fund the measures needed to decarbonise their properties."

Michael Sullivan, Segment President for Buildings with Schneider Electric concluded, "Schneider Electric believes that buildings of the future need to be safe, healthy, and people-centric, however there is currently very little support and few resources available to help investors choose the best approach and calculate the financial investment required. We hope the novel research presented in this paper can help to answer these important questions. This is an excellent practical illustration of how the right plan, technology, and execution can help hotels achieve net-zero carbon goals with a significant return on investment."

To read the paper in full, download 'Transforming Existing Hotels to Net Zero'.

Read more about how we're addressing the carbon challenge.
Press Release

5 May 2021

The world's battered hospitality and tourism industry has a long way to go to rebound from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey of workers conducted by Florida Atlantic University.

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Roughly 70 percent of the more than 4,000 respondents felt COVID-19 would have a negative long-term impact on the industry, while 65 percent said they felt the industry did not protect its employees better than other sectors.

More than one-third of respondents indicated they would be seeking employment outside the industry over the next year. Meanwhile, desperately needed entry-level workers are more likely than not to leave the industry or their organizations, the poll showed.

Even as hotels, restaurants and other places of employment ramp back up to full staffing, they face a severe shortage of workers, and U.S. colleges and universities can expect a one- or two-year decline in hospitality and tourism enrollment, said Peter Ricci, Ed.D., director of FAU's hospitality and tourism management program.

"These programs are the largest pipeline of future workers for the hospitality and tourism industry in America," Ricci said. "For years, the industry has struggled with a public relations problem of long hours, low pay and demanding guests. Now those who work in the business have an even more tarnished image from the pandemic's impacts. The industry needs more than just a PR campaign. It needs a full overhaul in its staffing levels, pay rates and employee treatment."

FAU researchers Ricci, Soyoung Park, Ph.D., Anil Bilgihan, Ph.D., and Ye Zhang, Ph.D., conducted the survey in March and April, with responses coming from 46 countries, including all U.S. states and territories. Respondents made up all the major industry segments: lodging; food service; tourism and transportation; events; and leisure, recreation and sports.

In Florida alone, hospitality and tourism is a $111.7 billion annual business with about 1.5 million employees, according to the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association trade group.

Results of the FAU survey mirrored those from a poll conducted by the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Respondents to the FAU survey said employers were too quick to fire or furlough them and that employers cared more about stock value than the workers themselves.

In March 2020, with COVID-19 starting to disrupt nearly every aspect of American life and many employees out of work, FAU decided to help hospitality workers continue their education by offering a free hospitality and tourism management certificate through the College of Business Executive Education department. More than 77,000 people worldwide registered for the certificate, which normally costs $900.

"The overwhelming response showed that workers wanted to stay engaged during the pandemic," Ricci said. "But the results of this poll clearly indicate that employees now are fed up and are looking at moving on to other industries. That's a huge concern."

Ricci posts 500 to 1,000 entry-level to senior-management job openings a week. He said employers are desperate to attract talent, with some offering $500 signing bonuses for new employees as well as fast-track promotion opportunities.

Just prior to the pandemic, industry leaders were attempting to hold off on raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, according to Ricci. Now the average starting wage for entry-level hotel workers has regularly surpassed that mark.

"The shortage in hospitality workers cannot continue if the industry is to sustain long-term growth and profitability," he said.

Photo: Florida Atlantic University (FAU)

Photo: Florida Atlantic University (FAU)

Photo: Florida Atlantic University (FAU)
Press Release

5 May 2021

Mexico is featuring robust market dynamics that suggest strong hospitality and lodging industry recovery amid the pandemic. In JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group's latest Travel and Tourism Update, there are several factors that put Mexico on the map for tourism recovery and increased investor interest.

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Economic Outlook

Being the second largest economy in Latin America and sixth largest emerging market across the globe, almost two-thirds of Mexico's economic gross added value is generated by the service industry and 16 percent of the country's GDP is directly impacted by the travel and tourism sectors. Despite the current state of government affairs, Mexico is expected demonstrate big strides toward recovery, with the country's GDP growth projected to be stronger than all of Latin America in 2021. With those factors, investors across the globe are doing a double take at Mexico's resilient lodging industry.

Lodging Performance

In 2019, Mexico was named the #1 visited destination by foreign tourists within Latin America, #2 most visited destination on the Americas and #7 most visited country in the world. Despite the pandemic and occupancy declines, the country managed to reach average daily rates that surpassed 2019 levels in key markets of Los Cabos, Cancun, Riviera Maya and Mexico City.

Pent-up demand both domestically and internationally, predominately from the United States, drove Mexico's lodging industry to keep their doors open.

Additionally, Mexico's commitment to health and safety has not gone unnoticed, with many of its destinations being the first to obtain the Safe Travels stamp established by renowned, global industry group, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). As health and safety remain at the forefront of concern for travelers, it's imperative that the lodging industry continues to implement guidelines as recommended by global healthcare leaders.

Supply Dynamics & Pipeline

Mexico is the most developed hotel sector in Latin America, consisting of over 400,000 hotel rooms. The room supply is divided between branded and independent properties, but key destinations are leading the way in terms of branded supply, with 60 percent of branded rooms being located in Cancun and Riviera Maya and Mexico City. Adding to that, over one-third of Mexico's supply are resort destinations, with Cancun and Riviera Maya holding the largest concentration of rooms in the country, followed by Mexico City, and the Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit regions.

Even more impressive, the pipeline of new hotels for the country stands at 14,000 rooms under construction and 10,000 rooms currently in planning, expected to deliver by the end of 2023, a true testament to investor confidence. As part of the pipeline, luxury brands such as Ritz Carlton, Park Hyatt, Waldorf Astoria, Four Seasons, St. Regis and JW Marriott, will strengthen positioning and drive higher room rates in destinations such as Mexico City, Cancun and Riviera Maya.

Current State: An Investor's Market

Mexico is a strategic gateway destination in Latin America and there is ample opportunity to invest in quality and profitable assets with long-term market fundamentals. Mexico's sophisticated financing system allows investors to finance hotel acquisitions and development at attractive rates. Drawing interest from investors domestically and internationally, attractive loan-to-values (LTV) range near 50 percent of the total value of the asset, with lenders in Mexico including both local banks and international banks.

Read the full Travel and Tourism Update here. For more global research and information regarding investor sentiment, download JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group's Hotel Investment Outlook for 2021.

JLL's Hotels & Hospitality Group has completed more transactions than any other hotels and hospitality real estate advisor over the last five years, totaling $83 billion worldwide. The group's 350-strong global team in over 20 countries also closed more than 7,350 advisory, valuation and asset management assignments. Our hotel valuation, brokerage, asset management and consultancy services have helped more hotel investors, owners and operators achieve high returns on their assets than any other real estate advisor in the world.

For more news, videos and research resources on JLL, please visit our newsroom.
Opinion Article

5 May 2021

A happy guest is an objective for all hoteliers and much hard work is employed towards creating a unique guest experience. As a "home away from home," hotels are expected to guarantee a pleasant and safe environment for guests and staff. That includes good indoor air quality*. Something fundamental for our health and well-being.

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The pandemic has boosted the awareness about the importance of indoor environments. For most people pre-COVID-19, the term air quality applied to the outdoor air quality issues, such as smog or haze5. Due to the pandemic, indoor air quality and its possible adverse health effects have emerged as a key topic for many people. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, only 5% of business travellers ranked health and safety as the most important factor when booking a trip vs. 40% during the pandemic1.

This growing air-awareness and well as the potential risk for airborne transmissions of SARS-CoV-2, due to aerosols and unhealthy CO2 levels has, highlighted the need for monitored indoor environments. This means that improving and especially monitoring indoor air quality is necessary to keep the spread of airborne transmissions under control3.

But what does that mean for hotels? The "home away from home," where hoteliers are expected to make their guests feel safe and cared for. A place that many guests are reluctant to come back to. 73% of business travellers express concerns about traveling again1. Many hotels have already invested large sums into air purifying systems to ensure good air quality. Still, only a small amount of them can use these investments to reassure guests and increase their bookings.

So, what if the hotels could monitor the air quality in their rooms and communicate it to their guests to reassure them that they can feel safe in their "home away from home"?

We compiled three arguments why hotels should start monitoring and communicating their air quality:

1. Improved Guest Experience

Hotel guests spend a large amount of their stay either sleeping or otherwise occupying their rooms. For hotels, air quality is about more than temperature and humidity; it is also about indoor contaminants that could cause discomfort such as drowsiness and induce serious health effects.

As mentioned earlier, that awareness about the adverse effects of bad indoor air quality has increased significantly. While pre-COVID-19 guests who experienced poor indoor air quality during their stay may have chosen not to return or leave a negative online review, post-COVID-19 guests want to be reassured before and during their stay that the air they breathe is safe for them and does not increase the risk of being contaminated2.

The ability to prove to guests that the air they breathe is healthy can instil confidence to return to stay at hotels and increase the hotel's reputation in the industry and among potential guests.

2. Increase operating efficiency

Did you ever stay in a hotel room that smelled stuffy? That room might have experienced mould growth within the enclosed environment because of high humidity and non-sufficient air ventilation. This proves that bad air quality can influence the guest experience and lead to higher renovation and reactive maintenance costs2.

Especially now that many rooms are idle for a long time, hoteliers must monitor the air quality in those rooms to reduce the risk of losing value by being unused and incurring damages due to for example mould. A centralized air quality monitoring system can save hotels costs and resources, as it can increase the quality of the manual checks of rooms done by the maintenance teams in a hotel.

By monitoring and measuring the hotel's air quality, facility managers can take proactive measures before problems with air quality can lead to costly damages to the property and lower building quality.

3. Staff Productivity

Same as for the guests, bad indoor air quality can have adverse effects on the hotel teams. A good example here are cleaning supplies and solvents from freshly painted walls and furniture that increase the levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC), which can have adverse health effects, if staff is exposed to this air for a longer time.

If they are uncomfortable, they will not be able to work efficiently and effectively. It can affect their concentration and productivity, which can hurt the guest experience. Low air quality can cause headaches, dry eyes and throats, dizziness, and tiredness. Furthermore, as we will see in a later article, low air quality can lead to a higher risk of contamination with viruses such as SARS-CoV-24.

Conclusion

As we can see, there are three crucial arguments why monitoring air quality can positively impact the hotel performance and the health and safety of guests and staff. It can improve the hotel teams' working conditions and even bring back guests into the hotels, by acting as a confidence booster. Furthermore, it can support the hotel in saving costs and resources by reducing the time used for manually checking idle rooms, and it can alert about problems that are not visible to the human eye before it is too late.

At ARVE, we do not just want to tell you that some air quality parameters are not right. The ARVE Swiss Air Quality System allows you to not only know the air quality in each room in real-time, but it also gives you actionable insights to make smart management decisions.

Did you know? The average human takes 25,000 breaths each day. Let's make them count for you and your hotel.

* Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is referred to as the quality within and around buildings and closed spaces, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of occupants of such spaces. There are different sources of indoor air pollutants, including smoke, building materials, cleaning and personal care suppliers and more6.

More about ARVE.swiss ARVE is a Swiss Start-up headquartered in Bern and Hong Kong that has been part of the EHL Incubator since 2019. ARVE was founded in 2017 by Claudio Graf (CEO), Kaspar Zimmerli (COO) and Lars Diener-Kimmich (Innovation Advisor). The newest member of the team, Larina Laube, joined in September this year and is a recent graduate from EHL. Since last year, ARVE is in close collaboration with EHL and its faculty to develop new and innovative digital services for the hospitality industry.In addition to its newest service, the data-based cleanliness certification, ARVE offers hotels a new way to solve long-lived operational problems and generate impressive savings: optimize humidity, detect mold, lower energy costs, catch smokers and more. The ARVE Sense Activity Detectors feed the data intelligence engine and can detect various activities discreetly and reliably by measuring air quality.

Sources:
Enel Green Power said Wednesday that it plans to build its largest solar farm in North America just southeast of Waco, another solar project in Grimes County, northwest of Houston, and a wind project near Abilene.

The Italian renewable energy company projects the three projects would have the combined capacity to generate nearly 1,200 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 240,000 Texas homes on a hot summer day. The new projects would boost Enels generating capacity in Texas to about 2,000 megawatts, or enough for power about 400,000 homes in Texas.

Georgios Papadimitriou, head of Enel Green Power in the United States and Canada, said the projects reflect the companys focus on Texas, which is the nations largest producer of wind energy and home to a fast-growing solar sector. Enel, one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world, made its initial U.S. investments in the Midwest about 15 years ago, but has targeted Texas since 2018.

Texas has been, and we think it will definitely continue to be, one of the most business-friendly states, Papadimitriou said. Its one of the states where we can develop very quickly new power plants, and a state where energy markets are open to receiving investments like the ones we currently have underway.

Part of Texas appeal, he said, is the relative ease of permitting energy projects. That helps companies get projects online faster than other places in the United States.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Greentown Labs opening marks clean energy milestone in Houston

The largest of the new projects, a solar farm in Falls County near Waco, is projected to produce about 639 megawatts once its operational in the fall of 2022, and an adjacent, utility-scale storage facility will be able to store 59 megawatts. Enel officials anticipate the Waco project, called Roseland, will create 350 temporary construction jobs and 18 permanent jobs, and generate more than $52 million in lease payments to the landowner and $59 million in local tax revenues over a 35-year lifetime.

Closer to Houston, the company will build a solar farm capable of generating 270 megawatts and accompanying battery storage of 59 megawatts in Grimes County. It will create about 450 construction positions and eight permanent jobs.

Enel expects the plant to begin operating at the end of this year.

Its third project, in Callahan and Eastland counties, is estimated to generate 263 megawatts through wind turbines with 87 megawatts of storage capacity through its battery system.

Papadimitriou declined to disclose how much his company is investing in the projects. It generally costs about $1 billion to bring 1,000 megawatts of clean energy generation online.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Exxon eyes Houston for $100b carbon capture hub

Enel said it plans to build battery storage facilities at its new and existing projects in Texas. Papadimitriou said the falling costs of batteries and the ability to store power when prices are low and sell it when they are high made the investment an easy choice.

In addition to the projects in Texas, Enel Green Power said it will build a 200-megawatt wind farm in Illinois and a 140-megawatt wind farm in Oklahoma.

shelby.webb@chron.com
Houston liquefied natural gas company Tellurian said Wednesday that it lost money in the first quarter of 2021 despite the recovery of the LNG industry from the coronavirus pandemic and Texas winter storm.

The company reported a $27 million loss in the first three months of the year, compared to a $41 million loss during the same period in 2020. Revenue rose 6 percent to $8.7 million in the period from $8.2 million in the first quarter of 2020.

EARNINGS: Cheniere Energy reports first quarter 2021 profit of $393 million



Tellurian said its focus during the first quarter was debt reduction. The company made a voluntary $17 million debt repayment on April 23, 2021, and has now paid off all of its loans, according to the Wednesday release.

In a podcast posted to the companys website last month, Executive Chairman Charif Souki said Tellurian in late April drilled its first well since 2018, returning to the Haynesville shale in Louisiana.

At current prices, it makes a lot of sense to resume our drilling program, Souki said in the podcast.

The companys Driftwood LNG project in Lake Charles, La., with a projected cost of nearly $18 billion, holds permits but lacks contracts and financing to begin construction. If built, Driftwood would have the capacity to export nearly 28 million metric tons of LNG per year.

Tellurian now has a much stronger balance sheet and global customers continue to be very interested in our integrated, market-based liquefied natural gas product offering as they build their portfolios with flexible, reliable and cleaner energy sources, President and CEO Octavio Simoes said in the release. Additionally, we are looking forward to expanding our drilling program in 2021, having recently spud a new well in the prolific Haynesville Shale, that we expect to provide valuable revenue.

Souki said last month in an email that he expects demand for natural gas to only grow around the world as more consumers commit to environmental targets.

The slow shift to climate change requires more electricity. It also requires countries to phase out coal- and fuel oil-fired plants in favor of cleaner-burning natural gas.

With increased demand for global electrification, the natural gas industry is structurally short of supply, Souki said in the email. With Driftwood LNG, we expect Tellurian to be at the heart of this dialogue to reduce global pollution.






Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Editors note: This is the first installment of an eight-week series geared toward helping Renew readers prepare their bodies and minds to return to normal life this summer, as the pandemic wanes.

Shana Ross, owner of Shana Ross Fitness in the Heights, believes you are never too old to get in shape, even during a pandemic. She suggests starting with a good core warmup on a stability ball. Ross offers this full-body workout, with each exercise flowing into the next, that you can do right at home.



Ross stressed that stability balls come in various diameters, so it is important to buy the correct size for your height. You should be able to sit on the ball with your feet on the floor and your knees should be at 90 degrees.
Only a month has passed since a medical emergency left Margie Rangel speechless and unable to walk. Now, she takes daily walks at the park near her home. Shes able to move and think the same as before. Her friends tell her, You dont look like you had a stroke.

I feel strong, Rangel said. Everyone says I almost recovered too quickly.

Sometimes, her quick recovery is surprising even to her. Its like a miracle, Rangel said.

For the southeast Houston resident, March 25 started off like any other regular morning. After waking up, she headed to the bathroom to brush her teeth. But she felt a little faint, so she sat down.

She tried to call out to her husband, Albert, who was asleep in the next room  but no words came out. Thats when she realized she could no longer speak.

Rangel reached for the trash can and began banging it on the wall.

That woke him up, she said.

Rangel could not stand, so Albert dragged her back to the bedroom.

MORE HEALTH NEWS: Houston toddler first to receive COVID vaccine in Baylor, Texas Children's trial for young kids

Thats the last thing she remembers.

Albert later told her that her eyes rolled back in her head. He called their grandson Michael to come over to help.

As soon as he saw me, he said, Shes having a stroke, Rangel recalled.

Three ambulances came, and Rangel was wheeled out on a stretcher.

She has a few flashes of memory. Inside the ambulance, a doctor was visible on a screen, giving orders to the medics on board.

Rangel recalls their talk about a tPA, a term she never heard before. Thats all I remember, she said.

An injection of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a treatment usually given within the first three hours of a stroke. The drug dissolves the blood clot that causes the stroke  restoring blood flow.

By the time Rangel arrived at the hospital, her blood clot was dissolved, and a doctor was standing by to get her blood pressure under control.

After a few weeks of therapy, she was back up and at it.

Rangel later discovered that the ambulance that transported her was specifically prepared for her medical emergency.

Equipped with telemedicine and the needed tPA injection, she was whisked away in UTHealths Mobile Stroke Unit.

Thank God for the reaction from the stroke unit, she said. It might have been worse if they had not been there.

The Mobile Stroke Unit was the brainchild of Dr. James Grotta, the former chair of neurology with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. The neurologist now serves as director of stroke research at the Clinical Institute for Research and Innovation at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.

Grotta created the Mobile Stroke Unit when he was still employed by UTHealth.

Grotta explained that a number of medical advances made it possible.

First, the FDA approved tPA for acute ischemic stroke in 1996. Before that, Grotta said there were no stroke teams around Houston, mainly because there was no treatment.

The only issue with the tPA injection was that it required reaching the patients early, Grotta explained.

MORE FROM LINDSAY PEYTON: A rare COVID side effect caused his tongue to swell, forcing a Houston surgeon to step in

We realized that if this was possible, it had to be done fast, he said. The sooner we treated the patient, the better.

That resulted in a partnership with the fire department, trying to reach individuals with stroke immediately.

Then, Grotta learned a portable CT scanner had been developed in Germany, allowing ambulances to bring the hospital to the patient.

This was the missing piece for the Mobile Stroke Unit, Grotta explained, because patients had to first be diagnosed on a CT scan to determine whether they were having a stroke treatable with tPA or a hemorrhagic stroke.

Grotta connected with Frazer, a Houston-based emergency-vehicle builder, to design the Mobile Stroke Unit, and a $1 million dollar donation from Jim McIngvale, aka Mattress Mack, funded the build-out.

In 2014, Grotta introduced the first Mobile Stroke Unit in the U.S. Currently, he said, there are about 20 in the country.

Grotta immediately began a clinical trial, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, to evaluate the efficacy of the new specialized emergency vehicle.

It wasnt enough to just put the Mobile Stroke Unit in operation, he said. We wanted to know if we were making enough of a difference and show that we could really improve stroke care.

From 2014 to 2020, more than 1,000 patients were studied, including about 800 in Houston. Each individual was followed for a year after the stroke to focus on recovery.

What we found was that, indeed, we could speed up treatment, Grotta said.

He explained that the specially equipped ambulance makes it possible to treat a patient within the critical first hour of exhibiting stroke symptoms. The same is not necessarily true in an emergency room, where a few hours can pass before a patient is transported, diagnosed and connected to the doctor on call.

In the first hour, the blood clot is easier to dissolve and the treatment is better, Grotta said.

The trial revealed that 33 percent of patients could be treated in that first hour in the Mobile Stroke Unit, compared to 3 percent in the traditional setting.

About 97 percent were treated with tPA in the Mobile Stroke Unit, compared to 79 percent in the hospital.

In addition, about 11 percent more patients treated in the Mobile Stroke Unit completely recovered from their stroke.

That means that for every 100 patients we treat, 11 more will be completely cured, which is a lot, Grotta said.

And theres no increased risk, Grotta said.

He explained that patients like Rangel will continue to be studied to determine what extent their treatment translated to a reduced need for rehabilitation and long-term care later on.

Is it worth the effort, and how do you measure that? You measure it in quality of life gained, Grotta said. Well have that information by the end of the summer.

He believes that in the next 10 years, Houston could house three or four mobile stroke units.

Currently, the one unit covers around 70 percent of the city, a 13-mile radius of the Texas Medical Center. The ambulances transport patients to stroke departments at all area hospitals.

Its a community effort, Grotta said. And well continue to be that way. Its been successful.

In stroke care, the phrase time is brain has become a common mantra.

The Mobile Stroke Unit  outfitted with brain imaging technology, a lab and telemedicine interface or even a doctor on board  allows efficient treatment, when time is of the essence.

We can treat people right there on the driveway, Grotta said. All they have to do is call 911.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.
Harris Country reported nine more COVID-19-related deaths 8,000 additional vaccinations in the six zip codes that comprise the Lake Houston area last week.

There were 21,430 confirmed cases and 230 deaths in the Lake Houston area zip codes according to data from Harris County Public Health as of May 5. Texas reached 2,478,241 confirmed cases and 49,362 total deaths while Harris County has reached 393,183 confirmed cases and 6,230 total deaths, according to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.

STATE: Texas House blocks bill that would ban transgender girls from playing on sports teams

In the Lake Houston area, 71,426 people have been vaccinated, according to zip code data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Vaccines are now available for anyone above the age of 16 as was reported previously. Harris County now has enough vaccines that a waitlist is no longer required according to earlier reporting from the Houston Chronicle. Despite vaccinations, it is still advised to continue to wear masks in public places and keep six feet of distance according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Humble ISD reported 105 active student cases (0.29 percent) and 28 active staff cases (0.37 percent) by May 5. There have been a total of 2,094 student cases and 867 staff cases since public reporting began on Aug. 11, according to the district data.

More Information Data on the coronavirus as of May 5 from Harris County Public Health can be viewed by zip code. These zip codes cover the Lake Houston area. For information about vaccinated individuals, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website. 77396 5193 confirmed cases 171 active cases 4979 recovered 43 deaths 11893 fully vaccinated 77346 5540 confirmed cases 250 active cases 5251 recovered 39 deaths 18489 fully vaccinated 77338 4046 confirmed cases 150 active cases 3819 recovered 74 deaths 7899 fully vaccinated 77339 1294 confirmed cases 35 active cases 1219 recovered 40 deaths 11772 fully vaccinated 77345 766 confirmed cases 12 active cases 747 recovered 7 deaths 9521 fully vaccinated 77044 4591 confirmed cases 118 active cases 4446 recovered 27 deaths 11852 fully vaccinated Totals July 31: Total: 2,928 cases, 51 deaths Aug 31: 4,572 confirmed cases, 80 deaths Oct. 26: 7,818 confirmed cases, 116 deaths Nov. 24: 9,127 confirmed cases, 129 deaths Dec. 30: 11,878 confirmed cases, 143 deaths Jan. 26: 15,632 confirmed cases, 159 deaths Feb. 23: 17,344 confirmed cases, 165-170 deaths March 30: 19,942 confirmed cases, 195 deaths April 28: 21,141 confirmed cases, 221 deaths, 63,913 fully vaccinated May 5: 21,430 confirmed cases, 230 deaths, 71,426 fully vaccinated See More Collapse

Meanwhile, the Houston Health Department is running two surge sites affiliated with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star Drive, and Houston Community College - North Forest, 6010 Little York Rd., according to a press release from the city. There are also a handful of other locations for testing scattered throughout the city, including at HCC - Northeast Campus, 555 Community College Drive, offering a self-mouth swab.

Top hits: Get Houston Chronicle stories sent directly to your inbox

Houston Emergency Operations Center will have free testing in the northeast sector at Houston Community College - North Forest, 6010 Little York Rd. For free COVID-19 testing locations as reported previously. To find other locations, visit Harris County Public Health website here and the Houston Emergency Operations Center here. If the internet is not available, call 832-927-7575 to schedule an appointmen
Schools should not withhold examination results for non-payment of fees but should instead take action against the defaulting parents or guardians, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Ambassador Cain Mathema said last night.

This week, the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council released O-level results and some candidates have been blocked from getting their results, which they need immediately to secure A level places.

Minister Mathema wants the debt recovery process to be strictly between schools and parents.

The children were not part of the contracts between schools and parents hence they should never be disadvantaged.

Heads of government schools that continue withholding pupils results will face disciplinary action while private schools risk being sanctioned or completely deregistered for not adhering to the rules.

Schools are not allowed to withhold results of learners, said Minsiter Mathema. It is illegal for schools to withhold results over non-payment of fees.

Whether private or public, schools should find means of recovering what is owed to them by parents and guardians without punishing learners.

Learners should be allowed to access their results timeously and continue with their education while school authorities engage defaulting parents.

It is not the intention of Government to financially cripple the operations of schools but pupils cannot be punished fo their parents failure to pay fees.

Schools authorities can take legal action against defauling parents. Chronicle
When the famous Midway BBQ in Katy burned to the ground in the early hours of Feb. 20, the community was devastated. Yesterday, owner Herman Meyer upheld his promise to reopen the iconic eatery- and he was able to do so because of an outpouring of love from the community.

Midway BBQ Junior has officially opened its temporary location at 6191 Highway Boulevard, in the space formerly occupied by Crown Kitchen.

Midway BBQ Junior opened its doors last Saturday.

Midway BBQ served up some of the citys most popular barbecue for more than 52 years before it was destroyed in the blaze. Meyer, 82, called the fire a setback and promised to bring his barbecue back to the community as soon as possible.

Related: Iconic Katy restaurant Midway BBQ destroyed in blaze

After numerous fundraising efforts from devoted patrons, the restaurant had the funds to open a temporary and much smaller joint while the main building undergoes extensive repairs, said Jason Carlisle, general manager.

With funding secured from the community efforts, one final consideration remained- Midway BBQ had nowhere to set up shop.

Colburn McClelland, owner of Willy Burger and Crown Kitchen restaurants, offered to close Crown Kitchen to lease the space for Midway BBQ Junior.

McClelland said that when he and his wife moved to Katy six years ago, Meyer was one of the first people to welcome them to the community. Offering Meyer the space, McClelland said, was his way of paying Meyer back for his kindness.

After the fire happened, I saw Mr. Meyer sitting in his truck behind the meat market, McClelland recalled. I drove back there, and when I looked in his eyes, they just teared up, mine teared up, and I saw my own granddaddy sitting there in that truck.

McClelland said his biggest priority was helping the Midway BBQ employees who were out of work when the restaurant burned down.

Herman and I were both worried about his employees, who had already been through so much this year because of COVID, McClelland said. Great employees are hard to find in the restaurant industry, and I didnt want (Meyer) to lose his because of this.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston toddler first to receive COVID vaccine in Baylor, Texas Children's trial for young kids

Carlisle said the Midway BBQ Junior will serve about 95 percent of its original menu, sans its hamburgers.

We dont want to compete with Willy Burger, so we took our burgers off the menu, Carlisle said. (McClelland) is doing so much for us by allowing us to be here that were not going to be in competition.

As its name implies, Midway BBQ Junior is smaller than the original restaurant as well. Were in a space thats about one-eighth the size of what were used to, so were having to ask customers to be patient as we work with the new location, Carlisle said. Its been a challenge for the customers and my employees learning all that and operating in a space so small.

Carlisle said that fire investigators still do not know what started the blaze, and the restaurant may not have answers for months. We know it started in the office, but as to the cause, we have no definitive answer at this point, he said.

As Midway BBQ Junior serves up its beloved barbecue, renovation of the main location is already moving forward.

We started demo two or three weeks ago, and were almost done with that, Carlisle reported. Were also working on designs for the changes that we're going to be making, and then well start bidding for the work itself.

Once Midway BBQ is back at its regular location, McClelland said, Crown Kitchen will reopen in its usual spot.

claire.goodman@chron.com
Advocates for reproductive rights have always needed a certain degree of stoicism in Texas.

This year, a taste for bleak humor would also come in handy. The Texas House on Wednesday is planning to take up a measure that seeks to whack away at access to the procedure by outlawing most abortions after the six-week mark. State law currently bans most abortions after 20 weeks.

But Senate Bill 8  like its identical counterpart, House Bill 1515  isnt your usual six-week abortion ban. It also includes a bizarre yet novel enforcement mechanism that could, according to legal experts, open the door to a slew of potential lawsuits against any Texan who helps someone terminate a pregnancy.

Instead of going with the typical state enforcement, which is how laws typically work, theyve sort of invented a new mechanism where its up to private citizens to enforce the ban, explained Dyana Limon-Mercado, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes.

On HoustonChronicle.com: 350 Texas lawyers, 200 doctors warn of chaos if 'fetal heartbeat' bill is enacted

SB8 focuses on the six-week mark because it is the point at which a fetal heartbeat can be detected. Advocates for reproductive rights say the measure is effectively an outright abortion ban. Many people dont even realize theyre pregnant at such an early stage. Even if they do, they would have to jump through the various hoops the state has already set up, as well as arrange for time off work or child care or so on. And thats assuming that the decision to terminate the pregnancy is an easy one, which it often is not.

A number of states have already passed six-week abortion bans, only to see them struck down including by conservative courts such as the Fifth Circuit, which last year threw out a Mississippi law banning abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. All agree that cardiac activity can be detected well before the fetus is viable, the court wrote, adding: That dooms the law. Under Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court held that women have the right to an abortion prior to the point of viability.

Pro-life groups in Texas are trying a different tack. SB8, as passed by the Senate, would leave enforcement to individuals by creating a private cause for action. Such a law might not pass constitutional muster, but it cant be challenged via the same litigation strategy that has thwarted all the other statewide six-week bans passed to date.

Its legally clever in some ways, conceded Blake Rocap, the legislative director for Avow, the nonprofit formerly known as NARAL Pro-Choice Texas.

But legally clever does not equate to sound public policy, according to several hundred lawyers who have signed an open letter to Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan and the members of the Texas House, urging them to oppose the measure.

Regardless of our personal beliefs about abortion, as licensed attorneys sworn to uphold the constitutions of Texas and the United States, we implore you to not use the judicial branch in the political battle over abortion with legislation that subverts the foundations of our judicial system, they write.

We are specifically concerned that HB 1515 and SB8 grant any person the right to sue, they explain, including even those who do not reside in Texas and those with no connection to a patient, against a broad range of defendants.

Thats right: under SB8, anyone in the country could sue a Texan who performs or induces an abortion in violation of this chapter or who knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets the performance of an abortion  or, for that matter, who intends to engage in such conduct.

Of immediate concern, advocates say, is that such a system would expose vulnerable women to a new form of retaliatory action from people who mean them harm.

We see legal intimidation in abusive relationships pretty regularly, and this is another tool the Legislature would be giving to people in that situation, Limon-Mercado said.

What if you give a loved one a ride to the clinic for an abortion, or escort her home afterwards, as is required for her own safety  could you be sued for that?

Yeah, absolutely, I think, under the traditional notion of what aiding and abetting is, said Rocap. Think of the folks who have been convicted under the felony murder rule because they were the getaway driver.

What if youre a pastor who counsels a woman who is pregnant and grappling with a painful decision, as a result?

I think so, yes, Rocap said. The example weve been using, of course, is rape crisis counselors  if you provide information like the number to an abortion clinic, that clearly falls into the notion of aiding and abetting. I see a similar reasoning.

Plenty of other hypotheticals come to mind. What if youre a pro-life person who nonetheless seeks health care at a Planned Parenthood from time to time, thus funneling some modest amount of money to an organization that provides abortions, among other services?

It would be absurd to be sued for such a thing, of course. But sillier lawsuits have been brought. And, in addition to everything else  and in stark contrast to the states general approach to frivolous lawsuits  SB 8 would protect the litigants in such a situation, no matter how vindictive their motives or ridiculous their arguments: If you successfully defend yourself from such a lawsuit, you cant even recoup your legal fees or other costs.

The problems with this idea should be obvious. And perhaps they are: a new survey from Public Policy Polling found that while 36 percent of respondents support the six-week ban, just 19 percent think its a good idea to give out-of-state scolds standing to sue a Texan who helps someone access an abortion. Only 12 percent think a rapist should be allowed to sue a doctor who performs an abortion on their victim.

That may not be sufficient to thwart SB8s passage in the House, or to prevent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott from signing it; he has declared abortion restrictions a priority for this session. Advocates are curious to see if its amended on the House floor  and pessimistic about their chances of stopping the bills passage outright, given that the chamber is controlled by Republicans, more than 60 of whom have signed on as sponsors or cosponsors.

But this bill amounts to a brazen disregard for the rights of all Texans. They should be free to support their loved ones who might seek an abortion in any way they see fit, without the risk of being harassed in court by any busybody with a grievance.

erica.grieder@chron.com
Harris County Constable Precinct 5

Authorities on Wednesday discovered five people inside a tractor-trailer in Katy in what appears to be a human smuggling case.

Deputies with the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office were responding to a suspicious activity call on Wednesday morning when they found the undocumented migrants, according to the agency.
CHICAGO (AP)  Before schools shuttered during the pandemic, Ayaana Johnson worried every time she dropped her daughters off at school.

Johnson, a Black woman, says racism is rampant in her predominantly white Georgia town. At her daughters school, a student once used racial slurs and told another child he doesnt play with brown people. She says teachers are quick to punish or reprimand Black children and Ku Klux Klan flyers can be found in mailboxes.

I knew from pregnancy on that this would be something wed have to deal with, said Johnson, who asked that the town not be identified because she was concerned about potential fallout. This is the kind of area we live in, so you can imagine that youre always going to feel protective of your children.

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As schools reopen across the country, Black students have been less likely than white students to enroll in in-person learning  a trend attributed to factors including concerns about the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on communities of color, a lack of trust that their schools are equipped to keep children safe, and the large numbers of students of color in urban districts that have been slower to reopen classrooms.

But many Black parents are finding another benefit to remote learning: being better able to shield their children from racism in classrooms.

Now that theyre home, we feel safer, said Johnson, who was keeping her two young daughters home despite options being made available for in-person learning.

White students have been far more likely to be back in the classroom, with 52% of white fourth-graders receiving full-time, in-person instruction in February, the latest month with results available from surveys by the Biden administration. By contrast, less than a third of Black and Hispanic fourth-graders were back at school full time, along with just 15% of Asian American students.

VIRTUAL SCHOOL OUTBURST: New Jersey teacher suspended after racist rant, calling George Floyd 'a criminal'

Even before the pandemic, concerns about racially hostile environments contributed to large numbers of Black parents turning to homeschooling, said Khadijah Ali-Coleman, co-director of Black Family Homeschool Educators and Scholars. There has since been a surge in homeschooling among Black families.

Racism in schools plays a huge, huge role in a familys choice to do homeschooling, Ali-Coleman said. That racism can manifest in a lot of different ways, from a teacher who criminalizes every behavior to not recognizing how curriculums exclude the experiences of Black people to not presenting Black children with the same opportunities such as accelerated classes as white children.

Ali-Coleman chose homeschooling for her own daughter partially due to racism in schools. And while remote learning is different from homeschooling, she said she understands how the switch to remote learning would make Black parents feel more empowered and able to oversee the racism their children are facing.

Many remote learning parents have also reached out to her for advice after seeing for the first time the racism their children face.

I think this has been eye-opening to a lot of parents, she said. Theyre finally getting to see what goes on in classrooms for Black and brown students, and I think many are dismayed.

Remote learning also puts parents in a better position to intervene if necessary.

When theyre at school, you have no clue what theyre going through unless you do the digging or they tell you, said Erica Alcox, a mother of a 15-year-old high school freshman in Atlanta. Remote learning lets you peek into the classroom. It puts more power back in our hands.

Alcox, who has been a teacher since 1998, said her son feels safer at home, where he can worry less about how schools police Black children and about bullying. She said remote learning can also offer opportunities for teachers to learn from parents.

As a teacher, I would welcome this opportunity for parents to be more involved and to be more able to hold me accountable if need be," she said.

Many parents also say they feel more empowered in having more control over what their children learn. While many schools largely ignore or gloss over Black history, culture and voices, remote learning allows parents to better see whats missing.

Johnson does this through efforts like socially distanced backyard African dance lessons. Tanya Hayles, founder of Black Moms Connection, an online network of more than 16,000 Black mothers with chapters across North America and Asia, said she makes sure to monitor Black History Month lessons to fill in any gaps in coverage.

Hayles said she has noticed discussions among members about how remote learning has allowed Black mothers to better shield their children from racism.

A mother of an 8-year-old son in Toronto, Hayles has seen the benefit of remote learning in her own life. Most days, she works at a table beside her son to keep an eye on him and the classroom, where a lack of diversity among students and staff at her childs affluent, predominantly white school is a concern.

When your child enters the school system, you are no longer just a parent, she said. Youre an advocate, a detective, a cheerleader, so many things. And in some ways, remote learning makes that work easier.
Seventy-five digital kiosks are coming to sidewalks in Houston neighborhoods with high pedestrian traffic to display ads and point passersby to nearby amenities, following a robust debate among residents and officials at City Hall Wednesday.

Council voted 10-7 to approve the deal after nearly two hours of debate, an unusually tight margin by council standards.

It took two votes: The first was to change a city ordinance regulating sidewalks to allow for the kiosks. The second vote was to approve the contract with Ohio-based IKE Smart City LLC to provide and operate the interactive devices and operate them for the next 12 years.

Councilmembers Amy Peck, Greg Travis, Robert Gallegos, Mike Knox, David Robinson, Michael Kubosh, and Sallie Alcorn voted against changing the city ordinance. All but Kubosh voted against the contract, and Letitia Plummer joined those voting no. Kubosh joined the majority in favor of the contract.

IKE Smart City LLC will install the devices, designed to mimic oversized smartphones or tablets, over the next three years. The company is due to submit a deployment plan within 30 days.

The vote On the ordinance change: Yes: Mayor Sylvester Turner, Councilmembers Tarsha Jackson (District B), Abbie Kamin (District C), Carolyn Evans-Shabazz (District D), Dave Martin (District E), Tiffany Thomas (District F), Karla Cisneros (District H), Ed Pollard (District J), Martha Castex-Tatum (District K), Letitia Plummer (At-Large) No: Amy Peck (District A), Greg Travis (District G), Robert Gallegos (District I), Mike Knox (At-Large), David Robinson (At-Large), Michael Kubosh (At-Large), and Sallie Alcorn (At-Large) On the contract: Yes: Mayor Sylvester Turner, Councilmembers Tarsha Jackson (District B), Abbie Kamin (District C), Carolyn Evans-Shabazz (District D), Dave Martin (District E), Tiffany Thomas (District F), Karla Cisneros (District H), Ed Pollard (District J), Martha Castex-Tatum (District K), Michael Kubosh (At-Large) No: Amy Peck (District A), Greg Travis (District G), Robert Gallegos (District I), Mike Knox (At-Large), David Robinson (At-Large), Letitia Plummer (At-Large), and Sallie Alcorn (At-Large), See More Collapse

A slew of residents called into a City Council meeting Tuesday to voice their opinions on the kiosks, which will display advertisements, direct people to restaurants, businesses, transit options and other amenities in the area, provide free Wi-Fi and 911 access, and include air quality monitors and security cameras.

The city will get 42 percent of the advertising revenue, which officials projected could grow to more than $35 million over the life of the 12-year deal. The company will install the machines at its own cost with no public money.

The agenda item would have allowed for up to 125 devices on Houston sidewalks, but Mayor Sylvester Turner on Tuesday said the city would cap the number at 75. He promised council members, management districts and local businesses would have a say in where the signs are installed.

District C Councilmember Abbie Kamin won unanimous approval on an amendment that would require the company to notify district council members  in addition to the local management district  about proposed locations to install signs, although it does not require their approval. The citys chief development officer gets final approval over the location, but Turner emphasized that he would oversee that process closely.

District G Councilmember Greg Travis proposed an amendment to the contract to ensure the kiosks were equitably distributed across the 11 City Council districts, but it failed, 14-3. Knox and Kubosh voted for it.

Critics, such as Scenic Houston, have railed against the kiosk deal, likening the signs to digital billboards and arguing it erodes decades of progress limiting those in Houston, where new billboards have been banned since 1980. There also was significant concern among residents that the signs would be placed outside businesses that do not want them, or in residential neighborhoods. Turner said that would not be the case.

City officials said the comparison to digital billboards is not accurate. They hailed the ad revenue and way-finding benefits of the devices. Turner pointed out that Dallas is putting 300 kiosks in its city.

It aligns perfectly well with us designing and building a smart city and walkable, pedestrian, livable city, all of the things that we have been working on, Turner said.

Kamin said she was excited the kiosks come with air quality monitors. Mayor Pro Tem David Martin, who represents District E, said he recently visited San Antonio and used its kiosks to navigate around town. District J Councilmember Ed Pollard, who pitched the idea to the mayor and pointed out that he was not born yet when the city banned new billboards, said the devices offer a mix of community resources and new technology for the next generation.

Were looking at the interface, were looking at the apps that are on there, the ways in which you can interact and maneuver around the city based on a cool new amenity, Pollard said.

Opponents on council cited a flurry of opposition from residents at Tuesdays meeting and in hundreds of emails and calls to council offices.

Travis said the city could put QR codes, which allow smart phone users to scan for information or a website link, on sidewalks instead of the large devices. He said the vast majority of feedback he has heard from his district, which includes the Galleria area, has been negative.

I just have a hard time going against my constituents on this, Travis said.

Knox pointed out that earlier in the meeting, Turner and other members stressed the need to remove clutter from the city when approving new regulations for donation boxes. Adding kiosks, he said, appears to counter that goal, and he argued smart phones that most people carry render the kiosks unnecessary.

I suspect that, but for the fact that were getting revenue from this thing, the kiosk issue would not even be on the agenda, he said.

Alcorn cited the citys history in trying to curb billboards.

Through the course of many years, there has been a conscious and deliberate effort to remove unwanted advertising, Alcorn said. These kiosks are adding ads to the public realm.

dylan.mcguinness@chron.com
Family members and advocates of Joshua Johnson, who was killed last year by an undercover sheriff's deputy in Missouri City, on Thursday will meet with the Harris County District Attorney's Office to discuss a grand jury's recent decision not to indict the officer who shot him, according to U.S. Rep. Al Green.

Green, who has advocated on behalf of the family since the shooting, said the meeting will take place at 4 p.m. at the district attorney's office headquarters downtown. He said the family wants more clarity on last week's grand jury decision not to indict Harris County Sheriff's Office deputy Tu Tran, who shot the 35-year-old Johnson in April 2020 during an undercover operation in the 1500 block of East Ritter Circle.

During a Wednesday news conference at his office, Green released a list of questions the family plans to ask, including whether the deputy or any medical experts testified before the grand jury. They also plan to ask for a copy of the ballistics report, Green said.

"Now that the grand jury has spoken, let the parents have some sense of what happened," Green said.

Johnson's parents, Wilhelmena and Richard Beary, attended the news conference but declined to make any statements.

According to earlier reports, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said her office sent investigators to the scene the morning of the shooting and hired a ballistics expert. Prosecutors cant reveal what they presented to grand jurors, although Ogg said evidence can include reports, recordings and records of testimony by witnesses.

The day of the shooting, Tran was part of a violent crimes operation to arrest a capital murder suspect from Dallas, believed to be in the neighborhood. Johnson, meanwhile, was house-sitting for a hospitalized neighbor. Authorities say Johnson, who was not the suspect, approached the lawmans unmarked vehicle with his cellphone flashlight and a pistol, later found to be a BB gun.

When Johnson raised his weapon, Tran shot from his car, authorities said. Johnson ran away but died in a nearby driveway. Tran was not wearing a body camera.

One neighbor said Johnson shared concerns about a burglary at the home before the shooting. The neighbor speculated that Johnson might have believed the deputy was the culprit.

Tran is now back on active duty. A grand jury declined to indict him in 2016 after fatally shooting a 24-year-old man outside a Houston night club while he and three other deputies were working an off-duty security job. He was disciplined the following year after a television news helicopter crew witnessed him striking a handcuffed suspect in the throat after a 85-mile chase that ended in Jefferson County.

Samantha Ketterer contributed to this report.

julian.gill@chron.com
Houston police officer Danish Hussain still remembers the chase, years later: sprinting after a robbery suspect through an apartment complex on the west side of town, in the sticky heat of summer.

As his fellow officers gulped water afterward, Hussain walked into a gas station and asked the cashier if he could stand in the freezer. The Muslim officer was fasting for the holy month of Ramadan.

I cant drink (water). I cant do nothing, he said. I was really hot and sweating. So I had to go sit in a cooler for about like 15 to 20 minutes to calm down.

Hussain, 38, is one of a small but growing number of Muslims at the Houston Police Department. For Hussain and other officers, the tenets of Islam dont bend just because the weather is hot. During Ramadan, which ends this year on May 12, Muslims worldwide fast from sunrise to sunset, forgoing food, water  and even chewing gum.

As its workforce has diversified, HPD has modified policies to accommodate officers religious beliefs and sexual orientation  such as by allowing officers to march in uniform in gay pride parades.

In 2017, former Chief Art Acevedo relaxed uniform rules to allow tattooed officers to wear short-sleeved uniforms, exposing their tattoos. After the death of Harris County Sheriffs Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal, the department also rolled out policies to allow future Sikh officers to wear turbans and other articles of faith while on duty. In 2019, HPD changed policies to allow officers to grow facial hair.

A monthlong fast

During the month of Ramadan, observant Muslims who are able must fast daily. They gather at sunset with relatives and friends for the iftar, the meal used to break their fast. Muslims also attend mosques for evening Ramadan prayers.

Last month, newly appointed Chief Troy Finner sent an email to commanders reminding them of Islams fasting requirements and authorized supervisors or dispatchers to allow officers or employees to call out after sunset to break fast or to attend prayer services, if there were no emergencies or priority calls.

Hussain and other current and former officers estimate that between 35 and 50 Muslim officers work at HPD. That mirrors a trend across the United States as departments see increases in the number of Muslim officers. NYPD counts some 900 Muslim officers among its ranks.

Earlier this year, the New Jersey city of Paterson hired its first Muslim police chief, Ibrahim Mike Baycora. Baycora, the citys 17th chief, has served with the department for more than three decades.

In Houston, the department recently promoted a Muslim officer, Yasar Bashir, to the rank of assistant chief.

When Bashir joined the department in 2001, his training academy occurred during Ramadan. He woke up around 4:45 a.m. to eat a traditional pre-dawn meal called suhoor, but often found he wasnt hungry because it was so early. Then hed drive to the training academy to perform physical training with fellow cadets such as running drills or working on defensive tactics.

Thirst is what is super challenging, he recalled.

His first patrol assignment took place in west Houston, at one of the department's busiest stations. Those early days were so hectic and tiring that he didnt fast, he said. He resumed the practice after promoting to sergeant.

When youre young, you may not be practicing, he said. But as you get older, you settle in, then you start finding your religion, you will start practicing more because now you have family, you have kids.

Thanksgiving every day

Now, he looks forward to it. The first couple of weeks are always challenging, but then his body falls into a comfortable rhythm. He feels more alert. It always helps him shed a few pounds.

You can taste everything, he said. Everything tastes a lot better.

His children are also fasting, and every meal feels special.

You know, waking up as a family early in the morning is like ... its like having Thanksgiving every day, he said.

The changes reflect Muslim Americans growing civic participation involvement in all levels of society, said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim civil liberties organization in the United States.

Law enforcement is one aspect of being a contributing citizen, he said.

On Monday, Hussain strode into southwest Houstons Madrasah Islamiah - Masjid on Bintliff Drive to pray. He removed his shoes and walked into the prayer hall.

As the clock struck 2 p.m. on the 22nd day of Ramadan, the imam gave the call to worship. Scores of men trickled into the hall, arraying themselves in long rows on teal carpet. They bowed, kneeled and prostrated themselves, then rose in silent unison as fans creaked overhead.

Hussain, a Pakistani-American from Fort Bend County, immigrated to the U.S. when he was 16. He joined HPD in 2008 after approaching a recruiter to learn about the department. The recruiter handed him paperwork, which he began filling out  only to realize midway through it was a job application.

He spent years working as a crime analyst, and recently took over as the departments Muslim community liaison. But he has always fasted during Ramadan, whether on patrol, or in his other assignments.

In his dark police uniform, Hussain stood out in the expanse of worshippers, many dressed in kameez shalwar, the long tunics traditionally worn in south and central Asia.

The prayer ended a few minutes later, and Hussain walked out into the sunny afternoon to visit residents of a nearby apartment complex.

He ignored his dry mouth. Hed woken up late by mistake, after sunrise  too late to eat or drink anything. After 14 hours without water, he was looking forward to breaking his fast, but he had six more hours until sunset. He walked through an apartment complex next to the Masjid, greeting several residents along the way.

Its going to be a little difficult, he said, grinning in the heat.

Still, he generally doesnt mind the fasting. It helps sharpen the mind.

You feel good, he said. The hunger and discipline reminds him to be grateful for the meal at days end  and that for many people living in poverty, hunger is an everyday fact of life.

Things are different now

Muzzafar Siddiqui spent more than 20 years at the department. Another immigrant from Pakistan, he had served in his native countrys Sindh Police, a national police force. But after his time in the Pakistani police force  which he said was rife with corruption and where police served politicians whims instead of the law  he had little interest in joining another police department in the U.S.

A recruiter in Houston convinced him otherwise, and he joined HPD in 1997 and retired in December.

When he joined, he was one of the first Muslim police officers at the department, and there was little awareness of Ramadan or its requirements, he said.

They didnt give any break, he said. Nothing. Things are different now.

As HPDs first Muslim community liaison, he said he often emailed division commanders before the holy month warning them not to be alarmed if officers spotted more activity at mosques or received concerned calls from citizens about late night gatherings.

Now, he said the department and its leadership are more aware about the holiday.

Its very, very good, he said.

Godofredo A. Vasquez/Staff photographer

On Monday night, Hussain and his wife, four sons, and other relatives gathered at his Richmond home. Finally, the clock ticked past 8 p.m. It had been 22 hours since hed had a sip of water or anything to eat.

He motioned everyone to the dining room. The table was piled high with baked chicken, succulent dates, fruit salads, a meatless biryani and other dishes.

They would pray again after the meal. But now it was time to break the fast.

He picked up a date  the same fruit the prophet Muhammad ate  and took a bite.

st.john.smith@chron.com
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo no longer plan to hold their annual state of the city and county addresses with the Greater Houston Partnership because of the chamber groups silence on bills in the Texas Legislature that the pair say will add unacceptable obstacles to voting.

The move, which the pair announced at a Wednesday news conference, was a rare public rebuke of the regions largest chamber of commerce, which typically has enjoyed a close relationship with Houston-area politicians. Hidalgos comments amounted to an accusation of cowardice, echoing comments a prominent Black member of the partnership board made a day earlier.

We cant in good conscience stand at the dais of the partnership when their will to represent their members and their community so easily crumbles in a time of need, Hidalgo said. We do not feel comfortable letting them after seeing them shrink from the civil rights fight of our time.

Hidalgo said she would announce a new venue for her annual address at a later date. Turner said he instead would have Houston First Corp., the citys convention arm, host his state of the city speech.

I think its important this year for me to find that venue that better reflects the diversity of our city and the values we hold so dear, Turner said.

A group of GHP board members said the partnerships leaders stifled their attempts to get the group to speak out against parts of Senate Bill 7 and House Bill 6.

Hidalgo and Turner had been urging business leaders to oppose the bills, which would limit polling hours, ban drive-thru voting, loosen restrictions on poll watchers and streamline voter roll purges.

Harris Countys elections administrator said a key provision of the Senate voting bill will result in the shifting of polling sites away from inner Houston, which has higher concentrations of Black and Latino voters, to outlying areas populated with higher numbers of white voters.

The Greater Houston Partnership, founded in 1840, boasts more than 1,000 members  including numerous Fortune 500 companies  and is one of the most influential business groups in the state. The partnerships executive committee and board of directors are formed by a whos-who of Houston business leaders, including Heidi Cruz, a managing director at Goldman Sachs and the wife of Sen. Ted Cruz; Scott McClelland, president of H-E-B; and Tilman Fertitta, owner of Landry's Inc. and the Houston Rockets.

Turner in particular has established close ties with the GHP and Houstons business community, winning the support of the partnership and other business leaders on his plan to overhaul the citys pension systems in 2017.

The GHP and its president, Bob Harvey, also have put their weight behind Turners signature programs, such as his youth summer jobs program and his neighborhood revitalization program, both of which rely on help from the private sector.

The partnership regularly lobbies the Legislature and uses committees to help craft policy positions. It has waded into controversial topics in the past, such as the 2017 effort by business groups to prevent passage of the so-called bathroom bill. The GHP also publicly supported the Houston anti-discrimination ordinance that was defeated by voters in 2015, and warned of adverse affects for business after the measure failed.

The partnership issued a statement saying it regretted Hidalgo and Turner had canceled the annual luncheons, which its members greatly enjoy. The statement said there is no consensus among members on the voting bills, which prevents the group from taking a stance on the legislation.

Board members told the Chronicle, however, that GHP leadership had declined to hold a special meeting at which a consensus could be reached.

Hidalgo also questioned the partnerships commitment to fighting racial injustice the group made after the killing of Houston native George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer last summer, given its inaction on the voting bills.

The blunt truth is, you cannot stand for that and at the same time say silent on voter suppression, Hidalgo said. The right to vote is at the core of all of those rights.

Houston mayors and Harris County judges traditionally have delivered their annual state of the city and county addresses at luncheons hosted by the GHP in a downtown ballroom. The events offer an opportunity for political and business leaders to rub shoulders and lay out an agenda for public-private cooperation in the coming year. Companies typically pay thousands of dollars to sponsor the event and secure a table.

The GHP has hosted Turners state of the city address during each of his first five years in office. The mayor typically has used the speeches to announce new policies, including in 2018 when he floated the idea of adjusting the citys property tax revenue cap to fund more police, or last year when he announced a plan aimed at drawing private investment to city parks.

Many GHP board members have ties to Turner dating back to his time in the Legislature, and many receive contracts from the city, have donated numerous times to the mayors campaign, or both. The partnership also has sponsored numerous overseas trade missions taken by Turner and his top aides.

Hidalgo has delivered two annual speeches with the GHP since taking office in 2019.

Former Houston mayor Annise Parker said GHP leadership was not immediately on board with the 2015 anti-discrimination ordinance, but the group ultimately took a stance following a number of conversations.

It wasnt that they were aggressively opposed, Parker said. But they had to be convinced that it was an important issue and that there was a business impact.

Parker said she stopped attending events organized by some groups that came out against the anti-discrimination ordinance and likely would have delivered her state of the city speech elsewhere if the GHP had opposed the measure.

Had the partnership come out on the wrong side of the HERO (Houston Equal Rights) ordinance, I dont think I could have held an event that they were sponsoring, Parker said.

The voting rights dispute is not the first split between the GPH and local leaders. Former County Judge Ed Emmett canceled his partnership-hosted state of the county luncheon in 2017 after the partnership supported property tax cap legislation he thought was harmful to the county. He gave the address at the county-owned NRG Park in November of that year,

Turner and Hidalgo praised the work of the partnership and said the city and county have each paid their annual dues to the group. Harris Countys annual contribution is $30,000, while the citys is $80,000.

Reporter Mike Morris contributed to this story.

zach.despart@chron.com

jasper.scherer@chron.com
Time is running out in the 2021 Legislature to finally pass the bail reform Texas needs  a statewide plan that looks a lot like reforms in Harris and Dallas counties, where courts no longer require individuals charged with most misdemeanors to sit in jail waiting for trial just because they cant afford bail.

Tuesdays passage in the Texas House of a bill favored by Gov. Greg Abbott, which he disingenuously calls bail reform does little to advance that priority, but it does leave opportunity for reformers in the Senate to improve the bill. And it is a preferable version of reform to what Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, passed through last month.

Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, chairman of the Senates Criminal Justice Committee, championed meaningful bail reform bills in each of the past two sessions, and says hes relieved HB 20, authored by Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Kerrville, is much better than Huffmans SB 21. He believes that provisions in HB 20 codifying a reliance on cash bail statewide would not be enforceable in Harris County, thanks to the federal court-ordered settlement in place here.

But Insha Rahman of the Vera Institute of Justice, a nationwide advocacy group, warned that the settlement might not trump a new state law that hasnt yet been challenged in court.

How defendants in low-level cases were treated for ages in Harris County was not just unconstitutional, it was an embarrassment and a senseless waste of taxpayer dollars to feed and house people who dont need to be locked up. Even small bail requirements  say, $500 or $1,000  would keep someone in jail for weeks or months, despite being neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community.

Harris Countys current approach to nonviolent misdemeanors, releasing most without cash bond, is needed everywhere in Texas.

Instead, what the 2021 session has produced are two bills that expand cash bail for misdemeanors.

If someone is locked up over the weekend for getting into a mess and has access to $1,000, hes going to be at work Monday morning, Whitmire told the board Tuesday. If he doesnt have the $1,000, he wont  hell be sitting in jail.

HB 20 would require those charged with a Class A or B misdemeanor to sit in jail for up to 48 hours while a magistrate reviews risk assessment results. Many defendants who pose no risk at all would be confined for two days  and potentially longer if cash bail is set higher than they can afford.

Whitmire called that unconscionable  and we do, too.

Murr has done a lot of things right. He listened to everyones views. Hes made compromises. But I cant see myself voting for a system that means poor people will stay in jail on low-level charges and those with money walk out, he said.

Some aspects of HB 20 do make sense. It would require training for all magistrates on factors that lead to flight risk or community danger and establish a uniform risk-assessment tool for all Texas courts. Critics rightly note that such tools often give weight to factors that disproportionately impact minorities and poor defendants. Thats reason for caution, but Murrs bill insists that nondiscriminatory factors be used.

We appreciate any lawmaker listening to concerns and seeking compromise.

We oppose HB 20 as its written, first, because it fails to end the unconstitutional practice of poverty jailing across Texas. Second, because it does nothing to prevent the kind of leniency that allows dangerous defendants to walk out of jail just because they have money.

What this editorial board has called for is a system that keeps dangerous people, those who pose imminent threats or legitimate risks of fleeing ahead of trial, in jail, whether rich or poor.

The true obstacle Abbott and others face in doing that isnt Harris Countys reforms. Its the Texas Constitution, which guarantees that very few people can be denied bail initially unless they are charged with capital murder.

Changing the Constitution to allow more truly dangerous people to be held without bond is what lawmakers should have been discussing this session. That solution isnt perfect, either, and it certainly wouldnt please Republican allies in the bail bond industry. But it makes more sense than advancing faux bail reform that masquerades as public safety legislation when it does little more than trap poor, low-level defendants in jail.

Whitmire and other senators genuinely concerned about public safety must work to improve HB 20 so that it targets the truly dangerous and lays groundwork for expanding the misdemeanor reforms already working in Harris and Dallas counties.
ONE of Zimbabwe Miners Federation president Henrietta Rushwayas alleged accomplices in the 6kg gold-smuggling saga has filed a notice to apply for refusal of further remand, citing delays in commencement of trial.

Rushwaya, who is being charged together with Ali Mohamed, two police officers Steven Cherai and Rafius Mupandauya, and Gift Karanda, who allegedly masqueraded as a Central Intelligence Organisation operative, yesterday had their case remanded to June 18 after they appeared before Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje.

Cherais lawyer Admire Rubaya filed a notice to apply for removal from remand, saying his client had been religiously attending court without being furnished with a trial date.

The State represented by Netsai Mushayabasa asked for postponement of trial, saying it was still to weigh the gold that was confiscated from Rushwaya at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport as she was about to fly to Dubai on October 26, 2020.

The State then promised to give a trial date on the next remand hearing on June 18. Rushwaya was arrested with gold valued at US$333 000 stashed in her handbag.

She, however, denies the charge of intentionally attempting to smuggle the gold, saying she had picked a wrong bag as she rushed to the airport. Newsday
Suppression or integrity?

Regarding How Texas stole your voting rights, (A16, May 2): I regret that the Houston Chronicle editorial mistakes voter integrity for voter suppression. Republican lawmakers are on the right track to clean up the voting system which has been so diluted and misused lately.

Jack Gibbs, Hempstead

Thank you for the important editorial pointing out the Republican efforts in the Legislature to suppress voting in Texas. Most concerning to me are the provisions allowing partisan poll watchers to intimidate election officials and voters. Coupled with the permitless carry bill, those provisions would be even more dangerous. What I fear is outright violence at Texas polling places. Democrats will not allow themselves to be bullied and will likely fight back against efforts to intimidate them. This could lead to injuries and possibly deaths.

I voted early by mail in the last election and was glad to be able to use a drive-thru option and a drop box. It felt safe and secure. Eliminating those options would be a shame, especially for the elderly. I think there are older Republican voters who also will not be pleased  maybe they wont bother to vote. Perhaps the president will have to call out the military to keep voters safe as they vote in Texas and Georgia  how embarrassing! Once again, Texas  a state that cant keep the heat on and water safe  will look incompetent to the rest of the country. Lets hope these dangerous bills fail to pass.

Sarah Frates, Houston

Billboard ban

Regarding Houston council to consider plan to erect up to 125 digital sidewalk kiosks for share of ad revenue, (May 3): How would you feel if the city commandeered your front yard for a billboard? How about your neighborhood park or museum? This could happen next week if City Council votes to eviscerate Houstons landmark billboard ban and award a company the right to install 8-foot-tall digital billboards along sidewalks  without landowner permission. A second vote this summer could open the floodgates to full-scale LED billboards. For the last 40 years, seven mayors and councils have preserved our billboard ordinance with overwhelming popular support. What does the city receive? A trickle of advertising revenue. Landowners will get zip. Yes, the billboards are interactive. If you can get past the ads, you might find a map. But wouldnt it be easier to use your phone? If you enjoy the view from your front porch, tell your council member before next Wednesday to stop this intrusive land grab.

Cooke Kelsey, Board Director of Scenic Houston and Scenic Texas
A woman who suffered a devastating injury as an EMT has resumed daily activities, her seizures and anxiety finally under control. A former law enforcement officer can enjoy playing with his grandkids without feeling constant pain. An Army veteran who struggled with alcoholism has stopped drinking. A young man who was suicidal no longer contemplates taking his life.

These are just some of the improvements reported by respondents to a survey that asked 2,866 Texans who use cannabis illicitly for medical purposes about the reasons for their use and its impact on their lives. The survey, conducted online from August to October 2020, was recently published by the Baker Institute for Public Policy and the Foundation for an Informed Texas.

The findings have important policy implications for the state, as legislators are deciding whether to expand cannabis access through Texas Compassionate Use Program  T.CUP  a narrowly tailored program that authorizes use of low-THC cannabis for just a handful of medical conditions.

Eighty percent of survey participants reported using cannabis illicitly to treat chronic pain. Thirty-one percent of respondents, and 52 percent of veteran respondents, said they use it to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Chronic pain and PTSD are recognized by most states medical cannabis programs but are currently excluded from T.CUP, despite evidence that the plant provides relief for both conditions.

Even people who qualify for T.CUP are still using cannabis illegally. Eighteen percent of survey respondents said they use illicit cannabis to treat neuropathy, a condition covered by T.CUP that is marked by pain and weakness in ones nerves. Respondents also reported using illicit cannabis for multiple sclerosis, autism and Parkinsons, all covered by the state program.

There are several reasons why T.CUP-qualifying patients may continue using illicit cannabis. They may lack physical access, as only three businesses are licensed to grow and sell cannabis in the entire state. They could have trouble finding a participating doctor, since the program requires doctors to formally prescribe cannabis, an act that violates federal laws against prescribing Schedule I substances.

But most critically, illicit cannabis typically contains more THC than state-sanctioned products, which cannot have a THC concentration level greater than 0.5 percent. This limit ignores THCs therapeutic value and renders the legally available cannabis ineffective for people it is intended to help.

The THC cap is meant to keep patients from getting high. But all medications have side effects, some of which are also psychoactive and potentially more serious than those associated with cannabis.

Prescription drugs like opioids and benzodiazepines (i.e., Xanax and Valium) can have particularly adverse effects, the most severe of which are made painfully clear by the overdose epidemic. Cannabis can function as an alternative to these drugs; 61 percent of respondents to our survey reported replacing opioids or benzodiazepines with cannabis, a finding consistent with prior research. Many respondents said they switched to cannabis because they disliked the impairment and dependency that accompanied their prescription drugs. It is no small irony that some elected officials oppose access to higher-THC cannabis for these same reasons.

Our survey findings and anecdotal reports from across the state depict a program too limited to function. T.CUPs low participation rate is further evidence of its ineffectiveness  as of March 2021, fewer than 5,000 patients were registered, despite estimates that 2 million Texans are currently eligible. The fact that Texas program is one of the nations most restrictive was not lost on survey respondents, 84 percent of whom said they have considered leaving Texas for a state with sufficient medical access.

This session, legislators can improve T.CUP. House Bill 1535, authored by a bipartisan coalition led by Rep. Stephanie Klick, would raise the cap on THC to 5 percent and expand access to individuals with chronic pain and PTSD. It would also create a process for researching the effects of medical cannabis use. The House approved the bill on April 29; it now goes to the Senate for consideration.

In several ways this bill does not do enough. The proposed 5 percent cap on THC content remains arbitrarily low and wrongly leaves lawmakers in charge of decisions about cannabis dosing that should be made by medical professionals. It still requires doctors to prescribe cannabis, forcing them to violate federal law by participating. The bill includes no provisions to protect patients, who risk loss of employment, parental rights and access to social services due to medical cannabis use.

The reality is that Texans will not get a robust medical cannabis program in 2021, even though 86 percent of residents want one. Still, HB 1535 would improve current policy and allow Texas to inch closer to a program that honors voters wishes and better serves individuals with debilitating medical conditions.

Harris is a fellow and Edwards is a nonresident scholar in drug policy at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Houston, MO (65483)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable.
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We may combine voluntarily provided and automatically collected personal information with general information or research data we receive from other trusted sources. For example, Our marketing and market research activities may uncover data and insights, which we may combine with information about how visitors use our site to improve our site and your experience on it.

Security of Your Personal Information

When we collect and process personal information, and while we retain this information, we will protect it within commercially acceptable means to prevent loss and theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, or modification.

Although we will do our best to protect the personal information you provide to us, we advise that no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, and no one can guarantee absolute data security.

You are responsible for selecting any password and its overall security strength, ensuring the security of your own information within the bounds of our services. For example, ensuring any passwords associated with accessing your personal information and accounts are secure and confidential.

How Long We Keep Your Personal Information

We keep your personal information only for as long as we need to. This time period may depend on what we are using your information for, in accordance with this privacy policy. For example, if you have provided us with personal information as part of creating an account with us, we may retain this information for the duration your account exists on our system. If your personal information is no longer required for this purpose, we will delete it or make it anonymous by removing all details that identify you.

However, if necessary, we may retain your personal information for our compliance with a legal, accounting, or reporting obligation or for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific, or historical research purposes or statistical purposes.

Childrens Privacy

We do not aim any of our products or services directly at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information about children under 13.

Disclosure of Personal Information to Third Parties

We may disclose personal information to:

a parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of our company

third-party service providers for the purpose of enabling them to provide their services, including (without limitation) IT service providers, data storage, hosting and server providers, ad networks, analytics, error loggers, debt collectors, maintenance or problem-solving providers, marketing or advertising providers, professional advisors, and payment systems operators

our employees, contractors, and/or related entities

our existing or potential agents or business partners

credit reporting agencies, courts, tribunals, and regulatory authorities, in the event you fail to pay for goods or services we have provided to you

courts, tribunals, regulatory authorities, and law enforcement officers, as required by law, in connection with any actual or prospective legal proceedings, or in order to establish, exercise, or defend our legal rights

third parties, including agents or sub-contractors, who assist us in providing information, products, services, or direct marketing to you

third parties to collect and process data

an entity that buys, or to which we transfer all or substantially all of our assets and business

Third parties we currently use include:

Google Analytics

SendGrid

Google Adsense

AD NETWORK

Your Rights and Controlling Your Personal Information

Your choice: By providing personal information to us, you understand we will collect, hold, use, and disclose your personal information in accordance with this privacy policy. You do not have to provide personal information to us, however, if you do not, it may affect your use of our website or the products and/or services offered on or through it.

Information from third parties: If we receive personal information about you from a third party, we will protect it as set out in this privacy policy. If you are a third party providing personal information about somebody else, you represent and warrant that you have such persons consent to provide the personal information to us.

Marketing permission: If you have previously agreed to us using your personal information for direct marketing purposes, you may change your mind at any time by contacting us using the details below.

Access: You may request details of the personal information that we hold about you.

Correction: If you believe that any information we hold about you is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading, please contact us using the details provided in this privacy policy. We will take reasonable steps to correct any information found to be inaccurate, incomplete, misleading, or out of date.

Non-discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your rights over your personal information. Unless your personal information is required to provide you with a particular service or offer (for example providing user support), we will not deny you goods or services and/or charge you different prices or rates for goods or services, including through granting discounts or other benefits, or imposing penalties, or provide you with a different level or quality of goods or services.

Notification of data breaches: We will comply with laws applicable to us in respect of any data breach.

Complaints: If you believe that we have breached a relevant data protection law and wish to make a complaint, please contact us using the details below and provide us with full details of the alleged breach. We will promptly investigate your complaint and respond to you, in writing, setting out the outcome of our investigation and the steps we will take to deal with your complaint. You also have the right to contact a regulatory body or data protection authority in relation to your complaint.

Unsubscribe: To unsubscribe from our email database or opt-out of communications (including marketing communications), please contact us using the details provided in this privacy policy, or opt-out using the opt-out facilities provided in the communication. We may need to request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity.

Use of Cookies

We use cookies to collect information about you and your activity across our site. A cookie is a small piece of data that our website stores on your computer, and accesses each time you visit, so we can understand how you use our site. This helps us serve you content based on preferences you have specified.

Please refer to our Cookie Policy for more information.

Business Transfers

If we or our assets are acquired, or in the unlikely event that we go out of business or enter bankruptcy, we would include data, including your personal information, among the assets transferred to any parties who acquire us. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur, and that any parties who acquire us may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, continue to use your personal information according to this policy, which they will be required to assume as it is the basis for any ownership or use rights we have over such information.

Limits of Our Policy

Our website may link to external sites that are not operated by us. Please be aware that we have no control over the content and policies of those sites, and cannot accept responsibility or liability for their respective privacy practices.

Changes to This Policy

At our discretion, we may change our privacy policy to reflect updates to our business processes, current acceptable practices, or legislative or regulatory changes. If we decide to change this privacy policy, we will post the changes here at the same link by which you are accessing this privacy policy.

If the changes are significant, or if required by applicable law, we will contact you (based on your selected preferences for communications from us) and all our registered users with the new details and links to the updated or changed policy.

If required by law, we will get your permission or give you the opportunity to opt in to or opt out of, as applicable, any new uses of your personal information.

Additional Disclosures for General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Compliance (EU)

Data Controller / Data Processor

The GDPR distinguishes between organisations that process personal information for their own purposes (known as data controllers) and organizations that process personal information on behalf of other organizations (known as data processors). We, High Plains Journal, located at the address provided in our Contact Us section, are a Data Controller with respect to the personal information you provide to us.

Legal Bases for Processing Your Personal Information

We will only collect and use your personal information when we have a legal right to do so. In which case, we will collect and use your personal information lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner. If we seek your consent to process your personal information, and you are under 16 years of age, we will seek your parent or legal guardians consent to process your personal information for that specific purpose.

Our lawful bases depend on the services you use and how you use them. This means we only collect and use your information on the following grounds:

Consent From You

Where you give us consent to collect and use your personal information for a specific purpose. You may withdraw your consent at any time using the facilities we provide; however this will not affect any use of your information that has already taken place. You may consent to providing your email address for the purpose of receiving marketing emails from us. While you may unsubscribe at any time, we cannot recall any email we have already sent. If you have any further enquiries about how to withdraw your consent, please feel free to enquire using the details provided in the Contact Us section of this privacy policy.

Performance of a Contract or Transaction

Where you have entered into a contract or transaction with us, or in order to take preparatory steps prior to our entering into a contract or transaction with you. For example, if you contact us with an enquiry, we may require personal information such as your name and contact details in order to respond.

Our Legitimate Interests

Where we assess it is necessary for our legitimate interests, such as for us to provide, operate, improve and communicate our services. We consider our legitimate interests to include research and development, understanding our audience, marketing and promoting our services, measures taken to operate our services efficiently, marketing analysis, and measures taken to protect our legal rights and interests.

Compliance with Law

In some cases, we may have a legal obligation to use or keep your personal information. Such cases may include (but are not limited to) court orders, criminal investigations, government requests, and regulatory obligations. If you have any further enquiries about how we retain personal information in order to comply with the law, please feel free to enquire using the details provided in the Contact Us section of this privacy policy.

International Transfers Outside of the European Economic Area (EEA)

We will ensure that any transfer of personal information from countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) to countries outside the EEA will be protected by appropriate safeguards, for example by using standard data protection clauses approved by the European Commission, or the use of binding corporate rules or other legally accepted means.

Your Rights and Controlling Your Personal Information

Restrict: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information if (i) you are concerned about the accuracy of your personal information; (ii) you believe your personal information has been unlawfully processed; (iii) you need us to maintain the personal information solely for the purpose of a legal claim; or (iv) we are in the process of considering your objection in relation to processing on the basis of legitimate interests.

Objecting to processing: You have the right to object to processing of your personal information that is based on our legitimate interests or public interest. If this is done, we must provide compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which overrides your interests, rights, and freedoms, in order to proceed with the processing of your personal information.

Data portability: You may have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. Where possible, we will provide this information in CSV format or other easily readable machine format. You may also have the right to request that we transfer this personal information to a third party.

Deletion: You may have a right to request that we delete the personal information we hold about you at any time, and we will take reasonable steps to delete your personal information from our current records. If you ask us to delete your personal information, we will let you know how the deletion affects your use of our website or products and services. There may be exceptions to this right for specific legal reasons which, if applicable, we will set out for you in response to your request. If you terminate or delete your account, we will delete your personal information within 15 days of the deletion of your account. Please be aware that search engines and similar third parties may still retain copies of your personal information that has been made public at least once, like certain profile information and public comments, even after you have deleted the information from our services or deactivated your account.

Additional Disclosures for California Compliance (US)

Under California Civil Code Section 1798.83, if you live in California and your business relationship with us is mainly for personal, family, or household purposes, you may ask us about the information we release to other organizations for their marketing purposes.

To make such a request, please contact us using the details provided in this privacy policy with Request for California privacy information in the subject line. You may make this type of request once every calendar year. We will email you a list of categories of personal information we revealed to other organisations for their marketing purposes in the last calendar year, along with their names and addresses. Not all personal information shared in this way is covered by Section 1798.83 of the California Civil Code.

Do Not Track

Some browsers have a Do Not Track feature that lets you tell websites that you do not want to have your online activities tracked. At this time, we do not respond to browser Do Not Track signals.

We adhere to the standards outlined in this privacy policy, ensuring we collect and process personal information lawfully, fairly, transparently, and with legitimate, legal reasons for doing so.

Cookies and Pixels

At all times, you may decline cookies from our site if your browser permits. Most browsers allow you to activate settings on your browser to refuse the setting of all or some cookies. Accordingly, your ability to limit cookies is based only on your browsers capabilities. Please refer to the Cookies section of this privacy policy for more information.

CCPA-permitted financial incentives

In accordance with your right to non-discrimination, we may offer you certain financial incentives permitted by the CCPA that can result in different prices, rates, or quality levels for the goods or services we provide.

Any CCPA-permitted financial incentive we offer will reasonably relate to the value of your personal information, and we will provide written terms that describe clearly the nature of such an offer. Participation in a financial incentive program requires your prior opt-in consent, which you may revoke at any time.

California Notice of Collection

In the past 12 months, we have collected the following categories of personal information enumerated in the California Consumer Privacy Act:

Customer records, such as billing and shipping address, and credit or debit card data.

Commercial information, such as products or services history and purchases.

Internet activity, such as your interactions with our service.

Geolocation data.

Inferences, such as information about your interests, preferences and favorites.

For more information on information we collect, including the sources we receive information from, review the Information We Collect section. We collect and use these categories of personal information for the business purposes described in the Collection and Use of Information section, including to provide and manage our Service.

Right to Know and Delete

If you are a California resident, you have rights to delete your personal information we collected and know certain information about our data practices in the preceding 12 months. In particular, you have the right to request the following from us:

The categories of personal information we have collected about you;

The categories of sources from which the personal information was collected;

The categories of personal information about you we disclosed for a business purpose or sold;

The categories of third parties to whom the personal information was disclosed for a business purpose or sold;

The business or commercial purpose for collecting or selling the personal information; and

The specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in this privacy policy.

Shine the Light

If you are a California resident, in addition to the rights discussed above, you have the right to request information from us regarding the manner in which we share certain personal information as defined by Californias Shine the Light with third parties and affiliates for their own direct marketing purposes.

To receive this information, send us a request using the contact details provided in this privacy policy. Requests must include California Privacy Rights Request in the first line of the description and include your name, street address, city, state, and ZIP code.

Contact Us

For any questions or concerns regarding your privacy, you may contact us using the following details:

Privacy Administrator

webmaster@hpj.com
CONTRARY to Western propaganda that sanctions do not affect ordinary Zimbabweans, a United Kingdom-based businessman was barred from purchasing medical equipment at an auction because of the punitive embargoes.

The latest case is among several cases of individual Zimbabweans being denied permission to do business that benefits ordinary people back home.

Apart from punishing ordinary people, the sanctions, that were imposed at the turn of the millennium by Western countries as punishment for the land reform programme have constricted the countrys access to multilateral and financial support from institutions like the World Bank.

Under 20 years of sanctions, Zimbabwe has been forced to go it alone with little assistance from foreign institutions, while some ordinary Zimbabweans have had their accounts frozen.

Health expert, Mr Joseph Nyamande recently wanted to acquire two ambulances at a UK auction but was barred from making the transactions because Zimbabwe is under economic sanctions.

In an interview from his UK base Mr Nyamande said he tried several auctions but received similar responses.

Yes, I can confirm I was denied purchase based on the destination I wanted the ambulances to go. They said their insurance does not allow them. On a different auction house, they told me Zimbabwe was on a list of countries prohibited from exporting some medical equipment. I had to change my account to look like I need the things here in UK for them to sell to me, he said.

According to a chat between Mr Nyamande and the supplier from Auctioneers UK only identified as Gareth, Zimbabwe could not get any vehicles because of the illegal sanctions.

We are not allowed to sell to account holders in Zimbabwe. Do you have a UK account to buy these items, if not we will, unfortunately, have to cancel the sale, read the chat from the supplier.

Contacted for comment, a British Embassy spokesperson said she could not comment on individual business transactions.

We cannot comment on individual business transactions. Ultimately, businesses in the UK and elsewhere make business decisions based on their own assessments of the risks involved.

These measures are targeted and do not prevent trade or investment between individuals and companies in Zimbabwe, she said contradicting herself.

Both the African Union and SADC are on record calling for the unconditional removal of the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West to enable the country to realise its full potential.

Sadly, the same countries that imposed sanctions refuse to acknowledge the Second Republics re-engagement efforts and the far-reaching political reforms that have been undertaken to entrench constitutionalism. The sanctions have adversely affected Zimbabwes capacity to respond to the current Covid-19 pandemic.

SADC member states declared October 25 to unite in the call for the unconditional removal of the unjust economic sanctions that have had a debilitating effect on the countrys economic development. Herald
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., June 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Optimum Nutrition, maker of Gold Standard 100% Whey protein and other popular fitness nutritional supplements, unveiled details of its Building Better Lives 5-Week Fitness Challenge today. Building Better Lives is a national purpose-driven program to build awareness of the disparities in access to fitness and to provide fitness resources in underserved communities. The challenge, championed by pro football receivers Davante Adams and Justin Jefferson, provides free, expert fitness and nutrition resources online and drives public awareness and support for lasting fitness resources in their respective hometowns of East Palo Alto, California and Saint Rose, Louisiana.
The Pittsfield City Council is planning a return to in-person meetings but also supports remote participation by the public.

Pittsfield O&R Plans Remote Public Participation Beyond Pandemic

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The City Council supports the continuation of remote public participation when meetings return to in-person.

Not yet ready to settle on a final plan, the Ordinance and Rules subcommittee unanimously voted to table a petition from Ward 1 Councilor Helen Moon requesting that city and council continue to offer a virtual and call-in option beyond COVID-19 for all public meetings.

"I think that COVID has taught us that we can have in-person meetings, but we can also offer virtual meetings," Moon said. "And while we have outliers that can take up a lot of space in our virtual spaces, I think that the net is positive when we are bringing democracy to a larger segment of our population and so I think that this is a meaningful change, allowing people who don't typically have the capacity to join in-person meetings for whatever reason that they have to continue to participate."

The panel will reconvene at its next meeting to work out the details and potentially approve the ordinance.

In proceeding weeks, councilors will individually think about the parameters of continuing virtual call-ins, consult with attorneys, and come prepared with questions to the next O&R meeting on June 7.

Based on Gov. Charlie Baker's orders and depending on public health data, the city is aiming to open municipal offices full time on June 1 and estimates that in-person meetings would resume then.

City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta clarified that the Open Meeting Law does allow remote and in-person participation at public meetings as long as the technology is sufficient enough for everyone to hear one another.

"There's nothing in the Open Meeting Law that would prohibit a hybrid type of a meeting subject to technology," he added.

Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio questioned if Pittsfield Community Television  which broadcasts city meetings on a variety of platforms  has the capability of running a City Council meeting in person while offering it as a hybrid method.

"I'm just wondering if that would happen in the same process that when we have presentations during City Council it's broadcast to the large television screen in our council chamber, and that is actually broadcast on PCTV," Moon responded.

"And so whenever there's a presentation, whatever is being broadcast on that screen, is being what is sent out on PCTV airwaves, I would imagine that it would be a similar situation where the Zoom screen would be up in the TV in presentation."

Councilor at Large Earl Persip III supports the petition and said that it will bring democracy to more people.

His biggest concern is the "bog down" that has occurred at Zoom meetings. He cited individuals who regularly call in opposition to the 877 South St. cell tower, many of whom call from out of state.

"I think that I've heard from a lot of residents that they don't like that," he said. "There are some residents who were kind of checked out of those meetings because we spent hours on the phone with people from all over the world, so sometimes it just becomes a little too much, and I'm not promoting one way or the other, I just think it should be a discussion at the next meeting."

Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey agreed that the panel has a "lot more" to discuss the petition. He brought up the financial costs of Zoom in the post-pandemic world when it is not necessary.

"I do think it'll be appropriate for us to have another meeting on this so that our IT director can be here and made sure that we can do that on the city side and let us know whether or not we're going to be keeping Zoom after the pandemic and how much it would cost us and whether we'd have to use a different program," he said. "There are a lot of questions, but I think that with the right people and the next meeting that we have they can answer all of them and I do think this is something we can move forward with."

Moon added that Boston is looking at a similar option for future city meetings. She clarified that remote participation is to be used by the public and members of the City Council would be expected to attend in person.
Pittsfield Boards to Select School Committee Replacement

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The School Committee and City Council will meet Wednesday evening to fill a vacancy on the School Committee left by the abrupt departure of Dennis Powell.

Five letters of interest have been submitted for the term expiring in December.

Powell resigned April 14 in protest over the committee's decision to offer the superintendent's position to Joseph Curtis, the deputy superintendent who'd been temporarily filling the post since last fall.

Powell had been the only supporter of Portia Bonner, a Connecticut administrator and the only Black candidate. He signed off during the Zoom meeting and submitted a formal resignation letter to City Clerk Michele Benjamin on April 29.

In accordance with the city charter, both committee and council will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. to vote on a replacement to complete the last months of Powell's four-year term.



"For a better part of 3 1/2 years, I have tried and thought that I could make a difference in the educational system of Pittsfield Public Schools by being a member of the school committee. Over these past 3 1/2 years, I've been disrespected, ignored, and at times made to feel that my voice meant nothing!" Powell wrote in his letter.

"How the Superintendents process was handled and based on the outcome; was abundantly clear to me; this school committee is not committed to diversity equity and inclusion. Every child is entitled to receive a quality, equitable education!"



The day after Curtis' appointment and Powell's informal resignation, Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey addressed those who voted for Curtis: Mayor Linda Tyer, Daniel Elias, William Cameron, and Chairwoman Katherine Yon, in a Facebook post and email stating that they had failed the district with their selection.



Councilor at Large Earl Persip III and Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio seconded Kavey's sentiments over email.



Persip said the superintendent selection was thorough up until the point of selection, where the interviews and voting occurred on three consecutive days.



"I am extremely sorry that Mr. Powell has made a decision to resign," Mayor Linda Tyer told iBerkshires following Powell's resignation. "And I hope that he will reconsider. I understand his frustration and disappointment and I am committed to continuing this work, even when we disagree."



Members of the committee have expressed that they wish that they could have convinced Powell to stay.



"I have known Dennis for quite a long time, I was I was very disappointed to learn of his resignation," Elias said. "I tried to reach out to him, hopeful that he would change his mind. You know, of course, he didn't."



Elias said he is curious to see how Wednesday's meeting plays out, as this has never happened before under this charter.
Williams College President President Receives Honorary Degree from Brown University

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  Williams College President Maud S. Mandel, received a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from Brown University during the university's commencement on Sunday, May 2.

Mandel taught at Brown as a visiting assistant professor, and then as professor of history and Judaic studies while also serving as dean of the college before joining Williams as president in July 2018.

At Brown's commencement ceremony she addressed the same students she had welcomed in-person four years earlier. In her remarks, she noted major events that have transpired since then, including a global pandemic, political upheaval, fights to hold onto basic rights in voter access, and major movements against racism and for equity and justice.

"One of the things you've learned is that life can be unpredictable," Mandel told the university's Class of 2021 graduates. "That the path for those who thrive requires resilience. That you need to be open to changing course, learning while you're doing, assessing the evidence and regrouping"

Since moving to Williams, President Mandel has engaged the community in articulating a vision for the college's future through a strategic planning effort involving faculty, staff, students, alumni, families and friends. She has advanced educational work at Williams, from major grants to important conversations about the role of technology and the creative arts in a liberal arts education. In addition, she has encouraged a culture of shared, community-wide responsibility for diversity, equity and inclusion work and continued Williams' investment in the sustainability of its built environment.

President Mandel is also an accomplished historian, whose scholarship looks at how policies and practices of inclusion and exclusion in 20th-century France have affected Jews, Armenians and Muslim North Africans, among other minorities. Her scholarship has been recognized with fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Council of Learned Societies and the American Philosophical Society, among others. In addition to her presidential duties, she holds the title of professor of history and teaches as her schedule allows.

She earned her B.A. from Oberlin College in 1989 and her master's degree and Ph.D. in history from the University of Michigan in 1993 and 1998, respectively.
Artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh's work has been informed by her experiences and those of other women in regard to sexism and racism.

'Stop Telling Women to Smile' Author Speaks on Street Harassment



Tatyana Fazlalizadeh speaks about her book and artwork in a webinar last week. PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Telling a woman to smile is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to street harassment.

Author and artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh outlined her experience with street harassment and the process that went into creating "Stop Telling Women to Smile: Stories of Street Harassment and How We're Taking Back Our Power" in a webinar last week.

This was the third component of the Berkshire Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force's annual "One Book, One Community" event. About two dozen groups around Berkshire County first participated in a communitywide read of the book and Fazlalizadeh's artwork was displayed in several locations across the county leading up to the virtual presentation.

Fazlalizadeh is a Black and Iranian visual artist based in Brooklyn, N.Y. She's a painter whose work ranges from the gallery to streets all over the world and has been profiled by publications including The New York Times and Time Magazine.

"Stop Telling Women to Smile"  her debut book  was released in February 2020 and uses visual art and storytelling narratives to address the daily oppressive experiences of marginalized people.

Fazlalizadeh grew up in Oklahoma City, which she says is important to understanding who she is because growing up in that environment with her racial makeup is informs her work.

"It's something that I carry with me, it's not something that ever leaves me. It's important, too, because it created the sort of circumstance for who I am as a person. And so much of my work begins with me, begins with my personal story, my personal experience," she said. "And so to know that I was a little Black girl in the middle of America, in Oklahoma, which is a very, you know, racist place, is important to note."

Her upbringing also included a keen awareness of the body she was occupying, which matured at a young age. Fazlalizadeh experienced harassment in the form of comments and questions about her body from peers and adults. This made her understand that her body was "up for consumption," she said, was going to be looked at, and was going to be sexualized whether she liked it or not.

At 17, Fazlalizadeh moved to Philadelphia to become an artist and began to experience street harassment. The mixture of learning how to hone her artistic craft and the influx of harassment was the first step in her journey that led to "Stop Telling Women to Smile."

"When I moved to Philadelphia, I was an art student, I was studying art, so a couple of things were happening: I was learning how to make art, I was learning how to be a good artist, I was learning how to use my skills, to use my talent develop these talents, and I was also experiencing a lot of sexual harassment," she explained.

"I was also starting to come into my adulthood in a way that I became aware of the things that were happening around me in a way that I could express it better. So I'm experiencing racism, I'm experiencing sexism in my life, in a very everyday real way, and at the same time, I'm becoming an artist, so I'm learning how to express those experiences, and learning how to talk about those experiences in a way that is eloquent, that is direct."

One time in particular, Fazlalizadeh was harassed while working as a muralist and was appalled that this happened even while doing manual labor. This led to the realization that her artwork didn't need to be in galleries, it needed to be on the street where the harassment was happening.

This is for a few reasons, she said, one being that it was a way to safely speak back to harassers without the threat of violence.

"There have been plenty of times where I've gotten into cursing matches with men on the street after I've spoken back to them and they continue to verbally abuse me," she said. "There have been plenty of times where I have been in fear of physical harm, there have been times where I have been physically hit and assaulted on the street. And so how can I take my artwork and use that to speed back to them, knowing that the street is not a safe environment for me and for a lot of other women?"

To create the pieces, Fazlalizadeh converses with those who bring experiences of street harassment to her and then creates a black and white portrait that will be accompanied by a phrase based on their experience.

"It begins with a conversation, I don't know their experiences, I don't know who these folks are ... I'm usually meeting people for the first time, and so I talked with them, and I asked them, What are your experiences?" she said.

"And so we're having these very large conversations, very candid conversations, it's very open conversations that are discussing these folks experiences, from there, I shoot their photographs. I draw their portraits from those photographs and then we create these posters. And the posters are usually text that is coming from those interviews."

Fazlalizadeh prioritizes internationality in her project, which is the framework for understanding how aspects of a person's social and political identities combine to create different modes of discrimination and privilege.



Suzanne from Oakland. "I'm bringing up race here, because the way that certain clothes and appearances are judged on young Black and brown women, is different from how the same clothing and styles are perceived when worn by young white women," she said. "This comes up regularly in my conversations with teenage girls who invariably noticed that say, a young Black or Latina girl with colored hair, short shorts, and tattoos will be treated very differently from how a white counterpart with the same style is treated. ...

"Historically, white American society has proceeded as Black and brown girls are more sexually available than white girls, that they're less deserving of respect, that they can be approached in an aggressive manner. So I think that that was an important piece about race."

Some of the individuals featured in "Stop Telling Women to Smile" include Suzanne from Oakland, Calif., whose portrait reads, "I am not your geisha, china doll, Asian fetish," and a Black trans woman from Brooklyn named Olympia whose portrait reads, "My womanhood is not up for debate."

At first, "stop telling women to smile" was not the tagline for this project. Fazlalizadeh said the phrase caught on because telling a woman to smile seems to be a very small, trivial thing that is normalized and may not be considered harassment but is, in fact, harmful.

Fazlalizadeh said she is constantly learning about the evolving definition of sexual harassment, which can range from telling a woman to smile to physical assault. Her understanding is that it consists of unwelcome comments, stares, and any type of behavior outside that is sexual in nature and is unwanted.

In creating this work, she is trying to change the culture around harassment rather than make policies. Fazlalizadeh hopes to see a future where men are not "howling" at women on the streets, she and her peers can walk out of their houses knowing that they will be safe, women can dress how they want without the fear of harassment, and where people can live freely without the construction of gender.

Fazlalizadeh said bystander intervention is an important part of understanding and rejecting street harassment. Calling local authorities, having a sense of community, and educating cis-gendered heterosexual men, are steps that can, she believes, be taken to mitigate this kind of abuse.

"When I started this project, I wanted to tell my story, I never had the necessarily the intention to travel with it, afford to expand to be as big as it is," she said. "To be putting it up in different cities all across the world has shown me just how big of a problem this is for one and two, just how many people are willing to, to go outside and use artwork to talk back to it and to challenge it."
Blood Salmon: On average one diver dies per month in the Chilean salmon industry during 2021

May 05,2021 | Source: Ecoceanos News

The new death of a diver in a salmon farming center from the mega company Aqua Chile, owned by the Agrosuper holding, marks the average of one worker death per month in this billionaire export industry during 2021.The diver-shellfish diver Andres Alejandro Teigel Coliague (41), died while lifting the moorings of the rafts-cages of the Gala 2 culture center, located in the Aysen region.As is customary in the Chilean salmon industry, Teigel worked sub-contracted by the SGM Austral company. In the Patagonian region of Aysen, there is an exponential territorial and productive increase in salmon monoculture which is being accompanied by a procession of successive deaths of divers. This is other consequence of the precarious working conditions in this industry that uses the "temporary subcontracting system" of workers, without the intervention of the regional authorities, the Directorate of Maritime Territory (Directemar), dependent on the Chilean Navy, the Labour Inspection, and state agencies.



For the mega company Aqua Chile, this is the second death of a subcontracted diver in its farming centers this year. On February 9, Hector Lagos Penailillo, (42), died due to the precarious diving protocols that exist in a farming center in the town of Melinka. The worker had been sub-hired by the Society for Aquaculture Projects and Submarine Services (Passub). Previously, on January 25, 2021, a 16-year-old adolescent diver died while doing underwater work in a salmon farm near Ipun Island, also in the Melinka area. On February 25, 2021, the artisanal fisher diver Cristian Diaz (60) died in the Concheo 2 farming center, Aysen region, owned by the mega-company Salmones Blumar. Diaz had been sub-contracted by the company Servicios Prime SpA. As is customary in these cases, the company AquaChile, the world's second largest producer of salmon, said in a brief statement that we deeply regret the death of Andres Alejandro Teigel Coliague, a worker at the SGM Austral company. SGM Austral is a company specialized in engineering and anchoring works that is currently authorized by the Maritime Authority (...)



At the time of the unfortunate accident, the company provided material transfer services from an unused concession to a similar one. These tasks are always supervised by the Maritime Authority. Although the sea concession belongs to AquaChile, at the time of the accident it was empty, without fish or company operations, since there was no fattening center in the place. According to records from the Ecoceanos Centre and salmon workers organizations, during the last seven years 60 workers have died in the farming centers, processing plants and shipping and land transport, while carrying out tasks for these aquaculture companies. This reality is invisible between the successful export figures and the generation of foreign exchange. However, growing statistics show the precarious labor security conditions prevailing in the second largest producer and exporter of farmed salmon in the world, and the main supplier of the consumption of these products in the United States.



International markets and consumers are already identifying Chilean productions as the "blood salmon from the south of the world," Ecoceanos Centre said. Veterinarian Juan Carlos Cardenas, Director of Ecoceanos Centre, pointed out that "this cruel reality places Chile as the place with the highest mortality and accident rate in the salmon farming industry worldwide." Cardenas pointed out that "this labor reality existing in the coastal regions of southern Chile is more typical of a third world country than of the second largest producer and exporter of farmed salmonids in the world."



Ecoceanos Centre highlighted the fact that to the situation of lack of security and job insecurity, it must be added that the ones who work for subcontractors, have high prevalences of occupational diseases due to long hours on their feet, with repetitive jobs, in conditions of high humidity and low temperatures, or long days of diving in the cage rafts at depths close to 30 meters, without the necessary safeguards . The citizen organization called "the social movement, international consumers, NGOs and workers' organizations to pressure with the aim of stopping the third-world death figures of Chilean salmon workers, a consequence of the neoliberal policies of labor deregulation, added to the corporate greed, the double standards of transnational companies, and the complicity of the Chilean State .

Theme(s): Post Harvest Technology and Trade, Others, Landing Centres, Freshwater ecosystems and threats, Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods, Fisheries Resources, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, Communities and Organisations, Coastal Ecosystems and Threats.
Philippines tells fishermen to ignore Beijing's ban on fishing in South China Sea

May 05,2021 | Source: Reuters

The Philippines has rejected an annual summer fishing ban imposed by China in the disputed South China Sea and encouraged its boats to keep fishing in the country's territorial waters. The fishing moratorium imposed by China since 1999 runs from May 1 to Aug. 16 and covers areas of the South China Sea as well as other waters off China.



"This fishing ban does not apply to our fishermen," the Philippines' South China Sea taskforce said in a statement late on Tuesday. The taskforce opposed China's imposition of the ban over the areas within the territory and jurisdiction of the Philippines, adding "our fisherfolk are encouraged to go out and fish in our waters in the WPS (West Philippine Sea)" The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



Manila, which refers to area as the West Philippine Sea, has for years been embroiled in a dispute over Beijing's sweeping claims of sovereignty over the South China Sea. An international tribunal in 2016 invalidated China's claims, but China has rejected the ruling. Tensions between the two countries have recently escalated after Manila accused China of territorial incursions by hundreds of its vessels in the resource-rich waterway. The Philippines has filed diplomatic protests against China over what it calls the "illegal" presence of the Chinese vessels, which it says are manned by militia. Chinese diplomats have said the boats were just sheltering from rough seas and no militia were aboard.



The Philippines' South China Sea taskforce said it spotted seven "Chinese Maritime Militia" at the Sabina shoal in the disputed Spratly archipelago on April 27, which dispersed after being challenged by the Philippine coast guard. Five returned two days later but left after the Philippine coast guard arrived, it said. Sabina shoal is around 130 nautical miles from the western Philippine island of Palawan. "The Philippines is not deterred from defending our national interest, patrimony, and our dignity as a people with all that we have," the task force said.

Theme(s): Fisheries Resources, Freshwater ecosystems and threats, Others, Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods, Landing Centres, Post Harvest Technology and Trade, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, Coastal Ecosystems and Threats, Communities and Organisations.
CHINESE company Beifa Investments (Pvt) Ltd has broken its silence on the Dinde project in Hwange and absolved itself of wrongdoing after it was accused of pushing to displace villagers and desecrating graves.

Recently, members of the Dinde community and local Zanu PF leadership staged a protest against the firms operations as villagers feared that they would be removed from their ancestral land in order to make way for coal-mining operations by Beifa Investments.

In a statement yesterday, Beifa Investments said its coal-mining operations were above board and within the confines of the law.

All the paperwork done by Beifa Investments (Pvt) Ltd is above board and the company is in strict adherence with the law, said project manager Zhou Zheng Qian citing Special Grant No 7712 issued to the company on January 17, 2020.

Beifa Investments has not evicted anyone or shown any intention to evict anyone within the Dinde community. Beifa Investments respects the customs and values of the communities it operates in, and it has never been the companys wish to unsettle or violate such customs and values  (Beifa) categorically denies ever desecrating any graves in the Dinde community as alleged or at all.

The statement came a week after reports that the company had sunk holes near gravesites in Dinde. We wish to point out that the company did not sanction the drilling of any holes. As such, if there are any holes on the gravesite, that would be the work of other people unknown to the company, Qian said.

Recently, the company wrote to Zanu PF Matabeleland province requesting protection from the ruling party members inciting villagers to protest against its coal-mining operations, which resulted in Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister Richard Moyo issuing a warning to party members.

We note that there are some unfortunate attempts to drag our company into perceived political shenanigans. We reiterate that we are in Zimbabwe for legitimate business, we are absolutely not involved in any politics of whatsoever nature, Qian said.

Zanu PF Dinde area chairperson Never Chuma, who is also Dinde Residents Association deputy chairperson, is set to appear in court on May 16 on charges of incitement to public violence after leading villagers in a protest against the coal-mining venture.

Chuma is out on $10 000 bail. Newsday
Humanitarian agencies pledge to support the West African food security storage system

May 05,2021 | Source: Relief Web

As part of the International Online Conference being held by the ECOWAS Commission from 28th April to 10th May 2021 to share its food security storage experience with its partners and the other regions of the world, humanitarian agencies have pledged to support and work in respect of the West African Food Security Storage System. The statement was made following discussions on food reserves and the management of recurrent and expanding food, nutrition, and pastoral crises in West Africa: achievements, lessons learnt, challenges and prospects for the West African Food Security Storage Strategy. Humanitarian agencies, in their 29th April 2021 interventions, acknowledged the potential of this storage system towards contributing to Goal 2 Zero Hunger of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and building resilience to food insecurity in West Africa and the Sahel.



Humanitarian organizations such as WFP, UNICEF, OXFAM, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, etc. re-stated their commitment to align themselves with the West African Food Security Storage Strategy, giving priority to strengthening local, national, and regional food stocks management institutions capacities, knowledge sharing, cooperation, and coordination interventions for better synergy of actions. Adding to the commitment, humanitarian organizations re-emphasized the complementary role of food security stocks in global policies for the development of agro-forestry-pastoral and fisheries value chains for food and nutrition security.



Following the humanitarian organizations goodwill declaration, participants to the Conference exchanged views, in a panel facilitated by Mr. Alain Sy Traore, ECOWAS Director for Agri-culture and Rural Development, on how to better integrate the support of the International Humanitarian Community into the regional response mechanism to food, nutrition and pastoral crises, in order to strengthen its readiness to adequately deal with risks. Scaling up the Regional Food Security Reserve Initiative gives chance to promote food value chains and inclusive growth in the region. To recall, the general objective of the International Conference is to lay the foundations for a renewed multilateral partnership towards strengthening warning, prevention, intervention, and humanitarian assistance mechanisms for the most vulnerable populations to food crises.



The Conference falls within the process of assessing the key achievements of the five-year implementation of the West African Food Security Storage Strategy, with the political support of the G20, financial assistance from the European Union, and technical support from the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Spanish International Cooperation Agency for Development (AECID), in collaboration with the UEMOA Commission and CILSS.

Theme(s): Landing Centres, Others, Freshwater ecosystems and threats, Communities and Organisations, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, Coastal Ecosystems and Threats, Post Harvest Technology and Trade, Fisheries Resources, Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods.


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Name: Wilson Pang

Company: Appen

Job title: Chief Technology Officer

Date started current role: November 2018

Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Wilson Pang operates as the CTO of Appen Limited, the leading provider of high-quality training data for organisations that build effective AI systems at scale. Pang moved from grade school in his village, to middle school in a town, to high school in a small city, to a university in a big city. He joined IBM after graduation where he experienced the best professional training. Pang then moved to the Bay Area to eBay and CTrip where he enjoyed the Silicon Valley culture, even from eBay Shanghai, and got chance to lead the overall data strategy and execution for a China Internet company. These experiences helped Pang understand people with very different views of the world, and this has shaped how he approaches coding, AI and management. Pang published a book with a former Appen colleague, Alyssa Simpson Rochwerger, titled Real World AI: A Practical Guide for Responsible Machine Learning.

What was your first job? I was a developer at IBM, building large systems for banks, telecom operators and securities exchange companies.

Did you always want to work in IT? I fell in love with technology during high school when I was able to write a program on an old Apple machine in 1993. The ability to create a small world by writing a few lines of code is fascinating. My passion around technology has not stopped since then.

What was your education? Do you hold any certifications? What are they? I received my bachelor and masters degrees at Zhejiang University.

Explain your career path. Did you take any detours? If so, discuss. I started my career as a developer with IBM, building large systems for banks, telecom operators and securities exchange companies. I was excited by the power of software - you are building your own world when you write software and you can do almost anything.

I moved to eBay and experienced the great turnaround of the company. eBay was in trouble in mid-2009. The share price was at a historic low, well off its near-$60 historical high. It was cutting costs, growth was negative, market share shrinking, and the technology team wasnt empowered to innovate. By bringing in new executives, eBay started to make the engineering team an ideas powerhouse and built it into an equal partner, alongside the rest of the business. The company started the journey to use technology, data and AI to drive business.

I was lucky to join and build the search science team, which was the first team to leverage machine learning to rank items for buyers. We had a huge amount of data and could easily A/B test new models to learn how they worked. Every time we optimised the search model, user conversion would increase, which translated to millions or tens of millions in increased revenue.

Our team showed the whole company how powerful machine learning and data can be. Data science opened up an entirely different world than the engineering process I was used to. The new problems I was working on were interesting, but also very different from the engineering challenges I still enjoyed. I hesitated to switch my career to what seemed like an entirely new field. My mentor, a great tech leader who founded Bings image and video search team and was leading the big turnaround for eBay, convinced me to go for the new challenge.

For the next two years, I spent all my free time building my machine learning knowledge and picking up statistics. It was an intense period, but I learned the power of machine learning and how it can help change a business. Meanwhile, I continued to lead teams using machine learning and data to improve overall eBay search and marketing experience.

I then joined eBays data service and solution team and played a horizontal role to build data solutions for the whole company. We enabled product managers to optimise product experience by data, inventory managers to optimise inventory and price by data, marketing to optimise campaigns through data, CRM teams to engage buyers and sellers through data, and optimise experiment platform to support all the A/B testing. I had the opportunity to enable data driven decisions for every team in the company. I also built a retail science team and data labs to detect trends and seasonality of inventory, help sellers decide price for their products and help buyer to find interesting products.

After 11.5 years with eBay, I joined trip.com group as their chief data officer. My team leveraged data and machine learning to optimise the travel experience. We made significant revenue increases through search, recommendation, and CRM; We also saved costs from using AI in operation and customer service, improved internal efficiency in a big way as well as set up the data foundation for the whole company.

The more I worked in the machine learning and AI field, the more I realised the importance of data. Developers used to be the leaders of software, while training data was now becoming the leader of AI applications and data determines the logic and performance of AI. Appens mission is to create large volume of high-quality training data faster and I strongly believe that mission will help the whole world adopt AI faster in a better way. So, I joined Appen to make AI work in the real world!

What type of CTO are you? While Im responsible for defining the technology vision and strategy for the company, I also focus on attracting and nurturing great talent and building a great culture for execution and innovation. Because of my upbringing, I bring a combination of high confidence and compassion to my leadership style. By making emotional connections with my employees, while always maintaining a we can get it done spirit, I have been able to consistently motivate my teams to achieve great results. I also really care about other peoples feelings and how they can grow and thrive professionally. Making an emotional connection has turned out to be an important way I motivate my teams to succeed and deliver results.

Which emerging technology are you most excited about the prospect of? AI clearly has the most potential to change the world, and Im particularly excited about AI in the manufacturing industry, where we will see AI and IoT come together to transform the industry, saving tons of human labor while boosting productivity, efficiency and profitability. A related technology Im excited about is NLP  natural language processing. Advances in NLP can help AI not only better understand text and sentiment, rank search results better, chat like a human, but also provide answers to questions, writing articles and even programing with human instructions.

Are there any technologies which you think are overhyped? Why? Generic Artificial Intelligence is overhyped in my opinion. Although AI has made huge progress in computer vision, voice recognition and natural language understanding, which makes it look like AI can behave like humans, most of those AI advancements are based on training data. AI is learning all those capabilities through training data. AI is far away from reasoning and understanding.

What is one unique initiative that youve employed over the last 12 months that youre really proud of? Among those industry innovations our team delivered in the last 12 months, Fair Pay initiative is the one I am most proud of.

Appen delivers high quality training data at large scale to enable our customers to train their AI application. To do so, we also leverage a diverse crowd from all over the world to collect and label data. Appen is committed to treating our crowd members fairly and to care for their wellbeing, therefore we want to pay crowd workers above minimum wage for their location. I am very proud that we are enabling this through machine learning and great product design.

Are you leading a digital transformation? If so, does it emphasise customer experience and revenue growth or operational efficiency? If both, how do you balance the two? Technology is enabling Appens business growth. It helps to improve customer experience and revenue growth as well as enhance operational efficiency.

I am a huge believer in ownership and empowerment. You find the best talents, give them big challenges and autonomy, and then try to unblock them whenever they bump into obstacles. You can often be surprised on what people can do.

In terms of balance, we have divided up those initiatives among different leaders and teams and have seen great results from both sides!

What is the biggest issue that youre helping customers with at the moment? For AI projects to succeed, companies must have access to huge amounts of well-trained, unbiased, up-to-date training data. Without this, their projects will fail to deliver on their goals. Data is always changing in response to a changing world  think of how many ways the pandemic has changed almost everything. AI projects that are not being constantly updated with new data cant respond correctly to changing environments. Further, if the ML models are trained using limited or biased data, the results will never be applicable to everyone.

When it comes to AI, data will always be the biggest success factor. At Appen, we work with over 1 million contractors to collect and label images, text, speech, audio, video, and other data. Because these contractors live in over 130 countries and speak 180 languages and dialects, we can ensure companies have access to high-quality unbiased data for their AI projects  at scale.

How do you align your technology use to meet business goals? Appens executive team defined our business goals and strategies together. We discuss what role technology will play in the overall company strategy, just like what we did for sales and delivery team.

With the clearly defined business goals and company strategy, I work with my tech leadership to break them down and translate them into our tech strategies. Meanwhile, we collect other teams technology needs, and other strategies proposed by the tech teams to make sure our technology is ahead of the industry curve. We then consolidate and prioritise them into the final technology strategy with clear success definition. There is a final review with other business leaders to make sure it is aligned with business goals.

Do you have any trouble matching product/service strategy with tech strategy? With the approach above, we successfully align our tech strategy with our sales and service strategy.

One area every tech leader should pay special attention to is tech debt. There is a famous saying in the Silicon Valley startup community: Dont scale until you have to. It encourages people to use the quickest way to test the market first without building a solid tech foundation, which is absolutely a right strategy for early stage companies or early stage products in big companies. However, it does introduce a lot of tech debt. Paying off those tech debts is important to support future scalability, even if the business impact might not be transparent to business leaders. Tech leaders need to include that in the tech strategy and let people understand the importance of it.

What makes an effective tech strategy? An effective tech strategy has three major components:

Support the business need and accelerate business growth: There are a lot of business growth areas that require technology enablement and the tech strategy must support them. There are also many areas technology can drive business growth that business leaders might not have considered. The tech team should provide those insights and make it a part of the tech strategy.

Pay attention to tech debt and build a scalable foundation: Those areas might not be able to bring in direct business growth or operational efficiency improvement, but it can be made transparent to business leaders.

Invest in the future: Technology evolves very fast and there will be disruptions. A tech strategy has to include effort to invest in innovations and prepare the company for the future.

What predictions do you have for the role of the CTO in the future? All CTOs need to have deeper understanding of AI in the future. It is clear that AI has been transforming our world industry by industry and it is becoming a critical piece of the companys overall strategy especially the tech strategy. CTOs need to make sure they see that trend, embrace the trend and drive AI evolvement.

What has been your greatest career achievement? There are two areas I felt very proud of in my career so far.

First, I have been able to work with great people to drive hundreds of millions of revenue growth in both eBay and CTrip through leveraging Machine Learning and Data.

Second, I have been lucky to be part of many peoples career growth who are now leading technology innovations in many industries and companies.

Looking back with 20:20 hindsight, what would you have done differently? I resumed regular sync ups with tech leaders from different industries about two months ago. I should have done that earlier, even from the beginning of the pandemic.
Travelers in Indonesia are required to show a negative COVID test before boarding a flight, but passengers have the option to take an antigen rapid test at the airport. According to the BBC, Medans Kualanamu airport offers test kits supplied by Kimia Farma, a state-owned company.
Vaccination rates in Grant and Adams counties way behind rest of region
The National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia (NUJM) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), with the support of the European Union, released  Locked down: Screws Tighten on Press Freedom in Malaysia  on May 5. It calls for a heightened governmental focus on press freedom in Malaysia.

The report, entitled Locked down: Screws Tighten on Press Freedom in Malaysia, reviews a number of issues regarding the situation of journalists and media workers in the country during their routine work. Both the NUJM and IFJ hope this report will capture the governments attention on the challenges of domestic news media workers over the past year caused by government imposed restrictions and the continuing impacts of Covid-19.

The IFJ assisted the NUJM through conducting surveys which assessed issues such as gender and diversity of media personnel, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the media industry, public trust in media, the working conditions of journalists and the development of press freedom in Malaysia.

The report found Malaysian media has faced increased obstruction under the Perikatan Nasional government, which played a major role in the violation of press freedoms over the past year. Violations included police calling reporters to discuss inaccurate news and media organisations being summoned under the Official Secrets Act (1972).

Many journalists and human rights organisations have turned their attention to the new government and their relationship with journalists following the Sheraton Move political crisis last year, which saw the ousting of the Pakatan Harapan coalition government. Covid-19 also continued to place further pressure on journalists, with many unable to withstand the economic shock. Many media companies, such as Utusan and Kosmo, were liquidated and closed during the pandemic, with employees still waiting to recover their hard-earned wages.

NUJM said: The government authorities, especially the relevant departments responsible for the media industry, must take serious action to the findings of the report in order to give appropriate corrections immediately.

The IFJ said: The IFJ calls for the Malaysian government to pay specific attention to the findings of the report and to enact real change to support press freedom. Fair solutions to the problems journalists face must be enacted by the government in order to strengthen Malaysias media.
As the second wave of the Covid pandemic surges across the South Asia region, journalists remain in the thick of a storm that has surrounded their working lives every day for the past year. In this climate, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) launched the 19th annual South Asia Press Freedom Report, Truth in a Time of Contagion: The Viral Frontline.

As the title suggests, Truth in a Time of Contagion: The Viral Frontlinegoes inside the key media issues of the Covid-19 pandemic and documents the stories of struggle, courage and resistance of a media industry in crisis and under attack on economic and political fronts in almost every country of the region.

As the second wave of the Covid pandemic surged across South Asia in early 2021, journalists found themselves in the thick of the storm, without a safety net and scant institutional support. Battling not only the deadly virus, they mounted stiff resistance to states trying to control the narrative and plaster over the horrific reality. Journalists breaking stories of rising deaths, collapsing health systems and unpreparedness and mismanagement at the highest levels of government were silenced, hounded, arrested and penalised, the IFJ overview of the region said.

The 2020-21 South Asia Press Freedom Report outlines how controlling the flow of information seemed to be an overriding preoccupation of governments across the region. From reigning in the burgeoning independent digital media and clamping down on critical voices on social media, governments and social media platforms fell short of upholding freedom of expression at a critical juncture.

Country reports from the region tell the story of journalists reporting from the frontlines without adequate protective equipment. It hears from journalists themselves who exposed themselves to infection to tell stories of the suffering in hospitals, in graveyards and crematoria  as frontline workers. It sheds light on how journalism as a craft has been impacted  by massive job losses, wage cuts and a massive migration of more news to digital platforms.

The IFJ said a sad fact was that in the period, too many journalists have lost their lives while reporting on the pandemic figures from IFJs regional affiliates put this at nearly 300 lives lost and thousands more infected. The report also documents the violations from the period from May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021, and includes more than 180 violations, including 27 journalist killings, 1 death in custody, 58 journalist arrests or detentions and 52 violations of minority, regional and rural journalists.

In launching the report, the IFJ said: South Asia has always been a challenging place for journalists. This year it got even tougher. As the world and its media came to grips with and responded to the global health crisis, the impacts on journalism and media were acutely felt in South Asia.

Read the online report: Truth in a Time of Contagion: The Viral Frontline
Luca's Mediterranean Cafe just recorded the best March in its 20-year history: $20,000 in weekly sales.

It was a far cry from March 2020, when the Keene, New Hampshire, restaurant's founder, Luca Paris, had to shut his doors to in-person dining as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Though his cafe, located less than a mile north of Keene State College, is typically teeming with in-person diners, it switched to takeout-only last March--and remained that way for three months, when it reopened to 60 percent capacity (plus four outdoor tables) in mid-June.

Now that the vaccination rate is starting to pick up and the weather is getting warmer, Paris's eatery is also turning around. But if you ask him, his business's survival has everything to do with the helping hand he received from his neighbors.

"Most of us, as a community, jumped in with both feet to say, 'We need to stay positive, strong, unified, and help each other out,'" says Paris. "It's a true statement of what can happen when a community gets together. They can do just about anything."

During the depths of the crisis, when many small towns took one look at the pandemic and winced, Keene's business community opened wide. Between crowdfunding campaigns and coordinated sales efforts, the town came to its own rescue. The experience now serves as a heartening example of what can happen when a community pitches in and business owners work together.

Virtuous Circle

It all started on the morning of March 17, 2020. The city's mayor, George Hansel, hosted the first in a series of Zoom calls, inviting various members of the community to each. More than 100 people attended the first meeting for small-business owners.

Paris gathered local restaurant owners and other state officials on his own Zoom calls, and soon, those restaurant owners were buying their staffs lunches from neighboring eateries to help keep one another afloat. Other local entrepreneurs staged similar campaigns that have since raised tens of thousands of dollars for the downtown district over the past year.

The fundraising campaigns have served as mini-stimulus checks for the local economy. Last month, Paris spearheaded a crowdfunding effort that raised $30,000, including $10,000 from his nonprofit, Culinary Journeys, to buy gift cards from Keene restaurants. He distributed them with a request: Use this card as quickly as possible, and spend at least double its balance.

Giving to others became a virtuous circle, says Ted McGreer, the owner of Ted's Shoe & Sport, Keene's sporting goods and specialty footwear store. McGreer recalls what it was like to shutter his store for three months early on in the pandemic: He says he saw the best and worst of people. Theft rose in the business district, and the bagel shop across the street had to call the police approximately two dozen times for mask-mandate violations. Yet a group of longtime customers purchased $4,000 in gift cards, which they promptly handed back to McGreer--pay it forward, they said. So, McGreer donated sneakers to grocery-store workers and winter boots to homeless shelters.

Change, for Good

It also led to unique business moments. McGreer says he sold 500 pairs of shoes via Zoom. He also organized a virtual 5K run fundraiser that collected $25,000 for 80-plus local merchants. When sales rose again in March, they jumped above pre-Covid levels: up 17 percent, compared with March 2019. In April, McGreer made the most sales over any 13-day period in company history.

"That stimulus check is working," says McGreer, of the federal economic impact payments most Americans received under both Presidents Trump and Biden. "But I really want to believe that because we scratched and clawed and kicked and did everything we could to service our community and keep our business open, people really remembered that."

What else will they remember? That feeling of coming together, and working toward a common goal, says Paris. While it's true that competitors joined ranks and consumers stepped up during the pandemic, that unity and good will doesn't have to fall away when things normalize, he says.
At the time, Facebook said it believed "the risks of allowing President Trump to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great." As a result, the company blocked Trump's access to Facebook and Instagram "for at least the next two weeks."

Then, two weeks later, it decided it would refer the matter to the Oversight Board it set up to review content moderation decisions on the platform. That board, according to Facebook, was established "to make the final call on some of the most difficult content decisions Facebook makes."

Banning the president of the United States would certainly qualify as a "difficult content decision." Although, as the board points out, Facebook didn't actually make a difficult content decision in this case. It didn't really make a decision at all. Instead, it imposed an indefinite suspension, and then asked someone else to make the call, a point the board made, while upholding the original suspension.

The Board has upheld Facebook's decision on January 7, 2021, to restrict then-President Donald Trump's access to posting content on his Facebook page and Instagram account ... However, it was not appropriate for Facebook to impose the indeterminate and standardless penalty of indefinite suspension.

The ruling goes on to say that Facebook has six months to decide what an appropriate penalty is based on the severity of the circumstances. That could very well include a permanent ban, but if Facebook wants Trump off its platform, it has to be willing to stand up and say just that. That's actually an important point, and one that shouldn't be lost in all of the reporting that the board "upheld" Facebook's ban.

In applying a vague, standardless penalty and then referring this case to the Board to resolve, Facebook seeks to avoid its responsibilities. The Board declines Facebook's request and insists that Facebook apply and justify a defined penalty.

See, I would argue the board didn't really "uphold" the ban. You can't uphold something and also call it vague and standardless. Instead, the board upheld the original decision to restrict Trump, but then issues a devastating criticism of Facebook's complete lack of willingness to make a difficult content decision.

"Facebook seeks to avoid its responsibilities."

In fact, with just those six words, the Oversight Board highlighted everything that's wrong with Facebook.

Facebook absolutely should have the right to set rules and guidelines about how people share content on its platform. Obviously, things get complicated when the people sharing content are world leaders and incite their followers to an insurrection. Still, Facebook should be able to impose penalties when people violate those rules.

The problem is, as the board points out, Facebook didn't even follow its own rules--and didn't actually impose a penalty. It would be as if a judge found you guilty of doing something wrong, sent you to prison indefinitely, and then asked the court of appeals to decide how long you should stay. That's just not how it's supposed to work.

It's definitely not how it's supposed to work when you're the world's largest social media platform with influence over the lives of billions of people every day. In the words of Peter Parker's Uncle Ben, "With great power comes great responsibility."

The thing is, that idea didn't originate with a fictional comic book character. You'll find the same sentiment in writings from the French National Convention in 1793 ("They must consider that great responsibility follows inseparably from great power").

You'll even find it in the Bible, in the Gospel of Luke: "Much will be required of everyone who has been given much. And even more will be expected of the one who has been entrusted with more." (Luke 12:28).

My point is, the board got this part exactly right. Whether Facebook should have banned Trump or not, it should have made a decision, justified its reasons, and stood by it. Instead, it passed the buck to an arbitrary group it set up so that it could avoid the tough decisions.
If the global pandemic has had one silver lining, it might be the realization among leaders at all levels that anxiety is a real business issue.

They were home with family, feeling isolated, and struggling to stay connected with their teams. As their level of anxiety rose, many experienced a realization that mental well-being is a real concern.

Anxiety levels are rising like nothing we've seen before. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by mid-2020 more than 30 percent of Americans were reporting symptoms of an anxiety disorder, including a whopping 42 percent of people in their 20s.

In their new book, Anxiety at Work: 8 Strategies to Build Resilience, Handle Uncertainty, & Get Stuff Done, New York Times bestselling authors Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton address this issue for anyone who runs a team. They dispel a number of pernicious myths -- for example, that anxiety-ridden people are less productive, and that those who are suffering from anxiety should avoid stressful situations. They then offer managers a set of simple practices that can help alleviate the anxiety of team members, nurture their resilience, and foster productivity.

I recently caught up with the two authors, who shared a few of the steps from Anxiety at Work that will help leaders become better at building mentally healthy workplaces.

1. Remove what uncertainty you can.

Few things generate more unknowns than our modern workplaces. And the biggest unknown of all: whether our jobs will last.

While some leaders believe uncertainty and the resulting stress will get their people fired up for a challenge, that's simply not the case for a large portion of the workforce. Uncertainty often triggers detrimental consequences on performance. And uncertainty is intensified when managers at all levels don't communicate clearly, precisely, and consistently about challenges facing their organizations--and how those issues may affect their teams and their people.

What managers can do is communicate clearly and regularly about the future vision of the company, what they know of challenges and what the organization is doing to address them, and especially how those issues may impact their team and their priorities.

2. Help manage perfectionism.

According to the authors, perfectionism is becoming rampant in workplaces; and what makes it so toxic is that while those in its grip desire success, they are most focused on avoiding failure. In other words, they believe acceptance is conditional on their flawless performance.

Managers can do a lot to ease the tensions caused by perfectionism by giving those with this inclination the right jobs on the team (tasks with a narrower focus that are suited to their fastidiousness) and by helping them understand when a job is good enough and giving them explicit permission to move on.

This also involves increasing people's self-awareness and helping them see how obsessive behavior negatively affects others, and even pairing them with reformed perfectionists who can serve as role models.

3. Transform exclusion into connection.

More than seven out of every 10 workers say they have experienced some degree of exclusion in their teams, and that was even before the coronavirus pandemic isolated so many, state the authors.

Exclusion in the workplace can have long-term psychological implications. How are managers supposed to see what's not happening--especially when so many are still working from home?

Gostick and Elton say they must look carefully for snubs and omissions, for those who may be feeling left out. It's not just who doesn't get lunch invites, but who in team meetings is regularly cut off or disagreed with.

They can also ensure that all team members can voice their opinions in meetings and have their voices heard in a calm, organized manner; buddy up new hires with more seasoned employees with whom they might form a connection (friendly seasoned employees, that is); and spend time in every meeting recognizing the contributions of individuals as well as those of the group as a whole.

4. Use gratitude to build assurance.

One of the worst parts of anxiety is that it can make competent people feel insecure and start questioning their inner strengths. Many high-performing people constantly doubt themselves and their abilities. And yet too few leaders express gratitude to their people about work well done.

The authors offer several tips to help. For instance, generic comments around the workplace such as "great work" have never cut it, especially when it comes to reassuring anxious team members.

Employees hear such nonspecific praise and tend to dismiss it, especially those who may be feeling self-doubt. Instead, grateful leaders home in on a particular aspect of achievement or manner in which a person is going about their work.

In addition, to help quell anxious feelings, they say gratitude should occur soon after an achievement. When team members do something above and beyond and then hear nothing from their manager for days or weeks, they can start to worry. And frankly, in 99 percent of cases, when managers put it off, they forget.
Jennifer Aniston has appealed to her fans to lend assistance to India in its battle against the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, the Friends star shared three posts on her Instagram discussing the countrys health crisis and asking her 36.6 million followers to lend a helping hand.

She wrote: A severe second wave of coronavirus infection has swept over India, setting global records for new infections each day over the past five days.

You dont have to donate to help - spread the word with whatever platform you have to help build awareness. she wrote.

The 52-year-old actor also shared information about a charity called Americares which is raising money for immediate relief aid for India.

She said the organisation is delivering PPE kits to health workers, providing medicine delivery and teledoc support, and educating communities living in poverty on how to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Screenshot of Jennifer Aniston urging fans to support India during Covid crisis (Jennifer Aniston/ Instagram)

Last year, the Were The Millers actor urged everyone to wear masks as a close friend named Kevin was battling the disease.

This is our friend Kevin. Perfectly healthy, not one underlying health issue. This is Covid. This is real. We cant be so naive to think we can outrun this... if we want this to end, and we do, right? The one step we can take is PLEASE #wearadamnmask, she wrote.

Just think about those whove already suffered through this horrible virus. Do it for your family. And most of all yourself. Covid affects all ages, she added.
Piers Morgan has taken aim once more at Meghan Markle, this time decrying the Duchess of Sussex for writing childrens bookThe Bench, which was inspired by her husband Prince Harrys relationship with their son Archie.

Set to be published in June, the book began as a poem that Meghan wrote for Harry on the first Fathers Day following Archies birth. The poem was then adapted into a story which publishers Random House Childrens Books describe as giving readers a window into shared and enduring moments between a diverse group of fathers and sons.

In a statement, Meghan added that the book captures the warmth, joy and comfort of the relationship between fathers and sons from all walks of life and said: This representation was particularly important to me ... and I worked closely to depict this special bond through an inclusive lens.

However, in his MailOnline column Morgan lashed out at Meghan and accused her of acting hypocritically in writing the book given her difficult relationship with her own father. Lest we forget, he wrote, Ms Markle has ruthlessly disowned her father Thomas and refuses to have anything to do with him despite the fact they now live just 70 miles from each other. She is also reported to have disowned every other Markle, none of whom were invited to her wedding. This doesnt seem like someone overly keen to operate an inclusive lens to me. In fact, it seems a singularly EX-clusive lens.

Morgan levied similar accusations against Prince Harry, claiming that during Harry and Meghans interview with Oprah Winfrey in March the Duke trashed his father Prince Charles by moaning about how Daddy had stopped taking his calls or giving him cash, sounding like some needy spoiled brat teenager rather than a 36-year-old multi-millionaire doormat who ditched his family, country and duty because his chillingly controlling and ambitious wife wanted him to.
A London resident who was shot dead in Pakistan had reportedly rejected two mens marriage proposals prior to her death.

The uncle of Mayra Zulfiqar - who was found dead in her apartment earlier this week - said she had been warned of dire consequences after turning both down.

Police have launched a manhunt for two men after the 24-year-old Belgian national, who was of Pakistani origin and lived with family in the UK, was shot dead in the city of Lahore.

A murder investigation has also been opened.

Citing an initial post-mortem report, Sidra Khan from Punjab Police told local media Zulfiqar had been shot and bled to death.

She had a gunshot wound to her neck and another to her arm, the superintendent told English-language newspaper Dawn.

Bruises were also found on her right hand and left foot.

A police report said Zulfiqars uncle, Lahore resident Mohammad Nazeer, found his nieces body after receiving a phone call from her father in London to say she had been killed.

Mr Nazeer said his niece had told him she had been involved in a dispute with two male friends after she had rejected their marriage proposals, and that they had threatened her with "dire consequences".

Sayyed Ali, an operations superintendent at Punjab Police, told Dawn an unidentified caller had alerted the force about the murder and Zulfiqar was found lying in a pool of blood in her room with her mobile phone near her body.

Zulfiqar had moved to Pakistan from the UK - where her family lives - two months earlier, according to the newspaper.

She had initially gone to the country for a wedding and was staying at a rented home with her friend.

The 24-year-old was found dead in her flat after four men - including the two chief suspects - were believed to have broken in early on Monday.

Earlier this week, police detained two Pakistani men for questioning to determine whether they had any involvement in the killing.

The UK Foreign Office said it was referring the familys inquiries to Belgian consular services.

Additional reporting by agencies

This article was amended on 18 May, 2021. It was initially thought that Zulfiqar was a British citizen, however she was a Belgian national, resident in the UK, and we have amended the article to reflect this.
The cases follow a recognisable pattern. Suspects in their mid-teens, with a history of social problems and/or anarchism. An early morning, demonstrative raid on their parents houses. A trip to the state investigative committee. Identical charges alleging preparation of Columbine-style attacks  a reference to the 1999 US school shooting that left 13 dead.

While Russia has not experienced anything like the frequency or scale of armed school attacks as the United States, it has a worrying enough history. In 2018 alone, there were three: A knife attack in Perm, Ural region. An axe and Molotov cocktail attack in Ulan-Ude, eastern Siberia. And a shooting and explosion at a college in Kerch, in annexed Crimea, killing 21.

The Kerch tragedy in particular sparked a frenzied search for potential teenage radicals. Russias security agency, the FSB, was charged with averting further tragedy. And on paper, they delivered with dazzling success. In 2020 alone, the agency reported that at least 69 potential Columbine attacks had been intercepted.
In the five boroughs alone, at least 1,000 restaurants have been forced to shut down since the pandemic hit, and many more are feared to be on the brink, according to a running tally by Eater.
AstraZeneca has said it does not have enough engineers to further share its vital Covid vaccine technology with other global manufacturers, as other pharmaceutical giants face growing pressure to relinquish their control over the production of the life-saving jabs.

Amid a global shortage of supplies, health campaigners have called on the likes of AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and others to waive their intellectual property (IP) rights and transfer vaccine manufacturing know-how to other companies capable of producing doses en masse.

Western markets have received the vast majority of jabs, with fewer than 1 per cent of doses administered in low-income countries by the end of March. Last month, theWorld Health Organisation warned there is an urgent, near-term need to unlock additional Covid vaccine supply.

Campaigners have said that the only way to address the current bottleneck in production  a number of companies, including AstraZeneca, have struggled to meet their early targets  is to share vaccine technology among manufacturers.

But AstraZeneca, which is not making a profit off its vaccine sales, has insisted it does not have the manpower to further brief and train more of its pharmaceutical counterparts, having already established a global supply network with more than 20 partners across 15 countries.

During a recent shareholder Q&A, chief executive Pascal Soriot said: Its important for everybody to understand that manufacturing a vaccine is incredibly complicated.

Even if we give access to the technology and we told people here is the recipe, there is no way we could train these people to manufacture the vaccine because our engineers are flat out working with our existing partners.

The solution is to increase the yield in the existing plants, not to create more plants, because we have no engineers to brief people and train them.

The comments have drawn criticism from health and human rights activists. Global Justice Now, a campaign group on issues of trade, health care and justice, said the company was making excuses for their complicity in vaccine apartheid.

Senior policy manager Heidi Chow also highlighted that AstraZeneca has refused for almost a year to join the WHOs Covid-19 Technology Access Pool (CTAP), first established to facilitate technology and know-how sharing for vaccines and treatments.

Its utterly unacceptable to say that AstraZeneca cannot share their vaccine technology because they have no engineers, she said.

If they had openly licensed the vaccine and enabled technology transfer from the start or cooperated with the WHO, global production capacity could have already been scaled up by now.

This is exactly why governments should never have handed complete control of publicly funded vaccines over to a small number of companies. Pascal Soriots comments are further proof that it simply isnt possible to produce vaccines on the scale needed by granting any one company a monopoly on production.

World news in pictures Show all 51 1 /51 World news in pictures World news in pictures 8 June 2021 AFP via Getty Images World news in pictures 7 June 2021 Gondoliers help tourists to get on the gondolas, as the region of Veneto becomes a white zone, following a relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions with only masks and social distancing required, in Venice, Italy Reuters World news in pictures 6 June 2021 A military brass band plays during the international ceremony on the 77th anniversary of D-Day, at Omaha Beach in Vierville-sur-Mer, northwestern France AFP/Getty World news in pictures 5 June 2021 An explosives expert from Hamas lays out unexploded projectiles from the aftermath of the May 2021 conflict with Israel, at a local police precinct in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 June 2021 A couple take photos of each other on a rainbow flag-themed path during pride month at Samyan MRT station in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters World news in pictures 3 June 2021 Sebastien Ogier steers his Toyota Yaris WRC with co-driver Julien Ingrassia during the shakedown at the Rally of Sardegna and fifth round of the FIA World Rally Championship AFP/Getty World news in pictures 2 June 2021 Smoke rises from a fire onboard the MV X-Press Pearl vessel as it sinks while being towed into deep sea off the Colombo Harbour, in Sri Lanka June 2, 2021 Sri Lanka Airforce via Reuters World news in pictures 1 June 2021 A girl runs through a fountain outside a shopping mall on International Children's Day in Beijing on June 1, 2021, a day after China announced it would allow couples to have three children. AFP/Getty World news in pictures 31 May 2021 In this handout image courtesy of the US Coast Guard the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute small boat crew rescues 8 people from the water approximately 18 miles southwest of Key West, Florida AFP/Getty World news in pictures 30 May 2021 A fishing boat sails in the sea-snot covered Marmara sea near Istanbul, Turkey EPA World news in pictures 29 May 2021 Smoke billowing from the Singapore-registered container ship MV X-Press Pearl, which has been burning for the tenth consecutive day in the sea off Sri Lanka's Colombo Harbour, in Colombo Sri Lanka Air Force/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 May 2021 Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accompanied by his dog Peanut welcomes European Council President Charles Michel at the Maximos Mansion in Athens, Greece Reuters World news in pictures 27 May 2021 A man waits to receive a dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, in the rooms of the Claudia Comte exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art Castello di Rivoli near Turin AFP/Getty World news in pictures 26 May 2021 A girl, with her face painted with the colours of the opposition flag, looks on during a demonstration against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and presidential elections, in the opposition-held Idlib, Syria Reuters World news in pictures 25 May 2021 A Buddhist monk climbs atop a giant statue of Buddha, to wash and decorate on the eve of Buddha Purnima, a holiday traditionally celebrated for Buddha's birthday also known as Vesak celebrations, in Bhopal AFP/Getty World news in pictures 24 May 2021 Lava from the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo cuts through Buhene north of Goma, Congo AP World news in pictures 23 May 2021 Cyclists at the start of the 15th stage of the Giro dItalia, a 147km race between Grado and Gorizia AFP/Getty World news in pictures 22 May 2021 Swiss Guards take their position prior to the arrival of the European Commission President at San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican for a private audience with the Pope AFP/Getty World news in pictures 21 May 2021 A dog that has been trained to sniff out the coronavirus disease, screens a sweat sample at Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters World news in pictures 20 May 2021 Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr in action during a F1 practice session at the Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo 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/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/Getty 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

Although AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson have all said they support efforts to ensure the equitable distribution of vaccines and treatments, their executives have previously questioned the concept of intellectual property pools, such as CTAP.

In May 2020, Dr Albert Bourla, chief executive of Pfizer, said: I think it is nonsense and at this point of time its also dangerous. Mr Soriot said IP needs to be protected in order to incentivise companies to innovate and fuel technological progression.

Having committed to producing up to 3 billion doses by the end of 2021, AstraZeneca has sub-licensed its vaccine to the Serum Institute of India and South Koreas SK Bioscience to help it reach this ambitious target.

Pfizer has also entered into agreements with Sanofi and Novartis to manufacture its vaccine, while Johnson & Johnson has struck a similar deal with Merck.

Despite this, there is a belief that more can be done to expand the global supply chain. Some manufacturers have said that their factories are lying idle, and that they would be able to increase the worldwide production of doses if they were handed the vaccine blueprints.

According to AP, the Biovac factory in South Africa has said for weeks that its in negotiations with an unnamed manufacturer with no contract to show for it. And in Denmark, the Bavarian Nordic factory has capacity to spare and the ability to make more than 200 million doses  but is also waiting for word from the producer of a licensed coronavirus vaccine.

The WHO itself has called for vaccine manufacturers to share their technology to dramatically increase the global supply.

AstraZeneca has defended its position amid the growing criticism. "Vaccine manufacturing is highly complex, and accelerating production at this scale and speed requires partners around the world with capabilities to manufacture using our standard process to ensure consistency and quality of the vaccine, a spokesperson said.

It comes as new polling suggests that seven in 10 people from all G7 nations want their respective governments to step in and prevent pharmaceutical companies from holding monopolies on the Covid-19 vaccines.

According to a survey conducted by a number of pollsters, including YouGov, support for intervention is highest in Italy, where 82 per cent of respondents were in favour, followed by Canada, where 76 per cent agree.

Some of 74 per cent of people surveyed in the UK believe vaccine technology should be openly transferred from one manufacturer to another. In the US, where president Joe Biden has voiced his hope and expectation for sharing vaccine know-how, 69 per cent of the public support the measure.
A 16-year-old Palestinian youth was killed Wednesday by Israeli gunfire in a clash in the northern West Bank Palestinian health officials said, while Israel announced the death of a 19-year-old man who was wounded in a drive-by shooting earlier this week.

The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the teen as Saeed Yusuf Muhammad Oudeh and said he was killed in the village of Odla, near the city of Nablus.

The Israeli military said that a number of suspects hurled firebombs at troops conducting what it described as routine activity) in the area.

The troops operated to stop the suspects by firing toward them, it said, adding that the incident was under investigation. No soldiers were hurt.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced the death of Yehuda Guetta, who was shot in the head on Sunday when a gunmen opened fire from a Palestinian vehicle at a busy intersection in the occupied West Bank. Two other Israelis were wounded.

Israeli forces this week have been conducting home raids and carrying out arrests in the search for the suspect.

The army and all security forces will not rest until they catch the terrorist who murdered Yehuda, Gantz said.

The deaths occurred during a recent uptick in violence coinciding with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

In recent days, Palestinians have scuffled with police during protests against the threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in east Jerusalem Several Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah have been embroiled in a long-running legal battle with Israeli settler groups trying to acquire property in the neighborhood.

Late Wednesday, the Palestinian Red Crescent medical service said several people were injured in clashes in Sheikh Jarrah, including three people shot by rubber bullets. Israeli police reported five arrests, including a protester wearing a medic's uniform who it said had thrown rocks at security forces.

Israel captured east Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and Gaza, territories the Palestinians want for their future state, in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a move not recognized internationally and views the entire city as its capital.

The Palestinians view east Jerusalem  which includes holy sites for Jews, Christians and Muslims  as their capital, and its fate is one of the most sensitive issues in the Mideast conflict.

In the Gaza Strip, the shadowy leader of the armed wing of the Islamic militant group Hamas this week issued his first public statement in nearly seven years, warning Israel it will pay a heavy price if it evicts Palestinians from their homes in east Jerusalem.
Scientists have used stem cells to accurately recreate the first stage of human embryo development, in what could be a landmark discovery for research into reproduction.

The study  published today in the journal Cell Stem Cell  saw researchers from the University of Exeter and the University of Cambridge develop a method whereby stem cells, which can turn into a number of cell types, mimic the early structure of human embryos.

Experts believe the finding could benefit research into infertility by advancing understandings of how embryos develop and the conditions needed to avoid miscarriage and other complications.

Around one in seven couples in the UK has difficulty conceiving, the experts noted.

The new embryo models can also be used to test conditions that may improve the development of embryos in assisted conception procedures such as IVF.

It comes after the discovery in March, by various research groups, that a human stem cell is able to generate the founding elements of a blastocyst, the very early formation of an embryo after a fertilised egg divides.

Professor Austin Smith, director of the University of Exeters Living Systems Institute, where the study took place, described the learning as revelatory.

Finding that stem cells can create all the elements of an early embryo is a revelation, he said. The stem cells come from a fully-formed blastocyst, yet they are able to recreate exactly the same whole embryo structure.

He added: This is quite remarkable and unlocks exciting possibilities for learning about the human embryo.

One such advancement is that scientists will no longer have to rely solely on animal research, specifically using mouse stem cells, to make judgements about human development  this is despite mices reproductive systems differing significantly from humans.

Access to examining human embryos is limited, and tightly regulated due to ethical considerations, but blastocysts grown in labs from human stem cells are not placed under the same ethical scrutiny, so could prove vital.

In the study, researchers arranged the stem cells into clusters and briefly introduced two molecules known to influence how cells behave in early development.

They found that 80 per cent of the clusters organised themselves after three days into structures that looked like the blastocyst stage of an embryo, a ball of around 200 cells that forms from the fertilised egg after six days.

The team went on to show that the artificial embryos have the same active genes as the natural embryo.

Dr Ge Guo, of the University of Exeters Living Systems Institute, said the new technique provides for the first time, a reliable system to study early development in humans without using embryos.

She added that the move should not be seen as a step towards producing babies in a laboratory, but rather as an important research tool that could benefit IVF and infertility studies.

Additional reporting by PA
A 21-year-old man stabbed to death inside a north London shopping centre on Tuesday evening has been named by his family as Gedeon Ngwadema.

Mr Ngwadema died at Brent Cross Shopping Centre, after police and emergency services rushed out to reports of a group of males fighting at around 6.45pm.

Metropolitan Police have launched a murder investigation, with one 18-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder. A second man, believed to be aged 18, has been arrested on suspicion of affray.

The 21-year-olds mother Thethe Elonga broke down in tears as she laid flowers at the scene of her sons death on Wednesday morning.

She told the Evening Standard: Im heartbroken. He was a wonderful boy, respectful and lovely. He did very well at school and had a very bright future ahead of him.

Speaking at the shopping centre this morning, Mr Ngwademas uncle Fred said: Its very shocking and I feel completely down  its unbelievable.

His uncle added: He was a very good boy, quiet and polite. He wanted to do businesses studies and then set up his own business one day, selling clothing or food.

Friends of Mr Ngwadema  known to his Tonkz  paid tribute to him on social media.

Police praised the courage of members of the public who tried to give the victim first aid before officers and paramedics arrived. Despite the best efforts of London Ambulance Service, Mr Ngwadema died at the scene.

Chief Superintendent Sara Leach, who is in charge of policing in northwest London, said: My thoughts are with the loved ones of the young man who has been killed in this incident.

She added: I would like to offer my thanks to the members of the public who came to his aid. They showed considerable courage.

Two people have been arrested and an investigation is already underway. We will do all we can to identify and bring to justice those responsible.

Mr Ngwadema was the 33rd person to be murdered in the capital this year, and the 26th to be fatally stabbed.

Anyone with information should call 101, providing the reference CAD6136 / 04MAY. Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111.

Additional reporting by SWNS
Two veterans accused of murdering the IRA member Joe McCann in 1972 have been acquitted due to a lack of evidence.

Their trial at Belfast Crown Court, which started last Monday, collapsed after the presiding judge decided not to allow statements made by the two former soldiers  identified only as Soldiers A and C  named as in 1972 as evidence.

Mr Justice OHara made the ruling on Friday over concerns about the circumstances in which the statements were made. The deficiencies included the fact that the then paratroopers were forced to give testimony to the Royal Military Police.

As the Public Prosecution Services case rested on this material, its decision not to challenge the judges decision brought the case to an end.

In the circumstances Mr A and C I formally find you not guilty of the charge of murder, Mr Justice OHara said.

The two men, now in their 70s, then left the courtroom.

Mr McCann, 24, was killed by paratroopers who shot him in the city in April 1972 while he was trying to evade arrest.

The family of Mr McCann are to apply to the Attorney General to open an inquest into his killing.

Speaking outside the court, solicitor for the family Niall Murphy said: This ruling does not acquit the State of murder.

This ruling does not mean that Joe McCann was not murdered by the British Army.

He was shot in the back whilst unarmed, from a distance of 40 metres, posing no threat. It was easier to arrest him than to murder him.

He added: Today is not the end of the McCanns journey for justice.

They will now apply to the current attorney general to open the inquest at which Soldiers A and C will be compelled to appear and give evidence and be cross examined.

Mr McCann's daughter Aine said: "The judge was right when he used the word appalling to describe the failure of the State at all levels in relation to the murder of Joe McCann.

The RUC failed, the criminal justice failed, not only in this case but in the case of many other families.

When it opened last Monday, the veterans case became the first in several years to involve charges against former soldiers who had served in Northern Ireland.

There are four other similar charges currently going through the regions courts. However, they all remain at the pre-trial stage.

In the McCann murder case, the prosecution had argued that the 1972 evidence should be admissible because the men had accepted the statements when questioned by the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) about the crime in 2010.

However, Mr Justice OHara sided with the defence, saying it was unacceptable for the 1972 material to be dressed up and freshened up with a new 2010 cover.

He added that the prosecution would have been more sustainable if the Police Service of Northern Ireland had started a new investigation after the HET re-examined McCanns murder eleven years ago.

Johnny Mercer, who resigned as defence minister last month over the exclusion of Northern Ireland veterans from the Overseas Operations Bill, welcomed the acquittal.

He said he was delighted for the soldiers who can now hopefully go and live the rest of their lives in peace.

Mr Mercer added: But the Government has made very clear promises, and the prime minister has made very clear promises, on legislation to end the relentless pursuit of those who served their country in Northern Ireland.

It is time to deliver on that.

Meanwhile, lawyers for the soldiers demanded an urgent independent review of the PPSs handling of the case.

Philip Barden, the senior partner at Devonshires solicitors who represented soldiers A and C, said the firm made legal submissions back in 2016 making clear that the evidence from their clients would not be admissible.

The stress of these proceedings on the soldiers and their families cannot be underestimated, he said.

This is a prosecution that should never have got off the ground. Before initiating the prosecution, the PPS had all the relevant information to conclude that the evidence was clearly inadmissible. Despite this, the prosecution proceeded.

He added: I call for an inquiry by a senior judge to investigate the decision-making process and to ensure that the decision to prosecute these veterans was not political.

Deputy director of public prosecutions at the PPS Michael Agnew said the decision to prosecute was taken after a very thorough and careful examination.

Despite todays outcome, the PPS remains satisfied that this case was properly brought before the courts, he said.

Mr Agnew added: When the full written judgment becomes available, the PPS will carefully consider whether it has the potential to impact upon any other cases that are currently before the courts.

Additional reporting by PA
Conservative candidate Jill Mortimer has been declared the victor of the Hartlepool by-election, the first time this key constituency has gone to a party other than Labour since its creation in 1974.

The Tory candidate won 51 per cent of the vote, up by 23 per cent on their 2019 result, while Labour fell back 9 per cent on the vote share won under Jeremy Corbyn in 2019.

With a majority of around 7,000 the Conservatives won almost twice as many votes as Labour in the seat.

The result is a major political turnaround for the town, where Labour increased its majority as recently as 2017, then moving from 35 per cent of the vote to 52.5 per cent.

Outside the towns Mill House Leisure Centre where the count was taking place, a local group calling themselves the Hartlepool Wombles installed a massive inflatable of Boris Johnson. It stood there, taller than the pub it was anchored to, its thumbs up. If he can get this town moving again, hell do me, said landlord Taffy Turner.

Conservative campaigners say the result of the vote was apparent some hours before the final declaration was made  and that activists for Keir Starmer's party had disappeared as a result.

The Labour campaigners have all shot off to Sunderland, one told The Independent. But were coming for them there next.

A Labour source close to Keir Starmer appeared to blame the previous leadership for the result, telling reporters: The message from voters is clear and we have heard it. Labour has not yet changed nearly enough for voters to place their trust in us.

We understand that. We are listening. And we will now redouble our efforts. Labour must now accelerate the programme of change in our party, to win back the trust and faith of working people across Britain.

(Press Association Images)

But the analysis was met with a barrage of criticism from the left of the party. Andrew Scattergood, co-chair of left-wing group Momentum, described the result as a "disaster".

Pointing out that the seat had been held twice by Labour, with over 50 per cent in 2017, he said: "A transformative socialist message has won in Hartlepool before, and it would have won again.

"Starmer's strategy of isolating the left and replacing meaningful policy with empty buzzwords has comprehensively failed. If he doesnt change direction, not only will he be out of a job - but the Labour Party may be out of Government forever."

Labour MP Richard Burgeon said the defeat was "incredibly disappointing", stating: "We are going backwards in areas we need to be winning.

"Labour's leadership needs to urgently change direction. It should start by championing the popular policies in our recent manifestos - backed by a large majority of voters."

But defending Sir Keirs leadership, Steve Reed, the shadow communities secretary, said the party has changed.

Were going to see a lot more results throughout today and Saturday and over the weekend, from elections right across the country, so well have a clearer picture at the end of that period, and I suspect the results are going to be patchy, he told BBC Breakfast.

(Press Association Images)

Certainly from my door-knocking - places like Sheffield, Nottingham, Bristol, Milton Keynes, Hertfordshire - the reaction on the doorstep to me as a Labour campaigner has been a lot warmer than it has been in recent years, but that isnt enough if its not translating into votes.

Meanwhile, a celebratory Conservative party co-chair Amanda Milling described the result as historic.

Were delighted that the people of Hartlepool have put their faith in Jill and the Conservatives to deliver on their priorities: to bring the change, investment and jobs Hartlepool deserves, she said after the result.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 7 June 2021 A pedestrian wearing a face covering walks over Westminster Bridge near the Houses of Parliament in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 6 June 2021 Isobel Salamon, founder of the Edinburgh Cinema Club, poses alongside the Leith Trainspotting murals in Quality Yard, Leith, Edinburgh, for the programme launch of the Cinescapes Festival which starts on July 4 with a Trainspotting 1 and 2 double bill PA UK news in pictures 5 June 2021 A long exposure photograph captures the rotation of the earth as the stars blur into circles over Knowlton church ruins in Dorset Nick Lucas/SWNS UK news in pictures 4 June 2021 Balloonists take flight during the opening of the Midlands Air Festival in Alcester, Warwickshire PA UK news in pictures 3 June 2021 Members of the Household Cavalry during the Major General's annual inspection of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in Hyde Park, London PA UK news in pictures 2 June 2021 Hannah Vitos of the Blenheim Art Foundation, poses for a photograph next to artist Ai Weiwei's Gilded Cage (2017) sculpture in the grounds of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 1 June 2021 People swim in the Sky Pool, a transparent swimming pool bridge across two exclusive residential blocks standing next to the US Embassy in Nine Elms, in London, Tuesday, June 1, 2021 AP UK news in pictures 31 May 2021 People enjoy the hot weather at Brighton beach Reuters UK news in pictures 30 May 2021 People venture into the sea as they enjoy themselves during a hot day on Brighton Beach AP UK news in pictures 29 May 2021 Swimmers at the Stonehaven Open Air Pool in Aberdeenshire, which reopens after lockdown restrictions were eased PA UK news in pictures 28 May 2021 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he meets Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban at Downing Street in London REUTERS UK news in pictures 27 May 2021 White Pelicans in the sunshine in St James's Park, London PA UK news in pictures 26 May 2021 Boats are seen at Southsea Moorings in Portsmouth Reuters UK news in pictures 25 May 2021 York Glaziers Trust employees Kieran Muir (left) and Emily Price (right) remove a stained glass window panel at the start of a new five year, 5m project to conserve York Minsters South East Transept and its medieval St Cuthbert Window PA UK news in pictures 24 May 2021 Dark rain clouds above an oast house at Bewl Water reservoir near Lamberhurst in Kent during one of the rainiest Mays on record, with the UK seeing 131 per cent of the usual months rainfall already PA UK news in pictures 23 May 2021 The Premier League trophy with the Manchester City club colour ribbons on, at Etihad Stadium, prior to the last Premier League match of the season. 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The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images

The work to repay that faith starts right now, as we continue with our agenda to level up and build back better from the pandemic.

Boris Johnson made repeated visits to the consituency in the final stages of the campaign, an apparent sign the Tories expected to win the seat.

Questions hung over Labours candidate Paul Williams during the campaign: a staunch remainer picked for a strongly Leave seat, Dr Williams had been rejected by voters in another consituency down the road in 2019, but apparently given the nod for the candidacy from the leaders office, who saw him as an ally.

The Conservatives appeared to be the only party to benefit from the collapse of the Brexit party vote  unlike in 2017 where Labour managed to increase its vote share on the back of the collapse of the Ukip vote.

It is extremely rare for the government to win a seat from the opposition at a by-election.
EU Brexit negotiators had to act as the adults in the room in the face of repeated provocations from Boris Johnson which at times became pathetic and almost childish, Michel Barnier has said.

In his 500-page account of four and a half years of talks, the EUs chief negotiator accuses Mr Johnson and his inner circle of political piracy and states baldly as negotiations reach their endgame: I simply no longer trust them.

At one point, after Mr Johnson threatened to tear up the laboriously negotiated agreement on the Irish border, Mr Barnier wrote that it appeared the UK was pursuing the madman strategy of pretending to be ready for a no-deal Brexit in order to force Brussels into concessions.

The Downing Street team were not up to the challenge of Brexit, and Mr Johnson himself appeared badly briefed in talks with European Commission presidents, said the Brussels negotiator.

After Mr Johnson took office at No 10 in 2019, Mr Barnier recorded that his team were repeatedly incredulous and stupefied as the UK sought to go back on agreements it had signed up to, created artificial deadlines and threatened to walk away from talks.

Right up to the last minute, a day before signing the Trade and Cooperation Agreement on Christmas Eve, the Johnson team were seeking advantage, presenting the EU with a legal text which was peppered with traps, false compromises and backwards steps, he said.

But his diary of the protracted negotiations records how Brussels had to provide Mr Johnson with a ladder to climb down to provide a smokescreen for him to re-enter talks after threatening to walk away.

Mr Barnier said that from the start he felt that the UKs Brexiters did not understand the consequences of EU withdrawal and recorded he was stupefied by Theresa Mays 2017 speech in which she ruled out most forms of future cooperation with the remaining 27-nation bloc.

But he said he was in no doubt that when Mr Johnson succeeded her in July 2019, the new prime minister would be pragmatic about reaching a swift deal to neutralise the political threat of the Brexit Party and allow him to win an early election.

He described Mr Johnson as like a bulldozer during talks in September 2019, but with something genuine and mischievous in his expression a rather nice person. Despite his jokes, it was important not to underestimate the new prime minister, he noted.

However, despite Mr Johnsons bullish determination to get rid of the Northern Irish backstop negotiated by Ms May, Mr Barnier said the PM appeared during discussions on the issue to be taking on board a series of practical and legal problems which had not been explained clearly enough to him by his team.

After reaching a deal which got rid of the backstop by creating a customs border in the Irish Sea, Mr Barnier recorded his surprise to find Mr Johnson fighting that years election on the basis that there would be no controls on goods travelling between Northern Ireland and the British mainland, something which he said does not correspond with the contents of the withdrawal agreement.

And when close Mr Johnson ally David Frost took over negotiation of the subsequent trade deal, Mr Barnier said it came as a thunderbolt to hear him say that the UK did not regard itself as bound by the deal agreed just months earlier.

But it was Mr Johnsons threat to tear up arrangements for the Irish border with the Internal Market Bill last September that prompted Mr Barnier to say he had lost trust in the PM.

By acting in this way, the British government is engaging in no more or less than political piracy, he wrote. At that moment, I felt this threat like a betrayal of their word. Clearly, they are ready for anything.

I find that the current team in 10 Downing St is not up to the challenges of Brexit nor to the responsibility that is theirs for having wanted Brexit. I simply no longer trust them.

After a glacial dinner with Mr Frost in London, Mr Barnier wrote: We could have suspended negotiations immediately, on the grounds that one does not negotiate under duress.

But suspension of the negotiations for this grave reason - which was probably what the British were hoping for - would have put the blame for failure on us. We do not want to succumb to this provocation We will make the British government face its responsibilities.

The following month Mr Johnson dramatically announced that he was preparing for no deal, accusing the EU of failing to make concessions by a deadline which the PM had unilaterally set.

Accused by Mr Frost in a video call of failing to meet the UKs efforts to find a deal, Mr Barnier recorded that he and his team looked at one another with incredulity. It was almost childish.

And he added: This episode seemed to me to be quite pathetic. We have had many reasons over the course of the past weeks and months, in reaction to one British declaration or posture or the other, to lose our patience and dramatise the talks. But once again we mastered our nerves.

Discussing the incident, he recorded an aide saying: We always knew we would reach a crisis. Now we are here, we must do what we always said we would do and be the adults in the room.

The psychodrama orchestrated by London resolved itself within days after Mr Barnier repeated in a speech a form of words about sovereignty which would allow Mr Johnson to back away from his threat.

But he said that Mr Johnson continued to threaten no deal if Brussels would not make concessions, as if out of wishful thinking that everything would go well, or not too badly, when in fact it would have very serious consequences for both the EU and UK.

At one point he told Mr Frost directly: Your negotiating tactics are a masquerade. You are trying to play with us. I wont put up with it for long. If you want a deal, you will have to move.

By early December last year, while Mr Johnson was trumpeting the merits of an Australian-style no-deal Brexit, Mr Barnier said he believed the PM had in fact begun to take on board the consequences of a crash-out, adding: Im sure he wants to avoid it.

In a crunch meeting with Ursula von der Leyen to seek a final breakthrough, Mr Johnson appeared not to have taken the time to go through the detail himself with his team in advance, telling the Commission president that he was ready to be flexible over fishing rights but needed to be able to show that the UK had won back its sovereignty in time for the next general election in three years.

Right up until the sealing of the trade deal on Christmas Eve, Mr Barnier said Mr Johnson and Mr Frost tried to strike side deals and go over his head with appeals to national leaders like Germanys Angela Merkel.

But after the trade deal was signed on a day of relief, tinged with sadness, Mr Barnier recorded that he had achieved the EUs negotiating goals thanks to the unity and solidarity of the 27 member states.

Even after the TCA was agreed, he said that British provocations continued, with threats to breach the deal over the Northern Ireland border and UK government ministers opening talking about using social, economic and fiscal dumping to gain a competitive edge over Europe.

But in a warning to London, he wrote: We must remain alert against all new kinds of cherry-picking We have put into the Trade and Cooperation Agreement the tools we need to respond.

Mr Barnier said that the 2016 Leave campaign was fuelled by caricatures and untruths including Mr Johnsons promise, on the side of his bus, of 350m a week for the NHS. And he said that Nigel Farages refugee posters recalled the excesses of propaganda from another age.

But he said that the message of Brexit for the EU was the need to listen to expressions of popular sentiment  and respond to them [with] respect and political courage.

Explaining the choice of title for his book, La Grande Illusion, Mr Barnier wrote: The great illusion is to think that you can face the world and its often brutal transformations alone and to believe in the promise of an identity and a sovereignty based on solitude rather than solidarity.

- La Grande Illusion (Journal secret du Brexit) is published in French by Gallimard on 6 May and in English in October.
Bill and Melinda Gates have officially filed for divorce.

This marriage is irretrievably broken, Melinda Gates wrote in her petition for divorce on Monday, with Bill Gates listed as the respondent. We ask the court to dissolve our marriage and find that our marital community ended on the date stated in our separation contract.

Court papers obtained by TMZ show that Mr Gates has hired three law firms, including Munger, Tolles & Olson. Charles Munger, seen by some as Warren Buffetts right-hand man, founded the firm in 1962, but is not listed as one of Mr Gates lawyers. He is 97 years old.

Mr Gates and Mr Munger previously worked together at Mr Warrens holding company, Berkshire Hathaway, until Mr Gates stepped down from the board in 2020. He and Mr Warren are close friends and colleagues.

The divorce papers also show that there was no prenuptial agreement before the marriage. Mr Gates is currently the fourth richest person in the world, with a net worth of about $124 billion. Without a pre-nup, the divorce could potentially divide that fortune in half.

The couple announced their separation on Monday, after nearly three decades together.

After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage, Bill and Melinda Gates wrote in a statement they both posted on Twitter.

The couple has been married for almost three decades, and works together to run the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , the largest private charity in the world.

Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives, the Gates statement continued.

We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives. We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life.

However, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said nothing will change in terms of the two professionals work.

Bill and Melinda will remain co-chairs and trustees of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Foundation told The Independent on Monday. No changes to their roles or the organization are planned. They will continue to work together to shape and approve foundation strategies, advocate for the foundations issues, and set the organizations overall direction.

Bill and Melinda met in the 1980s at microsoft"> Microsoft , the tech giant Mr Gates co-founded, when Melinda worked there as a product manager. According to Melinda, Bill weighed the pros and cons of marrying her on a whiteboard. They married in Hawaii in 1994.

In 2000, they founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with the goal of reducing poverty and improving health care around the world. The couple shares control of the enormous charity with one other trustee, Mr Buffett .

In March 2020, Mr Gates stepped down from his board position at Microsoft to devote more time to the charity. When the Covid-19 pandemic began, the Foundation dove into fighting the virus , donating hundreds of millions of dollars to develop vaccines and therapeutic drugs.

In a 2019 Netflix documentary, Inside Bills Brain , Mr Gates was highly complimentary of his wife.

In the case of Melinda, it is a truly equal partner, he said. Shes a lot like me in that she is optimistic and she is interested in science. She is better with people than I am. Shes a tiny bit less hardcore about knowing, you know, immunology, than I am.
Kidnapper and rapist Vinson Filyaw has died behind bars at the age of 51 while serving his 421-year prison sentence at the McCormick Correctional Institution in northwestern South Carolina. The cause of death has yet to be determined.

Filyaw was found dead in his cell on Monday, 15 years into his sentence for kidnapping, raping and torturing then-14-year-old Elizabeth Shoaf. The horrific ordeal went on for 10 days in 2006 as she was kept in an underground bunker in the woods before she was able to escape.

There were no immediate signs of foul play in Filyaws death and an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death, The State newspaper reported.

Filyaw kidnapped Elizabeth in September 2006 after she came off her school bus. Filyaw jumped out from behind a bush wearing a shirt with a police emblem on it. Lying, he told her she was under arrest because her family had been growing marijuana, and put her in handcuffs.

He led her into the woods, raped her, and made her wear a necklace he said was laced with explosives. He told her that if she tried to escape he would blow her up and subsequently kill her younger brother.

After taking her deeper into the forest, he took her into a six-foot deep underground bunker he had built himself with a concealed door boobytrapped with explosives.

According to authorities, Filyaw had built another three bunkers around Kershaw County in northeastern South Carolina. The bunker where Elizabeth was kept had a well, a bed, a stove, a TV and an escape hatch.

At times during the 10 days, Filyaw allowed Elizabeth to play games on his cellphone. One night as Filyaw was asleep, she texted her mother from the cellphone, eventually leading authorities to the scene.

Filyaw fled when he realized the authorities were after him, which gave Elizabeth a chance to escape. When he was arrested, Filyaw was carrying a knife, a pellet gun and a pair of night-vision goggles.

Filyaw had put a chain around Elizabeths neck to prevent her from escaping. He told authorities that the motive was to exert revenge on the Kershaw County Sheriffs Office for allegedly wrongly accusing him of a sex crime.

Elizabeths mother said at the guilty plea hearing: For 10 days we endured a hell we would not wish on any other family. Our innocent child was subjected to torment and abuse and placed in a world she did not deserve.

Defence lawyer Jack Duncan said on Monday: Its the longest specific sentence, I think, in South Carolina history.

Prosecutor Barney Giese told The State: He was a bad guy, as bad as you can get without killing anybody.

He got 421 years and deserved every day of it, Mr Giese added.

Sentences for different crimes, such as kidnapping, rape, impersonating a law enforcement officer, and many others, were stacked on top of each other to arrive at the sentence of more than four centuries in prison. Filyaws release date would have been in the year 2353.

At the September 2007 sentencing, judge Thomas Cooper told Filyaw: You have preyed upon helpless victims with violence and in a savage manner.

In 2013, at the age of 21, Elizabeth Shoaf told WIS: I just didnt know what to do. Just scared I was going to die. Most people do.

Day to day life was wake up, get assaulted... He sexually assaulted me many times throughout the day, she said.

I feel normal. I go to work, come home, play video games, hang out with friends on the weekends. It helps me not think about it and feel like Im living a normal life, she added.

She said her way out was gaining his trust by pretending she enjoyed the sexual assault. She said she would tell him I loved him and I want to run away with him. I then wasnt chained up at night to got to sleep. The sexual assault wasnt as violent and he wasnt yelling at me and threatening me 24/7.

She added: I had to sit there and watch my family on the news. Each time WIS came on I got to see my mom and dad crying, begging to see me. It was more or less torture. I never had a break.
Forensic testing has revealed DNA from an unidentified male in the evidence gathered from a 1993 Arkansas murder  four years after another man was executed for the killing, according to legal advocacy groups.

Ledell Lee was put to death in 2017 after being found guilty for the 1993 murder of Debra Reese, his neighbour. The new discovery of DNA comes after Lees family pushed for more testing of the evidence last year, and lawyers and Jacksonville, Arkansas, authorities obtained new evidence reports, according to The Innocence Project and the American Civil Liberties Union.

The two organisations released a joint statement on the new testing and analysis. It states that DNA from another man, along with Lee, was discovered on the established murder weapon, a wooden club. More of the same mans DNA was uncovered on a shirt, according to the groups.

Senior litigator from The Innocence Project Nina Morrison said Lee wanted this analysis done before he was ultimately executed. Lee protested his conviction and said he was innocent up until his death. The Innocence Project aims to overturn false convictions.

While the results obtained twenty-nine years after the evidence was collected proved to be incomplete and partial, it is notable that there are now new DNA profiles that were not available during the trial or post-conviction proceedings in Lees case, Ms Morrison said in the statement.

She said an investigation surrounding the case remains open due to the possiblity of a future database hit to the unknown male DNA or unknown fingerprints from the crime scene.

We are hopeful that one or more of these forensic law enforcement databases will generate additional information for the future, Morrison said.

According a local CBS station, Lee was arrested about an hour after Reese was murdered in her house. Lee was arrested following reports from neighbours that he had been seen on their street. Lee, a Black man, was the first person put to death in Arkansas in more than 10 years.

The US Congress has made efforts to abolish the death penalty. Represenative Ayanna Pressley, a Democrat representing Massachusetts, has championed legislation to ban the death penalty at the federal level, citing Lees case on Twitter as an example of its drawbacks.

Other politicians, such as Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, have defended Lees conviction, saying it came from the information they had.

This sentiment was shared by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, who said to CBS, The courts consistently rejected Ledell Lees frivolous claims because the evidence demonstrated beyond any shadow of a doubt that he murdered Debra Reese by beating her to death inside her home wth a tire thumper.
Anyone whos in the public eye is getting these kinds of comments every once in a while, Herbers said. I know I have. I like the character very much because shes so completely hypocritical. On one hand, she says, Cant we all just be nice, and disagree, but be nice about it? And shes not able to do that. Shes helping her daughter with this free speech assignment, yet she ends peoples lives if they say something wrong to her.
A baby boy has died after his murder-suspect father was shot dead in an attempted arrest.

The baby, born in January, died on Tuesday at USA Childrens and Womens Hospital in Mobile, Alabama, after he was injured during the chase on Monday, authorities said.

His father, Eric Derell Smith, 30, who was wanted in a suspected double-homicide case in Louisiana, was attempted to flee with his son when he was fatally shot.

Major Christopher De Back, of Biloxi Police Department, said in a statement that despite the efforts of medical staff, the child passed away as a result of the injuries sustained.

Harrison County, Mississippi, coroner Brian Switzer told The Associated Press an autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death. He said he could not confirm if the boy was shot because he had not seen the body.

Smith was absconding with the baby after allegedly shooting his girlfriend, Christin Parker, 32, and her nephew Brandon Parker, 26. He fled in a blue Nissan Altima with the child, who was living with his mother.

Biloxi police started the chase after they learned Smith entered Mississippi at Interstate 10 and "the suspect drove into the grass median and became stuck," according to Mr De Back.

"As the suspect exited the vehicle, shots were fired. Medical attention was given to the suspect but he died as a result of injuries sustained," it added.

The infant received injuries and was taken to a local medical facility for treatment.

A video taken by a bystander showed more than a dozen law enforcement vehicles joining the raid and firing a barrage of gunfire before it ended, according to WLOX-TV.
Facebook banned Donald Trump indefinitely over two incendiary posts but there are thousands more they could have silenced the ex-president over, media experts say.

Nearly a quarter of MrTrumps 6,081 posts on the social media platform between 1 January 2020 and 6 January 2021 contained misinformation about Covid, the election or his opponents or extremist rhetoric, according to Media Matters for America.

The one-term president was banned by Facebook in the wake of the US Capitol riot by his supporters in January that left five people dead.

The group says their findings show that Facebook did very little to punish Mr Trumps behavior and that the posts were shared and liked more than 927 million times.

Media Matters says that of Mr Trumps problematic 1,443 posts, Facebook attached labels to 506, which provided the users with a link to authoritative information.

But the group says the labels did not tell the user if the post in question was false or misleading.

Media Matters says its analysis was based on figures from the Facebook-owned analytics tool CrowdTangle.

A Facebook spokesperson said that the not all forms of misinformation were banned by company and that on the few occasions where Mr Trump was found to have violated their policies the posts were removed.

In 2020 Facebook removed just seven of Mr Trumps posts, and four of those are for copyright issues, according to an analysis byThe Washington Post.

The Facebook Oversight Board announced on Wednesday that it will keep its ban on Mr Trump in place permanently.

Media Matters included its research in a submission to the oversight board as to why Facebook should not reinstate Mr Trump.

But Angelo Carusone, president and chief executive of Media Matters, said he believed that Facebook would lift the ban.

I think that what is going to happen is that they will let Trump back on, I feel like it was a set up from the beginning, the fix is in, he told The Independent.

Facebook was first out of the gate issuing a rebuke of Trump, but the ban was always temporary, they were always vague about it and the indicator they want him back on was that it was Facebook not Donald Trump that appealed their own decision in the eleventh hour. That was a strong indicator.

Mr Carusone added that his groups research into Mr Trumps Facebook posts was pretty alarming.

What became clear was that Facebook did not apply any punishment to him at all, he said.

There were many off-ramps along the way, we did not have to get to this place where he was pulled off arbitrarily.

They could have been issuing rebukes and warnings along the way but they did not do that. It is a pretty extraordinary case, 1,400 posts is an awful lot.
The Facebook Oversight Board announced on Wednesday that Donald Trumps account will remain banned from the social media platform.

Mr Trump will have no form of appeal the ban, which was put in place in the wake of the deadly US Capitol riot.

The oversight board was created as an independent and neutral third party to review the companys most difficult decisions, and is funded by a $130m trust from the social media giant.

The board, which currently has 20 members, was first proposed by Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg in 2018 but only began making decisions in October 2020.

The aim is eventually for it to be made up of 40 experts in the law, journalism, freedom of speech, digital rights, internet censorship and extremism, but just 19 are sitting on Mr Trumps case.

Members include Alan Rusbridger, former editor in chief of The Guardian newspaper; Andras Sajo, a former judge and VP of the European Court of Human Rights; and Helle Thorning-Schmidt, a former prime minister of Denmark.

Board membership is a part-time position but everyone on it reportedly receives training.

Since it began to rule on Facebook decisions on controversies such as blackface, Covid-19 disinformation and threats of violence on the platform, it has gone against the company six times, upheld their decisions twice and was unable to come to a ruling on one occasion.

In each case it hears, the board created a five-person panel, which includes at least one person from the country the case comes from.

Those five people are never named publicly, to prevent them being lobbied or pressured.

After they meet by video conference call they try to reach a unanimous decision, but a simple majority is acceptable.

They then take that decision back to the full board, which can overrule it if a majority of the board does not agree with it.

The decision on Mr Trump was the biggest case it has been asked to consider so far, and received more than 9,000 public comments.

Critics of the board have claimed that it is set up and paid for by Facebook to shield the company from having to take difficult and politically sensitive decisions.

Obviously, Facebook has its own motives in this. Lets be clear. Theyre a profit-making enterprise, Suzanne Nossel, CEO of free expression organisation PEN America, told CNN Business.

They wouldnt have done this if they didnt think it was good for business. They have taken some steps in putting money in a trust and creating an independent set of trustees that oversee the board itself.

And so there are some efforts to make it genuinely independent.

Whether those go far enough, whether circumstances arise that test or challenge those parameters, well have to see, but I think its crucial, if the board is going to play any kind of useful role, that that independence be absolutely respected.

In the boards first rulings in January it overturned four of Facebooks decisions and upheld just one.

In one decision the board overturned Facebooks decision to take down a post for violating its rules against hate speech.

A user in Myanmar had posted pictures of a child who died fleeing Syria, that included the phrase [there is] something wrong with Muslims psychologically.

The board said that it viewed the phrase as commentary on the apparent inconsistency between Muslims reactions to events in France and in China.

But the board upheld Facebooks decision to remove a post that included a slur to describe the Turkic ethnic group Azerbaijanis.

The board stated that it found that the removal of this post was consistent with international human rights standards on limiting freedom of expression.

In another decision, it overturned Facebooks decision to take down a post critical of the French government for not authorising hydroxychloroquine to treat Covid-19. Mr Trump pushed the drug as a potential cure for the coronavirus despite medical experts advising against it. The then-president said he was taking the drug to ward off the disease although he later contracted it and had to be treated at Walter Reed Medical Center.

The board disagreed that the post would cause imminent harm because a prescription is needed for the drug in France and the post was not encouraging people to take it without one.

Full board membership
The US government has ordered Kim Kardashian West to forfeit an ancient Roman statue that authorities believed was looted, smuggled, and illegally exported from Italy.

Under UNESCO rules, items of historical or cultural importance found after 1970 cant be exported from their countries of origin without special permission. According to the Italian government, no one reported finding the statue or applied for a licence before the statue, Fragment of Myrons Samian Athena, left the country.

The artwork, which dates to the 1st or 2nd century AD, had a long and winding journey before it reached the celebrity influencer. It reportedly passed from an English estate to a German auction house to a gallery in Paris then finally another in Belgium, which sold the statue to Ms Kardashian West in 2016. Theres no suggestion from authorities she was aware of the statues origins.

Representatives for Ms Kardashian West did not respond to a request for comment.

US Customs authorities impounded the statue in 2016 when it arrived in Los Angeles as part of a $745,882.00 shipment of art and other objects, and further examination revealed irregularities in the history of the works provenance.

One statement suggested Belgian art dealer and designer Alex Vervoordt, a friend of the West family, had purchased the work from Pariss Galerie Chenel in 2012, who had acquired the statue from an Old German Collection, bought before 1980.

We have acquired this piece in good faith from a French gallery who had also acquired it in equally good faith from a German auction house, Anne-Sophie Dusselier, from the Axel Vervoordt gallery, told The Independent. The former collector was English but precise traces seem to stop there. However, there is no evidence that this piece was illegally imported from Italy. Our client, as well as our gallery and the gallery from whom weve bought the piece have always acted in good faith when dealing with the work.

Galerie Chenel, for its part, says the statue was acquired legally from HAMPEL Fine Art Auctions, a Munich auction house, in 2010, which had purchased the statue from an English estate. Meanwhile, Masterpiece International, a customs broker which shipped the statue, at first claimed the statue was not from Italy, but inadvertently showed authorities handwritten notes suggesting it was.

Galerie Chenel, Masterpiece International, and HAMPEL have not responded to requests for comment from The Independent.

Once suspicions had been raised, Italys Ministry of Cultural Heritage sent an archaeologist in 2018 to examine the work, who concluded it was looted, smuggled, and illegally exported from Italy. The country has asked for the work to be repatriated.
Bill and Melinda Gates reportedly had an agreement that allowed him to see his ex-girlfriend for an annual weekend getaway.

Mr Gates had dated Ann Winblad, an American businesswoman, in the 1980s and entered into an arrangement with his wife, Melinda, that allowed him to spend a long weekend with her.

A 1997 Time profile by Walter Isaacson discusses his relationship with Ms Winblad and the extent of his involvement with her after his marriage with Melinda in 1994. The interview resurfaced after the multibillionaire philanthropist couple announced their decision to dissolve 27 years of marriage.

Another of Gates vacation companions is Ann Winblad, the software entrepreneur and venture capitalist he dated during the 1980s, Mr Isaacson wrote.

They met in 1984 at a Ben Rosen-Esther Dyson computer conference and started going on virtual dates by driving to the same movie at the same time in different cities and discussing it on their cell phones. For a few years she even persuaded him to stop eating meat, an experiment he has since resolutely abandoned.

Mr Gates and Ms Winbald broke up in 1987, partly because Winblad, five years older, was more ready for marriage, says the profile, which added that they remained close friends.

Even now, Gates has an arrangement with his wife that he and Winblad can keep one vacation tradition alive, said the piece. Every spring, as they have for more than a decade, Gates spends a long weekend with Winblad at her beach cottage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where they ride dune buggies, hang-glide and walk on the beach.

Mr Gates told Mr Isaacson that they would play putt-putt while discussing biotechnology.

Elaborating on their bond, Ms Winblad added that they would share their thoughts about the world and themselves and marvel about how, as two young overachievers, we began a great adventure on the fringes of a little-known industry and it landed us at the center of an amazing universe.

He even sought the approval of Ms Winblad before proposing to his wife.

When I was off on my own thinking about marrying Melinda, I called Ann and asked for her approval, Mr Gates said, adding that he had Ms Winblads support in the decision.
Joe Bidens administration supports waiving intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines, following global pressure to temporarily suspend patent provisions in the face of the public health crisis.

These extraordinary times and circumstances call for extraordinary measures, US trade ambassador Katherine Tai announced on Wednesday.

The World Trade Organization is mulling whether to temporarily waive the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights agreement, which has effectively provided pharmaceutical companies monopoly control over vaccine production, potentially locking out poor countries from expanding their supplies.

More than 100 developing countries have urged the organisation to waive those restrictions following a proposal that was filed jointly by India and South Africa back in October 2020.

Humanitarian aid groups and more than 400 government officials across the EU, including the World Health Organizations director general, have also urged the WTO to lift intellectual property provisions on vaccines and equipment.

In the US, congressional Democrats have pressed the White House to reverse the US position, established under Donald Trumps administration.

The Biden administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for vaccine production, Ms Tai said in a statement.

Mr Bidens administration will actively participate in text-based negotiations with the WTO to make that happen, she said, adding that those negotiations will take time given the consensus-based nature of the institution and the complexity of the issues involved.

WTO general director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urged members to share vaccine supplies and find a pragmatic way forward on the TRIPS waiver. More discussions on the issue are expected in the coming weeks.

Too many people are dying, as many members have already repeated with numbers, she told the WTOs general council on Wednesday. We need to treat this whole issue with a sense of urgency.

Shares in major pharmaceutical companies fell sharply following Ms Tais announcement, with Pfizer, Moderna, BioNtech and Novavax share prices plunging to session lows.

Facing questions about US support for the proposal as India and South America face alarming rates of infections, White House officials in recent days have pointed to other efforts to expand global vaccine production and distribution, with a patent waiver representing only a partial solution.

Going back and forth, consuming time and lawyers in a legal argument about waivers  that is not the end game, Dr Anthony Fauci, the presidents chief medical adviser, told Financial Times this week. People are dying around the world and we have to get vaccines into their arms in the fastest and most efficient way possible.

Other officials pointed to other efforts to scale-up distribution and help produce vaccines in other countries, including a pledge to share up to 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and shipping out materials to help India boost production of its own Covishield vaccine.

Moderna  one of three drug makers with available vaccines in the US, including Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson  has also pledged up to 500 million doses of its vaccine to Covax, the United Nations effort to boost global vaccine supply. Through its agreement, the company will provide its first 34 million doses by the end of the year with the rest through 2022.

In an interview from July 2020, Mr Biden told activist Ady Barkan that he absolutely, positively supports waiving patent protections on Covid-19 vaccines.

This is the only humane thing in the world to do, Mr Biden said.

A video of Mr Biden responding to whether he supports sharing vaccine technology without a patent blockade has urged the president to keep his word.

In the video, Mr Barkan says all eyes will be on America as the WTO convenes this week.

We will decide the answer to the worlds plea, he says. What kind of leadership will we display? The answer, Mr President, is up to you.

Among waiver opponents is Bill Gates, a staunch defender of intellectual property provisions and whose Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has sponsored Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a public-private global health initiative that is the driving force behind Covax.

The Gates Foundation said in a statement that the organisation is focused on the policy and process barriers that stand in the way of equitable access to vaccines, leaving the waiver decision up to the WTO.

In March, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus asked: If a temporary waiver to patents cannot be issued now, during these unprecedented times, when will be the right time?

Solidarity is the way out, he said.

Senator Bernie Sanders, who has joined congressional Democrats to reverse the US position on patent waivers, told NBCs Meet the Press that there is something morally objectionable about rich countries being able to get that vaccine, and yet millions and billions of people in poor countries are unable to afford it.

The senator added that the US has a moral responsibility to help the rest of the world combat the pandemic, which is also in our self-interest, because if this pandemic continues to spread in other countries, it is going to come back and bite us at one point or another.

Despite early warnings and pleas from humanitarian aid groups and poor countries to waive intellectual property rights to allow them to develop their own vaccines in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, fewer than 1 per cent of existing doses were administered in low-income countries by the end of March.

More than 86 per cent of vaccine shots around the world have gone into the arms of people in wealthier countries, according to UNICEF data analysed by The New York Times.

The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to Mr Biden on Wednesday urging the administration to support the waiver.

Vaccine distribution is deeply inequitable at home, but even more so abroad, ACLU Human Rights Program director Jamil Dakwar said in a statement. This extremely slow and inequitable distribution has dire consequences for billions of people around the world. Ensuring everyone has access to Covid-19 vaccines is a racial justice issue and a public health necessity.

Oxfams Health Policy Manager Anna Marriott said the US reversal is a testament to the widespread public movement calling for an end to vaccine monopolies.

We are at a crucial point in the fight against coronavirus, yet we have remained essentially at the mercy of a handful of giant pharmaceutical corporations that have monopoly control over the life-saving technologies we all need, she said in a statement.

Nick Dearden, Director of Global Justice Now, part of the Peoples Vaccine campaign, called the Biden administrations announcement a watershed moment that could mark the beginning of the end of vaccine apartheid, if other leaders like Boris Johnson stop standing in the way.

The UK, EU and all remaining blockers need to get out of the way and let the whole world work to contain this awful virus as quickly as possible, he said in a statement to The Independent.
Donald Trump has launched a communications platform almost four months after being banned by most social media sites including Facebook and Twitter.

The platform, called From the desk of Donald J. Trump, appears to be a simple blog on his website that, like other blogs, allows the former president to post comments, images, and videos.

Online comments regarding the announcement, an exclusive to Fox News, were sarcastically confused, but amused.

He finally figured out how to ... post statements ... to his website? wrote Oliver Darcy at CNN.

Aw. He got himself a geocities page, wrote one Twitter user, recalling the web service from the 1990s, with others comparing it to WordPress or MySpace, the popular platforms from the early 2000s.

So thats who bought AOL! wrote another along a similar theme.

Surprisingly prominent on the new platform is the ability for readers to share his musings to Facebook and Twitter and like them, but no way to respond or comment.

This is just a one-way communication, one source familiar with the space told Fox News. This system allows Trump to communicate with his followers.

The network also reports that the technology appears to be powered by Campaign Nucleus  the digital ecosystem made for efficiently managing political campaigns and organisations, which was created by Brad Parscale, former Trump campaign manager.

It is unclear if this initial foray into social media is part of a wider plan to create a real platform to compete with the tech giants.

There are already alternatives to Twitter such as Parler and Gab, but none come close to the size of the principal social media players.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell reportedly spent $1m to launch his social media platform, frankspeech, which has been mired in website errors and other technical glitches.

Since being banned from other social media sites in the wake of the violent insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January, and his exit from the White House two weeks later, Mr Trump has relied on press releases to share his thoughts with the world.

His new blog was rolled out just one day before Facebooks Oversight Board rules whether he will be indefinitely suspended from the platform.

Twitter has said that Mr Trumps suspension from its platform is permanent.
Former Health Minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta said Tuesday that President Jair Bolsonaro had considered issuing a decree officially expanding the use of the anti-malarial drug chloroquine for COVID-19 patients in Brazil though studies found it ineffective.

Bolsonaro, who has opposed stringent pandemic measures such as lockdowns on the grounds that they threaten Brazil's economy, has frequently touted the use of unproven anti-malarial drugs in treating COVID-19, most notably when he fell ill himself with the disease that can be caused by the coronavirus.

Mandetta provided more than six hours of testimony as part of a Senate investigation into the governments handling of the pandemic, which has killed 408,000 Brazilians. The government's insistent promotion of chloroquine and a less toxic version, hydroxychloroquine, is expected to be among the lawmakers' key lines of investigation.

Mandetta said he was called to a meeting in the presidential palace where he saw a draft of the decree on the table aimed at expanding chloroquine's use to include COVID-19 treatment. He said the president of Brazil's health regulator also was present and refused to get behind the decree.

The only guidance on chloroquine that came from the (health) ministry was for compassionate use, when there was no other resource for critical patients, said Mandetta, who was fired by Bolsonaro in April 2020. Our guidance was based on science. He (Bolsonaro) had parallel counselling.

Brazils army has spent millions producing chloroquine, which throughout last year and into 2021 has been distributed to hospitals nationwide.

On several occasions, Bolsonaro has conceded that hydroxychloroquine isn't scientifically proven, while in the same breath encouraging its use. His current health minister, Marcelo Queiroga, said in an interview last month with the newspaper O Globo that some observational studies show benefits in early treatment, but declined to name which studies those might be.

Some analysts say the Senate's probe is likely to provide a months-long drumbeat of embarrassing accusations for the far-right Bolsonaro ahead of his 2022 reelection bid. He is expected to compete against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. While the investigation isnt formally aimed at criminal allegations, it potentially could lead to charges.

Critics say Bolsonaro's frequent downplaying of the coronavirus as a little flu and his fervent opposition to restrictions on activity have added to Brazil's death toll. It has been compounded by slow vaccination rollout and a more contagious variant believed to have originated in the Amazonian city of Manaus.

Brazil's seven-day average of deaths from COVID-19 has retreated to about 2,300, from more than 3,100 daily deaths at the mid-April peak. The state-run Fiocruz medical research institute and other experts have warned that deaths may plateau at an elevated level after mayors and governors in some of the country's major cities relaxed restrictions on activity that Bolsonaro opposes.

Mandetta said Bolsonaro didn't directly pressure him to adopt a different stance regarding quarantine measures, but said the president's contradicting him publicly caused confusion among Brazilians.

The Senate's investigating commission has the power to subpoena documents and compel witnesses to testify, and it could submit any finding of wrongdoing to police or prosecutors.

Mandetta is the first of Bolsonaro's four health ministers to testify in the inquiry. One of the others, Gen. Eduardo Pazuello, had been scheduled to appear Wednesday, but would not do so because he recently was in contact with two people who tested postitive for the coronavirus, said Omar Aziz, the commission's president.
A decision from Facebooks Oversight Board upheld the social media companys move to ban former president Donald Trump from its platforms, while also giving Facebook six months to review the decision.

The binding ruling  four months from the Capitol riot fuelled by then-president Trumps stolen election lies that prompted Facebook to indefinitely suspend his accounts  could have a seismic impact on his future political designs and begin to reshape the digital landscape for public officials and their campaigns.

In its ruling on Wednesday, the board found that Mr Trump created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible after maintaining an unfounded narrative of electoral fraud and persistent calls to action leading up to 6 January, with an audience of 35 million followers on Facebook and 24 million on Instagram.

Mr Trump is not only prohibited from posting to his enormous audience; his once-prolific social media campaign has winnowed, locked out of a platform that was poised for an open season of attack ads against his political and cultural enemies ahead of 2022 midterm elections  and ready to reignite campaign fundraising efforts with an eye on running again in 2024.

Facebook was critical to his campaigns in 2016 and in 2020, when he spent roughly $160m on Facebook ads, compared to the $117m spent by President Joe Bidens campaign within the same time frame.

With that kind of reach, one Republican strategist told Politico that the possibility of Mr Trumps return really f***s the other 24 wannabes relying on Facebook to raise their profiles.

The companys platforms allowed Mr Trump to quickly reach thousands of potential supporters through targeted advertising systems  which also became a reliable revenue stream for the company.

While Twitter served as his mouthpiece, Facebook became a sprawling fundraising, organising and information-gathering arm of his campaign. His 2016 digital director Brad Parscale once called it the the highway which his car drove on.

Without it, his political viability hangs in the balance.

Getting this account back is not only essential for his future political viability, an anonymous Trump source told Axios. It would also be an undoing of an unjust act by a social media company that made an ad hoc ruling to deplatform a sitting president.

Meanwhile, his Save America PAC entered the second quarter of 2021 with $85m after raising more than $30m after the 2020 election, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission.

That sum does not include his Trump Make America Great Again Committee, with nearly $60m cash on hand at the end of 2020.

The Independent has requested comment from Mr Trumps office and advisers.

In a statement on his website on Wednesday, the former president said what Facebook, Twitter, and Google have done is a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our Country.

He claimed Free Speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth, but the truth will come out anyway, bigger and stronger than ever before.

These corrupt social media companies must pay a political price, and must never again be allowed to destroy and decimate our Electoral Process, he said.

Once a dominant presence across social media, with posts that could upend daily news cycles, social media interactions about Mr Trump fell by 91 per cent since January, according to analysis from NewsWhip provided to Axios.

Its really important that he have access to that audience on Facebook, GOP political strategist Eric Wilson told Politico. If youre not there, and not able to shape that conversation, its catastrophic.

After he was booted from Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and several other platforms, along with the dismantling of affiliated message boards and websites that quickly filled with hate speech and violence, the former president insisted he didnt need them anyway.

His brief press releases from his Office of the Former President, often written as if they were tweets, are better than posting, he said.

He told Fox News host Sean Hannity in his first sit-down interview after leaving office that he is getting the big word out because were doing releases.

Every time I do a release, its all over the place. Its better than Twitter, much more elegant than Twitter, he said. Twitter now is very boring. A lot of people are leaving Twitter. Twitter is becoming very, very boring.

He also launched his own communications platform  which essentially functions as just a website blog.

This is just a one-way communication, a source familiar with the space told Fox News, which announced the website in an exclusive feature. This system allows Trump to communicate with his followers.

A video on his website calls it a place to speak freely and safely.

One day before the Oversight Board decision, Mr Trump  with his trademark projection  made the claim that got him removed from social media in the first place: The Fraudulent Presidential Election of 2020 will be, from this day forth, known as THE BIG LIE!

The president and his allies have accused private companies of violating conservatives First Amendment rights on their platforms, where an avalanche of false statements, mis- and disinformation and violent threats have thrived across right-wing pages and groups.

Former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows said Wednesdays decision from Facebook is the latest page in the book of big tech coming after conservatives.

In a statement the day after the pro-Trump riots, fuelled by his persistent lie that the 2020 election was stolen from him and his supporters, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the risks of allowing President Trump to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great.

His decision to use his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the US and around the world, Mr Zuckerberg wrote in a post on 7 January. We removed these statements yesterday because we judged that their effect  and likely their intent  would be to provoke further violence.

In their first appearance in Washington DC since the riot, Mr Zuckerberg, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Googles Sundar Pichai faced a panel of Democratic lawmakers furious about the persistence of misinformation on their platforms, while Republicans  conflating misinformation with political speech objectionable to liberal Democrats  accused the companies of censorship.

Mr Zuckerberg said he believes Mr Trump should be responsible for his words and that the people who broke the law should be responsible for their actions in his opening statement.

He said that Facebook did its part to secure the integrity of the election, and then on January 6, President Trump gave a speech rejecting the results and calling on people to fight.

But Mr Zuckerberg cast doubt on his companys platforms responsibility for increased polarisation and political division in the US, saying that he believes the division we see today is primarily the result of a political and media environment that drives Americans apart, and we need to reckon with that if were going to make progress.

The reality is our country is deeply divided right now, and that isnt something that tech companies alone can fix, Mr Zuckerberg said.

He pointed to the misinformation surrounding Spanish-language campaigns in Florida that was also amplified on TV and in traditional news as well.

There was certainly some of this content on Facebook, and its our responsibility to make sure that were building effective systems that can reduce the spread of that, he said. I think a lot of those systems performed well during this election cycle.

Asked on Tuesday whether the White House anticipates changing its messaging strategy should Mr Trumps accounts be reinstated, press secretary Jen Psaki said, simply, No.
Donald Trump has released a statement slamming big tech companies following the decision by Facebooks oversight board to uphold his ban on the social media platform.

The former president called Facebook, Twitter, and Google a disgrace and embarrassment to the US, accusing them of taking away the free speech of the president.

He alleged that the three companies did so because Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth.

What Facebook, Twitter, and Google have done is a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our Country, Mr Trump wrote in a post on his new blog.

Free Speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth, but the truth will come out anyway, bigger and stronger than ever before.

The former president continued: The People of our Country will not stand for it! These corrupt social media companies must pay a political price, and must never again be allowed to destroy and decimate our Electoral Process.

The ex-president reacted angrily after Facebooks Oversight Board upheld the platforms ban on him, but kicked back the final decision to the company.

The board ruled that the company had been right to ban Mr Trump following his posts expressing support for the rioters at the US Capitol.

But they also found that Facebook should not have made the ban indefinite and told Mark Zuckerberg his company had to decide on a time frame for the suspension.

In applying a vague, standardless penalty and then referring this case to the Board to resolve, Facebook seeks to avoid its responsibilities, the board, which. is made up of 20 experts, wrote in its decision.

The Board declines Facebooks request and insists that Facebook apply and justify a defined penalty.

Following the board decision, Facebook said that Mr Trump would remain locked out of his account.

We will now consider the boards decision and determine an action that is clear and proportionate, Nick Clegg, Facebooks vice president of global affairs and communication, said in a blog post on Wednesday.

In the meantime, Mr. Trumps accounts remain suspended.

Mr Clegg, the former deputy prime minister of the UK, cancelled all of his planned media interviews following the boards decision, according to The Washington Post.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked about Facebooks decision at her daily press briefing, but said that the Biden administration was not going to have any comment on the future of the former presidents social media platform.

But Ms Psaki added that the White House believed that the social media giants have a responsibility to protect the public from misinformation.

The major platforms have a responsibility related to the health and safety of all Americans to stop amplifying untrustworthy content, disinformation and misinformation, said Ms Psaki, referring to Covid-19, vaccinations and elections.

And weve seen that over the past several months, broadly speaking. Im not placing any blame on any individual or group, said Ms Psaki, adding that weve seen it from a number of sources.

And she added that Mr Biden, who has been highly critical of Facebook, supports better privacy protections and a robust antitrust program.

His view is that theres more that needs to be done to ensure that this type of misinformation, disinformation, damaging, sometimes life-threatening information, is not going out to the American public, she said.

Mr Trump told the oversight board that his supporters were law-abiding despite the violence that unfolded on 6 January as they attempted to prevent the certification of Joe Bidens election win.

And he told the board that nothing he said on 6 January could reasonably be interpreted as a threat to public safety, according to portions made public after the decision.

Mr Trumps remarks were submitted to the board on his behalf by the American Center for Law and Justice, a conservative Christian group.

The political price Mr Trump refers was laid out by a number of Republicans in their initial reactions to the news of the continuation of the Facebook ban.

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told Fox News that it was a sad day for Facebook as members of Congress will now be looking at breaking up the company to ensure it is not a monopoly.

Mr Meadows, himself a former Republican member of Congress, also noted that the wild, wild west regulatory environment that Facebook and other companies have enjoyed would likely now change.

Senator Josh Hawley, who recently published a book, The Tyranny of Big Tech, tweeted: Heres a real-life example of the tyranny of Big Tech - a fake Facebook court decides Facebook can do whatever Facebook wants, in this case, suspending Donald Trump [without] process or standards. Thats what monopolies do. Break them up.

In the House, Republican leader Kevin McCarthy vowed that a GOP majority would rein in big techs power over free speech.

Representative Lauren Boebert was bullish, tweeting out thanks to Facebook for securing the GOP majority come 2022.

Lawmakers on the left were also annoyed by the decision.

Facebook is a disinformation-for-profit machine that wont accept responsibility for its role in the safety of our democracy and people, tweeted Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren.

Trump should be banned for good, but Facebook will continue to fumble with its power until Congress and antitrust regulators rein in Big Tech.

Mr Trump is banned from almost all social media platforms and is said to be starting his own. On Tuesday he launched a blog section on his political action committee website.
About three-quarters of those hired through the programs are typically people of color  a much higher percentage than the teaching force at large  Education Department officials say, and almost three quarters of them go on to work with students with disabilities.
A moth so large that it struggles to fly has been found in Australia.

An unsuspecting tradesman was working on a building site at Mount Cotton State School in the Redlands, South Queensland, when he discovered the giant moth.

Not mirroring the initial reaction of many, the school is very excited to have been the home of this find, with their social media page saying it is an amazing discovery.

Principal Meagan Steward said the moth was the same size as two fists put together and was released back into the nearby forest. It certainly isnt to everyones comfort, but snaps were taken of the beast before it was released from the classroom.

Due to being so large, the creature struggles to support its own body weight in flight.

Queensland Museum entomologist Dr Christine Lambkin identified the creature as a wood moth and told ABC Radio: "They fly very, very poorly.

"In most cases when the females emerge, they just crawl up a tree or stump of a fence post and wait for the males to find them.

"This species ranges from north Queensland all the way through to southern NSW.

"The wingspan of the female is up to 25cm. It weighs up to 30 grams."

These moths arent very common to see in Australia, but Dr Lambkin says they arent rare or unusual.

Suddenly the small, common moths seen in England dont seem too bad.

The school shared photos on their Facebook page of the giant moth, with one commenter saying Love it! Never leaving the windows open ever again though, and another saying that they would do a karate freak out if they saw it.
Jokers Bar on the seafront in Magaluf lies quiet these days, but very soon its usual patrons could be gearing up to return. Like elsewhere in Spain, this resort in Mallorca is desperate for the return of British holidaymakers after the country's tourism sector was hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

British tourists will be welcomed back to Spain from June as long as they have a digital vaccine certificate or a negative PCR test, Fernando Valdes, the country's secretary of state for tourism, said this week. Madrid wants to create its own version of the digital green certificate which is being proposed by the European Union, to show vaccination status or test results.

It is yet not known whether Spain will be on the UK government's green list for quarantine-free travel from May 17, when the ban on foreign travel is to be lifted for travellers in England. However, one factor which will be key will be the progress of Spain's vaccine roll-out, as the British government uses this as one of its major indicators when classifying countries in its traffic light system.

Spain is looking forward to welcoming back Brits (Getty Images)

Spain got off to a slow start in its vaccine programme, hampered by problems with supply to European Union countries and administrative difficulties. Nearly 25 per cent of the population have had at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine  well behind the UK, where well over half the population have had at least one jab.

However, Spain plans to considerably boost the vaccine roll out so that 33 million people  or 70 per cent of the population  have had one dose by the end of August. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said earlier this month that five million people would be fully vaccinated by 3 May and 25 million by 19 July.

So far, 4.4 million people have had both doses, and Spain is now giving the jab to around 200,000 people every day. With the holiday season about to start, the government is under more pressure to make sure there are no slip ups in the vaccine programme.

Rafael Bengoa, a former World Health Organisation health systems director, now co-director of the Institute for the Health and Strategy in Bilbao, believes British tourists should be cautious if they come to Spain.

It seems logical that British tourists should be allowed to come to the Balearic Islands

Spain is now vaccinating faster but in June that will only have covered the over-60s with vaccinations. In that context vaccinated British tourists can come but should know that Spain will still need some public health measures like wearing masks, he told The Independent. The interior of bars and restaurants may still have limitations though the outside should still be OK and without masks. Mascarillas (masks) is a word that every tourist should learn!

Professor Bengoa stressed that the British variant of Covid-19 is now dominant in Spain so vaccinated Britons should be covered.

Even if Spain does not get the green light from the UK government for tourists to travel next month, there is still hope that Britons may be allowed to travel to popular holiday regions with low coronavirus contagion rates. The Balearic Islands and the Valencia region  which includes the Costa Blanca  have coronavirus contagion rates of 59 and 44 per 100,000 people respectively, compared to the national rate of 229, according to Thursday's Spanish health ministry data.

We have such a low coronavirus level in comparison with the whole of Spain that it seems logical that British tourists should be allowed to come to the Balearic Islands, said Xavier Pascuet, tourism director for Calvia council, which includes Magaluf. We also have the advantage that 97 per cent of our tourists arrive through the airport which means we can control them more easily than other areas.

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The Canary Islands, another favourite destination for British holidaymakers, has a contagion rate of 106, well below the national average. Yaiza Castilla, the Canary Islands tourism minister, has asked the British government to treat the Canaries as a special case, separate from the rest of Spain.

The Canary Islands has been characterised by their control of the pandemic with results much lower than in infections which are much lower in other European territories, she told The Independent.

Spain's six-month state of emergency, which has allowed regional governments to introduce restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus, is due to come to an end on 9 May. Authorities in the Basque Country in northern Spain have asked the central government to prolong the state of emergency while Catalonia introduces a new law to keep curfews and restrictions on bars and restaurants.

The Canary Islands want to be considered a special case (Alamy Live News.)

Police will patrol the beaches to check holidaymakers are wearing masks if they are walking along or meeting with people who are not within their own social group, Spanish government sources have confirmed. However, sunbathers and swimmers will not have to wear face masks.

Opening up for British tourists may require bilateral negotiations between London and Madrid over the Covid digital status. But one thing is clear: Spain is eager to welcome Brits back this summer.

Spain will be ready to open up to tourism with the UK in June through a process of mutual recognition using the digital certificate which the EU is developing, said a Spanish tourism ministry spokeswoman.
You may have read the story: France bans short domestic flights where passengers can take the train.

The article by my colleague Helen Coffey describes how the French government made a 4bn (3.5bn) recapitalisation of Air France contingent on cutting flights on routes where a rail journey taking less than two-and-a-half hours was feasible.

Now a group that promotes rail travel, and in particular open access train operators, is calling for the concept to be extended.

Allrail, the Alliance of Rail New Entrants, says flights on European routes where trains can cover the same ground in four hours or less should be grounded.

Anything that broadens the climate debate is to be welcomed, and this is certainly a radical policy which will find some favour with environmentalists  as well as people who live near busy airports and see dozens of very short-haul flights arriving and departing daily.

But I cannot see any prospect of lawmakers adopting such a policy  because of its unintended consequences.

Take a couple of rail journeys where at least one trip a day is at or below the four-hour threshold: Frankfurt to Berlin and Edinburgh to London.

Mandating the cancellation of these links would be irksome for the traveller  and ultimately counter-productive. Suppose you plan to travel from Edinburgh via Heathrow to Johannesburg, or from Miami via Frankfurt to Berlin. You want to avail of the hub-and-spoke possibilities that network carriers such as British Airways and Lufthansa offer.

As you may have spotted, LNER offers a superb, fast and frequent link between the centre of Edinburgh and Kings Cross on the edge of central London. At this point the South Africa-bound traveller must, according to Allrail, lug cases down to the Piccadilly Line and sit on a Tube train for an hour to reach Heathrow.

Conversely, the Berliner heading home from Florida touches down at Frankfurt at 8am aboard flight LH463 is feeling, frankly, rubbish. They simply want to go through passport control and head for the gate to grab a coffee before their onward hop at 9.45am, arriving shortly before 11am at the German capitals shiny new airport.

In both cases, if the passenger cant make a domestic connection via their nations hub, the likelihood is that they will choose sub-optimal air routing.

Edinburgh-Johannesburg via Doha adds 1,400 miles to the overall journey, while Miami-Berlin via Istanbul (the first option offered by Skyscanner) increases the distance flown by nearly 2,000 miles.

But there is scope to reduce the amount of short hops. On both domestic trips described here, there will be a mix of connecting and point-to-point passengers. A good way to move some the latter group from air to rail is to cut the train fare and tax the plane ticket.

Mark Smith, the international rail guru who created the Seat61.com website, agrees: Personally Id never take a flight for a journey I could do in four hours centre to centre by train, and an increasing number of people feel the same, both for reasons related to climate change and because its a nicer experience and frankly just as quick as a trek to the airport, lengthy check-in, flight, and trek into the city.

His prescription: make airlines pay tax on their fuel and remove VAT on train tickets where its charged.

But Mr Smith also borrows from the great development in aviation: lowering the barriers to entry to encourage competition, leading to cheaper tickets and better services.

Ironically, French Railways  which stands to be the main beneficiary of the Air France ruling  is doing all it can to discourage competition.

Sometimes aviation gets it right.
The Queens Speech next Tuesday is expected to include yet another vague pledge to reform social care in England this year without any detailed proposals. That would be the same meaningless (and undelivered upon) promise that the government made last year.

Remarkably, its almost two years since Boris Johnson claimed on his first day as prime minister that he already had a plan to fix the crisis in social care once and for all.

Were still waiting. Rishi Sunak is balking at the cost. Nothing new there; the Treasury has been doing so for 25 years. But now we cant afford not to reform the system, after the flaws cruelly exposed by the coronavirus, which killed 30,000 care home residents. The sector was on the brink before the pandemic. With many families now reluctant to see relatives go into residential care, the survival of many care homes is at risk. More Treasury sticking plasters will not be enough.

Johnson is attracted by the sensible idea of a cap on peoples lifetime spending on care. A 35,000 limit was recommended 10 years ago by a commission chaired by the economist Andrew Dilnot, who today told BBC Radio 4 that the failure to act is a stain on our nation. He also proposed that the asset threshold above which people must meet their care bills without state help be raised from 23,250 to 100,000.

His blueprint would be a good starting point but would not be enough. Ministers must address the gaping funding hole and low wage levels that scar the sector; the Tories clapped for carers but didnt even ensure that social care workers got the miserly 1 per cent pay rise for the NHS. Care workers are paid between 8.33 and 9 an hour, often for back-breaking, exhausting 12-hour shifts; one in four is on a zero-hours contract. Turnover is high, as carers move to the NHS or other care employers for a paltry pay rise.

Carers are the often forgotten heroes of the pandemic, as Ive seen with my own eyes with a mother and mother-in-law living in a care home. My 96-year-old mums home has had several Covid outbreaks. She caught the virus but, thankfully, survived. When she returned from hospital, five fellow residents who were her friends were no longer alive.

Her home has struggled in this crisis, but the staff do their best in difficult circumstances, switching to different roles amid a budget squeeze that has reduced the quality of care. The carers own commitment cannot be faulted; last week, one came in on her day off to push my mum in her wheelchair to a clinic so she wouldnt have to wait hours for an ambulance to take her back.

My mother-in-law died from pneumonia in February, 98 years young. Her home kindly ensured that my wife could spend time with her every day for the final three months of her life. I will never forget the herculean efforts I witnessed at this home to keep the virus out; unlike most in its area, it has remained Covid-free.

No one I talk to in the care sector expects a big bang; people accept that reform is likely to be staged over years. But Stephen Chandler, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass), told me: Everyone who receives care and support, and the 1.5 million people who provide it, deserve to know how ministers propose to put an end to 25 years of uncertainty over its future.

Adass wants a minimum social care wage of 10.90 an hour to bring in parity with NHS support workers, and an immediate funding injection to stabilise the system. The Health and Social Care Select Committee, chaired by Jeremy Hunt, proposes a 7bn-a-year increase by 2023-24 to meet demographic demand, improve pay, and recover some of the ground lost since 2010.

Reflecting the sectors frustration, Chandler said: We have grown accustomed to disappointment and false dawns in the long wait for social care reform. But after nothing was said in the chancellor's budget in March, we did think we would get some indication of the direction of travel and timeline in the Queen's Speech. We really must have some detail before the summer.

Ahead of tomorrows elections, the government is happy to promise a white paper on levelling up, hoping that will play well in the red wall. But what about levelling up the Cinderella of our health and care system? Johnson shouldnt forget that red wall voters expect good public services.

Ministers latest excuse for inertia  being in the middle of a pandemic  no longer works; we are finally coming out of it. Indeed, the post-Covid recovery at the heart of the Queens Speech requires a 1948 moment. A crisis in the public finances after the Second World War did not prevent radical reform then and shouldnt now. Johnson knows what needs to be done. Its time for him to keep his promise  if necessary, by overruling his chancellor.
Livermore, CA (94550)

Today

Sunny with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High 67F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..

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Clear to partly cloudy. Low 48F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Indiana, PA (15701)

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Rain showers this morning with isolated thunderstorms developing during the afternoon hours. High around 80F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
The ministry said that vaccination has started for people aged 1844 years from May 1 in the country and so far more than 6 lakh people of this age have been given the Covid vaccine. In picture, people wait in a queue to get inoculated with a dose of the Covishield vaccine against Covid-19 at a civil hospital in Amritsar.
"Jaane Kidhar Le Jayein is a start of a new journey for me as well in life, and in my music! A rare piece of art which is guitar dominated with minimalistic orchestration giving a country music feel The beauty of the song is its simplicity. I have sung the song. Though every song of my car
An emotionally disturbed woman who appeared to be contemplating a jump from the Third Ave. ramp on the Gowanus Expressway in Brooklyn was rescued by two NYPD Emergency Service Unit officers Tuesday, authorities said.
Forney, TX (75126)

Today

Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm this morning. Then partly cloudy. High around 90F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low 73F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Using Inmarsat airtime services and IsatPhone 2 satellite phones, the teams will be equipped with FleetBroadband 500 and FleetBroadband 250 to provide an always-on connection through the Inmarsat FleetBroadband service, allowing applications such as internet access, emails, calls, weather reporting and telemedicine. It also features streaming IP available on demand, for live applications such as high-quality video streaming. Inmarsat C will also enable a two-way data connection for emergency services and 24/7 tracking. Inmarsat will also demonstrate its Fleet Xpress high-bandwidth services for yachting during the race.



Inmarsat services will also support the real-time transfer of scientific data as teams measure ocean conditions as they race across the world, including through some of the most remote parts of the planet.

Ronald Spithout, President, Inmarsat Maritime, said: Inmarsat is delighted to once again partner with The Ocean Race to showcase our leading technology and support the teams facing one of the greatest endurance challenges in world sport with onboard connectivity. I am confident that the advanced communication capabilities including live streaming we deliver for this awe-inspiring challenge will create new firsts for the upcoming edition, such as the ground-breaking live drone footage we witnessed of the racing in the Southern Ocean from 2017-18. Plus, there will be more social media posts and content than ever before sent from the sailors and Onboard Reporters to portray the real drama and bravery of the personalities to the rest of the world.

Advancing performance and safety levels for the teams, they will be able to tap into the full benefits of digitalisation and connectivity, through access to applications and value-added services. We are excited to watch Inmarsat services open up more opportunities for the teams to utilise the modern performance application of onboard communication tools and functionality, developing new solutions to interpret data in real-time to gain a racing advantage, analyse damage and monitor equipment.

Since 1973, The Ocean Race has been described as the longest and toughest professional sporting event in the world. The next edition of The Ocean Race, scheduled to start from Alicante, Spain in October 2022, will visit 10 international cities, including the start port and the Grand Finale finish in Genoa, Italy in the summer of 2023. Two classes will compete, with the addition of the high-tech, foiling IMOCA 60 class adding a design and technical element. The one-design VO65 fleet will race on its third lap of the planet in 2022, with an emphasis on competition, youth and crew diversity.

Richard Brisius, the Race Chairman of The Ocean Race, said: It is rare in sport to have a partnership that extends past 20 years, but with Inmarsat, we have a perfect fit in terms of technology and values. This new agreement will allow us to further push the boundaries with our race communications. Over the past 20 years, we have advanced from sending short text messages and small image files to streaming live video from Southern Ocean. As we look ahead, I am confident that by working with Inmarsat, we can continue to make breakthroughs that will allow fans to feel closer to the race than ever before.

Held for the first time, The Ocean Race Europe will start on May 29, 2021 in Lorient, France, and finish three weeks later in Genova, Italy. Crews from all over the world will race in foiling IMOCA 60s and one-design VO65s from the North Atlantic coast of Europe into the Mediterranean Sea, with stops in Cascais, Portugal and Alicante, the home port of The Ocean Race.
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French banks and insurers should speed up their response to climate change, Frances banking regulator said on Tuesday, after publishing what it called the worlds first climate-related stress test of banks.

Other financial watchdogs around the world will also be conducting similar tests on the finance industry to help to reduce the impact of climate change on economies. Banks and other finance companies will have to disclose to investors the impact of climate change on their balance sheets under proposed European Union rules.

The ACPR, the banking supervisory arm of the Bank of France, conducted a voluntary pilot test on nine banks and 15 insurers  accounting for nearly all their respective sectors  to measure resilience to common scenarios like a slow response to climate change.

It covered a 30-year period from 2020 to 2050, looking at risks from transitioning or moving from polluting to more climate-friendly assets and from physical risks like fires and floods.

The watchdog found that the companies exposures to transition risks were rather moderate, but the expected increase in claims and premiums for some insurance risks was particularly noticeable.

There are also uncertainties over how fast climate change will unfold and data gaps, the watchdog said.

In the light of these results, banking institutions and insurers now need to step up their efforts to combat climate change by integrating the risks associated with climate change into their financial risk assessment process, Bank of France First Deputy Governor Denis Beau told reporters.

The results will have no impact on how much capital the financial firms must currently hold, and there will be no specific, follow up actions.

The aim of the exercise was.. to stimulate thought, analysis and promote a better integration of climate risks into risk management at firms, Beau said.

The French Banking Federation, an industry body, said the results showed the resilience of French banks, with relatively modest exposures to sectors like mining, oil and agriculture.

The Bank of France is host to the secretariat for the Network for Greening the Financial System, a group of central banks creating best practice in regulating banking risks from climate change.

The ACPR said its pilot would help to inform the Bank of Englands own climate stress test in June, and a test the European Central Bank will conduct in 2022.

The ACPRs own test will become a regular event, with the next one scheduled for 2023/2024.

(Reporting by Huw Jones. Editing by Jane Merriman)

Report: A first assessment of financial risks stemming from climate change: The main results of the 2020 climate pilot exercise.

Topics Carriers Climate Change France
Britain should not join a cross-border accord for recognizing courts and their rulings, the European Commission recommended on Tuesday, in a move which British business leaders fear could rachet up costs for smaller firms.

The Lugano Convention determines which countries courts may hear cross-border civil and commercial disputes between the 27 European Union states, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. It also ensures enforcement of rulings from such disputes.

Britain was a member when still part of the EU, but it fully left the blocs orbit at the end of last year and needs the unanimous backing of all Lugano signatories to rejoin.

The Commission, which is the European Unions executive, said that current Lugano members participate to some extent in the EUs internal market of free movement of goods, services, capital and people, which Britain no longer does.

In view of the above, the Commission takes the view that the European Union should not give its consent to the accession of the United Kingdom to the 2007 Lugano Convention, the Commission said in a statement.

Lugano is not mentioned in any of the post-Brexit trade agreements signed by Britain.

It will be up to EU states to decide by qualified majority whether to accept or reject the recommendation. Iceland, Norway and Switzerland have indicated their backing for Britain.

Its hard to understand this decision or see how this recommendation helps SMEs and individuals across Europe who benefit most from the clarity and cost savings the Lugano Convention brings, Miles Celic, CEO of TheCityUK, which promotes Britains financial and professional services, said.

English and Welsh law will remain the law of choice for international business due to the clear, enforceable contracts it delivers, the quality of the UK legal sector, and the expert judicial system which underpins it, Celic said.

Brussels said the separate multilateral Hague Convention should be the future vehicle for civil judicial cooperation between Britain and the EU.

However, lawyers say this only covers some parts of Lugano and plans to broaden it could take years to be approved.

(Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Alexander Smith)

Topics Europe Uk
Holding a cell phone or other electronic device while driving in Ohio would be illegal under legislation introduced May 3 that takes aim at distracted driving by targeting not just texting but scrolling through social media and other hands-on phone uses.

Having an electronic device in your hand while behind the wheel would also become a primary offense, meaning police wouldnt need another reason such as speeding to pull drivers over, according to the bill introduced by Rep. Cindy Abrams, a Republican from Harrison in southwestern Ohio, and Rep. Brian Lampton, a Republican from Beavercreek in suburban Dayton.

The bill would ban all hand-held uses of a phone, from sending a text to checking Facebook to punching in an address on a mapping app. It provides exceptions for first responders on their way to an emergency. It also includes a one-swipe exception to allow people to answer in-coming calls and then disconnect them.

The measure incorporates many of the concepts pushed unsuccessfully last year by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and proposed again in this years state budget.

Senate President Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican, previously expressed concerns about municipalities using such a law to generate revenue through ticket writing, along with worries about the law impinging on drivers freedoms.

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

Topics Personal Auto Ohio
Video shared on the Citizen app showed bright orange flames shooting from the roof as firefighters tried to douse the blaze. Second-floor resident Jose Nava, 57, recalled the tumultuous scene. He looked outside his apartment and saw the blaze before bolting down a fire escape with his ex-wife and daughter.
Imagine insurance customers who actually enjoy meeting with their insurance broker. Customers who see insurance not as a nuisance mandate but as an integral part of their own and their customers success. Insurance buyers who are enthusiastic about discussing risks and coverages regularly, not just begrudgingly once a year. Customers who are eager to share data on safety and performance. Or customers who view insurance not as a cost but as a revenue builder.

These insurance customers do exist. Some of them come from the sharing economy and three of them recently shared their experiences with insurance in a Lloyds of London webinar titled The Sharing Economy.

Host Rosie Denee, Innovation and Thought Leadership manager at Lloyds, stressed how the pandemic has recalibrated the sharing economy of independent contractors, entrepreneurs, service providers, drivers, property owners, renters, riders and buyers and the technology platforms they love.

Companies have had to adapt to changes in demand and pursue new growth opportunities, particularly in delivery services but also in urban mobility and accommodation, she said.

Demand for shared services now varies significantly depending on individual business models and companies are adapting to the new normal as consumer preferences may have shifted for an indefinite time.

Denee cited Airbnb as an example. For the year 2020, Airbnb reported bookings were down 40% and revenue was down 30%. Since the pandemic started, Airbnb clients have stayed close to their homes, traveled by car, stayed longer and prioritized safety and affordability. Renters now prefer to rent a cottage or apartment over a room in a shared home.

Another example might be Uber, where ride revenues were way down during 2020. But Uber managed to pivot to offset its losses in passenger rides with deliveries of food orders by its Uber Eats business, where revenue has doubled during the pandemic, according to Reuters. Uber also acquired smaller food-delivery rival Postmates and alcoholic beverage delivery service Drizly.

Denee believes the insurance industry initially struggled with how to create protection to meet the needs of the sharing economy. But that has changed.

Over the last 10 years the sharing economy has seen and brought with it a cultural shift in the insurance sector, she maintained, adding that the very essence of the sharing economy is flexibility, which has forced insurance providers to offer more flexible insurance arrangements.

However, much more in this space needs to be done if the insurance industry is to address the requirements of the sharing economy.

The webinar showcased three sharing economy insurance customers:

New York-based Via Transportation that provides on-demand ride-sharing transportation software and services for cities, schools, universities, hospitals and corporations;

Dallas-based ShearShare, which brings together hair stylists with clients and salon workers with empty chairs; and

Austin Texas-based Outdoorsy, a peer-to-peer rental marketplace for owners of recreational vehicles (RVs).

As different as their customers are, the three businesses and their executives have much in common, starting with their Lloyds insurance broker, Chris Moore. Moore heads Apollo Syndicate Managements special unit, ibott (insuring businesses of tomorrow, today) that specializes in sharing economy companies. Moore has been with Apollo since 2013 and was instrumental in the setup of ibott. He is on the Lloyds innovation panel and the Lloyds Market Association Committee for both U.S. and International Casualty.

Moore, who works with each of these clients, says they share a perspective.

They are not interested in off-the-shelf products. They are interested in products that are going to be tailor made to their business, that allow their platforms to grow and protect the marketplace of users of that platform, Moore said.

Moore has come to appreciate the mindset of these technology and business entrepreneurs and enjoyed working with them to fashion and then refashion the products they need. Its different. When I speak to these guys, its not a view of insurance like, Its that time of year again. I have to renew my insurance policy,' he said.

Rather, he maintained, theyre like he is, constantly thinking about insurance. Its that crucial to their business and theyre constantly looking for partners that are willing to understand them, understand their business and support them in these new products for their dynamic or changing business, Moore said of his clients.

The entrepreneurs are, in turn, happy to have found someone who listens to them and understands how important insurance is to their current customers and to their firms futures.

Erin Abrams is general counsel at Via Transportation, the on-demand shared transit software platform. It offers its software-as-a-service in 200 cities and countries around the world, providing a full stack turnkey solution for private and public transit operators.

Abrams became the companys insurance handler because she happened to make eye contact with the CEO when he asked who would do it and nobody else in the meeting looked up. She says she does not regret it. As Via has grown and scaled, insurance has become co-managed between her legal team and the finance team.

Colin Gardiner calls Outdoorsy the Airbnb of RVs. It has nearly a billion dollars in sales from its marketplace of people renting RVs from neighbors and strangers. It operates in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and is moving to Europe as well.

Its very much a business thats very hot right now given everyones stuck at home in a lot of ways, he said.

Gardiners interest in insurance stems from his role as chief revenue officer. I focus on all things growth and monetization and I think thats a different approach, he explained. We dont view insurance as a cost center. We view it as a strategic advantage so we really use it to our advantage.

In fact Outdoorsy has evolved to become a full RV insurance provider, selling insurance for its members not only when they are renting but also when they are outside of their rental period.

If Outdoorsy is the Airbnb for RVs, ShearShare is Hairbnb for the beauty industry. Courtney and Dr. Tye Caldwell founded the platform to solve what they know from their 30 years of experience with the beauty salon businesses is a major problem, one that became even more acute during the pandemic. The company serves independent beauty professionals who need a location and the salons and barber shops that have empty space available to rent by the day. In the words of the Caldwells, ShearShare is a machine-learning enabled mobile marketplace. ShearShare is now in more than 800 cities.

They take pride in helping people rebuild their businesses after the pandemic and shutdowns. Were getting stylists back to work safely in private, sanitized, safe salon spaces to work by the day and were helping to keep our brick and mortar small businesses open, said Courtney Caldwell.

Broker Moore said that when he first met the Caldwells a few years ago, he was struck at how they were thinking about the insurance needs right at the outset and how they talked about safety being important.

Its so often, for a lot of companies, an afterthought and its almost, Were ready to launch. Whos done insurance?'

But the Caldwells had it from the start and insurance has been a key pillar to their business, he said.

ShearShares Courtney Caldwell told Moore that no other insurance company would take the risk in 2017 when they started their business. They didnt really understand the beauty industry. They didnt understand that were the second largest industry for freelancers and independent contractors. But you guys [Lloyds] jumped in that big ocean with us and so we appreciate that, she said.

Today stylists can find workspace on the ShearShare platform by the day and also purchase professional liability insurance for just five bucks. Its amazing, she said.

For Abrams at Via Transportation, insurance plays a significant role because, although Via is a tech company that is providing transit software, it also provides transit operations, and thus has physical, real-world auto operations risk.

But its not the same traditional auto exposure as a legacy transit provider with employees and owned vehicles. Via primarily works with independent contractors and doesnt typically own the vehicles that operate on its platform. In some cases we operate the deployments. In other cases, our partners operate the deployments, she explained.

Many of Vias partners are governments with varying risk tolerances and projects with different use cases, perhaps non-emergency medical transport or educational transports for students.

Whats more, since Via is required to submit competitive bids, Abrams said she needs a program from which she can pull down specific bespoke insurance coverages that meet the needs of a specific program or deployment, and often on short notice. Via might not win the bid if the insurance is not designed and priced right.

So its really important for us to bake in the insurance cost into the margins and have some predictability about what those insurance costs will be, she explained.

Thats not really how the insurance industry is traditionally set up, Abrams said referring to the degree of flexibility and customization Via requires.

Abrams praised Moore and Apollo for being willing to dig into a novel business model and look at how Vias is different from legacy operators, not just at the start but throughout the companys journey.

For Gardiner of Outdoorsy, viewing insurance not just as a necessity for the business but also as a revenue and business generator is part of an overall philosophy of concentrating on the customer experience. What are the things that differentiate you and really give you control? is the question he asks. One answer is insurance, in his view.

He cites an example of someone who rents out an RV having an accident. That owner must take the RV offline and cant rent it while the claim is being taken care of and the vehicle repaired. Everyone loses income the longer that claims takes. If Outdoorsy can help expedite the claim, everyone wins. Thats how insurance helps improve the customer experience.

Control over the user experience is also key thats why Outdoorsy has also invested in its own in-house claims company, which Gardiner said also helps it control costs.

A similar philosophy focused on flexibility, customization and customer experience is at work at ShearShare.

According to Dr. Tye Caldwell, insurance fits into the ShearShare business model by driving customer satisfaction with the platform. ShearShares goal is to let their users know that they are there not to just make money themselves but also to help them grow their own businesses and also take care of them should something go wrong.

We wanted to always give them an opportunity to look back and say, Hey, you know what? ShearShare is taking care of us, theyre thinking about us first, and its not just about collecting a dollar and being a part of a platform as a number, he said.

Bad things can happen even when the best stylists are working on clients  a nip on an ear with the clippers, a burn with a curling iron, a skin infection from leaving a hair product on too long or even a loss of power or equipment.

Anything could happen. So having that insurance gives them that protection that they need and it really eases their mind, he said.

Courtney Caldwell thinks of their independent beauty and barbering professionals as solopreneurs for whom there has been no business-to-business ecosystem where they can get the tools or resources they need on a given day and pay for what they use. That is, until the Caldwells stepped up.

No matter what small business you are, I think there are three constants. Youre always looking to increase your revenue, decrease your cost and mitigate your risk, she said.

She said their customers use and leverage the ShearShare platform to build their small businesses atop our small business because they know that when they come to ShearShare theyre able to get the resources they need very easily and maximize their earnings.

Whereas brick and mortar salons, barbershops or spa owners are likely to have insurance, thats less often the case for independent contractors.

Where do you go to just purchase that by the day? That did not exist before ShearShare and Lloyds decided to partner together, she explained. We have pioneered on-demand workspace for beauty and barbering professionals and we are pioneering professional liability insurance by the day.

Moore added that the insurance product provides more than protection; it can also provide a stickiness with customers.

Beauty solopreneurs can go to a local beauty salon to negotiate or they can go to ShearShare and get bookings and insurance that protect them. Why would they go outside the platform? I think its that support services that will keep them coming back to ShearShare, Moore said.

Data Collaboration

According to Moore, data is a critical part of sharing businesses. Data cannot only inform insurance but also influence decisions about what to offer, where to offer it, what schedule to follow and more.

Vias Abrams said that the real asset for her technology company is the data that it has. Vias patented technology identifies and updates the best travel routes, virtual bus stops, where to pick up and drop off different people. It also tracks how many passengers are in a vehicle and other information that makes routes more efficient.

Beyond the data it has for its own uses, Via also provides data to its partner municipalities and private and public transit operators about how people are using the service, whether they are using their fleets in an efficient way and filling vehicles as much as possible or driving around empty. Also, it can reveal how they are serving lower income communities or people who might lack access to other modes of transportation.

Via also collects safety data around the vehicles themselves and telematics data on the safety of the drivers.

When Via shares its data with its insurers, she makes sure Via gets the credit for the data that shows it is a safer operator than perhaps some legacy transit operators with which Via competes. We think we should be judged on the merits of our own data and our own strong safety record. And the fact that we have more data to share with insurers should enable them to make more granular calculations about our risks, which should benefit us as well, Abrams said.

For us, its about collaboration, said Moore. It costs money to store data; it costs time and effort to take data. We only want data thats going to be of value.

With collaboration, he said his team can give insureds transparency about what is affecting insurance costs and what a company can do to change that during the policy period, not 12 months down the road.

Gardiner said Outdoorsy has more information about its hosts, their behaviors and vehicles than any insurance company. One reason is it provides personal and commercial insurance for them even outside of their rental season. It knows how many days theyre renting it, when their vehicle has had maintenance, and more.

One of the great parts about collecting all this data is that were able to quote very quickly. We already know all of their information by their vehicles, things like that, said Gardiner.

In addition to data helping to optimize the user experience, it is also helpful in running the business. As a platform, we care a lot about retaining our users and so we want to use that data to deliver the best low cost products so they dont go anywhere else. We want to be a one-stop-shop, he said.

Were the experts on RVs, but were not actually the experts on picking insurance for those RVs, Gardiner added. He said collaboration is useful for digging deeper into the data and together understanding the rating factors.

Outdoorsy is also focused on risk mitigation. It has invested in machine learning models and data points to go beyond traditional metrics like drivers checks. People have driving records, but theyre not necessarily RV driving records. So for us, trying to build a rating model for people before they rent is really important, Gardiner said.

The model helps Outdoorsy decide what to charge, whether to have a higher deductible or a higher security deposit. I think the more data you have, the better products you can deliver and the better expectation you can set for your users as well, he said.

At ShearShare, Courtney Caldwell said their data shows where stylists and salons are across the country, how many days a licensed stylist works, and even stylists willingness to travel more than 10 miles outside of their home base. The data can be used by stylists to decide which salons to choose for specific customers. Perhaps one customer likes a rugged barber shop and another a mom atmosphere. Or someone is closer to one shop than another.

Data also help them with their dynamic pricing. If you think about ShearShare as you would renting maybe an RV early on or purchasing a plane ticket, maybe your price is going to look different if youre booking two weeks in advance versus the day before, said Courtney Caldwell.

Lessons for Insurers

Moore sought advice from his clients for brokers and underwriters just starting to looking at insurance market for the sharing sector.

Im struck by how much insurers look at the past as a predictor of the future and are so focused on a companys loss history and industrys loss history, said Abrams.

Most of us got into these various different businesses to disrupt the legacy industries. So I dont think legacy industry data is necessarily the best predictor of where our business is going.

She said startups move fast and are always adapting their products and services, sometimes several times within a year. So I think for us the past is not always the best predictor of the future, she added.

As for advice to brokers and underwriters, Abrams urged them to engage with their startups in projecting into the future and the thought exercise of where will our business be a year from now, where will our business be three years from now?

She urged brokers to think about those type of forward-looking projections and the risk factors, because thats how startups think about the world.

Outdoorsys Gardiner thinks it is important for insurance professionals to understand that they are providing insurance for technology companies that are aggregating customers and so they need to be thinking about those end customers, too.

We may be your customer in the sense of were paying a bill, but at the end of the day, the consumer is the customer. And were bringing those people together in a certain way, in a certain risk profile and behavior and its just characteristic of that group, he explained.

ShearShares Courtney Caldwell sees the industrys role as helping to educate their customers on the need for insurance. You guys dont have to know everything about beauty and barbering. You guys dont have to know everything about micro transportation or RVs. Leave that to us, she said. We rely on you guys to help us educate our user base.

Top Photo: Outdoorsy customers enjoying their RV trip. Photo from Outdoorsy.

Topics Sharing Economy
Texas nurse Jennifer Bridges plans to go to work on June 7, like its any other day. The only difference is, when she gets there she expects to be fired.

That day is the deadline her employer, Houston Methodist hospital, has given its staff to get the Covid-19 vaccine, something Bridges, 39, doesnt want to do.

There is just not enough research out yet, she said in an interview. To be a fully approved vaccination it takes years of trials and research. And this thing has been out less than a year.

In an April 17 Facebook post, Bridges outlined Houston Methodists plan and asked her followers to sign a petition supporting her. Ninety-four comments later, shed been cheered on  and encouraged to get a lawyer.

You have a good case of a lawsuit. I believe that its illegal to mandate a vaccine when it is under Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA, one friend wrote. Said another, This is BS and a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Not So Fast

I am not aware of any court or agency at the state or federal level that has held that the Emergency Use Authorization language prohibits an employer from enforcing a vaccine mandate, said attorney Erik Eisenmann, who specializes in employment law.

In fact, most non-union companies have a good deal of latitude to impose vaccination requirements, because in almost all U.S. states employment is presumed to be at will.

Nicholas Bagley, a law professor at the University of Michigan, has seen the social media chatter about employer mandates and the EUA.

The argument looks good for about a half-second, and then, as soon as you start digging, it starts to look much, much worse, Bagley said, though he cautioned that the politically charged atmosphere around vaccination could produce some surprising legal results.

I would expect that we see some case law fairly quickly, he said. But once political sympathies are engaged, it just becomes a whole lot harder to predict.

As for the science, the Food and Drug Administration has authorized the use of three Covid-19 vaccines in the U.S. on an emergency basis. Each of the shots was studied in clinical trials involving tens of thousands of patients and found to be safe and highly effective at preventing severe illness and death.

Play Video

Still, in some corners of the internet, the EUA is having a moment. Once limited to discussions by drug policy wonks and health care officials, the intricacies of the EUA are now hotly debated by armchair lawyers in social media forums as the crux of claims that employers cant make workers get the shot.

In fact, the Americans With Disabilities Act does allow for medical exemptions to a vaccine mandate, and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act gives workers the right to seek an exception based on religious beliefs.

That doesnt tie employers hands.

The Emergency Use Authorization goes back to the Project Bioshield Act of 2004, passed largely in response to the 2001 anthrax attacks. Congress recognized that the FDA might need to approve drugs quickly in the event of a biological or nuclear terror event. The statute does say conditions can be placed on a drug granted an EUA, including informing the recipient of the drugs status and advising them that the choice is theirs. Its this language that has taken the internet by storm.

But that doesnt mean employers cant make workers get vaccinated, Bagley said.

Its a condition on future employment, he said. And institutions can do all sorts of things as a condition of employment.

Its Just Not True

An April survey by Arizona State University and the Rockefeller Foundation found that almost 90% of employers who responded plan to encourage or require their employees to get vaccinated and that 60% intend to require proof of vaccination.

In Ohio, Montgomery County prosecuting attorney Mat Heck is requiring all his employees to get the vaccine and thinks hes within his rights.

Ive heard the whole spectrum, Heck said. Ive heard you just cant do it. Ive heard the emergency use argument. Ive heard you cant make your employees get a shot for any reason. But its just not true.

Conversations about employer-mandated vaccines on Facebook and Twitter rose in late March and early April, according to an analysis by the German Marshall Fund, which found that the highest engagement has been with posts about getting legal assistance for refusing to take the shot.

Lawsuits have been filed. One case includes a former worker at a New Mexico county jail, Isaac Legaretta, who claims he was improperly demoted and faced retaliation after refusing to get the shot. Legaretta contends that the county managers mandatory vaccination directive violates the federal Emergency Use Authorization statute, which requires that people be given the option to refuse a drug under that status. Another suit, in California, relies on the same statute.

Other Employers Out There

Youve got somebody whose government employer says youve got to take this vaccine or youre fired, said Legarettas attorney, Jonathan Diener. It doesnt have FDA approval, its experimental at this stage, but if you dont take this, youre fired? In my view, thats not right.

At Houston Methodist, Chief Executive Officer Marc Boom said the hospitals policy is in the best interests of employees and patients. And while he wouldnt comment on Jennifer Bridges specifically, Dr. Boom said shes in the minority.

The overwhelming communication I get from my employees has been really positive, Boom said, and the rest are putting themselves ahead of patients. If they choose not to get vaccinated, he said, we are very sorry to lose them, but there are other employers out there.

Bridges has hired a lawyer, just as her Facebook friends suggested.

Top Photo: A healthcare worker receives the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at UCI Medical Center in Orange, California, U.S., on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics COVID-19 Talent
The U.S. Department of Labor announced it is withdrawing a rule by the previous Trump Administration affecting independent contractors that was set to go into effect Friday.

The Trump rule would have favored app-services firms like Uber, DashDoor and Instacart by narrowing the review and prioritizing certain factors to be weighed in deciding whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor.

The Biden Administration action restores the previous approach to enforcing the Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) that still allows companies to classify their contractors as independent but requires a broader analysis.

The Department of Labor said it is withdrawing the rule to maintain workers rights to the minimum wage and overtime compensation protections of the FSLA and because it believes the rule would have a confusing and disruptive effect on workers and businesses alike due to its departure from longstanding judicial precedent.

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The move is somewhat of a setback for app-based businesses models. The companies have been lobbying against proposals in California and in Congress that seek to require that some of the rights and benefits enjoyed by employees be extended to independent contractors.

Workers classified as independent contractors are not covered by federal minimum wage and overtime laws and face more difficulty forming unions than employees.

DOL said the pending independent contractor rule change was in tension with the FLSAs text and purpose, as well as judicial precedent.

DOL said the Trump rules prioritization of two core factors for determining employee status under the FLSA would have undermined the longstanding balancing approach of the economic realities test and court decisions requiring a review of the totality of the circumstances related to the employment relationship.

By withdrawing the Independent Contractor Rule, we will help preserve essential worker rights and stop the erosion of worker protections that would have occurred had the rule gone into effect, said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. Legitimate business owners play an important role in our economy but, too often, workers lose important wage and related protections when employers misclassify them as independent contractors.

The move is not a total surprise. In an interview with Reuters last week, Walsh said that a lot of U.S. gig workers should be classified as employees and deserve benefits.

Uber and other gig companies argue that their contractors do not want to be classified as employees. Uber has proposed a model that would grant independent contractors some benefits.

In November, California voters supported a ballot measure that overrode a state law that would have made gig workers employees. Now, gig workers in the state have access to limited benefits.

In its withdrawal notice, DOL writes that the Supreme Court has emphasized that the technical concepts used to label a worker as an employee or independent contractor do not drive the analysis under FSLA, but rather it is the economic realities of the relationship between the worker and the employer that is determinative.
U.S. pork processor Seaboard Foods wants to pursue a 10-1/2-month delay to a federal court decision that would force it to slow the speed of hog slaughtering at a massive Oklahoma pork plant, according to court documents.

The second-biggest U.S. pig producer seeks to intervene in the line speed case after a federal judge ruled against a Trump administration policy allowing pork plants to run slaughter line speeds as fast as they want, as long as they prevent fecal contamination and minimize bacteria.

As the first U.S. pork company to invest in machinery to run line speeds faster under the rule, Seaboard stands to lose from the decision. The Biden administration has sought to emphasize worker safety and is not expected to challenge the court.

Seaboard sped up its Guymon, Oklahoma, facility last year. Workers told Reuters the faster line speeds increased injuries at the plant.

A lawsuit brought against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union had challenged the 2019 rule over concerns about worker safety.

A judge in U.S. District Court in Minnesota invalidated the rule on March 31 but stayed the decision for 90 days to give companies and the Biden administration time to adapt.

Seaboard said in court filings on Friday it will need 313 days more to clear out excess hogs from its production process if the company is required to revert to slower processing speeds.

Without a stay of the judgment for 10.5 months, Seaboard faces the loss of thousands upon thousands of animals without compensation, Seaboard said in filings.

The subsidiary of Seaboard Corp. controls the entire process of pork production from inseminating pigs to transporting meat, and it has developed its system based on the Guymon plants ability to run without speed limits, according to the court documents.

Over the course of 10-1/2 months, Seaboards production pipeline will produce about 126,000 more hogs than the company can slaughter under the previous speed limit of 1,106 pigs per hour, Stephen Summerlin, senior vice president of operations, said in the documents.

The company, which competes against Tyson Foods and WH Groups Smithfield Foods, has already sold off hogs to reduce its supply since the court decision, according to filings.

The USDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman previously said the agency is reviewing the court decision.

Bidens USDA opposes Seaboards attempt to intervene in the case, a Seaboard lawyer said in court documents.

The UFCW union also opposes Seaboards attempt to delay the court judgment, lawyer Adam Pulver said in an interview. He called a 10-1/2-month stay absurdly long and criticized Seaboard for not addressing worker safety in its court filings.

Seaboards failure to even acknowledge that is mind boggling, he said.

(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Aurora Ellis)

Topics Legislation Oklahoma Meat Processing
Numerous insurance-related bills have been filed during the current Texas legislative session and many of them have begun moving in the Texas House and Senate.

Among those bills that have recently been acted on and are of interest to the insurance industry include legislation addressing commercial vehicle accident lawsuits, COVID-19 lawsuit protections for businesses, and policyholder/insurer cooperation in resolving auto insurance claims.

HB19

One of the most high-profile bills, if passed and signed by the governor, would have a big impact on the commercial auto insurance market, as it aims to limit lawsuits following commercial vehicle crashes. The insurance industry-supported House Bill 19, by Rep. Jeff Leach, among other things, would require a two-part trial in civil actions involving a commercial motor vehicle if requested in a motion by the defendant.

Its identical companion bill in the Senate is Senate Bill 17 by Sen. Larry Taylor.

HB19 passed the House of Representatives on April 30 with the addition of two amendments, which included a technical amendment and an amendment requiring TDI to study the impact of the legislation on the insurance industry, according to the Insurance Council of Texas.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform and the Keep Texas Trucking Coalition supports HB19, as does the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, the Insurance Council of Texas, and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), which says it is concerned about the increase in attorney involvement in automobile accidents in Texas.

The bills opponents say its giveaway to trucking companies and insurers. Texas Watch, which describes itself as a consumer advocacy organization, said on its website that the bill gives trucking corporations less incentive to follow safety measures and makes it harder to punish trucking companies through our courts when they violate safety standards.

SB6

The IIAT also is backing SB6 by Sen. Kelly Handcock and its companion, HB3659 by Rep. Jeff Leach, which aim to protect businesses from lawsuits arising from COVID-19 claims. Early in the 2021 legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott said COVID-19 lawsuit protections for businesses was one of his priorities.

SB6 passed the Texas Senate in early April and now is being considered in the House. According to the bills legislative analysis: S.B. 6 provides retroactive civil liability protections for large and small businesses, religious institutions, non-profit entities, healthcare providers, first responders, and educational institutions.

The bill also extends current immunity that healthcare volunteers have during a man-made or natural disaster to include a health care provider that is getting paid during a man-made disaster, natural disaster, or a health care emergency.

Lastly, S.B. 6 provides civil liability protections to a person who designs, manufactures, sells, labels, or donates certain products that have a defect or inadequate instructions unless the person had knowledge of the issue and acted with actual malice.

SB6 is broadly supported by business and insurance industry groups but opposed by various consumer advocacy groups, as well as trial lawyers.

SB1602

SB1602 by Sen. Larry Taylor is another bill that IIAT says it is following closely.

The legislation takes targets insureds and/or insurers who refuse to cooperate a claim investigation, settlement, or defense.

According to the bills legislative analysis, most personal auto insurance policies require the parties cooperation after a claim is filed. However, the analysis states: there is no real incentive for the insured, or the insurance company, to adhere to this requirement. The only recourse against either when a claim is denied is for the injured party to file a lawsuit. The insurance company gets out of paying a claim and the insured does not have a claim on their record unless the injured party goes to court.

The analysis further states that the legislations intent is to provide an incentive for the insurance company to do all possible to contact their insured to get them to cooperate. This also gives the insured the incentive to cooperate or they will receive a 10-day notice of cancellation and be forced to find coverage elsewhere.

Opposition from insurance companies that have been using this practice to avoid paying legitimate claims based on the failure to cooperate, is possible, the analysis states.

SB1602 passed the Senate on April 28 and has been referred to the insurance committee in the House.

The 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature convened on Jan. 12 and ends on May 31. The state legislature meets bi-annually on odd-numbered years.

Topics Texas
Investigators continue to seek the cause of a fire that destroyed an Alabama petting zoo barn and killed roughly 75 animals.

Park Supervisor Christina Richardson tells The Gadsden Times that Noccalula Falls Park remained closed Monday, partly because of stormy weather, but will reopen by the end of the week.

The Sunday blaze killed birds, turtles, a tortoise, a lemur, baby alligators, snakes, guinea pigs and others housed in the Gadsden city park barn. Animals that lived outside werent harmed.

Fire Marshal Jason Talton said determining a cause will be difficult because so much of the structure burned away, but said investigators have seen nothing suspicious so far.

Gadsden Fire Chief Wil Reed said firefighters found the barn engulfed in flames when they arrived early Sunday after someone reported smoke to dispatchers.

The barn had no sprinklers, Richardson said, and the all-wooden structure had flammable hay and feed inside.

Richardson said the city hasnt decided whether it will rebuild or not.

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

Topics Alabama
A teen suspect has been charged with murdering an 18-year-old boy who cried out for his mother when he was shot on the stoop of his Bronx home, police said Wednesday.
Burma Bomb Blast in Pyinmana Injures Myanmar Junta Policeman

Police on guard by the bronze statue of General Aung San in Pyinmana Township.

A policeman on guard was injured in a bomb explosion in Paunglaung No. 2 Ward in Pyinmana Township, Naypyitaw around 7.30am on Wednesday.

The explosion took place near a teashop by a main road and a policeman was injured, said a Pyinmana resident.

Junta police officers keep guard daily near the teashop to prevent anti-regime protests. A police van was also slightly damaged in the explosion.

Another explosion took place outside the Institute of Agricultural Science in Pyinmana, but no one was injured in the incident, according to residents.

Frequent explosions of homemade bombs have been reported recently in Pyinmana, which has seen widespread anti-regime protests since the coup. Protesters have been staging guerilla-style demonstrations due to the heavy presence of junta security forces at key junctions and intersections.

At least two protesters have died in Pyinmana during crackdowns by the security forces on protesters.



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Burma Calls Grow to Cut Myanmar Juntas External Financial Lifelines

Myanmar soldiers are seen during the Armed Forces Day commemoration in Naypyitaw, the capital of the country, on March 27.

Tougher action is urgently needed to cut off foreign currency flows to the Myanmar military regime, suggested local and foreign financial experts, who argued that severing its financial lifeline would hasten the collapse of military rule.

The largest inflows of foreign currency to the military are from the oil and gas and mining sectors. We need to totally shut off the flow of foreign currency that is keeping the junta alive, a local economist who asked not to be named told The Irrawaddy.

The international community must pressure all the parties that sustain military rule in Myanmar. It is critical to act before it is too late, he said.

Last week, an anonymous group, Independent Economists for Myanmar (IEM), suggested that effective sanctions limiting the ability of the regimes State Administrative Council (SAC) to collect revenue from natural gas, mining, forestry, shipping including port fees and airlines could change the militarys calculus.

It estimated that such measures would cut off roughly US$2 billion per year in financing for the military.

Earnings from natural gas, jade, metallic minerals, land rentals, telecommunications fees and businesses involved in trade such as port operators, transport and logistics companies, and Myanmar National Airlines provide the largest inflows of foreign currency to the military, totaling around $2.5 billion per year.

Cash in hand

IEM estimated that that militarys access to foreign currency is significant but constrained, saying it controls at least $4 billion, roughly two-thirds of Myanmars stock of foreign currency. However, it also controls about half of the inflows that remain following the collapse of several sectors that generated foreign currency, such as textiles and tourism.

Additionally, around $1 billion of foreign assets are held at the US Federal Reserve and were frozen by the US government in early February.

Foreign currency is important for the military since it not only pays for military equipment like tanks and guns, as well as supplies like fuel, but is also needed to service military-owned companies that rely on foreign inputs. Military-owned factories rely on foreign equipment to keep functioning, while military hospitals purchase medication from abroad.

IEM said that prior to the coup, Myanmar had enough foreign reserves to maintain imports for three months. However, since then, exports have shrunk, import demand has crashed, and the military has confiscated much of the countrys foreign reserves.

Myanmar imports roughly $28 billion worth of goods and services in an average year, including $3 billion in fuel, more than $500 million in medication, $1 billion in cooking oil, and $1.2 billion in meat and vegetables. Myanmars official exports have shrunk by more than 20 percent and imports by more than 35 percent since October 2020.

Before the coup, the textile and footwear industries generated a quarter of all foreign currency inflows for the country, but almost all of their operations have dried up since the Feb. 1 military takeover. Moreover, none of the military-owned companies are known to hold significant foreign assets.

The scarcity of foreign exchange is evident in the 20 percent depreciation of the kyat versus the US dollar between Feb. 1 and April 19, despite limits on kyat withdrawals and hoarding of cash, the economists said.

Subsidiaries of Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) and Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL)two military owned conglomeratesnormally earn roughly $200 million annually from domestic sales. These include Dagon Beverages Company, Myawaddy Bank, Mytel, Aung Thitsa Oo Insurance and Bandoola Transportation Company.

However, both MEHL and MEC are likely to suffer financially, with Myanmar Brewery, Myawaddy Bank and Mytel expected to see declines in revenue of 80 to 90 percent due to domestic consumer boycotts. The combined effect could be to reduce MEHL and MECs domestic revenue by between $100-150 million, the economists estimated.

Many of the Myanmar states most valuable assets were sold off in the 1990s and 2000s, meaning the SAC regime cannot raise much capital from asset sales. Further, widespread instability and insecurity are depressing asset prices and the National Unity Governmenta shadow government formed by elected lawmakers ousted by the coupconsiders void any investment agreements signed between domestic or foreign companies and the SAC, IEM said.

In short, without new foreign currency inflows, the military will soon need to ration foreign currency. The SAC regime will need to choose between purchasing fuel, medication, equipment and food for itself and providing foreign exchange liquidity for the rest of the population, it said.

Even without forceful targeted sanctions in place, the military is already being forced to choose between its own priorities and providing financing to import the fuel and equipment needed to generate the electricity and food, fertilizers and medications people need to survive, IME said.

The military has already starved public services and the private sector of foreign exchange, so further reductions in its access to foreign currency are likely to predominantly impact the military rather than civilians, the IME said.

Such actions, and preventing military businesses from accessing foreign inputs, could help pressure the military to compromise on its own needs, the economists suggested.

Bankrolling crimes

Foreign currency inflows from natural resourcesoil, gas, minerals, gems and forestry productsrepresent more than a third of Myanmars export earnings, according to official records. The oil and gas sector, in which many international energy giants have invested, has become a target of rights groups, which are demanding an end to foreign firms financing of the militarys crimes. Since the military takeover, at least 769 civilians have been killed and 4,734 people arrested by the regime.

On Tuesday, Myanmars ambassador to the United Nations urged the US Congress to play a decisive leadership role in resolving the Myanmar crisis.

Ambassador U Kyaw Moe Tun, a representative of elected lawmakers from the National League for Democracy (NLD), urged the US to impose targeted, coordinated and tougher sanctions on the Myanmar military and its businesses such as Myawaddy and Innwa banks, the state-owned Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank (MFTB) and Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE).

I wish to stress that Myanmar is not just witnessing another major setback to democracy, but also the crisis is threatening the regional peace and security, U Kyaw Moe Tun said.

Oil and gas revenues earned Myanmar $1.5 billion in annual income in fiscal 2019-20, with around 80 percent of that income derived from the offshore natural gas sector, according to official figures. Recently, US senators urged the Biden administration to impose sanctions on MOGE.

Natural gas joint ventures involving companies such as Frances Total, the USs Chevron, South Koreas POSCO, Thailands PTT, Malaysias Petronas and Chinas CNPC are currently the most significant sources of foreign exchange revenue for Myanmar. MOGE collects income through its joint ventures and revenue sharing agreements with international corporations.

US giant Chevron has a longstanding partnership with MOGE. The two companies are joint investors in the Yadana offshore gas project, located off the southwest coast of Myanmar, which accounts for 42 percent of all oil and gas production from Myanmars offshore projects.

Chevron paid around $50 million to Myanmar between 2014 and 2018, according to the Myanmar Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative report (MEITI). Total reported that it paid $257 million in taxes and other payments to Myanmar in 2019.

Petronass Yetagun gas project paid $208 million to the government in 2018, while the Shwe project, run by South Koreas POSCO, paid $194 million, according to MEITI. The Zawtika gas project, run by Thailands PTT, paid $41 million in 2018.

International and local pro-democracy supporters have repeatedly pressured oil and gas companies to cut ties with the military or pay revenue into a trust or protected account either to be held until such time as Myanmar has a legitimate and democratically elected government or to be used for humanitarian purposes.

Elected lawmakers from the NLD sent a final notice in March calling on foreign-owned oil and gas companies operating in Myanmar to suspend business ties with the military regime, warning that the money from sales of the oil and gas would be used to reinforce human rights violations in the country.

However, both Total and Chevron remain reluctant to follow those demands. A New York Times report revealed that Chevron has intensively lobbied the US State Department and key congressional offices against sanctions, warning that they could disrupt its joint ventures in Myanmar.

An investigation by Frances Le Monde newspaper published on Tuesday revealed that Totals gas operation in Myanmar has been propping up the military junta by diverting funds from gas sales to offshore accounts instead of the government. According to documents accessed by the French newspaper and released after the military coup, the Yadana gas field, which supplies gas to local markets in Myanmar and Thailand, is diverting revenue to the MOGE, which is managed by army executives and retired officers.

Human rights group Justice for Myanmar (JFM) said on Wednesday that Totals CEO claimed his company is continuing to do business as usual in Myanmar for humanitarian reasons. However, their business conduct in Myanmar and deep ties to the military suggest otherwise, JFM said.

We demand Total to immediately suspend all payments to the military junta and place funds in a protected account until democracy is restored in Myanmar, JFM said.

Another foreign currency earner is the mining sector, which generates about $470 million a year. The gems sector accounts for $300 million. Legally, the state should collect approximately 10 percent in royalties and taxes on jade, but 60 to 80 percent of gemstones produced in Myanmar bypass the formal trading and export system. The forestry industry officially generated between $350 million and $1.65 billion per year in exports over the last decade.

In a bid to deprive the military government of funds, the US Treasury Department in April imposed sanctions on a Myanmar state-owned gems enterprise, as well as Myanmar Timber Enterprise and Myanmar Pearl Enterprise. MEHL and MEC have also been sanctioned by the US and UK.

In terms of blocking revenue from timber and gems, the US alone is not enough. We need collective action from the international community, a local economist said.

The state also earns foreign currency through port fees, shipping and Myanmar National Airlines sales. However, each of these is controlled by an off-budget state-owned enterprise that retains 55 percent of profits and does not submit financial information to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Industry. Net foreign earnings from these entities remain unknown.

Stepped-up sanctions

Another local financial expert who asked not to be named told The Irrawaddy that Myanmars largest trading partners in the region including Singapore, China, India, Indonesia, Japan and Thailand should consider imposing trade sanctions.

It is a very unlikely scenario. Most of them have historically close ties with the military. But if they can do it, it would be very effective in reducing foreign currency inflows, he said.

In March, the US imposed trade sanctions against Myanmars ministries of Defense and Home Affairs as well as MEC and MEHL.

I would say that the steps taken against the regime by the international community are still modest. Myanmar needs more effective sanctions targeted at blocking foreign currency flows to the regime, the local financial expert said.

They should identify, target and freeze all foreign currency revenues and foreign exchange reserves held in accounts outside of Myanmar, he said.

The independent economists from IEM said the popular Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), in which civil servants and some private sector workers are refusing to work under the regime, is unlikely on its own to convince military leaders to negotiate or give up power.

Cutting the SAC regime off from foreign credit could also be key, but would require substantial international agreement, the economists said.



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Chin Resistance Fighters Kill Nine Myanmar Junta Soldiers

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Burma Chin Resistance Fighters Kill Nine Myanmar Junta Soldiers

Hakha in Chin State. / The Irrawaddy

Nine junta troops have died between Sunday and Tuesday in Hakha, the capital of Chin State, as civilian resistance fighters stepped up attacks.

Four junta troops at a military checkpoint in Hakha near the Light Infantry Battalion 645 headquarters died in an attack on Sunday evening. And four more died in attacks on a junta outpost at an intersection on Monday, said the Chinland Defence Force in Hakha.

Another soldier died in an attack near the military-owned Innwa Bank in the town on Tuesday night. The attacks by civilians are mostly hit-and-run operations, said the armed group.

It happened at around 8.30 pm during an electricity blackout. I heard 15 to 20 shots. A soldier died, said a Hakha resident.

The Chinland Defence Force said it attacked the outpost near Innwa Bank because it was near a key junction. The military did not block the road on Wednesday morning after the attack.

The regime has not reported the attacks in Hakha in the newspapers it controls.



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Burma Ethnic Chinese Woman Waiting for COVID-19 Jab Shot Dead by Myanmar Junta Troops

Regime troops in Mandalay in February. / The Irrawaddy

Another ethnic Chinese Myanmar civilian was shot dead by regime soldiers in the countrys second-biggest city, Mandalay, on Wednesday. The woman, who was sitting in a car when she was shot, has become at least the fourth ethnic Chinese person to be killed by regime soldiers since the February coup.

Ma Ni Ni Win (aka Ah Wei), 30, was hit in the eye by a stray bullet near the Workers Hospital in Mandalay. She was waiting her turn to get a COVID-19 vaccine jab at the hospital.

Witnesses said soldiers nearby fired as many as four live rounds at a motorcyclist who ignored their order to stop, and one hit the woman. The motorcyclist escaped.

Ah Wei was pronounced dead on her way to hospital.

In the same city, 19-year-old Kyal Sin (aka Deng Jia Xi) was fatally shot in the head during troops crackdown on a protest in March. Her body was later exhumed by regime forces who insisted on conducting an autopsy. The regime later claimed she was shot by fellow protesters.

In the same month, Khant Nyar Hein (aka Lin Yaozong), 18, was shot by police in Yangon amid security forces crackdown on anti-regime protesters, and later succumbed to his injuries.

Another victim, Kyaw Win Ko (aka Tai Tai), was shot dead by security forces on March 14 in North Dagon, Yangon.



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Myanmar Junta Faces UK Legal Action over Claims to Ambassadorial Home in London

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Burma Myanmar Junta Faces UK Legal Action over Claims to Ambassadorial Home in London

Myanmars Embassy in central London last month.

A British NGO and a leading UK law firm have launched a legal case against Myanmars coup leaders over their claim to the ambassadorial residence and attempts to evict Myanmars former ambassador, who opposes the regime.

U Kyaw Zwar Minn, the ex-ambassador to Myanmar, was locked out of his embassy by his deputy, U Chit Win, early last month after criticizing the regime and calling for the release of State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Since its February coup, Myanmars military has killed more than 760 people.

Following the occupation of the embassy, U Kyaw Zwar Minn was asked to leave his ambassadors residence in Hampstead, north London, by U Chit Win, who is now the charge daffaires of the embassy.

Following the embassy row, Myanmars regime summoned the ex-ambassador home but he remains in London.

On Tuesday, in a legal case initiated by the Myanmar Accountability Project (MAP) to challenge the legitimacy of the coup leaders, Peters and Peters Solicitors sent a notice to the charge daffaires.

It warned that his attempt to evict the ambassador and take possession of the property was unlawful and U Chit Win has no authority to ask U Kyaw Zwar Minn to leave the ambassadors residence or to return the property because it belongs to the Republic of Myanmar.

Any attempt to secure access to any part of the property will be reported immediately to the police, it added.

The letter continues: You purport to represent the Union of Myanmar and to write on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, our client does not and will not recognise those responsible for the internationally condemned military coup in Myanmar as representing the legitimate government of Myanmar.

The letter also said: His Excellency will therefore not be vacating the ambassadorial residence  and will resist any possession or other legal proceedings to seek to secure the property or access to it in any way.

Christopher Gunness of the MAP told The Irrawaddy that the military government was illegitimate and its claim to property, which belongs to the government and people of Myanmar, is unlawful.

Keith Oliver, the head of international at Peters and Peters, acting on behalf of the ambassador, said there has been almost universal condemnation of the coup and the junta has no right to demand control of a home which is legally owned by the republic under English Law.

Consequentially, we shall firmly resist any unlawful attempt to secure possession of the ambassadorial residence and the matter will fall for determination by the [English] courts.



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Burma Myanmar Junta Forces Open Fire on Villagers Protesting School Reopening

Suuphyugon villagers stage a protest against teachers on Monday. / CJ

Junta forces fired shots and arrested residents of Suuphygon village in Natogyi Township, Mandalay Region on Monday, after dozens of villagers staged a demonstration against teachers making preparations to reopen the village high school next month.

Schools and universities across the country have been closed since last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The military regime has ordered all basic education schools to reopen on June 1, the annual back-to-school day.

Residents staged a protest as the teachers prepared to open the school. They just protested peacefully and didnt do any harm to the teachers. But the teachers called the police as they were unable to enter the school. Four plainclothes police arrived, but the locals refused to leave, said a villager.

The police then went to see the village administrator to discuss how to disperse the crowd outside the school. While villagers gathered outside the house of the village administrator to protest the police presence, junta soldiers arrived and opened fire on the protesters.

They fired shots all around the village, while asking the residents who have stoned the houses of informants to come out. Some villagers fled into the wood to the west of the village, but informants led the security forces to the wood and they were arrested, said a villager.

It is unclear how many villagers were detained. Junta forces also destroyed satellite dishes and looted money from some residents. Suuphygon village has emptied following the incident.

Junta forces reportedly also opened fire on and arrested people in Sagaing and Magwe regions who were publicly calling for a boycott of the education system under military rule.

The regimes attempt to reopen schools is now facing increasing resistance, with anti-regime protesters calling for a boycott of education as part of the nationwide civil disobedience movement against the junta.



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Burma Myanmar Junta Ignores ASEANs Call to End the Violence Against Civilians

Leaders of Southeast Asian nations attend the ASEAN meeting on Saturday in Jakarta. Myanmar coup leader Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing is seated in the foreground at right. / BPMI Setpres

The Association of Southeast Asian Nation called on the military junta to end the ongoing violence in Myanmar.

The call was ignored, and the brutality continues unabated.

ASEAN leaders invited junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who grabbed power on Feb. 1, to a regional meeting in Jakarta on April 24.

Despite the fact that at least 750 civilians had already been killed by the juntas forces, ASEAN leaders chose to meet with the juntas leader rather than representatives of the civilian National Unity Government.

After the meeting, which was the junta leaders first foreign trip since staging the coup, ASEAN states released a five-point consensus, including a call to stop the violence and exercise restraint as the top priority.

However, junta forces have continued to commit atrocities across the country with further killings, bombings, arrests and ongoing violence.

Killings

During a period of 11 days, from April 24 to May 4, junta forces killed at least 20 more people, effectively ignoring the plea by member states of ASEAN in Jakarta.

Even on the day of the summit, as the ASEAN leaders sat with the coup leader in Jakarta on April 24, his troops killed at least three civilians and continued brutal crackdowns on peaceful demonstrators demanding the restoration of democracy.

Among those killed during the meeting and in the following days were 22-year-old student Kaung Htet Naing, who was shot dead by plainclothes officers in Mandalay, and 22-year-old university student Thang Muan Lian, who was shot while he was riding his motorbike to guard a gasoline station in Chin State.

In other two cases, 32-year-old Ko Nyi Nyi Maung was shot in the stomach and died on the spot in Mandalay, when he tried to drive away in fright after he was stopped by soldiers, and Ko Kyaw Naing, 36, a villager from Sagaing Regions Kani Township, died after being abducted and tortured.

In a bloodiest day after the meeting, the juntas forces killed six people and wounded several others in Wetlet of Sagaing Reigon, Hsipaw and Naungcho of Shan State, Hpakant of Kachin State and Launglon of Tanintharyi Region.

In Hpakant Township of Kachin on May 2, more than 20 people were injured and one was killed when the junta forces fired live rounds and used hand grenades against protesters who were demanding democracy.

Airstrikes

Further violating the call to exercise restraint, the junta continued its bombing campaign with at least 21 airstrikes on Kachin and Karen states and Bago Region. Due to the airstrikes, some 30,000 local residents in the areas were forced to flee their homes.

A military air raid also killed at least three people, including a monk, after shells hit a monastery where displaced local residents were sheltering in a village in Moemauk of Kachin State on May 3.

While ASEAN called for constructive dialogue among all parties concerned in order to seek a peaceful solution, the junta continued to make mass arbitrary arrests.

Mass Arbitrary Arrests

From April 24 to May 4, it abducted more than 177 people including students, striking doctors, journalists and family members of pro-democracy activists.

After the regional meeting, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told the media that he [Myanmar junta leader] said he heard us. However, in an announcement made two days after the meeting, the coup leader said he would only consider ASEAN leaders recommended steps once the country stabilizes.

Thomas H. Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, said just as the command of his military demonstrates that there are no limits to his ruthlessness and brutality, his words demonstrate that there are no limits to his disregard for the truth nor his disrespect for ASEAN leaders.

Following the junta leaders announcement, soldiers, police officers and plainclothes men were out in force. They launched extensive crackdowns in recent weeks, chasing after peaceful protesters at high speed in private vehicles or ramming into protesters. Youths suspected of being protesters were dragged away in private vehicles.

Video footage and photos by citizen journalists showed that detainees were beaten and forced to kneel down on the ground before being dragged away.

The junta is increasingly detaining the relatives of those who are in hiding. In one case, the 64-year-old mother of two activists was beaten at their home by junta forces in Yangon and detained.

Warrants

After the ASEAN meeting, the junta also issued a total of 290 new warrants against striking education staff and doctors who joined the civil disobedience movement (CDM) and students unions members.

The juntas wanted list includes headmasters and headmistresses of government schools, education staff workers and teachers, superintendents, professors, doctors and students.

The CDM, the pro-democracy movement of Myanmar civil servants, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for resisting the military coup in an inspiring and peaceful way.

Now ASEAN and the world must decide what steps must be taken as an illegal junta continues to order more and more Myanmar people to be killed, injured or arbitrarily detained, said the UNs Thomas H. Andrews.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which has tracked killings and detentions after the coup, at least 769 people have killed and 4,737 people were arrested, of them, 3,677 remained in detention as of May 4.



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Burma Myanmars Shadow Government Forms Peoples Defense Force

Some would-be members of the PDF undergo military training somewhere on the border.

Myanmars shadow government formed the Peoples Defense Force on Wednesday in an effort to end the juntas violence against the people of Myanmar.

The National Unity Government (NUG) said in its statement that it has a responsibility to end the military regimes violence and 70 years of civil war.

The NUG was formed by legally-elected lawmakers to rival the military junta after the Feb. 1 coup.

The NUG also said it has a responsibility to transform the security sector and to establish the Federal Union Army.

It has formed the Peoples Defense Force (PDF) as the precursor of Federal Union Army, the NUG said in its statement on Wednesday.

Detailed information about the formation of the Peoples Defense Force will be announced later, deputy defense minister Daw Khin Ma Ma Myo of the NUG told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.

She said the main task of the PDF is to protect the lives and property of people and the Federal Union.

This is the state force of the NUG to subdue the junta forces [currently] committing war crimes and crimes on people, she said.

Following the February coup, the military regime has been using lethal weapons including live ammunition, automatic weapons, hand grenades and heavy explosives to attack peaceful anti-regime protesters, labeling them as rioters. The militarys deadly crackdown came after the regime faced huge daily protests nationwide.

As of Tuesday, more than 760 people have been slain by the junta forces during their crackdowns, arrests, interrogation, raids and random shootings, according to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

During their crackdowns and raids, the junta police and soldiers have committed crimes, destroying civilians belongings including vehicles, motorbikes and houses. They have stolen motorbikes, phones, money, foods, chickens and pigs.

Faced with the deadly violence on the part of junta forces, people across the country have formed defense units on a self-help basis and have been conducting defensive actions against the military troops trying to conduct crackdowns or raids.

In several townships of Sagaing, Magawe Regions and Chin State, people are resisting the junta troops by taking up the homemade percussion lock firearms and slingshots.

The NUG government said that it has already been in discussions with those community forces about the fight against the military regime.



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Burma New Myanmar Junta-Owned Hospital Targeted by Bombs

The opening ceremony of the Moekaung Treasure Maternal and Child Hospital in Yangon on Sunday. / Commander-in-Chief's office

Two bombs were set off at the entrance of a newly-opened, military regime-run hospital in Yangon on Tuesday night.

The bombs targeted the MoeKaung Treasure Maternal and Child Hospital in Yangons Yankin Township. The private hospital was opened on Sunday by junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

A resident living near the hospital told the Irrawaddy on Wednesday that the explosions occurred at around 9pm Tuesday night while junta troops were deployed in the area. No casualties were reported.

Local residents said that junta security forces neutralized the bombs by setting them off. No one has claimed responsibility for placing the bombs and no arrests have been made.

Since the juntas Feb. 1 coup, government offices, local administration offices and police stations across the country are being attacked daily.

The military regime claims via state-run TV stations and newspapers that rioters  the juntas euphemism for anti-regime protesters  are responsible for the attacks.



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Chicago is in the midst of a biotech influx, with expansive lab space planned for development. The recent growth can be largely attributed to a year focused on science and medical advancement due to the pandemic. Innovative life science leaders, like Jeff Aronin, continue to expand and launch companies, investing in the city even during a challenging year.

When ranking biotech by city, Chicago was named among the top cities for biotech in the list for Top 10 U.S. Biopharma Clusters by Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News. Chicago ranks 10th on the list, slightly behind some smaller cities, like Seattle, San Diego, and Philadelphia, but the list shows growth across the board for life science companies.

The list was based on five criteria:

NIH funding

Venture capital (VC) funding

Patents

Lab space

Jobs

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News noted that the record-high lab space expansions and funding were direct responses to the global pandemic.

"With respect to the industry, 2020 was the ultimate paradox: The worst year of our lives, yet the greatest year ever for the life science industry," stated Alexandria Real Estate Equities' executive chairman and founder Joel S. Marcus. "[There's] much work to do to rebuild businesses and lives so extraordinarily impacted, and I would say, it's going to take a good part of this decade to do that for many people who've been really so devastated."

According to the publication, Chicago ranks as the lowest of the listed cities with lab space, with only 3.4 million square feet. This is something companies like Paragon Biosciences plan to change.

The list notes a series of planned developments, including over 400,000 square feet of lab space, set to open this year. A $9 million project named Rebuild Illinois Wet Lab Capital Program will expand lab access space for incubators, corporations, start-ups, and university researchers, matching the state funding requirements. Recently, a $7 billion mixed-use project covering 100 acres was approved to establish the Chicago ARC (Accelerate, Redesign, Collaborate) Innovation Building. This space will support life science users who are working on precision medicine, biopharma, artificial intelligence, and big data.

Paragon Biosciences is planning annual investments of up to $500 million in advanced biotechnology, synthetic biology, and cell and gene therapy. The Chicago-based life sciences innovator is supporting its portfolio companies as they work to advance the industry. Since 2017, Paragon and its partners have invested more than $1 billion in its life science companies, which include Evozyne, a molecular engineering technology company that creates artificial proteins and CiRC Biosciences, a cell-therapy company developing treatments for serious diseases, with an initial focus on the eye.

Paragon Biosciences Founder, Chairman and CEO Jeff Aronin notes, "Even with the numerous scientific advancements being made, almost daily, there are currently more than 10,000 diseases that still have no treatment at all. There is a huge need to focus on treatments for conditions with high unmet needs."

In 2000, Jeff Aronin started Ovation to focus on treatment solutions for conditions with high unmet needs. The company received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for four drugs in eight years-a huge feat. Ovation continued to grow until it was sold to Lundbeck A/S for $900 million.

Dovetailing on this success, Aronin founded Paragon Biosciences. Now, his company creates, builds and funds companies and technologies for high unmet needs that can solve some of the world's greatest challenges.

Aronin has successfully established seven portfolio companies under Paragon-Castle Creek Biosciences, CiRC Biosciences, Emalex Biosciences, Evozyne, Harmony Biosciences, Qlarity Imaging, and Skyline Biosciences-and maintains a consistent flow of companies created in its Paragon Innovation Labs.

As a life science leader, Aronin continues to discover and support innovative solutions with tremendous potential. He feels Chicago is a breakout metro hub for life sciences companies and he is committed to heavily contributing to its growth.

Not all companies are poised for success. As a biosciences leader, with over 30 years of industry experience in the Chicago life science scene, Aronin believes there are three key areas that leading companies should remain focused on:

Meaningful Work: "Developing and building companies that drive transformation to solve some of society's most intractable human and environmental health challenges is at the center of what we do and that is why we are incredibly successful."

The Need: "It is easy to become enamored with the excitement of science and new technology, which often leads to a loss of focus on the need. When addressing an unmet need, it is important to keep the focus on the why. "Why does our work matter? Why are we trying to solve this problem?' "

Innovation: "When you are innovating, you are doing something that is meaningful and impactful-advancing science and discovering treatments and therapies-improving our system to better help people."

Aronin has created and built companies focused on these values. Now is the time for top companies to focus on advancements that are needed, meaningful and innovative.

About Jeff Aronin

Jeff Aronin has created thousands of job opportunities in Chicago and worldwide by building life science companies. His work has brought about important U.S. FDA approvals for new medicines and technologies. He is also the founder and chairman of MATTER, a nonprofit organization which supports healthcare entrepreneurs and startups.

Jeff has received numerous honors and distinctions, including Entrepreneur Award and Executive of the Year Award from BIG Awards for Business, Top 10 Inspiring CEOs from Insights Success Magazine, Innovator of the Year from Best in Biz, and the Weizmann Leadership Award.
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The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has conditionally funded three commercial-scale renewable projects worth $103.3 million. Arena says these projects will further the governments goal of H2 under $2.

On behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced it has conditionally funded $103.3 million to three commercial-scale renewable hydrogen projects, as part of its Renewable Hydrogen Deployment Funding Round.

The three successful projects are:

Engie Renewables Australia (ENGIE): Arena allocated $42.5 million for a 10 MW electrolyser project to produce renewable hydrogen in a consortium with Yara Pilbara Fertilisers at the existing ammonia facility in Karratha, Western Australia;

Atco Australia (ATCO): Arena allocated $28.7 million for a 10 MW electrolyser for gas blending at Atcos Clean Energy Innovation Park in Warradarge, Western Australia;

Australian Gas Networks (AGIG): Arena allocated $32.1 million for a 10 MW electrolyser for gas blending at Agigs Murray Valley Hydrogen Park in Wodonga, Victoria.

To support these projects, Arena says, it has increased the funding envelopeoriginally $70 millionby $33.3 million. In total, these three projects have a total of $161 million.

At 10 MW, the electrolysers in these hydrogen plants will be among the largest so far built in the world.

Arena says the projects will also play a significant role in supporting commercial-scale deployments of renewable hydrogen in Australia and help progress Australias pathway to achieving the Australian Governments goal of H2 under $2.

Engie will use renewable hydrogen to produce ammonia at the Yara Pilbara Fertilisers site, while Atco and Agigs projects will use renewable energy to produce renewable hydrogen for gas blending into existing natural gas pipelines, according to Arena.

Last year, Arena launched the funding round to support Australias first commercial scale hydrogen projects to fast track the development of renewable hydrogen in Australia.

The funding round called large scale hydrogen electrolyser projects across Australia to drive the commercialisation of key component technologies and facilitate cost reductions for producing renewable hydrogen. Arena received 36 applicants, and after initial assessment, seven projects were shortlisted and invited to submit full applications.

After an extensive assessment process, three projects were selected for funding. Engie, Atco and Agig must now satisfy a number of development conditions and achieve financial close before funding is released. Arena will continue to work with the companies to achieve this.

Arena CEO Darren Miller says renewable hydrogen presents an opportunity to help reduce emissions globally and locally, transform our energy system, and create a new export industry for Australia.

These three projects, we believe, will help kickstart renewable hydrogen production in Australia at a large scale. One of the projects will see clean hydrogen, used to make ammonia, for export and the other two will blend clean hydrogen into our gas pipelines to help decarbonise our natural gas networks, says Miller.

Miller notes that the hydrogen industry in Australia is in its infancy. So the lessons learned from these three projectsand the entire funding roundwill be important in driving our future hydrogen economy.

With more than $100 million in funding, were hoping to build some of the biggest hydrogen electrolysers in the world. The ultimate goal is to bring down the cost of hydrogen produced using renewable energy and growing our skills and capacity to meet future global demand for hydrogen, he adds.

We have been very impressed with the response to the round and Id like to thank all of the companies that submitted applications. With the round stimulating interest in the sector, we can see a number of well-progressed feasibility studies and large projects emerging. Australia is well-placed to become a major player as the clean hydrogen market develops, Miller concludes.

According to Arena, it has been active in the clean hydrogen sector since 2016, and has committed $57 million to hydrogen projects including $22.1 million towards 16 R&D (research and development) projects, as well as feasibility studies into large scale projects and smaller scale demonstrations looking at renewable hydrogen production, power to gas and hydrogen mobility.
Computer manufacturer Dell has released a security update to fix five high-severity vulnerabilities in its firmware update driver which affect the company's desktops, laptops, notebooks and tablets that run Windows.

The vulnerabilities were found by security shop SentinelLabs, which said in a blog post that they could be used for local escalation to kernel mode.

The affected drivers are present in millions of Windows devices that have been released by Dell since 2009, SentinelOne, the research unit of the security firm, said in the post which was issued on Tuesday.

Researcher Kasif Dekel said there was no evidence at the moment to show that the vulnerabilities were being exploited in the wild.

He said in an advisory that the driver in question had come to his notice because of the use of Process Hacker which generates a pop-up whenever a service is created or deleted.

Dekel said Dell had issued a single CVE to cover all the vulnerabilities but these could be broken down into its components:

CVE-2021-21551: Local Elevation Of Privileges #1  Memory corruption

CVE-2021-21551: Local Elevation Of Privileges #2  Memory corruption

CVE-2021-21551: Local Elevation Of Privileges #3  Lack of input validation

CVE-2021-21551: Local Elevation Of Privileges #4  Lack of input validation

CVE-2021-21551: Denial Of Service  Code logic issue

While SentinelOne had developed proof-of-concept code, Dekel said this would not be published until 1 June in order to give Dell users time to update their systems.

He provided technical details of the vulnerabilities in his blog post.

Satnam Narang, staff research engineer at security outfit Tenable, said the flaws included two memory corruption flaws, two lack of input validation flaws and a code logic flaw.

"The flaws reside in DBUtil, which is the firmware update driver of the Dell Bios Utility, pre-installed on most Dell machines with Windows," he added.

Narang said the vulnerabilities could be exploited when an attacker ran a specially crafted executable on a system with a vulnerable version of the firmware update driver of the Dell Bios Utility.

"An attacker may be able to find themselves on a vulnerable system using a variety of tactics, but they are typically limited in what they can accomplish due to the existing permissions of the user," he explained.

"Therefore, a vulnerability such as this could be really useful for an attacker looking to elevate their privileges in order to do more damage, such as bypassing the built-in protections that prevent them from arbitrarily writing to the disk.

"Although Dell has released a patch for the vulnerable driver, the certificate used to sign the vulnerable driver has not yet been revoked.

"This means an attacker could still potentially leverage these vulnerabilities by BYOVD, or bringing your own vulnerable driver onto a system. Once the certificate has been revoked, the vulnerable driver will no longer be trusted and cannot be used by an attacker.

"Organisations should work to identify vulnerable assets within their environment and ensure they are patched in a timely manner, as it won't be hard for attackers to figure out just how they can exploit these flaws."
A Telstra dealer, Melbourne-based Schepisi Communications, has been hit by the Avaddon Windows ransomware and its site has gone offline as a result.

As the company could not be contacted, iTWire asked Telstra if it could offer comment on the incident.

A Telstra spokesperson said in response: "The company is a Telstra dealer who supports Telstra products and specialist business requirements for some of our enterprise and mid-Market customers.

"Weve been in contact with the dealer and have been told some 'high-level' Telstra business customer information, such as mobile phone numbers, may have been accessed from its order fulfilment system.

"We are getting more information, but don't believe any sensitive personal information was included.

"Our specialist cyber security team is working closely with the dealer to help them resolve the issue.

"We employ strict guidelines for how our partners access and store customer data. No Telstra systems were breached as part of this attack."

The gang behind the Avaddon ransomware claims on its website that the company did not want "to co-operate with us, so we give them 240 hours to communicate and co-operate with us. If this does not happen before the time counter expires, we will leak valuable company documents."

As of this writing, the so-called time counter is set at four days and 15 hours.

The Avaddon gang claims to have a big amount of data on mobile devices, tens of thousands of SIM cards and information for them: "financial information, contracts, banking information and much more".

The gang has also threatened to launch a distributed denial-of-service attack on Schepisi and reminded the company that encrypted data could only be decrypted with the gang's own tool.
The NSW branch of the Labor Party appears to have suffered a Windows ransomware attack, with the Avaddon strain having been used to attack the party's network.

Contacted for comment, a party spokesperson told iTWire: "The matters raised are of serious concerns. We have referred the matter to police and we are conducting a full investigation."

This is the second attack by this gang on an Australian entity over the last few days, with the website of the Telstra dealer, Schepisi Communications, having been taken offline after it was hit.

On its site on the dark web, the group said NSW Labor had about 10 days left to make contact and "co-operate with us". Else, it said, data that had been stolen would be leaked.

It claimed data about contracts, confidential information and contracts, drivers' licence details, passports, employment contracts, and resumes had been stolen.

The Avaddon gang also threatened to hit the party's website with a distributed denial-of-service attack and claimed that any data that had been encrypted would not be able to be decrypted using any external tool.

Photocopies of an Australian passport, a driver's licence and a number of other documents have been posted online.

Avaddon has not been used in many attacks as other strains of Windows ransomware. Prior to the attack on the Telstra dealer, only two other hits were reported by iTWire: one on an aircraft leasing asset manager and the other on a small businessman in Columbus, Ohio.

The security firm Emsisoft, which specialises in tackling ransomware, said in its latest report on the cost of ransomware in 2020 that there had been 2775 attacks on Australian organisations, based on submissions made to the ransomware identification service, ID Ransomware.

But this was believed to be only a quarter of the actual number, Emsisoft added.

Update, 7 May: Ashwin Ram, a cyber security evangelist at infosec firm Check Point, commented: "Check Point Research warned a number of times last year about the spread of Avaddon ransomware via the well-established Phorpiex botnet.

"According to Check Point threat intelligence in November 2020, Phorpiex was the top malware family, responsible for distributing many malware families including Avaddon ransomware, which is claiming responsibility for the attack.

"According to our researchers, Avaddon is a relatively new ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) variant, and its operators have again been recruiting affiliates to distribute the ransomware for a cut of the profits."

H. Daniel Elbaum, chairman and co-chief executive of sec outfit VeroGuard Systems, said: Any organisation that holds valuable personal or business data on their servers is a target for cyber attacks. Unfortunately for political parties like NSW Labor, these factors are exponentially increased due to the sensitive nature of the data they hold, and the publicity and disruption hackers can generate from these attacks.

"What this attack shows is that no organisation is immune to attack. In fact, the frequency and likelihood of these attacks, which recently includes schools and hospitals, has been further exacerbated by the current trend to move everything to the cloud, providing cyber criminals with greater attack options.

"Protecting access to our systems The most important requirement for safeguarding cyber infrastructure is to positively assure the authentication of a user requesting access to the cyber infrastructure and services. All privacy safeguards in place are useless if a hostile intrusion can be disguised as coming from an assumed trusted source.
His fight for freedom, he paid with his life and was killed by the communists. His contribution was not only to Poland but to the entire free world, Kubicki said. Its because of the courage of people like him the Iron Curtain fell and we can enjoy freedom in Eastern Europe and the rest of the world, so its very saddening this is still happening.
To solve labour shortage woes in the Australian cyber sector, Tesserent has teamed up with Uniq You to encourage girls and expose them early to industries underrepresented by women. Tesserent and Uniq You are committed in the development of future women cyberleaders and will teach girls that a career in cybersecurity is possible.

Tesserent partners with Queensland non-profit organisation Uniq You to encourage more Gen Z girls to consider careers in cybersecurity.

According to the Tesserent, the Australian cyber sector employs 26,500 people, but it is estimated that over 7,000 new jobs will be created by 2024 to support the industry as it grows. Encouraging diversity and more female talent in the industry is key to meeting demand and addressing gender imbalances.

To address the skill shortage, Tesserent has announced a new division, the Tesserent Academy.

Uniq You is a ground-breaking new virtual platform showing year 9-12 girls that a career in technology fields like cybersecurity is possible. As more girls see that this is a viable path, a more diverse pipeline of future cybersecurity professionals will open up, says Tesserent.

Emmeline McIllree, Chief People Officer, Tesserent, enthuses: We are delighted to support the important work that Uniq You is doing to significantly increase the exposure high school girls have to industries underrepresented by women.

Partnering together, we hope to encourage more female Gen Z high school students to seriously consider building a career in cyber. This program is an exciting initiative supported by the new Tesserent Academy, she says.



Uniq You addresses the pipeline problem by showing girls they can pursue amazing careers in industries currently underrepresented, focusing on STEM, technology, cybersecurity, as well as mining, water, energy and gas, construction, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture, defence, and transport and logistics.

Tanya Meessmmann, Uniq You CEO, says: Tesserents commitment to playing a role in the development of a future pipeline of female cybersecurity leaders and boosting participation in the sector is crucial to addressing gender imbalances. We are excited to work together to encourage and support thousands of young Australian women to undertake education and training pathways and start their careers in the important field of cybersecurity.

Uniq You aims to facilitate over 600 information-packed video calls between high school girls, their career officers and over 100 female advisors working in industries and roles currently underrepresented by women. With comprehensive career advisory experience and unique industry opportunities, this service is dedicated to inspiring girls to come and be part of exciting jobs of the future, and contribute to our ever-changing technological world, concludes Meessmmann.
Indian outsourcing giant Infosys has joined forces with Australias Deakin University to develop a strategic action plan for research, innovation and skill development.

Under the collaboration, the organisations will work together, combining their strengths in emerging technologies and design to innovate at scale.

The collaboration was formalised this week by Professor Iain Martin, President and Vice Chancellor, Deakin University and Ashok Mysore, Vice President and Regional Head  Delivery and Operations, Infosys, who signed an agreement at the Universitys Burwood campus in Melbourne.

The signing was also attended by Michelle Wade, Commissioner, South Asia at Global Victoria, State Government of Victoria.

Infosys says the strategic collaboration includes the establishment of its Living Labs concept at Deakins regional campus in Geelong, which will offer innovation as a service to clients and partners, by bringing together expertise in business, technology and design.

The partners say they will soon be submitting a proposal to the Victorian Government for co-investing in the venture.

Infosys says the agreement will also enable the company to contribute to Deakins Geelong-based innovation ecosystem in Smart Manufacturing, ICT, Energy and Utilities.

Infosys will leverage the Universitys existing infrastructure at its Waurn Ponds Campus to collaborate with incubators and on research projects, and as a key component of the partnership, Deakin will allocate PhD scholarships in collaboration with Infosys in specific areas of mutual interest.

Ashok Mysore, Vice President and Regional Head  Delivery & Operations, Infosys said, This is co-innovation at its best and demonstrates our continued investment in driving innovation and building digital skills in Victoria. This collaboration has a particular focus on bringing innovative energy, utilities and smart manufacturing solutions to market.

Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin said that the strategic collaboration with Infosys is an excellent example of a university working with the private sector to leverage investment, create local jobs and deliver transformative outcomes for the community.

At Deakin we pride ourselves on the strength of our industry collaborations and our openness to new ideas and ways of doing. We continue to invest in partnerships like this that prioritise innovation and the positive outcomes we can create for our communities.

The establishment of the Infosys Living Labs in regional Victoria is another step forward for the University and the region and will help develop the local community through the creation of new products and services and enhancing job opportunities, Professor Martin said.

Michelle Wade, Commissioner, South Asia at Global Victoria, said that this was a collaboration between two leading organisations in the Victoria-India relationship.

Both Infosys and Deakin harness some of the best and brightest minds, and are committed to the development of local economies and capability. I look forward to seeing the results of this partnership which has the potential to resonate in both Victoria and India.

The partners will explore the creation of new products and solutions through DeakinCo., the commercial arm of Deakin University, to develop a talent pool for the ICT/Digital and consulting sector in consultation with Infosys and the Victorian Government - and will also offer opportunities for internships and employment for Deakin graduates and students.
MiMi-Sandra of Fort Worth, born 7 September 1945 in Jacksonville to Joe Selman Gore and Jeffie Gwendolyn (Lazenby) Gore. Preceded by her parents and five siblings. Survived by her husband, daughters, four siblings, nieces and nephews.




Donate Now As a public service during this pandemic, the Jewish News is providing free, unlimited access to all articles. Jewish News is a nonprofit publication that is owned by the community and relies on community support.
Manhattan prosecutors said Connecticut authorities were also searching for Herring at the time of the shooting. For the second time he had absconded from parole relating to his 1998 felony murder conviction, they said.
Mark Huffman edits copy and occasionally writes some, too. He's been a journalist since newspapers had typewriters and darkrooms.
The new owner will be Compass, which has more than 300 offices.
Mike has reported on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's wildlife, wildlands and the agencies that manage them since 2012. A native Minnesotan, he arrived in the West to study environmental journalism at the University of Colorado.
Jacksonites take first and second at state spelling bee, Harris headed to nationals
Tom Hallberg covers a little bit of everything, from skiing to long-form feature stories. A Teton Valley, Idaho, transplant by way of Portland and Bend, Oregon, he spends his time outside work writing fiction, splitboarding and climbing.
Teton County Reporter

Previously the Scene editor, Billy Arnold made the switch to the county beat where he's interested in exploring Teton County as a model for the rest of the West. When he can, he still writes about art, music and whatever else suits his fancy.
The former 19 Kids and Counting star asked the court to release him on bail subject to a combination of conditions of release that will reasonably assure his appearance at trial and the safety of the community or any other person, according to a bond motion obtained by People on Tuesday. The 33-year-old TV personality went on to argue that he has no criminal record and that, given his widely recognizable face, is not a flight risk.
Connie Owen would love to hear your stories. Call or email her at 734-9512 or connie_owen@msn.com.
Dr. Travis Riddell serves as district health officer for Teton County. Guest Shots are solely the opinion of their author.
Brad Boner has directed the News&Guides visuals since 2004 and worked as a photojournalist for more than 20 years. He lives on the west side of the Tetons with his wife, two kids, two grumpy cats and an old blue heeler, Sadie.
HOLE HEALTH

Local providers increased services, but Wyoming still has the highest rate of residents who die by suicide.
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The private sector is ready to go to work with the City of Joburg.







The business community once again pledged its support to the City in delivering sustained basic services to more than 5.8 million residents. The call was made during the Integrated Development Planning (IDP), Budget and Tariffs virtual consultation meeting with the business sector on Tuesday evening, 4 May 2021.





The City is holding IDPs across the seven regions, which are employing virtual, physical or hybrid approaches. This is due to the current Covid-19 restrictions, which have put limitation on the number of people allowed to gather.





At least more than 65 participants attended the meeting to give their inputs on the draft IDP. The business sector welcomed the Citys 120 Days Accelerated Service Delivery programme and called for it to be sustained. In the same breath, they decried the proposed high tariff increases for services as unfriendly to business.





Tembeka Mhlekwa, the Executive Director for Economic Development in the City of Joburg, assured businesses that the City has strategic focus areas to stimulate economic growth and recovery.





The City is committed to strengthening the metropolitan core through the Inner City Transformation Roadmap and Inner City Housing Implementation Plan. This will build on the opportunities of the CBD as a dense economic core of the City; and tackling issues of fragmented developments, crime, bad buildings and lack of affordable housing.





The strategy proposes consolidating the inner city through public space/street network and expanding it towards the southern industrial area and the Turffontein Corridor of Freedom, explained Mhlekwa.





She said the public transport nodes development still remained the catalyst for economic growth and recovery for the City. This includes consolidating the growth and development opportunities around existing and future public transport nodes. This will also include a focus on transit oriented development nodes, including Gautrain, Rea Vaya (BRT) and PRASA stations.





According to Mhlekwa, the City was working hard to unlock Soweto as a district City and making it an economic hub. The strategy is to develop Soweto into a series of self-sufficient mixed use nodes (starting around public stations and nodes) as drivers of economic growth and job creation, allowing Soweto to function as a liveable city district in its own right with access to jobs and full array of urban amenities, added Mhlekwa.





She said the City was also looking to unlock opportunities and development on the old mining belt. The move which has been welcomed by the private sector.





This presents significant opportunities for development and public open space that could integrate the north with the south of Johannesburg and improve cross-border linkages with Ekurhuleni and the West Rand. [This will be done] by identifying strategic interventions along the belt such as: road linkages, mixed use redevelopments, rehabilitation of degraded and damaged land, she said.

Andrew Barker, a property developer, said the business sector welcomes the Citys decision to identify developments on and around the old mining belt and they want to be part of those developments.





The spatial rating areas is key to unlocking the Citys opportunities. The private sector really wants to partner with the City to stimulate the economy. The Accelerated Service Delivery programme must be ongoing as opposed to as and when, said Barker.





Paul Mokoatle, an entrepreneur in Ward 53, appealed to the City to make land accessible for agricultural purpose.



05/05/2021
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Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo is gifting mothers in the city free access into the zoo on Sunday, 9 May 2021, to celebrate Mothers Day.







This is to honour Mzansis mothers who have made staying home fun, who have home-schooled their children and worked tirelessly during the uncertainty of lockdown to keep their families safe, happy and healthy.





Although were not able to celebrate our annual Mothers Day concert at the Joburg Zoo dancing to great tunes, this Mothers Day, City Parks and Zoo is offering free access to the zoo to all mothers only, strictly from 09h00 to 11h00 on a first come, first serve basis. It will be limited to the first 500 mothers with a maximum of 2 000 people.





With enough space for picnics and safe distancing, the zoo is ideal for moms and their families to celebrate Mothers Day and view our newest moms at the Joburg Zoo, including their offsprings such as the African buffalo; a Mandrill baboon and a nyala.





The general public, including children, will pay the normal entrance fees of R110 an adult and R65 a child. This will apply to moms who arrive after 11h00.





For those last-minute shoppers, you may also spoil your mom with a symbolic adoption through our Adopt an Animal programme for as little as R300. Moms will receive a personalised adoption certificate; information on the species of the adoption and a photo of the adopted animal.





The Johannesburg Zoo continues to comply with all Covid-19 regulations. It remains compulsory for all visitors to wear their masks, practice safe distancing by staying within the safety of your bubble with people you are frequently in physical contact with, and by sanitising at all times.





Pack a picnic lunch and come along to enjoy the day and a Big 5 experience on your doorstep this Mothers Day.












Georgia Institute of Technology Collaborates with Morehouse College and PRENEURology Global to Boost Minority Innovation in Metro Areas
The father of four snatched a Taser from Officer Devin Brosnan, fired it at least once and tried running from the scene, authorities said. Rolfe discharged his own Taser before grabbing a gun and firing three shots, striking Brooks twice, according to prosecutors. The white cop also kicked the dying Black man as he lay on the ground and delayed medical aid for more than two minutes, a Fulton County prosecutor said at the time.
Joplin, MO (64801)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable.
Howard County again has returned to "blue" on the Indiana State Department of Health's COVID-19 metrics map after moving to "yellow" last week.

While the map, which is updated each Wednesday, no longer imposes county-by-county restrictions, it aims to help Hoosiers track community spread of the virus based on scores of "blue," the best possible, to "yellow," "orange," and "red," the worst possible.

This week, Howard County scored "blue" in the overall score, along with just over half of Indiana counties. No counties scored" red," though eight counties scored "orange."

The scores are based on two categories: number of cases and positivity rate.

Weekly cases per 100,000 residents

In the category of weekly cases per 100,000 residents, Howard County scored "yellow," the same as last week. "Yellow" represents 100 to 199 new cases per 100,000 residents. Howard County had 86 cases, down from 96 last week.

Only two counties, Warren and Blackford, score "blue," and eight counties scored "red."

Positivity rate

In the category of seven-day all tests positivity rate, Howard County scored "blue," an improvement from "yellow" last week. "Blue" represents a positivity rate of less than 5 percent. Howard County's rate was 4.23, down from 5.43 last week.

Most counties scored "blue" in this category, while one, LaGrange County, scored "red."

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Vaccinations

Currently, 21,154 Howard County residents are fully-vaccinated, while another 25,082 have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. These numbers are up from last week's fully-vaccinated count of 19,445 residents and 24,588 with a single dose.

Statewide, more than 2 million residents are fully-vaccinated, up from 1.8 million last week. Indiana's population is 6.7 million (which also includes individuals under age 16 who are not currently eligible for a vaccine).

Daily update

Today, the Indiana State Department of Health reported 1,160 new cases of the virus and 10 new deaths. Of those, 14 cases and no new deaths were in Howard County.

Hospitalizations continue to rise. As of yesterday, 1,019 Hoosiers were hospitalized with the virus. The last time hospitalizations were over 1,000 was on Feb. 15.

As of yesterday, 199 Hoosiers were in an ICU for the virus, up from 184 the day prior, and 89 were on ventilators, the same as yesterday.

According to the Regenstrief Institute, Indiana was trending upward in four of five tracked categories: positive tests, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and IUC admissions. The state was trending downward in deaths.

Howard County specifically was trending upward in positive tests and emergency room visits and trending downward in deaths, ICU admissions, and hospitalizations.
Suzanne Morphew, 49, went on a bike ride on May 10, 2020  Mothers Day  by her home in Chaffee County, about 135 miles southwest of Denver, and never returned. After an exhaustive search, her husband Barry Morphew, 53, has been charged with murder after deliberation, tampering with physical evidence and attempting to influence a public servant.
CONTROVERSY

SPARK: James Stanley, a Glastonbury firefighter, was recorded saying during competing rallies in the center of town Sunday that people who overdose should be allowed to die rather than being treated.

APOLOGY: Stanley apologized today, calling the remark insensitive and inappropriate and saying that, as someone who has suffered loss to substance addiction, he understands how hurtful my words were.

FIRE DEPARTMENT: Its Facebook statement labels the remark upsetting and says it doesnt reflect those dedicated to protecting people in town.

CONTROVERSY: Burning hot on Facebook and elsewhere.
During session, Eric can be found at the Capitol in Hartford, reporting the information that readers want and need to know. For insights and updates on legislation, politicians, committees, and commissions that affect the entire state of Connecticut, follow Eric on Twitter: @BednerEric.
Officers responded to the Rodeway Inn in Bristol on March 30 to investigate reports of shots fired in the area. When they arrived on the scene around 4:30 a.m., Kohler was already seated in the drivers seat of a 1994 Ford Mustang.
Opinion Columnist

Chris Powell has worked for the Journal Inquirer since 1967, first as a reporter, then as an editor, and now as a columnist. He was managing editor from 1974 until retiring from that position in 2018.
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Classes in the Wilkes County Schools will start on Aug. 23 and end on May 25 in 2021-22 as a result of a calendar approved by the Wilkes Board of Education on Feb. 1.
The first European customer trials of the new E-Transit  the EV version of the worlds best-selling cargo van  will soon be under way, the automaker announced as its US unit launched a new information website ahead of opening order books this summer.

Prototype vehicles will be joining customer fleets to operate in real world conditions with major businesses in the supermarket, home delivery, postal services and utilities sectors across Germany, Norway and the UK.

European customer trials form part of an extensive development programme for E-Transit ahead of its launch in spring 2022. Beginning late summer this year, they have been designed to confirm that the EV can comfortably meet the demands of a wide range of operating scenarios.

Engineers will use data from the trials to help refine connected vehicle technology and range management features to offer optimised operating.

Prototype vehicles taking part in the trial  assembled at the commercial vehicle R&D centre in Dunton, Essex  will include van and chassis cab variants with conversions including refrigerated bodies, box vans, dropsides and interior racking. European customers will be offered a choice of body, length, roof height and Gross Vehicle Mass options from launch, giving 25 possible variants to suit a wide range of businesses.



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The load area is common with diesel-powered Transit models for ease of conversion, and to allow existing ICE operators to reuse racking with the EV.

A claimed industry-first ProPower Onboard system delivers up to 2.3kW through standard plugs to power conversions and equipment in the cab and load area.

Anticipated payload is up to 1,616kg for vans and up to 1,967kg for chassis cab models.

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The powertrain delivers up to 200kW of power for a targeted WLTP range of up to 217 miles, supported by range-boosting technology including Eco Mode and Scheduled Pre-Conditioning. Operators will additionally benefit from new SYNC 4 technology including a 12-inch screen and optional cloud-connected navigation, enhanced through automatic wireless software updates.

Ford expects service cost of ownership to be approximately 40% lower compared with ICE models as a result of lower maintenance expenses.

Meanwhile, in the US, and a size larger, Ford opened a website for potential buyers to register interest in the full-size EV van ahead of order banks opening by July.

The US E-Transit has updated pricing with a targeted starting MSRP of US$43,295 for the cutaway  lower than originally announced  to $52,690 for the high-roof extended-wheelbase cargo van.

To date, over 450 commercial customers in North America, including 200 top fleets and fleet management companies, have said they're interested in purchasing the EV.

The US E-Transit will be built alongside the ICEs at Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri. Ford promises a familiar vehicle layout, driver experience, connectivity and dealer support for the EV variants.

Its data shows that in the US, 70% of the full-size bus and van business is going all-electric by 2030 or 300,000 vehicles annually.

Preliminary conversations with commercial customers indicate a mix for demand across all eight configurations, with roughly 40% leaning toward high-roof vans and 60% pointing to medium-roof, low-roof, cutaway and chassis cab versions.

Internal data shows early order indicators favour the delivery segment but buyers are also in equipment rental; local, state and federal government agencies; utility services; and telecommunications. There are also plans for recreational vehicles, school buses, automotive service, carpet cleaning, service vans and other commercial applications. More unusual applications offered include armored transport, blood donation units and prisoner transport.

Insight from 30m miles of customer telematics data showing that the average US commercial van drives 74 miles per day. With a usable battery capacity of 67 kilowatt-hours, the low-roof E-Transit cargo van has a targeted driving range of 126 miles.

As in the UK, optional Pro Power Onboard turns E-Transit into a mobile generator with up to 2.4 kilowatts of available power to help customers use and recharge job site tools ranging from belt sanders to mitre saws. When paired with an activated standard embedded modem, standard SYNC4 brings connected items to help fleets manage charging transactions, telematics services and similar.

E-Transit offers the same cargo dimensions and standard mounting points as the petrol-powered van so fleets can continue to use the same upfits, racks, bins and accessories they have now.

Again as in the UK, scheduled maintenance costs over eight years/100,000 miles are projected to be 40% less than for the ICE Transit based on recommended service schedules published in 2019 and 2020 owner's manuals.

Early production E-Transit will be seen across North America this summer as Ford rolls out a pilot programme in which key customers test the electric van across a variety of uses.
The French are known for their passion  occasionally to the point of over-enthusiasm. In his latest look at the wine category for Just Drinks, commentator Chris Losh finds that, on this occasion, that tendency to exaggerate is not misplaced for the countrys wine producers.

There are times as a journalist when silence on the part of your interviewees can give you a better idea of whats happening than a thousand words of comment. Ive spent much of the last fortnight chasing up wineries and growers across France, to find out how they have been affected by the frosts last month, and its safe to say that people are not queuing up to offer their opinion.

Typically, when pursuing a bad-news story such as this, if you put out enough feelers. youll eventually get a reaction along the lines of Its bad in places and some people have been badly affected, but we escaped more or less unscathed. This time, however, the silence has been almost ubiquitous, which can only mean one thing: Its bad. Really bad.

April was full of cruelly beautiful photos on social media of bougies lighting up vineyards across France, and smoke curling across twilight slopes as winemakers lit tubs of wax and burned hay to keep frost at bay. The image that made the greatest impression on me, however, was neither of these. Rather, it came from the French meteorological website, Infoclimat. For the night of 7 April, the graphic showed almost the entire country covered in the blue markings that denote sub-zero temperatures as a blanket of Arctic air nestled over France.



Weather frost  infoclimat

From the western edges of the Loire in the west to Alsace in the east, and from Champagne down to Bordeaux and the southern Rhone, the country was  quite literally  freezing.

France is no stranger to springtime frosts. But, there are four issues here that make 2021s episode especially devastating.

Firstly, the cold snap occurred after an atypically warm February. At a time when vines should still have been huddled against the cold, sap started to rise and the growing cycle started far earlier than usual. Vines were about two weeks ahead of schedule across the country. The cold air hit smack in the middle of flowering.

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Secondly, as mentioned, it was unusually far-reaching. Northern regions such as Burgundy, Champagne and the Loire are used to a degree of frost. But, its a once-in-a-generation occurrence for every wine region to be affected. There has been nothing comparable for the last 70 years.

Thirdly, the frost was unusually severe  -5C was commonplace, and it dropped to these levels for three nights in a row. Growers are often able to take mitigating action against temperatures a little below zero, and to trust to luck that they wont get hit if its a one-night occurrence. There was no escaping three consecutive nights of such severe polar air, though. Growers who escaped the first night were captured by the end of the cold snap.

The combination of advanced vineyards and prolonged frost was a perfect meteorological and climatic storm.

But, its one that has been exacerbated by the fourth point: that this frost comes on the back of a particularly harsh six-year run where France has seen its production decimated repeatedly. In the six years since 2016, the country has had four vintages impacted by frost. Maybe not to the ubiquity of 2021, but still affecting over 50% of the countrys vineyards to some extent.

This is not normal. In the 15 years from 1979 to 2015, Infoclimat records just five noteworthy frost years. Or, to put it in context, France has seen more or less as many vintages hit by severe cold during the Trump presidency (ish) as through the tenures of Carter, Reagan, Bushes I and II, Clinton and Obama, combined.

Places that hardly ever see frost have seen it this year. Places that are used to a little are bracing themselves for losses of 50%. Regions that are used to it have been all but wiped out. The scale of the loss in regions such as Burgundy and the Loire is awful.

As mentioned earlier, its hard to get reliable figures on the damage, at present. Officially, wine regions are waiting for the frost season to finish, and to see whether secondary buds improve matters somewhat before putting numbers on the devastation.

Its just as likely that growers and their regulating bodies are too shellshocked to speak.

So, lets do some intelligent guesswork. Over the last ten years, Frances average vintage size has been 44m hectolitres. 2017, the last big frost vintage was 36m hl  a drop of 20%. Ive seen estimates in the French press putting this years likely crop at 32m hl  a decline of 30%  though going off some of the off-the-record feedback Ive been amassing, it could well be lower even than this.

Whats certainly true is that its lop-sided. The volume appellations of Languedoc, Roussillon and Provence may record almost normal years, while the value regions certainly will not. The countrys wine income is going to take a kicking over the next few years.

What we can say with a fair degree of confidence is that prices are likely to rise across the board  with the possible exception of Champagne, whose policy of blocage helps mitigate against peaks and troughs in supply.

But, whether prices will be able to rise enough to make up the shortfall is highly debatable. In a COVID world, not many importers, buyers or consumers will be able to stomach double-digit price increases. Yet, how else can producers counter a 90% cut in their income? Growers in Burgundy do, at least, have the opportunity of charging good money for their wines. And, barrel ageing allows for a certain spreading out of sales to smooth over thin years. For producers of, say, Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadet or Provence rose, which are typically made and sold within six months of vintage, there is no such buffer.

For many growers, the economics of wine have been less than compelling for a while  even in a decent year. They make little sense at all in frost vintages.

Id expect that well see a number of vineyards going up for sale in the next 12 months, which might (if were really scratching around for positives) provide an opportunity for more financially-sound operations. But, three nights of polar air have done huge damage to Frances wine industry in the short term, and the ructions will be felt for some time yet.

Sales will go down, prices will go up and businesses will go to the wall. Its been described as a national calamity, and, coupled as it is with the uncertainties of COVID, for once this doesnt seem like hyperbole.
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House Foods, the Japanese tofu maker, has announced it is to build a facility in the US state of Kentucky.

The facility, for its US subsidiary House Foods America, will cost US$146.3m and create 109 full-time jobs.

House Foods, which already has facilities in California  where its US subsidiary is based  and New Jersey, plans to construct a 350,000 sq ft facility on 30 acres in south-west Louisville to produce tofu and other food products for customers throughout the country.

Work on the project is expected to begin next year and be completed by 2025.

House Foods America was founded in 1983 to manufacture the company's tofu and shirataki products for the US market. House Foods has operated in Japan for more than 100 years.

Hiromasa (Hunt) Takahashi, assistant manager of business strategy planning at House Foods, said: "It is an honour to join the Commonwealth of Kentucky and we are glad to contribute to the community by making great, healthy products for customers nationwide."

House Foods, which also operates the Ichibanya restaurant business in the US, has operations in countries including China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand.

It has another manufacturing business in the US in the shape of Mexican food specialist El Burrito.

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In House Foods' 2019/2020 financial year, the company recorded sales of JPY293.7bn ($2.69bn), down 3% on the previous year. However, EBITDA was up 2% at JPY32.3bn.
Smugglers go through great lengths to conceal drugs from our officers, said Paula Rivera, CBP Port Director for the Area Port of Atlanta. Narcotics interdiction remains a priority CBP enforcement mission, one that we take very seriously.
Nestle has entered the dairy-free milk market with the launch of the pea-alternative brand Wunda in a clutch of European countries as the consumer-goods giant seeks to disrupt the category.

Stefan Palzer, Nestles chief technology officer, said: This truly versatile, delicious pea-based beverage is an excellent source of protein and fibre. Its great neutral taste, the ability to use it for different applications and the fact that it is carbon neutral make it an ideal plant-based alternative to milk.

Wunda, which comes in three varieties of original, unsweetened and chocolate, will first launch in France, the Netherlands and Portugal.

Nestle claims Wunda provides strong nutritional value compared to similar plant-based beverages on the market, and is low in sugar and fat. The drinks are fortified with calcium and are a source of vitamins D, B2 and B12, with all three varieties ranked the highest level of A under the Nutri-Score nutritional labelling system.

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With the launch of non-dairy-based drinks, Nestle will be up against Alpro owner Danone in France, while there are plenty of other competitors in the European market when it expands distribution: Arla Foods in Denmark, Oatly in Sweden, Valio in Finland and Plenish in the UK, a business acquired this week by beverages giant Britvic.

However, Nestle said it aims to disrupt the category.

Rani Saab, the business manager for Dairy Beyond the Core at Nestle, added: "We were trying to create a product that is completely different from what's on the market. Our target market is millennials. Even the cues of the colors are quite unique for us. We wanted to really stand out and break some norms. We were aiming to disrupt the disruptors."

Wunda plant-based drinks will be followed by "other innovations within the dairy-alternative space".

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A spokesperson for Nestle said Wunda will first launch in the Netherlands on 10 May starting with retailer Jumbo, followed a week later in France with a roll-out in Carrefour but was not in a position to provide details on Portugal other than to say the debut will be in major retailers this month.

The spokesperson declined to elaborate on what the future products might be.

Cedric Boehm, the company's head of dairy for Europe, Middle East and north Africa, said: "There is a quiet food revolution underway that is changing how people eat. In Europe, at least four in ten shoppers are already choosing some dairy alternatives. People are asking for better plant-based drinks that are nutritious, versatile and taste great."
Orkla has instigated yet another deal with the full takeover of Icelands largest confectionery producer Noi-Sirius HF, adding to the purchase of two UK companies by the Norway-based food group in the past week.

Oslo-listed Orkla, which has business divisions in food, confectionery and snacks, and ingredients, already held 20% of Noi-Sirius dating back to a deal in 2019, and has now acquired the rest of the company from several private investors.

Financial terms have not been disclosed ahead of pending approval of the transaction by Icelands competition authority.

Noi Sirius owns the chocolate brands Sirius, Noa Konfekt, Noa Kropp, Noa Paskaegg and Konsum. Based in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, the company posted a turnover last year of ISK3.6bn (US$28.5m), more than 70% of which was generated from its home market. The business was founded in 1920 and employs 120 people.

The company will be incorporated into Orklas confectionery and snacks division, the head of which is Ingvill Berg.



"Chocolate, snacks and confectionery are core categories for Orkla and Iceland is a growth market," Berg, who is also an executive vice president for the group, said. "Noi Sirius holds a unique position in Iceland and is a good fit with Orkla's portfolio of leading brands. We see potential for creating value by continuing to build on Noi Sirius's strong brands in Iceland, while also expanding the product range."

Orkla's Lasse Ruud-Hansen, who is an investment director at the Oslo-based firm's consumer and financial investments business, will take over the CEO role at Noi Sirius from Finnur Geirsson, who has decided to step down after 31 years as chief executive. The change over is effective from 1 August.

"When one of the leading Nordic FMCG companies shows interest for Noi Sirius it is a clear testament of our success as a company and of our brands," Geirsson said.

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Meanwhile, Rolf Arnljot Strm, the CFO of Orkla Confectionery and Snacks, will become the new chair of the board of directors at Noi Sirius.

With the deal, Orkla is extending its presence in Iceland, where it generates sales of NOK400m (US$47.8m). Its ingredients division owns a majority stake in Denmark-based margarine business Dragsbaek, which operates in Iceland. Orkla also sells its Toro, Grandiosa, Kims, OLW and Jordan brands through distributors in the country.

Late last week, Orkla announced a duo of deals in the UK for Cake Decor and For All Baking through its wholly-owned ingredients subsidiary. And in March, another two transactions were initiated for Polish sales and distribution company Ambasador92 and Finnish foodservice business Fort Deli.
Finnish food group Valio plans to spin-off its plant-based Oddlygood operations into a new venture and is seeking a network of partners to drive growth in the business.

The Oddlygood business encompasses oat drinks, dairy-free cheese and yogurts, and protein snacks such as drinks, puddings and quark snacks. Valio said those products will be housed under Oddlygood Global Ltd.

Potential partners could be distributors in markets where Valio doesnt have its own network, the dairy farmers-owned company said in a statement, adding: Oddlygood Global is seeking one or more partners who can bring distribution and sales networks, as well as resources to accelerate international growth in various markets.

Tuomas Salusjarvi, Valios executive vice president for growth businesses and R&D, said: People are increasingly interested in plant-based products, and changing global consumer trends are behind this. We see a lot of opportunities for Valio in the strongly growing market for plant-based products in Finland and abroad.

Oddlygood Global Ltd. is a launch that aligns with our new strategy aiming to expand Valios international business. We will now pursue this growth increasingly stronger with Oddlygood Global Ltd. and international partners.



Valio's new venture will be headed up by Niko Vuorenmaa, the CEO who was previously senior vice president for the Valio Food business unit. Reetta Tikanmaki, formerly a category manager, will become chief operations officer, while Petteri Leskinen, previously senior vice president for business development, will be chief financial officer. A total of "six individuals forming the business line will transfer to the company", Valio said.

Valio noted Oddlygood sales doubled from 2019 to 2020. A company spokesperson said the goal for Oddlygood this year is to reach sales of around EUR20m (US$24m) but did not provide past-performance figures.

In terms of manufacturing arrangements with potential partners, the spokesperson added Valio will continue to produce the products in Finland for the time being, and is in the process of forming a co-manufacturing partnership in the US.

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"We do not see partnerships as giving up [on plant-based products] but rather an opportunity for growth for both parties. We will publish news on partnership agreements as well as, for example, entering new markets as we go along. Partnership agreement details are confidential business secrets," the spokesperson said.

The company said it launched plant-based snacks and drinks in 2018 under the Oddlygood brand before branching out into vegan cheese products, all of which are exported to Sweden, the Baltic countries, Russia, and the US, "among others".

"Valio Oddlygood products already have a strong foothold in Finland and Sweden. Growth with the support of a partnership network offers us a faster track than organic growth to markets where we don't yet have our own sales and distribution network," CEO Vuorenmaa said.

A spin-off of Oddlygood would leave Valio centred on dairy products such as spreads, butter, cheese, milk, and milk powders.
New Zealand shied away from labelling Chinas treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority genocide on Wednesday, once again leaving Wellington out of step with its more forthright Western allies.

Parliament unanimously passed a motion expressing grave concern at human rights abuses in Xinjiang province, but only after Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns ruling Labour Party insisted any reference to genocide was scrubbed out.

Lawmaker Brooke van Velden said that, while allies such as the United States, Britain and Canada had called what was taking place genocide, it was intolerable that New Zealand refused to use the term to avoid upsetting its largest trading partner.

The world is looking to us now to see what standard we are going to set  can the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) play us off as the weakest link in the Western Alliance, she said.

We may face the threat of loss if we speak our mind, but we face a much greater danger if we dont.

At least one million Uyghurs and people from other mostly Muslim minorities have been held in camps in Xinjiang, according to rights groups, who accuse authorities of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour.

Van Velden, from the minor opposition ACT Party, received support on the genocide question from the Greens, who said it was stunningly callous to water down the condemnation of Chinas actions to maintain trade relations.

Its absolutely morally indefensible and a breach of New Zealands legal obligations, Greens MP Golriz Ghahraman said.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta told parliament that New Zealand had raised its concerns about the situation in Xinjiang with China at the highest levels of government.

But she said Wellington only recognised a genocide when it had been defined as such by international courts, citing the Holocaust, as well as atrocities in Rwanda and Cambodia.

We have not formally designated the situation as constituting a genocide, this is not due to a lack of concern, she said.

Genocide is the gravest of international crimes and a formal legal determination should only be made following a rigorous assessment on the basis of international law.

Ardern this week conceded New Zealands differences with China on human rights were becoming harder to reconcile, but said her government would continue to point out areas of concern to Beijing.

Arderns government has taken flak over its meek criticisms of Chinas rights record, leading to accusations New Zealand is a weak link in the US-led Five Eyes intelligence network.

The Chinese embassy in Wellington did not respond to a request for comment.
Person 1: This song slaps.

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Person 1: Im so sick of alcohol.

Person 2: I dont know, Im getting stronger every day. I love it.

Person 1: Do you do the vegan wrap here?

Person 2: We can do the chicken wrap with no cheese?

Person 1: Ill take the Beyond Burger please.

Person 1: Oh my God! I feel like I know you somehow

Person 2: Yeah, we went to high school together.

Person 1: Oh! *walks off*

Guy 1: Is the black market even real? Has anyone ever been on it?

Guy 2: I tried once but I couldnt figure out how to get on.

Guy 1: I stayed up until 2 am watching Disney plus

Guy 2: I told my girlfriend I fell asleep but I was actually watching the Mandalorian.

Girl 1: How long have you guys been dating?

Girl 2: Since the summer, well actually for like two years but its a long story.

Girl 1: Who are you looking for?

Girl 2: This guy, wait I found him. Fanny pack boy. He flipped off my professor after a test and ran out of the classroom.

Girl 1: How did you choose KU?

Girl 2: Honestly, I flipped a coin.

Boy 1: Did I tell you? I think I had a threesome this weekend.

Boy 2: Woah, hold up. You think?

Boy 1: I was born a Phi Delt.

Boy 2: Please dont ever say that again.

Girl 1: How do you get your boobs to look like that?

Girl 2: I dont ever wear a bra? I dont know.

Girl 1: I just really want a guy to bend me over you know?

Girl 2: How do you know? Youre a virgin!

Guy: Sometimes I wish I could just be a dog and sleep all day.

Girl: You wake up at like three every day.

Guy: I know.

Girl: So

Guy: So does that make me a dog or something?

Girl 1: I wish I was a little bit taller.

Girl 2: I wish I was balder.

Girl 1: I wish I had a...wait, wait, wait balder?

Guy 1: Lets slap dicks

Guy 2: You ever pee and it feels like throwing up?

Woman 1: *holding baby* He would have been safer at the Hawk

Woman 2: Oh absolutely.

Girl 1: I would never date that guy.

Girl 2: Well, it depends how much money he has.

Girl 1: Im going to the doctor to see if I have bronchitis before I hook up with him again.

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Guy 1: Actually I might just start chewing

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Guy 2: Dude its Monday

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Person#1: I want to be on the first ship to mars

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Perons#1: Yeah but at least theyre evolving up there. Were all just devolving.

Girl 1: Um, I dont eat pig.

Girl 2: You eat bacon all the time, bitch.

Guy 1: You better get going.

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Girl 1: Are you home right now?

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Girl 1: I bought a cat

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Girl: What?

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Girl: That class is killing us. But they say rest is for the dead.

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Almost a year after some of the largest mass protests to ever take place, members of Lawrence and KU communities are reflecting on their relationships with surrounding police task forces.
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A Kansas City mother is recovering after investigators say a woman intentionally drove an SUV to hit her and her baby as they walked in their neighborhood.
A major diplomatic incident has been avoided in Europe after a Belgian farmer accidentally moved the border with France, making his home country about 1,000 square meters bigger. Erquelinnes, Belgium, is at the center of a border mishap with France.
John Cameron Denton, 27, was the Texas leader of the Atomwaffen Division when the group made at least 134 swatting calls between October 2018 and February 2019, according to the Department of Justice. The false calls, claiming that someone was in imminent danger, directed first responders to respond to the location of the third party.
Following the massive success of the top rating drama "Vicenzo," lead star Song Joong Ki received another impressive achievement.

In a new report cited by a South Korean publication, the 35-year-old actor topped the list of TV actors for brand value rankings.

The said rankings were calculated based on data analysis that consists of media coverage, consumer participation, community indexes, and interaction of 50 tv actors and actresses.

Song Joong Ki, Lee Je Hoon, and Jang Na Ra Leads May Brand Value Rankings

According to the Korea Institute of Corporate Reputation, the A-list actor climbs up to the first place, garnering over 8,800,000 points.

To recall, he previously sits in second place during March listings with 5,123,964 points.

At the time, actress Kim So Yeon landed in the top rankings with a brand reputation index of 5,141,911, following the achievement of the mega-hit SBS drama "The Penthouse 2."

Following Song Joong Ki is Lee Je Hoon, achieving a total of 5,665,327 points.

His ranking with brand value accelerates as the crime drama "Taxi Driver" viewership continues to soar.

Capping off the third spot is actress Jang Na Ra with a total of 4,736,253 points, who recently starred in the mystery thriller drama "Sell Your Haunted House" alongside Jung Yong Hwa.

ALSO READ: Proof Why Song Joong Ki Perfectly Fits the Role of Vincenzo Cassano

Song Joong Ki Thanks Fans for Overwhelming Support

Despite Song Joong Ki's Korean drama "Vicenzo" just recently wrapped up a stunning season, the A-lister made sure to thank fans for their overwhelming support.

In his recent social media post, the 35-year-old actor shared a still photo from his drama as he expressed his gratitude towards the viewers.

"Thank you very much to everyone who loved the drama," Song Joong Ki Instagram caption reads.

As of this writing, the post received a whopping 2.1 million likes and over 88,200 comments from fans who wrote mixed reactions as his top-rating drama bids goodbye.

Some fans mentioned that they would surely miss watching the OG Oppa as well as the Vincenzo Cassano family.

Moreover, this was echoed by the Korean social media star Vincent and ex KPop trainee who wrote "Vincenzo" followed by a heart and crying emoji.

The same goes with the Indonesian star Ersa Mayor, who appears to be a "Vincenzo" fan commented, "Vincenzo season 2, please?"

Song Joong Ki's "Arthdal Chronicles: Season 2"

Song Joong Ki's "Arthdal Chronicles" has been renewed for Season 2 in February of 2020, and was supposed to be included in the 2021 drama lineup. Unfortunately, the production schedule was canceled in June of the same year due to COVID-19.

But once the drama announces it will finally make its much-awaited return, Song Joong Ki will reprise his role as Eun Seom, and will work alongside Kim Ji Won, Jang Dong Gun, and Kim Ok Bin.

"Arthdal Chronicles" is the first-ever Korean fantasy drama that follows the story of a mythical land called "Arth." Directed by Kim Kyu Tae and Hong Jong Chan and written by Kim Young Hyun and Park Sang Yeon, set in the era of the Bronze Age, where settlers of the Arthdal fought for the ancient city.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Vincenzo' and 'Space Sweepers' Star Song Joong Ki Finally Launched His Official Instagram Account





KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
Kim Go Eun is using her influence for a good cause as she celebrates Children's day.

In a new report, the "Goblin" actress has given back to the community by donating $44,500 or a whopping 50 million won to Seoul National University Children's Hospital.

The said donation will be used for treatments of children, adolescents, and low-income children who have difficulty getting health treatments due to financial situations.

In addition, the 29-year-old actress also sympathized with the children and their families' condition and vowed to continue extending her help to the kids.

"I hope that the day will come when young people can go to school and meet their friends as soon as possible. I hope my little help will be of some help, and I want to continue to add both physical and physical strength," she mentioned as cited by a South Korean publication.

Over social media, fans can't help but gush over Kim Go Eun's selfless act.

Her supporters lauded the actress through her constant good deeds and how she remains humble amid her countless of blessings.

We stan a Queen indeed!!!!



Actor Kim Go-Eun practiced a good influence through donations on Children's Day.He donated 50 million won to be used for the treatment of low-income children and adolescents who have difficulty in treatment due to the financial burden. pic.twitter.com/eTXgRhyWkZ  ThisPatch | BlackHeart Universe OFC (@ThispatchPH) May 5, 2021

This is how it feels to stan the right woman.

Love her so much. #KimGoEun https://t.co/WYWHhFMgx5  Corea Stories (@CoreaStories) May 5, 2021

Kim Go Eun and "Goblin" Co-Star Gong Yoo Showed Support to COVID-19 Relief

This is not the first time that the "Cheese in the Trap" star has shared her blessings to the community.

In the wake of the global pandemic, Kim Go-Eun joined her fellow South Korean stars who made a donation in hopes to comfort the people amid the COVID-19 surge.

At the time, NGO Good Neighbors revealed that the 29-year-old actress donated approximately $82,640 or 100 million won to provide 40,000 face masks to low-income households, especially to the elderly and kids who are vulnerable to the virus.

The non-profit organization thanked the "Canola" actress for her generous donation and assured her that it would be delivered to those who are in need.

In response to her act of kindness, the actress released an official statement, revealing what prompted her to donate.

She mentioned that she hopes that this move would "curb the spread of COVID-19 and help ensure that there are no more confirmed cases."

Moreover, the celebrity also mentioned that she wanted to make sure that these would help those who find it challenging to purchase masks due to financial situations.

On the other hand, Gong Yoo, who starred alongside Kim Go-Eun in the smash hit 2016 drama "Goblin," has also donated 100 million won to the Community Chest.

This is to support medical staff and low-income families amid the pandemic.

Interestingly, the donation reportedly was under his real name, Gong Ji-Cheol.

Kim Go Eun to Star in "Yumi's Cells"

Following her meaningful donation, the "The King: Eternal Monarch" actress is set to appear in the upcoming drama "Yumi's Cells."

She will be playing the titular role together with Ahn Bo Hyun, who will be playing the character Goo Woong, a straightforward game developer.

IN CASE YOU MISSED: Lee Min Ho Misses Kim Go Eun? Fans Think The Actor's Recent Post is Dedicated to Her

KDramastars owns this article.

Written by Geca Wills
In celebration of Children's Day in South Korea, some of your favorite Korean celebrities shared their baby photos on Instagram!

What and When Children's Day is Celebrated in Korea?

Every year South Korea celebrates Children's Day on May 5, a youthful and meaningful event for all the innocent and children. And this yearly public holiday has become memorable to most Korean's.

According to research, Children's day is a way for Korea to celebrate the children of the country. It is also an opportunity for the parents to take a break from their busy lives and spend more quality time with their children.

Supposed to be Children's Day in Korea is celebrated on May 1, but since it was Labor Day, it was moved to May 5. It became an official public holiday in 1970. Apart from Korea, Japan is the only country that celebrates Children's Day on May 5.

Other countries also celebrate the same event, but they don't designate the day as a national holiday.

Korean Celebrities Shared their Baby Photos on Instagram

Meanwhile, even though they were grown up and well known in the industry, some of the Korean artists commemorate the event by sharing their baby photos on their official Instagram accounts.

"Vincenzo" actor and Korean superstar Song Joong Ki treats the fans with his adorable photo. The picture was taken during his school days, where he has seen accepting an award in school. Hours after he posted it on sns, that single image of him already garnered 1 million likes and the fans were surprised to see such a cute photo of Song Joong Ki.

In Case You Missed It: 'Vincenzo' Star Song Joong Ki Hailed as Top Drama Actor for Brand Reputation Rankings

"Uncontrollably Fond" star Kim Woo Bin made his entry on his Instagram account also. He even wrote the caption that reads, "I hope you all stay healthy and sleep well, and eat lots of food. I love you."

Joining these two is none other than the Korean heartthrob and "Start-Up" actor, Kim Seon Ho. The young and handsome star captured the hearts of his fans with his cute throwback photo. It was very cleared that at a young age, Kim Seon Ho already had that charming dimples on his cheeks.

His real-life friend and "Welcome to Waikiki 2" co-star, Moon Ga Young, commented on his photo praising his sweet and precious smile.

In Case You Missed It: Kim Woo Bin, Kim Tae Ri & Ryu Jun Yeol Finally Finished Filming Their New Movie 'Alien'

Have you seen the other baby and throwback photos of your favorite Korean celebrities? You can share it with us in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins.
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.  Klamath Health Partnership and Klamath Union High School are teaming up to host a clinic with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, particularly for those ages 16 to 18 who are approved for the shot.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 8, in the Klamath Union courtyard from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Organizers say it will include free food, drinks, music, and prizes.

Klamath Union students are encouraged to attend, but anyone in the community who is eligible can join. Attendees must have identification that shows date of birth, such as a driver's license, school ID, or birth certificate.

"Klamath Health Partnership is proud to be working with Klamath Union High School to hold the first Pfizer event within the Klamath School Districts," the organization said. "The goal is to reach younger age groups before they are out of school for the summer. All are welcome, even if they still have questions about being vaccinated. A provider will be on-site to answer any questions."

People who plan on attending should expect a check-in and screening process before moving to a vaccination station for the Pfizer shot. Those who get a shot will be observed for 15 to 30 minutes after that. Once observation is over, attendees are invited to stay for the food, drinks, and activities.
SALEM, Ore.  A bill requiring secure gun storage and allowing for restrictions on concealed carry passed the Oregon Senate in a concurrence vote on Wednesday, ensuring that it will go to Governor Kate Brown's desk for signing into law.

Senate Bill 554 passed the Oregon House at the end of April, and previously passed in the Senate. Wednesday's vote approved modifications to the original bill which added the gun storage requirements.

Gun violence is a public health crisis. Weve lost far too many loved ones to shootings and today we took a meaningful step toward preventing these unspeakable tragedies, said Senator Ginny Burdick, who introduced the bill.

One aspect of the bill requires that guns be stored either with a cable lock, in a locked storage container, or in a gun safe. Failure to do so could result in a $500 fine, and the fine increases to $2,000 if the gun ends up in the hands of a minor. Guns would have to be likewise secured when transferred.

The bill would also require that the owner of a lost or stolen gun report it within 72 hours from when they "reasonably should have known" it was missing, House Democrats said last week.

Suicides are increasing. Gun violence is increasing. A firearm that is not safely stored is a threat, Senator Burdick continued. Whether someone steals that firearm to do harm to another person, or a child is killed because they mistake a weapon for a toy, or someone in an acute mental health crisis accesses a gun  its a tragedy, and we can help prevent these tragedies. By passing Senate Bill 554 today, we help prevent these tragedies.

SB 554 would also allow local jurisdictions and organizations that govern public spaces  such as colleges, school districts, and airports  to ban licensed concealed carry as part of a designated gun-free zone. It would remove the "affirmative defense" for people carrying a concealed weapon within a posted zone.

The bill passed in a 17-7 vote and awaits Governor Brown's signature. If signed, it will take effect on the 91st day after the legislature adjourns.
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The mission of the Fire Department is to protect life and property within the Glastonbury community, Thurz wrote Wednesday in a Facebook post. The statement made this past Sunday failed this mission and the values our collective members regard so highly and the individual has since resigned.
The Racine Journal Times, the Kenosha News sister paper, told Vartenie Dadians story in 2000. She was 94 at the time. Rob Golub, later managing editor of The Journal Times, told her story.

When she was a preteen, Mrs. Dadian said, soldiers took the Armenian men away from the village of Tomarza, Turkey, including Mrs. Dadians father. She never saw him again.

Perhaps days or weeks later, she said, somebody came in the morning and said This house has to be empty in an hour or two.  Her mother gathered up bread, and they joined the walk.

Turks, they take everything and they let us walk, Dadian said. We left everything ... I lost my family. I lost my mother. Dadians mother died on the walk, after mother and daughter somehow became separated.

The Armenian refugees walked from Turkey to the Syrian desert. Dadian was placed in a British orphanage. She was brought to the United States by the man who became her husband.

In Golubs telling of Dadians story, he quoted her eldest daughter, Akgulian, regarding being awed by her mothers story. Akgulian said: I think all of us feel very special, that we are existing because of her.
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Proposed bypass faces opposition

FDOT An artists rendering of the proposed Florida Turnpike Bypass of U.S. 1 in Florida City facing the 18-Mile Stretch. GOOGLE MAPS Merchants along U.S. 1 in Florida City fear FDOTs proposed Florida Turnpike Bypass, which would begin just north of the 18-Mile Stretch, would devastate businesses reliant upon motorists traveling to and from the Florida Keys. FDOT The proposed Florida City Bypass would carry Florida Keys traffic over Palm Drive.

A proposed road-widening project and elevated express lane that would bypass a key portion of Florida Citys commercial corridor and connect the Florida Turnpike to U.S. 1 just before the 18-Mile Stretch is garnering opposition from business leaders both on the mainland and in the island chain.

The Florida Department of Transportation began a study in 2017 to evaluate the future traffic needs of the region and determined a need to widen a 3-mile portion of U.S. 1 in the next few years based on traffic projections for 2045.

The project would begin on U.S. 1 at its intersection with S.W. 344th St. and end on the Turnpike near N.W. 8th St. But Brian Conesa, of the Tropical Everglades Visitor Association in Florida City, said all businesses here are in opposition to the project.

Conesa said businesses along that segment of U.S. 1 would be devastated by the bypass, since many are reliant on motorists being able to easily turn off into their parking lots. He fears the change would cause mass closures and discourage new businesses from coming to the area. Furthermore, he doesnt believe the project would solve traffic congestion. Traffic in Florida City and in the Florida Keys can be notoriously bad, but Conesa said it only becomes a problem at certain times.

Usually when we see heavy traffic its because of an accident. Theyre trying to alleviate it by adding two lanes and its not going to solve it, he said.

Instead, in Conesas view, FDOT should be adding more lanes to the 18-Mile Stretch, where the narrow, two-lane road creates a bottleneck of traffic that at times backs up for miles.

Dennis Caltagirone, chairman of the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce, agreed with Conesa, saying that keeping the stretch two lanes was crazy, and commented on how recklessly drivers pass on the areas with passing lanes. He says the stretch should have been four lanes when it was built.

Conesa wrote in an editorial in the South Dade News Leader that FDOT was prioritizing businesses in the Keys over South Dade businesses. He and other business leaders from Florida City held a meeting with FDOT last Monday to express their displeasure.

Caltagirone said FDOT has not been in communication with anyone in the Keys about the proposed traffic project as far as he knows.

I dont recall anyone in the Keys saying you should do an extension in Florida City and prioritize our business and hurt our neighbor, he said.

Caltagirone agrees the project would do little to help curb traffic jams and would hurt business in Florida City. Some businesses on the mainland are members of the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce. He said the proposed bypass would be a microcosm of an FDOT project in the Tampa Bay area, similar to this one, which involved creating a highway bypass that ended up hurting local businesses.

Small businesses always get hurt when you do projects like this, Caltagirone said. As a chamber leader, Id like to see small businesses not get hurt.

Caltagirone also expressed displeasure with past efforts to communicate with FDOT about other project impacts. He said when FDOT re-landscaped the medians in Key Largo and added native trees and shrubs many businesses were obscured and lost patrons. Other projects, he said, have been met with opposition from the community, but FDOT has proceeded anyway.

Monroe County Commissioner Mike Forster, who represents the Upper Keys, was unaware of the discussion of a highway bypass in Florida City, but once informed of it, he was in agreement that the project would serve little value and would hurt business.

For one, Forster doesnt believe the project is going to alleviate traffic problems, and even if it did, he doesnt think letting more people into the Keys is a good idea.

Our statistics show we are at maximum capacity for tourism, he said.

Forster, owner of Mangrove Mikes Cafe in Islamorada, said that if there was a discussion of building a bypass in front of his business, he would be devastated.

I depend on that traffic because Im at the midway point of Key West and Miami, Forster said.

Unlike Conesa and Caltagirone, Forster doesnt favor widening the 18-Mile Stretch, citing again that the Keys are already at capacity. He said there isnt a silver bullet to fixing the traffic problems in the Keys.

Otis T. Wallace, mayor of Florida City, is also in strong opposition to the project for the same reasons. He added that just the proposition of the traffic bypass has already had negative effects on the citys economy. He said several development projects have been suspended indefinitely.

We have had public meetings where not a single person from Homestead or Florida City was in favor, Wallace said, but efforts to communicate this with FDOT have yielded little results.

When asked about the concerns regarding hurting businesses and not addressing traffic at its root cause, representatives from FDOT did not respond.

The project is currently undergoing a project development and environmental study, which is scheduled to be completed by fall of this year. A webpage with information about the project on FDOTs website said that no-action alternatives are being studied as a part of this phase. Potential economic and environmental consequences of the project are said to be studied during this phase as well.

eweld@keysnews.com
(The teacher) told me I was letting them hang out for the whole world to see, as I was exiting the classroom, student Alice Wagner told the station. I went to the bathroom and I came back and I said, You need to stop sexualizing 14-year-old girls. I grabbed my stuff and I removed myself from the situation.
SALEM, Ore. -- The Oregon House has passed a bill addressing diversity for public companies.

Bill 3110 A will require boards of directors for publicly traded companies in Oregon to have at least one female director and one director who is a member of an underrepresented community by Jan. 1, 2024.

According to House members, the bill looks to diversify the work force and ensure historically excluded populations are given a seat at the table.

Rep. Janelle Bynum who sponsored the bill said: The data is there: when companies are more diverse with different ideas and perspectives at the table, this is reflected in the results the company yields for consumers and investors alike."

The bill passed 40 to 18 and now moves to the Senate.

California became the first state to legally compel public companies to add women directors in 2018.
CORVALLIS, Ore.  If you are a student or employee at Oregon State University, you might soon be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The university announced Tuesday it is planning to require vaccinations starting this fall for students and employees who are on-site. This comes a week after the universitys prior announcement that a requirement was a possibility.

MORE: OSU WEIGHS COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATE FOR ON-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

As we advance our plans to resume traditional on-site and in-person activities for the 2021-22 academic year, high rates of vaccination among our students, faculty and staff are needed to help improve the safety and well-being of our community, said Interim President Becky Johnson, who stepped into her new role this month.

Students enrolled in solely online classes and who do not come to campus locations will not be required to be vaccinated, but the university added even these members of the OSU community are encouraged to line up for their shot.

University officials said their plans are informed by state and federal guidance, advice from public health experts and more. The first steps in implementing the vaccination program are underway.

A vaccination mandate must allow for legally-required exemptions.
OAKRIDGE, Ore.  A plan to build a quarry near Oakridge is facing another delay.

The Lane County Board of Commissioners said Tuesday it needs more time to take public comment and consider the plans before making a decision.

On Aug. 3, commissioners plan to hold a fourth reading of an ordinance that would pave the way for Old Hazeldell LLC to begin mining on TV Butte, which overlooks Oakridge.

The plan to build the gravel quarry has been years in the making, but has been met with resistance from the community concerned about the various impacts it might have on the area.

However, commissioners are limited in what concerns they can take into consideration. The initial quarry plans were already approved by the board several years ago. Opponents appealed to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, which remanded the case back to the county to reconsider several issues.

Specifically, the county must consider whether the company has done enough to mitigate the impacts the quarry would have on things like air quality, groundwater and wildlife. TV Butte has a population of deer and elk that many in the community worry would be forced to move and be negatively impacted by workers in the area.

Many residents in Oakridge said the town is united in opposition to the quarry.

Its a big beautiful mountain in the middle of our town and it would be a shame to see it developed and worry about the pollution from the sediment to the water shed and the air quality in town, said Aubrey Aragon, an Oakridge resident. Also affecting the wildlife  the elk we see up there all the time on the trails.

Seth King, an attorney representing the Old Hazeldell LLC, defended the project, saying it will meet all state standards regarding air quality, noise and vibration impacts. King introduced several experts during a public hearing on Tuesday who testified to the minimal impacts the quarry would have on the surrounding environment.

As for the elk, King said they will naturally move away from the site.

We have the biologist testimony that indicates.the displacement in this case is a good thing. It recognizes that the elk are adaptive, that they remove themselves from stressful circumstances, King said.

However, most of the town remains unconvinced. Some point to petitions against the quarry that have gathered hundreds of signatures in the span of one week. Oakridge Mayor Kathy Holston blasted the plan during the hearing on Tuesday.

It makes no sense to approve this land use change giving the go-ahead to a quarry that will pollute our air, contaminate our rivers with runoff, impact our aquifer and threaten our wildlife inventory, Holston said.

However, legal counsel for the county reminded commissioners that the decision they make is solely based on whether or not Old Hazeldell meets the criteria for approval, not whether commissioners think the quarry is a good idea for the town.

The board will meet again on Aug. 3 to discuss the plans. You can submit public comments here.
By Damali Mukhaye

Parliament has questioned 15% shares Uganda is slated to get from the East African Crude Oil, saying it is very little.

During plenary earlier today, energy and mineral development minister Mary Goretti Kitutu said Total has 62%, Uganda 15%, Tanzania where the oil pipe will pass also has 15%, while CNOOC is allotted 8%.

Kitutu informed the House that in case Tanzania loses interest in shares, the first beneficiary will be CNOOC followed by Total and Uganda comes last, stirring anger among MPs.

According to Busia Countys Godfrey Macho and his Butambala counterpart Muwanga Kivumbi, since Uganda owns the oil, it is not fair to get equal shares with Tanzania where the black gold will simply pass through.

MPs said that Uganda should be in a position to negotiate for more shares to avoid suffering huge losses in the future.
By Benjamin Jumbe

President Museveni has directed that all tax policies are discussed with manufacturers before being passed.

He was this afternoon opening a number of factories in Namanve Industrial Park, in Wakiso District.

The president said the ministry of finance technocrats and bureaucrats should not simply impose taxes and policies that may end up stifling the governments industrialization agenda.

The president has also given the investors government commitment to reduce the cost of power among other challenges they are facing.

The factories commissioned today include the Tian Tiang Group of Companies, Crown and Packaging Limited, and Picfare Industries Limited.
By Ruth Anderah

The Uganda Peoples Defense Forces has asked the High Court in Kampala to allow them to settle out of Court the case in which a city lawyer Steven Kalali sued the government on behalf of journalists who were battered at UN offices in Kampala.

These were covering former presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi who had taken his petition challenging human rights violations in the country.

According to Kalali, on the fateful day of February 17th, military police officers descended on journalists who were performing their lawful duties and beat them indiscriminately injuring many of them.

He named Henry Ssekanjako and Timothy Murungi from Vision group, NTVs Cliff Wamala, and NBS TVs Josephine Namakumbi as some of the journalists who were injured by the officers.

As such, Kalali noted that previously, the agents of government have violated the constitutional articles guaranteeing freedom of the press and also infringed on the journalists right to practice their profession.

Kalali thus asked the court to issue orders restraining government security agencies permanently from acting with impunity, malice, and interfering with the rights of all media houses and journalists in the peaceful pursuit of their work as well as an order for damages.

However, the government which was being represented by State Attorney Brian Musota asked to be allowed to settle the matter out of court saying there is a reconciliation process between the two parties.

Musota made his submission while appearing before the Assistant Registrar of High Court Civil Division Agnes Alum who adjourned the case to June 14th, on behalf of the trial judge Boniface Wamala who was away attending a workshop.
I miss most, obviously, seeing my friends and all the after-school activities that I have done, Mason said. I think that were very, very close to getting back to school, and I think that the way that our new president is handling things is a very good way and we would not have gone to this if it were still the last president.
By Juliet Nalwooga

Former employees of the defunct Uganda Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (UPTC) are set to receive their pension.

This has been confirmed by ICT and National Guidance Minister, Judith Nabakooba while addressing journalists in Kampala.

She said prior to its divestiture in 1997, UPTC employees who served under pensionable terms of employment were not paid due to cash flow constraints.

In 2003 the employees sued the successor companies over the same and in 2018 court ordered the companies to pay staff pensions, costs, and interest.

UPTCs successor companies include Uganda Post Limited, Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL), Uganda Post Bank Limited, and the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

Nabakooba says in the meantime the Office of the Auditor-General has issued notices inviting all former UPTC to register for their pension.
By Damali Mukhaye

Parliament has adopted the proposal by the government to borrow Shs1.3trillion from various banks for the refurbishment of the Kampala-Malaba meter gauge railway.

While presenting the request before parliament today, the State finance minister in charge of planning, David Bahati said the money will be borrowed from the African Development Fund, the African Development Bank, and the Corporate Internalization Fund of Spain.

Meanwhile, some MPs have complained about the government borrowing such a huge sum of money to simply renovate the meter-gauge railway.

Busia MP Godfrey Macho says this is moving the country backward because other countries are moving towards constructing a modern Standard Gauge Railway.

The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has pushed the request to the natural resources committee for handling.
By Juliet Nalwooga

The government will be able to save over Shs980b from merging over 180 agencies.

State minister for public service, David Karubanga has told journalists in Kampala that the two-year rationalization process of government agencies is aimed that eliminating structural ambiguities and wasteful expenditure.

He says the first phase of the process that runs between 2021-2022 will affect 18 departments and 97 agencies, while the second phase from 2022-2023 will involve 6 ministry offices and 61 agencies, and commissions.

Karubanga says during the said process affected offices will not be allowed to recruit staff and some laws will be amended especially for cases where the agencies were set up by an Act of Parliament.

On 22nd February 2021 cabinet approved the recommendations for the merging of government agencies and commissions.
By Benjamin Jumbe

Former independent presidential candidate Nancy Kalembe is yet to receive her invitation for the swearing-in ceremony of President Museveni.

Addressing journalists in Kampala yesterday, the minister for presidency Esther Mbayo said invitations had been extended to all the former presidential candidates who took part in the 14 January polls.

Speaking to Kfm, Kalembe who was running as an independent said she was yet to receive the said invitation noting that she could as such not confirm whether she will attend the ceremony or not.

The ceremony scheduled for next week on May 12th will take place at Kololo independence grounds with 21 heads of state so far said to have confirmed attendance.

A total of 4,042 guests have been invited for the ceremony to run under the theme, securing the future.
SEATTLE, Wash- The next time you look up at the sky you might see some faces from right here in Washington on the side of Alaskas new airplane.
Gardai are seeking the publics assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 17-year-old Rory Carr.

Rory is missing from Balbriggan, Dublin since Saturday morning, May 1, 2021.

Rory is described as being 5'10" in height, with black hair, medium build and brown eyes.

It is unknown what Rory was wearing at the time he went missing.

Anyone with information on Rorys whereabouts is asked to contact Gardai in Ashbourne on 01 8010600 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Horwitz, who used the stage name Zach Avery for roles in movies including Last Moment of Clarity and Youre Not Alone, told investors that he would use their money to buy distribution rights to movies and then license them to Netflix and HBO, according to the Department of Justice.
A judge told a young defendant that he has the world at his feet when she suspended a two-month prison sentence subject to a number of conditions.

Benjamin Morrissey, Good Shepherd Centre, Kilkenny admitted engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour at John Street, Kilkenny on December 26, 2019.

Garda Noel Casey told the court that at 6.50pm on the date in question a garda patrol responded to a male acting aggressively and making threats at Kilkenny Train Station.

Gardai went to the scene and the defendant fled on foot. Gardai were subsequently flagged down by two taxi drivers in the vicinity - one of whom reported seeing the suspect hiding behind a hedge, and the second taxi man told gardai that he had seen a man acting suspiciously and hiding behind the door of a nearby pub.

The defendant was arrested at 7.20pm and apologised to gardai.

He was remorseful and said that he had an argument with his girlfriend and that it got heated and other people intervened, said Gda Casey.

The court heard that the defendant has 42 previous convictions, including convictions for making a threat to kill, assault causing harm and criminal damage.

The court heard that there are a number of mitigating factors in the case. Counsel for the defendant outlined that his client is 19 years old and that at the time of the offence he was struggling with the transition of leaving the care system which he was in since the age of 11.

He was lost quite simply and was dealing with his problems and was abusing alcohol and substances. He is now clean and is due to become a father in October.

When he has liberty he lives with his mother. He has the first year of an apprenticeship done and his place is being held for him, said counsel described the offence as something that happened in the heat of the moment that got out of hand.

It was his youth and his intoxication that caused it, he said.

Judge Geraldine Carthy remarked that the defendant comes before the court with quite a chequered history.

You are 19, you have the world at your feet, she remarked adding that she had concerns that the accused has anger management issues.

The judge convicted the defendant and sentenced him to two months in prison which she suspended for 18 months on condition that he engage with the Probation Services on his release from prison and attend all appointments including those for anger management.
A major road project in the county has taken a step forward with the start of a public consultation process.



The N24 Waterford to Cahir project will be 60km from Junction 10 on the M8, north of Cahir, to the southern terminal of the M9 motorway, in South Kilkenny. The scheme will take precedence over other plans for road improvements, including Mooncoin and Carrick on Suir bypasses.



This Options Selection phase is an integral part of the design and planning process.

Public consultation will run until June 1.

Online public consultation is now up and running at www.n24waterford2cahir.ie/

Submissions can be made via the online feedback form, by email to N24Waterford2Cahir@kilkennycoco.ie, or by post to Kilkenny County Council, John Street, Kilkenny.

Kilkenny County Council, in partnership with Tipperary County Council, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Department of Transport (DoT) are developing the N24 Waterford to Cahir Project. The project has been identified for progression through pre-appraisal and early planning under the National Development Plan 2018-2027.

Public Consultation on the Constraints Study for the project commenced yesterday, Tuesday 4th May, following an online briefing to Elected Representatives and will run from 4th May 2021 to 1st June 2021.

Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr. Andrew McGuinness, following the briefing said: The public consultation stage of major infrastructure projects is an integral part of the planning and design process. The purpose of this project is to significantly improve transport connectivity along the N24 and result in more efficient access to other strategic national routes while improving road safety. I would encourage members of the public to have their say and engage with the online public consultation platform and the Project Team throughout the various stages of this project.

Tipperary County Council Cathaoirleach, Michael Smith welcomes the consultation The proposed upgrading of the N24 is a major priority for Tipperary County Council. This scheme will improve safety and journey times for the N24 route which will benefit not only Tipperary but all of the Counties and Cities in the Southern Region. We look forward to the feedback which will help identify solutions to this transport problem.

The purpose of this non-statutory public consultation is to inform the public of the study area for the project, the key constraints identified to date and the programme for advancement of the project. Public consultation forms an important part of advancing the development of an appropriate solution for the project.

As part of this process, the project team are seeking feedback from the public on the study area and key constraints for the project.

Due to COVID-19, Kilkenny County Council is unable to hold a public consultation event in-person within the study area for the project. An online public consultation platform has therefore been developed on the project website www.n24waterford2cahir.ie/ and it contains all the information that would normally be displayed at a formal in-person public consultation. This online public consultation platform provides a virtual public consultation room and interactive maps with the key constraints identified to date and an online feedback form for submission of comments or queries.

It is understood that online information cannot be accessed by everyone, and notwithstanding the restrictions COVID-19 present, the project team is keen to engage with people throughout the consultation period. Hardcopies of brochures and feedback forms can be requested, and telephone meetings can also be booked by calling Kilkenny County Council on 056-7794168 or 056 7794156.

Submissions can be made using the online feedback form available on the project website www.n24waterford2cahir.ie/, or by email to N24Waterford2Cahir@ kilkennycoco.ie, or by post addressed to N24 Waterford to Cahir Project, Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny, R95 A39T up until Tuesday 1st of June 2021.

For further information please log onto www.n24waterford2cahir.ie. Alternatively, you can contact the project team by email at N24Waterford2Cahir@ kilkennycoco.ie or by telephone on 056-779 4000.
CRESCO, Iowa  A Howard County woman accused of threatening someone with a handgun is sentencing on lesser weapons charges.

Sheila Marie Marshall, 60 of Cresco, was accused in August 2020 of pointing a gun at a woman and saying dont make me use it. Investigators say a search of Marshalls home then found a handgun and a box of ammunition.

Court records state Marshall has a past felony conviction and it not legally allowed to possess a firearm.

Shes pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and carrying weapons. A charge of going armed with intent has been dismissed. Marshall has been ordered to spend two to five years on supervised probation.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce is working to help local businesses hire the best employees possible as some sectors struggle to hire workers.

Chamber president Ryan Parsons says the restaurant, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing sectors are currently experiencing a shortage of workers.

Despite the pandemic leaving many people without work Parsons say some are still collecting unemployment while others are reassessing their career choices which can result in people taking more time before returning to the workforce.

However, with patio season in our sights businesses are looking to add more staff to help out with the expected rush.

The chamber is offering a free seminar on May 11th to help businesses recruit the employees they may need.

Parsons said, I think it becomes a question for those employers of how can they attract employees in a different way and obviously access the talent pool because if the workers aren't there it's just going to become that much more of a challenge for businesses to find that future workforce.

You can find more information on the seminar and how to get involved by clicking here.
ROCHESTER, Minn.  The man charged for the collision that killed a Rochester teenager is out on bail.

Sterling Royce Haukom, 34 of Rochester, has posted a $30,000 bond and agreed to not leave Minnesota while still facing charges of criminal vehicular homicide and DWI.

Haukom has pleaded not guilty to those charges. No trial date has been set.

Rochester police say Haukom was behind the wheel on February 23 when he collided with Erika Cruz, 18, on 8th Avenue SE near Lincoln School. Cruz died due to injuries suffered in the crash. Investigators say Haukom was driving faster than the speed limit and was at fault in the collision.
MASON CITY, Iowa  A man accused of driving under the influence and fleeing a traffic stop is pleading not guilty.

McKinley Dudley Jr., 62 of Mason City, was charged with OWI-3rd offense, eluding, and driving while license was revoked after an incident on March 22 in Mason City.

Law enforcement says it tried to pull Dudley over for having no taillights but he refused to stop until he was boxed in at an intersection in the 100 block of N. Pennsylvania Avenue. Investigators say McKinley refused to take a blood alcohol test.

His trial is scheduled to begin on June 29. Court documents state McKinley has five previous OWI convictions.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Republican lawmakers are calling on Governor Walz to provide specifics on when Minnesota's peacetime emergency will end.

Officials extended the state's peacetime emergency for the 13th time last month. Republicans in the Minnesota House of Representatives are now asking the governor to detail dates or metrics that would bring the emergency measures to an end.

"Minnesota families and businesses remain in the dark about the Governor's plans this week, but it's critical that he set out clear and transparent timelines to fully lift the remaining restrictions on our businesses," said House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt.

Emergency powers have allowed Governor Walz to take more aggressive action in stopping the spread of COVID-19. Minnesota DFL Chairman Ken Martin says officials can't limit their ability to respond to rapid changes.

"I think it's really important that at this moment, when we're so close, that we are flexible and nimble enough in our response to this pandemic, which is exactly what Governor Walz's emergency powers allow for," Martin told KIMT. "What happens in one month if COVID cases are spiking again, and we're right back to where we started? We have to continue to stay vigilant, and right now is not the time to take any steps back."

State Representative Anne Neu Brindley (R-32B) tells KIMT coronavirus conditions have improved in Minnesota, and state policies should reflect that improvement.

"We just are not in the same place now that we were a year ago, six months ago, a few months ago. We are in a really good place, and we're headed in the right direction." Rep. Brindley continued, "Obviously we will still manage things appropriately, but it is no longer an emergency, and therefore the governor really does need to honor the constitutional separation of powers."

Governor Walz is expected to ease coronavirus restrictions this week, with an announcement on the state's reopening plans scheduled for Thursday.
WABASHA, Minn.  A Rochester truck driver is hurt in a Wabasha County collision.

The Minnesota State Patrol says Craig James Weaver, 58 of Rochester, was southbound on Highway 61 and turning left onto Highway 60 when he collided with the northbound SUV driven by Frankly Byers Waller, 32 of Elgin.

The crash happened around 4 pm Tuesday and left both Weaver and Waller with what are described as non-life threatening injuries. The State Patrol says Waller was taken to Wabasha Hospital for treatment.

The Wabasha County Sheriffs Office and Wabasha police, fire, and ambulance assisted with this collision.
UPDATE: The Southern Minnesota Medical Examiners Office has identified the man who died during a shooting incident Wednesday in Rochester. Michael Charles Apicella, 63 of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, died of to two self-inflicted gunshot wounds to the head.

ROCHESTER, Minn.  A semi driver is dead after gunfire in Rochester Wednesday morning.

The Minnesota State Patrol says three troopers stopped a semi around 6:45 a.m. at the Miracle Mile shopping center parking lot for a vehicle inspection.

Troopers say they tried to detain the semi driver around 8:30 a.m. for not producing identification. The State Patrol says a preliminary investigation indicates the semi driver took out a gun and fired two self-inflicted shots to the head.

The semi-driver was taken to St. Marys Hospital, where the driver was later pronounced dead.

The State Patrol says no troopers fired their weapons in this incident and no trooper was injured.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Rochester Police Department are continuing to investigate.
SHEFFIELD, Iowa - A production featuring a North Iowa grain bin manufacturer is hitting the big screen.

Inspired by true events, 'Silo' depicts a teenager getting trapped inside of a grain bin in American farm town. Much of the movie was filmed inside two airplane hangars at the Mason City Airport, where two Sukup bins were set up. In addition, some scenes were shot just outside Dougherty, and in Kentucky. Also, Clear Lake firefighters and EMTs were on hand during filming.

Sukup President & CEO Steve Sukup says a few years ago, the company received a call from a New York-based producer about the idea for the movie. After flying out to North Iowa and presenting it to the company, they were sold on the idea.

"It's the reality of our industry, whether it's a cement silo or metal silo."

He especially reiterates the message that viewers can learn.

"Grain entrapments are preventable. And that's the key, with key caution. It doesn't necesarily happen in this movie, but it shows you what shouldn't happen. And some of the good things that do happen. It's a really enlightening film we think, for Sukup Manufacturing, it's an innovative way to show safety."

The movie opens in theatres, including Cinema West in Mason City and the Lake Theater in Clear Lake, on Friday. In addition, Silo will be available for streaming, and on DVD and Blu-Ray. A portion of proceeds will go to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Progressive Agriculture Foundation, and the John Bowne Agricultural Program.
Authorities said that Smith had a selfie stick with her and her last photos were of the scenery at the site where she fell. Lt. Lisa Johnson of Powell County Search and Rescue told WDRB that they believe Smith got too close to the edge of the cliff and ended up falling to her death.
WATERLOO, Iowa (AP)  A jury has convicted a Waterloo man of first-degree murder in what prosecutors described as the revenge killing of another man.

22-year-old Raymond Birden Jr. was found guilty Tuesday in the 2018 death of 22-year-old Shavondes Martin, who was acquitted earlier that year of killing Birden's brother in 2016. Martin had been one of three people charged with the 2016 drive-by shooting of Birdens brother, Otavious Brown.

Prosecutors said Birden and Martin had been exchanging taunts online following Martin's acquittal and that Birden enlisted an ex-girlfriend who was also Martins cousin to find Martin on May 31, 2018. Martin was found hours later shot to death in a Waterloo alley.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. Hot. High 91F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low near 70F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
A news crew with KXJB in Fargo, North Dakota were attacked by a man while setting up for a live shot Monday night.
ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com/CNN) -- Southwest Airlines said they were following the law when their employees stopped a boy with autism from flying at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

On Sunday, Cody and Paige Petek and their two kids were set to fly back to Des Moines, Iowa after their vacation in Florida. During a layover in St. Louis, their 5-year-old child, who is non-verbal and also has a sensory processing disorder, struggled to wear a mask.

Other passengers lobbied for the child to board but the crew refused. Dr. Vince Hassel was also flying back to Iowa and witnessed the ordeal.

"They weren't going to let the kid on the plane if he didn't put this mask on. You know, so he kind of had a bandana around his neck, and he just wasn't having it and throwing a fit," Hassel said. "And, just to watch this play out was absolutely horrible."

As this was all playing out, the boy had a seizure but his medication was on board the flight. What should have been an hour plane ride turned into a five and a half hour drive in a rental car.

Are you flying soon? These airlines now require people to wear masks Southwest, American, Alaska and Contour Airlines are all requiring masks in the gate areas and on planes.

Southwest's website says, "refusing to wear a mask is a violation of federal law and may result in denial of boarding." TSA policy states that people with disabilities who cannot wear a mask because of the disability are exempt from having to wear one.

The Peteks' lawyer, Anthony Marchetti Jr., believes Southwest Airlines violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"There's clear guidance from the Department of Transportation about what the airlines should do. None of that happened here," said Marchetti.

Southwest's employees offered to book a hotel for the family so the boy could try again the following day. When they chose to drive, the airline issued them a full refund.
Protesters were marching down the street when they stopped at the restaurant, according to the Courier Journal. Its unclear why they stopped, but a shouting match ensued in which one woman appeared to single-handedly stop a physical confrontation.
KOMU 8 Reporter/Digital Producer

My name is Drew Cusumano and I'm a senior Mizzou student studying Journalism with an interest area in Sports TV & Radio Broadcasting. If you need to contact me you can e-mail me at dvc62f@mail.missouri.edu
Heres what you need to know: Wednesday May 5
COALITION  Local 396 President Andy Eshelman and FOP 78 President Tim Henninger bring a wreath up to the podium. (Bottom, L to R) Cheryl Graham, president of Howard-Tipton AFL-CIO; Justin Kennedy, health and safety representative for UAW Local 292; Rex Ambrose, former USW 2958 president; and Glenn Rodgers of UAW 292 speak during the event.
Andrea Payne, 27, is one of three people charged with helping cover up the April 2020 murder of Dystynee Avery  but she was the only one who could have stopped it as she was sitting just feet away from the crime scene, authorities said. Accused killer Ethan Broad, who also lived at the Moorhead home, is charged with second-degree murder in the fatal beating.
David M. Shribman is the former executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. His email is dshribman@post-gazette.com.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, with mainly clear skies after midnight. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Im asking you now to please take a moment to reinforce to your child that there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to address any issues they may have. We can provide necessary support and resources when our young adults address their issues appropriately, but choosing the wrong path will have serious consequences that jeopardize their future.
If you find any debris or wreckage in your yard or property that you believe is connected to the crash, do not touch or remove it, and please contact the Hattiesburg Police Department at 601-467-7556, police said.
Bill to provide aid to loggers to be heard on House floor
That system, however, cannot function when officers of the court are corrupt. The evidence in this case demonstrated that Balagia had been shaking down his clients for years by claiming that he was able to purchase favorable deals from prosecutors and judges alike. The Department of Justice will defend our Justice system vigorously and will prosecute predatory lawyers like Balagia every single time they are discovered.
Ivory Payne, 60, publisher of BR Weekly News, is urging Black residents in Louisiana to get a COVID-19 vaccine. (Courtesy of Ivory Payne)
BILLINGS, Mont. - Montana State University Billings announced they have selected Sep Eskandari, Ph.D. as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Eskandari will assume his new role on July 1.

According to a release from MSU Billings, Eskandari most recently served as Associate Provost for Academic Planning and Faculty Excellence at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in Pomona, California.

I am excited for Sep to join our team. He brings a wealth of knowledge with him that will benefit our institution and assist in taking MSUB to the next level, said Chancellor Stefani Hicswa.

In his current position, Eskandari works closely with the Provost in all matters related to the day-to-day operations of academics as well as long-term planning for the Division of Academic Affairs.

I am honored to have the opportunity to become a member of the MSU Billings family and its local and broader communities. I am eager to work with Chancellor Hicswa and all campus and community members toward advancing the vision and mission of MSU Billings in support of the academic, workforce, and economic development needs of Billings and Montana. Eskandari said.

You can read more about Sep Eskandari, Ph.D. in MSU Billings release below:

MSU BILLINGS NEWSMontana State University Billings is pleased to announce Sep Eskandari, Ph.D., has been selected as Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. He will assume his new role on July 1. Eskandari was most recently Associate Provost for Academic Planning and Faculty Excellence at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in Pomona, California.

I am excited for Sep to join our team. He brings a wealth of knowledge with him that will benefit our institution and assist in taking MSUB to the next level, said Chancellor Stefani Hicswa.

Eskandari has a doctorate in Physiology from the University of California, Los Angeles and a masters degree in Biology from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. His previous academic administration positions include Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs, Academic Senate Chair and Vice Chair, and Chair of the Biological Sciences Department. As a faculty member, he led an active, externally-funded research program resulting in numerous peer-reviewed publications with student co-authors. His research focused on the molecular physiology and pharmacology of brain neurotransmitter transporters.

In his current position, he works closely with the Provost in all matters related to the day-to-day operations of academics as well as long-term planning for the Division of Academic Affairs. He is an active contributor to key divisional and cross-divisional initiatives, including student and faculty success; multi-year plans related to enrollment, budget, and faculty and staff hiring; university strategic plan; academic master plan; campus master plan; assurance of learning and accreditation; and academic policies, to name a few.

I am honored to have the opportunity to become a member of the MSU Billings family and its local and broader communities. I am eager to work with Chancellor Hicswa and all campus and community members toward advancing the vision and mission of MSU Billings in support of the academic, workforce, and economic development needs of Billings and Montana. Eskandari said.

Sep is married to Julie Eskandari and they have a daughter, Lily.
According to prosecutors, the men were swindled out of almost $100 while trying to buy cocaine in a trendy area of Rome. After police arrived at the scene, the pair and the swindlers fled, but the Americans took one of the purported dealers backpacks. The pair arranged a handoff to exchange the backpack for the money they had lost.
Police were called that day to Seabolts home in Clendenin, a 1,000-person town in the center of the state about halfway between Louisville, Ky., and Washington, D.C. The caller reported that the girl was forcibly taken from the home by another man, according to WOWK.
One woman was severely bleeding and the other woman still had the knife in her arm, according to ABC7 News anchor Dion Lim.
ROME, MAY 5 - Lazio Governor Nicola Zingaretti said Wednesday that he was optimistic that the region that Rome belongs to will be able to achieve COVID-19 herd immunity soon. "If we move fast and progress with the arrival of vaccines, I think (herd immunity) is an objective that can be reached in a short period of time, " Zingaretti told RAI television. Zingaretti said that it would be his turn to be vaccinated on Saturday and he said he would have the Astrazeneca jab, amid widespread wariness about it. The Italian authorities at the moment do not recommend giving the Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine to under-60s after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it could be linked to some rare cases of blood clots in young people, while stressing that the benefits of the jab outweighed the risks. However, COVID-19 Emergency Commissioner Francesco Figliuolo said Monday that Italy may start giving the Astrazeneca coronavirus jab to under-60s again in order to keep the country's vaccination campaign moving at speed. (ANSA).
VARESE, MAY 5 - A 49-year-old factory worker was crushed to death by a huge industrial lathe Wednesday in a factory in Busto Arsizio north of Milan as Italy confronts a rash of workplace deaths after a 22-year-old mother of a five-year-old daughter endured a similar fate in a factory near Prato in Tuscany earlier this week. The man, who has not yet been named, was rushed to hospital in critical condition but doctors were unable to save his life. Prosecutors in Prato have put two people under investigation in relation to the death of the 22-year-old Italian mother in the factory accident on Monday. Luana D'Orazio was snagged by the gears of a textile machine and crushed to death at a plant at Oste di Montemurlo near Prato. Prosecutors are focusing their investigation on the machine's safety and warning system. The case, and others like it, have spurred calls for moves to raise workplace safety. Maurizio Landini, leader of Italy's biggest and most leftwing trade union federation CGIL, said Wednesday: "one worker a day is dying; they have to do something about it". (ANSA).
ROME, MAY 5 - Italy is ready to welcome foreign tourists, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on the second day of a G7 foreign ministers meet in London on Wednesday. Echoing what Premier Mario Draghi said to tourism ministers a day earlier, Di Maio said "we are reopening, with the aim of kickstarting tourism and the economy again. "We must support the tourism sector, shop owners, restaurateurs. "We must do business and create jobs. "Italy is ready, we are working to totally supersede the (10 pm) curfew, but not lower our guard. "On this second day I will reiterate to my counterparts that we are working to welcome foreign tourists to Italy, in total safety. "We are ready to welcome them to out enchanting regions". Draghi said Tuesday Italy will issue a green pass for tourists in mid-May, a month before the EU does. (ANSA).
MILAN, MAY 5 - The outlets of all of Italy's shopping malls will demonstrate next Tuesday against the weekend closure of their activities to stem COVID-19, sources said Wednesday. Some 30,000 shops and supermarkets will join the protest, demanding that the closure be lifted, making the symbolic gesture of rolling down their shutters for a few minutes. The initiative has been organize by sector groups ANCD-Conad, Confcommercio, Confesercenti, Confimprese, CNCC-Consiglio Nazionale dei Centri Commerciali and Federdistribuzione. They are demanding "the immediate lifting of the restrictive measures which for over six months have imposed the weekend closure of shops". (ANSA).
NAPLES, MAY 5 - Italian police on Wednesday busted an alleged gang made up of Afghans, Pakistanis and Italians that allegedly produced fake stay permits in Naples for migrants to remain legally in Italy and the Schengen border-free area. Police said they provided the counterfeit permits to Pakistanis, Indians, Tunisians, Moroccans, Afghans, Ukrainians and Russians as well as non-EU citizens from terror-risk crisis areas. One person was taken into custody in jail, two more placed under house arrest and 11 more served forced-residence orders for a total of 14 alleged gang members. They have been charged with conspiracy to favour clandestine immigration, fraud and counterfeiting legal documents. An Internet point was impounded. Police said their investigation started after the terror attacks in France and Belgium in 2015 and 2016 including the Charlie Hebdo raid on January 7 2015 and the Bataclan theatre attack on November 13 2015. The alleged gang was led by a Pakistani citizen, Iqbal Naveed, who was taken into jail custody, and Moroccan Lahoussine Chajaoune, who was placed under house arrest. The gang was allegedly in contact with other alleged migrant criminals in Belgium and France, police said. The documents were produced in Naples counterfeiting workshops and many of them sent to people in the other two countries, police said. The operation was based in Naveed's Internet point, police said. (ANSA).
ROME, MAY 5 - The Senate on Wednesday approved the government's COVID decree containing urgent measures to fight the coronavirus epidemic. The measure was passed into law by 202 votes to 28 with five abstentions. The package also contains aid for workers with young children in distance learning, or those who are in quarantine. (ANSA).
We have to honor that day as a day to recognize the contributions of all Italian-Americans, so of course the day should not have been changed arbitrarily, he said. I think saying its a day to celebrate Italian-American heritage is absolutely right and appropriate, and thats the way to talk about it and to think about it. I think also saying  as has been done in many parts of the country  its a day to think about history and honor indigenous people as well  I agree with that too.
ROME, MAY 5 - Kim Kardashian has been named in legal documents as the importer of an Ancient Roman statue which US authorities blocked at LA customs five years ago as being stolen from Italy, sources said Wednesday. American prosecutors have ordered the work to be returned to Italy, they said. The work is described in import documents as a first-second century AD Roman plaster copy of a Greek original from Athens. ArtNet News said the statue was seized at LA's port in 2016 as part of a shipment of antiquities, modern furniture and decorative objects worth some 745,882 dollars. The prosecutors' request to return it does not imply crimes by the super-influencer and reality TV star and there is no suspicion that Kardashian knew of its potentially illegal provenance, the online journal said. Kardashian and rapper Kanye West recently said they were splitting. (ANSA).
ROME, MAY 5 - Italy's new COVID green pass for tourists will also be valid for non-EU citizens, Tourism Minister Massimo Garavaglia said Wednesday. Garavaglia noted that the UK and US together make up over 30% of foreign arrivals in Italy, and were among the highest spending tourists. The pass will come into force in mid-May, anticipating an EU pass by a month. "(The pass) accelerates and anticipates European norms and will get European bookings started again," Garavaglia told SKyTg24. "All you need is a simple piece of paper certifying that you respect the rules (you're vaccinated, you're immunized because you've had the disease, or you have had a negative test) and that will be fundamental for foreign tourism. "(Premier Mario) Draghi was very clear" when he announced the pass Tuesday. Garavaglia added that tourism was now "restarting with the safety car but then it will get faster", using a Formula One analogy. (ANSA).
If you are looking for a great deal for food and drinks, this year's Cinco de Mayo is perfect for you! Restaurants in California joined local pubs in offering specials of all kinds to continue celebrating the tradition despite the challenging times.

The past years had been different because of the restrictions and social distancing protocols brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The annual celebration, which is held every - of course, May 5 - is still remembered by the people of Mexico and some Latinos in the United States despite the pandemic. The Mexican people commemorate every year the victory of the Mexican Army led by General Ignacio Zaragoza over the French Empire during the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, ABC10 reports.

Until today, they still reap not only freedom but also some freebies -- especially on food.

ALSO READ: Web Designer Owned Google Argentina Domain for a Few Minutes, Bought It for Only $2.90

Here are some of the restaurants that will make your stomach full on Cinco de Mayo:

Chili's

Cinco de Mayo in Chili's means $5 only on its specials all day.

The restaurant offers $5 deals on drinks. The special also includes Chili's Presidente Margarita. Cheers to Patron 'Rita, Cuervo Blue 'Rita, and Frose 'Rita, and even their selected draft imports.

El Pollo Loco

The restaurant El Pollo Loco is offering this year five Tacos al Carbon for the price of just two on Cinco de Mayo. But you will need a coupon to cash in on the deal, don't worry, it is already here.

A free bottle of Tapatio sauce also awaits you when you place an order for pickup, curbside, or delivery through using the restaurant's app or on its website.

Chipotle

The big deal at Chipotle is a digital BOGO offer. However, there's a catch. You need to comply and pass a test to avail.

Chipotle's test is called Chipotle IQ. It is an iteration of the brand's trivia game that quizzes customers on sourcing, ingredients, recipes, and sustainability efforts. Each day this Cinco de Mayo week, the restaurant will be giving out BOGO offers to the first 50,000 fans to answer the 10 Chipotle IQ questions correctly.

What if you fail Chipotle's test? Don't worry. If you don't make the cut, you can still get entered and have a chance to win one of a hundred $500 Chipotle gift cards.

On Cinco de Mayo this year, customers can get a few extra shots at the gift card offer. On its Instagram page, Chipotle will be giving away five more $500 gift cards. The cards go to the last five people to write "last" on Chipotle's Cinco de Mayo post before 5:55 p.m.

From tacos, free drinks, and margaritas, you can have it all.

Just because you are stuck inside your home doesn't mean you can't celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo while also supporting local businesses with a full stomach.

RELATED ARTICLE: Mysterious Handprints Discovered in Ancient Mayan Cave in Mexico

WATCH: The best food freebies and discounts for Cinco de Mayo - News Guide
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has introduced a new communications platform months after his accounts were banned from Facebook and Twitter.

The new platform can be found on his website www.DonaldJTrump.com/desk, with a separate segment named "From the Desk of Donald J. Trump."

Trump would be allowed to post comments, images, and videos with the new communications platform, according to a Fox News report.

"In a time of silence and lies, a beacon of freedom arises. A place to speak freely and safely. Straight from the Desk of Donald J. Trump," a video announcement was quoted in a WFLA report.

The tool would also allow Trump to post, which his followers can share on Facebook and Twitter. However, they will not be able to reply or post themselves.

One source familiar with the matter said that this is just one-way communication.

"This system allows Trump to communicate with his followers," the source was quoted in a report.

The communications platform appears to be powered by Campaign Nuclear, which is a digital ecosystem made for efficiently managing political campaigns and organizations.

It is also created by former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale.

READ MORE: Twitter Permanently Suspends Accounts of Trump, Flynn, and Powell

Social Media Ban on Trump

The former president was banned from Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

Facebook's independent Oversight Board on Wednesday is seen to release its biggest decision yet, which is to whether uphold or reverse the social media giant's indefinite ban on Trump, according to an NPR report.

Earlier Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that they believe the risks of allowing Trump to continue their service during the said period were too great.

The company's vice president for global affairs and communications, Nick Clegg, later said that they believe they did the right decision, noting it was justified by the unprecedented events on that day.

Meanwhile, Twitter is not eyeing to change its decision soon on Trump's Twitter account.

"There have been no changes to anything we have shared in the past around the former president's account," Twitter CFO Ned Segal was quoted in a Yahoo News report.

Segal said it is important that Twitter stays consistent with its policies.

He added that they do not have an oversight board like Facebook, saying that their team is accountable for the decisions they make.

Facebook created the Oversight Board a year ago to make decisions regarding complicated matters the social network makes.

Facebook and Twitter have long ago imposed rules against inciting violence in their platforms. However, they have refused to take down the former president's account during his presidency.

The social media companies have faced backlash after their alleged role in spreading misinformation and serving as a platform for Trump after a pro-Trump mob breach the Capitol building, according to the New York Times report.

Twitter and Facebook, with other social media platforms, said that they had earlier resisted taking down Trump's post as they were public's interest.

Jonathan Greenblatt, director of the Anti-Defamation League, said that social media companies "have been lackadaisical."

Greenblatt said that freedom of expression does not equate to freedom to incite violence.

Related story: Fact Check: Was Chuck Norris at Capitol Riot? Actor Speaks Up After Alleged 'Selfie' With Protesters Went Viral

WATCH: Facebook to announce decision on Trump ban - from Reuters










Derek Chauvin's legal team filed a motion that requests a new trial after being charged guilty for the death of George Floyd. The said motion was filed by Chauvin's defense attorney, Eric Nelson, on Tuesday in Hennepin County in Minnesota, more than a week after the ex-cop was found guilty. It cited multiple grounds for a new trial that includes jury misconduct.

It can be remembered that Representative Maxine Waters from California was under fire when Judge Cahill was not impressed by her comments in front of the protesters. Cahill said that Waters' rhetoric tarnished the proceeding and can lead to an appeal in an event of a conviction and overturned. The comment of the California representative also paved the way for Republicans to censor her.

READ NEXT: Experts Say Derek Chauvin Likely to Appeal but Won't Have Success

Chauvin's Legal Team Files Motion

The motion filed by Nelson had multiple grounds, including the interest of justice, a verdict that is contrary to law, abuse of discretion that deprived the defendant of a fair trial, and errors at a law trial.

"The court abused its discretion when it denied defendant's motion for a new trial when on the grounds that 'publicity during the proceedings threaten[ed] the fairness of the trial," the motion reads.

Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter for the Death of George Floyd, USA Today reported.

One basis for the motion that was cited by Nelson is that the court has "abused its discretion and violated Mr. Chauvin's rights under the Confrontation Clause," ABC News reported. Nelson noted that this happened when the court failed to order Morries hall to testify and make his statements to the police into evidence.

The motion also tackled the exposure of the trial to the media, which according to Nelson, led to an "exposure to prejudicial publicity regarding the trial during the proceedings." Moreover, the trial motion also pointed out that the constitutional rights of Chauvin to due process and a fair trial were violated because of "jury intimidation and potential fear of retribution among jurors" that stemmed out when Waters gave her rhetoric in front of the protesters.

Views on the motion filed by Chauvin's Legal Team

Meanwhile, Mary Moriarty, former chief public defender of Hennepin County, noted in USA Today that the motion filed by Nelson is common. However, nearly all the arguments raised in the motion were brought up during Chauvin's trial.

Moriarty also expressed that the jury misconduct filed by Nelson may be due to one of the jurors garnering attention on social media recently. Juror Brandon Mitchell gathered attention online when he was seen attending the March on Washington last August. Mitchell was photographed wearing a shirt with the words BLM and "get your knee off our necks."

"The court has already rejected many of these arguments," said John Stiles in ABC News, adding that the state will oppose the said motion once again. Stiles is the deputy chief of staff for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

USA Today noted that the motion filed by Chauvin's legal team on Tuesday is an expected development in the case. Meanwhile, Chauvin is scheduled to be sentenced in June.

READ MORE: Derek Chauvin Trial: Expert Says Carbon Monoxide From a Car May Have Contributed to George Floyd's Death

WATCH: Motions filed by Derek Chauvin's defense attorney to throw out guilty verdict, seeks new trial - from KARE 11
Large cities in Brazil have been forced to discontinue administering second doses of COVID vaccine due to lack of supply, marking another hurdle in the country's vaccination program.

Many of Brazil's 26 state capitals have stopped giving the booster shot of CoronoVac, a Chinese-developed vaccine.

Rio de Janeiro has already announced on Saturday that it would stop second doses of the vaccine for doses. This was before changing its immunization calendar to ensure that vaccine shots would be given by age group, according to an AFP News report.

Those aged under 60, including health workers, could have to wait two to 12 days beyond the recommended 28-day interval between doses.

READ MORE: Brazil Now No. 2 in World's COVID-19 Cases Surpassing Russia

Brazil's COVID Vaccination Program

Brazil's Health Ministry said that around 1.5 million people were missing their vaccine appointments for the second dose.

Experts expressed their concern after a recent real-world study from Chile found that Sinovac Biotech is just 16 percent effective after one shot.

Sinovac accounts for some 80 percent of the country's vaccination program.

"Without the two doses, we get neither full protection nor a long duration of protection," Juarez Cunha, head of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations, was quoted in a Reuters report.

Cunha noted that they need people to do the full cycle of the vaccine.

The country's vaccination program has missed its targets due to a shortage of doses due to delivery delays of active ingredients from China and India.

Experts and officials involved in the program say, aside from the shortage, poor communication is also one of the factors why the program is missing its target.

They also consider people's lack of knowledge on the importance of getting the second shot, adding that sometimes people do not remember their schedules.

It can also be attributed to people being put off by a strong reaction to the first dose, which are short-lived fever and body aches.

In addition, there have also been long lines at some vaccine sites.

Brazil's Health Ministry said that it is preparing a national media campaign to raise awareness on the significance of completing the vaccination cycle.

Meanwhile, the country had also disapproved Russian COVID vaccine Sputnik V for the time being after it found that the vector virus Adenovirus 5 is not inactive and can multiply.

This could be dangerous, particularly for people with a weak immune system, as the cold virus used as a carrier was not inactivated, according to a DW report.

Slovakia had also stopped the delivery of Sputnik V after they found that 200,000 vaccine doses delivered were not identical to the Sputnik V vaccine used in other countries.

Slovak regulators said that the vaccine has only a name in common. Russia was quick to dispute the claim, saying that it was fake news.

Latest reports from Brazil were also dubbed by Russia as fake news. The Gamaleya Institute stated that reports of alleged failure to inactivate the vector virus are a disinformation campaign.

The vaccine manufacturer also said that Brazil's decision to stop using Sputnik V was political.

READ ALSO: Brazil Health Regulator Rejects Russia's COVID Vaccine

WATCH: Brazil's remote Amazon communities receive Covid vaccines - from BBC News






Brazil's former health minister Luiz Henrique Mandetta has testified in a probe on President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The country's president and his administration were placed under investigation regarding their response to the coronavirus pandemic. Mandetta's testimony happened on Tuesday in front of the Senate committee, who is behind the investigation.

It can be recalled that the country's president reportedly downplayed the pandemic's threat. Bolsonaro also refused to impose lockdowns because the president believed that the economic impact would do more harm than the virus itself.

Jair Bolsonaro was also reported to call the notorious virus "a little flu," and label the state governors and mayors who issued lockdowns, a tyrant.

READ NEXT: Bolsonaro Rejects National Lockdown Calls in Brazil Amid Case Rise

Brazil's Ex-Minister Testifies in the Probe

Luiz Henrique Mandetta claimed in front of the parliamentary inquiry that Bolsonaro did not listen to his repeated warnings regarding his approach, Al Jazeera reported.

Mandetta alleged that he warned Bolsonaro about his approach, saying that it could collapse the health system in the South American nation.

The former health minister provided more than six hours of testimony that was part of the Senate investigation about how the government handles the pandemic, ABC News reported.

"I warned Bolsonaro systematically of the consequences of not adopting the recommendations of science to fight COVID-19," said Mandetta.

Bloomberg Quint reported that the former health minister frequently repeated saying, "I warned him" during his testimony.

The Brazilian Senate opened the investigation on April 27. Al Jazeera noted that the probe started days before the country surpassed the 400,000 deaths benchmark linked to the coronavirus.

Because of this, the Brazilian president is now facing increased pressure of being accounted for the surge in COVID-19 deaths and cases.

"I warned the president we would have more than 180,000 deaths by December 2020," Mandetta said.

Luiz Henrique Mandetta was fired from being the health minister at the initial peak of the pandemic last year. Bolosonaro was the one who issued his dismissal in the office.

Brazil President Pushed Malaria Drug as COVID Treatment

One reason why Mandetta was dismissed as the health minister was that he did not agree to push the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment.

In his testimony, Mandetta said he was summoned to a meeting at the presidential palace, where he discovered a draft of the decree on the table.

"The only guidance on chloroquine that came from the [health] ministry was for compassionate use," said the former minister, adding that it would be only used when there was no other resource for patients.

ABC News noted that the country spent millions on the malaria drug distributed to hospitals across the country throughout last year and into 2021.

Luiz Henrique Mandetta noted that Bolsonaro could be prosecuted for pushing an unproven drug against COVID-19 as part of the country's coronavirus treatment.

Jair Bolsonaro is now on his fourth health minister since the COVID-19 crisis began in the country. Al Jazeera reported that all four ministers are set to testify before the Senate committee, which has a 90-day renewable mandate.

According to Johns Hopkins University data, more than 408,000 people have died in Brazil to date. It is the second-highest total in the world after the United States.

READ MORE: Bolsonaro Calls for Economic Reopening in Brazil, Calls Mayors and Governors 'Tyrants' for Imposing Lockdown

WATCH: Brazilian Senate Opens Inquiry Into Bolsonaro's COVID Handling - From Al Jazeera English
A Florida teen who allegedly rigged a homecoming election is being charged as an adult. Emily Rose Grover was arrested in March and was only 17 years old at the time.

Grover turned 18 last April. With this, the state of Attorney's Office in Escambia County confirmed Tuesday that she would be tried as an adult.

Emily Rose Grover allegedly rigged the election with her mother, Laura Rose Carroll, 50. She and her mother face multiple felony charges from the October homecoming vote at Tate High School in Pensacola, Florida, Click Orlando reported.

READ NEXT: Florida Teen Pleads Guilty of Murdering, Burying Mother Under Church's Fire Pit

The Florida Teen and Her Mother

Carroll had access to the school's district internal system and used it to place fraudulent votes for her daughter to win. Carroll was a school employee, working as an assistant principal at Bellview Elementary School in the same county.

Hundreds of votes for the school's homecoming court were identified as fraudulent, investigators discovered in October. There were 117 votes from the same IP address within a short period of time, a local Boston report said.

Investigators also discovered evidence of unauthorized access to the system connected to Carroll's cellphone and computers at her home. On top of the 117 votes, there were 246 votes cast for homecoming court from those devices.

Many Tate students told investigators that Emily Rose Grover had used her mother's system access for years. She was also watching her mother access the records. Since August 2019, Carroll's account had accessed 372 high school records, and 339 of those were Tate students.

Carroll and Grover are charged with offenses against computer systems, computer networks, and electronic devices.

They were also charged with unlawful use of a two-way communications device, criminal use of personally identifiable information, as well as conspiracy to commit those offenses, according to a South Florida Sun-Sentinel report.

Carroll remains free on a $6,000 bond, while Grover is free on a $2,000 bond. Prosecutors said that the mother and daughter each face a maximum of a 16-year jail sentence.

Fraud In Florida

In a 2019 report, a study released by a nonprofit showed that Florida ranked number one in the country when it comes to reported cases of fraud.

Security.org examined the 10 most common forms of identity theft, fraud, and financial scams in every state to determine to rank, Tampa Bay Business Journal reported.

The study also found that Florida ranked number four in the nation for identity theft reports. Two-thirds of the overall American population has been reported to be victims of fraud.

Reported fraud cases increased by four percent in 2018 and compared to 2017. In addition, 1.4 million Floridians lost more than $84 million of fraudulent activity last year, with Tampa Bay ranking number 14 in the overall fraud with 22,683 complaints filed.

Imposter scams are the most common single type of financial fraud or theft in the U.S., accounting for 17.9 percent of all incidents report.

The second most commonly reported type of scam is debt collection, accounting for about 16 percent of the national mix.

In 2017, it showed a 24 percent decline over the levels reported.

READ MORE: Florida Teen, Two Others Arrested for Hacking Massive Twitter Accounts

WATCH: Florida Teen Charged as an Adult in Rigged Homecoming Election - From KCTV5 News




It seems as though the Republican Party is trying to identify what it stands for, and theyre in the midst of a significant sort of mini-revolution, Biden said at the White House. Ive been a Democrat for a long time. Weve gone through periods where weve had internal fights and disagreements. I dont remember any like this ... We badly need a Republican Party. We need a two-party system. Its not healthy to have a one-party system.
Two Asian women were hurt after a stabbing incident in a busy street in San Francisco, California on Tuesday.

Authorities rushed the two Asian victims to a hospital, but the details about their conditions are not yet available.

The same incident happened in early April when an elderly Asian woman died because she was also stabbed while walking her dogs in Riverside, California.

READ NEXT: Senate Approves Hate Crime Bill With Bipartisan Support

2 Asian Women Stabbed in San Francisco

The recent stabbing incident in San Francisco happened just before 5 p.m., Fox News reported. The Asian women were stabbed at the intersection of Fourth and Stockton Streets, near one of the Golden City's thoroughfares.

Kron 4 noted that horrifying acts of violence against Asian Americans were reported in the Bay Area and across the nation over the years. The outlet further said that most of the victims were elderly.

There were no details yet regarding the identity of the two Asian women. However, reports said that one of the victims is elderly, and the other victim is in her 30s.

Citing witnesses on the tragic incident, KPIX reported that a man was seen walking in the market street, clutching a knife, before he walked towards the victims and stabbed them.

The suspect then fled the area before the authorities arrived at the scene. The stabbing incident happened amid the surge in Anti-Asian hate crimes across the country.

According to KPIX, police officers from the Tenderloin Station arrested a 54-year-old San Francisco resident suspected of stabbing the two Asian women on the 600 block of Eddy Street at around 7 p.m. Tuesday.

San Francisco Police Public Information Officer Michael Andraychak confirmed this report, but charges against the suspect are still pending.

San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney, who called the incident a "disgusting and horrific attack," tweeted that the male suspect was in police custody before 7:30 p.m.

A witness earlier sent a photo to KPIX, showing a man with a shaved head who wore jeans, black sweaters, and white sneakers.

The man also appeared to be carrying a green bag. However, authorities have yet to clarify if the man in the photo and the suspect arrested were the same person.

Asian Hate and Violence in California

In a report conducted by Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, respondents from California reported many incidents of COVID-related discrimination and harassment against Asian Americans last year.

In collaboration with Chinese for Affirmative Action and San Francisco State University's Asian American Studies, the June 2020 report showed a pervasive and consistent pattern of anti-Asian American hate in the state, averaging 10 harassment per day.

The report noted that Asians receive harassment in the form of verbal, physical, and avoidance. It added that these incidents happen in retail stores, workplaces, and even online.

Meanwhile, the suspect's motive for stabbing the two Asian women is still unknown. The investigation is ongoing. Authorities urged anyone with information to contact San Francisco police on their hotline at 415-575-4444.

READ MORE: California Universities Condemn Hate Crimes on Asian-Americans, Increase Efforts to Curb Racism

WATCH: SFPD Investigate Stabbing of 2 Asian Women - From KTVU
An Arizona man was indicted in Alaska for alleged sexual abuse of a 16-year-old girl during a flight.

Kepueli Talaiasi, 58, was accused of groping a teen girl who was sitting next to him during a flight from Phoenix, Arizona to Anchorage, Alaska on Apr. 26.

The minor, who was traveling with her father, reportedly pushed Talaiasi's hand away several times. She even tried to move away from the suspect in her seat, according to a People report.

Authorities said that she then wrote a note to her father on her phone about the Arizona man touching her. The minor's father then called the flight attendants, and they intervened. The teen girl was then separated from the suspect.

Alaska Airport Police detained Kepueli Talaiasi when the plane landed, and he was eventually arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

During the interview with the FBI, Talaiasi said that he "acknowledged having bad thoughts upon seeing the minor next to him, and described the devil tempting him," Fox 10 Phoenix reported.

The Arizona man then admitted giving in to the temptation. Kepueli Talaiasi could face a maximum sentence of up to two years in prison, followed by five years to a lifetime supervised release if convicted for the federal charge of abusive sexual contact with a minor.

Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the U.S. Attorney Office for Alaska said the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

The office had asked the federal court to order the continued detention of the suspect, citing reasons that he posed a threat to potential seatmates if he boarded a plane to return to Arizona pending trial, according to an Associated Press report.

READ NEXT: Child Abuse Cases Down, Experts Warn Lockdown Measures Forces Victims to Silence

Child Sexual Abuse in The U.S.

According to the National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, over 42 million survivors of sexual abuse were recorded across the country.

It also said that one in three girls is sexually abused before the age of 18, while one in five boys is sexually abused before the same age.

According to the Child Sex Abuse Prevention and Protection Center, around 30 percent of sexual abuse is never reported.

The U.S. Department of Justice noted that 90 percent of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator somehow.

A study in 1986 found that 63 percent of women who had suffered sexual abuse by a member of the family also reported a rape or attempted rape after the age of 14, Victims of Crime noted.

Children who had experienced rape or attempted rape in developing years were 13.7 times more likely to experience the same situation in college.

Children who do not live with both parents or lived in homes with parental discord also have a higher risk of being sexually abused.

READ MORE: Violence Against Children: UNICEF Report Reveals Worldwide Child Abuse Statistics

WATCH: Coronavirus: Lockdown Child Sexual Abuse 'Hidden by Under-Reporting' - From BBC Newsnight




White House press secretary Jen Psaki believed that President Joe Biden deserves credit for improving the migration crisis at the U.S. Mexico border.

Psaki's statement comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released images of an almost empty border facility in Donna, Texas.

Both events happened on Tuesday when Psaki also mentioned some of the notable accomplishments of the administration regarding the border surge, Mail Online reported.

It can be recalled that a group of Republican senators earlier visited the southern border where they labeled the situation in the area as "humanitarian, national security, and health crisis."

Republicans have also slammed the Biden administration, saying that the border surge stemmed from the president's political decision.

READ NEXT: Biden Strikes Deal With Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala to Deploy Troops to Their Borders to Stop Migrant Surge

Jen Psaki on the Credit that Biden Should be Receiving

Jen Psaki issued the statement in her press briefing on Tuesday, noting that the president is eagerly working to undo the last four years of immigration policy under the Trump administration, The U.S. Sun reported.

Psaki then mentioned a list of accomplishments of the current administration. The press secretary highlighted the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that nearly doubled their processing rate of unaccompanied migrant children on the border and reunited them with their families.

"Migration is a dynamic and evolving challenge, but the president has a plan, and we are working on it," said Psaki.

The U.S. Sun reported that the country had a significant increase in the number of migrants last February. By the end of March, the administration tapped Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the White House efforts to address the border issue.

Despite the milestones mentioned by Jen Psaki, the press secretary noted that the efforts in curbing the number of migrants attempting to enter the country continue.

DHS Releases Photos of Almost Empty Border Facility

As Psaki highlighted the efforts of the border agencies in the issue, the Biden administration, through DHS, released a photo of an empty migrant facility in Texas.

Fox News reported that the said facility in Donna, Texas was also the subject of the images in the recent months packed with migrants in pods.

The photos released showed see-through pens nearly empty, having a few unaccompanied minor migrants remaining.

The number of unaccompanied migrant children under the custody of CBP has significantly decreased by 88 percent from the end of March.

"The amount of time children spend in CBP custody is down 75 percent," Psaki said on the same day the photos were released.

Psaki noted that the migrant children are now spending 30 hours under CBP custody. At the end of March, the minors were reported to spend 130 hours under CBP custody.

"The progress we have made is dramatic," DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday.

Despite the accomplishments of the Biden administration, Psaki noted that the government is not yet done, emphasizing that there will be more work to be done concerning the issue on the border.

The DHS said Monday that the agency would continue to reunite migrant families in the coming weeks.

READ MORE: White House Backtracks on President Biden Using Crisis Referring to Border Situation

WATCH: Jen Psaki: Biden Deserves Credit For "Improvements" at the Southern Border After "Four Years - From H & H Famous




Key Takeaways

Malawi Supreme Court abolished death sentence and held it derogatory to right to life.

The various legal provisions awarding death sentence were declared to give a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

India still has the provision of death penalty even after various appeals and holds it to be not unreasonable.

The assaulters should be subjected to a harsher punishment than death for a crime of such intensity that the provision of death penalty is an option before the Court to be awarded.

Introduction

The concept of punishment includes various theories of punishment. One of the theories is the theory of deterrence which targets to create a fear in the minds of the people against committing a crime. When a person is aware of the fact that his actions would be punishable and might lead to his death, he would most likely not commit the crime.

A lot of countries in the world have the provision of death penalty for severe offences against the fellow humans. It was incorporated in the legal justice system to provide a sense of security to the victims and their families that they have some recourse to seek justice. The intention was mostly to try to make sure that crime ratesin the countries are reduced. A huge number of countries in the African continent have taken the initiative to abolish death penalty in law; Malawi is one of those countries to have taken the step recently.

Malawi is a country in the southeastern part of Africa which was under the British rule for about 70 years. The country had dual court system earlier which later was simplified to a system of Magistrates Court and Local Courts at the lowest level followed by the High Court and then the Supreme Court of Appeal. The Magistrates court though has the power to listen to cases of rape, murder, etc. but cannot impose death sentence. The case has to be referred to the High Court for the Court to sentence.

Background

The case revolves around Charles Khoviwawho was sentenced to death by the lower Court.He was charged under Section 210 and convicted to a mandatory death sentence. The president had commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment after which the accused the approached the Supreme Court appealing for fault on the part of the Trial Court Judge.

Provisions of Malawi

The Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal discussed various provisions of law which deals with death sentence. The sections are:

The Section 25 lays down what different kinds of punishments are to be awarded to an accused.

The Section 26 deals with the provision of death sentence and states that a person who is sentenced to death shall face death as prescribed by law, i.e. by hanging or as warranted and at a placedecided by the Minister.

Section 38 describes what would amount to treason, i.e. any act in preparation, endeavor or conspiracy against the government, policies of the government or tries to inciting violence in any way and the punishment for which would be death sentence.

Section 63 deals with the crime related to piracy.

Section 132 prescribes what would amount to rape and Section 133 prescribes the punishment for the same to be death or life imprisonment.

Section 209 describes any unlawful action or omission on the part of a person would amount to murder and would be punished with death sentence under Section 210.

Section 217A (a) prescribes the provision related to the offence of genocide.

Section 309 of the Code laws down who would be liable under the offence of housebreak and burglary. It prescribes for a punishment of life imprisonment or death.

Observation and Analysis of the Court

The Malawi Supreme Court of Appealanalysed the essence of right to life to be the sanctity of having a life and declared it as the mother of all rights. The Constitution of the country has provisions which prohibit any sort of derogation from the right to life. The various provisions in the legislations that award death penalty for criminal offences are derogatory to the right to life. The Section 45 (1) of the Constitution of Malawi prescribes death penalty to be the supreme law of all laws.

The legislature of the country had previously amended Section 25 of the Penal Code which prescribed corporal punishment as it was prohibited under Section 19 (2) (b) of the Constitution. The amendment retained the death penalty though it is clearly derogatory to the provisions of right to life. The only assumption that could be made is that death penalty is sanctioned under Section 16 of the Constitution which is not acceptable.

The provisions under Section 25 (a) and Section 26 of the penal law which contains death as a sentence and various other provisions discussed above were declared to be read as life imprisonment. The punishment if given a non-mandatory status and made to be the maximum sentence would reduce the term of imprisonment for many.

Death Penalty in India

In India death penalty is considered as the highest degree of punishment that can be awarded, like in numerous other countries. The Constitution of India under Article 21 lays down that no person can be deprived of his right to life except in accordance with the procedure established under law and the state does not have the power to use its own discretion. Only a few offences in the country have been made punishable with death sentence.

The Indian legal system entails 10 Sections in the Indian Penal Code, i.e., Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (Waging war), 132 (Abetting mutiny), 194 (false evidence), 302 and 303 (murder), 305 (abetting suicide of minor), 364A (kidnapping) and 396 (banditry with murder), which include death sentence as punishment along with Section 4 of the Prevention of Sati Act and 31A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

The validity of death penalty has been challenged on various instances but the courts have always rejected the challenge. The first case of such challenge was Jagmohan v. State of UP in which the Court stated that neither the provision nor the abolition would be unreasonable. The provision is but used in the rarest of rare cases as prescribed in the Bacchan Singh v. State of Punjab case.

Conclusion

The decision to abolish death penalty though is accepted as a protection to human dignity, is derogatory to the rights of the victim. When we look into the matter of death penalty most of us would think of the victim of the accused and then the heart fills with disgust.

If a person is involved in numerous homicides or rapes, would it be justified that the victims lost their lives, their right to life and the one who took it away is enjoying his right to life? A terrorist seeking commutation or mercy after killing thousands of innocents should also be treated in the same scale. It is not just an offence against the victim; it rattles the lives of the people related to the victim. Death sentence would be too easy a punishment for the offences that are committed by the accused of such heinous crimes.
The public understands very little about how [district attorneys] do what they do, why they do what they do, how decisions are made, Michael Jacobson, a sociology professor and executive director of the CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance, told the Daily News. Unlike policing, where now we have videos, and [those incidents] become news ... you dont see the DAs at work.
Bethlehem City Council postponed voting on a zoning change for the Martin Tower site until at least June amid a slew of questions.

The owners of the 53-acre site are pitching a mixed-use redevelopment including medical office buildings, a hotel, a grocery store, gas station and convenience store, retail and apartments. Theyve asked Bethlehem City Council to back a zoning change they say is necessary to lock in agreements with several of those users.

Last month, council asked the sites owners  Lewis D. Ronca and Norton Herrick  to meet with city officials to discuss a laundry list of concerns from zoning to tree plantings to walkability. Ronca responded by sending an April 28, eight-page letter to council laying out the need for the zoning tweak and plans for addressing many of the concerns.

But even after a more than three-hour meeting, the majority of council members Tuesday night felt too many questions were outstanding. Council voted unanimously to postpone a vote until its June 1 meeting to give time to resolve their concerns.

Echoing Roncas letter, Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith agreed redeveloping a property as complex as Martin Tower requires compromise and collaboration by all. But shes not convinced enough of thats occurred to make this into the development everyone would like it to be. Thats why she made the motion to postpone the vote.

Roncas team has submitted a zoning text amendment to the city to allow for more parking near proposed medical buildings, the addition of a new Eighth Avenue entrance and a slightly denser development.

The requested parking change has generated the most pushback from council members as it includes no limits and, theyve said, encourages a more suburban-style redevelopment of the site. The Bethlehem Planning Commission recommended council approve all of the tweaks, but the citys own planning bureau does not support the change.

The owners of the Martin Tower property want to tweak the property's zoning so the development's traffic flows better. The submitted plans show two more buildings.Courtesy photo

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission didnt endorse the change either, recommending a zoning variance because the proposal affects the entire zoning district, not just the one site. And the planning body said the proposal is inconsistent with the Lehigh Valleys regional plan because the changes would result in suburban-scale development patterns that are not consistent with the character of the city or conducive to multimodal accessibility.

Martin Tower is a key redevelopment site that is one of the most accessible locations in the region that poses significant impacts on the community character, identity and qualify of life for both the city and Lehigh Valley, a letter from the LVPC states.

City zoning encourages placing buildings on the property fronting on Eighth and Eaton avenues with parking to the rear, but Ronca and his team have said its health network tenant wants a highly visible front entrance with easy access to parking for patients who may have mobility issues. Their agreement allows the tenant to terminate the deal if this does not happen, Ronca said.

Crampsie Smith pressed Ronca on why hed ever draw up such a deal when he knew the design violated city zoning.

Why are you not realizing you need a variance? she asked.

Ronca answered councils questions frankly throughout Tuesdays meeting, but also expressed disbelief that such a minor change engendered such controversy. He prefers the zoning text amendment to avoid having to seek a variance for multiple parcels individually.

We are literally talking about two buildings here, he said, referencing two medical office buildings fronting on Eighth Avenue. I cannot for the life of me believe we are having the magnitude of conversation on this item.

Current zoning allows one row of parking and one drive aisle in front of buildings.

Ronca noted buildings up and down the Eighth Avenue corridor have similar layouts. Council members can speak with the tenant themselves to find out their needs, he offered.

The owners of the roughly 53-acre Martin Tower site want to place more parking spaces fronting on the streets around the property. The developer is asking for a zoning text amendment.Courtesy photo

Councilman Bryan Callahan urged his colleagues to consider how much tax money was at stake. He questioned whether it is worth giving up that much money over two rows of parking.

The property currently generates $50,000 in city, school and county taxes. The redevelopment is projected to generate an additional $2.669 million: breaking down to $567,147 for the city, another $1.74 million for the Bethlehem school district and $354,350 for Lehigh County.

Councilwoman Dr. Paige Van Wirt pointed out the city would only see $567,147 in increased taxes. No one made an issue when the Bethlehem Parking Authority opted to cease its $500,000 contribution to the city budget, so why the concern now, she questioned.

Council on Tuesday evening heard from numerous residents, who are concerned about the lack of affordable housing in the city, and expressed a desire for Martin Tower to be developed in a sustainable manner.

The sprawling property has sat idle for months after a lengthy cleanup from the May 2019 demolition. If the zoning change is approved, development plans could be submitted before the end of the year, Roncas team has said.

The property sits in its own specially crafted zoning district, which requires Ronca and Herrick to create a master plan before submitting land development plans to the city. Any significant changes to the plan must be approved by the planning commission.

The planning commission voted 3-2 to approve the Martin Tower master plan in April 2019, just weeks before the 21-story tower in West Bethlehem was demolished.

Martin Tower opened as world headquarters of the now-defunct Bethlehem Steel in 1972 and sat on the National Register of Historic Places. Its cruciform design, seen from above, maximized the number of corner of offices for Steel executives, offering expansive views of the Lehigh Valley. The tower sat vacant from 2007 until its 2019 demolition.

That same design made its reuse financially unfeasible, leaving the developers to decide to tear down the building and start from scratch.

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Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.
Being behind bars and on trial for raping multiple women did not stop Seth Mull from continuing to victimize women for his own personal gain.

Mull was in Northampton County Prison in late 2018 when he starting using a tablet rented from the prison to prostitute a 27-year-old woman, prosecutors said. The money went toward Mulls prison commissary account.

On Tuesday, following a bench trial before Judge Samuel Murray, the 33-year-old Mull was found guilty of promoting prostitution.

Mulls sentencing is set for May 13, time that will be added to the 75 years to life he is serving in the rape and sexual assault cases where he was convicted in December 2018.

Mull, who last lived in Lower Saucon Township, already wont be eligible for parole until hes 103 years old.

I have been prosecuting this defendant for four years, Deputy District Attorney Laura Majewski said in a news release. I applaud the victims for their courage to report, their courage to fight, and their strength to survive. Today is a win for survivors everywhere.

Mull first came to the attention of local police in October 2017, when a woman reported he raped her and forced her to use drugs in a Bethlehem hotel. Mull was arrested, when other women came forward to report he raped or sexually assaulted them, police said.

Prosecutors at that time said Mull used websites such as Plenty of Fish, Facebook and Tinder to lure women he allegedly forced into a sex trafficking ring. He went to trial in Northampton County for incidents from September and October 2017 at hotels in Bethlehem; Hanover Township, Northampton County; and Philadelphia.

Following a jury trial in December 2018, Mull was convicted of about 30 charges, including multiple counts of rape and human trafficking. He was found guilty of raping three women, sexually assaulting a fourth and making two of them his sex slaves.

Before the trial started, however, prosecutors said Mull began communicating with another woman that November. He allegedly urged her to have sex with 20 to 30 men for money, and to sign a sex slave contract.

I want control of all of you, he allegedly wrote to her via the tablet.

Mull continued communicating with the woman even after he was convicted in the other cases. Prosecutors said the prison notified them in January 2019, and Mull was charged the following month.

This case exposes the terrifying reality that sex trafficking is prevalent and can even occur when the trafficker is behind prison bars, Majewski said.

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Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
As Pennsylvanias vaccination progress continues to increase, its provided enough evidence for Gov. Tom Wolf to lift almost all of Pennsylvanias mitigation restrictions at the end of the month.

In a press release early Tuesday afternoon, the Pennsylvania Department of Health announced that the Wolf administration and the COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force determined that mitigation orders except for the masking mandate will be lifted on May 31.

The masking order will be lifted when 70% of Pennsylvanians ages 18 and older are fully vaccinated. Currently, about one-third of the states total population is fully vaccinated, though the state is only measuring the 18-plus population to get to its 70%. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41.8% of legal adults in the state are fully vaccinated.

(Cant see the map? Click here.)

To date, 3,592,845 Pennsylvanians are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, though thats not including Philadelphias separate data, which hadnt yet been updated on Tuesday. About 5.4 million have at least one shot, excluding those tallied in Philadelphia.

For the remainder of the month, as the vaccinated population increases, itll be key how much the current decrease in case rate continues. March and April saw a notable surge in cases, but in the last two weeks, the states average case increases have steadily been smaller and smaller. On Tuesday, there were 3,133 new cases reported, bringing the total case count to 1,161,619 COVID-19 cases since March of 2020.

There were also 58 more COVID-19-related deaths reported. In mid-April, the rate of deaths in Pennsylvania began to climb in response to the case surge, but already within the last week, that rate seems to be dropping as well. The deaths reported Tuesday bring Pennsylvanias death toll to 26,334.

Wolf and COVID Vaccine Task Force announce end date for many restrictions

Just in time for Memorial Day  in fact, exactly on Memorial Day  all COVID-19 mitigation restrictions, except for mask-wearing, will be lifted, per an announcement from Wolf and the states COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force.

Capacity limits on outdoor and indoor events, as well as restaurants, bars, personal service facilities and more, will be removed. Masks must still be worn at all times by those who arent fully vaccinated, and when indoors or in large crowds by those who have been vaccinated fully.

The mask wearing mandate can be lifted when the state reaches a 70% vaccinated goal among Pennsylvanians age 18 and older.

(Cant see the map? Click here.)

While the restrictions that were put in place at the outset of the pandemic have been a major source of frustration for many Pennsylvanians and businesses, it is the collaborative work of this bipartisan Task Force that is allowing us to finally roll back the restrictions and get back to normal life, said Sen. Ryan Aument, a member of the task force.

Those frustrations have often come from the food service industry, as Wolfs restrictions hampered business heavily over the last year.

John Longstreet, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, issued a statement in response to the announcement: The definitive timeline will allow owners and operators time to plan, but for far too many businesses who shuttered over the last few months, this announcement is too late. As a major economic driver throughout the Commonwealth, the hospitality industry needs further support to regain a sense of normalcy to attract its workforce, retain a consistent customer base and meet ever-changing mitigation standards.

COVID in Pa. and the Lehigh Valley

The 3,133 new cases reported on Tuesday continued to bring down the states average, which is decreasing slowly but surely  currently, it sits at 3,176. Cases have seen a decrease of 28% over the last two weeks, and over the same period of time, the rolling average fell by about 1,400 cases.

The states positivity rate reached a spring peak on April 17 when it hit 36.5%. On Tuesday, it was down nearly a full nine points at 27.6%.

(Cant see the chart? Click here.)

The Lehigh Valley, which reported 169 new cases on Tuesday, has also seen its counties case averages drop. Lehigh County, which reported 84 new cases on Tuesday, has a seven-day rolling average of 103 new cases per day. A month ago, that figure was at 161. Northampton County reported 85 new cases on Tuesday, bringing its average down to 86 cases per day. The county has actually cut its average by nearly 50% over the last month  it was 163 on April 5.

(Cant see the chart? Click here.)

The states death average took a relatively steep drop on Tuesday, decreasing from 41 to 37 deaths per day. Death reporting has followed a similar pattern every week, with the bulk of new deaths being reported in the middle of the week with Sunday and Monday reporting very few, resulting in those two days usually anchoring the week-long average. While there were 58 new deaths reported on Tuesday, there was only one on Monday and 22 on Sunday, dragging the average down.

(Cant see the chart? Click here.)

(Cant see the chart? Click here.)

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Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com.
Apple is supporting 700 jobs in four areas, including in Palmer Township, with the help of a $410 million award from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund.

The funding builds on an initial $390 million awarded from Apples Advanced Manufacturing Fund in 2017. This years award benefits II-VI, a leading manufacturer of optical technology. The expansion of the companys long-standing relationship will create additional capacity and accelerate delivery of future components for iPhone, with 700 jobs being supported at the 2251 Newlins Mill Road site in Palmer Township; as well as in Warren Township, Somerset County; Sherman, Texas; and Champaign, Illinois.

II-VI manufactures vertical-cavity, surface-emitting lasers, also known as VCSELs, helping to power such components as Face ID, Memoji, Animoji, and portrait-mode selfies. Apple also works with II-VI to manufacture lasers used in the LiDAR Scanner, which is technology helping to deliver faster, more realistic augmented reality experiences, as well as improves autofocus in low-light scenes in photos and videos, the company says.

Apple began working with II-VI in Sherman, Texas, in 2017 as part of the companys Advanced Manufacturing Fund. The project helped transform a long-shuttered, 700,000-square-foot building into a high-tech manufacturing facility, creating hundreds of Texas jobs. Through close collaboration with Apple engineering and operations teams, the company has rapidly increased production in the past year to enable record shipments from the Sherman, Texas-based facility.

Jeff Williams, CEO of Apple, said in a statement the fund supports American businesses, creating next-generation technology and the jobs of tomorrow.

II-VI shares our commitment to push the boundaries of innovation and were proud to be extending our work together across the country, he added.

Vincent Mattera Jr., CEO of II-VI, said in a statement the partnership between Apple and II-VI sets the stage for a new wave of breakthrough technologies his company believes will enable a wide range of applications that will benefit worldwide for decades to come.

We are incredibly grateful for Apples support which has allowed us to expand our manufacturing capacity and scale our operations across the US, he aid.

II-VI is a part of Apples Clean Energy program, which was designed to advance the use of renewable energy across the companys supply chain, and is already using 100% renewable energy across all of its Apple manufacturing nationally.

Apples expanded partnership with II-VI is part of the companys plan to invest $430 billion and add 20,000 new jobs nationally over the next five years. Apples contributions include working with more than 9,000 suppliers nationally who are supporting American job creation across dozens of sectors, including silicon engineering, 5G, and manufacturing.

Since establishing the Advanced Manufacturing Fund in 2017, the $5 billion fund has supported various projects, including $450 million in awards to Harrodsburg, Kentucky-based Corning Inc., which led to the creation of Ceramic Shield, a tough material on smartphone glass.

Apple supports 2.7 million jobs across 50 states through direct employment, spending with U.S. suppliers and manufacturers, and the iOS app economy.

Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.
A Catasauqua man is sought by police on a slew of charges alleging he sexually assaulted three children and raped one.

A warrant was issued Tuesday for Manuel Luis Santiago, 33, of the 1200 block of 3rd Street in Catasauqua, formerly of Easton.

The charges follow an investigation by Easton police that began last fall, according to the Northampton County District Attorneys Office and an affidavit from police in Easton, where Santiago used to live.

According to the affidavit, Easton police were referred to two of the children by a Children and Youth agency in November. The older was 11 when Santiago allegedly began touching her in 2015 or 2016; the younger was 12 when it allegedly began in 2017 or 2018, the affidavit says.

During the investigation, police said they learned of a third victim, who was 13 when Santiago allegedly began assaulting her in 2018.

Santiago faces 16 counts, including rape of a child, statutory sexual assault and three counts of aggravated indecent assault of a child, authorities said.

Lehighvalleylive.com reporter Tony Rhodin contributed to this report.

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Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com.
Sixteen people stricken with cancer, including the families of three who died, say emissions from medical products manufacturer B. Braun are to blame for their cancer diagnoses, according to lawsuits filed on their behalf.

The lawsuits were filed on behalf of people who lived, worked, and spent significant time near B. Brauns Hanover Township, Lehigh County, plant and contracted cancer, according to a news release issued by the Philadelphia law firm Kline & Specter.

The news release blames emissions of ethylene oxide for causing people to contract cancer. The colorless gas has been linked to breast cancer, leukemia and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, among other cancers, the news release says.

B. Braun says on its website that the federal and state environmental regulatory agencies have not raised compliance issues with B. Braun over its ethylene oxide emissions. The news release from Kline & Specter, however, says that law firm has filed complaints with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to investigate the matter and order remediation.

B. Brauns website says the company has reduced its emissions over the last several years and its emissions are 10% below limits imposed under its state air permit. The Kline & Specter release says B. Braun emits a significant amount of the gas. It emitted 6,880 pounds of EtO in 2014 while the only other entity emitting the chemical gas in the region was St. Lukes University Hospital, which released 17 pounds that year, the news release says.

A fact sheet on B. Brauns website says ethylene oxide is the only available alternative to sterilize some medical products. Kline & Specters release disputes that claim.

Even if EtO is used, there are controls and devices that can greatly reduce emissions, the Kline & Specter release says.

Three of the plaintiffs have died due to cancer, seven are suffering with breast cancer, two with brain cancer, two with types of blood cancer and one has a form of urogynecologic cancer, the Kline & Specter news release says.

The lawsuits filed in Philadelphia County Court claim negligence, strict liability, public and private nuisance, fraud and misrepresentation, and seek punitive as well as compensatory damages.

This plant is deadly. Its dangerous emissions need to be curtailed now and the wrongful harms must be compensated and punished quickly and fairly, said Shanin Specter, who is representing the plaintiffs with co-counsel Tom Bosworth and Aaron Dunbar.

B. Braun spokeswoman Allison Longenhagen issued this statement:

These lawsuits are completely without merit. B. Braun Medical will mount a decisive and vigorous defense to protect our good name and reputation.

Reported data from the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry shows that cancer rates in municipalities around B. Brauns Allentown facility are comparable to other areas of Pennsylvania for the five cancer types that the EPA claims to be potentially related to EtO exposure.

B. Brauns dedication to safety and sustainability is evident in every product that we produce and in every patient touched by our life-saving medical devices, many of which are essential to the fight against COVID-19.

Germany-based B. Braun manufactures medical products around the world. It has local facilities in the Lehigh Valley, including an office in Bethlehem and the plant on Marcon Boulevard in Lehigh County.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
Q. Can the 529 plan money be used to fund education in the U.K.?

 Mom

A. The short answer is yes, subject to certain restrictions.

529 plans are a great way to save for college because of the tax-free growth.

Distributions from 529 college savings plans can be used tax-free to pay for qualified expenses if the study program at the foreign institution is eligible for credit at the students U.S. home institution, and if the foreign institution is eligible for Title IV federal student aid, said Matthew DeFelice, a certified financial planner with U.S. Financial Services in Fairfield.

In simple terms, your school has to give credit for the study abroad program, and the foreign college where you will be studying abroad must be eligible for financial aid, DeFelice said.

There are two different ways to study abroad.

DeFelice said most U.S. colleges and universities offer a study abroad program in which the student spends a term or two studying at a foreign university.

If the U.S. college or university is eligible for Title IV federal student aid, the study abroad program will be eligible for federal student aid, provided that the classes in the study abroad program are accepted for credit by the U.S. college or university, he said.

Or students can also enroll in a foreign college or university for their entire educational program, provided that the foreign college or university is eligible for Title IV federal student aid, he said.

More than 400 foreign colleges and universities are eligible for Title IV federal student aid, he said.

You can check to see if a school is on the list here.

The bulk of study-abroad expenses consists of tuition, fees, and approved room-and-board expenses, which are eligible to be funded with a 529 plan, just like they are in the United States, DeFelice said. Required textbooks, which can be a significant expenditure, are also covered.

In addition, under the SECURE Act, 529 funds can be used to pay back student loans up to $10,000 and for eligible apprenticeships, both of which could be useful for those studying abroad, he said.

But unfortunately, there are study abroad costs that are not covered because they are not considered qualified expenses by the IRS. These include:

The cost of traveling to and from the school, including airline tickets, train tickets, cab fares, etc.

International health insurance or medical costs not covered by U.S. health insurance

Basic living expenses

Any costs associated with an international cell phone

Sports or other activities that are not part of the college curriculum

Foreign transaction fees

Non-university room and board

If you decide to live off campus because it is less expensive than housing provided by the school, especially during the summer months, be sure to take into account that your rent will not be covered because it will no longer be a qualified expense, he said.

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter.
The former Roseto police chief was convicted Tuesday with threatening to kill his wife, according to a news release.

Mark Gwozdz was convicted of making terroristic threats after a two-day trial, according to the release from the Northampton County District Attorneys Office.

Court papers say he made the threats Oct. 4, 2019, during an argument with his wife Michelle Gwozdz over an impending divorce.

Court papers say he told her, Ill kill you before I give you anything. He added, Im not going through this s--t again, referencing a prior divorce, the papers say.

Defense attorney Matthew Goodrich said Gwozdz maintains he did not make threatening statements.

Gwozdz, 48, of Palmer Township, told lehighvalleylive.com back in 2019 that he and Michelle Gwozdz were arguing over their jointly owned property in Florida and Roseto.

The statements were never even said, Gwozdz said back in 2019.

Gwozdz retired as Roseto police chief in January. Hes on unpaid administrative leave as a police officer in Washington Township, Northampton County, according to police Chief James Krome. Krome said when he receives documentation of Gwozdzs conviction hell notify the board of supervisors, who can then take action on whether to terminate Gwozdz.

Krome said hell also forward the conviction documentation to the Municipal Police Officer Education and Training Commission.

Gwozdz was previously the chief in East Bangor and in Portland and previously worked for the former Wind Gap Police Department, according to previous lehighvalleylive.com stories.

Michelle Gwozdz called police after the argument in a home in the 500 block of Maple Street in Roseto, court papers say. Since Gwozdz recently worked for Roseto, police asked the Northampton County District Attorneys Office to handle the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Judy Chaverri. She said her office treats all criminal allegations the same regardless of whether the defendant is a law enforcement officer.

We treat everyone the same as far as domestic violence goes. It can happen throughout any occupation, any household, she said.

The jury deliberated for a few hours before reaching a verdict, according to the news release from district attorney spokeswoman Davin Jurgensen.

Gwozdz will be sentenced June 16. Making terroristic threats is a first-degree misdemeanor and carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
An ordinance that would restrict fireworks in Kokomo is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Last week, the Kokomo Common Council passed on first reading an amendment to the local noise ordinance to include language pertaining to fireworks. The amendment passed the council chambers on a 6-2 vote, with Councilmembers Kara Kitts-McKibben and Jason Acord voting against.

Primarily, the ordinance puts parameters on when fireworks can be used. The ordinance proposes that the only days on which it would be legal to set off fireworks would be:

 New Years Eve, Dec. 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Jan. 1

 Memorial Day from 5 p.m. to two hours after sunset

 The Fourth of July from 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.

 June 29 to July 9 from 5 p.m. to two hours after sunset

 Labor Day from 5 p.m. and two hours after sunset

Currently, Indiana law allows fireworks to be used every day of the year from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and later on certain holidays.

In the informational meeting proceeding the councils formal one, Acord told the council he primarily took issue with how difficult such an ordinance would be to enforce.

Acord asked his fellow councilmembers if they thought that the ordinance could do anything, before theorizing that last years high fireworks usage was an anomaly.

Was last year an anomaly? Yeah, Acord said. There were people at home. Nothing was open. The fireworks places was open, and the liquor stores was open. So we had a lot of drinking and a lot of shooting off fireworks, and thats the bottom line. I did my investigation into this. I looked into it because people were calling me. So Im like why, Why is this happening? Go down and look into it, why its happening. Instead of being reactive, I was proactive. Why is this happening? Is this going to happen every year? I dont think so. I dont think so.

If passed as the ordinance currently stands, complaints first would fall to the city attorney who would decide after talking to witnesses whether the violation will be sent to the court.

While Councilman Lynn Rudolph voted to pass the ordinance on first reading, he said that unless a provision is made to ensure that the complainant becomes an affiant when reporting a fireworks issue to police, he would not vote in favor again.

In other words, the person complaining of fireworks, or any issue covered by the noise ordinance, would have to sign an affidavit, which potentially could lead to the complainant having to testify in court.

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Joining Acord in voting against the ordinance was McKibben, who provided the council with dispatch records that showed a low number of calls, only 50 in total, that were made last year regarding fireworks complaints.

According to McKibbens findings, only 18 of those calls fell outside of the dates listed in the new ordinance.

McKibben suggested that the city launch a campaign to raise awareness to people who were suffering from issues like post-traumatic stress disorder or who own pets or have children who become frightened by fireworks. Signage could be posted to let neighbors know they or someone who lives there may be sensitive to fireworks noise, she said.

McKibben commissioned such signage to demonstrate an example of what the campaign could look like.

Joe Wampler, owner of Best Price Fireworks, criticized the council for not taking law enforcement, who would be responding to complaints made regarding fireworks, into consideration.

Another Kokomo resident wanted the proposed dates to be amended. Jerry Paul, president of the Howard County Veterans Memorial Corp., called on the council to remove Memorial Day from the purview of the current ordinance and replace it with Veterans Day.

We all (veterans) oppose the addition of Memorial Day, Paul said. Thats not an appropriate day to be doing fireworks. We do realize that there is compromise involved, and Ive talked to all the leaders and all the commanders and everybody. We dont have a problem with Veterans Day, but we do have a problem with Memorial Day because its not a day of celebration. Its a day of reverence. Its a personal day for us; trust me.

Common Council President Matt Grecu said that the two provisions offered, both Rudolphs desire for complainants to become affiants and for Pauls request for Memorial Day to be replaced with Veterans Day, were going to be considered before the second reading.

Grecu said Rudolphs proposal made good sense and would encourage individuals to follow through with their complaints.

Grecu also said Pauls request wasnt unreasonable.

Certainly, I understand the position with Memorial Day and Veterans Day, Grecu said. For a lot of people in our community though, Memorial Day is kind of the beginning of summer. Its Indy 500 race weekend. For a lot of people, it is a time of celebration. But to add Veterans Day, if veterans wanted the opportunity to celebrate veterans with fireworks, doesnt seem like an unreasonable request. Those are things that well hopefully look at adjusting and see how the council feels about that, and well see in a couple weeks.

On the other hand, John Roberts, an Indiana Heights resident and county councilman, thanked the council for its work and said he was looking forward to the fireworks ordinance.

Regardless, the common council passed the initial reading of the ordinance in a split vote.

The ordinance will be brought to its second reading at the councils next meeting, scheduled for May 10.
Yang has come out on the side of Orthodox Jewish leaders in some of the most controversial issues involving the community. Hes defended yeshiva schools in spite of criticism that some of them fail to meet basic educational standards and slammed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel as anti-Semitic.
Lehigh Valley Then is a new periodic series that recalls headlines from lehighvalleylive.com affiliate The Express-Times and its predecessors from 10, 25, 50, 100 and 150 years ago. These stories were pulled from microfilm at the Easton Area Public Library.

This week in Lehigh Valley history, the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011 brought some closure to families who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks. Racial tension at Easton Area High School in 1971 sparked a conversation that seems all too familiar today.

In 1996, the odd story of Shadgate made waves at a Delaware River fishing contest. A man who ran his mouth in 1921 talked his way into jail. And in 1871, a railroad magnates full speech to the Pennsylvania Senate took up the entire front page.

This was the Lehigh Valley then.

10 YEARS AGO: Bin Laden dead

The Express-Times front page for May 2, 2011Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com

May 2, 2011: The headline blared across the front page with a photo of the terrorist taking up most of the rest. The lead story from the Associated Press dealt with President Barack Obamas announcement, but the secondary story, reported by Jim Deegan, The Express-Times managing editor at the time, looked at the impact on local families hurt by the 9/11 attacks.

The report had views from local families with relatives in the World Trade Center: El and Bill Sugra, whose son, also named Bill, worked at Cantor Fitzgerald in the Twin Towers; Georgia Cudina from Hunterdon County, whose husband, like Bill, worked for Cantor Fitzgerald; Patrick Cartier Jr., of Palmer Township, whose youngest brother James, an electrician, died there; state Rep. Bob Freeman, whose friend Noel Foster was killed in the attack.

El Sugra saw the words scroll across the bottom of her television screen.

Her eyes welled up as she felt a jumble of emotions late Sunday night. Osama bin Laden was dead.

Its been nearly 10 years since bin Laden operatives terrorized America by toppling the World Trade Center, killing 2,752 people, including El and Bill Sugras son Bill.

Im totally happy, I guess, said El Sugra, of Salisbury Township. Its a horrible thing to say. But were happy hes dead.

... It took 10 years, but our nation has prevailed, (Cartier) said. It sends a clear message to the world: Dont mess with us. Well eventually get you. You can hide, but you cant hide forever.

25 YEARS AGO: Lie test offered in shad row

The front page of The Express-Times on May 4, 1996Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com

May 4, 1996: The controversy dubbed Shadgate surrounding the winner of a Delaware River fishing contest first made waves almost a week earlier, but a story by Josh Richman followed it up with what seemed like an unusual offer: a lie-detector test.

A Hunterdon County polygraph operator wants to help determine if Douglas Siskas claim that someone stuffed lead weights into his shad is just a fish story.

Heres a guy who adamantly denies any knowledge of how these lead weights got into his fish, said John Prushinski of Milford, a 24-year police veteran whos now a private investigator and polygraph operator. If he didnt do it, I believe his name should be cleared. If he did do it, well, shame on him.

Shadgate erupted Monday night, when weighmasters at the Forks of the Delaware Shad Fishing Tournament cut open two of Siskas fish and found lead weights in them. Tournament prizes are awarded according to weight.

Siska, a professional fishing guide from Pecks Pond, Pa.,  agreed to withdraw from this years contest to protect his reputation and the tournaments.

Siska said Tuesday he believes he was the victim of a set-up by angry anglers envious of his successful record.

Siska declined the offer. In a May 8 follow-up story, reporter Ed Laubach quoted the angler:

Im moving on with my life, Siska said. The people in the Poconos are standing behind me. I have no more comments to make. Im saying its over. Im not sticking my foot into a black kettle again. 

The case is closed, said Siska, who admitted to having taken four polygraph tests at various bass tournaments around the country. I took em, he said, and I passed em all with flying colors.

50 YEARS AGO: Blacks, parents conferring with area school leaders

The front page of The Easton Express on May 3, 1971Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com

May 3, 1971: After racial tensions erupted in a huge brawl, students and parents tried to convince Easton Area High School leaders to temporarily halt classes. The headline on the May 3, 1971, report was unfortunately phrased, but the story eventually led to a deeper conversation with students about race  a three-part series on student interviews ran later that month.

A request that classes be called off at Easton Area High School today and tomorrow was rejected today by Dr. Warren B. FitzSimmons, superintendent of the Easton area schools, and several school board members.

The request grew out of a meeting this morning of Phillip J. Spaziani, EAHS principal, and about 60 black pupils and a dozen parents. 

Those favoring suspension of classes had urged that the time be given over to pupil discussions on how to solve racial problems which last week erupted into violence.  Last Friday a fight between two male pupils  one white and one black  grew into a melee involving hundreds of pupils in the schools parking lot.

The May 3 report was paired with a short front-page editorial headlined Reject Rumor! It read:

Easton area Civic leaders and public officials are working to reduce interracial tensions troubling the city and area school system, but they need your help.

One significant way everyone can contribute to reason and order is by refraining from acting as an agent for transmission of rumor.

During the last several days of inflammatory and outrageous rumors  like the one today, that black students carried guns to school  have been freely circulated.

Responsible citizens ought to reject such talk for what it is  dangerous nonsense that only increases fear and friction. The citizen who spreads false reports does his community and its people a disservice.

100 YEARS AGO: Gift of gab his undoing

The front page of The Easton Express on May 3, 1921Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com

May 6, 1921: It may not have been the weeks biggest story  that would arguably be a printers strike, which according to a May 2 front-page note crippled the newspaper  but the weeks oddest report came courtesy of a man who didnt know when to stop talking.

The power of speech, many times in the past, has proven a valuable aid to people in accomplishing a purpose, but this morning, at a session of police court in City Hall, it materially aided Walter Miller, of Stroudsburg, in accomplishing the unusual achievement of talking himself into the county prison. ...

Miller had (allegedly) purchased (a Salvation Army) hat for $1 and then started out to solicit funds for the organization without official sanction of authority. 

Taken to City Hall Millers verbal qualities at once became apparent but he failed to convince authorities he was on the level.  Mayor Horn, following a few questions, told Miller to go back to Stroudsburg and stay out of Easton. Right then Miller began another oration. He wanted  another hat  . The Mayor told him there was no further case as the prosecutor had failed to appear 

Additional talking from Miller brought a threat from the Mayor that if he (Miller) didnt shut up and get out he would be locked up for disorderly conduct.

This made no difference to Miller who said he would go to jail for life as far as he was concerned.

The mayor said he didnt want him to go that length of time, but told him he could go for 10 days (if he couldnt pay a fine). As he was broke, officer Hawk marched Miller over to Pascoes palace.

150 YEARS AGO: Railroad presidents speech

The front page of The Easton Express on May 3, 1871Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com

May 3, 1871: At the time, it was common for the front page of the Easton Express to be taken up by ad print. But this edition presented a wall of text. All seven columns of the front page and two of the second page were taken up by the full text of a speech. It was labeled: Argument of Franklin B. Gowen, before the Judiciary Committee of the Senate of Pennsylvania, on behalf of the Railroad and Mining Interests of Pennsylvania, March 30, 1871.

Gowen was the president of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. In his speech (which is admittedly difficult to read on microfilm), he assails unions and industry regulators, whom he said got hooked on the higher wages available during the Civil War and went on strike.

The newspaper apparently felt no need to explain why it was running a speech from March across its front page.

The object of (the Workingmens Benevolent Association) was to secure employment for all of its members, and prevent the reduction of wages which every other class of labor had to submit to at the close of the war.  As it was also well known to them that such wages could not be paid unless the price of coal was kept up to a high rate, they suspended work whenever the price reached a sum as made it impossible for their employer to comply with their demands.

We, who thought we understood something about the laws of trade, and knew that natural causes would soon bring relief, remonstrated with the leaders of this organization in vain. The law of supply and demand, and every sound maim of trade which experience has demonstrated to be correct, were thrown to the winds; and from the bowels of the earth there came swarming up a new school of political economists, who professed to be able, during the leisure hours of their short working day, to regulate a great industry and restore it to vigor and health.

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Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com.
A 41-year-old Bethlehem man, who was wanted on robbery charges in the city, was arrested Monday afternoon in Connecticut and charged with kidnapping, Connecticut State Police report.

Bethlehem police alerted state police in Connecticut about 2:15 p.m. that Jose Alberto Claudio-Diaz, of the 1000 block of East Fourth Street, was in a vehicle heading north on Route 15 in that state, a news release said.

The vehicle was pulled over near Exit 48 in Turnbull and after identifying Claudio-Diaz, troopers realized there was a female in the car who was being held by Claudio-Diaz against her will and had crossed state lines, police said.

NBC Connecticut reported that it was believed the victim was kidnapped in Pennsylvania and they were heading to Springfield, Massachusetts.

Bethlehem police could not confirm where the kidnapping began, Capt. Timothy Cooper saying Wednesday morning in an email that we are working with (Connecticut and Pennsylvania state police) and attempting to determine where this offense originated.

Claudio-Diaz was charged with kidnapping in the first degree as well as assault on a police officer, state police said. He was held in prison in lieu of $300,000 bail and had a first appearance Tuesday morning in superior court in Bridgeport, police and records said.

He has a plea hearing scheduled for Tuesday in Fairfield Courthouse in Bridgeport, records show.

On April 15, Claudio-Diaz threatened to kill his ex-girlfriends 11-year-old son in Bethlehem if she wouldnt give Claudio-Dian the keys to her SUV, city police reported. Fearing for the safety of her son, the woman gave the keys to Claudio-Diaz, who drove off, police said.

The woman at 6:15 a.m. reported the 2013 Nissan Rogue stolen from the 1200 block of Livingston Street, police said.

Claudio-Diaz was charged with two counts of robbery and single counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and terroristic threats, court papers say.

Claudio-Diaz was also charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and terroristic threats after a July 15 incident involving the same woman and pleaded guilty to the second charge, records say. He was sentenced Jan. 6 to 112 days to 23 months in jail and paroled two days later, records show. He had been held since Sept. 17 in lieu of $5,000 bail, records show. He is also on 12 months probation from a Sept. 11 harassment case, records show.

When Bethlehem police contacted Connecticut police on Monday, they said Claudio-Diaz was wanted on an extraditable warrant, the news release said. It wasnt clear if Bethlehem police were tracking the vehicle or Claudio-Diazs cellphone or if they got the information on his location in another way.

It also wasnt clear if Claudio-Diaz would have to go through the entire court process in Connecticut before being returned to Northampton County to face the April charges.

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Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com.
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff on Wednesday visited an Allentown business incubator as part of an effort by the Biden Administration to promote the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan.

According to a media pool report, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris was joined by U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, a Democrat representing the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvanias Seventh Congressional District, and other dignitaries on the early afternoon tour of the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center. He then participated in a roundtable discussion. Participants in that discussion included several local business owners.

In the roundtable discussion after the tour, Emhoff stressed the need for the American Jobs Plan, the Biden Administrations $2 billion plan to fund infrastructure and other improvements. We have to take the politics out of it and get this passed, he said, per the pool report.

In response to Emhoffs visit, the Republican National Committee put out a statement criticizing the Biden administration for the the cost of the plan and the administrations response to ongoing issues at the southern border.

Pennsylvanians are tired of this administrations gaslighting, RNC Spokesperson Allie Carroll said. Instead of promoting Bidens American Bankruptcy Plan, Doug Emhoff should join crisis manager Kamala Harris on a long-overdue visit to the southern border.

The Pennsylvania Democratic Committee touted the American Families Plan as meaningful relief to millions of Pennsylvania families, saying it would extend tax cuts in the American Rescue Plan passed earlier this year, including the Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit and Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.

We welcome Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff to our great city of Allentown, state Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Patton Mills said in a statement. In 2021, the Democratic Party has been the only party working on behalf of Pennsylvania families, and that will only continue with President Bidens American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. Thanks to the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration, Pennsylvania will build back better than before.

Emhoff has logged thousands of miles supporting President Joe Bidens policies on both infrastructure and COVID-19 response. In recent weeks, hes made solo trips to New Mexico, Maryland, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington state and Vermont, including Native American communities.

This latest visit to Allentown is part of what the administration is calling its Getting America Back on Track tour. Biden, Harris and others in the administration are also participating in the tour.

Emhoff previously visited Allentown about seven months ago when he was campaigning for Biden and Harris before the November election that would take them to the White House.

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UPDATE: Rescheduled NASA rocket launch may be visible from Pa., N.J., other eastern states

Much of the eastern U.S. may witness the Friday evening launch of a NASA mission studying energy in space.

Similar missions have resulted in reports of strangely colored clouds on the East Coast, but NASA says not to expect any weird sights like that this time.

The rocket itself, however, may be visible from Florida to Maine and as far west as Chicago as it lifts off from Wallops Island, Virginia.

The launch is scheduled for 7:58 p.m. Friday. There is a 40-minute window that night, and if the weather doesnt cooperate, backup launch days are planned through May 16.

Locally, the rocket should be visible about 30 seconds after launch, according to a NASA map. The Lehigh Valley weather forecast for that night currently calls for showers.

Fortunately, the launch will be streamed online at the Wallops IBM video site starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Will you see the upcoming rocket launch?   The Black Brant XII, carrying the KiNET-X payload, is a four-stage... Posted by NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Tuesday, May 4, 2021

The mission involves sending up a NASA Black Brant XII sounding rocket that will release harmless barium vapor clouds after about 10 minutes of flight, more than 200 miles above the Atlantic Ocean. They will energize electrons and allow scientists to study how energy transfers in magnetic fields, similar to how the northern lights form, NASA says of the mission.

In prior missions, the vapor ionizes and forms violet clouds. In this case, the position and spread of the clouds, along with the darkness of the hour, is expected to make the clouds very difficult to see.

MORE: Eta Aquarid meteor shower 2021 to peak before Mays lunar eclipse and supermoon

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Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com.
An Allentown woman allegedly recorded a phone call she had with the Northampton County Prison warden without the wardens permission.

Karen Lu, 35, allegedly recorded the call Jan. 26. Shes charged with two counts of interception, disclosure or use of wire, electronic or oral communication, according to a news release from the Northampton County District Attorneys office.

Lu allegedly spoke to warden David Penchishen about restrictions placed on her boyfriend, Justin Hale. Hale, 33 of Bethlehem, is charged with attempted homicide.

She allegedly recorded the conversation with the app Live App on her cell phone.

Lus attorney, William Goldman Jr., said Wednesday that Lu believed the conversation was broadcast on the app but not necessarily recorded.

She did not believe she was breaking the law, Goldman said. There was no evil intent in any way.

Lu allegedly shared the recording of the conversation with inmate Jassiem Jackson, according to the district attorneys office press release. Jackson allegedly played back portions of the conversation on his prison-issued tablet. Hale was in the adjacent cell and could hear the playback, according to the news release.

Hale is accused of firing a shot at Todd Barte in Bethlehem. Court records say Hale and accomplice Quentin Wimberly robbed Barte on March 29, 2020, at a home in the 400 block of Wyandotte Street in Bethlehem.

Hale and Wimberly allegedly pistol whipped Barte and took cash Barte received from an insurance settlement. They allegedly took a necklace from Barte.

Hale is charged with attempted homicide and related charges, court records say. His trial is scheduled for August. His attorney, Philip Lauer, didnt immediately return a message left Wednesday afternoon.

Wimberly is charged with robbery and related charges. His next court date is in June, records say. Wimberlys sister, Mary Shahadi, said her brother plans to take the case to trial to clear his name.

Jackson, 34, of Bethlehem, is charged with reckless endangerment, receiving stolen property and weapons charges, court records say. Hes accused of participating in an incident where shots were fired in April 2020 at East Goepp and School streets in Bethlehem. Jackson is representing himself in court, records say.

Lu was released on $5,000 unsecured bail and is tentatively scheduled for a preliminary hearing May 18 with District Judge Daniel Corpora.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
UPDATE: Slate Belt Regional police said Wednesday afternoon they have identified and contacted a dump truck driver accused of berating the driver of an occupied school bus that reportedly had pulled out in front of the truck.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Police are asking for the publics help in identifying a dump truck driver they say berated a school bus driver and upset children on the bus.

The incident Friday involved a Pen Argyl School District school bus and started about 3:30 p.m. on Pen Argyl Road, Slate Belt Regional police said.

The bus pulled out in front of the dump truck, and the truck followed the bus to its next stop on Blue Valley Drive.

The dump truck driver exited his vehicle and approached the bus driver on the drivers side to express his unhappiness with the bus drivers skills in (a) very expressive and vulgar way, upsetting the children on the bus, the department said in a Facebook post.

Police released photos of the truck, and still photos from a camera inside the bus that show the truck driver walking on the drivers side of the bus and a few children sitting inside.

Investigators asked anyone with information to contact Slate Belt Regional at 610-759-8517.

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Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
On Earth Day 2021, President Joe Biden hosted the Leaders Summit on Climate, a virtual event to press 40 countries with his global warming agenda. He included a promise to throw America under the bus through with a cut in carbon emissions by up to 52% by 2030. This can only happen in a fantasy unicorn land.

Were already one of the leaders in the world concerning carbon reductions, and our emissions are becoming increasingly insignificant compared to the global total. Bidens climate czar John Kerry admitted that if America went to zero emissions, there would be no significant difference in global climate change, and that overwhelmingly emissions come from other countries. Russia and India also are not accepting fossil fuel restrictions for themselves.

Why, then, should America embark on such a destructive initiative?

Unsurprisingly China, the worlds largest emitter by far, made no commitment to reduce emissions any time soon and continues to build hundreds of coal-fired power plants both at home and abroad. I have no doubt that the leadership of our global archenemy laughs uncontrollably at Americas current stupidity. China is conquering us without firing a shot, as Sun Tzu explains in The Art of War.

If people could leave this unicorn land, they would see that big government programs to control weather could raise energy costs and damage reliability of supplies. Wealthy people can endure this, but the middle and lower classes will just suffer.

When in history was there ever a leader who took power in a great country and worked conspicuously to lead it into humiliating defeat?

James M. Policelli

Plainfield Township
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolfe announced a clean energy initiative for Pennsylvania, with plans to build seven new solar arrays around the state. Despite the greenwashing of renewable energy developers, solar energy comes with environmental impacts. Some are obvious, such as the huge land requirements for utility-scale solar arrays, habitat loss and impacts on wildlife, and the hazardous waste generated by the industry.

Others are less obvious, but equally troubling. Solar panels collect sunlight and transform it into electricity, but they function effectively only when the sun is shining. Hence, storage for later use is required. Currently, the solar-energy storage solution of choice is the lithium-ion battery. A surge in lithium mining is underway around the world in response to demand for electric cars and solar energy storage systems, with devastating consequences in some regions.

The extraction and processing of lithium uses approximately 500,000 gallons of water to produce a ton of lithium, along with toxic chemicals that contaminate soil and water and pollute the air. Reports from China, Australia and South America, where most of the worlds lithium is produced, describe fish kills and livestock poisonings resulting from contaminated water related to lithium extraction. In the western portion of the United States, proposed lithium mines threaten to turn iconic desert landscapes into industrial wastelands.

Before jumping on the solar energy bandwagon, residents should consider the hidden costs of clean energy in Pennsylvania.

Juliet Perrin

Albrightsville
Like so many events last year, COVID-19 forced Washington Borough to halt its annual Independence Day parade, fireworks and orange crate derby.

On Tuesday, Washington Celebrates America announced it all will be back for July 4, 2021.

It was a long year but we are ready to roll again, committee chairperson Richard Macguire said in a news release.

The committee began meeting last month to plan for this year but waited to see how New Jersey would roll back its coronavirus restrictions on gatherings and events. The state announced this week that many will be lifted May 19.

For its return, the celebration committee named as its parade grand marshal Marian Bredin. She ran Good Impressions print shop in the borough for more than 40 years, published The Messenger monthly community newsletter and has volunteered with a number of local organizations.

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A new initiative aims at improving mobile connectivity for communities in Laois who are suffering from poor mobile phone coverage due to coverage blackpsots.

Through Get Connected, telecommunications firm Cellnex says is seeking to improve mobile coverage in the areas by asking the community to come together and request a review of their services.

Laois is one of the first two counties where it is being rolled out and the project has the support of Laois Chamber of Commerce and Laois GAA. The intention is to expand Get Connected nationwide to end mobile blackspots

A statement said the objective is to mobilise support within communities to participate in the planning and delivery of mobile connectivity in their local areas.

Get Connected was officially launching a Community Call through its website www.getconnected.ie which invites communities to come together to request a review of the mobile coverage in their local area to see if a solution to their mobile connectivity issue can be delivered.

To initiate a review, which Cellnex says will be carried out at no cost to residents, communities should seek to mobile a group of people who have a shared interest in getting improved coverage, and then nominate a single point of contact to make a submission to Get Connected.

Cellnex says it will then carry out a detailed survey to assess the areas suitability and work to deliver a feasible solution.

The Cellnex Ireland Managing Director is Colin Cunningham.

Get Connected is a real opportunity for people in Laois to have a say in what their future looks like and to come together to support better connectivity for their area. Cellnex is giving communities the firm promise that we will work with them to try to ensure that they get the infrastructure that they need. I hope that local communities will take this opportunity to seek an improved service and work with us to deliver solutions for their areas," he said.

Ciaran Finane is the President of Laois Chamber of Commerce.

Laois is a great place to live, work and do business. Central to this is the importance of connectivity and the ability of people working from home to have excellent mobile and broadband coverage. Unfortunately, not everywhere in Laois has suitable connectivity. Get Connected and Cellnex are empowering communities to work together and find realistic solutions to improve their rural connectivity, he said.

A spokesperson for Laois GAA also commented.

Communities coming together is so important to the fabric of life in Ireland, and every community should have the ability to connect with others. The impact on people who struggle to stay connected cannot be understated and I welcome the Get Connected project and the positive force it will bring to the people of Laois and right around Ireland, he said.

Since its launch in 2013, Cellnex says it has invested over 3m constructing more than 25 new telecoms towers in locations throughout counties Laois and Offaly.

For example, in Killenard, Co Laois, a new tower helped during the recent pandemic to allow working from home. In Clonmacnoise, Co Offaly, a new tower is under construction aimed at enhancing the mobile coverage to the area along with helping improve mobile reception for the hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting the famous ancient monastery.

Cellnex add that recent research from ComReg shows that three in four people (73%) strongly value being able to access and use their mobile phone during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The research also shows that one in four households2 (27%) find mobile broadband not good enough for home working at a time when it has never been more important to ensure that householders are as well connected as possible.

Cellnex Ireland launched in 2015 with the acquisition of 300 tower locations from Irish state forestry company Coillte, and through further acquisitions and investment now has a portfolio of over 1,700 tower sites.

Cellnex Telecom claims to be one of Europe's leading operator of wireless telecommunications and broadcasting infrastructures with a portfolio of more than 128,000 sites, of which approximately 71,000 are already operative. Cellnex operates in Spain, Italy, Netherlands, France, Switzerland, the UK, Ireland, Portugal, Austria, Denmark, Sweden and Poland.
I want my children someday  when they go online and see the whole story of their dad  I want them to be able to say our dad was very clear, Stringer told Brian Lehrer as he was grilled on the radio hosts program on WNYC. That to me is more important than being mayor of New York City.
The transition from primary to secondary school is the subject of a talk by a popular parenting advisor hosted by Laois Libraries during the summer.

The service invites you to join join Dr Mary OKane of Ireland AM fame for the event which focuses on the transition which can result in both anxiety and excitement for parents and their children.

"This is one of the most significant transitions our young teens face. The changes are social, emotional, and academic, as they move from being the seniors in their primary school to the juniors in this new educational environment.

"In this talk Dr OKane outlines some of the challenges faced during this transition, and offers very practical advice on how we can support students on this new educational journey," said the library service.

Dr OKane is a Lecturer in Psychology and Early Childhood Education teaching with the Open University. Popular for sharing her expertise in a relatable way, Mary is a regular contributor to Ireland AM on both parenting and early childhood education issues.

She gives public talks on a range of topics related to child wellbeing, parenting, and education, and is well known for her humorous down-to-earth approach.

The talk takes place on Tuesday, June 15 at 6.30 p.m. over Zoom. Email mountmellicklibrary@laoiscoco.ie to register your interest.
At last, GAA kicks back into life this weekend with the return of inter-county action.

After a prolonged wait for GAA fans, 11 games are down for decision this weekend with five those available to watch on TV.

The marquee game of the weekend sees All-Ireland champions Limerick will be looking to making a successful start to the defence of their league title when they clash with Tipperary in Division 1A Allianz Hurling League at the LIT Gaelic Grounds on Saturday at 5.30pm.

Beforehand, Galway and Westmeath square off in the first game of the rescheduled calendar at TEG Cusack Park at 2pm with the meeting of Dublin and Kilkenny following at 3.30pm.

Antrim host Clare in the first of Sunday's action when they meet at Corrigan Park, Belfast at 1pm with the TG4 app providing live coverage.

Shortly afterwards at 1.45pm, Davy Fitzgerald's Wexford host Laois as part of a double-header on TG4 with Cork and Waterford providing a mouthwatering fixture at 3.45pm.

Saturday, May 8

Allianz HL Division 1 Group A Round 1

Westmeath v Galway, 2pm - TG4

Allianz HL Division 1 Group B Round 1



Dublin v Kilkenny, 3.30pm - eir

Allianz HL Division 1 Group A Round 1

Limerick v Tipperary, 5.30pm - eir & RTE 2

Sunday, May 9

Allianz HL Division 1 Group B Round 1



Antrim v Clare, 1pm - TG4 app

Wexford v Laois, 1.45pm - TG4

Allianz HL Division 1 Group A Round 1



Cork v Waterford, 3.45pm - TG4

READ ALSO: Offaly club with Portlaoise manager receive sponsorship boost from International retailer
Portlaoise derelict convent building and school is set to get 50,000 worth of preservation work while a further 140,000 is being set aside for two buildings with religious heritage in the Portarlington area.

The Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, last week announced that 85 heritage projects across Ireland will benefit from a total of 3m under this years Historic Structures Fund (HSF).

The announcement will see 50,000 going to the Presentation Convent on Church Avenue Portlaoise. At the heart of the new Old Fort Quarter, the building is set to be kept and be the centre of new residential development.

It said Laois County Council has council has also secured the same amount for work in the Portarlington area on the Lea Church of Ireland, Killenard.

Meanwhile, Offaly County Council is getting 80,000 grants between this year and next for work on the former Presentation Convent on the Tullamore Road in Portarlington. The money will be spent in two tranches of 40,000.

Through grants of between 15,000 and 200,000, the HSF assists owners of heritage structures  including those on the local authorities Record of Protected Structures and those in Architectural Conservation Areas  to meet their obligations to care for their properties.

The scheme provides assistance to a wide range of heritage structures  this years HSF includes awards to historic bridges, barns, courthouses, churches, shopfronts and a dry stone wall as well as to private houses.

The exact purpose of the spending on the buildings in Portlaoise and Portarlington is not outlined.

Laois Offaly Green Party Senator and Minister of State Pippa Hackett welcomed the funding.

Our historic buildings deserve to be preserved. They are part of our environment, enhancing our enjoyment of it. They remind us of our heritage and the many fine craftsmen who went before us building convents, gaols, churches, courthouses, barns and castles," she said.

Laois Offaly TD and Minister for State Sean Fleming also welcomed the money.

"The owners of these buildings will receive this funding under the Historic Structures Fund 2021. These owners are effectively custodians of these historic and protected structures for future generations.

"This funding will also be a boost to people who work in the construction and heritage trades locally, as specialised and skilled work is required on these protected structures

"Overall this is a good announcement for Laois and I look forward to these conservation and repair projects proceeding as soon as practicable," he said.
Ballyroan's capacity for more houses is set to grow with confirmation that the village is getting an upgrade to its sewerage system.

Irish Water announced the project in partnership with Laois County Council as part of its work to "support growth and development throughout the county", while protecting the environment and safeguarding water supplies.

The wastewater treatment plant in the village near Portlaoise and Abbeyleix has been selected for the upgrade as part of the Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme.

The State-owned utility says the investment in the local wastewater infrastructure will provide additional capacity for the development of new homes while ensuring that wastewater continues to be treated to an appropriate standard.

Elaine Heneghan is Irish Waters Regional Forward Planning Specialist.

We are pleased to confirm that this important project to improve wastewater treatment capacity in Ballyroan has been given the green light. This will bring big benefits to the area by ensuring the infrastructure is in place to meet the needs of the village Ballyroan as it continues to grow.

The purpose of the Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme is to support growth in smaller towns and villages. Ballyroan was selected following detailed consultation with the Local Authority to identify and prioritise areas for investment, she said.

Irish Water says the project will now continue through the next stages including design, detailed planning, procurement and approvals. Further updates on the budget and timelines for delivery will be provided in due course.

Laois Offaly TD and Minister of State Sean Fleming urged haste in delivery.

"In welcoming the announcement I am also calling on Irish Water to move this project forward as quickly as possible," said the Fianna Fail TD.

Irish Water says it is responsible for public water and wastewater infrastructure and is committed to providing a safe and reliable water supply, protecting the environment and supporting the growth of homes and businesses. The building, repair and upgrading of Irish Waters water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, water and sewer network will require a multi-billion euro investment programme over many years.

Irish Water says is investing 5.2 billion in the period from 2020-2024 in drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure.

The Draft Capital Investment Plan is subject to consultation and final determination by Irish Waters regulator, the Commission of the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). This process is ongoing. Following its completion and with the approval of the CRU, updated details of the planned investments in each county will be outlined over the coming months.
Laois is effectively being held back from growth because relief roads for its three biggest towns are left out as priorities in the latest National Development Plan.

No national roads funding can be given for relief roads for Mountmellick, Portarlington and the final section needed in Portlaoise, because those projects are not listed in the plan which lasts up to 2027.

The bad news was given by Laois County Council at their April meeting, as the 2021 roadworks 27 million budget was approved.

Director of Services over Roads Simon Walton listed the efforts the council is making to push for funding for the new relief roads.

They had commissioned a feasibility study on the N80 Mountmellick relief road and gave this to the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), but no funding has be given to progress the plans.

Consultants recommend both a Western and an Eastern relief road to take heavy passing traffic out of Mountmellick town centre.

The urgent need for a Mountmellick relief road was stressed by Cllr Paddy Bracken. The national road cuts right through the town centre, bringing trucks and dangerous fumes.

I don't know what it takes. Mountmellick needs it if ever it needed it. There are up to 10,000 vehicles passing on the N80 24 hours a day. It's a huge volume. What do we need to push it forward? It's fundamental to the town, and the county. this is the route to the west, he said.

Cllr Willie Aird in Portlaoise said his town is also in need.

With the way Portlaoise is growing, and all this traffic is going to the west, he said.

Mr Walton said they have made a strong case to the TII.

Before TII give funding, the state must see fit to put it into the plan.

Until they are listed as priorities in the National Development Plan they will not progress. We gave a submission to reconsider the National Development Plan and we made a strong case for Portlaoise and Mountmellick, and had a comment on Portarlington's relief road too. There is some clarity to come on it, he said.

For Portarlington, the council say a relief road remains an objective. It would need planning approvals including a bridge over the protected River Barrow which will require extra environmental studies and licences.

They say that even the cost of planning Port's road will be very considerable with a risk it will fail to get planning consents.

The council is however going to review the existing preferred route for the road and identify any newer alternatives.

In Portlaoise, the last section of relief road is still missing, the Northern road linking Fairgreen on the N80 Mountmellick road, past Rathevan to the Dublin road. It will be missing for years to come.

Various submissions have been made to the Department of Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland supporting advancemnet in delivery of the Portlaoise NRR. The scheme is not listed as a priority in the National Development Plan and until it is, TII will not assign funds to advance the necessary planning, the scheme document reported.
A windfarm planned for Laois has been refused permission by Laois County Council today.

Statkraft had applied to build eight wind turbines 185 metres tall, in the Forest Upper, Forest Lower and Dernacart rural area outside Mountmellick, off the N80 Tullamore road.

Their plans received many local objections from residents.

Minister Sean Fleming had sent a submission against the development saying it was against World Health Organisation guidelines, it would make large tracts of land uninhabitable for housing, and could impact on Mountmellick's flood risk.

The Department of Heritage said the impact on the hen harrier bird of prey was not adequately assessed. Laois ornithologist Ricky Whelan also noted that the development is beside Bord na Mona's decomissioned Garryhinch bog which he said is possibly the largest hen harrier nesting site in the country.

Deputy Charlie Flanagan had asked that residents of Forest, Clonaghadoo and Geashill were concerned and should be consulted.

The residents raised many concerns including for water quality, flooding, noise and visual impact, traffic, health implications, property devaluation, wildlife damage, and said it did not comply with EU directives.

Bord na Mona who own bogs beside the development, and owns Mount Lucas windfarm in Offaly, had submitted a welcome but said that six of the turbines were too close to its land.

This Wednesday, May 5, the council gave its decision against the development.

The decision may well be appealed by Statkraft to An Bord Pleanala.

The wind turbines are one of many planned by the Norwegian founded energy company in the Laois, Offaly and Kildare bogland areas.

Umeras windfarm with five 169m turbines was refused by Kildare County Council in March but appealed by Statkraft to An Bord Pleanala. It would be between Monasterevin and Rathangan. The decision is due this August.

Another nine 187m turbines were approved by ABP last October after initially being turned down by Offaly County Council.

They will stretch over 63 hectares from Geashill to Edenderry and Carbury on the Kildare border. Statkraft is the majority shareholder of Cloncant Renewable Energy Ltd, the company behind it.
The announcement today that the Midlands is to get a new Technological University has been welcomed by Laois/Offaly Fine Gael TD, Charlie Flanagan.

This is a great day for the Laois/Offaly and the Midlands area and this mornings announcement will not only benefit students and staff but also businesses and communities.

A large number of students across the Laois/Offaly constituency attend AIT and they will now be able to study in a university closer to their home. This will not only help address the regional imbalance but it will also increase opportunities for students, enterprise and regional stakeholders," Deputy Flanagan said.

I am very much looking forward to this new TU bringing these benefits across the Laois, Offaly and beyond," he added.

His party colleague Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris has announced that Athlone Institute of Technology will be dissolved and a new TU will be established.

This is another hugely important day for higher education in Ireland and in particular for the Midlands and Mid-West regions. The higher education landscape is rapidly evolving and the people of the Midlands and Mid-West will be at the heart both geographically and practically of that evolution.

This new TU  our third since 2019 - will now take its rightful place in the higher education landscape in the countrys heartlands. The new higher education institution of increased scale and reach will benefit the students and communities of Westmeath, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare and Offaly to name but some of the counties which will be served by the new university, Minister Harris said.

Meanwhile Carlow IT and Waterford IT are applying jointly to make a Technological University for the south east. Carlow and Waterford ITs are the most popular choices for Laois third level students. Read more on that here.
BT Ireland has announced the return of the virtual BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) in January 2022 and is calling on Kildare students to get their thinking caps on.

For the second consecutive year, Europes largest national Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) event will be a virtual affair taking place from January 12th -14th, 2022.

Now in its 58th year, the BTYSTE showcases the incredible ability of Irish students to create and test potential solutions that tackle everything from everyday problems to some of the biggest, global issues of our time. Once again BT Ireland, the exhibition organiser, has waived project entry fees for participating students.

Students that are chosen to present their projects in the virtual exhibition hall will be vying for some of the 200 plus prizes that will be up for grabs across four categories and age groups. The overall top prize is a trophy, 7,500 prize money and the opportunity to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS).

Speaking at the launch of BTYSTE 2022, BT Ireland Managing Director Shay Walsh said: The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition is a staple in the school calendar and is an exciting and fun way for young minds to engage with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths subjects.

"We are thrilled to give students the opportunity once again to challenge themselves and use their ingenuity to come up with fresh new ideas, solutions and approaches in the world of STEM. Its very exciting to know that thousands of students across Ireland will be working on projects in the weeks and months ahead.

Speaking at the launch of BTYSTE 2022 today, Mairead Cusack, Moate Community School teacher, and one of the recipients of the Educator of Excellence Award said: Weve always considered the BTYSTE a fun and exciting way to build our students interest in science and we were delighted when one of our teams won best overall group at Januarys exhibition. Im always so proud when I see the ideas students have and how excited they are to carry out their investigations.

BTYSTE 2022 is open to second-level students aged between 12 and 19 years. To enter, an individual or group must submit a one-page proposal outlining their project idea. Entries can be made in any one of four categories: technology; social and behavioural science; biological and ecological science; and chemical, physical and mathematical science.

The deadline for submissions is Monday, September 27, 2021. Visit btyoungscientist.com for more information.
A husband and wife falsely tried to claim they had been injured in a car accident after the husband reversed into an off-duty garda driving a van, a Dublin court has heard.

Rene Cifra (34) was only 15 minutes into his new job as a food delivery man in May 2019 when he missed the house he was delivering to and decided to reverse down Griffith Avenue, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard on Tuesday.

Cifra collided with a Mercedes van which was being driven by an off-duty garda and ended up writing off his car.

Cifra went on to claim to Liberty insurance that his wife had also been in the car at the time and they were both injured in the collision. His wife, Olga Cifrova (31) also made the same claim, Detective Garda Dominic McGrath told the court.

Both Cifra and Cifrova, with an address in Watermint Court, Royal Canal Park, Ashtown, pleaded guilty to making a false and misleading personal injuries claim on dates between August 2019 and January 2020.

Neither have previous convictions and they are the parents of two young children, the court heard.

Det Gda McGrath told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that Cifra reversed into the van on Griffith Avenue on May 27, 2019, when he was trying to find a house to deliver food to. The van was being driven by an off-duty garda who had borrowed the van from a colleague.

Both men exchanged insurance details, with Cifra admitting at the scene that he had been at fault, the court heard. A few months later, his insurance company  Allianz  paid a sum of 650 to the van owner.

Cifra was annoyed to hear the insurance company had made the pay-out without contacting him and viewed it as being found guilty in the accident, defence counsel said. As a result, he filed a false claim of injury against the van owner's insurance company, Liberty Insurance.

Cifra didn't have good English and had already told gardai his wife was present at the scene of the accident, in order to have a witness there.

The couple, who are originally from Slovakia, went to a solicitor where they both filed false personal injury claims. They also visited a doctor in Cavan with the intention of getting medical documentation. The details of their fabricated injuries were not outlined in court.

As soon as the van owner was informed of the claim, he gave his insurance company the details of the accident, including the fact that Cifra's wife was not in the car at the time. Gardai called to the couple's home and Cifrova was arrested.

When questioned by gardai, Cifrova pretended she had been present at the accident and drew a sketch of what happened, which was soon found to be totally different to what had actually occurred.

Cifra attended the gardai later by appointment and admitted to fabricating the personal injury claim. Cifrova later admitted the same.

Deirdre Flannery BL, defending Cifrova, said this was a case that would never have made it to the steps of the Four Courts, never mind the PIAB (Personal Injuries Assessment Board).

She said Cifrova later described it as the biggest mistake of her life.

The court heard that Cifra has been living in Ireland since 2008, when he met Cifrova who moved here at the age of 15. Both of their children were born here. They have both worked a number of minimum wage jobs.

Donncha Craddock BL defending Cifra, said his client had just started a new job as a food delivery driver when the collision occurred. He lost his job and wrote off the family car in the incident. He is currently working part-time as a cleaner.

Judge Karen O'Connor ordered a probation report into the couple and adjourned the matter for sentencing on July 27.
The Court of Appeal has upheld a decision that two children, whose Irish-based father refused to allow them go back to their mother in France over the mandatory wearing of masks in French schools, must be returned to their home.

The court heard that the two children were born in France, where they normally reside, to an Irish father and a French mother.

The children, two boys who are both in primary school, and their parents, cannot be named for legal reasons.

Their parents split up, and their father returned to Ireland.

Last year while the children were on a visit to Ireland their father decided he would not return them to their mother.

This was over concerns he had about one of his sons having to wear a facemask, as part of efforts to counter the Covid-19 pandemic, while attending school in France.

While he did not want them to remain in Ireland permanently, the boy's father argued that the requirement to wear masks would adversely affect his son, and would result in him suffering anxiety and distress.

Arising out of the father's refusal to allow them return to France, their mother, through the French courts, made an application under the International Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Abduction commonly known as the Hague Convention.

In a judgement earlier this year Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty High Court rejected the father's claims.

She ruled that the two children were wrongfully detained and should be returned to France forthwith.

That decision was appealed by the father, who said he was seeking a stay on the order until the order requiring French schoolchildren aged 6 years and over to wear masks at school had been lifted.

In its judgment, the three-Judge Court comprised of Ms Justice Mary Faherty, Mr Justice Maurice Collins, and Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington dismissed all grounds of the father's appeal.

Giving the court's decision Mr Justice Collins said that the evidence before the court fell very significantly short of establishing any grave risk or harm to one of the children.

There was no plausible or meaningful evidence that the requirement to wear a face mask at school will have any adverse impact on the child, the judge said.

He added that it was not in dispute the proof required to make an order for the childrens' return under Article 12 of the Hague Convention had been satisfied.

The court heard that the boys' parents had been in a relationship for some time and resided together in France.

When the relationship ended the Irish father returned, and the children resided with their mother in France. By arrangement the children travelled to Ireland late last year.

However, their father decided not to return them after it was announced in October 2020 that the wearing of masks would become mandatory for all children aged 6 years and over.
Silver, 77, was sentenced last year for secretly taking $800,000 in legal fees from real estate developers from 2005 to 2015. He faced two trials  a jurys first guilty verdict was overturned on a legal technicality  and unsuccessfully appealed all the way to the Supreme Court.
The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland (CPsychI) has warned that cannabis represents the gravest threat to the mental health of young people in Ireland today.

The CPsychI says that the combination of increasingly potent strains of the drug and a widespread conception among the public that it is generally harmless have had devastating effects.

The warning was made at the launch of two new and detailed information leaflets on cannabis, aimed at the general public and medical professionals. The public-facing leaflet, entitled Cannabis and your Mental Health, examines cannabis use in Ireland, its general risks, and its effects on mental health.

Between 2005 and 2017, the number of hospital admissions of young people with a cannabis-related diagnosis increased by 300%. While one in three young people are likely to become addicted to cannabis if they use it weekly or more often.

Mental health issues associated with cannabis use include psychosis, depression, anxiety disorders, and self-harm and suicidal behaviour.

The THC levels in cannabis have increased dramatically over recent years. Samples of cannabis seized by Irish authorities have found THC levels (the psychoactive substance which creates the high) of up to 16%. Cannabis with THC levels of over 10% is known as high-potency cannabis.

For reference, in 2000 analysis of herbal cannabis showed THC levels of 6% on average. Increasing cannabis potency has been noted across Europe, with potency doubling over the period 2006 to 2016.

Speaking today, Dr William Flannery, President of the CPsychI and Consultant Addiction Psychiatrist, said: Cannabis represents the gravest threat to the mental health of young people in Ireland today. It is by far the most widely used illegal drug in the country and we know that its potency has spiked in recent years, leading to a significant rise in hospital admissions among young people with a cannabis-related diagnosis.

However, despite this there is still a general feeling among the public that the drug is mostly harmless. This conception needs to be challenged at every turn because psychiatric services are under huge pressure due to this problem.

Dr Gerry McCarney, Consultant Child and Adolescent Addiction Psychiatrist, said that the risks of cannabis addiction were significant. As many as one in three young people who use cannabis weekly or more often will likely become addicted. When you consider how potent the drug has become in recent years, it is obvious we are facing a perfect storm which has the potential to overrun our psychiatric services. We cannot overstate the danger that this increasingly potent drug poses to young peoples mental health.

Adolescents are at particular risk from mind-altering substances such as cannabis as their brains have not fully developed. Cannabis can be hugely damaging to young people, affecting their ability to learn social and problem-solving skills, while potentially stunting cognitive ability and general emotional intelligence.

We are calling on the Government to conduct an urgent review of cannabis use in Ireland and its related harms, as well as initiating a comprehensive public awareness campaign on the dangers of the drug.
Industry 4.0 Skillnet is a new Skillnet Business Network that is being launched by Skillnet Ireland and the Networks Promoting company Future Cast based at the W8 Complex in Manorhamilton tomorrow, Thursday May 6.

The network will offer upskilling, education and training to future-proof and grow Irish manufacturing. The network will specifically offer training focused on the quarry, construction and manufacturing industries.

With technology rapidly transforming these sectors, developing skills in digitalisation, automation and robotic processes is vital to ensure Irish businesses can compete and grow. Industry 4.0 will address this demand for digital skills, offering upskilling in Robotics, Automation, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, with programmes beginning on May 27.

Heather Humphreys T.D., Minister for Rural & Community Development will launch the networkr with Paul Healy, Chief Executive, Skillnet Ireland.

Speakers at the event which is being held on zoom will include Aiden McKenna, Regional Director, Enterprise Ireland; Joe Lowe, Head of LEO, Leitrim County Council; and Chris O'Malley, Vice President, Sligo IT.



JJ O Hara CEO Future Cast, Innovation and R&D Centre for the Quarry, Construction and Manufacturing industries will also speak and there will be a panel discussion on The Future Vision of Industry 4.0 featuring experts from leading organisations including VR Ireland, Irish Manufacturing Research, Skellig AI, Kuka Robotic and Utility AR

The full agenda for the launch is attached and you can register to http://bit.ly/industry4launch

Also read: Leitrim company receives international recognition
A Carrick-on-Shannon resident, who is before the court on charges of threats to kill, has been denied bail, as his family were unable to come up with the cash and there was also a question in relation to his address, Sligo District Court heard.

Raymond Stewart, (33) from Town Parks Apartment, Park Lane Carrick-on-Shannon is charged with assaulting Nova Farris at another apartment in Park Lane and making a threat to kill or causing her serious harm on April 26.

He is also charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Frank Lunney on the same date and same location.

When the case was called originally at Tubbercurry District Court on April 27 the defendant was remanded in custody and bail was set at 300 to be lodged with an independent bond of 9000 with 3000 to be lodged.

Detective Garda Michael Kelly told the court there were issues about where the defendant might live.

His mother lived in Galway and the family did not have the means to raise the cash for bail.

The detective said the defendants mother was not willing to come to court.

Judge Kevin Kilrane remanded the defendant to last Thursday's sitting of the district court via videolink.

Defence solicitor Gerry McGovern said he wanted to move the case along.

Judge Kilrane said the alleged offences happened on April 26.

Detective Kelly said a file could be forwarded to the DPP very shortly.

Judge Kilrane said he would probably accept jurisdiction.
BT Ireland has this week announced the highly anticipated return of the virtual BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) in January 2022 and is calling on Limerick students to get their thinking caps on.

For the second consecutive year, Europes largest national Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) event will be a virtual affair taking place from the 12th -14th January 2022. Now in its 58th year, the BTYSTE showcases the incredible ability of Irish students to create and test potential solutions that tackle everything from everyday problems to some of the biggest, global issues of our time. Once again BT Ireland, the exhibition organiser, has waived project entry fees for participating students.

Students that are chosen to present their projects in the virtual exhibition hall will be vying for some of the 200 plus prizes that will be up for grabs across four categories and age groups. The overall top prize is a trophy, 7,500 prize money and the opportunity to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS).

BTYSTE 2022 is open to second-level students aged between 12 and 19 years. To enter, an individual or group must submit a one-page proposal outlining their project idea. Entries can be made in any one of four categories: technology; social and behavioural science; biological and ecological science; and chemical, physical and mathematical science. The deadline for submissions is Monday, 27th September 2021. Visit btyoungscientist.com for more information.
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is making an urgent appeal to members of the public to take part in its national fundraiser on Thursday, May 6.

The Alzheimer's Tea Day is encouraging people to have tea in every town across Ireland to support the half a million Irish families affected by dementia. People are encouraged to host their own Tea Day gathering within their own homes or with friends online.

You can register for the event and make Tea Day donations on www.TeaDay.ie.

TV presenter Daithi O Se is once again the ambassador for the event, and is inviting everyone across Ireland to have a cuppa in aid of Alzheimers.

According to Marie Conlon, chair of the Alzheimer Society: This is a major fundraising event that occurs once a year, so I would appeal to everybody in the country to play your part and support this event as families throughout Ireland are crying out for services, and by supporting the National Tea Day you are helping to alleviate the suffering of these families. So if you are in a position to help, please do.

Despite an impact on their finances due to the loss of fundraising events during the pandemic, the Society has continued to support clients through home care, dementia advisers, a national helpline and online family carer training.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland National Helpline is open six days a week, Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, and Saturday from 10am to 4pm on 1800 341 341.
TWO feel-good stories from Limerick will be broadcast into homes across the country this Wednesday evening.

First up is local model agent Celia Holman Lee who will be chatting about life, lockdown and the future, on The Six OClock Show on Virgin Media One from 6pm.

Fellow Limerick woman, presenter Muireann OConnell and her co-host Martin King will be interviewing Celia and getting her thoughts on the fashion industry a year on from the start of the pandemic.

Well be having a chat about my life in general, how the past year has been for me, the current situation regarding the fashion industry and my plans for the future and the agency, Celia explained.

Later, at 7pm, Limerick will again feature on national television - this time on RTEs Nationwide. The Nationwide team have been meeting people who have been exploring areas within their 5k and this evening they follow local classic car enthusiast Pat Conroy as he heads off in his vintage car to tour the Ballyhoura region near Ballyorgan.
As of midnight, Tuesday May 4, the HPSC has been notified of 418 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 251,087* confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. Of the cases today, 17 have been attributed to Limerick. The national 14-Day incidence rate per 100,000 population rate is now at 134.4, while Limerick's now lies at 127.8.

Of the cases notified today:

199 are men / 214 are women

73% are under 45 years of age

The median age is 30 years old

167 in Dublin, 39 in Cork, 32 in Donegal, 29 in Kildare, 22 in Meath and the remaining 129 cases are spread across 20 other counties**.



As of 8am today, 137 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 37 are in ICU. 18 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 7 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

Of the deaths notified today, 5 occurred in April, 1 in February and 1 in January. The median age of those who died was 82 years and the age range was 67-92 years.

There has been a total of 4,915 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of Monday May 3rd, 1,621,870 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland:

1,174,292 people have received their first dose

447,578 people have received their second dose



Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, said: As we look forward to the greater reopening of activities and services, our key objective now is to maintain our course in coming weeks and follow the public health advice in our daily activities.

When you are planning to meet someone, remember that outdoors is safer for everybody. And when you meet up, stay at a 2m distance, keep to a small group and avoid crowded areas  this will minimise the risk of passing the virus from person to person, driving down the incidence rate and keeping our society open.

Throughout this pandemic we have seen outbreaks and clusters of disease as a result of social events such as funerals, wakes and birthday parties. Unfortunately we need to continue to stay vigilant to the infectious nature of this disease and avoid congregating together in large groups. We need all sectors of society to continue to encourage and support the public health messages and to help everyone to stay safe.

The COVID-19 Dashboard provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of COVID-19 in the community including daily data on Irelands COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.
New Delhi: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered a probe into allegations of anti-competitive practices against Tata Motors Ltd on behalf of two auto dealers.

The lawyer representing a Tata Motors dealer from Uttar Pradesh alleged that the companys terms for the dealership encompassed both manufacturing and financing of commercial vehicles through NBFCs, Tata Capital Financial Services Ltd and Tata Motors Finance Ltd, which was abusive, anti-competitive and detrimental to the financial health of authorised dealers". She also alleged that Tata Motors had breached provisions, prohibiting anti-competitive practices.

The proprietor of an authorized dealer in Nashik also alleged that the vehicle manufacturer had breached competition law provisions.

A spokesperson for Tata Motors said in an emailed statement that the company was looking into the order. We have learnt that the CCI has passed an order directing the director general, CCI to initiate investigation against Tata Motors Limiteds (TML) commercial vehicles business in India. We understand that the CCI has passed a prima facie order and has not made any final or binding observations with regard to the allegations levelled against TML. TML is currently reviewing the copy of the order available in the public domain and will consult its legal counsels to take necessary steps," the spokesperson said.

The CCI said in its order that the defence offered by Tata Motors needs a detailed investigation to ascertain the effectiveness, veracity and validation of its plea. The regulator said it was of the view that prima facie a case of contravention of the provisions of the Competition Act, dealing with agreement among enterprises at different stages of production and abuse of dominance, was made out against the company and the director general must complete the investigation and submit his report within 60 days. However, the CCI said its order was not the final expression of opinion on the merits of the case.

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Amidst India's second wave of COVID outbreak, INS (Indian Navy Ship) Talwar reached the New Mangalore Port with the first consignment of 54 tonnes of liquid oxygen from Bahrain on Wednesday.

INS Talwar is part of the Indian Navy's "Operation Samudra Setu-II" which aims to fulfil India's requirements of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) by shipping oxygen-filled cryogenic containers and other medical equipment from overseas suppliers.

Talking about the progress of Operation Samudra Setu II, Vice Admiral MS Pawar, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff in a statement said that nine warships have been diverted to various ports extending from Kuwait in the West to Singapore in the East to bring in Oxygen and associated medical supplies from friendly foreign countries.

"As a part of the ongoing national effort to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indian Navy has launched Operation Samudra Setu II to bring in by sea the much-needed Oxygen and associated medical supplies from friendly foreign countries. As many as nine warships have been diverted to various ports in the region extending from Kuwait in the West to Singapore in the East," he said.

The Vice-Admiral added that apart from INS Talwar, INS Airavat from Singapore and INS Kolkata from Kuwait are also heading back to India with liquid Oxygen, Oxygen filled cylinders, cryogenic tanks and other medical equipment.

"Three more warships are scheduled to pick up more supplies from Kuwait and Doha. The LPD INS Jalashwa, mission deployed in South East Asia is ready to be diverted to ports in the region as the situation demands," he said.

Indian Navy had launched Operation Samudra Setu last year to repatriate distressed citizens from IOR (Indian Ocean Rim) countries.

"Let me assure the countrymen that the Navy will continue with its efforts to bring relief and together, we will overcome this challenge," Vice Admiral Pawar said.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Liz Cheney is a warmongering fool who has no business in Republican Party Leadership, said Trump, who remains a singularly dominant force in the GOP despite being out of office. Elise Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL Endorsement for GOP Conference Chair. Elise is a tough and smart communicator!
Hours, after Mamata Banerjee took oath as Chief Minister of West Bengal, BJP national president JP Nadda on Wednesday said we also take an oath that we will dismantle political violence in the state.

Addressing the party workers in Kolkata, Nadda said: "Those who were supposed to protect others, are the ones responsible for this violence. They can take oath, everyone has the right to do that in a democracy. But we also take an oath that we will dismantle political violence in Bengal."

Nadda is on a two-day visit to West Bengal starting from Tuesday to hold a protest against the alleged atrocities on party workers in the state by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government.

Earlier in the day, Mamata was administered the oath of office by West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Several shops and residences were allegedly vandalised by TMC workers in the Gopal Nagar area of South 24 Parganas. "On May 2, TMC goons attacked my home as my husband was BJP's polling agent. They even threatened us to sell our property and leave this place," a resident, Shefali Das told ANI.

On Monday, the BJP office and some shops in Ghoshpara road of Bhatpara were allegedly vandalised by miscreants and at least 13 crude bombs were hurled in the area. The shopkeepers alleged that TMC was behind the attack as the area is known to be of BJP supporters.

However, local TMC leader denied the allegations and said BJP's insiders were behind the incident.

Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress won 213 seats in the just concluded West Bengal assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party garnered 77 seats in the 294-seat state assembly. However, elections for two seats in Murshidabad are postponed because of the demise of candidates due to COVID.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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As hospitals throughout India put out pleas on social media for more oxygen, the country has pressed its national railways and air force to speed distribution. International aid has flowed in.

But it hasnt been enough.

We have just run out of oxygen. We are currently surviving on some oxygen cylinders. Over the next 10 minutes that will also run out. We are again in a crisis mode," Sudhanshu Bankata, executive director of New Delhis Batra Hospital, said on Saturday afternoon, in a video the hospital released to the media.

Dr. Bankata had already alerted government officials via WhatsApp groups set up to monitor oxygen levels in the capitals hospitals. The oxygen tanker trucks en route, he said in the video, were quite far away from our hospital."

The hospital remained without oxygen for an hour and 20 minutes. He said 12 patients died from a lack of oxygen, including R.K. Himthani, head of the hospitals gastroenterology department.

I am broken up," Dr. Bankata said in an interview. We are losing our own patients, our own doctors from something that is totally avoidable."

India is weeks into the fastest rising surge of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic. On Wednesday, the country reported more than 382,000 new daily cases of infection and 3,780 deaths, Indias highest single-day toll.

The surge has overwhelmed many of the countrys hospitalsparticularly in hard-hit cities like New Delhiand confounded the countrys efforts to address the oxygen supply shortage.

Dr. Bankata said he was worried the hospital could run out of oxygen again on Thursday.

At the peak of Indias last wave in September, the country was consuming 3,000 tons of medical-grade oxygen. Now, Delhi on its own is consuming about 400 tons of oxygen a day, said Saket Tiku, president of the All India Industrial Gases Manufacturers Association, a body that represents Indias industrial gases industry.

Yet the government and industry experts say the problem bedeviling the efforts is the distribution, not the amount of oxygen the country is producing. India is producing between 8,500 and 9,000 tons of oxygen a day, which is sufficient to meet current demand.

Most of the oxygen is being produced far from the hospitals that need it. Transporting medical-grade oxygen requires special cryogenic tankers, which are specially built to store and transport liquefied gases at subzero temperatures.

The tankers have to travel 900 miles, in some cases, along Indias narrow and congested highways. The tankers cant be airlifted because it is unsafe to transport highly flammable oxygen that way.

The Indian government has turned to its national railway servicewith its extensive network of tracksfor help, in an effort that has been dubbed the Oxygen Express." Flatcars are loaded with tankers directly from the factories. But once the delivery trucks are emptied, they must travel by road back to the factories. It takes an average of 10 to 12 days for the tankers to reach the factories again. The Indian Air Force is also helping by airlifting empty containers back to eastern Indian cities like Rourkela and Durgapur.

The entire supply chain is stressed at the moment," said Mr. Tiku.

One of Indias largest manufacturers of medical-grade oxygen, INOX Air Products, has deployed all of its 550 tanker trucks and 600 drivers to supply oxygen to 800 hospitals across India, said Siddharth Jain, the companys director. Of its 44 manufacturing locations, 25 are equipped to manufacture 2,700 tons of medical oxygen a day.

A Pennsylvania-based company, Air Products and Chemicals Inc., is sending INOX 20-ton storage containers that can be filled with oxygen. Mr. Jain said the Indian company has already received six of them.

Today, every drop counts," he said.

State governments have petitioned the countrys courts in an attempt to press federal authorities for more oxygen.

On Tuesday, the Allahabad High Court in Indias northern state of Uttar Pradesh said those failing to provide hospitals with oxygen were committing a criminal act and not less than a genocide," during a hearing for a case about the death of patients from a lack of oxygen.

France, Germany and the U.K. have all sent oxygen generators and ventilators. Emergency supplies have also arrived from the U.S., including 1,000 oxygen cylinders that are used in smaller hospitals and clinics that dont have the infrastructure to pipe oxygen directly to a patients bed.

Early this week, however, officials in multiple states said the donations had yet to arrive, according to reports in the Indian press. On Tuesday, the nations health ministry said the government started the distribution of aid immediately and didnt waste time.

There are not a lot of great options when it comes to rapidly increasing oxygen in the short-term. There is a temptation to purchase a lot of products, such as oxygen concentrators or oxygen generators, however, many of these will likely not reach India or be set up in time for them to make an impact during this surge. Instead, more can be done to increase the logistics and distribution within the country to ensure oxygen is reaching the places that need it most," said Mohammad Ameel, who heads primary healthcare, technology and innovations for PATH India. PATH is an international nonprofit focused on health.

In recent days, Mr. Tiku said he has met with other industry leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in online conference calls to discuss building makeshift hospitals near manufacturing plants to cut down on transportation times.

Whether this is doable, we are looking into that," said Mr. Tiku.

Some 500 new medical-use oxygen plants would be set up within three months, the health ministry said Tuesday.

Medical-use oxygen was given priority last year when India was battling its first wave. In October, the government said it would build dozens of oxygen plants. Of the 162 that were sanctioned, only 33 have been installed so far, Indias health ministry said.

Plans were unveiled and foundation stones were laid, but they are nowhere near completion," said K. Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India, a think tank based in New Delhi.

The surge caught the underprepared system off balance," said Dr. Reddy, a cardiologist.

Temporary Covid-19 care facilities that were built for the first wave were dismantled. During early days of the current surge, authorities didnt quickly identify problems and amend guidelines. For example, many hospitals until recently required patients to show a positive test result in order to be admitted and home-care guidelines were only recently issued.

Ignoring the symptoms and insisting on reports meant valuable time was lost in providing help to people," said Dr. Reddy. Patients were also not able to get support for management at home, so when their condition deteriorates, the total number of people needing [oxygen] increasingly goes higher."

Days before Batra Hospital lost patients to an oxygen shortage, Reva Manns uncle was admitted to the same hospital on April 24 with a blood oxygen level of 52. A health level is generally considered to be between 95 and 100.

An oxygen concentrator that the hospital was using wasnt able to provide sufficient support so the family bought a 67-liter oxygen cylinder for $434 on April 26. The hospital also asked them to obtain a meter that regulates the flow of oxygen. These have also been in short supply.

Ms. Mann managed to find one that night with the help of friends. Its not just oxygen, its everything around it now," she said.

For a day, it seemed as though her uncles condition was improving. On April 28, the family received a late-night call from the hospital saying he wasnt going to make it. He died an hour later.

The oxygen cylinder was lost in the turmoil that followed his death, as she tried to find a crematorium for her uncle. All of them had a long waiting list. His body was brought to the outskirts of the city and cremated in a field near Ms. Manns home.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Denham Springs, LA (70726)

Today

Partly to mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 91F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 74F. Winds light and variable.
An $80 million redistribution of funds will help ease traffic along the corridors of I-12 and I-10, seen here at the foot of the Mississippi River Bridge.
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Unfolding in a compact and extraordinarily compelling 82 minutes, Blue Box is a brave, authoritatively documented account of how the Jewish National Fund (JNF) acquired land in Palestine before and after the creation of the State of Israel. Helmer Michal Weits uses the primary source par excellence: the diaries and papers of her great-grandfather, Yosef Weitz, to argue that from todays perspective, some of the methods used seem morally questionable. Offering a stark contrast to the popular Israeli national myth of a land without a people for a people without a land, this multi-layered documentary will inspire much debate and deserves wide distribution.

Little-known outside of Israel, Yosef Weitz, a longtime JNF Director of Lands and Afforestation, is celebrated there as the father of Israels forests. But in her research, Weits discovers a less, er, pine-scented, side of his work in establishing the Jewish state, a side never mentioned in her familys lore. With this film, she provides a more nuanced portrait of her illustrious forebear, one that tells a lot of painful truths but provides a good deal of candor too.

Moreover, Weits effectively creates another layer to the film by interspersing her findings with questions to and commentary from her cousins, father and uncles. Their on-camera discussions  and in some cases, justifications  encompass generational and gender differences in perspective. Although it is admittedly stretching it a bit, one might say that another connecting level is created by the eponymous blue box, the JNFs receptacle for international fundraising. In a sense, some of those who contributed funds to buy trees in Israel might be unknowingly complicit in the more questionable actions of the JNF.

Yosef Weitz, a Russian emigre, arrives in Palestine in 1910 at age 18. Early on, he sees that the land is not empty nor uncultivated. Arab agricultural workers are present in great numbers, laboring assiduously. Here and throughout the timeline covered by the film, helmer Weits makes comprehensible the shifting locations of Jewish and Arab settlements and their relative population numbers with easy to understand, animated maps and graphics.

By 1932, in a powerful position at the JNF, Weitzs mission is to purchase as much land as possible for Jewish settlement using funds raised from the Jewish diaspora. The landlords with whom he negotiates are usually absentee, living in such distant cities as Aleppo, Alexandria, Beirut, Cairo and Damascus. Then it falls to Weitz to explain to those tilling the soil that they must leave. A diary entry from the 1930s describing the evictions states, My stomach turned the entire time. Nevertheless, he writes, Thats how it goes  my people come first.

Weitz realizes that a viable Jewish entity in Palestine would require significant contiguous tracts of Jewish-owned land. As Jewish settlements begin to fill the Western half of Palestine, especially along the coasts, the Arab population revolts. They demand an end to immigration and the sale of land to the Jews. Weitzs diaries describe the Arab resistance and his conviction that living together will not be possible.

After the partition of Palestine and the declaration of the independent State of Israel in May 1948, five Arab countries attack the new nation. The war proves a defining moment for both Israelis and Arabs. Some 750,000 Arab war refugees leave their homes and wind up in camps outside the borders of Israel. Then comes the problematic decision by Israel to preclude the return of these exiles by taking over or destroying their villages, often burying them beneath new forestation projects. In her commentary, Weits shares her new perception of the stone ruins dotting the forested landscapes.

In apparent defiance of UN Resolution 194, mandating the right of return for the refugees, Prime Minister David Ben Gurion appoints the Israeli government as custodian of the land and then sells 250,000 acres to the JNF, a non-governmental organization not subject to international law. Weitz is committed to the process as inevitable, but insistent on paying the former owners. But with a new Jewish state to build, the problem of the Arab refugees fails to rank high in Israeli government thinking. Although Weitz argues for a quick and acceptable resolution based on reasonable compensation, his superiors believe that the problem will go away on its own.

Of course, as history shows, Weitzs superiors were wrong. After winning the Six Day War in 1967, Israel doubles its territory again, but this time the residents do not leave. Weitz, who resigned from the JNF in 1966, writes despairingly of the Occupied Territories as a new existential threat to the Jewish state.

Painstakingly researched archival footage and photos illustrate the excerpts from Weitzs diaries which are voiced by Dror Keren. Stellar editing work by Doron Djerassi and Erez Laufer enables optimal flow. The propulsive but not intrusive score by Benoit Charest is another bonus.

Reviewed at Hot Docs (online), Chicago, May 2, 2021. Running time: 82 MIN.

Running Time: Running time: 82 MIN.

Production

(Documentary  Israel-Canada-Belgium) A Norma Prods., Intuitive Pictures, Yes Docu, OFF World production, in association with Radio Canada, Knowledge Network, Umedia in association with Ufund, NHK, VRT  Canvas, VPRO, RTS, with the participation of NFCT, Israel Ministry of Culture and Sport, the Israel Film Council, Rogers Documentary Fund, SODEC, Canada Media Fund, Hot Docs Ted Rogers Fund, Flanders Audiovisual Fund, Israel Film Center, Mifal Hapais. (World sales: Cinephil, Tel Aviv.) Producers: Assaf Amir, Ina Fichman, Eric Goosens, Uri Smoly, Frederik Nicolai. Executive producers: Ira Levy, Guy Lavie, Keren Gleicher, Dana Stern.

Crew

Director: Michal Weits. Writers: Weits, Marie-Josee Cardinal. Camera: Daniel Kedem, Avner Shahaf, Daniel Miller. Editors: Doron Djerassi, Erez Laufer. Music: Benoit Charest.

With

Michal Weits, Gidi Weitz, Nir Weitz, Nitan Weitz, Rami Weits, Stav Weitz, Yehiam Weitz (#1), Yehiam Weitz (#2). (Hebrew dialogue)

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Specialist sales agency Good Move Media has picked up international rights to Ancient Soul, which had its world premiere in March at the Berlin Film Festival.

The film, aka Mbah Jhiwo, is a Spanish-produced docu-drama about life in the Sulphur mines of Java, Indonesia. It was directed by Alvarro Guerra and will next play at the DocumentaMadrid festival.

Pitched as ethno-fiction, the film follows a man who hand carries huge rocks of Sulphur from the mine, sees his routine radically altered the moment his wife goes away. Trapped like Sisyphus into an eternal return, the man will face similar events that mutate in appearance as his beliefs move from animism, to Islam and capitalism. An ethno-fiction that explores otherness and questions the myth of progress in the neocolonial reality of the South Seas.

What first piqued our interest in this film was the style and story, but what confirmed our passion for the film was the eager collaboration the filmmakers had with the man who is the films subject, said Pearl Chan, head of International distribution at Hong Kong-based Good Move.

Since the success of Me and the Cult Leader, which was played at the CPH DOX festival, weve become interested in the conversations of ethics, neo-colonialism and POV in documentaries. With Ancient Soul we found a filmmaking team equally committed to these questions and engaged with the community they were filming what is essentially an ethnography of beliefs.

Good Move is currently riding high on the success of another unusual and uncomfortable documentary Cult Leader. In it a filmmaker becomes closely involved with a member of Aleph (formerly Aum Shinriko) the doomsday cult that released poison gas into the Tokyo subway in 1995, killing that killed 13 and injured over 6,000 people. A Variety review recently described the film as a slow burn form of deprogramming.

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Its a pretty common experience: sometimes youll read a great book and conclude theres no way it could ever be turned into a film or TV series. It was easy to feel that way after reading Colson Whiteheads The Underground Railroad, but the right choice of a director can make a difference and its hard to think of anyone better suited to tackle such tricky material than Barry Jenkins, who took on the project on the heels of his triumphant work on Moonlight and If Beale Street Could Talk.

Jenkins adaptation looks to be one of Mays highlights on Prime in a month that includes an intriguing mix of old favorites arriving on the service and originals.

Stream all of the movies and shows for free with your Amazon Prime membership. Need an Amazon Prime membership: you can get a 30-day free trial here, to watch all the Prime Video content and take advantage of all the Amazon Prime benefits online.

Buy: 30-Day Trial to Amazon Prime at $0

Alien / Aliens / Aliens 3 / Alien: Resurrection (May 1)

For all its convenience, the streaming eras challenges include knowing where to find favorite movies that tend to migrate from one service to the next. For now at least, Prime is home to Ridley Scotts Sigourney Weaver-starring 1979 sci-fi horror classic and its sequels. James Camerons Aliens  which reworked the concept into a fresh take on the war movie  is the other must-see, but every entry has its own intriguing elements.

Bound (May 1)

If the Wachowskis hadnt revolutionized the world of action movie filmmaking with The Matrix in 1999, they might have had a fine career directing modestly-budgeted genre films like Bound, their 1996 directorial debut. Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly co-star as lovers trying to escape the mob with some ill-gotten money.

Flight (May 1)

Robert Zemeckis returned to live-action filmmaking after a decade experimenting in animation with this intense story of a hard-living pilot (Denzel Washington) whose habits fall under scrutiny after he miraculously rescues a doomed flight from certain disaster. Come for the crazily intense crash scene, stick around for one of Washingtons best performances as a man forced to reexamine every aspect of his life.

Skyfall (May 1)

This third outing for Daniel Craig was immediately declared one of the best entries in the James Bond series when it debuted and rightly so: it gives Bond a formidable foe in the form of Javier Bardem and director Sam Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins use the globetrotting story to create one stunning set piece after another. Bond fans have been waiting (and waiting and waiting) for the pandemic-delayed release of No Time to Die, but revisiting this highlight should help make the wait more tolerable.

The Boy From Medellin (May 7)

Shot in the fall of 2020, this documentary follows reggaeton superstar J Balvin as he prepares for a concert in his Colombian hometown of Medellin. But its not just about the music: as the concert looms, Balvin finds himself reluctantly getting drawn into Colombias combustible politics. Matthew Heineman (Cartel Land) directs.

The Underground Railroad (Prime, May 14)

In the alternate universe of Colson Whiteheads powerful 2016 novel, The Underground Railroad, slaves escaped the South by a literal subterranean rail line that ran north to freedom  but not without some difficulty along the way. A way of talking about the reality of the past through the lens fantasy, the book has been adapted for television by Barry Jenkins (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk), an extremely promising pairing. Thuso Mbdedu, a South African television star, heads a cast that includes Joel Edgerton, William Jackson Harper, and Peter Mullan.

Saint Maud (May 13)

Rose Glasss acclaimed horror film about the intense relationship between an intensely Catholic hospice nurse (Marfydd Clark) and the former dancer (Jennifer Ehle) in her care, was set to debut last spring only to lose its release date to the Covid-19 outbreak. Still, that doesnt mean what might have been one of 2020s most talked-about films cant be one of 2021s most talked about films now that its available to a wider audience.

P!nk: All I Know So Far (May 21)

J Balvins not the only musician getting an intimate behind-the-scenes doc in May. This documentary by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman) follows P1nk on her 2019 tour, an outing that finds her trying to balance professional obligations with motherhood. Expect a mix of candid backstage footage and the on-stage acrobatics P1nks fans have come to expect.

Solos (May 21)

Prime and Solos creator David Weil (Hunters) have provided only vague descriptions of this new anthology series, but the cast is intriguing enough that it may not matter. Its seven episodes star Anthony Mackie, Anne Hathaway, Constance Wu, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman. Thats probably reason enough to give it a look.

Panic (May 28)

In this adaptation of a 2014 novel by Lauren Oliver (Before I Fall), a group of high school seniors compete in a dangerous game that allows the winner to escape their impoverished Texas hometown. (That the series drops just in time for graduation season is a nice touch.)

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On Tuesday morning, the Laredo International Fair & Exposition formally launched a new raffle which it hopes will help gather money for scholarships, prizes and organization operational costs.

The announcement comes after L.I.F.E. was unable to host its annual fair due to the pandemic, which had occurred annually for over the past half century. Nevertheless, the organization hopes that the raffle will entice many to participate as it doesnt just help L.I.F.E. but also contains prizes that can be won.

The raffle has already started with tickets at $100. The raffle will occur Aug. 10.

This past year due to the pandemic, we could not have a full fair. We had a minimized fair ... as we could only invite the children that had the animals, that raised their projects and their parents, said Fernando Ortega, L.I.F.E. President for 2020-21. We werent able to have a normal fair where we have a concert, different events, different food vendors and things to that effect. So this raffle is to help us with this past years fair, where we had a reduced ability for people to come and visit us.

We are going to come back. Its not a we are thinking about it, no we are planning strong to come back next year, to have a successful event and being able to bring some normality to our city.

Ortega states that he felt a bit down due to the fact that this years fair could not be held like others in which people attended, as he felt many students lost that experience  especially the graduating seniors of 2021.

Most of the kids that had animals were able to go and participate in a live auction, but this time we just didnt have the public as they were not able to come and see us, Ortega said. Also, something that we did so people could see us from home is that we livestreamed the events on YouTube.

In fact, the organization's president states that it was a huge undertaking to simply have the students and their parents participate during the virtual fair this year, as L.I.F.E. tried to make sure that everyone remained safe from the coronavirus. They took the step of testing people before they participated.

During the pandemic, it was interesting, Ortega said. We COVID tested the parents and students before they could participate in our fair, so that was a big undertaking, and we did that on a daily basis. The way we did it was we broke down the fair to where one or two animals would be shown on a daily basis, and that was the only people that were going to be able to be on the grounds at that time, so the night before they would get tested.

Ortega states that this years raffle offers a great opportunity for people who form part of L.I.F.E. or used to in the past. He feels they can come together and contribute to helping accomplish its financial goals.

I myself showed animals for three years from my sophomore year to my senior year, and I am also giving back to my community by participating on the board, Ortega said. And I would love for anybody who graduates to come back and help us support it.

City of Laredo District IV Councilmember Alberto Torres Jr., who also serves as L.I.F.E.s executive director, states that he hopes that many people from around the community are able to help in this endeavor.

We ask the community to support this fundraiser, which will further allow L.I.F.E. to fulfill our mission of promoting the areas of agriculture, horticulture, home economics and the vocational and industrial trades to the Laredo and Webb County youth, Torres said. We thank Uni-Trade for their generosity as title sponsor and all the other sponsors for their unconditional support.

The organization's president presented the various different prizes for the raffle and stated that all are extraordinary in terms of what they offer for the people that participate in it.

We have 25 different prizes, which our grand prize is $10,000 that was donated by Mr. Eduardo Garza from Uni-Trade. That is our top prize, Ortega said. Then we have a trip for two to Hawaii, a trip for two to San Francisco, a trip for two to Las Vegas, a trip for two to Mexico City, we have a hunt at Callahan Ranch, we have five days and four nights at South Padre Island with a condo, we have Astros tickets with an included hotel stay, another stay at South Padre, a reception for 75 guests at La Posada, we have from Suarez Meat Market a barbecue pit plus a years worth of parrilladas. All the prizes are awesome and great.

Ortega states that the least expensive prize of all the 25 raffled is about $1,000.

For the raffle, the organization expects to sell a total of 2,500 tickets. Ortega states that they hope to collect as much money as they can for their efforts and that they are also able to sell all the tickets. He said the raffle will be held on YouTube live to be able to watch.

For ticket or donation information, contact L.I.F.E. at 956-722-9948 or by visiting laredofair.com.

Some of the sponsors of the raffle include Uni-Trade, Critter Care, Suarez Meat Market, Laredo Ranch Heights, Callahan Ranch, La Posada, Arena Gun Club, Cynthia Mares from Laredo College, Ashley Furniture, Moores Jewelers, Deutsch & Deutsch-Laredo, Border Foundry, Laureles Properties, Print X Press and various others.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists are working around the clock to ensure that Americas moms enjoy a pest-free Mothers Day on May 9.

Mothers Day is the busiest time of year for flower imports, which can carry pests and diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture and the environment. This year, CBP agriculture specialists have inspected more than one billion cut flower stems bound for stores and households throughout the United States. As a result of those inspections, CBP interdicted 1,977 pests.

No one wants to give mom a bouquet teeming with insects or diseases that can wreak havoc on the environment, said Kevin C. Harriger, Executive Director of CBPs Agriculture Programs and Trade Liaison. CBP agriculture specialists are on the frontline ensuring that cut flowers, hanging baskets and other plant imports are pest-free and presentation ready for Mothers Day.

CBP agriculture specialists physically inspect all flowers and plant materials before they enter the United States to ensure that they are free of pests and diseases. The inspections include shaking the flowers to dislodge insects and the use of magnifying glasses to locate pests and diseases. CBP sends interdicted pests and diseases to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which uses digital imagery and other technology to confirm their identity.

According to CBP data, solidago (goldenrods), alstroemeria (Peruvian lily) and chrysanthemum (florists daisy) are the flower species most often interdicted for carrying pests. Among other critters, cut flower imports may transport Noctuidae and Aphididae  colloquially known as the owlet moth and aphids  which can cause irreparable damage to the environment if allowed into the country. Infested shipments must be treated, re-exported or destroyed, depending on the severity of the infestation.

Cut flowers are normally imported in bulk, mostly from countries in South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The top exporting countries are Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, the Netherlands and Guatemala. More than 95% of U.S.-bound cut flower imports are processed in Miami, New York and Otay Mesa, California. The most common flower types are roses, mixed bouquets and pom pom chrysanthemums.

In addition to cut flowers, CBP processes a large volume of flowering plants during the Mothers Day season. Many of these plants are imported from greenhouses in Canada and processed at ports of entry including Alexandria Bay, Buffalo and Champlain, New York.
UISDs Executive Director for High School Education Dolores Barrera provided an update on STAAR testing for high school students during a Facebook Live event on Tuesday, the same day as the start of testing with the Algebra 1 and U.S. history exams. On Wednesday the biology exam will take place, with United South splitting the day into Thursday.

Barrera stressed that students who did not complete the STAAR exams at the end of the fall semester will need to take it this time around as they are graduation requirements. High school students are required to take five end-of-course tests, mandated by the state, in order to graduate. These include English 1, English 2, Algebra, Bio and U.S. History, all of which are split throughout the school years.

You must pass three of these tests, but you have to take all of them. You have to challenge every one of them, Barrera said.

And in the case where a senior has not challenged at least three tests, Barrera made it clear that the student will not graduate. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors still have the opportunities, but seniors need to be diligent and take the exams now before its too late.

Since the Texas Education Agency has not altered the STAAR exam operations, students must still return to their respective campus to take the exam. And while it may be understandable that some parents prefer not to send their children to school amidst the pandemic, Barrera ensures that all campuses are operating with every safety measure.

Some parents are choosing not to, and we cannot force them, she said. We have seen it already in the fall semester, and it worked very well. I walked the halls, I was there every day at the school when we were administering the tests.

Again, Barrera made it clear that no senior will be exempt from the test, and if a parent chooses to hold their child back from taking it, the student will be less prepared for the end-of-course exam, as they are normally taken with the information fresh on their mind.

To try to reassure parents, Barrera repeated that safety guidelines will be followed at all campuses. And for parents who prefer to have their child return after completing the test, shuttles will be available to transport those students home.

cocampo@lmtonline.com
Dozens of students at the University of Texas at Austin who give campus tours to prospective Longhorns are refusing to work this week over a dispute about a plaque with The Eyes of Texas lyrics hanging in the Admissions Welcome Center.

The dustup over the plaque is the latest example of UT-Austin officials standing by The Eyes over pleas that the university distance itself from the song because it originated at a minstrel show where students likely wore Blackface.

Its also the latest in a series of clashes over the schools alma mater song in a nearly yearlong controversy that has frequently pit administrators and alumni against students. Recently, nearly 180 faculty have signed a new petition calling for the songs removal.

Just this week, a threatening incident was reported to UT-Austin police where a student-led online event about The Eyes of Texas was crashed by an unknown man on camera wearing a bandana over his mouth and nose and who appeared to be loading a large gun.

UT-Austin officials did not respond to a request for comment about the incidents, nor did they respond to written questions.

Students say protests over the song are not going away. Kendall Walker, a UT-Austin senior who is part of the student strike in the admissions office, said she thinks administrators wrongly assumed the issue would die down after the school formed a committee this past year to study the songs origins. UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell has repeatedly affirmed that the university will keep the song.

I think this is the tip of the iceberg honestly, Walker said. This is the beginning of it and people resisting that decision and not accepting a committee of people deem[ing] the song isnt racist. There's a whole generation of students and minority students that are equally and more mad than we are and don't want to enter a space that predetermined their opinions dont matter.

Members of the Texas Tour Guides said the song has created a divisive environment on campus and wanted the plaque to be removed to ensure all student employees and prospective students feel comfortable in the Welcome Center, according to more than six students who work or volunteer as tour guides and spoke to The Texas Tribune.

The guides sent a letter to the university on April 19, asking for a plan detailing for the plaque's removal by May 1  otherwise, they said they would stop giving tours virtually or in person.

Tour guides said they suggested replacing the plaque with something symbolizing another university tradition that is more inclusive.

The admissions office would not commit to removing the plaque and told students via email on April 29 that they did not have to work as a tour guide if they had concerns.

We understand you may no longer desire to serve in this role based on your feelings about the Universitys long-standing school song. If you no longer wish to serve as a Texas Tour Guide, please inform your supervisor so that your request can be processed, wrote Miguel Wasielewski, director of admissions. Wasielewski did not respond to a request for comment.

The request to remove the plaque from the Welcome Center came months after admissions renamed the tour guide group. Previously called the Guides of Texas, intended to sound similar to The Eyes of Texas, the admissions office decided to separate itself from the name last July, according to an email sent to students by the admissions office and obtained by the Tribune.

We feel that in order to have an inclusive space where everyone feels safe and welcomed that a name change is necessary, wrote Noemi Gomez, student program coordinator in the universitys admissions office.

The tour guides estimated that the strike includes roughly 55 students, about half of all the guides.

Student tour guides compared the universitys action over the plaque to its recent announcement that members of the Longhorn marching band are required to play The Eyes of Texas. The university said if they opted against playing the school song they can join a separate, newly created band where it wont be required.

Walker, who is Black, said she is often asked on tours by Black families about her experience on campus.

I [used to] stand up there and say, I feel welcomed. I feel heard  The way that I feel has completely flipped in the past 12 months, she said. We bring in students into this university and showcase this university in a way other students cannot. They reap so many benefits of having our presence there but can't honor something that makes us overtly uncomfortable. It's just super hurtful.

Multiple students who spoke to the Tribune said theyve had uncomfortable conversations with prospective parents and students about the controversy over the past year, yet they have not received any guidance for how to deal with questions about the song while giving tours. In some instances, students said questioning has gotten aggressive.

It definitely has been an added, like, burden on my mental health to go get dressed and put on my tour guide Polo and go out and talk to families that are oftentimes like predominantly white, about like things like racial justice here on campus, said Jeremiah Baldwin, a tour guide and sophomore at UT-Austin. I'm always like having this game of mental gymnastics that I'm playing, like, how should I describe this? Or, should I be as open and honest?

A targeted incident

In another sign of escalating tensions, a student group recently reported an online threat related to the dispute over the song.

Last week, the Texas Orange Jackets hosted an online Zoom conversation with professor Alberto Martinez about his report on the song, which identified links to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. According to students on the call and Martinez, as he was presenting, an unaffiliated person with a gun joined the call but was removed by moderators.

A screenshot of the Zoom call shared with the Tribune shows the man wearing a black beanie and a face covering over his mouth and nose while holding what appears to be a large black gun.

The fact that a conversation about changing a song inspired someone to bring a gun to a Zoom call is just ridiculous, said Irene Ameena, a senior leader in the Texas Orange Jackets. And shows that this isn't just some small debate. This is something thats violent, like it is violent to bring a gun and show it to people.

The student group reported the incident to university officials and the professor reported it to the UT Police Department.

Given the sensitive nature of the matter discussed on this call, we believe this was a targeted incident, Texas Orange Jackets wrote in a statement on the Facebook page for the event. We unequivocally condemn the racism and violence that have been brought up in conversations about this song and again call on the university to remove the Eyes of Texas as the official school song of the university.

A rebuke of their spinelessness

Walker said she knew students who didnt sing The Eyes even before student athletes brought attention to the matter by demanding the school do away with the tradition last summer in the wake of the death of George Floyd at the hands of police. That demand was faced with swift opposition from alumni and heavy weight donors who clamored for the school to keep the song and threatened to pull donations if it went away. While a university commissioned report found in March that the song had no racist intent, it has done little to diminish the controversy.

Recently, a petition calling on UT-Austin leaders to remove the song has circulated, with nearly 180 faculty as of Tuesday morning threatening not to attend graduations and university events unless it's confirmed the song wont be played. A previous petition calling for the songs removal had garnered close to 100 faculty signatures.

UT-Austin history Professor Jorge Canizares-Esguerra said the new petition was created after Martinez released his report that challenged the universitys narrative about the songs history. Overall, he said professors felt as if the administration had handled the issue without properly involving faculty and students.

It is a rebuke of the administration, Canizares-Esguerra said. Its a rebuke of their spinelessness before donors and alumni and powerful capital.

Members of the Texas Black Legislative Caucus and state NAACP chapters have also condemned the song. After UT-Austin released its report in early March, Black student leaders submitted a new list of demands for more scholarships, affordable student housing and increased wages for student workers to improve the experience of Black students on campus.

Brianna McBride, a senior at UT-Austin and co-director of the Black Presidents Leadership Council, said UT-Austin officials, including Hartzell, have been receptive to their requests and are continuing to work with student leaders to better communicate initiatives and plans with students.

As the academic year reaches an end, Canizares-Esguerra said he worried how the song and the ongoing controversy will affect the broader university if it continues

It is not sustainable because it promotes division, he said. It's unsustainable as a policy because it shows the world that the university is divided.

Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
When I first started working for the Auckland Chamber of Commerce quite a number of years ago, the membership of the Chamber was overwhelmingly male.

It was not uncommon to attend an event, either a seminar or a networking event, and have around 98 per cent male, or as a good friend of mine often says, pale, stale, male. It must have been an intimidating scene for any woman who walked into those events to be faced with groups of men in suits who, to be fair, were not that interested in having women attend.

At that time, we started a businesswomens networking group with the aim of providing a way for businesswomen to network together, but also to empower them to attend other events, either as a group or in pairs. After a short while that started to happen, and we began to see increasing numbers of women attending.

Soon after, I attended a businesswomens event as the only male, and while those who know me may find this strange, it was a frightening experience. It gave me an insight into how many women would have felt back in the early days. Thankfully, we have moved on considerably since then.

One of the most enlightening things I have learnt from organising and attending networking events is that women network differently to men  they do it with a much longer-term strategy in mind. Men network from the head/brain, but women network from the heart. Women will network with, How can I help you?, whereas often men will be looking at, What can you do for me?.

I recently told a very good female friend that I considered her to be a strong woman. Her reaction was, Im not bolshie. If I had said the same thing to a male, he would have considered it a compliment. What I meant was, she is someone prepared to debate and defend her point of view and ideas, and this in my mind made her a great asset to the organisation she was working for.

Woman in business, be that as an owner or part of a team, bring many things to the table that men often do not, and in my opinion we shouldnt even need to discuss this anymore. We should just celebrate the fact that we have finally grown up and realised that each individual has strengths and weaknesses, and we all bring something different to the table. As our One Mahurangi logo says, We are stronger together.

Murray Chapman, One Mahurangi Manager

https://onemahurangi.co.nz
But activists say he instead ventured into the woods to kill Arthur, a giant male bear who had not gone near the village, according to Agence France-Presse. They noted Arthur was clearly larger than any female bear and suspected Prince Emanuel was gunning for him as a trophy for his immense size.
Kaipara Ltd legal representative Morgan Slyfield.

Commissioner chair Les Simmons.



A new map produced by Kaipara Ltd sections off an area to be avoided by dredging, marked in grey.

Hearings for Kaipara Ltds resource consent application to dredge two million cubic metres of sand offshore from Mangawhai and Pakiri began this morning.

Just weeks ago, it was revealed by the Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society and Friends of Pakiri group that Auckland Councils consent compliance monitoring team was investigating Kaipara Ltd due to alleged environmental damage.

Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society chair Ken Rayward says the society organised a team of divers who reported that an 18km trench had been caused by continual dredging of a single stretch of seabed.

At the hearing this morning, Kaipara Ltd legal representative Morgan Slyfield said it was not a trench, but a number of four to five kilometre swales that are 2.4 metres deep and 10 to 20 metres wide.

Mr Slyfield further argued that it was not the commissioners job to consider allegations of non-compliance of the current consent as part of a new consent hearing.

It is not your jurisdiction and cannot be used as a basis for refusing consent, he said.

He said over time the swales would fill in, and that from 2023 Kaipara Ltd would survey the affected seabed each year in March or April.

Mr Slyfield presented a map to commissioners where the depressions had occurred and outlined a proposed area to avoid dredging, as part of conditions for the new consent.

Commissioner chair Les Simmons rebuked Mr Slyfield saying that this information ought to have been provided to Auckland Councils consent monitoring team rather than revealed on the day of the hearing.

Kaipara Ltd would not resist making further statements to Council, Mr Slyfield replied.

Mr Slyfield also argued that commissioners should not consider the cumulative effect of the dredging by other companies in the area. He said McCallum Bros consent was due to expire and may not be renewed.

The outcome of McCallums future consent application would be speculative. There is no legal requirement to consider the effects of combined consents, he said.

McCallum Bros had consent to extract 76,000 cubic metres of sand on the same shore, but it has expired and further hearings will be held once all evidence has been submitted.

Mr Slyfield distinguished McCallums extraction activity as being nearshore, while Kaipara Ltds extraction takes placed at a depth of 25m.

He said that at that depth, sand extraction from the seafloor did not affect the beach.

Just 0.3 per cent of total supply of sand has been removed from Pakiri so far, and the new application only seeks a further 0.1 per cent.

Relationships with iwi were also touched on at the hearing. Mr Slyfield said an ongoing cultural liaison payment had been made to Ngati Wai since the last consent.

But he said that since 2018, communication with Ngati Wai and Ngati Manuhiri had diminished.

That is not for a lack of trying. I am anticipating they will submit at the hearing and hope it will begin a fruitful relationship.

However, he said Te Uri o Hau had provided a cultural values assessment and that a cultural liaison agreement would likely soon be finalised.

Mr Slyfield said modern society, and in particular Auckland City, relied on Pakiris sand to produce concrete. Sand from the Mangawhai Pakiri embayment is preferred because of the low cost of transport and its fineness of grain.

He said Auckland is predicted to need a million cubic metres of sand each year by the year 2043.
Lockport, NY (14094)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low 58F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
Lockport, NY (14094)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 58F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
According to the latest figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) there were FIVE new cases of Covid-19 recorded in county Longford in the 24 hours up to midnight on May 4.

Nationally, NPHET stated that it has been notified of 7 additional deaths related to Covid-19 and 418 new confirmed cases.

Longford's 14 day incidence rate has fallen back down to the 10th highest in the country (yesterday it was the 8th highest) and it is below the national average.

Longford's incidence rate is 127.2 per 100,000 population, with the national average standing at 134.4.

NPHET says there have been 52 positive Covid-19 cases in Longford in the 14 days from April 21 to May 4.

Longford's five day moving average of cases is 3.6.

According to the County Timeline of Confirmed Cases on Ireland's Covid-19 Data Hub the total number cases of Covid-19 in Longford since the pandemic began stands at 1,996 (as at Monday, May 3).

SEE FULL COUNTY BY COUNTY BREAKDOWN BELOW

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, said: As we look forward to the greater reopening of activities and services, our key objective now is to maintain our course in coming weeks and follow the public health advice in our daily activities.

When you are planning to meet someone, remember that outdoors is safer for everybody. And when you meet up, stay at a 2m distance, keep to a small group and avoid crowded areas  this will minimise the risk of passing the virus from person to person, driving down the incidence rate and keeping our society open.

Throughout this pandemic we have seen outbreaks and clusters of disease as a result of social events such as funerals, wakes and birthday parties. Unfortunately we need to continue to stay vigilant to the infectious nature of this disease and avoid congregating together in large groups. We need all sectors of society to continue to encourage and support the public health messages and to help everyone to stay safe.

BREAKING: Gardai on scene in Longford as council secure court injunction to remove wedding after party marquee Gardai were on hand to ensure a 2,000 sq ft marquee erected to host a Traveller wedding after party in Longford this afternoon was taken down.

National

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 7 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

Of the deaths notified today, 5 occurred in April, 1 in February and 1 in January. The median age of those who died was 82 years and the age range was 67-92 years.

There has been a total of 4,915 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight, Tuesday 4th May, the HPSC has been notified of 418 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 251,087 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Of the cases notified today:

199 are men / 214 are women

73% are under 45 years of age

The median age is 30 years old

167 in Dublin, 39 in Cork, 32 in Donegal, 29 in Kildare, 22 in Meath and the remaining 129 cases are spread across 20 other counties.

As of 8am today, 137 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 37 are in ICU. 18 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

As of Monday May 3rd, 1,621,870 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland:

1,174,292 people have received their first dose;

447,578 people have received their second dose.
Halima Cisse, 25, had been flown to Morocco because of her complex pregnancy; an ultrasound showed seven fetuses. But when doctors at the private Ain Borja clinic in Casablanca performed the Cesarean section to deliver the infants Tuesday, the tykes just kept coming  five girls and four boys.
Ensure you get a print copy of the Loudoun Times-Mirror delivered weekly to your home or business!

Complete online access is included with all print subscriptions purchased online. Plus, up to four other members of your household can share online access through this subscription with their own, individual linked accounts at no additional charge.

(Are you a current advertiser? Ask your sales rep for our special advertiser rate code!)
Vivo Energy PLC - London-headquartered downstream petroleum company selling Royal Dutch Shell PLC-branded fuel products in Africa - Non-Executive Director Temitope Lawani sells 450,000 shares at GBP1.01 each for a total of GBP452,250, or around ZAR9.1 million. Lawani's shareholding and share interest now amounts to 22.1 million shares in the company.

Current stock price in London: 102.76 pence

Year-to-date change: up 21%

Current stock price in Johannesburg: ZAR20.56

Year-to-date change: up 21%

By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - Ireland's deputy premier has said he is hoping for a return to normality by late summer.

Leo Varadkar said he would hope to see the "vast majority" of coronavirus restrictions removed by August and a "normal Christmas".

However the tanaiste warned that nothing can be promised when it comes to a new virus, and he believes restrictions on international travel and gatherings indoors will continue into the autumn.

Varadkar was quizzed around restrictions at the launch of a minimum pricing for alcohol policy at the department of health in Dublin on Wednesday.

He said case numbers are stable and hospital and intensive care numbers are falling, adding if he was working in hospitality he would be planning for outdoor dining in June and indoor dining by July.

"What I am looking at very closely is what is happening in countries that are a bit ahead of us in terms of vaccination, the UK and Israel, and life in Israel is pretty much back to normal, they're welcoming tourists again and they're having not very large gatherings, but they are having mass gatherings," he said.

Varadkar said he would hope to see the "vast majority of restrictions gone" by August.

"Kids going back to school as normal in September, college happening on campus, all those things and a pretty normal Christmas in terms of seeing our friends and relations," he said.

"But nobody can promise that. This is a new virus which is only around a year or so and the vaccines aren't even around a year.

"It's possible that the efficacy of the vaccines could wear off after a certain point in time, we don't know what might happen in terms of variants that may be vaccine resistant and we don't know what will happen when the winter comes.

"I think we have to get through another winter to be sure, but I do think life would be pretty much normal in August and September, but not exactly normal. I think there will still be restrictions around international travel and mass gatherings, particularly indoors. That's my best guess."

The vaccination programme continues with those in long-term residential care and health workers currently receiving their second dose, as well as the over-70s, 65-69 and 60-64 cohorts.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly hailed the "incredible" impact of the vaccine, with a 98% reduction in cases of the virus among health workers since the peak in January.

Varadkar and Donnelly said they would be happy to take any coronavirus vaccine they were offered.

"We have four really safe, really effective vaccines and whenever it is my turn I will take whatever is offered," Donnelly said.

The tanaiste added: "In terms of any vaccine I'm offered, I'd be very happy to take it.

"They're all close to 100% effective in terms of avoiding serious disease and death and they're all much safer than the risk of getting Covid so I'd have no hesitation."

By Rebecca Black, PA

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Take a few minutes and scroll through some of the local news from the past week:
Yet the awful habit is still responsible for more than 480,000 American deaths per year, and immeasurable agony. Thats in no small part because, when the FDA banned flavored cigarettes, the gateway cancer sticks for many young people, in 2009, it left a lethal asterisk carving out the flavor that happened to be most aggressively marketed to and popular among Black Americans. It did so despite the fact that Black Americans currently die at higher rates of tobacco-related illnesses like cancer and heart disease than others, and despite the fact that menthol flavoring helps draw in smokers at younger ages by masking the throat irritation regular cigarettes cause.
A Macomb County pharmacist was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in prison for illegally distributing thousands of opioid doses that weren't medically necessary and took in millions of dollars in street sales.

Abidoun Fabode, 57, of Chesterfield Township, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nancy G. Edmunds after being convicted by a jury in a three-week long trial in November 2019. His sentencing was postponed due to the pandemic until Tuesday.

"My office has zero tolerance for pharmacists who engage in this type of criminal behavior and we will vigorously prosecute those who fuel the opioid crisis in Michigan, Acting U.S. Attorney Saima Mohsin said in a news release.

- Advertisement -

According to the government, Fabode, co-owner and operator of Friendz Pharmacy in Detroit, dispensed more than 245,080 dosages of controlled substances which were issued outside the course of legitimate medical practice and for no legitimate medical purpose.

The opioid prescriptions were presented to Fabode by patient recruiters who obtained the pills from doctors willing to write unnecessary controlled substance prescriptions.

One of the doctors worked directly inside of Friendz Pharmacy and would see the patients for only minutes at a time before directing them over to the pharmacy counter to have their prescriptions filled by Fabode.

Over the course of the three-year conspiracy, Fabode, knowing the prescriptions were a fraud, dispensed the dangerous and addictive opioids, including Oxycodone and Oxymorphone, in exchange for cash payments totaling in excess of $1,895,000. The pills were then later resold on the street market by the pill dealers and carry a conservative estimated wholesale street value of $7 million.

Todays sentencing should serve as a reminder that IRS-Criminal Investigation will skillfully continue to follow the money to rid our streets of dangerous illegitimately prescribed and dispensed addictive opioids, stated Detroit Field Office, IRS-CI, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Kelly Lewis.

The Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit is a Department of Justice initiative designating 12 special prosecutors across the country to focus on prosecuting medical professionals who are contributing to the nations opioid crisis.

The case was investigated by special agents and task force officers of the DEA, the Oakland County Sheriffs Department, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Movies playing in Southeast Michigan, new releases May 7 Theaters are open at limited capacity. The following list includes movies available at local theaters, and movies that are available to watch through online streaming and video on demand services including: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Hulu, Vudu, FandangoNow, Apple TV+, YouTube, Disney+, HBO Max and more.

Flu cases in Michigan remain low as season winds down As flu season winds down, the numbers in Michigan remain low in part due to the precautions taken to prevent the coronavirus such as masking and hand hygiene.

Memphis voters weigh in on school questions Tuesday The renewal of an 18-mill non-homestead millage and a 1-mill, five-year sinking fund millage will be on the ballot for Memphis Community Schoo
Swan Island Wildlife Management Area

Explore with us!

Swan Island, at the head of Merrymeeting Bay, welcomes hikers, campers, birders and explorers to its shores for an unforgettable Maine experience.

Access by canoe or our passenger ferry across the Kennebec River to your remote getaway... close to home. Once on the Island you can begin your exploration or travel in our tour truck to the campground. From there, explore the campground area, historic homes, rent a kayak to explore the islands, walk the scenic gravel road to Theobald Point, or begin exploring 7-miles of hiking trails.

2020 Season: June 1 to October 23

Make your reservation now!

Register now 

207-287-5322

Swan.Island@Maine.gov

Mail: Reservation form (PDF)

More information:

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Activities, Amenities & Facilities

10 Adirondack shelters in a grassy field overlooking Little Swan Island and Kennebec River

Fire pit and picnic table at each site

One group tent site

Drinking water

Clean, modern restrooms

Utility/dish room

Firewood available at $4/bundle

Picnic shelter can be rented for events

Canoe & kayak rentals

Swimming at your own risk

7 miles of easy to moderate hiking

4.5-mile dirt road for hiking/biking

Fishing pond for kids 15 and under - fishing gear provided!

Wildlife viewing tower

5 Historic homes visible from the gravel road

Interpretive displays

Bird watching

Wildlife viewing

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Swan Island Events

View details and all upcoming events

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Directions & Map

To get to Swan Island, take Route I-295 to Exit 43 (Richmond/Litchfield). From the exit, follow Route 197 East for approximately 3 miles to Richmond Village. Turn left at the intersection of Routes 197 and 24. The Swan Island parking lot, marked with a brown State of Maine sign, is immediately on your right, next to the brick Richmond Utilities District building.

Download topographical map of Swan Island (PDF)

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Alicia Holloway is the Barrow County Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent. She can be reached by e-mail at aholloway@uga.edu, by phone at 770-307-3029, or by stopping by the Barrow County Extension Office at 90 Lanthier St., Winder. Follow Barrow County Extension on Facebook at @BarrowCountyExtension.
Age in Spain's telephone friendship service, Friendline, matches older English-speaking people in Spain with trained volunteers so that they can have a regular weekly call about...anything.

Recently, the volunteers held a competition between themselves to raise funds to support the service. One of the activities was a Pet Photography Competition, with the winning pet owner receiving a portrait painted by A Coruna based artist (and Friendline volunteer) Marisa Hunter-Toms. The competition was won by Emma Rebbetts who lives in Xativa and who received a portrait of rescued French bulldog, Shelly.

Overall, the Friendline volunteers raised 1,279.41 to support this important service.

What is Friendline?

Friendline is a free telephone friendship service to connect older, English-speaking people living anywhere in Spain with volunteers, through a weekly phone call with someone with similar interests.

In a world where new technology often leaves some of us behind or makes us feel left out, Friendline offers people the joy of a friendly conversation. Director of Age in Spain, Helen Weir, said: Friendship is the best first line of defence against so many of the problems older people can face. As we get older there is a real risk that our worlds get smaller and we have less chance to make friends. Friendline is a way to do something positive about that. It really doesnt matter what the conversation is about, it might be sport, ballroom dancing or your garden. What Friendline offers is a human connection with all its benefits. Friendline can be a lifeline.

If you are an older person living in Spain and you are interested in receiving Friendline calls, you can find out more at www.ageinspain.org/friendline , by calling Age in Spain on +34 93 220 9334 or by emailing friendline@ageinspain.org

You can also refer a family member or friend living in Spain to Friendline if you think they would appreciate a regular call. Friendline is a free service.
The British Foreign Office has removed its travel warning for the Canary Islands, Rhodes, Kos, Zakythos, Corfu, Crete, Malta, Israel and most of Portugal, but it doesnt necessarily mean they will be included on the UKs Green list, according to Travel Weekly.

A travel warning is still in place for mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, mainland Greece and Portugal's Azores.

British Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps said recently that he would be in favour of Island corridors if Covid infection is lower than on the mainland.

The UKs Green list of quarantine-free countries is expected to be announced this week, but Brits wont be going anywhere until the international travel ban is actually lifted on May 17.
No, the man who always specialized in escaped hatches used COVID to wriggle out of prison. Under the CARES Act passed by Congress last March, certain U.S. inmates could be sent to home confinement, depending on the conditions of the virus and their crimes. The Southern District prosecutors who convicted this crook (twice) must now argue against Silvers new no-place-like-home sentence.
Manchester Center, VT (05254)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
Over a year into the pandemic and it is undeniable that a lot of Filipinos have been wanting to safely go out and travel again  to see some of the Philippines world-class beaches and historical sites, or to visit family and friends. Do you belong to this group of travelers but are unsure of your trip dates? Well, youre in for a special treat from Cebu Pacific this 5.5!

Fly to Siargao and ride the waves whenever you can with CEB Super Pass.

As the Philippines leading carrier continues to celebrate its 25th anniversary, it comes up with another innovative product to address everyJuans need for utmost flexibility, coupled with the lowest fares. Introducing another first-of-its-kind product that will let travelers buy all they can, and fly when they can across CEBs widest domestic network  the CEB Super Pass.

The CEB Super Pass, a limited-time 25th anniversary offer available only from today, May 5 until May 12, 2021, is a travel voucher that gives passengers the much-needed flexibility and accessibility without breaking the bank!

For only P 99 (one-way base fare), the travel voucher may be used in ANY Philippine destination in CEBs widest domestic network for travel from May 12, 2021 to May 31, 2022! Now everyJuan can save by availing and planning ahead those future beach getaways, workcations, and visits to family and friends  and fly when they want to.

On our 25th anniversary, the CEB Super Pass is a timely option for guests who would want to travel whenever they want, wherever they want in the country, at a guaranteed low fare. With the widest network in the Philippines, we offer this one-of-a-kind product that enables us to fulfill our commitment of providing fast connectivity and value-for-money deals for everyJuan, said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific Vice President for Marketing and Customer Experience.





Bask in the sun and enjoy Corons Twin Lagoon with CEB Super Pass.

How to purchase the CEB Super Pass

Purchasing the CEB Super Pass can be done in just four easy steps: all Juan has to do is go to https://bit.ly/CEBSuperPass, input the number of passes you want, add passenger names, and pay! Payment may be settled via existing Travel Funds, or other online payment options such as credit cards. Once successful, your CEB Super Pass will be sent via email, for keeping until you already have a place and date in mind.





How to redeem the CEB Super Pass

Booking the CEB Super Pass can be done via the Redeem CEB Super Pass tab on the website as early as thirty (30) days before the flights departure or until seven (7) days before intended flight date, as long as seats are still available. Vouchers may be redeemed from May 5, 2021 to May 24, 2022, for travel between May 12, 2021 and May 31, 2022.

Guests will also be able to purchase and redeem this pass via the CEB Super Pass banner on the Cebu Pacific website or mobile app. A maximum of ten (10) vouchers per transaction is allowed, however there is NO limit to the number of total vouchers each passenger can avail  allowing everyJuan to stock up on these vouchers as they see fit!

CEB currently flies to 32 domestic destinations, mainly from its hubs in Manila and Cebu. For more information on CEB Super Pass, visit www.cebupacificair.com.












And not just any owner: a New York owner, someone who knows the city and embraces the papers 102-year legacy, who hears the voices of the five boroughs shouting from every page and our website. Someone who can treat the newspaper as a public trust, not simply as a property from which to squeeze every last bit of possible profit.
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Ruben Dias's arrival from Benfica last summer marked a before-and-after point in terms of Manchester City's bid to become Europe's finest.

Pep Guardiola had struggled to replace Vincent Kompany, who had departed the year before, as City fell away in the Premier League and in Europe because of their defensive fragility.

Sometimes having to resort to playing Fernandinho or Rodri at centre-back last season, Guardiola was keen to dip into the transfer market in the summer.

In doing so, he spent an initial fee of 56.6 million euros to bring Dias over from Benfica and a further 41m euros to sign Nathan Ake from Bournemouth.

The former has been by far the biggest success this season, transforming City's defence and chances of silverware in the process.

Tuesday's resolute display against Paris Saint-Germain was the latest in a long line of excellent performances to the Portuguese international's name.

In the Champions League, City have conceded just four goals in their 12 matches. In the Premier League, they've conceded 24 goals in 34 games so far, which is only bettered by Atletico Madrid's 22 and Lille's 22 in Europe's top five leagues.

Last season, for example, City conceded 35 times in 38 games as they finished 18 points behind Premier League winners Liverpool.

Dias, who has forged a strong partnership with the otherwise unreliable John Stones at centre-back has been at the heart of this defensive strength.

If Guardiola's side go on to lift what would be City's first Champions League title in Istanbul on May 29, they'll have a lot to thank the 24-year-old for.
Multi-millionaire and Microsoft founder Bill Gates and businesswoman Melinda Gates have announced their divorce after 27 years of marriage in which the two billionaires founded one of the most important charities in the world.

The couple have decided to end their marriage after a period of much 'reflection and work.'

"We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life," said Bill and Melinda in a statement.

In writing, Bill and Melinda say that they have raised three incredible children and that they created a foundation to promote a 'healthy and productive' life.

Whether the divorce will in any way impact the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is still unknown, but the foundation, which was created in 2000, has become one of the largest philanthropic organisations in the world, with funding of nearly 50 billion dollars.

Last year, Bill Gates resigned as a director of Microsoft, the company he founded in 1975 with Paul Allen, in order to pursue charitable activities.

TMZ release details of Bill and Melinda's divorce documents

TMZ has had access to the documents of the divorce of Bill and Melinda Gates.

In those documents it is revealed that there is no prenuptial agreement between the two, that Melinda has not requested any financial compensation from Bill Gates and that the couple have requested April 2022 as a trial date, although they will probably reach an agreement without the need for a trial.

How the love story of Bill and Melinda started

Bill and Melinda Gates began dating in 1987 after meeting at a trade show in New York.

After starting their relationship, Melinda began working in the marketing department of Microsoft, the company that Bill Gates founded, and later became General Manager of Information Products in the 1990s.

Bill and Melina Gates, who have three children (Jennifer, Rory and Phoebe), married on January 1, 1994 in Hawaii and have lived at their famous Xanadu 2.0 mansion overlooking Lake Washington in Medina.

Melinda Gates left Microsoft in 1996 to dedicate herself to her family.
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"It really is a dream come true. It's been my goal for a long time (to play Division I football), but I'm not going to let this be the mountain top."
Why? Test prep tends to work best when it is trying to get students from, say, a 1350 to a 1500. It is more about teaching tricks than teaching content, so it helps when you are building on an already strong academic foundation  the type that affluent students are much more privy to and East Asian-Americans (on average) are more likely to be able to experience than (on average) Black and Latino peers.
Reporting an uptick in rowdy parties that fly in the face of coronavirus public health precautions, a pair of Boston city councilors are looking to up the ante for people who violate pandemic requirements by proposing increasing fines to at least $1,000.

Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn on Monday posted a photograph of an order for a hearing he and fellow Councilor Michael Flaherty have filed to discuss increasing fines for large house parties. The two legislators argued these types of unruly gatherings are disturbing neighbors quality of life.

As we continue to be in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are concerning reports of large house parties across the city of Boston, the Democratic councilors order stated, with both indoor and outdoor gatherings with no masks or physical distancing measures in place throughout our neighborhoods.

TY @ISDBoston for investigating properties in #Southie this weekend due to huge parties, trash removal, quality of life issues. Many absentee landlords sent notices. @mfflaherty & I calling for hearing this week to escalate fines: 1st offense-$1000, 2nd-$2000, 3rd-$3000 #bospoli pic.twitter.com/TlDLJzuWT2  Ed Flynn  (@EdforBoston) May 3, 2021

The order will be introduced this week, and the councilors plan to hold the hearing as soon as possible, Sophia F. Wang, Flynns policy director, told The Boston Globe.

This past weekend, Flynn noted in his tweet, the citys Inspectional Services Department (ISD) Investigated properties in South Boston due to reports of huge parties, trash remove [and] quality of life issues. Many landlords were sent absentee notices, according to the councilor, whose district includes much of the neighborhood.

Despite Republican Gov. Charlie Bakers previous coronavirus order that sets the cap for private indoor gatherings at 10 people and allows for the issuance of $500 civil fines for violations, pandemic fatigue has given way to large house parties all over the city, according to Flynn. Six-hundred 911 calls were made in South Boston in one weekend alone, he noted.

The councilor explained how even as more people are getting vaccinated for the virus and as restaurants are slowly reopening, Boston residents continue to express concern about large house parties that sometimes host up to 30 or 40 people and often include renters with absentee landlords.

These gatherings are concerning not only because they have the potential to become super-spreader events, but also due to the negative impact they have on neighbors quality of life, according to Flynn. He claimed many inconsiderate partiers disturb residents with loud noise at all hours of the night and leave behind litter and trash on the street, attracting rodents and pests to the area.

As we continue to hear an overwhelming number of reports of large house parties, we need to talk about increased fines and accountability for property owners who allow this rude behavior, stricter enforcement with additional resources for ISD and BPD and further mechanisms to disincentivize people from having large parties, including an increasing scale of fines on repeat offenders, the councilors order said.

In New York, for example, individuals who dont follow the states restrictions on social gatherings can be fined up to $2,000 for a first offense and up to $5,000 for a second violation, the councilors pointed out.

Aside from slapping people with civil penalties for violating the states COVID-19 rules, Flynn argued, Boston should also look to increase these fines. He proposed starting at a $1,000 penalty for a first offense. For those who repeatedly violate noise level regulations, officials could explore a $2,000 fine for a second offense and a $3,000 penalty for a third, according to the councilor.

Under the citys current rules, residents can report large house parties that violate coronavirus rules to the Boston Police Department (BPD) by calling 911, which will then trigger the ISD to review the case, potentially place the location on the communitys Problem Properties List and slap them with a $500 fine. The owner of the residence would be required to address the violations.

Per Order No. 63 from the governor, which was issued on Feb. 4 and amended on March 18, gatherings at private residences are currently limited to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors. Gatherings at event venues and in public settings are restricted to 100 individuals indoors and 150 outdoors. Violations of these rules can result in a $500 civil fine.

Baker announced last week, though, that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health plans to start allowing gatherings of up to 200 people indoors on May 29, doubling the indoor gatherings limit currently in place. The outdoor gatherings cap will increase to 250 individuals, roughly 100 more than the current limit. Effective Aug. 1, all gathering restrictions will be rescinded.

Related Content:
Harvard University will be mandating that all students living on campus get a COVID-19 vaccine before returning to school in the fall, according to the Harvard Crimson.

The universitys president Lawrence S. Bacow wrote in an email that students should get vaccinated at least two weeks prior to returning to campus, the college newspaper reports. Administrators said there will be exceptions, but only for medical or religious reasons.

International students and others who cant access a vaccine will be able to get the shot when they arrive on campus, the Crimson reports. But those people may be subjected to frequent testing until they are fully vaccinated.

We hope to be able to offer a less restricted, robust on-campus experience for all our students this fall, the college wrote, according to the Crimson. These plans, however, depend on low infection rates in our community and across our region.

Harvard University is the latest college to decide on a vaccine requirement as academic institutions across the state and the country weigh mandates in an effort to protect students and faculty while resuming in-person instruction. In Boston, Northeastern University and Boston University have announced mandates as well.

In Western Massachusetts, students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a slew of other private colleges will be required to get vaccinated before the start of the fall semester. Students at community colleges, however, will not be required.

Related Content:
With the surprising award last month to SpaceX to land the first humans on the moon in half a century, NASAs moon plan is suddenly very hard to ignore.

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the first American in space, Alan Shepard, who rode a Redstone rocket to an arcing 15 minute flight on May 5, 1961.

This was such a big deal that I remember standing in line outside with my second grade class the next day. An older student joked that a fly flailing around in a puddle was Shepard, but even at our age, we knew he was kidding about Shepards ocean landing in the Mercury space capsule.

Shepards sub-orbital flight was an un-glamorous affair cobbled together in response to the orbital flight of Russian Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, a month earlier. The United States effort was so rushed, it left Shepard with no option but to relieve himself in his spacesuit while awaiting launch. Controllers had to shut off important medical monitoring equipment to avoid potential short-circuits during the flight.

Ten years later, Shepard was walking on the moon as Commander of the Apollo 14 mission the only one of the Mercury Seven astronauts to do so, and at age 47, the oldest.

I had already planned to highlight our return to the moon when the news of the death of Apollo 11 command module pilot Michael Collins came. Collins orbited the moon alone in July 1969 while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first to walk on its surface. That was about 52 years ago, and just 56 years after the Wright Brothers first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

Now it looks like we are going back whether we make it there within that same 56-year time frame or not.

Anytime I stop to think about the Apollo moon missions, I am struck anew by just how remarkable they were, and in every conceivable sense. Ive always seen Collins unique role  periodically separated from his crew mates and all of humanity by the entire moon  as an ultimately privileged one. His back seat was arguably the best in the history of human space flight, and his memory forces me to broadened the scope of this column.

It was just him and the universe, completely out of contact with the rest of humanity, floating above that alien lunar far side which is forever turned away from Earth. Every time he swept behind the moon, his isolation was the maximum possible within the Earth-moon system, and each time he experienced the most profound physical solitude of any person since the beginning of time.

Heres how he put it: I am it. If a count were taken, the score would be three billion plus two over on the other side of the moon, and one plus God-only-knows what on this side.

Note his reference to the three billion-plus humans on Earth  a number now approaching 8 billion  and his humility about what lie beyond a defining characteristic of his personality.

Collins called the 320 foot high Saturn V that got him there an incredibly complicated piece of machinery, every piece of which worked flawlessly made possible only through the blood, sweat, and tears of thousands and thousands of others. but did worry about what might have been overlooked in the long daisy chain of items that all had to work for the mission to succeed.

A real life space cowboy, he rode the outside of his Gemini 10 capsule in 1966, and straddled the Agena rocket they were docked with, sliding along its shiny exterior without adequate hand holds.

Collins declined his own chance to go down to the lunar surface, choosing instead to retire as an astronaut after Apollo 11. Later, he became director of the National Air and Space Museum, and penned Carrying the Fire: An Astronauts Journeys  perhaps the finest of all astronaut autobiographies. Up to his death at 90, he advocated space exploration with eloquence, humor, and grace.

Now, as NASA prepares to return with the Artemis moon program, only 10 of the 24 humans who have been to the moon remain (Buzz Aldrin, Bill Anders, Frank Borman, Charlie Duke, Fred Haise, Jim Lovell, Ken Mattingly, Harrison Schmitt, David Scott, and Tom Stafford.)

Last months $2.9 billion award to SpaceX to build the next moon lander was largely unexpected, and Blue Origin and Dynetics have challenged the decision forcing NASA to suspend the contract pending a review by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. If it survives the challenges, this will mean a big change in the American space program.

The lander will be a variant of the Starship currently under development. Towering 165 feet above the lunar surface, its usable interior space is equivalent to that of the ISS. This virtually eliminates constraints on the sizes science experiments, while providing a more livable environment for crews than the other proposed landers.

This is a big boost for SpaceX, whos remarkable rise is already evident in many ways. Last week while grabbing a bite to eat, I randomly happened upon a live Falcon 9 launch on YouTube to add 60 Starlink broadband satellites to their nearly 1,400 already in orbit  more than six times the active satellites of any other company.

About 3 minutes in, live video from the first stage showed part of the eastern U.S. as the booster began its descent to a pinpoint landing on a drone ship at sea  the 81st successful orbital booster landing, and the 7th for this particular booster. Another SpaceX booster has already flown ten times. With even higher counts coming, SpaceX has already slashed the cost of a Falcon 9 launch to an unheard of $30 million, easily beating the competition.

On April 23, residents as far north as North Carolina witnessed the plume of a Falcon 9 glowing spectacularly in the early dawn sky. Though still dark on the ground, the sunlight high up illuminated the rocket trail as it flew up the coast out over the ocean, similar to one seen along the west coast three years back.

This time however, the booster propelled 4 astronauts aboard a refurbished Crew Dragon capsule that had already flown a crew of two to the International Space Station in May 2020 with the same rocket that lofted the Crew 1 flight to the ISS in November. Incredibly, that booster will fly yet again for the Inspiration civilian mission in September. Such things would be hard to imagine just a few years back.

SpaceX has successfully flown the Falcon 9 about 90 times in a row since its ground failure almost 5 years ago. In 2020 alone, it lifted over 285 tons into Earth orbit with 26 launches.

I counted 28 more SpaceX launches scheduled for this year, a number that may grow with an expected summer ramp-up of Starlink launches from the west coast Vandenberg Launch Complex. Meanwhile, testing of the stainless steel Starship and rapid development of the super heavy booster down at Boca Chica, Texas continue.

Standing at nearly 400 feet, the entire Starship rocket stack will be the tallest yet.

SpaceX is serious about accelerating the rate of innovation, so get ready for more explosions in Boca Chica as they quickly iterate new Starship versions correcting the faults of the previous ones. In just one example of designing for rapid re-usability, they can switch out one of the Starships advanced Raptor engines for a replacement in about an hour.

After its initial flight there, the Starship lander will only operate at the moon. Astronauts  including the first woman and the first person of color  will ride to the moon in an Orion Capsule atop the new Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket (SLS) and transfer to Starship for landing. Starship will take off at the end of mission, and return astronauts to Orion for the trip back to Earth. After splashing down at sea, the Orion capsule will be refurbished for reuse.

Despite employing four used engines from the old space shuttle program, and with two Northrop Grumman solid rocket boosters similar to the shuttles, the 322 feet tall SLS built by Boeing it is not reusable.

The first Artemis (SLS/Orion) test flight  an unmanned trip around the moon  will likely come early next year, followed in 2023 with a crew of three to the moon and back. They will be the first humans beyond low Earth orbit since the final Apollo moon mission in 1972. If all goes well, humans could return to the Moons surface by 2024.

Artemis is predominantly a NASA program, but utilizes commercial companies and partnerships with space agencies from Europe, Japan, Canada, Italy, Australia, the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, and Brazil.

Also under development is the Lunar Gateway, a mini-space station orbiting the moon.

Find rise and set times for the sun and moon, and follow ever-changing celestial highlights in the Skywatch section of the Weather Almanac in The Republican and Sunday Republican.

Patrick Rowan has written Skywatch for The Republican since 1987 and has been a Weather Almanac contributor since the mid 1990s. A native of Long Island, Rowan graduated from Northampton High School, studied astronomy at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in the 1970s and was a research assistant for the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory. From 1981 to 1994, Rowan worked at the Springfield Science Museums Seymour Planetarium, most of that time as planetarium manager. Rowan lives in the Florence section of Northampton with his wife, Clara, and their cat, Eli.
With the help of a Cambridge-based company, the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction in Billerica is now monitoring its wastewater to check for the presence of COVID-19, Sheriff Peter Koutoujian announced Tuesday.

Biobot Analytics has already been working with the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to test sewage for signs of the coronavirus, meant to serve as an early warning system for spikes in COVID-19 activity.

Throughout this pandemic, our decision-making has been medically driven and guided by the science. Partnering with Biobot  a national leader in wastewater epidemiology  enhances our ongoing efforts and will allow us to detect any re-emergence of COVID-19 inside our facility and act rapidly to mitigate it, Koutoujian said.

The sheriff said the first four weeks of samples found signs of COVID-19 consistent with the results of direct testing involving incarcerated individuals.

The last two weekly samples found no signs of COVID-19, which Koutoujian said was in line with the facilitys testing program, which found no positive cases among the 54 incarcerated individuals tested.

Samples will be collected weekly for 26 weeks via an automated sampler that has been installed at the facility. Positive samples will further be analyzed to monitor for the B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19.

After the pandemic ends, Koutoujian said he hopes the partnership with Biobot will provide other insights about the incarcerated population, like monitoring for the presence of other diseases or opioids.

Moving forward, we hope to continue to work with Biobot to conduct surveillance testing that will help maintain a healthy, safe environment for our staff and those in our custody, Koutoujian said.
The former chief financial officer of a Middleborough-based shoe company pleaded guilty on Wednesday to embezzling roughly $30 million from the company in a multi-year scheme, according to Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendells office.

Richard Hajjar, formerly of Alden Shoe Co., had previously agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud, unlawful monetary transactions and filing a false tax return.

Prosecutors say Hajjar, who is 64, was writing himself checks from company accounts as far back as 2011 until Oct. of 2019. Court documents show that in 2011, Hajjar wrote eight checks worth $585,000; then in 2012, he wrote an additional 17 checks to himself for $1.2 million.

Hajjar transferred even larger sums of money into his accounts. In 2014 and 2015 alone he transferred more than $11.3 million into his accounts.

Additionally, authorities say that Hajjar failed to report the proceeds of his embezzlement as income on his tax returns between 2014 and 2019, which resulted in a failure to pay roughly $5,112,822 in taxes to the Internal Revenue Service.

According to the complaint, Hajjar bought two pairs of earrings totaling nearly $200,000 and two diamond rings valued at $241,000 for a person who is listed as Individual 1. A civil lawsuit filed by Alden Shoe Co. Inc. names former Boston news anchor Bianca de la Garza as the recipient.

Court documents also show that Hajjar paid $114,000 for private flights for the person to go to St. Maarten and Anguilla. Based on the shoe companys civil lawsuit, that person again appears to be de la Garza.

Hajjar is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 15, 2021.
A house fire in Leominster late Tuesday left a woman with serious injuries and displaced six residents, news outlets reported.

The fire was reported at 59 Church St. around midnight. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames, the Leominster Police Department told NBC Boston.

Firefighters also rescued a woman who was trapped in the fire. She was rushed to the hospital to be treated for serious burns, WBZ reported.

The American Red Cross of Massachusetts wrote in a tweet that its offering comfort, financial assistance and longterm recovery services to the six displaced adults.

No further details about the fire were immediately released Wednesday morning.
Seven days before David Almonds body was found covered in feces in his fathers Fall River apartment, one of his teachers contacted the Department of Children and Families case management team. The teacher said on Oct. 14, and a week earlier on Oct. 5, David and his brother Michael hadnt been logging in to remote schooling.

The DCF case management team did not probe the complaint after reaching out to Jaclyn Coleman, John Almonds girlfriend, who denied the boys were absent. The next time they would dig deeply into the familys ability to safely care for David and his brothers would be after his death on Oct. 21.

As lawmakers review the policies and actions leading up to Almonds Oct. 21 death, Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeff Riley suggested legislators approve a grant program that state officials could award to school districts struggling with chronic absenteeism.

Such a grant would such a grant program would help school districts hire additional staff to more quickly follow up on student absences and establish programs to reduce the levels of absenteeism, Riley told lawmakers Tuesday afternoon.

Lawmakers on Tuesday spent hours listening to state officials discuss their policies and reforms made in light of Almonds death on Oct. 21. Riley touted the states plan to require school districts to reopen for in-person learning, five days a week as a way to ensure that teachers and administrators can spot warning signs that a child is unsafe at home.

Yet chronic absenteeism persists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data updated last week show 17% of Massachusetts students were chronically absent, or they missed at least 10% of their school days up to March. Fifteen districts reported 40% or more students were chronically absent.

The DCF case management team reached out to Jaclyn Coleman, their fathers girlfriend, who denied they were absent. On Oct. 14, the same day the teacher called DCF a second time, a foster care review panel found that John Almond and Coleman were meeting the childrens needs in their home, despite a prior complaint of substance use in the home and Colemans reports of David injuring himself.

While a teacher contacted DCFs case management team on Oct. 5 and Oct. 14, it is not clear whether that teacher or all school employees working with David knew he was once in DCF custody. Riley said he wasnt certain either, but that he would let lawmakers know.

I would say it is common practice. Teachers know in general whos in DCF and whos not. There are times, you know, particularly, Riley said. I just cant say in this particular case ... what exactly the transfer of information was, but in general across Massachusetts educators understand who is in DCF custody and care.

But thats not the case at all Massachusetts school districts, Rep. David LeBoeuf said. Some students were dropped into a new school district or went missing in the eyes of educators, who didnt know that they were in DCF custody.

There still needs to be a lot of information about making sure that educators are able to identify the circumstances behind those children, the Worcester Democrat said.

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A state lawmaker from Boston is at the center of a legal dispute between Needham Bank and national lender Guaranteed Rate over allegations that state Rep. Ed Coppinger stole client lists and proprietary loan information from Needham when he left the bank in January for a job with Guaranteed Rate.

Coppinger, a West Roxbury Democrat, has been accused by his former employer of breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets, which he has denied. The lawmaker claims he did nothing more than leave with lists of customers that he had cultivated on his own over the years as a residential loan officer.

A Superior Court judge earlier this month ordered Coppinger to return the lists he retained from his time at the bank to Needham and for him and Guaranteed Rate to refrain from contacting or soliciting anyone on the lists until July 11, which is six months from the date he started at Guaranteed.

Judge Karen Green, however, denied Needham Banks broader request for an injunction on the grounds that the bank may struggle to prove Guaranteed Rate induced Coppinger to improperly share customer lists. Green also wrote that Needham had not demonstrated that Coppinger improperly used the lists to convert Needham customers to his new employer, but said its likely that the bank could prove that he violated other clauses in his contract before he left in January for a job at Guaranteed Rates office in Waltham.

Green said Needham should have enough time by mid-July to prove to its customers that the service they received at the bank had more to do with the institution than with Coppingers individuals efforts.

Neither Needham Bank nor Guaranteed Rate, or their lawyers, responded to requests for comment from the News Service this week, while Coppinger and his attorney, John Bauer of Lawson & Weitzen, declined to comment on the case because they said it was ongoing.

The case marks a rare spilling over of a Beacon Hill lawmakers secondary career into the public arena, even though many legislators work as lawyers, business owners or in other professions, in addition to their duties in the Legislature.

It also bears a strong resemblance to a 2016 case in California in which a jury ordered Guaranteed Rate to pay $25 million in damages to a smaller lender, Mount Olympus Mortgage Company, over allegations that a former employee stole hundreds of loan files before going to work for Guaranteed.

Coppingers case, if it goes to trial, may not be as cut and dry.

Green, in her April 17 ruling on a request for preliminary injunction, said the facts of the case raise doubts about Needhams ability to prove that Guaranteed Rate intentionally induced Coppinger to improperly share customer information.

Coppinger went to work as vice president of residential lending at Needham in March 2014 after years as an outside residential loan officer working on commission for various lenders, including most recently Leader Bank.

He resigned in January, and according to the complaint he told former colleagues at Needham that he was given a generous signing bonus by Guaranteed and induction in the Presidents Club, a distinction typically reserved for top sales performers.

The complaint and Greens injunction ruling suggest that Coppinger had grown frustrated with the rates being offered by Needham, and had been told by potential clients that they had found lower mortgage rates through other lenders.

According to case files, Coppinger on multiple occasions reached out to other lenders to verify these lower rates for borrowers and make sure they were working with a reputable lender. One of these lenders to whom Coppinger steered some customers was a former Leader Bank colleague who now worked for Guaranteed Rate.

While Needham alleges a conspiracy to share proprietary loan information with a competitor, Coppinger in the complaint contends that these customers had already decided not to do business with Needham and he was simply providing good customer service.

Those relationships, the court filings show, also led to Coppingers connection at Guaranteed Rate steering commercial and construction loan business that it could not handle to Needham Bank.

Needham Bank is a community bank with 10 branch offices in the eastern part of Massachusetts, while Guaranteed Rate was founded in Chicago as a residential lender and has over 400 locations nationwide, including 26 in Massachusetts.

The complaint against Coppinger and Guaranteed Rate alleges that between Dec. 8, 2020 and Jan. 2, 2021, after Coppinger had decided to leave Needham Bank, he sent six emails to his own personal email account with lists that included names and addresses of customers, and in some cases the loan product information on more more than 1,000 Needham customers.

After he joined Guaranteed Rate, Coppinger edited one of the more basic lists of customer names and addresses to delete people he did not recognize, to add former customers from before he went to Needham and to add email addresses from his personal contacts.

He then gave the list to the Guaranteed marketing department, and it was used to email 581 people announcing Coppingers hire and including promotional material. At least two birthday emails were also sent to contacts on the Coppinger list.

After some of their customers received the Coppinger announcement email, Needham Bank reviewed Coppingers work email trail and sent him a cease and desist letter on Jan. 25. Guaranteed told Coppinger not to continue using the list and told Needham it would investigate, confirming that Coppinger had given them a list that he attested was not confidential.

In early March, however, Coppinger closed two loans for customers that had been with Needham.

Needham said this constituted a violation and breach of his contract and the cease and desist agreement, but Greens order states that Coppinger had relationships with these customers that predated his time at Needham and was approached directly by the clients.

Judge Green said Needham is unlikely to succeed on misappropriation of trade secrets because it has not demonstrated how borrowers names and email address are trade secrets, and has not shown that Coppinger used or accessed more sensitive information on the five other lists to solicit clients, though its not known how he got all the email addresses or birthdays.

Green did write, however, that Coppinger may have been in violation of his contract by transferring customer files to his personal email without Needhams permission, and for sharing loan information with lenders at other financial institutions during his time working at Needham.

Needham Bank is seeking to permanently bar Guaranteed Rate and Coppinger from using trade secrets or confidential information it alleges were taken from the bank, as well as a ban on the defendants directly or indirectly soliciting business from any of the customers on the lists Coppinger is accused of sharing with his new employer.

The bank is also seeking damages for lost business as a result of deceptive and unfair acts and practices. None of the parties in the case would say whether settlement talks are underway or if they expected the case to go to trial.
In the motion, Justin K. Gelfand and Travis W. Story, Duggars attorneys, write that their client has never been convicted of a crime and has known about the investigation for a year and a half since federal investigators first conducted a search warrant at his former employer. According to the motion, Duggar and his family, six kids and a wife pregnant with child number seven, have remained in Arkansas since and Duggar has cooperated with authorities every step of the way.
Volunteers wheeled dozens of boxes filled with food around the side entrance of the Belmont AME Zion Church in Worcester.

In the basement of the church, not far from a small mountain of boxes, Rev. Clyde Talley praised the efforts by the community to continue the Farmers To Family program despite federal funding ending by the later this month.

This is Worcester, said Talley, who is also the president and CEO of Yes We Care. This is the best of Worcester.

A voice near the hallway where volunteers carried the food punctuated Talleys thought with an Amen!

The godsend to many families in Worcester County has distributed about 225 boxes of food each week since September. To date, the Farmers to Family Program has distributed more than 4,900 boxes of food equating to more than 73 tons of food.

The program has also distributed more than $500,000 in supplies ranging from electronics, masks, gloves, blankets, kitchen essentials and womens hygiene products.

This is something that is a necessity. Its not an option, Talley said. It is a necessity so we need to keep it going.

The USDAs Farmers to Families program began delivering boxes of food to Belmont AME Zion Church in September after Provision Ministry, which has provided 64,000 meals during the pandemic, contacted Talley about the programs potential.

Since then, the program operated through federal funding and was supposed to end in a few weeks.

Talley sparked conversations in Worcester, though, to unite Yes We Care, the YMCA of Central Massachusetts, the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging, the Belmont AME Zion Church, the Worcester County Food Bank and the United Way of Central Massachusetts to come together and continue the program.

Food and supplies are available at no cost to people each Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Belmont AME Zion Church on Illinois Street in Worcester. Talley called the church as safe space noting people from across Central Massachusetts have utilized the services.

Its not just feeding the adults, its feeding kids, President and CEO of Central Mass Agency on Aging Dr. Moses Dixon said. We live in a society where no one should go hungry and certainly not kids. Thats what it means. It means feeding families. It means making sure that theres a well-balanced meal and thats why its so important.

The stakeholders plan not only to continue the program but build on its success. Farmers to Families delivered fresh healthy food in boxes to the Belmont AME Zion Church.

Under the new program, boxes will be delivered to families who arent able to come to the church. Talley also said while boxes will still be available, the church also plans to provide hot meals as well.

The program that is happening here that Rev. Talley has been the head of will continue and were going to figure out ways to not only make it continue, but to enhance it, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern said. Were going to make it better. This community is going to come together and have his back.

Rev. Clyde Talley, president and CEO of Yes We Care and Congressman Jim McGovern celebrate the extension of the Farmers for Families Program.

Last week, McGovern was in Worcester delivering meals as he announced a nationwide campaign aimed at encouraging the Biden Administration to do a White House Conference on food, nutrition and hunger.

Over the next several months, McGovern said, the rules committee will conduct a series of hearings talking to people with lived experiences relating to food insecurity.

Hunger, when its all said and done, is a political condition, McGovern said. Weve got the money. We have the food. We have the infrastructure. We know what we need to do. What has been lacking has been the political will.

McGovern said he was recently in the grocery store when a woman approached him and described her anxiousness to return to a pre-pandemic world. McGovern suggested the country needs to exit the pandemic even stronger.

The hunger problem were faced with was here before the pandemic. Its gotten worse but it was here before, McGovern said. So we need to, as we come out of this, figure out how we can do better.

McGovern said the pandemic has highlighted the inequities in cities and towns where communities of color have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, not only through infections but in terms of hunger.

Programs like the one at Belmont AME Zion Church can provide blueprints not only for the city but for the rest of the country in how to address the inequities.

The success of what is happening here, McGovern said. I hope will inspire all of us to rise to the occasion.

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The leader of UMass Memorial Health on Wednesday told members of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce that a proposed expansion into Westborough by Mass General Brigham will drive up health care costs in the region and negatively impact underserved populations.

I dont think a movement of the largest, most expensive health care system in the state is going to be a good thing for this region or the state overall, Dickson said at a presidents council event held by the Chamber.

Mass General Brigham has filed a $2.4 billion expansion plan with the Department of Public Health, including a move into Westborough, Woburn, Westwood and Salem, New Hampshire, to offer ambulatory services at outpatient clinics, as well as 94 new inpatient beds on the Massachusetts General Hospital campus and 78 new inpatient beds on the Brigham & Womens Faulkner campus.

Worcester-based UMass Memorial is the largest employer in Central Massachusetts and the regions main health care system. Its also the safety net provider for the region.

It will take away jobs from this region and therefore have less people to buy your goods and services and then ultimately it will pull resources away from our most under-resourced neighborhoods and individuals and marginalized populations in Central Massachusetts, which given the inequities that already exist in health care, we cant afford to go backwards in that direction, Dickson told local business owners attending the virtual event.

Mass General Brigham, however, says the proposal will bring services to existing patients in the area, saving them a drive to Boston.

We are focused on bringing primary care, mental health services, ambulatory surgery, imaging and specialty care to our existing patients in more affordable, cost-effective settings. We have tens of thousands of existing patients that will benefit from getting their care closer to home, instead of driving to Boston, Rich Copp, a spokesman for Mass General Brigham, said in a statement Wednesday.

The regulatory process currently underway is not intended as a forum for competitors to protect their economic interests, Copp continued. It is supposed to be a determination, on the health care merits, of the value of the investment. If it provides a positive benefit to patients, it should be approved. Our proposed health care projects clearly meet that standard, and will allow us to deliver the right care, at the right time, in the right place and at a lower cost.

Mass General Brighams proposal has to pass through a regulatory process before it can come to fruition. The system says after that process is complete, the project will create thousands of new construction jobs and then hundreds of permanent full-time jobs.

Were going to lose lives to this, Dickson said. Every 1% of commercial market share we lose would be a $30 million hit to us. Our percent Medicaid, which is already one of the highest in the state, would go up and we would see a per case adjusted discharge go down.

Dickson argued that there isnt any new health care that needs to be delivered around Westborough. UMass Memorial has multiple practices in the area.

If the expansion goes through, UMass Memorial and Worcesters Saint Vincent Hospital will have to increase rates to make up for revenue losses, Dickson said. The CEO also said that the move will cause a significant increase to insurance premiums and that patients will pay at least 20% more for every admission or visit moved to Mass General Brigham from UMass Memorial.

I cant fault them on the strategy, but I can say that its not a good thing for us or our communities, Dickson said.

UMass Memorial does refer some of its patients to Mass General Brigham for a small number of services that cant be provided in Central Massachusetts, Dickson said. He said the health care system does an amazing job taking care of patients.

Dickson said that the expansion would force UMass Memorial to cut jobs. The system employs about 14,000 people.

Former Worcester City Manager Michael OBrien, who said he was not making comments from his position on the UMass board of trustees and the UMass Memorial board of trustees, called the proposal a crock of s*** during a question and answer session following Dicksons comments.

I think the way to do this is youve got to fight them on their turf, OBrien said. If this is about turf territory and manifest destiny, give them a taste of their own medicine.

He offered that UMass Memorial may want to think about its own expansion in the Newton and Wellesley area.

Dickson said there have been conversations about whether they should push east, which would be a challenge because of the systems safety net obligations.

Were bringing a knife to a gunfight. Were bringing a knife to a bazooka fight, Dickson said.

A coalition has formed in opposition to the expansion. UMass Memorial Health and the chamber are among more than a dozen groups associated with the Coalition to Protect Community Care. The coalition claims the expansion will endanger local institutions, raise costs, threaten jobs, impair health equity and provide redundant services.

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The 65-year-old man fatally stabbed in Worcester Wednesday morning was attacked by another man who was inside the same livery vehicle, according to court records and prosecutors.

The victim was picked up at 8 a.m. He was pronounced dead one hour later after the attack, records show.

Authorities arrested 53-year-old Ramon Castro of Worcester in connection with the killing of William Gomez.

Castro was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in Worcester District Court on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury.

According to court records, someone from a livery company called 911 around 8:26 a.m. and said one of their drivers was on their way to Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester with a stabbing victim.

The driver told police they picked up Gomez around 8 a.m. and then five minutes later picked up Castro. There were no other passengers in the vehicle. Both men were in the back.

While driving east on Ionic Ave., a fight broke out between Castro and the victim, police said in a statement of facts. Castro was the aggressor, the driver told police.

The driver stopped the vehicle and tried to break up the fight, but then noticed Castro had a knife, police and prosecutors said.

Gomez had a stab wound to the chest.

Castro ran from the vehicle after the attack, authorities said.

The driver then rushed Gomez to Saint Vincent Hospital. Gomez was pronounced dead in the hospitals emergency room at 9 a.m. It appears the two men were familiar with one another.

Police found blood inside the livery vehicle, a red Toyota Prius. Detectives were seeking a search warrant to collect evidence from the vehicle.

The driver gave police a description of Castro who was located on Main Street. Records show Castro as last living in an apartment at 600 Main St. Castro was then identified by the driver as the attacker, authorities said.

During an interview with police, Castro, who waived his rights, admitted to getting into a fight with Gomez inside the vehicle and then fleeing the car.

Police seized Castros clothing and canvassed the areas around 600 Main St. and Ionic Avenue for video.

A defense lawyer asked for Castro to undergo a mental health evaluation while the prosecution asked for Castro to be held as dangerous until a hearing can be held.

A judge allowed both requests.

Castro returned to court on Thursday, where a judge vacated the initial order for a mental health evaluation. A defense attorney for Castro requested he be privately screened first. His attorney also thought charges would be upgraded. A dangerousness hearing was scheduled for May 12. Castro remains held without bail.
For the second time, Worcesters Independence Day fireworks have been canceled because of COVID-19, officials said Wednesday.

The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, presenting sponsor Fallon Health, the city of Worcester and Discover Central Massachusetts said the decision to cancel again was made out of an abundance of caution as the pandemic continues. The groups felt it was in everyones best interest to avoid large, in-person gatherings where its more difficult to control the spread of the virus, according to a statement from the Chamber.

Residents will have to wait until next year for the traditional celebration. Though, there will be another pyrotechnic display this summer. The Worcester Red Sox, who will play their first game at the new Polar Park stadium next week, are planning on hosting fireworks in July.

As exponentially more and more people become fully vaccinated, we certainly believe that better days are on the horizon. Were so close, but we cant give up now. We feel it is still too soon to be among big crowds, but were confident we can return to this annual, family-friendly event in 2022, said Chamber President and CEO Timothy Murray.

Coronavirus health metrics have been improving in Massachusetts as more people become vaccinated against the virus, however, cases are still spreading. As of Tuesday, there are 22,248 active infections of the virus, a number that has been dropping.

At the end of the day, the health and wellbeing of the residents of Worcester, and all those involved in this event, must come first, said Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. While we are approaching the light at the end of the tunnel with this pandemic, we arent quite there yet. I appreciate the difficult decision made by the Chamber and its partners, and I am optimistic that we will all come together again next year for a fireworks celebration to remember.

During the July 4th weekend, the WooSox plan to set off fireworks for fans on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, according to the Chamber.

While we all await the return of this wonderful Worcester tradition, we will try to do our part to bring some Independence Day joy to the city we love, said Charles Steinberg, the president of the Worcester Red Sox. We will hope to have fireworks at Polar Park July 2, 3, and 4, and we all hope that, by then, we can welcome even more families to their new summer home.

The Independence Day celebration is typically held at East Park on Shrewsbury Street.

For almost 20 years, Fallon Health has been the lead sponsor of the City of Worcesters Independence Day celebration. We look forward to the return next year of this popular community event at Cristoforo Colombo Park, said Richard Burke, the president and CEO of Fallon Health.

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Sherry Hassler, 55, of Lindsay, died Sunday, June 6, in Oklahoma City. The family will welcome friends at Brumley-Mills Funeral Home in Hartshorne for viewing and visitation on Thursday from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Memorial services will be held on Friday, June 11, at 10:00 a.m. at Brumley-Mills F
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Im playing a guy who was a fighter...he was many things, he explained in the April 8 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! He was a fighter, he moved to L.A. to become an actor, he fell in love with a girl, he had an accident, he had an outer-body spiritual experience, he decided to become a priest.... its quite the story and quite the journey.
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There is a human cost to this relentless propaganda, specifically when it is knowingly false and malicious, and though we have continued to put on a brave face  as so many of you can relate to  I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been, Harry said at the time.
Just like its City Green Live concert series, seating for the city of Sandy Springs Concerts by the Springs series, which begins May 9, will 
As a way to keep more police officers, the city of Atlanta is offering them a retention bonus of as much as $2,500.
And so we thought it might be fun to mix it up, especially if people didnt know that was coming. So that was always part of the plan. And then when the nominations came out and there was even the possibility that Chadwick could win posthumously, our feeling was if he were to win and his widow were to speak on his behalf, there would be nowhere to go after that. So we stuck with it.
The new warrant was issued after the U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles filed a complaint Friday saying the marble statue depicting the lower half of a human figure had been looted, smuggled and illegally exported from Italy before it was sold by the Axel Vervoordt gallery in Belgium.
To be eligible, tenants have to submit a special document provided by the CDC to the court when they answer an eviction summons, attesting that they cant afford to pay rent because of a loss of income or medical expenses. They must also attest they have tried to get government assistance and attempted to pay a portion of the rent, and that if they were evicted, they would either become homeless or have to move in with friends or family.
COVID-19 fatalities and new cases recorded a sharp hike in Maharashtra though the Mumbai situation improved while the state death toll shot past the 71,000 mark, said health officials.



Against 567 deaths on Monday, the state saw 891 deaths of Tuesday, taking the total fatalities to 71,742 now.

The number of new COVID infections crossed the 50,000 level again, at 51,880, taking the state tally to above the 48 lakh mark, to 48,22,902.





As many as 65,934 fully cured patients returned home - higher than the number of fresh infections on Tuesday - taking the total to 41,07,092 now, and the recovery rate improved from 84.07 per cent on Monday to 85.16 per cent now.



The Mumbai circle - comprising Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts - recorded 7,436 new cases, taking its tally to 14,05,276, and with 165 more deaths, the toll shot to 23,982.



Of the day's fatalities, Nagpur led with 107 deaths, while there were 72 in Thane, 62 in Mumbai, 53 in Pune, 52 in Nashik, 42 each in Ahmednagar, Solapur, and Chandrapur, 38 each in Jalgaon and Kolhapur, 36 in Nanded, 30 in Sangli, 29 in Raigad, 23 in Nandurbar, 22 in Jalna, 20 each in Amravati and Wardha, 16 in Gadchiroli, 15 each in Ratnagiri and Latur, 14 each in Satara and Osmanabad, 13 in Yavatmal, 11 in Bhandara, 10 in Aurangabad, nine in Parbhani, eight each in Sindhudurg, Beed, and Akola, seven each in Washim and Gondia, six in Hingoli, and two in Palghar.



Dhule and Buldhana recorded zero fatalities.



Meanwhile, the number of people sent to home isolation increased to 39,36,323 now, while those shunted to institutional quarantine went up to 30,356.



Source: IANS For the third day, the state death rate remained stable at 1.49 per cent, while the number of active cases decreased to 641,910.As many as 65,934 fully cured patients returned home - higher than the number of fresh infections on Tuesday - taking the total to 41,07,092 now, and the recovery rate improved from 84.07 per cent on Monday to 85.16 per cent now.The Mumbai circle - comprising Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts - recorded 7,436 new cases, taking its tally to 14,05,276, and with 165 more deaths, the toll shot to 23,982.Of the day's fatalities, Nagpur led with 107 deaths, while there were 72 in Thane, 62 in Mumbai, 53 in Pune, 52 in Nashik, 42 each in Ahmednagar, Solapur, and Chandrapur, 38 each in Jalgaon and Kolhapur, 36 in Nanded, 30 in Sangli, 29 in Raigad, 23 in Nandurbar, 22 in Jalna, 20 each in Amravati and Wardha, 16 in Gadchiroli, 15 each in Ratnagiri and Latur, 14 each in Satara and Osmanabad, 13 in Yavatmal, 11 in Bhandara, 10 in Aurangabad, nine in Parbhani, eight each in Sindhudurg, Beed, and Akola, seven each in Washim and Gondia, six in Hingoli, and two in Palghar.Dhule and Buldhana recorded zero fatalities.Meanwhile, the number of people sent to home isolation increased to 39,36,323 now, while those shunted to institutional quarantine went up to 30,356.Source: IANS

The Mumbai position was a relief with the infections falling further to 2,554, taking the tally to 661,175. Daily deaths came down, from 78 on Monday to 62 now, and the total fatalities in the country's commercial capital stood at 13,434.
Kangana Ranaut is kind of like the Arnab Goswami of the Bollywood industry right now. You can love her or hate her but you just cant ignore her.



She had around three million followers at the time her Twitter account was permanently suspended on grounds of violating rules and creating disharmony between communities by spreading hate.

 Kangana Ranaut Twitter

Kangana had sparked a major controversy after she called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use his Viraat roop from the early 2000s to tame Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.



Kanganas remarks sparked an outrage among social media users and people started to ask the social media platform to suspend her account for good.

Here are the tweets that created havoc on social media:

 Kangana Ranaut Twitter

 Kangana Ranaut Twitter

Weve been clear that we will take strong enforcement action on behaviour that has the potential to lead to offline harm. The referenced account has been permanently suspended for repeated violations of Twitter Rules specifically our Hateful Conduct policy and Abusive Behaviour policy. We enforce the Twitter Rules judiciously and impartially for everyone on our service, a statement was released by Twitter.



However, a day after the suspension of her account, her fans started to support her and also started to demand that she should return to the platform.

 Twitter

 Twitter

 Twitter

 Twitter

However, those who can't stand the Manikarnika star and her vitriol are maintaining that her suspension was totally called for and that she does not deserve to come back on Twitter.



 Twitter

 Twitter

 Twitter

 Twitter

This is a social media war going on right now and were wondering if this will ever end. What do you think of the entire fiasco? Let us know in the comments section below.



Meanwhile, on the work front, 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.
Kangana Ranaut has left no stone unturned in taking continuous jibes at A-listers, politicians and pretty much anyone on her list in the last couple of years.



The Queen actress has often tweeted some rather strong and personal opinions that left people incensed and outraged.

From the time she compared the state govt of Maharashtra to the Taliban to talking about incorrect usage of oxygen plants, Kangana has revolted on almost every topic.

 Instagram/Kangana Ranaut

After so many of her controversial posts, Kangana's Twitter account was finally suspended yesterday after her take on the recent West Bengal Poll results.



 Instagram/Kangana Ranaut

A Twitter spokesperson said, "We've been clear that we will take strong enforcement action on behaviour that has the potential to lead to offline harm. The referenced account has been permanently suspended for repeated violations of Twitter Rules specifically our Hateful Conduct policy and Abusive Behaviour policy,"



He further added, "As explained in our abusive behaviour policy, you may not engage in the targeted harassment of someone, or incite other people to do so. We consider abusive behaviour an attempt to harass, intimidate, or silence someone else's voice."

After this development, many celebrities from the Bollywood industry came forward, including Richa Chadha, Hansal Mehta, Swara Bhasker and Gulshan Devaiah, to react to the Twitter ban on Kangana.

Richa, without adding anyone's name, posted a meme that read "Be Yourself. Somewhere Else." Users were quick with their response and instantly reverted to the same.

One user wrote, "Kangna's suspended account is first wave, she will be back with new strain in second wave."

Pleasantly surprised to see this! Kudos to you @AnandBhushan & #RimzimDadu for calling out hate speech and incitement to genocide in a direct manner! Stand tall you guys!  pic.twitter.com/G1Gd82bbmL  Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) May 4, 2021

Even Swara couldn't contain her happiness as a fashion house decided to cut ties with Kangana.

On that, Swara tweeted saying, "Pleasantly surprised to see this! Kudos to you @AnandBhushan & #RimzimDadu for calling out hate speech and incitement to genocide in a direct manner! Stand tall you guys!"

Her majesty shot herself in the foot while plucking her eyebrows. Poor Virat, his name was dragged into this unnecessarily.  Gulshan Devaiah (@gulshandevaiah) May 4, 2021

Coming to Gulshan, he tweeted, "Her majesty shot herself in the foot while plucking her eyebrows. Poor Virat, his name was dragged into this unnecessarily."

In a tweet in response to the violence following recent assembly poll results in West Bengal, Kangana had mentioned Modi's "virat roop" from the 2000s.

Whereas Hansal replied to a tweet, calling Kangana 'Full Nautanki'.

The tweet read, "Let her Koo all her toxic violent communal tweets somewhere else now. Thank you @Twitter @jack Update: Now she is crying on Instagram that deshadrohi desh chala rahe hain. The pain of getting suspended from Twitter is real."

Amen!

I was in a mental state of tripping her with my left foot if I ever met her.

But, this is way better.

I hope a permanent relief.

Social media can be better without her. pic.twitter.com/5KGYI16opc  Kubbra Sait (@KubbraSait) May 4, 2021

Other actors including Kubbra Sait tweeted saying that it's a permanent relief for her whereas Bidita Bag requested to suspend Kangana's Instagram account as well.

More and more actors are coming forward and reacting to this whole situation. But since Kangana won't suppress her opinion, she wrote in a statement "Twitter has only proved my point they are Americans and by birth, a white person feels entitled to enslave a brown person, they want to tell you what to think, speak or do. Fortunately, I have many platforms I can use to raise my voice including my own art in the form of cinema but my heart goes out to the people of this nation who have been tortured, enslaved and censored for thousands of years and still there is no end to the suffering,"
The real-life hero, Sonu Sood, who has been arranging oxygen, hospital beds, and medicines for people as the country battles the second wave of coronavirus, also seems to have broken down. He said that every cry for help is a realization that the system has failed to protect its citizens.



He recently spoke to journalist Barkha Dutt at length about how the shortage of oxygen in the capital and lack of hospital beds and non-availability of medicines is killing patients and not the virus.

He said, My parents are no more, and sometimes I think thank God they are no more because imagine they would have been helpless and I would have been running around for them. You feel like a failed human being if you are not able to get oxygen for your loved ones. You feel what have I achieved in life. I am getting calls from the most well-established people who have big houses in Delhi, and they say, Please get me just one bed.

Imagine how helpless they are. Imagine what will happen to a common person or a poor person who has no resources. Who will take care of them? Nothing can be worse than this. At least, oxygen is my right. A hospital is my right. If we say one lakh people have died, then imagine if we had one lakh more beds, these people would have been saved. The people who have died didnt deserve to die. They are dying because they are not getting the treatment at the right time. Someones oxygen drops from 88 to 60 because he or she didnt get a bed or oxygen. How are the families of these people going to lead their lives? They will live as failed humans. We all have also failed as humans, he added.

Not only this, Sonu Sood and his team of volunteers in Bengaluru provided around 16 oxygen cylinders to a hospital in the city and saved the lives of around 20-22 Covid-19 patients. The Karnataka team of Sonu Sood Charity Foundation received an SOS call from a police official about the urgent need for an oxygen cylinder at ARAK hospital.
Ever since her permanent suspension from Twitter for her remarks that could have enticed violence, Kangana Ranaut and her team are now facing a new and fresh round of boycotts.

This time around, by celebrated fashion designers.

 Viral Bhayani

Ever since the news of her Twitter account getting suspended broke out, notable designers like Rimzim Dadu & Anand Bhushan have put up statements, saying that going forth neither of them will be associated with any project that involves the actress.

 Instagram/anandbhushan

Delhi-based designer Anand Bhushan took to social media to share a post, stating that he no longer would be associated with her for any project whatsoever and urged the other designers to think twice before associating with the actor.



Designer Rimzim Dadu shared a post on her social media and wrote, "Never too late to do the right thing! We are removing all posts of past collaborations from our social channels and pledge to not engage in any future association with her."

 Instagram/rimzimdaduofficial

Furthermore, they also said that they are actively removing all photographs of their previous collaborations with Kangana and other similar content from their social media timelines.



As if this wasnt a big egg on the face moment for Kanganas team, her sister, and manager, Rangoli Chandel, put up a post, trying to bash Anand Bhushan as someone who was trying to cash in on someone elses fame.

 Instagram/rangoli_r_chandel

Anand Bhushan, savagely shut Rangoli down, by sharing an old Femina cover, where Rangoli is actually wearing clothes designed and created by Bhushan.



 Instagram/anandbhushan

 BCCL/Femina

As if all this wasnt enough, Rangoli then put up a story on her feed, saying that she would be filing a lawsuit against Anand Bhushan, alleging that this small-time designer" is using Indias top actress name to "promote himself.

 Instagram/rangoli_r_chandel

For people who are unaware of what has been going on, Kangana put up a tweet, asking Prime Minister to intervene and impose Presidents Rule in Bengal, citing post-election violence.



While doing so, she referred to the 2002 Gujarat riots in a discrete manner.

 Twitter/KanganaTeam

Twitter saw this as a call to riot and violence and therefore suspended her account permanently.



As is usual, Kangana saw herself as the victim in all this, and gave this incident a colonial colour, stating that Twitter is a white mans platform, and saying, A white person feels entitled to enslave a brown person.
If youre still reeling from the shock of an announcement that Bill & Melinda Gates divorce was, then you better brace yourselves.

Some details about their private and public lives are now resurfacing, which may prove to be even more shocking than the sudden announcement of their split.

 AFP

If the thirst tweets and flirtatious DMs that people all over the world were sending to Bill wasnt enough of a disaster, some quirky aspects about his private & public life, are again back in focus.

 AFP

According to an old article that was published in 1997 in Time magazine, the tech magnate had an arrangement with his wife, Melinda, that would allow him to go away on one, weekend-long vacation to meet his ex-girlfriend, Ann Winblad, every year.

 Reddit/r/TechGurus

As per the report, Bill had this arrangement as of 1997.



A subsequent report also states that Bill had a similar arrangement up until 2001. It is not clear at this point if this arrangement continued after 2001.

People who have followed the life of the tech & business mogul closely will know that while they were dating, Ann had a lot of influence on Bill.

After they broke up, they remained very close friends, and would meet up to discuss technology, computers and business, and would ride dune buggies, hang-glide or simply walk on the beach, at Anns North Carolina residence.

 AFP

Bill sought to keep this arrangement going on during his marriage, and with Melindas permission he managed to do so.



It is even said, that Winblad had a major involvement in Bill, finally getting married to Melinda.

Bill actually asked Ann for approval, and she blessed the couple, saying that Melinda would be a good match for Bill, because of her intellectual stamina.

 Reddit/r/TechGurus

Bill & Winblad broke up in 1987, and in 1994, Bill married Melinda, in a private ceremony in Hawaii.



Apart from a generic sense of schadenfreude, or enjoying seeing someone in misery, one aspect of why people are invested in this divorce is the financial aspect of it.

It is estimated that assets worth $148 Billion, will now be divvied up between Bill Gates & Melinda French.

 AFP

This is set to be one of the most expensive divorces in history, second only to that of Amazon Mogul Jeff Bezos & MacKenzie Scott.

 Reuters

More importantly, how would it affect the functioning of their joint philanthropic missions, that were a part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.


India has been severely hit by the second wave of the novel Coronavirus and this is time that we all need to adhere to the precautionary measures as told by the health care department.

However, sadly, people are failing to understand that mass gatherings can result in nothing but doom right now.

 Reuters

A massive COVID-19 violation was seen in Gujarat's Sanand city on Tuesday. According to reports, thousands of women undertook a religious gathering to offer water at the Baliyadev Temple.



While medical professionals are giving their lives to ensure that people are safe and heal sooner, on the other hand, we have such blatant displays of violation.

The visuals are terrifying and we are wondering how could the concerned authorities let this happen.

Gujarat: Despite COVID restrictions, women in large numbers gathered at Navapura village in Sanand, Ahmedabad district to offer prayers at the Baliyadev temple, yesterday



Action taken against 23 people including the Sarpanch of the village, says KT Kamaria, DySP, Ahmedabad Rural pic.twitter.com/5h6jiQN1Yx  ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2021

People are stunned after the visuals started to go viral and asked why did the government not stop this in the very first place?

 ANI Twitter

 ANI Twitter

The mass gathering took place after a local priest claimed that COVID-19 was happening because the 'gods are angry'.



The most disturbing part is that even music was being played by a DJ who was accompanying the women. The protocols of wearing masks and keeping social distancing were brutally breached in the public domain.

However, the police have now taken action against 23 people in Navapura village, including the village sarpanch.

 Reuters

Meanwhile, in the last 24 hours, India reported over 3.82 lakh new cases of the novel coronavirus taking the total tally of cases in the country to over 2.06 crores which is a scary number.



Its sad that these people didnt take any lessons after many devotees who returned from Kumbh Mela were tested positive. About 2,600 devotees tested positive out of the nearly two lakh tests conducted by medical personnel during the mela.

MensXP urges everyone to stay home and stay safe because its a luxury that many cant afford.
India has given domestic telecom companies and network equipment vendors the go-ahead to conduct a six-month trial on 5G technology. However, none of the networking equipment that will be used for testing will be from China. The decision to exclude Chinese players could have been made due to the recent border tensions with Indias neighbours.

 Reuters

Even though companies like Huawei were granted permission to participate in Indias 5G trial phase last year, it seems like the company has been excluded for now. Chinese network equipment will be excluded from the trials while companies like Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, and C-DOT kit have been granted permission by the Department of Telecommunications. The announcement came via a statement by the Ministry of Communications.



Indian telecom companies like Reliance Jio, Airtel, MTNL and Vodafone have been granted permission to conduct trials using their own technology or via key vendors. For the trials, telecom companies will use an experimental spectrum doled out by the Indian Government. These bands are spread across the mid-band, millimetre wave band, and the sub-gigahertz band. The telecom companies have also been granted permission to use their own spectrum for 5G trials.

 Unsplash

The trials will be required to be conducted in three different settings i.e. rural, semi-urban settings, and urban settings so that 5G technology is not exclusive to urban areas, the Ministry of Communications said. Telecom companies have also been told to run the tests on a non-commercial basis and should not be connected to any of the existing networks.



5G trials are slated to begin six months after Reliance Jio CEO Mukesh Ambani announced that the company will be rolling out its own 5G networks by the end of 2021. "I assure you that Jio will pioneer the 5G revolution in India in the second half of 2021," said Ambani, during the India Mobile Congress 2020 keynote.
Meridian, MS (39302)

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Bell faces multiple charges of possession of cannabis not more than 20 grams, fleeing and eluding with disregard to safety of people and property, possession of a firearm by convicted in-state felon, tampering with physical evidence, trafficking in fentanyl, possession of cocaine, giving false name upon being arrested, aggravated assault and carjacking using a firearm, according to VCSO.
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Police said shots were fired after the person who allegedly started the fight walked to their vehicle.
KABUL  Following up the series of inter-parliamentary discussions between women members of the Afghan National Assembly and parliamentarians of other countries, members of the Afghan parliament held talks through VTC with Senator Jeanne Shaheen of the United States.



During the meeting, Acting Minister of Women's Affairs Mrs. Hasina Safi, Chair of the House Committee on Women's affairs and Human Rights Mrs. Nahid Farid, member of the parliament Mrs. Shinkai Karookhail, and Afghan Women's Network Executive Director Mrs. Mary Akrami discussed their concerns over the consequences of the withdrawal of Resolute Support Forces from Afghanistan. They called on the United States Senate, particularly Ms. Shaheen, to continue their support and cooperation for Afghan women's practical and meaningful presence in the peace talks and the political future of Afghanistan.



Concurring with the concerns of Afghan women, Senator Shaheen called the agreement of former President Trump's Administration with the Taliban a mistake and promised to work with her colleagues in the U.S. Senate to fully support the achievements and active participation of the Afghan women in the peace talks and the future of Afghanistan.
Ambassador of Belarus V.Rybak meets the Minister of National Education of Turkey

On May 5, 2021, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Turkey Victor Rybak met with the Minister of National Education of the Republic of Turkey Ziya Selcuk.

The Sides discussed the state and prospects for the development of Belarusian-Turkish cooperation in the field of education. The main attention was paid to the discussion of modalities of organizing the visit to Turkey of the delegation of the leadership of the Ministry of Education of our country this year.

During the meeting, the Ambassador of Belarus handed over to the Minister of National Education of Turkey a draft program for the development of cooperation in the field of education between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Turkey for 2021-2022.

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Written by Allison Haeger, CAS communications intern

Christina Tenison gathering field equipment to describe the outcrop of stream channel gravels and floodplain deposits in the background.

The Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science (GLG) organized their first annual Geosciences Student Research Symposium (GSRS) this spring. Held April 14 via Zoom, the symposium featured 17 research presentations from undergraduate and graduate students.

Coordinated by Assistant Professor of Geology Carrie Tyler and Associate Professor of Geology Mark Krekeler, the symposium relied on their partnership with student-run committees to plan the event, covering such topics as the effects humans have on the environment, sedimentology, earthquake forecasting, and forensic geochemistry.

We havent been able to spend as much time together this past year, so this was a great opportunity to come together as a community and celebrate everything our students have accomplished, said Tyler.

The research symposium was a quick way to get caught up on everyones projects and see what theyve been up to, said geology masters student Christina Tenison, who helped organize the symposium and presented her research. I loved getting to hear about student work in our department.

The main goal of the symposium was to provide students a low-pressure setting to practice delivering professional and technical talks on their research. In addition, the GLG department had the chance to showcase the diversity of student research projects, help students to connect with industry recruiters, and build a stronger community among students and staff.

Alexia Rojas watching the sunrise on her last morning completing fieldwork in Argentina.

Tenisons research presentation analyzed what North American streams may have looked like before European settlement: either meandering single channel stream systems or multi-thread streams with vegetated islands. Her goal was to inform stream restoration projects.

Learning how to give engaging talks in a way that doesnt use too much technical jargon is an important skill, as is being able to answer questions after your talk, said Tenison. The GSRS was more of a how can I improve experience where students can easily get feedback in a setting that is perhaps less intimidating than a typical research conference.

Alexia Rojas, also a geology masters student, introduced her research on how active faults influence locations of river channels and the preservation of river deposits. Part of Rojas work involves differentiating the effects of these influences from alternative causes like climate change.

In 2019, Rojas completed field work in the Ischigualasto basin in Argentina, where she studied relationships between sediment deposition and faults active around 230 million years ago.

The research and presentations were good enough to be given at a national research conference, said Rojas. The GSRS was a great opportunity to communicate ones research in a low-risk environment.

The success of the GSRS, both for students and the department, ensures that plans to keep the symposium on the roster each year will move forward. Tyler and Krekeler hope in following years to host an in-person symposium with a poster session, refreshments, and a social event after presentations conclude.

Its great to see the large diversity of work being done within the department, said Krekeler. This new event is a testament to students' will to work on new things.

Brian Currie, professor of geology, attended the symposium and left his approval for the research in the chat box: I have been involved with student research symposia at different universities over the past 25-plus years, and the presentations of this event are as good as I have ever seen!
It's been a long road since the 1981 Time magazine cover story about Miami titled Paradise Lost? Along the way, some have felt paradise was found and lost again, but the truth is, it's in the bloody gutter. It has been for a long time  one dead Black body at a time.
Rivera left the scene when the victim said he or she was calling law enforcement, but the victim got Riveras license plate and photo, allowing deputies to find and arrest her, according to the department.
Lynsey Mukomel 517-599-2746 Attorney General

May 5, 2021

LANSING - A former Blackman-Leoni Township public safety officer who pleaded guilty to lying to a peace officer has been sentenced, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced today.

David Lubahn, 52, was sentenced Tuesday before Judge Carol Kuhnke in Ann Arbor's 22nd Circuit Court to 12 months probation and he must complete 100 hours of community service within the next 6 months.

Under the plea agreement, he also forfeited his Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) law enforcement license and waived his administrative appeal rights as part of the plea agreement, meaning Lubahn will never be able to serve as a police officer in Michigan again.

He pleaded guilty in March after being charged last year with one count of perjury of a record or document, a 15-year felony, and one count of misconduct in office, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Those charges were dismissed as part of the agreement.

"Those who wear a badge carry the burden of protecting the public as well as the burden of everything the badge is supposed to represent," Nessel said. "Mr. Lubahn is being held accountable for not abiding by the high standards law enforcement officers must meet to be effective in the communities they serve."

Lubahn was an on-duty Blackman-Leoni Township public safety officer when he conducted an illegal search and seizure, which was captured on his body-worn camera. He subsequently made false statements in his police report, and then a misrepresentation and omission in the affidavit for a search warrant about his actions.
Season finale of 'Ask the DNR' Thursday on WNMU-TV13

Season finale of 'Ask the DNR' Thursday on WNMU-TV13

May 5, 2021

Staffers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will answer viewer questions live Thursday night on "Ask the DNR," broadcast on WNMU-TV13.

DNR wildlife biologist Kristie Sitar from Newberry, Kelly Somero, unit supervisor at Baraga State Park, fisheries biologist Cory Kovacs from Newberry and conservation officer Mike Evink from Schoolcraft County will be available for the hour-long program, which will air live at 8 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 6.

The program will be available later online, where WNMU-TV13 archives past shows.

"This show will be another great opportunity for viewers to get their questions answered on a wide range of subjects," said John Pepin, DNR deputy public information officer. "Ask the DNR will return for a new season of live broadcasts in the fall."

The panel will likely field questions about spring- and summer-related recreation activities, including camping, fishing and boating and off-road vehicle operation, though the discussion is typically wide-ranging, based on viewer questions.

Viewers are reminded to leave their name and phone number when calling in questions. Those questions not answered on the air will be answered by DNR staffers in returned phone calls following the program.

To phone questions in during the live telecast, call 1-800-227-9668.
Multi-state conservation project awarded nearly $8 million for Western Lake Erie Basin

For immediate release: May 4, 2021

Media contact: Jessy Sielski, 517-331-1151

LANSING, MI - Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) announced that a multi-state conservation program--led by Indiana and including the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as a key partner--received $7,780,799 to protect natural resources, enhance soil health, improve water quality, and support landowners in the Western Lake Erin Basin (WLEB) region.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to expand and accelerate the work our states have been doing to preserve and protect our fresh water, which has been a top priority of Governor Whitmer's administration since day one," said MDARD Director Gary McDowell. "The Western Lake Erie Basin is a unique and complex challenge, one that can't be overcome without adequate resources and key partnerships. This project provides both, and we can't wait to get started."

"Soil conservation and enhancing water quality are critical in this basin for not only Hoosiers, but also for our neighbors across the Midwest," said Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. "This funding and these future projects are sure to have a lasting impact on our ecosystem, and I am excited to see what the future of the Western Lake Erie basin holds."

Titled the Lake Erie Conservation Partnership, this grant is for a five-year program and was awarded to the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA), Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and The Ohio State University (OSU), which will work together collectively to focus on nutrient management, erosion control, water management, and more. This funding will aim to steward new conservation programs in all three states and will be utilized for demonstration sites of soil conservation practices.

"Indiana is thrilled to be a partner in this outstanding conservation effort," said Bruce Kettler, Indiana State Department of Agriculture director. "The work done by these conservation groups and landowners is critical to the continued improvement of water quality and soil health. I am looking forward to working with our partnering states to the north and east."

The conservation focus area for these efforts is in the Western Lake Erie Basin, which is one of the nation's most significant collections of inland rivers and streams. It covers nearly seven million acres, and it encompasses most of northwest Ohio, as well as portions of northeast Indiana and southeast Michigan. Lake Erie is an important regional resource, providing essential drinking water as well as economic and recreational opportunities.

These funds from USDA-NRCS are part of a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This federal program promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand the ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. USDA is investing a total of $23.2 million in three Regional Conservation Partnership Programs in the Western Lake Erie Basin.

"The Regional Conservation Partnership Program shows public-private partnerships working at their best," said Jerry Raynor, NRCS state conservationist in Indiana. "These new projects will harness the power of partnerships to bring about science-based solutions to improve the health and resilience of the Western Lake Erie Water Basin, enhancing water quality and soil productivity in the region."

All RCPP projects are based on public and private partnerships, which create more opportunities for conservation efforts on the ground and new avenues to reach producers and landowners.

Effective soil health stewardship relies on critical partnerships from entities like the Indiana Corn Marketing Council; the Indiana Soybean Alliance; the Ohio Corn Marketing Program; the Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association; the Ohio Soybean Council; Indiana Dairy Producers; Red Gold Tomatoes; Michigan Farm Bureau; the Erb Family Foundation; and the Lenawee, Monroe, Hillsdale, and Washtenaw Conservation Districts.

"This project focuses resources on areas critical to improving Lake Erie's water quality, as well as addressing local drinking water impacts," said Heather Raymond, Water Quality Initiative Director for The Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

Leveraging support from private partner Cargill, Ohio State will help monitor the effects of conservation practices on both soil health and source water quality for the City of Delphos, a northwestern Ohio community impacted by elevated nitrates and harmful algal blooms. Regional water quality improvements will also be estimated through watershed modeling. "We are excited to help engage farmers in new conservation practices and measure the potential soil health and water quality benefits of this project," Raymond said.

Read the full USDA NRCS announcement on this grant and the other grants awarded.

Read the Indiana NRCS announcement.

###

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Help make a difference on Michigan's lakes and streams by monitoring water bodies near you

Help make a difference on Michigan's lakes and streams by monitoring water bodies near you

Is my lake becoming greener? Why don't I see as many fish in the river anymore? Why is the water so cold when I dive into lakes? Do dragonflies really start their life under the water? If you have these or similar questions about a lake or stream near you, check out the Michigan Clean Water Corps -- Michigan's premier volunteer lake and stream monitoring program. MiCorps is a great way to collect important information needed to make data-driven decisions about how to protect and improve Michigan's beautiful lakes and streams.

Q: What is MiCorps?

A: The Michigan Clean Water Corps (MiCorps) is a network of volunteer water quality monitoring programs in Michigan. It was established in 2004 and implemented by the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to increase the understanding of Michigan's water resources and to help facilitate their protection and restoration. The program is administered for EGLE by Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association and the Huron River Watershed Council.

Q: What kind of water quality programs are part of MiCorps?

A: MiCorps is comprised of three core programs: the Volunteer Stream Cleanup Program, the Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program, and the Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program.

The Volunteer Stream Cleanup Program provides grants to local units of government to clean up trash to improve Michigan waterways. The cleanup grant program began in 1998 and is funded by fees from the sale of Michigan's specialty water quality protection license plates, available from the Secretary of State's Office.

The Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program provides grants, technical assistance, and training to volunteer stream monitoring groups in Michigan to support the collection of reliable, high-quality data from Michigan's streams and rivers.

The Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program provides training and equipment to citizen scientist volunteers, most of whom are lake residents. The volunteers monitor for water quality parameters and survey their lakes for plants and shoreline habitat with the guidance of professional biologists.

Q: Who uses the water quality data and where is the data kept?

A: The data is free and available to the public on the MiCorps website via the MiCorps Data Exchange. Biologists who work for EGLE, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, lake consultants, watershed councils, and others use the data to help make decisions regarding the health of a waterbody and to plan future monitoring. Lake residents use the data to determine the health of their lake and to determine what actions are needed to protect or restore the quality of their lake. Researchers access the data to investigate patterns in lake and stream health across regions and the state. There is 47 years of inland lake data available for public use.

For more information, follow the links in this article or contact Tamara Lipsey, Lipseyt@Michigan.gov or 517-342-4372. You can also subscribe to our MiCorps listserv for news, announcements, and information regarding water quality monitoring and issues in Michigan. Follow MiCorps on social media for updated information, videos, and announcements of grant opportunities on Twitter (@MiCorpsMI) and Facebook.

Coming tomorrow: Be a citizen scientist and volunteer to monitor

Photo caption: MiCorps volunteers identify aquatic plants in Brush Lake lake note if they find any invasive species.

Like this content? Follow us on Twitter at @MichiganEGLE or on Youtube.com/MichiganEGLE

Take a short survey and let us know what you think about MI Environment.
Lynsey Mukomel 517-599-2746 Attorney General

May 5, 2021

LANSING - The Michigan Department of Attorney General has obtained a guilty plea and prison time in an Alcona County case despite the defendant attempting to interfere with charges against him, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced today.

Richard Coutts Jr., 43, will serve prison time as a habitual offender by pleading guilty to:

domestic violence, his third offense, resulting in a minimum of four years and maximum of 15 years in prison;

assault with a dangerous weapon, resulting in a minimum of four years and maximum of 15 years in prison;

witness tampering, resulting in a minimum of four and maximum of 10 years in prison;

malicious use of telecommunications, resulting in credit for time serviced, which is approximately four months; and

obstructing and resisting a police officer, resulting in a minimum of two and maximum of 15 years in prison.

Additional charges including unlawful imprisonment and domestic violence were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

Late last year, Coutts allegedly held a woman at knifepoint for multiple hours and threatened to kill her while admittedly high on meth, cocaine and heroin. A second and similar incident happened shortly after the new year.

He was arrested Jan. 5 on those allegations in Oscoda Township. Once transported to the Alcona County Jail, Coutts became violent toward correction officers and law enforcement officers.

The defendant attempted to break the window of the jail tank with the handcuffs as they were being taken off, resisted being placed in a restraint chair after attempting to break the window, and spit on an officer once restrained.

For the following two months, Coutts, despite being told to have no contact with the victim, called, texted and wrote letters from jail-including nearly 1,200 messages sent between Jan. 5 and Feb. 9 through the Alcona County Jail's texting system.

"This plea agreement shows the dedicated work being done by the Department to uphold the law and achieve justice," Nessel said.

Coutts is scheduled for sentencing June 8 at 9:30 a.m. The sentences will run concurrent.
For the second year in a row, Bad Axe will have its Memorial Day parade canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Bad Axe Mayor Kathleen Particka made the announcement during this weeks city council meeting, saying that she made the decision back at the first of the year.

The entrants come from several places throughout the state, Particka said. We have a bagpipe band that comes from Canada. Because we dont know how the COVID situation will transpire by that weekend, I made the best decision to cancel it.

Past parades have featured upwards of 80 groups participating, military gun salutes, performances from local groups and the Bad Axe High School band, and a keynote speaker.

The parade was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well.

The local Veterans of Foreign Wars post still plans on conducting its ceremony at the Jim Hicks Memorial Park located next to the Huron County building. This ceremony did take place last year, despite the pandemic.

While many had hoped pandemic restrictions would be lifted by the summer, many still remain in place, although cases have begun to fall in the Upper Thumb. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently announced the MI Vacc to Normal plan, which bases different stages of reopening the state on the percentage of people who become vaccinated, but it is highly unlikely many of those goals will be met by Memorial Day weekend.
RTHK: India announces US$6.7bn in cheap loans for vaccines

India's central bank released US$6.7 billion in cheap financing for vaccine makers, hospitals and other health firms on Wednesday, to counter the devastating coronavirus surge gripping the country.

Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das said cheap loans would be available until March 31 next year, and vowed to deploy "unconventional" measures if the crisis worsens.

He spoke as India announced a record 3,780 deaths in 24 hours as well as 382,000 cases.

"The devastating speed with which the virus affects different regions of the country has to be matched by swift and wide-ranging actions," he said.

With hospitals complaining of critical shortages of oxygen, beds and vaccines, the new measures aim to improve access to emergency health care during the pandemic, he said. It will be easier for banks to give cheap loans to hospitals, oxygen manufacturers and even patients.

"The immediate objective is to preserve human life and restore livelihoods through all means possible," Das added.

India's underfunded health care system has struggled to cope with the latest Covid-19 onslaught, with patients dying in hospital parking lots due to a lack of beds and oxygen.

The country has tried to claw back lost ground after a stringent, months-long lockdown caused the labour market to collapse and the economy to contract by nearly a quarter between April and June last year.

Asia's third-largest economy was in the throes of a prolonged slowdown even before the pandemic, and the hit to global activity from the virus and one of the world's strictest lockdowns combined to deal the country a severe blow.

Fearing a repeat of last year's economic devastation, authorities have so far imposed limited restrictions, attempting to strike a balance between keeping the economy going and targeting outbreaks in the hardest-hit regions of the country.

New Delhi is hoping the economy will get a further boost from a massive vaccination drive that kicked off in January, with 160 million shots administered so far in the country of 1.3 billion. (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-05-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The state of Indiana is back on Chicago's COVID-19 naughty list.

City health officials announced Tuesday the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Hoosier State prompted them to classify Indiana as "orange" on Chicago's biweekly travel advisory, alongside 17 other U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and the remainder of Illinois.

That means Indiana residents visiting Chicago, and Chicago residents returning home after being in Indiana, are required to quarantine in the city for 10 days after traveling, or test negative for COVID-19 up to 72 hours before entering Chicago and wear a face mask, follow social distancing guidelines, and avoid all gatherings while in the city.

WATCH NOW: 2,000 shots available seven days a week starting April 7 at Gary mass vaccination site

Under city rules, the requirements do not apply to individuals living in Indiana and regularly working or attending school in Chicago, or vice versa, so long as they monitor their body temperature and other COVID-19 symptoms, wear a face covering in public places, follow social distancing guidelines and disinfect their work space.

Hoosiers also are exempt from the rarely enforced Chicago quarantine requirement if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have no symptoms of the coronavirus. City leaders recommend visitors carry proof of COVID-19 immunity while in Chicago.

Indiana residents previously were subject to similar Chicago travel restrictions between Nov. 13 to Feb. 21 when COVID-19 cases surged in the Hoosier State.

Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute

According to officials at the Indiana Department of Health, many northern Indiana counties, particularly LaPorte County and its neighbors to the east along the Indiana-Michigan border, again are seeing an increasing number of COVID-19 cases due to a particularly infectious strain spreading to Indiana from Michigan.

WATCH NOW: Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops: Monitoring LaPorte with Specialist Justin Dyer

They strongly recommend Hoosiers age 16 and up protect themselves from COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and death by getting a free COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.

The vaccine is available at 785 hospitals, health clinics, local health departments, retail pharmacies, and other locations across the state.

Vaccine appointments can be made online at ourshot.in.gov, or by calling 211. Most locations also will administer the vaccine to anyone who comes in, even without an appointment.

COVID-19: Hoosiers We've Lost
STAMFORD  The Stamford Zoning Board kept discussions short and to the point on Monday night when it backed a second medical marijuana dispensary within city limits.

In a unanimous vote, the board approved Fine Fettle Dispensarys request to open a new pharmacy location in an industrial enclave just north of the Glenbrook train station. The company currently runs medical dispensaries in Newington, Willimantic, and Storrs-Manfield.

Medical marijuana dispensaries, theyve been around for a while now, the dispensarys attorney Meaghan Miles told the board. And theyre understood to be safe and secure, quiet, and really economically successful and can serve as a catalyst for further economic development in the area.

Fine Fettles new location will not change the number of dispensaries in the state. The Connecticut-based outfit recently acquired its Storrs dispensary but plans to move the license from Tolland County down to lower Fairfield. The state Department of Consumer Protection has already approved the license transfer, according to the attorney representing Fine Fettle.

Only 18 dispensaries have received a green light from governors past and present to open facilities. One  owned by the countrys largest cannabis company, Curaleaf  operates on Stamfords East Main Street.

Still, the city  and county  has the demand to warrant another site, Fine Fettles Chief Operating Officer Benjamin Zachs told The Stamford Advocate.

It is by far the most densely populated area of Connecticut with the fewest dispensaries, Zachs said. Theres a million people who live in Fairfield County, and theres currently three dispensaries.

Compared to some of its northern neighbors, access to medicinal cannabis in the Stamford area is sparse. Both Hartford and New Haven Counties have lower populations than Fairfield, yet they each have six dispensaries. Locally, patients can buy medical marijuana in Stamford, Westport, and Bethel (which is seeking to relocate to Danbury).

By opening a new Stamford location, Zach hopes to grow the medical marijuana industry in the region. While Fairfield County is home to 11,905 cannabis patients, the third-highest number in the state, he says patient density fades compared to other counties. Only 1.5 percent of the Fairfield County residents have a medical marijuana prescription, which is less than even Windham County.

Opening a medical marijuana dispensary in Connecticut is no walk in the park. Its a top-down endeavor that begins when DCP issues an open call for license applications. Since the state legalized medical marijuana in 2012, it has put out three Requests for Applications.

After the 2018 request, the Stamford Zoning Board approved Fine Fettle for a Stamford location which ultimately did not open.

Currently, zoning regulations only permit dispensaries in the citys heavy industrial areas and emphasize that sites remain aesthetically discrete. Fine Fettle plans to replace all existing windows with opaque glass so that passersby cannot see in and to protect patient privacy.

Even though the board approved the new location without much debate, the question of what legalizing recreational cannabis would mean for operators loomed in the background. Two board members asked Zachs how the dispensary would move forward if the state legalizes weed. In the end, he assured them that the ball would ultimately be in their court. All the proposed recreational cannabis legislation in Hartford requires local zoning approval for any future dispensaries.

For us, we would have to come back to this board if approved or asses what the updated zoning bylaws were for the city of Stamford, he responded.

veronica.delvalle@hearstmediact.com
Contributed / Norwalk police department

NORWALK  A New York man is facing a rash of charges after allegedly stealing from a local Walmart and threatening to kill store employees, according to police.

Jermaine Hines, 38, of Mount Vernon, N.Y., was arrested late Friday night after employees at the Walmart on Main Avenue said he confronted them with a screwdriver and threatened to return to the store with a gun, Lt. Joseph Dinho said Tuesday.
HARTFORD  Police are investigating after three people were shot on Norwich Street, an area just north of Colt Park.

Police spokesman Lt. Aaron Boisvert said more information would be released later.
With a record-setting budget reserve, another big surplus projected and billions of federal coronavirus relief dollars on the way, top state legislative leaders are confident Connecticut has the resources to avert a nursing home strike this spring.

But while the dollars are plentiful  at least in the short term  so are the needs, as many groups besides health care workers are reeling from the pandemic-induced recession.

And the chances of avoiding a work stoppage as Connecticut continues to reopen this spring hinge on how Gov. Ned Lamont and the legislature dole out those dollars.

At the end of the day, the workers that had to go into the fire  are these nursing home workers at the long-term care facilities. We have to help them, said House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford.

I think were both committed to find the extra money, said Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven. The workers have a very strong equity argument there.

Despite the dangers of COVID-19, health care workers worked long hours over the past year, with many getting sick and some dying from the virus, the speaker noted.

While Ritter called improving compensation for health care workers a moral obligation, he also noted those who argue the state cant afford to do so would have a tough time making their case.

SEIU District 1199 New England officials have released very limited details about the closed-door negotiations going on between the bargaining unit and the 33 nursing homes that were formally notified last week of a potential strike starting May 14 involving a total of 3,400 employees.

But District 1199 spokesman Pedro Zayas said Tuesday that workers currently earn anywhere from the state minimum wage  $12 per hour  up to $15 per hour.

The union is asking for a new floor of $20 per hour, as well as increased staffing. And while some members have good health benefits, Zayas added, some have insurance that needs to be improved.

But if the state increases compensation and benefits for unionized workers, it also would have to upgrade the same for workers at non-union nursing homes.

These workers, after all theyve been through, deserve livable wages and benefits and affordable health insurance and safe staffing levels, Zayas said. The question is whether Gov. Lamont will make them a priority.

When asked why he singled out Lamont, when the governor and legislature will jointly write the next state budget and spending plan for federal pandemic relief, Zayas added, We feel that the General Assembly is pretty much on our side.

He added that We agree that Connecticut is very capable of generating the money that is needed.

Max Reiss, the governors communications director, said Governor Lamont has demonstrated time and again how critical these workers have been during the pandemic. Hes followed up his word of support with action, providing extra pay to these workers using an earlier round of federal pandemic relief in 2020.

Lamont also proposed using the latest tranche of federal aid to bolster compensation further, though not at the level sought by the unions.

Connecticut has a record-setting $3 billion in its rainy day fund, and a new report last week projected it would close this fiscal year with nearly $950 million more left over.

Complementing all of that is more than $6 billion in the latest round of federal pandemic relief earmarked for Connecticut, including $1 billion for school districts, almost $1.6 billion for municipalities and regional government entities, and $2.6 billion in very flexible funds for state government.

Thats more than enough to close the $2.5 billion deficit analysts projected last February for the next two-year state budget, as well as meet the unions demands.

But things arent that simple. Lamont and legislators are facing many other demands, and the nursing home industry itself is facing a fiscal crisis.

In February 2020, just before the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Connecticut, nursing homes were 87 percent occupied on average, state data show. A year later, the average occupancy had fallen to 72 percent.

Federal and state Medicaid funding has long been inadequate to meet patient care costs. On average, more than 80 percent of nursing home revenues involve patients whose care is covered by federal and state Medicaid dollars. Before the pandemic, though, that share was closer to 70 percent.

Matthew Barrett, president and CEO of the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities  which represents more than 140 facilities  called the Democratic legislative leaders comments reassuring on many levels, especially as a signal to keep all parties at the bargaining table while the state budget deliberations continue.

But Barrett estimates the nursing home industry needs an extra $312 million annually from the state to offset the revenue losses and rising costs that have developed since the pandemic began  a figure that doesnt include any additional funds for enhanced pay or benefits for workers.

And nursing homes and their members are just two in a long line queuing up before state officials for more funds.

The legislatures Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee has endorsed a request from the restaurant industry to let these businesses keep one years worth of receipts from the meals surcharge on the sales tax  nearly $50 million.

Lamont proposed a $50 million deposit into the states unemployment trust, which is facing close to $1 billion in projected debt. What the state doesnt cover will be recouped from businesses.

The private, nonprofit agencies that provide the bulk of state social services are asking lawmakers to phase in a major rate increase, boosting their annual payments by more than $460 million by 2026.

The full legislature enacted a bill earlier this year that effectively pledged to increase non-education aid to cities and towns by about $135 million per year in the new budget.

And the legislatures Appropriations Committee has endorsed a huge funding boost for public colleges and universities, including the debt-free community college program.

Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, co-chairwoman of the appropriations panel, said she also believes averting a strike is possible but said it hinges on all parties recognizing the pandemic has taken a hefty toll on many groups statewide.
Celebrate the moms in your life with a special meal. These restaurants are serving Mothers Day brunches and dinners, several with festive takeout packages if youd rather dine at home.

Little Pub, with locations in Fairfield, Greenwich, Old Saybrook, Stratford and Wilton, offers special takeout options, including a cook-at-home Mothers Day BrunchBasket ($40) with Belgian waffles, English muffins, eggs, sausage links and fruit salad. Add-ons include mimosa and Bloody Mary kits. A Mombox ($60) features a fully cooked ravioli dinner with house salad, rolls and individual red velvet and chocolate lava cakes. Details: littlepub.com.

LEscale, 500 Steamboat Road, Greenwich, offers Mothers Day brunch and dinner seatings, with specials like chilled Maine lobster martini, prime soft shell crabs and filet mignon. 203-661-4600, lescalerestaurant.com.

Bernards Restaurant, 20 West Lane, Ridgefield, hosts Mothers Day brunch and dinner with prix-fixe menus. Brunch entrees include lobster fricassee, eggs Benedict and French-cut chicken breast, and dinner entrees feature grilled filet of halibut, roasted Hatfield Reserve pork chop and beef Wellington. 203-438-8282, bernardsridgefield.com.

The Capital Grille, with locations in Stamford and Hartford, offers its full dinner menu on Mothers Day with brunch specials like lobster frittata, bone-in NY strip steak and eggs and an 8-ounce filet. A Mothers Day at Home package (starting at $165 for two people) includes a roasted whole beef tenderloin and North Atlantic lobster tails, salad, rolls, asparagus, mashed potatoes and dessert: flourless chocolate espresso cake and chocolate covered strawberries. thecapitalgrille.com.

Rive Bistro, 299 Riverside Ave., Westport, offers a Mothers Day menu with entrees like grilled salmon, duck breast a lorange, filet mignon rossini, branzino a la plancha and rigatoni with vegetable ragout. 203-557-8049, rivebistro.com.

The Fresh Market, with locations in Avon, Guilford and Westport, offers a Mothers Day brunch deal for four ($39.99) with quiche, bacon, fruit bowl, muffins, orange juice and a flower bouquet, along with a surf and turf dinner for two ($49.99) with choice of Chateaubriand or Chilean sea bass, asparagus, whipped potatoes, chocolate dipped strawberries and a flower bouquet. thefreshmarket.com.

Grammies Donuts & Biscuits, 971 Post Road East, Westport, offers a Mothers Day pickup menu with items like salads, quiches, coffee cake and a chocolate berry tart. grammiesgfc.com/collections/mothers-day.

The Wharf at Madison Beach Hotel, 94 West Wharf Road, Madison, offers a Mothers Day prix-fixe menu for $64, with entrees like pan-seared halibut, chicken saltimbocca, porchetta, filet au poivre and wild mushroom risotto. A Mothers Day to-go package for four or eight ($130; $260) includes lobster bisque, porchetta, mashed potatoes and asparagus. 203-350-0014, thewharfmadison.com.

Hilton Mystic, 20 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, offers a Mothers Day brunch with an omelet station, raw bar, carved meats, breakfast items, a fresh salad station, hot entrees and desserts. Cost is $45 for adults, $20 for kids 5 to 11 (free for kids under 5). Reservations are available on Eventbrite. hiltonmystic.com.

Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, 2 Bridge St., Old Saybrook, hosts a Mothers Day prix-fixe brunch, with entree choices like blackened Atlantic swordfish, Jamaican BBQ slow-roasted short rib, chipotle ginger grilled pork chop, herb-seared Chilean sea bass and baked spinach cannelloni ($59 to $69). The meal features family-style cheeses, crudite and breads, along with choice of appetizer and dessert. 860-388-1111, saybrook.com/eat-drink/mothersday.

Waters Edge Resort & Spa, 1525 Boston Post Road, Westbrook, hosts a prix-fixe Mothers Day meal with entree options like half roasted chicken, grilled veal chop, asparagus ravioli, grilled ribeye steak and pan-seared sea bass ($42 to $52 per person). Waters Edge also offers a Mothers Day to-go menu for two people for $89, with choice of grilled beef tenderloin or Mediterranean chicken entree. 860-399-5901 ext. 2021; watersedgeresortandspa.com.
MADISON  Town First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons announced Tuesday she plans to run for a second term. The news was confirmed through a press release sent out Tuesday afternoon.

Lyons, a Democrat, won the seat as the towns top elected official in an upset victory in November 2019, beating out Republican incumbent Tom Banisch by nearly 300 votes in what Banisch described as a vitriolic campaign season.

In a statement that accompanied her announcement, Lyons said her job quickly pivoted to emergency management, as the pandemic unfolded during her first term in office.

In the face of COVID and its many physical, operational and emotional challenges, I am proud of the accomplishments Ive made in partnership with my fellow Board of Selectmen members and Town officials, Lyons said in a statement. Although faced with many difficult decisions, we have taken the necessary actions required to protect our community while also managing to get things done in Town government.

She said she hopes to focus on important policy goals, key strategic decisions and additional operational improvements if granted a second term by voters this coming November.

The announcement also came with statements of support from state Sen. Christine Cohen, D-Guilford, as well as fellow members of the Madison Board of Selectman.

From day one, Peggy has been a strong, dynamic leader for Madison during a very turbulent time, Cohen said in a statement. She highlighted Lyons work lobbying for a COVID-19 testing site in Madison, calling for vaccination resources for residents and state aide, calling Lyons, a powerful voice for town residents.

A statement attributed to Selectman Al Goldberg said Lyons brought experience, competence and a high level of communication to the Office. Selectman Scott Murphy said in a statement Lyons has demonstrated strong, decisive leadership during an extraordinary period in our town's history her.

Lyons also touted the towns high vaccination rate and booming real estate market.

Just over 65 percent of Madison residents have started vaccination against COVID-19, while a little more than half are fully vaccinated, according to state data.

The future of our beloved Town is bright, and I am asking our citizens to give me the opportunity to redeploy my leadership skills away from crisis management, and towards solving some of our pressing problems while creating a sustainable vision for our future, Lyons said in a statement.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared that the COVID crisis is over in Florida and there are no longer any restrictions of any type whatsoever. The crisis will be over when we can go at least 2 weeks with no new cases. Until then everyone should care about each other.
The U.S. military has transferred an installation in Helmand province to the Afghan National Army as it begins the process of withdrawing from Afghanistan.

Contingency Location New Antonik has been officially handed over to the Afghans, U.S. Central Command officials said in a Tuesday release.

Since President Joe Biden last month announced plans to pull all remaining U.S. forces from Afghanistan no later than Sept. 11, CENTCOM said about 60 C-17 loads of material have been flown out. Another more than 1,300 pieces of equipment were turned over to the Defense Logistics Agency for destruction, CENTCOM said.

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Between 2% and 6% of the withdrawal process has been finished as of Tuesday morning, CENTCOM estimates.

CENTCOM said it plans to provide weekly updates on the withdrawal process, but it will only provide approximate percentage ranges of how much is complete to preserve operational security.

It's not immediately clear whether New Antonik is the last U.S. installation in Helmand. Operation Resolute Support officials did not immediately respond to a query about it.

Helmand province was the site of some of the heaviest fighting of the Afghanistan War, particularly in places like Sangin, where Marines deployed in 2010 to relieve British troops. For two years, Marines fought fierce, bloody battles with the Taliban to retake Sangin, ultimately succeeding at bringing security to the district for a while.

Helmand, located in the south of Afghanistan, is the nations largest province and home of more than 1.4 million people, primarily Pashtuns. After the Taliban was driven from Kabul in the initial invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, there was not much of an international presence in Helmand. This allowed the Taliban to regroup there and gradually take power over the following years. Smuggling routes also run across the provinces southern border with Pakistan.

New Antonik was named in honor of Marine Staff Sgt. Chris Antonik, a Raider with 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion who was killed in 2010 during a battle in Helmand province.

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

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PIERRE, S.D.  The U.S. Army Reserve has blocked the promotion of South Dakota's attorney general because of his role in the death of a man who was struck while walking along a rural highway last year.

Jason Ravnsborg last month announced on social media that he was being promoted to the rank of full colonel.

However, the Army Reserve told the Argus Leader on Monday that the promotion has been flagged and won't be submitted to the U.S. Senate for confirmation until charges against Ravnsborg are resolved.

A message left at Ravnsborgs office was not immediately returned Tuesday.

Ravnsborg is facing three misdemeanor charges and calls for his resignation after he struck and killed Joe Boever, who was walking on the side of Highway 14 near Highmore in September. Charges include distracted driving and driving on the shoulder of the road.

In this case, relevant Army Reserve leaders will monitor the ongoing civilian proceedings and make further decisions at the appropriate time, said Army Reserve spokesman Lt. Col. Simon Blake.

Boever's body was found in a ditch the day after he was struck and killed. Ravnsborg told authorities during a 911 call that he believed hed struck a deer. He has pleaded not guilty and is due in court May 12.

This article was written by The Associated Press from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
The Coast Guard's short-range search-and-rescue helicopters are flying at 70% of their potential scheduled hours due to a parts shortage, a situation that could worsen as hurricane season approaches, the service's top officer told Congress on Wednesday.

Six Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopters are currently grounded, with four more expected to be out of circulation by June. That's roughly 10% of the fleet, Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz told the House Appropriations Committee's homeland security subcommittee April 28.

Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Last year was the most active hurricane season since records were first taken in 1851, with 29 named storms, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Schultz said the service must "take immediate action" to transition its entire rotary wing force over to MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters.

"Aerospatiale Airbus, the parent company, stopped making the [MH-65 Dolphins] in 2018. We have the biggest fleet in the air -- we're at 98 -- and things like the gearbox, it's very difficult to get the parts," Schultz said.

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The Coast Guard began flying MH-65 Dolphins in 1984. They are used for various missions, including search and rescue, drug interdiction, polar deployments, environmental protection and homeland security.

The service utilizes Dolphins across the U.S. and deploys them aboard cutters. Their bright orange airframes can be seen frequently over the skies of Washington, D.C., as crews conduct overflights of the National Capital Region.

The Coast Guard initiated a service life extension project for its MH-65s in 2018, with an aim to extend operations until 2035. The service awarded contracts for replacing the critical components of the aircraft, including canopy, center console, floor assembly, floor boards, side panels and other parts of the frame.

From fiscal 2019 through fiscal 2021, the Coast Guard budgeted $115 million for the component and avionics upgrades for the aircraft.

The most recent groundings, however, are largely due to the unavailability of parts, officials said. Maintainers have had to get creative, including issuing a contract last week seeking spare parts, and crafting some on their own.

The Coast Guard Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, is using 3D printing to make obsolete parts such as cooling ducts and antenna mounts, Schultzs spokesman, Cmdr. Jay Guyer, said.

But the most challenging and needed parts -- the main gearbox and associated components -- are difficult to make via additive manufacturing and even harder to achieve Federal Aviation Administration certification, Guyer said.

"Industry just obtained its first-ever FAA certification for a 3D printed flight critical aircraft engine part less than nine months ago," Guyer explained. "The Coast Guard does not have the capability to employ additive manufacturing for flight critical or dynamic components.

According to Schultz, the Coast Guard expects to be involved with the Defense Department's future vertical lift plans. And with the expectation that new aircraft are 15 years down the road, the service plans to maintain its current fleet with a focus on the MH-60, a platform in use across the services.

The Coast Guard initiated a service life extension project for its MH-60 Jayhawks in 2017 to keep them flying through the mid-2030s. The service also has sought to increase the size of its Jayhawk fleet as the Dolphins get more difficult to maintain.

Since 2005, the service has converted seven former Navy SH-60 and four HH-60H Seahawks to Coast Guard MH-60s. It also uses parts from old Navy helicopters to maintain its MH-60 fleet. This year, it outfitted its first Jayhawk with ex-Navy folding rotors and tail booms so it can deploy on a cutter -- a task that until now has only been assigned to Dolphin aircraft.

Schultz said in a speech March 11 on the state of the Coast Guard that the new capability will allow the Jayhawk to deploy onboard national security cutters, offshore patrol cutters and the new polar icebreakers.

The service also is beginning to transition some MH-65 Dolphin units to MH-65 Jayhawks: Air Station Borinquen, Puerto Rico, will switch this year and Air Station New Orleans is slated to be next.

"We find that the Jayhawk has a robust domestic industrial base that can help buy down our operating risk in the decade ahead," Schultz said during his March 11 speech in San Diego.

During the hearing, Schultz could not discuss specifics of the Coast Guard's proposed fiscal 2022 budget, including funding for its rotary wing aircraft, because the administration has not released its complete budget proposal. The service received $12.84 billion in funding for fiscal 2021, $711 million more than President Trumps original budget request.

He told lawmakers the service needs a 3% to 5% budget increase in the next five years to ensure readiness.

Representatives on the Homeland Security appropriations committee expressed support for the service and their dismay that it was not mentioned specifically in the Biden administration's budget preview, also known as the "skinny budget," released in April.

"Unfortunately, the preliminary budget document for fiscal year 2022 makes no mention of the Coast Guard. We can only glean from this that the request is unlikely to include any substance of enhancements for the service. I hope next month when we get the full budget request, this will not be the case," said Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, a California Democrat who chairs the subcommittee.

"I just want to make sure you're not selling yourself short here," Rep. John Rutherford, R-Florida, told Schultz, referring to the estimated 3% to 5% needed increase.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

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Retired Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, who was acquitted of murdering an Islamic State prisoner in a highly public and controversial war crimes trial, said in a new podcast that his entire platoon intended to kill the man and agreed to practice medical procedures on him until he died.

At one point in the podcast, Gallagher appears to say that the medical treatments the platoon provided led to the prisoner's death.

"I didn't stab that dude," Gallagher said in the final episode of the Apple podcast "The Line," which was released Tuesday. "That dude died from all the medical treatments that were done. And there was plenty of medical treatments that were done to him."

Task and Purpose first reported on Gallagher's comments on the podcast.

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In an interview with Military.com, Gallagher's attorney Timothy Parlatore said that nothing he said on the podcast changed the facts of the case as they have been known.

"This information was always there, was always just beneath the surface," Parlatore said. "It was in the open. But nobody really noticed it, or nobody wanted to notice it."

Gallagher was accused of stabbing the wounded ISIS fighter in Mosul, Iraq, in 2017 and charged with premeditated murder. He was also charged with attempted murder over allegations he unlawfully shot at civilians during that deployment.

He faced a court-martial in 2019, where he was ultimately found not guilty of premeditated murder and attempted murder. Gallagher was convicted of unlawfully posing for a picture with the prisoner's dead body.

Former President Trump repeatedly intervened in Gallaghers case, ordering the Navy to release him from pretrial confinement, allow him to retire with his SEAL Trident. He also ordered the Navy to rescind medals awarded to his prosecutors.

In the podcast, Gallagher said that the other members of the platoon -- including some who testified against him -- openly discussed performing medical treatments on the prisoner until he died.

"Everybody knew what was going on," he said. "The grain of truth in the whole thing is that that ISIS fighter was killed by us, and that nobody at that time had a problem with it. We killed that guy. Our intention was to kill him. Everybody was on board."

The host then interjected to ask, "Your intention was to kill him?"

Gallagher responded that they intended to "do medical scenarios on him until he died."

When asked by the podcast host whether that amounted to "nursing [the prisoner] to death," Gallagher said, "Yeah, if you want to put it in a nice way. Nursing him to death, or just killing him -- he was going to die regardless. We weren't taking any prisoners. That wasn't our job."

In Wednesday's interview, Parlatore said the SEALs "did not intend to kill an unarmed prisoner using medical treatment," and that Gallagher's statements have been misinterpreted.

Gallagher and the rest of the SEALs did intend to kill members of ISIS, Parlatore said, but did so by calling in a Hellfire missile strike on their building. That strike killed all the ISIS members except the prisoner, who was badly wounded and, they believed, likely to die, he added.

After the strike, the SEALs conducted medical treatment on the prisoner to practice their skills, Parlatore said.

"By the time he got to them, he was dying," the lawyer said. "There was no way to save him. They made a decision, and they agreed they would perform medical treatment on him until he expired. They did that for training purposes; they did it to prevent [the Emergency Response Division, an Iraqi special forces unit accused of torture and other abuses] from torturing him. It was not done with the intent of using medical procedures to hasten his death."

When asked about Gallagher's statement that the prisoner "died from all the medical treatments that were done," Parlatore said, "That may have been an inartful way of saying it.

"Eddie's an operator, he's not an orator," he added.

Parlatore said the medical treatments may have prolonged the prisoner's life, including a treatment Gallagher administered that he said cleared the prisoner's airway and allowed him to breathe again.

Gallagher's court-martial was upended by the shocking testimony of one of his platoon mates, Special Operator 1st Class Corey Scott, who changed his story on the stand and testified that he himself killed the prisoner by asphyxiating him.

Parlatore said that practicing medical treatments on a dying patient who was beyond saving is legal and commonly done by doctors in emergency rooms, though they typically get the patients' consent before doing so.

"The ethics opinions ultimately come down to say, you really should get informed consent from the patient before doing this," Parlatore said. "Obviously, they did not get informed consent from the terrorist, but what they did is not illegal."

When asked whether it was ethical to practice medical procedures on a prisoner who had not granted consent, Parlatore said, "According to the [American Medical Association], they should have gotten the terrorist's consent. And so maybe Eddie shouldn't be practicing medicine anymore. But it is what they did in a combat scenario."

Parlatore said one of the junior members of the platoon was allowed to insert a chest tube and conduct a needle decompression on the prisoner. That junior member had learned how to conduct those procedures in class, he said, but had never before performed them on an actual patient.

"It is valuable training," Parlatore said. "He got the opportunity to get that training, to know how to do it, so that the first time that he has to actually do it in real life isn't when one of his buddies is about to die. It's not pretty, it's not something that we like to talk about, but that's the truth."

When asked about Gallagher's podcast remarks during a press briefing Wednesday, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said, "I'm not sure I'm going to dignify those comments with a response."

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

Related: Retired Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher Strikes Back at SEALs Who Testified Against Him
Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., is aiming for a seismic move to open up care and disability to a half-century worth of veterans sickened by toxic exposure, in what could be one of the largest health care efforts on Capitol Hill in years.

"We cannot continue to tackle this topic one disability at a time," Takano, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said at a hearing on the matter Wednesday. "2021 should be the year, and will be the year, we pass comprehensive legislation that meets the needs of all veterans, current and future, who are exposed to toxic substances while serving our country."

The House is looking at 15 bills, ranging from incremental improvements to help veterans navigate bureaucracy at the Department of Veterans Affairs to expanding health care to those exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation and other toxic environments. Takano said the bills "offer a blueprint" for a legislative package.

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The big-ticket items include presumptive care for the estimated 3.5 million veterans exposed to burn pits since 1990, which has been dubbed by some as the post-9/11 generation's Agent Orange. Currently, veterans must provide a clear link between exposure and their medical conditions, which can be nearly impossible.

Takano's announcement comes a week after Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said he is building an omnibus bill on toxic exposure, aiming for a markup by Memorial Day and a floor vote later this year. Tester chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

The efforts in both chambers have a long way to go before becoming law. Multiple advocates and congressional staffers interviewed are cautiously optimistic, and all agreed that, given the momentum, this is the year to be aggressive and try to pass a big health care bill that grants presumptive care to vets sickened by burn pits.

They don't foresee a lot of speed bumps, or lawmakers publicly going against an omnibus bill. However, the cost is expected to be enormous, which could give some lawmakers sticker shock. Even so, many argue that cost would simply be the government paying its tab for war.

"The iron is hot, and now is the time to strike. We're in a good spot right now," Travis Horr, director of government affairs for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, told Military.com. "We're seeing this is the year for presumptive care.  I think there could be some concern with cost, but this is included in the cost of war. No one was asking for a price tag when we went into Iraq and Afghanistan."

It's unclear how many veterans are sick from burn pits or have died from related illnesses. VA data shows 72% of the 15,640 burn pit-related claims since 2007 were denied. However, the data is murky at best. The agency largely got it from a word search for phrases like "burn pits" in its patient database. That means if a veteran's medical record never specifically referenced burn pits, it's unlikely to be represented in the data.

Meanwhile, out of the 2.5 million Global War on Terrorism veterans, 781,384 have filed claims related to respiratory issues. According to VA data obtained by Military.com, 63% were granted. Of all the GWOT veterans, 42,686 filed for claims related to cancer; 37% of those claims were granted.

The VA's research shows GWOT veterans are three times more likely than non-deployed veterans to file claims related to respiratory issues and twice as likely to file claims for cancer.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Lawmaker Sets Ambitious Plan for Omnibus Toxic Exposure Bill to Help Millions of Sick Veterans
The Pentagon is moving the civilian head of special operations back under the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, partially undoing a move late in the Trump administration to elevate that role.

But, according to a memo signed Wednesday by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict will still report to him on special operations issues.

The memo was first reported by Politico.

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Last November, days after the election and the firing of former Defense Secretary Mark Esper, then-acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller ordered U.S. Special Operations Command, or SOCOM, to report directly to him, putting it on par with the other military services for the first time.

As he announced the change Nov. 18, Miller said that it would streamline the decision-making process and improve the agility of SOCOM and the Defense Department.

In Wednesday's memo, Austin said that the assistant secretary, who oversees SOCOM, will move back under the undersecretary of defense for policy "effective immediately."

But the assistant secretary will still report directly to the secretary of defense "in exercising authority, direction and control of all special operations peculiar administrative matters relating to the organization, training, and equipping of special operations forces," the memo states.

The assistant secretary will also still be a member of senior leadership groups such as the Senior Leaders Council and National Defense Strategy Implementation forum.

The assistant secretary will remain in the administrative chain of command and exercise authority over the commander of SOCOM, the memo adds. But for all other policy matters, Austin said, the assistant secretary will follow the orders of the undersecretary of defense for policy.

President Joe Biden last month nominated Christopher Maier to be assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict.

-- Stephen Losey can be reached at stephen.losey@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StephenLosey.

Related: In Shake-Up, Acting SecDef Elevates Special Operations to Be 'On Par' with Service Branches
U.S. Space Command is actively tracking part of a large Chinese rocket freefalling wildly from space and expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere on Saturday.

Where the debris will land will remain unknown until shortly before it crashes, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

The out-of-control space junk was part of the core launch stage used by China to propel the Long March 5B rocket into space on April 29.

"U.S. Space Command is aware of and tracking the location of the Chinese Long March 5B in space, but its exact entry point into the Earth's atmosphere cannot be pinpointed until within hours of its reentry, which is expected around May 8," Mike Howard, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement Tuesday.

The 18th Space Control Squadron is posting daily updates about the rocket body's location on space-track.org, the public-facing website that provides information on all satellites and debris orbiting the planet. The site provides data on objects as small as a softball.

The 18th Space Control Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., tracks more than 27,000 man-made objects in space, most of which are in low-earth orbit, Howard said in the statement. The objects "can be potential threats to spaceflight safety and the space domain," he said.

The launch was just one in a series China is conducting in an effort to build its own space station. The launch body measures roughly 100 feet long and 16 feet wide, according to a report posted Sunday on spacenews.com.

Most first-stage launchers fall back to the ground shortly after liftoff into predesignated crash sites, the report said. The falling debris thus represents "one of the largest instances of uncontrolled reentry of a spacecraft" onto the Earth's surface.

China came under fire a year ago for a similar launch of a Long March 5B when debris from its core stage landed in Cote d'Ivoire in Africa.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine publicly criticized China's handling of the launch at the time, according to spacenews.com.

"It flew over population centers and it reentered Earth's atmosphere," he said during a committee meeting, the site reported. "It could have been extremely dangerous. We're really fortunate in the sense that it doesn't appear to have hurt anybody."

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Turmoil has gripped the leadership ranks of the California National Guard, with the firing of the general who commanded its air branch, the suspension of a second key general, and new limits placed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on the organizations use of fighter jets for civilian missions.

Newsoms office and the head of the Guard, Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, refused to provide details on the reasons behind the recent leadership changes other than a statement from the Guard saying that the organization is committed to facilitating a positive working environment for all of its members, regardless of gender and ethnicity.

The air branchs former commander, who was forced out two weeks ago, told the Los Angeles Times he did nothing wrong and said Baldwin had lost touch with reality.

The abrupt actions against the two generals mark the second major shake-up in Californias Military Department in as many years. And they were announced on the heels of a Times report that Guard members were concerned that their leaders had readied an F-15C fighter jet last year for a possible mission in which the aircraft would fly low over civilian protesters to frighten and disperse them.

Baldwin denied that the jet was placed on an alert status for that purpose, and a Newsom spokeswoman said the governor would never authorize such a mission. Erin Mellon said in a statement to The Times that Newsom wanted to be crystal clear about restrictions on the use of military aircraft for domestic missions.

The governor has directed his Office of Emergency Services, in collaboration with the California National Guard, to review and assert definitive and unmistakable parameters for authorizing and using military aircraft under the State Emergency Management System, while reverting F-15 aircraft to a reduced state of readiness for civil support missions, the statement said.

Mellon provided Guard memos saying fighter jets have been used a few times in the past to quickly survey earthquake damage. She did not answer several questions regarding the use of the F-15C last year, including whether it was placed on an alert status for earthquakes or other natural disasters.

In an email statement to The Times, the Guard said Baldwin accepted Maj. Gen. Gregory Jones resignation as commander of the California Air National Guard on April 16. Jones said he never offered to step down but was forced out.

Baldwin said in a statement that he lost faith, trust, and confidence in (Jones) ability to foster an inclusive and healthy command climate.

Asked whether the F-15C controversy had anything to do with Jones removal, Baldwin wrote, I do not fire people for fictional events. The F-15C narrative is just that, a fictional event.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Magram, director of air staff, was suspended and reassigned, and Chief Master Sgt. Steve Pyzska was relieved as command chief under Jones, the Guard said.

Magram and Pyzska declined to comment.

In an interview, Jones said the Guards statement suggesting that he treated women or people of color unfairly is absolutely false and it was actually Baldwin who created an unhealthy environment at Guard headquarters.

Hes been there too long, Jones said. Then-Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Baldwin to the post in 2011. Hes lost touch with reality.

Jones said he did not know why the F-15C, an air-to-air combat aircraft, was placed on an alert status for a domestic mission last year. The jets are based at the Guards 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno. Their principal mission is to respond immediately to attacks by enemy aircraft on orders from the Pentagon as part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD. They are also used to train pilots for that mission.

Jones said it would make no sense to place an F-15C on an alert status to respond to earthquakes. You dont know when theyre going to happen, Jones said. Its a poor use of resources to have an airplane just sitting there .... Its just not the mission that theyre designed to do either, which is to shoot down other airplanes.

He said he has butted heads with Baldwin in the past over what he thought was an improper use of military aircraft.

He said Baldwin pressured him to deploy an F-15C jet to survey damage from the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake. When he resisted, Jones said, Baldwin told him: These are my airplanes.

To accommodate Baldwin, Jones said, the Guard classified the Ridgecrest mission as a federal training exercise to disguise its true purpose.

During last years mass protests after the police killing of George Floyd, Jones said, Baldwin pushed to send hundreds of Air Guard members to cities across the state with inadequate training.

I told him I think we could put 500. He said, No, I want 800. We were tasked with training 800 airmen the next day, he said, adding that the training included firearm and riot control components. Luckily nobody got hurt, we didnt have any accidental discharges. It couldve gotten really ugly.

The Guard and Baldwin did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Jones assertions.

Jones predecessor as commander of the Air Guard, Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, was removed from the position in 2019 amid complaints of reprisals against whistleblowers and allegations of a cover-up of misconduct that reached into the highest ranks of the organization. The complaints, which were disclosed by The Times, focused on the leadership of the Fresno base and included an alleged cover-up of an incident in which someone urinated in a female Guard members boots. The commander of the base was also removed.

In announcing Jones appointment to succeed Garrison, a spokesman for Baldwin said, The Guard is committed to providing a transparent, respectful and positive command climate . I am confident that Brig. Gen. Jones will be able to lead the organization effectively and with the utmost integrity.

Guard sources told The Times that last years order to put the F-15C on an alert status didnt spell out the mission but, given the aircrafts limitations, they understood it to mean the plane could be deployed to terrify and disperse protesters by flying low over them at window-rattling speeds, with its afterburners streaming columns of flames. Fighter jets have been used occasionally in that manner in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, they said.

The sources said the directives from Guard headquarters made their way down orally or in text messages, rather than in formal written orders, which was unusual and heightened their concerns that the jet would be used inappropriately.

Mellon, the governors spokeswoman, said she couldnt speak to how Guard members interpreted directives beyond what the governors offices understanding is, which is  the aircraft would never be authorized for such a mission.

She provided The Times with a memo in which Col. Jeremiah Cruz, who commanded the 144th Wing until January, said: At no time during my tenure as wing commander, vice wing commander, and operations group commander was I ever tasked to utilize an F-15C at the 144FW to respond to a civil unrest event nor has the idea ever been discussed with me as an option.

The memo was dated April 21, well after The Times began asking the Guard to respond to concerns among its members that the jet had been readied for a possible response to civil unrest.

An earlier email reviewed by The Times shows that Cruz had referenced concerns over the jets use to several officers three days before the Nov. 3 election. There is no expectation that the F-15C will be used in any way in support of civil unrest, he wrote, instructing the recipients to keep him apprised of any requests or upcoming requests from Guard headquarters in Sacramento.

The Times reviewed other internal Guard documents that show the jet was placed on an alert status for a possible election-week mission and that officers discussed concerns in March 2020 as well as that summer about using the F-15C for domestic purposes, including to intimidate civilians.

The Guard has faced scrutiny before for how it has deployed military aircraft.

Last October, Newsoms office denounced the Guards decision to send a military spy plane to suburban El Dorado Hills, where Baldwin lived, to help civilian authorities monitor demonstrations over the Floyd killing. Baldwin said the fact that he resided in El Dorado Hills, where the protests were small and peaceful, had nothing to do with the deployment of the RC-26B reconnaissance plane.

This article is written by Paul Pringle and Alene Tchekmedyian from The Los Angeles Times and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
Many of these seniors come down here for two reasons: warm weather and to protect their nest eggs. Theyre more worried about their own 401ks than quality pre-K. Or public schools. Or toxic algae. Or the seven-year waiting list disabled children face in this state for services. Republicans like DeSantis are also good at stoking fears about socialist boogeymen and Black Lives Matter protesters to make sure their base gets out and vote.
While looking for a place to start a new artillery training camp in June 1918, Col. Edward P. King stopped in a little town in North Carolina called Fayetteville. He and his partner, an official from the U.S. forestry service, stopped their search.

Why the two men chose the site to establish what was then known as Camp Bragg isnt really known, but it soon became an important fixture in the development of the U.S. military. Today, Fort Bragg is the largest-sized military installation in the United States.

Back when King was roaming around looking for a small piece of the U.S. to blow up with artillery trainees, the United States was more of a third-rate military power. The U.S. entry into World War I began to change that.

In 1917, the United States began a military buildup that changed the fortunes of the Triple Entente powers in the Great War raging across Europe. By 1918, American doughboys were headed over there by the thousands. The U.S. Army, needing some place to train them, started building new camps all over the country.

In North Carolina alone, three camps were established, Camp Bragg, Camp Greene and Camp Polk. The only requirements were necessary water supplies, good soil, rail transportation and weather that could facilitate a year-round training cycle.

Fort Bragg in 1920. (U.S. Army)

The Armys chief of field artillery, Gen. William J. Snow, dispatched King to find a location that met these requirements, and he didnt care which state it was in. At a time with no freeways, few reliable roads and even fewer maps, King and geologist T. Wayland Vaughan headed south from Washington with a compass.

After stopping for a Coke on their fourth day of travel, the two began looking for a place to rest for a night. A storekeeper directed them to the town of Fayetteville. It was a place King had never even heard of.

The land nearby was a desolate area, filled with pine forests and occupied by little more than 1,700 Scottish immigrants. By Sept. 4, 1918, the camp was established. Its founders named it for North Carolina native Gen. Braxton Bragg for his distinguished service in the U.S. war with Mexico, overlooking his Civil War service in the Confederacy.

By the time the camp was up and running in 1919, World War I was over, but the Army, having spent more than $105 million in todays dollars to build it, kept it open. It moved long-range artillery testing assets from Alabama to its new North Carolina home.

Even though the Army began to scale down by a considerable margin, Camp Bragg was only reduced by a third. It became the home of the North Carolina National Guard training center and began running aircraft and balloon detachments to facilitate artillery training. Pope Field was established inside of Camp Bragg to accommodate the new air units.

On Sept. 30, 1922, Camp Bragg became Fort Bragg, a permanent military installation. With its new status, it began to grow rapidly, building the permanent fixtures of any permanent base at the time: brick barracks, officer and enlisted quarters, and paved streets and sidewalks, among many others.

By the time World War II broke out, Fort Bragg was a critical training facility for newly enlisted and drafted recruits, ready to go to war in Europe once more. After the war, Fort Bragg became the permanent home of the 82nd Airborne Division, and in 1951, the XVIII Airborne Corps was reactivated and placed there.

41st Engineer Regiment on the parade field at Fort Bragg in March 1942. (Library of Congress)

Thats how Fort Bragg became the "Home of the Airborne."

Later, the base became home to the Psychological Warfare Center (now U.S. Army Special Operations Command) and U.S. Army Special Forces. Today, the fort is known as Home of the Airborne and Special Operations" and houses 57,000 service members, 11,000 civilians and 23,000 dependents.

Fort Bragg is not just the largest military installation in the country; its one of the largest in the world.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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Its been referred to as the most beautiful place in America and we are lucky to have it right in our Michigan backyard. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, tucked into the upper corner of the Western Northern Lower Peninsula, isnt just a Michigan gem, its a national treasure. It was also chosen as Michigans Best vacation spot for this region by MLive readers.

Absolutely beautiful, amazing beaches, lots of trails to walk, said Joel from Holland, describing what makes the area so special.

A national park since 1970, Sleeping Bear Dunes meanders along 65 miles of pristine Lake Michigan shoreline. Deep blue water meets creamy colored sand, while dune bluffs that reach 450 feet tower over it all. Youll find sweeping meadows, winding streams, warm inland lakes, and hardwood forests to explore. There are multiple campgrounds to enjoy, and to new trails to adventure on, the Heritage Trail for hiking, and the Palmer Trail for mountain biking. You can experience history at the Glen Haven Maritime Museum, or just take a stunning car ride along the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive.

One of the most popular things at Sleeping Bear Dunes, and something that is on almost every Michiganders bucket list, is the famous Dune Climb. A word to the wise, once you commit to this, you must be all in. Its a strenuous hustle back up to the top, but the views are certainly worth it.

I went there as a kid with my family, took my kids there when they were young, and now hope to take my grandkids there for the first time this summer, said Wally Fairway. The dune climb is iconic, but the trails and pathways are a great way to see the area with stops in Glen Haven, Arts Tavern, Pyramid Point, Empire Beach and a number of places along the way.

RELATED: Sleeping Bear Dunes new guided hiking tours offer a rare peek into the parks wilderness area

Located just 30 miles to the east of Sleeping Bear Dunes is our second place finisher, Traverse City, the largest city in northern Michigan. Home to the popular National Cherry Festival that occurs annually in July, TC is a truly charming town, with incredible shopping, world class restaurants, and many fun activities all overlooking beautiful Grand Traverse Bay. Its an amazing place, according to Kris Wood.

Its beautiful and there is so much to do but its not too far away, said one reader about Traverse City. Another mentioned the home feel, great food and the best views in the whole state. Gloria Quintana said The lake is beautiful and I love the cherries and the Cherry Festival. There are some great restaurants there also.

RELATED: See all 132 nominations for Michigans Best Vacation Spot

Probably the number-one reason why you need to visit Ludington? It has some of the best beaches in the state, if not the country. Nestled on the shores of gorgeous Lake Michigan, our third place finisher has plenty of powder sand beaches to choose from, with over 28 miles of shoreline to explore.

Ludington State Park is one of the most popular state parks in Michigan, and once you visit, youll understand why. With 5,300 acres of dunes, trails, beaches, forests and marshes to enjoy, the park is one of Michigans best. Lake Michigan beckons on one side, and Hamlin Lake on the other. The park has over 360 modern campsites to rent at three different locations. Add in a fun downtown for shopping, and places like House of Flavors for ice cream, and The Mitten Bar to grab a drink, and you have everything you need for an awesome summer vacation.

For reader Sherry Wisserman its the trails, the water on Lake Michigan and Hamlin Lake, the lighthouse and the dunes, that make this area special. Another reader mentioned that it is easy to access, has plenty of space, and a great sandy beach. And another shared sentiments of the great dunes to hike, beautiful beach, and amazing fishing by the dam on Big Sable River.

RELATED: How to have a Michigans Best Day in Ludington

Downtown Petoskey is perfect for a stroll and a little shopping, and that is just one reason why MLIve readers love to visit. There are dozens of cute little shops, specializing in all sorts of unique offerings. You can shop for clothes, Michigan knick knacks, lots of tcotchkes you didnt even know that you needed, and even petoskey stones, polished to a high gleam. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, including the historical City Park Grill, a favorite haunt of former local resident Ernst Hemingway.

Its so beautiful with the lake and the Victorian homes, said Lisa Hall. Beautiful beach and an awesome place to watch the million dollar sunsets, Lisa Rasmussen said. Great beach, fun, active downtown area, great food options, another reader shared.

RELATED: How to have a Michigans Best Day in Petoskey

Since this area is one of the most popular in Michigan, it is highly recommended to plan well ahead, and make reservations for both lodging and dining.

Shady Lane Cellars is located in Suttons Bay, Michigan on the Leelanau Peninsula near Traverse City.John Gonzalez

Western Northern Lower Peninsula Poll Winners

1. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - 12.04%

2. Traverse City, MI - 8.32%

3. Ludington State Park, Ludington - 5.94%

4. Petoskey, MI - 5.94%

5. Leelanau Peninsula - 5.50%

Located on the banks of the Leland River, The Cove will cautiously reopen this weekend.

Write in candidates (other):

Bear Lake

East Jordan

Lake City

Elk Lake

Marion

Harbor Springs

Interlochen

Luther

Old Mission Peninsula

More Michigans Best from this region:

The Cove is Michigans Best Waterfront Restaurant

Sleeping Bear Dunes new guided hiking tours offer rare peek into the parks wilderness areas

15 Airbnbs near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

12 of Michigans Most Iconic Restaurants

How to spend a Michigans Best Day in Charlevoix and Elk Rapids

A food called man dip exists, and its made in Michigan

These are the 10 best waterfront restaurants in Michigan

Michigans Best Italian Restaurant is Trattoria Stella in Traverse City

Gorgeous waterfront makes Mackinaw City one of Michigans Best Vacation Spots

Torch Lake sandbar without any boats, June 30, 2020. (Garret Ellison | MLive).Garret Ellison | MLive

Follow along on our Michigans Best adventures!

@mlivemibest on Twitter

@mlivemibest on Instagram

Facebook at MLiveMIBest.

Join in by using the hashtag #mibest. Our most recent search was for Michigans Best Fish Fry.

In addition:

Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.

John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.
KEWEENAW PENINSULA, MICH. -- Whether gentle cascades or roaring rushes, waterfalls are mesmerizing, beautiful, and never not worth the trip.

The Upper Peninsulas topography has made it rich in waterfalls, estimated to number anywhere between from 150 to 300. These beauties offer something new and lovely in each season, making them great destinations to include in a U.P. adventure (or the sole purpose of a memorable road trip).

But all those waterfalls can be overwhelming, making planning a bit tricky. So we asked Brad Barnett, executive director of the Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau, to hand-pick some must-see Keweenaw and Western U.P. waterfalls tailored to different types of travelers, from those who want quick and easy waterfall access to those whod like to work harder for that view.

Read on for his suggestions and read more about Keweenaw and Western Upper Peninsula waterfalls at keweenaw.info/recreation/waterfalls.

For even more waterfall guidance, find an interactive Keweenaw waterfall map here.

Hungarian Falls. Photo by Keweenaw Convention and Visitors Bureau

For the whole family: Hungarian Falls. Located in Lake Linden, just outside of the Houghton-Hancock area, this multi-part waterfall offers several ways to enjoy an adventure. To keep things simple, check out the uppermost falls: Tucked in the 10-acre Hungarian Falls Nature Area, it has beautiful views and easy hiking trails. For a bigger adventure, you can head downstream to see three more falls, including whats considered one of the most picturesque falls in the entire Keweenaw Peninsula, plus breathtaking views over the surrounding area. More details and a map here

For the backcountry specialist: Montreal Falls. This one really requires some effort and a love of the outdoors to reach, but its well worth the adventure, says Barnett. Located outside of Lac La Belle, home of Mount Bohemia ski resort, these falls require travelers to navigate unpaved roads and then hike about a mile to access them, but the view where they spill into Lake Superior is stunning. Bonus: Extend your trip with a hike to Bare Bluff, a beloved scenic site, for gorgeous views of the big lake. More details and a map here

Eagle River Falls. Photo by Keweenaw Convention and Visitors Bureau

For the road warrior: Eagle River Falls. Viewing this scenic waterfall located in the village of Eagle River is as easy as it gets: It can be seen right from your car, on the south side of M-26, as you drive through town. But its worth it to hop out of your car and stay for a few, enjoying the scenic roadside park and viewing platform. These falls cascade down a 40-foot drop before flowing into Lake Superior  and according to Barnett, theyre conveniently located just a short walk from The Fitz, considered by some to be among the best restaurants in the Upper Peninsula, should you want a great meal on your drive. More details and a map here

Canyon Falls. Photo by Keweenaw Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For the adrenaline junkie: Canyon Falls. Youll find these impressive falls just south of LAnse, where they tumble and roar into a narrow box canyon thats been nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the U.P. Theyre easily accessed from a roadside park off U.S. 41, followed by a scenic 15-minute walk along the Sturgeon River. Find more information here

O Kun de Kun Falls. Photo by Keweenaw Convention and Visitors Bureau

For the waterfall hunter: Want to spend one day adding several waterfalls to your lifetime list? Then make sure you seek out the trifecta of Agate Falls, O Kun de Kun Falls, and Bond Falls. These three falls are so close together that you really have to do all of them over a day of exploring, Barnett says. Of the three, the 50-foot Bond Falls is the crown jewel: An accessible boardwalk gives visitors multiple options for viewing the falls, and picnic tables encourage you to stick around and soak up the scenery. Find a video explaining how to see them all here.

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The decision on whether or not Former President Donald Trump will return to Facebook has been handed back to the company after its oversight board ruled that the current indefinite ban is unreasonable, The Associated Press reports.

Indefinite penalties of this sort do not pass the international smell test, oversight board co-chairman Michael McConnell said in a conference call with reporters. We are not cops, reigning over the realm of social media.

Four months ago, Facebook suspended Trumps accounts for inciting violence that led to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Today, the companys quasi-independent, international oversight board upheld the ban - for now, Matt OBrien and Barbara Ortutay report for AP.

The boards ruling gives Facebook six months to specify how long the ban on Trump will continue, the report said.

Facebook should either permanently disable Trumps account or impose a suspension for a specific period of time, said board co-chair Helle Thorning-Schmidt, a former Danish prime minister.

If the company does reinstate Trump, the board said it must have means to quickly address any future violations of community rules. The board also advised against treating political leaders different from other influencers, who can pose just as big a risk of harm.

A minority of board members also want Facebook to require users who seek reinstatement after suspension to recognize their wrongdoing and commit to observing the rules in the future.

The 20-member panel was created to rule on thorny content circulating on the social media site, including misinformation, hate speech and nefarious influence campaigns. It made nine decisions before Wednesday, and had tended to favor free expression over restriction.

On Tuesday, Trump unveiled a new blog, From the Desk of Donald J. Trump, on his personal website. The page includes a video claiming, A BEACON OF FREEDOM ARISES, and A PLACE TO SPEAK FREELY AND SAFELY. But the page is mostly a display of Trumps recent statements, curated from other parts of the website, in a format that is easily shared to Facebook and Twitter - social media sites that he doesnt have direct access to since the Jan. 6 riot.

READ MORE:

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DETROIT -- A pizzeria owner tired of seeing his customers receiving $150 parking tickets took matters into his own hands. According to the Associated Press, Tony Sacco, the owner of Mootz Pizzeria and Bar says the parking situation in front of his shop is confusing and is causing financial troubles for his customers.

Sacco says there is a single sign along the curb in front of the restaurant indicating that parking is reserved for those with handicap stickers or license plates . However, customers get confused as parking enforcers consider the street space reserved for as many as four vehicles.

I mentioned it to the people writing the tickets. I said, People dont understand this is handicapped, and they said, Thats their problem. They should read the sign, Sacco said. That was the attitude.

Sacco decided to handle the problem himself after watching a woman and her children find a ticket on their car after going to get ice cream.

People come to Detroit, try to support our city and walk away with a $150 ticket, and they feel like they were tricked into it and they kind of were tricked into it, Sacco said.

After talking with a friend, Sacco went out and bought some blue paint to mark the street properly so no one is confused by the signage. Now anyone who gets a ticket for parking in the handicap space will deserve it.

The pizzeria opened in downtown Detroit in January 2019.

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IRON COUNTY, MI -- A 57-year-old Wisconsin man has been charged with a moving violation causing death and reckless driving causing death after he allegedly hit and killed a road worker in the Upper Peninsula in January, according to WLUC. Jerry Mittelstadt of Newald, Wisconsin is also facing habitual offender notices for prior driving under the influence convictions, according to the Iron County Reporter.

Mittelstadt is accused of hitting Iron County Road Commission employee Lawrence Leonarduzzi with his pickup truck in a work or school bus zone. The crash occurred on Jan. 13 around 2:15 p.m. on Bates-Amasa Road near Shady Lane and the Paint River Bridge in Bates Township. Mittelstadt allegedly did not stop in the work zone and hit the employee, who was working as a flagger, pinning him against another car.

At the time of the crash, police said they did not believe alcohol was a factor.

Both of the felony charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison upon conviction, however the habitual offender notice could result in a sentence being doubled. A preliminary examination in the case has been set for July 19 in Iron County District Court.

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2 killed in crash on U.S. 23 near Ann Arbor
ANN ARBOR TWP., MI  Two people killed in a crash on U.S. 23 outside Ann Arbor Tuesday afternoon have been identified.

Stephen Rohacs, 66, of Pinckney, and Leonard Hershey, 54, of Detroit, were killed Tuesday, May 4, when their SUV left the roadway and entered oncoming traffic on north U.S. 23 crashing into a car and semitruck, according to the Michigan State Police.

2 killed in crash on U.S. 23 near Ann Arbor

The crash was reported around 1:17 p.m. May 4, on northbound U.S. 23 between Geddes Road and Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor Township, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The SUV, a Cadillac SRX, was going south on U.S. 23 when it crossed the median and entered the northbound lanes, police said.

The SUV first hit an oncoming car, a Honda Civic, then a semitruck, police said.

Both Rohacs and Hershey were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of a Honda Civic, a 23-year-old Ann Arbor man, suffered minor injuries in the crash. The driver of the semitruck was not injured, police said.

Northbound U.S. 23 was closed at Geddes Road for about five hours while police investigated the scene. It has since reopened.

The crash remains under investigation.

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ANN ARBOR, MI  Ann Arbors police oversight commission is planning to partner with Eastern Michigan University researchers to find out if city police show bias in traffic stops.

In addition to looking for racial bias in terms of whos stopped and ticketed, they also plan to pore over traffic stop data to see if theres any evidence of gender and age discrimination.

Lisa Jackson, chair of the Independent Community Police Oversight Commission, discussed plans for the study at this weeks City Council meeting while arguing for funding unarmed alternatives to police for certain situations.

It seems unnecessary to have armed police enforcing civil-infraction traffic matters that arent criminal, she said.

Over 24 million people each year come in contact with police during a traffic stop, according to the Department of Justice, and the Stanford Open Policing Project shows that traffic stops are especially dangerous and discriminatory for people of color, she said. Black drivers are 20% more likely to be stopped than white drivers, and as much as twice as likely to be searched, according to a study of 100 million traffic stops.

But what about in Ann Arbor?

We dont know, but wed like to find out, Jackson said. Since 2020, our commission has been in possession of anonymized traffic stop data for the city for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019, but due to the city attorneys office weve been unable to partner with social scientists to have it analyzed. Why? Because the city attorneys office has insisted on onerous nondisclosure agreements, the latest version of which does not even give ICPOC permission to discuss the findings.

Lisa Jackson, chair of Ann Arbor's police oversight commission, addresses City Council on the topics of traffic stops and unarmed alternatives to police on May 3, 2021.CTN

The oversight commission has been working in good faith with the police department and the city attorneys office since last year to no avail, Jackson told council.

Now, the Southeast Michigan Criminal Justice Policy Research Project at Eastern Michigan University has agreed to partner with us in this work, and we dont want to lose the opportunity to work with them by waiting another few months to iron out who has permission to talk about these data and their analysis, she said. So council, I come to you to ask you to have the city attorney free up these datasets. We think the public deserves to know if there is bias in traffic stops in the city.

City Attorney Stephen Postema said his office has been working with the oversight commission and EMU to facilitate the necessary agreements to allow the study.

The city was initially made aware of a potential research partnership last fall, and once details were made clear, Senior Assistant City Attorney Arianne Slay discussed the matter with Jackson in March, Postema said.

Slay, the city attorney assigned to support the oversight commission, made it a priority and worked with another city attorney and others, including Jackson, and terms of an agreement were reached with a second proposed research group at EMU on April 30, Postema said.

The agreement was made to facilitate the provision of police data to be analyzed while protecting the privacy of individuals who were stopped by the police, he said. The ICPOC has been in possession of the aggregate police data since 2020 for their review and analysis, and this agreement will allow for further analysis by an outside researcher.

Jackson said she still doesnt understand the need for a nondisclosure agreement when theres no personally identifying information in the traffic stop data thats been provided to ICPOC. Its just a set of data about traffic stops in the city, including the age, race and gender of the people who were pulled over, and it includes no names of officers or the people who were stopped, she said.

Why cant we just take it and analyze it and work with the SMART team at EMU, and then come back to the city residents and say, hey, we saw bias here, or we didnt see any bias, or whatever? she said. And so thats my frustration.

The public deserves to know whether theres disparity in young people, women or people of color being issued tickets versus warnings, Jackson said.

One could argue that these data already belong to the people, since they are the ones whove been issued these tickets, she told council. In any case, I am not convinced that theres a reasonable argument for having a nondisclosure agreement at all, so I urge you to impress upon the city attorney the need for us to do one of the most important jobs you have given us: to facilitate the transparency of the Ann Arbor Police Department.

Slay has been working with the oversight commission on multiple projects that ensure police accountability and transparency, including policies and procedures for review of citizen complaints against police, Postema said.

Ann Arbor council unanimously supports developing unarmed 911 response program

Police Chief Michael Cox said he doesnt have any issues with the study going forward and hopes it sheds light on AAPD practices. While he has no reason to believe theres any problem with bias in traffic stops in Ann Arbor, that doesnt mean it cant occur, he said.

It would be folly of me to say ... there couldnt be a sign of bias someplace, when we know that exists in the world, he said. But the fact is I have no reason to believe that its an intentional thing or that people here are intentionally targeting people.

AAPD has policies about treating people equitably and fairly and police are usually reacting to driver behavior when it comes to traffic matters, Cox said.

I would say, by far, the majority of time, its usually because were reacting to something weve seen on a red light, speeding, things of that nature, he said.

The question then becomes whether police use those traffic stops as an opportunity to look for further criminality when they dont have any evidence, Cox said.

And that is something that we strongly discourage and I certainly dont believe in that, he said.

As for Jacksons idea of unarmed traffic enforcement, Cox said hes never seen an example of that and hes not sure if someone who isnt a police officer would have legal authority to pull someone over.

He also questions whether more people would feel free to disregard the law and speed if there was a lack of police out doing traffic enforcement.

That could be a public safety issue, he said.

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WASHTENAW COUNTY-- Maiz Mexican Cantina was notified Sunday that a line cook tested positive for coronavirus, causing the restaurant to close.

The restaurant, located at 36 E. Cross St in Ypsilanti, will remain closed until May 17.

If there is one thing the last year has taught us is that even the best plan can be tossed out with just one phone call or one speech, restaurant staff wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday.

The restaurant was hoping to make a different announcement this week by shutting down May 10-16 to give staff a holiday. The break was meant to reward staff for pushing through the pandemic, a staff shortage and busy Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

Instead, Maiz Mexican Cantina will lose out on its busiest week of the year, according to the post.

In reviewing the requirements for quarantine for individuals exposed, it was quickly clear that we simply couldnt get through our busiest week with less than 25% of our kitchen staff, the restaurant wrote. Throughout the pandemic we have always prioritized safety over profit and this time would be no different.

The restaurant plans to stay closed during the week of May 10 to ensure staff get the break they were promised a month ago.

The Tacos & Tulips event set for Sunday, May 10 will also need new plans, which have been updated as of Tuesday.

This event was originally a collaboration with the restaurant and Terry Bakery to sell tacos and tulip cookies for Mothers Day. Each business donates a portion of sales to Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels.

Cultivate Coffee & Tap House will take Maizs place in the event, according to Jason Branham, owner of Maiz Mexican Cantina.

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ANN ARBOR, MI  Ann Arbor is getting its first commercial marijuana consumption lounge and officials say it also will be the first of its kind in Michigan.

Plans are in the works to convert the pink house at 336 S. Ashley St.  next to the Liberty Provisioning Center marijuana dispensary on the west edge of downtown  into a lounge allowing onsite consumption of cannabis products.

The citys Planning Commission OKd a special-exception use permit for it Tuesday night, May 4.

Permit conditions state the lounge can be used only by customers of the adjacent dispensary and their guests and it must be operated in a manner that will not have an adverse impact on the neighboring properties or area.

In addition to a city permit, the owner needs to obtain and maintain a state license for the lounge.

The company behind the business is Holistic Industries, which describes itself as the countrys largest privately held cannabis operator with operations from California to Washington, D.C. Its flagship retail and wholesale brand is Liberty Cannabis.

Libertys proposed consumption facility would be the first of its kind in Ann Arbor and the state as a whole. Honestly, its a historic opportunity and one that we believe Liberty is best suited to bring to life, said Rabbi James Kahn, the companys director of community outreach.

The company was founded in 2011 in Washington, D.C., and is on a mission inspired by the stories of people who have been positively impacted by the cannabis plant, Kahn said.

We wish to provide safe access to cannabis, he said. For many of our customers, having a safe space to consume cannabis can be a real challenge. Those who live in public housing or who rent could face possible eviction for using cannabis in their homes.

They also want to build community by creating a space where people can socialize, he said.

Consider those who may own their own home but who live alone and may wish to experiment with cannabis for the first time in a safe and supportive environment with people who can educate them about cannabis use, he said.

The two-story house where the consumption lounge will be located was once a single-family home that was converted to commercial use years ago. It previously housed the Muse Atelier vintage clothing store.

Reservations will be required to access to the lounge, with 45-minute blocks free for customers and patients who can show a same-day receipt from the dispensary next door. For members of a party who do not have a same-day receipt, the fee for 45-minute entry will be $10 per person.

Hours of operation are expected to be noon to 8 p.m. daily with the last reservation accepted at 7:15 p.m.

Maximum occupancy is 19 people, though initially the business plans to only allow up to two groups of four at a time, for a max of eight people. It plans to revisit occupancy limits in the future in consideration of public health protocols and customer needs.

All of our plans are COVID contingent, which we take into account in every aspect of our operations, Kahn said.

There will be a front check-in area, service counter, restroom and consumption lounge on the first floor, and an employee break area and managers office upstairs. Visitors will need to show ID to verify they are at least 21 years old.

A history of Hash Bash and marijuana activism in Ann Arbor

Kahn assured city planning officials the business wants to be a good neighbor.

We have a five-year track record in Michigan with locations in Detroit and Ann Arbor and a new campus opening in Madison Heights in early June, he said. On a local level, investing in Ann Arbor with our provisioning center and now with our proposed consumption lounge means more staff, all hired from the surrounding community, making a livable wage with good benefits that include health care and PTO.

Many of the companys owners, board members and staff call Ann Arbor home and others are passionate University of Michigan alumni, Kahn said.

Libertys proposed consumption facility is a perfect example of our continued local investment, responding to the needs of our customers, while simultaneously creating new jobs, he said.

The companys primary goal with the lounge isnt to make money but to expand offerings to customers, Kahn said.

People have a right to access cannabis, but arrests can go up in places that legalize it when an increase in access is not matched with an increase in places to use it, he said.

And so often people are using it in parks or outside on the streets, he said. And unfortunately, the folks that seem to get arrested in those moments are often people of color, so it really becomes an issue of of racial justice as well.

New foam insulation in walls and an industrial air-filtration system are among the features planned to keep odor from emanating from the building. Cannabis consumption outside the building also will be prohibited.

All smoke and odor will be rapidly eliminated and recycled or released from the roof as odorless scrubbed air, according to the companys plans. The space will be hermetically sealed and cannabis odor will be undetectable from the street, Kahn said.

The existing building will be renovated to accommodate the consumption facility, fixed bicycle hoops will be installed in front of the site, and an accessible entrance ramp will be constructed at the rear of the building, a city planning report states, noting future plans include enclosing the covered front porch.

In addition to the companys commitment to LED lighting and extra insulation, commissioners encouraged the team behind the lounge and dispensary to consider more ways to be environmentally sustainable, including installing solar panels on both roofs. Company representatives said theyd consider it.

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I believe we certainly would never have had an international airport of major repute. We probably would not have had the second-largest university in the country. We certainly would not have had a vibrant and exciting arts community, said Chapin, whose political career includes serving as the chairwoman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and being elected county chair from 1990 to 1998. So in that case, we probably would not have built what is going to be one of the best performing arts centers in the world.
ANN ARBOR, MI  A man accused of stabbing three women during an argument at an Ann Arbor hotel a month ago has been charged with murder.

The Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office authorized a charge of open murder against Madron Aldonijah Austin last week, April 29, after one of the three women he was accused of stabbing in an Ann Arbor hotel died of her injuries, court records show.

Austin, 47, is accused of killing Angel Mercedes Pritchard, also known as Nyesha Mercedes Robinson, who suffered critical injuries when she was stabbed during an argument at 1:31 a.m., April 4, inside a hotel room at the Sonesta Suites, 800 Victors Way, near the Pittsfield Township border, according to the Ann Arbor Police Department.

Robinson, 27, died a week later while being treated at the University of Michigan Hospital.

She was a beautiful, caring person: Family, friends remember stabbing victim as woman of faith

The other two woman staying in the hotel room, 36 and 33, were injured in the attack and have been treated for their injuries and released, police said.

Austin now faces the open murder charge as well as two felony counts of assault with intent to murder, one felony count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and one felony count of armed robbery.

With help from Livingston and Washtenaw Narcotics Enforcement Team, Austin was arrested the day of the attack at a home of an acquaintance in Ypsilanti Township, police said.

Man accused of stabbing 3 women at Ann Arbor motel arrested, charged

He is currently lodged in the Washtenaw County Jail with bond set at $500,000. His next court date is scheduled for May 20.

Open murder allows a jury to determine the degree of murder a person is guilty of if convicted.

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WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI  Pittsfield Township residents on Tuesday voted down a request for a tax increase that would have gone toward public safety services.

The public safety millage on Washtenaw Countys May 4 election ballot, failed by 450 votes, with 2,385 votes in favor of the proposal and 2,835 votes against it.

Approximately 18% of Washtenaw County voters participated in Tuesdays election, according to the unofficial election results.

The Pittsfield Township millage called for an increase from 1.95 to 3.95 mills, which translates to an additional $30 per month for the median household in Pittsfield Township. Township officials estimated the millage would raise approximately $8,413,162 when first levied in 2022.

Officials said in March that if the millage failed, the township would be faced with cutting or maintaining salaries and eliminating as many as six police officers and four firefighters.

The approval of the millage also would have equipped all uniformed police department personnel with body cameras when in contact with the public, officials said. Additional funding would have also be used to increase the number of sworn police officers and to implement more community-centric policing policies and practices, township officials said.

Township taxes have remained unchanged since November 2009, with the exception of the increase in public safety millage residents approved in 2011.

A voters guide to whats on the ballot in Washtenaw Countys May 4 election

Washtenaw County voters also cast ballots for other proposals for the city of Milan, Clinton Community Schools, Northville Public Schools and Grass Lake Community Schools. Unofficial county election results for those proposals can be found here and here.

Grass Lake schools operating millage narrowly passes

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GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Voters in Genesee County weighed in on multiple tax proposals during Tuesdays special election.

Notable millage renewals included an MTA millage renewal for public transportation, a Flint public safety millage that funds police and fire in the city and a new millage dedicated to community mental health services through Genesee Health System.

Just one millage from Gaines Township that would support public safety failed to pass. It may cause the township to shut down its police department.

Heres what you need to know about the results:

MTA millage passes by wide margin

Voters renewed a .60-mills ($.60 per $1,000 in taxable value) property tax to provide funding for the Mass Transportation Authority that will raise $472,900 each year until 2027.

The millage keeps its previous tax rate at .60-mills, but extends collection for a six-year period. A separate countywide millage supports MTA services that go outside the city.

A total of 3,870 voters (81.7 percent) approved the tax, while 865 voted against the renewal, according to unofficial results from the Genesee County Clerks Office.

This funding helps keep fixed-route charges low in the 15 primary routes in Flint, MTA CEO Ed Benning said. Riders currently pay a $1.75 fare. The pandemic caused MTA to shut down for more than a month to install protective barriers to prevent COVID-19 spread.

Read more about the millage renewal here.

Flint Public Safety millage supported

More than four in five Flint voters supported the Flint public safety millage, which provides funding for the citys police and fire departments. Voters renewed the 6-mills levy for a five year period starting next year, which amounts to about $4,728,900, according to the ballot language.

City officials have signaled the passing of this millage as a vital step towards addressing recent violent crime. Mayor Sheldon Neeley held a news conference to promote the millage days before its passing.

Supporting this millage is critically important. We cannot afford to lose this funding, Neeley said. We are at the intersection of crisis and renewing this millage is absolutely essential to ensure funding stability for public safety.

Read more about the millage renewal here.

Community Mental Health millage receives support

Genesee Health Systems new 0.94-mill property tax request received 54 percent of the vote to pass May 4. The millage will collect $9,595,118 each year for a ten-year period.

These funds will be dedicated to supporting Genesee Health Systems mental health services. Plans include delegating funding to support law enforcement on mental health calls and a new facility to treat county residents in partnership with Hurley Medical Center.

The return is going to be a safer community, better care for your family and for neighbors and just kind of a better deal for the community all the way around, Genesee Health System CEO Danis Russell said.

The new millage was more closely contested than others on the ballot. Read more here.

Genesee County 911 surcharge

Genesee County residents renewed a 911 surcharge that was due to expire at the end of 2021.

The $1.86 surcharge will assess a charge on all landline, wireless, and voice over internet protocol service devices located within Genesee County of up to $1.86 per month, for a period ending on Dec. 31, 2026.

Unofficial election results show 26,428 votes (60 percent) to continue the surcharge. A total of 16,867 votes were cast against the renewal.

This charge raises about $7 million each year and fully funds the countys 911 Dispatch Authority. Read more on the surcharges renewal here.

Bendle Public Schools renews operations, sinking fund millage

Bendle Public Schools in Burton received support from voters for the renewal of an operating millage and sinking fund millage Tuesday.

The school district will collect about $780,000 each year for ten years through its operating millage, which amounts to about 10 percent of the districts yearly budget. The 18-mills operating tax is only levied on business and commercial properties in the district.

Voters also passed a $140,000 sinking fund millage that provides restricted funds that can only be used for capital improvements, technology replacement and security upgrades. This millage is levied on homeowners.

Read more on the results here.

Gaines Township rejects police millage, passes mosquito control millage

Gaines Township voters may have spelled the end of the Gaines Township Police Department after voting against a police operations millage Tuesday.

The tax would have provided about $179,000 each year for a five year period to support the department, which only has one officer. Chief Mark Schmitzer said it is likely the township will shut down the department entirely if the millage didnt pass.

Voters did pass a tax to collect funds for mosquito control in the township. The assessment will gather $35 each year from each each commercial, industrial or housing unit for a five-year period to spray, abate and control mosquitoes.

Atlas Township voters pass public safety millages

Atlas Township voters renewed both a 2.064-mill ($2.06 per $1,000 of taxable value) levy for police operations and 0.98-mill ($.98 per $1,000 of taxable value) levy for the police department. Each millage passed with more than 70 percent of the vote.

The police millage will collect $772,800 in its first year. It pays for Atlas Townships contract with the Genesee County Sheriffs Department, Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones told MLive-The Flint Journal.

The fire tax pays for the townships on-call department, where the fire chief and assistant chief both receive small salaries. Firefighters are paid for each call they respond to in the community.

Read more on Gaines and Atlas Township here.

Read more on MLive:

Election results for May 4, 2021 special election in Genesee County

Yes votes top 80 percent as Flint public safety millage renewed

Genesee County 911 surcharge renewed by 60 percent of voters in May 4 election

Flint voters give MTA millage renewal big margin of victory

Community mental health millage tightly passes in Genesee County special election

Gaines Township police millage defeated, Atlas Township voters approve public safety millages

Voters approve pair of millage renewals for Bendle Public Schools in Burton
FLINT, MI  A global automotive supplier has acquired a new facility in Flint with plans to add dozens of jobs in the next several years.

Hirotec America, a member of the Hirotec Group, a global tier one automotive supplier specializing in the production of body-in-white closures, exhaust systems, and closure manufacturing equipment has announced they have acquired a new facility, located at 1101 N. Center Road, in Flint.

In response to the growing demand for high-quality stamping, assembly, and hemming systems, as well as other flexible automation solutions, Hirotec has secured additional manufacturing floor space that will be utilized for tooling integration, according to a statement from the company.

Hirotec America has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years and our increased manufacturing footprint will allow us to continue to provide innovative solutions to our customers, Katsu Uno, Chairman & CEO of Hirotec America, said. I would also like to thank the City of Flint and the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance for their assistance in acquiring Hirotecs new facility. We are proud to be creating new jobs in Flint and investing in Michigans local economy.

Hirotecs new facility adds approximately 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

With this addition, Hirotec now has a total of four facilities in Michigan, including two locations in Auburn Hills, one in New Haven and now Flint and over 670,000 square feet available for their local operations.

In addition, Hirotec is expected to create approximately 70 new jobs over the next few years.

Gabrielle Smith, a nearby neighbor to the plant, said she thinks the move is good because the city was based on auto manufacturing.

Well go back hopefully booming again, Smith said. Its what we need around here.

Gregory Washington, another nearby neighbor to the facility, said the new jobs coming to the area will help, but he looks forward to more additions such as attractions to bring people to the area.

Everybody here goes somewhere else to vacation. We should have stuff here so that we can bring people here, Washington said. Stuff like people thats going to work there and stuff like that, soon as they get their checks theyre going to go down to Ohio, Cedar Point. We dont have nothing here and back in the days, we had GM Truck and Bus, AC Spark Plug. We had almost everything that you wanted here.

Related: See the flash that helped ignite Flint in historic photos of AC Spark Plug factories

The facility was formerly home to Delphi Flint East  or Plant 43  before it shut down in 2013 and relocated the bulk of the work to Mexico. Over the years, the site has had different names and was once the world headquarters for AC Spark Plug.

For almost 100 years, the factories on North Dort Highway produced countless spark plugs, as well as oil filters, air cleaners, dashboard instruments, fuel pumps and a variety of other products.

It was a site that has seen several incarnations, but for decades was the AC headquarters, overseeing AC operations in plants across the world, including Texas, Wisconsin and England, according to previous MLive-The Flint Journal reports.

We are pleased to welcome Hirotec America to Flint and Genesee County, and are excited that the industrial site where the company has located continues to see new investment, Tyler Rossmaessler, executive director of the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance said. The automotive Tier-1 supplier delivers highly flexible body shop tooling to auto manufacturers around the world. Hiroetic is a great fit and a great addition to the roster of automotive suppliers in our community.

The company is participating in a virtual job fair with other local manufacturers to fill entry-level, skilled trades and managerial positions. Job seekers can explore all the open positions at the virtual Manufacturing Career Fair from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday, May 10.

Those interested will first need to create an account and complete the registration form. To get started, visit here.

To view Hirotecs current available positions, visit here.

Read more on MLive:

A look back on the history of Delphi Flint East

Delphi Flint East ceases operations, Delphi name leaves Genesee County

GM: Delphi Flint East to close its doors November 2013
FLINT, MI -- Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha gave six Flint-area teens their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine while urging others to receive a shot.

The Wednesday, May 5 event was held at Mott Community College, 1401 E. Court St., where a vaccination clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The clinic will now be open to walk-ins Wednesdays and Thursdays. Appointments are still required Fridays.

Hanna-Attisha, a Flint pediatrician who first found elevated levels of lead in the blood of Flint children during the citys water crisis, said the best public health work happens with strong partnerships and people coming together.

She praised the work of the MCC clinic, Hurley Medical Center, the Genesee County Health Department and all other Flint-area health systems and community partners in Genesee County.

This is a community that knows how to roll up our sleeves and work together when we need to get something done, Hanna-Attisha said.

She is currently serving on the Protect Michigan Commission, created by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in January to encourage state residents to get vaccinated.

I think this is probably one of the most important things I have ever done in my life is to be part of this effort to get our state vaccinated so we can go back to living a normal life, Mona said.

The Protect Michigan Commission has introduced the State of Michigans COVID-19 Student Ambassador Volunteer recruitment campaign.

Teens serving part of the campaign who received vaccines Wednesday included 16-year-old Grand Blanc High School sophomore Jackson Lloyd, 17-year-old Flint Southwest Classical Academy senior Jasmine Haynie, 17-year-old Hamady High School senior Alyssa Young, 16-year-old Kearsley High School sophomore Hannah Pollick, 17-year-old Flint Southwestern Academy senior Kori Richmond-Sattiewhite and 19-year-old Grand Blanc High School graduate Jackson Langford.

After receiving the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, Haynie said it feels good to do something that can help keep herself and her family safe. She will graduate from Flint Southwestern with a 3.6 GPA, is the salutatorian in her graduating class and has received a full-ride scholarship to Eastern Michigan University.

The soon-to-be graduate said she wants to encourage her peers to get the shot as well.

Id tell them if you really love your relatives and want to be around them, I suggest you get the shot, Haynie said.

Many of Haynies classmates have expressed hesitation toward the vaccine, she said, mostly due to reading misinformation online.

The latest state data shows more than 1 in 3 residents in Genesee County have been fully vaccinated.

More than 45% of those 16 years old or older have received at least one vaccine dose in Genesee County, accounting for about 150,000 people. More than 72% of residents over age 65 have received at least one dose and more than 54% of those ages 50-64 have received at least one vaccine dose.

Eli Isaguirre, Flint resident and stakeholder engagement coordinator for the Protect Michigan Commission in Genesee County, said the commissions goal is to get 100,000 shots in arms each day.

However, Isaguirre said some communities in the county trail others when it comes to vaccinations.

Generally, he said fewer than 1 in 5 have received one or more doses, in the following areas:

Northeast Flint near Riverside Park, apartments south of Lippincott Boulevard and east of Dort Highway

Neighborhoods between the Flint River and Dort Hwy north of Mott Community College and Longway Boulevard

Neighborhoods between Flint Powers Catholic High School, Kettering University and Hurley Medical Center

Much of Mt. Morris and Genesee Township.

Coronavirus cases in young people have been on the rise, Isaguirre said.

Genesee County has had more than 1,245 children ages 0 to 9 test positive for Covid during the pandemic. There have been more than 3,715 cases in children ages 10 to 19.

More than 4,000 teens ages 16 to 19 have already received at least one dose in Genesee County, accounting for about 1 in 5 teens.

Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is available to Michigan residents ages 16 to 18 and older.

Pfizer is on the verge of obtaining federal approval to make its COVID-19 vaccine available to children ages 12 to 15 -- and the vaccine could be available to children ages 2 to 11 in the fall.

Related: COVID-19 vaccines for children offers path out of pandemic for parents, kids

Parents or guardians are required to come with their minor when the child is vaccinated.

For those looking at get a vaccination at the campus, MCC president Beverly Walker-Griffea announced the clinic will no longer require appointments on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The walk-in clinic is open to anyone 16 and older. The Friday clinic still requires an appointment.

We believe it is critically important that as many people as possible receive a vaccine for COVID-19, not only for themselves, their families and friends, but also for their co-workers, their fellow students and the community at large, Walker-Griffea said.

Dondre Young, Chair of the Protect Michigan Commissions statewide Youth Advisory Workgroup, said the commission recognizes youth are less likely to take advice from their parents than they are from their peers.

Young encouraged youth to joint the effort to encourage vaccinations.

Now the Protect Michigan Commission is recruiting student champions across the state who will help promote awareness among their classmates on the importance of getting vaccinated, he said.

Read more on MLive:

Genesee County Health Department encourages public to get on any list for COVID-19 vaccine

Coronavirus daily case average, hospitalizations less than 3,000 for first time since March

In-person high school commencements couldnt be banned under approved Michigan Senate bill

Michigan coronavirus data for Wednesday, May 5: New cases dropping at rapid clip, but deaths are up

Michigan relaxes rules on masks, outdoor gatherings

Medical experts express confidence in Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, despite reports of womans death
FLINT, MI -- Mayor Sheldon Neeley says he wants to use $2 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to boost efforts to fight blight in the city.

Neeley said in a news release Wednesday, May 5 that he is committed to adding the funds through the standard budgeting process and that he wants the funds to be used to hire additional personnel and purchase equipment.

Flint will receive $99 million as part of the American Rescue Plan signed into law by President Joe Biden in March, half of which is due to arrive later this year and half of which is due to the city next year.

Those funds can be used for a number of municipal purposes, including assistance to households, small businesses, nonprofits, and industries impacted by COVID-19, support for essential workers, supplementing lost revenue, and investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.

Blight was one of five key issues identified for potential funding by Neeley in a community-wide update late last month.

While results arent scientific, blight ... currently ranks as the (number one) issue in a community survey issued after the communitywide update, the citys news release said.

Neeleys statement says the $2 million will allow for a massive increase in our cleanup efforts and help us to move our city forward in a positive direction.

The mayors proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 proposed $392,466 for blight, an increase from $174,560 in the current budget.

Neeleys statement says additional investments in public safety, as well as the citys senior and community centers, will be announced soon.

On the same day of the mayors announcement on blight, the Flint City Council held a special committee meeting to discuss priorities for spending the $99 million with U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Twp.

Kildee told the council hes been in support of Congress providing direct support for cities, particularly those that have had economic hardship.

This is intended ... as a one-time Covid-related relief program for local governments ..., the congressman said. My goal personally is ... we utilize these dollars in a fashion that gives us the argument that the federal government needs to continue to stay engage after this $99 million is expended.

Read more:

Flints share of COVID-19 relief bill tops $99M, Genesee County to get $78M

Flint mayor asks residents for advice on spending $99 million in federal relief funds

Congressman Dan Kildee highlights new resources for struggling Genesee County businesses
FLINT, MI -- Flint voters continued their strong support of fixed-route public transportation on Tuesday, May 4, easily renewing a .60-mill property tax dedicated to the service.

A total of 3,870 voters (81.7 percent) approved the Mass Transportation Authority millage, while 865 cast ballots against the renewal, according to unofficial results from the Genesee County Clerks Office.

The MTA tax will raise roughly $472,900 in the first year of renewal and will continue from July 21, 2021, through June 30, 2027.

Although the millage does not raise the tax burden for property tax owners in Flint, it will continue the current rate, which costs the owner of a home with a taxable value of $35,000 about $21 per year and the owner of a home with a taxable value of $50,000 about $30 per year.

A separate countywide millage supports other MTA programs that operate in and outside the city, including Your Ride.

By renewing the tax, Flint residents avoided a potential fare increase, which the transit agencys chief executive officer had said was a possibility had it been defeated.

There are 15 primary fixed routes traveled by MTA buses in Flint, serving riders throughout the day and into the evening hours.

Each primary fixed route is designed to travel major traffic arteries leading to secondary arteries where all major businesses, shopping centers, hospitals, colleges, and other institutions are located, according to MTA.

Riders currently pay a $1.75 fare.

From October 2020 until March of this year, more than 675,000 passengers have boarded MTA buses with more than 100,000 riders in each of those months, according to MTA statistics.

Those numbers are down more than 50 percent compared to pre-coronavirus-pandemic levels.

Read more on MLive:

MTA asks Flint voters to renew millage for public transportation in city

Heres whats on the May 4 election ballot in Genesee County

Voters approve pair of millage renewals for Bendle Public Schools in Burton
FLINT TOWNSHIP, MI -- A 23-year-old Flint man died in the hospital Wednesday after he was shot in Flint Township, according to police.

Flint Township Police Department officers were dispatched at 12:55 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, to the 3100 block of Hatherly Avenue for a report of unknown trouble and gunshots.

Officers located blood and shell casings in the driveway of a residence, according to a Flint Township Police Department news release. They were soon advised that a 23-year-old Flint man whod suffered multiple gunshot wounds was dropped off at McLaren Hospital.

The victim, whose name has not been released, was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

A 22-year-old Flint man drove himself to Hurley Medical Center, police said. He was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and later lodged at the Genesee County Jail.

A 24-year-old Mount Morris Township man was later taken into custody in the 4000 block of Doran Street and lodged in the county jail. Officers with the Mount Morris Township Police Department assisted Flint Township police in the arrest.

At this time, it is believed that all suspects are in custody, police said. The incident remains under investigation.

Investigators are seeking information from witnesses or those who may have additional details about the fatal shooting.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Chris Weber or Detective Jason Piercey at the Flint Township Police Department at 810-600-3250 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422-JAIL (5245), P3Tips mobile app, or CrimeStoppersofFlint.com.

Flint Township Police officers were assisted by the City of Flint Police Department, Mount Morris Township Police Department and the Michigan State Police Bridgeport Crime Laboratory.

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HOLLAND, MI  Holland Public Schools will be able to make improvements across the district, including major renovations to its elementary schools, thanks to a $74.6 million bond proposal approved by voters Tuesday, May 4.

The bond passed in a 3,534 to 1,282 vote, according to unofficial election results from the Ottawa County Clerks office. The funds will be used to complete several construction projects, make health and safety improvements and upgrade instructional technology.

The district will levy an average of 3.22 mills annually over the next 24 years. It will levy 1.58 mills, or $1.58 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation, in its first year of 2021. That will be raised to 2.26 mills in 2027, and 3.50 in 2035, based on the issuance of the bond series.

Although the districts tax millage will increase over the years, the overall millage rate is expected to decline through 2044 as previous bonds expire. Tax rates will not increase this year compared to last year because prior school debt will fall off the tax rolls this summer.

With Tuesdays approval from voters, the districts debt millage rate will drop from 4.98 mills in 2020 to 4.73 mills in 2021. A millage calculator is available at the bottom of the districts Build 2021 webpage.

Superintendent Brian Davis thanked voters for supporting the bond proposal.

On behalf of myself and the entire Holland Public Schools community, Id like to thank you so much for your generosity, trust and support of the Build 2021 campaign, Davis said in a prepared statement. Over the next several months, well begin to pull together teams that will begin designing each of our construction projects across the district.

The funds will be spent over several years in three series, with the final series of projects available by July 2025. The districts three elementary schools  Holland Heights, Jefferson and West  will be the primary focus of the bond.

Every building in the district will receive some level of improvement, but the biggest portion of this is our elementary schools, Davis previously told MLive.

Each of the three bond series will feature some elementary school improvements, but the largest will take place in series two, a $41 million project that will fund the partial reconstruction of Holland Heights and West Elementary schools. It will be available July 2023.

All of the elementary school playgrounds will be improved during series one of the bond, available July 2021, and Jefferson Elementary School will be remodeled during series three with about $6 million in projects.

Holland High School and Middle School are also slated for renovation under the plan. Around $9 million will be spent renovating the high school and $8 million will be spent on the middle school.

Roughly $3.5 million will be spent on districtwide technology improvements. Davis said the coronavirus pandemic has shown how important technology is in education.

There were several other school tax proposals on the May 4 ballot for Ottawa County voters including:

Grand Haven Area Public Schools asked to renew the operating millage required to receive revenue per pupil. It passed in a 4,904 to 1,861 vote. The renewal is a rate not to exceed 18 mills, which equates to $18 for each $1,000 worth of taxable value. The millage will capture $15.65 million in 2021.

Hudsonville Public Schools asked to renew its millage of 18 mills for operations, which was approved 3,489 to 1,457. The millage equates to $18 for each $1,000 of taxable value. The district will collect about $5.6 million from the millage in 2021.

West Ottawa Public Schools asked to renew its operating millage of 18 mills. It passed 3,998 to 1,547. The renewal equates to $18 for each $1,000 worth of taxable value. It will generate about $13.93 million in 2021.

Zeeland Public Schools passed a $75 million bond proposal that will help the growing school district keep up with rising student enrollment and upgrade its aging facilities. The bond would not increase current taxes. The district also passed an operating millage renewal, which would capture $9.24 million in 2021.

More on MLive:

School, local government proposals on May 4 election ballot in the Grand Rapids area

Zeeland schools proposing $75M bond in May 4 election to help district keep up with rising enrollment

Kentwood Public Schools has $192M bond on May 4 ballot to update infrastructure, technology
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  The story of an Ionia-area woman whose family says she died from complications after receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has drawn lots of attention, with some questioning whether it will cause residents to think twice before taking the drug.

Medical experts are clear: complications associated with J&Js vaccine are extremely rare and should not dissuade anyone from taking a dose.

Im not ready to say this person is at-risk or that persons not at-risk, said Dr. Geoffrey Barnes, a vascular cardiologist for Michigan Medicine who specializes in anticoagulation and diseases of the blood vessels.

Fifteen cases across more than 8 million vaccines that are administered  were talking essentially two in a million is the risk of this really rare combination of things happening.

On Monday, May 3, the family of Anne VanGeest said in a statement that she died on April 19 at Mercy Health Saint Marys hospital in Grand Rapids as the result of complications after receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

The statement was provided by Grand Rapids public relations agency Lambert, which said it was providing its services to the family pro bono.

The familys statement did not unequivocally link her death to the vaccine. Her death certificate listed the cause of death as natural and says the cause was acute subarachnoid hemorrhage non-traumatic. A Lambert spokesperson says the family has been told the final autopsy report will not be available for 30 to 60 days.

In an email from VanGeests family to the Centers for Disease Control, the agency confirmed it received a report of VanGeests death that was filed by her healthcare provider with the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). VAERS is managed by the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration.

When asked by MLive whether the CDC is investigating VanGeests death, the agency said by email: All cases involving death after COVID-19 vaccination have to be reported to CDCs Vaccine Adverse Reporting System and they have to be investigated by both FDA and CDC.

Federal regulators on April 13 recommended a temporary pause in distribution of J&Js COVID-19 vaccine amid reports of extremely rare but severe blood clots. On April 24, following a safety review, the CDC and FDA recommended that distribution of the J&J vaccine continue.

Barnes said he has no knowledge of VanGeests death and cannot comment on it.

But, speaking in general about the J&J vaccine, he said 15 women under the age of 50 who received the drug developed a rare blood clot in a vein that drains blood out of the brain, as well as a very low blood platelet clot. He said the condition developed about a week after receiving the vaccine.

Those two things happening together is a pretty rare event, Barnes said. What Im telling people is its important to be aware of the risks anytime you take a medicine, and this COVID vaccine is no different. But whats important to know here is the risk seems to be exceedingly small. Were talking one or two in a million.

Later, he added: What I do know is that if you get infected with COVID, the risks of complication are much higher. If youre hospitalized, people develop other sort of blood clots, have other problems with their lungs.

When asked whether the cause of death listed on VanGeests death certificate  acute subarachnoid hemorrhage non-traumatic  could be related to the J&J vaccine, Barnes declined to comment directly.

But, in general, he said in rare situations after the J&J vaccine, patients can develop this blood clot and low platelets, and as a result of that or as a consequence of that, they may then experience bleeding in the brain.

Dr. Ron Grifka, chief medical officer at Metro Health  University of Michigan Health, agreed.

Certainly, theres been some concerns about it, Grifka said. But its safer to get the vaccine than not. Its a very, very, very low-risk of having this clotting problem.

Johnson & Johnson did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

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Jason Jeter, who posts to TikTok as showmelovejete, and has a presence on other social media platforms, was already popular for videos he posted while employed at the theme park up until mid-March. On March 18, he had about 250,000 followers on TikTok when he posted a video that said he was fired from his job citing that management was not happy about videos he had posted in the week prior. One of those included shots of him trying water from fountains at Disney Springs - not drinking fountains, but the large landscape features around the shopping district.
JACKSON COUNTY, MI  A former Blackman-Leoni Township Public Safety officer who pleaded guilty to a lesser charge amid misconduct and perjury accusations has been sentenced.

David Lubahn, 52, was sentenced Tuesday, May 4, to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service after pleading guilty to lying to a peace officer, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said.

He was originally charged with one felony count of perjury of a record or document and one felony count of misconduct in office.

Former Jackson-area police officer pleads guilty to lesser charge after accusations of perjury, misconduct

As part of a plea agreement, accepted by Washtenaw County Trial Judge Carol Kuhnke, Lubahn forfeited his Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards law enforcement license and waived his administrative appeal rights.

He will never be able to serve as a police officer in Michigan again, Nessel said.

Those who wear a badge carry the burden of protecting the public, as well as the burden of everything the badge is supposed to represent, Nessel said. Mr. Lubahn is being held accountable for not abiding by the high standards law enforcement officers must meet to be effective in the communities they serve.

Lubahn was charged by the AGs office in September after an investigation into his potential misconduct. He was fired from his job on Dec. 21.

Jackson-area police officer fired after being criminally charged with perjury, misconduct

On Oct. 23, 2019, Lubahn responded with other Blackman-Leoni officers to a report of shots fired at Comfort Inn and Suites, 2435 Shirley Drive.

Police located the men believed to be involved in two rooms, and inside one of the rooms, Lubahn saw what appeared to be a locked gun safe, according to the investigation. He allegedly found a key to the safe and opened it and found a gun and magazine inside, investigators said, adding that Lubahn did not have consent for the search or a valid search warrant at the time.

Lubahn later obtained a search warrant where he told the judge he had reason to believe there was a gun in the safe but did not disclose that he had already opened the safe, investigators said.

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ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI  A section of the road Gun Lake Casino is on will close to traffic next week for road work.

The road, 129th Avenue/M-179, will be closed just east side of the casino at 1123 129th Ave., starting at 5 a.m. Monday, May 10.

The road will be closed through Monday, May 17, a news release from the Michigan Department of Transportation said. The construction plans are weather-dependent.

The casino can still be accessed from M-179 if drivers come from the west. Access from U.S. 131 also remains open, the release said.

A posted detour will take drivers south on 12th Street, east on 124th Avenue and north on 10th Street.

Related: Gun Lake Tribe funding nearly all of U.S. 131 interchange rebuild

The construction is part of a $26 million project that is rebuilding the U.S. 131 and M-179 interchange, through a partnership with MDOT and the Gun Lake Tribe. U.S. 131, from 120th Avenue to 133rd Avenue, will also be resurfaced during the two-year project, which is scheduled to conclude in November 2022, the release said.

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Dad fears 10-year-old daughter with rare disease will die if family must return to Iraq
KALAMAZOO, MI  Without funds needed to pay back the Iraqi government, Erfan Kareem fears his 10-year-old daughter, Lumar Jalil, will be forced to go back to the country, and she will die.

Lumar is a sweet and spunky 10-year-old girl who was born in Iraq, her father said in an interview with MLive on May 4. When she was a toddler, her family came to the United States so that her father could go to college, under an agreement that they would return to Iraq after he graduated, Kareem said.

In the U.S., Lumar was diagnosed with a very rare condition called Morquio disease, which shortens her life expectancy dramatically, Kareem said. The family lives in Kalamazoo, he said.

Lumar has had to travel out of state for treatment, and has had eight surgeries so far, along with three medical appointments per week that include regular IV infusions.

The Iraqi government paid for Lumars father to attend school in the United States, and he will graduate soon with a doctorate degree in economics from Southern Illinois University, where he attends online classes, he said. The family of five has to return to Iraq at the end of May, as agreed upon prior to Lumars diagnosis, he said.

They can stay in the U.S. if they pay the Iraqi government $300,000, he said.

Treatment for Morquio disease is not available in Iraq, the girls father said. Access to electric power is not consistent in Iraq, and Lumar needs a breathing machine to survive, he said.

If they cant find a way to stay in the U.S., she will die, Kareem said.

Dr. Katharina E. Elliott is part of the team that treats Lumar at the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Clinic at Bronson Childrens Hospital in Kalamazoo.

Lumar first came to Bronson when she was 2 years old, in 2014. That was the same year an enzyme replacement was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for patients with her syndrome, Elliot said.

While the 10-year-old is receiving those infusions, she hangs out at the hospital for part of the day, sometimes doing crafts, painting or drawing, Elliott said.

Shes quite a dynamic personality, Elliot said. Weve watched her kind of grow up and see her quite articulate in her desires and her needs and her wishes.

The nurses are extremely attached to her, Elliot said. Everyone who knows Lumar at the hospital is hoping there will be a way for her to continue to get the treatment she needs, the doctor said.

The disease is extremely rare and has devastating consequences, Elliot said. Lumar is unable to produce an enzyme that is needed to break down sugar molecules that cause organ injury.

If they are unable to break down these sugar molecules, then the life expectancy for patients with severe disease is somewhere between 10 and 20 years, Elliot said. With enzyme replacement though, the patients are actually able to live much better quality of life and we hope, prolong their survival.

The weekly infusions of the enzyme make it so sugars no longer accumulate, Elliot said. Lumar will need the therapy for life.

We all recognize that without the enzyme replacement, she will die, Elliot said. And I think thats what is heartbreaking for all of us.

Lumars family is made up of legal U.S. residents, her father said. But to remain here, they need to raise the money to pay the Iraqi government by approximately the end of May, or soon after, her father said.

Please help Lumar continue to receive the care that she needs so that she has the chance to grow up, Kareem posted in a Gofundme he created to raise funds. The campaign has, so far, brought in $6,815.

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ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MI  Police identified Randy Wayne Caruthers, 49, of Sturgis, as the victim of a fatal crash.

The crash was reported just after 5 a.m. Tuesday, May 4, on Featherstone Road near Sevinson Road in St. Joseph Countys Florence Township. Sheriffs deputies found the victim deceased in the vehicle.

Deputies determined that Caruthers was driving a 2001 Ford F-150 east on Featherstone when he lost control of the pickup truck. It left the right side of the road and crashed into a tree.

Constantine firefighters and LifeCare paramedics assisted sheriffs deputies at the scene.

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KALAMAZOO, MI  An arms race is going on, and police are watching as young people are posting about it online, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Assistant Chief David Boysen told commissioners during a meeting Monday.

Boysen showed city leaders photos and videos police found on social media, including images of young people posing with guns, which have been linked to violence in some cases.

The Kalamazoo City Commission received an update about investigations of some of the latest shootings during its Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, May 3. Commissioners also heard from the leader of the citys Group Violence Intervention, a program designed to reduce violence by reaching out to people in the community and making contact before they resort to violence.

GVI Coordinator Michael Wilder gave a presentation, saying the group uses outreach to find shooters and talk to them. Instead of just arresting them, GVI and the police make contact to find out whats going on, to try to prevent violence, he said.

We go to that shooters door and we talk to them, Wilder said.

GVI team members and police explain they dont want the person to go to jail, but thats where they are headed if they dont stop the behavior that brought police to their door.

If they agree to work with the group, Wilder said, he helps them with other things they might need, like finding a job.

Its so powerful, he said. Its hard to put it into words if youre not there.

The violence in Kalamazoo is getting so young, Wider said. The country is saturated with guns, and young people are getting them from each other, he told city leaders.

Boysen said KDPS has seized, on average, more than one gun per day so far in 2021.

Related: Police make one of Kalamazoo Countys largest fentanyl seizures during drug investigation

Two confirmed homicides have occurred in the city of Kalamazoo this year, police said previously. There have been five homicides across all of Kalamazoo County.

KDPS has received 245 shots fired calls this year, Boysen said.

Boysen showed statistics that show the young age of shooting victims. Six teenagers have been shot since Feb. 21, out of a total of 22 victims counted on a chart:

The age of shooting victims in Kalamazoo.

Wilder invites people to the building on East Stockbridge Avenue near Mills Street to chop it up and talk with them, to share a meal, and to see if they can get them to put down their guns, he said.

Why do they have guns? Wilder asked. Why do they want to shoot each other?

The program is meant to reduce trauma, reduce shootings and identify people who may need a second chance, Boysen said.

If you want to change, were going to be there to help you change, Boysen said.

For those who are not receptive, police have to step in and get them off the streets to protect the community, Boysen said. Though making arrests alone will not solve the problem, he said.

The Group Violence Intervention program is the key to keeping violence under control, Boysen said.

Several people talked about how the program helped them improve their lives.

Jordan Watts said he had been incarcerated for about nine years, and that he was associated with gangs, before he started conversations with GVI.

To be truthful, I did a lot of shootings, and I was also the victim of a shooting, Watts said Monday.

He heard about GVI. Though he didnt agree with the approach at first, he met Wilder and realized he was genuine. That meeting led to talks with Boysen and KDPS Chief Vernon Coakley Jr., Watts said.

When they come to the table, theyre leaving their badge to the side, Watts said. He called the program powerful, and said hes glad to be a part of it and to be given a chance.

The program does more than just telling people to lay down their guns, he said, also offering additional support through partners like the nonprofit Urban Alliance.

Watts and others talked about support the program offers, such as supplying steel-toed boots, money and other support for those getting a job.

After making contact through people like Watts, members of the GVI team and others can reach more people in the community, working through them, Wilder said.

Vice Mayor Patrese Griffin spoke about the continued need for action to address the communitys violent crime, especially among Kalamazoos youth.

Lets try to get to these young children before theyre shooters, before theyre labeled as offenders, Griffin said, also directing her comments to the commission and city staff. Theres a whole time before they even enter into the system.

Griffin talked about the need for including women in the interventions.

Commissioner Eric Cunningham talked about the traditional path of prosecuting violent offenders, and how that has not worked to solve the problem.

We have to evaluate who were arresting, why were arresting, who were prosecuting, why were prosecuting, Cunningham said.

Commissioner Jack Urban talked about the importance of trust in the community to make progress.

Mayor David Anderson called the violence a serious topic that is present and concerning in the city. He said the city commission will be looking at how the efforts in the area will be adequately funded.

The commission spent most of Mondays Committee of the Whole meeting talking about the recent violence and the GVI program.

To start the regular 7 p.m. business meeting, Anderson asked his fellow commissioners to reflect on ways they can provide help so people feel hope, and so they have alternatives to choosing violence. Commissioners shared in a moment of silence as the meeting began.

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MUSKEGON, MI  A comparison of the COVID-19 vaccine passports to the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany and a tearful claim they would discriminate against mothers just trying to buy diapers led an angry Muskegon County commissioner to denounce disrespect toward people who have truly faced prejudice.

The public comments came during a Muskegon County Board of Commissioners human services committee on Tuesday, May 4. The board later voted along party lines to approve a non-binding resolution denouncing the idea of such passports that will be sent to the governor and state lawmakers.

Commenters repeatedly warned of discrimination, segregation and a two-tiered society if proof of vaccination in the form of passports become reality. One even said, Its going to lead us all to war.

Board Vice Chair Charles Nash, who is Black, denounced the asinine comments about prejudice and later was rebuked by a public commenter who referenced the chip on his shoulder.

The comments came after committee Chair Marcia Hovey Wright said these meetings at times have been called a circus and asked that the dialogue on the issue be respectful.

Most public comments on the issue opposed the idea of having to prove vaccination status. Such proof is starting to be required in certain sectors, such as the cruise line industry and students who wish to live on campus at the University of Michigan.

A state House bill would ban the use of a COVID-19 passport or any government entity from incentivizing using one. Protesters and some Republican lawmakers recently gathered at the state Capitol to rally against required vaccinations and vaccine passports.

Related: Political resistance to vaccine mandates and passports continue to gain traction in Michigan

The Muskegon County resolution was brought to the board by Commissioner Malinda Pego, though she didnt address it during Tuesdays committee meeting.

Commenter Amanda Taylor said if passports were required we will witness modern-day segregation and endless discrimination and suggested she would not be able to shop or engage in other activities.

Businesses do not have the right to decide if I can buy diapers or food for my baby, Taylor said, her voice cracking with emotion. They have no right to decide if I can buy clothing or take my kids to the library.

Rich Mapes, who lives in Ottawa County, said he didnt want his children and grandchildren throughout their lives having to prove they are vaccinated in order to freely move about.

There is no scientific evidence that groups of vaccinated people are safer than groups of unvaccinated people, Mapes said.

Hovey Wright, who voted against the resolution protesting vaccine passports, challenged comments such as those made by Mapes and Taylor.

Ive heard a lot of misinformation today that people believe in their hearts, but its still misinformation about what passports would do, Hovey Wright said. Its not going to prevent you from getting needed supplies or shopping or whatever.

She also referenced a comment comparing the passports to the yellow Star of David Jews were forced to wear in Nazi Germany, calling it a totally different issue.

The comparison to persecution faced by Jews was raised by commenter Kerry Knight, a Dalton Township trustee who warned of history repeating itself.

What were looking at is basically what happened with the Jews back in 1938, Knight said.

They wore a yellow star signifying who they were so the rest of the population could identify these individuals, and we all know how that all transpired, Knight said, apparently referring to the murder of 6 million Jews during the Holocaust.

Are we really going to put ourselves in such a situation where were going to be hated because we cant go shopping or go see a doctor because we dont have a passport? Knight said. Thats the same thing as stopping at a Gestapo stop and having to prove you live down the street to get back home. This is not what our county needs.

Nash, partly in response to Knight, asked for an end to insensitive and hurtful comments.

I think its very disrespectful for people to try to be so dramatic that they would try to use race as a comparison to this issue, Nash said. You have no idea what its like to be a person of color. You have no idea what its like to have prejudice against you all your life.

Were talking about shots and vaccines, and youre trying to compare those to prejudice and race. Theres no comparison. You might try to compare it to the Jews. There is no comparison, he continued. Please stop being so insensitive using those asinine types of comments to people that youre really hurting by saying those things.

Later, addressing Nash directly, citizen Ann Derouin, said You know, we have to stop this race thing.

Everybodys got rights under God, she said. So please, lets get on with the work of the county, the work of the nation. And quit dealing with this chip on your shoulder  We have so much race issues. Everything is race. No, it isnt. God made us all. Love one another and forget this race issue.

Commissioners Kim Cyr and Doug Brown said they supported the countys resolution against passports because it sends a welcoming message to tourists.

I dont want to hold anything back to discourage anyone from visiting or anything, Brown said. It does send the message that were open for business.

Commissioner Zach Lahring said for him it came down to supporting citizens rights to make their own choices about whether to get the vaccine.

Republicans Cyr, Brown, Lahring, Pego and board chair Bob Scolnik, voted in favor of the resolution. Democrats Hovey Wright, Nash, Susie Hughes and Rillastine Wilkins voted against it.

Scolnik said he was voting for the resolution opposing passports, which also had been discussed at a prior committee meeting, because I just want to get it over with and move on.

We should really as a county commission be working on issues that will help this county grow, provide better jobs for everybody, create wealth for everyone, and not spend so much time on these issues that are dividing us and not doing much of anything else, Scolnik said.

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COMSTOCK PARK, MI  Feeding America West Michigan is struggling to find enough truck drivers to keep up with a busy food distribution schedule.

The food bank is looking to hire three additional drivers to help with ongoing levels of increased need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Without truck drivers we cant pick up the food we need to pick up and bring the food where it needs to go, said Molly Kooi, communication manager with Feeding America West Michigan.

The trucking industry has faced a shortage of drivers for several yearsa need that persisted during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the American Transportation Research Institute.

The lack of drivers could have a direct impact on Feeding America West Michigans ability to distribute food around the state, Kooi said.

The organization serves 40 counties in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula where the food insecurity rate climbed from 1 in 8 to 1 in 6 during the pandemic.

Drivers traveled over 427,000 miles last year as the mobile food pantry experienced a 64% increase in attendance, according to the food bank.

Feeding America West Michigan said many of their drivers are in their second careers or ending a career driving cross-country. The organization needs to hire drivers with CDL-A who are willing to spend some nights in the Upper Peninsula each week.

More information about the open driver positions can be found at feedwm.org/jobs.

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SAGINAW, MI  Police have released the name of a Saginaw man recently shot and killed in a house party, one that was advertised online in violation of the citys policies.

Demarco L. Baskin, 29, was among five people shot at a party at 1315 Randolph St. in the early morning hours of Monday, May 3. Baskin died of his injuries at the scene, police said.

Three men, ages 27, 28, and 30, and a 30-year-old woman all suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds, police have said.

The home was being operated like a daily rental spot or a Facebook party house, according to Detective Sgt. Matthew Gerow. The house had no permit to operate as a short-term rental, Gerow said, adding the house was listed as owner-occupied and it was not.

Police have made no arrests in the shootings and they are still under investigation.

Detectives are still seeking information and have nothing new at this time, Gerow said.

The Major Crimes Unit, comprising Saginaw Police Department and Michigan State Police detectives, are investigating the shooting. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective Dominic Vasquez at 989-759-1419 or dvasquez@saginaw-mi.com.

Baskins death is the citys fourth firearm-related homicide of the year. The shooting is Saginaws 27th of 2021.

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MOUNT PLEASANT, MI  A historical site in Mount Pleasant that once served as a boarding school where hundreds of Native American children were housed after being taken from their families has received grant funding to help thwart frequent vandals.

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigans Tribal Historic Preservation Office has been awarded a Tribal Heritage Grant from the National Park Service to install a protective fence around two buildings at the Mount Pleasant Indian Industrial Boarding School, or MIIBS.

The property is now owned by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 2018.

MIIBS is located on 320 acres in northwest Mount Pleasant. The school was in operation from 1893 through 1934 and had an annual enrollment of about 300 students. It was part of the federal Indian boarding school system, which removed American Indian children from their families and culture as part of a forced education and white-culture assimilation initiative that persisted for nearly a century.

The property has seen many unwelcome visitors out of curiosity and or ill will, said Frank Cloutier, public relations director for the tribe. Fencing that had been installed has been damaged and or destroyed on four separate occasions. We found a long knife left behind by one of the trespassers, and as recently as last week four individuals were found inside the gymnasium.

Cloutier said the grant was for $63,200, of which $25,000 was used to erect the fencing.

The site has two dormitories, whats left of an administration building, an old gymnasium, and a wood shop, Cloutier said.

It is distressful and disrespectful that such disregard is given when so many know the dark history of our ancestors who attended that school, he said. We remain committed to the safety and preservation of this property and the buildings and will meet each offense with swift justice.

The tribe is now in the planning stages of rehabilitating and repurposing the site.

It is with heavy hearts that we share with you that our efforts to protect the buildings continue to be compromised, said Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Marcella Hadden. Vandals continue to cut sections of the fence to access the buildings. Once again, we face the cost of repairs and deal with the very painful reality that people are desecrating the site.

Hadden added that some people think they are ghost hunting on the site of an ancient Indian burial ground, describing such actions as hurtful.

Any unauthorized access, including walking the grounds, may be subject to civil and criminal penalty. When police issue citations, trespassers must answer them in federal court, as the buildings are on federal property.

By preserving and protecting this important cultural and historical resource, we take a step toward restoring trust with the non-Native community and the Federal Government, the tribe stated in a press release.

The Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways, the Tribes museum and cultural center, has a permanent exhibition about the MIIBS and co-hosts the annual Honoring, Healing & Remembering celebration marking the schools closing.

The event honors those children and families who suffered from the effects of the Boarding School-era and creates opportunities for healing of the tribal community.

This years celebration is to be virtual and is planned for Friday, June 4.

Those with knowledge of anyone trespassing on the grounds are urged to called Tribal Police at 989-775-4700 or the anonymous tip hot line at 989-775-4775.

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FREELAND, MI - Voters in portions of Bay, Saginaw and Midland counties approved a millage proposal for the Freeland Community School District

A sinking fund millage was on the ballot for voters in select townships in the counties covered by the Freeland Community School District during the Tuesday, May 4 election.

The measure passed by a count of 1,025 yes votes to 902 no votes.

According to the ballot, Freelands sinking fund millage proposal will levy up to 2 mills over 8 years on residents within the district and roughly $890,000 in 2021.

MLive previously reported that the district would target roofs, parking lots, HVAC systems and other renovations with the funds, which will help the district maintain its buildings and facilities as needs arise with the funds.

The proposal read as follows on the ballot, Shall the limitation on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property in Freeland Community School District, Saginaw, Midland and Bay Counties, Michigan, be increased by and the board of education be authorized to levy not to exceed 2 mills ($2.00 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) for a period of 8 years, 2021 to 2028, inclusive, to create a sinking fund for the purchase of real estate for sites for, and the construction or repair of, school buildings, for school security improvements, for the acquisition or upgrading of technology and all other purposes authorized by law; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect if the millage is approved and levied in 2021 is approximately $891,702?

Click here for more information on the proposal.

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As with many coasters, the experience varies from seat to seat. The back row is more subject to the crack-the-whip effect. From my trip back there during a media preview this week, I felt like I got more airtime out of my seat than I did on earlier rides. (Universal says there are 12 seconds of airtime on VelociCoaster.) I also appreciated the view from the top of the hill more from the back, and I noticed the dinosaurs figures and the head-on, upside-down approach to Hogsmeade more. That could also be because it was my third time around and instead of looking straight ahead at the rail and the horrors to come, I felt comfortable looking around.
A Michigan House committee took up a proposal that would require lawmakers to disclose their personal finances Tuesday, debating the merits of a plan that would subject elected officials to new disclosure requirements without allowing the public to see it until theyre out of office.

The legislation, House Bills 4680 through 4686, would compel lawmakers to submit financial information for themselves and immediate family members  including income sources over $5,000, properties valued over $50,000 excluding their primary residence, and stocks, bonds and annuities valued at $10,000 or more  to a new, permanent legislative ethics committee in their chamber.

The House and Senate ethics committees would be an equal party split and feature alternating co-chairs under the proposal. Members selected by legislative leadership could enforce ethics and conflict of interest laws, issue advisory opinions and investigate complaints of lawmaker misconduct. As proposed, the committees would be exempt from the states public records laws. Similarly, high-ranking state officers would have to disclose their financial information to the state Board of Ethics.

But any information disclosed to the legislative committees or state board would remain secret until an elected official leaves office, unless either body determined an official violated state conflict of interest rules or the official opted to make their disclosures public voluntarily.

Related: Proposed financial disclosure bills wouldnt make current lawmakers finances public

During testimony to the House Elections and Ethics Committee Tuesday, Rep. Andrew Fink, R-Hillsdale, and other key sponsors pitched the bills as a step forward in one of the only two states  and the only one with a full-time legislature  with no requirement for state public officials to disclose basic financial information, including income sources, business investments, gifts and travel compensation.

Im not saying that it would be impossible to abuse this system or that its a perfect system, Fink told lawmakers. At least it creates an obligation on the part of members to disclose, actually just go through their own records and face the question of what their ethical responsibilities are.

But Rep. David LaGrand, D-Grand Rapids, and others raised concerns about having a system in place that would put significant power in the hands of a handful of lawmakers without allowing the public to participate.

If the problem is that the voters dont trust us because theyre concerned about our self-dealing, how on earth would this help them? said LaGrand, who earlier this session reintroduced a package of financial disclosure bills that would make lawmakers filings public.

If the information about my financial interests arent a matter that the public can access, then the public is cut out of the discussion about whether I, an elected, am honest or not, he continued.

A 2019 analysis by MLive of financial disclosure policies in all 50 states found that of the 48 states that currently require some form of asset disclosure, all but 15 post lawmakers responses in a searchable online database. Even in those states, members of the public seeking disclosure reports can obtain the documents via a public records request.

No state with an existing financial disclosure policy prevents members of the public from viewing sitting lawmakers disclosure filings.

Experts on financial disclosure and government transparency told MLive the system as proposed would essentially make lawmakers financial information available to each other, but not the public, and would likely do little to instill public confidence in the states conflict of interest policies.

The bills have support from House Speaker Jason Wentworth, R-Clare, and House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Township, as well as the group Voters Not Politicians. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, who has long held concerns about making lawmakers finances available to the public, has expressed openness to the plan.

The House Elections and Ethics Committee hasnt yet taken the financial disclosure bills or the bill to create new legislative ethics committees up for a vote. To become law, the legislation would need to pass both the full House and Senate and be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The legislation is part of a wide-ranging package aimed at modifying the states government transparency laws. Other efforts by the House include a plan to subject lawmakers, the governor and lieutenant governor to open records laws, add additional prohibitions on lawmakers voting on conflicts of interest and prevent exiting lawmakers from stepping through the revolving door into lobbying for two years.

Many of the proposed changes, such as the two-year prohibition on lawmakers becoming lobbyists, have been proposed but have never seen broad support in a legislative chamber. The committee on Tuesday reported the lobbying-related legislation to the floor.

In March, the House unanimously passed bills that would subject the Legislature and governor to public records laws. Similar Senate bills have cleared the Senate Oversight Committee but have not yet been taken up for a floor vote.

Wentworth also proposed and passed out of the House a joint resolution that would require a two-thirds vote on any bill taken up after November general elections in even years. Known as lame duck, this period often results in long session days and dozens of bills flying through the House and Senate with little time for review. That resolution is currently before the Senate Government Operations Committee.

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Update: The House also passed House Bill 4728, sponsored by Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton. It would also ban emergency orders to limit or shutdown high school commencement ceremonies. It passed 60-48.

LANSING, MI - Graduating high school seniors had to settle for virtual graduation ceremonies or other alternative arrangements last year to align with Michigans public health orders limiting outdoor gatherings.

A year later, many families are hoping to avoid disappointing commencement ceremonies with COVID-19 vaccination rates improving and restrictions easing.

On Wednesday, Michigan Senate Republicans pushed to allow in-person commencement across the state.

Lawmakers approved Senate Bill 335, sponsored by Sen. Jim Runestad, R-White Lake, with a vote of 21-15. The bill would ban the state health director or local health officers from ordering a ban or limit on high school commencement ceremonies for this years class of students.

The legislation would apply to public and nonpublic schools alike, and the vote comes a day after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services relaxed mask and outdoor gathering restrictions.

Read more: Michigan relaxes rules on masks, outdoor gatherings

Masks are no longer required for outdoor gatherings of less than 100 people and outdoor events may hold 1,000 people as long as no more than 20 persons per 1,000 square feet are gathered in any space available to patrons.

Additionally, arenas and stadiums complying with enhanced protocols may continue to hold 20% of its fixed seating capacity.

Wednesdays vote on the Senate bill drew partisan reactions. Runestad defended it as a safe measure based on guidelines from the CDC and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. However, those same guidelines still recommend unvaccinated people wear masks and practice social distancing in larger gatherings.

Most of these (commencements) are early to mid-June, he said on the Senate floor. Our school districts are scrambling to plan these events that will make their parents, teachers, students proud while keeping these families safe. Schools are often looking at outdoor events, (and) last week, Dr. Fauci stated there is a very low chance of coronavirus transmission outdoors.

Runestad added this is the last chance for students to feel the pride, accomplishment and optimism of graduation in-person after all the virtual commencements in 2020.

With reservations, he received support from Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak. While school districts should be trusted to hold safe ceremonies outdoors, she said, the focus from the Senate should be on pushing vaccinations and other funding measures.

I will be voting yes on this bill, she said, but it is with a heavy heart that we are not doing more to get this state and all of our communities out of this pandemic in a real way.

Whitmer has already tied reopening measures to COVID-19 vaccination rates.

Read more: Whitmer officially ties reopening measures to vaccination rates

Two weeks after 55% of Michiganders over 16 get one dose, in-person work will be allowed in all business sectors, Whitmer said. At 60%, most indoor capacity limits would be eased after two weeks. At 65%, capacity limits would be lifted after two weeks.

At 70% plus two weeks, the state plans to lift all coronavirus mitigation orders, including the mask mandate, unless unanticipated circumstances arise, such as the spread of vaccine-resistant variants.

As of Wednesday, per MDHHS data, about 4.1 million Michiganders had received at least one dose of the vaccine, about 50.6% of the eligible population.

Republicans who pushed for a metrics-based plan for lifting restrictions got what they wanted, said Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing. With schools already planning outdoor ceremonies, the bill adds nothing, he added.

When you got your way then, we end up here, where we pick random little things that arent even happening and claim they are worthy of this bodys attention, he said. No one is opposed to graduation ceremonies. Nobody is trying to prevent them from happening.

Hertel is referring to when the Michigan Senate approved a bill that tied indoor restaurant dining to metrics such as positive test percentages and hospitalizations. During the height of this years coronavirus surge, indoor dining would have been shuttered had that bill become law.

Runestads commencement bill now heads to the House for further deliberation. A similar bill sponsored by Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton, was approved in the House later on Wednesday 60-48.

If the House approves Runestads bill, or the Senate approves Bollins, it would head to Whitmers desk for potential signature.

More on MLive:

Half of Michigan adults are now vaccinated. The other half will be the hard part.

Long hours, health risks and ghost applicants lead to desperate staffing situations at Michigan restaurants

Michiganders returning for second COVID-19 shot at above-average rates
The public can currently buy a form of unregulated, untested, intoxicating cannabis extract at gas stations and smoke shops across Michigan, but that may soon be coming to an end.

Its called delta-8 THC, a cannabis compound similar to delta-9-THC, the component in marijuana thats traditionally associated with the plants psychoactive effect.

Except, the legal definition of marijuana under Michigan law doesnt mention delta-8, which has begun to gain popularity over the last year due to confusion over who regulates it and whether its legal.

Delta-8 often comes in an oil form, usually in pre-packaged cartridges that are inhaled using vaporizing devices, but also in tinctures and edibles, like gummy candies. Beyond Michigans brick-and-mortar retailers, its readily available to order online.

The House Regulatory Reform Committee on Tuesday, May 4, took up a series of bills that would give Michigans Marijuana Regulatory Agency the power to oversee all forms of THC, including delta-8.

During the hearing, state Rep. Pat Outman, R-Six Lakes, compared the delta-8 phenomenon to the spice and bath salts scare that emerged nearly a decade ago.

It really reminds me of that, kind of these sketchy substances that are working their way into gas stations and other retail places, he said. And theres just no consumer protections or any sort of regulatory structure.

But the current trend is a little different. Delta-8 THC comes from the cannabis plant through an extraction and refining process. Its origin is clear, whereas bath salts and spice were an array of laboratory-synthesized chemicals that gave users effects similar to certain street drugs while initially evading regulation.

The Michigan Poison Center at the Wayne State University School of Medicine in April issued a public warning regarding an uptick in accidental use of delta-8 THC reported by poison centers across the nation due to delta-8.

The products are often sold using misleading packaging and may be mistaken for CBD products, the Michigan Poison Center said. Products containing delta-8 THC are sold in vape shops as vaping liquids and gummy supplements and are marketed as a legal high.

Michigan regulates cannabis under two separate agencies and product segments: there is traditional high-inducing marijuana sold under strict state supervision by the Marijuana Regulatory Agency; and then theres industrial hemp, which is also derived from a cannabis plant variety, but regulated by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Hemp by definition contains negligible amounts of delta-9 THC, less than .3%. Delta-8 is usually produced from hemp, thereby avoiding Marijuana Regulatory Agency oversight.

Marijuana Regulatory Agency Director Andrew Brisbo, who supports regulation by his agency, said delta-8 occurs in minor amounts naturally within cannabis, but its almost certain that anything thats available at the commercial level now is synthetically derived through an isomerization process.

Brisbo said the Marijuana Regulatory Agency is currently allowing select marijuana growers and processors to manufacture delta-8 for research purposes so the agency can create a safety framework and standards for future possible legal production.

Update: The Marijuana Regulatory Agency on May 27 clarified that the referenced research trials relate to the conversion of CBD to delta-9 THC.

The Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association trade group has pushed for some regulatory changes that would ensure delta-8 manufacturers would have to adhere to the same regulations and testing requirements followed by marijuana industry licensees.

Recently, individuals in nonregulated labs have developed intoxicants ... that mimic the high of cannabis but because theyre not listed in the (Marijuana Regulatory Agencys) formulary regulated compound, delta-9-THC, these products are unscrupulously sold in the open marketplace and are available to anyone, said Steve Linder, a spokesman for the Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association who testified before the Regulatory Reform Committee on Tuesday. You can find them in gas stations, in party stores, smoke and vape shops. Because theyre not illegal, theres no way to enforce their safety, nor their purity.

Linder said a dozen states have temporarily banned delta-8: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Rhode Island and Utah.

His organization supports subjecting delta-8 and any derivative of cannabis with an intoxicating effect to the same testing and regulatory standards as marijuana.

Robin Schneider, director of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association, another marijuana trade organization, said her groups members have diverse opinions regarding delta-8, ranging from a proposal to enact no regulation over delta-8 to recommendations of a full ban. Most members, however, agree that the Marijuana Regulatory Agency should be in charge of whatever regulations are enacted, Schneider said.

Sarah Noon of the group Students for Sensible Drug Policy also expressed support for the marijuana bills.

I know that I showed up at a gas station and I saw, she said when asked if delta-8 is popular among minors. I cant speak for all youth, but I do know people around my age who have seen this product, who have taken it home, who have used it and it works, but its also not regulated and it has the potential to be abused.

An example of delta-8 cannabis distillate. Photo courtesy of Dr. Fabio Rodi, CEO of Icon Processors.

Unlike marijuana, hemp wont likely get someone high and is intended for uses derived from the plant fibers, products such as bioplastics, textiles, animal feed, fuels and other applications. Another popular use for hemp is CBD, which is another extracted cannabis compound that is thought to have therapeutic value without psychoactive effects.

Michigan launched a popular hemp farming pilot program in 2019, but not everyone was able to sell their crop and products, said Dave Crabill, a spokesman for the hemp farming trade group iHemp Michigan and a hemp farmer himself.

While Crabill is optimistic about the future of industrial hemp, he said some farmers and processors are looking for alternative ways to sell off their harvest, which has contributed to the emergence of delta-8. Because its derived from legal hemp, Crabill said its a gray area that some processors and farmers are taking advantage of.

Delta-8 is the product with the highest value right now, Crabill said. Everyone that is in the market is going in understanding that its a short-lived game that makes some profits in the meantime.

CBD prices declined nearly 17% nationwide in 2020, according to Leafreport, an online publication that tracks the CBD industry.

Dr. Fabio Rodi, CEO of Icon Processors, a company with locations in Washington Township, Michigan and Vermont that specializes in hemp extraction, often CBD, said he regularly receives requests from producers to extract delta-8.

I was like, no, he said, because I think here pretty soon the FDA and a lot of these people are going to come down on that and I dont want to be known as that lab that just strictly makes delta-8, because I feel youre going to get shut down in a sense.

Rodi said some marijuana users prefer the effect of delta-8 THC versus delta-9, because its not as potent.

Delta-8 is like getting drunk off wine or beer, he said. When Ive been speaking with people, they kind of like it because it gives you that nice, calm, mellow, little slight buzz and a lot of people like to use it to go to bed.

The process of extracting delta-8 can be dangerous due to the use of volatile chemicals and solvents that can also leave trace residue that is harmful to a users health, Rodi said.

The Regulatory Reform Committee has not yet voted on whether to present the delta-8 legislation to the full House for further consideration.

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In the aftermath of controversies surrounding state employee separation agreements, the Michigan House advanced legislation setting limits on severance pay and adding new requirements barring nondisclosure agreements.

Sponsored by Rep. John Roth, R-Traverse City, House Bill 4591 would limit the use of nondisclosure agreements and severance pay for outgoing employees and officials in both the administration and the legislature.

The legislation would put in place a policy capping severance pay for departing employees at 12 weeks of the persons normal wages, with exceptions for legal settlements.

The policy would also prohibit any separation agreements that prevent the employee from talking about the existence or nature of the contract, and any separation agreement could also not bar an employee from discussing allegations of discrimination or harassment in the workplace.

The bill sets parameters for who makes these decisions, limits the amount of taxpayer money being used and also increases the transparency of these transactions, Roth said. Regardless whos in power in Lansing, we need to limit these transactions, we need to shed light on them when they do occur.

The legislation passed the House unanimously and now heads to the Senate for further review. It would need to pass both chambers and be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to become law.

The issue was brought to the fore after a separation agreement between the Whitmer administration and former Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon, which included a confidentiality clause that barred the parties from speaking about the circumstances around his departure and granted him $155,506 in severance pay, was made public.

Critics decried the deal as hush money, citing the confidentiality clause in the agreement. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer later issued an executive directive curbing  but not stopping  the use of such agreements.

Gordon and the governor later agreed to waive the confidentiality provision in Roberts settlement agreement, and Gordon was recently subpoenaed to testify before the House Oversight Committee about the nature of his departure.

Michigans former Unemployment Insurance Agency Director Steve Gray was also given $85,872 in a separation agreement signed in November 2020 to resign. The deal included a confidentiality clause and requires Gray to release all claims against the state.

The Republican-led Michigan Legislature also disclosed nearly $700,000 in taxpayer money was spent on severance settlements with staff over the last decade, confidentiality agreements.

The majority of the $632,144 in payments came from the Senate, where 30 separation agreements were made since 2010. There were 20 agreements in the last five years, which spans the tenures of Arlan Meekhof and Mike Shirkey as senate majority leaders.

The House also made three deals with outgoing employees totaling $59,500 since 2013.

Related:

Former Michigan health director acknowledges disagreements with Whitmer before resignation

Whitmer said separation agreements like Robert Gordons are used often. In state government, theyre not.

Whitmer, Gordon waive confidentiality agreement after backlash

Michigans unemployment agency director got $86,000 to leave job, on condition of confidentiality

Whitmer curbs use of controversial separation agreements in executive directive

Michigan Legislature had its own series of confidential staff separation agreements
ANN ARBOR, MI - From its mid-century modern design to its high-end contemporary renovations and addition that doubled its size, a home in the Ann Arbor Hills neighborhood offers the best of all worlds, real estate agent Laura Fisher said.

Built by noted Michigan Stadium addition builder Henry deKoning in 1950 as a family home, 2225 Belmont Road has been updated and expanded as a dream home for a pair of former University of Michigan athletes and their family.

Listed at $4.3 million, the home at 2225 Belmont is MLives House of the Week.

Its true mid-century architecture where youve got a lot of windows, floor to ceiling, said Fisher, the co-listing agent with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. You get the contemporary amenities of the home gym, the spa, the sauna and media room, which you dont find with the traditional mid-century home.

The five-bedroom, 6.5-bathroom home offers 7,310 square feet of space after undergoing extensive renovations and a 3,600-square-foot addition in 2016, along with two acres of private land with modern landscaping.

Located one mile from the University of Michigan campus, the home features a natural creek border and numerous outdoor amenities for entertaining guests.

Outside 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

The addition includes four new bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, a laundry room, media room and third garage space.

A media room in a wing added to the home in 2016 includes a full kitchen and two balconies and is linked to smart speakers throughout the home at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

The renovation added numerous modern amenities, including the installation of a Control4 smart home system with wired surround sound inside and outside the home. The home includes three furnaces, three high efficiency air conditioners and a hot water heater with continuous hot water loop.

A full-size sauna adjoins a large shower at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

Additional improvements include a new sewer line, roof, concrete driveway, sprinkler system, dog bath, steam shower, dry sauna and home gym.

Two garage doors lead to the three and a half car garage 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

The lower level of the home features a 3.5-car garage garage with resin chip flooring, offering storage space with two separate doors for entry.

A family room in the lower level features sliding barn doors and a pair of Murphy beds at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

A spacious family room on the lower level features a wood-burning fireplace, two built-in queen-sized Murphy beds and built-in book cases.

A mud room features an area for rinsing clothes or washing pets at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

A mudroom with built in lockers, additional refrigerator and a dog bath with marble floor round out the lower level.

An upstairs hallway leads to a study and media room that were added in 2016 to the original home, which was built in 1950, at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

Custom hickory plank floors are included throughout the home.

The kitchen is newly remodeled, featuring a lofted ceiling, Caesarstone quartz counters, custom cabinetry and premium appliances at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

The main floor of the house includes a kitchen featuring custom cabinetry, Ceasarstone quartz counters and premium appliances, including a 48-inch stovetop with stainless steel hood, farmhouse sink and a 10-foot center island with drawer microwave.

The main floor living room at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

A spacious living room and family room with flexible space offer extensive views of the outside, with a wood burning fireplace featuring custom limestone surround and vintage Chevron hardwood floors.

The master bedroom at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

The master bedroom offers French doors and views of the surrounding yard, and matching closets.

The master bath features his-and-hers sinks and a custom bathtub and shower at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

It is accompanied by its own bathroom that includes a tub, shower and double vanity.

One of five bedrooms at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

Three additional bedrooms and two bathrooms round out the main level of the home, with a shared bathroom at the end of the hall.

A media room in an addition includes a full kitchen and two balconies and is linked to smart speakers throughout the home at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

A three-season enclosed deck opens to the spacious backyard at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

A front-facing deck off the media room at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

The third floor features a large media room and wet bar, with access to both a screened-in porch and balcony with composite deck.

A glass-walled exercise room at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

A workout room with surrounding glass walls is equipped with a sauna, and half bathroom with shower.

A fifth bedroom closes out the third floor with another built-in Murphy bed and an en suite bathroom.

A spacious patio features a built-in gas fire pit and bluestone tile at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

Surrounding the exterior of the home are a concrete patio with dining space and grill and a bluestone patio with an underground line for a gas fire table.

The backyard on the 2-acre lot at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

A patio with access from the main floor living room and master bedroom features a hot tub and custom bluestone tile at 2225 Belmont Road in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, April 28, 2021.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News

The yard also includes a hot tub, horseshoe pit, play structure and fire pit.

See all 47 photos of this home here. Review the complete listing here.

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Diana Asamoah (right)

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The Ga traditional council has waged war against gospel musician Evangelist Diana Asamoah following her sarcastic comment against their Homowo festival.

According to the Kwabenya traditional council in an audio available to DGN Online, Diana Asamoah's comment sounded insulting and it will be in her interest to retract the statement.

We the elders of the Ga land have registered our displeasure with the comment made by the gospel artist Diana Asamoah against the god's of the land.

As a result, the Ga traditional council has given two weeks ultimatum to Evangelist Diana Asamoah to openly come and retract her loose comment on Homowo or will face the consequences.

The Spokesperson for Kwabenya traditional council who doubles as the Kwabenya Musuku Mantse, Nii Mensah Dza Nyumor I, in an interview with Kingdom FMs Okogyeabour Ocran also said, the ban on drumming and noisemaking began on 3rd May 2021 and will end on 3rd June 2021.

The Council has entreated everybody within the Greater Accra to respect their order and cope with their directives until the stipulated 30days end.

It will be recalled that Evangelist Diana Asamoah in a video purportedly encouraged Nana Agradaa to stand firm as an evangelist and join her to clampdown on the celebration of Homowo festival.

This comment, according to Nananom, sounds insulting and it will be in her interest to retract it.

---DGN online
Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama in the Ashanti Region, Francis Asenso-Boakye has engaged residents of Adumanu.

The one-on-one interactive session which forms part of the MP's Community Clinic initiative was held on Monday, May 3, 2021.

Described by many political watchers as the first of its kind in the country, the initiative is aimed at taking governance closer to the people by discussing diverse issues bothering on the development of the community with the Member of Parliament.

To allow my constituents the privacy to discuss pertinent issues with me, I have initiated the MP's Community Clinic, which is a one-on-one interactive session, Asenso said in a Citi News interview.

He explained that, unlike the community meetings, this initiative affords constituents the platform to discuss confidential matters and also provide him with first-hand information on core issues.

A section of the participants, who were beneficiaries of the engagement expressed their appreciation to the MP for giving them a listening ear.

I can say that this man is truly humble. I have never come across any MP who gives such access to his people. Honestly, I am very impressed with his works. I know God will bless him, one Samuel Acquah said.

This is the first time in my over 65 years seeing an MP who openly invites constituents to discuss our concerns with him, said Madam Esther Twumwaa, a resident of the Adumanu community.

Asenso-Boakye attended to about 400 residents of Adoato Adumanu and intends to engage a lot more of his constituents in subsequent sessions.

citinewsroom
The meteoric rise of Zionfelix, GhKwaku, RonnieIsEverywhere, thousands of Instagram shops and tens of thousands of social media influencers are products of millions of Ghanaians running to the internet when the pandemic started. During the lockdown, the internet was inescapable.

The impact of this on retailers in the short term has been divided. Those offering essential items such as food and cleaning products experienced high demand. But non-essential retailers such as those selling clothes and clothing accessories were forced to close stores or experienced a steep decline in sales.

A year ago in May 2020, the Communications and Digitalisation Minister, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, shut down certain offices for not adhering to proper COVID protocols. Since then, the Government and other stakeholders have been consistent with their message for retailers to have sufficient hygiene measures in place in stores all over the country.

So for me, I expected the focus of the ensuing 12 months to be on clean shopping, contactless technology and improved hygiene measures becoming the norm, especially after witnessing some pretty significant pent-up demand for regular outdoor activities.

To a large extent, Ghana did not disappoint. The rise of Zeepay and other local tech companies, twitter choosing Ghana for its first African base, Mobile Money integration everywhere and the steady embrace of venture capitalism all send the right signals.

However, within an election year in a developing economy, COVID protocols gets trickier to enforce, plus the pandemic keeps having a toll on the economy.

For an industry like that of Fashion, all these mean that customers will remain cautious about buying, whether indoors or outdoors. I think people will continue to be cautious and also value conscious for the time being about anything fashion.

Heres why.

Within the short time that Ghanaians were forced into lockdown, many of us spent more time online buying essential items such as groceries to avoid long lines at the supermarkets and to avoid the possibility of contracting the virus through contact with others.

Other companies selling non-essential items, like clothing, also saw an upturn in sales through online channels but this was not enough to mitigate the decline as consumers began prioritizing and limiting their spending in the medium term.

Online sales has since continued to grow but to a large extent the focus will remain on essential items. During this pandemic, people have either lost their jobs and there are many that have fears about the future. So dont let the trending Instagram photos mislead you into thinking that people are not limiting their expenditure.

Many brands in Ghana are shifting their focus either solely or more predominantly to e-commerce innovation and these technology advances will make online shopping experiences more exciting.

For the local fashion industry, the immediate goal has been to provide competitive prices and a quick, efficient delivery for consumers. Beyond that, they need to think about how best to translate the in-store experience online and provide more forms of convenience such as contactless delivery and curbside pickups.

Curbside pickup can be as simple as its name implies: your customers pick up their orders from a convenient location somewhere else other than inside the store, like the literal curb or a warehouse closeby. As innovative as that sounds, I am aware that it wont be as easy to leave your customers orders on the curb for them to pick up later.

But isnt that why we have these discussions weekly? Is it not to deliberate and brainstorm and talk through our ideas towards creating meaningful change however we can and wherever we find ourselves? It is. And if its about trailblazing in fashion, one person I know thats done that is Susie Bubble.

Susanna Lau, also known as Susie Bubble, is a writer and editor living and working in London. Susie started her fashion blog, Style Bubble in March 2006, and is now one of the most prolifically read blogs of its type.

Style Bubble consists of Susies thoughts, personal experiences and observations on fashion with a focus on spotlighting young and unknown talent. Previously, Susie was editor of Dazed Digital, the website of Dazed & Confused magazine, from 2008-2010.

She now works full-time on freelance content creation for brands such as Prada and Gucci and also writes regularly for publications such as Elle, Grazia and Guardian. She also sits on the experts panel for the LVMH Prize.

Recently she has been actively involved in the #StopAsianHate campaign, getting involved with spreading awareness online together with other prominent Asian American designers and fashion professionals.

She is currently working on a project to support ESEA women in the UK. During the lockdown, she has also co-founded a bubble tea and bubble waffle shop called Dot Dot in Stoke Newington in North London to explore her Hong Kong roots.

The following is authored by Susie Bubble.

On how important one's fashion is to entrepreneurial success.

My own style has been pretty important to establishing both my USP in writing and I guess in terms of personal branding projects. I love young designers and experimental design and Im not scared of colour and print. I think my style is open-minded and that in turn translates to the projects I do and the type of writing I do for publications. Ive always wanted to promote fashion as a medium for self-expression on your own terms  not to please other people  but to please yourself!

On where one can find and follow trending business wear.

I dont have a prescriptive notion of business wear. Those days of dress codes are definitely eroding and particularly post pandemic. I think its more important to feel comfortable in your own style and skin, whatever that may be. I feel most powerful when Im wearing things that feel the most me  vintage Comme des Garcons pieces, Simone Rocha or Molly Goddard dresses. Theyre not typical business attire but thats the beauty of working for yourself  there is no dress code!

On giving some tips on how to dress for that power meeting.

Like I said above, dress for yourself and not for others. You should convey the essence of who you are. If youre not into wearing suits or typical power dressing attire, then wearing them would make you feel like an imposter. Not that Im saying dress as casual as possible. I guess I think idiosyncratic style is more important that a jacket with power shoulders.

On quitting her job for full-time blogging/influencer work and excelling at it. Also on clear signs someone should look out for if they ever wonder "is the fashion business for me".

Are you eternally curious? Are you someone that thrives on creativity? This business is very tough and longevity is also a tricky thing to maintain. The main thing is keeping up your enthusiasm and love for the industry  whether youre a designer, photographer, stylist, writer or anyone else  and do the machinations of an industry that is always in flux stimulate you. The day you lose interest, and your curiosity begins to wane, then youll know its not for you.

On her view on influencer work and how one becomes an influencer.

I dont think theres one hard and fast way of becoming an influencer and even that term has a lot of variations of what it means. The more important thing is to find out exactly what you want to project on Instagram  is it great imagery, great tastemaking, writing, photography, art direction, video content? What is your niche? What is your POV? Its more important to hone those things before then setting out to embark on monetisation. Hone in on content first before trying to sell your voice.

On the benefits of the fast fashion business model and how businesspeople can make the most out of it like the big corporations in fashion do.

The fast fashion model needs to be revisited in terms of who it is uplifting. If you can produce quantity, responsibly, then theres nothing inherently wrong with fast fashion. The problem is the lines of responsible production are very vague. And if you are thinking of profit above responsibility then Im not sure thats a good angle to go with. Maybe it is about creating/producing ad hoc and not ordering huge quantities in advance but instead meeting the demands of the market in that instance. Maybe its about onshoring production with local factories that can still provide quantity. There are a lot of ways of approaching the business model but I think we can all agree that it doesnt work currently!

On corporate dress code for women.

Persona/personality is so important in your attire, whatever field you work in. I understand there are work places that require very formal dress codes but I really think the pandemic has changed all of that.

On fashion dropshipping and advice for Ghana's fashion entrepreneurs.

Its a business model that I think works really well with smaller and independent designers as long as you have a good wholesaler/supplier that can fulfil ad hoc orders. Its not something Im super familiar with as I dont work on the design side but if you can make it work for your brand or online ecommerce, then I would say just make sure you have good contracts and agreements with your suppliers. Also its a great way of testing out what works for your audience so theres more room for creativity.

On casual work fashion and how its done.

Youre speaking to the wrong person as I dont really believe in tracksuits. Im not a fan of this WFH [work from home] attire. Im very comfortable in dresses and ornate fabrics. For me, I love a contrast. Trainers and tomboy shoes with dressy girly things. As long as my feet are comfortable, Im comfortable!

On collaborating with Ghana's High Fashion advocates like Nana Akua Addo and promising talents like Lharley Lartey and Cindy Lita Adio.

I would love to learn about the work of Ghanaian fashion creatives for sure! I wish there were more opportunities to go physically as that is my experience of going to globalised fashion weeks to see whats actually going on in the ground. Hopefully post pandemic!

On how to connect with her.

You can of course follow me on Instagram @susiebubble  or sometimes I pop up in Clubhouse on a lot of the fashion related chats.

Maxwell Ampong is an Agro-Commodities Trader and the CEO of Maxwell Investments Group. He is also the Official Business Advisor to Ghanas General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of TUC Ghana, the largest agricultural trade union in Ghana. He writes about trending and relevant economic topics, and general perspective pieces.

LinkedIn:/in/thisisthemax Clubhouse:@thisisthemax Instagram:@thisisthemax Twitter:@thisisthemax Facebook:@thisisthemax Website: www.maxwellinvestmentsgroup.com Email:[email protected] Podcast: www.anchor.fm/einu Mobile: 0249993319
One person has been confirmed dead with five others badly injured in a confrontation between farmers and herdsmen in Attakron in the Buem Constituency of the Oti Region.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) John Nchor, Acting Oti Regional Public Affairs Officer, Ghana Police Service, in a release disclosed that the confrontation ensued between some Fulani herdsmen and natives on April 25, 2021.

He said the natives found the Fulani cattle grazing their farms causing considerable damage to their crops.

The Officer said in the process, Prosper Amegavi, 42, a native and four Fulani herdsmen namely; Osmanu Abubakar, 40, Ayuba Yussif, 30, Adam Mohammadu, 44, and Iddrisu Mohammed, 29, sustained injuries.

ASP Nchor said they were treated and discharged at the Jasikan Government Hospital.

He said two motorbikes belonging to the herdsmen were set ablaze.

The Officer said on the same day, the body of a young man believed to be in his early twenties, identified as Hassan, a herdsman was found dead with multiple wounds in a bush at Guaman.

He said the body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Hohoe Municipal Hospital morgue awaiting autopsy.

ASP Nchor also said all the injured persons were assisting Police investigation.

"The Regional Police Command in Oti is soliciting for valuable information from the public to help in the ongoing investigation."

He also said the Command assured the public of absolute confidentiality.

GNA
The Methodist Church Ghana has kicked against the Ghana Education Service (GES) directive to Wesley Girls' High School to allow Muslim students to partake in the Ramadan fasting and prayers.

In a statement, the church said it took a strong exception to the directive stressing that it cannot accede to the unilateral directive issued by the Ghana Education Service.

It insisted that the Ghana Education Service respects the long-standing partnership between Government and Mission Schools.

It argued that the school rule in question is a long-standing one which is also non-religious and various renowned Muslim ladies in Ghana have passed through the school adhering to such a rule.

Wesley Girls' High School faced criticism after it prevented a Muslim student from fasting during the ongoing Ramadan.

The Muslim Caucus in Parliament also met with the authorities of Wesley Girls' High School over the concerns.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum had met with the Board of Wesley Girls High School and advised the GES to put measures in place to address the concerns of Muslim students.

As part of its directive, the GES urged parents of such students to write to the school indicating that the school shall not be held liable for any health condition of the student as a result of the fast.

The GES directive was welcomed by the Office of the National Chief Imam after it had also raised concern with the treatment of Muslim students.

Find below the full statement

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The fight against galamsey is assuming a wrong turn due to Government's own past failures in the fight. As a people, we must be worried because the havoc caused by galamsey activities is life-threatening and has the potential to endanger the collective future that we all envisage. The activities of galamseyers are gradually leading to very serious irredeemable environmental situations which include loss of biodiversity, clean water and pollution of our soil.

It is obvious that the institutional framework for the implementation of small-scale mining laws has completely broken down with corruption taking center stage. The failure of the Akufo Addo led government to deal with the situation within the last four years shows its weakness and incompetence in dealing with the issue of galamsey.

The just ended Stakeholders dialogue was a confirmation of the failed approach adopted by the Government in the past four years. We hoped that from the said Conference, new methodologies of dealing with the menace would have emerged for adoption.

Sadly, the Statement issued by the Minister of Information conveying the resolutions of the Stakeholders forum as a way of dealing with the menace is a false start.

The statement at best is hollow and lacks clarity as to the direction of these new operations.

The content of the statement suggests Government is involved in the business as usual and does not provide any critical out-of-the-box solution to addressing the challenge.

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the umpteenth time, indicated his commitment to fighting the phenomenon of illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey in Ghana.

The President reiterated he will do everything in his power in his second term to bring the galamsey menace to a halt in Ghana during a courtesy call on him by Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin and the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council.

Prior to the meeting, the government through the Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources had held a two-day National Consultative Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining that, among other things, urged the government to firmly enforce the country's laws on mining.

In furtherance of the resolutions of the final communique of the Stakeholder Dialogue on Small Scale Mining, and to ensure that mining within water bodies is immediately stopped; the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has authorized the Ghana Armed Forces, to commence an operation to remove all persons and logistics involved in mining from Ghana's water bodies.

Government seems to be adopting the same failed approach in the fight against galamsey, hence there is no guarantee of improved results. We cannot continue to do things the same way and expect a different result. Water bodies that were regaining their natural state at the height of the fight against galamsey are becoming polluted again due to the increasing activities of illegal miners in various parts of the country.

In July 2017, President Akufo Addo served notice that he was prepared to put his Presidency on the line in his quest to fight illegal mining. However, considering the state of galamsey today and its devastating effect on the environment including land, rivers, and water bodies, it is clear to all and sundry that the President's fight against galamsey has failed.

The President, having failed to fight the menace, the honorable thing to do would be for him to resign from office to uphold his integrity. Dishonorably, we are again treated with a plethora of promises and assurances. Words they say are cheap. The President must walk the talk. This galamsey matter is serious and must be given all the needed attention as a people. Water is life.

Delivering a speech at the National Dialogue on Small Scale Mining on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, the President said interestingly that although he is determined to enforce the laws on individuals who are caught engaging in 'Galamsey', he will not activate them based on mere allegations. No Ghanaian has said the President should convict persons based on hearsay or lack of evidence.

In any case, the President does not have the power to convict any person in Ghana  only the Courts do. The President's position again demonstrates the seeming lack of interest in President Akufo Addo to tackle the galamsey menace head-on and crack down the whip on corruption.

This is in sharp contrast to promises by then Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo Addo, who indicated his readiness to differently fight corruption through, among other things, the introduction of the Anas principle, the mode of investigation used by one of Africa's ace investigative journalists, Anas Aremeyaw to create a new culture of fear for corrupt practices.

It is therefore not surprising that up to date practically no sanctions have been meted out to Western Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, Charles Bissue, for his role in the galamsey fraud scandal despite corruption allegations against him by Anas Aremayaw Anas, whose principle the President promised to adopt in the fight against corruption. It is also no wonder that no action has been taken in respect of the missing excavators' saga.

Till now, no report has been issued by the Operation Vanguard Taskforce to update Ghanaians on their role, challenges, and impact in the fight against illegal mining. Indeed, some military officers were caught in a Joy News documentary actively engaged in the activity.

Hence, the resolutions and approach by the Government to adopt similar strategies by involving the military in an activity they have already been engaged in shows the lack of ideas and clear direction by the Government in tackling the phenomenon.

For citizens to be fully confident of the Government's fight against galamsey, Government must report fully to Ghanaians on the activities of the Operation Vanguard Taskforce and indicate to Ghanaians the whereabouts of the missing excavators.

If the Akufo Addo-led Government wants the full support of Ghanaians in the fight against galamsey, there must be transparent and accountable and be willing to fully disclose who the interest holders are in all these galamsey sites.

Government must be clear on the sanctions it intends to impose on perpetrators as the present state of galamsey operations contravenes citizens' rights to life, health, environment, and the principles of inter-generational equity. Furthermore, galamsey activities violate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15.

Mere orders to the military will not address this challenge as many of the officers themselves are complicit in the fight against illegal mining, without any known administrative actions and sanctions against them.



The writer, Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu is a private legal practitioner, human rights lawyer, Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, and Deputy Ranking Member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament. The writer can be contacted via: [email protected] www.madinamp.com
Gayheart Mensah, a media practitioner of 33 years standing, has filed his nomination to contest for the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).

Mr. Mensah was nominated by the National Media Commission (NMC) to serve on the Board of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).

He was an Adjunct Lecturer in Advance Journalism and also Development Journalism at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).

Gayheart served indication that his motivation to contest for the GJA presidency is driven by a mission to restore GJA to its rightful place in the development agenda of Ghana.

Whilst he believes that the current executives have done their best, he sees a lot more growth and potential for the GJA, in what he calls the next phase of the association.

He characterized that next phase as one under the acronym POWER, representing Professionalism, Organization, Welfare of members, Empowerment and Respect for the journalism profession.

We need to move our level of professionalism an octave higher through training and other capacity building solutions initiated by the GJA in partnership with like-minded institutions; we ought to get better with how we organize and deploy ourselves; we must show more concern for the welfare of members; we should look to empower this association to become the Fourth Estate of the Realm in practical terms, not just perfunctorily, and we must restore respect, credibility and integrity to our profession. These, he said, constitute the mission to restore GJA to its rightful place.

Gayheart pointed out that POWER, which he intends to expand on subsequently, will constitute the pillars of his message as he goes round the country to canvas for the votes of GJA members.

He has already received massive endorsements on his trips to the nine traditional regional capitals, excluding the Greater Accra Region. The rave reviews he received occasioned some vile propaganda against him by the other aspirants.

Gayheart worked with the Ghanaian Times, and the Daily Graphic and was the Acting Editor of the Evening News some 21 years ago.

He has worked as Presidential Correspondent, Parliamentary Correspondent, Court Corespondent, and Assistant to the Features Editor for Graphic.

He was one of the pioneering staff of the Graphic Showbiz, where he was News Coordinator, a pioneering member of the GTV Breakfast Show in the 90s, which was then the only TV breakfast show in the country, and also a pioneering member of Joy FM's flagship programme, News File.

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The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) says it is frustrated by the lack of progress made in bringing persons who murdered investigative journalist, Ahmed Hussein Saule, to book two years after the incident.

Mrs. Linda Asante-Agyei, Vice President of the GJA, who made the statement, said the incident remained a bloat on Ghana's image as a beacon of democracy and a champion of press freedom on the continent.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark this year's World Press Freedom Day in Accra on Tuesday, the GJA Vice President, called on the security apparatus to expedite investigations into the murder to bring the perpetrators to justice and offer respite to the family of the journalist.

The World Press Freedom Day is marked on May 3 each year by the United Nations UNESCO and various international groups, to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right of freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Mrs. Asante-Agyei said World Press Freedom Day must serve as a constant reminder to governments and the governed, as well as civil society organisations of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and defend it as an indispensable tool for the advancement of freedom and justice and development.

The day should be used to celebrate all those who have made contributions to the development of press freedom and to remember those who have suffered injuries or lost their life in their line of duty as media professionals or in defence of press freedom.

It is for that reason that we on this day remember again Ahmed Hussein Suale, who was shot and killed in cold blood on January 16, 2019. The perpetrators of this heinous crime have still not be found, she added.

She said there was an urgent need for the murderers to be brought to justice to assure journalists and media practitioners of their safety.

This year's event was commemorated under the theme: "30 Years after the Windhoek Declaration: Information as a Public Good."

Mr Ahmed Hussein Suale was murdered by unknown assailants in January 16, 2019.

Ghana maintained its 30th position globally on the 2021 World Press Freedom Index. Despite this, it remains the lowest attained by the country.

The country is, however, ranked 2nd in Africa after Namibia.

According to Reporters without Boarders, this was largely due to insecurity, and continuous threat on the lives of media practitioners in their line of duty.

Mr. Yaw Boadu Ayeboafoh, Chairman of the National Media Commission said the Commission, together with UNESCO and the Ministry of Information was establishing an office that would see to the safety of journalists.

He urged journalists to abhor all forms of false publications: Anyone who sees himself as contributing to the public good would always make sure that they do not peddle falsehood, that they do not concoct, that they do not lie because a journalist is forbidden to lie because if you lie about your neighbour it can kill him and that is the reason why people say that the pen is mightier than the sod.

Mr. Diallo Abdourahamane, UNESCO Representative to Ghana urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage to ensure national cohesion and development.

He called on the GJA to take advantage of the outbreak of the COVID-19 to update its code of ethics to meet the challenges of reporting on pandemics.

Ms. Stephanie Sullivan, the United States Ambassador to Ghana reaffirmed the Embassy's commitment to work hand-in-hand with the country to uphold a free, responsible and protective media as an essential part of a thriving democracy.

---GNA
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Spare parts dealers at Abossey Okai in Accra say the prices of their goods are likely to increase in the coming days following the implementation of new taxes.

According to the traders, the new levies introduced in the 2021 budget have led to an increase in the cost of goods, which will subsequently be passed on to customers.

The Co-Chairman of the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association, Clement Boateng, speaking to Citi News on the increased levies, said: In the 2021 budget that was read, there were a number of taxes that were announced and were to take effect from May 1. As businesses, it will have an impact on us because it affects prices. If taxes are implemented, and they affect businesses, it will definitely be the consumer who will suffer.

The decision to introduce new taxes has generated huge controversy with many Ghanaians complaining that it will bring untold hardship on them especially as they are yet to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 on their personal economies.

Fuel prices have already risen by some 11% in the last two months and the new taxes could see prices rise further.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) a few weeks ago indicated that taxes announced in the 2021 budget will take effect from May 1, 2021.

The taxes include the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy Act, 2021 (Act 1068) which imposes a one percent levy on the supply of goods and services made in the country other than exempt goods or services, the Financial Sector Recovery Levy Act, 2021 (Act 1067) which imposes a five per cent levy on the profit before tax of banks.

Others are the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Act, 2021 (Act 1064) which imposes an Energy Sector Recovery Levy of GH20 pesewas per litre of petrol/diesel and 18 pesewas per kg on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and a Sanitation and Pollution Levy of GH10 pesewas per litre of petrol and diesel respectively.

---citinewsroom
The Ofaakor Circuit Court has sentenced Moses Agbavitor, a 37-year-old trader, to 16-months imprisonment for impregnating his own 17-year-old physically challenged daughter, at Odunkwa, near Papaase number Two.

The victim is now six months, one week pregnant.

Agbavitor charged with incest, pleaded guilty.

The court presided over by Samuel Kwasi Agyei had deferred accused person's sentence to Tuesday and ordered the Police to conduct further medical examination on the victim before sentence is passed.

The court handing down the sentence, said it took into consideration the fact that the accused was the bread winner, and he was going to take care of the victim and the unborn child.

The court, however, condemned the behavior of the accused, saying he behaved irresponsibly.

The victims mother shed tears saying, she left home to seek greener pastures only to hear about the incident.

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Charles Annobil, said the victim was unemployed and Agbavitor was the father.

It said the victim and the accused person lived together in a three bedroom uncompleted house at Odunkwa, near Papaase Number 2, with other siblings.

Chief Inspector Annobil said about four months ago, the siblings of the victim left home to attend to their various errands leaving the victim and her father in the house.

The Prosecution said investigations revealed that the victim took her bath in the afternoon after everyone had left the house and entered the room she shared with one of her sisters to dress up.

According to the prosecution, when the accused noticed that the victim had entered the room, he also entered the victim's room and had sex with her.

The Prosecution said after the act, Agbavitor warned the victim not to disclose her ordeal to anyone else he would beat her up mercilessly and disown her.

The prosecution said the victim indicated that the sexual act with the accused person had taken place on two different occasions.

C/Inspector Annobil said during the month of March this year, the victim showed signs of pregnancy and the accused person who knew the boyfriend of the victim, now a witness in the case, informed the boyfriend of the victim's pregnancy.

Chief Inspector Annobil said the victim's boyfriend ignorantly admitted responsibility and promised to take care of the victim.

The victim later disclosed to the boyfriend that the accused has had sexual intercourse with her on two occasions.

He said the witness informed his relatives and a complaint was made to the Police for assistance, the prosecution said.

Chief Inspector Annobil said Agbavitor was arrested and during interrogations, he admitted the offence in his cautioned statement.

The prosecution said Police medical report form was issued and when it was returned, the form indicated that the victim was six months, one week pregnant.

---GNA
MTN Ghana is set to improve its network connectivity within some deprived communities in the Awutu Senya West constituency in the Central Region.

The beneficiary communities are Bonsuoku, Chochoe, Loye, Awutu Bontrase, and Papaasi- Adawukwa- Obempo.

This follows a request the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr. Eugene Arhin made to the telecom giant in April 2021.

In his letter to MTN Ghana, Mr. Arhin explained that the move will help open up such communities to development opportunities.

Whilst offering basic telephony connectivity services to these communities, I am confident that the extension of MTN services will help open up these communities to opportunities for the development of skills and knowledge, as well as the growth of businesses and the local economy, Mr. Arhin said in his letter.

The telecommunication giant subsequently responded in the affirmative.

According to the biggest voice and data service provider in the country, it has carried out an analysis of the said areas and is ready to extend coverage to them.

We wish to inform you that MTN has conducted further analysis of these communities and carried out optimization activities with marginal improvements observed in some areas.

However, there are plans to put up new sites to improve the network coverage in the communities [in question].

---citinewsroom
The Founder of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Mr. Kofi Akpaloo, says it is committed to creating one million jobs if he is elected in the 2024 presidential elections.

According to him, he will create the jobs said an employment act to create more jobs will be passed in Parliament while they work to change the economy to a 24-hour economy.

Speaking to Reynold Agyemang on Pae Mu Ka on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7, he said that, The next LPG government will create a 3-shift economy, especially in manufacturing and other high-end services, which operates 24 hours non-stop.

Thus, the additional two shifts will be a source of additional employment. Companies that currently operate 24 hours with only two shifts of 12 hours each in violation of the labour law (which specifies a maximum of 8 hours), will be required to run three shifts and thus create a third stream of jobs.

He said the LPG is interested in creating a friendly business environment to encourage the private sector to create more jobs, adding that this will also be done through tax breaks.

Our plan is to stimulate the creation of sustainable jobs by creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive. One of the things we will do to achieve this is to significantly reduce the cost of doing business in Ghana through tax cuts, so that businesses are able to plough back their savings into their businesses, expand and create sustainable jobs, he said.

He added that scrapping import duties on commercial vehicles and agricultural equipment will also help in achieving the creation of one million jobs.

---KingdomfmOnline
A great majority of 92.6 per cent of Ghanaians casting their vote in support of a draft 1992 constitution during the referendum of 28th April 1992 undoubtedly validated the readiness of Ghanaians for Constitutional Democracy.

In activities to mark the 2021 Annual Constitutional Week Celebration, Rev. Vincent Adzika, the NCCE Municipal Director for Akatsi South, reminded the citizenry that 28 years of stable constitutional democratic governance is not a time to become passive citizens.

He commented with reference to the 2017 inaugural speech of the President, "Be Citizens, Not Spectators", that citizen participation is paramount for any democracy to be thriving.

This was evident from the results of the 1992 Referendum, 29 years ago, and further work by the NCCE that has given birth to the longest-lived constitution of Ghana, the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

Ruben Dey, a staff of the NCCE, encouraged the participants to uphold and defend the 1992 constitution at all times and urge them to adopt constitutional mediums in resolving conflict situations rather than taking the law into their own hands.

The Directorate rolled out a series of activities under the theme: We are One, Ghana First, to commemorate the week-long celebration; among them are Durbar of pupils at Wlitey JHS and Kingship Knowledge Academy, Radio programmes, and engagements with identifiable groups.

The Annual Constitution Week was instituted in 2001 to commemorate the fourth Republic and the date on which the people of Ghana, through a referendum, accepted Ghanas Fourth Republican Constitution.

The week is observed annually from 28th April to 4th May.
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The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection with aid from the Liberia National Police, has rescued an 8-year-old 'burn-survivor' from the Peace Island Community in Monrovia.

The survivor was accused of being a witch, and was allegedly burned by her grandmother, Kulah Kromah, some five months ago.

The Ministry gathered that the survivor was kept in solitude with no access to medical care thereby worsening her condition.

The Ministry has taken custody of the survivor as she's currently undergoing psychosocial counseling and responding to medical treatment respectively.

Gender again cautions the citizenry to refrain from administering trial by ordeal as this is not an authorized path to justice.

"We applaud the Liberia National Police for arresting and forwarding to court the alleged perpetrator, Kulah Kromah, and at the same time, assure the public that we will remain fully engaged in pursuing timely justice for the survivor", Gender, Children and Social Protection Minister Williametta E. Saydee-Tarr stated.

Gender re-echoes the need for all to pay keen attention to happenings in the communities, and report anything seeming suspicious or as well as negative situations needing attention from different vulnerable groups.
Certificated Counsellors in the country have set themselves up in readiness to offer a therapeutic helping hand to individuals who found themselves in gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQIA+) activities and are willing to stop the act.

This follows a days orientation training organized by the TUCEE Institute of Counselling and Technology (TICT) for the Counsellors held in Accra on the theme: Working therapeutically with LGBTQIA+ clients: What counselors need to do.

Speaking during the capacity training event for over 150 Counsellors across the country with varied backgrounds including social and child workers, pastors, teachers, lecturers, and parents on how they could support the young people especially to turn their back against the practice, the Founder and Principal of TICT, Dr. Cecelia Tutu- Danquah charged participants to focus on restoration of their clients at all times.

According to her, there are people involved in the unacceptable act who are desirous of coming out. Those who had already come out of the LGBTQIA+ practice, those contemplating entering or not but has nobody to talk to hence the need for Counsellors to prepare themselves in readiness to help such clients.

She indicated that counseling experience over the years had also shown that many individuals engaged in the practice were not happy and felt pressured yet had no one to talk to and therefore resort to other deviant activities.

So some resorted to suicidal attempts and other deviant behaviour like drinking and these are what pushed us to know that indeed there are people who desired to come out but they do not know who to talk to Dr. Tutu-Danquah noted..

The Principal said her outfit dot not support the distasteful act but has a responsibility to help those involved abandon it and expressed optimism that the training would equip counselors with the requisite knowledge and skills to support such individuals for the benefit of humanity.

As an institution, we are not here to promote LGBTQUIA+, neither are we here to accept the LGBTQUIA+ movement but clients who really need help. These are the people we have come to prepare ourselves to help them, she stated.

Dr Tutu-Danquah, who is also the President of the Ghana National Association of Certificated Counsellors (GNACC) noted some individuals join the LGTBQIA+ through peer pressure, irresponsible parenting, poverty, nature, nurture or and some through victims of circumstances as well as curiosity to explore ones sexuality.

The University of Ghana Information Technology (IT) and Counselling Lecturer encouraged the Counselors to respect the dignity of their clients and welcome them at all times irrespective of their own personal orientation on the practice.

The Counsellors were also cautioned not to reluctantly take up the responsibility to counsel such individuals if their own personal, cultural, family and religious beliefs and values do not allow them to do so but should rather refer such clients to those who were prepared to help.

We must respect the dignity and worth of a client; what it means is that when a client comes to you irrespective of what the person has done, do not look at the bad thing he has done and be judgmental. We must respect and explore the issue to restore the client., she said.

A Counseling Psychologist at the University of Natural Resources, Rev. Dr Isaac Ishmael Arthur on his part challenged counselors in the country to present themselves as a fatherly figure to help clients out of their predicaments.

He advised against the condemnation of those who were in the practice and desired to come out of it, adding that the church must not use its pulpit to condemn them because it scares them away from coming out for help.

TUCEE Institute of Counselling and Technology (TICT) is an educational institution that is targeted at training well-informed and passionate professional counselors for continuous transformation at all levels of society.
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Amnesty International has opposed plans by Denmark to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda, calling the move unconscionable and potentially unlawful
Zambian journalist Francis Mwiinga Maingaila is seen after he and another journalist were attacked by supporters of the ruling Patriotic Front. (Photo: Francis Mwiinga Maingaila)

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Lusaka, Zambia, May 4, 2021  Zambian authorities must thoroughly investigate the recent attack on two reporters and ensure that the press can work freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

On May 1, supporters of two factions of the ruling Patriotic Front political party violently clashed at the partys headquarters in Lusaka, the capital, and unidentified members of the crowd attacked Francis Mwiinga Maingaila, a reporter at the privately-owned news website Zambia 24, and Nancy Malwele, a reporter at the independent New Vision newspaper, according to Maingaila, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app, and a Facebook post by the independent broadcaster Phoenix FM.

Attackers kicked Malwele, causing a minor injury to her leg, and she was able to escape from the scene, according to those sources. Maingaila told CPJ that a group of about 10 people stole his camera, wallet, and phone, and punched and kicked him when he resisted. He was left with swelling on his face and eye, he told CPJ.

Police have opened an investigation into the attack, Maingaila said.

Zambian police must ensure that those who assaulted journalists Francis Maingaila and Nancy Malwele are speedily identified and prosecuted, to send an unequivocal message that violence against journalists will not be condoned, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. Journalists must be free to do their jobs safely and without fear, especially ahead of the countrys August election, when the political temperature will likely increase.

The fight broke out when Patriotic Front members who did not support Chishimba Kambwili, an opposition leader who recently returned to the party, stormed the partys headquarters and attacked Kambwilis supporters, according to news reports and video of the confrontation shared on YouTube.

Maingaila told CPJ that party officials and police watched and did not intervene while he and Malwele were assaulted. He said that after he identified himself as a journalist, the attackers seized his camera and phone, saying they wanted to stop him from publishing information about the violence.

Following the scuffle, Maingaila said he told party officials about the attack, and they advised him to submit a list of the missing items. He then sought medical attention at a nearby hospital and was discharged later that evening. His phone, camera, and wallet have not been returned as of today, he said.

During a World Press Freedom Day commemoration in Lusaka yesterday, President Edgar Lungu referred to the attack and condemned the violence against journalists, urging the police to arrest those responsible, according to the local news website Zambia Reports.

Following the presidents speech, police invited Maingaila to give a statement about the attack, according to the journalist and reports. Maingaila told CPJ that he gave the statement today and that the director of the Criminal Investigations Department directed police to ensure that all suspects were arrested.

Zambia police spokesman Esther Katongo told CPJ in a phone interview that the investigation was ongoing, and that more information would be available as it proceeded.
For the first time ever, everyone aged 16 and over has a right to vote in Scottish elections, regardless of their nationality. Before last year's franchise extension voted by the Scottish Parliament, only British, EU and Commonwealth citizens legally residing in Scotland had the right to take part in local and Scottish Parliament elections. Now, thousands of citizens from further afield, including refugees, will be able to cast their ballots on 6 May.

For Natalia Urban, a Brazilian journalist who has lived in the UK since 2015, learning that she would at last be able to participate in this democratic exercise was an emotional moment, especially after the past few years. She felt the debate about the treatment of EU citizens overshadowed the question of extra-European immigration.

It might sound silly, but I cried, she remembers. I've always been a very political person. It is very important that the Scottish government decided that my opinion was important.

Software engineer Claudia Menting has, for the very first time, used her postal vote to elect her MSPs. Because she holds a dual American-Italian citizenship, she has, up until now, only been able to vote in a handful of elections.

It was as if you were only allowed bits of the puzzle. If you're only getting one vote, it doesn't feel like it counts. I definitely feel more involved in this election, she says.

Nadia Kanyange is not only able to take part in the vote, but she is standing as a Scottish Green Party candidate in Glasgow. She arrived in the UK in 2003, seeking asylum from Burundi, an East African country plunged into a devastating civil war from 1993 to 2005. The Green candidate got into Scottish politics thanks to a political shadowing scheme with SNP MSP Clare Adamson: she had the opportunity to follow her in Parliament and in her constituency near Glasgow.

The interest came into me and I thought this was something I could really do for my community and the people. So when the opportunity came with the Greens, I thought I could bring something, she says.

With a big part of the population now able to make their voice heard, Natalia Urban believes that Scottish politics will become more inclusive and change for the better.

Our participation matters because we're bringing a new vision of Scotland, the journalist, and bring something new to the political scenario. We want to know that the country to which we're contributing does something for you in return as well.

Claudia Menting agrees, and wonders where the UK would be today had EU citizens been given the right to vote in the 2016 EU membership referendum which led to Brexit.

If we had all been given the chance to vote, would you have not rather voted in your favour, to help yourself, your community and to make a difference? I would encourage people to vote: you are part of this country, she argues.

Having more diverse lived experiences in Parliament could have a real, positive impact on the policy-making process, according to Nadia Kanyange. Her experience of dealing with the UK's asylum system is always going to inform her choices as a politician.

I've always wanted to see a radical change in the way asylum seekers and refugees are treated. Unfortunately, immigration is a reserved power, so we don't get to decide, she says. That's why I'm pro-independence, then Scotland can have its own immigration law. My focus will be on human rights, social justice, equal opportunities, and climate change.
Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, has proposed the burning of excavators seized from illegal miners as a deterrent to others engaged in the menace.

The former Lands and Natural Resources Minister, under the Kufuor government, explained that this was the best way to reduce illegal mining activities, since other approaches, until now, have failed to end the menace.

Speaking to Umaru Sanda Amadu on Citi TVs Face to Face, Dr Afriyie, who is also the MP for Sefwi Wiawso, argued that the practice of using excavators seized from illegal miners for other projects should not be countenanced.

He suggested that it would be better for the government to pay any fines accrued from destroying the excavators immediately than allow them to be reused.

We must work within the law. Thats why I support the idea of the excavators being destroyed immediately. They should not bring the excavators to town. Using the excavators for other projects is where the corruption starts. We are in a country of laws ao if you seize them now and put them at the Sefwi Wiawso Regional Office, they will bring a court injunction. You should know you cannot use it [for other purposes] because of litigation. I have advised the government to destroy [the excavators] on site and let the owners take the government to court. If we lose [the case], we [will] pay, he said.

He cited the burning of rhino horns and elephant tusks in Kenya in addressing the activities of poachers saying when you [engage in] poaching and the government [discovers] a room of rhino horns and elephant tusks, they burn it.

Dr Kwaku Afriyie believes the destruction of weapons seized from criminals or unauthorised users should be replicated with excavators in the fight against galamsey.

When we [government] get small arms like AKA 47 why dont we distribute it to the military but burn it? We have tried all sort of things [against galamsey] but they dont work. This is not the governments policy but my personal policy. If they get the excavators, they should burn them in the forest. If we burn about four excavators, the rest will come and negotiate. I have seen it before with the chainsaw operators; when you seize them, people get around the law and when the law catches you, you will have to release it.

He admitted that the NPP had suffered setbacks due to its fight against galamsey but he was ready to put his seat on the line to ensure the fight is successful

If I do not [contest] again or the NPP in Sefwi Wiawso should lose, so be it. We are willing to lose the seat because we are fighting against galamsey, he said.

On the issue of river bodies being polluted, he proposed that Ghana should ban the use of excavators in small-scale mining since its introduction has led to water pollution.

He further explained that a return to the use of man-powered tools could help limit the environmental degradation which is aggravated by the use of excavators.

Formerly, the technology was pickaxe, mattocks, and shovels. Their capacity to cause damage is smaller, just that, those pools of water were death traps to children. I think the rationalization of small scale mining [in 1989 by Rawlings] led to the use of excavators, which was the beginning of all our troubles. If we take the excavators out, the water will be clear. Excavators, sham fines, and washing machines are the critical tools that we need to burn. This is also a preventive measure.

---citinewsroom
The General Overseer of World of Champions Church (WCC) Rev. Micah Oppong Ababio has said Africans especially Ghanaians and their Nigerian counterparts only use social media platforms to crack Jokes instead of using them for making business.

According to him, Asians in their smart ways use such platforms for marketing and advertising purposes to make life better while Africans use them for cracking Jokes.

In Asia, everyday life is becoming increasingly digital, with the Asia social media landscape very different from the African.

In an interview with Akua Sonto on 'the Sonto Show' a social issues-based program that airs on Sundays at 5:30pm on EBN TV, Rev. Micah Oppong Ababio said people who have made it in life like Bill Gates and others developed nations do not spend much time on videos. Use your time wisely he added.

As social media has become a part of our daily activities, it is important for African youth especially Ghanaians and Nigerians to learn how to communicate and transact business with it instead of using it for fun, he cautioned.

----KasapafmOnline
Fears grew on Wednesday that another Westerner had been taken hostage in Mali after a French journalist said in a video that he had been seized by a jihadist group linked to Al-Qaeda.

The video circulating on social media showing Olivier Dubois, who worked with several French media, could not be immediately verified independently, although Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and an official at the French foreign ministry confirmed he was missing.

In the undated video, which lasts about 20 seconds, Dubois, 46, said he was abducted on April 8 in Gao, central Mali, by the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM), the biggest jihadist alliance in the Sahel.

He is seen seated on the ground on a green sheet, in what could be a tent, dressed in a light pink traditional gown, with his beard trimmed.

Speaking in a firm voice, he asks his family, friends and the French government "to do everything in their power to get me released".

Gao, in central Mali, is a hotspot of jihadist activity. By (AFP)

"Olivier Dubois was on a reporting assignment in Gao in Mali. On April 8, he failed to return to his hotel after breakfast," Christophe Deloire, the general secretary of media watchdog RSF tweeted.

"This experienced journalist, who usually works for Le Point Afrique and Liberation, knows this highly dangerous region well."

Deloire added: "We were informed two days after his disappearance. In consultation with the editors he usually worked for, we took the decision to not to make this abduction public, in order not to hamper any swift positive outcome."

He urged the Malian and French authorities "to do everything to secure his freedom".

A foreign ministry official said, "We are in contact with his family and the Malian authorities. We are carrying out the usual technical verifications" of the video.

Dubois had been writing regularly for Liberation, a left-of-centre daily, since April last year. Liberation declined to make any immediate comment.

Troubled Sahel

Mali has been struggling to contain an Islamist insurgency which first broke out in the north of the country in 2012 before spreading to the centre and neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.

Thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands have fled their homes, while the economic impact on one of the world's poorest countries has been devastating.

Hostage release: French President Emmanuel Macron, right, stands next to French aid worker Sophie Petronin, centre, as she is welcomed by her family on her return to France. By GONZALO FUENTES (POOL/AFP)

Abductions have been frequent, both of Malians and foreigners.

The last French hostage was Sophie Petronin, an aid worker in her 70s, who was freed in October last year along with Malian politician Soumaila Cisse, who has since died, and Italians Nicola Chiacchio and Pier Luigi Maccalli.

There has been consistent speculation that a ransom was paid for the four hostages, which has never been confirmed by the Malian government, along with the release of 200 prisoners, some of whom were jihadists.

In October, Switzerland was informed that the GSIM had killed an evangelical missionary who had been kidnapped in Timbuktu in January 2016.

In March, the Swiss foreign ministry said the woman's body had been recovered and formally identified.

ah-sd-dla-lal/ri/jv
It was all pomp and pageantry yesterday at the International Press Centre when the National Organising Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, filed his nomination papers to contest the presidency.

Dwumfour, a renowned media personality with over two decades of experience and currently the Head of Corporate Affairs of the Tobinco Group of Companies, was accompanied by media stalwarts including Gabriel Bosompim, formerly of TV3, Vance Azu, who recently retired from the Daily Graphic, and former President of the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), Nii Laryea Sowah, alias Kenteman.

Speaking to the media after filing his nomination, Mr. Dwumfour, who happens to be the first private media practitioner to hold an Executive position within the GJA, said he will prioritise the welfare of journalists as GJA President since their conditions of service currently left much to be desired.

I stand for 3 key things: journalists lives first, the welfare of journalists is very key and Im coming in to change the status quo and let journalists feel comfortable, Mr. Dwumfour said.

He also promised to ensure that the security of journalists is a priority under his presidency, adding that we need to take our private security as an utmost responsibility because we need live to tell the story.

And we will make sure we use all the means, the connections to bring all the stakeholders together to discuss so we dont compromise our security, he assured.

Mr. Dwumfour gave the assurance that the professional development of journalists will be on his agenda, adding that he will ensure quarterly workshops for journalists in order to build their capacity.

The social media is taking over. The world is evolving so how do we the traditional media position ourselves to meet the trend? All these things are going to be factored in the quarterly workshop, the GJA organising secretary stressed

While commending the current leadership of which he is a member for their stewardship, he also called on the need for GJA to be made attractive for other media personalities to join.

He, therefore, promised to rebrand the association, using his charisma, exuberance, ingenuity, and resourcefulness to achieve that goal.

We must give the association a facelift. We need to have a vibrant GJA and I will make sure it happens. If I come and Im not able to do it I will resign, the head of corporate affairs of the Tobinco Group assured.
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says there is no culture of silence under President Akufo-Addo.

At the opening of the office for the Coordinated Mechanism on the Safety of Journalists at a ceremony in Accra on Tuesday, 4 May 2021, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said: This is part of the many layers of work the government wants to do to ensure free media operate in Ghana.

He said the office was an additional layer, aside from many other interventions, to demonstrate the governments commitment to press freedom and safety of journalists.

It is the reason I cannot agree that there is a culture of silence in Ghana because the government is committed to the culture of free media in Ghana, he said.

The office is operated by the National Media Commission.

The office becomes the official source for filing complaints of attacks on journalists, validating alleged attacks, following up on investigations and sanctions; and reporting on the safety of journalists.

Cabinet approved the framework for the office in 2020 after the Ministry of Information submitted a memo to that effect.

The National Media Commission (NMC) shall be the independent operator of the office, as part of its efforts to promote safety in the industry.

Mr Oppong Nkrumah urged journalists to take advantage of the facility in addressing pressing issues on their safety.

He said it was the big wish of the government that the facility and its operations grow beyond what it is today and be replicated in other regions.

He thanked all those who have walked the journey in making this office a reality.

He also called on the NMC to be professional and independent on matters that come before the office.

If you do it well, other countries going through same challenges will come and learn from you, he said.

Complaints can be made at the office through phone calls, personal submissions and in the future, there are plans to introduce an online service, he stated.

Culture of silence clam

Sir Sam Jonah recently said the culture of silence appears to have returned to Ghanas current democratic dispensation.

In a speech to Rotarians in Accra titled Down the up escalator  Reflections on Ghanas future by a senior citizen, the executive chairman of Jonah Capital, an equity fund based in Johannesburg, South Africa, said: In the past, when all had failed, academia was the last vanguard.

We all remember the role that the Legon Observer played, he said, adding: Under the hallowed cloak of academic freedom, men and women of conscience could write and speak words that penetrated the halls of power.

However, he noted: It appears to me that in recent times in our fourth Republican dispensation, the courage to stand up for the truth and the determination to uphold the common good are lost. In our dark moments as a nation, it is concerning that the voices of the intellectuals are receding into oblivion.

Sadly, it is a consequence of the deep partisan polarisation of our country such that everything is seen through the lenses of politics, noting: It appears to me that the culture of silence has returned. This time, not enforced by legal and military power but through convenience, parochialism, hypocrisy and lack of conviction.

Where are our Adu Boahens and PAV ANSAHs? he asked.
Ghana can now boast of an ultra-modern Digital Design and Creative Coding Hub facility following the successful official launch of the project at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra by the lnstitute of ICT Professionals Ghana (IIPGH) with its partner organizations.

According to the IIPGH, this is a partnership between Code it!, and TinkerToys from Germany and funded by the Federal Republic of Germany, Foreign Office of the Creative Resources Programme.

Gracing the launch were top dignitaries including Hon. Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, Deputy Minister-Designate for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, MP-Mampong, Prof. Fred McBagonluri, President Academic City University College, Board Chair Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana, Mr. Ronny Zienert, Head of Unit, Saxon State, Ministry for Regional Development, International Cooperation, Germany, Dr. Peter Kettner, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Germany Mr. Prince Sefa Deputy Director-General Operations, National Communications Authority (NCA) Board Member of Institute of ICT Professionals Ghana.

The purpose of the Digital Design and Creative Coding Hub is meant to bridge the digital skills gap by making available digital skills like coding and digital design to everybody.

It will also provide access to digital tools and new approaches to teaching and learning needed to improve digital literacy in Ghana and to instigate an international knowledge transfer.

According to Mr. David Gowu, the Executive Director of llPGH, when he addressed the launch, the Coding for kids initiative begun three years ago, designed to amplify the relevance of practical ICT skills development through computer programming.

He said Professionals from IIPGH embraced the concept and embarked on a nationwide campaign through social media, radio and television interviews, workshops, webinars, and structured training sessions in classrooms and online.

The Executive Director said as a result, over 10,000 students were exposed to basic, intermediate, and advanced digital skills with coding as the main focus.

The activities of IIPGH quickly caught the attention of diaspora partners such as Code for Afrika, Code It!, Tinkertoys, AFOS Foundation all from Germany, he said.

He said though some of the collaborations, Code It!, Tinkertoys and the IIPGH contemplated the idea of setting up a Hub that was not restricted to only those who could code, but everyone who could use digital tools for designing, creativity, and arts.

Mr. Gowu said the notion that some people particularly girls could not aspire to become software engineers, digital designers, or robotics experts were false.

He said the Coding Hub was here to dismiss that myth by opening the hub as a free facility for young people and girls, in particular, to experience new and emerging technologies and get inspired to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.

At the hub, we have trained tutors who teach, guide, and mentor our students in Code it! Software to ignite creativity in young people from Primary up to University level including school dropouts and graduates seeking new careers, he said.

Mr. Gowu said, we believe innovation starts with these exposures and we are ready to partner government and other organizations to make this a reality for our young people.

Mr. Richard Kafui Amanfu, the Director of Operations at IIPGH, said they created a space for presenting, testing, and learning about innovative digital technologies to be used in education, art, and business by interested participants.

He said the Hub shall provide training across the spectrum of digital skills ranging from basic to advance for students, teachers, and ICT trainers, as well as all interested participants, exposing them to emerging technologies.

It will also encourage learning by doing by organizing hackathons, data challenges, and competitions that will enable the youth to develop skills required for a digital economy, he said.

Mr. Amanfu said the Hub would also be a makerspace and innovation lab that will enable students and young people to test their ideas.

The Director of Operations said the Hub would assist organizations and educational institutions to develop and strengthen ICT training programmes and materials
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Civil society group OccupyGhana has said the fight against illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) by the Akufo-Addo government was dead on arrival.

The group said it died the day Chinese galamsey queen Aisha Huang was let off the hook by the state after her arrest.

In a statement, OccupyGhana said President Akufo-Addo's epileptic and faltering fight [against] galamsey gives the impression that it [government] is unwilling to follow and apply the law.

The statement added, When Aisha Huang was first arrested, she was charged with some ludicrous, risible and insignificant administrative breaches of immigration regulations, OG decried, adding: It took a protest and a petition by OccupyGhana on 16th May 2017 for her to be charged with the proper offences under the Minerals and Mining Act, which, as we will show, provides for serious punishment for illegal mining.

The group insist that that unfortunate truncation of the judicial process sounded the death knell to the galamsey fight.

Read OccupyGhanas full statement below:

4TH MAY 2021

OCCUPYGHANA  PRESS STATEMENT

GOVERNMENT, APPLY THE LAW ON ILLEGAL MINING!

OccupyGhana is shocked to see pictures and films in which equipment allegedly being used in galamsey operations and apparently seized by security officials, have been set on fire.

While these dramatic optics might have the support of some, we think that it is a brazen illegality that will only exacerbate the situation and not help in the fight against galamsey.

The governments epileptic and faltering fight [against] galamsey gives the impression that it is unwilling to follow and apply the law.

When Aisha Huang was first arrested, she was charged with some ludicrous, risible and insignificant administrative breaches of immigration regulations.

It took a protest and a petition by OccupyGhana on 16th May 2017 for her to be charged with the proper offences under the Minerals and Mining Act, which, as we will show, provides for serious punishment for illegal mining.

We believe that her quiet and hurried deportation by the government was to avoid subjecting her to the full rigours of the law.

We insist that that unfortunate truncation of the judicial process sounded the death knell to the galamsey fight.

But the law in the Minerals and Mining Act is clear. There is a fine and imprisonment between 15 and 25 years for each of the following crimes:

buying or selling minerals without a licence or authority; mining in breach of the law; abetting any breach of the mining law; contracting a non-Ghanaian to provide mining support services; abetting the breach of the mining laws by a foreigner; fabricating or manufacturing floating platforms or other equipment to be used for mining in our water bodies; and providing an excavator for an illegal mining operation.

The Act further provides that a non-Ghanaian who illegally mines or abets illegal mining attracts a large fine and imprisonment between 20 and 25 years, and shall be deported AFTER serving the sentence. This is what should have been applied to Aisha Huang.

Also, and of particular importance to us, is the legal provision that equipment used in any of these offences is required to be first seized and kept in police custody. Then, when the person using the equipment for the illegal mining activity is convicted, the court will order the forfeiture of the equipment the state. Then the Minister has 60 days within which to allocate the equipment to a state institution. There is absolutely no legal room for simply torching the equipment. It is illegal and must stop forthwith.

We think that all the efforts to end illegal mining will not achieve anything until we resolve to simply enforce the law. If the security agencies make arrests and the law is not applied, it weakens their resolve and says to all that we are not serious about ending this menace. And the judiciary should need no encouragement to try cases with dispatch so that Ghanaians can see results in real-time. It cannot be business as usual.

We have two simple messages for the government (1) Galamsey is illegal: the fight against it cannot be based on illegality and, (2) If you want to win the fight against Galamsey, APPLY THE LAW.

Still in the service of God and Country

OccupyGhana
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President of Imani Africa Mr Franklin Cudjoe believe President Akufo-Addo is working hard to fix the country's challenges.

He said what the President must do is whip up the horse to speed up the wheels that are fixing the teething challenges confronting Ghanaians.

Mr Cudjoe said these in a Facebook post following the #FixTheCountry campaign on social media.

True, you are Fixing, but it does appear the Fixing needs some super speed. I have faith in you, but let us #FixTheCountry.

I agree some of us (including my good self) are terribly vile, cheating and sinful persons, so I will respect the counter tags #FixYourSelf and #FixYourAttitude as they are directed at those who seek answers.

He is asking government officials not to tell critics to shut up for demanding their rights.

Dear government, all the citizens are saying to you is #FixTheCountry because you begged for power and got it, not to tell them they should shut up."

Read full post below:
Accra, Ghana (PANA) - The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) project team of Ghana on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, began a two-day, kick-off meeting with officials from CAF and FIFA
The Western Regional Coordinating Council and the steering team of Ghana Gold Expo together with all sponsors of the Ghana Mining Week 2021 have released the Agenda for the Ghana Mining Week 2021.

In a speech by the Executive Director of Ghana Gold Expo; Mr. Steven Blessing Ackah, he stated "In view of the recent happenings in the Ghana Mining sector and the need for an all-inclusive approach to positioning the Ghana Gold Mining Sector as a Responsible and Ethical Sector, the Ghana Mining Week 2021 is being organized".

The Ghana Mining Week which is scheduled for the first week of July 2021, will comprise a Mining Policy Forum, Diplomatic Mining Fiedtrip, and the Honoring of Ghana as a Responsible Gold Mining Hub in the World at the Cannes Film Festival 2021. It is themed "The Future of Ghana's Gold."

The Mining Week will be held in Takoradi, the Western Region of Ghana, but the field trips will be to a small-scale mining site in the region, a water body, and Gold Fields Tarkwa-Damang site.

The Keynote address for the Forum will be given by H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana on "National Inclusive Growth and Enabling Policies in the Mining Sector".

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor and other Key industry players like Selim Fendi of Aurum Monaco, Alfred Baku of Goldfields West Africa, Anthony Moore of Evrensel Capital, Johan Zeitman of Volta Ghana, and many others will provide insights across a range of topics including; Central Bank: a catalyst for small scale Mining formalisation, Waste Removal Technologies from water bodies and Industrialisation in Mining Communities.

Hon. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister is the Host of the Mining Week 2021.

Emphasising on a structural approach to promoting responsible mining and supply chain in Ghana, the Mining Week 2021 will amplify the need for an Industrialized Mining Communities in the Country.

The 2021 Mining Week is being organized by the Western Regional Coordinating Council and ViewTag-Ghana Gold Expo a partner of Aurum Monaco, the leader of the global Responsible Jewelry Council with technical support from the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources.
President Akufo-Addo has expressed worry over the delay in receiving the second batch of AstraZeneca vaccines from the Serum Institute of India under the COVAX facility.

Ghana is expected to take delivery of the vaccines yesterday Tuesday but failed to arrive.

The delays in getting the vaccine of course have been a little troublesome, he stated in an interview with CNNs Zain Asher on Monday, May 3.

Ghana became the first country in the world in February to receive the vaccines under the facility.

On Tuesday, March 2, the country began administering the first jabs with a scheduled 42 days for the second dose for the first beneficiaries.

As of Friday, April 30, a total of 849,527 doses have been administered. The doses include those received via other facilities.

With the schedule for the second doses due for many who went for the first, anxiety is setting in as the country struggles to get the vaccines.
India's foreign minister was forced to abandon face-to-face G7 meetings on the pandemic in London on Wednesday because he may have been exposed to Covid-19, as the crisis deepened back home with his nation's daily death toll hitting a record at almost 3,800.

The coronavirus continues to ravage India but in Europe and the United States mass vaccination programmes have allowed the easing of many restrictions.

Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was in Britain for talks with counterparts from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies but announced he would hold his meetings virtually after possible exposure to virus cases.

India has in recent weeks endured a devastating surge in coronavirus cases, with more than 380,000 infections reported on Wednesday as well as 3,780 deaths.

India is battling one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks in the world. By DIPTENDU DUTTA (AFP)

Experts have warned that case numbers will keep rising until the end of May and could reach 500,000 new infections a day.

In an effort to boost the country's collapsing health system, its reserve bank announced $6.7 billion in cheap financing for vaccine makers, hospitals and health firms.

"The devastating speed with which the virus affects different regions of the country has to be matched by swift and wide-ranging actions," Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das said.

India's crisis has been partly fuelled by a lack of vaccines. This has in turn exacerbated the global shortage as India is the world's biggest producer of Covid shots.

Covid-19 cases and deaths per day in India as of May 5. By (AFP)

The G7 discussed coronavirus vaccines on Wednesday as pressure grows on the group to share stockpiles and know-how with poorer nations.

India is not part of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies but was invited to the talks by Britain, which holds the rotating presidency of the group throughout 2021.

'Abundant caution'

However, those talks were thrown into disarray after reports of two cases among the Indian delegation.

He met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in-person, with both wearing masks, on Monday evening on the sidelines of a foreign ministers summit.

Blinken has already received two vaccine doses. The US State Department said it had been advised that its health protocols "would permit us to continue with our G7 activities as planned".

India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday evening. By Ben STANSALL (POOL/AFP)

Australia controversially responded to the surging cases in India by imposing measures under which Australian citizens returning from the country would face jail time.

However after widespread outrage, a federal court on Wednesday agreed to hear a challenge brought by a 73-year-old man living in Bangalore who wishes to return to Australia.

In Southeast Asia, Malaysia said it will tighten restrictions in capital Kuala Lumpur to combat a surge in infections, which have risen to over 3,000 a day.

Vaccine inequity

The pandemic has claimed more than 3.2 million lives worldwide since it first emerged in late 2019, but many wealthy nations have made progress in suppressing the virus as mass vaccination campaigns gather steam.

US President Joe Biden speaks about America's vaccination programme at the White House. By Nicholas Kamm (AFP)

A growing campaign has been calling for patent waivers on vaccines so poorer nations can get quicker access.

More than 1.2 billion doses have been administered globally, but fewer than one percent in the least developed countries.

US President Joe Biden said he had not made a decision on whether to support a waiver but that the United States was moving "as quickly as we can" to export doses.

Vaccine shortages are not an issue in the US, which could soon be sitting on as many as 300 million extra doses -- nearly equivalent to its entire population.

Biden on Tuesday said he wanted 70 percent of American adults to have received at least one shot by the July 4 Independence Day holiday.

He also said his administration was "ready to move immediately" if regulators authorise the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds.

But many experts questioned the wisdom of devoting limited vaccine supplies to a low-risk group instead of sharing them to target high-risk groups around the world.

"I think if you vaccinate 12- to 15-year-olds in the United States before you vaccinate 70-year-olds globally, you're making a terrible error," UCSF physician and epidemiologist Vinay Prasad told AFP.

And Priya Sampathkumar, chair of Infection Prevention & Control at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, said: "Vaccinating more people in the US is not going to help us if the variants in India, Nepal and South Asia get out of control and hit our shores."

Serbia's president meanwhile said his country would pay each citizen around $30 to get vaccinated, in what could be the world's first cash-for-jabs scheme.

But epidemiologist Zoran Radovanovic warned even that could be a double-edged sword, raising resistance in some.

"The logic is this: if the state is paying me to do something it is telling me is for my own good, then something is fishy," he told AFP.

burs-kma-axn/dl
Mourners in traditional leopardskin regalia on Wednesday gathered outside a Johannesburg morgue to accompany the body of the late Zulu regent queen on the eve of her funeral.

The 65-year-old queen, Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, died on April 30, weeks after she was named interim successor to her late husband, King Goodwill Zwelithini, the longest-serving leader of South Africa's largest ethnic group.

A day ahead of her funeral, hundreds of mourners paraded through the inner-city suburb of Hillbrow, singing and dancing as they made their way to the mortuary under a clear autumn sky.

A Zulu mourner, clad in traditional leopardskin, cleared the way for the hearse in front of the morgue. By Luca Sola (AFP)

Men known as "amaButho" or Zulu regiments, donned traditional leopardskin ponchos and headbands, wielding clubs and shields made of animal hide.

Young women wore colourful miniskirts and beads, while their elderly married counterparts followed in head wraps and patterned shawls.

"Our wounds had not healed from the passing of the king, now the queen has followed," said mourner Jabu Mangena, dressed in black and wearing a broad-brimmed red hat.

"We will remember her as a woman who was proud of her culture and heritage," she told AFP.

More than 200 mourners in traditional dress gathered to salute the queen, whose funeral takes place on Thursday. By Luca Sola (AFP)

Mourners will accompany the queen's remains to KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace in the southeastern town of Nongoma, around 480 kilometres (300 miles) from Johannesburg, where she will be buried on Thursday.

"In line with her wishes, as was done for... the King, her majesty will be interred at the crack of dawn in a private burial," Zulu prince and traditional prime minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi said in a statement.

A memorial service will be held a day after the funeral that will be marked by flags flying half-mast across Kwa-Zulu Natal province.

Zwelithini died on March 12, aged 72 after half a century on the throne, following a battle with diabetes-related illness.

He left behind six wives, 28 children and a turbulent succession battle.

In his will, Zwelithini had chosen Dlamini-Zuma -- his third wife and also the sister of Eswatini's King Mswati III -- to temporarily step in for him until a successor is appointed.

Queen Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, pictured in 2004 at the annual Umkhosi woMhlanga (Reed Dance) festival in Nongoma. By RAJESH JANTILAL (AFP)

She died unexpectedly in hospital, prompting allegations of poisoning by other members of the royal family, which they have denied.

In a dramatic turn of events, Zwelithini's first wife, Queen Sibongile Dlamini, went to challenge the king's will and demand recognition as his only legitimate spouse.

Although the title of Zulu king does not bestow executive power, the charismatic Zwelithini had moral influence over more than 11 million Zulus, nearly a fifth of South Africa's population.
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The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II, has declared his support for the burning of seized excavators by the military in the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The Paramount Chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area and President of Western Regional House of Chiefs want the approach by the government in the fight against illegal miners to be firm and inflexible in order to deter others.

Speaking on the Yen Sempa morning show on Onua FM on Wednesday, May 5, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II declared his total support for the military to burn excavators retrieved from the miners who he said are obstinate to the directives by the Lands and Natural Resources Minister .

He maintained that the approach would discourage and frighten the illegal miners from destroying the forest reserves and water bodies in the country.

He shot down the argument that the excavators should be confiscated and sent to the district assemblies so that they could be used to recover the vast land destroyed by the miners.

The paramount chief asserted that the miners could easily disassemble the machines and make them immovable and unusable if not destroyed.

I support the military for burning the excavators because at least it is deterring others to stop mining in the river bodies and the forest.

The last time I was traveling from Abuakwah, I counted not less than 10 excavators packed along the road which means that the miners are adhering to the ministers directives because if they dont voluntarily bring the machines out of the forest, they would be destroyed by the military, he reiterated.

Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi II also refuted the claims by the general public that Nananom are the people who are secretly behind the illegal miners to operate illicitly at the local level.

He stressed that the traditional rulers are always sidelined by the Minerals Commission in the issuance of permits and prospecting lincense to the miners thus making it difficult for Nananom to monitor and prevent the miners.

He thus called on the government to involve the traditional rulers especially at the local level in the issuance of permits and prospecting incense to the miners so that Nananom and the local people could be watchdogs to monitor and regulate mining activities.

---3news.com
Survivors and human rights groups have criticised a recommendation by prosecutors in France to drop a 15-year case accusing senior French military officials of complicity in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Survivors of the June 1994 slaughter in the hills of Bisesero in western Rwanda accuse French troops of deliberately abandoning them to Hutu extremists, who subsequently murdered hundreds of local people in a matter of days.

An estimated 50,000 people were murdered in the Bisesero area during the 100-day killing frenzy.

French military commanders became the subjects of criminal investigation into complicity in genocide in December 2005 after complaints filed by survivors and human rights groups.

Earlier this week, prosecutors recommended that judges drop the case accusing the French soldiers of complicity in crimes against humanity because of their inaction in the massacre.

Eric Plouvier, lawyer for the Survie (Survival) NGO that works to encourage better relations between France and Africa and was among the groups that filed the original complaint, called the decision to call for the case to be dropped "heartbreaking and legally distressing".

The decision represents a "denial of justice", Plouvier says, because the judiciary failed to take account of France's "overwhelming responsibilities" in allowing the genocide to take place.

The five French military officers targeted by the investigation have never been charged.

Decision based on evidence in French report

The call to drop the 15-year-old case followed the publication in March of a major report on France's role in the genocide, which found that Paris had been "blind" to preparations but not complicit in the killings.

The report, which was commissioned by French President Emmanuel Macron, was particularly damning about the events in Bisesero, calling the failure of French troops to protect Tutsis sheltering in the hills, in a so-called "safe zone", a "profound failure".

He report also noted that the French had been aware that Tutsis hiding in the area had been attacked but failed to respond after days of them pleading to be saved, by which time hundreds of people had been murdered.

The French historical commission blamed the troops' failure to protect Tutsis in Bisesero on strategic considerations rather than the failings of individual soldiers.

Final decision to come

The Paris prosecutors concluded that the investigation "did not make it possible to establish that the French forces could have been guilty of the crimes of complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity".

The inquiry did not confirm that there had been any "help or assistance from the French military forces during the carrying out of the atrocities", according to chief Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz.

Nor, he added, did it establish that the French forces "refrained from intervening in the face of genocide or crimes against humanity due to a prior agreement".

The final decision over whether to press ahead with the case against the French soldiers now rests with the investigating magistrates.

They are now highly likely to drop the case unless any further investigations are ordered, according to a source close to the inquiry.
The United States (U S) Ambassador to Ghana, Ms Stephanie Sullivan, has said 150 American Peace Corps will arrive in Ghana in September this year to support the nation's development and transformation agenda.

She explained that most of the Peace Corps would be focusing on the teaching and development of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Ms Stephanie Sullivan announced this when she paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, in Accra on Tuesday.

The visit was to deepen the ties between the two countries which date back to several decades.

She lauded the Ghana government for its effort towards poverty reduction through education.

The Ambassador stated that the U S was currently assisting the country in various forms through the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) being the main implementer of many of such projects.

She mentioned the Early Grade Reading for pupils in Basic Schools which targeted more than 250,000 pupils in the country and the Ghana Learning Radio programme as some of the projects.

Ms Sullivan pledged U S government's readiness to partner the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service and all other agencies to help improve lives of the people in the country.

Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, on his part, lauded the U S for its unflinching support to Ghana over the years which had brought much development to the nation.

He assured the Ambassador that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo-led government would continue to do more to ensure that both countries benefitted from their relationship.

Dr Adutwum said, let us be proud that someday we will be able to tell the world that we were part of the transformation of the country through education.

He stated that the government would continue to put in place measures that stood the chance of transforming the fortunes of the country.

Dr Adutwum mentioned the introduction of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy, for instance, which had led to increased enrollment of 800,000 to 1.2 million students in the country's Senior High Schools.

He mentioned increased access, equity and easing the burden of parents whether they had money or not as being the main reasons why the FSHS initiative was introduced in the country.

Ghana became the first country in the world to receive American Peace Corps Volunteers in 1961 and the programme has been running uninterrupted.

Most of the Peace Corps Volunteers who came to the country in the past were posted to support the health, agriculture and education sectors among others.

The Education Minister and the Ambassador exchanged gifts as a sign of appreciation of each other's roles as worthy representatives of their countries.

GNA
Minority in Parliament says the position of the Methodist Church Ghana on the Wesley Girls Senior High Schools decision to prevent Muslim students from fasting during the holy month of Ramadan smacks of discrimination on the basis of religion.

The church supported Wesley Girls High Schools decision in a statement released on Tuesday, May 4, 2021.

Speaking to Citi News, the Minority Spokesperson on Education, Peter Nortsu Kotoe, said the Methodist Church's position is retrogressive.

The position taken by the Methodist Church is not the best. They should allow every Muslim in the school to fast. We should not discriminate on religious grounds. Let us come together and move forward. The GES position should be accepted.

Some of us attended Christian religious institutions and there were Muslims, and they were allowed to do their fasting and carry out their prayers and I do not think it affected the religious position of that church in any particular way, so this is the time to tolerate each others religion and let us go forward.

Meanwhile, the Minority caucus in Parliament has appealed to Muslim students and youth to remain calm as the Muslim leadership engages stakeholders on the development.

We wish to appeal to the good people of Ghana and the Muslim Ummah particularly our Muslim students and youth, to remain calm as the Muslim leadership continues to engage all stakeholders connected to the matter including the Methodist Church of Ghana, the Ministry of Education, and the Ghana Education Service (GES), the statement said.

Wesley Girls' High School faced criticism after it prevented a Muslim student from fasting during the ongoing Ramadan.

The Muslim Caucus in Parliament also met with the authorities of Wesley Girls' High School over the concerns.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum had met with the Board of Wesley Girls' High School and advised the GES to put measures in place to address the concerns of Muslim students.

As part of its directive, the GES urged parents of such students to write to the school indicating that the school shall not be held liable for any health condition of the student as a result of the fast.

The GES directive was welcomed by the Office of the National Chief Imam after it had also raised concern with the treatment of Muslim students.

The Methodist Church Ghana however kicked against the directive, stressing that it cannot accede to the unilateral directive issued by the Ghana Education Service.

citinewsroom
It has been a relationship of characterised by bitterness and misunderstanding. It began with a poorly negotiated agreement  poor, that is, from the European Union perspective  between Brussels and AstraZeneca for the supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses. Less rigorous in terms of penalties and consequences than the UK-AstraZeneca deal, the EU version was very much the poor cousin, giving the company much latitude in terms of production schedules and delays. While the UK government managed to insert the relevant clause allowing it to terminate the deal and invoke punitive clauses against AstraZeneca, the EU contract makes no mention of it. But in August 2020, little heed to this was paid by EU negotiators, starry-eyed to the companys promise to supply 300 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccine, with the option of securing a further 100 million. The result was a defanged deal based on gentlemanly promises.

Delays and supply problems duly manifested. In January, the drugs company informed the European Commission that it would ship fewer doses to the bloc than was originally promised. While there is no scheduled delay to the start of shipments of our vaccine should we receive approval in Europe, stated an AstraZeneca spokesperson, initial volumes will be lower than originally anticipated due to reduced yields at a manufacturing site within our European supply chain. Within the first three months, 30 million jabs of the initial 90 million made its way to the EU. Little by way of improvement was shown in the next quarter: 70 million doses from 180 million promised.

The delays and supply disruptions have resulted in a sluggish immunisation effort in the EU and also done its bit to fray relations between the bloc and the UK. EU officials have looked on, envious and irritated at the UKs own, comparatively more successful and rapid immunisation campaign.

It is precisely that latitude of behaviour on the part of the company that is now being challenged in the courts. The European Commission is suing AstraZeneca, arguing that the company has not discharged its obligations under the vaccine supply contract nor possess an appropriate plan for the timely delivery of doses. Our priority, wrote Stella Kyriakides, the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, is to ensure COVID-19 vaccine deliveries take place to protect the health of [EU citizens].

In court, the EUs Rafael Jafferali submitted that, We demand deliveries by the end of June and we also demand with immediate effect the use of all plants listed in the contract. A central contention is that AstraZeneca had preferred not utilising all those mentioned (four are noted, two of which are located in the UK); the EU argument is that the company was under an obligation to use all the plants. Not doing so put it in breach of the contract.

AstraZenecas Hakim Boularbahs submission showed how far apart the parties are in terms of understanding the contract. There is no obligation to use the factories, came the argument. The point is crucial, given that the company has only utilised sites in Belgium and the Netherlands, sparing the UK outfits run by Oxford Biomedica and Cobra Biologics. There has also been no resort to the Catalent factory in the United States, mentioned in the contract as a possible back-up supply site.

Whatever the merits of the EUs legal arguments, certain countries within the bloc have been circumspect about dragging the company through the courts. Germany and France have expressed misgivings. As one diplomat explained to Politico, What can we do in practical terms if AstraZeneca says, Take a closer look at our production sites: We just have no vaccines? There were also questions about the enforceability of any ruling. The entire process risks becoming a vacuous display of anger without effect.

Then comes the issue of bad publicity. Reluctance to take COVID-19 vaccines is a prevalent sentiment within the bloc. Reliability and trust is already being tested. A number of EU diplomats worry that the lawsuit may have the effect of further tarnishing a company that is already struggling in terms of its brand.

Much of this can be put down to the sabotaging efforts of various leaders within the Union itself, not least of all French President Emmanuel Macron, who has found it hard to resist sniping at the AstraZeneca vaccine. At the end of January, he opined that the vaccine was quasi-effective for those over 65 years old. The following month, he changed his mind. The result: French confidence in the vaccine, along with a good deal of Europes, has been shattered.

This distinctly sour note continues the profoundly disunited state of affairs in efforts to battle the global pandemic. Vaccine patriotism and parochialism continue to limit access. Pharmaceutical giants continue to maintain IP protections even as they struggle to maintain supply. And the EUs own measure of competence in negotiations and planning has been found wanting.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: [email protected]
Bust of queen-mother, iyoba Idia, Benin, Nigeria, now in Ethnologisches Museum / Humboldt Forum, Berlin, Germany

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"We are facing the historical and moral responsibility to bring Germany's colonial past to light and to come to terms with it. Dealing with the Benin bronzes is a touchstone for this. The declaration passed yesterday is a historic milestone in dealing with the colonial past. I am happy and grateful that we could agree on the common goal of developing a coordinated position in Germany and reaching a common understanding with the Nigerian side. In addition to the greatest possible transparency, substantial returns are sought above all. We want to contribute to understanding and reconciliation with the descendants of the people who were robbed of their cultural treasures during the colonial era.' Monika Grutters, German Federal Minister for Culture. (1)

I must confess that when I heard about the decision taken by the German authorities on 29th April 2021 to restitute looted Benin artefacts in German museums and institutions, including the Humboldt Forum and the Ethnological Museum, Berlin, I was surprised. In recent times, the German authorities had given indications that they were moving in that direction. (2) Still, so little trust can one have in European governments and institutions regarding the restitution of looted African artefacts. The safest position has been to wait and see what comes out of their encouraging pronouncements that are often contradictory or subject to multiple interpretations.

Our last article indicated that the Prussian Foundation for Cultural Legacy and the Minister for Culture, Monica Grutters, had announced plans for consultations with museums and institutions holding Benin artefacts to develop a national strategy on the Benin artefacts. This proposed meeting appeared to us as a delaying measure since such a consultation would require time in order to create a national plan for institutions with different interests. And why had that not been done earlier? Discussions on the Humboldt Forum and restitution of looted Benin artefacts started a decade ago. That national strategy has been developed within a short period, despite the pandemic. What was the decision?

On 29th April 2020, the Minister for Culture, Monica Grutters, called a meeting to consider further handling of Benin artefacts. (3) Attending the meeting were directors of German museums holding large numbers of Benin artefacts, Cultural Affairs Ministers of the Lander, and City of Cologne as holder of the artefacts at Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum, and the German Foreign Ministry.

The participants agreed that what happens with the Benin Bronzes is a vital element of Germanys handling of collections from colonial contexts, which is also a subject of international attention. They reaffirmed their willingness to make substantial returns of the Benin Bronzes.

Further talks on returns and future cooperation with Nigeria at an early date are planned which will aim to reach an understanding with the Nigerian partners on how Benin Bronzes will continue to be displayed in Germany and to determine concrete actions and a timetable for the upcoming talks.

The participants invited other museums and institutions not present at the meeting but holding Benin objects to join in the process outlined above.

The participants also agreed to ensure great transparency in the handling of Benin artefacts. The Contact Point for Collections from Colonial Contexts would publish a list of all Benin bronzes on its website(www.cp.de by 15 June 2021. In addition, the museums will provide comprehensive documentation of the provenance of the Benin artefacts which would be made publicly accessible on the website of the Contact Point by the end of 2021. When Benin artefacts are shown in exhibitions, comprehensive information will be provided on the context of their acquisitions.

As part of the three-part strategy adopted by the meeting, an independent portal for collections from colonial contexts will be established within the German Digital Library, making Benin bronzes accessible. In future, all other Benin collections from colonial contexts held by German institutions would be accessible online.

Among the items of future talks between the Germans and Nigerians would be how the Benin bronzes, as part of humanitys cultural heritage, can in future be shown in Germany as well.

Cooperation between Nigeria and Germany would include training for future curators and museum managers and developing cultural infrastructures. The International Museum Cooperation Agency, now being established, will provide support for cooperation.

By the summer of 2021, the participants would provide concrete actions, and a timetable for the restitution of the Benin bronzes whilst the German Federal Foreign Ministry will hold talks with the Legacy Royal Trust and other Nigerian agencies participating in this process. Participants will endeavour speedily to obtain results that can be implemented, and the funding bodies and their museums will put in place the legal and organizational conditions required.

The Federal Government will have further discussions with Nigerian partners in the next few weeks. The participants affirmed that the coming negotiations would aim to produce concrete results. The museums and their funding bodies

would take the next steps with the necessary urgency, sensitivity and determination to attain results.

What impressed me about this latest effort by Germany, is the sense of urgency?

that permeates the whole statement. But before we get too impressed by this

aspect, we should recall that Germany has had more than 100 years to solve the

question of the looted Benin artefacts and so any sense of urgency may have been created by the Germans themselves and their refusal in the past to take the restitution seriously. Instead, like most European holders of looted African artefacts, they sought to gain time by presenting useless arguments and pretending to ignore the issue whilst NGOs, individual scholars and critics insisted on discussing restitution.

Definite dates for accomplishing concrete tasks have been given, and so we can measure these promises against the dates mentioned.

I was surprised that the desire of the Germans to keep some Benin bronzes was

couched in terms of the artefacts being part of the heritage of humanity.

This concept always caused anger with Africans who saw it as a ploy for the Europeans to hold on to looted artefacts. Can Germany not hold artefacts of other nations if they are legitimately acquired and not looted even if those objects cannot be considered as part of the heritage of humanity? Have Germans not given up completely the discredited concept of a universal museum?

The British Museum informs us that it is involved in excavations in Benin

City and in the construction of the new Edo Museum of West African Art. The British Museum is apparently aware of the pain and suffering caused to the Benin people by the 1897 attack. The British Guardian reported a statement by a spokesperson for the British Museum, that the museum is working with the Legacy Restoration Trust on an archaeology project linked to the new museum:

The devastation and plunder wreaked upon Benin City during the British military expedition in 1897 is fully acknowledged by the museum and the circumstances around the acquisition of Benin objects are explained in gallery panels and on the museums website.

We believe the strength of the British Museum collection resides in its breadth and depth, allowing millions of visitors an understanding of the cultures of the world and how they interconnect over time  whether through trade, migration, conquest, or peaceful exchange. (4)

The British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum have not expressed any

intention of returning looted artefacts. They spread rumours that are

surprisingly swallowed by many, including those who should know better, that they are prevented by the British Museum Act 1963 to return objects in the museum. However, the Act provides in its section 5 that the British Museum may dispose of items under its control under certain circumstances. This provision is interpreted by the museum as a prohibition. Since when did may indicate a prohibition in the English language? Some of those ostensibly favouring restitution accept this false interpretation of the British Museum Act and pass it on to others. Their strategy appears to be aimed at putting maximum pressure on holders of few Benin bronzes to restitute the artefacts so that the museums holding large numbers can keep their loot.

The British Museum is ignoring all signs of progress in restitution and playing this role in the Benin Dialogue Group that does not publish any details of its discussions because they do not seem interested in educating the African and European publics on this matter. They have not even stated how long the proposed loans to Nigeria will be. It was probably the venerable museum in Bloomsbury that introduced the idea of loans of Benin bronzes to the Nigerians and persuaded the Group to delete the topic of restitution from its agenda. I was criticised for reporting on this. (5) Fortunately, the idea of loans of Benin artefacts to Nigeria is becoming less favourable.

We should also note that that the Culture Secretary of the UK, Oliver Dowden

has urged museums and other cultural institution to constantly defend our culture and history from the noisy minority of activists constantly trying to do Britain down. The minister also threatened museums that did not follow his injunctions with cut of funds. (6)

This British position contrasts with statement of the Dutch Minister of Culture, Ingrid van Engelshoven, that a stolen item should not be part of the national treasure: There is no place in the Dutch State Collection for cultural heritage objects that were acquired through theft.(7)

The British Government does not seem to be bothered by the fact that

most European States are moving in the direction of restitution whilst some British institutions keep on providing statements of discredited past ideas. Once Germany implements its plans, many States, including Britain, will not be able to resist the pull of restitution.

What the Germans have presented is a strategy that should work to speed up the

process of restitution provided everyone plays their assigned role. Experience, however, has taught us that in matters of restitution, anything can happen to provide a valid excuse for not fulfilling promises.

Germany should be congratulated for the bold steps and aims of restitution outlined in the statement of 30th April 2021. The German authorities have come a long way from the positions they represented even a few months ago. Germany may well become the first Western State that makes serious restitution of African artefacts. They have understood that restitution of looted African artefacts is a necessary part of facing their colonial past. They have understood that the NGOs and others who criticised the Humboldt Forum and the retention of looted African artefacts are not necessarily enemies of Germany. They seem to appreciate the sub-title of the Sarr-Savoy report, The Restitution of African Cultural Heritage. Toward a New Relational Ethics. (8) This is a chance for a new basis for the relationship between Africa and Europe, based on mutual respect and not on force, deceit, and violence.

The peoples of Benin and Nigeria, as well as the Nigerian government should also be praised for holding fast to their belief and hope that the artefacts looted in 1897, despite all contrary indications, would come back.

Germany seems to have accepted that the colonial adventure was an evil

enterprise that deprived African peoples of their property, including cultural

artefacts. Germany has to implement this new understanding of the colonial enterprise regarding former German colonies such as Togo, Cameroon, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Namibia, with special reference to the genocide of Herero and Nama. One cannot condemn the colonial looting of artefacts and leave out general colonial despoliation or genocides.

Confronting Germanys historical and moral responsibility and seeking to enter

into new relations with the descendants of the disinherited is undoubtedly more than restituting artefacts, however substantial that may be.

African peoples and governments must intensify efforts to recover our looted artefacts. Ethiopian gold, silver and manuscripts and Asante gold, to mention only a few looted items, still have to be returned. There are no more valid European arguments and excuses for holding onto looted African cultural artefacts.

Kwame Opoku.

NOTES

1. Wir stellen uns der historischen und moralischen Verantwortung, Deutschlands koloniale Vergangenheit ans Licht zu holen und aufzuarbeiten. Der Umgang mit den Benin-Bronzen ist dafur ein Prufstein. Die gestern verabschiedete Erklarung ist eine historische Wegmarke im Umgang mit der kolonialen Vergangenheit. Ich bin froh und dankbar, dass wir uns auf das gemeinsame Ziel verstandigen konnten, eine abgestimmte Haltung in Deutschland zu entwickeln und zu einer gemeinsamen Verstandigung mit der nigerianischen Seite zu gelangen. Neben grotmoglicher Transparenz werden vor allem substanzielle Ruckgaben angestrebt. So mochten wir zur Verstandigung und zur Versohnung mit den Nachkommen der Menschen beitragen, die in der Zeit des Kolonialismus ihrer kulturellen Schatze beraubt wurden. Wir planen erste Ruckgaben im Verlauf des Jahres 2022. Monika Grutters.

Erklarung zum Umgang mit Benin-Bronzen-Grutters: Wichtige Wegmarke fur Verstandigung und Versohnung

https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/bundesregierung/staatsministerin-fuer-kultur-und-medien/aktuelles/erklaerung-zum-umgang-mit-benin-bronzen-gruetters-wichtige-wegmarke-fuer-verstaendigung-und-versoehnung--1902114

2. K. Opoku, Hermann Par zingers Leap Forward in Restitution of African Artefacts.

https://www.modernghana.com/news/1055088/hermann-parzingers-leap-forward-in-restitution.html

3 Statement on the handling of the Benin Bronzes in German museums and institutions

https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsroom/news/benin-bronze/2456788

4. The Guardian, Berlin's plan to return Benin bronzes piles pressure on UK museums.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/mar/23/berlins-plan-to-return-benin-bronzes-piles-pressure-on-uk-museums

5. K. Opoku, Benin Dialogue Group Removes Restitution of Benin Artefacts from its agenda.

https://www.modernghana.com/news/924239/benin-dialogue-group-removes-restitution-of-benin.html

6. Culture Secretary wrote in his letter, inter alia: History is ridden with moral complexity. Statues and other historical objects were created by generations with different perspectives and understandings of right and wrong. Some represent figures who have said or done things which we may find deeply offensive and would not defend today. But though we may now disagree with those who created them or who they represent, they play an important role in teaching us about our past, with all its faults.

It is for this reason that the Government does not support the removal of statues or other similar objects . Historic England, as the Governments adviser on the historic environment, have said that removing difficult and contentious parts of it risks harming our understanding of our collective past. Rather than erasing these objects, we should seek to contextualise or reinterpret them in a way that enables the public to learn about them in their entirety, however challenging this may be. Our aim should be to use them to educate people about all aspects of Britains complex past, both good and bad. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/922293/22-09-20_Letter_to_DCMS_ALBs.docx

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/uk-culture-secretary-controversial-monuments

7. The Art newspaper, Netherlands takes lead in Europes efforts to return artefacts to former colonies.

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/netherlands-takes-lead-in-europe-s-efforts-to-return-of-artefacts-from-former-colonies

8. Felwine Sarr and Benedicte Savoir, The Restitution of African Cultural Heritage. Toward a New Relational Ethics http://restitutionreport2018.com/sarr_savoy_en.pdf

Altar group with Oba Akenzua, Benin, Nigeria, now in Ethnologisches Museum/Humboldt Forum, Berlin, Germany.

Stool of Oba Eresoyen, Benin, Nigeria, now in Ethnologisches Museum/Humboldt Forum, Berlin, Germany.

Queen-Mother Idia, Benin, Nigeria, now in British Museum, London, United Kingdom.

Commemorative head of a Queen-Mother, Benin, Nigeria, now in Ethnology Museum, Berlin, Germany. Photo Martin Franken.

Commemorative head of an oba, Benin, Nigeria, now in Dresden Ethnology Museum, Dresden, Germany.

Altar with Oba Ewuakpe and attendants, Benin, Nigeria ,now in Ethnologisches Museum/Humboldt Forum, Berlin, Germany.
New York, US (PANA) - Harnessing the full potential of science and technology for the benefit of all people, everywhere, is the focus of a two-day virtual meeting convened by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which opened on Tuesday
Unfortunately, we live in a country where almost every issue is refracted with partisan lenses, except maybe the air we breathe. Everything is NPP or NDC, to the extent that our development needs is associated with partisan gymnastics. In the wake of political and economic tension, where some unhappy Ghanaians are venting their spleens over what many describe as a failure on the part of successive governments to improve the lives of the citizenry, some are also romancing partisanship.

Mostly made up of the youth, tens of thousands of posts have been made on social media highlighting some of these inadequacies. Despite efforts by government including the Nation Builders Corp (NABCO), National Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) and other commitments towards investing in the growing human capital, some Ghanaians say the impact is not felt on the ground.

Dominant in the sentiments shared on Twitter are rising youth unemployment, dilapidated health system, skyrocketing home-renting structure, poor road networks, erratic power outages (popularly known as "Dumsor"), water crisis, poor sanitation, poor roads, depreciation of the Cedis, and everything that's not made life dignifying and comfortable for people.

What is more patriotic than pushing the government to make judicious use of the tax payers' money? Joining the fray as part of an effort to hold government accountable in the areas to safeguard the future of the citizenry is sign of holding government accountable. Every government is responsible and accountable to the people because development initiatives are executed and advanced with the tax payers money. It's not as though we are a charitable case, where they're using their monies to propel development and advancement. They are not Non - Governmental Organizations (NGOs) or Donors who are on philanthropic missions.

The country's current leadership "no dey see top". It's apparent. We shouldn't allow partisanship cloud common sense, our sense of reasoning and eyesight. What I'm emphasizing on is the mistake we always do; thus making the current shortfalls, a justification for errors committed in the past. We should lift the conversation beyond NDC and NPP. They both have drew the nation's clock of progress backwards in more ways than one.

As a youth political thinker and writer, I do not write for any political party and this article stinks no bias.

Before I continue, Ive to make it known that I do not think that NPP or NDC should be in charge of this country - from my point of view, they are really just two rival gangs that deal in contracts who have risen to the top of our country and, seemingly, cannot be stopped. As many of you may have concluded, though, you may pick your poison. But in choosing which gang to loot our economic resources [while waiting for our long awaited revolution of the second type of politicians you might have described], we must conduct a fairer comparison.

Half-truths and propaganda have diluted the richness of our national development, affecting our living standards. Development whether social or economic is very important to the well-being of every nation, as its contribution to the sustainability of that country cannot be underpinned. However, the politicization of things in most African countries like Ghana has been a bane and has actually made it almost impossible for its contributions to the country's sustainable development.

Fixing The Nation After 64 Years Of Nationhood

Dr. Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah demonstrated selflessness as a leader. He faced up to his own leadership by stating - we shall measure our progress by the improvement in the health of our people; by the number of children in school, and electricity in our towns and villages and by the happiness which our people take in being able to manage their own affairs. The welfare of our people is our chief pride, and it is by this that my Government will ask to be judged. This is the right time for us to stand up and come together as one people to speak and let them [government] know that we are tired.

In point of fact, little more than lip service has been paid to the illusory promises and unrealistic targets of the Akufo-Addo government. The grim reality today is that work and happiness has eluded the average Ghanaian worker. The best performance indicator of a political leader should be about the majority of our mothers and sisters enjoying better maternal morbidity and mortality, high paying jobs for the youth, high literacy rates, better housing system, good road network, robust financial markets, clean water, smooth power, and a nation where people would be proud to live in and work.

Nonetheless, it is now clear that our biggest challenge is leadership. It's not resources. It's not human capital. It's simply deficiency in leadership. Indeed, we need good leadership that will provide good governance before we can think of actualising development and transformation.

Fixing Ourselves As Ghanaians Too Matters

I strongly believe the government should fix the nation. But I think the best alternative, as it stands, is to fix ourselves too. When electing a political leader, most voters habitually exchange their conscience for the swag they collect from politicians during the electioneering campaign instead of considering the personal achievements of such leaders.

This unfortunately, often brings to power bad leadership, which is rooted in corruption, incompetence, stringency, blinkeredness, pitilessness and intemperate behavior. Leadership is not just about making blazing speeches and sanctified promises. It is a serious and delicate business of managing the destiny of a country through vision, selfless devotion, mental resilience and team building.

You cant have an American dream with a Ghanaian attitude. You cant desire a nation where the laws and systems work when the people therein are not willing to make the laws work. You cant dream of a corruption-free state when the common Ghanaian condemns corruption when they desire power yet practice it when they get power. You cant have your cake and eat it, too!

The Ghanaian headache all boils down to a problem of attitude- bad attitude. God's given each and every one a sense of reason for a reason, but it seems some have misplaced theirs. Our progress has been retarded for all these years not because we are not skilled enough but because we dont have enough good character. A nation is built not only with skills but character, too.

Truth is, skills without character become a disaster. When a skilled man who has no regard for human lives reaches the top, he becomes a threat to all those beneath him. He uses them to his advantage. He exploits people and abuses power. He apportions opportunities according to his favorites and not necessarily those who deserve such. A nation full of skilled people without character is a disaster waiting to happen!

Achieving A Fixed Nation, We All Long For

Politics without a sense of humanity is a crime. Politics is supposed to be a solution but to the Ghanaian, it has unfortunately become a puzzle we need to solve. It has become a den of people with only little character. We pretend to fight galamsey in public yet approve of it in secret. When the culprit is another Ghanaian, the law works. When the culprit is Chinese, bribery works. Our problem is a character problem; a character of double standards!

To keep everything upbeat, Ghana does deserve better leadership  it just wont come in the form of either gang (NDC or NPP). It will come from you and I, and all the other young people who are sick and tired of incompetence. We can't afford to fail the next generation. The time to act is now. I am hopeful that our time will come.

The author, Bright Philip Donkor won the African Journalists for Economic Opportunity Training (AJEOT-2020) Best Article Writer organized under the auspices of Institute of Liberty and Policy Innovation(ILAPI). Hes a Young Activist, Social & Political Commentator, and a Columnist.

Writer's email:[email protected]
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Looking through my grandfather's diary 25 years after his death, I got some insights into the life of a farmer. Although he had three farms which would have added up to at least 100 acres of farmland, he was not conversant with climate adaptive farming and lived in perpetual fear of low yield. If only he had access to some training in agriculture, maybe those farms would still exist today and I could have trained as a farm manager. The fact that the first missionary group to establish formal Western-styled education in British West Africa did so towards the end of the eighteenth century means that like my grandfather, many other young africans had (great) grandparents who were also engaged in farming (and other adjunct activities) as a source of livelihood. Watching ones grandparents invest time, scarce funds, and energy in agriculture without commensurate returns could be partly responsible for the large scale disinterest in this industry.

Small holder farmers constitute the lifeblood of the society. We often take for granted the sheer ease with which we can stop by at the market and buy produce for nourishment. As a lawyer, I am aware that my services are not always needed. In fact, where people choose to be honest and peaceful, where there is no reason to doubt and people choose to be friendly, a lawyer has no real job to do - this is not the case for the farmer. As critical as the farmer is to our society, his position is oftentimes precarious due to the actions of the same society. The effects of climate change are most felt by farmers while the propositions that have been made to save the planet revolve around farmers. It appears that whichever way the conversation goes, farmers are placed squarely in the middle.

Keeping a farm is akin to taking care of children - it is done lovingly, steadfastly and hopefully. Farmers everywhere put in their very best in order to get the best. However, there are quite a number of factors which make the return on investment quite disappointing. The very first problem is that of proper storage methods. In Africa, inefficient processing and drying, poor storage and insufficient infrastructure are instrumental factors in food waste and depreciation Howto tackle food waste and security bottlenecks in Africa? - An  . The reduced quality leads to an inability to sell such products at a reasonable price point. The farmer is then forced to choose between letting the products rot and losing both his capital and projected profit or selling it off at any price in order to break even.

In the global south where poverty is a mainstay, it is unfortunate that there exists a staggering level of post harvest losses. An estimated 25percent of agricultural produce is lost following harvest in countries such as Nigeria, due to mishandling, spoilage, and pest infestation. Furthermore, there is a persistent problem of a broken or non-existent agricultural chain in the agro allied sector in the global south. This has led to an industry whose growth has remained stunted over the years.

The problem of multinationals who have not adopted best practices in procurement of commodities is also a cause for concern. Although the introduction of the Dutch Max Havelaar FairTrade label in 1988 which led to the creation of several FairTrade Labelling Organizations (FLO), has improved the disposition of multinationals toward the global south, a lot more needs to be done in terms of punitive legislation for non-complying companies, improved awareness for the civil society as well as climate adaptation training for the farmers, particularly in the global south.

Lastly, in Africa, the youth have a wrong perception of agriculture as a whole. The fact that agriculture is not viewed as being profitable because the products are sold for next to nothing has contributed to a resolve by the youth not to venture into it, even in the face of crippling unemployment. As stated earlier, where the probability of depreciation is high, the price point at which the product can be realistically offered is low and incommensurate to the input. This aversion for agriculture has led to a drive to acquire multiple university degrees in order to qualify for highly competitive office jobs. Unfortunately, because manufacturing is nota strong feature in many African countries and agriculture does not seem to be a viable option, we are experiencing a phenomenon of overqualified/highly skilled yet unemployed youth. The job market for formal jobs shrinks daily as foreign companies shut down operations due to decaying government infrastructure and zero ease of doing business while local companies lack the capacity to satisfy the demand on ground and fill the vacuum created by the exodus of these companies.

Through its agricultural programs in Morocco, and importantly the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer Program which it administers, the HighAtlas Foundation (HAF) is working on re-orientating youth to embrace agriculture, encouraging female participation, and training smallholder farmers in climate adaptive agriculture. For 20 years, HAF has garnered experience in working with small scale farmers and cooperatives and is poised to leverage on this experience to help farmers with pre-harvest best practices and post-harvest losses. These kinds of successful programs need to be vastly expanded to raise awareness about the role of young people in agriculture, with the hope of bringing about an agricultural revolution, in Morocco and in the global south.

Olufunmilayo Aiyegbusi is an attorney in Nigeria, a graduate student in international development at University of Groningen, and a Volunteer with the High Atlas Foundation.

By Olufunmilayo Aiyegbusi

The Hague, Netherlands
The MTN Ghana Foundation on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, made a donation of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) to the St. Gregory Catholic Hospital in Buduburam to help the health facility combat the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

The Foundation since the start of 2021 has continued to provide support to health institutions and senior high schools as they remain committed to aiding government in the fight against the Covid-19.

On the back of donations to the Tema General Hospital and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in April, the MTN Ghana Foundation has this week made a stop at Buduburam in Kasoa to extend a helping hand to health workers at the St. Gregory Catholic Hospitals.

The Hospital has been presented with PPEs including boxes of face masks, coveralls, hand gloves, Contactless Thermometers as well as gallons of 99% Alcohol Methylated Spirit.

Engaging the media after presenting the items to officials of the hospital, Customer Service Executive at MTN, Jemima Kotei Walsh remarked that her outfit hopes the items will not only help workers at the health facility but also protect residents who visit the hospital to receive health care.

Today we have [brought] some PPEs to help the health workers to help protect them against the COVID-19 disease. So we have some gloves, hand sanitizers, temperature guns, overalls, and other items to support frontline workers and the entire community because patients come here from the community and the environs. So to help protect everyone during these trying times, she noted.

Having received the items on behalf of the St, Gregory Catholic Hospital, Rev. Fr Daniel Ganu who is the Hospital Chaplin expressed appreciation to the MTN Ghana Foundation.

He said in the midst of the pandemic, the items will go a long way to help the health institution better provide health care to the people of Buduburam and its environs.

We express sincere gratitude to MTN for bringing these items to aid health care delivery to the people of Buduburam and its environs. Items come at a very crucial moment when the fight against the COVID-19 is ongoing.

We are more than grateful to MTN and we assure you that we are going to make sure we put it to good use not only to fight the Covid-19 but in the delivery of healthcare in general, he said.

Rev. Fr Daniel Ganu took the opportunity to appeal to corporate Ghana and capable individuals to follow the gesture of MTN and help in putting up more infrastructure and the procurement of x-ray equipment to help the hospital.

After todays donation of PPEs, the MTN Ghana Foundation is not stopping. According to the leading communication network providers, there are plans to support other hospitals and senior high schools in the coming months.
Francis Asenso-Boakye, the Minister of Works and Housing, has cautioned residents of Atafoa and its environs in Kumasi to desist from the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the Owabi Stream.

The stream, which runs through more than 10 communities in the Kumasi Metropolis and other areas in the Atwima-Nwabiagya North District, is currently polluted with high deposit of plastic materials and other harmful chemicals.

We need to protect our water bodies from pollution at all cost, the Minister said, and called for punitive measures against those caught dumping refuse into the stream.

Mr Asenso-Boakye, speaking to the media after an inspection of the stream at Atafoa, said the bad practices of some residents posed a danger to the stream as it had affected the water quality.

We cannot continue to be reckless and do things haphazardly, he said.

Mr Asenso-Boakye is on a three-day working visit to the Ashanti Region to inspect ongoing development projects under his Ministry, including housing facilities and some drains.

As part of the tour, he has inspected the Abrepo, TUC Junction, Nhyiaeso, Ahodwo and South-Suntreso drainage systems.

He pledged government's commitment to investing in affordable housing for the benefit of the people.

---GNA
South Africa's governing ANC party has suspended its secretary general, Elias "Ace" Magashule, over graft charges in a political victory for President Cyril Ramaphosa in the divided party.

Magashule is the first top party official to be temporarily forced out under a new policy aimed at turning the page on a litany of graft scandals.

Magashule, 61, was given a 30-day ultimatum on March 30 to step aside after being charged with embezzling public funds while he was premier of the Free State province.

After he ignored the deadline and did not resign voluntarily, a meeting of the party leadership on Monday "reaffirmed" the decision to force any member facing criminal charges to resign or face suspension.

The same day, a letter from his deputy Jessie Duarte informed Magashule of his suspension.

"You are hereby temporarily suspended with effect from 3 May 2021 until the final outcome of your court proceedings," Duarte wrote.

The letter, dated Monday and leaked to the media on Wednesday, said his temporary suspension would be "in the best interest of the organisation".

"You have been indicted to appear in a court of law on charges of corruption and fraud, alternatively theft and money laundering," Duarte wrote.

The African National Congress (ANC) of Nelson Mandela has been at pains to cleanse an image marred by years of graft.

'Turning point'

David Lewis, head of the Corruption Watch NGO, praised the move as the "first really strong sign that the ANC is prepared to clean up its own ranks".

The suspension is a "turning point" for the ANC, setting a "serious precedent" that will be difficult to ignore in future, said political analyst Mcebisi Ndletyana.

"It is a win for the ANC as a whole," Ndletyana told AFP.

In a statement late Wednesday ANC spokesman Pule Mabe said the party would meet at the weekend "to provide the necessary update" on the matter.

Magashule is to be paid during his suspension but not permitted to represent the ANC or speak publicly about the party.

Charges against Magashule relate to public funds that were set aside to vet government-built housing with asbestos roofs in 2014 when he headed the provincial government, dubbed a "gangster state" in a book by investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh.

The hazardous roofs were never removed, and investigators believe that the equivalent of over $12 million (10 million euros) was pocketed.

Magashule was briefly arrested in November and granted bail on graft charges. He is next expected to appear before a high court in August.

His removal is seen as a first major political score for President Cyril Ramaphosa who first came to power in 2018 vowing to fight corruption when he succeeded the scandal-tainted Jacob Zuma.

"The suspension will bring some credibility to the president's longstanding pledge of addressing corruption within the ANC," said Aleix Montana, analyst at risk intelligence firm Verisk Maplecroft.

But analysts note that Magashule, a renowned political infighter with a permanent scowl, is a Zuma confidant with an entrenched following within the party.

John Steenhuisen, leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance party, said it was not enough to just suspend Magashule, demanding that the party surrender all the evidence it has about Magashule's "corrupt dealings and ensure that he is put behind bars".
The current National Organising Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has filed his nomination to run for the presidency of the association.

Mr. Dwumfuor, who is also the Head of Corporate Affairs at Tobinco Group of Companies assured to make the association a vibrant one should he win the position.

Speaking to the media after filing his nomination form, Mr. Dwumfuor said he will prioritize the welfare of journalists if he becomes the next GJA president.

I stand for 3 key things  journalists lives first. The welfare of journalists is very key, and I'm coming in to change the status quo and let journalists feel comfortable, Mr Dwumfour said.

He also promised to ensure that the security of journalists becomes a priority adding that we need to take our private security as an utmost responsibility because we need to live to tell the story.

We will make sure we use all the means and the connections to bring all the stakeholders together to discuss this issue, so we don't compromise our security, he added.

Mr Dwumfour gave the assurance that the professional development of journalists will be on his agenda adding that he would ensure quarterly workshops for journalists in order to build their capacity.

Social media is taking over the media space. The world is evolving, so how does traditional media position themselves to meet the trend? All these things are going to be factored in the quarterly workshop, the GJA Organizing Secretary stressed

While commending the current GJA leaders of which he is a member for their stewardship, he also called for the need for GJA to be made attractive for other media personalities to join.

He, therefore, promised to rebrand the association using his charisma, exuberance, ingenuity, and resourcefulness to achieve that goal.

We must give the association a facelift. We need to have a vibrant GJA and I will make sure it happens. If I come, and I'm not able to do it I will resign , the Head of Corporate Affairs of the Tobinco Group assured.

---citinewsroom
Sometime in 1995, Fortune magazine published what was called an Asia Corrupt-o-meter- a corruption barometer for Asian countries. This was a guide for American companies seeking business in Asia, who face a nightmarish legal dilemma, because the attractive emerging markets of Asia, for foreign investors, are also the most corrupt. This was stated by a report of the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC), a Hong Kong-based firm that analyses corruption and political stability in different countries.

China, Indonesia and India were rated as the most corrupt with scores of 7.31, 7.00, and 6.59, respectively. Japan and Singapore with respective 1.97 and 1.19 were rated the least corrupt.

It is a consolation for us in India that we were not rated the most corrupt. It is a further consolation that corruption exists everywhere, however little-even in what is regarded as the most aseptic country in the world; if this is any consolation at all!

And what does the PERC suggest? Learn how the system works, and cultivate local leaders without giving questionable payments. This is easier said than done, especially when competitors show up with briefcases full of cash.

Many of us in these countries have just got used to the idea. We know that if we do not pay a tip to the telephone repairman, he will not show up the next time we need him.

In fact, the telephone linesman in our area had begun walking with a strut, with neighbours nodding a greeting to him as he passedas if he were the collector of the area.

We know that some municipal personnel will not have the accumulated garbage collected for three days, unless a tip is paid.

In 1990, I had gone to the sales tax office to get a registration, and needed a form to fill  the peon said he had run out of them.

Then I saw him performing the trick of producing a blank application form for those who slipped in a ten rupee note. These forms were to be given free.

They were applications for registration so that one could pay taxes to the government.

Should one then give a tenner and be done with it? Or file a complaint and spend a lot more money making many trips to the commercial tax office? Most people choose the easier route.

Again, some years ago, the inspector of shops and establishments visited the office of a friend, Arun. He asked for the recordsas he was expected to. He found some minor faults and blew up their importance out of all proportion.

Arun decided that he would pay. It was nuisance prevention moneybecause this is what the inspector was hinting at.

Arun put Rs250 in an envelope and passed it on to the inspector, who promptly opened the envelope. You know Mr Arun, he said, with a smirk: even the peon in my department would expect more than this.

The unstated had been expressed: both the intent and the amount. What should Arun do?

It was like the old story of the waiter in the restaurant, who returned the tip to the customer with the quiet admonition, Thank you very much Sir, but I think you need it more than I do.

Joshi went to the land records office, because he needed to change the ownership of his plot, from a joint one with his mother, to his sole ownership. His mother had died two months before.

It was just a simple administrative requirement. The will was clear. The original records showed both names and now one had died. It was simple. Yet, not so simple.

He went to the office every three months for three years. And was always given some reason why it was not yet done.

Finally, a friend suggested a broker, who specialised in this line of business. He paid a sizable amount for the service. The actual fee at the land records was negligible. The job was done in just two months!

And so it goes on, from the political rulers of the country, to the humble peon in the commercial hierarchy. Those who have chosen to tread the straight and narrow path, are a small minority.

For the many whose conscience has not yet been deadened and who still wish to distinguish between completely right and totally wrongan ethic has evolved, where being righteous means not accepting bribes.

But giving bribes is a different matter, because one cannot survive otherwise. One would have to close shop. I did that once, and paid a heavy price. I could not do it again!

This attitude of acceptance was beautifully encapsulated in the opening remarks of the delegate from Indonesia, at the Asia Pacific Conference on Business Opportunities, held in Malaysia, where I was invited to speak.

He spoke before I did  and he beat me to it.

Ladies and gentlemen, he said, for many years we have heard the boast that Britannia rules the waves. That may no longer be true. But it is still true that in Indonesia, we waive the rules. So come and invest in Indonesia.

The audience burst into laughter. But he had made a point. He had also demonstrated a helpless acceptance of the situation as it is.

If corruption has reduced to some small extent after these 25 years, it is because of technology  not because of better inculcation of values or morality.

The telephone linesman is no longer important  because we now carry mobiles.

The land records will improve with computerisation and net operations.

The toll stations will be more honest because of toll passes and no cash payments.

But we still have a long way to go!
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday decided to provide a window for restructuring to individual and small borrowers having a loan of up to Rs25 crore if it was not availed earlier. Further, the central bank announced Rs50,000 crore liquidity for ramping up COVID-related healthcare infrastructure and services till March 2022.

In a web address, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das says, "Individuals, borrowers and micro, medium and small enterprises ( MSMEs) with aggregate exposure up to Rs25 crore, who have not availed restructuring under any previous frameworks, who were classified as standard on 31 March 2021, will be eligible to be considered under Resolution Framework 2.0. Restructuring under new framework can be invoked till 30 September 2021 and will have to be implemented within 90 days after invocation."

"For individuals and small businesses who have availed restructuring of loans under resolution framework 1.0, where moratorium of less than two years was permitted, lending institutions can now increase the period and/or extending residual tenure up to a total of two years. In respect of small businesses and MSMEs restructured earlier, lending institutions are now permitted to review working capital sanction limits, as a one-time measure," Mr Das says.

According to Krishnan Sitaraman, senior director of CRISIL Ratings, unlike the asset-quality stress cycle five years back, which involved large corporates, this time around, smaller accounts, especially MSME and retail, are more vulnerable to the pandemic's second wave. "The RBI's moves are targeted accordingly. A one-time restructuring for individual borrowers and MSMEs; and allowing lenders to offer a more supportive repayment structure under last year's restructuring package," he says.

The central bank has also decided to provide term liquidity facility of Rs50,000 crore for ramping up healthcare infrastructure.

Under the scheme, RBI says banks can provide fresh lending support to a wide range of entities including vaccine manufactures; importers or suppliers of vaccines and priority medical devices; hospitals/dispensaries; pathology labs; manufactures and suppliers of oxygen and ventilators; importers of vaccines and COVID-related drugs; logistics firms and also patients for treatment.



RBI says, "Banks are being incentivised for quick delivery of credit under the scheme through extension of priority sector classification to such lending up to 31 March 2022. These loans will continue to be classified under priority sector till repayment or maturity, whichever is earlier. Banks may deliver these loans to borrowers directly or through intermediary financial entities regulated by the RBI. Banks are expected to create a COVID loan book under the scheme. By way of an additional incentive, such banks will be eligible to park their surplus liquidity up to the size of the COVID loan book with the RBI under the reverse repo window at a rate which is 25 basis points (bps) lower than the repo rate or, termed in a different way, 40 bps higher than the reverse repo rate."

RBI also announced special long-term repo operations for small finance banks (SFBs). The central bank will provide further support to micro, small and other unorganised sector entities, a three-year repo operation of Rs10,000 crore at repo rate, for fresh lending up to Rs10 lakh per borrower. This facility will be available up to 31 October 2021, the RBI says.

Mr Sitaraman from CRISIL says, "Incentivising SFBs to lend to MFIs, which typically face higher borrower vulnerability, is salutary. What helps is that 8 out of 11 SFBs were MFIs previously, so they would be in a better position to evaluate the credit profiles of the smaller MFIs and lend. Secondly, extending the priority-sector lending eligibility to MFIs with asset size up to Rs500 crore will encourage flow of credit to smaller MFIs, which have been facing relatively bigger funding-access challenges. This move will cover around half of the NBFC-MFIs in India."

In view of fresh challenges, Mr Das says, small finance banks are now permitted to regard fresh on-lending to micro-finance institutions (MFIs) with asset size up to Rs500 crore, as priority sector lending, and this facility will be available up to 31 March 2022.

The RBI governor says, "To further incentivise inclusion of unbanked MSMEs into banking system, exemption provided in February 2021 where scheduled banks were allowed to deduct credit given to new MSME borrowers from net time and demand liabilities (NTDL), is now extended to 31 December 2021."

Address by Shri Shaktikanta Das, RBI Governor

https://t.co/rBtDp1xwHb  ReserveBankOfIndia (@RBI) May 5, 2021

Mr Das, the governor says, "Over a year now, we have struggled to free ourselves from the pandemics deadly grip. Between mid-September and February, as a country, we did manage to lower infections at a time when the rest of the world was reeling under malevolent surges of the virus. This time around, we have to marshal our resources and fight it again with renewed vigour, ignited by the determination to overcome, and to return to normalcy and sound health."
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL)'s deleveraging of its balance sheet is likely to continue and the company's prudent investment policies, stable operations, and potential for further asset monetisation should support the trend, says S&P Global Ratings.

In a note, the ratings agency says, "RIL's deleveraging over the past 12 months has exceeded our expectations. This was driven by sizable asset monetisation and equity raising. The India-based conglomerate recognised a cash inflow of Rs2.2 trillion (about $30 billion) during fiscal 2021, which lowered our computation of reported net debt by about 70% to about Rs540 billion."

"The reduction in debt was despite RIL having negative free cash flows of about Rs860 billion during the year. We therefore estimate the S&P adjusted debt-to-earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) ratio on the company improved to about 1 time in fiscal 2021 from 3.1 times in fiscal 2020," S&P says.

S&P says it cannot rule out further asset monetisation by RIL over the next 12 to 24 months. The company is in the process of spinning off its oil-to-chemicals segment into a wholly-owned subsidiary. It has a non-binding letter of intent to sell a 20% stake in the segment to Saudi Arabian Oil Co.

"Further monetisation is possible in RIL's telecommunications and retail businesses. Moreover, we expect the company to receive about Rs400 billion from a rights issue later this year," it added.

However, as per S&P's underlying view, sizable investments by RIL are a risk. Nevertheless, it says, "we believe the RIL management remains committed in maintaining low levels of leverage. We view the company's track record of sound credit quality as critical when we revisit its financial profile. The ratings on RIL would likely remain at 'BBB+' even if the company's credit metrics strengthen further, given India's transfer and convertibility assessment of 'bbb+'."

The ratings agency expects the digital and retail segments to continue to mitigate volatility in RIL's energy segment and underpin stable earnings. The company's fiscal 2021 earnings were resilient despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

"By our estimate, the company's fiscal 2021 consolidated reported EBITDA fell 9% to about Rs810 billion as the pandemic and lockdowns, both globally and locally, weighed on the oil refining and petrochemical segments, especially in the first half. Nevertheless, strong growth in the digital and retail segments mitigated the earnings decline," S&P concludes.
Praising the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) or BrihanMumbai Municipal Corp (BMC) for effective handling of oxygen supply to city hospitals amidst the second wave of COVID, the Supreme Court on Wednesday advised the Union government to take a cue from BMC in managing oxygen supply.

Justice DY Chandrachud says, "From what we see in the media, BMC has done some remarkable work. We are not disrespecting Delhi but we can maybe see what was done by BMC.

"Maharashtra is also an oxygen supply state. If the health secretary of Delhi government and the Centre hold a meeting with Iqbal Singh Chahal, the municipal commissioner of BMC and draw from their experience, they can evolve a plan to create storage tanks and install them for Delhi."

The bench of justice Chandrachud and justice MR Shah also observed that the judges of the apex court are also based in Delhi, and they can imagine what the citizens of the capital are going through due to shortage of medical oxygen.

"Lawyers are crying, they are requesting us to step in. You know private citizens well as our friendships are limited...We are helpless and have been on phone. We can imagine what citizens are going through," justice Chandrachud says.

Later, SC stayed the contempt notice issued by the Delhi High Court against Central government officers for failing to comply with the direction to ensure 700 metric tonnes (MT) supply of oxygen to COVID hospitals in the national capital.

The bench says, "We direct that by 10.30am Thursday, the centre shall place a comprehensive plan in the form of a chart, indicating the manner in which the direction for allocation of 700MT shall be complied with."

The Centre had moved the apex court against an order passed by the Delhi High Court mulling contempt action against the Centre and state officials for not supplying 700MT oxygen to Delhi as per the Supreme Court order.

The Centre submitted before the SC that it has provided 550MT oxygen to Delhi. However, the bench reiterated that it must provide 700MT even if it takes the point made by the Centre that it is way beyond the requirement of oxygen for the number of patients.

The apex court emphasised that the pandemic in Delhi is at a very critical stage and asked the Centre to inform by evening how 700MT oxygen supply is maintained daily for the next four days.

The bench emphasised that it would review its direction to supply 700MT of oxygen to Delhi on Monday. It further added that for the next four days the Centre must ensure that a daily supply of 700MT oxygen is made.
Gov. Eric Holcomb has vetoed legislation that would have stripped local health officers of their independent authority to impose disease prevention measures on individuals and businesses during an emergency if the measures are more stringent than state rules.

Senate Enrolled Act 5 would have mandated the county or city council that oversees a health officer approve any health order whose provisions go beyond state requirements, such as continuing a face mask mandate or business capacity restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic now that the governors directives on those issues have expired.

In his veto message, the Republican chief executive said Tuesday local health officers need the ability  in any emergency  to make "urgent, complex decisions to safeguard public health where time is of the essence and expertise is critical."

WATCH NOW: Face masks, social distancing required at Indiana casinos until at least June 1

Holcomb said subjecting local health officers to immediate second-guessing by a county or city council jeopardizes the ability of health officers to fashion appropriate responses to the spread of infectious disease or other health emergencies.

"One reason Indiana has weathered the storm so well is due to coordination with local health experts and the flexibility in law to be fast, nimble and targeted," Holcomb said.

"Also, the knowledge that local health officials were able to exercise this discretionary authority greatly informed the state's own day-by-day, sometimes hour-by-hour, emergency response."

The sponsor of the measure, state Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, last month said the potential scope of a local health order during an emergency could lead to the permanent closure of many businesses, and any decision of that magnitude deserves only to be made with the approval of local elected officials.

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This is Holcomb's third veto of legislation approved this year by the Republican-controlled General Assembly.

WATCH NOW: Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops: Monitoring LaPorte with Specialist Justin Dyer

Hoosier lawmakers already enacted House Enrolled Act 1123, authorizing the Legislature to call itself into session during an emergency, notwithstanding his objections.

It's currently the subject of multiple lawsuits seeking to have the statute declared unconstitutional.

Lawmakers also could return Monday to the Statehouse to consider overriding the governor's veto of the local health officer restrictions and Senate Enrolled Act 303, requiring enhanced labeling of gas pumps dispensing fuel blends containing 10% to 15% ethanol.

Gov. Eric Holcomb veto message on Senate Enrolled Act 5

COVID-19: Hoosiers We've Lost
Last week was an interesting one when an anti-masker decided to tape herself in the Blairmore Post office refusing to wear a mask and then uploaded the video to social media . Her exploits are pretty much all Ive heard all week and I was out of town.For those of you who are not on social media, a local resident taped herself going into the post office without a mask, and when asked to put on the mask promptly said no that it was against her human rights.In the video the employee of the post office is heard asking her to mask up or they won't be able to provide service. The lady kept saying, you are holding up my postage, thats a federal offence ... Im going to come back here every day until you serve me. Blah blah blah.First, let's be clear, I am ambivalent regarding the masks. I wear them because Im told to wear them and it gives comfort to those who believe in them. So I mask up and head along my merry way.Its obvious that the woman is an anti-masker and although its her right to not wear a mask outside once she enters a facility she no longer has that privilege; as much as I hate it, it is what it is.If this lady wanted to make a statement I suggest she gets in her car and drives to the steps of the legislature, takes off her mask and protest there. That is her right.

What I find ridiculous and actually annoying is her patronizing voice, Im building a case against the worker upon which she says, honey. Beyond her annoying antics is the obvious stress she caused the workers. Let's be clear, these are employees of Canada Post who are forced, through their jobs, to adhere to the rules of the corporation, a rule that says patrons MUST wear a mask. I cant figure out why this woman would go after them. They didnt make the rule, but are in charge of enforcing it. Its similar to when you go into a restaurant and refuse to wear your mask. When the server or owner asks you to put it on, do you think they are doing it just for a power trip? If Albert Health Services (AHS) goes into that restaurant and sees people without masks they will shut that place down, putting every person in that building out of work. Its not their rules, its the rules set out by the government. We have a local store owner who cant wear a mask for medical reasons, if you dont want to go there because they dont wear a mask dont, its that simple. The employees from Canada Post have no choice, its that or perhaps be suspended or lose their jobs. Is that what the woman in the video wanted? She obviously wanted something when she walked into that building on two occasions with her phone taping her rant. I wonder if she knows that videotaping on federal premises is an offence? My guess is probably not. I hope this lady is self-employed because if my employee went to the post office to harass the front line staff for 13 minutes on my work time, Ill guarantee you she would not still have a job.

As a result of her antics the post office was closed for a day, the staff was put under tremendous stress and now there is a security guard posted. Unreal! I never thought Id see that in our little community.



When I went in there today the ladies looked exhausted. I was told that the support by the community was humbling. They were gifted with muffins and cupcakes, baskets and flowers all as a thank you from the people in our community to help overshadow the antics of one. Thats what makes this place magnificent.



So I leave with this to the lady who went into the post office to make a point. First, take your cause to parliament and protest there. In fact go hang out on Jason Kennys lawn if it makes you feel good, but dont stress out and harass a group of front line workers doing their job following rules they didnt create.



Second, be kind, my lord we need that more now then we ever have before. How hard is it to just be kind, apparently for some a little more difficult than others.



Third, if you go onto a federal premises, put your damn tape recorder away; people have a right to privacy when its parcels with names and addresses.



Fourth, I hope you arent doing this on company time, you not only made yourself look like an idiot, and you may in fact open yourself up for dismissal. Once something is time stamped and viral there is no going back.



Whether you believe in masks or not, whether you believe the pandemic is over sensationalized or not, please DO NOT harass the businesses that are forced to play by the rules laid out by AHS. If a business chooses to not follow the rules, you have the right to not go there. Its really that simple. The lady on the video should be embarrassed, because Im pretty sure the majority of the community is embarrassed on her behalf.



If she showed up in my business acting like that I certainly wouldnt have been as kind as those workers!



LS
CHOTEAU, Mont. - The production of wool in the United States has been declining in recent years.

But that hasn't stopped Montana sheep producers as the Treasure State produces over 4 million pounds of wool each year.

Roughly 35-40 wool producers gathered in Choteau on May 4, 2021 to pool their wools together.

This day is set aside to sample, weigh and gather wool together to make sure it's sold for top dollar.

"This is a great way for smaller producers, like myself, I don't have a large folk of sheep. So, I don't have a large volume of wool to sell," Leah Johnson, executive secretary of the Montana Wool Growers Association, said.

This process makes Montana wool sell for a higher price and helps the economy.

"Montana benefits from our wool being bought on the open market. There is the opportunity that this wool could be sold to Canada, this wool could be sold to China and the best wool in the world is raised right here in Montana, and specifically probably this very pool," Pete Cornell, president of the Front Range Wool and Lamb Pool, said.

Here is how it works... The producers unload their wool and it's put on a machine that weights it. Then they burn a hole in the sack and get core and visual samples of the wool for testing.

"That sample is collected and is sent to the wool lab in Bozeman," Cornell said.

"They're not just people that come an unload their wool. They're people that are apart of this whole family," Cornell said.

If you look at the history of Montana and sheep producing, a lot of farms and ranches actually got their start in sheep producing as it gives you two products, meat and wool.

"Eat lamb and wear wool, that's what we like to say," Johnson said.

Cornell says almost everyone uses a percentage of wool in their daily life.

"I'm proud to be a sheep raiser in the state of Montana," Cornell said.

Montana producers are even helping the men and women who serve.

"Service uniforms are made out of Montana wool," Cornell said.

"They source a lot of wool from Montana. The Rocky Mountain region is known for producing a really nice fine wool that is great for suits and things that military members use," Johnson said.

So, what would Montana do if the industry was gone? Cornell answered with a question of his own.

"Well, I mean what are you going to wear in the winter? We all know how cold MT gets in the winter time and if you ain't got warm wool socks to put on or a wool cap or wool mittens, it's going to be mighty cold," Cornell said.
GREAT FALLS, Mont.  Wednesday marks a national day of awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and girls.

According to the Department of Justice, Native Americans account for more than 25% of the missing person cases in Montana, despite making up less than 7% of the population. Native Americans are 4 times more likely to go missing in the Treasure State.

Ceremonies are being held here at home and across the nation today to bring awareness to the movement, which comes at a crucial time in northern Montana right now, with a rise in missing people cases on the Blackfeet Reservation.

As of Wednesday morning, four people from the Blackfeet Reservation alone have vanished from family and friends over a span of two weeks. 3- year- old Arden Pepion, 26-year-old Leo Wagner, 35-year-old Anjeanise Wagner, and 37-year-old Ray Lynn Rider have been missing for several days. Each of their family and friends are pleading for answers.

Montana has been dealing with the problem of missing and murdered people on or near native reservations for centuries. Technology and social media has helped spread awareness for the cause, yet, loved ones still go missing. Jean Bearcrane, Executive Director of the Montana Native Women's Coalition, lost her nephew in 2005. Her work is driven from grief, in hopes that no other family will have to endure such a loss that too many factors go into.

"There's a small number of law enforcement people that are on reservations compared to the size of those reservations, that's one thing. The other thing is that laws are still being updated, internal policies are still being updated as to when a person would be considered missing."

On top of that, she believes the location of the reservations, near highways, trafficking activity, poor cellular service, age, and race make victims appear to be easy targets. She said a Native American Fatality Review Commission has been established to try and uncover patterns in cases like Ashley Loring HeavyRunner and Jermain Charlo. Its been almost 4 years since HeavyRunner vanished from the Blackfeet Reservation in June 2017. Her sister Kimberly Loring said national days of awareness serve as a glimmer of hope for her family in the wake of such tragedy.

This year the Bureau of Indian affairs also set up a cold case unit with a protocol designed to find missing people.

Bearcrane will address lawmakers at the state capitol in Helena later Wednesday morning to promote the missing and murdered indigenous women and children movement.
(BPT) - For the past year, the pandemic has disrupted the world  and small businesses are no exception. While navigating challenges, many small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) discovered keys not only to survival, but to adapting and thriving. New research reveals what SMBs need to weather today's hardships  and future challenges.

Here are the top areas SMBs need to focus on.

1. Boost cybersecurity with smarter technology

Technology company Lenovo's "Future of Work and Transformation Study" shows that while companies experienced a learning curve moving employees to remote work, businesses are leveraging smarter technology to increase IT security and empower employee productivity.

All companies have had to respond to the need for increased IT security and support for employees relying on home Wi-Fi networks. Employees using remotely-connected cloud and collaboration tools from their laptops or other devices on home Wi-Fi networks may increase the risk to data security, putting increased strain on IT department resources.

Lenovo's study found that although most SMBs subscribe to an IT security service, data security and compliance management remains a burden. Fortunately, most businesses recognized the need early, and 80% of them built strategies to keep things running, including plans for data security and redundancy. About 45% of businesses reported having cloud-based data backup, 39% had physical data backup and 39% provided data security training.

Businesses may want to consider always-connected PCs with integrated LTE or 5G to offer employees freedom from reliance on unstable and potentially unsecure home Wi-Fi networks to increase connectivity speed and security. Smarter devices, services and software that can self-diagnose and pre-empt security vulnerabilities are also emerging technology solutions that can help SMBs that lack a robust IT support team to better manage their remote workforce.

"In todays climate, businesses need reliable technology partners to boost digital transformation initiatives," said Eric Yu, SVP and GM of the SMB Segment, Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo. "With the right partner, any size business can manage their hardware, software and services to maximize employee experience and enhance productivity and security."

2. Ensure employees have the necessary tools

While many businesses played catch-up to ensure employees had the right tools to successfully work from home, others still don't have the right infrastructure for remote staff  which will likely continue to be essential to businesses.

The study found that cloud collaboration and software tools for videocalls and simultaneous document collaboration are essential for 97% of employees. Almost two-thirds of survey respondents also said these tools improved their productivity and efficiency.

Now is a good time to assess what technological tools your employees need, so you'll be ready for whatever the future holds.

3. Meet consumer demand for omnichannel ordering

Since lockdowns began, eCommerce and online ordering has increased dramatically  for everything from sporting goods and retail apparel to housewares and takeout meals. While some businesses  whether independent retailers or restaurants  have gone online for the first time, others worked to optimize their existing online ordering systems, taking into consideration order flow, packaging, delivery systems and end-user experience.

Through this disruptive period, retailers have had the opportunity to get more creative and innovative in terms of how they are reaching their customers. Adopting eCommerce and having an online presence is no longer a "nice to have," but a "must have"  and going forward, both retailers and restaurateurs will need to continue to perfect the omnichannel experience (unifying their physical and digital operations) by creating an integrated and cohesive customer experience, no matter how or where a customer reaches out.

Consumer behavior has quickly changed in surprising ways. Data from a recent study by Lightspeed, a leading provider of cloud-based, omnichannel commerce platforms, shows how online ordering for restaurants in large suburbs grew by a whopping 3,868% between February and April 2020, as commuter patterns changed and restaurants identified opportunities outside urban centers.

Having an efficient, safe, user-friendly eCommerce system is not only crucial when customers can't come inside your brick-and-mortar business, it's essential to provide more convenience and options for whatever customers are looking for. In both the retail and hospitality industries, consumer appetite for online ordering is here to stay. In fact, a recent study from Google showed that 61% of shoppers prefer an omnichannel experience that unifies the physical and digital shopping experience, with the ability to order online at their convenience and shop in-person when they need an item immediately.

4. Diversify revenue streams and shore up supply chains

In an unpredictable economy, it's important to make sure the entirety of your business is as resilient and flexible as possible. Many restaurants from the Lightspeed study added new merchandise, subscription boxes, to-go beverages gift cards, online classes and donation options to their online ordering menus, with great success. These are tactics that restaurants powered by Lightspeed in economies such as Australia and New Zealand maintained even after diners enthusiastically returned to indoor dining.

"Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the global economy. Their ability to creatively navigate this past year demonstrates both their resilience and the crucial role they will play in reigniting communities through commerce as lockdowns are lifted," said Dax Dasilva, CEO of Lightspeed. "Independent businesses who have moved to seamlessly unite their digital and physical operations are poised to thrive."

5. Leverage social media to grow community

Lightspeed believes that commerce ignites community and the company's recent study also found restaurants that were able to grow their revenue by more than 100% in 2020 maintained a robust social media presence and marketing strategy to connect with local neighborhood diners. These thriving restaurateurs found ways to give back, reward customer loyalty and partner with other local businesses to build a broader customer base. They identified ways to utilize local media for outreach and responded to every customer review to ensure their online reputation kept new guests coming in. These are key tactics for any entrepreneur.

For independent businesses, surviving  and thriving  despite daunting challenges requires agility, plus the know-how to leverage all available technology tools.
BILLINGS - After talk of a high speed chase that allegedly ended with a vehicle driving off the rims Tuesday night, we asked the Billings Police Department for details.

According to Billings police, an attempted suicide turned into a high speed chase Tuesday.

BPD says the driver of the vehicle led the chase onto the Rims where he drove onto the bike path near the 'lollipop' water tower and busted a tire.

The Sheriff's Office handled the case while BPD assisted.

The driver was detained.

No injuries were reported.
Lake Ridge Academy, 37501 Center Ridge Road in North Ridgeville, unfortunately failed in an attempt May 5 to break the Guinness Book of World 
Persepolis restorers start work on Seljuk-era inscription

05/05/21

Source: Tehran Times

A team of cultural heritage restorers from the UNESCO-registered Persepolis has commenced work on a Seljuk-era (1037-1194) inscription, which is located in Khorramabad, the capital of Lorestan province.

"The lack of adequate restoration and protection caused further erosion and destruction of this historical monument," Mehr quoted Seyyed Amin Qasemi, the provincial tourism chief, as saying on Monday.

"Considering the sensitivity of the restoration of stone monuments, a specialized team of Persepolis restorers was invited to inspect the inscription and develop their proposal."

The inscription has written on a large stone with a height of 3.5 meters in Kufic, which is a type of Arabic script.

The Seljuk engraving is the symbol of the rich culture of people in this region. The main topic of the inscription is about cutting taxes, feeding livestock on the Shapur I pastures, and forbid some unpleasant customs.

The principal purpose of carving the Seljuk inscription was the association of government with the people about informing the new rules. The place of this inscription has selected so that each caravan that was coming from the Iranian plateau could perceive the inscription.

Seljuk, also spelled, Seljuq, was a ruling military family of the Oguz (Ghuzz) Turkic tribes that invaded southwestern Asia in the 11th century and eventually founded an empire that included Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, and most of Iran. Their advance marked the beginning of Turkish power in the Middle East.

Soaked in history and culture, Lorestan is one of the lesser-known travel destinations in Iran, which mainly acts as a gateway to the sweltering plains below in adjoining Khuzestan province. Most travelers just pass through on their way to the UNESCO sites of Susa, Tchogha Zanbil, and Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System. Lorestan is also a region of raw beauty that an avid nature lover could spend weeks exploring.

Lorestan was inhabited by Iranian Indo-European peoples, including the Medes, c. 1000 BC. Cimmerians and Scythians intermittently ruled the region from about 700 to 625 BC. Lorestan was incorporated into the growing Achaemenid Empire in about 540 BC and successively was part of the Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanid dynasties.
A new Sewer and Water Advisory Board, also known as SWAB, includes people with experience in local government in Lorain.
Lorain police announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with a shooting at The Cotton Club on April 11 that left a 19-year-old man in cr
Sheffield Township voters rejected a 3.0-mill additional levy to enhance staffing at the Sheffield Township Fire Department, while approving renewal levies for existing fire and EMS services.
Lorain City Council ratified a new three-year work agreement on May 4, 2021, with the Lorain police union. The contract includes a clause stating the city must maintain a fleet of safe emergency response cars, so patrol cars must be replaced when they reach between 100,000 and 125,000 miles.
The Lorain South Side Block Watch once again will hold its third annual First Responders Banquet on May 11 at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Ch
14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
It is time to change the narrative.

That is what leaders of our taxing entities told those in attendance at the Midland Chamber of Commerces State of Midland event Tuesday.

The elected leaders of the city, county, college, hospital and school district took questions, offered information for those inside the Bush Convention Center and provided a road map for life after COVID.

For the leaders of the school district and city  board President Bryan Murry and Mayor Patrick Payton respectively  the message was clear. We must see ourselves differently.

For Murry, the call for Midlanders to focus on the great things happening in the district echoed what new Superintendent Angelica Ramsey has been saying during her meetings with stakeholders and the community. He said the district is not broken but that students, teachers and staff are ready to make a difference.

It was part of the initiative by new leadership to get community members to become one with their school district again, because the district is a reflection of the community where it resides.

We need people to come alongside with us and stop talking about the negatives, Murry said after the event. Weve got to get people to start talking about the good things, because theres so many good things going on in MISD.

Murry said even this weekend the Midland High drama students claimed a medal (top-3 finish at state) and the districts robotics teams are performing at high levels. Murry said no person at the district has any intention of sweeping the academic struggles under the rug. We have to own that, he said, but plans are being developed to tackle that problem.

We own where we are. Theres no denying that, Murry said. We just have to change the attitude. So that starts feeding on some positive momentum.

For Payton, the change of mindset starts with how Midlanders see themselves. He used an example Tuesday about businesspeople from Albany, New York, that are looking to relocate their company. After visiting Midland, they told Payton that Midland just feels like America, pointing to the values of the community and its residents.

Paytons on-stage candor was reminiscent of the man who campaigned for the position in the summer and fall of 2019. When Payton announced his intention to run for mayor, he talked about the paradigm shift needed in the Permian Basin and about how Midland is the epicenter of the oil revolution taking place in West Texas, that it is one of the most important cities in the world.

During the campaign he also talked the potential of Midland being a top-100 city in the nation. Tuesday, Payton again described the potential that the community has.

I want us to believe that about ourselves, Payton said. We have to stop believing the image of what Midland used to be and what we think it is.  We are the crown jewel of the energy industry. That will not change. We have to prove to a watching world it feels like America.
Dozens of students at the University of Texas at Austin who give campus tours to prospective Longhorns are refusing to work this week over a dispute about a plaque with The Eyes of Texas lyrics hanging in the Admissions Welcome Center.

The dustup over the plaque is the latest example of UT-Austin officials standing by The Eyes over pleas that the university distance itself from the alma mater song because it originated at a minstrel show where students likely wore Blackface.

RELATED: The 'Eyes of Texas' emails that show some UT donors are the worst

Its also the latest in a series of clashes over the song in a nearly yearlong controversy that has frequently pit administrators and alumni against students and divided members of the Longhorn community.

Just this week, a threatening incident was reported to UT-Austin police where a student-led online event about The Eyes of Texas was crashed by an unknown man on camera wearing a bandana over his mouth and nose and who appeared to be loading a large gun.

UT-Austin officials did not respond to a request for comment about the incidents, nor did they respond to written questions.

Students say protests over the song are not going away. Kendall Walker, a UT-Austin senior who is part of the student strike in the admissions office, said she thinks administrators wrongly assumed the issue would die down after the school formed a committee this past year to study the songs origins. UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell has repeatedly affirmed that the university will keep the song.

I think this is the tip of the iceberg honestly, Walker said. This is the beginning of it and people resisting that decision and not accepting a committee of people deem[ing] the song isnt racist. There's a whole generation of students and minority students that are equally and more mad than we are and don't want to enter a space that predetermined their opinions dont matter.

Members of the Texas Tour Guides said the song has created a divisive environment on campus and wanted the plaque to be removed to ensure all student employees and prospective students feel comfortable in the Welcome Center, according to more than six students who work or volunteer as tour guides and spoke to The Texas Tribune.

The guides sent a letter to the university on April 19, asking for a plan detailing for the plaque's removal by May 1  otherwise, they said they would stop giving tours virtually or in person.

Tour guides said they suggested replacing the plaque with something symbolizing another university tradition that is more inclusive.

The admissions office would not commit to removing the plaque and told students via email on April 29 that they did not have to work as a tour guide if they had concerns.

We understand you may no longer desire to serve in this role based on your feelings about the Universitys long-standing school song. If you no longer wish to serve as a Texas Tour Guide, please inform your supervisor so that your request can be processed, wrote Miguel Wasielewski, director of admissions. Wasielewski did not respond to a request for comment.

The request to remove the plaque from the Welcome Center came months after admissions renamed the tour guide group. Previously called the Guides of Texas, intended to sound similar to The Eyes of Texas, the admissions office decided to separate itself from the name last July, according to an email sent to students by the admissions office and obtained by the Tribune.

We feel that in order to have an inclusive space where everyone feels safe and welcomed that a name change is necessary, wrote Noemi Gomez, student program coordinator in the universitys admissions office.

READ ALSO: Black lawmakers, NAACP and students push back on UT-Austin's 'The Eyes of Texas' report

The tour guides estimated that the strike includes roughly 55 students, about half of all the guides.

Student tour guides compared the universitys action over the plaque to its recent announcement that members of the Longhorn marching band are required to play The Eyes of Texas. The university said if they opted against playing the school song they can join a separate, newly created band where it wont be required.

Walker, who is Black, said she is often asked on tours by Black families about her experience on campus.

I [used to] stand up there and say, I feel welcomed. I feel heard  The way that I feel has completely flipped in the past 12 months, she said. We bring in students into this university and showcase this university in a way other students cannot. They reap so many benefits of having our presence there but can't honor something that makes us overtly uncomfortable. It's just super hurtful.

Multiple students who spoke to the Tribune said theyve had uncomfortable conversations with prospective parents and students about the controversy over the past year, yet they have not received any guidance for how to deal with questions about the song while giving tours. In some instances, students said questioning has gotten aggressive.

It definitely has been an added, like, burden on my mental health to go get dressed and put on my tour guide Polo and go out and talk to families that are oftentimes like predominantly white, about like things like racial justice here on campus, said Jeremiah Baldwin, a tour guide and sophomore at UT-Austin. I'm always like having this game of mental gymnastics that I'm playing, like, how should I describe this? Or, should I be as open and honest?

A targeted incident

In another sign of escalating tensions, a student group recently reported an online threat related to the dispute over the song.

Last week, the Texas Orange Jackets hosted an online Zoom conversation with professor Alberto Martinez about his report on the song, which identified links to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. According to students on the call and Martinez, as he was presenting, an unaffiliated person with a gun joined the call but was removed by moderators.

A screenshot of the Zoom call shared with the Tribune shows the man wearing a black beanie and a face covering over his mouth and nose while holding what appears to be a large black gun.

The fact that a conversation about changing a song inspired someone to bring a gun to a Zoom call is just ridiculous, said Irene Ameena, a senior leader in the Texas Orange Jackets. And shows that this isn't just some small debate. This is something thats violent, like it is violent to bring a gun and show it to people.

The student group reported the incident to university officials and the professor reported it to the UT Police Department.

Given the sensitive nature of the matter discussed on this call, we believe this was a targeted incident, Texas Orange Jackets wrote in a statement on the Facebook page for the event. We unequivocally condemn the racism and violence that have been brought up in conversations about this song and again call on the university to remove the Eyes of Texas as the official school song of the university.

A rebuke of their spinelessness

Walker said she knew students who didnt sing The Eyes even before student athletes brought attention to the matter by demanding the school do away with the tradition last summer in the wake of the death of George Floyd at the hands of police. That demand was faced with swift opposition from alumni and heavy weight donors who clamored for the school to keep the song and threatened to pull donations if it went away. While a university commissioned report found in March that the song had no racist intent, it has done little to diminish the controversy.

Recently, a petition calling on UT-Austin leaders to remove the song has circulated, with nearly 180 faculty as of Tuesday morning threatening not to attend graduations and university events unless it's confirmed the song wont be played. A previous petition calling for the songs removal had garnered close to 100 faculty signatures.

UT-Austin history Professor Jorge Canizares-Esguerra said the new petition was created after Martinez released his report that challenged the universitys narrative about the songs history. Overall, he said professors felt as if the administration had handled the issue without properly involving faculty and students.

It is a rebuke of the administration, Canizares-Esguerra said. Its a rebuke of their spinelessness before donors and alumni and powerful capital.

Members of the Texas Black Legislative Caucus and state NAACP chapters have also condemned the song. After UT-Austin released its report in early March, Black student leaders submitted a new list of demands for more scholarships, affordable student housing and increased wages for student workers to improve the experience of Black students on campus.

Brianna McBride, a senior at UT-Austin and co-director of the Black Presidents Leadership Council, said UT-Austin officials, including Hartzell, have been receptive to their requests and are continuing to work with student leaders to better communicate initiatives and plans with students.

As the academic year reaches an end, Canizares-Esguerra said he worried how the song and the ongoing controversy will affect the broader university if it continues

It is not sustainable because it promotes division, he said. It's unsustainable as a policy because it shows the world that the university is divided.

Disclosure: Facebook and University of Texas at Austin have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Sun Valley, ID (83353)

Today

Lots of sunshine. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some passing clouds. Low 43F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
Shirley Chisholm, who served as a congresswoman from New York, wore white on the night in 1968 when she became the first African American woman to be elected to Congress. She then dressed in a white blazer and blouse to appear on her presidential campaign posters four years later. "Bring U.S. together," the poster read. "Vote Chisholm 1972. Unbought and unbossed."
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Muskogee, OK (74401)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 72F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
But during a March City Council retreat, several council members expressed concerns that Virginia Beach is far too large to share a leader with its neighbor, especially during the pandemic. The council said the health director didnt have enough time to provide updates about the pandemic to Virginia Beach and Norfolk during council meetings.
Community Partner Program

Now more than ever it is important to help local businesses thrive and keep our community informed. Herald/Review Media is offering a Community Partner Program to assist local businesses by getting their message in front of the largest audience in Cochise County!

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The ViBe Creative District nonprofit announced on March 30 that four new murals will be added to Virginia Beach Title I public schools this spring under the theme Better Together. Due to COVID-19 restrictions limiting in person education outreach to students, the ViBe District nonprofit partnered with the school district to provide four local artists the chance to paint a mural inside the schools to surprise and inspire students with positive images after a difficult year of the pandemic and racial discord. The project is supported by grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts/NEA and the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission.
FARGO, N.D. (AP)  The Biden administration on Monday reiterated that the Dakota Access oil pipeline should continue to operate while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducts an extensive environmental review, although the Corps said again that it could change its mind.

The Standing Rock Sioux and other tribes have filed for an injunction asking U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to shut down the pipeline while the Corps conducts a second review, expected to be completed by March. The tribes and environmental groups, encouraged by some of Bidens moves on climate change and fossil fuels, were hoping he would step in and shut down the pipeline north of the reservation that straddles the Dakotas border.

Instead, the Corps in an update ordered by the judge repeated its stance from last months hearing that the shutdown issue remains in Boasbergs lap.

It is possible that in the EIS process the Corps would find new information, the document stated, referring to the environmental impact statement, but to date the Corps is not aware of information that would cause it to evaluate the injunction factors differently than in its previous filing.

Earthjustice attorney Jan Hasselman, who represents Standing Rock, reacted by citing Bidens discussion with world leaders on addressing climate change and the presidents promise to be more sensitive to concerns by Indigenous leaders and tribal governments.

Given all this, its baffling that when it comes to the Dakota Access pipeline, Bidens Army Corps is standing in the way of justice for Standing Rock by opposing a court order to shut down this infrastructure while environmental and safety consequences are fully evaluated, Hasselman said.

Attorneys for the pipelines Texas-based owner, Energy Transfer, have argued that shuttering the pipeline would be devastating financially to several entities, including North Dakota, and the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation tribe. Standing Rock said preventing those economic losses should not come at the expense of other tribes, especially when Boasbergs decision to strip the project of a key federal permit has been supported by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Standing Rock, which draws its water from the Missouri River, says it fears pollution. The company says the pipeline is safe.

Boasberg ordered further environmental study after determining the Corps had not adequately considered how an oil spill under the Missouri River might affect Standing Rocks fishing and hunting rights, among other things. A federal panel later upheld the judges ruling, but did not go as far as shutting down the pipeline.
CARLINVILLE  Macoupin County residents can now pay property taxes in four installments instead of two.

It will be more affordable for taxpayers  and, in my opinion, reduce delinquencies and additional fees, Treasurer Roger Anderson said. Also, having four installments for our taxpayers will also be compatible for our schools in Macoupin County.
April 22 is a day that will live on in infamy, as the U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 (Justice Kavanaugh writing for the court) to allow juveniles to be sentenced to life without parole.

The case is Jones v. Mississippi, which is about a 15-year old boy who murdered his grandfather, then claimed self-defense, and was eventually sentenced to life in prison. The result of the Supreme Courts decision, in this case, is that a court sentencing a juvenile does not need to reach a separate finding that the juvenile (under 18) is permanently incorrigible before sentencing them to life in prison. Essentially, in Jones, the Supreme Court examined two relevant precedents  Miller v. Alabama and Montgomery v. Louisiana) and held that these cases

 do not require the sentencer to make a separate factual finding of permanent incorrigibility before sentencing the defendant to life without parole. In such a case, a discretionary sentencing system is both constitutionally necessary and constitutionally sufficient.

This is a massive blow for judicial advocates who believe that sentencing a juvenile to life without parole is both inhumane and un-American. The American Civil Liberties Union filed an amicus brief in Jones back in September, arguing that the notion that sentencing children to die in prison runs counter to our constitutional traditions. After Jones, the ACLU might need to change the tense to ran, as even Justice Sonia Sotomayors massively powerful dissent is simply a strongly worded rebuttal in a 6-3 loss.

Sotomayor raises some superb points in her dissent, that in almost any other court in the past 50 years, should have been the opinion of the court. Perhaps her most visionary words in the Jones dissent were admittedly political theater. As many political pundits have done since Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined to make this a 6-3 ideologically conservative court, Sotomayor wrote that the present incarnation of the Supreme Court of the United States is willing to overrule precedent without even acknowledging it is doing so, much less providing any special justification.

This will be one of the most relevant practical criticisms of Jones as the case ages. Legal precedent, for the less initiated, is referred to as the Latin stare decisis. In Common Law legal systems, stare decisis is the foundation upon which cases are decided. Courts look at legal precedent (similar decisions already made) and decide whether to follow those precedents or set forth compelling reasons not to.

But this is a different court, as is evidenced by Jones. The warning shot fired by the Sotomayor dissent lines up with what Barrett has already said about herself as a Justice, that she will not be bound by stare decisis. In writing Now, it seems, the court is willing to overrule precedent without even acknowledging it is doing so, much less providing any special justification. It is hard to see how that approach is founded in the law rather than in the proclivities of individuals, Sotomayor asserts that the current Supreme Court has truly opened not one but two Pandoras boxes. The first is a willingness to deviate from the longstanding doctrine of stare decisis, but the second is potentially just as chilling to the notion of justice  and that is a court seemingly increasingly intent upon political activism. To be an activist court in itself isnt such an exceptional thing, yet to be an activist court comfortable with doing whatever it wants to settled law  as Miller and Montgomery were  is a totally new ball game.

Michele Finizio, a criminal defense attorney in New Jersey, argues the Supreme Court is on a very slippery slope here. Simply put, it violates the Eighth Amendment for courts to sentence people under age 18 to life without parole. A sentencing court is constitutionally bound to make a separate determination that the juvenile offender found guilty is permanently incorrigible. In deviating from good precedent, the Supreme Court took a bad misstep in Jones.

Whether the practical result of Jones is barbaric, as it was described in Slate minutes after the decision, or simply a contortion of precedent, as Sotomayor wrote in her dissent, when the court becomes comfortable with disposing of solid precedent for no legally justifiable reason, none of us should be surprised as to the logical conclusion for upcoming cases on the courts calendar.

Aron Solomon is the senior digital strategist for NextLevel.com and an adjunct professor at the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
The Biden administration announced the U.S. would leave Afghanistan by Sept. 11. Republicans were quick to attack the plan, many conveniently forgetting that Trump pushed for a far-earlier withdrawal date without the months of planning necessary for a smooth hand off, and not a 1975 Saigon-style pullout complete with Huey helicopters.

But while both parties fight over the exact date of withdrawal, heres what they should be focused on  and why it matters more than semantics and symbolism.

First, lets agree that were not going to stay in Afghanistan until Kingdom Come. At some point, we are going to leave. And we need to plan for what a post-withdrawal Afghanistan should look like, instead of arguing about which date should be picked.

Second, yes, we do need to announce our withdrawal date. Our allies in Afghanistan who have fought and died alongside us, as well as civilians who believe in us, dont deserve to be stabbed in the back for their support with us slipping away. Itll smell a lot more like defeat if we scurry away in the night. And if you think we can sneak out of Afghanistan without the Taliban or Russian spies knowing it, you should rethink that near-impossibility.

Third, I dont trust the Taliban any more than you do. Were never going to have enough brave soldiers and Marines and pilots or even drone operators to take out every single one of them. And I dont support letting these terrorists who backed 9/11 into the government. Nor should our Afghan allies. So we need to prepare for a post-Operation Enduring Freedom Taliban in Afghanistan. It will mean finding a way to train and supply the Afghan army.

The Taliban has had since 2001 to realize its support of al-Qaida was a huge mistake, and it has no business supporting terrorism as a policy. But some folks never learn. It could have had us gone long ago, but is addicted to violence. It couldnt even promise to renounce terrorism, or even give it up for a year or so, just to win back power. So expect some terrorism from the Taliban. We have to decide now what we do about it, and communicate that policy to the rest of the world, especially our allies.

This means coordinating with world intelligence agencies to determine who is responsible for any attack within the same ZIP code as any Taliban, or if it has backed any foreign terror groups with local camps, which should be considered fair game  under even the United Nations Article 51  for a drone strike or airstrike. And Russia needs to be told that weve got our eye on it just in case it feels the need to get a foothold in Afghanistan through supporting the Taliban.

Fourth, we need to return to the era of former President George W. Bushs smart sanctions. Any plan to sanction the whole country of Afghanistan for anything the Taliban does, whether they are in power, makes no sense and just hurts civilians. Its a lot smarter to use our resources to figure out who the Taliban leaders do business with, and target those groups and firms as well, if they dont severe those ties, the lifeblood of those Taliban terrorists.

We owe it to the Americans who served in the military in Afghanistan, including students of mine and parents of them as well, to ensure that the country doesnt turn into the terrorist haven it became after the Soviet withdrawal.

And were going to get there by following these tough but necessary steps, instead of bickering about the actual withdrawal date for partisan gain.

John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu.
Kohout had left home at age 17 after a childhood that she said came with a lot of challenges. In one TikTok post, she said she grew up supporting herself. After she said in one video that it had been a long time since she celebrated Thanksgiving with family, Parker invited her to Arkansas. Those plans fell through, but Kohout later met the Parker family in February.
US envoy in Egypt for talks on Ethiopias dam dispute View Photo

CAIRO (AP)  The U.S. envoy for the Horn of Africa on Wednesday met with the Egyptian president as part of Washingtons new push to find a resolution to a regional decade-long dispute over Ethiopias massive dam on the Nile Rivers main tributary.

Jeffrey Feltman arrived in Cairo on Tuesday on the first leg of a tour that includes stops in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan amid growing concerns the dispute could escalate into a military conflict, threatening the entire region.

On Wednesday, Feltman met with Egyptian President President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, who reiterated his warnings that Cairo will not tolerate any moves by Addis Ababa that could reduce Egypts share of water from the Nile because of the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam.

El-Sissi said Egypt would not accept anyone harming its water interests and described the issue of the dam as existential to his country, urging the U.S. to play an effective role to settle the dispute.

Feltman, who also met with Egypts foreign and irrigation ministers, was quoted as saying that the Biden administration is serious in settling such a sensitive issue.

The dispute now centers on how quickly Ethiopia should fill and replenish the reservoir and how much water it releases downstream in case of a multi-year drought. The latest round of African Union-brokered negotiations in April failed to make progress.

Egypt and Sudan argue that Ethiopias plan to add 13.5 billion cubic meters of water in 2021 to the dams reservoir on the Blue Nile is a threat to them. Cairo and Khartoum have called for the U.S., the U.N, and European Union to facilitate reaching a legally binding deal on the dams the filling and operating. Ethiopia rejected the call.

In March, el-Sissi warned of regional instability that no one can imagine without a legally binding agreement on operating the dam, based on international law and norms governing cross-border rivers.

Egypt, which relies on the Nile for more than 90% of its water supplies, fears a devastating impact if the dam is operated without taking its needs into account. Ethiopia says the $5 billion dam is essential, arguing the vast majority of its population lacks electricity.

Sudan wants Ethiopia to coordinate and share data on the dams operation to avoid flooding and protect its own power-generating dams on the Blue Nile, the main tributary of the Nile.

The Blue Nile meets with the White Nile in Khartoum, from where it winds northward through Egypt and flows into the Mediterranean Sea.

In Khartoum, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware and chairman of a subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the dam dispute needs be negotiated in good faith to produce an agreement guaranteeing a safe and steady flow of the Nile.

Coons, a key ally of President Joe Biden, spoke on a visit to Sudan with fellow senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of a subcommittee on Africa and global health policy. They discussed with Sudanese leaders the African countrys fragile transition to democracy and another border dispute between Khartoum and Addis Ababa.

By SAMY MAGDY

Associated Press
Blinken takes anti-graft message, old Russia foe to Ukraine View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday carrying a tough anti-graft message and strong U.S. backing for the countrys response to Russian aggression. Blinken has also brought along a familiar face in the long-running Washington-Moscow tug-of-war over Ukraine: Victoria Nuland, now the No. 3 State Department official.

The stop is intended to demonstrate Americas continued commitment to Ukraine as it copes with Russias support for separatists and a buildup of troops along its eastern border, as well as to press Kyiv on corruption. It comes at a time of heightened U.S. tensions with Russia not only on Ukraine but also because of U.S. criticism of Russia over human rights, hacking and interference in elections. Both countries recently ordered tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions.

Yet beyond these major issues, the mere presence in Kyiv of Nuland is likely to irritate Russia. A Russia hawk, Nuland is reviled by the Kremlin and was a main target of Moscows attacks on the U.S. during Ukraines 2013-14 revolution and Russias annexation of Crimea when she served as assistant secretary of state for Europe during the Obama administration.

In meetings on Thursday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, members of Ukraines parliament and civic leaders, Blinken plans to highlight the U.S. commitment to Ukraine but also stress the need for reform, particularly as it relates to corruption. Just last week, the State Department slammed Ukraines leaders for replacing the board of the countrys main state-run energy firm with members widely seen as more pliant to government wishes and less concerned about transparency.

Blinkens trip also comes on the heels of a Ukraine-related FBI raid on former President Donald Trumps personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and renewed questions about the Trump administrations dealings with Ukraine that led to the firing of a U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, and laid the foundation for GOP attacks against President Joe Biden.

The East-West battle for influence and standing in Ukraine has been a recurrent theme since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and Nulands advocacy for reform-minded, pro-Western Ukrainian politicians incurred the Kremlins wrath.

A career diplomat who retired from the foreign service rather than serve in the Trump administration, Nuland drew Moscows ire and accusations of meddling for appearing at an opposition rally in Kyivs Maidan square during the uprising that eventually overthrew Ukraines pro-Russia leader Viktor Yanukovych.

But even while serving as State Department spokeswoman under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Nuland, who goes by her nickname Toria, was a frequent thorn in Moscows side, regularly chiding Russia for its policies. That prompted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to remark on her departure from the spokeswomans role after John Kerry took over as President Barack Obamas top diplomat in 2013.

My first trip after Toria left her post as spokesperson, Foreign Minister Lavrov looked at my staff, and he said to me, John, I see you finally fired that Toria Nuland, Kerry said to laughter at her swearing-in ceremony for assistant secretary of state for Europe. And I took great pleasure in looking at him and saying, No, I promoted her.

Then came the infamous phone call, a recording of which was leaked by Russian intelligence services, in which Nuland derided the European Unions hesitancy in attempts to mediate a resolution to the Ukraine crisis. F    the EU, Nuland said in the call with then-U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt.

The leak of the call went viral and was widely seen as a Russian attempt to split the U.S. from its European partners on Ukraine. But, while it did cause a media stir, the U.S. and Europe remained generally united in their positions, Russia found a new target for its hostility, Nulands successor as spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, who is now Bidens press secretary, and she carried on in her position until Trumps election in 2016.

Now, after an absence of four years, and eight years after Kerry teased Lavrov about Nulands elevation in the ranks, shes been promoted again: undersecretary of state for political affairs, where shell enjoy considerable influence in policy decisions about Europe and elsewhere.

By MATTHEW LEE

AP Diplomatic Writer
The Latest: Fiji locks down hospital over coronavirus death View Photo

WELLINGTON, New Zealand  Soldiers and police in the Pacific nation of Fiji have surrounded and locked down a major hospital.

Health authorities say they are quarantining 400 patients, doctors, nurses and other staff within the compound until they can determine who had contact with a coronavirus patient who died there.

The 53-year-old patient at Lautoka Hospital was only the third person to die from the virus in Fiji, which has about 1 million people. But the nations leaders are deeply worried that the latest outbreak is spreading, especially after two doctors at the hospital tested positive for the virus.

A health official says the hospital is closed and all medical services are being diverted to other facilities. The official says those sequestered in the hospital will be provided with food, bedding and whatever other supplies they need.

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THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:

 U.S. virus toll projected to drop by end of July

 Canada approves Pfizer vaccine for ages 12 and older

 Indias virus surge damaging PM Narendra Modis tailored image of competence

 Professor helps students craft online multilingual coronavirus brochures

 Follow more of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine

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HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:

MANILA, Philippines  The president of the Philippines is asking China to take back 1,000 doses of donated Sinopharm vaccine after facing criticism for receiving a shot even though it has not yet been authorized for public use in the country.

The Philippine health secretary injected Duterte with the coronavirus vaccine Monday. An unspecified number of Dutertes guards have also been injected with the Sinopharm vaccine in secrecy.

The president apologized but says his use of the Chinese vaccine was recommended by his doctors and did not breach any regulation because it was covered by a compassionate use exemption.

Critics, however, say Duterte made a mockery of vaccine regulations while ordinary Filipinos have struggled with a plethora of pandemic restrictions.

Philippine regulators have approved coronavirus vaccines from seven foreign pharmaceutical firms for emergency public use but only three have made deliveries so far.

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CHICAGO  Chicago leaders are planning the return of cultural events this summer, including a concert series only for people who are fully COVID-19 vaccinated.

The concerts, called the Protect Chicago Music Series, begin later this month and will require ticketholders to show vaccination cards and identification.

Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady said Tuesday that the city wont mandate vaccines for Chicagoans but the concert series is a creative way to incentivize young people in particular to get it.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot also announced the return of numerous other cultural events this summer and fall with coronavirus safety precautions in place.

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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden has made a Cinco de Mayo taco and enchilada run to highlight his administrations $28.6 billion program to help eateries that lost business because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Biden visited Taqueria Las Gemelas in Washington on Wednesday and ordered lunch. The restaurant is owned in part by Mexican immigrants and was a beneficiary of a pilot version of the restaurant relief program.

Biden says the restaurant industry was badly hurt by the pandemic. The aid for eateries is part of the administrations $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.

The White House says 186,200 restaurants, bars and other eligible businesses applied for the program over its first two days of accepting applications.

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WASHINGTON  The Biden administration is throwing its support behind efforts to waive intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines in an effort to speed the end of the pandemic.

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the governments position in a Wednesday statement, amid World Trade Organization talks over easing global trade rules to enable more countries to produce more of the life-saving vaccines.

Tai says, The Administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for COVID-19 vaccines. But she cautions that it will take time to reach the required global consensus to waive the protections under WTO rules.

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TWIN FALLS, Idaho  Health officials in Idaho are trying new methods to encourage people to get vaccinated as interest in COVID-19 shots starts to wane.

The Times-News in Twin Falls reported that the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is giving up to $9 million in grant funding to encourage private health providers to host vaccination clinics.

The effort came after the state lifted restrictions and is allowing anyone to receive vaccines, even if they arent residents. Idaho has administered more than 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, but the number of doses being given out has dropped.

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NEW YORK  New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says Broadway theaters can reopen Sept. 14. Many Broadway productions are scrambling to resume ticket sales in the coming days to welcome theater-goers this fall after city and state leaders have green-lit a reopening of the Great White Way at full capacity.

Broadway theaters will be allowed to decide their own entry requirements, like whether people must prove theyve been vaccinated to attend a show.

Selling tickets will allow theaters to gauge interest before stages open, said Robert Mujica, Cuomos budget director. The Broadway that reopens will look different, with Frozen and Mean Girls deciding not to restart.

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MADRID  Spains health minister says the European country has detected 11 cases of the new strain of the coronavirus first identified in India.

Minister Carolina Darias says the cases were two separate outbreaks discovered by health officials in recent days.

She added a plane carrying medical supplies, including oxygen and breathing machines, for hard-hit India will leave on Thursday. Last week, Spains government approved a shipment of seven tons of medical supplies to help India combat it surging wave of infections.

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WOONSOCKET, Rhode Island CVS Health is now accepting walk-in customers for COVID-19 vaccinations at all 8,300 of its stores that are doling out shots.

The drugstore chain started accepting customers with no appointments this week. It also is offering same-day appointments, which Walgreens started on Wednesday. Walgreens is also accepting walk-ins and expects to offer vaccines at all 9,200 of its U.S. stores by this weekend.

CVS Health is giving out vaccines at stores in 49 states, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. The company, which has nearly 10,000 retail locations, said it has given out more than 17 million doses through April.

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WASHINGTON  The federal departments of health and housing have launched a joint project to provide coronavirus vaccines to the homeless and people living in low-income neighborhoods and subsidized housing.

Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge made the announcement on Wednesday during a visit to Community of Hope. Its a service organization in an area of the nations capital thats had high rates of coronavirus and relatively low rates of vaccination. The organization runs community health centers while also working to end homelessness among families.

I think it is past time that this country understands that its government does care about them, said Fudge, a former Ohio congresswoman. We have gotten the low-hanging fruit  the people who really want the vaccines now we have to go and do the next step.

Becerra, who formerly served as Californias attorney general, says the Biden administration is trying various communication strategies. Those include directly reaching people who lack internet access and enlisting ministers, community leaders and sports figures as vaccination advocates.

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NEW YORK  Health experts are projecting the coronavirus toll in the U.S. will wane dramatically by the end of July.

Thats according to research released by the government Wednesday. But health experts also warn a substantial increase in hospitalizations and deaths is possible if unvaccinated people dont follow basic public health guidelines, such as wearing a mask and social distancing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paper included projections from six different research groups.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky notes the variants of the coronavirus are a wild card that could set back progress.

More than 56% of the nations adults, or close to 146 million people, have received at one dose of vaccine, and almost 41% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

The CDC is currently reporting an average of about 350,000 new cases each week, 35,000 hospitalizations and more than 4,000 deaths.

The U.S. death toll stands at more than 578,000. A closely watched projection from the University of Washington shows the curve largely flattening out in the coming months, with the toll reaching about 599,000 by Aug. 1.

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has directed all state employees to return to in-person work in the office by May 17, after many spent most of the past 14 months working remotely.

Parsons order, announced Wednesday, also requires all state buildings be open and accessible to the public during normal business hours.

The governors office says COVID-19 screening and testing protocols will remain in place and the state is encouraging all employees to consider vaccinations.

The state health department reported 454 new confirmed cases and four more deaths. The state has confirmed 504,069 coronavirus cases and 8,818 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

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CAIRO  Egypt says it will impose new restrictive measures amid a spike in coronavirus cases in the Arab worlds most populous country.

Prime Minister Mustafa Madoubly says his government will ban all events, entertainment parties and other gatherings for two weeks, starting Thursday. He says restaurants, shops, cafes and malls and social clubs will close at 9 p.m. every day.

The countrys beaches, parks and other public areas will be closed during the five-day holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The holiday starts on May 12.

The country reported new cases surpassing 1,000 in the past week.

Egypt, with a population of over 100 million people, has registered more than 231,800 confirmed cases and 13,591 deaths.

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PORTLAND, Maine  Maines tourism industry saw visitation drop by about 27% last year during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Maine Office of Tourism estimates the total economic impact dipped to about $9 billion from more than $12 billion the year before. A late-summer boost in travel made up for some of the lost ground early in the pandemic.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills praised health and business leaders for lessening the impact of the coronavirus. She says the states reputation as a safe place helped draw visitors.

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MADISON, Wis.  The coronavirus pandemic caused a 30% decline in direct spending by tourists in Wisconsin in 2020, but officials are optimistic the industry will rebound this year.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, spending dropped about $4 billion last year to $9.8 billion. All of Wisconsins 72 counties experienced a decline in tourism activity last year compared to 2019.

Acting Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers says people are scheduling the vacations they missed, Wisconsin Public Radio reported.

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TORONTO  Canadas health regulator has authorized Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine for ages 12 and older.

Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief medical adviser at Health Canada, on Wednesday confirmed the approval of the vaccine for ages 12 to 15.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also is expected to authorize Pfizers vaccine for the young by next week, setting up shots for many before the beginning of the next school year.

Preliminary results in late March from a Pfizer study of 2,260 U.S. volunteers ages 12 to 15 indicated there were no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated adolescents compared with 18 among those given dummy shots.

The Pfizer vaccine was previously authorized for anyone 16 or older.

Vaccinations have ramped in Canada, which expects to receive at least 10 million vaccines this month. More than 34% of Canadians have received at least one dose.

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GENEVA  Germany and the World Health Organization say the country will set up and host a global monitoring center to help prepare for and prevent future public health threats like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The global hub for pandemic and epidemic intelligence based in Berlin was announced Wednesday and will be coordinated by WHO. It aims to collect data, monitor risks and help drive innovations.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that we can only fight pandemics and epidemics together, said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying the hub will bring together governmental, academic and private sectors.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the pandemic has exposed gaps in the global systems for pandemic and epidemic intelligence.

The hub, which will receive about 30 million euros ($36 million) from Germany and seek funds elsewhere, will build on existing monitoring mechanisms at WHO and elsewhere. Those include the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources system.

By The Associated Press
Germany aims for net zero emissions by 2045, 5 years earlier View Photo

BERLIN (AP)  German officials proposed Wednesday that the country could bring forward the date for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero to 2045, after Germanys top court ruled that existing plans place too much of the burden for curbing climate change on young people.

Under the proposal announced by Environment Minister Svenja Schulze and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, the country would increase its emissions reduction targets from 55% to 65% below 1990 levels by 2030, and to 88% by 2040.

The timetable would enable Germany to stop adding further planet-warming gases to the atmosphere five years earlier than the previous target of 2050, officials said.

The proposed targets so far include few details on how the emission cuts would be achieved, though in a separate announcement the government said Wednesday that the pension funds of federal civil servants will in future invest only in stocks that are in line with the Paris accords goal of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit).

Experts maintain that to speed up the process of cutting emissions, Germany would have to phase out coal-fired power plants sooner than the planned date of 2038, among other measures.

The plan must be approved by Chancellor Angela Merkels Cabinet. Her spokesman said ministers in the three-party government agree on the higher target of 65% cuts by 2030 and ending net emissions by 2045.

The common goal is a revised draft law if possible as soon as next weeks Cabinet meeting, Steffen Seibert told reporters in Berlin.

The government was forced to rework its plans after Germanys highest court ruled last week that existing legislation risks unduly limiting the rights of young people compared to older generations.

Germanys climate law, passed two years ago, set specific targets for sectors such as heating and transportation to reach a 55% reduction by 2030, but not for the long-term goal of cutting emissions to net-zero by 2050.

The 2019 regulations irreversibly pushed a very high burden of emissions reduction into the period after 2030, Constitutional Court judges said in an April 29 ruling.

The court backed the argument that the 2015 Paris climate accords goal of keeping global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), ideally no more than 1.5 C, by the end of the century compared with pre-industrial times, should be a benchmark for policymakers. It ordered the government to come up with new targets from 2030 onward by the end of next year, but with a national election due in September and climate a major concern among voters officials said they wanted to act swiftly.

The proposal comes two weeks after President Joe Biden announced a doubling of U.S. emissions cuts by 2030, to 52% below 2005 levels.

Greenpeace welcomed the proposal to speed up Germanys emissions cuts, but said the target should be at least 70% by 2030.

That is the only way to safeguard the rights of the younger generation, said the environment groups climate expert, Lisa Goeldner. There is no way around an accelerated phase-out of coal by 2030, an end to new registrations of cars with combustion engines by 2025 and a faster abolition of factory farming.

Germany hosts an annual climate meeting this week, bringing together governments from more than 40 countries to discuss international efforts to curb global warming ahead of a U.N. summit on the issue in November.

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Follow APs climate coverage at https://apnews.com/Climate

By DAVID RISING and FRANK JORDANS

Associated Press
German doctor sets up vaccine center in supermarket lot View Photo

PFORZHEIM, Germany (AP)  Faced with an overstock of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine in her practice unwanted by her patients, a doctor in western Germany took matters into her own hands Wednesday and set up shop in a grocery store parking lot, offering it on a first-come-first-vaccinated basis.

Millions of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been safely administered in Europe, but Dr. Nicola Buhlinger-Goepfarth said concerns linger over a rare type of blood clot seen in an extremely small number of jab recipients.

The European Unions drug regulatory agency said last month that it also found a possible link between Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine and extremely rare blood clots. Both vaccines have been been cleared for use in Europe, however, with regulators saying the benefits of getting inoculated against COVID-19 far outweigh the risks.

And if the turnout for Buhlinger-Goepfarths parking-lot event is anything to go by, many are quite happy to get the AstraZeneca shot.

Buhlinger-Goepfarth noted that the European Union had thoroughly examined the vaccine and approved it.

I think it has its bad name for no reason. she said.

People started arriving at about 8 a.m. to get a ticket for a vaccine, even though the shots werent to be started until 1:30 p.m.

Some lined up in their cars at two drive-through tent vaccination centers, while others received their shot inside the supermarket.

By 2:15 p.m., all of Buhlinger-Goepfarths 250 doses had been spoken for as well as several hundred others brought in, said local official Sabine Wagner.

After supply problems and concerns over efficacy and the rare blood clots involving the AstraZeneca vaccine, the EU has relied heavily on the shots made by German company BioNTech and its U.S. partner Pfizer.

In France, where trust in the AstraZeneca vaccine has suffered a blow in the wake of changes in French policies for its use, a doctor made headlines in April by filming himself ditching unwanted doses that had expired.

Dr. Patrick Vogt, in the eastern French city of Mulhouse, tweeted video of himself throwing away a partially used flacon of AstraZeneca vaccine, because hed not been able to find enough volunteers for all the doses before they expired.

In the full throes of the pandemic, I am obliged to throw the Astra vaccine in the trash because no one wants it, he tweeted. Crazy, no?

On the video, Vogt said he had opened the flacon on a Monday but only been able to find takers for six of its doses by Wednesday afternoon, three days later. All the other people refused the vaccine, no one wants it, he said. This vaccine has expired, so I am obliged to throw it away.

In subsequent French television interviews, he described his video as a cry of anger, a cry of despair and pleaded for a relaxation of Frances policy for the vaccine, so more people can get jabs with it.

France first said it shouldnt be used for older people, before now saying that it must only go to those aged 55 and above, following concerns over blood clots.

The French Health Ministrys latest figures continue to show that AstraZeneca isnt getting the same uptake as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. About 90% of the Pfizer doses received by France have been used compared to about 53% of AstraZeneca.

___

John Leicester in Paris contributed to this report.

___

Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

By CHRISTOPH NOELTING

Associated Press
US top diplomat Blinken in Ukraine for talks with president

US top diplomat Blinken in Ukraine for talks with president View Photo

MOSCOW (AP)  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived for a one-day visit that is highly anticipated in the country as it faces heightened tensions with Russia.

The top American diplomat arrived late Wednesday. He is to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday.

The Ukrainian leader has said he wants to hear strong signals from the United States supporting Ukraines desire to join the NATO military alliance.

Ukraine is also expected to push for more military aid from the U.S. amid rising hostilities from Russia-backed separatist rebels in the east of the country. Ukraines military says 34 of its soldiers have been killed by rebel attacks this year, a significant upswing from the quiet months of the latter part of 2020.

Russia also raised tensions this year with largescale military exercises near the border with Ukraine.
CCSO illegal grow bust Quartz Mountain Road hazardous equipment found View Photos

Calaveras County, CA  Two separate illegal grows in Calaveras County worth nearly $1.5 million in pot were raided on the same day last month  one contained dangerous equipment that could have ignited a wildfire.

On April 22nd, Calaveras County Sheriffs Office Marijuana Team first hit a property in the 1000 block of Quartz Mountain Road in West Point. After seizing 612 growing marijuana plants worth an estimated $259,000 value and over 5 grams of methamphetamine, deputies found a disturbing sight. Tucked under a wooden generator shelter, as pictured in the image box, they discovered an improvised muffler attached to the generator with visible burn marks surrounded by dry leaves and sticks. One suspect was handcuffed at the scene, but another escaped by fleeing on foot. Arrested was 63-year-old Phuc Thine Duong of Sacramento.

A couple of hours later in the 13000 block of South Camanche Parkway in Burson, another 1,703 growing marijuana plants with an estimated value exceeding $1,192,000 were found in a search. Two arrests were made: Thai Phong Dao, 34, and Quoc Vinh Lao, 46, both of Elk Grove.

Anyone with knowledge of illegal marijuana operations is asked to call the Sheriffs Office Anonymous Marijuana Tip Line at (209) 754-6870.
Amid US pullout, Taliban issue threat to Afghan journalists View Photo

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  The Taliban on Wednesday issued a threat to Afghan journalists they accuse of siding with Afghanistans intelligence agency in Kabul, a warning that came amid a U.S. troop pullout and rising fears of more violence in the war-wrecked country.

In a statement, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid warned those Afghan journalists who give one-sided news in support of Afghanistans intelligence service to stop or face the consequences.

The U.S. and Britain responded, with their embassies in Kabul quickly condemning the Taliban threat just two days after World Press Freedom Day.

We strongly support Afghanistans independent media, tweeted Ross Wilson, the U.S. charge daffaires in Kabul. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the on-going violence and threats against the media, and the Talibans attempts to silence journalists.

Afghanistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world to be a journalist. Since 2006, as many as 76 journalists have been killed in Afghanistan, according to UNESCO.

Last year alone at least 15 were killed, and earlier this year, three women employed by media outlets were killed in eastern Afghanistan. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for some of the killings, including that of the three women. The majority of the targeted journalists have been women.

The government blames a resurgent Taliban  who now control or hold sway over half the country  for many of the targeted killings. The insurgents, meanwhile claim the Afghan intelligence service is carrying out these attacks so as to blame the Taliban.

Earlier this week, Amnesty International decried the spiraling violence against journalists in Afghanistan and the impunity of the culprits carrying out the attacks.

Nearly all the killings, invariably carried out by unidentified gunmen, have gone uninvestigated, Amnesty said. Dozens of others have been injured, while journalists routinely receive threats, intimidation and harassment because of their work. Faced with this dire situation and with multiple journalist hit lists in open circulation, many journalists are fleeing the country.

Also Wednesday, an Afghan open media advocacy group expressed concerns about statements reportedly made by the head of the intelligence agency, known as the National Directorate of Security or NDS, criticizing some outlets he accused of carrying insurgent propaganda.

The comments by the intel chief, Ahmad Zia Seraj, were tweeted by Arif Rahmani, a lawmaker from the central Ghazni province who attended a private meeting of lawmakers with the NDS chief.

Rahmani told The Associated Press that at the meeting, Seraj was asked by lawmakers about alleged pro-Taliban coverage by some media outlets. The NDS chief said in response that there would be severe legal consequences for outlets carrying terrorist propaganda, according to Rahmani.

He did not name the outlets, Rahmani said. There was no immediate comment from the intelligence agency.

Last week, the remaining 2,500 to 3,500 American troops officially began leaving Afghanistan. They are expected to be out by Sept. 11 at the latest  a deadline set by President Joe Biden.

The U.S. has openly also warned of battlefield gains for the Taliban and officials in Washington say Afghan government forces face an uncertain future against the insurgents as the withdrawal accelerates in the coming weeks.

By KATHY GANNON and TAMEEM AKHGAR

Associated Press
It was built in 1870 with a powerful lens that projected a flash some 20 miles over the sea to warn mariners of dangerous shoals along the coast that became known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The light was converted from kerosene lamps to electric bulbs in 1934. The entire structure was moved more than a half mile in 1999 to its current location to escape the eroding shoreline.
Prosecutors seek special master to review Giuliani items View Photo

NEW YORK (AP)  Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to appoint a special master to review material seized by the FBI last week from Rudy Giuliani and ensure investigators arent able to see records protected by attorney-client privilege, according to court records unsealed Tuesday.

In a letter dated Thursday, prosecutors requested the oversight, partially citing Giulianis work as a lawyer for former President Donald Trump.

They noted it would be similar to what occurred after federal agents seized electronic devices three years ago from the home and office of Michael Cohen, who was also one of Trumps lawyers.

Cohen eventually pleaded guilty to campaign finance law violations and other crimes and was sentenced to three years in prison. After about a year in prison, he was released to home confinement as the threat of the coronavirus led to early release for some non-violent prisoners.

The federal probe is examining Giulianis interactions with Ukrainian figures and whether he violated a federal law that governs lobbying on behalf of foreign countries or entities.

Giuliani, a Republican and former mayor of New York City, has not been charged with a crime. He has said all of his activities in Ukraine were conducted on behalf of Trump. At the time, Giuliani was leading a campaign to press Ukraine for an investigation into Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, before Biden was elected president.

Last Wednesday, FBI agents recovered multiple electronic devices during an early-morning search of Giulianis home and office.

In their letter, prosecutors said the search was carried out on Giuliani by FBI agents who have not been involved in the investigation and will not be involved in the future.

They said in the letter to U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken a day after the searches that FBI technical specialists had begun extracting materials from the seized devices, but had not yet begun reviewing the materials.

Oetken permitted some redactions prior to the unsealing of the governments letter, including portions specifying what was taken from Giuliani and Washington lawyer Victoria Toensing, a former federal prosecutor and close ally of Giuliani and Trump. Her law firm said after the searches that she was told she was not a target of the investigation.

Oetken set up a schedule for filings pertaining to legal issues starting next week.

Giuliani has objected to the seizure in part because he contends the material on the devices would be subject to attorney-client privilege  the client being Trump. Courts sometimes designate an attorney not directly involved with the case, known as a special master, to address such concerns.

In more ordinary cases, a review of material seized from a lawyer might be conducted by a government filter team or a magistrate judge.

But they wrote that the government considered it appropriate to appoint an outside master in the Giuliani probe to determine what must be protected by attorney-client privilege in part because of the overt and public nature of these warrants.

They then quoted Judge Kimba Wood from the Cohen case when she stated that a master was appropriate for the perception of fairness, not fairness itself. Wood appointed a former Manhattan federal judge to conduct the oversight.

Citing a terrorist probe of a lawyer 20 years ago, prosecutors said a government taint team was commonly used but added that the appointment of a master may be appropriate when the attorney represents the U.S. president.

A lawyer for Giuliani did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday. A spokesperson for prosecutors declined comment.

By LARRY NEUMEISTER

Associated Press
Right-wing think tank ordered to pay man hurt at rally $2.4M View Photo

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  A federal judge has ordered a right-wing think tank led by white nationalist Richard Spencer to pay $2.4 million to an Ohio man severely injured during a white supremacist and neo-Nazi rally two years ago in Virginia.

Bill Burke, of Athens, Ohio, says he was struck by a car driven by James Alex Fields Jr.  in a crash that killed counterprotester Heather Heyer  during the August 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. White nationalists were protesting the planned removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. Burke says he attended the rally to join a counterprotest.

Burkes physical injuries, including head and knee injuries and a crushed left arm, still require medical treatment and may be permanent, and he has experienced severe psychological and emotional suffering, according to Burkes May 2019 federal lawsuit.

Burke sued multiple defendants and in recent years received court-ordered payments of $5,000 from former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke and $10,000 from the Traditionalist Worker Party.

In the 2019 lawsuit, Burke also accused the National Policy Institute, led by Spencer, of helping organize and promote the Charlottesville rally. In a Tuesday ruling, federal Judge Michael Watson handed down the $2.4 million judgment against the organization in an order that also brought the lawsuit to a close.

The order includes $217,613 for past and future medical expenses, $350,000 in punitive damages $500,000 for pain and suffering, and $1 million for emotional distress.

Watson judge noted that Burke separated from his wife in the attacks aftermath, was out of work for more than a year, can no longer exercise, and suffers from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and survivors guilt because of surviving the attack when Heyer did not.

The emotional toll this senseless attack has taken on Plaintiff is extreme, Watson said. It has impacted virtually every aspect of Plaintiffs daily life, and he deserves to be compensated for the harm.

Phone and email messages were left for the National Policy Institute. Despite the ruling, its unclear if Burke will ever see money from the judgment.

Although copies of Burkes complaints were successfully served on the organization, according to court records, no attorney ever entered a court appearance regarding the lawsuit. The court found the group in default a year ago for not defending itself.

It is important that the judgment is satisfied not only to compensate Bill for his damages but also to disrupt and dismantle an organization that attempts to portray white supremacy as an intellectual endeavor, Burkes attorney, Michael Fradin, said in a statement

The Unite the Right rally on Aug. 12, 2017, drew hundreds of white nationalists to Charlottesville to protest the planned removal of Lees statue.

In December 2018, Fields was convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of Heyer and multiple charges for injuries caused to others in the car attack. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 419 years. He is appealing his convictions.

Fields, of Maumee, Ohio, is also serving life sentences after accepting a plea agreement in a separate federal hate crimes case.

By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS

Associated Press
San Diego County will provide immigrants with lawyers View Photo

SAN DIEGO (AP)  San Diego County will provide attorneys to immigrants facing deportation proceedings under a pilot program approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.

The 3-2 vote orders work to begin on a $5 million, one-year pilot program administered through the countys public defenders office. It would provide lawyers for free to those detained at Otay Mesa Detention Center, the local federal immigration detention facility.

County staff have 90 days to report back on a plan to fund and operate the program permanently in partnership with immigrant defense and non-profit groups.

Supervisor Jim Desmond voted against the measure, noting the cost.

This is a federal matter, and we should be communicating with them for more support, he said.

Desmond said he appreciated hearing from the many passionate supporters and wished the county had more money to help those in need.

However, this is a federal matter, and we should be communicating with them for more support, Desmond said. I wont be supporting the item.

San Diego would be the first southern border county in the United States to provide legal representation for those in federal immigration custody who are facing removal proceedings, although more than 40 other places nationwide have similar programs.

Three of my great-grandparents fled to the U.S. to escape the torture and mass killings of Jews in Europe, and 100 years later our country is still a beacon of hope for people fleeing persecution, Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, who proposed the measure, said in a statement. When we keep Americas promise of equal justice for all, we give immigrants dignity, we make the legal system more efficient, and we strengthen our values as Americans.

Unlike federal criminal defendants, people awaiting their turn before an immigration court dont automatically receive a government-provided attorney if they cant afford lawyers.

Immigrants with legal representation were four times more likely to be released from detention while awaiting a custody hearing and also more likely to win their deportation cases, according to a 2016 study by the American Immigration Council.

Only 17 percent of detainees in San Diego have such representation, according to the council.

The lack of appointed counsel means that tens of thousands of people each year go unrepresented, including asylum seekers, longtime legal residents, immigrant parents, spouses of U.S. citizens, and even children, said a statement from Lawson-Remers office. They are left to defend themselves in a notoriously complex system.

The problem contributes to immigration court backlogs, with more than 1 million cases pending nationwide, increases taxpayer costs for detention and harms the local economy by keeping immigrants locked up instead of allowing them to continue working and staying with their families while awaiting outcomes of their cases, Lawson-Remer said.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Two elderly Asian women were stabbed as they waited for a bus in downtown San Francisco  the latest in a series of attacks against Asian Americans nationwide since the start of the pandemic last year.

A woman working at a flower stall Tuesday afternoon told KGO-TV that she saw a man walking on Market Street shortly before the attack carrying a pretty big knife with knuckles on the handle.

Her back was turned and all I see is feathers came out of her jacket. So I am very sure that she got sliced, the witness said of one victim. He walked away like nothing happened, like Sunday morning.

Police said the 63- and 84-year-old women remained hospitalized Wednesday. The 84-year-old was initially treated for life-threatening injuries, but her medical status has been upgraded to non-life threatening, police said.

Victoria Eng, the granddaughter of the older victim, Chui Fong Eng, said Wednesday that she was in stable condition in intensive care, the San Francisco Examiner reported.

She is coherent and speaking on the phone already, Eng said. She is a true fighter.

Engs grandmother was stabbed in the right arm with a long knife that entered her chest, Eng wrote on a GoFundMe page to raise money to cover expenses from the womans surgery.

The younger woman had injuries that were not life-threatening, authorities said.

Patrick Thompson, 54, of San Francisco was arrested about two hours after the attack. Investigators were working to determine whether the incident was motivated by racism although Police Chief Bill Scott told the Police Commission on Wednesday that there wasnt any indication so far that the attack was a hate crime, the Examiner said.

It wasnt immediately known whether Thompson had an attorney who can speak on his behalf. The San Francisco Public Defenders office didnt immediately know whether it would be assigned to the case.

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin said his office expects to announce charges against Thompson on Thursday. His office also plans to start a pilot program to provide support to elderly Asian victims of crime, he said in a statement.

The attack highlighted the dangerous climate Asian Americans have faced since the coronavirus entered the U.S. after surfacing in China. Racially motivated harassment and assaults have occurred nationwide.

These are horrifying, deliberate attacks on Asian residents, often elderly, said San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney, who represents the area where the latest attack occurred. We have to stop this. People need to be able to walk down the street safely and wait for a bus without fear.

Elsewhere, a police hate crime task force in New York City was investigating a recent incident in which a 31-year-old Asian woman and her companion walking in midtown Manhattan were accosted by a woman with a hammer.

Surveillance video released by police shows the attacker saying something to the women, hitting one with the hammer and swiping at the other before leaving. Police said the woman who was struck suffered a head laceration and later told police the attacker told her to take off her mask before she was hit. No arrests have been made.

In an incident near Times Square in March, a man was seen kicking and stomping a 65-year-old Filipina woman in front of an apartment building. A parolee who had been convicted of killing his mother two decades ago was arrested.

Another man was arrested last month on hate crimes charges in an attack on a Chinese immigrant in East Harlem. The 61-year-old victim was collecting cans when he was attacked from behind, knocked to the ground and kicked in the head.

New York is among several cities where police are beefing up patrols in Chinatown. The San Francisco Bay Area has also seen an increasing number of attacks against Asian Americans.

California prosecutors have filed assault and hate crime charges against a man accused last week of yelling racial slurs before knocking down Carl Chan, president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce.

In separate attacks in San Francisco in March, an 83-year-old Vietnamese man was knocked down and broke his neck, and a 77-year-old woman was attacked. Police arrested a man on suspicion of f assault and elder abuse in both cases. Another 83-year-old man was pushed down in February, broke a hip and spent weeks in a hospital and rehabilitation.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsoms use of emergency powers to make far-reaching policies during the pandemic was upheld Wednesday by state appellate judges who rejected a lower court finding that the Democrat had done too much unilaterally.

Three judges from the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento ruled unanimously that the prior judge erred in interpreting the Emergency Services Act to prohibit the Governor from issuing quasi-legislative orders in an emergency.

We conclude the issuance of such orders did not constitute an unconstitutional delegation of legislative power, Presiding Justice Vance Raye wrote in ruling on a lawsuit brought by Republican state legislators.

The court already had stayed the earlier ruling by Sutter County Superior Court Judge Sarah Heckman that Newsom unconstitutionally usurped the Legislatures power.

Heckman more broadly issued an injunction  which also had been temporarily halted by the appeals court  barring Newsom from issuing any orders under the California Emergency Services Act that amended state laws or legislative policy.

Newsom did so dozens of times during the pandemic in what amounted to one-man rule, Assemblymen James Gallagher and Kevin Kiley said.

The appeals court said the lower court rulings raised matters of great public concern regarding the Governors orders in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic emergency but agreed with the governors contention that he acted within the broad emergency authority granted him under state law in times of crisis.

The appeals court relied on a section of the law that says the governor shall have complete authority over all agencies of the state government and the right to exercise within the area designated all police power vested in the state by the Constitution and laws of the State of California.

Kiley and Gallagher said they would appeal to the state Supreme Court.

The appeals court reached a startling conclusion: that a State of Emergency gives a California Governor the power to legislate. The California Supreme Court has repeatedly held this is forbidden by our State Constitution, the two lawmakers said in a statement.

The issue now squarely presented for the high court is whether the separation of powers still exists in California, they said, expressing confidence that the justices will uphold this bedrock principle of constitutional government.

Newsoms office called the ruling a win for public safety and all Californians.

The decision upholds the states ability to save lives and protect Californians in response to a disaster  whether an earthquake, wildfire, or this unprecedented pandemic, his administration said in a statement.

The governor faces a recall election this fall driven in large part by frustration with his management of the crisis. His office said the emergency efforts have been critical to protecting public health during the pandemic.

Newson issued the nations first statewide lockdown order in March 2020 and followed up with a torrent of executive orders, acting unilaterally on everything from halting evictions to allowing marriages to be conducted by video or teleconference.

He also suspended school deadlines, gave consumers and businesses more time to pay taxes, changed the rules for public meetings, suspended medical privacy rules, and allowed grocery stores to hand out free single-use bags, among many other changes.

The lawsuit itself centered on just one executive order requiring election officials to open hundreds of locations statewide where voters could cast ballots, despite the potential health risk.

The Legislature subsequently approved the same requirement, which Newsom said showed he was working with lawmakers. The assemblymen said it showed the governor could often have used the usual legislative process.

The appeals court said that portion of the claim was moot because the governors order was superseded by the legislation which was directed at an election that has already occurred.

Heckmans ruling was the second time a judge in Sutter County reached the same conclusion, but the first ruling was also quickly halted.

Both countered other state and federal court decisions backing the governors emergency powers, but the U.S. Supreme Court more recently has ruled that California unconstitutionally restricted indoor worship services, both in churches and in homes.

By DON THOMPSON

Associated Press
After three decades of helping kids Kiwanian Ron Lonicki, a Meriden native is seeking help; a kidney

For nearly 30 years of his life, Kiwanian Ron Lonicki has helped people, particularly children.

As a member of five different Kiwanis clubs over the past 27 years in locales ranging from Delaware to Maryland to Wisconsin to Louisiana and now to San Diego, Lonicki has done it all.

Feeding the homeless, reading to children, stuffing and distributing backpacks to inner city kids, supplying Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to families, and mentoring college students are just some acts of kindness Lonicki has done to help make the world a better place.

And now Lonicki, 63, a man who has spent these last three decades helping people, is doing something he never imagined hed be doing: ASKING for help.

Lonicki needs a kidney.

A member of the Los Rancheros Kiwanis Club in Rancho Bernardo, California, Lonicki had been living in Maryland before relocating to Chico, Calif., to work in a casino when Covid hit. The casino businesslike all others in Americatook a tremendous hit, forcing the operation to cut back, leaving Lonicki without a job.

After Lonicki relocated to the San Diego area a bout of pneumonia in March, 2020, severely damaged his kidneys. Today, as he faces the prospect of dialysis and eventual kidney failure, Lonickis kidney function is down to 8 percent.

But Lonicki is a proud man.

Until just a couple of weeks ago, his own Kiwanis Club members didnt know of his health plight (he continued to participate in community service projects), let alone his financial hurdles. His lifes savings are close to depleted as he spends his remaining money on expensive medications and his continuous doctor visits (he has 17 appointments in March alone), thus limiting his chances of gaining employment.

But through all this, Lonicki is still helping others. This week he joins his fellow Kiwanians as they collect clothes for homeless veterans.

Because that is who Ron Lonicki is.

Lonicki is on the organ transplant list at the Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla and his club, the Los Rancheros Kiwanis Club in Rancho Bernardo, have set up a GoFundMe page (https://gofund.me/0a3bf643) to help him financially while he awaits his donor.

Anyone interested in becoming a kidney donor can contact the Scripps Hospital Living Donor Line, 858-554-4310, and provide Lonickis name as the recipient.
A look at the major movers on the London market on Wednesday

( ) has come in from the cold sooner than expected.

The insulation specialist said January and February had seen a solid start to the year, with sales volumes then picking up so that March and April traded ahead of expectations.

So it now expects to deliver an underlying profit in the first half, turning round its losses more quickly than expected.

It said: "Whilst the evolving COVID-19 backdrop will continue to create uncertainty in the short term, more so in our EU markets than the UK, the strong demand across territories and sectors in the first four months of the year was encouraging and gives the board increased confidence for the full year performance...

"Given the prevailing macro-economic uncertainties, we retain a cautious view of the second half at this stage. We do however continue to expect the second half to be both profitable and cash generative, and in light of the stronger than anticipated recent performance we now expect full year revenues to be slightly ahead of prior expectations, and profits also to be higher than previously expected."

The news has sent its shares 7.95% or 3.75p higher to 50.95p.

2.51pm: Healthcare group reports positive test results

( ) is in demand after announcing postive results for the Mologic COVID-19 lateral flow antigen test.

The test, which Omega has launched for professional use under its Visitect brand, has been independently verified in a 665-person study in Germany by FIND, a World Heath Organisation collaborating centre.

Omega said the test was shown to demonstrate best-in-class performance with 100% specificity and 96.4% sensitivity compared with laboratory testing.

Chief executive Colin King said: "This is great news for the Mologic test, which we are now producing under our Visitect brand. It is significant that the test has been shown to have high diagnostic accuracy on self-collected swab specimens. Rapid diagnostic tests play a crucial role in breaking the spread of infection in the community and we are delighted to be a leading manufacturer of these home-grown tests."

Omega is up 3.8% or 2.68p at 72.18p.

1.11pm: Publisher pleases at presentation

( ) has been lifted by a presentation to analysts this week on price comparison websites.

The company, which recently bought GoCompare, believes such websites can continue to add value for consumers and also product providers.

It said the integration of GoCompare was going well, according to Roddy Davidson of Shore Capital, who issued a buy note on the business.

Davidson said: "We were encouraged by the positive points stressed in yesterdays presentation and see good structural growth prospects for the price comparison website [PCW] market through attracting more consumers and increasing conversion rates  as an example only around 30% of switching activity in car insurance is via PCWs, despite 40%-50% of customers using a PCW to research prices.

"We are also positive on GoCompares offering/momentum and concur that bringing it together with Futures deep content and growing ecommerce business will add value on both sides of the deal.

"More broadly, we believe that Future is increasingly well-placed to drive digital advertising and e-commerce revenues, and to capitalise on an acceleration in the evolution of consumer preferences. We also expect organic growth to be complemented by further add-on acquisition activity (not reflected in our forecasts)."

Future's shares are up 3.22% or 74p at 2376p.

11.20am: Household products group falls 18%

One of the day's big fallers is ( ) after it warned of rising raw materials costs, which would help push full year profits 15% lower than the previous year.

It is also seeing lower demand, especially for household cleaning products after last year's pandemic inspired peaks.

The company, which supplies private-label household and personal care products to retailers such as , Asda, The Co-op, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury, has seen its shares slump 18.8% or 17.6p to 76p on the news.

It said rising costs in the first quarter were in line with expectations as reported at its first half results in February.

But it added: "In recent weeks there has been further rapid, significant and sustained price escalation for many of our raw materials, particularly core chemicals and plastics. Our current view is that we will see further double-digit increases on average across these materials and packaging items by June 2021 - more than double the rates of increase expected in mid-March 2021. Additionally, we do not see these prices returning to more normalised levels in the near future. Whilst these increases are evident across a number of the divisions, it is most impactful in our Liquids division."

As an indication of pricing pressures filtering down, it said it had put in place targeted increases and planned other measures which should benefit the first half of next year.

On demand it said: "Since our half year results, demand for auto-dishwash products has remained strong but volumes in household cleaners have been normalising from the peaks seen in 2020. Additionally, sales of laundry and personal care products have remained very subdued across the group's main markets. With lockdowns lasting longer and still in place across many of our markets, we do not now expect certain category volumes to pick up in the balance of the financial year and therefore the Liquids and Aerosols businesses have reduced their demand outlook for the final quarter. As a result, the Group now expects second half constant currency revenues to be approximately 6% lower year on year.

"Consequently the final quarter of trading for the current financial year ending 30 June 2021 is expected to be significantly weaker than the first nine months of the financial year and our full year profits (measured by EBITA) are now expected to be approximately 15% lower than the previous year."

Because of the current volatility it is not providing any guidance for next year.

10.34am: Energy group boosted by fundraising

( ) is raising 2.48mln in a placing, including 1m from former Heritage Oil boss Tony Buckingham.

The fundraising will make him the company's largest shareholder with an 18.5% stake, but he has agreed not to take that above 29.99%.

Four independent shareholders who account for around 50% of the existing shares - the Brandon Hill Group, the Pitchcroft Group, RAB Capital and John Story - are also backing the placing.

Once the fundraising is complete, the company intends to hand over operations at the Rukwa Coal Project in southwest Tanzania to its strategic partner Infrastructure and Logistics Tanzania, and bring in new assets.

It said Buckingham's wealth of experience and broad network of relationships would prove beneficial for this process.

Chairman and acting chief executive Dr Jeff Malaihollo said: "I am delighted to welcome Tony Buckingham as a new shareholder. His experience and network of relationships are expected to open up additional asset acquisition opportunities. The company announced earlier this year it intends to bring additional assets into the portfolio following the intended handover of operations at Rukwa to its strategic partner ILTL .

"The placing, subject to shareholder approval, should , in our view, now provide the catalyst for these exciting developments to take place."

Edenville's shares have added 3p or 8.57% to 38p.

9. 29am: Diamond group sparkles

( ) is in demand after a positive update from its Thorny River property in South Africa, as a six hole drilling programme was expanded to twelve after good results.

Its shares have jumped 17.07% or 0.18p to 1.2p on the news, which could mean the new discovery linking up with its existing River Blow site.

Chairman John Teeling said: "These are very good results. What was originally a six-hole Reverse Circulation drilling programme going eastwards from the River Blow was led westwards by good ongoing drilling indications, including one hole with an 18-metre intersection of kimberlite.

"An additional six holes brought the drilling close to the River Blow. We fully expect the next phase of drilling to join the two discoveries into one continuous blow. This would double the volume of ore. It is worth noting that the kimberlite dyke system at Thorny River contains an average 60 diamond carats per one hundred tons of ore. We expect the current discovery to maintain that pattern."

8.27am: Clean energy deal lifts shares by a quarter

The prospect of a UK network of clean energy sources coming closer has put a spark into the shares of PLC ( ).

The data specialist has jumped 24.58% or 5.8p to 29.4p after its H2 Green subsidiary signed a green hydrogen supply deal with Element Two to supply the latter's refuelling stations.

Element Two plans to deploy more than 800 pumps across the north of England, Scotland, and Ireland by 2027 and 2000 by 2030.

The agreement between the two companies is designed to accelerate the creation of the UK's first hydrogen network.

The two have agreed mutual options to co-locate their respective hydrogen refuelling stations and hydrogen production and storage assets.

Getech chief executive Jonathan Copus said: "Green hydrogen will play a key role in the decarbonisation of commercial transportation, and the development of green hydrogen hubs will be a crucial component of our cities' plans to decarbonise and meet their net zero targets...

"To align our production and distribution strategies, the groups plan to combine H2Green's position in hydrogen generation and storage and Getech's state of the art location analytics, with significant data gathered by Element 2 on fuel customer habits..

"These steps are important as we believe they have the potential to accelerate the creation of the first UK-wide hydrogen network, which supports the UK government in the implementation of its energy transition objectives of decarbonisation and green job creation."

Also heading higher is ( ), the West Africa focused miner, after a positive update from its Sanankoro prospect.

Its shares are up 5.68% or 0.44p to 8.19p on the news.

Chief executive Bert Monro said: "Following on from our maiden results it is extremely pleasing to be reporting further strong results from Sanankoro...It is also worth noting we have updated some preliminary results reported on 22 April with final results which have also shown increased average grades.

"We have now completed over 11,000m of drilling in this programme and during May we are mobilising two further rigs and additionally a booster compressor has just arrived on site. We plan to start drilling deeper holes within a week as we aim to push the shallow inferred resource pit deeper. The current inferred pit shell has an average vertical depth of only 65m, from limited drilling at the time, so we eagerly await the results from these deeper holes once drilled."

Proactive news headlines

Diagnostics specialist Holdings PLC ( ) said it has agreed to take back the China and Hong Kong rights to its EarlyCDT product portfolio in a deal that gives its strategic options to tap the US capital markets.

( ), an integrated platinum and chrome producer with operations in South Africa, said it bought Salene Chrome Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd for US$3.0mln. Salene Chrome is a development stage, low cost, open pit asset, located in the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe.

( ) said it has begun searching for a new chief executive as it clarified its future direction and strategy targeting growth of sales of its ProLarva face mask and the development of new products at its subsidiary Pharm 2 Farm Limited (P2F).

Redx Pharma PLC (LON:REDX) has appointed a new chief financial officer with both industry and banking experience. Peter Collum, who joins immediately and will be based in the New York area, was CFO and chief business officer of a late-stage biopharma company called Pharmnext, which he joined in 2019 after 17 years with the boutique investment bank, MTS Health Partners.

( ) has confirmed that trading for its latest financial year has been in line with market expectations with robust operating profits despite the challenges of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

(LON:MKA, ) announced that, following the release of the flotation piloting results and commencement of hydrometallurgical piloting, the company will host an investor conference call tomorrow, Thursday 6 May, at 2pm BST, to discuss the release and answer questions.

( ) said it has been granted a European Union-wide patent covering the production process for its G+ graphene nanoplatelets with a priority date of June 20, 2014.

Zanaga Iron Ore Company Ltd ( ) said the Stage One development of the Zanaga iron ore project could cost between US$2,154mln and US$2,275mln, broadly in line with previous estimates, according to a re-costing exercise.

( ) said it is planning to showcase its latest technological developments in graphene dispersion capabilities over the coming months at two consumer industry events, JEC Composites Connect and the CoatingsTech Conference.

The takeover offer for ( ) has now closed, and the remaining shares in the company will now be acquired through compulsory purchase on or shortly after 2 June 2021.

i3 Energy Plc (LON:I3E, ) told investors that its production in Canada outperformed expectations in the first quarter, with output averaging 8,856 barrels oil equivalent per day.

(BBER) has hired Tim Lines as the companys new technical director. The company, in a statement, said Lines will lead the supervision and management of the technical aspects of the company's critical M&A, drilling, surface facilities, and pipeline initiatives.

( )( ) announced an agreement with Takanawa Japan for a strategic business development plan to identify a clinical partner in Japan and other Asian countries.

(LON:NQMI, FSE: 44D) said its shares starting trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange today, making it one of the first companies with a primary listing on London's Aquis Exchange to achieve a dual listing.

Scotgold Resources Ltd ( ) said some of its directors and an unrelated third party have provided it with a short-term loan of 2mln. The lenders include non-executive chairman Nathaniel le Roux, three non-executive directors and an unrelated third party holding a 3.35% stake in the company.

( ) ( ) announce the release of a new investor presentation covering its new 'venture builder' business model and its activities in the non-fungible token ('NFT') space, available on its website:

https://coinsilium.com/investors/presentations. Chairman Malcolm Palle said: "Coinsilium is now enjoying a period of intense activity ahead of the imminent launch of Nifty Labs, its NFT development studio in Gibraltar. This new investor presentation has been designed to provide a greater market understanding of the scale of the opportunity that lies ahead for Coinsilium, as we recognise that investor awareness and engagement will play a critical role in helping the company achieve its ambitions at the forefront of the burgeoning NFT space."

( ) notified that executive chairman Shishir Poddar and two other board members will provide a live investor presentation via the Investor Meet Company platform on 12 May 2021 at 10am BST.
San Antonio residents have taken to Reddit to air their feelings on local radio stations. Don't shoot the messenger.

Reddit user u/bsizzle95 shared their disdain for 98.5 The Beat, calling the Rico & Carmen show the worst thing ever.

Why did they ever think it would be a good idea, u/bsizzle95 asked local Redditors. They got rid of the [B]reakfast [C]lub for this trash?!

The Rico & Carmen show took over the weekday morning slot on January 11, replacing The Breakfast Club, a New York City-based syndicated radio show hosted by DJ Envy, Angela Yee, and Charlamagne tha God. Locals have long been familiar with Carmen, which has been featured on the radio station with the prank phone call segment. Rico & Carmen spotlights Raul Rico Colindres, the man behind the Carmen voice, as both himself and his alter ego.

While many expressed that they no longer listened to local radio, opting to listen instead to satellite radio or streaming services, other locals arent a fan of Colindres production either  or any local station for that matter.

READ MORE: 'Night in New San Antonio' event will feature rapper 50 Cent

Yall should stay away from 101.9 then, shared u/alamozony.

If you only tune into 99.5 and and 98.5, then yeah, radio sucks, argued u/prollyathrowaway210.

The local radio makes me want to die, expressed u/RINGER_1313. Literally Id rather listen to static than that sh-t.

I stopped listening to 98.5 a few years ago, admitted u/superfastracingcar. I'd rather pay for a pandora subscription.

98.5 has been trash for the longest time! u/ElvisFr3shly exclaimed. [I]n fact San Antonio radio is trash same sh-t over and over again.

It took me awhile to realize our radio markets had been merged into preprogrammed stations. 98.5, 99.5, etc are all crap, pointed out u/jftitan. Except for the TPR Radio.

Yikes.

The Reddit thread wasnt completely bad. Some took the opportunity to highlight local radio stations that are actually good.

Stream KPFT 90.1 for a great example of community radio done right! suggested u/MarxisTX.

Don't give up on the college stations, they still have great variety, said u/doom32x. T-Bone still has a weekend deep cuts show on 90.1.

How do you feel about local radio, dear reader? Be sure to let us know.
BDphoto/Getty Images

After a shortened season in 2020 due to the pandemic, one of Texas' top swimming holes is back open for visitors.

Jacob's Well, located about 60 miles north of downtown San Antonio in Hays County, is revered for its spring-fed waters and seemingly endless depths. And now through September 30, the Hays County hot spot is open for visitors looking to cool off.
Last week, Texas Sen.Ted Cruz started some Twitter beef with "The Daily Show" host Trevor Noah. After watching Tuesday's show, we are thinking he probably shouldn't have.

Yes, Noah is known for throwing some jabs at Cruz, but the Comedy Central's late-night franchise spent nine minutes of its 30-minute show trolling the politician, titling the segment "Ted Cruz: The Booger on the Lip of Democracy."

It starts with a clip of Cruz at a rally on March 4, 2016, back when he was campaigning to become the next president. The video shows Cruz eating what "The Daily Show" says is a booger (it's a gross sight).

READ ALSO: San Antonians have strong feelings about 98.5 The Beat - and local radio in general

The show tells Cruz's life story, giving details on where he was born (Canada) and his aspirations, saying: "Yes, young Ted Cruz was obsessed with boobs and power  two things he would struggle to get his hands on for the rest of his life."

It explains how much his Princeton University roommate Craig Mazin, the director of the HBO series "Chernobyl," didn't like Cruz. It quotes the screenwriter saying, "I did not like him at all in college ... I want to be clear because Ted Cruz is a nightmare of a human being. I have plenty of problems with his politics, but truthfully, his personality is so awful that 99 percent of why I hate him is just his personality."

The show dogged on his marriage, his road to rise through the legal ranks, and his work banning sex toys in Texas. The late-night episode also highlighted Cruz's failed attempt to become the president in 2016. And, of course, it brought up the rumor that he could be the Zodiac Killer.

For about a minute towards the end, the video showed back-t0-back interviews of other politicians just explaining why they hate Cruz so much. It highlighted his part in the Capitol riots, his infamous Cancun trip, and his ultimate goal of world domination.

Check it out for yourself:
While many are getting vaccinated and looking ahead to better days in the U.S., the fight is nowhere near over for India.

India hit 20 million coronavirus cases this week, according to the New York Times, amid a growing surge across the country. The crisis overseas is deeply impacting Texans, especially those from the country or with roots there, with one nonprofit group getting ready to send supplies to the most at-risk residents.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Bird Song of the Day

The Strange Weaver has exactly one sample. Its very pretty!

* * *

#COVID19

At reader request, Ive added this daily chart from 91-DIVOC. The data is the Johns Hopkins CSSE data. Here is the site.

I feel Im engaging in a macabre form of tape-watching.

Vaccination by region:

Case count by United States regions:

The Midwest in detail:

Continued good news.

Big states (New York, Florida, Texas, California):

Continued good news.

Test positivity:

Down, except for the West, now flat.

* * *

Politics

But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51

They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery. Frank Herbert, Dune

They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord

Biden Administration

The American Rescue Plan as Economic Theory [J.W. Mason]. The size and design of ARPA is a more consequential rejection of this [prevailing macroeconomic] catechism. Without being described as such, its a decisive recognition of half a dozen points that those of us on the left side of the macroeconomic debate have been making for years. 1. The official unemployment rate is an unreliable guide to the true degree of labor market slack, all the time and especially in downturns.  n 2. The balance of macroeconomic risks is not symmetrical. We dont live in an economy that fluctuates around a long-term growth path, but one that periodically falls into recessions or depressions. These downturns are a distinct category of events, not a random shock to production or desired spending.. 3. The existence of hysteresis is one important reason that demand shortfalls are much more costly than overshooting. 4. A full employment or high pressure economy has benefits that go well beyond the direct benefits of higher incomes and output. 5. Public debt doesnt matter. Maybe I missed it, but as far as I can tell, in the push for the Rescue Plan neither the administration nor the Congressional leadership made even a gesture toward deficit reduction, not even a pro forma comment that it might be desirable in principle or in the indefinite long run. 6. Work incentives dont matter.  Interesting. Its not MMT, but it is interesting. Well worth a read. UPDATE Biden Family Plan Will Cost $700 Billion More, Penn Wharton Says [Bloomberg].  Good. Great! U.S. judge throws out moratorium on evicting renters [Reuters]. U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich said the plain language of a federal law called the Public Health Service Act, which governs the response to the spread of communicable diseases such as COVID-19, blocked the CDC from imposing a moratorium. The moratorium had been due to lapse on June 30. The moratorium was issued last September, during former President Donald Trumps administration, and had been extended three times, most recently in March under President Joe Bidens administration.  Another continuity The Biden State Department Nominee Who Worked for Saudi Arabia and Big Oil [The Nation]. [O]ne of Bidens own top State Department nominees, Jose Fernandez, previously worked for Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund and oil giants like Chevron, Occidental Petroleum, and the multinational oil and gas company SK E&P, his financial disclosure forms reveal. Once confirmed, Fernandez will be charged with leading the State Departments environmental and economic growth policies abroad. Fernandez, who in March was officially nominated to be the undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy, and the environment, provided legal services to Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund while he was a partner at the law firm Gibson Dunn. He also disclosed that he has done separate legal work for a number of oil companies and owns stock in fossil fuel companies like Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, Sempra Energy, and the Southern Company. Column: Every president faces a major crisis. What will Bidens be? [Los Angeles Times]. So if you were starting to feel good about Bidens early months, dont get too comfortable. The presidents good fortune  his healthy popularity ratings, the steady advance of his legislation  is unlikely to last forever. Compared with his predecessors, hes had it easy so far. The real tests are yet to come.  Covid isnt still a major crisis?

Democrats en Deshabille

Republican John Cox Campaigning for California Governor with 1,000-Pound Bear [Times of San Diego]. Rancho Santa Fe businessman John Cox, who ran unsuccessfully for Governor in 2018, is campaigning with a live, 1,000-pound bear and promising to make beastly changes if elected. The Cox campaign is spending $5 million on an advertising campaign that portrays Newsom as the beauty who needs to be replaced by a beast. The beautiful politicians have failed California, Cox said. We need big beastly changes to save it. Ill cut taxes, make California more affordable, and shakeup Sacramento.'  Here is Coxs Beauty and the Beast ad: You say Even Elon Musk left like thats a bad thing! (I have to say I dont like the pretty boy subtext much.) UPDATE Democrats still wont get out of their own way [The Week]. Bidens infrastructure bill would help with Democrats plight. Juicing the economy to create jobs building stuff will mean a better political environment in the 2022 and 2024 elections, and raising taxes on the rich and corporations that offshore jobs and profits actually makes it more popular. Indeed, if anything the bill is too small to accomplish its goals on climate. More importantly, the PRO Act would change the fundamental structure of American politics. The anachronistic and toothless structure of the existing National Labor Relations Act makes it extremely difficult to organize a union, as we saw in the failed drive at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama. So passing the infrastructure bill, and reversing some of the damage of neoliberalism, is a matter of basic political self-preservation. To be fair, even many establishment Democrats seem to see the logic here. It is apparently only a handful of people on the Democrats right wing standing in the way of progress here (though their obstruction may be convenient for other potential sellouts who support labor rights only if they will not pass). But the party as a whole is going to be judged on what it manages to get through Congress, and so far there seems to be little effort outside of organized labor itself or democratic socialist groups to pressure Warner, Manchin, and the others to see sense. If President Biden and the rest of the Democratic Party cant find some way to get their party to act in its own self-interest, they will be instructing the American people that in terms of positive achievement, there isnt much point to voting for them.  I would have thought that a political party exists to solve collective action problems like this. It seems not.

Republican Funhouse

GOP leaders add own fuel to Trumps fire: The Note [ABC]. McCarthy was central in shielding Cheney, R-Wyo., from removal from leadership after her vote to impeach Trump. But Cheney is simply continuing to say what she has said for months now  that Trump lost and that his actions leading up to and on Jan. 6 constituted a betrayal that should not be forgotten. The stakes for the GOP are about more than who the third-ranking member of House leadership is. Its about whether Republicans of any stature should be allowed to call out Trump for his lies  or have any opinions about his future role in the party that dont align with MAGA-world.

Trump Legacy

Trump Facebook ban remains but oversight board rips company policies [Reuters]. The board, created by Facebook to rule on a small slice of its content decisions, said the company was right to ban Trump following the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump supporters. But it said Facebook inappropriately imposed a suspension without clear standards and that the company should determine a response consistent with rules applied to other users of the platform. It said the company could determine that Trumps account could be restored, suspended temporarily or permanently banned. Indefinite penalties of this sort do not pass the international or American smell test for clarity, consistency, and transparency, said former federal judge Michael McConnell, co-chair of the Oversight Board, during a press conference after publishing its decision on Wednesday. In its decision, the board said Facebook refused to answer some of the 46 questions it posed , including those on how its news feed and other features affected the visibility of Trumps posts and whether the company planned to look into how its technology amplified content as it had done in the events leading to the Capitol siege.  Siege, yet! Maybe somebody can explain to me why platforms, especially platforms owned by one person, have to have any rules other than the terms of service? If Facebook were a public utility, that might be difference. Or if the Board was truly independent and had subpoena power, which of course it doesnt and cant. All the press coverage on this tries to present the Board as being somehow a separate entity from Facebook itself, which it isnt, exactly as the Senate Parliamentarian is in no way independent from the Majority, although we may wish to pretend they are for appearances sake. Trump responds after Facebook ban extended pending additional review [ABC]. Trump responded to the boards ruling, saying in a statement, What Facebook, Twitter, and Google have done is a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our Country. Free Speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth, but the truth will come out anyway, bigger and stronger than ever before. The People of our Country will not stand for it! These corrupt social media companies must pay a political price, and must never again be allowed to destroy and decimate our Electoral Process.  It is not clear to me if there is a clear dividing line on which lies are OK to tell and which are not, other than party membership. Why Trumps new blog could lead to more social media takedowns [Politico]. Trump has launched a web page making it easier for users to post his remarks verbatim to both Facebook and Twitter, and it could lead to more run-ins with the social media companies policies. A Twitter spokesperson told POLITICO in a statement Tuesday that sharing content from Trumps new site  From the Desk of Donald J. Trump  generally is permitted as long as the material does not otherwise violate the Twitter Rules.'  Lets not kid ourselves. The rules are whatever the platforms say they are. As Richard Nixon says: It was ban him or bring the antitrust lawyers in the front door.  Richard M. Nixon (@dick_nixon) May 5, 2021 Yep.

Our Famously Free Press

CNNs Jake Tapper questions giving some GOP leaders airtime [The Hill]. CNNs Jake Tapper on Tuesday questioned why any Republicans who promote false election fraud theories should be given any airtime. If theyre willing to lie about Joe Biden wanting to steal your hamburgers, and QAnon and the Big Lie about the election, what are they not willing to lie about? Tapper said. Why should I put any of them on TV?'  After years of Maddow yammering about RussiaGate, arguably far more crazed and dangerous than Trumps election fraud theory, since (a) it promotes the liberal Democrats election fraud theory, and (b) foments war fever with a nuclear power.

Realignment and Legitimacy

How most of the West got the pandemic so badly wrong? [Mainly Macro]. What I find shocking is the failure of governments to learn a much simpler and less controversial point, which is that when cases start increasing you lockdown hard and quickly. In other words the second and now third waves we are seeing in Europe is a terrible indictment of the quality of the politicians leading these countries. No one disputes that if countries had locked down earlier and with full severity during the first wave less people would have died and the lockdown would have lasted for less time. (Eradication is about going the extra mile after any lockdown has brought cases right down.) Yet despite this obvious truth, European politicians have failed to implement this lesson. Failed not once, but twice. In the cases I know about they rejected advice from experts, and tried to get away with weaker restrictions that failed to stem the rise in cases. But we also need, and this is a sentence I never expected to write, to give loss of life a greater weight in political calculations. The average COVID death leads to between 10 and 20 years of life lost (e.g. here), but those lost years seem to carry far too little weight among the politicians of the West. That is shocking.  Handy chart: UPDATE The Real-Life Victims of Democrats Irrational Deficit Paranoia [The New Republic]. without imagining taxpayers as victims of government deficits, its hard to point to anyone actually harmed by a government department giving unrealistic estimates of future revenues.  So much for that talking point. And then theres this: The complete incoherence of the current Democratic position on spending and deficits is summed up well in another Wall Street Journal story, where Montana Senator Jon Tester was quoted saying, I dont want to raise any taxes, but I dont want to put stuff on the debt, either. If were going to build infrastructure, we have to pay for it somehow. Im open to all ideas.'  Sounds like a job for public-private partnerships! (This article is actually a very good summary of a recent WSJ story on student debt, which makes repayment schemes seem a lot like HAMP, among other things. Its worth reading for those blocked by WSJ; I just pulled out the two objects that were brightest and shiniest to me.

Stats Watch

Employment Situation: United States ADP Employment Change [Trading Economics]. Private businesses in the US hired 742 thousand workers in April 2021, compared with an upwardly revised 565 thousand increase in March and below market expectations a 800 thousand rise. It was the fastest pace of job creation since September, as the labor market recovery gathered pace amid an acceleration of COVID-19 vaccinations, the lifting of pandemic business restrictions in many states and the governments $1.9 trillion stimulus package.

Private Sector Output: United States Composite PMI [Trading Economics]. The IHS Markit US Composite PMI was revised higher to 63.5 in April of 2021 from a preliminary estimate of 62.2 and above Marchs 59.7, to signal the sharpest upturn in private sector output since data collection began in October 2009. The overall expansion was supported by faster growth in both manufacturing and service sector activity. New business growth was the steepest on record and new export sales rose at the fastest rate since data collection for the series began in September 2014. Companies indicated a sharp upturn in employment amid a marked accumulation in backlogs of work. Pressure on capacity led to the second-strongest rise in workforce numbers on record. 

Services: United States Services PMI [Trading Economics]. The IHS Markit US Services PMI was revised higher to 64.7 in April 2021, from a preliminary estimate of 63.1, signaling the sharpest pace of expansion in the sector since data collection began in late-2009.

* * *

Shipping: Maersk expects tailwind to last amid high demand for containers [Reuters]. Denmarks Maersk said on Wednesday it expected its exceptionally strong performance in the first quarter to continue for the rest of the year, driven by high demand for shipping containers from China to the United States. Maersk, which handles about one in five containers shipped worldwide, said there were not enough ships available in the world to meet a surge in consumer demand, resulting in record-high freight rates.

Tech: US-China tech war: Beijings secret chipmaking champions [Nikkei Asian Review]. [Chinas] ambitious, state-directed aim of [is to weed out] the [Yangtze Memory Technologies] American suppliers, along with those reliant on U.S. technology. The equipment used to manufacture high-end computer chips is virtually an American global monopoly. Eighty percent of the market in some chipmaking and design processes such as etching, ion implantation, electrochemical deposition, wafer inspection and design software is in the hands of U.S. companies. It is a frustrating area of dependence for China, which imported $350 billion worth of semiconductors last year, according to the China Semiconductor Industry Association. Removing this source of U.S. leverage over its economy became a national priority two years ago, when Washington put sanctions on Chinas biggest telecommunications equipment maker, Huawei Technologies, amid spying allegations that the Chinese company has constantly denied. This was followed by sanctions on several other major Chinese technology companies, from its top contract chipmaker, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Co., to Hikvision, the worlds biggest surveillance camera maker. Over a hundred companies in total have been placed on a trade blacklist prohibiting most U.S. technology to be sold to them without a license. That has spurred an aggressive effort by Beijing to identify and replace risky parts and suppliers. The result has been an unprecedented flourishing of chip-related companies within China. Dozens of Chinese companies, with specializations mirroring U.S. incumbents in key areas from ion implantation to etching, have sprung into prominence over the past few years, accelerating as the state realizes the enormity of the self-sufficiency project.

* * *

Todays Fear & Greed Index: 52 Neutral (previous close: 51 Neutral) [CNN]. One week ago: 61 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated May 5 at 1:14pm.

The Biosphere

Microplastics are everywhere  but are they harmful? [Nature]. Regulators are taking the first step towards quantifying the risk to peoples health  measuring exposure. This July, the California State Water Resources Control Board, a branch of the states environmental protection agency, will become the worlds first regulatory authority to announce standard methods for quantifying microplastic concentrations in drinking water, with the aim of monitoring water over the next four years and publicly reporting the results. Evaluating the effects of tiny specks of plastic on people or animals is the other half of the puzzle. This is easier said than done. More than 100 laboratory studies have exposed animals, mostly aquatic organisms, to microplastics. But their findings  that exposure might lead some organisms to reproduce less effectively or suffer physical damage  are hard to interpret because microplastics span many shapes, sizes and chemical compositions, and many of the studies used materials that were quite unlike those found in the environment.

Health Care

Anecdote from alert reader pq:

Thanks! Per recent NC link, Im in the highest reaction group, but three days since Moderna #2, and still no reaction (arm still a little sore). A friend told me her father had no reaction to Moderna 2 and theorized it was because he hyper-hydrated starting the day before. I tend not to drink enough water so started guzzling Thursday for Saturday jab. While checking into the VA clinic yesterday for PT, I remarked to the admin that I was surprised I was feeling well enough to make the appointment. Without prompting, she replied, The key is hydration. On my way out, I asked her for a source on that info. She didnt know where the recommendation originated, but said she was working the COVID vax operation at the regional VA medical center, and thats what they were telling everyone. Theyd told me that at the clinic, too, but I took it as the standard advice for cold and flu in case of flu-like reaction, i.e., rest, take ibuprofen, drink lots of fluids, etc. She said that was also recommended, but said specifically that her group was telling people to make sure they stayed hydrated before and after being vaccinated.

Can readers confirm or disconfirm? Both to the fact of the advice, and to its value?

UPDATE Qualia [Cory Doctorow, Locus]. Quantitative disciplines  physics, math, and (especially) computer science  make a pretense of objectivity. They make very precise measurements of everything that can be measured precisely, assign deceptively precise measurements to things that cant be measured precisely, and jettison the rest on the grounds that you cant do mathematical operations on it. This is the quants version of the drunkards search for car-keys under the lamp-post: we cant add, subtract, multiply or divide qualitative elements, so we just incinerate them, sweep up the dubious quantitative residue that remains, do math on that, and simply assert that nothing important was lost in the process. This is one of the reasons that contact tracing apps were such a bust. When a public health worker does contact tracing, they call patients and the people who may have been exposed to them, establish a person-to-person rapport with those people, win their trust, and both question them about other contacts and give advice on how to get tested and avoid potential further spread. By contrast, the contact tracing apps we were urged to install were purely quantitative. They measured whether two low-powered Bluetooth radios were within range of one another, and for how long. If your Bluetooth device was within range of a device that belonged to someone with a positive test, you would get a notification that you had been exposed. Exposure notification is the residue thats left behind when you put contact tracing in the quantitative incinerator. Shriven of context and connection, the numeric facts that your device was in contact with another device for a clinically significant duration does very little to contain the disease. It doesnt distinguish between devices that sensed one another in adjacent, sealed automobiles in slow-moving traffic and devices that made contact while their owners were competing to set the all-time Fort Lauderdale record for the longest eyeball-licking session.  Thank you for that image.

Our Famously Free Press

Be it Resolved: The Mainstream Media is Dying, and thats OK. Matt UP Debates Ben Bradlee, Jr. (transcript) [Matt Taibbi, TK News]. Weve lost thousands of local newspapers since the early 2000s. The situation has resulted in a major class schism in journalism, because so many of those local news reporters in those smaller papers  these arent rich people. Theyre not children of privilege. They dont have a lot of money, but they served a very valuable role in small communities and they reported on things that were important to ordinary people. And also, they were in touch with the people in their own community because they live there. Whats happened with the disappearance of those types of organizations is that the only thing left is the national news media, which increasingly  and I watched this process happen because Ive been in the business  its increasingly made up of people like me who are upper-class white folks from big cities of the coast, of the East Coast and California. If you go on the plane on the campaign trail, most of the people on the plane now are graduates of Ivy League universities. They live in rarefied areas of expensive, cosmopolitan neighborhoods. Socially, they see themselves as being the same people as the politicians theyre reporting on. Thats a terrible situation. I think that its an underrated problem within modern news media. Its lost some touch with mass audiences  in part because theyre no longer the people who are covering the affairs of ordinary people.  The interchange on RussiaGate is also interesting, and Bradlees response is particularly weak: [J]ust because Mueller didnt sign off on a formal conspiracy blessed by Putin doesnt mean that there wasnt. [ellipsis in original]. Why isnt Yes it does an adequate rejoinder, here?

Book Nook

What is Ours is Only Ours to Give (review) [Crooked Timber]. Review of Kim Stanley Robinsons The Ministry for the Future (TMFTF). Right now, most of the blockchain mining in the world happens in China, where provinces with the cheapest energy set up mining operations to do the proof of work calculations that the dominant paradigm of blockchain requires. Factories that ostensibly make other things now acquire significant computing hardware and dedicate energy in order to, essentially, print money thats then stored offshore. A recent study shows that 40% of Chinas mostly bitcoin mining is powered by coal-burning. We also already know that non-blockchain server farms in cheap energy countries consume so much energy they distort national grids, and throw off huge amounts of heat that then need cooling for the servers to operate, creating a vicious cycle of energy consumption. All to say, I dont see how a global blockchain currency as envisaged in TMFTF can be a good thing. Best possible case scenario; it uses mostly renewable energy to generate the proofs of work, displacing other, better uses for that energy. Worst case; it puts more zeroes on the end of the total carbon emissions we currently dedicate to computing. I didnt spot anything in the novel about how or even if the carbon produced by the pointless computation for the new currency would be mitigated.  Well, its science fiction. I enjoy science fiction, which is what KSR writes.

Groves of Academe

24/7: A Closer Look at security cameras on campus [The Piedmont Highlander]. According to Board Policy/Administrative Regulation 3515 from the [Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD)] Board of Education, The Board believes that reasonable use of surveillance cameras will help the district achieve its goals for campus security.  When asked to identify the security cameras brand, [PUSD Superintendent Randall ] Booker, principal Adam Littlefield, and assistant principal Erin Igoe said they were not able to specify the company from which the cameras were purchased. Palmer said that he did not want to identify the cameras manufacturer because of a concern that making such information public could lead to hacks. After independent research and investigation, TPH concluded that at least 13 of 14 cameras on the PHS and MHS campuses are Dome Series cameras from Verkada, a San Mateo-based company that specializes in Internet-connected surveillance cameras, facial recognition technologies, and artificial intelligence-powered analytics. Verkada cameras have an intelligent archiving feature that remembers every face that enters the camera frame, according to Monarch, a San Francisco company that sells Verkada products. The faces are categorized and given names for easy search access [and the technology] is so advanced it can even accurately detect faces wearing masks. The facial recognition thats a pretty big invasion of privacy, [director of facilities Pete Palmer] said. I cant ever see that happening here.'  Oh. Whats wonderful is that this is a high school newspaper (with mastheads going back to 2012. Kudos to the students and to faculty advisor Beth Black). Please give them some clickthroughs.

Guillotine Watch

The Untold Story of How Jeff Bezos Beat the Tabloids [Bloomberg]. Lots of interesting detail, but then I came to this: Like many modern couples, Bezos and Sanchezs relationship played out digitally as well. The richest man in the world was, to put it bluntly, sexting. Sanchez shared many of these texts and photographs with her brother, a talent manager who represented a variety of cable news pundits and reality-TV contestants. But all of that was happening well outside Bezos line of sight. He was enthralled by the adventurous Sanchez, and by nature he wasnt predisposed to be paranoid or immediately skeptical of anyoneespecially not the brother of his new paramour. His philosophy, according to a friend, was essentially:  Its better to assume trust and find out that you are wrong than to always assume people are trying to screw you over .'  Wait, what? Really? Who is this friend?

Class Warfare

Servant problems:

Why I dont ask for help, part 1 million. I asked a service to deliver flowers to my house. The flowers were a hostess gift for a friends birthday, which I specified. This is what they chose. The stalks weigh 20 lbs. pic.twitter.com/TDC5ODY37O  Tressie McMillan Cottom (@tressiemcphd) May 5, 2021

BWA-HA-HA-HA-HA:

Lose your labor shortage in one week with this one weird trick that some Pittsburgh area businesses are using. https://t.co/YC4mkx0w0Y  Arindrajit Dube (@arindube) May 4, 2021

Youll never guess.

News of the Wired

New York subway posters:

Every molecule in my body longs for the good old days in 2019 when I would regularly find myself on a train back to Brooklyn at 2am after making some questionable choices pic.twitter.com/RXciuEt2iC  Alison Wilgus (@aliwilgus) May 4, 2021

Red wine in space may age faster than on Earth, study finds [Space]. Compared to a bottle of the same wine that aged for the same amount of time on Earth, the wine that aged at the International Space Station was really maybe one to two or even three years further evolved than you would expect from the one that had remained on Earth, wine writer Jane Anson, who participated in the taste test, told reporters in a press conference earlier this year.  Differences were perceived concerning the color of the wines. Concerning aroma and taste components: the two wines were described with a rich vocabulary attesting to remarkable olfactory and gustatory complexity; sensory dimensions of sweetness, harmony and persistence were particularly noted, Darriet added.  These guys should go into macroeconomics

* * *

Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (d) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. Todays plant (Lee):

Lee writes: A neighbors heavenly gate. Oh, thats just ridiculously great!

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Yves here. Thanks in large measure to the diligent reporting of the Health Care Renewal blog, as well as more recently the deep digging by Eileen Applebaum and Rosemary Batt on private equitys major incursions into healthcare, weve been able to keep tabs on the corporatization of medicine and its detrimental effects on the quality of care. These changes have been implemented by MBA beancounters over the objections of practitioners. In cities where its viable to keep solo or small group practices, like New York City, some can keep serving their current patients. Some retire early. Some are able to morph their practices outside the insurance paradigm (like endocrinologists who become anti-aging specialists who dispense human growth hormone) and again escape corporate minders. Others like IM Doc flee for small cities where the big hospital system tendrils have yet to reach. But the net result of all of this is fewer patient-driven practitioners. Given the importance of the placebo effect alone, this shift hurts outcomes.

The latest post at Health Care Renewal reports on an important measure to restore more power to doctors: a proposed California bill to prevent health care administrators from practicing medicine. Oddly Ive read nothing in the press about it. I strongly recommend circulating this post to everyone you know in California and urge them to urge their state Assemblyman and Senator to support this measure. Update: I was remiss in not flagging the bill number, SB 642, and a link to its text.

By Roy Poses, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Brown University, and the President of FIRM  the Foundation for Integrity and Responsibility in Medicine. Originally published at Health Care Renewal

Health Care Renewal presents a guest post by Dr. Gene Dorio. Dr Dorio is a geriatric physician from the Santa Clarita Valley in California, providing house calls to older adults. He has been an advocate and whistleblower for his community leading several causes from attempting to preserve the hospital Transitional Care Unit for seniors in 2006, to today trying to allow admission of teens to the psychiatric unit.

He is President of the Los Angeles County Commission for Older Adults, an elected Assembly Member of the California Senior Legislature, serves on the Triple-A Council of California, and member of the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center Advisory Board.

For 5 years, Dr. Dorio served on his hospitals Medical Staff Executive Committee in several leadership roles including 3 years as Chairman of the Department of Medicine.

Doctors are highly trained medical professionals trying to survive in a complex sociopolitical system. We have been pawns utilized by hospitals and government for our knowledge and skills, yet more recently expected not to have a voice or opinion.

As a physician in private practice for 40 years, changes in the past 10 years have been difficult. It was hard for me to hear non-medical business administrators force cut-rate medicine compromising evidence-based patient care.

I was elected to the hospital Medical Executive Committee (MEC) seven years ago with the hope from the inside I could improve threats against patient care. This did not succeed and the fury coming from the hospital intensified as the self-governing MEC was swallowed up by the Board of Directors and Administration.

Doctor voices protecting patients diminished, and many whistleblowers were left to defend themselves from bullying and attacks.

Lies and insults persisted, and the only power I had was knocking out keyboard articles to social media as a shield. Throughout the country, there were scant physicians in the same situation, so we networked the best we could to survive. Never give up was our mantra.

Periodically murmurs could be heard, but it was always muffled.

This year in California, a law was introduced in the State Senate to keep hospital administrators from practicing medicine without a license. Most doctors dont know about it, but of course the state hospital association is diligently fighting it.

It can be seen here.

At the end of April, I was asked to testify at the State Senate Health Committee, and this is what I provided:

===

Good morning Mr. Chairman and members of the California Senate Health Committee.

My name is Gene Dorio, and I am a geriatric physician in Santa Clarita serving my community for 34 years.

Until two years ago, I was on staff at a local hospital which is a non-profit, but run like a for-profit hospital. For 5 years, I served on the Medical Staff Executive Committee in several leadership roles including 3 years as Chairman of the Department of Medicine.

During my time there, I witnessed administrators use manipulative, clandestine tactics to capture each voting facet of the health facility, including the Board of Directors, contracted physician groups, and the Medical Staff so business people could make patient-care decisions.

At my hospital, business community members were appointed to the Board of Directors and provided lucrative contracts in exchange for their vote. Bankers were given hospital accounts; a real estate agent was given property to rent; and a doctor was given space for a dialysis unit.

Exclusive Contracts were signed by physician groups for emergency room care, radiology, and operating room anesthesia. The hospital could not technically practice medicine, but they coerced these groups with the threat of severing contracts if they did not adhere to their orders, or vote as told. Needless to say the administration got their votes, while the Medical Staff became only a shell of a self-governing body once devoted to improving patient care.

Eventually, the Medical Staff was taken over too, and our policies were changed to bring in more revenueeven when it was terrible for patients. My patients are geriatric, and at times clinging to life. Nonetheless, staff started to leave daily notes on my charts forcing me to discharge patients even though they were not ready to leave the hospital. These notes included a printed statement Not a Part of the Medical Record which was removed later by the Medical Records Department erasing hospital culpability.

Hospital administrators also knowingly wrote orders without doctor consent for Palliative Consults, to place patients on hospice care which financially benefits the hospital by getting them out of the hospital for care.

They also made decisions about medications patients could receive. They decided not to use insulin pens as they were too expensive, and instead jeopardized diabetic patient care using multi-source insulin vials which are less precise and easily contaminated. The presiding CEO was released from their previous hospital after violating State Medi-Cal laws substituting inferior anesthesia in the labor and delivery department.

Hospitals also hold regular throughput meetings for physicians, where they publicly display the number of referrals, expensive tests, procedures, and overall revenue that each doctor is generating. They talk about productivity and efficiencynot the quality of patient care.

Because I tried to advocate for my patients, my hospital privileges were constantly in jeopardy. Typically, privileges are renewed every two years. For me, it was every 4 months.

If hospital administrator actions were truly to improve healthcare for our patients, I would have no qualms. But instead through abusive tactics and bullying, they interfere with physician decision-making, and ultimately increase administrator salaries, bankroll retirement portfolios, and yearly bonuses.

SB 642 is an important step to removing hospital administrators from practicing medicine without a license. Their surreptitious plans taking over a non-profit hospital for their own personal benefit must be thwarted by this law.

Patients have entrusted physicians to be guardians of their health. We are professionals that have taken a solemn oath to provide care in the best interest of the patient. Therefore, SB 642 will serve Californians by putting medical decision-making back into the hands of patients and their doctors.

Thank you.

===

I have never testified before a legislative body, but this is where my keyboard has brought me. There needs to be more voices fighting for patient care diminishing hospital administration power. Doctors must be part of the balance providing better healthcare to citizens of our country, but we must hear you speak!

Follow that mantra, Never Give Up!

Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
CalPERS likes to think that all that matters is if it can control perceptions in Sacramento. If Dan Walters latest column is any indication, CalPERS is losing that battle.

For those of you outside California, Walters has been the most influential commentator in Sacramento for decades. His view skew somewhat conservative, but he regularly calls out politicians on both sides of the aisle.

His latest object of disfavor is the CalPERS-sponsored bill AB 386, which he lambasted forcefully in his latest column, Pending Bill Opens Door to CalPERS Corruption. Walters criticizes the Assembly Judiciary Committee, which just passed the bill with no discussion at all.

Walters piece has been picked up by the Mercury News and other in-state papers. Since the bill has yet to go to the Senate, his intervention will make it much harder for Sacramento insiders to simply waive the legislation through and pretend they didnt know about its rancid features.

We wrote up last week in part because the Judiciary Committee staff took the unusual step of sharply questioning whether CalPERS could and should be trusted with the powers it would provide. CalPERS wants to make loans and be exempt from disclosureincluding who got the loan, in what amount, what the terms were (such as interest and collateral). The latter is important not just to determine if CalPERS is making proper credit judgments but also to see if it is handing out sub-market loans to cronies. Theres a proud history of this sort of thing. Remember, for instance, the Friends of Angelo scandal, when Countrywide gave out mortgages on extremely favorable terms to powerful politicians including Senate Banking Committee chair Christopher Dodd (D-CT), and Senate Budget Committee chair Kent Conrad.

Similarly, the reason yours truly has not been an advocate of public banks is they were tried in the US and virtually all failed. Most states and even some cities had them. All save North Dakotas were eventually shuttered due to large-scale corruption and losses. I have not seen any of the proponents of public banks in the US demonstrate any awareness of their history of becoming piggy-banks for local notables, much the less recommend how to stop that from happening again. What CalPERS is proposing is an even more degraded version of the old, crooked, insider-controlled public banks.

As we pointed out, these secrecy provisions are utterly unnecessary for CalPERS to make debt investments, as opposed to engage in shenanigans. CalPERS is already one of the biggest private debt investors in the world. So is its Sacramento sister CalSTRS, who has not joined CalPERS in pushing this bill. The industry publication Private Debt Investor show the New York City pension system as a much larger private debt investor than CalPERS, yet it has no super secrecy shield.

The private debt initiative follows in an over-long series of dubious CalPERS schemes that looked at best as if CalPERS had been sold a bill of good by a huckster, and at worse, that staff members were hoping to get payoffs, if nothing else in the form of revolving-door-style career advancement. For instance, CalPERS tried hard and ultimately failed to hand off its private equity program to Blackrock (which was particularly dodgy since CalPERS would have paid even more fees!) when it looked like the most likely beneficiary was Ted Eliopoulos, who looked to be setting up his next gig.1 Next came the Four Pillars scheme which collapses under its own contradictions, but again looked like a way to give money away with clearly deficient controls and oversight (as opposed to invest it prudently).

Back to AB 386. As David Soares warned in his testimony to the Judiciary Committee last week,

Imagine if CalPERS were to loan trust assets to a company called Plumpjack, but could refuse to disclose under the California Public Records Act that Plumpjack was owned by Governor Newsom  as well as the terms and the collateral for that loan.this is exactly the sort of thing that AB 386 would allow. Unlike currently exempt alternative investments which are regulated by the SEC, these loans would not be subject to federal oversight. The Staff analysis prepared for todays hearing correctly states that this bill had to be withdrawn in the last session when CalPERS Chief Investment Officer Ben Meng suddenly resigned. Id like to focus the committees understanding on what a gross failure of governance and fiduciary duty lay behind Mengs resignation. Mr. Meng disclosed all of these conflicts of interest with private pquity firms in his Form 700s when he was hired in 2019 and again in 2020  but Meng was allowed to direct billions in trust fund investments to funds in which he continued to hold a significant personal financial

interest. Rather than require divestment as has been required by FPPC rules for the past 40 years, CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost and Board President Henry Jones covered-up his conflicts from the majority of the Board, the FPPC and the publicFrost and Jones then tried to make it sound as if divestment of conflicted investments was some crazy new concept that had just occurred to them  and not the official policy under the Political Reform Act since its inception. These serious governance and fiduciary failures are not past history. Just last Monday CalPERS announced that an employee spent the last four years openly embezzling from beneficiary accounts  $685,000 and counting. Was this person arrested? No. Has she had to post a bond like any other common thief? No. CalPERS sued her.

Despite other critical (and favorable) testimony, the committee didnt even deign to discuss the bill, passing it at the end of the session as if it were an afterthought. As Walters put it:

Assembly Bill 386 sailed through the Assembly Judiciary Committee last week Given its cavalier handling, one might think that AB 386is just another minor change in law. In fact, however, it would allow the financially shaky California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) to semi-secretly lend out untold billions of dollars by exempting details from the states Public Records Act. Potentially it opens the door to insider dealing and corruption in an agency thats already experienced too many scandals, including a huge one that sent CalPERS top administrator to prison for accepting bribes Direct lending by CalPERS means that its board members, administrators and other insiders would be making lending decisions on their own without outside scrutiny. CalPERS rationale is that using alternative investment partners is costly because of their fees, and that direct lending could potentially result in higher earnings. However, it says, disclosing loan details would discourage many would-be borrowers from seeking CalPERS loans, thus limiting potential gains. Underlying that rationale is that CalPERS $440 billion in assets are, by its own calculations, only about 71% of whats neededIt has ratcheted up mandatory contributions from its client agencies to close the gap, but its also been chronically unable to meet its self-proclaimed investment earnings goal of 7% a year [Ben] Meng was brought aboard to juice up investment strategy but shortly after reporting disappointing 2019-20 results was forced to resign because he failed to reveal his personal investments in a New York financial firm, Blackstone Group, with whom he had placed $1 billion in CalPERS funds. The Meng situation illustrates the perils should AB 386 become law and CalPERS officials be allowed to loan money to corporations and individuals without having to disclose all-important details. The potential pitfalls were pointed out in an extensive analysis of the bill by the Judiciary Committee staff. It mentioned the Meng case as well as the scandal that sent chief executive Fred Buenrostro to prison for taking bribes One might think that members of the two Assembly committees that rubber-stamped AB 386 would have at least discussed those scandals and the potential downside. But they couldnt be bothered to do their jobs.

As Walters intimates, Sacramento has become too complacent about corruption and its denizens act as if they believe the mopes arent on to how much looting goes on. Lambert reports that its been difficult to get much of a reading as to how California Democrats are responding to the Newsom recall campaign, but the attitude he gleans that its a big nuisance they are having to stoop to swat back. Yet the Democrats seem to forget that they are are likely to start out about a half a million votes down due to the number of people who still havent gotten their unemployment checks due to state indifference and incompetence. The not-wonderful Maine governor Le Page was voted in on what was largely a Fuck the incumbents vote. Many choose to overlook how many Trump voters voted for Obama in 2012 and Sanders in 2020 primaries.

If unhappy California voters take out their wrath on Newsom, CalPERS may find itself much less well protected than it is now. Yet the giant pension fund seems incapable of caring about beneficiary interests for its own self-preservation.
100 year-old enormous fresh water fish caught in Detroit River Boing Boing (resilc) !!!!!

Scientists Are Relocating Nuisance Beavers to Help Salmon Smithsonian Magazine

Drones show Californias great white sharks are closer  and more common  than you think Los Angeles Times

This Unappealing Beer Offers a Taste of Climate Change TreeHugger

Bugging out: EU approves beetle larvae as food France 24 (resilc)

Siberia Is on Fireand Its Only May Gizmodo. But then again:

And another sign of spring, also from Norilsk in Krasnoyarsk region  who wouldnt remember falling through thawing snow like these two guys, losing shoes or ending up with boots full of snow. Video by Danil Vashurov pic.twitter.com/AqXb08mO2U  The Siberian Times (@siberian_times) May 3, 2021

Pesticides Threaten the Foundations of the Web of Life, New Soil Study Warns EcoWatch (David L)

Repairing the Soil Carbon Rift Monthly Review (Anthony L)

Global Vaccine Crisis Sends Ominous Signal for Fighting Climate Change New York Times. Resilc: Fighting climate is PR BS. If we cant agree on masks, how can we agree on anything? We will fight two things. 1. jack, 2 shit. Kids are kooked.

Mathematics for gamblers Aeon (Anthony L)

Doctors investigate mystery brain disease in Canada BBC

#COVID-19

COVID-19 Death Rates Are Impressively Low In Haiti NPR (David L)

Travel agents jittery over jab tours Bangkok Post (furzy)

China?

Myanmar

A wider war coming to Myanmar Asia Times

5 Years of Duterte: A Calamity Reaching Its Crescendo The Diplomat

Brexit

New Cold War

Kremlin: Russia is preparing to be disconnected from SWIFT

Syraqistan

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

Imperial Collapse Watch

How US regime media works: When Venezuela, facing a longstanding US coup and destabilization campaign, does anything to respond it's a "crackdown." When US allied-Colombian police open fire on anti-austerity protesters & kill them, it's "allegations of police excess": pic.twitter.com/V6FoMJ2BKQ  Aaron Mate (@aaronjmate) May 4, 2021 Utterly shocking. DOJ threatened two MIT researchers after they published a statistical analysis (based on publicly available information) debunking the claims of electoral fraud in Bolivia. These claims were used to facilitate a coup.https://t.co/MJOxsNG2TP  Chip Gibbons (@ChipGibbons89) May 4, 2021

Andrew Yang Promised to Create 100,000 Jobs. He Ended Up With 150. New York Times. From last week, still germane

Black Injustice Tipping Point

Woke Watch

Here Be Monsters Rhyd Wildermuth (UserFriendly). OMG one of the best opening lines evah: I once went on a date with a bat. CIA Embraces Left-Wing Ideology, Leftists Deny That This Is Happening Michael Tracey. Hate the conflation of academically oriented PMC promotion of intersectionality with the left.

Fried-Chicken Craze Is Causing U.S. to Run Low on Poultry Bloomberg (resilc)

Elizabeth Holmes back in court for first time in 15 months, putting Silicon Valley culture under scrutiny CNBC (Kevin W)

Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) are supposed to swiftly retrieve organs from donors. Yet, they're often havens for waste and abuse, in part because they can manipulate data to escape accountability, while vacationing on private jetsliterally. I'm calling them out. pic.twitter.com/fPV92Ig96m  Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) May 4, 2021

Another reason why Alex Oh was not tenable as chief of enforcement at the SEC:

BREAKING: An incredible SIXTY-EIGHT Nobel Laureates just sent a letter to the DOJ demanding probe of "shameful" prosecution of me by private @Chevron law firm. My trial starts Monday. @TheJusticeDept: It's now or never. pic.twitter.com/YolCTKmOgX  Steven Donziger (@SDonziger) May 4, 2021

Tech Giants Could Send Helium Prices Soaring as War For Supply Grows OilPrice (resilc)

Rent-to-Own Dogs Adam Levitin

Class Warfare

Government official working a shift as Meituan courier is featured in new Communist Party documentary South China Morning Post Higher Ed 2.0 (What We Got Right/Wrong) No Mercy/No Malice (resilc) Tim Cook, Apple, and Runaway Limitless Corporate Greed CounterPunch Funny, one of our aides and her husband (before he died) operated a 3 bay garage in Connecticut, so as a side benefit she does car diagnosis and minor maintenance. From resilc: I had an interesting interaction with an owner/operator of a small 2 bay garage in Clarksburg, MA yesterday. I drop my 2003 Tacoma with 90k miles to get its first brake job ever (why I buy Toyotas) and get a call to pick it up mid day. I get there and the shop is all open, tens of $dollar of tools all sitting there. A sign, back soon. Bob the owner drives up and says on a quick lunch break. Im here all alone, have a p/t retired guy who wants to work 2 days, but I cant find help. Kids from a pretty good tech high school are generally a very mixed lot. Hired one kid who was great, hoped to sell him the business in 10 years, but he left to join the Marines.well be locked into dealers on everything soon. He said kids cant afford the capital needed to buy or start-up something like his operation. And he said hed be a plumber if he was younger. All you need is a van, a few tools and a cell phone/website.

Antidote du jour (Dr. Kevin):

And a bonus (guurst):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Yves here. Thomas Neuburger identifies some bona fide actors in the conservation/nature protection space as opposed to greenwashers. I am sure readers can add to his list.

By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at Gods Spies

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is one of those potentially game-changing solutions. The TPP is a trade agreement designed to promote economic growth by enhancing trade and investment among twelve TPP partner countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including the United States. Its not often that large-scale opportunities arise to help protect our planet. And surprisingly enough, the TPP, if it is done right, can offer a valuable way forward.

Carter Roberts, President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund, in Conserving Nature Is Good Trade Policy, February 28, 2014

When youre the only one with cash, everything in the world is for sale.

Yours truly

People have had second thoughts about the effectiveness (and even the goals) of a number of Big Green organizations for a while. Some are remarkably good  350.org seems to be one of the best, and the national Sierra Club has also conducted itself rather well for a fair stretch of years.

On the other side of the coin sit groups like World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). As you can see from the quote above, the WWF is fully aligned with the goals of corporate America, meaning the goals of predatory capitalism.

Why its CEOs statement is a whitewash  or in this case, a greenwash  is captured in the phrase done right. When has any corporate trade giveaway been done right? One could call anything a potentially game-changing solution, including the Trump presidency, if it were done right.

Corporate-aligned, and to a large extent mainstream-Party-aligned environmental and climate groups, too often show the same priorities as the mainstream Party itself  corporate donors first, organizational loyalty second, and public-benefiting policy eighth and last.

Today its the The Nature Conservancys turn in the barrel.

What Is The Nature Conservancy?

The Nature Conservancy is an older organization  the original group was founded in 1915  and it has changed its mission and its stripes several times over the years. You can read about that history here. Today most people think of The Nature Conservancy as a green (environmentally friendly) organization that purchases land in order to protect it from despoilage. As a result of its many purchases, The Nature Conservancy has been called the largest environmental non-profit organization by assets and revenue in the Americas, and perhaps in the world, with assets topping $7 billion in land and other real estate holdings.

The Nature Conservancy is, by any measure, rich beyond the dreams of any other eco-friendly liberal non-profit.

Its also not what it seems or presents itself as being.

The Nature Conservancy Caught Greenwashing Corporate Pollution

Heres more on how TNC operates, from SourceWatch, written in 2008 and quoted here:

The group eschews political work in favor of the relatively noncontroversial project of buying land. Calling itself Natures real estate agent, the Nature Conservancy purchases private land and then sells it to state and federal agencies, often, according to its critics, at a considerable mark-up. Last year, the group violated its apolitical policy to concoct the compromise rewrite of the Endangered Species Act with a secret coalition of corporations and trade associations, including the National Homebuilders Association and timber giant Georgie-Pacific. The group is led by John Sawhill, former energy aide to Nixon and Ford and a fanatical proponent of nuclear power, who has enjoyed lucrative positions on the boards of Procter & Gamble, North American Coal Company and Pacific Gas & Electric. [emphasis added]

Its corporate ties are many. Wikipedia notes this (links in the original, emphasis added):

The Nature Conservancy has ties to many large companies, including those in the oil, gas, mining, chemical and agricultural industries.[35] As of 2016, its board of directors included the retired chairman of Duke Energy, and executives from Merck, HP, Google and several financial industry groups.[36] It also has a Business Council which it describes as a consultative forum that includes Bank of America, BP America, Chevron, Coca-Cola, Dow Chemical, Duke Energy, General Mills, Royal Dutch Shell, and Starbucks.[37] The organization faced criticism in 2010 from supporters for its refusal to cut ties with BP after the Gulf oil spill.[38][39] Writer and activist Naomi Klein has strongly criticized The Nature Conservancy for earning money from an oil well on land it controls in Texas and for its continued engagement with fossil fuel companies.[40][41]

For a more complete list of TNCs corporate partners, read this now-deleted web page, Companies We Work With, from TNC own site. Its stunning. I would think the people at Duke Energy, BP, Dow Chemical and Shell Oil think theyre getting their moneys worth for their engagement with TNC.

But it gets worse. More recently comes this, from Bloomberg Green in a report entitled These Trees Are Not What They Seem: How the Nature Conservancy, the worlds biggest environmental group, became a dealer of meaningless carbon offsets:

At first glance, big corporations appear to be protecting great swaths of U.S. forests in the fight against climate change. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has paid almost $1 million to preserve forestland in eastern Pennsylvania. Forty miles away, Walt Disney Co. has spent hundreds of thousands to keep the city of Bethlehem, Pa., from aggressively harvesting a forest that surrounds its reservoirs. Across the state line in New York, investment giant BlackRock Inc. has paid thousands to the city of Albany to refrain from cutting trees around its reservoirs. JPMorgan, Disney, and BlackRock tout these projects as an important mechanism for slashing their own large carbon footprints. By funding the preservation of carbon-absorbing forests, the companies say, theyre offsetting the carbon-producing impact of their global operations. But in all of those cases, the land was never threatened; the trees were already part of well-preserved forests. Rather than dramatically change their operationsJPMorgan executives continue to jet around the globe, Disneys cruise ships still burn oil, and BlackRocks office buildings gobble up electricitythe corporations are working with the Nature Conservancy, the worlds largest environmental group, to employ far-fetched logic to help absolve them of their climate sins. By taking credit for saving well-protected land, these companies are reducing nowhere near the pollution that they claim. [emphasis added]

JPMorgan, Disney and BlackRock are certainly getting their moneys worth for their engagement with TNC.

The Nature Conservancy initially defended this practice, an indictment in itself. (Note the use of creative in the first sentence below. A less corporate-friendly publication might have used the word fraudulent.)

Now, with an increasing number of companies looking for creative ways to cut emissions, the nonprofit has accelerated its work on carbon projects. But a review of hundreds of pages of documents underpinning those projects and interviews with a half-dozen participating landowners indicate that the Conservancy is often preserving forested lands that dont need defending. For the credits to be real, the payment needs to induce the environmental benefit, says Danny Cullenward, a lecturer at Stanford and policy director at CarbonPlan, a nonprofit that analyzes climate solutions. If the Conservancy is enrolling landowners who had no intention of cutting their trees, he adds, theyre engaged in the business of creating fake carbon offsets. The Conservancy defends its carbon-offset projects, saying that all adhere to peer-reviewed methodologies developed by independent registries and that each project is validated by third-party auditors. We have absolutely no motivation to not achieve real climate solutions, says Lynn Scarlett, chief external affairs officer at the Conservancy.

TNC has since backtracked, claiming its now conducting an internal review of its portfolio of carbon-offset projects, according to a Bloomberg followup piece.

Kudos to Bloomberg and Ben Elgin, the writer of both articles, for this expose. Shame on TNC for the practice itself, and shame on them for their tardy (and publicity-forced?) response: The original expose was published in December; the announcement of TNCs internal review appeared only this month.

What To Make of This?

It would be easy (and safe) to take a non-cynical approach and say The Nature Conservancy got sloppy, got caught, and eventually got religion.

But really, its almost impossible not to read this as how a willing corporate-aligned front group and greenwashing organization knowingly cheated the public on behalf of its mega-rich partners, then pretended to be surprised when the news they were desperate to hide broke into the public light. If it quacks like a duck, as they say, its a willing corporate-aligned front group.

But theres a larger takeaway. The Nature Conservancy is not alone in scamming the public by pretending to be the right kind of green while chasing the wrong kind. As noted above, the WWF was a TTP advocate and likely will be again if Biden resurfaces some flavor of that Obama-loved trade abomination. The League of Conservation Voters was a notorious endorser of Republicans, like Susan Collins in 2014 when Shenna Bellows, a much more progressive candidate, was mounting a viable challenge. There are other well-funded Big Green front groups like them.

The problem is very broad. Everything Big Money touches, it eats and destroys. When youre the only one with cash, everything in the world is for sale.

The lesson here is simple: Big Money cannot be coddled or cooperated with. It can only be bowed to or defeated.
Fibre is likely to lead to lower maintenance costs as more of the network is converted

( ) and other European incumbent telecoms groups are in a better cash position than the market believes, suggests US bank JP Morgan.

And that might help explain the growing private equity interest in the sector.

Only this weekend, Dutch incumbent KPN rejected approaches from two private equity firms: EQT and KKR.

BT, meanwhile, has been buoyed by talk of a private equity firm taking a stake to help finance the upgrade of network arm Openreach.

JP Morgan notes that cash flow generated by the incumbents has fallen by 65% over the past decade and the outlook still remains uncertain with costs for the switch over to fibre from copper wire rising.

This spending is tipped to rise to 8.6bn in 2022 from 3.1bn in 2015, but that should be the peak says JPM and start to decline from 2024.

As this starts to occur, free cash flow generated by the telcos should slowly start to rise again suggests the broker, especially as fibre is likely to lead to lower maintenance costs as more of the network is converted.

JPM estimates fibre rollout by the incumbents will have risen to 61% on average by 2027 from 30% penetration in 2020.

BT, alongside Orange in France and KPN, should do well if this theme plays out suggests the broker, with Orange to be the first to test the idea from 2024 onwards.

But JPM admits that it needs more than a better medium-term cash flow profile to be bullish on the telcos currently and points to the growing private equity interest, infrastructure monetisation, and regulatory change as other catalysts.

Last month, JPM set a value of 22bn for Openreach and raised its share price target for BT to 230p from 170p.

Shares in BT rose 1% to 169.6p.
(Natural News) On Friday, April 30, China launched a new nuclear submarine that can slip past Americas first line of defense and hit the American mainland.

Most U.S. cities are out of range of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) because of the first island chain  a series of bases dotted across the Pacific Ocean equipped with sophisticated submarine detection systems.

With the first island chain acting as the countrys first line of defense, hostile submarines are exposed to detection and attack by American P-8 anti-sub patrol planes, surface warships and other undersea reconnaissance capabilities before even coming close to striking distance of the U.S.

Chinas new submarine can get past Americas first line of defense undetected

The first island chain can be rendered useless by the Type 094A Jin-class, nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) that runs quieter than its predecessors. Aside from having a better chance to get past the first island chain undetected, Type 094A can also carry the JL-3 Julang (Big Wave) nuclear missile that has a 6,200-mile range.

The JL-3 can deliver the same number of warheads, including nuclear warheads, as its JL-2 predecessor. For context, the latter can be armed with either a single megaton-yield warhead 67 times more powerful than the Little Boy bomb dropped on Hiroshima, or three to eight smaller multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) that can strike different targets.

Macau-based military expert Antony Wong Tong said the news indicated that some technical breakthroughs had been achieved to make the JL-3 fit the silos of the Type 094A. The original design and size of the JL-3 should be adjusted, but those changes do not reduce its firepower and range  a significant breakthrough, he said.

A Chinese military source told the South China Morning Post that the Type 094A is an upgraded version of the Type 094 and that it has improved hydrokinetic and turbulent systems that make it quieter and let it carry the more powerful JL-3.

Before the upgrade, the submarine was armed with the inferior JL-2 that could only hit the northeast United States, but now its able to cover the whole American continent, said the source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

Chinese submarines have been dogged by the problem of being too noisy and easy to detect. According to state media, that has largely been remedied in recent years by Chinese naval engineer Rear Admiral Ma Weiming, who is now taking the lead in developing cutting-edge underwater propulsion technology.

The Type 094A is one of the three new warships unveiled last week to mark the 72nd anniversary of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy. The others were a new guided-missile cruiser known as the Type 055 Renhai-class and the Type 075 amphibious helicopter assault ship.

Tensions between China and the U.S. continue to escalate in the South China Sea, mainly over the independence of Taiwan. The independent state is the first link in Americas first island chain but for the Chinese government, its an important piece of territory that its eager to reclaim. (Related: Largest joint Russian-Chinese naval drills aim to counter U.S. influence in Asia.)

China boosts second-strike capability

Former PLA instructor Song Zhongping did not say what type of SLBM the Type 094A was armed with but said it would boost Chinas second-strike capability  its ability to retaliate after a nuclear strike.

The new SLBM with MIRVs with a firing range over 10,000 kilometers is the basic technical requirement for an upgraded Type 094 SSBN to cause nuclear deterrence, he said. China promises not to use a nuke first but a powerful SSBN fleet will help the PLA strengthen their second-strike power against rivals.

China has six Type 094 and Type 094A SSBNs and plans to build two more to replace the Type 092 SSBNs.

The Chinese are not lacking in warheads to arm the missiles in their SSBNs either. A paper published by the Chicago, Illinois-based Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has estimated that China has 350 nuclear warheads, significantly more than the low 200s estimated by the Department of Defense (DoD) in its 2020 report on Chinas military.

Written by Hans Kristensen and Matt Korda of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), the report arrived at the number by counting both operational warheads and newer weapons still in development. These weapons include hypersonic missiles, silo-based and road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles, and their submarine-launched equivalents.

The report said an estimated 272 of the 350 warheads in the PLA are operational. That estimate included 204 land-based missile warheads, 48 submarine-launched warheads and 20 aircraft-delivered gravity bombs. The estimate of 350 nuclear warheads does not include the suspected air-launched ballistic/hypersonic missiles and the multiple independent warheads that will be fitted on the DF-5C ICBM.

Still, the Chinese nuclear stockpile is significantly below that of the U.S. and Russia, which have thousands of nuclear weapons in their respective stockpiles. (Related: Pentagon warns: China will double the size of its nuclear arsenal in the next decade.)

The report also noted that China has traditionally maintained a low alert level for its nuclear forces, with most warheads at a central storage facility and smaller numbers kept in regional equivalents.

The DoD agreed with this assessment, adding that launchers, missiles and warheads are kept separate. But the department noted that PLA Rocket Force brigades conduct combat readiness duty and high alert duty drills, which are believed to include assigning a missile battalion to be ready to launch, and rotating to standby positions as much as monthly for unspecified periods of time.

Follow NationalSecurity.news for more news and information about threats to national security.

Sources include:

DailyStar.co.uk

SCMP.com

DefenseNews.com
(Natural News) Scientists thought that GJ 1132 b, a distant exoplanet discovered in 2015, lost its atmosphere. But now it seems that it has formed itself a new one. The gases of this new atmosphere suggest a volcanic origin as well.

Scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory made the discovery after examining existing observations of GJ 1132 b with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). They gathered the data back in 2017.

Raissa Estrela, a postdoctoral fellow at the lab who was part of the research team, said their finding was super exciting because the planets atmosphere could be a new or a secondary one.

Estrela said she and her colleagues first thought that such irradiated planets as GJ 1132 b could be quite boring since they already lost their atmospheres. But then they found that GJ 1132 b had practically regenerated another one. The paper describing the discovery has been accepted into the Astronomical Journal.

Exoplanet formed a new atmosphere

Exoplanets  planets outside the Solar System  like GJ 1132 b were once enveloped in a hydrogen atmosphere that disappeared over time.

In fact, scientists surmise that most of the barren exoplanets in outer space were once shrouded in thick clouds of hydrogen similar to those found in the atmospheres of gas giants like Neptune and Uranus. Exoplanets usually orbit stars. When those stars explode, the blast may blow away hydrogen in the atmosphere.

The result is sometimes dramatic, so much so that a previously gassy planet could quickly become a bare world approximately the same size as the Earth. How many terrestrial planets dont begin as terrestrials? asked Mark Swain, the lead author of the paper.

But as Swain and his colleagues found, GJ 1132 b did not stop there. It formed a new one, which features many gases, including hydrogen and methane. The new atmosphere also has hydrogen cyanide and an aerosol-rich haze, which may resemble the smog found in heavily polluted cities and major industrial regions on Earth.

To better understand what might have happened to bring about this new atmosphere, the researchers analyzed GJ 1132 bs close relationship with its star, which is a red dwarf. (Related: Scientists discover over 1,000 stars where E.T. can observe Earth.)

GJ 1132 b orbits the star so tightly that it completes a circle once every 1.5 Earth days. This proximity keeps the planet tidally locked. This means it shows the same side to the star at all times, just as only one side of the moon is facing the Earth at all times. And as it orbits, the exoplanet soaks up lots of stellar radiation.

Swain and his colleagues suspect that the planets star was pulling on it strongly enough to heat it dramatically. They surmise that GJ 1132 b is a hot magma ball covered by a very thin crust. This crust can be easily cracked like an eggshell.

The pull from the star could have created cracks on the planets surface, allowing gases to seep out and form an atmosphere.

The researchers hope to test their hypothesis with NASAs James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the successor to the HST. It is scheduled to launch this fall. It will allow the researchers to observe the surface of GJ 1132 b in infrared light, which can tell them a lot about the planets temperature.

Swain said if there are magma pools or volcanic activities going on in some regions of the planet, then those areas should turn up hotter in the JWST. Such pools and activities will also generate more gases. Therefore, Swain and his colleagues may soon be looking at actual geologic activity on GJ 1132 b.

Go to Space.news to learn more about exoplanets and their atmospheres.

Sources include:

LiveScience.com

NASA.gov

ScienceDaily.com
(Natural News) As America inches closer towards about half of the country being either partially or fully vaccinated for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19), CNN is scheming up new ways to push us over the edge, including a proposal that all private sector employees who refuse the jab be terminated.

CNNs Michael Smerconish, host of the Saturday Smerconish show, told the dozen-or-so people who actually tune in that the government needs to come up with a bigger carrot or stick to convince more Americans to get jabbed.

Twenty-six percent of Americans said they will not get the vaccine, and among Republicans that number is 44 percent, Smerconish lamented. Thats scary. Those folks jeopardize our ability to get to herd immunity faster.

Even though the so-called vaccines admittedly do not prevent infection with or spread of the Chinese Virus, Smerconish wants his viewers to think that getting injected will somehow save us all from certain death  but only if everyone agrees to the jab.

If  encouragement fails, there is also the stick, which could be wielded by government and the private sector, Smerconish suggested. Businesses have particular leverage.

In a threatening tone, Smerconish further added during the segment that the plandemic will assuredly go on for years unless more Americans comply with the governments demands that they roll up their sleeves and have their DNA permanently modified.

If we dont get vaccinated and periodically boosted, we could prolong the pandemic and find ourselves continuing to fight this battle for years when we have the medical intervention to get back to living our normal lives in a matter of months, he further fearmongered.

Dont want to get vaccinated? Then you can just die, Smerconish says

If nonstop prodding and goading is ineffective, Smerconish suggests having large corporations force their employees and even their customers into getting injected. He also wants all travel to be halted until more people agree to obey.

If you want to convince the unvaccinated to do their part, is the best approach to show them that those who have had their shots are still wearing masks, or would displays of our forgone freedoms in a pre-Covid world be more effective messaging? Smerconish fantasized. Thats the carrot.

But if this sort of encouragement fails, theres also the stick, which could be wielded by the government and the private sector, he added.

Businesses have particular leverage, as they can require employees to get vaccinations and restrict public access to private spaces like airlines, mass transit, most sporting and cultural venues, restaurants, and movie theaters.

This is hardly the first time that CNN has shilled for the vaccine industry. Back in 2018, the fake news giant intentionally skewed the findings of a paper to suggest that childhood vaccines do not cause autism.

CNN has never met an injection that it did not want to be forcibly syringed into every persons body, it turns out. If Big Pharma says it is good and for your benefit, then CNN wants you to get it at gunpoint, if necessary.

People like [Smerconish] need to be held down and have all the vaccines injected into them all at once, wrote one Inforwars commenter. Seems like it would be a fun experiment.

The jab is not a vaccine but gene modification, wrote another, emphasizing that the ethos of my body, my choice has been completely discarded by leftists ever since the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) reared its ugly head.

It may kill you as it has 3,5000 people in the U.S. so far, according to a CDC report. But hey, youll be doing your part.

To keep up with the latest about the mainstream medias never-ending Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) fearmongering, be sure to check out MedicalViolence.com

Sources for this article include:

Infowars.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Environmentalists and Florida residents voiced concern and outrage Monday as state government officials and the biotechnology giant Oxitec announced plans to move ahead this week with a pilot project that involves releasing up to a billion genetically engineered mosquitoes in Monroe County over a two-year period.

(Article by Jake Johnson republished from CommonDreams.org)

EPA has set the lowest possible bar for approving genetically engineered insects and has opened Pandoras Box for future experiments that will slide through with little investigation.

Barry Wray, Florida Keys Environmental Coalition

Presented by local authorities as an effort to control the population of Aedes aegyptia mosquito species that can carry both the dengue and yellow fever viruscritics warn that the efforts supposed benefits and its potential negative consequences have not been sufficiently studied.

Responding to news that the first boxes of genetically modified mosquitos are set to be placed in six locations in Monroe County this week, Friends of the Earth noted in a press release that scientists have raised concerns that GE mosquitoes could create hybrid wild mosquitoes which could worsen the spread of mosquito-borne diseases and could be more resistant to insecticides than the original wild mosquitoes.

Dana Perls, food and technology program manager at Friends of the Earth, called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)which approved the project last Mayto halt this live experiment immediately.

This is a dark moment in history, said Perls. The release of genetically engineered mosquitoes puts Floridians, the environment, and endangered species at risk in the midst of a pandemic. This release is about maximizing Oxitecs profits, not about the pressing need to address mosquito-borne diseases.

BREAKING: Up to one billion @Oxitec #GMO mosquitoes are being released for the first time in the Florida Keys. This could negatively impact endangered species and create more virulent mosquitoes. @EPA must halt this nightmare immediately. https://t.co/lkdlqXXeRo  Friends of the Earth (Action) (@foe_us) April 26, 2021

The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District and Oxitec said late last week that less than 12,000 mosquitoes are expected to emerge each week in Monroe Country over a duration of around three months, the initial phase of the experiment.

The stated goal of the project is for Oxitecs genetically altered, non-biting male mosquitos to mate with the local biting female population, producing female offspring that die in the larval stage before they can spread disease.

As the Miami Herald explained earlier this year: A death mechanism designed into mosquitoes is meant to ensure no viable female offspring will result from the mating, according to Oxitec. The male offspring will pass on the self-limiting gene to half of their offspring, said company spokesman Ross Bethell.

While Oxitecs CEO claims strong public support from Florida Keys communities, the project has sparked protests and pushback from local residents since the proposal was first floated.

My familys bodies, blood, and private property are being used in this trial without human safety studies or my consent, Mara Daly, a resident and local business owner in Key Largo, Florida, said in a statement Monday.

Barry Wray, executive director of the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition, added that the EPA has set the lowest possible bar for approving genetically engineered insects and has opened Pandoras Box for future experiments that will slide through with little investigation.

Everyone should be writing the White House to stop this release until there are regulations and standards that truly protect us, Wray said.

Read more at: CommonDreams.org
(Natural News) The German domestic intelligence agency created a new section last week specifically for surveillance of a small number of people and groups protesting coronavirus restrictions. Other sections include right-wing and left-wing extremism, as well as Islamic terrorism.

(Article republished from LifeSiteNews.com)

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Bundesamt fur Verfassungsschutz), as the agency is officially known, announced that the new section is titled delegitimization of the state relevant to the protection of the constitution (Verfassungsschutzrelevante Delegitimierung des Staates) and will specifically focus on delegitimization of the state that is hostile to democracy and/or poses a threat to security.

Legitimate protests and demonstrations against COVID policies are repeatedly  and increasingly in more recent times  instrumentalized, and escalations are provoked, the agency warned. But also the organizers of demonstrations  show clearly that their agenda goes beyond the mere mobilization of protests against the states COVID protection measures.

According to the agencys announcement, organizers seek to network with right-wing extremists, while ignoring  official orders is propagated, and ultimately the states monopoly on the use of force is negated. Such an approach is both altogether conducive and aims to permanently shake confidence in state institutions and its representatives.

Our basic democratic order as well as state institutions such as parliaments and governing bodies have been exposed to multiple attacks since the beginning of the measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency argued, not acknowledging that basic human rights have been suspended for over a year, including the right to work and earn a living, and the right to breathe air without a device that limits the intake of oxygen. The New York Times called the anti-lockdown Germans being surveilled coronavirus deniers.

Democratic decision-making processes and the corresponding institutions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches are delegitimized and disparaged in ways that threaten security, according to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Meanwhile, numerous restrictions imposed on the public, including strict mask mandates, have been implemented by mere executive orders, as opposed to the peoples representatives voting for actual laws.

Conspiracy myths such as QAnon or other antisemitic resentments are invoked  Conspiracy theories are an almost universal phenomenon and have a considerable catalytic effect, the agency warned, without explaining what constitutes a conspiracy theory in the context of protests against lockdowns and other restrictions.

According to tagesschau.de, the domestic intelligence agency is now in a position to officially monitor certain groups and people by storing personal data, recruiting undercover agents, and, in justified cases, monitoring communications.

While some protests have indeed turned violent in the past, with a small number of people attacking journalists or police, the vast majority of those protesting the restrictions has been peaceful.

Intelligence agencies on the level of individual states in Germany have set their sights on certain segments of the COVID-related protests for months. Baden-Wurttemberg in the south-west of the country was the first state do so so in December.

Masks have been mandatory in Germany in many places, including grocery stores and public transportation, for many months. In December, the federal government limited private meetings to five people, at most.

Every person must wear a face covering in enclosed spaces that are accessible to the public, or in the context of visiting or customer traffic, the government emphasized. In addition, the obligation to wear a mouth-nose covering applies in all places with public pedestrian traffic in city centers.

Nevertheless, the rate of positive tests per week and per population of 100,000 went from roughly 140 in early December to about 190 around Christmas. The so-called incidence rate was subsequently reduced to the high 50s, only to rise again to over 140 in May. Mask mandates and other restrictions remained in place throughout this time, suggesting there is no correlation between mask wearing and the spread of COVID-19.

Germany has seen several large protests against COVID-related restrictions. On August 1, about 30,000 citizens flocked to Berlin. On August 29, also in Berlin, police estimated 38,000 people had come to the nations capital. A protest in Leipzig last November saw 45,000 people. This year, on March 20, a protest in Kassel was approved for 6,000 citizens. In the end, police estimated up to 20,000 people were present.

Read more at: LifeSiteNews.com and Surveillance.news.
(Natural News) We are proud to announce that LifeSiteNews has joined Brighteon.com with a brand-new video channel.

Recognizing that there is no future whatsoever at YouTube, LifeSiteNews has made the right choice by migrating its video offerings to Brighteon, where they will never be censored.

After a successful run of its Unmasking COVID-19: Vaccines, Mandates, and Global Health virtual conference on Brighteon, LifeSiteNews decided that this is the way to reach the most people without having to deal with the Big Tech censors.

As you may recall, LifeSiteNews was banned from YouTube back in February for telling the truth about abortion-tainted vaccines. Last summer before that all happened, LifeSiteNews launched a petition calling for an end to Big Tech censorship.

Ever since our permanent suspension from Big Tech companies like YouTube and Twitter, we have been streaming our videos and sharing information on alternative sites such as Rumble, Telegram, and Gab, LifeSiteNews reports.

We are now pleased to join the powerful platform Brighteon to continue fighting the battle against censorship and for the restoration of the culture. We also want to give a huge thank you to Brighteons Mike Adams for his support of LifeSiteNews.

A wealth of resources are available at the all-new LifeSiteNews channel on Brighteon

If you click here, you can see everything that LifeSiteNews has already uploaded to Brighteon. You can also subscribe at that link to receive updates every time a new video is posted.

In the following video, you can hear immigrant Melissa Tate talk about how success in America is dependent upon the choices one makes as opposed to the color of his skin:

Tired of having to wear a mask? LifeSiteNews also has a video about that. Watch below as attorney Thomas Renz, J.D., talks about his lawsuit against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning mask mandates:

This and so much more is available at the all-new LifeSiteNews Brighteon channel, so be sure to check it out.

To avoid any possible censorship elsewhere, LifeSiteNews is encouraging its readers and followers to subscribed to email alerts. These will always bypass the Big Tech censors by feeding you information directly rather than through a corrupt tech platform like YouTube, Facebook or Twitter.

We look forward to sharing the truth to all our new viewers on this platform through our podcasts, shows, and videos, says the LifeSiteNews staff.

You can continue to watch content such as select episodes of The John-Henry Westen Show, pro-life stories, inspiring and informative interviews, and so much more.

Other free speech platforms where you will find exclusive LifeSiteNews content include:

 Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/LifeSiteNews

 Rumble LifeSite Catholic channel: http://rumble.com/user/LifeSiteNewsCatholic

 Telegram: https://t.me/lifesitetelegram

 Gab: http://gab.com/LifeSiteNews

 MeWe: http://mewe.com/i/lifesitenewscom1

There was NO way that Big Tech could continue to operate in the public square with such impunity and malice, one LifeSiteNews commenter excited about the new Brighteon channel wrote. This trend will  and must  continue. Prayers are being answered.

I joined Brighteon just this morning and have already subscribed to LifeSites channel there, wrote another, making an excellent point about the need for health freedom advocates to also make the switch.

Friends, its time to kick the YouTube, Twitter, FB, etc. lifestyle; its unhealthy, causing all kinds of mental diseases and phobias. Youre taking care of your body by NOT letting them inject you with the dubious gene therapy products. Now its time to take at least as good a care of your brain by rejecting the Zuckerberg-Gates poison.

To learn more about how Big Tech censorship is a threat to the First Amendment, be sure to check out Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The Minneapolis Target store that was infamously ransacked by looters last year now proudly displays a mural celebrating those same rioters.

(Article by Paul Joseph Watson republished from NewsWars.com)

Yes, really.

As we highlighted last year, the store was reopened with the goal of catering more to black shoppers and being less racist.

After a newly formed racial justice committee sought to tackle Targets reputation of appealing primarily to white suburban shoppers, efforts were made to make the store more welcoming for black people while also stocking more products made by black-owned brands.

Part of this facelift included a new mural at the front of the store meant to represent the new ethos of the brand.

Now we know what that looks like  the mural features the words Together We Build as well as a depiction of two BLM protesters holding an I cant breathe sign.

Inspiring corporate-sponsored art now adorning the Target in Minneapolis that was looted last year pic.twitter.com/jlXZ79tVaM  Michael Tracey (@mtracey) April 27, 2021

The mural also depicts protesters with their fists raised triumphantly in the air while buildings around them are on fire.

The figures in the piece symbolize protesters, who could be any of us, according to one of the artists who worked on the display.

The piece was created by Minneapolis-based nonprofit Juxtaposition Arts, which goes by JXTA, reports Alpha News. The multi-million dollar organization seeks to empower black youth to create activist art. This apparently includes teaching kids how to write graffiti during a three week summer camp, printing Black Lives Matter T-shirts and more.

JXTA also flies a flag that mimics the color scheme of the ones often carried by the New Black Panthers and other paramilitary black nationalist groups like the Not Fucking Around Coalition.

Apparently, the mural was only supposed to be a temporary addition, but it is still there today.

Read more at: NewsWars.com
The KSZ project shows notable similarities to the famous Norilsk project in Russia

( ), in conjunction with strategic partner Spectral Geophysics, has completed a third time domain electromagnetic (TDEM) survey in Target Area A of its Kalahari Suture Zone project in Botswana.

This survey was designed to corroborate the existence of the large-scale conductive anomaly previously identified. Spectral also deployed an upgraded configuration of its equipment, which has proved to be successful.

TDEM surveys can be used to identify super electromagnetic conductors at depth, within highly complex geological environments such as the KSZ.

Data from Survey A3 has now been successfully processed and interpreted. The data further confirms the existence of the previously identified conductive anomaly.

Kavango now estimates the anomaly's properties are that its around 1km in length, open along strike, and that it extends between 250 metres to 700 metres below surface and is gently dipping.

The readings are consistent with nickel sulphide deposits elsewhere in the world.

Kavango is now planning a drilling programme, although the exact timing and extent of such a programme remains to be determined.

Kavango has prepared an explanatory video, available here.

Kavango has now issued 3mln shares to Spectral as part of the strategic partnership deal and following the success of the TDEM programme.

Separately, the company has also received  59,500 have been received by Kavango following the exercise of warrants.
(Natural News) A woman from Alaska contracted the Wuhan coronavirus a second time despite getting the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson. Palmer resident Kim Akers first tested positive for the pathogen last year, subsequently recovering from a bout of COVID-19. She then got vaccinated using the J&J jab  only to find that she contracted the coronavirus again.

The 50-year-old school administrator shared her story with Anchorage Daily News (ADN). Akerss first encounter with COVID-19 started when she had a bout of the disease in December 2020. Among the symptoms she experienced included body aches and an unusually intense headache. Palmer recovered from this first bout.

Three months later, she got vaccinated against the disease in early March. Despite having an underlying health condition, she surmised that it would be better to err on the side of caution. Akers received the J&J one-dose vaccine on March 5 before spending a weekend with family and friends at Lake Louise in Canada. She thought she was already protected after gaining immunity from the first COVID-19 bout and two weeks after getting the jab.

But this would not be the case. Akers experienced fatigue, nausea and chest pains  prompting her to tell her family she wanted to go home. She then drove back to Palmers with her children, where she experienced a massive headache. I didnt believe at that moment that it was, until I got home and thought about my symptoms  and realized this headache is what I remember. Then I lost my taste and smell, she said.

The 50-year-old then got tested for COVID-19 as a precaution, thinking that she did not have the virus. The test showed a positive result, and she spent three days nursing a headache. Akers subsequently recovered from this second bout of the disease, albeit her sense of taste and smell have yet to return.

It would be great if it completely protected you, but thats not what [the] vaccine is supposed to do. Its to keep you out of the hospital and prevent death and, hopefully, lessen your symptoms, Akers told ADN. She furthermore emphasized the importance of wearing face masks and maintaining proper distance to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus.

Akerss case is an example of how vaccines do not prevent coronavirus transmission

According to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), a total of 177 have reported testing positive for the Wuhan coronavirus post-vaccination as of the first week of April. These 177 Alaskans comprised less than one percent of people who completed their vaccine doses. DHSS Spokesman Clinton Bennett told ADN that only about a dozen of the 177 breakthrough patients such as Akers tested positive for the pathogen twice.

As of writing, health officials at the Last Frontier are closely examining the breakthrough cases. They have made use of genomic sequencing to see if so-called variants of concern are involved, but nothing has emerged yet. [This] makes it difficult to determine if there are specific [virus strains] that are evading immunity, or the persons immune system [is] not adequately responding to vaccination. (Related: Expert virologist urges WHO to halt mass vaccination for coronavirus, warns about deadly viral immune escape.)

A number of medical experts have speculated that Wuhan coronavirus vaccines can provide more protection compared to natural antibodies produced by the immune system post-sickness. However, these do not prevent the transmission of the pathogen responsible for COVID-19. An Israeli study found that the South African B1351 variant infects vaccinated people eight times more than unvaccinated ones.

Researchers from the Tel Aviv University and Israeli health care provider Clalit Health Services looked at swab samples from vaccinated Israelis who tested positive for the coronavirus. The patients whose samples were analyzed received the two-dose Pfizer/BioNTech Wuhan coronavirus vaccine. They found that the B1351 strain was eight times more prevalent in vaccinated individuals compared to those yet to receive their jabs.

Based on patterns in the general population, we would have expected just one case of the South African variant  but we saw eight. Obviously, this result didnt make me happy, lead researcher Adi Stern remarked. Her teams findings suggested that the South African variant could more successfully break through immunity afforded by vaccines compared to other strains. (Related: Houston physician warns Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines dont provide immunity against coronavirus.)

Head over to Vaccines.news to read more news about the Wuhan coronavirus jabs and other news about the pandemic.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

ADN.com

TimesOfIsrael.com
(Natural News) Of the six environmental issues facing the United States today, a majority of Americans are most worried about those that impact water quality, according to an annual environmental survey.

An American analytics and advisory company, Gallups survey found that 56 percent of Americans are very worried about pollutants in drinking water, while 53 percent worry about water pollution in rivers, lakes and reservoirs.

Those two issues surpassed four other environmental concerns, including air pollution, global warming, loss of tropical rainforests and the extinction of plant and animal species. These survey results are the latest data points in over two decades of tracking worry over these environmental problems among Americans.

A smaller, but still substantial number  ranging between 40 and 45 percent  expressed a great deal of concern about the loss of tropical rain forests, global warming or climate change, air pollution and the extinction of plant and animal species.

Writing for Gallup, research consultant Megan Brennan said that although degrees of worry have changed over time, the rank order has remained largely consistent. Water pollution continues to outpace other threats.

Overall, 41 percent of Americans said the condition of the environment in the U.S. is excellent or good, while the remaining 59 percent rated it as only fair or poor.

Water pollution emerges as top environmental concern

The latest survey results show significantly lower levels of worry on all six issues than in 2000. That being said, worry levels across all six threats are now at roughly the same levels as 2019. Partisan differences were also evident. The most substantial disparities lie in the issue of so-called climate change or global warming.

In particular, 68 percent of Americans who identified as Democrats said they were a great deal worried about climate change, while only 14 percent of those who identified as Republicans felt the same.

The significant gaps in degrees of worry expressed by partisans have been consistent since 2000, said Brennan. For instance, since 2000 the average percentage of Democrats highly concerned about all six environmental threats included in the survey has been more than 20 percentage points higher than that of Republicans.

Brennan also wrote that the fluctuations in worry levels since 2019 were driven by Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. On average, these people became more worried about all six environmental concerns in 2020 during the presidential campaign. However, they are now less worried with Joe Biden as president.

Meanwhile, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents concern over the six environmental challenges has been fairly stable over the same period. These people are also nearly three times as likely as Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents to rate the overall quality of the environment positively.

How contaminated drinking water can affect human health

In 2014, lead seepage into the drinking water in Flint, Michigan caused a public health crisis. Former President Barrack Obama even declared a federal state of emergency there in 2016 to free up $5 million in federal aid. (Related: Former Michigan governor charged for role in Flint water scandal.)

The problem began when the city switched its water supply. Almost immediately, residents started to complain about the quality of the water. By the time city and state officials acquiesced that there was a serious problem, water supply pipes had already sustained major corrosion because of lead, which had leached into the water.

Lead exposure is especially harmful to children and pregnant women. Research shows that lead poisoning may lead to speech delay and learning disabilities in children. Lead can also cause extensive damage to the brain. In healthy adults, lead exposure can negatively impact the respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems.

If a woman is exposed to lead during her pregnancy, her baby will also be exposed. Elevated levels of lead in the blood during pregnancy increase the risk for miscarriage. Lead exposure can also cause the baby to be born too early or too small. The child may also develop behavioral problems and/or intellectual disabilities.

Follow TapWater.news for more articles about the health effects of drinking water contaminants.

Sources include:

EcoWatch.com

News.Gallup.com

Freep.com

EPA.gov
(Natural News) President Joe Biden has not ruled out mandating all American military forces to be vaccinated against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

In an interview with NBC News released Friday, April 30, Biden said it was a tough call on whether COVID-19 vaccination should be required for service members. But he made it clear that giving such an order is not off the table.

Im not saying I wont, Biden said.

The rate by which members of the various branches of the armed forces have opted to take the COVID-19 vaccine has ranged widely. For example, more than a third of the Marines offered the vaccine have declined to take it. More than 92,000 have yet to be offered one. (Related: US military halts use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine amid blood clot reports.)

The president remains optimistic that more service members will voluntarily get vaccinated without him having to intervene.

I think youre going to see more and more of them getting it, he said. And I think its going to be a tough call as to whether or not they should be required to have to get it in the military, because youre (in) such close proximity with other military personnel, whether youre in a quarters where youre all sleeping or whether youre out in maneuvers.

Biden may not have political mandate to require COVID-19 vaccine for troops

It is not clear whether Biden has the political mandate to make COVID-19 vaccination a requirement among service members.

That is something the DoD is looking at in consultation with the interagency process, national security adviser Jake Sullivan Friday following the release of the interview. We dont have anything to add on that subject here today.

Most members of the military are required to receive a series of vaccinations as part of their service. But the Department of Defense (DoD) is currently not mandating that they receive COVID-19 vaccines because theyre still only under emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson have not yet applied for actual licenses from the FDA for their vaccines.

We are offering the COVID-19 vaccine on a voluntary basis in accordance with the emergency use authorization, said Pentagon spokesman Army Maj. Cesar Santiago, noting that all members of the military have been eligible to receive the vaccine since April 19. When formally licensed by the FDA, the DoD may require a vaccine for military personnel or personnel in specific fields, as is the case for the influenza vaccine.

When asked about the orders the White House is considering, Santiago said such a requirement would require a waiver to make the vaccine mandatory.

The U.S. military has successfully continued operations and kept our forces safe during the pandemic by implementing other force health protection guidelines. We are focused on making the vaccine available as supply permits and do everything we can to inform and educate our people about vaccine safety and efficacy, so our service members can make an informed decision for themselves and their loved ones, he said.

Service members are required to give informed consent before receiving a vaccine under emergency use authorization. They are also allowed to refuse to give that consent.

But according to an analysis from Duke Universitys Lawfire blog in February, a president may override that rule in the interests of national security.

Robert Sanders, chair of the National Security Department at the University of New Haven, points to prior emergency circumstances during which the military required all service members to receive similar medical treatments  such as to protect against the threat of anthrax. Under those circumstances, military commanders have specific authority to issue orders in the interest of safeguarding their troops.

A resulting case found that those orders did not violate troops constitutional rights because: The requirement to place the needs of the nation above a service members personal welfare applies in peacetime as well as in war.

Sanders believes potential challenges on the COVID-19 vaccination order Biden is considering will fail on the merits under the history of the anthrax vaccines military litigation. (Related: SHOCK FINDING: 30 percent of U.S. military damaged by anthrax vaccine.)

Adm. Mike Gilday, the Navys top officer, said last month the Navy cant pressure anyone to take it, so it has instead begun offering vaccines to crews when they are all assembled. Peer pressure tends to bend things in a positive direction, Gilday said.

Less than 1 in 4 of the total force is fully vaccinated

As of April 28, the DoD had administered more than 2.7 million vaccine doses to beneficiaries, including service members, family members of the latter, eligible civilian employees and retirees. More than 779,000 troops across all three components  active duty, reserve and National Guard  have gotten at least one vaccination and nearly 500,000, or 23 percent of the total force, are fully vaccinated.

The Navy has the highest vaccination rates among the services. Some 224,225 sailors, or 55 percent of the service, have received at least one dose. Nearly 40 percent of all sailors have been fully vaccinated. The Marine Corps is next in the race, with 81,274 or 37 percent of Marines, including reservists, receiving at least one dose. Nearly 27 percent of all Marines are fully vaccinated.

Almost 187,600 or 36 percent of the Air Force, Space Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard have received at least one shot, with 25 percent fully vaccinated. Vaccination rates are lowest in the largest of the armed services  the Army. Only 286,557 or 28 percent of the Army, including reservists, have received a shot, with 14.5 percent fully vaccinated.

The uniformed military has experienced almost 189,000 cases of coronavirus, in addition to 51,000 Defense Department civilians, 29,000 military dependents and 18,000 contractors. The Army comprises a third of all cases, and roughly double the case count for the Navy and Air Force.

Follow Immunization.news for more news and information related to coronavirus vaccines.

Sources include:

TruePundit.com

USNews.com

Military.com
(Natural News) If you had any doubt that Joe Bidens handlers were going to use the full force of the federal government to punish as many of President Donald Trumps supporters as possible after taking office, put those doubts to rest.

Because of course Bidens regime is going to do that. In fact, it already is.

Scores of people arrested following the Jan. 6 riot  and thats what it was, not an insurrection  remain locked up, bail denied, in one of the most brutal, awful, grotesque jails in the country  the D.C. lockup.

Whats more, the lunatics at the Department of Injustice under Biden are trying to accuse them of being domestic terrorists because their riot took place at the U.S. Capitol Building  not, say, some federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon, that was, say, under siege for weeks on end last summer by Antifa and Black Lives Matter anarchists, most of whom never spent a nanosecond behind bars, much less have ever been charged with a crime.

Now, the Injustice Department wants to make its complete politicization official: The department, along with Bidens Democrat authoritarians, want a new domestic terrorism law they can shape and mold to mean whatever they want it to mean.

Zero Hedge writes:

On Wednesday night, President Joe Biden told a Congress that white supremacy is terrorism, after claiming that US intelligence considers it the most lethal terrorist threat to our homeland today.

Hours earlier, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) set the stage for the new narrative by telling MSNBCs Nicol Wallace that, The predominant part of that domestic threat  is white nationalists, adding We cant ignore that because of a political sensitivity that some of the folks are part of the Trump base.

Less than 24 hours later, Bloomberg is reporting that the Biden DOJ is actively considering whether to seek a new law which would allow prosecutors to bring specific charges for domestic terrorists who plot and/or carry out attacks, according to a senior department official.

One of the things were looking at is would we need new authorities, deputy assistant attorney general for the departments national security division, Brad Wiegmann, told a House hearing last week.

Why? What would they be used for? And why cant existing authorities be utilized to go after legitimate terrorists?

Because current statutes dont include arbitrarily designating a political enemy a domestic terrorist for the purposes of arresting said political enemy and putting that political enemy behind bars (or worse) for the rest of their natural-born lives.

The FBI has warned that domestic violent extremists pose a heightened threat for carrying out attacks in the U.S. in the near future, with white supremacists being the most lethal threat, Bloomberg reported. Currently, no U.S. law lets the government designate domestic extremists as terrorists or bring specific charges for domestic terrorism. That contrasts with laws to combat international terrorism, which allow the government to designate groups and bring charges for providing those groups with material support.

Got that? Bloombergs reporting makes it crystal clear that the new authorities being sought by the national security division of Bidens DoJ would specifically allow the department to arbitrarily designate groups of Americans (conservatives; Trump supporters; all Republicans) as domestic terrorists or white supremacist extremists for the purposes of putting them in jail longer, since terrorism sentences are traditionally longer and more harsh.

The question were really wrestling with is, are there gaps, Weigman told the subcommittee. Is there some type of conduct that we can envision that we cant cover or would it be an otherwise benefit in having something else other than what were having now?

He was given an assist by Rep. Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania, who claimed (falsely), Right-wing extremist attacks and plots have greatly outnumbered those from all other groups combined and caused more deaths as well, adding This is a cancer on our country.

These are terrible human beings, these Democrats, and theyre trying to take over America while they have the chance before the midterms.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

Uprising.news
(Natural News) Whats the rationale for vaccinating children for COVID-19? Wheres the data, the science that would support this move? We see none, and we think its dangerous.

(Article by Paul E. Alexander et al republished from TheEpochTimes.com)

Why would there be a push to vaccinate 6-month-old babies or 10-year-old children via an experimental vaccine that delivers genetic code into your cells instructing it to produce a portion of the virus (the S or Spike protein), yet with no safety data and based on trials that didnt run to the required duration to adequately assess the safety of the vaccine?

Why put our children at undue risk when they can be allowed to be infected naturally and harmlessly as part of day-to-day living, by mingling?

This is illogical, irrational, unsound, and, we argue, an absurd position of experts who should know better.

What Is the Risk?

Theres no basis for vaccinating children from COVID-19 as is being suggested by Dr. Fauci (from 6 months to 11 years old). Children are at very low risk of illness, especially severe illness from COVID-19, and children do not spread the illness. The most updated data from the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that Children were 0.00 percent0.19 percent of all COVID-19 deaths, and 10 [U.S.] states reported zero child deaths. In states reporting, 0.00 percent0.03 percent of all child COVID-19 cases resulted in death.

As another example, a high-quality robust study in the French Alps examined the spread of the SAR-CoV-2 virus via a cluster of COVID-19 cases. They followed one infected child who visited three different schools and interacted with other children, teachers, and various adults. They reported no instances of secondary transmission despite close interactions. These data have been available to the CDC and other health experts for over a year.

Swedish researchers published a paper in the New England Journal of Medicine in January 2021 on COVID-19 among children 1 to 16 years of age and their teachers in Sweden. From the nearly 2 million children in school in Sweden, it was reported that with no mask mandates, there were zero deaths from COVID-19 and a few instances of transmission and minimal hospitalization.

A study published in Nature found no instances of asymptomatic spread from positive asymptomatic cases among all 1,174 close contacts of the cases, based on a base sample of 10 million people. The World Health Organization (WHO) also made this claim that asymptomatic spread/transmission is rare. This issue of asymptomatic spread is the key issue being used to force vaccination in children. The science, however, remains contrary to this proposed policy mandate.

Not only is there an absence of evidence supporting the notion that children spread the virus in any meaningful way and thus the necessity to vaccinate, theres also direct evidence showing that they simply do not spread this virus/disease. This has been shown in school settings and as published in other papers.

Children typically, if infected, have asymptomatic illness. Its well-noted that asymptomatic cases are not the drivers of the pandemic. In this regard its evident that children are not the key drivers of SARS-CoV-2 infection, unlike how they are the drivers of seasonal influenza.

In the rare cases where a child is infected with SARS-CoV-2, its exceptionally rare for the child to get severely ill or die. And to reiterate, teachers are not at risk of transmission from children (its the other way around).

The pediatric literature suggests that this is now settled science as to the very low or exceedingly rare risk (near zero) for children.

Risks Versus Benefits

Children should not be carte blanche subjected to the same policies as adults without careful examination of the benefits versus the risks. Of course, zero risk is not attainablewith or without mask mandates, lockdowns, vaccines, therapeutics, distancing, or anything else medicine may develop or government agencies may impose.

For nearly all children under 20 years of age, the risks from getting COVID-19 are exceedingly small, and for children the risk of death is basically near zero (pdf) its the closest to zero we can get to. So the cost-benefit argument against using an essentially untested vaccine is heavily in favor of risk and virtually no benefit.

The potential risk of unknown and serious side effects from the brand-new and barely tested vaccines arein truthcompletely unknown. Thats because its almost unheard of for a vaccine to be released to the public this quickly. That doesnt mean you shouldnt get the vaccine.

Were certainly not anti-vaxxers and certainly children should receive their measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines among others, as these have had a dramatic effect on morbidity and mortality for decades. For populations where the risk of death or serious illness from COVID-19 is substantialmiddle-aged and older adults or individuals with other chronic medical vulnerabilities such as serious respiratory, cardiac, or immunological problemsusing a new and barely tested vaccine is not only reasonable, it may and can be the most prudent and responsible thing to do.

Inexplicably, there has been a recent flurry of statements supporting the vaccination of children. Of course, this also means that the experimental vaccines must be tested in children prior to mass introduction and use.

Moderna Inc. has recently announced that its beginning an mRNA vaccine study on children 6 months to 11 years in the United States and Canada, in the latest effort to broaden the mass-vaccination campaign beyond adults.

This pediatric study will help us assess the potential safety and immunogenicity of our Covid-19 vaccine candidate in this important younger age population, Moderna Chief Executive Stephane Bancel has stated. On the basis of the literature weve discussed here, its clear that his statement is patently false. Alarmingly, we have come to learn that dosing has already been started by Moderna.

This really is a question of risk-management, and parents must seriously consider that COVID-19 is a far less dangerous illness for children than influenza. Parents must be brave and be willing to assess this purely from a benefit versus risk position and ask themselves, If my child has little if any risk, near zero risk of severe sequelae or death, and thus no benefit from the vaccine, yet there could be potential harms and as yet unknown harms from the vaccine (as already reported in adults who have received the vaccines), then why would I subject my child to such a vaccine?

A Call for Caution

We also write this as a call for caution. This really is about risk management decisions we as free people, and as parents, are allowed to make in the United States. Remember, also, young children cant give proper informed consent. This is an important ethical matter.

The death rate in children under 12 is as close to zero as we can get. We have masked our children, closed schools, locked them down, and driven surges in suicides in adults as well as our children due to these policies, and now we seek to vaccinate children with an experimental vaccine for which we have no data on the long-term harms. This is very unsafe in our opinion.

Its not even about if they show that the vaccine is safe for kids; the issue is theres no basis for it. The CDC and experts like Dr. Fauci, in our opinion, have been wrong on lockdowns, school closures, mask mandates, and other restrictions. They have all created an utter mess for our societies as we begin emerging from the pain of the punitive unsound lockdowns and school closures.

Parents must now step up and demand that health officials and vaccine developers (and any entity with interests in the development of these vaccines) make their case for vaccinating their children. Do not simply accept this, for theres no credible reason for it. Force these people to make their case, and if they cant, if in your own risk-management assessment it doesnt make sense, then dont do it. Its not like buying a pair of shoes for them. They could be left with a lifetime of severe illness and disability and even death if something goes wrong.

We havent done the safety testing nor will any proposed study be able to collect that data for the time period its needed. Sample size can never compensate for time. Remember the disaster with the polio vaccine in 1955 and the Cutter incident; remember the dengue vaccine in 2017 (Dengvaxia) and the dangerous plasma leakage syndrome where the vaccine posed a risk for those children without prior infection; remember the H1N1 2009 vaccine and narcolepsy; remember the vaccine for RSV in the 1960s; remember the measles vaccine in the 1960s and the impact on children; remember the 1977 DPT vaccine, and so on.

Furthermore, its nonsensical to suggest that the virus variants may drive infection in children and harm them, and theres no basis for such a statement. For those who are trying to frighten parents with the illogical and absurd statements that a lethal strain may emerge among the variants, then we argue that you are using terms like may and could and might. We can find no evidence to support such claims. Its simply rampant speculation!

Making such claims is not science, and decisions based on such claims are not evidence-based. We need to see the actual science and not just rampant speculation by often nonsensical media medical experts.

Alarmingly, evidence is accumulating that the spike protein itself may be pathogenic and deadly on its own, and were concerned by the implication of this given were injecting the full spike or mRNA to code for it.

Dr. Patrick Whelan, a UCLA pediatrician, shares our grave concerns and writes, I am concerned about the possibility that the new vaccines aimed at creating immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (including the mRNA vaccines of Moderna and Pfizer) have the potential to cause microvascular injury to the brain, heart, liver and kidneys in a way that is not currently being assessed in safety trials of these drugs.

Whelan states in his December 2020 letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Before any of these vaccines are approved for widespread use in humans, it is important to assess in vaccinated subjects the effects of vaccination on the heart.  Vaccinated patients could also be tested for distant tissue damage in deltoid area skin biopsies.  As important as it is to quickly arrest the spread of the virus by immunizing the population, it would be worse if hundreds of millions of people were to suffer long-lasting damage to their brain or heart microvasculature as a result of failing to appreciate in the short-term an unintended effect of full-length spike protein-based vaccines on these other organs.

The Way Forward

Children should live normally, and if exposed to SARS-CoV-2, we can rest assured that in the vast majority of cases, they will have no to only mild symptoms while at the same time developing naturally acquired immunityan immunity that is definitely superior to that which might be caused by a vaccine. This approach would also accelerate the development of the much-needed herd immunity about which much has been written.

Allow child-to-child daily interaction. Harmless and natural exposure. Not only will that drive the adaptive immunity but it will give the children a more robust defense against any mutant variants of the virus itself. This will also allow our childrens immune systems to be taxed and tuned up daily, as opposed to the weakening we are subjecting them to with the year-long lockdowns and school closures.

We do it while at the same time strongly protecting the elderly who are frail, the elderly in general, and those with comorbid conditions and obese individuals. We must use stringent protections of our nursing homes and other similar congregated settings (including the staff, who remain often the source of the infection). Its better science to use a more focused protection and targeting thats based on age and known risk factors, especially regarding the children.

We ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and other governmental agency spokespersons give clarity to this burgeoning societal risk. We ask that testing of the vaccines in children be halted post-haste. This is based not only on putative risks associated with mass vaccination but even more specifically because, and as we have said, children simply dont need a vaccine for COVID-19.

Further, we request that governmental agencies elucidate the risk-benefits of such vaccines to children before proceeding to another emergency use authorization of vaccines in this population.

In closing, we remain skeptical about the safety of the currently administered vaccines in general, since the FDA issued an emergency use authorization and didnt apply the needed full regulatory Biologics License Applications approval. This continues to concern us greatly, since the safety component has not been fully assessed and essentially means that all persons taking COVID-19 vaccines at present are in a large Phase III trial.

The efficacy and safety results will be known in two to three years, and perhaps longer for the longer-term adverse effects that become known at a later date.

Exposing children to an untested emergency use medication implies that theres a dire risk to the children without it. Theres no data to support such a potential risk, and for any medical expert to imply otherwise is duplicitous. Its time government agencies and their medical experts stop spinning the information and come clean with the public, especially when it comes to our children.

If theres a credible basis, if theres evidence, then bring the evidence and let us have a look at it, but until then, please, we ask you, to leave our children alone.

Read more at: TheEpochTimes.com and Vaccines.news
(Natural News) Blue states and cities have been largely putting up with thugs and losers associated with Antifa and Black Lives Matter for the past couple of years destroying buildings and looting and burning businesses, all under the guise of social justice.

Red states, meantime, have watched in disbelief as many of the same Democrats blithely go along with idiot calls to defund their police departments, only to act on that lunacy and wonder why, months later, crime rates are spiking as officers-to-citizens ratios dropped.

But red states are doing more than just shaking their heads: They are moving to protect their citizens with tough new laws aimed at protecting the First Amendments guaranteed right to redress and protest but draw the line when it comes to destroying public and private property.

And no where is the law being laid down in a tougher manner than in Florida.

In recent days, popular GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new anti-riot law that protects speech and protests but makes it a felony to incite or engage in a riot.

During a ceremony in Polk County, DeSantis  whose name is already being mentioned as a potential Republican presidential nominee in 2024  described it as the strongest anti-rioting, pro-law enforcement piece of legislation in the country.

The Epoch Times notes:

The signing comes amid protests, riots, looting, and arson incidents in several major cities around the United States in the wake of an officer involved-shooting death in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Meanwhile, a verdict is expected to be handed down by a jury in the murder trial of former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, who was seen kneeling on George Floyd before his deathwhich sparked months of riots and demonstrations.

The law, known as HB1, increases criminal penalties for assault, defacing monuments, and vandalizing public property during riots. Local governments that interfere with law enforcement trying to contain violent demonstrations will be penalized. Meanwhile, a citizens appeal process will be set up when counties and cities try to reduce their respective police force budgets.

During the signing ceremony, the Florida Republican called leftist calls to defund the police that became a common theme of BLM demonstrations last year an insane theory that is not going to be allowed to ever carry the day in the state of Florida.

The outlet said that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and their Democrat allies claim the new law is meant to intimidate BLM and other protesters. (Related: Police officers in Austin, Tex., are quitting in record numbers due to citys woke transformation.)

The bill was purposely designed to embolden the disparate police treatment we have seen over and over again directed towards black and brown people who are exercising their constitutional right to protest, said Micah Kubic, executive director of ACLU of Florida.

But thats not true: The law seeks to deter those individuals from mistaking riots and looting for constitutionally protected speech. There is no constitutional right to destroy property and attack police officers and civilians alike simply because you are upset about a political, cultural or social issue.

If you look at the breadth of this particular piece of legislation, it is the strongest anti-rioting, pro-law enforcement piece of legislation in the country, DeSantis said. Theres just nothing even close.

The law creates a new second-degree felony, aggravated riot, for any such disturbance involving more than 25 people and resulting in bodily harm or more than $5,000 in damaged property. In addition, the law applies to anyone who uses or threatens to use a deadly weapon, or blocks roads by force or via threat of force.

In addition, the law gives people who drive through demonstrators blocking a road civil immunity, which means that they cant be sued for damages if protesters are hurt or even killed, but they still could face criminal charges. Republicans said the coverage only applies to drivers who claimed self-defense.

Frankly, its a law that is overdue and hopefully one that will be emulated by other state leaders who are truly interested in protecting their citizens.

See more reporting like this at MartialLaw.news.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

PoliceState.news
(Natural News) Bombshell story synopsis: Research on race-specific, self-replicating (self-spreading), weaponized vaccines was being conducted by doctors and scientists under the Apartheid regime in the 1990s, with the goal of causing self-spreading infertility and deaths among Blacks.

This same research continues today, predominantly in the United States, funded by DARPA and the Gates Foundation.

The technology, known as self-replicating vaccines, spreads through the population like a virus, causing the spread of infertility and death, all for the purpose of extermination and population reduction.

This same technology is now believed to be behind covid-19 vaccines, which are transmitting harmful spike proteins to the unvaccinated, causing widespread bleeding, bruising, blood clots and other harmful effects, even in the unvaccinated.

Proponents of self-replicating vaccine technology are self-avowed depopulation advocates who wish to exterminate most of the human beings living today.

In 2020, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists published a well-researched article documenting the history of self-spreading vaccines, warning about its implications for humanity. Such technology is prone to unintended consequences and cannot be undone, warns The Bulletin in this article entitled, Scientists are working on vaccines that spread like a disease. What could possibly go wrong?

That article documents the horrifying history of our self-replicating, race-specific weaponized vaccines were under development by the Apartheid regime to exterminate Blacks and keep the White racist regime in power.

The article is outstanding and is extensively quoted below. The authors are Filippa Lentzos and Guy Reeves, both Europeans, which explains why they are able to publish dangerous truths that no American journalist would dare utter, out of fear of retribution from the tyrannical medical science establishment that now controls nearly every institution in the United States.

For the record, these two authors are not asserting in their article that covid-19 vaccines are self-replicating vaccines. Thats a connection that we have only been able to make recently, after witnessing the explosion of bizarre symptoms emerging in unvaccinated people who are merely in close proximity to the vaccinated. Over the last two weeks, thousands of reports of this phenomenon have been received by the top whistleblowers and front line doctors who are sounding the alarm over the experimental vaccine injections being aggressively, coercively pushed in the United States, despite the complete lack of any credible evidence that shows such vaccines are safe and effective for widespread, long-term use in healthy, asymptomatic individuals.

From the Bulletin article (selected passages, edited for length):

A small, but growing number of scientists think its possible to exploit the self-propagating properties of viruses and use them to spread immunity instead of disease.

For at least 20 years, scientists have been experimenting with such self-spreading vaccines, work that continues to this day, and which has gained the attention of the US military.

The biologists Scott Nuismer and James Bull generated fresh media attention to self-spreading vaccines over the summer after publishing an article in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

Once released, scientists will no longer be in control of the virus. It could mutate, as viruses naturally do. It may jump species. It will cross borders. There will be unexpected outcomes and unintended consequences. There always are.

Self-spreading vaccines are essentially genetically engineered viruses designed to move through populations in the same way as infectious diseases, but rather than causing disease, they confer protection. Built on the chassis of a benign virus, the vaccines have genetic material from a pathogen added to them that stimulates the creation of antibodies or white blood cells in infected hosts.

The idea, essentially, is to vaccinate a small proportion of a population through direct inoculation. These so-called founders will then passively spread the vaccine to other animals they encounter either by touch, sex, nursing, or breathing the same air. Gradually, these interactions could build up population-level immunity.

The principal security concern is that of dual-use. In essence, this means that the same research that is used to develop self-spreading vaccines to prevent disease, could also be used to deliberately cause harm. You could, for instance, engineer triggers into a virus that cause immune system failures in infected people or animals, a bit like HIV does naturally. Or you could create triggers in a virus that cause a harmful autoimmune response, where the body starts attacking its own healthy cells and tissues.

The bioweapon question. While researchers may intend to make self-spreading vaccines, others could repurpose their science and develop biological weapons. Such a self-spreading weapon may prove uncontrollable and irreversible.

Codenamed Project Coast, South Africas program was primarily focused on covert assassination weapons for use against individuals deemed a threat to the racist apartheid government.

One of Project Coasts research projects aimed at developing a human anti-fertility vaccine.

The idea took hold during a time of widespread concern over worldwide population explosion. Schalk Van Rensburg, who oversaw fertility-related work at a Project Coast laboratory, told South Africas post-apartheid Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Van Rensburg and Daniel Goosen, a lab director, told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that the real intention behind the project was to selectively administer the contraceptive in secret to unwitting Black South African women.

It doesnt take a massive leap of the imagination to see how the aims of South Africas anti-fertility vaccine project would have benefited from research into self-spreading vaccines, particularly if you combine it with current developments in pharmacogenomics, drug development, and personalized medicine. Taken together, these strands of research could help enable ultra-targeted biological warfare.

Self-spreading vaccine research is a small but growing field. At the moment, about 10 institutions are doing significant work in the area. These laboratories are primarily located in the United States, but some are in Europe and Australia, as well. As the field expands, so does the potential for abuse.

So far research has primarily been bankrolled by US government science and health funders like the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Private organizations like the Gates Foundation and academic institutions have also financed projects. Recently, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), sometimes thought of as the US militarys research and development wing, has gotten involved in the research. The University of California, Davis, for example, is working on a DARPA administered project called Prediction of Spillover Potential and Interventional En Masse Animal Vaccination to Prevent Emerging Pathogen Threats in Current and Future Zones of US Military Operation. According to a pamphlet, the project is creating the worlds first prototype of a self-disseminating vaccine designed to induce a high level of herd immunity (wildlife population level protection) against Lassa virus  and Ebola.

Learn the shocking truth about how covid-19 vaccines are deliberately designed as biological weapons to exterminate human populations and why theyre being pushed so aggressively before the death wave becomes undeniable

I cover this bombshell breaking story in three podcasts below: A short, medium and long version of this information.

Heres the shortest version, a 10-minute summary and introduction to Project Coast and the weaponization of self-replicating vaccines:

Brighteon.com/1a0b71ff-da6e-4111-9e35-df8d914fdbbc

Heres a medium-length, 26-minute version, which provides more details from The Bulletin article, and explains why world governments are so desperate to silence all whistleblowers who have come to realize how covid-19 vaccines are a global extermination weapon system:

Brighteon.com/fa7bb3f6-a548-4d0e-9ce8-5087f04252de

And heres the full-length Situation Update podcast, which contains the medium-length version above, plus other news about vaccines and censorship:

Brighteon.com/9c4989d2-2e8e-4c27-93c9-44d34edbe6df

In the 1990s, they were trying to exterminate Blacks to keep Apartheid in power. Today, theyre using the same technology to exterminate the masses of humanity in order to prevent a global populist uprising and keep the globalist criminal cartel in power.

Every covid-19 vaccine injection is a war crimes violation. These war crimes are taking place at your neighborhood pharmacy right now. Right under your nose. And nobody is doing a damn thing to stop it.

Find more coverage each day  with another massive bombshell coming tomorrow  at Brighteon.com:

https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport
(Natural News) Southwest Airlines removed a passenger from one of its flights for not wearing a mask while he was eating candy. Baltimore County resident Avi Mandel claimed he was kicked off a flight to Florida due to a new federal rule by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

According to the federal rule, passengers like him now have to wear masks at all times  even when eating.

Mandel described his experience last April 18 in a video sent to WJZ-TV. I, Avi Mandel, just got kicked off a plane because I wasnt wearing a mask in between bites while I was eating, he said in the footage, lamenting the treatment he received from Southwest. The way I was treated was absolutely absurd. It was crazy and it wasnt fair.

According to the frequent Southwest flyer, he was waiting for his flight to take off for Fort Lauderdale Airport when the incident occurred. Mandel opened a pack of Twizzlers candy to snack on while waiting. A flight attendant then approached him, informing Mandel that he had to put his mask on  unaware that he was eating candy. The flight attendant immediately ran away, he claimed.

A loudspeaker announcement to passengers then followed, saying that everyone whos eating has to wear masks in between bites. Mandel said did not think much of the announcement at that time. However, the plane then returned to the terminal and a security team then escorted him off the aircraft.

Mandel remarked that he remained calm throughout the incident and other passengers stood up for him. He then showed footage of fellow passenger Stephanie Misiaszek saying that is so wrong, he did nothing wrong as he was escorted away. Nevertheless, Mandel insisted that the embarrassing situation left him with no choice but to leave the plane.

The incident shows mask mandates are spiraling out of control

Following the April 18 incident, Mandel emailed Southwest on the matter. He only found out after the email that a new federal mask mandate went into effect. According to the mandate, airline passengers must wear face masks at all times  including in between bites of food. Mandel commented: If I knew this rule ahead of time, I would have happily listened, but I had no clue.

The Baltimore County resident continued: I think it could be handled a lot better, and I think the rule could have been placed better. I always do follow the rules  but this was not a rule I knew of and it wasnt explained to me. He ultimately concluded: Had I known, I obviously would have done it differently, but you got to tell someone the rule in order for them to follow it.

A spokesperson for Southwest said in a statement that the airline regrets any inconvenience caused by the incident. They reiterated, however, that the face covering policy is communicated throughout the booking and check-in process, and its the responsibility of [cabin crew] to enforce federal regulations.

Meanwhile, TSA guidelines saay that airline passengers can remove masks while eating, drinking or taking medications. But passengers are not allowed to go without a face covering for prolonged periods and must mask up in between bites and sips.

An April 30 press release on its website said the TSA extended its mask-wearing order until Sept. 13 of this year. Its initial mask mandate went into effect on Feb. 1 and was set to expire on May 11. (Related: STUPID-19: Newsom says Californians should wear a mask between bites while dining out.)

The mask order which was used as a basis for Mandels removal from the Southwest flight appears to line up with a public health order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Jan. 29 CDC mandate required Americans to wear face masks when traveling, according to Reason. The public health agency said federal, state and local authorities would enforce the order, which took effect Feb. 1.

Travelers who refuse to mask up may be removed from public conveyances and banned from traveling, aside from facing criminal penalties. But the CDC order also provided exemptions  such as when a person is eating, drinking or taking medicine.

Nevertheless, Reason Senior Editor Elizabeth Nolan described such mask mandates as problematic. She remarked that deputizing federal, state and local law enforcement to enforce mask-wearing orders opens up opportunities for harassment and abuse. Authorities are given a lot of leeway with how to enforce the rule and who to target.

Brown warned that both masked and unmasked people are in danger of any arbitrary enforcement. The reasonable duration of being mask-less when eating, drinking or taking medicine may differ for individual officers. In turn, people who remove their masks for these essential activities may find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Visit MedicalTyranny.com to read more articles about mandatory mask orders.

Sources include:

CitizenFreePress.com

Baltimore.CBSLocal.com

TSA.gov

Reason.com
(Natural News) One of the largest wildfires in California state history was caused not by climate change like the mainstream media claims, but rather by an arsonist who was trying to cover up a murder.

After an eight-month-long investigation by the Solano County Sheriffs Office, it was determined that the infamous Markley Fire was intentionally caused by 29-year-old Victor Serriteno, who was trying to cover up the murder of 32-year-old Priscilla Castro.

According to reports, Serriteno started the fire in order to burn Castros body and destroy all evidence of her murder. Her burned body was found on Sept. 2, 2020, near Lake Berryessa, which is where two others  82-year-old Douglas Mai and 64-year-old Leon Bone  were also burned to death in the fallout.

The fire began on August 18 and quickly spread to become one of the largest in Californias history. It merged with the nearby Hennessey Fire to become part of the LNU Lightning Complex Fire, which is considered to be the fifth-largest fire to ever occur in California.

Castro reportedly disappeared on August 16, two days prior, after going on a date with Serriteno in Vacaville. The two met through an online dating app. One month later, Serriteno was arrested and held in jail without bail.

The Sheriffs Office and CalFire officials later concluded that Serriteno intentionally started the fire, and the three deaths that resulted have all been ruled as homicides.

Based on an extensive eight-month-long investigation, we believe Serriteno deliberately set the Markley Fire in an attempt to conceal this crime, stated Solano County Sheriff Tom Ferrara at a news conference.

Serriteno will now face two additional counts of murder with special circumstances along with arson charges, including committing arson during an official state of emergency.

Id like to ring his neck, said Ken Albers, an area resident whose house was burned down because of Serritenos act of arson. They have no idea what all of us have been through. We were there for 30 years.

Marci, Kens wife, lamented that all of her family memories are now destroyed, thanks to Serritenos malicious violence.

I lost everything of my parents and I have no relatives, she told CBS Sacramento. Im an only child. I have not one picture of my parents left. He took some lives away, too.

Will the media issue a correction for its false reporting of the Markley Fire?

As for the deaths of Mai and Bone, neighbor Karen Canepa said she does not have the words to describe how she feels about this horrible situation.

I dont even have words. It is a tragedy, human life being taken, she said.

At the end of the day, more than 30,000 acres were burned in Solano County alone due to Serritenos actions.

You cant help but be angry at him, Ken added.

As of yet, the mainstream media has not issued a retraction or statement of correction concerning its misreporting about the Markley Fire. The world needs to know that arson, and not global warming, was responsible for all the death and destruction caused by the blaze.

Stupid governor (Gavin Newsom) calls it global warming instead of calling out the California National Guard for helping fight fires, one of our own wrote last summer after Newsom stupidly blamed climate change for the fires.

Newsom owes Californians and the world an apology for lying about the cause of this wildfire. He also owes his state an apology for attending a mask-free birthday party at the French Laundry restaurant while simultaneously telling Californians to stay home and stay safe, but that is a topic for a different article.

More related news about the fake news medias climate change deceptions can be found at Propaganda.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheMindUnleashed.com

NaturalNews.com

Sacramento.CBSlocal.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) In just a few months, the World Health Organization received approximately 20,000 reports of new eye disorders that occurred post covid-19 vaccination. These reports include 303 cases of blindness and 1,625 cases of visual impairment! The European drug monitoring agency had never recorded such a severe spike in eye injuries until after the experimental vaccines were launched. These reports were collected by VigiBase and analyzed by the Uppsala Monitoring Centre in Uppsalla, Sweden.

About half of the new eye disorders were additionally reported to the U.K.s Yellow Card adverse event reporting system, which was set up to monitor the influx of adverse events that were anticipated during this live, experimental vaccine study. Back in 2020, the vaccine makers had already entered into liability-free contracts with governments around the world. This has enabled mass vaccine injury with no recourse or accountability and set up the framework for a historic, worldwide holocaust.

Ophthalmologists need more training to properly recognize and report vaccine injury

These experimental vaccines are designed to cause inflammation throughout the body, by reprogramming human cells to produce inflammatory spike proteins that are derived from the bio-weapon itself. Eye damage is merely a symptom of this inflammation, a sign of more serious problems to come with capillaries and autoimmune issues. The inflammatory conditions caused by the vaccines provide a new revenue stream for various industries within the medical system, including ophthalmology.

With mounting evidence of eye injury post-vaccination, ophthalmologists are ethically obligated to denounce these covid-19 vaccines. The vaccines are causing acute eye injuries at scale and are an underlying cause of inflammation for future eye disorders and other health problems. However, ophthalmologists are not properly trained to recognize, diagnose and report vaccine injury.

When the U.S. FDA issued Emergency Use Authorization for these experimental vaccines, they did not mention eye disorders specifically. In their fact sheet, they warn, additional adverse reactions, some of which may be serious, may become apparent with more widespread use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

In the UKs Yellow Card System, vaccine-induced eye damage includes 4,616 cases of severe eye pain, 3,839 cases of blurred vision, 1,808 cases of light intolerance, and 559 cases of double vision. These issues were not prevalent until the vaccine was used. Some of the eye issues are mild but could be a sign of more serious issues within the cardiovascular or nervous systems. There were 768 cases of eye irritation, 731 cases of itchy eyes, 788 cases of ocular hyperemia, 459 cases of eye strain, 400 cases of dry eye, and 653 cases of increased lacrimation.

The covid vaccine holocaust is destroying peoples hearing and vision

More serious issues of swelling were documented as well, including swelling around the eye (366 incidences), swelling of the eyelid (360 incidences) eyelid oedema (298) conjunctival haemorrhage or breakage of a small eye vessel (236), periorbital oedema (171), and eye haemorrhage (169). The swelling can be indicative of more serious cerebral, spinal, and/or cardiovascular issues. Blood clots and nervous system disorders are a commonly reported adverse event. The eye disorders provide a window of opportunity to understand just how severe the inflammation is. Ophthalmologists are able to identify early signs of vaccine-induced brain swelling, cardiovascular issues and stroke to help patients seek emergency care before the patient becomes another casualty to these horrid vaccines.

One 33-year-old pilot had severe migraines and sudden vision problems following the Pfizer vaccine. The pain migrated down the back of his neck toward the bottom of his skull. The pain lasted for several days and was accompanied by dizziness, nausea, disorientation, confusion, uncontrollable shaking, and tingling in his toes and fingers. He was ultimately evaluated by doctors. The Pfizer COVID vaccine had increased the pressure in his spinal cord and brain stem, rupturing his left inner ear, and damaging his eyesight.

To learn more about the new vaccine holocaust, read up at VaccineDamage.News.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

VaccineDamage.News

FDA.gov
According to ISS, Thaxter left the company with unvested bonus shares worth more than US$1.5mln currently.

( ) is facing a shareholder revolt at its AGM after the company revealed it would honour the bonuses awarded to jailed former chief executive Shaun Thaxter.

A Federal Court sent Thaxter to prison for six months after he pleaded guilty to misrepresentations about the safety of the companys opioid addiction drug Suboxone.

The bonus awards were made to Thaxter under the companys long-term incentive plan but two leading shareholder groups, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis, have advised investors vote against the award.

According to ISS, Thaxter left the company with unvested bonus shares worth more than US$1.5mln currently.

ISS has questioned the remuneration committee decision to classify Thaxter as a good leaver.

As a lead executive of the business since 2009, Shaun Thaxter is ultimately accountable for the financial and reputational harm suffered by the company in connection with the mis-selling of Suboxone, it said.

In a report in the FT, Indivior said the awards were based on Thaxters years of service and the absence of any evidence of personal wrongdoing or malfeasance.

Wick Sollers, Thaxters lawyer, added: We believe the determination that Mr Thaxter should be treated as a good leaver was entirely appropriate under the circumstances of his case [that involved Massachusetts regulator MassHealth], which established that he was unaware of any wrongdoing when it occurred and authorised corrective action after he learned of the issue.

Shares in Indivior dropped 1.2% to 151.6p.
(Natural News) An FBI staffer in Tennessee was arrested this week and charged with sexual exploitation of children and receiving child pornography.

(Article by Niamh Harris republished from NewsPunch.com)

According to a press release, Justin D. Carroll, 38, worked for the FBI as an electronics technician.

Agents arrested Carroll as he arrived to work at the Nashville FBI office, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Tennessee confirmed in their press release.

According to the criminal complaint, Carroll was identified as the user of an email address which was connected to the facilitation and exchange of sexually explicit images and videos between Carroll and a 14-year-old female in Rhode Island. The investigation began in March when a package was received at the Nashville FBI Office and although addressed to the building address, no recipient was indicated on the label. The package had a return address that listed the name and Rhode Island address of an individual who was later identified as a 14-year-old female. The nature of the package prompted a response from FBI bomb technicians and once opened, the package contained a teddy bear and candies, the release said.

Further investigation determined that the 14-year-old female met Carroll in an online chat room in the summer of 2020 and their communications continued over multiple communication platforms and eventually transitioned to Google Hangout and email, including her school email account. Messages sent by Carroll consisted primarily of descriptions of intercourse and professions of love and included sexually explicit photos and videos exchanged between Carroll and the minor female. All communications sent from and received by Carroll were determined to have been sent from his personal devices. Carroll had previously provided the minor female with his mailing address, listing the Nashville FBI Offices street address. The investigation also identified other accounts with which Carroll engaged or attempted to engage in sexually explicit conversations with minors and the investigation remains active.

Tennesseestar.com reports: If convicted, Carroll faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 50 years in prison.

Members of the FBI are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Daughtrey is prosecuting the case, the press release said.

Read more at: NewsPunch.com
(Natural News) America is in the throes of a pandemic, but not from some Chinese virus. The real threat is Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) injections, which are causing young men to suffer heart attacks.

One of them tweeted about how he was perfectly healthy before receiving his first dose of the Pfizer jab. Not long after, he found himself in the hospital after suffering a heart attack.

My cardiovascular system is completely normal & healthy, wrote Tom Schulz. But last week I took the Pfizer vaccine and there are reports that its been causing heart complications.

Doctors evaluating Schulz have ruled out most other potential causes of the heart attack. The only common denominator was the Pfizer injection, which even mainstream media outlets are admitting is linked to heart inflammation and myocarditis.

Schulz apparently did some research of his own and found that many people, specifically younger men, are suffering similar outcomes post-injection. Even people within his immediate network, he says, are experiencing deadly complications.

Low odds of happening doesnt seem too low from where Im sitting, Schulz wrote.

Schulzs doctor says there have been other young men admitted to the same hospital with the same complications. Both the Moderna and the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) injections are causing these problems as well.

Young men, 18-30 years old, going through mild to severe cardiac events post vaccine, Schulz writes. This is scary. Its official. I have myocarditis.

What is the point of getting injected for the Chinese virus?

The only other apparent possibility as to the cause of Schulzs heart attack is a viral infection, which he says he has no symptoms of related sickness. The true answer is clear, he says, and it was the injection.

Schulz was reportedly discharged from the hospital with medication and has since received a physician-issued exemption from having to receive his second injection of the Pfizer jab.

Make of that what you will, he says, noting that he is now at home taking anti-inflammatory drugs.

Ill be sure to keep updating as I feel better and / or have more heart related events, he writes. Stay safe people and thank you for all of your heart warming messages about my health.

We do not expect the government to pause all further administration of Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) injections like it did for J&Js after it was determined that many were suffering deadly blood clots. There is simply too much at stake for Big Pharma to allow that.

There is also the threat of Chinese virus vaccines shedding chemical particles on the unvaccinated. Pfizers own data suggests that even just touching a vaccinated person could cause deadly chemicals to shed and infect an unvaccinated person.

The risks to children especially are why one Miami private school has issued a notice to its staff that no vaccinated persons will be allowed on campus because they might shed poison onto students.

Yet another young, fit and healthy person added to the coincidence list, wrote one Twitter user in response to Schulzs story.

Doctors are now concerned that those who receive the shot are shedding the spike proteins they are producing from the code written in the mRNA shot through their bodily fluids and respiratory droplets, wrote another, quoting a nurse.

These spike proteins are found in the eyes, brain, female and male reproductive organs, placentas, cardiovascular system, etc.; which is why we are seeing blindness following injection, seizures and strokes, heart attacks, miscarriages and still births, problematic menstrual cycles including this horror of a decidual cast.

To keep up with the cases of injury and death resulting from Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination, be sure to check out ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

ThreadReaderApp.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
The stark disparity in vaccine rates between rich and poor countries serves as an example for how the planet reacts to another global challenge: averting climate change's worst consequences.

There are millions of excess doses in the United States, where almost half of the population has taken at least one dose. With a vaccine rate of 9%, India is breaking records in terms of new infections every day. Poor countries have repeatedly stated that they need more financial and technical assistance from wealthier countries. According to Frida Ghitis, the richest countries, which are also the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, have yet to come up with the capital. According to Ghitis, the vaccine deficit serves as an object lesson for climate change since it demonstrates wealthier countries' inability to see it as a matter of self-interest.

Social Disparity

"Equity isn't on the table," says a Yale scholar. Gonsalves of Yale is one of the proponents of waiving drug-company patents on Covid-19 vaccines. Pharmaceutical business groups and White House supporters have been staunch opponents of open intellectual property sharing. According to those in the administration, vaccine raw materials are needed for the manufacture of vaccines for Americans.

Ramping Up Vaccine Manufacturing

To encourage Indian companies to ramp up manufacturing, India has pressed to loosen Covid-19 vaccine patents and US export rules on vaccine raw materials. Efforts to loosen patent laws at the World Trade Organization have been opposed by the United States.

Government Regulations

Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's right-wing conservative president, dismissed public health advice, claiming that lockdowns and mobility limits would pose a greater danger to the country's ailing economy. Brazil now has one of the largest death tolls globally, and the economy is in shambles.

With nearly 380,000 new infections every day, India has become the world's worst-affected country. India's right-wing Prime Minister Narendra Modi boasted that the virus had been defeated. Rather than securing vaccines for India's 1.4 billion citizens, the country started distributing doses produced in India to other nations.

Related Article: Fake Pfizer Covid Vaccines Found in Poland and Mexico Due to Increasing Demand



Paris Climate Agreement

The Paris Climate Agreement calls explicitly for technology transfer to improve renewable energy systems.

Developing nations have long said that if the developed world does not exchange wealth and technology, they would be unable to deal with climate change.

The Biden administration pledged to increase annual grants and loans to developed countries to $5.7 billion.

The target is generally regarded as inadequate and lagging behind promises made by other developed countries.

Social Justice

"It's about a desire to redistribute wealth in both situations," Rohini Pande, a Yale University economist, said.

The US has yet to deliver on its pledge to generate $100 billion a year for green initiatives.

The United States is yet to make good on its pledge to generate $100 billion a year for renewable infrastructures such as solar farms and mangrove regeneration. The planet is seeing a worldwide economic collapse as a result of the economic downturn.

For world leaders, the next two weeks will be crucial in terms of climate change. In June and July, the UN's 7 and the 20 will meet. Climate talks led by the United Nations will take place in Glasgow in November. These talks will decide whether the planet will limit warming, which is already causing issues. Christiana Figueres, a former US climate negotiator, says, "We will not have a good result at COP26."

Also Read: Environmental Justice: How and Why Environmental Activism Became Mainstream

For more news update about Environmental Action, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
RealSelf Acquires YNS Group to Continue Their Global Vision of Making Every Investment In Modern Beauty Worth It. Now Serving Medical Aesthetics Market Across Europe, South America, and Beyond
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KENNEWICK, WA - The Kennewick Police Department (KPD) share a new update in the TikTok video investigation and have have released a new suspec
EMDMA-001 has been modelled on a major Phase III clinical trial developed by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).

It is expected that this first program will be an important first step towards delivering safe, evidence-based, psychedelic-assisted therapy services.

( ) and partner Mind Medicine Australia have launched the EMDMA-001 psychedelic-assisted therapy program targeting sufferers of treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

As a first step, and pending ethics approval, Emyria, an innovative drug development and clinical services company, will sponsor a major, independently monitored, clinical trial targeting treatment-resistant PTSD with evidence-based MDMA-assisted therapy.

Key priority

A key priority of this first program is to help evaluate the long-term safety, efficacy and cost benefits of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.

Such evidence is needed, along with fit-for-purpose clinical infrastructure and trained therapists, in order to deliver psychedelic-assisted care in a safe, standardised and scalable way.

Pending successful ethics review and the finalisation of all logistics, EMDMA-001 will begin with a Phase II, open-label clinical trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy at Emyrias fit-for-purpose clinic in Melbourne before expanding to other sites.

EMDMA-001 will utilise specially-trained psychotherapists graduating from Mind Medicine Australias first Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (CPAT) training program at the end of this month.

Growing interest in psychedelics

Managing director Dr Michael Winlo said: There is growing international interest in the promise of psychedelic-assisted therapies for treating our most challenging mental health conditions.

However, the care model and the drug intervention are intrinsically linked - this means any treatment will require a properly prepared and equipped clinical service - including specially trained clinicians and therapists.

We also require more robust clinical evidence to guide future innovation and development in this space.

Novel research and specialised training are needed because of the way MDMA-assisted therapy is delivered. The treatment is unlike traditional psychotherapy or psychopharmacology and is deeply intertwined with pharmacological intervention.

Emyria also plans to further explore other MDMA- and psilocybin-assisted therapy programs in treating disorders such as depression and substance abuse.

Positioned to support psychedelic-assisted therapy

Winlo continued: To date, we have cared for over 4,000 patients with major unmet needs (including more than 80 patients suffering with treatment-resistant PTSD) and collected high-quality Real-World Evidence.

Emyrias clinical advisory, site network and data infrastructure is uniquely positioned to support safe and scalable psychedelic-assisted therapy, much like we have demonstrated and accomplished with cannabinoid medicines.

Our goal is to build a unique clinical database that we hope can help optimise the development of existing and novel treatments while also allowing Emyria and our partner, Mind Medicine Australia to become the trusted and accredited clinical service of choice.

In recognition of the promise of this new field but also the great need for more clinical evidence, on March 17, 2021, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced $15 million in new funding for Australian medical research projects that use clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of innovative therapies using hallucinogens and stimulant drugs supported by psychological/ psychiatric care for treatment-resistant mental illness, compared to standard therapies.

The past Chair of the Australian Defence Force (1998-2002) Admiral Chris Barrie also recently encouraged the Australian Government to consider the clinical use of specific psychedelics to help veterans recovering from trauma.

Consistent with Federal Government grant

Mind Medicine Australia chairman Peter Hunt AM said: We are delighted to be working with Emyria on developing the pathway for the use of evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapies for the treatment of key mental illnesses in Australia.

MDMA assisted psychotherapy is showing very high remission rates in overseas trials and has also been shown to have high levels of safety and to be non-addictive when used in medically controlled environments.

Negative side effects have also been minimal.

The trial approach being taken by Emyria is also consistent with the Federal Governments recently announced grant of $15 million for trials utilising hallucinogens or stimulant drugs supported by psychotherapy for treatment-resistant mental illnesses.
New Castle, PA (16103)

Today

Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 80F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms early, mainly cloudy overnight with a few showers. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
The U.S. is more prepared for cybersecurity attacks than ever before. But, as one cybersecurity expert put it, Our adversaries are also more capable today.

By Amanda Zoch | April 6, 2021 | State Legislatures News

After the 2020 election, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other members of the Election Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council proclaimed it the most secure in American history. More recently, the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security released a report finding no evidence of foreign interference in the election.

But lawmakers and election officials cant celebrate just yet.

That report also discovered that Russian and Iranian campaigns did compromise the security of several networks that managed some election functions and materially impact the security of networks associated with or pertaining to U.S. political organizations, candidates, and campaigns. And cyberattacks during the 2020 election werent limited to election systems, political groups or campaigns. At a recent cybersecurity workshop, Gary Pruitt, president and CEO of The Associated Press, reported that the news agency was targeted with 10,000 phishing-attempt emails on Election Day 2020 alone. Since the AP serves as a central hub for reporting election results to the public, those attackseven though they failedare bad news.

The U.S. is certainly more prepared for cybersecurity attacks and issues than ever before. But Cliff Neuman, a University of Southern California computer science professor and cybersecurity expert, says, Our adversaries are also more capable today. As foreign actors develop more sophisticated cyberattacks, so too must the U.S. construct more sophisticated defenses.

Last month, Neuman joined NCSL alongside Adam Clayton Powell III, the executive director of USCs Election Security Initiative, for a webinar on elections cybersecurity. The two experts discussed the threats to election security, our election systems vulnerabilities and strengths, and what states can do in this fast-changing cyber realm. Watch the webinar here, or, for an overview and additional focus on legislative action, read on.

Cyberattacks: Who, Why and How

Most foreign actors intent on disrupting our nations election security come from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, though other countriesincluding Cuba and Venezuelahave made smaller attempts. According to Powell, Russia is the one to watchit has the budget for research and development and the people to implement these attacks.

Threats can be domestic too, coming from organized crime as well as individual criminals. Although foreign and domestic attacks may use similar methods, the intent typically differs: Domestic actors are in it for the money, Powell says. Foreign actors are trying to discredit our election system, trying to discredit democracy itself.

How do these attacks happen? Something as simple as clicking on a suspicious link or installing a bad app could download malware (short for malicious software) that disables a computer or voting system. Ransomwareperhaps the most notorious form of malwaredisables a system, then demands a ransom before allowing the user to re-enable the system.

But attacks can do more than disable a system. According to Neuman, malware, viruses, worms, Trojan horses and other cyberattack methods can also steal data or, worst case, modify a system to do things like change votes.

Phishing is another popular attack approach, and it occurs when adversaries send messages that appear legitimate and ask the user to click on a link or log on to a website that looks secure but isnt. Once the user has logged on to the faked website, theyve just given the criminal their passwordand possibly access to voter registration data, internal documents and other sensitive materials.

Other attacks include supply chain subversion, which is when malware is embedded into software or systems during the manufacturing and distribution process and prior to purchase; and denial of service attacks, which is when cybercriminals try to shut down systems by overwhelming them with fake queries or other communications. These cyber-attacks, notes Neuman, are sometimes indistinguishable from a simple failure, and he points to a recent situation in Virginia where workers on a sewage project accidentally severed a fiber optic cable and shut down the states online voter registration system on the final day of voter registration.

What States Can Do

Overwhelmed? Fear not. Powell stresses, One of the great strengths of American elections is that were decentralized. That doesnt mean our systems dont have weaknesses, just that it is very difficult to tamper with the election at the point of voting because there are so many different targets.

In fact, states and election officials are more aware of cybersecurity threats than ever before. According to Neuman, that awarenesscoupled with support from CISA and the U.S. Election Assistance Commissionhas helped states protect their elections infrastructure. Most election systems now include a paper trail and isolate election tabulating systems from the internet. He adds, that when outcomes were questionedand yes, the outcomes were questionedthe officials in charge were able to speak with greater confidence that the results were correct and there was the ability to do the manual recounts in those instances where there actually was a concern.

States are taking many of the necessary steps to protect their elections, so what else can legislators do?

Revisit Laws, Policies and Training Around Election Security: Does your state require a paper trail? Is your vote tabulation system sufficiently isolated from other systems or networks? Can your voting machines be accessed via the internet? Are election officials or others who access voter registration or tabulation data trained on security best practices? See the table below for examples of relevant legislation.

Does your state require a paper trail? Is your vote tabulation system sufficiently isolated from other systems or networks? Can your voting machines be accessed via the internet? Are election officials or others who access voter registration or tabulation data trained on security best practices? See the table below for examples of relevant legislation. Become and Stay Informed: What we [states] need to do now, says Powell, is not to relax our vigilance. As adversaries become more inventive, states and election officials must stay on top of updates from the Department of Homeland Security, CISA and other cybersecurity experts.

What we [states] need to do now, says Powell, is not to relax our vigilance. As adversaries become more inventive, states and election officials must stay on top of updates from the Department of Homeland Security, CISA and other cybersecurity experts. Collaborate: Powell also adds that every state has cybersecurity assets, such as the National Guard and even cybersecurity centers at universities. And Neuman stresses that elections arent the only site for cyberattacks, so costs for cyber defenses and other security upgrades can be spread across not just the election community, but government in general.

Powell also adds that every state has cybersecurity assets, such as the National Guard and even cybersecurity centers at universities. And Neuman stresses that elections arent the only site for cyberattacks, so costs for cyber defenses and other security upgrades can be spread across not just the election community, but government in general. Educate Voters: Mis- and disinformation were significantly entwined with cyberattacks in 2020, and states can help counteract misleading information by encouraging voters to rely on trusted sources. The best source? Always the state election officials website.

Theres always more work to be done on this front, but as Powell emphasized at the end of our webinar, election officials in all 50 states displayed a level of commitment and professionalism that was remarkable under the most difficult circumstances we will probably face in our lifetime. Everybody took security very seriously. Everybody took elections very seriously. And everybody includes legislators.

Recent Legislative Action

In 2020, four states passed five bills on cybersecurity.

Indiana required each county to use a cybersecurity company designated by the secretary of state to investigate cybersecurity attacks and analyze security risks.

Louisiana required the secretary of state to establish cybersecurity training for people with access to the states voter registration computer system and prohibited election officials from disclosing various types of computer system information.

Virginia required its State Board of Elections to identify, assess and address threats to election integrity.

Washington enacted new policies to address security breaches of election systems by foreign actors.

While no cybersecurity bills have yet passed in 2021, many are pending and may see further action before session ends. See the table below for more details, and scroll further for additional resources.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise took a big step toward delivering on its entire-portfolio-as-a-service strategy this week by unveiling cloud-based storage and data service that will help manage storage needs in distributed IT enterpises.

HPE said in 2019 that by 2022 it wanted to remake itself into a more service-oriented company and announced plans to transition its entire portfolio to subscription based, pay-per-use, and as-a-service offerings. It has since made headway, for example, recently adding HPE GreenLake cloud services for HPC.

The companys storage move begins to transform the nearly $5 billion HPE Storage business into a cloud-native, software-defined data-services core. It will help organizations reduce complexity and break down silos within their data and infrastructure across the hybrid cloud, said Tom Black, senior vice president and general manager of HPE Storage. Storage complexity is the roadblock to innovation, he said.

Simplifying that complexity will begin with a plan HPE calls its Data Service Platform that features new data-service technologies available through HPE GreenLake, the companys on-premises, pay-per-use service.

At the center of the new offering is HPEs Data Services Cloud Console, a cloud-based console that utilizes the HPE Aruba Edge Services Platform to support AI-based analytics, workflow automation, and security.

The console is designed to abstract and control infrastructure and data workflows from edge to cloud, Black said. The Data Services Cloud Console strips away all the traditional management work across the lifecycle of storagefrom deployment and provisioning to global managementall from the ease of a single cloud console. The idea is that storage deployment can be done in minutes, rather than days or in some cases weeks, with auto-discovery and configuration, Black said.

The console features an API that will include application automation features and allow for integration with other HPE and third-party data services and software.

In addition, a Data Ops Manager will let customers provision and manage their data infrastructure from anywhere, using any device, Black said.

The final components are two new storage boxesHPE Alletra 9000 and 6000 systemsthat can be managed at large scale by the console.

The NVMe Alletra 9000 is aimed at high-end mission-critical storage and the 6000 at business operations. Both can be automatically discovered and configured and managed remotely. The two are derived from existing HPE storage technology with the 9000 related to its Primera arrays and the 6000 to HPEs Nimble system.

Black said this is the opening salvo for the storage-as-a-service portfolio and that support for other storage-management capabilities as well as existing storage systems such as Nimble and Primera will be brought into the Data Services Cloud Console in the future.

The Data Services Cloud Console, cloud data services, and HPE Alletra will be available for order this month.
Juniper Networks has laid a key part of its Secure Access Services Edge (SASE) foundation with a cloud-based security-control service that provides a central way to control and protect on-premises or cloud-based enterprise resources.

Called Security Director Cloud, the service focuses Juniper's SASE efforts by providing a central point to manage enterprise security services including policy setting, and threat-detection and -prevention.

Juniper (like other key enterprise networking vendors such as Cisco, Hewlitt-Packard Enterprise (Aruba) and VMware, as well as service providers including Cato Networks, Akamai, and Zscaler) has pledged allegiance to growing SASE support in its product families.

Juniper already has a variety of security products under its Connected Security architecture to contribute to a SASE offering. For example, its cloud-based Advanced Threat Prevention (ATP), offers advanced malware protection. Juniper SRX and vSRX firewalls offer remote configuration and security, networking and application policy monitoring. Juniper is also moving to build artificial intelligence into its security gear as well as its MX Series routers, and its EX and QFX Series switches.

In addition, Juniper has intelligent SD-WAN technology it acquired from 128 Technology in December for $450 million. 128's Session Smart software promises to reduce the costs of running SD-WAN and WANs by making intelligent routing decisions based on sessions and application needs over individual traditional tunnels.

With Security Director Cloud, the idea is to create security policies once and extended them to any user, device, and application regardless of location changes, said Kate Adam, senior director, security product marketing at Juniper Networks. That way customers can develop a unified security policy that can be delivered across traditional and cloud-delivered resources.

It takes the security headache out of operations that may have created a blind spot as they move distributed apps around, Adam said.

Junipers services are designed to perform in-depth analysis, custom reporting and provide recommendations on security exposure and security policies to help customers mitigate risks, maintain business agility and reduce operational costs, she said.

Once dialed-up, Security Director Cloud learns customers policies and configurations and syncs them with on-prem firewalls. It includes zero-touch provisioning and configuration wizards for secure connectivity, content security and advanced threat prevention, Adam said.

The platform includes Security Director Insights, which correlates attack details with threat intelligence--including attack information from other vendors products--to update security policies automatically, taking manual integration of of security, Adam said.

Security Director Cloud will be available at the end of the month.
Encouraged by results and observations from the Reung Kiet prospect, the company plans to continue drilling with a further nine holes planned.

Further success may lead to the delineation of a drill supported exploration target and/or a mineral resource

( ) non-executive director David Docherty has shown his confidence in the companys battery and critical metals strategy with the purchase of shares in on-market transactions.

Between April 28 and May 4 Docherty acquired 250,000 shares with a total value of $35,000 in an indirect interest, increasing the number of securities held after the change to more than 21.829 million.

Potential pegmatites intersected in recent drilling

Pan Asia recently intersected pegmatite dyke swarms in all three recently completed diamond drill holes at RK Prospect within the Reung Kiet Lithium Project in southern Thailand.

The pegmatite contains locally abundant lepidolite with spot hand-held XRF analysis of core showing elevated levels of rubidium, cesium, manganese as well as accessory tin, tantalum and niobium.

Pegmatite is shallow dipping, extends to plus 100 metres down dip from surface and remains open down dip.

The Reung Kiet Prospect (RK) forms part of the Reung Kiet Lithium Project (RKLP), one of PAMs key projects.

RKLP, is a hard rock project with demonstrated potential for lithium hosted in lepidolite/mica rich pegmatites chiefly composed of quartz, albite, muscovite and lepidolite, with minor cassiterite and tantalite as well as other accessory minerals, including some rare earth.

The company also has tungsten assets in Thailand and Australia.
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By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Cabinet on Wednesday gave in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment along with transfer of management control in IDBI Bank in line with the Budget announcement earlier this year.

The central government and LIC together own more than 94 per cent equity of IDBI Bank. LIC, currently the promoter of IDBI Bank with management control, has a 49.21 per cent stake.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the strategic sale of IDBI Bank, an official statement said on Wednesday.

The extent of respective shareholding to be divested by the central government and LIC shall be decided at the time of structuring of transaction in consultation with the RBI, it said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Budget 2021-22 had announced the privatisation of public sector banks (PSBs) as part of a disinvestment drive to garner Rs 1.75 lakh crore.

"Other than IDBI Bank, we propose to take up the privatization of two Public Sector Banks and one General Insurance company in the year 2021-22," she had said.

Insurance giant LIC has completed the acquisition of 51 per cent controlling in IDBI Bank in January 2019.

"LIC''s Board has passed a resolution to the effect that LIC may reduce its shareholding in IDBI Bank Ltd through divesting its stake along with strategic stake sale envisaged by the Government with an intent to relinquish management control and by taking into consideration price, market outlook, statutory stipulation and interest of policyholders," the statement said.

This decision of the LIC board is also consistent with the regulatory mandate to it to reduce its stake in the bank, it added.

The statement further said it is expected that strategic buyer will infuse funds, new technology and best management practices for optimal development of business potential and growth of IDBI Bank and shall generate more business without any dependence on LIC and government assistance/funds.

Resources through strategic disinvestment of government equity from the transaction would be used to finance developmental programmes of the government benefiting the citizens, it said.

Earlier in March, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had taken out IDBI Bank from the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework, subject to certain conditions and continuous monitoring.

The bank was put under the PCA framework in May 2017, slapping curbs on expansion, investments and lending.

IDBI Bank was put under PCA after it had breached the thresholds for capital adequacy, asset quality (net NPAs was over 13 per cent in March 2017), return on assets and the leverage ratio.

The Mumbai-based lender also turned profitable on an annual basis after five years as it reported a standalone profit of Rs 1,359 crore for 2020-21 fiscal as against a loss of Rs 12,887 crore in FY20.

The gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio improved to 22.37 per cent as against 27.53 per cent. Net NPA stood at 1.97 per cent as against 4.19 per cent as of March 31, 2020. Provision Coverage Ratio (including technical write-offs) improved to 96.90 per cent as of March 31, 2021.
By Online Desk

Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das delivers an unscheduled speech on Wednesday as the second wave of coronavirus bruises the economy.

India has been posted a record increase in COVID-19 cases in the last few weeks, with the number of total infections surpassing two crore.

Market benchmark Sensex rose over 200 points ahead of Das' speach. The 30-share BSE index jumped 266.09 points or 0.55 per cent to 48,519.60 in initial deals. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty advanced 81.45 points or 0.56 per cent to 14,577.95.

Here are the highlights from the speech:

RBI Governor says situation has reversed from being on foothills of strong economic recovery to facing a fresh crisis.

"Have faith in India's ability to come out of Covid-19 crisis," says Shaktikanta Das. RBI continues to monitor the Covid-19 situation and will deploy all its resources, he added.

Shaktikanta Das says wide-ranging and swift actions are needed against the spread of the second COVID-19 wave. Central bank is monitoring emerging developments.

Businesses have learnt to survive despite Covid restrictions and containments, says Das.

Good monsoon expectation wil keep rural demand strong, he said.

India has mounted a valiant defence against Covid. The RBI will continue to monitor the emerging situation and deploy all instruments at its command, Das said. Quarantine facility of the RBI continues to operate with more than 200 officers working away from their homes.

"The devastating speed with which the virus affects has to be matched by swift and wide-ranging actions that are sequenced, calibrated and well-timed so as to reach out to various sections including the most vulnerable," says Das.

RBI Governor announces on-tap liquidity window of Rs 50,000 crore till March 2022, to lend to vaccine manufacturers, suppliers of oxygen cylinders and ventilators.

Banks are being incentivised to extend swift credit to weak sectors. Banks will create a COVID loan book in their balance sheets, and can park money equal to COVID book with RBI at 40 bps above reverse repo rate.

Borrowers, individuals and MSMEs, permitted one-time restructuring till September 30, 2021. Under restructuring 1.0, the period of moratorium can be extended up to a total of 2 years.

RBI has decided that second purchase of G-SEC for Rs 35,000 cr under G-SAP 1.0 will be conducted on May 20.

RBI announces rationalisation of KYC compliance norms, provides for video-based KYC for certain categories: Governor Das.

RBI provides 2nd window to individual, small borrowers having up to Rs 25 crore loans for restructuring loans if not availed earlier, said the RBI governor.

RBI relaxes rules for availing overdraft facility for state governments up to September 30.

(This is a developing story)
By PTI

MUMBAI: Budget carrier SpiceJet's freighter arm on Wednesday airlifted 3,100 oxygen concentrators from Beijing.

The airline used its B767 and A330 wide-body aircraft to airlift these concentrators from Beijing, with the first consignment arriving in New Delhi at 9.10 am on Wednesday and the second one scheduled to arrive later in the afternoon, SpiceJet said.

The airline has airlifted more than 9,950 oxygen concentrators from the US, Hong Kong, Singapore and China in the last two weeks.

SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh had recently said that his company was looking at bringing about 20,000 oxygen concentrators in the coming days from across the globe to meet the acute shortage of medical oxygen in the country.

These oxygen concentrators have been ordered by SpiceHealth and other organisations.

With a network spanning 63 domestic and 50 international destinations and a fleet of 19 cargo planes, SpiceXpress is capable of flying over 600 tonne of cargo daily to domestic and international destinations.
Ranjani Madhavan By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: A day after three hospitals were on the verge of running out of oxygen and 24 Covid patients died without oxygen at Chamarajanagar District Hospital, Rajmahal Vilas Hospital in Sanjayanagar, Bengaluru wrote to the BBMP seeking an immediate supply of oxygen. Universal Air Products is our vendor and despite our repeated request, has not supplied liquid oxygen and we are personally going to the factory to get bulk type and B type cylinder filled up. Even this is taking a couple of days to get delivery. In this scenario, managing 30-plus Covid patients (both BBMP and private) is becoming a challenge, the hospital said in a letter to Dr Vedavathy, BBMP East Zone official.

Of the 30 patients here, 12 need continuous oxygen. The hospitals daily consumption is 130-140 litres and they need 230 metric tonnes that will last five to six days. We have three cylinders left for today. If we get five more, we can last two more days. We went to the Universal Air plant on Monday for oxygen, but they asked us to return on Tuesday, said Karthik Shekar, coordinator of the hospital.

Abiramm Hospital on Hosur Road, faced with oxygen shortage, stopped admitting patients even though they had beds. The hospital said that the BBMP is suppling oxygen cylinders to the hospital after sourcing them from private vendors, but the process is extremely slow.With the shortage of oxygen, we will see deaths of Covid patients. We are denying admission because of lack of oxygen. The private vendor took back 30 cylinders from us to give to BBMP. We have only 10 left. We need 40 cylinders a day for 20 patients, said hospital MD Dr Uday Kumar, adding that serious patients coming for CT scan also need oxygen at the OPD.

Hospitals in Yelahanka zone too faced shortage of oxygen on Tuesday. This has been the situation for the last two weeks for nearly 15 hospitals. Private suppliers do not have enough oxygen and the requirement is huge as the number of patients on ventilators is increasing, said Dr Shankarnarayan, Indian Medical Association head, Yelahanka branch.TNIE forwarded the oxygen requests of these hospitals to Health Minister Dr K Sudhakars office and they arranged for it.

BMRCL sets up 100-bed CCC for employees

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has set up a Covid Care Centre (CCC) to take care of its Covid-affected staffers and 8,000-strong contract workforce. Hotel Ekaa on Hosur Road, near Kudlu Gate, has been converted into a 100-bed CCC, while Jaishree Multi-Speciality Hospital in the vicinity will offer 24/7 care for patients. An official release said, This CCC is equipped with oxygen concentrators and oxygen cylinders. BMRCL has tied up with nearby hospitals to shift patients if they require critical care, it said.

IAF to start CCC from tomorrow

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is setting up a 100-bed Covid treatment facility in Bengaluru. The IAF has deployed its fleet of transport aircraft to ensure oxygen and medical supplies within India and from abroad. The facility at the Air Force Station in Jalahalli, with the first 20 beds, will be operational on May 6 with oxygen concentrators. After the state government ensures oxygen availability, the remaining 80 beds will be made operational by May 20. Of the total 100 beds, there will be 10 ICU beds and 40 beds with piped oxygen and the remaining 50 beds will have oxygen concentrators, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence in Bengaluru.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday visited the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Mangolpuri to inquire and review oxygen supply.

The hospital has recently got an oxygen plant imported from France, having capacity of refilling at least 80-100 big cylinders every.

This plant will ensure a sustained supply of oxygen for all oxygenated and ICU beds. At present, the facility has 300 beds of which 118 beds have been allocated to Covid patients.

Sisodia also interacted with patients in the Covid ward. Later, he also reviewed gas plant at at Commonwealth Games (CWG) Complex in east Delhi.

The Covid facility at the Commonwealth Games Centre is fully functional. While the bed capacity at CWG is 500, we were unable to meet the capacity due to shortage of oxygen. Soon after, we took swift action and installed an oxygen plant. The oxygen plant is operational and the current occupancy of patients at CWG is 175. We are hoping and waiting for the oxygen supply to increase in Delhi so that all 500 beds at the centre can be occupied, he said.

Health Minister Satyendar Jain visited other Covid care centres at Ramlila Maidan. I take great pride in our doctors, who are tirelessly and relentlessly working towards saving the lives of citizens and emerging as true warriors in our fight against this deadly virus.

Delhi Governments commitment to defeat Covid-19 sees no bounds and we are doing everything in our capacity to reduce this surge. I appeal to our citizens to follow lockdown protocols and get vaccinated as soon as possible. Let us together win this fight against Covid-19, Sisodai said.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: A PIL in the Delhi High Court on Wednesday urged it to direct the Centre and Delhi government to treat persons with disabilities (PWD) on priority and make special provisions for vaccinating them against COVID-19 irrespective of their age.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh issued notice to the Ministry of Health and Delhi government on the plea by two disabled persons.

In their plea, filed through advocates Siddharth Seem and Joicy, they have contended that the governments' failure to make any special provision for ensuring priority to PWD in the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, was a violation of the Constitutional mandate to give preferential treatment to such individuals.

One of the petitioners has Kypho Scoliosis - an abnormal curve of the spine - as well polio left shoulder and is a social activist, while the other has mixed cerebral palsy quadriplegia which has left her with 90 per cent permanent physical impairment.

"The protocols and guidelines for vaccine administration issued by the respondents (Centre and Delhi government) fail to mention the special needs of all persons with disabilities and are, therefore, in violation of the fundamental rights of PWD," the petition has contended.

The petition has further said that PWD experience higher risk of contracting the virus as they require close contact with others as a result of personal care needs.

"Persons with disabilities experience greater challenges as a result of public health measures such as physical distancing. This can create greater social isolation and interruption of vital, irreplaceable support networks."

"Family members/ care givers are also at risk of contracting the virus from persons with disabilities and vice versa," the petition has said and added that PWD are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and suffer a higher mortality rate than the general population.

"In such a situation, it is imperative that the administering of COVID-19 vaccine be graded and persons with disabilities be prioritized to protect them against their higher chances of contracting the virus and their higher mortality rate," the plea has said.

Besides seeking priority in vaccination for PWDs, the plea also seeks that all disabled persons and their caretakers be vaccinated irrespective of their age and free of charge.

The plea also seeks that PWDs and their caretakers be vaccinated without insisting on registration on COWIN app and that vaccination drives be carried out in institutions for abandoned and destitute persons with disabilities run by government and NGOs.
Following a number of years of exploration, we believe this is a fortuitous time to be embarking on our public listing as the lithium market thematic builds momentum, says MD.

The company is focused on exploration of Marble Bar Lithium Project in WAs Pilbara region.

( ) will make its debut on the ASX at midday on Thursday, May 6, following a heavily oversubscribed IPO.

As previously covered by Proactive, Global Lithium closed its IPO early after raising the maximum $10 million at 20 cents per share.

It will debut on the ASX with a market capitalisation of approximately $26.4 million.

The company aims to become a leading Australian lithium producer and is focused on exploration of the Marble Bar Lithium Project (MBLP) in Western Australias famed Pilbara.

IPO funds will be used to continue exploration at the project, where GL1 has already declared a maiden inferred mineral resource of 10.5 million tonnes at 1.0% Li2O at the Archer deposit.

Overwhelming support

Global Lithium managing director Jamie Wright said the company was overwhelmed and extremely gratified by the response to the IPO.

It has been fantastic to get so much support from investors as well as the market, he said.

And in turn, we believe we are coming on to the ASX with a great deal of momentum as we look to create value for our shareholders.

Our ambition was to get our next drilling program going within a day of listing, and weve got a 4,000-metre reverse circulation drill rig on site right now as our next program kicks off.

Marble Bar Lithium Project

About 180 kilometres southeast of Port Hedland and 15 kilometres northwest of Marble Bar, the MBLP consists of three granted exploration licences covering about 243 square kilometres of ground.

The companys exploration success to date includes the discovery of the Archer deposit and a declared maiden inferred mineral resource of 10.5 million tonnes at 1.0% lithium oxide.

There is a lot of potential to grow the project, Wright told Proactive.

It is open in all directions and outside of the immediate area there is a very large prospective area to explore.

We are also fortunate enough to be located in one of the most infrastructure-rich mining jurisdictions on the planet, in one of the worlds tier-1 lithium provinces, and nearby to some very large lithium deposits.

Lithium opportunity

Lithium is one of the key metals experiencing high demand as countries around the world seek to adopt more environmentally sustainable energy policies, thanks to its use in power units that form the basis of electric vehicles and rechargeable batteries.

The Pilbara is the engine room for many commodities delivered to global markets, quickly becoming a force delivering critical minerals including lithium to the battery metals supply chain, Wright said.

Following a number of years of exploration, we believe this is a fortuitous time to be embarking on our public listing as the lithium market thematic builds momentum.

It has been an exciting few months with most of the notable car brands committing to electrification over the next decade, and if you follow that back through the supply chain, lithium, and particularly spodumene, which is of great importance to us, is a critical part of the picture.

Lithium prices rising

Global Lithium has timed its listing well, with lithium prices rising exponentially across the board.

Lithium carbonate, a critical ingredient in lithium-ion batteries, is the best-performing commodity in 2021 to date, having risen an astonishing 93 per cent to 90,000 a tonne, the highest levels in two years, while lithium hydroxide is up to 83,000 per tonne.

And thats not considering spodumene, which is a mineral and an important source of lithium.

It is most relevant for us, and it has risen more than 60% so far this year, Wright said.

Market commentators are also saying this is a sustainable market we find ourselves in.

Next steps

Wright said shareholders could expect consistent newsflow over the next 12 months.

We will be following up the RC drill program with a diamond drilling program in the middle of the year, and we are looking at further drilling programs and potentially even a resource update by the end of the year, he said.

Weve got a packed 12 months ahead and were confident well carry our momentum all the way through.

- Daniel Paproth
By Express News Service

Shooting for the second season of the Netflix series Emily in Paris has officially begun in Paris.

The series, which stars Lily Collins, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, and Ashley Park, will also be shot in St Tropez, among other places in France.

The news comes after Netflix revealed that the show was the most popular comedy series of 2020 on the streaming platform, with over 58 million households watching it in the first 28 days.

The show, which was renewed for a second season in November 2020, follows the workplace adventures of Emily, an ambitious, American marketing executive who moves to Paris when her company acquires a French luxury marketing organisation. Emily in Paris is created, written, and executive produced by Darren Star.

The shows star Lily Collins is one of the producers, with Tony Hernandez and Lilly Burns of Jax Media and Andrew Fleming serving as executive producers.
Shilajit Mitra By

Express News Service

Alitle girl takes a last look at the house she grew up in. Another confesses to murder. A boy breaks down before his obsessive, hard-handed father.

A son snaps at his mother in a cramped chawl. And a young boy keeps his chin up in the toughest of spots. These are just some of my favourite images from Hindi cinema of the last one year or so. Incredibly, they all feature actors below the age of 16.

A bunch of talented child and teen actors are gradually taking over Bollywood. Ive chosen a few  Ananya Dwivedi (Gulabo Sitabo), Inayat Verma (Ajeeb Daastaans, Ludo), Aakshath Das (Mersal, Serious Men), Sachin Chaudhary (Bombay Begums, Pagglait), Lydian Nadhaswaram (Atkan Chatkan)  but the list is huge. If you grew up in the 90s, you will remember Omkar Kapoor, Kunal Keemu, Sana Saeed and others as the popular child stars of the day.

Many of them went on to chart uneven careers as adults. What separates their lot from the present batch? More precisely, how tough  or easy  is life for the young performers of today?

An obvious place to begin is the sheer intensity of the dramatic scenes these kids find themselves in. Id like to begin with a small, but memorable scene in Bombay Begums. In the Netflix series, Amruta Subhash plays a single mother struggling to raise her son.

The boy, played by teen actor Sachin Chaudhary, has been in an accident and injured his foot  something his mother is milking for money. In a fit of rage, she calls him a snake, a burden on her existence. Sachin is aghast at first, then limps out of the room on crutches.

You should have killed me in your stomach, he tells her bluntly.

I ask Sachin how he pulled off a tense scene like that (his simmering anger seems to burn up the room). He tells me he didnt get it right the first time.

I wasnt feeling angry enough, so I asked Amruta maam to scold me as hard as she could. That did the trick. Sachin, 14, moved from Jaipur to Mumbai in 2018. He has appeared in films like Atkan Chatkan and Bala, and as young Pankaj Tripathi in Sacred Games.

Besides Bombay Begums, hes delightful in Pagglait, as the young boy tailing his distant cousin. As she moves away from him, he gives a hero shot by biting on a cucumber. I didnt plan it, Sachin laughs over the phone. It just came out in the flow.

Nine-year-old Inayat Verma impressed in the Abhishek Bachchan track in Ludo. You wouldve seen her recently in Ajeeb Daastaans (2021), in the short film titled Khilauna. Inayat stars as Nushrratt Bharucchas spooky younger sister, and provides the films final twist. I ask her if she knew where the whole thing was headed (nowhere pretty, even if you hate babies). Turns out, she totally did, and was all the more kicked for it.

I love horror films and this was kind of in a similar space, Inayat tells us matter-of-factly. Her favourite horror movie of all time? Andy Muschiettis It.

The Amruta-Sachin confrontation in Bombay Begums is similar to a scene in Serious Men. In the 2020 film, Nawazuddin Siddiqui stars as a Dalit man hawking his son as a genius. He spends the entire film feeding scientific trivia to his boy, who is unable to cope.

Near the end, we see Adi (Aakshath Das) go off the edge, compulsively reading out his lessons as he weeps. As I watched that scene, I was certain those were real tears streaming down from that boy. My guess turned out to be true.

My mother and I have a secret, Chennai-based Aakshath reveals, sounding much like his character from Serious Men. Every time I need to cry on screen, she tells me something and I instantly start crying. But he does not reveal what she says  a mistake Adi makes in the film. A widely-held assumption about acting is that it stems from personal experience, something child actors seemingly lack.

But thats not the case. Children are often far more perceptive than hardened adults. What they lack in experience is made up for by a freshness of memory.

Inayat Verma in Ajeeb Dastaans

I was reminded of this distinction while talking to Ananya Dwivedi, who played Ayushmann Khurranas youngest sister Neetu in Gulabo Sitabo. Shoojit Sircars film ends with a dilapidated Lucknow mansion being sealed off by authorities. As the last of the tenants fill out, we see Neetu standing by for a final look.

I nearly choked up watching that scene, having spent my early childhood moving in and out of rented homes. Ananya, whose family has lived between Kanpur, Lucknow and Mumbai, knows that feeling well.

The pain of letting go of your house, your friends I could understand what Neetu was feeling, the 11-year-old says. Even at their age, many of these kids didnt start out wanting to be in films. Both Sachin and Inayat came up from reality shows. Aakshath shot for his first cover photo at the age of two (he was later cast as young Vijay in Mersal).

15-year-old Lydian Nadhaswaram came to international fame as a multiinstrumentalist before making his acting debut in Atkan Chatkan (2020). The son of Tamil composer Varshan Satish, Lydian was brilliant in Shiv Hares film about a street urchin who starts his own band.

"My character, Guddu, is obsessed with the rhythmic aspects of music, Lydian says.

Its something I could instantly connect to. In a quietly wrenching scene, we feel Guddus disappointment as a group of musicians promise to take him in but bail the next day. I know what its like to be rejected as a young musician, Lydian adds.

Its clear by now how much these performers care for authenticity. The precocious young girl in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood would find a kindred spirit in Aakshath, who regrets not getting to bang his head for real for a scene in Serious Men.

Sachin emphasises feeling for a character over superficial gimmicks. He names Joaquin Phoenix and Leonardo DiCaprio  once prodigious child stars themselves  as masters of this craft.

I loved Leo in Whats Eating Gilbert Grape, he tells me This push for realism isnt decorative either. Sometimes, it can put viewers in the presence of uncomfortable truths.

A bunch of films featuring children has centered on violence, abuse, and gender dysphoria. Horror films tend to find imperiled kids as their leads.

In March, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) wrote to Netflix India to stop streaming Bombay Begums, acting on a complaint that the show portrayed minors inappropriately. To anyone whos watched the show, the complaint barely made sense.

Instead, it seemed to stem from the same discomfort of watching children in extreme or unfamiliar situations. The kids I spoke to for this story said they are up for any kind of challenge. Their parents are game too  provided scripts are shared in advance and transparency is maintained. If a scene or shot starts to feel fishy, they are willing to back out.

I dont agree to anything I dont feel comfortable with as a parent, Ananyas mom says. While many monitor their childs viewing habits, others are more forthcoming in their approach.

I let him watch all kinds of cinema, Sachins uncle and mentor tells me. Children are generally aware of most things in life, so its best not to hide them. What the guardians seem agreed on is the standard of pay. Unlike before, child actors are hired on contract, with fixed remunerations.

The pay is good, one parent says. Schools are willing to work around shooting schedules; if theres an exam clashing, exceptions are made.

Online classes have reduced the pressure of running to sets in school uniforms. Since the lockdown, film sets have avoided kids under 10, though television shoots were on.

As I spoke to these kids, I was thrilled by the love and passion they showed for their craft. I was speaking to thorough professionals, I told myself. It was only towards the end of my conversations that I realised my mistake.

These are just kids, I figured, and though they may enjoy or understand acting deeply, they are still just starting out. Except for Sachin, none of them have decided on a future career in movies. I want to pursue my first passion  music, Lydian says.

I want to go for IAS, says Ananya, and my heart breaks a little. Like any well-meaning film lover, I was pinning my hope on these kids. But its best to just let them be
Subashini Vijayakumar By

Express News Service

ERODE: The steady rise in Covid-19 cases in the district means that the number of people in home quarantine has also increased in recent days. Several people, down with infection and unavailable to manage expenses without having access to work, have been struggling get good food. To help them tide over the crisis, two college students have come up with the idea of preparing food and giving it to them.

Gowtham Bharathi and Gayathri, studying Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, in Madras Institute of Technology, Anna University, deliver food to around 20 people. Their friends help them out with logistics and there are plans afoot to expand their initiative.

After colleges were closed due to Covid-19 in March 2020, I have been staying in Erode. I was preparing for the civil services examination using the time. This year, when the second wave of Covid-19 hit, I was talking to my classmate Gayathri and we realised this year was going to be difficult than the last. We wanted to do something to help the people and contacted the government hospital to see if they needed any help. They said they would call us if they needed volunteers.

In the meantime, we wanted to do our bit in this crisis and realised that there are many people in home isolation. That is when the idea of delivering home-cooked food to them came to us, said Gowtham.

Currently, there are around 10 people in our team. We have divided ourselves into two teams for cooking and transportation. Most of them are our school mates and friends. We also got some volunteers through posts on Instagram. Based on the requests received daily, we ask each of them to prepare food for two to three people in their homes and deliver it, said Gayathri.

The volunteers also check if there are others who need food in the locality.We provide idlies for breakfast and dinner and variety rice for lunch. We are delivering food to Karungalpalayam, Surampatti Valasu, Moolampalayam and Rangampalayam so far, the duo added. They are also planning to expand this programme to other districts with the help of their classmates. Our college has students from various districts. At present, they are providing monetary help if needed. Currently, one of our seniors has started to deliver food in Thiruchendur, said Gowtham.

How to reach

If you know anyone in Erode city who are home quarantined or unemployed due to the pandemic and in need of food, please contact Gowtham Bharathi - 9566808548. You are also welcome to join their team as a volunteer to cook and deliver food to the needy.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India will pronounce its judgement on May 5 on petitions challenging the constitutional validity of a Maharashtra law that grants reservation to the Maratha community in education and jobs.

A five-judge Constitution Bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, L Nageswara Rao, S Abdul Nazeer, Hemant Gupta and Ravindra Bhat will pronounce the verdict on Tuesday at 10.30 am.

The Bench had also reserved the judgement on the issue whether top court's 1992 verdict for capping reservation at 50 per cent needs re-examination.

The Bench, during the hearing, had also decided to hear all state governments in the matter after a question of whether the top court's nine-judge bench Indra Sawhney judgement, ceiling on reservation fixed by the Court, should be re-considered cropped up.

The final hearings in the case had commenced on March 15.

The bench was hearing appeals challenging the Bombay High Court order that upheld reservations to Marathas in jobs and education under Maharashtra Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018.

The High Court, while upholding the Maratha quota, held that 16 per cent reservation is not justifiable and ruled that reservation should not exceed 12 per cent in employment and 13 per cent in education as recommended by the State Backward Commission.

The Bombay High Court on June 27, 2019, had said the 50 per cent cap on total reservations imposed by the Supreme Court could be exceeded in exceptional circumstances.

During the hearing, the Central government said that it is of the view that the SEBC Act, which extends reservations to the Maratha community in public education and employment, is constitutional.

The Attorney General of India, KK Venugopal had earlier stated that States continue to have powers to identify socially and educationally backward classes in so far as it relates to reservations for State institutions.

One of the appeals filed by J Laxman Rao Patil had earlier sought to stay on the High Court order as the reservation today is 65 per cent in education and 62 per cent in jobs, exceeding 50 percent cap in total reservation.

Another appeal filed by advocate Sanjeet Shukla, a representative of "Youth for Equality", said the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018, enacted to grant reservation to the Maratha community people in jobs and education, breached the 50-per cent ceiling on reservation fixed by the top court in its judgment in the Indira Sahwney case.
Pranab Mondal By

Express News Service

KOLKATA: Hours after trends showed Trinamool Congress landslide victory in West Bengal on Sunday, the state convulsed under post-poll violence wave from Sitalkuchi in the north to Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas that left at least 14 people dead, including two women. While the BJP claimed seven of the victims were its supporters, the Trinamool counted six of the diseased as its workers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and inquired about the situation. BJP president J P Nadda met the families of the victims to express solidarity. BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya alleged that houses over 4,000 houses were ransacked and at least 100 shops were looted. The party also alleged that two of its booth agents were gang-raped, but there was no confirmation from the police.

ALSO READ: Around 300-400 BJP workers entered Assam from Bengal amid post-poll violence, says Himanta Biswa Sarma

Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said in most of the cases, the deaths were a result of the BJPs factionalism between old workers and turncoats. In some places, the BJPs provocation triggered public anger, he claimed. A worker of the Indian Secular Force, a partner of the Left Front, was killed in Bhangar, South 24 Parganas. In Kolkatas Kankurgachi, slain BJP worker Abhijit Sarkars mother alleged her son was beaten to death by Trinamool supporters.

Shovarani Mondal, a woman in her mid-60s, was allegedly killed at Jagaddal in North 24 Parganas, when she tried to protect her BJP worker son from being dragged away. In Sitalkuchi, 19-year-old Manik Baidya was shot dead by alleged Trinamool supporters. The Trinamool alleged two of their supporters Saju Khan and Bivas Bag were beaten to death by BJP supporters in Jamalpur, East Burdwan, for shouting Jay Bangla. In Hooghly, Trinamool worker Debu Pramanik was hacked to death at his home. Another party man Ganesh Mandal was killed at Raina, East Burdwan.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Thirty districts in the country are showing a continued rise in the number of coronavirus cases for the last two weeks, of which 10 are in Kerala, seven in Andhra Pradesh, three in Karnataka and one in Tamil Nadu, the Centre said on Wednesday.

Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said Bengaluru (Urban) has recorded 1,49,241 cases over the last one week, followed by Chennai, which has recorded 38,379 cases.

He said in Kerala, Kozhikode, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Alappuzha, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur and Kollam districts have recorded a continued rise in the number of cases for the last two weeks.

Kerala reported the highest single-day spike of 41,953 coronavirus cases on Wednesday.

ALSO READ | Nationwide lockdown remains an option: Head of COVID-19 taskforce

It had recorded 37,000 cases on Tuesday.

East Godavari, Chittoor, Srikakulam, Guntur, Visakhapatnam, Anantpur and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh have also recorded a rise in the number of cases in the said period, Agarwal told a press briefing here.

Besides Bengaluru (Urban), Mysuru and Tumakuru districts of Karnataka, Solapur and Satara districts of Maharashtra have recorded a high number of cases over the last two weeks, he said.

Scientists at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology had on Tuesday said the B.1.617 variant of the coronavirus is fast replacing the N440K variant in south India.

In the north, Gurugram and Faridabad districts in Haryana and Dehradun district in Uttarakhand have recorded a spike in the number of cases over the last two weeks, Agarwal said.

Indore and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh have also been showing a rising trend in the number of cases, he added.

"We are working with the states on how to control this infection," Agarwal said.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: It was not the BJP, but the minority-based All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) which had the best strike rate in the Assam elections.

The party contested 20 seats and won 16 with a strike rate of 80%. The seats were in Bengali-Muslim majority regions of Central and Lower Assam and the Barak Valley of Southern Assam where the party holds sway. In 2016, the AIUDF had contested 73 seats and won 13.

The BJP-Asom Gana Parishad (AGP)-United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL) combine had won 75 of the states 126 seats as against 50 by the Congress-led grand alliance of 10 Opposition parties which had the AIUDF, the Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF), the Left and some smaller regional parties as components.

The BJP won 60 of the 92 seats it contested with a strike rate of 65.21%. In 2016, it had won an equal number of seats contesting from 84 seats. The AGP contested 26 seats and won nine with a strike rate of 35%. In the last elections, it contested 28 seats and won 14. The UPPL contested eight and won six with a strike rate of 75%. In 2016, it contested four and drew a blank.

The Congress contested 94 seats and won 29 with a strike rate of 31%. In 2016, it contested 122 seats and won 26. The BPF had contested 12 seats and won four with a strike rate of 33%. The Left contested four seats and won one with a strike rate of 25%. One seat had gone to an Independent candidate.

For the AIUDF, the sterling performance has not sunk in yet.

If the Congress had allowed us to contest in five-six more seats, we would have won those as well, party general secretary, Haidar Hussain Bora told The New Indian Express.

According to him, the AIUDF had sought to contest in 26-27 seats but the Congress was not ready to give it more than 14 seats. Eventually, the deal was struck at 20. In six of them, the two parties had friendly contests with AIUDF winning two and Congress four.

We sacrificed in the interests of the alliance as we wanted to defeat the BJP. The Congresss focus should have been more on Upper Assam. It was an empty field as we were not there. It should have performed better in that region, Bora added.

But the Congress said it suffered in Upper and Northern Assam due to the alliance with the AIUDF.

The alliance with the AIUDF has affected us greatly in Upper and Northern Assam, a Congress insider said, pointing out that the grand old party had won just five of the 42 seats in the two regions.

The grand alliance of the Opposition was formed one month ahead of the elections to oust the BJP from power. When the Congress had come up with the idea of Mahajot, it received immediate support from the AIUDF.

This was for the first time that the two parties had come together to thwart the split of anti-BJP and anti-AGP votes. In the 2016 elections, their combined vote share was more than that of the winning candidates from the BJP coalition in 14 seats.

During his lifetime, former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of the Congress had always opposed the alliance with the AIUDF fearing a possible setback in the Assamese-majority Upper and Northern Assam regions where a strong sentiment of Assamese sub-nationalism works. The AIUDF is viewed by many in Assam as a party floated to protect the interests of the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

Vote share of major parties

BJP 33.21% (2021), 29.5% (2016)

Congress 29.67% (2021), 30.9% (2016)

AGP 7.91% (2021), 8.1% (2016)

AIUDF 9.29% (2021), 13% (2016)

BPF 3.39% (2021), 3.9% (2016)

Strike rate

AIUDF: 80% (contested 20, won 16,

UPPL: 75% (contested 8, won 6)

BJP: 65.21% (contested 92, won 60)

AGP: 35% (contested 26, won 9)

BPF: 33% (contested 12, won 4)
By PTI

KOLKATA: Though the BJP failed to dislodge Mamata Banerjee from power, the saffron party managed to weather the TMC storm emerging triumphant in 25 of 42 constituencies in six districts of the region in the high- octane assembly elections.

Nevertheless, the result was below BJPs impressive performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when the saffron camp was ahead in 31 assembly segments in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur.

The BJP won seven of nine seats in Cooch Behar where five people were killed, including four in firing by CISF personnel, during the fourth phase of polling, while it bagged four of seven constituencies in Jalpaiguri, five of six in Darjeeling and whitewashed the ruling party in Alipurduar district which has five assembly segments.

However, the saffron party emerged victorious from only one of nine seats in Uttar Dinajpur, and three of six in Dakshin Dinajpur.

The tally of winning seats for the saffron party in north Bengal looks "reasonable even after the overall setback", political analyst Subhomay Maitra said.

The work of the RSS, helped influence tribal communities in northern districts of the state, helping the BJP gain popularity among people giving the party better results, compared to the south, Maitra said.

The saffron camp has developed its organisational strength in several north Bengal districts and grown there organically, while in the south, more TMC rebels were inducted to combat the ruling party, Rabindra Bharati University Political Science professor Biswanath Chakraborty said.

According to him, the TMC's narratives themed around 'Bengali pride' and 'insiders versus outsiders' did not help the ruling party in north Bengal as a cosmopolitan culture exists in hills and Dooars region where people did not see the "BJP as a party of Bahiragato (outsiders)".

The BJP had also inducted leaders from various local outfits, stitching alliances with social groups, such as the Rajbanshis in Cooch Behar, to consolidate their foothold.

Koch Rajboshis have a long history of seeking a separate Kamtapuri, and upholding of their language.

The saffron party even wrested the Sitalkuchi seat where four people were killed as central forces had opened fire allegedly after coming under attack from locals on April 10, the day of polling, from the TMC.

BJP's nominee Baren Chandra Barman defeated Partha Pratim Ray of TMC by over 17,000 votes in this constituency.

During the 2019 general elections, the TMC, however, had remained ahead in the assembly segment by around 1,200 votes and won it in the 2016 Bengal polls.

"The saffron party's identity-based politics, particularly relating to Rajbonshi people in north Bengal and Matuas in the south, helped the party, said Maitra.

However, despite an attempt at religion-based polarisation, there was no state-wide consolidation of Hindu voters, he explained.

"A section of them, who believe in a more liberal society or are familiar with the urban culture, somehow did not relate with the BJP's campaign. This trend, which is prominent in southern states, was not reflected much in the north, " Maitra told PTI.

Moreover, the credibility of Trinamool Congress leaders, including two ministers who could not retain their seats, in north Bengal, was at stake as they failed to play their leadership roles, Chakraborty said.

At a time when turncoats in southern districts lost their election battles this time, north Bengal witnessed a contrast with many BJP candidates, who switched over from the TMC, proving to be giant slayers.

"Barring a few, several TMC rebels in north Bengal joined the BJP well before the assembly polls, contrary to what happened in southern districts.

This augured well for the saffron party in the northern part of the state," Chakraborty told PTI.

North Bengal Development Minister Rabindranath Ghosh conceded defeat by over 23,000 votes in Natabari seat in Cooch Behar to his former party colleague Mihir Goswami who joined the saffron camp last year.

State tourism minister Gautam Deb, who was seeking re-election from Dabgram-Fulbari seat in Jalpaiguri, lost to the BJP's Sikha Chatterjee by over 27,500 votes.

Chatterjee, a former state committee member of the TMC, left the ruling party in 2018.

Veteran CPI(M) leader Ashok Bhattacharya from Siliguri, conceded defeat to Shankar Ghosh, his former protege who joined the BJP a few weeks before the polls.

The ruling party managed to woo back GJM leader Bimal Gurung, who holds sway in many assembly seats in the hills and 11 Gorkha communities, but this effort seemed had its limitations as the BJP won five seats of the Darjeeling.

According to political observers, growing resentment against the TMC government over "atrocities" perpetrated during the 104-day agitation in the hills in 2017, helped the BJP cement its foundation.

The ruling camp had managed to fare well in the 2016 state polls when it bagged 24 assembly seats but the subsequent general elections in 2019 saw the trend change in favour of the BJP, which won all the six Lok Sabha seats in the six districts.

The TMC supremo, however, was able to halt the saffron camp's chariot in the region to a considerable extent and improve her party's tally there, vis-a-vis results in the general elections held two years ago.

The Mamata Banerjee-led party which had stayed ahead in just 11 assembly seats in the six districts of north Bengal in the 2019 polls managed to bag 16 constituencies there.
Sana Shakil By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Alleging that there is no let-up in post poll violence, the Union Home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Wednesday once again wrote to the chief secretary of West Bengal alleging that no effective measures have been taken by state government so far to contain violence.

Without mincing any words, the union home secretary in his letter said that if a report on the poll-related violence and the necessary measures to contain it, were not submitted to the centre at once the centre would view the matter very seriously.

In the communication to Alapan Bandopadhyay, West Bengal Chief Secretary, Bhalla said that the centre had still not received any response to its May 3 letter in which it had asked for a report on the post-election violence targeting opposition political workers in the state.

ALSO READ: Violence taking place in those areas where BJP won in elections, claims CM Mamata Banerjee

Unfortunately, no response has been received from the government of West Bengal in this regard till date. According to media reports, there is no let-up in post poll violence. It is evident that no effective measures have been taken by the state government so far to contain violence, sources in the ministry quoted the letter.

Bhalla requested Bandhopadhyay to ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent such incidents without loss of time and a detailed report is furnished at once and warned that in case of non-receipt of response of state government, the matter will be viewed very seriously.

Around 14 deaths of political workers have been reported from West Bengal since May 2 when the assembly results were announced, in which the incumbent Trinamool Congress received a thumping majority.

ALSO READ: Dire crises spawned by COVID, political violence await Mamata as she strides back to office

BJP leaders have alleged large scale violence against their workers and vandalization of their party offices. TMC leaders have also levelled allegations of violence against its party workers at the behest of BJP.

Taking note of the violence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself called up the West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar to enquire about the violence apart from the Union Home Ministry seeking a report from its state counterpart.

BJP president J P Nadda arrived in West Bengal on Tuesday and met families of some of the victims.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: A day after CII president Uday Kotak called for a national lockdown to break the chain of transmission of coronavirus, many corporate leaders came forward to support the idea saying it is all right to take an economic hit to save lives. However, health experts are divided over the effectiveness of such a move at this stage. Many CII members including Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Maruti Suzuki, Hero MotoCorp, Mahindra & Mahindra, JCB and Kotak Mahindra Bank have already taken action on their own keeping the safety of employees in mind.

While services sector organisations have moved to the work from home model, manufacturing firms have halted production and advanced their maintenance schedules. Saving lives is more important than producing steel. Production can suffer as long as the country is in need of any resource available with the company, said Sajjan Jindal, managing director of JSW Group, which supplies liquid oxygen to hospitals. Another corporate leader, who did not wish to be named, said Indias healthcare system is stretched to its limits. Suspending non-essential business activities and a complete lockdown for two weeks is the only way out, he said. However, real estate tycoon Niranjan Hiranandani called for a balanced approach.

ALSO READ: Waning consumer sentiment, vanishing jobs add to worries

A complete economic lockdown will cast a dark shadow on economy and lead to more fatalities due to increased unemployment, he said. Rohit Poddar, MD, Poddar Housing and Development Ltd the government should strike a balance between a full lockdown and allowing business operations. Ashish Mishra, CEO of advisory firm, Unnault, said the Centre should take steps and push people to stay at home. Americas top public health expert and White House Chief Medical Adviser Dr Anthony Fauci, too, recently said India must impose a nationwide lockdown for a few weeks.

However, experts in India are not convinced of the need for lockdown when the infection is already rampant. Dr Oommen John of the George Institute for Global Health India pointed out that it will be difficult to ensure that people stay within their homes in densely populated urban contexts. At the current stage of the pandemic, unrestricted access to diagnostic tests is critical, he said. A senior virologist based in Delhi said lockdown is most effective when enforced just when the infections begin to surge.

Scientifically speaking, I am not sure how much can be achieved by a widespread national lockdown considering the unique challenges we have in our country, especially in high density population areas such as slums where people share toilets and water taps. Having faced widespread criticism last year for imposing a nationwide lockdown without warning, the Centre this time is not in favour of shutting down the economy. On April 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told states to manage the Covid situation without imposing a lockdown.

Maha cases coming down

Indias worst Covid-hit state Maharashtra reported 51,880 cases on Tuesday. The state has been able to bring down fresh cases to a manageable range after it imposed a statewide lockdown last month
Comet looks forward to receiving the results from its various workstreams and will provide updates as soon as the information is available.

( ) has multiple potential price catalysts set to take place over the next six months for its multi-commodity portfolio across a range of geographies including Mexico and Australia.

Most focus will be on the company's copper and gold assets as it increasing its exposure to these high-value metals.

At the RIU Sydney Resources Round-up conference, the company discussed upcoming work programs at the Barraba Copper Project in northern NSW, the Santa Teresa Gold Project in Mexico's Baja California, the Springdale Graphite Project in southern Western Australia and its Northern Territory copper-gold project.

Potential price catalysts.

Barraba Copper Project

At the Barraba project, a brownfields copper-zinc project with a large historical mine (Gulf Creek Copper Mine), Comet highlighted its completion of an initial geophysics program to define drill targets with results expected shortly.

An initial drilling program will kick-off in quarter four of 2021 with results to be expected in quarter one 2022.

Santa Teresa Gold Project

Comets Santa Teresa project has an initial drill program underway with assaying and results expected between quarter three and quarter four.

A revised JORC resource from its current resource of 89,000 gold ounces capped on a lode by lode basis with a cut off grade of 2.5 g/t gold and average grade of 7.5 g/t will take place in the first quarter of 2022.

Historical drilling has intersected mineralisation up to 958 g/t gold over 1 metre, with multiple drill results assaying 30 g/t.

Springdale Graphite Project

The Springdale Graphite Project has demonstrated, through earlier metallurgical tests, that the graphite is a rare product due to its small flake size, which the company believes could make it ideally suited for anode production.

Results of this ongoing test-work, with the bulk sample of graphite concentrate expected to be completed in quarter two, will determine the suitability of the natural flake graphite from Springdale for use in the manufacture of battery anodes for electric vehicles.

Final test results are expected in the third quarter of 2021.

Northern Territory projects

The company is planning systematic exploration at the Paradise Well Copper-Gold Project and Oonagalabi Copper-ZincLead Project in the Northern Territory.

At Paradise Well copper grades of up to 8.88% and gold rock chips of 2.15 g/t have been returned in historic sampling but the numerous outcropping copper oxide locations known from previous work have never tested with modern exploration.

Exploration is planned to identify copper-gold targets for ground geophysics to develop drill targets, which will be the first drill testing of these targets.

At Oonagalabi there is around 1.7 kilometres of outcropping mineralisation with only one hole drilled since 1981 and limited drilling of primary mineralisation with a best historic intersection of 36.5 metres at 1% copper and 1.7% zinc.

It is in the same geological setting as other deposits in the region such as the 426,200 tonnes Jervois copper deposit and CRL plans systematic exploration utilising stratigraphic/structural mapping with geophysics to target primary mineralisation of higher metal tenor.

This is expected to be followed with drill testing to quickly develop a resource over Oonagalabi.
Sumi Sukanya dutta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Even as India continues to grapple with the devastating Covid-19 wave, there is some glimmer of hope as few states are showing early signs of plateauing or a small decline in daily cases. In a large number of states, however, the case trajectory continues to rise alarmingly.

A look at data reveals that the highest number of daily positive cases was reported on April 30 with 4,020,14 cases when India became the first country to reach this grim milestone, while the highest number of deaths was recorded on May 1 with 3,684 fatalities. Both daily cases and deaths, however, have come down marginally over the last three days.

On Monday, the country registered 3,57,229 cases and 3,449 deaths. This fall in the numbers is a result of a drop in cases and also deaths in some surge states and this fact were acknowledged by the Health Ministry on Monday. It said states such as Delhi, MP, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Punjab are showing early signs of plateauing or decline in daily new cases with a note of caution that these are very early signals to analyse anything.

ALSO READ: Chorus for India lockdown gets louder

Some other states, however, are showing increasing trends in Covid cases and these states should take required precautionary measures, said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the ministry. The states showing rising daily infections include Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur and Meghalaya among others.

Epidemiologist Giridhara R Babu stressed the need of seeing the numbers in the context of testing to detect fresh infections. According to him, while states like Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, Odisha, Punjab and Tamil Nadu seem to be doing better owing to raised tests per million but plateauing or declining cases, in othersthe situation is the opposite.

Health economist Rijo M John, who has been analysing the trend said it may be too early to say if things are getting better for some states. A few states have decreased testing in the past couple of days and the reduced cases may be due to that reason, he said. We need to see decreasing new cases while increasing new tests to be able to say a certain state is seeing a peak.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday came up with a grim warning that a third Covid19 wave in India may be inevitable while also admitting for the first time that Indian lineage of SARS CoV 2, B.1.617 may be fueling the massive surge in cases in several states.

A phase three is inevitable, given the higher levels of circulating virus but it is not clear on what time scale this phase three will occur. We should prepare for new waves, said K Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Centre said on Wednesday.

He added that the severity of the Covid-19 disease could be more or less, in the coming times.

Variants are transmitted the same as the original strain. It doesn't have properties of new kinds of transmission. It infects humans in a manner that makes it more transmissible as it gains entry, makes more copies and goes on, same as original," Raghavan added.

ALSO READ | Appears Delhi government not taking steps to create oxygen buffer, streamline distribution: HC

Data shared in the briefing, for the first time, marked the B.1.617 variant of SARS CoV 2, popularly known as double mutant as a variant of concern.

As per the figures, samples collected from at least 18 stateswhich have undergone genomic surveillance-- have shown presence of this variant with a large number of samples from Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana apart from Maharashtra where the variant was first detected.

ALSO READ | Delhi received 555 tonnes of oxygen on May 4, highest till now: AAP's Raghav Chadha

This variant with --E484Q and L452R togetherhad first been identified in February and its spread has been growing ever since, overtaking several other variants-- including N440K, first identified in Andhra Pradesh and B.1.618, first detected in West Bengal, which suggests that it may be more transmissible.

Data from other countries suggest that while E484Q can escape antibody neutralisation, L452R is known to increase infectivity.

Sujeet Kumar Singh, director of the National Centre for Disease Control while sharing the data on the presence of Covid-19 mutations in the country however said that an exercise was still underway to establish the rise of this variant with the disease progression in the country.

Incidentally, this Indian strain, the World Health Organisation has said, has been detected in at least 17 countries including the UK, US and Singapore.

ALSO READ | Medical equipment received as foreign aid meant for people, not to be kept in boxes: HC

Sources said that following a request by the UK government, India has agreed to send samples of the B.1.617 variant there to examine the efficacy of available Covid-19 vaccines against it.

Renu Swarup, secretary, department of biotechnology meanwhile said that the initial data has shown that Covid-19 vaccines in India effectively neutralise the variants in circulation in the country, more work is underway to fully establish this.
By PTI

RANCHI: The Jharkhand government on Wednesday announced that all migrant workers returning to the state will have to undergo COVID test on arrival and a mandatory week-long quarantine.

The decision was taken to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, particularly in rural areas, amid a surge in cases over the last fortnight, officials said.

"All migrant workers coming back to the state of Jharkhand shall be tested (RAT) on arrival. Those migrant workers who test negative shall be quarantined for 7 days in institutional quarantine facilities to be set up at appropriate level by the respective district administration," Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh said in an order.

The migrant workers will be tested again before departure for home from the quarantine facilities, he said.

"Those tested positive in any of the two tests mentioned above shall be managed as per protocol of Department of Health and Family Welfare," the order mentioned.

The government is expecting that a large number of migrant workers will be returning from other parts of the country with several states announcing lockdown amid the COVID crisis, affecting economic activities, officials said.

"The situation of Covid -19 has been reviewed and it has been observed that there has been an exponential rise in Covid-19 cases in the state during the last fortnight and it is estimated that large scale inflow of migrants back to respective villages may pose a considerable threat of spread of Covid-19 in rural areas of Jharkhand," the order said.
Vineet Upadhyay By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: After five Covid-19 positive patients died due to non-availability of oxygen in a private hospital in Roorkee, Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat on Wednesday ordered an inquiry into the matter.

Spokesperson of the state government and cabinet minister Subodh Uniyal said, "This is unfortunate and people responsible for this will be held accountable. Strict action will be taken against those responsible."

The Oxygen supply was disrupted allegedly for 45 minutes resulting in the death of five patients on Tuesday morning.

Out of the five deceased, one patient was on ventilator while the other four patients were on oxygen support.

ALSO READ | Two more 500-bed COVID hospitals to come up in Uttarakhand by mid June

Management of the private hospital alleged that the hospital had informed the concerned authority, atleast four hours prior, about the shortage of oxygen but they were not supplied oxygen on time leading to the unfortunate incident.

However, the district administration officials refute the claims made by hospital authorities.

Joint Magistrate, Roorkee, Namami Bansal said, "The directions to the Covid Care Centers is clear. They have to maintain atleast 12 hours backup of Oxygen. In this case the hospital was not found complying to the norms."

The hospital has total 70 beds, out of which 50 patients were being given oxygen through the central system, while others were on oxygen cylinders.

Following the incident, District Magistrate of Haridwar C Ravi Shankar organised an online meeting with all the Covid hospital managers regarding availability and supply of oxygen.

He directed the hospitals to inform the administration about Oxygen requirements by 4.00 pm everyday so that supplied can be ensured on time.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, District Magistrate of Dehradun issued orders stating that hospitals must ensure that oxygen demand for COVID-19 cases is raised at least 24 hours before the nodal officer and not 4-5 hours before.

The District Magistrate also added that strict action will be taken in case of negligence.

ALSO WATCH:
By PTI

NEW DELHI: IndiGo has airlifted 2,717 oxygen concentrators from Thailand, China, Qatar, Hong Kong and Singapore to India amid the COVID-19 pandemic's second wave in the country, the airline said on Wednesday.

In total, the airline has transported 4,142 oxygen concentrators -- weighing about 72,461 kg -- within India or from outside India, it said in a statement.

India has been badly hit by the second wave of the coronavirus infection as hospitals in several states are reeling under a severe shortage of oxygen, drugs, equipment and beds.

"As many as 2,717 have been airlifted from Thailand, China, Qatar, Hong Kong, and Singapore to India, while 1,425 oxygen concentrators have been transported domestically between 36 airports," the airline's statement noted.

A massive load of other medical supplies has also been flown in on IndiGo flights to support the country, it mentioned.

A record 3,780 fresh COVID-19 fatalities were registered in a single day in India taking the death toll to 2,26,188, while 3,82,315 new coronavirus infections were recorded in the country, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday.

With the fresh cases, the COVID-19 infection tally in the country climbed to 2,06,65,148.
By PTI

MUMBAI: Maharashtra reported 920 deaths due to COVID-19, taking the toll to 72,662, while 57,640 new cases pushed the overall infection count to 48,80,542 on Wednesday, a state health department official said.

The state reported 5,760 new cases and 30 more deaths as compared to Tuesday, when the daily infection count was 51,880 and fatalities were 891.

The official said as many as 57,006 patients were discharged from hospitals in the last 24 hours, raising the number of recovered cases to 41,64,098.

The state now has 6,41,569 active cases, he said.

ALSO READ | SC lauds Mumbai's oxygen management, asks Centre, Delhi government to talk with BMC

Maharashtra's COVID-19 recovery rate currently stood at 85.32 per cent, while the fatality rate was 1.49 per cent, he said.

According to the official, out of 2,83,84,582 COVID-19 tests done so far, 48,80,542 samples have returned positive, reflecting a case positivity rate of 17.19 per cent.

According to the official, Mumbai reported 3,882 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 6,65,057, while the toll increased to 13,511 with 77 fresh fatalities.

The official said 3,390 people tested positive for coronavirus in Pune municipal limits, pushing the tally to 4,48,504, while 59 fresh deaths raised the toll to 5,754.

Nagpur, Pimpari-Chinchwad, Nashik, Aurangabad and Amravati municipal corporation areas reported 2,663, 2,042, 2,010, 342 and 169 new COVID-19 cases, respectively.

ALSO WATCH:

Currently, 38,52,501 people are in home quarantine and 32,174 in institutional quarantine across the state, the official said.

Coronavirus figures for Maharashtra are as follows: Total cases 48,80,542; new cases 57,640; total deaths 72,662; recoveries 41,64,098; active cases 6,41,569; tests conducted so far 2,83,84,582.
By PTI

INDORE: Veteran Congress leader Kamal Nath on Wednesday described West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the "leader of the country" who defeated all her opponents, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Central agencies like the CBI and the ED, in the recently-held Assembly elections in West Bengal.

When asked by reporters on the possibility of the TMC supremo being pitted against the prime minister in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Madhya Pradesh Congress president said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) would decide its electoral face at an appropriate time.

"Banerjee is the leader of our country today. She has become the Chief Minister of West Bengal for the third time in a row. She has reached this stage after a tough fight in the unprecedented assembly election," he said.

Nath said Banerjee had to fight against the Central government, PM Modi, his ministers, as well as the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax Department.

"Yet she has kicked all them away ('sabko lath markar bhaga diya')," he said.

Asked if Banerjee could be projected as the Opposition's face against PM Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Nath said, "We don't know that right now. This will be decided by the UPA".

Referring to the BJP's protest against 'political violence' in West Bengal after the election results, the former chief minister said, "Now they (BJP leaders) are trying to say that violence is happening in Bengal. Adopting violent ways is very wrong."

"I have also spoken to Banerjee over the phone and told her to ask everyone to stay away from violence".

Nath also said that during his conversation with Banerjee, he also invited her to Madhya Pradesh.

Earlier in the day, Banerjee was sworn-in as the chief minister for the third consecutive term after securing a massive mandate and vowed to not "give respite" to those behind political violence sweeping the state since the election results were announced.
Pranab Mondal By

Express News Service

KOLKATA: Half of BJP's final tally of 77 seats in the West Bengal Assembly elections came in constituencies reserved for the Dalits. The state has 84 constituencies reserved for SC and ST candidates and the saffron camp won 38 of these.

Among the Dalit seats bagged by the BJP, 18 are located in north Bengal, where the BJP had made deep inroads in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. BJP won 31 seats dominated by the SCs and seven seats dominated by STs.

Many of the seats are dominated by Matuas, a Hindu religious sect comprising those who had migrated from Bangladesh. They were promised citizenship by implementing the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), which West Bengal chief minister Manata Banerjee is strongly opposing.

ALSO READ | BJP's Bengal blunders and a message that democracy is a chapati

"We won 10 seats among the reserved category where Matuas are a deciding factor. We promised these sections of Hindu refugees citizenship before the 2019 general elections which could not be implemented because of Covid-19. Before this Assembly election, we again made the same promise and Matuas decided to keep their faith in us," said a senior BJP leader in Bengal.

The Matua-dominated constituencies won by the BJP are Gazole in Malda, Krishnaganj, Ranaghat (South), Ranaghat (North-East), Kalyani and Haninghata in Nadia and Bagda, Bongaon (North), Bongaon (South) and Gaighata in North 24 Parganas.

The saffron camp seems to have managed to retain its Dalit vote-bank in the north Bengal region where the Rajbanshi community forms a considerable chunk of the electorate.

The Dalits, however, in Junglemahal, comprising Purulia, Jhargram, West Midnapore and parts of Bakura districts, rejected the saffron camp. The BJP bagged victory in only three of the 12 Dalit-dominated seats.

"In 2019, we secured a thumping victory in Junglemahal. Dalits supported us en bloc. But in this Assembly election, we received a massive jolt in this region. Electorates in non-reserved seats, too, did not accept the BJP. In the 40 Assembly constituencies, we won in 14 only," said the BJP leader.

The leader pointed out that the BJP's CAA narrative proved double-edged.

"Where the Matuas and Rajbanshis supported us on the citizenship issue, the Dalits in the backward region of Junglemahal did not. The TMC's campaign opposing the CAA managed to win the poor Dalits, who were scared of the citizenship act as most of them do not possess basic documents other than the Epic Card," he said.


By PTI

MUMBAI: Amid indications of COVID-19 cases plateauing in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday warned there was no room for showing complacency and said the government is preparing to deal with a third wave of the infection.

He said though some districts have shown a steady decline in COVID-19 cases, some others are still exhibiting an upward trend, but the number of patients under treatment has dropped from what it was in April-end.

Thackeray said he has asked officials to work in a mission mode to ramp up the production of medical oxygen, used in treating serious COVID-19 patients, ahead of the third wave of the infection hitting Maharashtra, the worst coronavirus-affected state in the country.

"We are preparing for the third wave of the virus," Thackeray said addressing the state on social media.

The CM said the people of the state, where lockdown-like curbs are in place to stem the infection spread, should not become complacent just because there is a downward trend in coronavirus cases.

ALSO READ | Nationwide lockdown remains an option: Head of COVID-19 taskforce

Thackeray said, "Though some districts have shown a decline in cases, we need to be ready for the third wave of COVID-19. The state task force on COVID-19 is currently engaged in guiding family doctors in district and tehsil places about treatment protocols. It will enable them to make accurate diagnosis and avoid over prescription of medicines."

Thackeray said the Supreme Court has appreciated the Mumbai municipal corporation's work to contain the coronavirus spread in the financial capital.

"As on April 25, there were almost seven lakh active cases in Maharashtra. The figure came down to 6,41,900 as on May 4. We have been able to control the cases up to some extent, but some districts are still showing a surge in COVID-19 cases. We have so far set up 4.5 lakh isolation beds, one lakh oxygen beds, 30,000 ICU beds and 12,000 ventilators," he said.

Thackeray said the state will have to increase oxygen generation capacity to 3,000 MT and has started working on it.

"We generate 1,200 MT oxygen every day but our consumption is 1,700 MT. I have given a target to officials to increase the production capacity to 3,000 MT before we hit by the third wave of COVID-19. I call it mission oxygen," he said.

On Wednesday, Maharashtra reported 57,640 new COVID-19 cases and 920 deaths.

ALSO READ | COVID: Centre warns of 'inevitable' third wave, says time-frame for it can not be predicted

Terming the Supreme Court's decision to strike down reservation in jobs and education for the Marathas as disappointing, Thackeray said he will write to the Centre, requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind to step in and provide relief to the community.

"I am requesting the Centre with folded hands to award reservation to the Maratha community. I am going to write a letter to the Centre regarding the demand. If required, we can meet personally also for Maratha reservation," he said.

The Supreme Court, in its ruling on the Maratha quota, reaffirmed the Centre's key role in awarding reservation to a social group, he said.

"The Maharashtra government will provide all types of documentation and help to the Centre to take a decision (in favour of Maratha quota), the chief minister said.

"While the Supreme Court rejected the act, it also showed us the path to get reservation for the Maratha community. The court told the state government that we do not have a right to make such a legislation, but the Centre has," he said.

"The way the Centre showed urgency to scrap Article 370 (which provided special status to J$@$#K), it should demonstrate a similar will to clear the Maratha reservation as well," he said.

Thackeray appealed to people of the state not to be misled by those wanting to create unrest over the Maratha quota issue.

"The decision (to quash quota) was a bit disappointing as both the assembly and the council of the Maharashtra legislature had approved the (reservation) bill unanimously and the law was upheld by the Bombay High Court as well," he said.

ALSO WATCH:

"The lawyers who successfully defended the act in the Bombay High Court, were also there to represent the state in the Supreme Court. We had equipped them with more legal resources," said the chief minister.

"Still, some people are blaming us for losing the case in the apex court," Thackeray said in a veiled attack on the BJP.

The opposition party has said the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government "failed" to convince the Supreme Court over the issue of reservation for the Maratha community.

Former Maharashtra chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis claimed there was a lack of co-ordination" on part of the state government while making its submissions before the apex court.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the Centre and social media platforms Facebook and WhatsApp to reply to a PIL challenging the new privacy policy of the instant messaging app on the grounds that it violates "informational privacy" of users.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jasmeet Singh issued notice to the Centre, Facebook and WhatsApp and sought their stand on the petition by May 13.

WhatsApp told the bench during the hearing that private conversations of individuals are protected by end to end encryption.

The petitioner, Harsha Gupta, urged the court for some interim orders as the Facebook-owned WhatsApp intends to bring its policy into effect from May 15.

The court then listed the matter for hearing on May 13.

Senior advocate Vivek Sood, appearing for Gupta, told the bench that under the new privacy policy of WhatsApp the information it collects from users and the way it is proposed to be used, violates their "informational privacy".

Sood said the users were not being provided the option to deny the collection and/or use of the data for purposes other than that for which the information is sought.

"WhatsApp has offered its users a 'take it or leave it' offer which coerces the users to consent to share their data with third-party companies to use WhatsApp's services," he argued in court.

"Further the said terms of services are instances of abuse of dominant position by WhatsApp," the petition filed through advocate Dhruv Gupta has said.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for WhatsApp, said the messaging platform has not violated any laws or rules.
Auctus has a 3.5 cents per share target price for Calima, reflecting a valuation upside of about 5X from Calimas recent share placement price of 0.7 cents.

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The following is an extract from Auctus report:

Calima Energy is an Australia listed ~US$50 mm market cap low risk conventional oil producer with ~26 mmboe WI 2P reserves in Canada and ~2.6 mboe/d WI production. Calima has taken advantage of the troubled Canadian oil sector to acquire the highly indebted Blackspur Oil at a very favourable price. With a prudently levered balance sheet and no exploration risk, the initial focus is to (1) >2x production by YE22 and (2) aggressively develop highly economic reserves that have been booked conservatively. Calima also offers exposure to ~1.5 tcf contingent resources in the Montney fairway (British Columbia), an area in which recent consolidation has taken place ahead of the completion of a large LNG export facility. Our A$0.035 per share target price reflects our ReNAV and implies over 5x upside.

Production and reserves growth on conventional assets

Brooks and Thorsby are two shallow producing fields (50-70% oil) in Alberta with ~60 producing wells and 26 mmboe 2P reserves reflecting 63 future drilling locations. Drilling 9 of these locations is forecasted to boost production to 3.5 mboe/d by YE21 and a further 15 wells could increase production to 5.5 mboe/d by YE22. With drilling cost of US$1.0-$2.5 mm per well, the production is highly cash generative even at WTI<US$50/bbl. With an additional 185 unbooked drilling locations, the reserves could grow an additional ~130%. There are four further sources of potential reserves upside: (1) the 2P reserves assume conservative recovery factors (~20% on the high quality reservoir pools at Brooks and <5% on tighter reservoirs elsewhere). x2 recovery factors would 2x the reserves. (2) The decline curves used to estimate the 2P reserves are conservative. (3) A large proportion of Brooks production comes from five conventional oil pools. Additional prospective pools, and pool extensions have been identified on 3D seismic. (4) Acquisition of adjacent leases would unlock further potential. The mineral owner of these lands is a royalty corporation looking to make deals.

Option on big liquid rich gas in an area subject to consolidation

Calima holds 100% WI in a development ready asset in the Montney fairway with 192.4 mmboe of 2C contingent resources including 44 mmbbl of liquids. The resources are strategically located for the upcoming LNG Canada facility. Calima is looking for an industry partner to co-develop these lands. We view this asset as option value on increasing gas price.

Value build-up

The placing price implies EV/DACF of only 1.4x in 2022 and EV/2P liquid reserves of <US$2/bbl, suggesting Calima is one of the cheapest Canadafocused names. Our 2P NAV based is A$0.016 per share. Adding the unbooked drilling locations would add A$0.027 per share. Success at the ongoing waterflood pilot and improved performance of new wells would increase recovery assumptions and add A$0.016 per share. We dont carry any value for the Montney liquid rich gas. Our ReNAV is A$0.036 per share.
By PTI

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday announced phased opening of shops after a few of his cabinet colleagues raised the issue of resentment among shopkeepers over selective closure of shops amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Chairing a virtual cabinet meeting, Singh ruled out a complete lockdown while stating that the restrictions currently in place in Punjab were more stringent than the lockdown conditions in many other states.

Besides phased opening of shops, he also announced various incentives for the housing sector, including three-month extension in permission period of construction of plots/projects for allotments, whether private or allotted, by state urban development authorities.

Amid spiralling COVID-19 cases, the CM ordered limiting the number of teachers in government schools to 50 per cent, with the rest taking online classes from home.

Taking note of the resentment among shopkeepers over selective closure of shops, he asked district administration officials to work out phased shop reopening plan for their respective districts, according to a government statement.

ALSO READ | With 10000 patients on oxygen support, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh sends SOS to PM Modi, Amit Shah

Several cabinet ministers, including Manpreet Badal, Tripat Bajwa and Bharat Bhushan Ashu, said the shopkeepers, especially in urban areas, were upset about selective shop shutdown as part of the restrictions imposed in the state.

The chief minister added that the objective of the closure had been to prevent crowding, but phased opening could be worked out by the district administrations.

Shopkeepers in Punjab had on Tuesday held protests against the state government's order of closure of shops dealing in non-essential items till May 15, saying this will further hit them hard.

The state government, however, had allowed liquor vends and some other shops selling items like fertilizers, grocery and hardware to open till 5 pm during weekdays.

The CM on Wednesday also directed the food department to prepare five lakh additional food packets for distribution among COVID-19 patients to ensure that every patient gets a packet even when there are more than one patient in a family.

The state government has also announced additional 10 kg 'Atta' (wheat) for 1.41 crore smart ration card beneficiaries.

The food aid is in addition to the 1 lakh food kits, containing 10 kg 'atta' (wheat flour), 2 kg 'chana' (pulses) and 2 kg sugar already sanctioned for all poor people testing positive for the infection.

Singh compared the restrictions in Punjab with the curbs in place in Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, among others, and pointed out that it was not necessary to impose a total lockdown to tackle the COVID-19 situation.

He also said that to meet immediate and urgent needs of the people at the local level, it had been decided by the government to authorise 'sarpanches' (village heads) to spend up to Rs 5,000 per day, subject to a maximum of Rs 50,000, out of panchayat funds for providing emergency relief by way of food and medicines to the poor and needy in the villages.

ALSO WATCH:

All urban local bodies have also been empowered to provide emergency relief, including food and medicines, to the poor and needy, from the municipal fund.

Taking cognisance of problems resulting from the restrictions, the Congress leader asked the social welfare department to immediately release social security/pension amounts to ensure that people do not suffer further amid the current crisis.

He also directed all urban development authorities not to charge non-construction charges/extension fee/license renewal fee for the period April 1-July 31, 2021.

Further, these authorities have been asked to waive the interest to be charged on any delayed installment, which was otherwise due between April 1 and July 31, 2021, provided that it is paid in equated monthly installments after August 1, 2021.

Singh also directed the health department to investigate the matter and take stringent action against such private hospitals.
By Express News Service

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has strongly objected to the slapping of Section 304 (2) of the IPC (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) on two doctors arrested by the police two weeks after the fire tragedy at a Raipur-based private hospital.

Seven Covid patients had died in the Rajdhani Super Speciality hospital fire incident on April 17. Two directors of the hospital, Dr Aurobindo Roy and Dr Sachin Mall, were arrested and produced before the local court that sent both to judicial remand for 14 days. The other two accused doctors named in the registered complaint are absconding.

While expressing regret over the tragedy, the IMA condemned the manner in which the police acted while arresting the two doctors.

ALSO READ | Disability, COVID-19 didnt deter Chhattisgarh woman from serving patients

"They were taken into custody like habitual criminals. All doctors and paramedical staff risking their lives are devotedly serving the people during the ongoing Covid pandemic. No doctor wishes to kill the patient. Such deplorable incident of arrests of doctors and putting them behind bars will infuse a sense of insecurity among the healthcare professionals," said Dr Mahesh Sinha, president of the Chhattisgarh unit of the IMA.

The doctors' body cited the Supreme Court observations expressing gratitude to the medical health practitioners for their vital role during the Covid-19 pandemic. They also noted that the Court had earlier emphasised on ensuring the safety and welfare of doctors.

"Before the arrest of the doctors under Section 304(2), the recommendation of the Medical Board is essential. And it was not taken," said Dr Rakesh Gupta of the Chairman-Chhattisgarh Medical Board.

The IMA sought the intervention of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and demanded a high-level probe into the "legally unwarranted action" by the police and appropriate action against the guilty.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Tuesday asserted that the RO (Returning Officer) is the final authority under the law when it comes to making decisions on recount. The Commissions clarification comes a day after the Nandigram RO refused TMCs request for a recount in the constituency, which TMC leader Mamata Banerjee lost to BJPs Suvendhu Adhikari.

The poll panel said the available remedy, in such a situation, is to file a petition (EP) before the High Court. The Commission also directed the chief election officer in West Bengal to ensure that all election records, including polled EVM/VVPAT, video records, and statutory papers and counting records, are held in safe custody. Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has informed the EC that it is providing necessary security to the Nandigram returning officer.

On Tuesday, the poll panel had asked the government to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to provide necessary security to the RO. The EC also demanded that the RO be provided with necessary medical support. Referring to the matter of recounting in Nandigram constituency, the EC said that Returning Officer (RO) of an Assembly Constituency performs statutory functions under the RP Act, 1951 in quasi-judicial capacity independently.

Whether it is nomination, polling or counting, the RO acts strictly in accordance with the extant electoral laws, instructions and guidelines of the ECI, it added. The RO had rejected the TMCs demand for recount, on the basis of the material facts available before him in accordance with the provisions of Rule 63 of the RP Act, and declared the result.
By PTI

MUMBAI: Terming the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the Maharashtra law granting quota to Marathas in admissions and government jobs as unfortunate, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said the legal battle for the reservations to that community will continue till there is "victory".

In a statement after the apex court verdict, Thackeray said, "With folded hands, we request the prime minister and the president to take an immediate decision on Maratha quota."

The chief minister said he expects the Centre to show the same alacrity on the Maratha quota issue as it did in delivering verdicts on issues like the Shah Bano case and repeal of Article 370 for which the Constitution was amended.

Thackeray said BJP MP Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje has been seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appointment over the Maratha quota issue for the last one year but to no avail.

The apex court has scrapped a decision taken by all parties in the state legislature, he said.

The legal battle for Maratha quota will continue till there is "victory", Thackeray said.

Earlier in the day, the SC termed the state law on Maratha quota as "unconstitutional" and held there were no exceptional circumstances to breach the 50 per cent reservation cap set by the 1992 Mandal verdict.

The judgement came on a batch of pleas challenging the Bombay High Court verdict which had upheld the grant of reservation to Marathas in admissions and government jobs in the state.

The Maharashtra State Reservation (of seats for admission in educational institutions in the State and for appointments in the public services and posts under the State) for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act 2018 was enacted to grant reservation to people of the Maratha community in the state in jobs and admissions.

The Bombay High Court, while upholding the law in June 2019, had held that 16 per cent reservation was not justifiable and the quota should not exceed 12 per cent in employment and 13 per cent in admissions.

Meanwhile, the BJP on Wednesday blamed the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government for "failing" to convince the Supreme Court over the issue of reservation for the Maratha community in jobs and education.

State BJP president Chandrakant Patil demanded that the state government call an all-party meeting and a special session of the Assembly to discuss the issue.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down the Maharashtra law granting quota to Marathas in admissions and government jobs, terming it as "unconstitutional", and held there were no exceptional circumstances to breach the 50 per cent reservation cap set by the 1992 Mandal verdict.

"It is a complete failure of the state government. It failed to convince the SC on why it was important to breach the 50 per cent ceiling on quota in extraordinary circumstances, which has been created in the state with regard to the Maratha community," Patil told reporters in Pune.

He said the previous Devendra Fadnavis-led state government had formed the Backward Class Commission which recommended to consider the Maratha community as backward on three fronts - social, economic, and educational.

The Fadnavis government then enacted the law (in 2018) giving reservation to the Maratha community in jobs and education, which was later challenged in the Bombay High Court.

"The Fadnavis government had successfully convinced the HC that Marathas account for 32 per cent of the state's population and how it was an extraordinary situation in the state," he said.

But, the present Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra (comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) has "completely failed the Maratha community", Patil claimed.

"Youth from the Maratha community should speak up on the issue and mount pressure on the state government," the BJP leader said.

He demanded that the state government call an all-party meeting over the issue.

"In fact, they should call a special Assembly session on the issue of Maratha quota and the COVID-19 situation in the state," he said.

Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Council Pravin Darekar said the decision has come as a "complete disappointment" for the Maratha community.

"The law, cleared by both Houses of the state Legislature and upheld by the Bombay High Court, was struck down only because of this state government," he said.

Vinod Patil, one of the petitioners seeking reservation for Marathas, termed the decision as "unfortunate".

"We will decide our next move after going through the order in detail," he said.

After the SC's order, members of some Maratha organisations staged a protest by wearing black ribbons on their arms in Pune.

"It was necessary on part of the Maharashtra government to explain the state's stand in the court, but it did not happen," one of the protesters said.

Another protester termed it as a "black day" for the Marathas, saying youth from the community were hopeful of a decision in their favour.

state minister Ashok Chavan criticised former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for passing the SEBC Act in 2018 without "due rights".

The apex court struck down the law by terming it "unconstitutional", and held there were no exceptional circumstances to breach the 50 per cent reservation cap set by the 1992 Mandal verdict.

"The Union government's 102nd amendment had taken away decisions (read powers) of awarding reservation to the Maratha community because of which the erstwhile Fadnavis government framed the SEBC Act which has been quashed by the Supreme Court," Chavan, who heads the state sub-committee on Maratha reservation, told a press conference.

"Passing a law when you had no such right amounts to misleading the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and the council by Fadnavis as the then CM.

This amounts to cheating the people by giving them false information," he alleged.

The 2018 SEBC (Socially and Educationally Backward Communities) Act of Maharashtra was enacted to grant reservation to people of the Maratha community in the state in jobs and admissions.

The Bombay High Court, while upholding the law in June 2019, had held that 16 per cent reservation was not justifiable and the quota should not exceed 12 per cent in employment and 13 per cent in admissions.

Chavan said the SC has "stamped on the fact that Maharashtra state has no right to award any such reservation after the 102 amendment in the Constitution."

"When the 102nd amendment was passed in Parliament, the Centre had assured that rights of states will remain untouched and that there will be no impact on the acts passed by states.

However, the supreme court has refused this argument and set aside the Maharashtra government's act of awarding reservation to the Maratha community," the senior Congress leader said.

The 102nd Constitution amendment Act of 2018 inserted Articles 338B, which deals with the structure, duties and powers of the National Commission for Backward Class, and 342A which deals with the power of the President to notify a particular caste as SEBC and power of Parliament to change the list.

The top court had on March 8, framed six questions for adjudication while terming the issue of interpretation of the 102nd constitutional amendment as of seminal importance.

Meanwhile, another minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said, "The ball of Maratha reservation is now in the Centre's court.

The state government is ready to submit a recommendation of awarding reservation to the Maratha community.

"Either the Union government reinstate the state's rights to grant reservations through the court as assured on the floor of Parliament or it should set up a backward (classes) commission. The state government will submit its recommendations seeking reservation for the Maratha community to the commission," he added.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Wednesday lauded the efforts of Maharashtra authorities in ensuring oxygen supply to COVID patients in Mumbai and asked the Centre and the Delhi government to talk with the civic body officials of that city to learn about augmenting and managing the supply.

The observations were made during the hearing and in the order of the top court which stayed contempt proceedings initiated by the Delhi High Court against central government officials for non-compliance of direction to supply 700 MT of oxygen for COVID patients to Delhi.

A bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that Mumbai managed with 275 MT of oxygen even when the active cases had crossed 92,000.

"I do applaud the Mumbai model. It is not a political model. As an officer of the court, not for Centre or state, we need to find a solution. People cannot run from pillar to post. This is not to undermine the efforts of Delhi," the law officer said.

ALSO READ | 'Criminal act, not less than genocide': Allahabad HC on COVID deaths due to non supply of oxygen

"There is a wealth of information coming in every day. Bombay Municipal Corporation is doing some great work, with no disrespect to Delhi. What they are doing, how they are managing. We can learn from them. I also understand that Maharashtra also produces oxygen which Delhi cannot do," said the bench, which also comprised Justice M R Shah.

The bench asked the Chief Secretary and Principle Health Secretaries of Delhi Government and the officials of Central Government to have a discussion with the Commissioner of Mumbai's civic body on their model of augmenting oxygen supply.

"If this can be done in Mumbai, which is an incredibly congested city, then it can be done in Delhi as well, it said while asking officials of Delhi and Central governments to talk to Mumbai's officials concerned on creation of storage tanks and buffer storage.

The apex court conducted urgent hearing on the Centre's plea against the high court show-cause notice on contempt and an order seeking personal appearance of its two senior officials for failing to comply with the directions to ensure supply of 700 liquid medical oxygen (LMO) to Delhi.

ALSO WATCH:
By PTI

KOLKATA: TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee was Wednesday sworn-in as the chief minister of West Bengal for the third consecutive term after securing a massive mandate, and vowed to not "give respite" to those behind political violence sweeping the state since the election results were announced.

Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar administered her the oath of office and secrecy at a low-key ceremony at Raj Bhavan held amid the raging COVID pandemic.

Banerjee took the oath in Bengali language.

She is the 21st chief minister of West Bengal and 8th person to hold the office.

The oath-taking ceremony was held even as the BJP, which has emerged as the main opposition party in the state, held a protest at its Hastings office against attacks on its workers allegedly by the TMC since Sunday night.

The party has claimed several of its workers were killed and party offices set on fire and vandalised.

Party president J P Nadda and state unit chief Dilip Ghosh were present.

Banerjee alone was sworn-in on Wednesday and her cabinet will be expanded with the induction of other ministers on May 9, the birth anniversary of Bengali cultural icon nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, TMC sources said.

"Our first priority is to control the COVID situation," she said after taking the oath.

ALSO READ: BJP's Bengal blunders and a message that democracy is a chapati

Banerjee said she will hold a meeting on the pandemic situation at state secretariat Nabanna soon after leaving Raj Bhavan.

Referring to incidents of violence which have reportedly claimed the lives of several BJP and TMC workers, Banerjee said, "I will tackle law and order from today and deal with these sternly. This is my second priority."

"We will not give respite to anyone (perpetrators of violence), and do everything to restore law and order," she told journalists after taking oath.

She urged all political parties to help maintain peace and order.

Congratulating Banerjee on assuming office for a third time, Dhankhar expressed hope and expectation that she will govern the state according to the Constitution and rule of law.

"We are at the moment in a very difficult crisis," Dhankhar said, adding he has brought the issue of post-poll violence to the notice of the chief minister.

"Our first priority is to end the horrendous and senseless violence that has affected society at large. Post poll violence, if it is retributive, is antithetical to democracy," said Dhankhar, who has repeatedly pulled up the state government over the violence and has had a running feud with Banerjee over several issues.

The governor said he hopes that the chief minister will, on an urgent basis, take all steps to restore the rule of law and ensure that relief reaches those who have been affected, particularly women and children.

"I would also expect from the new government a new commitment, a new approach of cooperative federalism," he said, addressing the media after the brief oath-taking ceremony at the Throne Room, as the chief minister stood beside.

He urged Banerjee to rise to the occasion and expressed the hope that she will do it, while contending that it is not usual for a person to get a third term in a row.

"There are occasions when a state faces crisis, we have to rise above partisan interests," he said, while addressing Banerjee as his sister.

After the governor had concluded, Banerjee said she has taken charge "just now" and that the police administration was run by the Election Commission for three months.

She said some political parties were indulging in atrocities in places where they won.

While the BJP has accused the TMC of targeted attacks against its workers and vandalisation of its offices, the ruling party has also claimed that its supporters were attacked and killed at places where the saffron party won.

Hinting at a change in the police administration, Banerjee said, "I will form a new set up and ensure that no one (indulging in violence) is spared."

The Election Commission had transferred several police officers during the election process, including the state DGP and ADG (law and order) and SPs of a number of districts.

Banerjee claimed there was inefficiency as the police administration was not under her government for the last three months.

Nadda, meanwhile, led another oath ceremony at the Hastings office of the BJP where its leaders vowed to protect democracy and save the people of West Bengal from the vicious cycle of political violence.

"I am going to districts like North 24 Parganas to be by the side of our members who were at the receiving end of brutal violence not witnessed in Independent India. We want to tell the entire country about this," Nadda said.

Apart from senior TMC leaders like Partha Chatterjee and Subrata Mukherjee, poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who played a key role in TMC's victory, and Banerjee MP nephew Abhishek Banerjee were present.

Leaders of opposition parties including the BJP, the Left and the Congress did not attend the ceremony.
G S Vasu By

Heads should roll in Delhi, in all fairness. How could so many agencies - the CBI, ED, I-T, central police forces and, of course, the Election Commission - have so spectacularly and collectively failed to deliver the goods, and leave the ruling establishment licking its wounds after the results in West Bengal? Political and regional factors apart, it is the overdose of almost everything that has now come to be associated with an Indian election that seems to have done the BJP in.

The BJP had ticked every box: dozens of trips by chartered flights/helicopters as imported leaders criss-crossed the state, 30-plus hotels including five-star rated ones booked in Kolkata to host guests, hundreds of campaign vehicles, aggressive mainstream and social media campaigns, all of which were topped up with alleged cash handouts to voters, ranging from Rs 500 in tribal belts to Rs 5,000 per head in urban pockets. Result: By the time the poll process began and progressed further, a sort of revulsion had crept in.

What the BJP leadership crucially did not take into account are historical factors specific to Bengalthe language divide, absence of a local leader who could be the face for the party and lack of cadre at the ground level to build on the anti-incumbency vote. Bengal has this history of having always voted for a party associated with struggles/movements. If it was the Congress that benefitted in the initial years because of the freedom movement, the Left received support by virtue of the multiple struggles it had waged over the years. Then came Didi with her own brand of agitations including the famous Singur/Nandigram stir. The BJP has no such record.

As BJP leaders, beginning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, promised Sonar Bangla to the people, Didi ridiculed them pointing out that they cant even pronounce Sonar properly and yet, are offering the same. If the Dideee O Dideee rant was seen as cheap by women, so was the appeal Ebar Pode Chhap (this time, press the button on Lotus) as the pronunciation of Pode (in Bengali, Lotus is pronounced Poddo) went viral on social media. Pode, in Bengali, essentially means a good-for-nothing character.

The attempt to bring about a divide between Hindus and Muslims hasnt clicked as Bengal is known for its Hindus attending Ramzan festivities as much as Muslims celebrate Durga Puja in the homes of Hindu friends. The UP-style politics hasnt worked to the extent the BJP would have liked. On the contrary, it has seen a near consolidation of the Muslim vote behind the Trinamool, the result of which is the decimation of Congress and the Left in minority-dominated Malda, Murshidabad, North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur.

The biggest blunder the BJP committed strategically, as it desperately sought to occupy the mindspace of people and create hype ahead of the elections, was to invite hordes of TMC leaders into its fold. Back in 2018-19, even the Left cadre joined the BJP in the fight against the goondaism of the TMC. When the same faces from the TMC shared the dais with top BJP leaders and the latter waxed eloquent about the goon culture of the Trinamool, it sounded like devils quoting the scriptures. As the huge money that was spent did not go unnoticed and shocked even BJP leaders, the cut money for which TMC leaders are notorious appeared like pocket change for people.

By making the Bengal battle one between Modi and Mamata, the BJP provided another weapon. And what has the Election Commission not done? From ignoring blatant use of religion and religious symbols in rallies and speeches to dividing seats in one district over two/three phases, it did the best it could. According to our Kolkata correspondent, Pranab Mondal, as Mamata coined Bangla Nijer Meyeke Chay (Bengal wants its own daughter), the Yogis and Suryas from BJP-ruled states did not count. When the saffron leaders brought in more aggression, laced with Delhi-dominated narrative, it frightened the large liberal class of Bengal (bhadralok), till then unhappy with the TMC. The bhadralok, powerful in its own way, began holding small/village-level meetings where voters were told only one thing: Dont vote for the BJP. The alternative was not given but the choice was simple and clear.

There are certain myths that most seem to believe and the BJP too has swallowed some of them. Whats Myth Number One? That the BJP is invincible. Yes, its a fact that very few parties can match the BJP when it comes to electioneering and resources, which are then amplified by the media by projecting a victory for the party from the time polls are announced. This, despite the fact that of the 15-20 state elections since 2018, the BJP could convincingly win only threeTripura, Arunachal Pradesh and now Assam. It had lost power in three big statesMadhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan. Dont get confused because the BJP is ruling the first two but thats through what is commonly described in politics as backdoor methods (Congress style!) or to put it crudely, buying legislators. In quite a few states including the two Telugu statesTelangana and Andhrait wasnt even a player in the reckoning when polls were held.

The second myth that the BJP itself believes is that polls could be won if one keeps the media on its side. Several elections have proved it doesnt work. The better way is to allow the media to do its job so that parties in power course correct and by the time they seek a repeat mandate, people dont find too many faults to throw them out. The latest victory in Kerala by Pinarayi Vijayan is a classic example of this as much as the 2019 disastrous verdict for Nara Chandrababu Naidu was of the other model. The latter had the entire media with him, but not the people. If you dont do what you were expected to, nothing matters. Neither charisma nor resources.

The victory of Mamata proves two things: One, any regional leader will have a chance only if he/she stands up to the BJP and the Union government while respecting the federal structure of the nation. Surely, some food for thought for KCR in Telangana and Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra. Two, people are not necessarily carried away by the Hindutva crescendo the BJP builds. A balanced social and economic model, wherein the poor are given basic healthcare and education, women are financially protected while at the same ensuring development and employment opportunities, is the answer to religion.

Despite Didis victory, the big question persists. Is it possible for non-BJP players to close ranks and build a diverse opposition? As of now, no two regional leaders can stand each other and the Congress is in no position to offer leadership. The Lalus and Mulayams are not active and Mayawati plays double and triple politics. Not all regional chieftains have displayed even a semblance of courage to hold the BJP accountable, probably afraid as they are of skeletons in their own closet.

A TNIE columnist sent me this message after the Bengal results: It was a great victory but we also have to be on guard against Didi. Shes no saint and her goons are awful, as the post-poll violence indicates. Democracy is a chapati we have to keep flipping or else, it gets burnt. Will the hope of true democracy resurrect from the ashes and embers, literally this time?

G S Vasu

Editor, The New Indian Express

Email: vasu@newindianexpress.com
K Jayakumar By

The verdict of the elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry is a mixed bag of political messages that will be deciphered and analysed in detail in the next few weeks. While the incumbency factor led to the defeat of the AIADMK and the victory of DMK in Tamil Nadu, it helped the ruling Left Democratic Front to return to power with enhanced numerical strength. The TMC-led government in West Bengal, despite the humongous threat from the BJP, has been able to negate the incumbency factor with remarkable agility and assertiveness. Assam too has given the ruling party another term. The decimation of the Congress and the rebuffing of the BJP in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and of course in Kerala have national ramifications. Though the encrypted political message in these results will be clearer only after a while, there are certain unmistakable moral lessons.

Political rhetoric, particularly during elections, is tailor-made to suit the local situations and motivated by the sole consideration of catalysing their candidates victory. What is relevant in Assam may be irrelevant in Kerala. Although in love and war (and elections), ethics get compromised, yet there are certain ground rules that are seldom broken even during polls (At least there used to be). However, of late we have witnessed civility ebbing in election campaigns and political morality being waylaid by shameless considerations and lust for power. In the latest elections however, the voters have finally woken up to assert their sense of political morality. Incumbency fatigue, even administrative lapses and the calculated nudge by manipulated media have had no effect on the poll verdict. On the other hand, a set of refreshing moral parameters seems to have evolved in the collective consciousness of the electorate.

Like any individual, every society too oscillates between the mean and the lofty; the selfish and the selfless. Normally the decision to vote for a candidate is influenced by narrow considerations of party loyalty, caste or other identities, regional considerations or the relative benefits. Larger interests of the society, communal amity, social equity and democratic values of freedom and fairness seldom have much influence in electoral choices. They are often relegated as impersonal and impractical ideals having no import at the micro-level. As the campaigns cascade, these small interests gain momentum and assume a critical mass on the polling day.

However, these election results signify the voters readjustments to larger and lofty ideals than ever before. The results vouch that the West Bengal electorate has categorically rejected the politics of divisiveness and otherness. Mamata Banerjees government may not be faultless but the electorate would prefer it to its projected alternative. The collective mind of the electorate rejects certain ideas as undesirable and unacceptable when they go against the accepted self-image of that society. The heart of the society revolts to redeem its cherished identity and image when the gravitational pull of an alien ideology becomes overpowering. When the secular and tolerant image of Bengal was threatened, this recoil was bound to happen.

The same matrix can be applied to the poll outcome in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, it is the reassertion of Dravidian identity and honour that has manifested as the present verdict, notwithstanding the widespread impression about the unedifying record of the earlier DMK regime. However, nothing is more important to a people than their identity, honour and shared values which, when threatened with the onslaught of unfamiliar ideas breeding negativity and exclusion, asserts itself through electoral opportunity.

Kerala has a political record of alternating between the two fronts every five years. This record of four decades has been broken and the LDF government has returned to power with a two-thirds majority and more seats than before. Moreover, most of the winning candidates of the LDF have an impressive majority, which too is a significant factor. For the past few months, there have been a slew of investigations by the CBI, NIA and ED arising from a gold smuggling case implicating certain functionaries in key positions. Courts too have been asking inconvenient questions about the unending investigations that reach nowhere.

The general perception is that all these high-voltage investigations were designed with the political purpose of embarrassing the state government that was already fatigued after two floods, the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic and administrative trauma. That kind of hitting below the belt was unpardonable even by the ethics of political combativeness. The politically conscious electorate of Kerala had to record its seal of disapproval of this political immorality. The social consciousness of Kerala asserted its preference for political morality and civility by renewing the mandate to the LDF government and rebuffing the virus of amoral politics.

As the whole country is living in anxiety and witnessing the suffering and death of several hundreds of innocent people, it is but natural that the human heart begins to feel for the other. Even before the society and the economy have come out of the stress of last years lockdown, the second wave of the pandemic has begun to maul our lives. This is a moment in history where people tend to look beyond themselves and feel the anguish of others. People realise that several thousands share the same financial stress and emotional trauma. When human sensitivities are heightened, lofty ideas gain acceptance over vainglorious thoughts and ideologies of discord. We live in such a moment in history, where compassion, shared feelings and selfless notions influence a societys thinking more than arrogance and acrimony.

K Jayakumar

Former Kerala chief secretary and ex-VC, Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam Varsity

(k.jayakumar123@gmail.com)
By Express News Service

SRIKAKULAM: In a tragic incident, a 44-year-old COVID-positive man died on the outskirts of Koyyanapeta village at G Sigadam mandal in the district after villagers did not allow him to enter, fearing the spread of the virus.

Panchireddy Asiri Naidu was staying in Vijayawada along with his wife and two children and working as a daily wage earner. On Saturday, Naidu tested positive for COVID-19. With the state government imposing a partial curfew and due to fears of a nationwide lockdown, he went back to his village on Sunday morning.

Graphic Video. Viewer discretion is advised. A 44-yr-old Covid patient died in #Srikakulam dist in front of his helpless daughter, wife. Villagers had refused to let them into the village... @NewIndianXpress #AndhraPradesh #CovidIndia @gsvasu_TNIE pic.twitter.com/YoF2DCENDE  TNIE Andhra Pradesh (@xpressandhra) May 5, 2021

On learning that he tested positive for the virus, locals asked him not to enter the village and forced him to stay in a thatched hut on the outskirts. That same afternoon, Naidu collapsed with breathlessness and died even as his family members watched helplessly. His daughter tried to give him water but her mother prevented her from going near out of fear.

Villagers gathered there and took videos on their mobile phones but did not dare go near Naidu or attempt to rush him to a hospital.

Municipal staff later performed the last rites following the COVID protocol. The next day, revenue authorities visited the village and assured all possible support to the family.

Meanwhile, Naidu's wife and two others who participated in the last rites tested positive for the virus on Wednesday. They were shifted to a hospital for treatment, while the children were allowed into their house as they tested negative.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: At a time when hospitals are running out of oxygen and fresh Covid-19 cases in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are seeing a surge, fueling speculation over a possible extension of the existing Corona Curfew, CM BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday said that curbs already in place will continue for now. The state is under a strict close down till May 12 with a six-hour daily window.

Addressing the press after a crucial emergency Cabinet meeting, Yediyurappa said a decision on extension of the restrictions or a complete lockdown will be taken at a later stage. For now, the State Government is concentrating on removing hurdles in Covid-19 resource management.

A miffed Yediyurappa is said to have lashed out at ministers in the cabinet meeting for failing to stay in the districts they are in charge of during this public health crisis. Yediyurappas government has come under severe public scrutiny, especially after 24 people  23 of them Covid-19 patients  died in Chamarajanagar. To manage the crisis better, the CM has appointed five senior ministers of his cabinet and entrusted them with specific responsibilities.

Jagadish Shettar will be in charge of oxygen centres and will coordinate with the Central Government to see that there is no shortage of oxygen. Deputy CM Dr C N Ashwath Narayan will coordinate with all medical colleges in the state and see to it that there is no shortage of Remdesivir doses and human resources. Ministers Basavaraj Bommai and R Ashok will look into the requirement of beds in government and private hospitals and medical colleges while Aravind Limbavali will be in charge of the BBMP War Room and ensure smooth connectivity for helplines, he said.

AlL district in-charge ministers have been asked to immediately camp in their districts to coordinate pandemic containment efforts.The State Government has also decided to rope in final-year nursing and AYUSH students for Covid-19 management. We discussed the immediate need for increased oxygen supply to the state. After our request, the Union Government increased allocation from 350 tons to 850 tons per day. There is a delay in transporting oxygen from other states. Now that cases are reducing in Maharashtra, we are requesting the government to reallocate their oxygen quota to Karnataka from Jindal Steels supply, Yediyurappa said. The government has appealed to the media to create awareness about patients who require hospitalisation.
Core Lithium (ASX:CXO), formerly Core Exploration is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Core Lithium set to begin most extensive lithium exploration and resource drilling program in its history at Finniss

Core Lithium Ltd (ASX:CXO) (OTCMKTS:CXOXF) has drilling contracts signed with major lithium exploration and resource drilling programs set to begin in coming weeks at the Finniss Lithium Project near Darwin in the Northern Territory.

The company has recently awarded key drilling contracts to enable the company's drill service providers to plan and mobilise to site.

Core's geological team is on-site preparing drill access and site logistics, ahead of the most extensive exploration and drilling campaign in the company's history.



"Right time to amp up" lithium drilling

The company believes early assessment of historical drilling information in 3D looks very promising and Core expects to update the market on the new Leviathan acquisition shortly.

It aims to complete the purchase of these assets in 2021 and to significantly increase mineral resources and potentially increase the Finniss Project's life of mine.

Managing director Stephen Biggins said: "Core has been looking forward to recommencing lithium exploration and resource expansion drilling at Finniss this year with great anticipation.

"We are about to launch the largest exploration and resource drilling campaigns in the company's history with the aspiration of more than doubling Core's lithium resources and Finniss Project's Life of Mine.

"Our lithium exploration and resource drilling budgets have been heavily capital restrained over recent years - and now it is the right time to amp up our lithium drilling alongside accelerating lithium prices."
By PTI

BENGALURU: With Karnataka witnessing a steep increase in COVID-19 cases, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday said he has directed his cabinet colleagues to camp in the districts and focus on efforts to curb the pandemic.

Further, in an apparent reference to more stringent curbs, he said "we have to implement the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

"We are also waiting for his directions. Based on it, we will take a decision in the evening," the CM told reporters here.

The Prime Minister will take a decision in the backdrop of Supreme Court's recent recommendation, which would be binding on Karnataka as well, he said.

Concerned over the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country, the apex court had on Sunday said the Centre and state governments may consider imposing a "lockdown to curb the virus in the second wave in the interest of public welfare."

Replying to a query, Yediyurappa said he has directed the state ministers to camp in the districts they are in- charge of and work there to control the spread of the pandemic.

They have been briefing him about the virus situation on a daily basis but henceforth the ministers would work in a more focused manner, he added.

Karnataka has been witnessing an exponential rise in the daily new virus infections, despite a lockdown that has been clamped from April 27 to May 12.

The state has been reporting over 44,000 cases and 200 fatalities daily for the past few days, raising concerns.

As on Tuesday, Karnataka had a little over 4.64 lakh active cases, while it witnessed 44,631 new infections on May 4 which also saw 292 deaths.
Krishnachand K By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: More than 100 Church of South India (CSI) priests were reportedly infected with Covid-19 after they attended the annual retreat at Munnar last month. Sadly, two of the priests have died and five others are said to be in a serious condition. Among the infected is CSI moderator and bishop of South Kerala diocese Rev A Dharmaraj Rasalam, who is in home quarantine. Sources in the church said the pandemic protocol was violated during the retreat.

The annual retreat, a conference of priests and community members, was held from April 13 to 17 at CSI Christ Church in Munnar. As many as 350 priests from various churches attended the meet. Sources said the retreat was held despite requests to postpone the event, and the priests were warned of disciplinary action if they failed to attend. The priests had travelled to Munnar from LMS Church in Thiruvananthapuram in a bus, sources said.

The deceased priests are Rev Bijumon, 52, and Rev Shine B Raj, 43. Bijumon, who was the vicar of CSI church, Kazhukode, near Vattappara, died last Thursday. Shine B Raj, who was the vicar of CSI church, Punnakkamugal, near Thirumala, breathed his last on Tuesday. His funeral was held later in the day.Many of the infected priests are under treatment at Dr Somervell CSI Medical College Hospital at Karakonam and some are in home treatment.

Hospital authorities refused to comment when contacted but a senior doctor, on condition of anonymity, said none of the infected priests are in a critical condition. There were a few serious cases and they are recovered now, he said.Jacob Mathew, secretary of Church of South India Trust Association and member of the Joint Christian Council, alleged that the retreat was organised ignoring the directions of the government and council.

The annual retreats of Central Kerala diocese and Kochi diocese were also scheduled last month and they were postponed due to a surge in Covid cases. But CSI South Kerala held the retreat secretly at Munnar without informing the government. As per the government instructions, only 50 people are allowed in a conference. But here all safety guidelines went for a toss, he alleged.

Retreat held adhering to protocol: Church official

Jacob also shared the issue in a Facebook post. Though a group of social workers sent a complaint to Chief Secretary V P Joy a week ago, no action has been taken so far.Rev Dharmaraj refused to comment as he was in home quarantine. T T Praveen, secretary of South Kerala diocese of CSI, said the infection was not spread from the retreat. He said some vested interests are indulging in a negative campaign against the church.

The retreat was organised adhering to protocol and we had got permission from the government. It is true that some of the priests have tested positive. But it has been proven that the infection was not spread from that conference. Two priests died due to the various diseases they had been suffering from. It is evident that it is the propaganda by anti-CSI lobbies to defame the Church, which is going to hold polls in the coming months, he said.

A priest who attended the retreat and subsequently tested positive said at least 30 priests had been hospitalised. A few others have recovered and discharged, he told TNIE. Thiruvananthapuram DMO K S Shinu said the health department could not take action as the conference was held last month and that too in Idukki. We cant do anything. It was held last month. The action had to be recommended and taken at that time if any violation was reported. Moreover, I cant take action as the retreat was not held under my jurisdiction, he said.

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By Express News Service

CHENNAI: MK Stalin has been formally elected as DMKs legislative party leader by its new MLAs, just ahead of forming the government. A meeting was convened at the DMK party headquarters on Tuesday evening, to choose the floor leader of the party -- who will eventually take charge as the Chief Minister of the State. A total of 133 MLAs took part in the meeting -- 125 from DMK, 4 from MDMK, 2 from MMK, and one each from KMDK and TVK.

All of these legislators contested on DMKs Rising Sun symbol, and will be considered as DMK MLAs in the Assembly. DMK general secretary Duraimurugan proposed Stalins name for the party legislative leader post, at the meeting. He was then elected unanimously.

Party sources said that Stalin would meet Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Wednesday, and stake claim to form the government. He will assume charge as Chief Minister on Friday, following a formal invitation from the Governor. Stalin, after being elected as a legislative leader of the party visited the mausoleums of former Chief Ministers CN Annadurai and M Karunanidhi and paid floral tributes to the departed leaders.

Strictly implement the new restrictions: Stalin to officials

Following the rise in cases, Stalin reviewed the measures and convened a meeting with Chief Secretary Rajeev Ranjan, DGP JK Tripathy, Health Secretary J Radhakrishan, Revenue secretary Atulya Misra, Finance Secretary S Krishnan and others authorities at his residence.

He also urged IAS officers, deployed as monitoring officers to supervise the Covid-19 measures, return to their respective districts, and ensure that all medical facilities are provided to patients from the districts. He exhorted authorities to strictly implement new restrictions, which will come into force from Thursday. He asked the officials to ensure availability of beds, and medical oxygen facility to patients.

Will take charge as Chief Minister on Friday

Chennai: Stalin was unanimously elected for the party legislative leader post. He will assume charge as Chief MInister on Friday, following a formal invitation from the Governor

Journalists are frontline workers: MK Stalin

Chennai: Chief Minister-designate MK Stalin on Tuesday declared that journalists, including those in print, TV and radio, will be considered as frontline workers since they put their lives at risk while working, when the pandemic is at its peak. In a statement, Stalin highlighted the service of media on bringing out the news and generating awareness among the masses. Various media houses welcomed the decision
By Express News Service

PUDUCHERRY: N Rangasamy, who has been elected as the leader of the NDA legislature parties, will be sworn in as Chief Minister on May 7 at 1.20 P.M.

Shortly after returning from the temple of his spiritual guru Appapaithiyam Samy at Salem, he sent a letter to Lt Governor Dr Tamilisai Sundararajan appraising her of his wish to be sworn in at that time on Friday.

The letter was handed over to the Lt Governor by two senior party men - former Deputy Speaker A Bakthavachalam and former MLA N S Jayabal at Raj Nivas.

On approval by the President, Ranagasamy will be invited for the swearing in by the Lt Governor.

Only Rangasamy would be sworn in now while the council of ministers will be sworn in at a later date, sources said.

After the finalization of the list of ministers, it will be submitted to Lt Governor, who in turn will get the approval of the President, before they can be sworn in.

In the next couple of days, both the parties are to decide on the ministers, their portfolios, the Speaker and other posts.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Even though the Telangana High Court has asked the state government to consider imposing a weekend lockdown in the state as the number of COVID-19 cases was going up, the government is of the view that there is no need for a lockdown since the pandemic is under control.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, speaking to mediapersons on Wednesday, said, "We are in full control of the situation. It is also not conclusively established that imposition of a lockdown would lead to a fall in the number of cases."

The Chief Secretary, however, said that the state government would consider the suggestion by the High Court. "The state cabinet will take a call if the situation warrants the imposition of a lockdown. But, as of now, there was no need and any such measure would deprive people of their livelihoods," he said.

Earlier, the High Court, resuming hearing on the case relating to measures being taken to rein in the pandemic, pointed out that the government should have done better to control the pandemic and it appears to have washed its hands off after imposing night curfew in the state.

The High Court wanted the state to take stringent measures including seizing of vehicles if drivers did not wear masks and ramping up testing. It expressed ts dissatisfaction over poor testing numbers despite its earlier instructions to increase the rate.

Director Health Dr G Srinivasa Rao who attended the hearing apprised the court that 49.97 percent of beds in hospitals both in government and private sector were full. Asking the government to take decisions early before the expiry of the deadline for night curfew ends on May 8, the court adjounred the case to May 13.
By PTI

LONDON: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said he held a useful virtual meeting with Canadian counterpart Marc Garneau on the sidelines of the G7 summit here and discussed challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and various aspects of the bilateral relationship.

The minister is in the UK at the invitation of UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab for the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers Meeting.

Jaishankar is one of the guest ministers along with his counterparts from Australia, South Korea and South Africa, as well as the chair of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN), as part of Britain's Indo-Pacific strategy to unite the world's major democracies.

"Useful virtual meeting with FM @MarcGarneau of Canada on G7 sidelines. Discussed our respective Covid challenges. Talked about various aspects of our bilateral relationship," Jaishankar tweeted.

Useful virtual meeting with FM @MarcGarneau of Canada on G7 sidelines. Discussed our respective Covid challenges. Talked about various aspects of our bilateral relationship. Also exchanged views on Myanmar. pic.twitter.com/LNLdy86H8J  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 5, 2021

They also exchanged views on Myanmar.

Myanmar's military seized power on February 1 after overthrowing the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and declared a state of emergency.

Suu Kyi is among an estimated 3,400 people still being held by the junta.

New Delhi has repeatedly called for the release of detained leaders.

Earlier, Jaishankar was forced to take his schedule here virtual after members of the small delegation accompanying him tested positive for COVID-19.
By PTI

LONDON: External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on Wednesday joined the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers Meeting in London virtually after he decided to withdraw from the face-to-face meetings because of possible exposure to coronavirus.

The minister participated in discussions with the other foreign ministers via videolink instead to focus on new ways to ensure fairer access to vaccine stockpiles and increase support for the global vaccine distribution scheme known as COVAX.

Also on Wednesday's agenda for the G7 talks is media freedom, arbitrary detention, and girls' education.

"A cyber participation at the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. So far, yet so near," Jaishankar tweeted along with an image of him joining the discussions from his hotel room.

Useful virtual meeting with FM @MarcGarneau of Canada on G7 sidelines. Discussed our respective Covid challenges. Talked about various aspects of our bilateral relationship. Also exchanged views on Myanmar. pic.twitter.com/LNLdy86H8J  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 5, 2021

Members of the small delegation accompanying Jaishankar to the UK tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the minister to take his remaining schedule here virtual as a "measure of abundant caution".

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said it deeply regrets the Indian minister was unable to attend in person but that the "strict COVID protocols and daily testing" are in place for the summit to address such cases.

The minister is in the UK at the invitation of UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab for the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers Meeting as one of the guest ministers along with Australia, India, the Republic of Korea and South Africa, as well as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as part of Britain's Indo-Pacific strategy to unite the world's major democracies.

The Group of Seven ministers are made up of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the US and the UK as well as the European Union (EU).

They began their talks earlier this week with an agenda set by the UK as the host nation that revolves around addressing threats to global democracy.

This G7 Foreign Ministers summit is the first in-person summit since the pandemic and the first to be hosted at a COVID-secure venue.

The protocols in place involve staff and delegates required to complete daily COVID-19 tests throughout the summit before entering any of the venues.
By AFP

WASHINGTON: Facebook's independent oversight board on Wednesday upheld the platform's ban on former US president Donald Trump but called for a further review of the case within six months.

The board, whose decisions are binding on the leading social network, said Trump "created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible" with his comments regarding the January 6 rampage by his supporters at the US Capitol.

"Given the seriousness of the violations and the ongoing risk of violence, Facebook was justified in suspending Mr. Trump's accounts on January 6 and extending that suspension on January 7," the board said after its review.

ALSO READ | Facebook board's Donald Trump decision could have wider impacts

But the panel added that "it was not appropriate for Facebook to impose the indeterminate and standardless penalty of indefinite suspension" and called for the platform to "review this matter to determine and justify a proportionate response" within six months.

"It is not permissible for Facebook to keep a user off the platform for an undefined period, with no criteria for when or whether the account will be restored," the review board said in its written opinion.
By PTI

KARACHI: Four Pakistani soldiers were killed in a terrorist attack from Afghanistan while they were working on fencing the Pakistan-Afghan border in the restive Balochistan province on Wednesday, the Army said.

A team of paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) was targeted in Manzakai Sector located in the Zhob district of Balochistan province in the south-west of the country, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the military said in a statement.

Four soldiers were killed and six others were injured in the incident, it said.

"Terrorists from across Afghanistan ambushed FC troops moving for fencing. FC troops responded promptly," the statement said.

It did not confirm whether there were casualties on the Afghan side.

The injured have been sent to a military hospital in Quetta for treatment.

Reacting to the incident, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said that fencing would be completed at every cost.

Pakistan shares more than 2,600 km long border with Afghanistan which it began fencing in 2017 to stop incursion by the militants as well illegal border crossing by ordinary people and criminals.

Officials have said that more than 85 per cent of fencing has been completed.

However, Afghanistan does not recognise the border, known as the Durand line, which separates the ethnic Pashtuns on both sides of the border.

In the past, the fencing teams have come under attacks from Afghan forces which opposed the move as well as by the militants who used the porous border to launch attacks.
By PTI

WASHINGTON: Indian-American physicians have sought blanket immunity and indemnification from the Indian government for offering their voluntary services to COVID-19 patients either virtually or in-person by flying to their home country amidst an unprecedented second wave of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

The American Association of Physicians of Indian-Origin (AAPI), which represents thousands of Indian-origin doctors in the US, has urged this in identical letters to Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

AAPI has also raised USD 2.6 million for COVID-19 assistance in India.

"We request the Government of India through an emergency declaration (to) provide a blanket immunity and indemnification for volunteering physicians from the USA, providing COVID related medical care in India," the AAPI leadership wrote in the letters.

"That will mobilise thousands of Indian doctors in the USA to come forward to offer their expertise and provide compassionate and competent care urgently and relieve the heavy burden on the overstretched physicians and systems in India. Please consider this request as an urgent priority, as time is of essence," it said.

Copies of the letters, dated April 30, were provided to PTI.

A delegation of the AAPI leadership is scheduled to have a virtual conversation with the health minister soon.

"Hundreds of Indian-American doctors are ready to sign up to help COVID-19 patients in India" through tele-health and remotely, AAPI vice president Dr Ravi Kolli told PTI.

"There are some legal and licensing issues that may not allow (tele-health and tele-consultancy). We want to get a clear understanding of what is the government's position as far as licensing and liability requirements," he said.

Once that is done "can unleash thousands and thousands of Indian doctors to help local doctors (in India)," Kolli said.

AAPI, he said, has three partners who are willing to donate their platforms for the Indian doctors to do consultancy for free.

In addition, two groups of Indian doctors numbering 20 each from California and Chicago have offered to fly to India to serve in any part of the country to assist local administrations to treat COVID-19 patients.

"We do feel that it is our calling, it is our job, moral duty" to help people in India right now, he said, adding that there has been an outpouring of support from Indian-American doctors.

In less than a week, AAPI has raised USD 2.6 million.

One of the biggest donations of USD 500,000 has come from Dr Jagdish Shah from Richmond in Virginia.

AAPI has so far sent 1,000 oxygen concentrators and is in the process of sending another 1,000.

It has tied up with Sewa International USA, a non-profit body, he said.

"We are continuing to interact with the physicians back in India to answer their questions. AAPI as a group and individual physicians are reaching out almost on a daily basis with doctors on ground in India," he said, adding that it is in addition to the calls being received from their friends and families back home.

"We are ready to jump and help in any way, because of the gravity of the situation both from a medical, scientific point of view as well as a humanitarian catastrophic point of view," he said.

Describing the situation in India as dire, Kolli said people in India are dying of lack of oxygen.

"Doctors are exhausted. When we receive calls from doctors, they're showing signs of stress and anguish, being burned, are not able to take care of the patient and save their lives."

They are desperately pleading with whatever we can do to send whatever we can to help them provide some oxygen and basic care as well as more appropriate therapeutics, which also appear to be in short supply. So, we are well aware of the situation, the tragedy and the stress that everybody is having, he said.

In the two letters, the AAPI urged the Indian government to mobilise on a war footing, all the resources available at its disposal to address the current reported scarcity of various therapeutics.

"As we know, the spread of COVID-19 is escalating and the associated morbidity and mortality is causing havoc and panic in the society. The critical shortage will have a further catastrophic consequence in the survival of millions of citizens," the AAPI added.

India is struggling with an unprecedented second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days.

According to Indian health ministry data on Tuesday, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases crossed the 2-crore mark with 3,57,229 infections being reported in a day, while the death toll increased to 2,22,408 with 3,449 new fatalities.

The total tally of COVID-19 cases in the country has climbed to 2,02,82,833, it said.
Toronto-based education technology company has suite of products designed to teach English to a global population

Novel speech recognition technology allows users to analyze pronunciation and simulate real-life conversation scenarios

Major strategic partnerships in Asia and Latin America

What Lingo Media does:

( ) (OTCMKTS:LMDCF) is an education technology company that develops English language learning products to support learners  from classroom to boardroom.

The Toronto-based company publishes English language learning material in multiple media formats for international markets. It develops books, tapes, videos, compact discs, and online content.

With over 1.6 billion people globally learning the language, English-as-a-second language (ESL) products and services are an estimated $56 billion industry, according to data from Ambient Insight. Whats more, digital ESL applications are booming in both market value and popularity, democratizing access to the worlds most popular language.

Against this backdrop, Lingo has developed a software-as-a-service (SaaS) learning platform with a complete suite of products that seamlessly blends education and technology by way of two distinct business units: ELL Technologies and Lingo Learning.

ELL Technologies provides online training and assessment for English language learning, while Lingo Learning is a print-based publisher of English language learning programs in China, where Lingo Media has a particularly strong presence.

Lead product ELL Technologies is aimed squarely at academic institutions, governments, and corporations offering lessons and teaching material.

A major differentiating feature of the product is Lingos speech recognition technology that allows users to analyze pronunciation and simulate real-life conversation scenarios. Users can record and compare themselves with native speakers to match their pronunciation.

How is it doing:

Fueled by a remote learning boom during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Lingo Media closed out 2020 with a net profit of C$1,110,609 versus $162,566 in 2019.

Revenue for 2020 came in at slightly over C$2.1 million compared to just under $2 million in 2020, with $958,766 of that revenue generated in 4Q, compared to $831,508 in the year-ago quarter.

Throughout the year, the group entered into new partnerships with universities and language programs in Asia and Latin America.

Lingo has secured two sales contracts in Japan  it's first in the country. In China, the company has signed a new distributor in its core market and boosted its content for both Pre-A1 and Pre-A levels. Lingo started developing a new achievement test and continued to work on its new mobile application. The group also gave teachers access to its library of nearly 1,800 hours of learning to be assigned to students.

On the print-based learning side in China, Lingo is working on a series of how-to training videos in English for teachers to use Lingo Learnings books more effectively.

In Latin American, Lingo subsidiary ELL Technologies is holding webinars to help English teachers adjust to teaching remotely. The webinars showcase best practices from the companys online education programs and help teachers hone the skills to keep students engaged in a remote environment.

For teachers, ELL has added file assignment and lesson assignment features, which let teachers supplement the regular curriculum by assigning additional content to specific students. For its white label business and other customers, there are new interface customization options available for institutions or course providers to add their own logos, colors, and course descriptions.

The group has also entered a distribution agreement with JPH Consultoria Academica in Guatemala and renewed an agreement with FloridaBlanca in Colombia for an additional year. It also renewed its agreement with Innovalingua de Mexico SAS de CV in Mexico and inked new distribution deals in Ecuador.

Significantly, Lingo has enhanced its online English language learning capabilities with new reporting functionality and an improved chat feature in its new Learning Management System (LMS) and developed a resource allocation functionality feature for the LMS for teachers.

ELL Technologies has inked an agreement to sell its interactive language learning solutions to Accent Plus SA -- which is using ELL Technologies' English for Success (EFS) and Portuguese learning solutions in a blended environment that combines in-class instruction with interactive online tools outside of the classroom.

Lingo has a multimillion-dollar contract with Colombias National Training Service, SENA, where it is developing a digital content library. Similarly, ELL Technologies secured a sales contract with FOCUS Your Mind Colombia to implement its new online English language learning program, one of several agreements in the country.

Nearby in Peru, the company has a distribution partnership with Telefonica Group, a dominant telecommunications firm in the region. It also has alliances with education publisher Gale Cengage and language assessment tool provider iTEP.

The companys business model rests on establishing alliances with academic intuitions. In keeping with this tack, ELL Technologies in the US has signed an agreement to license its interactive English for Success solution to Liberty University in Virginia.

Inflection points:

Implement functionality and feature upgrades to its platform for teachers and students

Work with channel partners to renew existing contracts and build new business relationships

Expand distribution network to drive new sales contracts

Evaluate M&A opportunities to position the company for accelerated growth

Release new product features and expand its library of content

What the boss says:

"We expanded our sales and marketing team in 2020, Lingo Media CEO Gali Bar-Ziv said in a statement accompanying the company's 2020 results.

These EdTech industry veterans helped identify new opportunities and market channels and enhanced our engagement with our existing distributors. We are very encouraged with the increased adoption of remote and online learning and expect this trend to positively impact our 2021 results and beyond."

Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham
By PTI

LONDON: Members of the small delegation accompanying External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the UK have tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the minister to take his remaining schedule here, including his in-person meetings at a G7 gathering, virtual as a "measure of abundant caution".

"Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases," Jaishankar said on Twitter on Wednesday.

"As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well," he said.

According to numerous sources, two members of the delegation tested positive on Tuesday with further test results still awaited.

Jaishankar was to join ministers from the other G-7 guest nations for the first formal gathering of the summit over a working dinner on Tuesday evening and further meetings on Wednesday.

"We deeply regret that Foreign Minister Dr Jaishankar will be unable to attend the meeting today in person and will now attend virtually, but this is exactly why we have put in place strict Covid protocols and daily testing," a senior UK diplomat at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said.

A bilateral meeting scheduled with UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at Chevening in Kent on Thursday is also expected to take on a virtual form.

Jaishankar had arrived in London on Monday for a four-day visit at the invitation of Raab to join the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers Meeting as one of the guest ministers.

"The addition of our friends from Australia, India, the Republic of Korea, and South Africa, as well as the chair of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) reflects the growing significance of the Indo Pacific region for the G7," said Raab.

The Indian delegation, yet to attend the G7 meeting at Lancaster House in London, is not seen as posing a risk to the summit itself.

At their other meetings held over the past few days, strict social distancing and mask-wearing were observed throughout and therefore Public Health England (PHE) have reportedly determined the risk to those in the meetings as low and not requiring self-isolation.

A diaspora-focussed event as part of the Global Dialogue Series, hosted by the Indian High Commissioner to the UK Gaitri Issar Kumar on Wednesday, took on a completely virtual shape instead of a planned hybrid format.

Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 5, 2021

Earlier on Tuesday, the External Affairs Minister met UK Home Secretary Priti Patel to sign a new Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement.

"A fruitful meeting this morning with Home Secretary Priti Patel. Signed the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement that would facilitate legal travel and encourage talent flows," he tweeted after the meeting.

This was followed by talks with Josep Borrell Fontelles, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, whom he thanked for the "support and goodwill" extended by the EU at a critical time in India's COVID-19 pandemic.

He also participated in the first India-France-Australia Trilateral Ministerial Dialogue during which he said he had "substantive discussions" with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

Jaishankar also held discussions with South African Foreign Minister Dr Naledi Pandor, with a focus on working together on fighting the COVID pandemic, economic recovery and Commonwealth issues.

On his arrival in the UK on Monday, the minister held talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, which focussed on detailed discussions on the global pandemic challenge, vaccine production capacity and reliable supply chains.

The G7 summit had been pitched as the first in-person summit since the pandemic and the first for the Group of Seven ministers, comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, US and UK as well as the European Union (EU) to be hosted at a COVID-secure venue.

The protocols in place involve staff and delegates required to complete daily COVID-19 tests throughout the summit before entering any of the venues.

An on-site testing facility has been set up, which can test up to 50 delegates per hour.

According to reports, more than 35 litres of hand sanitiser in G7-branded bottles were to be provided for the premises.

Besides, there is strict guidance on social distancing in place for the whole summit and delegates often separated by Perspex screens in meetings and during working lunches/dinners.

The scale of the delegations had also been reduced to minimise risk, with room headcounts indoors also cut down significantly.
By PTI

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again failed to form a government by the midnight deadline, putting his political career in jeopardy and prolonging the country's political stalemate that has seen voters return to the polls four times in less than two years.

The mandate given by President Reuven Rivlin to Netanyahu to form a government expired on Tuesday at midnight with no breakthrough in coalition talks.

It is for the third time in two years that Netanyahu, 71, has failed to form a government.

He had been trying for the past 28 days to build a coalition after the fourth inconclusive general election in two years.

Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party is by far the largest on Israel's fractured political scene.

Likud had won 30 seats in the general election in March, but Netanyahu could not muster enough coalition partners to command a majority of at least 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

President Rivlin's spokesman in a statement said: "Shortly before midnight, Netanyahu informed the President's Residence that he was unable to form a government and so returned the mandate to the president."

The statement said that Rivlin would contact the parties represented in the Knesset (Israel's unicameral parliament) on the continuation of the process of forming a government.

The onus is now on the President to decide which of Israel's other political leaders he might entrust with the task of trying to form a governing coalition.

The favourite to get the nod is centrist Yair Lapid, whose Yesh Atid party came second behind Netanyahu's Likud in the March 23 election.

Lapid is a one-time Finance Minister who entered politics in 2012 after a successful career as a TV news anchor.

But even if Lapid is given the mandate, the key man in coalition negotiations would be Naftali Bennett, a former Defence Minister and leader of the right-wing Yamina party.

Bennett's party had won seven seats in the election.

Netanyahu failed to persuade Bennett to join him in a power-sharing agreement that would have seen the pair take turns as prime minister.

Bennett had dismissed the offer, saying that even with his support Netanyahu could not muster a majority.

Likud blamed Bennett for foiling Netanyahu's chances by refusing to commit to a right-wing government, "which would certainly have led to the formation of a government joined by additional members of parliament."

The new political development raised the possibility that his Likud party could be pushed into the opposition for the first time in 12 years.

A long period of political stalemate in Israel has been complicated by Netanyahu's ongoing trial for corruption, a charge he denies.

His rivals argue he should not remain in office while facing criminal charges.

Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving leader, having led five governments since 1996.

The last, which saw him share power with the then-main Opposition party to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic, collapsed in December, triggering the latest elections.

With the mandate now back in his hands, the President is set to consult again on Wednesday with the parties before deciding on his next move, expected within the next few days.

President Rivlin could now formally ask another political leader to try to assemble a coalition.

But this could risk the country going to the polls once again.

Instead of giving it to an individual, he could also choose to hand the mandate over to parliament, effectively inviting any of the parliamentarians to come back to him as the head of a 61-seat majority.

Until any new government is agreed and sworn into office, Netanyahu remains Israel's Prime Minister.
By Online Desk

Dr Rajendra Kapila, a world-renowned infectious disease expert, succumbed to the coronavirus in New Delhi on April 28, it has emerged. The Rutgers University professor, known for his extensive works on HIV-AIDS, was 81 years of age, reported the Hindustan Times.

Dr Kapila and his wife Dr Deepti Saxena Kapila had got both the doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the US. The couple had returned to India in March and stayed in Ghaziabad. He was supposed to return to the US in the second week of April but had to be hospitalised in Delhi after testing positive for Covid.

For the last one year I have been working at a Covid-19 lab in New Jersey and had ensured a safe environment at home. It is ironic that we came to India for two weeks and he contracted it here, Dr Deepti, who specialises in microbiology, was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.

After completing his MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College, University of Delhi, Dr Kapila pursued his MD from College of Medical Sciences, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in 1964.

His profile available on the Rutgers University website mentions that Dr Kapila was an intern, resident and fellow at the Martland Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. He was also the assistant chief of medicine for the US Army in Okinawa, Japan, during the Vietnam conflict and a founding member of the New Jersey Infectious Disease Society.

Dr Kapila, who trained many people in the field of HIV-AIDS and practised at the Rutgers University for 50 years, was bestowed with the Excellence in Teaching Award from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). Many famous Indian doctors, who were trained by him, too remembered him with great fondness.
Thousands of dollars in state grant money will support several Danbury-area projects designed to reduce the impact of invasive species on local lakes and rivers.

The largest amount in the area will go to the Candlewood Lake Authority to implement a boat-inspection program that has been discussed for years.

We have money coming into Lake Kenosia, Candlewood Lake and Ball Pond in New Fairfield  all done without taxes, said state Rep. Ken Gucker, D-Danbury.

The funding is through the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protections Aquatic Invasive Species Grant Program, which was made possible by the Connecticut General Assemblys establishment of the Aquatic Invasive Species Stamp fee in 2019.

The fee applies to all registered boats using Connecticut waters and funds the account from which the grant money derives.

Im extremely proud and extremely happy to see this doing the good work its supposed to, Gucker said. The money was raised to deal with lake and river issues, and DEEP is being a good steward to make sure they get where they need to go.

The Candlewood Lake Authority will receive about $26,700 to support the new Lake Steward Program, designed to educate boaters on invasive species that threaten the lake bordered by Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, Sherman and New Milford.

This program will offer voluntary boat inspections to check for invasive species, said J. Neil Stalter, the authoritys ecology and environmental education director. The authority has been working for years to implement a program like this.

CLA Lake Stewards will be posted at some of the public launches around Candlewood Lake on peak boating days during the summer of 2021, offering invasive species education, a few informative keepsakes and inspections to help demonstrate to users how to look for invasive species on their own, Stalter said in a statement.

Zebra mussels are an invasive species found in Candlewood Lake.

These quickly reproducing mollusks not only steal other species resources and outcompete organisms essential to the lakes food chain, but can potentially cover hard surfaces  such as boats and docks  and damage them within a few years, according Stalter.

They have found a couple zebra mussels in the lake and are trying to keep them from invading, Gucker said. So far were ahead of the curve, but that doesnt mean we can stop working.

Grant money is also going to support research Western Connecticut State University professor Edwin M. Wong is conducting on Candlewood Lake, as well as two other lakes  including Lake Zoar, which is bordered by Newtown, Oxford, Southbury and Monroe.

Wong is receiving $3,225 to support his work identifying and quantifying toxin genes from cyanobacteria  also known as blue-green algae  in the water bodies. Cyanobacteria blooms have become a concern as more research is uncovered about the potential toxicity and dangers they can pose  ranging from skin irritation in people to death in animals.

Cyanobacteria has also become a problem in New Fairfields Ball Pond, and the Ball Pond Advisory Committee is receiving around $2,960 in grant money to identify and monitor it.

The pond is not only the source of water for many peoples wells, but provides drinking water for downtown New Fairfield, Gucker said.

The Housatonic Valley Association received $25,500 for the removal of water chestnuts from Danburys Lake Kenosia. These invasive plants form dense mats that displace native species and interfere with recreational activities, according to the National Invasive Species Information Center.

Friends of the Lake will receive $4,629 for the manual removal of water chestnuts from the Housatonic River cove and mouth of the Still River in New Milford.

Although theres still a ways to go in protecting Connecticuts water bodies, Gucker said this first release of Aquatic Invasive Species Grant money is a great start.

A total of $360,000 in grant money was awarded to 21 aquatic projects  including $4,629 to Friends of the Lake for the removal of water chestnuts from the Housatonic River cove and mouth of the Still River in New Milford, as well as $4,000 to Southbury Training School for the eradication of water chestnuts in Lake Stibbs.

This is a great program that helps communities deal with the problem of invasive species, and we hope to continue having success with it, Gucker said.
Pikeville, KY (41501)

Today

Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. High 78F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

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Some clouds. Low 68F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
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*Lab confirmed cases only; **Includes cleared backlog of pending antigen tests dating to Nov. 1; ***Begins data from the Ohio Department of Health

Weekly number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Lake County. Figures are as of 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and are included in the Lake County General Health Districts weekly coronavirus data reports. All figures include confirmed and probable cases, unless otherwise noted.
Potential asthma-COVID-19 risk

People with asthma develop infections of the lower respiratory tract (LRT) more frequently than those without, and episodes of LRT infection in asthmatic patients are longer and more severe. In people with poorly controlled asthma, viral infections of the respiratory system cause more acute symptoms than people with well-controlled asthma.

Furthermore, rhinovirus infections can induce asthma exacerbation. The mechanism for this appears to be delayed and deficient antiviral immune responses in people with asthma, specifically a delayed and inadequate interferon response. Interferons are antiviral cytokines that prevent viral replication in infected cells and promote antibody production.

Given the relationship between asthma, immune functioning, and clinical severity in respiratory infection, it would appear somewhat inevitable that asthma should be identified as a risk factor for severe outcomes in COVID19.

Asthma. Image Credit: Orawan Pattarawimonchai/Shutterstock.com

Asthma prevalence in COVID-19 patients

Initial case studies published early in the pandemic did not appear to implicate asthma as a risk factor. One of the first reports from Wuhan described the clinical characteristics of 140 cases of COVID-19, including 58 cases deemed as severe. Of this cohort, there were no self-reported diagnoses of asthma among patients. A similar study assessed the clinical features of 290 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which only one patient was asthmatic.

As case series analyses progressed, asthma continued to present no additional risk factor for severe outcomes for COVID-19. However, in such studies, the chronic respiratory disease had the third highest fatality rate after diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In such studies, people with asthma may have among the respiratory disease group, but not identified specifically as being asthmatic.

Analysis of a large cohort of patients in the US who were hospitalized with COVID-19 did demonstrate a high prevalence of asthma (14%). However, once other known risk factors for COVID-19 were controlled for, including age, sex, and comorbid diseases, no significant association between asthma and however, when adjusting for sex, age, and comorbidities, no association between asthma and risk of hospitalization with COVID-19 was found.

A later analysis conducted by the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) recorded a 17% prevalence of asthma among hospitalized patients, but again, did not control for other disease factors. For example, rates of sleep apnoea, obesity, and high blood pressure were higher amongst the hospitalized asthmatic patients, suggesting that it is these conditions that may contribute towards risk for COVID-19 rather than asthma per se.

Risk of morbidity and mortality

Studies to date have not convincingly demonstrated that asthma increases susceptibility to becoming infected with COVID-19. In previous and similar pandemics, such as the H1N1 avian influenza outbreak, patients with asthma who were hospitalized with the virus had a less complicated clinical course in hospital: they were less likely to require ventilation and less likely to die.

Two US-based studies that compared clinical outcomes for people hospitalized with COVID-19 have shown no difference in mortality rates between patients with and without asthma.

Data from the United Kingdom, which has drawn on mass electronic health record screening and biobank data, has shown that the relationship between asthma and COVID-19 may be more complex. In these studies, the risk of death from COVID-19 was higher for asthmatic patients who had documental use of oral corticosteroids in the previous 12 months, an indicator of asthmatic severity. This study also considered relationships between different phenotypes of asthma and COVID-19 infection.

Interestingly, the risk was mostly related to non-allergic asthma. Non-allergic asthma, interestingly, may have a protective factor against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This phenotype of asthma is characterized by inflammation of eosinophils, blood cells that form part of the immune system.

Advice for asthma management

Patients with asthma should aim to keep their asthma under control by continuing to follow their personalized asthma action plan. This includes monitoring symptoms, continuing with prescribed medication, and using their peak flow meter regularly. Patients should avoid their asthma triggers and ensure they have an emergency supply of prescribed medication in case of needing to self-isolate.

Given the lack of strong consensus surrounding the interplay between asthma and COVID-19, the CDC has not made changes to their asthma management guidelines. Exacerbations should continue to be treated with corticosteroids as there is no evidence that corticosteroids increase COVID-19 severity. It is abundantly clear, however, that corticosteroids are highly effective in treating asthma exacerbations.

If clinicians are concerned that an asthma exacerbation is due to an undiagnosed COVID-19 infection, then routine testing procedures should be followed.

If asthmatic patients with COVID-19 symptoms or infection require nebulization, then healthcare staff should follow aerosol-generating safety procedures, including the use of high-level personal protective equipment and thorough disinfection of clinical areas. Patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis or symptoms who nebulize in the home should use them in locations separate to other household members, preferable outside.

References

Assaf, S. M. , Tarasevych, S. P. , Diamant, Z. & Hanania, N. A. (2021). Asthma and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2019. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine, 27(1), 4553. doi: 10.1097/MCP.0000000000000744.

Healthcare Workers. (2021). Retrieved 16 April 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/faq.html#Patients-with-Asthma

Jackson, D. J., Trujillo-Torralbo, M. B., del-Rosario, J., Bartlett, N. W., Edwards, M. R., Mallia, P., Walton, R. P., & Johnston, S. L. (2015). The influence of asthma control on the severity of virus-induced asthma exacerbations. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology, 136(2), 497500.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2015.01.028

Johnston S. L. (2020). Asthma and COVID-19: Is asthma a risk factor for severe outcomes?. Allergy, 75(7), 15431545. https://doi.org/10.1111/all.14348

Makris, S., Paulsen, M., & Johansson, C. (2017). Type I Interferons as Regulators of Lung Inflammation. Frontiers in immunology, 8, 259. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.00259

Further Reading
A hot topic symposia session during the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2021 Virtual Meeting will discuss a multipronged approach to addressing childhood adversity and promoting resilience - at the clinical, systems, community and educational levels.

The effect of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on health outcomes across the lifespan is well recognized among pediatric practitioners. Increasing the ability of healthcare providers to recognize and respond to ACEs can buffer the long-term negative physical and mental health impacts of adversity and increase patient-centered care.

In the era of COVID-19, employing a trauma-informed approach to care is of even graver importance because the reverberations of the overactivity of the biological stress response during this time will affect populations both in the near and distant future. Understanding the biological impact of stress and childhood adversity and recognizing ways in which to mitigate this impact and build resiliency is key. Our panel will serve this function." Binny Chokshi, MD

For pediatric practitioners, there are multiple ways to address ACEs. This symposium will review approaches at the patient, systems (clinic/hospital), community and education level. It will also highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations in moving this work forward.

At the patient level, the session will review the experience of Atrium Health Levine's Children's Hospital as a pilot site for the National Pediatric Practice Community of the Center for Youth Wellness. Shivani Mehta, MD, MPH, will discuss the facilitators and barriers to ACE screening implementation in both the academic and community primary care pediatric settings and review the use of resource referrals as a key intervention in promoting wellbeing and resilience.

At the clinic and hospital level, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration delineates a framework to guide the creation of trauma-informed systems. Anita Shah, DO, MMS, MPH, will review the experience of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in developing a trauma-informed strategic plan with multidisciplinary partners.

Community partnerships can be critical in securing resources to build resilience and preventing childhood adversity. Nia I. Bodrick, MD, MPH, FAAP, will highlight two exemplary community partnerships, the Early Childhood Innovation Network and the Building Communities Resilience National Coalition.

Lastly, education on ACEs and trauma-informed care is essential in assuring the sustainability and integration of approaches to confront adversity. Heather Forkey, MD, will describe the Pediatric Approach to Trauma, Treatment, and Resilience (PATTeR) program, supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The PATTeR program has trained over 400 pediatricians and clinic team members about childhood adversity and trauma-informed care.
The Indiana Public Health Association & Indiana State Association of City and County Health Officials gave its thumbs up after Gov. Eric Holcomb on May 4 vetoed legislation that would limit local health departments powers.

We very much appreciate Governor Holcombs decision to veto this dangerous legislation and prioritize the health and safety of Hoosiers, the associations statement read. We also hope Indiana legislators will give serious consideration to the Governors position when deciding on any future action.

Guided by facts, science and a single-minded mission to keep our communities healthy, local public health officials and our broader public health partners take very seriously the responsibility to protect human health and the important balancing act between science, economic impact and personal freedoms.

Indianas public health officials had warned about unintended consequences in their ability to issue and enforce emergency health orders if changes in Indiana Senate Bill 5 went through.

The bill, which was crafted primarily as a check in response to COVID-19 restrictions, stated that a local order regarding an aspect of a declared emergency addressed by an executive order could not exceed the latter. A health order also couldnt go into effect if no executive order on the matter was in place.

Holcomb, in a letter to Senate President Pro-Temp Rodric Bray, cited how well economically Indiana has come through the COVID-19 pandemic and stated among his reasons for the veto that local health officials must use localized data to tailor their decisions to their communitys needs. ... One reason Indiana has weathered the storm so well is due to coordination with local health experts and the flexibility in law to be fast, nimble and targeted.

The bill had among its co-authors Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne; Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle; Sen. Sue Glick, R-LaGrange; Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn; Sen. Justin Busch, R-Fort Wayne; and had among its sponsors Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Berne.

The Indiana General Assembly passed the bill before adjourning the last week of April.

Dr. Jeremy Adler, the Tippecanoe County health officer and representative of the Indiana State Association of County and City Health Officials had highlighted three main grievances with the bill in its current state:

 Shifts control of major public health decisions to elected officials, who generally lack the expertise in specific public health topics

 Shifts appeals of public health orders from the court system to county government, creating the need for a new government layer to respond to appeals

 Allows establishments who choose to appeal a public health order to remain in operation while the appeal is being processed, potentially allowing a threat to public health to continue for days, weeks or months as the issue is litigated locally

The bill covers any aspect of a declared emergency that is not addressed by an executive order or if a local order addresses an aspect of a declared emergency more stringently than an executive order, which health officials warned expands its scope just beyond the current or any future pandemic declared by the governor.

Indiana Senate Bill 5 would be a dangerous experiment Hoosiers would soon regret, Adler said.

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Dr. David Welsh, health officer for Ripley County, elaborated on those points, noting that public health leaders frequently communicate and collaborate widely with other local leaders and weigh the impacts of health orders and when they need to be issued.

Local public health officials take very seriously their role to protect the public health and make sure the economic impact is minimized and personal freedoms are maintained, Welsh said. Weve been successful because all the stakeholders have been working together.

But Welsh also reminded that the role of the health department extends well beyond just COVID-19, which has been a main focus over the last year.

The county health department also oversees sewage; water safety both in natural bodies, municipal water systems and public amenities like pools and water parks; and, commonly, food safety.

Speed is critical in public health and stripping public health officials of the ability to enact their own emergency orders. For example, if a disease outbreak occurs at a restaurant, that eatery needs to be shut before people can eat them and potentially get ill.

We need to act quickly to prevent that spread in the community. When something happens, we have to act, he said.

Rules that would allow an establishment to remain open during an appeal could potentially allow harm to continue while the appeal is processed, he said.

The IPHA identified that provision as its top concern with the bill and will be lobbying to have it removed, as it had been in a House version, during the upcoming conference committee.

Dr. Paul Halverson, founding dean of the IUPUI Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, speaking for himself and not on behalf of the university, also stated that rules that limit more stringent restrictions on the local level run counter to the notion that public health is often a local or regional issue.

Even as seen through the COVID-19 pandemic, not all communities are affected equally. So making it harder for a local community experiencing a problem to tailor a response to its situation is counterproductive.

That defies the whole notion around local control and local customized interventions. The entire state doesnt suffer uniformly from disease outbreaks, Halverson said. To essentially say from the very beginning that unless the entire state is in a severe situation then no one should be essentially ignores the science of public health, which says we need to match the intervention to the need.

Assuming difference between House and Senate versions are smoothed out and the bill becomes an enrolled act, public health officials will urge Gov. Eric Holcomb to veto it.

It seems the legislature is going to pass Senate Bill 5, our hope is to reach out to the governor and ask that he veto it when/if it reaches his desk, said Susan Jo Thomas, outgoing president of the IPHA. This is not the time we should be pitting against each other elected officials and public health officials.
The surge in revenue along with business ties-ups across major global markets following regulatory changes and the acquisition of an established psychedelics company could transform it into a broader-based pharma company.

( ) ( ) (FRA:1X8) has witnessed a strong first quarter, with total revenue rising by 237% from the preceding quarter, marking the companys evolution into a broader-based pharmaceutical company, according to non-executive chairman Adam Blumenthal.

The surge in the groups revenue growth during the quarter highlighted the growing demand for the companys products, as regulatory shifts across cannabis industries globally continue to unlock growth opportunities.

At the end of the quarter, the company had $18.6 million cash, providing considerable financial flexibility.

Cresos Blumenthal said: This quarter marked Cresos evolution into a broader-based pharmaceutical company.

Halucenex acquisition

During the quarter, the company entered into a transformational agreement to buy established psychedelics company Halucenex Life Sciences Inc, which will strengthen the companys position in Canada, as well as lead to new market entries and commercialisation opportunities.

The purchase provides Creso Pharma with entry into the emerging global market for psychedelics medicines, which is estimated to be worth up to US$100 billion.

The proposed acquisition provides Creso Pharma with a first-mover advantage into the psychedelic medicines sector and marks the first 100%-owned psychedelic medicines company listed on the ASX.

Creso Pharma will also emerge from the acquisition as a best-in-class provider of cannabis, cannabinoids and psychedelics alternative medicines to meet the large unmet need for treatments to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Since March 15, when the company announced the proposed acquisition, Halucenex has undertaken significant preparatory work for its upcoming Phase II clinical trial, in anticipation of the grant of its Dealers License, which it expects to receive imminently.

Blumenthal said: Having undertaken a thorough search for quality, complementary acquisition opportunities, the company successfully identified and secured an agreement with psychedelics company, Halucenex, which, if approved by shareholders, will represent a significant milestone for the company, as it looks to commercialise new psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy treatments.

Halucenex has made considerable progress during the quarter and provides Creso with access to another lucrative vertical.

Raised A$18 million via strongly supported placement

During the quarter, the company raised A$18 million from institutional, professional and sophisticated investors through the issuance of around 94.7 million new fully paid ordinary shares at A$0.19 per share.

The placement was heavily oversubscribed and strongly supported by a range of local and international groups including Australian businessman John Langley Hancock, S3 Consortium Holdings Pty Ltd and independent global fund manager L1 Global Master Opportunities Fund, among others.

The company also intends to seek shareholder approval to issue placement participants one option for every four shares issued, which will be exercisable at A$0.38 each on or before a date that is 12 months after the date of issue.

The funds raised through the placement will be deployed to undertake psychedelic clinical trials upon completion of the Halucenex transaction, advance sales of nutraceutical products globally and increase marketing of cannabis products through Canada.

Creso pursues US OTC listing

During the quarter, Creso significantly progressed its application to dual list on the OTCQB market in the US, which is earmarked for the second quarter of 2021.

The decision to advance the dual listing initiative follows growing interest from North American investors, following the announcement of the proposed acquisition of Halucenex, as well as the companys planned expansion into the US cannabis market.

The dual listing will give the company access to a deeper capital market, providing North American investors with accessibility and liquidity to invest in an established cannabis and psychedelics medicines business.

New business tie-ups

During the quarter, Cresos wholly-owned Canadian subsidiary, Mernova Medicinal Inc secured new purchase orders (POs), with a total value of C$145,192 (A$150,770) from the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) and Yukon Liquor Corporation.

The new POs include a second from OCS and a third from Yukon Liquor and highlight an ongoing shift towards a recurring revenue model for Creso Pharma.

This new PO from the Yukon marks the second order for pre-roll joint range Ritual Sticks, which provides multiple growth opportunities for Mernova and access to a large potential customer base.

It also includes the first order for the new Ritual Green one-ounce bag offering introduced by Mernova so consumers can secure a larger supply of its leading cannabis strains at a volume discount.

It also signed a bilateral commercial agreement with Cannabis Queen, South Africa, to market and distribute Cresos cannaDOL topical line and cannaQIX tea range in African countries.

This agreement will also see Creso Pharma market and distribute Cannabis Queens anti-ageing Serum 30ml and Argan & Cannabis Hair Treatment 50ml products in Switzerland and Europe.

During the quarter, Cresos target acquisition Halucencex signed a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) with leading nanotechnology company Sixth Wave Innovations Inc ( ) ( ) to assess molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs).

Blumenthal said: The Creso group more broadly has also made a series of advancements, underpinned by a number of distribution agreements, LOIs and new market entries, all of which will unlock further value for our shareholders.

The significant rise in quarter-on-quarter, as well as year-on-year revenue, demonstrates Cresos upward growth trajectory and we look forward to continuing to deliver strong sales growth as we begin to scale up activities and further commercialise our business divisions.

Regulatory shifts

During the quarter, the US Democratic party won power in the US Senate, increasing the likelihood of the decriminalisation of cannabis and the passing of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act.

Cannabis legalisation in the US would provide a major market opportunity for Creso Pharma and it is very well placed to capitalise on this.

Should legalisation occur, Creso Pharma can expedite its scale-up of Mernovas operations to service the US market.

Management will continue to pursue additional opportunities to ensure it is advantageously positioned.

In Australia, the OTC sale of low-dose CBD products in pharmacies was made possible after the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) down scheduled low-dose CBD preparations from Schedule 4 (Prescription Medicine) to Schedule 3 (Pharmacist Only Medicine).

This is a major development for the Australian medicinal cannabis industry, which is expected to exceed over A$200 million per annum.

Creso is now progressing a number of value accretive opportunities, including initiatives through its existing agreement with Martin & Pleasance to unlock value for shareholders.
For the first time, international experts in psychology have built a framework to diagnose Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder - promising help for people struggling to manage their spending behavior and mental wellbeing.

The new guidelines, published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions, confirms that excessive buying and shopping can be so serious as to constitute a disorder, giving researchers and clinicians new powers to develop more targeted interventions for this debilitating condition.

The international collaboration, led by Professor Mike Kyrios from Flinders University's Orama Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing and Professor Astrid Muller from the Hannover Medical School in Germany, say evidence-based criteria for Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder (CBSD) are long overdue.

The phenomenon of excessive or uncontrolled buying or shopping has been described in a clinical setting for more than a century. Surprisingly, to date there is no formally accepted diagnosis for the disorder, despite being a highly prevalent, disabling and growing problem that contributes to overconsumption and debt.

Professor Kyrios describes the findings as a "game-changer" for research in the area of excessive buying, providing a springboard for much-needed treatments and better diagnostic processes in the future.

In over 20 years, since I started investigating excessive buying, there has been an absence of commonly agreed diagnostic criteria which has hampered the perceived seriousness of the problem, as well as research efforts and consequently the development of evidence-based treatments." Professor Mike Kyrios, Flinders University's Orama Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing

This will now be possible with the world's leading experts agreeing on diagnostic criteria for the disorder, he says.

In the study, 138 international experts (researchers and clinicians) from 35 countries were evaluated to develop a consensus about proposed diagnostic criteria.

A key feature of the new diagnostic criteria is "excessive purchasing of items without utilising them for their intended purposes", with excessiveness described as "diminished control over buying/shopping". Another characteristic of the disorder is that "buying/shopping is used to regulate internal states, e.g., generating positive emotions or relieving negative mood".

"Clients who show excessive buying behaviour commonly have difficulties in regulating their emotions, so buying or shopping is then used to feel better. Paradoxically, if someone with Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder goes on a shopping trip, this will briefly improve their negative feelings, but will soon lead to strong feelings of shame, guilt and embarrassment."

The Delphi research method was used to reach consensus from the panel of experts on a very complex psychological disorder.

"The Delphi technique is an ideal method to integrate diverse perspectives from international and interdisciplinary experts in the field of Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder," says co-investigator Dr Dan Fassnacht, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Flinders University.

"This helped us to developed diagnostic criteria featuring large agreement among experts in the field, and is an important milestone to better understand and treat this behaviour."

Dr Kathina Ali, Research Fellow at Flinders University and co-investigator of the study adds: "Previously, it was difficult to compare studies without agreed criteria. Now for the first time, we can start examining Compulsive Buying-Shopping Disorder more precisely which should help us the improve our treatments for this disabling condition."

The study was an international collaboration with researchers from the Hannover Medical School at the University of Duisburg-Essen and University of Dresden in Germany funded by the German Academic Exchange Service and Universities Australia.
Research by scientists at the University of Texas at Austin, the Santa Fe Institute, and Fractal Therapeutics suggests infection rates in the surrounding community are not a reliable measure for estimating the level of risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission in schools.

Claims of in-person schooling being safe and not increasing infection have been based on testing students who present with symptomatic infection rather than proactive testing of potentially asymptomatic students. However, previous studies have shown that most COVID-19 cases are spread through asymptomatic spread, and children are more likely to have asymptomatic infection than adults.

The findings throw into question whether schools should remain closed to mitigate the risk for COVID-19 infection. The authors write:

We found that the ratio of cases occurring in and out of schools and low numbers of documented in-school transmission events are not sufficient to distinguish these two scenarios. While there are compelling arguments for returning to in-person learning, particularly as SARS-CoV-2 vaccine coverage increases, a robust understanding of the limitations of the metrics being used to assess SARS-CoV-2 transmission is critical for risk management.

The study Detecting in-school transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from case ratios and documented clusters is available as a preprint on the medRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review.

How they did it

The researchers modeled two scenarios  one low-risk and one high-risk  of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to evaluate the ratio of infection rates in children, which included a lack of detected in-school outbreaks.

The model assumed children would show a 21% lower chance of presenting with COVID-19 symptoms compared to 70% of adults. It also assumed all symptomatic infections would be identified.

The high-risk scenario predicted high SARS-CoV-2 transmission among school children and adults in the community.

The simulations suggest that even when schools increased SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the community, the number of detected cases in children was lower than adults  even when the actual incidence was much higher.

The team also wanted to confirm that documented in-school transmission was insufficient in detecting asymptomatic cases. They looked at the probability of detecting outbreaks in schools using the symptom-gated forward contact tracing  a common approach to evaluating cases in schools relying on the appearance and reporting of two consecutive symptomatic cases.

Projected infection and case detection rates under two different school scenarios. (A) Cumulative attack rates and (B) detected cases in children (dashed lines) and adults (solid lines) assuming that transmission rates in schools are either equal to the surrounding community (low risk, purple) or elevated (high risk, green). (C) The ratio of cumulative detected cases in children versus adults, under the same two scenarios. The black line indicates the ratio of reported cases in children attending in-person school (133 cases among 4,876 children) versus reported cases in adults (3,260 cases among ~68,124 adults) in the surrounding community of Wood County, Wisconsin [2] after 13 weeks of in-school instruction. The projections assume a population-wide reproduction number of R0 = 1.1 in the low risk scenario and elevated in-school reproduction number of R0 = 2.5 in the high risk scenario, that children and adults have distinct symptomatic proportions [10], and that all symptomatic infections are detected.

Given a 21% detection rate for symptomatic infection, the researchers estimated approximately 4.4% of total COVID-19 cases from child-to-child transmission would be detected.

They predicted about 28% of initial cases would infect at least one child, and approximately 11.5-22% of these cases would infect a child who later develops noticeable symptoms.

Given the difficulty of ascertaining child-to-child SARS-CoV-2 infections via symptom-gated forward contact tracing, low numbers of documented events do not necessarily indicate a lack of in-school transmission.

The findings indicate that the absence of symptomatic evidence of in-school transmission is not a sign SARS-CoV-2 is absent from schools.

Final thoughts

The results affect schools that only test for symptomatic infections. Hence, the results of this study would not apply to schools with asymptomatic COVID-19 surveillance.

Results of community transmission not reflective of the school environment are limited by students with hybrid or distance learning. The researchers note the model does not assume any predictions for adults working in schools or children, not at school. These two groups would be more likely to be affected by their surrounding community.

However, they found that as children and adults come more into contact, the total infection rates increased.

*Important Notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
A new study published in Medical Care Research and Review found that the Affordable Care Act, which expanded Medicaid programs to cover people previously uninsured, provided a financial boost to hospitals.

The study conducted by faculty at the Colorado School of Public Health on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is the first to investigate the effects of Medicaid expansion by comparing estimates using data from both the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The IRS and CMS data sources serve as primary resources for assessing the impact of Medicaid expansion on hospitals' financial status. The comparison of the two is timely and can inform the decisions of health practitioners, policymakers and regulators at a state and national level." Tatiane Santos, MPH, PhD, lead author, faculty at the Colorado School of Public Health and fellow at the Wharton School and Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania.

Santos adds, "This is especially relevant in the context of the recently passed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which provides additional incentives for the 12 states that have not yet expanded Medicaid."

The researchers examined the state-level impact of Medicaid expansion on hospital finances and based on the IRS data found that uncompensated care costs declined by 28 percent in states that expanded Medicaid relative to uncompensated care costs in 2013, the year before Medicaid expansion (9.3 percent of operating expenses in 2013). The findings based on the CMS data showed that there was a 32 percent decline in uncompensated care costs relative to costs in 2013 (5.0 percent of operating expenses in 2013).

These results are in line with previous studies that have reported that expansion has resulted in substantial reductions in hospitals' uncompensated care costs and increases in their Medicaid shortfalls (these shortfalls are the difference between Medicaid reimbursement and what it costs providers to care for patients).

Nationally, the estimated net effect of expansion reduced not-for-profit hospital costs by two percentage points based on IRS data and 0.83 percentage points based on CMS data. Across expansion states, the estimated net effects varied widely with approximately a 10-fold difference for hospitals based on IRS data and a two-fold difference based on CMS data.

Another key finding revealed that the increase in hospital's Medicaid shortfalls has been occurring more gradually, a result that may be partially attributable to a growing Medicaid population in expansion states.

The authors mention that while Medicaid expansion has clearly had an impact on hospitals' financial status, assessment of the actual magnitude of the effects is sensitive to the data sources used.

"Expansion effects have also varied by state, which may be an indicator of how states may potentially weather the COVID-19 pandemic financial shocks, including unemployment and increasing Medicaid enrollment. These are important findings for future consideration as Medicaid expansion continues to be a source of debate across the United States as a health policy initiative," added Santos.

The authors suggest that future studies should further explore the differences across IRS and CMS data. They suggest that as the pandemic unfolds Medicaid will be especially critical in serving the most vulnerable populations. States will need to make difficult financial decisions to protect their safety net hospitals and hospitals at highest risk of financial distress.
A malaria vaccine candidate tested on children in West Africa has shown an efficacy of around 77 per cent, say scientists, hailing it as a breakthrough in the fight against the disease.

Malaria causes more than 400,000 deaths a year globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), mostly among children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, developed by the Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro (CRUN), Burkina Faso and their partners at the University of Oxford in the UK, is the first malaria vaccine to reach the 75 per cent efficacy target set by the WHO.

Researchers recruited 450 children aged five to 17 months in the area of Nanoro, central Burkina Faso, and divided them into three groups for the Phase IIb trial.

One group of 150 received the vaccine with a low dose of the Matrix-M adjuvant, which helps create a stronger immune response. Another group of 150 received the vaccine at a higher dose of adjuvant, while the last group of 150 received the rabies vaccine as a control vaccine.

Halidou Tinto, principal trial investigator at the CRUN, said:

Once we vaccinated them with three doses one month apart [], we followed them in each group to see how they were going to behave in terms of vaccine safety, tolerance, but also efficacy."

The subjects in the study reported no serious side effects from the vaccine, which was found to be safe and can be manufactured at low cost on a large scale, they added.

Despite more than 100 vaccine candidates entering clinical trials in recent decades, none have previously reached the target of 75 percent efficacy which the WHO set as a target to be achieved by 2030.

The Serum Institute of India, which has manufactured the vaccine, says it will be able to deliver more than 200 million doses of the vaccine once it is approved by regulators.

Epidemiologist Gauthier Tougouri, coordinator of the National Malaria Control Programme in Burkina Faso, hailed the study as a great achievement in the fight against malaria.

Last year the country recorded more than 11 million cases of malaria and almost 4,000 malaria-related deaths, including pregnant women and children, official figures show.

A larger Phase III trial will now be conducted involving 4,800 children aged five to three years in four countries.

"I hope that the forthcoming results will confirm phase two of the study so that we can reach the 2030 target for the elimination of malaria," said Tougouri.

In Burkina Faso, children will be recruited for the next phase in Nanoro and Dande, in the south-west of the country from next month.

"It is important for us to see if such a vaccine, tested in an area like Nanoro which has a transmission of medium duration, will give the same effectiveness in an area like Dande where the transmission is much longer," explained Tinto.

Researchers hope that by testing the vaccine in different contexts on a larger number of children, its efficacy will be confirmed and the vaccine can be considered for registration.

Charlemagne Ouedraogo, Minister of Health for Burkina Faso, said the findings offer hope for the elimination of malaria in the country and across the continent.

"We believe that the solution against malaria will come from Burkina. We encourage the team to continue the third phase to give us results that will allow us to go further so that a vaccine is put on the market that will allow us to reduce morbidity and mortality from malaria," he said.

Ida Sawadogo, program officer at the Access to Essential Medicines Network, said: "We have been waiting for this for years and we are happy that at last a vaccine is being found against this disease which is the number one killer in our country."
Spinal fusion is frequently performed to restore spinal stability in patients with spinal diseases, such as spinal stenosis, vertebral fractures, progressive deformities, and instability. In the past two decades, there has been marked increase in the number of people over 65 years in age who have needed spinal fusion surgery.

While autogenous bone grafts have long been considered the reference standard for spinal fusion, painful pseudoarthrosis remains a leading cause of poor clinical outcomes. Many researchers have consequently focused on trying to create a biomimetic scaffold that induces vascularization to enable bone tissue regeneration and spinal fusion.

In Applied Physics Reviews, from AIP Publishing, researchers from Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea present a solution to address the challenge of fabrication of a biomimetic scaffold. The team designed a microchannel scaffold made of a collagen and hydroxyapitite combination, with each strut consisting of micrometer-scaled microchannels. The microchannels have induced growth of blood vessels in a mouse model.

Since the fabrication of biomimetic scaffold is a challenging issue, the innovation of this study lies in adding extra hierarchy to the structure in the form of microchannels. This was achieved through a 4D printing strategy, where one-way shape morphing is used." Geun Hyung Kim, Author

The researchers printed immiscible polymer blends that act as a double negative template in order to fabricate the the biomimetic collagen/hydroxyapatite hierarchical scaffold. They followed that by one-way shape morphing (4D printing) and coating processes.

Collagen is known as a hydrophilic material, and numerous in vivo studies have suggested it possesses excellent cellular activities. In the case of the microchanneled collagen/hydroxyapatite scaffold, the researchers noted significantly higher water-absorbing capability, compared to a conventional collagen scaffold, as a result of the capillary pressure supplied by the microchannels. Consequently, the in vivo studies have suggested excellent infiltration of cells into microchannels.

Going forward, the researchers will investigate enhancing the mechanical properties of the scaffold. Furthermore, controlling the mechanical properties of the scaffold would enable versatile applications of the microchanneled collagen/hydroxyapatite scaffold.

"I believe that the designed scaffold can have multiple applications with tubular structures such as muscle, tendon, and nerve," said Kim.

Skeletal muscle is a hierarchical organization where the muscle fibers are encapsulated in microchannels known as endomysium. Therefore, the designed scaffold could act as endomysium to enable the infiltration of muscle fibers into the channels.
Thought Leaders Dr. Samantha Walker Director of Research & Innovation Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation

In light of World Asthma Day, News-Medical interviewed Dr. Samantha Walker from Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation about some of the common misconceptions surrounding asthma.

Please could you introduce yourself and tell us about your expertise in asthma?

My name is Samantha Walker. I am Director of Research & Innovation at Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation, based in London. I trained as a nurse in the late 80s and then worked as a research nurse at the world-leading Allergy & Clinical Immunology Department at the National Heart & Lung Institute (NHLI), based at Imperial College London, assisting in and eventually running research studies testing new asthma and allergy treatments.

At the same time, I completed a diploma in asthma management and as part of my research role worked in allergy, severe asthma, and ENT clinics at the Royal Brompton Hospital. I then completed a Ph.D. supervised by Prof. Stephen Durham at Imperial College, graduating in 2000. This gave me a good grounding in understanding the mechanisms of asthma and in particular, allergic asthma. It also exposed me to brilliant scientists from around the world who were themselves training at NHLI, but who now form an amazing network of researchers driving forward asthma research globally.

What inspired your career into asthma?

In my years of treating and talking to people with asthma, I have found that the real danger asthma poses is regularly underestimated. This sadly leads to attacks and deaths that could have been prevented.

As a nurse, I became interested in helping people to manage their asthma as well as possible, whilst developing a fascination with the mechanisms that cause and trigger symptoms and attacks. Working in a world-leading clinical immunology lab amongst talented scientists allowed me to contribute to some of the ground-breaking trials of the mid-90s. This left me with an ongoing interest in trying to understand and treat asthma more effectively and eventually cure it.

The theme for World Asthma Day 2021 is uncovering asthma misconceptions. What do you believe to be some of the most common misconceptions surrounding asthma?

There are so many dangerous misconceptions about asthma, including that people grow out of their asthma. People simply stop experiencing symptoms, they dont grow out of them. These symptoms can, and frequently do, return later in life. In women, hormonal changes, like those that take place during pregnancy, or menopause, can trigger a sudden return of asthma symptoms, as can lifestyle changes, such as moving to a more polluted area.

Another common misconception is that people only need to use their inhalers when they are having an asthma attack, when in fact, preventer inhalers should be used every day to prevent an attack and to manage symptoms.

Reliever inhalers should only be used to ease symptoms as they occur, and they work by widening the airways. A reliever inhaler shouldnt be used more than three times a week and if it is, this is a sign that the persons asthma is not well-controlled, and they should book an urgent asthma review with their GP.

There are so many dangerous misconceptions about asthma, including that people grow out of their asthma.

Asthma. Image Credit: Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock.com

Every day 3 people die from an asthma attack in the UK and many of these deaths could be preventable with effective treatment options. Why are there still asthma sufferers around the world that do not have effective treatment options?

There are many effective treatments, but unfortunately, one of the key issues we face is people collectively not taking their treatments as prescribed when they are not displaying symptoms. Peoples behavior in relation to their asthma is complex, but it is often due to a general lack of understanding about asthma and its severity. Through a better understanding of peoples behaviors, we can help people to self-manage their symptoms.

We have recently developed personas based on deep clinical and behavioral insights and analysis which we hope will help tech developers design better digital applications that could radically improve self-management to prevent asthma attacks and deaths.

That said, there is a sizeable minority of people who, even if they take their medicine as prescribed, still have bad symptoms. This is because there are many different types of asthma, a few of which we know dont respond very well to current treatments.

Examples include symptoms driven by hormonal changes (including puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause) and symptoms driven by obesity. We have a long way to go to understand the mechanisms causing these symptoms, but we are working hard to make the case for greater financial investment and focus in these areas.

Asthma UK is an organization set up to make a difference for asthma sufferers. What are some of the ways you help to fight asthma?

It is our mission to stop asthma attacks and cure asthma and whilst we work towards that, we want to improve the lives of the 5.4 million people in the UK already living with the condition. We offer a range of services designed to support people with asthma, including our dedicated Helpline and WhatsApp service. We also fund many research projects and innovations, including:

The Asthma Health Technology Fund:

Launched in October 2020, this multi-million-pound fund, in partnership with two large Government funding bodies (NIHR and EPSRC), was created to help us solve the biggest unmet need in asthma self-management technology.

We know that great innovation often comes from different disciplines working together, and the team has been working hard to attract applications from people outside our usual networks. Weve already had interest, which is an encouraging sign that were reaching new research and innovation communities who hopefully, in partnership with respiratory experts, can offer exciting new approaches.

Severe asthma:

We estimate that approximately 46,000 people with severe asthma may benefit from biologics, hailed as a game-changer by those suitable for the treatment. To ensure more people are receiving this treatment, we developed an online tool and launched a campaign to help people to find out if they are eligible. Biologics are genetically engineered proteins that target specific parts of the immune system that fuel inflammation.

Clinical trials found that for those with severe asthma, using biologics can reduce asthma attacks by up to half and can reduce and even stop the need for steroid tablets. We also published a hard-hitting policy report, 'Do no harm: safer and better treatment options for people with asthma', to help persuade clinicians to manage, identify and refer people with suspected severe asthma to a specialist.

Patient and public involvement:

Developing treatments and care for people with asthma demands understanding their needs and experiences. That's why we are constantly working to provide deeper insights into challenges that people face, and sharing those insights with researchers, policymakers, and innovators.

With over 5.4 million people with asthma in the UK, we strive to be truly representative by employing a range of tools including surveys reaching thousands, focus groups, and in-depth interviews.

COVID-19 has taken up a huge amount of research and resources over the last year with many scientists and healthcare professionals working together to develop effective treatment strategies. How could this level of collaboration be used to develop effective treatment strategies for asthma sufferers?

COVID-19 has seen many respiratory specialists tackling the immediate crisis through successive waves of the virus, and at the center of efforts to understand the emerging syndrome of Long COVID. This response could result in long-term benefits for asthma science.

In the UK, a flagship study into Long COVID, PHOSP-COVID, has seen the development of rapid cross-disciplinary collaboration between respiratory scientists and experts in other fields such as cardiovascular disease and renal disease. These collaborations have been underpinned by unprecedented secure sharing of data, to quickly reveal insights into different phenotypes of Long COVID. With breathlessness being one of the major symptoms of Long COVID, respiratory disease has been afforded a significantly higher profile in the research funding environment and is now well-positioned to build on these collaborations for the benefit of people with asthma.

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant a drive towards increased use of remote monitoring tools to continue research trials without relying on frequent visits to specialists. If these advancements in remote monitoring technology can be applied to asthma - an inherently seasonal and variable disease - researchers might better be able to track fluctuations in asthma symptoms. In turn, this could lead to a better understanding of patient need and treatments better tailored to actual experience.

How has the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic impacted asthma sufferers?

Through our helplines and social media, we have been hearing first-hand about the range of anxieties people have been faced with throughout the pandemic, from the uncertainty about shielding to people who are now finding that their asthma symptoms are harder to control after having COVID-19. In March 2021, we surveyed 4,752 people with lung conditions.

Over half told us their wellbeing was worse now than at the start of the pandemic. When asked to rate their anxiety on a scale of 0-10, there was an average score of 7.47. The way people interact with care has also changed markedly due to the pandemic, with 86.4% saying that have had their care done differently since October 2020  through delays, cancellations, or care done remotely. Worryingly, nearly a quarter told us that their symptoms had got worse due to their care being canceled.

Air Pollution. Image Credit: aapsky/Shutterstock.com

The levels of air pollution across the globe have been increasing annually. What impact does air pollution have on asthma sufferers and is air pollution causing more people to develop asthma?

More than half of people with asthma tell us air pollution exacerbates their symptoms, with potentially life-threatening consequences, and we know that there is an established link between high pollution days and respiratory-related hospital admissions. There is also growing evidence to suggest that air pollution can cause new incidences of asthma.

In the case of London schoolgirl Ella Kissi-Debrah, who had severe asthma, a recent inquest found that dangerous levels of pollution where she lived had contributed to her death. This ground-breaking ruling meant that for the first time in the UK, and potentially the world, air pollution was formally recognized as a cause of death.

In our recent report, The Invisible Threat, we examined the ways in which air pollution is disproportionately impacting those most at risk from harm, including adults and children with asthma and other pre-existing lung conditions. We found that these people are being exposed to dangerously high levels of particulate pollution in places they have no choice but to be, including at over a third of all schools, colleges, and GP surgeries in England.

During busier times of year, when traffic levels increase and air quality is worse, I cant go near the center of town as I have severe asthma and it can trigger my symptoms to flare up. If Im exposed to high levels of air pollution my chest and breathing can be really bad even the day after the exposure. I do my best to avoid high pollution levels, using various apps to track the air quality around me and try to protect my lungs as much as I can. Olivia (34) from Edinburgh

What can governments be doing to reduce the risk of people developing asthma due to high levels of air pollution?

It is without a doubt that air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to human health and bold action must be taken to protect people on a national and global scale. That is why as a charity, we are calling on the government to urgently produce an air pollution National Health Protection Plan and commit to stronger clean air laws, that are in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

Your research has been published in a range of research journals and you have run and designed many successful research projects, what has been your proudest career achievement so far?

The research I am most proud of was showing a study that adolescents with hay fever and an asthma diagnosis performed less well in their GCSEs than people without hay fever. This has since been used internationally to promote better allergy and asthma management and to argue for moving the timings of summer exams in the UK.

I am also proud of the EU-funded, pan-sector, pan-European collaboration I pulled together, with support and insights from people with asthma. This resulted in a series of published papers highlighting the unmet needs in asthma research, development, and innovation (R, D&I). From basic mechanisms to self-management, culminating in a list of R, D & I priorities agreed by all relevant stakeholders including thousands of people with asthma across Europe. These papers have been used worldwide to drive focus and investment in areas with the greatest unmet need.

Do you believe that with continued funding and research into the mechanisms of asthma, we could finally develop a cure for asthma?

Asthma is complex and has many causes and so it vital that we continue to fund life-saving research. I believe in time, there will be cures available for all asthma sub-types.

We are Asthma UK Play

What can people do to get involved and support Asthma UKs mission?

Support us by Donating, Fundraising, or Participating at events https://www.asthma.org.uk/support-us/

Get involved as a Research and Policy Volunteer: https://www.asthma.org.uk/research/funding/get-involved/

Where can readers find more information?

Website: https://www.asthma.org.uk/

Blogs: https://blog.asthma.org.uk/ | https://news.asthma.org.uk/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/AsthmaUK

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asthmauk/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC63AT1IYzfpwsM505Bzf_rQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/asthmauk

About Dr. Samantha Walker

Samantha Walker is Director of Research & Innovation at the Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation Partnership, a patient charity and research funder based in London.

Samantha is passionate about the importance of focusing on the needs of real people in the charitys research and innovation activities in a way that avoids tokenism and enables an equitable share of voice and parity of esteem. Building on Asthma UKs successful patient-led European asthma research prioritization exercise in 2016 (funded by the European Commissions FP-7 funding program), she has pioneered patient involvement in the development of several ambitious research collaborations (leading to successful multi-m funding applications) across the UK and Europe.

Samantha holds an honorary lectureship (non-clinical) in the Division of Community Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, and has published broadly on asthma and allergy for over 25 years in high impact research journals including papers on the mechanisms of allergic inflammation, the impact of allergen immunotherapy on clinical and immunological outcomes and the impact and management of allergic rhinitis including a seminal paper linking hayfever to poor exam performance in teenagers.
You know that raw overwhelm people have been reporting after months of a pandemic, compounded by economic issues and social unrest? Does fatigue and compulsive social media scrolling strike a familiar chord?

Those brittle feelings offer us a glimpse into what regular life can be like for individuals with sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), a biological trait possessed by roughly a third of the population. In a world of constant information overload and stress, it's a characteristic that can result in a variety of behaviors, from emotional outbursts to withdrawal, overwhelm and procrastination.

Behaviorally, we observe it as being more careful and cautious when approaching new things. You might see this behavior anywhere, from fruit flies to humans." Bianca Acevedo, Researcher, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, UC Santa Barbara

In a new situation, those with the trait are more likely to hang back and see what happens, she explained.

"Another broad way of thinking about it, that biologists have been using to understand people's individual differences in responses to different things, is that the person with high sensitivity will be more responsive, both for better and for worse," Acevedo continued. So while people with high sensitivity might get more rattled by uncomfortable situations, they might also experience higher levels of creativity, deeper bonds with others and a heightened appreciation of beauty.

The mechanism behind these depths and heights, and extra caution, lies in the way the brains of highly sensitive people process information: They do so more deeply, Acevedo said. And in a paper published in the journal Neuropsychobiology, she and her colleagues continue to home in on where in the brain this deeper processing is occurring.

"One of the novel advancements of this research was that in most of the previous brain imaging studies of sensitivity, we've tended to look at responses to stimuli," Acevedo said. "This was a study where we just examined what the brain at rest does and how being sensitive affects it."

Taking their volunteer subjects to a functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner housed in the basement of UCSB's Psychology Building, the researchers conducted an "empathy task" in which the participants were shown descriptions of happy, sad or neutral events, followed by corresponding emotional faces of their partners and of strangers. The volunteers were asked to count backward by seven from a large number "to wash away the effects of experiencing any kind of emotion," between the facial photo displays.

"Then they were asked to provide some responses to tell us how they felt when they were shown each face image," Acevedo said. After that, the participants were instructed to relax, while their brains were scanned.

"What we found was a pattern that suggested that during this rest, after doing something that was emotionally evocative, their brain showed activity that suggested depth of processing," she said, "and this depth of processing is a cardinal feature of high sensitivity."

Among the most robust signals in the participants who scored with higher levels of SPS was a greater connectivity between the precuneus and the hippocampus, a circuit that is implicated in episodic memory consolidation and spontaneous memory retrieval. The consolidation of memory is important, Acevedo said, in order to prepare an individual for future similar situations and how to respond to them.

Meanwhile, weaker connections were found between the periaqueductal gray and the amygdala, a region important for the modulation of pain and anxiety, as well as between the insula and the hippocampus, a circuit that is thought to be important for emotion processing and stress regulation.

These negative connections could be the reason sensitive people report overstimulation and higher anxiety, Acevedo said. The "robust negative connectivity" of the hippocampus and insula in particular suggests "higher order, deliberative consolidation of memory," rather than the habitual, automated responses typically triggered by stressful events.

The results of this paper represent a significant advance in the growing understanding of sensory processing sensitivity, a trait that is present among an estimated 1.4 billion of the global population. The results may also have some clinical relevance for those with mood disorders, such as anxiety, said Acevedo, whose book, "The Highly Sensitive Brain," is a finalist for the 2021 Association of American Publishers Professional and Scholarly Excellence (PROSE) Award in Neuroscience. One way to help with that tension and trouble focusing, whether or not you consider yourself highly sensitive?

"Take a break," Acevedo said. "For all of us, but especially for the highly sensitive, taking a few minutes' break and not necessarily doing anything but relaxing can be beneficial. We've seen it at the behavioral level and the level of the brain."
Immunity often calls to mind the adaptive immune response, made up of antibodies and T cells that learn to fight specific pathogens after infection or vaccination.

But the immune system also has an innate immune response, which uses a set number of techniques to provide a swift, non-specialized response against pathogens or support the adaptive immune response.

In the past few years, however, scientists have found that certain parts of the innate immune response can, in some instances, also be trained in response to infectious pathogens, such as HIV.

Xu Yu, MD, a Core Member of the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, and colleagues recently published a study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation which showed that elite controllers, a rare subset of people whose immune system can control HIV without the use of drugs, have myeloid dendritic cells, part of the innate immune response, that display traits of a trained innate immune cell.

Using RNA-sequencing technology, we were able to identify one long-noncoding RNA called MIR4435-2HG that was present at a higher level in elite controllers' myeloid dendritic cells, which have enhanced immune and metabolic states. Our research shows that MIR4435-2HG might be an important driver of this enhanced state, indicating a trained response." Xu Yu, MD, Core Member of the Ragon Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital

Myeloid dendritic cells' primary job is to support T cells, which are key to the elite controllers' ability to control HIV infection. Since MIR4435-2HG was found in higher levels only in cells from elite controllers, Yu explains, it may be part of a learned immune response to infection with HIV. Myeloid dendritic cells with increased MIR4435-2HG also had higher amounts of a protein called RPTOR, which drives metabolism. This increased metabolism may allow the myeloid dendritic cells to better support the T cells controlling the HIV infection.

"We used a novel sequencing technology, called CUT&RUN, to study the DNA of these cells," says postdoctoral fellow Ciputra Hartana, MD, PhD, the paper's first author. "It allowed us to study epigenetic modifications like MIR4435-2HG, which are molecules that bind to the DNA and change how, or if, the DNA is read by the cell's machinery."

The team found that MIR4435-2HG might work by attaching to the DNA near the location of the RPTOR gene. The bound MIR4435-2HG would then encourage the cell's machinery to make more of the RPTOR protein, using the instructions found in the RPTOR gene. This type of epigenetic modification, a trained response to HIV infection, would allow the myeloid dendritic cells to stay in an increased metabolic state and therefore provide long-term support to the T cells fighting the virus.

"Myeloid dendritic cells are very rare immune cells, accounting for only 0.1-0.3% of cells found in human blood," says Yu. "We were fortunate and thankful to have access to hundreds of millions of blood cells from the many study participants who have donated their blood to support our HIV research. These donations were key to making this discovery."

Understanding exactly how elite controllers' immune systems can control HIV is a key part of HIV cure research. If scientists can understand how elite controllers suppress this deadly virus, they may be able to develop treatments that allow other people living with HIV to replicate the same immune response, removing the need for daily medication to control the virus and achieving what is known as a functional cure.
Tobin's pharmacy and department store had already stocked its shelves with Easter and Mother's Day items last spring, and the staff had just placed the Christmas orders. The shop in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, had been operating on a razor's edge as retail sales moved online and mail-order pharmacies siphoned off its patients. It was losing money on 1 out of 4 pill bottles filled, so the front of the store, where it sold clothing, cosmetics and jewelry, had been compensating for pharmacy losses for years.

"And then Covid hit," said Dave Schultz, who co-owned the store with his brother. "And that was the final straw."

The Covid-19 pandemic sank many businesses in 2020, particularly those relying on in-person sales to stay afloat. For pharmacies  especially independent pharmacies  the pandemic lockdowns exacerbated long-standing economic pressures. Many small owner-operated pharmacies adapted quickly, delivering their traditional amenities in safer ways or capitalizing on new services created by the pandemic, such as Covid testing and vaccinations. But others, like Tobin's, became casualties of the pandemic, closing their doors for good.

It's too early to quantify just how many pharmacies succumbed to Covid and assess how patients will be affected. The total number of pharmacies has declined less than 1% over the past five years, as pharmacy chains get larger while independent community pharmacies  often the last place left to fill a prescription in some small towns  go under. The Rural Policy Research Institute found that 1,231 independently owned rural pharmacies, about 16%, closed for good from 2003 to 2018, well before the pandemic pinch. And according to the Drug Channels Institute, after five years of declines, the number of urban and rural independent pharmacies dipped below 20,000 for the first time in 2020.

Revenue from Covid testing and vaccinations may help keep some independents afloat, but that comes with added costs and logistical challenges.

"Pharmacies are struggling," said Harry Lattanzio, president of PRS Pharmacy Services, a consulting firm in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. "We're getting calls from a lot more pharmacy owners that want to sell their stores. They've had enough."

Most pharmacies, he said, saw a decline in prescriptions last year as customers hesitated to visit their doctors for anything but emergencies. That drop in business also meant fewer sales of over-the-counter medicines and ancillary items sold by the stores. Meanwhile, pharmacies had to buy protective equipment to keep staffers and customers safe and beef up their technology to address the new reality.

Lattanzio said some independent pharmacies, which had always preferred the personal touch of having staff members answer the phones, have had to invest in new systems to handle thousands of calls a day from people seeking vaccines. Costs rose even as revenues dropped.

"For the most part, they lost money," Lattanzio said. "If you didn't lose money, you did something really right."

When Lattanzio opened his first pharmacy 20 years ago, he saw gross profit margins of 36%. Now independent pharmacies are fortunate to see margins of 3% to 5%, if they survive the pandemic at all. Much of that decline comes from the impact of pharmacy benefit managers, which manage commercial and public health plans' prescription drug reimbursements to pharmacies. Those PBMs, often aligned with large drugstore chains, systematically squeezed the profits out of independent pharmacies. That left many smaller chains or unaffiliated pharmacies unable to bear the added hit from the pandemic.

"I'm afraid to see the outcome," said Joe Moose, co-owner of Moose Pharmacy, a chain of seven drugstores on the outskirts of Charlotte, North Carolina. "The delay in payments, the increased cost to keep operating in the early days of this, combined with the fact that reimbursement is so poor already  Covid may be the final nail in the coffin for some of us."

Moose Pharmacy is trying to adapt. When it had to stop in-store purchases during the pandemic, the chain expanded curbside services and hired additional drivers. Home deliveries tripled. Workers ferried food, toilet paper, paper towels and shampoo to customers.

"We had to build out our website. We put in technology so that people could text us from the parking lot. It had to be HIPAA-compliant," said Moose, who owns the chain with his brother. "And keep in mind that all of that is happening at no change in reimbursement."

Covid also interrupted the medication supply chain. In normal times, the pharmacy's supply of drugs is automated, so when it dispenses medicines, replacements show up in the next day's delivery. But Moose and his staff had to resort to the old way of calling up five or six wholesalers to see who had the drugs in stock.

When Covid testing was scarce, the pharmacies taught their employees to perform rapid tests. Once vaccines arrived, Moose sought out patients who couldn't make an appointment on a smartphone, who couldn't drive to mass vaccination clinics, or who were just afraid to leave their home.

Staffers delivered vaccines to one elderly man with cancer, whose wife had died a year earlier. He and his disabled adult son didn't want to risk going out and contracting the virus.

"But he trusts us, and so we deliver medication to him probably every other week," Moose said. "So it made sense that we bring the vaccine to him."

Tripp Logan, a pharmacist in Charleston, Missouri, said one of his three pharmacies is in rural Mississippi County, which has no hospital or chain pharmacy for the 14,000 residents. There, four independent pharmacies and the county health department formed a consortium to help distribute Covid vaccines.

"It started with a group text, and the next thing you know, we're vaccinating hundreds of people a week collectively," Logan said.

Because pharmacies can make up to $70 per Covid test and $40 for each vaccination, many pharmacies are earning new revenue to offset some of the retail losses, said Owen BonDurant, president of Independent Rx Consulting in Centerville, Ohio.

"So that has brought a significant increase in profit margins for the short term," BonDurant said. "Covid has probably saved a lot of pharmacies. Because PBM pressure has been so hard, especially on some of these rural and inner-city pharmacies, a lot of them still are on the verge of going out of business."

The cash infusion from the federal Paycheck Protection Program also kept many pharmacies afloat, and allowed some to make investments that better position them for the future.

"We would have had to shut down or sell because the PBMs were brutal last year, and they killed off a lot of our friends in Wisconsin," said Dan Strause, president and chief executive officer of Hometown Pharmacy in Madison, Wisconsin. "Without the PPP, there would have been far more facing the same fate."

Some of the changes born of necessity could stick. In a recent survey by the National Community Pharmacists Association, 3 in 5 community pharmacists said they expect more pharmacies to offer point-of-care testing after the pandemic, and more than half said additional pharmacies will give immunizations.

Hashim Zaibak, CEO of Hayat Pharmacy in Milwaukee, said his pharmacy is considering testing for the flu, strep and hemoglobin A1C levels for those with diabetes, and it will continue providing vaccinations.

"Those changes are here to stay," Zaibak said.

Tobin's owners considered selling their pharmacy, but finding no buyers, they shut down for good in September. Schultz said it's unclear whether they could have survived had Covid not happened  or if the vaccine revenue might have helped. He knows of two other independent pharmacies in Wisconsin that closed in the past 18 months.

"The real crux of the matter is you're getting paid, in some cases, $60 under the cost that we end up paying for the medication," he said. "How do you justify that portion of your business?"

Oconomowoc has one independent drugstore, two grocery store pharmacies and a Walgreens to serve its 17,000 residents. But Schultz worries about many of the older, sicker customers who relied on the personalized care his pharmacy provided. One of his former pharmacists now works at a drugstore outside of town but delivers medications to some of Tobin's most vulnerable former customers on her way home.

"She just didn't think they would survive going someplace else," he said.
A new USC study suggests that certain neighborhoods - particularly those characterized by poverty and unemployment - may pose an environmental risk to the developing brains of children, impacting neurocognitive performance and even brain size.

The research was published May 3 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

These findings highlight the importance of neighborhood environments for child and adolescent brain development, the researchers said, and suggest that policies, programs and investments that help improve local neighborhood conditions and empower communities could support children's neurodevelopment and long-term health.

This is the first large, national study of neurodevelopment to determine that the role of neighborhood disadvantage is similar across all regions of the country, and we found that what mattered most were the local differences in neighborhood disadvantage within each city, rather than how cities differ from each other overall." Daniel Hackman, lead author, assistant professor, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Researchers from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and the Keck School of Medicine of USC used data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, collected from October 2016 - 2018. The ABCD Study is the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States.

Neighborhood disadvantage, after accounting for family socioeconomic status and perceptions of neighborhood safety, showed associations with multiple aspects of neurocognition and smaller total cortical surface area, particularly in the frontal, parietal and temporal lobes.

"Our findings aren't specific to the child's home life, as we adjusted for socioeconomic factors at each child's home. But the research suggests neighborhoods may have different levels of social and educational resources and opportunities that can impact a child's neurodevelopment," said senior author Megan Herting, assistant professor at the department of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at USC.

In addition, the researchers said, disadvantaged neighborhoods may lack quality health services, access to nutritional foods, and well-maintained parks and rec facilities; they may also expose residents to more pollutants or social stressors.

"This research is important as it not only highlights that neighborhoods matter, but it also suggests that promoting neighborhood equity based on the unique local conditions within cities may improve short and long-term health and development of children and adolescents," said Hackman.
The company said the proceeds will be used to fund royalty acquisitions as well as for general corporate working capital purposes

Each unit in the private placement, priced at $0.40 per unit, is comprised of one common share of the company plus one common share purchase warrant

. ( ) (OCTMKTS:ELECF) has said it plans to complete a private placement of up to 25,000,000 units of the company at a price of $0.40 each for proceeds of up to $10 million.

The company said the proceeds will be used to fund royalty acquisitions as well as for general corporate working capital purposes.

Each unit in the private placement is comprised of one common share of the company plus one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant can be exercised for a two-year period from the closing date at $0.60 per warrant share.

The units, shares and warrant shares will be subject to applicable resale restrictions, including a four-month hold period from date of closing of the offering under applicable Canadian securities laws. Completion of the offering is subject to regulatory approval, including approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Electric Royalties recently entered into a letter of intent (LOI) with Sprott Resource Streaming and Royalty to help fund the acquisition of the Middle Tennessee Mine (MTM) royalty. Under the proposed terms, the company said Sprott Streaming would pay C$9.15 million in cash in return for 50% of the MTM royalty with Electric Royalties retaining 50% of the MTM royalty.

Electric Royalties is a royalty company established to take advantage of the demand for a wide range of commodities - lithium, vanadium, manganese, tin, graphite, cobalt, nickel & copper - that will benefit from the drive toward electrification of a variety of consumer products: cars, rechargeable batteries, large scale energy storage, renewable energy generation and other applications.

Electric vehicle sales, battery production capacity and renewable energy generation are slated to increase significantly over the next several years and with it, the demand for these targeted commodities. This creates a unique opportunity to invest in and acquire royalties over the mines and projects that will supply the materials needed to feed the electric revolution.

Electric Royalties has a portfolio of 12 royalties with 2 additional royalties currently under contract, subject to completion. The company plans to focus predominantly on acquiring royalties on advanced stage and operating projects to build a diversified portfolio located in jurisdictions with low geopolitical risk.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
A new case report, detailed in Annals of Emergency Medicine, is the first known case of a patient with VITT (vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia) treated with a heparin alternative following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.

An otherwise healthy female patient in her 40s came to the emergency department at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital twelve days after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine with a headache, dizziness, and vision changes.

The patient was treated on April 13, 2021, the same day that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a pause in the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. CDC guidance recommended treatment with heparin alternatives but did not recommended any specific alternative in that announcement.

Bivalirudin was given to the patient and the authors write that, "this patient's early outcomes suggest that bivalirudin may be a safe alternative to heparin in patients demonstrating a presentation consistent with VITT."'

Our experience shows us that these clot reactions are very rare, but they can be treated. Americans can feel comfortable getting vaccinated and should discuss any vaccination concerns with their doctor. Getting vaccinated is a critical step in combatting this pandemic so we can return to our normal lives." R. Todd Clark, MD, MBA, Study Lead Co-Author and Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine

While more research is needed on the efficacy of this medicine, the early outcomes of this case may inform the decision making of other health professionals who may be selecting heparin alternatives for patients with VITT, the authors said.
High rates of tuberculosis (TB) in Latin American prisons are subverting efforts to control the disease in the wider population, and constitute a "health and human rights crisis", a study warns.

According to research published inThe Lancet, TB cases in the region's prisons rose from five per cent of the total reported cases in 2011, to 11.1 per cent in 2017. The incarcerated population in Central and South America represents one per cent of the total population.

"The health and human rights crisis of tuberculosis among PDL (people deprived of their liberty) and their communities demand urgent action and sustained attention from ministries of health and justice and the global medical community," the study's authors warned.

In Venezuela and El Salvador the problem is particularly acute. In Venezuela, in 2011, 1.8 per cent of reported TB cases were registered in prisons, but in 2017 that percentage rose to 15.5 per cent.

In El Salvador, 225 TB cases - 11 per cent of the total - occurred in prisons in 2011. Six years later, 1,889 cases - 51.5 per cent of all reported cases - were found among detainees.

In both Central and South America, the increase in the disease among prisoners surpasses advances in tuberculosis control achieved among the general population, the study found.

This high incidence of the disease in prisons also increases the risk of TB beyond prison walls, to prison workers and the families of detainees, researchers warn.

Epidemiologist Katharine Walter of Stanford University, USA, co-author of the study, said:

There is growing evidence that incarceration puts people at higher risk for diseases and that this risk extends to neighbouring communities."

Latin American prisons-described by Walter as "inhumane" -are overcrowded and poorly ventilated, with prisoners often lacking access to proper healthcare and nutrition, the study notes, providing perfect conditions for infections to spread.

"The most direct way to cut the over risk of TB infection in jails is reducing the growing number of people incarcerated in these settings with a high risk of transmission," Walter added.

Drug resistance also poses a risk if the situation is left unchecked, the study warns. It notes: "Although Central and South America have not yet been affected by high rates of drug-resistant tuberculosis in prisons, as seen in many Eastern European countries, the current trajectory suggests that drug resistance should also be closely monitored."

Sociologist and epidemiologist Maria Belen Herrero, who did not take part in the research, said the highlights "a real problem, which is the situation of TB in prisons and the need to address the problem urgently".

However, Herrero, an Argentinean researcher at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO), says TB among prisoners "is an important aspect but it is not what ends up explaining the situation of the disease in the region."

TB is a disease "strongly determined by the social context and by living conditions and often the result of the occurrence of TB cases in jails is a reflection of all this and it is not so much the origin of the problem," Herrero added.

Zulma Rueda, co-author of the study and epidemiologist at the University of Manitoba, Canada, believes that to solve the problem we must understand that imprisoned people "are human beings and TB cannot become part of their sentence".

More investment in TB programmes, greater political will, financial support for research, and effective treatments against the disease are crucial, she said, as well as addressing the stigma often associated with TB.
Treating patients has become more expensive during the pandemic, and doctors and dentists don't want to be on the hook for all the new costs.

For instance, the box of 100 gloves that cost $2.39 in February 2020 costs $30 now, said Dr. Judee Tippett-Whyte, president of the California Dental Association, who has a private dental practice in Stockton.

Her practice used to rely on surgical masks that cost 20 cents each but has upgraded to N95 masks at $2.50 a pop. On top of that, her office is scheduling two or three fewer patients each day to accommodate physical distancing and give staff members time to disinfect between patients, she said.

"We've sustained a lot of financial costs," Tippett-Whyte said. "We shouldn't have to bear the cost of this for ourselves."

Her argument raises a fundamental covid question: Who should pay for pandemic expenses? Should it be health care providers contending with new pandemic-era protocols or insurance companies, which may pass on their additional costs to customers in the form of higher premiums?

California's dentist and doctor lobbies say insurance companies are flush with cash after collecting premiums during the pandemic but paying fewer claims than usual  and should foot the bill. The California Medical Association, which represents doctors, has sponsored legislation that would require insurers to reimburse medical and dental practices for pandemic-related expenses like personal protective equipment, disinfectant and the staff time required to screen patients for symptoms before an appointment.

A request by doctors to bill Medicaid and Medicare for supplies and other pandemic-related costs recently failed at the federal level. But in Washington state, a new law sponsored by the state doctors' lobby requires private health insurers to reimburse a portion of those costs.

Insurance trade groups have opposed both state measures.

Reimbursing the cost of nonmedical supplies isn't typically the responsibility of insurers, said Mary Ellen Grant, spokesperson for the California Association of Health Plans.

"Here we are with treatment and office levels back at pre-pandemic levels. Now they want additional payment from plans to pay for nonmedical expenses," Grant said.

The insurance industry also points out that doctors and dentists haven't had to fend for themselves when it comes to PPE and other pandemic-related expenses. Since April 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has distributed $9.9 billion to more than 50,000 California medical providers through the Provider Relief Fund, out of $178 billion available nationally.

And more than 900,000 businesses in the "health care and social assistance" category  including some medical practices and dentists  have gotten Paycheck Protection Program loans from the Small Business Administration since March 2020.

A letter from insurance groups opposing California's bill points to other assistance, such as advance payments on insurance claims from the federal government and insurance plans, state-based grants and loans, and programs that distributed free PPE to some practices.

"They've gotten plenty of help from the feds to cover these costs," Grant said.

Health insurance companies saw their margins and profits skyrocket at the beginning of the pandemic when they were collecting premiums while patients put off non-urgent medical care. Those tapered off when people started returning to the doctor. Still, the nation's largest medical insurer, UnitedHealth Group, recently announced its net income for the first quarter of 2021 was 44% higher than in the same quarter last year.

Allison Hoffman, a professor who researches health policy at the University of Pennsylvania's law school, said she has little sympathy for health insurance companies that "made a fortune over the past year" by collecting premiums without paying for the typical number of treatments and doctors' visits.

"We're starting to see a kind of broader definition of what health insurance might pay for in order to keep people healthy," Hoffman said. "There's nothing like a public health emergency to shine a light on the fact that sometimes it's not a prescription drug or surgical procedure that's going to improve health."

Late last year, the American Medical Association lobbied the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to approve a procedure code doctors could use to bill those public insurance programs for PPE, disinfecting materials, office modifications to keep people apart, and staff time spent instructing patients before their visits and checking their symptoms. Often, when federal regulators approve a new billing code for Medicare and Medicaid, private insurers start reimbursing for the corresponding costs as well.

Allowing doctors to bill for that code would help them follow infection control protocols without further cutting into revenues, the association wrote to the federal agency.

But CMS denied the request, saying it considers payment for those costs part of the payment for the rest of the appointment, according to an agency spokesperson.

In the wake of that decision, two state medical associations took up the cause themselves.

The Washington State Medical Association backed a law, which took effect April 16, that allows health care providers to bill state-regulated private insurance companies $6.57 when they see a patient in person  on top of billing for whatever services they provide  to cover the cost of extra PPE, staff time, and materials to conduct and transport covid tests. The new rules last through the rest of the federally declared public health emergency.

For a law that put the state's medical association and insurance association on opposite sides of the bargaining table, it was remarkably uncontentious, said state Sen. David Frockt (D-Seattle), who introduced the bill.

California's legislation, which is still being debated, is more open-ended than Washington's.

SB 242 doesn't specify a dollar amount but would require private health plans regulated by the state to reimburse dental and medical practices for the "medically necessary" business expenses associated with a public health emergency.

The California Medical Association said physician practice revenues fell by one-third while PPE costs rose by 14% in the first six months of the pandemic, according to an October 2020 survey of its members. Of the survey respondents, 87% said they were worried about their financial viability.

"When you look at the record profits on some of these publicly traded companies and what they're showing their shareholders, this would be a drop in the bucket," association spokesperson Anthony York said of health insurers. "We're not surprised plans don't want to pay more, but ultimately this is a fight we'll have in the legislature."

The bill is intended to keep small and medium-sized practices from closing their doors in the face of rising costs, said its author, state Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton). The state medical and dental associations warn that anything that adds costs and cuts into revenues could force smaller practices to close or consolidate, exacerbating physician and dentist shortages around the state.

"What I'm doing, as a legislator, is to deliberately offset some of these burdensome costs so we don't lose physicians and practices," Newman said. "It would be a shame if those communities lost access to health care."

This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
Dating violence - physical, sexual, psychological or emotional within a relationship, including stalking - is pervasive on college campuses with far-reaching health implications. One in five women experience a sexual assault in college and students living in sorority houses are three times more likely to experience rape. College students are vulnerable to dating violence because of the influence of their social and living environments.

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University's College of Education in collaboration with Sacred Heart University conducted a study to understand the dating violence experience and perpetration of college-age women, as well as how they conceptualize violence in dating relationships. They also wanted to learn more about the role of technology within their lived experiences, which infuses most areas of American life, especially in dating and romantic relationships. Mobile technology allows 24-hour access, which also facilitates stalking and controlling behaviors.

Results of the study, published in the journal Violence Against Women, illuminate the span of dating violence knowledge among the participants and point to a lack of understanding of what constitutes emotional violence. Findings reveal normalization of unhealthy violent behaviors where sexual pressure or sexualized verbal harassment are viewed as an innate part of men, supporting the idea that "boys will be boys."

"Physically forcing you to have intercourse," was endorsed at 100 percent by participants as violent, while "emotionally pressuring you to have intercourse until you give in," was endorsed at 73.9 percent. Both scenarios indicate rape, yet one of them introduced physical dating violence, which was not acceptable to any participant. The other item introduced coercive sex, which was acceptable to about 25 percent of the participants.

Fifty-eight percent of the study participants reported not knowing how to help someone experiencing dating violence, 57 percent reported difficulty identifying what constitutes dating violence, and 38 percent noted not knowing how to get help for themselves if experiencing dating violence.

A substantially lower percentage of participants reported not experiencing in-person violence, but did report the experience of intimate partner "cyber" violence. Almost every respondent who noted having experienced intimate partner sexual, physical and emotional violence also documented experiencing intimate partner cyber violence.

Participants expressed a decreased sense of personal control over impulsivity and retaliatory behaviors when using technology in relationships, while often justifying the use of this form of violence because of the accessibility of technology. They also described ways in which they were controlled and monitored by partners.

Unfortunately, the college students in our study demonstrated a lack of knowledge of the forms of dating violence and its consequences. They also had a tendency to normalize these behaviors, which led to acceptance, rationalizing and providing excuses for these acts of violence. Furthermore, they lacked awareness of support systems that are available," Kelly Emelianchik-Key, Ph.D., Senior Author and Associate Professor, Department of Counselor Education within the College of Education

Study participants failed to mention any resources for psychological services, therapy, prevention programming or dating violence support groups. Only 21.6 percent endorsed the desire to seek help specifically from a counselor, traditionally one of the primary services provided on most college campuses. Instead, study participants turned to peers for help. However, research has shown that peers do not know how to help and fear intruding into someone's relationship.

"Our study findings underscore the need for education and early prevention programs on campuses that give a clear message that violence - in all forms - is not acceptable or normal in relationships," said Carman S. Gill, Ph.D., co-author, professor and department chair in the clinical mental health program, FAU College of Education. "Moreover, women should recognize emotional violence as a predictor of low quality of life over time and emotional well-being. The importance of understanding emotional abuse cannot be understated, as research findings illustrate that emotional violence is just as detrimental as physical violence."

The researchers say that because it is evident that peers play a critical role in student growth and development, interventions such as peer training initiatives, need to be appropriately targeted across college campuses. They also note that to break this cycle, students could benefit from a university/college statement or policy of zero tolerance for all forms of dating violence perpetration, along with clear definitions of the forms of violence.

"By gaining a critical understanding of college women's unique experiences, we can tailor early intervention to meet the individual needs of this population before the violence becomes pervasive and affects their physical and emotional health," said Emelianchik-Key.
A state of the art plenary session during the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2021 Virtual Meeting will bring together national experts on child poverty, racism and racial inequities, immigrant health, Native American culture, and environmental threats to discuss the intersectionality of child poverty.

Poor children do not just suffer from double jeopardy, but frequently multiple jeopardy from many overlapping threats to their health and development. The COVID-19 pandemic has further unearthed and intensified these threats to children including loss of financial resources, loss of nutritional supports, loss of family members, and loss of educational opportunity.

Children are the poorest age group in our society. On the hopeful side, we seem to be finally recognizing that the nation needs to address this issue, and with the passage of the reformed Child Tax Credit in March, there is hope that the level of poverty for children will be reduced by 40% this year. We have invited a powerhouse group of researchers and advocates to discuss the issue of child poverty and its intersection with racism, the issues of Native American children and families, as well as experts on environmental justice and primary care designed to address the needs of poor children." Benard P. Dreyer, MD, FAAP

Speakers will elucidate and contextualize the living Venn diagram of these intersections for children and families. They will also address the specific impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these families who are vulnerable because of being under-resourced and often marginalized, and will leave the attendees with what is a call for action to all of us.

Presentations include:

The intersection of race and poverty: addressing health care inequities in children; presenter: Tumaini R. Coker, MD, MBA - University of Washington/Seattle Children's

Structural racism in medicine, poverty, and child population health; presenter: Nia J. Heard-Garris, MD, MSc - Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago/Northwestern University Feinberg College of Medicine

Native American communities, poverty, and child health; presenter: Shaquita Bell, MD - University of Washington School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics

Environmental threats to poor children and the triple threat of environmental toxins, poverty, and racism; presenter: Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH - Michigan State University

Dr. Dreyer and Adam Schickedanz, MD, PhD, will chair the plenary, "The Intersection of Child Poverty With Race, Immigrant Status, and Environmental Threats in the Age of COVID-19," on Tuesday, May 4 at 5:30 p.m. EDT
For patients with brain metastases, amino acid positron emission tomography (PET) can provide valuable information about the effectiveness of state-of-the-art treatments.

When treatment monitoring with contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is unclear, adding 18F-FET PET can help to accurately diagnose recurring brain metastases and reliably assess patient response. This research was published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Newer treatment options for patients with brain metastases--such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapies--are effective, but can cause a variety of side effects. As a result, imaging findings on contrast-enhanced MRI can be highly variable, and it can be difficult to tell whether a treatment is working.

Essentially, these new treatments have requirements of brain imaging which cannot be met by conventional MRI. In our study, we tried to determine if adding 18F-FET PET could help to overcome some of these imaging challenges." Norbert Galldiks, MD, Neuro-Oncologist and Professor, Neurology, Neurologist, University Hospital Cologne and Research Center in Juelich, Germany

The retrospective study included melanoma and lung cancer patients with brain metastases who had been treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors or targeted therapy alone or in combination with radiotherapy.

18F-FET PET imaging was shown to be a useful method when conventional MRI was inconclusive. It could correctly diagnose brain metastasis relapses and identify patients who were responding to treatment and those who were not.

"In cases of ambiguous MRI findings, supplemental FET PET is helpful for treatment monitoring. It provides physicians with a longer time window for subsequent patient management and allows them to optimize the treatment strategy for each individual patient," noted Galldiks. "Since this approach is so accurate, it has the potential to influence clinical decision making. This may help to reduce the number of invasive procedures and limit overtreatment for a considerable number of seriously ill patients with brain metastases."
Honeybees have a complex communication system. Between buzzes and body movements, they can direct hive mates to food sources, signal danger, and prepare for swarming - all indicators of colony health. And now, researchers are listening in.

Scientists based in Germany - with collaborators in China and Norway - have developed a way to monitor the electrostatic signals that bees give off. Basically, their wax-covered bodies charge up with electrostatic energy due to friction when flying, similar to how rubbing your hair can make it stand on end. That energy then gets emitted during communications.

We were thrilled by the potential of directly accessing the social communication of bees with our method. For the first time we can ask the bees themselves whether their colony is in a healthy condition or whether they suffer from unfavorable environmental conditions including those caused by humans." Dr. Randolf Menzel, Free University of Berlin

The paper, recently published in the open access journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, likens honeybee colonies to a canary in a coal mine. Bees are usually among the first species to be affected by pollutants such as insecticides, and weakened communications can signal their damaging effects. Such evidence may point to potential harm to other wildlife and ecosystems in a way that is quicker and cheaper than other methods.

Menzel and his colleagues worked with 30 beekeepers across Germany over a period of five years. They placed sensors and a central recording device inside and outside a specially designed hive, and monitored the honeybees' electrostatic field (ESF) data.

They were particularly interested in what is known as the "waggle dance," a sophisticated messaging system in which honeybees walk in a figure-eight pattern, then "waggle" back and forth through the stretched part of the intersection. This bee ballet communicates flight directions and distance. "Other bees follow the dancing bee, read the message of the dancer, and apply the information about distance and direction to an attractive food source in their outbound flights," says Menzel.

The primary purpose of their research study was to measure the feasibility of their recording system, which did indeed work, although Menzel notes that scaling up their system would be challenging, and "to get meaningful knowledge about the impact of pesticides and health conditions of bees in a larger area, we will have to use many devices across that area."

Still, the researchers learned more about hive communication, and found what Menzel described as "unexpected phenomena." For example, they found that bees perform waggle dances at night as well as during the day, and that insecticides used for treatment against pest mites had a negative impact on honeybees' communication. They also found that ESF signals were emitted in preparation of swarming, and that their strength didn't depend on environmental conditions such as humidity and UV radiation.

Menzel says that their system collected a large amount of data, and that they need further studies to improve and finetune interpretation. "So far we have only begun to apply machine learning algorithms to separate and quantify the electrostatic field signals."

In the future though, it's possible that eavesdropping on bees may provide rich and important information beyond the local pollen hotspot. Their communications could be crucial in understanding - and protecting - whole ecosystems.
From the very beginning of the AIDS epidemic in 1981, nurses have been at the forefront of patient care, advocacy, and research.

But even in the age of antiretroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis, many challenges remain in reducing the impact of HIV and AIDS, according to the special May/June issue of The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (JANAC). The official journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, JANAC is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.

Assembling nine "state of the science" reviews invited from leading clinical scientists, the special issue of JANAC summarizes 40 years of nursing science throughout the HIV epidemic - highlighting "lessons learned and the way forward" in improving clinical care and quality of life for people living with HIV.

The HIV epidemic has been shaped, for the better, by dedicated nurses, nurse practitioners, and midwives who have provided direct care, questioned the status quo, advocated for patients' rights, taught the next generation of HIV clinicians, and advanced the science." Michael V. Relf, PhD, RN, AACRN, ANEF, FAAN Editor-in-Chief, JANAC

Nurse researchers lead the way in improving HIV prevention and patient care

Several of the special-issue papers focus on groups that face disproportionately high burdens of HIV disease. Schenita D. Randolph, PhD, MPH, RN, CNE, of Duke University School of Nursing and colleagues review the evidence on HIV prevention and treatment among cisgender women in the United States.

In 2018, women accounted for 19 percent of new cases of HIV in the United States. The rate of new HIV cases is 14 times higher in Black women and three times higher in Latina women, compared to white women.

Dr. Randolph and colleagues discuss risk factors driving the HIV epidemic among US women, including interpersonal, community, and societal factors. They also provide an overview of evidence-based HIV risk reduction interventions, combining behavioral, biomedical, and structural strategies.

However, to end the epidemic of HIV among women, a primary focus on prevention must incorporate the unique needs of women at risk for HIV.

"Nurses have a unique role in developing and carrying out HIV interventions....particularly the recognition that the root causes of HIV include both social and biomedical factors," Dr. Randolph and colleagues write. They outline priorities and recommendations to make HIV interventions for women more sustainable, including efforts to engage women throughout the research process and incorporating technology approaches.

Carmen J. Portillo, PhD, RN, FAAN, of Yale University School of Nursing and colleagues present a review of HIV prevention approaches in Black and Hispanic/Latinx communities. In 2018, Black/African American people accounted for 37 percent of new HIV cases and Hispanic/Latinx people for 30 percent.

Structural racism and social inequities embedded in the economic, education, health care, and criminal justice systems are major contributors to the "overwhelmingly disparate" HIV-related health disparities in Black and Hispanic/Latinx populations. "[M]ulti-level interventions that address individual, structural, and social level components have demonstrated more sustainable outcomes," according to the authors.

Nurse scientists can play a major role in addressing racism as "the fundamental reason for health disparities," the researchers believe. Dr. Portillo and coauthors call for "updating antiquated curriculums in nursing, medicine, and public health that perpetuate racial, structural-level inequities and also increasing the pipeline for Black and Hispanic/Latinx persons to pursue research or clinical-focused doctorate degrees."

Other papers in the special issue address vulnerabilities to HIV among adolescents and young adults and people with differences in sexual orientation or gender identity/expression; important problems of aging patients with HIV, including cognitive changes and comorbid chronic diseases; and other key issues along the continuum of care including medication adherence, HIV-related stigma, and the future of HIV prevention.

Dr. Relf and colleagues conclude: "This body of work reflects an optimism that perhaps, in the next 40 years, we will be reviewing the key role that nursing played to help end the AIDS epidemic once and for all."
Virtual care provided through telephone or videoconference has been broadly implemented in recent months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new analysis of published studies has examined the accuracy and reliability of virtual compared with in-person cognitive assessments for diagnosing dementia or mild cognitive impairment.

The analysis, which is published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, included 121 studies. Three studies comparing videoconference with in-person cognitive assessments demonstrated good reliability and accuracy of virtual cognitive assessments in diagnosing dementia. Investigators did not identify any studies comparing telephone with in-person cognitive assessments.

The analysis also allowed the researchers to identify virtual cognitive test cut-offs suggestive of dementia or mild cognitive impairment, as well as barriers to implementing cognitive assessments for older adults.

Our results highlight serious knowledge gaps and challenges associated with implementing virtual care for older adults--especially when you consider that the majority of older adults continue to access virtual care via the telephone." Jennifer A. Watt, MD, PhD, Study Lead Author, St. Michael's Hospital-Unity Health Toronto, Canada
Measures to contain the Corona pandemic are the subject of politically charged debate and tend to polarize segments of the population. Those who support the measures motivate their acquaintances to follow the rules, while those who oppose them call for resistance in social media. But how exactly do politicization and social mobilization affect the incidence of infection? Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development have examined this question using the USA as an example. Their findings were published in Applied Network Science.

Limit crowds, keep a safe distance, and wear masks. Such non-pharmaceutical interventions, which should be implemented by everyone if possible in order to contain the incidence of infection, have played a central role since the beginning of the Corona pandemic.

These measures have been disseminated via not only traditional media such as newspapers, radio, and television but also social media to a large extent. We can see that the appeals, recommendations, and regulations of governments are not only met with approval and understanding but also stimulate politically charged discussions, polarization, conspiracy narratives, and mobilization against the measures - often mixed with personal opinions.

But what does the rejection of Corona measures depend on? And is there a connection between the politicization of Corona topics in social networks and the development of the infection figures? Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development have investigated this using a mobilization model based on the example of Facebook in the USA. The subject of the study was a hypothetical political campaign in which the Democratic Party recommends non-pharmaceutical measures to combat the spread of Corona virus.

The results of the model calculations show that the hypothetical Democratic campaign would have spread to Democratic states three times faster than to Republican states. No matter in which direction, this political polarization makes it difficult to reach most segments of the population equally.

Accordingly, the acceptance and further dissemination of measures depends on whether the sender and receiver are politically like-minded." Inho Hong, Study Lead Author and Research Grant Holder, Center for Humans and Machines, Max Planck Institute for Human Development

The researchers then examined the relationship between social mobilization and the actual spread of COVID-19 cases in the USA. They found that, on one hand, mobilization can have a positive effect on pandemic response when large numbers of people join together online to support the regulations by disseminating them quickly and early. On the other hand, there are indications that the political charge and resulting actions may have exacerbated the incidence of infection in some geographies.

For example, infection rates spiked starting in mid-April 2020 after Republicans demonstrated against the first lockdown and did not consistently comply with the specified hygiene rules. This means that political regulations such as lockdowns can have the opposite effect after they are reinterpreted by politically polarized opponents - and even exacerbate the situation.

The researchers used a mobilization model to simulate the processes of social mobilization. The data for this came from two sources: The "Facebook Social Connectedness Index", a measure for calculating social connections between people from different regions, and demographic information and data sets from election protocols of the New York Times. Based on this data, the researchers calculated how the Democratic campaign would have spread via Facebook and whether it would have led to political actions such as demonstrations.

In previous studies, researchers have used this mobilization model to examine how political actions have formed and spread on social networks in the USA. "The model has allowed us to show a link between the social divide in the USA, the spread of information via Facebook, and the evolution of the incidence of infection," says Alex Rutherford, senior research scientist and principal investigator with the Center for Humans and Machines at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and co-author of the study.

The study results show that a political charging of the measures to combat the pandemic can have a counterproductive effect and even fuel the incidence of infection. "On social media, the mask was quickly re-interpreted as a political statement and used to polarize the population. Governments should therefore consider to whom and through which channels they disseminate information and whether they want to target mobilization," says Manuel Cebrian, Leader of the Digital Mobilization Research Group at the Center for Humans and Machines at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and co-author of the study.

The focus of the study was on political attitudes of US citizens. Other possibly decisive social factors such as occupation, income, gender, and origin would have to be investigated in further studies. These could provide information for planning the communication of future measures - for example, government vaccination strategies.
The firm said the interim analysis for the critically ill batch will be done when enrollment reaches 120 patients, or 40% of the 300 patients

CytoDyn COO Chris Recknor noted that 1,500 coronavirus patients in total will be part of both the trials giving 'adequate power' to the data

CytoDyn Inc ( ) announced that it has struck an agreement to partner with the Academic Research Organization (ARO) - Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital (AEIH), in Sao Paulo, Brazil to run two trials with its flagship drug leronlimab (Vyrologix or PRO 140) on a small batch of critically ill coronavirus (COVID-19) patients, and a larger severely ill population.

The Vancouver, Washington-based late-stage biotechnology company said the COVID-19 trials in Brazil are intended to provide the Brazilian regulatory authority, ANVISA, with the requisite data to consider making leronlimab available to thousands of Brazilians infected with COVID-19. These two Phase 3 trials will be conducted in up to 45 clinical sites, said the company.

In a statement, CytoDyn chief operating officer Chris Recknor said: We are pleased to partner with one of the best hospitals in Latin America, the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital and their affiliated academic research organization network. ARO has conducted multiple large-scale COVID trials for many pharmaceutical companies.

CytoDyn is utilizing their extensive experience to develop and conduct our CD16 and CD17 COVID-19 trials. With approximately 1,500 patients in total for both trials, we anticipate having adequate power in each trial to achieve a significant p-value for our endpoints and will be performing an interim analysis after 40% of the critically ill patients are enrolled, he added.

Recknor noted that in Brazil, the P1 COVID variant is fueling a second wave worse than the initial outbreak.

In April, more than 78,000 people lost their lives from COVID and ICU capacity in 15 of Brazils 26 states, is at or above 90% full, he pointed out. Vyrologix is variant agnostic. We expect an interim analysis will be conducted in October-November of this year. We look forward to accelerating these trials for the benefit of the Brazilian people.

Meanwhile, CytoDyn CEO Nader Pourhassan said the agreement represents the relentless effort of the CytoDyn team.

Dr Christopher Recknor and many other CytoDyn team members did a fantastic job getting this protocol to its final form. We also thank the BIOMM team of Brazil for presenting this opportunity to us. Without their involvement, this could not have been possible.

We believe the critically ill population study will remove the final obstacle for us to receive emergency use authorization not only in Brazil, but potentially all over the world, the CEO said.

Pourhassan emphasized that this is the most promising study in the companys history.

We now have generated important information to give ourselves the perfect opportunity to potentially obtain leronlimabs first approval, he added.

Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive
Thought Leaders Krisnah Poinasamy Head of Research and Innovation Advocacy Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation

In commemoration of World Asthma Day 2021, News-Medical interviews Krisnah Poinasamy from Asthma UK about smart inhalers and their benefits for improving asthma care.

Please could you introduce yourself and tell us about your expertise in asthma?

Im Krisnah Poinasamy, the Head of Research and Innovation Advocacy at Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation.

My expertise in asthma comes from over 6 years of working to improve the lives of people with asthma advocating for policy changes and increase investment in asthma research and innovation.

What inspired your career and subsequent research into asthma?

Though Im not a scientist, Im inspired by the opportunity to create significant changes for people with asthma via research that focuses on their needs. In my career, I have always sought to create a major impact by altering the narrative surrounding that particular field.

For asthma, this means bringing in an era in which people are treated for their specific type of asthma and supported to manage their asthma more effectively all throughout the year. Around 1 in 11 people are currently receiving treatment for asthma.

What is asthma and what are some of the common misconceptions surrounding asthma?

Asthma is a long-term condition that affects your airways  the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs. When your airways react to certain triggers, it can make it difficult to breathe and lead to symptoms, such as chest tightness, wheezing, or coughing.

Perhaps the most common misconception is that all asthma is the same. People with asthma intuitively know that there are many different triggers of asthma, and there are many different types. Despite this, treatment options have remained broadly the same for decades, primarily inhaled steroids. We now understand that up to 50% of people respond poorly to steroids.

The second misconception is the view that asthma is not a life-threatening condition. In fact, asthma continues to kill thousands of people every year, globally. Therefore, we urgently need research into these types of asthma that are driven by mechanisms that are not responsive to steroid treatments.

Asthma. Image Credit: Twinsterphoto/Shutterstock.com

What treatment options are currently available for people suffering from asthma?

Steroids are the main treatment for people with asthma and they have been for many years. However, we need treatments for the millions who are not responding well to steroid treatments.

In recent years, biologics have also been developed to help people with severe asthma. These drugs can be truly transformative for people but currently, there is no simple way to determine which biologic will work for which person.

If we had a way to identify candidates for these treatments early on in their lives, we could save years of morbidity.

A lot of your research has been dedicated to smart inhalers and implementing these within the NHS. Can you describe what a smart inhaler is and how it works?

A smart inhaler attempts to use technology to improve a patients asthma. There are many different variations, but most focus on improving adherence by using tracking features. By utilizing Bluetooth technology, they can send information, such as the frequency of usage, from the inhaler to the users phone and potentially to the healthcare provider as well.

Newer innovations seek to determine how well the inhaler was used or provide information on the external environment that is relevant to the user.

How could smart inhalers help people with asthma? Play

What benefits do smart inhalers have for asthma sufferers?

Smart inhalers have the potential to improve adherence, which can dramatically improve outcomes for people with asthma. By providing more information on their patterns of usage, it is also possible that smart inhalers could help to stratify those at greater risk due to worsening asthma. There are some individuals that suffer from asthma so severe that current treatment options do not work.

What investment and research is still needed within asthma research and how will this research help to improve the lives of people suffering from asthma?

Asthma UK coordinated the European Asthma Research and Innovation Partnership (EARIP), which brought together scientists, industry, and people with asthma from around the world. EARIP produced a set of fifteen priorities for research and innovation to make a breakthrough for people with asthma. It also produced a series of landmark publications diving into unmet needs for asthma mechanisms.

In 2019, we produced a report, Asthma Still Kills, that built on the outputs of EARIP and followed a high-level discussion with leading scientists from around the world. The contributors focused on the need for more research into non-T2 asthma, which responds poorly to steroids.

The report noted the following areas as critical for scientific progress: sex hormones, airway nerves, the microbiome, and air pollution. Additionally, it was felt that more needed to be done in the fields of primary prevention in children at elevated risk of asthma, and incomplete response to steroid therapy in severe asthma.

Over the last year, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been at the forefront of a lot of people's minds. What impact has the COVID-19 pandemic had on asthma sufferers?

Basic asthma care has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the backlog of care created by the pandemic, an estimated 3.5 million people living with asthma are not receiving all elements of basic asthma care.

There are signs that asthma has been a signal for long COVID. However, the reasons behind this are unclear.

Asthma. Image Credit: Lightspring/Shutterstock.com

Your career in asthma research has been remarkable. What achievement are you most proud of during your career?

In recent years, we have begun to turn a corner in securing major commitments from UK funders for further research and innovation. For asthma diagnostics, we secured a co-funding commitment of 500,000 from Innovate UK.

In the past year, we have also secured funding of 2m+ from NIHR and EPSRC for research and innovation into asthma health technology.

We are also immensely proud of our strong links with research groups across Europe and the US as this has enabled us to drive major funders, such as Horizon Europe and NIH, to drastically increase their commitment to asthma research.

What does the future of asthma research and treatment look like?

The future of asthma is better tools to diagnose:

If someone has asthma

Which type of asthma they have?

And to predict if they or their child will develop asthma.

For treatments and self-management, building on precise diagnosis, we want people with asthma to receive personalized treatments for their type of asthma, and equipped with tools to manage their type of asthma daily.

Where can readers find more information?

About Krisnah Poinasamy

My current role is about ensuring we vastly increase asthma research and innovation. In the coming year, we will be highlighting the role of sex hormones on asthma and seeking to drive investment and collaborations that can shed light on this important area of research.

Additionally, we will be sharing deep insights into the unique behavior patterns of people with asthma and the use of their inhalers. We hope that by sharing these insights we can work collaboratively with companies to develop new products that can help people with asthma better manage their condition.
This 12-acre parcel, formerly a standard rental field, will soon be used to showcase the latest in crop and soil health techniques.
Melvin Charles Kiesler, 91, of Georgetown, Indiana, passed away on Friday, June 4, 2021. Melvin was a 1947 NAHS graduate and a member of the school track team who competed in the 1947 State Finals. Along with his late wife, he was the former owner and operator of both the House of Rosemary i
Desjeans will lead market access, customer acquisition, engagement and marketing for MedXs teledermatology offering as the company accelerates its international expansion efforts

MedX Health said Desjeans has successfully implemented and led large-scale strategic growth plans and global product licensing initiatives

MedX Health Corporation ( ) (OTCMKTS:MDXHF) (FRA:9MH) announced the appointment of Sylvain Desjeans as the companys new chief revenue officer.

MedX said Desjeans will help the company accelerate its sales in North America and internationally with his marketing skills and deep experience in gaining market access.

Sylvain brings a wealth of experience to our growing team as we continue to scale our operations to meet international demand and increasing uptake within the North American market, MedX Health Acting CEO Robert von der Porten said in a statement.

His experience, leadership and relationships will secure further market access as we set our sights on new opportunities given the growing need for teledermatology to support healthcare systems, globally, von der Porten added.

His background in dermatology  and specifically working with dermatologists  will bring value to our partner clinicians and customers.

Desjeans also commented, stating: MedX is poised for significant international market expansion with its best-in-class SIAscopy skin-scanning device and DermSecure platform. This technology reduces the strain on healthcare systems by offering a truly patient-centric experience, which ultimately improves patient outcomes.

Desjeans, who previously held senior leadership positions at Accucaps Industries Limited and Biovail Pharmaceuticals, will lead market access, customer acquisition, engagement and marketing for MedXs teledermatology offering as the company accelerates its international expansion efforts and continues the growth of its network of approved clinical partners across Canada, including Empower Clinics.

He will also work closely with the chair of MedXs Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Trevor Champagne, on the companys artificial intelligence technology, driving ongoing innovation and patient-driven product development.

MedX noted that Desjeans has successfully implemented and led large-scale strategic growth plans and global product licensing initiatives for international pharmaceutical and medical companies.

MedXs telemedicine platform allows healthcare practitioners to quickly and accurately assess suspicious moles, lesions and other skin conditions via its image capture technology, SIAscopy, and its secure, cloud-based patient management system, DermSecure, which transmits and stores patient data throughout the assessment process.

The company said SIAscopy is the only technology that captures five images, including four spectrophotometric images 2 millimetres below the skins surface.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
(Newser)  Last week's launch of the Tianhe space station module was a great leap forward for China's space programbut the Long March 5B rocket used for the launch could cause some major problems back on Earth. The 21-ton core of the rocket is now orbiting Earth and slowly losing altitude. It is expected to crash at an unknown location between May 8 and May 12 in the biggest uncontrolled re-entry in decades, the Guardian reports. Its path can be seen here. Experts say it is most likely to crash into the ocean, though its orbit "passes a little farther north than New York, Madrid and Beijing and as far south as southern Chile and Wellington" and it could crash anywhere in that zone, according to SpaceNews.

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"It's potentially not good," Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell tells the Guardian. He says that if enough of the core survives re-entry, it will be the "equivalent of a small plane crash scattered over 100 miles." McDowell says the uncontrolled re-entry is "negligent" and "unacceptable" by today's standards. "Since 1990 nothing over 10 tons has been deliberately left in orbit to re-enter uncontrolled," he tells the Houston Chronicle. Rockets from the US and other countries "routinely fire their engines to target re-entries over the southern Pacific" to avoid populated areas, notes CBS space consultant William Harwood. US Space Command says it is tracking the rocket but it won't be able to predict a re-entry point until a few hours before re-entry, which Space Command expects to happen on Saturday. (Another Long March rocket core fell to Earth last year.)
(Newser)  A federal judge has ordered the release of a legal memorandum the Trump-era Justice Department prepared for then-Attorney General William Barr before he announced his conclusion that then-President Trump had not obstructed justice during the Russia investigation, the AP reports. The Justice Department had refused to give the March 24, 2019, memorandum to a government transparency group that requested it under the Freedom of Information Act, saying the document represented the private advice of lawyers and was produced before any formal decision had been made and was therefore exempt from disclosure under public records law. But US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, in a sharp rebuke of Barr, said the Justice Department had obscured the true purpose of the memorandum when it withheld the document.

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She said the memo from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel contained strategic, as opposed to legal advice and that both the writers and the recipients already understood that Trump would not be prosecuted. Though government agencies may withhold from disclosure documents that reflect internal deliberations before a decision is made, that protection does not apply in this case since a conclusion had already been reached, the judge wrote. In other words, the review of the document reveals that the Attorney General was not then engaged in making a decision about whether the President should be charged with obstruction of justice; the fact that he would not be prosecuted was a given, Jackson said in an order dated Monday. The judge said the Justice Department has until May 17 to file any motion to stay the order.

(Read more William Barr stories.)
(Newser)  A woman reported missing on Nov. 25 has been found alive five months later in the Utah wilderness, where she survived the winter by foraging for grass and moss. Search and rescue crews launched an initial search for the 47-year-old in the Diamond Fork area of Spanish Fork Canyon in December, without success, after a US Forest Service official spotted an abandoned car in a campground parking lot and some camping equipment nearby, the Utah County Sheriff's Office says, per Fox News. Authorities eventually made contact with the woman's former coworkers. They didn't know where she might be but information suggested she "might struggle with mental health challenges," the office said, per ABC News. A new aerial search was launched Sunday, and while retrieving a crashed drone, the pilot and a sergeant came upon a tent with the woman inside.

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"I have to be honest, we fully expected we wouldn't find anybody related to that alive up here, given how long it had been," Sgt. Spencer Cannon tells KSTU. The sheriff's office said the woman "knowingly chose to remain in the area," though it's unclear how she might've left. Her car was impounded last year. The "resourceful" woman had a bit of food that she had apparently been rationing. She also told authorities she'd been living off the land, harvesting grass and moss over the winter. As a result, she was "weak" and "had lost a significant amount of weight." She was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation but the sheriff's office said she was welcome to return to her campsite as "she did nothing against the law." "Resources were made available to her should she decide to use them," it added. Cannon noted the woman perhaps "didn't want to be found." (Read more Utah stories.)
(Newser)  Emily Rose Grover, the Florida homecoming queen accused of rigging the contest along with her mom, turned 18 after her arrestand she'll be charged as an adult. Per USA Today, an assistant state attorney says the move is "not unusual," as juvenile court can't supervise defendants after age 18, so in adult court, she "can be supervised effectively" if convicted. The court can still, however, choose to impose juvenile sanctions on Grover rather than adult ones. Grover and her mother, Laura Carroll, the assistant principal of a nearby elementary school, are accused of using Carroll's access to the district's student data system to cast 246 fraudulent votes in the Tate High School election.

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They're both currently free on bond, and will be arraigned May 14. They each face four felony counts punishable by up to 16 years behind bars, NorthEscambia.com reports. Grover is also accused of using her mom's login to the system to access other student's profiles over a period of four years. ("She looks up all of our group of friends' grades and makes comments about how she can find out our test scores all of the time," reads part of one witness statement obtained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.) She's been expelled, and her mother was suspended from her job; it's not clear whether she was ultimately terminated. An attorney for the mother and daughter says, per CyberScoop, that "the brouhaha is mind-boggling. We'll see what happens." (More on the case here.)
(Newser)  Police arrested a man who they say is suspected of stabbing two Asian-American women without warning Tuesday afternoon in San Francisco's Mid-Market area, the AP reports. Officers were sent to 4th and Stockton streets shortly before 5pm and found the wounded women, who were taken to a hospital. There was no immediate word on their conditions. Witnesses told KPIX-TV that one woman appeared to be elderly and the other appeared to be in her 30s. They told the station that a man clutching a knife was walking down Market Street when he approached a bus stop, stabbed the women, and then walked away. A 54-year-old San Francisco man was arrested on suspicion of committing the attack several hours later, police told the station.

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Police didn't immediately indicate whether the women were specifically targeted or whether the attack might be a hate crime. Asian-Americans have been the target of several unprovoked attacks in the San Francisco Bay Area in recent months. Prosecutors have filed assault and hate crime charges against a man accused of an attack last week in which he allegedly yelled racial slurs before knocking down Carl Chan, president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce. In separate San Francisco attacks in March, an 83-year-old Vietnamese man was knocked down and broke his neck in the fall, and a 77-year-old woman was similarly attacked. Police arrested a man for assault and elder abuse in both cases. Another 83-year-old man was pushed down in February, broke a hip, and spent weeks in the hospital and in rehabilitation.

(Read more San Francisco stories.)
(Newser)  To mark President Biden's 100th day in office, he and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden paid a visit to a couple who know a lot about what they're going through: Former President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. Last Thursday's meeting at the Carters' home in Plains, Ga., spawned a dubious group photo and a lot of laughs Tuesday as late night hosts debated whether the presidential photo was the weirdest ever, per the New York Times. Some highlights:

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"How is this the first we're hearing about the Bidens being 40 feet tall?" quipped Late Night host Seth Meyers. The photo shows the Carters seated in chairs, while the Bidens kneel on either side of them. Both look very large in comparison, though Biden looks especially big as he appears closest to the camera. Meyers adds that the foursome "look like a ventriloquist act," with the Carters serving as the dummies.

Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon had the same idea. "They look like Jeff Dunham's retired puppets," he joked. He also suggested the scene looked like presidential diorama made by "a second-grader." "I learned two things from the photo," he added. "The two families are very close, and Biden is the size of Jason Momoa."

"Is there some dollhouse filter that I didn't know about, because I've been staring at this thing the whole day and I still can't figure out what's going on," said Trevor Noah of the Daily Show. "I can't figure out if the Bidens had a late growth spurt, or if they're playing with Jimmy Carter action figures, or maybe both at the same time."

"Honestly, this is the weirdest picture of a president since, well, any picture of Donald Trump," Noah went on. "Like, what were the photographer's instructions here? 'All right, guys, we're gonna do a normal one, and then we're gonna do a goofy one, and then we're going to do one where it looks like you're from two separate dimensions, yeah?'"

The hosts also remarked on Bill and Melinda Gates splitting up. "You know Melinda Gates is thinking, 'Finally I can use a MacBook!'" said Fallon. "Remember what they saywhen God closes a door, he opens a Windows 95," he continued, noting "if ABC wants to make Bill the next Bachelor, I'm all in."

"They've already agreed to a custody arrangement. Bill gets to spend time with their money on Tuesday nights and every other weekend, and Melinda gets the rest," said Jimmy Kimmel of Jimmy Kimmel Live. He suggested the couple don't need a divorce. "Cant they just live in separate wings?" "But poor Bill Gates. He's been sleeping in his jet. It's very sad."

(Read more late night talk show stories.)
(Newser)  Police say a man returned to his rural Colorado home last week to find a mummified woman, who "appeared to be set up in some type of shrine." The face, with missing eyes, was caked in glittery makeup, and the body was wrapped in a sleeping bag and Christmas lights, reports the Washington Post. The shrine was allegedly erected by members of Love Has Won, a religious group some call a cult, who'd considered the woman as their leader until her death at least four weeks ago, the Saguache County Sheriff's Office said in an affidavit. Amy Carlson, who appeared on Dr. Phil last year, claimed she was "Mother God," a 19-billion-year-old being reincarnated as Cleopatra, Jesus Christ, and Joan of Arc. She also claimed Donald Trump as her father. It's unclear how the 45-year-old died. Some time after, followers are believed to have moved her body to Crestone, Colo., from California.

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Group member Miguel Lamboy permitted five members to stay at his home, per the Post. He told police he returned the next day, April 28, to find Carlson's body, and that members initially wouldn't let him leave. Seven membersincluding 45-year-old Jason Castillo, who was known as "Father God"are jailed on charges of abuse of a corpse and two counts of child abuse, as Lamboy's 2-year-old son and the 13-year-old daughter of another member were found at the home. "I've never seen a group of people be so nonchalant about a dead person in their back room," Cpl. Steve Hansen tells KUSA. Love Has Won, the subject of a Vice documentary, is known for posting daily videos. In one, a member said Carlson "did not pass away" but "ascended," per the Denver Post. The outlet reports a member previously said Carlson was suffering from cancer. An autopsy is planned. (Read more mummification stories.)
(Newser)  A 29-year-old Argentinian man got on an American Airlines flight from Miami to Buenos Aires Saturday after presenting a medical certificate that stated he was fit to fly. He didn't tell airline agents that he had tested positive for COVID-19 three hours earlier. Santiago Solans Portillo was arrested and taken to a quarantine hotel after he arrived in Buenos Aires with a high fever, which was detected by thermal scanners at the airport, the Washington Post reports. Authorities have seized his cellphone and are looking into when and how he got the medical certificate, which came from a different Florida clinic than the one that tested him for the coronavirus.

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A lawyer for the clinic that cleared Portillo to fly says the certificate wasn't counterfeit, though the man's only contact with them was through a telehealth appointment. Authorities in Argentina say Portillo, a business owner who flew to the US to be vaccinated, has "a complicated legal situation that will be drastically aggravated," with a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison, if any of the other 257 passengers on the flight develop COVID symptoms, reports La Vanguardia. Sources tell the paper that the certificate Portillo gave American Airlines agents stated that he had "been examined" Saturday and did not show any symptoms. Argentinian authorities say they will fine American Airlines for allowing an infected passenger to board the flight. (Read more coronavirus stories.)
(Newser)  In a major reversal after pushing against this very outcome, Peloton is recalling its treadmills after one child died and 29 other children suffered from cuts, broken bones, and other injuries from being pulled under the rear of the treadmill. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday that Peloton received 72 reports of adults, kids, pets, or other items, such as exercise balls, being pulled under the treadmill. The recall comes after the safety commission warned last month that people with children or pets should immediately stop using Peloton treadmills, posting a video on YouTube of a child being pulled under the treadmill. CNBC reports that, per the CPSC, the Peloton design is an atypical one that replaces a continuous belt with a belt design featuring "individual rigid rubberized slats or treads that are interlocked and ride on a rail."

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The Washington Post reports that Peloton CEO John Foley last month said the company had "no intention" of moving forward with a recall, but it now notes that "stance proved untenable" as a public clamor increased and the stock price sagged 16% over the last month. Foley had changed his tune by Wednesday: "I want to be clear, Peloton made a mistake in our initial response to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's request that we recall the Tread+. We should have engaged more productively with them from the outset. For that, I apologize." The company's shares dropped 10% on the news, per Yahoo Finance. Peloton is best known for its stationary bikes, but it introduced the treadmill about three years ago. It costs more than $4,200. Those who own one can get a full refund from Peloton by Nov. 6, 2022, reports the AP. (Read more Peloton stories.)
OWL told investors that the consultant believes the timing is right to review junior lithium companies that have promise in lithium-brine prospects as well as technologies that may separate lithium carbonate from a brine"

The lithium company said that the agreement may include individual introductions and corporate presentations

One World Lithium Inc (CSE:OWLI) (OTCMTS:OWRDF) announced that it has signed an agreement with FnMedia AG to consult on business development in Europe.

The lithium company said that the agreement may include individual introductions and corporate presentations.

FnMedia will also expand its knowledge by including Alphabullz, a subsidiary group that is well established in both Europe and Asia.

According to OWL, Alphabullz is familiar with the lithium industry and in particular exploration and development of lithium-brine salars and technologies that separate lithium carbonate from a brine.

OWL has the right to own 100% of the separation technology, subject to a positive proof of concept program in addition to its majority interest in Salar del Diablo lithium brine property in Mexico.

In a statement OWL told investors that the consultant believes the timing is right to review junior lithium companies that have promise in lithium-brine prospects as well as technologies that may separate lithium carbonate from a brine.

Doug Fulcher, OWLs CEO, said that the company is pleased to be working with FnMedia and Alphabullz this year, in particular due to their experience in both Europe and Asia.

It is ideal timing as our company is preparing for a successful year in exploring for lithium-brine prospects but also possibly being at the forefront of lithium separation technologies, Fulcher added.

The agreement is for one year to May 4, 2022. The consultant will be paid a monthly fee of 5,000 Euros (C$7,400) and an option to purchase up to 800,000 common shares of the company at $0.11 per share. The stock options are exercisable on or before May 4, 2023 and will be vested as to 200,000 options every two months from June 1 to December 1, 2021.

OWL plans to spend approximately $750,000 on both further exploration at Salar del Diablo and advancing a critical fluid separation technology if its current non brokered private placement offering is fully subscribed for $2 million. The remaining $500,000 will be used for working capital.

OWL also announced that it has granted incentive stock options to another consultant to purchase up to an aggregate of 400,000 shares of the company. The options are fully vested and exercisable on or before May 5, 2023, at a price of $0.11 per share.

All stock options were granted in accordance with the company's stock option plan, it added.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
(Newser)  Here's an odd story involving an ancient Roman statue, alleged smuggling, and the name Kim Kardashian. As NBC News reports, in 2016 said statue arrived at the Port of Los Angeles, with the buyer designated as "Kim Kardashian dba Noel Roberts Trust." It was sold by Belgian interior designer Axel Vervoordt, who has previously assisted Kardashian with home decor, and was one item in a 40-item lot of antiques and furniture valued in its entirety at $745,882. Suspecting it had not been legally exported, the statue was seized. Now, Kardashian's name appears in a civil forfeiture claim for the statue, though a representative for Kardashian says the celeb has nothing to do with the piece. "We believe it may have been purchased using her name without authorization and because it was never received, she was unaware of the transaction," the rep said.

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The Guardian notes that the court documents do not accuse Kardashian of any crimes. The US has clamped down on the flow of archaeological material from Italy to the US as a means of deterring looting. An Italian archaeologist examined the statue, known as Fragment of Myron's Samian Athena, in early 2018 and determined it was likely from the Roman empire. "Based on the information and scientific aspects the archaeologist provided, the archaeologist opined that the defendant statue was looted, smuggled, and illegally exported from Italy," reads the claim. The Los Angeles Times takes note of one quirky detail: The defendant in the case is the statue, not Kardashian. It remains in Customs and Border Protection custody. (Read more looting stories.)
(Newser)  Just, gross. Police in Indonesia say as many as 9,000 travelers who passed through Kualanamu airport in Medan, North Sumatra, may have had their nose swabbed for COVID with a reused swab. Five Kimia Farma employees have been arrested after being accused of washing the used swabs at their Medan office, repackaging them, and then reselling them, allegedly making about $125,000 by doing so. That company's antigen rapid test kits were the ones used when travelers opted for an on-site test to verify they didn't have COVID versus one done in advance. As the number of complaints about false positives mounted, the BBC reports an officer without COVID went undercover and was swabbed. When the test results were positive, the test site was raided.

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The scheme has reportedly been ongoing since December. Kimia Farma says it has fired those allegedly involved, but it may not have washed its hands of the matter. The South China Morning Post speaks with two lawyers who flew from Jakarta to Medan nearly weekly from December 2020 through February and may launch a civil suit against the company. One of them describes his "awful" experience: "They did the tests far too deeply and insisted on swabbing my nose several times during a sitting," which he now believes was because they were using "rewashed, second-hand swabs which made the procedure more difficult. I feel that I am the victim of serious fraud and that I was violated through my nose." (Read more Indonesia stories.)
(Newser)  Donald Trump has a new platformand he used it Wednesday to attack tech companies after the Facebook Oversight Board upheld his suspension. "What Facebook, Twitter, and Google have done is a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our Country," the former president said, per Politico. He said "Radical Left Lunatics" had taken free speech away from the "President of the United States," and warned: "These corrupt social media companies must pay a political price." Trump also used his website Wednesday to attack "warmongering fool" Liz Cheney and repeat his election fraud claims. The oversight board upheld Trump's ban but called for the company to review the indefinite suspension within six months and bring in clearer policies on suspending or banning rule-breakers.

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The former president wasn't the only one criticizing Facebook Wednesday. The Week notes that the board said it had asked Facebook 46 questions and the companywhich created and funded the boardhad "declined to answer seven entirely, and two partially." A group of tech advocates who call themselves the "Real Facebook Oversight Board" called shifting the Trump decision to the oversight board a "PR stunt" that distracts from the need to "ensure real accountability" for harmful content including hate speech and election disinformation, the Hill reports. In a blog post, Facebook exec Nick Clegg, former British deputy prime minister, said the company will "consider the boards decision and determine an action that is clear and proportionate." (Read more Facebook stories.)
(Newser)  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention exceeded its legal authority in September when it issued an unprecedented nationwide ban on evictions of renters who lost income during the pandemic, a federal judge decided Wednesday. US District Judge Dabney Friedrich threw out the eviction ban, which had been due to expire June 30, reports Reuters. It had been extended three times since it was first issued, most recently by President Biden in March. The Department of Justice says it plans to appeal the judge's order, the Hill reports. The eviction freeze covered renters with incomes of under $99,000 who pledged to make partial rent payments and said eviction would make them homeless or force them into shared accommodation.

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The moratorium was challenged in court by landlords and real estate groups. In his ruling, Friedrich, a Trump appointee, said federal law didn't give the CDC the power to freeze evictions. "It is the role of the political branches, and not the courts, to assess the merits of policy measures designed to combat the spread of disease, even during a global pandemic," he wrote, per the Washington Post. "The question for the Court is a narrow one: Does the Public Health Service Act grant the CDC the legal authority to impose a nationwide eviction moratorium? It does not." Some 43 states and Washington DC have also brought in some form of eviction protection for residents and businesses. (Read more eviction stories.)
(Newser)  Although illegal crossings into the US are still at elevated levels, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported fewer people in April than in any month on record. According to preliminary figures, 2,962 immigrants were deported last month, a 20% drop from March. It was the first time the monthly total was below 3,000, the Washington Post reports. At this pace, ICE will deport 55,000 people for this fiscal year, the first time in its history the total has been fewer than 100,000. While the Trump administration encouraged the agency to increase arrests and deportations, officers are operating under new rules now. "This administration has de-emphasized the likelihood that people would get arrested if they aren't a threat to public safety or recently crossed the border," said a former ICE acting director, "so they are not going to have strong removal numbers."

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ICE estimates there are 11 million immigrants in the US who lack legal status, including 1.2 million who have been ordered to leave by a judge. President Biden has shifted the focus to deporting criminals, which administration officials say will help restore ICE's reputation. "The odds of being arrested just for being in the country illegally were always extremely low," the former official said, "and now theyve basically ruled it out by policy." Outside ICE deportations, however, the administration is still expelling people under a statute also invoked by the Trump administration, per the Hill. The pandemic-related Title 42 allows Customs and Border Protection to kick out foreign nationals caught crossing the border into the US. Under that provision, about 200,000 people at the border have been removed under the Biden administration. (Read more deportation stories.)
(Newser)  The husband of a missing Colorado woman has been charged with murder, almost a year after she disappeared and he offered a $100,000 reward. Suzanne Morphew, a 49-year-old mother of two daughters, never returned from a Mother's Day bike ride last year. She was reported missing on May 10, 2020the same date listed for offenses including first-degree murder in court documents, ABC7 reports. Authorities say husband Barry Morphew was arrested Wednesday morning and is now in Chaffee County Jail. The 53-year-old has also been charged with tampering with physical evidence and an attempt to influence a public servant.

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Police have not disclosed a possible motive. No body has been found, despite extensive searches. A week after the disappearance, Barry Morphew pleaded for his wife's safe return in a tearful video posted on Facebook. "Suzanne, if anyone is out there that can hear this that has you, please, we'll do whatever it takes to bring you back," he said. "We love you. We miss you. Your girls need you." Melinda Moorman, the missing woman's sister, says she was notified of Morphew's arrest Wednesday morning. "Today, justice is beginning for my sister," she tells Fox 21. Its been a journey that no one ever imagines that theyll take." (Months after the disappearance, Morphew claimed he had nothing to hide.)
(Newser)  A small plane crashed into a Mississippi home, killing one of the home's four occupants and three Texas residents who were flying to a university graduation ceremony, authorities said Wednesday. A National Transportation Safety Board investigator was en route to Hattiesburg, about 90 miles southeast of the Mississippi capital of Jackson, to investigate Tuesday's crash, which caused a fire, the agency said, per the AP. Authorities werent aware of any distress calls from the Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 but have yet to review air traffic recordings, agency spokesman Peter Knudson said. Police and the coroners office identified the dead as Gerry Standley, 55, of Hattiesburg; and two adults and a toddler from Wichita Falls, Texas: Louis Provenza, 67; Anna Calhoun, 23; and Harper Provenza, 2.

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Standley worked full-time for a paving company and was assistant pastor at his church, according to a webpage to raise money for funeral expenses. His wife, Melinda, division manager for the police departments 911 center, their daughter Arrianna and grandson Eli all got out of the home with minor injuries, it said. Provenza was a neurosurgeon at United Regional Physician Group, and Calhoun was a junior studying biology at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. They were on their way to see a family member graduate Wednesday from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. The plane had flown out of Wichita Falls and was preparing to land at Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport in Hattiesburg when it crashed at 11:22pm, Knudson said.

(Read more Mississippi stories.)
There are three new cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand's managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities - but for the 66th day running, none in the community.

Another three historical cases were also detected in MIQ, the Ministry of Health revealed in a press release on Wednesday afternoon.

Of the three new cases, two came direct from the United Arab Emirates and another direct from the United States. This trio has been transferred to the Jet Park Hotel, Auckland's quarantine facility.
Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy got her COVID vaccine on Wednesday.

"I'm feeling perfectly fine, in fact, a little bit surprised as I didn't even feel a prick as the needle entered my arm," she said.

But not all those over 65 will get their jab just yet, said COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins.

"In terms of the 65-plus group, it's a big group of people, we won't have enough vaccines to be able to do all of them by the end of June, but we can certainly make a start on that group," said Hipkins.

Over-65s in south Auckland are being invited to get the vaccines now, while the rest of the country has to wait a bit, except in Northland where anyone over 50 can already have one.

But if you're thinking of going on vacation to get a vaccination, Whangarei Mayor Sheryl Mai says "please don't".

"Apparently we had a busload of people from Auckland who were coming up north who'd heard about our clinics and thought they'd jump on the bandwagon and join the queue, "she says.

"And of course we gave them a short shrift and said 'no no no, you go back to your own District Health Board and join the queues there'."

When it's your turn you'll get an invite via text or email telling you when and where to go.

For some it'll be big vaccination centres where they'll be able to do up to a 1000 jabs a day, for others it'll be their GP.

President of the Royal New Zealand College of GPs, Dr Samantha Murton, says GPs are having to balance COVID vaccine preparations with the flu jab.

"At the moment we are all focused on flu vaccine because we'd like to get the flu vaccine done early so there's no delay for people when they go onto COVID because there has to be a two-week gap between a flu vaccine and a COVID vaccine."

But it's the July scale-up that has the Minister really worried.

"I'm, of course, nervous about that," said Hipkins, "That is going to be a bit bumpy, it's going to be a huge undertaking for our health system."
"It's actually a medical condition where your brain sort of runs out of the chemicals that needs to keep going or runs low on them and so things like sleeping, eating, concentrating and even loving people, just don't work like they would usually do.

"It's not something you just deal with and get through like the stress of a crying baby or a barking dog, who all need feeding - you feed them all, you get on with it and they feel better. With depression, you're likely to crumple into a heap and just not be able to do the task," she says.

The 2019 Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study found 23 percent of Pacific women experienced symptoms of perinatal depression, compared with 8 percent of European women and about 14 percent of all other women combined.

Pasifika women who had experienced unfair treatment by a health professional in their lifetime were 66 percent more likely to suffer from postnatal depression, compared with Pacific women who did not report these experiences.

But why do Pacific mothers have such high rates of depression?

Dr Siale 'Alo Foliaki is a child psychiatrist and clinical lead for the child mental health services at Counties Manukau District Health Board. He is also clinical lead for the clinical cultural liaison services at Vaka Tautua, a national "by Pacific, for Pacific" health and social services provider.

The Tongan doctor says historically Pacific cultures respond to the arrival of a newborn baby by being very present and ensuring that the mother does not get fatigued. The way families live near each other, such as in villages, supports this.

"You would have your immediate and extended families keep the mother company, help with the chores, hold the baby so the mother gets rest and it's clearly a very protective means of care," he says.

But migration often leads to the fragmentation of cultural support and the ways family have traditionally offered support can be disrupted, he says.

It's also significant that the number one risk factor for antenatal and postnatal depression is having previously had depression.

Dr Foliaki says research into the migrant Pacific community shows if people have migrated to New Zealand after the age of 18, their mental health statistics are better than the European population as well as Pacific people who are born in New Zealand or migrated to the country before the age of 12.

Another risk factor for perinatal depression is a difficult relationship with a spouse or father of the child, Dr Foliaki explains.

Pacific peoples in New Zealand are twice as likely as non-Pacific people to have committed a serious crime against a family member, according to Pasefika Proud, which is a family violence prevention campaign.

"If there are inter-parental conflict or an unsettled relationship, then that's going to have a significant impact on the wellbeing of the mother," Dr Foliaki says.

Why a broken mind is like a broken arm

If Pasifika mothers have such high rates of perinatal depression, why do experts say they aren't getting help at the same rates as other women?

In general, Pacific peoples access all mental health help at lower rates than others. The New Zealand Health Survey shows Pacific peoples experience very high rates of unmet need for care compared to the total NZ population. Thirty-three percent of Pacific peoples (and 29 percent of the total population) report not seeing their primary care practitioner when needed, with most of this unmet need (20 percent of all Pacific people, 15 percent of the total population) being related to cost.

Dr Foliaki says he's seen many Pasifika mothers who have been diagnosed with antenatal and/or postnatal depression and their families hadn't recognised what was going on and didn't know how serious depression was.

"They're no longer enjoying any of the social interactions, they can't sleep, they can't eat, there's a lot of negative thinking, their self-esteem/confidence drops away, they're not bonding with the child, and actually without talking about it, they're feeling alone.

"Things can get so bad that they don't want to wake up in the morning, and I would argue, how many families, in particular Pacific families, would recognise that cluster of symptoms and say to themselves, hey I think my wife or sister might be depressed?"

Even if depression is recognised, in many Pacific cultures, there is enormous stigma and shame around mental health issues, he says.

"Often the culture interprets depression as a failing on behalf of the family. A young person may have a very caring and organised household (for example mum and dad are still together, grandparents are around to help and there's support for the new mum), but that doesn't necessarily mean that she is going to be protected by mental health issues like depression," Dr Foliaki says.
VR Resources (CVE: VRR- OTCQB: VRRCF) CEO Michael Gunning joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has identified a gravity anomaly on their Hecla-Kilmer property in Northern Ontario. This is results from the ground-based gravity survey that was carried out in March.

Gunning talks about that anomaly and also what they plan on doing to follow up on it this year.
A woman who fled Australia after being convicted in a high-profile animal welfare case has been lying low in rural Northland under a new name since last year, Newshub can reveal.

Disgraced South Australia puppy farmer Dora Ryan moved to New Zealand in late 2020 with 26 horses and a large number of dogs before she could be sentenced over animal mistreatment charges.

It's understood she has been living on a property in Kaitaia since the move.

Australian authorities have a warrant for Ryan's arrest, and are currently considering extraditing her for sentencing - but Newshub has learned just months after her arrival, she's already been the subject of another animal welfare complaint under her new identity.
Public Service Minister Chris Hipkins said any increases will be targeted at the lowest-paid workers, largely those earning below $60,000, who account for about 25 percent of the public sector.

"The public service is doing a good job implementing the Government's COVID-19 response, and we ask they lead the way in supporting the Government as we ensure our spending is targeted to where it is needed most," Hipkins said.

"The Public Service Commissioner, who sets the pay of public service chief executives, will also not be increasing their pay."

Finance Minister Grant Robertson said as the COVID-19 recovery gets underway, he's keeping a close watch on debt taken on to support the economy.

Treasury's latest update showed the Government is more than $100 billion in debt due to COVID-19.

"Just as businesses are making decisions as they plan for the recovery, our responsible economic approach means the Government is faced with choices about where new spending is targeted."

Last year the Remuneration Authority, which sets the pay for Members of Parliament, decided that MPs and ministers would not be getting pay rises for three years due to the COVID-19 economic environment.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced in April last year that she and other ministers, as well as public sector bosses like Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield, would take a 20 percent pay cut for six months.

As the salaries of elected politicians and senior public officials are set according to the Remuneration Authority Act 1977, the Government passed an amendment to enact the temporary pay cuts.

ACT leader David Seymour proposed two amendments - one that would make the pay cuts compulsory, and another that would have made public which MPs opted to take pay cuts - but they were voted down.

Labour said at the time the Government's position was that the Remuneration Authority should have the ability to consider each circumstance of the person having their pay cut.

The Prime Minister's salary is $471,049 while Dr Bloomfield, one of the highest paid public service chief executives, earns around $528,000.
3:25pm - Golriz Ghahraman, from the Green Party, wants to include the words "genocide" and "crimes against humanity" in the motion. The MP regrets that the final motion has been watered-down.

The original motion was: "That this House believe that Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide, and call on the Government to act to fulfil its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and all relevant instruments of international law to bring it to an end. "

She says the Greens condemn the "grave atrocities" being suffered by the Uighurs in China. The MP mentions conservative estimates from the UN suggest up to 1 million Uighurs face atrocities.

Ghahraman hopes the Government will stand with the victims of atrocity crimes, regardless of whether they are committed by our partners.

She says actions matter and was "deeply disappointed" to hear trade was a consideration among some MPs when discussing whether to let the debate go ahead.

"I do hope this is a matter that triggers action."

The MP wants to see the trade of products made through slave labour out of the region stopped.

"We owe the victims action."
PSA says this pay freeze is a slap in the face, given many of them are those who have worked hard to keep New Zealand safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Morrison Aldridge, who works for the Ministry of Social Development, was helping shovel billions and billions of dollars out the door during last year's lockdown.

"There was definitely a lot of money going out during that time with the wage subsidy," he tells Newshub.

He helped pay out wage subsidies, hardship grants, and COVID relief payments to help people get what they need. It was hard work.

"There was a lot of overtime, so six days a week, 13-hour days."

He's just one of the 400,000 strong public service workers that got New Zealand through the pandemic.

"We kept COVID-19 at bay. These are your hospital workers, people at our borders, people at testing labs, people that made wheels of justice turn each day," says PSA delegate Paula Davis.

"Making sure people got their wage subsidy and their welfare support was all due to public servants."

And the Government is grateful - they're saying thanks, at least.

"I'd like to thank the public service for their contribution during COVID-19," Finance Minister Grant Robertson says.
ACT was initially intending to ask MPs to consider if "genocide" is occurring in Xinjiang, but that term was removed after it says Labour, the governing party, threatened to stop the debate going ahead at all. However, that didn't stop representatives from ACT, the Greens and the Maori Party saying genocide is underway.

"We must never attempt to silence the atrocities of genocides, and that's happening to indigenous peoples," said the Maori Party's Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. "We need to be calling out these atrocities for what they are, wherever they are happening in the world."

Foreign Affairs Minister and Labour MP Nanaia Mahuta told the House that the Government has consistently raised grave concerns about activities in Xinjiang, including to Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, any determination of genocide, she said, should come "following a rigorous assessment on the basis of international law".

New Zealand has ratified the UN Genocide Convention, which says genocide is any of several acts "committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group". Those acts include killing members of a group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of a group or imposing measures intended to prevent births within a group.

Aotearoa has consistently called on China to allow United Nations observers access to Xinjiang to ascertain what is happening there, but the Asian superpower has been reluctant to allow officials in without restrictions.

"The purpose of the visit should not be an investigation or accountability with the presumption of guilt. This should not be the purpose," Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wu Xi said on Friday. "China is a sovereign country and people need to respect China's sovereignty and they need to comply with all the laws and regulations in China."

Wu earlier told attendees the door to Xinjiang was open to "unbiased foreigners" and talks were underway with the United Nations for the High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit.

In a speech to the China Business Summit on Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the differences between New Zealand and China's interests and values "are becoming harder to reconcile". However, she said areas of difference "need not define a relationship" and those areas "form part of a comprehensive relationship".

"We hope that China too sees it in its own core interests to act in the world in ways that are consistent with its responsibilities as a growing power, including as a permanent member of the UN Security Council."

The New Zealand Parliament's decision not to grapple with the issue of 'genocide' distances it from the United Kingdom and Canada - both of whom have had their Parliaments declare genocide - and the United States, which has had two administrations say crimes against humanity are happening.
The New Zealand Parliament's decision not to grapple with the issue of 'genocide' distances it from the United Kingdom and Canada - both of whom have had their Parliaments declare genocide - and the United States, which has had two administrations say crimes against humanity are happening.

Van Velden said international parliamentarians had backed motions declaring genocide as they recognised a proper court process wasn't possible because China wouldn't allow unfettered access to Xinjiang for investigation.

"The British Parliament had a debate about genocide. Here in New Zealand, other parties, who had the power of veto would not allow this debate to proceed if the motion mentioned genocide I started with the same motion as the British, then had to dilute it and soften it to gain the approval of New Zealand's governing party."

In her contribution to the debate, Foreign Affairs Minister and Labour MP Nanaia Mahuta said the Government had consistently raised concerns about activities in Xinjiang, including to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

She said the Government hadn't formally designated the situation a genocide, not because of a lack of concern, but because such a determination should only be reached "following a rigorous assessment on the basis of international law".

"International courts have required fully conclusive evidence before reaching a conclusion of genocide," she said.

"The New Zealand Government, in concert with others, will continue to call upon China in the strongest terms to provide meaningful and unfettered access to the United Nations and other independent observers to ascertain the situation in Xinjiang."

However, during an event on Friday evening, Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wu Xi suggested any visit to Xinjiang by observers would have strict conditions.

"The purpose of the visit should not be an investigation or accountability with the presumption of guilt. This should not be the purpose," she said. "China is a sovereign country and people need to respect China's sovereignty and they need to comply with all the laws and regulations in China."

Wu said she doesn't believe there "is any absolute, unfettered access anywhere in the world" and repeated China's assertion that there are no human rights abuses occurring in Xinjiang.

National's Todd Muller also spoke during Wednesday's debate, in which he reflected on the New Zealand-China relationship and how the two countries' ability to engage and discuss issues was important to their "ongoing peace and prosperity".

He said the depth of the countries' relationship allows each to raise concerns.

"It has meant we can have a frank discussion as two peoples who do not always agree, but who have respect for each other and a willingness to listen, and where necessary, to be criticised."

Muller said New Zealand walks its own path and has its own voice.

"We do not seek to grandstand. But neither do we shirk from uncomfortable conversations, and, today, this House speaks in one voice with our concerns about severe human rights abuses in China."

Prior to the debate, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was pleased Parliament had reached a cross-party statement, unlike in other countries.

The motion:

"That this House is gravely concerned about the severe human rights abuses taking place against Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and that it call on the Government to work with the United Nations, international partners, and to work with all relevant instruments of international law to bring these abuses to an end."
Three of them were found to be suffering extremely painful symptoms and had to be euthanised, while the other - named Heyley - was not even able to stand and had to be euthanised at the property.

At the Port Pirie Magistrates Court in March 2020, Magistrate Mark Semmens said "given the severity, duration and nature of Heyley's conditions, she should have been the subject of ongoing and regular veterinary care up until 3 May 2017".

Magistrate Semmens found Ryan guilty of 27 counts of ill treatment of an animal.

In May 2019, five horses and a Pomeranian dog were seized by RSPCA inspectors from the same property following another cruelty report. They were among 86 dogs and 56 horses found on the property.

The inspectors observed no evidence of feed in the paddocks containing the horses, other than in one pen containing a healthy stallion. In the absence of food, some of the horses were eating their own faeces.

One of the horses, named Indigo Violet, was found to be 140kg underweight, according to a veterinary report. She died four days after being taken into care due to the chronic malnourishment.
With other social media platforms remaining off-bounds, former US President Donald Trump has launched a new means of communicating with his supporters.

'From the Desk of Donald J. Trump' launched this week - a platform allowing him to share short messages, images and videos with a limited set of sharing options for those to be amplified.

Early messages are reminiscent of Trump's tweeting style, with references to critic Liz Cheney as a "big-shot warmonger", and his 2020 presidential election defeat to Joe Biden being described as "fraudulent" and "the big lie".

Communication is one-way only, however, with no functionality for Trump's statements to be replied to.
Air New Zealand's first direct passenger flight from Aotearoa to Adelaide in over a year has landed.

After the COVID-19 pandemic decimated international travel, Flight NZ191 left Auckland International Airport on Wednesday morning at 8:20am, on schedule.



The flight appeared to be about a quarter full and passengers were treated to a glass of bubbles for the occasion.

To welcome Kiwis back to South Australia, Ngarrindjeri artist Major Sumner performed a Welcome to Country at Adelaide Airport for the flight's arrival, as freshly shucked Coffin Bay oysters and Maggie Beer canapes were served.

It's the first time Air NZ has flown the route since late March last year. The airline says it'll now fly Auckland-Adelaide direct three to four times per week using its A321neo and A320 aircraft.

It's the seventh Australian city the airline now operates trans-Tasman bubble flights to, which chief customer and commercial officer Leanne Geraghty says is "really positive".
The two most successful vaccines against COVID-19 to date - those made by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech - work by getting the body to produce copies of the spike protein, teaching the immune system what it looks like. But if the spike protein itself can cause problems, is that a problem?

Voices for Freedom, a New Zealand group which spreads misinformation and misleading claims about COVID-19 and vaccines, said the research "begs the question: if this new manufactured virus-free spike protein can do damage like this, what does this mean for the walking spike protein factories we are creating with certain products?"

But scientists don't think so. Vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris, director of the University of Auckland's Vaccine Datalink and Research Group, told Newshub spike proteins created by our body after being vaccinated aren't presented to other cells.

"While the body makes the spike protein, it doesn't release them - the spike proteins are made inside some cells, and then they're broken down into fragments [which are] displayed on the outside of the cell."

These fragments are enough for the immune system to build up its defences, so if it ever sees them on a real SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, it knows it's an enemy.

"When a vaccinated cell reaches the end of its life, the proteins and fragments are snaffled up by immune cells, along with the other cellular debris," said Dr Campbell. This happens after a couple of days.

Even if the spike protein was presented in full, she says it's unlikely it would cause any problems - vaccines go into the muscle tissue, not the bloodstream.

"It seems highly improbable that vaccination would result in a massive flood of spike proteins into the vascular system," said Dr Campbell.

"People often imagine the components of vaccines charging around the body via the bloodstream - but that is not actually what happens," said Dr Petousis-Harris.

"When the injection is given, into the muscle of the arm, not the blood, the cells in the area as well as specialised immune cells basically inhale the vaccine material. The spike protein is produced in these cells and it actually gets broken down into bits in the same cells. These bits get coupled to special molecules and then the who package is presented to the immune system. There is no rush of spike proteins.

"If the vaccine caused vascular disease we would have seen evidence of this after the hundreds of millions of doses of RNA vaccines already given. This is not something we need to be worried about from a vaccine perspective - vaccines will prevent this from happening."

There is also no evidence of the vaccine causing vascular illness, said Dr Petousis-Harris, after more than a billion doses.

"So first of all biologically this seems unlikely, and two, the evidence would argue against that."
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
Estimates on Tuesday (NZ time) from the US-based nonprofit Aerospace Corporation put its reentry at around 1pm Monday, May 10 (also NZ time), give or take a day or two.

The US now expects it to come down earlier.

"US Space Command is aware of and tracking the location of the Chinese Long March 5B in space, but its exact entry point into the Earth's atmosphere cannot be pinpointed until within hours of its reentry, which is expected around May 8," said Department of Defense Spokesperson Mike Howard (May 9, NZ time).

"Until then, the 18th Space Control Squadron will be offering daily updates to the rocket body's location on www.space-track.org beginning May 4. We will provide additional information as it becomes available."

Russia's Roscosmos space agency put the rocket's re-entry between 1pm May 8 and 8am May 10 (NZ time), while Aerospace Corporation brought forward its estimate to 4pm May 9, plus or minus 28 hours.

China is yet to comment on the rocket.
Shamokin, PA (17872)

Today

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy with showers and a few thunderstorms. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
HM the King receives governors and citizens on Ramadans last 10 days

HM the King receives governors and citizens on Ramadans last 10 days

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa yesterday met remotely, at Al Safriya Palace, Southern Governor His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Muharraq Governor Salman bin Isa bin Hindi Al Mannai, Capital Governor Shaikh Hesham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa and Northern Governor Ali Abdul Hussein Al Asfoor.

HM the King also met remotely citizens from the four governorates, marking the last 10 days of the Holy Month of Ramadan, as part of HM the Kings meetings with leading Bahraini personalities.

HM the King delivered a speech on this occasion, congratulating the audience and all the people of Bahrain on the holy month of Ramadan and the last 10 days of fasting, wishing Bahrain and its loyal people, the Arab and Islamic nations many happy returns.

He expressed delight at meeting the audience during these blessed days of Ramadan, taking pride in Bahraini longstanding traditions which mark the holy month and embody the noble Islamic values.

He praised the loyal people of Bahrain, expressing delight at their congratulations and good wishes marking the Holy Month of Ramadan.

He commended their keenness on reviving longstanding traditions during this blessed month of fasting despite these challenging times.

HM the King prayed to Allah the Almighty to lift the pandemic, bless the infected people with a speedy recovery and the deceased with mercy in vast paradise and protect Bahrain and all countries in the world from any harm.

HM the King extended greetings to all loyal citizens countrywide, appreciating their dedication to their families, homeland and nation Southern Governor HH Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa congratulated HM the King on the last 10 days of the Holy month of Ramadan, reiterating full allegiance to HM the King and the homeland.

He praised HM the Kings sound directives, lauding the vision and support of the Government, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Kingdom of Bahrain has launched Wage Protection System (WPS) along with the collaborative effort of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB).

WPS will require employers to pay their employees through any medium facilitated by entities licensed by the CBB, protecting workers financial rights which are governed by their contracts of employment.

WPS is to be implemented as a three-phase programme with the first phase having commenced on 1 May.

BFC Payments, the Fintech arm of BFC Group, delivers digital payments services for Corporates, SMEs, Proprietors and Consumers.

BFC Payments offers Salary Accounts for the workers to receive their salary and manage the salary using a mobile app.

The service provided by BFC Payments ensures WPS compliance for the corporates who disburse the salary through our straightforward process.

The product will also help to boost the digital financial inclusion to the underserved and unbanked segment in the Kingdom.

Davis D Parakal, Head of Business Development, Strategic Partnerships and Innovation of BFC Payments said: We are proud to be part of the LMRAs wage protection system.

It ensures the timely transfer of wages to workers and at the same time brings simplicity and transparency to businesses.

Currently our systems are WPS compliant and are processing salaries for multiple enterprises in the Kingdom.

Our fast account opening process for businesses along with mobile wallet and cards for the workers make it a unique proposition in this market. BFC Payments offers a mobile wallet that considerably reduces customer dependency on cash, welcoming them to the mobile payments ecosystem in the country.

BFC Payments App also enables users to remit money back home at great rates quickly, safely and conveniently.

The App can be downloaded by employees on the App Store and Google Play Store.

BFC Payments is a part of BFC Group which is one of the financial leaders in the region that includes an international network of money exchanges across four countries.

The history of the companies that are incorporated under the Group date back over 100 years, with Bahrain Financing Company (BFC) trading in gold bullion and continually growing its services.

For more information on BFC Payments, please visit www.bfcpayments.com or contact a BFC Payments business development officer on +973 1700 4548.
Netanyahu misses deadline, political future in question

JERUSALEM | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday failed to meet a midnight deadline to put together a new governing coalition, raising the possibility that his Likud party could be pushed into the opposition for the first time in 12 years.

The deadline closed a four-week window granted to Netanyahu by Israels figurehead president. The matter now bounces back to President Reuven Rivlin, who announced just after midnight that he would contact on Wednesday the 13 parties with seats in parliament to discuss the continuation of the process of forming a government.

Rivlin is expected in the coming days to give one of Netanyahus opponents a chance to form an alternative coalition government. He also could ask the parliament to select one of its own members as prime minister. If all else fails, the country would be forced into another election this fall  the fifth in just over two years.

The turmoil does not mean that Netanyahu will immediately be forced out as prime minister. But he now faces a serious threat to his lengthy rule just as his corruption trial is kicking into high gear. His opponents, despite deep ideological differences, already have been holding informal talks in recent weeks in hopes of forging a power-sharing agreement.

Netanyahu had struggled to secure a parliamentary majority since March 23  when elections ended in deadlock for the fourth consecutive time in the past two years. Despite repeated meetings with many of his rivals and unprecedented outreach to the leader of a small Islamist Arab party, Netanyahu was unable to close a deal.

Rivlin gave Netanyahu the first chance to form a coalition after 52 members of parliament endorsed him as prime minister last month. That was short of a majority, but the highest number for any party leader.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid, who received the backing of 45 lawmakers, now seems to be the most likely candidate to get a chance to form a government.

Naftali Bennett, head of the small religious, nationalist Yamina party, is also a possibility. Bennett, a former Netanyahu ally turned rival, controls just seven seats in parliament, but he has emerged as a kingmaker of sorts and appears to carry the votes that Lapid would need to secure a parliamentary majority.

Lapid already has said he is ready to share the prime ministers job with Bennett, with Bennett serving first in a rotation. So far, they have not reached any firm agreements.

In a brief statement, Netanyahus Likud party blamed Bennett for the prime ministers failure.

Because of Bennetts refusal to commit to a right-wing government, something that would have certainly lead to the formation of a government along with other members of Knesset, Prime Minister Netanyahu returned the mandate to the president, the statement said.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz, leader of the centrist Blue and White party, called on Netanyahus opponents to line up behind Lapid.

The Israeli people have taken one blow after another: a pandemic, unemployment, ugly politics, loss of faith in leadership, and deep polarization, he said. We can work everything out within a matter of hours. It is our duty to form a government as swiftly as possible for the sake of the state of Israel and all of its citizens.

Netanyahu has become a divisive figure in Israeli politics, with the last four elections all seen as a referendum on his rule. He has been desperate to remain in office while he stands trial, using his position to lash out at prosecutors and seek possible immunity from prosecution.

Most of his struggles stemmed from obstacles created by former allies in his own religious and nationalist base.

The New Hope party, led by a former Netanyahu aide, refused to serve under the prime minister because of deep personal differences. Religious Zionism, a far-right party that espouses an openly racist platform, supported Netanyahu but ruled out serving in a government with the Arab partners he has courted.

Bennett, who has had a strained relationship with Netanyahu, was unable to reach any agreements with his former mentor.

Looming over Netanyahu has been his corruption trial. Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and bribery in a series of scandals. The trial has moved into the witness phase, with embarrassing testimony accusing him of trading favors with a powerful media mogul. Netanyahu denies the charges.

In recent weeks, Netanyahu had appeared increasingly frustrated, coddling potential partners one day and then lashing out at them with vitriol the next.

Last weeks deadly stampede at a religious festival, in which 45 ultra-Orthodox Jews were killed, only complicated his task by creating an unwelcome diversion and calls for an official investigation into possible negligence on his watch.

Netanyahu has also suffered a series of embarrassing  and uncharacteristic  defeats in parliament. On Tuesday, Likud failed to push ahead a proposal calling for direct election of the prime minister. Opponents had panned the measure as a desperate attempt by Netanyahu to find a new way to hold on to power.

G7 foreign ministers

meet face-to-face after

pandemic pause

LONDON | Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy industrialized nations gathered Tuesday in London for their first face-to-face meeting in more than two years, with the issue of whether to challenge or coax a surging China high on the agenda.

Host nation Britain is keen to show that the rich countries club still has clout in a fast-changing world, and has warned that the increasingly aggressive stances of Russia, China and Iran pose a challenge to democratic societies and the international rule of law.

U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the meeting demonstrates diplomacy is back.

At the two-day meeting, top diplomats from the U.K., the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan also were to discuss the military coup in Myanmar, the humanitarian crisis in Syria, the Tigray crisis in Ethiopia and the precarious situation in Afghanistan, where U.S. troops and their NATO allies are winding down a two-decade deployment.

The U.K. Foreign Office said the group would also discuss Russias ongoing malign activity, including Moscows earlier troop buildup on the border with Ukraine and the imprisonment of opposition politician Alexei Navalny.

While the G-7 members likely can agree in broad terms to condemn Navalnys imprisonment or Beijings repression of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang, there are differences over how to relate to countries such as China and Russia that will have to be smoothed out in any final communique on Wednesday.

Asked what message the group would send to authoritarian regimes, Raab said the G-7 believed in keeping trade open. We believe in standing up for open societies, for human rights and democracy. We believe in safeguarding and promoting public good.

The G-7 ministers will also try to agree on a way to make coronavirus vaccines available around the globe in the long term. But for now, wealthy countries are reluctant to give up precious stocks until they have inoculated their own people.

The ministers wore face masks and greeted one another with arm and elbow bumps as they arrived at Lancaster House, a grand former stately home in central London. Plastic screens between participants and on-site coronavirus tests were among measures intended to make the venue COVID-secure.

The British government, which holds the G-7 presidency this year, invited the foreign ministers of Australia, India, South Korea and South Africa to join parts of the meeting, including Tuesday evenings formal dinner. The guest list was intended to underline the G-7s support for democracies, as well as the U.K. governments attempts to build stronger ties with Asia in the wake of the countrys departure from the European Union.

Britains Conservative-led government hopes the resumption of in-person G-7 meetings  after more than a year of disruption by the coronavirus pandemic  will give the group a jolt of energy and bolster attempts to forge a post-Brexit Global Britain role for the U.K.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to host the other G-7 leaders at a summit in Cornwall, England, in June.

Opposition politicians and international aid organizations say the goal of Britain playing a bigger role in world affairs is undermined by the governments decision to slash its foreign aid budget from 0.7% of gross domestic product to 0.5% because of the economic hit from the pandemic.

Raab said the aid cuts were a difficult decision but insisted Britain would become an even greater force for good in the world.

House GOP leader amps

up pressure on Cheney

over Trump barbs

WASHINGTON | House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy stepped up pressure on No. 3 House Republican Liz Cheney on Tuesday, claiming rank-and-file concerns about her ability to carry out her job as she trades insults with former President Donald Trump.

Rather than standing by Cheney  as he did during a failed effort to oust her in February  McCarthy essentially planted himself in the camp of her pro-Trump critics. His positioning with her detractors and their increasingly outspoken attacks suggest her hold on her leadership job is in renewed peril.

I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out her job as conference chair, to carry out the message, said McCarthy, R-Calif. We all need to be working as one if were able to win the majority. Remember, majorities are not given. They are earned.

McCarthys remarks come with Republicans optimistic about their chances of winning back control of the House in the 2022 elections. The GOP believes it has a trove of issues including border security and relaxing pandemic restrictions to use against Democrats and wants to focus there, not on internal party rifts.

Vehicle maker Hyundai recalls over 390K vehicles for possible engine fires

DETROIT | Hyundai is recalling more than 390,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada for two problems that can cause engine fires. In one recall, owners are being told to park their vehicles outdoors until repairs are made.

The largest recall covers more than 203,000 Santa Fe Sport SUVs from 2013 through 2015. Some are being recalled a second time. Brake fluid can leak into the anti-lock brake computer, causing an electrical short that can lead to fires. Owners should park outdoors and away from structures until the problem is fixed, according to documents posted Tuesday by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Dealers will replace a fuse and replace the computer if necessary. Owners will be notified in June.

From AP reports
A number of criticisms on the Lake Contrary School pre-K renovation plan are without merit, and the district is eager to proceed, school leaders said Tuesday.

Dr. Marlie Williams, St. Joseph School District assistant superintendent, presented a number of data points her office has compiled to address claims that the plan will result in overlong commute times for young children; that the schools location in the South Side is not practical; and that better options, among others, are available elsewhere. Williams went down this list, point by point, and showed how, in her stated view, none of them are valid.

To be perfectly clear, I dont think anyone in any of our conversations has made the statement that we believe Lake is a perfect location, Williams said. But I do believe that Lake does fill a need in terms of opening access to early learning for more children in the city.

Williams said parents have been calling about the risk that young children will have to travel long distances to get to the school, situated at 1800 Alabama St., a roughly 11-minute drive from Downtown. In fact, numbers given by Williams show, more than 85% of all current preschool families are served by an elementary school that is less than 8 miles away from Lake Contrary.

Noyes School, by comparison, is not suitable because, following its 2014 closure, the district removed its kitchen and playground equipment, and other services that have not been restored by the schools recent usage as the home of the SJSD Virtual Academy. In addition to retaining these features since its 2018 closure, Williams observed, Lake Contrary is situated on one floor, a significant safety and accessibility advantage.

Per Williams, this is especially important because the school district  as have many of its peers  anticipates low-incidence classrooms will be in ever-increasing demand. Low-incidence refers to a class of delayed/disadvantaged development conditions and disabilities experienced by preschool-age children.

Board member David Foster inquired as to the advantage of a single preschool site. Williams told him this enhances staff collaboration, and supports boons such as the ability to provide hot meals to kids, instead of boxed meals for elsewhere.

That collaboration is priceless, and then the kids benefit from that, Board President Tami Pasley said. And yes, its a benefit for teachers, but they still collaborate across town. This way, the child  every single child  will benefit from all of the collaboration of our teachers, right there. And what one teacher notices, or another teacher is especially good at, the benefit to the students is just ... You cant put a price on it.

Board member Kenneth Reeder, a critic of the Lake Contrary plan, did not attend.
MONCTON, NB, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - BioScript Solutions is pleased to announce today that it has been recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies. As one of the 2021 Best Managed Companies award winners, BioScript Solutions is placed among the country's leading Canadian owned and managed companies with innovative, world-class business practices.

Co-founded in 2001 by pharmacists David Ford and Andrew Steeves, BioScript Solutions specializes in helping people achieve the best possible health outcomes by providing access to specialty drug therapies and full-service patient support, pharmacy and nursing care. What began as one infusion clinic at a Riverview pharmacy in New Brunswick now comprises five business units employing more than 850 team members that operate coast-to-coast in Canada.

"On behalf of BioScript Solutions, Andrew and I are thrilled to receive this prestigious award and are so proud of our entire organization that has grown into a leading national player from its Atlantic Canadian roots," said David Ford, co-founder of BioScript Solutions. "Our commitment over the last 20-years has always been to provide patients with the best care throughout their treatment journey, and this award reflects the entire team's effort in delivering upon that commitment."

Recipients of the 2021 Best Managed Companies award demonstrate leadership in the areas of strategy, capabilities and innovation, culture and commitment, and financials to achieve sustainable growth.

Some of BioScript Solutions' achievements across these areas include: an inclusive development process that involves team members, partners, and patient feedback in the design; continual innovation by empowering team members to implement improvements that benefit patients; and developing a diverse and inclusive culture based on mutual success and shared accountability.

"The people we've assembled is, in fact, one of our proudest achievements," says Co-Founder Andrew Steeves. "The calibre of our team members is the secret to our success and their commitment to our patients is unparalleled."

"Being designated this year as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies reflects the joint commitment of our team and our partners to be at the forefront of innovative healthcare solutions for our patients," said Heather Tulk, Managing Director of BioScript Solutions. "Everyone across our divisions of BioScript Pharmacy, NavieGo Patient Support Programs, Coverdale Clinics, A&D Wholesale, and BioScript Logistics look forward to continuing to work together toward our vision of simplifying access to specialty care in Canada."

Canada's Best Managed Companies award program is sponsored by Deloitte Private, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business, and TMX Group.

About Canada's Best Managed Companies

Canada's Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $25 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada's Best Managed Companies new winner (one of the new winners selected each year); 2) Canada's Best Managed Companies winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4-6 consecutive years); 4) Platinum Club member (winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are Deloitte Private, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business, and TMX Group. For more information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

About BioScript Solutions

BioScript Solutions is committed to helping people with chronic illnesses achieve the best possible health outcomes. With our total care approach, we simplify access to complex drug therapies and deliver full-service specialty care solutions at every stage of the patients' treatment journey. Through our logistics and distribution operations, specialty pharmacies, patient support programs and clinical services, BioScript Solutions  has the capability to manage the needs of manufacturers, payors, prescribers, and health care practitioners across Canada  today, and tomorrow. To learn more, please visit bioscript.ca.

SOURCE BioScript Solutions

For further information: Jane Lee, BlueSky Communications, 647.403.4177
In the 28th year of the program, Canada's Best Managed Companies are finding success through organizational purpose, enabling remote work, and focusing on employee health and well-being

TORONTO, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - Deloitte Canada is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2021 Canada's Best Managed Companies awards program, spotlighting the top privately-owned Canadian companies with annual revenues over $25 million. This year's companiesincluding the program's 37 new winnersattribute their success in a year of turbulence to clearly defined organizational purpose, fostering a remote work environment, and a clear focus on employee well-being, which has led them to overcome some of today's most pressing challenges and remain competitive on the world stage.

"In what may be the most challenging year for Canadian businesses since the program's inception, the 2021 Best Managed winners are a shining example of the importance of leadership, innovation, and resilience in the face of uncertainty," said Kari Lockhart, National Co-Leader of the Canada's Best Managed Companies program and Partner, Deloitte Private. "These companies should not only be extremely proud of this designation, but for their organizational grit, continued adaptability, and unwavering commitment to their people during a year when it was needed most."

Although Canada's Best Managed Companies continue to adapt in their own way in 2021, one important distinction ties them all togetherorganizational purpose. As each company relies on its own uniquely defined purpose as the lens in which it views challenges, opportunities, and key decisions, this year's winners can confidently chart a path forward, despite uncertainty.

"This unpredictable year, defined by economic instability, has posed numerous challenges for Canadian businesses and put the principle of organizational purpose to the test, and as seen with this year's crop of Best Managed winners, it works," said Peter E. Brown, National Co-Leader of the Canada's Best Managed Companies program and Partner, Deloitte Private. "By using their purpose as the bedrock of their organizational foundation, this year's winning companies didn't just weather the storm, but were able to experiment and take risks, seek out new opportunities, and thrive."

Another important factor in the success of this year's winners is their commitment to the health and well-being of their people. By emphasizing employee health as a major priority over the past year, Best Managed companies are ensuring their people feel valued, which has long lasting impacts on businesses. Likewise, by enabling a remote work environment and giving employees the confidence to feel safe, this year's Best Managed Companies are rapidly adapting the way they communicate, empathize, and lead their people.

"One area we've seen that's different than in previous years is how companies view employee well-being, including mental health," said Dino Medves, Senior Vice President and Head, CIBC Commercial Banking. "Simply focusing on the bottom line is no longer a staple for success. Instead, we're seeing Best Managed winnerspast and presentadapt quickly to a new working environment, while fostering creativity and innovation united in their companies' purpose. This year's companies should take pride in being at the forefront of this positive change."

Best Managed is a flagship program presented by Deloitte Private, a division of Deloitte exclusively focused on serving private clients of all sizes. Generation after generation, Deloitte Private has been by the side of the entrepreneurs transforming Canada's economy  and under its wing, the Best Managed program includes 486 companies, offering a strong network to support the 37 new winners of 2021. The network continues its expansion beyond Canadian borders, now with presence in 37 countries globally.

Here is the list of the new Best Managed winners in 2021:

Company print name City Province Primary industry AAG Tailored Cutting Solutions Burlington ON Heavy Machinery & Equipment Averna Montreal QC Engineering & Construction BE Power Equipment Maple Ridge BC Wholesale & Distribution BioScript Solutions Moncton NB Health Care Book Depot Thorold ON Bargain Book Distribution--B2B and B2C Canadian North Kanata ON Transportation Crawford Packaging London ON Wholesale & Distribution De La Fontaine Sherbrooke QC Engineering & Construction Duvaltex Quebec QC Apparel/Textiles/Footwear/Accessories Eddyfi/NDT Quebec QC Technology GrainsConnect Canada Calgary AB Agribusiness Groupe Boucher Sports Sainte-Foy QC Specialty & Department Stores Groupe Tornatech Inc. Laval QC Fabrication HGregoire Saint-Eustache QC Automotive Le Groupe Beaucage Sherbrooke QC Automotive lg2 Montreal QC Advertising & Communication Magna IV Engineering Edmonton AB Engineering & Construction Medicom Pointe Claire QC Health Care Mikisew Group of Companies Enoch AB Oil, Gas & Chemicals MOBIA Dartmouth NS Technology MP Lundy Construction Inc. Ottawa ON Engineering & Construction Muraflex Montreal QC Engineering & Construction Neighbourly Pharmacy Etobicoke ON Health Care ORAM Plomberie du batiment Mirabel QC Engineering & Construction Osmow's Mississauga ON Food & Beverage Manufacturing Peavey Industries LP Red Deer AB Specialty & Department Stores Polykar Inc. Ville Saint Laurent QC Industrial Products Preval AG inc. Saint-Hyacinthe QC Agribusiness Priestly Demolition Inc. King ON Engineering & Construction Seasons Retirement Communities Oakville ON Health Care Showcase Brampton ON Specialty & Department Stores Sollio Groupe Cooperatif Montreal QC Agribusiness Spectrum Health Care Toronto ON Health Care State Window Corporation Vaughan ON Engineering & Construction Turf Care Products Canada Newmarket ON Heavy Machinery & Equipment Upper Crust Toronto ON Food & Beverage Manufacturing Wellington-Altus Private Wealth Winnipeg MB Investment Management

A complete list of the 2021 Canada's Best Managed winners, Gold Standard winners and Platinum Club winners is available here.

About Canada's Best Managed Companies



Canada's Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $25 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada's Best Managed Companies new winner (new winners selected each year); 2) Canada's Best Managed Companies winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4-6 consecutive years); 4) Platinum Club member (winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are Deloitte Private, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business, and TMX Group. For further information, visit http://www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

About Deloitte Private

Getting you there

Generation after generation, Deloitte has been by the side of the entrepreneurs transforming Canada's economy. Deloitte Private is exclusively focused on serving private clients  of all sizes. We know that the journey to success requires strategic decision making and being opportunistic at the right moment. As Canada's largest professional services advisor to private clients, we are passionate and committed to your future successalways looking ahead to anticipate your needs and prepare you for any unforeseen challenges ahead. Deloitte Private will help you achieve your goals and get you where you want to be. Our focus is getting you there and beyond. Please connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.

Deloitte, one of Canada's leading professional services firms, provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services. Deloitte LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.

SOURCE Deloitte & Touche

For further information: Kyle Wyskiel, Deloitte Canada, 416-354-1574, [email protected]; Marilyne Plouffe, Deloitte Canada, 514-393-5471, [email protected]
Still, strategic action is vital to outlast the COVID-19- rebound.

TORONTO, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - Canadian CEOs are expecting extensive growth in the coming year, an optimistic perspective to come out of recent turbulent times. According to the Canadian results of the Global CEO Survey , 72% expect global economic growth to improve over the next 12 months. CEOs are also bullish about their own organization's growth, with most expecting their revenues and profitability to increase.

The comprehensive data puts a glaring spotlight on elements CEOs must prioritize to reach future growth goals. It's important for CEOs to use the energy of a rebounding economy to strengthen their strategies for transformation, cybersecurity and privacy, the well-being of their workforce and climate change.

Transformation: an opportunity for holistic growth

Data in this year's survey shows that Canadian CEOs are planning to expand through organic growth opportunities (60%) and increasing operational efficiencies (68%). In conjunction with these plans, 71% aim to invest in digital transformation initiatives over the next three years. Given the economic and social realities as a result of the pandemic, organizations have had no choice but to accelerate their transformational goals.

"In this past year, we have witnessed incredible ingenuity from Canada's CEOs. Their confidence towards economic growth is an inspiring sentiment in a time when Canadians are still adjusting to changes in public health, safety restrictions and dealing with workplace challenges," says Nicolas Marcoux, CEO and Senior Partner, PwC Canada. "The need for CEOs to transform their businesses has never been more significant. Setting the groundwork now is vital to drive sustainable growth, profitability and help organizations thrive long after the crisis."

Cybersecurity: a top threat, not a top priority

This year, cybersecurity has in fact climbed to the top of the list of extreme threats, followed by the pandemic and other health crises. With an accelerated focus on digitization, there's a need to adopt and implement well-established cybersecurity systems and measures for robust privacy. Although 87% of CEOs identified this as a top threat to growth, only 61% are showing they're prioritizing it by including it in their risk management strategies.

"The pandemic has illuminated for many how Mother Nature can throw a disruptive curve ball at society and how important it is to deal with systemic risks," says Simon Kennedy, Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development. "Part of building an innovative digital economy is making sure that you have modern legal frameworks and laws that are fit for purpose for a modern economy."

The modern economy and businesses functioning within it are increasingly dependent on their own technology and the technology offered by their ecosystems. CEOs can benefit from working with their CIOs to shape and build the right technical controls.

People as drivers of growth

CEOs who plan for the workforce of tomorrow have a competitive edge that can influence productivity. Canadian CEOs expect their workforce to grow: 8 out of 10 anticipate headcount to increase over the next three years. They've also identified their top long-term investment as leadership and talent development at 75% (compared to 67% of global CEOs).

The crisis has forced CEOs to think broadly about many elements that impact their business, but high on the list of priorities is the well-being of their people.

When Canadian CEOs were asked to identify an aspect of their workforce strategy to improve competitiveness, they selected workplace culture (42% vs. 32%) and well-being (34% vs. 28%) more than CEOs globally. Improving competitiveness for growth requires harnessing the power of supportive workplace culture.

A built-in ESG strategy

Determined leadership, agility and responding to data-based insights are fundamental to creating, and building a robust ESG strategy. This year's data shows that Canadian CEOs aren't taking the threat of climate change seriously enough.

Although CEOs reported that climate change is a threat to their growth strategies, this sentiment has hardly increased over the years. In fact, climate change concerns are only up by three points from last year (from 20% to 23%). When we dive deeper, the data shows Canada is lagging, globally CEOs concerns with climate change reached 30%.

In a time when action is critical, CEOs in Canada can do more, especially since 68% of CEOs haven't factored climate change into their strategic risk-management activities. Organizations of all sizes must build ESG into their investment strategies to sustain long-term growth.

While optimism is encouraging for all Canadians in today's new world of work and life, it doesn't equal strategy. Canadian CEOs are anticipating immense growth in the coming yearbut they'll need to position themselves for long-term growth by focusing on and investing in key priorities. Turning optimism into opportunity will be the driving factor of enduring success in a post pandemic world.

Click here to access the Canadian findings of the Global CEO Survey. The 24th annual survey explored the views of a record 337 chief executives across the nation in January and February of 2021.

About PwC Canada

At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. More than 7,400 partners and staff in offices across the country are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax, consulting and deals services. PwC Canada is a member of the PwC network of firms with more than 250,000 people in 158 countries. Find out more by visiting us at www.pwc.com/ca .

 2021 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership. All rights reserved.

PwC refers to the Canadian member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see http://www.pwc.com/structure for further details.

SOURCE PwC Management Services LP

For further information: Julie Ibrahim, Senior Public Relations Manager, PwC Canada, + 416-815-5250, [email protected]

Related Links

www.pwc.com/ca


TORONTO, May 4, 2021 /CNW/ - Drone Delivery Canada Corp. (TSXV: FLT) (OTC: TAKOF) (Frankfurt: A2AMGZ) (Frankfurt: ABB.F) (the "Company" or "DDC") is pleased to announce it has received official certification to the latest ISO 9001:2015 standard for its Quality Management System.

ISO 9001:2015 is a globally recognized standard of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) based in Switzerland. The quality management standard is a process-based approach which includes principles of customer focus, leadership, risk management, evidence-based decision making, performance evaluation and continual improvement. The strict guidelines provide a robust model for quality management across the entire organization.

DDC's ISO 9001:2015 certification was issued by Certech Registration Inc, a leading management system certification & audit organization. The scope of certification includes sales, design, development, integration, flight operations and support services for the Company's proprietary and patented drone delivery hardware and software logistics solution.

"We hold ourselves to a high set of standards in everything we do. We are honoured that our Quality Management System has been certified to the latest ISO 9001 standard. As we grow our international commercial base, this means our customers have complete third-party assurance that our solutions operate to the highest quality standards for reliability and safety. I congratulate the entire DDC team for their work on achieving this important accreditation," said Michael Zahra, President & CEO Drone Delivery Canada Corp.

The Company was also previously recognized as one of the "2021 Canada's Top Small & Medium Employers", and a "2021 OTCQX Best 50" company.

For more information about ISO 9001, please see: https://www.iso.org/iso-9001-quality-management.html

About Drone Delivery Canada Corp.

Drone Delivery Canada Corp. is an ISO 9001 certified, award-winning drone technology company focused on the design, development, and implementation of its proprietary logistics software platform, using drones. The Company's platform will be used as a Software as a Service (SaaS) model for government and corporate organizations globally.

Drone Delivery Canada Corp. is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX.V Exchange under the symbol FLT, on the U.S. OTCQX market under the symbol TAKOF and on the Frankfurt exchange in Germany under the symbol A2AMGZ or ABB.F .

Read more about the Company at: www.DroneDeliveryCanada.com or on DDC's social media:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/drone-delivery-canada

https://www.youtube.com/dronedeliverycanada

https://www.facebook.com/dronedeliverycanada

https://www.instagram.com/dronedeliverycanada

https://twitter.com/DroneDeliveryCa

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Notice Regarding Forward Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking information that involves substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. This forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, and dependence upon regulatory approvals (both in Canada and internationally). Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking information. The parties undertake no obligation to update forward-looking information except as otherwise may be required by applicable securities law.

SOURCE Drone Delivery Canada Corp.

For further information: Investor Relations: Mr. Michael Zahra, President & Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Bill Mitoulas, Telephone: (416) 479-9547, Email: [email protected]; Media Relations: Mr. Nelson Hudes, Hudes Communications International, Telephone: (905) 660-9155, Email: [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.dronedeliverycanada.com


CanNor invests nearly $3 million to build on a prior feasibility study examining the development of a hydroelectric and fibre-optic link between Manitoba and the Kivalliq region of Nunavut.

RANKIN INLET, NU, May 4, 2021 /CNW/ - There are significant economic and environmental opportunities in Nunavut's Kivalliq region. That's why in 2019 the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) invested in technical and feasibility work to support the potential development of a hydroelectric and fibre-optic link that would connect communities in the region to Northern Manitoba.

The feasibility work was successful in gathering technical data, providing design work, examining some of the impacts the link would create, and consulting with government officials and other organizations that could benefit from the project.

Federal government continues to support clean energy and connectivity in the North

Today, the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for CanNor, announced nearly $3 million in additional investments to support early phase data collection and analysis for the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link project.

This funding will support preliminary geomorphological, biophysical, heritage, and permafrost studies that will be conducted along the proposed route of the hydro-fibre link. It will also include engagement with communities and traditional land use studies amongst First Nation communities throughout Manitoba as well as Inuit in Nunavut to ensure proper consultation on the project. Budget 2021 also proposes to invest $40.4 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to support feasibility and planning of hydroelectricity and grid interconnection projects in the North. This additional funding could advance projects such as the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link Project.

The economic and environmental benefits to this link are significant. This project is expected to reduce fossil fuel usage while introducing reliable clean power and high speed broadband to communities. The mining industry is expanding in the Kivalliq region, but it is currently dependent on diesel to provide electricity. The establishment of a hydro-fibre link will provide more affordable electricity and improve the viability of future mining projects and encourage more exploration.

Quotes

"The hydro-fibre link will bring significant benefits to Nunavut's Kivalliq region. The project will deliver clean energy to communities and businesses currently reliant on diesel and high speed internet will significantly improve communication and give communities an economic boost. That's why the Government of Canada is funding research into the link as part of our continuing commitment to sustainably grow Nunavut's economy."

The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for CanNor

"Our government's support for this project, including proposed investments through Budget 2021, will help in the development of a critical piece of infrastructure for the future economic success of Manitoba and Nunavut, while also working with Indigenous partners to ensure respect for traditional lands and cultures and protection of the Northern environment."

The Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs

"The Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link is an Inuit led national infrastructure project that can sustainably transform our communities, industry and connect our region to the rest of Canada for the first time. This project represents the future of the Arctic and by partnering with the Government of Canada and others we look forward to the work that lies ahead to develop this critical infrastructure link."

Kono Tattuinee, President, Kivalliq Inuit Association

Quick Facts

CanNor is investing $2,993,762 million over three years to support further feasibility work for the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link project including the preliminary data collection and analysis as well as consultation with Inuit in Nunavut and First Nations in communities throughout Manitoba . The Kivalliq Inuit Association is contributing $752,934 .

over three years to support further feasibility work for the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link project including the preliminary data collection and analysis as well as consultation with Inuit in and First Nations in communities throughout . The Kivalliq Inuit Association is contributing . In 2019, CanNor invested over $1.6 million in the feasibility study for this project. The investment supported the gathering of technical data, conceptual design work, required permits, as well as government and stakeholder engagement.

in the feasibility study for this project. The investment supported the gathering of technical data, conceptual design work, required permits, as well as government and stakeholder engagement. Budget 2021 proposes to invest $40.4 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to support feasibility and planning of hydroelectricity and grid interconnection projects in the North. This funding could advance projects, such as the Atlin Hydro Expansion Project in Yukon and the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link Project in Nunavut . Projects will provide clean power to northern communities and help reduce emissions from mining projects.

over three years, starting in 2021-22, to support feasibility and planning of hydroelectricity and grid interconnection projects in the North. This funding could advance projects, such as the Atlin Hydro Expansion Project in and the Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link Project in . Projects will provide clean power to northern communities and help reduce emissions from mining projects. The Kivalliq Inuit Association represents Inuit in the region, from the communities of Arviat , Whale Cove , Rankin Inlet , Chesterfield Inlet , Baker Lake , Naujaat, and Coral Harbour .

Associated Links

Stay connected

Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED.

Follow CanNor on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)

For further information: Catherine Mounier-Desrochers, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, [email protected]; Craig Welsh, Communications Advisor, Nunavut, CanNor, 867-975-1347, [email protected]; Jonathan Pameolik, Manager, Communications, Kivalliq Inuit Association, 867-645-5766, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.cannor.gc.ca


Submissions will be accepted until June 11

GATINEAU, QC, May 4, 2021 /CNW/ - Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home.

Today, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Ahmed Hussen, launched a call for concepts for innovative projects to prevent and eliminate homelessness under the Community Capacity and Innovation stream of Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy.

The Government of Canada is providing approximately $6 million over three years, starting in 202122, for scalable projects that will test and develop new and innovative approaches to addressing homelessness in communities across the country.

Project concepts must address at least one of the following three priorities:

Testing or developing interventions for specific populations, such as Indigenous people, youth, seniors, LGBTQ2, women fleeing violence, veterans, or Black and racialized Canadians.

Developing strategic partnerships that contribute to community collaboration, increase capacity building within the homeless-serving sector, or build connections between sectors or different levels of government.

Developing effective practices or innovative techniques to measure the scope of homelessness or address data gaps related to homelessness, including hidden homelessness.

Priority consideration will be given to large-scale multi-year projects, projects serving Indigenous communities and projects addressing homelessness in the territories.

Concepts can be submitted by completing a concept application form and submitting it via email to [email protected] by June 11, 2021. Concepts will be evaluated by a review committee, and selected applicants will be invited to submit full proposals for consideration in the summer.

Quote

"Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. Our government is committed to eliminating chronic homelessness in Canada and knows that this investment, through Reaching Home, will help identify innovative approaches and solutions to support communities across the country."

 Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Ahmed Hussen

Quick Facts

Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy was launched in 2019. It supports the goals of the National Housing Strategy and aims to eliminate chronic homelessness nationally by 50% by 202728.

Homelessness Strategy was launched in 2019. It supports the goals of the National Housing Strategy and aims to eliminate chronic homelessness nationally by 50% by 202728. Reaching Home is a community-based program that provides funding and support to urban, Indigenous and rural and remote communities to help them address their local homelessness needs.

The Community Capacity and Innovation Stream of Reaching Home supports communities with the implementation of a coordinated access system and provides project-specific contributions to foster innovation in the homeless-serving sector.

Associated Links

National Call for Concepts under the Community Capacity and Innovation Stream

Applicant Guide: Community Capacity and Innovation Stream National Call for Concepts

About Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy

Follow us on Twitter

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

For further information: For media enquiries, please contact: Mikaela Harrison, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Ahmed Hussen, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]

Related Links

www.hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca


OTTAWA, ON, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, Health Canada authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children 12 to 15 years of age. This is the first COVID-19 vaccine authorized in Canada for use in children and marks a significant milestone in Canada's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health Canada received an application to expand the indication of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine on April 16, 2021. The vaccine was initially authorized for use in people 16 years of age and older on December 9, 2020.

After completing a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, the Department has determined that this vaccine is safe and effective at preventing COVID-19 when used in children between 12 and 15 years of age.

Health Canada has placed terms and conditions on this authorization requiring Pfizer-BioNTech to continue providing information to Health Canada on the safety, efficacy and quality of the vaccine in this younger age group to ensure its benefits continue to be demonstrated once it is on the market.

In keeping with the Department's commitment to openness and transparency, Health Canada is publishing multiple documents related to this decision, including a high-level summary of the evidence it reviewed.

Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada will continue to closely monitor the safety of this vaccine and will take action if any safety concerns are identified.

SOURCE Health Canada

For further information: Contacts: Media Relations, Health Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected] ; COVID-19 public enquiries: 1-833-784-4397
OTTAWA, ON, May 4, 2021 /CNW/ - Following a review of existing import requirements, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is implementing changes for commercial dogs under 8 months of age that are imported for breeding and resale end uses (which includes adoption) to improve compliance with humane transport and animal health requirements.

This review was initiated after the inspection of an air shipment of dogs in June 2020, in which a number of dead and sick dogs were found and other non-compliance issues were identified. The on-going investigation into that incident has led CFIA to take certain enforcement actions.

Effective May 15, 2021, these changes include:

Multiple entry permits will be replaced with single entry permits, and importers will have to specify the number of dogs to be imported.





Dogs will require rabies vaccination at least 28 days before export to Canada (with an exception for recognized breeders) and will need to be treated for internal and external parasites prior to export.





(with an exception for recognized breeders) and will need to be treated for internal and external parasites prior to export. Importers will be required to provide information about the travel route from the country of origin to the final destination in Canada , including the airport or land border crossing that will be used to enter Canada . They will also be required to schedule a CFIA inspection at the airport or land border crossing where the animals will enter Canada before the shipment leaves the country of origin.





, including the airport or land border crossing that will be used to enter . They will also be required to schedule a CFIA inspection at the airport or land border crossing where the animals will enter before the shipment leaves the country of origin. Importers transporting dogs by air must have a post-import quarantine facility that has been pre-approved by the CFIA available in case arriving animals require further inspection and/or quarantine.

The CFIA is also clarifying the requirement related to the certification for kennels of origin. The requirement for a United States Department of Agriculture Kennel License will continue to apply for dogs imported for resale (which includes adoption) from the United States.

While the CFIA prepares to implement these changes, no new import permits for commercial dogs less than 8 months of age for breeding and resale end uses (which includes adoption) will be issued from May 4 to 14, 2021. The CFIA will resume issuing import permits on May 15, 2021 under the new measures.

The CFIA is committed to protecting the health of animals through import controls.

Quick Facts

Under the Health of Animals Act and its Regulations , the CFIA administers and enforces import requirements for all animals and animal products entering Canada , including domestic pets.

and its , the CFIA administers and enforces import requirements for all animals and animal products entering , including domestic pets. Importers are encouraged to refer to the Notice to Industry and related documents for detailed information on the new import requirements.

Quotes

"These changes are designed to crack down on those involved in shipments of puppies that don't meet Canadian animal health and certification requirements. They provide additional tools for the CFIA to take appropriate actions against non-compliance. The new rules raise the bar on preventing potential animal abuses and make it clear that they will not be tolerated."

 The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"The Canadian Kennel Club appreciates the steps that the CFIA has taken regarding dog imports. We are pleased to work with CFIA to encourage Canadians to make informed choices about responsible dog ownership and to promote the benefits of buying a purebred dog from an accountable Canadian breeder."

 Jeff Cornett, Executive Director, Canadian Kennel Club

Related products

SOURCE Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

For further information: Jean-Sebastien Comeau, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 343-549-2326; Media Relations, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 613 773-6600, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.inspection.gc.ca


MIRABEL, QC, May 5, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - ORAM Plomberie du Batiment is pleased to announce it has been recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies in 2021. It is a first for the Mirabel-based firm, which won the prestigious designation following a rigorous selection process.

The Canada's Best Managed Companies awards program is the most prestigious honour for Canadian businesses. It recognizes companies in every sector that have distinguished themselves through their management practices, innovation, team spirit, and leadership.

"We are so proud to have joined the ranks of the most respected companies in Canada," said Marie-Claude Allaire, Co-President, ORAM. "This award recognizes the efforts we've made to pursue excellence in our business goals as well as in sustainable development and our impact on society. Today's announcement reflects our goal to continue to grow and strengthen our positioning in an increasingly competitive landscape."

ORAM Plomberie du Batiment has been a family-owned business for three generations. It has built its reputation on its innovative expertise, in-depth knowledge, and impeccable customer service. From design to execution, the ORAM experience means comprehensive, customized support for every project, no matter how big or complex. Today, ORAM's core strategy is to leverage the integration of new technology and to continue empowering its employees through education programs, while maintaining a strong focus on community engagement. "This award recognizes more than just the quality of our service or our operational efficiency," added Olivier Mongrain, Co-President, ORAM. "It's a recognition of our vision, our values, and our goals. We've always found success by putting our people first, and we're eternally grateful to all our employees for helping us realize this amazing accomplishment."

About ORAM Plomberie du Batiment

Founded more than 50 years ago, ORAM Plomberie du Batiment is a contractor specialized in plumbing and structural mechanics. It offers a wide array of high-quality equipment, products, and installation services for general contractors working in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. With its team of 245 employees, ORAM provides turnkey support and peerless customer service.

About Canada's Best Managed Companies

Canada's Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $25 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The program is sponsored by Deloitte Private, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business and TMX Group.

SOURCE ORAM Plomberie du batiment

For further information: Marie-Eve Boily, [email protected], 514-718-4788
On April 28, 2021, Orca participated in an official signing ceremony in Khartoum to mark the commencement of constructing an air strip at the Company's Block 14 Gold Project in Northern Sudan (" Block 14 ")  see Figure 1. In attendance were Mr. Clark, the Minister of Mines, Dr. Mohamed Bashir Abu Numo and Salah Al Hag Dafalla, the General Manager of Aerodrome Engineering Consultancy Company Ltd (AEC) along with other senior officials of the Ministry, SMRC and Orca. The airstrip will facilitate the development and operation of the gold mine at Block 14.

"We have made tremendous progress on this latest trip to Khartoum. We are in an ongoing dialogue with the new Cabinet to move forward with the Company's development plan of action and are pleased that Block 14 is being recognized as the leading mining project in Sudan and will set the tone and be the example of success to other foreign investors with an interest in the country's mining sector," commented Mr. Clark. "I personally, would like to thank his Excellency Minister Abu Numo and his ministry for their support and look forward to continue to work with the Minister, his staff and the Sudanese Government to ensure advancements are achieved to establish a commercial gold industry in Sudan."

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Richard P. Clark"

Richard P. Clark| CEO & Director | Orca Gold Inc. | 604.689.7842

About Orca Gold Inc.

Orca Gold Inc. (TSX-V: ORG) is a Canadian resource company focused on exploration and development opportunities in Africa. Led by a board of directors made up of industry experts and a management team with a track record of discovering and building significant mines globally, Orca is developing one of the leading gold projects in Africa. The Company is currently focused on its 70%-owned Block 14 Gold Project in the Republic of the Sudan on which a Feasibility Study was completed in November 2018 and revised in September 2020.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or "has the potential to". The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may include statements regarding the use of proceeds, the closing of the Private Placement, the future operating or financial performance of the Company and the financial metrics reported in our feasibility study, which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the requirement for regulatory approvals; enhanced uncertainty in global financial markets as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic; unquantifiable risks related to government actions and interventions; stock market volatility; regulatory restrictions; that the Feasibility Study may not represent a viable development option for Block 14 and that the assumptions set out therein (particularly with respect to the economics of Block 14) may prove to be untrue or inaccurate; that actual Mineral Reserves and Resources at Block 14 and the grades thereof may be less or different in nature than those contained in the Feasibility Study; that the Company may not meet the production estimates set out in the Feasibility Study; that the life of mine at Block 14 may be shorter than anticipated; that the Company may not receive the necessary permits on time, or at all; risks related to cost overruns and the changes of the cost of inputs; that the development and mining of Block 14 may experience delays and may not proceed on the expected timeline, or at all; that the Company may develop Block 14 in a different manner than is set forth in the Feasibility Study and other risk factors listed from time to time in our reports filed with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Orca Gold Inc.

For further information: Elina Chow, VP, Corporate Strategy, 416.845.8495, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.orcagold.com/


OAKVILLE, ON, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - Seasons Retirement Communities is honoured to announce that they have been recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for 2021. The 2021 Best Managed program award winners are amongst the best-in-class of Canadian owned and managed companies with revenues over $25 million demonstrating leadership in the areas of strategy, capabilities and innovation, culture and commitment, and financials to achieve sustainable growth.

Since 2009, Seasons Retirement Communities has focused on a service-first approach to set themselves apart from other organizations. The company fosters a culture of growth, support and transparency among its people that extends beyond its doors and drives its operational excellence. As one of the founding employees, Michael Lavallee, Chief Executive Officer at Seasons, has been integral to reinforcing this culture.

"To be recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for 2021 is a testament to the hard work of our employees to learn who our residents are as individuals, understand what is most important to them and then strive not just to meet, but exceed their expectations," says Michael Lavallee, Chief Executive Officer, Seasons Retirement Communities. "At Seasons, we want our residents to feel proud to call us home, and this award acknowledges that our service-focused approach to resident experiences in every part of our company is making a difference."

Over the years, the team at Seasons has remained agile with a "Start, Stop, Continue" approach to ensure consistent improvement and adaptation to the changing needs of its employees, residents, and families. Continual conversation and communication have been vital to our success. We empower our team members at all levels to share information and ask questions of their managers and senior leaders to ensure we are continually operating at our best and providing our residents with the best experience and care.

The Best Managed program is sponsored by CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business, and TMX Group.

To learn more about the organization, visit www.seasonsretirement.com .

ABOUT CANADA'S BEST MANAGED COMPANIES

Canada's Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $25 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada's Best Managed Companies new winner (new winners selected each year); 2) Canada's Best Managed Companies winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4-6 consecutive years); 4) Platinum Club member (winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business, and TMXGroup.

For further information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

ABOUT SEASONS RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES

Established in 2009, Seasons is a Canadian company that operates thirteen retirement residences in Ontario and nine residences in Alberta, with more under development. Our management team has extensive experience in the senior housing sector and has developed a culture dedicated to providing residents with superior customer service. At Seasons, we want our residents to feel proud to call us home and to know they are surrounded by people who genuinely care. Connect. Care. Change.

For more information, visit www.seasonsretirement.com.

SOURCE Seasons Retirement Communities LP

For further information: MEDIA CONTACT : Lara Banlaoi, PUNCH Canada, [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.seasonsretirement.com


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.

OTTAWA, ON, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - May 3rd to 9th is Mental Health Week across Canada. This year's theme " Get real about how you feel. Name it. Don't numb it " is about understanding and accepting our emotions, which are key to protecting and promoting mental health. More than a year of significant changes to our daily lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, has affected all of us in many ways, with some people experiencing challenges related to mental health and substance use.

Adding to our concern and frustration is the current situation with the third wave of COVID-19 continuing across Canada. But, it's important to remember that this situation will not last forever, that things will get better, and that there is help available now.

When we are experiencing uncomfortable emotionswhether it's anxiety or anger, stress or sadness, frustration or fearit can feel like our only option is to push them down, put on a brave face and carry on. But, even in times of extreme anxiety and stress, we can protect our mental health. However you may be feeling, know that options and resources to help are available . This Mental Health Week, #GetReal about how you feel. And name it, don't numb it. There are a range of readily available resources:

Explore ways to protect your physical and mental health during COVID-19.

during COVID-19. Visit www.mentalhealthweek.ca for information, free courses , and helpful articles to learn more about mental health, substance use and wellbeing

for information, , and helpful articles to learn more about mental health, substance use and wellbeing Visit the Government of Canada's Wellness Together portal where people of all ages across the country can access free mental health and substance use supports, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are a broad range of resources available from information and practical tools to feeling better, to self-guided programs and peer-to-peer support to confidential sessions with social workers, psychologists and other professionals. Supports are provided online as well as by phone and text for those without internet access.

portal where people of all ages across the country can access free mental health and substance use supports, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are a broad range of resources available from information and practical tools to feeling better, to self-guided programs and peer-to-peer support to confidential sessions with social workers, psychologists and other professionals. Supports are provided online as well as by phone and text for those without internet access. Learn more about Wellness Together Canada, by visiting: wellnesstogether.ca or simply text the word WELLNESS to the following numbers for immediate assistance: 686868 for youth 741741 for adults Front Line Workers, text the word FRONTLINE to 741741



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 1,249,950 cases of COVID-19, including 82,700 active cases and 24,396 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 a large majority of Canadians remain susceptible to COVID-19 . Multiple safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, with unique advantages, are authorised for use in Canada . As vaccine delivery continues to ramp up, there is increasing optimism that widespread and lasting immunity can be achieved through COVID-19 vaccination. Benefits are being seen among groups targeted for priority vaccination and as vaccine coverage increases across Canada, we can expect further benefits to protect more Canadians over the coming weeks and months.

However, as COVID-19 activity is elevated or increasing in many jurisdictions, efforts and strengthened restrictions remain crucial to slow the spread and protect health system capacity. Strong public health measures must be sustained where COVID-19 is circulating and individual precautions are important everywhere. The latest national-level data show the decline in national case counts has slowed to a less than 2% decrease over the past week, with an average of 7,852 cases being reported daily (Apr 28-May 4).

Elevated infection rates continue to impact lagging COVID-19 severity indicators, particularly in areas with sustained high levels of disease activity. These persistently high numbers of severe and critical illnesses have placed a prolonged and heavy strain on the health system and healthcare workforce. Provincial and territorial data indicate that an average of 4,261 people with COVID-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals each day during the most recent 7-day period (Apr 28-May 4) representing a 3% decrease over last week. This includes, on average 1,458 people who were being treated in intensive care units (ICU), which is 5% higher than the previous week. Although the mortality trend has recently leveled off, with a 7-day average of 48 deaths reported daily (Apr 28-May 4), continued high rates of infection and still rising critical care admissions could negatively impact this trend.

While COVID-19 continues to impact people of all ages in Canada, infection rates are highest among those under 60 years of age. 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. Variants of concern (VOCs) now represent a majority of COVID-19 cases in Canada, with the B.1.1.7 variant now reported in all provinces and territories and accounting for over 95% of VOCs sequenced to date. As this variant spreads more quickly and has been associated with increased severity, and as vaccines may be less effective against other variants, such as the P.1 and B.1.351 variants, it is even more important to remain vigilant with all available measures to suppress spread.

As vaccine eligibility expands, Canadians are urged to get vaccinated and support others to get vaccinated as vaccines become available to them. However, regardless of our vaccination status, Canadians are urged to remain vigilant, continue following local public health advice, and consistently maintain individual practices that keep us and our families safer, even as we're beginning to see the positive impacts of COVID-19 vaccines: 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).

For more information regarding the risks and benefits of vaccination, I encourage Canadians to reach out to your local public health authorities , healthcare provider, or other trusted and credible sources, such as Canada.ca and Immunize.ca . Working together, Health Canada , the Public Health Agency of Canada , the National Advisory Committee on Immunization , Canada's Chief Medical Officers of Health and other health professionals across the country are closely monitoring vaccine safety , effectiveness and optimal use to adapt approaches. As the science and situation evolves, we are committed to providing clear and evidence-informed guidance in order to keep everyone in Canada safe and healthy.

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 .

*A previous version of this statement mistakenly stated that the number of Canadians being treated in Canadian hospitals increased over the last week when it was meant to say decreased.

SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada

For further information: Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]
TORONTO, May 3, 2021 /CNW/ - The Bank of Nova Scotia ("Scotiabank") announced today that it has reached an agreement to increase ownership in its Chilean operations ("Scotiabank Chile") through acquisition of an additional 7.0% stake from the Said family. Upon closing, Scotiabank's ownership in Scotiabank Chile will increase to 83%. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

"Scotiabank's presence in Chile is a key pillar of our International Business and we are pleased to further strengthen our operations in the country," said Brian Porter, President and CEO, Scotiabank. "We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with the Said family and look forward to building on our momentum in Chile over the coming years."

This transaction supports Scotiabank's strategic focus on operations across its footprint where it can achieve greater scale and deliver the highest value for customers. The transaction is valued at approximately CAD$500 million, and completion of the sale will impact Scotiabank's Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio by approximately eight basis points.

Last year, Scotiabank was awarded the title of Chile's Best Bank, as well as Latin America's Best Bank Transformation by Euromoney magazine.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future", we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of approximately 90,000 employees and assets of approximately $1.2 trillion (as at January 31, 2021), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

SOURCE Scotiabank

For further information: Phil Smith, SVP, Scotiabank Investor Relations, [email protected], (416) 863-2866

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Covid-19 vaccine shortages have hindered Indias attempt to run a huge vaccination drive. In addition, the shortage of beds in the Urban and rural areas put additional pressure on the health infrastructure. Earlier, Central government announced the vaccination drive for above 18 will be started from May 1. However, Many states didnt start this phase for the above 18 people due to the shortage of vaccines.

Many hospitals are denying to take more patients because of the shortages of beds and other medical facilities. In Bengaluru, Officials from Bengalurus civic body, the BBMP, have been accused of accepting bribes in exchange for the allocation of hospital beds reserved for Covid-19 patients. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and other BJP MLAs discovered that BBMP officials were charging bribes to assign beds reserved under the government quota for Covid-19 patients in collusion with outside agents. Getting Beds on time has became a major challenge for a common man, Government needs to take this thing more seriously. Maharashtra is also experiencing the shortage of vaccines . However, when fresh supplies of 26.77 lakh vaccine doses were received by the state from the Centre on March 31 and distributed to Jalna district, which is home to Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope, received 60,000 vaccine doses more than its allotment of 17,000 doses.

India is now experiencing the second phase of the coronavirus pandemic. The health infrastructure is being strained as the number of cases continues to rise at the rapid pace. The Serum Institutes chief executive, Adar Poonawalla said that Indias extreme shortage would last for months, most likely until July, because the government had not put orders in time and thus had not increased manufacturing capacity earlier.

Read More: Bed mafia blocking Covid-19 beds: Tejasvi Surya exposes BBMP bed scam

When new coronavirus cases declined, Poonawalla told The Financial Times that the authorities did not plan to face a second wave of the pandemic. Everyone believed India was beginning to turn the tide on the pandemic, he said.
Countries like France, Italy, Israel, Australia and others have stepped forward for aid as India finds itself battling a brutal Covid-19 wave. In last 24 hours, India has reported a spike of 3.8 L new Covid-19 cases and 3,780 deaths.

As India finds itself amid a deteriorating Covid-19 crisis with mounting case load and shortage of medical supplies and equipments, countries like France, Italy, Israel, Australia and others have stepped forward for aid. A chartered Qantas flight departed Sydney with medical supplies such as 1056 ventilators and 43 concentrators. Meanwhile, Indian Navy has sent INS Kolkata to Kuwait embark liquid medical oxygen and medical stories. Earlier, the ship had embarked 200 bottles of oxygen and 43 oxygen concentrators.

Speaking about the current Covid-19 situation in India and the decision to receive aid from foreign countries, EAM S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that Covid-19 is a shared problem. India sent HCQ to US, Singapore and European countries, vaccines to some countries. What people call aid, is what they call friendship. He further added that he just has one objective. People are going through a difficult phase in this second wave of Covid-19 and he will do everything in his capacity as a foreign minister to help them.

In a direct message to the G7, he emphasised that Covid-19 is a global challenge and we are going through it now. There are various factors and reasons why is it so severe. However, a global pandemic requires a global effort and India has contributed to that global effort in the past.

A chartered Qantas flight departed Sydney carrying supplies to meet the needs identified by the Govt of India, including 1056 ventilators and 43 oxygen concentrators: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/9gIbGKu2Pg  ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2021

#WATCH Key message to Indian Missions abroad is- there'll be debates in India, filter the noise, do what you have to do as a mission. Your job is to ensure key requirementsO2, pharmaceuticals/Remdesivir,vaccine supply chain,&logistics for all of this is a requirement: EAM to ANI pic.twitter.com/9SZAGn1wo3  ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2021

On Wednesday, India reported a spike of 3.8 L new Covid-19 cases and 3,780 deaths in just 24 hours. With this, the total tally of Covid-19 cases in the country has reached 2,06,65,148 while the death toll has jumped to 2,26,188.
Its been nearly a year since the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer spurred a nationwide movement to address racial inequities.

The issue is still being discussed at the municipal level, and in Connecticut, there has been a push to declare racism a public health crisis.
BRANFORD  A $2.25 million project to fully reconstruct East Industrial Road from Leetes Island Road to the southbound Interstate 95 ramp at Exit 56 has made the list of 10 projects U.S. Rep Rosa DeLauro has submitted for the states 3rd District.

While ultimately only a handful of projects on the list are expected to be funded, First Selectman James Cosgrove said he feels good about the Branford project because it will benefit not just the immediate area but the entire region.

The Branford project has been planned since the state Department of Transportation relocated southbound Exit 56 in the early 2000s, said Cosgrove.

That put more traffic on East Industrial Road.

We want to reconstruct it to accommodate demand, said Cosgrove.

In addition to several bio-science, bio-tech and industrial parks, the 0.35-mile stretch from Leetes Island Road to I-95 is home to a shopping center and other businesses said to serve not just Branford, but Guilford, North Branford and other communities.

Better access is promised to local breweries, vineyards and farms, as well as a local shellfish processing facility, medical facility and the Stony Creek Quarry featuring distinctive pink granite.

The $2.25 million grant, if awarded, would require Branford to put up 20 percent of the cost, the first selectman said.

Its a competitive process, said Cosgrove. This validates that this is seen as a project that will benefit economic development and growth.

DeLauro, along with the rest of the Connecticut delegation, submitted 10 projects each for funding consideration under Community Project Funding.

The projects range from $350,000 to renew recreational facilities at St. Martin de Porres Academy in New Haven to $3.4 million to expand the supply of clean drinking water to the town of Durham. In all, DeLauros list amounts to more than $16 million.

Separate from President Joe Bidens infrastructure bill, the Community Project Funding requests are what many refer to as earmarks, a practice stopped a decade ago because of corruption scandals.

DeLauro, now chairwoman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which sets federal spending, said the system was brought back to give members of Congress more control over federal spending and important community projects. Safeguards have been put in place, she added, to ensure the new system includes transparency and accountability.

Projects are restricted to specific federal funding streams, and only state and local governments and eligible nonprofit entities are eligible to receive funding.

In releasing her list, DeLauro said she has certified that she, her spouse, and her immediate family have no financial interest in any of the projects requested.

DeLauros office said the vetting and selection process will occur as the committee writes its fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill. An exact timetable is not known. Only a handful of requests from each lawmaker are expected to find their way into the federal budget.

Cosgrove said he is willing to wait.

Hopefully we are successful, he said.

If funded, Cosgrove said work on the project can start rather quickly.
ANGOLA  The Metropolitan School District of Steuben County and Superintendent Brent Wilson are parting ways, the two sides agreed on Wednesday.

The agreement that ends two lawsuits between Wilson and the MSD Board of Trustees will pay the outgoing superintendent two stipends totaling $471,019 and his health insurance until the time he becomes eligible for Medicare, which is in March 2029.

In addition, the district will pay Wilson $146,549 in banked personal time/sick pay.

The decision came at a special meeting called by the Board of Trustees that listed only one agenda item, a path forward on litigation items, and lasted barely one minute.

This is a compromise from both sides. Definitely for the community to come to an end here with the settlement. The future has got to be the focus of everything, and do I have a motion to adjourn, Board President Cory Archbold said.

Wilson said he would provide a statement to KPC Media today.

An executive session to discuss pending litigation was held prior to the special meeting that was open to the public, which was attended by about 15 people, mainly MSD staff.

The settlement agreement was signed by Wilson on April 29, the day before the Board announced its two Wednesday meetings. The agreement was signed by Archbold on Wednesday.

Motions to dismiss Wilsons two suits against the Board had yet to be filed in court as of late Wednesday afternoon.

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In the case in Steuben Superior Court, Wilson had maintained the school board breached his contract. The case was first filed in March 2020 and has dragged on ever since, creating headlines many in the MSD community have found uncomfortable and injurious to the school system.

Wilson, alleged breach of contract after the Board voted in August 2016 to remove an automatic rollover provision that previously provided Wilson with a never-ending five-year contract.

The case was set to go to trial on July 27.

In April the board voted 4-3 to work with Brookston-based Administrator Assistance to potentially assist with the hiring of an interim superintendent, if needed.

Named in the suit were MSD and board members in place when the suit was filed March 3, 2020: Brad Gardner, Case Gilbert, LeAnn Boots, Cory Archbold, Marilyn McCormick, Kevin Beard and Scott Poor. McCormick resigned last year due to a change of address and has been replaced on the board by Rebecca Maggart, elected by District 2 voters in November. Gilberts District 1 seat was won by Mark Ridenour in last falls election.

Wilsons suit alleged that the Board interfered with his contractual rights and asked the court to rule in his favor and reverse the Boards actions. The Board denied Wilsons allegations in court documents.

Wilsons contract will end on June 30.

In February, Wilson filed a separate suit against the Board for allegedly violating Indianas Open Door Law when it initiated a search for a new superintendent during a closed-door executive session on Jan. 27. That case will be dismissed also.

The Indiana Public Access Counselor, who provides guidance on Indianas access laws, issued an opinion in March that said the board violated state meetings law when it decided to start a superintendent search in an executive session. Decisions cannot be made in executive sessions, and it went beyond the scope of an allowable exemption to the open meetings law that covers discussion of pending litigation behind closed doors.
Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  Police are investigating after a man was found shot inside a home in the citys Westville neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.

Police were called to Valley Street just before 1 p.m. after a 911 caller said a person had been shot, according to New Haven police spokesman Officer Scott Shumway.
Seeing dozens of bids for a single home has become commonplace in Connecticut. The rate of home sales in the state continues to run wild. And home buyers in Connecticut are doing everything they can to stand out in a market with steep home competition.

According to previous Hearst Connecticut reporting, the U.S. Postal Service reported in 2020 more than 10,000 relocations to Connecticut from New York, which results in double and triple-digit increase in the number of homes sold last year.

With buyers scrambling to find and purchase a home in a market that waits for no one, experts shared why doing an inspection is important in order to protect your investment while purchasing a home.

Standing out without forgoing an inspection

The competition for homes in this almost post-pandemic market has spurred some prospective buyers to make their offers more enticing by choosing to forgo a home inspection, according to previous Hearst Connecticut reporting. However, Vincent Averaimo, partner at Milford Law, LLC., said waiving this option for the sake of speed is not a good idea.

Youre buying what can be considered one of the most expensive assets in your lifetime, he said. Yet at times, youre feeling rushed to the table to either sign an agreement or feeling rushed to negate some rights."

In fact, Averaimo said waiving the option for an inspection can open the door to larger issues after the home is purchased.

Thats a problem  its a big problem, he said. Frankly, being that Ive done this for 20 years and that Ive practiced in real estate closings and real estate litigation for 20 years, this is where as a buyer, youre going to run into significant issues where in many instances, theres little recourse for you.

What home buyers should do instead is pose an alternative in their final offers to make their bid stand out from others.

If you decide you want to make your offer look better to a multiple-offer situation by waiving your right to an inspection, thats completely your prerogative, Averaimo said.

But really what you should waive is your ability to ask for a credit or reduction in purchase price based on inspection results  but still do the inspection.

This way, opting for an inspection without factoring home repairs into final negotiations for the home gives buyers valuable information to help inform their potential purchase, Averaimo said.

At least you have the opportunity where  if you find significant issues or things that you consider as a buyer to be significant issues in the home  you can back out of that transaction and receive a return of your deposit, he said. That just gives you a better ability as a buyer to go in eyes wide open.

Averaimo also suggests making a larger down payment on a home if possible over waiving the option for an inspection prior to the purchase of a home.

If you find problems after moving in

For Nick Gromicko, founder of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), home inspections are designed to be able to find the larger  and more costly  issues hidden in a property.

When people are spending that much money, often the most theyll ever spend on one item in their lifetime, they just want reassurance, he said.

Actually, when inspectors find defects, they are more assured that theyve made the right decision," Gromicko said. "Its nice when the inspector picks out whats wrong with a property and then you get a sense that youre actually buying what you think youre buying.

If a homeowner finds too many issues in their house after moving in, Gromicko said they can turn to InterNACHI to buy back their house and live in it while they look for a new one. However, this option can only be pursued if they used an InterNACHI-certified inspector who participates in the organizations home buyback program; a list of participating inspectors is published on their website.

Gromicko said having the program has helped alleviate some of the more challenging complaints InterNACHI has received.

If someone is so upset that theyre ready to bash you on social media, theyre ready to file insurance claims, theyre ready to go to the state and try to take your license or ready to go to the attorneys and sue everybody including the real estate agent  if youre that level as a consumer, Im just going to buy your house, he said. You can sit there, find a new house and get out, and everybodys happy.

Legal recourse

No matter how closely an inspector reviews a home, Gromicko said he considers all home inspections to be imperfect since they can miss issues in a property hidden within walls or elsewhere in the home.

An inspectors duty is to report all the defects that he or she finds after following our standards of practice. That is a different group of defects that finding all defects, he said. No inspector has found every defect in a house, ever. And we do upwards of 5 million inspections a year. In a couple of hours inside a structure that an inspector has never been in, its not going to be possible to find every defect.

InterNACHI offers a buyback program to help address this, but other homebuyers may find that their options for a faulty home are more limited  in fact, Averaimo called it very tricky in Connecticut to hold an inspector accountable for any missed defects.

If a homebuyer does choose to pursue a legal path for an issue that went undetected, it may not be worth the additional time and expense it will take to have the issue litigated, according to Averaimo. For example, if a home had a chimney that was not capped and created a squirrel infestation that, upon removal, damages the chimney, Averaimo said its unlikely that a legal route will work in the homeowners favor.

If its going to cost you $5,000 to repair, and you paid $650 for your inspection, and its determined that it was negligent on their part, youre probably not going to get the full replacement of your chimney, he said. Also, youre going to have to litigate it for the most part, which is not worth it to begin with because of the cost of litigation are particularly high and litigation is not guaranteed.

What property disclosures can tell you

Instead of pursing a legal route, Averaimo suggested being sure to look over the property disclosure forms given to homebuyers prior to committing to a home.

The disclosures on the property tell you a lot of things, he said. They tell you about the foundation, they tell you about whether or not youre on public water or well water, if youre on public sewer or septic. Those will lead you to determine whether or not you need to inspect those items.

Because of that, Averaimo noted that there are certain features that should always be inspected, like wells and septic systems which have a high cost to repair. He also mentioned that the property disclosures may reveal another item prospective homebuyers should look into: previous renovations on the property.

Disclosures in some instances will tell you if there were improvements on the property and when those improvements were done, he said. That will lead you to determine whether or not you need to look at the municipal building records to determine if permits and approvals were obtained. If they werent obtained, those are things you want to get resolved.

If issues with septic systems, wells or even certificates of occupancy arise, and those items were not noted in disclosure forms, Averaimo said this doesnt automatically merit a lawsuit against the home seller.

Youd have to show an intent of the seller to conceal those things  that they had actual knowledge of them, he said. But its very difficult to prove an intent to conceal. So you should use those disclosures for information, but it would be foolish to rely on those disclosures to somehow bail you out at a later date if something pops up.

Understanding the sale contract prior to signing (and the differences by Connecticut counties)

No matter how fast the current market in Connecticut may be moving, Averaimo said it is important to understand the contract a home buyer is agreeing to prior to signing it. And it Connecticut, there are regional differences in the kinds of contracts used that can affect the way a home closing proceeds.

For example, Averaimo said New Haven County uses a fillable form contract that is commonplace, but presents limitations.

Ninety-five percent of the time, I get those contracts from either my clients or their realtors or their mortgage broker or their banker already signed, he said. Theres really nothing that I could do if I see a term or a condition or a deadline or something else that as lawyer, I think is imploring a little more liability on my client than should be the case.

In Fairfield County, however, attorneys draft the final contract, according to Averaimo, and they do so based on the buyers and sellers agreed-upon terms. While he called them slightly more involved and expensive to the buyer, Averaimo noted that these contracts allow for both parties to know exactly what theyre signing prior to signing it.

But thats not the only difference between the two contracts. The fillable form contract offers an inspection contingency, Averaimo said, which can allow buyers to back out of the contract if the inspection turns up unfavorable conditions and have their deposit returned.

In Fairfield County, the inspection is generally conducted prior to the final contract being drawn, Averaimo said, which takes away the inspection contingency and does not allow for a buyer to back out of the deal. With any contract, however, Averaimo said it is worth having an attorney review it ahead of committing to it.

No matter how quickly buyers want to purchase a home, Averaimo said his best advice is to make sure they are aware of what they can and cant budge on prior to making a final decision.

Be reasonable. Be quick on your feet, he said. Make sure you know what your limitations are so you can make a quick decision. But dont substitute a quick decision for a waiver of your rights.
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low around 60F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
Nollywood actor and producer, Yomi Fabiyi has stated that he would hit the streets to lead a protest for prosecution of comedienne, Princess...

Nollywood actor and producer, Yomi Fabiyi has stated that he would hit the streets to lead a protest for prosecution of comedienne, Princess and other adults involved in the CCTV that exposed Baba Ijesha.

Baba Ijesha was arrested for allegedly defiling a minor as many celebrities have continued to take to social media to slam him.

Comedienne Princess came out to state her foster child was the girl Baba Ijesha sexually assaulted.

Taking to Instagram, the entertainer revealed after the crash of her marriage, some parents allowed their children, six in number, to come and live with her so she wouldnt be lonely.

She said while she was harbouring the six children, she was also rendering help to Baba Ijesha.

Princess alleged it was during one of his visits that he molested one of three girls living with her.





She said the defilement had an adverse effect on the child as she began to decline academically and otherwise.

A video was recently released which showed the actor allegedly assaulting the minor on CCTV.

Yomi Fabiyi blasted Princess and the biological parents of the alleged rape victim for putting her through another round of molestation just to get evidence, has revealed he will lead a peaceful protest for Princess, and every adult who knew about the CCTV camera installation to be arrested, charged to court and punished.

He wrote: If this is not clear to you again, I am sorry I cannot help farther. I will fight for the young lady (minor), even if I fight alone. I am never in support of Baba Ijeshas action, rape or child molestation etc at any time, please understand and stop misleading people.

CAN YOU ALLOW YOUR CHILD GO THROUGH ANOTHER ABUSE FROM SAME TORMENTOR FOR ANY REASON? The girl needs urgent help. Take the child away from the guardian NOW!

All the ADULTS including Baba Ijesha plus any other the investigation traverses must be arrested as soon as possible.

For heaven sake, the Police saw this cctv beforehand and never touch on everyone in the footage, that is ridiculous! WHY SHOULD LAGOS POLICE DO THIS TO A CHILD?

No reliable justice system will overlook that side of the investigation. If that child can decide for herself, she will never want to be abused again no matter the alibi, BUT SHE WAS ALLOWED TO BE ABUSED. Nigerians learn to trust the police and stop putting the laws into your hands. Emotions if too much can be detrimental.

If after Seven(7) Working Days the CP refuses to do the right thing, Nigeria either GO FORWARD or BACKWARD. To move forward, we all must TAKE TO THE STREET and fight for every child. Lagos Governor and the Police must do the right thing NOW!

There are decisions we are making, we are saving our own lives. Trust me, It is worth risking everything for. All Human Rights Lawyers, adults, I challenge you all to the court of conscience.
Former Presidential Aspirant, Adamu Garba, has said that Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has to state in clear terms whether hes with ...

Former Presidential Aspirant, Adamu Garba, has said that Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has to state in clear terms whether hes with bandits and terrorists or with the Nigerian people.

This followed Gumis advice to the federal government to get N100 million from the Central Bank of Nigeria which will be used to secure the release of the students abducted by bandits from Greenfield University, Kaduna.

This is in addition to his call for amnesty for bandits, saying the move will make them drop their arms.

One Twitter user, @Yemi_News247, drew the attention of Garba to Gumis recent activities, as he wondered why the cleric hasnt been picked up by the Department of State Services.

He tweeted, @adamugarba what do you have to say about Sheik Gumi recent activities? He is gradually becoming the financial secretary to the bandits/minister for banditry and ransom payments. Its a shame that DSS has been compromised. I weep for my country.

In response, Garba said, I think Sheikh Gumi would have to explain in clear times whether he is together with the Bandits/Terrorists or with the Nigerian people.
Dino Melaye, former Kogi West Senator, has accused the state Governor, Yahaya Bello, of short changing councilors in the state. Mela...

Dino Melaye, former Kogi West Senator, has accused the state Governor, Yahaya Bello, of short changing councilors in the state.

Melaye alleged that Melaye was paying councilors N140, 000 instead of N330,000 monthly.

The former lawmaker made the allegation in a tweet, on Tuesday.

He pointed out that the councilors can not cry out because they were all appointed the governor.

In a tweet, Melaye said: Salary for councilor statutory N250k per month (sitting allowance N80k per month N10k per sitting 8 sitting in a month). N330k per month

But the present Councilors in Yahaya Bello government earned N140k per month, no sitting allowance. They cant fight it since they were all appointed.

This is coming at a time the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan backed the call for local governments autonomy in the country.

Lawan said such autonomy would help the third tier of government to effectively contribute towards the development of Nigeria.





He stressed that over the years, local governments have suffered and crumbled due to lack of administrations to effectively discharge their constitutional roles.
President Muhammadu Buharis Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, has backed Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on hi...

President Muhammadu Buharis Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, has backed Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, on his position against separation of Nigeria.

Governor Wike during a meeting with traditional rulers, political and opinion leaders of Ekpeye on Tuesday warned that his administration will not be dragged into any separation agenda.

He warned those agitating to stay clear of his state, adding that he would leave no stone unturned in protecting Rivers State.

We will do everything we can to protect the interest of our State.

We are friendly people in this state and allow anyone to come here and do business. But nobody should go beyond doing business to hoist unnecessary flags here, Wike warned.

Responding to a post on Wikes position on the matter , Onochie on her Twitter page, wrote: Correct! Not an inch of the South-South will be annexed.

We are Nigerians. Nothing more.
A former Director of the Department of State Services, Mike Ejiofor, says the secret police must be in a state of dilemma on whether or no...

A former Director of the Department of State Services, Mike Ejiofor, says the secret police must be in a state of dilemma on whether or not to arrest renowned Islamic scholar, Ahmad Gumi.

If you go and arrest him, you are going to provoke his supporters or the people he is working for and if you dont arrest him, people will say why has he not been arrested as other people who acted in the same manner have been arrested? So, it becomes a very dicey situation that needs to be handled with care, Ejiofor said in an interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday.

The ex-DSS director also said it was wrong for the controversial cleric to come out openly asking the Central Bank of Nigeria to pay N100m ransom demanded by the kidnappers of Greenfield University, Kaduna.

No fewer than 23 students and a member of staff of the university were abducted from the school on April 20, 2021. Few days later, five of the students were killed by the bandits.

On Monday, one of the bandits, Sani Jalingo, in an interview with the Hausa service of the Voice of America, demanded N100m and 10 motorcycles for the students to be freed.

He threatened that the failure of the Kaduna State Government or families of the students to meet the demands, would lead to the killing of the abductees.

Also, on March 11, 2021, 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna, were kidnapped by bandits in the state. Out of the 39 students, 10 had so far been released, remaining 29 of them.

Gumi, who recently recommended special courts to try bandits and kidnappers, said the government should not try the patience of the bandits.

The money they are asking for is too much; if I give you that money, you cannot run away with it. Nobody can run. So, why not give them the money, they release the boys and then we pursue them and get our money back and do what is necessary; it is simple logic. So, bring the money from the central bank. How can they move that money? We should not be stupid, the cleric said.

But the ex-DSS director said Gumi should not have come out openly to tell the government to pay ransom.

Ejiofor said, I have never supported Gumis position because it is like he is now becoming an agent of the bandits but on the other hand, he cannot just come openly to tell government to pay (ransom). Even if the government will use backdoor to pay ransom, it shouldnt be made public.

My concern is that this people in custody, in kidnappers den, we should do everything possible to ensure that they come out. Except you are not involved, or you are not affected, you will say people should not pay.

We have serious security challenges facing the security agencies. Our security agencies are ill-equipped to fight this. You will remember the American who was kidnapped in Niger and brought to Nigeria, how he was rescued through the use of technology. There is nothing wrong with our government to use technology like drones to know exactly where these people are. Government should approach the issue of insecurity, especially kidnappings with technological driven operations, the former ex-DSS director said.
Four more teens were arrested Saturday in connection with the robbery of an Atlantic City boardwalk store last month where the owner, Mehmood Ansari, later collapsed and died, authorities announced Tuesday.

The four girls  all from Atlantic City and ages 11, 14, 14 and 15  faced several charges each, including robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, theft, and others, according to a joint release from the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office and the Atlantic City Police Department.

These latest charges of the additional juveniles not only include the incident at Ansaris store, but additional criminal acts the juveniles committed at other stores along the boardwalk prior to the final incident, the release stated.

The release did not specify which charges were related to the robbery of Ansaris store and which were related to other incidents, or when exactly the other incidents occurred. A spokeswoman for the prosecutors office could not be reached Tuesday evening to elaborate.

The four girls were transported to Harborfields Youth Detention Facility, police said.

Police received a 9-1-1 call at 7:40 p.m. on April 1 reporting a person with a knife on the Boardwalk, between Kentucky and New York avenues, authorities said. Staff at the Atlantic City Police Surveillance Center also further advised officers that multiple juveniles were damaging the store and assaulting individuals, according to the prosecutors office.

While attempting to steal items, a 12-year-old male brandished a knife and threatened Ansari, the office said.

Shortly after the arrival of the officers, [Ansari] collapsed and was not breathing, the prosecutor added.

A bystander began CPR before an Atlantic City police officer took over efforts to revive him, according to authorities. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he died.

Atlantic City boardwalk merchant Mehmood Ansari died after a confrontation with juveniles in his store on Thursday night.Courtesy of Asif Ansari

The same day of the robbery, an Atlantic City boy, 12, was charged with armed robbery, shoplifting, terroristic threats, simple assault, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, criminal mischief and weapons-related offenses, the office said.

Authorities also said at the time that a 14-year-old girl was arrested and charged. It was not immediately clear if she still faced charges, and the spokeswoman for the prosecutors office could not be reached to comment.

I want to commend the Atlantic City Police Department for their effort in handling this matter, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G. Tyner said in a statement. They have not only worked hard to identify those responsible and hold them accountable, but they have also worked hard to bridge the gaps between two communities, so that everyone feels safe.

Following Ansaris death, police said they planned to target groups of troublesome teens on the boardwalk and charge the main aggressors who actually commit crimes.

Atlantic City Police Interim Officer in Charge James Sarkos said he was talking with the mayor and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to build a substation on the boardwalk, but added that it is in the very early stages.

This investigation has been a top priority of the Atlantic City Police Department, Sarkos said Tuesday in a statement. We know that this investigation is very important to our community. Our detectives have diligently and expeditiously worked with our partners from the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office to hold each individual accountable who (was) involved in these crimes.

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An additional 22 breweries in New Jersey have signed on to offer a free beer to people 21 and older who receive a first coronavirus vaccination shot this month.

Anyone who wants a complimentary brew can bring their vaccination card to one of the 34 participating breweries by May 31, Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday at his latest COVID-19 briefing in Trenton. He announced an initial list of 12 breweries on Monday and the others reached out since then to join the promotion.

The following breweries are offering are now participating in the Shot and a Beer program:

At least 3,210,201 people who live, work or study in the state are fully vaccinated, officials said Wednesday. Another 157,928 New Jersey residents have received their shots out of state. Murphy aims to have 4.7 million New Jersey adults vaccinated by the end of June.

New Jersey officials on Wednesday reported another 1,309 confirmed COVID-19 cases and an additional 34 confirmed deaths.

The states seven-day average for new confirmed positive COVID-19 tests fell to 1,383, down 33% from a week ago and 64% from a month ago. Wednesday marked the seventh time in eight days the state has reported fewer than 2,000 new cases.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
The queue for those awaiting a COVID shot at the Essex County vaccination site in Livingston is set up like a line for a popular ride at Walt Disney World.

Stanchions intended to corral hundreds of socially separated people are set up across the first floor of a now vacant Sears store at the Livingston Mall, directing them in lines that snake back and forth to a registration desk and then to a curtained-off area where the vaccines are quickly administered.

These days there are no lines. There is no wait. Just nine people had appointments for their initial dose of the Moderna vaccine there on Monday and 750 had second-shot appointments. And soon, the site will shut down.

County officials said two additional locations out of the five they set up to administer vaccines in response to the deadly pandemic  West Caldwell Tech in West Caldwell and the Donald Payne School in Newark  will close as well, at least temporarily, because of low demand for a vaccine that until just a few week ago was all but impossible get without waiting weeks to score an appointment.

It doesnt warrant keeping them open, explained Essex County spokesman Anthony Puglisi.

The county has already stopped taking appointments for first doses at the three sites. When everyone who has already made appointments for their second doses has been vaccinated, the sites will close at the end of May. Two other county vaccine sites in West Orange and Newark will remain open, along with multiple mobile units that are deployed to churches, senior buildings and community center and homeless shelters.

The growing availability of COVID shots through pharmacies, community centers and other locations has led to falling numbers at a number of vaccine sites across New Jersey.

Last week, all six of the states coronavirus vaccine mega sites began offering walk-in vaccinations, state officials announced. Not only were appointments to get vaccinated not needed  one did not need to be a resident of a specific county to get vaccinated at any countys megasite.

Experts, meanwhile, say the falling demand is not just because supplies of the vaccine continue to increase. Fewer people are seeking to get the shot.

Statewide, the number of vaccines being given has dropped to well under 80,000 a day, state Department of Health data shows. In mid-April, the daily doses being administered were at times more than 120,000 a day. The drop in numbers has occurred even after the state opened up eligibility to all adults on April 19, allowing millions more to seek vaccination.

Were seeing less numbers, acknowledged Maya Lordo, the health officer in Essex.

After a big surge in demand, many more remain on the sidelines. In fact, officials in Essex said the numbers of those scheduling appointments seemingly dropped overnight in the past two weeks, from some 4,000 a day to less than 500, county officials said.

Some of them are still waiting and theyre taking a little longer, Lordo said. Some are not sure if they want to go ahead and get it. Maybe theyre waiting for more information or for it to be available in their doctors offices.

According to data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 37% of the state is now fully vaccinated. But several New Jersey counties remain below even the national average of 32%, including Cumberland, Essex, Passaic, Salem and Union. More than 3.1 million people out of 6.9 million adults have been fully vaccinated in New Jersey as of Tuesday. Overall, nearly 7.2 million doses have been administered in the state.

The states goal is to have 70% of the states eligible population  about 4.7 million people  vaccinated by the end of June.

We know we have to be more strategic to get even more residents vaccinated, said state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli at the states regular coronavirus briefing in Trenton on Monday. A goal is to increase public confidence and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine, she said, particularly in under-served communities or hard-to-reach communities across New Jersey.

Department officials said they always expected that the demand would soften after the first wave of vaccinations were completed.

As a result, we are pivoting to strategically focused specific populations by using pop ups, hub and spoke models, planning for mobile vans and a trained community corps, which includes hundreds of outreach workers, said Health Department spokeswoman Dawn Thomas. Those efforts included reaching out to colleges and universities, churches, community centers, moving into communities, and moving closer to the residents.

The department partnered with University Hospital on Saturday and had our COVID Community Corps on site to answer questions and provide factual information about vaccines during their vaccination event, she said. We have increased our advertising in Newark, as the NJIT (New Jersey Institute of Technology) site will start providing first doses of vaccine next week.

In addition, she said the department has partnered with the City of Elizabeth and the and St. Elizabeths Episcopal Church to hold a testing and vaccination event on Friday to reach residents in that city.

Our goal from the beginning was to have every resident within a 15-minute walk or a 30-minute drive to a vaccine point of dispensing, she said.

It has been in the states urban areas where vaccine hesitancy remains most apparent, including Newark, the states largest city, which is in Essex.

The urban centers have been difficult, remarked Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., adding that it is now a matter of convincing people they should get the shot. People who wanted to be vaccinated were vaccinated, he said. But were not done yet. We are not done. Were throwing everything at it.

Essex County on Tuesday joined with the states megasites to eliminate appointments to get a vaccine at its vaccination centers at Kmart in West Orange and Essex County College in Newark. Those who reside, work or attend school in Essex County are able to walk in at either location between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to receive their vaccination.

Anyone 16 and older living, working or studying in New Jersey is eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.

Despite the slowdown in numbers statewide, the state health commissioner expects vaccinations will continue to grow.

We think we will make our goal of 4.7 million fully vaccinated by the end of June, Persichilli said.

For a full list of vaccine locations, including supermarkets, pharmacies and medical centers, visit New Jerseys vaccine finder.



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Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL.
A New Jersey woman has filed suit against a McDonalds restaurant near her home claiming she and her daughter ate fries that were covered in human feces.

Amanda Bordois, 32, of Cumberland County, says in court papers her husband and daughter bought food in a paper bag on Jan. 13 from the restaurants drive-through in the 1000 block of North High Street in Millville.

When they got home, Bordois and her daughter started eating fries from the bag, which also contained a burger, states the suit, filed April 28 in New Jersey Superior Court.

After eating some fries from the McDonalds bag, the (child) reached in the bag and took out the burger (and) noticed a brown substance all over the wrapper, the suit states.

At the same, Bordois noticed and smelled a horrible stench from the substance on the burger, the suit states.

To their disbelief and shock, plaintiffs realized what they had just ingested was human feces, which was touching their French fries in the same bag and that was all over (the childs) hand and the wrapper of the burger, the lawsuit claims.

The suit states the child immediately vomited and washed her hands as her mother threw away the remaining food.

Bordois was nauseous, disgusted and sick that she and her child just consumed French fries touching the burger wrapper covered in feces, the suit states.

The lawsuit claims Bordois tried to call the restaurant several times but no one answered. She then called Millville police and an officer came to her house and observed a wrapped burger covered in feces.

The officer went to the McDonalds and told the managers of the situation. Two days later, inspectors from the county health department visited the restaurant and found employees repeatedly violating hand-washing practices, the lawsuit claims.

The violations allegedly included employees failing to wash hands on arrival to work and after using the restroom. Inspectors allegedly observed an employee handling cook-line sausage without washing their hands, the suit states.

Both mother and daughter claim in the suit they have suffered physical and psychological damages to include emotional distress, loss of appetite, heightened anxiety and stomach pain.

They say they were required to seek medical treatment because they feared contracting deadly diseases, including hepatitis, Norovirus, typhoid, cholera and tapeworms.

The negligence and strict-liability lawsuit names McDonalds and the franchise owner, JDKD Enterprises of Sewell in Mantua Township, along with up to 10 unnamed employees.

McDonalds did not immediately respond to a request for comment. John Durante, the franchise owner, told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday he has not yet received a copy of the lawsuit but said the business denies any wrongdoing.

Serving safe, high-quality food is always our top priority, Durante said in a statement. Weve taken appropriate steps to investigate this and have been unable to substantiate this claim.

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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
With several weeks left in the school year, the number of New Jersey districts still offering only all-remote learning has dwindled to 15, while Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday urged holdouts to return to in-person learning.

That number is down from 142 at the beginning of March  or nearly 1 in 5 of all public school districts, charter and renaissance schools, and special service schools, Murphy said during his latest coronavirus briefing in Trenton.

Among the 15 left, seven are charter schools, four are public schools districts, and four are special service schools.

One of our continual focuses over the past months has been to get our school students and educators and staff back into their buildings for in-person instruction, Murphy said. Over the past eight weeks, weve seen these efforts kick into high gear across the state.

The 15 remaining districts include about 51,500 students and staff who are still learning and working remotely. Thats out of about 1.4 million public school students in the state.

The four remaining public school districts include Hillside, Passaic, Paterson, and Pleasantville. Murphy mentioned at his briefing Irvington was also still all-remote, but the district recently returned to having in-person classes, the governors office confirmed later Wednesday. Hillside is scheduled to return May 24.

We know there are myriad reasons why the remaining districts have not taken this step, Murphy said. But the simple fact remains that we cannot leave 43,000 of our students out of their classrooms for an entire year. That is not fair to them, their families, their communities, or their futures.

Murphy said the state will continue to work with local leaders to move this along.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

After all in-person classes were canceled at the end of last school year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jersey allowed school districts to return with either all-remote or hybrid learning as long as they explained why and had a target date for bringing in-person classes back.

Murphy has said all of New Jerseys schools are expected to return to full in-person classes for the next school year.

The state has reported 263 in-school coronavirus outbreaks, which have resulted in 1,157 cases among students, teachers, and school staff this academic year, according to state data.

New Jersey defines school outbreaks as cases where contact tracers determined two or more students or school staff caught or transmitted COVID-19 in the classroom or during academic activities at school. Those numbers do not include students or staff believed to have been infected outside school or cases that cant be confirmed as in-school outbreaks.

New Jerseys seven-day average for new confirmed positive tests is now 1,383, down 33% from a week ago and 64% from a month ago. There were 1,382 coronavirus patients across the states hospitals as of 1,382 night, the least since Nov. 5.

That comes as more than 3.2 million people have been fully vaccinated in New Jerseys as of Tuesday  roughly 46% of the states 6.9 million adults. Another 158,000 New Jersey residents have been vaccinated out of state.

The states goal is to have 70% of the states eligible population  about 4.7 million people  vaccinated by the end of June.

EDITORS NOTE: Murphy originally mentioned Irvington was still all-remote, but his office confirmed later Wednesday that it did have students return to classes recently.

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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com.
Authorities on Tuesday said an arrest was made in a shooting death at a home in East Orange over the weekend.

Terrance Nelson, 35, of Newark, was charged with murder for a shooting that killed 34-year-old Shakur Robinson, according to a news release from the Essex County Prosecutors Office. Nelson also faces charges for being a convicted felon in possession of a weapon, authorities said.

Robinson, also of Newark, was fatally shot Sunday at a residence in the 500 block of South Clinton Street, according to the prosecutors office. Authorities did not comment on a possible motive for the attack.

East Orange police and the Essex County Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force were continuing to investigate.

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Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
An 86-year-old passenger of a car that was involved in an accident Monday afternoon in Gloucester County died from her injuries, authorities said.

A car was traveling south on Delsea Drive in Washington Township near the intersection of Parke Place Boulevard when it collided with a car trying to make a left turn onto the boulevard from Delsea Drive, according to a statement from the Washington Township Police.

The driver and passenger of the turning vehicle were seriously injured and taken to Cooper University Hospital Trauma Center, police said. The passenger, Maria Calabria, of Sewell, died at the hospital. The status of the driver was unclear Tuesday night.

The occupants of the other car were not seriously injured.

The crash remained under investigation Tuesday and anyone who witnessed it was asked to contact Washington Township Police Officer Joshua Bradford at jwbradford@pd.twp.washington.nj.us.

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In February, state Sen. Brian Stack cast a historic vote in favor of legalizing marijuana.

The North Hudson senator voted yes to the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act, which legalized adult-use recreational marijuana and set up a framework for recreational marijuana sales.

But in Union City, where he is mayor, Stack voted last month in favor of introducing an ordinance that would ban recreational cannabis sales within city limits.

As a State Senator, I voted in support of the legislation because a majority of New Jerseyans are in favor of it, Stack said in an emailed statement. As a mayor, I get dozens of calls a week concerning people smoking marijuana and other issues surrounding quality of life. Union City is just too densely populated to become a location for recreational sales.

The senator/mayors position is an indicator that, despite widespread public support for legalization, some towns in Hudson County and across the state are still uneasy about the prospect of recreational marijuana sales.

Last month, town councils in both Union City and Kearny began to consider ordinances that would place an outright ban on recreational marijuana businesses, with the exception of medical dispensaries.

Its not that theres opposition to communities or individuals who are seeking to use recreational marijuana, Kearny Mayor Al Santos said of Kearnys proposed rule. Its that we do not want to be a center of that use because of our location.

While Hoboken and Jersey City have touted their openness to cannabis businesses, Union City, Kearny, Weehawken, and Secaucus are among dozens of towns across the state that passed pre-emptive bans on recreational marijuana sales, even before Gov. Phil Murphy signed the law that made those sales legal.

But Februarys law effectively voided those bans, giving towns a 180-day window in which to decide whether or not to renew them.

For some towns, the prospect of a bump in revenue from weed businesses  municipalities can levy a 2% tax on all retail cannabis sales  may prove too enticing to pass up, especially during the COVID-19 economic downturn.

In Secaucus, the town council has not yet decided whether to ditch their ban. Secaucus is home to Harmony Dispensary, currently the countys only medical marijuana dispensary, though Harmony is working to open new dispensaries in Jersey City and Hoboken.

Under the legalization law, medical dispensaries may begin selling for the adult-use market once they show they have enough supply for their medical patients. That means that if Secaucus decides not to renew its ban on recreational sales, Harmony could become the first to sell marijuana recreationally in the county.

Shaya Brodchandel, Harmonys CEO, said the company has been in discussions with Secaucus town officials. We have a good history here in Secaucus, he said.

Secaucus Mayor Michael Gonnelli gave no indication of whether or not the town would lift its ban.

We need to really talk about it, and that really hasnt taken place yet, Gonnelli said.

Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said he was previously really totally against recreational marijuana sales. But now, township officials are considering whether to soften their stance.

Weve had some discussions about whether we should open the door a little depending on the revenue and everything, Turner said. Because were going through such a tough time with loss of revenue during the pandemic. And its going to take a year or two to catch up.

But not everyone is so optimistic about marijuana revenue.

Its hard enough as it is with the liquor stores, the vape shops, the check cashing stores, Santos said. I think this is going to be another layer that will be difficult to manage in urban communities. I dont think its that rosy, you know, allow urban communities to make money off of this scenario.
A Florida man trying to walk out of the Bayonne Walmart without paying for a cartful of merchandise is facing a robbery charge after he lunged at security officers with a pair of scissors, authorities said.

Martin Love, 38, of St. Petersburg, was arrested Sunday at 11:32 a.m. in the store parking lot after he managed to get out of the store with a few of the stolen items, Bayonne Capt. Eric Amato said.

Walmart loss prevention officers saw Love attempting to leave the store with a cart loaded with the shoplifted items and a struggle over the cart ensued, Amato said. During the confrontation, Love brandished a pair of scissors and attempted to stab the store officers, but the victims were able to avoid being stabbed.

Love then fled the store with some of the items that had fallen from the cart, but he didnt get far before Bayonne police detained him in the parking lot, Amato said. Love was charged with robbery and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop said he is happy to explore any cuts the school board and city council members believe could be made to the municipal budget to help fund the citys public schools.

Fulop told both nine-member bodies during a joint meeting Tuesday that he is willing to help the school board with funding if there is a clear program and if they can identify possible cuts to the municipal budget so the city can supply the funds.

We have said all along that we are willing to help the Board of Education with funds: A, if it is a clear program; B, if somebody thinks, anybody here  that there is a place we should be cutting in the municipal budget, we are happy to explore it, Fulop said. If you think we are overfunded in health and human services, say it. Send it over.

To date, when we talk about the city should send money over here or give money over there, there hasnt been one concrete example on where that money should come from and that is a big problem because the board of education and the city are both independent elected and taxing entities.

BOE President Mussab Ali said Wednesday that he cant make cuts to a budget the city hasnt introduced yet and he added that the city could help the district by avoiding a municipal tax increase this year, when homeowners will see a nearly $1,000 increase in their school taxes.

I cant speak to a budget that I cant see, Ali said. The most important thing the city can actually do is just not raise (its tax levy), so when we talk about what would you cut, I mean the city could just not raise its budget.

The school board, which is expected to finalize its 2021-2022 budget on May 10, will have raised taxes on the average homeowner by more than $1,500 between last year and this year to offset drastic cuts to the school districts state aid. The proposed 2021-22 school budget is $814 million, an increase of $78 million from last year.

Ali on Tuesday said the school district expects to lose another $240 million in state funding over the next three years.

Fulop also addressed what he said is misinformation over the payroll tax, a 1% tax imposed on businesses to help fund the school budget. He told the school board and the city council that the legislative bill that allowed for the payroll tax did not give the tools to enforce the tax, which he called optional.

The school district had been expecting roughly $86 million from the tax, but city officials say it could be closer to $65 million  $58 million that was raised through the tax and $7 million that was in reserve.

The city has no way to identify how many employees a business has, but the state does and should be managing the payroll tax for the schools, Fulop said. He added the only reason large businesses have paid into the tax is a fear of being shamed.

For all intents and purposes, the payroll tax is an optional tax for people to pay because there is no mechanism for the city or the Board of Education to audit or do an accounting of how many employees work at an individual business, Fulop said. What (the governors office) has said to us was that would entail a constitutional amendment and a really big process, which I dont think there is an appetite to do statewide.

The state Department of Treasury could not be reached for comment.
EDITORS NOTE: On May 20, NJ Cannabis Insider in collaboration with Advance Media New York hosts a virtual business networking event, featuring some of New York states most prominent industry leaders. Tickets are limited.

With just over three months left to establish its rules and regulations, New Jerseys Cannabis Regulatory Commission listened to dozens of recommendations on ensuring racial and social equity become key to the new legal weed industry.

From entrepreneurs to activists, medical experts to union representatives, people gave lengthy testimonies about their visions for an equitable cannabis industry.

It is important that we make sure social equity day one is a priority, said Nadir Pearson, deputy director of NJ NORML. We know that big corporations will always find a way to enter the market, whenever the opportunity is available.

Social equity was a sticking point in crafting the legalization law. An initial draft did not send any revenue to communities harmed by marijuana prohibition, and activists testified in droves to change the bill. Their work led lawmakers to create an excise fee on cannabis to fund communities that saw disproportionate arrests during the War on Drugs.

In New Jersey, many large companies from other states operate medical marijuana dispensaries. They are overwhelmingly owned and operated by white men. That troubles many, because police have arrested Black people for marijuana offenses in New Jersey 3.5 times as often as white people, according to the ACLU.

But many who testified Tuesday evening said the law does not go far enough, and the commission must pick up the slack. They urged the commissioners to provide education for entrepreneurs, give licenses to people previously arrested for marijuana offenses and to establish funding for local minority owners. Some shared stories about being arrested or having a family member incarcerated for marijuana.

The commission will have a lot of power to shape the industry. The five-member panel will award licenses to grow, process, sell and deliver weed to customers, but it will also give recommendations on how the state should allocate tax revenue to programs in cities and towns most hurt by marijuana prohibition.

Ami Kachalia, a campaign strategist with the ACLU of New Jersey, suggested the commission establish a social equity applicant license status. That would prioritize people who have lived in cities and towns most hurt by marijuana prohibition, have been arrested themselves for marijuana or are in the immediate family of someone who was to become owners in the cannabis industry.

She also said the commission should set aside grants for those people as well as minorities.

Precious Osagie-Erese of Roll Up Life Inc., a delivery service, said starting a delivery company can be a good way for minorities to enter the industry and build generational wealth  if the regulations dont make operating too expensive.

Delivery has a chance to balance equity, she said. Delivery models  often face huge issues being profitable, particularly when it comes to costly insurance.

Randy Thompson said large companies should be vetted or mandated to have corporate responsibility initiatives. He also suggested tax revenue be used to fund community grants that fund police accountability.

You began with our bodies, our families being attacked, he said. It should end with our bodies, our families, our communities, being protected.

Jeff Brown, executive director of the commission, teased an update on the 2019 request for applications process, but did not give a timeline for awarding new licenses.

That application round involves more than 20 licenses to grow, process and sell medical marijuana. It was put on hold for more than a year due to a legal challenge, but a court ruled in February the state could resume its review of nearly 150 applications.

We are working to get these applications scored, processed and awards issued as quick as we can, he said.

Those licenses are vital to expanding the strained medical marijuana program. The states more than 107,000 patients currently have only 17 dispensaries.

But those licenses will also help legal weed sales to launch. Medically licensed dispensaries are expected to get the first shot at selling to the public.

The commission will meet again May 18 at 2 p.m.

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Amanda Hoover may be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj.
A former Mercer County man accused of killing his wife 28 years after she vanished from their West Windsor home has been moved to a county jail here from an Ohio prison  where hes serving time for killing his first wife.

John Smith, 70, was long suspected in the disappearance of his second wife, Fran Gladden-Smith, who was last seen at their West Windsor condo in September 1991.

In November 2019, Mercer County authorities obtained a murder indictment against him, despite Gladden-Smiths body never being found.

On Tuesday night, Smith was booked in the Mercer County Correction Center, records show.

The Mercer County Prosecutors Office declined comment on the development. The Ohio prison system also declined comment, saying they do not discuss transfers due to inmate security.

A court date was not immediately available for Smith, nor was information on who is representing him.

The Smith case took several turns from the moment Gladden-Smith vanished from the Canal Pointe condominium where they lived, just across the canal from Princeton, including several splashes on TV true crime shows, and a 2005 book.

An engineer, John David Smith III, 40, and Fran Gladden-Smith, 49, who was known as Betty Fran, moved to New Jersey from Florida earlier 1991.

He reported her missing to West Windsor police on Oct. 4, 1991. She was last seen alive about a week earlier, on Sept. 28, and had left a note, Smith claimed, which read: Going away for a few days. Dont forget to feed the fish.

Smith also told police his wife packed a suitcase too, and theorized shed gone on a trip. But police found the suitcase, and investigators and Gladden-Smiths family both grew to doubt everything John Smith told them, since she was recovering from hip surgery at the time.

The investigation went on for years and eventually was looked at as a homicide without a body, police would later say, but without her remains, proving a case against John Smith never materialized. John Smith later moved away from New Jersey.

The case heated up in 1999, in Ohio, when John Smiths brother, Michael Smith, confessed to West Windsor police detectives that hed seen a mummified body in a box in the family home in 1979, found by their father.

Michael Smith said hed called John Smith back in 1979, and he came and took the box away.

Indiana authorities found the box in 1980, dumped along a highway there, and 20 years later the body was identified as Janice Hartman, John Smiths first wife. Shed disappeared in 1974, just days after their divorce.

Wayne County, Ohio authorities charged Smith with murder and found him living outside San Diego, where they arrested him in 2000. They also found hed married a third time and that woman later annulled their marriage and testified at his murder trial.

Despite their involvement, West Windsor police never got much traction against Smith despite flying to California to interrogate him with federal agents, hoping for any shred of information about Gladden-Smith.

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Essential workers were praised for staying on the job during the coronavirus pandemic, but as the region moves more into an economic recovery, experts and advocates fear those workers might be left behind.

How to help essential workers, especially those of color, who make up a number of the working poor, was part of a Regional Plan Association assembly discussion about how to equitably recover from the pandemic. The panel, that included U.S. Senator Cory Booker and U.S. Rep Andy Kim, both D-NJ, also directly discussed ways to correct inequities that existed before the pandemic.

While there was an outpouring of support for essential workers during the darkest days of the pandemic, New Jersey even declared an essential workers heroes day in March, the warehouse and retail workers, janitors, housekeepers, food and package delivery workers still need to be lifted from the ranks of the working poor, according to members of the panel.

Banging on pots doesnt make them essential, said Dr Herminia Palacio, former New York City deputy mayor for health and human services. Their salaries arent essential, their benefits arent essential. How do we reorient resources, so we have predictable outcomes?

She warned that the window to change conditions and help these workers is narrowing.

Panelists talked about how essential workers, especially people of color and women, were affected by higher death rates, economic and housing insecurity and other issues that threaten to leave them behind again unless action is taken.

Legislation proposed by Booker could provide a federal renters tax credit to help workers who spend 30% or more of their take home pay on housing. The concept is similar to federal tax deductions homeowners now receive for state and local property taxes.

We can do something big and bold and make sure all our brave families can have a shot at a good home, he said. The hard reality is stagnant wages for working class people make it harder to make ends meet.

Booker also said investment in infrastructure in the Biden $2 trillion American Jobs act, ranging from the Gateway rail tunnel under the Hudson River, to clean drinking water systems to affordable housing is important.

Exactly how the nation will recover is a source of concern for Kims constituents whove contacted his legislative offices. Some express relief that they can get the vaccine, and that the country is turning a corner, he said. Others said they are worried, especially those who have housing issues, he said.

We hear from others who are really struggling, theres been a surge in questions about housing, this wave of a housing crisis is coming, Kim said. People feel a deep sense of uncertainty about what comes next. No one is painting a picture of what the new normal is.

Part of that uncertainty is the nations ideological divide.

The question is what comes next, what should the prioritization be, Kim said. The problem is both parties operate like the pandemic never happened. The polarization is getting worse.

Booker and Kim also spoke about how the increase of hate crimes against Asian-Americans and people of color and how to heal the nations deep divides. One idea is to emphasize the common ties people have as Americans to increase empathy for one another.

The lines that divide us arent as strong as the ties that bind us, not a Kumbaya thing, Booker said. My call is for all of us to be more affirmative, to create a more beloved community.

But Kim, who talked about the discrimination he experienced when he worked in the state department, when he was barred from working on issues dealing with North Korea, questioned how to end the fear people have of others who are different from them.

They drew a line around my loyalty. It gets to the question of what does it mean to be an American and our sharedness, Kim said. Were losing our shared space, due to misinformation creating an environment where you see a 65-year-old woman assaulted and the assailant says you dont belong here.

Kim, who said hes talked to families and victims of hate crimes said he heard the same questions repeated, what can we actually do to solve it?

There is recognition we have to do something, there is fear and hurt in the community, he said. There is no single law that I or anyone can write to rid the country of hate. Yes, we need to pass the COVID hate crimes bill.

Palacio suggested education as a way to counter misinformation and teach people about the facts about discrimination that people of other races and genders have endured throughout history.

Tell the facts. Teach people about the Chinese exclusion act (prohibiting immigration of Chinese laborers in 1882), the Japanese internments (during World War II) and Jim Crow (segregation laws), she said.

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Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
Moreys Piers, which operates amusement parks in the Wildwoods, announced Tuesday it was boosting pay in hopes of attracting more seasonal workers ahead of what is expected to be a busy Jersey Shore tourism season.

Seasonal employees can earn up to $15 an hour along with perks, including free use of the amusement rides and water parks, discounted passes for friends and family, along with food and beverage discounts, according to a news release from Moreys Piers.

Many local officials and community leaders are predicting a strong start to the 2021 tourism season, said Denise Beckson, vice president of human resources for Moreys Piers. And while thats great news, it will be important for us to meet our hiring needs this summer so we can provide guests with the level of service they have come to expect when visiting our premier seaside amusement park.

The company, which operates three amusement piers and two water parks in Wildwood and North Wildwood, launched its hiring effort in February and still has open positions, the release said. Openings include jobs in ride operations, lifeguards, food and beverage, games operator, servers, bartenders and admissions. Positions may last through the fall, though most are scheduled for the summer months.

Company representatives said Moreys fills its 1,500 seasonal jobs with a diverse range of local college and high school students, teachers and retirees from the area. About 400 of the positions have been filled, according to Beckson.

Theres sometimes a misconception that we only have jobs for teenagers, but thats not the case at all  we have a very diverse work environment, company spokeswoman Maggie Wisniewski said.

Moreys starting pay was $12, above the states seasonal minimum wage of $11.10, a company representative previously said.

With statewide coronavirus restrictions being lifted, the availability of vaccines and declining infections, Jersey Shore attractions are gearing up for a boost in business.

More information about jobs with Moreys Piers is available on the company website.

Job seekers, job hunters, job chasers! Are you on the lookout for good pays, sun rays, and beach days? We are hiring for a bunch of different positions. You can now earn up to $15 an hour! Visit https://t.co/AJ0kqG7hEL to earn more and learn more. pic.twitter.com/T4kk2h1qDT  Moreys Piers (@MoreysPiers) May 3, 2021

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A man who admitted running over five geese in the parking lot of a Toms River shopping center in 2019 will not see the inside of a jail cell, authorities said.

Quintin Alec-Manning, 22 of Brick Township, who pleaded guilty on March 15 to animal cruelty, was sentenced Wednesday to two years of probation and ten days of community service, despite prosecutors arguing for him to serve 90 days in the Ocean County Jail, according to a statement from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office.

Ocean County Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan also barred Alec-Manning from owning or working with animals during the term of his probation, the office said.

Officers from the Toms River Police Department discovered that the five geese were fatally struck by a car on May 29, 2019 in the parking lot of the Indian Head Plaza in town, authorities said.

A photo of the dead water fowl was shared by the Facebook page Ocean County Scanner News. Outraged commenters immediately called for an investigation. Police said at the time that they were called to the scene and spoke with witnesses and shop owners.

One day later, police identified Alec-Manning as the driver, arrested him and charged him, officials said. He was released on a summons pending his future court appearances.

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By Linda Stamato

President Biden did what he promised to do  unlike his predecessors  he declared that Turkey was responsible for the massacre of some 1.5 million Armenians during World War I. Biden called it what it was: Genocide.

On Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day last month, the 106th anniversary of the start of the massacre, the president announced the U.S. would join the more than 30 nations of the world  and Pope Francis  in acknowledging the genocide.

As anticipated, Turkey reacted with a ferocious denial and staunchly defended the nation against the lie of the so-called Armenian genocide.

The consensus among historians is this: Worried that the Christian Armenian population would align with Russia, a primary enemy of the Ottoman Turks, officials ordered mass deportations and killed nearly 1.5 million Armenians, some in massacres by soldiers and the police, others in forced exoduses to the Syrian desert that left them to starve to death.

When the German Parliament, in June 2016, adopted a resolution that formally recognized the Armenian massacre as genocide, a significant turning point was reached. The Turkish government recalled its ambassador and issued a statement intended to admonish and provoke Germany by asserting that the parliaments action was hardly a way to close the dark pages of your own history.

But, in fact, closing dark pages is precisely not the thing to do. Rather, do what Germany has done, be open and honest about them.

German textbooks, for example, account for its history as most of us would recognize it, unvarnished, unsanitized. In Turkey, no honest accounting has been done.

The narrative that surfaces in Turkeys history textbooks distort and demonizes: Armenians are characterized as people who are incited by foreigners, who aim to break apart the state and the country, and who murdered Turks and Muslims; the Genocide is referred to as the Armenian matter, and described as a lie perpetrated in order to meet those goals, and is defined as the biggest threat to Turkish national security.

Creating realities that distort the truth to comport with ones desired narrative, delays the necessary reckoning, undermines credibility and legitimacy and prolongs conflict.

Bidens move gives Turkish Americans here in the New York/New Jersey area, particularly in Paterson, home to the largest Turkish American immigrant community in the United States, and elsewhere, of course, an opportunity to lead the discussion, now, by acknowledging history and ending the negative representations of Armenians in its narratives.

Let Germany serve as an example, not as a scapegoat for avoidance. In a highly visible manner, leaders of that nation have made a concerted effort to acknowledge its past. When its leaders stood in places where Nazi evil became manifest and when they acknowledged the burden their nation bears for the wrongs done and the harm inflicted, they reached for reconciliation, and, as they did, they restored hope and advanced prospects for peace.

What an example for Turkey to follow.

In a statement issued in 1998, a group of 150 distinguished scholars and writers, while honoring the 50th anniversary of the United Nations genocide convention, named and condemned the Armenian genocide. They affirmed the importance of acknowledging this tragic event:

Denial of genocide strives to reshape history in order to demonize the victims and rehabilitate the perpetrators. Denial murders the dignity of the survivors and seeks to destroy remembrance of the crime. In a century plagued by genocide, we affirm the moral necessity of remembering.

In April 2015, the Turkish prime minister at the time, Ahmet Davutoglu, struck a chord that could still provide an opening: He offered condolences to the descendants of the Armenian victims; and while he avoided the use of genocide, he said it was important to face the past with honesty.

Perhaps, he is not alone in recognizing that the Turkish governments refusal to abandon the official view of the past poisons its effort to gain credibility and standing in the world community. Indeed, the New Jersey-based Turkish Institute for Progress, which had been expending much of its energy trying to alter American textbook accounts of the genocide to bend history to align with Turkeys narrative has begun to shift its perspective to seek reconciliation with Armenians.

To cease being imprisoned by its past, Turkey needs to face its moral responsibilities, including reconciliation with its Armenian neighbors so that together they can construct a future where there is mutual respect and regional harmony.

Linda Stamato is the director emerita of the Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University.

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Hoboken Councilman Mike DeFusco blocked a handful of critics from his Twitter account recently, a move that has provoked a storm in town, and a proposal to impose a $500 fine for each person blocked.

Its an extreme reaction, granted. Council members make only $22,000 a year, and the good ones work full time, or close to it, when you add up all the night meetings and weekend events. Given the abusive tone that Twitter seems to draw out, it must be tempting to block out the critics.

But when public officials use their Twitter accounts to discuss public business, then blocking deprives the critics of the right to take part. That offends the spirit of democracy and defies court rulings that seem to apply directly to these circumstances.

When President Trump blocked critics from his account in 2017, he was forced to reinstate them after the 2nd Court of Appeals affirmed that his Twitter account was a public forum. We wouldnt allow a politician to step off a soapbox on a downtown street corner and silence his critics. In effect, thats what Trump did, and thats the example DeFusco followed.

DeFusco has since unblocked those he had blocked, a tacit admission that it was wrong to do so in the first place. And how bad were his critics anyway? Some had complained that DeFusco was out of town too often, and one, Eytan Stern Weber, said he was blocked after charging that a photo the councilman took of a flooded street indicated that he might have been texting and driving. I dont make personal attacks, and I literally never use a swear word, Weber insists.

Yes, the criticism online can be nauseating. Councilman Mike Russo, the longest serving council member, recalled that when his daughter was born, the depraved souls of the internet posted messages suggesting shed grow up to be a pole dancer. As infuriating as that is, its a free speech issue, he says. We have to let everyone say what they need to say. We are big boys and girls. We can handle the criticism.

Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher said she will oppose the fine, however, because it would give free rein to those who would defame or harass politicians. This weaponizes the First Amendment and incentivizes people to attack elected officials in any way they want, whether its defamatory or not, she says.

Its a legitimate concern. Our public dialogue has grown poisonous, and no set of rules can effectively change that. The overboard criticism, often full of lies, drives good people from politics, and distorts the public conversation. DeFusco claims that some of those he blocked made homophobic comments, though he could not produce any examples, or name those responsible.

The answer, though, is not to stifle speech. As the Second District Court of Appeals concluded in its decision in the Trump case, If the First Amendment means anything, it means that the best response to disfavored speech on matters of public concern is more speech, not less.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
By Mike Lilley

A new report by the Brookings Institution made some news because of its rather optimistic take on the fate of Americas public pensions. Brookings is perhaps the premier left-of-center think tank in the nation and often takes pro-labor union stances. In the report, the authors argue that due to recent reforms that lowered benefits for new hires, plans in most states are sustainable with relatively moderate and affordable adjustments. While other studies see underfunded public pension plans as a $3.9 trillion national crisis, the Brookings report concludes that there is no imminent crisis for most public pension plans.

The very notable exception is New Jerseys Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF), which is by far the single-worst public pension in the Brookings study. TPAF is New Jerseys largest public pension fund and covers all active and retired teachers. New Jerseys Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), the pension plan for state and municipal workers, is second-worst but not nearly in the dire predicament of TPAF.

This is what Brookings had to say about TPAF: Under any of their investment return scenarios, TPAF is in near-term trouble  meaning near-term insolvency. Brookings projects that TPAF will run out of assets in 12-to-15 years, at which point the $4.5 billion-plus in benefits payments will have to be made from the New Jerseys perpetually strained state budget. This would be a fiscal disaster for New Jersey and a retirement crisis for TPAFs 262,000 beneficiaries.

Brookings bottom line is that TPAFs funded-level  the amount of assets the state has set aside to fund future pension benefits  is so low that better investment returns do not make much difference. In other words, TPAF is broken and needs to be fixed.

But fixing TPAF would require that New Jerseys elected leaders go against the will of New Jerseys most powerful special interest, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), which has fought reform of TPAF for decades and continues to do so today. As a result, TPAF reform is simply not going to happen under NJEA-friendly Governor Murphy. A credible reform plan actually exists  Senate President Steve Sweeneys Path to Progress plan - but last year Murphy pocket-vetoed Sweeneys bill to establish a Path to Progress panel to recommend reforms, just as the NJEA wished.

Instead, and again in full accord with the NJEAs wishes, Murphy proposes to make a $6.4 billion public pension payment for FY 2022, of which an estimated $3.9 billion will go into the broken and unreformed TPAF. The states latest pension report puts TPAFs funded-level at 24.6%  that is, as of June 30, 2020, New Jersey had less than 25 cents set aside for every dollar it owed for teachers pensions. With such a low funded-level, Brookings makes clear that this amounts to throwing billions of good money after bad. Moreover, it gives New Jerseys teachers the impression that all is well and that TPAF will deliver on the states pension promises to them.

The Brookings report shows that this would be a badly mistaken and false sense of security. Teachers are not being told the truth about their pension fund: TPAF is one of the worst public pension plans in the nation and on a path to near-term insolvency  even according to public pension optimists at Brookings.

Mike Lilley is the founder and president of the Sunlight Policy Center of New Jersey, a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on showcasing greater transparency and sound policy solutions throughout the state.

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When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in spring 2020, the World Health Organization and U.S. Food and Drug Administration urged frontline health care workers to sterilize and reuse their N95 masks because we faced a dire shortage.

In response, Google, Facebook and Instagram prohibited manufacturers including my company, Protective Health Gear, from advertising N95 products online to consumers because it was important to conserve them for health care workers who were risking their own and their families well-being in serving the sick and dying.

Twelve months later, its a different story. There is a surplus of N95s in the professional health care market, and the supply for hospitals, first responders and frontline workers has been restored. So why is the public still restricted from buying N95 masks made in the United States, such as products from Protective Health Gear?

Try logging into Google. Type in N95 or a similar phrase and hit the Google Shopping button, and this appears: Your search  N95  did not match any shopping results.

Its time to afford access to medical-grade N95s to the public and allow U.S. manufacturers to advertise their products online, just like the nonmedical-rated KN95 masks that are manufactured in China and approved to be advertised here.

The FDA, in fact, in an April 9 letter, has recommended that health care personnel and facilities transition away from crisis capacity conservation strategies for NIOSH-approved N95 masks because the supply is now adequate. This should pave the way for these products to be widely available to the general public.

Its time to open up the online marketplace for the American manufacturers of these masks so that consumers can purchase them for their personal use.

Brian Wolin, CEO, Protective Health Gear, Paterson

What masks can, and cannot, do

Its the thinking of people like letter writer Lee Lucas (Masks will stifle U.S. innovation, not just disease) that will keep us from achieving enough immunity to actually ditch masks.

Its not the liberals who have politicized wearing masks. Responsible citizens wear them to obey and conform. We wear them to save lives. We wear them because we care about others. We are not selfish.

As responsible citizens, we do things like wear seatbelts, dont text and drive, pay taxes, get drivers licenses, register our cars, and even register our dogs.

Has any of that harmed or inhibited our advancement or innovation?

No.

Cynthia Vengraitis, Maplewood

What masks can, and cannot, do, Part II

I agree with recent letter writer Lee Lucas that there seems to be a connection between masks and innovation.

While mask-wearers merely tried to prevent the spread of COVID-19, respect the constitutional imperative to promote the general welfare, and live by the Golden Rule, it seems that remaining unmasked has made people wildly creative, seeing socialist plots at every turn, imagining computer chips so small they could flow through vaccine needles, and creating an anonymous Lord protector named Q who will solve all their problems.

Sorry, but Ill keep wearing my mask and praying for domestic tranquility. Weve had all the unmasked imaginations we can stand.

Kathleen Meyer, Scotch Plains

Israels stampede tragedy could have been avoided

All of Israel is heartbroken and in shock after the tragedy that took place during a massive Lag BOmer celebration April 30 in Meron. There were 45 people who were killed from overcrowding that led to a deadly stampede, and over 150 were injured.

Please join us in praying for the families of the deceased and for the full recovery of the injured. Now is the time to mourn, but this was a tragedy waiting to happen.

A 2008 state comptroller report warned of systemic failure at the Rashbi [Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai] compound at Meron due to many different authorities all involved in its management, noting that it was a chaotic situation that would lead to harm to the holy site as well as endangering worshipers.

In an additional report from 2011, it was once again emphasized that the site was underprepared for receiving hundreds of thousands of people. This situation must be rectified before more innocent lives are lost.

Rabbi Bernhard Rosenberg, Edison

Seniors, expect no help from Biden

A recent letter from Greg McLaughlin states that he sees no relief for senior citizens on fixed incomes in the trillions of dollars in the federal stimulus packages that have been passed and proposed.

He suggests lowering the tax on Social Security benefits, up to 85 percent of which are subject to federal income tax, depending on the recipients overall income. He points out that the wages that a retiree paid as Social Security contributions while working were also taxed at that time.

I agree.

This is no different than if we had put our hard-earned, previously taxed money into a savings account and the principal was taxed again when we took it out. Would we stand for that thievery?

Unfortunately, the writers suggestion is likely to fall on deaf ears. In 1983, then-Sen. Joe Biden (in a bipartisan bill signed by President Ronald Reagan) voted to raise the amount of Social Security benefits subject to federal tax to a maximum of 50%. In 1993, he voted to raise the taxable percentage to the 85% level  a bill that passed only with a vice-presidential tie-breaker.

The saying Children should be seen, and not heard,' was popular at one time. Today, that saying can be applied to senior citizens. Except that, by locking us down during the pandemic, politicians dont have to see us, either. By the way that they propose spending stimulus funds, they certainly are not hearing us.

Armand Rose, North Arlington

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Two weeks ago, Gov. Murphy affirmed that there should not be any reason in our society for folks to be on a hunger strike, and I want to repeat that unquestionably.

Yet the undocumented immigrants who have been largely forgotten by their government are now on Day 27 of that hunger strike.

One week ago, Murphy said he is pondering support for these brothers and sisters, including a relief check that the state can fund on our own after a more robust exchange with our legislative colleagues.

Yet he still seems content to wait for some signal that federal money can be allocated for that purpose.

We have arrived at the drip-drip-drip phase of these proceedings. The desperation of 460,000 undocumented New Jerseyans has been one of the direst subplots of this pandemic, and while the governor and lawmakers stare at each other from a safe distance  both mortified by the political consequences of governing with compassion  it must never be forgotten that such pain persisted while Trenton shrugged.

While most of us stayed home throughout this lethal pandemic, these undocumented immigrants were classified as essential labor by the Trump Administration -- farmhands, factory workers, nurse aides, and grocery workers -- yet they were treated as disposable. They pay taxes, but they werent eligible for a stimulus check, even if they are military. If they lost their job, they were ineligible for unemployment benefits, even though they pay into that fund. They cannot apply for SNAP benefits or health care.

And then there was the residual pain: There are 262,000 New Jerseyans -- American citizens -- who were left out of pandemic relief because of their parents or spouses status.

This wasnt countenanced in other states. New York used state funds to rectify the injustice, creating a $2.1 billion Excluded Worker Fund to help undocumented workers who had lost their jobs or income.

Here, the response was callous indifference, despite overwhelming suffering. Make the Road NJ, the immigration advocate, found that 81 percent of these undocumented New Jerseyans had lost their job, 85 percent were food insecure, and 77 percent were unable to buy medicine.

And lets be clear: This didnt have to happen, if somebody had summoned the requisite courage in Trenton.

This is one of those issues that the administration has undoubtedly poll-tested and focus-grouped to learn that helping immigrants -- regardless of their status -- isnt a popular thing among voters. Thats understandable; many taxpayers have the misconception that undocumented workers dont contribute anything  actually, the ones in our state pay $600 million in state and local tax every year, doing jobs most of us cannot do  and some citizens believe these immigrants should be punished for the sins of the employers who exploit their cheap labor.

But they are not looking for a handout, they are looking for a hand up -- as any taxpayer would. There were modest bills introduced in the Legislature calling for some COVID relief. The first one was introduced one year ago next week. It hasnt moved a millimeter, because its one of those bills that might cause someone to take a tough vote and put an Assembly seat in jeopardy.

Nor was there ever any push from the risk-averse governor, who could have done this entirely on his own but made it clear that it isnt a priority. Murphy never had to wait for federal money: As former HUD Secretary Julian Castro tweeted three weeks ago, NJ should allocate funds for relief checks to undocumented frontline workers  and they should do it immediately.

Given his polls at the height of the pandemic, he could have helped his brothers and sisters with minimal blowback. But he can still fix this today -- with or without a robust exchange with lawmakers. Or tomorrow, which will be Day 28 of the hunger strike.

Undocumented workers pay taxes. They disproportionately work in essential jobs. And theyve been cut out of any federal Covid relief.



New Jersey should allocate funds for relief checks to undocumented frontline workersand they should do it immediately. https://t.co/BSwdVqSEsS  Julian Castro (@JulianCastro) April 22, 2021

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President Joe Bidens proposed tax increases on the wealthy would prompt a greater percentage of New Jersey taxpayers to pay more than in any other state, according to a new study.

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a progressive research group, found 1.2% of New Jersey taxpayers, or 53,000, would see their taxes go up. Thats tied with Massachusetts for the highest percentage of a states taxpayers facing a tax hike.

Still, that means that 98.8% of New Jerseys taxpayers would see no increase. Nationally, the percentage would be 99.3%, leaving 0.7%, or 1.1 million filers, who would be affected.

The presidents proposed tax increases would affect only the very rich, one percent or less of taxpayers, said Steve Wamhoff, the groups director for federal tax policy. If you are a remotely normal American, you will not pay more and you probably dont even know anyone who will pay more.

The states most affected have more high-income taxpayers. Its also one reason why those states send billions of dollars more to Washington than they receive in services, because their higher earners pay more in federal income taxes.

New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, California and Connecticut are the only states where more than 1% of their taxpayers would face a higher tax bill under Bidens plan. Theyre also the five states with the highest average income per person, according to the World Population Review.

All five states also are among those hardest hit by the $10,000 cap on deducting state and local income and property taxes, which also affects millions of middle-class homeowners.

The states with the fewest percentage of high-income earners facing a tax hike were West Virginia at 0.1% and Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and South Carolina at 0.3%, according to the study.

Biden proposed restoring the top tax rate to 39.6%, where it was before the GOP lowered it to the current 37%, plus taxing capital gains for millionaires at the same rate as wages. Former President Ronald Reagan and Congress taxed income from wages and investments at the same rate in their 1986 tax overhaul.

Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas, the top Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, called Bidens proposal the biggest economic blunder in our lifetime.

Raising crippling taxes as we try to recover from this pandemic makes no economic sense, Brady said earlier this week on the Fox News Channel. It lands on working families and will drive U.S. jobs overseas. There couldnt be a worse time to do this.

But a Moodys Analytics report released Monday said Bidens plan would improve the economy in the long run and the financial benefits of that added growth largely accrue to hard-pressed lower-income and less-wealthy Americans.

In addition, since the Republican tax cuts enacted in the Trump administration did not lift economic growth, it is tough to argue that increasing them will appreciably hurt growth, the report said.

The Congressional Research Service previously reported that economic growth was in line with government forecasts before the tax cut passed, and that corporations shared little of their tax savings with their workers in the form of higher wages or bonuses.

As part of the debate on Bidens tax proposals, 32 House members of both parties, more than enough to sink any legislation, have called for eliminating the $10,000 cap on how much local and state taxes can be deducted from federal income taxes, known as SALT.

A separate ITEP study found that 30% of New Jerseyans would see a tax decrease if the $10,000 cap was suspended, more than any other state. And 80% of the 1.9 million New Jerseyans who would be helped had an average income of $216,000 or less, even as 72% of the benefits would go to the richest 5%.

A family or three or four with a family income of $200,000 living in New Jersey is making ends meet, said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that the issue is on the table, but since restoring the deduction would cost money, discussions have to focus on how to pay for it.

The House in 2019 voted to fund the full deduction by raising the top tax rate, but Biden has already earmarked those revenues for other spending in his proposal.

This is democracy in action, Psaki said. This is whats fun about this. We are having discussions. We are certainly aware of the members who have conveyed a strong view about the SALT deduction, and well have that discussion with them.

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A New Jersey man was sentenced to federal prison for a terrifying assault of a couple swimming in the Delaware Water Gap, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Jeffrey Mulcahy, 59, of Wayne, Passaic County, previously pleaded guilty by videoconference to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm in connection with the 2019 attack.

On Tuesday, Mulcahy was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton to 21 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.

Prosecutors said the attack occurred on Labor Day 2019, when the couple was swimming in the Delaware River near in the Kittatinny Point area of the Delaware Water Gap national park in Warren County.

Mulcahy approached the couple and began talking to them about fishing. Mulcahy left, but after 15 minutes came back with a can of beer and appeared agitated as he continued talking to the couple about fishing, federal prosecutors said.

The couple was out of the water and standing near the riverbed, when Mulcahy allegedly pulled out of his waistband what the couple believed was a handgun; prosecutors later said it was a pellet gun.

Mulcahy pointed the gun at the womans head, and ordered the couple to get on the ground, prosecutors said.

Mulcahy then allegedly pointed the gun at the man and said he was going to kill the man if he didnt listen.

Mulcahy hit the man in the head and neck with the gun, then pulled rope out of his pocket while he tried to get the mans hands behind his back.

The man fought off Mulcahy and the two began scuffling on the ground, authorities said. During the struggle, the gun fell to the ground and the woman took it and ran to get help.

After fighting off Mulcahy, the man ran off to find his girlfriend and saw Mulcahy drive by in a white van, prosecutors said.

The man memorized the license plate and authorities were warned to be on the lookout for Mulcahy, who was then wanted for assault with a deadly weapon and attempted kidnapping.

Mulcahy was eventually caught by police in Warren County, after an off-duty firefighter traveling on Route 46 near Independence Township spotted his van and called 911, police previously said.

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During his Academy Awards acceptance speech, a joyous Jon Batiste gave a shout-out to Miss Shirley, without elaborating on who she was.

Watching the Oscars at home in Metairie, Shirley Herstein knew.

Now in her 80s, Herstein taught Batiste classical piano for seven years. He took private lessons from her on Saturdays until he graduated from St. Augustine High School and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts in 2004. That's when he left for the prestigious Juilliard School in New York and, eventually, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Batistes Oscar win on April 25 was all the more exciting to Herstein because he mentioned her name.

That was so sweet, she said this week. Hes really a super guy. He comes from a great family. He was really well brought up. I sat there watching him and got kind of teary-eyed.

Decades before she tutored the future star, Herstein was herself a child learning piano in Philadelphia. When she was 12, her parents bought the Steinway grand piano that she still uses. She honed her skills at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, where she also started giving lessons.

After moving to New Orleans in the 1960s with her husband, she resumed her career locally. She taught piano at Loyola University and Ridgewood Preparatory School while also giving private lessons at home. She's taught, conservatively, hundreds of students.

Batiste, who grew up in Kenner as the scion of a large family of musicians, found Herstein through fellow NOCCA student Nick Sanders, who was already taking lessons from her.

Even though Batiste wasnt quite 10 years old, Herstein recognized his prodigious talent immediately. Hes amazing.

To come across such a student is like a dream. Its so rare you get somebody like that.

One caveat: Batiste couldnt read music. Instead, he played by ear. He could hear a piece of music once and play it back, not quite note-for-note, but close.

When I would give him a new piece, he used to say, Play it for me, Herstein recalled. I wouldnt let him do that. I got him out of that habit as quickly as I could. No shortcuts. Youre going to figure it out and play it for me.

Developing classical chops and reading music, she believes, makes for a better player. Thats why Jons so good. He has a good classical background.

But Batiste also loved jazz, which came very easily to him, Herstein said. She allowed both Batiste and Sanders to indulge their love of jazz. When Hersteins 30 students would give a recital, shed let Batiste and Sanders conclude the program with a jazz duet.

After Batiste graduated from high school in 2004 and moved to New York, Herstein watched from afar as his career arc charted ever higher. In 2015, she heard that he might be up for the job of bandleader on Stephen Colberts new late-night show on CBS.

His mother told me that she was hoping that he would get the job, Herstein recalled. She said, I cant tell you. Its a surprise. When she said that, I knew he got it.

I think that was one of the best things to happen to him. That gave him so much exposure.

A few years ago, Herstein took a trip to New York and Batiste got her tickets to a taping of The Late Show. She got to hang out with her former student backstage after the taping. He still checks in on her when he comes to town.

His high-profile gig on the Colbert show hasnt slowed down his creative output. Earlier this year, he was up for two Grammy Awards, for his live album Chronology of a Dream and an understated, improvised collaboration with guitarist Cory Wong called Meditations.

The Verve label released Batistes latest album, We Are, on March 19. By then, his composing work with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for the animated film Soul had already won a Golden Globe Award and was the favorite to take home the Oscar for best original score.

Sure enough, Batiste, Reznor and Ross heard their names called during the ceremony at Los Angeles Union Station. Batiste stopped on the way to the stage to accept congratulations from fellow New Orleans nominee Terence Blanchard.

At the microphone, Batiste got philosophical: Man, you know whats deep is God gave us 12 notes. Its the same 12 notes Duke Ellington had, Bach had. Its the same 12  Nina Simone and all the nominees.

I just want to first point out that every gift is special. Every contribution with music that comes from the divine into the instruments, into the film, into the minds and hearts and souls of every person who hears it. The stories that happen when you listen to it and watch it, and the stories you share, the moments you create, the memories you make, man, its just incredibly special ... Im just thankful to God for those 12 notes, man. Thats so dope.

He thanked his longtime girlfriend, writer and motivational speaker Suleika Jaouad, who flew to Los Angeles from New York in what Batiste said was her first flight in a year.

He also thanked his parents, who took me around clubs in New Orleans when I was 10 years old, put me in piano lessons ... Miss Shirley."

He then added another name: William. Herstein didn't know what William referred to: I really have no idea what he meant by that.

(He was likely referring to William Daghlian, a piano teacher he's worked with since moving to New York.)

Batiste hasnt slowed down since his Oscar win. A week later, he performed Its All Right, from the Soul soundtrack, on the Disney Night episode of American Idol. On Tuesday, he showcased his gospel-infused single "I Need You" on "Live with Kelly and Ryan."

Herstein, meanwhile, has cut back on her schedule. She stopped teaching at Ridgewood when the coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020. Retiring from the school made my life a little easier.

Shes also reduced her roster of private students. She now only accepts a dozen, down from a peak of 40, that she considers to be suitably dedicated.

If I see theyre not practicing, I tell their parents that I cant take them anymore. They have to be interested.

Batiste certainly was, she said, right from the start.

He is, to date, her only former student to win an Academy Award. In his speech, Batiste described his Oscar win as a culmination of a series of miracles.

One of which was meeting Miss Shirley.

Note: This story has been updated.
Many sex workers and allies turned out in full force to voice their support for a bill to decriminalize sex work in Louisiana, but that effort failed to get out of committee Tuesday.

After nearly three hours of discussion, Rep. Mandie Landry, a New Orleans Democrat, voluntarily deferred the bill when she saw it was unlikely to pass.

Though the bill could technically be rescheduled for a later House Administration of Criminal Justice committee hearing, Rep. Ted James, a Baton Rouge Democrat, said in committee its unlikely theyll have time for another lengthy debate on the topic this session. Instead, Landry told Gambit she should still have time this session to bring forward a measure that would create a task force  made up of sex workers, law enforcement and health care workers  to study the issue.

After 3 hours of incredible testimony, it became clear that HB 67 was going to have little support from the committee, Landry tweeted after shelving the bill. Deferring in favor of a task force/study resolution retains goodwill with the committee. Disappointing, but change takes time.

The bill would have kept law enforcement from prosecuting prostitution and other related offenses, as currently defined by Louisiana law, including purchasing commercial sex, soliciting for prostitutes and inciting or promoting prostitution. Trafficking, when someone recruits, transports or solicits another person through fraud, deceit or force" to provide labor would remain illegal, Landry said.

Supporters of the bill, who collectively testified for an hour and a half, said it would help sex workers who are sexually assaulted during their work feel more comfortable reporting the abuse to the police because they wouldnt have to have to worry about facing legal consequences for telling authorities they engaged in sex work. Several sex workers shared emotional stories about personally experiencing abuse on the job and feeling like they had little avenues for assistance.

They also pointed out that having a criminal record can affect many facets of a persons life, including seeking other employment and applying for housing.

The people who are policed and prosecuted for sex work-related offenses are overwhelmingly people who are poor, women, black, transgender, unhoused or unstably housed, said Christine Breland, program director for Women with a Vision. Its fine that people dont approve, but that does not mean this labor should be criminalized.

In addition to the testimony, 109 people submitted green cards into the record, signaling their support of the bill.

Opponents of the bill included some religious leaders and some anti-sex trafficking groups who said they worried decriminalization would lead to an increase in trafficking. Seventeen others submitted cards in opposition of the bill.

Sheri Lochridge, the anti-human trafficking team leader for Covenant House New Orleans, a homeless shelter with religious ties, said that while she supports decriminalization of prostitution as defined under state law, she didnt agree with decriminalizing soliciting, inciting or promoting prostitution.

We do strongly agree that people who engage in prostitution should not be criminalized, as this only creates additional barriers to often already marginalized populations, she said. However ... the repeal of laws under this bill, such as soliciting for prostitutes, inciting prostitution, promoting prostitution and enticing persons into prostitution are laws that have been used to protect our most vulnerable populations from traffickers who often prey on them and to bring justice to those who have already been victimized.

Andrew Lewis, the former coordinator for the Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force, said while human trafficking does occur in Louisiana, there is discrepancy in how it is reported  including what is considered a confirmed or prospective case.

Many organizations report human trafficking based on subjective definitions, Lewis said. If a nonprofit or law enforcement agency believes that all sex work is trafficking, theyll report it to [the Department of Children and Family Services] as such. This inaccurate information might increase their funding, but it leads to a reduction in funding and attention for our fight to end actual human trafficking.

While the measure failed, Landry said the Louisiana Legislature was the first in the country to consider a bill to decriminalize sex work.

[Sex workers] have never ever had their voices heard in this building, Landry said.

Louisiana Senate anti-trans rights bill advances with bipartisan support A nearly two hour debate at best revealed a bipartisan lack of understanding of the issue.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The No. 2 House Republican publicly called Wednesday for the removal of Rep. Liz Cheney from the party's leadership, adding momentum to the drive to topple her after she clashed repeatedly with former President Donald Trump.

Rep. Steve Scalise, the House GOP whip, is backing New York GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik for Cheney's post, said Scalise spokesperson Lauren Fine. The public statement from the Louisiana Republican was the first explicit call from GOP leadership for the ouster of Cheney from the party's No. 3 leadership job.

+2 Conservatives blast Tulane, call Hunter Biden guest speaking gig an 'incredibly stupid invitation' Conservatives around the country are blasting the news that Hunter Biden will be a guest speaker at a Tulane class this fall, but not all cons

Cheney, R-Wyo., has provoked Republican ire for repeatedly trading barbs with Trump, blasting his false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

"House Republicans need to be solely focused on taking back the House in 2022 and fighting against Speaker Pelosi and President Biden's radical socialist agenda, and Elise Stefanik is strongly committed to doing that, which is why Whip Scalise has pledged to support her for Conference Chair," Fine said.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Tuesday that rank-and-file Republicans were concerned about Cheney's "ability to carry out her job" as a result of her public comments about Trump.

Without support from McCarthy and Scalise, Cheney's political future in the House appears increasingly slim. A vote on replacing her could come next week.

Interviews with seven lawmakers and aides from across the party's ideological spectrum found none saying she'll likely survive the challenge, with just one giving her a 50-50 chance. They cited her abandonment by McCarthy and her persistence in criticizing Trump. All spoke on condition of anonymity to describe their views.

Stefanik, just 36 and in her fourth House term, has been one of Trump's staunchest supporters in Congress, particularly among women. Several Republicans mentioned Stefanik on Tuesday as among several contenders for the post, but Scalise's overt endorsement makes her a favorite for the post.

Cheney is the highest-ranking woman in the GOP leadership. Removing her without replacing her with another woman could be politically damaging for a party seeking to bolster its weak appeal among women voters.

There are just 31 Republican women in the House, about one-third of Democrats' total but up from the 13 who served in the last Congress.

What could be seen as a skirmish between minority party leaders trying to find a way back to the majority has become a more politically profound moment for Republicans and the country. The party of Abraham Lincoln is deciding whether to let Trump's false claims about the election of Democrat Joe Biden go unchecked  or to hold him accountable, as Cheney does, by arguing the country cannot "whitewash" the former president's role in the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

The standoff has been intensifying ever since Cheney led a group of 10 House Republicans voting with Democrats to impeach Trump on a charge of incitement of insurrection over the Jan. 6 siege, the worst domestic mob attack on the Capitol in the nation's history.

Steve Scalise after calling Louisiana Congressman-elect Troy Carter: 'He'll make a great addition' U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise and Cedric Richmond worked together on issues important for metro New Orleans and Louisiana during their 10 years toge

Not only was her effort an affront to Trump, still president at the time, but it was out of step with most House Republicans, including the 138 who voted against certifying the Electoral College vote for Biden's victory. However, others, including Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who voted to impeach Trump, see Cheney as the "truth-telling" GOP leader the nation needs.

Some fellow Republicans tried to oust her from her leadership position, but they failed in February in a secret party ballot, 145-61, in part because McCarthy urged his troops to remain unified against Democrats.

But the divisions have now widened into a fight for the party's future as it navigates a post-Trump world.

McCarthy, who would be in line for the speaker's gavel if the GOP wins House control, wants to keep Trump voters active in the party and attract new supporters. He believes this is accomplished by keeping Trump engaged, dashing down to the former president's private club in Florida for support and drawing on his connection with the man who referred to him as "My Kevin."

Cheney takes the opposite approach, arguing the GOP must rid itself of Trump's brand of politics with its nationalist, authoritarian overtones if it hopes to return to its conservative roots and attract the voters who fled the party for Biden.

Stephanie Grace: In refusing to say election was not stolen, Steve Scalise makes himself perfectly clear If you dont like a question that people keep asking you, maybe the solution is to answer it. Just get it over with. Put all doubt to rest and

"We can't embrace the notion the election is stolen. It's a poison in the bloodstream of our democracy," Cheney said at a fundraising event with the conservative American Enterprise Institute at Sea Island, Georgia, according to a person familiar with the event and granted anonymity to discuss it.

"We can't whitewash what happened on Jan. 6 or perpetuate Trump's big lie. It is a threat to democracy. What he did on Jan. 6 is a line that cannot be crossed."

McCarthy appeared on Fox News Channel Tuesday, and spoke of Cheney a day after Trump leveled fresh claims of voter fraud.

"I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out her job as conference chair, to carry out the message," he said. "We all need to be working as one if we're able to win the majority."

Trump himself issued a statement Monday renewing his desire to see Cheney defeated by another Republican in next year's Wyoming GOP primary.

The fight between the two is viewed by other GOP leaders as a distraction, and many rank-and-file Republicans blame her for prolonging it rather than simply letting the former president's claims go unanswered.

One top Republican congressional aide said McCarthy had weeks ago urged Cheney to stop talking about Trump, and her failure to do so has boosted frustration with her.

McCarthy, who delivered a speech supporting her when House Republicans privately voted to keep her in February, will not do that this time, said the aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe internal conversations.

Cheney isn't backing down.

Asked about McCarthy's comments on Tuesday, Cheney spokesperson Jeremy Adler said in a written statement, "This is about whether the Republican Party is going to perpetuate lies about the 2020 election and attempt to whitewash what happened on Jan 6. Liz will not do that. That is the issue."

In Wyoming, far from riding out the criticism, Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, is on the defensive. She already has four Republican primary opponents for next year's election.
A male was killed in a traffic crash Tuesday night on Downman Road near Lakefront Airport, New Orleans police said.

Update: Man killed after crashing into 2 parked cars, house

Police said the incident happened in the 7500 block of Downman at around 8:40 p.m. They did not immediately release other information.
A bill that would abolish Louisianas public defender oversight board has drawn heated opposition from the Orleans Public Defenders and other local agencies as it heads to a floor debate Wednesday in the state House of Representatives.

Some local defenders claim the bill would threaten their independence by creating a public defense czar beholden to the governor. But its sponsor, Rep. Tanner Magee, R-Houma, said the bill would streamline the states system and dovetail with a separate plan to dedicate medical marijuana tax revenues to public defense.

The debate has grown so fierce that Magee pointed to his own history as a public defender in Terrebonne Parish as proof of his bona fides during a House Criminal Justice Committee hearing April 28.

I loved representing people who nobody else wanted to represent. So I am on the side of the public defenders, Magee said. This is something that Im passionate about. Im not trying to hurt anybody.

Jason Williams: Leon Cannizzaro hamstrung DA's office by spending hundreds of thousands When Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams gave a speech last month celebrating his first 100 days in office, he didnt mention his 

The bill would abolish the current 11-member board and replace it with an office led by an appointee of the governor, who would oversee local defender districts. The state public defender would have the power to hire local leaders.

Separately, the legislation would direct an existing, mandatory $45 conviction fee into the state treasury, for disbursal back to local defender districts within 10 days. District courts currently send the fee straight to local offices.

Eliminating the board would upend a 14-year-old oversight system created after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans public defender office. In response to that crisis and long-standing questions about the quality of public defense, the Legislature in 2007 tasked a statewide board with watchdogging local offices.

In the years since, the Legislature has tweaked the process of appointing board members. But larger fights have been over funding: whether and how to move away from Louisianas user pays funding system, which relies on fines and fees on defendants, and how much money should go toward capital defense.

+4 A new sheriff in town? Susan Hutson, longtime NOPD monitor, to run against Marlin Gusman After more than a decade as the New Orleans Police Departments independent monitor, Susan Hutson wants to make the switch from watchdog to to

Derwyn Bunton, the chief defender in Orleans Parish, said at the hearing that while the board might need tweaks, money is still the basic problem.

What this bill does not do, it does not create an independent, adequate or reliable funding source. What this bill does not do, it does not talk about our user pay criminal justice system, and how do we change that, Bunton said. What this bill does not do is provide parity or equity in our system.

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Almost all of the testimony last week came in opposition to the bill, including defenders from the north shores 22nd Judicial District, Evangeline Parish and Plaquemines Parish, as well as board members Flozell Daniels Jr. and W. Ross Foote. Foote said the bill was introduced without input from local defenders or the state board.

The bill proposes massive structural changes by replacing the current structure with a volatile, untested idea that politicizes the delivery of services, said Foote, a former state district judge in Alexandria. The coin of the realm will not be efficient representation. It will be political loyalty.

Magee said last week that he had spent days fielding phone calls and hosting Zoom meetings with critics. He rejected the idea that he was trying to undermine the independence of local offices and presented the bill as an attempt to streamline a system that currently includes local offices, a state board and a state defender.

I want a systematic approach to public defense in this state, he said. I think having a systematic approach is the best thing that can happen, and right now we have a patchwork of locals, a board and all kind of other confusing things that gets washed out in the system, and its highly inefficient.

Magee said he has already responded to criticisms that the bill gives governors too much power. The bill now includes a nominating committee for the state public defender comprised of the state Supreme Court chief justice, the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Louisiana State Bar Association.

Meanwhile, he also said that he plans to tie the bill with his separate proposal to legalize a smokable form of medical marijuana. Magee said he would dedicate a portion of the taxes on medical marijuana to public defense. The medical marijuana bill passed in the House overwhelmingly on Monday.

+9 Why no major challenger is expected for LaToya Cantrell in New Orleans mayoral race In six months, Mayor LaToya Cantrell will be on the ballot once again, asking voters for a second term in office.

The only independence you get in this world is through money, Magee said. Independence comes with a dedicated funding stream.

Remy Starnes, the states chief public defender, gave partial support to the bill at the committee hearing. Starnes said he would not comment on the proposal to abolish the board, but supported the changes to the way funds are disbursed. He said that change would make it easier to create dedicated revenue streams for public defense.

But critics said that nothing in the current version of the public defender bill increases funding for local offices -- and they dont understand why the medical marijuana proposal must be tied to abolishing the state board.

Its not even enough money to save us," Daniels, the board member, said in an interview. "I think there's a carrot being dangled to misrepresent what's going on here, and it's going to create a lack of independence that's going to make us a laughing stock nationally."
After drawing up plans to offer discounts to anyone wearing blue to show support for the New Orleans Police Department, the Audubon Nature Institute announced Tuesday it was canceling the six-day promotion, citing feedback that this event could be unintentionally divisive.

A statement from a spokesperson for the Audubon Zoo and Audubon Aquarium of the Americas said the purpose of hosting Blue at the Zoo from May 11 to May 16, alongside the New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation, was to promote and foster positive interactive experiences with the Police Department. But an announcement last week of the promotion as well as a planned news conference triggered feedback  from members of our community and from persons outside of our community which convinced Audubon to scrap the idea, the statement said.

+2 Suspect identified in Bourbon Street shooting that wounded 5 people, NOPD says New Orleans police have released the name and picture of a suspect in an April 24 shooting on Bourbon Street that injured five people as well 

The cancelation comes less than a year after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis by a police officer whos since been convicted of murder. Floyds killing, recorded on video, prompted widespread protests and calls to reform U.S. law enforcement.

Locally, the New Orleans police leadership has repeatedly said the agency years ago adopted many of the reforms that protesters in other cities are demanding, such as use-of-force restrictions and transparency mandates. Many of those policies were embedded in a federal consent decree that has ruled the Police Department since 2012, although some were undertaken voluntarily.

Audubons statement Tuesday hailed the Police Department as a nationally recognized leader in law enforcement reform and pledged to continue working with the agency as well as the Police & Justice Foundation to find other ways to support officers. But the statement said, Audubon additionally supports holding law enforcement accountable for any and all unethical and unlawful behavior and vows to promote healing between law enforcement and the community.

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Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson called Audubon's decision disappointing.

This event ... was an excellent opportunity to connect with our community on a personal level, Ferguson said. Anyone looking at the issue objectively would see that our department is the model for the implementation of the constitutional policing reforms the public is demanding. Despite the cancelation of this event, we will continue to find ways to work with our community to build a stronger relationship and be the department they deserve.

In New Orleans, the protests in the wake of Floyd's murder were mostly free of the clashes that many other cities saw. An exception was when the Police Department used tear gas and rubber projectiles against protesters on a Crescent City Connection approach on June 3.

Some of those protesters filed a federal lawsuit last month against the agency, saying police had no legitimate basis to break up the large crowd marching near the bridge. Ferguson has defended his officers' handling of the episode, saying they were provoked by a small group of agitators at the front of the protest line.

The Blue at the Zoo promotion would have offered 20% discounts at zoo and aquarium concession stands and gift shops to anyone wearing the color synonymous with law enforcement. The New Orleans Police & Justice Foundation is a nonprofit that supports the Police Department.
Fewer pregnant women in Louisiana suffered from blood loss and dangerously high blood pressure in 2020, two of the most common, preventable causes of maternal deaths, according to a new report released by the Louisiana Department of Health.

But while there have been improvements in the rates of blood loss and hypertension, there are stark differences in the data when looking at the race of patients, and Black women continue to have more of these complications than White women.

High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of maternal death in Louisiana. Overall, elevated blood pressure events improved among pregnant women with hypertensive disorders in Louisiana in the second quarter of 2020 compared to 2016, decreasing by 11.6%.

+4 Giving birth in Louisiana, U.S. can cost thousands of dollars as the price has increased When Elizabeth O'Brien Brown found out she was pregnant, she knew it would be expensive. So she chose a hospital in her insurance network and 

But only White women saw an improvement on this measure, according to the health department report. Data showed a decrease of high-blood pressure events for White women of nearly 20%. In contrast, the rate of these events, which in some cases can lead to a dangerous condition called preeclampsia, increased among Black women by 8.1%.

Its unfortunate, but its not a surprise when we think about why the disparities exist, said Ochsner Health OB-GYN Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, who also serves as medical director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative (LaPQC) that led the initiative.

When the LaPQC was formed in 2018, less than 15% of pregnant patients were treated for dangerous blood pressure levels within 60 minutes of the condition arising. Within three years, the likelihood of a woman with skyrocketing blood pressure levels receiving speedy treatment improved to 45% of cases.

High blood pressure in pregnant people can lead to a stroke, but catching it early by checking it often and treating it within an hour can prevent deadly complications.

In addition to high blood pressure, the collaborative also measured progress on hemorrhage, or blood loss. Instead of estimating blood loss for pregnant people, the 41 birthing facilities associated with the LaPQC weigh blood-soaked items to get a more accurate idea of how much blood a person is losing.

As health insurance costs rise, some Louisiana residents are turning to faith-based plans Dawn McNemar is one of many Louisiana residents who saw the cost of her health insurance soar over the past few years.

The combination of one severe maternal morbidity event, such as heart beat irregularity or use of a ventilator, in combination with blood loss improved 34.8% among pregnant people, and the rate improved among Black women and White women. Still, more Black women than White women experienced blood loss and maternal morbidity, or an unintended outcome or long-term consequence. About 7.22% of Black women with blood loss also had one other severe morbidity event in 2020, compared to 5.7% of White women.

The blood pressure and blood loss data do not paint a complete picture of the four years between when hospitals started making changes to how they treat pregnant people at risk for blood loss and heart-related complications. The health department's report comparing just the first three months of 2016 to April, May and June of 2020, which the LaPQC used as an endpoint to track progress. Overall, the trend was a downward slope, according to Gillispie-Bell.

But Gillispie-Bell said the data from the endpoint, which occurred alongside Louisianas early and deadly surge of the coronavirus, shows that the processes in place are sticking, even when providers were dealing with distractions and uncertainty during the height of the first wave of the pandemic.

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65 Louisiana women died pregnancy-connected deaths. Almost all were preventable, report finds. In 2017, at least 65 women died of pregnancy-connected causes in Louisiana. Almost all of the deaths  80% to 100%  could have been prevented

I think its very telling that the processes were resilient, because we saw consistent change, even in the middle of a pandemic, said Gillispie-Bell.

The data, while encouraging, still leave Louisiana low on many lists when it comes to maternal health. The report focused on conditions rather than death rates, but a 2020 report from the group found that 15 women died of pregnancy-related causes in 2017, a rate of about 24.6 per 100,000 live births.

The U.S. has an average rate of 17.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Louisiana has long been a dangerous place to give birth for many reasons. A lack of nearby providers means many areas of the state are considered maternity care deserts, with little to no access to maternal care in 35 of Louisianas 64 parishes, according to a 2020 report from The March of Dimes.

Pregnant people in these areas have a threefold higher risk for deaths directly related to the pregnancy, such as bleeding to death or strokes related to high blood pressure.

Beyond conditions and deaths directly related to pregnancy, expecting women in Louisiana are also more likely to die from homicide. Murder is one of the leading causes of death among pregnant people, a 2020 study from Tulane University and Louisiana State University found. Decades of research shows that pregnancy can be a trigger for domestic violence, and Louisiana has one of the highest rates of men killing women, behind only Alaska.

Drivers of inequity in Black and White maternal health are deeply rooted societal issues that extend outside of the hospital setting, said Maeve Wallace, a reproductive epidemiologist and author of the homicide study. While its really encouraging that this work has shown some real improvements in quality of care delivered to women, its apparent that there are bigger issues at play.

Louisiana's death rate for pregnant women is twice the average; homicide is a leading cause With a death rate for pregnant women that's twice the U.S. average, Louisiana is one of the country's most dangerous places to have a baby. No

But chipping away at blood loss and hypertension will help lower the number of maternal deaths.

The findings are encouraging and positive with regard to the overall reduction they saw over time, said Wallace. A 35% reduction in hemorrhage is substantial.
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway and the contractor who erected the new steel rails on the southbound span appear to be gearing for a court fight over the project.

On Wednesday, the Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission, which oversees the 24-mile long bridge as well as the Huey P. Long Bridge, met behind closed doors to discuss the possibility of a lawsuit in connection with the rail project, which has dragged well past its estimated time of completion. No suit has been filed, but Causeway General Manager Carlton Dufrechou said the 15-minute, closed-door briefing was to bring the five-member commission up to speed on the possibility.

The new railings for the southbound span have long been on the Causeway's wish list, spurred by a number of crashes in which vehicles flew off the roadway and into Lake Pontchartrain below. Nearly all of the crashes that involved vehicles going into the lake have occurred on the southbound span of the bridge, which dates to 1956 and has a lower railing height than the new, northbound span which opened in 1969.

The new railings and several pullout shoulders added to both spans are part of roughly $100 million in bridge improvements financed by bonds backed with a 2019 toll increase.

"Everything we do is about safety," Dufrechou said. Almost all of problems have been corrected within the past year, and all the correction should be done within the next four weeks.

"That's why we press so hard to get the contractor to do it right," he said.

JB James Construction of Baton Rouge won the railing project with a $33.6 million bid in 2018, outbidding several other firms. Later adjustments to the contract increased the price to around $40 million.

The company did not return a call or email for comment.

The contract for the company called for it to install twin steel rails on top of the existing 25-inch tall concrete railings on both sides of the southbound span.

Causeway Commission accepts $33.6 million bid for railing project The Causeway Commission on Wednesday (Oct. 31) voted to award a contract to beef up the southbound spans railings to JB James Construction LL

The new rails were designed by a special traffic engineering group from Texas A&M University, which conducted extensive tests to see what would be most effective in preventing vehicles from doing over the edge of the bridge. Those so-called "overboard" crashes are frequently fatal.

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But complications began almost as soon as the rail work began, Dufrechou said. The company's workers found that the original plans from the 1950s did not accurately reflect where in the existing concrete railing steel rods were located. Thus, when workers began to drill into what they expected was only concrete, they were often hitting steel as well and it was damaging drills and drill bits.

Later, when inspectors from the Causeway Commission checked the installed railings, they found that some bolts used to anchor steel plates to the bridge were shorter than the design called for and crews had also not used epoxy as called for in the specifications, Dufrechou said. Most of those problems were on rails in the northwest side of the bridge, Dufrechou said.

"When we found them, we told them they had to fix it," he said. "We are still finding a handful of other issues."

Despite the issues, none of the newly installed rails failed during a crash, Dufrechou said.

JB James finished installing the rails in June 2020, but has continued to work to fix the problems, Dufrechou said. But it hasn't been easy: Causeway officials have had to "hold their toes to the fire" Dufrechou said.

The company has had to examine or replace more than 120,000 bolts, he said.

Dufrechou said that in recent meetings, JB James management had said they were considering litigation against the Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission over the project.

+2 First of Causeway safety shoulders nears completion; work continues on new railing The first of 12 long-awaited safety shoulders on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway  the first major additions to the bridge in decades  could 

Dufrechou said there have been zero overboard crashes on sections where the railings had been installed. But getting them in place in the way they were designed remains a key objective.

"We want to be absolutely sure the rails meet all design specifications," he said. "Motorists shouldn't be concerned."
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said that the Modi government has failed to provide relief to the public.

"No vaccine, no employment, public is suffering from corona, and Modi sarkar has absolutely failed," he tweeted in Hindi.





Rahul Gandhi has been attacking the government and on Tuesday had said lockdown is the only option which was endorsed by Anand Sharma. "Endorse the call given by @RahulGandhi that a lockdown is the only option available, given the constant denial and false claims of the govt on the number of infections, deaths and shameful claims of no oxygen shortages when hundreds of Indians, including doctors, have died," Sharma had said.



Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi had on Tuesday said, the only way to stop the apocalyptic march of the pandemic was an immediate complete lockdown with the protection of NYAY scheme for the vulnerable sections.


The Dec. 14, 2019, turbine explosion that knocked out a major source of electricity for New Orleans' drainage pumps was likely caused by operator error, according to a consultants report, seemingly contradicting the explanation given by the Sewerage & Water Board when it sought insurance money for repairs.

The causal analysis by ABS Group says the exhaust stack exploded on Turbine 5, a large gas-fired generator at the Carrollton Power Plant, because the operator likely opened the primary valve to feed gas into the turbine late, after already starting the machine. Opening the  turn valve late results in an even larger opening position of the gas pressure ratio valve at the onset of firing, the report says.

The report says the turbine operator denied opening the valve late. But the report also says the operators word was the only thing contradicting its conclusion that the valve was opened later than it should have been.

H.J. Bosworth, an engineer with the watchdog group Levees.org, said opening that valve late would have created a rush of gas into the system, likely causing the explosion that broke windows in nearby houses and could be felt miles away.

The first valve that they have in the sequence of valves that power the turbine, from what I have read from that report, wasn't open until all of the other valves were busy opening and closing for no good reason, Bosworth said. You didn't have any gas in through those other little valves until someone decided, Oh, wait, the main valve may not be open.

Bosworth said the ABS Group report strongly suggests operator error caused the explosion. But that conclusion seems to contradict a Sewerage & Water Board report to the City Councils Public Works Committee in August. The S&WB said it had been briefed by ABS on its investigation and we understand that the cause of the explosion was due to a mechanical failure, and SWBNO was not at fault.

The same S&WB report suggests a no-fault finding would help the agency collect insurance to cover the cost of repairs to Turbine 5, which are currently under way and scheduled for completion in mid-June.

Right after saying the ABS Group report would show S&WB was not at fault, the agencys statement to the City Council continued: Accordingly, we expect to receive insurance proceeds over and above our $1 million deductible to be used in the repair of the turbine.

Watch: Turbine explosion causes walls to shake at home near S&WB's Carrollton plant Video from a nursery room camera captures the walls of a home near the Sewerage & Water Board's Carrollton plant shaking as an explosion i

WWL television asked the S&WB about the seeming contradiction between the ABS Group report and what the public agency told the council. An agency spokeswoman did not respond to that question Tuesday.

The S&WB has stood by the operator, whom it hasnt named, and praised its crew for how it handled the incident. The crew was hurrying to start the gas-fired Turbine 5 on Dec. 14, 2019, because the workhorse steam turbine, Turbine 4, had just tripped off. Two workers, including the operator, were rushed to the hospital after the explosion, although the operator returned to work that same day.

We are proud of the quick work of our operators in minimizing the potential for more severe injuries when Turbine 5 exploded, she said. Given the magnitude of the event, it is clear things could have been much worse.

+14 After Carrollton plant explosion, back-up S&WB power for drainage a big concern, officials say A turbine explosion at the Sewerage & Water Board's Carrollton plant Saturday and unrelated problems with a second turbine have left New O

The S&WB had not publicly discussed the findings of the ABS Group report until WWL asked about it Tuesday, just two days before President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit the power plant and see the infrastructure that has so often failed during heavy rains in recent years.

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S&WB leaders repeatedly promised to talk about the explosions cause while ABS Group was working on the report last summer. In a letter to the City Council in August, the agency said it was expecting the final report soon and would send it over right away.

The final report is dated in November, but it doesnt appear to have been transmitted to the City Council until February, when it was sent as an attachment to the agencys required quarterly report.

City Councilman Joe Giarrusso, chairman of the committee overseeing S&WB, said Tuesday he wasnt sure he had read the ABS report. Giarrusso said he was asking the councils utility engineer to compare the S&WBs assertions in its August report to the ABS Group report.

Also Tuesday, WWL learned the S&WB did not have a checklist of what operators needed to do to start Turbine 5, but one was created after the explosion. Agency spokeswoman Courtney Barnes appeared to acknowledge the lack of a checklist for Turbine 5 in response to the stations questions Tuesday.

As part of bringing it back online, we are adding a completely new control system to Turbine 5, Barnes said. We also have an external team on the ground as we speak, training our employees on how to operate that new system. That training includes the establishment of a standard operating procedure and operational checklist.

Bosworth said the lack of an operational checklist, especially for a major piece of equipment with manual valves, is inexcusable. But he said the current upgrades to Turbine 5s control system will make it safer to operate when it comes back online this summer.

Everybody should have a checklist. We're all human. We all make mistakes, he said. And going forward, it's always it's nice to have a computer that checks us as we're doing what we're doing, making sure that we don't make a big bang out of making a mistake.

S&WB reports one of its generators needs repairs that cannot be completed before Cristobal arrives As Tropical Storm Cristobal approaches New Orleans, the Sewerage & Water Board announced Friday that one of the generators it has been usi

+2 S&WB says it can't 'truly identify' the cause of the French Quarter blast in December Theres still no clear answer on how sewage got into an Entergy New Orleans manhole two months ago, setting off an explosive blast in the Fren

S&WB director gets raise and glowing reviews; board approves almost $300,000 salary In view of the agency's many well-documented problems, some New Orleans residents might blanch at the thought, but the Sewerage & Water Bo
Newt Gingrich has been waging the culture wars ever since U.S. Sen. John N. Kennedy was a Democrat. And yet the onetime Republican U.S. House speaker declined to join other members of the right-wing outrage machine in blasting Tulane University for hosting a class in which Hunter Biden, the troubled and controversial surviving son of the president of the United States, has been invited to speak.

I dont believe in cancel culture, so having Hunter Biden as a guest lecturer is what a university should do, Gingrich, who has a master's and a doctorate in history from Tulane, told my colleague Tyler Bridges.

Of course it is. The invitation doesnt suggest that Hunter Biden is a paragon of virtue, but that his perspective could be informative to students taking a class in "Media Polarization and Public Policy Impacts," which will be taught by Washington think tank executive Andrew Schwartz and also feature appearances by former White House coronavirus coordinator Deborah Birx and a host of prominent journalists.

Hunter Biden benefited financially from proximity to power when he made big bucks working for a Ukrainian energy company while his father was vice president  something hardly unique to him, certainly not when compared to the most recent Republican president and his family  and was also used as a prop to damage Joe Bidens presidential campaign, although the elder Biden has not been credibly accused of any wrongdoing. Hunter Biden has battled drug addiction, and is facing a federal tax investigation. Hes got a story to tell, and hopefully the students in the online class will ask some tough questions.

+2 Conservatives blast Tulane, call Hunter Biden guest speaking gig an 'incredibly stupid invitation' Conservatives around the country are blasting the news that Hunter Biden will be a guest speaker at a Tulane class this fall, but not all cons

Kennedy, who has long since evolved into a Gingrich-style combatant, apparently didnt ask any questions before hopping on the conservative media bandwagon and peddling some of his own fake news.

Tulane University has a new professor, Kennedy declared in a video posted on YouTube. President Michael Fitts has hired Mr. Hunter Biden to be a new professor at our university. He will be paid in part with Louisiana taxpayer dollars.

Well, nope and nope. Biden will not be a professor. He will not be paid in part with Louisiana dollars. In fact, the school says, hes not being paid at all for his single appearance, even though a modest honorarium would be within normal bounds.

Kennedy then used the rest of the video to pivot to a talking-point-by-talking-point attack on Joe Biden, which, frankly, weve all heard before.

Let it be said that like Gingrich, Kennedy also claims to deplore cancel culture, which, he tweeted this week, is about as popular with the American people as head lice.

Watch: U.S. Sen. John Kennedy criticizes Hunter Biden's guest speaker role at Tulane The news earlier this week that Hunter Biden will be one of several guest speakers in an online Tulane University course this fall has been me

But that apparently depends on the context. The tweet was attached to a clip of Kennedy appearing once again on Fox News, this time bemoaning that a publication out of San Francisco had raised the very modern-day question of whether Snow White could have consented to the true loves kiss that woke her from fictional unconsciousness. Not that Disneyland rewrote the fairy tale in its updated attraction, which was the subject of the article. The author's complaint is that the theme park left the storys traditional ending intact.

The real-life Hunter Biden narrative is more complicated than any fairy tale, but the response of critics like Kennedy is depressingly simple and predictable.

The combination of Biden and a major university, the type that conservative politicians often decry as palaces of political correctness, was clearly so tempting that Kennedy didnt even bother to check the facts before reverting to script. He, like too many media figures and politicians, has figured out that its easier to play to peoples fears than to grapple with human and political complexity, even if doing so stokes the very divisiveness that is at the heart of the Tulane class.

Gingrich, it should be noted, didnt just support the professors right to invite a clearly newsworthy figure to speak, but offered a suggestion: They should provide balance by having a conservative reporter or blogger respond to Hunter Bidens version of reality.

Or how about a certain conservative senator? I can think of a few tough questions about how we got to be so polarized that students might want to ask.
Staff Writer

Reese Gorman covers elections, local politics and the COVID-19 pandemic for The Norman Transcript. He started as an intern in May of 2020 and transitioned into his current position as a staff writer in August of 2020.
Harrisburg, Pa.  The dreaded Gypsy Moth is back with a vengeance this year and the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) is preparing for battle, launching one of the largest sprayings of state park and forest lands since 2008.

We knew it was happening, but we didnt think it would be this big, explained Dr. Donald A. Eggen, Forest Health Manager at Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Eggen, whos doctoral research studied Gypsy Moths, has worked on controlling the moths population in Pennsylvania for over 40 years.

Each year, Eggen and his team conduct egg-mass surveys to help predict the size of the the next years moth hatching. The populations have boom and bust cycles, he explained, and this year is larger than Eggen and his team anticipated.

An invasive species, Gypsy Moths pose a significant threat to trees. After hatching, the moth caterpillars have nearly insatiable appetites for the newly budding green leaves of over 300 different species of trees. Without their new leaves, the trees are unable to conduct photosynthesisa natural process necessary for the tree to produce food and energycausing many trees to become sick or even die as a result.

To give you an idea, just 250-500 egg masses/acre can cause significant defoliation, this year, were seeing anywhere from 2,000-10,000 egg masses/acre. said Eggen. In fact, their impact can be so great, it can be seen from space.

Protecting the trees requires large-scale sprayings of insecticidesBtK and Mimicwhich are designed to wipe out gypsy moth caterpillars. The insecticides will be sprayed on state game lands, forests, and parks, a total of 50,125 acres over the next few weeks.

BtK is an EPA approved insecticide derived from the bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis. The bacteria, Eggen explained, only effects leaf-eating caterpillars at the time of eating. Mimic, works through the active ingredient tebufenozide which, Eggen explained, is a molting hormone that causes the gypsy moth caterpillars to prematurely molt and locks their mandibles so they can no longer eat.

Did You Know? Gypsy Moths were brought to the United States in the 1800s so they could be bred with silk moths in hopes of creating a new industry in silk production. It did not work.

The sprayings prompted concerns regarding pollinator populations and the impact of pesticides and insecticides on ecosystems, which we posed to Dr. Elizabeth Capaldi, a Professor of Biology and Animal Behavior at Bucknell University, who conducts research on pollinator species.

BT insecticides are generally considered good ones in terms of environmental impact because they are specifically designed to target particular pest insects; BTk does not kill insects like bees, ants, or wasps. BT is truly safe for people and other vertebrates, said Capaldi. There may be some low-level impact on other types of butterflies and moths in our forests. But, in general, I have no qualms about the use of BT in forests.

Mimic may have a low-level impact on other moths and butterfly species but is must less dangerous drug than the type of spraying that is done to remove mosquitoes, for example, according to Capaldi.

The application of chemicals to the environment is large and Capaldi said her comments are just the tip of the iceburg and noted that even compound labelled harmless in direct ways can have detrimental impacts on insects.

For example, some fungicides may not kill bees but can disrupt their basic biology.

Pollen that honeybees store in their nests develops cultures of natural yeasts on it - in fact, beekeepers call this stored pollen "bee bread" - and fungicides can kill yeast populations on the pollen, said Capaldi. There is evidence that this interference then disrupts the ability of the larvae bees to get the nutrition they need from the pollen, as the yeast helps them digest it. So, even compounds labelled harmless in direct ways can have detrimental impacts on insects.

Despite the complex impact the spraying of chemicals can have on the environment, Capaldi says she is still an advocate for gypsy moth control because the moths negative impact on the environment outweighs the potential impacts of not controlling them.

The Gypsy Moth spraying begins this month in the Southern part of the state and will slowly move up towards the Northern Tier and signs will be posted on all public lands alerting visitors when spraying is taking place. An interactive map to track where the spraying is taking place can be found here.
Williamsport, Pa.  All of the judges in the Lycoming County are recused from the case of Jonathan Kula, 25, of Pennsdale.

State police and county detectives allege that Kula had unlawful sexual contact with multiple minors on multiple occasions between 2018 and 2020.

"...the Defendant is the son of a deputy sheriff and based upon long-standing county court policy, it is ordered and directed that all of the county judges are recused," Lycoming County President Judge Nancy L. Butts wrote on April 15.

Related reading: Pennsdale man arrested third time on child sexual abuse charges

The county judges can still handle administrative matters pertaining to Kula's case, like scheduling.

An out-of-county judge has not yet been assigned, according to his docket sheet.

Also on April 15, Butts issued an order vacating her previous decision not to revoke Kula's bail.

On April 12 Butts had denied the Commonwealth's motion to revoke Kula's bail on the basis that he self-surrendered and was well-supervised by parents. She said she wasn't aware of the deputy sheriff's relationship to Kula at that time.

Related reading: Judge denied motion to revoke bail for Pennsdale man accused of sending explicit photos to minors

Butts said on April 15 that her decision to vacate the April 12 order was "pursuant to long-standing county policy wherein the county judges recuse themselves in dealing with matters that involve county employees."

While Kula awaits a hearing before an out-of-county judge, he remains free on unsecured bail in all three child sexual abuse cases filed against him.

Related reading: Vigilantes in Lycoming County pursue alleged child predators

His next scheduled court date is June 4.
Harrisburg, Pa. - Mitigation orders--except masking--will be lifted in Pennsylvania on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 at 12:01 a.m. , according to an announcement from the Wolf administration in coordination with the COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force.

The current order requiring Pennsylvanians to wear masks will be lifted when 70% of Pennsylvanians age 18 and older are fully vaccinated. Face coverings are required to be worn indoors and outdoors if you are away from your home. In accordance with the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, fully vaccinated Pennsylvanians are not required to wear a mask during certain activities.

We continue to make significant progress in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 and as more Pennsylvania adults get vaccinated and guidance from the CDC evolves, we can continue to move forward with our reopening efforts, Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam said.

I encourage Pennsylvanians to take the critical steps needed to put this pandemic behind us by getting vaccinated, follow through with both doses if you receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, and continue to take steps like masking, frequent hand washing and sanitizing and social distancing, Beam continued.

Requirements such as testing and reporting new cases will remain in place for hospitals and long-term care facilities. Maintaining requirements for hospitals and long-term care facilities will allow Pennsylvania to continue to closely monitor COVID-19 spread while lifting other restrictions.

The Department of Health recommends that Pennsylvanians refer to CDC guidance and recommendations regarding ongoing COVID-19 safety measures and procedures.

These updates will not prevent municipalities and school districts from continuing and implementing stricter mitigation efforts, the Wolf administration said.

With millions of Pennsylvanians getting vaccinated, its time to plan the transition back to normal, said Sen. Art Haywood. Hospitalizations and deaths are down. This action today is a key step forward.

While the restrictions that were put in place at the outset of the pandemic have been a major source of frustration for many Pennsylvanians and businesses, it is the collaborative work of this bipartisan Task Force that is allowing us to finally roll back the restrictions and get back to normal life, said Sen. Ryan Aument.

Im thrilled after more than a year that we are able to lift these restrictions so that we can move to more normal life, said Rep. Tim ONeal. This will help grow our economy and assist our small businesses that have sacrificed so much due to COVID-19. Thank you to Pennsylvanians who have chosen to be vaccinated. Your efforts have helped us arrive at today.

Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) today, saying, Over the last 14 months, Pennsylvanians have had to not only endure the health impacts and threats of a global pandemic, but have also struggled through government mitigation orders that picked winners and losers and unfairly targeted certain industries over others.

Benninghof called the announcement "undoubtedly welcomed news for a Commonwealth that has suffered for far too long under unilateral and often confusing mitigation orders that have done untold damage to our childrens education, our economy and Pennsylvanias future," but lamented the action may be too late.

Rep. Fred Keller echoed the sentiment. For over a year, Pennsylvanians have suffered under prolonged government mandates that restricted where they could go, who they could see, and how they could worship," Keller said. "The governors shutdown orders have crushed thousands of small businesses and destroyed livelihoods in communities across our state."

Keller acknowledged the action was a "step in the right direction," he said it should have come much sooner.

The governors Proclamation of Disaster Emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic remains in place.

All Pennsylvanians ages 16 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. The provider map is available on the Department of Healths website. Pennsylvanians with questions about the vaccination process can call the Department of Health hotline at 1-877-724-3258.
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The Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed the Maharashtra law granting reservation in jobs and admissions to Maratha community. The top court said it did not find any exceptional circumstance to justify exceeding the 50 per cent cap set by Indra Sawhney judgment.



A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan allowed no breach of 50 per cent ceiling to give more reservation, as it refused to consider reviewing Indra Sawhney verdict of 1992.



"Exceeding ceiling limit of 50 percent laid down by Indra Sawhney is violative of Articles 14 and 15," said the top court. The top court said the people from Maratha community cannot be declared as educationally and socially backward.



The unanimous judgment was delivered by a bench also comprising Justices L. Nageswara Rao, S Abdul Nazeer, Hemant Gupta and S. Ravindra Bhat.



The top court made it clear that there were no extraordinary circumstances to grant reservation to Maratha community over and above 50 per cent ceiling.



The top court struck down the Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018 which extends reservation to the Maratha community in public education and employment.



The top court emphasized that exceeding the 50 percent limit in without exceptional circumstances violates Article 14, and it held that 2018 act as amended in 2019 exceeds the limit without any exceptional circumstances.



The top court held that SEBC Act, which extends reservation to the Maratha community in public education and employment is unconstitutional.




Rome, GA (30161)

Today

Overcast with rain showers at times. High 82F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/05/2021 -- HTF Market Intelligence released a new research Study of 37 pages on title 'Tourism Source Market Insight - Spain (2021)' with in-depth analysis, forecast and business moves. The study covers key regions that includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa and important players such as Vueling, Ryanair, TUI, easyJet, Iberia, Air Europa.



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Sahonachelys mailakavava, a newly-identified species of pelomedusoid turtle from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar, had an unusually flattened skull, a particularly gracile lower jaw, and enlarged tongue bones, which not only gave it a frog-like appearance, but also suggest that it was a specialized, aquatic suction feeder that fed upon moving prey.

Sahonachelys mailakavava lived in what is now Madagascar during the Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous epoch, between 72 and 66 million years ago.

As in all modern turtles, the ancient species lacks teeth, but in addition the surfaces at the upper and lower jaws that face toward each other are poorly developed, showing that the turtle did not use its jaws to process food, but instead swallowed prey whole, which is typical for suction feeders.

It likely fed on small-bodied living prey, such as insect larvae, fish fry, and tadpoles using quick strikes.

Sahonachelys mailakavava is a stunning example of evolution in isolation, said Dr. David Krause, a paleontologist in the Department of Earth Sciences at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Department of Anatomical Sciences at Stony Brook University.

It represents a lineage that evolved on Madagascar for over 20 million years and joins a litany of other bizarre Late Cretaceous vertebrate animals that weve found on the island.

This specimen is, by far, the best turtle fossil we discovered during the 28 years of conducting field research there.

A nearly complete skeleton of Sahonachelys mailakavava was discovered in June 2015 in the Maevarano Formation in northwestern Madagascar.

This is the best-preserved turtle of the entire Late Cretaceous of the southern continents and as such very significant in terms of reconstructing its way of life and relationships with other turtles, noted Professor Walter Joyce, a paleontologist in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Freiburg.

The paleontological fauna of Madagascar is known for animals that are very specialized, which is in part due to its long isolation from surrounding continents.

Sahonachelys mailakavava shows that the Malagasy fauna was already unique in the Late Cretaceous epoch.

The ancient turtle is the only representative of its group to have evolved suction feeding, which is otherwise only known in distant relatives, so-called snake-necked turtles.

As palaeontologists, we try to understand the biology and evolution of past life, said Dr. Serjoscha Evers, also from the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Freiburg.

Fossils like this give a wealth of information that is not always present.

The identification of suction feeding in a new turtle lineage is exciting and was unexpected.

It shows how animals evolve similar traits for similar functions, even if they are only distantly related.

A paper describing the discovery was published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

_____

Walter G. Joyce et al. 2021. A new pelomedusoid turtle, Sahonachelys mailakavava, from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar provides evidence for convergent evolution of specialized suction feeding among pleurodires. R. Soc. open sci 8 (5): 210098; doi: 10.1098/rsos.210098
Press Release

May 5, 2021 Transcript of Interview with Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon ANC's Headstart with Karen Davila Q: Let's talk first that in one cabinet, you have two different messages coming out. SFMD: Quite unfortunate, because you have two members of the cabinet, Sec. Locsin and Sec. Lorenzana, taking a strong position on this issue. On the other end of the scale, President Duterte who asserts that we must continue our cordial relations with China. This is quite unfortunate that we are talking of different voices. Having said that, I know Sec. Locsin very well. He is very patriotic. Maybe his emotional outburst is because of the frustration that he cannot do much except file diplomatic protests on this incursion of China. It is because of this frustration. I bet, the statements of Sec. Locsin and Sec. Lorenzana would reflect the sentiment of the majority of our people. We are all frustrated by what China is doing. That is the reason why I file Senate Resolution 708 which, in effect, would support the statements of Sec. Locsin and Sec. Lorenzana. As expected, of course, the Chinese foreign minister said that we should not engage in megaphone diplomacy. I would rather that we continue with the megaphone diplomacy because of the gunboat diplomacy of China. We could not confront them. The only available peaceful means to us is to keep the issue in the forefront. We must continue to expose these illegal acts of China. That is why megaphone diplomacy as the Chinese foreign minister would call it is maybe the appropriate course that we have today so that we can keep China on its toes insofar as the international forum is concerned. They keep on confronting us with arms in the WPS, driving away our fishermen, ramming a fishing boat. We should keep on reminding the world that China is not following the rule of law but the rule of might in this part of the world. Q: Is China taking us seriously given the fact that the head itself of the nation is singing a different tune? SFMD: You asked the question: is China taking us seriously? No. That is simply because we are facing a military and economic might of China. That is why I am saying that maybe the only recourse left to us is the megaphone diplomacy in order to keep this issue alive in the world forum. Otherwise, if we just keep quiet, wala ng mangyayari sa atin. Again, maybe Sec. Locsin used a little strong language. But if I know Sec. Locsin, he is frustrated with the situation and we support Sec. Locsin and Sec. Lorenzana. I am certain that their sentiments reflect the sentiment of the Filipino people. Q: Would you already consider this an impeachable offense? SFMD: I would not want to talk on a theoretical basis considering that an impeachable offense is a very serious offense and the Senate would be the tribunal where these cases would be tried. I would rather decline at this point in answering that very theoretical question. Q: What action do you think can this resolution or objection bring about? Ano ang mapapala natin dito? SFMD: Firstly, this will reflect the sentiment of the Senate. Remember that the Senate is a partner of the President insofar as foreign policy is concerned. This would deliver a very strong message on how the Senate would view this. What will this bring us? As I've said, the megaphone diplomacy is probably the only weapon that we have today. We keep this in the consciousness not only of the Philippines but of the world. You cannot compete with their gunboat diplomacy, so we must keep this to the attention of the world so that China will realize that they are getting isolated with the way they have been conducting themselves, ignoring the judgment of the tribunal. Q: On the use of Sinopharm vaccine SFMD: The matter of inoculation is a personal decision. There is no EUA, only a compassionate use, which means that if something happens to you, because you disregarded the advice of the FDA, you are the ones who will be prejudiced by your own act. Q: You've talked about megaphone diplomacy versus gunboat diplomacy. Clearly, China is using vaccine diplomacy. What do you think should be the role of China at this point given the vaccine diplomacy? SFMD: They can compete with China and do exactly what China is doing, if they want to do so, vaccine diplomacy. Today I read about Mrs. Bill Gates saying that at a certain point the US may have to do vaccine donations to countries like the Philippines. This is the world order. China is an economic power today and will continue to exert its influence not only over this part of the world but worldwide. What is there for the US? They should compete with China insofar as world influence is concerned and one available venue is vaccines. Q: What else do you believe the country should proactively be doing? SFMD: Consistent with the tact that we should keep this on the table, we should confront China as a group of nations which would be prejudiced by what China is doing in this part of the world. What I'd like to see is the Philippine leading this group of nations to confront China using a multi-national approach, because we cannot confront China alone. Maghanap tayo ng mga kasamang nations which are similarly situated. Maybe a group of nations would have a better chance of confronting China. Q: Do you think it is time already for the Philippine to ask assistance from the US in terms of additional presence in the WPS? SFMD: Let's be careful about the response because my response could be interpreted that military bases return to the country. Yes, I agree that we should ask the US, because freedom of navigation is to the interest of America. They cannot stand aside and allow China to have control over these areas. Therefore, it is to the national interest of the US to strengthen its presence in WPS. Q: Can the President realign NTF-ELCAC funds? SFMD: Realignment is within the power of the President. In fact, that is so authorized under the Bayanihan 2. Having said that, we found out that over P10.6B out of the P16.4B funds under NTF-ELCAC has already been released as of April. Q: That was fast. SFMD: In one month's time. Yet, it is so difficult to fund a P8,000 ayuda which is being asked for by our workers in the SMEs. Yet, with a click of a finger, P10.6B were released between the period March 24 to April 29. To me, I raise the issue of the priorities of the administration. All that we are asking is to postpone the projects under the NTF-ELCAC. Can we not wait until the end of the year and let us address first the hunger that we see and the unemployment that we see today. That is what I question. I am not saying this is illegal. What I am saying is the appropriateness of such an early release of almost 60% of the budget of NTF-ELCAC. It raises the question whether it is deliberately done to defeat any attempt to realign these funds. Q: Is there a way that this can be audited? The funding and the use of NTF-ELCAC, will you be able to ask for auditing within the year? SFMD: We can ask for a special audit for this, whether the programs have been submitted or validated. In the Senate, we can exercise our oversight functions. I strongly suggest to the Senate that we exercise our oversight functions in order to look into these releases. To me, given the times and the needs, is totally inappropriate in terms of this government's priorities. Q: The DBM has also released the President's intelligence funds. Frankly speaking, you don't have oversight functions on that. SFMD: We attempted to insert a clause which would require the submission of reports to Congress on the utilization of the intelligence fund but that was vetoed. The audit of the intelligence fund is through what we call a closed envelope system... That's the accounting of the intelligence fund. Q: Is this a unique situation when it comes to the intelligence fund? Or this has happened before? SFMD: I could not answer that with certainty but the matter of accounting through a closed envelope system is a practice which has been there for quite a while. Q: How would you describe government's spending in terms of priorities? SFMD: The priorities are wrong given the pandemic that we have today. That's how I would describe it. When you spend in one month's time P10.6B for an anti-insurgency fund versus the need for P8,000 ayuda for the NCR workers affected by the lockdown, there is no debate as to the priorities that should be followed. Q: What are your thoughts of the President describing the DOH chief as a hero? SFMD: As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Where are we today with leadership of Sec. Duque? As early as January 30, 2020, we should have closed our border as what Vietnam and Taiwan did, we did not. Number two, we dropped the ball as Sec. Locsin said when we did not sign the confidentiality agreement demanded by Pfizer. Number three, when we failed to advance the payment, hence we are at the end of the queue insofar as vaccine procurement is concerned. We have no tracking system. Our testing system is very deficient and expensive. We have failed in the 3 Ts in this campaign. So, I will lay it on the table. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and we have failed insofar as the management of the pandemic is concerned. Q: On the Bayanihan 3 SFMD: We are in support of Bayanihan 3. We need the Bayanihan 3. The issue is the funding. Where do we get the funds? Our tax collections are at the bottom of the pit. Where do we get the funds? Q: On the possible source of funds SFMD: We also made our own analysis. We can review about potentially P500 billion in the budget for activities which have not been undertaken. These are potential sources and they can be realigned such as the contingent fund, anti-insurgency fund, etc. Q: On the anniversary of the closure of ABS-CBN SFMD: It has always been my position that the closure of the ABS-CBN sends a chilling effect to the freedom of the press. I was a book ender in the President's SONA because of this. But I stood my ground and said that I owe the Lopez family no favor and if I stand by ABS-CBN, it is because I feel and believe that freedom of the press is essential to democracy and the freedom of the press is certainly put at jeopardy with the closure of ABS-CBN.
Roseburg, OR (97470)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 69F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 46F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Blasts from at least one parcel bomb in Burma (also known as Myanmar) have killed five people, including an ousted lawmaker and three police officers who had joined a civil disobedience movement opposing military rule, media reported on Tuesday.

Since the elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown in a coup on Feb. 1, Burma has seen an increasing number of small blasts in residential areas, and sometimes targeting government offices or military facilities.

The latest blasts were in a village in the southern central part of Burma in Western Bago and occurred at around 5 p.m. on Monday, the Myanmar Now news portal reported, citing a resident.

Three blasts were triggered when at least one parcel bomb exploded at a house in the village, killing a regional lawmaker from Suu Kyis National League of Democracy (NLD) party, as well as the three police officers and a resident, the report said.

Another police officer involved in the civil disobedience movement was also severely wounded after his arms were blown off by the explosion, the resident was cited as saying. He had been hospitalized and was receiving treatment, it said.

Khit Thit Media also reported the blasts, citing an unnamed NLD official in the area.

Reuters could not independently verify the reports and a military spokesman did not answer a phone call seeking comment.

Violence has escalated since the coup, with hundreds reported killed by security forces, trying to quell pro-democracy protests in cities and rural towns. Ethnic militias have also backed opposition to the junta, and the military is fighting these groups on the fringes of Burma.

On Monday, the Kachin Independence Army, an ethnic rebel group, said it had shot down a military helicopter.

The Chinland Defence Force, a newly formed militia in Chin state bordering India, said on its Facebook page on Tuesday that its forces had killed at least four Burma army soldiers and wounded 10 in a clash overnight.

The Burmese army has not commented on either claim so far.

Pro-democracy supporters held protests on Tuesday in the second-biggest city of Mandalay, including one by education staff calling for a boycott of schools and universities when they reopen in June, Myanmar Now reported.

In addition, anti-coup demonstrators marched in Kanbauk in southern Burma, photographs posted by Khit Thit Media showed.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) advocacy group says security forces have killed at least 766 civilians since the coup. The junta disputes the figure and says at least 24 members of security forces have been killed during the protests. Reuters is unable to verify casualties because of the curbs placed on media by the junta. Many journalists are among the thousands of people who have been detained.

The junta has revoked the licenses of a string of media groups since the coup including two news outlets in Kachin in recent days, Myitkyina News Journal and The 74 Media.

The junta said it had to seize power because its complaints of fraud in a November election won by Suu Kyis party were not addressed by an election commission that deemed the vote fair.

Suu Kyi, 75, has been detained since the coup along with many other members of her party.

By Reuters Staff
Traffic travels along Interstate 81 near Exit 243 in Harrisonburg last week. Progress on Interstate 81 improvements has continued throughout the pandemic, transportation officials say.
He stopped recently at the Greek Consulate along Chicago's Magnificent Mile to promote a new nonstop flight American Airlines will offer to Athens later this year. During his visit, Theocharis sat down with South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority President and CEO Speros Batistatos, a Greek-American who leads Lake County's tourism efforts.

"I was very humbled to be able to sit down with the minister for a one-on-one talk of 35 minutes," Batistatos said. "It was a great honor to talk shop with a leader of his magnitude. We had a wonderful conversation."

"As minister of tourism, the entire country's tourism and hospitality are under his purview," Batistatos said. "He's looking at setting up regional marketing organizations and wanted to talk about the destination marketing organizations we have in America. Like many countries in Europe, Greece does all of its tourism marketing on a national basis. Regional destination marketing organizations are something new. My hat's off to him, because he's taking the right approach at the right time. He's clearly a brilliant man. He has a daunting task of growing tourism in the world's most visited country, where tourism is already the No. 1 industry."
The hospital likely will be reduced to just two stories, though plans have not been finalized, Blaszkiewicz said. About 10,000 square feet of shell space will be left if needed for future use. Franciscan also plans to develop the vacated portion of the property, making it available for retail or housing as the city's redevelopment plans unfold.

The hospital dates to 1898, when the pastor of St. Joseph's Church, the Rev. H.M. Plaster, city leaders and the Sisters of the St. Francis Seraph of Lafayette opened it in a two-story house. It was originally served by an ambulance wagon drawn by two white horses. It moved to its current location in 1899. It was a four-story brick building with 70 beds that was expanded over time, mainly being built up in the 1920s, the 1950s and the 1960s.

The former St. Margaret Hospital has long served Hammond, now Northwest Indiana's most populous city with about 80,000 residents, and one of its most diverse. Hammond is 38% Latino and 22% black, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Pressed up against the Indiana/Illinois state line, it's also the closest major hospital to, Whiting, Calumet City and the Chicago neighborhoods of Hegewisch and East Side.

Franciscan Health Hammond's average daily census of patients admitted overnight was typically between 50 and 60.
Another feature available on any iPhone and Android is the ability to block specific numbers. Although it can't possibly stop every robocall and spammer number, you can at least block recurring ones.

Be advised: If you answer the phone and the caller (often a recording) asks you to hit a button to stop receiving calls, just hang up. Scammers often use the trick to identify and target live respondents. Once they know the number is active, you may be targeted by more calls.

Knowledge is power, and now that you know some tricks to help stop the calls from coming in, you can help your husband not be the victim of a scam.

Dear Annie: In your response to the three workers who are tired of their boss taking coffee, I have some advice as well.

Being a manager at a company myself, these "employees" who feel the need to snub their boss might look at things from his point of view.

He is still keeping three people on payroll during a pandemic when most Americans cannot afford the essentials, and these three are worried about their coffee.
WINFIELD  Winfield and Lake County police convened at a Wiseway in Winfield for a report of shots fired Tuesday afternoon.

At 3:50 p.m. police were called to shots fired outside of the Wiseway at 10839 Randolph St. in Winfield, said Winfield Town Marshal Dan Ball.

A deceased man was found in the parking lot of the grocery store next to a black car. The man had suffered a fatal gunshot wound. At this time, Ball said it is suspected to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

He said there is no indication of foul play. The Lake County coroners office responded to the scene around 5 p.m.

Lake County Crime Scene Investigators were called to assist Winfield police and the investigation is ongoing.

The mans identity has not been released pending notification of family members by the coroners office.

Police said no further information was available.

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"When we are done with this dredging project, there still will be organic sediments in the deeper parts of the lake," Anderson said. "There may be a desire at that time to do what's called an alum treatment, that's a chemical that would lock up the phosphorus in those sediments."

Anderson noted the alum treatment is on the schedule because the Indiana Department of Resources is interested in a fish restoration project on the lake, which would remove non-native and invasive species of fish in the lake and replace them with native fish.

The alum treatment would need to be complete prior to the fishery restoration, Anderson said.

Town Council President Randy Niemeyer presented a timeline for the project, which includes opening bids for the project in January 2022 and awarding bids in February 2022, with work to begin March 2022.

"This is a project that we've taken on ourselves because of what was going on through the federal project was kind of high in the sky, it was reaching for a pot of gold," Niemeyer said.
The state of Indiana is back on Chicago's COVID-19 naughty list.

City health officials announced Tuesday the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the Hoosier State prompted them to classify Indiana as "orange" on Chicago's biweekly travel advisory, alongside 17 other U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and the remainder of Illinois.

That means Indiana residents visiting Chicago, and Chicago residents returning home after being in Indiana, are required to quarantine in the city for 10 days after traveling, or test negative for COVID-19 up to 72 hours before entering Chicago and wear a face mask, follow social distancing guidelines, and avoid all gatherings while in the city.

Under city rules, the requirements do not apply to individuals living in Indiana and regularly working or attending school in Chicago, or vice versa, so long as they monitor their body temperature and other COVID-19 symptoms, wear a face covering in public places, follow social distancing guidelines and disinfect their work space.
Gov. Eric Holcomb has vetoed legislation that would have stripped local health officers of their independent authority to impose disease prevention measures on individuals and businesses during an emergency if the measures are more stringent than state rules.

Senate Enrolled Act 5 would have mandated the county or city council that oversees a health officer approve any health order whose provisions go beyond state requirements, such as continuing a face mask mandate or business capacity restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic now that the governors directives on those issues have expired.

In his veto message, the Republican chief executive said Tuesday local health officers need the ability  in any emergency  to make "urgent, complex decisions to safeguard public health where time is of the essence and expertise is critical."

Holcomb said subjecting local health officers to immediate second-guessing by a county or city council jeopardizes the ability of health officers to fashion appropriate responses to the spread of infectious disease or other health emergencies.
We are proud to partner with Schererville, which has also joined 66 other baby box locations. There is no doubt that Schererville is taking a proactive approach to infant abandonment in our country," Kelsey said.

According to the Safe Haven Baby Box website, a baby box is a safety device provided for under the state's Safe Haven Law and legally permits a mother in crisis to safely, securely, and anonymously surrender if they are unable to care for their newborn. A Baby Box is installed in an exterior wall of a designated fire station or hospital. It has an exterior door that automatically locks upon placement of a newborn inside the Baby Box, and an interior door which allows a medical staff member to secure the surrendered newborn from inside the designated building.

The Safe Haven Baby Box organization also has been educating students and raising awareness in communities across America as well as providing crucial emergency personnel training on how to best respond for both mother
Unvaccinated travelers heading from Indiana to Chicago will have to quarantine or test negative for COVID-19 starting Friday under the citys latest update to its emergency travel order.

Illinois eastern neighbor, which has been on the citys travel list before, is the only state that will move from the yellow tier to the orange one this week, according to a Tuesday news release from the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Travelers coming from the 18 orange states plus Puerto Rico must quarantine for 10 days or test negative for the coronavirus no more than 72 hours before arriving.

People can avoid either requirement if they have been fully vaccinated at least two weeks earlier.

The travel order is updated every two weeks and goes into effect Friday at midnight. Essential workers traveling for their job are exempt, as are people traveling for medical or caretaking reasons. People passing through the orange states for less than 24 hours also are exempt unless their final destination is that state.

Indiana, unfortunately, is seeing a surge in COVID cases, Chicago public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said during a Tuesday question-and-answer session.
Four weeks before its scheduled end, the federal governments signature aid effort for small business ravaged by the pandemic  the Paycheck Protection Program  ran out of funding on Tuesday afternoon and stopped accepting most new applications.

Congress allocated $292 billion to fund the programs most recent round of loans. Nearly all of that money has now been exhausted, the Small Business Administration, which runs the program, told lenders and their trade groups on Tuesday. (An earlier version of this item misstated that the actions it described occurred Wednesday.)

While many had predicted that the program would run out of funds before its May 31 application deadline, the exact timing came as a surprise to many lenders.

It is our understanding that lenders are now getting a message through the portal that loans cannot be originated, the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders, a trade group, wrote in an alert to its members Tuesday evening. The P.P.P. general fund is closed to new applications.
Note to Teachers: We have a related Whats Going On in This Graph? activity about Covid-19 in prisons.

Lesson Overview

Featured Article: Incarcerated and Infected: How the Virus Tore Through the U.S. Prison System

Prisons were not built to handle pandemics. In fact, its hard to imagine worse conditions for preventing the spread of the coronavirus than those in prisons: large groups of people living together, in crowded indoor spaces, with a security staff that comes and goes regularly.

A recent New York Times report found that the rate of Covid-19 cases in United States correctional institutions was more than three times the rate in the general population. A follow-up report found that the infection rate in detention centers run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was 20 times that of the general population.
The Census Bureau released two important sets of data last week that have big implications for American politics  and that challenge some prevailing assumptions for both Democrats and Republicans.

The first set of data lays out long-term demographic trends widely thought to favor Democrats: Hispanics, Asian-Americans and multiracial voters grew as a share of the electorate over the last two presidential races, and white voters  who historically tend to back the G.O.P.  fell to 71 percent in 2020 from 73 percent in 2016.

The other data set tells a second story. Population growth continues to accelerate in the South and the West, so much so that some Republican-leaning states in those regions are gaining more Electoral College votes. The states won by President Biden will be worth 303 electoral votes, down from 306 electoral votes in 2020. The Democratic disadvantage in the Electoral College just got worse again.

These demographic and population shifts are powerfully clarifying about electoral politics in America: The increasing racial diversity among voters isnt doing quite as much to help Democrats as liberals hope, or to hurt Republicans as much as conservatives fear.
MIAMI  Representative Charlie Crist, Democrat of Florida, entered the race for governor on Tuesday, becoming the first challenger to Ron DeSantis, a Republican who raised his profile by shunning lockdowns during the pandemic and is now a leading contender for his partys presidential nomination in 2024.

Every step of the way, this governor has been more focused on his personal political fortune than the struggle of everyday Floridians, Mr. Crist said under the blazing sun in St. Petersburg as he made his announcement. Thats just not right. Just like our former president, he always takes credit but never takes responsibility.

His candidacy signaled the start of a long, expensive and most likely bruising campaign in a battleground state that has been swinging away from Democrats since 2016. Floridas exceptionally tight governors races have been decided by around one percentage point since 2010, always in Republicans favor. The last Democrat to win election to the governors mansion was Lawton Chiles, who won a second term in 1994.

Mr. Crists advisers see him as the Democrat with the most experience running statewide and appealing to a coalition of liberal and moderate voters in the way that President Biden did nationally  though not in Florida, which former President Donald J. Trump won by three percentage points.
The Amsterdam-based artist Remy Jungerman was born in Suriname, the former Dutch colony in South America, with roots on his mothers side in the Maroon tribes, descendants of Africans who escaped enslavement three centuries ago to form free communities in the rainforest. In his art, Jungerman places that cultural legacy  with its objects, rituals, cosmology  in relation to Modernism, particularly the Dutch strain epitomized by Piet Mondrian and the de Stijl movement, with its color blocks and uncluttered geometries.

Over the past two decades, Jungerman, who was featured in the Dutch pavilion at the 2019 Venice Biennale, has progressed from large-scale sculptural installations that functioned by the accumulation of objects, to more introspective individual pieces. His approach is now almost painterly  except that the panels on view in Brilliant Corners, his absorbing exhibition at Fridman Gallery, downtown, are not paintings; instead they involve humble, plaid-like fabric that the artist glues to wood board, then coats with white kaolin clay, before cutting lines that reveal slices of the color beneath. The cloth and kaolin are distinctive of Maroon culture, while the marks evoke scarification.

Jungerman studied mechanical engineering, and the architectural disposition in his art remains apparent  in the gridded geometry of the panel works and also in horizontal sculptural pieces made of wood to which he adds cloth, beads, a clay gin bottle, nails. The overall form resembles a ship at sea, or an urban-planning sketch, while the details are sacramental and syncretistic.

Visiting Deities  a 1962 film by the anthropologist H.U.E. Thoden van Velzen documenting a Maroon ceremony  is on view on the lower floor. It offers useful references even as it reminds us how there has always lurked, beneath Modernism, an ethnographic counterpoint.

SIDDHARTHA MITTER
BERN, Switzerland  Against a fiery sky, North Koreas former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il watch with beaming smiles as missiles whiz above them in bursts of light and clouds of smoke. The painting  The Missiles, by Pak Yong-chol  is one of the collector Uli Siggs prized possessions, acquired through persistence, persuasion and contacts forged during his term as Switzerlands ambassador to North Korea in the 1990s.

Sigg said he used to visit the North Korean national art museum, in the capital, Pyongyang, whose works glorify the countrys strength. He was already familiar with the Socialist Realist style of art favored by the Communist governments of China and the Soviet Union, he added  but he was struck by North Koreas more emotional variant.

It was then that I decided I had to acquire an artwork, he said in a recent video interview. You can buy paintings showing happy laborers with rosy cheeks. But I wanted one with the leaders.

Image Uli Sigg outside the M+ museum in Hong Kong, in April. Sigg donated 1,400 works of Chinese art to the collection of the new institution. Credit... Dan Leung

His first approaches to North Korean officials were rebuffed, he said. Images of the dictators were not allowed to be shown outside North Korea, except in the embassies  and they are certainly not in private hands, he said. That was unimaginable.
Born in Buffalo in 1983, Lewis is the son of a preacher father and a schoolteacher mother. He was exposed at a young age to a variety of music under the jazz banner, including free improvisation in the Charles Gayle tradition and the svelter disciples of Grover Washington Jr., another famous Buffalonian. What united them all was their attention to rhythmic pulse. Its a groove town, Lewis said.

He picked up the clarinet at age 9, teaching himself to play basic melodies before enrolling at the citys arts magnet middle school the next year. He studied with Carol McLaughlin and Dave Schiavone, prominent saxophonists and educators in Buffalo, while playing in church. There he found out what it meant for music to brush against the holy spirit, but he also learned the importance of carrying a melody faithfully, in lock step with the choir.

An honor student and an all-county band member, he went on to Buffalo State University before transferring to Howard University in Washington. He graduated with a degree in jazz performance, then spent time living with his father in Colorado, immersing himself in the Denver scene and continuing to play religious music. Then he enrolled at CalArts in Santa Clarita, Calif., where he studied with a faculty teeming with creative music talent, including the trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, the bassist Charlie Haden and the drummer Joe LaBarbera, and his creative identity started to find fuller form.

Through a connection with the pianist Matthew Shipp, Lewis came to the attention of Parker, an important organizer on the New York scene and an esteemed bassist. Lewis invited him and the drummer Gerald Cleaver to make an album; in 2014 it was released as Divine Travels, turning heads in the jazz world.

Parker himself was impressed with the way that a young Lewis had seemed to both embody and transcend tradition. He was prepared to take what hed learned and forget it, Parker remembered. Which to me is always a good sign of a person thats going to find his own sound.

Almost a decade after that recording session, Lewis has become an essential part of the creative community surrounding Parker in New York. I think the James you hear in 2021 will be quite different from the James you hear in 2031, Parker added. Hes on the move. And hes rising up.
In the new graphic novel Cyclopedia Exotica, immigrants with one eye coexist uneasily with their two-eyed neighbors.

Members of the cyclops community are targeted by curious online daters and porn addicts, as well as cosmetic surgeons eager to give them that desirable two-eyed look. They contend with xenophobes protesting mixed marriages, hateful comments from subway Karens and, in some cases, physical violence.

In 2018, when the artist and author Aminder Dhaliwal began sharing pages with her nearly 250,000 Instagram followers, she was drawing from her experiences as a South Asian woman growing up in England and Canada, but she wondered if the topic was relevant.

I remember saying to a friend, I want to do a book on microaggressions, but thats, like, so old. Is it even worth doing? she said in a phone interview from Burbank, Calif., where she now lives.
TEST GODS

Virgin Galactic and the Making of a Modern Astronaut

By Nicholas Schmidle

Five days after the death of George Floyd and at the height of the pandemic, a new era of spaceflight began when two NASA astronauts departed Cape Canaveral on board the Falcon 9, a rocket built by SpaceX. This was the first time that private funding would launch NASA astronauts into space and, for anyone watching, the schism between Americas stellar achievement and terrestrial dysfunction was jarring. I recall toggling between news channels, which alternated coverage of flames pouring from the Falcon 9 booster and those engulfing whole city blocks. Nicholas Schmidles remarkable account of the commercial space program, Test Gods: Virgin Galactic and the Making of a Modern Astronaut, is a book that adeptly jumps between our celestial aspirations and our human, earthbound limitations.

What really moved Branson was the transformative power of it all, Schmidle writes about the infinitely excitable Virgin Group founder, Richard Branson. He regarded space travel as a humanistic, rather than escapist, venture. What follows in the initial chapters is a cast of dreamers familiar from such stories: billionaire funders such as Branson and the late Microsoft founder Paul Allen; exacting engineers such as the NASA veterans Burt Rutan and Mike Moses; and, of course, test pilots, including Mike Alsbury, who is lost in a fatal crash, and Virgins lead test pilot, Mark Stucky, a former Marine aviator.

The first third of the book provides a riveting account of the underreported commercial space race, which has up until now lacked a worthy storyteller, though it is replete with the near misses, catastrophes and jockeying between pilots familiar to readers of Norman Mailers Of a Fire on the Moon and Tom Wolfes The Right Stuff. In these early pages Schmidle takes us through these paces. Then his story heads in another direction, becoming personal in a way those of his iconic predecessors never did.
Well, no, Abrams had not.

She went home that night, fired up her laptop and wrote a scene envisioning such a scenario; it has essentially remained the books opening chapter since. She finished a draft about a decade ago but put it aside when her then-agent said it would be hard to break out of romance and into a new genre. She resurrected it in 2015  she was the minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives at the time  but was discouraged once more.

I was told that it was too complicated and that the president was too far-fetched  that it seemed absurd that we would have a president who was involved in international intrigue  and that nobody cared about the Supreme Court, Abrams said.

Four years later, she had better luck when the manuscript found its way to Jason Kaufman, a vice president and executive editor at Doubleday and the longtime editor of Dan Brown.

You have tempered expectations with a high-profile person. You never know what you will see on the page, Kaufman said in a phone interview. But when I first started reading, it became clear that she is as much a writer as anyone I have ever worked with.

He particularly admired Abramss commitment to some of the more tedious aspects of the editing process, even during the busy autumn of 2020, when she was working round the clock with Fair Fight, the voting-rights organization she founded after losing the Georgia gubernatorial race in 2018.

It was amazing how she was able to dedicate so much precise attention to plot points and to editing leading up the election last fall, Kaufman said. The book is complex with a capital C, and you dont always find that in commercial fiction. Stacey had mastered each of the elements  she could talk in detail about chess and politics and biotech companies and what goes on in the judicial system.

Inklings of Abramss own biography bubble up in the book. Both she and Avery have uncannily precise memories, though Abrams said hers has abated over time.
An unequal, asymmetric pandemic recovery

In much of the developed world, vaccine orders are soaring and economies are poised to roar back to life. But in poorer nations, the virus rages on. In India, people are gasping for oxygen; thousands are dying daily in Brazil, and vaccination progress in countries as varied as Ghana and Bangladesh has faltered.

That split screen was never supposed to be so stark. A total of 192 countries signed up last year for Covax, a vaccine-sharing partnership, and the Gates Foundation poured $300 million into an Indian factory to make doses for the worlds poor. The European Unions top executive told a global summit last June, Vaccination is a universal human right.

Yet as of mid-April, wealthy countries had secured more than 87 percent of the more than 700 million doses of vaccines dispensed worldwide, while poor countries had received only 0.2 percent, according to the World Health Organization.

Quotable: Its a moral issue, said Boston Zimba, a doctor and vaccine expert in Malawi, which has vaccinated only 2 percent of its people. This is something rich countries should be thinking about. Its their conscience. Its how they define themselves.
U.S. supports lifting vaccine patents

The Biden administration on Wednesday came out in support of waiving intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines, a breakthrough for international efforts to increase vaccine access.

The U.S., Britain and the E.U. had been under growing pressure to share vaccine knowledge. The extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures, Katherine Tai, the U.S. trade representative, said in a statement.

The World Trade Organization is holding discussions about waiving intellectual property protections, which India and South Africa have pressed for. Until now, the U.S. had blocked the plan. More discussions are expected.

Disparities: In much of the developed world, vaccine orders are soaring and life is roaring back to normal. But in poorer nations, the virus is raging on while vaccinations are happening far too slowly.
Manhattan calling

Goldman Sachs has joined JPMorgan Chase in telling its bankers that its almost time to come back to the office. David Solomon, Goldmans C.E.O., sent a memo to employees advising them to make plans to be in a position to return to the office by June 14 in the U.S. and June 21 in Britain. JPMorgan plans to open its offices on May 17 on a voluntary basis and require that workers return to their desks in rotations starting in July.

Goldman and JPMorgans moves put pressure on other banks to put an end to remote work, several bankers told DealBook. While many thought they could work from home through the summer, some executives are keen to get employees back into the office sooner. (Retail branches have been open throughout the pandemic.) Other major banks arent expecting employees to return in meaningful numbers for several months:

Citigroup expects to have about 30 percent of its North America-based employees back in the office by the end of the summer.

Bank of Americas C.E.O., Brian Moynihan, said recently that a return to the office probably wouldnt take place until after Labor Day.

Wells Fargo said it was optimistic that workers would be able to return to the office in early September.

These decisions may be complicated by where the banks offices are. It could be easier to coax workers back to JPMorgans headquarters in Midtown East, for example, than to Times Square, home to Barclays and Morgan Stanley, where businesses were especially hard-hit by the pandemic and a handful of highly publicized crimes have recently taken place. People are so on edge and so uncertain about their own future that all these situations are exaggerated, Kathryn Wylde, the president of the Partnership for New York City, told The Times.

Jamie Dimon appears eager for the end of remote working. Im about to cancel all my Zoom meetings, the JPMorgan chief said at an event hosted by The Wall Street Journal. Working from home does not work for younger people, it doesnt work for those who want to hustle, it doesnt work in terms of spontaneous idea generation, he noted. Dimon said his bank had lost some business because rivals had visited a potential client in person and JPMorgans bankers hadnt. He acknowledged that there was some pushback on the banks plans, but didnt seem willing to give in. Yes, people dont like commuting, but so what, he said.

In other Manhattan workplace moves, the New York Stock Exchange issued guidance that allows trading firms to increase their staff on the floor if the employees provide proof of vaccination. And the United Nations is taking a more cautious approach to reopening than its host city, saying that it was premature to plan for an in-person General Assembly in September.
Scientists on Wednesday reported another reason the world should sharply rein in global warming: doing so would likely cut in half the current projected amount of sea level rise from the melting of ice this century.

In a study that averaged results of hundreds of computer simulations from research teams around the world, the scientists said that limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius could reduce sea level rise from melting glaciers and the vast Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets from about 10 inches to about five by 2100.

That level of warming, equivalent to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, is the stricter of two targets set by the 2015 Paris agreement to combat climate change.

But the world has already warmed about 1.1 degrees Celsius since 1900, and is not on course to meet the 1.5 degree target, or even the higher Paris goal of 2 degrees Celsius.
Id been curious about the delicate negotiations Lawson makes with her subjects like Ms. Bell ever since I first came across her work online. The writer Zadie Smith, who met Lawson several years ago at a dinner hosted by a colleague from New York University, where Smith teaches, told me over email that Lawson struck her immediately as calm and easy with people and open to everything. They quickly bonded as young mothers struggling to balance their parental responsibilities with their artistic desires. Smith remembered once walking into a party with her hair picked out into an Afro, feeling insecure. Lawson, seeming to register her discomfort, came over to compliment her on it. Shes just someone who makes other people feel they can say whatever, do whatever, Smith says. Lawson told me that she considers herself extremely tenacious when going after what she wants. Im persistent not because I just want to be persistent, but because I feel like I have an ultimate purpose to do it, she says.

Lawsons purpose can feel prewritten. The Kodak empire is headquartered in Rochester, N.Y., her hometown, and according to family lore, Lawsons paternal grandmother cleaned the house of George Eastman, Kodaks founder. Lawsons mother did administrative work for the company for more than 30 years. Lawsons aunt Sylvia was one of the first Black female ophthalmologists in upstate New York  a pioneer in laser surgery, helping people regain their sight. I asked Lawson if she felt those details were crucial elements to understanding her as an artist, or if they were the kind of thing that becomes overdetermined by the media as a narrative. But she says she sees the Kodak connection as divine intervention. Looking back, I do feel like theres a destiny to it, she says, especially because she didnt grow up going to museums. The institutions I grew up with were public school and the mall, she says, laughing.

Lawson speaks of her childhood with reverence and wonder. It was an incredible experience, and in some ways, my work is always reaching back toward that, she says. Her family has been rooted in the Rochester area for generations. Her mother, Gladys, has five sisters and three brothers, and her father, Cornelius, has three brothers and three sisters. She was close to her mothers side, and observed how sharply they dressed, how fully they expressed themselves, how hard they loved, how hard they fought. She heard stories that they stayed out late on the weekends but always made it to church in the morning. I saw them as very powerful women, and that always stayed with me, she says, adding, I also saw the complexity.

Lawson grew up in a set  first as a twin to her sister, Dana, and then as a trio with their best friend, Dana Brown, another kind of twin. When the three girls were young, they were together so much that people took to calling them DeanaDanaDanaBrown. Lawsons twin learned she had multiple sclerosis when they were 17 and now resides in an assisted-living facility in Rochester. Brown has since moved to Alabama, but still travels with Lawson, sometimes accompanying her on her shoots. Back then, Lawson says, we felt invincible, like the world was ours and we could do anything.

Lawsons mother didnt finish high school, and she and Lawsons father were determined that their daughters would have academic advantages. They enrolled the twins in a program that bused them out of the city and into a suburban high school, which they attended until they were kicked out for fighting. They were relocated to a rougher school in the city, where Lawson learned to play spades at lunch and also witnessed chaotic hallway fights. That was the first time I realized class disparity in education and what privilege and access students had or didnt have, she says. Even back then, Lawson remembers always witnessing how other people lived.

Family, which she also sees as a microinstitution, complicated and rich with ancestral wisdom, grounded her sense of self early on. She remembers the summers, barbecues, big family reunions. She remembers wearing color-coordinated outfits for Grandpa Jeffriess annual birthday celebrations. One year, the color was red, and everyone, including the kids, wore tuxedos with red cummerbunds; another time, it was dark blue. Lawson recalls an Easter when two of the cousins got into a fistfight and started rolling down the hill, fighting in their Sunday best. In a way, shes still working out the tensions of those moments. There are these dichotomies, these opposites of niceness and roughness, she says, her voice trailing off.

She felt loved and insulated from the outside world. Im so happy that me and my friends werent thinking on a bigger scale on what it means to be Black, she told me. Theres a certain innocence in it, and when you take that experience as a given, theres so much possibility. In some ways, shes always trying to get back to that period of wonder and amazement  staring in awe at her cousins as they danced to M.C. Hammer onstage at a talent show, aunts cracking one another up in the kitchen, relishing the mysteries of twinhood with Dana and having adventures with Dana Brown. Those memories influence whom she chooses to shoot and the backdrops she arranges them against. Thats a part of my gaze now, she told me.
To be completely honest, I was very surprised to see that data because that has not been our anecdotal experience, said Carlyn Cowen, the chief policy and public affairs officer at the Chinese-American Planning Council, a New York City-based organization that is the nations largest Asian-American social services agency.

Despite the seemingly remarkable vaccination rate, many New Yorkers of Asian descent face a laundry list of complications that impedes vaccine access: immigration status, language barriers, lack of reliable internet and fear of violence.

The nonprofits have been working against the backdrop of a nationwide surge in anti-Asian attacks. This year alone, the New York Police Department is investigating or has solved about three dozen bias crimes against Asian-Americans that took place through the first quarter. In 2020, there were 28 reported anti-Asian hate crimes in the city, up from three the previous year.

Bounkousohn said they were especially concerned about seniors.

If they dont have Phungs drive to really advocate for herself, or if they dont have connections to organizations like Mekong who can make an appointment for them, I really wonder when people will be able to get fully vaccinated, Bounkousohn said.

The barriers can easily discourage people who do not speak English and lack technology skills, said Mx. Cowen. The threat of violence has been a huge deterrent in getting seniors vaccinated.

We have seniors that have been eligible for the vaccines but will not leave their houses to get it because they are terrified, said Mx. Cowen.

The glut of websites and providers to schedule vaccine appointments were notoriously confusing  even for English speakers  and city health sites suggested using a Google Translate plug-in for other languages, which sometimes mistranslates, Mx. Cowen added.
Media coverage of President Bidens foreign policy tends to focus on his efforts to withdraw from Afghanistan, get tough on Russia and negotiate with Iran. But none of those may prove as consequential as Mr. Bidens quiet, incremental moves to establish official relations with Taiwan. Because only his policy toward Taiwan is meaningfully increasing the risk of world war.

Hes doing so by undoing a diplomatic fiction that for more than 40 years has served the United States, Taiwan and the world exceptionally well. In 1978, when the United States established diplomatic relations with Beijing, it agreed to pretend that there was only one China. The arrangement was absurd: Taiwan was, and is, effectively an independent country. But to Beijing, its de facto independence is the bitter fruit of imperialism  Japan stole away the island in 1895; Americas Seventh Fleet prevented the mainland from taking it back in 1950. By keeping U.S. relations with Taiwan unofficial, the one China fiction helped Beijing imagine that peaceful reunification remained possible. Which gave it an excuse not to invade.

Like the Trump administration before it, the Biden team is now progressively chipping away at this bargain. Last summer, Democrats removed the phrase one China from their platform. In January, Mr. Biden became the first American president since 1978 to host Taiwans envoy at his inauguration. In April, his administration announced it was easing decades-old limitations on official U.S. contacts with the Taiwanese government.

These policies are increasing the odds of a catastrophic war. The more the United States and Taiwan formally close the door on reunification, the more likely Beijing is to seek reunification by force. In 2005, China passed a law threatening war if Taiwan declares independence, and in recent years it has repeatedly greeted Americas moves away from the one China policy with displays of military force. As the Harvard political scientist Graham Allison has observed, No Chinese national security official I have ever met, and no U.S. official who has examined the situation, doubts that China would choose war over losing territory it considers vital to its national interest.
Manipulation, misinformation, fear and loathing are endemic to todays social media platforms, whose engagement-driven algorithms are built to spread whatever messages tap into users viscera and provoke a quick like or an angry comment. Yet the platforms have delegated much of the work of moderating this content to overwhelmed contractors and fallible artificial intelligence software. The tide of hogwash and bile may recede when a super-spewer such as Mr. Trump is deplatformed. But the dynamics that enabled him endure.

It is those underlying dynamics, and not solely Mr. Trumps right to use the platform, that any truly independent oversight of Facebook would address. Last month, the U.S. Senate began deliberating over how social media algorithms and design choices mold political discourse. While its hearing was inconclusive at best, it at least served notice that theyre a topic of potential regulatory interest.

Facebook endowed the Oversight Board with a measure of autonomy. It funded the board with an irrevocable trust, promised operational independence and pledged to treat its content decisions (though not its policy recommendations) as binding. Yet it did not empower the board to watch over its products or systems  only its rules and how it applies them.

Thats why some communication scholars have dismissed the board as a red herring, substituting a simulacrum of due process in certain high-profile cases for substantive reform. While the term oversight board suggests accountability for the institution it oversees, this boards function is essentially the opposite: to shift accountability for Facebooks decisions away from the company itself. The boards power to adjudicate individual content decisions may be real, but its a power that Mr. Zuckerberg never wanted in the first place.

Thats not to say its a total sham. Wednesdays decision aside, putting weighty decisions about online speech in the hands of an accomplished group of outsiders would seem more likely to lead to thoughtful and consistent rulings than leaving them to Facebooks employees and executives. Both today and in previous decisions, the board has revealed itself to be nothing if not thorough, carefully documenting its rationale and the implications of its decisions for similar cases. But its impotence in holding Facebook to account, more than the ruling on Mr. Trumps suspension, is what makes Wednesdays announcement unsatisfying.

Among the many public comments that poured in when the board announced it would take the case, a submission from the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University best articulated the crux of the matter. Warning that the boards decision on Mr. Trump would serve as a fig leaf for Facebooks own failures, the institutes scholars implored the company to delay issuing a ruling until Facebook commissioned an independent study into its own role in the events leading up to the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

There had been at least a sliver of hope that the board might take such a stand. One of its members, Alan Rusbridger, a British journalist, had called publicly in March for the board to examine Facebooks algorithms, though he acknowledged it might not do so right away. Were already a bit frustrated by just saying take it down or leave it up, Mr. Rusbridger said, according to The Guardian.
In the end, they passed the buck.

A year ago, Facebook introduced an oversight board that it said would help it answer difficult moderation questions  that is, who is allowed to use the social media site to amplify his voice and who is not.

Yet when presented with its most consequential issue  whether to uphold the sites indefinite suspension of Donald Trump  the board on Wednesday said Facebook should make the ultimate decision.

The whole farce highlights the fatuousness of having a quasi-court assist a multinational corporation in making business decisions. Its members may be deliberative, earnest and thoughtful, but the oversight board cannot compel Facebook to make underlying policy changes nor set meaningful precedent about moderation. Its remit is only to decide whether specific posts should remain on the site or be removed.

Helle Thorning-Schmidt, an oversight board co-chair and former prime minister of Demark, sought to bolster the bodys importance. Anyone who is concerned about Facebooks excessive concentration of power should welcome the oversight board clearly telling Facebook that they cannot invent new unwritten rules when it suits them, she said in a call with media outlets.
KOLKATA, India  I am a member of the Indian Parliament, and on Sunday, the political party I belong to, the All India Trinamool Congress, defeated the party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in elections for the West Bengal State legislature. Our party and my leader, Mamata Banerjee, the only female chief minister of a state in India today, showed what it takes to defeat Mr. Modis divisive, misogynist politics.

Out of the 292 seats in West Bengals state legislature, Mr. Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party won 77. We won 213 seats. But we werent simply fighting to form a state government. We were fighting to stop Mr. Modis centralizing, authoritarian juggernaut, which seeks to destroy Indias federalism and its secular character, and transform our country into an autocratic Hindu state.

Mr. Modi and Amit Shah, Indias home minister, have systematically hollowed out the institutions that India held sacred and trusted. During the course of the West Bengal election, I witnessed how they reduced the once-respected Election Commission of India, a supposedly independent body that conducts state and national elections, to an errand boy serving their political agenda.

On Feb. 26, when the second wave of Covid-19 was rising in India, the commission announced that elections in West Bengal would be conducted in eight phases staggered from March 27 to April 29. Four other Indian states were also going to polls, but the commission restricted them to one or two phases.
In The Bitter Heartland, an essay in American Purpose, William Galston, a veteran of the Clinton White House and a senior fellow at Brookings, captures the forces at work in the lives of many of Trumps most loyal backers:

Resentment is one of the most powerful forces in human life. Unleashing it is like splitting the atom; it creates enormous energy, which can lead to more honest discussions and long-delayed redress of grievances. It can also undermine personal relationships  and political regimes. Because its destructive potential is so great, it must be faced.

Recent decades, Galston continues, have witnessed the growth of a potent new locus of right-wing resentment at the intersection of race, culture, class, and geography  difficult for those outside its orbit to understand.

They  social conservatives and white Christians  have what Galston calls a bill of particulars against political and cultural liberalism. I am going to quote from it at length because Galstons rendering of this bill of particulars is on target.

They have a sense of displacement in a country they once dominated. Immigrants, minorities, non-Christians, even atheists have taken center stage, forcing them to the margins of American life.

They believe we have a powerful desire for moral coercion. We tell them how to behave  and, worse, how to think. When they complain, we accuse them of racism and xenophobia. How, they ask, did standing up for the traditional family become racism? When did transgender bathrooms become a civil right?

They believe we hold them in contempt.

Finally, they think we are hypocrites. We claim to support free speech  until someone says something we dont like. We claim to oppose violence  unless it serves a cause we approve of. We claim to defend the Constitution  except for the Second Amendment. We support tolerance, inclusion, and social justice  except for people like them.

Galston has grasped a genuine phenomenon. But white men are not the only victims of deindustrialization. We are now entering upon an era in which vast swaths of the population are potentially vulnerable to the threat  or promise  of a Fourth Industrial Revolution.

This revolution is driven by unprecedented levels of technological innovation as artificial intelligence joins forces with automation and takes aim not only at employment in what remains of the nations manufacturing heartland, but also increasingly at the white-collar managerial and professional occupational structure.

Daron Acemoglu, an economist at M.I.T., described in an email the most likely trends as companies increasingly adopt A.I. technologies.

A.I. is in its infancy. It can be used for many things, some of them very complementary to humans. But right now it is going more and more in the direction of displacing humans, like a classic automation technology. Put differently, the current business model of leading tech companies is pushing A.I. in a predominantly automation direction.

As a result, Acemoglu continued, we are at a tipping point, and we are likely to see much more of the same types of disruptions we have seen over the last decades.

In an essay published in Boston Review last month, Acemoglu looked at the issue over a longer period. Initially, in the first four decades after World War II, advances in automation complemented labor, expanding the job market and improving productivity.
At least, in his various and sundry heinous behaviors, Mr. Trump has been explicit and his intent has been relatively clear, i.e., to anger the media, to lie repeatedly, to monger fear, to make stupid jokes at the expense of others, to wink and then nod to the base.

In moving the key decision over Mr. Trump out of its own hands (where it belonged), the company has passed along the hottest of potatoes and said good riddance to responsibility. Facebook is pretending that its hands are tied, even though Facebook executives were the ones who tied them.

I cant get the phrase arbiter of truth out of my head.

I just believe strongly that Facebook shouldnt be the arbiter of truth of everything that people say online, Mr. Zuckerberg said in an interview with Fox News in mid-2020. Private companies probably shouldnt be, especially these platform companies, shouldnt be in the position of doing that.

Mr. Zuckerberg was trying to wriggle out of making the hard decision about Mr. Trump that the head of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, eventually made when he permanently banned the president from that service. The Twitter ban came at the bitter end, in the wake of the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6; it was too little, too late. But Mr. Dorsey did it  and he has stuck to it.

Not Mr. Zuckerberg.

Here are some questions I would ask the Facebook chief if given the chance: Why build a platform that requires an arbiter of truth if you dont want to be one? Could you not have foreseen the inevitable end point of that position? Did you trust too much that the community would sort out truth from lies?

Or was it all just a feint?

Remember, Mr. Zuckerberg said that arbiter of truth gem almost a year ago, in yet another attempt to ingratiate his company with the then-ruling Trump administration. And we now know how that dereliction of duty turned out. A smash and a grab for democracy, for which the instigator-in-chief will never be punished.

For now, though, we are saved by a decision of a body that cannot keep doing this over and over, with no fail-safe for the next time, when a smarter, more savvy version of Mr. Trump emerges and makes no unforced errors.
Royce once suggested we should focus our loyalty not on individuals or institutions, but on ideas and causes most likely to increase the common good. In this way, Royce argued, we can be loyal to loyalty itself.

But this is harder to do than it sounds.

Many years ago, one of my fathers closest friends from high school divorced his wife (the mother of their four children) and married another woman. My father then dropped him like a hot brick; so far as I know the two never spoke again.

At the time I was appalled that my father wasnt more loyal to the friend of his youth. But he later explained to me that the thing he was loyal to wasnt a person, but an idea  in this case, the idea that when you made marriage vows, you kept them.

In some ways, it was a very Roycean choice, although I admit that at the time I thought it was needlessly harsh. But the world is full of people conflicted in just this manner, pinned between their allegiance to flawed individuals and their dedication to higher ideals. Surely it was just this conflict that bedeviled Mr. Pence back in January, when he was torn between two loyalties: one to the president he had promised to serve, and another to the Constitution he had sworn an oath to uphold.

He seems less conflicted now. Last Thursday Mr. Pence gave his first public post-White House remarks in a swing through South Carolina, including a dinner with 400 pastors sponsored by the Palmetto Family Council in Columbia. He did not speak a single word against the former president, and devoted few others to the insurrection at the Capitol, calling it a tragedy. The whole question of a mob wanting to hang him never came up.

Briefly, after the insurrection, it appeared as if other Republicans would consider loyalty to the idea of the Constitution  or at the very least, to conservative principle  to be more sacred than their loyalty to Donald Trump. Mitch McConnell delivered a scathing rebuke on the Senate floor. Liz Cheney voted to impeach. Mitt Romney voted to convict.

But that was then. Republicans like the ones in Columbia have now made it clear where their loyalties lie. Ms. Cheney is on the verge of being ousted from the party leadership; Mr. Romney was booed at the Utah Republican convention on Saturday. Republicans had the choice, in the wake of the insurrection, to separate the two brands  conservatism and Trumpism. Whats clear now is that, like Bartleby, they prefer not to.
Ms. Raj, 41, a stay-at-home mother, and Mr. Russo, 44, a professional drummer, ended up buying a circa-1850 Victorian on East Broad Street, the main thoroughfare in the borough, paying in the low $600,000s for the five-bedroom, three-bath house with a big front porch. Their timing  they closed in December 2019  was fortuitous. Since the pandemic, the market in Hopewell, as everywhere else, has become incredibly competitive.

There was something about Hopewell every time we drove into town, Ms. Raj said of the Mercer County borough, which is situated within in the township of Hopewell. It has this small-town charm and an idyllic feeling. You can walk out and get a coffee; youre not reliant on driving everywhere. We have a coffee shop, a library, a deli, all within five minutes walk.

The borough may be in New Jersey, minutes from the cookie-cutter developments and traffic-clogged commercial strips the state is known for, but it screams Vermont, as The New York Times wrote some years ago, calling the village of around 2,000 residents the most un-Jersey-like town in the state.

Residents cherish its walkable streets, historic housing and plentiful open spaces, like St. Michaels Farm Preserve, a more than 400-acre former orphanage and school saved from development in 2010 thanks to the fund-raising efforts of citizens, local government and a land trust, D & R Greenway, to buy the land.
Blue Origin, the rocket company founded by Jeff Bezos, will launch a rocket into space with passengers on board for the first time in July, the company said on Wednesday.

One seat on the flight, which will carry six astronauts on a short jaunt to the edge of outer space, is up for auction.

The first astronaut flight of New Shepard, a suborbital spacecraft, is scheduled for July 20, the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Weve spent years testing, so were ready, Ariane Cornell, director of astronaut sales for Blue Origin, said at a news conference on Wednesday.
Researchers have identified the earliest known human burial in Africa at Panga ya Saidi, a cave near the Kenyan coast. A child, probably a boy of about 2-1/2 to 3 years old, was placed in a pit about 78,000 years ago, laid carefully on his side, curled up, likely with some kind of pillow under his head.

Modern humans and Neanderthals buried their dead in Europe and the Middle East at multiple sites that have been dated as 120,000 years old. But little evidence of burial behaviors has been uncovered in Africa, the acknowledged origin of modern humans. One possible burial in South Africa dates to about 74,000 years ago and another in Egypt to 68,000 years ago.

The burial of this person the researchers named Mtoto, meaning child in Swahili, clearly shows intentional care that characterizes what scientists call funerary behavior, as opposed to merely placing remains at a distance from a camp.

Maria Martinon-Torres, director of the National Research Center on Human Evolution in Burgos, Spain, and one of the primary authors of the report on the burial published Wednesday in the journal Nature, said that the way that the skeleton had collapsed indicated that something was placed under the head of the child.
On July 9, 1845, two months after departing from Greenhithe, England, Warrant Officer John Gregory wrote a letter to his wife from Greenland in which he described seeing whales and icebergs for the first time.

Gregory, who had never been to sea before, was aboard the H.M.S. Erebus, one of two ships to sail in Sir John Franklins 1845 expedition to find the fabled Northwest Passage, a sea route through the Canadian Arctic that would serve as a trade route to Asia.

Disaster struck. The Erebus and the H.M.S. Terror became stuck in ice in Victoria Strait, off King William Island in what is now the Canadian territory of Nunavut. In April 1848, the survivors  Franklin and nearly two dozen others had already died  set out on foot for a trading post on the Canadian mainland.

All 129 explorers ultimately perished, succumbing to brutal blizzard conditions and subzero temperatures. The doomed expedition endured in the public imagination  inspiring fiction by Mark Twain and Jules Verne, and, more recently, the 2018 AMC series The Terror  driven in part by rumors that the crew resorted to cannibalism. The wreckage lay quiet until 2014, when a remotely controlled underwater vehicle picked up the silhouette of the Erebus near King William Island. Two years later, a tip from a local Inuit hunter led to the discovery of the Terror in the ice-cold water of Terror Bay.
It was kind of like running a grass-roots political campaign, Mr. Symington said. I talked to everybody who would listen to me. I went to the Chamber of Commerce lunches and to Rotary breakfasts. He promised to hire at least 130 people and pay them a starting wage of $15 an hour. Over and over, he said that he was not asking anyone to adjudicate whether marijuana should be legalized; that was up to the state.

He knew that the consumer demand for marijuana was there. Arizona had legalized medical marijuana several years earlier, and by the end of 2015, nearly 90,000 state residents had joined the program, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. (That number has more than tripled since.)

The town held several public hearings. Opinions were mixed. Some people worried that products cultivated in the greenhouse would make their way into the community; others were concerned that marijuana was still illegal on a federal level. A few suggested having a referendum instead of allowing the City Council to make the call.

Barbara Hansen, who is now a manager at Copperstate Farms, spoke in favor of the marijuana farm, according to the minutes from one hearing. People talking about the impact on kids need to address their concerns at home, she said at the meeting. If they are going to do drugs and cannot get their hands on marijuana, they will pull them out of parents medicine cabinet and the drugs there are more damaging and addictive than marijuana.

On the opposing side, Lowry Flake focused on his broader fears. George Soros put money behind marijuana because his end goal is incrementalism, to destroy us, to make all drugs legal  that will make us as a people weak and that means we can be controlled by the elite, Mr. Flake said. Mr. Soros, a billionaire philanthropist who is frequently the target of conspiracy theories, has given money to cannabis legalization campaigns around the country, including one in Arizona in 1996. That campaign, as it happens, was opposed by the states governor at the time: Mr. Symingtons father.
The details of the waterfront compound have been kept incredibly private by the Gates family  so much so that a tour of the property went for $35,000 at a charity auction in 2009, according to TechCrunch. The Gateses own multiple other parcels of land surrounding the main property, according to public records, so walking by to catch a glimpse is out of the question.

But an intern for Microsoft who made it inside in 2007 was allowed to write about the visit on the companys blog. According to his account, the house is built out of orangey wood and the sand on the beach is imported from Hawaii. The wood is Douglas fir; the origin of the sand, unconfirmed. (Going down Bills driveway is like arriving at Jurassic Park, the intern wrote. The landscaping is just insane.)

Other known details about the house are that it was divided into pavilions that were terraced into a 170-foot hill and that it was designed by the architects James Cutler and Peter Bohlin. Mr. Bohlins firm later designed the famous Apple cube at the companys store on Fifth Avenue in New York.

And, Ms. Gates once said that the mansion caused her to have a mini sort of personal crisis.

Mr. Gates was already working on his dream home before marrying Ms. Gates in 1994. But construction was halted when she arrived on the scene. The place was a bachelors dream and a brides nightmare, according to a 2008 profile of Ms. Gates in Fortune magazine, with enough software and high-tech displays to make a newlywed feel as though she were living inside a video game.

(A decade later, Ms. Gates was similarly grim: Just to be clear, the house was being built before I came on the scene, she said in a 2019 New York Times interview. But I take responsibility for it.)
In March of last year, the fashion designer Myung Eun Cha had her friends fill out a survey on the nature of rest. Shed paused her graduate studies at Londons Central Saint Martins, opting instead, like so many of her peers, to wait out the pandemics spikes and dips back home in her apartment in Seoul. My friends defined rest as a free state of being alone, unconscious of anyones gaze, says Cha, 30. Yet even if they were by themselves, they didnt feel that because they were forced to stay at home with anxiety and worries about the near future.

Cha could relate all too well. But, after spending long hours reading on the sofa or snacking in bed, she noticed that interacting more intentionally with her surroundings alleviated her nervous boredom and even brought about, she says, a great sense of tranquillity. She began twisting and manipulating pillows, cushions and rugs to create an enveloping barrier between her body and the hard surfaces of walls, floors and chairs. I experimented with these things to find out how they draped and covered me, she says. Eventually, her observations led to the 22 pieces that make up the fall 2021 collection of her fashion label, Cha Myung, which the designer has titled A Journey of Seeking Comfort.
Lawmakers lashed out at the ruling by Facebooks oversight board on Wednesday to uphold the social networks ban on former President Donald J. Trump, at least for now.

Driving the discontent was that the oversight board, a quasi-court that confers over some of Facebooks content decisions, did not make a black-and-white decision about the case. Mr. Trump had been blocked from the social network in January after his comments online and elsewhere incited the storming of the Capitol building.

While the oversight board said on Wednesday that Facebook was justified in suspending Mr. Trump at the time because of the risk of further violence, it also said the company needed to revisit its action. The board said Facebooks move was a vague, standardless penalty without defined limits, which needed to be reviewed again for a final decision on Mr. Trumps account in six months.

That angered both Republicans and Democrats. Republican lawmakers have pointed to Mr. Trumps ouster by Facebook, Twitter and others as evidence of an alleged anti-conservative campaign by tech companies, calling the decisions a dangerous precedent for censorship of political figures.
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What Facebook calls its Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that it was the right decision for the company to kick former President Donald J. Trump off the platform after his posts about the riot at the U.S. Capitol in January.

Well, sort of. In a sign of how weird this whole decision was, the Oversight Board punted the call about Trumps account back to Facebook. He might reappear on Facebook in a few months. Or he might not.

Let me explain the decision, its potential implications and the serious limits of Facebooks Oversight Board.

Wait, what is happening to Trumps account?

Facebook indefinitely suspended Trump after he used the site to condone the actions of the Capitol rioters and, as Mark Zuckerberg said, to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government.
When Facebook barred President Donald J. Trump from its service in January, Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive, defended the decision in a Facebook post the morning after the siege of the Capitol. But the first draft was written the night before by Nick Clegg, a former British deputy prime minister who leads the companys public affairs.

More than a week later, Mr. Clegg urged Mr. Zuckerberg to let a new outside panel decide whether to let Mr. Trump back on Facebook, employees involved in the deliberations said. Handing over control of one of the most consequential free-speech decisions of the internet age was risky advice, and some in the company wondered if Mr. Zuckerberg would agree.

I defer to you, Nick, Mr. Zuckerberg said, according to Tucker Bounds, a spokesman for Facebook who was at the meeting.

On Wednesday the panel, the Facebook Oversight Board, upheld the decision to suspend Mr. Trumps account, preventing him from posting to Facebook or Instagram. But the board said Facebook had made a mistake imposing an indefinite ban, and it called on the company to revisit the ban within six months, to either make it permanent or set a timeline for reinstatement.



Mr. Clegg played perhaps the biggest behind-the-scenes role in decisions around Mr. Trumps account, colleagues said, an unlikely position for a British political veteran in such an important moment for American free speech. He developed the main justification used by Mr. Zuckerberg for barring Mr. Trump, and he oversaw the creation of the board, including the selection of its members.
Globally, more new coronavirus cases were reported in recent weeks than at any point since the onset of the pandemic. The numbers are being driven by an uncontrolled outbreak in India, but they also account for troubling trends among European destinations popular with Americans, from France and Germany to Italy and Spain, some of which are now undergoing extended lockdowns and curfews.

In Germany, for example, a new round of lockdowns, aimed at combating a third wave of infections, is expected to last until June.

Such developments might be hard for Americans to fully appreciate from afar, given the promising trends at home. But government agencies have taken note.

In April, the U.S. State Department vastly expanded the list of countries in its Level 4: Do Not Travel category, adding, among dozens of places, Mexico, Canada and Britain, three of the most popular destinations for Americans. Many Caribbean countries, including the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, are also at Level 4.

In India, which is facing a cataclysmic surge, the presence of a potentially more menacing variant  possibly more dangerous to children, and against which vaccines may be less effective  is complicating the crisis. For the prospective traveler, it hints at the threat that emerging variants could play in the months and years to come.

Inequality and lagging vaccine rollouts

Outside the United States, vaccination numbers remain comparatively low  in some cases, alarmingly so.

In Italy, around 11 percent of the population is fully vaccinated. The number in Mexico, historically the country most visited by American tourists, stands at around 6 percent. In Canada, its at 3 percent  though that number is partly explained by the long interval between first and second doses there. By comparison, the United States just passed the 32 percent mark.
Public health experts are praising President Bidens announcement that his administration would create a federal stockpile of coronavirus vaccine doses and invest millions in community outreach, saying the moves would help immunize underserved communities and ensure doses would go where theyre most needed as demand falls.

Until now, vaccines had been allotted to states strictly on the basis of population, despite reports of wasted doses and pleas for more of them where the virus was surging, as in Michigan just weeks ago. In a reversal, the Biden administration is now trying to match supply with demand. Federal officials informed states on Tuesday that if they did not order their full allocation of doses in a given week, that vaccine would be considered part of a federal pool, available to other states that wanted to order more.

The administration had been unwilling to shift doses to states that were faster to administer them out of a concern that low-income communities would lose out to richer areas where residents were more willing to get shots.
Good morning.

Not long ago, it seemed almost unfathomable that coronavirus cases in Los Angeles would soon be low enough to warrant lifting some of the nations toughest pandemic rules. Restaurants were ordered to close their outdoor operations. Hospitals were overwhelmed. Even driving to the grocery store was deemed risky.

But on Tuesday, Los Angeles County reached the threshold for the states least restrictive yellow tier, a milestone that solidified an epic turnaround. Starting on Thursday, Los Angeles County officials said, bars will be able to reopen indoors at limited capacity. Gyms and museums will be allowed to welcome more patrons.

In San Francisco, which also met the yellow-tier threshold, California tourism officials on Tuesday described the state as open for business.

You can safely go out in public again, Eleni Kounalakis, Californias lieutenant governor, said in a virtual news conference, speaking from San Franciscos Moscone Center. We all need a little weekend getaway.
Mr. Lamboy took custody of his son, and the other child was placed with Saguache County social services.

Mr. Lamboy also told the police that he believed the group had moved the mummified remains to his residence from California, the affidavit said. The coroner said that based on his analysis so far, the person had been dead for four weeks or more.

Lawyers for the people arrested could not immediately be reached for comment. At a court hearing on Wednesday, Alex Raines, a deputy district attorney in Colorados 12th Judicial District, said that at least two of the defendants, Jason Castillo and John Robertson, would be charged with tampering instead of abuse of a corpse.

A body was transported across state lines and was kept in possession of folks for several days, Mr. Raines said in court. Thats not hearsay, thats not conjecture; thats what the evidence will show down the road if we have to have a trial.

The group Love Has Won did not immediately reply to phone calls or messages.

On the groups Facebook page, which has since been taken down, members posted a video message on Sunday that seemed to allude to Ms. Carlsons death. In the video, a man said, Mom has ascended and completed her contract. He urged followers to have full trust in Mommas divine plane because she planned it all out, even this part.

Mom has ascended, her mission is over, the man said in the video. Is the mission over? No.

The group has repeatedly drawn criticism from neighbors and relatives of its members. Last year Phil McGraw, the host of Dr. Phil, confronted Ms. Carlson and two members on his show with allegations of abuse, which they denied.

In September, the groups presence in Hawaii led to protests and intervention by the police and the mayor of Maui. Three group members were intercepted at the airport, and 11 people traveling from Kauai were stopped on Oahu and diverted to a flight to Colorado, the city said. The Maui police said at the time that the group had decided to leave Kauai for its members safety.
A Texas lawyer known as the D.W.I. Dude for specializing in defending clients charged with driving while intoxicated and drug possession was sentenced this week to more than 15 years in prison for a scheme to pocket money that Colombian cocaine traffickers had been told would go to bribe officials, federal prosecutors said.

According to prosecutors, the lawyer, James Morris Balagia, 65, of Manor, Texas, and two associates solicited payments from drug traffickers he was representing and told them that the money would be paid as bribes in return for favorable treatment of their cases.

During meetings in Colombia and in Collin County, Texas, the group represented that in exchange for inflated attorney fees, they were in contact with government officials in the United States who would accept bribes resulting in either the dismissal of their criminal charges or significant reductions in their U.S. federal prison sentences, prosecutors said in a statement. In reality, there were no bribes or government officials.

The federal authorities were alerted to the scheme by the drug dealers whom Mr. Balagia and his associates were targeting, according to Joe Brown, a former U.S. attorney. Fortunately for him, these drug dealers chose to turn him in to the F.B.I. rather than handle it any other way, Mr. Brown said at an earlier stage of the case, The Dallas Morning News reported.
James A. Serritella, a lapsed seminarian who as counsel to four cardinals overseeing the Archdiocese of Chicago encouraged them and eventually the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to bar priests credibly accused of sexually abusing children, died on April 23 in Chicago. He was 78.

His death, in a hospital, was announced by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich. The cause was complications of heart disease.

Working with Cardinal Joseph Bernardin in 1992, Mr. Serritella was a key architect of the archdioceses Office of Assistance Ministry, set up for victims of abuse, and helped establish its board, which, dominated by lay people, assesses allegations of abuse by clergy.

In terms of the victims assistance ministry, he was the one who took the lead in making sure it became a reality, Cardinal Cupich said in phone interview. He believed that the church had a voice for the common good that was being jeopardized and squandered if we did not address this crisis head on.
It is one of the oldest religious symbols: the lotus flower, blooming out of muddy waters.

The mud represents our suffering, pain and delusions, said Duncan Ryuken Williams, a Soto Zen Buddhist priest, retelling the ancient lesson. And the purpose of Buddhism is to rise above.

But theres an even deeper metaphor: In pure water, a lotus flower will not grow.

It is in the mud that the nutrients are found.
So which is it?

Reached by phone Adam Schultz, the chief official White House photographer, confirmed that he took the photo but declined to explain. Its for people to figure out and think about, he said.

The answer can be found in Mr. Carters gigantic shoes, said Pete Souza, a former chief official White House photographer for President Barack Obama. Compared to the rest of him they look huge.

That to me is an indication that the foreground was distorted by a super-wide-angle lens, he said.

Such lenses can be helpful when a photographer is trying to shoot several people in a small room and cannot get far back enough to get everyone in the same frame with another lens. But they are notorious for distorting proportions, Mr. Souza said.

Jaron Schneider, the editor in chief of PetaPixel, a photography and camera news website, had a similar theory.

Its called perspective distortion, he said.

Wide-angle lenses make objects closer to the camera appear to be much larger than objects that are even just a tiny bit farther away.

Because the Carters are leaning back, the wide-angle lens exaggerates the few inches between them and the Bidens, Mr. Schneider said. Had the Bidens and Carters been seated on exactly the same plane, this effect would not have been so striking. This is why the two mens shoes seem to be on a similar scale.
WASHINGTON  Russia has withdrawn only a few thousand troops from the border with Ukraine, senior Biden administration officials said, despite signals from Moscow last month that it was dialing down tensions in the volatile region.

Senior Defense Department officials said that close to 80,000 Russian troops remained near various strips of the countrys border with Ukraine, still the biggest force Russia has amassed there since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014.

The Russian military did order some units back to their barracks by May 1  and they did move from the border  the officials said. But many of the units left their trucks and armored vehicles behind, a signal that they could go back if President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia decided to deploy them again.

President Biden said on Tuesday that it was his hope and expectation that he would meet with Mr. Putin during a trip to Europe in June that includes attending a NATO summit in Brussels. The administration has paired the offer of a meeting, an important symbol of Moscows continuing influence on the world stage, with a toughening of sanctions on Russia for its cyberattacks, election meddling, threats against Ukraine and poisoning of Aleksei A. Navalny, the opposition leader.
A total of 186,200 restaurants, bars and other eligible businesses applied for help from a new $28.6 billion federal aid program in the first two days it was accepting applications, President Biden said on Wednesday, indicating huge demand from a struggling industry for limited relief funds.

The Restaurant Revitalization Fund was created by Congress as part of the $1.9 trillion relief bill passed in March. Business owners who were hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic can apply for grants of up to $10 million.

The return of the dining industry will be a major test of Mr. Bidens goal of getting back to normal, both for 2.3 million people whose restaurant jobs disappeared during the pandemic and for vaccinated Americans eager to go out and socialize again.

Promoting the new fund, Mr. Biden said on Wednesday that restaurants were woven into the fabric of our communities and described the industry as one of the best paths for many people to achieve the American dream.
But the two-hour Capitol tour on Monday was another reminder of the lasting ramifications of an assault that injured 140 officers and killed five. Those charged with being involved hail from across the country  43 states and the District of Columbia  evidence of how far former President Donald J. Trumps false claims and lies about widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election spread in the buildup to the assault.

Organizers did not respond to an advance request from The New York Times to cover one of the tours. But a reporter witnessed one in progress on Monday in public areas of the Capitol and was able to see and hear much of it. Wearing a press badge, he did not identify himself and was not asked to do so.

The tour guide had firsthand knowledge of the events on Jan. 6, when he was on duty; an internal memo later praised Inspector Loyd, the commander of the departments Capitol Division, for fighting shoulder to shoulder with the rank and file.

The inspector did not retreat inside the building to attempt to lead from his office, according to a memo written by members of the division. He did not stay back, away from the line, to avoid any physical conflict, but rather pulled officers off the line and took their place so they could receive medical attention.

As he led lawyers through the building on Monday, Inspector Loyd showed them the spot where a police officer was crushed in a door and where rioters climbed exterior walls to break in. He pointed out which windows were broken and which doors breached. He showed his tour group where Senators Chuck Schumer and Mitt Romney had fled, narrowly avoiding coming face to face with members of the mob.
Covid-19: Studies Indicate Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Protects Against the Most Severe Outcomes of Some Virus Variants Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo says fully vaccinated fans who go to Yankee Stadium or Citi Field can sit in an area without social distancing. And those who are vaccinated at a game will get a free ticket.

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is incredibly effective against severe disease caused by two variants, studies say. Christy Zahrt receiving the Pfizer vaccine at California State University, Northridge, in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Credit... Allison Zaucha for The New York Times The Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine is extraordinarily effective at protecting against severe disease caused by two dangerous variants, according to two studies published Wednesday. The studies, which are based on the real-world use of the vaccine in Qatar and Israel, suggest that the vaccine can prevent the worst outcomes  including severe pneumonia and death  caused by B.1.1.7, the variant first identified in the U.K., and B.1.351, the variant first identified in South Africa. This is really good news, said Dr. Annelies Wilder-Smith, an infectious disease researcher at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. At this point in time, we can confidently say that we can use this vaccine, even in the presence of circulating variants of concern. Previous research suggested that B.1.1.7 is more infectious and more deadly than other variants but that vaccines still worked well against it. On the other hand, vaccines appeared to be less effective against B.1.351, according to earlier studies. One of the new studies, which appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, is based on information about more than 200,000 people that was pulled from Qatars national Covid-19 databases between Feb. 1 and March 31. In multiple analyses, the researchers found that the vaccine was 87 to 89.5 percent effective at preventing infection with B.1.1.7 among people who were at least two weeks past their second shot. It was 72.1 to 75 percent effective at preventing infection with B.1.351 among those who had reached the two-week point. The vaccine was highly effective at protecting against the worst outcomes. Overall, it was 97.4 percent effective at preventing severe, critical or fatal disease from any form of the coronavirus, and 100 percent effective at preventing severe, critical or fatal disease caused by B.1.1.7 or B.1.351. The second new study, which was published in The Lancet, was conducted by researchers at Pfizer and at Israels Ministry of Health. It is based on more than 230,000 instances of coronavirus infection that occurred in Israel between Jan. 24 and April 3. During that period, B.1.1.7 accounted for nearly 95 percent of all coronavirus cases in the country, which has vaccinated more than half of its population. The researchers found that the vaccine was more than 95 percent effective at protecting against coronavirus infection, hospitalization and death among fully vaccinated people 16 and older. It also worked well in older adults. Among those 85 or older, the vaccine was more than 94 percent effective at preventing infection, hospitalization and death.

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Vaccinated 12- to 15-year-olds at U.S. camps will be able to remove masks outdoors, the C.D.C. director says. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:12 - 0:00 transcript Vaccinated Teenage Campers Can Remove Masks Outdoors, C.D.C. Director Says The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said vaccinated adolescents would not need to wear masks outdoors at summer camps. Federal regulators are preparing to authorize use of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds. So we have two sets of guidance. We have guidance for masking, and if youre vaccinated or unvaccinated outdoors, and we also have this camp guidance. Certainly if we have authorization for 12 to 15-year-olds, and they can get vaccinated before going to camp, thats what I would advocate for so that they can take their masks off outdoors. We also have guidance, the camp guidance and the outdoor guidance for individuals who are unvaccinated. So those who are 12 and under who are attending camp, and we have some availability of not wearing your mask outdoors in small groups, in groups with the other children who are vaccinated. What were really trying to avoid in this camp guidance is what we saw in outbreaks in camps last summer. So if you have five, 10-year-olds who are on a soccer field, all in front of the same soccer ball, were trying to make sure that theyre not a lot of heavy breathing around a singular soccer ball with five kids around it at the same time. But for spread out activities, our outdoor mass guidance for unvaccinated people  small groups  allows for those kids to be unvaccinated. And what we really are trying to do is ensure that all of these kids can have a really good camp experience and keep the camps open without any outbreaks. The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said vaccinated adolescents would not need to wear masks outdoors at summer camps. Federal regulators are preparing to authorize use of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds. Credit Credit... George Etheredge for The New York Times As federal regulators prepare to authorize use of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine in adolescents aged 12 to 15, a top health official said Wednesday that vaccinated individuals in that age group will be able to remove their masks outdoors at camps. The remarks by the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, came after criticism that the agencys recently issued guidance for campers was needlessly strict. That guidance had said children at camps should be masked except when eating, drinking, napping or swimming. The Pfizer vaccine is now authorized only for people 16 or older, and the two other vaccines in use now in the United States are limited to those 18 or older. But federal regulators are expected to expand the Pfizer authorization to include adolescents as soon as this week. Dr. Walenksy said on Wednesday that the agencys guidance was intended to prevent a repeat of virus outbreaks last year that were traced to summer camps. She said that unvaccinated, unmasked children who engage in close-contact sports like soccer are at risk of transmitting the virus even when outdoors. But she said vaccination would mitigate those risks. If we have authorization for 12- to 15-year-olds, and they can get vaccinated before going to camp, thats what I would advocate, so they can take their masks off outdoors, she said. The C.D.C. said last week that people in the United States who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear masks outdoors while walking, running, hiking or biking alone, or when in small gatherings with members of their own households. Masks are still necessary in crowded outdoor venues like sports stadiums, the agency said. If the Food and Drug Administration clears the Pfizer vaccine for broader use, an advisory panel of experts would be expected to meet within a few days to make recommendation to the C.D.C. about whether to go ahead with vaccinating adolescents. The F.D.A. and the C.D.C. have shared responsibility for vaccine use. White House officials say that the federal government is poised to make shots available for adolescents through pharmacies, pediatricians offices and other sites as soon as the health agencies act. We are prepared to move as quickly as we can after any kind of authorization, Andy Slavitt, a White House pandemic adviser, said Wednesday. We know that kids want to go to camp this summer, he said. We know that parents want them to be safe. If they want that done without masks, vaccinations are the best answer.

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The Biden administration says it will support lifting patent protections to help produce more vaccines globally. The Biden administration is recommending setting aside patent restrictions. Credit... Carlos Osorio/Reuters The Biden administration on Wednesday came out in support of waiving intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines, a breakthrough for international efforts to suspend patent rules as the pandemic rages in India and South America. The United States had been a major holdout at the World Trade Organization over a proposal to suspend intellectual property protections in an effort to ramp up vaccine production. But President Biden had come under increasing pressure to throw his support behind the proposal, including from many congressional Democrats. Katherine Tai, the United States trade representative, announced the administrations position in a statement on Wednesday afternoon. This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures, she said. The administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for Covid-19 vaccines. Ms. Tai added that the United States would participate in negotiations at the W.T.O. over the matter, adding, Those negotiations will take time given the consensus-based nature of the institution and the complexity of the issues involved. Activists have been pressing for the waiver but have also said that a waiver alone will not boost world supply of the vaccine; it must be accompanied by the process known as tech transfer, in which patent holders supply technical know-how and personnel. This is a start, said Gregg Gonsalves, a Yale University epidemiologist and longtime AIDS activist who has been pressing for the waiver. We need the writing of the text of this waiver now to be transparent and public, but as we have always said we need tech transfer now. Earlier Wednesday, members of the W.T.O. held another round of discussions about waiving intellectual property protections. Further discussions are expected in the coming weeks, as India and South Africa, which proposed the waiver, are preparing a revised plan for nations to consider. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director general of the W.T.O., urged members to proceed with negotiations over the text of the plan. I am firmly convinced that once we can sit down with an actual text in front of us, we shall find a pragmatic way forward, she said at a meeting of the organizations General Council. Thomas Kaplan and

A U.S. federal judge vacates the national freeze on evictions. Activists gathered outside Brooklyn Borough Hall on Monday to call for an extension of New Yorks moratorium on evictions. Credit... Justin Lane/EPA, via Shutterstock A federal judge on Wednesday struck down the nationwide moratorium on evictions imposed by the Trump administration last year and extended by President Biden until June 30, a ruling that could affect tenants struggling to pay rent during the pandemic. The decision, by Judge Dabney Friedrich of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is the most significant federal ruling on the moratorium yet, and follows three similar federal court decisions. The Justice Department immediately appealed, and will seek an emergency stay of the decision, potentially delaying a final resolution of the case past the moratoriums planned June 30 expiration. It remains unclear how wide an impact the decision will have on renters. It does not necessarily bind state housing court judges, who rule on eviction orders, and two other federal courts have upheld the moratorium, adding to the confusion about its fate. There are now numerous conflicting court rulings at the district court level, with several judges ruling in favor of the moratorium and several ruling against, said Diane Yentel, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a national tenants advocacy group. Still, tenants rights groups said the decision on Wednesday could leave more low-income and working-class tenants vulnerable to eviction in coming weeks even as the Biden administration is beginning to disburse tens of billions of dollars in aid to help them catch up on unpaid rent. Landlords said the decision validated their arguments that the legal basis for the federal moratorium was unsound and overstepped the governments power. The case was brought in November by the Alabama Association of Realtors and a group of real estate agents in Georgia who claimed the moratorium shifted the burden for rent payments from the tenants to landlords at a time when many owners have been struggling to meet their own expenses. The moratorium has had a substantial effect. Despite the sharp economic downturn created by the pandemic, eviction filings declined 65 percent in 2020 over the usual annual rate, according to an analysis of court data by the nonprofit group Eviction Lab. Housing analysts warned that Wednesdays ruling could embolden more landlords to begin eviction proceedings against tenants before the federal government can disburse $45 billion in emergency housing assistance appropriated by Congress. It couldnt come at a worse time, said Mary K. Cunningham, who studies housing with the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan policy group. This is happening just as communities are trying to beat the clock, waiting for the federal government to get its new housing subsidies out the door before the moratorium expires on June 30. Its terrible news. Landlords and real estate agents downplayed concerns that lifting the moratorium will create an eviction crisis. With rental assistance secured, the economy strengthening and unemployment rates falling, there is no need to continue a blanket, nationwide eviction ban, a spokesman for the National Association of Realtors said in a statement. The executive order covers any single renter making less than $99,000 a year and families making twice that much. About 8.2 million tenants reported that they had fallen behind in their rent payments during the pandemic, according to Census Bureau estimates. Federal decisions, like the one issued Wednesday, are significant but serve as guidance rather than an order  although an unequivocal ruling from a prominent federal court is likely to sway some local judges, said Eric Dunn, director of litigation for the National Housing Law Project, a tenant advocacy group.

A Moderna vaccine booster will be effective against some variants, a trial indicates. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine being administered at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas last month. Credit... John Locher/Associated Press A single dose of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine given as a booster rapidly increased the level of antibodies in people who had already been vaccinated, the company announced on Wednesday. The antibodies produced by the booster were effective against the original form of the virus, as well as against the variants of concern first identified in South Africa and Brazil. A second booster specifically designed to counter B.1.351, the variant identified in South Africa, produced an even stronger immune response against that variant. The results are from an early stage of Modernas trial of the boosters and have not yet been published or vetted by other scientists. Moderna plans to post the findings to the preprint server bioRxiv, the company said on Wednesday. We are encouraged by these new data, which reinforce our confidence that our booster strategy should be protective against these newly detected variants, Stephane Bancel, Modernas chief executive officer, said in a statement. The boosters, tested in 40 participants, were administered as a third shot six to eight months after the two-shot immunization with the current vaccine. Antibodies from the initial vaccination were detectable in 37 of those people, but in about half the participants, the antibodies performed poorly against the variants that have pummeled South Africa and Brazil. The boosters raised the levels of the antibodies against both variants, although the boosters were still slightly less effective than against the original form of the virus. The mRNA platform used in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can be readily tweaked, enabling the companies to produce newer versions within weeks. Moderna began modifying its vaccine to combat the variant identified in South Africa, after reports emerged that the existing vaccines are slightly less effective against that variant. The variant carries a mutation that helps the virus sidestep the immune system. Moderna is testing three strategies for enhancing the immunity produced by the current vaccine: using the current vaccine as a booster; using the booster designed specifically to combat B.1.351; and a combination of the two in a single vaccine. Wednesdays announcement refers to results achieved two weeks after immunization with either a booster of the original vaccine or of the booster modified for B.1.351. The company plans to release data from later time points, and from tests of the combination booster, as they become available.

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Colombia, strained by the pandemic and economic hardship, explodes in protest. There were road blocks, fires and riots in southern Bogota on Tuesday after a week of protests and strikes over tax reforms proposed by the Colombian government. Credit... Federico Rios for The New York Times BOGOTA, Colombia  A teenager shot to death after kicking a police officer. A young man bleeding out on the street as protesters shout for help. Police officers firing on unarmed demonstrators. Helicopters swarming overhead, tanks rolling through neighborhoods, explosions echoing in the streets. A mother crying for her son. We are destroyed, said Milena Meneses, 39, whose only son, Santiago, 19, was killed in a protest over the weekend. Colombians demonstrating over the past week against the poverty and inequality that have worsened the lives of millions since the pandemic began have been met with a powerful crackdown by their government, which has responded to the protests with the same militarized police force it often uses against rebel fighters and organized crime. The clashes have left at least 24 people dead, most of them demonstrators, and at least 87 missing. They have also exacerbated the anger with officials in the capital, Bogota. Protesters say the government is increasingly out of touch with peoples lives. Experts say this explosion of frustration could presage unrest across Latin America, where several countries face the combustible mix of an unrelenting pandemic, growing hardship and plummeting government revenue. We are all connected, said Leon Valencia, a political analyst, noting that past protests had jumped from country to country. This could spread across the region. The marches began last week after Mr. Duque proposed a tax overhaul meant to close a pandemic-related economic shortfall, and since then the crowds have grown. Demonstrators now include teachers, doctors, students, members of major unions, longtime activists and Colombians who have never before taken to the streets. Latin America was one of the regions hardest hit by the virus last year, with cemeteries filling past capacity, the sick dying while awaiting care in hospital hallways, and family members spending the night in lines to buy medical oxygen in an attempt to keep loved ones alive. The regions economies shrank an average of 7 percent. In many places, unemployment, particularly among the young, spiked. And in the first few months of 2021, the Covid-19 situation has worsened. Julie Turkewitz and

A Seattle software engineer wanted to help her parents. She created a hub for Covid resources across India. A health worker took a swab sample for a coronavirus test in Bangalore, India, on Monday. Credit... Jagadeesh Nv/EPA, via Shutterstock Members of the global Indian diaspora, nearly 17 million, have mobilized from afar to help back home, where the Indian health system is buckling under the weight of a devastating coronavirus wave. Here is one U.S. residents story. One evening in late April, as the coronavirus was surging in India, Prarthana Sannamani, a Microsoft software engineer in Seattle, was growing increasingly worried about her parents, who live near the southern Indian city of Bangalore. Gosh, Im so far away. What if my family gets sick and needs help? she recalled thinking. Ms. Sannamani, who is in her 20s and has lived in the United States for four years, began scouring the internet and compiling a document with phone numbers for ambulances and hospitals for her parents, in case they fell ill. But the list kept growing because I just started finding so much information, and then I thought, hey, I really want this to reach more people, she said. Ms. Sannamani planned to share the list on Twitter, until she realized that only a small fraction of Indias 1.3 billion people used the social network, she said. One night, she came up with the idea of building a website. By the time she went to bed six hours later, at 4 a.m., Ms. Sannamani had created covidresourcesindia.com, with contact information for hospitals and emergency services in Bangalore. Image The home page of the website Prarthana Sannamani developed to offer a guide to Covid-19 resources in India. The next morning, she shared the website with her co-workers and asked her social media followers to contribute information. But, feeling that she needed to do more, Ms. Sannamani took the day off from work and spent the next 14 hours tracking down additional resources. She has since expanded the site to include emergency help lines and databases of available hospital beds, oxygen, medical treatments and other Covid-19 assistance in 12 cities and nine regions across India. The purpose is when something happens, youre not in that mental state to go to Google and do that research, Ms. Sannamani said. What you really need is one place to go and at least have something to start with. India is just such a huge country, so those specific resources help save a lot of time if you know where to look.

Global hunger, maternal deaths and stillbirths have soared during the pandemic. A woman with her twins in a health clinic in South Sudan, where a famine has affected tens of thousands of people. Credit... Sam Mednick/Associated Press The pandemic has contributed to soaring hunger and acute declines in maternal health care that threaten tens of millions of people, the United Nations said Wednesday, underscoring the disproportionate spillover effects on the worlds poor. The number of people worldwide requiring urgent food aid hit a five-year high in 2020  reaching at least 155 million  while the risk of maternal and newborn deaths surged because of a shortage of at least 900,000 midwives, or one-third of the required global midwifery work force, the United Nations said in a pair of reports produced with other groups. The World Food Program, the anti-hunger agency of the United Nations, said in a statement that the key findings from the food report showed that its warnings of severe hardships during the pandemic had been validated, and that we are watching the worst-case scenario unfold before our very eyes. The food report covered 55 countries and territories, including three  Burkina Faso, South Sudan and Yemen  where it said that at least 133,000 people were suffering famine, the most severe phase of a hunger crisis. In 38 countries, at least 28 million people were one step away from famine, the report said. While the report said violent conflict was the main driver of the hunger crisis, it said that economic shocks  often from the pandemic  had replaced weather disasters as another main cause of food insecurity. In the second report, the United Nations Population Fund, the worlds leading provider of family planning services, said the pandemic had made a worldwide midwife shortage worse, with the health needs of women and newborns being overshadowed, midwifery services being disrupted and midwives being deployed to other health services. It cited a study published in The Lancet medical journal in December, showing that alleviating the midwife shortage could avert roughly two-thirds of maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths, saving 4.3 million lives a year.

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Global Roundup Canada authorizes Pfizers vaccine for adolescents, but shots wont begin immediately. Health care workers administering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at a Sikh house of worship in Mississauga, Ontario. Credit... Carlos Osorio/Reuters Canadas regulatory agency gave authorization on Wednesday for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine to be used in people as young as 12. The agency said it lowered the minimum age from 16 following a review of data from clinical trials in the United States involving 2,000 adolescents. Dr. Supriya Sharma, the chief medical adviser at the agency, Health Canada, said that the step should make it possible for students aged 12 to 15 to return to classrooms safely and to restart extracurricular activities. It will also support the return to a more normal life for our children, who have had such a hard time over the past year, Dr. Sharma told reporters at a news conference. The United States Food and Drug Administration is expected to make a similar announcement in the next few days. Dr. Sharma said that about 20 percent of Covid-19 cases reported in Canada are in people under the age of 19. A small number of adolescents as young as 13 have died of the disease in Canada. It remains unclear whether most adolescents in Canada will actually start receiving shots soon. On Wednesday, Jason Kenney, the premier of Alberta, said that 12- to 29-year-olds will be allowed to book vaccination appointments starting on Monday. No details were offered about when those inoculations would take place. Canada relies entirely on imported vaccine supplies, which have been slow to arrive, though shipments have increased recently and the process is expected to accelerate over the next few weeks. Most provinces are still concentrating on giving the most vulnerable segment of the population, older adults, their first shots of the two-dose vaccine, with the second to be administered in the summer. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has set the end of September as a target for fully vaccinating all Canadians. In other news around the world: In Australia , the authorities in Sydney said they would limit indoor gatherings to 20 people and require masks indoors after a coronavirus case was found in the community, the first such case in more than a month. A man in his 50s, who had no known links to jobs or people considered at high risk for the virus, tested positive on Wednesday. On Thursday, authorities in Sydney linked his infection to a returned traveler who was isolating in a hotel, but have not established how the infection escaped hotel quarantine. The restrictions in Australias largest city, which will be in effect from Thursday evening through Sunday, also forbid singing and dancing in indoor venues.

Hong Kong said that regular flights from Britain would resume beginning on Friday, allowing hundreds of residents stranded there since December to return home. Hong Kong had imposed the flight ban as coronavirus cases surged in Britain late last year but said it was lifting the restrictions having considered the stabilizing local epidemic situation and the relatively satisfactory vaccination rate. A restriction on travel from Ireland, which was imposed in January, will also be lifted Friday. Only Hong Kong residents are allowed to travel to the territory, with arrivals from Britain and Ireland required to undergo coronavirus testing and 21 days of quarantine.

In Britain, more than one in five adults experienced some form of depression in the first months of this year during a strict lockdown, according to a national agency. The Office of National Statistics said on Wednesday that the figures were more than double the number of adults who experienced depression before the pandemic, which was 10 percent. Young adults, women, those in deprived areas, people with disabilities and the clinically vulnerable experienced higher rates of depression. The picture is one of a rising toll on mental health, with many people not necessarily accessing medical help, Theodore Joloza, a research officer at the agency, said in a statement. Ian Austen, Austin Ramzy, Isabella Kwai and

The Indian delegation at the G7 meeting is isolating after coronavirus cases. Government officials at Lancaster House in London on Wednesday. Meetings this week were intended to lay the groundwork for a gathering of Group of 7 leaders in June. Credit... Pool photo by Hollie Adams Indias delegation to a meeting of Group of 7 foreign ministers in London was self-isolating on Wednesday after possible exposure to confirmed coronavirus cases, the countrys foreign minister said. The event, intended to lay the groundwork for a gathering of Group of 7 leaders in June in England, had been heralded as the first major in-person diplomatic meeting since the pandemic began. It comes as India is experiencing a devastating surge in coronavirus cases. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Indias foreign minister, who is in Britain for the event, said in a post on Twitter on Wednesday morning that he had learned of a possible exposure to a coronavirus case and decided to take part virtually. Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 5, 2021 Foreign ministers from the Group of 7 countries  the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada  also known as G7, met in London this week alongside representatives from Australia, India, South Africa, South Korea and Brunei. It is the first face-to-face G7 meeting in two years; a 2020 summit was canceled amid the pandemic. Stringent masking, social distancing and daily testing protocols have been in place throughout the event, which began on Monday and continued on Wednesday despite the newly identified cases. Footage showed officials in a wide circle, separated by clear plastic barriers, on Tuesday. The Indian delegation had yet to attend central events at Lancaster House but did participate in other meetings, including with Priti Patel, Britains home secretary. However, public health officials have determined that the risk to those in the meetings is low because of the mask and distance measures, and other delegates have not been advised to self-isolate.

This new vaccine could bring hope to much of the world. A volunteer in Brussels participating in a study of the CureVac vaccine, a new RNA vaccine that could help meet that global need. Credit... Yves Herman/Reuters In early 2020, dozens of scientific teams scrambled to make a vaccine for Covid-19. Some chose tried-and-true techniques, such as making vaccines from killed viruses. But a handful of companies bet on a riskier method, one that had never produced a licensed vaccine: deploying a genetic molecule called RNA. The bet paid off. The first two vaccines to emerge successfully out of clinical trials, made by Pfizer-BioNTech and by Moderna, were both made of RNA. They both turned out to have efficacy rates about as good as a vaccine could get. In the months that followed, those two RNA vaccines have provided protection to tens of millions of people in some 90 countries. But many parts of the world, including those with climbing death tolls, have had little access to them, in part because they require being kept in a deep freeze. Now, a third RNA vaccine may help meet that global need. A small German company called CureVac is on the cusp of announcing the results of its late-stage clinical trial. As early as next week, the world may learn whether its vaccine is safe and effective. CureVacs product belongs to what many scientists refer to as the second wave of Covid-19 vaccines that could collectively ease the worlds demand. Novavax, a company based in Maryland whose vaccine uses coronavirus proteins, is expected to apply for U.S. authorization in the next few weeks. In India, the pharmaceutical company Biological E is testing another protein-based vaccine that was developed by researchers in Texas. In Brazil, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam, researchers are starting trials for a Covid-19 shot that can be mass-produced in chicken eggs. Vaccines experts are particularly curious to see CureVacs results, because its shot has an important advantage over the other RNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. While those two vaccines have to be kept in a deep freezer, CureVacs vaccine stays stable in a refrigerator  meaning it could more easily deliver the newly discovered power of RNA vaccines to hard-hit parts of the world. Its gone largely under the radar, said Jacob Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, D.C. But now, he added, they look pretty well positioned to clean up the global market.

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A nurse broke a vaccine vial and injected six patients with saline instead. But which six? A nurse broke a vaccine vial and replaced the injections with a medically useless saline solution. Credit... Pool photo by Christian Charisius A district in Germany is trying to find out which of its vaccinated residents are actually unvaccinated. A nurse in Landkreis Friesland, a northern coastal district, mistakenly broke a vial of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at the communitys vaccination center on April 21. Instead of reporting the accident, she replaced the injections with a harmless but medically useless saline solution. Six people who came for coronavirus vaccines that day received it. She admitted the error later, and the Friesland health authorities now face a problem as they try to ascertain which six of the 197 people who came to the center that day received the saline shots. The authorities have invited the 117 who thought they received a first Pfizer dose to take an antibody test. For the 80 people who had a second immunization, things are more complicated. They were interviewed to see whether they had a physical reaction to the shot. If they didnt, they were offered a third dose, and 62 people have accepted. Germany has given at least one vaccination to nearly 30 percent of its population, and 8.3 percent is fully vaccinated.

Infections are surging among climbers trying to scale Mount Everest. In recent weeks, several climbers have been flown out of Mount Everest Base Camp after reporting symptoms of Covid-19, then tested positive. Credit... Prakash Mathema/Agence France-Presse  Getty Images Nepals coronavirus outbreak, which is growing faster than almost anywhere else in the world, has spread to the remote Himalayas, with an increasing number of climbers testing positive after being evacuated from the base camps of Mount Everest and surrounding peaks. In recent weeks, several climbers have been flown out of Mount Everest Base Camp after reporting symptoms of Covid-19, and then tested positive after reaching Kathmandu, the capital. On Wednesday, Nepali news outlets reported that 14 climbers, including foreigners and Sherpa guides, were being airlifted from Mount Dhaulagiri, another major peak, to Kathmandu for treatment after some were found to be infected. The cases have raised fears for the safety of climbers and their Nepali guides who are pushing ahead with expeditions in the forbidding, high-altitude terrain, where doctors say they are already vulnerable to illness, lower blood oxygen levels and weaker immunity. Hundreds of climbers and Sherpas are isolating in their tents in gusty conditions at Everest base camp, trying to guard against infection while preparing to begin their ascent to the 29,000-foot summit. Nepals government  determined to revive its lucrative mountaineering industry after a total shutdown last year  continues to deny that there is any outbreak at Everest base camp and has released no information about the number of climbers who have been evacuated. The government has granted 408 permits to scale the worlds tallest peak, the most in any year since the first recorded summit in 1953, earning millions of dollars in royalties. I have heard only a few cases of pneumonia, said Mira Acharya, an official at Nepals Department of Tourism. No corona case. Infections are exploding in Nepal, from fewer than 100 per day in early March to more than 7,500 on Tuesday, the most the country has recorded since the pandemic began. The surge has come at the same time as the devastating outbreak in neighboring India, and as Nepals already limited vaccine drive has slowed almost to a halt. Even while it lasted, the vaccine drive left out Sherpas to prioritize frontline health workers, the elderly and government employees. Still, Sherpas depend on the opening up of the Himalayas for their livelihood. If expeditions are not organized this year, that will be a big blow to the mountaineering sectors Sherpa guides, said Geljie Sherpa, a mountain guide. He said he was planning to take an expedition to Everest but had changed his mind after hearing about coronavirus cases. Erlend Ness, a Norwegian climber, said he fell ill at Everest base camp last month and was evacuated by helicopter and ambulance to a hospital in Kathmandu. I tested positive at the hospital on the same day I arrived in Kathmandu from the mountains, Mr. Ness said by telephone from Oslo, where doctors told him he couldnt return to Nepal this year. Another climber, Steve Davis, chronicled his airlift from base camp last month and subsequent positive test on his blog. Mr. Davis remains in Nepal, where the government has banned domestic and international flights as part of its latest lockdown. Last week, Pawel Michalski, a climber from Poland, wrote on Facebook that more than 30 people who had difficulty breathing had been airlifted by helicopter to Kathmandu  and later found to be positive for coronavirus. Residents in Kathmandu say they have been deprived of basic health facilities even after they tested positive for the virus. Hospitals are filled with patients. Strict lockdown rules have kept the general public confined indoors. As the vaccine campaign slows, many residents wonder when, or even if, they will be inoculated. The Nepalese Health Ministry warned last week that hospitals have run out of beds, but the authorities have said they would not cancel expeditions. Rudra Singh Tamang, the tourism departments director general, said that elite Sherpas this week would finish installing a rope to help climbers reach the Everest summit. Expeditions wont be canceled, said Mr. Tamang, who has tested positive for the virus and is self-isolating. Everest is an isolated area, so theres no risk of coronavirus.
WASHINGTON  With 18 months left before the midterms, a spate of Democratic departures from the House is threatening to erode the partys slim majority in the House and imperil President Bidens far-reaching policy agenda.

In the past two months, five House Democrats from competitive districts have announced they wont seek re-election next year. They include Representative Charlie Crist of Florida, who on Tuesday launched a campaign for governor, and Representative Tim Ryan of Ohio, who will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Rob Portman. Three other Democrats will leave vacant seats in districts likely to see significant change once they are redrawn using the data from the 2020 Census, and several more are weighing bids for higher office.

An early trickle of retirements from House members in competitive districts is often the first sign of a coming political wave. In the 2018 cycle, 48 House Republicans didnt seek re-election  and 14 of those vacancies were won by Democrats. Now Republicans are salivating over the prospect of reversing that dynamic and erasing the Democrats six-seat advantage.

The two biggest headaches of any cycle are redistricting and retirements and when you have both in one cycle its a migraine, said former Representative Steve Israel of New York, who led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2012 and 2014.
Cheney Strikes Back as G.O.P. Leaders Move to Oust Her From House Leadership Representative Liz Cheney warned fellow Republicans that their party was at a turning point and described a cult of personality around Donald J. Trump. The No. 2 House Republican endorsed Representative Elise Stefanik to replace Ms. Cheney in the partys leadership.

Cheney hit back at G.O.P. leaders amid mounting efforts to oust her. Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, at the Capitol last week. This moment is about much more than a House leadership fight, her spokesman said. Credit... Pool photo by Jonathan Ernst Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, hit back at leaders of her own party on Wednesday, warning her colleagues that history is watching as they consider expelling her from their leadership ranks for continuing to reject Donald J. Trumps election lies. Ms. Cheneys broadside, published Wednesday afternoon as an opinion essay in The Washington Post, came as the top two House Republicans were working to oust and replace her with a Trump loyalist, and after the former president weighed in demanding Republicans dethrone her. At issue is Ms. Cheneys insistence on repeatedly rebuking her party for its role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob and for embracing Mr. Trumps lie that he won the 2020 presidential election. In the column, Ms. Cheney warned that the Republican Party was at a turning point, and suggested that some Republicans were playing a dangerous game by continuing to support the dangerous and anti-democratic Trump cult of personality. While embracing or ignoring Trumps statements might seem attractive to some for fund-raising and political purposes, that approach will do profound long-term damage to our party and our country, Ms. Cheney said. Trump has never expressed remorse or regret for the attack of Jan. 6 and now suggests that our elections, and our legal and constitutional system, cannot be trusted to do the will of the people. This is immensely harmful. Ms. Cheney also lashed out at Mr. McCarthy, noting that he initially agreed that Mr. Trump bore responsibility for the riot, only to walk the remarks back. History is watching. Our children are watching, Ms. Cheney concluded. We must be brave enough to defend the basic principles that underpin and protect our freedom and our democratic process. I am committed to doing that, no matter what the short-term political consequences might be. Ms. Cheneys column effectively acted as a rejoinder to Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the No. 2 Republican in the chamber, who on Wednesday morning became the highest-ranking party figure to openly call for Ms. Cheneys ouster and the elevation of Representative Elise Stefanik of New York in her place as chairwoman of the House Republican Conference, the third-ranking position. Lawmakers said Mr. McCarthy was also working the phones behind the scenes, urging colleagues to support Ms. Stefanik, a close ally and rising Republican star. House Republicans need to be solely focused on taking back the House in 2022 and fighting against Speaker Pelosi and President Bidens radical socialist agenda, said Lauren Fine, Mr. Scalises spokeswoman. Elise Stefanik is strongly committed to doing that, which is why Whip Scalise has pledged to support her for conference chair. Mr. Trump, who has seethed over Ms. Cheneys criticism of him, piled on a short time later, deriding her as a warmongering fool and endorsing Ms. Stefanik, whom he called a far superior choice. We want leaders who believe in the Make America Great Again movement, and prioritize the values of America First, he wrote in a statement. Elise is a tough and smart communicator! Ms. Stefanik, who had been quietly building support among colleagues behind the scenes, wasted no time after Mr. Trumps endorsement in declaring her intentions publicly. In a post on Twitter just minutes after his statement, she thanked him for his support and said Republicans were unified and focused on FIRING PELOSI & WINNING in 2022! It was a remarkable show of force by the partys top leaders to run out a once-popular figure now deemed unacceptable by fellow Republicans because she has rejected Mr. Trumps lies and refused to absolve him or the party of its role in perpetuating the false claims of a fraudulent election that fueled the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. The fate of Ms. Cheney, who survived a February bid to oust her after she voted to favor of impeaching Mr. Trump for his role in stirring up the riot, has once again become a bellwether for the direction of the Republican Party. It has implications for Republicans chances of wresting control of the House in 2022, and has become a test of whether loyalty to Trump and a tolerance for misinformation have overtaken conservatism as the partys guiding orthodoxy. The turmoil could come to a head as early as next week, when House Republicans are expected to meet and could call a vote to replace Ms. Cheney. Catie Edmondson and

History Is Watching. Here are 5 key arguments from Liz Cheneys opinion essay. Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, on Capitol Hill last month. Credit... Amr Alfiky/The New York Times Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who has been one of the most outspoken Republican critics of the partys conduct surrounding President Bidens victory and the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, defended her views in a pointed opinion essay published by The Washington Post on Wednesday as she faced an increasing likelihood of being ousted from House leadership. Here are five key arguments from her essay. Delegitimizing election results violates conservative principles. I am a conservative Republican, and the most conservative of conservative values is reverence for the rule of law. Each of us swears an oath before God to uphold our Constitution. The Electoral College has spoken. More than 60 state and federal courts, including multiple Trump-appointed judges, have rejected the former presidents arguments, and refused to overturn election results. That is the rule of law; that is our constitutional system for resolving claims of election fraud. Recent behavior by G.O.P. leaders is reminiscent of authoritarian nations. I have worked overseas in nations where changes in leadership come only with violence, where democracy takes hold only until the next violent upheaval. America is exceptional because our constitutional system guards against that. At the heart of our republic is a commitment to the peaceful transfer of power among political rivals in accordance with law. Republicans should back a 9/11-style commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack. We must support a parallel bipartisan review by a commission with subpoena power to seek and find facts; it will describe for all Americans what happened. This is critical to defeat the misinformation and nonsense circulating in the press and on social media. No currently serving member of Congress  with an eye to the upcoming election cycle  should participate. We should appoint former officials, members of the judiciary and other prominent Americans who can be objective, just as we did after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Continuing to embrace Trump risks profound long-term damage to the country. While embracing or ignoring Trumps statements might seem attractive to some for fund-raising and political purposes, that approach will do profound long-term damage to our party and our country.  History is watching. Our children are watching. We must be brave enough to defend the basic principles that underpin and protect our freedom and our democratic process. I am committed to doing that, no matter what the short-term political consequences might be. Sticking with Trump may not bring even short-term gains. There is much at stake now, including the ridiculous wokeness of our political rivals, the irrational policies at the border and runaway spending that threatens a return to the catastrophic inflation of the 1970s. Reagan formed a broad coalition from across the political spectrum to return America to sanity, and we need to do the same now. We know how. But this will not happen if Republicans choose to abandon the rule of law and join Trumps crusade to undermine the foundation of our democracy and reverse the legal outcome of the last election.

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Biden leans into his plans to tax the rich, saying no one will lose their second or third home. Private and corporate jets parked at an airport in Hailey, Idaho. President Biden has dismissed critics of his tax plan by noting it would not deprive any executives of private jet travel. Credit... Rick Wilking/Reuters President Biden delivered a clear and punchy message to Americas highest earners on Wednesday: Im going to raise your taxes, but your vacation homes are safe. In an exchange with reporters at the White House, Mr. Biden defended with gusto his plans to increase taxes on high earners and the wealthy. He railed against high-earning chief executives and promised that his plans were about making the average multimillionaire pay just a fair share. Were not going to deprive any of these executives of their second or third home, travel privately by jet, Mr. Biden said after brief remarks on an economic aid program he signed into law this year. Its not going to affect their standard of living at all. Not a little tiny bit. But I can affect the standard of living that people I grew up with. The comments were the latest example of Mr. Biden and his party embracing the political and economic upsides of his proposals to tax the rich  a fight that the White House is eager to wage as the president engages in bipartisan negotiations over his $4 trillion economic agenda and a contrast to how Democratic presidents in the past have talked about their tax-increase proposals. Republicans and business groups have blasted Mr. Bidens plans to use the tax increase on the wealthy to fund new spending on roads, bridges, low-carbon energy deployment, child care, education and a host of other initiatives by raising taxes on corporations, high earners and the wealthy. Mr. Biden has responded by amplifying his arguments: In recent remarks, he has focused almost as much on the tax increases as he has on the programs they would pay for. Republicans in Congress continue to warn that Mr. Bidens tax increases could cripple an economy that is just beginning to recover from the pandemic downturn and hurt workers, even though the president has vowed not to raise taxes on individuals or households earning less than $400,000. Ultimately, his political standing is judged by the health and well-being of the economy, said Josh Holmes, a political adviser to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader. What hes talking about from a tax perspective is administration-assisted suicide. But after the coronavirus pandemic exposed in stark terms the gaps in income and wealth in the United States, Mr. Biden and his aides see a chance to turn the issue against Republicans who have long preached tax cuts and hammered Democrats for supporting any tax increases. On taxes, Biden has flipped the script on Republicans, said Rahm Emanuel, the former mayor of Chicago who worked in the Obama and Clinton administrations and is in line for an ambassadorship under Mr. Biden. Especially since the Biden tax plan is popular with the G.O.P. base. Biden knows this and is taunting them head on. Jim Tankersley and

Banned from Facebook, Trump is missing a vital political weapon. President Donald J. Trump on his cellphone at the White House in 2020. Credit... Leah Millis/Reuters Facebook has increasingly become one of the most vital weapons in a political campaigns arsenal, and few campaigns have tapped into its potential for advertising and fund-raising as aggressively as former President Donald J. Trumps. So the decision by Facebook on Wednesday to keep Mr. Trump off its platform could prevent him from amplifying his message to tens of millions of followers and hamper his fund-raising ability as he tries to remain the leader of the Republican Party. Facebook was the highway which his car drove on, according to Brad Parscale, the campaign manager of Mr. Trumps successful 2016 campaign. The campaigns prolific use of Facebook allowed it to send millions of hyper-targeted political ads to small slices of the population. That continued in 2020, as Mr. Trumps re-election operation devoted a nine-figure budget to Facebook advertising. Some Trump aides think the absence of Facebook will hinder him if he decides to run again in 2024, which he has told several advisers is his plan. Because they dont have the ability to run ads on Facebook, theyre losing out on petitions to grow their email list, surveys, things like that  the tactics that every campaign has to be doing 365 to really maintain their fund-raising, said Eric Wilson, a Republican digital strategist. But even without Facebook, some Republican strategists note that Mr. Trump still has one of the largest megaphones in the world, simply because of the public interest in his plans. Nick Corasaniti and

The Biden administration says it will support lifting patent protections to help produce more vaccines globally. The Biden administration is recommending setting aside patent restrictions. Credit... Carlos Osorio/Reuters The Biden administration on Wednesday came out in support of waiving intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines, a breakthrough for international efforts to suspend patent rules as the pandemic rages in India and South America. The United States had been a major holdout at the World Trade Organization over a proposal to suspend intellectual property protections in an effort to ramp up vaccine production. But President Biden had come under increasing pressure to throw his support behind the proposal, including from many congressional Democrats. Katherine Tai, the United States trade representative, announced the administrations position in a statement on Wednesday afternoon. This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures, she said. The administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for Covid-19 vaccines. Ms. Tai added that the United States would participate in negotiations at the W.T.O. over the matter, adding, Those negotiations will take time given the consensus-based nature of the institution and the complexity of the issues involved. Activists have been pressing for the waiver but have also said that a waiver alone will not boost world supply of the vaccine; it must be accompanied by the process known as tech transfer, in which patent holders supply technical know-how and personnel. This is a start, said Gregg Gonsalves, a Yale University epidemiologist and longtime AIDS activist who has been pressing for the waiver. We need the writing of the text of this waiver now to be transparent and public, but as we have always said we need tech transfer now. Earlier Wednesday, members of the W.T.O. held another round of discussions about waiving intellectual property protections. Further discussions are expected in the coming weeks, as India and South Africa, which proposed the waiver, are preparing a revised plan for nations to consider. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director general of the W.T.O., urged members to proceed with negotiations over the text of the plan. I am firmly convinced that once we can sit down with an actual text in front of us, we shall find a pragmatic way forward, she said at a meeting of the organizations General Council. Thomas Kaplan and

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As departures and redistricting loom, the Democrats control of the House is in peril. Representative Charlie Crist of Florida announced a run for governor on Tuesday. Credit... Chris O'Meara/Associated Press With 18 months left before the midterms, a spate of Democratic departures from the House is threatening to erode the partys slim majority in the House and imperil President Bidens far-reaching policy agenda. In the past two months, five House Democrats from competitive districts have announced they wont seek re-election next year. They include Representative Charlie Crist of Florida, who on Tuesday launched a campaign for governor, and Representative Tim Ryan of Ohio, who will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Rob Portman. Three other Democrats will leave vacant seats in districts likely to see significant change once they are redrawn using the data from the 2020 census, and several more are weighing bids for higher office. An early trickle of retirements from House members in competitive districts is often the first sign of a coming political wave. In the 2018 cycle, 48 House Republicans didnt seek re-election  and 14 of those vacancies were won by Democrats. Now Republicans are salivating over the prospect of reversing that dynamic and erasing the Democrats six-seat advantage. The two biggest headaches of any cycle are redistricting and retirements  and when you have both in one cycle, its a migraine, said former Representative Steve Israel of New York, who led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2012 and 2014. Democrats face other vexing challenges as well: Republican legislators control redistricting in key states where they can draw boundaries in their favor. Reapportionment alone  with red states picking up additional seats  could provide Republicans the seats they need to control the House. And political trends historically almost always work against the presidents party in midterm elections. Reid J. Epstein and

A closer look at Oval Office art reveals the subtle messages Biden is choosing to send compared to his predecessors. President Biden Amr Alfiky/The New York Times Donald J. Trump Erin Schaff/The New York Times Jimmy Carter Everett Collection/Alamy President Biden Doug Mills/The New York Times Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan Library Richard Nixon Everett Collection/Alamy slide 1 slide 2 slide 3 slide 4 slide 5 slide 6 The Oval Office can be thought of as an ultra-high-profile rotating exhibition space, with the paintings and sculptures on display representing the choices of each American president. Presidential and art historians say that already, President Bidens approach to art appears distinct from his predecessors. The Biden administration has added sculptures of Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks and Cesar Chavez. White House curators believe those artworks are among the first of women and people of color to be displayed in the Oval Office.

In a break from nine consecutive administrations that chose to display a portrait of George Washington in the prominent spot above the fireplace, Mr. Biden selected a portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Trumps decorative choices reflected his admiration for Jackson  a president Trump embraced as a populist leader even as some Democrats were distancing themselves from him.

While some of the same landscapes and portraits appear over multiple administrations, presidents dont exclusively tap the White Houses own art collection. President Nixon, for a time, hung a photograph of Earth, captured by the astronauts from the Apollo 8 mission, to the right of his desk. Larry Buchanan and

More than 180,000 businesses applied to a new federal aid program in two days. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:37 - 0:00 transcript Biden Calls Restaurants a Gateway to Opportunity President Biden said on Wednesday that in the first two days of applications for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, part of the coronavirus relief bill passed in March, 186,200 businesses had applied. Restaurants are more than a major driver of our economy, theyre woven into the fabric of our communities. And so for many families, restaurants are the gateway to opportunity  a key part of the American story For one in three Americans, a restaurant provided their first job. More than half of all Americans have worked in a restaurant at some point in their lives. Before the pandemic, restaurants and bars employed 12 percent, 12 percent of all the workers in our country. Right now, only about a quarter of the restaurant owners expect to return to normal operations in the next six months. We can do much better than that with the American Rescue Plan. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund, thats what its called, the Revitalization Fund, will provide direct relief to restaurants and to hard-hit food establishments, bars, bakeries, food stands, food trucks and caterers. Started accepting applications on Monday. Todays Wednesday, we made it quick and easy to apply. Within the first two days, there were 186,200 applications in all 50 states for help. Thats a staggering number  97,600 of those applications came from businesses owned by women, veterans and socio-economically disadvantaged individuals. Now, the applications  they all havent been processed  but right now it looks like well be able to provide help to about 100,000 restaurants and other eligible businesses. President Biden said on Wednesday that in the first two days of applications for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, part of the coronavirus relief bill passed in March, 186,200 businesses had applied. Credit Credit... Amr Alfiky/The New York Times A total of 186,200 restaurants, bars and other eligible businesses applied for help from a new $28.6 billion federal aid program in the first two days it was accepting applications, President Biden said on Wednesday, indicating huge demand from a struggling industry for limited relief funds. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund was created by Congress as part of the $1.9 trillion relief bill passed in March. Business owners who were hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic can apply for grants of up to $10 million. The return of the dining industry will be a major test of Mr. Bidens goal of getting back to normal, both for 2.3 million people whose restaurant jobs disappeared during the pandemic and for vaccinated Americans eager to go out and socialize again. Promoting the new fund, Mr. Biden said on Wednesday that restaurants were woven into the fabric of our communities and described the industry as one of the best paths for many people to achieve the American dream. One in three Americans, a restaurant provided their first job, Mr. Biden said. More than half of all Americans have worked in a restaurant at some point in their lives. For the first 21 days, the Small Business Administration will only approve claims from businesses that are majority-owned by women, veterans or individuals who qualify as both socially and economically disadvantaged. The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said Wednesday that 97,600 of the applications received in the programs first two days had come from businesses owned by people who fell into those categories. We look forward to implementing that program, Ms. Psaki said, emphasizing the high demand for the relief funds. But its not clear that high demand is necessarily a good thing for a program that has limited funding and will have to turn many needy businesses away. We know that the $28.6 billion is not enough to meet the demand, Isabella Casillas Guzman, the small business administrator, said last week. However, we need to demonstrate that demand, and we need to encourage everyone to apply and access this fund as much as possible and demonstrate what remaining need is out there. Ms. Psaki said the administration would be open to seeking more funding from Congress in the future. Mr. Biden said the high demand should prove to skeptics that the program was badly needed. Before his own remarks at the White House, Mr. Biden purchased tacos and enchiladas from Taqueria Las Gemelas, a Mexican restaurant in Washington that Ms. Psaki said was a beneficiary of the relief funds pilot program. The restaurant went from 55 employees before the pandemic to just seven, Mr. Biden said. The program has yet to distribute any funds outside of the limited pilot.

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A U.S. federal judge vacates the national freeze on evictions. Activists gathered outside Brooklyn Borough Hall on Monday to call for an extension of New Yorks moratorium on evictions. Credit... Justin Lane/EPA, via Shutterstock A federal judge on Wednesday struck down the nationwide moratorium on evictions imposed by the Trump administration last year and extended by President Biden until June 30, a ruling that could affect tenants struggling to pay rent during the pandemic. The decision, by Judge Dabney Friedrich of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is the most significant federal ruling on the moratorium yet, and follows three similar federal court decisions. The Justice Department immediately appealed, and will seek an emergency stay of the decision, potentially delaying a final resolution of the case past the moratoriums planned June 30 expiration. It remains unclear how wide an impact the decision will have on renters. It does not necessarily bind state housing court judges, who rule on eviction orders, and two other federal courts have upheld the moratorium, adding to the confusion about its fate. There are now numerous conflicting court rulings at the district court level, with several judges ruling in favor of the moratorium and several ruling against, said Diane Yentel, president of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a national tenants advocacy group. Still, tenants rights groups said the decision on Wednesday could leave more low-income and working-class tenants vulnerable to eviction in coming weeks even as the Biden administration is beginning to disburse tens of billions of dollars in aid to help them catch up on unpaid rent. Landlords said the decision validated their arguments that the legal basis for the federal moratorium was unsound and overstepped the governments power. The case was brought in November by the Alabama Association of Realtors and a group of real estate agents in Georgia who claimed the moratorium shifted the burden for rent payments from the tenants to landlords at a time when many owners have been struggling to meet their own expenses. The moratorium has had a substantial effect. Despite the sharp economic downturn created by the pandemic, eviction filings declined 65 percent in 2020 over the usual annual rate, according to an analysis of court data by the nonprofit group Eviction Lab. Housing analysts warned that Wednesdays ruling could embolden more landlords to begin eviction proceedings against tenants before the federal government can disburse $45 billion in emergency housing assistance appropriated by Congress. It couldnt come at a worse time, said Mary K. Cunningham, who studies housing with the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan policy group. This is happening just as communities are trying to beat the clock, waiting for the federal government to get its new housing subsidies out the door before the moratorium expires on June 30. Its terrible news. Landlords and real estate agents downplayed concerns that lifting the moratorium will create an eviction crisis. With rental assistance secured, the economy strengthening and unemployment rates falling, there is no need to continue a blanket, nationwide eviction ban, a spokesman for the National Association of Realtors said in a statement. The executive order covers any single renter making less than $99,000 a year and families making twice that much. About 8.2 million tenants reported that they had fallen behind in their rent payments during the pandemic, according to Census Bureau estimates. Federal decisions, like the one issued Wednesday, are significant but serve as guidance rather than an order  although an unequivocal ruling from a prominent federal court is likely to sway some local judges, said Eric Dunn, director of litigation for the National Housing Law Project, a tenant advocacy group.

U.S. shifts vaccination strategy in push to reopen by July 4. President Joe Biden talked about changes to the COVID-19 response and the vaccination program in the State Dining Room at the White House, on Tuesday. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times President Biden, confronting lagging vaccinations that threaten his promise of near normalcy by July 4, overhauled the strategy to battle the pandemic, shifting from mass vaccination sites to more local settings to target younger Americans and those hesitant to get a shot. In a speech at the White House on Tuesday, Mr. Biden said he was launching a new phase in the fight against the coronavirus, with a goal of at least partly vaccinating 70 percent of adults by Independence Day and with a personal plea to all of the unvaccinated: This is your choice. Its life and death. After three months of battling supply shortages and distribution bottlenecks, the Biden administration is confronting a problem that the president said was inevitable: Many of those who were most eager to get vaccinated have already done so. Vaccination sites at stadiums once filled with carloads of people seeking shots are closing, and states that once clamored for more vaccines are finding that they cannot use all of the doses that the federal government wants to ship to them. Yet the administrations own health experts say tens of millions more Americans must be vaccinated before the infection rate is low enough to return to what many people consider ordinary life. Under Mr. Bidens plan, pharmacies would allow walk-ins, and mobile clinics, especially in rural areas, would be set up. Those seeking vaccinations in high-risk areas would also be offered transport and child care. To build up confidence in vaccines, federal officials plan to enlist the help of family doctors and other trusted voices in their communities. There will also be a new federal website and phone number to help people find the vaccination site closest to them. The administration is hoping for an uptick in vaccinations if the Food and Drug Administration authorizes the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for adolescents ages 12 to 15 by early next week, as expected. Sharon LaFraniere and

A major voting rights bill has to overcome challenges in Congress. Then probably in the Supreme Court. Passage of the bill, known as H.R. 1, would likely start a legal war with a dozen major Supreme Court cases. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., at the Capitol in Washington, on March 3, 2021. Credit... J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press If the sweeping voting rights bill that the House passed in March overcomes substantial hurdles in the Senate to become law, it would reshape American elections and represent a triumph for Democrats eager to combat the wave of election restrictions moving through Republican-controlled state legislatures. But passage of the bill, known as H.R. 1, would end a legislative fight and start a legal war that could dwarf the court challenges aimed at the Affordable Care Act over the past decade. I have no doubt that if H.R. 1 passes, were going to have a dozen major Supreme Court cases on different pieces of it, said Nicholas Stephanopoulos, a law professor at Harvard. The potential for the bill to set off a sprawling constitutional battle is largely a function of its ambitions. It would end felon disenfranchisement, require independent commissions to draw congressional districts, establish public financing for congressional candidates, order presidential candidates to disclose their tax returns, address dark money in political advertising and restructure the Federal Election Commission. The bills opponents say that it is, in the words of an editorial in The National Review, a frontal assault on the Constitution and the most comprehensively unconstitutional bill in modern American history. More measured critics take issue with specific provisions even as they acknowledge that the very nature of the bill  a grab bag of largely unrelated measures  would make it difficult to attack in a systematic way. In that respect, the anticipated challenges differ from those aimed at the Affordable Care Act, some of which sought to destroy the entire law. Democrats have made the bill a top legislative priority. But with Republicans united in opposition in the Senate, its path forward is rocky. Pushing it through the full chamber and to President Bidens desk would require all 50 Senate Democrats to agree to suspend the filibuster rule and pass it on a simple party-line vote, a maneuver that at least two Democrats have so far rejected.
Remote learning  which these days Jordyn does for half the week  is clearly part of his struggle. His mother says she cannot afford Wi-Fi on her $12-an-hour salary as a security guard  a situation shared by many families in Mississippi, where about half of students do not have reliable broadband at home, the highest percentage of any state, according to a study by Common Sense Media.

But Jordyns story, which The New York Times documented over the course of a week in Clarksdale, is about much more than inadequate technology. It is also about the added disruption the pandemic has brought to one working-class family that was already struggling to make ends meet. And it underscores the limits of hybrid learning to reach those disengaged students.

I used to like school, he said softly. Now I dont even like it anymore because its too hard.

The Best Score

Until the pandemic, Jordyn and his mother lived in Battle Creek, Mich., where he was known among his teachers as a bright but easily distracted student, one who was capable of soaring when he was engaged.

Shermell Hooper, his second-grade teacher, recalled having to stand over his desk before he would write his name at the top of the page. If she assigned a reading passage, she had to sit next to him to get him to read.

On the day of a nationwide standardized test, she said, Jordyn sat in front of his computer, humming to himself and spinning around in his chair. She thought he was goofing off  until the results came in.

When his mother came to pick him up, a school administrator was waiting for her, and she worried Jordyn had gotten into trouble. Thats when they told me that he had gotten not just the best score in his class but the best score in the entire grade, she said.

At a schoolwide assembly, Jordyns name was called, his classmates cheered and he received a new bike.
Most of the migrants were ethnic Koreans, but they also included 1,800 Japanese women married to Korean men and thousands of biracial children. Among them was a young woman named Ko Yong-hee, who would later become a dancer and give birth to Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, and grandson of its founder.

When Mr. Lees family boarded the ship in 1960, his parents thought Korea would soon be reunited. Mr. Lees mother gave him and his four siblings cash and told them to enjoy their last days in Japan. Mr. Lee bought a mini pinball-game machine. His younger sister brought home a baby doll that closed its eyes when it lay on the bed.

It was the last freedom we would taste, he said.

He realized his family had been duped, he said, when he saw the people at Chongjin, who all looked poor and ashen. In the rural North Korean county where his family was ordered to resettle, they were shocked to see people go without shoes or umbrellas in the rain.

In 1960 alone, 49,000 people migrated from Japan to North Korea, but the number sharply declined as word spread of the true conditions in the country. Despite the watchful eye of censors, families devised ways to warn their relatives. One man wrote a message on the back of a postage stamp:

We are not able to leave the village, he wrote in the tiny space, urging his brother in Japan not to come.

Mr. Lees aunt sent her mother a letter telling her to consider immigrating to North Korea when her nephew was old enough to marry. The message was clear: The nephew was only 3.

To survive, the migrants often relied on cash and packages sent by relatives still in Japan. In school, Mr. Lee said, children called him ban-jjokbari, an insulting term for Koreans from Japan. Everyone lived under constant fear of being called disloyal and banished to prison camps.
ROME  Two American men were found guilty of murder on Wednesday and sentenced to life in prison for the street-corner killing of an Italian military police officer on an early summer morning, when the two young San Francisco natives were vacationing in Rome.

After deliberating for about 11 hours, a jury found Finnegan Elder, 21, and Gabriel Natale Hjorth, 20, guilty of the murder of Deputy Brig. Mario Cerciello Rega.

Gasps were heard across the courtroom as the verdicts were announced. The officers widow leaned against her lawyer and sobbed. Mr. Elders mother collapsed against her husband, as the court imposed the harshest penalty possible under Italian law.

As Mr. Elder was being led from the courtroom, his father Ethan called out: Finnegan, I love you.

The two Americans were still teenagers on July 26, 2019, when they got into a scuffle on a deserted street corner with two plainclothes police officers, Brigadier Cerciello Rega and Andrea Varriale.
LONDON  As Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrived in Ukraine early Thursday, he encountered an all too familiar scene: a country struggling to defend itself from without and reconstruct itself from within.

It is little changed from the days when Mr. Blinken was a White House staffer in the Obama administration  and a warning that solutions might be years away still.

Mr. Blinken is the first senior Biden administration official to visit Kyiv, and his task when he meets with Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, will be to reassure him of American support against Russias ongoing aggression, which flared last month when Moscow built up more than 100,000 troops along Ukraines eastern border.

Russia began withdrawing those forces in late April but still has many of them and all of their equipment in place. Moscow also continues to back a pro-Russian insurgency in a war in Ukraines east that has killed more than 13,000 people, according to the United Nations.
When it comes to redrawing nations borders, scores of diplomats can spend years painstakingly hashing out every inch of the dividing line.

For the border between France and Belgium to be redrawn, all it seemingly took was one farmer.

Apparently frustrated by a 200-year-old stone border marker, a Belgian farmer dug it out and moved it about seven feet into French territory, local officials told French news media, thus slightly enlarging his own land as well as the entire country of Belgium.

The displaced stone was spotted last month by a sharp-eyed group of Frenchmen, who for the past few years have wandered the countryside of their local area in northern France, following the border and checking each marker they encountered against a map showing the stones original locations.

Two members of the group were walking in the woods near the village of Bousignies-sur-Roc, about 160 miles (260 kilometers) northeast of Paris, in April when they came across a marker. They immediately suspected something wasnt right, one of the men, Jean-Pierre Chopin, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.
PARIS  President Emmanuel Macron of France, charting a delicate course between condemnation and celebration of Napoleon Bonaparte on the 200th anniversary of his death, said the emperors restoration of slavery in 1802 was a mistake, a betrayal of the spirit of the Enlightenment.

It was the first time a French president had specifically condemned Napoleons re-establishment of slavery in the Caribbean, after its post-revolutionary abolition in 1794. Mr. Macron used the word faute, which in French carries greater solemnity and opprobrium than mistake or error in English, something closer to an offense.

France, the only country to have ended and reinstated slavery, did not abolish slavery again until 1848. This painful history has tended to be eclipsed for many by the magnetism of the epic Bonapartist saga, which Mr. Macron described as above all, an ode to political will. He continued: Without him the destiny of France would not have been the same.

Mr. Macrons comments came as France engages in a debate, encouraged by the president, about its colonial past, and whether the countrys universalist model, which is supposed to be colorblind, in reality masks widespread racism.
PARIS  Jacques Chirac couldnt stand him. Nicolas Sarkozy kept his distance. Francois Hollande shunned him. But on the 200th anniversary this week of Napoleon Bonapartes death, Emmanuel Macron has chosen to do what most recent presidents of France have avoided: honor the man who in 1799 destroyed the nascent French Republic in a putsch.

By choosing to lay a wreath Wednesday at Napoleons tomb under the golden dome of Les Invalides, Mr. Macron stepped into the heart of Frances culture wars. Napoleon, always a contested figure, has become a Rorschach test for the French at a moment of tense cultural confrontation.

Was Napoleon a modernizing reformer whose legal code, lycee school system, central bank and centralized administrative framework laid the basis for post-revolutionary France? Or was he a retrograde racist, imperialist and misogynist?

By paying his respects to Napoleon, Mr. Macron will please a restive French right dreaming of lost glory and of a moment when, under its turbulent emperor, France stood at the center of the world. The French obsession with the romantic epic of Napoleons rise and fall is undying, as countless magazine covers and talk shows have underscored in recent weeks.
MADRID  She is a conservative who campaigned on a slogan that came down to one word: freedom. She offered herself as a champion of small business and scoffed at national coronavirus restrictions.

Her critics called her a Trumpista. But Isabel Diaz Ayuso is now a rising force in Spanish politics. Voters rewarded the right-wing leader of the Madrid region with a landslide victory on Tuesday after she defied the central government by keeping the capitals bars and shops open throughout much of the pandemic.

She suggested that her victory showed that pandemic fatigue and economic distress had left Spaniards unwilling to endure more of the measures favored by the left-wing national government led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Madrid is freedom  and they dont understand our way of living, she told her supporters about her left-wing opponents who suffered a crushing loss in the vote.
LONDON  For an ordinary politician, heading into midterm elections on an unsavory plume of scandal over cellphone contacts with billionaires and a suspiciously funded apartment makeover might seem like the recipe for a thumping. But Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain is not an ordinary politician.

As voters in the country go to the polls on Thursday for regional and local elections that have been swollen by races postponed from last year because of the pandemic, Mr. Johnsons Conservative Party stands to make gains against a Labour Party that has struggled to make the ethical accusations against him stick.

Far from humbling a wayward prime minister, the elections could extend a realignment in British politics that began in 2019 when the Conservative Party won a landslide general election victory. That would put the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, on the back foot and ratify Mr. Johnsons status as a kind of political unicorn.

No politician in the democratic West can escape the consequences of political gravity forever, but Boris Johnson has shown a greater capacity to do it than most, said Tony Travers, a professor of politics at the London School of Economics. People see his behavior as evidence of his authenticity.
It is highly probable that the pandemic may have imposed reservations and delayed this show of strength in protecting the busy trade routes from both West to East and vice versa to Asia Pacific?

by Victor Cherubim

Navies of the world just dont build aircraft carriers with the latest warfare technology to anchor them at home seaports as showpieces. The job of the navy is not only to protect the seas surrounding the national waters, but its main job is to test its capacity,its capabilities,its congruence in international maritime warfare.

According to the strategic opinion of many of our retired Sri Lankan Admirals, wars are won not on land, but on the seas surrounding, and who can doubt it? We have seen it happen, not only in our small island nation, but as to the rationale of the naval fleets around the world, who keep building more and more expensive naval surveillance, including the most sophisticated aircraft carriers today.

Aircraft carriers are operated by the Navy, the Marines or the Army and not by the Air Forces, perhaps, to confirm the above intelligence.

As of May 2021, we are told, there are 44 active aircraft carriers in the world operated by 14 navies. Understandably, the US Navy we are informed, has 11 large nuclear powered air fleet carriers carrying around 80 fighter aircraft,with a combined deck space of over twice the other nations combined.

We also know the worlds largest carrier is the USS Nimitz, which is currently at sea near Victoria,British Columbia, Canada,positioned for warfare in the Eastern Pacific.

But China, according to naval reports, has the worlds largest navy. Unlike the US, China's fleet relies disproportionately on smaller classes of ships, perhaps not as many aircraft carriers. As reported by the US Department of Defence and confirmed by the US Office of Naval Intelligence , the People's Liberation Army/Navy of China (PLAN) has surpassed the US Navy in total battle force ships, approximately 360 and expected to grow to 400 by 2025. This we are also told,includes 46 diesel powered attack submarines, 06 nuclear powered attack submarines and 04 ballistic missile submarines. There must be some reason for China not to build large aircraft carriers, while some of the G7 nations of the world and Russia are continuing to build sophisticated aircraft carriers?

HMS Queen Elizabeth, is the newest UKs Aircraft carrier

The mighty carrier Queen Elizabeth, left Portsmouth for its seven-month global venture a few days ago in late April 2021. We are told its first task will be to join the naval part of Exercise Joint Warrior, UK led war-games in which ten nations take part, with 31 warships,three submarines, 150 aircraft and around 13,400 military personnel involved.

According to the Daily Express,before sailing HMS Queen Elizabeth took delivery of 924 pallets of food and F-35B Jet Engines worth an approx. 20 million each in preparation for its 25,000 nautical mile voyage, which will see it visiting 40 countries and taking part in 70 engagements. It will carry 32 helicopters and jets and its complement will include 250 US Marines?

Whats all this preparation about?

We are also told that Russian surveillance submarines,it is alleged, have recently been spotted off the coast of northern Scotland.To add to this speculation, or so it seems, it was also reported that a Russian nuclear submarine was following close to the Royal Navys Fleet base in Scotland. There is no way laymen like me can confirm the same. The General Intelligence Gathering vessels believed to belong to the Russian Navys Northern Fleet, perhaps bristling with listening and interception devices were spotted by a US Navy maritime patrol aircraft, based at RAF Lossiemouth, south of Iceland. We also know it is an extension of the Arctic ocean.

It may be the expectation that HMS Queen Elizabeth is not only participating in this naval exercise as part of a showing the flag in protecting the trade route in its voyage through to the Indian Ocean past the Suez, but is also expected to test its newest sophisticated technical equipment on board,during this exercise. Every new equipment has to be tested and there is no better way to do this simultaneously.

Why now?

It is highly probable that the pandemic may have imposed reservations and delayed this show of strength in protecting the busy trade routes from both West to East and vice versa to Asia Pacific?

It is also possible that the departure of President Donald Trump in Washington, may have left an incomparable diplomatic vacuum with Chinas expansion, which somehow has to be filled to keep up the equilibrium balance of power in world order? Further, could it be a message to President Putin not to escalate the Ukranian border dispute in the Black Sea causing additional NATO nations troop deployment?

A warning against potential suicide attack on transitting vessels in the region by the Houthi rebels,could well be as another. Besides, the hope of control of the nuclear enrichment treaty with Iran,or perhaps, a show of force to keep the Myanmar Generals in check, may be some of the reasons for this flotilla?

Your guess could be better than mine, as to why now?
Mr. Lapids entry to the spotlight is the latest twist in a two-year political stalemate that has seen Israelis trudge to the polls four times since 2019, each time electing a Parliament whose lawmakers are roughly evenly split between supporters and opponents of Mr. Netanyahu.

The impasse has left political leaders repeatedly unable to form a stable majority, a stalemate that has left the country without a national budget and with several key leadership positions in the Civil Service unfilled.

It has also forced leaders to search for ever more unlikely alliances.

To secure a coalition, Mr. Lapid has previously said he would be willing to share power with an ultranationalist rival, Naftali Bennett, a former settler leader who opposes Palestinian statehood and seeks to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank. The divisions and complexities of Israeli politics currently make it impossible for Mr. Lapid to win office without reaching a compromise with parts of the far right.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr. Lapid again hinted he would be willing to work across ideological lines.
JERUSALEM  Yair Lapid, the centrist politician and former media celebrity whose party took second place in Israels March election, had pledged to forgo the premiership if thats what it would take to form a coalition of diverse parties that could oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power.

The unusual exercise in political humility stemmed not from modesty, but from the difficulties he knew he would face in mustering enough parliamentary support to form an alternative government.

Now, after Mr. Netanyahu failed to form a viable coalition by Tuesdays midnight deadline, Mr. Lapids political skills and sincerity will be put to the test. The president, Reuven Rivlin, has given him the next shot at cobbling together a government that might send Mr. Netanyahu into the opposition and end Israels political gridlock.

Mr. Lapids party, Yesh Atid (There is a Future), won 17 seats in the inconclusive election, Israels fourth in two years. But its path to power is hampered by the disparate nature of the anti-Netanyahu bloc, which is made up of numerous small parties with clashing agendas. Some of its right-wing elements view Mr. Lapid as too left-wing to lead an alternative government.
The pandemics latest horror is that people around the world are dying for lack of access to medical oxygen, especially in India. Each day, tens of thousands of people are admitted to hospitals with Covid-19, driving the demand for the oxygen far beyond the supply.

The World Health Organization said in February that $1.6 billion would be needed to remedy the oxygen shortage for a year; now that estimate is up to $6.5 billion.

The crisis should not have come as a surprise. But in a year when policymakers lurched from one challenge to another  shortages of protective equipment, lockdowns, the threat of economic collapse, remote schooling, therapeutics, vaccines  oxygen supply never rose to the top of the list.

In the last two months, the unmet global need for medical oxygen has more than tripled, from less than 9 million cubic meters a day to more than 28 million, according to a coalition of aid groups that are tracking the crisis.
This is a pretty standard White House photo, the sort of image you have probably noticed dozens of times since President Biden took office a little more than 100 days ago, from newspaper photographs to shots on cable news networks.

Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times







But look just past the president and notice the bust of Robert F. Kennedy behind him.

Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times







Kennedy crops up a lot these days, observing the scene here a few weeks ago

Doug Mills/The New York Times







and nosing in here,

Andrew Harnik/Associated Press







as Winston Churchill did during the Trump administration,

Doug Mills/The New York Times







and as Abraham Lincoln did during the Obama administration.

Doug Mills/The New York Times





You will see the bust over and over because of its particular placement next to the fireplace, behind the chair where the president sits during many meetings. Biden has long cited R.F.K. as one of his political heroes, and sees his evolution from a hard-nosed attorney general into a liberal icon as a sign of the capacity to grow.

But it is only one of the highly symbolic pieces of newly installed art that now saturate the images that come out of the White House.

The art in the Oval Office is ever-present, carefully chosen and deliberately placed

Samuel Corum/Getty Images







adding historical weight,

Al Drago for The New York Times







silently commenting on the moment,

Everett Collection/Alamy







the present, now more than ever, in constant tension with the past.

Amr Alfiky/The New York Times













What if the paintings and sculptures could talk? What if they already do?

Indeed, the paintings and the sculptures that are displayed in the Oval Office represent the choices of each American president  subtle and not so subtle signals every administration sends about its values and view of history.

And so although the Oval Office is perhaps not often thought of as an ultra-high-profile rotating exhibition space, in one narrow sense, that is exactly what it is.

The Oval Office decoration often reflects a presidents view of history and the nature of his hopes for the future, said Jon Meacham, the presidential biographer whom Biden asked to advise on art for the Oval Office.

Presidents have a unique place, not only as an object of the historical imagination, but as an architect of it. And so to catalog and take a look around the virtual attic of the Oval Office through the years tells you a lot about what presidents value  not only the stories they are interested in, but the stories they are writing themselves.

Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times

Presidential and art historians say that already, Bidens approach to art appears distinct from his predecessors. In terms of sheer volume, he has included more sculptures and paintings than other recent presidents, in part, experts say, because he is trying to signal his support for an array of causes: labor, science, the importance of compromise and more.

Look at Bidens fireplace wall:

F.D.R. Washington Hamilton Jefferson Lincoln F.D.R. Washington Lincoln Hamilton Jefferson M.L.K. R.F.K.









Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Moving to the other side of the Oval Office 

Lincoln Truman Avenue in the Rain Franklin Cesar Chavez







Doug Mills/The New York Times

Bidens office contains at least seven busts of key figures, an unusually high number. They include women, people of color and civil rights champions.

Truman Rosa Parks M.L.K. R.F.K. Lincoln Eleanor Roosevelt Chavez Truman Rosa Parks M.L.K. R.F.K. Lincoln Eleanor Roosevelt Chavez Truman Rosa Parks M.L.K. R.F.K. Lincoln Eleanor Roosevelt Chavez

Taken together, the sculptures represent a diverse and inclusive cross-section of America and its history.

The bust of King was put on view during the Obama administration. The Biden administration has added sculptures of Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks and Chavez. And White House curators believe those artworks are among the first of women and people of color to be displayed in the Oval Office.

No painted works by artists of color have been prominently displayed in the Oval Office over the last six decades, according to curators. No female painters, with the exception of Elizabeth Shoumatoff who painted a portrait of F.D.R., have ever had their work displayed prominently in the room.













It was in the 1960s that Jacqueline Kennedy, as first lady, began the transformation of the White House into a sort of grand, living museum. She created the White House Historical Association, hired the first White House curator and established various committees to assist with preserving art. As a result, the White House now has its own art collection, which presidents often tap when it is time to redecorate.

The Oval Office itself is not very large  around 800 square feet. There are a few places where art traditionally resides.

M.L.K. bust R.F.K. bust Fireplace Presidents seat Typical spots for art Desk R.F.K. bust M.L.K. bust Typical spots for art Presidents seat Fireplace Desk

The president can request items from federally funded art institutions including the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum  or really any other museum that is willing to lend.

Yet the collection of paintings that have hung on the walls of the Oval Office since the Kennedy administration is remarkably small  only about 43 different works (and one photograph) spanning 60 years:

List of artworks: White House curator's office

Most of the paintings have been portraits of founding-father types and other figures from American history such as Washington, Franklin, Lincoln and Jackson:

There were also landscapes:

And there was a photograph of Earth, hung during the Nixon administration.

Astronauts from the Apollo 8 mission gave Richard M. Nixon the photograph, and he had it reframed so it would become something more suitable for the Oval Office. He hung the photo to the right of his desk. But it was later replaced with a painting of the White House.

At times, the Oval Office has been more functional and homey than it is today. Franklin Roosevelt, who had the office moved to its present location, barely had room to work on his desk because it was covered with tchotchkes. John F. Kennedy kept a coconut shell on his desk as a paperweight to remind him of the time he was stranded at sea during World War II.







































You may have noticed many of the same landscapes and portraits appearing over and over. Or that Kennedy changed tack, filling his office with seascapes and naval scenes. (Go back and scroll fast. Its kind of fun.)

Bidens selection of Roosevelt to hang in the prominent spot above the fireplace is a break from nine consecutive administrations that picked a Washington portrait:

G.H.W. Bush Reagan Biden Trump Obama G.W. Bush Clinton Carter Ford Nixon Johnson Kennedy F.D.R. Washington F.D.R. Ships G. H.W. Bush Biden Trump Obama G. W. Bush Clinton F.D.R. Washington Reagan Carter Ford Nixon Johnson Kennedy Washington F.D.R. Ships Biden Trump Obama G. W. Bush F.D.R. Washington G. H.W. Bush Clinton Carter Reagan Washington Ford Nixon Johnson Washington F.D.R. Kennedy Ships

Trumps decorative choices reflected his admiration for Jackson  a president Trump embraced as a populist leader even as some Democrats distanced themselves from him.

Obama sought to modernize his home and office, bringing in a California decorator to freshen the spaces and borrowing paintings from the Whitney Museum of American Art.







































Did you notice anything different in that last photo of Bidens Oval Office?

Look again.

Where is the Chavez bust? The White House moved it onto a pedestal early on in the administration. Its on the right in this photo:

Doug Mills/The New York Times







The change means the bust isnt quite as prominent as it was at first.

Doug Mills/The New York Times







But it wont look as distracting in pictures.

Doug Mills/The New York Times










05/05/2021 - Irelands efforts to delink its economy from environmental pressures have been challenged by strong economic growth in recent years that has driven up greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation and nutrient pollution. Intensive farming, population growth, urban sprawl and road traffic are also having an impact on the environment. At the same time, policies to curb climate change, protect biodiversity and build a more circular economy have gained new impetus including through large public investment plans.





The OECD will present a new Environmental Performance Review of Ireland on Monday 10 May 2021 that examines Irelands progress towards its environmental and climate objectives and towards achieving greener growth. A special chapter focuses on sustainable mobility and freight. OECD Environment Director Rodolfo Lacy will discuss the Reviews findings and recommendations alongside Irelands Minister for Climate Action and the Environment Eamon Ryan at a virtual presentation and press conference starting at 10:30 Dublin time.





Journalists can register attendance by emailing rsvp@decc.gov.ie.





For further information, or to request an advance copy of the Review under embargo a day before the launch, journalists should contact Catherine Bremer in the OECD Media Office.

Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.
MEMBERS of Tullamore Credit Union and Kilcormac Credit Union have agreed a merger of the two Credit Unions to create a stronger and more efficient Credit Union to serve the combined membership across the wider catchment area.

The combined Credit Union will have assets of over 336 million and 35,000 members. The offices in Tullamore and Kilcormac will remain open for all members.

Chair of the Board of Kilcormac Credit Union, Jim Gorman commented, I am confident that the decision to join forces with Tullamore is the right one and will allow us to continue to provide an efficient and effective service to all our members. Experiences of other mergers have shown that members and their local communities benefit, as they can be part of a stronger, more efficient credit union which can provide enhanced loan and saving facilities across the local catchment area. Tullamore share our ethos and ambition to deliver modern financial services for members and this merger will provide a larger membership base for a stronger credit union which can better serve our combined membership

Speaking about the move, Chair of the Board of Tullamore Credit Union, Ray Spain said, This combination is an extremely positive move for members of our Credit Unions. It makes perfect sense not only from a financial and member service perspective but also an administrative one in the current regulatory environment.

Members savings and loan accounts will be unaffected by the transfer. Members in Kilcormac will see no change in the day to day operations of the credit union. The merger is expected to be completed in early June.
BORD na Mona have said they understand the disappointment of Lough Boora bike hire operator, Pat Barrett.

Mr Barrett, the founder of the bike rental service at Lough Boora Discovery Park, lost out in a tender competition for the renewal of the contract to a company run by Dublin GAA star Conal Keaney.

Mr Barrett, a Lumcloon resident and Bord na Mona employee at Derrinlough briquette factory, established the bicycle rental operation 11 years ago.

A spokesman for Bord na Mona said tonight (Tuesday, May 4): Bord na Mona is committed to providing visitors to Lough Boora with a fantastic experience and a range of activities during their visit. Mr Barrett, in addition to operating his bike hire business in Lough Boora, is an employee of Bord na Mona and continues to be so.

The spokesman added: As a semi-state organisation, Bord na Mona procure third party services, including those at Lough Boora, in accordance with Government procurement processes. Recently the company tendered the bicycle hire service at Lough Boora Discovery Park on eTenders as we are required to do.

The procurement process was a fair and open competition, conducted with independent oversight, and attracted a number of responses. All tender responses were evaluated across set competition and compliance criteria and the winning provider scored highest across all the evaluation criteria.

We understand the disappointment of Mr Barrett, but as a semi-state company we must implement the fair and open processes and procedures which are mandated by the State.
Irish Water has been given the green light for a project to support growth and development in Rhode, Co Offaly.

They are working with Offaly County Council on the project which has seen Rhode wastewater treatment plant selected for upgrade as part of the Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme.

"This investment in the local wastewater infrastructure will provide additional capacity for the development of new homes, while ensuring that wastewater continues to be treated to an appropriate standard," Irish Water said.

Details of other towns and villages to be included in the programme, if any, will be announced in the coming months.

Elaine Heneghan, Irish Waters Regional Forward Planning Specialist, said: We are pleased to confirm that this important project to improve wastewater treatment capacity in Rhode has been given the green light. This will bring big benefits to the area by ensuring the infrastructure is in place to meet the needs of the village Rhode as it continues to grow.

The purpose of the Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme is to support growth in smaller towns and villages. Rhode was selected following detailed consultation with the Local Authority to identify and prioritise areas for investment.

The project will now continue through the next stages including design, detailed planning, procurement and approvals. Further updates on the budget and timelines for delivery will be provided in due course.

"Irish Water is responsible for public water and wastewater infrastructure and is committed to providing a safe and reliable water supply, protecting the environment and supporting the growth of homes and businesses. The building, repair and upgrading of Irish Waters water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, water and sewer network will require a multi-billion euro investment programme over many years. Irish Water is investing 5.2 billion in the period from 2020-2024 in drinking water and wastewater quality and capacity and new infrastructure."

The Draft Capital Investment Plan is subject to consultation and final determination by Irish Waters regulator, the Commission of the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). This process is ongoing.

Following its completion and with the approval of the CRU, updated details of the planned investments in each county will be outlined over the coming months.
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OMAK - The Omak Police Department is seeking help from the public in identify two individual
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Press Release

May 5, 2021 Drilon says PHL must continue with megaphone diplomacy to match China's gunboat diplomacy Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon on Wednesday said the Philippine should continue to exert pressure on China and bring to the forefront China's illegal activities in the West Philippines Sea through "megaphone diplomacy", saying it might be the only recourse left for the Philippines to match the economic giant's "gunboat diplomacy". "I would rather that we continue with the megaphone diplomacy because of the gunboat diplomacy of China," Drilon said in an interview with ANC's Headstart. "We must continue to expose these illegal acts of China. That is why megaphone diplomacy, as the Chinese foreign minister would call it, is maybe the appropriate course that we have today so that we can keep China on its toes insofar as the world forum is concerned," Drilon stressed. Drilon said this as he defended Foreign Affairs Sec. Teddy Locsin Jr.'s use of expletive-laden words against China on Twitter. "I know Sec. Locsin very well. He is very patriotic. Maybe his emotional outburst is because of the frustration that he cannot do much except file diplomatic protests on this incursion of China," Drilon said in defense of the country's top diplomat. Drilon said the statement of Sec. Locsin as well as that of Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana reflects the sentiment of the majority of Filipinos. "We are all frustrated by what China is doing," he said, adding that China is not taking the country seriously. "Again, the megaphone diplomacy is probably the only weapon that we have today. We must keep this in the consciousness not only of the Philippines but of the whole world," said Drilon, saying the country cannot compete with China's gunboat diplomacy insofar as the issue of the West Philippine Sea is concerned. "We must keep this to the attention of the world so that China will realize that they are getting isolated with the way they have been conducting themselves, ignoring the judgment of the tribunal. Otherwise, if we just keep quiet, nothing will happen," he stressed. The minority leader also described as "quite unfortunate" that there seems to be "different voices" in the government when it comes to the issue of China's illegal incursion into the country's territory. "It is quite unfortunate, because you have two members of the cabinet, Sec. Locsin and Sec. Lorenzana, taking a strong position on this issue. On the other end of the scale, President Duterte who asserts that we must continue our cordial relations with China. This is quite unfortunate that we are talking of different voices," Drilon said. Drilon also urged the country to lead a group of nations with claims on the West Philippines Sea or South China Sea, such as Vietnam and Taiwan, to confront China. "What I'd like to see is the Philippine leading a group of nations to confront China using a multi-national approach, because we cannot confront China alone. Maghanap tayo ng mga kasamang nations which are similarly situated," Drilon said "We should keep on reminding the world that China is not following the rule of law but the rule of might in this part of the world," he added.
Ham radio on Austrian TV Austria's DORF TV looks at how radio amateur Reinhard Kuhn DK5LA from Sorup, Schleswig-Holstein, become a team member of the Chinese Longjiang-2 lunar mission?



After the introductory words on the Chinese lunar mission, Reinhard Kuhn will introduce us to his radio station DK5LA. This lecture explains the radio connection from Earth to the moon and returns using sent and rereceived voice messages.



In addition to the presentation of the tasks that the satellite "Longjiang-2" had, he introduces us to the commands and satellite telemetry and describes the tasks of the "uplink" or "downlink" stations. The mission was crowned, among other things, by the sensational photos of a solar eclipse from the satellite in lunar orbit.



The first connection via a satellite in lunar orbit opened up a new dimension that has made radio history. The last radio command at the end of "Longjiang-2" came from Sorup. This command was important for determining the impact point on the back of the moon.



Speaker: Reinhard Kuhn Lecture Series of the Kepler Observatory Linz in cooperation with VHS Linz



Watch the German language show at

https://www.dorftv.at/video/35575



Reinhard Kuhn DK5LA

https://twitter.com/kuehnreinhard
Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has asked a Minneapolis judge for a new trial, court records show, two weeks after he was found guilty of second- and third-degree murder and manslaughter in the killing of George Floyd.
About a dozen laser pointer strikes on aircraft over Sydney have occurred in recent weeks with one alleged attack blurring a helicopter flight officers vision.
The US will support a proposal to waive IP protections for coronavirus vaccines, Washington's top trade official said. More than 100 countries want the temporary suspension of patents on COVID-19 vaccines.
Derek Chauvin's attorney says he deserves a new trial after the former Minneapolis police officer got convicted for murdering George Floyd. Chauvin's attorney, Eric Nelson, filed legal docs Tuesday asking for the jury verdict in his murder trial to
Germany and France have acted as peace brokers between Russia and Ukraine for years. Now, US President Joe Biden has thrown his hat into the ring as well.
A group of Belarusians are seeking justice in German courts against Lukashenko's regime over alleged torture. Their lawyers say there are at least 100 other victims.
An unlikely alliance of former generals and the far right, in France, could yet spring a major surprise in 2022, on President Emmanuel Macron and the French polity.

by Adebayo Adeniran

Afew days ago, a number of former military generals wrote an open letter, to the French President, Emmanuel Macron, stating that unless something is done regarding their concerns with radical Islam and immigration, they will forcibly launch a take over of the state, come next year.

Lets delve into matters further.

Historical Background

Anyone with a fair knowledge of twentieth century French history will appreciate that France hasnt always been a democracy  in 1940, after Hitler captured Paris, France became an occupied territory and was run by a pro Nazi group, known as the Vichy government. Fast forward to April 1961, a number of military generals attempted a coup, to prevent Charles De Gaulle, from granting independence to Algeria, the crown jewel, in Frances African territory.

Its also worth pointing out, that a vast majority of Frances former colonies are in North and West Africa  Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Benin, Mali, Ivory Coast, Benin, Niger, Togo  are Muslim majority countries and citizens of these countries had played an outsize role in liberating France from the yoke of national socialism during the second world war.

Algeria, was to France, what India was to Britain  a highly strategic settler colony, to which great numbers of French citizens had moved. The likes of existentialist writer, Albert Camus and deconstructionist Philosopher, Jacques Derrida were born there.The European population, known as pied noir enjoyed special status, out there, much to the detriment of the locals. Once the Muslim population began to agitate for more political rights, things went south. It was from the agitation for autonomy that the war of independence began, which lasted from 19541962.

The atrocities committed by the French army  killing several hundreds of thousands of Algerians, in the war, led to great political instability in France, the results of which, was the return of Charles De Gaulle, the dissolution of the fourth republic and the installation of the fifth republic. De Gaulle, on a trip to Algeria, famously, uttered the words, Je vous ai compris (I have understood you) and set about, liberating Algeria from the shackles of France.

The old generals, who had far right instincts then, were dead opposed to the granting of independence to Algeria hence the attempted coup, exactly 60 years ago.

Following decolonization, a number of these former subjects migrated and made France their home, with their descendants making up the five million Muslim population today.

Given that the vast majority of its African immigrant population live in banlieues (public housing, usually run down), with very little hope for social progression, in a society implacably hostile to Muslims, it should hardly come as a surprise, that very small number of young French Algerians have embraced fundamentalist Islam.

The Generals, their Far Right Allies and French Democracy.

It is against the backdrop, of a number of incidents involving French men of Algerian descent over the last 15 years, such as the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo cartoonist, caricaturing Prophet Mohammed and the recent beheading of a school teacher, that these generals chose to voice their threat in a far right wing publication.

Whats more telling about this whole malarkey has been the support of the head of the National front, Marine Le Pen, who is known for her anti immigration and Islamophobic rhetoric. Its also pertinent to point out that her father, who had served in the armed forces, was also on the side of the generals, who had attempted to overthrow De Gaulles government.

A military coup, in this day and age, in one of the worlds mature economies? Isnt it beyond the realms of possibility and quite frankly preposterous?

Democracy, in the age of China, Russian hackers and far right wing activism on social media, is being undermined on a daily basis and countries like France, whose political institutions are no where near as robust as its citizens would like to think, are particularly vulnerable to a fascist military take over.

In the 2002 and 2017 French Presidential elections, Jean Marie and Marine Le Pen, respectively, made it to the final run offs, gaining tens of millions of votes against mainstream candidates, in Jacques Chirac and the current head of state, Emmanuel Macron.

But the far right and disgruntled ex generals arent Emmanuel Macrons only concern ahead of the elections in 2022. The group known as Gilet Jaune ( Yellow Vests, in English) has risen to prominence, over the course of his presidency, protesting the increase in fuel tax, but doing so, in a way that has captured popular attention. Using the leadership structure that has served the black lives matter movement, so well, they have eschewed the traditional forms of leadership, opting for a much more informal approach.

In a very short time, Gilet Jaune, have built up a strong power base, which has shaken France and its elite class, to its very core. And it is the triple threat of Gilet Jaune, the far right and the old generals that could yet topple the existing order.

If the events of the 6th of January 2021, when far right protesters stormed capitol hill, are anything to go by, nothing can ever be taken for granted, in these extraordinarily precarious times.

How things pan out in France, next year, will send a very powerful message to the rest of the world.
A member of the American family that owns Manchester United has refused to apologise to fans over the disastrous attempt to form a breakaway European Super League.
The federal government has doled out more than 500 fines to air passengers who refused to quarantine in a hotel upon arrival in Canada. But there appears to be no evidence of any fines being issued to passengers who landed in Calgary and Montreal, two of four cities where international flights are currently allowed to land.
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New Zealand's parliament has passed a motion condemning China for its treatment of Uighurs but has fallen short of calling it genocide.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party has watered down a parliamentary proposal to accuse China of genocide. The Pacific nation has taken a softer stance than the US and UK.
Police searched 10 offices of Islamist aid group Ansaar International on Wednesday as the group was banned by the German Interior Ministry for allegedly funding terror overseas
India's central bank has announced billions of dollars in cheap loans to help bolster the country's overwhelmed healthcare sector as India recorded its highest daily death toll.
Olivier Dubois has appeared in a 21-second video claiming to be in the hands of a jihadi group affiliated with al-Qaida. He asks for help from the French authorities and family members.
The General has to decide whether to escalate the conflict or seek a temporary pact through a mediated political dialogue

by Ashok K Mehta

The most effective means of foiling a coup is a countercoup. In Myanmar, that will not happen as the military is rock solid and led by an officer corps that considers itself elite and the guardian of Myanmars core values.

As the coup in Myanmar enters its fourth month with multiple centres of resistance taking root, it will take more than an Asean summit and its five-point consensus agreement to unlock the impasse. Senior Gen Ming Aung Hlaing will not ride into the sunset anytime soon. Signs of a third front, after Kachins in the north and Karens in the east have battled central forces, are developing at Meiktilla in the central plains after rocket attacks struck the military base there. Meanwhile, the protestors have taken to flash marches that will enable people to disappear before confrontation with the police. The Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) activists are asking people to start non-cooperation campaign by stopping payment of electricity, taxes and repayment of loans.

In its 73-year history, the Myanmar Army has never fought foreigners but its own people in internal wars. The coup has marked the battle lines between an Army led by the Burman-dominated officer corps and a range of opposition forces  the CDM consisting of youth aged 20 or below who have tasted a decade of democracy: the Committee representing National Parliament that has morphed into a National Unity Government. This organised resistance has the potential to explode into a civil war when some of the 20 Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) like Karen or Kachin join the NUG to challenge the Tatmadaw, the primary centre of power. A call has been made by a Karen, General Baw Kyaw Heh, to all ethnic groups to unite to fight the Burmese military dictatorship. This could be a game changer.

The General has to decide whether to escalate the conflict into a bloodier phase or seek a modus vivendi through a mediated political dialogue. Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy had won a clear and outright political victory trouncing the military-backed USDP. It seems inconceivable that the NLDs victory can be set aside by the military on grounds of fraudulent voting. It will be unconstitutional. Can the clock be set back to January 31?

Hlaing is from the Armys elite 77 Light Division. He was the mastermind of the ruthless operations against the Rohingyas in Rakhine in 2017 where this Division was employed. In the 1988 coup, 77 LID was used and 3,500 protestors were killed. But that was 30 years ago. The Generals aim is for Myanmar to return to 2011-16 when the USDP was in power and when he took over as the C-in-C in 2011. He does not have much time if he is to return Myanmar to his vision of a disciplined democracy. This goal is a bridge too far even for the Tatmadaw to achieve, especially in 2021. The General has to weigh in the consequences of the coup and preserving the gains the military has secured in the 2008 Constitution. By travelling out of Myanmar, attending the Asean summit, meeting UN envoy Christine Burgene and returning to his citadel, Hlaing has scored a diplomatic victory. Never before has a coup leader been treated with such respect and circumspection. Had he been in Europe, he would have been arrested for alleged genocide against the Rohingyas.

The widespread violence has threatened the economy and encouraged criminal activity. In the 1950s, Burmas per capita income was higher than Thailands and Malaysias but today it is at the bottom of the Asean GDP. People have been fleeing from townships like Mandalay, Bago and Yangon into the interiors. A new transnational criminal activity hub  comprising small arms, narcotics and wildlife, coupled with an underground financial system reminiscent of the Golden Triangle of yore  has come up. It is a shame that a country which was the hot favourite of foreign investment and growth is suddenly moving in reverse gear. It is estimated the economy will shrink by 20 per cent in 2021-22. The latest UNDP report paints a grim picture: That 12 million people could fall into dire economic strait as businesses remain shuttered in a standoff between the junta and the CDM. The hardest hit will be the poor urban populations and the female heads of households will be the worst hit.

India has learnt to play ball with more than one power centre in Myanmar. It has welcomed the Asean initiative and will continue to play a constructive role in resolving the current situation through steadfast support of the democratic process. The end of this political process  when it is started, and a UN Civil Protection Force is accepted by the General  will mark a political milestone in conflict resolution. Some Asean leaders are privately suggesting keeping Myanmar out of the grouping till the coup is undone. The consensus brief is either the first step towards reining in the Generals or, more likely, letting them buy time.

(The writer, a retired Major General, was Commander, IPKF South, Sri Lanka, and founder member of the Defence Planning Staff, currently the Integrated Defence Staff. The views expressed are personal.)
In a virtual speech, Angela Merkel has warned that the memory of the crimes committed by the Nazis in Europe must be kept alive. "This is Germany's eternal responsibility," she said
The world is carefully monitoring Covid for mutations that help it spread better or resist vaccines.
The head of the World Health Organization says the US backing of a proposed waiver of intellectual property rights for COVID vaccines is a "monumental moment" in the fight against the virus.
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal criticised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government over its handling of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, saying the way Centre ignored the warnings and went ahead with political rallies and Kumbh has shown the world how such a pandemic should not be handled. Speaking to ANI, Sibal further said Prime Minister Modi should apologise to the nation.
This was for the first time that a top Indian government official had a meeting with Fauci, who is the top advisor to President Joe Biden on the pandemic.
Dozens of Star Wars fans in Taipei City gathered at the highest floor of the tallest building in Taiwan

euronews (in English) 04 May 2021
Newsflare STUDIO 16 May 2021

On Day 18 of Colombia's 'national strike', artists joined the protests on the streets of the capital Bogota.
Kamala Harris was in Milwaukee on Tuesday but several Wisconsin Republicans said they wished the vice president had gone to the U.S.-Mexico border instead.
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Boris Johnson's top civil servant only became aware of proposals for a trust to fund the refurbishment of Downing Street months after the plans had already been formed.
The Wyoming Republican has previously warded off an attempt to remove her from her leadership role in the party, but this time around, her support from party leaders seems to be crumbling.
The outcome of Brexit negotiations between Britain and the EU was determined by "the quarrels, low blows, multiple betrayals and thwarted ambitions of a certain number of Tory MPs", Michel Barnier has said.
Forty years ago Bobby Sands was the first of 10 Irish republican hunger strikers to die after refusing food for 66 days. Martyrs to many, others saw them as IRA terrorists. Sands slow lingering death on May 5, 1981 proved to be a turning point in the bitter 30-year conflict over British rule in Northern []
New Zealand shied away from labelling Chinas treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority genocide on Wednesday, once again leaving Wellington out of step with its more forthright Western allies. Parliament unanimously passed a motion expressing grave concern at human rights abuses in Xinjiang province, but only after Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns ruling Labour Party insisted []
Stormonts deputy First Minister has said she felt sorry for Arlene Foster over the way she was treated by her party colleagues.
Foreign ministers from the G7 group of industrialised nations have called on China to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms following their first face-to-face meeting in over two years.
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New Zealand has shied away from labelling China's treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority genocide, once again leaving Wellington out of step with its more forthright Western allies.
Lake Charles, LA (70615)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. High 88F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..

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Mostly cloudy skies. Low 76F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
The Group of Seven foreign ministers' meeting in London has been hit by a Covid-19 scare after India's foreign minister and his entire team said they were self-isolating after two delegation members tested positive.
Britain's government said Wednesday it is sending two Royal Navy vessels to monitor the situation on the island of Jersey, amid a dispute with France over fishing rights in the waters there following Britain's departure from the European...
The New Era of Regulation in Netherlands Takes Shape with 28 License Applications

Published May 5, 2021 by Lee R

The Dutch regulation authority is fielding applications and getting operators in sync for opening in 2021!

In the long-anticipated Dutch gaming market, regulation is moving forward with 28 license applications.

October Day

This comes on the heels of the Dutch authority's approval of a regulation model which granted permissions to legally launch services iGaming from October 1st.

Approved In February

The Kansspelautoriteit (KSA) gaming regulator originally passed legislation in February of 2019 paving the way for iGaming operators with a body of consumer protection and anti-money laundering protocols.

Licensing Requirements

A licensing fee of 48,000 ($57,700) will be required from incoming operators, who will integrate their domestic operations within two key components of the Dutch regulation system: the incoming self-exclusion system Centraal Register Uitsluiting Kansspelen (CRUKS) self-and the CBD remote monitoring database.

Application Process

Applications have been coming into KSA since the beginning of this month April 1. Successful applicants will be cleared to offer their services online.

KSA Priorities

The KSA has asserted it's intention of continually assessing accredited operators to ensure healthy companies that handle player balances responsibly and maintain an adequate policy to prevent gambling addiction.

Preparation

Earlier reports had KSA expecting to field some 40 initial iGaming license applications, and planning to grant 35 permits.

Tax Allocation

The KSA has further instructed that a portion of the taxes collected from these firms be used to establish the Addiction Prevention Fund, supporting research into effective treatments and anonymous support for at-risk gamblers.

Land-Based Update

KSA also reported a 12.3% year-on-year growth in annual land-based gaming taxes for 2020 (8.2 million  $9.7 million), even as total take for associated fees dropped 41.5% to roughly 644,000 ($763,360).

KSA Chairman Speaks

In a press release KSA Chairman Rene Jansen indicated that iGaming firms applying for license by the end of last week could realistically expect to launch in the Netherlands on October 1st, with approved operators enterprises receiving the first confirmations of authorisation in September to uniformly begin the preparation process and promote a fair and level playing field.

Outlook

Diversity and engagement are the two goals of KSA, and establishing a safe environment for Dutch players is a needed solution at this point after many years of stops and starts in bringing the Dutch regulation model into being.
B. G., Opalesque Geneva:

Two Democratic lawmakers have sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, urging the Department to expand anti-money laundering reporting obligations to private equity and hedge fund advisors. Congressman Tom Malinowski and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse also recommend other specific actions the Secretary can immediately take under current authorities to prevent foreign kleptocrats from moving dirty money through the U.S. and global financial systems.

Last year, Congress enacted the Corporate Transparency Act, which effectively bans the registration of anonymously owned shell companies in the U.S., says Malinowski's website. The Biden Administration has pledged to build on this achievement by making the fight against transnational corruption a key element of its foreign policy. To that end, it recently requested a significant increase in funding for the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

"Domestically, Treasury has the authority to rapidly expand anti-money laundering (AML) obligations, as recommended for decades by law enforcement, anti-corruption watchdogs, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)" their letter says.

"With beneficial ownership reform on its way, the top policy priority in the fight against dirty money s......................

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BankBazaar.com, Indias leading free credit score provider and online financial product marketplace, announced a tie-up with MFine, the on-demand healthcare service provider, to enable free medical consultation for BankBazaar employees and their families as part of BankBazaars employee initiatives in the wake of Covid 19. As part of the tie-up, BankBazaar employees can use the MFine app to consult with doctors from their preferred hospitals via chat audio or video 
Oregon is indefinitely extending a workplace rule adopted last fall that requires employers to adhere to specific safety measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Under the rule, employers must ensure that their employees wear masks and maintain physical distance in the workplace, among other requirements.

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Oregon OSHA) said the rule will remain in effect until it is no longer needed to address the potential spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

The rule adopted in November had been slated to expire Tuesday. Michael Wood, administrator for Oregon OSHA, said the agency decided to extend the rule after a two-month public comment period but made several changes based on input from those who opposed the extension.

The Associated Press reported that the agency received a record number of public comments related to the possible extension of the rule and that nearly 60,000 people signed a petition opposing the extension.

We are keeping in place key protections for workers as part of Oregons larger and ongoing project to defeat COVID-19, Wood said. To allow the workplace COVID-19 protections to simply go away would have left workers far less protected. And it would have left employers who want to know what is expected of them with a good deal less clarity than the rule provides.

Employers must provide workers with information and training regarding COVID-19 and must conduct a COVID-19 exposure risk assessment under the rule. They are also required to optimize their existing ventilation systems, but the updated rule does not require them to purchase new ventilation systems. The updated rule also includes less stringent sanitation requirements. Industry-specific requirements and requirements related to schools have been reduced as well.

Oregon OSHA said it will meet with other agencies and groups to review the rule again in July. At that point, it will look at infection rates, hospitalizations, fatalities and other factors to determine whether the rule can be repealed.

Those meetings will continue every two months until the agency decides to repeal the rule.

The adoption of the updated rule comes a week after Oregon OSHA announced it was reinstating COVID-19 requirements to protect farmworkers who live in employer-provided housing.

In January, President Joe Biden ordered the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to consider whether there is a need for a federal workplace rule on COVID-19. It is unclear whether the federal government will ultimately adopt such a rule.

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg
A group of businesses has filed a lawsuit against Gov. Kate Brown over her recent extension of Oregons state of emergency, which was first implemented in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state of emergency, which Brown extended by 60 days last week, gives her the authority to issue restrictions on business operations, among other things.

Brown announced Tuesday afternoon that all counties would be moved out of extreme risk, meaning that the ban on indoor dining would be lifted by Friday. It was not immediately clear how Browns announcement would affect the status of the lawsuit.

The group suing Brown includes the political action committees Oregon Moms Union and Heart of Main Street, as well as the owner of Spud Monkeys  a Gresham restaurant that has been cited for violating COVID-19 restrictions.

Members of the group objected to unfair restrictions they said Brown has placed upon businesses and public school children, according to the lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday. They asked the court to issue an injunction, barring the enforcement of the restrictions.

The lawsuit also claimed Browns executive order failed to differentiate between vaccinated and unvaccinated people, subjecting all to the same regulations and deprivations of liberty.

Browns office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The lawsuit was filed the day after Sandy Mayor Stan Pulliam announced in a news conference that a coalition of businesses had planned to sue Brown.

Pulliam himself was not identified as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, although he distributed a news release Monday supporting the businesses who are suing Brown.

He called Browns decision to extend the state of emergency shrouded in opaque rationale, undisclosed science and arbitrary metrics.

Pulliam, a second-term mayor whos considering running for governor, drew rebukes from Brown and other elected officials earlier this year when he urged businesses to go against the COVID-19 protocols Brown had imposed.

Clackamas and Multnomah counties are among those currently facing the states strictest business restrictions  which, in part, prohibit restaurants and bars from hosting indoor patrons.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR
A federal judge on Tuesday declined to release college senior Matthew Klein, one of two Oregon brothers accused in the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol, after finding his parents unsuitable to supervise him pending trial.

The ruling came after prosecutors submitted examples of text messages that showed Kleins mother and father warning Matthews younger brother, Jonathanpeter Klein, that braggers get caught.

Their mother also sent texts to Jonathanpeter Klein warning him that his phone is not encrypted, that he should [b]e careful what [he] say[s] and that he should clear [his] phone or that he should [p]ull a Hillary and use a hammer and bleach to destroy the phone, according to court records.

Matthew Klein, 24, and Jonathanpeter Klein, 21, both have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, aiding and abetting in the obstruction of an official proceeding, obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder, destruction of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds.

Matthew Kleins lawyer had urged his clients release to his parents in Baker City, describing them as deeply religious Christian missionaries and very responsible people. Matthew Klein wants to continue his education at George Fox University, said defense attorney Steven R. Kiersh.

We would like to see him get back and complete his college program, but, primarily, he would be -- be required -- again, without any opposition -- to stay on the premises where his family members can monitor his conduct and where, quite frankly, pretrial can monitor his comings and goings, Kiersh argued last month in a Zoom hearing before the judge based in Washington, D.C.

Matthew Klein enrolled at the Christian college in Newberg in fall 2017 and had been attending up until his arrest on March 23, according to the university. He was a senior, but he is no longer a student at George Fox, George Fox spokesman Rob Felton said Tuesday.

Matthew Klein was a commuter student from Sherwood, and university staff were not aware of his presence at the Capitol or alleged participation in previous rallies associated with the Proud Boys, a group whose attitudes and commitments are antithetical to the values of our community, the university provost wrote to staff and faculty on April 23. Matthew Klein was barred from the George Fox campus, the provost wrote last month.

Kiersh also sought to distinguish Matthew Klein from his younger brother, telling the court that Jonathanpeter Klein is accused of being a member of the Proud Boys, not Matthew Klein.

His lawyer argued that Matthew Klein was following the direction of then-President Donald Trump after attending a rally in Washington, D.C., before marching to the Capitol and didnt assault anyone.

It was the President of the United States who told the crowd to go march to the United States Capitol, Kiersch said. This was not Matthew Klein saying do it.

But federal prosecutor Christopher K. Veatch countered that Matthew Klein played a larger role than his brother in the Capitol breach, noting Matthew Klein helped others scale a wall on the west side of the Capitol to allow them to get inside.

After he and his brother entered the Capitol and then left the building about 10 minutes later, the two wrenched open another door on the north side of the Capitol, Veatch said.

Once they got the door open, Jonathanpeter Klein walked away but Matthew Klein put on his goggles, held out his Gadsden flag and confronted law enforcement officers before he was doused with pepper spray, Veatch said.

Matthew Kleins conduct was far worse than Jonathan Klein, and theres been no attempt to try to conflate the two, he told U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss.

Moss took the request under advisement until now, declining the motion to release Matthew Klein to his parents, agreeing with prosecutors who had argued they were ill-suited to supervise their son.

But he left open the possibility for Matthew Klein and his lawyer to find another third-party custodian who could be approved, with stringent release conditions for Matthew Klein, such as home detention and GPS monitoring.

Matthew Kleins lawyer had submitted a half a dozen other names of people to serve as custodians but the judge noted that a federal pretrial services officer hadnt vetted any of the people recommended.

Its important to know where Matthew Klein will live and that his custodians will take responsibility for ensuring he follows the terms of the release, Moss wrote in the ruling.

The difficulty for Klein right now, however, is that he has failed to identify a suitable third-party custodian, Moss wrote.

The judge considered the nature of the allegations, the weight of the evidence -- including video footage, photos and social media -- and the history and characteristics of Matthew Klein.

Kleins alleged crimes were undoubtedly serious, and his actions posed an acute risk to the wellbeing of many innocent people. Klein and other rioters, moreover, succeeded in their efforts of using brute force to delay (if not stop) the most revered of democratic processes from proceeding, Moss wrote. This was not an exercise of free speech but, to the contrary, an effort to quash the collective voice of the American electorate.

He also cited concerns about Matthew Kleins attendance at two prior rallies in Oregon in September.

The government presented images to the court of the Klein brothers at a Sept. 7 demonstration outside Oregons Capitol in Salem and a Sept. 26 Proud Boy rally in Portlands Delta Park.

Matthew Klein was charged with carrying a loaded gun in a truck that was stopped leaving the Proud Boys rally at Delta Park. He was seated in the bed of a truck with a paintball gun when arrested, according to court records. Those charges remain active -- and were pending in Multnomah County when he participated in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the prosecutor said.

At a minimum, for example, Kleins prominent display of these weapons was seemingly designed to inspire fear in his political opponents  to convey a threat of violence, if not the actualization of that violence, Moss wrote.

The contention by Kleins counsel that Klein carried these weapons for his own protection is difficult to square with photographic images, which depict someone who appears to be looking for, and not seeking to avoid, a fight, the judge wrote. But, even accepting counsels characterization, the Court is left to ponder what Klein would have done  and what he might do in the future  if he perceived that a political foe posed a threat to his safety.

The Klein brothers remain in custody at Portlands Inverness Jail.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
A new legal filing asks a federal judge to grant class-action status to prisoners who were diagnosed with COVID-19 as well as the estates of prisoners who died after contracting the illness.

The latest request was submitted Monday in an ongoing lawsuit that alleges the Oregon Department of Corrections failed to protect incarcerated people from the virus that has swept through the prison system.

According to the latest figures from the state, 3,607 prisoners have tested positive for COVID-19 and 42 have died.

Corrections officials, the U.S. District Court filing claims, have willfully and wantonly ignored the public health threat caused by this global pandemic and, as a result, class members have been harmed, and lives have been lost.

Lawyers ask the court to designate three classes: one for people who were diagnosed with the virus, another for people who were not offered vaccines by Jan. 1 and a wrongful death class made up of the estates of people who had COVID-19 and died while in prison.

Any money damages awarded in the case would be determined by a jury or the court, said Juan Chavez, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs.

Enough time has elapsed where we now have to look at the wreckage and its not pretty, he said. The state had an opportunity to save people and they didnt so now they have to pay and be held accountable.

Jennifer Black, a spokeswoman for the department, declined to comment. The agency typically does not comment on pending litigation.

The lawsuit alleges that prison officials consistently failed to enforce social distancing, enforce mask mandates or keep infected inmates from healthy ones and punished whistleblowers and those who tested positive for the disease.

These are Felishia Ramirez and Juan Tristan, known to Felishia as Uncle Daniel. Mr. Tristan was incarcerated at Oregon State Penitentiary. He passed away at Salem Hospital in January from COVID-19 and Felishia and we believe it didn't have to be that way. pic.twitter.com/iCQ0wtr1Zu  Oregon Justice Resource Center (@OJRCenter) May 4, 2021

It says the state practices bucked federal guidance by, for instance, maintaining work release programs that involved incarcerated people moving in and out of prisons and failed to quarantine all new inmates for 14 days before they joined the general prison population even if they transferred from prisons where the virus had been documented.

And, it alleges, incarcerated people saw staff across all institutions fail to wear masks or refuse to wear them.

Indeed, to this day, defendants staff systemwide still do not correctly wear masks, and sometimes do not wear them at all, the claim says.

Among the plaintiffs are Felishia Ramirez, 34, of Yamhill County, whose uncle Juan Tristan died of COVID-19 on Jan. 22 at Salem Hospital, four weeks after he was admitted for treatment of the disease. He contracted the virus at the Oregon State Penitentiary.

According to the Oregon Justice Resource Center, it was another prisoner who alerted Tristans family that he was in the hospital with a serious illness. Tristan was serving time for multiple sex crime convictions out of Yamhill County.

In a statement released by her lawyers, Ramirez said her uncle was not treated ethically by the prison system. She said he would have been able to get treatment more quickly had he not been in prison.

I would have been able to get him the medical care he desperately needed a lot sooner, she said. The outcome would have been a lot different for him.

-- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie
Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt took the unusual step of appointing a criminal defense lawyer to serve as a co-lead prosecutor to review the death investigation of Israel Berry, who was shot and killed by a Gresham police officer last May.

Schmidt made the decision to bring in private practice attorney Samuel Kauffman in March but the move was first disclosed Wednesday as the case nears presentation to a grand jury, expected in the next three to five weeks.

Kauffman will be involved in the preparation and presentation of the case to the grand jury, and, if an indictment is returned, will assist with a prosecution at trial, according to Schmidt. Hell be paid $300 an hour, according to the district attorneys office.

His involvement will provide an objective review and removes any actual or perceived conflicts of interest which can occur when the district attorney reviews the actions of an agency that works within their jurisdiction, Schmidt said.

Gresham Officer James Doyle shot Berry, 49, in Portland on May 31. Officers had been called about 9:35 p.m. that Sunday to the 12400 block of Southeast Kelly Street in Portland to a report of a man making threats, according to Portland police.

Gresham police were taking Portland emergency calls due to several large demonstrations in the city.

Police have released few details on what led up to the shooting, how many shots were fired, what type of threats Berry was said to have been making or if he was armed.

Doyle, who remains on paid leave, joined the Gresham Police Department in 2018.

The pursuit of justice in this case will be augmented by adding Mr. Kauffman to our team of prosecutors as we continue to investigate this case and present it to the grand jury, Schmidt said. I believe in the importance of having the investigation of an officers use of deadly force be separate and independent from the involved agency.

The Oregon Department of Justice provided support as needed between October and February, advising and providing consultation, according to Kristina Edmunson, the department spokeswoman. We consulted extensively regarding this case, and we were involved throughout that period. As with all cases, the type of support we provide varies depending on a variety of factors.

Schmidt last week announced a separate joint investigation in a recent fatal shooting by a Portland police officer. In that case, he said his office and the Oregon Attorney Generals Office will review the April 16 shooting of Robert Douglas Delgado by Officer Zachary DeLong in Lents Park in Southeast Portland.

The decisions to ask outside attorneys to assist in the criminal review of a police shooting represents a significant departure from the standard approach for Portland police shootings, which historically have been overseen solely by the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office.

Asking a criminal defense lawyer to serve as a prosecutor reviewing a police shooting case is even more unusual and hasnt been done in the county before in any type of case.

Schmidt asked the Oregon Attorney Generals Office in early October whether it could help examine the shooting of Berry by Gresham police but didnt find out until February that state resources wouldnt be available, according to Brent Weisberg, spokesman for Schmidt.

Kristina Edmunson, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Justice Department, said the state provided advice and consultation on the Berry case between October and February. She didnt say why that ended, other than noting that the needs of every case and every district attorneys office is different.

As with all cases, the type of support we provide varies depending on a variety of factors, she said.

The District Attorneys Office pivoted to hire a private lawyer and Kauffman was sworn in as a special deputy district attorney on March 11, according to the District Attorneys Office.

Schmidt pledged to continue to invite outside assistance in police deadly force cases. He didnt say how Kauffman was chosen. Kauffman has worked nearly 25 years as a criminal defense lawyer in state and federal court.

Attorney Juan Chavez, director of Oregon Justice Resource Centers civil rights project, said the developments highlight the urgent need for our state and specifically our legislators to put in place a consistent and credible process to investigate and potentially prosecute every time police kill or use violence in Oregon.

We should not have to rely on individual district attorneys to do the right thing. Indeed, we cannot always rely on them, Chavez said in a statement. We call on legislators to take action during this session to correct this problem. We would like to see a permanent special prosecutors office with the resources to thoroughly investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute killings by police.

Until now, the District Attorneys Office in Multnomah County has investigated police fatal shootings and presented the cases to a grand jury, which involves calling witnesses, including the officers involved.

If a grand jury does not return an indictment, the District Attorneys Office then has typically requested a judge to order the release of a grand jury transcript.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
Those who own the Tread+ treadmill have until Nov. 6, 2022, to get a full refund from Peloton. The safety commission still recommends that people stop using the treadmill, but for those that want to keep it, Peloton said it will move it free of charge to a room where children or pets cannot access it and update the software so a passcode is required to unlock it.
Crimestoppers of Oregon is offering a $2,500 reward for any information that leads to an arrest in an April 11 fatal hit-and-run in Northeast Portland.

Portland police said 47-year-old Faustino Jurado-Correa was crossing the street using a mobility scooter at 122nd Avenue and Halsey Street when he was hit by a truck around 5 p.m.

An eyewitness told police a driver in a silver pick-up truck was turning east onto Halsey from 122nd as Jurado-Correa was crossing Halsey. The driver did not stop and continued driving east on Halsey.

Investigators located a photo of the suspect vehicle, believed to be a 2002 to 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab pickup, gray or silver in color, with a large dent below the rear drivers side door.

The vehicle has been found and seized; however, the identity of the suspect driver remains unknown.

Police would not say whether the vehicle was stolen, who owns the truck or whether the registered owner is a suspect in the hit-and-run.

Police said Jurado is one of 24 people killed in Portland traffic crashes so far this year. The figure marks a more than 56% increase in the citys traffic fatalities as of this date in 2020, according to police.

Investigators asked anyone with information about this crash, including the identity of the suspect driver is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers of Oregon at crimestoppersoforegon.com/ or Officer Garrett Dow at Garrett.Dow@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-5070.

--Savannah Eadens; seadens@oregonian.com; 503-221-6651; @savannaheadens
A bipartisan group of state lawmakers spoke out Wednesday on the need to hold Oregon universities accountable for their handling of sexual or racial harassment complaints on their campuses.

Theyve proposed a Senate resolution that would establish an eight-member Joint Committee on Respectful and Safe University Campuses.

The oversight committee would hold public hearings with the power to subpoena witnesses and documents to study policies, practices and the culture of public higher education campuses and work to prevent and respond to allegations of sexual and racial harassment, discrimination and misconduct.

The committee could also appoint independent investigators to audit the institutions.

The move comes in the wake of Oregon Health & Science Universitys $585,000 payout to settle a federal sexual assault suit filed by a social worker who accused the university of failing to act after she and others complained of sexual harassment by a second-year anesthesiology resident, Dr. Jason Campbell. Campbell became known as the TikTok Doc for his viral social media videos dancing in hospital scrubs during the pandemic.

An internal investigation concluded Campbell violated OHSUs harassment policy and code of conduct, but Campbell left before a scheduled discipline hearing, only to obtain a residency at the University of Florida. He was placed on leave from that job in February.

The legislative push also comes amid the abrupt firing of tenured Linfield University English professor Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, a faculty trustee who criticized the universitys handling of sexual harassment complaints made by students and faculty against four university board members. He had sought restrictions on trustees social gatherings with students and called for more training of trustees. One former trustee has pleaded not guilty to sexual abuse charges stemming from his encounters with four students in 2019 and 2017.

Linfield President Miles K. Davis said Pollack-Pelzner was fired for cause and that the private university didnt have to follow its faculty handbook, which spells out a process for disciplining a tenured professor involving a notice of charges followed by a faculty committee hearing.

Recent allegations on Oregons campuses underscore that the Legislature has not done enough to hold our universities accountable, said Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, the author of the resolution. The Legislatures oversight in this area is much needed so we can understand how to protect victims of harassment. The public deserves to know how their tax dollars are being spent in this area.

Thatcher said she had concerns, for example, about OHSUs selection of former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder at an exorbitant rate of more than $2,000 an hour to examine the medical schools handling of sexual misconduct and discrimination complaints.

The Legislature must pay special attention when it appears universities arent taking such allegations seriously or arent following their own policies, Thatcher said.

When universities use taxpayers dollars for hiring expensive lawyers, she added, we need to get to the root cause.

Sen. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis, another chief sponsor, said the legislation would allow lawmakers to better understand how Oregons universities respond to complaints.

This will help make sure were not hiding these difficult conversations in dark corners, Gelser said.

Gelser cited a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit filed in March by Oregon State Universitys former dean of the College of Pharmacy against the school and its then-provost Edward Feser, now interim president.

Grace Kuo, the former dean, alleges in the suit that she was removed from her position in December after alumni and others complained to the university about her decision to demote an executive associate dean of the pharmacy college. Students had complained that the associate dean didnt adequately respond to their allegations about sexual harassment at the college and bias toward students who speak English with an accent, the suit says. Kuo remains a tenured professor at the school.

We have an obligation to make sure that all of our public institutions, all of our taxpayer-funded institutions are open and transparent and are doing everything that they can to have safe and respectful cultures, Gelser said.

The joint committee would be made up of four members from the Senate and four from the House. Theyd be appointed no later than 15 days after the resolutions adoption, it says. The committee oversight would be restricted to public colleges and universities in the state.

Joining Thatcher and Gelser as chief sponsors of the resolution are Sen. Kayse Jama, D-Portland, and Reps. Christine Drazan, R-Canby, and Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville.

Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, said he supports the proposal as a regular sponsor and believes it needs to be approved this session because of ongoing cases that he said hes concerned wont be dealt with in the appropriate way without the added oversight.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
Oregon State University became the first public college in the state Tuesday to announce it will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for students, faculty and all other employees beginning in the fall term.

Three private colleges have issued similar requirements, and the rest of the states public colleges are mulling whether to do the same.

As of Tuesday, officials at the states other two large public colleges  Portland State University and the University of Oregon  said no decisions have yet been made.

Becky Johnson, interim president at OSU, said proof of vaccinations will contribute to the greatest level of population protection possible from the virus.

How exactly OSU intends to verify that more than 30,000 students, plus employees, actually did get the shots remains unclear. The university will continue to develop and fine tune the process through the fall quarter.

OSU will honor requests for exemption from the requirement on religious or other grounds.

We plan to implement this policy in the fall with checkpoints for compliance throughout the term, spokesman Steve Clark said. The result of any non-compliance by students or employees will be determined in the months ahead.

College administrators had hoped that the virus would be a bad memory by September 2021, but that will not be the case. As the vaccine rollout drags on, the number of cases in Oregon has again surged.

Oregon State and most other colleges are planning to open their campuses to largely normal on-campus, in-person operations this fall. That makes high rates of vaccination all the more crucial, OSUs Johnson said.

Officials at PSU and UO said their institutions encourage students to get vaccinated. But neither has decided yet to require it.

The University of Portland and Lewis & Clark College in Portland and Willamette University in Salem were the first colleges in Oregon to announce a vaccination requirement.

Last year was a difficult one for college administrators, professors and students. Colleges had to devise virtual curriculums almost overnight as the virus forced the closure of campuses in March.

It was also a bad year financially for many schools as students decided online college was not what they had in mind. They stayed home, took gap years, or found paying jobs.

How many of these virtual veterans will care to return to college for a dose of the real thing is a matter of considerable importance in college administration buildings across the state.

A significant number of Americans are refusing to get vaccinated on safety grounds.

OSU students who choose to study remotely will not be subject to the vaccine requirement. The university plans a series of discussions with students, faculty leaders, and unions about the vaccine requirements through the summer.

OSUs COVID-19 Safety and Success website will be regularly updated with new information on the requirement, including frequently asked questions.

-- Jeff Manning | jmanning@oregonian.com | 971-263-5164
Portland State University officials said Wednesday the school would require on-campus students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 starting in September.

Students will have to verify their vaccination status before starting on-campus classes in the fall term. In a letter to students, faculty and staff, President Stephen Percy said the schools dense urban campus gives it a unique responsibility to guard against the virus spread.

All of us are eager to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us and come together again in person as a campus community, Percy wrote. Widespread vaccination is our clearest and best path toward that future.

Students can claim a personal, medical or religious exemption to the vaccine requirement. Details of the requirements for faculty and staff had not been finalized.

The school will host a vaccine clinic on campus for students and employees who have not yet received the vaccine.

Carlos Crespo, a public health doctor and a professor at the school of public health run jointly by Portland State and Oregon Health & Science University, said all PSU students have ample time to get vaccinated in the five months before the fall quarter begins. Its also true that college-age young adults are probably one of the least vaccinated segments of the population, he said.

At an urban university in the heart of downtown and with a lot of students using buses and trains to commute, Crespo said, its vital that students and faculty get their shots.

The vaccine protects you and others, he said. It provides immunity for the community. It prevents spread.

The PSU announcement comes a day after Oregon State University announced it would require vaccinations for students, faculty and staff. Both schools said it will take time to figure out the fine points of verification and enforcement.

Officials at the University of Oregon had not yet announced a decision.

Three major private colleges in Oregon  Lewis & Clark College, University of Portland and Willamette University  announced last month they would require vaccinations for students. They, too, will allow for medical and religious exemptions.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive
The 2008 Twilight movie didnt just launch a hugely successful movie franchise, and make stars of Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. The human-meets-vampire love story, adapted from Stephenie Meyers bestselling novel, also showed off several Oregon locations, including Ecola State Park, Silver Falls State Park and St. Helens.

Another Twilight location, in Oregon City, has now been recognized with a sign marking it as a stop on the Oregon Film Trail. Created by the Oregon Governors Office of Film & Television (aka Oregon Film) in partnership with the Oregon Made Creative Foundation, the Oregon Film Trail is a collection of signs that mark notable film locations throughout the state.

Signs placed at locations featured in such movies as Stand By Me, The Goonies and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest are intended to raise awareness of how movies and TV are related to tourism and economic development.

An Oregon Film Trail sign marks a location in Oregon City where the movie "Twilight" filmed. (Photo: Oregon Film)

The new Oregon Film Trail sign in Oregon City, which was partly paid for by a grant from Travel Oregon, is installed along the McLoughlin Promenade, which overlooks the former Blue Heron paper mill. Scenes from Twilight were shot at the mill, which has been a location for other Oregon-filmed projects, including the movie, The Hunted, and the TV series, Grimm.

As a press release notes, the sign was placed along the Promenades walking path, which affords a view of the mill, downtown Oregon City and the Willamette River. The Promenade has been seen in the TV series, The Librarians, and Trinkets. Downtown Oregon City has been a location for such movies as Bandits and Homer and Eddie.

The Twilight marker in Oregon City is the 27th sign to be added to the Oregon Film Trail. Other signs have been placed at such locations as Astoria, Gleneden Beach, Hammond Marina/Warrenton, Brownsville, Athena, and Salem.

More of our coverage:

Locations for Twilight, Point Break, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest and more added to the Oregon Film Trail

25 best movies filmed in Oregon

The Historic Oregon Film Trail celebrates scenery, history, movies like The Goonies, Stand By Me, and more

Subscribe to our free weekly What to Watch newsletter. Email:



-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist
For Gabriel Pascuzzi, one of two Portland-area chefs competing on Top Chef Season 18, having the show finally come to town in 2020 provided a much-needed boost for the local food scene. Its kind of the perfect timing, Pascuzzi says, in that the cooking competition series, which airs weekly on the Bravo cable channel, gives Oregon food and dining a positive national spotlight.

In a recent phone interview, Pascuzzi also sounded a bit wistful about Top Chef not being able to film in Portland during normal times. Instead, the Bravo series came to the Rose City during September and October of 2020, when measures meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus forced many restaurants to close, or pivot to takeout-only. For food professionals in Portland, the pandemic has often meant lost jobs, financial hardship and unprecedented challenges.

I think Top Chef will definitely help, Pascuzzi says, because of its focus on local food and ability to broadcast the beauty of the region. The visibility the show offers may help bring people back to restaurants once, as Pascuzzi says, fingers crossed, we hopefully come out of the pandemic.

(Want to catch up? Stream Top Chef on fuboTV, which offers a 7-day free trial; or Sling TV)

Pascuzzi, a 34-year-old native Portlander, is the chef and owner of Mama Bird, Stacked Sandwich Shop and Feel Good. His path to a culinary career and competing on Top Chef dates back to his younger days, he says, when he remembers watching celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse on TV.

When I was 16, I told my Dad I wanted to be a chef, Pascuzzi says, recalling that his father responded by saying, If you want to do that, youre going to go work for your uncle for the summer.

Pascuzzi did just that, putting in long hours at his uncles restaurant in Bigfork, Montana. He emerged from the experience still wanting to be a chef.

After graduating from Wilson High School (now Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School) Pascuzzi moved away, earned a bachelors degree in culinary arts from Johnson & Wales University, and began notching impressive credits. In New York City, Pascuzzi worked for Daniel Boulud and Tom Colicchio (the head judge on Top Chef), and in Copenhagen, Pascuzzi was able to cook at Noma, consistently ranked as one of the worlds top restaurants.

Pascuzzi moved back to Portland at the end of 2011, and worked at area restaurants, including a stint as executive chef at Multnomah Whiskey Library, before opening Stacked Sandwich Shop, in 2017.

The winning chef will take home $250,000 in prize money. Being chosen as one of the 15 chefs to compete on the Portland season of Top Chef was humbling, says Pascuzzi. Im very grateful for the opportunity. Im a fan. Ive watched every season of the show. During my sophomore year of college, we used to watch it together, and nerd out about it.

He was such a fan, Pascuzzi says, that he applied to be on Top Chef a few years ago. I got pretty far, but wasnt the right fit that year. Then, during the pandemic, an email popped into my inbox, asking, Hey, do you want to be on Top Chef? This time, Pascuzzi succeeded in being cast.

Portland native Gabriel Pascuzzi is one of two local chefs competing on "Top Chef" Season 18, which filmed in Portland. (Photo: Stephanie Diani/Bravo)Stephanie Diani/Bravo

Because of pandemic safety precautions, the Top Chef Portland season is like no other. Instead of flying in a variety of guests to sample food and judge, Season 18 features Colicchio, host and judge Padma Lakshmi, judge Gail Simmons, and a rotating group of veterans of the show, including Portland chef Gregory Gourdet.

Instead of the competing chefs all living together at some fancy house, as happens in other seasons of Top Chef, the Portland contestants - including Pascuzzis fellow Oregon-based chef, Sara Hauman -- stayed at a hotel in downtown Portland. We were in a bubble, within a bubble, Pascuzzi says. We had our own floor that nobody else was allowed on.

In addition to the pandemic, the Portland Top Chef production also had to contend with racial justice protests, and devastating wildfires that in September filled parts of Oregon, including the Portland metro area, with smoke.

On the smoke days, we werent even allowed outside, Pascuzzi says.

Since Top Chef Portland premiered on April 1, Pascuzzi says hes been recognized by a few people, who have seen him on TV. Ive talked to a few people who say, Hey, Im rooting for you, but nothing crazy. I got flagged down at the farmers market the other day.

Some viewers may have also noticed that, in terms of how this season is edited, Pascuzzi has sometimes come off looking a bit cocky. During the second episode, for example, chefs who thought they were making individual dishes featuring coffee and beer learned they instead had to work in teams of two.

Episode 5 of "Top Chef" Portland, "Meet You at the Drive-In," featured chefs working as a team. From left, Gabriel Pascuzzi, Jamie Tran, Sara Hauman and Nelson German. (Photo: David Moir/Bravo)David Moir/Bravo

Pascuzzi and Dawn Burrell collaborated on a dish that pleased the judges. But the edit included Burrell saying in an interview, Gabriels trying to chefsplain things to me that he has no business doing.

In the fifth episode, which required the chefs to prepare food for a crowd to eat in their cars at a temporary drive-in movie set-up, contestant Jamie Tran said in an interview that she has some reservations about team challenges.

If anybodys a little bit more stronger-minded, its going to be hard, Tran said. I just know, like, Gabriel rubs people the wrong way.

Characterizing him as cocky isnt accurate, according to Pascuzzi. Im a confident person, which he says is different than being cocky. The editing of the show also sometimes takes things out of context, he says, as with the challenge where he and Burrell teamed up. I thought we worked, honestly, pretty well together, Pascuzzi says.

As for what comes next with his Portland businesses, Pascuzzi has done a little remodel of Stacked Sandwich Shop, and says it feels a little cozier, and a little nicer. While hes been able to serve diners on the patio at Mama Bird, he says, it would be nice to see what its is like with both the patio and the restaurant open at the same time. Everything is just baby steps right now.

More of our coverage:

Top Chef Portland goes to the drive-in for rain, and some horror show food (Episode 5 recap)

Top Chef Portland heads outdoors to Hood River Fruit Loop, where chefs battle wind and bees (Episode 4 recap)

Top Chef Portland: Chefs visit restaurants specializing in Pan African cuisine, for education and inspiration

Top Chef Portland premieres with plenty of air time for local chefs, and lots of fowl play

Top Chef returns with a Portland-based season, celebrating food after a tough year for restaurants

Top Chef is back, and the new season is based in Portland

Portlands Gregory Gourdet says being on Top Chef helps us remember what restaurant culture used to be like

Top Chef Portlands Sara Hauman on self-confidence, yogurt and the importance of little fish

Subscribe to our free weekly What to Watch newsletter. Email:



-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist
Put on your walking shoes and join Architectural Heritage Center docents on thought-provoking tours of Portlands history-rich neighborhoods.

The nonprofit center in Southeast Portland organizes public programs and gallery exhibitions as well as around 100 volunteer-led tours a year that explore more than 30 distinct neighborhoods, says education manager Val Ballestrem.

The Architectural Heritage Center has been offering walking tours for two decades, but in 2012 we expanded the program because we saw what a great tool they were for taking a deeper dive into Portland area architecture and neighborhood history, he says.

Tickets are $20 ($12 for AHC members). Tour groups are limited to 10 people and face coverings are required.

More tours will be added for July through November, and tours that are now full will most likely be repeated in the summer or fall, says Ballestrem. Private group walking tours can be arranged by calling 503-231-7264.

The center, at 701 S.E. Grand Ave., is open with limited capacity from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Face coverings and social distancing will be required.

The current exhibit, South Portland and the Long Shadow of Urban Renewal, examines the rise, fall, redevelopment and future of South Portland. Also on view are exhibits on the architect Howard Kable and the historic city of East Portland.

Visit the centers Schedule + Registration page for the most up-to-date calendar of walking tours and other AHC education programs.

>Download the free Portland Architecture Bingo game depicting architectural features of homes and buildings

>Download a coloring book inspired by the centers famous stained glass collection

Ladd's Addition TourBrian J. Johnson/Architectural Heritage Center

May 6 Ladds Addition Tour: Explore the tree-lined streets and early 20th century architecture from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. This National Register Historic District is Oregons oldest planned community. The tour will be repeated 10 a.m.-noon on June 22.

Montavilla Neighborhood TourArchitectural Heritage Center

May 8 Montavilla Neighborhood Tour: From 10 a.m.-noon, see this one-time streetcar suburb on the east side of Mount Tabor that has a former monastery, 19th-century farmhouses and Arts & Crafts bungalows plus a restored Streamline Moderne theater.

Historic Homes of the Alphabet DistrictArchitectural Heritage Center

May 11 Historic Homes of the Alphabet District: This National Register Historic District was developed by Captain John Couch, his family and in-laws. Explore a residential portion of the neighborhood from 10 a.m.-noon. The tour will be repeated from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on June 24.

Lair Hill Neighborhood TourArchitectural Heritage Center

May 13 Lair Hill Neighborhood Tour: Named for early Portland lawyer and newspaper editor William Lair Hill, this residential neighborhood is one of Portlands oldest and has a mix of homes and buildings significant for their connections to the citys early immigrant populations. This tour is from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. The tour will be repeated from 10 a.m.-noon on June 12.

West End TourArchitectural Heritage Center

May 15 West End Tour: See masterworks from some of the citys most notable 20th century architects such as William C. Knighton and A. E. Doyle in the area bounded by West Burnside Street, 10th Avenue and Interstate 405 from 10 a.m.-noon. The tour will be repeated 10 a.m.-noon on June 19.

Kerns Neighborhood TourArchitectural Heritage Center

May 18 Kerns Neighborhood Tour: Walk from 10 a.m.-noon through this neighborhood developed between two historic street car lines that now has the Banfield Expressway to the north, East Burnside Street to the south and Sandy Boulevard cutting right through its center. Youll see the last standing trolley barn from Portlands first generation or street railways, a wide assortment of single and multi-family housing plus some surprising and historic examples of industrial and educational buildings.

Colonial Heights Neighborhood TourArchitectural Heritage Center

May 20 Colonial Heights Neighborhood Tour: See a variety of architectural styles, from English cottage and Colonial Revival to midcentury modern and Northwest Regionalism, as well as the Burrell Villa, now known as the Holmans Funeral Home, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

King's Hill National Register Historic District TourArchitectural Heritage Center

May 22 Kings Hill National Register Historic District Tour: Explore this National Register Historic District near the entrance to Washington Park and Vista Avenue from 10 a.m.-noon to see where many of Portlands most notable late 19th and early 20th century architects designed homes.

Broadway and Mid-Town TourArchitectural Heritage Center

May 25 Broadway and Mid-Town Tour: See some of the citys architecturally significant buildings by A. E. Doyle, John V. Bennes and Morris Whitehouse and hear stories about the citys first public library and one-time park blocks that were lost to development from 10 a.m.-noon. The tour will be repeated from 10 a.m.-noon on June 29.

Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Tour includes the Blaine Smith House.Architectural Heritage Center

May 27 Mount Tabor Neighborhood Tour: See fine residences as well as a school, church and hospital on the west side of Mt. Tabor Park, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. The tour will be repeated from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on June 10.

Sullivan's Gulch Neighborhood TourArchitectural Heritage Center

May 29 Sullivans Gulch Neighborhood Tour: Stroll through this residential neighborhood from 10 a.m.-noon and learn how some of the oldest houses were demolished to make way for the Lloyd Center.

The Pearl District: A Century of Preservation and Change TourArchitectural Heritage Center

June 1 The Pearl District: A Century of Preservation and Change Tour: From 10 a.m.-noon, explore this former industrial area that has been transformed into one of Portlands premier residential and retail neighborhoods.

The History of Irvington as Told Along NE Tillamook St. and BeyondArchitectural Heritage Center

June 3 The History of Irvington as told along N.E. Tillamook Street and beyond: From 6 p.m.-8 p.m, explore a portion of one of the largest historic districts in the country, a one-time streetcar suburb filled with beautiful residential architecture, including the work of notable architects Joseph Jacobberger and Ellis Lawrence.

Sandy Boulevard TourArchitectural Heritage Center

June 5 From Soda Pop to Swimwear: The Commercial and Industrial Architecture of Sandy Boulevard Tour: From 10 a.m.-noon, see architecture styles from Brick Utilitarian to Brutalism as well as Streamline and Zigzag Moderne and learn how the automobile played a major role in the form and style of 20th century architecture.

Portland Heights and Vista Avenue TourArchitectural Heritage Center

June 5 Portland Heights and Vista Avenue Tour: From 10 a.m.-noon, explore this neighborhood filled with Colonial Revival to Northwest Regional style homes by architects A.E. Doyle, Emil Schacht and Edgar Lazarus that were constructed as transportation options opened in the late 19th century.

South Park Blocks TourArchitectural Heritage Center

June 8 South Park Blocks Tour: Stroll from 10 a.m.-noon through the citys oldest parkland. This 11-block downtown area was first platted in 1852. By the 1880s, the strip of land that once served as a fire break had been transformed into one of the most desirable addresses including luxury apartment buildings.

The Garthwick Neighborhood TourArchitectural Heritage Center

June 15 The Garthwick Neighborhood Tour: See popular residential styles of the 20th century in this neighborhood south of Sellwood and north of the Waverley Country Club from 10 a.m.-noon.

Belmont-Sunnyside Neighborhood TourArchitectural Heritage Center

June 15 Belmont-Sunnyside Neighborhood Tour: From 10 a.m.-noon, see a mix of late 19th and early 20th century homes along with streetcar-era commercial buildings in the Southeast Portland neighborhood where Architectural Heritage Center founders, Jerry Bosco and Ben Milligan, once lived.

Piedmont Neighborhood TourArchitectural Heritage Center

June 17 Piedmont Neighborhood Tour: From 6 p.m.-8 p.m., see Queen Anne, Arts & Crafts, Byzantine, Jacobean and Prairie style architectural as well as Joseph Jacobbergers century-old North Portland Branch Library.

Willamette Heights Neighborhood TourArchitectural Heritage Center

June 26 Willamette Heights Neighborhood Tour: From 10 a.m.-noon, see homes designed by some of Portlands most notable architects, including Emil Schacht, in an area that borders the site of the months-long 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, Portlands biggest promotional campaign that launched a population boom and forever changed the city.

 Compiled by Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman
Portlands experimental new program to provide non-police assistance to people experiencing homelessness or a mental health crisis is shaping up to be one of the few potential flash points in the citys budget for next year.

The debate is over how quickly Portlands unarmed street response program  which launched as a small pilot in the Lents neighborhood earlier this year  should expand to other parts of the city, bucking the public safety status quo.

Mayor Ted Wheeler proposed Friday that the city immediately spend nearly $1 million to keep the Lents team at work but wait until an unspecified future time to begin spending another $2.6 million held in check to expand the Portland Street Response program later.

Thats a fraction of what Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty asked to be made immediately available, given that the City Council voted unanimously last June to reallocate $4.8 million from the Portland Police Bureau budget to the non-police street response team.

The five-person Lents team has only been in operation since mid-February, leaving roughly $3.6 million authorized unspent.

Matt McNally, communications strategist for Hardesty, said Tuesday the commissioners office plans to submit an amendment to the mayors proposed budget that would provide the full funding for Portland Street Response.

We feel really confident we have the support of the council and are hopeful to have the support of the mayor as well, McNally said. Our preference is to pass this amendment unanimously.

Jim Middaugh, a spokesman for Wheeler, said the mayor has long supported a non-police response to those in crisis and was in conversation with fellow commissioners and their staffs about what the right investment should be for next year.

We are united in the goal of providing safe, effective service to people experiencing mental health and other related crises, Middaugh said.

The mayors proposed budget fully funds continuation of this pilot through the next fiscal year and proposes council check-ins at the 6- and 12-month marks to learn how the pilot is performing and make data-informed decisions about full implementation.

Commissioner Mingus Mapps said Tuesday he backed Wheelers plan for the program, arguing it will increase its effectiveness in the long run.

As the Commissioner-in-Charge of the Bureau of Emergency Communications, Ive had an inside view observing this program roll out and its clear that we have a lot more to learn, Mapps said.

Will Howell, a spokesman for Commissioner Carmen Rubio, said Tuesday that Rubio would support a proposal to immediately fund Portland Street Response in its entirety.

Commissioner Dan Ryans office declined to comment for this story.

On Wednesday, the City Council will consider paying Portland State University more than $200,000 to conduct a 15-month evaluation of the program.

To date, Portland Street Response has responded to 100 calls in Lents, according to the programs online dashboard. The program sends a team of one paramedic and one social worker to each of these calls.

The mayors go-slow approach has already drawn opposition among leading homeless advocates in Portland.

Kaia Sand, executive director of Street Roots, wrote in a column Tuesday that Wheelers proposal was too limited in scope.

This is not the time to short-change a non-police response Portlanders have demanded, she said.

Apart from differences on the pace of that programs expansions, the citys five commissioners are largely in agreement with the mayors formal spending plan, which he shaped with input from city agencies and his fellow councilors.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m.

A final vote is scheduled for June 17.

-- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632

Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
To the relief of cash-strapped restaurants and residents desperate for a return to normalcy despite a fourth wave of COVID-19 cases, Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday announced that by the end of the week shell lift a set of extreme risk restrictions that have stifled businesses in 15 counties across Oregon.

Whats more, Brown said she doesnt expect to restore those restrictions again during the pandemic.

The extreme risk restrictions have been in place in the 15 counties only since last Friday, but the governor said Tuesday they will be removed this Friday because one of her pre-set metrics had not been met: The seven-day average of hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide grew by only 14.9% -- not the necessary 15%. The state wont implement extreme risk conditions on new counties because of this missed metric, either.

If the number of hospitalized patients had increased by just two more people over the past week, the 15% requirement would have been met and all 15 counties -- plus at least two new ones -- would have fallen under extended extreme risk public safety measures by the end of the week.

Based on todays numbers, I am keeping my commitment to Oregonians, Brown said in a statement Tuesday.  ... I know this will bring relief to many across the state.

Brown and public health officials linked the strictest business restrictions to three metrics: high coronavirus case rates at the county level; statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations above 300; and COVID-19 hospitalizations increasing weekly by at least 15%.

Until Tuesday, it appeared restrictions would remain in counties identified last week as well as a few others based on their increasing local case rates.

But a slight dip in reported hospitalizations Tuesday -- to 345 COVID-19 patients -- slowed Oregons overall growth rate, meaning one of Browns criteria had no longer been met.

Browns decision to initially place counties in extreme risk last week drew intense criticism from many Oregonians, even though hospitalizations at the time had climbed by 37% in a week. Tuesday, she appeared to struggle with her decision to remove the designation starting this Friday.

She didnt announce her decision until after 5 p.m. Tuesday -- several hours later than she typically has announced changes to county risk levels and restrictions in the past. Officials had declined throughout the afternoon to address what changes would be made.

Asked if Brown considered keeping restrictions in place or extending them, Charles Boyle, a spokesman for the governor, would not directly answer.

I think its fair to say there were internal discussions to review the data and discuss what that would mean for county risk level changes, he said in a text message.

Multnomah and Clackamas counties now will be among the 15 counties allowed to reopen indoor dining rooms at 25% capacity come Friday, among other loosening restrictions, as the counties drop into a high risk designation. Washington County, which would have moved into extreme risk because of its rising cases of COVID-19 over the past two weeks, will remain at high risk.

Brown said she doesnt expect any counties to be designated as extreme risk again because of the growing number of Oregonians getting vaccinated. Tuesday, that stood at about 32% fully vaccinated and 46% at least partially vaccinated, roughly in line with the national averages.

Let me be clear: Across the state, COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are still high, and Oregon is not out of the woods yet, the governor said.  ... Vaccinations are still our best path to protecting our loved ones, and staying on track to fully reopen our economy by the end of June.

Oregons fourth surge in coronavirus cases began in March, like much the rest of the nation. But Oregon is among a minority of states bucking a national trend of declining coronavirus cases in the past few weeks.

Last week, new known cases grew faster in Oregon than anywhere else in the country. And while Oregon has had the third lowest number of known infections per capita since the beginning of the pandemic, it ranks 12th highest over the past two weeks. New infections have increased 16% over that time period.

But over the past four days, the seven-day rolling average of new infections has dropped and officials are hopeful the tide is turning in the state.

Under the extreme risk designation, restaurants and bars in counties representing nearly 70% of Oregonians were prohibited from offering indoor dining. Gyms, movie theaters, concert halls, bowling alleys and indoor swimming pools were allowed up to six patrons at a time. But businesses could service up to 100 customers outdoors at a time, a number some businesses such as restaurants said didnt help because they dont have the outdoor space.

The affected counties are: Baker, Clackamas, Columbia, Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk and Wasco. At least two other counties -- Washington and Benton -- would have moved to extreme risk if hospitalizations had grown by 15%.

Under the more lenient high risk restrictions, businesses -- including restaurants, bars, gyms, bowling alleys, movie theaters, concert halls and indoor pools -- are allowed to operate at a maximum of 25% capacity or 50 people indoors, whichever is smaller. (See the full list of restrictions here.)

Jason Brandt, president of the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, said Browns loosening grip on the dining industry is a huge relief to thousands of business owners and tens of thousands of workers in our industry. Some owners, he said, had been tracking the number of hospitalizations and percentage increases daily.

Brandt added that with the busiest day of the year in the restaurant industry falling on Sunday, May 9, the changes will come in the nick of time.

Just in time, he said, for Mothers Day.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee
Kerry Tymchuk and Mary Faulkner

Tymchuk has served as executive director of the Oregon Historical Society since 2011. Faulkner is president of OHS Board of Trustees.

During a year like no other, the Oregon Historical Society has upheld its responsibility to provide context and record these moments for future generations.

We collected stories from Oregonians impacted by the pandemic and supported educators with online resources to enrich distance learning. We accelerated our digitization of historical resources to provide online access to more people. And we opened as often as we safely could to in-person visitscontinuing to offer free admission to Multnomah County residents and school groups from across Oregon.

We couldnt do this without the support of Multnomah County taxpayers, who generously approved an operating levy for the museum and library in 2010 and strongly supported its renewal in 2016. Its time again to renew the five-year Oregon Historical Society levyat the same property tax rate of $0.05 per $1,000 of assessed value, or about $10 a year for a house assessed at $200,000. We hope weve shown voters the immense value of their investment and ask them to vote yes on Measure 26-221.

Renewing the levy will allow the Oregon Historical Society to continue its important education and preservation work as a repository of Oregons history. The operating funds will support continued free admission for Multnomah County residents; free public lectures and educator workshops; original exhibitions showcasing Multnomah Countys diverse cultures; preservation of millions of documents, photographs, and artifacts; and direct funding for four local Multnomah County historical societies in East Portland, Gresham, Troutdale and Crown Point.

The stable operating funding the levy provides has given us the freedom to ask our donors for their support for new initiatives like the Experience Oregon exhibit -- which won two national awards last year, thanks to the open and honest way it tells Oregons full history. Donors are also supporting our work to refurbish OHS research library. And were developing a new permanent exhibit featuring the history of the city of Portland, from the famous penny toss deciding Portlands name to the tragic Vanport flood.

One of the pledges weve made to voters is to reflect the diversity of Multnomah Countys population, and weve taken that commitment seriously. Weve gained a reputation for telling the true history of Oregonthe good, the bad and the uglyand for forming partnerships with culturally specific organizations to make sure all of history is authentically told.

From day one, a levy oversight committee has reviewed expenditures to ensure were delivering what weve promised to voters. Oversight committee co-chair June Schumann reported to the Multnomah County Board in February: For the ten years since the levys inception, the citizens of Multnomah County including those who in the past might have been unable to afford it, have greatly benefited from free admission to a world class history museum and research library it is the belief of the [Levy Oversight Committee] that Multnomah County residents have benefitted from a modest levy that supports a historical society that has provided free admission to compelling and educational exhibits and programs for the past ten years, and is committed to doing so for the next five years.

Oregon Historical Society provides a rich and necessary context to our home, reminding us of how we got to where and who we are. OHS has served as our collective memory for more than 120 years. A vote to renew the levy will help to ensure that we can continue to fulfill that mission for the next five years  and beyond.

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For most of the past year, Carnival and its competitors have allowed customers to book  and pay for  cruises scheduled just a few months into the future, despite an absence of clear guidance from the CDC indicating that any cruising would be allowed on the scheduled dates. Then, as the dates drew closer, the cruise lines would cancel a month of sailings and notify the customers who paid for them that they could get refunds or reschedule their cruise on a later date.
Joshua Marquis

Marquis retired as Clatsop County district attorney in 2019 after 25 years in office. He is a past president of the Oregon District Attorneys Association and previously served on the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. He lives in Astoria.

In an April 21 op-ed, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt joined the head of the Metropolitan Public Defender in support of making it even easier to erase criminal records and convictions  even those involving felonies and violence to people (Ease expungement of past crimes and help people gain second chances).

The two write that the further erasure of criminal convictions is needed to allow loved ones, friends, and neighbors  to move on from their past mistakes.

What is telling from their quote is that they view the felons  not the victims  as their loved ones and neighbors. Those victims, who usually are appalled to find the crime against them erased from the perpetrators records, are by considerable proportion women, children, the poor and people of color.

Oregons law on expungement has been around a long time. The original, and worthy, intent was to allow people who had committed lower-level crimes, but otherwise had conducted themselves lawfully, to have the single stain on their record erased by a judge if they had no further arrests in the subsequent three years. I am very familiar with the process, having worked primarily as a prosecutor but also as a defense attorney for four decades. The law typically allowed crimes like shoplifting, vandalism, bad checks and possession of drugs to be erased.

But there has been system creep through the actions of criminal defense lawyers, their allies in the Legislature and now a district attorney who speaks like a public defender. Since those halcyon days, the ability to erase convictions after a certain number of years has extended to felony assault, virtually all drug crime  including major drug trafficking  and crimes like perjury, tampering with a witness and coercion (which often involves threatening violence to a witness to ensure they dont testify). Arrests without conviction have always been eligible for erasure, even for murder.

Senate Bill 397, which Schmidt and his co-author, Carl Macpherson, support, would make the permanent erasure of past crimes even easier by shortening waiting periods for people to erase certain convictions and cutting fees.

It would also completely shift the burden to prosecutors and victims to prove why, for example, a man convicted of beating two girlfriends should have his record erased. The language changes are subtle, but seismic.

Currently, its up to judges to determine whether applicants behavior in the years since their conviction merits granting the expungement. But under this bill, the court must grant a request for expungement to eligible applicants unless the court makes written findings, by clear and convincing evidence, that the circumstances and behavior of the person  do not warrant granting the motion due to the circumstances and behavior creating a risk to public safety.

This is an upside down world, where victims are suspects and criminals are heroes. Burglaries are now eligible for extinction, as are  despite claims to the contrary  virtually all gun felonies, from a convicted felon in possession of a firearm to unlawful use of a firearm.

To get a real-life example of how the law already is too lax, we need only look at cases like that of convicted murderer Joel Terence Abbott. In 1993 Abbott was convicted of murdering his once-girlfriend, Carolann Payne. That wasnt the first time he hurt her  he was convicted in the mid 1980s of felony assault after stabbing her. But he had that conviction expunged, meaning in the eyes of the law, it never happened. Unfortunately, while his record was erased, his violent ways were not.

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The Oregon Legislature is drafting its proposal for funding our education system in the next biennium. The proposed number is $9.1 billion, which, on the surface, seems like a significant amount. But an analysis by independent experts found that in order to adequately fund our schools for the next biennium, the number should be $9.6 billion. A difference like that can be hard to grasp, but put in practical terms, the consequences of slashing $500 million from an education budget would be devastating to communities across Oregon.

Oregons K-12 system is the largest employer in the state. Adding that $500 million back into the budget could translate to an additional 10,000 jobs. That is because investment in education fosters economic activity, with every 10 jobs funded in education producing an additional nine jobs in the overall economy. And, of course, investments in education drive long-term growth by providing a skilled workforce to support new and existing businesses. Valuable programs that keep our students engrossed in school  clubs, sports, the arts  face tough decisions about which are most deserving of the chopping block.

The sacrifices weve made this last year have been great. Our kids can no longer afford a compromise on their development. Please urge your legislators to provide $9.6 billion to the State School Fund.

Sonja McKenzie, Portland

McKenzie is chair of the Parkrose School Board and vice president of the Oregon School Board Association.
Oregon should change state law to allow anonymous or confidential ethics complaints and make the states ethics commission more independent, state auditors recommended in a report released Wednesday morning.

Also on auditors list of recommendations to strengthen anti-corruption protections: require school board members to file disclosures of their financial interests, require public employees to demonstrate understanding of state ethics laws and allow ethics investigators more time to conduct inquiries.

Auditors also noted the Oregon Legislature is one of only two state assemblies in the nation to require lawmakers to vote on bills on which they have a conflict of interest. The other state is Utah.

The vast majority of states, many of which also have part-time legislatures like Oregon, either require or allow legislators to recuse themselves from voting on such matters, auditors wrote. Some states go further, barring lawmakers from taking part in any discussion or action on bills in which they have a personal interest.

Oregon House and Senate lawmakers could do away with the conflicted legislator voting requirement at any time, since its in the governance and conduct rules each chamber adopts.

Allowing legislators to participate in matters on which they have a conflict-of-interest risks weakening the publics trust in government and the notion of public office as a public trust, in which officials exercise their authority for the benefit of all rather than themselves, auditors wrote. They suggested the Legislature should change chamber rules and amend state law so future lawmakers are required to recuse themselves from any discussions, debates, or votes on bills in which they have a personal stake.

In one of the more high-profile examples, for instance, then-Sen. Rod Monroe, a Portland Democrat, opposed a 2017 rent control proposal that ultimately died without receiving a Senate vote. Monroe owned a large apartment complex and several other senators owned smaller rental properties, Willamette Week reported.

Through a spokesperson, Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, declined to comment on whether the Legislature should change its conflict-of-interest rule. Speaker Tina Kotek could not immediately be reached for comment.

In addition, auditors pointed out Oregon is in the minority of states lacking an ethics organization that oversees campaign finance.

State auditors set out to examine the strength of the states ethics laws, the commissions structure, training requirements, and efforts to promote an ethical culture, according to the audit. They noted that public officials across Oregon collectively oversee the spending of billions of dollars in taxpayer funds and ethics laws are intended to ensure officials use that money to benefit the public.

In general, auditors reported that Oregons laws against public officials misuse of their offices, acceptance of expensive gifts and conflicts of interest are in line with national standards. The Ethics Commissions nonpartisanship, objectivity, due process protections and independence also meet national standards, auditors wrote. The y commissions handling of the high-profile case of former Gov. John Kitzhaber and first lady Cylvia Hayes exemplified this independence, auditors wrote.

In 2018, staffers for the commission determined that Kitzhaber likely violated state ethics laws, including the prohibition against officials using their positions for personal gain, when he insisted that Hayes be allowed to influence state policies and gain access to high-level meetings. Commissioners agreed. Private groups paid the former first lady more than $200,000 to promote green energy and economic policies and commissioners also found she violated state ethics laws.

At $2.9 million, the ethics commissions two-year budget is tiny by state agency standards. Auditors said the Ethics Commissions nine-person staff has only two investigators and no control over the number of ethics complaints they receive, so the states tight 30-day limit on preliminary investigations is problematic. Complaints are confidential during the preliminary investigation, which is supposed to give investigators an opportunity to determine if there is enough information to warrant a full investigation. When overloaded investigators cannot get answers to crucial questions in the 30-day window, the Ethics Commission is forced to decide whether to dismiss a potential valid complaint or proceed to a full investigation which could incorrectly signal to the public that theres more evidence of an officials potential wrongdoing than actually exists, auditors wrote.

Ron Bersin, executive director of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, agreed with a number of the auditors recommendations and said the commission is neutral on others that would require legislation because Gov. Kate Brown has final say over whether to pursue such legislation. Changes that would require changes in state law include requiring school board members to file statements of economic interest, requiring public employees to go through ethics training or demonstrate knowledge of state ethics laws upon hiring and allowing anonymous or confidential ethics complaints.

Auditors also recommended state laws be changed to limit the governors ability to remove an ethics commissioner, for example by requiring just cause, and to extend commissioners terms beyond four years or allow them to serve more than one term in order to retain some knowledge of state ethics laws. They suggested the Legislature authorize the Ethics Commission to hire its own independent lawyer so it would no longer have to rely on the Oregon Department of Justice for legal advice, since that agencys employees are among the public officials subject to the commissions oversight. Lawmakers could also propose any of those changes.

Bersin noted that the Ethics Commission and governor already have a bill to extend the time investigators can spend on preliminary ethics inquiries from 30 to 60 days and the Senate passed it on a bipartisan vote in April. Senate Bill 60 is now in the House Rules Committee, where it has not been scheduled for a vote.

Bersin agreed with all of auditors recommendations that would clearly not require changes to state law, including that the Ethics Commission should regularly produce a newsletter and use social media to inform the public about the commissions case decisions, how to file a complaint, lobbying disclosures and other information. The ethics commission had already published two quarterly ethics newsletters by the time auditors finalized their report, Bersin wrote.

Auditors noted that Oregon has the second lowest rate in the country of corruption convictions per 100,000 residents. However, it is not clear whether Oregons corruption rate is low because corruption is not happening or because it is not being uncovered and properly investigated, auditors wrote.

One national ethics watchdog group, the Coalition for Integrity, ranked Oregon 42nd lowest in the nation for the strength of its anti-corruption measures. By comparison, Washington State ranks 1st and California ranks 4th, auditors wrote. Oregons low score is due to a variety of factors, such as not requiring the disclosure of those who pay for political advertisements and not requiring legislators to disclose the identity of all people for whom the legislator has performed services.

The Center for Public Integrity also ranked Oregon 42nd for state government accountability and transparency and explained that Oregons grade was due to a shaky legal structure for ethics in which good behavior is taken for granted rather than enforced, auditors noted.

Oregon state auditors provided an overview of historical public corruption cases in an audit released May 5, 2021.

Auditors provided a brief history of public corruption in Oregon and cited details of two prominent examples: the Oregon land fraud scandal of 1904-1905 and the Business Energy Tax Credit fraud that occurred from 2007 through 2014. In the land fraud scheme, public officials helped land speculators and timber companies to obtain cheap natural resources, including timbered land on the Siletz Indian Reservation, at significantly reduced prices, auditors wrote.

In the case of the energy tax credits, Oregon Department of Energy employee Joe Colello and his girlfriend received more than $300,000 in illegal kickbacks from Seattle-based energy consultant Martin Shane in exchange for Colello arranging the sale of energy tax credits, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Shane netted $1.3 million in commissions for brokering the energy tax credit sales. The alleged kickback scheme was uncovered after The Oregonian/OregonLive published the results of an investigation showing the state had improperly awarded the $12 million in tax credits to the university solar projects based on forged documents. Both men were convicted and sentenced to years in federal prison for their crimes.

-- Hillary Borrud; hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud

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Updated: May 5, 2021.

Portland police said a 74-year-old man who had been reported missing was located and returned home.

Arnaldo Perez Castellanos, who has dementia, went for a walk about 11 a.m. on Monday and never returned, according to police.

He was found in a nearby city, police said in a Wednesday statement, and returned home.

 The Oregonian/OregonLive
This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, pink, cultured in the lab.
Trains crossing the place where Quincy Avenue and Blackhawk Road meet can block traffic for up to an hour at a time. A citizen petition to stop the blockages has more than 500 signatures, and Mayor Tom Lazio said the city has a conference call with the Canadian Pacific Railroad later this week.
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The letter accuses Moyo of mishandling the hiring of several employees; two employees were not added to payroll and werent given tax forms to fill out, according to the letter. (Moyo says she had informed the board about the paperwork problem to ask for help and that she got no support addressing the staffing crisis she had inherited.) The letter also accuses Moyo of working to use confidential JHM materials to pursue a negative publicity campaign, rescinds an offer for a 90-day payout and threatens a lawsuit if Moyo does not fulfill multiple conditions, including surrendering museum communications and records.
On Thursday, Northwood University will officially break ground on a $3 million renovation to its Mall Walk, a central pathway and gathering space through the heart of the wooded Midland campus.

The concept is to make it more attractive and functional as well as to enhance protection from future flood events. The ceremony will be held at 5 p.m.

The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation and the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, as well as more than 200 generous donations from alumni and community members, have provided the funding for the project.

New opportunities will be fostered for students, faculty and the community at large to provide gathering spaces for a wide range of educational and social purposes.

The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation is pleased to continue our 58-year partnership with Northwood University by providing support for infrastructure projects that proactively mitigate flooding concerns on campus, said Dr. Ruth Alden Doan, president and trustee of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation. Trustees are honored to support investment in organizations that develop future leaders.

Northwood University President Kent MacDonald expressed gratitude for all of the contributions and is looking forward to new opportunities to welcome the community to campus.

Northwood is known for its beautiful campus, and we are very excited about the many ways this project will make it more attractive and accessible, said MacDonald. We are incredibly grateful to the generous supporters and many talented people who have contributed to this project. Together, we look forward to sharing the Northwood experience with guests as they attend events along the Mall Walk, and we are sure it will continue to be a source of inspiration.

Lisa Gerstacker, president, and Bill Schuette, executive vice president, of the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation applaud the construction of the redesigned Mall Walk and recognize its importance to improving both aesthetic and structural components of Northwoods campus.

We are delighted to invest in Northwoods future here in Midland, Gerstacker and Schuette said in a joint statement. Northwood is indeed Americas Free Enterprise University. Northwood University and the Gerstacker Foundation have a linked history and shared commitment to Midland now and in the years ahead. We value Northwoods academic mission and significance to the region and the State of Michigan and we are sure this project will be one the entire region can be proud of.

The Charles J. Strosacker Foundation is pleased to help with a project that adds to the beauty of Northwoods campus and will provide another gathering place for the community to enjoy, said Bobbie N. Arnold, president and CEO of the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation. The devastation of the flood has brought an opportunity to design improvements and help mitigate any future floods.

When complete, the new Mall Walk will feature a single, broader pathway replacing the existing split corridor. Incorporating outdoor breakout rooms that provide social settings for small groups, the corridor will serve as a year-round gathering place for academic and social activities for the Northwood community as well as for Great Lakes Bay Region residents, including local non-profit organizations.

The redesign will also incorporate several infrastructure enhancements to improve local drainage and protect against flooding events. A new underground system of pipes will help minimize groundwater intrusion and provide flood protection for buildings on the southern edge of campus, including Jordan Hall, the Strosacker Library, the Griswold Communication Center, Miner Hall, and other buildings.

After experiencing the devastating effects of a 500-year flood in May 2020, the university has sought ways to mitigate such damage in the future, said MacDonald. These improvements will provide a measure of protection against not only an event of that magnitude, but against the usual seasonal fluctuations in the water table.

Construction will continue throughout the summer and crews plan to wrap up in time for the Northwood University International Auto Show scheduled for October 2021.
The debate over the future of trash disposal services in Lee Township only got more heated this week.

During a contentious special meeting of the Lee Township Board of Trustees, which took place over Zoom Tuesday evening, Lee Township clerk Laura Dawson asked supervisor Kristy Gustafson to open the gates of Lee Township Solid Waste Transfer Station at its former opening time of noon on Wednesday.

"We must give the residents a way to dispose of their trash, and let the state do what is now in their hands," Dawson said.

Earlier in the week, a statement from the board announced curbside trash collection offered by Republic Services will begin on Thursday, May 6.

Dawson said she would be contacting the Midland County Sheriff's Office if the gate was not opened at that time. Several members of the public on the call said they would stage a demonstration at the waste transfer station on Wednesday.

Early in the meeting, Dawson made a motion to amend the agenda to allow her to read a letter to the board regarding her recent findings from the state and county. The motion was denied 3-2, with trustee Darla Rippee, Gustafson and treasurer William Stewart voting "no" against Dawson and trustee Lawrence Henry.

Despite the motion's failure, Dawson was eventually given time to speak when several Lee Township residents on the Zoom call, beginning with Heidi Pitt, gave their allotted time to Dawson.

Gustafson initially denied Dawson's request to speak, claiming that "giving" minutes during public comment was not allowed and that Dawson would have to wait until others who had raised their hands had spoken, although a total of nine members of the public gave up their allotted time for Dawson to speak.

In her statement, which she said had already been sent to the board, Republic Services and Midland County, Dawson said the curbside service contract is unlawful. Dawson said she had gathered a total of 457 valid signatures from Lee Township voters on April 24 -- and another set the following week which brought the total to 565 -- from petitions opposing the closure of the dump.

"I suggest we do not have lawful basis in proceeding forward with a new contract for curbside (pick-up), but we must continue with our contract with Republic at the waste transfer station," Dawson read, adding the petitions would be certified by Midland County on Wednesday. "It must go to a vote. We must halt the closing of the waste transfer station and open it so residents have trash collection. We must stop this right now."

"If we sign this contract with (Republic), you three will be held legally responsible for any damage to the waste transfer station," Dawson said, addressing Gustafson, Rippee and Stewart. "It's not a threat, it's the truth."

A resolution to remove Dawson as a signer for the contract with Republic Services, and appoint another board designee to sign the solid waste refuse collection and disposal contract with Republic Services passed 3-2. Henry and Dawson voted "no." A motion by Gustafson to amend the agenda allowing fliers to be mailed out to residents passed 4-1, with Dawson voting "no."

The board is set to meet again on Monday, May 10.
Congressman John Moolenaar recently testified at a virtual hearing hosted by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy & Water, which oversees the Army Corps of Engineers and its annual budget.

Moolenaar stressed the importance of investing in the Army Corps of Engineers' annual budget in order to support the Corps' construction of a new lock at the Soo Locks, its management of Great Lakes water levels, and its work at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam to stop invasive species.
Sunday, May 2

11:57 p.m.  Officers responded to a report of larceny and malicious destruction of property in the 5600 block of Pine Meadow Drive.

11:23 p.m.  Officers responded to an intoxicated driver in the area of West Indian and Gordon streets.

9:50 p.m.  A deputy assisted a disabled 30-year-old Midland Township woman with getting to the ER for a mental health evaluation  she was having suicidal thoughts and wanted assistance.

9:17 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence in reference to a 42-year-old woman reporting she was assaulted by her 39-year-old boyfriend. The man fled the scene prior to deputies arriving. A report is being sent to the Midland County Prosecuting Attorney's Office (PAO).

6:31 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Jerome Township residence after a 39-year-old woman said she was going to shoot herself. The deputy made contact with the woman, and she was transported to the MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland emergency room for a mental health evaluation.

3:45 p.m.  Deputies responded to a vehicle crash in Mount Haley Township.

11:31 a.m.  An 18-year-old woman was bitten by a cat at a Warren Township location. She received treatment at the MidMichigan Medical Center Urgent Care.

10:49 a.m.  A deputy spoke with a 59-year-old Geneva Township woman who advised a lawn service company was mowing her lawn and the mower threw a rock at a vehicle parked in her driveway. The deputy advised the woman that an accident report was not needed for the damage to the windshield, and explained that she could contact her insurance company directly if needed.

10:36 a.m.  A 46-year-old woman wished to file a vehicle theft and harassment complaint against her ex-boyfriend. She later refused to provide information and claimed she no longer wished to file a report.

9:27 a.m.  A deputy spoke with a 24-year-old Edenville Township woman at the emergency room who said she slapped her 24-year-old husband in the face. The woman said her husband punched her back in the face, which caused an injury to her nose. Deputies attempted contact with the husband, but he was unable to be located. A report was completed and forwarded to the PAO for review.

2:24 a.m.  A 24-year-old woman reported she could hear people yelling and a loud truck coming from what she thought was her property. Contact was made with a 32-year-old man, who was "mud bogging" with a truck pulling an old boat. The driver was sober, and was advised to stop for the evening. He agreed and apologized for the inconvenience to his neighbor.

Saturday, May 1

11:15 p.m.  A 44-year-old intoxicated woman called 911 to report she could not find her husband. Deputies called the 47-year-old man, who was at a party down the road. The woman was given a ride home from the party a short time earlier, but did not remember. Deputies stood by until the man returned home to take care of his intoxicated wife.

8:47 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Mills Township residence in reference to a 55-year-old man stating his house was broken into, and multiple things were stolen. Belongings that were stolen include a safe, three firearms, and his security system. The total value of the belongings missing are approximately $2,150. This is currently still under investigation  there are no suspects at this time.

7:52 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to the City of Midland for a crash involving a firetruck and a fallen tree.

5:50 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township location in reference to a 57-year-old Weidman man reporting a vehicle was "all over the road" and almost struck a motorcycle. The deputy located the vehicle, and made contact with the 66-year-old male driver from Holly, who was intoxicated. The driver was arrested for operating while intoxicated and lodged at the Midland County Jail.

2:50 p.m.  A deputy responded to a car-turkey crash in Edenville Township.

11:26 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Larkin Township residence for a report of a 21-year-old man being assaulted by his 25-year-old brother. The suspect fled the scene prior to the deputies arrival, and was not able to be located. The victim suffered minor injuries from the assault.

5:48 a.m.  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Edenville Township.

4:33 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to an Ingersoll Township residence for a domestic assault. Deputies made contact with a 24-year-old Ingersoll Township woman and a 26-year-old Ingersoll Township man. After further investigation, it was determined the man was to be arrested for domestic violence.
Conakry, Guinea (PANA) - The earth shook again on Tuesday, very early in the morning, in the sub-prefecture of Bangouya, located in the district of Kindia, in maritime Guinea, about 130 km from the capital, Conakry, several local radio stations reported, quoting the Guinean News Agency (AGP)
The Germany Advisory Commission on the return of Nazi-era stolen cultural property typically has not dealt with cases in which an artwork changed hands outside of Germany. But with a two-thirds majority, the commission recommended that the painting be returned to the heirs, saying it didnt matter that the sale took place outside the Third Reich because Grawi would not have sold his prized possession had he not been persecuted by the Nazis.
NORMAL  Another subdivision in west Normal is gearing up for future housing development.

"This is another good sign," said Inspections Director Greg Troemel. "You're going to continue to see this kind of activity come before you."

The Normal Town Council on Monday unanimously reapproved the preliminary subdivision plan for Greystone Fields as well as conditionally approving the final plat for the subdivision's second addition.

Normal originally approved the preliminary plan for the subdivision in 2004, but it expired as residential construction in Normal slowed.

The final plat added 23 lots to the subdivision, bringing it to 172 total lots. Of those lots, 57 have been platted and are in some phase of development, according to Normal Communications Director Cathy Oloffson.

It is the second subdivision to ask the council to reapprove a preliminary plan. In April the town approved amending the preliminary subdivision plan for The Vineyards in anticipation of new development in northeast Normal.

Area homebuilders say construction in McLean County is on the rise as the market for detached single-family homes shrinks.

Road resurfacing

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In other business, the council voted 6-0 to awarded a $1,119,265.70 contract to H.J. Eppel & Co. Inc. of Pontiac for its second road resurfacing package, which will resurface 2.1 centerline miles of street from May through Oct. 1.

Roads up for resurfacing are:

Bakewell Avenue (Marian Avenue to Summit Street)

Bakewell Avenue (Fairview Street to Orlando Avenue)

Summit Street (School Street to Fell Avenue)

Crestwood Court

Charlotte Drive

North Walnut Street (Lincoln Street to Shelbourne Drive)

Bright Drive

Tilden Place

Summit Street (Walnut Street to Beech Street)

North Maple Street (Summit Street to North of Summit Street)

Roland Drive

Chester Drive

Ironwood Drive (Foxwood Run to #604)

Tanger Court

Hanson Drive (West of Windsor Drive to Blair Drive)

Lease agreement

The Town Council approved 5-1 extending a lease agreement with State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Normal, and U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, for continued use of the town's office space in the lower level of 104 W. North St.

Councilman Stan Nord voted "no" on the lease agreement.

The new lease coincides with Davis and Brady's elected terms, beginning in January 2021 and running through January 2023. Either party may terminate the agreement with 30 days' notice.

Council also approved a resolution waiving bid requirements and authorizing the purchase of a Ford F-550 truck equipped with a Perkins 8-Yard Satellite Refuse Body from Key Equipment & Supply Co. for $86,140.

Contact Sierra Henry at 309-820-3234. Follow her on Twitter: @pg_sierrahenry.

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BLOOMINGTON  After three meetings and hours of public comments about the McLean County redistricting process, First Assistant States Attorney Christopher Spanos quashed many peoples hopes at one option to reconfigure the board this decade.

The McLean County Board currently seats two members in each of its 10 districts, but some want to see that increased to a 20-district system with one member representing each, as the board must redraw its district maps based on new population data from the 2020 census.

Spanos said shifting from a two-member system to a one-member system without letting voters decide on a ballot is unconstitutional.

Reading sections of the Illinois Constitution at the conclusion of Mondays McLean County Executive Committee special meeting, Spanos said only the General Assembly can provide the different methods for the makeup of county board districts, which counties then choose from. After a county board selects its district method, it can only be changed through a referendum.

With no election coming before the July 1 map-making deadline, changing the number of county board members per district isn't possible in this decade's process.

McLean County supervisors in 1971 chose the multi-member district system.

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The county board in any year since, including 2021, does not have the authority to change the method of election absent a referendum, Spanos said.

Board member Elizabeth Johnston proposed a 20-district method, which has large support from urban residents. Patrick Cortesi, chairman of the McLean County Democrats, said Monday night that more districts and more members equal more representation.

Some rural residents, meanwhile, have backed plans for fewer districts, such as five, with two-member representation.

4 things you should know about redistricting in Illinois  and why you should care Redistricting is a process that can seem perplexing and irrelevant to voters. But how Illinois lawmakers redraw the state's legislative maps over the next few months could have an enormous impact on the power of your vote.

Anna Ziegler, assistant manager for the McLean County Farm Bureau, spoke in support of fewer districts. She said the farm bureau supports the board maintaining 20 members, but recommends it changes from 10 districts to four to seven districts.

We believe this empowers each voter, both urban and rural, to vote for a larger percentage of the board, Ziegler said. Instead of every voter voting for just two county board members, it could be three, four or five. We think this increases each districts representation on the countys seven main committees and we think thats critically important because most of the work of the county board happens at the committee level.

The county rules sub-committee will meet Thursday to recommend a plan to the boards executive committee, which will then make a recommendation to the county board.

McLean County Board Chairman John McIntyre said the executive committee will have public hearings regarding the map redrawing process on May 18 and May 25.

A final plan must be adopted before July 1.

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COLUMBIA, Md.  Sifting through a shovel load of dirt in a suburban backyard, Michael Raupp and Paula Shrewsbury find their quarry: a cicada nymph.

And then another. And another. And four more.

In maybe a third of a square foot of dirt, the University of Maryland entomologists find at least seven cicadas -- a rate just shy of a million per acre. A nearby yard yielded a rate closer to 1.5 million.

And there's much more afoot. Trillions of the red-eyed black bugs are coming, scientists say.

Within days, a couple weeks at most, the cicadas of Brood X (the X is the Roman numeral for 10) will emerge after 17 years underground. There are many broods of periodic cicadas that appear on rigid schedules in different years, but this is one of the largest and most noticeable. Theyll be in 15 states from Indiana to Georgia to New York; theyre coming out now in mass numbers in Tennessee and North Carolina. A sliver of eastern Illinois is also included, the Chicago Tribune reported earlier this year.

When the entire brood emerges, backyards can look like undulating waves, and the bug chorus is lawnmower loud.

The cicadas will mostly come out at dusk to try to avoid everything that wants to eat them, squiggling out of holes in the ground. Theyll try to climb up trees or anything vertical, including Raupp and Shrewsbury. Once off the ground, they shed their skins and try to survive that vulnerable stage before they become dinner to a host of critters including ants, birds, dogs, cats and Raupp.

Its one of natures weirdest events, featuring sex, a race against death, evolution and what can sound like a bad science fiction movie soundtrack.

Some people may be repulsed. Psychiatrists are calling entomologists worrying about their patients, Shrewsbury said. But scientists say the arrival of Brood X is a sign that despite pollution, climate change and dramatic biodiversity loss, something is still right with nature. And its quite a show.

Raupp presents the narrative of cicadas lifespan with all the verve of a Hollywood blockbuster:

Youve got a creature that spends 17 years in a COVID-like existence, isolated underground sucking on plant sap, right? In the 17th year these teenagers are going to come out of the earth by the billions if not trillions. Theyre going to try to best everything on the planet that wants to eat them during this critical period of the nighttime when theyre just trying to grow up, theyre just trying to be adults, shed that skin, get their wings, go up into the treetops, escape their predators, he says.

Once in the treetops, hey, its all going to be about romance. Its only the males that sing. Its going to be a big boy band up there as the males try to woo those females, try to convince that special someone that she should be the mother of his nymphs. Hes going to perform, sing songs. If she likes it, shes going to click her wings. Theyre going to have some wild sex in the treetop.

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Then shes going to move out to the small branches, lay their eggs. Then its all going to be over in a matter of weeks. Theyre going to tumble down. Theyre going to basically fertilize the very plants from which they were spawned. Six weeks later the tiny nymphs are going to tumble 80 feet from the treetops, bounce twice, burrow down into the soil, go back underground for another 17 years.

This, Raupp says, is one of the craziest life cycles of any creature on the planet.

America is the only place in the world that has periodic cicadas that stay underground for either 13 or 17 years, says entomologist John Cooley of the University of Connecticut.

The bugs only emerge in large numbers when the ground temperature reaches 64 degrees. Thats happening earlier in the calendar in recent years because of climate change, says entomologist Gene Kritsky. Before 1950 they used to emerge at the end of May; now theyre coming out weeks earlier.

Though there have been some early bugs In Maryland and Ohio, soil temperatures have been in the low 60s. So Raupp and other scientists believe the big emergence is days away -- a week or two, max.

Cicadas who come out early dont survive. Theyre quickly eaten by predators. Cicadas evolved a key survival technique: overwhelming numbers. Theres just too many of them to all get eaten when they all emerge at once, so some will survive and reproduce, Raupp says.

This is not an invasion. The cicadas have been here the entire time, quietly feeding off tree roots underground, not asleep, just moving slowly waiting for their body clocks tell them it is time to come out and breed. Theyve been in America for millions of years, far longer than people.

When they emerge, it gets noisy -- 105 decibels noisy, like a singles bar gone horribly, horribly wrong, Cooley says. There are three distinct cicada species and each has its own mating song.

They arent locusts and the only plants they damage are young trees, which can be netted. The year after a big batch of cicadas, trees actually do better because dead bugs serve as fertilizer, Kritsky says.

People tend to be scared of the wrong insects, says University of Illinois entomologist May Berenbaum. The mosquito kills more people than any other animals because of malaria and other diseases. Yet some people really dread the cicada emergence, she said.

I think its the fact that theyre an inconvenience. Also, when they die in mass numbers they smell bad, Berenbaum says. They really disrupt our sense of order.

But others are fond of cicadas -- and even munch on them, using recipes like those in a University of Maryland cookbook. And for scientists like Cooley, there is a real beauty in their life cycle.

This is a feel-good story, folks. It really is and its in a year we need more, he says. When they come out, its a great sign that forests are in good shape. All is as it is supposed to be.

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What could be more natural than going to Mars?

So far, civilizations essential narrative has been exploration, discovery and migration from parts of our planet that are short on resources and overpopulated into new territory.

This is undoubtedly why our ancestors werent content to stay in Africa or, eventually, in Europe. In the 15th century we discovered the mother lode, a New World of seemingly unbounded resources populated only by a few souls who could be easily brushed aside. No wonder Europeans were eager to leave a continent that was crowded, oppressive and pestilential for a new continent with unlimited horizons.

Now were pushing up against those horizons, not just in North America, but across the globe. The whole planet has become crowded, oppressive and pestilential. Were burning through our resources more rapidly than Earth can replace them. Its time to look for new territory, and the most likely option  well, the only option  is Mars.

In retrospect, this narrative seems inevitable, but it was always a series of choices driven by our unwillingness to live within the limits of local resources and the assumption that the resources elsewhere were unlimited.

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In prospect, however, its a mistake to assume that colonizing the solar system is an inevitable extension of the story that got us to this point. And its a fatal mistake to assume that Mars and beyond can serve as the safety valve that permits us to continue to ignore the problems that are making a decent life on Earth an increasingly sketchy proposition.

Humankinds instinct for exploration cannot be denied. Our explorations always had a subtext, the exploitation of new lands and resources when the old ones were near exhaustion. But this narrative may have reached a natural dead end at the limits of our atmosphere.

As far as we know, Earth is unique, and humankind has evolved to exist in its unique ecological niche. Consequently, human migration to other planets makes as much sense as transferring a herd of elephants from the wilds of Africa to Central Park or, since were talking about Mars, to the Mojave Desert.

Do lets continue to explore. The impulse to explore and discover occupies a prominent place in the human psyche. Thus the Perseverance rover currently sits on the surface of Mars, and its small helicopter is making excursions into the surroundings.

But the survival of our species cannot rely on fantasies of migration to other planets. In fact, entertaining such fantasies works against a realistic understanding of our tiny corner of the universe and our place in it. The survival of our species requires learning to live in the place that we evolved to inhabit.

Did the capacity to live within our resources evolve along with our drive to explore? Lets hope so. A failure to figure out how to survive on Earth before we try to go elsewhere will be fatal.

John M. Crisp is an op-ed columnist for Tribune News Service. Email jcrispcolumns@gmail.com.

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Did you know that May 3-7 is Exceptional Children's Week? Governor Pritzker issued the State of Illinois Proclamation of Exceptional Children's Week, 2021.

This dedicated week gives us all time to recognize, extend our appreciation of, and gratitude for the children and adolescents with special needs among us. We also recognize, extend our appreciation of, and gratitude for the talented professionals among us who use their specialized knowledge and skills every day to provide special education and related services. We also recognize, extend our appreciation of, and gratitude for all professional personnel who support the delivery of specialized education programming in any way.

The members of the Illinois Council for Exceptional Children follow in the footsteps of Elizabeth Farrell, Founder of the Council for Exceptional Children in August 1922. They seek, develop, select, and use specialized instructional practices and materials that address the unique academic and social learning needs of students with exceptionalities.

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Find a way that best suits you to celebrate Exceptional Children's Week. Write a thank you note to a special education professional. Make a phone call to express your gratitude. See the Illinois Council for Exceptional Children's website (https://www.illinoiscec.net/) for more ways to celebrate Exceptional Children's Week, apply for a Yes, I Can Award, and nominate an outstanding professional for an ICEC Professional Award.

Enjoy your celebration of Exceptional Children's Week!

E. Paula Crowley, President

Illinois Council for Exceptional Children

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Frieze New York is back! After the events of the past year forced the cancellation of every art fair in the city, Frieze will be the first in-person, one-venue fair to take place since The Armory Show in 2020. The annual event will be held from May 59 in Hudson Yard's The Shed, away from its usual venue in Randall's Island.

With just over 60 exhibitors this year (past event showcased up to 200), several measures will be in place to ensure safety, including requiring visitors to show that they've tested negative recently for Covid-19 or that they've been fully vaccinated. A compliance team will also be on the grounds throughout the entire event.

Below, a selection of where to go, who to see and what to check out at this year's Frieze New York for art and fashion lovers alike.

Cube Art Fair's Stay Creative Campaign Courtesy From May 59, Cube Art Fair is bringing 100+ artworks created since the beginning of the pandemic by established and emerging artists from around the world to be displayed on billboards around New York City during Frieze Art Week. Their "Stay Creative" campaign was created as a solution to the cancelation of their in-person show and for artists to still feature their artworks to the public despite the pandemic.

MATCHESFASHION's Frieze New York Programming

MATCHESFASHION is launching an interactive audio guide to Frieze New York that highlights artists at the fair as well as NYC institutions to visit, which can be downloaded onsite and digitally on Frieze.com. The guide will feature Kimberly Drew, Dana Lok and Jenny Schlenzka and Antwaun Sargent, the latter of whom is the subject of MATCHESFASHION's latest Curated By franchise where he'll star in a walking tour of New York to provide a personal insight into the city's cultural world. Fine art photographer is also hosting a podcast that launches May 7 at MATCHESFASHION.com.

Maison Margiela's Art Installation by Marco Brambilla Photography: Nick D'Emilio

Maison Margiela will be premiering an 11-monitor video installation of Nude descending a Staircase No. 3 by artist Marco Brambilla at the brand's Crosby Street store in SoHo. Brambilla's work is a digital reinterpretation of Marcel Duchamp's 1912 masterpiece, Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2., and is the first time it will be presented as an indoor installation fragmented across 11 screens with each screen displaying asynchronous passages of the work. The installation marks the beginning of a new series of artist interventions in Margiela's store that will take place in the coming months. The installation will be on view to the public from May 5 to July 6 at 1 Crosby St

Dover Street Market and Sky High Farm's Artist Series Photography: Jack Pierson

Launching May 8th as part of Dover Street Market New York's Arts Week programming, the second chapter of DSM's Sky High Farm artist series includes a collection comprised of t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, caps and totes featuring existing and original artworks provided by 23 visionaries like Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami and Urs Fischer. Additionally, on Thursday, May 6th at 5pm EST, Gagosian will host an online conversation between Dan Colen, Aimee Meredith Cox and Hank Willis Thomas, moderated by Ora Wise which you can join by registering at eventbrite.com or tuning into the live-stream on the Dover Street Market Site.

La Prairie's Pure Gold Collection and Frieze Installation With Carla Chan Courtesy of La Prairie

Premiering at Frieze New York for the first time, luxury skincare brand La Prairie will debut its collaboration with Hong Kong-born artist Carla Chan with a Golden Hour installation called Space Between The Light Glows in honor of its new La Prairie Pure Gold collection. The installation was the result of an artist residency she undertook at Monte Rosa Hut in the Swiss Alps. "Nature was the big inspiration behind this piece," she said. "The human encounter with raw nature  the stillness, the beauty it imparts pushed me to reflect on the relationship between nature and the humankind and how we cohabitate together. It was important for me to create an immersive experience conducive to such contemplation." The collection and installation will be on display at Frieze New York from May 59.

NeueHouse's "Resident by Frieze & NeueHouse" Membership Program

Private work and social space NeueHouse is launching Resident by Frieze & NeueHouse, a new membership program and all-access culture pass that weaves together the annual global Salon membership to NeueHouse with access to Frieze 91 programming. The new venture offers members international access to all Frieze Art Fairs as well as original content and programming, along with exclusive invitations to events, priority reservations to on-premise restaurants and bars, and benefits from partners such as Fotografiska, Casa Tua, Mortimer House and Design Hotels. More information about the Frieze 91 membership program can be found at www.frieze.com/frieze91
The Head of Corporate Communications and External Affairs for Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) Company Limited, Mr Marlick Adjei has debunked the release from the stables of the Institute for Energy Security (IES) regarding BOST increased margins.



From the release of the Institute for Energy Security (IES), a respected civil society organization, it is asking the government for a withdrawal of the purported upward adjustments in the margins as the petroleum margins were reviewed through the regulator of the petroleum downstream, National Petroleum Authority (NPA).



According to the Head of Corporate Communications and External Affairs of BOST, the concern of the company about the release of IES has to do with the sensationalized interpretation of the increase in the BOST margin.



He again mentioned that BOST is concerned about the claim of the Institute for Energy Security (IES) that it [BOST] is the custodian and manager of the Primary Distribution Margin (PDM) and that the Gh 3 pesewas upward adjustment of the BOST margin 11 months ago has not been properly justified by BOST and also that the company continues to underperform despite the intervention.



In responding to the concerns raised in the release of IES, the Head of Corporate Communications and External Affairs has copied Peacefmonline.com a release to state that the BOST margin was introduced purposely for the operation and maintenance of the petroleum storage and distribution infrastructure.



Given the huge investments made in building these over the years, failure on the parts of successive governments to review the margin from 2011 resulted in massive dilapidation and in some instances, decommissioning of some of these strategic assets, the statement read.



Mr Marlick Adjei in the release stated that the upward adjustment that BOST received was a decision in time to stem the tide of dilapidation and bring these assets back to life and into use.



The twisted interpretation is therefore unfortunate and should be disregarded with the full force of every meaningful appreciation of the need to keep strategic stocks of petroleum products for the nation, he stated.



Touching on the Primary Distribution Margin (PDM) Mr Marlick Adjei in the release said that the tax in the petroleum price build-up which is utilized in the distribution of petroleum products across depots in the country is targeted at ensuring uniformity in petroleum product prices across the nation.



It was under the management of BOST until 2012 when the responsibility was transferred to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). The categorical statement that BOST is still managing this margin is simply false and should be disregarded, the BOST debunked IES assertions.



With regards to the Gh 3 pesewas upward adjustment in the BOST margin, the release from BOST indicates that its initial request was Gh 9 pesewas to restore the value to the 2011-dollar value but then the Gh 3 pesewas increment has been efficiently utilized by the company.



Outlining the state of the company [BOST] from January 2017, the Head of Corporate Communications and External Affairs noted that the company had a debt of $623 million dollars to suppliers and related parties.



Again, he said in the release that, in January 2017 BOST faced a challenge of $36 million claims by Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs) for products lost in the BOST system; decommissioned petroleum barges, non-operational Tema-Akosombo-Petroleum-Product-Pipeline (TAPP) since 2015 and also old fashioned pumps and meters across the depots.



The release from the BOST further indicated that the company owed Ghc237 million Cedis to a number of domestic banks including Ghana Commercial Bank, Fidelity Bank, UMB and others; thus, 15 tanks were decommissioned out of 51 tanks of the company.



But he recounted that out of the upward adjustment in BOST margin, continuous government support and the efficient management of BOST as an entity, the company now boasts of a functional Bolgatanga depot exporting products to the landlocked countries of the Sahel region.



The release from BOST recounted that the company has successfully repaired 9 out of 15 decommissioned tanks, paid $50 million debts to suppliers and related parties, successfully vetted BDC lost product claims of $36 million down to $14.8 million and fully repaired Buipe Bolgatanga Petroleum Product Pipeline.



We have fully repaired Tema Akosombo Petroleum Product Pipeline, 90 per cent completed Bulk Road Vehicle Truck Park at Bolgatanga, outright settlement of debts owed domestic banks, successful repair of all petroleum barges, return to shipping 3.3 million litres of products per trip of the barges from Akosombo to Buipe which is equivalent of 62 trucks loading an average of 54,000 litres per truck and cutting down the operational expenses of BOST per year from a humongous Ghc453 million in 2016 to Ghc190 million among others, the release stated.



We wish to state categorically that BOST, the strategic petroleum storage and distribution company of Ghana has never been better managed. We at this point call on the general public to have confidence in the current management and look forward to nothing but the best from the company, the release added.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









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

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The Methodist Church Ghana has rejected a directive by the Ghana Education Service (GES) to allow Muslim students to fast during Ramadan on campus at the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast.



In a statement, the church said it took a strong exception to the directive stressing that it cannot accede to the unilateral directive issued by the Ghana Education Service.



It insisted that the Ghana Education Service respects the long-standing partnership between Government and Mission Schools.



It argued that the school rule in question is a long-standing one which is also non-religious and various renowned Muslim ladies in Ghana have passed through the school adhering to such a rule.



Read also: Allow Muslim students to fast - GES directs schools



The GES had directed the authorities of the Wesley Girls High School and other schools to allow any muslim student to fast for any religious reason.



The parents of any such student, it said, were also directed to write to the school indicating that the school shall not be held liable for any health condition of the student as a result of the fasting.



The Ghana Education Service, therefore, directs authorities of Wesley Girls High School, as well as any other school to allow any such student who wishes to fast for any religious reason to do so.



The parents or any such student are also directed to write to the school indicating that the school is not to be held liable for any health condition of the student as a result of the fast. Staff, students and the general public are to take note, a statement signed by the Head Public Relations of the GES, Ms Cassandra Twum Ampofo, said.



Attention



It said the services attention had been drawn to various media reports relating to a recent occurrence at the Wesley Girls High School, adding that it started with a student who requested of the school authorities to be allowed to fast during the Ramadan.



Fasting undertaken by students for various reasons and observed differently by the respective groupings has had varied health implications on our students over the years.



The net effect was that students developed various health conditions. The school, therefore, took the decision then that irrespective of ones religious background, fasting was not permitted, it said.



The statement said it was, therefore, imperative that to ensure the health of students was not compromised vis-a-vis their organised school schedules, this long-standing practice had to be maintained.



Authorities



That, it said, was the basis for the refusal by the school authorities of the girls request to fast during Ramadan.



Having been apprised of the facts of this case, the Minister of Education met the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Ghana, Most Rev. Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo, and some board members of Wesley Girls High School. The school authorities made it clear that it had no intention whatsoever of interfering with the religious practices of any group of students and concerns of schools on the health risks associated with the fasting, it said.



Read a copy of the church's statement issued on May 4, 2021 below







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 Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has given an assurance that the free SHS initiative introduced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos government has come to stay.

He explained that the introduction of the initiative was to ensure equity, improve accessibility to all Ghanaian children, making sure that money did not become a barrier to accessing education in the country.



Again, he said the government will continue to make available the right resources to ensure that all schools have what is required to support effective teaching and learning at all times, irrespective of their location.



Surprise visits



Dr Adutwum gave the assurance when he paid a surprised visit to some selected schools in the Central Region last Friday to monitor the adherence to the COVID-19 protocols, implementation of the free SHS policy and teaching, learning and assessment.



The Minister, who was on his way to the launch of the five-year strategic plan for the Takoradi Technical University, visited Wesley Girls High School, Academy of Christ the King SHS, Holy Child School and St Augustine's College.



He also used the occasion to donate five pianos to some selected basic schools in the Cape Coast Municipality.



Satisfaction



Dr Adutwum, who was impressed with the activities in the schools, commended the Cape Coast Education Directorate and the staff of the various schools for their hard work and gave the assurance that the government would continue to provide them with resources on time to enhance effective teaching and learning in their schools.



He urged the students to spend much of their time in school studying as well as engaging in activities that stood the chance of preparing them for a brighter future.



Remain focused



The Education Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosomtwe, charged students to remain focused in school and at home so that they would be able to study hard for the good of their future.



He urged them to let their focus be on their studies which held the key to the development of the country so that the huge investment made in the education sector would not go waste.



Dr Adutwum assured the leadership of the various schools in the region that his ministry would liaise with the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to find a lasting solution to encroachment of school lands, which was disturbing some schools in the region.



Encroachment



The Central Regional Director of Education, Mrs Martha Owusu-Agyemang, said the major challenge confronting schools in the region was the encroachment of school lands and appealed to the minister to do something about the situation.



She gave an assurance that everything possible would be done to ensure that students in the region continued to work extra hard to maintain its good record in the nations education sector.









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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Pharmaceutical company, Novartis, has called for increased leadership commitment towards the prevention and treatment of malaria.



The company, in a statement issued to mark World Malaria Day, said although the disease was preventable and curable, millions of children died each year from it.



Leaders must reinforce their commitments in drawing the line against this preventable and treatable disease in achieving a malaria-free world because the patient cannot wait, the statement, titled, No one should die of malaria said.



World Malaria Day, marked each year on April 25, is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained commitment towards malaria prevention and control.



The day provides the opportunity for the world to pause, reflect and take strategic actions to eliminate Malaria.



According to the latest WHO World Malaria Report, released on November, 30, 2020, although a lot of progress has been made over the last decade, Africa still holds over 90 per cent of the overall disease burden.





The countries with the highest number of cases are Burkina Faso, Cameroun, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, India, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania.



These countries alone account for 70 per cent of the global malaria cases and 71 per cent of global estimated deaths from malaria.



Ghanas initiatives



The statement took notice of the interventions the country was making with regard to preventive and curative initiatives.



Ghana has been implementing a combination of preventive and curative interventions as outlined in the Strategic Plan for Malaria Control in Ghana, 20142020 by the National Malaria Control Programme.



The programme subscribes to the T3 (Test, Treat and Track) initiative which seeks to ensure that every suspected malaria case is tested, that every case tested positive is treated with the recommended quality-assured antimalarial medicine, and that the disease is tracked through timely and accurate reporting to guide policy formulation and operational decisions, it said.



The statement indicated that those processes, if strictly adhered to, would help uncover the true malaria burden in the country and contribute to the appropriate management of other causes of febrile illnesses.



Resistance



According to the statement, the emerging threat of resistance to malaria drugs demanded urgent action to develop new medicines with novel and distinct mechanisms of action.



On what the company was doing in that regard, the statement said, Novartis has been active in the fight against Malaria, through leadership in research and development, as well as working to continue ensuring access to treatment and strengthening integrated community care.



Furthermore, the company had delivered nearly one billion treatments, including more than 430 million paediatric treatments.



Together with partners, Novartis is working on next-generation treatments. Beyond treatment, the company is helping to build clinical trial infrastructure in Africa and other malaria-endemic regions, as well as supporting a new generation of local scientists, the statement 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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Chief Executive Officer of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, has called for a ban on the use of earth-moving equipment or excavators in the mining areas.



Illegal miners activities have over the years depleted Ghana's forest cover. Their activities also pollute water bodies due to the crude and unregulated nature of the mining process.



The introduction of sophisticated equipment, the use of dangerous chemicals and the recent influx of foreign  predominantly Chinese  miners have significantly exacerbated its negative effects.



Due to the bad effects of illegal mining, the President, Nana Akufo-Addo has deployed some 200 soldiers to remove all persons involved in illegal mining after his earlier promise in 2017 to eradicate the problem of galamsey once and for all, somewhat failed.



Galamsey & Earth-moving Equipment



One of the main equipment used by illegal miners in their operation which leaves devastating effects on Ghanas land and water resources is excavator.



As part of governments latest operations to rid forests and water bodies of the illegal miners, several excavators have been seized and burnt to deter the illegal miners from undertaking the activity.



But sections of the Ghanaian public have protested against the destruction of these mining equipment seized from galamseyers. Those against the practice believed the equipment could be auctioned or put to use by the government through the various assemblies in road construction or other beneficial activities, rather than burning it.



Temporary Ban



It would be recalled that in 2019, Government placed a temporary ban on the importation of these excavators into the country.



The decision was taken by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at a Cabinet meeting on March 27, 2019.



The ban formed part of moves by the government after Nana Addo launched the then 'Operation Vanguard', a military-police joint task force to combat the menace of illegal mining.



It took effect from May 1, 2019.



Failed?



However, a combination of governance shortcomings, criminalisation of the sector under President Nana Akufo-Addos first mandate failed to curb galamsey resulting in the dissolution of the inter-ministerial task force against galamsey.



Renewed Fight



Under mounting pressure from environmental advocates and youth groups, compounded by the need to restore investor confidence following several scandals affecting the extractives sector, a new "war" on galamsey has been launched under a different sector minister.



Consequently, so many Ghanaians including Nana Akomea in proffering ways to stop the menace, believes a collective approach is necessary.



Nana Akomea also holds the view that a ban on the use of earth-moving equipment or excavators for surface mining will help to curb galamsey.



Lets ban earth-moving equipment from surface mining ultimatelyDont permit anybody to use earth-moving equipment, he stressed on Tuesday's edition of Peace FMs Kokrokoo.













Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister has urged the media to be circumspect in their reportage by using opportunities created in the digital space to authenticate sources of information before going to press.



She said accurate information flow strengthened national peace and social cohesion pushed transformation and facilitated accelerated national development.



The minister made the call in an address on her behalf during a Consultative Stakeholders Engagement held in Sunyani on the theme "the role of digital media in transforming the Local economy for Job creation and economic development".



It was organised by GrassRoot Hub Ghana in collaboration with Ghana Tech Lab, company that build start-ups and provide opportunities for technology enthusiasts and attended by 40 stakeholders including; representative of the Bono Regional Coordinating Council, the National Youth Authority, Youth Associations, entrepreneurs and the media.



Supported by the Ministry of Communication, Young Africa Works initiative under Mastercard Foundation, and the Word Bank under its Pathways to Sustainable Empowerment (PaSE) program, the engagement was to increase awareness of rightful digital media usage for job creation.



Mad Owousu-Banahene regretted "the digital media space is full of fake news", instead of being an effective and trusted means of contributing to nation building and urged the media to disseminate truthful and authentic information.



"Digitization has come to stay as a global medium with numerous opportunities for job creation. Hence we must rightfully use digital media to positively impact society, spur economic growth and national development", she said.

Source: GNA









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

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Radio Presenter at the Despite Media Group, Nana Yaa Konadu, has described a section of the youth in Ghana as lazy and dream killers.



According to the Peace FM Presenter, most of the youth do not want to work for what they dream of but still want flashy things; a situation which she said has accounted for the increase in promiscuity in the country these days.



Most Ghanaian youth are lazy, they do not want to work but want flashy things, that is why they have turned into ashawos and that has also led to the increase in STIs, she said.



She added that these "same people who want to drive posh cars, put on flying tyres and suits are the same people who would collapse every business you employ them to do."



Let me put this bluntly, most Ghanaian youth are not just lazy but also dream killers and people who also have the mentality that they would steal from employers all the time, she said.



The broadcaster who was speaking on 'Owners of Tomorrow' on KNM TV said she is not surprised most of the youth are not doing well in recent times because of this attitude.

Source: Kwaku Nti









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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Co-chairman for Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Dr Emmanuel Steve Asare Manteaw has described as bogus the public forum organised by the Minerals Incomes Investment Fund to explore the concept and best practices of monetizing minerals royalties.



According to him, the public forum does not constitute proper consultation as the government should have first come out with the amendment in the Agyapa deal after President Akufo-Addo directed the Finance Minister and the Attorney-General to correct the concerns raised by the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Dr Steve Manteaw was of the view that the President should have made public the changes done in the Agyapa deal as raised by the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and then call for public discussion on those changes before any public forum to explore the concept and best practices of monetizing minerals royalties.



That supposed consultation going on about the mineral royalties is bogus. It is not a proper consultation . . . if the President claims that the concerns raised about the Agyapa deal have been resolved, he should have made public the amended document and then discuss it, but with this public forum, which of the experts or the stakeholders saw the amended document about Agyapa deal before discussing minerals royalties monetization? he asked.



He stressed that if the Akufo-Addo government had done changes in the Agyapa deal as raised by the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and is willing to discuss the changes, it would have called the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to join the public forum.



The government knows the existence of CSOs handling issues of accountability and corruption and so if the government has the will and had done the changes in the Agyapa deal, it would have called the CSOs to join the public forum, he indicated.



He, however, noted that the Akufo-Addo government knows that the minerals royalties are not the only problem the country has about the management of the mineral resources as the NPP in its 2016 manifesto promised to introduce a Consolidated Comprehensive Mineral Revenue Framework similar to the Petroleum Revenue Management Act.



He reiterated that the promise of the Akufo-Addo government in the 2016 manifesto about the management of the mineral resources is not what is happening currently.



Experts at Mondays public forum on the monetization of minerals royalties have concluded that Ghana should boldly monetize its minerals incomes if it intends to make the most benefits from the sector.



Speakers at the Forum including Hene Aku Kwapong (Founder of the Songhai Group) Kwabena Ata Nuamah Mensah(Resource Governance Professional) and Carl Odame- Gyenti ( Banking and Finance Professional) argued that countries like South Africa and Saudi Arabia which have seen quick investments in infrastructure have done so because of among other things the monetization of their resource incomes.



Listen to him in the video below





Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com









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

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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bahmed Travel and Tours, Alhaji Ahmed Bandoh has refuted allegations that he was involved in the operations of a fake currency syndicate that was busted at the Kotoka International Airport.



According to him, the allegations which were contained in a statement issued Monday by the National Security Secretariat are without basis, libellous and he has directed his lawyers to sue the National Security for defamation.



"I am not a criminal as they claim, I don't have any criminal records and as I speak with you, I am a final-year law student and I respect the rule of law in this country," Alhaji Bandoh said today at a press conference in Accra.



"I will never assault a senior military officer and I want to make it obvious to the whole world that I have never associated myself with any fake currency. I refute the allegations levelled against me for having any involvement with the recent fake currency saga".



He stated that he only accompanied the lawyer of one Alhaji Mohammed to the National Security Headquarters after the latter had been arrested in connection with the printing and distribution of fake currency on Monday, April, 27.



He said they were both prevented from seeing the officer in charge of the operations.



Allegations



The National Security statement said Alhaji Bandoh had claimed to be "a Presidential Staffer at the Castle" and the client of Yassei Alia, a Syrian who was among 13 persons who were arrested for their alleged involvement in the printing of the fake currency.



The statement added that he (Alhaji Bandoh) "drove to the National Security headquarters, verbally assaulted the leader of the operation, and vowed to free the suspects.



"It said the aggressive conduct of Alhaji Bamed, suggested that he might be involved in the deal, particularly when investigations are ongoing".



However, daring the National Security to substantiate the allegations, Alhaji insisted he has no knowledge of the claims.



"I dissociate myself from the fake currency saga and I am categorically stating that I have no knowledge of the alleged claims," he said.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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

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The Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana is contemplating increasing transport fares after the increment of fuel prices.



The group says they are fed up with government and its tricks over the years.



William Osei, the Chairman of the group told NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie that despite the reduction of fuel margins by eight (8) pesewas from the initial seventeen (17) pesewas  the price will rise again in weeks.



It is just tricks, the price will go up again in the coming weeks, he claimed.



He noted, we will advise ourselves if the government is not ready to help us. We voted for them so if we are suffering, we must voice out.



Government Reduces Fuel Margins by Eight (8) Pesewas



Government has through the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) announced a reduction in fuel margins from 17 pesewas per litre to 9 pesewas.



This was announced in a communique released following a meeting earlier today between the Hon. Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs), Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Co Ltd (BOST), the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), and the Institute for Energy Policies and Research (INSTEPR) at the Ministry of Energy in Accra.



The announcement follows a request by the Hon. Minister for a round table discussion to revise certain components on the price build up.



This takes effect tomorrow 5th May, 2021.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Olam Ghana marked National Safety Day with a solemn virtual ceremony, reasserting the companys commitment to occupational safety and the good health of its employees across its operations.



This years National Safety Day celebration in Ghana ran under the theme, Positive Safety Approaches Save Lives and was observed alongside the World International Safety Day as declared by the International Labour Organisations (ILO).



Olams commemorative ceremony was virtually attended by employees alongside the management team as well as some representative from state institutions. The ceremony underscored the need for all stakeholders to cultivate enabling environments which help to secure and guarantee a safe and healthy environment for workers.



Over 1,200 employees of Olam plugged into the forum from various offices, factories and warehouses across the country to listen to officials and dignitaries who shared their views and thoughts on the importance of effective workplace safety and health regimes.



The special guest, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, in his keynote, addressed the global statistics on Occupational Safety and Health as provided by ILO. Minister Awuah highlighted that as many as 2.3 million workers die annually from occupational accidents or work-related diseases. In Ghana, the number of workers who suffered from workplace accidents stood at 586,213 according to the Ghana Statistical Services Labour Force Survey of 2015.



It is against this background that we welcome current government efforts led by H. E the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to digitise public systems for improved service delivery and productivity, Mr. Baffour Awauh said, disclosing that the Department of Factories Inspectorates (DFI) conducted 3,566 workplace inspections in 2019 - a significant improvement on the 2,238 conducted the previous year.



The Employment Minister said he was happy to note that random inspections of offices, shops and factories conducted from June to August 2020 by his Ministry, in conjunction with DFI and the Labour Department as part of the Governments concerted efforts to reduce infections and ensure the safety of citizens, revealed a general adherence by most workplaces to COVID 19 protocols and guidelines as prescribed by World Health Organisation (WHO) and Ghana Health Service (GHS).



Among the lessons learnt is the need for Government and industry to work together in a common effort to enforce the protocols and guidelines for fighting the pandemic. The neglect of any aspect of our shared responsibilities would have a negative and possibly fatal impact on lives. I, therefore, urge you to take the COVID-19 protocols very seriously, Mr. Baffour Awuah said.



In a special message dispatched for the occasion, Mr. Sunny Verghese, Co-Founder & Group CEO of Olam observed that Olam International has consistently improved on its safety performance indicators over the past years.



Said Mr. Verghese: Over the course of the year, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted nearly every aspect of our lives, from the risk of transmission of the virus at the workplace to the new occupational safety and health risks that have emerged as a result of precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of the virus. We however, pledge to ensure that we strengthen the ways of working at our workplaces to preempt and control certain common risks that cause these serious incidents.



Mr. Vergheses pledge was underscored by Mr. Amit Agrawal, Country Head of Olam Ghana when he affirmed Olams commitment to constantly maintain a healthy and safe workplace in all its businesses. Olams safety program, he emphasized, is built on an inclusive philosophy which focuses on staff, contractors, as well as visitors, taking serious account of risk management procedures and timely communication in reporting issues that may cause harm.



Mr. Agrawal said Olam Ghana is embarking on elaborate steps to accomplish the companys vision of embedding a zero-harm culture in all of its operations, a key component of which, he said, is the recent introduction of Olams Life-Saving Rules aimed at improving safety at the workplace by defining and prescribing the desired behaviour for workers.



He urged all employee to take safety as a collective responsibility and not just the preserve of supervisors, managers or safety leaders. It takes all of us to be individually committed to creating An Even Safer Olam for ourselves, our colleagues, our contractors, and our visitors. We owe this to each other, he said.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

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Sam Pyne has pleaded with the soldiers deployed to mining sites and mining authorities not to burn excavators seized from illegal miners.



The burning of the excavators has been proffered as the best act to deter people from venturing into illegal mining in Ghana.



For the past weeks, discussions about illegal mining, otherwise referred to as galamsey, have dominated the airwaves.



This is because the activities of illegal miners have had a bad impact on the country, particularly communities where such activities are carried out.



The country's waterbodies, lands and forest reserves have been polluted and destroyed by illegal miners.



The President, in his commitment to end the galamsey menace, has deployed 200 soldiers with an order to remove all persons and logistics involved in illegal mining.



Also as part of fighting the menace, there have been calls for the excavators used by illegal miners to be burned.



But reacting to the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokokroo' programme, Sam Pyne advised that the excavators should rather be seized instead of burning them.



He explained that it wouldn't augur well for every excavator to be burned because there may be some that are used by persons or entities with authorization or permit to engage in small-scale mining.



He called on the authorities to exercise restraint saying, "they should exercise restraint with burning them...With the excavators, I believe they should mark them well. There should be proper identification".





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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A private lotto operator, Alpha Lotto Limited has poached an award winning actor, media guru and brand ambassador, Mikki Osei Berko to be the Master of Ceremony (M C) for Alpha lotto transparent live draw on GTV.



Mr Osei Berko affectionately called Master Richard or Dada Boat for his roles in TV series is currently the Executive Director of Mediagold Productions in Ghana.



Alpha Lotto Limited per its NLA License, operates its own games under ACT 844 (2012), on its independent platform and marketed through short code *896#.



Alpha Lotto Limiteds operation is fully compliant with NLAs registration and licensing conditions under NLA License Certificate QR code  NLA_ALL_1_20 (signed by NLA Director-General, dated 1st July, 2020) under VAG ACT (844).



Alpha Lotto winnable games has been christened as Alpha Monday, Delta Tuesday, Omega Wednesday, Excel Thursday, Prime Friday, Kenstar Saturday and Precise Sunday.



Master Richard, who is the face behind many advertisements on various Ghanaian Televisions is set to Emcee for Alpha Lotto live draw on GTV at 9:45 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Friday evenings.









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Togbe Edinam Ansah, a music composer, has appealed to stakeholders to complete the Volta Regional Theatre project, which stalled over the years in Ho.



He said the weight of the project on the promotion of cultural activities in the Region must be considered, and that political and traditional leaders must save the important facility from going waste.



Togbe Ansah, who made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said the project, which was initiated in the Rawlings era progressed mainly on advocacy, and recounted how about a decade ago, a musical concert had to be organised to get it roofed.



He said the undone project had since passed another decade, and that it was time concerned citizens got involved once again.



Nothing is happening in the Region. No arts, no learning, nothing. There is no promotion of culture in Volta and it must be revived, Togbe Ansah said while suggesting a public fundraiser.



May I humbly appeal to our Volta Regional Minister, the Regional House of Chiefs, the Clergy, Church and Mosque leaders, and the Volta caucus of Parliament to support our dying Volta Regional Theatre.



We have the root and soul of the Volta Region there. We cannot go to sleep now forgetting our culture, norms, values and our music, which is our divine language and our existence. Posterity will never forgive us.



Togbe Ansah who is a member of the Musicians Association of Ghana and runs a Life Foundation music school in Ho, said the Region required an ultramodern, well equipped facility to attract, nurture, and encourage potential talent.



He added that with the Region opened up for tourists, culture promotion would require a boost, and lamented the limited opportunity for visitors to sample local tradition and arts.



Some friends of mine from foreign complained that whenever they wanted to hear traditional music its mainly at funerals, and which also only offered pre-recorded works, he said.



The regional theatre is a 1000 capacity auditorium facility with a stage, changing rooms, offices.



The plan also included a culture village, a crafts market and a mini zoo, although encroachments had claimed portions of the allotted land.



The uncompleted project presently houses the Regional office of the Centre for National Culture.

Source: GNA









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Press Release

May 5, 2021 106th Malasakit Center launched in Iloilo as Bong Go continues to push for better access to public health services nationwide Efforts to provide better and more convenient access to public health services continue as Senator Christopher "Bong" Go virtually attended the launch of the country's 106th Malasakit Center at the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center Extension Hospital in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo on Tuesday, May 4. In his speech as a special guest, Go admitted that the country's hospitals are overwhelmed by the number of patients seeking medical attention amid the COVID-19 pandemic and vowed to push for measures to boost the capacity of health facilities and improve access to public health services nationwide. "Witness ako doon. Napakaraming hospitals ang kulang ang hospital beds. Wala pa ang pandemyang ito, nakikita ko nakalinya na ang mga kama sa labas ng corridor, ang mga batang pasyente nagtatabi sa isang kama. Paano natin mao-observe ang social distancing sa panahong ito kung ganyan ang sitwasyon natin?" began Go. "Kaya I am here to give my support para ma-increase ang bed capacities ng ating public hospitals. I am very willing to help para mapabilis at mapirmahan agad ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte ang mga kailangang batas," he added. The Senator also thanked medical frontliners for their service and sacrifices in the fight against COVID-19. He acknowledged the need to provide more support to medical frontliners as the number of new infections remain high in critical areas. "Alam kong kulang na kulang ang ating health workers sa panahong ito at maraming mga bagong graduates ng medical fields ang gusto nang makapagserbisyo sa ating mga kababayan pero kailangan muna silang makapag-board exam," said Go. He earlier urged government to take necessary steps to avoid further delays in the conduct of professional board exams particularly for nursing graduates in order to eventually augment the medical work force. The PRC announced that the May 2021 Nursing Licensure Exam schedule, which was previously re-scheduled to November 2021, will now push through on July 3-4, 2021. "Nakausap ko ang Inter-Agency Task Force at last week pumayag na sila na bigyan priority 'yung mga personnel at examiners ng Professional Regulation Commission para hindi maantala lalo ang nursing board exams," he said. As earlier appealed by Go, the National Task Force Recovery Cluster agreed to include PRC frontline personnel in the A4 priority group for vaccination. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go gave his reassurance to the country's medical frontliners of his unwavering commitment to promote their welfare and fight for their concerns. "Bilang long-time health advocate, personal kong misyon ang palakasin ang kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan. Kaya sinisigurado ko na isusulong ko ang mga batas, polisiya at programa na magpapabuti ng kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino," said Go. "Ngayon na nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya, we are trying to balance the economy and public health. Pero para sa akin, dapat unahin natin ang kalusugan at buhay ng bawat Pilipino dahil a lost life is a lost life forever," he emphasized. To expand access to health care for the poorest and most vulnerable members of society, the Senator authored and sponsored the bill that became Republic Act No. 11463, otherwise known as the 'Malasakit Centers Act of 2019'. The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop which brings together under one roof the following national agencies from which patients may apply for medical assistance: the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. Under the law, all DOH-run hospitals and the Philippine General Hospital in Manila are mandated to establish their own Malasakit Center. Hospitals run by local government units and other public hospitals may also establish their own provided they meet a standard set of criteria to guarantee the sustainability of its operations. The Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center is the second hospital in Iloilo to establish its own Malasakit Center, in addition to the Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo City. Go also sponsored and spearheaded the passage of the bill that became Republic Act 11496 which increased the WVMC's bed capacity from 425 to 700 beds, upgraded its professional health care services and facilities, and authorized the increase of its medical personnel. "Huwag po kayong magpasalamat sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte para sa Malasakit Center. Kami dapat ang nagpapasalamat dahil binigyan niyo kami ng pagkakataon na magserbisyo. Mga Bisaya, mga probinsyano po kami ... na binigyan ng pagkakataon na maglingkod kaya hindi namin sasayangin ito. Up to the last day of our term and even beyond, magseserbisyo kami sa aming kapwa Pilipino," vowed Go. "Ito ang tanging layunin namin ... wala nang ibang hangarin ang ating mahal na Pangulo kung hindi ang kabutihan ng taumbayan. Sinugal na niya ang lahat kaya sasamahan ko siya hanggang sa huli," he continued. The Senator's personnel also provided selected hospital workers with new shoes while another set of beneficiaries were given bicycles. Others were provided with computer tablets which their children may use for their education. They also distributed meals, food packs, vitamins, masks and face shields to a total of 80 staff members and 87 patients. Meanwhile, the DSWD handed out financial assistance to each beneficiary separately. Go went on to recognize the various officials for their untiring service. Among those present during the activity were 4th District Representative Braeden John Biron, Iloilo City Rep. Julienne Baronda, Secretary Michael Lloyd Dino of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, Assistant Secretary Girlie Veloso of the Office of President, DSWD Assistant Regional Director for Operations Delia Bagolcol, Chief of Hospital Dr. Mariano Hembra, and Chief of Clinics Dr. Ma. Nanette Pabilona. He also acknowledged the local representatives of the Malasakit Center program's partner agencies, namely PCSO Iloilo Assistant Branch Manager Ryan Avelino, PCSO Social Worker Nestle Joy Quintila, and PhilHealth Iloilo Management Services Division Head Janet Monteverde. Last March 30, the Senator's personnel also extended aid to hundreds of disadvantaged and displaced workers in Iloilo City. All activities were carried out in batches and in strict observance of the health and safety protocols against COVID-19.
I truly hold in my heart all of the women, across all of the generations, who are greater than me, and smarter than me, and fear heaven and are students of Torah that didnt receive the recognition and love that I have received, she said in a speech. I have a congregation that is a group of people  men, women and children  that come together to serve God in happiness, simplicity and prayer.
Eric Kojo Duah, aka Sakora, the man accused of killing two police officers at Buduburam in the Central Region on August 28, 2019, has been refused bail by the Accra High Court.



Counsel for Duah, Mr Augustines Obour, made an oral application for bail at the court today(Tuesday) when his client made his first appearance.



He argued that Duah had been in custody for far too long, and that it would be in the interest of justice if he was granted bail.



Counsel said his client had competent sureties to secure his bail, was not a flight risk, but was ever ready to appear in court always to defend himself.



In response, the prosecutor, Mrs Frances Mullen Ansah, a Senior State Attorney, opposed the oral bail application, and submitted that counsel must come formally



The presiding judge, Justice Elfreda Denkyi, refused the bail application, explaining that she was not inclined to grant bail.



Trial



Kojo Duah has been charged with murder for the alleged murder Sgt. Michael Dzamasi, a service driver, and L/Cpl Awal Mohammed at a place called Big Apple at Buduburam.



Another accused person- Michael OSarfo Ani, has been charged with abetment to commit murder.



The two were committed by the Kaneshie District Court to stand trial at the High Court.



The Accra High Court is expected to empanel a seven-member jury for the trial.



Hearing continues on May 20, this year



Murder



It is the case of the prosecution that Duah allegedly shot Sgt Dzamesi and L/Corporal Awal, both attached to the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service at Budumburam near Kasoa, who were on task force duties on the Kasoa-Winneba highway.



According to the prosecution, the Duah, in the company of his friends, using an unregistered Toyota Camry vehicle, and driving recklessly, allegedly shot the unarmed policemen after refusing to stop when the security officers signaled them to do so.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The Somanya District Commander of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Andrews Anyani, has cautioned teachers to be weary of the law on defilement, rape, abduction and other sexually related offences as they go about their duties.

He said the law was clear on the punishment to be meted out to offenders and there was no way any teacher would be excused when caught in the act of defilement.



Girl-child



Supt Anyani explained that the girl-child was sent to school purposely to learn and prepare for the future and not to get pregnant and produce unprepared children to disturb society.



Let me for the sake of emphasis say again that every girl-child has been sent to school to learn and prepare for the future and not to be tampered with in sexual ways by the teacher.



Though teachers are always in constant touch with the girl-child, it is totally and morally wrong to have anything to do with her by way of sexual intercourse, Supt Anyani stressed.



He gave the advice at the Yilo Krobo Sixth Quadrennial and 53rd Municipal GNAT Delegates Conference held at Mount Mary College of Education at Somanya last Friday.



Ex-convict



He explained that there was no consent for defilement and any teacher who defiled a girl-child would be sentenced between seven to 25 years imprisonment in hard labour as the law stipulated, adding this will end your career as a teacher because you will become an ex-convict.



Supt Anyani said any form of sexual offence, whether or not it was defilement, rape or abduction, must be avoided by teachers because they had corporate image in the society.



He said the police have no authority to grant bail on defilement and other sexually related offences except the court, and urged the teachers to eschew those acts that might jeopardise with their career.



Achievements



The Yilo Krobo GNAT Chairman, Mr. Tetteh Akuteye, in his address, enumerated a number of projects his administration undertook for the last four years, which included the construction of places of convenience and classroom blocks for some of the schools in the rural areas of the municipality as well as financial support to some teachers in dire need of financial assistance.













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 African Cashew Alliance (ACA) has called on African governments to provide an enabling policy environment conducive for business to help position African cashew producers among the leaders in cashew production in the world.



This, ACA believes, is critical to help African countries involved in the cashew industry, fully take advantage of the booming market for cashew in Europe and the USA.



The Managing Director of ACA, Mr Ernest Mintah, while acknowledging the development in Ghanas cashew sector with the inauguration of the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), said it was not enough as an unwavering support was needed to make it become operational and to be able to fulfil its obligations.



There is the need to not only set up the relevant bodies such as the TCDA and other newly created cashew development authorities in other African countries, but it is important to provide them with the needed support and tools to function so they can play their roles effectively and help drive Africas cashew industry, he stated.



Mr Mintah made the call when he addressed via webinar, Session two of the 10th Edition of the Master Training Programme on the Cashew Value Chain Promotion in Sunyani last Friday.



The programme was organised by the Competitive Cashew Initiative (ComCashew) in collaboration with the ACA, in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG),Tafo and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Development (BMZ) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).



It attracted 79 participants from Benin, Togo, Cote dIvoire, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and Mali who took part through satellite.



Participants from Ghana convened in Sunyani for the five-day training.



Strong structures



Mr Mintah said setting up strong structures to drive the sector in Africa had become necessary, as despite the increasing demand for cashew kernel in Europe and the USA, Ghana and other African countries who were involved in the cashew sector had not been able to take advantage to benefit from it.



He blamed that on the absence of market infrastructure, inefficiencies of the global value chain in the cashew industry, as well as the very low level of value added on from the African market.



The situation has been further negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exposed the weakness of the cashew sector in Africa.



The absence of market infrastructures, the inefficiencies of the global cashew value chain, the very low level of value addition in Africa, and the absence of harmonised policies and regulations meant that Africa could not take advantage of the rising demand and consumption of cashew kernels in Europe and the US in the wake of COVID-19, he explained.



World producers



Vietnam and India are the key competitors for emerging suppliers of cashew nuts to Europe.



These two countries supply more than 90 per cent of all cashews to Europe, followed by Brazil, which has a market share of approximately three per cent.



Apart from these three leading suppliers, no other country, including those from Africa, hold a European market share of more than one per cent.



Ironically, in order to utilise its many shelling facilities, Vietnam imports in-shell cashew nuts from Cote dIvoire, Tanzania, Ghana and Nigeria among other producing countries.



Mr Mintah cited this situation, emphasising that Ghana and Africa stood the chance to improve their gains at the world market and not allow Vietnam to dominate if the right structures were laid and value was added to the cashew produced.



Transformation



The Bono Regional Minister, Ms Justina Owusu-Banahene, said the cashew industry had undergone a lot of transformation in the region with the introduction of improved technologies along the value chain.



The industry has provided income for a number of people in the region and beyond. The unexploited potential of the industry even presents more opportunities for employment generation, she observed.



Ms Owusu-Banahene gave an assurance that once the TCDA fully began operation with the right regulatory structures and policies, it would empower local cashew producers, processors and all actors in the local cashew value chain.



That, according to her, would enable Ghana to become a trailblazer for its sister nations so that the West African sub-region could reap the full benefits of the sector for its over 1.8 million people whose main income depended on cashew.



The Director of the Department of Crop Services of the MoFA, Mr Seth Osei Akoto, urged the participants to utilise the skills and knowledge gained during the training in order to set them apart as changemakers in the cashew sector in the respective countries.



During the programme, participants in Sunyani undertook a field trip to the Wenchi Agricultural Station as part of the training, during which they were practically trained in improved planting material development, good agricultural practices in cashew, pest control and pruning, among others.









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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A Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), Peter Boamah Otukonor, has asked the government to be more serious with the fight against galamsey activities



He wants the government to put in place pragmatic measures having decided to take up the galamsey fight once again.



Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' program, he advised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to consult the NDC if they lack ideas and proposals to fight the galamsey menace.



"When the NPP government wanted to retain power, they promised to fight galamsey and even went ahead to set a task force which has failed woefully in tackling this illegal mining menace.



"This government has clearly lost the galamsey fight, but they are behaving as if they are on top of their game," he said.



He maintained that the NPP government has not shown commitment to end this deadly menace, which is causing havoc to especially water bodies and reserved forests.



"The government should just be smart about it and ensure that they legalize galamsey to enable them regularize it," he added.



"If this government lacks ideas to fight this menace, they should contact us (NDC) or just set up a committee to go through the NDCs manifesto for proposals," Otukonor added.



200 Soldiers Deployed



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reiterated his will to end the galamsey menace in his second term.



This he has done by ordering for the deployment of 200 military men to guard some river bodies in the country.



In a statement by the Ministry of Information, the operation commenced on Wednesday, April 28th, 2021, on the River Pra in the Central and Western regions of Ghana.



The Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed forces are expected to provide a detailed brief of developments and sustainability efforts on Friday, 30th April 2021.



This s to ensure that mining within water bodies is immediately stopped. This latest action to fight galamsey comes after the Stakeholder Dialogue on Small Scale Mining on April 14.



Watch Video Below





Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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

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The Convention People's Party (CPP) has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to put structures and systems in place to ensure greater transparency in results collation and management.



That, it said, would remove all doubts and deepen stakeholder trust and public confidence in electoral outcomes.



The General Secretary of the CPP, Nana Yaa Akyimpim Jantuah, made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic on the sidelines of a high-level post-election stakeholders review workshop on the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections organized by the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO).



The EC through its Director of Training had earlier in a presentation indicated that the Commission in 2020 conducted the most successful, well-coordinated, and seamless elections in the history of Ghana.



Misgivings



The CPP General Secretary said going forward, the EC and other stakeholders must strive to work together to eradicate misgivings and other issues that people were not happy about with regard to the 2020 general election.



"There should be more transparency, more unity and peace. Nobody should lose his or her life because of a ballot." she said.



Nana Yaa Jantuah said it was also necessary that political parties were funded by the state, stressing that the modalities should be spelt out, especially given the monetisation of the political party processes in the last elections.



Electoral violence



A member of the Research and Policy Committee of the People's National Convention (PNC), Mr Sulemana Seidu, for his part, condemned incidences of violence that characterised the election processes, especially during the collation of results in some constituencies across the country.



He expressed his disappointment at the rise of electoral violence in parts of the country, which consequently led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties following the December 7, 2020 election.



He called on the security agencies to comprehensively investigate those incidents, and the perpetrators made to face the full rigors of the law to deter others.



On political party financing, he called for public funding of political parties, especially parties with the requisite structures to enable them function as expected.



Mr Seidu, who is also the Ashanti Regional Secretary of the PNC, asked the EC to make it part of its arrangement to assist political parties with representations at the polling stations with logistics to help them to monitor elections in a manner that guaranteed transparency.





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 opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has assured all workers that a future NDC government will commit to much better handling of the economy and award them their due remuneration in recognition of their sterling role in lifting high the flag of Ghana.



This is a non-negotiable assurance that we owe to workers in order to maintain their faith in the choice they have made to serve this nation for both the present and future generations the NDC stated.



The party in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia gave the assurance while wishing all workers well on May Day, which is commemorated on 1st May every year.



On the ocassion of May Day 2021, the National Democratic Congress salutes all workers of Ghana. The NDC, as a Social Democratic party, solidarises with the aspirations of the teeming workers of the country upon whose tireless labour the nation thrives, NDC stated.



The NDC urged workers to continue to commit themselves to their work and the nation in order to lubricate the wheels of progress and development.



In the face of the abject hopelessness generated by the appalling incompetence of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government, and compounded by the devastating onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, the NDC urges workers to continue to commit themselves to their work and the nation in order to lubricate the wheels of progress and development.



For it is their sweat and toil that stabilise the nation even as the people of Ghana continue to endure the scandalridden Akufo-Addo government, the party stated.



It added that, We in the NDC are proud of our relationship with workers and we do hereby encourage them to stand tall in their unflinching loyalty to the cause of Ghana.



For their uncountable contributions to Ghana, their commitment and dedication to duty, for their love for and loyalty to Ghana, we hail all the workers of Ghana, the NDC added.





Source: GNA









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An additional 22 breweries in New Jersey have signed on to offer a free beer to people 21 and older who receive a first coronavirus vaccination shot this month.

Anyone who wants a complimentary brew can bring their vaccination card to one of the 34 participating breweries by May 31, Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday at his latest COVID-19 briefing in Trenton. He announced an initial list of 12 breweries on Monday and the others reached out since then to join the promotion.

The following breweries are offering are now participating in the Shot and a Beer program:

At least 3,210,201 people who live, work or study in the state are fully vaccinated, officials said Wednesday. Another 157,928 New Jersey residents have received their shots out of state. Murphy aims to have 4.7 million New Jersey adults vaccinated by the end of June.

New Jersey officials on Wednesday reported another 1,309 confirmed COVID-19 cases and an additional 34 confirmed deaths.

The states seven-day average for new confirmed positive COVID-19 tests fell to 1,383, down 33% from a week ago and 64% from a month ago. Wednesday marked the seventh time in eight days the state has reported fewer than 2,000 new cases.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
A 42-year-old Alabama man is now facing two felony counts of domestic violence after police said he livestreamed himself on Facebook Live telling a boy to put a plastic bag over a womans head, among other things.

Edward Moore of Prichard, Ala., was arrested on April 29 on a third-degree assault and domestic violence charge. It has since been upgraded, according to Mobile police.

In the video, according to WPMI, Moore yelled and told a boy to put a plastic bag over a womans head. The woman was attempting to do a little girls hair at the time.

Put that bag on that (expletive) head and tie it up. Put it over her head as tight as you can and make sure she cant get out of it, Moore told the boy in the video.

Do you want this to help you breathe until the meat wagon gets here? Itll help you breathe until the coroner get here, Moore added.

Moore said he was mad at the woman because she called the police on him. He continues to talk, saying that he was about to make his son shoot the woman.

I got a clip full of bullets, Moore said. Shes fixing to die in front of her children. Ill make my son pull the trigger.

The woman in question was never shot at, according to Prichard Police. Shes staying with family members.

Moore has been in Mobile Metro Jail more than 15 times since 1998, according to jail records. His charges range from domestic violence and harassment to assault.

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PepsiCo has launched two new sparkling waters - one to increase your stamina and the other to help you relax.

Soulboost comes in two varieties, Lift and Ease. The water has a splash of real juice and functional ingredients.

PepsiCo said soulboost captures the fun of a fruity drink through a light, guilt-free sparkling water refreshment.

Each of the four flavors have 10-20 calories per 12-ounce can.

Lift has 200mg of panax ginseng and is available in blueberry pomegranate and black cherry citrus.

Ease has 200mg of L-theanine and comes in blackberry passionfruit and strawberry rose.

Our world-class Research & Development team developed soulboost by pinpointing desirable functional ingredients L-theanine and panax ginseng and adding them into great-tasting sparkling water beverages to help people truly feel the moment, whether they need to support mental stamina to make it through a busy day or a moment of relaxation to help unwind  or both, said Danielle Barbaro, vice president, R&D at PepsiCo Beverages North America.

PepsiCo said soulboost is available via e-commerce and in select natural retailers.

With consumers today increasingly looking for convenient ways to support mental stamina and relaxation in their daily routines or find alternatives to alcoholic beverages  and the pandemic having increased peoples overall interest in wellness products  we knew it was time to introduce a game-changing product, said Emily Silver, vice president, Innovation & Capabilities at PepsiCo Beverages North America.

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The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has released it list of the most challenging cities to live in in the United States if you have asthma.

Two cities in Pennsylvania made the top 20 in the 2021 Asthma Capitals report and one of those is the worst place to live in the United States for asthma patients.

Allentown came in at No. 1 while Philadelphia ranked No. 7 on the national list. The foundation said it analyzes data from the 100 largest cities in the United States to determine the ranking.

The ranking is based on three criteria: asthma prevalence, emergency department visits for asthma, and deaths due to asthma.

The report also highlights risk factors including poverty, air pollution, access to specialists, pollen counts, medicine use, smoking policies, and the rate of uninsured residents in an area. AAFA previously identified existing Asthma Belts which continue to have a grip on the eastern half of the nation, however two western cities  Tucson, Arizona and Fresno, California, are also listed in the top 20 cities for this years report, the foundation reported.

The foundation said the goal of the report and other research is to help improve the lives of the estimated 25 million Americans living with asthma. Its important to highlight areas which deserve our urgent attention and collective action.

This includes the pressing need to develop more programs and policies that will effectively help us reduce stark disparities in asthma based on race, gender, income and where people live, said Kenneth Mendez, CEO and president of AAFA.

This report also supports the need for climate action. Air pollution, extreme weather patterns, and natural disasters fueled by climate change continue to have a worsening impact on Americans living in certain communities. This is not only a critical area of investigation, but signals exactly where work needs to be done for those with the greatest needs.

With regard to the COVID-19 pandemic and asthma, the foundation said that last year fewer people experienced pollen allergies due to COVID-19 restrictions, recommendations to stay indoors, and other preventative measures like mask wearing.

As a result, use of long-term asthma medicines were also down along with fewer people heading to hospital emergency rooms for asthma.

According to the foundation, 10 people die every day from asthma.

At AAFA, we reiterate thats 10 too many. Most of these tragedies are preventable, said Melanie Carver, chief mission officer at AAFA.

The rest of the top 20 are:

2. Baltimore, Maryland

3. Richmond, Virginia

4. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

5. New Haven, Connecticut

6. Cleveland, Ohio

7. Philadelphia

8. Dayton, Ohio

9. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

10. Tucson, Arizona

11. Worcester, Massachusetts

12. Springfield, Massachusetts

13. Columbus, Ohio

14. Birmingham, Alabama

15. Detroit, Michigan

16. Louisville, Kentucky

17. Hartford, Connecticut

18. Boston, Massachusetts

19. Fresno, California

20. Greensboro, North Carolina
Cepero will oversee an annual budget of $5.4 billion and 6,000 workers, as well as Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Port Everglades and the convention and visitors bureau. Broward is the 17th largest county in the U.S. and has a population of about 2 million people.
The veteran who stole a maintenance truck and crashed it into a pillar at the Pittsburgh International Airport on Friday reportedly suffers from PTSD.

Harry Griffith of Southern Pines, N.C., was on his way to visit his parents before he stole the airport vehicle, driving through the glass doors of a moving walkway prior to the crash.

The Sandhills Sentinel reports how Griffith was then pursued by an airport employee through the parking lot. He at one point turned to chase the employee, falling to the ground just as the police arrived.

Griffith was later taken to the hospital for treatment of the cuts he had received on his arms and legs. His blood-alcohol level at the time of the incident was discovered to be 0.235 percent, which is significantly above the legal limit.

According to WRAL.com, Griffiths wife, Jessica Perna, confirmed he had not been home for nearly a year after checking into rehab in California. She explained that her husband suffers from PTSD after serving in the army for 14 years, and received a brain injury after an IED exploded close to him.

Perna told the news station that her husband tries to ease his PTSD with alcohol, and that he was having a flashback to his time in Syria as he was stealing the truck.

Hes seen and done a lot, stated Perna. That gets to a person.

Authorities stated that Griffith has been charged with theft by unlawful taking; ethnic intimidation; criminal mischief; recklessly endangering another person; unauthorized use of an automobile; and harassment.
Farmers have been doing it since farming began  moving nuisance stones in their fields to a more convenient place. And thats OK, unless of course that stone happens to mark the border of the neighboring country.

BBC News reported on Tuesday that a Belgium farmer from the town of Erquelinnes has created a stir after unwittingly redrawing his countrys border with France.

It seems that the stone was in his tractors path, so the annoyed Belgian farmer moved it mistakenly into French territory, the report said.

The stones relocation was discovered by a local history enthusiast who noticed while walking in the forest that the boundary marker between the two countries had moved 7.5 feet (2.29m).

CNN Travel reported that the move increased the size of the farmers home country by about 1,000 square meters, while France became smaller by the same amount.

However, BBC News said that what could have caused an international uproar, has been met with smiles on both sides of the 390 mile border.

David Lavaux, the mayor of Erquelinnes, Belgium, told CNN on Tuesday that they are aware of the stones original location, which is right next to a tree. He said, In 2019, during the 200th anniversary, they were geo-localized very precisely.

The border was formally established five years after Napoleons defeat at Waterloo with the 1820 Treaty of Kortrijk. But the stones date back to 1819 when the border was first marked out.

Local Belgian authorities will contact the farmer and ask that he return the stone to its original location. However, if the farmer doesnt comply, Lavaux noted that he could face criminal charges, and the case could end up at the Belgian foreign ministry, where a Franco-Belgian border commission, dormant since 1930, would need to be summoned.

CNN cited Aurelie Welonek, the mayor of the French town of Bousignies-sur-Roc which had its territory clipped, who spoke to French press agency Internep in a video interview, also featuring Lavaux.

Our two countries get along well, so there were no great concerns at this point, further stating that she fully trusts her Belgian counterpart, Welonek said, as reported by CNN.

The Belgian mayor stressed to CNN that both Belgian and French local authorities were eager to resolve the situation quickly and amicably. He added, We laugh about this more than anything else, it is not very serious.

CNN noted that the two towns are located roughly midway on the Franco-Belgian border. Erquellines, a Walloon municipality, has slightly under 10,000 residents. Bousignies-sur-Roc, a commune in Frances Nord department, has a population of around 400.

READ MORE:
By FABIOLA SANCHEZ, The Associated Press

MEXICO CITY (AP)  Jose Luis Hernandez Martinez crossed Mexico City every day on subway Line 12 between his home on the citys south side and the body shop where he worked repairing mangled cars.

The 61-year-olds train had emerged from beneath the city and was jostling along the elevated portion far from downtown late Monday night when two of its bright orange cars suddenly fell into a void.

Hernandez Martinez was killed instantly, his son Luis Adrian Hernandez Juarez said, one of 25 people who died in one of the worlds largest subway systems worst accidents. More than 70 others were injured.

My father was recovered without vital signs, with trauma to his thorax, his brain, his feet, his knees, Hernandez Juarez said, gripping the death certificate. He said emergency personnel told him his father was crushed beneath other passengers. Its really terrible to see your father that way for the last time.

Hernandez Juarez planned to bury his father Wednesday as a string of funerals began across the city of more than 9 million people.

Mexico City fire fighters and rescue personnel work to recover victims from a subway car that fell after a section of Line 12 of the subway collapsed in Mexico City, Monday, May 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Jose Ruiz)AP

Anger and frustration boiled among the victims families and those who ride the sprawling subway daily.

No one is going to give me my father back, even if they give me 10 million pesos, Hernandez Juarez said, while expressing concern that his mother had been left without a source of income.

A preliminary review suggested a failure in the horizontal support beams caused the accident, authorities said.

Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum urged the public to avoid speculation and promised a thorough and independent investigation. Authorities expected to present a preliminary report on the accident Friday.

Line 12 is Mexico Citys longest and newest, but has been plagued with problems since it began operating in 2012. At its farthest point, it carries commuters from the capitals still semi-rural south side to jobs across the city. Some 220,000 riders use Line 12 every day.

Early targets for the publics ire were already emerging, among them the subways director, Florencia Serrania. Sheinbaum said she had not received any report about problems on Line 12 that suggested the possibility of a failure like the one Monday night.

Serrania said Tuesday that the line received a very rigorous daily inspection. It was also reviewed in June 2020 after an earthquake that was strong but did not cause significant damage in the city, she said. A city report in 2017 noted significant damage to a portion of the line after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that year.

Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard, who was Mexico Citys mayor from 2006 to 2012 when the line was constructed, was also feeling the heat. Widely viewed as a possible successor to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Ebrard said those responsible should be identified and he would make himself available to authorities.

Mexico's army soldiers hold stretchers as they wait to help in the rescue efforts after a section of Line 12 of the subway collapsed in Mexico City, Tuesday, May 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)AP

While conclusions on what caused the accident could take months and assigning blame longer, many victims families were faced with the immediate needs brought on by the loss of their primary breadwinners.

Gisela Rioja also spent Monday night and Tuesday morning scouring the citys hospitals for information on her husband, 42-year-old Miguel Angel Espinosa Flores, who worked in a department store at a mall a few stops from where the accident occurred.

Rioja finally found him Tuesday at a morgue in the Mexico City borough of Iztapalapa. She described him as a hard worker, responsible and happy. She and their two children depended on him.

I want justice for my husband because a simple apology is not going to bring him back to us, she said. He was my love; he was everything to me. It hurts so much, so much, so much because of the way it ended.

Luisa Martinez sat outside city government offices in Iztapalapa on Tuesday afternoon awaiting the release of the body of her nieces husband, Carlos Pineda, a 38-year-old dentist. Pineda leaves behind his wife and their two children ages 7 and 13.

He was the one who supported the family. Now they are left without income, Martinez said. They have to compensate us now. I dont want it in a year or two years like all bureaucratic procedures.

More:

Peloton recalls two treadmills after death of child and more than 70 injuries, CEO apologizes
Just in time for Mothers Day, a 25-year-old Malian woman gave birth to nine babies on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

Halima Cisse was only expecting to have seven babies, according to ultrasounds conducted by her doctors, the report said. However, the scans missed two babies, as she gave birth to five girls and four boys via cesarean section, the report said.

Cisse gave birth prematurely at 30 weeks, but is now in stable condition after heavy bleeding for which she was given a blood transfusion, clinics director Youssef Alaoui said, according to the Associated Press.

According to Reuters, the mother and all nine babies are doing well.

Cisse was admitted to the hospital on March 20 and had remained bedridden since then, according to the New York Post. The report said this is only the third recorded instance since 1971 of nonuplets. According to the Associated Press, however, this appears to be the first time on record that a woman has actually given birth to nine surviving babies at once.

The birth would break the current world record held by Nadya Suleman, also known as Octomom, according to the Post. In 2009, Sulemans birth of eight babies was the first and largest set of newborn siblings in the world to survive past one week. All of those children are still alive today.

The Guinness Book of World Records is verifying the Morocco birth, the AP reported.

Alaoui told The AP that as far as he was aware Cisse had not used fertility treatments. The Malian health ministry did not provide any other information about the pregnancy or births.
A Maryland woman is accused of setting her home on fire with a person inside it, and then sitting down on a lawn chair outside to watch it burn.

Fox DC reports Deputy State Fire Marshals said 47-year-old Gail Metwally set multiple fires inside the home on Cherry Lane in Elkton, Md., on Thursday afternoon. According to the Delaware News Journal, witnesses heard another woman screaming for help from the basement and rushed to help her get out safely.

Metwally and the other woman lived in the house with two other residents, according to officials. The other two were not at home when the blaze occurred.

The New York Post reports the incident went viral days later when video showed Metwally sitting in a lawn chair with a book outside the inferno.

Oh my God! I cannot actually believe my eyes, a male says. I cannot actually believe it, and shes sitting there just chillin  watching the house go up flames!

Firefighters confirmed that Metwally had been sitting in a chair watching the scene when they arrived. Fox DC reports she later walked away, but was caught and arrested shortly afterward by Cecil County sheriffs deputies, who took her to Maryland State Police barracks.

Police said Metwally has been charged with first- and second-degree attempted murder, first-degree arson, first-degree assault, two counts of first-degree malicious burning, two counts of malicious destruction of property and two counts of reckless endangerment.

WOMAN CHARGED WITH ARSON AFTER HOUSE FIRE CECIL COUNTY, MD (April 29, 2021) - Deputy State Fire Marshals charged an... Posted by Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal on Thursday, April 29, 2021

Investigators are working to determine a possible motive for the fire. Metwallys relationship with the other woman has not been identified.
UPDATE: 2nd body found in Susquehanna River in 2 days IDd as missing Harrisburg man

Lancaster County authorities pulled another body from the Susquehanna River Tuesday  the second discovered in the river in as many days, authorities said.

Susquehanna Regional police said a kayaker found a body around 12:22 p.m. Tuesday near the Riverfront Park Northwest river trail.

The body  which has not been identified as of Wednesday morning  was turned over to the Lancaster County Coroners Office, police said. Police said a forthcoming autopsy will determine the identity and cause of death.

Anyone with information on a missing person in the central Pennsylvania area is asked to call the Susquehanna Regional Police Department at 717-426-1164, or submit a tip through CrimeWatch.

This is the second body found in the river this week, authorities said. The body of 32-year-old Ashley Dawn Taylor was discovered around 9 a.m. Monday by employees near the York Haven Hydro Station Plant in Conoy Township, according to the Lancaster County Coroners Office.

An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday morning to determine Taylors cause and manner of death.

READ: Body of 32-year-old Perry County woman pulled from Susquehanna River

Unidentified woman believed to have drowned in the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg
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Story by Colin Deppen of Spotlight PA

HARRISBURG  Pennsylvanias public university system has agreed on a strategy to address racism on its campuses by building a more diverse staff and curriculum after students of color spoke out about feeling unsafe and overlooked.

The 20-member Board of Governors voted April 15 to establish diversity, inclusion, and equity priorities by collecting data on university demographics and establishing resources for change.

I kept thinking about all the graduates who could have benefited personally and professionally from greater faculty, staff, student, and curriculum diversity, Denise Pearson, vice-chancellor and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, told the board.

Chancellor Daniel Greenstein, who oversees the network of 14 universities known formally as the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, said in a letter to Sen. Art Haywood (D., Philadelphia) the plan will involve the creation of precise goals, action steps, and evaluation measures.

Haywood and students of color had pressed the system to take urgent action amid a national reckoning on race and in response to racist incidents at its schools. The lawmaker said Spotlight PA reporting on discrimination and bias faced by students inspired the push, dubbed the ENOUGH initiative.

While the systems new framework is big on promises, it is currently light on specifics. Students who helped lead the initiative said the boards unanimous vote was heartening but that they will hold higher praise until they see results.

I was shocked in a good way, said Zuri Redmond, a student at East Stroudsburg University. Ill be more satisfied once everything is in place.

As Spotlight PA reported last year, students of color across the system  including at Shippensburg, Indiana, and Bloomsburg  have been subjected to racist incidents and racist social media posts from fellow students. At Millersville University in Lancaster County, two students posted a photo of themselves wearing charcoal facial masks as blackface.

And during meetings with system leadership, Haywood said he raised several examples with the chancellor of [students] being called the N-word and Zoom bombed with open racial epithets.

Administrators typically reacted to such incidents with soul-searching but little substance, students previously told Spotlight PA.

Nothing usually happens, Redmond added. The school gives a sort-of-kind-of apology and says Well look into this, and the students that do these things are not punished. Theyre not penalized.

Haywood also said there needs to be accountability.

Each university president  complained [to me] about their ability to address students who were involved in racial harassment, [saying that harassment] was consistently characterized as protected free speech, Haywood said. And the presidents feel like their hands are tied because theyre not getting support from lawyers.

Per a public-facing dashboard, underrepresented minorities  representing Hispanic/Latinos, African Americans, Native Americans, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, and those of two or more races  accounted for just 10% of the systems faculty and staff in 2019.

That same year, the most recent with data available, underrepresented minority students made up roughly 20% of the systems enrolled undergrads and grads. (International students are in a separate category.) Nationwide, students of color represent nearly half of undergrad enrollments and a third of graduate school enrollments.

Hispanic people, who are among the fastest-growing college cohorts in the country, made up just 6% of the systems enrollments in 2019.

Greenstein said the low number of faculty members of color can be traced, in part, to the systems lack of graduate programs and sole research university, Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Most professors go straight from graduate school to teaching, creating an in-house pipeline of talent, he said, and recruiting from elsewhere is complicated.

Faculty and staff, frankly, arrive in, you know, rural regions that are not super diverse, and so we need to provide more mentoring and support, he said.

The framework contained in Greensteins letter addresses these disparities with commitments to hire more faculty and staff of color, and nurture and retain more students of color, which Haywood lauded.

This has never been done before after decades of complaints from African American students, Haywood said.

Students of color who already attend the systems schools are encouraged to use a new bias and discrimination reporting tool. There are hurdles with this kind of self-reporting, though, with incidents of bias historically underreported.

Haywood said there are ongoing conversations between the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and the state system about how they defend [or support] school presidents when they want to take more aggressive action.

The success of the ongoing effort to improve the student experience and campus environments will be gauged, in part, by surveys of faculty and staff, Greenstein told Spotlight PA.

Measuring the changes in faculty demographics, on the other hand, is much more straightforward.

In almost exclusively white Tioga County, Mansfield University counts just six underrepresented minority faculty  four Hispanic, one Black, and one multiracial  for 1,663 students. Thats a 277:1 ratio.

At the moment, the state system is operating at a $52 million deficit and facing other longstanding financial challenges. Its planning a major redesign  potentially merging six colleges into two regional schools.

Enrollment also dropped 18% overall between 2010 and 2018, and the pandemic will likely only make matters worse.

Redmond, of East Stroudsburg University, said as more students reconsider in-person options after a year of profound disruption, universities will have to work even harder to bring them in and bring them back.

A lot more people my age are considering doing online school now because its cheaper, Redmond explained, and why go to a campus that doesnt support people that look like you or a campus that has these kinds of [racist incidents] going on?

Haywood said the state legislature, during the ongoing redesign of the system, has an opportunity to put more funding behind diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Greenstein said of the systems current push, Were not necessarily out in front or in the lead here, but I think this [plan] is a huge step for us.

WHILE YOURE HERE... If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.

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One of the states biggest road and bridge construction firms has been banned temporarily from bidding on Pennsylvania Department of Transportation projects.

The action was taken April 19 after Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. of State College was charged by state attorney generals office with stealing more than $20 million from employees.

Hawbaker was notified it was temporarily suspended from bidding or participating in contracts for new projects, PennDOT spokesperson Alexis Campbell said.

The order does not affect contracts in effect before April 19, she said.

The construction company was charged April 8 with four theft counts tied to state and federal prevailing wage laws.

Between 2003 and 2018, the firm was paid more than $1.7 billion by PennDOT, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said when announcing the charges.

Hawbaker is accused of not abiding by federal and state regulations that set compensation rates for employees working on government construction projects.

Those workers are supposed to receive all of that hourly rate in either pay and/or benefits, Shapiro said.

Hawbaker was instead in an unprecedented manner diverting money that was supposed to go to employee pay, health coverage and retirement to its own purposes, and in the process undercutting other bidders for government projects that were playing by the rules, the AG said.

He said Hawbaker underfunded employee retirement plans by $15 million in the last five years, the limit of the period the criminal charges can cover because of the statute of limitations.

Money that should have gone into the retirement accounts of line workers was siphoned into the accounts of executives, he said.

The firm also used phony billing, claiming inflated costs for health care expenses so it could appear to be meeting the prevailing wage requirements while actually pocketing the difference between what it claimed and actually paid, Shapiro said.

The charges resulted in Hawbaker last week losing a $1.2 million contract to replace in bridge in Mill Hall.

The Clinton County commissioners said they awarded the contract to the second-lowest bidder after being notified by PennDOT it would not allow awards to companies that have been charged. The difference in the two bids was $10,158.

Hawbaker waived its right to a preliminary hearing and its appearance at the May 12 arraignment in Centre County court.

The family-owned company that has been in business nearly 70 years said after being charged that while it believes it has always acted in accordance with all state and federal laws, in an abundance of caution, the company immediately changed its prevailing wage practices. It said in a statement that it would work with the attorney generals office to reach a swift resolution.

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Registered Democrats and Republicans across the commonwealth will have to pick their candidates to run for four open seats on all three of the states appellate courts.

If elected, these judges will serve a 10-year term before theyll stand for a yes or no retention vote.

Well dive into the specifics of the courts  and the candidates  below.

But one quick thing  under state law, judicial candidates cant say much about policy or politics when theyre running, leaving voters with little information outside of endorsements from interest groups or elected officials.

One of the few tidbits from an unbiased party comes from the state bar association, which reviews candidates legal qualifications to serve and releases a rating. They rate candidates as either highly recommended, recommended, or not recommended.

We wrote more about that process, and its potential pitfalls, here. And you can read their findings yourself here.

And a last reminder: If you want to vote for any of these candidates, make sure you are a registered Republican or Democrat. You can check your registration here, and change it here.

(Still confused? We have you covered.)

If you arent a registered partisan, and dont want to change your registration, you can still vote on the four ballot initiatives put to voters on May 18. More on those here.

Your ballot may also include candidates for the General Assembly if you live in one of four House or Senate districts. You do not need to be a registered Republican or Democrat to vote in those races, either.

Supreme Court

The seven-member Supreme Court is the highest court in the state, owning the final say on state constitutional matters and lawsuits against public and private entities in the commonwealth. It also oversees the county court systems through the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

The court has flexed its power in recent years, ruling on such high-profile issues as voting laws, congressional maps and Gov. Tom Wolfs executive powers.

But the justices also routinely make lower profile but still important rulings on such issues as local paid sick leave laws or the legal status of gig workers.

Justices elected as Democrats control the court 5-2 right now, but the retirement of Chief Justice Thomas Saylor, elected as a Republican, means the party could add to their advantage come November.

A single Democrat is vying for that seat, Maria McLaughlin. Currently a judge on the state Superior Court, where shes served since 2017, McLaughlin is formerly a Philadelphia Common Pleas judge. She is endorsed by the state party, and is highly recommended by the state bar.

Republicans, meanwhile, have three candidates from which to choose.

Kevin Brobson is the Republican candidate endorsed by the state party. A former Harrisburg attorney, hes served on the states Commonwealth Court since 2009. Hes highly recommended by the state bar, and was endorsed by Gun Owners of America, the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, and the State Troopers Association, along with a number of business groups.

Paula Patrick has served as a Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge since 2003. A former Democrat, she switched over to the Repubican Party in 2009. She is highly recommended by the state bar, highly recommended by Firearm Owners Against Crime, and endorsed by the Pro-Life Federation.

Patricia McCullough also is a member of the states Commonwealth Court, serving since 2009. The bar has not rated her run, and she does not appear to have any campaign presence online with additional information about her candidacy.

You can find video interviews and forums with all of these candidates on Pennsylvania Cable Networks website here.

Extra reading:

Meet the candidates: Race for Pa. Supreme Court kicks off with virtual forum  WHYY-FM, March 17, 2021

Pa. Supreme Court Candidates Discuss Qualifications at Virtual Forum  The Legal Intelligencer, March 18, 2021

Husband of high court candidate begins prison sentence  Associated Press, April 6, 2021

2020s election keeps coming up in 2021s high court race  Associated Press, April 16, 2021

Widening fight over guns features prominently in court race  Associated Press, April 24, 2021

Mastriano, Pa. Supreme Court candidate slated to appear at QAnon conference  Pennsylvania Capital-Star, April 28, 2021

Commonwealth Court

The nine members of the Commonwealth Court have the first crack at all lawsuits challenging the state and municipal governments and regulatory agencies in Pennsylvania. Election disputes will also appear first in this court.

This is the court, for example, that has put a halt on Marsys Law, the victims rights amendment passed in 2019. Its judges also have a say on everything from voter ID laws to Wolfs emergency orders before the Supreme Court  though the Supremes will still get the final say.

Judges on both the Commonwealth Court and the similar Superior Court (more on them later) are often considered the farm team for future spots on the Supreme Court.

Two positions on the bench are open.

Democrats will face the tough choice in this race, with four candidates facing off for the two spots.

David Spurgeon, an Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge since 2016, is highly recommended by the state bar and has been endorsed by the state Democratic Party. He also has the backing of a number of labor unions, such as the state AFL-CIO, the state firefighters association, and the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers.

Lori Dumas is a Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge who has served on the bench since 2003. She is recommended by the state bar, and has the endorsement of the Working Families Party, many Philadelphia unions including the citys powerful buildings trade council, and state Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Philadelphia.

Sierra Street is also a Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge who has served since 2013. A former public defender, Street is also the ex-wife of state Sen. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia. She is recommended by the state bar, and her endorsements include the Philadelphia Democratic Party committee, state Rep. Donna Bullock, D-Philadelphia, and Philadelphia City Councilwoman Helen Gym.

Finally, Amanda Green-Hawkins is a former Allegheny County Councilwoman and an attorney for the United Steelworkers. She is recommended by the state bar association and her endorsements include the state AFL-CIO, the United Steelworkers, the Allegheny-Fayette Labor Council, and former Democratic state Sen. Jim Ferlo.

With two seats open, Republican voters have two options, both endorsed by the state party.

J. Andrew Crompton joined the Commonwealth Court in early 2020 through an appointment, and is now running for a full term on the court. The former chief counsel for Pennsylvania Senate Republicans, Crompton is recommended by the state bar. A campaign website for his run could not be located.

Stacy Wallace, a McKean County attorney and former law clerk, is not recommended by the bar.

You can find video interviews and forums with these candidates as they occur on Pennsylvania Cable Networks website here.

Extra reading:

Judicial candidates Brobson, Wallace campaign in Cambria  Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, April 9, 2021

Superior Court

The 15-member Superior Court is the appeals court for all other private and criminal disputes in Pennsylvania.

As such, it is usually asked to rule on low profile cases, though it sometimes makes news. Its the Superior Court that threw out rapper Meek Mills criminal conviction in 2019, rejected an appeal by Bill Cosby in his rape case last year, and opened a hole in the states sex offender registry.

But, as with Commonwealth Court, any decision by the Superior Court could be overruled by the Supreme Court. And similarly, judges who win a seat on the Superior Court bench may attempt a run for the highest bench in the future.

There is one opening on the court. Democrats will have to pick between three candidates for the spot. All are recommended by the state bar.

Jill Beck is a Pittsburgh attorney. She is endorsed by a number of politicians from western and northeastern Pennsylvania  including Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny  as well as the United Mine Workers of America, United Steelworkers, and the Teamsters, among other organizations.

Timika Lane has been a Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge since 2013, and is a former public defender. She is endorsed by a host of unions and public officials, including the state AFL-CIO, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98, the Working Families Party, and House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia.

Bryan Neft is a former president of Allegheny County Bar Association. He has been endorsed by state Rep. Anita Kulik, D-Allegheny.

Republicans ballots will include just one candidate  Megan Sullivan, a former assistant attorney general. She is endorsed by the state Republican Party and recommended by the bar.

You can find video interviews and forums with all of these candidates on Pennsylvania Cable Networks website here.

Heres a link to the original story on the Pennsylvania Capital-Star website.

ALSO READ: The 2021 Pa. primary ballot questions, and everything you should know about them
Harrisburg residents are invited to meet candidates for city council and magisterial district judge seats this Saturday in an outdoor event hosted by CATCH.

The event is the second in a series by the group, Concerned About The Children of Harrisburg. It is set for 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday May 8 in a parking lot at 100 N. Cameron Street in Harrisburg.

Residents are asked to bring their own lawn chairs to hear directly from candidates and ask questions. Floyd Stokes will serve as moderator.

Our intent is to engage voters more in the local election process as those are the elections that impact us more, said Kia Hansard, one of the founders of CATCH.

Voters will cast their ballots at the polls in a primary election May 18. The winner of the Democratic primary races in Harrisburg typically win the seat after the fall election as Democrats in the city outnumber Republicans six to one.

There are 13 candidates seeking the Democratic partys nomination to run for four seats on Harrisburg City Council. No candidates submitted petitions to appear on the Republican ballot.

Those appearing on ballot will be: Vishal Bajpai, Lori Ann Beamer-Saulisbury, Roy Christ, Shamaine Daniels, Crystal Davis, Carrie Fowler, Sarah Gethers, Ausha N. Green, Lavet Henderson, Jennie Jenkins-Dallas, Robert Lawson, Jocelyn Rawls and Ralph Rodriguez.

There are two magisterial district judge positions up for election this year: the seats currently held by Sonya McKnight and Paul Zozos.

Running against McKnight in the Democratic primary are: Ellis Roy, Jennifer Smallwood, Shakira Jennings, Anthony Harrell, Brianna Smith and Leon Wilkerson.

One candidate is challenging Zozos in the Democratic primary: Amechie Walker.

The flier by CATCH for its candidate events in spring 2021.

READ MORE:

Harrisburg City Council race gets crowded, with 13 people vying for 4 seats

Some magisterial district judges enjoy light workloads as taxpayers pony up millions in salaries, pensions and healthcare
Runcies contract says hes entitled to receive 90 days notice, which would be early August. But hed like to use accrued sick time to stay until early October. Runcie would be willing to step down as superintendent as soon as the board approves the agreement and would be willing to help with the transition of his replacement, his lawyer said.
You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite apps including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify, and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit!

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | May 5, 2021

A Bucks County man who shot his dog then barbecued it is facing various charges and remains held on a $1 million bail. In Philadelphia, a man stole 14 different properties by forging signatures and documents. You can look up where youre most likely to catch a glimpse of a Brood X cicada in the state. Plus, a police officer and an assistant fire chief are honored for saving two boys from a blaze in Kingston.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa, consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too.
Filing of criminal charges is sufficient grounds under Pennsylvania Department of Transportation regulations to suspend a contractor, the agency says.

That was the response received Wednesday when asked why Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. was temporarily suspended from bidding or participating in contracts prior to the resolution of criminal charges against it.

PennDOT will not comment on the pending criminal prosecution and does not make determinations as to criminal guilt or innocence, spokesperson Alexis Campbell added.

PennDOTs April 19 notification to Hawbaker applies to state supervised or funded highway construction work, she said. It does not affect contracts in effect before that date, she said.

In general the suspension also would apply to local projects that have PennDOT oversight or funding, she explained.

If it is a local job with no PennDOT or federal money or oversight, then the suspension would not apply, she said.

However, other entities, such as municipalities, may have local processes to determine whether a bidder is qualified.

PennDOT suspended Hawbaker after the state attorney generals office on April 8 charged it with four counts of theft tied to state and federal prevailing wage laws.

It is accused of stealing more than $20 million from employees by not abiding by federal and state regulations that set compensation rates for employees working on government construction projects.

Hawbaker, one of the states biggest road and bridge construction firms, is charged with underfunding employee retirement plans by $15 million in the last five years, the limit the criminal charges can cover because of the statute of limitations.

Money that should have gone into the retirement accounts of line workers was siphoned into the accounts of executives, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in announcing the charges.

The State College firm also used phony billing, claiming inflated costs for health care expenses so it could appear to be meeting the prevailing wage requirements while actually pocketing the difference between what it claimed and what it actually paid, Shapiro said.

In a statement issued after being charged, Hawbaker said it cooperated with the AGs investigation and pledged to work constructively to reach a swift resolution.

While we believe that we have always acted in accordance with all state and federal laws, in an abundance of caution the company said it immediately changed its prevailing wage practices.

The charges are in Centre County court after Hawbaker waived its right to a preliminary hearing.
By Melinda Curran

The upcoming election for School Directors in Derry Township School District is highly contested with six candidates running for four seats. The voters of Derry Township have an imperative to choose candidates for their school board who have the knowledge and experience in education to support the district during its current challenges and upcoming endeavors.

Stephen Ampersand, Guerline L. Laurore and I are, without question, the three best and most highly qualified candidates for the job! Ampersand, Laurore and I are the right C.A.L.L. (Curren, Ampersand, L. Laurore) to represent the best and brightest futures for Derry Township students.

As a former elementary teacher, I have taught in districts of various sizes throughout the country. I graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a Bachelors in Elementary Education and have first-hand experience teaching in K-12 schools. In addition to having a thorough understanding of best practices for classrooms, I know how, and have written and developed curriculum and assessments through my experience as an educator. My knowledge of the day-to-day operations of schools from multiple viewpoints gives me an inside perspective on how schools and districts function. In my role as citizen advisor to the school board for the last three years, I have demonstrated my dedication to the community and my passion for education.

Stephen Ampersand knows the importance of education and has over 16 years of experience working in administration at both two and four-year public and private colleges and universities. In addition to his degrees and certifications in business and leadership, he is pursuing a Doctorate in Education for Leadership in Organizations. As demonstrated through his work with multiple youth and family organizations and his creation of a foundation to provide social and emotional support for students, Ampersand is enthusiastic about engaging in his community. His experience and knowledge gained by serving the children and families in his community will go a long way in helping shape the curriculum of Hershey to better prepare students for their futures.

Guerline L. Laurore is the Director of Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs at the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission where she leads the Mediation Program and co-chairs the School to Prison Pipeline Committee. She graduated from University of Provence with a B.A. in Psychology, and a M.A. in Clinical Psychology and Psychopathology. In addition, she is a licensed attorney with a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law, and several certifications and awards. A servant leader, she was appointed to the PA State Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, and on the PA Department of Education Task Force for Equity and Inclusion.

Laurore has worked for several years as a Behavior Specialist Consultant and Mobile Therapist, advocating on behalf of the students she served and their families. She has worked as an adjunct faculty and has hands-on experience teaching K-12 as a substitute teacher in several school districts. This gives Laurore a unique perspective that would be a great asset to the district in making decisions in the best interest of all Derry Township children.

We are fiercely passionate about an inclusive education for all students and creating environments where learners are given equitable opportunities despite their differences. We are highly qualified and passionate candidates and have an additional vested interest in the continued success of the district since we all have students currently enrolled in the district. Our own children will range in grade levels from kindergarten up through eighth grade as Derry Township School District students for the 2021-2022 school year.

In addition to general K-12 experience, we have experience with special education. Ampersand and Laurore both have students with accommodative needs, including two exceptionalities, with Laurore having served on the Board of PAGE (PA Association for Gifted Education). I have worked to meet the needs of students of varied abilities over the course of my career as an educator and coordinator.

Through either our parent and/or educator perspective, we have experiential knowledge of the Special Education process and are drawn to advocating for children with different needs and abilities.

As we begin to emerge from a global pandemic where children have been attending school in a variety of new, largely untested ways, it is more important than ever to have members of the school board who recognize the difficulties students have had to overcome as well as knowledge of how schools are run so that we can develop the best possible plan for our next steps. We are steadfast in ensuring children return to full-time school as soon, and as safely, as possible. As the return to full-time school is achieved, Ampersand, Laurore and I have the skills, experience, knowledge and passion necessary to advocate for children to achieve great things.

On May 18, we ask the residents of Derry Township to Make the Right C.A.L.L. and vote Curran, Ampersand and L. Laurore for Derry Township School Board. With your vote, we will work for all students and our community, moving Derry Township School District forward and continuing to build its reputation as one of the best school districts in the state and nation.

Melinda Curran lives in Derry Township.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney updates media on measures taken to help with COVID-19, in Edmonton on Friday, March 20, 2020. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and key members of his United Conservative cabinet are to provide more details and answer questions this morning on new COVID-19 health restrictions.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
Rivlin is expected in the coming days to give one of Netanyahus opponents a chance to form an alternative coalition government. He also could ask the parliament to select one of its own members as prime minister. If all else fails, the country would be forced into another election this fall  the fifth in just over two years.
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney updates media on measures taken to help with COVID-19, in Edmonton, Friday, March 20, 2020. Albertans are getting ready to hear new restrictions today as the province's leaders deal with the highest COVID-19 case rates in the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
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Dale Gravett, executive deputy director of the Chester County Housing Authority, points to a sketch of a complex with 36 townhouses planned for Phoenixville.
The Guinness Book of World Records said in an email to The AP on Wednesday that its current record for most living births at once is eight, and that it is verifying the Morocco birth.
Walls Coming Down for Vegas Poker? Wynn First to Remove Dividers

May 05, 2021 Mo Nuwwarah

Poker players sick of being enclosed in a plexiglass bubble while playing in Las Vegas are getting welcome news: the transition away from the dividers has begun.

Wynn/Encore is the first to begin removal of the plexiglass dividers that previously shielded each player and the dealer into their own personal space, according to the local Vegas FOX outlet. They're able to do so after getting clearance from local gaming authorities to bump up to 100% occupancy.

While the FOX5 report mentioned the removal of plexiglass from table games and slot machines, PokerNews confirmed with the property's poker room that the removal extends to poker. The plan as of Tuesday was for Wynn Signature Series events starting Wednesday and later to play plexiglass-free, though they'd remain eight-handed. "Some cash games" were also already being dealt with no dividers.

According to FOX5, nearly 90% of the properties' employees have been vaccinated thanks in part to a partnership with the local University Medical Center for on-site vaccinations. Employees and guests will still be required to wear masks indoors due to a statewide mandate.

First Tangible Change Following Removal of Social Distancing

The news coming out of the Wynn follows a major announcement last month from the governor's office that outlined a plan for removal of social distancing on May 1 and 100% capacity in all businesses by June 1.

However, nothing much seemed to be changing on the poker front. Even the Wynn, when reached by PokerNews in late April, didn't report any planned changes in response to the announcement.

A couple of other poker rooms responded to queries in similar fashion. Venetian said they "didn't have any updates to share," while Golden Nugget provided the following on April 26:

We currently offer eight-handed games with plexi dividers in our poker room," said Chris Latil, senior VP and general manager of the property. "No changes to current guidelines have been announced by [Nevada Gaming Control Board]. When and if guidelines are revised, we will adapt our business practices accordingly to remain compliant.

Demand Could Grow for $10M Guarantee

Wynn already ranked as one of the more popular Vegas rooms, and that only figures to be magnified for players wishing for a more "normal" poker experience who finally have that option.

Those players who have been waiting for that experience in a big tournament will have their chance with this summer's $10M guaranteed Wynn Millions. Unless things take a drastic turn for the worse COVID-wise in the coming month-plus, that series figures to be played under the same conditions with which the Wynn is finishing its current Signature Series.

With Wynn having gotten the go-ahead for divider-free poker, the only question that remains is how soon competitors will follow suit. Big tournament series are sure to be scheduled throughout Las Vegas both this summer and in the fall around the coming World Series of Poker, so poker players will be eager to see what the playing conditions are like at each property.
(The Center Square)  A controversy involving teachers unions, the White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on reopening schools has sparked an inquiry from Congressional Republicans.

House Republicans sent a letter to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky Wednesday alleging partisan politics pushed by the White House and teachers unions have influenced the agency's guidance.

Following public pressure from the White House and your conversations with the AFT [American Federation of Teachers], you changed your position, the letter reads.

The allegations come after recently unveiled emails between the American Federation of Teachers and the CDC suggested the unions had significant influence on CDC guidance for when schools should reopen.

The letter from Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee references these emails, saying they raise significant concerns about whether you, as the Director of the CDC, are putting politics over science and Biden-Harris campaign donors over children.

Such revelations also raise serious questions as to whether you are honoring your pledge to ensure CDC guidance is evidence-based and free from politics, the letter reads.

The New York Post first broke news of the emails between top CDC, White House, and AFT officials. The AFT heavily lobbied the CDC in the days leading up to the planned Feb. 12 announcement regarding whether schools should reopen.

The CDC called the AFT a thought partner on the guidance in the reported emails and ultimately sided with AFT in delaying support for the full reopening of in-person schooling.

Thank you again for Fridays rich discussion about forthcoming CDC guidance and for your openness to the suggestions made by our president, Randi Weingarten, and the AFT, AFT senior director for health issues Kelly Trautner wrote in a February email.

We were able to review a copy of the draft guidance document over the weekend and were able to provide some initial feedback to several staff this morning about possible ways to strengthen the document, Trautner said. We believe our experiences on the ground can inform and enrich thinking around what is practicable and prudent in future guidance documents.

These and other emails show the AFT reviewing and suggesting new language to the CDC days before the announcement.

We are immensely grateful for your genuine desire to earn our confidence and your commitment to partnership, reads another email from Trautner to Walensky.

AFT President Randi Weingarten pushed back after the emails were released, calling the New York Post story "misleading."

"Our job is to advocate for our members, students & communities," Weingarten wrote on Twitter. "And in this pandemic we have fought for safety & resources 24/7. This article describes basic advocacy. It's not mysterious or clandestine. Its routine. And this CDC wants feedback from stakeholders including teachers."

Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., Subcommittee on Health Republican Leader Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Republican Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Va. all signed the letter sent Wednesday demanding answers in response to the released emails.

The committee sent a letter in February demanding the CDC share which stakeholders were influencing the decision-making process on providing guidance for schools re-opening. The CDCs response did not make note of the AFT.

Unsurprisingly, the AFT praised the very guidance they helped shape, the Wednesday letter reads. While Ms. Weingarten travels the country in a private jet for in-person meetings, kids sit at home glued to screens as parents are left looking for answers. The AFTs priority is not focused on getting kids back to school, despite studies showing, with appropriate measures in place, in-person learning is safe. However, as the Director of the CDC, your decisions should be guided by science, not political interest groups.

The letter also demands more details surrounding communication between the CDC, AFT and the National Education Association along with other groups or individuals. The CDC has not yet responded to the request.

CDCs partnership with 'stakeholders' is not the only partnership that matters, the letter reads. CDC and the Congress also have an important partnership that relies on trust. CDC was not forthcoming when we asked about whose input and what input was being provided to CDC during the preparation of the guidance. To restore this partnership and rebuild trust, CDC needs to be accountable and transparent about the CDC guidance process and detail what input was provided by education partners.

Republicans expressed outrage over the news.

The CDC listened to teachers' unions, not families, said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. Students are still being kept from classrooms, and parents cannot return to work. Republicans are demanding answers into why special interest groups were given undue influence by the Biden White House.

Critics say the teachers unions are leveraging the pandemic as a bargaining chip in negotiations with districts and city officials. These battles have played out in cities like Los Angeles, where teachers unions have refused to send teachers back to the schools until a list of demands are met.

The emails between the Centers for Disease Control and the American Federation of Teachers reveal what many of us have known for far too long: teachers unions are using the COVID pandemic as a strike they didnt have to call in order to win concessions they couldnt have gained at a regular bargaining table, said Aaron Withe, CEO of the Freedom Foundation. The CDC was prepared to fully reopen schools across the country in February, but teachers unions are calling the shots in school re-openings by demanding politics over science  including jumping the line for vaccines, more money for school upgrades, remote work, and at least in Los Angeles, free childcare for their own kids.

Its time to put children over politics and get our kids back to full-time, in-person education, Withe added.
On April 29, Russias RIA Novosti state news agency reported that the Federal Security Service (FSB) had detained 16 members of a Ukrainian youth radical association who were allegedly planning terrorist acts in several Russian cities using explosives.

The arrests were part of a special operation that nabbed suspects in Irkutsk, Chita, Tambov, Krasnodar and several other Russian cities. The suspects allegedly belong to MKU, which stands for Youth Murder Cult in Russian. Russias Investigative Committee claims the suspects received instructions on how to use explosives from Yegor Krasnov, a Ukrainian national from the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.

The arrests were the latest in a series that began in February, when three alleged MKU members were picked up in the Russian city of Voronezh in connection with beatings and extremist graffiti. In March, 14 alleged MKU supporters were arrested in the cities of Gelendzhik and Yaroslavl.

Calling these suspects Ukrainians or Ukrainian radicals, however, is highly misleading. No evidence has been produced showing that any of the suspects are Ukrainian citizens.

According to the Ukrainian counter-propaganda organization StopFake, the three suspects arrested in Voronezh in February  Roman Grebenshchikov, Ilya Shmelyov and Alexander Simonov  had ties to a Russian nationalist organization known as the Russian Corps. The group posted a statement on the Russian social media network VK acknowledging that the men had once been affiliated with its Voronezh chapter.

The three did not have any sort of connection with pro-Ukrainian resources or organizations, the Russian Corps statement read. For a short time they were members of the Voronezh cell of RK (Russian Corps).

StopFake also spoke to one of the Voronezh arrestees, Grebenshchikov, who denied having any ties to Ukraine or Ukrainian nationalists, or any knowledge of MKU, the group authorities alleged he was connected to.

StopFake found photos from Grebenshchikovs VK profile showing him present at Russian nationalist rallies and displaying symbols typically associated with Russian, not Ukrainian, nationalists. In a February 18 story on the arrest of the suspects in Voronezh, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti included a video showing the various extremist materials allegedly found in the suspects possession. Those materials included Russian nationalist and German neo-Nazi symbols, as well as what appears to be a German edition of Hitlers Mein Kampf, but nothing bearing Ukrainian symbols of any kind.

The BBC Russian service also published a story on the arrests which included a photo of more extremist material allegedly found on the suspects arrested in Gelendzhik in March. Again, only general neo-Nazi or Russian nationalist items were on display.

Nevertheless, Russian state media routinely label the alleged MKU members later arrested as "Ukrainian neo-Nazis" or "Ukrainian radicals," even though they all appear to be Russian citizens. In one case, a Radio Sputnik headline refers to the suspects as "Ukrainians" even though there is no evidence to suggest this and the article doesn't mention anything about their citizenship or ethnicity.

What is the source of the Ukraine branding, then? Well, it goes back to Yegor Krasnov, a Ukrainian resident of Dnipro who is the purported founder of the MKU. Krasnov , 20, was arrested by Ukrainian police in Dnipro in January 2020 and has been in detention since. He is on trial for a series of violent attacks in Ukraine.

According to the April 29 RIA Novosti article, the FSB claimed that the 16 terror suspects they arrested were in contact with Krasnov, who gave them instructions to carry out bombings and other terrorist attacks. These also allegedly included instructions on how to make and employ explosives.

An investigation into the group by Current Time, a TV program produced by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in cooperation with the Voice of America (VOA), included a profile of Krasnov, in which former classmates and friends described him as a violent hooligan who loved to fight. One former classmate said that Krasnov had been committed to a psychiatric institution, possibly either for drug use or aggressive behavior. Another acquaintance claimed Krasnov had used methamphetamine.

According to Current Time, Krasnov had at least some access to the Telegram internet messaging service, through which the other suspects were able to correspond with him on a limited basis.

Krasnov appears to be the only link that any of the suspects, who are Russian citizens living in Russia, have with Ukraine. The RIA Novosti story on the recent arrests, as well as the earlier arrests, cites FSB interrogations as the source of the claims about Krasnov allegedly giving his contacts in Russia instructions.

The Daily Beast on April 30 quoted Alexander Verkhovsky, head of Moscows SOVA Center, which monitors extremist violence in Russia, saying that while it was possible far-right individuals in Ukraine dared like-minded counterparts in Russia to engage in increasingly serious acts of violence, Ukrainian state involvement is doubtful.

Verkhovsky told The Daily Beast: We have plenty of our own Russian far-right radicals, who might be preparing nasty actions. They dont need some arrested Ukrainian nationalist to tell them what to do.

Further complicating the matter is that the FSB and Russian police have an established history of planting evidence on suspects, including drugs, weapons, explosives and extremist literature. Such incriminating discoveries are extremely common in raids against Crimean Tatars and pro-Ukrainian residents of Crimea, which Russia has occupied since 2014.

In April, Vladislav Yesypenko, a Ukrainian Crimean working for RFE/RL, was arrested by the FSB and charged with weapons possession after being accused of spying for Ukraine. Yesypenko claimed authorities planted a grenade in his car and threatened him with death unless he signed a confession.

Without more information about the suspects in these MKU-related arrests, it is difficult to assess their true involvement in any plot. What is clear is that they were not Ukrainians, as Russian state media has repeatedly labeled them.
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COLUMBIA  With just a few days left in the South Carolina legislative session, a House-passed bill to enhance penalties for hate crimes advanced to the Senate floor, maintaining its slim chances of becoming law this year.

In a 13-10 vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the hate crimes bill May 4 after a 30-minute debate.

The panel's chairman, state Sen. Luke Rankin, said before the vote that advancing the bill would keep it alive for now, with expectations that a more extensive debate could happen in the full chamber.

Rankin, R-Conway, was one of several Republicans to vote in favor of it.

"I make no grand illusions in advancing this bill that it will have life, but again, that is the hope here," Rankin said.

The legislation, H.3620, would only enhance penalties for people who have already been convicted of an underlying violent crime. Punishment could be increased by up to an additional five years in prison or $10,000 in fines if a judge determines the culprit targeted the victim due to a specific personal characteristic.

State Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, emphasized that point as he responded to emails he said he had received suggesting the bill would criminalize free speech.

"There's no hate crime unless there's an underlying violent crime," Campsen said. "No religious speech is going to be criminalized under this unless you commit a homicide or an assault."

Lawmakers amended the bill to add age and political opinions as protected characteristics. They also made clear that sentencing proceedings about whether a crime counts as a hate crime would follow the initial criminal trial with the same jury, similar to the way the state adjudicates death penalty cases.

The other protected characteristics are race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, national origin and physical or mental disability.

State Sen. Rex Rice, R-Easley, suggested the bill should instead impose mandatory minimum sentences for people who commit hate crimes rather than extending their underlying sentences.

"If somebody served 15 years and they're rehabilitated, at that point I think they need to get out," Rice said. "Right now we've got a problem with overcrowding in our corrections facilities, and I think this just makes it worse."

The long-debated measure received a boost of support this year from the states influential business community, as several major companies warned that the ongoing lack of a hate crimes law would damage the states reputation.

South Carolina is one of just two states without any hate crimes law on the books, along with Wyoming. Arkansas removed itself from that short list earlier this year by passing a bill, though critics contend their version is so weak that it hardly constitutes a hate crimes law.

The bill would need to pass the Senate by May 13 in order to have a chance of becoming law this year. Otherwise lawmakers could pick it back up next year at the same point it left off.

State Rep. Wendell Gilliard, the lead sponsor of the bill, said he believes it's important that the Senate act sooner than later.

"Hate crimes are on the rise and hate groups are on the rise," said Gilliard, D-Charleston. "We've got to show the world and the state that we're willing to make progress and keep moving forward."

All eight of the committee's Democrats voted in favor of the bill, along with five Republicans: Tom Young of Aiken, Scott Talley of Greenville, Sandy Senn of Charleston, Rankin and Campsen.

The 10 Republicans voting against it were Shane Massey of Edgefield, Richard Cash of Anderson, Dwight Loftis of Greenville, Billy Garrett of Greenwood, Michael Johnson of Fort Mill, Wes Climer of Rock Hill, Brian Adams of Goose Creek, Penry Gustafson of Camden, Josh Kimbrell of Spartanburg and Rice.

The bill is named after the late state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, one of nine victims in a 2015 racist attack on a Bible study at Charleston's Emanuel AME Church.
Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

Cloudy with a few showers. High near 85F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Arthur Watts, who in 1837 was born into enslavement on the outskirts of Kansas City, made barbecue his business after he was freed. The celebrated open pit cook, who was partial to sliced pork shoulder, for decades oversaw an annual Hog Festival feast in his adopted hometown of Kewanee, Ill.

To feed the thousands who thronged the party, Watts needed about 100 gallons of sauce. But he also had to mind a 240-square-foot trench and supervise the pitchfork-wielding workers assigned to flip the shoulders cooking over it, so he outsourced sauce-making to two branches of his family.

One set of relatives combined half of the ingredients.

One set of relatives mixed the rest.

All Watts had to do was blend their contributions to have his red sauce and keep its secret, too.

Watts is one of 16 Black barbecue makers profiled in compelling multipage sidebars seasoning Adrian Millers new book "Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue," a comprehensive history of barbecues development and cultural significance. (Rodney Scott merited a profile, too: Its subtitled Changing the Barbecue Game.)

Here, the author of "Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time" performs a Watts-like feat, fusing different strands of scholarship to form an original and memorable take on an iconic culinary tradition.

While plenty of researchers have delved into topics such as barbecue, Black labor, American entrepreneurship and food media, Miller pulls together a diverse array of sources to show that Black barbecue kings (to use the term which prevailed before pitmaster) were exploited and marginalized from the start.

Yet despite the incredible amount of time he clearly spent scrolling through primary texts and visiting Black-owned barbecue restaurants, there isnt a sentence spent bemoaning the challenges he confronted.

Instead, Miller suggests that the story of how African Americans shaped barbecue wasnt hidden away. White food writers and historians just chose to ignore it, perpetuating the racism that Black barbecuers have long faced.

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As late as 2003, Bon Appetit ran a story titled Whos Who in American Barbecue, illustrated by a drawing of 17 White men grilling and playing croquet. The cartoon, reprinted in Millers book, also included a toque-wearing White woman looking lovingly at one of the chefs and an Asian man playing with a beach ball.

Barbecue is being whitewashed, contends Miller, who sardonically lays out a five-step plan for cutting Blacks out of barbecue coverage. (Step 2: Consult non-diverse professional and social networks and press releases for suggestions on whom to profile.)

With "Black Smoke," Miller has begun to correct the record. And although he doesnt shy away from the seriousness of the task, he cant help but tackle it with some puns and general goofiness. Miller is a good-natured guy.

Actually, hes Adrian to me. Since years ago meeting Miller through the Southern Foodways Alliance, Ive had the chance to join him on a few of his restaurant outings, including most recently in Las Vegas. I always like hanging out with Adrian, and my guess is you will, too.

"Black Smoke: African Americans and United States of Barbecue" is our next selection for The Post & Courier Food section book club launched earlier this year. Miller will join us for a virtual discussion of his book on Tuesday, June 8 at 5 p.m. eastern.

There is no charge to participate, but its more fun if you read the book in advance. The Charleston County Public Library has three print copies in its catalog, as well as digital copies of the book available on Overdrive. The title is also available for purchase through Blue Bicycle Books at bookshop.org/a/1117/9781469662800.

And since food is our focus, we want to make sure everyone in attendance has the right snack. Nigel and Louise Drayton of The Slaughterhouse BBQ & Brew in Ladson recommend picking up one of their Super Sam pulled pork sandwiches. The menu item was named for Nigel Draytons late father-in-law, Sam Williams, remembered by his family as a devoted barbecue fan.

To register and receive the all-important Zoom link, go to pcfoodbookclubam.eventbrite.com. See you there!
The last show at The Royal American before COVID-19 shuttered the Morrison Drive music venue was March 13, 2020.

John Bias, Orange Doors and Super City played to a typical crowd of late-night rum punch sippers on the small but much-used stage to the left of the bar. Bartenders swung the dangling orange lights above the bar to signal clapping, dancers spun around and spilled out onto the front patio. All was as it should be.

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Days later, the city of Charleston ordered businesses to close as the pandemic swept across South Carolina.

Though the neighborhood bar and restaurant has been serving up food and drinks to a limited capacity crowd for much of the COVID-19 era, a year and two months later, The Royal American is finally ready to put on shows once again.

The first will be May 14 and feature a performance by indie rock bands Daddy's Beemer, Nordista Freeze and Reverend Bro Diddley and The Hips. Tickets will be $10 at the door, and the show starts at 9 p.m.

Justin Osborne of Susto, along with Rose Hotel and Jordan Igoe, will then return to the venue's stage on June 10. Tickets go on sale online at 10 a.m. May 4.

This will be the tour kickoff for Osborne's solo acoustic set, and advance $30 tickets will be on sale online at https://bit.ly/337DoVr, unlike past Royal shows that have only allowed paying cash at the door.

Co-owner John Kenney said he was waiting until people had the chance to get vaccinated before booking live shows again.

As of April 28, more than 1.2 million South Carolinians had completed their COVID-19 vaccinations, or more than 30 percent of adults.

Kenney said he has received his second dose.

"We haven't exceeded more than 50 percent occupancy since the pandemic started, even though at this point most of the regulations have been lifted," Kenney said. "We are going to ease back into a few shows over the next couple of months, slowly and safely."

The Charleston Pour House has put on seated deck shows since last May but just recently opened its interior doors for late-night performances to a limited capacity.

The Tin Roof has hosted occasional shows on the patio and inside since last summer, requiring concertgoers to wear masks.

Purple Buffalo hosted seated outdoor shows last year and then expanded back to limited capacity standing-room indoor shows.

The Charleston Music Hall pivoted to an outdoor concert series to host larger, spaced-out crowds. The Hall has also opened its doors to a limited capacity, socially distanced audience.

This will be Royal's first foray whatsoever into live music, other than a livestream fundraiser event, since March 2020.

The first show announcements come after Gov. Henry McMaster said it was time for things to "start getting back to normal," calling for an end to government-mandated mask wearing and other COVID-19 restrictions across the state.

That didn't factor into Royal's decision to reopen its doors for live music.

There will be a limited capacity, temperature checks and masks required for entry at the upcoming shows.
COLUMBIA  Discount grocery chain Lidl has backed off from its plans to replace a Piggly Wiggly store on Devine Street in Columbia.

Talks that lasted months among German-based grocer Lidl, the owner of the Piggly Wiggly store commonly known as the Social Pig, and the owners of the building have ended without reaching a deal, The Post and Courier has learned from a source with knowledge of the negotiations.

Lidl had gone as far as to seek city permission for new signage and a liquor store.

Asked about its Devine Street plans, Lidl spokeswoman Chandler Ebeier said only, "We are looking at a number of sites in the Columbia area."

Piggly Wiggly store manager Darrell Miller has said consistently that he had no plans for the store to move and that it had lease options extending years into the future.

Miller and the property owners, the Derrick family, did not return calls seeking comment May 5.

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In 2020, a real estate group representing Lidl sought approval from the city to change the signage on the "Social Pig" store at 3818 Devine St. to the discount grocery chain. That change was approved by the Columbia Planning Commission last September.

An application to the Columbia Board of Zoning Appeals also was approved to add a small Lidl liquor store to the building.

The store has been a mainstay of the Shandon and Sherwood Forest neighborhoods for decades, and many residents were unhappy over talk that the end might be near for the "Social Pig," called that because it is such a crossroads where neighbors meet.

Some had objected to the idea of the discount grocer taking over a classic Southern grocery store. Others were enthusiastic about Lidl, which like its German peer Aldi, has a business model of having some special goods and household items available for a limited time.

Lidl has two stores in the Midlands, one on Sunset Boulevard in Lexington and the other in northeast Richland near The Summit neighborhood.
COLUMBIA  As COVID-19 cases slow and vaccinations rise, Columbia region school districts are beginning to assess  and in some cases change  their existing policies.

On May 4, trustees at Lexington One and Lexington-Richland District Five school districts took different stances on relaxing classroom mask requirements through the rest of the year.

Lexington-Richland 5 trustees voted 4-2 to rescind an August 2020 requirements for masks inside classrooms, opting now to make them discretionary. That decision came after more than 30 minutes of public comment where teachers and parent opinion was split.

Were sitting here dickering about keeping babies in face coverings. Its child abuse. No ifs, ands or buts about it, said Laura LaSalle, a district parent and member of the Facebook group Unmask our Kids, which paid for a billboard in Chapin. I have not worn a mask since the beginning of this. Im not dead. A true pandemic, people are dead in the streets. This has become political. Government overreach is done.

A few miles away at the Lexington One central office, more than 60 people testified for almost three hours  nearly all of them demanded trustees rescind a mask requirement.

But Lexington One trustees never implemented a formal policy, instead abiding by the state's guidance. Superintendent Greg Little recommended May 4 keeping in place classroom masking requirements through the end of the year.

"Masks absolutely have played an essential role in our return to school," Little said. "We realize that people are frustrated with masking and the pandemic in general and we all want it to be over, but we're not quite there yet."

Meanwhile, officials in other large Midlands districts  Richland One, Richland Two and Lexington Two  told The Post and Courier that existing policies mandating masks while inside classrooms will remain in place for now.

If districts dump masks, state Department of Education still requires masks be worn on school buses, hallways and other areas where people gather in large numbers, spokesman Ryan Brown said.

They could make it optional in the classroom if they wanted to and still be in accordance with our guidelines, he said.

But Brown told The Post and Courier the agency plans to rescind that policy at the end of the academic year.

During the debate at the Lexington-Richland 5 meeting, Cindy Reeves, a music teacher at Leaphart Elementary School, said she contracted COVID-19 less than a month after returning to the classroom after breast cancer treatment and said lifting the mask requirement likely would drive her out of work once again.

Are you comfortable with even one person dying under your leadership? Masks work best when everyone wears one, said Albert Jones, another district teacher.

Trustees said the district ordinance approved last year by the previous board amounted to government overreach, especially since no end date was written into it.

We are conditioning our children to be scared and I feel like we're conditioning them to be scared because of politics, trustee Rebecca Blackburn Hines said.

At the Lexington One meeting, Lisa Bostic, like several other parents, broke into tears as she addressed the board.

"I don't live with my son anymore, because he's hearing one thing at school and he's hearing the truth at home," she said. "You have no idea how many families you have broken up, and how much psychological damage you've done to children. I am angry."

A 40-year paramedic and mother of a teenaged son agreed.

"The masks do absolutely nothing, I know that for a fact," Gilbert resident Jackie Bruce said. "I'm forced to wear a mask a work. I don't want my child to be forced to wear a mask. He is getting to the point where he is getting suicidal."

Lexington One trustee Kyle Guyton, a pediatrician, slammed Gov. Henry McMaster's demands for an end to local mask requirements statewide.

"I will not put this community in jeopardy because the governor chose political rhetoric," he said. "I can't tell you if plexiglass makes a difference .I can't tell you masks make a difference, I can't tell you if social distancing or handwashing make a difference, but I can tell you all of them (together) do."

Updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols issued April 27 say fully vaccinated people can start to gather indoors without masks while staying six feet apart, but suggests face coverings should still be worn in situations where some peoples vaccination status is unknown.

More than 30 percent of South Carolina adults have completed their vaccination as May 1, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Lexington County is running ahead of that, with 34 percent of its residents inoculated  a figure that jumps to 44 percent including people who have received the first of their two-dose regimen.

Jessica Holdman contributed from Columbia.
Lin Wood has done the impossible: Hes made people feel sorry for Drew McKissick.

And that's a trick.

In his four years as the states GOP chairman, McKissick has proven himself the prototypical partisan to lead a political party. His bio on the Republicans website says he likes Elvis and beating Democrats.

Yeah, like that.

McKissick has been a bombastic, combative cheerleader for his rank and file, no matter how far into the "Twilight Zone" they drift. Unless, of course, they have a rare crisis of conscience following an attempted coup on the federal government.

Sorry, Tom Rice.

He doesnt have the sense of humor of Katon Dawson or the Southern manners of Henry McMaster, past chairmen who were entertaining or even endearing. But maybe thats the influence of his hero, Donald Trump, for whom McKissick canceled a presidential primary.

Still, hes not Trumpy enough for some of the partys malcontents. So they recruited Wood to challenge McKissick for the chairmanship. Yes, Lin Wood  the Georgia attorney who peddles conspiracy theories about election fraud and pedophiles, or election fraud by pedophiles. Its never entirely clear.

They asked me to consider running because they felt like the establishment, headed up by Drew McKissick, was not being responsive to the people, Wood told The Post and Couriers Jamie Lovegrove.

Establishment Republicans, in this instance, refers to party officials who dont go around saying lizard people and Satan worshippers are secretly plotting to eat kids. Responsive means unwilling to actually overturn an election.

Woods style is to promote Q inanity and hurl thinly disguised accusations, then go through the who me? bit about how hes just asking questions. He claims Trumps still in office or suggests former Vice President Mike Pence is a traitor, then says its satire or hyperbole ... and hell sue if you suggest otherwise.

We need some chaos in the Republican Party in South Carolina, Wood told the Aiken GOP last week.

So, basically, hes the Joker from "The Dark Knight."

Like the Joker, Wood insists he isnt crazy. And hes not. Hes a carnival barker  one that even the master of the art avoids. Thats saying something; the former guy hasnt even thrown Rudy Giuliani under the bus. Yet.

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Wood brought this circus  McKissicks word  to Ladson last weekend, along with former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who was pardoned after twice pleading guilty to lying to the FBI. The uber-patriot couldnt remember the words to the Pledge of Allegiance, but Wood fans will tell you thats a hidden message. Because thats how they always explain such boneheadedness.

Wood is right about one thing: the establishment GOP loathes him and his supporters. Sure, they were content to keep their mouths shut as Trump drew people to the polls and appointed conservative, if sometimes unqualified, judges. But they suffer no illusions, or delusions, about this alternate reality.

Trouble is, theyve spent 25 years cultivating voters drawn to conspiracies and imagined grievances, and theres no way to dial it back now. Without getting canceled.

It doesnt matter that McKissick has made GOP gains in a state where they already control everything, or that Trump endorsed him. As Mark Sanford explained to Politico, his party has simply devolved into a cult of personality.

Its one version of Trump versus another, more rabid version of Trump, but its all crazy, Sanford said.

Unfortunately, thats a self-consuming proposition, sort of like the snake on the Dont Tread on Me flag.

Last year, McKissick renewed the push for closed primaries in South Carolina  which would require people to join the Republican Party to vote in its primary. Right now, independents and even Democrats can, and often do, vote in the GOP primary a) to keep the party from electing loons, because b) those nominees are usually a general election lock.

Well, this campaign is what a closed primary looks like. Maybe McKissick and the GOP need to rethink that.

In 2018, Democrat Joe Cunningham won a congressional district with an 11-point Republican advantage basically for two reasons: He seemed reasonable, and his opponent did not.

The state and the country need two distinct parties with different ideas about how to achieve similar goals. And one of those goals isn't fighting lizard people.

McKissick will prevail here; his supporters say he has the votes. But it's ridiculous they had to count.

Look, there are nuts in both parties these days. The difference is, the Republicans are letting theirs drive the train.

And if they make Wood their conductor, theyll eventually drive it right off the rails.
GEORGETOWN  Despite a group of parents who showed up to tell the Georgetown Country school district board to end mask mandates for the remainder of the year, the district's medical advisory team recommended May 4 keeping mask and plexiglass rules in place.

The board took no action, though the district said it would consider removing mask requirements for this year for outdoor activities, like recess, after new federal guidelines.

Alan Walters, director of the district's safety and risk management department, said the team is beginning to see if masks and plexiglass will still be necessary for students when classes start net fall.

This caution came despite several parents  and even one student, Jack Olsen  telling the board that masks negatively affect students' mental health and academic performance.

"I get bullied when I pull my mask down for a puff of air," Olsen said, adding that he has asthma.

Walters said the district's goal is to develop an adaptive plan for the safe reopening of schools that can evolve based on science and circumstances. He continually cited state and federal public health numbers and guidelines to the board as reasons why the mask mandate is being kept in place.

Georgetown County let its mask mandate expire April 30, while the city of Georgetown extended its mask mandate until July 30.

Studies show that younger children are not only less likely to experience COVID-19 symptoms, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced its plans to expand Pfizer vaccinations to children ages 12-15 as early as next week.

The board also was updated on the district's virtual program. Elementary and middle school student applications did not meet the required minimum enrollment numbers needed to make the program viable for them, so virtual learning will not be offered to elementary and middle school students next year.

Enough high schoolers, though, applied for the program, and Genia Smith, the district's executive director for innovations and special programs, said administrators will survey those qualified students to form the best plan for how the virtual program will work for them.

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The 2021-22 virtual academy was only available via application to students whose academics and attendance records from this school year qualify.

Smith said the district looked for high levels of academic performance and attendance in approved virtual academy students to ensure that those students will be set up to succeed, not fail.

Our students that are in the program, if you compare them to those that are face to face, the data shows that theyre struggling in regards to reading, Smith said.

While Smith said this years' virtual program was a success, it also was clear that there was significant learning loss across grade levels. With this loss in mind, the district put minimum and maximum enrollment capacities on 2021-22 virtual students to balance its families safety concerns with evidence that students succeed more when they are learning in-person.

At least 15 elementary students in each grade needed to be approved for the program to be viable, though it was capped at 30 students per grade. For middle schoolers, minimum enrollment was 20 per grade and maximum enrollment was 35 per grade.

High school applications, though, were done as a whole, not by individual grade. Minimum enrollment for high schoolers was 20 ninth to 12th grade students and the cap was 35.

High schoolers only committed to the virtual program for a semester, meaning if high schoolers wanted, they could be virtual for the fall semester, then in-person for spring.

Superintendent Keith Price also announced the district will receive $26.3 million in federal ESSER III funds. These funds are part of the American Rescue Plan Act passed in March 2021, and Price said this funding would generally be used to address learning loss from COVID-19. More discussion on specific uses for the funds will come at later board meetings.

Price also announced Marc Frechette as the district's new director of student information services and data quality. Frechette will work with PowerSchool, the district's communication and information portal for students, teachers and parents.
Greenville County Council voted 7-5 on May 4 to send a controversial rezoning request along Old Grove Road in west Greenville back to the starting line.

Council members said developer Phil Hughes could resubmit it as a flexible review district (FRD) to build a subdivision with more than 500 homes. Hughes Investments had asked for the vacant, wooded industrial site to be rezoned as R-12 residential so his company could sell the land to Meritage Homes, a national homebuilder. Hughes said the late change by the council caught him by surprise.

Paul Luck, director of acquisitions for Meritage Homes, said they do not plan to change their request to an FRD, a special district that would give the council more power over the site design and layout of the project.

They have kicked it back to staff under the pretense, I guess, that we would change our zoning request to FRD, which we will not do, Luck said. Its not appropriate.

Councilmen Lynn Ballard and Ennis Fant, who each represent one side of Old Grove Road, said their constituents opposed the project because it would lead to gentrification of the community by raising property taxes. Fant has said the site should be residential rather than industrial but he wanted more affordable homes than the ones Meritage would build. Fant also wanted sidewalks installed along Old Grove Road for residents and school children at Grove Elementary School.

Earlier in the day, Hughes submitted an updated site plan with a number of concessions.

Among those:

A 17-acre parcel would be split from the main site and set aside for a future affordable housing project of up to 100 homes.

Meritage, the contracted buyer, would donate $82,000 to Greenville County to use as it desired. Thats the cost of a sidewalk along Old Grove Road. Meritage also would build a crosswalk from its subdivision entrance to Grove Elementary.

Meritage would pay for $400,000 in road improvements along Old Grove Road.

Meritage would make a $200,000 donation to the county for programs such as homebuyer education and financial literacy for residents in the neighborhood.

Those concessions were made with the understanding that the residential zoning would pass, Hughes said.

That didnt happen.

Fant said the new plan wasnt a surprise to Hughes and that they talked about it days before the meeting. An FRD would give the county assurance that Hughes and the builder followed through on their concessions to the county.

The FRD puts in writing everything that theyve agreed to, Fant said. The whole point was 'we dont believe you so basically were going to protect the taxpayers.' You can still have what you want. We agree with everything you want to do. This is just putting it in writing.

During the meeting, Fant publicly thanked councilmen Stan Tzouvelekas and Steve Shaw, and Chairman Willis Meadows, for their work negotiating a solution to a rezoning that had become contentious. Tzouvelekas and Shaw, who each supported rezoning the site at the council's April 19 meeting, changed to support the new plan to send the request back to staff to start the process over as an FRD.

Tzouvelekas said the council agreed with each concession Meritage offered and an FRD would guarantee the site was developed as promised.

The biggest takeaway for me tonight was that the voices of the people were still heard by local government, Fant said.

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Ball back in developers court

It is now up to Hughes whether he continues with the plan to seek a zoning that will allow residential use. He said he could keep it industrial, build a road through it to connect to Augusta Road and build speculative buildings on the site.

They hate tractor trailers, they hate traffic, they dont want trucks? We dont either, Hughes said. But what are we going to do if they make us do industrial?

Ballard, who wanted to vote down the project May 4 but supported sending it back to staff, said he was not part of the negotiations with the developer but he was fine with the revised plan Meritage submitted because of the affordable housing component and the agreement to put sidewalks along Old Grove Road. Ballard said didnt know if the proposal was a serious offer. Council members didnt see it until two hours before the meeting and did not have time to weigh the proposals, he said.

Shaw also said the plan was a last minute addition and the proposal to turn the site into an FRD was also a late change.

Ballard, Fant, Meadows, Shaw, Tzouvelekas, Mike Barnes and Xanthene Norris voted to send the rezoning back to staff. Joe Dill, Chris Harrison, Butch Kirven, Liz Seman and Dan Tripp voted against the motion to send the matter to staff.

Ethics commission clears Harrison vote

After residents and members of council called for Harrison to recuse himself from voting on the Old Grove Road rezoning due to potential conflicts of interest, Harrison said he didnt see any financial benefit from voting on the project.

Harrisons brokerage, NAI Earle Furman is the listing agent for hundreds of acres in the Augusta Grove Business Park near the rezoning site. Harrison is also part-owner of a site about two miles away that is being marketed as boat and RV storage but would likely be used for truck storage.

Harrison said he received an informal advisory opinion from the state ethics commission that clearly states there is no conflict of interest and I was able to vote earlier this evening.

Just because theres disagreement with a vote I have or my thoughts or my opinion on matters, theres no reason for my integrity and behavior and character to be attacked, Harrison said. I just think it was inappropriate and I dont think thats how any of us deserve to be treated up here.

Bruce Wilson, a community activist who grew up in west Greenville, said he had filed a complaint with the ethics commission about Harrisons potential conflicts of interest.

In comments to council at the start of the meeting, Wilson referenced the complaint he filed. Tripp raised a point of order and told Wilson that he was breaking the law by talking publicly about the complaint. Meadows agreed and asked Wilson to refrain to talking about it.

Afterward, Wilson said he understood the complaint to have been settled by the ethics commission because hed asked for a recusal, which was out of the ethics commissions purview, and so it was a public record. He said he planned to file a new complaint.

Harrison shared the ethics commission staffs opinion with The Post and Courier. In it, the staff said the storage facility on Augusta Road was too far removed from the site in question to be a conflict. The opinion, written by Ethics Commission General Counsel Courtney M. Laster, said that while Harrison is a compensated agent of NAI Earle Furman, which markets the nearby county industrial park, there isnt a direct financial benefit to the company if the site is rezoned.

At best, any interest belonging to the firm appears to be speculative in nature. Accordingly, it is the opinion of Commission staff that you are not required to recuse yourself from this vote.
In an effort to better engage with residents, the Mauldin Police Department has named a community liaison officer and plans to eventually name three more.

At a Public Safety Committee meeting May 3, interim police chief George Miller said the department recently moved Cpl. James Madden into the new position.

As the liaison, Madden is tasked with regularly attending homeowner association meetings, interacting with local businesses and participating in events such as National Night Out gatherings. Starting in July, Madden will host monthly question and answer sessions with residents. The chief or operations commander will attend those sessions, as well.

Miller said during the committee meeting that Madden will eventually be a part of a four-person community action team.

The Mauldin Police Department has started conversations with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office to learn how the agency structures and employs its already existing community action unit. Madden will shadow members of the Sheriff's Office team in the near future, Miller said.

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Madden has been an officer with the Mauldin Police Department since 2015 and previously worked at the Greenville County Detention Center. He also serves as the department's alcohol enforcement officer, Miller said.

The city has been searching for a new police chief since Bryan Turner retired from the position earlier this month. Committee Chairwoman Carol King said as Mauldin continues that process, it is seeking candidates who will be able to bridge the gap between residents and police. The results from a survey that was hosted on the city's website showed most respondents ranked strengthening the department's relationship with the community as their top priority for a new chief.

King said at the meeting the creation of the liaison position and plans to establish a full team are good first steps.

"I think that's heading in the right direction to get a more planned out goal in mind and have more measurable goals," she said.
The retail pharmacy chain CVS announced May 5 it would begin offering walk-in appointments for COVID-19 vaccines in stores across the country, including 200 sites in South Carolina, effective immediately.

The announcement came the day after President Joe Biden said in a briefing with reporters he would instruct retail pharmacy chains to open their doors to anyone 16 and older who wants a vaccine, without an appointment.

The move to make getting a shot as simple as possible comes as the numbers of people getting vaccines, both in South Carolina and across the United States, continue to decline.

CVS has given out about 260,000 vaccines at its South Carolina pharmacies through May 5, as well as thousands of doses in the state's nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Anyone who wants to make an appointment at one of its stores still can by going to cvs.com.

Statewide numbers

New cases reported: 397 confirmed, 261 probable.

Total cases in S.C.: 483,975 confirmed, 97,860 probable.

Percent positive: 5.5 percent.

New deaths reported: 11 confirmed, 4 probable.

Total deaths in S.C.: 8,396 confirmed, 1,140 probable.

Percent of ICU beds filled: 70 percent.

How S.C. ranks

South Carolina ranks 41st in the nation regarding the number of vaccines administered per 100,000 people as of May 5, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hardest-hit areas

In the total number of newly confirmed cases, York County (53), Richland County (50) and Greenville County (44) saw the highest totals.

What about tri-county?

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Charleston County had 24 new cases on May 5, while Berkeley County had 10 and Dorchester County had 14.

Deaths

Two of the confirmed deaths from COVID-19 reported May 5 were in patients age 35 to 64. Eight were people age 65 or older. One person who died was age 18 to 34.

Hospitalizations

Of the 376 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of May 5, 99 were in the ICU and 54 were using ventilators.

Long-term care facilities

There have been 20,080 confirmed coronavirus cases in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities: 12,411 residents and 7,669 staff workers, according to DHEC data.

So far, 1,927 residents have died from the virus  a mortality rate of 16 percent. Twenty-nine workers also have died. Together, they account for 23 percent of deaths in the state, the data from May 3 shows.

Of the 682 facilities DHEC monitored, the virus has been found in 514. There are active outbreaks at 43 of them, a 25 percent decrease in two weeks.

Some type of visitation  indoor, outdoor or both  is allowed at 654 facilities, 11 do not allow it and 17 did not report.

What do experts say?

Dr. Jane Kelly, assistant state epidemiologist at the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental, said she doesn't want the public to be too focused on the difference between COVID-19 cases reported as "probable" and "confirmed."

The CDC changed the way it defined probable and confirmed cases in September, Kelly said. With that change, anyone who tests positive with a rapid test is counted as "probable."

"By all accounts these are cases of COVID-19," Kelly said. "It's the total number of COVID-19 cases that counts."

She also noted the medical response will be the same regardless of whether someone gets a positive rapid test or a lab-based one.

About 17 percent of all COVID-19 cases reported in South Carolina since the beginning of the pandemic are considered probable.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable.
By postponing the vote until then, DeSantis assures that the districts residents in Broward and Palm Beach counties, many of whom are Democrats who are Black, will have no representation for nearly a year. It also ensures that at least three seats vacated by Democratic state legislators who are running for Congress will still be vacant when the next legislative session opens next Jan. 11.
CONWAY  The estate of an Horry County man shot and killed last fall has filed a lawsuit that claims a Conway restaurant contributed to his death because it served alcohol to his accused killer after a state-mandated COVID-19 curfew.

The victim, Paul Anthony Mishoe, and others were at CWs Wings and Rib Shack in November where they drank alcoholic beverages at a bar inside the restaurant, the lawsuit said. Mishoe and the man charged with killing him, Stephen OHara, engaged in a conversation at the bar, the complaint says.

The restaurant kept serving alcohol after 11 p.m., according to the lawsuit, despite an executive order from Gov. Henry McMaster that halted liquor sales at restaurants after 11 p.m. as a measure to slow the spread of COVID-19. The curfew was lifted in March.

The suit alleges O'Hara was served alcohol after the governor's curfew and that he was highly intoxicated." He also carried concealed firearm that went undetected. Patrons cannot drink alcohol inside a bar when carrying a concealed weapon, according to state law.

The failure to search and detect such a dangerous weapon prior to serving alcohol to such a person was a direct cause of the death of plaintiff, Paul Anthony Mishoe, the lawsuit said.

After returning to the vehicle, Mishoe was allegedly shot and killed at close range in the back of his neck and head. O'Hara was charged with murder.

Such attack would not have been possible if CWs Wings and Rib Shack had taken precautions to prevent people from possessing concealed weapons while consuming alcohol and becoming highly intoxicated on its premises, the lawsuit said.

The estate is asking to recover unspecified damages for the loss of his life which and for the value of his life to his beneficiaries, which are his three minor children.

Efforts to reach CW's was unsuccessful May 5.

OHara was released on a $75,000 bond in January, according to J. Reuben Long Detention Center's online booking records.

Mishoes mother filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against OHara in March.
MONCKS CORNER  Berkeley County School District has allowed a woman's two children to return to school in person after she filed a lawsuit claiming the district was forcing them to be stuck in virtual learning.

Brigette Herbst filed a complaint against the school district and Superintendent Eddie Ingram on May 4 through attorneys at the Liberty Justice Center. Daniel Suhr, one of the lawyers representing the Berkeley County mom, said the district informed Herbst just hours after the lawsuit was filed that her students would be able to start learning in person as soon as May 5.

"It's a shame that Brigette had to go to lawyers and file a lawsuit for the district to do the right thing here, but we're glad her kids are back in school," Suhr said.

In the lawsuit, Herbst claimed the district was forcing her children to be stuck in virtual learning despite a law signed by Gov. Henry McMaster requiring all districts in the state offer in-person instruction five days a week.

The law mandates that districts offer full-time, in-person learning no later than April 26. On that same day, Herbst emailed her childrens school, College Park Middle School in Ladson, to ask if they could start learning in person, according to the complaint.

A school official responded that all open spots for in-person learning at the school were full and that Herbsts children would not be able to start learning in the classroom.

As with many school districts in the state, Berkeley County established a new model of learning at the beginning of the school year. Families and students were given three options for instruction before the fall: traditional in-person learning, blended distance learning or virtual learning.

The latter two options offer completely remote learning for the students who chose blended distance learning, which is live-streamed face-to-face instruction, and virtual learning, which includes self-guided online classes.

School district officials declined to comment on the lawsuit as it is a pending legal matter.

Herbst moved to South Carolina midway through the year to escape the onerous pandemic restrictions of their previous home state, the complaint said.

When Herbsts children enrolled in the school district, the family was told that all in-person slots were filled and her sixth and seventh grader would have to participate in virtual learning.

According to the complaint, the district has said that it met the requirements outlined in the law when it offered full-time, in-person learning to students at the beginning of the school year.

The complaint claims that the district has harmed both Herbst and her children by failing to offer in-person learning.

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By not providing in-person instruction for all students, (the school district has) failed in their constitutional duty to provide (Herbst's) children a minimally adequate education, the complaint said. (The school district's) failure to provide a minimally adequate education harms (Herbst) and her children.

Even though Herbst's children were able to return in person, the justice center plans to move forward with the lawsuit. Through a Freedom of Information Act request, Suhr said the center learned that there are 124 other students on a waitlist for in-person learning at the district.

Since filing the lawsuit, Suhr has heard from other parents in the district hoping to join in, he said. Some of those parents chose virtual learning for their student at the beginning of the year but have since changed their mind.

Suhr said he talked to a family who "saw the impact of virtual (learning) on their child and their family, but also saw how our society has been reopening and become more safe."
Charleston's elected leaders set up a special committee earlier this year to help determine whether a seawall should be built around the peninsula, but so far the members of that panel have more questions than answers.

The 14-member advisory committee, which is made up of downtown residents, two City Council members and representatives from some of Charleston's largest institutions, met for the second time on May 5.

The first meeting in late April allowed the committee to review an initial study on the proposed seawall that was conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which would be in charge of the eventual construction.

The goal of the May 5 meeting was to lay out the members' initial thoughts about the project, which will be designed to help protect downtown Charleston from storm surge during future hurricanes and tropical storms.

All of the committee members seemingly agreed the Charleston peninsula is likely to need some type of perimeter defense, especially with sea levels expected to rise in the coming decades.

"We recognize the need for protection," said Dennis Frazier, who is representing the Medical University of South Carolina and the entire Charleston Medical District on the committee.

"We are terrified about what could potentially be lost to flooding and sea level rise over the coming years, and we are generally open to some form of perimeter protection," added Cashion Drolet, a representative with the Historic Charleston Foundation.

But many of the panelists also voiced apprehensions about how the roughly 8-mile barrier might affect homeowners, the economy, the environment, city finances and other communities in Charleston that aren't located within the confines of the proposed seawall.

Doug Warner, a vice president with the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, wanted to know more about how the seawall would affect the scenic views along the Ashley River, where he owns a home.

Kevin Mills, CEO of the South Carolina Aquarium, was interested in exploring how the barrier would affect the existing marshes and tidal environment along the peninsula.

And Jordi Yarborough, a senior vice president with the State Ports Authority, wanted to understand whether the seawall and the gates that may need to be built into the barrier could limit some access to the Union Pier Terminal and Columbus Street Terminal.

All of those concerns are likely to be explored in more detail as the Army Corps continues to develop a preliminary design for the project.

The biggest issue the committee members will likely need to work through is the price tag. The Army Corps most recently set the estimated cost for the massive project at $1.4 billion, though that could change depending on the final design the city and federal agency settle on.

The federal government may cover up to 65 percent of that cost if the project moves forward, but that means Charleston leaders would need to find the other 35 percent, which comes to nearly $500 million.

That's not an easy task in a place like Charleston, where elected leaders are already dedicating huge segments of the city's tax base for other flood mitigation projects.

The seawall would help to block water that is pushed in from the Atlantic Ocean during major storms, but on its own, the project won't solve the peninsula's other problems such as the stormwater drains that back up during major rainstorms.

That's exactly why City Council tasked the new advisory committee with reviewing how the seawall would fit into the city's broader strategy for flood control downtown.

Susan Lyons, who lives on the peninsula and leads a grassroots advocacy group called Groundswell, said the city needs to get a better understanding of the long-term costs for all of the flood mitigation projects that are needed in Charleston.

"I think the financial aspect of flood control in Charleston has been the elephant in the living room for a long time," she said during the meeting.

Several other members of the advisory committee raised concerns about the seawall eating up hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, and they questioned what that would mean for other flooding projects in Charleston.

Bob Habig, who lives downtown and is involved in the Charlestowne Neighborhood Association, said the federal funding match the Army Corps is dangling in front of the city is "seductive." But he worries about pouring huge amounts of money into a single megaproject.

Mark Wilbert, Charleston's chief resilience officer, said the city still needs to create an "integrated water plan" that looks at all of the necessary infrastructure improvements on the peninsula and how the seawall might fit into that. That planning, he said, is vital, especially with most of the peninsula under redevelopment.

For now, the advisory committee will need to move forward without that guidance. The city is expected to provide feedback on the proposed seawall to the Army Corps by later this year.
Federal Judge Joe Dawson faces an ongoing judicial ethics complaint over his exit contract with Charleston County  his former employer  and now he's agreed to amend that deal.

County Council discussed the potential changes behind closed doors during a May 6 meeting.

Mr. Dawsons attorney reached out to us about amendments to the contract," Council Chairman Teddie Pryor told The Post and Courier that night.

Some changes could be made to the numbers, I would put it like that," he said.

The contract that prompted the ethics complaint was drawn up by Dawson himself in December, right before he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a seat on the U.S. District Court in Greenville, according to county officials.

With his departure, Dawson was paid a lump sum of $216,000  half the total amount Charleston County paid Dawson in 2020  and was promised a 1.5 percent share of any settlement Charleston County receives from national litigation over opioid pharmaceuticals.

The $216,000 alone nearly equaled the annual pay of a federal judge, $218,600. But it wasn't the rich compensation so much as what the contract called for Dawson to provide in return that raised ethics concerns.

Shortly after The Post and Courier reported on the previously undisclosed deal in February, the nonprofit advocacy group Fix the Court filed a formal judicial ethics complaint about the arrangement.

The arrangement, which Dawson subsequently asked the county to change, states that Dawson agrees to provide the county his institutional and historical knowledge and insight on proceedings related to services performed or required to be performed, or non-legal advice on matters where he possesses pertinent knowledge for twelve months from the date of his separation.

Under the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, federal judges are not allowed to practice law or provide legal services.

Pryor said the county hopes to clear up, in the contract, that Dawson would only be asked to share his institutional knowledge gathered over two decades as the county's top attorney.

He cannot provide us with legal advice," Pryor said. "I want to be clear about that."

Gabe Roth, executive director of Fix the Court, said the attempt to revise the problematic contract seems like a positive development.

Seemingly, Judge Dawson realizes he made a mistake and is trying to fix the mistake," Roth said Wednesday.

Hopefully that $216,000 payment is reconstituted as a severance payment and its clarified that hes not a consultant, and maybe the opioid lawsuit percentage gets another look," he said.

Dawson did not return a message left with his court clerk seeking comment May 5, and has not responded to previous, repeated attempts to reach him for comment.

He signed the revised contract on May 11.

County Councilman Herb Sass said it's important that the county's latest administrator, Bill Tuten, and the county's new lawyer, Natalie Ham, be able to tap into Dawson's historic knowledge of things that were done in the past.

"They need to be able to talk to Joe Dawson and find out why we did things the way we did," Sass said. He was there 20-something years and he knew all the players."
SULLIVAN'S ISLAND  Incumbent Mayor Patrick O'Neil will see another term in office after a tense contest on this barrier island that centered on the beach community's maritime forest.

"I think it's pretty clear (voters) want us to take a different direction from the last two years," O'Neil said. He has been mayor since 2015 and was on Town Council for more than a decade before that.

He's also been on the losing side of several controversial 4 to 3 votes on the island's Town Council in recent years.

O'Neil received about 62 percent of the vote, besting lone opponent Chauncey Clark, who won 38 percent, according to unofficial returns.

The turnout of more than 1,100 was record-smashing for the island, which usually sees a small proportion of voters participate in its springtime, off-year contests for town government. The official vote will be certified Thursday.

Clark was a member of Town Council for the past eight years, but will now leave public office.

"I'm taking retirement well," Clark said. "I work really hard, until I walk out tall."

Sullivan's Island Results MAYOR Patrick O'Neil: 681 Chauncey Clark: 424 TOWN COUNCIL (Three seats) Justin Novak: 720 Gary Visser: 688 Scott Millimet: 686 Tim Reese: 418 Kevin Pennington: 409

On Town Council, Scott Millimet, Justin Novak and Gary Visser all won enough votes to secure the three open seats. Incumbent Tim Reese and Kevin Pennington fell short of the threshold.

All four wins spelled success for conservationists who had urged a change in town government after the council approved more cutting in the maritime forest that sprawls between the beach and high-dollar homes on the south half of the island. The vote settled a decade-long lawsuit but also approved more plant removal than Sullivan's Island had contemplated since the zone was put into a trust in the 1990s.

The land has been at issue for decades, with some arguing it should largely be left alone and others saying it should be thinned to allow for breezes and reduce fire risk. Reese and Clark voted for the settlement and cutting plan; O'Neil voted against it.

Where the candidates fell on that decision became a proxy for some voters on whether the island would retain its neighborly atmosphere.

Candidates who disapproved of the forest plan also largely spoke against installing paid parking on the island, for example, and spoke about improving transparency in town government.

"We have our island back, and it is all for all, not some for all," resident Pat Votava said. "The numbers (of the vote) actually say what matters to people on this island."

The town remains legally bound to the forest thinning settlement and elected officials are barred from working to sabotage it. But the newly installed government will manage the tree-cutting that will result and disputes that may arise during permitting with state and federal agencies.

The decisive victory for O'Neil and the three Town Council candidates he supported may also point to the betrayal some felt in the town after the settlement was approved.

The legal negotiations were conducted in private, as is typical of civil mediation, and presented to the public only a few days before the vote to approve the settlement.

It's clear the issue proved strong motivation for the small community. The total turnout was 1,106, including 346 absentee ballots cast in advance. That's about half the island's entire population, or roughly 60 percent of registered voters here.

Many of the early voters  technically absentee voters, cast ballots in person when the county brought a mobile polling place to the island.

By contrast, a contest for three council seats in 2019 had roughly 40 percent turnout. The last time the mayor's seat was up to voters in 2017, there was a roughly 38 percent turnout, though O'Neil ran that year unopposed.

Resident Larry Kobrovsky, one of the most rabid opponents of the forest thinning plan, said the win should send a signal to conservationists across the Lowcountry.

"You can fight to save your communities from overdevelopment, and fight to save your greenspaces," Kobrovsky said.

One thing that most voters seem to agree upon is that Sullivan's Island is a great place to live and a small community where people know one another.

"At the end of the day, we're all going to live together," said resident Bob Heller, who declined to say which group of candidates he supported early in the day's vote.
Facing historically long odds and rapid questioning from the state's highest judges, an attorney for a South Carolina man argued that her client's death sentence should be overturned because the punishment he received was excessive.

Attorney Whitney Harrison told the state's five Supreme Court justices that she wasn't at the May 5 hearing to argue whether Richard Moore was guilty or innocent. Rather, her argument focused on whether Moore had received a disproportionally severe sentence when compared to other cases involving robberies that ended with homicides.

Moore, now 56, was convicted and put on death row in connection with a September 1999 fatal shooting of a night clerk at a Spartanburg County convenience store.

He admitted to grabbing a bag of money from the store before fleeing but insisted he shot the clerk, James Mahoney, in self-defense after the man pulled a gun on him during an argument and threatened him.

Under current law, the state Supreme Court reviews death penalty sentences to consider whether a person's punishment is excessive based on penalties imposed in similar cases. A previous appeal by Moore, under that rule, was denied.

That response is typical.

In fact, in approximately 75 reviews, the state Supreme Court has never once said a death penalty sentence was excessive, noted Justice Kaye Hearn.

"If we have a court, such as our court, who has never in the history found a sentence disproportionate, doesnt that signal to lawyers that this is a loser  it's a loser argument?" Hearn said to Harrison.

"It could be until today," Harrison replied.

The stakes for Moore could not be greater. He was scheduled to die in December before his execution was delayed because state officials did not have the drugs needed to kill him through a lethal injection. They still don't, and haven't since 2013, according to the state Department of Corrections. Pharmaceutical companies have withheld drugs that were being used in executions due to public scrutiny, which has led to shortages across the nation.

Two other scheduled executions in South Carolina have been put on hold so far this year.

On the same day the justices heard Moore's case, state legislators debated a bill that would allow prison officials to use an electric chair or a firing squad to kill someone when lethal injection drugs are not available. The last person put to death in the state was in 2011.

Harrison told the justices that Moore's situation is an outlier and said they should consider expanding the types of cases used to determine if a sentence is equal. For decades, the court has only compared death penalty cases to others in which the ultimate punishment was imposed, passing over those that resulted in life sentences.

That limited review affected Moore's situation, Harrison said. Her client was not armed when he showed up to the store, and Mahoney's killing was not premeditated, which should be taken into account when determining if Moore's death sentence was fair.

That argument was met with pointed questions.

Justice George James Jr. asked Harrison: Aren't you watering down the facts of what the jury found Moore did?

Mahoney, the store's clerk, was shot in the heart, James said, and Moore also fired at a store patron. Although Moore argued that he was scared, he left the scene after he stepped over Mahoney's body to rob the store.

"So why is that not in the category of perhaps being pretty doggone bad?" James asked.

Harrison replied that there are many murders in the state that have resulted in someone getting life in prison rather than being sentenced to death.

South Carolina currently has 37 people, including Moore, who have been sentenced to death, according to the Department of Corrections. The state has executed 43 people since 1976.

Attorney William Salter III, who represented the Department of Corrections at the hearing, said Moore's situation was not an outlier. Even if the justices expanded the number of cases that it reviewed, Salter said he did not think that would have changed the overall result.

"It's not aberrant, it's not capricious," he said of Moore's sentence. Adding, as long as he became armed during a robbery, it's an armed robbery.

Justices also peppered Salter with questions and interjected during his responses.

Chief Justice Donald Beatty asked why the justices couldnt expand the number of cases they review due to recent advances in technology. James raised concerns that expanding the number of cases could make the pool so large that any death sentence could seem excessive.

Salter also used the Supreme Courts spotless record of never overturning a death sentence, on the account of it being unequal to make his argument. That, he said, was an example of the courts review process working. It was never meant to supplant the decision of a jury, he said.

Hearn asked Salter if he would feel the same way if the Supreme Court's record was flipped and justices had always overturned death sentences because they thought they were unfair.

Salter acknowledged that he would have a different take on the process if that were the case.
Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to open the cruise lines without any vaccine regulations. He goes to the opening of the new Delray Beach Market without wearing a mask. He favors new election regulations in a state that was a model for being a positive example. He pushes for more money for school vouchers without realizing that many of these schools are not using certified teachers or following state guidelines.
Charleston City Council's chambers are the second oldest in the nation that have been continuously used; council has met remotely during the pandemic, partly because those chambers are so intimate. Staff/File
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Over the next few weeks, the South Carolina Senate has the opportunity to make history by passing a comprehensive hate crime bill, H.3620 the Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act.

This bill calls for enhanced penalties for crimes committed against individuals and institutions due to a victims race, religion, gender, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The House passed a version recently, and we commend them for doing so.

The bill that has been put before the Senate and which will be debated over the next few weeks, however, has been gutted of its core.

Enhanced penalties for soft crimes such as vandalism or simple battery are not specifically noted as hate crimes. According to the FBI, 75% of hate crimes are soft crimes. That means writing the slurs on a black church or desecrating the Holocaust Memorial in downtown Charleston with swastikas are not considered hate crimes.

The impact of a hate crime resonates through communities and hurts society as a whole. We all ache with sadness when people are murdered in a place of worship. With the same outrage, we must respond when a transgender woman of color is hurt because of who she is, or a racial epithet is painted on a black familys home. These crimes inflict the same terror throughout communities.

There are a lot of red herrings being thrown at this bill. We hear cries of how it will hurt free speech, but the truth is that this is an enhanced penalty law.

If you didnt break a law, this bill doesnt apply to you. If you did, however, commit an existing crime out of a sense of hate or prejudice toward a fellow South Carolinian, you deserve to be punished.

On behalf of the hundreds of businesses, faith groups, institutions and individuals who have joined the Stamp Out Hate Coalition, we urge the Senate to pass meaningful hate crime legislation that protects all targeted South Carolinians.

Lets not be the last state to do so.

ILENE TURBOW

Co-Chair, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Charleston

Croghan Spur Road

Charleston

Do your part

I dont mind cleaning up after litterbugs.

I dont mind stocking my blessing box with food for those who are hungry.

I dont mind volunteering to make my community a better place.

COVID-19 has been different because I cant wear a mask for you. I cant get the COVID-19 vaccination for you.

Only you can wear a mask and get your vaccination. No one can do it for you.

People cant preach herd immunity while doing zero to help us get there.

Its the moment when you need to do your part. Will you?

LISA SAVAGE

Fort Johnson Road

Charleston

We need prayer

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With divisions, crime and injustice so rampant among men and nations, I thank all faith leaders in Charleston County and other places for their joint meetings and prayers.

Can at least one hour of prayer for the aforementioned take place across America?

CURTIS INABINETT SR.

Former S.C. representative

Old Jacksonboro Road

Ravenel

Speak up for area

Penn Hagoods April 28 commentary regarding Bedford Falls vs. Pottersville is thoughtful reading for all.

While she wrote specifically to Sullivans Islanders, her writing serves as a call to action for all living in the Lowcountry.

Charleston and its surrounding communities have seen unprecedented growth with the daily influx of new residents.

As such, so many changes and developments have occurred in the name of progress.

But is this progress good for us or simply good for a select politically connected few?

Does the destruction of our trees and green space to provide large-scale housing communities or more storage units resulting in flooding into nearby neighborhoods due to water runoff from the hardscape serve us or simply serve to line the pockets of developers?

We have the power to determine our quality of life.

We do that by thoughtful election of those who will transparently represent us. We also do it by speaking up, staying informed, getting involved.

As Napoleon Bonaparte said, Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent.

KATHY ZELLNER

Lazarette Lane

Charleston

Free isnt free

Since we are paying for everything from cradle to grave, how about free pet health care?

And maybe free lunch and supper for pets.

It wouldnt add more than a billion dollars or so to the nations debt and would be a good way to get more voters to the party that pushes it through.

DONALD PACZYNSKI

Tugboat Lane

Summerville
Goose Creek, SC (29445)

Today

Cloudy with a few showers. High 87F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low 72F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
COLUMBIA  Death row inmates in South Carolina would be forced to die by electrocution or firing squad unless lethal injection drugs become available again under legislation approved May 5 in the S.C. House of Representatives.

The 66-43 vote puts the measure steps from becoming law eight years after South Carolinas supply of the three drugs used to carry out lethal injection began expiring.

State law has given condemned inmates the option to die by injection since 1995. But with all drugs expired and pharmaceutical companies unwilling to sell any more for executions, the state prisons agency can't carry out an execution order unless the prisoner chooses to die strapped in the chair nicknamed "Old Sparky."

That hasn't happened since 2008, according to the state Department of Corrections.

Three inmates on South Carolina's death row have had their lives spared  at least temporarily  because of Corrections' inability to execute them.

The measure that Gov. Henry McMaster has asked legislators to send him would make electrocution the default method for execution while adding the option to die by firing squad.

State Rep. Justin Bamberg told his colleagues their vote is truly a life-or-death decision.

"It's not some hypothetical thing," said the Democrat from Bamberg. "There are three living, breathing human beings with a heartbeat that this bill is aimed at killing."

For those who vote "yes," he said, "you may as well be throwing the switch yourself. That's how real this is."

South Carolina hasn't executed an inmate since 2011.

The lack of drugs, for the first time, prevented an execution in December when the state Supreme Court delayed the death of Richard Moore, 56, who was convicted of killing a convenience store clerk in Spartanburg County in a 1999 robbery.

In February, the high court stayed the execution of Brad Sigmon, 63, who was sentenced to death for a 2001 double murder in Greenville.

The third delay came May 4, a day before the House vote, for Freddie Owens. The 43-year-old was sentenced to death three times for fatally shooting a single mother of three in the head in 1997 at a Greenville County convenience store when the clerk was unable to open the safe.

A fourth inmate, 53-year-old Gary Terry, is one legal step from exhausting his appeals, according to the state attorney general's office.

On May 5, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the sentence for Terry, who was convicted of raping and beating a woman to death in her Lexington County home in 1994.

They are among 36 inmates housed on death row at Broad River Correctional in Columbia. Another man sentenced to death in South Carolina is currently in a California prison.

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The state has executed 284 people since 1912. Before that, county officials carried out executions by hanging. Only three of the 39 people executed since lethal injection became an option have elected to die by electrocution, according to Corrections.

"Those families of victims to capital crimes are unable to get any closure because were caught in a limbo stage because these lawfully imposed sentences cant be carried out," said state Rep. Weston Newton, R-Bluffton, chairman of the House Judiciary panel that advanced the bill.

He argued the bill is not about whether the death penalty itself should be legal.

But that was central to the hours-long debate, with opponents calling it unacceptable for the government to kill anyone and for lawmakers to play God in deciding who's beyond grace and redemption.

The vote was not strictly along party lines. Seven Republicans opposed the measure, and one Democrat voted for it.

State Rep. Jonathon Hill, R-Townville, said no one should be put to death by an imperfect justice system that wrongly convicts some people.

"Doesn't the death penalty make injustice permanent?" asked Hill, who also argued death by electrocution and firing squad violates the U.S. Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

"If youre cool with the electric chair, you might as well be cool with burning at the stake," he said.

Every amendment Democrats put up failed, including proposals to apply the measure only to future convictions and to open up executions for public viewing, both in person and live streamed.

If a death sentence is supposed to deter future violent crime, "let's let people watch," said Bamberg, who put photos on the overhead screen of botched injections and electrocutions. "You can't be afraid of what the reality is. You can't vote for electrocution and death and be afraid to face it in front of your very eyes."

An attempt to abolish the death penalty altogether in South Carolina failed on a 15-60 vote.

Ultimately, the only amendment to pass removed the requirement that the condemned sign and date his own death decision and get the signatures of two non-inmate witnesses.

Another perfunctory vote Thursday will send the amended bill back to the Senate, which passed it 32-11 in March.

If the Senate agrees with the House's changes, the bill would go to McMaster's desk.

If the inmate refuses to make a choice, then electrocution becomes the default pick, under the legislation.
Stephanie Muna, 35, is lucky in a way. She could have spent time in federal prison, but she was spared from having to do so. Read more
Manpower - that is what the State Historic Preservation Office needs in order to address issues related to historical sites and findings spanning the entire island, according to State Historic Preservation Officer Patrick Lujan, who appeared before lawmakers during a continued oversight hearing Tuesday.

"Hawaii has been able to develop their SHPO's office to 42 employees strong. And I've got nine able bodies. Six of them with (State Archeologist) John Mark Joseph doing reviews, trying to review all these permits and all that, two admin and me," Lujan said. "The audit that was done a couple years ago says we need 17, and we're on our way. I've been fighting, fighting, fighting for more archeologists, more technicians."

But as Lujan made his statements, Sen. Telena Nelson, who chairs the legislative committee on Guam preservation and self-determination, stated that it has been two and a half years since Lujan became the SHPO "and we have not once seen a request for expansion" of personnel. Lujan denied that assessment.

"I have not been silent about it, but I will do as you request," he answered, referring to Nelson's request for a staffing organization, which the senator said is to help get the SHPO the personnel it needed.

Later, near the end of the hearing, Nelson noted that three years ago, the SHPO was given funding to increase its workforce. Lujan started his response with a short chuckle.

"An attempt was made to, number one, establish an account through (the Department of Administration). I think that was done ... There's clarity that needs to be made because I'm not sure if that's a one-time deal or an annual deal," Lujan said. "I've been working with (Guam Preservation Trust) on that transfer. Not sure if they're having some difficulties as far as receiving their allotted amount from DOA ... But yes, that has been also an effort that I've been trying to accomplish as well."

Lujan asked lawmakers to review the funding. Nelson said it is meant to be an annual allotment but promised to look into the issue, before later concluding the hearing by saying that lawmakers looked forward to helping the SHPO obtain additional manpower as well as any assistance the office might need with reaching out to the community, including if they need to advocate for improvements to the SHPO website.

The oversight was continued from the initial meeting in late April in anticipation of Lujan's return from active-duty military service. Carlotta Leon Guerrero served as acting SHPO in his absence, but could not attend the initial hearing due to medical reasons.

SUBHEAD

Recent discovery of ancient remains

Under Leon Guerrero, SHPO received criticism for initially refusing to disclose the discovery of ancient human remains within the construction site for the Marine Corps base that's being developed in Dededo.

Leon Guerrero previously took a stance that "the authority to disclose such records belongs to the U.S. Department of Defense or the Department of the Interior."

With the governor's signal for disclosure, SHPO confirmed that an archeologist for the military provided a preliminary report that confirmed the discovery of 12 remains of Guam ancestors from the Latte Period at the site of the Marine Corps base construction. These ancestors probably used their teeth as tools and they chewed betel nut, according to the preliminary report.
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The British tourist is key to the Costa del Sol and vital to help save the summer season.

However, days before the United Kingdom launches its traffic light travel system, businessmen on the coast are waiting in suspense to learn what colour  red, amber or green  will be applied to Spain when Britons will be allowed to take holidays abroad from 17 May.

There is a fear that the Spanish mainland could be placed in the amber bracket which would mean that when holidaymakers return to the United Kingdom they will have to do a ten-day quarantine, in addition to carrying out a pre-departure test, as well as a PCR on the second day of arrival and also the eighth. They have the option of paying for a Covid-19 test on the fifth day, and if the result is negative, they can end their isolation.

However, sources suggest that the Balearic and Canary Islands will start in the green category because they are considered safe corridors. This means that these travellers will not be quarantined, although before their return to the United Kingdom they will have to undergo a preliminary test as well as a PCR on the second day of their arrival.

Travellers from countries in the red category face a mandatory ten-day confinement in an authorised quarantine hotel near the airport upon return from holidays, in addition to pre-departure tests as well as PCR on the second and eighth days of isolation.

Destinations will be reviewed every two weeks and determining factors for which bracket they will fall into will be the country's vaccination rate, the infection rates and the prevalence of new variants of Covid-19.

Free PCR tests

Jose Luque, of the Costa del Sol hoteliers association (Aechos) said he hopes that this week the British Government will clear up all doubts and concerns and recognise that the difficulty of creating a safe air corridor has placed the Costa at a disadvantage to the islands.

The stakes are high because the UK is the number one source of foreign tourists to the Costa. Normally, almost 30 per cent of the passengers arriving at the Malaga-Costa del Sol airport are British. Airport operator Aena's data for 2019 estimated that 2.9 million passengers were from the United Kingdom.

Mari Francis Penarroya, director of the Holiday World resort, with a high dependence on the British market, has called for the authorities to pay for the PCR tests for these holidaymakers to be competitive. The businesswoman warns that "other destinations are taking the lead" and emphasises that "the return of the British is essential for the coast."
@montcocourtnews on Twitter

Carl Hessler Jr. is a multi-media reporter who writes about crime and justice from the Montgomery County Courthouse for 21st Century Media Newspapers Greater Philadelphia area publications. Follow Carl on Twitter: @MontcoCourtNews
I have posted two previous editions of footnotes to our coverage of the trial of Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd. My purpose here is to provide background on the legal issues in the case for those who seek to understand them. If you are certain that the issues constitute nothing more than a smokescreen for a predetermined outcome, these footnotes are not for you.

I post these footnotes in the form of bullet points and differentiate facts and law from (my) opinion. Previous editions are included below under May 2 and April 25. Today I want to add a few footnotes in the same form:

 Yesterday afternoon Chauvin defense attorney Eric Nelson filed a motion for new trial and a related motion for a hearing to interrogate the jury in order to impeach the verdict (a so-called Schwartz hearing now codified in Rule 26.03, Subd. 20(6) of the Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure). Nelson also asked for additional time to file a memorandum of law in support of the motions in light of the time that was required for preparation of partial transcripts of the proceedings. The court has posted the motions here.

 With one or two exceptions Nelsons new trial motion appears to be pro forma. Two such exceptions are raised by the courts denial of Chauvins motion for a change of venue and the underlying problem of pretrial publicity, issues discussed many times on this site.

 Nelson cites the hoary Supreme Court case involving Cleveland osteopath Sam Sheppard in support of his new trial motion on these issues. Sheppard was of course the inspiration for the television series and subsequent movie The Fugitive.

 Nelsons new trial motion leads with these two issues. They are his strongest. Its downhill from there. I will withhold further comment on them until Nelson files his memorandum of law in support of the new trial motion.

 Media attention has been focused on Brandon Mitchell, juror number 52. Mitchell attended the event observing the anniversary of Martin Luther Kings march on Washington in D.C. this past August 28 wearing a t-shirt sporting the slogan Get your knee off our necks and stating BLM.

 This bears on Nelsons motion for a Schwartz hearing based on juror misconduct. The misconduct would be Mitchells alleged failure to provide truthful answers on the juror questionnaire or during jury selection.

 As a matter of law, I think this is much ado about approximately nothing. My notes on Mitchells responses to Nelson during jury selection reflected some knowledge of the case that was inimical to Chauvin: he wondered why officers didnt interrupt Chauvins conduct before Floyds death. I think that was a fair question that reflected the uphill battle Chauvin faced on the merits at trial. As I commented during the trial based on the testimony of the bystander witnesses, everyone on the scene seemed to know what was happening except Chauvin.

 My notes further reflect Mitchells very favorable view of BLM and his statement supporting the view that racially discriminatory misconduct takes place well beyond what the media can report.

 My notes also reflect that Mitchell stated during jury selection that he wanted to serve on the jury because he would love to be a part of this historic case.

 If Mitchells previous statements didnt raise a red flag for Nelson, I thought the last statement should have. Each of these statements is consistent with Mitchells t-shirt. In my view, Nelson had more than enough information to mandate the exercise of a peremptory strike on Mitchell.

 Chao Xiong quotes Mitchell on his attendance at the anniversary march in Washington in his Star Tribune story. Chao quotes two questions on the juror questionnaire:

The first question asked, Did you, or someone close to you, participate in any of the demonstrations or marches against police brutality that took place in Minneapolis after George Floyds death? The second asked, Other than what you have already described above, have you, or anyone close to you, participated in protests about police use of force or police brutality?

Mitchell answered no to these two questions in the juror questionnaire.

 Here is the relevant portion of the story:

The event was 100 percent not a march for Floyd, Mitchell said, adding, It was directly related to MLKs March on Washington from the 60s  The date of the March on Washington is the date. The event included advocating for racial justice, increasing voter registration, pushing for a new version of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and urging participation in the 2020 census. It also focused on police use of force. Floyds brother and sister, Philonise and Bridgett Floyd, and family members of others who have been shot by police addressed the crowd. It served as a rallying point for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a federal police reform bill.

 If Judge Cahill grants Nelsons motion to call Mitchell in for a Schwartz hearing, I think he is extremely unlikely to find Mitchell guilty of juror misconduct. I want to hear more, but I think I would agree with him.

MAY 2

 Chauvin was convicted of second-degree murder and two lesser included offenses. Minnesota law (i.e., Minn. Stat.  609.035) follows a single behavioral incident rule precluding additional punishment for the same conduct. See, e.g., the Minnesota Supreme Court decision in State V. Branch (2020).

 Here all three offenses were inarguably predicated on the same conduct. At least the State does not dispute this point. Accordingly, I believe the rule applies in this case. Chauvin is to be sentenced on the second-degree murder charge, but not on the lesser included offenses.

 The applicability of the third-degree murder charge to the facts of the case raises a question of law. Holding that the third-degree murder charge did not apply to the facts in the case, Judge Cahill originally dismissed it. He reinstated it on the express order of the Minnesota Court of Appeals based on its February 1 ruling in State v. Noor.

 The Minnesota Supreme Court has accepted the Noor case for review. It is to be argued next month. We wont have a decision in the case until later this year. The third-degree murder charge against Chauvin should stand or fall with that decision. For the reasons stated above, however, it wont matter unless the second-degree murder charge against Chauvin is reversed on appeal.

 As I have repeatedly noted in my own trial coverage, the Hennepin County District has set up a page with access to all public filings in the case. Here it is. It includes all the wrangling over the third-degree murder charge.

 Chauvins sentencing is scheduled for June 25. Sentencing is generally governed by the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines. The presumed sentence in the Chauvin case is around 12-and-a-half years.

 The State has moved for an upward sentencing departure. The States memorandum is here. The State has separately filed several Minnesota appellate cases supporting its motion for an upward sentencing departure. Chauvins memorandum opposing the States motion is here. All these materials are accessible under the April 30 filings.

 I believe the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines were originally adopted in 1980 in part to prevent disparities in sentencing based on race or other inappropriate factors. If they were ever needed for this purpose, I think they have been highly successful. However, that is not the impression one would get from the Minnesota Supreme Courts farcical 1993 Task Force Report on Racial Bias in the Judicial System. (The report addresses sentencing at pages 49-58.) See my 2013 Federalist Society remarks Bias in the air.

 Brandon Mitchell was juror number 52. He participated in the deliberations on the verdict and is the first juror to have spoken to the press about them. KARE 11s Lou Raguse interviewed Mitchell and has posted the transcript here along with a 30-minute video of the interview.

 Mitchell also spoke to the Associated Press (Amy Forliti and Doug Glass), the Star Tribune (Chao Xiong), and the Wall Street Journal (Joe Barrett and Deena Winter). Lou Raguse, Joe Barrett, and Chao Xiong attended the trial in the Media Business Center across the street from the courthouse.

 Barretts WSJ story includes this revelatory tidbit: Each morning, all jurors would drive to pickup locations in the suburbs and then were driven to the courthouse by deputies in unmarked cars, he said. Then they would leave from several different buildings, sometimes a block or two away from the courthouse.

 Barrett also quotes Mitchell to the effect that hed go to his mothers home in the Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park to feel some love after tough trial days. Brooklyn Park is immediately north of Brooklyn Center, the scene of the death of Daunte Wright and related events giving rise to the curfew imposed during Chauvins trial.

 It was reported last week  via a leak to the Star Tribunes Andy Mannix  that the Department of Justice allegedly plans to indict Chauvin and the three other officers facing trial on state charges in August on federal criminal civil rights charges.

 Mannixs story is sourced with perfect vagueness. The federal project must have been initiated as part of a backup plan in case Chauvin would have been acquitted. Mannixs talkative sources apparently did not explain what purpose federal civil rights charges would serve in the event of convictions on the state charges, or Mannix wasnt asking.

 Every left-wing organization in the United States including colleges, universities, and religious sects has taken the verdicts as an occasion to pronounce on what is to be done. These pronouncements have taken the form of reflections, letters, or messages to alumni and members. Peter Berkowitz responds to the reflections of Swarthmore College President Valerie Smith in his own open letter to her. My taste runs to something harsher, but at least Berkowitz is talking back and illustrating one way to do it. I have just deleted the messages in disgust.

APRIL 25

 The thirteenth and fourteenth seated jurors served as alternates and were released at the end of the trial. Juror number 96  Lisa Christensen  was the thirteenth seated juror. She made the media rounds last week in the aftermath of the verdict.

KARE 11s Lou Raguse interviewed Christensen in I wish it didnt have to happen: Alternate juror reflects on Derek Chauvin trial. Christensen lives in Brooklyn Center and had to navigate her way home through the crowds blocking intersections to protest the death of Daunte Wright.

Quotable quote:

Raguse: Did you want to be a juror? Christensen: I had mixed feelings. There was a question on the questionnaire about it and I put I did not know. The reason, at that time, was I did not know what the outcome was going to be, so I felt like either way you are going to disappoint one group or the other. I did not want to go through rioting and destruction again and I was concerned about people coming to my house if they were not happy with the verdict.

 The Biden-Harris Department of Justice announced an investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department the day following the verdict. They are from the federal government and they are here to help us. NRs Andrew McCarthy explains in the Corner post Obama Encore: Biden Justice Department Announces Investigation of Minneapolis Police Department.

 The Manhattan Institutes Heather Mac Donald said everything I would have said if I had the necessities in A troubled rule of law. Heathers column is the best thing I have read since the jury handed down the verdicts in the Chauvin trial.

 Alan Dershowitz takes up a theme that has preoccupied me in my own comments on the case in the Gatestone column A Long and Sordid History of Crowds Threatening Violence in the Event of a Jury Acquittal.

 As I noted last week, I spoke with Spectator editor Freddy Gray on the Friday before the jury heard closing arguments and retired to deliberate (podcast below). The Spectator also posted the column I wrote immediately following the jurys return of the verdicts on Tuesday under the headline How fair was the Derek Chauvin trial? The Spectator has fixed the proofreading errors that reflected my haste in completing the column the afternoon the verdicts were returned.

 Working on the column put me in mind of Robert Blys beautiful poem Driving toward the Lac Qui Parle River. Read it and youll see why.

 Friends sent me the BBC clips below.
As expected, Rep. Charlie Crist announced today that he will run for governor of Florida. Crist, a former Republican, is one of the biggest charlatans in American politics, in my view.

Crist will have company in the quest for the Democratic nomination. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the only Democrat to recently win statewide in Florida, and Rep. Val Demings, a House impeachment manager, are considered likely to join him.

The Democratic nominee will have plenty of resources with which to take on the Republican incumbent, Ron DeSantis. Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison, whom Lindsey Graham defeated last year in spite of Harrisons huge war chest, has said so. With Ron DeSantis being discussed as one of the front-runners on the Republican side for 2024, we can expect liberals from blue states to invest large amounts of money and human capital in the effort to defeat him.

It isnt obvious, however, what lines of attack will work against the popular and successful DeSantis. Crist accused DeSantis of being mean and cruel to children by banning transgender athletes in womens and girls sports. If this issue has resonance, it resonates in favor of DeSantis, I think.

Democrats will be hard pressed to attack DeSantis for his response to the Wuhan coronavirus. Although his response was uncertain at first (understandably so, given all the uncertainty about the virus), Florida, despite its large proportion of elderly residents, has had fewer deaths per capita than the U.S. as a whole (the warm weather may have helped). And DeSantis imposed fewer restrictions on economic and other activity than did the vast majority of governors.

We were in Florida at a resort hotel two weeks ago. I think DeSantis would have polled well among the northern vacationers who enjoyed not wearing masks (except in common areas of the hotel). I imagine that a great many Floridians appreciate the relaxed restrictions and the increased economic activity, including tourism.

Thats how DeSantis sees it. Asked at a news conference about Crists candidacy, he quipped: Please run on lockdowns. . .run on closing schools, run on locking people down, run on closing businesses.

Thats also how the more intelligent Democrats see it. John Morgan, a huge donor and ally of Crist, said:

[DeSantis] can arguably make the case that he handled [the pandemic] the right way. Perception is reality. Whether he was playing Russian roulette with the state of Florida no one will ever know, because the bullet never hit the chamber.

One of the likely Democratic candidates, Nikki Fried, offers another line of attack. She has chided DeSantis for moving away from the small-government ethos of the old Republican Party. Im not sure small government plays well anymore. Im rather sure that, coming from a Democrat, Frieds criticism will ring hollow.

A more promising attack is to criticize DeSantis for opposing Bidens decision to send $1,400 checks to most American adults. But this will be old news by November 2022.

Florida has been trending Republican for a decade, even in good years for Democrats. DeSantis will probably be difficult to beat in 2022.

And if he withstands the Democratic onslaught, he might well emerge as a leading contender for the GOP nomination in 2024.
The week began with unexpected rain on the Costa del Sol on Monday afternoon - with downpours in Mijas, Fuengirola and Marbella - and, if the forecasts are correct, it will end as it started: with more rainfall.

The culprit - which will arrive after several days of summer-like high temperatures that will touch on 30 degrees - will be an explosive cyclogenesis, a rapid drop in pressure - also known as a weather bomb - situated north of the Azores.

The storm, which could be named 'Mathieu', will leave widespread rains in the mainland on Sunday, according to Meteored.

But before that, and particularly on Friday, many parts of inland Malaga province - such as Antequera and the towns of the Guadalhorce Valley - could see temperatures of 30 degrees. While, on the coast, the state meteorological agency (Aemet) is forecasting a maximum of 25 degrees and a minimum of 15.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, summer will come early in many parts of Andalucia. Temperatures will exceed 30 degrees in the Guadalquivir Valley and inland Huelva province. The other provinces will also see a notable rise, with maximums between 26 and 30 degrees," agrees the weather expert Jose Luis Escudero in his SUR blog Storms and Lightning.

Escudero says, There is a likelihood of a change in the weather from Sunday or Monday in Andalucia, when a trough could affect us. This would bring with it a notable drop in temperatures and storms. It will have a very rapid drop in pressure, and possibly be an explosive cyclogenesis.
European intelligence agencies report that Iran has been trying to acquire technology needed to facilitate manufacture of nuclear weapons. From the Jerusalem Post:

A damning new report authored by the Netherlands General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) asserts that the Islamic Republic of Iran attempted to obtain technology in 2020 for weapons of mass destruction. The Dutch intelligence document, which was published in April, says the security service investigated networks that tried to obtain the knowledge and materials to develop weapons of mass destruction. Multiple acquisition attempts have been frustrated by the intervention of the services.

It isnt only the mullahs, apparently:

According to the Dutch report, The joint Counter-Proliferation Unit [UCP] of the AIVD and the MIVD [the countrys Military Intelligence and Security Service] is investigating how countries try to obtain the knowledge and goods they need to make weapons of mass destruction. Countries such as Syria, Pakistan, Iran and North Korea also tried to acquire such goods and technology in Europe and the Netherlands last year.

As I understand this report, Iran uses front organizations to make technology purchases on its behalf, and the role of the intelligence agencies, at least in part, is to trace corporate connections and block such efforts.

Apparently there have been similar reports from other European agencies over the past year:

The Jerusalem Post reported last month that the Bavarian state intelligence agency in Germany said: Proliferation-relevant states like Iran, North Korea, Syria and Pakistan are making efforts to expand their conventional arsenal of weapons through the production or constant modernization of weapons of mass destruction. Also in April, the Post reported that Swedens Security Service disclosed in its 2020 intelligence report that the Islamic Republic of Iran sought Swedish technology for its nuclear weapons program.

According to the Swedish intelligence document, Iran also conducts industrial espionage, which is mainly targeted against Swedish hi-tech industry and Swedish products, which can be used in nuclear weapons programs. Iran is investing heavy resources in this area and some of the resources are used in Sweden.

This seems like relevant information. Maybe these reports have been featured prominently by American news sources, and I missed them. The Post says, optimistically:

[T]he findings from the three European intelligence agencies in 2021 contradict Khameneis statement [that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons] and are likely to fuel a new debate about whether the US should rejoin the heavily criticized 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

I doubt that. With a Democratic president in office, the American press has gone on a four-year-long snooze.
Kristen Clarke is Joe Bidens nominee to head the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. We have discussed the fact that, as a student at Harvard, she invited a rabidly anti-Semitic professor (Tony Martin) to campus and then praised his hateful ravings.

Now, it appears that Clarke misled the Senate Judiciary Committee about her links with another anti-Semitic professor, Amiri Baraka. The professor in question was a virulent anti-Semite who, among things, accused Israel of having prior knowledge of the 9/11 attack on America.

In written questions to Clarke, Sen. Mike Lee made a series of inquiries about Baraka and, in particular, an article he wrote comparing police officers and judges to the Ku Klux Klan. The article is called Mumia, Lynch Law, and Imperialism. Mumia is Mumia Abu-Jamal, who murdered a police officer in 1981, thereby becoming a cause celebre of the radical Black Nationalist movement.

One of Sen. Lees questions to Clarke was whether she served on the editorial staff of a journal with Amiri Baraka. Clarkes answer, under oath, was no.

But according to the Washington Free Beacon:

Archived copies of a scholarly journal show Justice Department nominee Kristen Clarke listed on the masthead alongside Baraka. In all eight of the editions of Souls, A Critical Journal of Black Politics, Culture, and Society, it found that Clarke is listed on the masthead as an assistant editor. Baraka is listed as a contributing editor.

Its not clear whether, as a contributing editor, Baraka had any editorial responsibilities at the journal. The professor is no longer around to say.

However, if Clarke doesnt believe that, his title notwithstanding, Baraka was involved in the editorial process, she should have disclosed that they were on the masthead of the same publication and then claimed that he was not part of the editorial staff.

Clarke has already lied to the committee about her own work while a student at Harvard. Back then, she wrote a letter to the school newspaper arguing that Blacks are superior to Whites.

She told the committee under oath that the letter was satire. However, there is no evidence to support this assertion, and Clarke didnt claim the letter was satirical when it came under attack for its blatant racism.

Moreover, the racist statements in her letter track the pseudo-scientific melanin theory of black racial superiority that was popular in radical black circles at the time, including among the militants Clarke admired. There can be no doubt that when Clarke spewed her black supremacist nonsense, she meant what she said.

Furthermore, as we showed here, Clarke lied about her position on defunding the police. She falsely testified that she hasnt favored defunding.

Finally, although this last point doesnt go to Clarkes honesty, her work for the radical publication  it was founded by the black Marxist Manning Marable  that Baraka contributed to should count against her. And coupled with her own black supremacist utterances, it should disqualify her. After all, Ryan Bounds was disqualified from a federal judgeship, at Clarkes urging, based on college writings less inflammatory than Clarkes and those contained in the publication she helped edit.

Maybe Clarke is no longer a black supremacist. Maybe her favoritism of Blacks goes no further now than her desire to prefer Blacks to Whites and Asians in college admissions and her general desire to overturn standards that Blacks as a group dont meet to the same extent as other racial groups.

That should be enough to cause her rejection for the nations leading civil rights job. If not, then her lack of honesty should be the deal breaker.
Yes, no matter what

Yes, but it depends on variety

No, for medical reasons, uncertainty

No, principle

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Sorghum, a principal source of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals in Nigeria, rarely gets the desired attention from the government, leading many farmers to devise their coping strategies to mitigate post-harvest losses.

This crop which grows tall like corn in the tropics is used for a lot more than just meal for humans. It serves as feed also for livestock and can be processed as ethanol.

Post-harvest losses, which comes in the form of degradation in the quality and quantity of the crop, has become a big problem for sorghum farmers for several years. With the lack of investment in this area of agriculture, the farmers are left to their own devices.

Atrogor Ijeh, the founder of Latent Farms in Cross River State, explained how farmers of sorghum have been managing to remain in business.

Initially, we had challenges of rodents and weevils, but with the cluster of farmers in the association, the market is now created for us. There is usually an off-taker for the produce. So, as soon as we harvest, which starts from November, the harvest is normally taken by the cluster head or a local government coordinator to the aggregation centre where it is aggregated and bagged, kept in large numbers ready for the off-taker to carry. In that respect, we are not having many losses, he said.

Mr Ijeh said they were initially threshing manually from the farm gate, and in the course of doing that, a lot of the product would be a loss. But he said the association has now introduced threshing machines to clusters of sorghum farmers which makes it easy. He said with the intervention of the association, the loss is being minimised to a reasonable extent.

Another sorghum farmer, Goni Adam, who is the Borno State chairman of the National Association of Sorghum Producers Processors and Marketers of Nigeria (NASPPAM), said despite the insurgency and the challenge it poses on food production, they have not witnessed much of post-harvest losses in the state.

He said in the 27 local government areas of Borno State, the association has a warehouse in each of the local government, thereby making it easy for the farmers to store their produce and mitigate post-harvest losses.

Ibrahim Yusuf, a sorghum farmer and founder of Auwzak Farms with over 30 years of experience, said due to the lack of modern technology to preserve the product, he usually complements it by grinding the stalk so it can be used for animal feeds.

The national president of the National Association of Sorghum Producers Processors and Marketers of Nigeria (NASPPAM), Muhammad Maina, said the association is working hard to reduce post-harvest losses of sorghum farmers.

We are taking measures for it. We had trained our farmers on post-harvest losses with the Agriculture Research institute on how to preserve sorghum using chemicals that are not harmful to human beings. With the ministry of agriculture, we get some silos to keep it, so we dont lose the quality of the sorghum, he said.

Mr Babayo said the opportunities of Sorghum are enormous from producers, processors, and marketers.

It can be used for flour, malt, and confectioneries. In northern Nigeria, most households depend on Sorghum. It is been used for donkey years. The market for sorghum is very huge. We export our sorghum to Niger and Mali, and we have plans to export to other countries who will need sorghum because it has so many values, he said.

Sikiru Bello, founder of Agroparagon Farms in Oyo State, said with the help of the commodity association and through the anchor borrowers programme, the post-harvest loss is being reduced drastically because extension services are also being provided.

After harvest, sacks are provided for the bagging and kept in the warehouse. Guinness is our major off-taker, and they also take it to Sub-Saharan Africa, he said.

Composite Flour

A legislation for a mandatory 20 per cent inclusion of high-quality cassava flour or sorghum to wheat flour and its derivatives in Nigeria has remained unapproved at the National Assembly years after it was introduced.

Part of the draft bill says, As from the commencement of this bill (Act, if passed into law), it shall be mandatory for all makers of edible flour in Nigeria to ensure the 20 per cent inclusion of the high-quality cassava flour in wheat flour produced in the country or imported.

Mr Babayo said composite flour for sorghum will boost its market, because of how the sorghum flour is welcome in the market for its high nutritional value.

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Mr Ijeh stressed that if the bill on composite flour for sorghum is passed it will increase the local consumption of the product in the market, and would go along way to make a tremendous impact in the local and even international market.

In fact, in 2020 some percentage of sorghum was milled into flour, package and was tested in the open market, and it had so much reception by the consumers as there was so much demand, Mr Ijeh said.

Mr Ibrahim was of the view that the bill on composite flour for sorghum if passed will bring more nutritional flour, especially for diabetes patients.

Government support

Mr Babayo said through the anchor borrowers programme, farmers benefited in 2019, but due to COVID-19, they were unable to access the funds. He said now that about 60 per cent of loans are paid and recovered, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture is also taking up reservation tools and that if this is improved, it would help tremendously.

Mr Ijeh noted that at the moment, the government is doing its best.

Unlike before, accessing funding for sorghum farmers used to be difficult but with the anchor borrowers programme and the association which is championed by the CBN, only your BVN is your collateral, with the help of the insurance cover, inputs and extension service is given. These have helped a lot of farmers to adopt best agronomic practices, he said.

Mr Ijeh appealed to the government to look inward at making access to funding easy for rural dwellers as some do not have access to banks, talk less of BVN.

Mr Ibrahim said for farmers to get the best market for their sorghum they need to shift to organic farming.
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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos on Thursday said his administration has set aside a N1 billion seed capital to boost the creativity and tourism sectors in the state.

The governor disclosed this at the inauguration of a 9-member committee on Film Production Empowerment for Lagos State at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Marina.

The committee is made of core industry practitioners which include Richard Mofe-Damijo, veteran filmmaker Tunde Kelani, Founder AMAA Peace Anyiam Osigwe, Film and TV producers Mo Abudu and Kunle Afolayan.

Others are Adebukola Agbaminoja, Tinubu Ferdinand R.O, Taju Olayiwola Olajumoke and Mrs Funke Avoseh.

Mr Sanwoolu explained that the scheme is to support the creative ideas of producers who are constrained by funds to bring their concepts to reality.

It would further support creatives and further enhance the sector as a significant contributor to our state and national GDP.

Nigeria is the second largest film producer in the world and Lagos is the centre of this huge creative enterprise.

Our administration will continue to invest to support the industry to create thousands of jobs and boost the economy. We trust members of the committee to deliver on their assignment with great commitment so the set objectives will be achieved he noted.

He also added that the functions and modalities of the committee will be determined by the members because they have been given independence to determine the selection process and other operating models.

Since 2020, the state has paid more attention to the creative sector. The EbonyLife Creative Academy (ELCA) is one of the initiatives supported by the Lagos State Government through Lagos State Creative Industries Initiative (LACI), under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

In February 2021,the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture officially launched the Lagos State Creative Industries Initiative (LACI) aimed at empowering 1500 filmmakers and creatives with free skills training.

As part of its strategy to fast-track the initiative, the state partnered with two creative firms, EbonyLife Media and Del-York Creative Academy, to enhance the skills and exposure of approximately 1,500 practitioners in the states creative industry.
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On April 13, 2021, several major news organisations reported the indictment of Blaise Compaore, the exiled former president of Burkina Faso, over the 1987 murder of Thomas Sankara, the universally beloved leader of the country, killed in a palace coup in October of that year. Twelve other people face similar charges of complicity in the murder, but Compaore is the biggest catch. Living in Abidjan, where he has family ties (married to the daughter of late Ivorian president Felix Houphouet-Boigny), Compaore may not be extradited to Ouagadougou. However, the charges are filed, and he is being tried in absentia.

While under house arrest as the Prime Minister, Sankara inspired the military coup that ousted Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo in 1983. Right away he launched into progressive policies aimed at reorienting perhaps the poorest country on the African continent. Changing Upper Voltas name to Burkina Faso (the land of upright people) was spectacular, but other less dramatic events marked Sankaras short tenure. Within a few years, the country saw positive changes in the conditions of women, children and poor farmers, including efforts at arresting desertification and improving transportation in a landlocked country.

Sankara had lit a fire and cast warm brilliance far and wide. Neocolonialism was his bugbear, and he never stinted in his attacks on colonial practices persisting in nefarious ways in the wake of African flag independence. He met Fidel Castro, spoke haughtily to the United Nations General Assembly, and tried unsuccessfully to lead the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS. (In the 1993 Afrobeat song Underground System, the musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, whom he treated as a personal friend, accuses Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Senegal of undermining Sankaras bid.)

He tended to shoot from the hip, but he was uncommonly forthright. With so few years in power, and dying at only thirty-seven, Sankara generated an unprecedented paper trail of biographies, critical studies, and documentary films. The latest biography appeared in March 2021. Not since Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lumumba had the continent seen such revolutionary vibrancy from a serving leader.

Docking Compaore has implications beyond the country and the continent. Following the 2018 conviction of Hissene Habre, former president of Chad, in a Senegalese court for crimes against humanity, the trial is another indication that reckoning awaits African rulers who govern with impunity. Having played politics with the International Criminal Court at the Hague, the self-interested proponents of African notions of justice will have a hard time cutting deals with the kind of legal instruments that have nabbed Compaore and others. Ethiopias Haile Mariam Mengistu remains in hiding in Zimbabwe, but he will not run far.
Villanueva: Encourage, not require, vaccination of OFWs in HK

The Hong Kong government's mandatory COVID-19 vaccination plan for Filipinos working there must be based on the "informed choice" of the recipient, and should never be done under state compulsion, Senator Joel Villanueva said.

"Kahit naman dito sa atin, wala pong pilitan pagdating sa bakuna. Pero mariin po nating hinihimok ang lahat na magpabakuna. So, in whatever country, the protocol is to inform before you inject," he said.

"It should not be made a requisite for work visa renewal more so if other foreigners in that country are exempted from mandatory vaccination. It is patently discriminatory," the senator noted.

But no matter how the vaccination is carried out, "mass education should precede mass vaccination," Villanueva said. "Regardless of the country, its government has to explain the benefits."

Villanueva explained that if certain workers are forced to get a COVID-19 jab, then it must be free of charge and should not be solely based on their immigration status.

"There's a thin line between vaccine democracy and class discrimination," he said.

Echoing the government's stand on the vaccination of OFWs by their host countries, Villanueva said the Philippines is grateful to countries who have given COVID-19 vaccines to Filipino residents for free.

"Mas mabuti pa nga po sa ibang bansa, madaling makakuha ng bakuna ang mga Pilipino. Kahit nga daw po sa Amerika, pwede nang magpaturok ang mga kababayan natin," he stated.

"Filipinos everywhere are an enlightened lot when it comes to vaccine benefits. You do not have to force them to get jabbed. They will gladly step forward," he noted.

"If they will build it, they will come. Pero 'pag sinabi mo na pwersahan ito at mandatory, mayroong aalma sa proseso. Kahit naman anumang nationality, ganyan po ang magiging reaction," he said.
Isabel Diaz Ayuso has chalked up a landslide victory in the regional election held this Tuesday in Madrid.

The conservative Partido Popular candidate maintains her control over the regional government, more than doubling her 30 seats to a total of 65.

This falls just four short of an overall majority, although far-right group Vox, holding 13 seats, has already pledged its support.

Ayuso has won more seats than all the left-wing parties put together.

The Socialist PSOE candidate, Angel Gabilondo, admitted defeat after dropping from 37 to 24 seats, the same result obtained by Mas Madrid, a regional group that won 20 representatives in the regional parliament in 2019.

Left-wing Unidas Podemos, whose campaign was headed by party leader, Pablo Iglesias, gained ten seats. Iglesias, who until just two months ago was a deputy prime minister in the coalition government with Pedro Sanchez, announced on Tuesday evening that he was resigning from all his political roles.

The turn-out for this early election in Madrid was 76.2%.
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South Africa says it is declaring war on the countrys controversial lion-breeding industry.

Animal rights activists had welcomed Environment Minister Barbara Creecys announcement of recommendations to stop the multimillion-dollar business of breeding lions in captivity.

Today is a massive celebration for South African lions with the government adopting recommendations to end the abhorrent captive lion-breeding industry.

Lions will no longer have to suffer in horrid conditions for someones selfie, canned trophy or have their body parts harvested for wines and powders, Audrey Delsink, wildlife director of the animal welfare organization, Humane Society International/Africa (HSI/Africa), said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to their estimates, nearly 11,000 captive-bred lions were kept on over 260 lion farms in South Africa nationwide.

The predators are commercially exploited from birth to death, this includes so-called cuddle selfies with very young lion cubs that tourists pay for.

Then once the lions are adults, they are offered to trophy hunters who shoot them in a fenced area and kill them for the international trade in lion bones, the organisation criticises.

Germany is considered one of the main importing countries for lion trophies from South Africa in the EU.

Minister Creecy had announced her recommendations at the weekend as part of a review of existing policies and practices on the handling and trade of elephants, lions, leopards and rhinos.

It aims to prevent the breeding of lions in captivity and the commercial trade in lion products in the future.

(NAN)
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Tanzanian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Benson Bana, has pledged his governments commitment to boost the volume of trade with Nigeria to promote intra-Africa trade.

Mr Bana said this while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of Tanzania-Nigeria Tourism, Investment and Trade (TN-TIT) forum, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum was scheduled to hold on May 4, in Abuja and May 6, in Lagos, respectively.

Basically, our bilateral cooperation is flexible in terms of volume of trade, so we are struggling to increase the balance of trade and also promote more Tanzanian products in the Nigerian market.

How do we do that? We are entering digital age, the 21st century of science and technology, so we are thinking especially of youths to start interacting, to do big business bilaterally.

We are talking of digital economy, it is our desire to make sure that the relationship between the two countries translates into deliverables and that such deliverables are tangible.

Create more access into the Nigerian market, as well as science, beans and rice, to promote intra-Africa trade.

This was the philosophy behind the founding of African Union after achieving political independence, the next gain was to achieve economic freedom.

He explained that African nations were not there yet, on grounds that their economies were still integrated into a capitalist economy system, saying they have to depart from such.

According to him, African nations economy now is what the Chinese were scrambling for, in what he termed the second scramble for Africa.

While we are watching, we should stop being spectators, to become active players and not amateurs, but professional players.

We can achieve that if we promote intra-African trading relationship, to inform our foreign policies and economic diplomacy, Mr Bana said.

(NAN)
The embattled Yoruba actor, Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, will face a five-count charge following an alleged rape and sexual assault on a minor.

The Attorney-General of Lagos and Commissioner of Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Mrs Onigbanjo said following the advice given on the case by the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), the suspect will be tried under five provisions of the criminal law of Lagos State.

The charges and implications listed in the statement are

1)Section 135, Indecent Treatment of a child- punishable by 7 years imprisonment,

(2)Section 137- Defilement of a Child-, punishable by life imprisonment,

(3) Section 261. Sexual Assault by Penetration- punishable by life imprisonment,

(4) Section 262- Attempted Sexual Assault by Penetration, punishable by 14 years imprisonment and

(5) Section 263, Sexual Assault-punishable by 3 years imprisonment.

Also noted in the statement is the fact that plans have also been concluded to charge the actor to court.

The Attorney-General also assured Lagosians and indeed Nigerians that in accordance with the DPPs advice, the charges would be filed accordingly.

Whilst the State would ensure that Mr Olanrewaju Jamess rights as enshrined in the Constitution are upheld, the Ministry of Justice would not relent in its efforts in ensuring that whoever sexually abuses any resident of Lagos State is speedily brought to book, she noted.

The popular actor has been in police custody since his arrest on April 22.

DPP

The Lagos state Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team also released a statement saying it would follow up the case and justice will served.

Their statement revealed that the police forwarded Baba Ijeshas case file to them for legal advice on April 30.

After due consideration of the facts in the case file, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions issued legal advise on the 4th of May, 2021, which is to the effect that a prima facie case has been disclosed against Mr. Olanrewaju James and recommended he be charged under the following provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, their statement partly read.

Background

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the police in Lagos arrested Baba Ijesha on April 22 for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl when she was seven and assaulting her of recent.

The police said the popular actor was captured in a CCTV in the house of the complainant, Damilola Adekoya, known as Princess, a comedienne cum actress.

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The allegation, which has been a subject of hot debate in the media space, also has actors and actresses pitched in different tents, with some supporting the suspect.

A CCTV footage ,which showed the actor kissing and fondling sensitive parts of the body of the minor, surfaced online on Sunday morning.

Several persons have called for the actor to be prosecuted to serve as a deterrence for other pedophiles in the community.
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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says it registered 34 new cases of COVID-19 in three states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

The centre disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Tuesday.

It stated that the 34 new cases were recorded in Enugu (19), Lagos (13), Kaduna (1) and FCT (1).

The NCDC noted that the Tuesday report included data from Enugu State recorded between April 28 and May, 3.

It, however, noted that there was no recorded case of recovery from isolation centres across the country as of May 4, saying the total number of recoveries remained 155,371.

According to it, there is also no COVID-19 death in seven days, keeping the death toll at 2,063.

The agency added that it had confirmed 165,215 cases, 155,371 discharges and 2,063 deaths in the 36 states and the FCT since the pandemic broke out in the country in February 2020. It has also conducted 1,939,165 tests carried out.

The NCDC said that a multi-sectoral National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, had continued to coordinate the national response activities.

Travel Ban

To ensure no imported cases from countries experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, Nigeria recently banned travels from Brazil, India and Turkey.

Brazil and India reported about half of the total number of new COVID-19 cases recorded globally last week, according to the World Health Organisation.

The Nigerian government said non-Nigerians who had travelled to any of the three countries in the previous 14 days would not be allowed into Nigeria.

While working to prevent imported COVID-19 cases, Nigeria is also continuing with its vaccination programme with over 1.2 million Nigerians receiving their first of two shots of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Nigeria has, so far, received about 4.4 million doses of the vaccine.
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The Kaduna State Government said suspected bandits killed two and injured six residents in separate attacks in Chikun and Kajuru Local Government Areas of the state.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday in Kaduna.

Mr Aruwan said security agencies reported that bandits invaded Mazari, a community close to Buruku in Chikun LGA.

According to the report, one person was killed in the attack, and three others injured.

He disclosed that in another incident, bandits attacked Doka village, Kajuru LGA, killed one person and injured three others.

Kaduna is one of the states most affected by banditry in Nigeria. Hundreds of people have been killed or kidnapped by bandits in the state in recent years.

Other states affected by such banditry include Niger, Zamfara and Katsina.
One of the students kidnapped at Greenfield University in Kaduna, Aaron Attahiru, has been reunited with his family after regaining freedom from their abductors.

Mr Attahiru and 21 others were kidnapped late April.

While five of them have been killed by the bandits and with Mr Attahiru released, 16 of the students remain in captivity.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Mr Attahiru was released on May 1 after his family paid an undisclosed amount as ransom.

The students mother, Lauretta Attahiru, also confirmed the development to journalists on Tuesday but did not give further details on his release.

This newspaper had reported threats by the leader of the gang, Sani Jalingo, to kill the remaining students on Tuesday if they are not ransomed.

During an audio interview with the Voice of America (VOA), he demanded a ransom of N100 million and 10 brand new Honda motorcycles from the Kaduna State Government.

But Governor Nasir El-Rufai had repeatedly stated that the state has a no-negotiation, no-ransom policy.

Apart from the kidnapped Greenfield students, 30 students of the College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka in Kaduna State are still being held by a separate group of bandits.

Multiple telephone calls and texts sent to the states Commissioner for Home Affairs and Internal Security, Samuel Aruwan, and the police spokesperson in the state, Mohammed Jalige, on the state of the students, have not been responded to since Tuesday.

Nevertheless, parents and concerned Nigerians have urged the government to act and ensure the release of the students.

The National Association of Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (PTA) has appealed to the kidnappers not to kill them upon the expiration of the ultimatum given.

The president of the association, Haruna Danjuma, pleaded with the abductors to spare the lives of the students.

We were shocked with that statement on the radio (VOA) that all the remaining students of Greenfield University would be killed if N100 million and 10 motorcycles were not given to them today (Tuesday).

We are simply begging them not to kill any other student in view of the fact that they are innocent.

The deadline is really worrisome and we as parents are concerned and worried over the lives of our students and teachers of the university.

He said with the harsh economic situation in the country, it will be very difficult for parents to raise N100 million and pleaded with the bandits to have mercy on the students and release them.

He also called on communities, vigilante groups and others to assist in protecting schools.

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Meanwhile, the Presidency has said the federal government is working with the state government to free the students.

 We deeply share the anguish of the parents of the abducted Greenfield University students. The Federal Government through the military & intelligence agencies is working to support the Kaduna State Govt to bring this tragic saga to an end with no further loss of innocent life, a short statement shared via its official twitter account read.

We will ensure that good triumphs over evil, & that all of the bandits & criminals terrorizing innocent lives & communities are brought to book.
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The House of Representatives has asked the National Population Census (NPC) to suspend the planned population census, until the country stabilizes.

The lower chamber also resolved to invite the Chairman of the NPC, Nasir Kwarra, to brief the lawmakers on the possibility of organising a census in the face of growing insecurity.

The resolution was sequel to a motion of matter of urgent public importance, moved by Shehu Beji (APC, Niger) on Wednesday.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that President Muhamadu Buhari approved N10 billion for the continuation of the Enumeration Area Demarcation (EAD) in 546 local government areas in the country. The EAD is a preliminary process in conducting a census. No date has been fixed for the planned census although the NPC said it has commenced preparations.

In his motion, Mr Shehu said that thousands of Nigerians have been displaced by the general insecurity across the country. He added that many people have been displaced to other neighbouring countries as refugees.

Countries that currently host Nigerian refugees include Niger, Cameroon and Benin.

Mr Shehu also said that posting enumerators or ad-hoc staff to volatile areas of the nation in the name of conducting a census is irrational, as it would be like giving them out to criminals.

He added that conducting population and housing census in the current economic recession will only waste the hard-earned resources of this country as the outcome will be inconsequential.

The 2023 election was also cited as a reason to postpone the election. Mr Shehu said the next general election is envisaged to commence and end within the first quarter of the year 2023. As such, the whole of the preceding year (2022) would mostly be about campaigns, which has no room for census activities, he said.

The overlapping effect of active political activities and the national headcount shall be prone to political manipulation by over-ambitious politicians, he said.

When the motion was put to vote by the Presiding Officer, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, the ayes had it.

Nigerias last population census was conducted in 2006. In 2019, the House had asked the federal government to conduct a census by 2020.
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Seven weeks after their abduction, 27 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna State, have been released, an official told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday evening.

The students are on their way to Kaduna, an official of the state government who does not want to be quoted told this newspaper.

The official noted that a press briefing will be held upon the arrival of the freed students.

The students were among the 37 abducted on March 11. Some of them were rescued earlier.

It is not immediately clear if the state government, which had insisted that it would not negotiate with the bandits or pay any ransom, rescinded on its stance to secure their release.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how parents of the kidnapped students protested the prolonged abduction of their wards at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday.

The freed students are separate from the 16 students of Greenfield University, Kaduna, who have yet to be released with their abductors threatening mass killing if a ransom is not paid for them.
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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday described calls for the disintegration of Nigeria as unmindful and insensitive to the plight of the minority groups in the country.

Mr Obasanjo made the observation when he received the Tiv Professional Group (TPG) from Benue State, who paid him a courtesy visit in Abeokuta.

The former president recalled a discussion between him and a military friend who, according to him, has described major tribes in the country as selfish and not sufficiently caring for the minority groups.

Mr Obasanjo, who aligned with his friends opinion, expressed worry over what would become of the minority groups if the major tribes decided to secede and begin to operate as separate countries.

If the Yoruba can stand as a country, if the Igbos and the Hausa/Fulani can stand as separate countries, where do we want the minority groups to be?

ALSO READ: Northern leaders meet Obasanjo over insecurity

Now, by virtue of the present situation, they are a little bit protected, but if Nigeria breaks up, they will be oppressed and exterminated, he said.

He recalled the meetings he had with a number of socio-cultural organisations in September 2020 and noted that nobody at such meeting talked about disintegration or breakup, saying that all they clamoured for was a change for good.

The former president stressed the need for Nigerian leaders to be mindful of the ethnic diversity of the Nigerian nation, adding that the country would not make any meaningful progress without such consideration.

Mr Obasanjo, who expressed hope that the rough times that Nigeria was going through would not last forever, urged Nigerians to be patient while the country gathered her goodwill and moved in the right direction.

His comments came days after another prominent leader and former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, called on those clamouring for secession from Nigeria to jettison such an idea.

The leader of TPG, Zacharys Gundv, in a paper he presented to Mr Obasanjo, highlighted the challenges of the nation, including insecurity, poverty religious intolerance, kidnappings, and banditry, among others.

He explained that the Tivs were worried about the skewed narrative of insecurity in Nigeria

Proffering a solution to Nigerias challenges, Mr Gundv called on well meaning Nigerians to be united in serving the country.

He called for intensified advocacy against nomadic pastoralism and an All Nationalities Summit to discuss and proffer solutions to Nigerias challenges. (NAN)
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President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed the release of 27 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna State.

The students were released Thursday, over one month after they were abducted. There were released following negotiations with the kidnappers by government officials and families of the victims. The details of the negotiations were not made public.

According to a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, Mr Buhari also appeals for the release of the students of the Greenfield University and all other citizens held in captivity.

About 16 Greenfield University students are still being held by kidnappers in Kaduna State. The undergraduates were kidnapped last month and five of those kidnapped have already been killed by their abductors.

Kidnapping for ransom has become rampant in Kaduna and many other states in Nigeria.

Read the full statement by Mr Shehu below.

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT BUHARI WELCOMES RELEASE OF FORESTRY SCHOOL STUDENTS

President Muhammadu Buhari welcomes the release of the 27 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, near Kaduna and congratulates their friends, families and the government and people of Kaduna State following the happy end to the saga.

We are happy they have been released, says the President. We express our deep appreciation to all the actors who contributed one way or the other to this happy outcome, in particular the defence and security agencies, the officials of the Ministry of Environment and the government of Kaduna State. We thank Nigerians for their prayers.

President Buhari calls for steadfastness and security awareness on the part of citizens and the law enforcement agencies and deplores the increasing politicization of security in the country by opportunistic politicians.

The President appeals for the release of the students of the Greenfield University and all other citizens held in captivity, expressing the strong determination of his administration to ensure that Nigerians lived in a country where everyone can move where they want, when they want without the fear of kidnapping and banditry.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

May 5, 2021
The age restrictions that Spain's national government imposes for vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine may leave some 150,000 of the 600,000 doses of vaccines that will arrive in Andalucia this week waiting in the fridge.

This is the claim made by the Junta de Andalucias Minister of Health, Jesus Aguirre, who this Wednesday, 5 May, will call again for the authorisation to administer the vaccine to all persons over 16 years of age at a meeting of the regions and Spains Ministry of Health.

Currently, it is only authorised to vaccinate people between the ages of 60 and 69 with Astra Zeneca.

Aguirre said that if the age range is not extended some 150,000 of the 600,000 doses of vaccines that will arrive in Andalucia will not be used as the population in the age range will have been vaccinated.

According to Aguirre, the restrictions imposed by the ministry, are not supported by scientific evidence and he demands that the government allow the regions to act freely "and with a scientific basis" pointing out that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) endorses the vaccine.

The Juntas Minister of Health explained that, at the moment, his department is going to vaccinate people aged 59 and 58 with doses of Pfizer or Moderna, which are those that are currently authorised for that age group, while waiting for the health ministrys authorisation for the the administration of AstraZeneca among those under 60 years of age.

Aguirre also announced the Junta would vaccinate immigrant groups - even if they lack a health card. They will be given the Janssen vaccine; as it only requires single dose, it will not be necessary to locate them twice.
Hours after the release of the 27 forestry school students abducted by bandits in Kaduna, security operatives have rescued another 13 abductees from bandits in Gwagwada, Chikun local government area of Kaduna, an official has said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the release of the forestry college students on Wednesday after they spent 55 days in captivity.

A senior government official confirmed that 13 other abductees have been rescued.

According to a statement by Kaduna commissioner for Internal Security and Homeland Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, on Wednesday, the 13 citizens, originally from Dutse, went to work at a farm called Tanadi Farm, which is located around Bakin Kasuwa in Gwagwada general area of Chikun LGA, when they were attacked by the armed bandits in the process.

Troops on receiving credible intelligence of the abduction trailed the bandits to a forest near Bana village and there engaged them in a gun duel. The 13 citizens were thus rescued. They are listed as follows:

Kenth Yusuf

Izra Ali

Josiah Luka

Istifanus Suman

Helen Ibrahim

Justina Gofwen

Ibrahim Madaki

Biyaya Yusuf

Sani Bello

Lucy Dada

Anayi Ezekiel

Benjiman Daniel

Musa Usman

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After the operation, the troops discovered that the bandits had shot two volunteers before their arrival. The two deceased were identified as:

Ezekiel Iliya and

Nasara Yohanna.

The bandits also burnt a church and looted some houses in the area.

Receiving the report, Governor Nasir El-Rufai thanked the troops and commended them warmly for the successful rescue operation. He also commiserated with the families of the deceased volunteers, and prayed for the repose of their souls.

The Governor also extended his sympathy to the leadership and members of the razed church over the unfortunate attack, and directed the State Emergency Management Agency to conduct an immediate assessment of the damage.

Kaduna, like many other states across the country has been wracked by the activities of bandits, who kidnap for ransom.
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on Wednesday that its operatives have arrested Udochukwu Ugochukwu Simeon for allegedly cloning its (EFCCs) e-mail address in an effort to defraud unsuspecting victims.

A statement by the commissions spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, alleged that the 26-year-old suspect created an Outlook email account of the commission, efccnigeria.org.ng@outlook.com, and a webmail, info@efcc-nigeria.org.ng, which he uses to impersonate the EFCC.

Investigation by the Cybercrimes Unit at the Commissions headquarters, Abuja, indicates that the suspect also uses the two fake e-mail accounts to send messages to his victims, while posing as an officer of the commission trying to help his victims recover their stolen monies, the statement added.

It also stated that Mr Simeon was arrested on April 21, 2021, after he had already received over $3,000 from some of his victims.

It stated that his activities amount to forgery, identity theft, impersonation and cybersquatting.

He will be charged to court upon the completion of the investigation, Mr Wilson added.

EFCCs repeated warnings

The case typifies the broader scope of fraudulent use social media identities of the commission or its officials.

In February, the agency alerted the public about the emergence of fake Twitter accounts being created in the name of Mr Bawa.

The commission issued the warning barely three days after the Senate confirmed Mr Bawas appointment on February 24.

It said in its statement that over 500 unsuspecting followers had been hoodwinked into following the accounts of February 27.

The statement read in part, Three of the fake accounts created in the last few days: @AbdurasheedBawa,@AbdulrBawa and@AbdulrashidBaw1; have been attracting followers in droves, believing they were dealing with the EFCC boss.

At least, more than 500 unsuspecting Nigerians have been hoodwinked by the promoters of these fake platforms.

The Commission wishes to state that these Twitter Accounts do not belong to Mr. Bawa, and should be disregarded.

The EFCC called on Nigerians to disregard such accounts in the name of the new EFCC boss.

In another tweet on April 18, the commission, against issued a similar warning notifying the public about emergence of a number of fake Twitter accounts masquerading as genuine Twitter handle of the Executive Chairman, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.

The tweet added, One of the fake twitter handles: @AbdulRashidBaw1, which was created in February following the appointment of Bawa as EFCC chair, has witnessed a steady stream of followers, an indication that many have been hoodwinked into believing they were dealing with the EFCC chair.

The commission is alarmed that this prank by unscrupulous elements is unwittingly exposing suspecting citizens to potentially grievous manipulation by fraudsters.
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A panel of academics, civil society experts, activists and journalists from Nigeria and the University of Sussex will discuss the situation of human rights and shrinking civic space in Nigeria on Thursday, May 6, 2021, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The panel of discussants is led by Ivor Gaber, First Professor of Journalism (now Professor of Political Journalism) at the University of Sussex and Emeritus Professor of Broadcast Journalism at Goldsmiths, University of London. He will be joined by Jude Ilo, the Nigerian representative for the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA); Idayat Hassan, Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Yemi Adomolekun, Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE).

Dapo Olorunymi, Publisher of Premium Times and Executive Director, Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism is billed to give an overview of the re-emergence of obnoxious laws from the past that are currently affecting press and civic freedom in Nigeria.

Abdul Mahmud, a Nigerian lawyer, human rights advocate and former legal adviser of the #EndSARS movement will speak on the harassment of #EndSARS Protesters in Nigeria while Rinu Oduala, #EndSARS protester and human rights advocate will be at the event to detail her experience as a frontline member during the protests. Akintunde Babatunde, an MA Candidate at the University of Sussex will moderate the event.

The webinar is sponsored by the School of Media Arts and Humanities, University of Sussex and PTCIJ  a journalism innovation and development initiative in West Africa with headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria

To join this event, please click on the link below to register:

http://bit.ly/SussexWebinar2021
Over 1000 women dressed in black outfits on Wednesday took to the streets of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in a protest march, demanding justice for the slain Iniubong Umoren, who was raped and killed by a fake job recruiter.

The protesters were led by the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Ini Adiakpan, and other women in the state executive cabinet.

Several women groups, including the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), International Federation of Women Lawyers, and the Medical Womens Association of Nigeria, participated in the march.

The women marched through major roads in Uyo.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as Justice for Iniubong, justice for all, We need a safe society for women, Stop abusing our mothers and daughters, Stop defiling children, among others.

Speaking while receiving the protesting women at a road intersection close to the Government House, Uyo, the wife of the state governor, Martha Emmanuel, said the society should put a stop to sexual violence against women.

Enough is Enough, Iniubong Umoren has paid the price for rape and murder, she said.

Mrs Emmanuel recalled how a three-year-old girl defiled by a 70-year-old man was brought to her. She wondered what could motivate an aged man to rape a little girl.

The Women Affairs commissioner, Ms Adiakpan, said they were marching in the streets of Uyo, demanding justice for Ms Umoren and other women who were victims of rape and gender based violence.

We are walking to say enough is enough, she said to the large number of women.

We are to live, and not to be murdered. We are to live, and not to be butchered and sold as spare parts. We are walking for our freedom. We should be free in this land, Ms Adiakpan cried out.

We are marching for all the Iniubongs in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria who are dead, who are butchered. Today, we are saying women break the silence, talk to somebody. If Iniubong did not talk to someone when she was leaving for the interview, nobody would have known her whereabouts.

The protesting women appealed to the commissioner of police in the state to carry out proper investigations to ensure that all those involves in rape and killing of Ms Umoren are brought to justice.

NAWOJ, earlier in a statement, described the rape and killing of Ms Umoren as the height of wickedness against a fellow human being.

The statement, signed by the associations chairperson and secretary, Uduak Ekong and Esther Effiong respectively, urged the security agencies not to treat the case with kid-glove, and to ensure that justice prevails not just for her family but for all Nigerians who have been enraged, saddened and touched by the wicked act.

Similarly, the students of the University of Uyo on Tuesday staged a street procession to mourn and protest the killing of their former colleague, Ms Umoren.

The students particularly called on the wife of the governor, Mrs Emmanuel, the state police commissioner and the attorney general of the state to ensure the victim gets justice.

Ms Umoren, the 26-year-old Philosophy graduate of the University of Uyo, was raped and then killed while honouring an invitation for a job interview.

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The police have arrested the suspect, a 20-year-old Uduak Akpan, described by the police as a serial rapist.

Mr Akpan has confessed to the crime, the police said.
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A non-profit organisation, Women at Risk International Organization (WARIF), on Thursday, launched a protocol document to combat sexual violence on Nigerian campuses.

The document was developed in partnership with the Joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative and the Lagos State University.

The idea, they said, is to foster the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

The document, whose preface was written by Comfort Lamptey, the UN Country Representative to Nigeria, covers topics like prevention, response mechanisms as well as the important duties and responsibilities of management as well as students in the prevention of sexual violence.

Explaining the importance of the initiative, WARIFS Founder, Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, told PREMIUM TIMES that following the rising rates of rape and sexual violence in tertiary institutions across Nigeria, the document will help educate students, staff, and governing bodies about the steps to follow when faced with these situations.

She also explained that the success of two cycles of the WARIF prevention of campus sexual violence programme was also a major reason for the launch of the document.

We realised the need to develop a document that will guide not just students but also faculty and administration of these tertiary institutions on tackling the menace of campus sexual violence.

We are working directly with the student-based organisations and the school authorities in adopting strategies as stipulated in the protocol document. We are also facilitating and strengthening existing mechanisms that will provide the much-needed support and safety to all students on campuses across the country.

Collaborative effort

Afterward, the document was presented to the Lagos State Commissioner of Education, Folashade Adefisayo, and the Federal Ministry of Education through its Deputy Director; Gender, Abukar Janigo, who commended WARIFs strides in the educational space.

The Rector of Lagos State Polytechnic, Oluremi Nurudeen Olaleye, as well as representatives of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education were also presented with copies of the protocol documents at a capacity building session hosted by WARIF in Lagos recently.

Mrs DaSilva-Ibru also told this newspaper that the document has been shared with various Nigerian universities including the University of Lagos, Federal Technical College Lagos, the University of Abuja, Covenant University amongst others.

She, however, added that her organization has been encouraging the schools to adopt and implement the strategies in their various institutions.

The WARIF School-Related Campus Sexual Violence Protocol Document will chart a path to creating safer spaces for students in tertiary institutions through a detailed prevention mechanism and response to campus sexual violence. It also outlines the proper steps in addressing accountability and punishment for those who contravene the laws against sexual violence on campuses thereby reducing the extremely high incidence.

WARIF

WARIF was established to raise awareness and address the prevalence of rape, sexual violence and trafficking of young girls and women in communities across Nigeria.

The foundation achieves this through the development and implementation of a series of initiatives targeting the intervention/treatment of affected women, as well as providing preventive measures in education and community service.
The Acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, has announced the redeployment of some senior police officers.

The police spokesperson, Frank Mba, made this known in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday evening.

Many of those affected are commissioners of police.

In the new directive, the Ag IGP named Abutu Yaro as the new Imo State Commissioner of Police.

The new CP takes over from Nasiru Mohammed who has been redeployed to the Western Port Authority, Lagos.

The new redeployment comes amidst heightened insecurity in the South-east and South-south region.

There has been a spate of deadly attacks on security officials in the two zones which have compounded the security challenges in the regions.

Imo State has been the epicentre of most of the attacks.

The police had on Friday ordered the posting of a new commissioner of police to Anambra State, in addition to making other strategic postings in the region.

In its Tuesday statement, the police also announced Hussaini Rabiu as the new Commissioner of Police in charge of Zamfara.

Read the full statement by the police below.

PRESS RELEASE

SOUTH-EAST SECURITY: IGP SUSTAINS EFFORTS AT IMPROVING PUBLIC SAFETY

 Redeploys CP Abutu Yaro to Imo Command, 5 other CPs affected

The Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc has ordered the posting of CP Abutu Yaro, fdc to Imo State as the new Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the State. The posting of the new CP is in furtherance of efforts by the Police leadership towards strengthening security, tackling violent crimes and enhancing optimal coordination of policing operations within the State.

CP Abutu Yaro, a fellow of the National Defence College and the immediate-past Commissioner of Police, Zamfara State Command, is an operationally-minded Cop. By this new development, Abutu Yaro takes over from CP Nasiru Mohammed who has been redeployed to Western Port Authority, Lagos.

In the same vein, Zamfara State Police Command now has a new Commissioner of Police. He is CP Hussaini Rabiu. Other Commissioners of Police affected by the new posting and redeployment are: CP John Amadi, mni who has been posted from Western Port Authority, Lagos to Airport Police Command, Ikeja, Lagos; CP Anderson Bankole who is now in charge of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos; and CP Joe Nwachukwu Enwonwu, posted to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), Force Headquarters, Abuja as the Commissioner of Police, DFA.

The IGP, while charging the newly posted officers to bring to bear their professional experience in improving policing and restoring public confidence in their new places of assignment, assured citizens of the determination of the Force under his leadership to upscale its operations, improve public safety and tackle all forms of crimes in the country.

CP FRANK MBA

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FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
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The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has indicated its willingness to suspend its planned strike billed to commence on Friday, May 7.

NARD dropped this hint after a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Tuesday, in Abuja.

In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Lanre Lasisi, the doctors said they would suspend the planned strike, as soon as they received their salary arrears ranging from one to five months.

The statement said that NARD took the position after the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said funds were available for the payment.

The minister assured that her ministry would pay once a verified list of the beneficiaries was received, giving her word that payment would be made by May 7.

The statement also said that the Director-General of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, had confirmed at the meeting that his office was already in receipt of the list.

It could be recalled that the resident doctors had in April embarked on an indefinite strike, after making some demands, which included non-payment of house officers and abolishment of bench fees.

READ ALSO: FG faults resident doctors over strike

In addition, the doctors also demanded the payment of national minimum wage, salary shortfall for 2014, 2015 and 2016, residency training allowance, and payment of resident doctors on GIFMIS platform.

According to the statement, all the issues raised by the doctors had been resolved, except that of salary shortfall for 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The statement noted that the issue involved all health workers with a cost implication of about N23 billion, which the Minister of State for Health, Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora, described as huge and complicated.

(NAN)
A professor of medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Gregory Erhabor, on Wednesday said that asthma affects about 339 million people annually with over 500,000 hospitalisations and about 400,000 deaths across the globe.

Mr Erhabor, who is also President, Asthma and Chest Care Foundation, said this in a statement signed on Wednesday to commemorate the World Asthma Day, with the theme: Uncovering Asthma Misconceptions.

This theme is apt because it is channeled towards uncovering various myths and misconceptions surrounding asthma with the aim of destigmatising the disease and empowering those with asthma to seek help, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Asthma Day is one of the Worlds Lung Days held internationally on the first Tuesday of May every year.

The professor said that the incidence of asthma had been rising progressively and developing nations are currently contributing significantly to the increasing global burden of the disease.

By the year 2025, an estimated 400 million people will be affected. Asthma prevalence is grossly under-reported and undertreated.

In Nigeria, an estimated 13 to 15 million people may be asthmatic, however, deaths from asthma are vastly preventable, he said.

Mr Erhabor said that Asthma was one of the leading chronic non-communicable respiratory diseases with global impact usually characterised by chronic airway inflammation with history of respiratory symptoms and cough.

Asthma is one of the commonest causes of presentation at emergency departments and is the third leading cause of preventable hospitalisation.

It places a substantial burden on individuals, caregivers and healthcare systems globally with increasing trends now being seen in developing countries.

Asthma causes a huge cost demand on the individual and national economy, especially as a result of cost of medications, bills accruing from hospitalisation, and loss of income due to absence from work, he said.

The professor said asthma results from interplay of genetic and environmental factors, noting that when individuals with genetic predisposition get exposed to certain triggers in the environment, they develop symptoms of asthma.

Triggers include: pollens, house dust mite, cold air, spores, fumes, smoke, sprays; exercise and drugs, tobacco smoke, prolonged exposure to air pollution, and agents found at work place like chemicals, amongst others.

The most common trigger still remains house dust mite. However, there is new interest in the role of obesity in the development of asthma, he said.

Mr Erhabor said that obese adults are 1.6 to 3 times more risk of developing wheeze and asthma.

Obese individuals have high levels of leptin, which causes impairment of lung function, increased Airway Hyper Responsiveness (AHR), including exercise-induced bronchoconstriction and worsening of asthma symptoms.

Obesity can cause or worsen Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and sleep apnea. These conditions lead to increased risk of developing asthma, he said.

The professor noted that asthma symptoms usually occur at night with cough and breathlessness which disturbs patients sleep.

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They can also be worse early in the morning with the peak flow measurements being reduced. This is called the early morning dipping.

The combination of these symptoms gives rise to what doctors call the diurnal pattern, he said.

Mr Erhabor said that asthma control was the extent to which the effects of asthma can be seen in the patient, or have been reduced or removed by treatment.

He said that a person is said to be controlled if there is no day-time symptoms, no limitation of activity, no nocturnal symptoms, no need for rescue medication, normal lung function and no exacerbation.

Management of asthma requires partnership between the individual with asthma and the doctor.

The patient needs to be educated on how to discover his/her triggers and how to avoid them, components of the asthma, how to use the medications, inhaler techniques, and the self-management plan.

Asthma has been found to be best controlled when asthmatics know their asthma and can be part of its management, a process known as self-management plan, the professor said.

According to Mr Erhabor, self-management plan is a way in which you can tie your symptoms to your peak expiratory flow readings and know what to do when the reading is normal or reduced.

COVID- 19

The professor said that the COVID-19 pandemic impacts greatly on the respiratory system and many acute asthma patients have been mistaken for COVID-19 patients.

However, studies show that COVID-19 does not particularly worsen asthma.

During this pandemic, patients with asthma need to be trained by their physicians, given a written self-management plan, taught inhaler techniques and how to use personalised peak flow meters, and volumatics.

This will reduce their presentation at the hospital, minimise their risk of exposure to infection to COVID-19 and thereby prevent the worsening of global burden of asthma, he said.

Mr Erhabor said that asthma deaths are vastly preventable and called on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), government parastatals and philanthropists to support the quest against the disease and minimise morbidity and mortality rates in Nigeria.

(NAN)
A surgeon at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Chungjoe Christopher, has told the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry that a petitioner before it stands the risk of leg cancer and amputation after her experience in the hands of the Nigerian Police.

Mr Christopher, who is a consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon, explained this to the panel on Tuesday while testifying in the case of Gloria Ezeh, a victim of police brutality.

Mrs Ezeh, a middle-aged woman, had earlier approached the panel and narrated how a police officer ran over her leg with a van because she could not pay N100,000 bribe demanded by the police.

She was led in evidence by her lawyer, John Nwoku, who prayed the panel to summon the orthopaedic surgeon as a witness in the matter.

She sustained a roll-over injury on the foot, there was missing bone, compromised soft tissue envelope. The tendons had to be removed, the doctor said, showing the panel pictures from a flash drive and the scan.

The petitioner, who experienced the police brutality 15 years ago, still suffers the pain of an infected leg and unequal limb because she had not accessed quality health care, the doctor explained.

Background

Narrating her ordeal to the panel earlier, Mrs Ezeh said she met with the brutal police officers on June 23, 2006, on her way back from Okokomaiko where she went to purchase products for her business.

The petitioner said she had a shop at Agric bus stop, Ikorodu, and she is a wholesaler dealing in cooking products, majorly groundnut oil.

On June 23, 2006, I was coming back from Okokomaiko where I went to buy groundnut oil for my shop. It was already late and getting to Mile 2, police arrest the driver that carried my goods and demand money from him.

Mrs Ezeh explained that the driver told the police he didnt have money and pleaded with the police from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m., but the officers did not listen.

The driver told me the police want to collect N100,000. I said N100,000 for what. They collected the key from the driver and said I should come out and enter their van. As I enter their van, I asked the police what is the problem and he said when I get to the station, I will know what the problem was, she said.

The petitioner said on getting to the Olodi Apapa station, the patrol officers that took them drove off and handed her to another officer, called Inspector Ayeni.

The officer still asked for N100,000. I said it is only N5,000 I have with me and he said no. I said we are going to Ikorodu and the place is far.

They said I should go away from the police station, I said it is already 12 midnight, and that they should put me inside cell to pass the night. So that I call my people to bring money in the morning.

Mrs Ezeh said the officer insisted that she leaves the station that midnight and she knelt down begging Mr Ayeni that Ikorodu was a far distance.

What I just saw is that the man started the vehicle, that if I dont go away from there he will kill me. I was still pleading that he should lock me inside the cell, before I know it, he crushed my leg with the vehicle. The other man (driver) jumped, I didnt know the vehicle was near me, that was how he pieces my leg and I was shouting, she narrated.

Mrs Ezeh said she was rushed to a nearby hospital but there was no one to attend to her before she was taken to another hospital where she was treated and later discharged before she went to Igbobi.

Doctor explains

While testifying in the petitioners case on Tuesday, Mr Christopher said she was presented at Igbobi Hospital on February 26, 2007, seven months after the incident occurred.

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She presented at Igbobi in 2007 before I started working there. She was treated by a senior colleague and all the patients of that senior colleague were passed on to me because he has retired.

She sustained a roll-over injury on the foot, there was missing bone, compromised soft tissue envelope. The tenors had to be removed, the doctor said.

Mr Christopher said the petitioners tendons were also exposed and infected at the time she was brought to the hospital and to curtail the infection, the bone had to be cut off.

Because of the injury she has suffered, she has a chronic foot ulcer which does not heal. If there is indolence for 15 years, the risk of that is that it could become cancerous. She also has limb shortening as a result of bone loss.

Already 15 years since she has been going about with the condition, Mr Christopher said she has to be screened for cancer and if detected, could result in amputation of the leg.

The doctor said the uncontrolled infection the woman has caused the injury not to heal as it constantly brings out pus.

Although her conditions could be corrected through a surgery, the doctor said the petitioner had not been able to meet up with the cost of the surgery which is about N4 to N5 million.

She requires a surgery to remove the infected tissue and perform a reconstruction. She needs bone excision to equalise limb leg. Amputation is a possibility if she is cancerous, he told the panel.

Demands

Stating her demands, Mrs Ezeh pleaded with the panel to investigate the matter and bring the officer that caused her a lifelong injury, Mr Ayeni, to book.

She also asked the panel for a financial relief of N13 million to cater for surgery, medical treatments and other expenses she requires to correct the leg.

Mrs Ezeh also urged the panel to compensate her for the trauma she has suffered in the past 15 years, adding that she has been impoverished by the condition.
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Amid speculations of his arrest, controversial Catholic priest and spiritual director of Adoration Ministry (AMEN), Ejike Mbaka, has been seen in Enugu, Enugu State.

Mr Mbaka was feared to have been arrested by security operatives over his recent comments, critical of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and its handling of the worsening security situation.

Mr Mbaka, a former supporter of the president, called for the impeachment of Mr Buhari over rising cases of kidnappings and violent killings.

But two officials of the Enugu State government who are not authorised to speak and a journalist who saw the Reverend father, confirmed his public appearance to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday.

The clergyman was sighted waving at the people after he came out of the office of the Catholic Bishop of Enugu earlier on Wednesday, sources told this newspaper.

He was quoted to have directed the inquisitive audience to his church, where he would address them later in the day.

However, it was not immediately clear if Mr Mbaka was coming out of hiding or detention.

But the Department of State Security Service (SSS) has denied rumours of the clerics arrest by its operatives
Life and Arts writer Kathryn Miller shares some advice with the incoming Class of 2025 in an effort to make the transition from high school to college a little easier.
The poor performance of some committees of the House of Representatives is a result of inadequate funding, the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said.

According to him, the House is facing funding constraints and committees are unable to discharge their duties.

On Wednesday, 12 ad-hoc committees were discharged of their assignments due to their inability to meet the deadlines to complete their tasks.

Abubakar Fulata (APC, Jigawa), the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, moved the motion to discharge the committees of the responsibilities.

Citing Order 18, Rule 3(1g) of the Standing Order of the House, Mr Fulata said the committees failed several deadlines by the Speaker.

Reacting to the motion, the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta) said the accounting department of the House has not been releasing funds for the committees at the appropriate time.

He appealed to the Speaker to speak to the management to ensure prompt releases of funds.

Mr Gbajabiamila responded that the accounting department cannot give what it does not have.

He noted that the budget of the parliament is fixed, irrespective of the number of motions or bills considered.

Some of the assignments have been referred to some committees as far back as 2019.

For instance, the ad-hoc committee charged to interface with the federal government and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shiite) was constituted in July 2019.

The investigation into the case of alleged assault and rape of a student at the FCT School of the Blind, Jabi, was also assigned in 2019.

Also, the adhoc committee looking into the global crash in the price of crude oil on the Appropriation Act, 2020, is yet to submit a report even as the 2021 Appropriation Act has been passed and already being implemented.

The House resolved that the committee of the whole should take over the assignments.

Inadequate Funding?

This is not the first time the House will be raising alarm over the paucity of funds, despite the N134 billion allocated to the National Assembly in the 2021 budget.

In February, the spokesperson of the House, Ben Kalu (APC, Abia) said the House lacks funds.

Mr Kalu repeated the same in March, saying the amount allocated was not sufficient.

Also, different organised unions in the National Assembly have been protesting the non-payment of salaries and allowances.

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has warned government officials against the duplication of projects in the national budget.

It also cautioned lawmakers against such duplication in their annual zonal Intervention projects, commonly called the constituency project.

ICPC chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye, issued the warning, Tuesday, at a Policy Dialogue on Corruption and Cost of Governance in Nigeria in Abuja.

The event, which held virtually, was organised by the training and research arm of ICPC, Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN).

It had in attendance the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and other dignitaries.

In his presentation, Mr Owasanoye lamented that despite the millions budgeted for the funding of the over-two-decade community projects annually, thousands of these projects are left without diligent scrutiny of need, implementation or otherwise.

He added that some of the legislative constituency projects are duplicated featuring as projects of the executive.

RCCG exposed project duplication

Citing a recent case of a road project duplication, the anti-graft agencys chairman identified how the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) alerted the public on a road project it had implemented as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) but was also awarded as an executive project.

He said his commission would not only track selected projects but would also digitise the records executive and constituency projects.

He said, Thousands of projects are repeated annually in the budget without diligent scrutiny of need, implementation or otherwise. Some are duplicated as annual zonal intervention projects otherwise called constituency projects of the legislature while also featuring as projects of the executive.

Funding is released for both insertions without any mechanism for monitoring and evaluation and reconciliation of funding. Recently the RCCG blew the whistle on a road project it had implemented as CSR but which suddenly was inadvertently awarded as an executive project.

The incident rightly became the subject of an inquiry by the legislature. ICPCs response to this challenge is not only to track selected projects but we annually digitise executive and constituency projects and upload same on our website for citizen verification through our toll-free line.

He called on Nigerians to visit its website for the breakdown of constituency projects for 2021, urging the public to become watchdogs of projects in their communities.

The breakdown of projects for 2021 has already been uploaded on our website and we encourage the public to become watchdogs of projects in their communities. We are working with the budget office to track funding of such projects as we prepare for our 2021 tracking of the constituency and executive projects, he added.

Others speak

In his remarks, Tunde Babawale, who is the acting provost, Anti-corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), said wasteful practices are often seen in the country in the forms of duplication of functions across Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs), embezzlement of public funds, kickbacks from contracts, procurement fraud, and the diversion of public funds into private hands.

The professor said there would be significant progress in the country if the wasteful practices of public officials can be curbed.

On her part, the Finance Minister, Mrs Ahmed, said the need for the reduction of cost of governance was in line with President Buharis policy for a review of government payroll.

While working to increase revenue, we will work to reduce the high cost of governance and I am glad that ICPC is taking this initiative as its natural mandate is to prevent corruption, she said.

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She revealed that her ministry had designed a strategic revenue initiative that was aimed at solving the problem of revenue deficiency by expanding revenue sources, and also reducing cost by alternating processes that give room for corruption such as IPPIS, GIFMIS.

She also stated that a transparency portal had been launched to provide access to citizens to view transactions from agencies and monitor how the government was performing its transactions.

BudgIT revelation

Mr Owasanoyes comment comes amid a revelation by BudgIT Nigeria, a civic tech group, in its latest report issued on Tuesday, showing that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved an estimated 316 duplicated projects in the 13.6 trillion 2021 budget.

Our analysis of the 2021Budget reveals over 316 duplicated capital projects totalling N39.5bn, among other loopholes for corruption, BudgIT said in the report.

BudgIT also said it also found zero audit records of the N10.02tn received by the security sector between 2015 and 2021.

The zonal intervention projects were first introduced in Nigeria during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. It was conceived to ensure equity in the allocation of projects sited in the constituencies of state and federal lawmakers by various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government in the budgets of the federation or state.

PREMIUM TIMES in July 2019 reported the ICPC, saying an estimated N2 trillion was spent on constituency projects in Nigeria since the year 2000 without commensurate development at the grassroots.

Similarly, President Muhammadu Buhari had also in 2019 said there have been very little benefits to the grassroots from the 1 trillion that had been earmarked for constituency projects in the last 10 years.
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The House of Representatives has urged the management of the University of Lagos to fix some of the lapses in its E-learning system.

Akin Alabi (APC, Oyo) moved the motion on Wednesday. In his motion, the lawmaker said the e-learning management system of the university has been characterised by complaints and challenges as the school moves learning online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Mr Alabi, students of the school have recounted where submission of test results fails on the platform or correct answers marked as being wrong, while some cannot access the platform to take the tests, which makes the students feel that they are being set up for failure.

He noted that e-learning should make education easy, not difficult.

The House further resolved that the management of the University should train lecturers in utilising the e-learning platform.

Also, the lawmakers urged the school to find provisional solutions that would enable the students and lecturers to ease into the online learning system, even if it means adopting a combined system while following all COVID19 protocols strictly.

The committee on tertiary education and services was mandated to ensure implementation.

When the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, put the motion to vote, the ayes had it. It was adopted without a debate.
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Aisha and Zainab are sisters and best friends, the sort of friendship that develops from long years of shared life, then deepens in hopes of longer years of bonding. Life as milkmaids in a small village of herders sets a limit on their outlook but that does not hinder their aspirations. Marriage is a turning point, and on the day of Zainabs wedding, an unexpected visit from protectors sets things further off-course. Pretending to be Nigerian soldiers, terrorists in camouflage invade the village wedding and break up life as the sisters, and anyone for that matter, have known it.

The drama of The Milkmaid (2020) unfolds as an intense, risky attempt by Aisha to find her kidnapped sister. But this is not obvious from the beginning, a shocking sequence of false alarms ending in a massacre. As the story develops, entirely from Aishas (Anthonieta Kalunta) point of view, the viewer gets drawn, with her, into the world of Islamic jihadis. She is forced to become the wife of Dangana (Usman Kona), a stalwart fundamentalist, has a child with him, but sets her sight on the goal of reuniting with her sister.

Eventually, she does, but Zainab (Maryam Booth) has moved on. Thoroughly radicalized, she trains other women to be fighters (among the films best moments is an astonishing 7-minute-long sequence of suicide bombing, with nothing but an understated soundtrack) and wastes no time denouncing her sister. Dangana is also unraveling, in an opposite direction. Thoughtful and brooding, hes fallen in love with Aisha and wants to free her, and failing that, tries to escape with her. Garba, an insurgent he has trained, trails them and stabs him in the back, never mind that Dangana thinks of that as the act of a coward.

Produced and directed by Desmond Ovbiagele (Render to Caesar, 2014), The Milkmaid makes exquisite use of the landscape of northeastern Nigeria, south to Boko Harams enclave. The storytelling is an astutely informed look into the world of religious fundamentalism. Lust for power energizes cruelty in the face of misbegotten notions about Islam. Yet, the jihadis have a sense of humour. Dangana says to his bride, You have to wait until Paradise before seeing your husband without a mask. Moments after burying the blade in his mentors back, Garba loses his glasses, and searching for them proves harder than the murder.

In places, the film stretches dramatic irony to the limit. How do Aisha and Hauwa (Patience Okpala) manage to get a safe ride on a motorbike unarmed, and given a free pass in such sensitive locations? The reasons for Zainabs late change of attitude are also puzzling. Humanizing the killers as thoughtful and funny, The Milkmaid stays aggressively cynical throughout, and when the shadowy Imam claims the desire to be powerful and respected as a motive, one hears the standard line of fascists.
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The world at this point is in dire straits and requires the love and intervention of genuinely good people. If I hold back this celebration of relentless good in a dark world, of what use will it be? Heres therefore to wish you a very long and fulfilling life ahead as you clock 55, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju. I will celebrate you. Always!

I sauntered in, making my way through young boys around the swimming pool at the Tango Towers in Ikoyi.

Big Sheg (as we fondly call Chief Segun Odegbami also, known as Mathematical) had invited me to the birthday of his son. My chaperone led me into the inner room where the Big Boys were. Yinka was the first to see me. Teju! Aha! God brought you into my orbit today, what did I do to you to warrant such an attack on my person? Have I ever offended you personally? Have I ever insulted you? Should we forget that we are friends due to political differences?

I was flustered and I responded. Calm down my friend! Are you trying to ridicule me in front of these gentlemen or are you trying to unsettle me? I pulled a chair and moved to introduce myself and shake the man seated to my left. The man stood up, gave a reassuring smile and said; We know you, your reputation precedes you.

She wrote the foregoing about the late Yinka Odumakin, in a reflection on a relationship that was deep and sincere. A relationship she took beyond political differences. If your political leaning does not align with hers, she does not begrudge you, she accommodates ideological dissent but abhors political toxins.

On March 18, 2018, at the shocking exit of Pius Adesanmi, she wrote, His birth lent him to me, and his existence and friendship showed myself to me. Sometimes, as we journey through lifes meandering courses, we meet that person who completes a part we never thought missing and we become kin with them. Then, you grow up together, year on year, sharing lifes triumphs and frustrations. That is when you realise the bond of kinship, the conviviality of sprit and a sense of security in each others company. He was my friend at play and my comrade in arms. The only one I tap when I get to E. T. C  End of Thinking Capacity. Pius Adesanmi tended the shriveled cotyledons of my late literary sprout, guiding it towards light and it blossomed. One day in May of 2014, he told Musikilu Mojeed of PREMIUM TIMES, I have a writer for you. After telling him, he gave me an hour to send him my first column. I muttered: column! One hour! It was 8 p.m. in Nigeria. I went to work. When he gave orders, I obeyed; and when I gave orders, he obeyed. With him I understood the psychology of a positive mutually reinforcing relationship.

Back in December, while the nation was deep in the throes of difficulties, from COVID recovery to economic challenges, to security concerns, she was in the country, crisscrossing the states and engaging with those who matter on what solutions to proffer to the nations gargantuan challenges.

Most people know Professor Pius Adesanmi, the University teacher, author, writer, public commentator, activist etc. I know Pius, just Pius!

Yes, to her, Pius was just PIUS! The relationship transcended walls and borders. When Pius Adesanmis burial plans were revving up, I was on a particular committees WhatsApp platform, coordinated by the former Chief Press Secretary to Kogi State governor, Petra Akinti Onyegbule, Kyke Davies, Abimbola Olujide, Folake Oyetosho etc, while these good people worked round the clock to accord Pius a befitting burial, her footprint was equally everywhere till she arrived in Nigeria. Such a genial soul.

February 24, 2015, for the love of the nation, she wrote: The indiscriminate sharing of Nigerias money to buy the elections shows us that Mr. Jonathan gets it  there is no stopping the CHANGE we have embraced and that is a good thing in itself. One more thing he needs to learn is that; whatever he does, the Nigerian people will always win in the end. Does this hopefully invalidate the puerile judgement of those who accuse her of not loving Nigeria because shes demanding good governance from the current crop of leaders who are busy squandering away goodwill? In fact, on June 7, 2018, she referred to herself as a recovering Buharist.

Back in December, while the nation was deep in the throes of difficulties, from COVID recovery to economic challenges, to security concerns, she was in the country, crisscrossing the states and engaging with those who matter on what solutions to proffer to the nations gargantuan challenges. From state governors to Channels TV to her premium columns, her love for Nigeria has never been in doubt. Precisely on December 21, 2020, she had a long Zoom meeting with our team on ways to rally round support for our work, which costs a lot of volunteering sacrifice.

On March 30 this year, she was with me inbox asking that we talk soon again on the same concern. This is who she is. And as stated in the quotes above, this is how she relates. Deep beyond platitudes, and smiles beyond plastic; a self sacrificing lamb.

However, the real import was not that she won. It was that because she radiates love, unforced love always comes back to her. On May 2, I read the emotionally-worded and rich prose of Mr. Ademola Olateju, and I could only imagine what it must feel like to cohabit with such an invaluable gift.

All of these border around one thing: She loves her nation and loves her people. Humanity is her race and love is her religion. In the words of Roy T. Bennett, theres some sweet innocence around her and shes the reason many feel loved.

On social media, she commands tremendous respect, not because she puts on any airs. Its actually because she lets down guards. When shes not dropping compelling lines from a rigorous intellect at the stratospheric heights the only the likes of PREMIUM TIMES command, shes right there on Facebook joining modelling competitions with those who fondly rever her as Auntie, or cracking away heart-bursting jokes across her friends walls. Shes classy in status but classless to humanity.

There was a day that a mutual friend hosted a modelling competition, and she came with such admirable enthusiasm in positive thrusts of healthy mischief, playing around with everyone but beating them all to it. Facebook went agog as her followers voted en masse, and she took the price away. The picture above is what won with.

However, the real import was not that she won. It was that because she radiates love, unforced love always comes back to her. On May 2, I read the emotionally-worded and rich prose of Mr. Ademola Olateju, and I could only imagine what it must feel like to cohabit with such an invaluable gift.

The world at this point is in dire straits and requires the love and intervention of genuinely good people. If I hold back this celebration of relentless good in a dark world, of what use will it be? Heres therefore to wish you a very long and fulfilling life ahead as you clock 55, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju. I will celebrate you. Always!

Akin Fadeyi is the founder of Akin Fadeyi Foundation.
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The protection of citizens is one of the foremost responsibilities of any government. It is saddening that the security of Nigerians is degenerating, so much that a number of mass kidnappings happened within the space of three months. At this time, there is a call on the Nigerian government to take to heart the security of the nations citizens and put to action strategies that would see a huge decrease in insecurity-related cases.

Kagara, Zamfara, Kankara, Kaduna  these Nigerian locations have some things in common: Bizarre things that have recently shot them to public glare. The past few months have seen these four places receive media and nationwide attention, following reported mass kidnappings by armed bandits. It started with the abduction of about 500 boys from a boarding school in Kankara on December 11, 2020. The occurrence raised nationwide concerns; little did we know that three other mass kidnappings would happen within the space of two to three months.

What could be fueling these mass kidnappings? The bandits said to be responsible for these kidnappings are reported to possess sophisticated guns. It then begs the question: From where are these bandits getting their funding? We may never know, or we just might know since the Federal Governments measure towards rescuing the kidnapped victims is to give vast sums of money to the bandits, rather than carry out covert rescue operations. The release of the Kankara schoolboys was nothing short of a theatrical piece, as was the return of the victims in the other three cases.

These mass kidnappings are not limited to secondary schools. On April 20, 23 staff members and students of Greenfield University, a higher institution in Kaduna State, were kidnapped. The school management and parents of the affected students raised the sum of N15 million to appease the kidnappers and secure the release of their children. But what did their efforts meet in the den of the kidnappers? Ridicule! The brazen evildoers said they would not receive any sum lesser than N800 million, and that they would kill three of their victims daily to prove that they meant what they said. On that same day, three of the students were gruesomely murdered, throwing their families and the nations citizens into a spate of wailing, sadness, and disappointment. Did the robbers stop at killing those three students? No. On Monday, April 26, two more students were killed, making the total number of murdered students five. The fate of the remaining abductees is yet unknown. There has been no news on their release, and the armed bandits could well have killed more, only deciding not to release their bodies.

Auwal Dadauwa, the mastermind behind the kidnapping of Kankara schoolboys in Zamfara State, was granted amnesty by the state governor, following his pseudo-remorse and repentance. His true form was brought to the fore when he returned to the forest on April 28 for the supposed wedding of his sister. News soon got around that the bandit did not go for any marriage ceremony. He instead went on a herdsmen-attack spree, killing the herders in charge of hundreds of cattle. In retaliation, his fellow bandits in the forest killed him. What shall we say of Muhammad Kabir, a promising young Kaduna boy who was kidnapped from the expected safety of his parents house? Kabirs parents did not leave any stone unturned following the kidnap of their son. They raised an alarm, conducted searches, paid the sum of N5 million as ransom, yet all they got was the dead and nearly decaying body of their son, abandoned in a dirty drainage in Kano. A boy kidnapped from Kaduna was killed and abandoned in Kano! What could have been Kabirs sin for him to meet such an end?

If anyone thinks the kidnappings and insecurity are limited to the Northern part of the country, perhaps the reported cases of kidnappings in Rivers State since the start of this year would convince them otherwise. There have been reports of 21 kidnaps in Rivers. Another depressing news is that of the recent murder of Iniubong Umoren, who went missing on April 29. A recent graduate of the University of Uyo, Iniubong had tweeted on April 27 that she was job-hunting to keep herself busy pending the time she would go for the National Youth Service Corps. She got an offer of a job from a Frank Ukpan, and she told her friend before going for the interview on April 29. That was when things went south. Iniubong must have discovered that the job was a fake one, a bait to lure her into whatever evil Frank was plotting. She sent a distressed one-second voice note to her friend on WhatsApp, and when the friend called her back, all she got was a scream. Twitter Nigeria rose to the occasion, digging up information about Frank Ukpan; sufficient enough for the police to launch an arrest. But what happened? Nigeria happened. The police did not act on the intelligence they received, not until the news of Iniubongs death broke some hours later.

All the cases of insecurity in Nigeria beg the question: Do we have a functional Federal Government? Are our priorities set right as a country? Of what use is Trader Moni and NPower if the citizens that the government seeks to empower with N10,000 are not sure if they would see the light of the next day?

On April 12, the Ogun State chapter of the National Association of Nurses and Midwives and the National Medical Association declared a strike action. This was not tied to the non-payment of salaries and allowances, but the rampant cases of kidnappings in Ogun State, of which the medical associations members have been falling victims. Despite the Ogun State governments threats and pressure, the two medical associations have remained resolute in their demand for energised, proactive and reactive measures to the issue of insecurity in the State. In Imo State, the attention has shifted to police stations, the new attractions for gunmen armed to the teeth. If the expected-to-be-secure police stations are not safe from attacks, what is the fate of the average Imo State resident?

If anything, we must come to terms with the fact that the instances above are just the poster occurrences for the scores of kidnappings, bandit attacks, herdsmen crises, and other insecurity-related cases that happen in the country. Of late, hardly does a day pass without depressing news of a kidnap, mass killing, or herdsmen attack somewhere in the country; and that is to talk about the ones that make it to the news, which must be a minute fraction of the many cases that do not receive media attention. All over Nigeria, there are killings, kidnapping, so much that the seemingly invincible terrorist group, Boko Haram, has brazenly hoisted its flags in some parts of Niger State. Kanuri women are forcefully torn away from their families and loved ones to be given to Boko Haram members as wives. All these in the 21st century! It sounds so unbelievable, like something off the pages of Femi Osofisans Women of Owu; yet, it is true. The Niger State governor confirmed it.

All the cases of insecurity in Nigeria beg the question: Do we have a functional Federal Government? Are our priorities set right as a country? Of what use is Trader Moni and NPower if the citizens that the government seeks to empower with N10,000 are not sure if they would see the light of the next day? On President Buharis recent return from London, journalists asked him what the citizens should expect now that he has returned to the nation, and all the hope the president could give was a phrase: kwantinuity (sic). Continuity of what exactly, should we not ask? Did the president mean that citizens should expect continued devastation, killings, kidnappings, and attacks? Theoretically speaking, Nigeria might still be considered a governed state, but the events in the country are testaments to the fact that the nation is experiencing a state of anarchy.

We must, at this point, ask ourselves what the causes of the insecurity are. Why are the abductors of the Greenfield University students seeking nothing less than N800 million n? Why would these Greenfield abductors kill their victims one after the other without fear or panic? Why has there been a sudden rise in the rate of kidnappings all over the country? Why would little Kabirs abductors brazenly murder him, even after collecting N5 million as ransom? If we want to be truthful to ourselves, we would all agree that the seemingly lucrative turn that banditry and kidnapping have taken, no thanks to the Buhari governments monetary exchanges with these criminals, is at the heart of the increased insecurity. Who would want to engage in honest labour when they could become overnight millionaires just by kidnapping ill-protected school children? Why would these abductors not carry out atrocious and cold-blooded killings when they know that the Federal Government will remain mute and not react to the kidnappings of their victims? The governments attitude towards insecurity in the country  flowing from the Federal Government to the state governments  fuels these criminals audacity. Other causes of the rise in insecurity include the increasing frailty of our bond as one nation, nationwide poverty, ethnic misgivings, unemployment, and the peoples seeming abandonment by their government.

Make scapegoats of criminals. Banditry and general insecurity are on the rise because those involved have seen it as a lucrative business. In place of monetary exchanges, unscrupulous reintegration into society, and other overblown aid and support given to bandits, the government should consider, as a matter of urgency, the arrest and proper prosecution of anyone who deems it fit and justifiable to kidnap

Kidnappings, killings, maiming, and other sorts of insecurity are on the rise, and to say we are fed up with the malignant and growing issue of insecurity in this country is to say the least. We must look out for solutions; we must also look inward for the cure to this malaise. In looking for sustainable solutions, Nigeria, as a nation, must be ready to:

Tackle the degeneration of the state of insecurity. Were things as bad as this when President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in some Northern states? Why does it seem like the Buhari administration cares less about what is happening all over the nation? Reactive and peace-sustaining measures should be put in place to tackle insecurity in the nation permanently;

Arrest guilty persons and make them face the full wrath of the law. When the preparators of these evils begin to see the iron-handed handling of rounded-up bandits and kidnappers, it will pass a message to them that the Buhari government is no longer lackadaisical towards the attacks on the nations citizens. If the same General Buhari ran the War Against Indiscipline campaign, why not start a War Against Insecurity campaign? A message has to be passed to these evildoers;

Cohesively unite to promote the One Nigeria agenda. The reference to some citizens of the country as Biafran boys by a top government official is not needed at such a heightened moment as this. We must shun and unitedly combat anything that threatens our continued existence as a nation;

It does not stop at unitedly standing for our nations oneness; the government must also be willing to commit to the nations development and cater to the welfare and well-being of the people. Biases and nepotism are not needed. What will be the justification of aborting secessionist tendencies if the nation whose oneness we are trying to protect has little to nothing to offer those who wish to depart?

Make scapegoats of criminals. Banditry and general insecurity are on the rise because those involved have seen it as a lucrative business. In place of monetary exchanges, unscrupulous reintegration into society, and other overblown aid and support given to bandits, the government should consider, as a matter of urgency, the arrest and proper prosecution of anyone who deems it fit and justifiable to kidnap and maim large numbers of citizens as a means of making money. These bandits should not be treated like princes; but like the criminals that they are.

The protection of citizens is one of the foremost responsibilities of any government. It is saddening that the security of Nigerians is degenerating, so much that a number of mass kidnappings happened within the space of three months. At this time, there is a call on the Nigerian government to take to heart the security of the nations citizens and put to action strategies that would see a huge decrease in insecurity-related cases.

Toyin Falola, a professor of History and University Distinguished Teaching Professor, is Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin.
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what this interviewed has achieved, in the main, is that it opened new spaces of dialogue and understanding within, among and across faiths. It has long been my argument that the first step towards building global peace is the liquidation of spaces of ignorance of and about the other and what he holds dear.

The event was conceived to be a refreshingly different departure from the run-of-the-mill meet-up on Islam. Or how else might one begin to reflect on a interview session or rather a conference, if you will, that had Professor Falola as the preceptor and Sheikh Abdulrahman as the facilitator. The first, the interviewer  an intellectual and generic scholar; the second, the interviewee  a consummate practitioner and missionary of Islam. The first, a world-renowned scholar of African history and culture; the second, an Islamist and globalist, whose practice of the deen abhors all postures that privilege charlatanism and obscurantism, particularly on the overarching category of Islam and Muslims. Thus, the stage was set for a dialogue between the scholar and the Imam; one that eventually became a multilogue, simply because it drew voices and perspectives from across the different spectra of the world, without prejudice to religion, gender or race.

In other words, when carefully pondered, the attention the interview drew from all around the world should not indeed be a surprise. This is because there is hardly any other category or subject in the world today that attracts the passionate attention and interests that Islam does. The latter has remained a palimpsest or a rubber; the more it is theorised and analysed, the more enigmatic, so it seems, it appears.

Thus, when the interview got underway, participants were held spell-bound by the incisive questions posed by Professor Falola to Imam Abdulrahmon Ahmad, which sought to remove the veil from the unthought-for-unthoughtable; questions that explored the ordinarily unexplored in Islamic traditions. Professor Falola questioned Imam Abdulrahmon Ahmad, not as an outsider but as an outsider-insider. He sought clarifications on matters relating to belief and practice; he interrogated Imam Ahmad on the fissures and the disjunctures between Islam in the text and the contradictions in the existential realities of contemporary Muslims. Professor Falolas questions to Imam Ahmad were laden with adequate knowledge of continuities and change in Muslim realities; they were questions that only those who are grounded in Islamic hermeneutics and Muslim practice, such as Imam Ahmad, could answer.

Despite the huge opportunity afforded participants through this interview to have direct access to the dynamics, dialectics and discourses that undergird Islamic beliefs and practices, it became evident that, like many others before it, more of such interactions and engagements with leaders of Islam and indeed those of Christianity remains a desideratum.

In other words, the audience that participated in this interview, including critics such as Bishop Matthew Kukah and Professor Nimi Wariboko, would most likely not have been disappointed by the courage and candour displayed by Imam Ahmad, while responding to the questions and comments that came his way throughout the interview. His discussions of Islamic perspectives on pluralism, be it in the classical or modern times; his perspective on Christian-Muslim relations which, according to him, is premised on the freedom of religious practice and not extremism; the emphasis that he laid on the philosophy of the Islamic law that derives its strength from the promotion of social justice; and his passionate argument that Islam supports and in fact demands the education of women and their integration into the society, could only have been articulated by none other than the Chief Imam of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria.

Despite the huge opportunity afforded participants through this interview to have direct access to the dynamics, dialectics and discourses that undergird Islamic beliefs and practices, it became evident that, like many others before it, more of such interactions and engagements with leaders of Islam and indeed those of Christianity remains a desideratum. In other words, what this interviewed has achieved, in the main, is that it opened new spaces of dialogue and understanding within, among and across faiths. It has long been my argument that the first step towards building global peace is the liquidation of spaces of ignorance of and about the other and what he holds dear.

Afis Ayinde Oladosu is a Professor of Middle Eastern, North African and Cultural Studies, and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan.
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The House of Representatives has passed a bill to establish the University of Agriculture, Langtang, Plateau State.

The bill was passed on Wednesday by the House, after a clause by clause consideration of the report on the bill.

Aminu Suleiman (APC, Kano), the chairman of the Committee on Tertiary Education, presented the report and it was considered by the committee of the whole.

Speaking on the bill, the sponsor, Beni Lar (PDP, Plateau) said the institution will serve the people of the North-central region in human capacity development.

If established, the institution would harness, develop the abundant human potential from the North-central region to feed the nation of Nigeria, she said.

The session was chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase.

While the bill has been passed by the House, it is yet to be passed by the Senate.

If eventually established, it would be the second federal university in Plateau State after the University of Jos.

The University of Jos, like most other public universities in Nigeria, suffers from inadequate funding. On Wednesday, the lawmakers did not discuss how the new university would be adequately funded.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South-south Zonal Working Committee, has called on governors in the region to join forces with various security agencies to tackle insecurity in the region.

The national vice chairman of the party in the region, Dan Orbih, made the call on Tuesday in Benin when he led the Zonal National Committee on a courtesy visit to the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

Mr Orbih said the growing insecurity in the region was worrisome. He said the region has lost many innocent men and women in the past few years.

A situation where people can no longer go to their farms is a signal for impending food crisis.

We call on the governors and leaders of the South-south to come together and protect our people.

The Yoruba have taken steps to check the menace of these groups with the formation of Amotekun, the Igbo have theirs Ebubeagu security network.

What are we doing in the south South-south?

We must fashion out ways in collaboration with various security agencies to check the unprovoked assault on our people.

Our people are distressed. The federal roads are in bad shapes and unsafe.

Last week Senator Cliff Odia was attacked twice on the same day by different groups on his way from Edo to Abuja.

We enjoin you to join forces with those calling for state and community policing to complement the present structure.

The PDP South-south leader urged governors in the region not to relent on the demand for state police.

He also called on the federal government to stop borrowing money to fund corruption.

Lack of accountability in the NDDC has affected development in the zone. It has eroded trust and promotes unemployment and criminality among the youth.

A hungry man is an angry man. The federal government must stop playing politics with NDDC.

The rising poverty index and lack of employment are now major problems in our zone.

On the whole, I make bold to state that the current security problem confronting us is a threat to democracy.

We urge you to use your second term in office to put in place development and achievements that will make future elections easier for our party in the state and the zone, he said.

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He disclosed that the zonal committee members were in the state as part of their official tour of the zone to commend and applaud the good works the PDP governors were doing and to ask them to do more.

He, however, noted that they were embarking on the tour at a very difficult and challenging time in the nations history.

The issues confronting us today are so serious that COVID-19 pandemic that has challenged the world is dwarfed by domestic problems facing us, Mr Orbih added.

The security structure in Nigeria has expired  Obaseki

In his response, Mr Obaseki urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country amid the challenges facing the country but work collectively to ensure a better Nigeria.

Mr Obaseki identified insecurity as one of the countrys biggest challenges, and blamed mismanagement of the nations economy for the worrisome trend.

We should not lose hope in Nigeria but focus on how to create confidence to give our people hope by managing the country well.

The challenges of insecurity just show the dysfunctionality of our federal system.

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We run a federation, we have three tiers of government  federal, state and local governments. Why should security be exclusive to the federal level?

What happened to the other two? Until we address that structural imbalance, we are not going to be able to deal with security at its core.

The governor said the concentration of the resources at the the centre would not help Nigeria.

In the South-south, we must stand up to defend ourselves economically, politically and security-wise.

The security structure that we have in Nigeria has expired. We need a new security arrangement. The system that we operated till now is not tenable, he said.

(NAN)
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Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has urged the U.S. Government to delist the state from the list of unsafe states in Nigeria.

Mr Emmanuel made the request during a courtesy visit by U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leonard, at Government House, Uyo, on Wednesday.

According to him, listing Akwa Ibom among the unsafe states in Nigeria was pushing away investors, hence, inimical to the industrialisation drive of the state government.

He said such categorisation was at variance with the decisions of several security agencies that place Akwa Ibom as one of the safest states in the country.

Help me review (it). Right now, we are expecting many investors in the state.

Reports labelling Akwa Ibom as being unsafe for Americans to travel into is going to affect a lot of investments in the country, especially in Akwa Ibom, because it stands contrary to the police and other security agencies reports.

There is no society on planet earth where there are no pockets of crime. Pockets of crime cannot render our state insecure, the governor said.

He expressed delight over the partnership between America and Nigeria in the provision of critical facilities in the state.

He appealed to the American Government to partner with Akwa Ibom for transparency and effective projects monitoring.

The USAID can come in, we dont need the money and they can partner with the state government on this programme through the Ministry of Health.

Mr Emmanuel said if the projects must go to the implementing partners, the state government should be the third party for proper monitoring and transparency in its financial reporting.

He emphasised that partnership with the state government would ensure that the programmes being executed by the U.S. government are beneficial to the people, as funds allocated would trickle down to the appropriate locations without encumbrances.

Earlier, Ms Leonard said she was pleased to have the opportunity to visit the state to ascertain the status of U.S. funded projects after constraints posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The envoy described the Akwa Ibom government as a model in the pandemic management and fundamental support for the USAID projects in the state.

She also expressed delight over the investments made by the state government in the health sector.

The ambassador said those were evident in the improved health infrastructure, trained health workers, the wellbeing of USAID projects in the state, reversal of hitherto held statistics in malaria and HIV/AIDS amidst the COVID pandemic.

(NAN)
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A total of 753 gender-based violence reports were received within two years in Lagos State, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) has said.

Bolaji Dada, commissioner for women affairs and poverty alleviation, said this Tuesday during the 2021 ministerial press briefing to mark the second anniversary of the Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in office in Ikeja.

46 men were violated in the year 2020, while 378 women were violated, she said.

And in the year 2021, from January till date, we have had 43 males report gender-based and domestic violence issues and 286 women.

Mrs Dada said the ministry also distributed food items to over 5000 vulnerable and indigent women during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UN-Women in collaboration with the Ministry also gave food items to 180 women groups and identified clusters like; people living with disability, people living with HIV/AIDS, and Faith-based groups during the lock-down.

WAPA-COVID gifts were given to women during the COVID-19 pandemic (Face-mask, Hand sanitizers, etc).

Poverty alleviation programmes

The commissioner said in the last two years, the ministry through the Women Affairs Department organized series of programmes and activities, aimed at improving the status of women in Lagos state by making them economically independent.

She said about 6,780 women have been empowered with vocational skills and have received startup packs, to help kickstart their businesses across the state.

In all, the ministry had trained about 6,780 Women in Twenty-Five (25) Centres within the 3 Senatorial Districts of the State.

She said some of the women were trained in various vocational skills including hairstyling, tie and dye, event decoration, cakes & snacks production, soap and pomade making, stove wick and Insecticide production in the ministrys Short-term Vocational Skills Acquisition initiative within four weeks.

She said the short term programme was organised to tackle unemployment situation of women and young female adults, widows, indigent/vulnerable women, women living with health challenges and disabilities, civil servants exiting from active service, women drawn from faith-based organizations and other categories of women in Lagos State.

This was done with the assurance that the skills acquired will create income-generating ventures for beneficiaries.

The commissioner said the 19 skill acquisition centres in the state produced about 6,000 graduates yearly despite limited resources.

The Ministry has continued to maximize the available resources to ensure the smooth running of the Skills Acquisition Centres, in spite of the limited resources, said Mrs Dada.

In collaboration with Lagos State Technical and Vocational Board (LASTVEB), the Ministry reviewed the training syllabus which has led to the award of highly recognised Certificate of Competence to Graduates of the Centres.

This has further created a seamless movement for interested Graduates of Skill Centers, who were willing to further their Vocational Trainings up to Tertiary Institution, without inhibition for further study programmes.

She noted that 500 women have benefited from the entrepreneurial and digital initiative organised by the Ministry.

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The training was aimed at exposing women and young adults to online marketing of their products being produced from skills acquired at the Vocational Centres, she said.

Another 500 would be trained in Digital Marketing before the end of May 2021 and some of them will be given mobile android to enhance their online business.
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The Police Command in Osun has warned residents in the state against any unlawful gathering or protest over the rising cases of insecurity and food prices.

Non-violent protests and rallies are allowed by the Nigerian Constitution and the courts have ruled that a police permit is not required for such protests.

In a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo, the state police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said those nursing the idea to organise a protest should stop it as the police would not condone acts capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in the state.

The intelligence availed the command revealed that some unscrupulous elements are planning to embark on unlawful gathering/protest.

This protest is to show their grievances concerning an ill-conceived perception of insecurity and hike in food prices, allegedly in the State.

The state Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, therefore wishes to advise that this unlawful plan be jettisoned.

The CP warned that the state police command will not condone any act(s) that will jeopardize the existing relative peace and tranquility presently enjoyed in the state.

It should be noted that, the spate of insecurity presently experienced is nationwide and not peculiar to Osun. Be reminded also that, gathering of any sort is unlawful and a violation of COVID-19 laws.

The CP, therefore, appeals to all parents and guardians to warn their children and, or wards to desist from any act(s), capable of causing the breach of peace in the state.

Be warned also that, the Command will not tolerate deliberate blocking of roads to impede free-flow of human and vehicular movements, molestation of peace-loving members of the public, and willful/malicious destruction of any kind whatsoever.

This will be resisted vehemently.

The CP assures good people of the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear of molestations from any person or group, as adequate security measures have been emplaced for maximum security of lives and property of the citizens. the statement reads.

(NAN)
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The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, says that about 260,000 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the state.

Mr Abayomi told a ministerial media briefing on Tuesday in Lagos that the figure represented just one per cent of the states population.

He said the second phase of vaccination would start soon and warned that Nigeria stood the risk of experiencing a third wave, having vaccinated only less than one per cent of its population.

According to him, health facilities in Lagos State have been placed on high alert to pick up early trends that may suggest a third wave of COVID-19.

Currently, countries like India, Brazil, Argentina, Iraq, Qatar, Peru and Uruguay are being ravaged by a vicious third or fourth wave following a less active and insignificant second or third wave.

The latest wave in India has been proven to be as a result of new mutant strains that have resulted in a dramatic increase in sickness and deaths for two weeks running.

Whilst we commiserate with these countries, it is important that we protect our environment and residents against this virus, especially as we have less than one per cent of our population that have received their first dose of the Oxford Astra-Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine similar to India that has about eight per cent, he said.

The commissioner said that Lagos was working toward ensuring a 60 per cent herd immunity, representing 14 million people to be achieved.

He said that among steps being taken to curb a third wave of the virus included aggressive testing, including mutant PCR testing to identify the particular virus strain.

It also included the deployment of technology (EKOTELEMED) to track and monitor inbound travellers; enforcing non-pharmaceutial interventions; increase in oxygen supply and vaccination, he noted.

Abayomi said that of the 123 passengers of interest tracked between April 13 and April 27, 110 (89 per cent) were called by EKOTELEMED, with only 39 per cent reached and tracked.

He said that 66 per cent had Lagos as their final destination, while about 28 per cent filled in no address in Nigeria or filled in a foreign address.

The commissioner further said that the total samples tested so far was 460,647, with 58,222 confirmed positive.

He added that of this number, 168,312 (37 per cent) were tested in public laboratories while 292,335 (63 per cent) were tested in private laboratories.

(NAN)
The Rotary Club of Dearborn recently announced scholarships totaling more than $50,000 are being awarded to 17 graduating high school seniors in Dearborn, two Henry Ford College nursing students and a military veteran attending the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Scholarships awarded to graduating high school seniors in Dearborn are in four, merit-based categories. Each award category is endowed by or honors a past Dearborn Rotarian, who recognized the importance of education and sought to pay their own success forward by helping outstanding youth with college expenses. Award amounts range from $8,500 to $2,000 to be used for tuition, books and class fees. In the case of the Rowen Scholarship, the award can be used for expenses related to their vocational pursuit.

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Receiving the prestigious Harry A. Sisson Scholarship of $8,500 is Reda Mazeh of Fordson High School. Mazeh shared that his passion lies in supporting diversity and inclusion through student and community activities. Organizer of an anti-bullying rally and a Diversity Committee leader, Mazeh traveled to the Dominican Republic with the Fordson Interact Club where he worked to rebuild shelters in a refugee camp while assisting students with necessities.

Adam Allouch of Dearborn High School and Lena Elkoussy of Fordson High School are winners of the Hugh M. Archer Scholarship, established in the memory of the longtime Dearborn resident and Rotarian. In addition to founding the Spiratex Company and many professional achievements, Archer served as president of the Rotary Club of Dearborn, Rotary District Governor, International Director, International General Secretary and International President in 1989-90.

The Past Presidents Scholarship was largely funded through the generosity of former Edsel Ford High School principal and Dearborn Rotary Past President Dr. Robert Young, and is awarded to four Dearborn Public School graduating seniors who will attend a Michigan college or university. This years scholarship recipients are Maya Beydoun and Grace Boettger of Dearborn High School; Luke Hetrick of Edsel Ford High School, and Maryam Shafie Khorassani of Fordson High School.

The largest scholarship category is the Otto Rowen Vocational Scholarships honoring the memory of former Rotarian, teacher and principal of Dearborn Public Schools (DPS). He established the trust fund that is administered by the Dearborn Rotary Foundation to provide scholarships for DPS students who are the best representatives in their vocational areas as recommended by their instructors.

The ten winners of this years Rowen Vocational scholarships include seniors Badr Algamal, Saif Alheresh, and Zeshan Arshad of Edsel Ford High School; Belal Dabaja, Khalid Esmail and Ali Kassem of Fordson High School; Dania Jadallah and Olivia Thibodeaux of Dearborn High School; and Mohammad Lakhani and Steven Rios of Henry Ford Early College.

Nearly 20 years ago, Dearborn Rotary established the Henry Ford College (HFC) Nursing Scholarship in conjunction with the Henry Ford College Foundation. This year, scholarships were awarded to two HFC students  Angela Fisher and Karmyn Long. Following graduation from HFC, both plan to attend Eastern Michigan University to become registered nurses.

The Archer Veterans Scholarship at the University of Michigan-Dearborn was made possible by an endowment funded by the Archer family, Dearborn Rotary Foundation, and Spiratex Corporation. Keivin Colbert, who served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps and was deployed to Afghanistan, is recipient of this years scholarship. A sophomore majoring in business, Colbert is active in the Student Veteran Association and other veteran organizations.

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Three years ago, funds from the Archer Veterans scholarship were also made available to qualifying participants in the 19th District Veterans Court, a program designed to help veterans in need of mental health or substance abuse treatment and other services. The Archer funds help veterans further their education as they become contributing members of the community.

Colleen Nieman, 2020-2021 president of the Rotary Club of Dearborn, credits Scholarship Chairperson Lee Hollmann and Board Vocational Director David Anderson as well as individual scholarship chairpersons with coordinating and reviewing the scholarship applications. She said, They didnt miss a beat, given the need to adjust schedules and communications channels during the pandemic.

According to Nieman, scholarship awards made to these outstanding students are a highlight of the year for Dearborn Rotarians.

Founded in 1923, the Rotary Club of Dearborn, www.DearbornRotary.org, is the citys oldest service organization and is a proud member of Rotary International bringing 1.2 million members in over 34,000 individual clubs together to live the motto of Service Above Self.

Catholic Vantage Financial seeks nominations for Teacher Impact Awards In celebration of National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 3  7, 2021, Catholic Vantage Financial (CVF) is proud to announce the 2021 Teacher 

+3 How a Hero Tree came to be at Beaumont Commons, Dearborn Beaumont Commons, Dearborn has a Hero Tree on campus that recently became the talk of this senior living community.

Eric Rothert joins Catholic Vantage Financial as Vice President of Marketing Catholic Vantage Financial (CVF) recently welcomed Eric Rothert as vice president of marketing. Rothert joins with nearly 20 years experience

+2 Dearborn Rotary recommends Flip the Script for Mothers Day The Rotary Club of Dearborn recently published Lets Cook  a collection of 133 recipes from members, family and friends, and community VIPs.

+3 Beaumont Commons recognizes dining service team members selected for advanced culinary training Cheryl Naftel, dining services director for Beaumont Commons, Dearborn, recently announced that three of her team members have been selected b

Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center schedules online mediation training The Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center (WCDRC) has announced a full schedule of online mediation training in April and May to accommodate 
Members of the business and educational communities congratulate the 2020 Teacher of the Year honorees. From left to right: Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko, 3-5th Grade Teacher of the Year Award Recipient Michael Hawkins of Nowlin Elementary, Dearborn School Board Trustee Adel Mozip, Pre K  2nd Grade Teacher of the Year Award Recipient Andrea Sims of DuVall Elementary School, Chairman of the Chambers Education Committee Philipp Emma, High School Teacher of the Year Award Recipient Dan Taylor of Fordson High, Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce President Jackie Lovejoy, Middle School Teacher of the Year Award Recipient Ryan Piche of Bryant Middle, and LaFontaine Automotive Group General Manager Mike Law.
Now that COVID-19 cases are declining and the majority of Minnesotans have received vaccinations, what activities are you most looking forward to resuming this summer?

You voted:
CHAMPLAIN [mdash] Theresa L. Ero, age 79, of State Rt. 276 passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, in St. Luke's Healthcare with her family at her side after being stricken ill while visiting her daughter in central New York. She was born on May 2, 1942, in Champlain, N.Y., a da
Southbury, CT (06488)

Today

Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. Heavy and torrential downpours at times. High 89F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 66F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
FELTON, Calif., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Instant Beverage Premix Market size is expected to reach USD 120.92 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 7.2% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Million Insights.

What are Key Factors Driving the Instant Beverage Premix Market?

Increasing demand for ready-mixed drinks due to the rising disposable income and hectic lifestyle of the people in countries such as India, China, and South Africa drives the market for instant beverage premix. The adoption of instant beverage premix increases due to the growing demand for ready-to-make drinks from the corporate cafeteria and at Quick Service Restaurants (QSR), which is expected to drive the market growth.

Coffee premix occupied a dominant market share of 41.2% in 2020 and is projected to expand at a significant CAGR over the forecast period. The rising popularity of coffee premix in countries in countries such as India, China, and Germany for ready-to-drink coffee, especially among millennials, is projected to further fuel the demand for the Instant coffee premix in the next few years.

Asia Pacific held a revenue share of 31.3% in 2020. Increasing young population coupled with increasing disposable income in countries such as China and India are projected to drive the demand for instant beverages, thus driving the market in near future. Furthermore, post COVID-19 pandemic, the region is anticipated to witness rising employment, inflating disposable incomes, and enhancing living standards. These factors will result in high consumption of most products, creating an enormous opportunity for instant beverage premix manufacturers in the region. Hence, the market is expected to experience rapid growth in the Asia Pacific over the forecast period.

Please click here to get the sample pdf and find more details on "Instant Beverage Premix Market" Report 2028.

Leading manufacturers are investing in R&D activities to enhance their product portfolio and geographical reach. Vendors adopt various organic and inorganic strategies such as joint ventures, new product offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and collaborations to enhance their foothold in the industry.

Key Questions Answered in the Instant Beverage Premix Market Report:

Which Region to Hold the Highest Market Share?

Asia Pacific contributed over 31.3% in the global revenue in 2020. China accounted for the largest market share of 27.5% in 2020 followed by India and Japan. Growing demand for ready-to-drink (RTD) packaged beverages from millennials has contributed to the regional market growth.

Which Segment of the Instant Beverage Premix to Hold the Highest Market Share?

The instant tea segment contributed to the second-highest share in the global market revenue in 2020 and is expected to register the highest CAGR over the forecast period. Increasing, for slimming tea and herbal tea is expected to fuel the product demand.

Which Region to Account Fastest Growth Rate?

Europe is projected to foresee a CAGR of 7.1% from 2021 to 2028. Germany accounted for the largest market share of 24.3% in the regional market followed by the U.K.

Which Segment of the Instant Beverage Premix Market to Register Fastest Growth Rate?

The online distribution channel segment is projected to register the highest CAGR of 8.1% over the forecast period. The speed of improved digitalization across all aspects of e-commerce has impacted the penetration of instant beverage premix in developing and developed countries.

Browse 85 page research report with TOC on "Global Instant Beverage Premix Market" at: https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/global-instant-beverage-premix-market

Million Insights has segmented the global instant beverage premix market based on product, distribution channel, and region:

Instant Beverage Premix Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

Coffee







Milk







Tea







Others



Instant Beverage Premix Distribution Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)



Supermarkets/Hypermarkets







Convenience Stores







Online







Other



Instant Beverage Premix Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)



North America







U.S.







Europe







Germany









U.K.







Asia Pacific







China









Japan









India







Central & South America







Brazil







Middle East & Africa

&





South Africa

List of Key Players of Instant Beverage Premix Market

Ito En Ltd



The Republic of Tea Inc.



Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd.



The Coca-Cola Co.



Monster Beverage Co.



Dunkin' Brands Group Inc.



PepsiCo Inc



Ajinomoto General Foods Inc.



Tata Consumer Products Limited



Unilever



Nestle S.A.

Read the Recent Press Releases by Million Insights:

Food Service Equipment Market - As per the published report, the global food service equipment market size is expected to arrive at USD 50.01 billion by 2028. It is estimated to develop by 5.5% CAGR from 2021 to 2028. Altering habits of food consumption, increase in travel & tourism actions, growth in disposable incomes, plus the rising business proceedings in the food & beverage manufacturing sector, are the various input factors, inspiring the enlargement of this market for food service equipment.

by 2028. It is estimated to develop by 5.5% CAGR from 2021 to 2028. Altering habits of food consumption, increase in travel & tourism actions, growth in disposable incomes, plus the rising business proceedings in the food & beverage manufacturing sector, are the various input factors, inspiring the enlargement of this market for food service equipment. Non-invasive Prenatal Testing Market - As per the published report, the global non invasive prenatal testing market is expected to arrive at USD 6.5 billion , by 2028. It is projected to develop by 10.9% CAGR in the period of 2021 to 2028. Elevated demand along with the acceptance for before time non invasive prenatal testing, together with the progress in the compensation situation, are some of the factors, inspiring the progress of the market.

, by 2028. It is projected to develop by 10.9% CAGR in the period of 2021 to 2028. Elevated demand along with the acceptance for before time non invasive prenatal testing, together with the progress in the compensation situation, are some of the factors, inspiring the progress of the market. Customer Self-service Software Market - As per the published report, the global customer self-service software market size is projected to arrive at USD 32.19 billion by 2027. It is likely to record 22.1% CAGR during the period of the forecast. The hard work done to improve the rank of customer fulfillment and promote customer trustworthiness, is expected to boost the enlargement of the market, for the period of the forecast.

by 2027. It is likely to record 22.1% CAGR during the period of the forecast. The hard work done to improve the rank of customer fulfillment and promote customer trustworthiness, is expected to boost the enlargement of the market, for the period of the forecast. Antibiotics Market - As per the published report, the global antibiotics market size is estimated to arrive at USD 57.99 billion by 2028. It is projected to develop by 4.5% CAGR from 2021 to 2028. Global activities of improper antibiotic medicines prescription as well as excessive consumption of antibiotics, is the most important factors, expected to impel the market for antibiotics.

About Million Insights:

Million Insights, is a distributor of market research reports, published by premium publishers only. We have a comprehensive market place, that will enable you to compare data points, before you make a purchase. Enabling informed buying, is our motto and we strive hard to ensure that our clients get to browse through multiple samples, prior to an investment. Service flexibility & the fastest response time are two pillars, on which our business model is founded. Our market research report store, includes in-depth reports, from across various industry verticals, such as healthcare, technology, chemicals, food & beverages, consumer goods, material science & automotive.

Contact:

Ryan Manuel

Research Support Specialist, USA

Million Insights

Phone: +1-408-610-2300

Toll Free: 1-866-831-4085

Email: sales@millioninsights.com

Web: https://www.millioninsights.com/

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SOURCE Million Insights
Once operational, the project will become the largest wind farm in the Central Asian region, and one of the largest in the world.

The agreement was signed, on behalf of ACWA Power by Ayad AlAmri, Executive General Manager of Business Development, and on behalf of the Uzbekistani side by Sherzod Khodjaev, Deputy Minister at the Uzbekistan Ministry of Energy, and Shukhrat Vafaev, Deputy Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade.

Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power, Yazeed Al Humaid, Director of local investment at the Public Investment Fund, and Saudi and Uzbekistani officials attended the signing ceremony.

The implementation, development, construction, and operation of the largest wind farm in the Central Asian region by a Saudi company reflects the Kingdom's leadership in the field of energy and its capability to develop the human and technical potential for Saudi companies, especially in the renewables sphere.

The project seeks to bolster the Uzbekistan government's efforts to diversify the country's energy mix and increase its renewable energy capacity in line with recent strategic reforms. The announcement follows the signing of Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and Investment Agreements for two wind power projects in Bukhara and Navoi, concluded earlier this year with an aggregate power generation capacity of 1000 MW. ACWA Power also has a 1500 MW high efficiency gas fired power project under construction in Sirdarya, Uzbekistan.

His Excellency Sardor Umurzakov, Uzbekisatan's Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade said, "We value our partnership with ACWA Power and welcome this expansion, which will be the largest facility of its kind in the Central Asian region once commissioned. This project will contribute to the implementation of our national renewable energy target of bringing the total renewable power generation capacity to 25% by 2030."

"As an energy producer, we in Uzbekistan are learning much from our Middle Eastern, especially Saudi, partners as we navigate the transition to a low-carbon economy," Uzbekistan Energy Minister Alisher Sultanov said on the occasion. "ACWA Power's project will be a major contributor to our plan to generate 25% of our electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030."

Commenting on the occasion, Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power, said: "We are delighted to finalize the implementation agreement for the 1500 MW Karakalpakstan wind farm with Uzbekistan's Ministry of Investments & Foreign Trade, and Ministry of Energy here in Saudi Arabia; expanding on our international cooperation and continued partnership aimed at accelerating Uzbekistan's energy transition. This project is yet another landmark accomplishment for the country, and reinforces ACWA Power's commitment to working with high growth markets such as Uzbekistan to deliver on their ambitious renewable energy targets and sustainability goals."

The project is expected to cater to the power needs of approximately 4 million households and offset approximately 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, contributing directly to the government's aims to generate 30 percent of Uzbekistan's power capacity from renewable sources by 2030, to meet growing yearly electricity demand, efficiently and sustainably.

Contact details:

Mohamed Yousef Ibrahim

Communications & Public Relations

[email protected]

+966(0)556607402

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503004/Signing_of_the_implementation_agreement.jpg

SOURCE ACWA Power
The 2021 Global Concert featured memorable moments illustrating the unifying power of jazz. From New York, vocalist Veronica Swift and trumpeter Ingrid Jensen opened the program with "Sing," an uplifting tribute to the positive change that music can bring to the world. Other standout performances included pianist and composer Jacob Collier in London, Beninese songstress Angelique Kidjo in Paris, Japanese pianist Junko Onishi in Tokyo, Ivan Lins in Rio De Janeiro and vocalist/trumpeter Mandisi Dyantyis in Cape Town. Capping the remarkable presentation from Los Angeles was a sensational interpretation of "God Bless The Child" by vocalist Andra Day.

Anchored by Academy Award winner Michael Douglas from UN Headquarters in New York, the 2021 concert showcased jazz as a truly global art form. As United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres noted, "Ten years ago, we launched the very first International Jazz Day in the United Nations General Assembly Hall at the initiative of UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. With every passing year, this has been a joyous celebration  not only of music, but also of freedom, diversity and human dignity. These are the values the United Nations works to protect and promote around the world."

UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz presented free educational and outreach programming throughout the day. In one of the most anticipated events, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock engaged in a moving dialogue on the history and legacy of International Jazz Day.

Celebrated with thousands of concerts and jazz-related programming around the globe each year on April 30, International Jazz Day brings together countries and communities on all seven continents to honor the international art form of jazz, highlighting its important role in encouraging dialogue, combating discrimination and promoting human dignity.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1501502/Herbie_Hancock_and_Andra_Day.jpg

Related Links

https://hancockinstitute.org/



SOURCE Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz
Held at P&G's i-Singapore Digital Omni-Channel Center (i-SiDOC), iLab's launch ceremony was graced by Guest-of-Honor, Mr. Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister of Economic Policies and Minister for Finance, Singapore along with Mr. Rafik Mansour, Charge d'Affaires, a.i. U.S. Embassy in Singapore, Mr. Ted Tan, Deputy CEO, Enterprise Singapore and Ms. Cindy Koh, Executive Vice President, Singapore Economic Development Board.

As a force for good and for growth, P&G is building on its commitment to serve its consumers better by leveraging technology to meet transforming consumer demands and expectations. By engaging with start-ups utilizing future-ready technologies, P&G will be able to constructively disrupt the consumer journey.

"In the post-pandemic future, the pursuit for innovation is crucial for the recovery and advancement of our economy. Our vision for P&G in the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa region is to become the Company of the Future and leverage Singapore as the innovation hub for P&G and our industry, leading digital transformation and powering innovation across all aspects of our business," said Mr. Magesvaran Suranjan, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, Procter & Gamble (P&G).

During iLab, selected start-ups will ideate and brainstorm with P&G to help solve challenges using technology in domains such as AI personalization, gaming, social commerce, and supply chain resiliency. Selected start-ups with promising approaches will then work with P&G to roll out pilots across P&G's markets in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.

The idea of iLab hinges on P&G's belief that a dynamic and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem is crucial for businesses to meet the evolving needs of customers. Through the support from the EDB, P&G will also mentor start-ups and create cross-exchanges through networking engagements.

"We are very thankful to have the support of like-minded partners in this exciting journey, especially the close partnerships that we enjoy with the EDB and ESG. At P&G, we always endeavor to lead the change across all aspects of our operations, and support our partners, employees, and other stakeholders," said Mr. Karthik Natarajan, Senior Vice President, CFO, Asia Pacific, Middle East, & Africa, Procter & Gamble (P&G).

iLab focuses on three different streams  Future of Advertising, Future of Retail and Future of Supply Chain. These three areas represent the evolving consumer and retail needs, transforming media ecosystems and revolutionary changes in supply chain.

From a starting pool of 100 start-ups that were assessed to solve real business challenges set by P&G, the top 27 start-ups have been shortlisted to participate in the 3-day virtual festival from 4-6 May 2021.

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always, Ambi Pur, Ariel, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Dawn, Downy, Fairy, Febreze, Gain, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Lenor, Olay, Oral-B, Pampers, Pantene, SK-II, Tide, Vicks, and Whisper. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide.

Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1502749/P_G_GOH_and_VVIPs_launching_iLab_2021_20210504.jpg

Related Links

http://www.pg.com



SOURCE Procter & Gamble
LONDON, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Swarovski Foundation announced the names of the nine winning participants chosen to participate in the Swarovski Foundation: Creatives for Our Future program.

After a successful call for applications which resulted in over 400 applications from 72 countries, the selection committee comprised of members from the Swarovski Foundation, United Nations Office for Partnerships, and program advocates finalized the creative cohort. They are:

Sejal Budholiya , Mechanical Engineering Student, Performance Artist and Entrepreneur ( India )

, Mechanical Engineering Student, Performance Artist and Entrepreneur ( ) Agnieszka Doczynska , Graphic Designer ( Poland )

, Graphic Designer ( ) Yara Mohamed Evida , Architect ( Egypt )

Architect ( ) Daniele Ficarra , Product Designer ( Italy )

, Product Designer ( ) Ghislain Irakoze , Engineer ( Rwanda )

Engineer ( ) Shuzo Matsuhashi , Fashion Designer ( Japan )

Fashion Designer ( ) Osasumwen Obasogie , Mechanical Engineer & entrepreneur ( Nigeria )

, Mechanical Engineer & entrepreneur ( ) Benjamin Spencer , Footwear and Accessories Designer ( USA )

, Footwear and Accessories Designer ( ) Camila Wandemberg , Textile Designer ( Ecuador )

The nine grantees were chosen for their groundbreaking ideas and innovative approaches to design, which offer new methods for addressing sustainability challenges, and for their commitment to driving progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the blueprint for a better world set out by the United Nations in 2015

Their areas of expertise span across sustainable fashion, product design, biotechnologies, architecture, engineering and visual arts. Each grantee will receive a $15,000 grant, paired with educational opportunities, industry networking access and tailored mentorship, provided by the program advocates.

This network includes renowned personalities from the creative industries, academia, culture and philanthropy.

The full list of Program advocates can be found here

Nadja Swarovski comments:

"I am delighted that the Creatives for Our Future program received so much interest from young talents worldwide. This is evidence of the strong commitment from younger generations to use their creativity to raise awareness and find solutions in sustainable development. Swarovski Foundation's mission is to foster creativity for the benefit of society and the environment, and creatives are the problem solvers and critical thinkers that will lead solutions to sustainability challenges like climate change and human rights issues in this pivotal era.

For press inquiries, please contact:

NOTES TO EDITORS AND PRESS IMAGES:

Additional information on the creative cohort and mentors: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dxub17oqhp8oo88/AAAaHlZNUA1fL6HbkoQsCACia?dl=0

Additional information on the Swarovski Foundation and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k22xgd147ybj3nc/AADP0zqpBau-0ClW9Ytt5lG3a?dl=0

Additional information on the Swarovski Foundation Creatives for our Future

www.sfcreatives.org

Related Links

http://www.sfcreatives.org



SOURCE Swarovski Foundation
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aery Aviation, LLC ("Aery") and Air Affairs Ltd. announce today that they have entered into a Non-Exclusive Dealership Agreement. Under the agreement, the two companies, specializing in government modifications, integration, and flight operations, will represent each other's specialized products to the special mission flight operations customers. "We are proud to have this opportunity to work closely with Chris Sievers (CEO) and the entire Air Affairs team building global defense solutions," commented Scott Beale, Vice President of Aery.

Aery Aviation, LLC

Aery will be developing wing hardpoints, special mission power systems, and SIGINT/ELINT configurations which they will certify as FAA Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) as well as receive NAVAIR certification for a fleet of Learjet 31A/35A/36A and Gulfstream IV aircraft. The Aery wing hardpoints, pylons, special mission power, antenna configurations, and interior mission modifications will be used for a variety of missions. Of importance under the Non-Exclusive Dealership Agreement, the Aery wing hardpoints and pylons will be used to facilitate under-wing stores including tow target assemblies, electronic warfare pods, ISR (EO.IR), LIDAR, and other systems manufactured by Air Affairs will be utilized.

Together, the Air Affairs and Aery products will provide their respective government customers with the ability to simulate a wide variety of airborne threats to train and test/evaluate shipboard and aircraft squadron weapon systems, operators, and aircrew on how to counter potential enemy Electronic Warfare (EW) and Electronic Attack (EA) operations in today's Electronic Combat (EC) environment, including target/banner tow missions. Additionally, the Aery mission modification STC will facilitate special under wing stores (pods) which Air Affairs manufacturers including MTR-101 Tow Reel, ISR EO/IR pods, LIDAR pods, and more.

Aery Aviation, LLC is a full service commercial and government services provider of aerospace design, engineering, systems integration, modifications, certification, maintenance, and flight operations solutions that support critical aviation mission requirements for domestic and foreign governments and select corporations and individuals in the private sector. Aery's experienced team of professionals provides efficient, economical, and flexible services that respond to the most challenging demands facing the aerospace industry today. Aery is headquartered in Newport News, Virginia and is deployed globally to meet its clients' needs. Founded in 2016 by a team with over 200 hundred years of combined aviation experience, Aery's drive to dream, innovate, and inspire has fueled its rapid growth and diversity. Together, the Aery Team has developed over 100 Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) with over 200 projects, and more than 500 airworthiness releases. Aery operates approximately 5,000 flight hours annually utilizing a fleet of COCO and customer aircraft generally in the "Special Mission" configuration.

Air Affairs Australia (AAA) is a highly capable and innovative Aviation Flight Operations and Engineering based company. Established in 1995 and 100% Australian owned, AAA is a leader in the provision of specialized airborne and engineering services to Defense Forces, Government Departments and multinational companies in Australia and around the world. The company is ISO 9001 & AS4801 Quality Certified, Australian Defense Security cleared and provides aircraft operations and maintenance under full CASA certification. AAA operates from purpose-built facilities at the Albatross Aviation Technology Park, in Nowra, NSW. AAA owns and operates a fleet of special mission 30 & 60 series Learjet and King Air aircraft, providing specialized air training support services to the Australian Defense Force. The aircraft also fulfil other special mission roles, including turn-key high altitude bushfire reconnaissance services. All aircraft are maintained and operated by the company under full CASA certification, including certified facilities and processes. AAA maintains an extensive manufacturing and engineering facility, providing a complete design through to manufacture and certification capability. This facility currently supports the manufacture and support for the MTR-101 Target Towing Reeling Machine, AIRPOD 101 Utility Airborne Pod system, and an array of airborne tow/drone target systems.

For more information, contact Scott Beale at [email protected] or Heather McAfee at [email protected]

Related Images

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SOURCE Aery Aviation, LLC
MELBOURNE, Australia, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In Australia, construction workers are at a higher risk of suicide compared to men employed in other sectors. One construction worker dies by suicide every two days and they are six times more likely to die by suicide than through workplace accidents.

Labour Hire Melbourne

The stigma surrounding mental health still exists in the male-dominated industry, with the 'macho-culture' often making it hard for those suffering to speak up. Sometimes workers spend large amounts of time away from their families and without their support network they are at risk of turning to substance abuse and gambling, which amplifies their problems.

AIO says it's important to create an environment where construction workers can speak up and they are working hard to do so. Possible steps include providing counselling services and partnering with organisations like Mates in Construction which provides insights into how to approach mental health problems in the workforce.

Supporting a healthy work-life balance for employees is another crucial step. Increasing workplace flexibility through labour hire may contribute to wellbeing in the industry, while also helping to attract and retain skilled, productive and engaged employees. Partnering with a labour hire company in Melbourne that supports breaking the stigma, like AIO, is a positive step in the right direction for businesses who are committed to their employees' wellbeing.

By using labour hire in Melbourne, companies can create a mentally healthy workplace which will ultimately save them money. A recent report by PwC estimated that businesses were losing $10.9 billion annually for neglecting to address mental health in the workplace.

The young and diverse team at AIO relate to those in the industry experiencing difficulties with mental health. Labour agencies in Melbourne are leading the charge by encouraging an open dialogue in the workplace and educating employees on mental health with the aim of giving them the confidence to seek help.

Committing to creating a mentally healthy workplace is an important step towards ending the mental health crisis in the building and construction industry, which will ultimately save lives and boost productivity.

Related Images

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Labour Hire Melbourne

Labour Hire Melbourne

SOURCE AIO
The Perspective

Atlanta, Georgia

May 5, 2021

The second Liberian Republic has had a lot of ups and downs. Between 1980 and 2017, no presidential candidate has ever won a landslide in any given election as compared to NPP flagbearer Charles G. Taylor. 13 political parties participated in the 1997 presidential election. Taylor won all of them at once with 75.33% (468,443 votes). There was no second round or run-off.

This was indeed a landslide victory. There were also 13 counties at that time but Taylor still could not win 12 out of 13. Even Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who won two successive democratic elections in 2005 and 2011 respectively, could not win 14 out of 15 counties at any given electoral interval. How come did George Weah win 14 out of 15 counties in the 2017 presidential election. Imagine for a moment, a man who could not even win 39% in round one. CDC George Weah only got 38.37% (596,037 votes) while UP Joseph Boakai got 28.76% (446,716 votes). The margin was as minimum as 9.61%. This was Weahs real political strength even when NPP and LPDP added to CDC in 2017.

So, George Weah was never a popular candidate as his followers claimed in 2017. Scientifically and logically, his real or actual popularity accounted for only 38.37% as opposed to Taylors 75.33%. Practically, he was rejected by 61.63% of the voting population. So, GMW was not that popular. Still in round one, VP Boakai alone comfortably led Sen. Weah in 4 counties. So, how could Sen. Weah even win 14 out of 15 counties all of a sudden? This must have been a mystery.

The election was actually rigged, and this is a fact. The late founding father of the Liberty Party, Cllr. Charles W. Brumskine was indeed right about his rigging claim against the National Elections Commission (NEC). But please do not panic. Get a glass of wine because I am about to expose a lot. I will run you through 2 different episodes on this very important national issue. As always, my very credible sources are international and I respect our mutual partnership to ensure or guarantee confidentiality at all times. Let's begin.

A. George Weah, Ousmane Bamba, and the Europeans:

As the 2017 general and presidential elections drew closer, Senator George Weah did not have any funding commitment for his campaign. He was desperate to win after losing the 2005 and 2011 presidential elections. But Weah was completely broke to fund his own campaign. So, he heavily relied on his criminal Ivorian advisor Ousmane Bamba.

In June 2017, Bamba organized and funded a special international trip to the European Union Parliament. The intent of this trip was to convince the Europeans to fund Weahs campaign. Who were those on this trip? Senator George Weah, Trokon Kpui, Gbehzohngar Milton Findley, Ousmane Bamba, and Liberian businessman Sheikh Ibrahim K. Sackor. Weah and his team met with the former President of the European Union Parliament (Antonio Tajani  an Italian politician who served as President of the European Union Parliament from 2017 to 2019).

This meeting was held at Espace Leopold, Brussels, Belgium, Western Europe. I have attached a photo for your viewing. Weah submitted a campaign budget of $6 million USD. The Europeans turned down Mr. Weahs request but promised to work with his government if elected as President of Liberia.

B. George Weah, Ousmane Bamba, and the Russians:

After the Europeans turned him down, Sen. George Weah ran to the Russians for rescue. This was the beginning of his trouble with the United States of America because the Russian Federation and the USA are global archrivals. Liberian businessman Sheikh Sackor managed to have linked Sen. Weah to a team of Russians. The first meeting was planned, organized, and held on August 17, 2017, at Hotel Le Meridien Etoile, 81 Boulevard Gouvion Saint-Cyr 75848 Cedex 17, 75017 Paris, France (Tel: +33 1 40 68 34 34 and Fax: +33 1 40 68 31 31).

Who represented the Russians in this meeting? Mr. Nikolai Sarkisov, Mr. Andrei Bokarev, and Mr. Jean Louise. Who are they? Mr. Sarkisov, who is the younger brother of Russian billionaire Sergei Sarkisov, currently oversees the largest clients at Sergei's Insurance Company, RESO-Garantiya, Moscow, Russia. Mr. Andrei Bokarev runs Transmash Holding, Russia's biggest producer of rolling stock for railways and subway systems. Mr. Jean Louise is a French business partner to both Sarkisov and Bokarev. So, Liberian businessman Sheikh Sackor linked Sen. Weah to his business partner Jean Louise and Jean Louise later linked them to both Nikolai Sarkisov and Andrei Bokarev. At this meeting in Paris, Sen. Weah only took Ousmane Bamba and Trokon Kpui while Sheikh Sackor played a middleman role.

What was Weahs proposal to Nikolai Sarkisov, Andrei Bokarev, and Jean Louise? He asked to borrow USD 6 million for his campaign in 2017. The Russians could not approve this request for one major reason. They ran a query on Ousmane Bamba and finally got to know that he was an international criminal after counterchecking and verifying his record. So, they became skeptical. Hence, they made a credit proposal of USD 2 million to CDC Political Leader Weah instead of approving his $6 million request. GMW had no choice but to accept because he was desperate. Here is a summary of key action points arising from this meeting:

The Russians to give $2 million USD to fund Weahs campaign; The Russians to make available a six-seater private jet; The Russians to also provide two helicopters; Because UP Political Leader Joseph Boakai had a better Public Relations (PR) Team, the Russians also promised to fund a special International Public Relations (IPR) Team for Sen. GMW which they did; And in return, Sen. Weah agreed to create business opportunities for the Russians if they helped him to win.

The deal was finally sealed. Candidate George Weah did not disclose such financial transactions to the National Elections Commission (NEC) which is required by the Law on Campaign Finance Reporting. He violated this law.

The USD 2 million, 1 private jet, 2 helicopters, and the IPR:

The Russians lived up to their promise. Of course, they were simply transacting a business deal with GMAW. Senator Weah actually requested the USD 2 million in cash but they refused because they wanted to have a trace of every transaction. So, what happened? A quasi-mining company was quickly established in order to channel this USD 2 million through. The name of this company is Southern Mining Investment Group. The company was used as collateral with Liberian businessman Sackor serving as a guarantor. So, a $2 million loan agreement was entered into on August 27, 2017. This 12-page loan agreement is currently in my possession.

The $2 million USD was directly wired into these two (2) separate bank accounts in Liberia:

1. International Bank (Liberia) Limited

Branch: (005) Sinkor

Account Number: 00521970719020102

Amount Deposited: $60,236.99 USD

2. Ecobank Liberia Limited

Branch: Lara Building, 4th Floor, Randall Street

Account Number: 0011014723227201

Amount Deposited: $1,909,907.34 USD

In Episode 2 of this series, I will upload bank statements and explain in detail how this money was withdrawn from various bank accounts and expended. The NEC Chairman Jerome Korkoya along with his accomplices, including NEC Data Center Coordinator (DCC) Floyd Sayor and NEC Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jawah Gray, got USD 500,000 plus other rewards.

The deal was for Korkoya, Gray, and Floyd to give the Russians full access to the NEC Database. The Russian International Public Relations (IRP) Team finally got full access to NEC Database and manipulated it in Weahs favor. Names, Codes, Center Numbers, IDs, Addresses, Biodata, Voter Cards, etc. were manipulated and replicated. As part of this deal, both Gray and Floyd also got a Black Honda Pilot jeep each. They drove similar jeep during the 2017 election.

An IT System was quickly set up to bridge (network) NEC Database. Where was this special operation done? It was carried out at a 3-bedroom apartment in a private compound on 2nd Street in Sinkor (Beachside). The apartment was initially rented for 2 months (September  October 2017). The CDC Cyber Team led by Gerald Smith and one Burkinabe IT expert whose name is Ishmael collaborated with the Russians on this operation. This operation was being rolled out after Weah officially launched his campaign on August 19, 2017. When Weah won, Gerald F. Smith was rewarded with the position of Deputy Director for Administration of the National Security Agency (NSA).

As promised, a white helicopter with CDC labels was sent to Liberia through Ivory Coast on August 18, 2017. The intent was to boost the CDC campaign. The very next day, August 19, 2017, Candidate George Weah officially launched his campaign in Monrovia. Most of you are only aware of the blue helicopter. But a 6-seater private jet and another white helicopter were also sent and funded by the Russians to boost Weah's campaign. I have attached photos of these aircrafts as well.

The last meeting with the Russians before October 10, 2017 election:

The campaign team of CDC Political Leader George Weah was not as sophisticated as UP Political Leader Joseph Boakais campaign team. The Russians were quick to identify this gap. So, they became concerned about marketing and branding CDC and Candidate George Weah inside Liberia and outside Liberia. What did they do?

A final meeting with the Russians was held on September 1, 2017, at Hotel Francois Premier in Champs-Elysees, 7 Rue Magellan, 75008 Paris, France. At this meeting, an International Public Relations (IPR) Team was formed and hired. Journalists from Journal Afrique, France 24, and other media outlets were present.

Accompanying Sen. Weah to this meeting were Ousmane Bamba and Trokon Kpui. Madam Clar Marie Weah later flew in from the United States of America. On September 3, 2017, candidate Weah and the IPR Team finally flew back to Liberia as the campaign continued. The 5-man Russian IPR Team or PRO Team was initially lodged at the Palm Spring Hotel in Congo Town and this team was led by Pascale Perez. After Weah won the run-off on December 26, 2017, the IPR team was transferred to the Boulevard Palace Hotel until after his inauguration. I will upload proof of hotel receipts/invoices in episode 2 of this series. But I have also attached a photo of team leader Pascale Perez and her delegation when they arrived in Liberia.

Who should we blame for the rigging of the 2017 elections? Chairman Korkoya, DCC Sayor, CFO Gray, Weahs advisor Ousmane Bamba, NSA DDA Gerald Smith, Burkinabe IT expert Ismael, and Pres. George Weah. They facilitated this grave fraud against our democracy. They murdered our democracy and deprived our people of their right to decide their own future. The sitting President EJS also manipulated the 2017 process. The NSA under EJS was actively used to fertilize and legitimize this egregious fraud. These people deserve to be investigated and prosecuted.

I really want to say more. I got too much to remain silent. I have not even started releasing anything yet about how the 2017 general and presidential elections were rigged. Boakai and other Presidential Candidates were denied and purged by the 2017 SCAM of an election. Yes, those elections, especially the presidential election, were rigged.

Can we establish an independent Board of Inquiry to investigate this grave matter? We want to even prove this in an independent Court. You guys go ahead and open an independent Court. We want to come back home and prove these hard facts if we can be assured of 100% security. We also have dozens of e-mail exchanges. We want to testify. Yall establish the Court or an Independent Board of Inquiry.

We have our facts that are far more than this point. We have authentic documents, contracts, receipts, invoices, photos, videos, chats, testimonials, links, and circumstantial evidence to prove our case beyond every shadow of a doubt. Can we establish an independent Board of Inquiry? The 2017 elections were actually rigged. Let this bad precedent not be repeated in 2023. Thats why we are exposing everything ahead of time. The voters roll is yet to be properly cleaned. The Opposition Political Parties need to demand that the 2017 voters roll be completely annulled or canceled. The opposition is doomed if they continue to use that voter's roll. I am here to EXPOSE everything.

We are fast losing Liberia's soul. We have to fight for it. We are making this sacrifice for our people. Watch out for more details in Episode 2.

About The Author: Martin K. N. Kollie is an exiled Liberian activist and a global columnist. His foremost desire is to guarantee social justice, competitive democracy, and equality. He can be reached via [email protected].


NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rowley Law PLLC is investigating potential securities law violations by Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation (NYSE: MNR) and its board of directors concerning the proposed acquisition of the company by Equity Commonwealth (NYSE: EQC). Stockholders will receive 0.67 shares of Equity Commonwealth common stock for each share of Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation stock that they hold. The transaction is valued at approximately $3.4 billion and is expected to close in the second half of 2021.

If you are a stockholder of Monmouth Real Estate Investment Corporation and are interested in obtaining additional information regarding this investigation, please visit us at: http://www.rowleylawpllc.com/investigation/mnr/. You may also contact Shane Rowley, Esq. at Rowley Law PLLC, 50 Main Street Suite 1000, White Plains, NY 10606, by email at [email protected] , or by telephone at 914-400-1920 or 844-400-4643 (toll-free).

Rowley Law PLLC represents shareholders nationwide in class actions and derivative lawsuits in complex corporate litigation. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.rowleylawpllc.com .

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

SOURCE Rowley Law PLLC

Related Links

http://rowleylawpllc.com


MIAMI, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With loosened restrictions and the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines progressing, Click&Boat has seen an increase of 38% in U.S.-based bookings compared to all of 2020. Before the pandemic, 93% of Click&Boat's 2019 bookings made by an American were for international destinations. Today, the majority of American bookings remain domestic in coastal states like Florida and California.

Aerial view of motor yacht

Top searches made on Click&Boat indicate that Southern Florida and the Caribbean have been on American's radar since the beginning of 2021. And within the last month, there has been a spike in interest in other U.S. destinations like Texas, Charleston and Chicago.

Miami, Florida - Bookings have more than doubled in Miami over the past four months compared to all of 2020. Travelers are primarily booking party and pontoon boats, as well as luxury yacht charters for the day.



- Bookings have more than in over the past four months compared to all of 2020. Travelers are primarily booking party and pontoon boats, as well as luxury yacht charters for the day. Key West, Florida - The most well-known island of the Florida Keys has seen a surge of visitors on and off the waters. Click&Boat has notably reported an increase of eight times more bookings made in Key West versus previous years, with a longer rental duration of three days on board. Catamarans are the top choice for travelers coming to the area.



- The most well-known island of the Florida Keys has seen a surge of visitors on and off the waters. Click&Boat has notably reported an increase of bookings made in versus previous years, with a longer rental duration of three days on board. Catamarans are the top choice for travelers coming to the area. Long Beach, California - A favorite destination for locals and visitors alike on the Southern Californian coast. Within the last two months, bookings in Long Beach have more than doubled versus all of 2020. Most bookings are for day trips aboard a motorboat.



- A favorite destination for locals and visitors alike on the Southern Californian coast. Within the last two months, bookings in have more than versus all of 2020. Most bookings are for day trips aboard a motorboat. Austin, Texas - Boat rentals are becoming increasingly popular in Texas , in hotspots like Austin and the Kemah area. Since the beginning of 2021, Click&Boat has accepted five times the amount bookings in Austin alone, versus the entirety of 2020. Here, most clients are looking for day trip rentals.

With Click&Boat's large offer of boats from pontoons, party boats and fishing charters available in the United States, planning a long weekend to celebrate Memorial Day or the Fourth of July has never been easier. However, for longer sailing trips by sailboat or catamaran, Americans have always enjoyed Europe and will continue to do in summer 2021.

Going abroad: Mediterranean cruising

Some of Click&Boat's American clients have already started booking longer summer holidays onboard in the Mediterranean. With news of some Mediterranean countries like Croatia and Greece opening up to travelers, many have made the decision to book early, taking advantage of not only early booking discounts but of Click&Boat's Covid Guarantee Cancellation Insurance.

The top international destinations for Americans to enjoy onboard a boat this summer are:

Greece - Destinations like Athens , Mykonos, and Santorini have been progressively booked over the last weeks. Most reservations are made for weekly rentals aboard a sailboat or catamaran. In 2020, Click&Boat observed that 80% of all catamaran rentals were made with a captain.

Croatia - Since the country of Croatia communicated about opening to foreigners this summer, bookings grew in top cities like Split and Dubrovnik, mainly for weekend and weekly rentals on board a mix of sailboats, catamarans and motorboats.

For more information, contact Camille DeLong, US Press & Marketing Manager at [email protected].

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Motor yacht

Aerial view of motor yacht

SOURCE Click&Boat
NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of May being National Mental Health Awareness Month, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is launching nationwide interactive Read-Along programs based on the children's book, Gizmo's Pawesome Guide to Mental Health in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and the United Way of CT/2-1-1 on behalf of the CT Suicide Advisory Board (CTSAB) to promote positive mental health habits and trusted-adult connections for elementary-aged children.

Local AFSP staff and volunteers will lead in-person or virtual Read-Alongs of the illustrated Gizmo's Pawesome Guide to Mental Health, which highlights a small dog, Gizmo, who shares a big message for mental health and hope. Gizmo guides the reader through the importance of mental health, how everyone has it, what you can do to take care of it, how to recognize when your mental health needs support, what you can do to help yourself first, and how to connect with trusted adults when you need help from others.

"Gizmo gives children and their trusted adults a common language to talk about mental health, and offers a unique way for kids to learn how to talk about mental health with a trusted adult. By establishing this open dialogue early in life, it helps to normalize mental health as part of overall health and wellbeing," said Robert Gebbia, AFSP CEO. "Research shows that the presence of a caring, trusted adult in a young person's life can improve mental health outcomes."

Gizmo offers guidance to children on how to recognize and cope with sad, mad and worried feelings and related behaviors, and makes managing their mental health  and knowing how and when to reach out to a trusted adult for further support  a simple, non-scary part of their everyday life.

During the Read-Along program, children are encouraged to take Gizmo's Pawesome Pledge for Mental Health and complete their very own Mental Health Plan, which the book prepares them to complete with the trusted adult who accompanies them to the Read-Along. The child's plan becomes a source of support when they feel mad, sad or worried. The trusted adult participating with the child in the Read-Along program also has the option to take Gizmo's Pawesome Pledge for Mental Health, and complete the same plan. In this way the child is further supported by their trusted adult as they speak the same language in talking about mental health.

There are additional activities available on Gizmo's website that may be included in the Read-Alongs, including word searches, coloring pages, puzzles, and activity pages. In addition, Gizmo's Pawsome Guide to Mental Health-Elementary Curriculum is now available for schools that would like to integrate Gizmo's lessons in the classroom following implementation and evaluation of the curriculum in 20 Connecticut school systems, 100 classrooms with over 3,000 children. The two organizations plan to expand the partnership to schools in the coming months through three chapter pilots in Connecticut, Kentucky and New Hampshire before making it available through all chapters nationwide.

Gizmo's Guide was originally developed with federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) state youth suicide prevention funding received by DMHAS. It is based on proven mental health practices, and it teaches elementary children, and others, mental health life skills that can help them stay healthy and safe. AFSP, through its local chapters across the country, is working with the CTSAB to bring this program to a national audience.

"Mental health is just as important as physical health  it's all a part of everyone's overall health picture," said DMHAS Commissioner Miriam Delphin-Rittmon who was recently nominated by President Biden as the Assistant Secretary for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. "By reading this book to children it makes us more mindful that, as adults, we all need to be aware of children's thoughts and feelings, and their ability to process them. Children may not always know what to call what they're feeling. Gizmo gives children and their trusted adults a shared language for having important conversations, and the CTSAB is so pleased to partner with the AFSP to make this resource broadly available to support them nationwide."

To find a local AFSP Read-Along program, connect with your AFSP Chapter: https://afsp.org/find-a-local-chapter.

To learn more about Gizmo's Pawesome Guide to Mental Health, visit www.gizmo4mentalhealth.org.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, and with a public policy office in Washington, D.C., AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Related Links

www.afsp.org


MELBOURNE, Australia, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Many large-scale road and rail infrastructure projects are underway in Victoria to transform the way we travel. Now, construction and engineering labour hire agencies in Melbourne such as AIO Contracting are helping employers and job seekers take advantage of the exciting period and get involved in the jobs on offer.

With a wide range of level crossing removals, train line upgrades and freeway network changes taking place, the requirement for skilled labour has increased across the state, with more than 500 jobs open at present.

Labour Hire Melbourne

Fortunately, the Federal Government recently announced a range of employer incentives designed to encourage onboarding and retention of apprentices and trainees. With manufacturing and engineering being the cornerstones of the Australian labour market, the opportunity for apprenticeships is significant.

The Government subsidies announced include the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) and Supporting Apprentices and Trainees (SAT). Both incentives include a wage subsidy of up to 50%. Eligibility depends on whether you're an employer looking to hire an apprentice or trainee, or if you're interested in becoming an apprentice or trainee.

Young people aspiring to work in the manufacturing and engineering industries are actively encouraged to start their training and skills development while at secondary school.

Many students who transition successfully into full-time mechanical engineering apprenticeships started training while at school completing VET programs, structured work placement, school-based apprenticeship, or a combination of all three.

For Melbourne engineering labour hire agency, AIO, it's important to provide more than just engineering recruitment in Melbourne. They also help with training needs for business within the engineering, manufacturing, construction and maintenance industries. This type of support is attractive to young people seeking on-the-job training and employment development.

AIO can also help businesses receive apprenticeship subsidies and then provide quality training, education and development programs to upskill candidates based on industry and workplace requirements. Their Training and Education arm exists to complement the Labour and Recruitment business to provide clients with a complete service and solution to personnel requirements as an 'all in one' provider.

More information about Victoria's Big Build and the job opportunities currently available can be found by contacting AIO to discuss construction and engineering recruitment Melbourne wide and across the state.

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Labour Hire Melbourne

Labour Hire Melbourne

SOURCE AIO
The "5 Ds of Bystander Intervention" Created in partnership with Hollaback!, a nonprofit working to end harassment in all its forms, both the trainings and PSA are based on the "5 Ds of bystander intervention", which are different methods a person can use to help victims of harassment. These are:

Distract: de-escalating the situation by starting a conversation with the victim or finding another way to draw attention away from them Delegate: finding someone in a position of authority and asking them for help Delay: checking in with the victim after the incident is over Direct: speaking up about the harassment Document: recording a video of the incident

Public Service Announcement

Featuring the work of award-winning illustrator James Yang and the voice of actor Ken Jeong, the animated PSA -- available in :30 and :90 versions -- provides a brief overview of the "5 Ds of bystander intervention". The spot will air throughout Southern California on television and radio stations and available online. Recorded in English, the digital version of the PSA will have optional subtitles in five Asian languages: Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese.

Free Training Workshops

Advancing Justice  LA has begun conducting free 1-hour bystander intervention training workshops. Facilitated by staff of Advancing Justice  LA and other Asian Pacific Islander community based organizations who will be a mix of bilingual and English-speaking, the trainings will serve predominantly the Southern California community. Trainings will initially be offered in English and later this year in Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese. Future curriculum enhancements will be made for first-generation immigrants and youth in schools. Trainings will be held virtually and then in combination with in-person training as COVID-19 restrictions allow. Click here to register.

"We know that members of our community are hurt and enraged. One of the most asked questions we hear is, "What can I do?" We believe that bystander intervention empowers every person with actionable ways to make a difference," said Connie Chung Joe, Chief Executive Officer of Advancing Justice - LA. "We hope that our training and PSA will help as many people as possible stand in unity and to look after each other. This will be one of our answers to that question."

"Asian Americans are fed up with the growing number of incidents of hate and racism. It's time to turn to solutions that every single person can embrace no matter what walk of life," said Ken Jeong. "As humans, we need to continue to listen, learn, love but now it's time to take action -- safely and together."

"With this scary new environment, it's important for everyone to know how to prevent a situation from getting out of control. It's an honor to collaborate on a project that's both personal and much needed," said PSA illustrator James Yang. "I'm an optimist and think a better world is not just a fantasy."

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, nearly 4,000 incidents of anti-Asian harassment and violence have been reported. Advancing Justice  LA's anti-discrimination work also includes:

Legal and victim assistance in multiple Asian languages through toll-free helplines

Free consultation, advice and representation with licensed attorneys

Community education with a focus on limited-English, low income, immigrant members

Policy advocacy for increased Federal and State victim support and community-based solutions to hate and racism

Demographic data and research critical to understanding the diverse complexities of all ethnicities that comprise the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community as a whole

Victim advocate review of incidents reported on StandAgainstHatred.org

This work is made possible with support from Bank of America, Cedars-Sinai, Farmers Insurance, JPMorgan Chase, Panda Express, #StartSmall and Zwift.

About Advancing Justice  LA

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Advancing Justice - LA) is one of the nation's largest legal and civil rights organizations for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs). Advancing Justice - LA serves more than 15,000 individuals and organizations every year. Through direct services, impact litigation and policy advocacy, Advancing Justice - LA focuses on the most vulnerable members of AANHPI communities while building a strong voice for civil rights and social justice. Advancing Justice - LA is based in downtown Los Angeles with additional offices in Orange County and Sacramento. It is part of a network of affiliated organizations in Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

SOURCE Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles
Azzur Cleanrooms on Demand San Diego is the group's second cleanroom facility, an expansion of their initial offering in Waltham, MA, established in 2018. Azzur's hybrid model includes turnkey GMP support: on-demand cleanroom facilities, materials management, storage, asset management, and supply chain solutions. Azzur Group's portfolioAzzur Cleanrooms on Demand, Azzur Advisory and Consulting, Azzur Labs, and Azzur Training Centerenables companies to focus on groundbreaking science and early-phase cGMP manufacturing without the burden of facility ownership and maintenance.

The San Diego Cleanrooms on Demand will offer best-in-class services to the area's life sciences and pharmaceutical innovators and start-ups, with room to expand as demand grows. Azzur Group hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, April 29th in honor of their grand opening. Attendees included representatives of Baird Capital, CleanSpace, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, and Vista Chamber of Commerce. Local political figures and business leaders also were in attendance at the ribbon-cutting, which was held in compliance with protocols for COVID-safe outdoor gatherings.

Cleanrooms on Demand was born out of the necessity to support Azzur Group's fast-moving and entrepreneurial clients. "In 2015 and 2016, we received repeated requests from our clients in Cambridge asking us to design and build cleanrooms in high rises that were really not suitable for GMP manufacturing," said Ravi Samavedam, President and Chief Operating Officer, Azzur Cleanrooms on DemandTM. "One of our core values at Azzur Group is to have the courage to take action, and we did just that. We saw the need in the industry to accelerate the development of pharmaceuticals and therapeutics, and we are pleased to bring this game-changing model to the San Diego pharma and biotech industry," Samavedam added.

In addition to the opening of its San Diego facility, Azzur Group plans to open its third facility in Burlington, MA in the second half of 2021, with plans for further national expansion. "While this facility is the second Azzur Cleanrooms on Demand facility, we will be rapidly expanding our model to other parts of the United States, in major biotech and pharma clusters, for the next several years," said Michael Khavinson, Chief Executive Officer, Azzur Group. "This will be done with our new partner, Baird Capital, which will take Azzur Cleanrooms on Demand to the next level. With further expansion we will increase jobs within each community as well as accelerate speed to market for the Pharma and Biotech industry," Khavinson added.

For more information about Azzur Cleanrooms on Demand, visit Azzur.com/cleanrooms .



About Azzur Group

From Discovery to Delivery, Azzur Group provides the life science community full life-cycle solutions for all their GxP needs. From Azzur Cleanrooms on Demand facilities, to our labs, training centers and consulting offices across the nation, Azzur Group helps organizations start, scale, and sustain their growing enterprises. With nearly four decades of service to the life science community, we have become a trusted partner to the world's leading pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and healthcare companies, as well as their supply chain. Follow us on LinkedIn . For more information, visit Azzur.com .

Location

Azzur Cleanrooms on Demand

1359 Keystone Way, Suite A

Vista, CA 92081

SOURCE Azzur Group, LLC

Related Links

www.azzur.com


DALLAS, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BenefitMall , the leading provider of next-generation broker services, today announced the launch of a new integrated COBRA solution powered by WEX . Through this partnership with WEX, BenefitMall's broker partners will have access to best-in-class services and a COBRA and Direct Billing Administrative portal that streamlines the process.

"As we look to bring on new partnerships and integrated solutions, we are constantly looking for those that will help our broker partners stand out from the competition," said Tiffany Stiller, Vice President of Carrier Relations for BenefitMall. "With this WEX partnership, we can now provide scalable technology, advanced integration and best-in-class services that help reduce administrative costs and increase profit margins for our brokers."

BenefitMall COBRA powered by WEX enables brokers to grow more efficiently with a fully-automated process that will track mailing and notices automatically. Additionally, this partnership lessens the burden of managing the complex federal regulations and ever-changing reporting needs. Through the platform, brokers can complete administrative and accounting reports with ease and provide online benefit election options for clients.

The services of this new integrated solution include:

Payment Services

Integrated billing and payment processing, including full paper and electronic processing

State-of-the-art, enterprise class, high-volume image capture technology

Integrates directly with bank for settlement

Nation's only postmark date aware lockbox

Mail Services

Fully automated and compliant

Highly scalable and responsive to changing volumes and deadlines

Completely "hands-off" barcode technology

Daily proof-of-mail reports

Support Services

Dedicated sales and service resources assigned to the partnership

Access to an experienced support staff who understands the ins and outs of COBRA administration and direct billing processes

A complete view of clients and their status in the COBRA and Direct Billing Administrator Portal

"COBRA is likely an employer's highest unfunded liability, and non-compliance with COBRA laws can cost a company thousands in penalties," said Andy Doeden, Senior Vice President of National Sales at WEX. "We are proud to partner with BenefitMall to provide a new solution that helps brokers to efficiently offer this critical service to their clients and yet gives them peace of mind knowing all compliance and administrative checkboxes will be automatically completed."

About BenefitMall

Headquartered in Dallas, BenefitMall is the largest general agency partnering with a network of 20,000 Brokers to deliver employee benefits to more than 140,000 small and medium-sized businesses. BenefitMall uniquely leverages innovative technology backed by human expertise to provide the fastest, easiest, and most secure benefits selling experience for carriers, brokers, and their clients.

Owned by Management and The Carlyle Group, BenefitMall also operates HealthCareExchange.com, the leading online community for health care reform and compliance. More information is available at www.benefitmall.com .

SOURCE BenefitMall

Related Links

http://www.benefitmall.com


RESTON, Va., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Capitol Securities Management, Inc. is pleased to welcome Joseph Mauriello to our Glastonbury, Connecticut Office. Joe joins Capitol from Liberty Bank where he was a Vice President of Investment Services. Joe holds FINRA Series 6, 7, 63 and 65 licenses and he received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Connecticut.

Joe specializes in holistic investment advice and comprehensive retirement income planning. He will continue to be supported by Capitol Securities using Raymond James' client and advisor-based platform.

Joe will be in Capitol's Glastonbury, CT office located 11 Naubuc Ave. Glastonbury, CT 06033. He can be reached in the office at (860) 781-8310, on his cell at (203) 233-5096 and by email at [email protected].

About Capitol Securities Management, Inc.

Capitol Securities Management, Inc. is a Mid-Atlantic based, regional brokerage and investment advisory firm with locations from New England to Florida. Capitol has been serving the needs of its clients and advisors since 1985. Capitol Securities has a clearing relationship for its clients' accounts, products, services, and technology with Raymond James. It is a member of FINRA and SIPC. For more information on Capitol Securities and its holistic, client centered, platform and services: www.capitolsecurities.com or call Brad Kimball, National Business Development Director at (857) 343-2316. [email protected]

SOURCE Capitol Securities Management, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.capitolsecurities.com


NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Christopher Cloos, a leading maker of premium, timeless, and elegant eyewear, today announced the launch of two new frames in the Cloos x Brady eyewear collection. Christopher Cloos first partnered with the now seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady in the Fall of 2020, closely collaborating on an exclusive collection of sunglasses and blue light glasses.

The Cloos X Brady Hermosa frame is named after Brady's Costa Rica beach destination of choice for recharging during the offseason, continuing with the brand's theme of celebrating some of the most beautiful beaches in the world that exude a sense of tropical relaxation when worn. Staying true to Tom's taste for minimalistic, timeless designs, the Hermosa also features a new-to-the-line top bar, adding strength and boldness to the frame. The Cloos x Brady Hermosa sunglasses and blue light glasses are available now in Christopher Cloos' six signature colorways - Noire, Espresso, Grey Tonic, Ristretto, Coal and Bourbon  and retails at $189 and $199 respectively.

The Cloos X Brady Pacifica is named after Brady's childhood beach in the Bay Area. An homage to his hometown, they serve as a reminder to never forget where you came from. The two-tone glasses feature steel-infused frames and gold temples. The Pacifica will be available for purchase on June 5.

"Tom Brady is a true champion on and off the field and we are beyond excited to expand the Cloos x Brady line," said Christopher Cloos CEO, Julius Langkilde. "Our first frames in the collection exceeded all expectations, quickly becoming our best-selling line of 2020 and continuing into 2021. We felt it was important to build on the momentum and provide customers with added options in time for the summer."

"I'm so proud of what the Christopher Cloos team and I have been able to create together," added Brady. "Our two new frames, the Hermosa and Pacifica, are named after two beaches that are very special to me - one in Costa Rica and the other in the Bay Area where I grew up."

The new product launch is accompanied by a video titled, "A Closer Look," which takes viewers inside the mind of Tom as he made one of the biggest throws of his career  tossing the Vince Lombardi trophy during the Super Bowl LV parade in his Christopher Cloos sunglasses.

Consumers can visit Christopher-Cloos.com for the full Cloos x Brady collection, including the debut products now referred to as "Cloos x Brady: The Original." The full Cloos x Brady collection is made from Italian M49 acetate, a 100% eco-friendly, recyclable, and biodegradable Mazzucchelli product. Additionally, packaging is now made exclusively from biodegradable materials. Christopher Cloos has committed to transitioning its full line of sunglasses, blue light glasses, and prescription glasses to be made from 100% biodegradable materials.

ABOUT CHRISTOPHER CLOOS

Originally founded in 2017 at the Paloma Beach Club in the South of France following an iconic meeting with a charismatic man from Monaco by the name of Christopher Cloos, the Danish eyewear company has been expanding quickly and cementing themselves as one of the fastest growing eyewear companies in the Scandinavian region.

With timeless and minimalistic designs, albeit with a modern touch, the Danish company constantly reminds themselves and their audience about their original meeting with Christopher Cloos by incorporating the ideals of the South of France into their products and visuals.

Having travelled around the globe to find the best materials, the company has ensured a first-class customer experience with everything from product to packaging. Operating from two main offices in Europe and New York, Christopher Cloos is continuously expanding with recent launches in Sweden and Germany, while maintaining their biggest market in North American. Christopher Cloos eyewear is available in over 500 stores globally.



For more, visit https://christopher-cloos.com/ or follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

SOURCE Christopher Cloos
ARLINGTON, Va., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Recurate, Inc. ( www.recurate.com ), a technology company that allows customers to sell their pre-loved items directly on their favorite brand's site, announces today their partnerships with La Ligne, Mara Hoffman, and Peak Design. Recurate also announces today its $3.25 million seed round led by Gradient Ventures ( www.gradient.com ). Follow-on investors include Rise of the Rest, part of Revolutions Rise of the Rest Seed Fund ( www.revolution.com/entity/rotr ), and Third Kind Ventures ( http://3kvc.com ).

Recurate enables brands and ecommerce stores to host integrated peer-to-peer marketplaces, allowing the brand's customers to resell items previously purchased from the brand. Without Recurate, brands' products are typically resold on third-party marketplaces, leaving the brand with no relationship with customers who are reselling their items, no opportunity to drive loyalty, and little information about these sales.

"We're investing in Recurate because their team recognized a tremendous opportunity for brands to bring used goods sales back to their own online properties," says Zach Bratun-Glennon, Partner at Gradient Ventures. "With Recurate's platform, brands bring best-in-class ecommerce experiences to resellers and customers of used goods, as well as generate greater community and loyalty for the brand. We expect the growth in the demand for ecommerce, circular commerce, and sustainable purchasing options to continue."

"Brands are losing millions every year to young shoppers going elsewhere to buy and sell pre-loved goods," says Co-founder and COO Wilson Griffin. "People are buying and selling everyday on platforms like Depop, ThredUP, Poshmark, and The RealReal. Recurate gives brands a way to capture their secondhand sales resulting in more brand loyalty, revenue, and most importantly, a more sustainable shopping option."

For the entire month of April, Recurate partnered with the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) in honor of Earth Month.

"We're so pleased to collaborate with Recurate for our 'A Fashion Brand's Journey to Circularity' virtual speaker series," says the CFDA's Chief Executive Officer, Steven Kolb. "Recurate is a service that designers and brands must know about as they navigate their recommerce goals  they offer an important tool to becoming a more circular and sustainable brand."

"As a brand, we are committed to promoting the longevity of our garments," says Mara Hoffman, Founder and Creative Director of Mara Hoffman. "By using the Recurate service, we were able to create a dedicated space on our own platform for our customers to buy and sell pre-owned Mara Hoffman garments, taking us a step closer to our overarching sustainability goals."

"We make it super simple for both retailers and consumers," says Recurate Co-founder and CEO Adam Siegel. "Previous customers can quickly list their 'pre-loved' items directly from their purchase history. We manage the shipment from seller to buyer, and the seller is compensated in store credit or cash once the product is delivered. Previously, brands had no control over the experience or revenue from their products circulating online. Now, we can offer a turnkey integration that launches a resale program in a matter of weeks."

About Recurate

Founded in 2020, Recurate, Inc. is a leading circular economy technology company that offers brands an ecommerce solution to capture their secondhand sales. Recurate enables an integrated peer-to-peer marketplace on brands' ecommerce stores, allowing their customers to resell items they previously purchased from those brands. Recurate works with fashion, outdoor gear, electronics, and equipment brand companies. To learn more about Recurate, please visit: www.recurate.com .

About Gradient Ventures

Gradient Ventures is Google's AI-focused venture fund - investing in and connecting early-stage startups with resources, innovation, and technical leadership in artificial intelligence. The fund focuses on helping founders navigate the challenges in developing new technology products, using the latest best-practices in recruiting, marketing, design, and engineering so that great ideas can come to life. Gradient was founded in 2017 and is based in Palo Alto, California. For more information, visit www.gradient.com .

SOURCE Recurate

Related Links

https://www.recurate.com/


The Perspective

Atlanta, Georgia

May 5, 2021

Following his constellation of vitriolic falsifications of the historical records about the violent occurrence on April 14, 1979, in Liberia, the accidental senator for Montserrsado county Darius Dillion has refused to retract his disgraceful statement and apologize for polluting the historical pages with frightening inaccuracies. His intransigence is intentional and well thought of as it is aimed at achieving his grotesque, partisan wet dream of discrediting the progressive forces and desecrating their struggle. Furthermore, his refusal to offer mea culpa, bordering on Napoleon complex and Olympian arrogance, has elicited a slew of brilliantly sharp polemics from the camp of the progressive forces, particularly from the ranks of radical students and stalwart veterans, predominantly a new generation of progressive elements unfazed by the vicious revisionism of class enemies of the Dillion type. People like Darius Dillon are known to us because of their apriori rejection of the pro-democratic struggle and the cause for social transformation in the Fatherland.



Choking on historical fallacies while dismissing unbiased accounts of the April 14 tragedy, Dillion passes non sequitur for comprehensive analysis of the rice demonstration. He lampooned the masses and radical students as brainwashed and ignorant barbarians for taking to the streets on that fateful day without an appreciation for their heroic sacrifice and revolutionary agency. He immersed himself in hasty generalization without understanding the historical context in which the rice demonstration took place. He peddled the fiction that the Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL) and the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA) took advantage of the ignorance of the people because the proposed increment in the price of rice would have benefited the poor and oppressed. Indeed, little education is a dangerous thing, but blatantly lying through ones teeth is abominable. Dillon is too ignorant to understand that the policy change had nothing to do with the people. For a second, how could an increment in the price of imported rice benefit local rice farmers when approximately 80 percent of Liberian peasants during the 1970s were at the stage of subsistence farming lacking access to advanced skills, new technology, and capital to engage in mechanized farming, increase rice productivity, and supply the local market and export the surplus?



For instance, before Great Britain enacted the Corn Laws in the 19th Century to protect British farmers from foreign competition by imposing a high tariff on the importation of barley, oat, cereal grain, and wheat, the government empowered smallholder farmers through access to arable land, capital, advanced farming methods, etc. These interventions helped to spur local production and give British farmers exclusive ownership of the local market. Until British agriculture developed strong enough to compete in the international capitalist market, those protectionist laws remain unaltered. With Liberia, the increment in the price of imported rice from US$22.00 to US$26.00 had everything to do with an attempt at indecent accumulation by the Tolbert family that owned a large rice farm, and therefore tariff on imported rice would have given it a monopoly over the Liberian rice market. It takes disciplined and decent patriots with serious insights to understand these complexities. It takes people committed to the ideas of equality and justice to oppose a government that wanted to dupe the broad masses of dispossessed humankind.



Dillon, jingoistically stamped the progressive politicos with a guilty verdict but refused to admit that the Tolbert regime introduced armed violence into Liberian politics when the president ordered forces of the police to shoot and kill hundreds of unarmed protesters whose only crime was to come out en masse to exercise their democratic rights to freedom of assembly guaranteed under the aegis of the 1847 Constitution. This brings us to the question: Isnt this the same lousy Dillon who, as one of the founding members of the Council of Patriots (COP), called the people out on June 7, 2019, to protest the unending economic crisis, mismanagement of state resources, abuse of the rule of law, repression of dissenting voices, and the clampdown on the free press by the Weah regime? Should we also argue that Dillon took advantage of the ignorance of the masses when he made such a call? Also, if the state had unleashed its forces of repression on June 7 and killed hundreds of unarmed protesters, would it be right to turn a blind eye to the perishing of the innocent masses and draw the same reckless conclusion as Dillons?



If the reports of the Brownell Committee and the TRC provide a contrary conclusion on the April 14, 1979 state censored violence against our people, Dillions tirade against the progressives, tarring them with the most venomous brush of guilt regarding the occurrence on April 14, 1979, falls to the ground. However, his attempt at side-stepping historical truths only to shore up his solidarity with the rotten oligarchy of the True Whig Party (TWP) shows that this latter-day poster-boy of that rotten ruling class of exploitation and backwardness is on a mission to criminalize dissent and embellish the sordid record of the most backward oligarchy in black Africa as some sort of golden age. This task embarked on by our man to brandish his TWP credentials is akin to being treated to a ridiculous circus where a delusional man claims supernatural powers which place him in the position to resurrect the dead. Here one sees a man glorying in fantasy and completely unaware of his colossal limitations while playing at being a giant interpreter of history far above him and one whose tapestry requires intellectual rigor and academic disciplinequalities that are so lacking in Dillion that one observes at first sight.



His insistence to absolve the Tolbert regime of guilt not only shows his class inclinations but also forcefully confirms our position that while these backward reactionaries pretend class war is not at the heart of their agendas, every action they embark on discredit that narrative. The truth is their instinct is to always defend their class position, ignite a class war against the broad masses of the people, even when it means fabricating history to suit their dark proclivities and dubious objectives. Perhaps the nondescript Dillon is playing to his class base, especially courting political ancients who distributed poverty, ignorance, and disease to the defenseless masses of our people. And we stress that even while cloaking self-aggrandizing aims in liberatory rhetoric, one knows the values and politics of a man who venerates the T. C. Goulds and Brumksines of this world, but uses every occasion to lampoon Tipoteh, Fahnbulleh, Matthews, Sawyer, etc. One knows the ideological current a man represents when he picks his side in a bloody historical fight, especially in the penultimate battle between the forces of reaction and revolution. And one sees the sadistic joy of a man who spits over the corpses of martyred comrades while celebrating an oligarchy that cut their existence short.

Crude malapropism does not even begin to describe the rank hypocrisy of a man who learned his history from rabid, scandal sheets that revel in the bashing of the progressive forces like erotism. The masquerade is off! The halo around Dillion has been deflated! The illusions of change he parrots have been shattered! Dillion and the man of the people or the light epithet cannot even go together in the same sentence let alone stand elementary scrutiny. This storehouse of contradictions has always been a schemer and a first-rate con man who has exploited popular grievances to feather his political nests. And his election victories are part of the continuum of popular rejection of the brand CDC. People were voting against the CDC and not voting for Dillionand that conclusion is dialectically apt. His election victories have absolutely nothing to do with him; they have everything to do with rectifying the historical anomalies. We have the young people and democratic forces in the country to thank for the massive consciousness-raising efforts. This explains his rise on the historical stage and highlights the fact it is not because of any peculiar intellectual brilliance or entrenched popularity. The Weah government had become a political liability that even if the opposition parties had fielded a less-known candidate, the masses would have rejected the CDC brand.



But it is equally amusing for Dillion to benefit from the fruits of the progressive struggles, and it is the height of folly to condemn the supreme sacrifices they made to obtain democratic pluralism and all its trappings of giving oppressed forces the voice to speak out and live a dignified life. We find not honesty, not fair interpretation from the screed of missive unleashed against the progressive forces by Dillion. To argue that the violent history of the space called Liberia was created by the progressive forcesas if they were not victims of a history of exclusion and the relations of domination and subjugationis to rehash the cliched regurgitation that vestiges of the oligarchy vomit when confronted with accounts of their abject misrule. It is also to ignore the accumulation of grievances swept under the carpet which plotted for expression in popular organizing and mobilizations. For Dillion to think there is a disconnect between the exclusion of the tribal majority from representation, the pacification of the hinterland, the economic degradation that decimated their lives, and the general climate of fear and hostility against alternative ideas have no relation to conditions that give expression to the upheaval of the rice demonstration of April 14, 1979, is to see history as a series of disconnected occurrences and not a collection of well-connected events that explode onto the surface when they reach the nodal point.



Thus, we assert that the tragedies that befell Liberia on April 14, 1979, and April 12, 1980, are rooted in the collective legacy of the trajectories of violent state-formation, of which the people have been historical victims while rancid elements of the pre-1980 ruling group have been winners. The price paid by Tolbert on April 12, 1980, and the thirteen men on April 22, 1980, are far lesser than the price paid by the tribal majority in the political and social history of our country. This notion of selective grief for victims of the bloodletting starts from the weird notion that the price paid by a slain president is far superior to that of several unnamed and faceless masses slaughtered and buried in mass graves on April 14, 1979. You would say that if you think the people are objects and their victimization is normal. You would say that if you think the people are objects and their victimization is normal. For history teaches us when you dishonor the people and cut the lives of their sons and daughters short and use brute force and sheer savagery to lord over society, it is only time that these same people who are victims of your history of oppression and domination would produce social forces to confront you. Hegel captures it well in his concept of recognitionof lordship and bondage. And this is as true of the anti-colonial struggles as it is of all struggles where oppressed humanity makes demands through radical actions for their God-given rights and collective dignity. I do not expect Dillion to understand; this is like Latin or Greek to him. But I expect him to shout progressives caused the rice riot and the social dislocation of the society like the three witches in Macbeth fond of dabbling in the incantation of apparition, apparition, and apparition!



Here is a man who opportunistically identifies himself with Mandela and the struggle of the ANC against apartheid, yet he condemns the progressives for exercising their democratic rights. What does this clown know about the radical actions of political formations such as the United Democratic Movement when Mandela and other grandees of the ANC were held in prison? How does he situate the emergence of Steve Biko and Barney Pityana in the Black Consciousness Movement? How does he explain the formation of SASO and its efforts at radicalizing university students, the Soweto Uprising, and the drowning of students in blood symbolized the wretchedness and bestiality of the apartheid regime? Does he even know that the ANC had an armed wing called Umkhonto we Sizwe confronted the apartheid elements at the theatre of battle? How does he come to grip with the fact that after the banning of the ANC and the SACP under the Suppression of Communism Act, cadres and members of these political formations went underground and mounted campaigns of sabotage against apartheid?

I want to deal with the question of apologizing for opposing the oligarchy. The question itself is a loaded platitude. You mean after the violent dispossession of the tribal masses of their land, the slaughtering of our comrades who we buried in mass graves, after the crushing of William D. Coleman and his son, after the fight of Juah Nimley, after the expulsion of D. Twe from the House of representative for introducing a bill for putting an end to forced labor, after the show trial of Du Fahnbulleh, after Blyden and others warned the oligarchy to stop victimizing the people and build a nation, after Albert Porte and others were insulted and told they were mad because they demanded the construction of a new society, and after the victimization and subjugation of tens of thousands of our compatriots at Fernando Po and others whose names dont make the official statistics and roosterand the progressive elements must apologize after taking that titanic list of causalities? What sheer insanity! What logic of history forces historical victims of crushing repression to apologize for demanding and fighting for a dignified order? How insensitive can one be to tell social forces who fought for a fair society to apologize for demanding it? What level of hate does one need to have for a group of people who were victimized because of fighting for a just cause to tell these people they were wrong?



The progressive forces are to the Liberian poor and working people and dehumanized humanity as Darius Dillon and the rogues gallery of reactionaries are to the exploiting classes. Consequently, he does not deserve the solidarity and collective support of the Liberian progressive forces. His slander and deliberate misinformation show he appreciates not the history of struggle and sacrifice and cannot put his life on the line for sainted causes when the existence of society and the condition of the working masses is appalling. No matter how backward and reactionary the Weah regime is, the answer does not lie with Dillon and his likes. And to counter the warped notions of the likes of Dillions theory of a perfect and working Liberia that was rudely disrupted by certain forces who dabbled in foreign ideas, we must proudly claim our progressive histories and engage in the struggle while building theories for the transformation of society. Progressive groupsfrom student formations to veteran circles must defend the Liberian progressive tradition. At a time when progressive ideas are experiencing a revival, and the official opposition to the political farce is found wanting, forces of the Liberian left must boldly claim their tradition, defend their struggle, and highlight the progressive way is the only way out of the doldrums of despair for the homeland and its battered masses. There are many Dillons out there biding their time to insult the progressive forces. We can only stop the tide of historical revisionism when we defend our tradition against slander and vilification. We must also connect our ideas with the actual struggles of the working people, as it is not enough to have the right ideas.



Long live the Progressive Forces!

Long live the Masses of our People!

The Fatherland or deathwe will win!

[email protected]
AUSTIN, Texas, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens, Inc. (NYSE: CIA) today announced Q1 2021 financial results showing a loss per share of ($0.07). Despite an ongoing complex COVID-19 environment and continuing legal expenses associated with the Company's change-in-control, results were consistent with the prior year.

Gerald W. Shields, Vice-Chairman of the Board and interim CEO, said, "2021 is a significant milestone in our history with the recently announced approval to purchase all of the Class B shares from the Harold E. Riley Foundation. This transaction gives control back to the Company enabling one class of voting shares to elect all directors."

Mr. Shields went on to say, "With this significant distraction behind us, we are now energized around the execution of our long-term strategy focused on sustainable growth. At the core, our success lies in continuous improvement in service, differentiated product innovation and increased distribution capability. During the first quarter, we intensified distribution activities with a heightened focus on recruiting and training efforts. As a result, we saw significant improvement in trends with a 5% increase in the number of agents and a 22% increase in new policies issued versus the first quarter last year. These new programs are helping to boost the number of new agents and improve productivity. While there is more work to be done, we are excited about the increased momentum in the field and the potential for growth as we recruit for the future."

Q1 Financial Highlights (versus Q1 2020)

Net loss of ($0.07) per share of Class A common stock, consistent with the prior year

per share of Class A common stock, consistent with the prior year Revenue flat on lower renewal premiums and improved realized investment results

First year premiums down (4%)--Life Insurance segment (9%), Home Services segment +5%

Number of policies issued up 22%--Life Insurance segment +19%, Home Services segment +23%

General expenses down (1%) despite change-in-control related expenses

Claims and surrenders up 16% on increased death claims and matured endowments

Closure of legacy international withholding tax issues with the IRS

Net loss of ($0.07) per Class A share, equal to the prior year, on higher claims and surrenders, partially offset by improved realized investment results. The first quarter of 2021 was negatively impacted by legal expenses surrounding the change-in-control of the Company.

Revenue was flat on fewer renewal premiums in our Life Insurance segment, partially offset by improved realized investment results.

The overall number of policies issued increased by 22% due to enhancements made in the past year to our business operations and sales practices to counter the impact of the global pandemic, as well as enhancing new agent recruiting efforts. In the Life Insurance segment, the number of policies issued increased by 19%, while first year premiums decreased by 9% on a decline in average premium as we continued to emphasize the selling of lower face amount policies during the global pandemic due to our applicants' limitations on completing medical tests required for higher face amount policies.

In the Home Service segment, the number of policies issued increased by 23%, with premiums increasing 4% over the prior year on continued strong collections and expanded product offerings to current policyholders. In addition, we received a lower number of applications in the prior year period as the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders negatively impacted our business.

General expenses were down 1% from the prior year despite continuing legal fees related to the change-in-control of the Company and the investment in growth of the Company's domestic business in Florida.

Claims and surrenders expense increased by 16% versus the prior year, significantly impacted by a 36% increase in death claim benefits due primarily to an increase in reported claims, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the average dollar amount of claims incurred.

Our management team has devoted significant resources to achieving compliance with regulatory requirements and addressing legacy issues over the past few years. In prior years, the Company submitted withholding tax returns and associated tax payments to the IRS, adjusting the tax treatment for policies novated to a subsidiary during 2018. These returns were processed by the IRS in 2021, and the Company considers this legacy matter closed.

Operational Highlights (versus Q1 2020)

Life Insurance segment

Policies issued increased by 19%



Recruiting focus produced 5% more agents, with new agents increasing by 84%



The Longevity Max, new Whole Life product, enters the Florida insurance market

insurance market

Total claims and surrenders up 15%

Home Services segment

Policies issued increased by 23%



Premiums up 4%



Death claim benefits up 29%

Regulatory approval of the purchase of Class B shares gives control back to the Company

In our Life Insurance segment, we continue implementing new sales campaigns and promotions to stimulate sales and develop new business opportunities. These initiatives continued to ignite our salesforce and supported a 19% increase in the number of policies issued in the face of the pandemic's persistent pressure on the process.

As part of our longer-term growth strategy, we amplified our agent recruitment and productivity efforts through targeted training and a better customer experience. As a result, we saw a 5% increase in overall agents and an 84% increase in new agents versus the first quarter last year. Our refined training programs boosted agent productivity, including more than a 200% increase in issued premiums by new agents.

In addition, we recently announced our entrance into the Florida insurance market with Longevity Max. This new Whole Life product, with distribution and service tailored to Hispanic clients, offers a unique blend of life insurance coverage, lifetime income and savings protection. This product highlights Citizens' long history of selling insurance in Latin America.

Total claims and surrenders in the Life Insurance segment increased by 15%, driven by an increase in death claims, surrenders and matured endowment benefits. We saw a rise in both the overall number of reported death claims, including those related to COVID-19 and the average death benefit per policy. Increases to matured endowments and surrenders were expected due to the aging of this block of business.

The COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted the Home Services segment. While the number of policies increased by 23% and premiums improved by 4%, death claims increased by 29% over last year. To battle continued pressure, an automatic issue product was offered to existing policyholders resulting in a slight increase in average face values as robust collection efforts expanded renewal premiums.

Finally, on April 12, 2021, Citizens was granted final regulatory approval to purchase all of the Class B common stock from the Harold E. Riley Foundation, thus giving control back to the Company. As a result:

All of the Foundation's Class B common stock was transferred back to the Company

Class B common stock is reclassified as authorized, but unissued, treasury stock

Citizens Board has resolved that the Class B common stock will not be voted and thus, the Company has only one class of voting shares outstanding (Class A common stock)

One class of directors

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

For the periods ended as of 3/31/2021 3/31/2020 (In thousands, except per share data)



Balance sheet data



Total assets $ 1,781,653 $ 1,713,287 Total liabilities 1,540,813 1,497,553 Total stockholders' equity 240,840 215,734 Life insurance in force 4,131,919 4,210,437 Operating items



Insurance premiums $ 39,032 $ 41,317 Net investment income 15,244 15,169 Realized investment gains (losses) 292 (1,306) Total revenues 55,483 55,722 Net loss before federal income taxes (2,748) (2,235) Net loss (3,573) (3,584) Per share data



Book value per share $ 4.76 $ 4.29 Basic and diluted loss per Class A share (0.07) (0.07)

Segment Operations

Our Company is comprised of two operating business segments and other non-insurance enterprises as detailed below. Our insurance operations are the primary focus of the Company and are the lead income generators of the business.

Life Insurance

Our Life Insurance segment primarily issues U.S. dollar-denominated ordinary whole life insurance and endowment policies predominantly sold to non-U.S. residents located principally in Latin America and the Pacific Rim through independent marketing consultants. We began re-selling domestically in Florida in 2021.

Home Service Insurance

Our Home Service Insurance segment provides final expense life insurance and limited liability property insurance policies sold to middle- and lower-income households in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, through independent agents in our home service distribution channel and funeral homes.

Other Non-Insurance Enterprises

Other Non-Insurance Enterprises primarily include the Company's IT and Corporate support functions. Their data is included in the table below in order to properly reconcile the segment information with the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

Selected Segment Financial Data

For the periods ended as of 3/31/2021 3/31/2020 (In thousands)









LIFE SEGMENT



Total assets $ 1,330,637 $ 1,262,351





Operating items



Insurance premiums $ 27,063 $ 29,819 Net investment income 11,598 11,480 Realized investment gains (losses) (108) 735 Total revenues 39,466 42,558 Net income (loss) before federal income taxes (106) 2,086





HOME SERVICE SEGMENT



Total assets $ 386,969 384,192





Operating items



Insurance premiums $ 11,969 11,498 Net investment income 3,345 3,332 Realized investment gains (losses) 223 (1,717) Total revenues 15,539 13,131 Net loss before federal income taxes (758) (2,145)





OTHER NON-INS ENTERPRISES



Total assets $ 64,047 $ 66,744





Operating items



Insurance premiums $ - $ - Net investment income 301 357 Realized investment gains (losses) 177 (324) Total revenues 478 33 Net loss before federal income taxes (1,884) (2,176)

About Citizens, Inc.

Citizens, Inc. is a financial services company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CIA. The Company utilizes a three-pronged strategy for growth based upon worldwide sales of U.S. dollar-denominated whole life cash value insurance policies, life insurance product sales in the U.S. and final expense and limited liability property product sales in the U.S.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which can be identified by words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate", "believe", "project" "intends," "continue" or comparable words. Such forward-looking statements may relate to the Company's expectations regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, business performance, operational strategy, capital expenditures, technological changes, regulatory actions, and other financial and operational measures. In addition, all statements other than statements of historical facts that address activities that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those matters expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are involved in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the risk factors discussed in our most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. The Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in the Company's expectations. Accordingly, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company also disclaims any duty to comment upon or correct information that may be contained in reports published by the investment community.

For further information CONTACT:

Investor Relations [email protected]

SOURCE Citizens, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.citizensinc.com


LOS ANGELES, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "According to my medical colleagues in India, COVID-19 patients in severe respiratory distress are laying on the floors or on gurneys in front of hospitals, coughing and crying while their relatives are begging doctors and nurses for help to save their loved ones," says Los Angeles cardiologist and scientist Dr. Ernst von Schwarz. "Hospitals are running well over capacity as staff is overwhelmed and exhausted. They have nothing to offer the sick, neither oxygen nor hospital beds, breathing treatments or any medical relief. People are dying as a result of COVID-19 infections without any supportive therapy."

Dr. Ernst von Schwarz

"According to news reports at least 30,000 people are dying each day, however the real numbers are likely much higher," says Dr. Von Schwarz. "Doctors and medical staff are wearing the same gloves and contaminated masks all day and they lack appropriate PPE to protect themselves. They are beyond exhaustion and are frustrated. The lack of hospital beds, oxygen and respirators represents a death sentence for most seeking help."

"According to some of my colleagues in Mumbai and New Delhi even medications used to reduce respiratory distress are running out. Doctors and nurses are exposing themselves to infected coughing and screaming patients without appropriate PPE," says Dr. Von Schwarz. "Even though India is the world's largest vaccine producer there is a critical shortage of COVID-19 vaccine; to date, less than 2% of the population has been fully vaccinated. Doctors in some areas also must endure the odors and smoke exposure from mass cremation sites."

"The situation in India now represents the worst crisis any country has seen since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The US, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, several European and neighboring countries including Pakistan have committed to supply oxygen, ventilators, medical supplies and equipment to India. The US government is also sending Covid-19 tests, drug treatment, personal protective equipment, COVID relief funds and a stockpile of the Astra Zeneca vaccine which is not yet FDA-approved in the US."

"The sudden rise in COVID-19 cases seems to be caused by a more easily transmissible mutant of the coronavirus. In contrast to the US, most health care providers have not been vaccinated themselves against COVID-19. India is now opening vaccination sites for all adults."

www.drernstvonschwarz.com

Related Images

image1.png

SOURCE Dr. Ernst von Schwarz
IRVING, Texas, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE: DAR) will hold a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 to discuss the Company's first quarter 2021 financial results. The teleconference will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET and will be hosted by Mr. Randall C. Stuewe, CEO and Chairman of the Board, and Mr. Brad Phillips, EVP and Chief Financial Officer. Additionally, the Company will have a slide presentation available to augment management's formal remarks, which will be accessible via the investor relations section of the Company's website. The related press release will be issued after the market closes on May 11, 2021.

Due to historically high call volume, the company is offering participants the opportunity to register in advance for the conference through the following link: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10153598/e573a836bc

Registered participants will receive an email with a calendar reminder and a dial-in number and PIN that will allow them immediate access to the call on May 12, 2021

Participants who do not wish to pre-register for the call may dial in using 844-868-8847 (U.S. callers), or 412-317-6593 (international callers), and ask for the "Darling Ingredients" call. A replay will be available two hours after completion of the call through May 19, 2021. To access the replay, please dial 877-344-7529 (U.S. callers), 855-669-9658 (Canada) and 412-317-0088 (International callers) and reference passcode 10153598. The live webcast and archived replay also can be accessed on the Company's web site at http://ir.darlingii.com.

About Darling

Darling Ingredients Inc. is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a wide range of ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy and fertilizer industries. With operations on five continents, the Company collects and transforms all aspects of animal by-product streams into useable and specialty ingredients, such as gelatin, edible fats, feed-grade fats, animal proteins and meals, plasma, pet food ingredients, organic fertilizers, yellow grease, fuel feedstocks, green energy, natural casings and hides. The Company also recovers and converts recycled oils (used cooking oil and animal fats) into valuable feed and fuel ingredients and collects and processes residual bakery products into feed ingredients. In addition, the Company provides environmental services, such as grease trap collection and disposal services to food service establishments and disposal services for waste solids from the wastewater treatment systems of industrial food processing plants. The Company sells its products domestically and internationally and operates within three industry segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients. For additional information, visit the Company's website at http://www.darlingii.com.

For More Information, contact:

Jim Stark, VP, Investor Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Darling Ingredients Inc.

Related Links

http://www.darlingii.com


The Investment is being led by Los Angeles based venture capital firm, Slauson & Co., with participation from some of the biggest names in music, such as: Kendrick Lamar, Roddy Ricch, Russ, Mustard, DJ Khaled, YG, Ella Mai, Bas, Smino, Masego, Cardogotwings, Young Guru, Kenny Beats, Ibrahim Hamad of Dreamville, La Mar Taylor of XO, Meko Yohannes of 10Summers, and indie-record label EQT.

As a first step, EngineEars has emerged as a new technology platform that supports the full spectrum of an engineer's business, from acquiring clients through facilitating a mix and handling finances. This includes scheduling of mixing time and streamlining of the mixing process, handling pricing negotiation, storing and archiving project files, and most importantly connecting engineers and independent artists. Engineers are able to save time so they can focus on their primary objective: making great music.

Over the course of more than two years, EngineEars hit the road for its hands-on Seeing Sounds Workshops. During the workshops they joined forces with dozens of major multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning front-line artists (musicians, producers, engineers) including Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Terrance Martin, Sounwave, Noah "40" Shebib, and more to educate and understand audio engineers. As a result, they recognized the difficult problems faced by music industry professionals in managing relationships with collaborators, tracking payments and running project workflows.

Founder/CEO Ali, who has worked with countless leading recording artists, most notably Pulitzer Prize recipient Kendrick Lamar. Lamar added, "Quality of sound is still important in music. Ali has always been a progressive thinker. EngineEars will transcend the culture."

Ali is joined at EngineEars by his senior management leadership team:

Dan Maynard , Co-Founder/COO: Co-founder of the Canadian Apparel Company, Noble Gentlemen Trading, he has over 15 years of building and scaling brands. He was North American director for Ksubi, and more recently founder of Bishops LTD, a brand & business development company for various clients in music, including; IDK, Smino, Isaiah Rashad , TDE, Kerwin Frost , YG, and many more.

, Co-Founder/COO: Co-founder of the Canadian Apparel Company, Noble Gentlemen Trading, he has over 15 years of building and scaling brands. He was North American director for Ksubi, and more recently founder of Bishops LTD, a brand & business development company for various clients in music, including; IDK, Smino, , TDE, , YG, and many more. Luke Sorenson , CTO: Engineering Lead of EngineEars, Senior Software Engineer at Google, working on Videoconferencing. He previously founded companies Mixer Match and Downtyme (iOS and Android social apps).

, CTO: Engineering Lead of EngineEars, Senior Software Engineer at Google, working on Videoconferencing. He previously founded companies Mixer Match and Downtyme (iOS and Android social apps). Jacob Shamberger , Go-To Market Advisor: Marketing and Growth Strategy for EngineEars, previously an early employee running Growth at Vise, a hyper-growth fintech startup backed by Sequoia Capital.

Ali and his associates created EngineEars to devise a multi-faceted platform whose overall mission would be to improve the lives of music professionals behind the curtains  engineers, producers, and songwriters.

At the same time, the new company will develop tools to make audio engineers more efficient at the intricacies of building and running their businesses. The business management side of the recording industry is on track to near $24 billion by 2025, encompassing four major areas: project management software and services; financial accounting software services; software-defined file management storage tools (cloud storage); and appointment scheduling and booking software.

SOURCE EngineEars

Related Links

https://www.engineears.com


NOIDA, India, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A comprehensive overview of the genomics market is recently added by UnivDatos Market Insights to its humongous database. The genomics market report has been aggregated by collecting informative data of various dynamics such as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This innovative report makes use of several analyses to get a closer outlook on the genomics market. The genomics market report offers a detailed analysis of the latest industry developments and trending factors in the market that are influencing the market growth. Furthermore, this statistical market research repository examines and estimates the genomics market at the global and regional levels. The Global Genomics Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.1% from 2021-2027 to reach USD 57,231.1 million by 2027.

Market Overview

Global Genomics Market is experiencing significant growth on account of reduced sequencing costs and genomics application in varied segments. According to data obtained from genome-sequencing groups sponsored by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), the cost of producing a high-quality 'draft' of whole human genome sequence in mid-2015 was just above USD 4,000; by late in 2015, which had then fallen below USD 1,500. Overall, the cost of producing a whole-exome sequence was probably less than USD 1,000.

Furthermore, the rising government funding and initiatives in the genomic projects are contributing to the emergence of innovative variants with improved treatment efficacy and effectiveness. For instance, the Genomics Health Futures Mission was proposed by Australian Genomics in 2018 to promote new and expanded clinical research in rare disease, cancer, and complex conditions, as well as early access to clinical trials and discussions to better understand aspects of genomics ranging from privacy and legal concerns to social and familial aspects.

Request Sample Copy of this Report @ https://univdatos.com/report/genomics-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2021-2027

COVID-19 Impact

The COVID19 pandemic has provided tremendous research resources while also highlighting the threat of deadly epidemic-prone diseases worldwide. Over the last decade, a technical revolution has created many new capabilities for pandemic response. The world was able to quickly identify SARS-CoV-2 owing to sequencing and knowing the genome sequence allowed for the rapid development of diagnostic tests and other response tools. Continuous genome sequencing aids in the tracking of the disease's dissemination, activity, and evolution. The genomes of the extreme SARS-CoV-2 can now be sequenced within hours or days of a case being detected, due to recent advances. As a result, real-time genomic sequencing has been able to warn public health responses in the event of a pandemic. For instance, COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) has assessed the effectiveness of travel restrictions by examining over 4000 SARS-CoV-2 importations over the summer of 2020.

Ask for Price & Discounts @ https://univdatos.com/report/genomics-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2021-2027

Genomics Market report is studied thoroughly with several aspects that would help stakeholders in making their decisions more curated.

By Product/Services, the market is primarily bifurcated into

Consumables

Systems and Software

Services

Consumables segment dominated the by type of the global genomics market and will grow at 14.27% CAGR to reach USD 29,355.5 million by the year 2027.

By Technology Type, the market is mainly segmented into

Sequencing

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Nucleic Acid Extraction and Purification

Microarray

Others

Amongst technology types, the sequencing segment accounted for the largest share and is expected to grow at the CAGR of 15.27% during the forecast period 2021-2027. In 2020, the sequencing segment accounted for a revenue share of almost 39.7%.

By Application, the market is primarily studied into

Diagnostics

Drug Discovery and Development

Personalized Medicine

Agriculture & Animal Research

Others

In 2020, the diagnostics segment dominated the global genomics market with nearly 32.2% of the market share and it is anticipated by 2027, the segment will garner USD 16,922.9 million of the market.

By End-user, the market is primarily segmented into

Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies

Hospitals & Clinics

Academic & Government Institutes

Clinical Research

Others

Amongst end-user type, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies accounted for the largest share in 2020 and is expected to grow at 14.6% CAGR during the forecast period 2021-2027. However, the hospitals & clinics segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR during the analyzed period and is expected to account for a revenue share of almost 25.6% by 2027.

Genomics Market Geographical Segmentation Includes:

North America ( United States , Canada )

( , ) Europe ( Germany , United Kingdom , Italy , France , Spain , and Rest of Europe )

( , , , , , and Rest of ) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , India , and Rest of Asia-Pacific )

( , , , and Rest of ) Rest of the World

Based on the estimation, the North America region dominated the Genomics market with almost USD 8,982.8 million revenue in 2020. At the same time, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow remarkably with a CAGR of 16.51% over the forecast period.

Ask for Report Customization @ https://univdatos.com/report/genomics-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2021-2027

The major players targeting the market includes

Agilent Technologies

Bio-Rad Laboratories

Danaher Corporation

F. Hoffmann-La Roche

Illumina, Inc.

Myriad Genetics

Oxford Nanopore Technologies

QIAGEN N.V.

Thermo Fisher Scientific

BGI Genomics

Competitive Landscape

The degree of competition among prominent global companies has been elaborated by analyzing several leading key players operating worldwide. The specialist team of research analysts sheds light on various traits such as global market competition, market share, most recent industry advancements, innovative product launches, partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions by leading companies in the genomics market. The major players have been analyzed by using research methodologies for getting insight views on global competition.

Key questions resolved through this analytical market research report include:

What are the latest trends, new patterns, and technological advancements in the Genomics market?

Which factors are influencing the Genomics market over the forecast period?

What are the global challenges, threats, and risks in the Genomics market?

Which factors are propelling and restraining the Genomics market?

What are the demanding global regions of the Genomics market?

What will be the global market size in the upcoming years?

What are the crucial market acquisition strategies and policies applied by global companies?

We understand the requirement of different businesses, regions, and countries, we offer customized reports as per your requirements of business nature and geography. Please let us know If you have any custom needs.

For more informative information, please visit us @ https://univdatos.com/report/genomics-market-current-analysis-and-forecast-2021-2027

About UnivDatos Market Insights

UnivDatos Market Insights (UMI) is a passionate market research firm and a subsidiary of Universal Data Solutions. We believe in delivering insights through Market Intelligence Reports, Customized Business Research, and Primary Research. Our research studies are spread across topics across the world, we cover markets in over 100 countries using smart research techniques and agile methodologies. We offer in-depth studies, detailed analysis, and customized reports that help shape winning business strategies for our clients.

Contact

UnivDatos Market Insights

Pawnendra Pawan

Client Development Lead

Ph: +91-7838604911

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://univdatos.com/

SOURCE UnivDatos Market Insights
DENVER, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently Dr. William Thomas, founder of Eden Alternative, Green Houses and ChangingAging.org, spent five years traveling the country talking with elders and people who care about elders in more than 125 cities. He heard their stories, hopes, and fears. Thomas states, "It turns out that older people pretty much want what everyone else wants: to belong to a community that includes people of all ages and remain connected to the living world." Thomas, a nationally recognized geriatrician, has been outspoken about the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic on elders and their families. Thomas states, "Infection control policies protected us but, over the past year, elders paid a terrible price for this protection a pandemic of loneliness and social isolation."

Thomas is introducing a new option for elders that offers "the possibility of being independenttogether," called Kallimos Communities. With a design once known as "bungalow courts," and now "pocket neighborhoods," new multi-generational communities offer small dwellings clustered around shared green space. Kallimos plans to reduce the cost of living, encourage neighborliness, and feature optional shared households that Millennials call "co-living." Thomas states, "Some of the loneliest elders in America live at home on streets filled with houses but without friends, family, or neighbors as part of their daily life, andlarge senior living buildings offer a solution for some but can be expensive and often carry the stigma of being "old folks' homes."

Thomas first wrote about this type of living in the 1990's in his first novel, In the Arms of Elders, telling the story of a land where elders "lived in the heart of the community" that was home to people of all ages and abilities. The community, "Kallimos" is a word that describes "a beautiful way of living." Kallimos Communities are MAGIC (multi-ability, multi-generational, inclusive, co-living) developed at the University of Southern Indiana, as a place people of all ages and abilities can call home.

Thomas states, "Clearly the public's preferences, and policymakers' priorities, are swinging toward greater access to home and community-based services, giving people more choices and control over where they want to live." Thomas sees the need for the architecture and neighborhood cultures to catch up with "the way we want to live in the future" stating that "Kallimos Communities will bring new neighborhoods to life and help the people who choose to live in them experience the greatest health and well-being possible." Learn more at http://www.kallimos.com.

CONTACT:

Megan Marama

Kallimos Communities, Inc.

970-388-4944

[email protected]

http://kallimos.com

Media Kit - http://www.kallimos.com/

SOURCE Kallimos Communities

Related Links

http://www.kallimos.com


CYPRESS, Texas, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Drake Plastics Ltd. Co. has been awarded certification as a manufacturer of extruded shapes and precision parts under AS9100D(2016), an international quality management system that includes the ISO 9001:2015 standard and additional requirements for the aerospace industry.

The achievement puts Drake Plastics in esteemed company. Of the million plus organizations that are ISO 9001 certified, less than 2% hold AS9100 certifications. "Our compliance enables us to meet the rigorous demands of aviation, space and defense clients worldwide," states Drake Plastics President, Steven Quance. "It also elevates our quality systems and procedures to the benefit of all customers, regardless of industry."

Orion Registrar, Inc. USA, a firm accredited by ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) performed the certification audit in accordance with AS9104/1:2012. Their assessment found Drake Plastics was compliant with the standard as a manufacturer and precision fabricator of extruded and injection molded specialty, high-performance polymer stock shapes and precision parts for the aerospace and defense industries. The rigorous procedures of the AS9100D standard will apply to all products the company manufactures including those for its customers in semiconductor, energy, transportation, medical, life science and many other industries.

Drake Plastics has a 25-year history in aerospace with technology developments in extruding, injection molding, and post-processing of ultra high-performance polymers. This class of materials exhibits exceptional resistance to temperatures from cryogenic levels to over 500F/ 260C, high mechanical loads, frictional wear, and aggressive chemicals. These attributes combined with their high strength-to-weight ratio has led to their worldwide acceptance for aircraft and defense components.

About Drake Plastics

Drake Plastics initiated operations in 1996 with the extrusion of machinable stock shapes made from glass-reinforced Torlon 5030 PAI to support the Javelin Missile Program. The Cypress, Texas, company has since expanded its portfolio with machinable shapes, injection molded parts and precision machined components made from Torlon PAI, PEEK, PEK, PAEK, Ryton PPS, Ultem PEI and other ultra-high-performance polymers. Its developments include a unique range of sizes and configurations that have opened many new applications to these materials for customers worldwide. Drake is an ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified manufacturer and focuses on lean operating principles throughout its organization.

For more information, contact:

Susan Racca

Marketing Communications Manager

Drake Plastics Ltd. Co.

281-255-6855

SOURCE Drake Plastics
BOGOTA, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol SA (BVC: ECOPETROL;NYSE: EC) announced today the Ecopetrol Group's financial results for the first quarter of 2021, prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards applicable to Colombia.

Table 1: Financial Summary Income Statement - Ecopetrol Group

Billion (COP)

1Q 2021 1Q 2020  ($)  (%) Total sales

17,206 15,072 2,134 14.2% Depreciation and amortization

2,237 2,153 84 3.9% Variable cost

6,238 6,696 (458) (6.8%) Fixed cost

2,037 2,438 (401) (16.4%) Cost of sales

10,512 11,287 (775) (6.9%) Gross income

6,694 3,785 2,909 76.9% Operating and exploratory expenses

1,183 1,078 105 9.7% Operating income

5,511 2,707 2,804 103.6% Financial income (loss), net

(651) (665) 14 (2.1%) Share of profit of companies

53 (1) 54 (5,400.0%) Income before income tax

4,913 2,041 2,872 140.7% Income tax

(1,537) (630) (907) 144.0% Net income consolidated

3,376 1,411 1,965 139.3% Non-controlling interest

(292) (347) 55 (15.9%) Net income attributable to owners of Ecopetrol before impairment

3,084 1,064 2,020 189.8% (Expense) recovery for impairment long-term assets

2 (1,209) 1,211 (100.2%) Deferred tax of impairment

- 278 (278) (100.0%) Net income attributable to owners of Ecopetrol

3,086 133 2,953 2,220.3%











EBITDA

8,187 5,257 2,930 55.7% EBITDA Margin

47.6% 34.9% - 12.7%

The figures included in this report were extracted from the Company's unaudited financial statements. The financial information is expressed in billions of Colombian pesos (COP), or US dollars (USD), or thousands of barrels of oil equivalent per day (mboed) or tons, as noted. For presentation purposes, certain figures in this report were rounded to the nearest decimal place.

In words of Felipe Bayon Pardo, CEO of Ecopetrol:

"Ecopetrol's operating and financial results for the first quarter of the year reflect our ability to react to the COVID-19 crisis and overcome it in an effective manner. We have shown resilience and competitiveness in an environment where, despite the signs of recovery, there are still potential risks that require ongoing monitoring.

We have achieved solid results during 1Q21. We even surpassed pre-Covid levels in several indicators. We continued to take important steps on our diversification, decarbonization and climate change mitigation agendas  the aforementioned without losing focus on our strategy as an integrated O&G company. These pillars are key to surpass the challenges that energy transition implies.

We highlight the ongoing process for the potential acquisition of the Ministry of Finance's controlling stake in ISA, which responds to Ecopetrol's strategic interest of entering into new businesses aligned with the opportunities for electrification and decarbonization, dictated by the energy transition, and which in turn leverage the Group's profitable growth. Also, we also remark the announcement of new decarbonization commitments which are aligned with a carbon-neutral future.

The financial results for the quarter reflect an extraordinary recovery. Ecopetrol Group achieved a net income of COP 3.1 trillion and an EBITDA of COP 8.2 trillion in 1Q21  equivalent to a 48% EBITDA margin. These results almost double those achieved throughout 2020, and were accomplished mainly due to: i) a strengthened realization price of the crude oil export basket at 43% vis-a-vis 1Q20, from 40.3 USD/Bl to 57.8 USD/Bl, supported in better Brent levels, which went from 50.8 USD/Bl on average for 1Q20 to 61.3 USD/Bl for 1Q21; ii) active commercial strategy with our clients in the markets of China, Gulf of Mexico (USA) and Europe; and iii) lower operation costs leveraged by a solid efficiency agenda. This first quarter closed with a solid cash position (COP 8.1 trillion) and a 2.5-times Gross Debt/EBITDA indicator for the last twelve months, in line with our business plan.

Ecopetrol continues to undertake efforts and deploy strategies to achieve a more efficient operation. At the end of 1Q21, the Group realized efficiencies amounting to COP 263.7 billion. This was reflected in a 9% decrease vs. 1Q20 in operating costs and expenses. In turn, the total unit cost was USD $32.6 per barrel, slightly lower when compared to the total unit cost in the same period of 2020. The above is explained by the reduction in costs and expenses and a higher currency exchange rate, partially offset by the increase in the variable factors associated with purchases and imports resulting from a better Brent.

In exploration, Ecopetrol and its partners finished drilling 5 wells during 1Q21. Production from exploration assets increased 39% as compared to 1Q20, mainly due to contributions from Esox-1, Arrecife-1, Andina Norte-1, Boranda-3 and Boranda-2ST. Noteworthy are Ecopetrol-operated Flamencos-2 wells, and El Nino-1  operated by Perenco in association with Ecopetrol  which were drilled in 2020 and declared successful in 1Q21 upon completion of relevant testing. At the international level, we continue to make progress in the commercial feasibility studies and development plan of Gato do Mato discovery in the Brazilian pre-salt.

Average production in 1Q21 was 675.7 mboed. Our production had an impact when compared to 4Q20 mainly due to operating restrictions in the Castilla field, an increase in Basic Sediment and Water contents in fields such as Chichimene, Akacias, Yarigui, Rubiales, and, in a lesser extent, the withdrawal of volumes related to the divestment of Savia in Peru. Given the effects of the first quarter, we currently estimate a production range between 690 - 700 mboed for the year 2021 and we are implementing a plan that will seek to restore the growth path.

On natural gas and LPG, we had a remarkable 12% increase in the production level, mainly as a result of local demand recovery and the rise in production of Hocol due to the acquisition of Chevron's stake in the Guajira asset. The contribution of gas and LPG was of 23% of the total production, with a 53% EBITDA margin and a 11% contribution to the upstream EBITDA.

Our operations in the Permian basin continue their consolidation process, contributing 6.2 mboed on average as of 1Q21. By the end of the quarter, the Association had 44 wells in production, 20 new wells drilled and 28 wells completed. Expectations for 2021 remain aligned with the 2021-2023 Business Plan.

Regarding Kale  the Comprehensive Research Pilot Project in Unconventional Reservoirs located in the Municipality of Puerto Wilches (Santander), activities for the environmental impact study began in February. Important progress was attained in the monitoring plan and baselines. Moreover, various dialogue meetings have been held with the communities and consultation spaces have been made available such as the Citizen Participation Office in the territory, seeking to address concerns of the different stakeholders in regard to the scope of the project and its environmental performance.

The downstream segment had a remarkably positive performance across all business units, which was supported by improved price realization of products and a continuous recovery in demand, despite a marginally more expensive feedstock and the execution of scheduled maintenance. The refineries reached a consolidated throughput of 360 mbd in 1Q21, with an integrated gross margin of 10.1 USD/Bl, comparable to pre-pandemic levels. The segment reported an EBITDA of COP 0.65 trillion, equivalent to a 6.7% margin, showing a 97% growth as compared to 1Q20.

The Midstream segment remains a key and a stable cash generator and contributor to EBITDA for the Group. Transport of refined products increased mainly due to the country's recovery in fuel demand and greater evacuation of refined products (mainly diesel and gasoline). Particularly noteworthy is the launch of the marine platform TLU-2 for loading crude oil in the Caribbean by Ocensa in April. This platform is located 12 kilometers offshore from the Covenas Maritime Terminal. This new infrastructure allowed to almost double the monthly cargo capacity of ships (from 18 to 34), thus transferring heavier crude oils, and incorporating the highest technology to serve 2-million barrel tankers for the next 20 years, in harmony with the environment.

Ecopetrol Group continues to be committed to TESG, mitigating climate change and with moving towards an organized, disciplined, and technology-leveraged transition. In line with the above, on March 25, 2021 we announced our commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 (scope 1 and 2). In this regard, Ecopetrol became the first company in the Oil and Gas industry in Latin America to set this ambitious target. Besides, Ecopetrol seeks to reduce its CO2e emissions by 25% as compared to the 2019 baseline for Scopes 1 and 2 by 2030.

These goals are framed as part of Ecopetrol Group's Corporate Strategy, its TESG agenda and the roadmap to promote energy transition, under a detailed decarbonization plan to ensure its competitiveness and resilience, and seeking portfolio diversification towards low emission business alternatives. The 2050 objective has intermediate goals and a short, mid and long-term portfolio, with some projects already implemented or in the research stage.

We highlight the following milestones in this front: i) we achieved a 52% reduction in routine natural gas flaring in our operations between 2017 and 2020; ii) we initiated wind energy potential measurements in areas close to the operations in Cartagena, aiming to assess feasibility of the construction of wind farms that will potentially allow us to partially cover the energy demand of the company's operations in the future; iii) we signed the Pact for New Air for Bogota, which seeks to improve the quality of fuels and the availability of natural gas for the city; iv) we made progress in preparing the assignment of solar energy projects for 45 MW throughout the country under PPA[1] strategies for self-consumption; v) we adopted and incorporated the standards of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), the Stakeholder Capitalism Metrics of the World Economic Forum (SCM), and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations in the Company's annual reports; and vi) we deployed digital value capture strategies reaching benefits for USD 12 million as of the closing of 1Q21.

We remain committed with our social investment program "Apoyo Pais", continuing the efforts we began in 2020 by allocating at least COP 60 billion in resources by 2021, in initiatives to strengthen education and public health and territorial economic reactivation. In addition, the company allocated resources for social investment amounting to COP 71 billion during 1Q21, as part of its Environment Strategy framework.

Regarding corporate governance, we would like to highlight three events that took place during the first quarter of the year: i) we held our General Shareholders' Meeting under a 100% virtual format for the second time ensuring our shareholder's rights and active participation; ii) the distribution of a dividend of $17 pesos per share for 2020, equivalent to a dividend payment of 41.41% (COP 0.7 trillion) of the net income of Ecopetrol S.A.; and iii) the appointment of Cecilia Maria Velez White as a member of the Board of Directors at Ecopetrol, along with the inclusion of diversity and gender criteria in the Company's bylaws under the principle of meritocracy.

In addition, on January 27, 2021, Ecopetrol submitted a non-binding offer expressing our interest in acquiring the 51.4% of the outstanding shares of ISA, currently owned by the Colombian Ministry of Finance and Public Credit. On February 12, 2021, Ecopetrol and the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit signed an exclusivity agreement, followed by a confidentiality agreement signed between the parties (Ecopetrol, the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit and ISA) on February 26, 2021 to move towards the validation of the interest initially expressed and a potential negotiation. Ecopetrol is currently carrying out the detailed Due Diligence process and negotiating the terms of the Inter-administrative Share Purchase Agreement.

We will maintain our focus on delivering on the 2021-2023 Business Plan during the rest of the year. The Plan seeks to restore our production growth path, increasing competitiveness, laying the foundations of energy transition and going deeper into the TESG agenda as one of the strategic pillars for value creation for our society."

To review the full report please visit the following link:

http://www.ecopetrol.com.co/wps/wcm/connect/202ac26c-2ee3-4489-9ed0-70150decd488/Reporte+1T21+INGL%C3%89S+FINAL.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&attachment=true&id=1620164204535

Ecopetrol is Colombia's largest firm and is an integrated oil company that is among the 50 largest in the world and the four largest in Latin America. In addition to Colombia, where it generates over 60% of the country's production, it is active in exploration and production in the United States (Permian basin and Gulf of Mexico), Brazil and Mexico. Ecopetrol operates the largest refinery in Colombia, most of the country's oil-pipeline and polyduct network and is significantly increasing its share of bio-fuels. This press release contains statements relating to business prospects, estimates of operating and financial results, and Ecopetrol's growth prospects. All are projections, and therefore are based solely on management's expectations of the company's future and its continuous access to capital to finance its sales plan. Achieving these estimates in the future depends on its performance under given market conditions, regulations, competition, the performance of the Colombian economy and industry, and other factors; therefore, they are subject to change without prior notice.

1 Power Purchase Agreements

For further details, please contact:

Head of Capital Markets

Tatiana Uribe Benninghoff

Phone: +571-234-5190

Email: [email protected]

Media Engagement (Colombia)

Jorge Mauricio Tellez

Phone: + 571-234-4329

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A.

Related Links

http://www.ecopetrol.com.co


STOCKHOLM, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Envirotainer, the global market leader in secure cold chain solutions for air transportation of pharmaceuticals, today launched their latest innovation, the Releye RLP, a temperature-controlled air freight container with a revolutionary new footprint, unsurpassed autonomy, fully integrated live monitoring, and a unique air flow technology for maximum temperature stability in the cargo bay.

The Releye RLP fills a substantial gap in the cold-chain pharmaceutical air freight market, utilizing the space of two 1-pallet solutions to deliver 3 euro-pallets, increasing cost-efficiency by 50 percent. It is the first in a family of temperature-controlled air freight containers Envirotainer will roll out near term.

With its unique feature set, the Releye RLP sets a new standard for secure cold chain solutions:

1. Control. The airflow control within the container ensures a homogeneous environment independent of cargo placement or size of shipment. Regardless of the state of the outside world, the latest heating and cooling technology, combined with the new vacuum insulated panel (VIP) technology, insulates the cargo from the most extreme conditions. The new airflow curtain reduces temperature impact if the doors are opened. The Releye temperature-control systems are fully independent, providing total redundancy on all critical container functions.

2. Live monitoring. Releye RLP introduces a new dimension of visibility to the temperature-controlled air freight industry: the container status, in your hands, wherever you or your shipment is in the world. Its 18 integrated sensors provide a unique set of data points: monitoring of its location, temperature, battery level, humidity, door openings and if there is cargo inside or not, giving you a full grasp of the status of the shipment. Real-time monitoring allows you to instantly act and take personal control over the safe delivery of your cargo.

3. Autonomy. Releye runs unattended for over 170 hours. This means that the Releye provides one week of autonomous operation, without recharging the batteries, protecting cargo even if stranded for several days. The autonomy is of course endless if the container is re-charged. This new level of autonomy also supports a quick and efficient Global Qualification approach.

4. Cost-efficiency. The Releye RLP introduces a new footprint that exploits the space of two 1-pallet solution to house three Euro-pallets, saving more than 50% on air freight. Moreover, the RLP format offers a load height of 132 cm, the highest in the industry, all of which is available for cargo thanks to the improved airflow design. In combination with our other formats the RLP offers both increased volume-efficiency and flexibility. It becomes easier to optimize containers for just about any shipment by combining solution sizes.



5. Sustainability. The Releye RLP delivers up to a 90 percent reduction in CO 2 emissions compared to available passive solutions based on a life-cycle analysis. The Releye RLP is the latest example of our relentless pursuit of the total sustainability of our operations that led us to become climate neutral in 2020.

"35 years ago, Envirotainer set out to develop the world's best containers for temperature-controlled air freight. It is with great pride we today announce the launch of our new Envirotainer Releye RLP, a true innovation in secure cold chain solutions that sets a new industry standard for reliability with its live monitoring, intelligent cargo protection, unsurpassed autonomy and superior cost-efficiency," says Michael Berg, CEO at Envirotainer.

Envirotainer has been leading the way ever since the beginning of the temperature-controlled air freight industry. The company has been driving the industry forward having released three generations of market-disruptive innovations, starting with the RKN and RAP dry-ice containers in the mid 90's. In 2005 the second disruption came with the launch of the world's first active heating and cooling container, the RKN e1, and then again disrupting the market in 2010 with the world's first active heating and cooling RAP sized container; the RAP e2. The Releye RLP is the culmination of 35 years of industry experience and is based on insights from customers, industry experts and stakeholders as well as data captured during shipments.

"Apart from 170 hours autonomy, the Releye RLP utilizes the latest technology to provide a homogenous temperature in all areas of the cargo bay. It also comes with an airflow curtain that protects the pharmaceuticals when the doors are opened. This way it maximizes temperature stability in the cargo bay. In addition, it is designed with the latest electrical heating and cooling technology as well as advanced vacuum insulated panel technology," says Bernt Anderberg, Chief Technology Officer at Envirotainer. He continues, "The validated data from the built-in and fully integrated sensors in the cargo bay provides a strong case for reducing or replacing other types of external data loggers."

"In today's uncertain times, with the COVID-19 pandemic, cancelled flights, capacity restraints and constantly changing directives from governmental bodies, we know that stakeholders in the industry need solutions that provides them with full visibility. The container, and its content, is monitored by 18 integrated sensors, in essence providing the user with his or her own personal control tower available from any device," says Fredrik Linner, Chief Business Development Officer at Envirotainer. He continues, "We know that our customers want to have full visibility of the location of their precious cargo. With full data from 18 integrated sensors, our customers can set up their own alert notification system based on their specific needs. Apart from being able to localize the container, they can also monitor important container capabilities such as cargo hold temperature and humidity, if doors are opened and if there is cargo inside or not, as well as ambient temperature and humidity."



CONTACT:

Mattias Isaksson

Head of Marketing & Communications

Envirotainer AB

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/envirotainer-ab/r/envirotainer-launches-the-releye--rlp---simpler-than-passive--even-better-than-active,c3340914

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/envirotainer-ab/i/releye-r--rlp-2,c2909572 Releye(R) RLP 2 https://news.cision.com/envirotainer-ab/i/releye-r--rlp-3,c2909573 Releye(R) RLP 3 https://news.cision.com/envirotainer-ab/i/releye-r--rlp-4,c2909574 Releye(R) RLP 4 https://news.cision.com/envirotainer-ab/i/releye-r--rlp-1,c2909575 Releye(R) RLP 1

SOURCE Envirotainer AB
NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FORD Models proudly brings back its South Florida division, FORD Models Miami, as a joint venture with Caleb White and Rachel Zimmerman of Zombie Model Management, integrating this boutique mother agency's vision into FORD's.

The FORD Miami office closed in 2017, and reopened its doors in April 2021 tapping former ONE Management President Craig Lawrence to head the division, marking an expansion of FORD's commercial boards across the US.

"Rachel and I are very excited to partner up with Ford Models, and to bring back Ford Models Miami in the year of its 75th anniversary. We believe this merger brings a groundbreaking new twist to such an iconic brand," says Caleb White, Director of Zombie Model Management.

A veteran in the industry with over 30 years in the business, Craig Lawrence had previously worked at FORD for nearly 10 years before joining ONE Management in 2010. His new position at FORD marks a return to his roots and he will be leading the agency's expansion as well as help reclaim the commercial space FORD once occupied.

FORD has always aimed to prioritize growth, diversity, and inclusion as pillars of its brand. In May 2020, FORD Inc. was incorporated by FORD Models Brazil with the goal to create a diverse global talent management platform under the FORD Models flagship. In addition to the commercial boards, which will include curve, FORD also launched FORD Models Digital, marking a breakthrough into the world of content creators.

"Having been at the helm of Ford Models in Brazil for over 30 years, the understanding of the brand comes as second nature. This permitted us to quickly implement changes to our US Operations, and to experience tremendous growth during a very difficult year. Our Digital Division's revenue has grown tenfold since its launch in June 2020," says Decio Ribeiro, CEO of the Ford Models Group.

Significant hires include former Director of The Lions, Louie Chaban, as Director of US Women, and the signings-on of industry icons Agyness Deyn, Kristen McMenamy, Kirsten Owen, Maggie Rizer and Christina Kruse.

With the top talent acquisitions, the re-opening of FORD Miami, and the establishing of the digital and commercial board, FORD Models celebrates their 75th year anniversary by honoring the original vision of Eileen & Jerry Ford back when the agency was founded in 1946.

"It feels good to be back at Ford, which was my home for nearly ten years. I am very excited for what lies ahead for the brand," says Craig Lawrence.

ABOUT FORD:

Founded in 1946 by its namesakes, Eileen and Jerry Ford, FORD Models pioneered a new kind of global industry based on beauty. Starting out of their New York City home, Eileen and Jerry established a company and brand that launched and defined the modeling industry; as the agency renowned for innovating model management, FORD is the most recognized and respected name in the history of modeling. Today, FORD Models is at the forefront of the cultural conversation, representing fashion talent around the world, operating where culture meets creativity. With its main headquarters located in New York City, and with offices in Paris, Sao Paulo, Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago, FORD continues to innovate and influence the industries of modeling and fashion.

Media Contact:

Kelly Brady| Brandsway Creative

[email protected]

212-966-7900

SOURCE FORD Models
Clearfield, PA (16830)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning with thunderstorms becoming likely this afternoon. High 82F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by a few showers overnight. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Children's Home of Poughkeepsie is a 174-year-old organization located in Poughkeepsie, New York, serving children who have suffered abuse, neglect, and maltreatment. Its mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment.

Quite the contrary, according to the six lawsuits filed by Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP, a law firm based in New York City (www.nyclawfirm.com). The lawsuits accuse staff and, in one case, an older resident of child sexual abuse. The lawsuits document decades of child sexual abuse spanning from 1978  2008. The lawsuits accuse The Children's Home of Poughkeepsie of negligence in its hiring, training & supervision, among other failures.

The lawsuits filed under New York's Child Victims Act allow innocent victims of child sexual abuse to seek compensation and hold their perpetrators accountable. New York residents who were sexually abused as children now have until August 14, 2021, to pursue child sexual abuse claims. https://www.greensteinmilbauer.com/deadline-for-new-york-residents-sexually-abused-as-children-extended-to-august-14-2021/

"As our cases make their way through the courts, more survivors are stepping forward to share their painful histories," said Robert Greenstein. "It has taken decades for some of our clients to open up about the abuse they suffered at the most vulnerable points in their lives. These courageous survivors deserve to be heard, and now they finally will be. With the window of opportunity to obtain justice closing in August, we strongly encourage other victims to come forward before it's too late."

The accounts of child sexual abuse by the former residents are harrowing.

JOHN DOE  18968  Dutchess County (2021-50544)

Plaintiff resided at Children's Home of Poughkeepsie when he was approximately twelve to sixteen years old, on or about 2004-2008. It is alleged that an employee Helen Fahy sexually assaulted Plaintiff for approximately three years. Fahy had Plaintiff participate in oral sex. Ironically, years later, Fahy was named Employee of the Year. Two years later, Fahy was arrested for having sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old. Fahy was convicted of third-degree rape and sentenced to eighteen months in prison. Fahy is now a registered Level-2 Sex offender.

JANE DOE  19071 - Dutchess (2021-50874)

Plaintiff was placed in Children's Home of Poughkeepsie when she was approximately fourteen years old, around 2005. During Plaintiff's residency at Children's Home of Poughkeepsie, it is alleged that employee Tarell Heard sexually assaulted Plaintiff on multiple occasions. In 2020, Heard was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child under the age of sixteen.

JOHN DOE  19083  Dutchess County (2021-50846)

Plaintiff resided at Children's Home of Poughkeepsie when he was nine years old in the 1980s. It is alleged that the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie employees were allowed to take the minor residents to their homes. It is alleged that an employee, namely Big Bob Buford, did just that. It was there that he sexually assaulted Plaintiff.

JOHN DOE  19213  Westchester County (55894/2021)

Plaintiff resided at Children's Home of Poughkeepsie when he was approximately twelve years old, around 1981. In another case involving Big Bob Buford, it is alleged that Plaintiff fell asleep in Big Bob's bed. Plaintiff awoke and found that his underwear was pulled down. Big Bob was lying next to Plaintiff and masturbating him. Big Bob attempted to force Plaintiff to masturbate him. Plaintiff was so frightened that he played dead. When Plaintiff woke up, he found that his underwear was wet.

JANE DOE  19220  Dutchess County (51285/2021)

Plaintiff resided at Children's Home of Poughkeepsie when she was approximately seventeen years old, in or about 2007-2008. It is alleged that employee Jackie Mann engaged in unpermitted child sexual abuse of Plaintiff. The child sexual abuse endured for approximately one year. Jackie Mann forced Plaintiff to participate in sexual intercourse at least once per week.

JANE DOE  19240  Dutchess County (2021-51440)

Plaintiff resided at Children's Home of Poughkeepsie when she was approximately eight to nine years old, from 1978-1979. During Plaintiff's time at Children's Home of Poughkeepsie, it is alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a much older resident who resided with her. The child sexual abuse began with kissing, fondling, oral sex, and eventually vaginal sexual contact.

The New York Child Sexual Abuse Lawyers at Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP are offering free consultations. Call 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462).

If you were sexually abused as a child, the New York Child Sexual Abuse Lawyers at Greenstein & Milbauer LLP help. Schedule a free, confidential consultation by calling 1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462).

Related Links

http://www.nycLawFirm.com

For more information contact:

Rob Greenstein

1-800-VICTIM2 (1-800-842-8462)

[email protected]

SOURCE Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP

Related Links

https://www.greensteinmilbauer.com


WASHINGTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Family Research Council released today an issue analysis, "Prenatal Nondiscrimination Acts: Why They Are Essential." Prenatal Nondiscrimination Acts (PRENDAs) seek to prevent abortion being used as a tool of eugenics. These laws prohibit anyone from knowingly aborting an unborn child solely on the basis of his or her sex or disability. FRC's new issue analysis explains how these laws address the long shared history of abortion and eugenics in America; which states have passed legislation to ensure unborn children are not aborted on account of their race, sex, or disability; and the challenges these laws have faced in court.

Sixteen states have enacted some form of a PRENDA law, and more are in the pipeline. Yesterday, the North Carolina House Health committee approved such a bill, H 453, and last week Arizona's Governor Ducey signed SB 1457 into law, banning abortion based on genetics. Recently, the federal U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld Ohio's Down syndrome abortion ban.

Katherine Beck Johnson, FRC's Research Fellow for Legal and Policy Studies and one of the authors of the issue brief, made the following comments:

"We applaud states working to protect the most vulnerable through PRENDAs. These laws remind society that each and every child has inherent dignity. They end the atrocious act of targeting the littlest members of our society and put us one step closer to ending Roe v. Wade.

"Reality is quickly settling in that the Biden administration is the most pro-abortion administration in history. However, it's greatly encouraging that we are seeing a wave of pro-life momentum on the state level in response to President Biden's radical abortion agenda.

"These laws powerfully undercut the rationale for Roe v. Wade, as they hold promise to end the viability standard set forth in Roe and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. In May 2019, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a lengthy opinion in Box v. Planned Parenthood, in which he cited abortion's eugenic roots and its continued eugenic potential. This opinion has emboldened even more states and lower courts to protect the unborn from discriminatory abortions," concluded Johnson.

To download the issue brief, visit: https://frc.org/prenda

SOURCE Family Research Council

Related Links

http://www.frc.org


HOUSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, non-profit organization Fund for Teachers (FFT) announced the names of 191 public, private and charter school teachers to receive $325,000 in grants for self-designed summer fellowships and experiential learning opportunities.

Now in its 20th year, FFT encourages the self-directed professional development of pre-K to 12th-grade educators across the country and has provided $33.5 million in grants to more than 9,000 teachers. In light of the pandemic, the national nonprofit specifically asked teachers applying for grants to focus their proposals on transformational learning experiences within the continental US that address equity, diversity, inclusion, climate change and civic engagement.

"Teachers heroically met the needs of students and their families this year more than ever before," said Karen Eckhoff, FFT executive director. "The fact that these 2021 grant recipients also found time to craft proposals aimed at improving their practice and, in turn, students' learning speaks volumes about their professionalism. They are problem solvers, innovators and role models for their students."

This year, FFT granted summer fellowships to 77 educators from 27 states including New York, Texas, Oregon and Minnesota. In their proposals, selected Fellows addressed topics such as how to create culturally responsive classrooms and how to increase accessibility and learning opportunities for all students. They also focused on the environment and learning in the natural world. Jenny Roberts (Houston, TX), for example, will complete forest school teacher training in Berkeley, CA and a mindfulness workshop in Portland, OR to help design authentic, learner-driven activities for her students, while Veronica Wylie (Hazlehurst, MS) will complete marine life training on submerged conservation projects in order to guide her students into a more accurate understanding of scientific concepts and processes.

Also this year, for the first time, FFT awarded 114 Innovation Grants to previous Fellows. Innovation Grant recipients receive $1,000 to individually pursue experiential learning around one of four problems of practiceAccessibility, Equity, Art & Design or Social Emotional Learningalong with the opportunity to collaborate with their peers, share what they learned and amplify impact in the classroom.

A complete list of 2021 FFT Fellows and Innovation Grant recipients can be found on the Fund for Teachers website at www.fundforteachers.org.

Media Contact

Laine Lieberman

[email protected]

SOURCE Fund for Teachers

Related Links

http://www.fundforteachers.org


SAN DIEGO, May 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is once again inviting Belgian industry to become part of the development of MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) through Blue Magic Belgium (BMB). The third annual event, set for Sept. 15-16, 2021 at DronePort's facility in Sint-Truiden, provides an opportunity for Belgium-based businesses to present their capabilities and products to GA-ASI technical experts with the goal of expanding GA-ASI's business-to-business cooperation with Belgian industry.

Following GA-ASI's 2020 BMB event, new Research and Development projects were initiated in partnership with Hexagon's Geospatial division and ScioTeq, adding to a growing list of projects in development with Belgian businesses working with GA-ASI on SkyGuardian development. Other Belgian businesses include AeroSimulators Group (ASG), AIRobot, ALX Systems, SABCA, Thales Belgium, ST Engineering and DronePort.

"GA-ASI encourages any Belgian companies who are interested in contributing to the advancement of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) technology for Belgian Defence and beyond, to review the applicant details and submit an application package," said GA-ASI European Regional Vice President, Scott Smith.

GA-ASI is interested in meeting with Belgian companies that develop technologies and products that are applicable to UAS in the following areas:

Cutting-Edge Engineering Technologies related to Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aircraft Systems

State-of-the-art Innovative Manufacturing developments related to MALE Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Sensor data processing, automation, utilization & distribution technology developments

Air Space Integration technologies and developments related to MALE Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Companies wishing to meet with GA-ASI representatives during the Sept. 15-16 event should visit https://ga-asi.com/blue-magic-belgium-2021 for additional information and to submit an application package. Businesses selected will meet with GA-ASI technical experts to present their capabilities and show how they can be applied to GA-ASI's line of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) products and services for UAS.

About GA-ASI

General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator RPA series and the Lynx Multi-mode Radar. With more than six million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent flight that enables situational awareness and rapid strike. The company also produces a variety of ground control stations and sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas. For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com.

Lynx, Predator, Reaper, SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian are registered trademarks of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

GA-ASI Media Relations

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

+1 (858) 524-8101

[email protected]

Related Images

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MQ-9B SkyGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA)

SOURCE General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
HOUSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gimmal LLC, a leading provider of information governance software solutions, has announced that Sherpa Software, LLC, a Pittsburgh-based enterprise data governance and eDiscovery solutions provider, has merged into Gimmal, effective as of May 4, 2021. With Sherpa, Gimmal adds full data governance and eDiscovery capabilities to the Gimmal Discover product suite.

To learn more about the out-of-the-box features of Gimmal Discover, visit www.gimmal.com/gimmal-discover.

Sherpa adds the following capabilities to Gimmal's already feature-rich information governance platform:

Locate and produce data from a variety of sources for regulatory compliance, litigation, or investigations.

Pinpoint content that may put your company at risk of violating CCPA, GDPR, or other regulatory requirements.

Discover sensitive information across the enterprise to ensure proper management of data.

Locate relevant information for litigation or internal investigations, perform first-pass review, and alert custodians to their litigation hold responsibility.

"With the addition of Sherpa, we are able to offer a unique combination of information governance capabilities to the market," states Mark Johnson, Chief Executive Officer at Gimmal. "Our feature-rich solution set, combined with deep subject matter expertise, sets us apart from any other information governance solution provider today."

Kevin Ogrodnik, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sherpa Software, explains the merging into Gimmal as "the perfect complement to an existing set of solutions that enables total information governance for an organization."

Madison Park Group served as the exclusive financial advisor to Gimmal on this transaction.

About Gimmal

Gimmal's information governance solutions have been helping clients take control of their information for over 18 years by combating risks associated with critical business information and enabling the ability to control content sprawl, reduce high infrastructure costs, and locate appropriate information when needed. Gimmal's software helps streamline discovery, migration, governance, and compliance of information without impacting end users. Learn more about Gimmal's information governance offerings at https://www.gimmal.com/

About Sherpa Software

For two decades, Sherpa Software has provided information governance solutions with white-glove service and support to customers around the globe. From remote workstation data management to Microsoft 365 data discovery and more, Sherpa lets you easily manage unstructured and structured data in one place for a fraction of the price you'd pay elsewhere. For you, that translates into time savings, improved cost and most importantly, peace of mind. Learn more about Sherpa Software at https://www.sherpasoftware.com/

SOURCE Gimmal, LLC

Related Links

https://www.gimmal.com/


"We are thrilled to welcome Michele and Mark to the GoDaddy team," said Aman Bhutani, GoDaddy CEO. "Their passion for the company's mission, extraordinary expertise and experience, demonstrated leadership strength, and cultural fit give us tremendous confidence they will help GoDaddy grow and scale to new heights."

With close to 20 years of legal experience, Lau most currently served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Associate General Counsel, Corporate, Governance and Transactions at McKesson Corporation. In her role, Lau advises McKesson's board and executives on strategic matters related M&A, McKesson Ventures, corporate strategy, shareholder engagement, securities, executive compensation, corporate governance, ESG, antitrust, debt, treasury, bankruptcy, real estate, subsidiary governance, stock plan administration and the McKesson Foundation. Lau co-chairs the National Asian Pacific Bar Association's In-House Counsel Mentoring Program and serves on the board of directors of the Asian Pacific Fund.

McCaffrey spent more than 20 years as a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) in Silicon Valley, and most recently served as the head of PwC's US Technology, Media & Telecom (TMT) Sector, a $2.7B practice with 2,000 employees. During his tenure, McCaffrey served as a key strategic advisor to senior executives in public and pre-public technology businesses of scale through transformative periods including initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and advancing their strategies to increase customer value. Prior to his role leading TMT, McCaffrey served as the leader of the global software practice at PwC. McCaffrey serves as President of Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation and is a frequent speaker on the topics of leadership, diversity and mentorship.

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy is empowering everyday entrepreneurs around the world by providing all of the help and tools to succeed online. GoDaddy is the place people come to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services, and manage their work. Our mission is to give our customers the tools, insights and the people to transform their ideas and personal initiative into success. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com .

Source: GoDaddy Inc.

SOURCE GoDaddy Inc.

Related Links

http://www.godaddy.com


ONTARIO, Calif., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GOFBA, a leading secure search engine and communication platform, announced today the international launch of its Five Star Business Listing program. This new program will give businesses  small and large  the opportunity to build their online presence and engage with millions of GOFBA users.

GOFBA

With an eye towards helping businesses dealing with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the Five Star Business Listing program allows businesses to initiate enrollment with a five star rating and features arbitrators to mitigate issues with customers that leave a poor comment. The Five Star Business Listing program does not charge a fee to businesses to remove negative comments or to only show positive ratings. Additionally, GOFBA's proprietary technology levels the playing field by preventing fake reviews and negative competitive online review tactics. The system is designed to promote an independent and honest review platform.

"We're very excited to be expanding our programs globally to help promote businesses that have minimal online presence during this crucial time. As a Search Engine, GOFBA is not directly competing with Google or Bing, we are filling a niche market to overcome the security, privacy and other issues inadequately addressed by these sites and offering a secure alternative for internet users," said Bill DeLisi, CEO of GOFBA. "By using GOFBA's Five Star Business Listing program, businesses across a range of industries and sizes can promote specials, reservations, online coupons, and more. Complemented by location-based ads and geodata, companies are able to reach consumers through targeted campaigns within their vicinity and GOFBA users' search needs are better served."

Businesses will also have the option to be a part of the Five Star Plus program which includes the benefits of the Five Star Business Listing and a one-page website for those without an online presence or who want more of an online presence. Five Star Plus members will also have the option to showcase additional and more detailed items on their page, such as restaurant menus, specials, sales, and more.

From restaurants to medical facilities, retailers and more, the new Five Star Business program rolls out internationally today and is available for all businesses to get in front of GOFBA's millions of users. To learn more about GOFBA's advertising opportunities or to create an account, visit https://www.gofba.com/.

Primary Offering

GOFBA is raising capital subject to its S-1 Registration Statement that went effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 16, 2021. Two million shares of common stock were registered at a proposed price of $5 per share. As of April 6, 2021, $1.6 million had been raised. Proceeds from the stock offering are intended to be used to further develop and commercialize internet modules that will be incorporated into GOFBA's communications platform.

"With the launch of Five Star, GOFBA introduces a sustainable revenue-generating component to its platform that takes the Company to a new level. We are eager to expedite development of additional communication modules that will appeal to GOFBA users, make our platform even more robust and further accelerate revenue growth," continued DeLisi.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

About GOFBA

Founded in 2008, GOFBA  a California-based technology company  offers an array of tools for a safer and more secure online experience and addresses the ever-increasing dangers that threaten everyday internet users. As the only English search engine available in China, GOFBA provides safe searching, secure chat and email to more than 45 million users worldwide. The company's family-friendly search tool is ideal for corporations and families that require content filtering for safer search. GOFBA is actively developing new technology to enhance security and streamline productivity for its millions of users across the globe. Visit www.GOFBA.com to learn more.

Disclaimer Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This release contains not only statements that are historical facts, but also statements that are forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are, by their very nature, uncertain and risky. These risks and uncertainties include international, national and local general economic and market conditions; the COVID-19 global pandemic; demographic changes; our ability to sustain, manage, or forecast growth; our ability to successfully make and integrate acquisitions; new product development and introduction; existing government regulations and changes in, or the failure to comply with, government regulations; adverse publicity; competition; the loss of significant customers or suppliers; fluctuations and difficulty in forecasting operating results; changes in business strategy or development plans; business disruptions; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; the ability to protect technology; and other risks that might be detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Although the forward-looking statements in this release reflect the good faith judgment of our management, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known by them. Consequently, and because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, the actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements. You are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in this release and in our other reports as we attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations and prospects.

Contacts 

Media:

Laura Waldron, Interdependence PR

[email protected]

O (949) 777-2485

M (630) 404-9493

Investor:

Peter Miselis, Interdependence PR

[email protected]

SOURCE GOFBA
RICE LAKE, Wisc., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A day before the fireworks shows of July 4th, the Henry 180 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Road America will treat fans to an equally impressive performance on the track. Wisconsin-based firearm manufacturer and title sponsor of the race, Henry Repeating Arms, is celebrating by inviting 180 active-duty members or veterans of the United States military to attend the race with free general admission.

August 8, 2020: #98: Chase Briscoe, Stewart-Haas Racing, Ford Mustang Henry Repeating Arms Henry 180 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. (HHP/Harold Hinson)

Henry Repeating Arms has a long history of supporting the military and its veterans with recent donations to The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) totaling over $100,000, a $200,000 donation to The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project, and tribute edition rifle presentations to veterans around the country including World War II hero, Louis Zamperini, and several Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.

"It's a weekend to celebrate America, and there's no better place to do that than our home track in the good company of our employees, friends, and guests while enjoying a packed schedule of racing," said Anthony Imperato, President and Owner of Henry Repeating Arms. "That mix of guns, gears, and July 4th gets my patriotic juices flowing, and I'm looking forward to shaking hands with those who served to keep weekends like this possible."

For its 4th straight year of being the primary sponsor of an Xfinity Series racecar at Road America, Henry Repeating Arms is continuing its partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing. Henry expects to announce the driver and paint scheme in June.

The Henry 180 Xfinity Series race at Road America begins at 2:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, July 3rd, with live coverage on NBC and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. Active-duty members or veterans of the United States military who wish to attend the race in person can apply online for free admission from Henry Repeating Arms here: https://www.henryusa.com/thankyou/

Henry firearms are purchased only through a licensed firearms dealer. For more information about Henry Repeating Arms and its products, visit henryusa.com or call 866-200-2354.

About Henry Repeating Arms:

Henry Repeating Arms is one of the leading rifle and shotgun manufacturers in the United States and a world leader in the lever action category. The company motto is "Made in America, or not made at all" and its firearms come with a lifetime guarantee backed by award-winning customer service. The company is also known for its charitable endeavors under its Guns For Great Causes program, which focuses on sick children, both individual cases and children's hospitals, veteran and wounded veteran organizations, Second Amendment and wildlife conservation organizations. The company currently employs 535 people and has 250,000 square-feet of manufacturing space in its Rice Lake, Wisconsin and Bayonne, New Jersey facilities. The company is named in honor of Benjamin Tyler Henry who invented and patented the Henry rifle in 1860  the first repeating rifle, the lever action rifle, which is America's unique contribution to international firearms design and is one of the most legendary, respected and sought-after rifles in the history of firearms. Visit Henry Repeating Arms online at www.HenryUSA.com, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HenryRepeating, and on Instagram @Henry_Rifles.

SOURCE Henry Repeating Arms

Related Links

www.henryusa.com


Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, moving crews have continued conducting moves as essential services. This has caused the over 100 moving crews at 3 Men Movers to continue to put themselves at risk by entering customer's homes during even the highest peaks of the pandemic. Though the movers are required to wear masks , and follow CDC recommended safety protocols, there is still inherent risk associated with being indoors with individuals who are not a member of the mover's household. The company has diligently worked to help mitigate those risks and protect its crews by supplying them with 46,673 total face masks and 1,460 gallons of hand sanitizer in 2020 alone.

One of the core values of 3 Men Movers is putting people first. It is in the spirit of these values that the local moving company chose to delay jobs the morning of Friday, April 30 to allow Houston moving and packing crews to attend the on-site clinic and receive the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Jacky Fischer, CEO and Owner of 3 Men Movers, reflects on the importance of providing this service by saying, "When we reached out to schedule the clinic we realized that the soonest the clinicians were available just happened to be the busiest moving day of the month. We could have pushed it back a few days but we wanted to get our crews access to the vaccine right away. Even though it required us to delay the start time of some morning jobs and might even affect our bottom line, our people are worth it."

Anyone familiar with the culture at 3 Men Movers will not be surprised by this announcement and decision to do the right thing. Since March 2021 the Houston moving company has offered employees paid time off to receive the COVID-19 vaccine , doing so before the tax credit incentive was announced by President Joe Biden on April 21, 2021.

In keeping with the recommended Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination schedule , a second on-site clinic will be offered at least three weeks after the first clinic, giving employees and contractors an opportunity to receive their second shot, and peace of mind.

About 3 Men Movers: 3 Men Movers is a woman-owned business that has demonstrated dedication to its customers and its community through a philanthropic spirit and commitment to honest practices for 35 years. We believe that to have great movers, you must start with good people. That's why with 3 Men Movers you're getting kindhearted experts who go beyond to ensure each customer has an excellent experience. With offices in Houston , San Antonio , Austin , and Dallas , our local moving company has become recognized as the mover of choice for over 30,000 Texans each year.

For questions please contact:

Chelsea Anderson - Director of Marketing

3 Men Movers

713-333-6683

[email protected]

SOURCE 3 Men Movers

Related Links

http://3menmovers.com


For the Right Perspective & Competitive Insights- Request Free Sample Report

Our Industrial Fasteners Market procurement intelligence report offers actionable procurement intelligence insights, sourcing strategies, and action plans to mitigate risks arising out of the current pandemic situation. The insights offered by our reports will help procurement professionals streamline supply chain operations and gain insights into the best procurement practices to mitigate losses.

Major Five Industrial Fasteners Companies:

Precision Castparts Corp.

Alcoa Corp.

LISI SA

Nifco Inc.

Bulten AB

Industrial Fasteners Market 2021-2025: Scope

SpendEdge presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The Industrial Fasteners Market Report covers the following areas:

Industrial Fasteners Market Size

Industrial Fasteners Market Trends

Industrial Fasteners Market Analysis

Industrial Fasteners Market Geographic Landscape Outlook

APAC

Europe

MEA

North America

South America

Key leading countries

SpendEdge suggests various forecast scenarios considering the impact of COVID-19. SpendEdge's in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports.

Request a free sample

Industrial Fasteners Market 2021-2025: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025

Detailed information on factors that will assist Industrial Fasteners market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the Industrial Fasteners market size

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in supplier behavior

The growth of the Industrial Fasteners market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of Industrial Fasteners market vendors

Related Reports on Heavy Industry Include:

Cooling Tower Sourcing and Procurement Report: The cooling tower will grow at a CAGR of 3.98% during 2021-2025. Prices will increase by 2%-4% during the forecast period and suppliers will have a moderate bargaining power in this market.

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Milling Machines Sourcing and Procurement Report: The milling machines will grow at a CAGR of 5.93% during 2021-2025. Prices will increase by 7%-8% during the forecast period and suppliers will have a moderate bargaining power in this market.

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Card Personalization Equipment Sourcing and Procurement Report: The card personalization equipment will grow at a CAGR of 5.53% during 2021-2025. Prices will increase by 3%-7% during the forecast period and suppliers will have a moderate bargaining power in this market.

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Get access to regular sourcing and procurement insights to our digital procurement platform.

Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more https://www.spendedge.com/request-for-demo

Contacts

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

Contact Us

SOURCE SpendEdge
DALLAS, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DotCom Magazine today announced that Ironside Human Resources has been selected to join its annual Impact Company of The Year List For 2021. The DotCom Magazine Impact Company of The Year 2021 Award celebrates the most important segment of the economy  America's privately owned companies whose Founders, CEOs and Amazing Team Members are making an important impact in the economy.

DotCom Magazine has honored Ironside Human Resources as making a positive difference in an incredibly unique year. The DotCom Magazine 2021 Impact Company of The Year Awards celebrates shapeshifting entrepreneurs and their companies. When a company makes an impact, not only are they helping their clients, but they are also helping the world become a better place.

Andy Jacob, CEO of DotCom Magazine says, "We appreciate the selfless commitment that leaders and entrepreneurs make to their brand. We are honored to award great companies our DotCom Magazine 2021 Impact Company of The Year Award. At DotCom Magazine, we believe entrepreneurs are the heartbeat of the world in so many ways. We believe it is a world where risktakers must be lauded, saluted, and respected. 2021 is an incredibly unique year in so many ways. Companies have so many ways to make an impact, and that's why each company's unique impact is so important than ever before. Our award winners have courage and an unyielding passion to grow and contribute in very unique ways.

Jacob continues, "In 2021, everyone talks about uncertain times. In 2021, we believe it is the leaders of impactful companies that stick their head up above the crowd, and say "we can do this", "we will get it done", "we will make this happen", "we are willing to pay the price, and "we will turn uncertainty into opportunity. Our award winners are selected for leadership. Their company leads and their business system leads, we consider our award winners lamplighters. We believe we need more courageous entrepreneurs bringing light into the world by building compelling companies that make a difference.

Ironside Human Resources was established in 2011 by their current CEO and COO, Doug, and Kara Carter. The vision that was set out for the firm was to provide healthcare recruitment services for any and all types of healthcare facilities across the nation based on a cost-efficient business model. The Ironside firm boasts extremely competitive rates while still yielding high quality results for their clients in both the permanent and travel / contract healthcare recruitment sectors. Another point of pride with the national talent acquisition firm is their diverse client portfolio, working with large health systems in metroplex areas to remote, rural healthcare organizations alike. The Mission of the company is to provide a personalized recruitment experience that addresses each of their unique client's staffing challenges by playing an involved and consistent role throughout the entire recruitment process.

About DotCom Magazine DotCom Magazine is a leading news platform providing news and unique interviews with newsmakers, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs. At DotCom Magazine, we put people with entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of every story. We take an "entrepreneur's first" approach in everything we report and every interview we conduct. We cover real entrepreneur stories from visionaries that are making a difference. Regardless of who the entrepreneur is, where they live, or what they are doing, if it's interesting and newsworthy, DotCom Magazine covers it. The people at DotCom Magazine considers the newsworthiness of the story and what our readers want to learn about. If something is important to our readers, it's important to us. We report in a reliable and easy to understand voice. DotCom Magazine offers news with our locally staffed newsroom and is digitally read throughout the world. We are committed to listening to our readers to make sure we're as open and responsive as possible.

About the DotCom Magazine Impact Company of The Year Awards: DotCom Magazine celebrates the remarkable achievements of today's entrepreneurial superstars  the privately held small businesses that drive our economy. At DotCom Magazine, we believe that the entrepreneurs of the world are the real superstars. We celebrate the risk takers that are committed to building a great company. From startups to more mature companies, from companies' juts putting income on the books to companies with revenues in the millions and tens of millions, if a company is making an impact, DotCom Magazine is going to report on it. The 2021 Impact Company Awards are open to all companies for consideration. For more information visit www.DotComMagazine.com

Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12868594

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Ironside Human Resources
SECAUCUS, N.J., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading fashion retailer Ashley Stewart, Inc. is proud to announce the appointment of Lloyd Boston as Chief Creative Officer (CCO). Boston will assume responsibility for the creative direction of the Ashley Stewart brand. Boston joins Gary Sheinbaum, Ashley Stewart's newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The two formidable talents unite forces once more after time shared building the iconic Tommy Hilfiger brand.

"I've always taken great pride in using all of what I know how to do on all platforms to help real women, with real bodies and real budgets, look and feel their besteven when our industry didn't think it was cool. So, when the opportunity to join the Ashley Stewart team presented itself, I had to seize it," said Boston.

Boston began his career as Tommy Hilfiger's first hand-picked intern in 1989, rising to the brand's first V.P. of Art Direction. A creative architect, Boston brings 30 years of experience in brand development, creative direction, corporate marketing, and a deep understanding of the cultural forces affecting consumer habits, as well as the strategic implications. A multi-media spokesman and brand consultant, Boston has worked with mega-retailers such as Bloomingdale's, Club Monaco, Jones New York, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Moet & Chandon, Nordstrom, and TJMaxx/Marshalls on organic lifestyle marketing while creating brand-integrated content. Boston's razor-sharp eye and stealth marketing tactics have guided brands to build brand equity and customer loyalty.

At every level of the creative supply chain, Boston finds the synergistic narrative between corporations and their customers, skills harnessed during his seven-year tenure as former Vice President of Art Direction for multi-billion-dollar brand Tommy Hilfiger. Instrumental in developing the brand image and visual direction, Boston built the first in-house Creative Services Department, created original lifestyle content for the inaugural Tommy.com, and became the first-ever exclusive national spokesperson at the request of Mr. Hilfiger. This keen artistic sensibility and inclusive lens on fashion keep Boston firmly positioned in millions of American homes and a trusted strategic partner amongst top brands.

"Artisan, creative visionary, tastemaker are the words that come to mind when I think of Lloyd. He brings a high level of passion and excellence to everything he touches and with grace," said Sheinbaum. "Over the past two decades, what I've come to admire most is Lloyd's community engagement. For every stage of his career, Lloyd has returned in service to his community while building an ecosystem of cultural collaborators," said Sheinbaum. "With this combination of creative capability, insight, and passion, I knew Lloyd was the right person to grow and transform the brand to serve our customer beyond her wildest imagination. I am elated to welcome Lloyd to the Ashley Stewart team."

Boston shared, "The Ashley Stewart woman has always been a part of my world. She has a bold sense of style, and I look forward to helping her further define it through innovative products and fresh, unexpected retail and digital experiences. My goal is to listen, learn, and give her even more stylish touchpoints as she continues to celebrate her own personal flare within our ever-evolving brand."

A New York Emmy-nominated television host and correspondent with over two decades on national television, Boston has further positioned himself as a leading style authority and fixture in homes across America. Known for making fashion accessible to all, Boston has appeared on top-rated programming across four out of five major commercial broadcast networks, including a decade-long contributor role on NBC's Today with hundreds of expert appearances. He is also widely recognized for his work with CBS on The Insider as their resident voice of style, where he expanded national and global editorial coverage in the women's and men's fashion and luxury spaces. Boston got his start in national broadcasting as a featured expert on ABC's The View with countless segments to date and as an original host of the Style Network, reaching millions more worldwide on Access, E! News, Extra, HSN, Oprah, Rachael Ray Show, The Talk, and many more.

A writer and illustrator, Boston is an L.A. Times bestselling author with four stylebooks: Men of Color (Artisan), Make Over Your Man (Doubleday), Before You Put That On (Atria/Simon and Schuster), and The Style Checklist (Atria/Simon and Schuster).

Boston graduated from Rutgers University with a BFA in Fine Arts.

About Ashley Stewart

Since its founding in 1991, Ashley Stewart has stood for uncompromising style, fashion and value, championing the confidence and empowerment of women. Today, Ashley Stewart is a leading omnichannel retailer offering the hottest looks for women sizes 10 to 36 with a significant e-commerce presence at www.AshleyStewart.com and 82 stores across the United States.

Media Contact:

Myescha Joell

Morris Street Media

631-742-6728

[email protected]

SOURCE Ashley Stewart

Related Links

https://www.ashleystewart.com


According to Tim Ryan, Chief Operating Officer of Lockton Northeast, "Adding Pat to our team is evidence of our commitment to growth in New England. He has built a reputation as a dynamic leader in the industry, and we have every confidence in his ability to propel us forward in this important market through strong relationships with our clients and community. As we welcome Pat to his new role, we also express our appreciation for Chip Manozzi, who previously held this position and was instrumental in helping Lockton gain a foothold in Boston. Chip is stepping back from his leadership role to focus solely on serving his clients."

Before he joined Lockton, Haraden served as Area President in New England and the Northeast Regional Director of Gallagher's public sector practice. He began his career as an underwriter for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. He parlayed that experience into senior consultant roles at Fidelity, Hewitt Associates, and Watson Wyatt Worldwide. He then became a partner at Longfellow Benefits, which was acquired by Gallagher in 2013.

"Solving business problems for my clients has always been my top priority," shared Haraden. "I'm excited to use that same problem-solving creativity, combined with my leadership skills, to drive growth for the region. That opportunity, along with the independent, entrepreneurial nature of the organization, drew me to Lockton."

Haraden earned his Bachelor of Science in accounting and management at Northeastern University and his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in taxation at Bentley College. He is a big believer in continuing to fine tune his skills, leading him to earn a wide variety of insurance and employee benefits professional designations, including CEBS, CPCU, GBA, RPA, CLU, ChFC, RHU, REBC, ARM, AIC and ASLI. Haraden is a licensed health and property and casualty insurance producer and advisor in Massachusetts. He also holds insurance producer and consultant licenses in several other states, is a frequent author on risk management topics, and is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences.

SOURCE Lockton Companies

Related Links

http://lockton.com/


WASHINGTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Alan Rosenbloom, President and CEO of the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC), sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra requesting prompt relief and support for the prioritization of long-term care (LTC) pharmacies in the next distribution of the Provider Relief Fund. This letter follows a similar one sent on behalf of leaders from 12 of the largest LTC pharmacies in the country, representing more than 25% of the LTC pharmacy sector, to Congressional leadership requesting support for prompt relief.

Congress established the Provider Relief Fund under the CARES Act in March 2020 to provide financial relief to health care providers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of today, LTC pharmacies have not received any of this important relief, despite providing essential health care and services to LTC facility residents throughout the pandemic. LTC pharmacies serve residents, who need an average of 12-13 medications daily, by dispensing and delivering prescription drugs, as well as consulting directly with residents and staff. The pharmacists and nurses employed by LTC pharmacies are integral to health care planning and management crucial to overall resident care and quality of life.

As a result of this pandemic, LTC pharmacies cite both significant revenue losses and higher costs in serving assisted living communities, nursing homes and other communal settings where older adults live. LTC pharmacies are incurring 10% higher operating costs due to personal protective equipment (PPE), social distancing, and other required safety measures, while simultaneously witnessing an 11% revenue loss, all of which should be covered under the Fund.

"The role of long-term care pharmacies in the continuum of care and maintaining quality of life for residents is crucial, especially for the many seniors served every day in LTC facilities, which have faced immense and continuing challenges during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis," noted Alan Rosenbloom, SCPC President and CEO. "Leaders from the LTC pharmacy sector and the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition wrote to Congressional leadership and HHS Secretary Becerra respectively to request urgent relief to continue providing essential services to LTC residents."

In addition to providing uninterrupted medication access and care throughout the pandemic, LTC pharmacies are playing a central role in the successful delivery and administration of COVID-19 vaccines to their communities. However, the costs of delivering and administering vaccines to residents on a facility-by-facility basis are much higher than centralized sites. The federal government's one-size-fits-all payment approach has worsened the financial situation for this sector because payments to LTC pharmacies have only covered 60% of vaccine administration costs.

In the past year, HHS has given at least $12 billion in well-deserved financial relief to LTC facilities. Yet the pharmacies that serve residents in these facilities remain excluded, despite the close link between the financial impact on LTC facilities and that on LTC pharmacies. Fair and equitable relief for LTC pharmacies would require no more than $370 million from the Fund.

"We urge Secretary Becerra to prioritize equitable relief to LTC pharmacies in the next Provider Relief Fund allocation, given their irreplaceable role in communities nationwide," said Rosenbloom. "We cannot afford to neglect LTC pharmacies and the residents that desperately depend on their services and care."

The Congressional leadership letter from LTC pharmacy leaders can be viewed here. The letter to Secretary Becerra from SCPC CEO and President Alan Rosenbloom can be viewed here.

About Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition

The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition (SCPC) is the only national organization exclusively representing the interests of LTC pharmacies, representing 75% of the sector overall. Its members operate in all 50 states and serve 850,000 patients daily in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across the country. Visit seniorcarepharmacies.org to learn more.

SOURCE Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition
"As local business owners, we're proud to provide employment and career advancement opportunities that teach important life skills to our crew members, whether they're looking for a summer job or starting a career," said local McDonald's Owner-Operator and People Advocate Rusty Hamilton. "We are a people business at our core, and as we start to welcome customers back into dining rooms, the safety of our employees and customers is a top priority."

A summer job at McDonald's prepares employees with on-the-job training for future careers within McDonald's and beyond. In addition to gaining experience and knowledge in the hospitality industry, McDonald's restaurant employees develop teamwork, customer service, responsibility and time management skills that are highly sought after by hiring managers across the nation.

Local McDonald's owner-operators offer crew members an array of benefits, including flexible schedulingmaking it easier for employees to manage their own schedules online or through an appcompetitive wages, employee meal programs and more.

"With job training, benefits, access to scholarships and more, McDonald's offers key support to individuals entering the workforce while being a proven partner to Alabama's economy," Governor Ivey said. "As we continue to bounce back from COVID-19, I'm committed to helping every Alabamian who wants a job get a job, and I look forward to seeing the more than 3,000 open positions in our state filled."

In addition to providing local jobs, McDonald's continues to invest in the communities in which it serves through three major scholarship programs, HACER National Scholarships, McDonald's/APIA Scholarship program and Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) Black and Positively Golden Scholarships. McDonald's USA is awarding half a million dollars to incoming and HBCU students through May 10. Students are encouraged to apply today at https://www.tmcf.org/. McDonald's awarded six $15,000 scholarships to student recipients throughout Alabama last year.

Job seekers can visit McDonalds.com/careers to learn more and apply to a restaurant near them, or text 'apply' to 36453 to start an application via text. Interviews will also take place in-restaurant, over the phone or via Zoom from May 10-14.

About McDonald's USA

McDonald's serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook at www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.



SOURCE McDonald's USA
HOUSTON, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Muskat, Mahony & Devine is pleased to announce that partner Corey Devine has been named to the Houston Business Journal's 40 Under 40 list for 2021. The annual listing honors 40 exceptional young business and community leaders in Houston.

According to the Houston Business Journal, 40 Under 40 honorees are chosen by a panel of judges from across several industries, who score nominees based on leadership, overcoming challenges and community involvement.

"Corey is an exceptional attorney who excels inside and outside the courtroom," said Muskat, Mahony & Devine co-founder Mike Muskat. "Our clients know him as a trusted advocate and partner they can depend on for the best possible outcome."

Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Mr. Devine focuses his practice on traditional employment, wage and hour, and unfair competition disputes and counseling, especially for clients in the energy industry. Through his superior work, he has consistently been named a Texas Rising Star by Super Lawyers, an honor bestowed on no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state.

Mr. Devine is also deeply committed to helping his community, which includes pro bono work for Covenant House Texas and leadership positions with the Montrose Center, the Miller Outdoor Theatre Advisory Board and Rice University's Alumni Association.

"I am honored to be recognized among this outstanding group of Houston's up-and-coming business leaders," said Mr. Devine. "I grew up in a small Texas town, and am the first person in my family to attend college. But Houston welcomed me with open arms. I owe the city a debt of gratitude, and it is an honor to give back to the community whenever I can."

The Houston Business Journal will celebrate 40 Under 40 honorees in a live broadcast on June 17 and in a special section of its June 18 weekly edition, which will be available online at https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/.

Muskat, Mahony & Devine, LLP is a Houston-based labor and employment law firm that delivers big firm expertise and sophistication with a personal approach. Founded in 2006, M2D partners daily with some of the world's largest and most sophisticated employers to find solutions to their toughest labor and employment challenges. Learn more: https://m2dlaw.com/.

Contact:

April Arias

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Muskat, Mahony & Devine, LLP

Related Links

https://m2dlaw.com


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The number one planning and booking site for Myrtle Beach, SC, MyrtleBeach.com reports record traffic to their suite of Myrtle Beach area related tourism websites in Q1 of 2021. According to Google Analytics trends, the company's sites are poised to hit peak traffic typical to the month of June by the end of April 2021.

MyrtleBeach.com has been monitoring visitor sentiment through regular surveys since March 2020. Data from the organization's most recent surveys reflect:

a high rate of vaccinations among potential visitors with 47% being fully vaccinated and another 20% having received or scheduled their first shot

62% of respondents plan to travel between April and July

80% say their travel budget is equal to or greater than their travel budget in 2019

68% say they plan to travel as much or more frequently as they did in 2019

an interest in information about mask ordinances in their destination (72%), availability of open restaurants (70%), and status of local attractions and activities (64%) suggesting they want to be able to move freely and have things to do on their vacation

travelers are more likely to drive to a destination within the next year, but they're open to flying as well, with only 38% saying they would not fly within the next year

a flexible cancellation policy is still a driver in visitor's willingness to book, with 71% of respondents saying they would be persuaded to book with the option

With the COVID-19 pandemic causing lockdowns and dramatic reductions in traveler interest in 2020, this new data signals high traveler demand for the Myrtle Beach area in 2021. Clicks to Myrtle Beach area hotel information reached an all-time high in March as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout gained momentum. That momentum carried forward into April with the last 30 days seeing a 972% increase in site traffic.

"We are seeing a dramatic increase in interest in the Myrtle Beach area as a whole," said Cassidy Moore, Executive Vice President of Operations with MyrtleBeach.com. "With many of our area hotels holding their rates right now, most site visitors are interested in hotel deals, with that section of our site seeing record clicks."

MyrtleBeach.com is owned and operated by Intellistrand LLC, which also owns and operates other Myrtle Beach area websites including MyrtleBeachHotels.com, NorthMyrtleBeachHotels.com and PawleysIsland.com.

The data is a good sign for the Myrtle Beach area as all tourism industry related businesses have suffered now for over a year. "I have lived in Myrtle Beach now for over 50 years and this area has weathered through a lot of adversities" said Scott Brandon, CEO of Intellistrand LLC. "From hurricanes to economic downturns, this area has always been very resilient."

To learn more about MyrtleBeach.com, visit www.myrtlebeach.com .

About MyrtleBeach.com

With over 3 million visitors a year, MyrtleBeach.com is the premier planning guide for vacations, business retreats and leisure activities in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, area. The site, with more than 3,500 pages, features complete profiles for over 600 hotels, resorts, restaurants and attractions in and around Myrtle Beach, as well as consumer reviews and the area's most complete vacation-planning information.

MyrtleBeach.com is the parent company for subsidiary travel and tourism sites including MyrtleBeachHotels.com , PawleysIsland.com and NorthMyrtleBeachHotels.com .

For more information, visit www.MyrtleBeach.com or find us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , Pinterest and YouTube .

SOURCE MyrtleBeach.com

Related Links

https://www.myrtlebeach.com


PHILADELPHIA, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- N2Growth, Inc., a global leadership consulting and executive search firm, announces the appointment of Steve Manning as Managing Partner.

Based out of Singapore, Mr. Manning will be responsible for N2Growth's executive search operations in Southeast Asia. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Imperial College, London, and a Master's degree in Marketing from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. He also holds a Certificate in International Management from INSEAD.

"Steve is a great addition to our team and will help us tremendously moving forward. He's not only a proven player but a great human being and a good fit for our team. N2Growth has continued to grow throughout 2021, and Steve's arrival will only accelerate that progress as we continue to set the standard for what search should be," said Mike Myatt, Chairman at N2Growth.

Mr. Manning added, "What I found most compelling about N2Growth is its exceptional client focus in the executive search market," said Steve Manning. "There is a refreshing look, backed by substance, to how N2Growth delivers service; it is open, transparent, consultative, and aligned to the needs of clients, rather than an institutionalized process. Quite simply, they listen to clients' needs and move very fast. I've identified a hunger for growth and to support the global team with enabling tools and technology. I'm looking forward to contributing to the company's next levels of success and expanding globally integrated services offered to our clients."

Jaco Erasmus, CEO of N2Growth EMEAA, believes that Mr. Manning is coming onboard during a period of significant geopolitical-economical shift and business opportunities towards Asia. His knowledge and experience will be invaluable in driving N2Growth in the region.

Steve's focus is executive recruitment as Asia's practice leader. Mr. Manning is a seasoned professional and his experience will undoubtedly help N2Growth's clients find the best executive talent, capable of influencing culture and business during these challenging times.

About N2Growth

N2Growth is a global leadership consulting and executive search firm with practices serving all industries and functions. Ranked a top executive recruiting firm by Forbes, N2Growth serves more than 50 markets across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. Learn more about N2Growth at www.n2growth.com.

Media Inquiries:

Dan Evans

Chief Marketing Officer, N2Growth

[email protected]

Related Images

image1.png

SOURCE N2Growth
WASHINGTON, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This May, NASA celebrates the contributions of its Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) employees  past and present  with a variety of internal and external events and products centered around the theme: Advancing Leaders Through Purpose-Driven Service.

"Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make valuable contributions to every aspect of our society, including NASA's missions and successes. This year's AAPI Heritage Month brings heightened awareness and significance, given the recent violence directed against Asian Americans," said NASA Administrator Sen. Bill Nelson. "The Biden-Harris Administration and NASA are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion, where all employees are welcomed, respected, connected, and engaged. President Biden has set the tone, choosing Vice President Harris as his running mate, appointing the most diverse cabinet in our nation's history, and nominating Margaret Vo Schaus, who, if confirmed, will serve as NASA's next CFO. I am fully committed to ensuring the president's vision is carried out at NASA and beyond."

As part of this month's celebration, the NASA Headquarters AAPI Employee Resource Group has produced a video featuring the many voices of the AAPI community all across the agency.

In addition to internal events that celebrate AAPI people and cultures, external events throughout the month will showcase the stories and talents of AAPI members of the NASA workforce.

Dr. Kartik Sheth, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope astrophysicist from the Astrophysics Division at NASA Headquarters shared his story and discussed how to become an astrophysicist during a recent episode of NASA STEM Stars.

On Monday, May 10, at 2 p.m. EDT, NASA Television will air "AAPI Voices Rising." This event will feature Kei Koizumi, acting director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, acting NASA Chief of Staff Bhavya Lal, and Mimi Aung. The panelists will share a story of their life journeys as an Asian American and/or Pacific Islander in America. In addition to NASA Television, the event will air on the NASA app and the agency's website.

A number of digital products and social media posts also are available or planned throughout the month to highlight the accomplishments of some of the many people who make up the rich and diverse tapestry that is the AAPI community at NASA, including the video "With Much Ingenuity, We Soar Together," in which JPL's MiMi Aung shares her experience and hopes for the younger generation, as well as the Faces of NASA gallery, and a Google Arts & Culture profile of Ellison Onizuka, first Asian American astronaut. There will also be a special video tribute featuring astronauts Kjell Lindgren, Sunita Williams, Jonny Kim, and Raja Chari that will appear later this month on NASA's YouTube channel.

See some of the faces and stories of the NASA's AAPI community at:

https://www.nasa.gov/image-gallery/asian-pacific-american-heritage

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

https://www.nasa.gov


PROVO, Utah, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: NUS) today announced record first-quarter 2021 revenue and earnings per share.

Executive Summary

Q1 2021 vs. Prior-year Quarter

Revenue: $677.0 million; +31%  +6% fx impact or $29.6 million Earnings Per Share (EPS): $0.91; +153% Sales Leaders: 60,619; +22% Customers: 1,517,260; +34%

"We are very pleased with a strong start to 2021 with our highest-ever first quarter revenue and earnings per share," said Ritch Wood, chief executive officer. "Our innovative beauty and wellness product initiatives powered by our social commerce business model led to 34 percent growth in our customer base over the prior year and a 22 percent increase in global sales leaders. We were recognized again by Euromonitor as the world's number one beauty device systems brand.* We continue to improve our geographic balance, driven by ongoing strong performance in the West, providing a more diversified and sustainable growth profile. Our manufacturing segment also achieved record results with 69 percent year-over-year revenue growth."

Ryan Napierski, president and CEO-elect, added, "We continue to make progress toward our vision of becoming the world's leading beauty and wellness company powered by our dynamic affiliate opportunity platform. We added innovative products to our portfolio with the launch of ageLOC Boost and Nutricentials Bioadaptives, and our markets are forecasting strong demand for new product innovations being introduced in the back half of the year. These include Beauty Focus Collagen+, which is the first product in a new beauty-from-within line, and ageLOC Meta, a metabolic health supplement and our next major Pharmanex product introduction. The West markets continue to lead out in adopting our social commerce business model with triple-digit growth. Our affiliates are leveraging this model to connect with more consumers and attract people interested in building their own socially enabled affiliate marketing business. In the East, we grew 14 percent in Japan and modestly in Mainland China and anticipate increased adoption of our social commerce strategy and digital tools."

Q1 2021 Year-over-year Operating Results

Revenue: $677.0 million compared to $518.0 million  +6% fx impact Gross Margin: 74.8% compared to 75.7%  Nu Skin business was 77.8% compared to 78.1%  Impacted by growth in manufacturing segment Selling Expenses: 40.4% compared to 39.8%  Nu Skin business was 43.4% compared to 42.0% G&A Expenses: 25.1% compared to 28.9% Operating Margin: 9.3% compared to 7.1% Other Income / (Expense): $1.6 million compared to ($6.2) million Income Tax Rate: 26.5% compared to 35.1%  Benefited by geographic mix EPS: $0.91 compared to $0.36

Stockholder Value

Dividend Payments: $19.3 million Stock Repurchases: $50.4 million  $275.4 million remaining in authorization

Q2 and Full-year 2021 Outlook

Q2 2021 Revenue: $680 to $705 million; +11 to 15%  Approximately +5% fx impact Q2 2021 EPS: $0.97 to $1.07; +20 to 32% 2021 Revenue: $2.80 to $2.87 billion; +9 to 11%  Approximately +3 to 4% fx impact 2021 EPS: $4.05 to $4.30; +12 to 18%

Mark Lawrence, chief financial officer, added, "During the quarter, we continued our focus on generating shareholder value by improving operating margin through G&A optimization and leveraging our balance sheet to repurchase nearly one million shares. We continue to create synergistic value from our Rhyz manufacturing companies as they enabled the accelerated growth throughout the West. Given the strong start to the year, as well as the positive trends we have seen in customer and sales leader growth, we are increasing our annual revenue and EPS guidance."

About Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Founded more than 35 years ago, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NSE) empowers innovative companies with sustainable solutions, opportunities, technologies and life-improving values. The company currently focuses its efforts around innovative consumer products, product manufacturing and controlled environment agriculture technology. The NSE family of companies includes Nu Skin, which develops and distributes a comprehensive line of premium-quality beauty and wellness solutions through a global network of sales leaders in Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Pacific; and Rhyz, our strategic investment arm that includes a collection of sustainable manufacturing and technology innovation companies. Nu Skin Enterprises is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NUS." More information is available at nuskinenterprises.com.

* Source Euromonitor International Limited; Retail Value RSP terms; all channels; 2017 to 2020. Beauty Systems are at-home Skin Care Beauty Devices that are exclusively paired or recommended to be used with a topical consumable of the same brand. Claim verification based on Euromonitor custom research and methodology conducted January-March of 2021. Sales of at-home skin care beauty devices includes sales of electric facial cleansers as defined in Passport database. This category does not include hair care/removal appliances, body shavers, and oral care appliances.

Important Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that represent the company's current expectations and beliefs. All statements other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of federal and state securities laws and include, but are not limited to, statements of management's expectations regarding the company's performance, growth, product pipeline and product introductions, customers and sales leaders, affiliates, strategies and initiatives; projections regarding revenue, earnings per share, foreign currency fluctuations and other financial items; statements of belief; and statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "outlook," "guidance," "plan," "forecast," "expand," "will," "would," "could," "may," "might," the negative of these words and other similar words.

The forward-looking statements and related assumptions involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from any forward-looking statements or views expressed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

risk that epidemics, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and other crises could negatively impact our business;

adverse publicity related to the company's business, products, industry or any legal actions or complaints by the company's sales force or others;

risk that direct selling laws and regulations in any of the company's markets, including the United States and Mainland China, may be modified, interpreted or enforced in a manner that results in negative changes to the company's business model or negatively impacts its revenue, sales force or business, including through the interruption of sales activities, loss of licenses, imposition of fines, or any other adverse actions or events;

any failure of current or planned initiatives or products to generate interest among the company's sales force and customers and generate sponsoring and selling activities on a sustained basis;

political, legal, tax and regulatory uncertainties associated with operating in international markets, including Mainland China;

uncertainty regarding meeting restrictions and other government scrutiny in Mainland China, as well as negative media and consumer sentiment in Mainland China on our business operations and results;

risk of foreign-currency fluctuations and the currency translation impact on the company's business associated with these fluctuations;

uncertainties regarding the future financial performance of the businesses the company has acquired;

risks related to accurately predicting, delivering or maintaining sufficient quantities of products to support planned initiatives or launch strategies, and increased risk of inventory write-offs if the company over-forecasts demand for a product or changes its planned initiatives or launch strategies;

regulatory risks associated with the company's products, which could require the company to modify its claims or inhibit its ability to import or continue selling a product in a market if the product is determined to be a medical device or if the company is unable to register the product in a timely manner under applicable regulatory requirements;

unpredictable economic conditions and events globally, including trade policies and tariffs;

the company's future tax-planning initiatives; any prospective or retrospective increases in duties on the company's products imported into the company's markets outside of the United States ; and any adverse results of tax audits or unfavorable changes to tax laws in the company's various markets; and

continued competitive pressures in the company's markets.

The company's financial performance and the forward-looking statements contained herein are further qualified by a detailed discussion of associated risks set forth in the documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements set forth the company's beliefs as of the date that such information was first provided, and the company assumes no duty to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect any change except as required by law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures: Constant-currency revenue change is a non-GAAP financial measure that removes the impact of fluctuations in foreign-currency exchange rates, thereby facilitating period-to-period comparisons of the company's performance. It is calculated by translating the current period's revenue at the same average exchange rates in effect during the applicable prior-year period and then comparing that amount to the prior-year period's revenue. The company believes that constant-currency revenue change is useful to investors, lenders and analysts because such information enables them to gauge the impact of foreign-currency fluctuations on the company's revenue from period to period.

The Company's revenue results by segment for the three-month periods ended March 31 are presented in the following table (in thousands).



Three Months Ended March 31,





Constant-Currency

2021

2020

Change

Change Nu Skin





















Mainland China $ 149,593

$ 137,696



9%



1% Americas/Pacific

149,465



74,573



100%



97% South Korea

81,131



75,719



7%



 EMEA

76,180



35,403



115%



98% Japan

69,864



61,300



14%



11% Southeast Asia

67,585



69,586



(3)%



(5)% Hong Kong/Taiwan

36,345



35,827



1%



(3)% Other

705



773



(9)%



(9)% Total Nu Skin

630,868



490,877



29%



22% Manufacturing

45,985



27,147



69%



69% Grow Tech

173



4



4,225%



4,225% Total $ 677,026

$ 518,028



31%



25%

The company's Customers and Sales Leaders statistics by segment as of March 31, 2021 and 2020 are presented in the following table:



As of March 31, 2021

As of March 31, 2020

% Increase (Decrease)

Customers

Sales Leaders

Customers

Sales Leaders

Customers

Sales Leaders Mainland China

316,000



16,716



271,536



16,159



16%



3% Americas/Pacific

407,413



12,340



214,139



6,930



90%



78% South Korea

152,390



7,099



174,004



6,608



(12)%



7% EMEA

296,001



7,950



140,344



4,237



111%



88% Japan

126,525



6,131



119,784



5,635



6%



9% Southeast Asia

152,889



6,882



145,116



6,634



5%



4% Hong Kong/Taiwan

66,042



3,501



66,024



3,348







5% Total

1,517,260



60,619



1,130,947



49,551



34%



22%

"Customers" are persons who purchased products directly from the company during the previous three months. Our Customer numbers do not include consumers who purchase products directly from members of our sales force.

"Sales Leaders" are independent distributors, and sales employees and independent marketers in China, who achieve certain qualification requirements.

NU SKIN ENTERPRISES, INC. Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)



Three Months Ended March 31,

2021

2020











Revenue $ 677,026

$ 518,028 Cost of sales

170,566



125,793 Gross profit

506,460



392,235











Operating expenses:









Selling expenses

273,746



206,042 General and administrative expenses

169,801



149,628 Total operating expenses

443,547



355,670











Operating income

62,913



36,565 Other income (expense), net

1,582



(6,174)











Income before provision for income taxes

64,495



30,391 Provision for income taxes

17,065



10,661











Net income $ 47,430

$ 19,730











Net income per share:









Basic $ 0.94

$ 0.36 Diluted $ 0.91

$ 0.36











Weighted-average common shares outstanding (000s):









Basic

50,706



55,059 Diluted

52,172



55,101

NU SKIN ENTERPRISES, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (U.S. dollars in thousands)



March 31,

2021

December 31,

2020 ASSETS





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 339,099

$ 402,683 Current investments

23,615



21,216 Accounts receivable, net

60,625



63,370 Inventories, net

363,431



314,366 Prepaid expenses and other

114,118



101,563 Total current assets

900,888



903,198











Property and equipment, net

464,247



468,181 Operating lease right-of-use assets

147,129



155,104 Goodwill

202,979



202,979 Other intangible assets, net

87,135



89,532 Other assets

147,721



138,082 Total assets $ 1,950,099

$ 1,957,076











LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY









Current liabilities:









Accounts payable $ 67,083

$ 66,174 Accrued expenses

404,493



446,682 Current portion of long-term debt

90,000



30,000 Total current liabilities

561,576



542,856











Operating lease liabilities

108,237



112,275 Long-term debt

298,120



305,393 Other liabilities

110,692



102,281 Total liabilities

1,078,625



1,062,805











Commitments and contingencies





















Stockholders' equity:









Class A common stock  500 million shares authorized, $0.001 par value, 90.6 million shares issued

91



91 Additional paid-in capital

579,204



579,801 Treasury stock, at cost  40.4 million and 39.7 million shares

(1,505,076)



(1,461,593) Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(71,626)



(64,768) Retained earnings

1,868,881



1,840,740 Total stockholders' equity

871,474



894,271 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,950,099

$ 1,957,076

SOURCE Nu Skin Enterprises

Related Links

https://www.nse.co/


NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the New York State Senate approved S.1130, to shut down the puppy mill pipeline and end the retail sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores across the state. Sponsored by Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens), the bill is supported by leading animal welfare groups including the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), New York State Animal Protection Federation (NYSAPF), Voters For Animal Rights (VFAR), Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS), Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), and the NYC Bar Association's Animal Law Committee.

A companion bill (A.4283) was introduced in the Assembly by Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan) and was recently approved by the Assembly Agriculture Committee.

"With so many good animals in need of rescue, there is no need for puppy mills that abuse animals to supply pet stores. Our four-legged companions should be treated with respect, not like commodities," said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. "I thank my colleagues for joining me in passing this important legislation and look forward to working with Assemblymember Rosenthal to get this bill over the finish line."

"We can seize this moment to save countless animals from suffering by cutting off the puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline once and for all," said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Social Services Committee. "Preventing the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores won't just protect animals, it will also save customers the great heartache and expense that comes with falling in love with an animal that is destined by its breeding to become irreparably sick. My colleagues in the New York State Assembly have a long and proud record of standing up for defenseless animals. I, along with the hundreds of thousands of animal lovers in this State, are waiting to end the puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline by passing bill A.4283."

"Having one of the country's highest concentrations of pet stores that sell puppies, New York State needs to end the sale of cruelly bred puppy mill dogs in pet shops by finally passing the New York Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill," said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA President and CEO. "Shutting down the puppy mill pipeline will help stop unscrupulous breeders from engaging inand profiting fromunconscionable brutality. We are thrilled to see the Senate pass this bill, and we look forward to working with Senator Gianaris and Assemblymember Rosenthal to advance the bill through the full Legislature to make it law, signaling New York's determination to reject animal cruelty statewide."

"New York pet stores are a notorious outlet for puppy mills, bringing thousands of animals into our state from a dark, inhumane network of cruel pet dealers," said Brian Shapiro, New York State Director for the Humane Society of the United States. "Through the tireless work of Senator Gianaris and Assemblymember Rosenthal, we can stop the needless suffering of commercially raised pets and protect New York consumers from this shady industry."

"If consumers knew where the puppies, kittens and rabbits sold at pet stores came from they would be appalled. The conditions and treatment these animals endure is inexcusable," said Libby Post, Executive Director of the New York State Animal Protection Federation. "This bill stops pet stores and unwitting consumers from bolstering an inhumane industry. We are so thankful for the leadership of Senator Michael Gianaris, the bill's sponsor, and Senator Michelle Hinchey, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee for their steadfast leadership. The Federation represents shelters across New York that are happy to hold adoption events at local pet stores to help them rebrand as humane businesses that care about companion animals and the people who love them. Senate passage will help us build the momentum we need to pass this bill in the Assembly where thanks go to bill sponsor Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal and Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Donna Lupardo for getting the bill out of committee and to its next stop in the legislative process."

"During the pandemic, the puppy mill industry has demonstrated their unscrupulous and greedy practices by preying on the emotions of consumers during this very challenging time. While animal shelters worked in partnership with local communities to find homes for thousands of homeless animals, the puppy mill industry ramped up breeding and sales operations to sell as many dogs and kittens as possible for the highest prices possible. They have proven, once again, that they have no interest in protecting animals or consumers," said Allie Feldman Taylor, President of Voters For Animal Rights. "Voters For Animal Rights (VFAR) applauds Senator Michael Gianaris for championing this transformative legislation  a win for all New Yorkers, especially consumers and homeless animals seeking a second chance at life."

"Companion Animal Protection Society has conducted over 100 undercover investigations of every New York pet store and many of the puppy and kitten mills that sell to them since we started in 2013," said

Deborah Howard, President Companion Animal Protection Society. "Our findings demonstrate the critical need for a law that shuts down the puppy mill pipeline into NYS ending the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits."

"Shutting down the puppy mill to pet store pipeline cuts off a critical revenue source for puppy mill operators," says Stephen Wells, Executive Director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. "We are grateful to Senator Gianaris and Assemblymember Rosenthal for championing a bill that will protect companion animals and New Yorkers."

"New York has a long and proud tradition of protecting animals through its laws. This bill is no exception. It targets the cruel commercial breeding of dogs, cats, and rabbits, promotes animal adoption, and protects consumers and the environment," said Christopher Wlach, Chair, New York City Bar Association Animal Law Committee. "The New York City Bar Association's Animal Law Committee applauds the Senate for moving the bill one step closer to passage."

Right now, there are thousands of puppies for sale in New York pet stores. Puppies sold in pet stores typically come from commercial breeding operations known as "puppy mills" that are designed to prioritize profit over the well-being of the animals. Dogs in these facilities are often kept in wire crates without adequate shelter, veterinary care, food or socialization. As a result, many of them suffer severe health and behavioral issues  and families are often unprepared for the financial loss and heartbreak that come with buying a sick puppy.

With passage in the Senate, the bill must now be approved by the Assembly, where it is currently before the Assembly Codes Committee for consideration. If the bill is approved in that house, New York will join other states and hundreds of localities in taking a strong stand against puppy mill cruelty.

About the ASPCA

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the first animal welfare organization to be established in North America and today serves as the nation's leading voice for vulnerable and victimized animals. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA assists animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources. For more information, visit www.ASPCA.org, and follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About the Humane Society of the United States

Founded in 1954, the Humane Society of the United States and its affiliates around the globe fight the big fights to end suffering for all animals. Together with millions of supporters, the HSUS takes on puppy mills, factory farms, trophy hunts, animal testing and other cruel industries, and together with its affiliates, rescues and provides direct care for over 100,000 animals every year. The HSUS works on reforming corporate policy, improving and enforcing laws and elevating public awareness on animal issues. More at humanesociety.org.

Subscribe to Kitty Block's blog, A Humane World. Follow the HSUS Media Relations department on Twitter. Read the award-winning All Animals magazine. Listen to the Humane Voices Podcast.

About New York State Animal Protection Federation

The New York State Animal Protection Federation is the voice of all the non-profit and municipal animal shelters, humane societies and SPCAs across the state. The Federation serves as an educational and policy-development resource and through a united voice, promotes favorable legislative initiatives. For more information, please visit www.nysapf.org and follow us on Facebook. You can also download our app on New York State's animal laws at http://www.nysapf.org/nys-animal-law-app.

About Voters For Animal Rights

Voters for Animal Rights' mission is to help elect candidates who support animal protection, lobby for strong laws to stop animal cruelty, and hold elected officials accountable to humane voters in New York State. Through the political process, we are building a coalition of advocates seeking to strike at the root cause of animal abuse and cruelty, which is a lack of fundamental rights and laws to protect them. Learn more at vfar.org and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

About Companion Animal Protection Society

Founded in 1992, the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) is the only national nonprofit dedicated exclusively to protecting companion animals from cruelty in pet shops and puppy/kitten mills. CAPS addresses animal suffering through investigations, outreach, legislation, legal advocacy, consumer assistance, and rescue.

About the Animal Legal Defense Fund

Forty years of fighting for animals: The Animal Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1979 to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. To accomplish this mission, the Animal Legal Defense Fund files high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm; provides free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are punished for their crimes; supports tough animal protection legislation and fights harmful legislation; and provides resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law. For more information, please visit aldf.org.

About the New York City Bar Association

The mission of the New York City Bar Association, which was founded in 1870 and has 24,000 members, is to equip and mobilize a diverse legal profession to practice with excellence, promote reform of the law, and uphold the rule of law and access to justice in support of a fair society and the public interest in our community, our nation, and throughout the world. www.nycbar.org

SOURCE ASPCA

Related Links

http://www.aspca.org


SOMERSET, N.J., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- While COVID-19 vaccinations mark an important step toward ending the epidemic, studies have shown that many Americans are falling behind on another important preventive health measure.



Physicians at ProCure Proton Therapy Center joined oncologists from around the country in encouraging Americans to catch up on cancer screenings. Experts recommend regular screenings for breast cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer.

A study published last fall in the JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics found an 85 percent drop in breast cancer screenings and a 74 percent decline in prostate cancer screenings. Screening rates for the top four cancer types remain below pre-pandemic rates, according to the Community Oncology Alliance and CancerCare, which launched a national awareness campaign in April to bring more attention to the issue.

Doctors cited delayed screenings as a reason they are starting to see more patients with advanced forms of cancer.

"While it is understandable that people limited interpersonal contacts during the height of the pandemic, it is vital that they catch up on their cancer screenings," said Brian H. Chon, M.D., medical director at ProCure Proton Therapy Center. "These screenings could help detect cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage."

Detecting cancer in the early stages, before it spreads, could make patients eligible for a non-surgical treatment option called proton therapy.

ProCure is New Jersey's most experienced proton therapy Center. It offers pencil beam scanning  the most advanced form of radiation with the most precise technology.

"Proton therapy targets tumors with precision and reduces radiation exposure to healthy tissues," Dr. Chon said. "That means fewer side effects and a lower risk of life-threatening medical issues."

Learn more about proton therapy at ProCure: ProCure.com/what-makes-procure-different

Learn more about "The Time to Screen" campaign: https://timetoscreen.org

About ProCure:

ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Somerset, NJ, opened in March 2012 as the tri-state region's first proton therapy facility, treating a range of cancers including disease of the prostate, breast, lung, brain, head and neck, and gastrointestinal system, as well as sarcomas and many pediatric cases. Using the most advanced radiation treatment available ProCure has treated more than 5,000 patients and enables many cancer patients to choose a non-surgical treatment personalized to their medical needs and lifestyles, often with fewer side effects and less downtimegiving them more freedom to enjoy what matters most in their lives. For more information, visit ProCure.com.

Media Contact:

Sarah Ferrington, Marketing Manager

Phone: 732-357-2609

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE ProCure Proton Therapy Center

Related Links

http://www.ProCure.com


PERTH, Australia, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OncoRes Medical has received a Breakthrough Device designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to expedite development of its Quantitative Micro-Elastography (QME) Imaging System. The company's technology is designed to provide real-time tumor assessment that helps surgeons more accurately identify and remove cancerous tissuean approach that could substantially improve outcomes in breast-conserving surgery and reduce repeat operations for women with breast cancer.

The company is currently raising a Series B round to fund ongoing product development and in vivo studies of its system. Equity funding to date has come from Australia's Medical Research Commercialization Fund, which is managed by Brandon Capital Partners, the country's leading life sciences venture capital fund manager. Additional funding has come from competitive grants and tax incentives from the Australian government.

While OncoRes Medical believes it can provide the biggest initial medical benefits with a focus on breast cancer, it is only the first of many clinical indications the company plans to pursue. QME is a platform technology that could eventually be applied to other solid cancers where complete tumor clearance is the foundation of curative treatment.

The QME Imaging System was originally designed to address the high rate of re-excision surgeries in breast cancer treatment, a well-recognized clinical issue known as " the other breast cancer epidemic ." In the U.S., re-excisions occur in up to 35 percent of cases after initial breast conserving surgery. Repeat surgeries can lead to additional anxiety for patients as well as higher complication rates, poor cosmetic outcomes, and delayed treatments. There is also a significant economic burden, as re-excisions increase the total cost of breast cancer care in the U.S. by nearly $700 million each year.

"The Breakthrough Device designation highlights the potential of our QME technology to improve and even save lives by addressing a significant clinical issue," says medical doctor and OncoRes Medical CEO Katharine Giles, MBBS, MBA. "It will enable us to pursue a more efficient regulatory and reimbursement pathway in the U.S., ensuring that surgeons and patients have access to the clinical and potential economic benefits of this technology as soon as possible."

FDA's Breakthrough Device program supports the timely development of technologies that have the potential to provide more effective treatment of life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases or conditions. Under this program, OncoRes Medical will benefit from an expedited regulatory review process. The designation also has the potential to provide automatic reimbursement coverage for the QME Imaging System upon FDA approval.

The Problem

Each year approximately 331,000 U.S. women are diagnosed with breast cancera number that is expected to increase to more than 440,000 by 2030. To avoid a mastectomy, more than half of these women will opt for BCS to remove the tumor and preserve the appearance of their breast. Unfortunately, follow up surgeries are often required to ensure clear margins, or complete removal of the cancer.

There are no currently available technologies that can assist the surgeon to identify microscale residual tumor inside the surgical cavity, with surgeons still relying on their senses of sight and touch. As a result, incomplete tumor removal is only discovered three to seven days after surgery when the excised specimen is examined by a pathologist. Left untreated, positive margins on specimen pathology leaves patients at a twofold increased risk of breast cancer recurrence.

The Solution

The OncoRes Medical QME Imaging System ensures complete tumor removal by facilitating the identification of residual cancer within the cavity during the initial surgery. It is well known that cancerous tissue varies in stiffness from healthy tissue, and the system combines optical coherence tomography (OCT) and micro-elastography technologies to help surgeons identify these variations in real-time. Similar to ultrasound, OCT uses light waves to produce images that are microscale in resolution, while elastography provides a quantitative measure of variation in tissue stiffness, or elasticity.

Following the excision of the main specimen during BCS, the handheld QME probe is applied to a region of interest within the breast cavity and a micro-scale three-dimensional map of the elastic properties of the scanned region is generated. These micro-scale maps of tissue stiffness offer surgeons an optical imaging method for assessing breast tissue for the presence of microscopic or otherwise non-palpable cancerous tissue remaining inside the breast cavity.

"The ability to detect residual cancer in the cavity at the time of surgery will be game-changing for both breast cancer patients and surgeons," says OncoRes Medical Chief Medical Officer Christobel Saunders, AO, MBBS, FRCS, FRACS, FAAHMS, an internationally recognized cancer surgeon and professor of surgical oncology at the University of Western Australia. "Surgeons will have greater control over the outcome of the procedure, while patients will have the peace of mind that comes from getting the first step of their breast cancer treatment right on the first try."

The Technology

A recent study of the QME Imaging System demonstrated the high accuracy of the technology for detecting cancerous tissue within 1 mm of the margin in tumor specimens excised during BCS. Applying an artificial intelligence algorithm further enhanced the accuracy of the readings, resulting in 100.0 percent sensitivity and 97.7 percent specificity. With confirmation of the technology's diagnostic accuracy, OncoRes Medical is currently planning trials in the U.S. and Australia to study its intended in-cavity clinical use.

There are currently no intraoperative tools that enable real-time, in-cavity imaging during BCS. Compared to other technologies on the market, the QME Imaging System also offers significant workflow advantages as it images inside the surgical cavity and does not require contrast agents, ionizing radiation, or additional pre- or post-surgery procedures.

In 2019, OncoRes Medical became the first Australian company to be accepted into the prestigious U.S.-based MedTech Innovator Accelerator Program , and was selected as that year's Value Award winner for its powerful value proposition to significantly improve the lives of patients with breast cancer.

About OncoRes Medical

Headquartered in Perth, Western Australia, OncoRes Medical ( www.oncoresmedical.com ) is a clinical-stage, venture-backed medical device company dedicated to eliminating the physical, psychological, and economic burdens associated with repeat operations following breast-conserving surgery.

CONTACT: Elizabeth Dowling, +17608223412, [email protected]

SOURCE OncoRes Medical
MADISON, Wis., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OneNeck IT Solutions announced today, for the seventh year in a row, they have been named to the CRN Tech Elite 250 list. According to CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, the list honors a select group of North American IT solution providers that have earned the highest number of advanced technical certifications from leading technology suppliers, scaled to their company size. According to CRN, these companies have distinguished themselves with multiple, top-level IT certifications, specializations and partner program designations from the industry's most prestigious technology providers.

"We are thrilled to be named to CRN's 2021 Tech Elite 250 list for the 7th year in a row, said Terry Swanson, President and CEO, OneNeck IT Solutions. "Our vision has always been to give customers the freedom to pursue work that matters, that they do best and that helps them grow. We do that by ensuring we stay ahead of rapid technological changes so our customers don't have to. By continuously investing in our vendor certifications and partner qualifications, we ensure we have the skills and knowledge to support technologies from legacy to cloud and the technical competencies required to evolve with our customers' business objectives."

Each year, The Channel Company's research group and CRN editors distinguish the most client driven technical certifications in the North American IT channel. Solution providers that have earned these elite high honors  enabling them to deliver exclusive products, services, and customer support  are then selected from a pool of online applicants as well as The Channel Company's solution provider database.

"CRN's Tech Elite 250 list highlights the top solution providers in the IT channel with the most in-depth technical knowledge, expertise, and certifications for providing the best level of service for their customers," said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. "These solution providers have continued to extend their talents and abilities across various technologies and IT practices, demonstrating their commitment to really conveying the most exceptional business value to their customers."

Coverage of the Tech Elite 250 will be featured in the April issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/techelite250 .

OneNeck offers a full suite of hybrid IT solutions, tailored to provide high-touch customer service. OneNeck also offers a full suite of hybrid IT solutions including cloud and hosting, managed services, professional services, IT hardware and has top-tier data centers in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon and Wisconsin. Visit oneneck.com for more information.

About OneNeck IT Solutions

OneNeck IT Solutions LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., employs 450 people throughout the U.S. The company offers hybrid IT solutions including cloud and hosting solutions, managed services, enterprise application management, advanced IT services, hardware and local connectivity via top-tier data centers in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon and Wisconsin. OneNeck's team of technology professionals manage secure, world-class, hybrid IT infrastructures and applications for businesses around the country. Visit oneneck.com.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS], a Fortune 1000 company, provides wireless; cable and wireline broadband, TV and voice; and hosted and managed services. TDS has approximately six million connections nationwide through its businesses U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom, OneNeck IT Solutions LLC, and TDS Broadband Service. TDS has been named to three Forbes lists: America's Best Employers for Diversity, Best Large Employers, and Best Employers for Women. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employs 9,400 people. Visit tdsinc.com.

About The Channel Company

The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers, and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com

Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn , and Facebook.

 2021. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

SOURCE OneNeck IT Solutions

Related Links

http://www.oneneck.com/


ROSEMEAD, Calif., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Panda Express, the largest family-owned and operated Asian dining concept in the U.S., was built on a foundation of bridging culturesand flavors to bring people together. Having always had deep relationships in the diverse communities it serves, Panda is proud to launch the Panda CommUnity Fund  a $10 million community investment and response program that supports immediate and sustainable solutions from national and local organizations to uplift diverse groups, including people of color and other marginalized communities. This Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Panda kicks-off the Panda CommUnity Fund, with a $1.5 million pledge to AAPI organizations dedicated to offering critical aid, as well as promoting cultural understanding and acceptance. The Fund will continue to allocate resources across various initiatives over the next five years to help foster a more respectful and inclusive society for tomorrow.

"We are proud of our multicultural heritage and have always believed that this identity connects us to the best of American culture. Because of the duality in who we are, Panda champions a greater sense of belonging and supports engagement efforts that reflect the diversity of our guests, associates and communities," said Peggy Cherng, co-founder and co-CEO of Panda Express. "Following a year of hardship and civil unrest, it has become more apparent that the responsibility is on each of us to come together to create meaningful change. And that is why we are making the commitment to put forth the resources and platforms needed to continue energizing community organizations on the ground."

As an American-born company founded by Chinese immigrants, Panda values the grit and resilience required to overcome adversity on the path to success; in the same breadth, it recognizes the unsettling reality that there is still a long journey ahead to dismantling systemic racism, which is one of the driving forces behind this $1.5 million pledge. In its first phase of grant-making, Panda has committed to organizations that are combating anti-Asian racism and strengthening the community physically, mentally and emotionally, including Asian American Advancing Justice Chapters, GoFundMe.org AAPI Community Fund, Welcome to Chinatown, and Asian Mental Health Collective. Additionally, the Panda Community Fund will support initiatives focused on education and empowering representation across various verticals through partner organizations, such as Gold House and The Asian American Foundation. Beyond its monetary commitment, the American Chinese brand will continue to leverage its national platform, resources, and influence to amplify AAPI voices and organizations.

With respect to all differences in life, across unique backgrounds, experiences, thoughts and ideas, Panda's commitment to DE&I was created to embrace and uplift the needs of the underrepresented, helping to reinforce a greater sense of compassion, inclusion and belonging in our greater communities. Intended to amplify Panda's mission to inspire better lives, the Panda CommUnity Fund partners with 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations on DE&I related initiatives that help shatter the perception of a monolithic America and embrace the diverse identities that represent the American people. While grant proposals are by invitation only and unsolicited proposals will not be accepted, each organization will be thoughtfully vetted based on its mission and direct impact on the communities it serves.

To learn more about Panda's recent grants to AAPI organizations, visit @officialpandaexpress Instagram throughout May.

About Panda Express

On a mission to inspire better lives, Panda Express is the largest Asian dining concept in the U.S. Family-owned and operated since 1983 by co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng, Panda Express is best known as a trailblazer for creating a wide variety of industry-first recipes, including its best seller the Original Orange Chicken and award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp, which have defined the category of authentic American Chinese cuisine. Each dish at Panda Express, including the Wok Smart selections, is thoughtfully crafted with quality ingredients and inspired by bold Chinese flavors and culinary principles. The restaurant brand has more than 2,200 locations and has introduced American Chinese cuisine to twelve international countries. Powered by this global family of associates, Panda Cares, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express, has raised more than $216 million and dedicated countless volunteer hours in bettering the health and education for over 12 million youths, as well as supporting communities in need since 1999. In 2020, the organization established the Panda Cares Scholars Program to provide the necessary funding, academic support and leadership development to help high school and college students learn, lead and thrive towards a bright future. For more information about Panda, visit pandaexpress.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

SOURCE Panda Express
CHANTILLY, Va., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Perspecta Inc. (NYSE: PRSP), a leading U.S. government services provider, announced today that it was selected to develop cyber tools and solutions for the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command (MARFORCYBER). Awarded by the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, the single award task order represents new work for the company and has a two-year period of performance with a ceiling value of $17.9 million.

Perspecta will enhance MARFORCYBER's cyber capability with software development, testing, integration and maintenance in support of the command's mission to execute full spectrum cyberspace operations.

"The changing nature of warfare means the Marine Corps has to project a flexible and lethal force across multiple domains," says Jeff Bohling, senior vice president and general manager of Perspecta's defense group. "With this program the Corps will gain the advantage it needs to dominate the modern cyber battlefield."

This award expands Perspecta's cyber tool development programs that support the U.S. Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community.

About Perspecta Inc.

At Perspecta (NYSE: PRSP), we question, we seek and we solve. Perspecta brings a diverse set of capabilities to our U.S. government customers in defense, intelligence, civilian, health care and state and local markets. Our 280+ issued, licensed and pending patents are more than just pieces of paper, they tell the story of our innovation. With offerings in mission services, digital transformation and enterprise operations, our team of nearly 14,000 engineers, analysts, investigators and architects work tirelessly to not only execute the mission, but build and support the backbone that enables it. Perspecta was formed to take on big challenges. We are an engine for growth and success and we enable our customers to build a better nation. For more information about Perspecta, visit perspecta.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made on the basis of the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the management of Perspecta and are subject to significant risks and uncertainty. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Perspecta undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although Perspecta believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve a variety of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from what may be expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Perspecta Inc.

Related Links

perspecta.com


"PMLS is proud to participate in this collaborative effort with such great institutions as Rutgers and Truckee Applied Genomics," said Austin Shirley, Director of Operations for Premier Medical Laboratory Services. "Effectively inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other pathogens before transporting them to labs, while also making the testing more accurate and the handling of the media safer, is a tremendous innovation in specimen collection."

The TAG-NGPM+ media was developed based on the patented TAG-1 Class 1 General Reagent. TAG-1 is a formaldehyde-free tissue fixative that was designed to improve molecular tests while requiring no changes to pathology workflows. The TAG-NGPM+ formulation adds sufficient and complementary anti-viral and anti-bacterial components. These components improve the safety of viral sample handling and provide safer and less costly media handling compared to other virus inactivating media since TAG-NGPM+ contains no guanidinium salts.

The studies conducted by PMLS show that the TAG-NGPM+ solution can also be used as an optimal transport media for COVID-19 sample testing. There was a 5 log 10 reduction in the viral titer after treatment of SARS-CoV-2 virus with TAG-NGPM+ buffer within 30 minutes while the integrity of the viral RNA remained intact. This might potentially help centralized core laboratories and Point of Care (POC) laboratories safely process patient samples when access to BSL II facilities is limited. Another major advantage the buffer offers is in safe disposal in any disinfectant including 10% bleach solution, since the media is free of hazardous reactive chemicals like guanidinium isothiocyanate (GITC).

Drs. Padmapriya Banada and Sukalyani Banik conducted the studies in the Alland laboratory at Rutgers NJMS. According to Dr. Banada, "the TAG-NGPM+ transport media can potentially reduce the biohazard risk associated with COVID-19 testing, as practice that could otherwise expose laboratory personnel to live SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The study showed that the transport media inactivated SARS-CoV-2 at both room temperature and under refrigeration conditions at the tested concentrations. Studies by PMLS also showed that the transport media prolonged sample stability. By improving the safety and stability of COVID-19 test samples, the transport buffer should greatly simplify on-site or point of care testing in settings such as doctor's offices, workplaces or schools"

Dr. Tian Yu, TAG VP of Product Development commented, "TAG-NGPM+ virus inactivation media was designed to increase lab staff safety, while eliminating the need for a cold chain and protecting RNA integrity for weeks at ambient temperature. Because TAG-NGPM+ is designed to better stabilize viral RNA fragments and preserve protein structures, it will enable additional testing formats on top of molecular testing which are known to show high specificity in COVID19 diagnosis."

The article by Rutgers NJMS and PMLS demonstrating their research findings is soon to be published. For more information, please call 866-405-2199 or visit www.PreMedInc.com.

ABOUT PREMIER MEDICAL LABORATORY

Premier Medical Laboratory Services (PMLS) is a CLIA and COLA regulated laboratory based in Greenville, South Carolina focused on providing clinically meaningful results to medical practitioners. Premier Medical Laboratory Services offers a variety of highly specialized tests including: the only Type II Diabetes molecular predisposition test available in the U.S., advanced cardiovascular testing, hereditary cancer screening, carrier screening, women's health panels, pharmacogenomics, serum allergy testing, blood wellness, Hepatitis C genotyping, respiratory pathogens, gastrointestinal pathogens, and more. In addition to its specialty programs, Premier Medical Laboratory offers a comprehensive testing menu of general chemistry, immunoassay, and hematology tests. The company also is proud to offer a patient friendly billing policy. For more information, please visit www.PreMedInc.com or call 866-405-2199.

ABOUT TRUCKEE APPLEID GENOMICS

Truckee Applied Genomics, LLC (TAG) is based in Reno Nevada and develops and manufactures patented reagents to improve molecular tests of tissues and pathogens. TAG-1 is a non-toxic Class 1 General Reagent classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration pursuant to 21 C.F.R.  864.4010, which is used as a non-crosslinking direct replacement to formalin for clinical and research tissue pathology. TAG-NGPM+ is a virus inactivating transport media designed to preserve viral RNA fragments and proteins, requires no cold chain, prevents bacterial overgrowth and contains no guanidinium salts. TAG-NGPM is a virus culturing media for research use including better monitoring of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 with next generation sequencing. For more information, please visit tagreagents.com, call +1.775.237.879, or email [email protected].

SOURCE Premier Medical Laboratory Services
SEATTLE, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Notice of Claims were filed today by Evan M. Oshan of Oshan & Associates, P.C. (Oshan Law) on behalf of the personal representative for the Lorenzo Anderson Estate.

https://pdfhost.io/v/AwrXoyP3v_FINAL_ANDERSON_STATE_CLAIMpdf.pdf

https://pdfhost.io/v/9v~9mbjTB_FINAL_ANDERSON_KING_COUNTY_CLAIM2pdf.pdf

https://pdfhost.io/v/.kxCOYLn3_FINAL_ANDERSON_CITY_CLAIM2pdf.pdf

NY POST ARTICLE:

https://nypost.com/2021/05/05/seattle-paramedics-left-teen-to-die-in-chop-zone-lawsuit/

The claims outline various duties breached by government officials. The inactions by the defendants were directly responsible for the death of Lorenzo Anderson.

Lorenzo Anderson, 19, was shot several times on June 20, 2020 right outside of the city's Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP ZONE) area  a seven block zone that sprung due to Black Lives Matter protests after the murder of George Floyd.

New facts establish that the defendants breached their duty of reasonable care to protect Lorenzo, resulting in his wrongful death. Facts include but is not limited to data detailing how Seattle Emergency Medical Service personnel and Seattle Police officers were minutes if not seconds away from Lorenzo when 911 calls began coming in and according to Oshan "failed to maintain their duties as public servants and render aid as Lorenzo Anderson bled to death from gunshot wounds".

911 calls came in at 2:19 a.m. The fire department would not respond without police clearance- police clearance was not given. The police finally arrived at the CHOP zone not even at the location of the shooting at 2:39 a.m. Ultimately Lorenzo was transported by civilians to Harbor View Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 2:45 a.m.

Oshan believes: "The people and institutions we entrust to protect public safety must not be rewarded for their incompetence, indifference and inaction leading to the wrongful death of citizens. They need to be held accountable for their contemptible conduct that encouraged lawlessness to reign. Justice will reign and the negligent governmental actions will be held accountable."

Oshan goes on to assert, "I look forward to the discovery process and the trial when truth will ultimately be solidified." I firmly believe in our jury system and am confident that the people will decide what justice looks like." Individuals and the government will not hide behind governmental immunity and will be held accountable". Oshan further asserts, "if through the discovery process it is determined any of the negligent acts were intentional then those actions will also be appropriately through the legal system."

An autopsy revealed that Anderson was shot several times however none of the shots were fatal or hit major organs, according to the claims and Evan Oshan, the attorney representing Anderson's estate.

Oshan alleges in the claims the Seattle Police Department, Seattle Emergency Medical Services, Mayor Jenny Durkin, the Seattle City Council and the state of Washington were negligent and "breached the duty of reasonable care" owed to Anderson and caused a death "Lorenzo Andersons death was both preventable and predictable".

Attorney Evan Oshan & Father of The Late Lorenzo Anderson- Available for comment and zoom interview

Press Contacts

Evan Oshan- [email protected], 206 335 3880- Text or Voice

SOURCE Oshan & Associates, P.C.

Related Links

https://oshanandassociates.com


DALLAS, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Supporting a healthy and active lifestyle has never been easier thanks to Smoothie King, and now, the world-leading smoothie franchise known for its wide variety of masterfully-crafted blends is looking to inspire even more likeminded lifestyles in the Philadelphia market.

With 15 locations open and operating in the Philadelphia DMA, which includes an emerging footprint just across state lines in nearby New Jersey suburbs, the brand's leadership team is targeting the Philadelphia market for even greater future development. Given the successes of these Smoothie King locations, the brand has another six units currently in development in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs.

"We believe Philadelphia is a perfect place to expand our franchise for a couple reasons," said Kevin King, Smoothie King's chief development officer. "One, prospective owners have the opportunity to be one of the first to break into this great city and suburban market. Additionally, there's a large demographic of people here who want convenient, safe and healthy meal-replacement options to fuel their healthy and active lifestyles but don't have a place they can go to. Smoothie King is that place, and in partnership with the right candidates, we can accomplish great things in Philadelphia for years to come."

Four of the N.J. locations in close proximity to Philadelphia belong to Multi-Unit Franchisee Humza Tanvir.

A former computer software consultant, Tanvir  like many other franchisees in the system  was an avid Smoothie King goer before investing. He was familiar the brand's unique product offerings and unparalleled commitment to inspiring healthy and active lifestyles, which compelled him to look into the franchise opportunity. After learning of the simple operations and exceptional support system in place, Tanvir was sold and signed a development deal for eight future stores in April 2019.

So far, six Smoothie King stores in total are open under Tanvir's ownership: Delran, N.J.; Marlton, N.J.; Voorhees Township, N.J.; West Berlin, N.J.; Whitehall, Penn.; and York, Penn.

"I'm passionate about this brand and what it stands for," said Tanvir. "Even after everything that happened last year, more and more people are prioritizing their health and wellness, and Smoothie King can fuel those lifestyles no matter what your goals are. The communities in which we have locations are doing very well, and that's a testament to the purpose of the brand, the nutritious product line and the outstanding systems and support from Smoothie King corporate. I couldn't be happier to be a part of this franchise family."

As Tanvir referenced, Smoothie King's mission is to inspire healthy and active lifestyles. That mission is fueled by Smoothie King's Clean Blends initiative, which was fully implemented systemwide in 2018. Clean Blends is a commitment from Smoothie King to blend a more nutritious smoothie, one with: more whole fruits and organic vegetables; zero added sugar in many blends; and free of a long list of unhealthy ingredients on the brand's "No-No" list.

To create even greater convenience and accessibility to its smoothies, Smoothie King implemented online ordering, delivery and curbside pickup in 2020.

The result of those initiatives, along with some product-line innovations, was more people opting for the brand's meal-replacement smoothies to fuel their healthy lifestyles. Smoothie King closed out the second half of last year with 12.2% sales growth year-over-year and continued the momentum in Q1 of 2021, reporting 18% same-store sales growth. Additionally, digital sales now make up more than a fifth of the franchise's total revenue after accounting for 0% last February.

Smoothie King did open a record number of stores in 2020 (263), but the leadership team is aiming to top that number this year by expanding in ripe markets like Philadelphia.

For more information on how you can join the purpose-driven brand inspiring healthy and active lifestyles worldwide, visit www.smoothiekingfranchise.com for more information.

ABOUT SMOOTHIE KING FRANCHISES, INC.

Smoothie King Franchises, Inc., the original U.S. smoothie franchise, is a privately-held, Dallas-based franchise company with over 1,300 locations worldwide. Founded in 1973, Smoothie King has evolved into a lifestyle brand inspiring people to live healthy and active lifestyles via nutritious, great-tasting smoothies. The franchise earned the No. 1 ranking in the smoothie/juice bar category, and No. 19 overall, on Entrepreneur's prestigious Franchise 500 list in 2021. The company also debuted on the "Inc. 5000" list in 2018.

Media Contact: Julianne Stevenson, Fishman PR, 847-945-1300 or [email protected]

SOURCE Smoothie King

Related Links

https://www.smoothiekingfranchise.com/


Fiscal year revenue increased 33 3 . 6 % to $50 . 3 million

Net profit increased 193.3% to $4.4 million

Gross margin increased 7.5% to 25.8%

QINGDAO, China, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SOS Limited (NYSE: SOS) (the "Company" or "SOS" formerly China Rapid Finance), announced today its audited financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2020.

In 2020, the Company completed its transition out of the P2P business and into the insurance marketing and other business when it injected the business carried out by SOS Information Technology Co., Ltd. and disposed all the subsidiaries related to the P2P business.

Fiscal Year 2020 Financial Highlights Comparing to SOS Information Technology Co., Ltd.

Total revenue was $50.3 million , representing a 333.6% increase over total revenue in the fiscal year ended 2019:

, representing a 333.6% increase over total revenue in the fiscal year ended 2019: Insurance marketing revenue was $49.2 million , representing a 325.2% increase over last year's insurance marketing revenue.

, representing a 325.2% increase over last year's insurance marketing revenue.

Revenues from three segments, Customer Hotline, Bank Card Call Center, and SaaS Services were $0.9 million , $0.08 million , and $0.06 million respectively.

, , and respectively. Gross profit increased by 513.5% to $13.0 million compared to the fiscal year ended 2019. Gross margin increased by 7.5% to 25.8% compared to the fiscal year ended 2019.

compared to the fiscal year ended 2019. Gross margin increased by 7.5% to 25.8% compared to the fiscal year ended 2019. Operating income was $10.1 million , representing an increase of 475.4% from the fiscal year ended 2019.

, representing an increase of 475.4% from the fiscal year ended 2019. Net profit in 2020 was $4.4 million , or $0.0135 basis per share, compared to a net income in 2019 of $1.5 million , or $0.025 basis per share

As of December 31, 2020 , Cash and cash equivalents were $3.7 million .

Mr. Yandai Wang, CEO and Chairman of SOS, commented, "SOS exited a challenging year with exceptional full-year operational and financial results that exceeded our expectations. I am very proud of our management team's ability to plan and execute strategies for a profitable year upon completion of our business transition in 2020. We will continue to leverage our data mining and analysis platforms, with a goal of developing a robust pipeline for insurance marketing and -related service products. With a strong financial position, the entire SOS team is focused on the execution and delivery of the Company's strategic growth plan in marketing data business, Blockchain-based insurance and security management business, and cryptocurrency mining with the goal of significantly increasing shareholder value."

Results of Operations Comparing to Historical XRF Results

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company achieved revenue of $50.3 million with net income of $4.4 million as compared with $37.4 million revenue of the pre-transition Company and net loss of $9.9 million in 2019, representing an increase of 34.5% in revenue and attaining a net profit of $4.4 million. These comparisons are based on a non-GAAP approach of comparing the Company's 2020 audited revenue and net profit against the audited revenue and net loss of China Rapid Finance of 2019 fiscal year.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepting accounting principles ("GAAP") that have been extracted without material adjustment from audited GAAP financial statements and/or extracted or derived from unaudited accounting records that have been used to prepare GAAP financial statements. This press release also contains certain non-GAAP financial measures which have not been and will not be audited. These non-GAAP financial measures are not recognized measures of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP, but are measures used by The Company's management to monitor the underlying performance of The Company's business and operations. These non-GAAP measures may not be indicative of The Company's historical operating results nor are such measures meant to be predicative of future results. These measures and ratios may not be comparable to those used by other companies under the same or similar names. As such, undue reliance should not be placed on these non-GAAP financial measures.

About SOS Limited

SOS is an emerging blockchain-based and big data-driven marketing and solution provider as well as cryptocurrency mining operator. The core infrastructure of SOS' marketing data, technology and solutions to insurance and emergency rescue services is built on big data, blockchain-based technology, cloud computing, AI, satellite, and 5G network, etc. SOS has created a cloud "software as a service (SaaS)" platform for emergency rescue services, with three major product categories: basic cloud, cooperative cloud, and information cloud. This system provides innovative marketing solutions to clients such as insurance companies, financial institutions, medical institutions, healthcare providers, auto manufacturers, security providers, senior living assistance providers, and other service providers in the emergency rescue services industry.

SOS has obtained a national high-tech enterprise certification and the title of "Big Data Star Enterprise," awarded by Gui'an New District Government. Staying on the forefront of digital technology innovation, the Company has registered 99 software copyrights and 2 patents. For more information, please visit: http://www.sosyun.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "outlook," and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such forward-looking statements include timing of the proposed transaction; the business plans, objectives, expectations and intentions of the parties once the transaction is complete, and SOS's estimated and future results of operations, business strategies, competitive position, industry environment and potential growth opportunities. These forward-looking statements reflect the current analysis of existing information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. As a result, caution must be exercised in relying on forward-looking statements. Due to known and unknown risks, our actual results may differ materially from our expectations or projections. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact our expectations and projections can be found in our periodic filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. SOS's SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. SOS disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE SOS Limited

Related Links

http://www.sosyun.com/


A German citizen who recently converted to Islam has beheaded his Moroccan wife in a crime that bears the hallmark of the Islamic state group, ISIS.

The man in his fifties, living in the city of Hamburg, reports say, attends a local mosque in the northern German city where there is an important Turkish community.

German security forces and interior intelligence services are investigating the crime and are wondering whether the man acted alone or received instructions for the gruesome attack.

Neighbors and mosque members told security forces that the man had changed in recent moments before the killing as he developed a long beard and was donning Afghan mens dress code.

Germany, several countries have been complaining, has become the exile territory of dozens of former ISIS militants who fought in Syria and Iraq.

Morocco, Le360.ma notes, has warned the European country against the presence on its soil of former ISIS terrorists.

A report on a French television back in March, raised the alarm over the presence of former fighters of the terror group living freely in Germany.

The criminals branded lone wolves are believed a major threat and can be quickly mobilized by a dormant cell of the global terror group.
In a specially-devised experiment, coin cells of StoreDot's silicon-dominant anode XFC battery will undergo hundreds of charge and discharge cycles, with the results collected by means of a computer contained within the enclosed unit. Once the experiment, which was designed in collaboration with and funded by the IEC, is returned to earth, StoreDot's team of scientists will undertake extensive analysis of the data, as well as examine the battery itself to note any physical or chemical changes that have taken place during the experiment.

In particular, StoreDot will use the experiment to gain new insights into the chemical reactions that cause silicon to expand during the fast-charging process. This will be achieved by using zero gravity conditions to identify irregularities in the silicon surface of the anode. Importantly, the findings from the research will be incorporated into the first engineering samples of StoreDot's silicon-dominant anode XFC battery for EVs, which will be available for testing by the end of 2022.

Dr Doron Myersdorf, CEO, StoreDot, comments: "We are incredibly proud to join forces with the IEC, The Ramon Foundation and the Israel Space Agency on this historic mission. StoreDot remains steadfast on pushing the boundaries of battery materials research and development and this project marks the next exciting stage in that journey. This will be the first time XFC has been tested in the zero gravity conditions of space and we believe the results could be absolutely game-changing. Not only in terms of advancing XFC technology, but also, potentially, by opening up entirely new avenues in materials research that will have implications that extend far beyond the battery industry."

Jointly funded by the Israel Space Agency and The Ramon Foundation, the RAKIA (meaning sky in Hebrew) program is Israel's contribution to Ax-1, the world's first private mission to the ISS. As part of this historic event, astronaut Eytan Stibbe will travel to the ISS on the SpaceX Dragon capsule, becoming only the second Israeli astronaut in history to journey into low Earth atmosphere. While on board, he will undertake 200 hours of scientific projects and educational outreach, which will include transmitting a series of live lessons for Israeli school children.

In order to stimulate Israeli business interest in the space industry, the RAKIA program invited technology providers to submit proposals for space-based experiments that have the potential to evolve mankind's understanding of technological processes, advancing science and improving the quality of life on earth. StoreDot is one of just two companies chosen by the IEC to participate in the program. In total, more than 40 experiments will be undertaken during the mission spanning areas such as chemistry, astrophysics, optics, radiation, genetic research immunology, agritech and more.

"As this is something that has never done before it's difficult to know exactly what we will discover, but the methodology of analysing reactions in space has huge potential and will enable us discover things that simply would not be possible on Earth," says Myersdorf. "It is incredible to think that this experiment conducted some 200 miles above Earth could have significant implications for improving the quality of life on its surface. Not only by helping to accelerate the transition to clean electric mobility through the development of advanced lithium-ion batteries, but also potentially opening up entirely new avenues for material research that can support the development of other transformative industries  from healthcare and renewable energy to utilities and chemicals."

StoreDot's revolutionary XFC FlashBattery technology redefines the chemistry of conventional lithium-ion batteries, taking EV charging times from hours to minutes. This breakthrough is achieved primarily by replacing graphite in the cell's anode with metalloid nano-particles, such as silicon, to overcome major issues in safety, cycle life and cell swelling during the charging process.

In 2019, the company, whose strategic investors include BP, Daimler, TDK and Samsung Ventures, used a small cell design of its XFC technology to demonstrate the world's first full live charge of a two-wheeled EV in five minutes. Another major milestone followed in January 2021 when StoreDot launched engineering samples of the small form factor battery, proving that XFC is both commercially viable and scalable on traditional lithium-ion battery production lines.

About StoreDot

StoreDot is a pioneer of extreme fast charging (XFC) batteries that overcome the critical barrier to mainstream EV adoption  range and charging anxiety. The company has revolutionized the conventional Li-ion battery by designing and synthesizing proprietary organic and inorganic compounds, making it possible to fully charge an EV in just five minutes  the same time it takes to refuel a conventional combustion engine vehicle. StoreDot's battery technology is optimized for best driver experience with XFC in Li-ion batteries, as well as future technologies for extreme energy-density (XED).

StoreDot's strategic investors include BP, Daimler, Samsung Ventures and TDK. In 2019, the company achieved a world first by demonstrating the live full charge of a two-wheeled EV in just five minutes. In 2020, the company demonstrated the scalability of its XFC batteries for other industries, by fully charging a commercial drone in five minutes in another world first. Moving XFC battery technology from the lab to a commercially-viable product for the first time, StoreDot has launched engineering samples of its first-generation batteries that are designed to be manufactured at scale on traditional Li-lion production lines.

For more information see: www.store-dot.com.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503880/StoreDot_International_Space_Station.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503879/Dr_Doron_Myersdorf_CEO_StoreDot.jpg

SOURCE StoreDot
This release should be read with the Company's Financial Statements and Management Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A"), available at www.tasekomines.com and filed on www.sedar.com. Except where otherwise noted, all currency amounts are stated in Canadian dollars. Taseko's 75% owned Gibraltar Mine is located north of the City of Williams Lake in south-central British Columbia. Production volumes stated in this release are on a 100% basis unless otherwise indicated.

VANCOUVER, BC, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Taseko Mines Limited (TSX: TKO) (NYSE American: TGB) (LSE: TKO) ("Taseko" or the "Company") reports the results for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

The Company reported Earnings from mining operations before depletion and amortization of $30.3 million and Adjusted EBITDA* of $23.7 million, which represent increases of 412% and 344%, respectively, over the first quarter of 2020. For the first quarter 2021, the Company had an adjusted net loss of $5.5 million, or ($0.02) per share.

Russell Hallbauer, CEO and Director of Taseko, commented, "Strong earnings in the first quarter were supported by a steadily rising copper price which reached its highest price in a decade, and sits today at about US$4.50 per pound. We made good progress with detailed engineering at Florence and a favourable appeals court decision was received which clears the way for construction to begin in a few months upon receipt of the final key permit. We also took advantage of strong market conditions to successfully refinance and upsize our bonds during the quarter, and at current copper prices the Florence project could be fully funded with cashflow from Gibraltar. So, all in all, we are very happy with our achievements during the first quarter and 2021 is shaping up to be a transformative year for the Company.

From an ESG perspective, just yesterday, we were informed that Gibraltar has won the 2020 John Ash Award from the BC Ministry of Mines. This award is given to the B.C. mining operation with a minimum of one million hours worked that has the lowest injury-frequency rate. This is the fifth time in the last seven years that Gibraltar has won this prestigious award, a fantastic accomplishment for our team."

Mr. Hallbauer continued, "First quarter production of 22 million pounds of copper and 530 thousand pounds of molybdenum was slightly below expectation. Copper head grades in the first quarter were 25% below LOM average which negatively impacted recoveries, however, mining rates were above expectation as we benefited from shorter waste hauls and higher productivities. As mining advances in the Pollyanna pit, we expect improved grades and copper production in the second quarter. And, as previously disclosed, we expect much higher grade and production levels in the second half of the year, which will lead to lower operating costs per pound and improved earnings. At current copper prices, we are forecasting operating margins of over $200 million for the remainder of 2021, which would put us in a position to fully fund construction of the commercial facility at Florence without a joint venture partner, if we choose to do so."

Stuart McDonald, President of Taseko added, "We acquired additional copper put options in the first quarter but have retained 100% of the copper price upside so we will continue to benefit from further copper price increases in the future. Excess cashflow from continued high copper prices in the years ahead, or proceeds from any accretive Florence financing transaction, could be used for debt reduction or dividends."

"We are in a strong financial position and ready to move into a construction program at Florence in the coming months. Based on our ongoing dialogue with the EPA, we expect they will issue the draft Underground Injection Control ("UIC") Permit in June. Once the draft permit has been issued, there will be a 30 day public comment period with a public hearing scheduled towards the end, similar to the Arizona state process that we completed last year. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the EPA will review and respond to the comments received from the public before granting the final UIC permit. While this permitting process has moved more slowly than expected, we know that it is moving forward and we are closing in on having a fully permitted and financed top tier copper project. Detailed engineering and procurement preparation has been advancing and we will be in very good shape to begin construction upon receipt of the UIC, which we expect sometime in the third quarter of this year," concluded Mr. McDonald.

First Quarter Review

First quarter earnings from mining operations before depletion and amortization* was $30.3 million , Adjusted EBITDA* was $23.7 million and Adjusted net loss* was $5.5 million ( $0.02 loss per share);

, Adjusted EBITDA* was and Adjusted net loss* was ( loss per share); Site operating costs, net of by-product credits* were US$1.96 per pound produced, and total operating costs (C1)* were US$2.23 per pound produced;

per pound produced, and total operating costs (C1)* were per pound produced; The Gibraltar mine produced 22.2 million pounds of copper in the first quarter. Copper recoveries were 81.5% and copper head grades were 0.19%;

mine produced 22.2 million pounds of copper in the first quarter. Copper recoveries were 81.5% and copper head grades were 0.19%; Gibraltar sold 22.0 million pounds of copper in the quarter (100% basis) which resulted in $82.3 million of revenue for Taseko. Average LME copper prices were US$3.86 per pound in the quarter and revenue also included positive provisional price adjustments of $3.6 million due to the rising copper price;

sold 22.0 million pounds of copper in the quarter (100% basis) which resulted in of revenue for Taseko. Average LME copper prices were per pound in the quarter and revenue also included positive provisional price adjustments of due to the rising copper price; As mining advances in the Pollyanna pit, management expects improved grades and copper production in the second quarter, and much higher grade and production levels in the second half of the year, which will lead to lower operating costs per pound and improved earnings;

On February 10, 2021 , Taseko closed an offering of US$400 million 7% Senior Secured Notes due in 2026. A portion of the proceeds were used to redeem all of the outstanding US$250 million 8.75% 2022 Senior Secured Notes on March 3, 2021 ;

, Taseko closed an offering of 7% Senior Secured Notes due in 2026. A portion of the proceeds were used to redeem all of the outstanding 8.75% 2022 Senior Secured Notes on ; The Company's cash balance at March 31, 2021 was $197.0 million , and was affected by a negative working capital adjustment of $27.2 million in the first quarter related primarily to an increase in accounts receivable due to shipment timing;

was , and was affected by a negative working capital adjustment of in the first quarter related primarily to an increase in accounts receivable due to shipment timing; In March 2021 , the Company extended its copper price protection strategy by purchasing put options covering 41 million pounds of copper at a strike price of US$3.75 per pound for the second half of 2021;

, the Company extended its copper price protection strategy by purchasing put options covering 41 million pounds of copper at a strike price of per pound for the second half of 2021; During the quarter, Gibraltar entered into an off-take contract for 45 thousand tonnes of copper concentrate shipments in the second half of this year which included deeply discounted TCRC's at some of the lowest levels the mine has ever seen since it was re-opened in 2004;

entered into an off-take contract for 45 thousand tonnes of copper concentrate shipments in the second half of this year which included deeply discounted TCRC's at some of the lowest levels the mine has ever seen since it was re-opened in 2004; On May 4, 2021 , the Gibraltar mine was awarded the prestigious 2020 John Ash Safety Award presented by the Ministry of Energy and Mines for having the lowest injury-frequency rate that has worked at least one million hours during the year. This is the 5th time Gibraltar has won this award over the last 7 years; and

, the mine was awarded the prestigious 2020 John Ash Safety Award presented by the Ministry of Energy and Mines for having the lowest injury-frequency rate that has worked at least one million hours during the year. This is the 5th time has won this award over the last 7 years; and Final design and engineering of the commercial in-situ production facility as well as procurement of certain critical components is well underway to ensure construction of the commercial facility can commence following receipt of the UIC permit, which is expected in the third quarter of this year.

*Non-GAAP performance measure. See end of news release

HIGHLIGHTS

Operating Data (Gibraltar - 100% basis) Three months ended March 31,

2021 2020 Change Tons mined (millions) 32.0 28.5 3.5 Tons milled (millions) 7.2 7.5 (0.3) Production (million pounds Cu) 22.2 32.4 (10.2) Sales (million pounds Cu) 22.0 31.1 (9.1)



Financial Data Three months ended March 31, (Cdn$ in thousands, except for per share amounts) 2021 2020 Change Revenues 86,741 62,084 24,657 Earnings from mining operations before depletion and amortization* 30,313 5,923 24,390 Adjusted EBITDA* 23,722 5,346 18,376 Adjusted net loss* (5,534) (21,647) 16,113 Per share - basic ("Adjusted EPS")* (0.02) (0.09) 0.07 Net loss (GAAP) (11,217) (48,950) 37,733 Per share - basic ("EPS") (0.04) (0.20) 0.16

*Non-GAAP performance measure. See end of news release

REVIEW OF OPERATIONS

Gibraltar mine (75% Owned)

Operating data (100% basis)

Q1 2021 Q4 2020 Q3 2020 Q2 2020 Q1 2020 Tons mined (millions)

32.0 26.4 23.3 20.5 28.5 Tons milled (millions)

7.2 7.5 7.5 7.7 7.5 Strip ratio

6.0 1.9 1.5 1.9 2.7 Site operating cost per ton milled (CAD$)*

$8.73 $11.67 $9.57 $7.66 $9.52 Copper concentrate











Head grade (%)

0.19 0.20 0.23 0.28 0.26 Copper recovery (%)

81.5 83.3 85.0 85.2 83.4 Production (million pounds Cu)

22.2 25.0 28.9 36.8 32.4 Sales (million pounds Cu)

22.0 25.0 28.6 39.3 31.1 Inventory (million pounds Cu)

3.6 3.4 3.6 3.8 6.4 Molybdenum concentrate











Production (thousand pounds Mo)

530 549 668 639 412 Sales (thousand pounds Mo)

552 487 693 656 403 Per unit data (US$ per pound produced)*











Site operating costs*

$2.23 $2.67 $1.85 $1.15 $1.64 By-product credits*

(0.27) (0.14) (0.14) (0.11) (0.11) Site operating costs, net of by-product credits*

$1.96 $2.53 $1.71 $1.04 $1.53 Off-property costs

0.27 0.29 0.29 0.30 0.29 Total operating costs (C1)*

$2.23 $2.82 $2.00 $1.34 $1.82

*Non-GAAP performance measure. See end of news release

OPERATIONS ANALYSIS

First Quarter Review

To-date, there have been no interruptions to the Company's operations, logistics and supply chains as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Heightened health and safety protocols continue to be implemented and monitored for effectiveness.

Copper production in the first quarter was 22.2 million pounds and was impacted by lower mined ore grades from the Pollyanna pit. Additionally, ore hardness in the Pollyanna Pit benches and in ore drawn from the stockpiles continued to have some affect on recoveries and mill throughput in the quarter.

A total of 32.0 million tons were mined in the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 5.6 million tons over the prior quarter. The increased waste stripping was attributed to higher productivities and shorter hauling distances in the upper benches of the Pollyanna pit. Site operating costs, net of by-product credits for the first quarter were US$1.96 per pound of copper produced.

The strip ratio for the first quarter was 6.0 to 1 and reflects the increased waste stripping in Pollyanna. In addition, ore stockpiles decreased during the quarter by 2.6 million tons.

Total site spending (including capitalized stripping of $21.5 million spent in the quarter) was generally consistent with the prior quarter. Capital expenditures in the first quarter also included costs associated with the dewatering system for the Gibraltar pit where mining is expected to start in the second quarter.

Molybdenum production was 530 thousand pounds in the first quarter. Molybdenum prices strengthened in the first quarter and averaged US$11.32 per pound, compared to US$9.01 per pound in Q4 2020. By-product credits per pound of copper produced* was US$0.27 in the first quarter, an increase over the prior quarters due to the higher molybdenum price and fewer copper pounds produced in the current period.

Off-property costs per pound produced* were US$0.27 for the first quarter and lower than prior quarters due to the benefit of lower treatment and refining charges in the current year. Gibraltar extended its long-term copper concentrate offtake contract, for roughly 50% of its production, for 2021 which is expected to result in at least a 30% reduction in treatment and refining costs in 2021. The Company also entered into an offtake contract for 45,000 tons of copper concentrate for later in the year at some of the lowest TCRC levels ever seen by the mine.

Total operating costs per pound produced (C1)* were US$2.23 for the quarter. Contributing to the decrease in C1* costs was significantly increased capitalized stripping costs in the first quarter, which was $20.3 million more than the prior quarter. The impact of capitalized stripping costs on lower C1* costs is partially offset by fewer copper pounds being produced in the first quarter and the weakening US dollar.

GIBRALTAR OUTLOOK

Mining will continue to be focused on the Pollyanna pit which will be the main source of ore in 2021. Management expects improved grades and copper production in the second quarter and much higher grade and production levels in the second half of the year as higher-grade areas in Pollyanna are opened-up and available for processing. Ore release from the Gibraltar pit will commence in the second half of the year. Ore from the Gibraltar pit is relatively softer and is expected to require less energy to grind, which will provide opportunities for increased mill throughput in the future. Gibraltar produced 123 million pounds in 2020 and is expected to produce 125 million pounds on a 100% basis in 2021.

Copper prices are currently around US$4.50 per pound, compared to the average LME copper price of US$3.86 per pound in Q1 and US$2.80 per pound in 2020. Copper prices have recovered swiftly since March 2020 and are testing decade high levels due to recovery in Chinese and the rest of world demand coupled with continued supply and political disruptions, most notably in South America. Many governments are now focusing on increased infrastructure investment to stimulate economic recovery after the pandemic, including green initiatives, which will require new primary supplies of copper. Most industry analysts are projecting ongoing supply constraints and deficits, which should support these higher copper prices in the years to come.

In March 2021 and in preparation for capital spend at Florence, the Company extended its copper price protection strategy by purchasing put options covering 41 million pounds of copper at a strike price of US$3.75 per pound for the second half of 2021. Protecting a significant operating margin in 2021 allows the Company to focus on and advance near-term capital growth plans related to Florence Copper, and fund the Yellowhead Copper Project's ongoing environmental assessment work. This approach to managing copper price volatility does not cap the Company's cash flow should copper prices continue at these levels or increase further.

All of the above factors are supportive of improved financial performance at the Gibraltar mine for the remainder of 2021.

FLORENCE COPPER

Florence Copper represents a low-cost growth project that will have an annual production capacity of 85 million pounds of copper over a 21-year mine life, and with the expected C1* operating cost of US$0.90 per pound puts Florence Copper in the lowest quartile of the global copper cost curve. The commercial production facility at Florence will also be one of the greenest sources of mined copper, with carbon emissions, water and energy consumption all dramatically lower than a conventional mine. We have successfully operated a Production Test Facility ("PTF") for the last two years at Florence to demonstrate that the in-situ copper recovery ("ISCR") process can produce high quality cathode while operating within permit conditions.

The next phase of Florence Copper will include the construction and operation of the commercial ISCR facility with an estimated capital cost of US$230 million (including reclamation bonding and working capital). At a conservative copper price of US$3.00 per pound, Florence Copper is expected to generate an after-tax internal rate of return of 37%, an after-tax net present value of US$680 million at a 7.5% discount rate, and an after-tax payback period of 2.5 years.

In December 2020, the Company received the Aquifer Protection Permit ("APP") from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality ("ADEQ"). During the APP process, Florence Copper received strong support from local community members, business owners and elected officials. The other required permit is the Underground Injection Control ("UIC") permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"). The EPA's technical review for the UIC permit has identified no significant issues and the Company expects to receive the draft permit in the coming months followed by the final UIC permit in the third quarter after which construction of the commercial ISCR facility at Florence Copper can commence.

On March 23, 2021, the Company announced a favourable appeals court decision that upholds Florence Copper's right to mine its private property within the Town, and also awarded US$1.7 million in legal fees and costs to Florence Copper.

The Company now has the majority of the required construction funding for Florence Copper in hand, and with stronger expected operating cash flows from Gibraltar due to higher prevailing copper prices, the Company has numerous options available to obtain the remaining funding including retaining 100% ownership of the project.

Final design engineering for the commercial production facility as well as procurement of certain critical components is well underway to ensure a smooth and efficient transition into construction once the final UIC permit is received later this year.

ANNUAL ESG REPORT

The Company recently published its annual Environmental, Social, and Governance ("ESG") Report, titled 'Sustainability: Our Low Carbon Future' (the "Report"), highlighting Taseko's sustainability performance for 2020.

In this year's Report, Taseko has reported Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions for Gibraltar which shows that the mine ranks in the first quartile of all copper mines globally. When commercial operations at Florence Copper commence, the Company's combined greenhouse gas emissions intensity will drop even lower, to an estimated 1.53 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent ("CO2e") per tonne of copper equivalent, based on an independent analysis by Skarn Associates.

Sustainability report highlights:

Rigorous health and safety protocols enabled operations to continue at Gibraltar and at Florence Copper during the COVID-19 pandemic;

and at Florence Copper during the COVID-19 pandemic; Recognition from the British Columbia Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation with the Jake McDonald Award for outstanding work in mine reclamation and Indigenous collaboration;

Award for outstanding work in mine reclamation and Indigenous collaboration; Outstanding safety performance at Gibraltar with zero loss time incidents, zero days lost, zero loss time severity, and zero loss time frequency;

with zero loss time incidents, zero days lost, zero loss time severity, and zero loss time frequency; Continued commitment to a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we operate. In 2020 28% of the new hires at Taseko were female and 15% were Indigenous people;

A priority on securing local goods and services with $116 million and US$2.5 million being distributed to local suppliers from Gibraltar and Florence Copper, respectively; $72 million and US$2.1 million was distributed in wages to local employees from Gibraltar and Florence Copper, respectively;

and being distributed to local suppliers from and Florence Copper, respectively; and was distributed in wages to local employees from and Florence Copper, respectively; Low Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emission of 1.66 tonnes of CO2e per tonnes of copper produced equivalent and 0.09 tonnes of CO2e per tonnes of copper equivalent produced, respectively; and

Continued discussions with our Indigenous neighbours, that included a Framework Agreement with a local Indigenous Nation to begin discussions on the Yellowhead Copper Project, as well as an extension to the standstill agreement with Tsilhqot'in Nation as both parties seek a long-term solution to the conflict regarding New Prosperity.

The full Report can be viewed and downloaded at www.tasekomines.com/esg/overview .

On May 4, 2021, the Gibraltar mine was awarded the prestigious 2020 John Ash Safety Award presented by the Ministry of Energy and Mines for having the lowest injury-frequency rate that has worked at least one million hours during the year. This is the 5th time Gibraltar has won this award over the last 7 years.

LONG-TERM GROWTH STRATEGY

Taseko's strategy has been to grow the Company by acquiring and developing a pipeline of complementary projects focused on copper in stable mining jurisdictions. We continue to believe this will generate long-term returns for shareholders. Our other development projects are focused primarily on copper and are located in British Columbia.

Yellowhead Copper Project

Yellowhead Mining Inc. ("Yellowhead") has an 817 million tonnes reserve and a 25-year mine life with a pre-tax net present value of $1.3 billion at an 8% discount rate using a US$3.10 per pound copper price. Capital costs of the project are estimated at $1.3 billion over a 2-year construction period. Over the first 5 years of operation, the copper equivalent grade will average 0.35% producing an average of 200 million pounds of copper per year at an average C1* cost, net of by-product credit, of US$1.67 per pound of copper. The Yellowhead Copper Project contains valuable precious metal by-products with 440,000 ounces of gold and 19 million ounces of silver with a life of mine value of over $1 billion at current prices.

The Company is focusing its current efforts on advancing the environmental assessment and some additional engineering work in conjunction with ongoing engagement with local communities including First Nations. A focus group has been formed between the Company and high-level regulators in the appropriate Provincial ministries in order to expedite the advancement of the environmental assessment and the permitting of the project. Management also commenced joint venture partnering discussions in 2020 with a number of strategic industry groups that are interested in potentially investing in the Yellowhead project in combination with acquiring significant copper offtake rights.

New Prosperity Gold-Copper Project

In late 2019, the Tsilhqot'in Nation, as represented by Tsilhqot'in National Government, and Taseko entered into a confidential dialogue, facilitated by the Province of British Columbia, to try to obtain a long-term solution to the conflict regarding Taseko's proposed gold-copper mine currently known as New Prosperity, acknowledging Taseko's commercial interests and the Tsilhqot'in Nation's opposition to the project. The dialogue was supported by the parties' agreement on December 7, 2019 to a one-year standstill on certain outstanding litigation and regulatory matters that relate to Taseko's tenures and the area in the vicinity of Teztan Biny (Fish Lake).

The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the commencement of the dialogue, but the Tsilhqot'in Nation and Taseko have made progress in establishing a constructive dialogue. In December 2020, the parties agreed to extend the standstill for a further year to continue this dialogue.

Aley Niobium Project

Environmental monitoring and product marketing initiatives on the Aley Niobium project continue. The pilot plant program has successfully completed the niobium flotation process portion of the test, raising confidence in the design and providing feed to the converter portion of the process. Completion of the converter pilot test, which is underway, will provide additional process data to support the design of the commercial process facilities and provide final product samples for marketing purposes.

The Company will host a telephone conference call and live webcast on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Pacific) to discuss these results. After opening remarks by management, there will be a question and answer session open to analysts and investors. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 416-764-8688 in Canada, 888-390-0546 in the United States, 08006522435 in the United Kingdom, or online at tasekomines.com/investors/events. The conference call will be archived for later playback until May 20, 2021 and can be accessed by dialing 416-764-8688 Canada, 888-390-0541 in the United States, or online at tasekomines.com/investors/events and using the passcode 998786 #.

Russell Hallbauer

CEO and Director

No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the information in this news release.

CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This document contains "forward-looking statements" that were based on Taseko's expectations, estimates and projections as of the dates as of which those statements were made. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "outlook", "anticipate", "project", "target", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "should" and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These included but are not limited to:

uncertainties about the effect of COVID-19 and the response of local, provincial, federal and international governments to the threat of COVID-19 on our operations (including our suppliers, customers, supply chain, employees and contractors) and economic conditions generally and in particular with respect to the demand for copper and other metals we produce;

uncertainties and costs related to the Company's exploration and development activities, such as those associated with continuity of mineralization or determining whether mineral resources or reserves exist on a property;

uncertainties related to the accuracy of our estimates of mineral reserves, mineral resources, production rates and timing of production, future production and future cash and total costs of production and milling;

uncertainties related to feasibility studies that provide estimates of expected or anticipated costs, expenditures and economic returns from a mining project;

uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary licenses permits for development projects and project delays due to third party opposition;

uncertainties related to unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings;

changes in, and the effects of, the laws, regulations and government policies affecting our exploration and development activities and mining operations, particularly laws, regulations and policies;

changes in general economic conditions, the financial markets and in the demand and market price for copper, gold and other minerals and commodities, such as diesel fuel, steel, concrete, electricity and other forms of energy, mining equipment, and fluctuations in exchange rates, particularly with respect to the value of the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar, and the continued availability of capital and financing;

the effects of forward selling instruments to protect against fluctuations in copper prices and exchange rate movements and the risks of counterparty defaults, and mark to market risk;

the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover mining risks;

the risk of loss of key employees; the risk of changes in accounting policies and methods we use to report our financial condition, including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates;

environmental issues and liabilities associated with mining including processing and stock piling ore; and

labour strikes, work stoppages, or other interruptions to, or difficulties in, the employment of labour in markets in which we operate mines, or environmental hazards, industrial accidents or other events or occurrences, including third party interference that interrupt the production of minerals in our mines.

For further information on Taseko, investors should review the Company's annual Form 40-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission www.sec.gov and home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

This discussion includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this discussion, other than statements of historical facts, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities, and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. Although we believe the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this MD&A are qualified by these cautionary statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law. Further information concerning risks and uncertainties associated with these forward-looking statements and our business may be found in our most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities.

NON-GAAP PERFORMANCE MEASURES

This document includes certain non-GAAP performance measures that do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS. These measures may differ from those used by, and may not be comparable to such measures as reported by, other issuers. The Company believes that these measures are commonly used by certain investors, in conjunction with conventional IFRS measures, to enhance their understanding of the Company's performance. These measures have been derived from the Company's financial statements and applied on a consistent basis. The following tables below provide a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measure.

Total operating costs and site operating costs, net of by-product credits

Total costs of sales include all costs absorbed into inventory, as well as transportation costs and insurance recoverable. Site operating costs are calculated by removing net changes in inventory, depletion and amortization, insurance recoverable, and transportation costs from cost of sales. Site operating costs, net of by-product credits is calculated by subtracting by-product credits from the site operating costs. Site operating costs, net of by-product credits per pound are calculated by dividing the aggregate of the applicable costs by copper pounds produced. Total operating costs per pound is the sum of site operating costs, net of by-product credits and off-property costs divided by the copper pounds produced. By-product credits are calculated based on actual sales of molybdenum (net of treatment costs) and silver during the period divided by the total pounds of copper produced during the period. These measures are calculated on a consistent basis for the periods presented.



Three months ended March 31, (Cdn$ in thousands, unless otherwise indicated)  75% basis 2021 2020 Cost of sales 72,266 83,309 Less:



Depletion and amortization (15,838) (27,148) Net change in inventories of finished goods 2,259 1,302 Net change in inventories of ore stockpiles (8,226) 603 Transportation costs (3,305) (4,519) Site operating costs 47,156 53,547 Less by-product credits:



Molybdenum, net of treatment costs (5,604) (3,231) Silver, excluding amortization of deferred revenue (238) (354) Site operating costs, net of by-product credits 41,314 49,962 Total copper produced (thousand pounds) 16,684 24,318 Total costs per pound produced 2.48 2.05 Average exchange rate for the period (CAD/USD) 1.27 1.34 Site operating costs, net of by-product credits (US$ per pound) 1.96 1.53 Site operating costs, net of by-product credits 41,314 49,962 Add off-property costs:



Treatment and refining costs 2,414 4,956 Transportation costs 3,305 4,519 Total operating costs 47,033 59,437 Total operating costs (C1) (US$ per pound) 2.23 1.82

Adjusted net income (loss)

Adjusted net income (loss) removes the effect of the following transactions from net income as reported under IFRS:

Unrealized foreign currency gains/losses;

Unrealized gain/loss on copper put and fuel call options; and

Loss on settlement of long-term debt, including realized foreign exchange gains.

Management believes these transactions do not reflect the underlying operating performance of our core mining business and are not necessarily indicative of future operating results. Furthermore, unrealized gains/losses on derivative instruments, changes in the fair value of financial instruments, and unrealized foreign currency gains/losses are not necessarily reflective of the underlying operating results for the reporting periods presented.



Three months ended March 31, (Cdn$ in thousands, except per share amounts) 2021 2020 Net loss (11,217) (48,950) Unrealized foreign exchange loss 8,798 29,747 Realized foreign exchange gain on settlement of long-term debt (13,000)

Unrealized (gain) loss on copper put and fuel call options 802 (3,348) Loss on settlement of long-term debt 12,739 - Estimated tax effect of adjustments (3,656) 904 Adjusted net loss (5,534) (21,647) Adjusted EPS (0.02) (0.09)

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is presented as a supplemental measure of the Company's performance and ability to service debt. Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the industry, many of which present Adjusted EBITDA when reporting their results. Issuers of "high yield" securities also present Adjusted EBITDA because investors, analysts and rating agencies consider it useful in measuring the ability of those issuers to meet debt service obligations.

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest, income taxes, and depreciation and also eliminates the impact of a number of items that are not considered indicative of ongoing operating performance. Certain items of expense are added and certain items of income are deducted from net income that are not likely to recur or are not indicative of the Company's underlying operating results for the reporting periods presented or for future operating performance and consist of:

Unrealized foreign exchange gains/losses;

Unrealized gain/loss on copper put and fuel call options;

Loss on settlement of long term debt (included in finance expenses) ;

Realized foreign exchange gains on settlement of long-term debt; and

Amortization of share-based compensation expense.



Three months ended March 31, (Cdn$ in thousands) 2021 2020 Net loss (11,217) (48,950) Add:



Depletion and amortization 15,838 27,148 Finance expense (includes loss on settlement of long-term debt) 23,958 10,771 Finance income (75) (150) Income tax recovery (4,302) (10,118) Unrealized foreign exchange loss 8,798 29,747 Realized foreign exchange gain on settlement of long-term debt (13,000) - Unrealized (gain) loss on copper put and fuel call options 802 (3,348) Amortization of share-based compensation expense 2,920 246 Adjusted EBITDA 23,722 5,346

Earnings (loss) from mining operations before depletion and amortization

Earnings from mining operations before depletion and amortization is earnings from mining operations with depletion and amortization added back. The Company discloses this measure, which has been derived from our financial statements and applied on a consistent basis, to provide assistance in understanding the results of the Company's operations and financial position and it is meant to provide further information about the financial results to investors.



Three months ended March 31, (Cdn$ in thousands) 2021 2020 Earnings (loss) from mining operations 14,475 (21,225) Add:



Depletion and amortization 15,838 27,148 Earnings from mining operations before depletion and amortization 30,313 5,923

Site operating costs per ton milled



Three months ended March 31, (Cdn$ in thousands, except per ton milled amounts) 2021 2020 Site operating costs (included in cost of sales) 47,156 53,547





Tons milled (thousands) (75% basis) 5,402 5,622 Site operating costs per ton milled $8.73 $9.52

SOURCE Taseko Mines Limited

Related Links

www.tasekomines.com


ATLANTA, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year in May, Americans thank and honor our nation's military veterans, service members, and their families in a variety of ways. During Military Appreciation Month, Team Red, White and Blue (Team RWB), a nonprofit organization forging America's leading health and wellness community for veterans, and its partners are offering seven virtual and in-person opportunities to show appreciation for those who served.
STAMFORD, Conn., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Amid one of the most tumultuous, disruptive years for society and business in modern history, CEOs named Texas, Florida and Tennessee as the top 3 states on Chief Executive's annual ranking of the Best and Worst States for Business, parent company Chief Executive Group announced.

It was the 17th year in a row the nation's CEOs picked Texas as number one in our annual surveythe state has been the top-ranked in our poll every yearand its widespread blackouts did little to damage its standing among CEOs. "People know one-off events occur," Governor Greg Abbott told Chief Executive, "and what matters most is what our response is. Texas is responding very aggressively and strongly and will ensure a stable power-grid system that will be the most robust in the United States."

Rounding out the top fifteen on the list: #4 North Carolina (+2 on the list since last year), #5 Indiana (unchanged), #6 South Carolina (+2), #7 Ohio (+3), #8 Nevada (down 5), #9 Georgia (+2), #10 Arizona (down 3), #11 Utah (down 1), #12 South Dakota (+12), #13 Virginia (+3), #14 Delaware (+5) and #15 Michigan (down 2).

At the bottom of the list were #46 Washington State (down 2), #47 New Jersey, #48 Illinois, #49 New York and #50 California. The last four were unchanged from previous years.

The full report is available here: chiefexecutive.net/best-worst-states-business/

Perhaps most interesting this year, our surveyof 383 CEOs, fielded in March 2021finds the nation's business leaders increasingly restless thanks to Covid. Forty-four percent of those we surveyed report that they're "more open than before to examining new locations" for their business, while 34 percent said they're "considering shifting [or] opening significant operations [or] facilities in a new state."

"CEOs had their eyes opened by what was possible during Covid," said Dan Bigman, editor of Chief Executive. "This year's survey found they're now far more willing to think about new waysand new placesfor doing business."

Media Contact

Dan Bigman

203-930-2700

[email protected]

SOURCE Chief Executive Group

Related Links

https://chiefexecutive.net


HOUSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A Texas sex trafficking survivor alleges in a new lawsuit that she was repeatedly drugged, beaten and raped at a Houston-area Motel 6 location known for trafficking activity, according to her lawyers at Annie McAdams PC, Sico Hoelscher Harris LLPand The Gallagher Law Firm.

Filed in state district court in Harris County on behalf of "Jane Doe A.A.," the lawsuit accuses a group of Motel 6 defendants of knowingly benefitting from sex trafficking activities and it cites dozens of alleged trafficking incidents at Motel 6 locations around the nation. Five similar lawsuits were filed on behalf of alleged trafficking victims against Motel 6 defendants in Dallas County last week.

According to the Harris County lawsuit, Jane Doe A.A., a resident of Nueces County, Texas, was drugged at a high school party after being "groomed" by the brother of a fellow high school student. After the drugging, Jane Doe A.A. woke up at a hotel,, with her identification and phone confiscated by the trafficker. She was then trafficked for several months, including a Motel 6 location in Spring, Texas where she was drugged, beaten and raped by an average of 10 men per day, including a Motel 6 manager.

The lawsuit defendants are G6 Hospitality LLC, doing business as Motel 6; G6 Hospitality Franchising, LLC; G6 Hospitality IP, LLC; G6 Hospitality Property, LLC; G6 Hospitality Purchasing, LLC; Motel 6 Operating, LP; and NNJP LLC, doing business as Motel 6 Spring.

"Countless tales of tragedy establish the entrenched, pervasive nature and knowledge of Motel 6's role as the venue for sex trafficking across the United States for years," the lawsuit alleges. "As sex trafficking has grown to epidemic proportions, it has become widely recognized that we must look beyond just the pimp and sex buyer to stop sex trafficking. We must look to the other individual and entities who facilitate and benefit from sex trafficking."

After months of abuse, according to the lawsuit, Jane Doe A.A. escaped her trafficker after approaching a police officer at a gas station. She underwent intensive in-patient therapy for drug addiction, followed by a live-in trafficking recovery program. After many months of in-patient treatment, Jane Doe A.A. returned home to her parents.

The defendants are accused of violating Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 98, an anti-trafficking law passed in 2009, and other state laws.

Jane Doe A.A. and the five alleged trafficking victims in the Dallas County lawsuits are represented by Annie McAdams of Annie McAdams PC, of Houston; Michael T. Gallagher and Pamela McLemore, of The Gallagher Law Firm, of Houston; and David E. Harris and Jeffrey H. Richter, of Sico Hoelscher Harris LLP, of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Annie McAdams , of Annie McAdams PC, said, "Jane Doe A.A. is a rare human trafficking success story. Despite deep wounds of rape and abuse, and constant fear for her and her family's safety, she continues to recover and look toward the future. She has fought back by serving as a key witness against her trafficker's criminal trial."

David E. Harris , of Sico Hoelscher Harris LLP, said, "Jane Doe A.A. is courageously rebuilding her life. With the help of Chapter 98 protection, we believe trafficking survivors in Texas can expose and hold accountable companies such as Motel 6 that benefit from these crimes of exploitation."

The case is "Jane Doe A.A. vs. G6 Hospitality d/b/a Motel 6, et al.," Cause No. 2021-26731 in the 11th State District Court of Harris County, Texas.

Media Contact : Erin Powers; Powers MediaWorks LLC; for Annie McAdams; PC; [email protected] ; 281.703.6000.

SOURCE Annie McAdams PC

Related Links

https://www.anniemcadamspc.com/


NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 5, 2021 The Autoimmune Registry (ARI) announces its "Cure the Mother's Disease" fundraiser to support research on innovative diagnostic tools being developed at the University of Kentucky.

Sydney Abend, a mother with Sjogren's Syndrome, told ARI, "For 10 years, I was told 'everyone has dry eyes' and 'you're just getting old'. I felt validated when I got my Sjogren's diagnosis. Women are disproportionately affected by these diseases and often brushed off by doctors. We need this research to give doctors the tools they need to improve diagnosis of all autoimmune diseases."

Joanna, who enrolled in the Autoimmune Registry in 2016, is a mother of two with Systemic Sclerosis who went undiagnosed for many years during which time she developed serious complications. "I am fortunate that I am still able take care of my sons and to be a surrogate mother for my two goddaughters, whose own mother died quite young from chronic progressive Multiple Sclerosis. More research is needed on all of these autoimmune diseases."

This year, the Mother's Day fundraiser for the "Mother's Disease" will support innovative research by Dr. Jagannadha Avasarala at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Avasarala is exploring how measuring the eye can help diagnose multiple sclerosis. "A pupilometer is a non-invasive testing tool that can detect early signs of multiple sclerosis, one of the many autoimmune diseases that target the nervous system." It costs $300 to cover the lab tests needed for one of Dr. Avasarala's research participants.

Finding better ways to diagnose, treat and cure autoimmune diseases is the mission of the Autoimmune Registry. Autoimmune Disease affects between 20 and 30 million Americans, 70% of whom are women, and it is the 7th leading cause of death for women between 15 and 65. They include diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes, Grave's disease and 150 others.

This Mother's Day, ARI asks everyone to help the millions of mothers with Autoimmune Disease. ARI seeks to raise $50,000 to support Dr. Avasarala's research and to find new ways to diagnose, treat, and cure Autoimmune Disease, the "Mother's Disease".

SOURCE Autoimmune Registry

Related Links

https://www.autoimmuneregistry.org


Real is the future model of the real estate business for agents and customers. Tweet this

Love Local Real Estate was founded in 2016 by partners Joe Herrera and Taylor Prince, who formerly ran an independent brokerage office together. They built it into a 130-agent brokerage, including independent agents and their own team, the Joe Taylor Group.

"We see the market continuing to grow over the next couple of years as people look for an opportunity to live in an amazing community with an affordable state income tax," said Taylor Prince. "The agents we work with are highly skilled in helping homebuyers find great deals even in a hot market."

Love Local Real Estate decided to join Real based on a value proposition that extends beyond individual transactions. Real offers agents an equity stake in the company through its agent stock incentive plans.

"We saw in Real an opportunity to take average agents and teach them how to build wealth through ownership in company stock and revenue sharing," said Herrera. "Now, as we attract agents to Real, it will be about becoming business partners with them in the larger Real community."

As managing broker for Real in Nevada, Bryan Jones will leverage 22 years of real estate experience, including over 13 years at Coldwell Banker, to support agents. He was named "rookie of the year" in 1998 and has launched a charitable giving program called "Bryan Gives Back." Jones donates a portion of the commission from every listing he sells to either the Wounded Warrior Project based in Jacksonville, Fl, or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund. Throughout his career he has assisted thousands of clients and impacted hundreds of consumers through his efforts.

"Real is the future model of the real estate business for agents and customers. Agents and their clients want their information driven by technology and on a mobile device," said Jones. He added, "The agent incentives and commission structure are key reasons to join Real."

Sean Mulcahy, a graduate of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, has worked in real estate specialties including commercial development, residential development and residential sales ranging from luxury estates to distressed foreclosures.

"I joined Real because of the people," said Mulcahy. "I could go work at any real estate office if I just wanted to sell property. Real was built with a common goal in mind -- to make agents' lives better. We are building a company that will truly change the face of the industry."

"We are excited by the talent, expertise and enthusiasm of the team partnering with us to launch Real in Nevada," said Real co-founder and CEO Tamir Poleg. "Real offers a new way to support agents as they guide their clients through a life changing decision."

Last month, Real announced it had surpassed 2,000 agents across its national network, growing 90% since April 2020. Real also recently announced its expansion into Oregon as part of its continued growth across the United States.

About Real

Real ( www.joinreal.com ) is a technology-powered real estate brokerage operating in 29 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Real is building the brokerage of the future, together with agents and their clients. Real creates financial opportunities for agents through better commission splits, best-in-class technology, revenue sharing and equity incentives.

Contact Information:

For additional information, please contact:

The Real Brokerage Inc.

Ryan Birchmeier

[email protected]

1+201-564-4221

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "likely" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, without limiting the foregoing, information relating to Real's expansion to Nevada, agent incentives and commissions, the donations of Bryan Gives Back, Real's expected growth of agents in Nevada, and the business and strategic plans of Real.

Forward-looking information is based on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, including but not limited to Real's business objectives, expected growth, results of operations, performance, business projects and opportunities and financial results. Real considers these assumptions to be reasonable in the circumstances. However, forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. These factors should be carefully considered and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Real cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Real assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, and the OTCQX has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

SOURCE The Real Brokerage Inc.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- White Castle, America's first fast-food hamburger chain, is proud to announce that it has earned the Great Place to Work Certification.

The prestigious designation is based entirely on what current team members say about their experience working at White Castle. According to a Trust Index survey conducted earlier this year of White Castle's nearly 10,000 employees, 81% of them said the company is a great place to work. That's 22 percentage points higher than the 59% average for U.S.-based companies.

White Castle earns Great Place to Work Certification. Tweet this White Castle employees celebrate the opening of the Castle in Scottsdale, Arizona, in October 2019. White Castle earned the Great Place to Work certification.

"As a family-owned business celebrating its 100th birthday this year, we know that this milestone is only possible because of the people who make our work their lives' work," said John Kelley, chief people officer at White Castle. "So, we have always taken care of our team members and strived to make White Castle a place where people want to work. This certification confirms that we've created a culture where team members feel valued and appreciated."

Founded in 1921, White Castle has a long history of looking out for its team members. In 1924, for example, it became one of the first companies in the U.S. to offer health insurance to its employees. In addition, White Castle traditionally promotes from within. Nearly all 500 of its regional directors, district supervisors and general managers started behind the counter at a White Castle restaurant. As a perk of working in one of White Castle's more than 360 restaurants, team members get a free meal during their shifts.

The company's commitment to treating all of its team members  regardless of their positions  with fairness and respect has resulted in unmatched employee loyalty. More than 1 in 4 of the company's team members have worked at White Castle for 10 years or more. Every year, White Castle honors team members with 15 years of service on "Elaine Miseta Day," named after the administrative assistant who worked 67 years at White Castle for the company's first three presidents. Each honoree receives a pin that says, "52 years to go!" (to reach Miseta's record).

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation. The Great Place to Work Certification helps companies attract and retain top talent, receive important feedback from their employees, and benchmark their culture against the world's most successful companies. The certification also enables qualifying companies to be automatically considered for placement in more than 20 "best workplace" lists.

"Great Place to Work Certification isn't something that comes easily  it takes ongoing dedication to the employee experience," said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, vice president of global recognition at Great Place to Work. "It's the only official recognition determined by employees' real-time reports of their company culture. Earning this designation means that White Castle is one of the best companies to work for in the country."

About White Castle

White Castle, America's first fast-food hamburger chain, has been making hot and tasty Sliders as a family-owned business for 100 years. Based in Columbus, Ohio, White Castle started serving The Original Slider in 1921. Today, White Castle owns and operates more than 360 restaurants dedicated to satisfying customers' cravings morning, noon and night and sells its famous fare in retail stores nationwide. The Original Slider, named in 2014 as Time magazine's "Most Influential Burger of All Time," is served alongside a menu of creatively crafted Sliders and other mouthwatering food options, including White Castle's Impossible Slider, named by Thrillist in 2019 as the "Best Plant-Based Fast Food Burger." White Castle's commitment to maintaining the highest quality products extends to the company owning and operating its own meat processing plants, bakeries and frozen-food processing plants. In 2021, 100 years after the first Slider was sold, Fast Company named the fast-food pioneer one of the "10 Most Innovative Dining Companies." White Castle is known for the legendary loyalty of its team members, more than 1 in 4 of whom have worked for White Castle for at least 10 years, and also for its faithful fans ("Cravers"), many of whom compete each year for entry into the Cravers Hall of Fame. The official White Castle app, available at iTunes App Store or Google Play, makes it easy for Cravers to access sweet deals and place pickup orders at any time. They can also have their orders delivered using one of White Castle's delivery partners. For more information on White Castle, visit whitecastle.com.

SOURCE White Castle

Related Links

http://www.whitecastle.com


The newly launched site centers around a comprehensive and easy-to-use Knowledge Bank, where Wilson Sonsini Emerging Companies Practice legal experts answer more than 200 of the most pressing and common questions asked by entrepreneurs, start-ups and VCs globally, on everything from formation and financing to IP protection , tax , governance , exits and more.

"Helping entrepreneurs thrive is at the heart of everything we do at Wilson Sonsini," said Raj S. Judge , partner at Wilson Sonsini and co-lead of the Emerging Companies Practice. "Whether it's leveraging proprietary technology for efficiency in our practice, providing free resources like those found in our Knowledge Bank, or widening access to the global network of banks and VCs we've built over the past six decades, Wilson Sonsini aims to arm early-stage start-ups with the very best counsel so that they succeed and win."

The Emerging Companies Practice site is just the latest step in Wilson Sonsini's continued mission to leverage technology to make its world-class legal resources accessible. In 2019, Wilson Sonsini introduced technology subsidiary SixFifty , which has developed automation tools to help in-house counsel address ever-changing areas of the law like privacy, return to work, diversity and inclusion, among other areas. More recently, Wilson Sonsini announced an agreement with Morgan Stanley to give the investment bank access to proprietary software the firm created that manages startup finances. As part of its digital transformation strategy, Wilson Sonsini will be rolling out additional technology tools to streamline the delivery of legal services in order to better serve its clients later this year.

"Wilson Sonsini is synonymous with Silicon Valley and innovation," said Ursheet Parikh, partner at Mayfield . "From the early days of semiconductors, through personal computers and dot-coms to software-as-a-service, CRISPR, blockchain and beyond, Wilson Sonsini has been a part of the most important technology milestones on record, and continues to do so today in its own right by implementing technology into its practice."

"Wilson Sonsini has always leveraged new technology not only to serve its clients, but the technology community more broadly," said Greg Gottesman, managing director and co-founder of Pioneer Square Labs . "This new website is a great example of Wilson Sonsini continuing to look for innovative ways to help founders."

Wilson Sonsini is the leading law firm representing startup companies in Silicon Valley and beyond, having helped the likes of Google, Netflix, and, more recently, Lyft and Roblox, go public. Over the past six decades, Wilson Sonsini has represented more than 100,000 of the most innovative companies on the planet during virtually every technological innovation. The firm's legacy mirrors the evolution of Silicon Valley and is synonymous with ushering promising, innovative companies through their business life cycle.

The launch of the Emerging Companies Practice site will provide founders, entrepreneurs and VCs with a centralized hub of necessary tools to build the next generation of emerging technologies - making Wilson Sonsini's years of expertise more accessible to companies, no matter their stage of growth. For more information visit, ecp.wsgr.com .

About Wilson Sonsini

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini has offered a broad range of legal services, focused on solving the challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leader in the fields of corporate governance and finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities litigation, employment law, intellectual property, and antitrust, among many other areas of law. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has offices in Austin; Beijing; Boston; Brussels; Hong Kong; London; Los Angeles; New York; Palo Alto; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; Shanghai; Washington, D.C.; and Wilmington, DE. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com .

About The Emerging Companies Practice, Wilson Sonsini

Every entrepreneur starts somewhere. And goes on a journey that can lead them from garage to IPO. At Wilson Sonsini, we have taken over 100,000 start-ups on this journey and we continue that tradition today with over 3,000 of the most innovative companies on the planet. By leveraging innovative, first-of-its-kind technology, we have made six decades of experience, top legal resources, and a global network of banks, industry resources and VCs accessible to early-stage start-ups. Leveraging the firm's wider team of 900 total attorneys in offices across three continents, and professionals conversant in over 37 languages, Wilson Sonsini's Emerging Companies Practice helps start-ups worldwide realize their vision.

SOURCE Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Related Links

http://www.wsgr.com

https://ecp.wsgr.com/


Request a Free Sample Report to Know More

The imposition of lockdowns owing to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has globally impacted several IT start-up companies in the market. However, the market has witnessed a surge in the demand for LPO services that provide low-cost business strategic reform laws and effective services despite the ongoing pandemic. This is expected to contribute to the growth of the market during the forecast period.

The market is expected to be driven by factors such as regulatory compliances, cost reduction and enhanced efficiency of legal processes, and the proliferation of risk management practices.

The report also offers information on the upcoming trends and challenges that will influence market growth.

Download Our Free Sample Report

Legal Process Outsourcing Market: Opportunities

The availability of a skilled workforce that possesses language proficiency and government support in emerging markets such as India, the Philippines, China, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia has been providing several growth opportunities for vendors in the market. Many law firms across the world are providing LPO service contracts to domestic players in such countries to minimize the cost of legal process management. Besides, the growing competition in the LPO market has led many skilled law consultants to offer premier legal services. Many such factors are expected to open new growth avenues for market vendors during the forecast period.

Legal Process Outsourcing Market: Segmentation by Service

Based on the segmentation by service, the market generated maximum revenue in the contract management segment in 2019. The need for proper integration of documents and record management systems among companies has been driving the growth of the segment. Also, benefits of contract management services such as contract review and analysis, summarization, integration of papers and electronic documents, contractual risk analysis, and quality management processes are contributing to the growth of the segment.

Legal Process Outsourcing Market: Segmentation by Geography

North America held the largest market share in 2019 and the market growth in the region is expected to be slower compared to the growth of the market in APAC and Europe. The growth of the market in North America can be attributed to the increased expenditure on legal proceedings by firms operating in the region. Also, the availability of professionals who provide legal services at lower wages is expected to fuel the growth of the legal process outsourcing market in North America during the forecast period.

One of the fortune 500 companies had used the detailed research report on the legal process outsourcing market and had decided to increase their market share in the North American region which offers the highest market opportunities during the forecast period.

Explore more about market opportunities: Enquire about the report before purchasing

Legal Process Outsourcing Market: Major Vendors

Capita Plc

The company offers a range of legal and litigation services, as well as supporting law firms and legal services organizations with software solutions such as EvidenceWorks.

Cobra Legal Solutions LLC

The company offers a line of solutions such as COBRATX, COBRAPULSE, and LEGALINTEL, among others to increase transparency and productivity in the performance of individual attorneys and vendors. The company offers LPO services such as document drafting, contract review, e-Discovery, and legal billing among others.

Exigent Group Ltd.

The company offers a line of consulting solutions such as legal spend analysis, contract optimization analysis, forensic consulting services, and others. The company offers legal services, immigration services, medical-legal services, and outsourced legal administration services among others.

Integreon Inc.

The company offers optimized compliance management, delivered through expert resources, processes, and technology to help clients meet risk and regulatory obligations. The company offers a line of services such as managed document review services, litigation content management services, and others.

LegalBase

The company offers legal services to a diverse portfolio of clients ranging from small businesses to law firms, global consumer brands, and boutique private equity houses.

Along with the market data, Technavio offers customizations as per the specific needs of companies. The following customization options are available for the legal process outsourcing market report:

Regional Analysis

Further breakdown of the market segmentation at requested regions.

Market Player Information

Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players, vendor segmentation, and vendor offerings.

Know the strategies adopted by vendors during the COVID-19 Recovery Phase.

Speak to our Analyst for a Customized Report

Related Reports on Legal process outsourcing Market:

Global Legal Practice Management Software Market  Global legal practice management software market is segmented by Deployment (On-premise and Cloud-based) and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA).

Download an Exclusive Free Sample Report

Global Document Outsourcing Market  Global document outsourcing market is segmented by outsourcing services (onsite contracted services, statement printing services, and DPO services) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America).

Download an Exclusive Free Sample Report

Global Business Process Outsourcing Market  Global business process outsourcing market is segmented by end-user (IT and telecommunication, BFSI, retail, healthcare, and others) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and South America).

Download an Exclusive Free Sample Report

Global CRM Outsourcing Market  Global CRM outsourcing market is segmented by end-user (BFSI, telecom and IT, retail, healthcare, and others) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America).

Download an Exclusive Free Sample Report

Global Technical Support Outsourcing Market  Global technical support outsourcing market is segmented by type (helpdesk and call center) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America).

Download an Exclusive Free Sample Report

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 - 2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Service

Market segments

Comparison by Service

Contract management - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

E-discovery services - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Litigation support - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Legal research - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Others - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Service

Customer landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

- Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Europe - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

- Market size and forecast 2019-2024 APAC - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

South America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

- Market size and forecast 2019-2024 MEA - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market drivers  Demand led growth

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

Capita Plc

Cobra Legal Solutions LLC

Exigent Group Ltd.

HCL Technologies Ltd.

Infosys Ltd.

Integreon Inc.

LegalBase

Morae Global Corp.

QuisLex Inc.

UnitedLex Corp.

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

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UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com

Report: www.technavio.com/report/legal-process-outsourcing-services-market-industry-analysis

SOURCE Technavio
SAN FRANCISCO, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe Virtual -- The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), which builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud native software, today announced the addition of 27 new members and end user supporters to continue driving innovation and diffusion of cloud native technology across the globe.

COVID-19 has reshaped the world into a vastly more digital place and cloud native technology has been a critical component to this transformation, becoming present in services across almost every aspect of our lives. As the ecosystem comes together for our virtual European event, CNCF celebrates significant growth in the last year with a 50% growth in contributors, reaching over 123,000, and a 118% increase in the number of CNCF hosted projects, which is now at 96.

"We continue to be humbled by the number of diverse organizations driving innovation through cloud native technology impacting human beings worldwide," said Priyanka Sharma, general manager of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. "What has become very clear over the last year is that the economy is significantly benefitting from open source and that we are better when we work together across organizational, geographic, and demographic boundaries. In that same spirit, today we welcome 27 new members from around the world. We look forward to collaborating with them on solutions to the complex challenges faced by humanity today."

These new members will also join CNCF at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon events, including this week's KubeCon + CloudNativeCom EU - Virtual from May 4  7, 2021, and KubeCon + CloudNativeCon NA in Los Angeles from October 12  15, 2020.

About the newest Silver Members:

Afi.ai develops innovative cloud data management platform, based on enterprise-grade architecture and Artificial Intelligence engine that provides consumer-grade simplicity.

develops innovative cloud data management platform, based on enterprise-grade architecture and Artificial Intelligence engine that provides consumer-grade simplicity. Allianz Direct is a technology company with an insurance license with the vision to build the future of insurance by leveraging newest industry trends and technologies.

is a technology company with an insurance license with the vision to build the future of insurance by leveraging newest industry trends and technologies. Avesha 's Smart Application Cloud Framework helps enterprises build and scale applications faster with freedom to deploy anywhere.

's Smart Application Cloud Framework helps enterprises build and scale applications faster with freedom to deploy anywhere. BrickDoc is an open-source no-code development platform and new office software designed for civil developers. By integrating document collaboration, cloudevents spec, and automation tools, users can automate parts of their work without writing any code.

is an open-source no-code development platform and new office software designed for civil developers. By integrating document collaboration, cloudevents spec, and automation tools, users can automate parts of their work without writing any code. Citi , the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions, working tirelessly to provide consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial services and products.

, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions, working tirelessly to provide consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial services and products. Civo is a Kubernetes cloud provider with a strong focus on developer experience, with sub 90 second cluster launch time and simple billing.

is a Kubernetes cloud provider with a strong focus on developer experience, with sub 90 second cluster launch time and simple billing. Cloocus is a leading technology service provider of cloud computing, empowering enterprises' IT modernization by providing cloud native development solutions such as Kubernetes, DevOps and building and deploying container-based applications.

is a leading technology service provider of cloud computing, empowering enterprises' IT modernization by providing cloud native development solutions such as Kubernetes, DevOps and building and deploying container-based applications. cuegee is a specialised Cloud Native & Container Platform consulting company focussed on planning and executing large and complex projects by designing and building container platforms for our clients.

is a specialised Cloud Native & Container Platform consulting company focussed on planning and executing large and complex projects by designing and building container platforms for our clients. FireHydrant is the only comprehensive incident management platform that allows you to create consistency for the entire incident response lifecycle to focus on fighting fires faster.

is the only comprehensive incident management platform that allows you to create consistency for the entire incident response lifecycle to focus on fighting fires faster. Gaia is a multi-cloud solution provider who provides Iaas, Anti-DDoS, Kubernetes and DevOps. We offer 24/7 Chinese/English bilingual online service for all of our customers.

is a multi-cloud solution provider who provides Iaas, Anti-DDoS, Kubernetes and DevOps. We offer 24/7 Chinese/English bilingual online service for all of our customers. High Plains Computing is a Kubernetes service provider that specializes in performance testing of Kubernetes applications, setting up CI/CD, and migrating AWS applications to Kubernetes.

is a Kubernetes service provider that specializes in performance testing of Kubernetes applications, setting up CI/CD, and migrating AWS applications to Kubernetes. Innablr is a Melbourne based consultancy that enables organizations to rapidly accelerate the delivery of innovative solutions and customer experiences built upon Kubernetes, serverless, and cloud native technologies.

is a based consultancy that enables organizations to rapidly accelerate the delivery of innovative solutions and customer experiences built upon Kubernetes, serverless, and cloud native technologies. LSDOPEN is your cloud native digital acceleration partner that provides a fully managed and engineered cloud native accelerator, leveraging a foundation of containerisation, Kubernetes and open source technologies.

is your cloud native digital acceleration partner that provides a fully managed and engineered cloud native accelerator, leveraging a foundation of containerisation, Kubernetes and open source technologies. Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators, with fixed and mobile network services in Europe , Africa and Middle-East for a total of 259 Mn customers over 26 countries, and Business Services worldwide.

is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators, with fixed and mobile network services in , and for a total of 259 Mn customers over 26 countries, and Business Services worldwide. Qingteng is an innovative technology company specialized in workload security, constantly improving its core technological innovation capabilities to become a socially responsible security company that creates value for users.

is an innovative technology company specialized in workload security, constantly improving its core technological innovation capabilities to become a socially responsible security company that creates value for users. Raytheon Technologies consists of four industry-leading businessesCollins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense  providing advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide and pushing the boundaries of avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, quantum physics and more.

consists of four industry-leading businessesCollins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense  providing advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide and pushing the boundaries of avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion, hypersonics, quantum physics and more. Rebaze GmbH is Toni Menzel as a Service. Consultant Toni lives in Germany and helps his clients to #DevelopLikeTomorrow

is as a Service. Consultant Toni lives in and helps his clients to #DevelopLikeTomorrow Red Reply delivers efficient Oracle Managed Service solutions (lift, shape, develop and operate) top brands in the DACH region, with their highly specialized DevOps SRE Team based out of Frankfurt .

delivers efficient Oracle Managed Service solutions (lift, shape, develop and operate) top brands in the DACH region, with their highly specialized DevOps SRE Team based out of . Seagate Technology crafts the datasphere, helping to maximize humanity's potential by innovating world-class, precision-engineered data storage and management solutions with a focus on sustainable partnerships.

crafts the datasphere, helping to maximize humanity's potential by innovating world-class, precision-engineered data storage and management solutions with a focus on sustainable partnerships. Stacklet , co-founded by the creator and lead maintainer of Cloud Custodian, provides best-of-breed solutions for cloud governance addressing universal customer needs around security, operations, visibility, and cost optimization.

, co-founded by the creator and lead maintainer of Cloud Custodian, provides best-of-breed solutions for cloud governance addressing universal customer needs around security, operations, visibility, and cost optimization. Stratox Cloud Native is the creator of CodeNOW, an open-source based and ready-made software delivery platform that supports developers in each stage of the development and DevOps processes, speeding up the development of cloud-native applications in microservices-based architectures and by removing technical complexity enables developers to deliver business value faster.

is the creator of CodeNOW, an open-source based and ready-made software delivery platform that supports developers in each stage of the development and DevOps processes, speeding up the development of cloud-native applications in microservices-based architectures and by removing technical complexity enables developers to deliver business value faster. Tensor Security focuses on providing AI-based and full-stack cloud-native security solutions, it secures container-based applications for its lifecycle and meets the ever-moving security needs when enterprises shift workloads to the cloud environment.

focuses on providing AI-based and full-stack cloud-native security solutions, it secures container-based applications for its lifecycle and meets the ever-moving security needs when enterprises shift workloads to the cloud environment. Vultr is a leading independent cloud platform on a mission to simplify global cloud infrastructure by enabling developers, startups, SMBs, and enterprise teams frictionless deployment of high-performance cloud computing solutions worldwide.

is a leading independent cloud platform on a mission to simplify global cloud infrastructure by enabling developers, startups, SMBs, and enterprise teams frictionless deployment of high-performance cloud computing solutions worldwide. Tidu Information Technology is an AI cloud computing company, integrating R&D, promotion, and innovation.

About the newest End User Supporter:

Peritus.ai is a cloud-based ML recommendation system to automate complex activities for Cloud-Native technologies, and our Peritus Assistant for Community Forums (e.g., Stack Overflow, Cisco Community, Kubernetes.io, etc.) helps engineers answer Cloud-Native questions with an AI-enabled assistant, trained by industry experts.

About the newest Nonprofit and Academic Members:

Infotics Institute of Technology has as agenda of introducing next level corporate training courses that benchmark the industry that trainings boast the performance, speed and control required for innovative cloud businesses.

has as agenda of introducing next level corporate training courses that benchmark the industry that trainings boast the performance, speed and control required for innovative cloud businesses. MITRE is a not-for-profit corporation committed to the public interest, operating federally funded R&D centers on behalf of U.S. government sponsors.

With the addition of these new members, there are now over 140 organizations in the CNCF End User Community . This group regularly meets to share adoption best practices and feedback on project roadmaps and future projects for CNCF technical leaders to consider.

Additional Resources

About Cloud Native Computing Foundation

Cloud native computing empowers organizations to build and run scalable applications with an open source software stack in public, private, and hybrid clouds. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) hosts critical components of the global technology infrastructure, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, and Envoy. CNCF brings together the industry's top developers, end users, and vendors, and runs the largest open source developer conferences in the world. Supported by more than 500 members, including the world's largest cloud computing and software companies, as well as over 200 innovative startups, CNCF is part of the nonprofit Linux Foundation. For more information, please visit www.cncf.io .

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Jessie Adams-Shore

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE Cloud Native Computing Foundation

Related Links

https://www.cncf.io/


New MMSDC research shows increased corporate commitment to minority businesses could close gap in 15 years. Tweet this

She said a key solution to shortening the timeline is a deliberate and intentional focus on minority firms access to and spending from corporations.

"This research makes it crystal clear that the current path is one we cannot continue if we wish to achieve economic equity for people of color in our lifetimes," Robinson said. "Corporations who understand that strong communities create strong customers, strong employees and strong neighbors, must re-commit to providing access for MBEs to compete for all aspects of their business. If all corporations grow their MBE spend percentage by 1% annually, the timeline to achieve parity would improve from 333 years to 15 years."

Dr. Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and keynote speaker at the MMSDC's 2021 conference discussed her father's focus on economic equality explaining that he believed racial and economic injustice were inseparable twins.

The report being produced today was commissioned by the MMSDC, and analysis conducted by supplier.io Inc., to assess the growth rate of MBEs and determine the gap that remains in revenue parity for MBEs, relative to the number of minorities in the United States.

Supplier.io, led by Founder and CEO Neeraj Shah, is a provider of solutions that enable companies to manage, optimize, and scale their supplier diversity programs, serving one in five Fortune 50 companies. Study sources included data from the National Bureau of Economic Research, U.S. Census Bureau; Brookings, Crunchbase and more. To access the full research findings, please visit minoritysupplier.org/333-years/.

The research shows that the average MBE percent to total spend is 3.29 percent and needs to increase to between 13 percent and 16 percent (excluding only payroll and taxes) to achieve parity.

Among other results of the research:

MBEs drove 14.2 percent of new jobs from 2014-2018, but collected only 7.2 percent of revenue growth during that same period.

During the pandemic, minority businesses were impacted more severely, with Black-owned business down 41 percent, Latinx-owned business down 32 percent and Asian-owned business down 26 percent. In comparison, white-owned firms fell by just 17 percent.

In 2018, people of color represented 40 percent of the U.S. population, but revenues from MBEs represented only 9.4 percent of revenues by private U.S. firms.

From 2014 to 2018, there was only a 1.25 percent increase in the number of MBE firms with more than $1 million in revenue, reaching 17.4 percent. In that same time span, revenues only increased from 8.8 percent to 9.4 percent.

By 2045, people of color are expected to make up more than 50 percent of the U.S. population. Companies that are not responsive to this growing customer base are more likely to be left behind, which is another incentive for MBE spending growth.

Robinson said: "After decades of stagnation, it's time for corporations to go beyond words, and take actions that help create lasting wealth within communities of color. By doing so, ALL communities will benefit."

In the study findings, the "Path to Parity" recommendations include:

Consider MBE spending across all categories. Go beyond construction and manufacturing and look into technology and professional services, too.

Help create viable pools of MBEs by removing barriers to access. Black and Hispanic businesses only received 2.6 percent of all venture funding in 2020, for example. Increased access to capital will accelerate revenue growth among certified minority businesses.

Help to train the next generation of minority business owners, giving them the knowledge to one day start their own businesses.

Incorporate achievable goals and metrics to quantify the corporate benefits of supplier diversity and small business programs. For many years, organizations have promoted the need to support small and diverse businesses, yet most rarely establish an industry-wide project plan to do so.

Click here to view today's fireside chat with MMSDC President and CEO Michelle Sourie Robinson and Dr. Martin Luther King's daughter, Dr. Bernice A. King.

To schedule an interview with MMSDC President and CEO Michelle Sourie Robinson or with Supplier.io CEO Neeraj Shah about these research findings and the importance of allowing certified minority suppliers to compete for business, please contact Leslie Pardo at 248-563-7213.

About Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council

The Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC) is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization committed to driving economic growth within minority communities. The MMSDC advances this mission by facilitating over $36 billion annually in economic output between corporations and certified minority business enterprises (MBEs).

Founded in 1977, the MMSDC certifies minority businesses, develops their capacity and facilitates inclusive procurement opportunities. The MMSDC is one of 23 affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), a nonprofit corporate membership organization that advances business opportunities for its certified Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American business enterprises and connects them to its corporate members. One of the country's leading corporate membership organizations, NMSDC was founded in 1972 to provide increased procurement and business opportunities for minority business enterprises.

SOURCE Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council
BOSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Eaton Vance Senior Floating-Rate Trust (NYSE: EFR) (the "Fund") held a special meeting of shareholders on April 30, 2021 (the "Special Meeting"). At the Special Meeting, Fund shareholders were asked to approve a new investment advisory agreement with Eaton Vance Management, the Fund's investment adviser. The Special Meeting was adjourned to May 7, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time to allow more time for shareholders to vote. The October 29, 2020 record date for shareholders entitled to vote at the adjourned Special Meeting remains unchanged. Information about the adjourned Special Meeting appears below.

If, as of October 29, 2020, you were a Fund shareholder and have not yet voted, the Fund urges you to submit your vote in advance of the adjourned Special Meeting by one of the methods described in the Fund's proxy materials. The Fund's proxy statement is available online at https://funds.eatonvance.com/closed-end-fund-and-term-trust-documents.php.

If, as of October 29, 2020, you were a holder of record of Fund shares (i.e., you held Fund shares in your own name directly with the Fund) and wish to participate in and vote at the adjourned Special Meeting, you should email your full name and address to AST at [email protected] You will then be provided with credentials to participate in the adjourned Special Meeting. You will be able to vote by entering the control number found on the proxy card you previously received. All requests to participate in and/or vote at the adjourned Special Meeting must be received by AST by no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on May 7, 2021.

If, as of the relevant record date, you held Fund shares through an intermediary (such as a broker-dealer) and wish to participate in and vote at the adjourned Special Meeting, you will need to obtain a legal proxy from your intermediary reflecting the Fund's name, the number of Fund shares you held and your name and email address. You may forward an email from your intermediary containing the legal proxy or attach an image of the legal proxy to an email and send it to AST at [email protected] with "Legal Proxy" in the subject line. You will then be provided with credentials to participate in the adjourned Special Meeting, as well as a unique control number to vote your shares. If you would like to participate in, but NOT vote at, the adjourned Special Meeting, please send an email to AST at [email protected] with proof of ownership of Fund shares. A statement, letter or the Vote Instruction Form from your intermediary will be sufficient proof of ownership. You will then be provided with credentials to participate in the adjourned Special Meeting. All requests to participate in and/or vote at the adjourned Special Meeting must be received by AST by no later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on May 7, 2021.

Please contact AST at [email protected] with any questions regarding access to the adjourned Special Meeting, and an AST representative will contact you to answer your questions.

About the Fund

Eaton Vance Corp. was acquired by Morgan Stanley on March 1, 2021. Its Eaton Vance Management, Parametric, Atlanta Capital and Calvert investment affiliates are now part of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, the asset management division of Morgan Stanley. These investment managers offer a diversity of investment approaches, encompassing bottom-up fundamental active management, responsible investing, systematic investing and customized implementation of client-specified portfolio exposures.

Shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value. The market price of Fund shares may vary from net asset value based on factors affecting the supply and demand for shares, such as Fund distribution rates relative to similar investments, investors' expectations for future distribution changes, the clarity of the Fund's investment strategy and future return expectations, and investors' confidence in the underlying markets in which the Fund invests. Fund shares are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal invested. The Fund is not a complete investment program and you may lose money investing therein. An investment in the Fund may not be appropriate for all investors. Before investing, prospective investors should consider carefully the Fund's investment objective, strategies, risks, charges and expenses.

This press release is for informational purposes only and is not intended to, and does not, constitute an offer to purchase or sell shares of the Fund. Additional information about the Fund, including performance and portfolio characteristic information, is available at eatonvance.com.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements, as defined by the U.S. securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors that may be beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Eaton Vance Management

Related Links

https://www.eatonvance.com


CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and SAN FRANCISCO, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AIRINC, the world's leading provider of advice, data, and decision making tools for global mobility, and Topia, the leader in Global Talent Mobility technology, have announced today a strategic partnership to provide an out-of-the-box global talent mobility solution for organizations to manage their assignment, relocation, business travel, remote working, and other talent mobility programs. Under this partnership, AIRINC's industry-leading domestic and international data is embedded into the Topia technology. As part of this new relationship, Topia's next-gen suite of software applications, including Topia Plan, Manage, Pay, Go, and Compass, all powered by the Topia One platform, will become available for purchase by AIRINC's existing and prospective customers directly from AIRINC. With its well-recognized customer service, AIRINC is able to offer its customers Topia's market-leading compliance and business process automation technology platform that complements and enhances the value of their advisory and data offerings with even greater insights and workflow automation capabilities to streamline global talent mobility.

As the world looks forward and begins to prepare for life after the pandemic, the reopening of borders and global markets will necessitate a strong global talent strategy. With increasing compliance scrutiny and regulatory complexity surrounding the movement of people, having the right technology combined with thoughtful advice, data, and processes to support the deployment and effective management of talent and distributed workforces will be key to taking advantage of new opportunities wherever and whenever they arise. In fact, according to a recent Topia survey, 40% of HR teams do not have the data required for decision making.

AIRINC and Topia are partnering to help expand access to the advice, technology, and data that organizations need to tackle the global talent challenges enterprises face today. By leveraging AIRINC's deep expertise and industry-leading data integrally wrapped into Topia's modern, platform-based, and highly configurable product suite, enterprises can quickly stand up a global talent mobility platform with pre-configured workflows and standard best practices out-of-the-box. Additionally, clients will be able to take advantage of AIRINC's services and guidance to improve their mobility programs, while AIRINC's data further enhances Topia's solutions for use in compliance and business process automation.

Topia and AIRINC both have extensive experience with serving the talent mobility needs of global firms. AIRINC's data is used by over 1000 companies to support movement of employees to over 180 locations globally. Likewise, Topia is a trusted technology partner to Fortune 1000 and Global 2000 companies spanning all industries and regions. The two organizations have a long history of serving joint customers, with the most recent addition being Groupe SEB, headquartered in France.

"The future of work will require companies to leverage technology and data to bring efficiencies and enable insights and workforce analytics. Combining AIRINC's strengths in data and advice with Topia's technology will deliver value to companies seeking a holistic talent deployment solution," said Morgan Crosby, Global Growth Leader at AIRINC.

"We are excited about this strategic relationship as we have already been working together on pilot clients where the clients have seen a seamless and more impactful solution to their mobility needs with the combination of Topia's technology and our data and insights. We believe this is a unique offering in the mobility marketplace" added Steve Brink, AIRINC President & CEO.

"AIRINC is a leader and trusted presence in mobility," noted Anupam Singhal SVP of Partnerships at Topia. "From best-in-class consulting and advisory services to industry standards in data, they have an established position as trusted experts in the global talent mobility industry and we are excited that they have chosen to take Topia solutions to market."

"We're thrilled to be partnering with AIRINC to deliver mobility solutions that organizations need and want," added Shawn Farshchi, CEO at Topia. "AIRINC, like Topia, understands the important role the right advice, data and technology plays in supporting modern talent mobility programs that can respond to business needs with speed and agility."

Topia proudly welcomes AIRINC to its rapidly growing ecosystem of best-in-class partners.

About AIRINC

AIRINC empowers clients with the right data, cutting-edge technology, and thought-leading advice needed to effectively deploy talent worldwide. Our industry expertise, innovative solutions, and excellent service enable us to partner with clients to navigate the complexity of today's global mobility programs. As the market continues to evolve, AIRINC offers creative ways to help clients address new talent mobility challenges, implementing resilient solutions fit for purpose. Our approach is designed with your success in mind. With an understanding of your goals and objectives, we ensure you achieve them. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and offices in London, Brussels, and Hong Kong, AIRINC has been collaborating with clients for over 60 years. For more information visit www.air-inc.com.

About Topia

Topia is the leader in Global Talent Mobility. We empower companies to deploy, manage and engage employees anywhere in the world. Topia's data-driven platform enables organizations to deliver mobility as part of a broader talent strategy encompassing all types of employee movement  remote and distributed workforces, business travel, and more traditional relocations and assignments. This drives enhanced employee experiences and competitive advantage by ensuring the right people are in the right place at the right time, while staying compliant no matter where they are. The Topia platform automates the entire global talent mobility process, including scenario-based planning, expat payroll, tax and immigration compliance, reporting and more. Topia powers global talent mobility programs for world-renowned brands such as Schneider Electric, Dell, Veolia, Equinor and AXA. Topia has raised over $100M from NewView Capital (formerly New Enterprise Associates), Notion Capital and others, and is a global company with offices throughout the Americas and EMEA. For more information, visit www.topia.com and follow Topia on Twitter , Facebook and LinkedIn .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kasey Thomas

Next PR

[email protected]

SOURCE Topia
HOUSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- alliantgroup is proud to announce the addition of Eric Hylton as the tax and management consulting firm's National Director of Compliance. Hylton comes to alliantgroup from the Internal Revenue Service where he spent 30 years culminating in his appointment as Commissioner of the Small Business and Self-Employed Division.

Hylton held several prominent positions at the IRS, including serving as Deputy of the Criminal Investigation Division and as CI's head of International Operations. He will use his years of experience at the IRS to assist alliantgroup's clients as an ambassador for U.S. small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) and in helping others become tax compliant.

"Our team is incredibly fortunate to have Eric join the alliantgroup family," said alliantgroup CEO Dhaval Jadav. "His executive leadership experience at the IRS and his deep understanding of what American small businesses need to be aware of from a tax perspective will take our already best in class client service to an even higher level."

In his most recent role as IRS Commissioner, Small Business/ Self-Employed Division, Hylton oversaw a nationwide staff of approximately 20,000 employees who were responsible for taxpayer programs and services that directly impacted American SMBs. As alliantgroup's National Director of Compliance, Hylton will be offering his unique expertise to help U.S. businesses claim tax incentives and garner access to capital that will help their company innovate and compete at a higher degree.

"I'm incredibly excited to leverage my expertise acquired at the IRS to help America's small businesses understand what tax incentives are available to them while ensuring our team approaches our client work with an eye towards compliance and the agency's current practices," said Hylton.

Hylton will also be joining the leadership team of alliantNational where he will use his tax enforcement experience to advise clients on tax planning and controversy matters ranging from criminal tax matters, cryptocurrency compliance, international taxation, as well as audit defense.

"It's an honor to have Eric join the alliantNational team," said Steve Miller, alliantNational's National Director of Tax. "I worked with Eric at the IRS and his integrity and knowledge will assist our clients across all compliance concerns, including our utilizing his unique talents and experience with regard to corporate investigations and taxpayer fraud, as well as his knowledge of current tax controversy matters such as issues surrounding cryptocurrency."

Prior to Hylton being appointed as an agency commissioner, he also served for several years as both the Deputy Chief and the Executive Director of International Operations for the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. Hylton's experience overseeing a staff of approximately 3,500 employees, including 2,300 special agents around the globe, will be leveraged to help alliantNational's client base navigate the often complex world of tax controversy work.

"Eric has a vast amount of experience dealing with some of the most significant investigations of financial crimes involving money laundering, bribery, terrorist financing, and cyber-crimes," said Dean Zerbe, alliantgroup's National Managing Director. "We are very thankful to have Eric as a part of our team and are excited to see the wealth of knowledge he will bring to our firm put to use for the benefit of our clients and their rights as taxpayers."

alliantgroup is a management consulting company with a mission to strengthen American businesses through reinvestment in innovation and job growth. We educate businesses, the industry groups that serve them, and the accounting firms that advise them on federal and state credits and incentives that are legislated by our government to keep the U.S. competitive in the global landscape. We are proud to have helped over 16,000 businesses claim more than $8 billion in credits and incentives. alliantgroup is headquartered in Houston, Texas with additional offices located in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, New York, Irvine, Sacramento, Washington, D.C.; and Bristol and London in the U.K. For more information, visit alliantgroup and engage with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

SOURCE alliantgroup

Related Links

http://www.alliantgroup.com


SEATTLE, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle Children's today announced that Anu and Satya Nadella and their family have generously committed $15 million to advance precision medicine neurosciences and youth mental health care at Seattle Children's, and to help provide equitable access to care for every family and community. The commitment from the Nadella family will allow Seattle Children's to improve care and advance research for children with neurological conditions in four key areas:

Attracting and retaining leaders in precision medicine.

Building a robust clinical trial program.

Expanding mental health initiatives.

Establishing the Zain Nadella Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurosciences.

"We're incredibly grateful for Anu and Satya's tremendous generosity and commitment to improving the lives of children and teens with neurological conditions and brain injuries," said Dr. Jeff Sperring, CEO of Seattle Children's. "Together, we will not only work to better understand the complexities of the developing brain, but also we'll improve the lives of young people in our community through greater access to mental health services."

The Nadella family's generous commitment supports It Starts With Yes: The Campaign for Seattle Children's, an initiative with a bold vision to transform children's health. Seattle Children's aims to raise $1.35 billion. In addition to advancing Seattle Children's core mission to care for every child, the campaign addresses some of the biggest unmet needs in pediatric health today by:

Supporting breakthroughs in precision medicine for neurosciences.

Providing more access, better services and earlier interventions in youth mental health care.

Developing next-generation cell and gene therapies to lessen the impact of  and even cure  the most debilitating childhood diseases, including cancer.

Delivering high-quality, culturally responsive, equitable primary care at the Odessa Brown Children's Clinic (OBCC) locations.

The Nadella family's commitment to Seattle Children's is rooted in empathy and a vision for what will be possible through innovations. The Nadella family's journey has a personal connection with Seattle Children's. They experienced firsthand the challenges of caring for a child with complex medical needs. When their son, Zain, was born 24 years ago, he was rushed by ambulance to Seattle Children's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Born with cerebral palsy, Zain required life-saving care as an infant. Today, he still requires specialized, around-the-clock care. He communicates nonverbally and uses a wheelchair. Their family's deep understanding of neurological conditions has guided them in their journey to partner with Seattle Children's to help revolutionize treatments, develop innovative therapies and accelerate research.

"As parents, our lives have been shaped by the needs of our children, and it is our hope that in honoring Zain's journey, we can improve and innovate care for future generations in every community," said Anu. Anu currently serves as chair of Seattle Children's Foundation Board of Trustees and co-chair of the Neuroscience Campaign Initiative Committee.

Precision medicine represents a revolution in how children with neurological conditions and brain injuries will be diagnosed and treated. Seattle Children's is at the forefront of this approach. It means a child's care team is made up of clinicians, data scientists, engineers and researchers who work together to provide lifesaving care, identify the root cause of the condition and move beyond treating symptoms and behaviors to develop better treatments unique to meet the needs of each child. Like an orchestra, experts at Seattle Children's bring different points of view together, and their collaboration creates a symphony that accelerates research to bring improved treatments to patients who have little time to wait.

In honor of Anu and Satya's son, Seattle Children's is proud to establish the Zain Nadella Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurosciences as part of Seattle Children's Center for Integrative Brain Research. Seattle Children's Center for Integrative Brain Research brings together a diverse group of researchers working to integrate knowledge at the genetic, molecular, cellular, network and behavioral levels to better understand neuronal functions and brain-related diseases. With this commitment from the Nadella family, Seattle Children's will be able to build a team of the future, furthering research and understanding the interconnected nature of neurological conditions.

"I am inspired and humbled by the Nadella family's generosity," said Dr. Jeff Ojemann, senior vice president and interim chief medical officer at Seattle Children's. "Philanthropy is vital to accelerating our collaborative work with scientists at the Seattle Children's Center for Integrative Brain Research. It allows us to make innovative leaps in bench-to-bedside research and scale-up our clinical trial pipeline."

The Nadella family is also committed to transforming mental and behavioral health care for children and teens. Philanthropic support is especially critical for psychiatry and behavioral medicine, an area that affects countless families, but which has not historically received the philanthropic attention it deserves. Over the past year, Seattle Children's has seen a significant increase in mental health-related visits to the emergency room and an increase in youth suicide. One in four youth under 18 have struggled with suicidal ideation since the start of the pandemic, up from one in 10 in 2018. This increase in need for services has put a significant burden on Washington state's mental health system.

Seattle Children's has developed innovative programs like the Behavioral Health Crisis Care Clinic to address the need in the community, but these programs are largely funded through private donations. Compared to other specialty areas, pediatric behavioral health has not progressed rapidly. Instead, it has been stymied by inadequate reimbursements for care as well as community stigma. The Nadellas' gift will enable Seattle Children's to reach more kids in crisis and quickly assess service gaps and barriers to better serve families. Together, through philanthropic support, Seattle Children's aims to:

Target the root causes of mental health conditions and commit to improving long-term outcomes.

Open more doors to care at Seattle Children's, especially for youth in crisis.

Build upstream, culturally responsive approaches focused on prevention, early intervention and resilience with a broad range of community partners.

The Nadella family hopes their gift will help more families in every community by supporting equitable access to care, earlier diagnoses, and groundbreaking therapies tailored to each child and their unique needs  their unique minds. It is their collective vision in a brighter future for children with neurological conditions that give them hope.

For more information about It Starts With Yes, or to join the community that will transform the future of children's health, visit seattlechildrens.org/yes or give today.

Contact:

Kathryn Mueller

[email protected]

937-271-8896

SOURCE Seattle Childrens

Related Links

http://seattlechildrens.org


"The Court granting our appeal is a historic moment for nonhuman animal rights in the world." Tweet this

"The Court granting our appeal is a historic moment for nonhuman animal rights in the world," said NhRP Founder and President Steven M. Wise. "The Nonhuman Rights Project has worked tens of thousands of hours over 25 years to reach this extraordinary milestone and we look forward to being able to make our compelling arguments to a state high court for the first time."

In October 2018, the NhRP brought a petition for a writ of habeas corpus on Happy's behalf seeking recognition of her fundamental right to bodily liberty and transfer to an elephant sanctuary. Happy became the first elephant in the world to be granted a trial court hearing to determine the lawfulness of her imprisonment. Following several days of hearings in the Bronx, the trial court "regrettably" denied Happy's petition because of prior court decisions, which will now be examined for the first time by the Court of Appeals.

Happy is a 50-year-old wild-born Asian elephant who was taken from the wild and imported to the US in the early 1970s. In 1977 she was transferred to the Bronx Zoo, which is managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society, where she lives a solitary existence on a one-acre parcel of land. Before becoming the first elephant to have a habeas corpus hearing, Happy made history in 2005 as the first elephant to demonstrate self-awareness via the mirror test.

Courts around the world have begun grappling with the broader issue of whether it is possible for any nonhuman animal to possess any legal right under any circumstance. For example:

In March 2021 , a judge on the Colombian Constitutional Court issued a dissenting opinion in Chucho the spectacled bear's nonhuman rights case. The dissent repeatedly and favorably cites to the NhRP's US litigation, including Happy's case.

, a judge on the Colombian Constitutional Court issued a dissenting opinion in Chucho the spectacled bear's nonhuman rights case. The dissent repeatedly and favorably cites to the NhRP's US litigation, including Happy's case. In Dec. 2020 , Ecuador's Constitutional Court agreed to hear an appeal from the denial of a writ of habeas corpus for a monkey. The NhRP will soon submit an amicus brief in this case.

, Constitutional Court agreed to hear an appeal from the denial of a writ of habeas corpus for a monkey. The NhRP will soon submit an amicus brief in this case. In April 2020 , the Islamabad High Court in Pakistan recognized the rights and ordered the release of a long imprisoned Asian elephant named Kaavan from the Islamabad Zoo to a Cambodian sanctuary, where he now resides today. The decision repeatedly and favorably cites to the NhRP's US litigation, referring to Happy as an "inmate" of the Bronx Zoo.

, the Islamabad High Court in recognized the rights and ordered the release of a long imprisoned Asian elephant named Kaavan from the Islamabad Zoo to a Cambodian sanctuary, where he now resides today. The decision repeatedly and favorably cites to the NhRP's US litigation, referring to Happy as an "inmate" of the Bronx Zoo. In 2016, an Argentinian court ordered the release of an imprisoned chimpanzee named Cecilia from the Mendoza Zoo to a sanctuary in Brazil , recognizing her right to liberty in a case modeled on the NhRP's US litigation.

, recognizing her right to liberty in a case modeled on the NhRP's US litigation. In 2014, the Supreme Court of Oregon , referring to the "ongoing litigation" brought by the NhRP that "seeks to establish legal personhood for chimpanzees," noted that "we do not need a mirror to the past or a telescope to the future to recognize that the legal status of animals has changed and is changing still[.]"

The NhRP will argue that the New York Court of Appeals can and should now put an end to the injustice of Happy's decades-long imprisonment at the Bronx Zoo and grant her freedom. As world-renowned elephant expert Dr. Joyce Poole has written in support of Happy's elephant rights case, "Simply put, the Bronx Zoo's exhibit is too small to meet the needs of Happy or any elephant. Happy deserves to live the rest of her life at [a sanctuary] where the utmost care will be given to her individual needs and she'll have the space and conditions needed to heal and to form psychologically necessary bonds with other elephants."

Happy's case has been supported from the start by leading scientists, philosophers, habeas corpus scholars, legal experts, theologians, and the wider public throughout the country and the world, including nearly 1.4 million people who have signed a Change.org petition demanding her transfer to sanctuary.

About the Nonhuman Rights Project

The Nonhuman Rights Project is the only civil rights organization in the United States working through litigation, legislation, and education to secure fundamental rights for nonhuman animals.

In 2015, the NhRP secured the world's first habeas corpus hearing on behalf of a nonhuman animal in its chimpanzee rights case on behalf of Hercules and Leo, who were used in locomotion research at Stony Brook University.

For more information, please visit www.nonhumanrights.org.

CASE NO./NAME: THE NONHUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT, INC. on behalf of HAPPY, Petitioner, v. JAMES J. BREHENY, in his official capacity as Executive Vice President and General Director of Zoos and Aquariums of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Director of the Bronx Zoo, and WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY (Appellate Case No. 2020-02581)

SOURCE Nonhuman Rights Project

Related Links

nonhumanrightsproject.org


VANCOUVER, BC, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Aris Gold Corporation (Aris Gold or the Company) (TSX: ARIS) (OTCQX: ALLXF) will hold its annual and general meeting of shareholders (AGM) on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 10am PDT/1pm EDT. Due to ongoing COVID-19 circumstances, the Aris Gold AGM will be held in a virtual format via live audiocast.

Registered shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders who have properly registered will be able to attend, participate and vote at the AGM online at https://web.lumiagm.com/232065874. Beneficial shareholders who have not appointed themselves as proxyholder will be able to attend the AGM as guests and view the webcast, but will not be able to participate or vote at the meeting.

Unless you intend to vote during the meeting, registered shareholder proxy forms must be received by Odyssey Trust Company (Odyssey) by 10am PDT/1pm EDT on Friday, May 7, 2021.

In addition to being named as a proxyholder, proxyholders must register with Odyssey before the Proxy Deadline in order for the proxyholder to participate. Odyssey will provide the proxyholder with a username after the voting deadline has passed.

Aris Gold will also announce first quarter 2021 financial and operating results on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 after market hours.

About Aris Gold

Aris Gold is a Canadian mining company listed on the TSX under the symbol ARIS. The Company is led by an executive team with a demonstrated track record of creating value through building globally relevant gold mining companies. Aris Gold operates the Marmato mine in Colombia, where a modernization and expansion program is underway, and the Juby project, an advanced exploration stage gold project in the Abitibi greenstone belt of Ontario, Canada. Aris Gold plans to pursue acquisition and other growth opportunities to unlock value creation from scale and diversification.

Additional information on Aris Gold can be found at www.arisgold.com and www.sedar.com.

SOURCE Aris Gold Corporation
Founded in 2004 by Lisa King, b-glowing is one of the only online pure play e-tailers with the infrastructure to support multi-tiered brand distribution strategies and has remained a coveted platform for emerging indie brands to partner with for launch. With plans to double brand investments in 2021, b-glowing will focus on adding BIPOC, sustainable, and gender bending brands that will exist alongside iconic luxury brands including SK-II, ReVive, and Augustinus Bader.

"After 16 years of building b-glowing in an organic way, we decided we were ready for a serious strategic change and to make a significant investment in bringing b-glowing.com to a much bigger audience. We also knew that if we were going to make that investment, we would want to create a seismic shift in how beauty etail is experienced by the consumer. We didn't want to invest in becoming "another beauty dot com". We wanted to build something truly different," says King. "As an existing Board Member, Dawn had valuable insight on our strategic goals. It was more than obvious that she was the person to make it happen and to lead our team into the next chapter -- our biggest yet! Her strategic insights, branding experience, digital marketing experience and strong leadership pairs extremely well with my own creative, branding and strategic thinking."

Francisco joined the b-glowing team as a board member in October 2020. Dawn's key to success is her passion for technology combined with her vast experience in digital beauty marketing. She serves as advisory board member for subscription technology platform Narrativ, helping to expand client relationships and provide strategic brand advice. Previously, Francisco held the position of VP for Dermstore where she rebranded the company and restructured their performance marketing strategy. As a former VP for Estee Lauder brands, she understands partnerships through both the lens of a retailer and the eyes of the brand. In her new role, Francisco will work closely with King, helping fuel brand growth plans for b-glowing leveraging performance marketing and multi-tiered initiatives focused on consumer desires.

King added, "Over the years b-glowing has created strategies years before our competitors did, but we did not have the financial resources to sustain it nor share it with a broader audience. b-glowing is at the point in its lifecycle to embrace the future head on! We are "all in" with this new chapter and so thrilled to have Dawn take the lead on making it a reality."

ABOUT B-GLOWING.COM

Curating Luxury Beauty Since 2004. b-glowing.com features more than 100 brands and has been recognized industry wide for its extraordinary collection of hard-to-find niche beauty products alongside some of the world's most coveted beauty brands. The company's success is due in part to Lisa King's discriminating buying taste and ability to discover progressive brands for her loyal customers. The b-glowing.com shopping experience includes large product images, easy search and navigation, brand exclusives, worldwide shipping, free domestic shipping on orders $75+, multiple payment methods (including ApplePay, After Pay, Shopify Pay and Amazon Pay), hassle-free returns, three free luxury samples with each order and generous gifts with purchase. For additional information, please visit b-glowing.com or follow b-glowing.com on Instagram + Facebook.

SOURCE b-glowing

Related Links

https://b-glowing.com


OAKLAND, Calif., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In partnership with the Oakland Black Business Fund (OBBF) and Oakstop Alliance , Bay Area business owner Reign Free has launched the Black Culinary Collective to provide a creative, collaborative, and nurturing environment for Black-owned food and beverage producers. In addition to access to a fully-equipped commercial kitchen, the Collective offers members business consultation and mentorship services, as well as opportunities for financing through the Oakland Black Business Fund's network.

The Black Culinary Collective is the expansion of Free's vision to impact her community using her experience and expertise. An Ohio native, Free relocated to Oakland where she launched a successful one-woman catering business, The Red Door Catering (TRD). Established in 2006, TRD has grown into a multi-million-dollar company serving clients like the Obama Foundation, AfroTech, Facebook, Louis Vuitton, the Super Bowl, and Blue Shield of California. In 2020, TRD partnered with the Eat. Play. Learn Foundation, World Central Kitchen, and Great Plates to serve the community during COVID-19. In April 2021, Free hosted a roundtable welcoming Vice President Kamala Harris, Bay Area politicians, and small business owners to her kitchen to discuss their experience during the pandemic and the impact of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) in aiding small businesses.

"The challenges brought by COVID-19 forced The Red Door to change its business model, shifting from catering in-person events to providing healthy and locally-grown food to our neighbors as they worked from home," said Free. "With restaurants shutting down and pivoting to take-out, I could see that other Black chefs and entrepreneurs were struggling, with many of them lacking access to kitchen space and expertise on how to scale their businesses. I recognized that not only could I offer these entrepreneurs a place to cook, but we could create a space where emerging culinary entrepreneurs could grow beyond their current station."

The Black Culinary Collective has launched with support from the Oakland Black Business Fund, a Black-led investment platform providing capital, technical assistance, and growth strategy to Black-owned businesses. In order to minimize the barrier to entry for entrepreneurs looking to join the Collective, OBBF has committed to funding the first ten members, equaling more than $50k in funding for the project. OBBF is the only Black-led fund providing business grants and larger investments that address the historical lack of access to capital and control of real estate.

"We've seen studies that show 41% of Black-owned businesses closed between February and April 2020, and PPP loan data shows that only 130 restaurants listed as Black-owned received payments of $150,000 or more. These numbers reflect historically weak lending to people of color, which makes community-based funds essential to creating a new economic trajectory for Black businesses," said Damon Johnson, director of community relations at OBBF and executive director for Oakstop Alliance. "The Black Culinary Collective is one example of how OBBF's unique approach to building peer-to-peer relationships between Black business owners and service providers offers a sustainable growth model for under-funded businesses."

The Black Culinary Collective is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses, ranging from home-based operations to full-scale commercial production. The West Oakland facilities feature more than 5,000 square feet of combined commercial kitchen and pop-up market space. Members will also receive access to free consultation on topics ranging from certification, licensing, and insurance to production, branding, and distribution.

In addition to TRD, the Black Business Collective features various Black-owned food and beverage businesses, with more expected to join in the coming weeks. Current members include Baby Bean Pie , The Final Sauce , Pound Bizness , and Teas With Meaning . The Black Culinary Collective will host an open house in West Oakland this summer, highlighting the culinary offerings of Oakland's emerging food and beverage entrepreneurs.

"The foundation of our brand is intention, purpose, and wellness. By partnering with Reign Free and the Black Culinary Collective, we're able to grow our business while delivering on our goal of inspiring purposeful change within our community," said Kamilah Mitchell, founder of Teas With Meaning. "It's an honor to be aligned with this project and have the opportunity to grow alongside other Black culinary entrepreneurs."

Business owners interested in joining the Black Culinary Collective can visit www.blackculinarycollective.com for more information. To schedule an appointment to visit the kitchen, contact [email protected]. Investors or organizations interested in contributing to OBBF or supporting Oakstop Alliance can contact [email protected] or [email protected] .

About the Black Culinary Collective

The Black Culinary Collective (BCC) provides commercial kitchen facilities and services for Black-owned food and beverage companies at competitive prices, ideal for small to mid-sized businesses. From home-based businesses to full-scale commercial production, the West Oakland-based kitchen meets the varied needs of culinary entrepreneurs. We provide a supportive environment where you can learn, grow and develop. The overall aim is to provide a creative, collaborative, and nurturing environment for the selected participants to flourish and grow their businesses. Follow the Black Culinary Collective on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram . For more information, visit www.blackculinarycollective.com .

About Oakland Black Business Fund

Oakland Black Business Fund redefines capital deployment systems to create possibilities for Black economic growth that defy the confines of systemic racism. The fund supports Black businesses with capital and technical assistance to elevate Black entrepreneurs as thriving leaders in the local economy.

Oakland Black Business Fund offers opportunities for tax-deductible donations through its 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, Alliance for Community Development, whose mission is to increase access to capital and support for local, underrepresented entrepreneurs. Follow OBBF on Twitter , LinkedIn , Facebook , and Instagram . More information available at www.oaklandblackbusinessfund.com .

About Oakstop and the Oakstop Alliance

Oakstop is a place-based social enterprise offering affordable workspace, event space, and arts programming to catalyze collaboration, professional development, and economic sustainability for creative entrepreneurs and small local businesses. Oakstop is a 100% Black-owned and operated small business, currently operating four locations in the East Bay.

Oakstop Alliance, its nonprofit affiliate organization, further serves the communities of the East Bay with free to low-cost spaces and experiences. Oakstop Alliance furthers the mission of democratizing space by actively curating social good programs with practitioners and non-profit organizations that confront and deconstruct the barriers of systematic oppression with actionable results. More information available at www.oakstop.com and www.alliancecd.org/oakstopalliance.html .

SOURCE Black Culinary Collective
VANCOUVER, BC, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - BBTV Holdings Inc. (TSX: BBTV) (OTCQX: BBTVF) ("BBTV" or the "Company"), the leading business in the creator economy, today announced that it will release its financial results for the first quarter 2021 after market close on Thursday, May 13th. The Company will subsequently hold a conference call that same day, Thursday, May 13th, at 2:15pm Pacific Time/5:15pm Eastern Time hosted by Ms. Shahrzad Rafati, Chairperson and CEO, and Mr. Todd Tappin, Chief Financial Officer. A question and answer session will follow the corporate update.

Conference Call Details

Thursday May 13th, 2021, 2:15pm Pacific Time/5:15pm Eastern Time.

Participant Information

Conference ID: 4192186

Participant Toll Free Dial-In Number: (844) 418-0102

Participant International Dial-In Number: (236) 714-3015

Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call.

To coincide with the call, an Investor Highlights presentation will available at: https://investors.bbtv.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx

Links to SEDAR filings, conference call recordings and press releases are available on the investor website at: https://investors.bbtv.com/

Telephonic Replay:

Encore Dial In #: (800) 585-8367 or (416) 621-4642

Conference ID: 4192186

May 13, 2021 22:30 ET - May 20, 2021 23:59 ET

About BBTV

BBTV is a media and technology company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The company's mission is to help content creators become more successful. With creators ranging from individuals to global media companies, BBTV provides a comprehensive, end-to-end solution to increase viewership and drive revenue powered by its innovative technology, while allowing creators to focus on their core competency  content creation. In January 2021, BBTV had the second most unique monthly viewers among digital platforms with more than 600 million globally, who consumed approximately 50 billion minutes of video content, the most among media companies. www.bbtv.com [1]

[1] Comscore's "Top 12 Countries = January 2021 comScore Video Metrix Media Trend  Multi-Platform  Top 100 Video Properties Report"; Top 12 countries represent ~50% of world's digital population

Contacts:

Media Relations

Dan Gamble

778-873-0422

[email protected]

Investor Relations

[email protected]

Contact:

Ron Shuttleworth

Partner

Oak Hill Financial Inc

(647)-500-7371

[email protected]

BBTV-F

SOURCE BBTV Holdings Inc.
IRVINE, Calif., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BGG World (BGG) announced today that a new clinical trial1 conducted as a collaboration between BGG and one of Japan's leading supplement brands was successfully completed and published on a synergistic combination containing 200mg MyrtiPro BGG's standardized bilberry extract containing 36% of anthocyanins by HPLC, 6mg Astazine Natural Astaxanthin, and 10mg Lutein. The registered, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was done on 44 healthy subjects experiencing eye fatigue during visual display terminal operations supplemented for six weeks. Statistically significant results were found in the treatment group on key areas of eye health including:

AstaZine

Improved visual acuity (ability to see fine print and details)

Reduction of trouble focusing the eyes

Improvement in the percentage of pupillary response after use of visual display terminals

BGG's Global Chief Scientific Officer, Yanmei Li, PhD, noted "Work at visual display terminals is a very common cause of visual fatigue. It is estimated that over 60% of visual display terminal users experience eye symptoms while more than 20% experience other issues like musculoskeletal problems. Given the millions of people using visual display terminals these conditions affect a substantial percentage of the population. We are very excited about the eye health benefits by this synergistic formula that is adding clinical evidence to support such a common discomfort."

Kizawa, Y., Sekikawa, T., Kageyama, M., Tomobe, H., Kobashi, R., Yamada, T. "Effects of anthocyanin, astaxanthin and lutein on eye functions: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study." Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition 5 February 2021 , 1-14.

Please note that the physiological activity of the ingredient described herein is supported by the referenced clinical trial reports. Marketers of finished products containing the ingredient described herein are responsible for determining whether the claims made for such products are lawful and in compliance with the laws of the country in which they will market the products. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

About BGG

BGG is a global B2B supplier of ingredients sourced from nature that improve consumer wellness. Building on 25 years of innovative leadership, BGG provides consumer product makers with efficacious ingredients of outstanding quality. This is achieved by specialized sourcing, cultivation and production in the best global regions. BGG's extensive portfolio originates from algae, fruits and plants. BGG is ISO9001, ISO22000 and GMP certified.

Further Information on BGG: www.bggworld.com

Press Contact: Christian Artaria, CEO BGG Europe and Global CMO:

[email protected] (808) 345  7711

SOURCE BGG World

Related Links

http://www.bggworld.com


SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has issued technical assistance, followed by a Notice of Violation, Ordinance No. 2020-16 (Group Homes, including Sober Living Homes), to the City of Encinitas. The ten-page Notice of Violation, which threatens multi-millions of dollars in funding to the city, was sent on March 25th and clearly states that the city's "sober living" ordinance is contrary to both state and federal law:

"The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has reviewed the City of Encinitas' Ordinance No. 2020-16 under its authority pursuant to Government Code section 65585, which extends to statutory prohibitions on discrimination in land use (Gov. Code,  65008). HCD must notify the City and may notify the Office of the Attorney General when a city takes actions that are in violation of Government Code section 65008. (Gov. Code,  65585, subd. (j).)"

The California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP), as well as multiple individual civil rights attorneys, have worked for more than five years to repeal these discriminatory ordinances that have multiplied throughout Southern California counties and cities.

"This is a deathblow to these discriminatory housing practices," said CCAPP President and CEO Pete Nielsen.

"We would like to thank all who worked to achieve this result and give particular gratitude to Governor Gavin Newsom who approved the Administration's response to enforcing the laws that protect people in early recovery from housing discrimination," said Nielsen.

Although Encinitas is the first city to receive a notice of violation, other cities are beginning to receive technical assistance regarding the need to repeal their ordinances. Encinitas has responded that it will repeal its ordinance within 90 days of the notice so as to regain compliance for its housing element.

Recovery advocates from throughout California see this enforcement action as a sign that stigmatizing people in recovery is unacceptable.

"This is a tremendous victory for persons in recovery. Housing is a basic need, and discriminatory ordinances have threatened persons in recovery the ability to live together; we are thankful for the support of our Governor." - California Coalition of Addiction Recovery Advocates (CCARA) Chair and Addiction Recovery Communities of California (ARCC) Chair, Devon Wayt.

About CCAPP

CCAPP is the largest statewide consortium of community-based profit and non-profit substance use disorder treatment agencies and addiction focused professionals, providing services to over 100,000 California residents annually in residential, outpatient, and private practice settings. It is our mission to inspire excellence and promote change through our focus on membership, advocacy, and governance. To learn more, please visit: https://www.ccapp.us/

Media Contact:

Sherry Daley, Vice President, Governmental Affairs and Corporate Communications, CCAPP

Tel: 209-200-0757

SOURCE California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals

Related Links

https://www.ccapp.us/


HOUSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Callon Petroleum Company (NYSE: CPE) ("Callon" or the "Company") today announced that senior management plans to participate in the upcoming investor events:

Citi 2021 Global Energy and Utilities Virtual Conference

The Company will present at the Citi 2021 Global Energy and Utilities Virtual Conference on Wednesday, May 12th, 2021 at 7:40am Central.

Goldman Sachs Credit and Leveraged Finance Conference

The Company will participate in the Goldman Sachs Credit and Leveraged Finance Conference on Monday, May 17th, 2021.

Please visit the Company's website at http://www.callon.com under the "Investors" section for access to presentations and webcasts, if available.

About Callon Petroleum

Callon Petroleum Company is an independent oil and natural gas company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of high-quality assets in the leading oil plays of South and West Texas.

Contact Information

Mark Brewer

Director of Investor Relations

Callon Petroleum Company

[email protected]

(281) 589-5200

SOURCE Callon Petroleum Company

Related Links

www.callon.com


NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading urban strategy firm Capalino is partnering with Tom Colicchio, celebrity chef, "Citizen Chef" and food policy activist, and Andrew Rigie, Executive Director of the New York City Hospitality Alliance, on an important program on May 6 at 11am EDT highlighting New York's restaurant comeback as part of Capalino's "The Future of New York" program series.

Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on the restaurant industry in New York and across the country. Travis Terry, President of Capalino, said, "Bringing New Yorkers and tourists back to the table at restaurants across the five boroughs of New York City is critical to New York's recovery." Capalino is working with business owners to rebound from the pandemic and drive strategic growth, including helping businesses leverage the NY State budget's $800 million funding for small business and $28.6 billion federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Colicchio was a critical advocate for passage of the $28.6 billion fund as a founder of The Independent Restaurant Coalition's (IRC), a grassroots movement of chefs and restaurateurs working to save independent restaurants from the blow of the pandemic.

"This relief fund gives hope to the entire independent restaurant and bar community. It is critical to save independent restaurants from the crushing blow of the pandemic. When we return to normal, we need restaurants to make us feel connected and part of the community," said Colicchio.

Rigie, also an advocate for the fund, stated: "Restaurants are the heart of communities nationwide. We're vital not only to New York City's economic recovery, but also the cultural and social landscape of the city."

Many restaurants and small businesses will be eligible for new grants and tax credits that could act as an economic lifeline for establishments still navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has a late April or early May target for the application process to begin. Capalino has announced a new Hospitality Advisory Team to help restaurants with these new funding opportunities. The team will leverage Capalino's ability to serve as a "one-stop shop" with services including strategy, real estate, permits, financing, and lobbying to help restaurants and other businesses strategically plan their recovery.

CONTACT

Lindsay Harwood

Head of Marketing, Capalino

[email protected]

310-874-9004

About Capalino

Capalino is the leading urban strategy firm in New York, combining knowledge in real estate, lobbying, strategic planning, market research and financing. We have utilized this methodology to help some of the most respected companies and organizations in the world achieve sustainable success. We get it done. Learn more at Capalino.com.

About The Future of New York Program Series

The Future of New York is a webinar series focusing on major issues facing New York City businesses and organizations. Featuring thought leaders across the public and private sectors, Capalino addresses critical challenges and solutions to drive New York's economic recovery and spearhead inclusive growth.

Watch previous programs and register for upcoming events at https://www.capalino.com/future-of-new-york/

SOURCE Capalino

Related Links

www.capalino.com


The CARDS AI study has resulted in the definition of a total of 24 high-probability base and precious metal targets at Kjli (Figures 1 and 2):

13 copper-zinc targets with signatures of high-grade copper-rich VMS deposits.



11 gold-silver targets, the bulk of which either fully or partially overlap the 13 defined copper-zinc targets.

Significant potential has been identified for the discovery of copper-rich VMS deposits immediately adjacent to, and to the north-east of, the former Kjli copper mine.

The CARDS AI analysis has confirmed Capella's strategy of focusing exploration efforts on the main prospective horizon which hosts the former Kjli and Killingdal copper mines.

Eric Roth, Capella's President and CEO, commented today: "I am very pleased to be reporting today the results of the CARDS AI analysis for our Kjli high-grade copper project, with the clear definition of 13 priority copper-zinc targets along the main prospective horizon. The results of this work mean that our exploration activities can now be focused on the approximately 10 square kilometers of target areas with the highest potential for discovery. I look forward to keeping the market informed as we complete our target generation activities and move our priority targets forward to drill testing."

CARDS AI Methodology

The CARDS AI analysis utilized algorithms to create a new signature based on known high-grade copper-rich VMS occurrences at Kjli (using all available geological, geochemical, and high-resolution geophysical and topographic data) and scoring this "mineralization footprint" to find other similar sectors within the project area. The so-called training (or calibration) points derived from the known VMS occurrences led to the identification of a total of 13 distinct target areas within the existing Kjli property with a high-similarity for the discovery of copper-zinc mineralization, together with a further 11 target areas with gold-silver potential. The minimum thresholds used to define new target areas at Kjli were expected minimum grades of 1% Cu and 0.5% Zn for copper-zinc targets, and 0.2 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag for gold-silver targets.

The CARDS AI technical report will be made available shortly on the Kjli project page of Capella's website (www.capellaminerals.com).

Near-Term Exploration Program

Capella's immediate exploration program at Kjli will focus on the evaluation of the 13 target areas which have been defined through the CARDS AI analysis, in particularly the series of large (up to 1km in length each) anomalies defined immediately adjacent to, and along strike to the NE of, the former Kjli copper mine. Drill testing of the highest priority targets will be initiated as soon as the target generation activities have been completed and drill permits granted.

About the Kjli Copper Project

The Company's Kjli copper-rich VMS project lies in the northern part of the Rros mining district, which saw copper production from a number of high-grade VMS deposits from the mid-1600's through until the mid-1980's. Kjli represents a district-scale brownfields/greenfields exploration project covering the former Kjli and Killingdal mining operations, together with approximately 15 km strike of underexplored but highly prospective stratigraphy for the discovery of new copper-rich VMS deposits. Access to the property is excellent, with the main Trondheim-Rros highway and railway line passing by the SW corner of the property. Hydroelectric power is also readily available within the broader Kjli district.

The Company acquired its 100% interest in the Kjli Project from EMX Royalty Corp (NYSE:EMX; TSXV:EMX) in late-2020.

Qualified Persons and Disclosure Statement

The technical information in this news release relating to the Kjli project has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101, and approved by Eric Roth, the Company's President & CEO, a Director, and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr. Roth holds a Ph.D. in Economic Geology from the University of Western Australia, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and is a Fellow of the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG). Mr. Roth has 30 years of experience in international minerals exploration and mining project evaluation.

On Behalf of the Board of Capella Minerals Ltd.

"Eric Roth"

___________________________

Eric Roth, Ph.D., FAusIMM

President & CEO

About Capella Minerals Ltd

Capella is engaged in the acquisition, exploration, and development of quality mineral resource properties in favourable jurisdictions with a focus on high-grade gold and copper deposits. The Company's copper focus is on the discovery of high-grade massive sulfide (VMS-type) deposits within district-scale land positions around the past-producing Lkken and Kjli copper mines in central Norway. The Company's precious metals focus is on the discovery of high-grade gold deposits on its recently acquired Southern Gold Line Project in Sweden, in addition to its active Canadian Joint Ventures with Ethos Gold Corp. at Savant Lake (Ontario) and Yamana Gold Inc. at Domain (Manitoba). The Company also retains a residual interest (subject to an option to purchase agreement with Austral Gold Ltd) in the Sierra Blanca gold-silver project in Santa Cruz, Argentina.

Field activities are ongoing on all projects, with the primary focus being to advance priority targets through the permitting process and onwards to drilling and discovery.

The Company also holds marketable securities in Cerrado Gold Inc. (TSXV:CERT; 833,334 shares) and Ethos Gold Corp. (TSXV:ECC; 2,000,000 shares), providing Capella shareholders with indirect exposure to both exploration and operational success by these Companies.

Cautionary Notes and Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Such statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future results of operations, performance and achievements of Capella, including the timing, completion of and results from the exploration and drill programs described in this release. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that such expectations will prove to be correct. All such forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Capella in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. This information, however, is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from this forward-looking information include those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in Capella's most recently filed MD&A. Capella does not intend, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or revise the forward-looking information contained in this news release, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Capella Minerals Limited

Related Links

www.newdimensionresources.com


BOULDER, Colo., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ArthroCBD is an innovative hemp brand created to provide a solution to those seeking symptomatic relief. The new product is backed by unmatched scientific clinical data published in a peer reviewed journal.

ArthroCBD is a softgel capsule with 25 mg of CBD and 6 mg of Beta caryophyllene, and is formulated using VESIsorb, which provides dramatically improved 4.4x absorption versus competitive oral CBD products on the market. These absorption levels result in rapid onset of action and long-lasting relief. ArthroCBD also has all traces of THC removed to avoid the problematic adverse effect people can get from many other hemp-based products.

The softgel capsules are available in 45 count and 90 count for $129.99 and $179.99 respectively with a limited 15 count introductory trial size for $39.99 exclusively on arthrocbd.com.

"We are excited to launch our clinically tested ArthroCBD softgel capsules for those seeking relief from physical strain every day," said Umar Syed, President, Medical Products. "Physicians, pharmacists, and other health care practitioners all want the same thing  to provide the best treatment for patients with the least side effects. ArthroCBD now provides that option for a highly effective hemp-based CBD product."

Opticann market research shows that patients seek new treatment methods with fewer side effects than traditional pharmaceutical treatments -- 80% of pain patients are interested in learning more about CBD as a treatment but on average only 15% have tried any CBD products. Much of the problem with other CBD products is the lack of effect due to poor absorption as only 8-10% of product is absorbed. The patented VESIsorb technology increases this absorption by 4.4X in clinical studies, resulting in higher levels for better effect without any of the unwanted side effects associated with THC.

Carefully formulated CBD with pharmaceutical technology, high quality tested ingredients, and clinical testing to prove product performance is a logical step in the evolution of hemp-based CBD products. Our focus at Opticann is to finally provide patients and the medical and healthcare communities with products based on credible data that they can trust to work well and safely.

With more than three decades of experience in pharmaceutical medicine and OTC consumer marketing, Opticann's team is bringing products to market to help many segments of the population suffering from chronic ailments. Opticann's US products use VESIsorb, a proven technology that helps boost the performance of pharmaceutical and wellness products. VESIsorb dramatically improves the stability, reliable high absorption, rapid onset of action of products. VESIsorb is backed by a robust body of supporting scientific evidence spanning several decades.

The ArthroCBD launch marks the first of a pipeline of over 7 new medicinal hemp-based CBD product offerings planned by Opticann.

About ArthroCBD

ArthroCBD is a subsidiary of Opticann Inc., a Colorado-based oral and topical cannabinoid company. Opticann sells science-backed products made with the patented VESIsorb drug delivery system for optimized absorption and stability (bioavailability). Opticann is owned by Heritage Cannabis Holdings Corp., a Toronto-based publicly traded corporation (CSE: CANN) (OTCQX: HERTF). Opticann represents the firm's US medicinal approach to meet consumer needs.

For more information, please visit arthrocbd.com

CONTACT: Alexis Woody

[email protected]

201-241-2668

SOURCE OptiCann

Related Links

https://www.opticann.com


CHICAGO, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (Cboe: CBOE), a market operator and global trading solutions provider, today reported April monthly trading volume statistics across its global business lines.

The data sheet "Cboe Global Markets Monthly Volume & RPC/Net Revenue Capture Report" contains an overview of certain April trading statistics and market share by business segment, volume in select index products, and RPC/net capture, which is reported on a one-month lag, across business lines.

Trading Volume for Current Month Year-To-Date

April April % March %



% 2021 2020 Chg 2021 Chg 2021 2020 Chg OPTIONS VOLUME (contracts, thousands) Year-To-Date Trading Days 21 21

23

82 83

Total Volume 214,473 200,828 6.8% 266,298 -19.5% 987,996 866,171 14.1% Total ADV 10,213 9,563 6.8% 11,578 -11.8% 12,049 10,436 15.5% FUTURES VOLUME (contracts, thousands) Year-To-Date Trading Days 21 21

23

82 83

Total Volume 4,178 2,343 78.3% 5,333 -21.7% 19,790 22,857 -13.4% Total ADV 199 112 78.3% 232 -14.2% 241 275 -12.4% U.S. EQUITIES  EXCHANGE MATCHED VOLUME (shares, millions) Year-To-Date Trading Days 21 21

23

82 83

Total Volume 30,779 42,619 -27.8% 47,101 -34.7% 165,027 156,424 5.5% Total ADV 1,466 2,029 -27.8% 2,048 -28.4% 2,013 1,885 6.8% U.S. EQUITIES  OFF-EXCHANGE MATCHED VOLUME (shares, millions)1 Year-To-Date Trading Days 21 21

23

82 83

Total Volume 1,480 N/A

2,061 -28.2% 7,552 N/A

Total ADV 70 N/A

90 -21.4% 92 N/A

CANADIAN EQUITIES MATCHED VOLUME (shares, thousands)2 Year-To-Date Trading Days 21 N/A

23

83 N/A

Total Volume 1,081,784 N/A

1,472,785 -26.5% 5,506,059 N/A

Total ADV 51,514 N/A

64,034 -19.6% 66,338 N/A

EUROPEAN EQUITIES ( millions) Year-To-Date Trading Days 20 20

23

83 84

Total Notional Value  153,872  123,459 24.6%  189,240 -18.7%  627,175  705,349 -11.1% Total ADNV  7,694  6,173 24.6%  8,228 -6.5%  7,556  8,397 -10.0% EUROCCP (thousands)3 Year-To-Date Cleared Trades 96,909 N/A

116,942 -17.1% 395,132 N/A

Net Settlements 771 N/A

912 -15.4% 3,194 N/A

GLOBAL FX ($ millions)4 Year-To-Date Trading Days 22 22

23

85 86

Total Notional Value $681,941 $643,629 6.0% $884,637 -22.9% $3,017,620 $3,417,348 -11.7% Total ADNV 30,997 29,256 6.0% 38,462 -19.4% 35,501 39,737 -10.7%

1U.S. Equities Off-Exchange data reflects Cboe's acquisition of BIDS Trading effective on December 31, 2020. ADV= average daily volume 2Canadian Equities data reflects Cboe's acquisition of MATCHNow effective on August 4, 2020. ADNV= average daily notional value 3EuroCCP data reflects Cboe's acquisition of EuroCCP effective on July 1, 2020. 4Global FX metrics continue to include Spot and as of January 2021 include SEF products.

April Trading Volume Highlights

Options

Average daily volume (ADV) for index options of 1.75 million increased 12 percent compared to 1.57 million in April 2020 .

. ADV in Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) options was 506,021 contracts, up 52 percent from April 2020 .

. ADV in Mini S&P 500 Index (XSP) options was 23,118 contracts, up 34 percent from March 2021 .

Futures

ADV in VIX futures was 186,653 contracts, up 68 percent from April 2020 .

. ADV in Cboe iBoxx iShares $ High Yield Corporate Bond Index (IBHY) futures was 1,244 contracts, up 15 percent from March 2021 . April 2021 volume in IBHY futures represented more than $3.8 billion in notional value.

. volume in IBHY futures represented more than in notional value. ADV in Cboe iBoxx iShares $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index (IBIG) futures reached a new high of 770 contracts traded, up 31 percent from March 2021 , representing more than $2.3 billion in notional value.

North American Equities

After successfully launching Early Trading Hours on Cboe EDGX Equities Exchange in March, Cboe's market share in the 4:00 to 7:00 a.m. ET session increased from 8.7 percent to 10.5 percent in April 2021 .

European Equities

Cboe Europe Equities market share was 17.9 percent in April 2021 , up from 15.4 percent in April 2020 and the highest since July 2020 .

, up from 15.4 percent in and the highest since . Cboe's market share in Swiss securities increased from 11.4 to 13.4 percent in April and its average daily notional value (ADNV) increased from 560 million to 609 million over March 2021 .

. In April, Cboe LIS, Cboe Europe's block trading platform, matched its previous record high market share of 25 percent1 from February 2021 .

Global FX

Cboe SEF NDF trading saw its highest monthly ADV with $209 million notional traded, up 5.7 percent from February 2021 .

1Source: big xyt, an independent data and analytics firm.

About Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

Cboe Global Markets (Cboe: CBOE) provides cutting-edge trading and investment solutions to market participants around the world. The company is committed to defining markets through product innovation, leading edge technology and seamless trading solutions.

The company offers trading across a diverse range of products in multiple asset classes and geographies, including options, futures, U.S., Canadian and European equities, exchange-traded products (ETPs), global foreign exchange (FX) and volatility products based on the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX Index), recognized as the world's premier gauge of U.S. equity market volatility.

Cboe's subsidiaries include the largest options exchange and the third largest stock exchange operator in the U.S. In addition, the company operates one of the largest stock exchanges by value traded in Europe, and owns EuroCCP, a leading pan-European equities clearing house. Cboe also is a leading market globally for ETP listings and trading.

The company is headquartered in Chicago with a network of domestic and global offices across the Americas, Europe and Asia, including main hubs in New York, London, Kansas City and Amsterdam. For more information, visit www.cboe.com.

CBOE-V

BZX, Cboe, Cboe Global Markets, Cboe Volatility Index, CFE, EDGX, VIX, and XSP are registered trademarks and Cboe Futures ExchangeSM, C2SM and Mini VIXSM are service marks of Cboe Exchange, Inc. or its affiliates. S&P 500 and SPX are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services, LLC and has been licensed for use by Cboe Exchange, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Any products that have the S&P Index or Indexes as their underlying interest are not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's or Cboe and neither Standard & Poor's nor Cboe make any representations or recommendations concerning the advisability of investing in products that have S&P indexes as their underlying interests. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates do not recommend or make any representation as to possible benefits from any securities, futures or investments, or third-party products or services. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. is not affiliated with MSCI, S&P, Russell, iShares or IHS Markit. Investors should undertake their own due diligence regarding their securities, futures, and investment practices. This press release speaks only as of this date. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. disclaims any duty to update the information herein.

Nothing in this announcement should be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell any securities or futures in any jurisdiction where the offer or solicitation would be unlawful under the laws of such jurisdiction. Nothing contained in this communication constitutes tax, legal or investment advice. Investors must consult their tax adviser or legal counsel for advice and information concerning their particular situation.

Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates make no warranty, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, any warranties as of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, completeness or timeliness, the results to be obtained by recipients of the products and services described herein, or as to the ability of the indices referenced in this press release to track the performance of their respective securities, generally, or the performance of the indices referenced in this press release or any subset of their respective securities, and shall not in any way be liable for any inaccuracies, errors. Cboe Global Markets, Inc. and its affiliates have not calculated, composed or determined the constituents or weightings of the securities that comprise the third-party indices referenced in this press release and shall not in any way be liable for any inaccuracies or errors in any of the indices referenced in this press release.

Options involve risk and are not suitable for all market participants. Prior to buying or selling an option, a person should review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options (ODD), which is required to be provided to all such persons. Copies of the ODD are available from your broker or from The Options Clearing Corporation, 125 S. Franklin Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60606.

Futures trading is not suitable for all investors and involves the risk of loss. That risk of loss can be substantial and can exceed the amount of money deposited for a futures position. You should, therefore, carefully consider whether futures trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances and financial resources. You should put at risk only funds that you can afford to lose without affecting your lifestyle. For additional information regarding futures trading risks, see the Risk Disclosure Statement set forth in Appendix A to CFTC Regulation 1.55(c) and the Risk Disclosure Statement for Security Futures Contracts.

The iBoxx iShares $ High Yield Corporate Bond Index and the iBoxx iShares $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index (the "Indexes") referenced herein are the property of Markit Indices Limited ("Index Sponsor") and have been licensed for use in connection with Cboe iBoxx iShares $ High Yield Corporate Bond Index Futures and Cboe iBoxx iShares $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Futures. Each party to a Cboe iBoxx iShares $ High Yield Corporate Bond Index Futures or Cboe iBoxx iShares $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Futures transaction acknowledges and agrees that the transaction is not sponsored, endorsed or promoted by the Index Sponsor. The Index Sponsor makes no representation whatsoever, whether express or implied, and hereby expressly disclaims all warranties (including, without limitation, those of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use), with respect to the Indexes or any data included therein or relating thereto, and in particular disclaims any warranty either as to the quality, accuracy and/or completeness of the Indexes or any data included therein, the results obtained from the use of the Indexes and/or the composition of the Indexes at any particular time on any particular date or otherwise and/or the creditworthiness of any entity, or the likelihood of the occurrence of a credit event or similar event (however defined) with respect to an obligation, in the Indexes at any particular time on any particular date or otherwise. The Index Sponsor shall not be liable (whether in negligence or otherwise) to the parties or any other person for any error in the Indexes, and the Index Sponsor is under no obligation to advise the parties or any person of any error therein.

The Index Sponsor makes no representation whatsoever, whether express or implied, as to the advisability of purchasing or selling Cboe iBoxx iShares $ High Yield Corporate Bond Index Futures and Cboe iBoxx iShares $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Futures, the ability of the Indexes to track relevant markets' performances, or otherwise relating to the Indexes or any transaction or product with respect thereto, or of assuming any risks in connection therewith. The Index Sponsor has no obligation to take the needs of any party into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Indexes. No party purchasing or selling Cboe iBoxx iShares $ High Yield Corporate Bond Index Futures or Cboe iBoxx iShares $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index Futures, nor the Index Sponsor, shall have any liability to any party for any act or failure to act by the Index Sponsor in connection with the determination, adjustment, calculation or maintenance of the Indexes. iBoxx is a service mark of IHS Markit Limited.

The iBoxx iShares $ High Yield Corporate Bond Index and the iBoxx iShares $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index (the "Indexes") and futures contracts on the Indexes ("Contracts") are not sponsored by, or sold by BlackRock, Inc. or any of its affiliates (collectively, " BlackRock"). BlackRock makes no representation or warranty, express or implied to any person regarding the advisability of investing in securities, generally, or in the Contracts in particular. Nor does BlackRock make any representation or warranty as to the ability of the Index to track the performance of the fixed income securities market, generally, or the performance of HYG, LQD or any subset of fixed income securities.

BlackRock has not calculated, composed or determined the constituents or weightings of the fixed income securities that comprise the Indexes ("Underlying Data"). BlackRock is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the prices and amounts of the Contracts, or the timing of the issuance or sale of such Contracts or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Contracts are to be converted into cash (if applicable). BlackRock has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration or trading of the Contracts. BlackRock does not guarantee the accuracy or the completeness of the Underlying Data and any data included therein and BlackRock shall have no liability for any errors, omissions or interruptions related thereto.

BlackRock makes no warranty, express or implied, as to results to be obtained by Markit or its affiliates, the parties to the Contracts or any other person with respect to the use of the Underlying Data or any data included therein. BlackRock makes no express or implied warranties and expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use with respect to the Underlying Data or any data included therein. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall BlackRock have any liability for any special, punitive, direct, indirect or consequential damages (including lost profits) resulting from the use of the Underlying Data or any data included therein, even if notified of the possibility of such damages.

iShares is a registered trademark of BlackRock Fund Advisors and its affiliates.

SOURCE Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cboe.com


NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Ceyeber's intraocular lenses are designed for medical applications and will be medical-grade. To ensure expert clinical advisory is at the core of every fundamental decision, Ceyeber has created a Medical Advisory Board consisting of top ophthalmologists.

"We are thrilled to engage such leading ophthalmologists in this very exciting endeavor in advanced human cybernetics through ocular smart implantable technologies." The following are the members of Ceyeber's Advisory Board. Ceyeber's founder and CEO, Robert E. Grant, said, "we look forward to expanding our advisory board and increasing our engagement as we continue to achieve key developmental milestones. In addition, Ceyeber's parent company, Strathspey Crown Holdings, was established by over 600 specialty doctors, including 200+ ophthalmologists from around the world."

Ceyeber's Advisory Board

Richard Lindstrom, MD  Dr. Lindstrom is the founder and attending surgeon of Minnesota Eye Consultants, Adjunct Clinical Professor Emeritus at the University of Minnesota Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences and Visiting Professor at the UC Irvine Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist and internationally recognized leader in corneal, cataract, refractive, glaucoma, laser surgery, innovation, and the business of ophthalmology. He has been at the forefront of ophthalmology's evolutionary changes throughout his 51-year career in medicine as a recognized researcher, teacher, inventor, writer, industry consultant and highly acclaimed physician and surgeon.

Dr. Lindstrom has been awarded 45 patents in ophthalmology and has developed a number of corneal preservation solutions, intraocular lenses, drugs and devices that are used daily in clinical practice globally. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Lindstrom Restoration, Minnesota Eye Consultants, TearLab, Ocular Therapeutix, Harrow Health, Imprimis, Lensar, Surface, Combangio, Kedallion, MD Backline, AcuFocus, Foresight#6, Equinox, Lentechs, Corneagen, Unifye Vision Partners, Theroptix, and Acquea. Dr. Lindstrom serves on several journal editorial boards, including the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the Journal of Refractive Surgery and has published over 400 papers in peer reviewed journals.

"A digital IOL is a timely innovation with many exciting possibilities."

Richard Lindstrom, MD

Gary Foster, MD  Dr. Foster completed his residency in Ophthalmology at the Moran Eye Center and scored in the top one percent nationally of board certifying ophthalmologists. He then received post-residency training in retinal laser and refractive surgery before joining the Eye Center of Northern Colorado, in Fort Collins in 1995. Dr. Foster's practice focuses on custom cataract correction and refractive surgery to restore vision and decrease the need for distance and reading glasses. This is accomplished through eye-enhancing cataract correction with near focusing lens implants (Restor, Rezoom, and Crystalens), laser vision correction (LASIK and PRK), phakic IOL's, and CK. Dr. Foster has been a principal investigator in numerous research projects to enhance eye treatment and technology and is a certified physician trainer for the VISX laser vision correction system. He is involved in teaching advanced surgical techniques at the American Academy of Ophthalmology and The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery national meetings and speaks regularly on related topics to train other doctors.

Larry Patterson, MD  Dr. Patterson is the Medical Director and Surgeon of Eye Centers of Tennessee and the Cataract and Laser Center. He is president emeritus of the Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery Society (OOSS) and the Chief Medical Editor of Ophthalmology Management. He has done extensive medical mission work in Central America, the Bahamas, and the South Pacific. Dr. Patterson has presented internationally as well as writing for numerous publications. Formerly a member of the Government Relations committee of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), Chairman of Government Relations for OOSS, and the ASCRS Cataract-Refractive subcommittee, Dr. Patterson has often traveled to Washington D.C. to help lobby for the rights of patients.

Dr. Patterson built and operated a multispecialty surgery center in 1998. He currently owns, operates and performs surgery in an ophthalmic surgery center that he built in 2002. His son, Dr. Michael Patterson, joined him in practice in 2016.

"Is bionic eye technology we watched as children in The Six Million Dollar Man actually becoming a reality?"

Larry Patterson, MD



Sheri Rowen, MD  After 8 years in private practice, Dr. Rowen founded and served as the medical director of the Mercy Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology in Baltimore, MD from 1996 to 2015. She pioneered new treatments and techniques for cataract surgery being one of only a handful of physicians to introduce topical clear cornea cataract surgery with foldable lenses and teaching it around the world in the early 90's. She also was one of the only female lecturers on the podium at that time, both nationally and internationally teaching cataract surgery to her peers. She was also one of the first surgeons to pioneer CO2 laser eyelid surgery.

Dr. Rowen is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American College of Surgeons. She serves on the Board of ACES, is President Emeritus of Cedars Aspens Society and serves on the Medical Editorial Board of CRST. Dr. Rowen is considered a Key Opinion Leader in Ophthalmology. She was given a 20-year Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology for continued service in teaching. Dr. Rowen consults for multiple strategic companies advising them on how to construct new technologies for eye health and surgeries. She has also participated as a Principal Investigator for many studies used the FDA to gain approval for new products.

"It is exciting to think of the possibilities of augmented reality within an implanted IOL that could alleviate the need to constantly be attached to our phones. Bravo!"

Sherri Rowen, MD

Guy Kezirian, MD, MBA, FACS 

Dr. Kezirian is a board-certified ophthalmologist with a long record of innovation in the ophthalmic space. His company SurgiVision Consultants, Inc. has conducted several large-scale FDA studies leading to multiple device approvals and provides software that performs outcomes analysis and surgical planning for LASIK and other procedures. Dr. Kezirian is the Founder and Chairman of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, Aligned Management Services, and the PHYSICIAN CEO program at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He serves on the board of the Himalayan Cataract Project (www.CureBlindess.org), a highly-regarded 501(c)(3) organization working to eliminate needless blindness in the developing world.

He is a frequent speaker at national and international ophthalmic conferences, has published more than 20 peer-review articles in the ophthalmic literature and many more in the trade literature. He was the recipient of the 2015 Kritzinger Award from the South African Society of Refractive Surgery, and previously received the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS) Founder's Award, ISRS President's Award, and the David D. Dulaney Award.

"The technology to support intraocular cameras promises an exciting advance in human performance. It is natural evolution that will integrate cameras into human physiology. The potential applications are unlimited."

Guy Kezirian, MD

Scott Perkins, MD  Dr. Perkins is one of the most experienced eye surgeons in the country. He has performed more than 100,000 cataract surgeries, more than 15,000 LASIK procedures and is one of the top three surgeons in volume in the US for ICL surgery. Additionally, he is the first user of the Toric ICL and the PanOptix Trifocal IOL in the Southwestern US. He joined the current practice in 1992 and was a founding member of Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center in 1993

He is a board-certified ophthalmologist, a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and a founding member of the American European Congress of Ophthalmic surgeons. Throughout his career, he has conducted clinical research in several areas of ophthalmology including intraocular lens technology, the ICL and intraocular medications. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Arizona Visionaries, a nonprofit organization that provides cataract surgery in third world countries and enjoys volunteering his time and skills for the benefit of less fortunate people.

Jared Younger, MD  Dr. Younger is Board-certified and Fellowship trained. DISCOVER YOUNGER VISION is Dr. Younger's trademarked brand that coins a philosophy for eye care, with the goal of assisting every patient to find and meet their unique vision needs. His fellowship training in Cornea, Lasik and Refractive Surgery at the prestigious Jules Stein Eye Institute at UCLA, allows him to offer the most advanced Refractive Cataract Surgery to patients. He graduated from the University of Arizona College of Medicine, where he was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society as one of the top medical students in his class. This was followed by an Internal Medicine internship at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach. He then completed Ophthalmology training at UT Southwestern and the busy Parkland Hospital in Dallas. He also has a Master of Public Health degree, and recently completed the Physician CEO executive business program at Northwestern University in Chicago.

Dr. Younger is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is President of the Orange County Society of Ophthalmology. He is a member of multiple national eye societies, lecturing on laser cataract surgery and cornea surgery at annual meetings. He is one of Orange Coast magazine's Top Doctors, and has been awarded at international eye conferences. Also, his public health continues as he is the only eye care professional who travels to Catalina Island to see patients at the Medicare designated rural medical center there. He helps under-served diabetic patients and continues to travel there with his eye exam equipment.

"Really looking forward to this next generation intraocular lens technology  the first with smart capabilities to augment the powers of the human eye; I see this breakthrough as limitless."

Jared Younger, MD



The Advisory Board will help guide and provide input on the exciting next steps of Ceyeber. As some of the country's leading ophthalmologists, Ceyeber will be able to utilize their expertise to make critical decisions regarding clinical uses and the life augmenting benefits of its ocular smart implantable lens.

About Ceyeber

Ceyeber is the developer of implantable intraocular lens technology designed for medical applications and augmented reality. The Company is currently in the research and development phase of creating medical-grade ocular smart implantables that integrate cellular, WIFI and 802.11 transmissions in a cognitive interface, enabling clients to enhance cognitive functions and digitally capture experiences and individual memories. The company has developed a benchtop working prototype of their U.S. Patent No. 9,662,199 B2, which covers an implantable intraocular lens with an optic (including accommodating, multifocal and phakic configurations), a camera and an LED display, and a communications module that wirelessly transmit and receive information from an external device (e.g. PDA).

Ceyeber Press Contact:

Kaylyn McElroy, General Manager

Tel: +949.260.1700

Email: [email protected]

Previous Press Release mentioning Ceyeber's Patents:

"Strathspey Crown Establishes Ceyeber Corporation, an Ocular Smart Implant Technology Company"

"Strathspey Crown LLC Announces Issuance of US Patent of the First Implantable Intraocular Lens (IOL) with a Video Camera and Wireless Transmission Capability"

SOURCE Ceyeber
With episodes focused on everything from gene sequencing and repairing birth defects in utero, to building a new world-class hospital, the series gives listeners a glimpse into the world and minds of leading pioneers at CHOP.

Episode 1 - Sequenced: Using Genetics to Solve Medical Mysteries with Dr. Ian Krantz

Strange symptoms with no clear cause. Medical histories that mystify even the most experienced doctors. Ian Krantz, MD, Co-Director of CHOP's Roberts Individualized Medical Genetics Center, specializes in solving "medical mysteries"  and he and his team have found answers for many patients who had almost given up hope. He joins Madeline to discuss the latest advances in precision medicine, why it's important to share data with other scientists, and more.

Episode 2 - Transformed: Repairing Birth Defects Before Birth with Dr. Scott Adzick

The idea of repairing birth defects before babies are born seemed like a radical one to many. But N.Scott Adzick, MD, Director of CHOP's Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, was determined to pursue it  and today, he's considered a pioneer in the field of fetal surgery. He shares insights from his remarkable career with Madeline and reveals some of the incredible breakthroughs that are on the horizon for his team.

Episode 3 - Realized: Delivering on the Promise of Gene Therapy with Dr. Katherine High

World-renowned hematologist and scientist Katherine High, MD, has spent much of her career focused on achieving a goal few believed was possible: developing gene therapies and getting them to patients. Dr. High joins Madeline to talk about her journey from idea to breakthrough  and what it was like to create Spark Therapeutics, a company based on her innovations.

Episode 4 - Inspired: Building a World-Class Hospital, Close to Home with Dr. Jan Boswinkel

This fall, CHOP will celebrate an important milestone: the grand opening of its new hospital in King of Prussia, Pa. Jan Boswinkel, MD, Chief Operating Officer of the King of Prussia hospital, joins Madeline to talk about what this milestone means for patients, families and the community  and shares what it's like to build a new hospital from the ground up.

Episode 5 - Discovered: Making Breakthroughs in Cardiac Care with Dr. Jonathan Chen

The team at CHOP's Cardiac Center has been making life-changing breakthroughs for children for many years. The center's co-director, pediatric heart surgeon Jonathan Chen, MD, joins Madeline to discuss his team's latest innovations  and to share his vision for the future of pediatric cardiac care.

"Pioneered at CHOP" is part of Madeline Bell's podcast, Breaking Through, which takes listeners behind-the-scenes to meet the brilliant minds who are making and supporting incredible breakthroughs in pediatric medicine at CHOP. The podcast, which began in 2018, has featured a range of experts, including Stephan Grupp, MD, PhD, the oncologist who pioneered CAR T-cell immunotherapy for cancer at CHOP, and Jesse Taylor, MD, and Gregory Heuer, MD, PhD, the surgeons who led a team that separated conjoined twins in 2016. Each of the 22 episodes  which also includes a special COVID-19 series called "Where We Are Now  explores the visionary research that is driving cutting-edge clinical care at CHOP  and the role philanthropy plays in this important work.

About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 595-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu

Contact: Natalie Solimeo

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Phone: 267-426-6246

[email protected]

SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Related Links

http://www.chop.edu


HOUSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cimbria Capital announced today the appointment of former Suez Vice President, Matt Boczkowski, as Operating Partner. Mr. Boczkowski joined Cimbria Capital in an advisory role to strengthen the firm's expertise in the areas of commercialization, strategic positioning, expansion strategies, and management of companies operating in the Water Economy. He currently holds the position of Deputy CEO and CCO at Aquaporin in Copenhagen, Denmark, where his responsibilities include overseeing the management, commercial strategy and execution for the company.

Matt Boczkowski, Operating Partner of Cimbria Capital

Prior to his current role, Mr. Boczkowski was Vice President of Industrial Markets and Key Accounts at SUEZ HQ in France where his responsibilities included the development of new markets, building the industrial marketing team, and identifying top strategic growth initiatives. He joined SUEZ in 2011, formerly GE Water, through its prestigious experienced commercial leadership program working with top executives at General Electric globally.

Mr. Boczkowski is a respected executive in water with unique knowledge of how multinationals adopt innovation and build new markets. His key achievements include helping spearhead the first all-membrane project sold to Equinor (formerly Statoil) via Suez - as well as the development of a 'product, service, and project' offer for offshore water treatment of FPSO vessels with GE Water.

"Cimbria is excited to welcome Matt to its inner-circle as he is a recognized specialist in commercial viability who believes in the hands-on management approach that is central to our firm," said Brian V. Iversen, Managing Partner of Cimbria Capital. "Subject-matter-experts that develop profit-making strategies are extremely valuable for the revolution underway in the Water Economy, and it's exciting to have Matt on board to help orchestrate this type of growth within Cimbria's investments."

"Cimbria is a prominent private equity firm known for methodically identifying and adding value to companies with the most promise in water," said Matt Boczkowski. "I'm honored to join Cimbria because the team possesses the initiative, discipline, and processes that optimize businesses scaling in the value chain of water."

About Cimbria Capital: Cimbria Capital is a private equity investment firm based in United States and Denmark conducting growth and expansion capital investments in the Water Economy in North America and the Nordics.

If you'd like to learn more about Cimbria, please contact [email protected] or visit www.cimbriacapital.com

Related Images

matt-boczkowski.jpeg

Matt Boczkowski

Matt Boczkowski, Operating Partner of Cimbria Capital

SOURCE Cimbria Capital
Clark Atlanta University to Host Stacey Abrams, Bakari Sellers as Commencement Speakers on May 15, 2021 Tweet this

"We wanted to give our students the opportunity to walk across the stage, receive their diplomas and be recognized for their hard work in a traditional ceremony," said Clark Atlanta University President Dr. George T. French, Jr. "They have earned the right to experience that moment surrounded by their classmates, family and friends."

An HBCU graduate and Georgia's Democratic nominee for governor in 2018, Abrams, was scheduled to address 2020 Clark Atlanta University graduates before the pandemic postponed the ceremony.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to speak to the next generation of leaders graduating from Clark Atlanta University," said Abrams. "I hope that my words serve as a source of encouragement for the graduates by reminding them of how they can use their education to uplift those who are often unseen and unheard and push our society forward."

A New York Times bestselling author, Abrams served as the Ga. House of Representatives Minority Leader from 2011 to 2017. In 2018, she launched Fair Fight Action, a national voting rights organization rooted in Georgia.

A New York Times bestselling author, Sellers made history in 2006 as the youngest African-American elected official in the nation by winning a seat in the South Carolina State Legislature at age 22. Sellers, a CNN commentator and host of the Bakari Sellers Podcast, has been recognized as one of Time Magazine's 40 Under 40 and made "The Root 100" list of the most influential African-Americans.

"As an HBCU graduate myself, I can distinctly recall the pride and excitement I felt when I graduated," said Sellers. "I hope to share a sense of optimism with these remarkable students as we honor their great accomplishments and look ahead to their bright futures."

Clark Atlanta University President Dr. George T. French, Jr. recognizes the importance of having two Black leaders who have profoundly affected American politics and civil rights.

"Our goal here at Clark Atlanta University is to prepare our students to be globally competitive and to be successful contributors and trailblazers in their respective fields of study," said Dr. French. "Hearing from Ms. Abrams and Mr. Sellers -- two leaders who have already made a difference themselves -- is a fitting way to send our students off fully prepared to take on the world."

SOURCE Clark Atlanta University

Related Links

www.cau.edu


Class is in session for Dashlane's Worst Password Award winners, which take a spin on senior superlatives to spotlight those that didn't make the grade so far this year, along with tips for everyone to maintain and improve their online security:

Worst Internship: SolarWinds . The last thing any company needed as 2020 came to a close was news of a massive breach that had gone undetected for months. Yet that's exactly what happened to SolarWinds, a major IT firm used by everyone from top U.S. government agencies to Microsoft, when news hit that hackers added malicious code in software, giving them remote access to customer networks and data. To make matters worse, in February 2021 , both current and former SolarWinds execs blamed an intern for using the entirely-all-too-insecure password solarwinds123, which was leaked online. We'd make a comment here, but Rep. Katie Porter said it best: "I've got a stronger password than 'solarwinds123' to stop my kids from watching too much YouTube on their iPad." Most Likely to Win the Lottery and Lose the Ticket: Bitcoin Users Who Forgot Their Passwords . Password pitfalls cost so muchtime, energy, user data, company reputation, $220 million . HODL up. That's right, as cryptocurrency soared, bitcoin users were locked out of both their wallets and potential fortunes due to forgotten passwords. PeoplePost-its get lost, built-in browser storage doesn't work everywhere, and you shouldn't leave the keys to your online kingdom up to memory. Password managers are the most secure, universal solution, not to mention a lifesaver in instances like these. Most Surprising: Local and Government Services . The hack of a Florida water plant and phishing attack at a California State Controller's Office are just some of the recent examples highlighting the challenges public sector organizations face when it comes to cybersecurity. Unfortunately, our tax dollars don't always get invested in effective defenses, making local (and national, for that matter) government services an easy target for bad actors. In California , state workers fell for a phishing email that targeted at least 9,000 contacts, giving hackers access to social security numbers and other sensitive information. Meanwhile in Floridahackers gained remote access to the treatment plant's system and tried to poison the watermaking stronger cybersecurity practices a matter of public health and safety. Most Avoidable: Verkada . Hacks are often more widespread than you think, as a recent one at cloud-based enterprise security camera system Verkada showed. After an international hacker collective breached its systems with a username and password found on the internet, they accessed Verkada customer cameras, which ranged from the Technoking of Tesla's factories and warehouses to Equinox gyms, hospitals, jails, and schools. It's unlikely Musk will mock this in his upcoming SNL monologueavoidable data breaches are no laughing matter. Most Predictable: COMB . Not what you use to brush your luscious locks but rather the "Compilation of Many Breaches." As bad as it sounds, COMB is the result of an online hacking forum posting over three billion unique emails and passwords gathered from past leaks at Netflix, LinkedIn, Bitcoin, and more. With 4.7 billion people online, COMB included the data of nearly 70% of global internet users! Both predictable and painful (are you listening? Don't reuse your passwords!).

"We all know we should practice better password hygiene, but as these examples show, we're only human. Passwords are a human problem even more than a technology one, and despite the risks, it can be hard to get people to change their behaviors," said JD Sherman CEO of Dashlane. "That's why everybody should use a password manager like Dashlaneit's an easy-to-use tool to manage and eliminate security risks proactively for both people and businesses."

Extra Credit: Tips for A+ Security At Home, Work, or Anywhere in Between

Use random and different passwords for every account: Hackers can use passwords from compromised accounts to easily access other accounts. The only protection against this is to have random and different passwords for every account. Random keeps you secure.

Hackers can use passwords from compromised accounts to easily access other accounts. The only protection against this is to have random and different passwords for every account. Random keeps you secure. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA): 2FA is a feature that adds an additional "factor" to your normal login procedure to verify your identity: something you know (your password, PIN number, zip code, etc.), something you are (via facial recognition, your fingerprints, retina scans, etc.), or something you have (a smart card, your smartphone, etc.). Most apps or websites will verify you via an email or a text message sent to your phone.

2FA is a feature that adds an additional "factor" to your normal login procedure to verify your identity: something you know (your password, PIN number, zip code, etc.), something you are (via facial recognition, your fingerprints, retina scans, etc.), or something you have (a smart card, your smartphone, etc.). Most apps or websites will verify you via an email or a text message sent to your phone. Get a password manager. Now. Ditch whichever patented password management "method" you're currently using. A password manager is literally the only way to safely and conveniently manage wildly complicated and unique passwords for an unlimited number of accounts, while providing automatic logins and secure autofill of personal and payment information.

Ditch whichever patented password management "method" you're currently using. A password manager is literally the only way to safely and conveniently manage wildly complicated and unique passwords for an unlimited number of accounts, while providing automatic logins and secure autofill of personal and payment information. Sign up for free breach alerts. Dashlane helps you learn what to do if your information has been compromised. Dashlane's Breach Center will alert you if any of your data is found on the Dark Web, and keep an eye out for breaches that may affect you in the future.

About Dashlane

Dashlane is a web and mobile app that simplifies password management for people and businesses. We empower organizations to protect company and employee data, while helping everyone easily log in to the accounts they needanytime, anywhere. A better digital future starts with secure access.

Our team in Paris, New York, and Lisbon is united by a strong sense of community and passion for improving the digital experience. Over 15 million users and 20,000 businesses in 180 countries use Dashlane for a faster, simpler, and more secure internet.

SOURCE Dashlane

Related Links

https://www.dashlane.com/


SAN FRANCISCO, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe Virtual  The Cloud Native Computing Foundation  (CNCF), which builds sustainable ecosystems for cloud native software, today announced that Spotify , which transformed music listening forever when it launched in 2008, has won the CNCF End User Award in recognition of its notable contributions to the cloud native ecosystem.

Spotify joined the CNCF End User Community in early 2018 while transitioning to cloud native and Kubernetes-based infrastructure. Today, the company is an active user of CNCF projects, including Argo, FluentD, OPA, gRPC, Envoy, and Kubernetes. It now operates more than 150 Kubernetes clusters running over 2,800 services across all its software lifecycle. Spotify also contributes back to almost all of the CNCF projects it uses. To date, Spotify team members have made more than 15,000 contributions to 13 different CNCF projects.

"Spotify was an early member of the CNCF End User Community and has since become one of the largest contributors and thought leaders inside CNCF," said Cheryl Hung, VP of Ecosystem at Cloud Native Computing Foundation. "We've seen the team grow from building much of its infrastructure to embracing and evangelizing the benefits of open source technologies. We are thrilled to present them with this award and look forward to the company's continued contributions across the community."

In 2020, Spotify's Backstage project, an open platform for building developer portals, was accepted as a CNCF Sandbox project. Today, Backstage has been adopted by well-known organizations, including American Airlines, Fiverr, Peloton, Roku, Zalando, and others. Since joining CNCF, Backstage has grown exponentially. It now has more than 280 unique external contributors and adds 6-8 new contributors every week.

"It's a huge honor to be recognized with the top CNCF End User Award," said Dave Zolotusky, principal engineer at Spotify. "We love being a part of this community, where you can not only learn from other end users in your position but also have a voice in the direction of the community and its projects. We have come a long way from our early days of learning about cloud native to making Spotify a technology innovator and good open source citizen, and can't wait to see what milestones we reach next."

Spotify team members are well-represented in the community, including an End User representative on the Technical Oversight Committee, a chair of the End User Developer Experience Special Interest Group (SIG), KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Program Committee members, CNCF Ambassadors, and core project contributors. Spotify is also a leading evangelist at KubeCon + CloudNativeCon conferences and co-located events with two KubeCon + CloudNativeCon keynotes and more than 15 talks, and keynote talks at gRPCconf and EnvoyCon.

Spotify is one of more than 140 organizations in the CNCF End User Community , which meets regularly to share adoption best practices and feedback on project roadmaps and future projects for CNCF technical leaders to consider.

Additional Resources

About Cloud Native Computing Foundation

Cloud native computing empowers organizations to build and run scalable applications with an open source software stack in public, private, and hybrid clouds. The Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) hosts critical components of the global technology infrastructure, including Kubernetes, Prometheus, and Envoy. CNCF brings together the industry's top developers, end users, and vendors, and runs the largest open source developer conferences in the world. Supported by more than 500 members, including the world's largest cloud computing and software companies, as well as over 200 innovative startups, CNCF is part of the nonprofit Linux Foundation. For more information, please visit www.cncf.io.

The Linux Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of The Linux Foundation, please see our trademark usage page. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.

Media Contact

Katie Meinders

The Linux Foundation

[email protected]

SOURCE Cloud Native Computing Foundation

Related Links

http://www.cncf.io


TORONTO and GATINEAU, QC, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Converge Technology Solutions Corp. ("Converge" or "the Company") (TSX: CTS) (FSE: 0ZB) (OTCQX: CTSDF) is pleased to announce that it will release the results for its first quarter for the period ended March 31st, 2021 on Tuesday, May 11th, 2021 after market close. Subsequently, the Company will hold a conference call on Tuesday, May 11th, 2021 at 5:00pm EST hosted by Shaun Maine, Chief Executive Officer and Carl Smith, Chief Financial Officer. A question and answer session will follow the corporate update.

Conference Call Details:

Date: Tuesday, May 11th, 2021

Time: 5:00 PM Eastern Time

Participant Dial-in Numbers:

Local  Toronto (+1) 416 764 8609

Toll Free  North America (+1) 888 390 0605

Germany  08007240293

United Kingdom - 08006522435

Conference ID: 09152198

Recording Playback Numbers:

Toronto (+1) 416 764 8677

Toll Free  North America (+1) 888 390 0541

Passcode: 152198 #

Expiry Date: May 18th, 2021

A live audio webcast and archive of the conference call will be available by visiting the Company's website at https://convergetp.com/investor-relations/. Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure time for any software download that may be needed to hear the webcast.

About Converge

Converge Technology Solutions Corp. is a software-enabled IT & Cloud Solutions provider focused on delivering industry-leading solutions and services. Converge's regional sales and services organizations deliver advanced analytics, cloud, and cybersecurity offerings to clients across various industries. The Company supports these solutions with managed services, digital infrastructure, and talent expertise offerings across all major IT vendors in the marketplace. This multi-faceted approach enables Converge to address the unique business and technology requirements for all clients in the public and private sectors. For more information, visit convergetp.com.

SOURCE Converge Technology Solutions Corp.

Related Links

https://convergetp.com/


The custom container uses a double wall of best-in-class Vacuum Insulated Panel (VIP) technology, a custom payload box with product vial trays with a built-in handle for simplified packing and unpacking. Thermal testing exceeded all expectations and the shipper consistently performed well beyond the 240-hour minimum. The container will maintain the desired temperature indefinitely with the addition of dry ice as needed.

"Using innovative engineering design concepts, the CSafe team was able to exceed BioNTech's requirements for a high-performance container that will maintain -70C for more than 10 days," said Patrick Schafer, CSafe Global CEO. "Additionally, we were also able to reduce the amount of dry ice needed by more than 30% from our original projection by making additional tweaks to the design. CSafe has always been a purpose-driven company and every one of our employees couldn't be prouder of this tremendous achievement and our role in helping BioNTech put an end to the pandemic."

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (BNT162b2), which is based on BioNTech's proprietary mRNA technology, was developed by both BioNTech and Pfizer. BioNTech is the Marketing Authorization Holder in the European Union, and the holder of emergency use authorizations or equivalent in the United States (jointly with Pfizer), United Kingdom, Canada and other countries in advance of a planned application for full marketing authorizations in these countries.

Media Contact:

Lori Conaway

Global Marketing Communications Manager

Direct: +1 405.633.2344

Email: [email protected]

Web: csafeglobal.com

About CSafe Global

CSafe Global provides end-to-end thermal shipping solutions to the pharmaceutical and life science industries worldwide. Using its proprietary, fully-integrated Artificial Intelligence capability, CSafe ensures containers are available when and where customers need them. Combined with the company's industry-leading retest and reuse program, all CSafe customers are assured ongoing superior product performance for every shipment that also meets customers' sustainability objectives. With a presence in 150 countries, CSafe is committed to providing its solutions on-demand 24/7 with a 100% guarantee, thus making CSafe the partner of choice for the most challenging customers in the cold chain. CSafeGlobal.com

SOURCE CSafe Global

Related Links

csafeglobal.com


BERN, Switzerland and VIENNA, Austria, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In the current study "Newsroom in the home office", Austrian journalist and media manager Marcus Hebein examines how the major daily media houses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland are coping with the immense impact of the health crisis and draws a picture of the future of newsrooms in Europe's largest media market. 53 representatives - editors-in-chief, managing directors and members of staff representatives - from 36 of the most important and largest editorial departments took part in the study.

Subject:

Influence factors Author Marcus Hebein, Austrian journalist and media manager

Just over 20 years ago, media companies began tearing down walls in their editorial departments. Almost all of them have since built newsrooms and placed their journalists side by side in open, large spaces.

Then the big upheaval came. Since March 2020, the newsrooms have been empty. From one day to the next, thousands of workplaces in Germany, Austria and Switzerland suddenly stopped booting up their computers for months. But production was still running at full speed.

The current study examines the impact of Corona on newsrooms of the largest media houses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and shows what "New Work" means for the future of editorial departments.

Excerpt from the main results:

At least one third of employees in editorial departments will regularly work from home in the future. Previously, home office was practically non-existent as a regular working.

Newsrooms are getting smaller.

More and new job profiles will move into newsrooms and work there alongside journalists.

The infrastructure will change.

Media companies will have to actively address the issue of "New Work" in order to positively support their brand and image - and to remain attractive on the labor market.

Video conferences divide editorial teams.

In addition, the study examines the question of what continues to speak in favor of the newsroom and which groups are among the strongest proponents of home offices. The study also shows why internal communication will be one of the decisive factors in making newsrooms successful in the future.

And what do you miss most after a year in the home office? It's the coffee chat, the informal communication. It was the clearest result of more than 60 questions. Almost all editors-in-chief and members of employee representatives miss - in rare consensus - the short talk in the newsroom.

Key data on the study:

For the study, a quantitative survey was conducted between February and March 2021. 53 top representatives from 36 editorial departments in Germany, Austria and Switzerland took. The following media houses took part, among others: SZ Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Die Zeit, Bild Zeitung, NZZ Neue Zuricher Zeitung, Blick, Die Presse, Kurier, public service broadcasters, major news agencies.

The author:

Marcus Hebein is an Austrian journalist and media manager. As head of the editorial department of the Swiss news agency Keystone-SDA, he completed the integration of the news agency's new newsroom in Bern. Before that, he was deputy editor-in-chief at the Austrian news agency APA - Austria Presse Agentur in Vienna for many years. As an editorial manager, Hebein has visited the newsrooms of the major media houses in almost all European countries. He currently advises international editorial departments and companies.

The study can be obtained free of charge for editorial use, provided the author is acknowledged. For other use the study can be obtained at a price of 490,- Euro (pdf, 43 pages).

Contact: Marcus Hebein, [email protected]/ +41 79 511 73 51

SOURCE Marcus Hebein
ORLANDO, Fla., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- International Cyber-Security Firm GLESEC announces the launching of its Orchestrated Data Leakage Detection and Protection Service to address a critical need for every organizations' security and compliance requirements.

We detect and protect data leakage without the need to classify all company information; and orchestrate threats to bring RISK level visibility and actionable solutions in a single pane of glass. We provide real-time data leakage detection for security and compliance requirements.

Multiple SOC Operations Support GLESEC's Clients Internationally

GLESEC's orchestration provides visibility and detection of data leaving the organization, where it is going, how much data has been taken and investigation of who is responsible for the data leakage. At the same time, we handle the mitigation and protection to stop external or internal data leakage threats and perform automated training to reduce internal users' accidental data leakage exposure.

Our unique security-as-a-service offering includes all the components to address information leakage as a turnkey solution designed to reduce risk and time to detect and mitigate, fulfill compliance and significantly inherent reduction of operational costs. We do this by deploying the GLESEC Multi-security Appliance at client's location, integration with internal data sources and activation with GLESEC's Orchestration platforms. This quick deployment brings peace of mind to the organization, visibility and control to management and all reporting required.

GLESEC's focus is the organization's lifecycle process and business optimization, introducing a new paradigm in the delivery of cybersecurity and cyber-compliance.

"We are happy to bring to market another unique orchestrated service that will help mitigate threats and reduce data leakage risk. The Orchestration platform together with a complete portfolio of service offerings makes it ideal for every organization to meet security and compliance requirements," says Sergio Heker, a cybersecurity expert and internet pioneer who is GLESEC's CEO.

"We are very happy to bring to market our GLESEC's Orchestrated Data Leakage Protection Service, developed to be a must-have for every organization. The security as a service offering is one of the most effective detection and protection of data leakage solutions in the market; it is low cost due to not requiring ongoing data classification; and provides quick detection to respond to compliance reporting requirements," continued Mr. Heker.

GLESEC continues its on-going process of innovation to provide more value to its clients while leading the market with the largest and most organized set of cyber-security, cyber-compliance, and cyber-training services in the industry.

"We are excited to partner with ITsMineTM a technology leader that has created a unique and innovative approach to address data leakage based on its proprietary FileGPS and SoftwareMines. ITsMineTM platform if fully integrated with our Orchestrator to deliver maximum value powered by ITsMineTM", comments Sergio Heker.

"ITsMine is happy to provide Beyond DLP as part of GLESEC's unified Orchestrator platform to protect sensitive data scattered in multi-cloud and on-premises environments in the absent of corporate perimeter, growing remote workforce, shortage in security talents and new regulatory requirements." said Kfir Kimhi, ITSMINE's CEO.

About GLESEC

GLESEC is a security powerhouse that has been delivering world-class information security since 2003 to organizations across the Americas. GLESEC's portfolio offers a full suite of auditing, regulatory compliance, monitoring, protection, and countermeasure services using best-of-breed, emerging technologies, and managed and intelligence security services. Having consolidated this unique set of capabilities under a single umbrella service, organization, and the proprietary technology platform, we reduce the inherent risk of disjointed teams and bring about the expertise and capabilities that our clients deserve. GLESEC, a privately held company, has Worldwide Headquarters in Orlando, Florida. GLESEC operates in both the United States and Latin America. Our clients' range from large organizations to multinationals across the Americas.

About ITsMine

ITsMine enables businesses to easily control their data anywhere and everywhere while proactively preventing insider threat and external data breaches. The Beyond DLP platform offers a new era in data protection that is accessible without painful installations and complex data classifications, while involving employees as part of the solution.

Media Contact:

Marketing Department GLESEC

+1609-651-4246 x108

+507-836-5355 x108

[email protected]

www.glesec.com

SOURCE GLESEC

Related Links

http://www.glesec.com


NEW YORK and RISHON LETZION, Israel, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cymulate , the industry standard SaaS based Continuous Security Validation platform leveraging the MITRE ATT&CK framework end-to-end, announced today a Series C funding round of $45M, led by One Peak , together with existing investors Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE) , Vertex Ventures Israel , Vertex Growth and Dell Technologies Capital . Cymulate has raised $71M to date, including a seed investment from Eyal Gruner.

Cymulate Raises $45M in Series C Funding for Continuous Security Testing Led by One Peak

The funding will be used to further accelerate Cymulate's impressive growth as the company closed 2020 with double the revenue year-over-year and grew its staff by over 150%. Cymulate serves hundreds of customers including leading enterprises and F500 companies and most recently announced a partnership with global telecom giant NTT .

"The increasing pace of global cyber security attacks has resulted in a crisis of trust in the security posture of enterprises and a realization that security testing needs to be continuous as opposed to periodic, particularly in the context of an ever-changing IT infrastructure and rapidly evolving threats. Companies understand that implementing security solutions is not enough to guarantee protection against cyber threats and need to regain control," said David Klein, Managing Partner at One Peak. "We love Cymulate's effective, easy-to-use security testing platform as it empowers companies to assess attack vectors and security controls and closes any security gaps. We are excited to back Eyal, Avihai and the entire Cymulate team in their next leg of explosive growth." Watch this video for more.

Cymulate has developed a comprehensive platform, which is the industry standard for organizations to validate their cyber posture continuously and on-demand, by testing their cloud and on premise networks against the latest threats in the wild. Their recent survey of over 700 security professionals revealed that 70% believe their existing testing methodologies are somewhat or not at all effective, and only 7% feel that they have strong cyber defenses in place. The survey also highlighted 56% of respondents have concrete plans to implement a solution such as Cymulate, particularly in 2022. The full survey can be accessed here .

"Cymulate saw a 50% increase in the number of unique attacks in the wild in 2020, and as APT groups are becoming increasingly aggressive and disruptive, there is a real need for companies to run daily or weekly assessments of their security posture. A loss of customer trust due to the fallout of a major attack is extremely hard to regain," said Eyal Wachsman, CEO and co-founder of Cymulate. "This Series C funding is yet another vote of confidence in Cymulate and will enable us to expand our reach across the globe at a faster pace and continue our vision to be the largest and most comprehensive consultant-free security validation company."

Cymulate's SaaS-based Continuous Security Validation platform plays a critical role in empowering organizations to automatically assess and improve their overall security posture. Simulations of the latest threats in the wild test an organization's security defenses and controls, across the entire kill chain of attack vectors and APT attack configurations, individually and interconnected. Simulations can run on-demand or be scheduled to run at regular intervals, with either an out-of-the-box option or customized by more advanced security professionals. Within minutes, the platform provides specific, actionable insights and data on where a company's network is vulnerable, highlighting security gaps and mitigation procedures to optimize the security posture.

In just four years, Cymulate has successfully launched its technology across the US, EMEA, APAC and LATAM, having acquired commercial and enterprise customers across all verticals, particularly in the financial services and healthcare sectors. Cymulate continues to develop its technology and remain at the forefront of Continuous Security Validation, #1 leader in innovation according to the Frost Radar , most recently launching the Purple Team simulation, enabling their customers to create, store, modify and execute both simple and sophisticated assessments using custom built or out-of-the-box templates.

The company has been lauded by the industry in recent months including:

Frost and Sullivan: #1 Innovation Leader in its Radar report on the Global Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) Market for 2020.

on the Global Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) Market for 2020. SANS endorsed Cymulate's continuous security validation platform in new report

Cymulate's Co-founder and CTO Avihai Ben Yosef included in Forbes Israel 30 under 30

30 under 30 Winner: Gold in Breach and Attack Simulation by Cybersecurity Excellence Awards 2021

in Breach and Attack Simulation by Cybersecurity Excellence Awards 2021 Winner: Gold in the Breach and Attack Simulation, Detection and Protection category by Info Security's PG Global Excellence Awards

in the Breach and Attack Simulation, Detection and Protection category by Info Security's PG Global Excellence Awards Winner: First place in the Breach and Attack Simulation category in the InfoSec Awards 2020 by Cyber Defense Magazine

About Cymulate

Cymulate Continuous Security Validation enables companies to challenge, assess and optimize their cyber-security posture against the evolving threat landscape, simply and continuously. The platform provides out-of-the-box, expert and threat intelligence led RISK assessments that are simple to use for all skill levels, and constantly updated. It also provides an open framework for ethical hackers to create and automate red and purple team exercises and security assurance programs tailored to their unique environment and security policies. Cymulate helps security professionals to know and control their dynamic environment.

For more information, visit www.cymulate.com and register for a Free Trial .

About One Peak

One Peak is a growth equity firm investing in technology companies in the scale-up phase. The firm provides growth capital to exceptional entrepreneurs with a view to transform innovative and rapidly growing businesses into lasting, category-defining leaders. In addition to Cymulate, One Peak's investments include HighQ, Neo4j, DocPlanner, Spryker Systems, Pandadoc, Keepit, Concentra Analytics, Quentic, Coople, DataGuard, and Brightflag. To learn more, visit http://www.onepeakpartners.com .

Contact for Cymulate:

Levona Simha, Marketing Director at Cymulate

[email protected]

+972 523 536638

Media contact for Cymulate:

Gina Shaffer

[email protected]

US: +1(707) 533-1504

IL: +(972) 54-649-3485

SOURCE Cymulate
ATLANTA, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax Inc., a data, analytics and technology company, today released an inaugural 2020 Security Annual Report , detailing the company's three-year enterprise-wide cloud-technology and security transformation, establishing the company as a leader in security. The steps Equifax has taken to quickly rebuild its entire organization from technology to culture serve as a blueprint for how other organizations can establish a security-first approach to maintain success and protect themselves and their customers.

Following its own breach in 2017 by a military arm of the Chinese government, Equifax made significant changes to transform its security enterprise-wide. The company invested an incremental $1.5 billion over the past 3 years to rebuild its security and technology environment in the cloud, the largest investment in the company's 122-year history. Equifax continues to maintain a focus on investing in the very best processes, technology, and capabilities in order to defend against future threats and protect its customers and consumers.

"When I joined Equifax in 2018, I made a personal commitment to build a culture where security is a part of our DNA and to establish Equifax as an industry leader in data security," said Mark W. Begor, Chief Executive Officer, Equifax. "Our $1.5 billion investment to transform and rebuild the foundation of our business was designed with security at its core. Our Equifax cloud-native security program enables us to provide unparalleled customer engagement with confidence, and it is a critical factor to our record business outperformance in 2020 and in Q1 of 2021."

A key part of the report shows how Equifax compares to financial services benchmarks for security maturity, cybersecurity posture, and employee security awareness, among other things. This benchmarking gauges progress on how well an organization adapts to and manages cyber risks over time. Equifax exceeds financial services industry benchmarks in more than one category.

Led by CISO Jamil Farshchi, who joined Equifax in 2018, Equifax operates with a leading team of security experts who have successfully established a security-first culture and built trusted relationships with its customers and partners worldwide.

"We hope that by sharing the details of our own security transformation, this report can serve as a blueprint to help others develop stronger security practices," said Jamil Farshchi, CISO, Equifax. "We only win in cybersecurity by working together, learning from each other, and building a collective defense."

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.

At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 11,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION

[email protected]

SOURCE Equifax Inc.

Related Links

http://www.equifax.com


     ..         ...
"Our private label represents the core of what we love at Foxtrot - finding and developing the most delicious products from all corners of the culinary universe, and delivering them right to our customers' doors," said Mike LaVitola, CEO and Co-Founder of Foxtrot. "We're thrilled to welcome Mitch and Chef Tae, who together bring world class culinary talent and passion to our version of convenience. We are excited to set a new standard for what customers can expect out of their local market."

Madoff comes to Foxtrot with an expansive knowledge of the private label space, having previously worked at Whole Foods Market for the last 20 years. As Vice President of Exclusive Brands, he managed some of the most well-known and profitable brands for the company. A long-time food industry veteran and a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Madoff brings a culinary eye to his new role which will be leading the growth of the company's private label division, its fastest scaling category. Foxtrot's private label line is designed to bring joy to its customers through unique packaged foods that range from the whimsical to the nostalgic, including items like colorful gummy snack mixes and an adult version of the Oatmeal Cream Pie, made with bourbon. This summer, with Madoff at the helm, Foxtrot will launch its own line of ice creams, a category that has proven to be a favorite for its customers.

"I've been in the business of private label for a long time, and the way Foxtrot approaches their product creation is unlike any other brand out there," said Mitch Madoff. "It's the mindset and passion for bringing joy to the customer through the product experience that will make them a leader in the retail and convenience space. I'm thrilled to be joining such an innovative and forward-thinking team."

As Corporate Executive Chef, Tae Strain will lead the recipe development of private label items and that of "Meals by Foxtrot," a menu of grab-and-go breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack offerings. Chef Tae brings to Foxtrot over 15 years of diverse cooking experience in James Beard award-winning and Michelin recognized restaurants. Most recently, Chef Tae led the resurgence of David Chang's Momofuku CCDC in Washington, D.C., where he concepted a full menu rebrand and secured the restaurant as a top dining destination in the DMV region with a three star review in The Washington Post. Previously, he worked at The Progress restaurant in San Francisco, where he served as Chef De Cuisine when the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin Star.

"What drew me to Foxtrot was their sense of integrity and ambition," said Chef Tae Strain. "They have this incredible energy, and are truly dedicated to creating a unique experience for their guests beyond the status quo of the convenience model. It's rare to see groups in this sector be so invested in evolving their culinary program. I have the utmost respect for the team, and am grateful to bring a new perspective as we define what our food can be."

Launched in 2014, Foxtrot combines an upscale corner store and cafe with app-based purchasing that makes its entire inventory available for delivery in under an hour. With eyes towards rapid expansion, the company currently has 12 stores across Chicago, Dallas and Washington, D.C. with plans to open nine more locations by the end of 2021. Customers coast-to-coast can purchase select items from Foxtrot via the company's online Ship Shop .

For more information, visit foxtrotco.com .

ABOUT FOXTROT

Foxtrot is redefining convenience for the modern consumer, marrying the best of neighborhood retail and e-commerce technology to create a community of discovery. Its spaces offer all the most-loved aspects of neighborhood cafes, and you can turn to the Foxtrot app for 60-minute delivery of a city's best goods  from local beers and fine wines to chef-prepared meals, curated gifts and everyday essentials. Whether at their place or yours, Foxtrot connects people to a better kind of convenience with thoughtful curation, so everyone can feel good about the goods they buy every day.





SOURCE Foxtrot Market

Related Links

https://foxtrotco.com


WASHINGTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fusion Industry Association (FIA) today officially incorporated as a newly independent non-profit association representing the private fusion industry. The FIA will continue to be led by Andrew Holland and has a new board of directors composed of Bob Mumgaard, CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems , Christofer Mowry, CEO of General Fusion , and Michl Binderbauer, CEO of TAE Technologies . Its 25 member companies  all primarily backed by private capital  are pursuing commercialization of fusion energy. The FIA's Affiliate Members include companies, NGOs, and institutions that support the growth of the global fusion energy economy.

These changes will strengthen the FIA at a critical time following President Biden's announcement of ambitious and important decarbonization goals to mitigate a major cause of climate change. These goals include achieving net zero carbon emissions for electricity generation by 2035 and achieving net zero carbon emissions across the entire American economy by 2050. Commercial fusion power plants, using technology developed by FIA's members, will deliver clean energy on the grid in support of these ambitious decarbonization targets. Fusion is dispatchable, clean power that makes achieving a 100% net zero carbon energy generation for society in a practical and economically competitive manner.

"The fusion industry is poised to help the world achieve the energy transition to net zero carbon emissions. Commercialization of fusion energy will create new jobs and a new industry addressing a trillion-dollar market," said FIA CEO Andrew Holland. "The Fusion Industry Association membership speaks with a unified voice at a time when society is making unprecedented investments into the clean energy transition."

More information about the FIA's expansion, including our team and membership, is available on the FIA website.

About the FIA

The Fusion Industry Association (FIA) is the voice of the fusion industry, working to transform the energy system with commercially viable fusion power. Today, nearly $2 billion in private capital has been invested in companies working to commercialize fusion power. Founded as an initiative in 2018, the FIA has already made its mark in Washington and around the world. As it expands, the FIA will enable the creation of a new industry that will change the world. Learn more about the FIA at www.fusionindustryassociation.org. Follow us on Twitter at @Fusion_industry , on LinkedIn , and on YouTube .

SOURCE Fusion Industry Association

Related Links

www.fusionindustryassociation.org


KENANSVILLE, Fla., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- It's no secret Wild Florida knows a thing or two about alligators. To share this knowledge and passion with visitors, Wild Florida will host Gator Week, May 24 - 29, and offer free Gator Park admission to everyone who brings in spare change. At the end of Gator Week, Wild Florida will also celebrate the inaugural National Alligator Day on Saturday, May 29. In addition to the week of gator-themed festivities, Wild Florida also celebrates its two adult albino alligators, Snowflake and Blizzard, for producing 18 eggs this month.

To many, alligators are viewed as fierce carnivores on the hunt, but that's not the case. Like many misunderstood creatures, myths develop based on a lack of knowledge and a focus on fear. Because of this, Wild Florida decided to dedicate an entire week to educating guests, debunking common myths, and developing a more positive attitude towards these reptiles.

Sam Haught, co-owner of Wild Florida, announced, "We look forward to this event all year, and we're excited to celebrate alligators with visitors in new and fun ways. From alligator cake decorating contests to gator jumpathons, we love that these demonstrations and activities build a connection between our guests and our environment in creative and unique ways."

Each year, the Wild Florida team brainstorms different experiences highlighting alligator behaviors that educate guests about these scaly animals. With gator jumpathons, a gator cake decorating contest, and alligator trivia scheduled throughout the week, these are just some of the highlights guests can enjoy during Gator Week. This Gator Week is extra special as Wild Florida's adult albino alligators, Snowflake and Blizzard, have produced their third batch of eggs. Be sure to follow Wild Florida on social media for updates, fun polls, educational tidbits, and myth-busting stories. Also, check out www.GatorWeek.com for the full schedule of events.

During Gator Week, Wild Florida will offer free admission to everyone who brings in any amount of spare change with the goal of reaching Crusher's (their largest alligator) weight! All collected change will be donated to Croc Fest (www.crocfest.org). Normally, admission to Wild Florida's Gator Park is $10 for adults throughout the year; Florida residents receive a 50% discount year-round. Learn more about Wild Florida's offerings at WildFL.com .

Wild Florida Airboats, Drive-thru Safari & Gator Park, which opened on Lake Cypress in Kenansville in 2010, focuses on educating individuals about Central Florida's natural resources. The Wild Florida team is dedicated to protecting, conserving, and enhancing Florida's diverse ecosystem to ensure that future generations can enjoy the wonders of wild, native Florida.

Contact Sam Haught, Co-owner at Wild Florida Airboats,

Drive-thru Safari & Gator Park

[email protected]

407-957-3135

SOURCE Wild Florida

Related Links

https://www.wildfl.com


SEATTLE, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gentle Dental , a full service dental provider with nearly 165 locations nationwide, is relocating it's Ballard, Washington location on May 6, 2021. Seattle residents are now welcome to experience high-quality dental care at our fully renovated, technologically advanced office with the same experienced team of dental professionals.

Situated at 5900 15th Avenue NW, Gentle Dental Ballard is one of 29 Gentle Dental locations in Washington. Our new 4,000 square foot office contains 11 operatories and state-of-the-art equipment and technology to provide all patients with access to general and specialty dental services.

Local patients can expect the highest level of service and dental care from the same staff of caring, bilingual, and experienced dental professionals. Our Periodontist, Dr. Buddula, delivers periodontal services at multiple Gentle Dental offices throughout the Seattle region. Our General Dentist, Dr. Josh Payne, and our Endodontist, Dr. Michelle Sue, are passionate about using new dental technologies and techniques to ensure an outstanding patient experience.

Working alongside our General Dentists are Registered Dental Hygienists Chris Ammons and Lisa Qhantrille. Supporting our General Dentists and Hygienists is our talented administrative team, who are all eager to welcome you to our new office.

Whether you need preventative care, cosmetic treatments, orthodontics, crowns, implants, periodontics, or oral surgery, Gentle Dental Ballard will provide you with expert dental services and open communication regarding costs. To make dental care convenient and accessible to all, we accept most insurance plans and offer our own in-house discount plan, the Gentle Dental Smile Plan, for those without dental coverage.

To schedule a dental appointment, call 206-905-4372 or visit our office's web page at gentledentalballard.com.

About InterDent & Gentle Dental

InterDent Service Corporation provides comprehensive dental support and administrative services to 175 supported dental practices employing more than 450 dentists in eight states. Gentle Dental offices, along with offices under the brands of Blue Oak Dental and Smile Keepers, are supported by InterDent, and deliver high-quality dental care with a personal touch. With more than 165 locations, Gentle Dental offers comprehensive care in general, cosmetic and specialty dentistry. To learn more, visit www.interdent.com or www.interdent.com/gentle-dental/

Contact: Chris Smith, 310-765-3507, [email protected]

SOURCE InterDent Service Corporation

Related Links

www.interdent.com


LOS ANGELES, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Germs, Inc. is launching a line of sanitizers and health products that appeal to both kids and young adults. The brand look has been designed by famous artist Todd Goldman, whose quirky artwork has sold products worth over $1 billion at retail. The company is raising funds through a new crowdfunding campaign at https://wefunder.com/germs.



"We believe that this is the perfect platform to raise additional funds and have these investors become our brand ambassadors," stated Hayden Moeller, founder and CEO of Germs, Inc.



GERMS INC. announces crowdfunding raise for GERMS ARE STUPID line of consumer products.

The company has already secured a national distribution deal for its line of hand sanitizers and additional products, including soaps, wipes, masks, vitamins, gum and mints, will follow later this year.



Link to more images: https://tinyurl.com/45h8xe3t

"We intend for Germs are Stupid to become a national brand that puts a smile on people's faces while doing everyday tasks that have become ever more important to our health," stated Hayden Moeller. "Todd Goldman's designs are easily recognizable and appeal to young customers, as has been shown by the massive success he has enjoyed with programs at large retailers, including Target."



Previously, Hayden Moeller was a co-founder of the Los Angeles Comic-Con, which saw over 120,000 visitors in 2019.



Contact:

Hayden Moeller

[email protected]

Related Images

germs-are-stupid-line-of-consumer.jpg

GERMS ARE STUPID line of consumer products

GERMS INC. announces crowdfunding raise for GERMS ARE STUPID line of consumer products.



SOURCE Germs, Inc.
DUBLIN, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Thermal Imaging Market for the Mobility Industry 2020-2025: Analysis of Applications, Products and Countries" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global thermal imaging market for the mobility industry is expected to reach $3.22 billion by 2025. The growth of the market can be attributed growing awareness for thermal imaging for better survelliance and need to combat accidents.

In the mobility segment, drones with thermal imagers are widely used for various activities such as search and rescue operations, firefighting, solar farm inspections, utility inspections, and much more. With respect to the vehicles used by the defense sector of various countries, thermal imaging has a major role to play in surveillance around the borders and tracking movements in restricted areas. Also, armored fighting vehicles are able to lock heat signatures which helps in planning strategic attacking strategies using this technology.

This report is a good compilation of research on more than 40 players in the thermal imaging market for mobility. It draws upon the insights from in-depth interviews with key opinion leaders of more than 20 leading companies, market experts, and vendors.

The major advantage thermal imaging has is that it can be used in any condition and does not require any additional light. In the mobility segment, drones with thermal imagers are widely used for various activities such as search and rescue operations, firefighting, solar farm inspections, utility inspections, and much more.

With respect to the vehicles used by the defense sector of various countries, thermal imaging has a major role to play in surveillance around the borders and tracking movements in restricted areas. Also, armored fighting vehicles are able to lock heat signatures which helps in planning strategic attacking strategies using this technology.

In the case of autonomous vehicles, bad lighting, dark travel, bright sun glare, and inclement weather make classification difficult. In these normal driving conditions, thermal sensors increase the ability to see in darkness, despite the mist, fog, and sunlight, and accurately identify cars, humans, animals, and other objects. In addition, thermal cameras are similarly effective in daytime driving.

The market research study offers a wide perspective of different types of thermal imagers and applications they are used for. The report also provides an analysis of the market penetration of these types in different applications and their growth opportunities across different regions as well as countries. The study focuses on the changing landscape of the thermal imaging market for mobility, owing to the significant developments made by the leading players.

Competitive Landscape

The global thermal imaging market for mobility competitive landscape consists of different strategies undertaken by key players across the industry to gain traction and market share presence. Some strategies adopted by the camera providers are new product launches, business expansions, mergers, partnerships, and collaborations. Among all these strategies adopted, product development is the popular choice of the strategy implemented in the thermal imaging market for mobility.

Key Questions Answered in This Report

For a new company looking to enter the market, which areas could it focus upon to stay ahead in the competition?

How do the existing market players function to improve their market positioning?

Which are the promising companies that have obtained financial support to develop their products and markets?

How does the supply chain function in the global thermal imaging market for the mobility industry?

Which companies have been actively involved in innovation through patent applications, and which products have witnessed maximum patent applications during the period 2017-2020?

Which product segment is expected to witness the maximum demand growth in the global thermal imaging market for the mobility industry during 2020-2025?

Which are the players that are catering to the demand for different thermal cameras?

How should the strategies adopted by market players vary for different product segments based on the size of companies involved in each segment?

What are the key offerings of the prominent companies in the market for thermal cameras?

What are the demand patterns of thermal cameras across the application areas in different regions and countries during the period 2019-2025?

Industry Outlook

Trends: Industry Dynamics Defining the Future Trends in Global Thermal Imaging Market for Mobility Industry

Thermal Camera-Equipped UAVs Adoption Increases across a Variety of Industrial and Research Application

4th Generation Night Vision System

Increasing Penetration in Machine Vision-Based Applications (Uncooled IR Sensors)

Supply Chain Analysis

Business Dynamics

Market Drivers

Rise in Investment of Armed Force Modernization Worldwide

Growing Awareness of Thermal Imaging Combat Accidents

Increase in Production Volume Leads to Price Reduction

Market Restraints

Export Restriction Imposed to Limit the Market Growth

Reduction in Defense Budget

Business and Corporate Strategies

Market Opportunities

Performance Improvement in ADAS and AV

Competitive Benchmarking & Company Profiles

Axis Communications AB

Excelitas Technologies Corp.

FLIR Systems, Inc.

HGH Infrared System

InfraTec GmbH

JENOPTIK AG

L3Harris Technologies, Inc.

Leonardo

Lynred

Opgal

Stonkam Co. Ltd.

Tonbo Imaging Pvt. Ltd.

Veoneer Inc.

Workswell

Xenics

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/58ft4f

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

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DUBLIN, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Plastics Market 2020-2025: Focus on Product Types, Molding Types & Their Applications, and Countries" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global plastics market accounted for $621.9 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $758.6 billion by 2025. The market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 3.37% during the forecast period 2020-2025.

The market growth is mainly attributed to the rising number of applications for plastics, increasing adoption and awareness rates of bio-plastics and recycled plastics, and heavy investments made in the research and development of bio-based plastic products and solutions. In addition, governments are coming up with policies and laws to encourage the development and usage of bioplastics in a transparent manner, which is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period.

COVID-19 has hit the plastics industry hard in terms of import of raw-material, transportation, and in maintaining a smooth supply-demand. The unavailability of sufficient raw material has created an imbalance in supply for medium-scale manufacturers as well as small-scale and medium-scale end users. Moreover, the price imbalance created in the oil and gas sector due to COVID-19 resulted in volatility in petroleum-based plastic prices.

Market Overview

The global plastics market is mainly attributed due to the increased demand for plastic in packaging products such as bottles, films, containers, among others. Additionally, the implementation of government laws and regulations across the globe limits the production and plastics.

Moreover, in several countries such as Germany, the U.S., and Canada, laws regarding the ban on single-use plastics have also been implemented, thereby discouraging the demand for plastics on a global scale. The increasing emphasis on advanced and innovative technologies and products in the plastics industry, such as bio-based plastics and recycled plastics, creates several opportunities for the manufacturers to expand their revenue stream and product portfolios.

Competitive Landscape

Companies across the globe are looking for ways to maintain their relevance in this ever-changing plastics industry. Further, leading conventional plastic manufacturers and bio-based plastic manufacturing companies, to stay relevant in this industry, are planning to increase production as well as the import of the same.



This report is a good compilation of research on more than 25 players in the global plastics market. It draws upon the insights from in-depth interviews with key opinion leaders of more than 20 leading companies, market experts, and vendors. The report also profiles 22 suppliers and key ecosystem participants in the plastics market. BASF SE, ExxonMobil Corporation and LyondellBasell Industries N.V. are some of the leading players profiled in the market study.

Continuous product expansions (launches and enhancements) are some of the business strategies executed in the plastics market.

Several companies, including BASF SE, Lanxess AG, LyondellBasell Industries N.V., and INEOS have been involved in product launches and enhancements.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Markets

1.1 Industry Outlook

1.1.1 Trends: Current and Future

1.1.2 Supply Chain Network

1.1.3 Industry Attractiveness

1.1.4 Ecosystem/Ongoing Programs

1.1.5 Supply and Demand Analysis

1.2 Business Dynamics

1.2.1 Business Drivers

1.2.2 Business Challenges

1.2.3 Business Strategies

1.2.4 Corporate Strategies

1.2.5 Business Opportunities

2 Application

2.1 Global Plastics Market - Based on Application (End-use)

2.1.1 Packaging

2.1.2 Building and Construction

2.1.3 Electrical and Electronics

2.1.4 Consumer Goods

2.1.5 Automotive

2.1.6 Others (Agriculture, Medical, Textile)

2.2 Plastics Market - Demand Analysis (By Application)

2.2.1 Global Plastics Demand (by Application), Value and Volume Data

3 Products

3.1 Global Plastics Market - Based on Resin Type and Molding Type

3.1.1 Global Plastics Market (by Resin Type)

3.1.2 Global Plastics Market (by Molding Type)

3.2 Plastics Market - Demand Analysis (By Product)

3.2.1 Global Plastics Demand (by Product), Value and Volume Data

3.3 Plastics Market - Demand Analysis (By Molding)

3.3.1 Global Plastics Demand (by Molding), Value and Volume Data

4 Region

4.1 North America

4.1.1 Market

4.1.2 Applications

4.1.3 Products

4.1.4 North America (by Country)

4.2 South America

4.2.1 Market

4.2.2 Applications

4.2.3 Products

4.2.4 South America, Central America, and Caribbean (by Country)

4.3 Europe

4.3.1 Market

4.3.2 Applications

4.3.3 Products

4.3.4 Europe (by Country)

4.3.5 Belgium

4.4 U.K.

4.4.1 Market

4.4.2 Applications

4.4.3 Products

4.5 Middle East and Africa

4.5.1 Market

4.5.2 Applications

4.5.3 Products

4.6 China

4.6.1 Market

4.6.2 Applications

4.6.3 Products

4.7 Asia-Pacific and Japan

4.7.1 Market

4.7.2 Applications

4.7.3 Products

4.7.4 Asia-Pacific and Japan (by Country)

4.7.5 India

4.7.6 South Korea

4.7.7 Rest-of-Asia-Pacific

5 Markets - Competitive Benchmarking & Company Profiles

5.1 Competitive Benchmarking

5.2 Company Profiles

5.2.1 The Dow Chemical Company

5.2.2 BASF SE

5.2.3 Arkema S.A.

5.2.4 LyondellBasell Industries N.V.

5.2.5 INEOS

5.2.6 Lanxess AG

5.2.7 MBA Polymers Inc.

5.2.8 Koninklijke DSM N.V.

5.2.9 Novamont S.p.A.

5.2.10 Evonik Industries AG

5.2.11 Neste Oyj

5.2.12 Royal Dutch Shell

5.2.13 Formosa Plastics

5.2.14 LG Chem Ltd.

5.2.15 SABIC

5.2.16 ENI S.p.A. (Versalis)

5.2.17 Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LLC

5.2.18 ExxonMobil Corporation

5.2.19 Borealis AG

5.2.20 Total SE

5.2.21 Sinopec

5.2.22 Braskem S.A.

5.2.23 Other Key Players

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gy0xo9

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


DETROIT, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) today reported first-quarter earnings driven by strong price and mix performance in North America, strong credit and residual value performance at GM Financial, and the industry recovery in China. The company is highly confident in its full-year 2021 guidance outlined earlier this year as it works to manage through the semiconductor shortage, which is impacting automakers globally. Based on information available today, the company expects to be at the higher-end of the EBIT-adjusted range.

Downloads

First-quarter 2021 results overview

Revenue of $32.5 billion

Net income of $3.0 billion , and EBIT-adjusted of $4.4 billion

, and EBIT-adjusted of Net income margin of 9.3 percent, and EBIT-adjusted margin of 13.6 percent

Automotive operating cash flow of $(1.1) billion , and adjusted automotive free cash flow of $(1.9) billion

, and adjusted automotive free cash flow of EPS-diluted of $2.03 , and EPS-diluted-adjusted of $2.25*

, and EPS-diluted-adjusted of GM North America EBIT-adjusted of $3.1 billion , and EBIT-adjusted margin of 12.1 percent

, and EBIT-adjusted margin of 12.1 percent GM International EBIT-adjusted of $0.3 billion , including China Equity Income of $0.3 billion

, including China Equity Income of GM Financial EBT-adjusted of $1.2 billion

First-quarter 2020 results overview

Revenue of $32.7 billion

Net income of $0.3 billion , and EBIT-adjusted of $1.2 billion

, and EBIT-adjusted of Net income margin of 0.9 percent, and EBIT-adjusted margin of 3.8 percent

Automotive operating cash flow of $0.3 billion , and adjusted automotive free cash flow of $(0.9) billion

, and adjusted automotive free cash flow of EPS-diluted of $0.17 , and EPS-diluted-adjusted of $0.62* *

, and EPS-diluted-adjusted of * GM North America EBIT-adjusted of $2.2 billion , and EBIT-adjusted margin of 8.5 percent

, and EBIT-adjusted margin of 8.5 percent GM International EBIT-adjusted of $(0.6) billion , including China Equity Income of $(0.2) billion

, including China Equity Income of GM Financial EBT-adjusted of $0.2 billion

2021 guidance

Full-year EPS-diluted of between $4.28 and $5.03 , and EPS-diluted-adjusted of between $4.50 and $5.25

and , and EPS-diluted-adjusted of between and Full-year net income of between $6.8 billion and $7.6 billion , and EBIT-adjusted of between $10.0 billion and $11.0 billion

and , and EBIT-adjusted of between and Six months ending June 30, 2021 net income of ~$3.5 billion , and EBIT-adjusted of ~$5.5 billion

See below for reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures or visit the GM Investor Relations website for complete details.

Conference call for investors and analysts



Barra and Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson will host a conference call for investors and analysts at 10 a.m. ET today to discuss these results and the company's growth strategy. Introductory remarks will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Those who wish to listen to the call may dial in using the following numbers:

United States : 1-888-808-8618

: 1-888-808-8618 International: +1-949-484-0645

Name of call: GM Earnings Call

General Motors (NYSE:GM) 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 .

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements: This press release and related comments by management may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact. Forward-looking statements represent our current judgement about possible future events and are often identified by words such as "anticipate," "appears," "approximately," "believe," "continue," "could," "designed," "effect," "estimate," "evaluate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "initiative," "intend," "may," "objective," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "priorities," "project," "pursue," "seek," "should," "target," "when," "will," "would," or the negative of any of those words or similar expressions. In making these statements, we rely upon assumptions and analysis based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors we consider appropriate under the circumstances. We believe these judgements are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any future events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of factors, many of which are described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or other factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where we are expressly required to do so by law.

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

The following table reconciles net income attributable to stockholders under U.S. GAAP to EBIT-adjusted (dollars in millions):



Three Months Ended

March 31, 2021 March 31, 2020 Net income attributable to stockholders(a) $ 3,022

$ 294

Automotive interest income (32)

(83)

Automotive interest expense 250

193

Income tax expense 1,177

357

Adjustments



GMI restructuring(b) 

489

Total adjustments 

489

EBIT-adjusted $ 4,417

$ 1,250







(a) Net of Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests. (b) These adjustments were excluded because of a strategic decision to rationalize our core operations by exiting or significantly reducing our presence in various international markets to focus resources on opportunities expected to deliver higher returns. The adjustments primarily consist of asset impairments, dealer restructurings, employee separation charges and sales allowances in Australia, New Zealand and Thailand in the three months ended March 31, 2020.

The following table reconciles diluted earnings (loss) per common share under U.S. GAAP to EPS-diluted-adjusted (dollars in millions, except per share amounts):



Three Months Ended

March 31, 2021 March 31, 2020

Amount Per Share Amount Per Share Diluted earnings per common share $ 2,976

$ 2.03

$ 247

$ 0.17

Adjustments(a) 



489

0.34

Tax effect on adjustment(b) 



(73)

(0.05)

Tax adjustment(c) 316

0.22

236

0.16

EPS-diluted-adjusted $ 3,292

$ 2.25

$ 899

$ 0.62







(a) Refer to the reconciliation of Net income attributable to stockholders under U.S. GAAP to EBIT-adjusted for adjustment details. (b) The tax effect of each adjustment is determined based on the tax laws and valuation allowance status of the jurisdiction to which the adjustment relates. (c) These adjustments consist of tax expense related to the establishment of a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets that are considered no longer realizable for Cruise in the three months ended March 31, 2021 and for GM in Australia and New Zealand for the three months ended March 31, 2020. These adjustments were excluded because significant impacts of valuation allowances are not considered part of our core operations.

The following table reconciles net automotive cash provided by (used in) operating activities under U.S. GAAP to adjusted automotive free cash flow (dollars in millions):





Three Months Ended

March 31, 2021 March 31, 2020 Net automotive cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ (1,096)

$ 337

Less: Capital expenditures (860)

(1,205)

Add: GMI restructuring 24

23

Less: GM Brazil indirect tax recoveries 

(58)

Adjusted automotive free cash flow $ (1,932)

$ (903)



Guidance Reconciliations

The following table reconciles expected Net income attributable to stockholders under U.S. GAAP to expected EBIT-adjusted (dollars in billions):



Six Months Ending

June 30, 2021 Year Ending

December 31, 2021 Net income attributable to stockholders $ ~3.5 $ 6.8-7.6 Income tax expense

~1.5

2.2-2.4 Automotive interest expense, net

~0.5

1.0 EBIT-adjusted (a) $ ~5.5 $ 10.0-11.0





(a) We do not consider the potential future impact of adjustments on our expected financial results.

The following table reconciles expected EPS-diluted under U.S. GAAP to expected EPS-diluted-adjusted:



Year Ending

December 31, 2021 Diluted earnings per common share $ 4.28-5.03 Adjustment - Cruise deferred income tax valuation allowance

0.22 EPS-diluted-adjusted(a) $ 4.50-5.25





(a) We do not consider the potential future impact of adjustments on our expected financial results.

SOURCE General Motors Co.

Related Links

http://www.gm.com


The unique strain was developed exclusively for Gold Flora by Jack Whipple, CEO of Whipple Effect Consulting and Pyschonaut Genetics, and was cultivated at Gold Flora Farms - a state-of-the-art indoor grow facility located in Desert Hot Springs, California.

"This is one of the most exciting strains to hit the California market in years," said Greg Gamet, Chief Operating Officer at Gold Flora. "It captures the best attributes of several exceptional strains and combines them into one magnificent plant. We are currently cultivating several Psychonaut Genetics strains and will be releasing more in the future," he added.

Psychonaut Genetics specializes in creating new strains of cannabis by crossing award-winning strains from world-renown breeders. The company is a division of Whipple Effect Consulting  a specialist in cultivation operations. "We are extremely proud of the new Lion's Cake strain," Whipple commented. "We wanted to develop a strain that produced a crystal clear-like high, without couch-lock or over sedation. We think we nailed it and are eager to see the public's reaction."

The new, limited-edition strain is highly potent, testing over 35% THC, and will be available to select dispensaries throughout the state.

Gold Flora also owns King's Crew in Long Beach, California, a contemporary adult-use dispensary located on Pacific Coast Highway. King's Crew will be the first location to offer Lion's Cake to the public, along with its other exclusive strains.

King's Crew will be celebrating its 2nd Anniversary on Memorial Day Weekend. Starting May 28, King's Crew customers can enjoy 4 days of exclusive promotions, including giftbags to the first 50 customers each day who purchase Gold Flora's new flower in a 3.5g jar.

To find Lion's Cake and other Gold Flora products, visit goldflora.com to locate a dispensary near you.



About Gold Flora:

Gold Flora is a California-licensed premium cannabis company. Founded in 2017 in Southern California, it's one of the few cannabis brands that is vertically integrated and woman-owned and operated. Gold Flora was built from the ground up by a team of experts with decades of experience and deep roots in the compliant cannabis industry. Gold Flora started with a mission to provide an easy and consistent way for consumers to enjoy cannabis. After years of hard work and a shared passion for the plant, Gold Flora has become a California powerhouse  with cultivation, manufacturing, extraction, distribution, retailing, and a brand that offers superior products that truly make a difference in people's lives.

Gold Flora Farms is located within commonly controlled, BlackStar Industrial Properties, a 620,000 sq. ft. pharmaceutical-grade indoor cannabis campus at full build-out, located in Desert Hot Springs, CA. This state-of-the-art cannabis campus is fully licensed and houses some of the world's leading cannabis brands and companies across all sectors. Learn more at www.goldflora.com.

Connect with Gold Flora:

Website: goldflora.com

Instagram: instagram.com/goldflora_ca

Twitter: twitter.com/Goldflora_CA

Connect with Whipple Effect and Psychonaut Genetics:

Website: www.whippleeffect.com

Media and Interviews:

Innovation Agency

[email protected]

SOURCE Gold Flora
PORTLAND, Maine, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care today announced the launch of two virtual health plans, SimplyVirtualSM and Virtual ChoiceSM, in Maine. These innovative models for health care give members access to virtual visits with primary care providers (PCPs) and care team support through its existing partner, Doctor On Demand. Following the growth of telehealth throughout the pandemic, both SimplyVirtualSM and Virtual ChoiceSM will be available to large employers (51+ subscribers) in Maine, starting in September. SimplyVirtualSM and Virtual ChoiceSM are the first virtual primary care plans offered by Harvard Pilgrim in Maine.

"We know our members have a lot to consider when it comes to choosing a health plan that best fits their families' needs," said Bill Whitmore, vice president of the Maine market for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. "Adding SimplyVirtualSM and Virtual ChoiceSM to our portfolio of products provides a new level of flexibility and reflects the popularity we have seen in telehealth over the last year. Further, these products will allow for increased access to health care in rural communities throughout the state. Harvard Pilgrim is proud to be on the cutting edge of innovative plans for our employers and members."

SimplyVirtualSM plan members will be able to engage with PCPs and a dedicated care team through video, voice and in-app messaging 24/7 via the Doctor On Demand digital platform on their smartphone or computer. Preventive health, chronic care management, urgent care and behavioral health are all provided through a seamless, virtual experience for patients. Members will still have access to office-based care and can be referred to services that cannot be completed virtually, such as in-person procedures, labs, and x-rays. Prescriptions and refills can be ordered at the pharmacy or through mail-order pharmacies.

Virtual ChoiceSM plan members will also have 24/7 access to primary care physicians (PCP) through virtual visits with Doctor On Demand. Members have the freedom to receive virtual visits from anywhere in the world with a lower PCP visit cost-sharing than office-based offerings. In addition, Harvard Pilgrim's provider directory will include this plan and a link to a co-branded page on the Doctor On Demand website for members to choose a provider. Once a member chooses a Doctor On Demand virtual PCP, all visits with their PCP take place virtually through video and voice communication via their smartphone, tablet or computer  allowing real-time interaction between the patient and provider.

For members who choose traditional office-based care, they will have in-person office visits with their PCP. Members will choose a PCP from Harvard Pilgrim's New England HMO provider network.

"At Doctor On Demand, we're committed to making sure that everyone has access to the health care they need," said Robin Glass, president of Doctor On Demand. "Harvard Pilgrim has always been an innovative partner, and our new, expanded offering for virtual primary care ensures that no matter what a member's unique needs look like, they have a solution that fits their lives."

These plans were previously launched in Connecticut. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care members who are not enrolled in SimplyVirtualSM or Virtual ChoiceSM will continue to have access to Doctor On Demand's urgent care telehealth services via their existing plans.

About the New Combined Organization

The combination of Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care represents the coming together of two of New England's most iconic nonprofit health care companies. Representing nearly 90 years of service to our members and the community, together we are building upon our diverse legacies and innovative collaboration by making it our purpose to guide and empower healthier lives for our members  no matter their age, health, race, identity, or income.

We strive to be a different kind of nonprofit health and wellbeing company, with a broad range of health plans, and innovative tools that make navigating health and wellbeing easier, guiding our members at every step of their health care journey to better health outcomes. We are committed to providing high-quality and affordable health care, improving the health and wellness of our members, and creating healthier communities throughout New England.

About Doctor On Demand

Doctor On Demand delivers Total Virtual Care for the way people live today. Our nationwide practice of dedicated clinicians and our innovative technology platform deliver better care experiences, better integration, and better outcomes for our patients and partners. Our full suite of personalized Total Virtual Care services include primary care, integrated behavioral health, everyday & urgent care, chronic condition management, and prevention. 24/7 triage, navigation, and ongoing care coordination ensure patients get the right care, at the right time. Doctor On Demand partners with leading health insurers and employers to deliver these services to more than 98 million Americans across commercial, Medicare and Medicaid. For more information, visit www.doctorondemand.com.

SOURCE Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Note: Special one-year subscription at a reduced price for first-time subscribers or for subscriptions that have been expired for at least one year  those living in Jackson County and the Cherokee Indian Reservation (28719) addresses qualify. Offer good through Friday, Aug. 2, 2019.

We accept Visa, Mastercard and Discover; we do not accept AMEX.
BOSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Why should people buy a hydrogen car, if they will barely opt for an electric one? Despite a generally high level of willingness to be 'green' - don't pollute, recycle, and turn off lights as soon as possible - a limited amount of people would purchase an electric car, and only with consistent government subsidies. The average driver will still opt for a comfortable, nice, and cheaper diesel vehicle.



Hydrogen end-users development. Source: IDTechEx (PRNewsfoto/IDTechEx)

So, why should someone then choose a fuel cell car, if they could not even charge it at home, and almost nowhere due to the limited number of hydrogen refueling stations (HRS)? It appears at this stage of development that they won't.

Despite these limitations, there is a lot of talk about hydrogen trucks, cars, trains, and sometimes even hydrogen planes.

So, where does this hydrogen interest comes from? How will hydrogen technologies be more competitive in the future?

To respond to these questions, IDTechEx first investigated the approach towards the hydrogen economy which different countries are adopting in the IDTechEx report, "The Hydrogen Economy, Fuel Cells, and Hydrogen Production Methods".

Then, to actually understand how hydrogen will be produced on a large scale, IDTechEx investigated this emerging, and fast-growing electrolyzer market, showing its results in the new report "Green Hydrogen Production: Electrolyzer Markets 2021-2031".

By addressing the different electrolyzer technologies, comparing them, and investigating the final end-users, IDTechEx provides a complete view of the current hydrogen market, showing where hydrogen will be initially used and with which electrolyzer system.

Europe in particular has shown a strong interest toward adoption of hydrogen systems. The reason why hydrogen is strongly addressed by certain countries is given by the capability of this gas to decarbonize industries where its electrification is difficult to reach. Among these sectors, the ammonia and refinery sectors are the largest consumers of hydrogen and future industries like green steel production.

The large adoption of electrolyzer systems will lead to a production increase, decreasing the cost of electrolyzers, hence reducing the cost of hydrogen.

IDTechEx believes the adoption of hydrogen in the automotive sector will mostly be a consequence of the large hydrogen production. When green hydrogen can be mass-produced, reaching a competitive cost with conventional fuels, coupled with a network of hydrogen refueling stations (HRS), then the adoption of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) will be spread. The process will be boosted by the government subsidies to reach the required level of competitiveness beforehand, although with the current level of development it is still unfeasible.

Currently, most of the HRS systems are developed either for private use or for specific end-uses, such as for garbage trucks.

In IDTechEx's view, the first segments to adopt hydrogen in the next years will be the largest industrial hydrogen consumers which need to reach a higher decarbonization level. Although they might be the first, it's important to highlight that each region and country presents different characteristics and requirements. Therefore, while in Europe a strong policy toward green hydrogen adoption has been proposed, other countries might favor the adoption of blue hydrogen due to larger competitiveness.

Spain showed a large interest in ammonia, and particularly green ammonia: ammonia production from green hydrogen. In France, a great hydrogen hub link with a network of hydrogen refueling stations has also been announced in relation to the powerful automotive sector in the country. Germany, one of the first to adopt hydrogen, presents one of the largest HRS networks in the world, together with projects in hydrogen blending in the gas pipeline, green hydrogen production hub, and hydrogen adoption in industrial applications. Italy has not announced its hydrogen development strategy yet, but due to the strategic position of the country linking the EU with the African continent and the pipeline link with Africa, it will probably be one of the drivers for hydrogen blending in existing gas pipelines.

Overall, the hydrogen market is just beginning, and over the next ten to twenty years the market outline will be defined, showing the main players involved and which sectors will dominate the adoption of hydrogen.



For more information on these reports and for the full portfolio of Energy Storage research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/ES.

About IDTechEx

IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information, contact [email protected] or visit www.IDTechEx.com.

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Media Contact:

Natalie Moreton

Digital Marketing Manager

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SOURCE IDTechEx
DUBLIN, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Luxury Watch Market: Size, Trends and Forecast (2021-2025 Edition)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the luxury watch market including a detailed description of market sizing and growth. The report provides an analysis of the global luxury watch market by value, by product and by distribution channel. The report also provides a regional analysis of the luxury watch market for the following regions: Americas, Asia, Europe and ROW.

Moreover, the report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall luxury watch market has also been forecasted for the period 2021-2025, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.

The major players dominating the luxury watch market are Rolex, LVMH Group, Richemont and The Swatch Group Ltd. The four companies have been profiled in the report providing their business overview, financial overview and business strategies.

Region Coverage

Americas

Europe

Asia

ROW

Luxury watches have been segmented on the basis of product type, made, distribution channel and demography. The two major product types of luxury watches are mechanical and electronic. On the basis of made, luxury watches have been divided into Swiss watches and others. Distribution channels for luxury watches have been segmented into online and offline channels. On the basis of demography, luxury watches have been divided into male luxury watches and female luxury watches.

The global luxury watch market has witnessed continuous growth in the past few years and is projected to grow even further during the forecast period (2021-2025). The market is expected to be driven by various growth enhancing factors such as increasing air travel, growing demand for luxury watches among millennials, rise in e-commerce channels, etc. However, the market is not free from challenges that are hindering its growth. Some of the major challenges faced by the market are a threat from counterfeit products and high production cost.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Introduction

2.1 Luxury Watch: An Overview

2.1.1 Luxury Watch Styles

2.1.2 Metals Used in Luxury Watches

2.2 Luxury Watch Movements: An Overview

2.3 Luxury Watch Complications: An Overview

2.4 Luxury Watch Segmentation: An Overview

2.4.1 Luxury Watch Segmentation by Product Type

2.4.2 Luxury Watch Segmentation by Made, Distribution Channel and Demography

3. Global Market Analysis

3.1 Global Luxury Watch Market: An Analysis

3.1.1 Global Luxury Watch Market by Value

3.1.2 Global Luxury Watch Market by Region (Asia, Europe, Americas and ROW)

3.1.3 Global Luxury Watch Market by Product (Mechanical and Electronic)

3.1.4 Global Luxury Watch Market by Distribution Channel (Online and Offline)

3.2 Global Luxury Watch Market: Product Analysis

3.2.1 Global Mechanical Luxury Watch Market by Value

3.2.2 Global Electronic Luxury Watch Market by Value

3.3 Global Luxury Watch Market: Distribution Channel Analysis

3.3.1 Global Online Luxury Watch Market by Value

3.3.2 Global Offline Luxury Watch Market by Value

4. Regional Market Analysis

4.1 Americas Luxury Watch Market: An Analysis

4.1.1 Americas Luxury Watch Market by Value

4.2 Asia Luxury Watch Market: An Analysis

4.2.1 Asia Luxury Watch Market by Value

4.3 Europe Luxury Watch Market: An Analysis

4.3.1 Europe Luxury Watch Market by Value

4.4 ROW Luxury Watch Market: An Analysis

4.4.1 ROW Luxury Watch Market by Value

5. Market Dynamics

5.1 Growth Drivers

5.1.1 Increasing Air Travel

5.1.2 Growing Demand for Luxury Watches among Millennials

5.1.3 Rapid Urbanization

5.1.4 Rise in E-commerce Channels

5.1.5 Rising Purchasing Power

5.2 Challenges

5.2.1 Threat from Counterfeit Products

5.2.2 High Production Cost

5.3 Market Trends

5.3.1 Use of Social Media for Marketing

5.3.2 Growing Demand for Second-hand Luxury Watches

5.3.3 Use of Luxury Watches as a Status Symbol

6. Competitive Landscape

6.1 Global Luxury Watch Market Players: Financial Comparison

6.2 The US Luxury Watch Brands by Total Sales Share

6.3 UK Luxury Watch Brands by Total Sales Share

6.4 Inner London and Manhattan Luxury Watch Brands by Number of Agencies

7. Company Profiles

7.1 Rolex

7.1.1 Business Overview

7.1.2 Business Strategy

7.2 LVMH Group

7.2.1 Business Overview

7.2.2 Financial Overview

7.2.3 Business Strategy

7.3 Richemont

7.3.1 Business Overview

7.3.2 Financial Overview

7.3.3 Business Strategy

7.4 The Swatch Group Ltd

7.4.1 Business Overview

7.4.2 Financial Overview

7.4.3 Business Strategy

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6wz2zu



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

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ST. PAUL, Minn., May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson // Becker, PLLC is a nationwide products liability law firm with experience representing victims of pressure cooker explosions. The firm represents over 300 clients who have been severely burned by exploding pressure cookers designed and sold by numerous manufacturers.

Johnson // Becker filed this Complaint alleging that Instant Brands, Inc., the manufacturer of the Instant Pot pressure cooker, misrepresented the safety of their pressure cookers. The Complaint was filed on behalf of Ms. Lucy Perkins, a resident of Utah.

Ms. Perkins's pressure cooker exploded while under pressure on April 25, 2019. As a result of the explosion, Ms. Perkins sustained severe thermal burns to her body. According to the Complaint, the Instant Pot is marketed as having "safety mechanisms" which are supposed to prevent the unit from both building pressure if the lid is not closed properly, as well as the lid from being removed until all the pressure is released. However, Ms. Perkins alleges that the Instant Pot pressure cookers contain defects which allow unsuspecting consumers to remove the lid while the cooker is still under pressure causing the scalding hot contents to be projected from the unit.

This suit is filed by Michael K. Johnson, Kenneth W. Pearson and Adam J. Kress of Johnson // Becker, PLLC.

Michael K. Johnson is a founding partner of Johnson // Becker, PLLC. Michael, Ken and Adam exclusively handle injury cases, with an emphasis on national products liability litigation, including cases involving burn injuries from defective products.

To learn more about Johnson // Becker's product liability cases, or to arrange a free, no obligation case review, please visit Johnson // Becker at https://www.johnsonbecker.com/product-liability/pressure-cooker-lawsuit/, or contact Johnson // Becker directly at (800) 279-6386.

SOURCE Johnson // Becker, PLLC
Strategic acquisition cements InvestCloud as the leader in financial planning technology, offering a unified digital experience across all wealth segments

LOS ANGELES, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- InvestCloud, the global leader in cloud-based financial digital solutions, has announced a strategic acquisition of Advicent, the premier cash flow, trust and tax financial planning provider.

Advicent, a Vista Equity Partners portfolio company, provides financial planning technology for over 140,000 financial professionals across nearly 3,000 firms worldwide. Through its NaviPlan platform, Advicent creates scalable financial planning software through industry-leading APIs as well as cash flow and goal-based planning engines. It aims to help thousands of financial professionals and their clients understand and impact their financial future. Advicent's global headquarters are in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and its European base is in the Netherlands.

InvestCloud is a global company specializing in digital platforms that enable the development of financial solutions, pre-integrated into the Cloud. It supports over $4 trillion of assets for more than 500 direct clients  including some of the world's largest banks. The company offers on-demand client experiences and intuitive operations solutions using an ever-expanding library of modular apps, to create powerful products.

The acquisition aims to create the world's leading financial planning solution. It does this by bridging the advisor-client communication gap by combining Advicent's cash flow, trust and tax financial planning engines with InvestCloud's digital client and advisor platform and existing market leading goal-based financial planning engines.

The acquisition comes as market volatility has accelerated a focus on financial planning  a market worth $52.9 billion in the US alone, and predicted to grow 3.5 percent in 2021. Advisors require connected experiences for their clients to enable seamless integration from financial plans to proposals, and on to implementation. The acquisition will give advisors a full-scope unified platform to achieve this, alongside providing client management and ongoing maintenance functions. It will offer a comprehensive digital experience across an advisor's entire book of business, from mass affluent to ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

John Wise, Co-founder and CEO of InvestCloud, said: "InvestCloud's planning engine will be enhanced with the combination of Advicent (NaviPlan). Advicent is a highly differentiated planning engine covering the simple goal-based assessments that most of the known financial planning engines cover; however, and importantly, Advicent also has advanced retirement income scenarios and estate/trust planning focusing on the very difficult planning aspects of tax and cash flow. This will be greatly leveraged by the market-leading InvestCloud planning solutions and platform used by advisors today. The Advicent team has created a great asset which, when combined with InvestCloud's expertise in Digital Design, Gaming Theory, Decision Theory and Data Science, will accelerate the Advisor experience and drive better adoption and better outcomes. I'm thrilled to welcome Advicent into the InvestCloud family."

Wise continues "I'm delighted that, with the support of our Investment partners Motive Partners and Clearlake Capital, we are able to substantially grow both organically and by enabling great acquisitions such as Advicent."

Angela Pecoraro, CEO of Advicent, said: "We deliberately focused on the most complex components in the functional area of financial planning. InvestCloud is functionally strong and also extremely well known for design of intuitive user experiences. We are delighted to be joining forces with InvestCloud, the world's best and most comprehensive financial digital platform for wealth, which specializes in intuitive and empathetic digital experiences, visualizations and workflows. The opportunity we see together is massive and our team has thought this for years  how powerful a partnership would be with InvestCloud. As digital plays a more and more critical role in the advisor experience, InvestCloud's platform will enable our clients to reduce complexities, increase flexibility, and be a game-changing power for client-to-advisor collaboration by applying behavioral science to improve client outcomes."

InvestCloud's latest acquisition further expands its global client base in North America and Europe, while deepening its dominance within wealth management, trust and estate planning, as well as private banking. The capabilities will be immediately available to InvestCloud's existing global client base through its Digital App Store. Clients will be able to leverage InvestCloud's design-first approach to digital and the power of the Advicent engines to create unparalleled empathetic plans for all clients.

About InvestCloud

InvestCloud is a global company specializing in digital platforms that enable the development of financial solutions, pre-integrated into the Cloud. The company offers on-demand client experiences and intuitive operations solutions using an ever-expanding library of modular apps, resulting in powerful products. Headquartered in Los Angeles, InvestCloud has over 20 global offices including New York, London, Geneva, Singapore and Sydney, supporting trillions in assets across hundreds of diverse clients  from the largest banks in the world to wealth managers, asset managers and asset services companies.

For more information, visit InvestCloud.com.

About Advicent

Advicent is the financial planning technology provider of choice for over 140,000 financial professionals across nearly 3,000 firms worldwide, including four of the top five custodians, 15 of the top 25 broker-dealers, seven of the top 10 North American banks, and seven of the top 10 North American insurance firms. Our decades of experience empower Advicent to create scalable financial planning software; compliance workflow management solutions; fully branded client experiences through industry-leading APIs; and superior cash flow and goal-based calculations. Advicent products are designed to satisfy the needs of every investor and are used in firms of all sizes. Through our innovative product capabilities and dedicated services, we are able to help thousands of financial professionals and their clients understand and impact their financial future.

To learn more, visit advicent.com.

InvestCloud Media Contact:

Rich Went

Metia Group

+44 (0) 7745 496 065

[email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE InvestCloud

Related Links

http://www.investcloud.com


NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jetty, the financial services company on a mission to make renting a home more affordable and effortless, today announced the hiring of Kim Adams, Reggie Shipman, Angelique Stensrud and Mike Szatko. Coming from Entrata, Marcus and Millichap, Assurant and TransUnion, the four new hires bring a wealth of experience and will help drive the company's continued expansion.

Adams has 20 years of experience in multifamily, including a three year stint as Marketing Director at AIMCO, and prominent sales roles at companies including RentPath and LeaseHawk. Most recently, Adams was at Entrata, where she was a Regional Vice President for seven years.

Shipman started her career with the Dinerstein Companies, a leading apartment manager in Texas, before selling online leasing software with On-Site.com. She comes to Jetty most recently from Marcus and Millichap where she was managing sales, research, and advisory services for top real estate companies.

Stensrud began her career at Dominium, a large manager in Minnesota, where she worked in property management for seven years before holding senior positions at Corelogic, First Advantage, and Assurant.

Szatko brings a wealth of experience in multifamily, having spent several years working for Zillow and TransUnion where he was responsible for expanding new business across enterprise accounts.

"I'm thrilled to welcome this incredibly knowledgeable and diverse group of sales professionals to the Jetty team," said Bill Knowles, VP of Sales and Strategic Partnerships. "As we continue our aggressive expansion, these new team members will be instrumental in promoting the Jetty vision and bringing our world class suite of financial products to market."

Jetty works with top property managers across the country to increase lease conversion rates, reduce bad debt, and streamline operationsthereby increasing net operating income. Partners include Greystar, LivCor, Related, Pinnacle, MG Properties, Cortland, Griffis Residential, and many more, representing more than two million units nationwide. Jetty's products are written on 'A' rated paper, and are admitted in 49 U.S. states and D.C.

ABOUT JETTY

Jetty is on a mission to make renting a home more affordable and effortless for everyone. As a fintech company, Jetty's solutions help property managers increase lease conversion, reduce bad debt, and streamline operations. For the renter, Jetty lowers the barrier to entry, saving residents thousands of dollars on move-in costs. To learn more about Jetty, visit www.jetty.com.

CONTACT:

Jetty

Alex Vlasto

[email protected]

SOURCE Jetty

Related Links

http://jetty.com


CHICAGO, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (NYSE: JLL) today reported operating performance for the first quarter of 2021.

Consolidated revenue was $4.0 billion and fee revenue 1 was $1.4 billion , decreases of 4% and 7%, respectively

and fee revenue was , decreases of 4% and 7%, respectively Transaction-based service lines reflected improving economic conditions, highlighted by outstanding rebound in Asia Pacific



Property & Facility Management growth led by continued strength of Americas Corporate Solutions

Overall margin expansion included

Valuation increases to JLL Technologies' strategic proptech investments



Year-over-year changes in loan loss credit reserves and the fair value of LaSalle's co-investment portfolio

co-investment portfolio

Cost mitigation benefits partially offsetting pandemic's impact to revenue

Credit Facility maturity extended to 2026; sustainability commitments incorporated into Facility pricing

"Our strong first-quarter results demonstrated JLL's commitment to delivering value to stakeholders across our global, scaled platform and reflected our investments in technology growth initiatives while prudently managing expenses," said Christian Ulbrich, JLL CEO. "While the pandemic continues to cause global disruption, we are encouraged by promising economic signs that indicate 2021 can be a year of strong recovery. More than ever, 'One JLL,' which brings together all our global service capabilities, puts us at a competitive advantage as we advise our clients on transitioning to a post-pandemic environment."

Summary Financial Results ($ in millions, except per share data, "LC" = local currency) Three months Ended March 31, 2021

2020 % Change in USD % Change in LC











Revenue $ 4,037.1



$ 4,096.0

(1) % (4) % Revenue before reimbursements 2,129.6



2,233.0

(5)

(8)

Fee revenue1 1,442.7



1,505.2

(4)

(7)













Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 103.0



$ 5.3

n.m. n.m. Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders1 109.7



25.8

n.m. n.m.











Diluted earnings per share $ 1.97



$ 0.10

n.m. n.m. Adjusted diluted earnings per share1 2.10



0.49

n.m. n.m.











Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 190.1



$ 95.6

99 % 96 % Adjusted EBITDA, Real Estate Services 169.2



120.1

41

39

Adjusted EBITDA, LaSalle 20.9



(24.4)

n.m. n.m.



(1) For discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, see Note 1 following the Financial Statements in this news release. n.m.: not meaningful, represented by a percentage change of greater than 100%, favorably or unfavorably.

Consolidated First-Quarter 2021 Performance Highlights:

Consolidated ($ in millions, "LC" = local currency) Three Months Ended March 31,

% Change

in USD

% Change

in LC 2021

2020



Leasing $ 449.5



$ 492.4



(9) %

(10) % Capital Markets 320.4



342.3



(6)



(9)

Property & Facility Management 2,414.0



2,365.8



2



(1)

Project & Development Services 551.8



604.4



(9)



(12)

Advisory, Consulting and Other 210.2



186.2



13



8

Real Estate Services ("RES") revenue $ 3,945.9



$ 3,991.1



(1) %

(4) % LaSalle 91.2



104.9



(13)



(16)

Total revenue $ 4,037.1



$ 4,096.0



(1) %

(4) % Reimbursements (1,907.5)



(1,863.0)



2





Revenue before reimbursements $ 2,129.6



$ 2,233.0



(5) %

(8) % Gross contract costs1 (677.2)



(729.4)



(7)



(11)

Net non-cash MSR and mortgage banking derivative activity (9.7)



1.6



n.m.

n.m. Total fee revenue1 $ 1,442.7



$ 1,505.2



(4) %

(7) % Leasing 429.5



475.2



(10)



(11)

Capital Markets 305.3



334.1



(9)



(11)

Property & Facility Management 304.7



279.9



9



5

Project & Development Services 170.1



188.3



(10)



(13)

Advisory, Consulting and Other 147.8



129.1



14



9

RES fee revenue 1,357.4



1,406.6



(3)



(6)

LaSalle 85.3



98.6



(13)



(17)

Operating income $ 80.7



$ 64.6



25 %

23 % Equity earnings (losses) $ 48.5



$ (28.3)



n.m.

n.m. Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 190.1



$ 95.6



99 %

96 %

















n.m. - not meaningful as represented by a percentage change of greater than 100%, favorably or unfavorably. (1) For discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, see Note 1 following the Financial Statements in this news release. Percentage variances in the Consolidated Performance Highlights below are calculated and presented on a local currency basis, unless otherwise noted.

The continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (the "pandemic") contributed to lower consolidated RES revenue and fee revenue, compared with the prior-year quarter, as strong growth in Asia Pacific was more than offset by declines in Americas and EMEA. Notably, the consolidated RES revenue decreases in transaction-based service lines were less than the trailing three quarters, with encouraging economic indicators present in many geographies. Corporate Solutions continued to deliver stable fee revenue performance as strength in facilities management offset a decrease in Project & Development Services.

Net income attributable to common shareholders was $103.0 million, compared with $5.3 million last year, and Adjusted EBITDA was $190.1 million, compared with $95.6 million in 2020. Diluted earnings per share were $1.97, up from $0.10 in 2020; adjusted diluted earnings per share were $2.10, compared with $0.49 last year. Notable drivers of year-over-year growth include the following;

A $12.0 million gain recognized on the sale of a business as part of a broader investment made in Roofstock, a marketplace for investing in the dynamic single-family rental sector. This strategic investment enables JLL to offer access to a sector that is increasingly in demand by investor clients. This gain on sale is excluded from adjusted measures.

gain recognized on the sale of a business as part of a broader investment made in Roofstock, a marketplace for investing in the dynamic single-family rental sector. This strategic investment enables JLL to offer access to a sector that is increasingly in demand by investor clients. This gain on sale is excluded from adjusted measures. $34.7 million from valuation increases to JLL Technologies' investments, reflecting progress in the strategy to invest in early-stage proptech companies. Refer to the Americas segment highlights for additional detail.

from valuation increases to JLL Technologies' investments, reflecting progress in the strategy to invest in early-stage proptech companies. Refer to the Americas segment highlights for additional detail. LaSalle's co-investment portfolio, which contributed $13.0 million of equity earnings in 2021 compared with equity losses of $40.3 million in 2020.

co-investment portfolio, which contributed of equity earnings in 2021 compared with equity losses of in 2020. An $8.1 million non-cash reduction to loan loss credit reserves recognized in Americas results, compared with a $30.6 million increase in reserves during the prior-year quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter, calculated on a fee-revenue basis, was 13.2% in USD (13.4% in local currency), compared with 6.4% in 2020. The net margin expansion was primarily due to the year-over-year non-cash changes in loan loss credit reserves and LaSalle equity earnings discussed above. Remaining margin expansion was driven by JLL Technologies' investments as well as strong contributions from Asia Pacific, partially offset by a decline in EMEA. Refer to the segment performance highlights for additional detail.

Cash Flows and Balance Sheet:

Cash used in operating activities was $461.8 million for the first quarter of 2021, compared with $546.1 million used in the prior year. The decrease in cash used was primarily due to less incentive compensation paid in 2021, compared with 2020, partially offset by lower collections of trade receivables, reflecting higher revenue in 2019 compared with 2020.

Total net debt was $670.3 million as of March 31, 2021, representing an increase of $478.2 million from December 31, 2020, and a decrease of $843.2 million from March 31, 2020. The increase from year end reflected typical seasonality, driven by annual incentive compensation payments made in the first quarter. The decline from March 31, 2020, was driven by substantial cash collections in 2020 as well as lower incentive compensation payments this year, compared with the prior-year quarter.

Americas First-Quarter 2021 Performance Highlights:

Americas Real Estate Services ($ in millions, "LC" = local currency) Three Months Ended March 31,

% Change

in USD

% Change

in LC 2021

2020



Revenue $ 2,443.9



$ 2,523.1



(3) %

(3) % Reimbursements (1,385.7)



(1,393.5)



(1)



(1)

Revenue before reimbursements $ 1,058.2



$ 1,129.6



(6) %

(6) % Gross contract costs1 (215.8)



(212.8)



1



2

Net non-cash MSR and mortgage banking derivative activity (9.7)



1.6



n.m.

n.m. Fee revenue1 $ 832.7



$ 918.4



(9) %

(9) % Leasing 351.4



405.6



(13)



(14)

Capital Markets 206.6



246.6



(16)



(16)

Property & Facility Management 146.5



128.7



14



14

Project & Development Services 81.3



93.4



(13)



(13)

Advisory, Consulting and Other 46.9



44.1



6



6

Equity earnings $ 34.5



$ 12.7



n.m.

n.m. Segment income $ 145.0



$ 94.6



53 %

53 % Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 169.0



$ 121.3



39 %

39 %



(1) For discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, see Note 1 following the Financial Statements in this news release. Percentage variances in the Americas Performance Highlights below are calculated and presented on a local currency basis, unless otherwise noted.

The pandemic continued to negatively impact the Americas transaction-based service lines, although the decline in U.S. Leasing was notably less significant than recent quarters. Continued growth in industrial partially offset a decline in office leasing activity, however, U.S. office leasing again outperformed market gross absorption, which was down 45% according to JLL Research. Lower investment sales and debt placement activity drove the decline in Capital Markets revenue while the multifamily business continued to deliver stable revenue performance. Strong revenue and fee revenue growth in Property & Facility Management was attributable to new client wins and expansions of existing Corporate Solutions client relationships.

Equity earnings were entirely driven by valuation increases to JLL Technologies' investments, as discussed in the Consolidated Performance Highlights, a reflection of subsequent financing rounds at increased per-share values for certain investments. In the prior year, equity earnings were largely attributable to gains by consolidated variable interest entities in which the company held no equity interest, and therefore, these gains had no net impact to Adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter, calculated on a fee-revenue basis, was 20.3% in USD and local currency, compared with 13.2% in 2020. The equity earnings noted above and year-over-year change in loan loss credit reserves substantially drove the margin expansion. The residual nominal margin improvement reflected savings from cost mitigation efforts during the trailing twelve months which offset the impact of lower revenue.

EMEA First-Quarter 2021 Performance Highlights:

EMEA Real Estate Services ($ in millions, "LC" = local currency) Three Months Ended March 31,

% Change

in USD

% Change

in LC 2021

2020



Revenue $ 716.2



$ 755.9



(5) %

(12) % Reimbursements (153.4)



(182.8)



(16)



(23)

Revenue before reimbursements $ 562.8



$ 573.1



(2) %

(9) % Gross contract costs1 (251.3)



(262.6)



(4)



(11)

Fee revenue1 $ 311.5



$ 310.5



 %

(7) % Leasing 50.3



47.0



7



(1)

Capital Markets 70.3



68.8



2



(5)

Property & Facility Management 77.0



77.9



(1)



(8)

Project & Development Services 59.2



66.1



(10)



(16)

Advisory, Consulting and Other 54.7



50.7



8





Equity earnings $ 



$ 



n.m.

n.m. Segment loss $ (35.8)



$ (20.5)



75



69

Adjusted EBITDA1 $ (24.8)



$ (10.6)



n.m.

n.m.



(1) For discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, see Note 1 following the Financial Statements in this news release. Percentage variances in the EMEA Performance Highlights below are calculated and presented on a local currency basis, unless otherwise noted.

EMEA's revenue and fee revenue in 2021 continued to be influenced by the pandemic, particularly on a local currency basis, compared with the prior-year quarter which had not yet been meaningfully impacted. Transaction-based revenues were largely stable as significant growth in certain geographies, highlighted by Switzerland, was offset by geographies that experienced more restrictive lock-down measures, such as Germany and the UK. Lower activity in the fit-out business and significant prior-year project activity in MENA that did not recur this quarter primarily drove the decline in Project & Development Services. A decrease in fee revenue from the UK mobile engineering business impacted Property & Facility Management.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter, calculated on a fee-revenue basis, was negative 8.0% in USD (negative 8.4% in local currency), compared with negative 3.4% last year. The decline in revenue as well as a contract loss in the UK mobile engineering business contributed to the lower margin performance, more than offsetting savings resulting from cost mitigation efforts during the trailing twelve months.

Asia Pacific First-Quarter 2021 Performance Highlights:

Asia Pacific Real Estate Services ($ in millions, "LC" = local currency) Three Months Ended March 31,

% Change

in USD

% Change

in LC 2021

2020



Revenue $ 785.8



$ 712.1



10 %

3 % Reimbursements (366.9)



(284.9)



29



19

Revenue before reimbursements $ 418.9



$ 427.2



(2) %

(8) % Gross contract costs1 (205.7)



(249.5)



(18)



(21)

Fee revenue1 $ 213.2



$ 177.7



20 %

12 % Leasing 27.8



22.6



23



16

Capital Markets 28.4



18.7



52



39

Property & Facility Management 81.2



73.3



11



4

Project & Development Services 29.6



28.8



3



(4)

Advisory, Consulting and Other 46.2



34.3



35



24

Equity earnings (losses) $ 1.0



$ (0.7)



n.m.

n.m. Segment income $ 17.8



$ 2.4



n.m.

n.m. Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 25.0



$ 9.4



n.m.

n.m.



(1) For discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, see Note 1 following the Financial Statements in this news release. Percentage variances in the Asia Pacific Performance Highlights below are calculated and presented on a local currency basis, unless otherwise noted.

Asia Pacific's double-digit fee revenue increase reflected an outstanding rebound in transaction-based revenue along with continued stability in Corporate Solutions. An increase in large-deal transactions, particularly in Singapore and Australia, drove revenue expansion in Capital Markets. Growth in Leasing was led by a pick-up in office volumes, especially in Greater China. Significant growth in Valuations Advisory, notably in Greater China and Australia, led Advisory, Consulting and Other.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter, calculated on a fee-revenue basis, was 11.7% in USD (11.3% in local currency), compared with 5.3% in 2020. The significant margin expansion was attributable to growth in transaction-based revenue and savings resulting from cost mitigation efforts during the trailing twelve months.

LaSalle First-Quarter 2021 Performance Highlights:

LaSalle ($ in millions, "LC" = local currency) Three Months Ended March 31,

% Change

in USD

% Change

in LC 2021

2020



Revenue $ 91.2



$ 104.9



(13) %

(16) % Reimbursements(a) (1.5)



(1.8)



(17)



(24)

Revenue before reimbursements $ 89.7



$ 103.1



(13) %

(16) % Gross contract costs(a) (4.4)



(4.5)



(2)



(3)

Fee revenue1 $ 85.3



$ 98.6



(13) %

(17) % Advisory fees(a) 79.3



82.0



(3)



(8)

Transaction fees & other(a) 6.0



10.9



(45)



(47)

Incentive fees 



5.7



(100)



(100)

Equity earnings (losses) $ 13.0



$ (40.3)



n.m.

n.m. Segment income (loss) $ 19.4



$ (26.1)



n.m.

n.m. Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 20.9



$ (24.4)



n.m.

n.m.



(a) Gross contract costs are primarily within Advisory fees and Reimbursements are primarily within Other. (1) For discussion of non-GAAP financial measures, see Note 1 following the Financial Statements in this news release. Percentage variances in the LaSalle Performance Highlights below are calculated and presented on a local currency basis, unless otherwise noted.

Lower LaSalle advisory fees were largely attributable to pandemic-driven valuation declines in assets under management over the trailing twelve months. Transaction and Incentive fees reflected decreased acquisition/transaction activity in 2021.

Equity earnings in the current quarter were substantially driven by increases to the estimated fair value of underlying real estate investments within LaSalle's co-investment portfolio. In the prior year, equity losses were largely driven by the pandemic's impact on real estate prices which drove lower estimated fair values within the portfolio.

Adjusted EBITDA margin for the quarter, calculated on a fee-revenue basis, was 24.5% in USD (24.7% in local currency), compared with negative 24.8% last year. Margin improvement was attributable to the year-over-year change in equity earnings, partially offset by lower revenue.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. JLL shapes the future of real estate for a better world by using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people and our communities. JLL is a Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $16.6 billion in 2020, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of over 91,000 as of March 31, 2021. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit ir.jll.com.

Connect with us

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https://twitter.com/jll





Live Webcast

Conference Call Management will offer a live webcast for shareholders, analysts and investment professionals on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern. Following the live broadcast, an audio replay will be available for download or stream.



The link to the live webcast and audio replay can be accessed at the Investor Relations website: ir.jll.com.

Refer to ir.jll.com for a registration link to receive unique credentials to access the presentation of earnings via phone.







Supplemental Information

Contact Supplemental information regarding the first quarter 2021 earnings call has been posted to the Investor Relations section of JLL's website: ir.jll.com.

If you have any questions, please contact Chris Stent, Executive Managing Director of Investor Relations and Corporate Finance:

Phone: +1 312 252 8943

E-mail: [email protected]

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this news release regarding, among other things, future financial results and performance, achievements, plans, objectives and shares repurchases may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including but not limited to, the material adverse effect that the pandemic is having on JLL's business, which may cause the company's actual results, performance, achievements, plans, and objectives to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For additional information concerning risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements, and risks to the company's business in general, please refer to those factors discussed under "Business," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk," and elsewhere in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release, and except to the extent required by applicable securities laws, management expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations or results, or any change in events.

JONES LANG LASALLE INCORPORATED Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions, except share and per share data) 2021

2020







Revenue before reimbursements $ 2,129.6



$ 2,233.0

Reimbursements 1,907.5



1,863.0

Total Revenue $ 4,037.1



$ 4,096.0









Operating expenses:





Compensation and benefits $ 1,334.4



$ 1,324.5

Operating, administrative and other 644.3



774.8

Reimbursed expenses 1,907.5



1,863.0

Depreciation and amortization 53.0



55.0

Restructuring and acquisition charges3 17.2



14.1

Total operating expenses 3,956.4



4,031.4









Operating income 80.7



64.6









Interest expense, net of interest income 10.4



14.6

Equity earnings (losses) 48.5



(28.3)

Other income 11.8



0.9









Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest 130.6



22.6

Income tax provision 28.2



5.0

Net income 102.4



17.6









Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest (0.6)



12.3









Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 103.0



$ 5.3









Basic earnings per common share $ 2.01



$ 0.10

Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in 000's) 51,173



51,612









Diluted earnings per common share $ 1.97



$ 0.10

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in 000's) 52,175



52,458











Please reference accompanying financial statement notes.

JONES LANG LASALLE INCORPORATED Selected Segment Financial Data (Unaudited)



Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2021

2020 AMERICAS - REAL ESTATE SERVICES





Compensation, operating and administrative expenses $ 914.6



$ 1,010.3

Depreciation and amortization 33.1



37.4

Total segment operating expenses, excluding reimbursed 947.7



1,047.7

Gross contract costs1 (215.8)



(212.8)

Total fee-based segment operating expenses $ 731.9



$ 834.9









Segment operating income $ 110.5



$ 81.9

Equity earnings 34.5



12.7

Total segment income 145.0



94.6

Add:





Depreciation and amortization 33.1



37.4

Other income 12.0





Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 0.6



(12.3)

Adjustments:





Net non-cash MSR and mortgage banking derivative activity (9.7)



1.6

Gain on disposal (12.0)





Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 169.0



$ 121.3









EMEA - REAL ESTATE SERVICES





Compensation, operating and administrative expenses $ 587.7



$ 584.4

Depreciation and amortization 10.9



9.2

Total segment operating expenses, excluding reimbursed 598.6



593.6

Gross contract costs1 (251.3)



(262.6)

Total fee-based segment operating expenses $ 347.3



$ 331.0









Segment operating loss $ (35.8)



$ (20.5)

Equity earnings 





Total segment loss (35.8)



(20.5)

Add:





Depreciation and amortization 10.9



9.2

Other income 0.1



0.8

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest 



(0.1)

Adjusted EBITDA1 $ (24.8)



$ (10.6)



JONES LANG LASALLE INCORPORATED Selected Segment Financial Data (Unaudited) Continued





Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2021

2020 ASIA PACIFIC - REAL ESTATE SERVICES





Compensation, operating and administrative expenses $ 394.8



$ 417.5

Depreciation and amortization 7.3



6.6

Total segment operating expenses, excluding reimbursed 402.1



424.1

Gross contract costs1 (205.7)



(249.5)

Total fee-based segment operating expenses $ 196.4



$ 174.6









Segment operating income $ 16.8



$ 3.1

Equity earnings (losses) 1.0



(0.7)

Total segment income 17.8



2.4

Add:





Depreciation and amortization 7.3



6.6

Other (expense) income (0.1)



0.4

Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 25.0



$ 9.4









LASALLE





Compensation, operating and administrative expenses $ 81.6



$ 87.1

Depreciation and amortization 1.7



1.8

Total segment operating expenses, excluding reimbursed 83.3



88.9

Gross contract costs1 (4.4)



(4.5)

Total fee-based segment operating expenses $ 78.9



$ 84.4









Segment operating income $ 6.4



$ 14.2

Equity earnings (losses) 13.0



(40.3)

Total segment income (loss) 19.4



(26.1)

Add:





Depreciation and amortization 1.7



1.8

Other expense (0.2)



(0.1)

Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 20.9



$ (24.4)



JONES LANG LASALLE INCORPORATED Summarized Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2021

2020







Cash used in operating activities $ (461.8)



$ (546.1)









Cash used in investing activities (97.8)



(90.5)









Cash provided by financing activities 376.7



883.3









Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (12.4)



(21.1)









Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ (195.3)



$ 225.6









Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year 839.8



652.1









Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $ 644.5



$ 877.7









Please reference accompanying financial statement notes.

JONES LANG LASALLE INCORPORATED Consolidated Balance Sheets







March 31,

December 31,







March 31,

December 31, (in millions, except share and per share data) 2021

2020







2021

2020 ASSETS (Unaudited)





LIABILITIES AND EQUITY (Unaudited)



Current assets:







Current liabilities:







Cash and cash equivalents $ 456.6



$ 574.3





Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 1,108.7



$ 1,229.8



Trade receivables, net of allowance 1,477.4



1,636.1





Reimbursable payables 1,016.6



1,154.5



Notes and other receivables 399.9



469.9





Accrued compensation & benefits 1,031.4



1,433.2



Reimbursable receivables 1,430.1



1,461.3





Short-term borrowings 90.6



62.0



Warehouse receivables 832.1



1,529.2





Short-term contract liability and deferred income 181.0



192.9



Short-term contract assets, net of allowance 264.7



265.8





Short-term acquisition-related obligations 72.4



91.7



Prepaid and other 412.9



517.1





Warehouse facilities 833.5



1,498.4





Total current assets 5,273.7



6,453.7





Short-term operating lease liability 159.1



165.7

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation 682.0



663.9





Other 198.5



299.6

Operating lease right-of-use asset 706.5



707.4







Total current liabilities 4,691.8



6,127.8

Goodwill 4,201.7



4,224.7



Noncurrent liabilities:





Identified intangibles, net of accumulated amortization 687.0



679.8





Credit facility, net of debt issuance costs (a) 342.3



(8.7)

Investments in real estate ventures 545.1



430.8





Long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs 684.0



702.0

Long-term receivables 249.7



231.1





Long-term deferred tax liabilities, net 114.6



120.0

Deferred tax assets, net 293.9



296.5





Deferred compensation 461.8



450.0

Deferred compensation plans 480.2



446.3





Long-term acquisition-related obligations 22.7



26.2

Other 186.6



182.3





Long-term operating lease liability 692.4



683.9





Total assets $ 13,306.4



$ 14,316.5





Other 582.1



597.5



















Total liabilities $ 7,591.7



$ 8,698.7



































Redeemable noncontrolling interest $ 7.8



$ 7.8





























Company shareholders' equity:















Common stock 0.5



0.5

















Additional paid-in capital 2,015.5



2,023.3













Retained earnings 4,078.9



3,975.9

















Treasury stock (85.7)



(96.1)





Shares held in trust (5.4)



(5.6)















Accumulated other comprehensive loss (383.6)



(377.2)















Total company shareholders' equity 5,620.2



5,520.8











Noncontrolling interest 86.7



89.2













Total equity 5,706.9



5,610.0

















Total liabilities and equity $ 13,306.4



$ 14,316.5





























Please reference accompanying financial statement notes. (a) As there was no outstanding balance on the Credit facility as of December 31, 2020, the negative liability reflected unamortized debt issuance costs.

JONES LANG LASALLE INCORPORATED

Financial Statement Notes

1. Management uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to develop budgets and forecasts, measure and reward performance against those budgets and forecasts, and enhance comparability to prior periods. These measures are believed to be useful to investors and other external stakeholders as supplemental measures of core operating performance and include the following:

(i) Fee revenue and Fee-based operating expenses,

(ii) Adjusted EBITDA attributable to common shareholders ("Adjusted EBITDA") and Adjusted EBITDA margin,

(iii) Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders and Adjusted diluted earnings per share, and

(iv) Percentage changes against prior periods, presented on a local currency basis.

However, non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to measures determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Any measure that eliminates components of a company's capital structure, cost of operations or investments, or other results has limitations as a performance measure. In light of these limitations, management also considers GAAP financial measures and does not rely solely on non-GAAP financial measures. Because the company's non-GAAP financial measures are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, they may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Adjustments to GAAP Financial Measures Used to Calculate non-GAAP Financial Measures

Gross Contract Costs represent certain costs associated with client-dedicated employees and third-party vendors and subcontractors and are indirectly reimbursed through the fees we receive. These costs are presented on a gross basis in Operating expenses with the equal amount of corresponding fees in Revenue before reimbursements. Consistent with the treatment of directly reimbursed expenses, excluding gross contract costs from both Fee revenue and Fee-based operating expenses more accurately reflects how the company manages its expense base and operating margins and also enables a more consistent performance assessment across a portfolio of contracts with varying payment terms and structures, including those with direct versus indirect reimbursement of such costs.

Net Non-Cash Mortgage Servicing Rights ("MSR") and Mortgage Banking Derivative Activity consists of the balances presented within Revenue composed of (i) derivative gains/losses resulting from mortgage banking loan commitment and warehousing activity and (ii) gains recognized from the retention of MSR upon origination and sale of mortgage loans, offset by (iii) amortization of MSR intangible assets over the period that net servicing income is projected to be received. Non-cash derivative gains/losses resulting from mortgage banking loan commitment and warehousing activity are calculated as the estimated fair value of loan commitments and subsequent changes thereof, primarily represented by the estimated net cash flows associated with future servicing rights. MSR gains and corresponding MSR intangible assets are calculated as the present value of estimated cash flows over the estimated mortgage servicing periods. The above activity is reported entirely within Revenue of the Capital Markets service line of the Americas segment. Excluding net non-cash MSR and mortgage banking derivative activity reflects how the company manages and evaluates performance because the excluded activity is non-cash in nature.

Restructuring and Acquisition Charges primarily consist of: (i) severance and employment-related charges, including those related to external service providers, incurred in conjunction with a structural business shift, which can be represented by a notable change in headcount, change in leadership or transformation of business processes; (ii) acquisition, transaction and integration-related charges, including fair value adjustments, which are generally non-cash in the periods such adjustments are made, to assets and liabilities recorded in purchase accounting such as earn-out liabilities and intangible assets; and (iii) lease exit charges. Such activity is excluded as the amounts are generally either non-cash in nature or the anticipated benefits from the expenditures would not likely be fully realized until future periods. Restructuring and acquisition charges are excluded from segment operating results and therefore not a line item in the segments' reconciliation to Adjusted EBITDA.

Amortization of Acquisition-Related Intangibles, primarily composed of the estimated fair value ascribed at closing of an acquisition to assets such as acquired management contracts, customer backlog and relationships, and trade name, is more notable following the company's increase in acquisition activity in recent years. Such non-cash activity is excluded as the change in period-over-period activity is generally the result of longer-term strategic decisions and therefore not necessarily indicative of core operating results.

Gain on Disposition reflects the gain recognized on the sale of a business within Americas. Given the low frequency of business disposals by the company historically, the gain directly associated with such activity is excluded as it is not considered indicative of core operating performance.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Below are reconciliations of (i) Revenue to Fee revenue and (ii) Operating expenses to Fee-based operating expenses:



Three months Ended March 31, ($ in millions) 2021

2020







Revenue $ 4,037.1



$ 4,096.0

Reimbursements (1,907.5)



(1,863.0)

Revenue before reimbursements 2,129.6



2,233.0

Gross contract costs (677.2)



(729.4)

Net non-cash MSR and mortgage banking derivative activity (9.7)



1.6

Fee revenue $ 1,442.7



$ 1,505.2









Operating expenses $ 3,956.4



$ 4,031.4

Reimbursed expenses (1,907.5)



(1,863.0)

Gross contract costs (677.2)



(729.4)

Fee-based operating expenses $ 1,371.7



$ 1,439.0



Below is (i) a reconciliation of Net income attributable to common shareholders to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, (ii) the Net income margin attributable to common shareholders (against Revenue before reimbursements), and (iii) the Adjusted EBITDA margin (presented on a local currency and on a fee-revenue basis). Following this is the (i) reconciliation to adjusted net income and (ii) components of adjusted diluted earnings per share.



Three months Ended March 31, ($ in millions) 2021

2020







Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 103.0



$ 5.3

Add:





Interest expense, net of interest income 10.4



14.6

Provision for income taxes 28.2



5.0

Depreciation and amortization 53.0



55.0

EBITDA $ 194.6



$ 79.9

Adjustments:





Restructuring and acquisition charges3 17.2



14.1

Gain on disposition (12.0)





Net non-cash MSR and mortgage banking derivative activity (9.7)



1.6

Adjusted EBITDA $ 190.1



$ 95.6

Net income margin attributable to common shareholders 4.8 %

0.2 % Adjusted EBITDA margin 13.4 %

6.4 %



Three months Ended March 31, (In millions, except share and per share data) 2021

2020







Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 103.0



$ 5.3

Diluted shares (in thousands) 52,175



52,458

Diluted earnings per share $ 1.97



$ 0.10









Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 103.0



$ 5.3

Adjustments:





Restructuring and acquisition charges3 17.2



14.1

Net non-cash MSR and mortgage banking derivative activity (9.7)



1.6

Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles 13.0



14.5

Gain on disposition (12.0)





Tax impact of adjusted items(a) (1.8)



(9.7)

Adjusted net income attributable to common shareholders $ 109.7



$ 25.8

Diluted shares (in thousands) 52,175



52,458

Adjusted diluted earnings per share $ 2.10



$ 0.49







(a) For the first quarter of 2021, the tax impact of adjusted items was calculated using the consolidated effective tax rate as this was deemed to approximate the tax impact of adjusted items calculated using applicable statutory tax rates. The tax impact of adjusted items for the first quarter of 2020 was calculated using the applicable statutory rates by tax jurisdiction.

Operating Results - Local Currency

In discussing operating results, the company reports Adjusted EBITDA margins and refers to percentage changes in local currency, unless otherwise noted. Amounts presented on a local currency basis are calculated by translating the current period results of foreign operations to U.S. dollars using the foreign currency exchange rates from the comparative period. Management believes this methodology provides a framework for assessing performance and operations excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations.

The following table reflects the reconciliation to local currency amounts for consolidated (i) revenue, (ii) fee revenue, (iii) operating income and (iv) Adjusted EBITDA.



Three Months Ended March 31, ($ in millions) 2021

% Change Revenue:





At current period exchange rates $ 4,037.1



(1) % Impact of change in exchange rates (110.2)



n/a At comparative period exchange rates $ 3,926.9



(4) %







Fee revenue:





At current period exchange rates $ 1,442.7



(4) % Impact of change in exchange rates (40.5)



n/a At comparative period exchange rates $ 1,402.2



(7) %







Operating income:





At current period exchange rates $ 80.7



25 % Impact of change in exchange rates (1.3)



n/a At comparative period exchange rates $ 79.4



23 %







Adjusted EBITDA:





At current period exchange rates $ 190.1



99 % Impact of change in exchange rates (2.6)



n/a At comparative period exchange rates $ 187.5



96 %

2. Each geographic segment offers the company's full range of RES businesses consisting primarily of (i) tenant representation and agency leasing, (ii) capital markets, (iii) property management and facilities management, (iv) project and development services, and (v) advisory, consulting and valuations services. LaSalle provides investment management services to institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals.

3. Restructuring and acquisition charges are excluded from the company's measure of segment operating results, although they are included within consolidated Operating income calculated in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of segment operating results, the allocation of restructuring and acquisition charges to the segments is not a component of management's assessment of segment performance.

The table below shows restructuring and acquisition charges, including the portion related to the acquisition and integration of HFF (retention and severance expense, early lease termination costs, and other integration expenses).



Three Months Ended March 31, (in millions) 2021

2020 Severance and other employment-related charges $ 1.8



$ 1.3

Restructuring, pre-acquisition and post-acquisition charges 15.5



21.0

Fair value adjustments that resulted in a net decrease to earn-out liabilities from prior-period acquisition activity (0.1)



(8.2)

Total restructuring & acquisition charges $ 17.2



$ 14.1

Portion of total restructuring & acquisition charges related to the acquisition and integration of HFF $ 11.5



$ 21.3



4. The consolidated statements of cash flows are presented in summarized form. For complete consolidated statements of cash flows, please refer to the company's Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2021, to be filed with the SEC in the near future.

5. As of March 31, 2021, LaSalle had $70.9 billion of real estate assets under management (AUM), composed of $36.3 billion invested in separate accounts, $30.0 billion invested in fund management vehicles and $4.6 billion invested in public securities. The geographic distribution of separate accounts and fund management investments was $22.2 billion in North America, $13.5 billion in the UK, $11.8 billion in Asia Pacific and $13.1 billion in continental Europe. The remaining $5.7 billion relates to Global Partner Solutions which is a global business line.

AUM increased 3% in USD (0% in local currency) from $68.9 billion as of December 31, 2021. The AUM increase resulted from (i) $1.9 billion of foreign currency increases, (ii) $1.1 billion of acquisitions, and (iii) $0.9 billion of net valuation increases, partially offset by $1.9 billion dispositions and withdrawals.

Assets under management data for separate accounts and fund management amounts are reported on a one-quarter lag. In addition, LaSalle raised $1.0 billion in private equity capital for the quarter ended March 31, 2021.

LaSalle's results for the three months ended March 31, 2021, included approximately $4 million of deferred compensation expense associated with the run-off of a previous compensation program.

6. EMEA: Europe, Middle East and Africa. MENA: Middle East and North Africa. Greater China: China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

7. n.m.: "not meaningful", represented by a percentage change of greater than 100%, favorably or unfavorably.

Appendix: Revenue, Revenue before Reimbursements and Fee Revenue by Service Line



Three months Ended March 31, 2021

Three months Ended March 31, 2020 (in millions) Americas EMEA Asia Pacific

Total

Americas EMEA Asia Pacific

Total Revenue





















Leasing $ 363.7

54.4

31.4



$ 449.5



$ 418.9

48.1

25.4



$ 492.4

Capital Markets 216.9

74.2

29.3



320.4



247.4

73.2

21.7



342.3

Property & Facility Management 1,494.8

344.1

575.1



2,414.0



1,458.8

375.0

532.0



2,365.8

Project & Development Services 269.8

183.7

98.3



551.8



306.4

203.2

94.8



604.4

Advisory, Consulting and Other 98.7

59.8

51.7



210.2



91.6

56.4

38.2



186.2

RES revenue $ 2,443.9

716.2

785.8



$ 3,945.9



$ 2,523.1

755.9

712.1



$ 3,991.1

LaSalle







91.2











104.9

Consolidated revenue







$ 4,037.1











$ 4,096.0

























Revenue before reimbursements





















Leasing $ 359.9

54.4

31.4



$ 445.7



$ 414.9

48.0

25.4



$ 488.3

Capital Markets 217.2

74.1

28.7



320.0



246.0

73.1

20.5



339.6

Property & Facility Management 294.5

213.8

239.8



748.1



267.9

210.6

266.1



744.6

Project & Development Services 106.1

161.5

68.3



335.9



121.3

186.0

77.3



384.6

Advisory, Consulting and Other 80.5

59.0

50.7



190.2



79.5

55.5

37.9



172.9

RES revenue before reimbursements $ 1,058.2

562.8

418.9



$ 2,039.9



$ 1,129.6

573.1

427.2



$ 2,130.0

LaSalle







89.7











103.1

Consolidated revenue before reimbursements







$ 2,129.6











$ 2,233.0

























Fee revenue





















Leasing $ 351.4

50.3

27.8



$ 429.5



$ 405.6

47.0

22.6



$ 475.2

Capital Markets 206.6

70.3

28.4



305.3



246.6

68.8

18.7



334.1

Property & Facility Management 146.5

77.0

81.2



304.7



128.7

77.9

73.3



279.9

Project & Development Services 81.3

59.2

29.6



170.1



93.4

66.1

28.8



188.3

Advisory, Consulting and Other 46.9

54.7

46.2



147.8



44.1

50.7

34.3



129.1

RES fee revenue $ 832.7

311.5

213.2



$ 1,357.4



$ 918.4

310.5

177.7



$ 1,406.6

LaSalle







85.3











98.6

Consolidated fee revenue







$ 1,442.7











$ 1,505.2



SOURCE JLL-IR

Related Links

https://www.jll.com/


CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jobcase, a social platform dedicated to empowering and advocating for workers, announced product expert Gerry Brun has joined the company as its new head of member product. Brun will be responsible for driving the vision and strategy of Jobcase's digital products, including creating tools and experiences that support workers throughout their employment journey.

Gerry Brun, Head of Member Product at Jobcase

Brun brings more than 12 years of product management experience to Jobcase. He joins from his most recent post as vice president of product at WW, formerly known as Weight Watchers. Under Brun's watch, the WW team tripled its web conversion rate and launched several new growth products and channels.

Along with Brun, the company recently introduced Alyssa Neckorcuk as its new head of member engineering most recently from CarGurus and VistaPrint, and Brandon Olson as its new mobile product lead joining most recently from CarGurus and Fidelity.

"Jobcase has profound aspirations  to empower people to achieve work-life success as they define it, and to advocate for workers so we can help bring balance back to capitalism. Gerry's leadership will help us realize this vision as we continue to invest for our members," said Fred Goff, co-founder and CEO of Jobcase. "We are also very proud to have Brandon and Alyssa join our existing awesome product and engineering team. Together, the Jobcase team is poised to drive great evolution in the tools and community platform which empower our Jobcasers (members)."

Jobcase serves members by providing a set of hiring and career navigation tools, community and connections, and a network of sites owned, operated or powered by Jobcase technology to help leverage success and remove friction in the talent marketplace.

"At Jobcase, I have an opportunity to work with a talented product team to create tools and experiences that will help millions of workers live happier and more fulfilled lives," said Brun. "Our company mission perfectly aligns with my passion for solving everyday people problems through technology, and I look forward to having an impact on people's lives and the brand's bottom line."

About Jobcase:

Founded in 2015, Jobcase is dedicated to empowering and advocating for the world's workers. As a social media platform, Jobcase develops technology to help more than 110 million registered members lead better work lives  providing access to jobs, tools, resources, and a supportive community. Jobcase technology also powers a network of job sites and many nonprofit-driven activities via its Jobcase network. Emerging as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Boston, Jobcase is a Workday Ventures Partner and an industry-affiliate of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL). Jobcase also collaborates with employers, nonprofits and government agencies to both improve and diversify access to opportunity and participation in the workforce.

For more information, visit www.jobcase.com or contact [email protected] .

SOURCE Jobcase

Related Links

https://www.jobcase.com/


STAMFORD, Conn,, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- America's most popular premium wine brand,* Josh Cellars will make a $30,000 donation to Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha, NE, in support of another donation that was raised by the participants and fans of the 1st annual Josh Fight (#JoshFight).

On April 24, 2021, people named Josh and their loved ones gathered from across the country in Lincoln, Nebraska to crown the ultimate "Josh," a playful social media challenge turned viral event and charitable fundraiser. Inspired by Josh Swain, creator of the viral #JoshFight, an estimated 1,000 attendees rallied for an epic battle of the Joshes and crowdsourced more than $14,000 via online fundraiser Mightycause .

Josh Cellars wine was created by Joseph Carr as a tribute to his father, Josh. Inspired by the generosity of fellow Joshes, Josh Cellars will show its gratitude by donating more than double the funds raised as a result of the event.

"What started as a way for me to cure my pandemic blues turned into so much more than I could have ever imagined," said creator of the viral event, Josh Swain. "I'm blown away not only by the support of the Joshes around the country, but now by Josh Cellars who reached out to see how they could support the cause."

Josh Swain and #JoshFight participants ultimately crowned 4-year-old "Little" Josh Vinson Jr. as the #JoshFight victor. "Little" Josh knows the value of Children's Hospital & Medical Center firsthand, as he received seizure treatment as a 2-year-old. In recognizing and honoring Children's Hospital & Medical Center with this donation, Josh Cellars hopes to inspire gratitude towards worthy causes everywhere.

"We're blessed to have a wine that consumers love, and it is my great honor to be able to share some of our resources with others who are working to make the world a better place," says Josh Cellars founder, Joseph Carr. "Last week, Joshes from around the country showed up to battle and raised money for a great cause, and this week, we're proud to double that donation and shine a further light on their efforts."

Upholding the company's guiding value of gratitude and history of giving back, Josh Cellars supports communities close to founder Joseph Carr's heart  from the military and volunteer firefighters, to out of work restaurant workers and healthcare providers.

"We couldn't be more thrilled with the unexpected support from this group of big-hearted Joshes and Josh Cellars," said Nicky McCarville, Director of Development, Children's Hospital & Medical Center. "Every dollar donated will support our mission and help us provide the safest, highest-quality medical care to the children of Nebraska and the wider region."

To date, Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits has donated $788,000 on behalf of Josh Cellars to benefit the National Volunteer Fire Council, Operation Gratitude, and the Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation, among others.

To learn more about how you can make a donation to the Children's Hospital & Medical Center Foundation of Nebraska, visit https://www.mightycause.com/story/Joshswainbattle.

*Source: IRI week ending 4/18/21

About Josh Cellars

Josh Cellars was founded by Joseph Carr, a sommelier and vintner. Josh Cellars offers bold, complex and approachable wines for drinking with family and friends. Sourced from vineyards across California and Italy, Josh Cellars offers 11 varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Rose, Legacy Red Blend, Pinot Gris, Prosecco, Prosecco Rose and Pinot Grigio. Josh Cellars also offers a more premium Reserve tier of wines, which includes North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast Chardonnay and Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon. Josh Cellars wines are available at retailers nationwide: www.joshcellars.com

About Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits

Initially called W.J. Deutsch & Sons Ltd., the company was founded in 1981 by Chairman Bill Deutsch to market quality wines produced by prestigious families from major wine regions of the world. In 2009, it announced the expansion of the award-winning company to include a spirits portfolio. Today the company is renowned for its brand-building prowess and its ability to meet the needs of the modern consumer. Bill's son Peter Deutsch is CEO; thus, two generations of the Deutsch family work side by side in their continuous quest to build strong brands and relationships throughout the wine and spirits industry.

The portfolio includes award-winning wines from Australia: [ yellow tail ], [ yellow tail ] Bubbles; [ yellow tail ] Pure Bright; California: Bellacosa; Girard Winery, Joseph Carr, Josh Cellars, Josh Cellars Reserve, Layer Cake; The Calling; France: Andre Lurton, Cave de Lugny, Fleurs de Prairie, Hob Nob Vineyards, Sauvion et Fils; Italy: Barone Fini, Villa Pozzi; New Zealand: The Crossings; Portugal: Quinta Do Vale Meao; Argentina: Clos de los Siete; and award-winning spirits: Redemption Whiskey, Bib & Tucker Bourbon, Masterson's Rye, Luksusowa Vodka and Gray Whale Gin. www.deutschfamily.com

About Children's Hospital & Medical Center Foundation

Children's Hospital & Medical Center is the only full-service, pediatric health care center in Nebraska, providing expertise in more than 50 pediatric specialty services to children across a five-state region and beyond. Children's is home to Nebraska's only Level IV regional Newborn Intensive Care Unit and the state's only Level II Pediatric Trauma Center. A regional heart center, it also offers expertise in pediatric heart transplantation. Children's is recognized as a 2020-21 Best Children's Hospital by U.S. News & World Report in four pediatric specialties: Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Gastroenterology & GI Surgery, Pulmonology & Lung Surgery and Urology. Visit us online at ChildrensOmaha.org .

Media Contact:

Carly Andersen

R\West

[email protected]

SOURCE Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits

Related Links

http://www.deutschfamily.com


DALLAS, May 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Artist Uprising, which has been at the cutting edge of uniting art, brands, and consumers since 2015, has recently partnered with Landmark Center to bring the latest digital revolution of NFTs to life in Dallas. Together they are hosting the first physical NFT Art Gallery in the Metroplex at their historic downtown building in the West End. Artist Uprising will be premiering several individual art pieces by breakout NFT artists who are collectively grossing over $1MM in online digital art sales in the last month alone (artists will be publicly named in the coming days).

"The purpose of this exclusive event is two-fold," says Merrick Porcheddu, CEO of Artist Uprising. Firstly, to introduce forthcoming NFT drops to the art collector community worldwide while putting a spotlight on Dallas as a rapidly emerging art and tech hub. Secondly, to introduce the public to the craze and educate new collectors on how to bid on digital artwork that will bring in an ROI that is unconventional to historical art trading."

An NFT, or a non-fungible token, is a unique trading card that allows you to purchase Ethereum, a form of cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. Its distinctive build allows the art world to operate differently when curating and designing digital artwork so that when a piece is purchased, it is truly yours to own or resell at a higher value.

With the emergence of NFTs and sites such as Foundation, Nifty Gateway, and even Mark Cuban's new platform Lazy, creative talents of all kinds have the ability to collaborate and promote their unique pieces within the cyberworld. This drives curators and investors into a buzzing excitement of being the first to bid and purchase minted artworks.

"The rise in popularity of the NFT art world has captured the attention of businesspersons, art fans, and ironically real estate owners too," says Nicholas Marine, Asset Manager at Landmark Center. "We believe in the power of creativity and endeavor to inspire innovation. We are excited to host the first digital art event in Dallas and by the prospects for innovation in this space in the future."

The pop-up gallery at Landmark Center will be hosted over two weekends in June. The first Saturday, June 5 will allow NFT collectors to preview artwork coming to the market featuring a technology-focused installation where attendees will experience an educational aspect of the exhibit. While the second event on June 12 will be open to the public to learn about NFT art and the chance to shop physical prints of the artworks that are history in the making with accompanying drinks, food, and music.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please check out the latest on the event here .

Contact:

Kali Ah Yuen

(214) 223-6249

[email protected]

SOURCE Artist Uprising

Related Links

http://www.artistuprising.com


BALTIMORE, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Legend Food Service ("Legend"), a leading provider of workplace convenience solutions, announces that it has acquired Vending Plus in Linthicum Heights, Maryland and Jel-Cap Vending in Windsor Mill, Maryland. Both businesses will now operate underneath the Legend umbrella and be managed by the Legend executive team.

To expand its reach, Legend Food Service has purchased six legacy companies since inception and four in the last seven months. Kyle Loughran, Founder and CEO of Legend, says, "These acquisitions underscore Legend's commitment to expanding our industry-leading products and customer service to new markets and customers. We are thrilled to bring our fresh and innovative workplace food service to the Mid-Atlantic region. We can now service customers from Northern Virginia to Massachusetts."

Both acquired companies have a long history of operating in the region. Vending Plus started operating in 1986 and has customer relationships that span more than 30 years. Jel-Cap Vending, founded by brothers Jerry, Elliot and Larry Caplan, started in the '80s, as an extension of Caplan's Deli, then transitioned into a full-time vending operation in 1989. While each business brings its unique strengths and experience to the table, Legend plans to invest and expand Jel-Cap Vending's commissary allowing Legend to offer fresh food and catering services across the region. As the industry evolves towards offering healthier and fresher food options, Legend Food Service is one of the only independent operators in Mid-Atlantic creating its own food, allowing the company to provide superior products and enhanced customization to its customers.

"We love this industry because of its stability and opportunities for both growth and efficiency," says Nick Duda, Legend Head of Corporate Development. "Both our customers and investors have been amazed by how scale and investment in a historically overlooked and undercapitalized industry have created tremendous benefits for everyone."

The company plans continued investment, organically and inorganically, for the year and beyond. "We think we've found the secret sauce in a space that is ripe for disruption," said Kevin Koehr, Vice President of Operations. "Our laser focus on using new technologies, coupled with our start-up mentality on transforming the food services industry, will allow us to continue growing this company for our employees, customers and investors. We have found the right boat in a rising tide."

Terms of the two deals were undisclosed. For additional inquiries, contact Ben Adams [email protected] or visit legendfood.com.

About Legend Food Service:

Legend Food Service is a leading provider of workplace food solutions including vending services, office coffee service, micro-markets, pantry service, water service, catering and office supplies in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Founded in 2018, Legend Food Service has been acquiring and investing in vending companies across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

SOURCE Legend Food Service

Related Links

http://legendfood.com


RICHMOND, Va., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumber Liquidators ("LL Flooring" or "Company") (NYSE: LL), a leading specialty retailer of hard-surface flooring in North America, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

"During the first quarter, we delivered positive 6.9% comparable sales and increased our operating income from the first quarter of 2020, driven by continued execution on our transformation initiatives, strong demand for home improvement projects and accelerating year-over-year growth in our installation business," said President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Tyson. "I want to thank all of our associates for driving our strategic priorities forward during the quarter, demonstrating progress on our four pillars of people and culture, improving the customer experience, driving traffic and transactions, and improving profitability.

"We are intently focused on executing our strategies to drive sales and profitability in 2021. With more than 400 varieties of hard-surface floors featuring a range of quality styles and on-trend designs, we offer our customers quality choices and provide high-touch service and advice to help them achieve their flooring project needs. We will continue to pursue gross margin rate mitigation strategies and disciplined expense management to optimize profitability, and our strong balance sheet and liquidity support the investment in our strategies to position LL Flooring as the customer's first choice in hard surface flooring over the long term."

First Quarter Results

First quarter 2021 net sales of $283.5 million increased $16.1 million, or 6.0%, from the first quarter of 2020. Comparable store sales for the first quarter of 2021 increased 6.9% from the first quarter of 2020. We had one fewer selling day in the first quarter of 2021 relative to the prior-year period due to leap year in 2020. Comparable sales growth in 2021 primarily reflected continued execution on the Company's transformation initiatives and strong consumer demand for installation and home improvement projects, as well as the impact from the onset of COVID-19 shutdowns in March 2020. Net merchandise sales increased 4.7% while net services sales (install and freight) increased 16.8% over the prior year. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company opened three new stores and closed one store, bringing total store count to 412 as of March 31, 2021.

Gross profit increased 10.1% in the first quarter of 2021 to $115.6 million from $105.0 million in the comparable period in 2020 and gross margin increased 150 basis points to 40.8% in the first quarter of 2021 from 39.3% in the first quarter of 2020. For the first quarter of 2021, the Company reported a positive $6.6 million impact from anti-dumping duty rate changes compared to 2020. Excluding this item as shown on the table that follows, Adjusted Gross Profit (a non-GAAP measure) increased by $4.1 million and Adjusted Gross Margin (a non-GAAP measure) of 38.5% decreased by 80 basis points. The decrease in adjusted gross margin was due primarily to the reinstatement of tariffs on certain flooring products imported from China (discussed in the "Section 301 Tariffs" section that follows) partially offset by pricing and promotion strategies, and, to a lesser extent, alternative country sourcing efforts.

SG&A expense increased 6.5% to $102.5 million, or 36.2% of sales, up 20 basis points in the first quarter of 2021 from the comparable period in 2020. SG&A in both quarters included certain costs related to legal matters. In April 2021, the Company settled two employment litigation matters and, as a result, accrued within SG&A a $7.7 million liability during the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Please refer to the Company's Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2021 for more details.

Excluding these items as shown in the table that follows, Adjusted SG&A (a non-GAAP measure) decreased 0.8% to $94.7 million. As a percent of sales, adjusted SG&A improved 230 basis points, to 33.4% of sales, compared to 35.7% for the same period in the prior year. The decrease in adjusted SG&A was primarily driven by lower advertising costs, reflecting the Company's strategy to shift spend away from traditional channels into more efficient and effective digital channels, and disciplined expense management.

Operating income was $13.1 million for the first quarter of 2021 compared to $8.8 million for the first quarter of 2020. Adjusted Operating Income (a non-GAAP measure) was $14.4 million for the first quarter of 2021, a year-over-year increase of $4.8 million compared to adjusted operating income of $9.6 million for the first quarter of 2020. As a percent of net sales, adjusted operating margin for the first quarter of 2021 was 5.1%, up 150 basis points from the first quarter of 2020.

The Company had other income of $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to other expense of $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Both years included interest on borrowings on our Credit Agreement. The interest expense on borrowings in 2021 was offset by a favorable adjustment of $1.8 million, which has been excluded from Adjusted Earnings, for the reversal of interest expense associated with the $6.6 million anti-dumping duty rate change recognized during the first quarter.

For the three months ended March 31, 2021, the Company recognized income tax expense of $3.3 million, an effective tax rate of 23.4%, compared to income tax benefit of $4.4 million, an effective tax rate of (55.2)%, for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The benefit in 2020 was driven by a $4.7 million benefit related to the provisions of the CARES Act.

Net income for the first quarter of 2021 decreased $1.6 million to $10.6 million compared to $12.2 million for the first quarter of 2020. Adjusted Earnings (a non-GAAP measure) for the first quarter of 2021 were $10.2 million, a year-over-year decrease of $2.6 million compared to adjusted earnings of $12.8 million for the first quarter of 2020, reflecting the income tax benefit in 2020.

Earnings per diluted share was $0.36 for the first quarter of 2021 versus $0.42 in the year ago quarter, and first quarter 2021 Adjusted Earnings Per Diluted Share (a non-GAAP measure) was $0.34 compared to $0.44 for the first quarter of 2020, reflecting the income tax benefit in 2020.

Cash Flow & Liquidity

As of March 31, 2021, the Company had liquidity of $239.9 million, consisting of excess availability under its Credit Agreement of $31.0 million, and cash and cash equivalents of $208.9 million. This represents an increase in liquidity of $108.9 million from March 31, 2020. In addition, the Company's debt balance as of March 31, 2021 was $101.0 million, unchanged since amending the Credit Agreement on April 17, 2020.

During the first quarter of 2021, the Company generated $44.5 million of cash flows from operating activities compared to $36.0 million for the first quarter of 2020, primarily reflecting increased working capital.

Credit Agreement Amendment

On April 30, 2021, the Company entered into a Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement (the "Second Amendment") with the Lenders. The execution of the Second Amendment, among other things, converted the FILO Term Loan into the Revolving Credit Facility. The total size of the Credit Agreement remained at $200 million, and the Company still has an option to increase the Revolving Credit Facility to a maximum total amount of $250 million. The maturity date of the Credit Agreement was extended to April 30, 2026.

The Second Amendment decreased the margin for LIBOR Rate Loans (as defined in the Second Amendment) by 1.25% over the applicable LIBOR Rate (as defined in the Second Amendment) with respect to Revolving Loans (as defined in the Second Amendment), and reduced the LIBOR floor from 1.00% to 0.25%. The Second Amendment also decreased the unused commitment fee by 0.25% per annum.

Except as set forth in the Second Amendment, all other terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement remain in place.

"We were pleased to amend our credit agreement to reduce our interest expense and fees, extend our maturity date and increase our financial flexibility," said Chief Financial Officer Nancy Walsh. "We are monitoring the current macro-economic conditions and the impact of COVID-19, especially as vaccine administration continues, and are considering the timing of repayment of some or all of our debt balance, perhaps as soon as the end of the second quarter of 2021."

Section 301 Tariffs

The Company's financial statements have been impacted by Section 301 tariffs on certain products imported from China in recent years. A subset of these imports for certain click vinyl and other engineered products (the "Subset Products") received an exemption that was made retroactive to the beginning of the Section 301 Tariffs for a period of time but were reinstated in August 2020. The tariffs flow through the income statement as product is sold. The Company has deployed strategies to mitigate tariffs and improve gross margin, primarily through adjusting its pricing and promotion strategies and alternative country sourcing. Please refer to the table on page 11 of this release for a detailed timeline and tariff levels for the key events related to Section 301 Tariffs.

2021 Outlook

The uncertainty surrounding the duration and extent of the impact of COVID-19 as it relates to consumer spending as well as global supply chain disruptions makes it uniquely challenging to accurately forecast future financial performance, and as such, the Company is not providing financial guidance.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

The Company plans to host a conference call and audio webcast on May 5, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference may be accessed by dialing (877) 407-9039 or (201) 689-8470. A replay will be available approximately two hours after the call ends through May 12, 2021 and may be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921 or (412) 317-6671 and entering pin number 13718863. The live conference call and replay can also be accessed via audio webcast at the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, www.LLFlooring.com.

About LL Flooring

LL Flooring is one of North America's leading specialty retailers of hard-surface flooring with 412 stores as of March 31, 2021. The Company seeks to offer the best customer experience online and in stores, with more than 400 varieties of hard-surface floors featuring a range of quality styles and on-trend designs. LL Flooring's online tools also help empower customers to find the right solution for the space they've envisioned. LL Flooring's extensive selection includes vinyl plank, solid and engineered hardwood, laminate, bamboo, porcelain tile, and cork, with a wide range of flooring enhancements and accessories to complement. Our stores are staffed with flooring experts who provide advice, pro partnership services and installation options for all of LL Flooring's products, the majority of which is in stock and ready for delivery.

Learn More about LL Flooring

Our commitment to quality, compliance, the communities we serve and corporate giving: https://www.LLFlooring.com/quality

Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes statements of the Company's expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meanings of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which may be identified by words such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "thinks," "estimates," "seeks," "predicts," "could," "projects," "potential" and other similar terms and phrases, are based on the beliefs of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company's management as of the date of such statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control.

The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these statements, which speak only as of the dates on which such statements are made, except as may be required under the federal securities laws. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward looking statements, see the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Such filings are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and the Company's Investor Relations website at investors.llflooring.com.

Non-GAAP and Other Information

To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: (i) Adjusted Gross Profit; (ii) Adjusted Gross Margin; (iii) Adjusted SG&A; (iv) Adjusted SG&A as a percentage of net sales; (v) Adjusted Operating Income; (vi) Adjusted Operating Margin; (vii) Adjusted Other (Income) Expense; (viii) Adjusted Earnings; and (ix) Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share. These non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. These supplemental measures may vary from, and may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures by other companies.

The non-GAAP financial measures are presented because management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate the Company's operating performance and, in certain cases, to determine incentive compensation. Therefore, the Company believes that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides useful supplementary information to, and facilitates additional analysis by, investors. The presented non-GAAP financial measures exclude items that management does not believe reflect the Company's core operating performance, which include regulatory and legal settlements and associated legal and operating costs, changes in antidumping and countervailing duties, as such items are outside the control of the Company or are due to their inherent unusual, non-operating, unpredictable, non-recurring or non-cash nature.

For further information contact:

LL Flooring Investor Relations

[email protected]

Tel: 804-338-1195

(Tables Follow)

LL Flooring

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited, in thousands)































March 31,

December 31,



2021

2020 Assets









Current Assets:











Cash and Cash Equivalents

$ 208,864

$ 169,941 Merchandise Inventories



225,404



244,409 Prepaid Expenses



9,661



9,370 Tariff Recovery Receivable



1,070



4,078 Other Current Assets



9,348



10,354 Total Current Assets



454,347



438,152 Property and Equipment, net



95,679



97,557 Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets



111,775



109,475 Goodwill



9,693



9,693 Deferred Tax Asset



11,584



11,611 Other Assets



8,227



7,860 Total Assets

$ 691,305

$ 674,348













Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity











Current Liabilities:











Accounts Payable

$ 75,103

$ 70,543 Customer Deposits and Store Credits



68,211



61,389 Accrued Compensation



8,588



15,347 Sales and Income Tax Liabilities



6,244



5,793 Accrual for Legal Matters and Settlements - Current



36,594



30,398 Operating Lease Liabilities - Current



32,005



33,024 Other Current Liabilities



26,449



25,761 Total Current Liabilities



253,194



242,255 Other Long-Term Liabilities



6,825



13,293 Operating Lease Liabilities - Long-Term



92,162



90,194 Credit Agreement



101,000



101,000 Total Liabilities



453,181



446,742













Stockholders' Equity:











Common Stock ($0.001 par value; 35,000 shares authorized; 30,398 and 30,229 shares issued and 29,025 and 28,911 shares outstanding, respectively)



30



30 Treasury Stock, at cost (1,373 and 1,318 shares, respectively)



(144,352)



(142,977) Additional Capital



223,899



222,628 Retained Earnings



158,547



147,925 Total Stockholders' Equity



238,124



227,606 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

$ 691,305

$ 674,348

LL Flooring

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)































Three Months Ended March 31,



2021

2020











Net Sales











Net Merchandise Sales

$ 250,043

$ 238,782 Net Services Sales



33,407



28,592 Total Net Sales



283,450



267,374 Cost of Sales











Cost of Merchandise Sold



142,010



140,745 Cost of Services Sold



25,848



21,657 Total Cost of Sales



167,858



162,402 Gross Profit



115,592



104,972 Selling, General and Administrative Expenses



102,487



96,207 Operating Income



13,105



8,765 Other (Income) Expense



(769)



883 Income Before Income Taxes



13,874



7,882 Income Tax Expense (Benefit)



3,252



(4,353) Net Income

$ 10,622

$ 12,235 Net Income per Common ShareBasic

$ 0.37

$ 0.43 Net Income per Common ShareDiluted

$ 0.36

$ 0.42 Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:











Basic



28,943



28,739 Diluted



29,547



28,853

LL Flooring

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited, in thousands)































Three Months Ended March 31,



2021

2020











Cash Flows from Operating Activities:











Net Income

$ 10,622

$ 12,235 Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income:











Depreciation and Amortization



4,664



4,493 Deferred Income Taxes Provision



27



378 Income on Vouchers Redeemed for Legal Settlements



(503)



 Stock-Based Compensation Expense



1,230



120 Provision for Inventory Obsolescence Reserves



26



452 Gain on Disposal of Fixed Assets



(30)



(743) Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities:











Merchandise Inventories



18,002



16,379 Accounts Payable



6,042



9,055 Accrued Compensation



(6,759)



(1,805) Customer Deposits and Store Credits



6,822



(3,735) Tariff Recovery Receivable



3,008



(132) Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets



1,301



1,998 Accrual for Legal Matters and Settlements



7,698



 Payments for Legal Matters and Settlements



(23)



(5) Other Assets and Liabilities



(7,632)



(2,725) Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities



44,495



35,965













Cash Flows from Investing Activities:











Purchases of Property and Equipment



(4,296)



(4,480) Other Investing Activities



58



306 Net Cash Used in Investing Activities



(4,238)



(4,174)













Cash Flows from Financing Activities:











Borrowings on Credit Agreement







8,000 Payments on Credit Agreement







(26,000) Common Stock Repurchased



(1,375)



(316) Other Financing Activities



41



 Net Cash Used in Financing Activities



(1,334)



(18,316) Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents







(44) Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents



38,923



13,431 Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period



169,941



8,993 Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

$ 208,864

$ 22,424













Supplemental disclosure of non-cash operating activities:











Relief of Inventory for Vouchers Redeemed for Legal Settlements

$ 977

$ 













Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities:











Tenant Improvement Allowance for Leases

$ (585)

$ (496)

LL Flooring

GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation

(Unaudited, in thousands, except percentages)

Items impacting gross margin with comparisons to the prior-year period include:











































Three Months Ended March 31,





2021

2020







$

% of Sales

$

% of Sales







(dollars in thousands) 1 Gross Profit/Margin, as reported (GAAP)



$ 115,592

40.8 % $ 104,972

39.3 %

























Antidumping Adjustments 2





(6,566)

(2.3) %



 % Sub-Total Items above





(6,566)

(2.3) %



 %

























Adjusted Gross Profit/Margin (non-GAAP measures)



$ 109,026

38.5 % $ 104,972

39.3 %



____________________________ 1 Amounts may not sum due to rounding. 2 Represents antidumping income associated with applicable prior-year shipments of engineered hardwood from China.

Items impacting SG&A with comparisons to the prior-year period include:





























Three Months Ended March 31,



2021

2020





$

% of Sales

$

% of Sales





(dollars in thousands) 3 SG&A, as reported (GAAP)

$ 102,487

36.2 % $ 96,207

36.0 %























Accrual for Legal Matters and Settlements 4



7,675

2.7 %



 % Legal and Professional Fees 5



148

0.1 %

793

0.3 % Sub-Total Items above



7,823

2.8 %

793

0.3 %























Adjusted SG&A/Adjusted SG&A as a % of Sales (a non-GAAP measure)

$ 94,664

33.4 % $ 95,414

35.7 %





____________________________ 3 Amounts may not sum due to rounding. 4 This amount represents the charge to earnings for the Mason and Savidis matters, which are described more fully in Item 1, Note 7 to the condensed consolidated financial statements filed in the March 31, 2021 10-Q. 5 Represents charges to earnings related to our defense of certain significant legal actions during the period. This does not include all legal costs incurred by the Company.

LL Flooring

GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation

(Unaudited, in thousands, except percentages)

Items impacting operating income and operating margin with comparisons to the prior-year period include:





























Three Months Ended March 31,



2021

2020





$

% of Sales

$

% of Sales





(dollars in thousands) 1 Operating Income, as reported (GAAP)

$ 13,105

4.6 % $ 8,765

3.3 %























Gross Margin Items:





















Antidumping Adjustments 2



(6,566)

(2.3) %



 % Gross Margin Subtotal



(6,566)

(2.3) %



 %























SG&A Items:





















Accrual for Legal Matters and Settlements 4



7,675

2.7 %



 % Legal and Professional Fees 5



148

0.1 %

793

0.3 % SG&A Subtotal



7,823

2.8 %

793

0.3 %























Adjusted Operating Income/Margin (a non-GAAP measure)

$ 14,362

5.1 % $ 9,558

3.6 %





____________________________ 1,2,3,4,5 See the Gross Profit and SG&A sections above for more detailed explanations of these individual items.

Items impacting other (income) expense with comparisons to the prior year periods include:





























Three Months Ended March 31,



2021

2020





$

% of Sales

$

% of Sales





(dollars in thousands) 6 Other (Income) Expense, as reported (GAAP)

$ (769)

(0.3) % $ 883

0.3 %























Interest impact related to antidumping adjustment 7



(1,841)

(0.6) %



 % Sub-Total Items above



(1,841)

(0.6) %



 %























Adjusted Other Expense/Adjusted Other Expense as a % of Sales (a non-GAAP measure)

$ 1,072

0.4 % $ 883

0.3 %





____________________________ 6 Amounts may not sum due to rounding. 7 Represents antidumping interest income associated with applicable prior-year shipments of engineered hardwood from China.

LL Flooring

GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation

(Unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)

Items impacting earnings per diluted share with comparisons to the prior-year periods include:



















Three Months Ended March 31,



2021 2020



(in thousands)1 Net Income, as reported (GAAP)

$ 10,622

$ 12,235 Net Income per Diluted Share (GAAP)

$ 0.36

$ 0.42













Gross Margin Items:











Antidumping Adjustments 2



(4,852)



 Gross Margin Subtotal



(4,852)

















SG&A Items:











Accrual for Legal Matters and Settlements 4



5,672



 Legal and Professional Fees 5



109



586 SG&A Subtotal



5,781



586













Other (Income) Expense Items:











Antidumping Adjustments Interest 7



(1,360)



 Other (Income) Expense Subtotal



(1,360)

















Adjusted Earnings

$ 10,190

$ 12,821 Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share (a non-GAAP measure)

$ 0.34

$ 0.44





__________________________ 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 See the Gross Profit, SG&A and Other (Income) Expense sections above for more detailed explanations of these individual items. These items have been tax affected at the Company's federal incremental rate of 26.1%.

The following chart provides a timeline and tariff levels for the key events related to Section 301 tariffs (unaudited):















Section 301

Corresponding approximate Event Timing tariff level on Tariff level on percentage of Company's



imports from China Subset Products merchandise subject to tariff Imposition of Tariffs September 2018 10% 10% then 0%8 48% Increase in Tariff's June 2019 25% 25% then 0%8 44% Retroactive Exemption on Subset Products8 November 2019 25% 0% 10% Exemption Not Renewed and Tariffs Re-imposed on Subset Products August 2020 25% 25% 32%

March 31, 2021 25% 25% 23%





___________________________ 8 On November 7, 2019, the U.S. Trade Representative granted a retroactive exclusion to September 2018 on Subset Products as defined in the Section 301 Tariffs section above bringing the rate to 0%.

SOURCE Lumber Liquidators

Related Links

http://www.lumberliquidators.com


SAN FRANCISCO, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lookout, Inc ., an integrated endpoint-to-cloud security company, today announced that for the fifth consecutive time it is listed as a Representative Vendor in the Gartner Market Guide for Mobile Threat Defense (MTD).1 Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security empowers organizations with comprehensive and continuous assessment of risk across iOS, Android, and Chrome OS devices as a critical component of a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solution.

According to Gartner, "MTD is emerging as a component that enables implementation of ZTNA for iOS and Android devices. MTD can provide an assessment of a device to a ZTNA trust broker, which can decide whether to allow access to a specific enterprise application. MTD can enable ZTNA on unmanaged iOS and Android devices, making it suitable for BYOD and work-from-home scenarios."

With employees using any device, on any network from anywhere to remain productive while working remotely, security teams need to implement mobile threat defense to close this security gap and prevent a data breach. MTD solutions improve overall security hygiene by incorporating zero-trust network access (ZTNA) architecture and extended detection and response (XDR) systems. Deploying MTD technology is particularly beneficial in high-security and regulated sectors, which includes a number of industries such as banking, energy, government, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications and utilities.

Gartner report highlights:

Security and risk management leaders who need to strengthen their mobile security posture should adopt MTD products to improve their overall security hygiene.





The products are mature for adoption for enterprises of any size. As mobile security maturity grows within an organization, security departments become the buyers, rather than mobility or IT operations teams.





Security teams see MTD as a way to obtain visibility into the mobile fleet, without having direct access to mobile device management (MDM) or unified endpoint management (UEM) tools.





MTD can enable ZTNA on both managed and unmanaged iOS, Android devices and ChromeOS devices, making it suitable for BYOD and work-from-home scenarios.





Security and risk management leaders looking for immediate, visible value to justify an MTD investment should use the app-vetting and device vulnerability management features. These two features enable them to demonstrate quickly how MTD reduces application risk and device risk.

Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security

Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security is a proven solution that was first introduced in 2015. It's powered by the Lookout Security Graph, which analyzes telemetry data from more than 200 million devices and 140 million apps, and continuously ingests and analyzes more than four million URLs every day. By leveraging machine intelligence, Lookout secures customers against phishing, app, device and network threats in a manner that respects user privacy. The use of machine learning on data in the Lookout Security Graph enables Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security to automatically detect threats even if they have never been seen before.

Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security offers:

Zero Trust access to corporate data, from any device.





Continuous protection against phishing attacks across all apps that make outbound network requests including social media apps, messaging apps, SMS, work and personal email.





Custom application of policies based on an organization's risk tolerance ensures devices remain compliant with internal and external mandates. If a device exceeds the acceptable risk level, Lookout logs the employee out of corporate resources to protect data, sends remediation instructions to the employee, and reports the issue in the Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security console.

"We are pleased to be included in the 2021 Gartner Market Guide for Mobile Threat Defense because it further supports our vision to evolve modern endpoint protection at a pace in tune with our increasingly cloud-dependent world," said David Richardson, Vice President of Product Management, Lookout. "We have observed a 265 percent increase in mobile phishing threats and a 423 percent increase in mobile app risks and vulnerabilities between 2019 and 2020. In today's remote-work environment, enterprise security is required for all endpoints, including those running iOS, Android and ChromeOS."

In March, Lookout expanded into the emerging Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) market with the acquisition of CipherCloud. The combined strength of Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security with the CipherCloud SASE technologies creates a unique market opportunity for an all-encompassing, integrated endpoint-to-cloud security solution. Click here to learn more about the Lookout Secure Access Service Edge Solution.

Additional Resources:

Click here for a complimentary copy of the Gartner Market Guide for Mobile Threat Defense.

for a complimentary copy of the Gartner Market Guide for Mobile Threat Defense. Sign up for a free trial of Lookout .

of . Follow the Lookout blog and join the conversation on LinkedIn and Twitter .

and join the conversation on and . Subscribe to the Lookout Endpoint Enigma podcast.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Lookout

Lookout is an integrated endpoint-to-cloud security company. Our mission is to secure and empower our digital future in a privacy-focused world where mobility and cloud are essential to all we do for work and play. We enable consumers and employees to protect their data, and to securely stay connected without violating their privacy and trust. Lookout is trusted by millions of consumers, the largest enterprises and government agencies, and partners such as AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Microsoft, Google, and Apple. Headquartered in San Francisco, Lookout has offices in Amsterdam, Boston, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto and Washington, D.C. To learn more, visit www.lookout.com and follow Lookout on its blog, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Contact Lookout PR: [email protected]

1 Gartner, Inc. "Market Guide for Mobile Threat Defense" by Dionisio Zumerle, Rob Smith, March 29, 2021.

SOURCE Lookout

Related Links

https://www.lookout.com


WASHINGTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LUNGevity Foundation, the nation's leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit organization, is pleased to announce the new LUNGevity Health Equity for Communities Research Award. Young researchers interested in reducing health disparities in lung cancer can learn more about the award on the LUNGevity website at lungevity.org/our-research/community-based-participatory-research and submit their research proposals at proposalcentral.com.

Projects funded through this award program are expected to have a direct impact on disparities in vulnerable populations in the areas of lung cancer screening, biomarker testing, or inclusion in clinical research. The projects should demonstrate elimination of cancer health disparities at a geographic or population level, or demonstrate efficacy in terms of increased knowledge and/or changes in attitudes and beliefs, screening uptake, biomarker testing uptake, or clinical trial inclusion with scalability and impact. The awards may be for a maximum of $125,000 (direct and indirect) per year for two years, or a total maximum of $250,000.

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree and be within five years of their first faculty appointment with an academic institution, including research institutions that are not formally associated with a university. These are mentored awards; a career and mentoring plan is part of a final application.

"We are thrilled to issue the RFA for the Health Equity for Communities Research Award," says Andrea Ferris, LUNGevity's President and CEO. "The lung cancer space needs innovative, fresh ideas to help reduce health disparities. Through this award, we hope to fund research proposals that will create scalable and replicable solutions to address these disparities and allow young, talented researchers to pursue lung cancer health equity research."

Research projects are restricted to community-based participatory research (CBPR) in lung cancer. CBPR is a type of research that utilizes a partnership approach involving researchers, community members, and other stakeholders as partners throughout the research process to contribute expertise and share in decision making.

"This award requires community-based participatory research because CBPR brings together researchers and the community as equals. It is essential that the voices of the community have equal say in the proposed research question, process, strategies, and solutions," says Jeanne Regnante, LUNGevity's Chief Health Equity and Diversity Officer. "CBPR has also been identified by the NIH as a successful approach in creating interventions and prevention strategies to reduce health disparities."

The RFA for the award is available on the LUNGevity website at lungevity.org/our-research/community-based-participatory-research and on the proposalCentral website at proposalcentral.com. This RFA is made possible by the generous support of Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Letters of intent must be submitted by June 4, 2021.

This new award is the latest addition to the Foundation's robust research portfolio, which also includes translational science research awards and patient-focused research. This year, the Foundation also launched three new translational science research awards to support research from and/or for underrepresented populations, including veterans. LUNGevity's research is 100% patient-focused and aims to have the potential to revolutionize outcomes for those diagnosed with lung cancer.

About LUNGevity Foundation

LUNGevity Foundation is the nation's leading lung cancer organization focused on improving outcomes for people with lung cancer through research, policy initiatives, education, support, and engagement for patients, survivors, and caregivers. LUNGevity seeks to make an immediate impact on quality of life and survivorship for everyone touched by the diseasewhile promoting health equity by addressing disparities throughout the care continuum. LUNGevity works tirelessly to advance research into early detection and more effective treatments, provide information and educational tools to empower patients and their caregivers, promote impactful public policy initiatives, and amplify the patient voice through research and engagement. The organization provides an active community for patients and survivorsand those who help them live longer and better lives.

Comprehensive resources include a medically vetted and patient-centric website, a toll-free HELPLine for support, the International Lung Cancer Survivorship Conference, and an easy-to-use Clinical Trial Finder, among other tools. All of these programs are to achieve our visiona world where no one dies of lung cancer. LUNGevity Foundation is proud to be a four-star Charity Navigator organization.

Please visit www.LUNGevity.org to learn more.

About Lung Cancer in the US

About 1 in 16 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime.

More than 235,000 people in the US will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year.

About 60%-65% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers.

Lung cancer takes more lives than the next three leading cancers (colorectal, breast, and prostate) combined.

Only 22% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer will survive 5 years or more, BUT if it's caught before it spreads, the chance of 5-year survival improves dramatically.

SOURCE LUNGevity Foundation

Related Links

lungevity.org


These architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry veterans will lead their regional teams in producing results on high-profile prime contracts and joint ventures in architecture, engineering, construction- and program management across a range of industries. Boye and Jenkins are based in McKissack's Chicago office.

"Sam and Girard are a strategic choice to lead our Midwest team," said CEO Deryl McKissack. "Their strengths are complimentary. Sam comes from the private sector, and has a developer-side, get-it-done approach and a unique understanding of how to build on our strengths. Girard is the go-to problem solver who can offer clients solid solutions and has the track record to prove it. I'm excited about the value this team delivers across our practices in the aviation, commercial real estate, energy, healthcare and K-12 education sectors."

Operations Manager Brings Private Sector Approach to Commercial

In his more than two decades in commercial real estate and project management, Boye, a civil engineer with an MBA, has always brought strategic vision to his roles. Before joining McKissack, he was project management director at Cushman & Wakefield, where he managed over $200 million in value-add renovations. Prior to that, he was capital projects director at Golub & Co., a project manager at RSM US and a Special Projects Division (SPD) project manager and field engineer at Turner Construction.

In his role as operations manager, Boye helps McKissack clients explore their options to develop, upgrade or reposition facilities. Currently, he is overseeing the design and execution of a range of complex construction strategies, from capital planning for the Chicago O'Hare International Airport expansion to provide delay-free and reliable travel to updating Exelon Corp. and WEC Energy Group assets for continued reliability and resilience.

In guiding the selection of contractors, Boye is adept at implementing the AEC industry minority procurement practices McKissack advocates. It is a program that helped the minority-owned firm win an Inc. magazine Best in Business award in 2020.

"The business community is trying to find ways to diversify, because it's a reflection of America," Boye said. "They need partners they can rely on and trust. We don't have preconceived ideas of what success looks like. McKissack can draw on resources and expertise from the community to build major development projects without sacrifice to technical knowledge or skill sets."

The Obama Presidential Center, now under way, is one of many ambitious projects in Boye's portfolio. When the first shovel breaks ground this year on the landmark Chicago projecta campus featuring a community center, a museum, a public library and recreation space McKissack will oversee its design and construction.

Boye earned an MBA in real estate investment and finance from DePaul University and a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He lives in Morton Grove, Illinois, with wife Regan and sons Trey and Declan.

Project Executive Applies Wealth of Public Sector, Healthcare Facilities Experience

As project executive, Jenkins will assure services are being performed to McKissack's standard of excellence, maintain a positive cash flow and work with clients to meet their needs. He showed his agility as a senior project manager in upgrading mechanical systems for the Chicago Public Schools' reopening, resolving congestion along Illinois Tollway routes and engaging community stakeholders in Cook County's redevelopment of the former Oak Forest Hospital.

"Working with McKissack is a great opportunity to address the desires of the client and support all those who are working out in the field and consulting behind the scenes," Jenkins said. "When a problem arises, I can break down a scenario into smaller pieces, help clients understand things a little better and get the important things done in the right order."

Jenkins' nearly two decades in construction management includes healthcare facility planning, design and construction for University of Chicago Medicine and Roseland Community Hospital in Chicagoexperience ranging from building a new emergency department to accommodating the strict requirements and precise execution of cutting-edge life-science research technology.

A Tuskegee University alumnus, Jenkins earned a bachelor's degree in architecture and construction management while learning practical lessons on job sites as a summer laborer. He also earned certification in commercial building inspection from Olive-Harvey College in Chicago. Jenkins lives in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood with wife Wanda, son Girard Jr. and daughter Brianna.

About McKissack & McKissack

McKissack & McKissack is a national architecture, engineering, program- and construction-management firm with more than 30 years of experience working with clients to envision and deliver building and infrastructure projects that enrich people's lives and empower communities to flourish. Based in Washington, D.C., with offices in Austin, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles, the firm is ranked by Engineering News-Record among the top 50 Program Management firms and top 100 Construction Management For-Fee firms in the nation. Learn more at mckinc.com .

Contact: Christina Coons, 224-999-1032, [email protected]

SOURCE McKissack & McKissack

Related Links

https://www.mckinc.com


MONTREAL, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Quebec company AMD Medicom Inc. ("Medicom"), one of the world's leading manufacturers of procedure and respiratory mask, has been selected as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies. This award recognizes Canadian companies with revenues over $25 million that demonstrate best-in-class performance.

Each year, hundreds of companies complete a rigorous application process and undergo evaluation by an independent panel of judges based on four key areas: strategy, culture and commitment, capabilities and innovation, governance and financials.

"On behalf of Medicom leadership, we are honoured to receive this prestigious award," said John Tourlas, President, North America. "This recognition comes at a time when our company has experienced massive growth in the midst of a global pandemic, and it is a testament to our ability to successfully pivot under extraordinary circumstances."

Medicom personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control solutions were already being manufactured on three continents and sold in over 95 countries when unprecedented demand due to COVID-19 required the company to open 6 additional mask factories across the world in just 6 months.

"Medicom was able to supply desperately needed PPE, including medical-grade face masks and N95-type respirators, to frontline workers around the world despite export bans, a scarcity of raw materials and severe labour shortages. We are extremely proud of our people and how their dedication allowed us to rapidly and profitably adapt our strategy and ramp up our capabilities while maintaining a culture of collaboration and shared commitment to our mission of protecting healthcare workers and their patients," affirmed Guillaume Laverdure, Medicom COO.

"The past year has posed numerous challenges for Canadian businesses and has touched each and every one in some form or anotherincluding this year's Best Managed winners," said Peter Brown, Partner, Deloitte Private and Co-Leader, Canada's Best Managed Companies program. "They should be extremely proud of this designation and use it as a catalyst to continue the work they do each and every day. Their unwavering commitment to their people, and their adaptability amid a year of turmoil, has led them to this achievement and it mustn't go unnoticed."

Medicom leadership remains firmly committed to continuing to pursue the company's strategy to ensure sustained performance, growth and industry leadership throughout 2021 and beyond.

About the Medicom Group

The Medicom Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of high-quality, single-use, preventive and infection control products for the medical, dental, industrial, animal health, laboratory, retail and health and wellness markets. Medicom was named one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for 2021 and was awarded the Mercure prize in the Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Entrepreneurship - Large Company category at the 2021 Mercuriades.

Medicom distributes infection control products under the Medicom, Ritmed, Kolmi, Hopen, Ocean Pacific and Hedy brands. Medicom subsidiaries include Kolmi-Hopen in France, Medicom Asia in Hong Kong, United Medical Enterprise in the U.S.A., KHM Engineering in Singapore and Medicom HealthPro Limited in the U.K.

Medicom has extensive experience in responding to the demand for personal protective equipment in the event of a pandemic. Medicom was founded in 1988 in response to the urgent need for medical gloves for healthcare professionals during the global HIV crisis. Since then, the company has been a reliable supplier of infection control solutions during multiple epidemics, including avian flu, SARS, H1N1 and Ebola, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information about Medicom and their comprehensive portfolio of infection control solutions, including an extensive range of medical face masks, please visit Medicom.com , follow us on Twitter @MedicomNA or visit pages on Facebook or LinkedIn.

About Canada's Best Managed Companies

Canada's Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $25 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada's Best Managed Companies new winner (one of the new winners selected each year); 2) Canada's Best Managed Companies winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (After three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4-6 consecutive years); 4) Platinum Club member (Winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are Deloitte Private, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business and TMX Group. For more information, please contact: [email protected] or consult www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca

SOURCE AMD Medicom Inc.

Related Links

www.medicom.ca


WINNIPEG, MB, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Medicure Inc. ("Medicure" or the "Company") (TSXV: MPH) (OTC: MCUJF), a company focused on the development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products for patients and prescribers in the United States market, will release financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 on Monday, May 10, 2021. The first quarter financial statements will be made available on the Company's website at www.medicure.com. Medicure will hold a conference call and webcast regarding the 2020 annual and Q1 2021 results on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 7:30 AM Central Time (8:30 AM Eastern Time).

Conference Call Info:

Topic: Medicure's 2020 Annual and Q1 2021 Results

Call date: Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Time: 7:30 AM Central Time (8:30 AM Eastern Time)

Canada toll: 1 (416) 764-8659

North American toll-free: 1 (888) 664-6392

Passcode: not required

Webcast: This conference call will be webcast live over the internet and can be accessed from the Medicure investor relations page at the following link: http://www.medicure.com/investors

You may request international country-specific access information by e-mailing the Company in advance. Management will accept and answer questions related to the financial results and operations during the question-and-answer period at the end of the conference call. A recording of the call will be available following the event at the Company's website.

About Medicure Inc.

Medicure is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapies for the U.S. cardiovascular market. The present focus of the Company is the marketing and distribution of AGGRASTAT (tirofiban hydrochloride) injection and ZYPITAMAG (pitavastatin) tablets in the United States, where they are sold through the Company's U.S. subsidiary, Medicure Pharma Inc. Medicure also operates Marley Drug, Inc. ("Marley"), a pharmacy located in North Carolina that offers an Extended Supply mail order drug program serving 49 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. Marley is committed to improving the health status of its patients and the communities they serve while reducing overall health care costs for employers and other health care consumers. For more information visit www.marleydrug.com. To learn more about The Extended Supply Generic Drug Program call 800.286.6781 or email [email protected]. For more information on Medicure please visit www.medicure.com. For additional information about AGGRASTAT, refer to the full Prescribing Information. For additional information about ZYPITAMAG, refer to the full Prescribing Information.

To be added to Medicure's e-mail list, please visit:

http://medicure.mediaroom.com/alerts

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Medicure Inc.

Related Links

www.medicure.com


HARRISBURG, Pa., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced today that Thomas Porter, P.E., has been promoted to Associate Vice President and Director of Toll Services. Michael Baker has served as the General Consulting Engineer (GCE) to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) for more than 64 years and Mr. Porter will serve as a trusted adviser to the PTC in his new role. He will manage a team of the firm's professionals who assist the PTC in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and perform technical and project performance oversight, staff development and client management.

"Tom brings 18 years of experience, a strong technical background and unique skillset, including programmatic planning and innovative technology implementation, to his new role as Director of Toll Services and GCE for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission," said Steve Barber, P.E., Office Executive  Harrisburg at Michael Baker International. "We look forward to Tom's leadership as he oversees our team's efforts to support the PTC and deliver its programs and strategic initiatives."

Mr. Porter most recently served as Director of Transportation for Michael Baker's Columbus, Ohio, office, where he was responsible for the strategic growth and technical performance of the highway, bridge and traffic departments. Prior to joining Michael Baker, he managed a variety of roadway, bridge, traffic and ITS-related projects for more than 13 years at McCormick Taylor as Project Manager and Senior Bridge Engineer.

Mr. Porter holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Penn State University.

About Michael Baker International

Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services. The firm's Practices encompass all facets of infrastructure, including design, civil engineering, planning, architecture, environmental, construction and program management. For more than 80 years, the company has been a trusted partner, providing comprehensive services and solutions to commercial clients and all branches of the military, as well as federal, state and municipal governments. Embracing emerging technologies and the latest innovations  like intelligent transportation and design-build project delivery  Michael Baker is an industry leader that delivers expertise and quality. The firm's more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to Making a Difference for clients and communities through a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/.

Contact: Julia Covelli

[email protected]

(866) 293-4609

SOURCE Michael Baker International

Related Links

http://www.mbakerintl.com


Ivectosol being tested to target certain cancers to pursue novel human intratumoral injection and intravenous infusion

TORONTO, May 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Mountain Valley MD Holdings Inc. (the "Company" or "MVMD") (CSE: MVMD) (FRA: 20MP) (OTCQB: MVMDF) is pleased to announce that the Company has filed a novel cancer adjuvant patent and is proceeding with pre-clinical trials with third-party cancer Contract Research Organizations (CROs) in triple-negative breast cancer, metastatic melanoma, and lung carcinoma.

Summary

MVMD files cancer patent for direct intratumoral injection, intravenously, infusions or instillations as adjuvants for broad chemotherapeutic to immunotherapeutic cancer regimens.

The Company is proceeding with three separate pre-clinical trials with specialized third-party cancer CROs: (1) triple-negative breast cancer; (2) metastatic melanoma; and (3) Lewis Lung Carcinoma as a proxy for non-small cell lung carcinoma.

The Company believes the research will have near-immediate application to direct human trials based on safety and efficacy of ivermectin.

"The extensive research supporting the drug ivermectin as effective in the inhibition of proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenic activity in a variety of cancers, and as an initiator of immunogenic cell death, is overwhelming," stated Mike Farber, Director of Life Sciences at Mountain Valley MD. "Imagine what is possible when you have the world's only human injectable form of ivermectin that can be directly injected into a tumor or provided through more bio-available forms such as intravenously. We believe this will be groundbreaking research with near-immediate application to be able to proceed directly to human trials based on the safety and efficacy of ivermectin."

Leading up to the implementation of pre-clinical trial cancer research, MVMD has been extensively researching the drug ivermectin, including its impact on cancer, and has included numerous abstracts at the end of this media release. All of the research articles cited involve either existing oral ivermectin in a murine model or the in-vitro testing of ivermectin utilizing organic solvents for solubilization that would be prohibited in a human intravenous or intratumoral administration .

As cited by Pharmacological Research in January 2021*, Ivermectin has powerful antitumor effects in a variety of cancer cells and promotes programmed cancer cell death, including apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis. The research also identifies how ivermectin has been shown to inhibit tumor stem cells and reverse multidrug resistance.

MVMD filed its cancer adjuvant patent, Novel Injectable, Infusable, Instillable Ivermectin Adjuvant for Cancer Therapies for its solubilized ivermectin (Ivectosol). The patent-pending adjuvant utilizes the Company's advances in macrocyclic lactone solubility to consider Ivectosol as a viable adjuvant for numerous cancer therapies. MVMD's solubility technology applied to the ivermectin drug is the only form in the world that uses strictly excipients that are currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making it a leading candidate for human injection or intravenous infusion.

The pre-clinical trials that are being conducted are designed to prove the utility of Ivectosol to synergize and improve various cancer regimens currently in use and as a potent enhancer of current immunotherapies and chemotherapies for difficult to treat cancers.

Study One: Triple-negative breast cancer

Study will test the effectiveness of Ivectosol combined with checkpoint inhibitor that would be equivalent to either OPDIVO or Keytruda for disease progression and complete response rate

Arms in the study will look at single checkpoint inhibitor, oral IVM + checkpoint inhibitor and intratumoral IVM + checkpoint inhibitor

Estimated initial readouts/analysis  2nd week of June, 2021

Complete readout with flow cytometry and statistical evaluation estimated mid-July, 2021 with possible abstract submission in August, 2021

Study Two: Metastatic melanoma

Study will test the effectiveness of Ivectosol intratumoral combined with checkpoint inhibitor for disease progression and complete response rate

Arms in the study will look at single checkpoint inhibitor, oral IVM + checkpoint inhibitor and intratumoral IVM + checkpoint inhibitor

Estimated initial readouts by end of June, 2021

Complete readout with flow cytometry and statistical evaluations estimated end of July, 2021 with possible abstract submission in August, 2021

Study Three: Lewis lung carcinoma as a proxy for non-small cell lung carcinoma

Study will test the effectiveness of Ivectosol intratumorally combined with checkpoint inhibitor for disease progression and complete response rate

Arms in the study will look at single checkpoint inhibitor, oral IVM + checkpoint inhibitor, intratumoral IVM + checkpoint inhibitor, navalbine + intratumoral IVM

Estimated initial readouts by end of June, 2021

Complete readouts with flow cytometry and statistical evaluation estimated by end of July, 2021 with possible abstract submission in August, 2021

All three studies will assess tumor growth and metastases through bioluminescence imaging, a non-invasive optical imaging modality designed to visualize and quantify bioluminescent signal in tissues. The Company is also actively pursuing a pre-clinical trial for bladder cancer and is currently assessing the best option to proceed through the evaluation of CRO proposals.

"Ivermectin is a Nobel prize winning global blockbuster drug with unprecedented potential. Overcoming its number one limitation of solubility using FDA approved excipients has opened up significant applications across multiple human and animal health lanes for Mountain Valley MD and our partners," stated Dennis Hancock, President and CEO of Mountain Valley MD. "Driving innovation in cancer research to support positive outcomes for increased survival rates, productivity, and improved quality of life for the global population is directly aligned with our mission of more life, less death. We couldn't be more honoured to drive forward this important work."

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020**. The World Cancer Day foundation estimates the total annual economic cost of cancer at approximately US$1.16 trillion***.

Reference Sources:

* January 2021 - Ivermectin, a potential anticancer drug derived from an antiparasitic drug

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7505114/

** World Health Organization - Cancer

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer

*** World Cancer Day Foundation - Global and national economic impact

https://www.worldcancerday.org/financial-and-economic-impact

Cancer Research Sources:

NOTE: All of the articles cited below involve either oral ivermectin in a murine model or the in-vitro testing of ivermectin utilizing organic solvents for solubilization that would be prohibited in a human intravenous or intertumoral administration .

Ivermectin, a potential anticancer drug derived from an anti-parasitic drug.

Authors: Mingyang Tang, Xiaodong Hu, Yi Wang, Xin Yao, Wei Zhang, Chenying Yu, Fuying Cheng, Jiangyan Li, Qiang Fang

Pharmacological Research, Issue 163: 105207, Jan 2021

Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7505114/

Ivermectin as an inhibitor of cancer stem-like cells.

Authors: Guadalupe DominguezGomez, Alma ChavezBlanco, Jose Luis MedinaFranco, Fernanda SaldivarGonzalez, Ytzel FloresTorrontegui, Mandy Juarez, Jose DiazChavez, Aurora GonzalezFierro, Alfonso DuenasGonzalez

Molecular Medicine Reports. February 2018

Link: https://www.spandidos-publications.com/mmr/17/2/3397

The Anti-Cancer Effects of Anti-Parasite Drug Ivermectin in Ovarian Cancer

Authors: Xianquan Zhan, Na Li

IntechOpen. January 2021.

Link: https://www.intechopen.com/online-first/the-anti-cancer-effects-of-anti-parasite-drug-ivermectin-in-ovarian-cancer

Ivermectin suppresses tumour growth and metastasis through degradation of PAK1 in Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Authors: Liang Chen, Shuning Bi, Qiuren Wei, Zhijun Zhao, Chaojie Wang, Songqiang Xie

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, March 2020

Link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jcmm.15195

Ivermectin converts cold tumors hot and synergizes with immune checkpoint blockade for treatment of breast cancer

Authors: Dobrin Draganov, Zhen Han, Aamir Rana, Nitasha Bennett, Darrell J. Irvine, Peter P. Lee.

NPJ Breast Cancer, Volume 7, Article number: 22 (2021)

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41523-021-00229-5

The Multitargeted drug Ivermectin: from an antiparasitic agent to a repositioned cancer drug.

Authors: Mandy Juarez, Alejandro Schcolnik-Cabrera, Alfonso Duenas-Gonzalez

AM J Cancer Research: 2018

Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5835698/

Continuous high-dose ivermectin appears to be safe in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia and could inform clinical repurposing for COVID-19 infection.

Authors: Claudio Galvao de Castro Jr., Lauro Jose Gregianin, Jan A. Burger

Leukemia & Lymphoma: 2020, Volume 16, Issue 10

Link: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10428194.2020.1786559

Repurposing anthelmintic agents to eradicate resistant leukemia.

Authors: Caterina Mezzatesta, Liridon Abduli, Anna Guinot, Cornelia Eckert, Denis Schewe, Marketa Zaliova, Luciana Vinti, Blerim Marovca, Yi-Chien Tsai, Silvia Jenni, Julia Aguade-Gorgorio, Arend von Stackelberg, Martin Schrappe, Franco Locatelli, Martin Stanulla, Gunnar Cario, Jean-Pierre Bourquin, Beat C. Bornhaus

Blood Cancer Journal: 2020

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41408-020-0339-9.pdf

The Company is not making any claims that Ivectosol is an effective treatment for any form of cancer, or any other medical condition, at this time.

ABOUT MOUNTAIN VALLEY MD HOLDINGS INC

Mountain Valley MD is building a world-class biotech and life sciences company organization centred around the implementation of its patented Quicksome oral drug formulation and delivery technologies and its Quicksol solubilization technology for macrocyclic lactones, to innovate industry leading products that are sought out globally.

MVMD's proposition for delivering Quicksome formulations that have rapid onset, high bioavailability, low variability and precision dosing is core to the Company's success across key health and wellness categories. Consistent with its vision towards "Helping People Live Their Best Life", MVMD applies its Quicksome and Quicksol technologies to its ground-breaking work for advanced delivery of vaccines and pharmaceutical drugs as well as the development of products for pain management, weight loss, energy, focus, sleep, anxiety, and more.

The Company's patented Quicksome desiccation technology utilizes advanced liposomes and other stabilizing molecules to encapsulate and formulate active ingredients into highly efficient product formats that are consumed orally. The result is a new generation of product formulations that are capable of delivering vaccines, drugs and nutraceuticals into the body faster, with greater impact, efficiency and accuracy.

The Company's patented Quicksol solubilization technology covers all highly solubilized macrocyclic lactones (including the drugs Ivermectin and Selamectin). MVMD's solubility technology applied to the Ivermectin drug is the only form in the world that only uses excipients that are currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making it a leading candidate for human injection and sublingual applications as well as significantly broader husbandry and companion animal treatments based on its low viscosity.

For more Company information and contact details, visit www.mountainvalleymd.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information.

The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company.

The Company is making forward-looking statements, including but not limited to its planned pre-clinical trials with third-party cancer CROs in triple-negative breast cancer, metastatic melanoma, and lung carcinoma.

The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

SOURCE Mountain Valley MD Holdings Inc.
"Kavison Homes is excited about this unique opportunity to be the first new construction in the John S Park area in 35+ years," said Stratton. "Our floor plans and elevations will uniquely feature a modern and sleek look but will still maintain a similar feel to what was built in the 1960s."

"I have had a long and productive relationship with Todd Stratton and Kavison Homes," said Chris Garza, SVP, Mid Pacific Region for New American Funding. "As a long-term resident of the area, I'm well aware of Todd's proud history of building in the valley. His newest endeavor will serve a niche area in the Southern Nevada market. It's extremely gratifying for his company to place its continued trust in us to assist its buyers throughout the homebuying process."

New American Funding currently serves its mortgage customers from two Las Vegas valley locations:

Henderson

1348 Paseo Verde Pkwy, #200

Henderson, NV 89012

Tel: (702) 203-0110

Las Vegas

8906 Spanish Ridge Ave., Ste. 201

Las Vegas, NV 89148

Tel: (702) 203-0110

In addition to an established home purchase loan program that works closely with local real estate partners, these branches offer area residents home refinancing opportunities. Other home financing options for new home buyers and existing homeowners include conventional, FHA, and VA loans, as well as down payment assistance programs and cash-out refinances.

About New American Funding

New American Funding is an independent mortgage lender with a servicing portfolio of over 192,000 loans for approximately $49.9 billion, 184+ nationwide locations, and about 4,900 employees. The company offers several niche loan products and has made Inc. 5000's list of Fastest-Growing Companies in America six times. It offers state-of-the-art career training and provides its branch Loan Officers with innovative technologies to streamline the mortgage process.

SOURCE New American Funding

Related Links

www.newamericanfunding.com


HELSINKI, Finland, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ponsse is launching a new debarking PONSSE H7 HD Euca harvester head alongside the previously released H8 HD Euca. The new powerful harvester head further strengthens Ponsse's strategy to be the leading global manufacturer of harvester heads.

"This new harvester head has been developed together with our customers, based on their feedback. We wanted to introduce an even more powerful and productive harvester head for processing eucalyptus trees that withstands even the most extreme conditions, and we succeeded in this with the H7 HD Euca harvester head", says Janne Loponen, harvester head product manager at Ponsse.

The H7 HD Euca harvester head can be fitted on the PONSSE Cobra, Scorpion King and Ergo harvesters, but it can also be installed on 1622-ton track-based base machines.

The frame of the PONSSE H7 HD Euca harvester head is made of the Heavy-Duty structure, developed by Ponsse. It withstands even the most extreme conditions both in forest machines and track-based machines. The geometry and technical solutions of the new harvester head have been made to ensure maximum efficiency during debarking, feeding and sawing. The development of the harvester head has also focused on mechanical durability and the ease of maintenance.

Its efficient feed rollers and debarking knives guarantee first-rate debarking results from start to finish. The solid frame and robust tilt frame give the harvester head the durability needed in debarking. Automated functions control saw movements according to the tree diameter and saw bar position and allow trees to be cut quickly.

All PONSSE harvester heads have been designed to withstand even the toughest conditions. They are characterised by a simple and solid structure which is why they can be used in various harvesting applications, ranging from harvesters to track-based solutions. All PONSSE harvester heads are manufactured and designed at the Ponsse factory in Vierema, Finland. Comprehensive design applies to both mechanical components and the electronic control system, controls and software. The manufacturing process is highly automated, guaranteeing a high level of quality and measuring accuracy. Durable hoses and delimbing knives form an important part of reliability.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Janne Loponen, Ponsse Plc, Product Manager, harvester heads,

[email protected], tel. +358 40 502 8018.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/ponsse-oyj/r/new-harvester-head-for-processing-eucalyptus-trees-from-ponsse,c3340394

The following files are available for download:

https://news.cision.com/ponsse-oyj/i/ponsse-h7-hd-euca-press,c2909132 PONSSE H7 HD Euca Press

SOURCE Ponsse Oyj
The past couple of weeks have been abound with lobola ceremonies and or wedding ceremonies.

It has been quite a change of pace from the RIP statuses that we have come so accustomed to nowadays, the return to some happy posts and jolly mood is quite welcome. The festivities do, however, bring to mind the grandeur of the wedding industry and the cost implications of the wedding day. The industry has grown so big over the years and we all want our special day to be spectacular and we want to be surrounded by loved ones as we tie the knot. That is all fine and well, however, the question that boggles my mind is how are all these displays of grandeur financed? How you finance your big day (wedding) has intertemporal impacts on your happily ever after.

The wedding is typically a community event and it is only fair that the community contributes towards the spectacle. The community derives a lot of utility from attending the wedding and it is, therefore, not fair that the costs of the wedding should have to fall on one party (the newlyweds). Your community (family, friends, workmates, church etc), can contribute, however, little they can towards the big day. This way, the newlyweds get to share the costs of the wedding with the entire community. If we all contribute, then no one is left with a huge bill to foot before the resumption of marriage. This is the most ideal way to finance your big day since this is a community event, hence the community should contribute to the event.

The best way to finance your wedding is through and out of pocket payment. Ask yourself this question, can I spend just a portion of my net income in financing this wedding? If yes, then that is the wedding you should be having, anything outside that impacts either your future earnings potential or it has drawn from your past earnings (savings). One can mobilise funds through savings so that they can pay for their big day.

Consumption

Savings basically mean that you forego some consumption in the current period so that you can enjoy some consumption on some future date. It is critical to weigh ones options before spending savings that one has accumulated over say three years on an activity that will last just three hours. The patrons will all eat and leave, and you are left to deal with the effects of having to restart your savings drive. This however is an almost okay option for financing your wedding since it does not draw on your future income, so you go into the marriage with your full earnings potential after the wedding. However, your savings are best used as capital to invest in an endeavour that will create more wealth for you in the near future.

A wedding, just like any consumption decision, can also be financed through credit. One can approach their bank or any credit provider to lend them money to make their big day a marvel. Credit, however, is the exact opposite of savings, a line of credit draws on ones future income. That is you are choosing to consume your future income at the present moment, effectively foregoing the opportunity to consume that income in the future. And the person whose savings has been mobilised so that you could be given your wish to consume your future income has to be compensated with interest so that it is worthwhile for them to give you the income.

Hence loans are always paid with interest to compensate the owners of capital. Effectively, if you have used credit financing you will go into your happily ever after having sacrificed some future consumption. The credit will have to be paid off before the newlyweds can begin accumulating wealth and building a life together. So you really have to ask yourself if it is really worth it to have a spectacular wedding and postpone your new familys accumulation of wealth and building a life together, as the next three to five years will be dedicated to repayment of the credit.

Financing

It is imperative that we remember that after the wedding begins the marriage, the decision on financing the wedding determines the first three years of the marriage. It is imperative that the financing just the one day or two-day event does take away three years of your future life. Marriage is a life commitment with the opportunity to create generational wealth and build wealth to last generations. It is critical that we mind our money decisions before we come into the marriage. The wedding is just a one day event and you really need to ask yourself if it is really worth the hundreds of Emalangeni that are spent on the spectacle just for a few hours with strangers.
SUGAR LAND, Texas, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Noble Corporation ("Noble" or the "Company") today announced that its report of drilling rig status and contract information has been updated as of May 4, 2021. The report, titled "Fleet Status Report," can be found on the Company's Website www.noblecorp.com, under the "Investor Relations" section of the Website.

About Noble Corporation

Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and gas industry. The Company owns and operates one of the most modern, versatile and technically advanced fleets in the offshore drilling industry. Noble and its predecessors have been engaged in the contract drilling of oil and gas wells since 1921. Currently, Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of 24 offshore drilling units, consisting of 12 drillships and semisubmersibles and 12 jackups, focused largely on ultra- deepwater and high-specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established and emerging regions worldwide. Noble is an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability with registered office at P.O. BOX 31327, Ugland House, S. Church Street, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104. Additional information on Noble is available at www.noblecorp.com .

SOURCE Noble Corporation

Related Links

https://www.noblecorp.com


WATKINSVILLE, Ga., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Oconee Financial Corporation ("Oconee") (OTCQX: OSBK) is pleased to report results for the first quarter of 2021. Unaudited net income for the three months ending March 31, 2021, was $824,221 or $0.92 per common share. This compares to $149,342 or $0.17 per common share for the first quarter of the prior year. This represents a 452% increase in net earnings in the first quarter of 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020. The increase in earnings over the year ago quarter was primarily attributable to increases in net interest income from Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fees recognized of $591 thousand and increases in mortgage banking income of $423 thousand.

Total assets as of March 31, 2021, were $516.7 million, compared to total assets of $494.5 million as of December 31, 2020. Total loans were $326.4 million and deposits were $467.3 million as of March 31, 2021. This compared to total loans of $319.6 million and deposits of $444.7 million at December 31, 2020. For the quarter ended March 31, 2021, total loans increased 2.1% and total deposits increased 5.1% versus December 31, 2020.

Neil Stevens, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oconee stated "we were pleased with our quarterly results, particularly the improvement in earnings over the year ago quarter, as well as the nice growth in loans and deposits during the quarter. We are also happy to report that through the end of April, we have made over $17 million of loans under the second round of PPP. This is in addition to the $56 million of PPP loans we made in the first round of PPP. This level of PPP lending demonstrates our commitment to our vision of being essential to the lives, businesses and communities we serve."

Stevens also noted "in March, our board of directors voted to increase our annual dividend from $0.60 per share to $0.65 per share, an increase of 8.3%. We're pleased to be able to share a larger portion of our financial success with our shareholders. Also during the first quarter, we converted our downtown Athens loan production office at One Press Place to a full service office. The Athens Financial Center can now offer our customers our full suite of products and services."

Oconee Financial Corporation is headquartered in Watkinsville, Georgia and operates four full-service branches and one limited-service branch. In February 2021, Oconee State bank celebrated 61 years of service and continues to be the only locally owned and operated community bank headquartered in Oconee County. Oconee State Bank has proudly served the local community, providing an unparalleled commitment to personalized service, innovative products and solutions, and strives to bring exceptional value to our customers through local ownership, involvement and decision-making. We continuously strive to create remarkable experiences that significantly mark the lives of others.











































OCONEE FINANCIAL CORPORATION BALANCE SHEET





















3/31/2021

12/31/2020







(Unaudited)



ASSETS









Cash and due from banks $ 63,471,003

$ 76,418,430



Securities available for sale (at fair value) 98,489,775

75,548,813



Other investment 247,400

359,700



Mortgage loans held for sale 9,668,013

6,408,720

















Loans, net of unearned income 330,707,661

323,624,861



Allowance for loan loss (4,304,195)

(4,057,091)





Loans, net 326,403,466

319,567,770

















Premises and equipment 6,427,021

5,103,036



Other real estate owned --

--



Other assets 11,955,318

11,129,233





Total Assets $ 516,661,995

$ 494,535,702













LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY







Liabilities:









Deposits $ 467,283,879

$ 444,701,932



Subordinated debenture, net of capitalized expenses 9,776,484

9,770,497



Dividends payable 582,180

--



Accrued expenses and other liabilities 1,553,078

1,928,168





Total Liabilities 479,195,622

456,400,597















Stockholder's Equity:









Common Stock 1,795,076

1,794,250



Restricted Stock (63,724)

(37,976)



Additional Paid in Capital 4,159,822

4,147,114



Retained earnings 31,093,020

30,850,978



Unrealized gain/loss on securities 482,180

1,380,739





Total Stockholder's Equity 37,466,373

38,135,105



















Total Liabilities and Stockholder's Equity $ 516,661,995

$ 494,535,702















OCONEE FINANCIAL CORPORATION STATEMENT OF INCOME-YTD





















3/31/2021

3/31/2020







(Unaudited)





Interest Income:









Loans $ 3,853,102

$ 3,270,326



Securities available for sale











State, County & Municipal 187,343

88,820





Treasuries & Agencies 104,647

291,825





Corporate 67,773

--



Federal funds sold & other 20,573

140,810







4,233,437

3,791,781















Interest Expense:









Deposits 286,087

596,912



Other 155,987

--



Total Interest Expense 442,074

596,912



















Net interest income 3,791,363

3,194,869















Provision for loan losses 235,500

187,500

















Net income after provision for loan losses 3,555,863

3,007,369















Noninterest income









Service charges on deposit accounts 106,182

130,830



Gain on Sale of Assets --

--



Securities gains (losses), net 196,303

--



Mortgage banking income 585,233

161,492



SBA loan related income 44,446

129,978



Commissions on investment sales 79,217

145,620



Other 402,079

321,406



Total noninterest income 1,413,461

889,325















Noninterest expense









Salaries and employee benefits 2,290,952

2,431,458



Occupancy 307,016

285,128



Other operating 1,327,366

1,018,618



Total noninterest expense 3,925,334

3,735,204



















Income before provision for income taxes 1,043,990

161,491















Provision for income taxes 219,769

12,149



















Net Income $ 824,221

$ 149,342



















Period-Ending Outstanding Shares 895,662

895,478





Weighted Average Shares Outstanding 895,662

895,478





YTD Earnings Per Common Share $ 0.92

$ 0.17

SOURCE Oconee Financial Corporation
NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 11,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced Vanstar Mining Resources, Inc. (TSX-V: VSR) (OTCQX: VMNGF), a gold exploration company, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Vanstar Mining Resources, Inc. upgraded to OTCQX from the Pink market.

Vanstar Mining Resources, Inc. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "VMNGF." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

Upgrading to the OTCQX Market is an important step for companies seeking to provide transparent trading for their U.S. investors. For companies listed on a qualified international exchange, streamlined market standards enable them to utilize their home market reporting to make their information available in the U.S. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

JC St-Amour, President and CEO of Vanstar Mining commented, "Our US investor base is an important group of shareholders and I am pleased to have upgraded to the OTCQX Market to provide more transparency and increase our exposure to one of the largest markets globally. Vanstar has several highly prospective gold properties in Quebec including our flagship Nelligan project, which we jointly own with IAMGOLD Corp. The Nelligan project hosts a world class gold deposit, is located in one of the best mining jurisdictions in the world and is being jointly explored and developed by a successful and experienced mining Company, IAMGOLD. This year promises to be an exciting year for Vanstar with exploration results from Nelligan and our other gold properties expected throughout the year."

Securities Law USA, PLLC acted as the company's OTCQX sponsor.

About Vanstar Mining Resources, Inc.

Vanstar Mining Resources Inc. is a gold exploration company with properties located in Northern Quebec at different stages of development. The Company owns a 25% interest in the Nelligan project (3.2 million inferred ounces Au, NI 43-101 October 2019) and 1% NSR. The Nelligan Project won the "Discovery of the Year" award at the 2019 Quebec Mineral Exploration Association Xplor Gala. Vanstar also owns 100% of the Felix property under development in the Chicobi Group (Abitibi mining camp, 65km East of Amex Perron property) and 100% of Amanda, a 7,677 ha property located on the Auclair formation with historic gold showings up to 12.1 g/t Au over 3 meters.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 11,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.

Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

Media Contact:

OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected]

SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.otcmarkets.com


Ms. Juarez has been dedicated to various aspects of institutional investing for more than a decade. Prior to joining Callan, she was a data operations manager for eVestment Private Markets, managed investment operations for Children's Healthcare of Atlantasignificantly reducing costs and efficiencyand was a senior investment analyst for Willis Towers Watson.

Ms. Juarez earned an MBA from Emory University, Goizueta Business School, and a BS in international business management with a concentration in finance from the Universidad del Valle de Mexico, where she was awarded a full scholarship for academic achievement.

"I'm excited to join and collaborate with Callan's amazing team, whose members share a common goalhelping our clients achieve their investment goals," said Ms. Juarez. "Callan's culture, thought leadership, and commitment to our clients is a key differentiator in the industry, and I am happy to be part of it."

About Callan

Callan was founded as an employee-owned investment consulting firm in 1973. Ever since, we have empowered institutional clients with creative, customized investment solutions backed by proprietary research, exclusive data, and ongoing education. Today, Callan advises on more than $3 trillion in total fund sponsor assets, which makes it among the largest independently owned investment consulting firms in the U.S. Callan uses a client-focused consulting model to serve pension and defined contribution plan sponsors, endowments, foundations, independent investment advisers, investment managers, and other asset owners. Callan has six offices throughout the U.S. Learn more at callan.com.

Media Contact:

Elizabeth Anathan

[email protected]

415-274-3020

SOURCE Callan LLC

Related Links

callan.com


SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker Clay, an ever-expanding Ethiopian leather goods brand with a mission to uplift and employ at-risk women, recently celebrated its seven-year journey since launching in 2014. From the beginning, Parker Clay has been dedicated to crafting beautiful products while creating a lasting connection between the brand and its consumers as a community working together to make a difference. As they set goals to continue doubling in growth year-to-year, the team at Parker Clay is unwavering in their pursuit and purpose. With growth comes factory expansion, and with that the ability to hire more women to join their already 80% female 200+ person team in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Parker Clay, certified B-Corp, prioritizes the highest standards of social and environmental impact Parker Clay team of employees work together in the Addis Ababa, Ethiopia HQ

Since 2014, the brand has generated nearly 575,000 hours of employment for at-risk women. Parker Clay, a certified B Corp, is committed to paying living wages and benefits, providing skills training and financial literacy opportunities to all of their employees, 46% of whom are receiving a salary for the first time, ever.

"This living wage model doesn't just help one employee  it supports families, sends kids to school, and ultimately, those wages get spent at local businesses to support a local economy from the bottom up. Parker Clay has built a vertically integrated supply chain and become one of the largest and fastest-growing creators of ethical employment for women in Ethiopia," says cofounder Ian Bentley.

Parker Clay was first created and inspired by the beauty and potential that Ian and Brittany Bentley found in Ethiopia during their adoption journey. They were so moved by the country; they stayed and became an integral part of the community. The passion and drive of those around them led them to create a brand that would create opportunity and uplift women and their families. The team in Addis Ababa and their feedback are a crucial part of every product created and every brand decision made.

"We saw a young and passionate labor force and world class materials, paired with the rising tide of global consumers who demand more from the brands they support - more transparency, more sustainability, and more impact and we were inspired to create a brand without compromise. The teams in Santa Barbara and Addis Ababa obsess over sourcing, stitching and every last grain of leather leaning into centuries of Ethiopian leather-working tradition. As a certified B-Corp we are held to the highest standards of social and environmental impact. The bags aren't just built to last, they get better with age," says co-founder Brittany Bentley.

With impact at the forefront of every decision, it's no surprise that Parker Clay has built a community based on trust and transparency over these last seven years. As they take on their eighth year and beyond, the brand shows no signs of slowing down in their mission to be a leader and innovator in the ethical fashion industry.

About Parker Clay

Parker Clay crafts premium leather bags and other goods that provide dignified employment and uplift women out of exploitation. As consumers continue to demand details of their purchase journey, Parker Clay shares the hours of equitable employment created with each purchase so customers can fully understand the difference they're making. Parker Clay believes that a better process and better bag leads to a better world. Parker Clay is available for purchase at their flagship store in Santa Barbara, CA and at www.parkerclay.com.

Contact: Annie Draper

Cru of Two

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Parker Clay

Related Links

http://www.parkerclay.com


CENTREVILLE, Va., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

CEO Commentary

"We delivered strong bookings and significant margin expansion with results in line with our internal expectations and historical seasonal patterns. We continue to win large new contracts and I credit that to our focus on technology solutions and our exceptional team," said Chuck Harrington, chairman and chief executive officer of Parsons Corporation.

"We are off to a strong start to the second quarter with approximately $1 billion of awards, and we are excited about our positions in growing and enduring markets in both segments. Revenue growth will accelerate while margins will continue to expand and free cash flow conversion will remain strong as we benefit from our technology solutions aligned with the Biden Administration's infrastructure and defense priorities and as we move beyond COVID and pass-through revenue headwinds. We will also continue to leverage our robust balance sheet for accretive acquisitions in line with our targeted M&A strategy."

First Quarter 2021 Results

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2021 decreased by $96 million, or 10%, from the prior year period to $875 million. This decrease was primarily driven by $64 million of contract work impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and lower pass-through revenue. Operating income increased 8% to $26 million primarily due to increased contract profitability, including contributions from the company's high-margin Braxton acquisition. Net income decreased to $9 million and net income margin decreased to 1.0% from the prior year period. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) attributable to Parsons was $0.09 in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $0.13 in the prior year period.

Adjusted EBITDA including noncontrolling interests for the first quarter of 2021 was $69 million, a 14% increase over the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 170 basis points to 7.9%. Adjusted EPS increased to $0.34, compared to $0.33 in the first quarter of 2020.

Segment Results

Federal Solutions Segment





Three Months Ended



Growth





March 31,

2021



March 31,

2020



Dollars/ Percent



Percent

Revenue

$ 452,069



$ 477,571



$ (25,502)





-5 % Adjusted EBITDA

$ 32,057



$ 31,709



$ 348





1 % Adjusted EBITDA margin



7.1 %



6.6 %



0.5 %



7 %

First quarter 2021 revenue decreased $26 million, or 5%, compared to the prior year period primarily due to approximately $27 million of net contract work impacted by COVID-19 and lower pass-through revenue, and contract transitions, offset by $31 million of acquisition revenue.

First quarter 2021 Federal Solutions adjusted EBITDA including noncontrolling interests increased by $0.3 million, or 1%, compared to the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 50 basis points to 7.1% from the first quarter of 2020. Adjusted EBITDA was relatively flat with the prior year period and the increase in adjusted EBITDA margin was driven by increased contract profitability and contributions from the Braxton acquisition.

Critical Infrastructure Segment





Three Months Ended



Growth





March 31,

2021



March 31,

2020



Dollars/ Percent



Percent

Revenue

$ 422,628



$ 493,422



$ (70,794)





-14 % Adjusted EBITDA

$ 36,642



$ 28,787



$ 7,855





27 % Adjusted EBITDA margin



8.7 %



5.8 %



2.8 %



49 %

First quarter 2021 Critical Infrastructure revenue decreased $71 million, or 14%, compared to the prior year period. The decrease was primarily driven by approximately $37 million of net contract work impacted by COVID-19 and lower volume on contracts with pass-through revenue, as well as contract transitions.

First quarter 2021 adjusted EBITDA including noncontrolling interests increased by $8 million, or 27%, compared to the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 280 basis points to 8.7%. These increases were primarily driven by lower selling, general and administrative expenses and increased contract profitability.

First Quarter 2021 Key Performance Indicators

Book-to-bill ratio (first quarter): 1.2x on net bookings of $1.0 billion . Book-to-bill ratio (trailing twelve-months): 1.1x on net bookings of $4.2 billion .

. Book-to-bill ratio (trailing twelve-months): 1.1x on net bookings of . Total backlog: $8.2 billion , a 4.7% increase from the first quarter of 2020.

, a 4.7% increase from the first quarter of 2020. Cash flow used in operating activities: First quarter 2021: $66 million , compared to cash flow used in operating activities of $119 million in the first quarter of 2020.

, compared to cash flow used in operating activities of in the first quarter of 2020. Net Debt: Cash and cash equivalents were $398 million and total debt was $640 million . The company's net debt to trailing twelve-month adjusted EBITDA leverage ratio at the end of the first quarter of 2021 was 0.7x. The company defines net debt as total debt less cash and cash equivalents.

Recent Significant Contract Wins

Parsons continues to win large strategic contracts in growing and enduring markets. During the first quarter of 2021, the company won six contracts worth over $100 million. In addition, since the end Q1 2021, the company has won contracts totaling approximately $1 billion to date.

Awarded a $618 million contract by the General Services Administration (GSA) after the end of Q1 2021 for solutions that advance C5ISR, exercises, operations, and information services (CEOIS) for global partners including the Combatant Commands, Department of State, service components and Director of National Intelligence agencies.

contract by the General Services Administration (GSA) after the end of Q1 2021 for solutions that advance C5ISR, exercises, operations, and information services (CEOIS) for global partners including the Combatant Commands, Department of State, service components and Director of National Intelligence agencies. Booked $140 million of work under the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) Nationwide Program Management Services (PMS) contract. Parsons' experience in program management, architectural and engineering design, and construction management supports the USPS' ongoing modernization and Americans with Disabilities Act access efforts ensuring uninterrupted delivery of reliable and affordable mail service to our nation and expanding access to USPS facilities.

of work under the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) Nationwide Program Management Services (PMS) contract. Parsons' experience in program management, architectural and engineering design, and construction management supports the USPS' ongoing modernization and Americans with Disabilities Act access efforts ensuring uninterrupted delivery of reliable and affordable mail service to our nation and expanding access to USPS facilities. Awarded a $114 million contract by Ashghal, the Public Works Authority of Qatar (PWA), to provide program and construction management services. Parsons has been a trusted partner for the PWA for over 20 years, and this project will continue to enhance the state of Qatar's infrastructure by improving livability for residents and advancing future development plans.

contract by Ashghal, the Public Works Authority of (PWA), to provide program and construction management services. Parsons has been a trusted partner for the PWA for over 20 years, and this project will continue to enhance the state of infrastructure by improving livability for residents and advancing future development plans. Awarded an $80 million contract for program management by the Architect of the Capitol, Washington D.C. , ensuring the continued progress and excellence of their projects from the U.S Capitol Campus; Northern Virginia ; Fort Meade, Md. ; and the Blue Plains Complex located in S.E Washington, D.C.

contract for program management by the Architect of the Capitol, , ensuring the continued progress and excellence of their projects from the U.S Capitol Campus; ; ; and the Blue Plains Complex located in S.E Awarded a 94 million CAD (~ $75 million USD ) contract for new construction management work for remediation efforts on the Giant Mine in the Northwest Territories, Canada . The amended contract, for one of the largest environmental remediation projects in Canada , includes freeze pad construction for the highly innovative thermosyphon-based process that will freeze the arsenic trioxide waste in place at the mine improving the environment and health and safety of local residents and wildlife.

(~ ) contract for new construction management work for remediation efforts on the Giant Mine in the . The amended contract, for one of the largest environmental remediation projects in , includes freeze pad construction for the highly innovative thermosyphon-based process that will freeze the arsenic trioxide waste in place at the mine improving the environment and health and safety of local residents and wildlife. Awarded a $69 million contract by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory to develop exploratory, disruptive technology that will provide United States warfighters with the technological edge as part of the Army's future vision.

contract by the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory to develop exploratory, disruptive technology that will provide warfighters with the technological edge as part of the Army's future vision. Awarded a $45 million contract by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority for design work on improvements to United States Highway 183. These improvements will advance mobility goals in the region, providing a reliable transit route for motorists and emergency response crews, while building connections for shared use, including sidewalks and paths for bicycles and pedestrians with goals of reduced carbon emissions and improved safety for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.

contract by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority for design work on improvements to United States Highway 183. These improvements will advance mobility goals in the region, providing a reliable transit route for motorists and emergency response crews, while building connections for shared use, including sidewalks and paths for bicycles and pedestrians with goals of reduced carbon emissions and improved safety for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. Awarded a $12.6 billion multiple-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for the Solutions for Information Technology Enterprise III (SITE III). The SITE III contract provides managed services directed towards improving integration, information sharing, and information safeguarding through the use of a streamlined information technology (IT) approach.

multiple-award indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for the Solutions for Information Technology Enterprise III (SITE III). The SITE III contract provides managed services directed towards improving integration, information sharing, and information safeguarding through the use of a streamlined information technology (IT) approach. Awarded a $2 billion multiple-award IDIQ contract by the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center for architecture engineering capabilities, including design, construction management, and the restoration and modernization of Air Force Bases worldwide. Parsons looks forward to bringing advances in energy efficiency, climate resiliency, and application of renewable sources to maximize each installation's potential and drive overall mission success.

multiple-award IDIQ contract by the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center for architecture engineering capabilities, including design, construction management, and the restoration and modernization of Air Force Bases worldwide. Parsons looks forward to bringing advances in energy efficiency, climate resiliency, and application of renewable sources to maximize each installation's potential and drive overall mission success. Awarded a $250 million multiple-award IDIQ contract by the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific for research, development, test, and technical engineering for maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and information operations.

multiple-award IDIQ contract by the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific for research, development, test, and technical engineering for maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and information operations. Awarded a $100 million multiple-award IDIQ contract by NIWC Pacific for support in the identification, implementation, development, and enhancement of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, & Intelligence (C4I) and the network-centric warfare.

Recent Additional Corporate Highlights

Parsons continues to be recognized for its long-standing industry leading Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives. During the quarter, Parsons won distinguished awards for its hiring, diversity, and ethical business practices. In addition, the company updated its executive compensation policies to tie a portion to its core values.

Announced that Parsons' board of directors elected Carey Smith as chief executive officer, effective July 1st, 2021 . Ms. Smith succeeds Charles "Chuck" Harrington, who announced his retirement after nearly 40 years with the company. Harrington will continue to serve on Parsons' Board as executive chairman upon his retirement.

as chief executive officer, effective . Ms. Smith succeeds Charles "Chuck" Harrington, who announced his retirement after nearly 40 years with the company. Harrington will continue to serve on Parsons' Board as executive chairman upon his retirement. Recognized as a top 50 company by both Minority Engineer Magazine and Woman Engineer Magazine. These publications select the top companies in the country for which they would most like to work or whom they believe would provide a positive working environment for minority and women engineers.

Recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index for its active support and inclusion of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning (LGBTQ+) community.

Named by Ethisphere as one of the 2021 World's Most Ethical Companies  . The company has been honored with this recognition for 12 consecutive years.

. The company has been honored with this recognition for 12 consecutive years. Parsons' Braxton subsidiary has been awarded the prestigious Tibbitts Award, which recognizes excellence in Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer efforts.

Parsons Board meets quarterly to discuss its ESG initiatives and starting in 2021 the company's CEO and other named executive officers will have a portion of their annual bonuses tied to the company's core values of diversity, integrity, safety, sustainability, quality, and innovation, of which employee diversity is the largest component.

Fiscal Year 2021 Guidance

The company is reiterating the fiscal year 2021 guidance it issued on February 24, 2021, based on its financial results for the first quarter of 2021 and its current outlook for the remainder of year. The table below summarizes the company's fiscal year 2021 guidance.



Fiscal Year 2021 Guidance Revenue $3.85 billion - $4.05 billion Adjusted EBITDA including non-controlling interest $350 million - $375 million Cash Flow from Operating Activities $280 million - $310 million

Net income guidance is not presented as the company believes volatility associated with interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and other matters affecting net income, including but not limited to one-time and nonrecurring events and impact of M&A, will preclude the company from providing accurate net income guidance for fiscal year 2021.

Conference Call Information

Parsons will host a conference call today, May 5, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss the financial results for its first quarter 2021.

Listeners may access a webcast of the live conference call from the Investor Relations section of the company's website at www.Parsons.com. Listeners may also access a slide presentation on the website, which summarizes the company's first quarter 2021 results. Listeners should go to the website 15 minutes before the live event to download and install any necessary audio software.

Listeners may also participate in the conference call by dialing +1 866-987-6581 (domestic) or +1 602-563-8686 (international) and entering passcode 6499894.

A replay will be available on the company's website approximately two hours after the conference call and continuing for one year. A telephonic replay also will be available through May 12, 2021 at +1 855-859-2056 (domestic) or +1 404-537-3406 (international) and entering passcode 6499894.

About Parsons Corporation

Parsons is a leading disruptive technology provider in the global defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cybersecurity, missile defense, space, connected infrastructure, and smart cities. Please visit parsons.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how we're making an impact.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Earnings Release and materials included therewith contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, beliefs, and assumptions, and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks, changes in circumstances, trends and factors that are difficult to predict, many of which are outside of our control. Accordingly, actual performance, results and events may vary materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, and you should not rely on the forward-looking statements as predictions of future performance, results or events. Numerous factors could cause actual future performance, results and events to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, including, among others: the impact of COVID-19; any issue that compromises our relationships with the U.S. federal government or its agencies or other state, local or foreign governments or agencies; any issues that damage our professional reputation; changes in governmental priorities that shift expenditures away from agencies or programs that we support; our dependence on long-term government contracts, which are subject to the government's budgetary approval process; the size of addressable markets and the amount of government spending on private contractors; failure by us or our employees to obtain and maintain necessary security clearances or certifications; failure to comply with numerous laws and regulations; changes in government procurement, contract or other practices or the adoption by governments of new laws, rules, regulations and programs in a manner adverse to us; the termination or nonrenewal of our government contracts, particularly our contracts with the U.S. government; our ability to compete effectively in the competitive bidding process and delays, contract terminations or cancellations caused by competitors' protests of major contract awards received by us; our ability to generate revenue under certain of our contracts; any inability to attract, train or retain employees with the requisite skills, experience and security clearances; the loss of members of senior management or failure to develop new leaders; misconduct or other improper activities from our employees or subcontractors; our ability to realize the full value of our backlog and the timing of our receipt of revenue under contracts included in backlog; changes in the mix of our contracts and our ability to accurately estimate or otherwise recover expenses, time and resources for our contracts; changes in estimates used in recognizing revenue; internal system or service failures and security breaches; and inherent uncertainties and potential adverse developments in legal proceedings including litigation, audits, reviews and investigations, which may result in material adverse judgments, settlements or other unfavorable outcomes. These factors are not exhaustive and additional factors could adversely affect our business and financial performance. For a discussion of additional factors that could materially adversely affect our business and financial performance, see the factors including under the caption "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 on Form 10-K, filed on February 24, 2021, and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

All forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and speak only as of the date on which they are made. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this presentation that becomes untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise, except to the extent we are required to do so in connection with our ongoing requirements under federal securities laws.

financial-news

Media: Investor Relations: Bryce McDevitt Dave Spille Parsons Corporation Parsons Corporation (703) 797-3001 (571) 655-8264 [email protected] [email protected]

PARSONS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)





For the Three Months Ended





March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Revenue

$ 874,697



$ 970,993

Direct cost of contracts



669,082





769,632

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures



7,530





6,114

Selling, general and administrative expenses



187,522





183,774

Operating income



25,623





23,701

Interest income



98





228

Interest expense



(4,541)





(4,022)

Other income (expense), net



(1,791)





(452)

Total other income (expense)



(6,234)





(4,246)

Income before income tax expense



19,389





19,455

Income tax expense



(5,375)





(5,084)

Net income including noncontrolling interests



14,014





14,371

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests



(4,975)





(1,398)

Net income attributable to Parsons Corporation

$ 9,039



$ 12,973

Earnings per share:















Basic

$ 0.09



$ 0.13

Diluted

$ 0.09



$ 0.13



Weighted average number shares used to compute basic and diluted EPS (in thousands) (Unaudited)





Three Months Ended





March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding



102,376





100,670

Stock-based awards



573





230

Convertible senior notes



8,917





-

Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding



111,866





100,899





Net income available to shareholders used to compute diluted EPS as a result of adopting the if-converted

method in connection with the Convertible Senior Notes (in thousands) (Unaudited)





Three Months Ended





March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Net income attributable to Parsons Corporation



9,039





12,973

Convertible senior notes if-converted method interest adjustment



528





-

Diluted net income attributable to Parsons Corporation



9,567





12,973



PARSONS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except share information) (Unaudited)







March 31, 2021



December 31, 2020

Assets















Current assets:

















Cash and cash equivalents (including $52,324 and $75,220 Cash of consolidated joint

ventures)

$ 398,178



$ 483,609



Restricted cash and investments



1,233





3,606



Accounts receivable, net (including $215,641 and $190,643 Accounts receivable of

consolidated joint ventures, net)



693,584





698,578



Contract assets (including $24,539 and $23,498 Contract assets of consolidated joint

ventures)



607,676





576,568



Prepaid expenses and other current assets (including $7,260 and $3,045 Prepaid

expenses and other current assets of consolidated joint ventures)



101,536





80,769



Total current assets



1,802,207





1,843,130























Property and equipment, net (including $2,528 and $2,629 Property and equipment of

consolidated joint ventures, net)



115,544





121,027



Right of use assets, operating leases



204,189





210,398



Goodwill



1,261,189





1,261,978



Investments in and advances to unconsolidated joint ventures



76,017





68,975



Intangible assets, net



222,451





245,958



Deferred tax assets



143,022





130,200



Other noncurrent assets



40,382





56,038



Total assets

$ 3,865,001



$ 3,937,704





















Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity















Current liabilities:

















Accounts payable (including $101,593 and $97,810 Accounts payable of consolidated joint

ventures)

$ 219,220



$ 225,679



Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including $75,606 and $68,801 Accrued

expenses and other current liabilities of consolidated joint ventures)



595,058





650,753



Contract liabilities (including $35,744 and $33,922 Contract liabilities of consolidated joint

ventures)



186,028





201,864



Short-term lease liabilities, operating leases



54,113





54,133



Income taxes payable



6,248





4,980



Short-term debt



50,000





50,000



Total current liabilities



1,110,667





1,187,409



Long-term employee incentives



21,218





21,828



Long-term debt



590,346





539,998



Long-term lease liabilities, operating leases



175,584





182,467



Deferred tax liabilities



13,146





12,285



Other long-term liabilities



113,598





132,300



Total liabilities



2,024,559





2,076,287

Contingencies (Note 12)















Shareholders' equity:

















Common stock, $1 par value; authorized 1,000,000,000 shares; 146,609,288 and 1

46,609,288 shares issued; 26,845,697 and 25,719,350 public shares outstanding;

75,560,749 and 76,641,312 ESOP shares outstanding



146,654





146,609



Treasury stock, 44,248,626 shares at cost



(899,328)





(899,328)



Additional paid-in capital



2,667,130





2,700,925



Accumulated deficit



(108,720)





(120,569)



Accumulated other comprehensive loss



(8,937)





(13,865)



Total Parsons Corporation shareholders' equity



1,796,799





1,813,772



Noncontrolling interests



43,643





47,645



Total shareholders' equity



1,840,442





1,861,417



Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$ 3,865,001



$ 3,937,704



PARSONS CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Unaudited)







For the Three Months Ended







March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Cash flows from operating activities:

















Net income including noncontrolling interests

$ 14,014



$ 14,371



Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities

















Depreciation and amortization



34,673





32,409



Amortization of debt issue costs



665





173



Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment



267





(104)



Deferred taxes



403





5,514



Foreign currency transaction gains and losses



2,220





1,383



Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures



(7,530)





(6,114)



Return on investments in unconsolidated joint ventures



13,180





6,551



Stock-based compensation



7,206





2,252



Contributions of treasury stock



13,153





14,871



Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and newly consolidated joint ventures:

















Accounts receivable



2,597





(91,734)



Contract assets



(31,711)





(52,346)



Prepaid expenses and other assets



(5,386)





(3,766)



Accounts payable



(6,658)





19,788



Accrued expenses and other current liabilities



(68,928)





(24,336)



Contract liabilities



(16,086)





11,416



Income taxes



1,268





(6,212)



Other long-term liabilities



(19,312)





(43,099)



Net cash used in operating activities



(65,965)





(118,983)

Cash flows from investing activities:

















Capital expenditures



(4,449)





(12,637)



Proceeds from sale of property and equipment



164





485



Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired



1,064





-



Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures



(22,240)





(50)



Return of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures



116





-



Proceeds from sales of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures



14,300





-



Net cash used in investing activities



(11,045)





(12,202)

Cash flows from financing activities:

















Proceeds from borrowings under credit agreement



-





131,500



Repayments of borrowings under credit agreement



-





(66,500)



Contributions by noncontrolling interests



7





221



Distributions to noncontrolling interests



(8,989)





(360)



Taxes paid on vested stock



(2,242)





(1,149)



Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities



(11,224)





63,712



Effect of exchange rate changes



430





(1,179)



Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash



(87,804)





(68,652)



Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:

















Beginning of year



487,215





195,374



End of period

$ 399,411



$ 126,722



Contract Awards (in thousands) :





Three Months Ended





March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Federal Solutions

$ 424,621



$ 615,690

Critical Infrastructure



586,353





350,405

Total Awards

$ 1,010,974



$ 966,095





Backlog (in thousands) :





March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Federal Solutions:















Funded

$ 1,127,717



$ 1,338,903

Unfunded



4,010,656





3,716,023

Total Federal Solutions



5,138,373





5,054,926

Critical Infrastructure:















Funded



2,956,255





2,707,701

Unfunded



75,498





38,553

Total Critical Infrastructure



3,031,753





2,746,254

Total Backlog

$ 8,170,126



$ 7,801,180





Book-To-Bill Ratio:





Three Months Ended





March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Federal Solutions



0.9





1.3

Critical Infrastructure



1.4





0.7

Overall



1.2





1.0



Non-GAAP Financial Information

The tables under "Parsons Corporation Inc. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures" present Adjusted Net Income attributable to Parsons Corporation, Adjusted Earnings per Share, Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization ("EBITDA"), Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDA Margin, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, reconciled to their most directly comparable GAAP measure. These financial measures are calculated and presented on the basis of methodologies other than in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("Non-GAAP Measures"). Parsons has provided these Non-GAAP Measures to adjust for, among other things, the impact of amortization expenses related to our acquisitions, costs associated with a loss or gain on the disposal or sale of property, plant and equipment, restructuring and related expenses, costs associated with mergers and acquisitions, software implementation costs, legal and settlement costs, and other costs considered non-operational in nature. These items have been Adjusted because they are not considered core to the company's business or otherwise not considered operational or because these charges are non-cash or non-recurring. The company presents these Non-GAAP Measures because management believes that they are meaningful to understanding Parsons's performance during the periods presented and the company's ongoing business. Non-GAAP Measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and therefore are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled metrics or the financial results of other companies. These Non-GAAP Measures should be considered a supplement to, not a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

PARSONS CORPORATION Non-GAAP Financial Information Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands)





Three Months Ended





March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Net income attributable to Parsons Corporation

$ 9,039



$ 12,973

Interest expense, net



4,443





3,794

Income tax provision (benefit)



5,375





5,084

Depreciation and amortization (a)



34,673





32,409

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests



4,975





1,398

Equity based compensation (b)



6,980





(7,721)

Transaction-related costs (c)



2,646





12,011

Restructuring (d)



77





(33)

Other (e)



491





581

Adjusted EBITDA

$ 68,699



$ 60,496







(a) Depreciation and amortization for the three months ended March 31, 2021 is $30.1 million in the Federal Solutions Segment and $4.6 million in the Critical Infrastructure Segment. Depreciation and amortization for the three months ended March 31, 2020 is $27.4 million in the Federal Solutions Segment and $5.0 million in the Critical Infrastructure Segment. (b) Reflects equity-based compensation costs primarily related to cash-settled awards. (c) Reflects costs incurred in connection with acquisitions, initial public offering, and other non-recurring transaction costs, primarily fees paid for professional services and employee retention. (d) Reflects costs associated with and related to our corporate restructuring initiatives. (e) Includes a combination of gain/loss related to sale of fixed assets, software implementation costs, and other individually insignificant items that are non-recurring in nature.

PARSONS CORPORATION Non-GAAP Financial Information Computation of Adjusted EBITDA Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests (in thousands)

(in thousands)

Three months ended





March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Federal Solutions Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Parsons Corporation

$ 31,982



$ 31,617

Federal Solutions Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests



75





92

Federal Solutions Adjusted EBITDA including noncontrolling interests

$ 32,057



$ 31,709



















Critical Infrastructure Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Parsons Corporation



31,657





27,357

Critical Infrastructure Adjusted EBITDA attributable to noncontrolling interests



4,985





1,430

Critical Infrastructure Adjusted EBITDA including noncontrolling interests

$ 36,642



$ 28,787



















Total Adjusted EBITDA including noncontrolling interests

$ 68,699



$ 60,496



PARSONS CORPORATION Non-GAAP Financial Information Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to Parsons Corporation to Adjusted Net Income Attributable to

Parsons Corporation (in thousands, except per share information)





Three Months Ended





March 31, 2021



March 31, 2020

Net income attributable to Parsons Corporation

$ 9,039



$ 12,973

Acquisition related intangible asset amortization



24,524





22,699

Equity-based compensation (a)



6,980





(7,721)

Transaction-related costs (b)



2,646





12,011

Restructuring (c)



77





(33)

Other (d)



491





581

Tax effect on adjustments



(8,820)





(7,568)

Adjusted net income attributable to Parsons Corporation



34,937





32,942

Adjusted earnings per share:















Weighted-average number of basic shares outstanding



102,376





100,670

Weighted-average number of diluted shares outstanding (e)



102,949





100,899

Adjusted net income attributable to Parsons Corporation per basic share

$ 0.34



$ 0.33

Adjusted net income attributable to Parsons Corporation per diluted share

$ 0.34



$ 0.33







(a) Reflects equity-based compensation costs primarily related to cash-settled awards. (b) Reflects costs incurred in connection with acquisitions and other non-recurring transaction costs, primarily fees paid for professional services and employee retention. (c) Reflects costs associated with and related to our corporate restructuring initiatives (d) Includes a combination of gain/loss related to sale of fixed assets, software implementation costs, and other individually insignificant items that are non-recurring in nature. (e) Excludes dilutive effect of convertible senior notes due to bond hedge.

SOURCE Parsons Corporation

Related Links

www.parsons.com


DOYLESTOWN, Pa., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The nonprofit Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC), one of the nation's most successful life sciences incubators, today announced a major pledge by a local government agency to invest in the Hatch Biofund.

The Bucks County Employees' Retirement Board will invest up to $5 million in the Hatch Biofund, which is intended to support PABC-member companies. The Hatch Biofund was created by the Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, which manages the PABC.

The $5 million investment in the PABC by the Bucks County Employees' Retirement Board follows a $10 million commitment made in March by Daiichi Sankyo, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in Japan with a U.S. headquarters in Basking Ridge, N.J. Also last month, Provco Group LLC of Villanova, Pa., agreed to invest $2 million in the Hatch Biofund. The fund's leadership hope to raise $50 million with a first close in the coming months.

More than 80 companies belong to the PABC  mostly small to mid-size research and pharmaceutical companies  and about 40 member companies have operations on site. Companies that apply for investment from the Hatch Biofund will be chosen by a scientific advisory committee and approved by the investment committee.

Louis P. Kassa, the PABC's executive vice president and chief operating officer, said: "The Center is a jewel in Bucks County's crown that has been highly successful in terms of science and economic development. Our county's leadership has always been supportive, and this new investment is major step forward. Their commitment will help accelerate our efforts, advancing research and helping our companies grow, which can mean a significant number of new jobs. So, this is genuinely a win-win scenario in all respects."

Robert J. Harvie Jr., vice chair of the Bucks County Commissioners, was involved in the negotiations and says this investment is smart for several reasons.

"For 15 years, the PA Biotechnology Center has been quietly changing the world through its innovative and collaborative approach to 21st Century medicine and science," Commissioner Harvie said. "For our entire history, Bucks County has been a place where dreams can become reality and the launch of the Hatch Biofund is another part of that story."

Bucks County Controller Neale Dougherty said: "Our primary responsibilities on the Bucks County Retirement Board are to protect and grow the Bucks County Employees Retirement Fund. This investment in the Hatch Biofund allows us to meet those goals. The establishment of the Hatch Biofund, which will support early stage and startup companies that are Pennsylvania Biotech Center members, is an obvious natural progression for the PABC."

The county has assisted the PABC since the center's creation 15 years ago in what had been a printing plant and warehouse. Six years ago, the county invested in a PABC-member company, OrthogenRx Inc. A growing medical device enterprise focused on developing and commercializing treatments for knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, OrthogenRx received $187,500 from Bucks County in 2015.

Michael Daley, PhD, co-president, co-chief executive officer, and founder of OrthogenRx, said: "Apart from being able to provide a great return on the county's financial investment we have also boosted the local economy by creating over 20 skilled, good-paying jobs and keeping our headquarters in Doylestown. More importantly, this collaboration has helped what we estimate to be over 250,000 patients by providing a safe and efficacious treatment option for their chronic knee pain."

OrthogenRx repaid the county's $187,500 investment plus interest of about $44,000 within three years. Bucks County retains a small equity interest in OrthogenRx through the exercise of warrants associated with the investment funding.

Media Contact:

Edward Tate

267-934-3475

[email protected]

SOURCE Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center (PABC)
CLEARWATER, Fla., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PODS Enterprises, LLC, the industry leader in portable moving and storage solutions, is partnering with the Hamburg Fire Department in northwestern New Jersey to assist in collecting and storing firefighting gear to reequip fire departments in areas of Alabama affected by a series of tornadoes in late March.

A social media post from Capt. Hunter Space of the Beemerville Fire Department in Wantage Township, N.J. that led to an outpouring of support across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania inspired organizer Keith Sukennikoff to call on his firefighting brothers and sisters at the Hamburg Fire Department to get involved. When Sukennikoff contacted PODS, the company quickly agreed to donate several of its portable storage containers so he could easily set up multiple collection sites around the area.

Mark DeVoe, a former Washington, N.J. fire chief turned spokesperson, stated, "We are super excited to have PODS on board. Without them, we would spend a lot of time away from our families and a great deal of effort running around to the different stations to pick up the equipment. With multiple storage containers from PODS, we can have the fire companies drop off their donations, and we only have to make one trip to collect everything at the very end. Thanks to PODS for stepping up. We so appreciate it!"

"It is an honor and a privilege for PODS to be able to lend a hand to support firefighters in the communities we serve," said Luci Rainey, SVP, Residential and Chief Customer Officer. "The selfless dedication of these men and women and their commitment to their jobs is what protects us all and keeps us safe. We are proud to be a part of this effort."

The Hamburg Fire Department will use PODS' storage containers to hold all equipment until they are loaded into trucks headed to Alabama in a few weeks. Similar efforts from other firehouses have reportedly resulted in more than a million dollars in donations.

About PODS Enterprises, LLC

At PODS, we know that your moving and storage needs are unique, which is why we offer flexible, personal solutions with unlimited time, space, and control. When PODS pioneered portable storage in 1998, we introduced the world to a brand new way to move and store the things that matter most. Now an industry leader, PODS provides residential and commercial services in 46 U.S. states, Canada, Australia, and the UK. To date, the PODS network has completed more than 1.2 million long-distance moves, more than 5.4 million initial deliveries, and has over 227,000 PODS containers in service. To learn more about how PODS provides customers with a personal moving and storage team, visit PODS.com.

SOURCE PODS Enterprises, LLC

Related Links

https://www.pods.com


Broadhurst brings two decades of experience advising companies on competition issues, including merger clearance, cartel investigations, abuse of dominance (acting both for the abused and for the allegedly dominant), distribution arrangements, and developing effective compliance programs. He advises clients on matters in front of the European Commission, the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), and the U.K. sectoral regulators, as well as managing processes in front of competition regulators in other jurisdictions.

"Peter has deep experience advising clients on all aspects of competition law related to corporate transactions, including the jurisdictional analysis, strategy, and development of substantive arguments to secure relevant competition law approvals," said Philip T. Inglima, chair of Crowell & Moring. "His knowledge  especially with the Competition and Markets Authority  will be extremely valuable to our clients. He is a great strategic fit as the firm and our clients continue to expand globally and as the CMA's importance as an independent regulator gains prominence post-Brexit."

Broadhurst has in-depth experience working with clients in the technology, media and telecommunications, financial services, energy and infrastructure, industrial, and consumer goods industries. He has particular experience in the issues arising from mergers, acquisitions, structural joint ventures, and cooperation agreements, and in obtaining regulatory approval decisions where necessary.

Broadhurst has advised on numerous U.K. and EU market studies and investigations, including assisting clients in carrying out internal investigations to assess and monitor their compliance with competition law. He has significant experience advising clients on the application of competition law to their commercial activities, collaborations, non-structural cooperation agreements, distribution, and licensing arrangements. He also helps clients navigate the growing number of foreign direct investment rules in Europe and the U.K.

"Peter is a tremendous addition to our London office and to our global antitrust group. He will provide the firm's corporate clients with top flight competition advice, working closely with our friends and colleagues on our Brussels competition team," said Robert Weekes, managing partner of Crowell & Moring's London office. "Peter's experience covers a range of sectors and industries. He also advises on a growing number of foreign direct investment rules which are springing up around Europe and elsewhere. We are delighted to have Peter on board as we continue to grow and strengthen our London office."

Over the past year, the firm has strategically expanded its global antitrust and competition practice. Stefan Meisner, a first-chair defense litigator with more than two decades of experience representing international companies in significant, cross-jurisdictional antitrust matters, joined the firm last fall from McDermott Will & Emery. Earlier this year, the firm added Karel Bourgeois, a prominent antitrust and competition lawyer with over 15 years of experience advising clients on EU and Belgian competition law and state aid law, from Allen & Overy. Broadhurst's arrival from Simmons & Simmons adds to the firm's stable of top-notch competition law practitioners in Europe.

"I am excited to join Crowell & Moring, a firm that is recognized for having one of the leading antitrust and competition practices in the world. I was attracted by its strong, ambitious London office and its connection to a global network, and look forward to working with my colleagues in London, Brussels, Shanghai, the United States, and beyond to assist clients with their competition issues," Broadhurst said. "I look forward to building the London component of a global competition team and adding bench strength when needed on larger and more complex work."

"Post-Brexit, U.K. merger reviews and investigations have seen a significant uptick, with matters taken up by the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority increasing in duration and complexity," said Shawn Johnson, co-chair of Crowell & Moring's global Antitrust and Competition Group. "Peter is a highly regarded practitioner and will expand the firm's global antitrust capabilities."

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with more than 575 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Media Contact:

An Pham

Senior Manager Communications

+1 202.508.8740

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Crowell & Moring LLP

Related Links

http://www.crowell.com


Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices.

Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models.

Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers.

Request a free sample report for more information

Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers:

Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Promotional Products market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Promotional Products pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as volume-based pricing, spot pricing, and cost-plus pricing and category management strategies and best practices to fulfill their category objectives.

Insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers

Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth:

The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers.

Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 1.00%-3.00%.

Identify favorable opportunities in Promotional Products TCO (total cost of ownership).

Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes.

Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities.

Some of the top Promotional Products suppliers listed in this report:

This Promotional Products procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

Li and Fung Ltd.

HH Global

Ennis Inc.

BIC

IGC Global Promotions NV

Brand Addition

HALO Branded Solutions Inc.

Arrow Promotional

Inkwell Global Marketing

The Alison Group

Related Report on Marketing Include:

To get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment,

Subscribe Now for Free

Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

To know more: https://www.spendedge.com/request-for-demo

Contacts

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge

Related Links

http://www.spendedge.com


MBABANE  The Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) on Monday snubbed members of the media fraternity as there was no representative in attendance during the World Press Freedom Day Commemoration.

This did not go down well with the Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ), which resolved to write a letter to the ministry expressing its disappointment. The commemoration was held at the Mbabane Theatre Club Auditorium and about 100 media workers were in attendance. SNAJ President Welcome Dlamini, when making his remarks, expressed his disappointment that there was no government representative.

This was after the Programme Director, John Pires, highlighted that there was no government person present.

Celebrating

He said he was disappointed because looking at the government Twitter account, they had posted celebrating World Press Freedom Day. Where are they commemorating it, do they have their own event? rhetorically asked Dlamini. He said if he had the time, he would extensively address the issue. Dlamini said media workers should realise that the ICT Ministry did not take journalists seriously. Tomorrow they will be calling us to attend their functions yet they fail to come to this very important function today, said Dlamini. He said the Ministry of ICT had a whole Media Department yet they had snubbed the event.

Dlamini encouraged the Editors Forum and the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO) to assist in penning the letter to the ministry expressing their disappointment at how they do not take the media seriously. He said this was the same treatment that government gave the media when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. They issued a list of essential workers, the media was not included, we had to call them, at that time the Acting Minister was Manqoba Khumalo, we had to call him to ask him and he was shocked, he said he was sorry they had forgotten us, so they keep on forgetting us, said Dlamini.

Prioritised

He said this was the similar scenario during the COVID-19 vaccination exercise, where the media was not prioritised and those who got a chance to get a shot had hijacked events they were covering.
DUBLIN, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Industry Challenges and Business Model Disruptions Due to COVID-19 in India, 2020" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Like other economies, India has been rendered vulnerable by the COVID-19 crisis.

Wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, finance and insurance sectors, ICT services, and food and nutrition, have all been affected.

However, it is not that everyone and everything is capsizing. Some sectors in India have made gains, and exciting opportunities are emerging while careful risk mitigation strategies are helping others chart a new course for the future.

In the near term, companies should explore supply chain diversification and leverage on new opportunities arising from changing customer demands. In the long term, product and service portfolio diversification will be critical to ensure greater resilience.

Externally, strengthening brand equity and shifting sales channels online will be strategically important. Internally, adopting technologies that support workplace and operational continuity will enable companies to hit the ground running following the COVID-19 crisis.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Strategic Imperative

2. The Changed Economic Growth Environment

Recovery Scenarios - Shape of the Recovery

Length and Depth of India's Disruption and Shape of Recovery

Impact of COVID-19 on the Indian States

India's GDP to be Impacted by Lowered Sectoral Growth

Impact of COVID-19 on Indian Industries

COVID-19 Industry Mortality Matrix

Emerging and High-growth Areas of Focus for the Future (2020 to 2030)

Comparison Between India and Asia - Government Response to COVID-19

- Government Response to COVID-19 India's Operational and Business Continuity Measures

India's Fiscal Stimulus Measures to Individuals

3. Impact on the Industrial Sector

Revenue Impact on the Industrial Sector in India

Challenges for the Power Sector, Predominantly in the Short Term

Growth Opportunities in the Power Sector Post COVID-19

Challenges for the O&G Sector, Predominantly in the Short Term

Growth Opportunities in the O&G Sector Post COVID-19

Challenges for the Building Materials and Machinery Industry

Growth Opportunities in Building Materials and Machinery Post COVID-19

Challenges for the Water Industry

Growth Opportunities in the Water Industry Post COVID-19

Challenges for the Electronics Sector

Growth Opportunities for the Electronics Sector Post COVID-19

Companies to Action

Growth Opportunities for the Automation Industry Post COVID-19

Business Disruption Prevention Technologies in the Energy and Environment Industry During COVID-19 or Similar Crises

Business Disruption Prevention Technologies in the Electronics and Automation Industry During COVID-19 or Similar Crises

COVID-19 Response Strategies - Respond, Recover, and Thrive

4. Impact on the Transportation and Logistics Sector

Top Exporting Countries in the Impact List

Revenue Impact on the Logistics Sector in India

Challenges Faced by the Logistics Sector in India Due to COVID-19

to COVID-19 Supply Chain Disruptions - Implications on Industries

Growth Opportunities Critical for Future Success in the Light of COVID-19

Technologies that Could Prevent Business Disruption in the Logistics Sector During a Similar Crisis

COVID-19 Response Strategies - Respond, Recover, and Thrive

5. Where is the Impact on the Mobility Industry?

Sharp Drop in Vehicle Sales in India

India's Forecast for FY21 - Market Decline in FY2020

Passenger Vehicles - FY20 State-wise Contribution to Overall Sales

Post COVID-19 Recovery - Zone-wise Analysis

Factors Impacting the Automotive Sector in India

COVID-19 - Short-term Impact

Challenges Faced by the Mobility Industry in India Due to COVID-19

to COVID-19 Companies to Action - Likely Indian Auto OEM Strategies

Emergent Opportunities and Steps Taken by Government Authorities and Associations

Way Forward for OEMs

6. Impact to the Food on Nutrition Industry

Revenue Impact on the Food and Nutrition Industry (Best Case)

Revenue Impact on the Food and Nutrition Industry (Base Case)

Challenges Faced by the Food and Nutrition Industry in India Due to COVID-19

to COVID-19 Growth Opportunities Critical for Future Success in the Light of COVID-19

Companies to Action

COVID-19 Response Strategies - Respond, Recover, and Thrive

7. Impact on the Chemicals Industry

Revenue Impact on the Petrochemical Industry (Best Case)

Revenue Impact on the Petrochemical Industry (Base Case)

Challenges Faced by the Chemicals Industry in India Due to COVID-19

to COVID-19 Growth Opportunities Critical for Future Success in the Light of COVID-19

Companies to Action

COVID-19 Response Strategies - Respond, Recover, and Thrive

8. Impact on the ICT Sector

Revenue Impact on the ICT Sector

Challenges Faced by the ICT Sector in India Due to COVID-19

to COVID-19 Growth Opportunities Critical for Future Success in the Light of COVID-19

Technologies that Could Prevent Business Disruption in the ICT Sector During COVID-19 or a Similar Crisis

Companies to Action

COVID-19 Response Strategies - Respond, Recover, and Thrive

9. Impact on the Healthcare

Impact of Covid on Healthcare Market Participants

Growth Opportunities Critical for Future Success in the Light of COVID-19

The Challenge of Reduced Consumption Compounded by Shortages and Operational Issues

Growth Opportunities Critical for Future Success in the Light of COVID-19

Technologies that Could Prevent Business Disruption in the Health and Wellness Industry During COVID-19 or Similar Crises

Companies to Action

COVID-19 Response Strategies - Respond, Recover, and Thrive

10. Impact on the Metals Industry

Volume Impact on the Metals Industry

Challenges Faced by the Aluminum Industry in India Due to COVID-19

to COVID-19 Challenges Faced by Steel Downstream in India Due to COVID-19

to COVID-19 Technologies that Could Prevent Business Disruption in the Metals Industry During COVID-19 or Similar Crises

Growth Opportunities Critical for Future Success in the Light of COVID-19

Companies to Action

COVID-19 Response Strategies - Respond, Recover, and Thrive

11. Risk Mitigation Strategies for Indian Companies

Survival Strategies - Business Continuity and Resilience

Winning Strategies for Accelerated Recovery and Growth

12. Companies to Action

Companies to Action - Likely Indian Auto OEM Strategies

13. Appendix - Growth Pipeline Engine

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/wzos0k

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

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U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

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SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

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LONDON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Offering unique insight into diversity drives, research excellence, and employability enhancement, QS Quacquarelli Symonds - recognized internationally for their QS World University Rankings portfolio - released their second annual list of America's top universities. Harvard University remains the national number-one.

The focus on Diversity provides students with information about which universities are doing most to reduce sectoral gender and racial inequities. The Diversity indicator is jointly led by the University of California Davis  last year's number-one - and New York University.

Only six of the top-20 universities also achieve a top-20 score for Diversity & Internationalization .

. Among the Top-100, the institutions with the highest student ethnic diversity are UC Riverside, UC Irvine, and University of Hawaii at Manoa

All bar one of the top-10 for Student Ethnicity Mix is a public university, indicating that public universities are meeting their social obligations to increase diversity.

is a public university, indicating that public universities are meeting their social obligations to increase diversity. Among the Top-100, the institutions with the highest proportion of female staff are liberal arts colleges - Barnard College and Wellesley College , with over 60% female academic staff.

and , with over 60% female academic staff. Some of America's top research institutions perform less strongly when gender diversity is examined. MIT , scoring third for Research , has only 28% female staff, and Stanford (second for research) only records 35% of its staff as female.

, scoring third for , has only 28% female staff, and (second for research) only records 35% of its staff as female. QS's data shows that tech-focused institutions still lag behind their peers in terms of widening female workforce participation. Among the ranking's top 100, the institutions with the lowest ratio of female to male staff are Caltech, New Jersey Institute of Technology , Rensselaer Institute of Technology, and MIT .

The QS USA University Rankings also prioritizes employability and teaching quality as key lenses through which to assess institutional performance.

Jack Moran, QS Spokesperson, said: "While the overall QS World University Rankings continue to command record levels of interest, we know that the American higher education sector is wrestling with questions that do not fall within the scope of our global rankings  questions of equity, access, representation, and social justice. The QS USA University Rankings have been carefully crafted to shine some independent light on which institutions are doing most to foster the essential relationship between education and social change."

QS USA University Rankings 2021: Top Ten 1 Harvard MA 2 Stanford CA 3 MIT MA 4 UC Berkeley CA 5 UCLA CA 6 Yale CT 7 Columbia NY 8 Princeton NJ 9 NYU NY 10 UPenn PA  TopUniversities.com. All rights reserved.

Full rankings: www.TopUniversities.com

Methodology

SOURCE QS Quacquarelli Symonds

Related Links

http://www.qs.com/


VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) awarded Regulus Global a shared $516,953,713 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for its Foreign Military Sales Medical and Surgical Tailored Logistics Support (TLS) program. The contract supports DoD and foreign military services worldwide with specialized and commercial medical equipment, meeting stringent product requirements and detailed fulfillment schedules.

"Regulus Global is honored to receive the DLS' first-generation FMS TLS prime vendor program award to provide global medical support, disaster preparedness and humanitarian assistance to U.S. and foreign military services," said Chief Executive Officer Will Somerindyke. "We stand mission ready, poised to execute as a global capabilities enabler for medical needs worldwide."

The FMS Medical and Surgical TLS contracts are one-year base contracts with four one-year option periods. The contract will provide medical surge ordering capabilities for brand name and generic commercial off the shelf (COTS) medical and surgical products throughout the world.

Regulus Global supports emergent medical and humanitarian needs locally and worldwide  designing, building and delivering modular scalable mobile hospital units to allied countries in Africa, Asia and Central America. Most recently, Regulus delivered a mobile hospital package to Mexico that included a full capacity operating room, trauma, radiology, laboratory and oxygen generator able to support hundreds of COVID-19 patients. Additionally, Regulus supplied the Bahamas with hurricane preparedness equipment, to support patients during the pandemic. With equipment designed and manufactured in Virginia Beach, Va., Regulus offers the most updated, comprehensive medical equipment and deployment capabilities, providing support for communities responding to natural disasters, pandemic response, and supplemental health needs farther from urban medical resources.

Regulus Global, a leader in innovative design, enables capabilities in the humanitarian, expeditionary, national security and defense industries. By understanding the mission, Regulus provides the requirements analysis, emerging technologies, equipment, and scalability to meet the critical needs of organizations and agencies worldwide. Transforming the end-to-end lifecycle, Regulus supports organizations, businesses and government agencies worldwide with its systems design, development and execution expertise. Regulus Global is headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va., with subsidiary offices in Mexico City and Torreon Coahuila, Mexico and Sao Paulo, Brazil, and has operated in more than 70 countries worldwide.

www.regulusglobal.com

SOURCE Regulus Global
Learn more at Ritchie Bros. Canadian Agriculture Industry Panel on May 10 at 11 a.m. Pacific

SASKATOON, SK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Every spring, Ritchie Bros. holds dozens of farm retirement dispersals across Western Canada. Traditionally the company would drive from farm to farm as a travelling auction company, but in Spring 2021 all bidding is conducted online via Timed Auction or with an auctioneer, and it's paying off for consignors.

"We registered more than 160,000 bidders and attracted more than 1.6 million online equipment views for our spring 2021 agricultural events," said Jordan Clarke, Sales Director, Ritchie Bros. "As a result, equipment pricing in March and April was very strong in Canada, with buyers pushing hard on almost every asset category."

This spring, in just 30 days, Ritchie Bros. conducted 71 farm auctions, generating CA$104+ million in gross transaction value. Equipment highlights included 230+ tractors, 140+ combines, 110+ air drills, 675+ grain bins, farmland, and a lot more. Specific sales highlights included a 2020 Claas 8700 combine that sold in Bowsman, MB via Timed Auction for CA$500,000; a 2018 John Deere R4045 120-ft high clearance sprayer that sold via auctioneer in Regina, SK for CA$445,000; and a 2018 Versatile 610DT track tractor that sold via Timed Auction in Eatonia, SK for CA$410,000.

Want to learn more? Ritchie Bros. Canadian Agriculture Industry Panel on May 10 at 11 a.m. Pacific

On May 10, 2021, at 11 a.m.  12 p.m. Pacific, Ritchie Bros. will host a Canadian agriculture industry panel to discuss key issues impacting the farming industry in Canada, including supply/demand metrics, macro economic issues, and more. This free one-hour online panel discussion will feature Farm Credit Canada Principal Agriculture Economist Craig Klemmer; Western Equipment Dealers Association CEO John Schmeiser; along with Ritchie Bros. experts Jordan Clarke (Director, Sales) and Kevin Tink (Senior Advisor & Auctioneer). Register for free online at rbauction.com/blog!

Spring Auction Customer Testimonials:

"We were new to the online auction process, so we had a lot of questions, and they were always there for us," said Larry and Jean Hamilton , who sold farmland on April 5 and 6 in Saskatoon, SK . "The entire process was handled in a very professional manner and the end results were above and beyond our expectations."

, who sold farmland on and 6 in . "The entire process was handled in a very professional manner and the end results were above and beyond our expectations." "All of the Ritchie bros. employees were friendly, easy to work with, and very accommodating," said LeRoy and Karen Sonnenberg , who sold 75+ items via Timed Auction on April 9 . "We were very pleased with the process and the outcome from our auction. Ritchie Bros. are excellent to work with from start to finish."

, who sold 75+ items via Timed Auction on . "We were very pleased with the process and the outcome from our auction. Ritchie Bros. are excellent to work with from start to finish." "Thank you, Ritchie Bros, for a first-class auction and an excellent result," said Kerry Peterson , who sold 175+ items in a Timed Auction on April 10 .

To consign equipment to an upcoming Ritchie Bros. auction, contact your sales rep or visit rbauction.com/selling.

About Ritchie Bros.:

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offers live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with featured weekly auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; and Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales. The Company's suite of solutions also includes Ritchie Bros. Asset Solutions and Rouse Services LLC, which together provides a complete end-to-end asset management, data-driven intelligence and performance benchmarking system. Ritchie Bros. also offers sector-specific solutions including GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy, plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com.

Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media.

SOURCE Ritchie Bros.
DALLAS, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Time Group, a Dallas based PR and marketing firm for the Ron Hall Show, hosted Dimas Salaberrios, author, producer and national crisis first responder, during an interview where Mr. Salaberrios enlightened viewers about the upcoming May 12th premier of Chicago: America's Hidden War. Click to Watch Dimas and Ron Hall, executive film producer and author of The Same Kind of Different as Me, teamed up to create the film which highlights the incredible tragedy taking place on the streets of Chicago. The film made the 93rd Academy Awards documentary consideration list.

Since 1992, 10,300 were killed in Chicago when compared to the 6,888 killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined. It was this reality that led to the creation of the film. Dimas has been instrumental in rallying community groups, churches, and organizations to work together to find solutions.

Pastor Dimas, previously known as "Daylight" on the streets of New York City, knows first-hand the reality of gun violence. Although Chicago is not his home, he felt he must do something to break the generational chain of violence that is making areas of Chicago a war zone.

"It's key that we change this narrative. People are dying," stated Dimas. "If we can do something to stop someone from killing another person, I can't turn a blind eye to that. Our hope is that this film will stir up people to get engaged and get involved."

For more information, visit https://www.chicagoshiddenwar.com/ to learn how you can get involved. To reach Dimas Salaberrios for a personal interview, contact him at 914.380.2276.

Margaret McKoin P: 817.403.0866 [email protected]

SOURCE The Time Group

Related Links

http://thetimegroup.net


BOSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Servier Pharmaceuticals, a growing leader in oncology committed to bringing the promise of tomorrow to the patients we serve, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company's supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for TIBSOVO (ivosidenib tablets) as a potential treatment for patients with previously treated IDH1-mutated cholangiocarcinoma.

The sNDA was granted Priority Review, which accelerates the review time from 10 months to a goal of 6 months from the day of filing acceptance. Priority Review is typically given to drugs that may offer major advances in treatment or may provide a treatment where no adequate therapy exists.

"While today is a significant milestone in our company's history, it is also a beacon of hope for the cholangiocarcinoma patient community," said David K. Lee, CEO, Servier Pharmaceuticals. "As we continue to expand our oncology leadership presence in the U.S. into the solid tumor space, we remain committed to addressing the critical unmet needs of patients with difficult-to-treat cancers including cholangiocarcinoma."

The sNDA acceptance is supported by data from the ClarIDHy study, the first and only randomized Phase 3 trial for previously treated IDH1-mutated cholangiocarcinoma. An encore presentation of the data will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on June 4-8, 2021.

"Currently, there are no approved systemic therapies for IDH1-mutated cholangiocarcinoma and limited chemotherapy options are available for patients with advanced disease," said Susan Pandya, M.D., Vice President, Clinical Development, Head of Cancer Metabolism Global Development, Servier Pharmaceuticals. "The FDA's Priority Review is a major milestone for patients. I'd like to acknowledge and thank all the patients, their families and the investigators and research teams who took part in the ClarIDHy study."

TIBSOVO (ivosidenib tablets) is currently approved in the U.S. as monotherapy for the treatment of adults with IDH1-mutant relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and for adults with newly diagnosed IDH1-mutant AML who are 75 years old or who have comorbidities that preclude the use of intensive induction chemotherapy.

In an effort to meet more patient needs than ever before, Servier Pharmaceuticals has grown by nearly 20% in the past two years. The company will continue to grow its oncology portfolio through new and existing research and development collaborations, potential acquisitions and a new lab opening in 2022.

About Cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare, aggressive cancer of the bile ducts within and outside of the liver. IDH1 mutations occur in approximately 13% of cholangiocarcinoma cases and are not associated with prognosis. There are no approved systemic therapies for IDH1-mutated cholangiocarcinoma and limited chemotherapy options are available in the advanced setting. Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy is often recommended for newly diagnosed advanced or metastatic disease.

About TIBSOVO (ivosidenib tablets)

TIBSOVO is indicated for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a susceptible isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test in:

Adult patients with newly-diagnosed AML who are 75 years old or who have comorbidities that preclude use of intensive induction chemotherapy.

Adult patients with relapsed or refractory AML.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: DIFFERENTIATION SYNDROME

Patients treated with TIBSOVO have experienced symptoms of differentiation syndrome, which can be fatal if not treated. Symptoms may include fever, dyspnea, hypoxia, pulmonary infiltrates, pleural or pericardial effusions, rapid weight gain or peripheral edema, hypotension, and hepatic, renal, or multi-organ dysfunction. If differentiation syndrome is suspected, initiate corticosteroid therapy and hemodynamic monitoring until symptom resolution.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Differentiation Syndrome: See Boxed WARNING. In the clinical trial, 25% (7/28) of patients with newly diagnosed AML and 19% (34/179) of patients with relapsed or refractory AML treated with TIBSOVO experienced differentiation syndrome. Differentiation syndrome is associated with rapid proliferation and differentiation of myeloid cells and may be life-threatening or fatal if not treated. Symptoms of differentiation syndrome in patients treated with TIBSOVO included noninfectious leukocytosis, peripheral edema, pyrexia, dyspnea, pleural effusion, hypotension, hypoxia, pulmonary edema, pneumonitis, pericardial effusion, rash, fluid overload, tumor lysis syndrome, and creatinine increased. Of the 7 patients with newly diagnosed AML who experienced differentiation syndrome, 6 (86%) patients recovered. Of the 34 patients with relapsed or refractory AML who experienced differentiation syndrome, 27 (79%) patients recovered after treatment or after dose interruption of TIBSOVO. Differentiation syndrome occurred as early as 1 day and up to 3 months after TIBSOVO initiation and has been observed with or without concomitant leukocytosis.

If differentiation syndrome is suspected, initiate dexamethasone 10 mg IV every 12 hours (or an equivalent dose of an alternative oral or IV corticosteroid) and hemodynamic monitoring until improvement. If concomitant noninfectious leukocytosis is observed, initiate treatment with hydroxyurea or leukapheresis, as clinically indicated. Taper corticosteroids and hydroxyurea after resolution of symptoms and administer corticosteroids for a minimum of 3 days. Symptoms of differentiation syndrome may recur with premature discontinuation of corticosteroid and/or hydroxyurea treatment. If severe signs and/or symptoms persist for more than 48 hours after initiation of corticosteroids, interrupt TIBSOVO until signs and symptoms are no longer severe.

QTc Interval Prolongation: Patients treated with TIBSOVO can develop QT (QTc) prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias. One patient developed ventricular fibrillation attributed to TIBSOVO. Concomitant use of TIBSOVO with drugs known to prolong the QTc interval (e.g., anti-arrhythmic medicines, fluoroquinolones, triazole anti-fungals, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists) and CYP3A4 inhibitors may increase the risk of QTc interval prolongation. Conduct monitoring of electrocardiograms (ECGs) and electrolytes. In patients with congenital long QTc syndrome, congestive heart failure, or electrolyte abnormalities, or in those who are taking medications known to prolong the QTc interval, more frequent monitoring may be necessary.

Interrupt TIBSOVO if QTc increases to greater than 480 msec and less than 500 msec. Interrupt and reduce TIBSOVO if QTc increases to greater than 500 msec. Permanently discontinue TIBSOVO in patients who develop QTc interval prolongation with signs or symptoms of life-threatening arrhythmia.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Guillain-Barre syndrome occurred in <1% (2/258) of AML patients treated with TIBSOVO in the clinical study. Monitor patients taking TIBSOVO for onset of new signs or symptoms of motor and/or sensory neuropathy such as unilateral or bilateral weakness, sensory alterations, paresthesias, or difficulty breathing. Permanently discontinue TIBSOVO in patients who are diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common adverse reactions including laboratory abnormalities (20%) were hemoglobin decreased (60%), fatigue (43%), arthralgia (39%), calcium decreased (39%), sodium decreased (39%), leukocytosis (38%), diarrhea (37%), magnesium decreased (36%), edema (34%), nausea (33%), dyspnea (32%), uric acid increased (32%), potassium decreased (32%), alkaline phosphatase increased (30%), mucositis (28%), aspartate aminotransferase increased (27%), phosphatase decreased (25%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (24%), rash (24%), creatinine increased (24%), cough (23%), decreased appetite (22%), myalgia (21%), constipation (20%), and pyrexia (20%).

In patients with newly diagnosed AML, the most frequently reported Grade 3 adverse reactions (5%) were fatigue (14%), differentiation syndrome (11%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (11%), diarrhea (7%), nausea (7%), and leukocytosis (7%). Serious adverse reactions (5%) were differentiation syndrome (18%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (7%), and fatigue (7%). There was one case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES).

the most frequently reported Grade 3 adverse reactions (5%) were fatigue (14%), differentiation syndrome (11%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (11%), diarrhea (7%), nausea (7%), and leukocytosis (7%). Serious adverse reactions (5%) were differentiation syndrome (18%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (7%), and fatigue (7%). There was one case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). In patients with relapsed or refractory AML, the most frequently reported Grade 3 adverse reactions (5%) were differentiation syndrome (13%), electrocardiogram QT prolonged (10%), dyspnea (9%), leukocytosis (8%), and tumor lysis syndrome (6%). Serious adverse reactions (5%) were differentiation syndrome (10%), leukocytosis (10%), and electrocardiogram QT prolonged (7%). There was one case of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Strong or Moderate CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Reduce TIBSOVO dose with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors. Monitor patients for increased risk of QTc interval prolongation.

Strong CYP3A4 Inducers: Avoid concomitant use with TIBSOVO.

Sensitive CYP3A4 Substrates: Avoid concomitant use with TIBSOVO.

QTc Prolonging Drugs: Avoid concomitant use with TIBSOVO. If co-administration is unavoidable, monitor patients for increased risk of QTc interval prolongation.

LACTATION

Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for adverse reactions in breastfed children, advise women not to breastfeed during treatment with TIBSOVO and for at least 1 month after the last dose.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING.

About Servier Pharmaceuticals



Servier Pharmaceuticals, LLC is a commercial-stage company with a passion for innovation and improving the lives of patients, their families and caregivers. A privately held company, Servier has the unique freedom to devote its time and energy toward putting those who require our treatment and care first, with future growth driven by innovation in areas of unmet medical need.

As a growing leader in oncology, Servier is committed to finding solutions that will address today's challenges. The company's oncology portfolio of innovative medicines is designed to bring more life-saving treatments to a greater number of patients, across the entire spectrum of disease and in a variety of tumor types.

Servier believes co-creation is fundamental to driving innovation and is actively building alliances, acquisitions, licensing deals and partnerships that bring solutions and accelerate access to therapies. With our commercial expertise, global reach, scientific expertise and commitment to clinical excellence, Servier Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to bringing the promise of tomorrow to the patients that we serve.

More information: www.servier.us

Follow us on Social Media: LinkedIn, Twitter

Press contact



Kelly Schlemm

[email protected]

Disclosures

This release contains general information about the Servier Group and its entities (hereinafter "Servier and its Affiliates") and is intended for informational purposes only. The information is thought to be reliable; however, Servier and its Affiliates make no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein or otherwise provided and accept no responsibility or liability, in contract, in tort, in negligence, or otherwise, should the information be found to be inaccurate or incomplete in any respect.

Servier and its Affiliates are not acting as an advisor to the recipient of this information, and the ultimate decision to proceed with any transaction rests solely with the recipient of this information. Therefore, prior to entering into any proposed transaction, the recipient of this information should determine, without reliance upon Servier or its Affiliates, the economic risks and merits, as well as the legal, tax, and accounting characterizations and consequences, of the transaction and that it is able to assume these risks.

This statement also contains forward-looking statements that are subject to varying levels of uncertainty and risk. Investigational new drugs and indications are subject to further scientific and medical review and regulatory approval. They are not approved for use by the FDA.

Any reliance placed on this document is done entirely at the risk of the person placing such reliance. The information contained in this document is neither an offer to sell nor the solicitation of an offer to enter into a transaction.

The content of this document is a summary only, is not complete, and does not include all material information about Servier and its Affiliates, including potential conflicts of interest.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, Servier and its Affiliates disclaim all representations, warranties, conditions and guarantees, whether express, implied, statutory or of other kind, nor does it accept any duty to any person, in connection with this document. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, Servier and its Affiliates do not warrant or represent that the information or opinions contained in this document is accurate or complete.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, Servier and its Affiliates shall not be liable for any loss, damage or expense whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, howsoever arising, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability or otherwise, for direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, punitive or special damages arising out of or in connection with this document, including (without limitation) any course of action taken on the basis of the same.

The estimates, strategies, and views expressed in this document are based upon past or current data and information and are subject to change without notice.

SOURCE Servier Pharmaceuticals

Related Links

https://www.servier.us/


NEW YORK, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner at Monteverde & Associates PC, a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018-2020 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating Meredith Corp. ("MDP" or the "Company") (MDP) relating to its proposed acquisition by Gray Television, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, MDP shareholders will receive $14.51 per share they own.

The investigation focuses on whether Meredith Corp. and its Board of Directors violated securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties to the Company by 1) failing to conduct a fair process, and 2) whether the transaction is properly valued.

Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/meredith-corp. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.



About Monteverde & Associates PC

We are a national class action securities litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders from corporate wrongdoing. We were listed in the Top 50 in the 2018-2020 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. Our lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions. Mr. Monteverde is recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013, 2017-2019, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2020 Top Rated Lawyer. Our firm's recent successes include changing the law in a significant victory that lowered the standard of liability under Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act in the Ninth Circuit. Thereafter, our firm successfully preserved this victory by obtaining dismissal of a writ of certiorari as improvidently granted at the United States Supreme Court. Emulex Corp. v. Varjabedian, 139 S. Ct. 1407 (2019). Also, over the years the firm has recovered or secured over a dozen cash common funds for shareholders in mergers & acquisitions class action cases.

If you owned common stock in the Company and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:

Juan E. Monteverde, Esq.

MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC

The Empire State Building

350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405

New York, NY 10118

United States of America

[email protected]

Tel: (212) 971-1341

Attorney Advertising. (C) 2021 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC (www.monteverdelaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC

Related Links

http://www.monteverdelaw.com


FRANKLIN, Tenn., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the SHEBA brand revealed Hope Reef, the start of the world's largest coral reef restoration program to preserve and restore the beauty in our oceans. To support the announcement, the SHEBA team has partnered with activist, actress and entrepreneur, Kate Walsh, and her cat Pablo, to help grow hope. By the end of 2029, the program plans to restore coral reefs the size of nearly 150 Olympic Swimming Pools through its full coral restoration project.

Watch The Film That Grows Coral and other videos on our channel to help restore coral reefs and grow hope for our oceans. Proceeds from the channel will be donated to our partner, The Nature Conservancy, to support coral restoration projects. Today the SHEBA brand reveals Hope Reef, part of a global movement from the cat food brand to restore reefs at a large, ecologically relevant scale and ensure our future has fish. The SHEBA brand partners with activist and actress, Kate Walsh, and her cat Pablo, to help launch Hope Reef.

As one of the leading cat food brands, SHEBA hopes to play the role of a catalyst, helping to ensure the future has coral reefs and fish. Hope Reef, located off the coast of Sulawesi in Indonesia, in the Spermonde Archipelago, was built to visibly spell out the word 'H-O-P-E' from the seabed using restored coral to show the power of positive change, and spark action from others. The reef  which can be seen on Google Earth  was kicked off in 2019 and has already increased in coral cover from 5 to 55%, resulting in an abundance of fish and the return of species such as sharks and turtles.

"We know how much cats love fish, and it's important to provide all of our family members the high-quality, nutritious food they crave. But that shouldn't have to come at the expense of our oceans," said Craig Neely, Vice President of Marketing at Mars Petcare. "We're committed to doing our part to ensure our future has fish, and Hope Reef is our first step in doing so."

Scientists estimate that if we do nothing, 90% of the world's tropical reefs will be gone by 2043, threatening 25% of all the world's marine life and impacting nearly 500 million people who depend on them for food, income and coastal protection.1 The effort to solve this requires global cooperation on a massive scale and the SHEBA team hopes that the campaign will start a movement to contribute to the cause.

To rally support for the program, the SHEBA brand is excited to partner with Walsh, an animal lover and long-time advocate for ocean and marine life, and her cat Pablo, to inspire pet parents to take action and grow hope. Feline-loving fans can join the movement and experience the Hope Reef from home via a first-of-its-kind YouTube Channel. With every view of "The Film That Grows Coral" and other videos on the channel, the advertising money generated is invested back into coral reef regeneration through campaign partner, The Nature Conservancy. This is the first time ever that 100% of the funds from a branded YouTube channel have been reinvested to support sustainability efforts.

"We all have a responsibility to make our planet a better place. While Pablo may not know it, the food he loves depends on the future of fish," said Walsh. "That's why I am happy to be partnering with SHEBA to help encourage action from fellow feline families and inspire hope, that together we can create a positive change in the future of our ocean health."

Hope Reef furthers years of work done by the parent company of the SHEBA brand, Mars, Incorporated, to ensure the future has fish. Since 2008, Mars, has invested more than $10m in research, builds, and community engagement as part of its coral restoration program. More than 285,000 coral fragments have already been planted and 19,000 reef stars have been installed, all using locally sourced materials.

For more information on Hope Reef, visit the Channel that Grows Coral on YouTube, ShebaHopeGrows.com and be sure to follow @ShebaHopeGrows on Instagram and Facebook, and @ShebaBrand on Twitter. Details on the full scale of the global program can be found in the global press release.

About the SHEBA Brand

The SHEBA brand knows that cat owners love cats for their independent spirits, personalities, and discerning palates. That's why the SHEBA brand puts cats at the heart of everything it does, creating premium recipes with irresistible real meat, fish or poultry, no artificial flavors, and designed to entice cats' unique tastes and desires. The SHEBA brand appreciates the relationship between cats and their owners and uses that understanding to celebrate and fuel their unique bond. Look for SHEBA premium cat food and cat treats at retailers nationwide. For more information, visit www.sheba.com.

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 72 countries and territories: 38 by direct conservation impact and 34 through partners, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

About Mars Petcare

Part of Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love, the 85,000 Associates across 50+ countries in Mars Petcare are dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 85 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world's pets  including brands PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, ROYAL CANIN, NUTRO, GREENIES, SHEBA, CESAR, IAMS and EUKANUBA as well as the Waltham Petcare Science Institute which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through an international network of over 2,000 pet hospitals and diagnostic services including BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL, VCA, Linnaeus, AniCura and Antech. We're also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in  and we choose to fight for: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.

About Mars, Incorporated

For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This idea is at the center of who we have always been as a global, family-owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating and evolving in ways that affirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us.

Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of confectionery, food, and petcare products and services, we employ 133,000 dedicated Associates who are all moving in the same direction: forward. With $40 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world's best-loved brands including DOVE, EXTRA, M&M's, MILKY WAY, SNICKERS, TWIX, ORBIT, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, SKITTLES, BEN'S ORIGINAL, WHISKAS, COCOAVIA, and 5; and take care of half of the world's pets through our pet health services AniCura, Banfield Pet Hospitals, BluePearl, Linnaeus, Pet Partners, and VCA.

We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles  Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom  inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive. For more information about Mars, please visit mars.com.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

1 IPPC Special Report (2018): https://report.ipcc.ch/sr15/pdf/sr15_spm_final.pdf

SOURCE SHEBA Brand
Scientists estimate that if the world does nothing, 90% of the world's tropical reefs will be gone by 2043, impacting nearly 500 million people who depend on them for food, income and coastal protection [1] . The effort to solve this requires global cooperation on a massive scale and SHEBA  hopes to play the role of catalyst, helping to ensure the future has coral reefs and fish.

While the unveiling of Hope Reef takes place today, its restoration began two years ago. Since then, coral cover has increased from 5 to 55%, fish abundance has increased and we have seen the return of species such as sharks and turtles. By the end of 2029, SHEBA's ambition is to restore more than 185,000 square meters of coral reef at sites around the world  roughly the size of 148 Olympic Swimming Pools.

Viewers who watch the SHEBA Hope Reef story, "The Film That Grows Coral" on YouTube will help raise money for reef restoration. With every view, the advertising money generated is invested into coral reef restoration through campaign partner, The Nature Conservancy. This is the first time ever that 100% of the funds from a YouTube channel have been monetized for sustainability efforts.

Providing a simple but effective solution, Hope Reef uses innovative 'Reef Star' technology  90cm-wide, star-shaped, steel structures that are handmade by the local community in Indonesia. Each star is joined underwater to create a strong web that covers the seabed and provides a stable base for coral fragments to regrow.

Professor David Smith, Chief Marine Scientist at Mars Inc., said: "We're thrilled to unveil Hope Reef and show that there really is hope for our oceans. Our efforts around the world to restore and regenerate these precious ecosystems are showing exciting results and having a positive impact on local communities, which we're delighted to see. We hope our efforts inspire others to join us so we can all play our part in helping to prevent the extinction of our coral reefs."

Dr. Elizabeth McLeod, The Nature Conservancy's Global Reef Systems Lead, said: "Coral reefs are the heart of our oceans, supporting over a quarter of marine life. Reefs also supply millions of people worldwide with food, livelihoods, life-saving medicines, and protection against storms. It's imperative that we scale up our work to protect and restore the long-term health of these vital ecosystems, as well as addressing the threats that have caused their decline and building their resilience to a changing climate."

Since 2008, SHEBA's parent company, Mars, Incorporated, has invested more than $10m in research, restoration and community engagement as part of its coral reef program. In addition, the company has invested $1 billion to drive action for the protection and restoration of the planet and those who inhabit it through its Sustainable In A Generation Plan.

Tracey Massey, Global President of Mars Pet Nutrition said: "This is a symbol of hope  hope for the future of our oceans and the start of a movement to restore these vital ecosystems. The Nature Conservancy and our other long-standing partners on coral restoration around the world ensure a promising start to drive further action, acting as catalyst to inspire others and help create a healthy, thriving planet for both people and pets."

To play a role in reef restoration, so that we have more coral today and more fish tomorrow, watch and share this video #hopegrows: The Film That Grows Coral

About SHEBA

The SHEBA Brand knows that cat owners love cats for their independent spirits, personalities, and discerning palates. That's why the SHEBA brand puts cats at the heart of everything it does, creating premium recipes with irresistible real meat, no artificial preservatives or flavors, and designed to entice cats' unique tastes and desires. The SHEBA Brand appreciates the relationship between cats and their owners and uses that understanding to celebrate and fuel their unique bond. Look for SHEBA premium cat food and cat treats at retailers nationwide. For more information, visit www.sheba.com.

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 72 countries and territories: 38 by direct conservation impact and 34 through partners, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

About Mars Petcare



Mars Petcare is a diverse and growing business with 85,000 Associates across 50+ countries dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 75 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world's pets  including brands PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, ROYAL CANIN, NUTRO, GREENIES, SHEBA , CESAR, IAMS and EUKANUBA as well as The WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through a network of over 2,000 pet hospitals including BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL, PET PARTNERS, VCA, LINNAEUS and ANICURA. We're also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in  and we choose to fight for: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.

About Mars, Incorporated

For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This idea is at the center of who we have always been as a global, family-owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating and evolving in ways that affirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us.

Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of confectionery, food, and petcare products and services, we employ 133,000 dedicated Associates who are all moving in the same direction: forward. With $40 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world's best-loved brands including DOVE, EXTRA, M&M's, MILKY WAY, SNICKERS, TWIX, ORBIT, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, SKITTLES, BEN'S ORIGINAL, WHISKAS, COCOAVIA, and 5; and take care of half of the world's pets through our pet health services AniCura, Banfield Pet Hospitals, BluePearl, Linnaeus, Pet Partners, and VCA.

We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles  Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom  inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive. For more information about Mars, please visit mars.com.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

[1] IPPC Special Report (2018): https://report.ipcc.ch/sr15/pdf/sr15_spm_final.pdf

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1501768/Mars_Inc_Hope_Reef.jpg

[email protected]

SOURCE Mars, Incorporated.

Related Links

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NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Simon Data , the market-leading platform provider that delivers the next generation of personalized customer experiences for customer-obsessed brands, today announced the publication of " When Data Drags You Down: Maximize Marketing Objectives With Modern Data Infrastructure ," a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting that examines how marketers can optimize data to better meet their customers' needs. Recognizing that most organizations face strategic hurdles as a result of ineffective data application, the study offers actionable insights for maximizing data usage.

To better understand the divide between marketing objectives and data infrastructure, Simon Data commissioned Forrester Consulting to evaluate marketing data use cases, objectives, and supporting technologies. Forrester conducted an online survey with 465 respondents responsible for marketing technology strategy to analyze how data usage syncs with marketing priorities. The research found that 90 percent of marketers described that their strategy is aligned with the organization's goals, while the same number reported challenges with delivering on those priorities.

"This study demonstrates the disconnect between what marketers think their martech stacks can do versus the actual outcomes the tech delivers," said Jason Davis, CEO and co-founder of Simon Data. "A majority of marketers view their capabilities as 'advanced' or better, but almost everyone in this same group cite limitations around achieving their objectives. When you dig into the issues, it all comes down to the data: data to coordinate channels, data to enable these capabilities, and data required to drive outcomes."

The study went on to reveal that integration struggles and the inability to keep pace with customer interactions limit organizations from delivering to their fullest extent. A whopping 95 percent of marketers have experienced negative business impacts because of the marketing and strategy challenges they face. This includes missed market opportunities (39 percent), decreased customer satisfaction (38 percent), missed strategic growth opportunities (36 percent), increased costs (36 percent), and lowered engagement (35 percent). By addressing these shortcomings, businesses can prioritize closing this gap to preserve their brand reputation and boost their bottom line.

Other key findings from the report include a ranking of the most valuable tech capabilities. Eighty percent of marketers rate "Customer data integration across every end channel" as valuable - underscoring the need for solutions that enable organizations to move past internal silos and operate across a unified customer journey.

For complete access to the Forrester study, "When Data Drags You Down: Maximize Marketing Objectives With Modern Data Infrastructure," please visit https://go.simondata.com/report/forrester-modern-data-infrastructure?utm_campaign=050 [.

About Simon Data

Simon Data is the enterprise Customer Data Platform (CDP) that empowers brands to deliver data-driven, personalized customer experiences anywhere. The platform leverages enterprise-scale big data and machine learning to power customer communications in any channel. Simon's unique approach allows brands to develop and deliver incredible personalization capabilities without needing to build and maintain massive bespoke data infrastructure. Simon works with brands customers love, from F500 financial services to Asos, Equinox, Tripadvisor, BarkBox, and many, many more. For more information, visit www.simondata.com .

Media Contact:

Escalate PR

[email protected]

SOURCE Simon Data

Related Links

https://www.simondata.com


MBABANE - Government is not intending on closing its borders with South Africa.

This is despite reports that a traveller from India tested positive for COVID-19 after landing in South Africa on Monday. Worth noting is that the COVID-19 variant causing havoc in Indian, which is still being investigated for the spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths in that country, has not yet been confirmed to be in South Africa, however, investigations are still ongoing. According to the Sunday Times, a person who recently travelled from India to SA was being treated for COVID-19 in a KwaZulu-Natal hospital, but it is not yet known which variant of the virus the person contracted.

Infection

Dr Caroline Maslo, Senior Clinical Adviser and Head of Infection Control of Netcares hospital division in KwaZulu-Natal, confirmed the information on Monday evening and said the patient was in isolation, according to Sunday Times. Though Covid-19 screening is performed at South African border posts, this unfortunately cannot fully rule out new cases and potentially new variants entering our country, either directly from their country of origin or through connecting routes, said the doctor in an interview with Sunday Times. South Africans expressed their concern over the reports on Twitter, enquiring why their government was not closing borders with India because they were now susceptible to their (Indian) variants. When asked if the country would close its borders on India or South Africa, the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Nhlanhla Nxumalo, said these were the talks which would be deliberated on at Cabinet level.

Currently, Eswatini has not banned any country. However, the reports that a person who had travelled from India was being treated for COVID-19 in South Africa are worrying. As a ministry, it is high time we consider acting on the reports and review our travelling restrictions for travellers from Brazil and India, where this new variant is found. It is fundamental that we act on these reports before this variant comes to the country, said Nxumalo. The PS said currently, they would consider reverting to the 72-hour COVID-19 test results for travellers.

Preventive

When asked what government was planning to do to guard against the Indian variant, Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi said they needed to continue with the normative preventive measures in their ports of entry.
The American Business Awards are the U.S. premier business awards program and set a record this year with over 3,800 applicants. More than 250 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year's Stevie Award winners. Judges complimented Smarten Spaces stating, "a workspace management solution using state-of-the-art AI and IoT platform productivity to reduce operational cost and enhance convenience for end-users."

"We are deeply honored to receive the awards for both Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning Innovation and Entrepreneur of the Year. We are pleased to be in the company of the most innovative companies in the U.S.," said Dinesh Malkani, Founder and CEO. "The Smarten Spaces development team rose to the challenge and remained relentlessly focused on innovation during the pandemic."

Smarten Spaces is digital technology platform enabling companies to shift to the hybrid workplace. Powered by Artificial Intelligence and IoT, the enterprise solution is deployed on one easy-to-use workplace experience app.

"This award is a reflection of the team's strategy, commitment, and focus during these unprecedented times," said Anushka Verghese, Co-Founder and CPO. "We are proud to be recognized as an American Business Award winner and will continue to deliver innovation to enable the dynamic workplace of the future today."

"This year's Stevie-winning nominations in The American Business Awards are testament to the ingenuity, commitment, passion, adaptability, and creativity of the American people. We look forward to celebrating this year's winners during our virtual ceremony on June 30," said Stevie Awards president Maggie Gallagher. Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2021 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA .

About Smarten Spaces:

Smarten Spaces was founded in 2017 by Dinesh Malkani , former president of Cisco India. Smarten Spaces offers a full-featured solution for workplace safety and flexibility on a single technology platform to help businesses navigate the new hybrid workplace. The SaaS technology simplifies desk management with workforce scheduling, digital workplace experience, and space management bringing together key workforce and workplace considerations for a future-ready solution.

Smarten Spaces is trusted by Fortune 500 companies in 70+ cities worldwide and was recently awarded the COVID Management of Year - IT Services at SBR Management Excellence Awards by Singapore Business Review 2020 for their Hybrid Workplace technology for a safe and flexible workplace. Smarten Spaces was named one of the Top 3 Hottest Startups in Singapore by Singapore Business Review 2019 and one of 5 Innovative Startups Making Offices More Secure Post COVID by BW Disrupt Business World.

About the Stevie Awards:

Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. The Stevies also produces the annual Women|Future Conference. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.

Media Contact:

Joy Dumandan

Gutenberg NY

[email protected]

SOURCE Smarten Spaces

Related Links

https://smartenspaces.com/


ATLANTA, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR) has recognized Bondurant Mixson & Elmore with the Luminary Award at the 2021 Justice Taking Root ceremony.

The SCHR is recognizing Bondurant Mixson & Elmore for the "extraordinary contributions to justice and fairness, especially your longtime leadership in upholding the right to counsel and pushing back against the cruelty of the death penalty" according to SCHR Executive Director Sara Tontonchi.

Tontonchi also praised "the firm's work challenging Georgia's Lethal Injection Secrecy Act, your powerful and effective efforts as amicus counsel for former prosecutors who protested the conviction of our client Johnnie Gates, and your longtime advocacy to strengthen the provision of public defense in Georgia."

Bondurant Mixson & Elmore Partner Ronan Doherty, who serves on the SCHR Board, thanked the organization, saying "We are grateful and honored to receive this award, and we treasure the opportunity to work alongside the talented, dedicated, and inspiring people at the Southern Center."

About Bondurant Mixson and Elmore, LLP

Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP is a litigation firm located in Atlanta, GA. The firm has a 40-year track record of successfully litigating and trying some of the toughest and most complex business cases in the United States. The firm is widely recognized as a litigation powerhouse. It has been rated one of the top 10 litigation boutiques in the country by National Law Journal and consistently receives the highest rankings from Chambers USA as one of the top litigation firms in Georgia. For more information about Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP, please visit www.bmelaw.com.

Contact: Geoffrey A. Frost

Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP

[email protected]

404.881.4166

SOURCE Bondurant Mixson & Elmore LLP

Related Links

https://www.bmelaw.com


LONDON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis has announced that it will be welcoming back cruise tourism in July with one of the world's leading luxury lines. Seabourn Odyssey, an ultra-luxury cruise line, is scheduled to stop in St Kitts every week in late July as the islands begin its phased reopening of the sector. However, the nation's full reopening isn't expected until October 2021 as the government ensures that its population is fully vaccinated thus achieving herd immunity.

St Kitts and Nevis is one of the few nations that have efficiently tacked the spread of the virus, recording only 44 cases in total with zero deaths and no community spread. The vaccination programme is currently underway across the islands with over 11,000 people now inoculated against the virus.

"We look forward to welcoming Seabourn Odyssey to St. Kitts. The benefits of the cruise industry have been vital to the economies of St. Kitts & Nevis and we are delighted to welcome our first vessel back, as we begin our phased approach to resume cruise tourism," said Lindsay F.P. Grant, Minister of Tourism, Transport and Ports.

St Kitts and Nevis' borders have been open since October last year with strict protocols in place that ensure the safety of both travellers and citizens. The island's tourism board is continuing to work with local operators to ensure that the same health and safety measures are followed in order to welcome back cruise lines to its shores. The news aligns with the announcement from the Centers for Disease Control which recently revealed that Americans could enjoy cruise vacations from as early as July if fully vaccinated.

For St Kitts and Nevis, this is welcome news as the nation relies on cruise tourism. In recent years, the islands have become a major cruise destination and has been recognised as "marquee destination" by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association. Prior to the pandemic, St Kitts and Nevis hosted one million cruise passengers for two consecutive years, a milestone for the small islands. Developing the sector has remained a priority for the government, which commissioned the construction of a second cruise pier that can host up to three world class vessels simultaneously, a project funded by the country's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme.

St Kitts and Nevis' CBI Programme is one of the world's longest standing. Established in 1984, the programme has been inviting foreign investors to become citizens of the islands once making an economic contribution to its economy. Funds generated from the programme are then channelled back into national development in areas including healthcare, education, tourism and more.

In exchange, successful applicants gain access to a wealth of opportunities from increased travel freedom  an exclusive perk particularly as much of the world grapples with travel restrictions  to a lifelong citizenship that can be passed down through descent for generations to come. Over the last year, political uncertainty and economic instability has left many Americans, in particular, to reconsider their options, seeking out second citizenship as an insurance policy for the future.

Contact: +447867942505, [email protected], www.csglobalpartners.com

SOURCE CS Global Partners
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sterling Organization, a vertically integrated private equity real estate investment firm, has announced the acquisition of Cinco Ranch Shopping Center, a 97,266-square-foot grocery-anchored shopping center located in the Houston MSA. The property was purchased on behalf of Sterling Organization's institutional grocery-anchored shopping center core fund, Sterling United Properties II, LP ("SUP II"), for $21.25 million or $218 per square foot.

Kroger grocery store which anchors the shopping center

The property is currently 94% leased and anchored by a 63,373-square-foot Kroger grocery store. The property is well-positioned in a densely populated submarket that has over 123,000 people living within a 3-mile radius of the site with an average household income of over $142,000.

"We are pleased to add an asset of Cinco Ranch's quality to our growing SUP II portfolio," said Brian Kosoy, Managing Principal and CEO of Sterling Organization. "Our core Fund's strategy of investing in market-leading grocery-anchored shopping centers has provided significant downside protection during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The stability and resilience exhibited by these properties have not been a surprise to us, and Cinco Ranch Shopping Center should deliver the same consistent and durable cash flow our investor partners have come to expect. We remain optimistic about the opportunities ahead for this Fund and the sector as a whole," he added.

Paul Mittmann, Senior Vice President of Investments, Western Region, for Sterling Organization added, "We would like to thank both Edens and JLL for another smooth transaction, our second as a group thus far in 2021."

Sterling purchased Mill Pond Village a 94,550 sq. ft. grocery-anchored center located in the Philadelphia MSA from Edens for $19.74 million in January.

Cinco Ranch Shopping Center marks Sterling Organization's fourth asset in Texas and the eighth in their SUP II Fund, increasing the Fund's portfolio to eight grocery-anchored shopping centers and approximately 1 million square feet of GLA. From coast to coast, the Palm Beach, FL-based firm and its principals own more than 12 million square feet of primarily retail real estate approaching $2.2 billion in value.

About Sterling Organization

Sterling Organization is a vertically integrated private equity real estate firm whose national platform, through two platform subsidiaries Sterling Retail Properties and Sterling Logistics Properties, is focused on investing in LAST HOUR consumer fulfillment and distribution real estate assets across the risk spectrum in major markets within the United States on behalf of Sterling's principals in partnership with the highest quality institutional investors. Sterling Organization, with offices across the nation, is headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL.

Media Contact: Dana Verhelst, 561-812-7476 or [email protected]

Related Images

cinco-ranch-shopping-center-kroger.jpg

Cinco Ranch Shopping Center Kroger

Kroger grocery store which anchors the shopping center

SOURCE Sterling Organization
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SyBridge Technologies ("SyBridge"), a global technological leader in the tooling and mold industry, announced today that its subsidiary, Concours Technologies ("Concours"), has completed the acquisition of the assets of Toolplas Systems Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. ("Toolplas Mexico"). This transaction marks the further expansion by SyBridge in the service business, especially in serving customer needs in Mexico. New York based private equity firm Crestview Partners established SyBridge in 2019 and committed $200 million of equity to create a market leader spanning across end-markets, geographies, and advanced technological capabilities to provide value-added solutions to its customers.

The acquisition of Toolplas Mexico assets enables SyBridge to add a dedicated service center in the Queretaro area, where significant injection molding production is located. It also allows Concours' existing production facility in Puebla Mexico to focus on mold design, manufacturing, and validation. The addition of this Queretaro service center increases SyBridge's customer service network to four dedicated service facilities in North America; it will complement other locations in Alabama, Tennessee, and Ontario Canada.

"Queretaro is strategically located; having a service center there helps us to better meet customers' engineering changes, mold repair and maintenance needs in Mexico," said Tony Nardone, CEO of SyBridge. "We now have dedicated service centers in all 3 countries under USMCA and will add several more to match the manufacturing footprint of our customers. Building an industry leading technology and service business is a key element of SyBridge's overall growth strategy."

About SyBridge Technologies

SyBridge Technologies was established in 2019 by Crestview Partners to create a global technological leader that provides value-added design and production solutions across multiple industries. SyBridge is based in Southfield, Michigan. For more information, please visit www.sybridgetech.com.

About Concours Technologies, Inc.

Founded in 1994 and formerly known as Concours Mold, Concours Technologies designs, manufacturers and repairs tools and molds for its customers. With headquarters in Windsor, Ontario and additional manufacturing and services facilities in Alabama, Tennessee and Mexico, Concours Technologies is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SyBridge Technologies. For more information, please visit www.concourstechnologies.com.

About Crestview Partners

Founded in 2004, Crestview is a value-oriented private equity firm focused on the middle market. The firm is based in New York and manages funds with over $9 billion of aggregate capital commitments. The firm is led by a group of partners who have complementary experience and distinguished backgrounds in private equity, finance, operations and management. Crestview has senior investment professionals focused on sourcing and managing investments in each of the specialty areas of the firm: industrials, media, and financial services. For more information, please visit www.crestview.com.

For more information, please contact:

Jeffrey Taufield or Daniel Yunger

Kekst CNC

(212) 521-4800

[email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE SyBridge Technologies
DALLAS, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Trees Foundation, in partnership with the Dallas Independent School District, Dallas Parks and Recreation, Trust for Public Land, 29 Pieces, and generous donors, is proud to announce the opening of six Cool School Neighborhood Parks, which will be celebrated during the Grand Opening event at John Ireland Elementary from 9-10 a.m. on May 26.

The new community outdoor spaces are located at David G. Burnet Elementary, John Ireland Elementary, Frank Guzick Elementary, Reinhardt Elementary, Salazar Elementary, and PL Prep at Sam Houston Elementary.

Texas Trees Foundation

This is the first set of Cool School Neighborhood Parks to open, and the second group of seven Cool Schools in Dallas will begin construction in June 2021.

"We launched the Cool Schools program to provide students with an outdoor hands-on learning experience to foster environmental education and land stewardship which, ultimately, improves the health of our children and our neighborhoods," said Janette Monear, Texas Trees Foundation CEO/President. "These outdoor classrooms and spaces will bring surrounding neighborhoods closer as a community but will also reflect the transformative learning experiences happening within each school."

The Texas Trees Foundation Cool School program transforms selected school campuses into safer, cooler outdoor learning spaces with the goal of increasing outdoor education and tree canopy coverage by supplying teachers with the necessary resources, such as an outdoor classroom, to educate students about urban forestry and environmental stewardship.

These schools are considered Cool School Neighborhood Parks and were identified through the Smart Growth study completed by the Trust for Public Land as being park-desert areas: neighborhoods that do not have park access within a 10-minute walk.

"The Cool School program is truly a collaborative process that ensures each outdoor space is unique and reflects their school's identity and needs," said Samantha Bradley, Cool School Manager. "Teachers, administrators, and students were essential in providing input on all aspects of the program, such as creating the landscape design, selecting amenities, and developing educational opportunities."

Each Cool School Neighborhood Park has a new playground, loop trail, outdoor classroom, art mural, and 50-100 newly planted trees that students will enjoy during school hours and the surrounding community will have access to after school and on the weekends.

For more information about the Cool School Neighborhood Parks Grand Opening event on Wednesday, May 26, please contact Samantha Bradley at [email protected].

Related Images

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Cool School Neighborhood Park

SOURCE Texas Trees Foundation
HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Textainer Group Holdings Limited (NYSE:TGH; JSE: TXT) ("Textainer", "we" and "our"), one of the world's largest lessors of intermodal containers, will release first quarter 2021 financial results after the close of regular market trading on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. A conference call to discuss its results will follow at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time that same day.

Those wishing to participate via webcast should access the call through Textainer's Investor Relations website at http://investor.textainer.com. Those wishing to participate via telephone may dial in at 1-877-407-9039 (U.S. & Canada) or 1-201-689-8470 (International). The conference call replay will be available via webcast through Textainer's Investor Relations website. The telephone replay will be available from 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 11, 2021, through May 18, 2021, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (U.S. & Canada) or 1-412-317-6671 (International). The replay passcode will be 13718966.

About Textainer Group Holdings Limited

Textainer has operated since 1979 and is one of the world's largest lessors of intermodal containers with approximately 3.8 million TEU in our owned and managed fleet. We lease containers to approximately 250 customers, including all of the world's leading international shipping lines, and other lessees. Our fleet consists of standard dry freight, refrigerated intermodal containers, and dry freight specials, and we are one of the largest and most reliable suppliers of new and used containers. Textainer operates via a network of 14 offices and approximately 400 independent depots worldwide. Textainer has a primary listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: TGH) and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: TXT).

Contact Information

Investor Relations

+1 415-658-8333

[email protected]

SOURCE Textainer Group Holdings Limited

Related Links

http://www.textainer.com


WILMINGTON, Del., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Shareholder Commons, a non-profit organization advocating for a systems-first approach by business and investors, will present a shareholder proposal at the McDonald's annual shareholders meeting on May 20, 2021 asking the company to study and disclose the external environmental and public health costs created by the use of antibiotics in its meat supply chain.

The proposal is co-filed by Trinity College at the University of Cambridge and Amundi Asset Management, the largest asset manager in Europe by assets under management (1.729 trillion). The full text of the proposal is available here: https://theshareholdercommons.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/MCD-Proposal-ED-AMR.pdf

An exempt filing with the SEC, detailing The Shareholder Commons' response to the company's objections to the filing, is available here:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000063908/000121465921004862/m54211px14a6g.htm

The Shareholder Commons supported a similar shareholder proposal with Yum! Brands that was withdrawn on March 3, 2021 after the company committed to disclose the systemic costs of antibiotic use, making it the first public company to disclose its impacts on the global economy and the interests of diversified shareholders in protecting public health and well-being.

"While U.S. securities laws require companies to disclose matters that are material to their own financial performance, there is no requirement that companies report their impacts on people or planet," said Frederick Alexander, CEO of The Shareholder Commons. "We are encouraged that Yum! recognized the importance of disclosing their impacts on public health and well-being. Now it's time for McDonald's to step up and also address this important systemic issue."

Excessive use of antibiotics in raising animals for foodincluding in McDonald's meat supply chainscontributes to antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, which threatens global health by reducing the effectiveness of antibiotic drugs. If current trends continue, humanity will experience a reversal of the public-health gains of the past century and the economic growth, development, and poverty reduction these gains enabled. According to studies by the World Bank and the UK government, AMR could cause up to 10 million deaths per year by 2050. In addition to this staggering loss of life, AMR may decrease global GDP 3% by 2030, and almost 4% by 2050, amounting to economic losses by 2050 of $54 trillion in today's dollars. The issue is of such importance that the United Nations hosted a High-Level Interactive Dialogue on AMR in April.

"AMR is a complex challenge which requires collaborative action by governments, NGOs, and corporations," said Professor Dame Sally Davies, Master of Trinity College, Cambridge University. "We were are all pleased to see Yum! take this important step in March, and would now like to see McDonald's follow suit and join global best practices on AMR by aligning its supply chain with the needs of people and planet."

Catherine Howarth, Chief Executive of ShareAction.org , said: "In light of the pandemic, investors are recognizing the critical role played by companies in shaping people's health, including people to whom they owe a fiduciary duty of care. This shareholder proposal sends a clear message to McDonald's and to its wider shareholder base about the systemic risks to health created by the abuse of antibiotics. We strongly recommend it to McDonald's' shareholders. It builds upon commitments made by the company on antibiotics in its chicken supply chain following shareholder activism in 2018 in which ShareAction was proud to play a coordinating role."

The Shareholder Commons encourages McDonald's to agree to many of the same steps that Yum! Brands committed to earlier in the year, including:

Incorporate a study of the system-wide costs of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) into its public sustainability reporting

Disclose its findings regarding how antibiotic use in animal husbandry threatens global health and well-being, as well as the global economy and diversified shareholder interests

Discuss an optimal, global scenario for the food industry to eliminate or internalize AMR costs and address competitive concerns that would make progress more difficult without such an approach

Describe how its policies and proceduresincluding those covering lobbying, political expenditures, and other forms of political influenceaffect the realization of the global scenario

The Shareholder Commons is supporting multiple proponents in filing shareholder resolutions with a systems-first lens, seeking to ensure that corporations do not seek profits that depend on behavior that threatens social and environmental systems. The full list of current shareholder resolutions and votes is available at https://theshareholdercommons.com/beta-activism/ .

About the Shareholder Commons

The Shareholder Commons is an NGO helping investors work collectively to reduce the social and environmental costs that businesses create when competing for profits, using shareholder stewardship, thought leadership, and policy advocacy to catalyze systems-first investing and create a level playing field for sustainable competition. Learn more at https://theshareholdercommons.com/ .

Media Contact:

Dmitriy Ioselevich

17 Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE The Shareholder Commons
NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tiger Finance, an affiliate of Tiger Group today announced that it provided financing to support the April 2021 acquisition of digitally native fashion retailer ModCloth by Nogin, the market leader in outsourced e-commerce for major fashion and consumer product companies.

Tiger provided a $6 million term loan to Nogin to help fund its purchase of the ModCloth assets from brand investment platform Go Global Retail for an undisclosed sum. Additionally, Tiger Valuation Services is providing inventory analytics support to Nogin.

Babcock: "This was a natural step in the company's progression and provided the perfect opportunity for Nogin to step in and buy an established online retailer with a very loyal and passionate following."

Founded in 2002, ModCloth offers exclusive indie and vintage-inspired women's clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories for 18- to 35- year-old women of all sizes. Go Global had acquired ModCloth from Walmart in January 2020 in a transaction that also included financing from Tiger, which specializes in the provision of secured debt financing and equity investments, as well as comprehensive appraisals for the ABL industry and the disposition of consumer and industrial assets.

"We are pleased to have been able to assist Nogin in its first acquisition of a consumer brand, as this fast-growing company looks to diversify beyond its traditional role of managing the e-commerce operations of major brands," said Tiger Finance Managing Director Andrew Babcock. "This was a natural step in the company's progression and provided the perfect opportunity for Nogin to step in and buy an established online retailer with a very loyal and passionate following."

Originally founded as Branded Online, the Tustin, California-headquartered Nogin has provided enterprise-level solutions and technology for such major brands as Honeywell, Hurley, Bebe, Lululemon, True Religion, Yeezy and, most recently, Charming Charlie's.

"We have a huge advantage of being able to get brands to be world class and profitable within 90 days of putting them on our platform. It's what we have always done. Investing where we see great potential is a natural extension," said Nogin CEO Jan-Christopher Nugent. "The seamless partnership with Tiger paves the way for ModCloth to focus on delivering great products and stories to the brand's community of passionate consumers, while staying true to its core values that champion female empowerment and inclusivity."

Bob DeAngelis, Executive Managing Director at Tiger Finance, added: "The Nogin transaction represents a continuation of Tiger's growing presence in e-commerce asset-valuation, monetization and capital-infusion. This is a natural outgrowth of our long history in brick-and-mortar retailing. Like their brick-and-mortar counterparts, e-commerce companies have to constantly review their assets to support their go-forward strategies, which might include acquiring or selling brands or selectively liquidating online inventories. Our team at Tiger is well equipped to meet all of those needs for this ever-growing industry."

Press Contact: At Jaffe Communications (908-789-0700), Bill Parness, [email protected], or Elisa Krantz, [email protected].

SOURCE Tiger Group
South Africa: Powering the economy through alternative energy

South Africa is finalising the much-anticipated Hydrogen Society Roadmap as the country shapes its industrialisation and economic pathway.

This development was recently outlined by the Department of Science and Innovations (DSI) Chief Director for Hydrogen and Energy, Dr Rebecca Maserumule.

Crafting the document began last year and is expected to be finalised in the next three months.

Dr Maserumule outlined this during a webinar on the future of alternative energy sources.

We think that around this transition, the lynchpin is hydrogen  that is with prior emphasis on green hydrogen. The emphasis of the roadmap really is how do we, as South Africa, try to find insights in the expectations and purposes towards how we should make this movement?

The roadmap is a collaborative roundtable of which all relevant stakeholders are at equal footing and the issues of gender equality and social inclusion are at the forefront.

These revolve around how the energy sector would contribute towards the countrys efforts in building an inclusive economy while making sure that we reduce poverty and inequality while moving towards a sustainable future for South Africa.

This considers stakeholder benefits such as job creation, economic growth and development, industrialisation or the sustainable industrialisation contribution towards energy security.

The growth areas for the sector are around energy in the mining sector, transport industry, buildings, [and the] export of green hydrogens to other economies (either Europe or Asia) in resource development, says the Chief Director.

For South Africa, industrialisation is an important ideal.

That is an aspiration that we have as a country. We are building our economic growth out of COVID on the back of infrastructure development. In order to do that effectively, while keeping to our Paris Agreement commitments, we really need to maximise system value.

She adds that at the core of maximising system value is the expansion of renewable energy. Addressing issues around energy efficiency, and grid system upgrade interventions are central to successfully achieving this.

This plays into transforming the energy system. This is looking at power in market reforms, she says while also mentioning the unbundling of power utility Eskom which is currently underway.

In making its decisions, South Africa is also in part informed by developments globally.

Therefore, she says, it is critical for South Africa to have honest and frank discussions and intentions about the electrification of sectors on the back of renewables.

Key among the questions to be asked is whether the transition will be conducted effectively.

How do we go from what we call gray, which is hydrogen producing coal and natural gas, to blue, which is hydrogen which is gray that allows carbon caption or carbon storage and lastly, green hydrogen, which is on the back of renewables? she remarks.

Even though it is often cited as expensive, the price of renewables is coming down.

Dr Maserumule is adamant that the green hydrogen revolution [should happen] here sooner versus later.

Most international energy agencies say we are not going to move towards greenhouse gas emission reductions without carbon caption and storage (CCS) of which South Africa has had programs since around 2010.

The roadmap also addresses this issue, among others.

Regulations

She says governments role in most cases is to put in place policy regulations.

Investments are coming from government and the private sector, especially if youre coming up with sustainable options as well as education and skills capacity, which is critical in ensuring that there is proper awareness towards this movement.

She spoke of the need for renewables to extend outside the power sector adding that we need to create a future in which renewables can play a role.

Hydrogen could be used for rail tracks and maritime shipping, she says, adding that the country needs to increase the share of renewables in the current energy mix.

We have the conditions from an economic point of view to make it happen, sooner versus later, she said.

Nuclear

Meanwhile, Managing Director of the Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa (NAISA), Knox Msebenzi said many African countries are pursuing nuclear power which offers several benefits.

The association is a body that is committed to promoting the highest standards in the development and application of nuclear technology in South Africa.

They are building in Egypt and a few other countries, he says, adding that Nigeria has also expressed interest in nuclear.

South Africa already has a nuclear power plant  the Koeberg power plant. The plant which is located in Cape Town, was commissioned by the former government in 1984.

He says nuclear technology is not new with the worlds first nuclear power plant having being commissioned in 1954 in the Soviet Union.

So, it cannot be an alternative energy source in the true sense of new technology  it has been around for a very long time. If you look at the world outlook, in 1986, Chernobyl happened and Fukushima also happened. Those two events were actually a temporary setback in the movement where countries took a step back and reassessed the situation.

He adds that there are about 30 emerging countries around the world that are planning or starting to build nuclear power plants.

Major world countries have this technology; all our BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] partners have got a huge interest in nuclear.

Chief among the benefits of nuclear is that it is a carbon-free base power and requires no back-up. In addition, nuclear power plants provide employment.

If you say a power plant takes five years to build, in those five years, there is reasonable employment. People are not just twiddling their thumbs, they are actually involved in welding, bricklaying, excavation - that is actually the creator of employment, thats where the money goes, he says.

The costs associated with nuclear technology are relatively low and predictable.

He notes that the initial construction costs of a nuclear power plant are high, adding that proper cost of funding should be made.

The normal funding  through which the banks make a lot of money on interest  may not be ideal. This is why youve got the BRICS Bank, youve got the World Bank, and so forth, that have got favourable rates for infrastructure projects.

Nuclear power plants are environmentally friendly. Theres a lot of talk about nuclear waste but that is something that is managed very well. It emits no gases, and to that extent, it is clean.

While some countries had experienced challenges with nuclear technology like the Fukushima incident whereby the Japanese nuclear plant was struck by an earthquake and a tsunami in 2011, there is benefit to the technology.

Yes, something happened to the plant that led to Japan closing all their nuclear plants but they have since been opening them one-by-one and they are going back full steam because they realise they cannot be sustainable without nuclear. For a country that suffered misfortune to say the risks are outweighed by the benefits, it tells you a good story, says Msebenzi. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-05-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Iraqi Health minister Hassan al-Tamimi resigned Tuesday following his suspension in the wake of last months deadly fire which killed 130 people, including Covid-19 patients in a hospital in capital Baghdad.

Al-Tamimi, reports say, submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi who accepted it.

The resignation came following an investigation committee, tasked to look into the fire incident, submitted its report to the Council of Ministers for voting, reports notes.

The committee recommended ending of al Tamimis functions and dismissal of the director of Ibn al-Khatib Hospital, his deputy, the civil defense officer and the Rusafa district health director.

A fire caused by the explosion of oxygen tanks at Ibn al-Khatib Hospital on April 24, caused the death of 130 people most of whom were covid-19 patients.

An emergency cabinet meeting suspended al-Tamimi and tasked the interior minister to investigate the tragedy.
MBABANE  A dispute has arisen over the whereabouts of over E1.7 million deposited into the Trust Account of a law firm that was operated by the late shrewd lawyer Lindifa Mamba.

The sum of E 1 750 000 was reportedly deposited into the bank account of L.R Mamba and Associates by Huawei Technologies (PTY) Limited in respect of an immovable property it was purchasing from Vilamoura Holdings (PTY) Limited. Huawei is alleged to have entered into a deed of sale with Vilamoura for the purchase of immovable property described as: Portion 413 (a portion of portion 25) of Farm No.50, situated in the district of Hhohho, measuring 4 518 square metres. The late Mamba was the conveyancer, hence the money was deposited into his law firms bank account. A conveyancer is a licensed professional who provides advice and information with regard to the transfer of property ownership.

The curator of Mambas law firm, Mabandla Manzini, is alleged to have since advised the company and its attorneys that the money was no longer in the Trust Account and, therefore, could not confirm if the funds still existed. The company contended that it appeared that the money might have been appropriated for other things and not what was envisaged by the parties. Pursuant to various engagements and on March 23, 2021, the curator wrote to our attorneys, confirming that indeed the funds had been paid out of the Trust Account and that their whereabouts were unknown, averred the company. Huawei Technologies (PTY) Limited yesterday obtained an interim order interdicting the curator from dissipating, withdrawing and distributing monies in two banks accounts in the name of L.R Mamba and Associates held with First National Bank.

Judge Titus Mlangeni also interdicted and restrained the bank from permitting withdrawals or transfers of the amounts in both accounts, pending the final determination of the claim submitted by Huawei and Vilamoura to the curator. The court also directed the curator to provide a full and proper statement of account and related information with respect to the trust deposit (pre-payment) allegedly made by Huawei Technologies (PTY) Limited to the conveyancer L.R Mamba and Associates. The order by the court comes after Huawei moved an urgent application at the High Court yesterday. Respondents in the matter are the curator (Manzini) and First National Bank Limited.

In his founding affidavit, Yao Aiquan, who is the Director of Huawei Technologies (PTY) Limited, narrated that in terms of Clause 5.1 of the Deed of Sale, his company was obliged to pay Vilamouras nominated conveyancer L.R Mamba and Associates an amount of E1 750 000 as a pre-payment. He told the court that this amount was equivalent to 10 per cent of the purchase price. According to Yao, there were delays in the finalisation of the transfer of the property. These are allegations whose veracity is still to be tested in court and the respondents are expected to file their papers.
Combining the two companies brings together their shared expertise across every stage of product development, including mechanical and electrical design, simulation and testing, data management, technical communication, and production. The integrated business will continue to provide the full suite of SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD software and 3DEXPERIENCE Works, as well as configure-price-quote automation, process and workflow assessment, in-person and online training, and engineering and implementation services.

The blended expertise of TriMech and Javelin will offer clients additive manufacturing technologies and services that are unmatched in North America. Together they will continue to sell and support Stratasys 3D printers, metal 3D printers, post-processing equipment, and 3D laser scanners and help clients meet stringent requirements for prototypes, tooling, end-use parts, and low-volume manufacturing. In their collective advanced manufacturing and rapid prototyping labs, more than 70 3D printers are available for clients who need quick turnaround on quality printed parts and tools.

"With the fast growth of cloud solutions, our clients need us to continually improve our ability to meet their complex needs," said Marcel Matte, President and CEO of TriMech. "Bringing TriMech and Javelin together creates opportunities for our employees to collaborate with and help clients like never before. They rely on us to help them improve efficiency and profitability."

More resources and support for clients

The combined company has more than 130 technical specialists who are focused on providing deeper, more specialized support in areas such as advanced simulation, assessment and training, enterprise resource planning (ERP), product lifecycle management (PLM), and cloud-based solutions.

The blended collection of TriMech's and Javelin's online content is unrivaled in the industry. Javelin's technical blog is a source of trusted information for designers all over the world and attracts more than two million unique visitors a year. And because Javelin provides live technical support in all Canadian time zones, expanded service hours are a future possibility.



For Javelin's Canadian clients, TriMech brings a dedicated recruitment team to help them find permanent and temporary technical specialists to quickly fill critical engineering and related positions on their teams. Clients of both organizations will have the opportunity to outsource additional services, such as design and engineering and software implementation services, when they do not have the people, time, expertise, or technology to manage these projects in house.

Impact across diverse sectors of the economy

TriMech and Javelin clients drive innovation in diverse sectors of the North American economy, ranging from energy and healthcare to automotive and aerospace. Javelin's CEO Ted Lee said this past year has proven how adaptable and nimble businesses must be.

"TriMech and Javelin have been supporting clients who are working and collaborating remotely, retooling, and automating processes. Together we'll continue to grow and evolve so that we're always in the best possible position to use our expertise to help clients choose, implement, and make the most of technology. Uniting our two teams makes us stronger for our clients."

Clients will continue to connect with the sales, service, training, and technical specialists they are used to contacting. In the integrated company, employees will have expanded opportunities and hiring of new talent is ongoing.

The combined company has 30 locations across Canada and the central and eastern U.S. and will serve almost 15,000 clients. Javelin will maintain its headquarters in Oakville, Ontario (west of Toronto) and its executive team, led by Lee, will remain in place and oversee the Canadian operation.

TriMech is a portfolio company of The Halifax Group, a leading private equity firm that partners with lower middle-market businesses with total enterprise values generally between $50 million and $300 million.

For more information, visit trimech.com/trimech-javelin-unite. Find TriMech online at TriMech.com, Javelin at javelin-tech.com, and The Halifax Group at thehalifaxgroup.com.

U.S. Contact: Angie Droz

865.934.5304

[email protected]

Canada Contact: Karen Majerly

905.630.8384

[email protected]

SOURCE TriMech

Related Links

https://trimech.com


TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company based in the United States, announced today the opening of a brand-new Florida dispensary, the Company's 87th nationwide.

The dispensary supports Trulieve's goal of ensuring direct, reliable access to registered medical cannabis patients across Florida and joins nearby locations in Sarasota, Englewood, and Venice. The 5,300 square foot facility also brings direct, in-store access to registered patients in Osprey for the first time.

In honor of the Company's brand-new dispensary, all patients  from those new to Trulieve to the dedicated Truliever community  will be eligible for a 25% in-store discount at the new dispensary on opening day.

ANNOUNCING: Trulieve Osprey Grand Opening WHERE: 1100 S Tamiami Trail, Osprey, FL 34229 WHEN: Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.

In stores and online, patients will find Florida's largest selection of THC and CBD products in a variety of delivery methods, including edibles, smokable flower, concentrates, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers, and more. Trulieve also offers home delivery statewide for patients and convenient in-store pickup at each of its 82 dispensaries in Florida.

To assist patients with ordering, Trulieve has made its entire catalog of products available for online ordering, with in-store pickup and statewide home delivery options available. Whether brand new to cannabis or a patient with experience, Trulieve offers complimentary 30-minute virtual consultations with a Trulieve certified consultant to help navigate questions on products, devices, or review their doctor's recommendation.

At this time, all visitors are required to wear masks for the duration of their dispensary visit. Only patients and their state-approved caregivers will be allowed inside the waiting room and dispensary until further notice.

The Office of Medical Marijuana Use recently announced the registry is nearing 550,000 registered medical marijuana patients with an active ID card, with Trulieve consistently selling approximately half of the state's overall volume per the Florida Department of Health. To support the state's rapidly growing patient base, there are over 2,500 registered ordering physicians in the State of Florida.

For more information, please visit www.Trulieve.com.

About Trulieve

Trulieve is primarily a vertically integrated "seed-to-sale" company in the U.S. and is the first and largest fully licensed medical cannabis company in the State of Florida. Trulieve cultivates and produces all of its products in-house and distributes those products to Trulieve-branded stores (dispensaries) throughout the State of Florida, as well as directly to patients via home delivery. Trulieve also has operations in California, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF.

To learn more about Trulieve, visit www.Trulieve.com.

SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp.

Related Links

https://www.trulieve.com/


"Through SDG #8, Direct Global will promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Through SDG #9, they will build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. Through SDG #11, they will make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable."

"So honored for Direct Global to be recognized for its efforts in championing sustainability and equality in the new economy and looking forward to an even bigger Caravan of Courage in over 10 cities in June." said Ahmed Attia, President CEO of Direct Global.

The Direct Initiative

Direct Co-ops brings together businesses, co-ops, associations and unions through a unified platform, creating the world's largest buying group in order to leverage economies of scale to the smallest of us. Compounded by the co-operative model, this will bring true equality to the masses and allow their voice to be heard.

Local Driver Co-op is a ride-hailing and delivery app-based co-op, where the drivers receive 90% of the fees and own the platform locally, guaranteeing the future of gig workers and leveraging the co-operative model through sustainability and ensure that their voice are heard.

Direct Local app offers every small business a free online storefront and app, with the ability to retail just like the incumbents, communicate with their customers, members and community. Backed by the Direct Co-ops buying group and the Local Driver Co-op, allows us to create an opportunity for competition with big business that has never existed before.

Direct Local Eats app helps food service and grocery businesses reach consumers, charging businesses only five per cent of transactions compared to companies like Uber Eats that take 30-35 per cent. Deliveries are completed by Local Driver Co-op, ensuring consumers are not just paying the lowest price, while the drivers receive more than they would with the incumbents.

Press Contact:

Steve Anthony

(647) 282-5250

https://www.directglobal.world

SOURCE Direct Global/Direct Co-ops

Related Links

https://www.directglobal.world


DUBLIN, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "U.S. Faucet Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by End User (Residential, Commercial), by Application (Kitchen, Bathroom), by Distribution Channel (E-commerce, Multi-brand Retailers), by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2021-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The U.S. faucet market size is anticipated to reach USD 4.7 billion by 2028 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2021 to 2028.

Rising demand for home furnishings and fittings is driving the market. According to the Leading Indicator for Remodeling Activity (LIRA), home improvement spending grew at 6.0% annually in 2019.



The growing construction of smart homes and smart bathrooms can be attributed to an increasing number of consumers showing a preference for a spa-like experience at home. Digital faucets that operate on sensors serve as a means of conserving water and energy through different features such as reduced tap flow, digital temperature control settings, touchless technology, infrared tap technology, and timed settings.



The U.S. EPA WaterSense label on sink faucets and accessories indicates that they use a maximum of 1.5 gallons of water per minute, which reduces a sink's water flow by 30.0% compared to a standard flow of 2.2 gallons per minute. Thus, rising consciousness among consumers to save water is driving the demand for smart bathroom fittings and digital taps.



The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken every sector across the globe, and the hotel industry is among the hardest hit. The market in the commercial sector has been impacted on account of travel bans and lockdowns. The overall travel business has witnessed a considerable decline as a result of continued health concerns from the prolonged pandemic and a weakened economy, which hits many small companies. As the disease prevails and economic uncertainty remains, there is a significant reduction in business travel (in terms of both trips and expenditure) as compared to pre-COVID-19 times. Reduced travels have affected the travel and hospitality industry immensely, thereby affecting the market.



The commercial segment is estimated to be the largest and fastest-growing segment in the coming years. Many players are offering premium and luxury taps, specially designed for the commercial sector. Moen Incorporated offers a wide variety of taps for the commercial sector and some of the latest innovations include M-Power, M-Dura, M-Press, and M-Bition. Similarly, Delta Faucet Company offers innovative commercial faucets for the hospitality sector.



The kitchen segment is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment. The increasing adoption of high-tech faucets is supporting the growth of the segment. According to Houzz, 57.0% of the homeowners had updated kitchen taps as part of a completed, current, or planned 2018-19 kitchen renovation. Out of these, 30.0% opted for water-efficient faucets, 24.0% opted for no fingerprint coatings faucets, and 22.0% preferred touch-only taps. The growing adoption of pull-out and pull-down faucets in order to achieve maximum reach and increase flexibility drives the demand for kitchen taps among millennials.



Companies such as Franke Kitchen Systems provide faucets that are outfitted and can be switched between the needle and full water spray, and swivel 360 degrees. The Franke 3-in-1 faucet is created to provide cold, hot, and distilled water for ensuring the use of pure and suitable temperature water in the kitchen.



U.S. Faucet Market Report Highlights

The commercial segment accounted for a revenue share of 67.1% in 2020 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.0% over the forecast period

The kitchen segment is expected to expand at the fastest CAGR of 5.6% from 2021 to 2028 and will be valued at USD 1,551.7 million by 2028

by 2028 The multi-brand retailer segment was the largest segment in 2020 and was valued at USD 1,871.9 million , ascending with a CAGR of 4.6% over the forecast period

, ascending with a CAGR of 4.6% over the forecast period The west region of the U.S. was valued at USD 776.7 million in 2020, ascending with a CAGR of 5.5% over the forecast period, thereby expected to be valued at USD 1,193.5 million by 2028

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2. Executive Summary



Chapter 3. U.S. Faucet Market Variables, Trends & Scope

3.1. Market Introduction

3.2. Industry Value Chain Analysis

3.3. Market Dynamics

3.4. Business Environment Analysis

3.5. Roadmap of U.S. Faucet Market

3.6. Market Entry Strategies

3.7. Impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. Faucet Market



Chapter 4. Consumer Behavior Analysis

4.1. Consumer Trends and Preferences

4.2. Factors Affecting Buying Decision

4.3. Consumer Product Adoption

4.4. Observations & Recommendations



Chapter 5. U.S. Faucet Market: End-user Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1. End-user Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2018 & 2025

5.2. Residential

5.3. Commercial



Chapter 6. U.S. Faucet Market: Application Estimates & Trend Analysis

6.1. Application Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2018 & 2025

6.2. Kitchen

6.3. Bathroom



Chapter 7. U.S. Faucet Market: Distribution Channel Estimates & Trend Analysis

7.1. Distribution Channel Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2018 & 2025

7.2. E-Commerce

7.3. Multi-brand Retailers

7.4. Local Plumbing Supply Stores



Chapter 8. U.S. Faucet Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 9. Competitive Analysis

9.1. Key global players, recent developments & their impact on the industry

9.2. Key Company/Competition Categorization (Key innovators, Market leaders, Emerging players)

9.3. Vendor Landscape

9.3.1. Key company market share analysis, 2020



Chapter 10. Company Profiles

10.1. Company Overview

10.2. Financial Performance

10.3. Product Benchmarking

10.4. Strategic Initiatives

Kohler Co

Kraus, USA

American Standard Brands

GROHE America Inc.

Pfister

Delta Faucet Company

Moen Incorporated

AquaSource Faucet

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/iqs6y1

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

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For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


MIAMI, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Miami , one of the nation's top research universities, and Eight Sleep , the world's first sleep fitness company, announced today an agreement in principle for an employment placement program that will benefit alumni of the academic institution.

The organizations are well positioned for collaboration given the University's excellence in communication, engineering, and physiology and Eight Sleep's leadership as the first company to leverage cutting edge technology to actively improve human performance through optimal sleep.

"As a pioneer of the sleep fitness category, we are committed to innovation and creating products that deliver science-backed results," said Matteo Franceschetti, co-founder and CEO of Eight Sleep, and a resident of Miami-Dade County. "To achieve our mission, we must invest in a diverse group of people whose skill and knowledge will help us to build the most forward-thinking products on the market. The collaboration Eight Sleep's commitment to investing in the best and brightest local talent from the University of Miami."

Christian Garcia, associate dean and executive director of the University of Miami Toppel Career Center, said he is excited to work with Eight Sleep to identify talented graduates for the company.

"This is a tremendous opportunity, and we are fortunate to add Eight Sleep to the number of valued employers in South Florida who actively look to hire our students," said Garcia. "The University of Miami is preparing students to be leaders in the business community through innovation, developing new technologies, and providing critical thinking to solve challenging issues."

"The City of Miami has long been recognized for its diverse talent pool and the strength of its academic institutions," said City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. "As more tech companies, such as Eight Sleep, establish deep collaborations with our local universities, we'll continue to bring high-quality, high-paying jobs to the city, and further position Miami as an innovation hub."

Creating job opportunities for local talent

Eight Sleep intends to provide employment opportunities and internships to University of Miami students and graduates. Eight Sleep has committed to hiring five graduates per semester.

Immediate openings are available in the fields of Machine Learning, Mobile Development, Embedded Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Accounting, Financial Planning and Analysis, Data and Analytics, Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing, and Digital Acquisition.

An innovative company

Eight Sleep launched in 2015 and has pioneered sleep performance within the health and wellness industry. Its signature product, the Pod, was built using data and knowledge accumulated over the years as an industry leader.

About University of Miami

The University of Miami is a private research university and academic health system with a distinct geographic capacity to connect institutions, individuals, and ideas across the hemisphere and around the world. The University's vibrant and diverse academic community comprises 11 schools and colleges serving more than 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 180 majors and programs. Located within one of the most dynamic and multicultural cities in the world, the University is building new bridges across geographic, cultural, and intellectual borders, bringing a passion for scholarly excellence, a spirit of innovation, a respect for including and elevating diverse voices, and a commitment to tackling the challenges facing our world.

About Eight Sleep

Eight Sleep is the world's first sleep fitness company with a mission to fuel human potential through optimal sleep. Eight Sleep leverages thermoregulation, data, and technology to design products to restore individuals to their peak energy levels every morning. Eight Sleep was named one of Fast Company's "Most Innovative Companies of 2018" and recognized two years in a row by TIME's Best Inventions of the Year. Eight Sleep has raised over $70M in funding from leading investors including, Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures, Y Combinator, Craft Ventures, and 8VC. To learn more, visit eightsleep.com .

Media Contacts:

Eight Sleep:

Jack Taylor PR

Ross Fenton

Phone: 415-722-3489

Email: [email protected]

University of Miami:

Contact: Megan Ondrizek

Email: [email protected]

Phone number: 305-284-3667

SOURCE Eight Sleep
BETHESDA, Md., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Walker & Dunlop, Inc. announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in Zelman & Associates ("Zelman"), the leading housing research and investment banking firm in the United States.

Founded in 2007 by Ivy Zelman and Dennis McGill, Zelman has earned an impressive reputation among institutional investors and business executives alike for its unbiased, in-depth research, insightful analysis and trusted advisory services. Zelman's research is differentiated by its tenured housing experience, proprietary surveys anchored by an unparalleled network of executive-level leaders, and an acute ability to identify and synthesize developing investment and fundamental themes. The firm's expertise spans macro, sector and company-specific trends across all areas of housing, including homebuilding, building products, demographics, multifamily, single-family rentals, mortgage finance and real estate technology and services. Zelman also operates an investment bank, led by Tony McGill, focused exclusively on the housing sector. The Zelman team has an extensive track record in the M&A, debt and equity transaction markets, including private debt and equity placements, IPOs and secondary equity offerings, public debt underwritings, project and platform-specific capital raises, corporate valuations and buy and sell-side M&A advisory services.

Walker & Dunlop Chairman and CEO Willy Walker stated, "We are extremely excited to be joining forces with Zelman, one of the most recognizable brands in the housing industry known for high-quality research and must-read opinions on the sector. The combination of our two companies from a research and data standpoint will provide our bankers and brokers with unrivaled insight into the housing sector and local markets in support of their clients and transactions, and firmly establish Walker & Dunlop as the preeminent resource for housing investors and business leaders. The single-family and multifamily housing industries are converging within the single-family rental and build-for-rent asset classes, and Zelman's unique research and Walker & Dunlop's banking and brokerage operations will be a powerful combination as these asset classes are further institutionalized."

Mr. Walker continued, "We are also incredibly excited to add Zelman's investment banking platform to Walker & Dunlop. Investment banking is a key component of Walker & Dunlop's Drive to '25, and we plan to invest in the business to expand Zelman's coverage, with a priority focus on the multifamily and single-family rental sectors. Zelman's reputation as an industry leading independent investment bank, and extensive experience providing M&A advisory services and capital markets solutions for billions of dollars in transactions throughout the housing sector, will be a wonderful foundation upon which to build our broader business. The addition of Zelman's research and investment banking professionals further cement Walker & Dunlop as a trusted and valuable partner to our clients."

Zelman Chief Executive Officer Ivy Zelman commented, "Since our firm's founding nearly 14 years ago, the Zelman team has been unwavering in our commitment to extremely high-quality research, elite client service and the utmost integrity behind our opinions and advice. I believe that Walker & Dunlop directly aligns with these values and that our research and insights will be extremely beneficial to the company's talented bankers, brokers and client base. In turn, we will expand our research and data analytics capabilities by gaining access to W&D's firsthand market intelligence, management of a massive loan servicing portfolio, existing technologies, and wonderfully innovative marketing capabilities. We are excited to continue growing our housing-focused research and investment banking businesses in partnership with the #1 capital provider to the multifamily industry."

Zelman & Associates is based in New York, NY and Cleveland, OH and has 25 employees, all of whom will join Walker & Dunlop upon closing of the acquisition. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary consents and regulatory approvals and is expected to close during the third quarter 2021.

About Walker & Dunlop

Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD) is the largest provider of capital to the multifamily industry in the United States and the fourth largest lender on all commercial real estate including industrial, office retail, and hospitality. Surpassing $41 billion of total transaction volume in 2020, Walker & Dunlop enables real estate owners and operators to bring their visions of communities  where Americans live, work, shop and play  to life. With 1,000 employees across every major U.S. market, Walker & Dunlop's people, technology, and customer insight have allowed it to grow faster than industry peers and deliver total shareholder return of over 800% in its first ten years as a public company.

About Zelman & Associates

Founded in 2007 by Ivy Zelman and Dennis McGill, Zelman & Associates is the leading institutional research advisory and investment banking firm dedicated exclusively to the U.S. housing industry. Zelman provides distinguished institutional research and investment banking capabilities with the highest levels of client service, trust, sophistication and credibility unique to the housing, institutional research and investment banking industries.

All securities offered through Zelman Partners LLC, a registered broker dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws.

The forward-looking statements reflect our current views about future events and are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or contemplated in any forward-looking statement.

While the forward-looking statements reflect our good faith projections, assumptions and expectations, they are not guarantees of future results. Furthermore, we disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changes in underlying assumptions or factors, new information, data or methods, future events or other changes, except as required by applicable law. Factors that could cause our results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: (1) general economic conditions and multifamily and real estate market conditions, and (2) our ability to successfully integrate Zelman's operations into our current business.

For a further discussion of these and other factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or contemplated in any forward-looking statements, see the section titled ''Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as it may be updated or supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our other filings with the SEC. Such filings are available publicly on our Investor Relations web page at www.walkerdunlop.com

SOURCE Walker & Dunlop, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.walkerdunlop.com


MADISON, Wis., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when schools are facing unprecedented challenges, the Wisconsin Association of School Personnel Administrators (WASPA) has announced an innovative, timely partnership with BloomBoard that enables Wisconsin school districts to provide their educators with flexible, job-embedded professional learning that addresses pandemic-era issues. As part of this new competency-based program, districts can also provide their educators with the opportunity for professional advancement by offering masters equivalent credit hours for earned micro-credentials.

BloomBoard

"WASPA is always looking for effective ways to engage and develop Wisconsin educators to ensure the success of all students," said Vickie Adkins. "This unique 'learn by doing' micro-credential model offered by BloomBoard is a great opportunity for district leaders who want to enable educators to grow their skills while providing opportunities for career and potential compensation advancement."

McKinsey estimates that students overall will experience an average learning loss of seven months because of the pandemic. To ensure Wisconsin educators have the support they need as they begin the COVID recovery process, WASPA will kick off the first cohort on June 28 with a special focus on Learning Recovery. Educators enrolled in the program will learn and practice strategies to fill students' skill and knowledge gaps through intentional planning, implementation of flexible classroom structures, and connection of student data to appropriate supports.

"With all the unfinished learning that occurred this year, teachers will have to cope with a great amount of variability as they plan and implement instruction going forward," said Sanford Kenyon, CEO of BloomBoard. "This program is not only designed to support teachers as they begin COVID recovery in the classroom, but the added incentive of professional advancement is a great way to attract and retain high-quality teachers."

To learn more about the partnership and the program, visit bloomboard.com/program/waspa .

About BloomBoard

BloomBoard is the leading platform for educator advancement via micro-credentials. The company provides customized, competency-based advancement pathways for educators to demonstrably improve their instructional practices and their career potential. For more information, visit bloomboard.com.

About WASPA

WASPA is the premier organization for school human resource professionals in Wisconsin. Our mission is to engage and develop educational leaders to ensure the success of all students by maximizing the effectiveness of human resources practices in Wisconsin schools. For more information, visit www.waspa.org .

Media contact:

Lucia Giacomantonio

[email protected]

650-228-4708

SOURCE WASPA

Related Links

https://www.waspa.org/


DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilden, part of PSG, a Dover (NYSE: DOV) company, and a worldwide leader in specialty pumps, today announced the release of its new Equalizer Surge Dampeners  Integrated SD Series (ISD) bolted metal option. Installed at the pump's discharge, Wilden ISD Series dampeners have been specifically engineered to reduce fluid pressure and flow fluctuations for a smoother discharge flow. This function protects system equipment and helps extend the life of Wilden air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pumps, including by decreasing noise and increasing efficiency.

"Wilden ISD Series dampeners offer a tremendous benefit to end-users because they have been specially designed to minimize vibration and control pipe hammer. This is a critical consideration when trying to protect system piping and downstream instrumentation," said Erik Solfelt, Diaphragm Pump Product Director, Wilden. "A welcomed addition to our innovative line of pump accessories, these new metal surge dampeners provide users with a simple, reliable and efficient solution for otherwise challenging applications."

The new ISD Series stainless steel metal dampeners are available in 25 mm (1), 38 mm (1-1/2) and 51 mm (2) sizes. The bolted-construction design and PTFE, Buna backed, integral piston diaphragms offer maximum process fluid containment. This makes them an ideal solution for a wide range of applications, including, but not limited to, oil and gas, paint and coatings, and chemical.

For more information about Wilden and its line of surge dampeners, please visit wildenpump.com. Wilden is a product brand within PSG, a Dover company. For more information on PSG, please visit psgdover.com.

About Wilden Pump and Engineering Company:

Jim Wilden revolutionized the pumping industry when he invented the air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pump in 1955. Since that time, Wilden Pump and Engineering Company has been at the forefront of bringing AODD technology into the future by building its extensive infrastructure, knowledge base and intellectual capital. Wilden offers a comprehensive line of safe, reliable and energy-efficient AODD pumps  including the Pro-Flo SHIFT Series, Pro-Flo Series and Specialty Series  for critical pumping applications in the general industrial, paints and coatings, oil and gas, chemical process, water and wastewater, hygienic, mining, ceramics, and military and marine markets. Additionally, Wilden offers the largest selection of AODD diaphragms in the world to ensure your unique application demands are fully met. Headquartered in Grand Terrace, CA, USA, Wilden is part of PSG, a Dover company. To learn more about Wilden, please visit wildenpump.com.

About PSG:

PSG is a global pump and dispensing solution expert and leading manufacturer of pumps, systems and related flow-control technology for the safe and efficient transfer of critical and valuable fluids and materials. Headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, USA, PSG is comprised of several world-class brands, including Abaque, All-Flo, Almatec, Blackmer, Ebsray, EnviroGear, Griswold, Hydro Systems, Mouvex, Neptune, Quattroflow and Wilden. PSG products are manufactured on three continents  North America, Europe and Asia  in state-of-the-art facilities that practice lean manufacturing and are ISO-certified. PSG is part of the Pumps and Process Solutions segment of Dover Corporation. For additional information on PSG, please visit psgdover.com. PSG: Where Innovation Flows.

About Dover:

Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of approximately $7 billion. We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Fueling Solutions, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Refrigeration & Food Equipment. Dover combines global scale, operational agility, world-class engineering capability and customer intimacy to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 60 years, our team of approximately 24,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com.

PSG Contact:

Christine Nunez

(909) 422-1774

[email protected]



Dover Media Contact:

Adrian Sakowicz, VP, Communications

(630) 743-5039

[email protected]



Dover Investor Contact:

Andrey Galiuk, VP, Corporate Development and Investor Relations

(630) 743-5131

[email protected]

SOURCE Dover

Related Links

http://www.dovercorporation.com


The Wix eCommerce platform powers businesses of all types, including online stores, service providers, restaurants, events and many more. It provides merchants with a full solution to create, manage and grow their eCommerce business to sell online and in person. Using Wix, merchants can sell through multiple sales channels including web and mobile storefronts, social media, online marketplaces and physical retail locations, as well as manage and track inventory, orders and fulfillment to payment and brand marketing.

In 2020, Wix users processed over $5.4 billion in online transactions on the Wix platform, an increase of 126% over 2019. In addition, Wix eCommerce merchants saw an increase of 140% year over year growth in sales transactions in 2020 compared to 2019.

The acquisition of Rise.ai will provide Wix eCommerce merchants with its own fully native customer re-engagement solution. Wix eCommerce merchants will be able to easily access the full suite of tools for their Wix eCommerce stores. These tools will significantly help them grow long-term customer value by increasing customer retention through loyalty programs. Strong customer re-engagement tools help increase order frequency, grow AOV (Average Order Value), drive repeat sales and build customer relationships by providing value throughout the customer journey.

"We are excited to expand our offering and services as part of the Wix eCommerce strategy," said Arik Perez, Head of Wix eCommerce. "By providing merchants with more native tools, we can help them grow long-term customer value and revenues to build their businesses and keep optimizing and increasing profitability. Rise.ai is considered to be the best solution of its kind in the market, and the integration will enable merchants to easily manage and maintain customer engagement tools, ultimately leading to increased loyalty and revenue."

"Customer retention has become the top priority for eCommerce brands worldwide, as acquisition costs continue to spike," said Yair Miron, founder and CEO of Rise.ai. "Since our founding, we have powered tens of thousands of leading brands with loyalty and re-engagement solutions to grow their businesses. We are now thrilled to join Wix and bring Rise.ai to hundreds of thousands of online stores around the globe and help them rise."

As one the most requested features by Wix eCommerce merchants, the Rise.ai solution will support Wix merchants in all supported countries and currencies.

About Wix.com, Ltd

Wix is leading the way with a cloud-based website development platform for over 200 million registered users worldwide today. The Wix website builder was founded on the belief that the Internet should be accessible to everyone to develop, create and contribute. Through free and premium subscriptions, Wix empowers millions of businesses, organizations, artists, and individuals to take their businesses, brands and workflow online. The Wix Editor, Wix ADI, Editor X, a curated App Market, Ascend by Wix and Velo by Wix enable users to build and manage a fully integrated and dynamic digital presence. Wix's headquarters are in Tel Aviv with offices in Austin, Be'er Sheva, Berlin, Cedar Rapids, Denver, Dnipro, Dublin, Kiev, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Tokyo and Vilnius.

Visit us: on our blog , Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , LinkedIn and Pinterest .

Download: Wix App is available for free on Google Play and in the App Store .

For more about Wix please visit our Press Room

Media Relations Contact:

[email protected]

About Rise.ai

Rise.ai is the gift card and store credit solution for eCommerce brands, designed to manage the entire re-engagement cycle with gift cards, loyalty cards, rewards, and refunds. Rise is trusted by the world's biggest D2C platforms, eCommerce agencies and brands.

SOURCE Wix.com Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.wix.com


HERZLIYA, Israel, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- XM Cyber, the multi-award-winning leader in cyberattack path management, today announced that it has signed an agreement with Italy-based value-added distributor (VAD) ICOS. This agreement will enable ICOS to offer XM Cyber solutions in the Italian market to help organizations protect their most critical assets.

"XM brings a new approach that uses the attacker perspective to find and remediate critical attack paths toward organizations' crown jewels across on-premises and multi-cloud networks," explained Erez Jacobson, Channels Sales Director, EMEA & APAC, XM Cyber. "We are a fast-growing business and need to scale through our partners ecosystem. The agreement with ICOS is an exciting development to consolidate our footprint in the Italian market."

ICOS is a partner of some of the leading technology vendors in the sector, offering resellers the infrastructure and cybersecurity solutions that are most in line with the new paradigms of enterprise IT.

"XM Cyber's ability to automate and systemize attack simulations provides a unique and cost-effective approach to identify and remediate security risks before they are exploited," said Federico Marini, Managing Director, ICOS. "XM Cyber will now be able to make its advanced functionality available to a broader range of clients in the Italian market."

Pathfinder Partner Program

XM Cyber's Pathfinder Partner Program focuses on supporting channel partners with access to technology, marketing support and opportunity acceleration. The program aims to drive partner profitability and success starting with training and business planning, supported by a dedicated professional team and an online partner portal.

XM Cyber's account team works with partners to develop long-term goals focusing on customer success, sales team effectiveness and revenue development. Their expertise in the security industry and channel success has already driven a global expansion of XM Cyber through the channel.

Customers can purchase products through XM Cyber authorized distributors in their region or country. Distributors have the ability to recruit and expand the XM Cyber business within their provided territory.

To become an authorized partner, visit www.xmcyber.com/partners.

About XM Cyber

XM Cyber is the global leader in cyberattack path management. The XM Cyber platform enables companies to rapidly respond to cyber risks affecting their business-sensitive systems by continuously finding new exposures, including exploitable vulnerabilities and credentials, misconfigurations, and user activities. XM Cyber constantly simulates and prioritizes the attack paths putting mission-critical systems at risk, providing context-sensitive remediation options. XM Cyber helps to eliminate 99% of the risk by focusing allowing IT and Security Operations to focus on the 1% of the exposures before they get exploited to breach the organization's "crown jewels"  its critical assets. XM Cyber was founded by top executives from the Israeli cyber intelligence community and has offices in North America, Europe, and Israel.

About ICOS

ICOS has been operating for more than 30 years in the Italian market as a value-added distributor (VAD), offering the channel IT solutions and services designed to enable customers to tackle the most complex business challenges successfully. Today, ICOS provides a full range of Enterprise Data Centre, Cloud and Cybersecurity solutions, with a particular focus on the trends that are shaping the Digital Transformation. Thanks to numerous technology partnerships, ICOS offers a comprehensive set of market-leading and emerging solutions for SMEs and large enterprises, complementing them with technical, marketing and training services. Headquartered in Ferrara, ICOS addresses the whole national territory through sales offices in Milan, Rome and Bolzano. Additional information at www.icos.it

For more information: www.xmcyber.com

Social Networks: Follow us on Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube

Media Contact

Fusion PR (for XM Cyber)

Seth Menacker

E: [email protected]

T: +1 (201) 638-7561

SOURCE XM Cyber

Related Links

www.xmcyber.com


MANZINI  The lab technician accused of rape, claims his sin was to refuse to fall into the trap of allegedly being milked money.

Benson Alulu Shimbira (47), who is employed as a lab technician at Dvokolwako Health Centre, made this claim when applying for bail at the High Court before Judge Titus Mlangeni on Monday. He claimed that *Sindi, who was now accusing him of rape, was trying to extort him and he did not fall into the trap. He submitted that on May 1, 2021, he was arrested by police officers from Mliba Police Station, who charged him for contravening Section 3(3) as read with (9) (C) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act 15/2018. He said on April 5, 2021, he left his workplace and he was heading to Fairview in Manzini where he was staying with his wife and two children. He claimed that while he was by the gate of the health centre, at a bus stop, he was stopped by an unknown woman, who requested a lift to Manzini and he offered her. On their way, he alleged that the woman told her that she was Sindi from Dvokolwako and that she was going to Fairview, but her challenge was that she did not have bus fare.

Submitted

He submitted that when they reached Manzini, he told her that he was going to buy a few things before proceeding to Fairview. Thereafter, he alleged that the woman requested to give him her cellphone number so that he could call her when he was done for purposes of proceeding with her to Fairview. He later called her as per her request and they proceeded to Fairview. He alleged that he dropped her off at St Pauls Bus Stop. On April 16, 2021, the accused alleged that he called the woman, who then informed him that she had been diagnosed with a heart disease, and had been advised to conduct some tests. He alleged that Sindi also enquired whether Dvokolwako Health Centre could be of any assistance and he responded to the affirmative. He claimed that the woman promised to come for the tests on the following day (April 17, 2021).

He also told the court that the following morning, the woman called him and informed him that her sickness was getting worse. She requested me to go and fetch her from home, but I told myself that if this was true, she ought to have called an ambulance, not me. This annoyed me because I thought she was abusing my kindness and ended up not coming to the hospital as per her promise, the lab technician submitted. Thereafter, he claimed that at around 1pm on Sunday April 19, 2021, he was allegedly called by the same woman and she requested to meet him and he told her that she was free to come to the hospital. He alleged that she arrived shortly after the call and they met at the gate, where she allegedly told him that on April 17, 2021, she ended up going to Good Shepherd Mission Hospital.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- YATCO, the Official MLS and Ultimate SaaS Platform of Yachting, has been growing at a rapid rate digitally, as well as through partnerships and within its marketing division. YATCO.com has seen a 20% increase in traffic and in new visitors, with a 63% increase in consumer leads for its esteemed professional customer base.

The company has grown tremendously through social media, with a 139% increase in reach, and a 58% increase in social media interactions and engagement. YATCO has also seen widespread coverage from significant media outlets such as Yahoo Finance, Market Watch, Business Insider, IBI News, Yachting Pages, and much more.

"The YATCO team as a whole has banded together to form several partnerships  both industry-wide and with charitable foundations  that we are extremely proud of. We look forward to forging further efforts in this arena while growing our network and doing some good in the world," says Steven Myers, CEO and Founder of YATCO. The company has joined forces with two charitable organizations  The International SeaKeepers Society and The Angari Foundation  to help educate and proliferate ocean conservation. YATCO has also partnered with JustLuxe, one of the world's top online luxury publications that curates coverage of luxury and premium brands, in the company's launch of its Yacht Showroom  powered by YATCO.

Launching new digital publications to market its listings worldwide, YATCO released its REGIONAL LISTS during the first quarter of 2021, including those for California with 358 yachts for sale in the area; Miami, FL, with 171 yachts for sale in the area; Palm Beach, FL, with 201 yachts for sale in the area; and Spain with 227 yachts for sale in the area. The company also launched and printed the 2021 Palm Beach International Boat Show SHOWBOOK, which featured 182 yachts for sale at this year's show.

After securing a major round of funding, YATCO significantly increased its team of yachting and marketing experts and plans further growth into 2021. The company's highly coveted professional services provide accurate and real-time yacht data integrated with a comprehensive sales and marketing software solution for yachting professionals.

Including over $30 billion in yachts for sale, YATCO supports thousands of yachting professionals worldwide and facilitates over $5 billion a year in sold vessel transactions through YATCO BOSS while serving the yachting community with accuracy, reliability, and state-of-the-art technology.

About YATCO

YATCO, The Official MLS and Ultimate SaaS Platform of Yachting, is the sole online service dedicated exclusively to central listings by qualified professionals only with over 20 years in the yachts-for-sale marketplace. With over $30 billion in yachts for sale, the company supports more than 2,000 professional yacht brokers and facilitates over $5 billion a year in sold vessel transactions through its proprietary BOSS (Back Office Software Solution). Committed to 100% pure data, YATCO serves the professional yachting community with accuracy, integrity, and cutting-edge technology.

Media Contact

Lisbet Castillo | [email protected] | +1(786) 316-5698

SOURCE YATCO

Related Links

http://YATCO.com


HAIFA, Israel, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (NYSE: ZIM) announced today that the Company will release its first quarter 2021 financial results on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, before the U.S. financial markets open. Management will host a conference call and webcast (along with a slide presentation) to review the results and provide a corporate update at 8:00 AM ET.

To access the live conference call by telephone, please dial the following numbers: United States +1-855-265-6958 or +1-718-705-8796; Israel +972-3-721-9662; or UK/international +44-121-281-8004. The call (and slide presentation) will be available via live webcast through ZIM's website, located at the following link. Following the conclusion of the call, a replay of the conference call will be available on the Company's website.

About ZIM

ZIM (NYSE: ZIM) is a global, asset-light container liner shipping company with a leadership position in the markets in which it operates. Founded in Israel in 1945, ZIM is one of the oldest shipping liners, with over 75 years of experience, providing customers with innovative seaborne transportation and logistics services, with a reputation for industry-leading transit times, schedule reliability and service excellence.

ZIM Contacts

Media:

Avner Shats

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.

+972-4-8652520

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

Elana Holzman

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.

+972-4-865-2300

[email protected]

Leon Berman

The IGB Group

212-477-8438

[email protected]

SOURCE Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.
The company said it has contracted an experienced Botswana drill operator for a minimum of 2,500 metres of diamond drilling in up to ten first priority holes which is due to start this week

( ) has announced plans to commence drilling at its prospecting licences in the Kalahari Copper Belt in western Botswana.

The AIM-listed firm said it has completed data processing, interpretation and drill target selection work on the Heliborne-EM geophysical survey carried out over two priority licences in its highly prospective KCB Project, which has revealed a possible stratigraphic/fault repetition interpreted along a 22-kilometre conductive zone on PL40/2018 which ti said may indicate comparable geological settings to Khoemacau Copper Mining's major Zone 5 and Zone 5N deposits, situated 25km due west to Sandfire Resources large A4 and T3 deposits.

The firm said by analogy with these deposits its own targets on PL40/2018 represented attractive drilling areas, adding that drill planning over PL39/2018 will focus on the margins of a regional scale dome feature with structural similarities to the T3/A4 deposits.

Galileo also said a contract has been signed with an experienced Botswana drill operator for a minimum of 2,500 metres of diamond drilling in up to ten first priority holes, with drilling planned to commence in the current week.

"The Kalahari Copper Belt is emerging internationally as a developing region for copper production. The Galileo licences are well placed among a conglomeration of discoveries by Cupric Canyon Capital and Sandfire Resources. These discoveries have resulted in the development of two mines to date and we are excited about the potential for new discoveries on our properties, Galileo chairman and chief executive Colin Bird said in a statement.

The whole region has sand cover and geophysics is the primary tool for identifying concealed orebodies. The results of our airborne survey have produced strong drill targets, similar to previous discoveries - we look forward to updating the market as our drilling work progresses", he added.

Shares in Galileo jumped 13.9% to 1.7p in late afternoon trading on Wednesday.
Extension and infill drilling at the Morila Super Pit will begin in June 2021 with the aim of improving the grade, confidence and size of resources and reserves.

The new LOMP covers the period between 2021 to 2030

( ) (FRA:N9F) (OTCMKTS:EEYMF) has revealed a new Life of Mine plan (LOMP) for the Morila Gold Mine in Mali, West Africa, outlining annual average production of 160,000 ounces to 2030 through mining and processing of around 37.5 million tonnes at 1.33 g/t for 1.45 million recovered ounces.

The initial period of the LOMP (2021 to 2028) incorporates mining of probable ore reserves of 23.8 million tonnes at 1.40 g/t for 1.07 million contained ounces and returns an undiscounted pre-tax cashflow of US$604 million (A$805 million).

Shares higher

Shares have been up more than 5% to 40 cents this morning, a new high of almost three years with Firefinch's market cap sitting at approximately A$297.6 million.

Managing director Dr Michael Anderson said the company was delighted with the outcome of the new life of life plan, which affirms Morila as a very profitable and long-life mining operation.

Unique advantage

He said: The rapid ramp-up to annual production of 150,000-200,000 ounces highlights the unique advantage that Morila has in leveraging sunk capital.

It is worth noting that the new plan is based upon existing drill data supplemented only by drilling at the satellite pits.

Tellingly, we have yet to drill a hole at the Morila Super Pit  our main focus, and we are very excited to follow up the many obvious targets with the realistic aim of adding significantly to the current resources and reserves.

As a company, we will continue to contribute significantly to Mali and its people and look forward to doing so.

Approximately US$895 million is expected to be contributed in taxes, royalties, wages and salaries, and local procurement over the next 10 years, meaning our operation will substantially benefit shareholders and local stakeholders alike.

The LOMP foresees the tailings production through hydraulic mining will progressively ramp down and cease by December 2021.

Increasing production

Production will increase through the mining of Morila Pit-5 adjacent to the Morila Super Pit and satellite pits Koting, NTiola and Viper at a rate of up to three million tonnes per annum.

Pre-strip and the delivery of ore from the Morila Super Pit will ultimately overlap satellite pit mining, and the predominant ore feed will be from Morila by Q1 of 2023 when production will ramp up to around four million tonnes per annum.

It is anticipated that feed from the satellite pits will continue to provide optionality.

The 10-year LOMP covers 2021 to 2030 (inclusive), with the period 2021 to 2028 based on the ore reserve for the Morila Project, along with inferred resources falling within the pit design.

This plan states that the proportion of inferred resources to be mined over the first five years of the LOMP is around 12% of the total tonnes mined.

The balance of the plan covers indicated and inferred resources from the Morila Stage-2 Pit, which is not currently classed as ore reserves.

With the inclusion of Stage-2, the proportion of inferred resources in the LOMP rises to around 30%.

The LOMP highlights a robust financial performance for Morila.
The company holds an 85% interest in the Kayelekera Uranium Project in Malawi that hosts a resource of 37.5 million pounds of U3O8.

Ltd ( ) (OTCMKTS:LTSRF) non-executive director Grant Davey continues to demonstrate his faith in the companys uranium strategy with another on-market purchase.

On May 4 Davey acquired 200,000 shares valued at $30,000 in an indirect interest, increasing the number of securities held in that interest to more than 15.652 million.

This follows his on-market purchase of 303,602 shares valued at $96,398 on May 3.

OTCQB market trading

Last week, the company completed its secondary listing on the OTCQB market in the United States with the ticker LTSRF.

The secondary listing on the OTC Markets is aimed at enhancing the visibility and accessibility of the uranium development company to North American investors.

It will allow potential North American investors to both trade and settle during US trading hours in US dollars.

Kayelekera project

Lotus owns an 85% interest in the Kayelekera Uranium Project in Malawi that hosts a resource of 37.5 million pounds of U3O8 and historically produced around 11 million pounds of uranium between 2009 and 2014.

The company has completed a positive Restart Study which demonstrated that Kayelekera can support a viable long-term operation and has the potential to be one of the first uranium projects to recommence production in the future.
The worlds largest chemical producers long-term battery materials strategy incorporates its goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 25% by 2030 and to net-zero by 2050.

BASF will look to use more manganese in the production of cathode active materials.

German-based BASF SE (FRA:BAS), the worlds largest chemical producer, has outlined its long-term battery materials strategy, focused on cathode active materials, including manganese.

The cathode part of a battery is the positive electrode that acquires electrons from the external circuit and is reduced during the electrochemical reaction, and typically the primary active component of the cathode has been cobalt.

BASF believes that battery materials, in particular cathode active materials, are one of the biggest growth areas of the chemical market, and has committed to investing a significant amount of money in its battery material business in the next four years.

Solving supply problems

In a presentation at last weeks Vienna Motor Symposium, Peter Schumacher, President of BASFs Catalysts division, reported that two new production sites for battery cathode active materials (CAM) in Finland and Germany are expected to come on stream in 2022.

Our goal is to become a market-leading CAM supplier with the best-in-class sustainability and CO2 footprint globally, Schumacher said.

Cathode materials are a wonderful example for the importance of sustainable chemistry in many value chains for downstream industries and in this case for the automotive industry.

A lot of the sustainability challenges also beyond just the CO2 footprint are hidden with the raw materials and as the leading chemical company, we also want to be a leader in changing this.

We must begin at the mines and metal refineries as this is one of the key contributors of the CO2 footprint of the battery as minerals or metals like nickel, cobalt or lithium are many times only available in very low concentration in the respective ore bodies and isolating and refining metals requires a lot of energy.

Also, some of these metals will become very scarce given the growth expectations which seem to accelerate given the many recent announcements. We will partner up globally to ensure a resilient, sustainable and robust metal supply chain.

Further, metals need to be converted into an electrochemically active material, and the cathode material is the key raw material that drives performance and a lot of the cost of a battery.

Manganese at forefront

BASF currently offers a broad CAM portfolio in the industry with a focus on nickel-rich nickel-manganese-cobalt (NCM) products and low or even no cobalt products for high energy density.

However, as Schumacher outlines, the preference for nickel-rich products is not sustainable, and BASF is committing to fine-tuning the chemistry of our products.

One example will be manganese-rich products for which we have a very strong IP position, he said.

This new product family will play a crucial role in future for the low-cost segment as manganese is abundantly available at much lower cost than nickel or cobalt.

We will customise materials to optimize the balance of energy density, fast-charge capability, cost and stability according to the requirements of our customers.

BASFs plans are good news for producers of high purity manganese products, who are already seeing a huge surge in projected demand.

Clear evidence of this trend came in recent months with separate announcements by Tesla and Volkswagen indicating that they intend to include manganese-rich batteries in their future EV production.

The latest numbers from Cairn Energy Research Advisors and CPM Group estimate that demand for high-purity manganese will be 13 times higher in 2030 compared with current usage.

- Daniel Paproth
National Bank of Bahrain (NBB) has reported a 1.3% increase in its net profit attributable to equity shareholders to BD15.6 million ($41.4 million) for the three months ended 31 March 2021, compared to BD15.4 million ($40.8 million) last year.

The increase in net profit is predominantly due to lower provisioning levels this year, as 2020 included precautionary provisioning requirements attributable to the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, 2021 results underscore the strong group fundamentals given the significant market changes that have occurred subsequent to the first quarter of the previous year.

Basic and diluted earnings per share at 8 fils ($2 cents) for the first quarter remained at the same level of the same period of 2020.

Total comprehensive income attributable to NBBs equity shareholders for the quarter increased to BD16.1 million ($42.7 million) compared with a comprehensive loss attributable to NBBs equity shareholders of BD39.3 million ($104.2 million) in the same period of 2020.

The increase is predominantly attributable to the mark-to-market movements of the Bahrain Sovereign bond portfolio.

NBB said its operating income decreased by 3.5% in the first quarter to BD38.9 million ($103.2 million) compared with BD40.3 million ($106.9 million) in the prior year period, largely impacted by lower fees and margins following the Covid-19 pandemic, which did not impact the revenues of the first quarter of 2020.

The groups total equity attributable to owners decreased by 3.6% to BD500.8 million ($1.33 billion) following the distribution of the 2020 cash dividends, compared with BD519.7 million ($1.38 billion) recorded as of 31 December 2020.

The groups total assets increased by 0.6% to BD4.39 billion ($11.6 billion) compared to BD4.36 billion ($11.5 billion) recorded on December 31, 2020. The increase was attributable to higher placements and a continued strong demand for NBB loan products.

Commenting on the performance, Chairman Farouk Yousuf Khalil Al Moayyed said: "We are very pleased with our overall financial results for the first quarter of the year, which demonstrate positive growth despite the effects of the pandemic on the global economic environment."

"Our net profits have shown an increase from the same period in 2020, and the Groups balance sheet remains strong by showing a growth since December 2020, supported by an increased demand for NBB loans throughout the quarter," noted Al Moayyed.

"The acquisition of majority stake in Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) in 2020 continues to be a strategic move, with the integration serving to highlight a strong liquid balance sheet to protect both banks," he stated.

"We have also witnessed a strong year in terms of deals and partnerships, namely our ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Eskan Bank to promote accessible housing solutions to the kingdoms population, alongside taking part in a number of national initiatives throughout the quarter," he added.

Al Moayyed said that NBB remained committed to supporting its individual and business customers during these times, in line with the Central Bank of Bahrain and the loan deferral initiatives set to last into the second half of 2021.

"This quarter also saw NBB release its first Annual Financial and Sustainability Report for the year 2020, in a step to fulfil stakeholder need for a coherent and consolidated performance information report linking sustainability concerns with traditional core business activities, as the Bank continues on its journey towards adopting a more sustainable approach in accordance with international ESG standards and best practices. I am pleased to say that the NBB Group is performing well this quarter thus far, and we will continue to move forward with our growth plans to reach new levels of banking excellence, he added.

CEO Jean Christophe Durand said: "NBBs financial performance during the first quarter of the year has been positive, recording a 52.9% increase in net profit attributable to the shareholders of the bank to BD15.6 million ($43.4 million) compared to a net profit of BD10.2 million ($27.1 million) in the last quarter of 2020, despite the unstable market conditions witnessed not only across the kingdom, but also the world, which have impacted all banks and companies directly or indirectly."

"These results come despite the drop in market rates which have had a significant impact on profit growth and margins. Our strong positioning in the market enabled us to expand our product and services portfolio by strengthening our partnerships, both locally and regionally, as we continue to form solid relationships to enhance our performance," stated Durand.

"The first quarter saw NBB introduce special financing packages for properties located in Diyar Al Muharraq, and provide an exclusive offering of the second phase of the Deerat Al Oyoun project, in line with our brand promise of staying close to our customers," he explained.

"Additionally, we launched a joint housing product in conjunction with the Ministry of Housing and Eskan Bank to facilitate home purchasing across the kingdom," he added.
Washington, May 5 : US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that he expects to hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip to Europe in June.

"That is my hope and expectation. We are working on it," Biden told reporters when asked if he plans to meet Putin during his upcoming trip to Europe, the first overseas visit since he took office in January.

Biden will attend the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Cornwall, Britain from June 11 to 13, and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of G7 members. He will then travel to Brussels, Belgium to participate in the NATO Summit on June 14, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Biden had proposed a summit with Putin in Europe this summer to address a range of bilateral issues. US media reported earlier that the White House is hammering out the details of the summit.

Relations between Washington and Moscow have been adversarial in recent years. The two were bitterly divided over Ukraine and cybersecurity issues, and they mutually accused the other of domestic political interference.
New Delhi, May 5 : When she sent a picture of brooding girl, sitting atop a shikara, to Times square, one of her editors commented that it looked too grim to be sent where it would be flashed a few thousand times its original size. Working for an international news agency in Singapore, that was the moment she knew that it was important to do something that would represent her people. A year later, in 2008, she quit her job and began to write.

Author Farah Bashir, whose debut novel 'Rumours of Spring - A Girlhood in Kashmir' (HarperCollins) hit the stands recently, which looks at her years between 1989 to 1994 spent in the valley, says, "The Kashmir conflict, as we know it, has always been reduced to binaries, so it became imperative to de-saturate home from all kinds of significance and see it as an ordinary home and the losses it suffered." The first chapter of the book -- 'The Day I Was Dead' documents the metamorphic hour in 1989 which changed the face of Kashmir as its residents knew it. "But even before that, I do recall endless periods of curfew during the rigging of elections in the late 80s." A freelance consultant now, who spends time between the valley and where her work takes her, the author says that it was an intentional decision to look at everything through teenage years. "I borrowed a lot of courage and resilience from my teenage-self and it became important to examine the kind of circumstances from then." Adding that it was important to revisit how women and children who survive wars grow up, and what kind of scars and joys inform their lives, she says that women, when threatened by external circumstances have very different coping strategies. "Looking back at those memories helped me understand and write about them. As our land and lives continue to be transformed fundamentally by a pitiless conflict, as the arc of the moral universe doesn't seem to bend toward justice, remembering and processing the 1990s, the crucial years of my adolescence became necessary." For her, as a teenage girl, growing up in a conflict-stricken territory happened to be a dual struggle: To make sense of the militarisation of domestic spaces and to learn new social etiquette -- informed by war -- to navigate life.

The first literary work on that period (early 1990s) to come out of Kashmir written by a woman, out of 36 chapters, nine are about the author's childhood while fourteen are about other women associated with her. "Be it a sixty- year- old aunt of mine whose home was burnt down post an encounter and she developed a habit of saluting the paramilitary during their evening patrol or my six year old cousin and her coping mechanism during night patrols on the lake by the paramilitary -and how war impacted them." Stressing that the book is not about is not only about documenting the conflict as it revolves around the transformation of a young girl into a young woman which coincides with the transformation of Kashmir as the war grinds on, the author says, "The memoir captures the juxtapositions of combat by an ordinary Kashmiri girl and her ways to try and live a normal life, escaping war briefly in her mind by writing her first love letter, imagining an ordinary future during prolonged periods of curfew, and her listening and dancing to songs from banned radio stations." Ask her if the lockdown post the abolition of Article 370 reminded her of the 'curfewed days' in the 90's, and she asserts that the fundamental difference between a lockdown in Kashmir and elsewhere is that home does not necessarily and naturally translate into a safe space in Kashmir. "Everywhere else, being at home means taking refuge from unimaginable horrors. As I write in the book, in Kashmir, stray bullets find their way into the homes, as it happened to a friend of mine whose asthmatic grandmother was killed while opening a window. Another friend's father was assassinated inside their home. Tear gas or PAVA (synthetic pepper spray) sprayed in the air enters homes choking you, making it painful to breathe. The two are incomparable," says Bashir who is currently working on a group portrait of women spanning across a decade.

(Sukant Deepak can be contacted at sukant.d@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
United Nations, May 5 : General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir has said that the status of Jammu and Kashmir should not be changed while acknowledging the 1972 Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan making it a bilateral issue.

"I call on all parties to refrain from taking steps that could affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir," he said at a news conference here on Tuesday.

"I support dialogue and diplomacy, and I encourage both Pakistan and India, neighbours, to resolve this dispute through peaceful means," he said.

While answering a reporter's question about Kashmir, he said that he would repeat the statement he made last August about it at a news conference when he visited Pakistan as the president-elect.

He recalled that he had said, "The position of the United Nations on Jammu and Kashmir is governed by the UN Charter and applicable Security Council resolutions. And I also recall India and Pakistan's Simla Agreement of 1972, which states that the final status of Jammu and Kashmir is to be settled by peaceful means in accordance with the UN Charter.

"So there again, I mentioned that I call on all parties to refrain from taking steps that could affect the status of Jammu and Kashmir." In the Simla agreement signed in the aftermath of the Bangladesh War by Indira Gandhi, who was the prime minister of India, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who at that time held the post of president of Pakistan, they agreed that their countries would resolve disputes bilaterally, thus ruling out third party intervention.

The Security Council's Resolution 47 adopted in 1948 requires Pakistan withdraw its personnel and nationals from Kashmir.

Bozkir did not mention either country but asked "all parties" to refrain from changing the status of Kashmir.

While India abrogated in 2019 the Article 370 of the Indian Constitution giving Kashmir a special status, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced last year that he would make the Gilgit-Baltistan area of Jammu and Kashmir under its occupation a province of Pakistan.

Bozkir said that he was postponing a visit to India that had been scheduled as part of his trip to South Asia because of "an unexpected situation" -- reference to the COVID-19 surge -- and would visit Pakistan and Bangladesh as planned.

"But I will absolutely make sure that I'll go to India as well," he said.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Patna, May 5 : When the second wave of the coronavirus started wreaking havoc, restaurants in Bihar came forward with a gesture of humanity and sensitivity. Many restaurants here started delivering free food to corona-infected patients, irrespective of their religion, caste or any other social boundary.

The initiative has also boosted confidence among people that they would surely beat the coronavirus and lead a normal life soon.

'Wins Food Court' in Patna's Patel Nagar and 'Anand Vihar Restaurant at RPS mor are cooking food for the Covid-infected people and delivering it to them. The owner of both the restaurants, Dilip Singh, and his friend Vishal Singh, are supervising the entire affair.

Vishal Singh, a resident of Patna's Rajiv Nagar, told IANS that 'a week ago, I came to know that a doctor's family was facing a food crisis as they were infected with the virus. I immediately get the food packed from my restaurant and delivered it to them.

Thereafter, both the friends made their mobile number public and informed people about social media that they are providing food. Since then it is continuing.

Dilip Singh told IANS: "Currently, we are sending food for around 175 to 200 people. This is a free service. We are providing pure and nutritious food to needy people." Dilip, however, regrets that he is unable to deliver food at distanced locations. "We also receive requests for food from far off places but could not send them packets due to long distance. However, if anyone wants to come, we provide a takeaway service to them.

Vishal said that only a few people are visiting restaurants these days, in such a situation we have taken responsibility to provide food to these needy people.

He said that the delivery begins at 11 a.m. every day and continues till 11 p.m. The menu includes Roti, rice, lentils and vegetables.

We have also constituted a team to safely deliver food, he added.

(Manoj Pathak can be reached at manoj.p@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Thiruvalla : , May 5 (IANS) Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom, the senior-most metropolitan of the Thiruvalla headquartered Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, passed away at a private hospital, near here early Wednesday, said Church officials.

He was 104 years old and was suffering from old age problems.

The country honoured the 1918 born with a Padma Bhushan in 2018.

Last week after he was not keeping well a Covid Antigen test done turned out positive, but a RT-PCR was was negative.

He was ordained as a priest in 1944 and became a bishop in 1953 and went on to head the Church as it's Metropolitan in 1999 before voluntarily stepping down in 2007 Though officially retired, the bishop used to take part in Church services and for his convenience he moved around in a wheel chair and was always dressed in his officially attire.

Known for his wit, he was a sought after person for functions of various churches, clubs and other organizations.

Condolences have started pouring in. Three time former Chief Minister and also former Defence Minister A.K. Antony said: "He was not just the head of a particular Church, but he was one who was liked by all cutting across religions. At times when issues surfaced in the state, he came to the front to restore peace and communal harmony. When I was recently convalescing at a hospital in Delhi for a while, he came in a wheel chair to see me and comforted me," said Antony.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the passing away of the beloved Metropolitan is going to be a loss for all, as he portrayed humanity, and was the strength of the weak and downtrodden.

"He was known for his progressive thoughts and actions. And to live beyond 100 years in itself is considered to be very lucky and he not only lived beyond 100, but used his life for the well being of others," said Vijayan.

The last rites of the Metropolitan will be held at the Church headquarters on Thursday.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Lucknow, May 5 : Despite having suffered severe reverses in the panchayat elections, the mood in the BJP in Uttar Pradesh is upbeat.

The party, which lacks the numbers, is now confident of getting its members elected as zila panchayat chairpersons with the help of independents who have won in large numbers this time.

Of the 3,050 zila panchayat seats in the state, results have been declared on 3,047 seats and the BJP has won 768 while SP-RLD alliance has won 828 seats. On its own SP has bagged 760 seats.

Independent candidates have won on 944 seats and it is these candidates who hold the key to the posts of zila panchayat chairmen.

BJP state president Swatantra Dev Singh said, "With these elections, BJP has got its footprints into the rural interiors of the state. We will continue our efforts to reach out to the poor and deprived sections of society and ensure that they get the benefits of government welfare schemes." The Samajwadi Party, which has positioned itself as the main challenger to the ruling party in the panchayat elections, is cautiously optimistic about the future.

"These elections have given a clear indication that people have lost faith in the ruling BJP. The lack of governance, ongoing farmers' agitation and the shoddy Covid management has brought the graph down for the BJP. If the state government had not used coercive means, our tally would have been higher," said party spokesperson Juhie Singh.

The panchayat poll results also indicate that the BJP's Hindu card did not yield desired results. The party has lost in Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura - the key centres of its Hindutva plank - and it is SP which has gained ground here.

BJP district president in Mathura, Madhu Sharma, said, "We accept the public mandate. We will find out the reasons for not getting a majority and work on it." She further said that due to Corona, many of their workers and leaders could not campaign in the elections effectively.

The BJP also fared poorly in western UP that has been the epicentre of the farmers' agitation and BJP's loss had led to the resurgence of the Rashtriya Lok Dal that had been relegated to the wings after the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.

What has left most political pundits baffled is the victory of independent candidates who have won over 100 seats.

State BJP secretary Vijay Shivhare claimed that most of the independent candidates who won, are from BJP, so the party had "gained significantly" in the panchayat elections which are a semi-final for the assembly elections.

BJP leaders have already started reaching out to winning candidates in an attempt to capture zila panchayat chairperson posts.

Political observers say that the BJP has the power to leverage support of independent candidates and will manage to get their people elected. However, they cannot ignore the results, particularly since the assembly elections are less than a year away.

"This should be a wakeup call for Yogi Adityanath," said a senior journalist, pointing out that generally in such elections the ruling party enjoys a huge advantage but BJP failed to gain from it.
Lucknow, May 5 : The Lucknow police have arrested 10 persons involved in black marketing of oxygen cylinders. The police have recovered 225 oxygen cylinders and cash from them.

According to an official statement, the police arrested two persons, Karan Bharadwaj and Nekram, from near Jankipuram crossing and seized a van with 115 oxygen cylinders on Tuesday evening.

In Gudamba, a joint team of the crime branch and Gudamba police raided Balaji lifesaving gas agency and nabbed two persons, Vishnu of Gudamba and Vikas of Gonda.

The police recovered 87 oxygen cylinders and Rs 1 lakh from the accused.

In another case from Gomti Nagar Extension, two persons, Ikram Ali of Sultanpur and Ayush Shukla of Vishwas Khand, were arrested by the police. Cops said they used to secure fake receipt for the purchase of nitrogen gas and used to get oxygen gas cylinders which were sold at high prices to the needy.

Police recovered 10 jumbo size cylinders (all filled), 8 small empty cylinders, a loader, a receipt, Rs 2,500 and two mobile phones from them.

Similarly, four persons, Anil Kumar Singh of Bazarkhala, Sajid of Gomti Nagar, Jitendra Kumar Verma and Neeraj Rawat, both of Barabanki, were also arrested in Naka.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Rio De Janeiro, May 5 : An 18-year-old man wielding a sharp object forced his way into a preschool in southern Brazil and killed three children and two caregivers.

Another child was injured in the attack on the Aquarela preschool in the town of Saudades, military police spokesperson Major Rafael Antonio da Silva told dpa from the state of Santa Catarina.

It was initially thought that two children had died, but the Saudades Mayor Maciel Schneider, confirmed a third death in comments to Brazilian television.

"This is the saddest day in our history," Schneider said.

"We don't really know how to act now. This is my first term in office, I'm 35 years old, I have a small child." Local Education Secretary Gisela Hermann called it a "scene of horror," in comments to news site G1.

A witness said caregivers hid the children in the changing room and locked the door. The children killed were under two years old, according to G1.

State Governor Daniela Reinehr declared three days of mourning.

Police said the motive for the attack was still under investigation and it was not known whether the assailant had psychological problems.

According to the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, he had no criminal record and had not attended the preschool.

Local residents apprehended the attacker before police arrived.

He seriously injured himself and was taken to hospital in Chapeco, 70 kilometres away. His parents were said to be in shock.

Police searched his home, including his computer.
San Francisco, May 5 : Banned on Facebook and Twitter, former US President Donald Trump has launched a new so-called social media platform, which is actually just a WordPress blog on his own website.

His followers can sign up for posts alerts on the platforms via their email and phone numbers.

The new platform is designed like a generic version of Twitter but is hosted as a running blog.

A Twitter spokesperson told The Verge on Tuesday that "Generally, sharing content from the website reference is permitted as long as the material does not otherwise the Twitter Rules".

Trump has posted content dating back to March 24 on the new 'platform'.

The latest post is a video advertising his new platform, calling it "a place to speak freely and safely, straight from the desk of Donald J. Trump." The platform appears to have been built by Campaign Nucleus, a digital services company founded by Trump's former campaign manager Brad Parscale.

The Trump's 'platform' went live just ahead of ruling by the independent Oversight Board on the ban concerning Trump, who was banned on Facebook following the Capitol attack on January 6.

On January 21, the Oversight Board accepted a case referral from Facebook to examine its decision to indefinitely suspend Trump's access to post content on Facebook and Instagram, as well as provide policy recommendations on suspensions when the user is a political leader.

Trump is still banned from using Facebook and its other platforms like Twitter.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 5 : Microsoft is adding a new feature in its video meet and collaboration platform Teams that will help students improve their reading fluency.

Called 'Reading Progress,' the feature works by allowing students to record themselves reading a passage of text.

The tool offers teachers the ability to assess accuracy rates, mispronunciations and more, reports The Verge.

With this feature, teachers will be able to measure the speed, accuracy, and expression of reading.

Microsoft has been testing the feature with more than 350 teachers since October, and it's now set to roll this out as a free addition.

"Teachers will see a full dashboard that shows the words per minute and accuracy rate, and they'll have the ability to jump to a specific word to hear a student pronounce it," the report noted.

If teachers don't want the auto detection, they can simply turn this off and see a video of a student reading and then assess it manually.

Driven by online work and learning amid the ongoing pandemic, Microsoft Teams now have 145 million daily active users globally, almost double the number a year ago.

The company has added more than 300 features in Teams over the past year, including more than 100 new capabilities so far in 2021.
Global research, training and consultancy firm, Great Place to Work Middle East (GPTW) has recognised Cisco as the frontrunner in its 'Best Workplaces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2021' rankings  moving from second to first position this year.

GPTW cites Cisco as having gone the extra mile to ensure employee wellbeing and satisfaction remained top of mind during challenging times.

Employees were asked to rate how well their organisation has cared for its workforce in times of crisis, alongside the degree of trust to work remotely. Respondents also evaluated their own physical, emotional and financial health  giving a clear understanding of workplace culture and satisfaction. Cisco scored particularly high across a number of domains, with employees proud to tell others where they work and feeling well-respected by their peers.

As the pandemic took hold, Cisco Saudi Arabia recognised the importance of digitisation in ensuring that employee safety and business continuity could be maintained. GPTW notes that Ciscos smart workplace technology and collaboration platform, Webex were key differentiators. In addition to keeping employees productive and aligned, Webex has also served as an important tool for supporting employee wellbeing, through the hosting of virtual meetings, trainings and networking opportunities, as well as one-on-one coffee catch-ups with managers.

As part of the assessment, GPTW also conducted an audit of management practices and bold acts of leadership organisations have taken in response to Covid-19  benefitting employees, the business and wider community alike. GPTW commends Ciscos technology for also ensuring the safety and wellbeing of frontline workers. The companys collaboration software has proved to be a critical lifeline for industries such as healthcare and education.

Cisco believes in powering an inclusive future for all. Central to achieving this, is the creation of an environment where employees of all backgrounds have the opportunity to learn and thrive. This is known as Ciscos Conscious Culture  a philosophy which encourages employees to be self-aware, value each others differences and challenge the status quo. To drive this agenda, Cisco holds regular workshops and events, advancing conversations and opening up new opportunities related to diversity and inclusion.

Commenting on the achievement, Salman Abdulghani Faqeeh, Managing Director, Cisco Saudi Arabia said: It fills me with immense pride to know that we have not only built a great workplace culture, but that we also remain humble and continue to improve it. It is an honor to be recognised by Great Place to Work Middle East once again, this time climbing up to first position. Like all businesses, we were presented with number of new challenges  but as a family, we tackled them together. I would like to thank everyone at Cisco Saudi Arabia for their support and determination over the past year  may we continue to inspire one another and create positive impact in the kingdom. -- TradeArabia News Service
Brasilia/New Delhi, May 5 : After facing a long suspension, WhatsApp on Wednesday said it is finally launching its Payments service in Brazil as part of a gradual rollout.

Brazil's Central Bank had blocked the service in June 2020, citing concerns about competition in the payment system market.

"Very excited to start enabling Payments in WhatsApp in Brazil today. This will be a gradual roll-out, but enabling people in Brazil to pay one another in conversations as easily as sending a text message is going to be so useful," David Marcus, Head of Facebook Financial, announced in a tweet.

After testing a beta version in India, WhatsApp launched in-app payments in Brazil in June.

While suspending the service, the Central Bank had said it planned to evaluate whether the service was compliant with regulations.

"We know that you were waiting for this. Payments on WhatsApp starts to be available today," WhatsApp said in a tweet.

WhatsApp Pay is also live in India with leading banks for up to 20 million users.

After two years of waiting, Facebook-owned WhatsApp payment service received approval from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in November to go live on Unified Payment Interface (UPI) with over 160 supported banks.

WhatsApp can expand its UPI user base in a graded manner starting with a maximum registered user base of 20 million.

In another development, consumer protection agencies in Brazil have asked the government to act on the May 15 privacy update that will allow Facebook to aggregate users' data across all of its platforms.

Consumer rights non-profit organisation Idec notified Brazil's National Data Protection Authority, the National Consumer Secretariat and the Federal Prosecution Service, among others, with a request for joint action against the privacy policy.

Originally planned for a February 8 roll out, WhatsApp had to defer the privacy policy amid strong protests in India.
Kabul, May 5 : One person was killed and three others wounded in a roadside bomb blast that targeted a bus carrying health workers here on Wednesday morning, a local official said.

The health workers were heading to their office in the central province of Panjshir, the district Governor of Kalakan, Abdul Ghafoor Popalzai said.

However, eyewitnesses said that one person was killed and 10 others were wounded in the blast, Tolo news reported.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.
Washington, May 5 : Pharmaceutical major Pfizer will likely seek the US Food and Drug Administration's emergency authorisation to administer its coronavirus vaccine among children between the ages of 2 and 11 in September, the media reported.

By early next week, the company is expected to get FDA approval for emergency use of its vaccine in children 12 to 15 years old.

It is planning to apply for full approval of the vaccine for use in people from ages 16 to 85, this month, The New York Times reported. The pharma major will also have clinical trial data on the safety of its vaccine in pregnant women by early August.

The FDA is preparing to make Covid vaccines "accessible to additional, younger populations", Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, was quoted as saying at a news conference on Tuesday, the report said.

Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is given to adults under an emergency use authorization that the companies received in December. Obtaining full FDA approval will allow it to market the vaccine directly to consumers.

"Full approval is a welcome indicator of the continued safety and efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine," Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease epidemiologist at George Mason University, was quoted as saying.

Earlier in March, results of a clinical trial led by the companies showed that the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine is extremely effective in young adolescents, even more than in adults. The children produced strong antibody responses and experienced no serious side effects.

Vaccinating adolescents may also be key to boost immunity levels in the general population and thus reduce the number of hospitalisation and death.

A full approval may also make it easier for companies, government agencies, schools to get vaccinated and the jabs will stay in the market, even after the end of the pandemic, the report said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Nandurbar : , May 5 (IANS) Scores of children in the small village of Biladi in Nandurbar district stare with disbelief at an unusual sight unfolding daily in their neighbourhood.

Around 9 am onwards, the Biladi Zilla Parishad Primary School Principal Sachin Patki sheds his tough demeanour and 'school-headmaster' attitude to walk up and mingle freely with the villagers, comprising mostly farmers or daily labourers, to create awareness about the Covid-19 vaccination.

For this, Principal Patki slips into a new fancy attire daily in different areas, goes around singing, dancing, reciting folk-tales, hymns, poems and attempts to remove misconceptions about the Covid-19 pandemic and the life-saver vaccination jabs that have reached the village of 1,750.

"I don our schoolteachers' uniform, or self-stitched costumes of Lord Shiva with a damru and a club, a Policeman, a Doctor, Lord Vasudeo (Sage Naradmuni, with a pair of 'khartals'), etc., to lure the people and make them feel more comfortable among familiar Hindu gods and the frontline workers," smiles Patki.

The 42-year academician devotes around 30-45 mintues in each area, speaks about the Covid protocols like physical distancing, sporting face-masks, washing hands often, hygiene, and the need to get inoculated, etc. to the wide-eyed parents and villagefolk who gather, of course, at a safe range.

"I am accompanied by my two teachers - Shantaram Wadile and Smita Budhe... While I convey the messages in an entertaining style, they distribute around 40-50 masks, soaps or handwashes to the crowds to drive home the importance of following Covid-appropriate behavior," Patiki said.

The idea dawned on Patki a couple of weeks ago after hearing how medical or social workers and aanganwadi staff were hounded out by the villagers when they went to conduct Covid-19 tests or register them for vaccination.

"Most villagers slammed doors shut, those in the fields would scoot from the volunteers, others would surround and abuse them, at times there were minor fisticuffs after which the perplexed workers retreated," he recalled.

The ZP school, now a temporary quarantine-cum-innoculation centre, is manned by two other teachers - Sarla Patil and Sachin Bagal - who killed hours of boredom on the designated 'Vaccination Thursdays' with barely a handful of villagers turning up for the jab.

Last month, only 35 sceptics turned up for the dose, but after Patki's public awareness drive, it shot up to 100 the next week and last Thursday notched a record 140 people queing up for their jabs.

"My small campaign has apparently clicked... The simple folks have lot of misconceptions... They apprehend illnesses, some short-term or permanent handicap or even death...! I gently try to erase all their doubts and convince them to go for the life-saver jab..." said Patki, sounding relieved.

In Biladi, he touches around 25 families daily in his two-hour long 'road-shows' and buoyed by the response, took it even to the adjoining Bankheda village (1,500 pop.) too.

On an average, Patki - who also works as a part-time Hindu priest and revered as 'Brahmin Sir' - spends around Rs 5,000 each month from his pocket toward the 'extra-curricular social activities' for his 110-school kids who hail from economically weaker sections... But he desires to do even more for them.

"We need a good library, a book bank, a computer lab with at least 25 computers, etc. for the children to keep apace with modern technological advancements, but resources are a big constraint," he rued.

Undeterred, last year, Patki embarked on a unique venture - taking the classroom to the students' doorstep, at the height of the lockdown, when all schools were shut down, vide his "Shikshan Rath".

"I installed a 42-inch TV set on my personal car, put up educational banners and posters and drove down to one locality daily... The children would step out of their home, attend my doorstep classes with videos of different subjects, and return. Their academic sessions were undisturbed, and they enjoyed classes without the anxiety of online classes, erratic Internet connectivity or fat phone bills," Patki explained.

Though his family comprising mother Mangala, wife Harshada and 9-year old twins Nidhi and Navanya frown at his magnimity, Patki has earned accolades from the village authorities, the Collector Dr. Rajendra Bharud, and state-level officialdom, but he shrugs if off: "I am merely doing my duty!" (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Lucknow, May 5 : The crisis of hospital facilities in Lucknow will ease to an extent on Wednesday when the 500-bed makeshift Covid hospital set up by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Awadh Shilpgram on Shaheed Path becomes operational.

The hospital will start functioning almost a fortnight after DRDO stepped in to set up the facility at the instance of Lucknow MP and defence minister Rajnath Singh.

With the addition of 500 beds, the city will now have 7,000 beds for Covid patients, though most of them are occupied.

DRDO director Narendra Kumar Arya said, "The makeshift hospital at Awadh Shilpgram in Lucknow will be operational from Wednesday noon. The hospital has the capacity of 500 beds, including 150 ICU and 350 general beds which are also equipped with oxygen." He said that the patients will be admitted through the Integrated Covid Command Centre (ICCC).

"We have given the DRDO hospital a login and a password for the ICCC portal where they will upload the status of bed availability. People will be able to view bed occupancy but admission requests will be centrally controlled," said Lucknow's Covid in charge, Roshan Jacob.

District magistrate Abhishek Prakash visited the facility on Tuesday and said the hospital would have unlimited 24-hour oxygen supply. He said there would be a separate electricity feeder for the hospital and special sanitization and cleanliness facilities would be provided to the hospital.

The DRDO has already set up similar hospitals in Delhi and Ahmedabad in April this year.

While DRDO will not formally inaugurate the facility given the crisis situation, sources said chief minister Yogi Adityanath will visit the facility on Wednesday.

"Patients will not be charged for treatment at the hospital. Arrangements for the stay of patients' relatives will also be made in the premises. Medicines and food will be free," said the DRDO director.

While the hospital has been set up with the expertise and supervision of DRDO, the medical aspect of the facility will be taken care of by the doctors, nurses and support staff of the Armed Forces Medical Services.

It has an oxygen plant on base and central air-conditioning as per WHO protocols of air circulation for Covid patients.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Mumbai, May 5 : As the county's healthcare system reels under the severe Covid crisis, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday announced a liquidity window of Rs 50,000 crore wherein vaccine makers, hospitals, oxygen suppliers among other healthcare stakeholders would be able to get loans at the repo rate till March 31, 2022.

The loans would be for tenors of up to three years, said the RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das during a virtual address.

Das said that banks are being incentivised for quick delivery of credit under the scheme through extension of priority sector classification to such lending up to March 31, 2022. These loans will continue to be classified under priority sector till repayment or maturity, whichever is earlier.

"To boost provision of immediate liquidity for ramping up COVID related healthcare infrastructure and services in the country, an on-tap liquidity window of Rs 50,000 crore with tenors of up to three years at the repo rate is being opened till March 31, 2022," he said.

Under the scheme, banks can provide fresh lending support to a wide range of entities including vaccine manufactures, importers and suppliers of vaccines and priority medical devices, hospitals and dispensaries, pathology labs, manufacturers and suppliers of oxygen and ventilators, importers of vaccines and COVID related drugs and logistics firms and also patients for treatment.

Banks may deliver these loans to borrowers directly or through intermediary financial entities regulated by the RBI.

He further, said that banks are expected to create a Covid loan book under the scheme. By way of an additional incentive, such banks will be eligible to park their surplus liquidity up to the size of the Covid loan book with the RBI under the reverse repo window at a rate which is 25 basis points (bps) lower than the repo rate or, termed in a different way, 40 bps higher than the reverse repo rate.

Governor Das note that in the fight against the second wave, alleviating any constraint from the financing side for all stake holders including governments, hospitals and dispensaries, pharmacies, vaccine and medicine makers, medical oxygen manufacturers, engaged in the critical healthcare supply chain, and above all the common man who may be facing sudden spike in health expenditure, requires a comprehensive targeted policy response.

"Small businesses and financial entities at the grassroot level are bearing the biggest brunt of the second wave of infections," he said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chennai, May 5 : The main two left parties of Tamil Nadu -- CPM and CPI which were part of the DMK-led alliance, had to be satisfied with 2 seats each even as both of them contested 6 seats each in the winning electoral alliance.

CPM state secretary K. Balakrishnan while speaking to IANS said, "The party was not able to get seats allocated in regions where we are strong including Kanniyakumari and Chennai. Further in seats like Kovilpatti, Dindugal and Thiruparankundram, we were pitted against leaders like TTV Dhinakaran and also former ministers and we could not match their resources. This took us behind." With the DMK led front winning the elections, the poor performance of the left parties has been a point of discussion in the political circles of Tamil Nadu.

C.M. Sivakumar, journalist and political analyst while speaking to IANS said, "The left parties are fast losing their cadre strength and even the two seats the CPM won, they piggy rode on the strength of the DMK. If they don't rework their strategies, it will be difficult for the left parties to survive in Tamil Nadu." The CPI has also cut a sorry figure with the party again winning only 2 seats out of the 6 it contested in the DMK front. The party contested in Kongu region, Valparai, Tiruppur and Bhavanisagar which have high concentration of plantation workers, industrial workers and other labourers and the party has the strength due to trade union activities.

CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan while speaking to IANS said, "The DMK had led the front and its functionaries and our alliance partners were in the forefront of our campaign. Unfortunately in the regions where we contested, the support came for AIADMK front and we had to lose." The CPI won Thalli and Thiruthuraipoondi seats in the elections while the CPM won from Kilvelur and Gandharvakottai.

CPM Politburo member and former Education minister of Kerala, M.A. Baby while speaking to IANS said, "CPM has not done that bad in the elections but still we will have to study as to what went wrong in Tamil Nadu for the party."
Thiruvananthapuram, May 5 : Congress Lok Sabha member K. Muraleedharan who contested the Nemom assembly seat in the capital district, said here on Wednesday, he is proud that it was due to his party's efforts that the BJP could not open its account in Kerala.

Muraleedharan, son of legendary Congress leader K. Karunakaran was drafted to contest the assembly polls after widespread canards were spread by the ruling Left that it was the Congress which helped BJP open its account in 2016 when BJP veteran O. Rajagopal won the Nemom seat defeating V. Sivankutty of the CPI-M by less than 9,000 votes and the ally of the Congress, V. Surendran Pillai came a dismal third with just around 13,000 votes.

"Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has now gone to town saying that the Congress and the BJP are hand in glove and if that was the case, the CPI-M would not have won from Nemom this time. But the truth is had I not got above 30,000 votes, BJP candidate would have won and since I secured this many votes, the CPI-M candidate won with a margin of 3,949 votes," said Muraleedharan.

"All the truths have now come out the BDJS- the second biggest ally of the BJP-led NDA has been silent and just see their total tally of votes in the state. In the 2016 polls they secured over 4 per cent votes and this time it has fallen below 2 per cent. Moreover, we did not get the support of the minority communities. All of us heard the Social Democratic Party of India (the political outfit of the Popular Front of India) stating that they had given their votes to the Left at Nemom," added Muraleedharan.

He said his party would sit down and discuss and debate the poll debacle which saw the Vijayan government retain power and the Congress was left to bite the dust.

The Congress led UDF saw its tally came down from 47 in 2016 to 41 in 2021.

"The final outcome that has emerged after the polls here is that it has now become evidently clear that the CPI-M's only agenda was to see the back of the Congress and for that they effectively used the BJP. To cover up all that Vijayan is spreading canards that it was we who had the deal with the BJP. Time will prove everything and none should forget West Bengal which they ruled for over three decades is not there anymore and in the recent elections they were with us," added Muraleedharan.
New Delhi, May 5 : The Maharashtra Directorate of Tourism (DoT), Konkan Divisional Regional Office, Navi Mumbai, organised a webinar series on Konkan Tourism to shed light on the art, culture, history, and heritage of the Konkan region. The second webinar in this series was held on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 4.30 pm on the official Facebook page of Konkan Tourism Regional Office, Navi Mumbai.

Bhau Katdare, founder of Sahyadri Nisarg Mitra, Chiplun Sanstha, an NGO that works towards the conservation of nature and wildlife in the Konkan region was the keynote speaker. The webinar was moderated by Hanumant Hede, Deputy Director of DoT, Konkan Region, Maharashtra and was attended by 225 participants from different parts of the state.

Sharing valuable insights on turtle conservation and turtle festival at Velas, Katdare shared vital information about turtle tourism and stated that Maharashtra is the only state in India to have successfully implemented and promoted turtle tourism. Speaking of the Small Olive Ridley turtles which visit various coasts of Maharashtra every year mentioning they are 2 to 2.5 feet in size and weigh 36-49 kg. Their breeding season is from December to February and their life span is around 50 to 100 years. These turtles are migratory but during the breeding season, the female turtle comes to the shore, digs a 1-1.5 feet deep hole, and lays 100-150 eggs in it. Out of these eggs, only 1 per cent of the hatchlings survive. This means only 1 out of 100 turtles survives.

Explaining the importance of this species of turtles, Katdare said that these turtles are essential for a balanced ocean ecosystem as they keep the sea clean by consuming dead fish and sea grass. These turtles, which are very important from an environmental point of view, were in a bad condition some time ago as stealing turtle eggs, eating or selling them, were some of issues faced. Besides, construction work and global warming, causing decrease in dry sand posing a threat to the growth of turtle eggs, unclean beaches were also other threats for the turtles. However, with turtle conservation in 2003, the situation has improved.

With an aim to conserve these sea turtles, Katdare tried to convince the locals that turtle breeding can create job opportunities, while launching several new employment-generating and conservation initiatives such as turtle surveying, hatchery planning, and egg conservation. With the help of the forest department and individual sponsors the Turtle Festival was initiated, which today has become big.

All the five species of sea turtles occurring in India, including the Olive Ridley turtles, are legally protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Appendix I of the CITES Convention which prohibits trade in turtle products.

Hanumant Hede, Directorate of Tourism Maharashtra's Deputy Director-- regional office, Konkan region, Navi Mumbai, said, "The Maharashtra tourism department is planning to organise a Velas-Anjarle Festival on the lines of the Turtle Festival so that tourism is not limited to turtles and all other resources of the villages can be used to promote sustainable tourism. Bhau Katdare has set an ideal example to the world on how villages in Konkan can be developed through tourism.'' (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
New Delhi, May 5 : After Mamata Banerjee took oath for the third time as Chief Minister of West Bengal, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad termed the TMC Supremo as "Lioness Of East".

In his tweet, the former leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha said, "She is really the "Lioness Of East". My heartiest congratulations to @MamataOfficial for fighting and winning a huge victory in spite of all the odds." Congress leaders have been praising the TMC chief after she decimated the BJP in the state election. Former union minster Manish Tewari even termed Mamata Banerjee as Rani of Jhansi (queen who fought the Britishers).

Another former union minister Salman Khurshid said, "Mamata didi's victory is relief and comfort despite the sacrifice we as Congress must endure. But for both as indeed many others there is need to return to drawing board for sustainable challenge to BJP." The Congress scored zero in the West Bengal election and even lost its strongholds, while the party has said that it is committed to course correction. After losing in the state polls the Congress said that the party will "study" the results, correct mistakes and do a course correction.
Swedish air purification expert Blueair has launched HealthProtect, its most advanced air purifier ever.

Combining three new revolutionary technologies, the HealthProtect air purifier provides protection against viruses and bacteria, even when it is on standby.

Today, Blueair can also confirm that the HealthProtect has been proven, in independent third party laboratory tests, to remove 99.99% of live airborne SARS-CoV-2 virus  making it the first product from a major air purifier brand to demonstrate the results.

Jonas Holst, Chief Product Officer for Blueair said: HealthProtect is the result of several years of R&D and consumer insights as we see that across the globe, even before the current pandemic, viruses and bacteria are one of the main concerns for people. So with HealthProtect we wanted to create a germ fighting machine, an air purifier that would reassure you even when in standby mode. This is what makes HealthProtect unique, and of course the fact that every component has been carefully designed in Sweden to provide the highest performance and energy efficiency.

Superior removal of particles, chemicals/VOCs, and germs HealthProtect uses HEPASilent Ultra, Blueairs most advanced filtration technology to date. This technology combines electrostatic and mechanical filtration to remove up to 99.97% of airborne pollutants such as dust, pollen, dander, mould. The technology also removes VOCs (including formaldehyde), odours and nanoparticles down to 0.03 micron and up to 99.99% of viruses and bacteria.

Compared to traditional true HEPA filtration used in most air purifiers, HEPASilent Ultra silently delivers 50% more 7 clean air and uses 55% less energy 8 and 10% less noise than traditional standard HEPA filtration.

Even when the HealthProtect air purifier is on standby, the GermShield technology proactively monitors the room using temperature and humidity sensors and automatically activates when conditions are optimal for germ growth. GermShield uses a low air draft to ensure no new growth of germs, and plasma charging to deactivate 10 existing viruses and bacteria on the filters.

Unlike other air purifiers that only push clean air to a small part of the room, the SpiralAir outlets are uniquely engineered to deliver 360, omni-directional airflow to quickly circulate more clean air to every corner of the room (based on recommended room size and AHAMs globally recognised standard of five Air Changes Per Hour). The HealthProtect has a high Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR), successfully cleaning all the air 5 times per hour meaning it will clean the optimal room size that its recommended for in only 12 minutes.

Smart features in the Blueair app like Clean air ETA (estimated time of arrival), Automode and real-time pollutant tracking of fine particles (PM1 - 2.5) such as smoke, bacteria and viruses plus coarse particles (PM10) such as dust, pollen and spores, helps one understand how household activities and cleaning product choices are impacting your air quality. HealthProtect is easily voice-controlled by Amazon Alexa and Google Home, or remotely via the Blueair app.

Even its filters are smart: HealthProtect is equipped with a smart filter powered by a RFID chip that accurately monitors the filter usage within the unit. When its time to replace the filter, the Blueair app will send you an alert and allow you to re-order at the touch of a button.

With SmartFilter you can be assured youll always have clean air delivered to your home. The smart sensor algorithm accurately calculates how much polluted air has passed through the filter and as a result is able to tell you exactly when to change the filter. The filter lifetime can be prolonged up to 12 months. The filter is also cleverly designed as a booklet shape so you close it when changing it, therefore avoiding contact with the inlet (dirty side) of the filters.

HealthProtect also comes with cleanable pre-filters that capture larger particles like dust. These conveniently pop-out for quick maintenance and significantly extend the lifetime of the main filter, which goes in line with the sustainability initiatives Blueair drives.

Air purifiers are generally recommended to be placed in the rooms where you spend the most time. This is often the bedroom. Many air purifiers, however, cannot clean the air without making a lot of noise.

The HealthProtect uses HEPASilent Ultra filtration technology to deliver its powerful filtration performance quieter than a whisper (30 dB) on the lowest setting and a normal conversation (65 dB) on the highest. The smart Night mode will optimise the settings and turn off any lights that could disturb a good nights sleep.

Every component is uniquely engineered in Sweden to provide the highest performance and energy efficiency. Blueairs Swedish heritage is also apparent in the choice of sustainable, high-quality stainless steel and thoughtful design features such as easy to clean pre-filters and hidden wheels.

HealthProtect has been independently tested by third party laboratories and top testing institutes.

It has the coveted Good Housekeeping Institute Tried & Tested 2021 Approval. Good Housekeeping Institute said: Our testers found the Blueair HealthProtect range simple to use, quiet when running and effective at easing their allergies. HealthProtect also got the T3 Platinum award in the UK. -- TradeArabia News Service
Dubai, May 5 : An Indian expat at a UAE-based free zone firm has set aside producing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders and shifted to manufacturing oxygen containers for India to help out the Covid patients in the country.

Speaking to Gulf News, Pushkar Khurana, Managing Director of the company EKC International FZE, said, "We are an Indian subsidiary and as soon as we came to know about the oxygen cylinder shortage in India, we had to rise to the call of our nation and serve the needs of our country." Khurana said that since March, they have been exporting these cylinders in multiple containers to Port Mundra in India's Gujarat state.

"We make the cylinders which are then filled with medical oxygen by Gulf-based industrial gas companies such as Emirates Industrial Gases Company (EIGC) and Gulf Cryo, and these are shipped to Port Mundra. Each container that is shipped contains about 350 cylinders of 50 litre capacity." In March and April, the company shipped about 6,000 oxygen cylinders and in May the number is likely to go up to 7,000.

Khurana said, "The lives of people suffering from COVID-19 are important. We look at this as a critical or emergency duty and will continue to produce oxygen cylinders for as long as India needs them. The Adani Group from Gujarat reached out to us and we immediately adapted the production to manufacturing oxygen cylinders which have a slightly different specification than CNG cylinders." K.N. Kutty, sales manager of the company, a subsidiary of Everest Kanto Cylinder Limited in India, said the UAE unit has been producing CNG cylinders for Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV) as well as industrial cylinders since 2002.

"Over 99.9 per cent of the production is exported to Latin American countries, Mexico, USA, Egypt and some parts of South East Asia."
London, May 5 : The UK government is planning to give a third Covid vaccine shot to everyone above 50s in the autumn in a bid to remove the threat from Covid-19 infections entirely by Christmas, the media reported on Wednesday.

The country is mulling two options: one involves vaccines specifically modified to tackle new variants; the second is for a third shot of either Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca or Moderna vaccines that are already approved for use in the UK, The Times reported.

Early findings from trials have raised hopes in the Government that the two approaches can nullify the threat from existing and new variants, the report said. The jab would only be given to higher risk populations above 50 and those with underlying health conditions. Moreover, the third shot will be offered along with the annual flu jab.

"We will have a lot to say about the booster programme soon. It's looking really positive so far,"a senior government minister was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

"We think that the level of protection in the population to any variant will be so high that by Christmas, Covid-19 should have just faded away into the background like any other illness in circulation. So much so that we don't think there will be any need to give a booster shot to younger people because transmission will have got so low," the minister added.

According to the UK government statistics, more than 34.6 million Britons have been given a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine till Tuesday.

Britain, which has a population of 67 million, has deals for over 510 million doses of eight different Covid-19 vaccines, some of which remain under development.

The UK will buy 60 million more doses of Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine, health minister Matt Hancock said last week, in a deal that more than doubles the country's supply of the shot ahead of a booster programme later this year. Britain has now ordered a total of 100 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, one of three Covid-19 shots being rolled out in the country, the report said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Gurugram, May 5 : After liquid oxygen crisis, Gurugram is now grappling with the Covid vaccine shortage amid sharp rise in coronavirus cases across the district.

While the Haryana government has placed an order for 66 lakh vaccine doses, the state has been allocated only 4.3 lakh vaccines by the Centre.

Meanwhile, the state has rolled out the vaccination drive for the 18-44 age group from May 2.

In Gurugram, the private hospitals have close their vaccination centres due to the unavailability of doses.

Hospital managements said that vaccine manufacturers have put them on a waiting list and it may take around two to three months to get the required dosages.

According to the health officials, they are waiting for the second consignment of vaccination.

"We are yet to receive more vaccines from the state. As and when we get the vaccines, we will speed up the drive. The health department have already informed the government," said Virender Yadav, Chief Medical Officer, Gurugram.

According to the district health department data, until May 3, over 178,200 people aged 45 to 59 years took their first dose, but only 13,000 of them have received the second shot.

On Tuesday, a total of 4,017 people in the 45 plus age bracket got vaccinated in the city at 37 session sites.

Overall, 4.28 lakh people are eligible for getting the jabs, of whom 3.80 lakh have already taken the shot.

Meanwhile, the health department said that private hospitals have to arrange their vaccine doses on their own.

"We are not responsible for providing vaccine doses to private hospitals any more. The hospitals are supposed to get their vaccine directly from the companies," Yadav said.

Health officials also informed that, due to the limited supply of vaccine, session sites have decreased to 59 from 89 in the district.

Until the first week of April, vaccination took place at 37 government health centres and 52 private hospitals.

"Hospitals are not getting any vaccine stock from manufacturers as they are obliged to provide doses to central and state governments. Due to unavailability of stock, second dose beneficiaries who have been directly reaching hospital every day are asked to go back," said, a senior doctor of a leading hospital in Gurugam requesting anonymity.

Tapan Yadav (54), a resident of Sector-56, said he has not been able to get the second shot of vaccine despite visiting many private and government health facilities over the last four days," he said, adding that,AAt a time when the covid virus is at its peak, the vaccination process could have been streamlined, especially for the elderly".

People also flagged issues with booking slots on the Co-WIN platform.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Bengaluru: Volunteers distributed free food for poor people at KR Market during the Coronavirus Pandemic, in Bengaluru on Saturday 1st May 2021.(Photo: Dhananjay Yadav/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

More companies come forward to help India fight Covid Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, May 5 : US home improvement retailer Lowe on Wednesday pledged to donate Rs 40 crore to support India in its second and more lethal wave of Coronavirus pandemic.

The funds will support the procurement of medical equipment, oxygen concentrators and cylinders, oxygen generation plants and vaccination drives for the underserved.

"To support India during the current surge in the pandemic, Lowe's is contributing Rs 40 Crore towards Covid-19 relief," the company said in a statement.

"Lowe's US has also shipped thousands of PPE kits materials to India for the use of frontline workers who are working tirelessly to keep us all safe and healthy," it added.

Lowe's India works across technology, analytics, business operations, finance and accounting, product management, and shared services.

Further, Harman International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, contributed Rs 10 crore to PM-CARES to help in Covid-19 relief efforts.

"It is heartening to see the entire nation coming together in this fight against the pandemic. Keeping in mind our commitment towards the community and our country at large, we are contributing funds to PM Cares in order to aid the governments' endeavour to combat the Covid-19 crisis. Let us all pledge together in supporting India to flatten the curve," said Prathab Deivanayagham, Country Manager, Harman India, in a statement on Wednesday.

Earlier, the company had also announced that it will cover the cost of vaccination for as many as 8,400 Indian employees and their dependents who are enrolled in the company's medical benefits programme.

The company has partnered with Apollo hospital to provide medical care for its employees, expanded their insurance covers and is offering financial support for urgent medical situations for its workforce.

US-based financial services company Wells Fargo has also responded to India's Covid crisis with a grant of $3 million for health care and emergency response.

The funds aim to provide portable hospital annex units with 200 beds, deploy oxygen concentrators to hospitals, deliver Covid-19 isolation kits for people recovering at home, support ICU ambulances to help transport patients to hospitals.

The grants will go to United Way agencies in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai; Nirmaan Organisation; Akshaya Patra Foundation; Mantra Social Services; and NASSCOM Foundation.

"It's been heartbreaking to see the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in India," said Bill Daley, vice chairman of Public Affairs, in a statement.

"Our priority is caring for our employees and local communities in India. These grants can help nonprofits quickly provide much needed medical equipment and build capacity while providing care for those affected and support for healthcare professionals tirelessly working to save lives," he added.

Wells Fargo has also taken steps throughout the pandemic for the health and safety of its employees in India and globally through remote work and enhanced benefits.

The grants are in addition to $225 million in philanthropic contributions for Covid-19 relief that Wells Fargo has deployed globally since 2020.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Bengaluru, May 5 : Karnataka Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa on Wednesday said that the decision on whether to enforce complete or partial lockdown in the state will be taken only after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation in the evening.

After garlanding Mysuru state's first Chief Minister, K.C. Reddy's statue on his 119th birth anniversary here, Yediyurappa told the media that it was not proper of him to take any decision as of now when Modi is scheduled to speak in the evening.

"Let us listen to what he says and then we can decide or if he takes any decision we will have to implement it," the CM said.

Speculation is rife that Karnataka might consider extending its lockdown like shutdown beyond May 12, after Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Supreme Court had favoured extending countrywide lockdown to arrest the virus transmission.

In Karnataka, two-week shutdown is already in force and it prohibits free movement of people and allows essential shops to function till noon.

On Monday, CII president Uday Kotak urged the industry captains to curtail all the non-essential economic activity requiring physical presence of employees at the workplace, for the next two week.

"This is necessary to break the chain of transmission. Industry should review operations and minimise the use of in person manpower, limiting it to only critical operations or activities required by law.

All responsible corporates should strive to protect their employees and ensure that their employee balance sheet remains healthy," he said in his appeal to industry captains while terming the second Covid wave as 'massive tsunami of Covid infections' that has hit India, causing much suffering.

Earlier this week, even the Apex court had asked both the central and state governments to consider imposing a ban on mass gatherings and super-spreader events, as well as enforcing a lockdown to curb the spread of the Covid.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 5 : In a significant development, two medical oxygen plants funded by PM-CARES have been set up at AIIMS and RML Hospital in the national capital within a week.

Union Health Ministry said, "Carried out on a war footing, the two plants were swiftly airlifted from Coimbatore and installed yesterday. Both the plants will start supplying oxygen by today evening." Union Minister of States for Health, Ashwini Kumar Choubey tweeted, "Installation of two high flow medical oxygen plants funded by PM-CARES at AIIMS, New Delhi and RML Hospital completed. Oxygen Supply to Covid patients to begin from today." In order to effectively address the high surge of Covid-19 cases in the country, PM-CARES has allocated funds for the installation of 500 Medical Oxygen Plants across the country. These plants are planned to be set up within three months.

Five high flow medical oxygen plants will be installed at AIIMS Trauma Centre, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML), Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, and AIIMS, Jhajjar, Haryana.
Bhopal, May 5 : A campaign began in Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday to vaccinate people above 18 years. The vaccination of people between 18-44 years was scheduled to begin from May 1 but due to non-availability of vaccines, the drive was postponed to Wednesday.

Archana Mundir, Deputy Director of Madhya Pradesh Health Information, Education Communication (IEC) Bureau, informed that vaccination is being done in a phased manner in the state as per the availability of vaccines. Individuals who have just completed 18 years are eligible for vaccination. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday are the days fixed for vaccination.

For the vaccination process, the beneficiaries have to enter their registered mobile number on the Co-WIN portal following which an OTP of six digits will appear on their mobile phones. After submitting the OTP, the beneficiary's details will appear from which one has to select the nearest vaccination centre and book the time slot for getting vaccinated. Photo ID would be required for registration such as Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving license etc.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on taking oath as West Bengal Chief Minister for the third consecutive time.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Congratulations to Mamata Didi on taking oath as West Bengal's Chief Minister." Banerjee took oath as Chief Minister on Wednesday in the shadow of Covid pandemic and reports of violence in some parts of the state.

Banerjee, in her trademark white Sari and shawl, took oath in Bengali.

The oath ceremony took place with Covid protocols in place at the "Throne Room" at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata.

The rest of the cabinet and the council of ministers will be sworn in on May 9, which marks the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.

In the recently concluded polls, the Trinamool Congress won 213 of 292 seats while the BJP finished second with 77 seats in the state.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Patna, May 5 : In a major crackdown, Patna police managed to arrest 4 persons in connection with illegally selling regulators of oxygen cylinders on Wednesday.

Bhaskar Ranjan, the DSP of Patna central conducted a raid in a house located at road number 3 of Rajiv Nagar area and arrested four persons.

"We received information about illegal sale of regulators of oxygen cylinders from a house in Rajiv Nagar. Accordingly, a team was constituted which raided the place. We have recovered 42 regulators from their possession," Ranjan said.

"During brief questioning, the accused confessed that they were selling one regulator for Rs 8,000. The actual price of a regulator is Rs 700," Ranjan said.

"The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the pandemic act, illegal possession of medical equipment and black marketing. We are also trying to crack the nexus and supply chain. Further investigation is on," Ranjan said.

The black marketing of medical equipment, life saving drugs, oxygen cylinders are allegedly taking place in the middle of the pandemic in Bihar.

Opposition leaders in the rank of Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leader, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, the president of Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) have leveled serious allegations against the state government for not acting tough on black marketers.

"The 5 kg oxygen cylinders having actual cost of not more than Rs 5,000 was sold at the rate of Rs 35,000 in the state. I have purchased oxygen cylinders at the rate of Rs 20,000 after negotiation and donated to the patients. An injection of Remdesivir having an actual price of Rs 3,000 was sold at Rs 50,000 and the state government has no control over the mafias," said Pappu Yadav.
Kolkata, May 5 : Indian intelligence has been alerted by their Bangladeshi counterparts about scores of Hefazat-e-Islam militants fleeing into neighbouring Indian states like West Bengal and Assam, which were caught up with conducting polls until recently.

Anwesha Bhaumik Kolkata, May 5 (IANS) Indian intelligence has been alerted by their Bangladeshi counterparts about scores of Hefazat-e-Islam militants fleeing into neighbouring Indian states like West Bengal and Assam, which were caught up with conducting polls until recently.

A top official of a central intelligence agency said that Bangladesh's Sheikh Hasina government has initiated a massive crackdown on the Hefazat-e-Islam after the Islamist radical group unleashed a violent campaign opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh in March.

More than 50 top Hefazat leaders and some belonging to other Islamist jihadi terror groups have been arrested and nearly 300 donors who paid into Hefazat coffers have been identified. That includes top Hefazat leaders like Mamunul Huq who has reportedly confessed now that his group had set itself the objective of toppling the Hasina government and establishing a Taliban type Islamic state in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh intelligence, with whom its Indian counterparts share excellent information-sharing relations, has told Indian agencies that they have reports that some Hefazat topshots have fled or are trying to flee into Indian states like West Bengal and Assam.

"We take their alerts seriously because fleeing Islamist radicals can easily melt into states like West Bengal and Assam, where the administration and police was until recently focussed on conducting elections. We have alerted state police forces and the BSF to be extra vigilant," the top central intelligence agency official said.

But he was not willing to be named for obvious reasons.

Last week, two militants of the Jamaat ul Mujahideen were nabbed in Assam.

Ruling Awami League politicians in Bangladesh are worried that Hefazat and other Islamist radicals may set up secret sanctuaries in neighbouring Indian states and then launch attacks on Bangladesh targets.

"Even Bangladesh's secular politicians and cultural personalities who visit India for a host of reasons may be targetted by these frustrated Islamist radicals. We appeal to Indian authorities, both Centre and States, to ensure our enemies don't get shelter in India much as our government has ensured anti-Indian elements don't get any shelter in Bangladesh," said Awami Mohila League leader Ayesha Zaman Shimu.

She told IANS if groups like Hefazat, JMB and ABT set up sanctuaries in India, they can surely 'soft Bangladeshi targets'.

"Our people, rich and poor, young and old, visit India for a whole host of reasons all the time. Such people will be very worried if our jihadis find shelter in India," Ayesha said.
Weaverville, CA (96093)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by increasing clouds with showers developing this afternoon. High 67F. S winds shifting to W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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Partly cloudy skies. Low 37F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Amritsar: Police personnel patrol on the street during the new restrictions of Lockdown till 15 may are announced by the state government, in Amritsar on Monday, May 03,2021.(Photo:Pawan sharma/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Patna, May 5 : The Bihar police and local administration have been strictly enforcing the lockdown in the state by penalising persons found violating it by imposing a fine. The Bihar government announced a complete lockdown in the state from May 5 to May 15 amid the surge in Covid-19 cases.

The police have acted strictly against people found on the streets without any valid reason. A senior police official from Patna said checkposts have been set up at 50 places to ensure strict enforcement of the lockdown.

Amid the alarming rise in Covid-19 infections in Bihar, Patna has reported the maximum number of new cases.

Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh said the borders of the district have been sealed and 50 additional magistrates have been posted in the city.

Police personnel were deployed at various places in Patna on the first day of lockdown. The roads wore a deserted look and shops remained closed due to the lockdown. Those who had to step out of their house for essential services returned home by 11 a.m.

As many as 14,794 new corona cases were reported in the state on Tuesday while 105 persons died in the last 24 hours. On Monday, 11,407 Covid-19 infections were reported in the state, of which 82 died.

A record 2,681 new cases were reported in Patna on Tuesday. The number of active patients in the state has reached 1,10,430.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
has slipped in the minority after the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) withdrew its support to the government.

Kathmandu, May 5 (IANS) The KP Sharma Oli-led government in Nepal has slipped in the minority after the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) withdrew its support to the government.

With this Maoist's decision , the Oli government has been reduced into a minority who is going to test the floor on May 10.

Maoist's decision comes days before Prime Minister Oli had decided to seek a vote of trust from Parliament on May 10.

Through the vote of confidence, Oli will try to prolong his stay while the Opposition will try to unseat him who are now struggling to get required magic numbers to remove him.

Opposition party leaders say the talks between primary opposition, Nepali Congress, Maoist Center and a faction of the Janata Samajbadi Party, the fourth largest party in the House, is going on at various levels to form a coalition government after unseating Oli.

After Maoist withdrawal the support, Oli has to garner majority vote or continue as Prime Minister as the leader of the largest party until opposition parties unseat him.

Oli is negotiating with a faction of Janata Samajbadi Party to continue in power that has 32 seats in the parliament.

Opposition parties are also frequently meeting to secure the number to unseat Oli but still they are struggling. A section of the leaders inside Oli's Nepal Communist Party-UML is likely to support the opposition's bid but no decision has been made yet.

Chief Whip of the party, Dev Gurung on Wednesday submitted a letter at parliament secretariat regarding the party's decision to withdraw support to the Oli government. A Standing Committee meeting of the Maoist Center on Tuesday decided to withdraw support to the Oli government extended in April, 2018.

In the letter, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda accused Oli for violating constitutional norms, didn't reign from the post even after the Supreme Court invalidated his decision to dissolve the house and continuously tempering the system, democratic norms and values and prompted regression in the country.

The country has become an international playground, Oli compromised on the issue of nationality, running the country through the Ordinances and imposing authoritarianism in the country by violating democratic norms and values, the Maoist Center accused Oli in the letter submitted at parliament secretariat.
New Delhi, May 5 : As part of efforts to quickly channelise funds for the development of the health infrastructure required to fight the Covid pandemic, the government has allowed investments in such activities to qualify as eligible corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs on Wednesday clarified that spending of CSR funds directly or through pooling of resources for 'creating health infrastructure for COVID care are eligible CSR activities.

Resources for 'creating health infrastructure for COVID care', would include 'establishment of medical oxygen generation and storage plants' and 'manufacturing and supply of Oxygen concentrators, ventilators, cylinders and other medical equipment for countering COVID-19'.

Any funds moving in these activities by companies would qualify being termed as CSR spending for meeting annual compliance.

All companies, including government entities, with a net worth of Rs 500 crore or more, a turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or more, or net profit of Rs 5 crore or more, are required to spend 2 per cent of their average profits of the previous three years on CSR activities every year.

A ministry of corporate affairs circular said that CSR spending on health infrastructure and other activities can be undertaken directly by a company or in collaboration as shared responsibility with other companies.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Jammu, May 5 : Senior separatist leader and chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat group, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai passed away on Wednesday in a government hospital in J&K's Jammu city.

Hospital sources said Sehrai had been admitted to government medical college (GMC) hospital Jammu on Tuesday.

"He was suffering from multiple ailments, he passed away today," sources at the GMC hospital said in Jammu.

Sehrai's oxygen saturation level had dropped to 65, but his rapid antigen test (RAT) had come negative. The result of the RT-PCR test is still awaited, same sources said.

Sehrai was brought to the hospital from Kot Balwal jail where he was undergoing detention since last year.

He belonged to Lolab area of north Kashmir Kupwara district.

Sehrai had succeeded the octogenarian separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani as the chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat in August 2018 after Geelani relinquished following his deteriorating health.

Sehrai's son, Junaid Sehrai was a top ranking militant commander. He was killed in May 2020 in old city area of Srinagar in an encounter with the security forces.
Hyderabad, May 5 : For a third consecutive day, Telangana reported more recoveries from Covid-19 than the new infections.

A total of 8,126 people recovered from Covid while 6,361 new cases were reported during the 24-hour period that ended 8 p.m. Tuesday.

With this, the cumulative number of recoveries has gone up to 3,89,491.

The recovery rate improved to 82.91 per cent against the national average of 82 per cent.

The number of active cases has also come down to 77,704. The number had crossed 80,000 early this week.

The pandemic claimed 51 more lives, pushing the cumulative death toll to 2,527. The case fatality rate stands at 0.53 per cent against the national average of 1.1 per cent.

With the fresh cases, the state's cumulative tally has gone up to 4,69,722.

Government and private laboratories tested 77,435 samples during the 24-hour period.

According to the daily media bulletin released by the health department, the state has so far conducted 1,32,67,252 tests. Samples tested per million population improved to 3,56,454.

The number of daily cases in Greater Hyderabad spiked again to 1,225. Medchal Malkajgiri and Rangareddy district adjoining Hyderabad reported 422 and 423 cases respectively.

Out of 33 districts in the state, 11 districts reported cases in double digits.

The surge in infections continued in Nalgonda district. It reported 453 new cases followed by 248 in Karimnagar, 244 in Siddipet, 239 in Suryapet, 234 in Warangal Urban, 227 in Sangareddy and 224 in Mahaboobnagar.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Chennai, May 5 : Covid patients who are scrambling for beds in hospitals across Chennai are facing problems of no bed availability as there seems to be a mismatch on the actual number of beds available and the number being allotted.

The availability of beds with Oxygen facility in private hospitals is not updated with the portal stopcoronatn.in and people who are looking out for beds are not able to find the beds and the portal has no proper information regarding the number of beds available.

Mahesh Krishnamoorthy of Swadeshi Jagaran Manch while speaking to IANS said, "There seems to be a failure on the part of private hospitals in updating the availability of beds and according to information only 40 private hospitals have updated the details regarding availability of beds while there are more than 180 hospitals in Chennai." Most of these hospitals have not updated the availability for days while according to the Covid protocol it has to be updated in 2 hours time. Even in those hospitals whose details are being updated regularly, there are major communication gaps between the person updating the details and the exact availability of beds.

While some hospitals are not even answering the phones, others are not giving admission even if the patient is critical.

Ramachandra Menon, an employee with an MNC while speaking to IANS said, "I was running from pillar to post to get a bed for my uncle who was suffering from Covid. No one was taking my calls and when a hospital finally picked up, they did not allow my uncle an admission citing that he was critical. Luckily for us, we got an admission in Government medical college which saved the life of my Uncle." Another complaint is the reply from the helpline number "104" which always says, "No availability of Beds".

Officials from the Public health department said that this issue will be sorted out soon and that measures will be taken to streamline the availability of beds as well as functioning of the helpline "104".

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Chennai, May 5 : India's space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) trialed drone-based delivery of medicines, vegetables and spraying of disinfectants at its staff quarters located in rocket launch town Sriharikota on Wednesday.

"In a pilot project, based drones of Garuda Aerospace delivered vegetables and medicines at the ISRO staff quarters and also sanitised the buildings in Sriharikota. We also sanitised the buildings using unmanned vehicles," Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Managing Director of city-based Garuda Aerospace, told IANS.

The city based Garuda Aerospace is a drone-as-a-service company.

Confirming that a senior ISRO official told IANS that the trial delivery of vegetables, medicines and spraying of anti-coronavirus disinfectants were good and satisfactory.

Jayaprakash said ISRO may give the order following their internal procedures and many of the staff are working from their homes.

About 200-300 people in the ISRO staff quarters - employees and their family members-were affected by Covid-19.

An official in Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota on the condition of anonymity had told IANS that there are about 3,000 employees with their family members and daily about 30 people are tested positive for coronavirus.

"ISRO wants to minimise the physical interaction of the staff with the outside world as a safety measure and looking at automation as a solution," Jayaprakash said.

The second wave of Covid-19 sweeping across the country has also affected the various space centres and not just the rocket launch centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, K.Sivan, Secretary, Department of Space had told IANS recently.

Sivan who is also the Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS: "Several employees in our various centres have been affected because of the coronavirus and not only the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota." He said the centres have been asked to work with 50 per cent staff capacity and the remaining people to work from home.

"Only employees manning critical functional areas have been asked to attend office. The ISRO centres have been asked to follow the local government's norms," Sivan said.

(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Islamabad, May 5 : At least four Pakistani soldiers were killed on Wednesday during an attack by militants at the country's border with Afghanistan, the military said.

The group of soldiers was erecting a fence at the border when they were fired at from the Afghan side, the military's statement said.

No group has claimed responsibility so far, but the Pakistani Taliban, who have bases in the border region on both sides, frequently attack security forces in the area, DPA reported.

The Pakistani military has pushed the Taliban into lawless border regions of Afghanistan in a series of offensives since 2014, but the militants are still capable of launching surprise attacks.

Pakistan is fencing its more than 2,500-kilometre-long porous border with Afghanistan to stem the movement of Islamist militants linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
Chennai, May 5 : Despite the Congress party facing reversal in the elections in Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and Union Territory of Puducherry, the 18 seats it won in Tamil Nadu has given rise to hope for the party national leadership.

The All India Congress Committee was really happy over the performance of the Tamil Nadu state unit with the party bagging 18 seats out of the 25 it contested in alliance with the DMK in the 2021 assembly elections, the party said.

AICC general secretary, organization, K.C. Venugopal while speaking to IANS said, "The Congress has staged a good performance in Tamil Nadu and it has won 18 of the 25 seats it contested in alliance with the DMK. Initially we were expecting 50 seats to contest but we were satisfied with what we got and put down our heads and worked among the people and this gave us positive results." The Congress state president K.S. Alagiri steered the ship even after there were several rebel voices over the seat allotment as the party state president had to do a lot of juggling to provide seats to the winnable candidates without upsetting the equations within the party.

Alagiri while speaking to IANS said, "Congress party has done well in the TN assembly elections and I thank the party cadres and the DMK and other alliance partners for this performance in the elections. We are expecting a good governance from the government under Thiru MK Stalin in the days to come." There are possibilities of Congress MLAs getting ministerial berths as discussions on that line between the Congress leadership and the DMK leadership are in progress. The AICC leadership is also taking keen interest and is conducting parleys with the DMK leadership for berths to the party leaders during the cabinet formation.

The victory of Vijay Vasanth from Kanniyakumari Lok Labha seat defeating veteran BJP leader Pon Radhakrishnan has also added sugar to the Congress assembly election victory.
Hyderabad, May 5 : The Telangana government on Wednesday ruled out imposing a lockdown in the state, saying the Covid situation in the state is under control.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar told reporters that a downward trend had started in the new cases and hoped that the situation would soon become normal.

He said the government was of the view that there was no need for imposing lockdown in the state now or in future.

He also said their observation was that lockdown was of not much help in controlling the situation.

The Chief Secretary said the government would consider and take a decision on the Telangana High Court's suggestion to impose week-end lockdown or extend night curfew beyond May 8.

He claimed that the situation in Telangana was better compared to other states in the country.

"If you see the cases over last 10 days, the trend is clear. Things are under control and cases are on decline," he said.

The Chief Secretary said that Telangana did not face big problem in the second wave as the state ramped up health infrastructure after the first wave.

In September last year, the state had 18,000 beds in government and private hospitals treating Covid. Today the number has gone up to 52,000 beds. He said the state had adequate number of testing kits and sufficient stocks of medicines.

He claimed that the state has also efficiently handled the situation with regard to supply of medical oxygen.

"So far we have been able to manage well. At every hospital, we are doing oxygen audit. We have formed teams to ensure there is no shortage. If we get more oxygen from the government of India, we will manage the situation without any problem," he said.

The Chief Secretary said while the situation in the state was under control, there were some problems due to panic created through social media messages and also some people hoarding oxygen or medicines like Remdisivir out of panic.

He said the government was adopting a new strategy with focus on outreach to people. Teams have been formed in Greater Hyderabad and other districts for door-to-door survey and to distribute medicine kits to those having Covid symptoms.

Covid outpatient services have also been started in government hospitals, primary health centres and sub-centres.

"Our slogan is start treatment if you have symptoms. ICMR guidelines also say the same. The medicine kit has two packets. If the symptoms persist even after five days, take the medicines from another packet," he said.

He said a call centre was already working in Greater Hyderabad to provide Covid related information. Similar call centres are being opened in all districts.

The Chief Secretary also denied that the government is suppressing information relating to Covid cases or deaths.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Micah Wallace, a junior, was recognized as an extraordinary example of student leadership by Members of the Chancellors Commission on Women in April.
Shimla, May 5 : To break the coronavirus chain, the Himachal Pradesh government on Wednesday decided to impose curfew in the state till May 16 from Thursday midnight.

All government and private offices and establishments will remain closed. However, essential services like health, electricity, telecommunication, water supply, sanitation, etc., would be open.

These decisions, among others, were taken by the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here.

Educational institutions will be closed till May 31. However, government and private transport would ply with 50 per cent of occupancy and inter-state transport would continue. Industrial establishments would work as per the guidelines issued by the state government.

Keeping in view the sharp surge of cases, it was decided that the annual examination of Class 10 of the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education would be cancelled.

All students would be promoted to Class 11 by the school board as per the norms suggested by the CBSE for its students for the Class 10.

It was also decided that Class 12 examination of the the school board and annual examination of colleges would also be suspended till further orders.

The Cabinet gave approval to upgrade the regional hospital in Una town as 300-bed regional hospital along with creation of 76 posts of different categories to ensure better healthcare facilities.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Washington, May 5 : The Global Task Force on Pandemic Response, a newly-formed public-private partnership formed by the US Chamber of Commerce with nearly 40 tech giants on board, on Wednesday announced to start sending crucial aid to address the grim Covid situation in India.

Supported by the non-profit Business Roundtable, the Task Force will coordinate a coalition of corporations, non-profits and individual efforts to organise 1,000 Medtronic ventilators (to be delivered to India starting Wednesday), 25,000 oxygen concentrators scheduled to be delivered by the end of May (thousands already delivered) and offer practical guidance on supporting employees in India via a network of human resources.

Medtronic will manufacture the ventilators and handle end-to-end shipping, installation and ongoing and virtual training.

The Task Force said in a statement that it is working with the Chamber's US-India Business Council and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum towards helping India.

"The Global Task Force is working in close collaboration with the US and Indian government officials to share information and coordinate efforts. This includes regular briefings with the Narendra Modi and Joe Biden administrations, US Congress, US State Department and the US Agency for International Development," the statement added.

The Global Task Force on Pandemic Response was launched last month to provide a unified platform for businesses to mobilise and deliver resources to assist Covid control efforts in areas of the highest need around the world.

The initial efforts will focus on the pressing need for support in India.

"What we are witnessing in India is a stark reminder that while the US has turned a corner in our efforts to combat the pandemic, our global partners are facing a staggering health crisis that requires a substantial public-private response," Suzanne Clark, President and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce, had said in an earlier statement.

The coalition of leading companies and associations that have come together to support the cause includes Accenture, Adobe, Amazon, American Express, Apple, Citi, Dell, Deloitte, Facebook, FedEx, Goldman Sachs, IBM, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin, Mastercard, Microsoft, Pfizer, Qualcomm Foundation, VMware, and Walmart, among others.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, May 5 : Actress Pooja Hegde has tested negative for Covid-19 after battling the virus over the past days. Pooja made the announcement along with an Instagram selfie on Wednesday.

"Thank you for all the love y'all have sent my way. I have recovered well, kicked stupid corona's butt and finally tested NEGATIVE! yeyy! All your wishes and healing energy seemed to have done it's magic. Forever grateful Stay safe out there," she wrote as caption with a smiling photo.

Pooja shared on April 26 that she had contracted the deadly virus.

The actress awaits the release of her upcoming film "Radhe Shyam" starring Prabhas. The film, which will be released in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam, is scheduled to hit screens on July 30 this year. Radha Krishna Kumar has written and directed the period romantic drama.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 5 : Twelve ad hoc teachers' services have been terminated in Delhi University's Vivekanand College, according to a teachers' organisation. This action has been condemned by the Delhi University Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Class Teachers' Forum.

According to the DU SC/ST/OBC Teachers' Forum, of the 12 ad hoc teachers, five have tested positive for Covid-19. The overall condition of teachers suffering from the infection is quite bad. Their families have been struggling with a financial crisis while they have been terminated.

For the last five days, these teachers have pleaded with the Principal and Chairman of Vivekanand College to restore their services but to no avail. These teachers have also written a letter to the Delhi Teachers' Association (DTA) in-charge, apprising him of the situation.

Teachers' Forum President, Kailash Prakash Singh, has said two Commerce, one Economics, three English, two Computer Science, one Sanskrit, one Food Technology, one Mathematics and one Environment Sciences ad hoc teachers have been teaching in Vivekanand College for a long time. Of these, three ad hoc teachers belong to the SC category, four to OBC category and five to the General category.

He said even in January 2021, the college principal had taken an arbitrary step to not reinstate these ad hoc teachers but after the intervention of Hansraj Suman, Delhi Teachers' Association in-charge, and Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA), the chairman of the college's governing body halted the interviews for these posts and got all 12 teachers reinstated. He said that if any teacher was terminated during the Covid-19 pandemic they would be forced to take to the streets against the college principal.

Hansraj Suman has said the tenure of these 12 ad hoc teachers was in force till April 29, 2021. On April 30, they were intended to be given the rejoining letter again, but the principal of Vivekananda College terminated the services of these teachers on April 29. The Vivekanand College principal has given instructions that their salaries would be given only if they take clearance from the college.

He said the DTA spoke to the chairman of the college's governing body to immediately reinstate these teachers and sent them a demand letter and a memorandum demanding that ad hoc teachers teaching in various departments should be reinstated at the earliest.

Hansraj Suman, DTA Chairman Asha Rani, DTA Vice-Chairman Narendra Kumar Pandey and DTA Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh in the memorandum demanded that the ad hoc teachers, who have been teaching in the Vivekananda College for a long time, should not be interviewed again and the circular issued by the Union Ministry of Education on December 5, 2019 must be implemented until the process of permanent appointment of teachers starts, no ad hoc teachers should be removed from their posts.

He said the colleges should hold interviews only for those posts which come under second tranche or top posts or teachers who have retired. Suman asked where will these teachers go during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Chennai, May 5 : The Tamil Nadu government has exempted its disabled employees from attending office following the surge in Covid -19 cases in the state.

The disabled employees need not come to office from May 6 to June 20 in view of the Covid-19 surge, according to an order by the Secretary of the differently abled welfare department, Vijayaraj Kumar.

Members of various organisations of the disabled employees thanked the government for the order.

K.R. Manikyam, state general secretary, differently abled government employees organization of Tamil Nadu while speaking to IANS said, "The differently abled people are really thankful to the government and the officers for having brought in such an order. The care taken by our government towards people like us is exemplary and we wholeheartedly are thanking the government over this move." It may be noted that the central government has already issued an order and directed state governments to exempt disabled people from attending office.

With the Covid-19 cases surging ahead and fresh cases in a day crossing 21,228 mark on Tuesday and the number of deaths touching 144, the government said it does not want to take a risk on the safety of the disabled people.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Hyderabad, May 5 : Actress Namrata Shirodkar on Wednesday lauded the drive-in vaccination centres in Bhopal and Mumbai, saying it is a super cool initiative that will help senior citizens and the differently-abled to get their vaccines.

Namrata posted two pictures on Instagram, featuring drive-in vaccination facilities in the cities.

"Drive-in vaccination centers in Bhopal and Mumbai.. a super cool initiative helping senior citizens and the differently abled get their shot in a car. Requesting all the other state governments to have this implemented. Vaccination is the only way out of this crisis! #GetVaccinated," wrote Namrata as caption, with three folded hand emojis.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, May 5 : Beware of fake life saving drugs. Instead of Remdesivir, which is required for critically ill Covid patients, similar looking vials of Monocef or Zetri, a low cost antibiotic injection, are being sold in the black market.

Criminal gangs and swindlers active in Delhi-NCR and Western Uttar Pradesh are reportedly buying Monocef vials in bulk, each piece costing around Rs 52, and selling them to desperate customers for over Rs 5,500 to Rs 10,000 apiece.

Taking note of such rackets gradually reaching the smaller towns and rural areas, the Uttar Pradesh Police have alerted all the districts, particularly in western and central parts of the state, to keep a strict vigil on the stockists, distributors and wholesalers of medicines.

"We have raided over 68,000 places to seize genuine or fake drugs being sold in the black markets in the past few days. In a bid to punish such accused persons harshly, cases are being registered under the National Security Act," Prashant Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Law and Order, UP, told IANS.

Acting on specific inputs, the Delhi Police on Tuesday unearthed a gang involved in selling fake vials of Remdesivir for Rs 5,500 each.

The gang, which was active in the Nand Nagri area of the national capital, had purchased low cost Monocef injections in bulk.

"They got labels of Remdesivir printed from a local press fixed them on the Monocef vials. One Dhanesh Kumar from Ashok Nagar and Amit from Meet Nagar were involved in the racket. Both have been arrested. We are questioning them to ascertain how widespread the racket was," said an officer of the Delhi Police.

And it's not only in Delhi-NCR and its neighbouring states where such rackets are thriving. Fake Remdesivir injections are being sold in far off places like Gujarat and Odisha.

In a major crackdown on such rackets, the Detection and Crime Branch of Ahmedabad Police arrested seven persons last week who were selling antibiotics as Remdesivir.

Fake labels of Hetero and Jubiliant, two major pharma companies manufacturing Remdesivir, were also seized from the accused persons.

Even in Maharashtra where cases are multiplying in smaller towns, the merchants of death are reportedly selling fake drugs to the needy attendants of Covid patients.

When asked how cheaper injections like Monocef are being sold in bulk to criminal gangs, the General Secretary of All India Organisation of Chemist and Druggist (AIOCD), Rajiv Singhal, said that instructions have been given to all chemists to keep a tab on the customers who demand injections in bulk.

"It is unfortunate if some criminals are selling antibiotics in the name of Remdesivir. We will take all measures to put a check on this crime, though as a practice we ensure that bulk drugs are sold only to the bonafide customers," said Singhal, a key functionary of AIOCD, which represents over 9.50 lakh chemists across India.

To prevent any misuse of such fake drugs resulting in possible fatality of critical patients admitted to ICUs, leading Delhi radiologist Sandeep Sharma suggested that attendants should note the batch number of the vials for future reference.

"In some cases, attendants who are not allowed to enter Covid hospitals are provided videos of injections being administered to ensure that the right dose is being given to the patients," Sharma said, adding: "Yet I would say that our nursing staff are very reliable and they take every possible care of the patients. A few exceptions relating to use of fake injections on patients which were reported from some hospitals should not worry the people."

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Chandigarh, May 5 : With government hospitals in the state failing to kickstart the process of vaccinating people in the 18-44 age group due to non-availability of vaccine doses, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday directed the Health Department to explore all options for the supply of vaccination.

Though the state had made payment of Rs 10.37 crore to the Serum Institute of India (SII) for procurement of around 30 lakh doses of Covishield on April 26, no schedule for supply had so far been received from them, Health Secretary Hussan Lal informed the Cabinet during a virtual meeting chaired by the Chief Minister.

Only some private hospitals, which had placed direct orders for the vaccines, had commenced the process of vaccinating the 18-44 population, the meeting was informed.

For the state government, the SII has only indicated that the availability of Covishield will be known in about four weeks' time, he added.

The meeting was informed that in the circumstances, vaccination in the 18-44 age group could not be launched in government hospitals, nor was there any clarity on when the process could begin.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet approved one-time relaxation in Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, 1964 for transfer of five acres of panchayat land in Mohali to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for establishment of the National Institute of Virology.

The Institute has been sanctioned by the Central government on a proposal by the Punjab government.

The cabinet authorized the Deputy Commissioner of Mohali to complete all necessary formalities for transfer of the land in Mullanpur Garibdas village in Kharar block in the district.

Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan said construction for the institute would start by the end of this year.

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-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, May 5 : A year after its launch, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s mental health helpline clocked over 72,000 calls, with a majority from men, pertaining to job security and health during the Covid-19 pandemic, an official said here on Wednesday.

The "BMC-Mpower1on1", a 24X7 helpline, received calls on a variety of issues ranging from jobs to academics, and fear of contracting Covid to depression.

A whopping 70 per cent of the callers were males, breaking the stereotype that men are unable to express themselves as freely as women.

Around 25 per cent of the calls were from those experiencing anxiety and stress-related to jobs, careers, getting infected by coronavirus, and examinations.

Another 10 per cent of the callers complained of depression, low moods, bouts of sadness and hopelessness, while 8 per cent raised relationship concerns with family members or life-partners.

The callers' age ranged between 18-85 years but the maximum, 53 per cent, fell in the youth category - 26-40 age group, followed by the youngsters in 18-25 age group who accounted for 28 per cent, while those bordering the senior category above 55 years were 5 per cent.

The callers hailed from all walks of life including corporate employees, farmers, teachers and students who sought assistance from the helpline from Mpower's professional mental health counsellors.

Though it was launched to address the problems of Maharashtra people, there were many who called from Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Lucknow, besides maximum callers from Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad and Solapur in this state.

Giving an indicator of the pandemic panic, Mpower's data showed that in the first Covid wave in 2020, the number of callers peaked to 40 percent during the April-May (2020) and availed the services in English, Hindi and Marathi.

Mpower Chairperson Neerja Birla said that mental health has always been a grave concern in India, but it was only during the pandemic last year that the crisis came to the fore and people opened up about their struggles.

"Through the helpline, we gave India a 'listening ear', a platform to unleash their bottled-up feelings and ensure that all could get the help they sought. From the findings, we shall resolve towards making mental healthcare more accessible all over India," she said.

The helpline was launched in April 2020 by the BMC and the Maharashtra government and served people during the lockdown when most people were cooped up indoors, without private time/space, or other types of freedom.

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Gandhinagar, May 5 : Thousands of devotees from Navapura and Nidhrada villages in Sanand Tehsil of Ahmedabad gathered to shower water on the Baliyadev temple to fulfil their vow to the temple deity, thereby violating the current Covid guidelines of physical distancing and masks. The Sanand police has filed charges in the matter and arrested around two dozen people for violation of the protocols.

Even as the entire country is grappling with the crisis of the second wave of the corons pandemic, and the government as well as the public taking utmost precautions against the virus spread, Gujarat's Sanand city on Tuesday saw thousands of women gathering to offer water at the Baliyadev Temple.

Thousands of people were mobilized for a mass gathering upon the Baliyadev Temple priest's call to fulfil the 'Badha' (vow) to shower the temple. Along with the vow, a myth was also linked that by fulfilling the vow the temple deity would get rid of the corona outbreak in the country.

Women in their thousands from Navapura in Changodar and Nidharada village in Sanand Taluka thronged the road leading to the temple, carrying water filled pots on their heads. Apart from the mass gathering, music was also being played by a DJ. Visuals of the mass gathering show the women marching as the music is being played. Apart from physical distancing going for a toss, the place was also seen with most of the people flouting mask guidelines.

As soon as the video of the incident went viral, the local police sprung into action. The Changodar police went to Navapura village to investigate the matter. The police found out that the women had gathered in huge numbers near the Baliyadev Temple.

The police arrested 23 people in Navapura village, including the village Sarpanch as well as the organiser of the mass religious gathering.

"As soon as we came to know about the incident, the police rushed to the place and we have filed charges at both the Navapura village and Nidhrada villages. We have arrested the Navapura Sarpanch, the DJ and the organizer in Navapura. We appeal to the people to please follow the Covid protocols and cooperate with the administration in fighting the virus," said KT Kamaria, DySP, Ahmedabad Rural.

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Patna, May 5 : After being released on bail, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad has come into action mode on the present coronavirus crisis in Bihar.

According to a top official of the state unit, Lalu Prasad, who has been out of active politics for last three and half years due to his conviction and imprisonment in the fodder scam, will soon take a virtual meeting of all MLAs, MLCs and MP on the present crisis situation arising due to pandemic.

The former Chief Minister and Union Minister is currently staying in his Delhi residence and monitoring the situation of the pandemic in Bihar. He will individually interact with MLAs, MLCs and MPs of his party including Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and RJD state President Jagadanand Singh.

"As per the directives issued from RJD chief, every public representative has been asked to stay at their respective constituencies and help common people during pandemic. They have been asked to visit every health centre in their respective jurisdiction and analyse the health facilities and provide every possible help," a party leader said.

Sources have said that the virtual meeting will be held within one week and the actual date is yet to be finalised.
Lucknow, May 5 : Two persons have been killed and six others injured in a blast at an oxygen refilling station in Lucknow on Wednesday.

According to initial inputs, the blast took place while the workers were refilling an oxygen cylinder.

The fire caused by the blast engulfed the refilling station located in the Chinhat area of Lucknow.

The injured have been admitted to a hospital.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief at the incident and has directed officials to provide help to the affected people.

The fire has been doused and rescue operations are underway.

The District Magistrate and the Police Commissioner are on the site.
Washington, May 5 : In a significant development, the independent Oversight Board on Wednesday upheld Facebook's decision on January 7 to suspend then US President Donald Trump from its main platform and Instagram.

The Board found that Trump's posts severely violated Facebook's rules, and his words of support for those involved in the attack on the US Capitol building legitimised violence in a situation where there was an immediate risk to people's lives.

While the Board concluded that Trump should have been suspended from Facebook and Instagram, it also found that Facebook failed to impose a proper penalty.

The decision came as the former US President launched a new so-called social media platform, which is actually a WordPress blog on his own website.

"President Trump's actions on social media encouraged and legitimised violence and were a severe violation of Facebook's rules," said Thomas Hughes, Director of the Oversight Board Administration.

"By maintaining an unfounded narrative of electoral fraud and persistent calls to action, Mr Trump created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible. Facebook's decision to suspend the President on January 7 was the right one," Hughes added.

However, it said that instead of applying one of its established account-level penalties for severe violations, Facebook devised an "indefinite" suspension which is not included in their content policies.

"This arbitrary penalty gave Facebook total discretion over whether to lift or maintain the suspension, with no criteria that can be scrutinised by users or external observers," the Board observed.

"The Board rejects Facebook's request for it to endorse indefinite suspension, which gives the company total discretion over when to lift or impose and isn't supported by their content policies," said Hughes. "Anyone concerned about the power of Facebook should be concerned with the company making decisions outside of its own rules." The Board stated that within six months of the decision, Facebook must reexamine this arbitrary penalty and impose one consistent with its own rules.

"In the future, if a head of state or high government official repeatedly posts messages that pose a risk of harm, Facebook should either suspend the account for a definitive period or delete the account," it recommended.

Facebook's rules should ensure that when it imposes a time-bound suspension on an influential user, the company should assess the risk of inciting harm before the suspension ends.

"Influential users who pose a risk of harm should not be reinstated. Facebook should publish a full report on its potential contribution to the narrative of electoral fraud and political tensions that led to the events of January 6," as per the decision.

The board, constituted by Facebook with 20 members from across the world last year, last month said it was reviewing more than 9,000 responses before it delivers the verdict on Trump's ban on the social media.
New Delhi, May 5 : The first consignment of oxygen generators and concentrators from Israel arrived in Delhi on Wednesday, as the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government there extended its strong support to India in its battle with the catastrophic second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

More such flights will follow throughout this week, carrying emergency medical aid, including group and individual oxygen generators, respirators, medications, and additional medical equipment, as per an official statement issued by the Israeli Embassy here.

Ron Malka, Ambassador of Israel to India, said in a statement, "In this hour of need, our two democracies stand solidly side by side. The state of Israel is happy to lend a helping hand to our friend India in this complicated and difficult time. Our friendship is strong and collaboration during the Covid-19 crisis will only make it stronger. I see great importance in the cooperation with India in this joint fight against the global pandemic." This comprehensive delivery of medical equipment to India is the result of the cooperation of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the National Security Council, Health Ministry, Finance Ministry, and Control Centre, together with full coordination with the Indian government through the Indian Embassy in Israel, the statement said.

A task force was set up to gather support for Israel's aid to India. Several private entities, Israeli companies, NGOs and the people of Israel have come together to contribute towards this aid.

"In the first outbreak of Covid-19 in Israel, India mobilised to assist Israel, and within this framework approved the air delivery of masks, gloves, and raw materials for medications to Israel, and also helped arrange the repatriation of Israeli citizens. Now, Israel is proud to reciprocate this significant gesture," the Embassy said.

Last year, a high-ranking Israeli delegation had travelled to India and completed a series of tests to determine the effectiveness of several Israeli technologies developed for the rapid diagnosis of Covid-19. This was called 'Operation Open Skies'.

The statement said that Israel delivered aid and supplies, including ventilators, that were exported to India following an exceptional approval. In recent months, the Embassy contributed advanced medical equipment and technologies to hospitals in Delhi, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

The past few years have cemented the strategic relations between India and Israel, includig two historical visits by the Prime Ministers of both the nations.

Since the outbreak of the global pandemic, both countries have shared mutual assistance in dealing with the virus and are committed to joint technological and scientific research.

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Hyderabad, May 5 : As many as 33 medical air ambulances from various parts of the country shifted critically-ill patients to Hyderabad for advanced treatment during the last 15 days.

This was revealed on Wednesday by Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, who claimed that Hyderabad has become medical treatment capital of India.

"If you go to any hospital in the city, you will find patients from states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh. During the last 15 days, 33 medical air ambulances came from various parts of country which shows that people don't find such treatment elsewhere," he said.

The Chief Secretary, who was addressing a news conference, maintained that the Covid situation in Telangana was under control.

Asked if the state would import vaccines, he said inquires were made and the state was exploring the possibility but procedure and rules are controlled by the Centre.

Somesh Kumar, who recently held talks with vaccine manufacturers, said the manufacturers were planning to ramp up production after June-July.

He hoped that the vaccine situation would ease with the production of Johnson & Johnson's Covid vaccine by Biological E.

He also said the state government was corresponding with the Centre seeking increased allocation of vaccines and it has also written to companies.

He said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for increasing vaccine supplies to the state.

Somesh Kumar said vaccination for 18-44 age group has been kept in abeyance due to lack of adequate supply from the Centre. "The state has 1.72 crore population in this age group and it requires 3.40 crore vaccines but they (Centre) have allotted only 3.90 lakh doses for the month of May," he said.

He said the state government continued administering doses to people over 45 years. However, vaccination is being done only for those pre-booking due to less supply from the Centre and also to prevent crowding at the centres.

The state has so far administered 42.24 lakh doses. Vaccination for people above 45 years is not happening in private hospitals now as under the new policy announced by the Centre, the hospitals have to procure vaccines directly from manufacturers.

About Remdesvir injection, he said till the state had control over the drug and things were under control. The state ordered 5 lakh doses in view of the demand but the Centre was giving only 5,000 vials per day.

The state has told the high court that the state required 25,000 vials and the court directed the Centre to provide another 20,000 vials.
Chennai, May 5 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister-designate M.K. Stalin will be holding a review meeting on Covid-19 preventive measures with state District Collectors right after his swearing-in on May 7.

"The first priority of M.K. Stalin after his swearing-in as Chief Minister will be to hold a review meeting on the measures taken to prevent the pandemic, its effectiveness and how to tackle it further. The CM-designate has already held a series of meetings with Chief Secretary Rajeev Ranjan, Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan and other officers on the issue," a senior state government official told IANS.

Stalin has held meetings with officials regarding the Covid-19 pandemic and he had called for all the materials regarding the peak of the disease in the state, the availability of beds with oxygen facility, ICUs in hospitals, Remdesivir availability and the strength and weakness of the Public Health Department.

A detailed report on the state's Covid-19 status will be sent to the Union government and the support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought as another priority, a highly-placed source told IANS.

Talking to IANS, senior DMK leader Duraimurugan said: "The pandemic is affecting the society in all fronts and naturally it is the first priority of our government and once he is sworn-in, the new Chief Minister will take immediate steps to tackle the disease. A blueprint is already in place regarding the steps to be taken once Thiru Stalin is sworn-in as Chief Minister." With the Covid cases in Tamil Nadu crossing the 21,000 mark in a day and the number of deaths touching 155 per day, the government will have to take immediate measures to put a break on the pandemic.

Stalin, according to sources, will also hold an all party meeting in a couple of days after assuming office to discuss in detail on the measures to be taken to tackle the crisis.

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San Francisco, May 5 : To protect the memory stack from attackers, Google revealed that its Chrome 90 has adopted a new Windows 10 security feature called "Hardware-enforced Stack Protection".

Hardware-enforced Stack Protection, which Microsoft previewed in March 2020, is designed to protect against return-oriented programming (ROP) malware attacks, by using CPU hardware to protect an application's code while running inside the CPU memory.

The added protection is enabled in Chrome 90 on Windows 20H1 with December update or later and on Intel 11th Gen or AMD Zen 3 CPUs, which feature Control-flow Enforcement Technology (CET), ZDNet reported.

For several years, Intel and Microsoft have been working on CET to thwart ROP attacks, which can bypass existing memory-exploit mitigations to install malware, the report said.

CET introduced "shadow stacks", which are used exclusively for control transfer operations. These shadow stacks are isolated from the data stack and protected from tampering, it added.

Google's Chrome platform security team warns that the shadow stack might cause problems for some software loaded into Chrome.

"CET improves security by making exploits more difficult to write. However, it may affect stability if the software that loads itself into Chrome is not compatible with the mitigation," the Chrome security team said.

Google, however, has also provided details for developers who need to debug a problem in Chrome's shadow stack.

Developers can see which processes have Hardware-enforced Stack Protection enabled in Windows Task Manager, the report said.

Google describes ROP attacks as where "attackers take advantage of the process's code, as that must be executable".
Panaji, May 5 : Differences at the top of Goa's Covid management pyramid appear to be affecting the state's battle against Covid-19, with the medical fraternity, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant not appearing to be on the same page vis a vis deaths at Covid facilities due to oxygen shortage.

While Rane has claimed that no deaths have occurred in the state due to oxygen shortage, the Goa Association of Resident Doctors has claimed the contrary. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has now blamed health officials, including Rane and the dean of the state's top government medical facility Dr Shivanand Bandekar for not informing him about oxygen shortage in health facilities.

The controversy first erupted after the Association, in a letter to the dean last week, said that patients were dying at the Covid hospitals due to lack of oxygen.

"In the middle of the night when oxygen gets over, and patients worsen and sometimes die, it's the junior doctor on duty who has to face angry relatives," the letter had said. Following the revelation, the Congress party in Goa had demanded booking the Chief Minister for culpable homicide.

Health Minister Rane has however ruled out any deaths in the state linked to oxygen shortage.

"(There is) no death due to lack of oxygen. They (doctors) have met me. All the doctors' apprehensions have been addressed. It is a challenge for the government," Rane said.

The Health Minister said that Sawant had assumed responsibility for oxygen supply and the buck stopped with the CM with regard to the critical issue.

Sawant has however maintained that he was not even aware of the oxygen shortage in the state, until he saw the letter written by the resident doctors' association to the dean after it was published in the media on Monday.

"I came to know about this issue only after reading their (resident doctor's association) statement in newspapers," Sawant said, adding that neither Rane nor the dean had informed him about the issue.

When asked about Rane's statement that on oxygen supply the buck stops with the CM, Sawant said: "One person cannot take such control. It is teamwork, and we have an entire disaster management committee working towards it".

Goa has witnessed more than 200 deaths over the last four days. The state currently has 26,731 active Covid cases, while in all 1,00,902 persons have tested positive in Goa so far since the pandemic outbreak.

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New Delhi, May 5 : The entire Indian delegation for the G7 summit in London was on Wednesday asked to self isolate after some of its members tested positive for Covid-19.

In a tweet, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who is heading the Indian delegation at the G7 summit in London, revealed that he is attending the meetings virtually because he may have been exposed to the infection.

"Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well," Jaishankar tweeted.

Posting a picture of him attending the meeting virtually, he further tweeted, "A cyber participation at the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. So far, yet so near." Jaishankar also revealed that he had a useful virtual meeting with the Foreign Minister of Canada, Marc Garneau, on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

"Discussed our respective Covid challenges. Talked about various aspects of our bilateral relationship. Also exchanged views on Myanmar," he said.

The Indian delegation, as per the British media, had tested negative for Covid-19 before departing for the UK. But on arrival in London, in the tests conducted by Public Health England (PHE), two of the members tested positive.

British media reported that all physical meetings between the Indian delegates and their counterparts from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US were cancelled immediately. The meetings are being held virtually.

Though not a part of the G7, India was invited by the Boris Johnson government to join the summit as a guest.

In a virtual meeting between UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, India and the UK had agreed to begin formal talks on a free trade deal next month.

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Thiruvananthapuram, May 5 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the spike in cases in the state with 41,953 people turning Covid positive after 1,63,321 samples were tested in the past 24 hours.

"Things are serious as the test positivity rate (TPR) also is not coming down and hence, ward level committees and medical students also will now be actively involved. Apart from that, those medical graduates, who are waiting for registration, will be given temporary registration, which will enable them to get to work," he said.

The TPR on Wednesday stood at 25.68 per cent and the total number of active cases in the state were 3,75,658, while 23,106 people were cured, taking the total recoveries to 13,62,363.

Vijayan said that at the moment, there is no shortage of oxygen and 38.7 per cent of ICU beds are vacant in state-run hospitals.

"With regards to the ventilator availability in the government hospitals, 27.3 per cent are under use, while in the private sector, of the 1,523 available ventilators, 377 are under use. Likewise, 51.28 per cent of oxygen beds in the public and 66.12 per cent in the private health care sectors are under use now," he added.

Vijayan said arrangements are being made to ensure that lodges and hostels are identified and will be kept ready if a need arises.

Fire and oxygen audits have commenced at all hospitals to ensure that all the systems are in order and the oxygen requirement is checked on a daily basis.

"By now, private hospitals have kept aside 25 per cent beds for Covid patients and talks are going on to increase it to 50 per cent. Checks will now be made at all Old Age homes. Every local body in the state will ensure that they set up a help desk. It has also been decided to vaccinate the tribal community and it would be done in their place itself," he added.

Vijayan also pointed out that studies have now come out, holding that for better efficacy of vaccines, it is best that if the doses are taken after three months.

The state's worst-affected districts include Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Thrissur, whilecases in Alappuzha also have started to climb.

The Chief Minister also said that the police will, in cases of urgent need, ensure medicines are delivered at people's homes and for this, a call centre has opened in the state police headquarters.

"Meanwhile, it has also been decided that even if people turn Covid positive, if there is no immediate need, they can remain at their residence, which will enable those who need hospital attention to get it. Things will turn out of hand if all are admitted to the hospitals," he said.

With Ramadan coming to a close, Vijayan called for this year to be like the previous year when all the people cooperated.

On Wednesday, Rs 54 lakh was collected from those who violated Covid protocols which included not using masks and for failing to maintain social distancing.

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Mumbai, May 5 : Malaika Arora says she started cooking because of her son Arhaan Khan.

Malaika will be seen on the fourth episode of "Star Vs Food". She cooks her all-time favourite comfort food, Malabar fish curry, for her close ones including sister Amrita Arora, and friends Preeta Sukhtankar and Sarvesh Shashi On entering the kitchen, Chef Prateek Sadhu asks her how she planned to cook in the kitchen in stilettos.

Malaika replied: "If I had a choice, I would sleep in stilettos. I have already thought two steps ahead of you, I am a mom, so I am always well prepared. So, I have come with comfy shoes and I am fully prepared." She added: "I really look forward to days like this because it has all my passion in it, which is spending time with my near and dear ones, my dear friends, cooking, learning something that I don't know, meeting new people, raiding a kitchen." On how often she cooks, Malaika said: "Whenever I get the time. My son loves it actually, he likes. I actually started cooking because of him." "He once came back from school and he told me, 'mumma, all the other parents cook such yummy stuff and you don't know to cook, actually that was one of my challenges that I took up when I said, you know what, I will show you and I can do this! So, I cook for him pretty often," she said on the show, which airs on Discovery+.
New Delhi, May 5 : The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind's Shariah Council has issued guidelines for Muslims related to the last days of the holy month of Ramazan and the Eid prayers amid the partial/total lockdowns across the country in the wake of the second wave of coronavirus.

"The last Friday of Ramazan (Jumatul Wida) is like any other Friday. It has no special virtue. In the current situation, the government regulations regarding the performance of prayers in mosques should be adhered to. Wherever there is permission by the local authorities to offer congregational prayers, one should pray as usual using masks and maintaining social distance. Where there is no permission, if there are four people in the house, they can offer Friday or Zohar (midday) prayers in congregation. If less than that, offer Zohar prayers individually," the Sharia Council's Secretary Maulana Raziul Islam Nadvi said.

Muslims were also advised to avoid crowding the bazaars for shopping in the last days of Ramazan. "On the day of Eid, new or old clean clothes, whatever is available, should be adorned and one should express gratefulness to Allah," the Council said.

As per the Shariah Council's guidelines, the Eid-ul-Fitr prayers should be offered in Eidgahs, Jama Masjids and the local masjids, depending on how many numbers of people are permitted under the present circumstances. "During this time, masks should be used as a precautionary measure and social distancing should be maintained," it said.

Shaking hands and hugging after Eid prayers is not mandatory. "If there are four people in a house, then they can offer two Rakat of Eid-ul-Fitr prayers at home with extra 'Takbeerat'. The 'Khutbah' (sermon) may be given after the prayer, but it is not compulsory," the Council said.

It asserted that one of the most important acts of Ramazan is the payment of Sadqah-al-Fitr (charity to poor before Eid prayer). It is obligatory on every Muslim to pay it in the last days of Ramazan on behalf of himself/herself and all the members of the household.

Its quantum can be calculated in terms of dates, raisins, paneer and barley and is 3.5 kh per person. If it is calculated in terms of wheat, then it is 1.75 kg. Its value in terms of money can also be calculated and in terms of wheat, it comes to about Rs 50 per person. The amount can be increased based on a person's financial status, it said.

The Shariah Council also instructed the Muslims to avoid going around to meet and greet people on the day of Eid. "Please remember the poor, the needy on the day of Eid along with Muslim prisoners and their relatives. In the joys of Eid, care should be taken of the poor and needy, especially Muslim prisoners in jails and their distressed families." "We must ensure that in all our acts of worship and Islamic rituals, our actions do not endanger the lives of human beings. Protection of life is one of the objectives of the Islamic law. Therefore, it is necessary to take precautionary measures during the pandemic," it said.
Mumbai, May 5 : Actor Abhishek Banerjee turned a year older on Wednesday and he decided to celebrate his special day with a spot of charity. He pledged to donate for the cause of healthcare and Covid relief.

"We are going through difficult times and we are all in this together. Today, on my birthday I pledge to donate to Swasth, a not-for-profit initiative and ACT Grants which is focussing on healthcare and Covid-relief. Current focus is towards oxygen availability. They are procuring Oxygen concentrators and deploying it in hospitals pan-India. And I request you to come forward and support with whatever amount you feel comfortable and please share it in your network. Together we can save lives and bring much needed relief to thousands of Indian families," he said in a message he uploaded on Instagram, bearing his signature.

He captioned the note as: "Please come forward and donate whatever you guys can & if you can't forward it to those who can. Scan the QR code or click the link in bio @actgrants #IndiaFightsCorona #oxygen #donate." Meanwhile, the actor, who is in his hometown of Kharagpur, West Bengal, , says that he has a family celebration planned.

"It's not a usual birthday. Last year, I was stuck at home and couldn't move out. But last year, the 'Paatal Lok' trailer also released on my birthday so that was like a birthday gift. This year, fortunately, I am at my family home and so I have some kind of company. I am trying to help whoever I can in this difficult time. I met some of my school friends and we are trying to start an information campaign," he told IANS.

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Kolkata, May 5 : Hours after taking oath as the Chief Minister of West Bengal for the third time in a row, Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocating her long-standing demand of free-of-cost vaccination against Covid-19 for all, ensuring adequate supply of essential drugs and increasing the allocation of medical oxygen, making it obvious that Covid control will be her top priority after assuming office.

"At the very outset, I would again like to emphasise on free vaccination for all. You may kindly recall my letter dated February 24, 2021, wherein I had requested you to permit the government of West Bengal to allow procurement of vaccine from the designated points for providing vaccination to the people of the state free of cost. This has not been addressed," the Trinamool Congress supremo said in the letter.

"At present, vaccine availability is too inadequate to provide it to the eligible beneficiaries and the government of India's direction to extend vaccination to the 18 plus category makes it unrealistic to achieve. So, supply of vaccines is the core issue that needs to be address now," Banerjee said.

The Chief Minister had advocated free vaccine for all in the country during her election campaign and after the Trinamool swept the polls in Bengal, she even threatened to launch an agitation for the same.

Banerjee also urged the Prime Minister to ensure the availability of essential drugs, including Remdesivir and Tocilizumab, to the state to negotiate their rising demand.

"At least 10,000 doses of Remdesivir and 1,000 vials of Tocilizumab are the daily requirements of our state (West Bengal)," she wrote in the letter.

Worried about the rising demand of oxygen in the state, Banerjee asked the Central government to increase the allocation of the life-saving gas to avoid shortage.

"The consumption of medical oxygen in West Bengal has risen from 200 MT to 400 MT per day and it is likely to go up to 500 MT in the next seven days. The concerned authorities may kindly be advised to allocate at least 500 MT medical oxygen per day out of the total oxygen produced in Bengal on an urgent basis to prevent any shortage," she said.

Later in the day, Banerjee said in a press conference, "I am thankful to the industries that they have allowed us to use industrial oxygen for medical purpose." The Chief Minister also expressed concern over the shortage of oxygen cylinders in the state.

"I am told that 70 PSA units have been allotted to Bengal, which is likely to take time to be installed. To meet the immediate necessity, the current system will have to be strengthened," she added.
Mumbai, May 5 : The Mumbai Police's Anti-Narcotics Cell has arrested Dhruv Tahil, model and aspiring actor-son of Bollywood veteran Dalip Tahil, in connection with a drugs case, an official said here on Wednesday.

According to the ANC, Bandra Unit, the police had arrested drug peddler Muzammil A. R. Shaikh on April 20 and recovered 35 gms Mephedrone from him.

On extraction of his cell phone records and WhatsApp chats, the police found tht Dhruv had made demands for narcotics drugs several times from Shaikh.

Besides, Dhruv had also deposited money in Shaikh's account with the Bank of India through his Yes Bank account six times for purchasing drugs.

Police said Dhruv was in touch with Shaikh from March 2019 till now and after his involvement became clear, he was arrested.

Further investigations are underway in the drugs case lodged by the ANC Bandra Unit involving Shaikh.
Chandigarh, May 5 : Reiterating the commitment that every needy person has the first right to aid, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday announced assistance to the below poverty line (BPL) families for Covid-19 treatment.

Addressing the media here, he announced that the state government would provide an assistance of Rs 5,000 per patient per day for the maximum seven days i.e. Rs 35,000 to the patients belonging to the BPL, who are admitted to a private hospital and are on oxygen or ICU support.

Besides, the private hospital would also be given an incentive of Rs 1,000 per patient per day or up to a maximum of Rs 7,000 for giving admission preference to Covid-19 patients belonging to the state. For BPL patients, Rs 42,000 will be provided by the state as medical assistance, he said.

Khattar said the rates of beds and other facilities have been fixed by the government for Covid patients undergoing treatment in private hospitals.

Currently, 42 private hospitals are treating patients.

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Chennai, May 5 : South Indian movie star Vijay Sethupathi, former Madras High Court judge, Justice D. Hariparanthaman and Manonmaniam Sundaranar University's former Vice Chancellor, V. Vasanthi Devi met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister-designate M.K. Stalin on Wednesday and urged him not to reopen the Sterlite plant in Tuticorin.

The social activists also called upon the DMK leader not to allow expansion of Adani Port, and to scrap the Salem-Chennai Expressway project.

In a representation titled "An Environmental Justice Manifesto for Your Urgent Consideration", the social activists opined that the environmental degradation hurts women, poor, marginalised communities, farmers, and fishermen.

The activists also asked Stalin to strengthen the public consultation and participation in environmental decision-making.
Chandigarh, May 5 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday again ruled out a complete lockdown, noting that the restrictions currently in place were more stringent than the lockdown conditions in many other states.

He also announced a series of relaxations and relief measures to alleviate the woes of various sections of the people amid the prolonged crisis.

The relaxations include phased opening of shops and various incentives for the housing sector, including three-month extension in permission period of construction of plots and projects for allotments, whether private or allotted, by state urban development authorities.

Amid spiralling Covid cases, the Chief Minister ordered limiting of the number of teachers in government schools to 50 per cent, with the rest taking online classes from home.

He also directed the Food Department to prepare 500,000 additional food packets for distribution among Covid patients, to ensure that every patient individually gets a packet even where there are more than one patient in a family.

The state government has also announced additional 10 kg atta for 1.41 crore Smart Ration Card beneficiaries. The food aid is in addition to the 100,000 lakh food kits, containing 10 kg atta, 2 kg chana and 2 kg sugar already sanctioned for all poor people testing positive with Covid.

It is also additional to the food aid announced by the Centre.

Virtually chairing a Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister compared the Punjab restrictions with the curbs in place in states like Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, among others, and pointed out that it was not necessary to impose a total lockdown.

The Chief Minister said to meet immediate and urgent needs of the people at the local level, it had been decided by the government to authorise sarpanches to spend up to Rs 5,000 per day, subject to a maximum of Rs 50,000, out of panchayat funds for providing emergency relief by way of food and medicines to the poor and needy in the villages.

All urban local bodies have also been empowered to provide emergency relief, including food and medicines to the poor and needy, from the municipal fund.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Amaravati, May 5 : With curfew in place from 12 noon onwards, the streets of Andhra Pradesh wore a deserted look on Wednesday. In view of the spiralling Covid numbers the state government, headed by Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, has imposed a two-week partial curfew from Wednesday.

In main cities like Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Tirupati, Rajamahendravaram, Nellore and other places, the streets emptied out as people returned to their homes.

Public and private transport is also being curtailed during the curfew hours.

Under the partial curfew, shops and other commercial establishments such as restaurants are allowed to function between 6 a.m. and 12 noon, during which time Section 144 is imposed. Curfew will be in place from 12 noon to 6 a.m., during which only emergency services will be allowed to function.

Service establishments like hospitals, Covid testing labs and pharmacies have been exempted from the partial curfew. Agricultural activities are allowed to continue, adhering to the guidelines issued by the agriculture department. The manufacturing sector has also been granted exemption by the government.

The partial curfew will be in force till May 18.
Guwahati, May 5 : Amidst continuing uncertainty over who would be the next Assam Chief Minister, a top leader of the ruling BJP on Wednesday said that the government formation process would take a couple of days as the central leadership, including party President J.P. Nadda are busy in dealing with the post-poll violence in West Bengal.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader said that the central leadership including Nadda, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and BJP's national Vice-President Baijayant Jay Panda are expected in Guwahati soon to decide the leader of the legislature party who will become the next Chief Minister.

Some newly-elected MLAs since Tuesday separately met both Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has emerged as a contender for the top post.

The BJP, before the three-phase Assam Assembly election, did not project any one as the Chief Ministerial candidate and instead, said that the matter would be finalised by the party's parliamentary board after the elections. The ruling BJP-led alliance, which returned to power in Assam for the second consecutive term, secured 11 seats less than the 2016 Assembly polls.

The BJP, the dominant partner of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), bagged 60 seats, similar to what it got five years ago. The NDA or the "Mitrajot" went on to finally win 75 seats in the 126-member Assembly.

BJP's old ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) won nine seats against 14 seats that it won last time while its new partner, United People's Party Liberal (UPPL) won six seats as the Bodoland-based party made its Assembly election debut.

In the opposition, the Congress, which governed Assam for 15 years (2001-2016), managed 29 seats, three seats more than the last elections, when the party lost Assam to the BJP. Other partners of the Congress-led "Mahajot" (grand alliance) - the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) won 16 seats up from 13 last time, Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF) got four seats against 12 seats in previous polls and the Communist Party of India-Marxist won just one seat.

Raijor Dal President and jailed leader Akhil Gogoi, who contested from Sibasagar constituency as an independent candidate, also won by defeating BJP candidate Surabhi Rajkonwari by a margin of 11,875 votes.

Meanwhile, thee new AIUDF legislators on Wednesday unanimously elected General Secretary Hafiz Bashir Ahmed as the leader of its legislature party and Aminul Islam as the deputy leader. An AIUDF statement said that Hafiz Rafiqul Islam and Phanidhar Talukder were also elected as the chief whip and the secretary of the legislature party, respectively, at the meeting presided over by AIUDF President and Lok Sabha Member Badruddin Ajmal.

The newly-elected MLAs of the main opposition Congress held a meeting in Guwahati on Monday and the decision about the leadership has been left to the discretion of Congress President.

Assam Assembly sources said that the term of the 14th Legislative Assembly would expire on May 31 and the new house has to be constituted before that.
New Delhi, May 5 : The nation is facing a critical challenge due to the unprecedented second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The extraordinary surge of the pandemic has put tremendous pressure on the country's health infrastructure and capacity. Both the public and private sectors are stretched to meet the medical requirements in these challenging circumstances and help from every quarter is a virtual lifeline.

Against this backdrop, the Indian Navy has launched an initiative -- Operation Samudra Setu II.

"As a part of the ongoing national effort to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indian Navy has launched Operation Samudra Setu II to bring in by sea the much-needed oxygen and associated medical supplies from friendly foreign countries," said the Deputy Chief Admiral of Indian Navy, M.S. Pawar In the current operation, Indian Navy ships have been deployed across the vast expanses of the Indian Ocean Region to meet the country's critical oxygen requirements under challenging circumstances.

Pawar said that as many as nine warships have been diverted to various ports in the region extending from Kuwait in the west to Singapore in the east to bring in the much-needed oxygen and associated medical supplies.

On an action-packed Wednesday, Indian Navy ship Talwar arrived at Mangalore port in Karnataka, carrying 54-tonne liquid medical oxygen (LMO) from Bahrain.

Concurrently, INS Airavat carrying eight cryogenic containers with a capacity of 20tonne each, 3,650 oxygen cylinders, 10,000 Rapid Antigen Test kits and other vital medical supplies departed Singapore for India on Wednesday morning.

Similarly, INS Kolkata, having picked up 54 MT LMO departed Kuwait on Wednesday afternoon. Earlier, the ship had picked up oxygen cylinders and medical supplies from Qatar.

Three more naval ships reached Qatar and Kuwait on Wednesday, to bring oxygen from the Gulf countries.

"We are coordinating the movement of our ships round-the-clock so that maximum critical materials can be picked up from multiple ports and be made available in India as soon as possible," commented a senior Navy officer at the Naval Headquarters.

Given their carrying capacity, long-range endurance, agility and versatility, naval ships have been able to undertake this mission in support of the nation's fight against Covid-19.

Moreover, the distance from the Gulf countries to the Indian ports on the western seaboard allows the arrival of oxygen containers and critical medical supplies in 3-4 days.

It has been learnt that as of now, nine naval ships are on the task for Operation Samudra Setu II with more naval ships likely to ferry supplies of LMO in the ensuing days and weeks.

In other forms of assistance, naval establishments across the country are contributing to the local administrations in their efforts to fight the pandemic.

The sailors' training establishment, INS Chilka in Odisha, has set up a 150-bed isolation centre.

"Additional beds with oxygen support have also been made available for the civilians at the naval hospital," added a senior officer of the Eastern naval Command.

Likewise, the Western Naval Command has committed some capacity in its hospitals in Mumbai, Goa and Karwar to aid the local civil administrations.

In Mumbai, facilities have been set up inside the naval premises to provide basic amenities to the migrant labourers so that they are not displaced again.

Not only will this move preclude the trauma of mass dislocation among the migrant labourers, but it will also stem the spread of infections.

Amid this storm, it would be easy to miss the people in the islands of Lakshadweep & Minicoy (L&M Islands) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (A&N). However, the Navy has kept a close watch over these islands.

Recently, a Covid positive 49-year-old man from Lakshadweep was ferried by a helicopter to the Naval Air Station in Kochi and was admitted to the naval hospital there.

Further, the Southern Naval Command in Kochi has earmarked a specific number of beds and contingency supplies for Lakshadweep & Minicoy Islands and has been closely monitoring the situation on-ground.

The Navy has also provided oxygen supplies by ships to various islands and placed a roving medical team to provide care for the population in L&M Islands.

A senior government official said, "We have to be careful, as it would be difficult to control the situation if the virus rapidly spreads across the islands." The Indian Navy has been closely associated in India's fight against Covid-19 since last year.

In May-June 2020, it had initiated the largest repatriation mission, 'Operation Samudra Setu', wherein naval ships Jalashwa, Shardul, Airavat and Magar had traversed 23,175 km over 58 days and evacuated close to 4,000 stranded Indian citizens from Maldives, Sri Lanka and Iran.

The success of that finely-coordinated mission reflected the commitment and professionalism of the Navy.

"With another deadlier, more formidable challenge in the form of the second wave looking at the country in the eye, one can be sanguine that the nation's armed forces working in tandem with the civilian administration will help the country overcome this pandemic," the officer added.

(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, May 5 : The Centre on Wednesday reviewed preparedness of five eastern states to address needs and challenges of the current phase of the Covid pandemic.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, along with NITI Aayog's Member Health, Dr V.K. Paul, chaired a high-level meeting with Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand to assess the arrangements put in place by these eastern states for containment and management of the pandemic.

Evidence suggests that the pandemic is moving eastward and a rise has been observed in the number of daily cases in these states along with rising mortality.

Five critical areas of action were discussed for addressing the needs and challenges of the recent phase of the pandemic in these states, which has led to an unprecedented surge in the number of daily cases and increased mortality.

Underscoring the critical importance of human resources in providing health services and clinical management of the severe Covid patients in the hospitals, the states were advised to ensure that performance linked payments of the community health officers (at the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres and the incentives to the ANMs and other health workers are paid timely. The National Health Mission funds to the states may be utilised for this purpose.

The Centre also emphasised that the periods of stringent restricted movement in the states could be utilised for augmentation of hospital infrastructure including construction of makeshift hospitals; attaching hotels to hospitals; and field hospitals.

It was pointed out to the states that as part of the Liberalised Pricing and Accelerated National Covid-19 Vaccination Strategy Phase-3, states were advised to clear the payment of the manufactures so that the vaccine consignments could be delivered to them in a timely manner for Phase-3 of the nationwide vaccination drive.

The Centre would continue to procure its share of 50 per cent of the monthly CDL cleared vaccines and would continue to make it available to the state governments totally free of cost as was being done earlier.It was pointed to the states that they should not lose sight of those who are to get the second dose of Covid vaccine. Of the supply of vaccines to the states, it was pointed out that 70 per cent ought to be allocated to meet the requirement of the second dose, while 30 per cent ought to be reserved for the first dose.

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New Delhi, May 5 : In a major decision, the Supreme Court on Wednesday termed the 2018 Maharashtra law, providing reservations to Marathas in jobs and education, as unconstitutional, and struck it down for violating the 50 per cent cap on quota and the fundamental right to equality.

A five-judge Constitution bench, by a unanimous view, also ruled out any need to reconsider the 1992 nine-judge bench judgement in Indra Sawhney (Mandal Commission) case, which fixed 50 per cent ceiling on reservation. "We have found that no extraordinary circumstances were made out in granting separate reservation of Maratha community by exceeding the 50 per cent ceiling limit of reservation," the top court noted.

The 569-page verdict may likely have far-reaching consequences on pending challenges to the validity of the Centre's 10 percent Economic Weaker Section quota, and Tamil Nadu's law for up to 69 percent reservation for the OBC. Against the backdrop of this verdict, the governments would have to prove exceptional circumstances to support their move.

The top court said the 2018 Maharashtra Act violates the principle of equality as enshrined in Article 16. The exceeding of ceiling limit without there being any extra-ordinary circumstances clearly violates Article 14 and 16 of the Constitution which makes the enactment ultra vires, it added.

Several states had demanded review for the nine-judge bench decision in view of subsequent developments and change in social dynamics.

But the court stayed unmoved.

Justice Ashok Bhushan writing on behalf of himself, and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer said: "There can be no quarrel that society changes, law changes, and people change but that does not mean that something which is good and proven to be beneficial in maintaining equality in the society should also be changed in the name of change alone." The Constitution bench, presided over by Justice Bhushan, observed that the pre-condition for breaching 50 per cent limit on quota under Article 16(4) like extra-ordinary and exceptional circumstances was not fulfilled in granting 12 percent and 13 percent reservation to Marathas in jobs and education, respectively.

"The representation of Marathas in public services in Grade A, B, C and D comes to 33.23 per cent, 29.03 per cent, 37.06 per cent and 36.53 per cent, computed from out of the open category filled posts, is adequate and satisfactory representation of Maratha community," it noted.

"One community bagging such number of posts in public services is a matter of pride for the community and its representation in no manner can be said to not adequate in public services," the top court said, also pointing out that Gaikwad Commission's data showed that Marathas are not a socially and educationally backward class.

The other judges on the bench -- Justices L. Nageswara Rao, Hemant Gupta and S. Ravindra Bhat agreed that Maratha quota was unconstitutional, and no review of 50 per cent cap is required.

The five-judge Constitution bench upheld validity of the 102nd Amendment which granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes.

However, Justices Bhushan and Nazeer's point of view of was not agreed by other three judges who held the state was empowered to identify the backward class for granting quota.

Justice Rao said there is no obscurity in Article 342 A (1), instead it very clear that there should be one list of socially and educationally backward classes which may be issued by the President.
New Delhi, May 5 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday said that it has filed a supplementary charge sheet against three people, including West Bengal college student Tania Praveen and a Pakistani woman national member of banned terror organisation LeT, in connection with online terrorist recruitment module case.

An NIA spokesperson said that the anti-terror agency filed its first supplementary charge sheet before the NIA Special Court at Kolkata in connection with West Bengal LeT online recruitment module case.

The official said that the agency has named Tania Parveen aka Isranoor, Sayyad M. Idris aka Idris, a resident of Uttar Kannada district in Karnataka, and absconding accused Ayesha aka Ayesha Burhan, a resident of Punjab in Pakistan under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The official said that Parveen was a college student and was radicalised and recruited in cyberspace by Pakistan-based cadres of LeT.

"She was co-admin of various social media groups espousing secessionist ideas on Kashmir with accused Ayesha Burhan, a Pakistan-based cadre of LeT's Women's wing," the official said.

Parveen, in association with other accused members of LeT in India and Pakistan indulged in unlawful activities, radicalised, recruited and motivated other people through cyberspace for Jihad against India, the official added.

"She and other accused were brainwashing impressionable youth and propagating the ideology of LeT, a proscribed terrorist organisation, thus conspiring to wage war against the state," the official added.

The NIA took over the probe in April last year and is targeting the female spy ring in the country, working for the banned terror outfits of Pakistan.

The NIA officials said that the special task force nabbed Praveen, a student of the Maulana Azad College -- a state-run Kolkata college, from Baduria near the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, after an year-long surveillance.

Earlier, the NIA had filed charge sheet against Parveen under several sections of the UA(P)A.
San Francisco, May 5 : Former Apple employee Simon Lancaster, who has been sued for allegedly leaking information to an unnamed publication, has denied the allegations in a court filing that he disseminated trade secrets in exchange for favourable coverage of a start-up he had invested in.

In March, documents were made public accusing Lancaster, a former materials lead at Apple, of accessing data outside of his job's scope, then selling it on to a media outlet.

Lancaster was said in the lawsuit to have "used his seniority" to gain access to trade secrets, which he then allegedly traded for benefits from the publication, Apple Insider reported.

Lancaster's lawyers filed a response to Apple's lawsuit on Monday, denying Apple's allegations against him in the document provided to the US District Court of the California and San Francisco Division.

The response denied the vast majority of Apple's claims in its lawsuit.

Throughout, Lancaster denied various claims from Apple, such as accusations that he "abused his position and trust within the company, systematically disseminated Apple's trade secret information, or improperly used his seniority to gain access to internal meetings and documents".

He did admit to requesting a reporter to publish stories that were favourable to a startup that he had put money into, but denied "that such requests were in exchange for any information discussed with the reporter or had any relationship to Apple's confidential information".

Lancaster, though, did admit to speaking to the reporter about "workplace issues he considered to be of public concern", including "alleged corruption within Apple's supply chain and among Apple's supply chain managers".

On the evening of his last day of employment on November 1, 2019, Lancaster claimed he logged into Apple's internal system to "send farewell emails to his colleagues", but denied downloading confidential information.

Lancaster also said that Apple's claim for a breach of the written contract is barred as the allegedly breached terms "are void and unenforceable under California law".

He asked the court to dismiss Apple's complaint with prejudice, recovery of costs and attorney's fees and any other "just and proper" relief.

Lancaster also requestd a trial by jury.
Jaipur, May 5 : The trend of people using camels for 'Baraat' is back in Rajasthan in the wake of the Covid restrictions on bus travel and marriage ceremonies in the state to check the spread of the deadly virus.

As per the latest guidelines, buses can ply with only 50 per cent occupancy while the number attendees at the wedding parties cannot go beyond 31 under any circumstances. Also, maintaing social distance is a must in such occasions.

Hence, many families in the desert state are taking cue from the age-old tradition of taking out 'baraat' processions on camels to transport the groom and the guests to the bride's place.

"Yes, it can be called a revival of the age-old tradition," said Anand Singh, the relative of a groom who went along with a wedding party on camels from Bandeva village in Pokhran to Kusumbla village in Barmer, covering a distance of 7 km on April 30.

"It took around one hour for the guests to reach the bride's place, but those 60 minutes were quite enchanting as we were right under the open sky with an expanse of sand spread all around us," he told IANS.

In total, there were 31 'baraatis' who rode on 15 camels, following all the Covid protocols. While social distancing was followed, the guests revisited the era of '70s and enjoyed every moment of the outing, Singh said.

The camels were decked up with nose pins, ghungroos, mirror-fitted cloths and what not, said an excited Singh.

The journey has also sent across a positive message and now more people are expected to take this unique route of using camels to ferry the baraatis to the bride's place.

It needs to be mentioned here that the number of camels in Rajasthan is dwindling since last many years. As per the 20th livestock Census conducted by the Rajasthan government, the numbers have come down from 3,25,713 in 2012 to 2,12,739 now.

Hanwant Singh Rathore, director of the Lokhit Pashu Palak Sansthan, told IANS: "The youth are disinterested in caring for these animals as they see no profit in it. Secondly, newer modes of transport such as cars, jeeps etc. have replaced camels as the preferred mode of transport." The new trend of camels carrying baraatis might give a boost to the ship of the desert.

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New Delhi, May 5 : The preparation for Tokyo Olympics of sailors KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar could be delayed as they cannot travel to Portugal due to restrictions put in place for Indian travellers.

Both Ganapathy and Thakkar have qualified in the 49er category.

"Portugal is the right place to train as some of the top teams who have qualified for the Olympics are training there. We also have a plan to train with them to become better. But due to Covid-19 situation in India we aren't able to travel immediately. We have to wait for the right opportunity," Ganapathy said on Wednesday.

During an online media interaction, Ganapathy said he was hopeful that the Covid-19 situation will improve in the coming days and he will be able to go to Portugal.

"We will try our best to go to Portugal. We aren't taking our boats but plan to hire during our training stint in Portugal," added Thakkar.

In case the Portugal plan doesn't happen, then the duo will go to Rameswaram in southern India for training.

"We trained in Rameswaram during the lockdown in 2020. We stayed in a small village. There is no distraction. We enjoyed our training. But the first choice will be Portugal," added Thakkar.

The sailors have been training together for the past decade and are hopeful their chemistry would be productive during the Tokyo Olympics starting July 23.

"We have been consistent over the past 3-4 years and yielded good results. We won bronze medal at the Jakarta Asian Games. We also won the Olympic quota place last month in Oman. Good results in recent times give us confidence to do well at the Olympics, which is a different level of competition," said Ganapathy.

According to Ganapathy, competitive sailing is quite different from recreational weekend sailing.

"To prepare for top continental events or Olympics, it takes a minimum of 9 to 10 hours a day of practice including gym training for an hour. We have worked hard and we expect good results in Japan," added Ganapathy.
Vienna, May 5 : The special prosecutor investigating FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been removed, a Swiss federal court said on Wednesday.

The Swiss federal criminal court upheld a complaint by Infantino to have prosecutor Stefan Keller ousted from the probe concerning secret meetings between Infantino and Switzerland's former attorney general, Michael Lauber, in 2016 and 2017, reports DPA.

The court said press releases from Keller's office suggested he could have been biased in the case.

The investigation does, however, continue.

In a statement, FIFA said the organization and Infantino "welcome the decision", to remove Keller and "are fully available to cooperate with the authorities whether that concerns meetings that the FIFA President had with the former Attorney General of Switzerland, or anything else."
Bengaluru, May 5 : Reeling under the second wave of Covid, Karnataka saw new cases breach the 50,000 mark, including 23,106 in Bengaluru, as per the state health bulletin on Wednesday.

"With 50,112 new cases registered on Tuesday, the state's Covid tally shot up to 17,41,046, including 4,87,288 active cases, while recoveries increased to 12,36,854, with 26,841 discharged during the day," it said.

With the new cases, Bengaluru saw its Covid tally rise to 8,63,380, including 3,13,314 active cases so far, while 5,43,059 recovered, with 11,343 discharged in the last 24 hours.

A record 346 Covid patients, including 161 in Bengaluru, succumbed to the infection, taking the state's death toll to 16,884 and the city's toll to 7,006.

Among districts where over 1,000 new cases were reported on Tuesday were Mysuru with 2,790, Tumakur with 2,335, Udupi with 1,655, Mandya with 1,621, Haasan with 1,604, Kolar with 1,115, Kalaburagi 009 with 1,097, Bengaluru Rural with 1,033, Dharwad with 1,030 in Dharwad and Chikkamagaluru with 1,009.

Out of 1,55,224 tests conducted across the state during the day, 9,827 were through rapid antigen and 1,45,397 through RT-PCR method.

Positivity rate shot up to 32.28 per cent and case fatality rate rose to 0.69 per cent across the state on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, 1,23,413 people, including 50,956 senior citizens above 60 years, 58,778 in the 45-59 years age group and 2,483 in the 18-44 years age group have received the vaccination across the state during the day.

Cumulatively, 1,00,72,795 people, including healthcare workers and frontline warriors took the jab since the nationwide vaccination drive was launched on January 16, the bulletin said.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
London, May 5 : Manchester United on Wednesday said that their match against Liverpool, originally scheduled for Sunday, had been rearranged for May 13.

The contest was postponed after agitated fans stormed Old Trafford in protest against owner Glazer family's plan to align with the now-aborted Super League.

But with the rearrangement of fixtures, Manchester United face the onerous task of playing three league games in five days.

United were originally scheduled to take on Leicester City on May 12, but in a bid to accommodate the rearranged tie against Liverpool, the match against the Foxes has been moved back to May 11.

And, given that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side has to take on Serie A team AS Roma in the Europa League semi-final second leg on May 7 and Aston Villa on May 9, it will be four matches in the span of just one week.

This will be the first time in nearly three decades that Manchester United will play three league games in five days.

The tie against Liverpool was postponed last Sunday when some protesters broke the barriers and entered the Old Trafford pitch protesting against the Glazer family's plan to align with the now-aborted Super League.

While the police managed to take control of the ground from the protesters, the match had to be called off.
Qatar and South Africa will sign 26 agreements spanning several areas including trade this years as both countries seek to boost their bilateral relations, The Peninsula Qatar reports citing the Gulf countrys envoy to the African country.

There are about 26 agreements and areas of cooperation between the two countries that will be signed during the fifth round of political consultations, Tariq Ali Faraj Al Ansari told Qatar Radio recently.

Among these agreements is an understanding between the South Africa Chamber, the Qatari Businessmen Association, and the Qatar Chamber, about establishing a joint businessmen council to enhance trade exchange between the two countries and overcome import and export obstacles and others, Al Ansari said.

Trade volume between the two countries over the five past years stood at $2 billion. The two countries will hold the fifth bilateral consultation this year at the level of foreign ministers with talks focusing on important economic issues namely economic diversification.

Faizel Moosa, the South African ambassador to the Gulf country, Qatari also noted, recently indicated that there are plans to negotiate with Qatar Airways to increase its cargo aircraft operations to facilitate more goods.

The volume of trade between the two countries between 2019 and 2020 shot up by 150 per cent.
Bengaluru, May 5 : The Centre allotted more medical oxygen to Karnataka, which has been gasping for more to treat serious Covid patients in intensive care units, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said on Wednesday.

"Responding to our request for more oxygen supplies, the Central government has rushed 20 tonnes of liquid oxygen, which came from Bahrain," he said in a statement here.

Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting the state in its battle against Covid, Yediyurappa said the Indian Air Force (IAF) had flown 5 containers to Odisha for air-lifting 74 tonnes of oxygen for the state.

"The Centre has also allotted 4 tankers of 20 tonnes capacity each to Karnataka. Two of them reached the Mangaluru port with oxygen," he added.

State-run oil marketing firm Indian Oil Corporation is shipping two containers with 20 tonnes each of liquid oxygen to the state for meeting the surging demand for the life-saving gas.

In a related development, state Industry Minister Jagadish Shettar, who is in-charge of oxygen supplies to hospitals in the state, said he had urged the Centre to permit the state government to use all the gas produced by gas makers in the state.

"I have consulted Central ministers Piyush Goyal and Prahlad Joshi to allot the entire oxygen produced in the state to us for saving lives in the hospitals," he said in a statement here.

The state government has decided to make use of the entire oxygen produced by JSW Industrial Gases Ltd at Ballari.

Though the Jindal Steel Works (JSW) subsidiary produces 130 tonnes of liquid oxygen daily at its Ballari plant, it has been supplying 80 tonnes to the state and sending 50 tonnes to neighbouring Maharashtra, which has been recording more Covid cases.

"As Covid cases in Maharashtra are on decline, Karnataka has requested the Centre to allot the 50 tonnes to the state, where cases have been surging," said Shettar.

Of the 170 oxygen tankers in the state, 68 are used for ferrying the gas to other states, resulting in delays in supplying liquid oxygen to needy hospitals across the state, he noted.

"As railway tankers can ferry large quantity of oxygen at a time at a lesser freight cost, we have requested the Railway Ministry to run more Oxygen Express trains to the state from Odisha," said Shettar.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Bengaluru, May 5 : The Bengaluru police have arrested four persons besides nabbing another four for questioning over the 'cash for bed allotment scam in hospitals that was 'unearthed' by Bengaluru South MP and BJP leader Tejasvi Surya.

Joint commissioner of Police (Crime), Sandeep Patil, tweeted that in two separate cases, the Central Crime Branch police team has arrested four persons so far and conducted searches in eight locations, besides picking up four others for questioning in connection with the case.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Harish Pandey, the accused persons include one Nethravathy (40), a social worker, and Rohith Kumar (22), her nephew. They were apprehended following sting operation conducted by the police.

"Our team approached them for beds posing as relatives of a Covid-19 patient. We then realised that the duo from Begur would charge between Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000 after assessing the financial status of the person seeking a bed," Pandey had said on Tuesday, just hours before Surya had stormed into the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) control room.

According to the police, the modus operandi of these accused persons was to book hospital beds in the name of asymptomatic patients in home isolation and keep them blocked.

"They used to block the beds in the hospital as well as in government records. The blocking period used to be for 12 hours, and during this time, the accused used to divert these beds to those who were willing to pay a premium," the police explained.

The police added that the same modus operandi was adopted for the ICU and ventilator beds, which were allocated only after the 'premium' was received.

Surprisingly, all this was happening in the control rooms operated by the BBMP, which directly comes under the control of Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, as the expose by Surya revealed on Tuesday.

The police added that when the people on whose names the beds were blocked were contacted, it was found that they had recovered long ago and were not even aware of the fact that hospital beds were booked in their name.

After several media outlets reported that beds were being sold at a premium, Surya stormed into the BBMP control room on Tuesday and took the officials to task for giving wrong information on bed occupancy.

He also unraveled widespread corruption in allocating Covid beds, which brought embarrassment for his own party which is in power in the state.

Later, Surya claimed that people working in the Covid war room were running a racket by falsely blocking hospital beds and allotting them in return for money.

He also alleged that there was no shortage of beds in the city, and those involved in this scam would face the consequence.

Surya had also charged that the hospital officials were not providing the data on bed availability.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Patna, May 6 : RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday hit out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his decision to use the Rs 2 crore legislators' development fund for the improvement of the state's health structure.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, he alleged that the state government, instead of helping people of Bihar, is concentrating on "total loot" in the name of improving health infrastructure.

"Corona pandemic started in February last year and the state government was involved in corruption of thousands of crores of rupees in the name of development of health infrastructure. The scam of testing kits, making of quarantine and isolation centres emerged a few months ago.

"After one year of pandemic, the state government failed to provide basic facilities to patients in the second wave of corona. The Health Department has a thousands of crores budget every year which it has failed to expend. CM's Relief Fund is also available with the Bihar government. Why is CM Nitish Kumar not putting details about the expenditure on the health sector in public domain for the last one year," he asked.

"Now, Nitish Kumar wants to take away funds allocated to MLAs and MLCs of the state in the name of the pandemic. I want to make a suggestion that you should also include MPs' funds in the state. There are 39 MPs of the NDA representing Bihar in the parliament.

"Besides, the fund generated from legislators in a tune of Rs 600 crore should be spent in the health structure in the constituencies of MLAs or MLCs. If we allow this fund to merge with the Health Department budget, the chances of corruption is very high. Hence, the MLAs or MLCs should be the signing authority of funds before it is expended in purchasing of medical equipments, life-saving drugs, oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders, ventilators, beds at isolation and quarantine centres for the particular areas," Tejashwi Yadav said.

The Nitish Kumar government aiming to generate Rs 600 crore through reducing lagislators's fund of Rs 2 crore allocated to every MLA and MLC. A notification in this regard was issued three days ago.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bengaluru, May 6 : The Joint Commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Sarfaraz Khan, has put up a detailed post on social media, stating that he had no role in operating BBMP control rooms for Covid-19, as he was the in-charge of solid waste management and Covid care centres.

In the post, he said that he had no part in the alleged mismanagement that occurred in the BBMP war room established for the allocation of beds for Covid patients.

On Tuesday, BJP MP from Bengaluru South, Tejasvi Surya, had said that an investigation carried out by his office has unearthed an unholy nexus of representatives of zonal helplines, BBMP officials and hospitals, which allegedly created false scarcity of beds, and offered them at a premium.

He had alleged that in several instances, this nexus booked beds in the name of asymptomatic patients, blocked them, before allotting the beds against a premium to the needy.

Soon after, messages started doing the rounds on social media, circulating the names of 16 people allegedly involved in the case, all of whom happened to be Muslims. The provocative, false messages also claimed a communal conspiracy behind the 'cash for bed' scam.

In his detailed social media post, Sarfaraz Khan said that he was shocked and pained to see his name get dragged into the fiasco.

"I am completely pained because a communal angle is given to this issue blaming me, even though I have no knowledge about the matter," Khan insisted.

He also contended that he had converted the Hajj Bhavan into a 140-bed oxygenated Covid care centre while 50 ICUs are being set up using Hajj Committee funds.

"I would like to say that 90 per cent of the occupants in the Hajj Bhavan are our brothers from other religions, and only 10 per cent of them are Muslims," Khan insisted.

"Neither do I have a role in the war room, nor do I know any doctors there. I am shocked to see my name getting dragged into this scandal without any reason. The war room is headed by the Special Commissioner (Health). My job is to take care of BBMP Covid care centres and solid waste management" Khan said.

Though Surya did not take Khan's name, things took a communal turn after many social media posts put the blame on Khan.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Grab a cuppa and read the horoscope for June 9, 2021 right here. 

Aries Horoscope: You will be able to easily blend a new exercise regimen with your daily routine and benefit. You may review investments, just to get the best out of your money. Someone will remain grateful for your help and guidance at work. Some of you may make new friends and add to your friends circle. If you are travelling for a vacation, the journey is likely to add to your excitement. Those appearing for an exam or competition will manage their time well.

Lucky Number: 7

Lucky Colour: Grey

Taurus Horoscope: Taking up an exercise routine seems possible for some and promises to lead them to perfect health. For those feeling the pinch, financial situation is set to improve. A job well done will earn you a pat on the back at work. It will be fun doing shopping in the company of friends. An out of town trip with someone special will turn out to be most memorable. Involve yourself more deeply in a property matter. Your ideas on the home front will be appreciated by all.

Lucky Number: 6

Lucky Colour: Violet

Gemini Horoscope: Those suffering from an ailment will show quick recovery. Businesspersons may find some lucrative opportunities on the horizon. Meticulous efforts are likely to establish you ever so firmly on the professional front. An addition to the family may bring oodles of happiness on the home front. It will be a good idea to delay a property purchase to look for better bargains. Excellent progress is foreseen for those about to appear in an important exam or competition.

Lucky Number: 5

Lucky Colour: White

Cancer Horoscope: You will feel healthy and much more energetic than before. Someones guidance may be required on the academic front. You are likely to make your mark on the professional front. Family is likely to encourage you to realize your dreams and put your ideas into practice. Chance to go on an official trip to an interesting place is likely for some. Inheriting some assets is possible for some. You will find the opportunity to strengthen your bonds with people who matter.

Lucky Number: 15

Lucky Colour: Light Green

Leo Horoscope: Your special efforts to get back in shape will be successful. Efforts to achieve financial stability meet results. IT & medical professionals are likely to earn well. Homemakers may plan something exciting for the whole family today. If you are planning to visit another city or town, this appears to be a favorable period. Involve a bit more research before putting money in a property you like. You need to pace your progress on the academic front and for you it will not be too difficult.

Lucky Number: 17

Lucky Colour: Beige

Virgo Horoscope: You are likely to take up meditation or yoga to avoid mental stress. Money may become a problem and needs to be conserved meticulously. Your innovative ideas are likely to be implemented at work. A negative person at home may upset the domestic environment. Chance meeting with someone exciting on a journey will make travelling fun. Getting the house renovated is possible. Luck favors you today.

Lucky Number: 2

Lucky Colour: Dark Yellow

Libra Horoscope: Those suffering from an ailment for long will find positive improvement in their health. You will be able to meet a deadline without much problem today. You are likely to pick up the threads on the professional or academic front and resolve to give it your best. Those entrusted with an important job on the home front will manage to deliver it in an efficient manner. Time is ripe to take the first step in acquiring property.

Lucky Number: 2

Lucky Colour: Cream

Scorpio Horoscope: Fitness freaks are likely to reap rich benefits with a new workout regimen. You may decide to wait for better options for investing your money. A new colleague may not share your enthusiasm for your favorite project. This is the day to relax and take things easy, so get down to making your home environment tranquil. You may think in terms of buying or selling property, as stars appear favourable. A party or a gathering may find you at your impressive best.

Lucky Number: 9

Lucky Colour: Golden Brown

Sagittarius Horoscope: Health remains satisfactory through your own efforts. A dip in earning is visualized for those in business. Someone is likely to do you a good turn today. You may find it difficult to convince a family member regarding something you want to achieve. You may be called upon to undertake a journey out of town. You are likely to strike a good bargain in buying a major item for the house. You will find confidence returning on the academic front in facing an impending exam or competition.

Lucky Number: 7

Lucky Colour: Grey

Capricorn Horoscope: Regular workouts promise good health for you. Those playing the stocks can expect the day to turn out profitable. A thorough preparation will be needed for delivering a professional presentation. Family life promises to cruise along smoothly. An opportunity for a leisure trip may come to some. Your inspiration will serve some youngsters well on the academic front.

Lucky Number: 11

Lucky Colour: Deep sky blue

Aquarius Horoscope: No problems are foreseen regarding health. Chance of losing money in betting or stocks appears likely. A complex issue at work may be taken up by you today, but you may not be able to make much headway. Planning something for the house may get you and spouse totally involved. Young couple may plan an exciting trip. Property owners can expect good returns from a property deal. You will be able to revive old connections with someone influential on the social front.

Lucky Number: 18

Lucky Colour: Pink

Pisces Horoscope: Avoid excesses, if you want to retain good health. Financial front is likely to get strengthened as past investments mature. Those trying to disturb you at work will not succeed in their designs. Success of a family member is likely to prove most fulfilling. An enjoyable time is foreseen for those undertaking a long journey. A new house or apartment is likely to be acquired by some. Your contribution to society is likely to get recognized and win you fame.

Lucky Number: 5

Lucky Colour: White

About Author: Astrologer Manisha Koushik is a renowned Tarot Card Reader, Numerologist, Name Therapist and Vastu-Fengshui Consultant. Know more 

Did we pique your curiosity about your future? Read your detailed Horoscope and Rashifal to know more.
We welcome this diverse group of new Fellows and look forward to helping them grow as the next generation of leaders, said NACUBO President and CEO Susan Whealler Johnston.

The National Association of College and University Business Officers is pleased to announce the 2021-22 class of the NACUBO Fellows Program.

Thirteen promising higher education business and finance professionals have been selected for the intensive leadership development program, which prepares participants for the complexities of the chief business officer (CBO) position. Over the next year, NACUBO Fellows will work with higher education presidents, provosts, CBOs, and other experts as they expand their management, communications, and leadership skills and strengthen the core competencies needed to succeed as CBOs themselves.

The 2021-22 NACUBO Fellows Program cohort includes



Terri Albertson, Haverford College, assistant vice president for finance and controller

Allison Baird-James, University of California Los Angeles, associate vice chancellor, business and finance solutions

Barbara Cevallos, University of Massachusetts System, assistant vice president and university controller

Lucien Costley, Schreiner University, interim vice president for administration and finance

Dominic Daher, University of San Francisco, associate vice president, tax compliance, internal audit, and payroll services

Dina Farrell, Portland Community College, associate vice president, finance

Debra Glenn, Salt Lake Community College, assistant vice president for business services and controller

Brandy Hampton, Arkansas State University, treasurer

Lori Herrick, Abilene Christian University, associate vice president of finance

Daren Hubbard, Georgia Institute of Technology, vice president of information technology and chief information officer

John McCall, Texas A&M University, associate vice president for finance and controller

Marissa Pace, Spelman College, associate vice president, business and financial affairs

Tracey Richardson, California State University Long Beach, associate vice president, financial management

The NACUBO Fellows Program is designed for high-potential professionals who are one position away from the chief business officer role and prepares them for high performance in senior leadership.

Over the last year, the COVID-19 pandemics stressors on higher education underscored the importance of strategic, nimble, and confident chief business officers who can navigate unforeseen challenges while helping their institutions continue to serve students and successfully meet their missions, said NACUBO President and CEO Susan Whealler Johnston. We welcome this diverse group of new Fellows and look forward to helping them grow as the next generation of leaders.

The NACUBO Fellows Program launched in 2016 and more than 40 percent of graduates have already advanced in their careers.

About NACUBO

Founded in 1962, the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) is a nonprofit professional organization representing chief administrative and financial officers at more than 1,700 colleges and universities across the country. NACUBOs mission is to advance the economic vitality, business practices, and support of higher education institutions in pursuit of their missions. For more information, visit nacubo.org.
DrAnthonyAVirellaMDFACSNeurosurgeon.jpg For personal injury victims, who have already suffered enough, the M6-C Artificial Disc Replacement affords a real opportunity to improve quality of life. I was honored to provide this surgery, as medical lien treatment, to the victim who is currently involved in litigation.

Board-Certified Neurosurgeon Dr. Anthony Virella, MD, FACS, founder of Virella Spine Surgery in Southern California has successfully performed a medical lien, M6-C Artificial Disc Replacement surgery for the victim of a personal injury accident, who suffered a traumatic disc herniation in his spine as the result of a motor vehicle accident. This marks the first time that a personal injury victim in Ventura County has received an M6-C Artificial Disc Replacement.

The M6-C Artificial Disc Replacement surgery is a non-fusion, minimally invasive spine surgery. During the procedure, the injured victims damaged disc was replaced with an artificial disc designed to mimic the natural structure and movement of the spine.

According to Dr. Virella, The physiological and biomechanical characteristics of this Artificial Disc Replacement technology is identical to the native human disc. It allows for greater range of motion than previous disc replacement implants and fusion techniques. As an additional benefit, the M6-C Artificial Disc Replacement system decreases the incident of adjacent-level disc disease. For personal injury victims, who have already suffered enough, the M6-C Artificial disc replacement affords a real opportunity to improve quality of life. I was honored to provide this surgery, as medical lien treatment, to the victim who is currently involved in litigation.

As the only Board-Certified, Fellowship trained in Complex and Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Neurological Spine Surgeon in the area, Dr. Virella provides comprehensive spinal care to patients and injured victims throughout Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Virella Spine Surgery provides premium spinal treatment and surgery when necessary to all patients, including those who need help, while they are in litigation. Patients receive the same exceptional care whether they are fully insured, or they need treatment on a medical lien, he said.

Dr. Virella brings his 20+ years of experience to all his Artificial Disc Replacement and Complex Spine Procedure patients.

Dr. Virella has also been qualified by multiple courts in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. He serves as a medical expert for both plaintiffs and defense attorneys in personal injury lawsuits. As the former Director of Neurological Surgery at the Ventura County Medical Center, Dr. Virella is available to personal injury attorneys during all stages of litigation, from depositions through trial.

He has provided expert medical opinion on various spine and brain injuries and conditions including herniated discs, fusion surgeries, brain surgery, spinal fractures, bulging discs, memory loss numbness, headaches, paraplegia, and quadriplegia. He has also been retained as an expert witness for post-surgical conditions, such as post-operative hematomas, and misplaced pedicle screws.

This sophisticated spine surgery is reason for those who suffer disc injuries as the result of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, and other personal injuries to have hope for better days Dr. Virella said.

Dr. Anthony Virella is the Founder of Virella Spine Surgery, serving patients in Agoura Hills, Los Angeles County, Ventura County, San Fernando Valley, San Leandro, Riverside, Bakersfield and Van Nuys. Dr. Virella is a Diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery. He is a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, California Neurological Society, and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. For more information about Dr. Anthony Virella, visit http://www.dr-virella.com or call 805-449.0088
COVID-19 related product demand impacted all markets, all regions, and all vendors to some degree in 2020, continuing through the first part of 2021.

The global market for medical devices rose to $472 billion in 2020, increasing 5.1% for the year over 2019, according to new data published in The Global Market for Medical Devices, 11th Edition, the latest report by leading medical market research firm Kalorama Information. The coronavirus pandemic in particular had a notable impact on medical device sales.

COVID-19 related product demand impacted all markets, all regions, and all vendors to some degree in 2020, continuing through the first part of 2021, said Kalorama Informations Publisher Bruce Carlson.

Kalorama Information forecasts the global medical device market will continue to grow more than 3% annually through 2025, with sales cooling down in 2022 as markets stabilize and economic recovery becomes prevalent. In 2023, growth is expected to reemerge and produce steady performance through the end of 2025.

Medical devices include any instrument, apparatus, appliance, machine, contrivance, implant, in-vitro device as well as any accessories or related components that facilitate any or some of the following functions pertaining to a disease, injury, or condition of handicap: diagnosis, prevention or monitoring, and treatment. Kalorama Informations research shows that the largest individual categories of medical devices are:



dental equipment, including products in the areas of preventive, restorative, orthodontics, endodontics, implants, prosthetics, CAD/CAM restoration systems (CEREC), digital intra-oral, panoramic and 3D imaging systems, dental treatment centers and instruments/handpieces;

catheters, including any of the three major types of catheters: coronary, renal, and infusion catheters;

dialysis equipment, including hemodialysis machines, bloodlines and dialyzers;

endoscopes, which are designed for direct visual inspection of the interior of a body cavity, hollow organ, or structure;

minimally invasive surgical instruments, which allow doctors to perform many complicated operations with a short hospital stay; and

personal protective equipment (PPE), including various device segments with the indication of protecting both caregivers and patients from contamination or disease risk, such as face masks, surgical masks, filtering facepiece respirators, and protective clothing.

Personal Protective Equipment Segment Sales Increase 190% Due to Pandemic

Out of all the major medical device categories, the COVID-19 pandemic had a major hand in market growth for PPE during 2020. The market increased by more than 190% over 2019 as a result of the pandemic. It is expected that for 2021 and potentially some of 2022, health facilities and practitioners will continue to replenish shortages of PPE and prepare for additional unforeseen health pandemics in the future with some degree of stockpiling. Additionally, several governments around the world have placed orders for PPE in attempts to not be without this essential tool in the event of future pandemics.

M&A Activity Sees Billions of Dollars Exchanged

Beyond the impact of COVID-19, the overall medical device market is ripe with both acquisitions and innovation. Acquisitions drove growth, as there have been more than 300 significant device market mergers and acquisitions (M&A) since 2015. In total, this amounts to the exchange of more than $400 billion over the six years. And as of early 2021, there is nearly $40 billion in pending M&A activity in the medical device industry.

Innovation Essential to Emerging International Markets

In addition, companies operating in the market remain optimistic and seek innovation. Kalorama Information estimates that medical device companies spent an average of 8.2% of revenue on R&D during 2020, up from 8.1% in 2019. For example, innovations from Chinese manufacturers working closely with foreign companies include reusable sutures, portable ultrasound products, low-cost stents and patient monitors. Such innovations borne out of the Chinese healthcare market are important not only in steering foreign participants business development strategies, but also in establishing China as a base for greater exports to regional and overseas international markets. China is already home to an estimated 15,000-16,000 domestic medical device manufactures. The United States medical device market is the largest in the world, but China is one of several emerging markets that will continue to drive growth and innovation. Other emerging markets include India, Turkey, Romania, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Poland and Brazil.

For more insights like these, purchase The Global Market for Medical Devices, 11th Edition by Kalorama Information at https://kaloramainformation.com/product/global-market-for-medical-devices-11th-edition/.

About Kalorama Information:

Kalorama Information, part of Science and Medicine Group, is the leading publisher of market research in healthcare areas, including in vitro diagnostics (IVD), biotechnology, healthcare, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. Science and Medicine Group supports companies seeking to commercialize the rapidly changing marketplace at the intersection of science, medicine, and technology. Comprised of industry-leading brands, Science and Medicine Group serves analytical instrument, life science, imaging, and clinical diagnostic companies by helping them create strategies and products to win markets and provide platforms to digitally engage their markets through a variety of innovative solutions. Kalorama Information produces 30 reports a year. The firm offers a Knowledge Center, which provides access to all published reports.
Harmen Westra

Ad-Lib.io, the next-generation Creative Management Platform for marketers at the worlds largest brands, today announced the appointment of Harmen Westra as Head of Sales, North America, as Ad-Lib.io continues its global expansion servicing global brands including Nestle, Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson and Estee Lauder. In this newly created role, Westra will focus on growing and nurturing Ad-Lib.ios relationships with advertisers that are headquartered in the US, as well as those that have a significant presence in the region.

We are thrilled to welcome Harmen to Ad-lib.io as our company continues its rapid growth, said Manu Mathew, Ad-Lib.ios President, Americas. As a proven leader, Harmens extensive experience gives him a deep understanding of the need marketers have to get the best creative in front of consumers, across channels and at scale. By helping brands align creative and media efforts using Ad-Lib.io's unparalleled technology, we can further help our U.S. customers top and bottom line efforts.

Prior to joining Ad-Lib.io, Westra was the Vice President of Client Success at MediaMath. He also held key sales leadership roles across marketing analytics, consumer insight, research, and media at organizations including iSpot.tv, Nielsen and others, where he was responsible for cultivating and growing relationships with leading brands, including Citigroup, Home Depot, Macys and Unilever.

Ad-Lib.io is uniquely positioned for tremendous growth due to its focus on helping brands build better creative,  said Westra. The US represents an incredible opportunity for Ad-lib.io to help marketers reframe the traditional approach to dynamic creative optimization. The companys dedication to improving clients business results, by helping them produce the most relevant advertising creative at scale and with speed, is a problem Ive witnessed in my past roles. I look forward to working with the team to bring Ad-Lib.ios solution to North America.

Westra is based In New York City. His appointment comes on the heels of Ad-Lib.ios recent rapid growth across Europe and the APAC region. For more information about Ad-Lib.io, please visit: https://www.ad-lib.io/.

About Ad-Lib.io

Ad-Lib.io provides the leading next-generation Creative Management Platform for marketers at the worlds largest brands to enable them to scale their digital creative. Ad-Lib.io connects creative and media workflows using intelligent automation, making it easy and fast to produce and optimize relevant ad creative across all digital channels. These ads are 60% more cost-efficient to produce, according to Ad-LIb.ios customers which include 10 of the top 30 global brands. The venture-backed company, headquartered in London, UK, was founded by a former Google executive who understood the need to close the wide gap between creative concepts and digital media execution.
This award demonstrates Akimas ability to help our customers implement next-generation technologies in ways that best align to their mission requirements, said Barry Smallwood, President of Akimas Emerging Markets Group.

Akima today announced that its subsidiary, RiverTech, has been awarded a task order to provide the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate (GPD) with support to enhance its data analysis and reporting under the One Acquisition Solutions for Integrated Services (OASIS) Small Business contract vehicle. The task order has a 5-year period of performance and a total contract value of approximately $4.4 million, if all options are exercised.

Akima is proud to support FEMA in working to leverage data to improve our national preparedness and resilience, said Barry Smallwood, President of Akimas Emerging Markets Group. This award demonstrates Akimas ability to help our customers implement next-generation technologies in ways that best align to their mission requirements.

Under the task order, RiverTech will provide data analytics, data visualization, and data reporting capabilities to allow FEMA decision-makers to better manage its portfolio of diverse grant programs, which help states and localities better prepare for and respond to disasters and other emergencies. The company will also assist with the creation of a communications sharing environment.

FEMA works to fulfil its mission of a prepared and resilient nation through its programs and partnerships. Through its Grant Programs Directorate, FEMA provides grants to prepare state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and first responders, as well as ports, transit systems, and non-profit organizations to measurably improve capability and reduce the risks from man-made and natural disasters.

About RiverTech

RiverTech is an SBA certified 8(a) Alaska Native Corporation (ANC) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Akima. At RiverTech, we are dedicated to bringing innovative solutions to our customers complex engineering and operational challenges. Our teams deliver wide-ranging services for mission support, systems engineering, and IT, enabling information and communications dominance and superior command and control of forces across the globe. To learn more visit http://www.rivertechllc.com.

About Akima

Akima is a global enterprise with more than 7,500 employees, delivering agile solutions to the federal government in the core areas of facilities, maintenance, and repair; information technology; logistics; protective services; systems engineering; mission support; furniture, fixtures & equipment (FF&E); and construction. As a subsidiary of NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation owned by more than 14,000 Inupiat shareholders, Akimas core mission is to enable superior outcomes for our customers missions while simultaneously creating a long-lived asset for NANA consistent with our Inupiat values. In 2020, Washington Technology ranked Akima #39 amongst the top 100 government contractors. To learn more about Akima, visit http://www.akima.com.
Were thrilled to renew our agreement Purdue University, a sophisticated leader in online higher education, to continue growing its LSS and Project Management programs and enhancing the accessibility of higher education for all," said Joe Diamond, CEO of All Campus.

All Campus, which partners with leading higher education institutions to grow their online enrollment and maximize market share, today announced that it has signed a renewal agreement with Purdue University. All Campus has been a partner of Purdue University since 2016, and this agreement allows the company to continue supporting the universitys online Lean Six Sigma (LSS) certificate programs and Project Management courses.

Through the partnership, All Campus assists with the full scope of recruitment activities for Purdues LSS certificate programs and Project Management courses, including registration assistance. Over the past five years, All Campus has helped Purdue enroll over 5,000 students, growing annual course registrations by more than 200%. All Campus has also assisted with corporate recruitment, enrolling students from over 95 different partners, including Boeing, Coca-Cola, Dell Technologies, JP Morgan Chase and Target.

As the demand for new skills and specialized roles increases, high quality, high-touch online certificate programs from leading institutions have emerged as an effective way for professionals to upskill and advance in their careers, said Joe Diamond, CEO of All Campus. Were thrilled to renew our agreement with Purdue University, a sophisticated leader in online higher education, to continue growing its LSS and Project Management programs and enhancing the accessibility of higher education for all. This agreement serves as further validation of our mission to deliver sustainable partnerships by providing the highest value and best service to our partner institutions and their students across the lifecycle of their careers.

Lean Six Sigma Certificate Programs

Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is a workplace methodology that relies on collaborative team effort to improve business process performance by systematically removing waste and reducing variation. Recognizing the value of LSS certification, many companies require this training for employees and suppliers.

To meet this growing demand, Purdue University created LSS certificate programs that are 100% online and instructor-led. Designed by Purdue instructors and online course development specialists, the programs course content and instructional materials are regularly re-evaluated and enhanced to align with industry trends. Purdue offers the following LSS certificates for professionals at every stage of their career path, including:



Green Belt, for those just starting their LSS path.

Lean Principles, which serves as a complement to any Green Belt program, rounding out the LSS body of knowledge.

Black Belt, the culminating step in a students Purdue LSS journey that features a directed project.

Green Belt Refresher, for students who are Green Belt certified through another provider, this course serves as a precursor to the Purdue Black Belt course.

Project Management Courses

Purdue developed its online project management courses to help students effectively plan, orchestrate and control complex projects in their organizations and pursue Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI). Purdues online project management courses include:



Project Management Essentials, the first step for professionals seeking fundamental knowledge and skills to immediately apply to their projects and advance their careers. The course also helps students earn the educational hours required by PMI.

PMP Exam Preparation is the follow-up course to Project Management Essentials. PMP Exam Preparation provides an in-depth review that is designed for experienced project managers who want to gain a firm understanding of PMP exam content, identify areas of opportunity for strengthening their grasp of PM principles and develop a comprehensive study plan for the exam.

For more information on Purdue Universitys online LSS certificate programs, please visit: https://www.purdue.edu/leansixsigmaonline/. To learn more about the universitys online Project Management courses, visit https://www.purdue.edu/projectmanagementcertification/.

To learn more about All Campus, please visit allcampus.com.

Project Management Professional, PMP, PMBOK and the PMI Registered Education Provider logo are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

About All Campus

All Campus creates value for leading universities by expanding their reach and cultivating relationships with students who seek to advance their lives through education. It offers comprehensive, tailored online program management (OPM) services, powered by industry-leading technology  all with the universitys unique identity and brand top of mind. It has built its reputation on delivering measurable results, being an honest broker, and providing high levels of service to its two primary constituencies: prospective and enrolled students, and university administrators. All Campus deep research, powerful insights and understanding of current job market and employer needs helps its partners tailor their offerings to optimize student outcomes and return on investment. The companys flexible payment and service options include bundled or unbundled offerings and fee-for-service management or a customized low and sustainable revenue share plan.

About 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. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.
Florida Attorney Joshua Cossey I am very honored to be named as an Elite Lawyer. My team and I are committed to securing the best outcomes for our Florida clients. I look forward to the continued growth of my practice in legal fields that involve both business and technology.

Elite Lawyer is a directory and rating service that awards and recognizes attorneys who have displayed a high level of competence in their practice area and received recognition from their peers, community, bar, and committees. It serves as a comprehensive resource for attorneys, as well as a user-friendly directory for potential clients who are looking to hire a highly respected lawyer. Only the most outstanding and experienced attorneys receive the Elite Lawyer award through a rigorous selection process.

Joshua Cossey attended Florida State University graduating summa cum laude with a degree in Psychology & Political Science. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. His experience includes helping many organizations through significant transitions that include start-ups and mergers and acquisitions. Cossey also offers legal counsel to clients in complex business matters that involve cryptocurrency. His knowledge in business and technology matters allows him to have a comprehensive understanding of this emerging legal field.

Cossey has been serving in the Florida Army National Guard for over 18 years carrying military occupational specialties (MOS) for logistics, engineering, and ordinance branches. He has also contributed to several published articles in various legal digests and journals, such as the Drake Journal of Law, Florida Bar Journal, and the University of Floridas Legal Digest on Property Rights.

I am very honored to be named as an Elite Lawyer. My team and I are committed to securing the best outcomes for our Florida clients. I look forward to the continued growth of my practice in legal fields that involve both business and technology.

About Sentinel Law, P.A.

Attorney Joshua Cossey and his legal team have over 12 years of experience representing clients in Northern and Central Florida. By providing personalized legal service, Sentinel Law, P.A. is able to help their clients improve their lives and businesses.

To learn more about Attorney Joshua Cossey, visit http://sentinellaw.com/ or call 800-484-6404.

To learn more about Elite Lawyer, visit https://www.elitelawyer.com/ or call 833-40-ELITE (833-403-5483).


A New Life: a charming fantasy tale of familial love. A New Life is the creation of published author, Debra Beveridge-Scott, a retired special education educator, devoted wife, and loving mother.

The author shares, A New Life is written as a fantasy with heart. It portrays the authors love of God, nature, and family. It is my hope that you, the reader, will be transported to a simpler time and place. You may even see a bit of yourself in the characters of the story, but they are actually fashioned after my own family.

After suffering a great loss, the characters in the story have to leave the home they love and everything familiar as they begin a new life, in a new place. Facing the unknown, the four sisters in the story use their faith in God and dependence on each other to overcome the obstacles they encounter.

During their adventures, the sisters make new friends and form lasting friendships with others that are very different than themselves. They also face inner struggles as each one has to examine their personal weaknesses and shortcomings. Their new friends help them face their fears, build their fortitude, and find forgiveness. In return, the four sisters give their friends a special gift that changes their lives.

So come away from the cares of this world. Step into the woodlands where you can find yourself surrounded by green trees, inhale the fresh fragrance of the earth, feel the mist of a beautiful waterfall, and watch the woodland creatures. Come be a part of our adventures. You may just find your life is changed for the better, and you too may begin a new life.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Debra Beveridge-Scotts new book invites readers into the lives of four similar, yet unique, sisters as they embark on a journey to an unknown new destination.

With a vivid story telling ability, Beveridge-Scott takes readers on an inspiring journey to experience life renewed and to learn the importance of faith.

View a synopsis of A New Life on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase A New Life at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about A New Life, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Dustin Jessip, a southern Iowa native who joined the Iowa Army National Guard as an all-source intelligence analyst, earned a degree in business administration with a focus on entrepreneurship, and pursued a management career in the casino industry, has completed his new book War Within: a spellbinding work of fiction that keeps the pages turning until the stunning conclusion.

Dustin writes, With heightened senses and operating within their homeland, they have the American squad at a disadvantage. Their confidence is high, yet they are humble. They know their rival is well trained and determined to fight to the death.

Staff Sergeant Briar is an American soldier in a special operation who faces doubt and manipulation in a part of the world he is not supposed to be in. When he embraces a moment of clarity, his life changes forever. American society latches on to the way the media depicts the idea of treason, while a journalist, William Bill Johnson and his editor Carol King take a stand that evokes serious consequences. An influential political figure, Senator Cynthia Delp, plays her hand, raising suspicion over her true intentions. A rescue team is sent to recover their lost comrade but begins to crumble when unsuspected obstacles knock them off track. All the while, prying eyes loom in the shadows, striking at moments of weakness.

When Sergeant Briar realizes there is more to live for than not, it leads him to stand up against his own ego. As he detaches from everything that ever weighed him down, the truth sets him free. When adversity seems to be at its peak, resiliency gains traction. An act of heroism protects the lives of others, preserving a legendary model for all to learn from.

Published by Page Publishing, Dustin Jessips engrossing book is an excellent choice for avid military and political fiction readers.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase War Within at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that authors should be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Backroads launches 2022 new trips in Bali Theres an incredible amount of pent-up demand out there, and were seeing unprecedented interest in active travel for both this year and next, said Tom Hale, Backroads Founder and President.

Backroads, the leader in active travel, today announced new trips launching across the globe in 2022. This sweeping new offering includes adventures from Bali to the Pyrenees, featuring incredible new destinations like Oman, Chile and Italys Gran Paradiso to Matterhorn. The company is also launching a Rhine Full Ship Celebration River Cruise Bike Tour as well as a new Active Safari adventure that visits Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe for an opportunity to get up close and personal with the dunes, waterfalls and wildlife of Africa.

Thousands of new departures have been added to Backroads lineup of trips that span 60 countries for the active adventure traveler. The offering includes numerous Dolce Tempo trips, an easygoing option for guests looking for opportunities to get outside and enjoy hiking, e-biking and multi-adventuring at a more relaxed pace. All 2022 trips are available for booking now.

Backroads New 2022 Trips Include:



Bali Multi-Adventure Tour

Chile Patagonia & Fjords Cruise Walking & Hiking Tour

French Basque Country Walking & Hiking Tour

Italys Gran Paradiso to Matterhorn Walking & Hiking Tour

Namibia, Botswana & Zimbabwe Active Safari

Netherlands & Belgium Walking & Hiking Tour

Oman Walking & Hiking Tour

Provence to French Riviera Multi-Adventure Tour

Rhine River Cruise Full Ship Celebration Bike Tour

Tuscany by the Sea Walking & Hiking Tour

Theres an incredible amount of pent-up demand out there, and were seeing unprecedented interest in active travel for both this year and next, said Tom Hale, Backroads Founder and President. Were excited to return to doing what we love most: exploring the world actively. Thanks to the hard work of our trip development team, were diving back into international travel better than ever, with unbelievable new trips in destinations from Oman to Namibia.

Backroads Dolce Tempo trips are a new, easygoing offering for travelers who want to experience the magic of active travel at a relaxed, flexible pace. These tours are a new guest favorite and nearly all the 2021 departures are already sold out. As the segment continues to grow in popularity, Backroads announced more than 100 new Dolce Tempo departures in 2022 including trips in the Canadian Rockies, Sweden to Denmark, England's Cotswolds, Portugal, as well as a Danube River Cruise E-bike Tour and new departures around the US. See all Dolce Tempo trips here.

In addition to hundreds of new departures, Backroads is launching many new family trips including 20s & Beyond and Older Teens & 20s itineraries. For more information and to book trips go to http://www.backroads.com.

About Backroads

Backroads was founded in 1979 by Tom Hale and has been a leading innovator in active and adventure travel for over 40 years. The company offers biking, walking & hiking and multi-adventure tours, small ship active cruises, private trips and family trips designed for three distinct age groups: Teens & Kids (typically 9-16), Older Teens & 20s (17+) and 20s & Beyond (adult kids in their 20s). Backroads hosts thousands of guests each year75% of whom are repeat guests or referrals from past guestsin hundreds of locations across the globe. For more information, please visit backroads.com. Or call 800-462-2848 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m to 2 p.m., Pacific time.


Beringer Capitals acquisition of Perform[cb] strongly aligns with its sector expertise, as well as its investment philosophy of partnering with promising middle-market companies that are well positioned to benefit from the accelerating trend toward digital transformation.

Beringer Capital, a leading North American private equity fund specializing in the media, marketing services, and technology sectors, today announced that it has acquired preeminent performance marketing company Perform[cb] from Centre Lane Partners.

Founded as Clickbooth in 2002, Perform[cb] has established itself as a frontrunner in the affiliate marketing space, achieving steady growth via organic means and a series of strategic acquisitions. Since inception, it has remained focused on proactively developing new technologies that enable marketers and publishers to seamlessly scale their customer acquisition initiatives. Its signature platform, PerformLEAP, has achieved wide acclaim and has become the go-to performance marketing solution for a number of household brands, including LendingTree, Freshly, and BET+. Earlier in 2021, Perform[cb] was named for the fifth consecutive year as mThink Blue Books #1 cost per action (CPA) Network Worldwide.

Beringer Capitals acquisition of Perform[cb] strongly aligns with its sector expertise, as well as its investment philosophy of partnering with promising middle-market companies that are well positioned to benefit from the accelerating trend toward digital transformation. It also comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted consumer behavior and galvanized brands interest in online performance campaigns, meaning that performance marketing now represents an ever-increasing share of advertising budgets. With that in mind, Beringer Capital will collaborate with the Perform[cb] team to support the continued rollout of forward-looking offerings that augment the customer experience and cement Perform[cb] s status as the premier destination for hyper-targeted, effective marketing campaigns.

At Beringer, were committed to working with visionary leadership teams that share our enthusiasm for delivering exceptional customer experience and value, said Gil Ozir, managing partner at Beringer Capital. Its clear that the Perform[cb] team is similarly motivated, as evidenced by its track record of developing thoughtful solutions that anticipate and meet clients needs. Were excited to partner with the company at this critical juncture in the industrys maturation, helping them to capitalize on new opportunities and solidify their leadership role.

Were confident that the Beringer Capital team will provide value-add from day one, added Erin Cigich, CEO of Perform[cb]. Our aim at Perform[cb] is to serve as a one-stop performance marketing destination that provides outstanding ROI and experience for marketers, advertisers and affiliate partners alike. The Beringer teams deep understanding of this sector, combined with their demonstrable experience in identifying niche opportunities, make them an ideal partner. Were excited to work together to ensure that, as Perform[cb] scales its business, our customers have access to creative tools that empower them to do the same.

Beringer Capital has established a strong track record of investing in, and advising, companies in the rapidly evolving media, marketing services, commerce, data, and technology sectors. Notably, the firm acquired prominent media and events company Adweek in 2016, helping to diversify its business offerings before a successful exit in 2020. Additional realized investments include award-winning customer experience (CX), commerce and analytics company Blue Acorn iCi, which was acquired by Infosys last year.

Perform[cb] was advised in the transaction by investment bank Canaccord Genuity. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Beringer Capital:

Beringer Capital is a private equity firm specializing in the rapidly evolving media, marketing services, commerce, data and technology sectors. The firm leverages its financial and intellectual capital to invest in middle-market companies that are strongly positioned to benefit from the accelerating trend toward digital transformation. Beringers collaborative approach, as well as its strong track record with add-on acquisitions, helps visionary leadership teams to deliver exceptional customer experience and achieve impressive results.

Beringer Capital has offices in Toronto and New York. For more information, visit http://www.beringercapital.com.

About Perform[cb]:

Founded as Clickbooth in 2002, Perform[cb] experienced exponential organic growth enabling the company to complete a series of strategic acquisitions, each providing unique performance-based solutions for modern marketers and affiliate partners. Recognized as the #1 Performance Network Worldwide since 2015, Perform[cb] is a distinguished leader within the performance marketing industry. Through their Network and Agency, Perform[cb] is a provider of online marketing services leveraging over two decades of experience, proprietary technology, and the best talent in the industry to empower brands to acquire new customers across diverse digital channels on a pay for results model. http://www.performcb.com.
The companys innovative delivery technologies make it possible to retain a high amount of live bacteria in a single probiotics candyceutical  out of the original 1010 CFUs even after production and 12 months of shelf life.

BonchaBio has developed a technology platform that optimizes nutraceutical delivery against the harsh conditions that degrade ingredients, with the worlds first low-temperature, low-pressure candy manufacturing technology.

We solved a problem that the nutraceutical industry had wanted but failed to for a long time,  said Ming-Chieh Tsai of BonchaBio. It is a real challenge to keep the bacteria alive under the normally high-temperature candy manufacturing process, and to keep it viable through the harsh conditions in digestion."

We basically had to completely rethink the manufacturing process and build a new one from scratch, he said. It took us years, but once we built it, the response from nutraceutical brands around the world has been incredible.

The company is now leveraging this technology platform to address a wide range of conditions and the needs of multiple age groups, from children to seniors. It is also working with nutraceutical brands and ingredient suppliers around the world.

For details about the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, please visit: https://inventions-geneva.ch/en/home/.

More about BonchaBios Probiotics Candyceuticals

1. It makes consumption enjoyable with flavor

2. It protects probiotics against from gastric acid and bile salts, allowing more bacteria to survive and colonize in the colon

3. The prebiotics contained in the candy shell, not only feeds the probiotics but enhance the survival rate of probiotics to colonize in the colon, hence health impacts!

About Boncha Bio

Boncha Bio is a biotech company headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, with a team of nutrition, pharmacology, food science and manufacturing experts. The company is an ODM service provider that works with nutritional brands, pharmaceutical companies, and ingredient suppliers. It offers formula design and manufacturing services as well as market-ready products and IP.

For enquiries, please contact:

Boncha Bio

Emily Tsai (Email: emily@bonchaboncha.com)
In this current day and age, it is soothing to escape into another period of time, following the trials, tribulations and successes of a family that many of us have grown to love.

Bridgette Bruce wanted to know what happened after Jane and Lizzy got married in the book, Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen left some hints, but Bruce needed to know more. It is for this reason she has written Mr. and Mrs. Darcy: Mrs. Bennets Solace (published by Balboa Press AU), an imagined sequel to Austens book detailing Lizzy and Darcys experiences both before and after they marry the love of their life.

As the Bennet sisters prepare to simultaneously marry their respective significant others in a simple ceremony, Lizzy begins laying the groundwork to assume her new role as Mrs. Darcy, mistress of Pemberley and Darcy House while Jane busily plans to become Mrs. Bingley. Amid the frenzied preparations, the sisters must find a way to carve out some semblance of independence while attending family dinners, purchasing wedding clothes, and dealing with their mothers excessive suggestions.

When the big day finally arrives, the sisters travel to the church where Mary and Kitty await to assist them with their gowns and flowers as dutiful maids of honour. With Lizzy on her fathers left arm and Jane on the right arm, the young women walk down the aisle to marry their loves, enjoy a wedding breakfast, and open a ball at Netherfield. After Lizzy and Darcy move into Pemberley and Jane and Bingley set up residence at a nearby estate, only time will tell where life will lead the sisters.

In this current day and age, it is soothing to escape into another period of time, following the trials, tribulations and successes of a family that many of us have grown to love, Bruce says. When asked what she wants readers to take away from this book, she answers, I am not alone in being a Jane Austen tragic, and although several sequels have been written, I believe my version will appeal to the purists, who hopefully will enjoy finding out how the Bennet family progressed. For more details about the book, please visit https://www.balboapress.com/en-au/bookstore/bookdetails/826013-mr-and-mrs-darcy

Mr. and Mrs. Darcy: Mrs. Bennets Solace

By Bridgette Bruce

Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5in | 344 pages | ISBN 9781504324977

E-Book | 344 pages | ISBN 9781504324984

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Bridgette Bruce lives on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. She is married to Kym and they have four children between them, and three grandchildren. She works as a chef, a tour guide and is a volunteer firefighter. She enjoys writing in her spare time, when she is not re-reading her favourite books in her designated library.

Balboa Press Australia is a division of Hay House, Inc., a leading provider in publishing products that specialise in self-help and the mind, body and spirit genre. Through an alliance with the worldwide self-publishing leader Author Solutions, LLC, authors benefit from the leadership of Hay House Publishing and the speed-to-market advantages of the Author Solutions self-publishing model. For more information or to start publishing today, visit balboapress.com.au or call 1-800-844-925.
Clayton SigmaFire SF200 Boiler with 200 HP and 300 PSIG, feedwater tank, and accumulator at Daniels Health / Ontario, Canada "Our Brampton (Ontario) location is the busiest in North America volume-wise. We just recently secured a very large contract. Had we still been operating with the old boiler system, running 20 autoclave-cycles-a-day wouldve pushed us beyond capacity." --Daniel Kennedy, CEO, Daniels Health Canada

Daniel Kennedy, CEO of Daniels Health Canada (biomedical waste management), shared, Our Brampton (Ontario) location is the busiest in North America volume-wise. We just recently secured a very large contract. Had we still been operating with the old boiler system, running 20 autoclave-cycles-a-day wouldve pushed us beyond capacity. That would've created another big issue: the costly transfer of biomedical waste to other locations.

Kennedy continued, Clayton Industries solution shaved off 10-15 minutes from each cycle. Multiply that by 20 cycles a day, and it frees up 5 hours a day, which gives us the capacity to handle increased volumes without the need to transfer waste.

The boiler is the companys lifeline. No steam, no production. The boiler system has to be dependable and provide maximum uptime.

Daniels Health has a large pressure vessel where they sterilize biomedical waste. It requires a certain steam pressure and high temperature. The problem was that their current boiler  a horizontal coiled tube boiler  wouldnt allow steam to come in fast enough to satisfy the autoclave, which resulted in the sterilization cycle time taking 60 to 75 minutes to complete. That was too long.

As a result, productivity wasnt where it needed to be. Plus, the long cycle time was taxing on the boiler, which meant high maintenance costs and expensive downtime.

The Clayton team determined Daniels needed a boiler and a steam accumulator that would produce maximum steam in the shortest time possible. The accumulator stores energy in the form of water, which flashes to steam quickly.

Claytons regional sales manager Ron Polidori explained, With the accumulator being charged and ready, it can provide the autoclave with steam on-demand as needed, literally in seconds.

Daniels CEO Kennedy expressed reservations because they had tried accumulators in the past and had mixed and inconsistent results. But Clayton knew it was the right answer. They just had to find a custom solution that would ensure optimal operation. Clayton's steam expert, industry partners, and the engineer from the accumulator manufacturer met and designed a system they knew would work.

Their solution? A Clayton SigmaFire SF200 Boiler with 200 HP and 300 PSIG, feedwater tank  and the accumulator they had evaluated and approved. The cycle time with the old boiler took up to 75 minutes. With the efficiencies of the new boiler and accumulator, the autoclave cycle time was reduced down to 55 minutes. Daniels Health began operating 25% faster.

Usually, management wouldnt call it fortunate when a boiler needs replacing. But for Daniels Health in Brampton, Ontario, the efficiency they gained with Claytons recommended solution, made this an exception.

Daniels Health was founded in Australia 30 years ago with a mission to reduce incidents of sharps injuries from medical waste handling in healthcare. Sharps is a medical term for devices with sharp points or edges that can puncture or cut skin, such as needles and syringes. Daniels offers a full-service schedule for sharps, RMW, pharmaceutical, chemotherapy, RCRA Hazardous, and USP 800 classified waste.

Today, Daniels Health has grown to be one of the most influential healthcare service companies, admired for providing one of the safest sharps containers and medical waste management systems in the world.

There are more than 20 Daniels Health locations in North America, and the U.K. Kennedy says they continue to work with Clayton Industries because of the quality of equipment and because they believe its the best value.

ABOUT DANIELS HEALTH: Dan Daniels founded the company in 1986 from a garage with nothing but makeshift PVC waste tubes and quest to reduce incidents of sharps injuries from medical waste handling in healthcare. Today, Daniels is strongly established in six countries with a service model scalable to all sizes of healthcare facilities. Its governed by state and federal compliance, EPA regulations, and industry norms in each country where it operates. Daniels Health has forged a strong and credible name in healthcare throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and South Africa for its innovative products, seamless service solutions, and safety/infection risk reduction focus. For more information, visit http://www.DanielsHealth.com.

ABOUT CLAYTON INDUSTRIES: Clayton Industries is a leading global manufacturer of industrial steam boilers and industrial process steam generation products. The process steam boilers include fired boilers and unfired waste heat boilers. Claytons unique controlled circulation counter-flow design offers many operational advantages and benefits over other industrial steam boilers. Its control systems are built with the latest technology. Clayton also provides customers with reliable and highly efficient, compact steam-generating systems, mobile steam generators, and steam. The companys design principles make it a favorite choice in todays high-efficiency energy markets. Clayton Industries was established on October 20, 1930, and is headquartered in City of Industry, California, USA. It serves diverse worldwide markets from its industrial steam boiler manufacturing facilities in the United States, Belgium, and Mexico. Direct Sales and Service support centers are also located worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ClaytonIndustries.com.

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OTHER MEDIA INFORMATION

As Daniels Health added new plant locations across North America, it relied on used boilers to keep capital expenditures in check. In biomedical waste management, the efficiency of the autoclave is everything, so ready availability of steam is critical. When the time came to replace the aging boiler, Daniel Kennedy, CEO of Daniels Health Canada, along with David Prince, VP of Operations, reached out to a few of their trusted vendors and asked for proposals.

After a diligent investigation that included site visits with each vendor's customers, we ultimately chose Clayton because of their sales manager's [Claytons] detailed response. Ron Polidori is an absolute pleasure to work with, said Prince. And Clayton has excellent equipment, ethics, and integrity.

Polidori said, Rather than just pricing out a replacement, I thoroughly evaluate the customers situation to see what Clayton can do to improve their operation. Arriving at the right answer starts with asking the right questions, like "How do you use the steam? What are you trying to achieve? How can we increase your efficiency?

Daniels Health needed more than a boiler replacement. They needed a strategy.

Like Clayton, were not the least costly, but its what you get for the cost that equals the value, Kennedy said. The bottom line is, our customers want the waste to go away but in a way that complies with their health and safety standards. We are a heavily regulated industry. Daniels makes a significant investment in what we do and where we do it. Were just a better choice.

Daniels Health's safe practices have become the benchmark of global standards. Its robotic washing and treatment technologies have achieved benchmark levels of decontamination, and its products are esteemed industry-wide to be unrivaled in protecting the safety of healthcare workers.

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The Acceptable Year of our Lord: A study of Jesus Christ in the four Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.: a faith-based evaluation. The Acceptable Year of our Lord: A study of Jesus Christ in the four Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. is the work of published author, Clyde Wilcox, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.

Wilcox shares, Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit]. (2 Pet. 1:2021)

God Almighty is the author of the Bible, Gods written Word.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God. (2 Tim. 3:16a)

There are many different conclusions and theories of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. There is much still to be revealed by God, so we wait for the return of Christ. Only then, we will know all the truth.

This study was worked on with due diligence in an effort to rightly divide and stay true to the scriptures. Utilizing known dates from the feasts of the Lord, weekly Sabbaths, and distance from one location to another.

Thanks to God for his love that worked in my heart that brought excitement and joy during the course of the study. It is my hearts desire that at least one person will find the same joy and excitement in reading this study as I had with the Father (God) when I put it together.

Gods blessings to all from myself and my wife, Deanne.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Clyde Wilcoxs new book is a meticulous examination of the life of Jesus as told through the Gospels.

Using information gleaned from combining Scriptures, the author has offered readers a chronological timeline from Jesus baptism to Jesus sacrifice in an effort to assist fellow Christians in their understanding of Christs life. Readers will find an easy-to-follow breakdown within the pages of this title.

View a synopsis of The Acceptable Year of our Lord: A study of Jesus Christ in the four Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase The Acceptable Year of our Lord: A study of Jesus Christ in the four Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about The Acceptable Year of our Lord: A study of Jesus Christ in the four Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John., contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Distinguished Panelists, participants, colleagues and friends,

A warm welcome to all.

In todays discussion, we framed Urban resilience as an old challenge gaining new urgency. Although this imperative has been evident for long, it has become central to todays development discourse. The impact of Covid-19 was predominantly urban, with nearly 90% of the people affected and major socio-economic disruption caused, in cities. It has exposed the soft underbelly of our urban development, governance and risk management systems.

Crises are no longer stand-alone or episodic. Their wide-ranging impacts and interconnected nature pose significant socio-economic challenges, lingering much beyond their immediate occurrence. And the risks are heightened especially in inter-dependent sectors of development in cities.

Risks are now manifested globally in urban areas. For example,

o Nearly 84% of the fastest growing cities face extreme climate and disaster risks, with a vast majority of these in Asia and Africa.

o High-risk cities are mostly in challenging development contexts like in LDCs, LICs, SIDS and face considerable governance deficits as well as capacity and resource constraints.

In cities, crises and risks of all types tend to converge and become concentrated. Urbanization of risks is exacerbated by pre-existing structural issues such as poverty, inequality, migration, and informality, affecting weaker segments of society the most, leaving them further behind.

In fact, the World Bank projects that Covid-19 pandemic may have pushed additional 88 million to 115 million people into extreme poverty in 2020. And their analysis indicates that these new poor will be more urban than chronic poor; more engaged in informal services; and live in congested urban settings.

Driven by this sense of new urgency, UNDP recently analyzed the global frameworks, policies, programs and tools, and conducted an extensive consultative process with a range of stakeholders to diagnose urban resilience related demands and priorities.

With over half of the humanity already becoming urban, we have arrived at a firm conviction that the theater of action has gravitated towards urban areas. It will define our ability to ensure sustainability of development and resilience to risks, as urged by the New Urban Agenda and the SDGs.

Thus, UNDP intends to re-orient its urban risk management and resilience building practice through an integrated cross-thematic approach. Going ahead, we have identified the following priorities for policy and programmatic action:

 First, to give more focus on neglected geographies where greatest capacity gaps exist such as small and medium sized cities in LDCs, SIDS and LMICs, including cities in or on margins of crisis/fragile contexts. UNDPs risk assessment tools like Crisis Risk Dashboard will be strengthened and make better use of data in Risk Atlases, INFORM and Global Center for Disaster Statistics (GCDS) to provide actionable risk analysis and information to support their peculiar risk management and resilience building needs.

 Second, to strengthen urban governance by bridging the disconnect between the national policy and implementation at the municipal level, and also by stepping up engagement with key city interest groups. Effective urban governance means engaging all actors to shape urban development through connected policies and collective actions. We need to support cities to improve decision-making processes by fostering participation and overcoming traditional barriers to address existing risks and prevent new ones.

 Third, to ensure that urban development and services cater to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of weaker segments of urban communities. This will include improving their access to urban services like health, education, etc. and addressing their exposure to small-scale localized incidents.

 Fourth, to build capacities of less-resourced cities to manage multi-dimensional risks through well-financed risk-informed urban development planning and investments. UNDP is currently developing its Risk Informed Development offer to facilitate its application at city-level and to bring to scale.

 Finally, to expand innovation for resilient urban future. Recognizing the dynamic and evolving needs in cities, potential of innovation and digital technology-based solutions must be maximized. Methodologies such as modelling, scenario planning, resilience benchmarking etc. will be used to improve urban services and functionality, including urban planning and crisis management systems. Expertise of UNDPs Accelerator Labs and SDGs AI Lab will help devise contextualized solutions.

But UNDP cannot build urban resilience alone. We need to join hands in this Decade of Action to bring the capabilities of all actors and stakeholders to achieve SDGs especially at local levels. UNDP would like to call upon all partners to adopt an all hands-on deck approach with particular focus on small, medium and transitioning cities.

Today we are privileged to hear from our esteemed panel of experts representing perspectives from the national government, city administrations, development partners, civil society, academia and the private sector. The wealth of experience on the Panel will help articulate existing unmet demands and emerging priorities, as well as ways to advance partnership-based and action-oriented approaches.

I look forward to an engaging discussion today and synergy of action ahead.

Thank you.


Creative Digital Agency (CDA)s work for Visit Benicia was honored today with a Platinum Award for the 2021 Hermes Creative Awards, one of the oldest and largest international creative competitions for creative professionals in the world.

The winning campaign, Great Escape by the Bay, a COVID-19 strategic response plan for the City of Benicia, was honored with the Platinum Award in the Communication/Marketing Campaign category. Other nominees for the 2021 Hermes Creative Awards include AARP, Deloitte and Zeno Group.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on the tourism industry, says Kevin Almeida, Managing Director of CDA. With Benicia, we had to essentially scrap our plan for the year and start over. We looked at the data and refocused on the things our audience was crying out for: day trips, outdoor leisure activities, and safe ways to relax and escape the stresses of the year -- but in a way designed to drive tourism revenue for the local economy.

With a new website, multimedia production, paid and earned media, the "Great Escape by the Bay" campaign drove a huge upswing in earned media coverage and heavily mitigated lost sales tax revenue from the pandemic, especially for a year where large public events were canceled.

Hermes Creative Awards is an international competition for creative professionals involved in the concept, writing, and design of traditional and emerging media. Entries receiving scores of 90-100 are Platinum Winners. Scores of 80-89 are Gold Winners and 70-79 are Honorable Mention Winners.

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About CDA

CDA Creative Digital Agency is a full-service agency created to help brands cross the ever-widening cultural gap between generations, lifestyles, and behaviors.

Since launching in 2017, CDA has seen exponential revenue growth every year, working as a one-stop-shop for clients like Merck Pharmaceuticals, Airbnb, and the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board.

We owe our success to our audience-first approach, creating real business impact for clients by building our creative and tactical decisions on a strategic foundation backed by authentic understanding of our audience.
"Weve created a way for e-commerce brands to leverage their consumer influence for the greater good by helping nonprofits in need that wouldnt otherwise have been able to reach these consumers." says Patricia Dao, CEO of DailyKarma

Fast Company announced its 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards honoring DailyKarma in the software category. The fifth annual awards honored the businesses, policies, projects, and concepts that are actively engaged and deeply committed to pursuing innovation when it comes to solving health and climate crises, social injustice, or economic inequality.

As an Honorable Mention Winner of Fast Companys World Changing Ideas Awards, DailyKarma is recognized for empowering brands to raise money for nonprofits and encouraging consumers to do good through their purchase. By streamlining the costly and lengthy technical, legal, and nonprofit vetting hurdles of launching an engaging donation campaign throughout e-commerce stores, DailyKarma democratizes giving back by making cause marketing accessible for all brands, no matter their size.

The platform offers a full suite of campaigns to raise money for more than 1.6 million nonprofits worldwide, ranging from rounding up change at checkout to donating and receiving a discount off purchases. Weve created a way for e-commerce brands to leverage their consumer influence for the greater good by helping nonprofits in need that wouldnt otherwise have been able to reach these consumers, says Patricia Dao, CEO of DailyKarma.

DailyKarma launched their platform, Shop for Good, in response to the evolving e-commerce landscape and consumer demand for brands to support causes and impact the world for the better. Shop for Good was at the intersection of every major event of 2020  from Covid-19 to the racial justice movement and beyond  due to our unique ability to connect the booming e-commerce industry, a burgeoning base of socially aware shopper, and struggling nonprofits looking for ways to raise more money to support their missions. Our brand partners prove time and time again that everyone can play a role in changing the world, says Dao.

In its fifth year, the World Changing Ideas Awards showcase 33 winners, more than 400 finalists, and more than 800 honorable mentionswith Health and Wellness, AI & Data among the most popular categories. A panel of eminent Fast Company editors and reporters selected winners and finalists from a pool of more than 4,000 entries across transportation, education, food, politics, technology, and more. Plus, several new categories were added, including Pandemic Response, Urban Design, and Architecture. The 2021 awards feature entries from across the globe, from Brazil to Denmark to Vietnam.

Showcasing some of the worlds most inventive entrepreneurs and companies tackling exigent global challenges, Fast Companys Summer 2021 issue (on newsstands May 10) highlights, among others, a lifesaving bassinet; the worlds largest carbon sink, thanks to carbon-eating concrete; 3D-printed schools; an at-home COVID-19 testing kit; a mobile voting app; and the worlds cleanest milk.

There is no question our society and planet are facing deeply troubling times. So, its important to recognize organizations that are using their ingenuity, impact, design, scalability, and passion to solve these problems, says Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. Our journalists, under the leadership of senior editor Morgan Clendaniel, have discovered some of the most groundbreaking projects that have launched since the start of 2020.

At a time of social upheaval and social distancing, voting with ones dollar has been one of the most immediate and convenient ways to contribute. In what is likely one of the defining years of our generation, we saw our community of brands come together to connect with their shoppers around giving back. This singular desire to be more conscious in our purchases created a groundswell of lasting impact for our nonprofit partners locally and globally, says Melaney Lubey, Chief Impact Officer at DailyKarma.

About DailyKarma

DailyKarma is a software company that connects e-commerce brands with the worlds growing base of socially conscious consumers to do good by their purchase. DailyKarma is led by a team of seasoned entrepreneurs, marketers, technologists, and activists with a mission to build innovative solutions that help brands leverage consumer power for the greater good. DailyKarmas enterprise platform, Shop for Good, enables brands of all sizes to launch turnkey give-back campaigns allowing shoppers to donate for discounts, round-up change at checkout, and donate a portion of sales to nonprofits. To date, DailyKarmas brand partner network comprises 2,000 plus brands who have engaged nearly 1 million shopper donations. Shop for Good has become the highest-rated cause marketing app in Shopify and is recognized as a Shopify Unite Fund recipient.

About the World Changing Ideas Awards:

World Changing Ideas is one of Fast Companys major annual awards programs and is focused on social good, seeking to elevate finished products and brave concepts that make the world better. A panel of judges from across sectors choose winners, finalists, and honorable mentions based on feasibility and the potential for impact. With the goals of awarding ingenuity and fostering innovation, Fast Company draws attention to ideas with great potential and helps them expand their reach to inspire more people to start working on solving the problems that affect us all.
By providing tools like WordProof to searchers, we are furthering our mission to empower people with search choice and quality results.

Presearch, a community-powered search engine that protects privacy and delivers more neutral, unbiased results, today announced it will label timestamped pages in search results, a key component in combating the spread of misinformation online. Presearch is the first search engine in the world to integrate WordProofs universal blockchain-based timestamping ecosystem, which shows when information was last edited or updated and helps to verify the source, improving trust and transparency on the internet. WordProof timestamping will be added to search results on Presearch.

Were very excited to work with WordProof to facilitate more transparent, informative search results on Presearch, said Colin Pape, founder of Presearch. By providing tools like WordProof to searchers, we are furthering our mission to empower people with search choice and quality results, while rejecting the bias and manipulation that is all too common online.

Confidence in the internet is rapidly declining due to fraud, fake news, and privacy concerns. Research shows that 86 percent of people believe theyve been exposed to fake news. Google accounts for 92 percent of all searches worldwide; search engines act as a gateway to online information, and too often, they act as filters that deliver search results based on biases and algorithms that do not serve peoples best interests. With 2 million registered users, Presearch offers an alternative to Big Tech with a decentralized, node-powered platform that represents the interests of the community and uses blockchain technology to align all stakeholders across a single unit of value, the Presearch PRE Token.

WordProof is using blockchain technology to create a global standard that helps people verify the origin of the content they find online, said Sebastiaan van der Lans, Founder of WordProof. We are proud that WordProof and Presearch are leading by example, proving its possible for search engines to create a more trusted web.

WordProof brings verifiable trust to digital publishing and commerce. Presearch and WordProof have aligned to bring trust to the internet through transparent, unbiased, and verifiable search results; while making it a priority to educate consumers on identifying misinformation as they share their progress in completing the full integration.

WordProofs Timestamp Ecosystem enables consumers and search engines to verify the source of content, as well as see when content has been changed or updated. Last year, the company received 1 million from the European Commission as the winner of its Blockchains for Social Good contest, and a grant from Block.one to scale its service.

About Presearch

Presearch is building a sustainable decentralized search platform that represents the interests of the community, will be open source and transparent, and uses blockchain technology to align all stakeholders across a single unit of value, the Presearch PRE Token. With more than 2 million registered users and 1.3 million searches per day, Presearch is one of the worlds most popular blockchain projects.

Media Contact: presearch@dittopr.co

About WordProof

WordProof was founded in 2019 and won Europes Blockchains for Social Good contest in 2020. The Dutch startup is on a mission to restore trust in the internet. Fraud and fake news make the Internet unreliable. WordProofs Timestamp Ecosystem now enables consumers and search engines to verify the source of the content. WordProof is advised by Joost de Valk, founder of the worlds most popular WordPress plugin, Yoast SEO.

Media Contact: sebastiaan@wordproof.com
Diana Villiers Negroponte examines the final years of Washingtons cold war with the Soviet Union and argues that skillful diplomacy by the George H.W. Bush team ensured that the Soviet Union disintegrated peacefully in her new diplomatic history book, Master Negotiator: The Role of James A. Baker, III at the End of the Cold War (published by Archway Publishing). It is rare that empires end without bloodshed, but Baker maintained a close and supportive relationship with Mikhail Gorbachev, knowing that Kremlin apparatchiks would one day oust him from office.

The book analyzes the key challenges to achieving sustainable arms control agreements, ending proxy wars in Central America, repelling Saddam Hussein from Kuwait and bringing both Israeli and West Bank PLO leaders to dialogue and begin a peace process. Diplomatic failures are examined in Yugoslavia and the inability to gather sufficient funds to support reform programs in Russia. The book is honest in recognizing Bakers failure to resolve these key challenges, as well as his triumphs.

With her book, Negroponte demonstrates the stabilizing role that effective U.S. leadership can play in maintaining peace and security.

Master Negotiator is available for purchase online at the Archway link above, at Barnes & Noble and on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Master-Negotiator-Role-James-Baker-ebook/dp/B08Q7XBW8Q.

Master Negotiator

By Diana Villiers Negroponte

Hardcover | 6 x 9 in | 418 pages | ISBN 9781480897557

Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 418 pages | ISBN 9781480897540

E-Book | 418 pages | ISBN 9781480897564

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Diana Villiers Negroponte is a scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center and adjunct professor at George Washington University. British by birth, she is married to a foreign service officer and served with him in Europe, Asia and Latin America, as well as at the United Nations. Fascinated by the struggles of human society, she has built houses with Habitat for Humanity International in Vietnam and Ghana, supported credit programs for the poor in the Philippines and Nicaragua, helped literacy and environmental programs in Honduras and taught at Fordham University in New York. Mother of five and living in Washington, D.C., she is the grandmother of three small boys. In addition to Master Negotiator, Villiers Negroponte has also written Seeking Peace in El Salvador: The Struggle to Reconstruct a Nation at the End of the Cold War, which has been translated into Spanish, and The End of Nostalgia: Mexico Confronts the Challenges of Global Competition.

Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly ninety years of publishing experience, has teamed up with Author Solutions, LLC, the worldwide leader in self-publishing, to create Archway Publishing. With unique resources to support books of all kind, Archway Publishing offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience. For more information, visit archwaypublishing.com or call 844-669-3957.
Evalueserve, a leading global analytics partner to Fortune 1000 firms, today announced the official opening of its newest center in Cairo, Egypt. The Cairo office will augment Evalueserves global scale as it supports clients in the region with business research, analytics, design, visualization, and Arabic language capabilities.

Ravi Mehrotra, Chief Executive Officer of Evalueserve, says, The choice to open the Cairo center was a logical next step for us. As we witness strong momentum in the Middle East, the Cairo center will further strengthen our presence here, by adding to the existing delivery center in Dubai. The Cairo office will be a critical piece in complementing our global scale by providing near shore capabilities in the region. We look forward to building a best-in-class center that will be the employer of choice for digital talent in the region.

The opening of the Cairo office will also serve as a way for the company to uphold its rigorous research practices. Our main goal is to ensure that our existing clients receive the service and support they need, while also creating employment opportunities and extending our services to companies in the MEA region, says Pratyush Prabhat, Global Head of Professional Services at Evalueserve.

About Evalueserve

Evalueserve is a leading analytics partner that helps clients increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their core processes by applying a unique mind+machine methodology. For over 25% of the Fortune 1000, mind+machine weaves human expertise with digital products & platforms to build analytics capabilities that enable successful business outcomes. Visit http://www.evalueserve.com for more information.

Contact Us

For interview requests and any other information, please contact Radhika Mathur  Head, Corporate Marketing, Brand and Communications at radhika.mathur@evalueserve.com.
Dr. Grants FDA and industry experience in clinical development and regulation of drugs, biologics, and combination products, in addition to his extensive knowledge of the cardiovascular therapeutic area, make him a valuable resource to our clients.

NDA Partners President Earle Martin announced today that Stephen Grant, MD, former FDA Deputy Director, Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Products, has joined the firm as an Expert Consultant. Throughout his more than 20-year career at FDA, he also served as Acting Associate Director, Medical and Scientific Affairs in the Office of Compliance in CDER, in addition to Clinical Reviewer in the Office of Therapeutics Research and Review and as Team Leader in the Office of Cellular, Tissue, and Gene Therapies in the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), and as Clinical Reviewer and Team Leader in DCRP.

Dr. Grant is a board-certified Cardiologist with expertise in pre-market development of drugs, biologics, and combination products. He has extensive experience in the design, analysis, and interpretation of clinical efficacy and safety studies of investigational and marketed drugs and devices, and in the FDA regulation of therapeutic and diagnostic products. In addition to his FDA career, he was Chief Medical Officer of Celladon Corp. and a practicing physician in general cardiology.

According to Dr. Carl Peck, Manager of NDA Partners drug development practice, We are pleased to welcome Dr. Grant to NDA Partners as an Expert Consultant. His FDA and industry experience in the clinical development and regulation of drugs, biologics, and combination products, in addition to his extensive knowledge of the cardiovascular therapeutic area, make him a valuable resource to our clients.

Dr. Grant received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and bachelors degree from Yale College. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at The George Washington University Medical Center. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Subspecialty Board and former cardiology fellow at The George Washington University Medical Center and medical fellow at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

About NDA Partners

NDA Partners, part of The Planet Group (https://theplanetgroup.com), is a life sciences management consulting and contract development organization focused on providing product development and regulatory services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries worldwide. The highly experienced Expert Consultants in NDA Partners include three former FDA Center Directors; the former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Science Officer at the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP); an international team of more than 100 former pharmaceutical industry and regulatory agency senior executives; and an extensive roster of highly proficient experts in specialized areas including nonclinical development, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, CMC, medical device design control and quality systems, clinical development, regulatory submissions, and development program management. Services include product development and regulatory strategy, product development program design and management, expert consulting, functional teams, project-based solutions, and clinical trial design and management.

Contact

Earle Martin, President

Office: 540-738-2550

MartinEarle@ndapartners.com
The Georgia Institute of Technology has partnered with Morehouse College and PRENEURology Global to launch the Southeast Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Growth Hub to serve entrepreneurs and innovators in eight southeastern states.

The two-year pilot is funded by a $1.4 million cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Commerce MBDA to establish a collaborative support network for minority entrepreneurs in the Hub, which, along with Georgia, includes Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

The Southeast MBDA Business Growth Hub will be a valuable resource for programs serving minority business enterprises (MBEs). As a pilot effort, it could serve as a model yielding sustainable economic wealth for minority entrepreneurs in other regions of the country. (For more information about the Hub, please visit: businessgrowthhub.gatech.edu.)

Led by the Atlanta MBDA Centers at Georgia Techs Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2), the Southeast MBDA Business Growth Hub will operate virtually and in-person as a regional, blended network of entrepreneur spaces, education pathways, and engagement programs. The Hub will also serve as an access point to corporations, financing, and other government programs. This cohesive, blended network will foster MBE participation in ecosystems. It is designed to overcome the limited participation of minorities in local innovation ecosystems while giving them access to a broader regional network of connections, experiences, and expertise in the eight-state region.

The Hub will operate as a collective partnership of the Atlanta MBDA Centers, Georgia Techs Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), the Morehouse Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (MIEC), and PRENEURology Global.

The goal of the Hub is to connect the ecosystems throughout the Southeast in a way that will provide greater access for all MBEs and entrepreneurs regardless of the stage of their business, said Donna M. Ennis, C.P.F, EI2 director of diversity engagement and program development and the Atlanta MBDA Centers. We realized while there are highly effective ecosystems throughout the Southeast, minority entrepreneurs often struggle with making viable, long-term connections to enable the acceleration of their products and services to the market.

ATDC, Georgia Techs statewide technology incubator, will host the MBDA@ATDC to attract technology startups and innovators with diverse backgrounds to the program. The Hub is designed to enhance the reach of services available to entrepreneurs of color by connecting nodes or services like ours together in a more dynamic way through broader regional connections, said John Avery, ATDC director. This gives us an opportunity to enhance ATDCs presence in communities of color while bringing our access to resources and expertise.

The Morehouse Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center (MIEC) at Morehouse College will help the Hub identify minority-serving institutions (MSIs)  Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other institutions of higher education with predominantly Latino or other minority populations  that have programs and resources aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and building wealth for people of color. We will form a Southeast cluster of MSI innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems to connect and stimulate the growth of each MSI, said Tiffany Bussey, DBA, executive director of the MIEC. This partnership will further help us accelerate entrepreneurship among students and faculty at MSIs.

PRENEURology Global will establish the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Pathways for new relationships within and among MBEs, collective workspaces (traditional and non-traditional hubs), state, regional, and local governments, corporate partners, financing resources, and accelerators/incubators. This approach will create an integrated network of resources to help MBEs grow and scale their businesses. Were seeing a lot of business activity in these ecosystems but there is lack of connectivity, said LeKiesha French, CEO of PRENEURology Global, Our goal is to create more efficiency by eliminating barriers of access to opportunities and resources within the Southeast region for Black, Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) business entrepreneurs so they can experience equitable pathways to starting and growing their businesses.

About the Atlanta MBDA Centers

As part of a national network of over 40 centers and special projects, the Atlanta MBDA Business and Advanced Manufacturing Centers help MBEs access capital, increase profitability, and scale their businesses. Funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency, the Atlanta MBDA Centers are part of Georgia Techs Enterprise Innovation Institute, the nations largest and most comprehensive university-based program of business and industry assistance, technology commercialization, and economic development. To learn more, visit mbdabusinesscenter-atlanta.org.

About the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC)

The Advanced Technology Development Center at Georgia Tech is a startup incubator that helps technology entrepreneurs in Georgia launch and grow successful companies. ATDC is one of the oldest and most successful research university-affiliated incubators in the United States and was named by Forbes as one of the "Top 12 Business Incubators Changing the World. Founded in 1980, ATDC has fostered innovation and economic development by graduating more than 150 companies, which together have raised over $2 billion in outside financing. To learn more about ATDC, visit atdc.org.

About Morehouse Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (MIEC)

MIEC is a global model for higher education and industry collaborations to foster innovation and entrepreneurial leadership by promoting local and regional economic growth and development with people of color on and off-campus. The Center was established as a unit of Morehouse College in 2004 and has secured grants and contracts worth more than $20 million, impacted over 2,100 students, partnered with more than 17 large mentoring corporations, and assisted over 120 technology growth companies nationwide. The MIEC also serves as the lead institution in the JP Morgan Chase Small Business Forward Ascend Atlanta program, where it has accelerated 80+ minority tech startups over the past three years and helped them raise more than $5.5 million in funding. Visit mcecenter.com for more details.

About PRENEURology Global

As a Social Enterprise serving entrepreneurs around the world, PRENEURology Global has worked with organizations, educational institutions, corporations, and government agencies across the globe for more than 15 years, to support emerging innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems through a human-centered approach. With its team of bilingual professionals (English and Spanish), PRENEURology revolutionizes mindsets within communities at risk by empowering people with tools for innovation and economic growth. For more information, visit preneurology.org.
Georgia United Credit Union team members celebrate with West Newton Elementary School, a 2021 School Crashers recipient that will receive a facility makeover this summer. We are looking forward to serving our communities and strengthening our school systems through the eighth annual School Crashers program, shared Debbie Smith, president and CEO of Georgia United Credit Union.

Georgia United Credit Union Foundation in partnership with Georgia United Credit Union is excited to announce eight grant recipients of the 2021 Georgia United Foundation School Crashers program. School Crashers is the Foundations largest community service program that offers schools across the state an opportunity to apply for a school facility makeover. The program strengthens communities by supporting local school systems with the end goal of improving the learning environment for the students, faculty and staff.

The School Crashers nomination period opened in March to all accredited K-12 schools in Georgia. Interested schools were asked to include a photograph along with a 250-word essay describing why their school should receive a makeover. Nominations were received from 36 school systems and after a rigorous judging process, eight schools have been slated to receive school improvements over the summer.

We are looking forward to serving our communities and strengthening our school systems through the eighth annual School Crashers program, shared Debbie Smith, president and CEO of Georgia United Credit Union. The Georgia United Foundation, credit union team members, generous donors, community partners and volunteers make this a collaborative community service event, where we provide inspiring learning spaces for the students, faculty and staff. We want the students to have an increased pride in their school and be motivated to learn when they return in the fall.

Congratulations to the 2021 School Crashers grant recipients:



Stockbridge Elementary is a Title I school serving Pre-K and kindergarten to third grade students with special needs. The current playground equipment has several sections that need to be repaired or replaced. With 561 students, Georgia United Foundation plans to maximize this space by replacing old, broken equipment with new, updated age-appropriate equipment.

Northcutt Elementary in Atlanta is a Title I school that serves over 700 students each year. The schools mission is to provide and meet every childs individual needs both educationally and personally. The existing playground equipment has a limited number of play pieces and does not meet the current safety standards. In addition, the teachers lounge will receive a small makeover to give the faculty a calming place to unwind during their teaching breaks.

Sims Elementary in Conyers has been proudly committed to providing a quality education to the scholars of Conyers for over 30 years. However, over those 30 years the outdoor tables, benches and greenhouse have become dilapidated. Improvements to these areas will allow the teachers to better utilize the space as outdoor classrooms, lunch picnic areas and an educational STEM space. The Georgia United team will help bring this space back to use for the 580 scholars who are currently missing out on this opportunity.

Mountain View High in Lawrenceville will be the first high school awarded a School Crashers grant for a sensory room project. A traditional classroom can be overstimulating for some students with exceptionalities. The School Crashers grant and a generous carpeting grant from Mohawk Carpet will transform an old classroom space into a sensory room, creating a better environment for students with autism and intellectual disabilities.

Rowland Elementary in Stone Mountain is a Title I school built in the 1960s with over 95 percent of students coming from low-income families. The School Crashers and Mohawk Carpet grants will help improve the media center space with updated flooring, paint and comfortable, flexible seating. This media center will become the hub of the school as it is transformed into a warm, colorful and inviting space for the students to grow their love of reading.

Brookwood Elementary School is a Title I STEM certified Pre-K through fifth grade school serving 677 multilingual students in Dalton. Each grade level has STEM research-based projects focused on environmental issues facing the Dalton community. Brookwood needs a centrally located environment to all the students so they can stay on campus to conduct their research. The current courtyard is centrally located and has the potential to be transformed into an efficient, beneficial space to foster the learning for all six grade levels.

Rutland Academy in Athens serves students from Barrow, Clarke, Commerce City, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson City, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Social Circle City and Walton with emotional and behavioral disorders which require therapeutic interventions due to the severity of one or more of the characteristics of their disability. Sensory therapy plays a critical role to these students success and the School Crashers and Mohawk Carpet grants will provide improvements to the sensory room space where their students receive their sensory intervention therapy.

West Newton Elementary in Covington is a Title I school serving the largest population of students receiving free and reduced lunches in Newton County. This grant will allow the transformation of the Wildcat Woosah into a specially designed sensory room for kindergarten through fifth grades to receive self-regulatory support. In addition, the grant will allow for Cozy Corner sensory kits to be created for classroom checkouts to help decrease classroom disturbances and inappropriate classroom behaviors. This place will be a great benefit and continue to provide multitiered systems of support for the ethnically and diverse student population at West Newton Elementary.

Now in its eighth year, Georgia Uniteds School Crashers program has positively impacted 31,994 children across 50 schools by creating inspiring learning spaces and facility improvements valued at over $1,400,000. Funding for the program is provided by the Georgia United Foundation and generous donations made by community partners. Selected schools will receive project improvements over the summer before the start of the new school year. All events will follow current CDC guidelines.

To learn more about the School Crashers program and view photos of past School Crashers recipients, visit gucufoundation.org/schoolcrashers.

About Georgia United Foundation

Georgia United Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for children and families in the communities they serve through impactful programs funded and delivered through volunteerism by way of corporate contributions, team members and community efforts. The Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is the philanthropic arm of Georgia United Credit Union. For details on volunteering, participating or donating, visit gucufoundation.org.

About Georgia United Credit Union

Georgia United Credit Union is an award-winning financial leader and partner in education. Headquartered in Duluth, Georgia United is ranked as one of the states largest credit unions with $1.7 billion in assets and 168,000 members. As a full-service financial institution, they offer competitive products and services for every stage of life. Visit gucu.org to learn more.
Hannahs expertise in tourism policy and development and her specific focus on opportunities around nature-based tourism for countries around the globe supports the GWSs goal to help governments and tourism boards

The Global Wellness Summit (GWS), an organization at the heart of the multitrillion-dollar global wellness economy focused on facilitating collaboration, today announced the appointment of Hannah Messerli, PhD, Senior Private Sector Specialist in the Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation Group of the World Bank, to its advisory board. Messerlis appointment follows fast on the heels of two other significant additions to the GWS Advisory Board: internal medicine doctor Nicola Finley, MD, and technology innovator and blockchain expert Maggie Hsu.

Hannahs expertise in tourism policy and development and her specific focus on opportunities around nature-based tourism for countries around the globe supports the GWSs goal to help governments and tourism boards not only expand their wellness tourism initiatives but also measure their value to the local economy, said Susie Ellis, chair and CEO of GWS.

Wellness tourism is at the powerful intersection of tourism and the multitrillion-dollar global wellness economy. Pre-pandemic, researchers from the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the nonprofit entity whose mission is empowering wellness worldwide, valued the wellness tourism market at $639 billion in 2017. The research organization will be releasing updated figures that take into account the effects of COVID-19 on wellness travel during the Global Wellness Summit taking place in Tel Aviv this November. The GWI defines wellness tourism as travel associated with the pursuit of maintaining or enhancing ones personal wellbeingsomething that there is undoubtedly pent-up demand for in 2021.

The convergence of wellness and tourism activitiesespecially post-COVIDis clearly on the increase. A key trend emerging in wellness tourism is a growing hunger for all things authentic and nature-based, experiences that benefit both the traveler and the local community. The GWS platform and community is an ideal place to encourage these vital developments, said Messerli.

Messerli has been with World Bank Group since 2008 and previously held positions contributing to tourism policy, education and development around the world. In her current role, she specializes in the economic, environmental and cultural dynamics of emerging markets and has contributed to advancing tourism policy and planning in regions as diverse as Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. She also co-authored Tourism in Africa: Harnessing Tourism for Growth and Improved Livelihoods, which features more than 20 case studies on tourism development challenges and solutions, and she has contributed to numerous analyses and strategies on tourism development for countries globally, including the development of hiking trails through small towns and villages.

Messerli received a masters degree and PhD from Cornell Universitys School of Hotel Administration, where she majored in Tourism Planning and Development, and an MA from George Washington University, where she also studied tourism.

She joins an esteemed group of health and wellness-minded leaders who serve as Advisory Board members for the GWS.

About the Global Wellness Summit: The Global Wellness Summit is an organization that brings together leaders and visionaries to positively shape the future of the $4.5 trillion global wellness economy. In addition to an annual conference held at a different location around the globe, GWS also hosts regular virtual gatherings, including Wellness Master Classes, Wellness Sector Spotlights and Investor Reverse Pitch events. The organizations annual Global Wellness Trends Report offers expert-based predictions on the future of wellness. The next GWS will be held in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 1518, 2021.


This scholarship program is working to change the face of the cybersecurity workforce. Beyond that, it has the potential to fundamentally impact the professional careers of more than 200 smart and ambitious professionals through access to training, networking and job placement opportunities.

The International Consortium for Minority Cybersecurity Professionals (ICMCP) announced today the kick-off of a training scholarship program for more than 200 emerging cybersecurity professionals. Google has sponsored the scholarships for the six-month training and mentorship program targeting students, unemployed professionals and others looking to enter the cybersecurity workforce from underrepresented populations.

The 214 scholarship recipients were selected from a diverse applicant pool of more than 400 ICMCP members. Overall, 43% of the class of scholars self-identify as women and more than 62% of the recipients are currently unemployed. The recipients are also geographically diverse, coming from 13 different nations and 32 US states. They will participate in Red Team and Blue Team training with industry-leading training providers, Security Innovation and RangeForce, to develop essential skills for offensive and defensive work roles, which are in high demand in the industry. There are currently an estimated 3.2 million open job positions in the global cybersecurity industry.

Google is committed to supporting and developing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals while actively partnering with ICMCP to ensure this next wave of professionals is truly representative of the overall population. ICMCP is creating the opportunity for participants to not only learn, but to build a community of supporters, peers and mentors, which can be critical to success in cybersecurity, said Sarah Morales, Outreach Program Manager, Security & Privacy at Google.

This scholarship program is working to change the face of the cybersecurity workforce, said Beverly Benson, Workforce Development Committee Chair, ICMCP, and Program Director, IT & Security, the American Womens College at Bay Path University. Beyond that, it has the potential to fundamentally impact the professional careers of more than 200 smart and ambitious professionals through access to training, networking and job placement opportunities.

We are grateful to Google for their support of the core mission of ICMCP, said Larry Whiteside, Jr., President, ICMCP and CTO & CSO, CyberClan. Ultimately, we hope to work with many more of the companies in the cybersecurity community in an intentional and concerted effort to foster recruitment, retention and inclusion of underrepresented minorities in the profession.

The online training courses and hands-on cyber range events, from both RangeForce and Security Innovation, map to the NICE Cybersecurity Framework, ensuring that scholarship recipients will have marketable skills upon completion of the training. After the three-month training phase, recipients will work with ICMCP volunteer mentors on career readiness components such as resume development, mock interviews and community networking.

About ICMCP

The International Consortium of Minority Cyber Professionals (ICMCP) was created as a 501(c)3 non-profit association dedicated to the academic and professional success of minority cybersecurity students and professionals. The ICMCP tackles the great cyber divide with scholarship opportunities, diverse workforce development, innovative outreach, and mentoring programs.

About the Training Providers

Security Innovation is a pioneer in software security. Recognized 6x on the Gartner Magic Quadrant for computer-based security training, its CMD+CTRL SaaS platform combines role-based courses with hands-on cyber ranges to build skills that stick. With over 3.5 million users, CMD+CTRL helps all software security stakeholders address the risk of todays tech stacks  flawed design, defenseless code, expanded attack surface, and misconfigured deployments.

RangeForce creates accessible cybersecurity training experiences for you and your team. Powered by the industrys first integrated training platform and virtual cyber range, we help customers operationalize a SaaS-based cybersecurity training program in hours, saving up to 65% over traditional training and up to $1M annually on hosted cyber ranges. RangeForce is revolutionizing cybersecurity training with its adaptive learning technology to better train and cross-train DevOps, IT, and security professionals.
Telangana sees 1813 fresh COVID cases, 17 fatalities on Wednesday 09 Jun 2021 | 8:24 PM Hyderabad, Jun 9 (UNI) As many as 1813 fresh Covid-19 cases were recorded in Telangana until 1730 hours on Wednesday, taking the daily count of positive cases to 5,96,813. see more..

Founder Dean of CAVA Prof V M Sholapurkar passed away 09 Jun 2021 | 7:55 PM Mysuru, June 9 (UNI) Prof Vishwanath M Sholapurkar, Founder-Dean of CAVA, has passed away at his residence in the city. see more..

State Universities need to evolve as Centres of Excellence: Telangana Governor 09 Jun 2021 | 7:49 PM Hyderabad, Jun 9 (UNI) Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan on Wednesday called upon the Vice-Chancellors of the State universities to strive to transform the universities into centres of excellence in academics and research. see more..

Telangana Govt cancels Intermediate Second-year exams 09 Jun 2021 | 7:44 PM Hyderabad, Jun 9 (UNI) Telangana Government has announced the cancellation of Intermediate second-year examinations due to Covid-19 pandemic. see more..
We have a collaborative approach to direct marketing and our ability to work together as a unit is what creates a winning formula.

Gunderson Direct, the Bay Areas most trusted and sought-after provider of direct marketing, was awarded two bronze ADDYs at the 2021 Greater San Francisco Advertising Awards Gala. The awards were in response to the agencys Happier Holidays mailer.

Back in November, the agency sent the Happier Holidays mailer to 500 clients, partners, rand prospects. Recipients opened an oversized, metallic orange envelope to reveal a dimensional mailer and three branded #GunderSmile facemasks, which featured a graphic smile.

The dimensional mailer took advantage of popular smart speakers like Google Home and Amazon Alexa. With an AI Respond Fast component, recipients of the mailer could launch a seasonal greeting from agency President, Mike Gunderson.

Recipients were excited to get interactive with their mailer as every picture posted on social media with the mask and the #GunderSmile led to a charitable donation to the Alameda County Food Bank from Gunderson Direct.

The agency then followed up their mailer with email marketing, which kept recipients in the loop on the amount of money donated and shared pictures of all the recipients utilizing the #GunderSmile.

Mike Gunderson, the President of Gunderson Direct, credits the awards to the work of the amazing team. Gunderson explains saying, We have a collaborative approach to direct marketing and our ability to work together as a unit is what creates a winning formula.

Those interested in learning more about the incredible direct marketing work being produced by Gunderson Direct are encouraged to visit https://gundersondirect.com/.

About Gunderson Direct: Gunderson Direct does direct response marketing better than anyone. Over the past seventeen years, the company has produced trillions of pieces of mail. The experience and expertise of Gunderson Direct has made them one of the Bay Areas most trusted and sought-after direct marketing agencies.


Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Masters in Assessment And Measurement Degree Programs.

Intelligent.com analyzed 147 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 10 making it to the final list for Online Masters in Assessment And Measurement Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-masters-in-assessment-and-measurement-degree-programs/

2021 Online Masters in Assessment And Measurement Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

American University

Ball State University

Columbia University

Georgia Southern University

Kent State University

Missouri Western State University

Oklahoma State University

University of Connecticut

University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Mary

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Masters in Biotechnology Degree Programs.

Intelligent.com analyzed 155 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 9 making it to the final list for Online Masters in Biotechnology Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-masters-in-biotechnology-degree-programs/

2021 Online Masters in Biotechnology Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

American University

George Washington University

Harvard University

Husson University

Morehouse School of Medicine

Northeastern University

Purdue University

University of Maryland Global Campus

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Masters in Business Law Degree Programs.

Intelligent.com analyzed 135 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 8 making it to the final list for Online Masters in Business Law Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-masters-in-business-law-degree-programs/

2021 Online Masters in Business Law Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Boston University

Loyola University Chicago

The University of Alabama

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

University of Illinois at Chicago

Wake Forest University

Western Michigan University

Widener University

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Masters in Child Development Degree Programs.

Intelligent.com analyzed 167 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 14 making it to the final list for Online Masters in Child Development Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-masters-in-child-development-degree-programs/

2021 Online Masters in Child Development Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Capella University

Missouri State University

Northcentral University

Southern New Hampshire University

Texas Woman's University

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

The University of Southern Mississippi

UNC Greensboro

University of La Verne

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

University of Missouri

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

University Of South Florida

University of Wyoming

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Masters in Creative Writing Degree Programs.

Intelligent.com analyzed 164 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 23 making it to the final list for Online Masters in Creative Writing Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-masters-in-creative-writing-degree-programs/.

2021 Online Masters in Creative Writing Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

Antioch University

Arcadia University

Bay Path University

East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania

Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Oregon University

Emerson College

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Full Sail University

Harvard University

Lindenwood University

Mississippi University for Women

National University

Oregon State University - Cascades

Queens University of Charlotte

Saint Leo University

Southern New Hampshire University

University of Arkansas at Monticello

University of Houston-Victoria

University of New Orleans

Western Connecticut State University

Wilkes University

West Virginia Wesleyan College

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
Intelligent.com, a trusted resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, has announced the top online programs for 2021. The comprehensive research guide is based on an assessment of 1,280 accredited colleges and universities in the nation. Each program is evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment. The methodology also uses an algorithm which collects and analyzes multiple rankings into one score to easily compare each school.

Students who pursue any one of these programs can expect to gain employment much quicker in comparison to candidates without a degree. In addition to accessibility and cost, the steady job growth in this market is one of the many reasons Intelligent.com researched and ranked the Top Online Masters in Crime Scene Investigation Degree Programs.

Intelligent.com analyzed 159 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 7 making it to the final list for Online Masters in Crime Scene Investigation Degree Programs. To access the complete ranking, please visit: https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-masters-in-crime-scene-investigation-degree-programs/

2021 Online Masters in Crime Scene Investigation Degree Programs featured on Intelligent.com (in alphabetical order):

California University of Pennsylvania

DeSales University

George Washington University

Nova Southeastern University

Stevenson University

University of New Haven

Waynesburg University

About Intelligent.com

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides which include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and even study strategies. With comprehensive, user-friendly guides and hundreds of program rankings, Intelligent.com is a trusted source among students and prospective students. To learn more, please visit https://www.intelligent.com/.
Together, we are on the leading edge of technology to meet the evolving needs of the entire compliance community and truly expedite the digital transformation.

Interaptix, the creator of the expert knowledge platform AptixAR, and STP ComplianceEHS, a premier publisher of technical resource guides for environmental, health & safety, transportation, and business practices for global organizations, are pleased to announce their partnership to enable content-driven remote auditing content to be delivered via their integrated solutions.

The AptixAR expert knowledge platform leverages digital twins as the baseline for remote audits. Using nothing more complex than an iPad, local staff can bring every facility into the cloud for remote auditors to assess. Augmented Reality instructions, observation requests and spatial markup allow auditors across the globe to collaborate on audits of any facility anywhere, instantly. Whether the person capturing the local evidence is a is a compliance expert, an external regulator, or a local operational resource, AptixAR makes it easy for the remote audit team to specify exactly what processes, facilities, and materials they need to audit.

The STP Compliance Suite provides accurate interpretation of regulatory requirements and their application to help clients plan, audit, assess, identify and track the regulatory requirements they need to meet their compliance obligations. Using their technology, customers can distill complex regulatory frameworks and produce easy-to-understand checklists for auditing. These guidance tools form the perfect baseline for users of the AptixAR remote audit solution.

We are thrilled to partner with STP. With over 30 years as a recognized expert in EHSQ compliance, their customers trust their solutions to help them understand their regulatory obligations. That trusted content they provide is the ideal foundation for our remote auditing solution. Said Bardia Bina, CEO of Interaptix. Our integrated solution sets the gold standard for how remote and virtual audits are conducted now and post pandemic.

We are very excited and eagerly looking forward to working together with Interaptix to get our tried-and-trusted auditing content delivered as one platform. Interaptix is known for their revolutionary approach in building core technology solutions, and this partnership offers strong support for our business. Our partnership enables our clients to leverage data and streamline the remote auditing process. Together, we are on the leading edge of technology to meet the evolving needs of the entire compliance community and truly expedite the digital transformation, said Gail Ankiewicz, President of STP ComplianceEHS.

About Interaptix

Interaptix Inc. was established in 2013 as an early pioneer in constructing Augmented Reality solutions for the industrial enterprise. In response rise of the remote workforce and the lessened technological barrier to entry to AR and digital twins, AptixAR Remote Audit was launched in 2020. Interaptix is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

About STPComplianceEHS

STP ComplianceEHS (STP) produces technical resource guides covering environmental, health & safety, transportation, business practices, standards, and law, offering comprehensive guidance on key compliance and regulatory issues. STP is a division of Glacier Media Inc., a Canadian information communications company that provides primary and essential information in print, electronic and online media. Glaciers Business and Professional Information Group publishes directories, technical manuals, research and development materials, medical, education, electronic databases, investment information, and specialty websites.

Media Contact

Eric Bradnam, Director of Revenue

Interaptix, Inc.

1.289.837.0248

info@interaptix.com
Kara Koala and Her Kaleidoscope of Feelings is an emotionally intelligent tale created by published author Kara Marziali, an artistically driven, compassionate mother and wife.

Marziali shares, I wanted to write a book for children that gave them permission to experience a range of human emotionsand a way of expressing these feelings without judgement. Kara is a just sensitive koala trying to process her feelings.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Kara Marzialis new book is a charming story that encourages children to discuss their feelings. Children will identify with Kara Koala as she explores a kaleidoscope of feelings. This delightful story encourages readers to accept the myriad of emotions we all experience, develop empathy, increase self-awareness, and recognize that sometimes it is necessary to talk to someone about our emotions.

With an easy-to-read writing style and expressive illustrations, Marziali offers parents and children a great opportunity to practice identifying emotions that may not be familiar.

View a synopsis of Kara Koala and Her Kaleidoscope of Feelings on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Kara Koala and Her Kaleidoscope of Feelings at traditional brick-and-mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes & Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Kara Koala and Her Kaleidoscope of Feelings, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866- 554-0919.
Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the lawsuit against Spencer Construction LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

The San Diego employment law attorneys at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a lawsuit against Spencer Construction LLC, alleging the company violated California Labor Code. The lawsuit against Spencer Construction LLC is currently pending in the Imperial County Superior Court, Case No. ECU001860. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here.

The lawsuit filed against Spencer Construction LLC alleges PLAINTIFF and other CALIFORNIA CLASS Members were from time to time unable to take thirty (30) minute off-duty meal breaks and were not fully relieved of duty for their meal periods. California labor laws require an employer to provide an employee required to perform work for more than five (5) hours during a shift with, a thirty (30) minute uninterrupted meal break prior to the end of the employee's fifth (5th) hour of work.

Additionally, DEFENDANT allegedly failed to respond and provide PLAINTIFF with his employment file. This resulted in an alleged violation of Cal. Lab. Code Section 1198.5, which states that employees have the right to inspect personnel records maintained by the employer. PLAINTIFF requested his employment file twice, both of which received no response.

For more information about the lawsuit against Spencer Construction LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct.

***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT***
UWs EORI Publishes Report on Polymer Flooding for Oil Recovery

A report detailing the potential benefits of polymer flooding the Minnelusa formation in Wyomings Powder River Basin is now available from the University of Wyomings Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute (EORI).

Polymer-augmented waterflooding has proven to be a successful method for improving production in Minnelusa oil reservoirs. The new EORI report, which is available here, offers insights to make the technique more widely effective.

Advantages of using polymer include: low cost; prevention of early water breakthroughs; improvement in volumetric sweep and conformance; reducing water production; and mobilizing bypassed oil. Additional enhanced recovery methods can still be applied to the reservoirs after polymer flooding has been initiated.

Some of the cases presented in the report have shown substantial improvements in production and have exhibited chemical costs as low as $1.14 per incremental barrel of oil produced.

Utilization of this method in additional fields throughout the state should be seriously considered as a means to improve production and economics, EORI says.

The mission of EORI is to facilitate a meaningful and measurable increase in recoverable reserves and production of oil and natural gas in Wyoming that may otherwise not be realized. Key to this is the effective and efficient transfer of relevant technology, information and knowledge to Wyoming producers. EORI believes that its mission is being met when producers consider EORI as a vital source of relevant technology, information, expertise and knowledge for Wyoming fields.
Aventura World group travelers enjoying Egypt in March 2021 Travelers are ready to get back to fulfilling their lifes list of places to see and things to do, which is fueling the demand for travel to Egypt...Plus, with group travel packages from just $2599 per person -- including air -- it truly is the best time to visit Egypt now!

In line with the recent increase in travel requests and new bookings, Aventura World  a company of the Central Holidays family of travel brands  recently realized its first post-quarantine Egypt travel group in March of 2021. The leading international travel brand is pleased to share that this successful trip has made demand for travel to Egypt surge at an even greater rate. To meet this skyrocketing demand, Aventura World has introduced two novel group travel programs available for booking for travel throughout 2021 and 2022.

As true experts in travel to Egypt and backed by the strong, global buying power of Sakarra Group International (SGI), owners and operators of an award-winning worldwide portfolio of successful hotels, cruise providers and tour companies more than 45 years strong  Aventura World is proud to be among the first to take group travelers back to Egypt this year. The group was hosted by the Aventura World team in Egypt this March. With all social distancing and advanced cleaning procedures in place, the group raved about their time in this captivating country, where they toured the famed pyramids of Egypt; explored Luxor, Aswan, the Valley of the Kings, and Cairo; and then embarked on a 5-day Nile Cruise.

What a wonderful experience! Everything was so organized and went extremely smoothly. The Egyptian tourism industry is doing a great job taking COVID-19 precautions. I am so happy I was able to go when I did. The group was a delight to travel withI am sure to recommend Egypt as a travel destination to my friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Thank you so much for the opportunity to visit this fascinating country, said group traveler Cindy Idema.

We are thrilled with the excellent reviews we continue receiving from our recent group travelers to Egypt  from praise over the well-planned itinerary, to the unique experiential elements throughout the trip that Aventura World is acclaimed for offering, and on to safety protocols and signature Ultimate Clean Standards, and further to the hospitality of the locals who enthusiastically welcomed travelers at every turn, said Ian Scott, President of Aventura World.

To meet the increase in demand for travel to Egypt, Aventura World has introduced two exciting programs that can be booked by groups of 10 or more.

Heres a glance at the novel itineraries:

On Aventura World's 8-day Classic Egypt or 10-Day Egypt Land of Pharaohs itineraries, guests journey to enchanting Egypt  a nation of biblical proportions and epic history. On each of these meticulously planned programs, travelers will experience the fascinating stories of the ancient world as they tour Cairos medieval mosques, the gargantuan pyramids of Giza, grandiose Karnak and Luxor temples, the treasures of Tutankhamens tomb, and the Valley of the Kings. In the company of an expert Egyptologist guide, each group will cruise the mighty Nile River aboard a first-class vessel and enjoy either a three or four-night stay at a first-class hotel in the cosmopolitan city of Cairo.

Over the past year, many travelers have added to their intrigue about the mysteries of Egypt while feeding their wanderlust for travel in quarantine via virtual tours, tuning-in to fascinating documentaries, and as seen on recent world news where archaeologists in Egypt shared that they have unearthed more than 100 sarcophagi and 40 gilded statues believed to have been buried for around 2,500 years, said Scott.

Travelers are ready to get back to fulfilling their lifes list of places to see and things to do, which is fueling the demand for travel to Egypt, continued Scott. Additionally, Egyptology aficionados are looking forward to grand opening of the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Lucky travelers can now be among the first travelers to visit the 5.2-million-square-foot museum that will display the greatest collection of King Tutankhamens treasures in one place for the first time since the tomb was discovered in 1922. Plus, with amazingly low group deals to Egypt currently available with programs starting as low as $2599 per person -- including air -- it truly is the best time to visit Egypt now!

To contact Aventura World or to request additional information email: sales@aventuraworld.com.

About Aventura World

A valued leader in the US group travel marketplace since 1972, Aventura World is a distinctive travel company focused on elevating group travel beyond traditional sightseeing to delivering culturally rich, interactive, and in-depth destination experiences each and every time. The company is known for providing excellent client service, destination expertise, and meticulously planned tour and travel packages. As part of Aventura Worlds international awareness program, the group travel brand presents travelers with a unique insiders perspective and provides enriching moments that bring each destination to life. Backed by the strength of Sakkara Group International, Aventura World offers the reliability and security that its clients are booking and traveling with a strong, long-established, robust group tour operator with a time-honored history as well as an ongoing commitment to providing the best in travel. For additional details, visit AventuraWorld.com.
Mark Gibbens, Founder & CEO of Erudite Capital, has been invited to join Kansas City Business Journal Leadership Trust, an exclusive community for influential business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs in the Kansas City area.

Mark was chosen for membership by the Kansas City Business Journal Leadership Trust Selection Committee due to his experience, leadership and influence in the local business landscape and beyond. Mark is a stalwart leader in the Kansas City wealth management community.

Kansas Citys thriving business community is powered by leaders like Mark, said Stacie Prosser, publisher of Kansas City Business Journal. Were honored to be creating a space where the regions business influencers come together to increase their impact on the community, build their businesses and connect with and strengthen one another.

As an invited member, Mark will contribute articles to the Kansas City Business Journal website and participate alongside fellow members in Expert Panels. He will connect and collaborate with a vetted network of local leaders in a members-only directory.

I am honored to be selected for membership in the Kansas City Business Journal Leadership Trust. The Kansas City Business Journal continues to be a pillar of the Kansas City Business Community and I am eager to connect with an elite group of professionals.

The Kansas City Business Journal Leadership Trust team is honored to welcome Mark to the community and looks forward to helping him elevate his personal brand, strengthen his circle of trusted advisors and position him to further impact the Kansas City business community and beyond.

Headquartered in Prairie Village, KS Erudite Capital is a wealth management firm that provides financial guidance to help clients realize their life goals. Please call 913-380-2478 or visit https://eruditecap.com/ for more details.
Mawaris AR Streaming SDK will rapidly accelerate ARs widespread adoption

Mawari Inc., (http://www.mawari.co.jp) proudly announces the release of its patent pending AR Streaming SDK. Finally, the richest of experiences are available with mobile devices and AR glasses, not just on cumbersome and expensive computer and visualization systems. Mawaris AR Streaming SDK will rapidly accelerate ARs widespread adoption, says Mawari CEO Luis Oscar Ramirez Solorzano.

Core to the AR Streaming SDK is Mawaris unique, patent-pending compression technology that minimizes the weight of 3D and permits streaming content delivery to smartphones and AR glasses rather than via download.

Established in 2017, Mawaris global team has been largely self funded, working to solve real-world challenges to meet the demands of visionary AR/XR partners including Sapporo Breweries Ltd., Adways Co., Ltd, AFK Australia and KDDI Corporation. The resulting technology stack formed the foundation of the AR Streaming SDK.

Regarding next steps for Mawari, Luis Oscar Ramirez Solorzano, CEO, adds: The timing of this announcement coincides with the filing of a range of significant patents for the Company. Over the coming weeks and months we will be announcing Streaming SDK partnerships and projects while advancing our A-round investment round with suitable investors. Its time for AR for everyone.

[Contact]

Mawari Inc.

Website: https://mawari.co.jp

Inquiries: konnichiwa@mawari.co.jp

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mawari/
Sheila Hodges, center, announced she has transferred ownership of Gulf Shores, Ala.-based Meyer Vacation Rentals to CEO Les Williams, left, and President Michelle Hodges, right. Michelle and Les made my decision to transfer ownership an easy one. I am fully confident in their ability to take the SH Enterprises family of companies to the next level and beyond.

Sheila Hodges, owner of SH Enterprises Inc. and Meyer Vacation Rentals, is proud to announce the transfer of ownership of the company to her daughter, President Michelle Hodges, and CEO Les Williams.

SH Enterprises is the holding company not only for Meyer Vacation Rentals but also for Meyer Services, with operations in Alabama and Florida; Starr Textile Services, a commercial laundry operation with facilities in Alabama and Louisiana; and CENTURY 21 Meyer Real Estate, with operations in Alabama and Florida.

Sheila Hodges began her real estate career at Meyer in the summer of 1978 as one of six sales agents. She progressed to managing partner and then sole owner in 1984, when she purchased the company from the original founders. Since that time, she has worked to grow the organization on the business principle of balancing service, relationships and profitability.

Today, Meyer Vacation Rentals manages and provides a range of services to more than 1,000 vacation rental houses and condominiums on the Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast. Based on the number of people employed across all its companies, SH Enterprises is ranked among the largest employers operating in Baldwin County, Alabama.

The SH Enterprises family of companies has always been committed to providing superior customer service and an unwavering dedication to the satisfaction of our customers, said Sheila Hodges. Proactively seeking to improve quality, value and service are hallmarks of these companies. We are dedicated to providing personalized service, continuing innovation and overall expertise so we may continue serving as a pacesetter in the hospitality industry.

Michelle Hodges grew up in the hospitality business and returned home after college to begin her career with the company. Her hospitality experience and degree, fueled by her passion for travel and tourism, have given her a thorough understanding of guests needs and changing expectations through the years. Starting as an intern during high school and college summers, she rose through the ranks at SH Enterprises, learning the ins and outs of the business and eventually taking on leadership roles such as corporate trainer, director of operations and president.

I couldnt be any prouder of Michelle, watching her through the years grow in the business with a can-do attitude at every level, said Sheila Hodges. Her extraordinary leadership skills became even more apparent after the BP oil spill in 2010. We witnessed her eagerness and devotion to lead several community initiatives, all while championing a positive attitude and commitment to all of our SH Enterprises families.

As CEO, Les Williams has been responsible for the overall strategic direction and operation of the SH Enterprises family of companies as well as the day-to-day oversight of STARR Textile Services.

Williams has worked for SH Enterprises for since 2005, including as chief operating officer for Meyer Services, vice president of administration and finance for Meyer Real Estate, and a variety of other leadership roles.

Prior to joining SH Enterprises, Williams served as vice president of multi-family operations for a publicly traded real estate investment trust headquartered in New Orleans whose primary focus was investment and management of multi-family and retail properties. There, he oversaw a real estate portfolio of 4,100 properties stretching from South Florida to Texas.

Michelle and Les made my decision to transfer ownership an easy one, said Sheila Hodges. They have been vested in the company for nearly two decades, and I can say with 100 percent certainty they will continue the work that has been done for more than 50 years to maintain our core values, continue on our mission of providing outstanding service, and play a leading role in shaping the local, regional and national hospitality business. I am fully confident in their ability to take the SH Enterprises family of companies to the next level and beyond.

ABOUT MEYER VACATION RENTALS

As the property manager for 1,000+ individually owned vacation condos and homes along the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast, Meyer Vacation Rentals is driven by an unwavering commitment to providing a full range of superior services and support to vacation rental property owners and guests. Meyer Vacation Rentals welcomes more than 30,000 check-ins per year and has been helping vacationers stay, play and create lifelong memories in Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan and Orange Beach, Alabama, and Perdido Key, Florida, since 1967. Among other awards, Meyer Vacation Rentals was named listed as one of the Worlds Top 50 Vacation Rental Property Management Companies for 2021 by Rentals United. Learn more at MeyerRE.com.
Rendering of 456 West, a new affordable housing community in San Pedro, Calif. Affordable housing should be within reach to every Angeleno -- especially those who have suffered most directly from generations of disinvestment, neglect, and poor urban planning. - Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

Linc Housing and National CORE, both nonprofit developers of affordable and supportive housing, have partnered to build 456 West, a 91-unit apartment community in San Pedro for families and individuals earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income. In addition to new housing, the ground floor will house a health clinic in partnership with Harbor Community Health Centers, providing primary care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services.

This newest community is the third property developed jointly by the Linc Housing and National CORE team, with more in the pipeline. In addition to 456 West, the two nonprofits have an aggregate of 1,216 affordable and supportive homes in construction.

Affordable housing should be within reach to every Angeleno -- especially those who have suffered most directly from generations of disinvestment, neglect, and poor urban planning, said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. This project shows us what progress to defeat this crisis looks like, and it will serve as a model for countless developments to come in this neighborhood and others throughout our region.

456 West also has support from Los Angeles Councilmember Joe Buscaino. "The only way for Los Angeles to get out of its current housing crisis is for the City to continue to approve new housing for all income levels," said Buscaino. "This includes building affordable housing, like 456 West, which is one of many developments throughout the City that will help us ensure families have homes they can afford."

The new six-story building, located at 456 West 9th Street in San Pedro, will have five studio, 27 one-bedroom, 35 two-bedroom, and 23 three-bedroom apartments, as well as one two-bedroom managers unit. The building will also have a community room with computer and kitchen areas, a gym, and bike storage. Outdoor community spaces will include play areas, picnic terrace, and community lawn. 456 West will be an electric-only building, resulting in lower carbon emissions, lower air pollution, and increased resiliency.

Building housing for people at all levels of income is the best way to ensure strong, stable communities, said Suny Lay Chang, president and chief operating officer, Linc Housing. 456 West will add even more vibrancy to this dynamic, walkable neighborhood by adding 91 new families who will be supporting San Pedros downtown businesses.

The Hope through Housing Foundation will provide onsite social services to help elevate the health, well-being, and self-sufficiency of residents. A professional service coordinator, in conjunction with local community partners, will arrange an array of programs addressing resident health, parenting skills, employment, money management, exercise and nutrition, and youth development.

National CORE is so proud to be part of a development that encompasses the vision set by the City and its aspirations for the future in the areas of housing, mobility, and infrastructure, said National CORE President and CEO Steve PonTell. This beautiful community will offer opportunities and resources to the residents and the community at-large.

The land for the new community was donated by the City of Los Angeles. Other funding sources include HOME funds managed by the Housing + Community Investment Department of the City of Los Angeles (HCIDLA), tax credits through Raymond James, construction loan by Bank of America, and permanent loan by California Community Reinvestment Corporation.

RRM Design Group designed 456 West and National CORE is the general contractor. The development is due to be completed in early 2023. Rental information will be available closer to the completion date.

About Linc Housing Corporation

Linc Housing, one of California's most productive nonprofit developers of affordable housing, is committed to building communities and strengthening neighborhoods for people underserved by the marketplace. Linc has helped create nearly 8,800 homes in 88 communities throughout the state. The organization's properties are known for excellent design, outstanding management and life-enhancing services for its residents. Linc has 37 years of service to families, seniors, people with special needs, and local governments - helping to create sustainable communities via new construction, acquisition and rehabilitation, and historic preservation. Visit http://www.linchousing.org for more information.

About National CORE and Hope through Housing.

National Community Renaissance (National CORE) based in Southern California, is one of the nations largest nonprofit developers of affordable housing. National CORE manages more than 9,000 affordable, senior, and market-rate units in California, Texas, and Florida. National COREs strength is in its ability to offer partners an array of in-house capabilities that navigates the complexities of planning, developing, building, managing, and providing supportive services. For nearly 25 years, the Hope through Housing Foundation has been providing onsite services at National CORE communities, helping children and teens achieve success, creating economic mobility for families, and maintaining senior health and well-being. For more information on National CORE and Hope through Housing, please visit http://www.nationalcore.org and http://www.hthf.org.
Putting a fresh spin on spring shopping, two new boutiques sharing an array of stylish designs, gifts, home decor and one-of-a-kind goods, will expand the offerings in the First Street Napa district. With their diversity of selections, and new approach, both Camino and The Perfect Provenance will bring even more lively energy to the downtown area," said Todd Zapolski, principal and managing member, First Street Napa.

Putting a fresh spin on spring shopping, two new boutiques sharing an array of stylish designs, gifts, home decor and one-of-a-kind goods, will expand the offerings in the First Street Napa district. Camino, a floral studio and marketplace, and The Perfect Provenance lifestyle store will both open in May.

First Street Napa has established itself as a destination for unique places to shop and explore, said Todd Zapolski, principal and managing member, First Street Napa. With their diversity of selections, and new approach, both Camino and The Perfect Provenance will bring even more lively energy to the downtown area. Were very excited to welcome these new boutiques to our community this spring.

Napa-based Camino, which has established itself as an online destination for locally sourced blooms, playful and striking botanicals, and premium imported flowers from around the world, will open its first storefront location. Its collection also includes artisan-made products for the home, vintage finds, tabletop accessories to small-batch bath products. In addition, Camino will offer floral deliveries and subscriptions, and will open its floral studio for public and private floral workshops.

Weve been on a mission to find special treasures to share with our guests, said Christina Yan, proprietor, Camino. Our products always have sustainability in mind and are specifically curated for those seeking to fill their homes with modest, earth-friendly finds. Opening our retail shop at First Street Napa puts us right at the center of a vibrant scene.

The Perfect Provenance is an award-winning store featuring men's and women's fashion, home decor, gifts and art. The new Napa boutique will complement its other locations in Greenwich, CT and Tiburon, CA. Founder Lisa Lori, an avid traveler, curates each seasonal collection from across the globe around ever-changing themes.

Wherever I go, I seek out the beautiful and the unexpected  items that can truly make a home or wardrobe feel special  and we keep our selection fresh each season with a hand-selected assortment, said founder Lisa Lori. First Street Napas mix of locals and visitors make it a great fit for our Napa location.

Camino will be at 1270 First Street off the First Street Napa plaza. It will host a special preview event on Mothers Day weekend and will open its doors in late May. The Perfect Provenance will be in at Suite 352, by Paint Nail Bar, and will open May 15th. Follow @FirstStreetNapa for complete details on opening activities and special events.

About Camino

At Camino, proprietor Christina Yan harmonizes traditional shop floristry with a modern design style that is natural and whimsical. Camino's aesthetic centers on striking color palettes, playful textures, and unusual botanical ingredients such as foraged grasses and fruit branches. Their collection of home goods ranges from vases and tabletop accessories to small batch bath products. Additionally, they have an expansive floral studio open for public and private floral workshops.

About The Perfect Provenance

The Perfect Provenance is a family of luxury lifestyle boutiques founded by world traveler Lisa Lori in 2016. Retail locations include Greenwich, CT, Tiburon, CA and a new store on First Street in Napa, opening May 2021. A proud winner of multiple Best of the Gold Coast Awards in Connecticut and named the Reader's Choice Awards 2021 winner for Best Boutique by the Marin Independent Journal for the store in Tiburon, The Perfect Provenance proudly curates seasonal collections of stylish finds for women and men from around the world, including fashion, gifts, art and home decor. The latest exhibit, Peace, Love & Prosperite is a celebration of life and happiness.

About First Street Napa

First Street Napa is a 325,000-square-foot mixed-use development and artisan collective spanning three city blocks in the heart of downtown Napa and featuring space for 45 fashion and specialty retailers, restaurants, tasting rooms, creative office spaces, and the boutique Archer Hotel Napa. First Street Napas distinctive retail, agrarian landscaping, approachable dining, and wine country charm make the destination unmistakably Napa. For more information, please visit firststreetnapa.com and follow along on @FirstStreetNapa on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

First Street Napa tenants that opened in 2020 and 2021 include, The Bennington Napa Valley, California Brandy House, Cupcake, I-ELLE, Milo & Friends, Habituate Lifestyle + Interiors, Honey Whiskey Boutique, Cest La Paire, Copperfields Books, Napa Valley Welcome Center, Pera Rug, Riza Plants, Tay & Grace, PAINT Nail Bar, Spaces Napa Valley and Free People. First Street Napa is also home to Archer Hotel Napa, Brown Estate Wines, Charlie Palmer Steak Napa, Compass Realty, Compline wine bar + restaurant, CYCLESOCIETY, Eikos Sushi, John Anthony Family of Wines, Kalifornia Jean Bar, lululemon, Makers Market, Mayacamas Downtown, Mecox, Napastak Napa Valley, Napa Valley Jewelers, Overland, Silicon Valley Bank, Sky & Vine Rooftop Bar, State & First, and the Wayfarer, Wade Cellars and Newfound Wines office. Coming soon to First Street Napa are Anthropologie, Camino, The Perfect Provenance, Vineyard 29 and Kitchen Door.
At Paysend, were on a mission to create a world without borders. And seeing as how the U.S.-Canadian border is the worlds longest international boundary between two countries, were excited to help commerce flow more freely across North American lines

Since launching its United States operations in September 2020, today global end-to-end payments provider Paysend announced that U.S. consumers can now electronically send money to friends and family in Canada. The expansion allows U.S. residents to transfer funds to 70+ different countries, in the respective currencies.

To get started, U.S. residents will simply download Paysend on their mobile device, create an account and designate a desired amount and recipient. Then, the funds will be delivered in CAD to the recipients Canadian bank account via email money transfer. The money will be transferred within hours to any of the major Canadian financial institutions.

At Paysend, were on a mission to create a world without borders. And seeing as how the U.S.-Canadian border is the worlds longest international boundary between two countries, were excited to help commerce flow more freely across North American lines, said Matt Montes, Paysends U.S. President. The U.S.-Canadian border might still be closed due to the pandemic, but were proud that Paysend can help friends and family stay connected.

Fueling North American Growth

In order to support Paysends growing U.S. presence, the company recently welcomed new North American hires:



Lenis Guzman joins Paysend as senior marketing manager, having spent the majority of her career in marketing leadership roles at Univision Communications Inc.

Paula Vasco was hired to serve as Paysends U.S. operations manager, bringing with her nearly 10 years of mobile, FinTech and international business experience.

Joseph Fincher joins the Paysend team as a product manager, having more than a decade of experience in FinTech. Before joining Paysend, Joseph served as a product manager at Mastercard.

Tyler Coleman was also hired as a product manager for Paysend, with nearly two decades of experience, having spent most of the time in the payments and telecommunications industries. Prior to joining Paysend, Tyler served as a senior product owner at CoreLogic.

As residents see the value, ease and efficiency of transferring money via Paysend, our U.S.-based transaction volume continues to grow, Montes continued. In fact, since launching Paysends services in the U.S. last September, transactions have increased by 165%. Weve found knowledgeable and experienced team members in Lenis, Paula, Joseph and Tyler, and together, we will keep expanding our domestic operations as we change how money is moved around the world.

To celebrate the expanded services, Paysend is waiving transfer fees from the U.S. to Canada until June 1, 2021. To start sending money to Canada, U.S. residents can create a Paysend account today, and download the Paysend mobile app from the App Store or Google Play.

About Paysend

Paysend is a next generation integrated global payment ecosystem enabling consumers and businesses to pay, hold and send money online anywhere, anyhow and in any currency. Paysend is UK-based with global reach and was created in April 2017 with the clear mission to change how money is moved around the world.

Paysend currently supports connections between 12 billion cards globally across Mastercard, Visa, China UnionPay and local card schemes and provides over 40 payment methods for online SMEs. Paysend operates in over 50 countries worldwide and has more than 3.5 million customers and 135,000 businesses to its platform to date. Paysend has a wide network of partners and has recently signed a partnership with Alipay to expand their reach in China as well as launched services in the US, the biggest payments market of the world.

Paysend is Money for the future.
NAPOLITANS 2020: The main winners: Alberto Fernandez, president of Argentina and Nayib Bukele, president of El Salvador The Napolitan Victory Awards are the most prestigious and coveted awards in the world of politics.

The Washington Academy of Political Arts & Sciences announced the winners of the 2020 Napolitan Victory Awards. The main award for Campaign of the Year went to TODOS from the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez. The 2019 presidential proposal from Nayib Bukele (El Salvador) won two awards, the first for the grassroots mobilization effort and the other for the campaign manager, Lester Toledo.

While the announcement of the winners was delayed until May 1 (2021) because of the pandemic, the awards importantly recognized 2020 campaigns and leaders in the world of politics, including more than 70 categories for the best campaigns, innovators, producers, activists and strategists.

BIG WINNERS

The Vice President of Costa Rica, Espy Campbell, won the Global Democracy Award, an annual award given to outstanding organizations and leaders who work for noble causes.

Mexico garnered a record number of nominees and winners, including the Spot of the Year award for the Comparte tu Guelaguetza, a piece that featured the participation of the renowned actress Yalitza Aparicio.

From Europe, both Spain and Germany won the golden statuettes. In Spain, VOX and Ciudadanos parties won, as well as the Falcon Viajes campaign by the Popular Party. In Germany, Manfred Weber, leader of the European People's Party (EPP) won the Spot of the Year award (English Branch) for its campaign, The Power of WE.

Other winners included campaigns of former Argentine president Mauricio Macri, Alejandro Giammattei, president of Guatemala and the slogan used by the campaign of Claudia Lopez Hernandez, the first-ever lesbian and woman mayor of Bogota, Colombia.

In addition, the TODOS presidential campaign from Argentina also won two other NAPOLITANS. The first was for the strategist of the campaign, Juan Courel, and the second, went to Gustavo Menendez, mayor of the City of Merlo, in Buenos Aires for the political spot "Nuestros Abuelos".

Mauricio Jaitt, president of The Washington Academy of Political Arts & Sciences, invited those who wish to participate to apply to the 2021.

See here the complete list of winners and nominees: napolitans.org

About the Napolitans

The Napolitan Victory Awards, or NAPOLITANS, are the most prestigious and coveted awards in the world of politics. Named for Joseph Napolitan, widely regarded as the father of modern political consulting. Since 2012, the Napolitan Victory Awards have been held and hailed by the international media as the Oscars of Politics. The Napolitan Victory Awards are the major international award that honors the talent and work of professionals in political communications, election campaigns, and governments. The awards also recognize exceptional contributions in digital and technological media, creatives, the press corps, academic institutions, leaders in freedom, democracy, and political excellence.

The Napolitan Victory Awards are presented by The Washington Academy of Political Arts & Sciences and the awardees are ranked and chosen by voting members of the Academy.

PHOTO

CONTACT:

info@napolitans.org
We encourage everyone to sign up to get a one-of-a-kind tour experience and see first-hand just how easy it is to leave a digital tip through youtip.

Quimbaya Latin America, a Destination Management Company known globally for designing itineraries, providing local expertise, and operating business-to-business travel tours across Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and Peru, has recently added virtual live streaming and interactive tours through a new partnership with youtip. Faster than cash, the youtip digital tipping solution enables participating tour operators and travel agents to pay cashless gratuities to tour guides without having to download an app. Not only is this technology helping to maintain the livelihoods of those working in these developing countries, but it is bringing hope that travel and tourism may soon return to pre-COVID-19 levels.

The tipping process is extremely important in the tour business, said Laura Ortiz, Quimbaya Global Sales Director. It is part of the tourism culture and vital to the financial wellbeing of the tour guides, transportation drivers, and porters who make these travel tours possible. In Latin America, everyone is familiar with  and accustomed to  tipping; showing appreciation by way of a gratuity is expected by every travel agent who engages our services. When COVID-19 hit, the world shut down, and in person real tours came to a halt. With no resources coming in, we had to find a new model to keep the tour business alive.

We tried hosting webinars to keep our clients up-to-date on the situations in each country, but without live video, it wasnt a compelling draw, she said. We needed to find a way to share our passion for the culture and the country landscapes and get people to interact with the locals. Virtual tours were the answer, but they posed significant challenges. First, we had to get the tour guides comfortable with speaking on camera and using smartphones to record the outings. Then we had to find a way to compensate them for their service. We did extensive research on the various digital payment solutions and others, but each had international restrictions. Then we found youtip. It is exactly what we need to carry us through our next journey of providing virtual global tours. We believe strongly that these virtual live streaming tours will become a trend, and we cant thank youtip enough for its responsiveness and ability to adapt to our diverse international needs.

Youtip was up and running within a week of Quimbaya launching its first test virtual tour. Ortiz said the service was well perceived by all B2B clients, and even a few B2C participants who attended the trial said they were impressed with youtips functionality and ease of use.

Here is how it works: Mid-way through the virtual tour and again at its conclusion, Quimbaya tour participants are provided with a link for digital tipping and/or the option to scan a digital QR code. With just a click on the link or scan of the QR code, a payment screen appears, and tippers are asked to enter the gratuity amount and choose how they want to pay: Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Credit Card. Its Click, Tip, and Go! youtip routes the funds collected to companys bank account along with transaction reporting. Due to the flexibility of the youtip platform, Ortiz said the virtual tours can be benefited by both B2B clients and their B2C consumers.

Official Quimbaya Latin America Virtual Tour Launch

Quimbaya will officially launch its virtual live streaming tours on May 10, Ortiz said. Clients and consumers can register for the event  which will be available for 60 days initially and in French, Spanish, English and Italian  on the new Quimbaya Virtual Tour site (https://www.virtual.quimbaya-tours.com). We encourage everyone to sign up to get a one-of-a-kind tour experience and see first-hand just how easy it is to leave a digital tip through youtip. We are certain our customers will be as amazed as we were just how easy it is.

The average tip paid to tour guides during the first two virtual tour trials leveraging the youtip digital tipping platform was approximately $9.64, with some individual tips as high as $50. When live tours resume, Ortiz said Quimbaya is considering placing youtips convenient QR codes on tour buses and collateral materials, so participants can Scan, Tip, and Go!

We are thrilled to be in partnership with Quimbaya Latin America and have the opportunity to introduce the worlds leading travel agents and tour operators to digital tipping via youtip, said Doug Miles, youtip Chief Operations Officer. youtip is the simplest and fastest digital tipping solution for todays evolving cashless economy. We are solving the two fastest-growing problems facing service industries  the disappearance of cash and the growing demand for contactless solutions.

For more information on youtip, visit http://www.youtip.money. For questions about business customization, integration, or enterprise deployment, click here.

# # #

About youtip

youtip creates digital solutions for the evolving cashless tipping economy. The company was founded in 2020 to serve as an enterprise system for digital gratuity. With the global pandemic increasing demand for contact-free business interactions, youtip provides a cashless, contactless, and appless digital tipping service with full reporting for all business types. Tippers scan QR codes or tap through links in text and email messages to arrive at youtips simple, secure payment screen. After submitting the tip, the user can leave a star rating and review. All transactions and customer feedback can be viewed via the youtip digital dashboard. Payments post to the business account within two days, and tips are disbursed to employees per payroll guidelines. For more information, visit http://www.youtip.money.

About Quimbaya Latin America

Quimbaya is the only DMC in Latin America with its own local offices and own operation teams in 11 countries with 16 offices: Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama. A complete homogenized company with same standards and operations in each country. Quimbaya Latin America sells only business to business and is exclusively providing incoming services with 4 commercial offices in Europe and Asia. For 34 years, the company has been creating unique tailor-made itineraries and specific product Collections for all segments: MICE, Luxury, Groups, FIT (individuals). Today, we have Guaranteed Departures for each of the 11 countries in English, French and Italian. Our product Collections include all travel types such as Explorer, Must-See Places, Beach stays, Travel Differently including local community activities. For more information visit http://www.quimbaya-tours.com or email laura-ortiz@quimbaya-tours.com.
Saddleback Communications Wins the Best of Scottsdale Award for the Third Consecutive Year Saddleback is a community-focused company and its been our privilege to play a part in keeping our community residents and business customers safe by connecting them to vital medical resources via telemedicine, education with online school and employment with virtual work.

Saddleback Communications, a provider of world-class, fiber-based voice and data communications to business and residential customers in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), is honored to win the 2021 Best of Scottsdale Award for the third year in a row.

The annual Best of Scottsdale Award Program was created to honor companies that have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community. These exceptional companies help make the Scottsdale area a great place to live, work and play.

The award exemplifies the best of small businesses, often leading through customer service and community involvement. It also lauds the organization and its employees, for the dedication and effort required to develop the business.

Were honored to be selected as a Best of Scottsdale winner for a third year, especially during the trying circumstances of the last 14 months of the pandemic, said Bill Bryant, President of Saddleback Communications. Saddleback is a community-focused company and its been our privilege to play a part in keeping our community residents and business customers safe by connecting them to vital medical resources via telemedicine, education with online school and employment with virtual work.

Saddleback provides custom business communications solutions, including Unified Communications as a Service, Contact Center as a Service, Collaboration, SIP Trunking, point-to-point Ethernet, and dedicated Internet Access. The company has served the community since 1997.

Selection as a 2021 Best of Scottsdale Award Winner is determined by the success of an organization in the local community and business category. Recipients are selected based on empirical data supplied by independent third parties rather than nominations, voting, contests, or surveys. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2021 Scottsdale Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity.

About Scottsdale Award Program

The Scottsdale Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Scottsdale area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Scottsdale Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.

About Saddleback Communications

Saddleback Communications delivers advanced voice and data communications services over a carrier-class, redundant network to business and residential customers on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC). Saddleback Communications provides custom business communications solutions, including Unified Communications as a Service, Contact Center as a Service, Collaboration, SIP Trunking, point-to-point Ethernet and dedicated Internet Access. The company also leverages its state-of-the-art Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network to deliver high-quality voice and high-speed Internet to residential customers. Learn more at http://www.saddlebackcomm.com.


YASMIN ODEH is a News Reporter for The Vidette. She can be contacted at yaodeh@ilstu.edu. Follow her on Twitter at @yasminodeh3

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Savoy Foundation Board Chairman (left) together with Foundation President Joseph Sciame present grant to Bill Baccaglini (center), CEO of The New York Foundling on April 28,2021 The New York Foundling's programs aiding disadvantaged children with disabilities fulfill the Savoy Foundation's mission - Chivalry For Children's Causes

On April 28, 2021, the American Foundation of Savoy Orders presented a $75,000 grant to The New York Foundlings habilitation programs for children with developmental disabilities from funds raised from its fundraising campaign, which began with its December virtual charity gala. Joseph Sciame, Savoy Foundation President and Carl J. Morelli, Foundation Chairman of the Board presented the grant to Bill Baccaglini, CEO of The New York Foundling at The Foundlings headquarters in New York City.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the normally in-person Ballo di Savoia (Savoy Ball) gala, the 23rd Annual Winter Charity Benefit at the Metropolitan Club in New York City, shifted to a virtual video presentation, which was broadcast on the Foundations newly launched youtube channel on the evening of December 12. Moving the gala online is a shining example of how non-profits are adapting to the current climate in order to still raise critical funds. Over 500 Savoy Orders members and guests tuned in from the comfort of their own homes to view an elegant video presentation, which captured the essence of past Savoy Ball events and the highlighted the historic mission of the Savoy Orders. The virtual event on the YouTube channel continued to generate donations from members and friends of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders through March 2021. Funds were also raised for other charitable initiatives of the Savoy Foundations Chivalry For Childrens Causes mission and educational programs such as the Savoy History Series and the Savoy Orders Pigott Scholarships.

Upon receiving the grant, Mr. Baccaglini remarked: Throughout the pandemic, The New York Foundling has continued to provide $500 for 1 month of weekly special habilitation and skills training and therapy for a child with a developmental disability. This generous grant from the Savoy Foundation will enhance the lives of many children in need of these services and create a supportive and nurturing environment, helping the children we serve strive toward independence and become thriving members of their communities.

To view the 2020 Virtual Savoy Ball Video presentation, please click here: https://youtu.be/KAlHlj8Xcsw

ABOUT THE SAVOY FOUNDATION AND THE AMERICAN DELEGATION OF SAVOY ORDERS

The American Delegation of Savoy Orders, which includes the United States of America, is among 35 delegations of the Savoy Orders located throughout Europe, the Americas and Japan. The Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy are among the oldest orders of chivalry in the world. Their origins and their principles, traditions and humanitarian goals, like those of the Royal House of Savoy that has the hereditary right to confer them, date back a thousand years. The American Delegation of Savoy Orders through its charitable arm, The American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Incorporated, contributes to humanitarian, hospitaller and charitable projects and initiatives in the United States and abroad, particularly in healthcare and hospice care, disaster relief, education programs and children's causes.

The American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Incorporated, a 501(c) (3) charitable organization headquartered in New York City, has supported local, national, and international charities focusing on medical, educational, social assistance and humanitarian fields, including philanthropy for hospitals, relief agencies, childrens causes and hospice care for the poor, infirm and elderly. The Foundation whose current mission is Chivalry for Childrens Causes, is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Roster Consultative Statues with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

For more information on supporting the causes of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, see below.

CONTACT:

Larissa Van Duser, Executive Director, American Foundation of Savoy Orders

amsavoy@aol.com, +1 212 972-0495

For more information, visit http://www.savoia.org
This past year has been filled with a lot of uncertainty for numerous industries, including multifamily. However, our P.B. Bell team worked diligently together to overcome any and all obstacles.

P.B. Bell, a leading Scottsdale-based multifamily development, management and acquisition firm recently celebrated 45 years in the Valley. Started in 1976 by Philip Bell, P.B. Bell has significantly grown and expanded its portfolio throughout Arizona over the years.

Philip Bell, who has since retired, involved his son, Chapin Bell, in the business when he was just 14 years old, and today, Chapin Bell runs the company as the CEO. Currently, P.B. Bell owns and manages more than 25 communities throughout the Valley and continues to expand its portfolio.

Weve been very fortunate to continue to grow during this time, said Chapin Bell, CEO of P.B. Bell. This past year has been filled with a lot of uncertainty for numerous industries, including multifamily. However, our P.B. Bell team worked diligently together to overcome any and all obstacles. Today, we are stronger than ever thanks to their dedication.

P.B. Bell has six new communities in the works and three third party management lease-up communities. Some major projects include Kalon Luxury Apartments (215 units) in Phoenix, The Landing at Fiesta Village (220 units) in Mesa, Zaterra (392 units) in Chandler and Hangar at Thunderbird (266 units) in Glendale.

To celebrate 45 years in the Valley, P.B. Bell is giving back through random acts of kindness. The company gave all team members a Starbucks gift card to treat themselves, as well as encouraging them to pay it forward and surprise the person behind them in line with a drink as well. On top of this, any resident from a P.B. Bell community with the number 45 in their unit number received a $45 Amazon gift card for themselves and a second $45 gift card to give away as an act of kindness. This initiative further highlights one of P.B. Bell's core values which is Show You Care.

For more information about P.B. Bell, please visit http://www.pbbell.com.

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About P.B. Bell

P.B. Bell specializes in the development, management and acquisition of multifamily housing communities in Arizona. Based in Scottsdale, P.B. Bell has provided multifamily services throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area since 1976 and remains family-owned. Committed to quality product and service, P.B. Bells portfolio includes Class A, B and C products and its clientele range from global investment firms to individual owners. As a leader in the multifamily housing industry, P.B. Bell has earned multiple awards for its design, development and management services.

For more information, visit http://www.pbbell.com or call 480.951.2222.
"With such a fluid situation on workforce mobility, no one can take for granted that Bostons past labor market advantages will protect it from the effects of a business-unfriendly environment in a post-COVID world. - Andrew Mikula, Pioneer Institute

A spate of new incentive and subsidy programs seeking to lure talented workers and innovative businesses away from their home states could constitute an additional challenge to Massachusetts economic and fiscal recovery from COVID-19, according to a new study published by Pioneer Institute.

In recent years, dozens of cities and states around the country have begun subsidizing moving costs, housing prices, and even student loan payments for new residents, usually in an effort to expand their tax bases and boost their economies. As employers are pressured to allow telecommuting more broadly after the pandemic, this, coupled with high housing costs in Massachusetts, leaves major job centers like Boston vulnerable to an exodus of economic activity.

Between the soaring costs of living, rise of telecommuting, and incentive programs to move elsewhere, its a perfect storm, said Andrew Mikula, author of The Big Lure: Interstate Competition Exacerbates the Economic Fallout from Telecommuting Trends. With such a fluid situation on workforce mobility, no one can take for granted that Bostons past labor market advantages will protect it from the effects of a business-unfriendly environment in a post-COVID world.

Of the 37 U.S. cities that pay residents to move there, 28 have median housing prices less than half that of Massachusetts, according to MakeMyMove.com. Several in the rural Midwest, where real estate is especially cheap, will give land to newcomers for free. Others focused on attracting younger talent offer free WiFi, access to coworking spaces, and, in Northwest Arkansas, even a brand-new mountain bike.

While its too early to know whether these programs actually translate into long-term economic benefits for the cities and states they aim to revive, the sheer scale of interest in pay you to relocate deals should be concerning to those in traditional job centers. Tulsa, Oklahoma, a city of 400,000 people, has received more than 20,000 applications for its relocation incentive program since 2018. Topeka, Kansas, population 130,000, received over 3,500 within its programs first 30 days. The COVID-19 pandemic has already reduced the number of jobs in Massachusetts, and programs like these could make it easier for workers of all stripes to leave as well.

The new study also emphasizes the lengths to which jurisdictions have gone to attract corporations across state lines in recent years, with tax breaks associated with landing Amazons second headquarters and Wisconsins Foxconn deal being prime examples. A 2020 Princeton study found that U.S. state and local governments use tax incentives to lure companies worth at least $30 billion annually. In 2018, at least 11 proposals for Amazons second headquarters were valued at $1 billion or more.

These economic development strategies may in part explain the steady increase in the share of corporations that change locations in a given period. In the 1990s, the three-year migration rate for large firms in the U.S. was about 3 percent. By the early 2010s, it was nearly 6 percent.

Attracting and retaining talent has been a big part of the Boston renaissance, said Pioneer Institute Executive Director Jim Stergios. As we come out of the pandemic, we know that telecommuting trends will continue to change the calculus on where to locate. With cities and states offering our younger, highly mobile residents and start-ups cheaper and roomier locales as well as generous subsidies, state policymakers should avoid tax and regulatory policies that exacerbate the cost of living and doing business in Massachusetts.

About the Author

Andrew Mikula is Economic Research Analyst at Pioneer Institute. Mr. Mikula was previously a Lovett & Ruth Peters Economic Opportunity Fellow at Pioneer Institute and studied economics at Bates College.

About Pioneer

Pioneers mission is to develop and communicate dynamic ideas that advance prosperity and a vibrant civic life in Massachusetts and beyond. Pioneers vision of success is a state and nation where our people can prosper and our society thrive because we enjoy world-class options in education, healthcare, transportation and economic opportunity, and where our government is limited, accountable and transparent. Pioneer values an America where our citizenry is well-educated and willing to test our beliefs based on facts and the free exchange of ideas, and committed to liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise.
Taliaz is revolutionizing the treatment and management of mental health disorders with PREDICTIX We are excited by the very encouraging early positive results we are seeing from the APHP study. As demand for our solution accelerates driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, we look forward to expanding our commercial pilots across Europe," said Dekel Taliaz, CEO of Taliaz

Taliaz, a mental health startup harnessing science and artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionise mental health treatment and management, today announced the successful end of enrollment of patients to the PREDICTIX mental health study with the leading French hospital, APHP. Assistance Publique  Hopitaux de Paris (APHP) is the largest university teaching hospital in Europe, treating more than 7 million patients a year through its network of 3000 physicians.

The pilot with APHP adopts Taliazs pioneering PREDICTIX Genetics tool to help psychiatrists overcome todays challenge in treating multifaceted mental health conditions and improve antidepressant prescribing success.

Today, about 6 out of 10 patients are prescribed the wrong antidepressant the first time [1,2]. With limited time and tools available, PREDICTIX Genetics provides APHP psychiatrists with an easy-to-use, time-saving tool to personalize treatment and reduce todays long and painful trial and error process, saving up to 12% in mental health costs per patient per year.

The tool is seamlessly integrated within the current workflow of an APHP psychiatrists face-to-face consultation with a patient. Patients complete a short clinical questionnaire and provide a DNA swab during the physician visit. The PREDICTIX algorithm then generates a personalized patient report for APHP psychiatrists. This ranks the efficacy and potential side effects of various antidepressant medications based on each patients unique genetic makeup and health record. Final results from the study are expected in Q3 2021.

We are very pleased at the successful enrollment to the pilot. We have seen a dramatic increase in depression and anxiety within the french population since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 30% of the population affected last month. The PREDICTIX Genetics pilot provides our patients with a more accurate and rapid treatment plan to help improve quality of care while lowering treatment costs and saving medical resources, said Prof. Bruno Millet, Director of the Psychiatric Department at Hospital de la Pitie-Salpetriere leading the PREDICTIX Genetics pilot.

The study builds from previous success in the UK with Psychiatry UK (PUK), the UK's leading online psychiatry service. In this pilot, PREDICTIX Genetics was integrated within PUKs telehealth service to set a new standard in remote care for UK patients with depression. Results from this real-world study showed 71% of patients that used the PREDICTIX Genetics-guided treatment recommendation responded to their first antidepressant prescribed, compared to only 40% of patients following standard of care practice.

Dekel Taliaz, CEO and Co-founder of Taliaz said: We are excited by the very encouraging early positive results we are seeing from the APHP study. As demand for our solution accelerates driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, we look forward to expanding our commercial pilots across Europe with other hospitals and healthcare providers to transform care and reduce costs.

The proprietary PREDICTIX technology leverages deep scientific and clinical evidence with AI to analyse combinations of genetic, clinical and demographic patient data to inform prescribing. By analyzing combinations of data streams, PREDICTIX Genetics enables superior prescribing accuracy and learns with a patients real-world experience.

Taliazs second AI product, PREDICTIX Digital, the first completely digital on-the-spot assessment and clinical prescribing tool is also commercially available in Europe. The company plans to launch a new anxiety solution soon, with other solutions for mental health conditions to be released by the end of the year.

Taliaz is currently conducting four commercial pilots across Europe and was awarded $3M from the European Horizon grant funding earlier this year.

About Taliaz

Taliaz is revolutionizing mental health treatment and management with PREDICTIX. Combining science with AI, PREDICTIX translates complex genetic, demographic and clinical patient data into a time-saving assessment, management and prescribing support tool for healthcare providers. PREDICTIX improves treatment prescribing accuracy and can save a minimum of 12% in mental health costs. PREDICTIX is currently available for commercial use in the European Union, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Australia and Israel. Learn more at predictix.ai.

References:

1. Cipriani A, Salanti G, Furukawa TA, Egger M, Leucht S, Ruhe HG et al. Antidepressants might work for people with major depression: where do we go from here? The Lancet Psychiatry 2018;5:461463.

2. Rohden AI et al. Dropout Prevalence and Associated Factors in Randomized Clinical Trials of Adolescents Treated for Depression: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Clin Ther. 2017 May;39(5):971-992.
The World Tourism Organization, in keeping with its firm commitment to democratizing online education, IE University, with more than 20 years experience in online training, and Sommet Education, global leader in higher education in hotel management and culinary arts are partnering to accelerate on-line education in the Hospitality sector. The worldwide group thus becomes Academic Partner of the Tourism Online Academy, incorporating courses on various expertise of tourism management and hospitality. The first course available from Sommet Education will be "Excellence in Spa Operations", and new courses focused on hotel management will be included in the following months.

The Tourism Online Academy, a virtual platform launched by the UNWTO and IE University in 2019, has already attracted around 10.000 registered users. Throughout 2021, more prestigious universities from around the world are set to join this platform.

In the words of the Secretary-General of the UNWTO, Zurab Pololikashvili, the support of private academic institutions is essential to guarantee the development of accessible and quality education for all.

Sommet Education is also part of the UNWTOs Online Education Committee, made up of 19 members from both the public and private sectors, which was created in the framework of the 112th session of the Executive Council held in Georgia in September 2020. Co-chaired by Member States Portugal and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the committees main objective is to provide the Secretary-General and the Executive Council with advice and recommendations on education, which has been established as one of the fundamental priorities of the Organization.

Sommet Education thus reaffirms its support to the UNWTO after the successful joint launch of the Hospitality Challenge in June 2020. More than 600 applications were received from all regions of the world. Sommet Education provided 30 scholarships covering the expenses of different higher education programs in its world-renowned institutions, aiming at supporting and promoting the projects and capabilities of the selected professionals, start-ups, and entrepreneurs. Among the winners, the three most innovative business projects will additionally receive seed funding to support their initial development. These projects will be funded by Eurazeo, a leading global investment group whose portfolio of companies includes Sommet Education, thus offering the winning projects even greater chances of success. Innovation, entrepreneurship and education are the fundamental pillars on which to build the recovery of the tourism industry. Sommet Education has proven to be an essential partner for our Organization, said Natalia Bayona, Director of Innovation, Education and Investments at UNWTO.

We welcome Sommet Education as part of the 'Tourism Online Academy.' Together with Sommet Education who is joining this initiative, we will fulfil the mission of the platform which is to provide high quality online education to develop talent and strengthen the tourism industry's contribution to sustainability, highlighted Juan Jose Guemes, Chairman of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center at IE University.

Lifelong learning and constant building of ones skillset is now an imperative and will definitely contribute to the rebound of the Hospitality industry. I am happy and proud that Sommet Education and its partners will enable more people to access to relevant content so they can further develop their competencies, said Benoit-Etienne Domenget, Sommet Education CEO.

About the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

https://www.unwto.org/

About IE

https://www.ie.edu/

About Sommet Education

http://www.sommet-education.com

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Marcelo Risi | Director of Communication of the World Tourism Organization

mrisi@unwto.org/ comm@unwto.org

Anouck Weiss | Sommet Education VP Communication

media@sommet-education.com

Rosa Aranda | Associate Director of Communication IE University

Rosa.aranda@ie.edu
Loss Control 360s AI-powered insights are estimated to become involved in upwards of 80% of the underwriting decisions made within the platform.

Utilant, an InsurTech leader providing the industrys best-in-class Survey Management SaaS Product Suite for Loss Control and Premium Audit surveys, is now facilitating pre-underwriting of commercial and residential policies with new artificial intelligence (AI)-driven Virtual Underwriting capabilities added to the Loss Control 360 (LC360) platform.

Loss Control 360s AI-powered insights are estimated to become involved in upwards of 80% of the underwriting decisions made within the platform.

LC360s automation model triggers an intelligent workflow based on criteria such as location, past losses, construction, occupancy, exposures, risk score, prior loss control data, and claims data to transform the basis for underwriting and prevent future losses. Integrating AI, machine learning (ML), data, and analytics into all aspects of loss control delivers automated insight into a risk, suggesting the most appropriate survey type to the loss control personnel, including data-only surveys, virtual surveys, and onsite surveys.

Utilants InsurTech Product Suite harnesses the power of loss control data through AI and ML and marries it to 3rd party and public record data to provide synthesized intelligence for better underwriting decisions, said Ben Holub, VP of Product Management at Utilant. "Data-only surveys and virtual surveys can filter out the lower risk and lower complexity portions of your book of business. This frees up Risk Engineers to focus on surveys of higher risk or higher complexity.

LC360s Virtual Survey Form

LC360s Virtual Survey Form allows 3rd party data to pre-populate a survey form giving the underwriter as much data as possible to determine the best next step on a risk. The virtual survey form is similar to the platforms previous desktop review form, but now the 3rd party data (with the addition of one new data provider per quarter) is available from a single access point within the virtual survey form. Configurable widgets collect and compare the data generating a primary picture of the risk without being onsite. Current 3rd party data providers include HazardHub, Eagleview, Nearmap, Bing Maps, CoreLogic (RiskMeter, Commercial Express, RCT Express), E2Value, ISO, Hover, Building Footprint USA, Zillow, and Verisk.

LC360s Underwriter Review Screen

From the platforms new Underwriter Review Screen, users gain the ability to print an underwriter output, make comparisons of generic fields or agent-provided values versus answer tags or survey out values, review photos, recommendations, and send email correspondence. The Underwriter Review Screen is a configurable, widget-driven dashboard creating a customized user interface.

LC360s Virtual Underwriting

Execute virtual underwriting tasks without needing Risk Engineering/Consulting involved with LC360's new Virtual Underwriting tool. A simple process of entering the address and basic details about a building and then requesting "show review screen" auto-triggers the aggregation of 3rd party data, previous survey data, and records of properties with similar characteristics, resulting in the system user being presented with a fully populated desktop review of that property.

Historically, an Insurance Carrier is only able to inspect an average of 15% of its book of business with onsite staff, said Rob Mikulec, CRO at Utilant. LC360 is now leveraging pre-underwriting of commercial and residential policies to help reduce the probability of loss on the remaining 85% of risks that typically get skipped by allowing the intelligent assignment of additional survey types across an entire book of business from within a single, unified platform.

About Utilant and Loss Control 360

Utilant is an InsurTech leader providing the industrys best-in-class Survey Management SaaS Product Suite for Loss Control and Premium Audit surveys. Utilants Loss Control 360 platform drives predictive risk insights with intelligent loss control solutions for Property & Casualty Insurance Carriers and Top Risk Engineering Companies. The Loss Control 360 platform leverages the worlds largest repository of survey data, coupled with a suite of workflow tools designed to inform smarter underwriting decisions. A typical implementation provides positive ROI within the first year. For more information visit http://www.losscontrol360.com.
The Consorzio di Tutela Vini dAbruzzo has announced a new communication program in conjunction with other European partners to promote exquisite products that some of the most beautiful territories of Europe have to offer, such as wines from Abruzzo, golden wines from Bordeaux, cherries from Rachi Pieria, and kiwis from Kavala in Greece.

The Charming Taste of Europe is a three-year campaign promoted by the Vini dAbruzzo consortium, the Union of Sweet Bordeaux wines, the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Kavala (EAS Kavala), and the Agricultural Cooperative of Rachi Pieria AGIOS LOUKAS, co-financed by the European Union. This campaign will focus on raising awareness of these high-quality products in the American and Canadian market.

Starting in the spring of 2021, these agricultural jewels of Europe will be the protagonists of numerous initiatives and events dedicated to consumers, media, and trade professionals both in the U.S. and Canada to educate these markets about their merits, elevate quality standards, and thus increase their competitiveness and create new export opportunities.

We are very proud to be the coordinator of this important project and to have found a synergy and a common goal with these strategic European partners, says Valentino Di Campli, Vini dAbruzzo President. These are all places in Europe with a timeless charm where some of the most delicious food and wine products are born, embodying the culture, history, art, and heritage of these territories. Through the superb Italian wines, the juicy kiwis and cherries from Greece, and the luscious, golden Bordeaux wines, this campaign will awaken the senses and create a new culinary consciousness by connecting food, cultures, and territories. With the slogan Enjoy it! Its from Europe we will offer the occasion to bring the European charm into everybodys life.

Some of the most important appointments of 2021 include the organization of a Restaurant Week in New York with 15 partner restaurants, the participation in the Wine Media Conference in Eugene, Oregon, the Slow Wine U.S. Tour, the Tre Bicchieri US Tour by Gambero Rosso and the Simply Italian Great Wines in New York and San Francisco.

Throughout the year, there will be in-store promotions, seminars, tastings and dinners dedicated to trade and media in the major American cities. The project will also offer the possibility to experience the charm of these European territories for themselves with four study trips to Italy, one trip to France, and a trip to Greece from the U.S.

To learn more about The Charming Taste of Europe Campaign", visit charmingtasteofeurope.eu, where it highlights the characteristics of the selected European products. Pages dedicated to The Charming Taste of Europe can be found on all main social networks, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube. The Consortia invites everyone to join the social media campaign using the hashtag #charmeu.

About Consorzio di Tutela Vini dAbruzzo:

The Consorzio di Tutela Vini dAbruzzo (Consortium for the Protection of Wines of Abruzzo) is a non-profit association, made up of all the entities forming part of the control DOC system, which aims to protect, enhance, and take care of the interests relating to the controlled designations of origin of the regional territory, activities that the Consortium carries out, day after day, with the utmost determination. That same determination which its members  grape growers, winemakers and bottlers, always closely focused on quality  put into their work: from the care of the vineyard to the scrupulousness in the transformation of the grapes, diligence in aging to attention to customer requirements.

There is no region in Europe like Abruzzo where more than 30% of the territory is protected by four parks (three national and one regional) and a dozen nature reserves and protected areas. It is therefore no coincidence that the Consortium, which has been protecting one of the most authentic resources of the territory for years, has chosen the eagle as its symbol: an animal with a strong protective instinct, as tenacious as the people of Abruzzo.

For more information, visit https://www.vinidabruzzo.it/en/il-consorzio/

About Colangelo & Partners:

Colangelo & Partners (http://www.colangelopr.com) is the leading fine wine and spirits integrated communications agency in the United States, sought after by top brands and industry players for the quality of their results, creativity, and return on investment. The professionals at Colangelo & Partners work with integrity and passion to influence how US audiences perceive their clients: Earning consistent, high-quality positive media coverage; organizing signature events; strategizing and executing standout digital campaigns; and implementing trade programs that strengthen relationships within the industry. Colangelo & Partners' clientele includes global, instantly-recognizable brands and passionate, up-and-coming vignerons and distillers; regional and national institutions; and technology and e-commerce companies innovating in the beverage alcohol sector.

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Activity included into the - "The Charming Taste of Europe", Campaign co-founded by the European Union - Reg. (UE) 1144/2014 - N. 101015721 - REG. 1144/2014_CHARMEU_101015721

The content of this promotion campaign represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission and the European Research Executive Agency (REA) do not accept any responsibility for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
Were excited to help Whirlpool tap into new markets, innovate the shopping experience, and scale and adapt their digital commerce as the world continues to change, said Amit Shah, U.S. general manager and chief strategy officer at VTEX.

VTEX, the worlds fastest-growing* commerce platform with native marketplace and order management capabilities, announced today it has been selected by Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) to play a key role in powering the global appliance companys digital commerce strategy.

Whirlpool Corporation, which markets kitchen and laundry appliances in nearly every country on earth, signed a global enterprise agreement with VTEX and will use the platform to standardize the technology powering its online sales. The global agreement greatly expands VTEXs ongoing work with Whirlpool Corporation in Latin America and Europe. Whirlpool recently launched a website in Italy and is expanding its European, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) presence.

As the pandemic continues, consumer habits and demands have evolved rapidly, said Matthew Meier, vice president of global technology value streams at Whirlpool Corporation. The flexibility and scalability of VTEX has allowed us to find great success with online business models across different geographies, and will play a pivotal role in enabling Whirlpool Corporations digital commerce strategies across the globe.

VTEX also supports Whirlpool Corporation's Brazilian KitchenAid site, which has generated immense success for the brand. The work VTEX has done with Whirlpool Corporation in Brazil and other Latin American markets led to the global enterprise agreement.

Were excited to help Whirlpool tap into new markets, innovate the shopping experience, and scale and adapt their digital commerce as the world continues to change, said Amit Shah, U.S. general manager and chief strategy officer at VTEX. Helping brands unleash revenue potential with a collaborative commerce platform is what we do.

For more information about VTEXs ecommerce and marketplace platform, visit http://www.vtex.com.

*IDC Worldwide Digital Commerce 2019 Market Share report, published in June 2020, indicates that VTEX is the fastest growing ecommerce platform globally.

About VTEX

VTEX is a global, fully integrated, end-to-end commerce solution with native marketplace and OMS capabilities. We help companies in retail, manufacturing, wholesale, grocery, consumer packaged goods and other verticals to sell more, operate more efficiently, scale seamlessly and deliver remarkable customer experience. Our modern microservices-based architecture and our powerful business and developer tools allow VTEX to future-proof our customers businesses and free them from software updates. Major brands including Sony, Walmart, Whirlpool, Coca-Cola, Stanley Black & Decker, AB InBev and Nestle, plus 2,500 active customers in 32 countries, trust VTEX to accelerate and transform their commerce. Visit http://www.vtex.com to learn more.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the world's leading kitchen and laundry appliance company, with approximately $19 billion in annual sales, 78,000 employees and 57 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2020. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, JennAir, Indesit and other major brand names in nearly every country throughout the world. Additional information about the company can be found at whirlpoolcorp.com.
The way he describes them, comics writer Ed Brubakers early years border on idyllic. The first time he mentions Gitmo, however, its hard to shake the feeling that youve misheard him. He clarifies that, indeed, many of his happiest memories of the era were spent doing kids stuff around the American military base in Cuba that decades later house one of the most countrys most notorious prisons.

As a navy brat, Brubakers early years were often spent on the move, but it was on Guantanamo Bay, at age eight, that his love affair with comics began in earnest. I would go and buy Captain America comics at the PX (Post Exchange) and watch Marvel cartoons from the 1960s on the one station we had, which I didnt realize werent brand new cartoons, Brubaker tells Publishers Weekly.

Those formative memories made their way onto the comics page late last year, with the arrival of his first Reckless graphic novel, the first book in an ongoing series of standalone graphic novels by Brubaker and artist Sean Philips that are being published by Image Comics. In Friend of the Devil, the second volume in the series out now, Brubaker offers a deeper dive into the elements of his own personal history that informed the creation of the series protagonist and titular anti-hero, Ethan Reckless.

Navy brats (or any military brats) dont grow up with the same small group of friends like most kids do, Brubaker writes in the afterword of Friend of the Devil, because they move every few years, and even when they make a friend, that kid could be leaving in a month when their dad gets reassigned. One day you go to school and find out they moved to Germany or Tokyo over the weekend. Thats life ... youre kind of a perpetual outsider, but you get to see a lot of different parts of the world, and a lot of different kinds of people, very early in life.

The author and his protagonists respective paths diverge sharply from there. A grizzled former-undercover FBI agent, Ethan Reckless spends his days surfing, laying low in a condemned movie theater and (somewhat reluctantly) working as a for-hire private detective. After a childhood on the move, Brubakers own travels brought him to Seattle amid a booming 1990s alternative comics scene, alongside such artists as Tom Hart, Megan Kelso and Jason Lutes.

Brubaker flirted with autobiography in the 1995 series Lowlife, which he wrote and drew, before moving to crime stories for the long-running anthology series, Dark Horse Presents. The writer had works published by Alternative Comics and authored The Fall, a graphic novel illustrated by Lutes. Brubaker also penned a number of books for DC Comics' celebrated (now defunct) non-superhero imprint, Vertigo, including Scene of the Crime, a gritty four-issue miniseries about a private investigator, drawn and inked by future collaborators, Michael Lark and Sean Philips. In 2000, he signed a contract with DC and jumped in with both feet by taking the reins of Batman.

A lot of friends of mine coming from alternative comics tried it out and it just didn't work out for them, the writer explains about writing for the iconic superhero. I think part of it is that I always considered it still my real work. I didn't think of it as me slumming.

In 2004, Brubaker joined the opposing team, as a writer for Marvel, where he was reunited with Captain America. The writer delivered some of the eras most iconic superhero arcs, including, most notably, the death of Captain America and the long-awaited return of sidekick, Bucky Barnes.

Brubakers work had a wide-ranging impact, not only on the comics world, but also the nascent Marvel Cinematic Universe, a multi-billion-dollar machine that took hold three years later, with the first Iron Man film. In a recent newsletter, the writer laid bare his personal feelings about the Disney+ MCU series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which is based on his revival of the Bucky Barnes character.

Work-for-hire work is what it is, he says. Also, I have a great life as a writer and much of it is because of Cap and the Winter Soldier bringing so many readers to my other work. Ultimately, he says his time with the genre had simply run its course. I was having a lot more fun with it. But with all things, you just hit a point  Im a 50-something year-old man now. I dont rush out to see every superhero movie on opening day now. 

In 2016, he joined the writing staff for acclaimed HBO series, Westworld. Three years later, he teamed with Drive director, Nicolas Winding Refn, for the 10-part Amazon mini-series, Too Old to Die Young. Brubaker once again embraced his love of crime fiction.

Even at the height of his superhero days, the writer never strayed too far from the genre, as his partnership with Phillips continued to blossom. In 2006, the duo created Criminal for the Marvel Imprint, Icon. The series (now published by Image) went on to win two Eisner awards. The Brubaker/Phillips partnership has since grown into one of the industrys most fruitful, including the books Incognito, Fatale, The Fadeout and last years western mashup, Pulp.

Initially planned for a May 2020 release, the original graphic novel went to press as the pandemic arrived with full force in the U.S. shutting down comics shop distribution. Among the countless uncertainties in the wake of Covid-19s arrival was the fate of comics retailers in general as well as the single-issue comics periodical. So Brubaker and Phillips embarked on another original graphic novel. And once again, the team returned to Image Comics as part of a deal that allows the writer and artist to release the books they want, in the format they chose.

That freedom has let me and Sean really take risks and experiment with different packages and lengths of graphic novels, Brubaker says, citing graphic novels My Heroes Have Always been Junkies, which won the 2019 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Novel, and Pulp, which was published in 2020. Over the past few years we've done a few novellas, just because we wanted to do these standalone books, and as it turned out they hit really big with our audience. That's been our guidepost since we signed at Image, just trying to make the kind of books we wish already existed, and bending the market to support them.

For Reckless, the team found inspiration in the stories of hardboiled pulp heroes of the 1970s. It was the late artist Darwin Cookes graphic adaptations of Richard Starks (real name: Donald Westlake) long-running Parker books that planted the seeds. Brubaker will be the first writer outside of Parkers creator to write an original story starring the professional thief, in the forthcoming volume, Richard Stark's Parker: The Martini Edition (IDW, September), that serves as a tribute to both Westlake and Cooke (who died in 2008 and 2016, respectively).

Like any great pulp series, the Reckless books work both as one long story, or as standalone volumes a reader can pickup with little broader context. Ethan makes a grim first impression in the first volume, appearing with a bloody hatchet in-hand, in a sequence that belies what is ultimately a far more positive presence than in most of the Brubaker/Phillips books. In the first book, Ethan finds himself untangling stories from his own past when a former flame reemerges in his life.

Set in 1985  four years after its predecessor  the new book in the series, Friend of the Devil, finds its hardboiled hero fed up with the excesses of the Reagan era, tangling with skinheads and reluctantly taking on a case tied to a beautiful missing woman and a Satanic b-movie.

Like Ethans professional life, the Brubaker/Phillips partnership is defined, in part, by a kind of restlessness that perpetually finds the pair embarking on new projects. But the writer happily explained that theyve struck a rich new vein with the new series that they plan to mine for a while.

Were really enjoying the Reckless books right now, Brubaker says. I really thought wed do three or four of them and do a break to do something else, but were both so into it. Im already deep into the third book and Sean is already starting to draw it. I was talking to a friend of mine and bouncing ideas off of her, and suddenly I had the idea for the fourth book.
Ellen Ohs latest book, Finding Junie Kim, features a Korean American girl who is inspired by her grandparents stories of growing up during the Korean War to confront racist bullying at school. In addition to authoring six previous YA and middle grade books, Oh has contributed to short story collections, edited multiple anthologies, and is the co-founder of We Need Diverse Books. Oh spoke with PW about her research process, the multi-generational Korean American experience, and her upcoming work.

In the authors note you share that much of your inspiration for this story came from your parents experiences as children during the Korean War. What was the subsequent research process like for you?

I went to Korea and it was actually the first time Id been there since I was little. It was an amazing experience for meI went to the war museum and talked to so many people. One of my big regrets was that I didnt get to record my fathers stories before he passed away. I knew parts of it but didnt know the whole story and realized I was going to have a very hard time re-creating that experience. One of my close, dear friends lives in Korea and her uncle was a child of the war. So, my friends uncle sat down with me and started talking about his experience as a boy, and his stories became Dohas stories. What I truly enjoyed about that experience was that I was able to ask him all of those little details about how Korea had changed. My parents had moved from Korea when they were in their late 20s, but he had seen the change, the huge industrial change, that had taken over Korea from the war to now. So having that perspective was an invaluable part of my research. I was able to think about how all of those parts were embedded into the story of Korea. Theres so much that went on. Its not just about dividing countries, its about dividing families, turning people against one another because of ideology. Its about years of systemic abuse and corruption and yet the resilience of the Korean people. In a lot of ways, I think this book is also my ode to Koreaa this is how much I respect my motherland kind of story.

While generational trauma certainly exists in your book, it also illustrates the power of generational resilience. How did you intertwine these two ideas, and why is the latter so important for you to portray?

Thank you so much for picking up on that. I think the important thing to remember about Koreans in general is how strong they are. Theyre survivors. They have survived centuries of invasions and so many different dynasties and countries that just wanted to take over this beautiful land. And they survived and just became stronger. And that is maybe because of the strength of our culture and our ties to one another, family bonds. I dont know what exactly the reason is, but I see Koreans especially as survivors. I see them as strong people who have suffered so much but arent defined by the trauma theyve suffered. They are more than the trauma of their country.

To me, I look at our grandparents and great-grandparents who have survived so much and yet they are the backbones of our families. They tell the stories. We have joyous ceremonies and celebrations that are all about family and love and the sharing of food and stories. That is what my experience of being Korean is. It isnt sitting around talking about how everything in life has been terrible. In fact, they dont even talk about their trauma; you have to dig deep to get those stories from them. My experience of talking with elders is that yeah, they had trauma, but they tell it with stories of joy. Like hearing my mom tell this terrible story about being lost during the Korean War and then focusing on how they survived and had this joyous reunion with their parents. It wasnt a story about being lost, it was a story about finding their parents. I think thats what I wanted to really focus onno matter how bad things are, theres the ability to overcome trauma. And I really hope that comes through, because that to me is who we are as a people.

You wrote this before the Stop Asian Hate movement and the greater national reckoning with recent anti-Asian racism. Have your views about the book and its place in the world changed since the time of writing?

No, because the reality is that anti-Asian sentiment has been around for such a long time. It was with me from the moment I could recognize racism was a thing. The first time I came face to face with racism was in the first grade. I recognized that this was something painful and hurtful [people] were saying simply because I looked different to them. From that moment on I could never not recognize it. Once you know what it is, you realize how constant it is. I was talking to a friend of mine about how if I look back at my entire timeline it would be covered with the number of times someone said to me, Why dont you go back to where you really belong, why dont you go back to your country? Those phrases were possibly the most frequent things said to me. That is the constant othering that many Asian Americans have had to deal with their entire lives.

So, does my book mean something different now? Absolutely not. This has existed since weve been here. Putting a name on it and having a hashtag movement is new but the hate and violence is not. I wrote a book that was of importance to me regardless of when it would have been published. Its because we focus on issues like bullying, trauma, and the trauma of racism that this book seems to be timely. But that wasnt the reason at all.

Whats in the works for you?

I am working on a great project about being Asian American that I cant talk about yet; its still kind of secret. Its another project that predates the Stop Asian Hate Movement. Im working on it with a group of wonderful, talented Asian American writers. I cant wait to announce it. I think its going to be a really important project.

I also have a YA that Im working on now about a webcomic artist who is pulled into her webcomic world and realizes that her characters arent actually doing what she wrote them to do. I have my third Spirit Hunters book coming out too, and Im really happy about being able to go back. Im excited to work with Harper and Dayo and their continuing experiences with the supernatural.

Finding Junie Kim by Ellen Oh. HarperCollins, $16.99 May ISBN 978-0-06-298798-4
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Purdue Universitys College of Agriculture food drive recently raised $43,947.56 for Food Finders Food Bank Inc. According to metrics provided by Food Finders, this amount translates to 133,900 meals that will feed families in North Central Indiana. The College of Agriculture was joined in the drive by nine other major academic units: Purdue Libraries; the colleges of Education, Engineering, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts, Pharmacy and Science; the Honors College; and Purdue Polytechnic Institute.

As Food Finders anticipates a recovery that will take years, the College of Ag Food Drive with our university partners is more important than ever, said Melissa Funk, administrative assistant for the College of Agricultures Office of Multicultural Programs and drive organizer. I am proud and appreciative of all the individuals who were champions for their departments and dedicated time to the fight against hunger.

Karen Plaut, the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Purdue Agriculture, said, It is wonderful to see our colleagues all across the university reach out to help the community. I am especially thankful to Melissa Funk, who has championed this effort for so many years. She is a real hero who has helped make a difference in so many lives.

Food Finders serves 16 counties, including Tippecanoe County, where one in eight people suffers from food insecurity. Find out more about Food Finders and how to help. https://www.food-finders.org/give/.

Writer: Abby Leeds, 765-494-7817, mayer36@purdue.edu

Source: Melissa Funk, 765-494-9586, mjfunk@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415;

Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu

Agriculture News Page
XCenter will make technology more user-friendly

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Purdue Research Foundation on Wednesday (May 5) announced the establishment of the Experience Innovation Center (XCenter) focused on exploring innovative approaches to how people interact and work with technology. Located in Purdue Universitys Discovery Park District, the center is a collaboration between UEGroup and the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, one of the 10 academic colleges at Purdue.

The XCenters mission is to bring together amazing minds to reinvent how tech gets done, for humans, said Troy Hege, vice president of innovation and technology at Purdue Research Foundation. The center seeks to enable collaboration among industry and academia.

The XCenter will focus on driving new ideas by rethinking and reinventing how products and technologies are designed in the future. Its goal is to become a regional, national and international hub for product innovation through user experience (UX), customer experience (CX), product strategy and product management. The center includes a state-of-the-art 5G connected usability facility and will provide training, education and consulting services, in addition to hosting innovation conferences, workshops and Think Shows.

In addition to doing corporate consulting work, XCenter will enhance academic programs in those areas, giving students hands-on learning and real-world work experience in UX, CX and more. Corporate organizations also will be able to take advantage of training offered to grow their internal product design, research, innovation and product management capabilities and processes.

The XCenter is the brainchild of Tony Fernandes, CEO of UEGroup, who had more than 30 years of experience in the tech industry at such companies as Lotus/IBM, Apple, Netscape and XEROX PARC, before creating UEGroup.

We all use technology every day, both at home and at work. It can be incredibly valuable to us, but it can also hold us back because it is too complicated to use or understand, Fernandes said. These difficulties translate into negative economic impacts for businesses and lost opportunities for society. After decades with tech, things should have gotten better, but we seem to be sliding backward as technology gets more complex. By helping bring together ideas from academia and industry, the XCenter aims to reimagine how we work, live and play five to eight years down the road and to help organizations get there.

Fernandess pursuit has been to invent ever better ways of empowering people through technology by basing products and services on their real-world tasks, goals and behaviors.

The center will provide a unique resource to the Discovery Park District, as well as the universitys students and faculty, and regional and national innovators.

The Polytechnic Institute is home to Purdues technology- and innovation-focused degree programs in engineering technology, computer graphics technology, computer and information technology, technology leadership and innovation, construction management technology, and aviation and transportation technology. Undergraduate and graduate programs provide real-world, hands-on educational experiences that prepare students for innovative, technology-driven careers, which makes the XCenter a meaningful resource for the college. In particular, the Purdue Polytechnic Institutes highly ranked UX design major will benefit from this new partnership.

The XCenter will provide our students with many opportunities to augment their classroom work with even more hands-on project work in user experience, customer experience, product design and more, said Gary Bertoline, dean of the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. This state-of-the-art usability facility will enhance our students experience and help to build bridges to corporate partners and collaborators.

The XCenter is part of the Discovery Park Districts living laboratory, designed to provide a place for innovation and experimentation. It will serve tenants in the district and corporate clients in addition to being accessible to Purdue students and faculty.

We see this being a new epicenter for inventive product design, user experience and customer experience, Hege said. Purdue University was selected for the center because of its reputation as one of the most innovative universities in the United States, its can do culture and its location. The XCenter is a natural fit with the districts overall focus on and integration of data, connectivity and technology.

Indiana, and the Midwest generally, are positioned to be one of the next great tech regions with their universities, plentiful open land, hard-working people, low cost of living, easy transportation links to the world and desire to make a positive difference in other peoples lives, Fernandes said. Purdue has all those attributes and more, making it the logical location for a center focused on solving the hard problems.

XCenter will open in summer 2021. For more information, visit www.xcenter.info.

About UEGroup

UEGroup Inc. is a leading user experience, customer experience and product strategy firm based in Silicon Valley, with locations in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Jose, California; Chicago; and Lisbon, Portugal. Its clients include Fortune 500 companies and early-stage companies. It has successfully delivered results for leaders in their industries including for such organizations as Disney, Ford, Stryker, Intel, Google and Lockheed Martin. In addition to the Fortune 500, UEGroup has helped early-venture and startups break through the noise and deliver differentiated solutions. Learn more at UEGroup.

About Purdue Polytechnic

The Purdue Polytechnic Institute, one of 10 academic colleges at Purdue University, offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in aviation, computing, construction management, engineering technology, technology leadership, and technology education. In addition to Purdue Universitys main campus in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue Polytechnic offers select degree programs in nine Indiana communities.

About Discovery Park District

The Discovery Park District is a 400-acre, $1 billion-plus purpose-driven community on the western edge of campus that will include laboratories, advanced manufacturing facilities, offices, retail shops, restaurants, housing, green space, trails, and an airport with a 7,000-foot runway. The district, which is a designated opportunity zone, houses the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration, a facility designed to serve as a front door to companies that seek to collaborate with Purdue. Companies interested in locating in the Discovery Park District or Convergence Center should contact David Broecker, the foundations chief innovation and collaboration officer, at dabroecker@prf.org.

Sources:

Discovery Park District - Troy Hege

UEGroup Incorporated: Danielle Panigall

Purdue Polytechnic Institute - Gary Bertoline

Media inquiries: Christy Denault, 317/417-6322
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Nothing could be more noble than the pursuit of a more equal world. And Megha Anwer, clinical assistant professor in the Honors College, sees her classroom as the very space that empowers Purdue students to imagine and collaborate toward that.

A theorist of visual culture, with expertise in global cinema and issues of racial, gender, class and caste equity, Anwer invites her students to engage with the visual and literary cultures of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries by exploring the power dynamics that infuse those cultures. She does this through her courses as varied and topical as the Evolution of Ideas: Photography and Film, Interdisciplinary Writing: James Bond, Hitchcock in the City, Alabama: The Radical South, or Images of Racial Violence.

The classroom is a space that can empower us to imagine and collaboratively work toward a more equal world, says Anwer, a 2021 recipient of an Exceptional Early Career Teaching Award, which recognizes outstanding undergraduate teaching among Purdues early career faculty. Its one of the few places where we have the time and intentionality to really look at the world for what it is  to replicate it, investigate it, ask why things dont work and what we can do to solve them.

Anwers peers, and the many students she instructs and mentors, point to her success in creating a learning environment and fostering a culture where speaking up and speaking out on issues of equity and inclusion are emphasized. Her students say Anwer encourages critical self-awareness, empowering them to examine the intellectual and political questions of our past or present. She then invites students to explore ways of telling individual and collective stories.

I think of myself embedded in a matrix  a faculty member, who is part of a university, supported by a team, focused on helping students be their better selves, says a modest Anwer, who received her doctorate in English from Purdue in 2015.

Remain solid in our own opinions

Essenam Lamewona, a mechanical engineering junior from Cincinnati, says its hard to put into words the impact Professor Anwer has had on her  not just as a student but as a person who listens, values and respects their input and ideas.

Megha has taught me so much, Lamewona says. She doesnt pretend. Shes about growth and critique, and often learns from us, too. I dont always agree with her, but she shows us what it means to remain solid in our own opinions, discussing and adjusting to new information.

Megha Anwer, recipient of the 2021 Exceptional Early Career Teaching Award and clinical assistant professor in the Honors College. (Photo by John Underwood/Purdue University)

Anwer also continues to innovate teaching methods that deepen engagement with her Honors College students. She fosters an anti-racist, inclusive living-learning environment, mainly by implementing equity-related student programming.

A prime example: creation of Student Diversity Officers program for the college in 2017. Anwer advocated for paid student leadership positions to express Purdues support for diversity efforts. Under her leadership, the program has blossomed into a dynamic peer-to-peer education model that empowers underrepresented students to advocate for inclusion and representation.

To date, the SDO team has hosted 60 events such as teach-ins, panel discussions, workshops, webinars, reading groups, film screenings, and networking sessions on addressing structural and interpersonal racism. More than 1,200 participants  from students, faculty and staff to Greater Lafayette community members  have had meaningful conversations about social justice issues.

Professor Anwer radiates a growing, stimulating manner that you dont see just with anyone, says SDO Victor Garcia Mosqueda, a Purdue freshman from Houston studying planetary sciences. Shes somebody who knows how to get you to start using the best that you have.

Developing mentors to mentor others

Though Anwer has created nine courses for the Honors College, what stands out as much is the three-hour Diversity, Inclusion and Allyship workshop she established for HONR 299. The workshop is taken by all college undergraduate mentors who facilitate the required first-year course.

Through the workshop, Anwer says, 200 mentors have developed an understanding of leadership from the perspective of inclusion and have directly impacted the first-year experience of over 2,000 honors students from across the university since its 2017 launch.

Providing research opportunities for students, Anwer is working on a book-length project, Everyday Violence and Female Mobility, which traces the 19th and early 20th century origins of street harassment that women faced in public spaces in London and colonial Delhi. Undergraduates Allison Schwam, Emily Jones, Lori Bowes and Kin-Nyshia Meeks are analyzing novelistic and journalistic texts, creating datasets about womens mobility in these texts, and coding data to create digital maps for recording womens urban mobility and the sites of violence they navigated.

Beyond teaching, Anwer is the Honors Colleges first director of diversity, equity and inclusion. This semester she joined the Division of Diversity and Inclusion as a Provost Fellow, working with Vice Provost John Gates to develop six workshop modules on inclusive pedagogy for Purdues Institute for Racial Equity, which was piloted for the Teaching Academy in March.

As a Purdue professor, I believe it is my role to help students feel empowered, to advocate for themselves, she says, where they can work not only on their own but through collective, long-term efforts to be the best person they can be, to not apologize for who theyve been but to take responsibility for who they choose to become.

Writer: Phillip Fiorini, 765-430-6189, pfiorini@purdue.edu

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Greg Strimel saw a void and set out to fill it.

With a nationwide concern about innovation capacity and transformative learning experiences, Strimel, an assistant professor in the Department of Technology Leadership and Innovation in Purdue Polytechnic Institute, along with his colleagues, developed and launched a minor in design and innovation in 2018. The goal of the minor: To provide the space and flexibility for all Purdue students, regardless of major or background, to practice innovation within the context of their own ideas and develop design-thinking capabilities in authentic cross-disciplinary settings.

The key feature of the program is team-taught courses with faculty across colleges (for example, polytechnic and anthropology faculty in the same class at the same time) and students co-learning with others possessing a variety of skillsets. The curriculum provides students with a multi-semester learning experience to help minimize the silo effect of individual courses by building authentic connections across coursework using design as a common thread.

Carrying ideas beyond the classroom

I dont want my students just doing coursework, where they turn in an assignment, it gets assessed and they move on to the next assignment. When you just do that, learning stops, says Strimel, a 2021 recipient of Purdues Exceptional Early Career Teaching Award. This is something different. While they are building their disciplinary expertise in their major, this gives them a place to come back to and work over multiple semesters on more personalized interests.

"Then, they can carry their innovative ideas throughout their Purdue experience while learning ways to move these ideas beyond the classroom. It was always a struggle for me to see innovative design ideas abandoned when a student submitted it at the end of a semester and moved on to the next course.

The minor also was established to engage students in ethnographic methods to better understand the needs of people and connect them with campus innovation resources such as the Purdue Foundry and industry-sponsored competitions. As a result of these efforts, Strimel has been awarded funding from the VentureWell organization to develop the core curriculum and a National Science Foundation grant to study the ways in which undergraduate learning can be transformed in the pursuit of innovation.

Greg Strimel, recipient of the 2021 Exceptional Early Career Teaching Award and assistant professor in the Department of Technology Leadership and Innovation. (Photo by John Underwood/Purdue University)

The minor currently has students from over 20 different majors, and they have won over $170,000 in competitions, secured external grant funding to support their innovation projects, have had their products in the hands of customers and leveraged their experience for their career pathways. One of the introductory design courses has been uniquely implemented with the Purdue Polytechnic High Schools to expand access to innovation education with 30 students successfully completing the course while still in high school.

Hearing stories of how students use design and technology to position themselves better in their chosen career, whatever it may be, is exciting, Strimel says.

Preparing future teachers

Strimel, who also has teaching responsibilities in engineering technology teacher education, joined the Purdue faculty in 2016. After serving as an infantryman in the U.S. Army, he began his career teaching engineering at the high school level in Maryland. He subsequently earned his masters degree and PhD from California University of Pennsylvania and Old Dominion University, respectively, to understand ways to teach better.

I am passionate about teaching and preparing future teachers, says Strimel, who provides a variety of design-focused professional development programs for teachers across the state and who was the lead author on a national standards report titled Framework for P-12 Engineering Learning, published by the American Society for Engineering Education. Seeing where my students end up teaching and seeing them presenting at national conferences, I like to believe has some link to their learning experience here at Purdue.

Additionally, Strimel advises the Purdue chapter of the Technology and Engineering Education Collegiate Association. The purpose of the organization is to promote leadership, fellowship and scholarship for future public school teachers enrolled at Purdue through coordinated activities associated with K-12 outreach and competitive events.

The Exceptional Early Career Teaching Award is the latest honor for Strimel. He previously received the Purdue Polytechnic Institutes Outstanding Faculty in Learning Award and the Outstanding Advisor of the Year for Purdue student activities and organizations.

This award means so much because it comes on the recommendation of students, Strimel says. I want to provide them with an authentic undergraduate learning experience, where they are involved in real stuff, doing real projects outside of the classroom. Thats my whole point of being at Purdue.

Writer: Tom Schott, 765-427-1721, tschott@purdue.edu

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Pete Davidson is burning off his tattoos so that he can get more film roles.

The 27-year-old comedian and actor is keen on making it big in Hollywood following his roles in The King of Staten Island and The Suicide Squad, and has said he wants to have his tattoos removed so that he doesnt have to spend three hours in makeup every day getting them covered up.

He said: I honestly never thought that I would get the opportunity to act and I love it a lot. You have to get there three hours earlier to cover all your tattoos, because for some reason, people in movies, they dont have them that much.

And Pete admitted the process of getting his ink removed is worse than the pain that comes with the tattoo itself.

He added during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers: So now Im burning them off, but burning them off is worse than getting them. Because not only are they, like, burning off your skin, but youre wearing these big goggles, right? So you cant see anything and the doctors in there with you.

So before he goes to laser each tattoo, you have to hear him announce what the tattoo is to make sure if you want to keep it or not. So Ill just be sitting there all high off of the [nitrous oxide]  and then all of a sudden Ill just hear, Are we keeping the Stewie Griffin smoking a blunt? And then I have to sit there and be like, No, Dr. G.' 

The news comes after it was reported in December that the Saturday Night Live star was in the process of having his tattoos removed.

Film critic Mike McGranaghan tweeted at the time: Just attended a virtual Q&A with the Judd Apatow and the cast of THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND. And heres a scoop: Pete Davidson is in the process of getting all his tattoos removed! (sic)

And when one fan asked him if he knew why Pete was getting rid of inkings, he responded: No, its real. He even showed his hand, which is already done. He said it takes 3-4 hours in the makeup chair to cover them, so he figured it would be easier to get them burned off (sic)
TWO NEW JAPAN TALENTS TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

New Japan Pro Wrestling issued the following:

Two NJPW wrestlers have tested positive for COVID-19.

All New Japan Pro-Wrestling talent is subject to daily temperature monitoring, as well as blood oxygen saturation checks and frequent testing. Before the Road to Dontaku tour began, all wrestlers and staff returned negative PCR tests, clearing them for competition.

On the morning of the May 4 Wrestling Dontaku day two event, two wrestlers presented with a high temperature. According to protocol, they were taken for immediate testing, while those that had close contact with the individuals in the last two events were removed from proceedings. NJPW has learned that the individuals tests were positive for COVID-19.

The two are currently experiencing mild symptoms, and are acting under medical advice for treatment and recovery. Other wrestlers, as well as staff who have been in contact with the individuals are currently being thoroughly monitored in a controlled environment and receiving relevant tests. Updates will be provided in due course.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling apologizes for the inconvenience and concern caused by the sudden card change this news necessitated on the May 4 event.

In addition to the aforementioned regular health monitoring, the requirement of masks during warmups and backstage as well as the provision of packaged food to minimize outside interaction are all enforced at New Japan Pro-Wrestling events. Moving forward, NJPW will work to further improve its COVID-19 countermeasures and do everything possible to ensure staff, wrestler and fan safety.

We once again deeply apologize for the concern caused to fans and personnel and ask for your understanding.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Foothills Forum is an independent, community-supported nonprofit tackling the need for in-depth research and reporting on Rappahannock County issues.

The group has an agreement with Rappahannock Media, owner of the Rappahannock News, to present this series and other award-winning reporting projects. More at foothills-forum.org.
Navy Seaman Albert H. Richards and Army Sgt. Elmer Sallade, both of Reading, display a copy of the Reading Times on VE Day, the day World War II ended in Europe.
Tax hikes are coming. Key proposals by the White House involve an increase in long-term capital gains rates to income tax levels, an increase in the corporate tax rate, and an elimination of the step-up basis on estates. Taken together, they have the effect of creating a confiscatory tax environment. We look at how such confiscatory tax regimes have failed in other countries in the last decade and discuss some of the academic studies that claim to show massive tax evasion by the wealthy. Finally, we debunk the widely-held belief in offshore tax evasion by the wealthy on a massive scale.

Confiscatory rates justify abolition of the estate tax

A key element of the Administration's tax hike proposal is the elimination of the so-called step-up basis. Under current tax laws, a deceased person pays an estate tax of up to 35% on assets upon death. The heirs then receive what is left, and their tax basis reflects the value of the assets upon receipt. The U.S. differs with this approach from the rest of the world where not the deceased person is taxed, but the heirs on their respective share of the inheritance. Hence, the term inheritance tax rather than estate tax is used everywhere else.

The problem with the elimination of the step-up basis lies in its combination with the estate tax and the proposed higher tax rates on long-term capital gains, which will lead to overall tax burdens of nearly 90%.

A simplified example illustrates the toxic interaction of these three taxes. Consider an estate worth $100 million that consists of founders' shares in a business, so we can assume a tax basis of zero. Upon the death of the founder, an estate tax of 35% is due. For simplicity, we ignore the current $10 million exemption, which is going to sunset in a couple of years anyway.

After paying the estate tax, the heirs will be left with $65 million. The problem is that most heirs won't have an extra $35 million lying around that they can hand over to the IRS. So, they will be forced to liquidate the estate. With the tax basis of the shares at zero, they will need to pay $52 million in long term capital gains taxes if they are located in high-tax states such as New York or California. Add to that the $35 million in estate tax, and the total tax burden is $87 million, or nearly 90%.

These are confiscatory tax levels. We believe that eliminating the step-up basis is a good reason for the abolition of the estate tax altogether. After all, it leads to a triple taxation of income: corporate taxes are paid on the profits of the business. Capital gains are merely the discounted cash flows of the after-tax corporate earnings, so that capital gains taxes are already a form of double taxation. Taxing such gains again with an estate tax then amounts to triple taxation.

Parallels to the French tax debacle

Former French President Hollande gained infamy for not only stating that he hates rich people, but also for acting this way. In 2012, he introduced a 75% supertax on earners over 1 million Euros, who were faced with a total tax burden, including social security, of well over 90%. He found out the hard way that such confiscatory taxes don't work: many high earners moved to London or Geneva and conducted their business from there; those who stayed behind avoided realizing gains in anticipation of a future repeal.

Actor Gerard Depardieu took the most drastic step of taking on Russian citizenship. While we won't speculate which Hollywood stars might vote with their feet, we note that Senator Warren is trying to prevent this from happening by calling for an increase of the exit tax on the wealthy.

The end result of Hollande's tax hike, derided as Cuba without the sunshine by then little-known economic adviser Emmanuel Macron, the current President, was that an estimated 10,000 high income earners left France permanently. Despite this small number of people, income tax receipts fell 16 billion short of projections. Moreover, a mere 200 million per year was raised by the tax, nowhere near enough to offset the drop in tax revenues. Hollande had to rescind the tax two years later.

The confiscatory tax hikes proved to be transitory, as was Hollande, who ended up as a one-term President with approval ratings in the low teens. Permanent, however, was the damage to the French tax base, as few of the tax refugees returned.

Revenue-optimizing tax rates

The proposed tax increase on the highest income earners to 39%, when combined with state and local income taxes, will lead to total tax rates in California and New York of roughly 52%. We believe that this number is no accident. In 2014, Fed researchers published a study that claimed that the peak of the Laffer curve, at which maximum government revenues are achieved, is 52%.

But just because there is a study that shows that 52% is optimal does not mean it really is optimal. After all, the French supertax of 75% is close to the theoretical optimum of 73% that none other than economist Emmanuel Saez calculated as optimal. That is the same Emmanuel Saez who rose to fame with his monstrous tome Capitalism in the 20th Century a few years earlier, which claimed that rich people were getting so rich that they were becoming a threat to democracy and advocated income tax rates in the range of 54% to 80%. Of course, we know now that while that 73% tax rate may have been optimal in ivory tower theory, in real life it was terribly suboptimal and had to be nixed.

It might be a good bet that the 52% optimal rate calculated by the St. Louis Fed researchers will have the same fate as the French supertax and turn out to be dramatically suboptimal and revenue-minimizing.

Do the top 1% really evade 20% of their income taxes?

All this talk about tax hikes comes against a background of an academic study purporting to show that the top 1% of earners evade 20% of their income taxes. That claim made headlines a few weeks ago, but its dubious assumptions remained unchallenged.

Uncontested are the raw data: IRS audit data show that as you climb the income ladder the percentage of tax evasion relative to total income declines sharply. In this data, the largest percentage of tax evasion occurs just below the median income group in the 40th percentile, where taxpayers evade 6% of their income (interesting side note: half of that evasion occurs through Schedule C /sole proprietor income).

For the top 0.1% earners, tax evasion is half that rate, or 3%, while for the top 0.01%, tax evasion is less than 1% of income. To us, the raw data suggest that the system works: penalties for tax evasion become more severe as the amounts evaded increase, with jail time being a realistic prospect for 7-figure evasion. Not to mention that legal ways to minimize the tax burden through deferral and shelters increase with incomes. Therefore, we would expect that the top of the income pyramid has very little evasion.

Of course, the data runs counter to the narrative that the rich don't pay their fair share. To make the data fit the narrative, the authors of the study took the percentage of tax evasion found by those IRS auditors who come across the most tax evasion and applied that rate to everyone. The assumption behind that approach is that the rate of tax evasion is the same for every income group. The outcome is the headline-grabbing result that the top 1% evade 20% of their taxes.

However, as we pointed out, penalties increase as the amounts evaded become larger, so the assumption of a uniform rate of tax evasion for all income groups is highly questionable. Moreover, it runs counter to the actual IRS data. In fact, the methodology is a simple trick that will always yield sensational headlines. For example, if we take those police officers who encounter the highest incidence of violent crime and then apply that percentage to all demographic groups, we find that the adjusted violent crime rate shows massive undetected crime. With this dubious approach, the top 1% of earners will commit massive amounts of undetected violent crimes, as do the university professors who create these types of nonsense studies. The differential between actual and theoretical will be largest in the group that has the smallest actual incidence. The policy response will be to increase policing of those groups who have the lowest actual incidence, because that's where the most supposedly undetected violent crimes happen. Most likely, this will reduce policing and exacerbate problems in those areas where the actual incidence is the highest.

The methodology is arguably useless and purely of academic interest because it applies the worst case scenario to everyone. Basing policy, in particular tax policy, on a worst-case scenario based on unrealistic assumptions is a bad idea.

The myth of offshore tax evasion

Finally, we would like to clarify a myth about offshore tax evasion that underlies many other studies. The fact is that most industrialized countries impose withholding taxes on dividends and interest on foreign-held accounts. For example, the U.S. generally imposes withholding taxes of 30% on foreigners, while Switzerland, supposedly a tax haven, imposes 35%. That means that anyone stashing away their investments in Switzerland faces a tax rate of 35%. Of course, you can get these foreign taxes back under most tax treaties. But that requires you to declare the income to your own tax authority, who will then issue a certificate that can be used with the foreign tax authority for a refund. So any American hiding money in Switzerland faces a 35% tax rate on dividends. If the person invests their hidden Swiss money in U.S. stocks, they face a 30% U.S. withholding tax on dividends, more than the 20% federal tax rate they would pay on qualified dividends on investments fully disclosed to the IRS. Of course, that's the point of withholding taxes: they are supposed to make hiding assets uneconomic. And because the assets are undeclared, their owners cannot claim a refund for the withholding taxes. In light of these heavy disincentives, we doubt the claims about the exorbitant amounts of taxes supposedly evaded by the rich through offshore accounts.

In fact, for smaller investors, the cheapest option is to simply pay the withholding tax and forego the refund. This is not because they are hiding assets, but because the cost and complexity of the refund process exceeds what they expect to recover. Therefore, if someone doesn't request a refund of their withholding, that alone cannot be taken as evidence of tax evasion, but is simply a cost-benefit tradeoff.

Moreover, in our experience, few financial advisers are familiar with the intricacies of holding foreign stocks and withholding taxes and refunds, so that many end clients probably forego significant refunds due to such ignorance.

To the extent that undeclared offshore wealth actually exists, overall tax receipts would not necessarily increase if all of it were to be declared. As discussed above, the U.S. government already withholds taxes on dividend and interest payments paid to foreign accounts. If these assets were declared, these withholding taxes would no longer be collected. Moreover, to the extent that these accounts are invested in stocks listed in other countries, taxpayers would be able to claim a tax credit for withholding taxes paid in such other countries. Depending on how the net effect of all of this would play out, U.S. tax receipts may actually decline if all currently undeclared offshore wealth were to be declared. The absence of considerations of withholding taxes in academic studies on offshore tax evasion is a red flag that these academics lack a good understanding of the complexities underlying offshore investments.

How it will end

Taxes are a hot button topic. A significant proportion of the population is convinced that the rich do not pay their fair share. Much of that is based on myths, which are reinforced by questionable studies and statistics.

Overall, there may be plenty of legal ways to defer and reduce taxes, from special IRA accounts, MLPs and REITs, 1099 exchanges or insurance wrappers to a myriad of other structures. American investors have no need to go into illegality to reduce their tax burden.

Moreover, the increase in individual tax rates may lead to a revival of the C Corp for small businesses. Rather than passing through all income to the owners, who pay a high tax rate on that income, it will make sense for many highly profitable closely-held businesses to become C Corporations and pay salaries to their owners, while the majority of profits are kept in the corporation, where they are taxed at a much lower tax rate and can grow, with these gains also taxed only at the (lower) corporate tax rate. The result of the reduction in pass-through entities would be lower income inequality, because the income is no longer reported by the taxpayer but by the corporation. This effect may be one of the reasons why the White House is adopting such tax policies.

For the tax hikes themselves, we foresee three scenarios: in a worst-case scenario, a confiscatory tax regime will be implemented. In this case, the economic boom will end. Depending on the length of such a tax regime, America may no longer be seen as the land of opportunity and IPOs by the world's most talented technologists, but as the land of confiscatory taxes. This will do long-term damage to the tech industry and, by extension, the economy as a whole. In a best-case scenario, taxes will be raised only moderately. In the third, most likely scenario, taxes will be hiked substantially but this will be undone by future elections, as the economic consequences become apparent.

Thomas Kirchner, CFA, is a portfolio manager at Camelot Portfolios.
Urban progressivism is on the ballot in Pennsylvanias biggest cities, where the May 18 primary will measure Democratic voters satisfaction with ideological governance.

Seeking a third term as mayor, Pittsburghs Bill Peduto could lose reelection for not going far enough as a self-described progressive  particularly on public-safety issues. In Philadelphia, District Attorney Larry Krasner may lose a second term for going too far as a progressive prosecutor amid surging violent crime. The primary, which essentially determines Novembers victors in both one-party cities, is really a test of where Democratic voters are right now, said Christopher Borick, director of Muhlenberg Colleges Institute of Public Opinion.

In Pittsburgh, Peduto was once applauded as a progressive visionary. In 2013, the then-city councilman ran for mayor on a new Pittsburgh platform. Shortly after his 2014 mayoral inauguration, Peduto declared that Pittsburgh  politically controlled by Democrats for nearly a century  had changed from an old boys network city to a progressive city.

Since then, Pedutos governance has reflected that leftward shift. As mayor, he has enacted inclusionary zoning, embraced inclusive urban development, and vowed a carbon-neutral city by 2050. In addition, during Pedutos first term, the Obama administration selected Pittsburghs police department to experiment with implicit-bias training. Such progressive policies appealed to younger, affluent voters  then known as part of Obamas coalition of the ascendant  who had begun gentrifying Pittsburgh neighborhoods as the city transformed from a struggling former steel hub into a thriving and livable eds and meds metropolis.

But today, as that same political demographic contributes to tumult in Americas cities  especially after the sometimes violent events of last summer  Pedutos reelection isnt assured. Peduto has the bona fides of a progressive, but in contemporary Democratic politics, is that enough? Theres your million-dollar question, said Borick.

As Ed Gainey views it, Pedutos progressive stewardship has fallen short. Gainey (pictured) is Pedutos most competitive opponent among the three Democrats vying for the incumbents seat. A state representative since 2013, Gainey would govern to the left of Peduto, who he believes is ineffective on progressive priorities such as the environment, racial equity, affordable housing, and police reform.

In addition to growing support from minority and affluent voters, Gainey has the backing of activist organizations, Democratic socialist state legislators, and the SEIU Healthcare union  a political force in Pittsburgh, where the UPMC medical system, the states largest nongovernmental employer, is headquartered. Meanwhile, Peduto has received more traditional Democratic endorsements, including from labor unions, Congressman Mike Doyle, and state Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa.

Gainey, who has criticized Peduto for overpolicing in neighborhoods, has made a pledge to redirect police funds to social services. But Peduto has defended his record on progressive criminal-justice reforms, including the reallocation of $5.3 million in the police budget to community programs. Earlier this year, however, Peduto did refer to last summers protesters as the radical left (he later apologized). The mayor, moreover, has stated that most police officers are good people and that he opposes defunding their department. In fact, if youre talking to the leaders of the community, from the neighborhoods that are most affected by crime, they are not asking to defund or abolish the police, but they want to see officers who are more involved in the community, Peduto recently told one state news outlet.

If Gainey pulls an upset victory, it would signal that todays urban Democratic voters desire a more progressive mandate in Pittsburgh, where violent crime has increased by 90% from this time in 2020. As one retired police officer recently noted when talking about violence in Pittsburghs Hill District: I was born and raised in this community, and we never ever have been plagued with this, never have.

Five hours east in Philadelphia, voters tolerance for progressive policies on criminal justice and public order appear to be fading. As has occurred elsewhere in urban America since the mid-2010s, the politicization of law enforcement among big-city mayors and district attorneys has translated into rising crime and disorder. This is particularly evident in Philadelphia, where 499 people were killed in 2020  the citys second-highest total in 60 years. As it stands, the present homicide rate could break the all-time record.

This intensifying dysfunction, the start of which preceded the pandemic, has affected Philadelphia neighborhoods, including tourist-driven Old City, where a man was killed in front of a popular restaurant last month. It feels that the government is leaving the economic epicenter of Center City to fend for itself. I have never seen it this way, owner Stephen Starr, a nationally renowned restaurateur, told the local NBC affiliate. In West Philadelphia, many businesses are still recovering from last summers rioting after the killing of George Floyd. As one civic leader told the Philadelphia Tribune, a large portion of the neighborhoods businesses wouldnt recover from future urban unrest.

Philadelphia residents, including Starr, have lambasted Mayor Jim Kenney for his leadership amid the public-safety crisis. Previous mayors, such as Ed Rendell in the 1990s or Michael Nutter in the early 2010s, emphasized law and order. Widespread crime is a disincentive to economic development.

But its Krasner, the district attorney, whose left-wing approach to law enforcement is on the ballot this month. A former civil rights defense attorney who once called law enforcement systemically racist, Krasner has worked to transform the DAs office since being elected in 2017. He has vowed to eliminate cash bail, enacted decriminalization measures  including for shoplifting under $500  supported de-carceration, and sent gun offenders to diversionary programs. Philadelphias intensifying lawlessness has led to tragic outcomes.

Philadelphia voters  especially in minority neighborhoods  are moving against Krasner, who blames societal forces for rising crime. As Alan Butkovitz, a Democratic ward leader, recently told The Wall Street Journal, a lot of pushback is coming from those areas that are experiencing a higher rate of gun crimes, rather than low-crime, affluent neighborhoods. The further you are away from the crimes, the more likely you are to be for [Krasner], he added.

Krasners Democratic primary opponent, Carlos Vega, is a Bronx-born former assistant DA who was recruited by Rendell in the 1980s. In 2018, Krasner fired Vega, along with 30 other staffers. Now, as Vega puts it, he is running because of Krasners failure to address violent crime, and his reckless approach to reform has made Philadelphia more dangerous today than before he took office. Vega told the local NBC affiliate: We are on track to lose 600+ Philadelphians this year, and Larry Krasner has yet to take responsibility for this crisis or provide meaningful solutions that will save lives.

Vega, who is supported by police unions, has expressed his support for a more common sense, responsible approach to [criminal justice] reform that doesnt come at the expense of our safety. The citys Democratic Party has declined to endorse in the DAs race, and Kenney recently dodged making an endorsement of Krasner. I think people need to make up their minds as to what they should do, he told Philadelphias ABC affiliate.

Indeed, Democratic voters in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will soon issue a verdict on progressive politics.

Correction: Due to an editing error, an earlier version of this article misstated support for Ed Gainey. SEIU Healthcare is supporting him; however, SEIU 32BJ is supporting Mayor Peduto.
Human rights advocates, former hostages and some members of Congress are urging the Biden administration not to seriously engage with Tehran on reinstating the nuclear deal until all U.S. and Western hostages held in Iran are released, thus maintaining maximum leverage for their safe return.

There should be no sanctions relief until at least the hostages are released and an agreement [is] in place to prevent hostage taking from happening again, said Jason Poblete, a human rights attorney who represented released hostages Nizar Zakka and Xiyue Wang. Both Zakka and Wang were held for years in Iran before their release in 2019.

Hostage Aid Worldwide, a nonprofit organization that assists hostages and their families in seeking their safe release, sent a letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken in February, pressing him to secure the freedom of all hostages held in Iran as a precondition to negotiations over Irans nuclear program. The group also asked the administration to secure a credible guarantee that Iran will no longer engage in this inhumane practice.

This is far more than merely a matter of human rights, the organization wrote. It is fundamental to building mutual trust, which is the core of a sustainable deal.

The group followed up with a letter to all members of Congress this past weekend, imploring them to keep the pressure on Biden to secure the hostages safe return before ramping up nuclear talks.

It is crucial that they seize the opportunity to learn from previous mistakes when some hostages were left behind pending planned goodwill gestures from Iran which never materialized, the group wrote.

The hostage issue burst into public view over the weekend when Iranian state-run news agencies began reporting on a deal for the Islamic Republic to release U.S. and British prisoners in exchange for a $7 billion payment from the U.S. The White House immediately denied that such a deal had been struck, but a knowledgeable source tells RealClearPolitics talks remain active, with European emissaries exchanging messages.

There are ongoing discussions underway in Vienna in parallel with the nuclear talks and through the Europeans between the U.S. and Iran on the topic of a potential prisoner exchange, but it is important to emphasize no deal has been agreed to by anyone, the source said.

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain on Sunday also appeared to confirm ongoing negotiations but said there is no agreement.

Were working very hard to get them released, Klain told CBS Face the Nation. We raise this with Iran and our interlocutors all the time, but so far theres no agreement.

If successful, the negotiations could free several high-profile Americans detained in Iran, including businessman Siamak Namazi, his elderly father, Baquer, as well as environmentalist Morad Tahbaz and businessman Emad Shargi. Another detainee, British citizen Nazanin Zaghari Ratcliffe, is also part of the negotiations, according to news reports.

Some advocates for those being held view the leak from Iran about a deal as an attempt by hard-liners there, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (or IRGC), to thwart early progress on the nuclear talks by ginning up concern in Congress that the Biden administration would be making a huge ransom payment in addition to exchanging prisoners. But as with any negotiation, an ultimate payment could end up much lower, with the funds going to a variety of humanitarian causes in Iran, including COVID vaccines and medical supplies, with international oversight of how the money gets disbursed.

The talks are particularly sensitive right now after last weeks leaked tape of Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, expressing frustration that the IRGC sets policies for the country. Zarif (pictured) also said Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, the commander of the Guards elite Quds Force, was working with Russia to undermine the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran, the U.S. and other world powers. Suleimani was killed in January 2020 by a missile strike authorized by President Trump.

The extraordinary admission that the elected government of Iran does not control its foreign policy offers some explanation for the dual and often wildly conflicting messages coming out of Iran in 2014 and 2015 when the nuclear deal was being negotiated and formalized. The IRGC arrested Zakka -- who had been issued a visa by Iran to speak at a tech summit there -- one day after the congressional review period of the nuclear deal ended. (Senate Republicans had sought, unsuccessfully, to scuttle the agreement.) Siamak Namazi was arrested by the IRGC nearly a month later, on Oct. 15, 2015.

Poblete and other hostage advocates have spent years asking why then-Secretary of State John Kerry and the Obama administration didnt put the brakes on the deal and fight for the safe return of all U.S. hostages held in Iran. The day before the deals implementation on Jan. 16, 2016, the administration organized an airlift of $400 million in cash to Iran that coincided with the release of four detained Americans. The funds were the first installment of a $1.7 billion settlement the U.S. reached with Iran to resolve a decades-old dispute over a failed arms deal signed just before the 1979 fall of Irans last monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

But several American hostages in Iran didnt make the cut, including Zakka and the Namazis. And the hostage-taking didnt stop as the nuclear deal was being implemented. In August 2016, Wang, a PhD student at Princeton University, was arrested in Iran while there on a visa to study the Qajar dynasty.

The conflict between hard-liners and the more moderate government of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has grown sharper as nuclear talks resume with the U.S. and as Iran approaches its June 18 presidential elections.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the leaked Zarif conversation, Republican members of Congress have ramped up their calls for the Biden administration not to relaunch nuclear talks because the Rouhani government cannot be trusted to stick to its end of the deal given that the IRGC apparently sets national policy. Republicans on Capitol Hill are also calling for an investigation into a blockbuster admission in the Zarif recording -- that Kerry informed him that Israel attacked Iranian interests in Syria at least 200 times, to Zarifs astonishment.

Kerry last week denied the assertion, calling it unequivocally false, but questions on Capitol Hill remain. Some prominent senators have called for Kerry, who now heads Bidens climate change initiatives, to resign. Nineteen GOP senators sent an urgent letter to the president on Thursday accusing Kerry of working with American adversaries against our national security interests. Others have called for investigations into the Zarif admission.

Additionally, as nuclear talks began last month between the two nations, GOP Sens. Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz, Todd Young and Rick Scott re-introduced the Global Hostage Act, which would require the president to impose sanctions on foreign government officials responsible for taking Americans hostage and bar those officials from receiving U.S. visas. The bill also states that it is U.S. policy not to pay ransoms to secure the release of American citizens, or those lawfully admitted for permanent residence, who are taken hostage abroad.

If you take an American hostage  it wont only be the hostage who will suffer, Cotton said. America must never accept extortion by hostage-taking as the cost of doing business. It warrants severe consequences, and thats what this bill delivers.

Rep. Jim Banks, who chairs the Republican Study Committee, wrote a bill that would prevent either sanctions relief or any other form of ransom in exchange for the release of U.S. hostages held in Iran. It also prohibits the president from lifting sanctions on a country until all American hostages are released. The bill has 95 sponsors, including most House GOP leaders and a majority of Republicans on the Armed Services Committee.

Banks said he hopes the reports that Biden is considering a multibillion-dollar payment to Iran isnt true.

President Biden seems not to have learned the mistakes of President Obamas weak foreign policy, Banks told RCP in a statement. Providing ransom payments to terrorists for the release of U.S. hostages will only encourage Iran to take more hostages and put American families at risk.

President Trump secured the release of two hostages in Iran without providing pallets of cash or lifting a single sanction, Banks added. Instead he let out two non-violent prisoners whose sentences were nearly complete. That was a good deal for Americans. This isnt.
I recently interviewed Lawrence J. Haas via email about his new book, subtitled How Jack, Bobby, and Ted Remade Americas Empire (Potomac Books). The exchanges have been edited for length.

Larry, hundreds of books have already been written on Kennedys, so what inspired you to write this one?

I knew a bit about Jack and Bobby from my readings over the years, and I watched Ted up close while I worked as a journalist in Washington. I became intrigued when I noticed how involved Ted was with Americas global role because, after all, hes known overwhelmingly for his domestic achievements (civil rights, labor, health, and so on). I became further intrigued when I took a closer look at what Ted was doing on foreign affairs, which was sometimes consistent with what Jack and Bobby did and sometimes quite different. So, I began to do some research, and I discovered a new, rich, fascinating story about all three brothers.

Everybody knows that Joe and Rose Kennedy groomed their boys for success. But what nobody seems to know is that Joe and Rose pushed them toward a particular kind of success: not just to attain power, but to look beyond Americas borders  to learn about the world, to care about the world, and, once they attained power, to shape Americas role in the world. Joe and Rose led discussions about the world with the boys over breakfast and dinner; Joe invited prominent people, like Charles Lindbergh and Henry Luce, to dine with them and enrich the conversations; Joe wrote to the boys about global events when he or they were away; Joe sent them to travel overseas when they were old enough; Joe arranged meetings for them with the worlds leading figures; and Joe secured jobs for each of them as foreign correspondents when they were overseas so they could position themselves as global thinkers.

And, over time, the brothers developed a deep understanding of the worlds different peoples, and cultures, and ideologies; a keen appreciation for the challenges they presented for the United States; and a strong desire to reshape Americas response to them. Once the brothers assumed power, they each applied what they had learned from their education about the world, and their travels, to put a distinct mark on the American empire. They each shaped broad issues of war and peace as well as Americas response to almost every major global challenge of their times.

In the prologue, you relate an obscure incident from September 1939. Just days after World War II began in Europe, a British passenger ship was torpedoed by a German sub, killing 112 people and stranding some 300 Americans in Ireland and Scotland. The U.S. ambassador to the U.K. sent his 22-year-old son to console the Americans? What was Joseph Kennedy thinking?

Well, he certainly wasnt thinking about who was the best, or most appropriate, person to send. Jack Kennedy, who was working for his father, the ambassador, in London at the time, was just 22, he looked even younger than that, and he held no official government position. So, all he could do was listen to the survivors and promise to relay their views to his father. To them, his arrival was as much insulting as reassuring.

But, as his highest priority, Joe Kennedy wasnt all that interested in finding the best person to greet the survivors. He saw an opportunity to continue grooming Jack, as he would Bobby and Ted, for prominent roles on the world stage. As it turned out, Jack did a nice job as his fathers emissary. He visited the survivors in hotels and hospitals, and he charmed them with his warm smile and soft touch. The London newspapers labeled him the schoolboy diplomat and an ambassador of mercy who displayed a wisdom and sympathy of a man twice his age. After Jack returned to the embassy, he kept working for the survivors and clashed with the bureaucrats who didnt seem to share his sense of urgency. Eventually, Joe Kennedy arranged for the survivors to return home safely on a U.S. merchant ship.

In 1937, shortly after Franklin D. Roosevelts second inauguration, the two youngest sons, Bobby and Ted, along with the five Kennedy sisters, met Franklin Roosevelt in the White House. Did those children grow up with an expectation of having that proximity to power?

Yes. Joe and Rose raised their children to assume a public profile and, with it, a rightful place on the world stage. Joe arranged meetings for them with leading figures both at home and abroad, and both he and Rose put them in the spotlight rather than protect their privacy. From the early 1930s through World War II, the names of some combination of Kennedy children appeared scores of times in the pages of the New York Times or the Boston Daily Globe. The coverage of their exploits ranged from the superficial to the serious  from their appearances at high-society parties to Jacks heroic exploits aboard the PT-109.  By the time they were young men, Jack, Bobby, and Ted were receiving opportunities to speak and write about the world to national audiences, which, at the time, reflected their prominence far more than their credentials.

Did anti-Catholic or anti-Irish prejudice common in the early 20th century play a role in the Kennedy clans determination to make a mark on the world stage?

Yes. Joe Kennedy deeply resented the anti-Irish and anti-Catholic prejudice of his time, and he passed that resentment down to his sons. Jack faced deep anti-Catholic prejudice when he ran for president in 1960. As strange as it seems today, he needed to prove to millions of skeptical Protestants all over America that he would not be taking orders from the pope, and he addressed the issue  straightforwardly, and more than once  in campaign speeches that year. Like their father, though less intensely, the boys all had chips on their shoulder over the prejudice, and it helped fuel the competitive spirit and drive to excel that Joe and Rose instilled in them.

Both before and after serving as FDRs ambassador, Joseph Kennedy Sr. was an outspoken isolationist who criticized Churchill for not negotiating with Adolf Hitler. Yet, his second son, while at Harvard, wrote a thesis, Why England Slept, that he turned into his first book. JFKs younger brothers also became confirmed internationalists. Even though Jack Kennedy credited his father for his worldly outlook and minimized his mothers contributions, I wondered while reading your book whether Rose Kennedy influenced John F. Kennedy more than he realized.

That may be true in one sense. While Joe encouraged and often initiated his sons overseas trips, it was Rose who set the example of travel in her youth. And Rose inherited her own zest for travel from her father, the former Boston mayor known as Honey Fitz. During the summer of 1908 when Rose turned 18, Honey Fitz and his wife, Josie, took Rose and her sister, Agnes, on a two-month trip across Ireland, England, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Germany, and Holland. The girls continued their schooling in Europe for the next year and, when Honey Fitz returned to Europe to bring them home, the three of them first toured Holland, Belgium, France, and England. After Honey Fitz, who had previously served as mayor, won back the job in 1910, Rose went with him to see the new Panama Canal and sailed with him as he led a Boston Chamber of Commerce delegation to Hamburg, Brussels, Munich, Berlin, and Paris. She was so captivated by what she saw, and so curious about what she hadnt, that as a young woman she founded a prominent club for other young Catholic women who had traveled overseas and wanted to learn more about the world. She served as its president, and Honey Fitz arranged for dignitaries to speak before it. That Jack was the offspring of a mother and grandfather who were so interested in the world, and who traveled so widely at a time when travel was far less common, undoubtedly helped to spur Jacks interest.

We think today of Jack and Bobby Kennedy being extremely close, but you write that this wasnt true when they were boys. You suggest that they first truly bonded on a foreign trip.

When Jack and Bobby were growing up, they were almost polar opposites in personality. Jack was carefree and fun, while Bobby was dark and dour. In fact, when Bobby volunteered to help with Jacks first run for the House in 1946, Jack suggested to a friend that he take Bobby to the movies or somewhere else, simply because he was worried that Bobbys dour personality would rub off on the campaign workers. It wasnt until 1951, the year that Jack turned 34 and Bobby turned 26, that they began to develop a special bond. Late that year, Jack was heading out on a seven-week trip across Asia and the Middle East. He turned down his fathers request that he take Bobby because he was worried that Bobby would be a pain in the ass. He only relented when his father insisted.

But, on that trip, Jack came to see a depth in Bobby that he hadnt previously appreciated. And, from their meetings and conversations on that trip, the two came to agree on Americas key challenge in competing with the Soviets across the developing world, which was rising nationalism: the desire of colonial populations to free themselves from outside domination. They also became close because Bobby saved Jacks life by arranging to fly him to a military hospital in Okinawa when his Addisons disease sent his temperature soaring to 107. Bobby sat at his bedside as he barely escaped death.

Robert Kennedy also broke with his father on foreign policy  favoring a more active American role  but did so over events that occurred after the war, because Roosevelt acquiesced to Stalin at Yalta. Did the Iron Curtain make Bobby an internationalist?

Essentially yes, but that may be a function of age rather than any suggestion that he was somehow late in breaking with his father. That is, Jack was born in 1917, so, by the time World War II began, he was 22 and already confident and seasoned enough to break with his father and become an internationalist. Bobby wasnt born until 1925, so he didnt turn 20 until 1945  the year that the war ended. As he was becoming confident and seasoned enough to break with his father, his frame of reference was less World War II and more the emerging Cold War with the Soviets.

I learned from you that Ted Kennedys first forays into international relations was as a foreign correspondent, first as a wire service correspondent abroad and later for the Boston Globe. As a former journalist yourself, you must have appreciated that nugget.

I greatly appreciated learning that, in fact, all three brothers served as foreign correspondents. Jack in 1945 covered the United Nations organizing conference in San Francisco, the British elections, and the Potsdam conference of Truman, Churchill, and Stalin for Hearst newspapers. Bobby in 1948 wrote long pieces from what was then Palestine for the Boston Post. And Ted in 1956 wrote dispatches from Africa for the International News Service, and he wrote lengthy pieces from Latin America for the Boston Globe. Joe Kennedy arranged for each of those jobs, and he did so to position all of the boys as global thinkers to potential electoral constituencies in Massachusetts and to broader audiences across the United States. It was an integral part of Joes efforts not just to groom the boys for success but to focus them on the world beyond Americas borders.

In his memoir written decades ago, JFK confidant Dave Powers said flatly that JFK would have pulled the U.S. out of Vietnam after the 1964 election. Other Kennedy loyalists have said much the same over the years. Where do you end up on this, Larry?

Im absolutely convinced that he would have done so, for several reasons. First, he was always ambivalent about Vietnam, and thats because Vietnam best reflected the conflicting strains of his foreign policy. He wanted to send a signal to the Soviets and make a stand in Vietnam against communist expansionism, but he didnt want a big American military presence in the developing world that would ignite the anti-Western resentment that he always worried about. Second, while he was expressing public optimism about how the South was doing and vowing to provide assistance until it won the war, he was discussing privately about how to withdraw. Third, he told top aides that he planned to withdraw after he (presumably) won reelection in 1964, but that he couldnt do so for political reasons before then. Fourth, he told Defense Secretary Robert McNamara to plan for a phased withdrawal that would extend through 1965. Fifth, by the time of his death in November of 1963, he had agreed to withdraw 1,000 of the 18,000 U.S. military advisers in Vietnam. And sixth, also by the time of his death, he had lost confidence that South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem would make the political, economic, and social reforms that would build support for the war effort in the South.

What took Bobby so long to come out against the war?

Lots of things. For starters, he was reluctant to break openly with President Johnson on such an important matter of foreign policy. Moreover, as LBJ militarized the U.S. effort and sent combat troops that eventually numbered more than half a million, Bobby came to see that LBJ would do the opposite of whatever Bobby proposed -- both because LBJ hated Bobby and because he always suspected (sometimes with good reason) that Bobby was plotting behind his back. So, Bobby feared that the more he called for troop withdrawals and negotiations, the more that LBJ would dig in on the war, the troops, and the bombing, causing more of the death and destruction that sickened Bobby. But, by early 1967, after two years of trying to convince LBJ -- through public prodding and private conversation -- to change course in Vietnam, both Bobby and Ted gave up any hope and broke openly with him.

You open Chapter 6 with a delightful anecdote less than three months into the Kennedy presidency  just after the Bay of Pigs fiasco  of JFK telling Richard Nixon, of all people, It really is true that foreign policy is the only important issue for a president to handle, isnt it? I mean, who gives a shit if the minimum wage is $1.15 or $1.25 in comparison to something like this? (And thats before the Cuban missile crisis.) But in thinking about that in the 21st century, doesnt it seem as though our two previous U.S. presidents, and the man in the Oval Office now, care much more about domestic policy and politics -- and little about foreign affairs?

Presidents, of course, have their natural predispositions. Some are clearly more interested in domestic than foreign affairs, and some are just the opposite. Of the latter group, JFK was undoubtedly the best example. He not only cared overwhelmingly about foreign affairs rather than domestic affairs, but he also saw domestic affairs largely through the prism of foreign affairs. For example, he wanted to nourish a strong economy largely because he thought it necessary to support Americas global role, and he became interested in civil rights largely because Americas race problems were giving the nation a black eye with nations of color around the world.

Of our recent presidents, Obama and Trump clearly cared more about domestic than foreign affairs. Obama was focused on reshaping America at home, and he sought to reduce Americas footprint around the world. Trump was significantly isolationist: He didnt seem to see the need for American leadership abroad, and he didnt seem to even recognize the important distinctions between free and non-free states. I dont think that Biden is like them, however. To the extent that hes focusing more on domestic than foreign affairs so far, thats because he faced a raging pandemic and a weak economy when he took office. He feels deeply about restoring Americas traditional leadership role in the world, and I think well see more of that as the pandemic recedes and the economy improves.

On July 4, 1961, Ted Kennedy said that the fall of Berlin could be a prelude to the fall of Boston. All three of the Kennedy brothers in your book were dedicated anti-communists. How do you believe they would view the current fascination for Marxist ideas among Gen-Zers and Democratic Socialists like Bernie Sanders and his young acolytes in Congress and the liberal wing of the Democratic Party?

Very negatively. All three brothers were hard-core Cold Warriors through Jacks death. To be sure, Bobby and Ted evolved after that, largely because of Vietnam. They came to worry more about what America was doing around the world, particularly when those actions failed to reflect Americas highest ideals. But neither of them ever lost their absolute distaste, if not hatred, for communism. Neither of them ever forgot the clear distinctions between a free and democratic country like America and a non-free communist country like, in their time, the Soviet Union, China, and Cuba. Were they alive today, they would view the current fascination for Marxist ideas as profoundly misguided and naive.

Penultimate question: What surprised you most in your research?

Two things. First, I was very surprised to learn that, despite the purposeful public displays of familial bliss that Joe and Rose orchestrated, the Kennedys were in many ways what, today, we would call dysfunctional. That showed up in a big way in the relationships that shaped the boys. Joe Jr., the first son who died during a dangerous bombing mission over Germany in 1944, bullied and beat Jack regularly; Jack deeply resented his mothers coldness toward him; Bobby was a classic middle child who was starved for attention as his father focused on Joe Jr. and Jack and the family doted on the younger Ted; and Ted was quite lonely as a child as his parents shuffled him off to 10 different schools.

Second, I was very surprised to learn just how gifted Jack, Bobby, and Ted each were as writers, as illustrated not just by their newspaper dispatches but also by their books, diaries, letters, and private notes. They wrote with a sharp eye for detail and a clever turn-of-phrase, and their writings from abroad were rich in detail about the history, cultures, ideologies, and other aspects of the lands they visited. All three of them easily would have been successful journalists or other kinds of writers.

Last question: I know you wrote about the three Kennedy brothers who went into politics, but I covered the Clinton administration and cant help but ask: Wouldnt Rose and Joseph Kennedy Sr. have been surprised, and delighted, that it was one of their daughters who served as ambassador to Ireland for five years, and helped shepherd the Good Friday agreement that brought solace to millions of Irish  and Irish Americans?

I believe so. Keep in mind: Joe, in particular, focused so much of his attention on his boys because he assumed, quite rightly for his time, that they were the ones who could climb the ladder of political success. He raised them in what was then the overwhelmingly male-dominated world of politics and global affairs. But Joe and Rose also instilled in their daughters a sense of public responsibility, an obligation to give back to those who were less fortunate. Thats among the reasons why we saw Eunice Shriver doing the work that she did with the Special Olympics. And thats why Jean Kennedy Smith jumped at the chance to serve as Americas ambassador to Ireland after Ted Kennedy recommended to President Clinton that he nominate her. Joe and Rose would have been very proud at the central role that both Ted and Jean Kennedy Smith played in bringing the troubles of Northern Ireland to an end.
They say the only poll that matters is the one taken on Election Day. That may be especially true in this years Virginia Republican gubernatorial primary, which will choose the partys nominee on May 8. Just days after a special election in Texas revealed the will of voters in that states 6th Congressional District, a record number of Republican delegates in the Old Dominion are set to participate in a drive through convention taking place at 37 locations across the state this Saturday.

The results of this hard-fought contest will also provide another clue as to the mood and makeup of a Republican Party trying to find its way after Donald Trumps loss last November, and also attempting to regain its footing in a state that has moved solidly into the Democratic camp over the last few election cycles.

Although there are seven candidates in the field, it has essentially boiled down to a four-person race: Kirk Cox, a longtime member of the Virginia House of Delegates; state Sen. Amanda Chase; Pete Snyder, an entrepreneur and marketing executive who ran for lieutenant governor in 2013; and Glenn Youngkin (pictured), former co-CEO of the investment firm The Carlyle Group.

Chase has been the most aggressive in seeking to woo Trump supporters, going so far as to embrace the moniker Trump in high heels and winning the endorsement of Trump stalwarts Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn and Roger Stone.

Cox is the establishment favorite, earning the endorsement of two former Virginia governors (Bob McDonnell and George Allen), a current congressman (Morgan Griffith), as well as former House member (Tom Davis), and about two dozen of his GOP colleagues in the House of Delegates.

Snyder and Youngkin have both offered themselves to voters as outsiders ready to shake up the establishment. Snyder has been endorsed by several former Trump administration officials, including Ken Cuccinelli and Sarah Sanders. Youngkin just recently snagged the endorsement of Sen. Ted Cruz.

To say polling in this race has been sparse would be an understatement. Two surveys of registered Republican voters conducted in early February, one by the Democrat-affiliated YouGov Blue and the other by Christopher Newport University, showed essentially the same thing: Chase with a small lead over Cox and Snyder, Youngkin trailing further -- but with more than half of GOP voters undecided.

But a new poll for the Youngkin campaign by Robert Cahaly of the Trafalgar Group shows a very different picture. Trafalgar, which shot to prominence in late 2016 after correctly forecasting Trump winning the White House thanks to narrow victories in Pennsylvania and Michigan, found Youngkin (38%) has a healthy, double-digit lead over Snyder (26%), with Chase and Cox tied at a distant third with 10% each. In the poll, 13% percent say they will vote for other and only 3% say they are undecided.

Unlike previous polls, Trafalgar did not just survey registered Republican voters. It contacted nearly 4,000 likely convention delegates between April 29 and May 3, reporting a margin of error of just 1.6 percentage points.

If the Trafalgar method is accurate, it suggests the landscape in the commonwealth has changed. Chase may have failed to expand her appeal, and Youngkin might have won over a lot of undecided Republican delegates with his focus on universal issues he argues can help win back suburban voters in Northern Virginia. But delegates will also be utilizing ranked-choice voting, which adds yet another element of uncertainty to the outcome.

Regardless, whoever wins the Republican nomination this Saturday will face an uphill battle in November against Terry McAuliffe, the former governor who is the odds-on favorite to win the Democratic primary, which takes place on June 8.

Republicans have been increasingly shut out of public office at all levels in Virginia as the state has moved politically leftward. Still, some Republicans believe an upset could be in the offing, particularly if their party emerges unified and energized in the aftermath of Saturdays convention.
Good morning, its Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Its Cinco de Mayo, a celebration that really got its start in California, not Mexico. I like to spotlight this event each year, and will reprise my account in a moment. First, Id point you to RCPs front page, which presents our poll averages, videos, breaking news stories, and aggregated opinion pieces spanning the political spectrum. Todays front page includes Sarah Longwell arguing that President Biden is delivering on the central promise of his campaign; (NBC News); Grace Daniel writing about critical race theory (The American Mind); Chris Cillizza on Democrats tenuous hold on Congress (CNN); and Josh Hawley on his new book about Big Tech (The Federalist). We also offer original material from our own reporters, columnists, and contributors:

* * *

Referendum on Progressivism in Pennsylvanias Two Big Cities. Charles F. McElwee examines key primary races in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia ahead of the May 18 elections.

Advocates: No Iran Nuclear Talks Until Hostages Are Freed. Susan Crabtree reports on new developments as the Biden administration pushes for a return to the 2015 agreement.

Author Q&A: The Kennedys in the World. I discuss the foreign policy education and focus of Jack, Bobby and Ted Kennedy with Lawrence J. Haas.

Biden Migration Fix Would Throw Good Billions After Bad. At RealClearInvestigations, Vince Bielski explains why prospects aren't encouraging for the administration's Central American plan, which mirrors ones that have failed in the past.

A Full Plate for the U.S. Trade Representative. At RealClearPolicy, Rodney Emery outlines the challenges facing Katherine Tai.

Open the Books and FreedomWorks on Bidens First 100 Days. Also at RCPolicy, John Hirschauer recaps a discussion by leaders of the two organizations, which advocate transparency in government spending and limiting the size of government, respectively.

Why We Must Invest More in GPS. At RealClearScience, Diana Furchtgott-Roth previews a webinar today on the need to provide a ground-based backup to GPS in case the systems satellites malfunction.

* * *

Cinco de Mayo is typically assumed by Anglos (and many Hispanics) to be a Mexican version of July 4. That's not really accurate. Moreover, although it ostensibly celebrates a temporal military victory by the Mexican Army over a French expeditionary force in the city of Puebla on May 5, 1862, the date first took hold among Mexicans living north of the border. Cinco de Mayo was really a way of commemorating the Civil War -- ours, not Mexico's. News traveled slowly in the mid-19th century, so Mexican miners in California's gold fields didn't hear of the Puebla defenders' victory over French troops dispatched by Napoleon III until three weeks later.

Fireworks were set off in the Gold Rush country of Northern California; rifles were fired into the air at Nevada mining camps; spontaneous fiestas broke out among work crews as far north as Oregon. The most organized celebrations among the Mexican diaspora in the West were in Los Angeles, where Mexican American politicians hosted rallies and delivered patriotic speeches.

At the time, many people in the United States believed that the French intention was to arm the Confederacy of Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis. This was an overblown worry, but Cinco de Mayo was a chance for Mexican Americans living in California to revel in their loyalty to the Union.

"Cinco de Mayo is not a Mexican holiday," UCLA professor David E. Hayes-Bautista told me a number of years ago. "It is an American Civil War holiday, created spontaneously by Mexicans and Latinos living in California who supported the fragile cause of defending freedom and democracy during the first years of that bloody War Between the States."

To Mexican Americans in the 1860s, most of whom loathed slavery, the Battle of Puebla became their version of the Battle of Shiloh: a victory for the Union. Mexico native Jose Alamillo, a professor of Chicano studies at California State University, Channel Islands, first heard of Cinco de Mayo in elementary school -- after moving to the U.S. with his family when he was 8 years old.

"It's not a Mexican holiday, not an American holiday, but an American-Mexican holiday," Alamillo told Time magazine. "They had to kind of make the case for fighting for freedom and democracy, and they were able to link the struggle of Mexico to the struggle of the Civil War, so there were simultaneous fights for democracy."

Over the years, it has evolved into a broader, and equally noble cause: celebrating the ethnic pluralism that makes this free country a vibrant cultural cauldron. And its hardly cultural appropriation for non-Hispanics to observe it -- its the very essence of the day.

Carl M. Cannon

Washington Bureau chief, RealClearPolitics

@CarlCannon (Twitter)

ccannon@realclearpolitics.com
UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies Environmental Ministers Council

Minister for Environment and Climate Change John Cortes last week chaired the virtual meeting of the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies Environmental Ministers Council.

The Council, which first met in Gibraltar in 2015, is made up of Ministers or their equivalents from all the inhabited OTs and CDs. This latest meeting was held over two days with representatives taking part from 14 of the 17 territories, supported by officials. Also represented was the UK Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA), which includes the UK representatives of OT Governments, and the UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF), which provides the Secretariat for the Council and organised the meeting.

A large number of items were discussed. Climate Change was one of the main topics, with territories discussing their targets and the challenges they face in striving towards Carbon neutrality, as well as sharing ideas and experience in dealing with severe weather events and sea level rise, to which many of the territories are particularly prone.

Representation at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) due to be held in Glasgow this year was also discussed.

Work on protecting and enhancing the biodiversity of the territories - which hold about 90% of the total biodiversity on British territory, also featured at the meeting, with nature-based solutions for dealing with climate change and re-wilding being some aspects discussed in this context.

Also on the agenda was a review of the impact of Brexit on the territories and a discussion on funding for the Environment, including on how governments can ensure that the Environment remains a top priority in territories hit by the economic impacts of Covid-19.

One of the outcomes of the meeting was a letter of solidarity and support to the people and Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, a country which has recently suffered a major volcanic eruption with consequences similar to those suffered in the past by UKOT Montserrat.

Minister John Cortes commented: It was an honour to have chaired this very well-attended meeting. Once again it proved extremely valuable to exchange ideas and experiences with my counterparts from around the world, and so to be able co-ordinate the work we all do on the Environment. By discussing challenges and solutions we can all move forward better.

UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies Environment Ministers Council meeting, 28-29 April 2021: Zoom group photo of lead delegates (from left to right, then top to bottom):

 Secretariat: Dr Mike Pienkowski, Chairman, UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum

 Gibraltar: Hon. Prof. John Cortes, Minister for Education, Heritage, Environment, Energy and Climate Change

 Anguilla: Ms Chanelle Petty Barrett, Permanent Secretary (Economic Development), representing Hon Kyle Hodge, Minister of Economic Development, Commerce, Information Technology & Natural Resources*

 Jersey: Deputy John Young, Minister for the Environment

 Isle of Man: Hon Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment Food and Agriculture

 Turks & Caicos Islands: Ms Tracy Knight, Representative and Head of London Office, on behalf of Hon. Josephine O. Connolly, Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Maritime, Gaming and Disaster Management

 Falkland Islands: Hon Teslyn Barkman MLA, Deputy Portfolio Holder for the Environment, on behalf of Hon Leona Roberts MLA, Portfolio Holder for the Environment

 Bermuda: Hon. Walter H Roban, JP, MP, Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs

 Montserrat: Ms Janice Panton, UK Representative, on behalf of Hon. Cranston Buffonge MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & Environment

 Alderney: States Member Annie Burgess, Chair of Economic Development Committee

 Tristan da Cunha: Mr Chris Carnegy, UK representative, on behalf of Councillor James Glass, Chief Islander and Director of Fisheries

 St Helena: The team from Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio (ENRPP), supporting Councillor Cruyff G. Buckley, Chair, Environment & Natural Resources Committee*

 Sark: Ms Shakira Christodoulou, on behalf of Conseiller Helen Plummer (Chairman, Agriculture and Environment Committee of the Chief Pleas of Sark)

 (British) Virgin Islands: Dr Marcia Potter, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, on behalf of Hon. Vincent O Wheatley, Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration*

 Isle of Man: Hon. Ray Harmer MHK, Minister for Policy and Reform

 Guernsey: Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, President of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure

*Portfolio-holders who had to be away from the meeting when the group image was taken

(Cayman Islands: Apologies and best wishes for the meeting were received from Hon Wayne Panton, Premier and Minister of Sustainability and Climate Change, Cayman, where ministerial portfolios are being settled only the same week.)
Traverse City, MI (49684)

Today

Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 63F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
The Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement held a vigil and libation ceremony to celebrate the Day of Jubilee, which commemorates May 4, 1865, the day when Union soldiers arrived in Clarke County and freed roughly 5,000 enslaved people.

Despite the rain, activists, organizers, performers and participants gathered at 6 p.m. in front of the University of Georgias Baldwin Hall to honor Athens enslaved people and reflect on current racial justice movements.

Knowa Johnson, AADM co-founder, opened the event by recalling his own enslaved ancestors.

Some people would say, That happened so long ago, why are you worried about the slaves? Johnson said. Being a descendant of those who were enslaved, it crosses my mind every time I pass an institution or statue of someone being celebrated that was a slave owner or part of the Confederacy.

Organizers led the crowd in a vigil, lighting a pair of candles and bowing their heads in a moment of silence to remember the lives and sacrifices of enslaved people.

The event also included a libation ceremony, an African ceremony where participants pour liquid onto the earth to honor the dead. Mokah Jasmine Johnson, AADM co-founder, passed water bottles to the crowd and read a prayer as they emptied them onto the ground.

In addition to remembering the lives of enslaved people, the speakers also discussed current racial issues and the remaining journey to equality.

Johnson drew attention to the UGAs history of slavery, and the unearthing of enslaved peoples remains during a renovation of Baldwin Hall in 2015. She criticized UGAs lack of accountability and reparations for Athenss Black community.

That is not good enough, Johnson said, gesturing to the memorial for the remains of the enslaved people found under the building on the lawn. That is nowhere good enough. There are still families in this community that deserve more than that.

Musical performances by Marco A. Hull and Keshia Burgess followed the speakers, as well as a poetry reading by Makenzie Harp. Johnson closed the event with a call to action, urging the crowd to continue fighting for racial justice in Athens.

We do want reparations, not just from Athens-Clarke County, but also from this university, Johnson said. March with us in the name of justice for our ancestors and for all of the workers that have slaved and built up this community.
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Shockwaves were sent through the University of Georgias Asian community after eight people, including six Asian women, were shot and killed Tuesday evening at three Asian-owned spas in metro Atlanta.
The Red & Black spoke with the members of Nix the Scientist to discuss Dark Passenger, how COVID-19 has impacted their music and some of their more general experiences as a band thus far. (Courtesy/Christian Gerner-Smidt)
Greenville, NC (27833)

Today

Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. Heavy and torrential downpours at times. High 86F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 71F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
17,613 people register to get vaccinated with Sinopharm, Indian stamp of COVID-19 has not yet been detected  COVID-19 update in Georgia

By Veronika Malinboym

On May 4, Georgia continued to implement the nationwide vaccination program, now using the Chinese-manufactured Sinopharm vaccine. According to the latest data of the Georgian Centre for the Disease Control, a total of 17,613 people aged over 18 have already registered to get a shot of the Sinopharm vaccine since April 27. The centre reported the vaccination with Sinopharm will be carried out in 33 medical centres and with the help of 33 specially trained brigades of professionals, and starting from May 5, vaccination will also be available in 44 additional medical centres. Earlier today, Head of the Georgias Center for Disease Control Amiran Gamkrelidze received his shot of the Sinopharm vaccine at the University Hospital in Tbilisi while being broadcasted live on the national TV.This Tuesday, during a briefing, Amiran Gamkrelidze called for Georgian citizens not to be agitated by the new Indian strain of the COVID-19, which, according to him, has not yet been detected in Georgia, although there is a chance that it has already entered the country:Please do not get anxious about this Indian strain. A powerful epidemic in India is not caused by the Indian strain only, it is a British strain  we call it double mutation. The Indian strain does, of course, exist, but the cases are much fewer. There is a chance that it is already present in Georgia, but we come across British strain much more often, Gamkrelidze explained.In another briefing that took place earlier today, Deputy Minister of Health Tamar Gabunia announced that additional doses of AstraZeneca vaccine will be delivered to Georgia on May 6, and that Georgia is expecting to acquire additional doses of Pfizer vaccine via the Covax platform.As of the last 24 hours, a total of 788 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the country, 1,206 have made a recovery and 20 people have died of coronavirus. The total number of confirmed cases in Georgia since February 2020 has not reached 313,742, out of which, 4,183 people have died and 313,742 have recovered.As of right now, 14,075 people remain infected with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Erosion Closes Clinton Road North of Melber

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MCCRACKEN COUNTY - KY 339/Clinton Road is closed at the Mayfield Creek Culvert just north of the McCracken-Graves County Line.The section a mile north of Melber was closed late Tuesday after finding floodwaters had caused erosion around the culvert.Engineers will be back at the site during daylight hours today to develop a repair plan.
BRATTLEBORO  The Brattleboro Reformer, Bennington Banner and Manchester Journal are being sold by New England Newspapers Inc., to Vermont News and Media LLC, a company headed by software entrepreneur Paul Belogour of Guilford.

The sales price was not disclosed, and Belogour said the terms are confidential.

Under the terms of the transaction, which takes effect May 14, NENI, based in Pittsfield, Mass., will continue to print the newspapers  the Reformer and the Banner, both daily, and the Journal, a weekly  for at least five years.

Vermont News and Media, LLC, will hire all of the New England Newspapers Inc.s Vermont current employees. It will also purchase UpCountry, a magazine focused on and distributed in Berkshire County, Mass., and Windham and Bennington counties.

Vermont News and Media LLC to acquire Brattleboro Reformer, Bennington Banner, Manchester Journal PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Fredric Rutberg, president of New England Newspapers Inc., announced tod

Belogour, 50, said he approached NENI about three months ago with an interest in purchasing the publications, each more than 100 years old and their respective communitys newspaper of record. He said he reads the Reformer daily, and called it and its sister papers world-class.

In a meeting with NENIs Vermont journalists, sales, circulation and support staff on Tuesday afternoon at the Innovation Box, his building on Landmark Way, Belogour committed to journalistic independence for the papers newsrooms and to sharing the wealth if the venture makes money.

Belogour has not previously owned a publishing or media company, but said he would rely on the expertise of his employees. He said he purchased the papers as a way to invest in the local community ... I want to help the community as much as I can.

Belogour also emphasized that hes willing to innovate and take risks, even if things dont work out at first, as long as it leads to success down the road.

What hes not interested in doing, he added, is purchasing additional newspapers.

Belogour said hes hoping his information technology background can help the publications earn advertising dollars that have been claimed by online sources including Google and Facebook, and that the publications can take advantage of worldwide interest in Vermont as a brand.

NENI president and publisher Fredric Rutberg said the sale was not predicated by fiscal distress. But he also said the Vermont publications deserve truly local ownership, and that the sale will allow NENI to focus more on The Eagle.

In 2016, our goal was to restore The Berkshire Eagle to local ownership and control, and with that ownership came our Vermont properties. So, when Vermont News and Media expressed interest, we saw it as an opportunity to bring local Vermont ownership to those publications, Rutberg said. The sale will allow us to devote all of our energy and resources to The Berkshire Eagle.

Rutberg and his fellow investors Hans Morris, the late Robert G. Wilmers, and the late Stanford Lipsey purchased the newspapers from Alden Global Capital in 2016. Alden had acquired the holdings of William Dean Singletons MediaNews Group, which purchased the publications from the Miller family of Pittsfield in 1995.

Vermont News and Media LLC, was incorporated on Jan. 22, according to the Secretary of States website.

Originally from Belarus, Belogour came to Boston in the early 1990s on a rowing scholarship to Northeastern University.

After six years at Bank of Boston, in 2001 Belogour, in collaboration with Commerce Bank and Trust, established his first foreign exchange firm, CBFX, which was the first FDIC-insured banking entity offering retail foreign exchange to customers worldwide.

A few years after its foundation, CBFX was purchased by IFX Markets and then City Index.

Belogour, working with a team of software engineers, developed UniTrader, built specifically for introducing brokers who help people navigate the world of foreign exchange.

Belogours real estate purchases in the past few years include the Country Kitchen/Mattress Center building on Western Avenue in Brattleboro; the Brattleboro Outlets Center on Canal Street; and the former Smyth Mansion at 70 Landmark Drive, now known as the Innovation Box.

He also owns Springfield-based Vermont Beer Makers, formerly known as Trout River Brewing Company, and the former Black Bear Sugarworks in Guilford.

He among the bidders for the former Southern Vermont College property in Bennington last year. Southwestern Vermont Health Care won the auction with a bid of $4.65 million.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

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A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low near 55F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Billy Con Toney, 80, of Oak Hill, WV, a resident of Ruckersville, VA for 30 years, passed away Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at his residence. Born October 19, 1940 in Carlisle, WV he was the son of the late Leon Franklin Toney and Pauline Jean Pemberton Toney. Billy was a United States Navy Veteran
A Ridgefield man accused of crushing a Metropolitan police officer in a door frame during the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol was ordered released from custody Tuesday as his federal court case remains pending, court filings show.

Patrick McCaughey III is facing charges of assaulting an officer, assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon and obstructing an official proceeding along with other charges, records show.

A second man, Tristan Stevens, has also been charged as a co-defendant.

Judge Trevor McFadden granted a motion for McCaugheys release made by Lindy Urso, McCaugheys Stamford-based criminal defense attorney during a status conference hearing held Tuesday over video conference.

Reached by phone Wednesday, Urso said McCaughey should be released from custody soon after his processing is complete.

I just want to say it seems like the judge believed much of what we put in our release paperwork. Im just thankful common sense and the law prevailed, Urso said.

Authorities allege McCaughey pinned D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges in a door frame with a riot shield as Hodges attempted to prevent a mob of Trump supporters from storming the building at the lower west terrace entrance. Authorities claim McCaughey also struck another officer with a riot shield.

Urso said he was able to secure McCaugheys release on a lien for the full equity of a New Canaan property owned by McCaugheys family. A court filing said the property belongs to McCaugheys grandmother.

McCaughey will return to his mothers home in Ridgefield where she will act as his custodian. Its unclear how often McCaughey will be able to leave the home. Urso said his client works with his father, who is a building contractor.

Prosecutors argued successfully against allowing McCaughey to be released from custody in February, claiming he was a flight risk as a dual citizen of the U.S. and Germany, and because the bond for his release would be secured through liens on his familys properties. Prosecutors also cited the fact that McCaugheys father attended the Jan. 6 rally, spurred by President Trumps false narrative that the election had been stolen, as evidence he should not be released.

In court filings earlier in the spring, Urso argued that the matter of McCaugheys release should be reopened, citing statements made by Hodges to a local news station in which the officer said he was screaming for help. Ursos filing latched onto the statement to undermine the governements claim Hodges was screaming out in pain.

He also noted in the filing that Stevens, McCaugheys co-defendent, was released without bond.

Urso said the conditions of his clients release include not being able to possess weapons, GPS monitoring, and surrenduring both his U.S. and German passports to federal probation officers in Bridgeport.
Bridge On Clinton Road Washed Out

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MCCRACKEN COUNTY - According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Office, Clinton Road is closed between Wurth Road and County Line Road in Melber due to a bridge washing out.There is no estimate on how long the road will remain closed.
Criminal mischief under investigation

MIDDLEPORT  State police at Frackville are investigating a criminal mischief incident that happened sometime between April 21 and April 26 on Second Street.

Police said a Middleport man reported someone broke the window of his 2017 Chevrolet Cruz, causing an estimated $500 in damage.

The man reported coming out to his vehicle on Monday and saw the rear window had a hole it in and the glass was spider webbed, police said, adding that when the man shut the door to the car the glass shattered.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.
POTTSVILLE  A religious group is interested in buying the historical St. Anns Cathedral at 912 W. Market St in the city, Blight Task Force member Betty Schwear said during Tuesdays virtual meeting of the organization.

Iglesia Nueva Vida, a New Life Evangelical Church based in Reading, wants to acquire the property and use it as a house of worship, according to Jackie Vega, a youth pastor.

The church would use the Pottsville building for worship and a home it purchased on Sunbury Street in Minersville for offices, she said. Vegas husband, Luis D. Rivera, would be the minister.

We want to get involved in the community and spread the word of God, she said, adding that they would gather for services several days a week and would work with local food pantries.

The property has been owned since 2010 by the Arabic Catholic Church Diocese of USA, with Ramzi R. Musallam, of Dupont, as its legal representative. A phone number listed for the church was disconnected.

Musallams Arabic Catholic Church is not recognized by the Vatican. Religious services have not been held at the Market Street site for several years.

The building was built in 1859 as the First German Reformed Church and rebuilt in 1927, according to Republican Herald archives.

It was owned by First German Reformed Church and Parsonage from 1962 to 2003, when Joseph E. Loria and Derba Romano bought it and the 20-vehicle parking lot at 920 W. Market St.

They then sold the church and a parking lot to the Arabic Catholic Church Diocese of the USA in 2010. In 2016, the church moved the office of its archbishop to a home at 1812 Mahantongo St.

Schwear said that while taxes are up to date on the property, the owners have water bills past due.

Schwear planned to meet with a representative from the organization and they planned to reach out to the owner.

Worst properties

During the meeting, City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar highlighted the 10 worst properties in the city: 1011 Minersville St.; 511 Peacock St.; 914 W. Race St.; 912 W. Race St.; 305 N. Ninth St.; 237 Wallace St.; 525 N. Third St.; 571 S. Centre St.; 627 Pierce St.; and 539 E. Norwegian St.

Palamar said that 539 E. Norwegian St. is a priority for demolition because the back portion and the roof is collapsing.

Schwear said another property on the blight list, 8 N. 11th St., was deteriorating and had a backyard full of trash.

Its not worth fixing up, she said.

Schwear said another property on the list, 915 W. Market St., is in disrepair. But Schwear, of Real Estate Investors Group, said she wants to buy it and rehabilitate it for a tenant.

As of last Thursday, Palamar said there are 409 properties on the citys blight list. He said properties are added to it after an assessment by city officials and are addressed by notifying the owner of the problems, which he acknowledged isnt always easy.

He stressed city officials work with the property owners before issuing citations. Properties posing an immediate danger to the public are demolished. Other measures include quality of life tickets; the citys nuisance property ordinance; denying permits, a home grant program and a vacant property registration.

Palamar said that between 2014 and April, 49 blighted properties were demolished. Thirty demolitions were funded through the Community Development Block Grant program; nine were damaged by fire; eight were demolished as part of the county demolition program; and two were emergency demolitions. City officials have applied for a $300,000 grant from the state to cover future demolition.

As of last Thursday, code enforcement officers issued 3,632 quality of life tickets, of which 1,456 were paid, while under the nuisance property ordinance, which allows city officials to designate a property as nuisance after three infractions within a 90 day period, 37 letters were sent to property owners.

Palamar said 10 occupancy permits were denied due to code violations.

Code officer Vince Alessi said there are two dozen properties on the vacant property registry list, adding the program has had a ton of success.

Home grants are awarded to owners of up to $24,999 if they live in the home, own it, are up-to-date on taxes and meet federal income guidelines.

Palamar said 21 homeowners have been deemed eligible for a grant, with 25 on the wait list.

The grants come from a $500,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development and city officials have applied for another.

Palamar also highlighted the work of the Pottsville Redevelopment Authority, which created the redevelopment area that encompasses all of downtown and includes 487 properties.

The area was revised last October to include Progress Avenue, where the former Giant supermarket stands, as well as a portion of North Centre Street.

He added that the Giant building and the Thompson building on North Centre and West Market Street are of particular focus for officials.

The next task force meeting is scheduled for June 1. Among the 15 other individuals who attended the virtual meeting, the first in a year, were city officials; Rep. Joe Kerwin, R-125, Lykens; Pottsville Housing Authority Executive Director Craig Shields; and Mary Beth Dougherty, a staff assistant to State Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Township.
MINERSVILLE  Ever since she was young, Holly Chapman made candies.

It was a tradition with my grandmother, said the borough resident.

Today, as owner of Bea Anthony Confections, her candies, which are sold from her home on North Street, are in demand.

Chapman, 39, and her grandmother, the late Carol DeAngelo, of Frackville, would make peanut rolls. Chapman originally began the business at the end of February to sell Easter candy.

But her candy proved popular.

Everybody fell in love with my candy, she said Monday at her home.

It was her aunt, Denise Becker, of Palmyra, who suggested selling them.

Chapman thought she would be happy getting a total of five orders. But today, she gets calls twice a day for orders.

She obtained licenses in March from the state Department of Agriculture to sell food out of her home and from the Minersville Department of Health certifying that she can safely operate a food business and that her kitchen is sanitary.

The business takes its name from Chapmans sons, Bryce Chapman, 8, and Gage Chapman, 10. Bryces nickname since birth is Beazus; Anthony is Gages middle name.

I wanted a unique name, she said.

In addition to peanut rolls, Chapmans confections are club sandwiches, peanut butter delights, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate truffles, brownies and chocolate covered Oreos.

She also takes requests from customers.

Chapman makes them for individuals, for groups and for any occasion. This weekend, she will have her first vendor show at Stoyers Dam in Schuylkill Haven.

The peanut rolls and club sandwiches are popular orders, but her favorite ones to make involve creativity. Some were made to look like Grogu, or Baby Yoda, the central character from The Mandalorian show; floral crosses; mermaids; and candies with the logo of Big Diamond Speedway.

The business is run from Chapmans home, where customers pick up the candies.

Orders are made on the Bea Anthony Confections Facebook page or by calling 570-617-7068.

She doesnt have immediate plans to open a storefront, but hopes to eventually open a seasonal store in either Cape May or Stone Harbor, New Jersey, with online orders still available.

Both shore towns are favorite vacation spots for her, and Chapman said she also likes that they are family oriented.

Chapman, who works full time in the Schuylkill County Adult Probation Department, said making the candies is soothing.

Its time I get to myself, away from everything, to be creative, she said. Its relaxing.

They also add something special to someones occasion, Chapman said, adding she likes the feedback she receives.

Knowing I made someone happy, she said.
Jackie Shroff's daughter Krishna Shroff took to Instagram on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, to share a post that is truly unmissable. In the picture, Krishna can be seen adorably cuddling with her four-legged companion Snug. Shroff, who is chilling with Snug on the couch, can be seen donning a grey top along with hot pink leggings. Along with the post, Krishna wrote, lockdown cuddles with this teddy bear emoji. Take a look at Krishna Shroff's Instagram post below.

Krishna Shroff often goes on to share several pictures, videos, stories, reels and many more with her fans giving them a glimpse of her personal as well as professional life. Earlier, Krishna shared a picture of her soaking in the sun. Taking to her Instagram handle, Krishna Shroff posted a bikini photo of her which is unmissable. In the picture, Krishna can be seen soaking up the sun as she lies on a mat on her balcony. "Sun's out," she posted with a hashtag "#Lockdown2021" and a "Stay at Home" sticker. Take a look at the post below.

Krishna also shared a photo from her trip to the Maldives with her fans. Krishna can be seen in the photos wearing a red and black bikini while taking an outdoor shower. While in the shower, she flaunted her svelte figure and various tattoos. She opted for a no-makeup look, with her hair left loose. She captioned the photo "Zen" with a peace and plant emoticon and shared it with her 800k followers. Check out her post below.

Krishna is a fitness freak who posts about her workout routine on social media. Aside from that, she recently released her own app. Her fans can connect with her and view her exclusive posts via this app. She even requested that her fans show her some love by downloading the app. She made the announcement on her Instagram story, which was later shared by both mama Ayesha and papa Jackie Shroff. They backed their daughter and expressed their pride in her work. Ayesha wrote while sharing the video, "I am so proud of you, my sweet little baby girl!! Making your own path with courage and dignity ". Take a look.

Image Source: Krishna Shroff Instagram

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American socialite Kim Kardashian has come under the scanner of the US government. Recently, she has been asked to return a rare statue that she reportedly purchased from Belgium. The statue in question has been smuggled out of Italy by giving false documentation.

Kim Kardashian asked to return a rare art piece

According to a report by Artnet, Kim Kardashian purchased the statue called the Fragment of Myrons Samian Athena from the Axel Vervoordt Gallery located in Belgium. It dates back to the 1st or 2nd century. It was not allowed to pass through the US border as the team working with Kim tried to bring it to the States by providing false documentation. After the new documents were provided to allow its shipment to the country, it was then ascertained that the statue was 'looted, smuggled, and illegally exported'.

After the authorities executed a thorough check, they realised that the art piece was 'protected cultural property'. They began to suspect malpractice when two of the invoices regarding the piece had different descriptions of the object. The US has imposed strict laws to restrict the import of rare art pieces from Italy to prevent thievery of any kind. One must need a license or a permit that states that their import has not broken any rules in the country where the piece belongs to. The price of the sculpture is stated to be a whopping $745,882.

According to a report by Pinkvilla, Kim Kardashian's team has issued a statement saying that the 40-year-old makeup mogul has no knowledge of the statue and has not heard of it before. They also stated that someone might be impersonating her to purchase the statue. They also said that she is not even aware of the transaction that took place for it.

Kim Kardashian's net worth

The entrepreneur's net worth crossed the one billion dollar mark last month. The shapewear company SKIMS and makeup brand KKW Beauty have largely contributed to the rise in Kim Kardashian's net worth. It was stated to be $780 million in October 2020.

Kim Kardashian's divorce

Kim and Kanye have finalised their divorce in April 2021 citing 'irreconcilable differences'. The couple has also agreed to the joint custody of their four children North, Chicago, Saint, and Psalm. The couple tied the knot in May 2014.

Image- @kimkardashian Instagram

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I-24 in Massac County To Be Closed Tonight

By West Kentucky Star Staff

METROPOLIS - I-24 traffic coming into Illinois tonight will be diverted off the interstate at the Metropolis exit.Bridge contruction underway in Massac County will require that I-24 be closed from 8 p.m. tonight until 6 a.m. Thursday.Traffic coming from Paducah will use Exit 37 at Metropolis and will be diverted onto US 45. From there drivers can go through Metropolis and Vienna to rejoin the interstate.Drivers can also join US 145 and travel north into Pope County, then west on US 146 and rejoin I-24 north of Vienna.Drivers in Metropolis and Massac County will need to watch for the much increased traffic on local roads, especially large trucks.Several road projects are slated on I-24 in Massac County through the fall of 2022.
Netflix's popular documentary series Wild Wild Country based on the controversial Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh aka Osho kept many viewers hooked with six fascinating tales in 2018. The documentary showed conversation around mysterious communities and telling the world the shocking and intriguing tales of cult lead Osho's rise and fall in the '80s. If you loved Wild Wild Country, here are five other documentaries based on cults to binge-watch.

Documentaries like Wild Wild Country based on cults

Children of God

1994's Children of God documentary showed an interview of a family affected by a cult which leads to a series of degrading incidents. An hour-long documentary show insights of the former members of The Family Cult led by David Berg. He encouraged female members to engage in sexual acts with outsiders to entice them to join his cult and also showed his hand in the sexual abuse of children. The documentary also features Rose McGowan and Joaquin Phoenix who were born into the cult but fled with relatives when they were children.

Jonestown: Paradise Lost

If you are fascinated by cults and how they function, Jonestown: Paradise Lost is a perfect watch for you that takes place in Guyana. The documentary shows the dramatic journey that led to mass suicide and murder of members of The Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ in November 1978. It was reported that more than 900 members lost their lives by drinking a powdered drink that was laced with cyanide. Cult Leader Jim Jones ordered to forcefully inject at least 70 members with poison and a third of them were underage.

Holy Hell

Holy Hell showed filmmaker Will Allen's world-changing overnight when he joined a "happy-go-lucky" center Buddhafield when he was kicked out of his house at the age of 22 for being gay. The cheery group of people led by Michel Rostand got into what they perceived as "utopia" only to discover years later the reality was something else. A person says in the documentary said that they were always told by Rostand that they were in an "anti-cult" however upon realizing the truth Allen left the cult after 22 long years.

My Scientology Movie

The 2015 British documentary My Scientology Movie shows an unconventional approach to Scientology. After Filmmaker Louis Theroux is denied admittance into the Church of Scientology's headquarters, he teams up with a former church senior Mark Rathbuth to create dramatic reconstructions of incidents within the church faced by ex-Scientologists. While filming dark secrets of the illegal activities in the Church, Theroux questions Rathbun's own former complicity in the church's "terroristic" activities.

Three Wives One Husband

Three Wives One Husband featured four-part series that showed a little community in which lived in the middle of the Utah desert consisting of only fourteen families. The documentary shows that half of the families on Rockland Ranch consisted of one husband and multiple wives just as advertised in the title. The film showed these friendly free-thinking fundamentalists, an estranged group from the idealistic world, giving a glimpse of what they perceived as "normal" and the difficulties that came with it.

IMAGE: STILL FROM WILD WILD COUNTRY TRAILER

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NDA exam is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) annually for admission to the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings of the National Defence Academy. NDA is a national-level entrance exam that is held twice a year for aspirants looking to join the Defence Forces. Before applying for the entrance exam, the candidate must know whether they're able to meet the eligibility criteria. Refer to this article for NDA Eligibility Criteria 2021 for unmarried male candidates.

NDA Eligibility Criteria 2021

NDA 2021 Academic Criteria

The candidates must have completed their Class 12 of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or its equivalent from a recognized State Education Board or a University.

Candidates who are applying for Air Force and Naval Wings must have completed their Class 12 of the 10+2 pattern of School Education or its equivalent with Physics and Mathematics from a recognized State Education Board or a University.

NDA 2021 Physical Criteria

Eligibility Criteria for Army/Air Force

Height Weight 16-17 years Weight 17-18 years Weight 18-19 years 152 42.5 44 45 155 43.5 45.3 47 157 45 47 48 160 46.5 48 49 162 48 50 51 165 50 52 53 167 51 53 54 170 52.5 55 56 173 54 57 58 175 56 59 60 178 58 61 62 180 60 63 64.5 183 62.5 65 66.5

Eligibility Criteria for Navy

Height Weight 16 years Weight 18 years Weight 20 years 152 44 45 46 155 45 46 47 157 46 47 49 160 47 48 50 162 48 50 52 165 50 52 53 167 52 53 55 170 53 55 57 173 55 57 59 175 57 59 61 178 59 61 62 180 61 63 64 183 63 65 67

Vision Standard

Navy

Uncorrected without glass - 6/6, 6/9

Corrected with glass - 6/6, 6/6

Limits of Myopia - 0.75

Limits of Hypermetropia - +1.5

Limits of colour perception - I

Binocular vision - III

Air Force

Uncorrected without glass - 6/6, 6/9

Corrected with glass - 6/6 (Only for Hypermetropia)

Limits of Myopia - Nil

Limits of Hypermetropia - +2.00 D Sph

Limits of colour perception - Nil

Binocular vision - Nil

Manifest Myopia - Nil Re

Tinoscopic Myopia - 0.5

Colour Vision - CP-I (MLT)

Astigmatism - +0.75 Cyl (within + 2.0 D.Max)

Near Vision - N-5 each eye

Nationality

As per NDA eligibility criteria 2021, a candidate must be either:

A Citizen of India A subject of Nepal A subject of Bhutan A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India. A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or East African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia or from Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
New Delhi, May 5 (PTI) The European Union on Wednesday announced an initial Euro 2.2 million (approx Rs 19 crore) in emergency funding to support the World Health Organisation's measures to help India deal with increasing cases of COVID-19.

The 27-nation grouping said the funding announced by the European Commission is in addition to the medical assistance being provided to India by EU member states.

"Today, the Commission has announced that it will allocate an initial Euro 2.2 million in emergency funding to respond to the drastic surge in COVID-19 cases in India," the EU said.

"The funding will support the World Health Organization (WHO) for a 6-month case management of COVID-19 patients, as well as strengthening laboratory capacity for COVID-19 testing," it said.

Several EU member states have announced providing emergency medical support to India as the country fights a devastating second wave of the pandemic.

"We are providing additional EU support towards the fight against COVID-19 in India. This comes on top of the generous and swift assistance from EU member states that stepped up as part of Team Europe to offer critical supplies of oxygen, ventilators and medicines over the last few days," said EU's Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic.

"We stand ready to work with the WHO and other partners on the ground to jointly fight this battle at this difficult time - we are stronger together," the official said.

The EU member states which have already mobilised supplies of urgently needed oxygen, ventilators and medicines to India are Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg and Netherlands.

Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sweden are also among the countries supplying medical aid to India. PTI MPB ZMN

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
In an interview with ANI, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar spoke about a range of subjects including COVID-19 and India's relations with China. Speaking on India-China relations which had hit rock bottom after the violent face-off in the Galwan valley between the armies of the two nations, Jaishankar said there has been some progress in some areas on the bilateral relations as the two sides have resorted to talks on disengagements.

"India & China have made some progress in some areas. We haven't come to the de-escalation part of it which will follow after disengagement is done. The last conversation with China was focused on COVID-19 and the Chinese Foreign Minister also said the same to me," Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar also remarked that the relationship between the two Asian powers is going through a difficult phase due to violations of agreement and understanding of many years and the deployment of a large part of the Chinese military on or close to the LAC without any explanation.

However, when China offered to help India tackle the devastating second wave of COVID-19, Jaishankar said the best way they could help was to ease the process of export of materials from China which was required by companies in India.

"During the conversation with the Chinese Foreign Minister, I told him that the best way you could help would be to look into the difficulties being faced by some of our companies that are ordering stuff from China. After our conversation, things immediately moved," Jaishankar said.

COVID-19 assistance from other countries

As India battles the deadly COVID-19 crisis with an acute shortage of oxygen and other medications required in the treatment of COVID-19 patients amid the alarming surge in infections, more than 40 countries have sent medical aid and other assistance to India to combat the crisis, as India had assisted several nations to tackle the COVID-19 crisis by sending essential medical supplies and vaccines. Although China was one of the countries to offer assistance, India hasn't accepted any aid from China. India relied on the US for raw materials essentially required by Serum Institute for manufacturing Covishield and did not procure it from China, due to the quality issues. However, nations such as the US, the UK, Russia, France, Germany, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, among others have sent medical assistance to India.

India-China Galwan conflict

India's relations with China had hit an all-time low when the Chinese PLA had a violent face-off with the Indian Army in the Galwan valley in Ladakh region which is close to the LAC, leading to the martyrdom of 20 Indian Army jawans including a commanding rank officer. Although an official number has not been released by China, ANI citing sources from international intelligence had stated that more than 40 casualties were reported in the Chinese army. The two nations have now resorted to disengagement along the LAC and have held 11 rounds of Corps commander level military talks.

(IMAGE: AP /PTI)
The European Union on Wednesday announced an initial emergency funding of 2.2 million (approx Rs 19 crore) to support the World Health Organisation's relief measures to help India tackle the present COVID-19 crisis. The funding announced by the European Commission is in addition to the medical assistance being provided to India by members of the Union.

"Today, the Commission has announced that it will allocate an initial 2.2 million in emergency funding to respond to the drastic surge in COVID-19 cases in India. The funding will support the WHO for 6-month case management of COVID-19 patients, as well as strengthening laboratory capacity for COVID-19 testing," the EU said.

Several EU member states have announced emergency medical support to India as its fights a devastating second wave of the pandemic that has put immense strain on the countrys health infrastructure.

EU sends medical assistance to India

"We are providing additional EU support towards the fight against COVID-19 in India. This comes on top of the generous and swift assistance from EU member states that stepped up as part of Team Europe to offer critical supplies of oxygen, ventilators and medicines over the last few days," said EU's Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic.

"We stand ready to work with the WHO and other partners on the ground to jointly fight this battle at this difficult time - we are stronger together," the official said.

The EU member states which have already mobilised supplies of medical oxygen, ventilators and medicines to India amid growing shortages are - Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg and Netherlands. Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sweden. are also among the countries providing medical aid to India.

(With inputs from agency)
SamudraSetu II is supporting the national effort of the fight against COVID-19 with deployments across the expanse of IOR.
Indias Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Wednesday held a virtual meeting with Dr Anthony Fauci, Americas top public health expert, to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in India and the efficacy of vaccines against the new virus strains. The meeting was part of Sandhus intensified and focused outreach to key stakeholders of healthcare and pandemic response in the US. For the first time, the Indian envoy met Dr Fauci, who is the top advisor to President Joe Biden on the pandemic and has emerged as an icon of America's COVID battle for opposing the former President, Trump, who had tried to play down the pandemic from its early stages to the point where it hit the US hardest among the world's countries.

During the meeting, Dr Fauci expressed his solidarity and support with India in this hour of crisis. The meeting came a day after he termed Indias situation very desperate and suggested that the government gather all its resources, including the armed forces, to immediately build makeshift field hospitals. He also urged other countries to help India with not only materials but also personnel.

Topics including the virus strains and the efficacy of vaccines against these variants in India also came up during the discussion. Dr Fauci, who is also the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institute of Health, offered American assistance to India, including in research and development.

Substantive conversation w/ @NIAIDNews Director & Chief Medical Advisor to US President Dr. Antony Fauci this afternoon on the pandemic situation. Discussed virus variants, vaccines, response mechanisms & joint efforts incl in R & D. Thanked him for his insights and solidarity. pic.twitter.com/oTggroEsgy  Taranjit Singh Sandhu (@SandhuTaranjitS) May 4, 2021

Dr Fauci also spoke about the severe COVID-19 situation faced by the US and the various policy responses adopted to tackle it. Strengthening joint research in healthcare, particularly in the context of the pandemic, was also discussed.

India's COVID-19 tally

India is struggling with an unprecedented second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past few days. According to Indian health ministry data on Tuesday, Indias total tally of COVID-19 cases crossed the 2-crore mark with 3,57,229 infections being reported in a day, while the death toll increased to 2,22,408 with 3,449 new fatalities.
Brussels, May 5 (AP) Experts, policymakers and practitioners from Europe and India stressed on creating a collaboration roadmap on Covid assistance during an ongoing eight-day virtual summit.

The EU-India Peoples Summit, which kickstarted on May 1, came ahead of the annual European Union-India Diplomatic Summit scheduled on May 8.

The diplomatic summit was intended to take place in Porto, Portugal, but will now be held virtually due to the global surge in COVID-cases.

COVID-relief, vaccine and oxygen exports as well as a trade deal are expected to be core topics at the diplomatic summit, sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that he will join the summit briefly via video call.

"The diplomatic summit is closed to the public, and insights from those fighting COVID at the ground level can therefore not be brought to the virtual table. In this regard, experts, policymakers and practitioners from Europe and India came together for an eight-day People's Summit from May 1 to 8 to create a collaboration roadmap on assistance post- and during COVID," a press release issued by the organisers of the EU-India Peoples Summit said on Wednesday.

The summit is organised by a group of institutions led by the Foundation London Story, Indian Solidarity Finland, The Liberal Indians - France, in partnership with the wider Indian diaspora.

"In the past weeks, these diaspora groups have balanced the summit planning with mobilising funds for COVID-relief in India and have set up fundraisers and campaigns to ensure oxygen supply to fellow Indians in their home country," the release said.

Explaining the objectives of the summit, Dr Ritumbra Manuvie from the London Story Foundation said, As diasporic Indians with families and friends in India we are distraught by the apocalyptic situation back home.

"Through the Peoples Summit, which we organised through voluntary work within a frame of only four weeks, we want to send a strong message of solidarity to the people of India. We have neither abandoned our home country nor have we stopped thinking about the welfare of the people of India. While 15 member states of the EU, the UK and the US have already opened assistance through civil protection, members of the European Parliament and member states parliaments addressing the EU-India People's Summit stress the need for further assistance to India in the light of the COVID pandemic.

High Commissioner for Foreign Relations and Trade of the European Parliament Alviina Alametsa in her address at the summit emphasised India's COVAX assistance programme and reiterated a need for assistance to India in this time of need.

Deputy Chairman of Germanys India Delegation Omid Nouripour said, We have always benefitted from Indias immense capacity in medical goods manufacturing. Its time to us to say Thank You and for Germany and the European countries to help with everything we have at our disposal. Both Alametsa and Nouripour highlighted that the summit responds to the urgent need to people-to-people dialogue between India and Europe.

Jayati Ghosh, UN-appointed economic adviser on international COVID relief, in an interview with the organizers argued against vaccine nationalism and vaccine passports, stating that 14 rich countries have been grabbing vaccines from Day 1, and the supply is only artificially limited. Anand Grover, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, emphasised that the legal system and respect for human rights are inextricably linked with an effective COVID-response.

Alena Kahle, organiser of the Summit from Germany, said, Through the appeals made by the speakers at the Summit, we are writing a rights-oriented Peoples Blueprint for EU-India collaboration that we will introduce to the European Parliament. Other speakers at the summit include Chair of European-Indian Business Council Soeren Gade, Danish Ambassador to India Freddy Savvne, and Members of the Dutch Parliament and the European Parliament.

Also expressing concerns over the COVID situation and the need for cooperative and collaborative global action were former Chairman of the National Security Advisory Board and climate expert Ambassador Shyam Saran, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy Dr Joseph Cannataci, prominent social scientists and economists including Christophe Jaffrelot, Mukulika Banarjee and Marie-Caroline Saglio-Yatzimirsky.

Prominent civil society activists who have addressed the summit include Prof Apoorvanand, Nodeep Kaur, Kamayani Swami, Navkiran Natt, Gautam Mody, Nikita Sud, Amir Ullah Khan, Pratik Sinha and N Ram. PTI SCY SCY SCY

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In a major success for the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, a foreign terrorist involved in the killing of two councilors and a policeman on March 29 in the ensuing year was among two terrorists neutralized in an encounter at Nathipora area of Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.

Top official sources said that two terrorists were killed in the encounter at the Nathipora area of Sopore after the security forces laid siege in the area after receiving specific inputs about the presence of terrorists in the aforesaid area earlier today. They said among the two eliminated in the encounter is a Pakistan national who was involved in the Sopore attack that rusted in the killing of two councilors including Riyaz Ahamd, Shams ud din, and a policeman Shafqat Nazir On March 29 during a scheduled meeting of elected councilors.

Just days after the attack, police had come down heavily and apprehended around 6 associates of Lashkar who confirmed their involvement in the attack. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Sopore, Sudhanshu Verma had then claimed that two Lashkar terrorists are involved in the attack and both will be naturalized soon or made to surrender.

Terming the killing of a foreign terrorist as success, he said that bodies of both have been retrieved, and one AK-47 rifle, one INSAS along with some ammunition has been recovered from the spot while search and sanitize operation is underway at the encounter site.

In order to maintain the law and order situation in the police district, Sopore authorities have suspended mobile internet services as a precautionary measure.

An official, who was part of the encounter, said that repeated appeals were made to hiding terrorists to surrender but all the attempts but they did not budge and instead, fired upon the joint search party of security agencies.

Notably, this encounter was the joint operation of Army's 22 RR, SOG Sopore and CRPF.

(Credit-Arawat Mehraj)
Hitting out against the post-poll violence in West Bengal, former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday described it as "state-sponsored terrorism". BJP, Congress, CPI(M), and ISF have been up in arms over the violence which has reportedly claimed 14 lives in the last two days. Speaking to the media in Nagpur, he claimed that there was lawlessness in West Bengal. Moreover, he questioned the silence of the "progressive" political parties on this issue.

Ex-Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis remarked, "What is unfolding in Bengal is the death of democracy. It is state-sponsored terrorism. The arson and the manner in which BJP's male and female workers are being targeted after the elections indicate lawlessness. Every BJP worker of the country is standing in solidarity with Bengal. Those who call themselves progressive are quiet today. Nobody is ready to talk about this violence. This is politics of hypocrisy."

What is happening in West Bengal is called state sponsored terrorism. BUT why are the ones who call themselves progressive not uttering a single word against such horrifying acts?

Interaction with media at Nagpur this evening on #BengalBurning pic.twitter.com/eg8jJ44kTz  Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) May 4, 2021

Post-poll violence in West Bengal

While the Ministry of Home Affairs sought a detailed report from the state government regarding the "post-election violence targeting opposition political workers in the state", PM Modi called up WB Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and expressed his anguish at the law and order situation. While TMC attributed the deaths to "intra-BJP fights", Banerjee requested everyone to remain peaceful. Addressing a press conference a day earlier, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra opined that such scenes have never been witnessed in the country's electoral history.

Alleging that "Bengal is burning", he reckoned that TMC should show graciousness after winning the election. He extended solidarity with BJP workers and the 2.28 crore people who have voted for the party in the 2021 Assembly election. Patra remarked, "2.28 crore Bengalis voted for BJP. Is it not their democratic right to vote for a political party of their choice? Will Mamata-TMC govt take care of them? Do they have no democratic right?" Meanwhile, BJP president JP Nadda commenced his two-day visit to WB and met the families of the affected party workers in Pratapnagar, Beliaghata and Gopalpur.
Mayfield Man Jailed on Burglary Charge

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MAYFIELD - A Mayfield man was arrested Tuesday on a burglary charge.The Mayfield Police Department said 28-year-old Philip Vrhovnik broke into a home and destroyed property inside.He was arrested on a charge of 2nd degree burglary and lodged in the Graves County Jail.Vrhovnik was arrested last month after he allegedly began yelling and cursing at a Kentucky State Trooper who had responded to a suspicious person call. Vrhovnik led police on a short foot pursuit before being arrested on numerous charges including trespassing, resisting arrest and possession of methamphetamine.
As CM Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) swept the 2021 West Bengal Assembly Elections, Senthil Thondaman on behalf of Sri Lanka and Ceylon Workers Congress congratulated the TMC supremo on being elected as the Chief Minister of the state. In a letter addressed to Mamata Banerjee, Senthil Thondaman said that Trinamool Congress' victory speaks in favour of firm confidence and strong support of the people of West Bengal to her and her goal & wise policy.

Sri Lanka's Senthil Thondaman congratulates CM Mamata

The letter written by the Ceylon Worker Congress worker read, "The people of West Bengal consecutively elected your party third term strongly believing that under your leadership West Bengal will achieve new accomplishments in its economic and social developments."

Read the full letter here:

West Bengal election results

Although Mamata Banerjee lost the high-intensity Nandigram battle, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) won 160 seats and is leading in another 52. Meanwhile, BJP won 49 seats and leads additionally in 29. Accepting its defeat, the BJP said it has reached the milestone of becoming the opposition party in Bengal. We got the responsibility of becoming the opposition party in the state and we will do everything to serve the people and help Mamata Didi to fight COVID-19 and all other work required to serve the public, the BJP said in a press conference on the result day.

Bengal witnessed a vigorous contest between the ruling Trinamool and BJP across eight phases held from March to April. The election witnessed incidents of political violence, blame game and mudslinging in the run-up to the election which continued even during the results day.

(Image: ANI, Facebook- Senthil Thondaman)
Apple iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro Max models will reportedly feature a high refresh rate display that could be supplied from Samsung. Furthermore, the latest iPhone 13 models will boast a 120Hz ProMotion panel that was earlier used on iPad Pro. The iPhone 13 release date is yet to be confirmed but is speculated to be announced later this year. Until then, let's have a look at the iPhone 13 leaks and reports coming from Apple analysts.

New iPhone 13 models to feature Samsung Display

The latest report comes from a South Korean blog, TheElec, that claims that the latest iPhone models will use rigid-flexible printed circuit boards (RFPCB) and boast low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) OLED panels, both of which will be provided by Samsung Display. RFPCB is typically used to connect the OLED panel with the main board of the device. It's a known fact that Samsung Electro-Mechanics had considered exiting the RFPCB business last year for not seeking the expected revenue in the past few years. Hence, this new development definitely comes as a surprise.

Apparently, South Korean PCB maker Youngpoong Electronics is also expected to supply RFPCB to Apple through Samsung Display. The report further suggested that RFPCB will only be used in the two higher-tier models of the new iPhone while the remaining smartphones will stick to multiplex FPCB that doesnt support the ProMotion high-refresh-rate feature. RFPCB is far superior to FPCB as the former is both rigid and can be folded, allowing for "more convenient product designs and faster transmission of electric signals."

As for LTPO, the display technology will help the new devices consume less power. Since high-refresh-rate displays typically consume plenty of power, especially at 120Hz, it's ideal to pair these displays with LTPO. Designwise, the new iPhone 13 models may look the same as their predecessors. However, they are rumoured to be equipped with a better processor, most likely the A15 Bionic, a smaller notch and improved cameras. For iPhone 13 Mini, in particular, the camera is said to a square but the arrangement of the dual cameras will change into a diagonal placement, as reported by MyFixGuide.

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), on May 4, revealed the reason behind scheduling the Crew-1 splashdown for the night. At 2:56 am on Sunday, a SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying all the four astronauts from NASAs ambitious Commercial Crew Mission made a successful landing in the Gulf of Mexico. In the aftermath, NASA has now revealed that it was the favourable weather in the gulf in addition to the moonlight that prompted the pre-dawn splashdown.

The American Space agency clarified that it was the consistently calm nighttime weather at the splashdown site that made the landing advantageous. Additionally, the mission control also leveraged the ample moonlight on May 2 for the landing. NASA also asserted that there are no private boats in the gulf during the night, therefore a splashdown in dark reduces disturbances from boats, a safety risk.

The landing marked the first nighttime capsule splashdown since 1968 Apollo 8s mission which saw the return of astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders. The returning team consists of Astronauts Mike Hopkins, Shannon Walker, Victor Glover, and Sochi Noguchi, all part of SpaceXs first crewed mission launched last November. The team spent a record 167 days on the International Space Station (ISS) where they grew plants, conducted spacewalks, and engaged in robotic experiments amongst other things.

Within a half-hour of splashdown, the charred capsule was hoisted onto the recovery ship, with the astronauts exiting soon afterward. Hopkins was the first one out, doing a little dance as he emerged under the intense spotlights.

Its amazing what can be accomplished when people come together, he told SpaceX flight controllers at company headquarters in Hawthorne, California. Quite frankly, you all are changing the world. Congratulations. Its great to be back.

Image : NASA/AP

Crew-1 Mission

NASAs SpaceX Crew-1 mission launched Nov. 15, 2020, on a Falcon 9 rocket from the agencys Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The astronauts named the spacecraft Resilience, in honour of their families, colleagues, and fellow citizens and highlighting the dedication displayed by the teams involved with the mission and demonstrating that there is no limit to what humans can achieve when they work together. Crew Dragon Resilience docked to the Harmony modules forward port of the space station Nov. 16, nearly 27 hours after liftoff.
In what would be called a rare case, a 25-year-old woman in Mali has given birth to nine babies nonuplets in Morocco. Halima Cisse was flown from the north of the West African state to Morocco by the Mali government for her better medical supervision and safe delivery last month March 30. She was initially believed to be pregnant with septuplets according to multiple ultrasounds which were performed by the healthcare specialists in both Morocco and Mali. The woman has now given birth to five girls and four boys, the government authorities told local news outlets.

Moroccan health ministry spokesman Rachid Koudhari told Africas Khaleej Times that it would be the first time that the country has witnessed such a rare scenario, and the detection of nonuplets in the womans womb shocked the West African nation. Medics, last month, had suggested that Cisse needed special care and thats when the government officials had decided to take the mother to be out of the country for a better medical check-up. Mali's health minister, Fanta Siby, said in a statement that all the children and the mother were in a good health, and safe. All nine kids were delivered by cesarean section.

Woman in the US gives birth on flight

Earlier yesterday, an American woman, who had remained oblivious about her pregnancy in the US also gave birth to a baby, although under challenging circumstances on a flight from Salt Lake City to Honolulu. Lavinia Mounga was travelling to Hawaii on a 'getaway' when she started having contractions mid-flight. Fortunately, nurses and doctors, who were also on board immediately rushed to her aid. After a successful procedure, Mounga gave birth to a healthy baby boy, whilst flying over the Pacific Ocean. Mounga's unique story of childbirth created a stir on the internet after her passenger during the flight, Julia Hansen, shared the news on TikTok. 'A baby was just born on this plane,' she wrote sharing a video of the event. In the video clip posted by Hansen, the passengers on board the Delta flight can be heard applauding and congratulating the woman. Later on, Hansen also revealed that Mounga was completely unaware of her pregnancy.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Wednesday stressed the importance of cooperation with her country's neighbours and the global community in the fight against COVID-19, during a speech to the Kenyan parliament.

Hassan addressed a special joint sitting of the Kenyan National Assembly and Senate as part of a two-day state visit to the country.

Tanzania is "not an island" Hassan told lawmakers, as she said her government would take "all precautions" in the fight against the pandemic, including restricting travel in areas of high prevelance of the virus.

A team of experts from both countries will coordinate enforcement of cross-border COVID-19 containment protocols, one of the most pronounced non-tariff trade barriers between the countries, according to a statement from Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta's communications office.

The speech from Hassan and agreement on travel measures are a signifanct departure from the policies of Tanzania's previous leader, John Magufuli, who was amongst the world's most prominent deniers of COVID-19.

Hassan was Tanzania's vice president and became the country's first woman president following the death of Magufuli in March.

Magufulis COVID-19 denial prompted Kenya to close its border with Tanzania in May last year except for cargo traffic. Kenya imposed stringent testing measures on Tanzanian truck drivers after more than 50 of them tested positive for the virus in a single day.

Tanzania reciprocated by banning all Kenyan trucks from entering the country. The border issue ended after Magufuli and Kenyatta held a phone conversation.

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The German chancellor on Wednesday marked the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands from Nazi Germany, saying that "nothing can fill the voids left behind by those murdered".

Angela Merkel made the remarks via video at a memorial ceremony, describing the day of liberation on May 5, 1945, as the "long-yearned-for end of the crimes Germany committed during the Nazi time against the people in the Netherlands."

Merkel emphasised Germany's "everlasting responsibility" to remember the dark chapters and and the suffering caused in the country's history.

She also thanked the neighbouring country for reaching out after the World War II, and for the friendship could follow as a result.

The coronavirus pandemic prevented Merkel from traveling to the ceremony in The Hague for the second year running.

Wednesday is a national holiday in the Netherlands, to celebrate the country's liberation.

The Dutch king King Willem-Alexander laid a wreath Tuesday at a monument to the country's war dead at a solemn commemoration ceremony devoid of the usual huge crowds because of lockdown measures.

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President of the UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkirs planned visit to India later this month has been postponed due to an unexpected situation relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Bozkir on Tuesday told reporters that he will be travelling to Bangladesh and Pakistan later this month on the invitation of the respective governments and will also be visiting Coxs Bazar in Bangladesh where he will meet with Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

UN General Assembly President cancels trip to India

Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar''s military crackdown, often considered as "ethnic cleansing" by many rights groups. Bozkir said that he had also planned a visit to India during his trip to South Asia but postponed it due to an unexpected situation.

I also wanted to go to India. It was India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, but unfortunately, an unexpected situation came out and I had to postpone the India part to a later stage. But I will absolutely make sure that I'll go to India as well, the UN General Assembly President said, referring to Indias COVID-19 crisis.

Asked whether the UN will be able to host a regular General Assembly session in September, he said: It would be wrong if we make a decision now for September on how the participation will be. Will it be a hybrid format? Or will we have again 10,000 people at UN Headquarters? What happens to civil society? What happens to the bilaterals? These are all questions we have in our minds.

He said June will be a proper time to discuss with the US, the host country of the UN, and local authorities on the COVID-19 situation and the feasibility of holding the UN General Assembly.

With New York City aiming to "fully reopen" on July 1, Bozkir said it will give us a signal on whether we can have a different type of a high-level week than we had last September when all meetings were mostly virtual with minimal in-person presence in the UN premises.

The important thing is not to risk any people's health we must absolutely go along with the mitigation measures, we must listen to what science is saying to us and we must not really open everything without any precaution.

If I were the host country, I wouldn't have made any plans for September as of now  because with this pandemic, unfortunately, we are living day by day or week by week. We suddenly see something happening, like what happens in India. Nobody was expecting this suddenly to happen. It changes all the plans. So, I think it's better to start talking about it, to start discussing it, and then leave it to the science and to the local authorities, he added.

India is struggling with an unprecedented second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past one week.

Image credits: AP/PTI

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An Iranian diplomat convicted of masterminding a thwarted bomb attack against an exiled Iranian opposition group in France has decided against appealing the verdict, his lawyer and a Belgian court said Wednesday.

Assadollah Assadi was sentenced to 20 years in prison earlier this year for attempted terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group after the Antwerp court rejected his claim of diplomatic immunity. Assadi previously worked at the Iranian Embassy in Vienna, Austria.

Three other defendants whom the court ruled belonged to the same spy network also were found guilty and received lengthy prison sentences.

Assadi's lawyer, Dimitri de Beco, told The Associated Press that he informed the appeals court during a preliminary hearing Wednesday that his client did not intend to challenge his conviction. Assadi's sentence is now final, while proceedings continue for the three other defendants who did appeal, Press Magistrate Els De Brauwer said.

Assadi. who refused to attend his trial and contested all the charges, does not recognize the standing of the appeals court because he believes he should have been granted diplomatic immunity, lawyer de Beco said.

During the trial, lawyers for the plaintiffs and representatives of the exiled Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, or MEK, claimed without offering evidence that Assadi set up the bombing plan on direct orders from Irans highest authorities. Tehran has denied having a hand in the plot.

MEW leader Maryam Rajavi on Wednesday reasserted her claims that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had approved Assadi's plan.

The regimes leaders, who have been responsible for the export of terrorism for the past four decades, must be brought to justice, Rajavi said in a statement.

On June 30, 2018, Belgian police officers tipped off by intelligence services about a possible attack on the annual meeting of the MEK, stopped a couple traveling in a Mercedes car. In the couple's luggage, officers said they found 550 grams of the unstable TATP explosive and a detonator.

Belgiums bomb disposal unit said the device was of professional quality and could have caused a sizable explosion and panic in the crowd, estimated at 25,000 people, that had gathered for the meeting in the French town of Villepinte, north of Paris.

Assadi was arrested a day later in Germany and transferred to Belgium. Identified as the alleged operational commander of the planned attack, Assadi was accused of recruiting the couple years earlier.

The court ruled Assadi was not entitled to diplomatic immunity because he was on vacation at the time of his arrest and not in Austria, where he was accredited.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
With an overwhelming pro-government majority, the National Assembly was sworn in on Tuesday as the new board of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) with two well-known opponents.

The appointment and subsequent swearing-in followed several weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations between representatives of the Maduro government and moderate opponents, some of them aligned with former opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles.

Venezuela's opposition is struggling to regain its relevance as Maduro has tightened his grip on power amid U.S. sanctions.

Millions of Venezuelans have fled the crisis-ravaged country, giving up the fight to end two decades of socialist rule.

The new Council is dominated by those close to the government. As new directors of the CNE for the next seven years were appointed Alexis Corredor Perez and Pedro Calzadilla, both university professors and former officials of the socialist government; Tania D'Amelio, current member of the Electoral Power and opposition-aligned Roberto Picon and Enrique Marquez.

The two opposition representatives bring extensive political experience and knowledge of Venezuela's electoral machinery.

Former legislator Marquez was vice-president of the National Assembly by consensus when the opposition took control of the Legislative after overwhelmingly winning the elections in 2015.

He will be joined by Picon, the lifelong strategist and computer systems engineer who was jailed between June and December 2017 for organizing a symbolic and parallel vote when the opposition boycotted Maduro's referendum to appoint a Constituent Assembly.

He was released on the recommendation of the so-called truth commission of the Constituent Assembly.

It is the first time since 2005 that the Venezuelan opposition will have two members on the board of the electoral body or CNE, which is in charge of conducting national, state and municipal elections in the South American country.

Since 2006, despite the ruling party's dominance, the Supreme Court appointed the members of the National Assembly, due to lack of consensus among legislators.

Two thirds of the votes are required for their selection.

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Health officials in Thailand rushed to vaccinate thousands of people in Bangkok's biggest slum on Wednesday as a new surge in COVID-19 cases spreads through densely populated low-income areas.

Medics administered vaccine jabs in the Klong Toey area, part of Bangkok's central business district.

Thailand recorded 2,112 new cases and 15 deaths Wednesday in the latest surge since an outbreak in early April.

The country has been steadily recording more than 2,000 cases a day in recent weeks, often with two dozen or more deaths a day in the third surge since the start of the pandemic.

(Image Credit: AP)

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Two Arrests After Murray Armed Burglary

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MURRAY - An investigation into a Murray burglary led to the arrest of two people on numerous charges.On April 23, Murray police officers responded to a business on North 4th Street for a possible armed burglary.At the scene, officers located 48-year-old Jason Adams of Murray, 47-year-old Jason Ticknor of Florida, and a firearm.Adams and Ticknor were arrested and lodged in the Calloway County Jail.Adams is charged with first-degree burglary, menacing, and alcohol intoxication.Ticknor is charged with first-degree burglary, third-degree terroristic threatening, and alcohol intoxication.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro met on Tuesday with U.S. actor Steven Seagal, who serves as a special representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting broadcast on state television from the presidential palace in Caracas, the famous actor and seventh dan in the Japanese martial art of "aikido", presented Maduro with a samurai sword.

The Venezuelan ruler wielded it and joked by performing several simple movements in the style of combat with a katana.

It is not known since when the tall, stocky 68-year-old actor has been in the country.

Action films such as "Under Siege (1992)" and "Exit Wounds (2001) cemented Seagal's career as an action movie actor.

Russia, together with China, is an unconditional ally of the Venezuelan government in the midst of the severe economic crisis plaguing Venezuela and the sanctions imposed by the United States in an attempt to prevent Maduro's government from carrying out financial and commercial transactions abroad, accessing Venezuela's international assets and carrying out operations with oil, gold or other assets.

The Russian Foreign Ministry in 2018 appointed Seagal as a "special representative" to the United States.

As the Kremlin's representative Seagal - a descendant of Russian Jewish immigrant paternal grandparents - seeks to facilitate relations between Washington and Moscow on humanitarian issues, cultural and artistic exchanges.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
The United Nations and the European Union recently called for calm and warned of the use of excessive force at protests against the Colombian government. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Wednesday said that it was deeply alarmed over violence against protesters in the Colombian city of Cali, where police opened fire on demonstrators on Monday night. According to Colombias Human Rights Ombudsman, 16 protesters and one policeman have been killed in the demonstrations since last week, however, the figure does not include reports of deaths in Cali on Monday, which the UN said it is still trying to confirm.

In its statement, the UN urged Colombias government to protect the rights of protesters and said, We are deeply alarmed at developments in the city of Cali in Colombia overnight, where police opened fire on demonstrators protesting against tax reforms. Law enforcement officers should abide by the principles of legality, precaution and necessity of proportionality.

According to Bloomberg, the European Union also joined the chorus of criticism and condemned the reported deaths. EU spokesman Peter Stano said that it was a priority to stop the escalation of violence and to avoid any disproportionate use of force by security forces. Stano also called for security forces to avoid a heavy-handed response and urged calm.

US State Department deputy spokeswoman also Jalina Porter underlined the right of all people to protest peacefully. Violence and vandalism is an abuse of that right," she said. Further, Porter added, "At the same time, we urge the utmost restraint by public forces to prevent additional loss of life".

Colombia Tax Reform Protests

Despite the withdrawal of the proposed tax reforms by the right-wing administration of President Ivan Duque, tens of thousands of Columbians and members of trade unions have continued their violent protests in the streets of Columbia. The tax reforms, contested as hiking financial pressure on low- and middle-income groups, was shelved after widespread opposition and angst from the opposition lawmakers in Columbia and the citizens, many of whom demanded the levelling of sales tax on utilities. Colombias finance minister Alberto Carrasquilla also resigned following five days of outrage which included riots and violent clashes as citizens demanded scrapping of 19 per cent of sales tax on gasoline and the government's expansion of the countrys tax base.

Despite pulling back the tax reform proposal, protesters continued the marches condemning the Columbia governments mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, as they alleged that the withdrawal of the tax proposal wasnt enough. Rallies were held in Columbias populous cities including Bogota and Cali, as well as Medellin, Barranquilla, and Cartagena. In many cities, aggravated protesters clashed with the law enforcement, who used tear gas canisters and stun grenades to disperse the angry mob.

Last week, a police officer was stabbed by the reform seekers in the city of Soacha south of Bogota, incident demonstrators told reporters on the ground was flared by officers human rights abuses against the protesting crowd. Protesters have vandalised and ransacked buildings, and caused damage to the property, as they confronted the police in a national outcry of pandemic-related poverty, loss of jobs and rising unemployment. Columbian Twitter also expressed outrage at the administrative policies, demanding reforms as they ran the #FixTheCountry hashtag.

(With inputs from AP)


Emergency room Doctor Veronica Verdino never imagined that during her residency she would be intubating patients on a daily basis.

The 31-year old doctor who is in charge of the ER on weekends at the Llavallol Hospital, a small municipal clinic in the outskirts of Buenos Aires, has seen the emergency room transform, practically, into an intensive care unit during the pandemic's second wave.

"We had to learn to intubate different patients," said Dr. Verdino. "Everybody has to be very well coordinated because the lives of the patients are decided in minutes".

As Argentina experiences a brutal second wave of COVID-19 with daily death tolls of more than 500 a day, emergency rooms have become the first line of treatment of covid-suspect patients coming in serious conditions.

And at the Llavallol Hospital, given that all 13 beds in the intensive care unit for coronavirus patients are almost always occupied, emergency room personnel have to step up to the plate, intubating and keeping patients in their ward who wouldn't have to be there in a normal scenario.

Last Saturday night, Claudia Laborde, 56, arrived in an ambulance with her husband Eduardo Ortiz, 71, experiencing shortness of breath and heart pain.

Three days earlier Laborde had been released from a different hospital after having COVID-19 but doctors at the ER feared she was still infected because of her symptoms.

Quickly her situation deteriorated, doctors from the Intensive Care Unit were consulted and had to be intubated while her husband sat on a stretcher in the corridor.

On Monday, she died.

In an ER room nearby two men laid intubated and another who had just died was put in a black plastic bag.

Concerned by the pressure on the health system and a lack of available hospital beds, the government has extended restrictions to several activities including indoor sports, in-person classes and a nighttime curfew.

By Monday, Argentina had reported over 3 million coronavirus cases and more than 64,000 deaths linked to COVID-19.

So far 8 million people have received one dose of the vaccine - out of a population of about 45 million - and about a million have completed both doses.

(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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The move comes as pastors across the country are detained in the wake of stricter curbs on religious groups.

A screenshot is shown from the Twitter feed of the Chinese Christian Righteous Fellowship, May 2, 2021.

Authorities in the southwestern province of Yunnan have shut down a Protestant church attended by an ethnic minority community, while pastors and church elders have been detained in Beijing and Guiyang.

Officials shut down the Bulai Protestant church, ostensibly to prevent COVID-19 transmission, in Lao Muden village in Yunnan's Fugong county on April 30, according to photos of the notices plastered to its doors.

But the fact that the church has been allowed to meet all through the pandemic has raised questions over whether the closure is part of a renewed crackdown on religious activity based on a recently published set of "Administrative Measures For Religious Personnel" that took effect from May 1.

U.S.-based pastor Liu Yi, who founded the Chinese Christian Justice Fellowship, said the rules seek to exert further control by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over the day-to-day running of religious organizations.

"The new administrative measures set out higher requirements for the so-called Chinese religious staff who are under [CCP] management," Liu told RFA.

Article 3 of the document states that religious personnel should "love the motherland, support the leadership of the CCP, and support the socialist system."

They must also adhere to "the core values of socialism" and the "sinicization of religion" under the CCP, it says.

"Under the control of the CCP, many so-called Protestant pastors and preachers have consciously adopted the partys position," Liu said. "Their pulpits have become platforms for CCP propaganda."

"For example, a sermon given to a church in a certain place in Zhejiang was circulating [online]," Liu said. "It was very telling, because the preacher wasn't expounding on the Bible, but carrying out propaganda for the CCP."

Climate 'worse and worse'

Pastor Zhang Chongzhu, who currently lives in Illinois after working for a church in Zhejiang's Wenzhou city for many years, said Liu's assessment was correct.

"The climate for religious believers in China is getting worse and worse," Zhang said. "There has been a marked turn in political thinking to the left, with the emergence of ideas even worse than during the Cultural Revolution."

"They started laying the groundwork for this a few years ago," Zhang said. "Now, the new religious rules call for the setting up of a [CCP-backed] priesthood, so it's a serious problem."

Zhang cited the recent detentions of Protestant pastors in Beijing and the southwestern city of Guiyang.

Bob Fu, president of the Christian rights group ChinaAid, said authorities recently detained two elders of Zion Church in Beijing, while elder Zhang Chunlei of the Renai Church in Guiyang was recently held under criminal detention on suspicion of "fraud," following a short period in administrative detention.

Zhang's detention came after he reportedly resisted singing patriotic songs in church, Fu said.

"This series of actions, together with the new regulations on the management of religious personnel promulgated by the State Council of China on May 1, indicate that there will be even more restraints on religious freedom in China under the leadership of Xi Jinping," Fu told RFA.

Donations called fraud

Zhang Chunlei's defense lawyer Sui Muqing said police are accusing Zhang of fraud in connection with donations to the church.

"The church basically doesn't carry out any financial transactions, so this charge of so-called fraud is linked to members' donations," Sui said. "The elders and co-workers receive a living allowance from these donations."

"This happens in all religions, and it doesn't constitute fraud."

Meanwhile, a member of the Zion Church surnamed Li told RFA that one of the detained elders, lay preacher Huang Chunzi, had been incommunicado since April 28.

"She messaged that someone was knocking at her door," Li said. "Two or three days later, another person was arrested, at which point we realized that Huang Chunzi was gone, too."

"We eventually received confirmation from various sources that she had been detained."

Also detained was Zion Church preacher Qi Jiafu.

"Things are very dangerous right now," Li said. "They are detaining people from churches all over."

"They tightened controls in 2018, and again in 2019," she said. "Basically you're not allowed to meet in person now."



Reported by Qiao Long and Sun Cheng for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Largely forced out of their traditional fishing grounds, Filipino fishermen have claimed a decline of as much as 80 percent in their catch since the Chinese took control of certain parts of the South China Sea.

Filipinos carry their boat to shore in the seaside town of Bani, Pangasinan province, after a night of fishing in the South China Sea, March 7, 2021.

The Philippine Coast Guard drove away Chinese militia ships from a Manila-claimed reef in the South China Sea in late April, the national security adviser said, while declaring that Filipino fishermen are exempt from Beijings annual fishing ban in the disputed waterway and other seas.

The coast guards BRP Cabra, backed by other ships, shooed away seven Chinese ships from Sabina Shoal on April 27, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. said. The reef is 130 nautical miles west of Puerto Princesa in Palawan province, within the Philippines 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The crew of the BRP Cabra issued challenges to the offending vessels, but elicited no response from the CMM, Esperon said in a statement released late Tuesday night, referring to the Chinese Maritime Militia.

After around 20 minutes however, the CMM vessels dispersed and left the shoal after being challenged by BRP Cabra, he said, describing the Chinese ships as having initially formed a stationary linear formation.

On Wednesday, the coast guard released footage and photos of the confrontation at Sabina Shoal.

Esperon, who also serves as chairman of the countrys National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), also rejected Chinas annual fishing ban. It began on May 1 and runs through Aug. 16 in parts of the sea that include waters inside Manilas EEZ.

The West Philippine Sea is Manilas designation for territory it claims in the South China Sea.

This fishing ban does not apply to our fishermen and the NTF-WPS opposes Chinas imposition of the same over the areas within the territory and jurisdiction of the Philippines, Esperon said.

The NTF-WPS reiterates that our fisherfolk are encouraged to go out and fish in our waters in the West Philippine Sea, he said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, for comment on Esperons statements.

Beijings annual fishing ban began Saturday in the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea and portions of the South China Sea.

Involving more than 100,000 Chinese fishing boats and nearly 1 million Chinese fishermen, Beijing imposes the annual ban to preserve marine fisheries, Chinese state-run media has said.

Although the ban expressly covers only Chinese fishermen, Beijings law enforcement agencies including its coast guard would target major violation cases and severely clamp down on organized marine fishery crimes, it said.

In recent years, Filipino and Vietnamese fishermen have been forced to observe Beijings fishing ban in the South China Sea, despite their protests, because of the presence of Chinese government ships.

Largely forced out of their traditional fishing grounds, Filipino fishermen have claimed a decline of as much as 80 percent in their catch since the Chinese took control of certain parts of the South China Sea.

The Vietnam Fisheries Society (VFS) expressed its opposition to Chinas fishing ban  echoing the criticism made by the Vietnamese government last week that it was a violation of Vietnamese sovereignty and international law.

The VFS said that the ban could cause clashes between Vietnams law enforcement forces and fishermen and Chinas coastguard, and impede the usual fishing activities of Vietnamese fishermen on their traditional fishing grounds.

We demand that China end this fishing ban in the East Sea/South China Sea, including in the waters under Vietnams sovereignty, the VFS said in a document submitted to the Vietnamese government on Tuesday.

The VFS represents Vietnamese fishermen, aquaculture producers, fisheries processors and organizations providing services in the fisheries sector.

Hundreds of Chinese ships spotted

Prior to the April 27 incident at Sabina Shoal, the NTF-WPS had reported spotting an estimated 240 Chinese ships throughout the West Philippine Sea. It later updated that figure to 160.

In March, Manila reported a swarming of what it called Chinese militia ships at Whitsun Reef, also within the Philippine EEZ.

The Whitsun incident triggered a diplomatic spat between Manila and Beijing, which dismissed the accusation as an unnecessary irritation, and insisted the area was Chinese territory.

The Philippine government has been filing daily protests since April over what it says has been a constant presence of Chinese fishing boats backed by its maritime militia in its territories.

The Philippines is not deterred from defending our national interest, patrimony and our dignity as a people with all that we have, Esperon said on Tuesday.

Law enforcement patrols are to continue in Philippine-claimed areas in the South China Sea, Esperon said, as he reiterated a call to China and other claimant nations to comply with their international obligations.

The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam have competing claims to portions of the South China Sea, while China claims virtually all of it. Although Indonesia does not consider itself a party to the dispute, China has claims that overlap with Indonesias EEZ in the South China Sea.

A July 2016 international arbitral award declared the Philippines claim to its EEZ in the South China Sea valid over Chinas sweeping claim.

This year, Beijings passage of a law allowing the Chinese Coast Guard to fire at ships it perceives to be intruding in Chinese-claimed territory raised the stakes.

Beijing maintains a coast guard presence around the Scarborough Shoal even though it is 118 nautical miles west of the Philippine island of Luzon, within Manilas EEZ.

Recent Philippine patrols reported spotting three China Coast Guard ships around the shoal.

On Monday, the Filipino food security advocacy group Tugon Kabuhayan said the Philippines stood to lose as much as 7.2 million kg (15.87 million pounds) of fish for every month that Chinese ships force Filipinos out of their fishing grounds in the South China Sea.

The fishermens advocacy group Pamalakaya petitioned the United Nations on April 30 to nullify Beijings coast guard law, investigate the environmental damage Chinese ships have caused in the South China Sea, and to demilitarize the strategic and resource-rich waterway.

The Vietnamese Service of Radio Free Asia (RFA), a sister agency of BenarNews, contributed to this report.
Hong Kong protesters who fled to Canada to escape an ever-widening crackdown on public dissent and political opposition in the city have set up a "lifeboat" group to support people thinking of leaving the city, RFA has learned.



The Soteria Institute was recently founded to support Hongkongers seeking political asylum in Canada, and to lobby for them once they arrive, a co-founder who gave only the name Alison told RFA.



"This all began with the [attempt to] bring in legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law in 2003," she said. "Since then, if you watch what the CCP has been doing, it has never stopped trying [control ideology and activism using national security legislation and patriotic education]."



"This was already clear by 2012, with [the attempt to introduce] patriotic education in 2012," she said. "Rule of law has been gradually eroding, and freedoms have been gradually disappearing in Hong Kong all this time."



"The people are still there, but living under more and more restrictions," Alison said. "We don't want Hong Kong disappear, so I hope that Hongkongers who truly love their city will gather in other places, so they aren't totally scattered."

A survey released by the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies last month showed that some 57.5% of young people aged 15 to 30 polled said they would emigrate if they could. In 2019, 42.3% of people polled said they would choose to leave.

The CUHK poll also found that optimism about their city's future in Hong Kong's youth was only 2.95 out of 10, a drop from 4.37 out of 10 when in the 2019 survey.

Canada started accepting political asylum applications from Hongkongers on Feb. 8, 2021, with more than 500 applications processed in the first three weeks, Alison said.



To date, more than 600 people have applied, and some applicants have already arrived in Canada, she said, adding that Soteria is currently supporting more than 10 of them.



Applicants need to submit to medical examinations at designated clinics in Hong Kong, which are now reporting waiting lists of two months compared with just one month in early March, she said, suggesting that there has been a sharp rise in the numbers of people applying in recent weeks.



Nonetheless, the group will need to lobby strongly with Canadian politicians in support of the asylum-seekers, as there is scant understanding of how the majority of protesters are treated when arrested by police in Hong Kong.



Exit ban looms

"You can get some well-known faces to talk about their experiences, but actually the way front-line protesters are treated on the ground is very different," Alison said.



"For example, a prominent activist gets detained for 48 hours, but police don't dare to leave him with serious injuries or broken ribs," she said. "But a lot of the front-line protesters wound up in hospital after their arrest, and then court."



"This is something that Canadian lawmakers don't really know about."



Alison said her group had also warned parliamentarians that recent changes to Hong Kong's immigration law mean that asylum-seekers could be prevented from leaving the city from Aug. 1.



The group is calling on Ottawa to speed up asylum applications to enable as many people to leave before the deadline as possible.



The group recently met with MPs including Conservative Party leader Erin O'Toole, Garnett Genuis, vice chair of the Canada-China Relations Committee and Marty Morantz of the Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee, she said.



The amendment to the Immigration Ordinance was passed in a Legislative Council (LegCo) devoid of opposition members, who resigned en masse in in protest over the expulsion of four of their colleagues.



Dozens of former members of the pro-democracy camp in LegCo have been arrested in recent months, either for public order offenses linked to peaceful protests during the 2019 anti-extradition and pro-democracy movement, or under a draconian national security law imposed on Hong Kong by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from , 2020.



The amended bill, which takes effect from Aug. 1, has been billed by the government as a crackdown on asylum-seekers and undocumented migrants.



But it also includes a clause enabling border guards to prevent a person from boarding a flight or any other form of transportation out of the city, paving the way for exit bans on any of Hong Kong's seven million residents or even on visiting foreign nationals.



Reported by Man Hoi Yan for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Anti-North Korea activist Park Sang-hak holds anti-North Korea leaflet depicting the death of Kim Jong Nam, half brother to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, during a press conference in Seoul on July 6, 2020.

Activists in Seoul vowed on Tuesday to keep sending anti-North Korean leaflets by balloon into the Norths territory, shrugging off a South Korean investigation into a balloon launch last week in defiance of a law banning the practice, which Pyongyang called an act of dirty human scum.

South Koreas Ministry of Unification said Tuesday that authorities are investigating the launch of balloons across the closed inter-Korean border by a group called Fighters for a Free North Korea, the first such launch since the law came into effect in December.

In a move widely criticized by human rights groups and free speech advocates as a concession to placate North Korea, Seoul in December 2020 passed the law banning the airborne leaflets with messages critical of the North Korean government and its leaders, which civic groups have been doing for decades.

The South Korean police have already formed an investigation team and are conducting investigations, a spokesperson for South Koreas Ministry of Unification said at a press conference.

At a rally hosted by human rights groups in front of the National Assembly in Seoul on Tuesday, Choi Jung-hoon of a civic group called the North Korean Peoples Liberation Front told RFAs Korean Service that the group being investigated has many allies.

If Park Sang-hak, the chairman of the Fighters for a Free North Korea is arrested, another Park Sang-hak will arise, and the leaflets that provide valuable knowledge to the North Korean people will continue, he said.

I promise that many South Koreans, including refugees from North Korea, will do what we can to save him, said Choi.

Park, who escaped from North Korea in the 1990s, told RFA Monday that his group would continue to send leaflets in defiance of the law, which has been criticized by international human rights groups as unbecoming of a democracy.

As long as there are North Korean refugees, we will continue to send them no matter what kind of oppression and tyranny comes our way, said Park.

We can send more leaflets tomorrow. We can keep sending them, he said, noting that his group had no conflict with police or residents during the most recent launch.

The South Korean police chief on Sunday ordered a probe into Park and his group, only hours after Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, threatened corresponding action for the intolerable provocation in a statement published in the state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA).

We have already seriously warned the South Korean authorities of consequences their wrong act of giving silent approval to the human wastes' wild moves will bring to the north-south relations. However, the South Korean authorities again did not stop the reckless acts of the defectors from the North, winking at them, Kim said.

Last summer North Korea blew up a South Korea-built joint liaison office in its territory in anger at the leaflet launches. Kim threatened to retaliate for last weeks leaflets as well.

We regard the maneuvers committed by the human wastes in the south as a serious provocation against our state and will look into corresponding action. Whatever decision we make and whatever actions we take, the responsibility for the consequences thereof will entirely rest with the South Korean authorities who stopped short of holding proper control of the dirty human scum, she said.

While the groups that send the leaflets into North Korea claim that they are providing the North Korean people with a look at the outside world, the effectiveness of such leaflet campaigns is limited, and more information penetrates the North through smuggled USB drives and other devices, experts have said.

Because the launchers cannot control where the balloons fly or where the leaflets drop, often the activity does nothing more than land in rural areas that the North Korean military can quickly clean up before anyone finds it.

The activists and their supporters, however, say that launching leaflets should be a protected activity under the South Korean constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression.

Supporters of the anti-leaflet law have argued that the leaflets bother local South Korean residents and pose a security risk to police, but Park said that when his group launched the balloons, neither residents nor the police took issue with it.

No military preparations seen

Kim Jun-rak, the spokesperson of South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a press conference Monday that the military did not detect any preparations for retaliatory actions from North Korea.

There is no unusual trend so far. The South Korean military is closely watching related trends and maintaining a firm preparedness, said Kim Jun-rak.

KCNA also slammed the Biden administration for its public criticism of the North.

Kwon Jong Gun, the director general of North Koreas foreign ministry, said President Joe Biden made a big blunder in his April 28 address to Congress.

On Iran and North Korea  nuclear programs that present serious threats to American security and the security of the world  were going to be working closely with our allies to address the threats posed by both of these countries through diplomacy, as well as stern deterrence, Biden said in the only mention North Korea in the hour-long speech.

Kwon called Bidens words a slip of the tongue, and said the statement clearly reflects his intent to keep enforcing the hostile policy toward the DPRK as it had been done by the U.S. for over half a century.

He defended North Koreas nuclear weapons programs as a deterrent against U.S. aggression, saying it was illogical to classify them as a threat.

The U.S. will face worse and worse crisis beyond control in the near future if it is set to approach the DPRK-U.S. ties, still holding on the outdated policy from Cold War-minded perspective and viewpoint. It is certain that the U.S. chief executive made a big blunder in the light of the present-day viewpoint, Kwon said, claiming that the U.S. was threatening North Korea, not the other way around.

North Korea also took umbrage at a U.S. State Department statement supporting the millions of North Koreans who continue to have their dignity and human rights violated by one of the most repressive and totalitarian states in the world,

We are appalled by the increasingly draconian measures the regime has taken, including shoot-to-kill orders at the North Korea-China border, to tighten control of its people under the guise of fighting COVID-19. The civilized world has no place for such brutality, and the international community must continue to speak out, the department said on April 28.

In response, a North Korean foreign ministry spokesperson called the remarks a smear of North Koreas anti-epidemic measures that confirms Washingtons hostile policy, and a violation of the countrys sovereignty.

The North Korean statement also brought up the more than half a million reported COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., and more than 40,000 deaths as a result of gun-related crimes, as evidence that the U.S. was not a part of the so-called civilized world.

North Korea continues to claim that it is completely virus free, but Pyongyang has taken extensive measures to prevent the spread of the virus within the country, including locking down whole cities, restricting travel between provinces, and advising citizens in public lectures last year that the virus had spread to geographically distant parts of the country, including the capital Pyongyang.

Reported by Yong Jae Mok and Seung Wook Han for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Ethnic civilians are arming themselves against the junta throughout the country.

Protesters use mobile phone lights in a dawn demonstration against the military coup in Hakha township, western Myanmar's Chin State, March 29, 2021.

At least four government soldiers were killed and several injured in Myanmar amid clashes between the military and a local defense militia in Chin state, residents said Tuesday, as fighting continued to intensify between the junta regime and the countrys ethnic groups in the aftermath of a February coup.

The killings of troops in Chin state, near the border with India, follows the downing of a military helicopter in Kachin state Monday and a series of attacks in other parts of Myanmar in mid-April in which outgunned civilians resisting the junta have taken up crude arms and killed more than two dozen security forces.

A member of the Chinland Defense Force (CDF) told RFAs Myanmar Service the militia attacked troops at two security checkpoints near the Chin state capital Hakha in retaliation for oppressive checks and monitoring of residents at toll gates, resulting in the casualties.

We fired at them once earlier in the evening and there were no injuries on either side, he said, noting that the engagement began around 5:00 p.m.

But then, around 11:00 p.m., there was another clash near Hakha-Kalemyo junction. It was dark and no one on our side was hurt. Four of the soldiers were shot dead. Some soldiers were also wounded.

Earlier on Monday, a group of young people in Hakha had chanted slogans and posted leaflets on buildings in support of the CDF, which soldiers later tore down, threatening to shoot anyone who took part in such activities.

A resident of Hakha told RFA that the evenings attacks were in response to the militarys actions that day.

In the evening, [the CDF] fired some shots at the soldiers in Kyauk-bote wardit wasnt meant to kill anyone, he said.

Then, around 11:00 p.m., there was a small explosion and gunfire erupted. One thing is for sure, there will be some dead  The clash lasted for more than an hour. The CDF hit the soldiers because they were harassing the townspeople the whole day yesterday. That's what we heard.

In addition to claiming responsibility for Mondays attack, the CDF claimed that it had killed another four soldiers in a clash on Sunday.

Kalay attack

Meanwhile, another militia known as the Kalay Region Defense Association (KRDA) said it shot and wounded three military troops on Monday in Sagaing regions Kalay township.

A member of the group said those who took part in the fighting with troops were not from one village, but from all neighboring villages, and that a boy from the area is believed to have been arrested.

The military withdrew around 8:00 p.m. in the evening and people who live near the main road, especially from Sedaw village, have fled their homes in fear of retaliation, the KRDA member said.

We heard three soldiers were hit, two seriously. Though there are some people moving around, there is heightened tension in the area.

A resident of Kalay, who declined to provide their name citing fear of reprisal, told RFA that a brief clash occurred around 5:30 p.m., followed by a barrage of 40-50 gunshots in the town center at 9:00 p.m.

One person was said to have been arrested. This morning, two or three police cars with passengers in civilian clothes were seen patrolling the town, they said.

Other residents of Kalay said that more than 30 people have been killed and another 30 arrested in a series of violent clashes between protesters and the military in the aftermath of the Feb. 1 coup, although the junta has yet to confirm any of the incidents.

RFA was unable to reach Major General Zaw Min Tun, the Deputy Minister of Information of the Military Council, for comment Tuesday.

Militias in both Kalay and Hakha have been using traditional homemade rifles to fight against the military.

Police major killed

In Kachin state on Monday evening, the well-equipped Kachin Independence Army (KIA) stormed a police station in Mansi township, resulting in a three-hour battle that left the stations chief, Hein Htet, dead and a police camp commander injured, according to a report by the KIA Information Center.

A resident of Mansi told RFA that the incident marked the first time fighting between the military, which was providing joint security at the station, and the KIA had occurred in the township since the February coup.

Last night, the police camp commander and the township police chief went out. They visited a swimming pool owned by a wealthy man in town and ran back [to the station] when they heard gunshots, the resident said.

The gate was locked when they arrived there and wasnt immediately opened. It was then that they got shot. The police chief was hit directly in the abdomen and the commander was grazed in the neck.

Despite the clash, residents of Mansi were moving about as usual on Tuesday, however, traffic around the police station was restricted and witnesses said the military had erected heavy weapons outside the building.

Calls to the State Administration Council spokesman went unanswered on Tuesday, but Col. Naw Bu, the KIAs information officer, confirmed the attack on the police station.

A political analyst in Kachin state said the situation in the region is headed further towards a military conflict following the coup, adding that there is already plenty of military conflict in Kachin State every day.

More than 100 clashes have occurred since fighting broke out between the military and KIA on Feb. 15. The KIA claims that the military has been targeting it with attacks for at least 30 days, including airstrikes. Two monks and 13 civilians have been killed in the recent clashes, according to local Kachin media outlets.

Magway shootout

Three policemen were also killed early on Tuesday during a shootout between the military and members of the Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) in Magway regions Htilin township, a resident told RFA on condition of anonymity.

There have been a lot of clashes between the two sides, in four or five places [throughout the township], the resident said, adding that fighting began around 7:00 a.m.

As far as we know, three policemen on their side were killed and a military vehicle was set on fire. Right now, the situation is favorable for the People's Defense Force. There are no casualties on the part of the people.

RFA received reports that both the military and PDF suffered casualties in the fighting, and that residents of nearby villages had fled the area but was unable to independently verify the information.

On Monday morning, two people were killed, and three others injured in a shootout between troops and the PDF in Htilins Htanbin Gone village, according to residents. One villager was arrested by the military.

NLD lawmaker dead

Casualties during the prior 24 hours in Myanmar were not limited to those that resulted from armed conflict.

On Monday night, a bomb blast ripped through a building in in Kambila village, in western Bago divisions Pyay township, killing a resident, as well as three policemen who had defected to Myanmars anti-junta Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) and Thet Win Hlaing, a member of parliament with the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

A resident confirmed that all five died in the explosion, adding that Thet Win Hlaingwho had won his seat in parliament in the countrys 2020 electionswas hiding in the structure with the CDM members to avoid arrest by the military.

A friend of Thet Win Hlaing told RFA that reports a bomb had gone off while the lawmaker was testing it were untrue.

A policeman who had joined the CDM earlier had withdrawn and a parcel sent by this man exploded, the friend said.

The lone survivor of the blast had his hands amputated at the 500-bed hospital in Pyay, residents said, adding that they had heard explosions in three parts of the township on Monday night, although RFA was unable to confirm the claim.

Locals said there were bomb blasts in three parts of Pyay last night, but RFA could not confirm the details.

Administrator stabbed

Also on Monday, Thet Paing, the newly appointed administrator of West Ward No. 7 in Yangons Thaketa township, was stabbed to death by three unidentified men who entered his home in the night, a resident told RFA. He died on the way to the hospital, the source said.

Thet Paing was recently appointed administrator by the Military Council and had served as a junta informant who had taken part in the arrest and torture of the wards residents, sources alleged.

Several explosions occurred in other areas of Myanmar on Tuesday, but no one was reported killed or injured.

Meanwhile, protests continued Tuesday in several townships throughout the country in support of the parallel, civilian National Unity Government (NUG) in Myanmar, formed on April 16, and against the junta, including in the capital Naypyidaw, Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing, and Magway regions, as well as in Tanintharyi and Kachin States.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners in Myanmar (AAPP), security forces have killed more than 760 people across the country since the coup. More than 3,600 people have been arrested, while authorities issued warrants issued for more than 1,400.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
BUN HOAW: A fall from grace?

In 2008, Bun Hoaw resigned his National Assembly seat, transferred ownership of the AZ Group of companies to his wife, and was appointed a secretary of state at the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, which was responsible for supervising the AZ Groups controversial management of National Road 4.

Bun Hoaw resigned as secretary of state in 2013 to compete in that years national elections. But like many CPP candidates, he lost out to a surprise surge by the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) that came close to toppling the government. For a time the oknha appeared to fall out of favour with Hun Sen. In 2015, Bun Hoaw resigned from his position as an advisor to the government and the following year the prime minister personally ordered that AZ Group should be stripped of their license to charge tolls on National Road 4.

The familys fortunes were far from dashed, however. Since 2005, AZ Group subsidiary ING Holdings has been filling in hundreds of hectares of wetland on the outskirts of Phnom Penh to make way for its gargantuan ING City development. For years, civil society groups have been sounding alarm over the project, noting that it will displace roughly 1,000 families and place one million Phnom Penh residents at heightened risk of flooding. Seemingly in response to these criticisms, in July 2020 the Cambodian government revoked 190 hectares of land titles issued to ING Holdings. However, as the company took pains to make clear at the time, the revoked titles would not prove a major obstacle to the development, accounting for less than 10 percent of the projects 2,572 hectares.

Today, the AZ Group remains one of Cambodias leading conglomerates. While the AZ Group does not make the value of its assets or its accounts public, an RFA analysis of data scraped from the Ministry of Commerce by NGO Global Witness found that Cambodian companies presided over by Sokha and Bun Hoaw had a collective share value of $81.8 million in 2014. However, because the share price of private Cambodian companies is rarely an accurate reflection of their capitalisation and because the familys businesses have grown domestically and internationally over the last seven years, the true value of the AZ Group today is likely far higher.
Protesters try to break through a police barrier on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. PHOTO:AP Photo/John Minchillo

KY Man Arrested on Charges from Capitol Riot

By The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE - The FBI arrested a Louisville man Tuesday accused of participating in the January riot at the U.S. Capitol.The FBI said in a statement that Eric Douglas Clark was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful entry.He also was charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.The Louisville Courier Journal reports the 44-year-old was booked into a detention center.U.S. Department of Justice records show that at least 11 other Kentucky residents have been arrested in connection with the riot.
Can Thi Theu and her son Trinh Ba Tu had posted articles about the deadly land-rights clash last year at Dong Tam commune, and had tried to raise awareness of the incident with foreign embassies and other international groups.

Vietnamese land-rights activist Can Thi Theu (right) is shown with her sons Trinh Ba Tu (left) and Trinh Ba Phuong (center) in an undated photo.

Vietnamese land rights activists Can Thi Theu and her son, Trinh Ba Tu, are scheduled for trial on Wednesday in the Hoa Binh Peoples Court, with proceedings set to begin at 8:00 a.m., according to reports in state media.

A well-known activist in Hanoi, Theu was arrested on June 24, 2020 with her sons Trinh Ba Tu and Trinh Ba Phuong on charges of creating, storing, and disseminating information, documents, items and publications opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under Article 117 of Vietnams Penal Code.

The three family members had been outspoken in social media postings about the Jan. 9, 2020 clash in Dong Tam commune in which 3,000 police stormed barricaded protesters homes at a construction site about 25 miles south of the capital, killing a village elder.

They had also offered information to foreign embassies and other international groups to try to raise awareness of the incident.

As of Monday evening, Trinh Ba KhiemTheus husband and Tus fatherhad received no formal notice of his family members trial, Khiem told RFAs Vietnamese Service on May 4.

Khiem had previously sent a petition to the court, asking when the trial would be held, he said, adding, In response to my questions, they brazenly told me that they would not inform me when the trial would take place, and that I shouldnt expect to receive an invitation to the trial.

He said that he would try to attend and report on the trial in any case, and that four lawyersDang Dinh Manh, Le Van Luan, Pham Le Quyen, and Ngo Anh Tuanare scheduled to represent his wife and son at their trial.

Speaking to RFA, attorney Manh said that Khiem may find himself banned from the court anyway, as the family members of defendants tried in political cases are often barred from entry. The lawyers on Theus and Tus defense team believe strongly that their clients are innocent, he added.

Article 117, under which the defendants were charged, denies political freedoms guaranteed under Vietnams own Constitution he said.

In addition, this Article is also contrary to the United Nations Convention of Human Rights, and in accordance with Vietnams existing regulations, when a domestic law clashes with an international law that Vietnam has signed and approved, priority should be given to the international law.

Therefore, our clients should be seen as innocent, he said.

'We will continue to fight'

Facing the possibility that his wife and son may now be put into prison, Khiem appeared to remain calm.

The Hoa Binh Court said that my wife could face a sentence of up to 15 years, as she has committed these crimes before, Khiem said, referring to sentences served by Theu following convictions in earlier land rights-cases.

My family has anticipated this. We will continue to fight, and we will remain calm when verdicts are handed down by this cruel communist regime, he said.

In a May 4 statement, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on Vietnam to immediately release Theu and her two sons and drop all charges against them, noting that the three have already been held in custody since June 2020.

Theu and her sons and husband Trinh Ba Khiem have engaged in numerous protests over land rights, human rights, and environmental protection over the last ten years, and have been repeatedly jailed and harassed by authorities for their activism, HRW said.

Can Thi Theu and her family have been outspoken defenders of human rights in Vietnam, said John Sifton, Asia advocacy director for the New York-based rights group. The Vietnamese government should be listening to people like this brave family, not throwing them in jail, Sifton said.

While all land is ultimately held by the state, land confiscations have become a flashpoint as residents accuse the government of pushing small landholders aside in favor of lucrative real estate projects, and of paying too little in compensation to farming families displaced by development.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Anna Vu. Written in English by Richard Finney.
ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Azerbaijani opposition activist Bayram Mammadov has been found dead in Istanbul in an apparent drowning.

Mammadov's body was pulled from the sea on May 2, hours after he disappeared into the water on Istanbul's Asian side while reportedly trying to retrieve his slippers.

According to Istanbul police, a friend later filed a missing person's report and identified the body of the 25-year-old on May 4.

BBC Turkish reported an investigation had been launched but an initial police report did not describe it as a suspicious death.

Some Azerbaijani activists are not ruling out foul play and questioned the idea Mammadov fell into the sea or may have committed suicide.

One of Mammadov's friends in Istanbul, Elgih Qahraman, told RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service that the opposition NIDA youth movement member was planning to visit Azerbaijan in the coming days.

Mammadov, along with another pro-democracy activist, Giyas Ibrahimov, made headlines in May 2016 after painting "Happy Slaves' Day" on a monument in Baku to late President Heydar Aliyev, the father of the current president.

Both were subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison on drug charges, which both have denied. Mammadov had said he was tortured into making a confession.

Amnesty International has recognized the two activists as prisoners of conscience, saying that the drug charges against them were fabricated with the purpose of punishing them for their political activities.

In March 2019, President Ilham Aliyev pardoned Mammadov and Ibrahimov in an amnesty along with more than 400 people who had been convicted of crimes in the South Caucasus state.

With reporting by BBC Turkish, Hurriyet, and RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service
Lawyers have filed a criminal complaint in Germany on behalf of 10 Belarusians alleging that authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka has committed crimes against humanity.

Acting on behalf of "torture victims," the lawyers said on May 5 that they have submitted a complaint to federal prosecutors in the German city of Karlsruhe against Lukashenka "and other Belarusian security officers."

The lawyers stressed that neither Lukashenka nor his security officers face legal consequences in Belarus for their excessive use of force and the torture of citizens detained in the country. Thus, they said, they are calling on Germany to conduct an independent investigation into the alleged crimes.

The lawyers referred to so-called universal jurisdiction, which provides for the possibility of criminal prosecution for crimes that break international law even when they are committed in other states.

"In general, the actions of the authorities can only be called brutal," the lawyers said in a statement.

Minsk did not immediately comment.

The 66-year-old Lukashenka, who has run the country since 1994, was officially declared the victor of the August 9, 2020, presidential election by a landslide, triggering almost daily protests demanding that the longtime strongman step down and new elections be held.

The opposition says the vote was rigged, and the West has refused to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimate leader of Belarus.

Security officials have cracked down hard on the demonstrators, arresting thousands, including dozens of journalists who covered the rallies, and pushing most of the top opposition figures out of the country.

Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusians continue to demand the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka amid a brutal crackdown on protesters. The West refuses to recognize him as the country's legitimate leader after an August 9 election considered fraudulent.

Several protesters have been killed in the violence and some rights organizations say there is credible evidence of torture being used by security officials against some of those detained.

"This is the first step towards the inevitable recognition of the regime as a terrorist organization with all the ensuing consequences," the German media outlet Deutsche Welle quoted a representative of the Belarusian diaspora in Germany as saying.

Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who lives in self-imposed exile in Lithuania, welcomed the legal filing, saying in a statement, "There will never be impunity in Belarus, and today's news is a clear example of this."

Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany would "not forget" the prisoners languishing behind bars in Belarus.

Those in "acute danger" would be welcomed in Germany if it could be arranged, Merkel said.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Welcome back to the China In Eurasia briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter tracking Chinas resurgent influence from Eastern Europe to Central Asia.

Big news! The China In Eurasia newsletter will now be going out twice a month. Expect to see it in your inbox on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Im RFE/RL correspondent Reid Standish and heres what Im following right now.

China Takes Center Stage In Europe

Debt problems and transparency concerns pushed Beijings projects across Europe into the spotlight this month. A controversial Beijing-financed highway project in Montenegro and a $1.5 billion loan to build a Chinese university in Hungary have rung alarm bells in Brussels as both ventures pointed to growing influence within the European Union and on its doorstep.

Finding Perspective: Hungary signed a deal with Shanghais prestigious Fudan University in late April that would open a campus in Budapest by 2024.

Leaked documents show that the campus will cost $1.8 billion and that the Hungarian government will take out a $1.5 billion Chinese loan to cover the majority of the cost.

The plans are controversial for a host of reasons, as I reported this week with my colleague Akos Keller-Alant from RFE/RLs Hungarian Service.

Opposition politicians in Hungary raised concerns over potential debt problems and that Hungarian taxpayers are footing the bill for a private Chinese university, pointing out that the proposed project will cost more than what the government spends annually on higher education across the entire country.

Many details around the project and the Chinese loan are also hidden, which Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony told us is one of the reasons why hes trying to block the campus from being built.

Meanwhile, Montenegro asked the EU in April for help in paying back its $1 billion debt to China for a still-to-be-completed highway to Serbia, which I explored in an article with Asja Hafner, Gjeraqina Tuhina, and Slavica Brajovic from RFE/RLs Balkan Service.

The EU rebuffed those calls to help pay off the loan, which was signed by the previous government, leaving the cash-strapped Balkan country in a precarious situation as its first debt payments are due this summer.

Why It Matters: Both cases point to rising concern in Brussels (and Washington) over Chinese lending practices and debts, which could open the door to further political and economic influence by Beijing.

But the examples also highlight the role that Chinese cash occupies in domestic politics.

In Hungary, China is a useful card for Prime Minister Viktor Orban to play in his standoff with the EU. His strong relationship with Beijing has also given him cover as the countrys democratic institutions have eroded under his watch.

Read More

My colleague Predrag Tomovic from RFE/RLs Balkan Service looked at details of the contract that Montenegro signed with the Export-Import Bank of China, focusing on the clause that could allow the bank to seize assets if the government cant meet its debt payments.

For added context on whats motivating ties between Beijing and Budapest, this quote from my interview with Tamas Matura, an assistant professor at Corvinus University in Budapest, is illuminating: "None of these ideas are coming from China. They are coming from the Hungarian side, but, of course, Beijing is happy to go along with them.

RFE/RLs Hungarian Service spoke with local expert Gyorgy Tilesch about security concerns over Budapest hosting Fudan University, which has known ties to Chinas intelligence services.

Expert Corner: Europe Between Beijing And Washington 

Readers asked: Is Europe becoming the new dividing line between China and the United States?

"Europe sees itself as a moderating force in the escalating competition between the United States and China. For economic and political reasons, it is pushing back against the notion of a zero-sum world and refusing to choose sides. Walking this geopolitical tightrope will be increasingly challenging. China may welcome a nonaligned Europe, but U.S. politicians will find it very difficult to swallow." -- Noah Barkin, author of the German Marshall Funds Watching China In Europe newsletter and managing editor with Rhodium Group's China practice

Do you have a question about Chinas growing footprint in Eurasia? Send it to me at StandishR@rferl.org and Ill get it answered by leading experts and policymakers.

Three More Stories From Eurasia

1. Playing The Long Game

Beijing is preparing for fallout from U.S. President Joe Bidens decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan, where China is looking to wield more influence but is cautious about getting too involved in the countrys chaos.

Evolving Interests: China shares a 76-kilometer border with Afghanistan and has preferred a low-key approach toward its unstable neighbor, but thats slowly changing, which I wrote about with my colleague Ajmal Aand from RFE/RLs Radio Free Afghanistan.

Beijings main concern is about Afghanistan becoming a haven for Uyghur radicals and other fundamentalists angered by Beijings repressive policies toward ethnic Muslim minorities in Xinjiang to launch a cross-border insurgency.

China has also been lured by Afghanistans mineral riches, with Chinese companies announcing investments worth billions of dollars in copper mining and oil exploration, although ongoing instability has left those ventures on hold.

Reality Check: China will look to ramp up its diplomatic efforts and protect its interests, but the country has no desire to fill the vacuum left by the United States in Afghanistan.

2. Xinjiang Continues To Ripple Across Eurasia

The fallout from Chinas ongoing internment of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Muslim minorities in its western Xinjiang region continues to reverberate across Central Asia and beyond.

The Local: As RFE/RLs Kazakh Service reported, three ethnic Kazakhs who claimed asylum in Kazakhstan after crossing the border illegally from Xinjiang are asking the government for permission to leave the country.

Despite receiving temporary asylum, none of the three people are able to work legally in the country and have no path to citizenship or permanent residency under Kazakh law. In the face of these difficulties, theyre pushing the Kazakh government to allow them to leave for a third country.

Meanwhile, Raqyzhan Zeinolla, a 58-year old naturalized Kazakh citizen, was released in April after being imprisoned in China for 17 years. Zeinolla was arrested in 2004 during a visit to Xinjiang and accused of being a spy, where he then did stints in prison and a so-called reeducation camp.

The Global: The watchdog group Human Rights Watch declared in April that the Chinese government is committing crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other groups in Xinjiang.

The Rand Corporation also released a new study where the authors examined satellite photos of Xinjiang to show the massive expansion of detention facilities in the area.

3. Deciphering The Belt And Road

China is the world's largest official creditor, but many of the basic facts around Beijing's foreign lending are still unknown.

In the hopes of pulling the curtain back on these practices, I interviewed Scott Morris, one of the authors of a recent study by the Center for Global Development that did a first-of-its-kind analysis of 100 Chinese contracts across 24 developing countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Main Takeaways: The study finds that Chinese contracts have a host of unique features that are unusual even for the murky world of international lending.

A strong reliance on secrecy is common among Chinese contracts, while many deals contain clauses that prevent collective-debt restructuring and allow Beijing to cancel debt or accelerate repayments, which Morris says could potentially influence the policies of debtor countries.

Despite the restrictive nature of the deals, Morris pushes back on so-called debt-trap diplomacy, the idea that Beijing is deliberately trying to get countries into debt in order to increase its influence over them.

Instead, he says that after the analysis of the contracts, its clear that Chinese entities are issuing loans with the full intention of getting their money back.

Across The Supercontinent

It's Chinatown: A Tajik city bulldozed 30 houses on a picturesque riverbank for a huge Chinese-funded project comprising 1,200 apartment units, a school, car park, and various stores.

My colleague Farangis Najibullah looked at how, six years later, 300 evicted people are still waiting for promised housing.

Front Of The Line: RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service is investigating how Chinese citizens living in Ukraine were vaccinated en masse against COVID-19, while the rest of the countrys rollout continues to move slowly.

Sinopharm Arrives: North Macedonias struggling vaccination program got a boost with the arrival of 200,000 doses of Chinas Sinopharm vaccine, RFE/RL's Balkan Service reported.

About 500,000 doses of Sinovac, another Chinese vaccine, are supposed to arrive later this month.

Perception Gap: Despite being outspent by the EU, a majority of Serbs believe that China is the largest provider of aid to Serbia to combat the pandemic -- although Iva Martinovic from RFE/RLs Balkan Service reports that this is changing.

According to a recent study, 56.4 percent of Serbs believe China is the top donor, a drop from 75 percent who thought so in the early stages of the pandemic last year.

One Thing To Watch

How to counter challenges posed by China was an early focus from the May 4 meeting of G7 ministers in London. Western officials say they are not looking to contain China, but rather compete with it.

Ahead of the planned G7 summit next month, expect discussions to pick up around Western alternatives to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. The United States, the European Union, Japan, and India are already discussing forming alternatives to Beijings infrastructure project and Biden has reportedly asked for it to be included on the summits agenda.

Thats all from me for now. Dont forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have.

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your in-box on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.
The Group of Seven (G7) advanced democracies has wrapped up its first in-person meeting in more than two years with a pledge to bolster collective efforts to counter Russia's "irresponsible and destabilizing" behavior, but offered little concrete action aside from expressing support for Ukraine.

"We are deeply concerned that the negative pattern of Russia's irresponsible and destabilizing behavior continues," the top diplomats of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States said in a joint statement on May 5 following talks in London.

The ministers cited "the large buildup of Russian military forces on Ukraine's borders and in illegally annexed Crimea, its malign activities aimed at undermining other countries' democratic systems, its malicious cyberactivity, and use of disinformation."

"We nevertheless will continue to bolster our collective capabilities and those of our partners to address and deter Russian behavior that is threatening the rules-based international order, including in the areas of cyberspace security and disinformation," the statement said.

The G7 meeting set the tone for next month's summit of the group's leaders in Cornwall, England.

It came amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West over issues including Russia's military threats to Ukraine, alleged meddling in elections in the United States and other democracies, alleged state-backed hacking, and the poisoning and jailing of Kremlin foe Aleksei Navalny.

Russia's recent military buildup near the Ukrainian border and in Crimea, seized by Moscow in March 2014, has raised concerns about a major escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where fighting between government forces and Moscow-backed separatists has killed more than 13,000 people since April 2014.

The Russian military said last week that most of its troops had returned to their permanent bases.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was flying to Kviv after the G7 meeting to underscore unwavering U.S. support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russias ongoing aggression and to encourage progress on Ukraines reform agenda, according to the State Department.

In their statement, the G7 ministers said they were "deeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Russia, and the systematic crackdown on opposition voices, human rights defenders, independent civil society, and media."

On Belarus, they raised their concerns about "the political and human rights crisis following the fraudulent" August 2020 presidential election, and called on the authorities to "hold new, free, and fair elections conducted under international observation."

Condemning Irans support to proxy forces and non-state armed actors, the G7 ministers called on Tehran to refrain from destabilising actions, and play a constructive role in fostering regional stability and peace.



They also called on Tehran to release foreign and dual nationals they said were being held arbitrarily in Iranian prisons.

The statement also criticized China for "arbitrary, coercive economic policies and practices" and urged it to stick to international trade rules and "respect human rights and fundamental freedoms," in particular among ethnic and religious minority groups such as mostly Muslim ethnic Uyghurs in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
An Iranian diplomat's 20-year prison sentence in Belgium for plotting to bomb an opposition rally outside Paris has been confirmed after he dropped plans to appeal.

The confirmation of the sentence came after Vienna-based diplomat Assadolah Assadi dropped his appeal, his lawyers said on May 5.



Assadi was found guilty on February 4 of attempted terrorism after a plot to bomb a rally of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an exiled opposition group, near Paris in June 2018.

Three other defendants also received jail sentences.

The planned attack on the rally was thwarted by a coordinated operation between French, German, and Belgian security services.

The sentence was strongly condemned by the Iranian government, which repeatedly dismissed the charges, saying the allegations by the NCRI, which Tehran considers a terrorist group, are false.

The NCRI is the political wing of the exiled Iranian opposition group Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), an exiled opposition group that is seeking to overthrow the Islamic republic.

Prosecution lawyer Georges-Henri Beauthier said in Antwerp on May 5 that there were guarantees from the Belgium state that there would be no swap of Assadi for Western prisoners in Iran. Beauthier cited a separation of powers between justice and political decisions.

"The Belgian government will not discuss [a prisoner swap]," he said.



Assadi's trial was the first time an Iranian official had been tried for suspected terrorism in Europe since Iran's 1979 revolution.



Assadi was arrested in Germany before being transferred to Belgium for trial. In its ruling, the Belgium court said he was running an Iranian state intelligence network and was acting on orders from Tehran.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Iraqi President Barham Salih says his country has hosted multiple rounds of talks between Saudi and Iranian officials, confirming reports of diplomacy to defuse tensions between the Middle Eastern rivals.

Talks were held "more than once," Salih told an online discussion by the Beirut Institute think tank on May 5.

He added the discussions were "important and significant," but provided no further details.

The confirmation of the talks from Salih, a Kurdish politician known to have friendly ties with both the United States and Iran, comes after Saudi and Iranian officials had recently softened their language and said they were prepared for reconciliation.

Analysts say Saudi Arabia appears to be shifting its regional policies in response to the change of administration in Washington, which has brought renewed criticism of the kingdom's human rights record and regional policies.

Former President Donald Trump pursued a "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran and generally supported Saudi policies.

But President Joe Biden is seeking to revive the international nuclear deal with Iran abandoned by his predecessor, and has signaled impatience with the Saudi-led war in Yemen against Iran-aligned Huthi rebels.

Iraq has long tried to balance its close economic, political, and security ties with Iran, while expanding relations with Tehran's Persian Gulf rivals, led by Saudi Arabia.

Baghdad has also sought to avoid becoming a battleground between Iran and the United States, especially after the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. air strike in Baghdad in January 2020 brought the region close to war.

Based on reporting by dpa and Reuters
BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has signed into law a bill on constitutional amendments approved by a nationwide referendum last month that has been criticized by his opponents as a move to concentrate more powers in his hands.

The signing ceremony held on May 5 started with a minute of silence to commemorate 36 Kyrgyz nationals killed in last week's clashes along a disputed segment of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border.

Japarov addressed the nation after the signing ceremony, calling the April 28-29 violence along the border "an attempt to violate Kyrgyzstan's territorial integrity" and vowing to assist affected villages to get back to normal as soon as possible.

"None of presidents before me faced economic problems of the current proportions. I inherited a devastated economy, a state treasury with a deficit of 20 billion soms ($236 million)," Japarov said, adding that despite "economic hardships that have deepened due to pandemic crisis," he will do "everything I can to revive economy and business activities."

Kyrgyz citizens approved the bill on constitutional amendments on April 11, but the full text of the amended constitution is yet to be made public.

The new constitution reduces the size of parliament by 25 percent to 90 seats and gives the president the power to appoint judges and heads of law enforcement agencies. It also calls for establishing "a consultative and coordinating body" that would be controlled by the president. Critics say it could act as a parallel parliament and a way for the president to exert more power.

The referendum came three months after Japarov was elected president following a tumultuous period that saw the ouster of the previous government amid protests over October parliamentary elections and months of political wrangling over the future of the Central Asian country.

Japarov proposed drafting a new constitution in November 2020 as he emerged from the turmoil as acting president in the wake of the resignation of then-President Sooronbai Jeenbekov.

He easily won the presidential election in January, while a referendum held in tandem saw voters opt for a presidential system that was the centerpiece of the proposed constitutional amendments.

Some in the former Soviet republic have criticized Japarov, saying the new constitution was being rushed through to create an authoritarian system while concentrating too much power into the hands of the president.

Japarov was among several prominent politicians freed from prison by protesters during the October unrest. He had been serving a 10-year prison sentence for hostage-taking during a protest against a mining operation in northeast Kyrgyzstan in October 2013. He maintains the charges against him were politically motivated.

May 5 has been marked in the country as the Constitution Day since the first constitution was approved by the parliament of independent Kyrgyzstan on that day in 1993.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a women's prison in the Latvian capital, Riga, and a farm were among the unlikely venues for a Russian documentary film festival. ArtDocFest is held in Moscow every year, but amid growing repression and intimidation began holding events in Riga in 2014. This year's top prize winner was Silent Voice, the story of a gay Chechen MMA fighter who fled to Belgium after getting death threats.
Environmental activists say a Liechtenstein nobleman has killed Romania's largest bear for a 7,000 euro ($8,400) fee in what they say amounted to poaching.

Arthur, a 17-year-old male brown bear, was killed in Romania's central Covasna County last month by Prince Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein, Romania's Agent Green nongovernmental organization said in a statement on May 5.

Agent Green chief Gabriel Paun said the 32-year-old prince, who lives in Austria, shot Arthur after the Environment Ministry gave special approval for the shooting of a female bear with cubs following a farmer's complaint that the animal had caused extended and repeated damage to crops in the area.*

There was no immediate comment from Prince Emanuel.

Environment Minister Barna Tancos announced an investigation into the incident.

"Complaints and requests [to shoot troublesome bears] come almost daily from several areas," Tancos said, calling the case "extremely complicated."

Romania has arguably the largest brown-bear population in the European Union, and bear hunting is banned unless the animals pose a direct threat to farmers and their livestock.

"Measurements of the body showed that Arthur was worth 593 points out of a total of 600, which is the maximum score in trophy hunting," according to Paun.

"I wonder how the prince could mistake a small female with cubs that usually ventures into villages with the largest male that lived deep in the forest."

The activist said that it was "obvious" that the hunter did not travel to Romania to solve the villagers' problem but to get a much-coveted trophy, adding, "This amounts to bear poaching."

Ann-Kathrin Freude, a campaigner for the Austrian environmental NGO VGT, called the killing of the bear "a shame for Austria."

"It cannot be that influential Austrians can hunt protected animals in other countries for a lot of money!" she said in a statement.

The official number of brown bears in Romania is over 6,000. But the government is not actually sure of the number, and environmental groups argue that it might be as low as 2,000. Hunting associations say the number could be as high as 10,000.

In 2016, Romania banned the trophy hunting of large carnivores, such as bears and wolves. But under successive governments, exceptions have been granted for the sake of controlling the population. According to estimates, almost 1,400 bears have been killed by hunters to date, who are said to be willing to pay $15,000 for a trophy.

Tancos, who took over the ministry late last year, has advocated relaxing the ban on bear hunting, arguing that the large number of bears poses a growing threat to humans.

But critics have said that granting official approvals for bear hunting is a profitable business, and blamed the bears' incursions into the human habitat on the intensive logging -- both legal and illegal -- that has resulted in the substantial shrinking of Romania's forests.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Romanian Service

*CORRECTION: A previous version of this story identified Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein as being Austrian.
Police: Nashville Officer Shot After 'Setup' Call

By West Kentucky Star Staff

NASHVILLE - A police officer is recovering after being shot Tuesday night.WTVF in Nashville says a Metro Nashville Police Officer was injured while responding to a reported active shooter at a home in South Nashville. But police say it was a "setup" and when officers arrived the suspect opened fire on officers.

Police and fire crews were called to Sugarloaf Drive for a report from a man claiming his brother had shot his mother and that the gunfire was continuing. Three officers knocked on the door, but when they began to enter the home, the caller opened fire, injuring Officer Brian Sherman.

Officers retreated from the home. The gunman, 22-year-old Salman Mohamed, followed them outside. Officers attempted negotiations with him, but they failed. Mohamed died when he shot himself in the driveway of the home.

Sherman was shot in his left arm, and was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment. He was released from the hospital late Tuesday night.

On the Net:
Russia has filed protocols against Facebook and Google for what Roskomnadzor, the country's communications regulator, says is the social-media networks' failure to remove banned content.

The official TASS news agency on May 5 quoted a court source as saying five protocols against both Google and Facebook were received by the court, with potential fines amounting to 200 million rubles ($267,000) each.

Another social-media giant, Twitter, has already been handed protocols for similar violations, which could see it fined as much as $320,000, the source added.

The moves are the latest in a major dispute Moscow has with global social-media platforms over content allegedly related to political protests.

Russian critics of the Kremlin routinely use international social networks to get around state control of the media and reach tens of millions of citizens with their anti-government messages.

Imprisoned Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny in January used U.S. social-media networks to organize some of the largest anti-government protests since 2011-12.

Russian authorities have gone as far as to threaten to ban social media. Even though they have recently backed away from such threats, Russian regulators have punitively slowed user connections.

No date for the hearing has been set, TASS said. Roskomnadzor, Twitter, and the court did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The media-freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says the Russian government's "draconian and defamatory" decision to list the Meduza website as a "foreign agent" may force one of the country's most popular independent news sites to shut down.

The listing is "a massive blow to media pluralism in Russia," the Paris-based RSF said in a May 5 statement.

"We call on the Russian Justice Ministry to abolish this draconian and defamatory register of 'foreign agent' media, which exists solely to enable the government to tighten its grip on the press," said Jeanne Cavelier, RSF's director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Meduza, which is based in Latvia, is one of Russia's most popular and influential media outlets, claiming some 13 million unique visitors each month.

The Russian government included Meduza in the "foreign agent" register on April 23. Meduza is appealing the designation and has launched a crowd-funding campaign to compensate for lost advertising revenues that forced it to curtail operations.

Just in the last week, Meduza closed its offices in Riga and Moscow, slashed staff salaries, and halted the use of freelancers.

The European Union on April 24 said "it is extremely concerning that Russian authorities continue to restrict the work of independent media platforms, as well as individual journalists and other media actors."

Russia's so-called "foreign agent" legislation was adopted in 2012 and has been modified repeatedly.

It requires nongovernmental organizations that receive foreign assistance and that the government deems to be engaged in political activity to be registered, to identify themselves as "foreign agents," and to submit to audits.

Later modifications of the law targeted foreign-funded media, including RFE/RL's Russian Service, six other RFE/RL Russian-language news services, and Current Time, a network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.

Earlier this year, Russian courts began imposing large fines against RFE/RL for failing to mark its articles with a government-prescribed label. RFE/RL is appealing the fines.

RFE/RL has called the fines "a state-sponsored campaign of coercion and intimidation," while the U.S. State Department has described them as "intolerable."

Human Rights Watch has described the "foreign agent" legislation as "restrictive" and intended "to demonize independent groups."
A group of Russian lawmakers has proposed legislation that would bar individuals involved in the activities of a public or religious group, or any organization that has been recognized by a court as "extremist or terrorist," from taking part in parliamentary elections.

The draft bill, put forward just ahead of September elections to the parliaments lower chamber, the State Duma, states that ordinary employees and leaders of such organizations cannot be elected as lawmakers if they worked in such groups for one and three years, respectively, before a court's decision to ban such groups.

The bill also says that individuals who "provided financial support, property, as well as organizational, methodical, consultative, or any other type of assistance" to such organizations one year before the organization was banned will be barred from taking part in parliamentary elections for three years.

The move comes on the heels of Moscow prosecutors asking a court to recognize jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's regional network, along with his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) and his Citizens' Rights Defense Foundation (FZPG), as extremist organizations.

The Moscow City Court has said it will rule on the motion on May 17.

Leonid Volkov, a close associate of Navalny, says the draft bill is aimed squarely at the Kremlin critic, his supporters, and the staff members at its organizations.

"We have seen a mass of 'laws against Navalny,' but nothing this harsh. Contributed even just a penny to the FBK in the last year -- you cannot be elected to the State Duma. Worked as a coordinator for Navalny's team in the last three years -- you cannot be elected to the State Duma. Just read [the draft bill], there is fear in every sentence, " Volkov wrote on Telegram.

The pressure on Navalny has intensified greatly in the past eight months, starting with his poisoning in Siberia last August. But it goes back at least as far as December 2011, when Navalny helped lead protests prompted by anger over evidence of election fraud that benefited the Kremlin-controlled United Russia party and dismay at Vladimir Putins plans to return to the presidency in 2012 after four years as prime minister.

The elections must be held by September 19, and the United Russia party has been polling at historically low levels. Many observers link this to the government's latest crackdown on Navalny and his colleagues, as well as on other dissenters and independent media outlets.

Lyubov Sobol, another close Navalny associate and a lawyer for the FBK who has announced her intention to run for a seat in the State Duma in September, told Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, that the move by lawmakers is "a demonstration of United Russia's weakness."

"I think I am the person that the Kremlin [and] United Russia are scared of. And they will try, using that bill, to prevent me from taking part in the elections to the State Duma because they understand that if I am registered, I will win.... Because Moscow residents want change, they want decent, strong, and independent politicians.... The fact that they will try to label us as extremists to ban our participation in the elections shows that they are really afraid of us," Sobol said.

Volkov announced on April 29 that Navalny's regional network will be disbanded ahead of the Moscow City Court hearing on May 17 to avoid the prosecution of staff members.

With reporting by Current Time
As President Vladimir Putin's government intensifies its crackdown on all forms of dissent, many Russians who oppose him have found inspiration in the closing remarks Moscow State University student Olga Misik made last week at her trial.



Writer Nikolai Kononov posted on Twitter that the speech Misik made in court on April 29 "will end up in school textbooks."



St. Petersburg artist Yuly Rybakov shared Misik's remarks in full on Facebook and wrote, "With such children, Russia does have a future!"



The student's defiant speech joins the ranks of the impassioned courtroom addresses of dissidents that have characterized the two decades of Putin's rule and go back at least as far as the Soviet era.

Misik and two other young defendants, Ivan Vorobyevsky and Igor Basharimov, are charged with vandalizing government buildings. In a gesture of support for those they consider political prisoners, they hung banners on a railing outside a Moscow district court on August 8, 2020, and then splattered red paint on a security booth outside the Prosecutor-General's Office building. Prosecutors claim they caused 3,500 rubles ($47) in damages.



Defense attorneys say that the documents provided by prosecutors concerning the alleged damages were falsified and that no harm was caused by the water-soluble paint.



Under the charges, they could face up to three years in prison when Moscow's Tverskoi district court delivers its decision on May 11. Prosecutors, however, have asked for two years of "restricted liberty" for Misik and one year and 10 months for the other defendants, according to the independent OVD-Info monitoring agency.

During the trial, the defendants have been under a limited form of house arrest, unable to leave home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., to approach within 10 meters of government buildings, to attend public events, or to use means of communication.



Misik, who turned 19 in January, has long been actively involved in protests against Putin's government. She attracted national attention in August 2019 during a protest against the government's decision to disqualify virtually all the opposition candidates running for seats on the Moscow City Duma.

Misik protested by reading the Russian Constitution out loud to a heavily armed phalanx of riot police in body armor -- an act that for many distilled the relationship between the Russian state and the people in recent years.

In October 2019, she was detained on Red Square while conducting a one-person picket by holding up a large piece of blank paper.



In February 2020, she was detained in Penza while organizing a demonstration of support for the accused in the so-called Network ("Set") case, which activists say was fabricated by the security forces.

In her closing speech to the court in the vandalism case, Misik insisted that she had never been afraid during her years of activism.



"I am often asked if I am afraid," she told the court. "More often by people from abroad than those in Russia because they don't know the specifics of our lives.... They don't know the feeling of hopelessness that we take in with our mother's milk. And that very feeling of hopelessness atrophies all signs of fear and infects us with a learned helplessness. What is the point of being afraid if your future does not depend on you?



"I was never afraid," she said. "I felt despair, helplessness, hopelessness, confusion, anxiety, despair, anger, but neither politics nor activism every infected me with the feeling of fear."



'Sad And Sickened But Not Scared'



Misik said she was not afraid when police came to arrest her in the middle of the night and threatened her with prison. "I joked and laughed because I knew that as soon as I stopped smiling, I had lost," she told the court.



She added that she was not afraid when the police van drove her away or when she remembered her father, whom she saw cry for the first time in her life. "I was sad and sickened, but not scared," she said.



Misik added, though, that she began to be afraid and to experience panic only after she found herself under modified house arrest.



"And now it seems to me that all the fear that has accumulated in me over the last nine months is concentrated here and now in my final speech, because public speaking is more frightening to me than the prospect of being sentenced," Misik said.



"Someone once said that you can't be afraid if you know that you are right," she continued. "But Russia teaches us to be afraid all the time. It is a country that is trying to kill you every day. And if you are not part of the system, you are already as good as dead."

She said that in her support of those unjustly imprisoned, she thought about her future children.



"When my children ask me where I was when all this happened, when they ask how I could allow this to happen and what did I do to fix it, I won't have anything to tell them," she said. "What can I say? That I held a picket outside the FSB? That is laughable."



And then she asked Judge Maria Buraya*: "And what about your children? When they ask you where you were when this happened, how will you answer them? That you handed down the guilty verdicts?"



She stated that she did not regret participating in the vandalism protest.



"If I could go back in time, I'd do it again," she said. "Even if the death penalty threatened me, I'd do it again. And I'd do it again and again and again.... They say that repeating the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is madness. Then hope is madness. And ceasing to do what you consider right because everyone around you thinks it is hopeless is surrendering to helplessness. I would rather look insane to your eyes than helpless to mine."



'We Will Win'



She closed her speech with a reference to Sophie Scholl, a Munich university student who together with her brother, Hans, was executed by guillotine in 1943 for her resistance to the regime of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.



"She was condemned for leaflets and graffiti, while I have been tried for posters and paint," Misik said. "Essentially, we were both persecuted for thought crimes. My trial has been very similar to Sophie's trial and today's Russia is very similar to fascist Germany. Even facing the guillotine, Sophie did not abandon her convictions and her example has inspired me not to seek a deal. Sophie Scholl is the embodiment of youth, sincerity, and liberty. And I really hope that I am in this way like her."



"The fascist regime collapsed in the end, just as the fascist regime in Russia will fall," she said. "I don't know when this will happen  a week, a year, a decade. But I know that we will win because love and youth always win."

The transcript of Misik's speech has been shared widely on social media, and more than 45,000 people have signed an online petition calling for her release.



Andrei Chvanov, from Tatarstan, wrote on Facebook: "I just read her final speech. And you know what? I felt ashamed. Because my threshold of fear is much lower.... She holds strong, jokes, writes, and is 100 percent sure that she is right. And she is right. She sees the truth. And she is not afraid. Not many people in our country have such a gift."



Another Facebook user urged people to "help Olga Misik, if only because her closing statement is the strongest closing statement of all those I have read."



"It is a very powerful statement," another user wrote on Facebook. "It will force the judges and prosecutors to think about what Russia will be like tomorrow. To see that there are inalienable human rights."

RFE/RL's Russian Service contributed to this report

*CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misidentified the judge hearing Olga Misik's case.
Serbia will pay citizens to get a COVID-19 shot as the government seeks to speed up the Balkan country's flagging vaccination campaign.

President Aleksandar Vucic announced the plan on May 5, saying economic growth depends on vaccinating the population.

RFE/RL's Coronavirus Coverage Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region.

Under the incentive program, the government will pay 3,000 dinars ($30) to anyone who receives at least one vaccine dose by the end of May.

On average, Serbs earn a little over $600 a month.

Vucic said the government cannot discriminate against people based on whether they have been inoculated, but described those who refuse to get the shot as "irresponsible and selfish.

"That is why we have been thinking about how to reward people who show responsibility," he added.

Vucic also said state employees who are not vaccinated and get sick with COVID-19 will not receive paid leave.

Serbia ranks among the top countries in the world in vaccinating its population of 7 million, but as elsewhere the pace of administering shots has slowed after an initial rush to get vaccinated.

According to government figures, 1.3 million people have been fully vaccinated with either the Sinopharm, Pfizer ,Sputnik V, or AstraZeneca vaccines. The country has a population of around 7 million.

With reporting by dpa
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Mortar fire from Russia-backed separatists hit a hospital in Krasnohorovka, eastern Ukraine, on May 4-5, according to the Ukrainian military. Ukrainian authorities said that the shells fired included 120-millimeter mortar rounds, which are forbidden under the Minsk agreements aimed at reaching a durable cease-fire in eastern Ukraine.
The United States and Europe have expressed support for the territorial borders of Bosnia-Herzegovina, which have been called into question in a document that has circulated among EU officials.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Security Council on May 4 that the U.S. position on the 1995 Dayton peace accords and Bosnia-Herzegovina's future as a single state destined for the Euro-Atlantic community remains unchanged.

Ireland and Estonia, which are nonpermanent members of the Security Council, joined France in affirming their unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Bosnia.

The statements follow reports that a document has circulated among EU officials proposing the redrawing of borders in the Western Balkans to merge Kosovo with Albania and to incorporate parts of Bosnia into Serbia and Croatia to help the region's EU integration.

A Slovenian news website last month published the document, allegedly sent to the EU by Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa. Jansa denied handing the document to European Council President Charles Michel.

EU and U.S. officials rejected the idea of redrawing borders in the Western Balkans after reports about the document were published.

Thomas-Greenfield on May 4 also told the Security Council that the United States supports the essential role of UN envoy Valentin Inzko in monitoring and supporting the implementation of civilian aspects of the Dayton accords.

But Russias deputy ambassador to the UN renewed Moscows attacks on Inzko.

"He presents the situation as if the Bosnian Serbs and the Croats alone were to blame for all the difficulties," said Anna Evstigneeva.

She also denounced his "interference" and "manipulation of historical events," and demanded he not be involved with Bosnia's relations with the European Union and NATO.

Inzko said he regretted the verbal attacks, including being labeled a monster by Milorad Dodik, Bosnia's nationalist Serb leader.

Based on reporting by AFP
XALQOBOD, Uzbekistan -- A prosecutor in Uzbekistan's southern Surxondaryo region has asked a court to sentence blogger Otabek Sattoriy to 11 years in prison in a high-profile extortion and slander case that has drawn harsh criticism from domestic and international human rights groups.

The prosecutor said in a statement at the Muzrabot district court during closing arguments on May 4 that Sattoriy "does not deserve a mitigated punishment," since he has refused to accept blame and has not paid compensation to his alleged victims.

Sattoriy, whose trial started in March, has said that the case against him was fabricated and "based on lies."

The 40-year-old blogger was charged with extortion, slander and insult, which his supporters and rights defenders have characterized as retaliation by the authorities for his critical reporting.

Sattoriy is known to be a harsh critic of the regional governor, Tora Bobolov. In one post on his Halq Fikiri (People's Opinion) video blog, Sattoriy openly accused the local government of launching fabricated criminal cases against bloggers and vowed to continue to raise the issue of corruption among officials despite the "crackdown."

Since his arrest in late January, Sattoriy has been tried in a separate case and found guilty of defamation and spreading false information. According to the Prosecutor-General's Office, the blogger was ordered to pay a fine for the offenses.

The Prosecutor-General's Office also rejected criticism by human rights organizations, saying that Sattoriy's arrest was lawful.

Uzbekistan is ranked 156th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders' 2020 World Press Freedom Index.

Last month, the Committee to Protect Journalists urged Uzbekistan to repeal recent legal amendments that the group said "deepen restrictions" on online speech ahead of a planned presidential election in October.

The changes introduce prison sentences for crimes such as insulting or defaming the president online and making online calls for "mass disturbances." They also make it an offense to publish statements online calling on people to violate the law and threaten public order, or show "disrespect" to the state.

President Shavkat Mirziyoev took over as head of Central Asia's most-populous state after authoritarian leader Islam Karimov's death was announced in September 2016.

Mirziyoev has since positioned himself as a reformer, releasing political prisoners and opening his country to its neighbors and the outside world, although many activists say the changes have not gone nearly far enough.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was originally published on Richland Source in 2014.

For the last several generations  and a whole lifetime for most of us  the postcard view of Mansfield is a scenic and flower-laden portrait of the Hall at Kingwood. By any standards it's an astonishing jewel to crown a city the stature of Mansfield.

Visitors to town, who mail away the postcards, learn more about the history of the place than most of us who live here  we who hurry past Kingwood hoping to catch the traffic light. The postcard-sized descriptive blurb explaining what such a place is doing here serves for most Mansfielders as enough foundation for bragging rights.

But a place so grand deserves its epic legend, and a story that big necessarily throws deeper shadows in all directions to give it more dimension. The definitive study of the life of C.K. King, drawn from the King papers and documents, doesnt exist because there are no King papers: when he died the house was cleared of all his photos, letters, and documents as he had instructed.

This served mostly to amplify the mystery of who he was and what Kingwood is doing here.

What we know of him survives only in the more ephemeral media of community memories, glimpses from a distance, and overheard tales  each of which is a little postcard from the past, with a different view of Kingwood in the '20s.

A View from Ohio Brass

By the 1920s the Ohio Brass Company had been in existence for over 30 years and, superpowered by electrical Street Car innovation, had charged to the forefront of local industrial power.

The company had risen from a tottering job-foundry in the 1880s to a nationally recognized powerhouse in the '20s, principally through the genius and efforts of a young man who came to town as a glorified salesman and wound up as Chairman of the Board. He was Charles Kelly King, who took a foundry making brass harness fittings for carriages and retooled it to make parts for electric streetcars.

When he arrived in 1893, there were barely 50 cities in the U.S. with streetcar lines. But by 1900 there were more than 900 electric street railways in America with nearly 20,000 miles of track. During this wild surge of trolley proliferation, the components of the system that connected trains to their overhead wire power source  insulators, conductors, resisters  all came from OB.

The storm of sales and leap of production during the booming early decades of the 20th Century made a whole wave of new millionaires in Mansfield, and riding the crest was C.K. King.

A view from an Architecture Magazine

In the middle of the 1920s, America was thinking big, and C.K. King was on top of the world right when it mattered, and had reaped, accordingly, fortunes fit for a king.

He had a scenic piece of land with a large frame house on it. But the '20s seemed to require an upgrade, so he had the house removed out of the view and picked the prime spot for an epic creation. He found a hotshot architect from Cleveland who knew how to think big, and how to transplant classic, Old-World atmosphere into the New World of Mansfield, Ohio.

There were plenty of trees on the grand lawn to set off the mansion, but they were not the right setting for a chateau from Normandy, a place known for its big old picturesque beech trees. King already had the right trees, they were simply growing on the wrong side of the hill. It took a team of men and a team of horses to do it, but they moved the trees to center stage like hoary old Shakespearean kings settling the scene with appropriate dignity and solemnity.

It has been nearly 100 years since then, and those transplanted trees that remain have long since attained the stately grandeur that King envisioned.

A View from the Neighbors

Mr. King was a tall and handsome man and he was quite healthy, but in 1927 he was 60 years old and so he determined to exercise his lungs with a vigorous walk every day. He decided he would walk to work. From Kingwood to Ohio Brass was about two and a half miles.

Every business day C.K. stepped off first thing in the morning and strode briskly up Park Avenue West.

The distances varied from day to day but somewhere between Brinkerhoff Avenue and Glenwood Boulevard he stopped on the sidewalk. He never turned or signaled in any way, but within moments after his forward progress had ceased his chauffer pulled up next to him and Mr. King got in the car and rode to work.

A View from the Help

It wasnt that working for Mr. King was in any way especially difficult  he was an exacting man who knew precisely what he wanted  but he was kind to the help and he paid well. Not everyone was eager to work for him though, after that business about the Watchman.

People in the serving class were wary of anyone who was that rich in the 1920s  when booze and racketeering were making overnight millionaires during Prohibition, and mansions were getting bombed out in Detroit and Cleveland where there was fierce competition among bootleggers. It was in the news all the time.

It was late fall in 1929, the stock market had just crashed and everyone anywhere in the whole economic house of cards was panicking. Everybody in any line of work was on edge, and then one night in mid-November a guard at Kingwood took two slugs in the chest.

Speculation about what was going on at Kings mansion ran in every direction. But locally, no one knew what it was all about. Somebody knew though  somebody who made King look like he might not be the safest man to be standing next to.
BUCYRUS  U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) visited Tuesday with GE-Savant workers and union leaders at the IUE-CWA Local Union Hall, as he continues to press GE-Savant leadership to keep the company and jobs in Ohio.

Ill never stop fighting for Ohio workers. This decision to shift production to factories in China is a short-sighted decision that fails to recognize the productivity of Bucyruss workforce, Brown said. This is why I introduced a proposal recently to get rid of incentives in the tax code to ship jobs and factories abroad, reward investment in American jobs, and make multinational corporations pay their fair share.

"Were going to reward companies that create U.S. jobs and invest in America."

After the company laid off workers at its Bucyrus plant earlier this year, Brown wrote to Robert Madonna, CEO of Savant, to press him for answers and urge the company to work with Bucyrus Mayor Jeff Reser, the city of Bucyrus, and IUE-CWA Local 84704 to keep jobs and high-efficiency lighting production in Ohio.

Brown also wrote to Walmart leadership, asking the company to get involved in local efforts to save high-efficiency lighting jobs at the GE-Savant plant in Bucyrus.

During a Senate Finance Committee hearing last month, Brown continued to push for action and advocate on behalf of workers at the GE-Savant plant in Bucyrus and a tax code that supports American manufacturing.

During the hearing, Brown questioned expert Ohio witnesses on steps that can be taken to halt plant closures and manufacturing layoffs like those in Bucyrus. Brown recently unveiled his framework to overhaul international taxation, which would end incentives to offshore jobs, invest in America, and ensure mega-corporations pay their fair share.

We express our gratitude to Senator Brown and staff for their concern about the loss of important manufacturing jobs in Bucyrus," said Jeff Reser, Mayor of Bucyrus. "The economic impact of the jobs that were lost will have a strong ripple effect throughout Bucyrus and Crawford County and will be difficult to replace.

"Thank you Senator Brown for your leadership on the importance of keeping good quality manufacturing jobs in Bucyrus,
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-04 17:33:26|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on March 4, 2021 shows Du Xuan checks the construction progress in the city of Lanzhou, Gansu Province, northwest China. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

by Xinhua writers Yao Yulin, Wen Jing

LANZHOU, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Drawing sketches and formulating plans on construction sites in the blazing sun are near-daily activities for Du Xuan, 33, a rare female architect in the male-dominated industry.

The one and only female engineer in China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd. is now the head of the company's key project, a medical complex for women and children in the city of Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province.

"I was born for this job. Ever since I was little, I have been fascinated by the magic of building houses," she said. Her father, also an architect, lived near a construction site with his family, where Du spent her childhood watching workers doing formwork, concreting and tying steel rods.

In her college years, Du changed her major from computer science to civil engineering. "Back then, only eight out of about 80 students in our class were girls," said Du.

Du started an internship in her junior year, ahead of most of her classmates, in order to attain more work experience and an edge over her peers.

Tough as it may be working on construction sites, Du never shies away from challenges, and she was recruited by China State Construction Engineering Corporation amid fierce competition.

"Gender discrimination was easy to spot in my workplace at the very beginning, but I firmly believe that a person's competence should not be judged by gender," said Du.

Through nine years of hard work, Du has grown into a self-made chief engineer. Streaming with sweat and answering frequent phone calls, Du gets along well with her male coworkers on the construction sites with a little help from her feminine side.

"Tenderness is Du's talent. She can always resolve crises and confrontations with her witty remarks and gentleness," said Wang Sanji, one of Du's male colleagues.

In China, female employees made up 43.1 percent of the country's workforce and one-quarter of the country's entrepreneurs in 2016, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

Luo Xiaomei, 47, who worked on Du's construction site, was maneuvering a lift carefully inside a 22-story building.

"The lifts are used to transport workers and construction materials. During the busiest hours, I have to finish more than 10 such trips a day," Luo said.

Six out of eight lift operators on the construction site were women. "Women tend to be more careful, patient and focused, and such characteristics make them perfectly suited for the job," Du explained.

Nowadays, more and more Chinese women are struggling to buck the conventional gender stereotypes and pursuing their careers in once male-dominated industries. Diversified employment opportunities on offer have created a perfect stage for them to show their strength.

In Dongxiang Autonomous County, Gansu's Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, a vocational and technical school provides free training programs under the auspices of the local government to help female residents seek new jobs.

"More young women are now opting for training courses for electricians and excavators rather than courses focused on embroidery, makeup and hairdressing," said Tuo Fengying, headmaster of the school.

Han Linlin, 21, was the first female student in the school's excavator training program.

"Excavators are often well paid and it is both cool and challenging for me to operate such a bulky machine," Han stated, offering her reason for choosing the training course.

A topic on "How does it feel for a woman to work in a traditionally male-dominated industry?" is among the most-discussed on Zhihu, the Quora-like knowledge-sharing platform.

"It is now an era where women can achieve success via their own endeavor. When facing tests and difficulties, what really matters is one's wisdom and execution, instead of gender," wrote a netizen nicknamed "He Jing is back" in the comments.

Such great changes in the workplace reflect the comprehensive upgrade of Chinese women's abilities and the realization of their potential, a testament to the progress in the country's efforts made to safeguard the female population's rights and interests, according to Niu Fang, vice professor with the School of Philosophy and Sociology at Lanzhou University. 
MANSFIELD  The Mansfield Fire Department has issued its congratulations to Lt. Shawn Yerian for completing the Executive Fire Officer Program (four-year program).

As a student in the Executive Fire Officer (EFO) Program, Yerian pursued a professional development path that spans four years, taking one course per year.

Each class is two weeks and is held at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. After each period, the student must complete an Applied Research Project (ARP) related to their organization within six months.

Participating in the EFO Program provided an opportunity to view issues in the fire service far beyond Ohio. No other fire education institution can offer such a unique curriculum that brings fire service leaders together to learn, discuss, problem-solve, and ultimately, make a difference in their community.

The graduation was held virtually with Chief Steve Strickling, Assistant Chief Mark Sieving, and Lori Cope -- Mansfield Safety Service Director.
CLEVELAND  U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott announced Wednesday the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFTF) has surpassed 50,000 arrests.

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is comprised of divisions located in: Mansfield, Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Lorain, Painesville, Toledo and Youngstown.

On Tuesday afternoon, members of the NOVFTF Canton Division located and arrested Brannon Newell, 20. Newell marks the 50,000th arrest by the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force over an 18-year period.

An investigation by the Canton Police Department brought charges of rape and gross sexual imposition against Newell, with a child victim under the age of six. Newell was indicted on April 28 through the Stark County Court. Members of the task force were able to locate Newell at a home in the 1600 block of Maple Ave. NE in Canton, where he was arrested without incident.

In June 2003, the NOVFTF was created in memory of Cleveland Police Patrolman Wayne Leon who was killed in the line of duty by a fugitive on the run. Since the inception, the task force has grown from one division in Cleveland to eight divisions across the northern half of Ohio.

The teams consist of over 100 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies with over 300 law enforcement officers working together to locate and apprehend the most violent fugitives in northern Ohio.

Over the past 18 years the NOVFTF has cleared over 73,000 warrants and arrested over 1,700 people for homicide, over 4,600 for crimes related to sexual offenses, over 7,700 for assaults, more than 4,200 for robbery, over 3,600 for weapons offenses and more than 14,200 for narcotics related crimes.

Additionally, during this time, members of the task force seized over 2,200 firearms, more than 47,000 rounds of ammunition, nearly 900 kilograms of illegal narcotics and over $4.4 million in U.S. currency.

Violent crime and its perpetrators will always be one of the evil parts of our society, but the partnership between these law enforcement agencies and the community will be what continues to combat that evil. U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott added. The success of this task force is due to the unparalleled working relationship that has been built over the years with the local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and the incredible partnership into the communities we serve.

In addition to the fugitive mission, the NOVFTF has created a new investigative unit which focuses solely on recovering missing and endangered children. This unit began in late 2020 with Operation Safety Net. Over approximately 5 weeks, 35 missing and endangered children, between the ages of 13 and 18, were recovered during the operation.

A little more than 20% were tied to human trafficking cases and those cases were referred to the Human Trafficking Task Force in Cuyahoga County. Although the operation focused on missing and endangered children from the Cleveland area, children were located and recovered in Euclid, Akron, Mansfield, Columbus, Miami, Florida and other cities throughout Ohio.

Since the completion of Operation Safety Net, a permanent division has been established in Northern Ohio to investigate and recover missing kids. The division will operate across the entire northern half of Ohio and work with every community to recover missing and endangered children.

Day and night, the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force will continue to pursue the most violent fugitives who commit heinous crimes and think they can find solace hiding in our cities. The priority of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force will always be to keep members of our communities safe.

Anyone with information concerning any wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can send a web tip at the following webpage http://www.usmarshals.gov/district/oh-n/index.html. Reward money is available and tipsters may remain anonymous.
ASHLAND  Our staff at Source Media Properties is growing again, as we welcome one new and one familiar face to our teams at Ashland Source and Knox Pages.

Emma Davis comes to the Source through the Report for America program and will cover Ashland and Knox counties. Dillon Carr will return to the Source from Pittsburgh as the new Ashland Source reporter, replacing Tracy Leturgey.

Carr will start his new position with Ashland Source on May 17; Davis will join the team on June 1.

"It's tough losing someone with Tracy's skills and work ethic, but when the opportunity to be an editor in her home state knocked she had to fly and we understand that," managing editor Larry Phillips said. "We're extremely happy to have Dillon rejoining us. He knows the community, has a creative streak, and is very popular with our team.

"It's exciting to have Emma join us, too. She's got the potential, energy and ability to do an outstanding job in our region."

Our Report for America position is fully funded for two years thanks to grants from of the Ashland County Community Foundation (ACCF) and The Innovation Fund, a donor advised fund established by Scott Conery and held at ACCF, as well as gifts from Bill and Polly Chandler and a benefactor in Knox County who has chosen to remain anonymous.

Ashland County Community Foundation president and CEO Jim Cutright said the foundation is pleased to support the RFA position.

"Journalism looks a little different than it used to. It requires you to be more flexible and resilient in how you're funded," Cutright said.

"This isnt a traditional, reactive grant -- its proactive, or what we like to call strategic grant making," he added. "Its exciting for us. Instead of always respondingwe can look around and find projects and initiatives that we can support."

Report for America (RFA), an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, is a two-year program that provides several benefits to its corps members, including ongoing training and mentorship by leading journalists, peer networking, and memberships to select professional organizations.

The Source is one of 64 new local news organizations joining RFA as host newsroom partners this year, and the only new partner located in the state of Ohio.

With the local news system shrinking, its important that we both put more and more reporters in the field  and that we help newsrooms that are working toward becoming more sustainable, and more grounded in the community, said Steve Waldman, president and co-founder of Report for America.

Davis is one of 300 journalists placed through the RFA program this year. She will cover health, education, local government and public policy for Richland Source's sister publications, Ashland Source and Knox Pages.

Davis comes to us from Sayville, New York, a small hamlet with a population of approximately 16,000. She earned a bachelors degree in journalism and leadership studies from the University of Richmond in 2021, where she was managing editor of The Collegian.

During Davis tenure at The Collegian, she and her colleagues received several Associated Collegiate Press awards, including top honors for their website and for best news/feature presentation for a series about memorialization on Richmonds campus. The series was part of her work as a fellow for the Poynter Institutes College Media Project, in which Davis investigated a burial ground of enslaved people on her universitys campus.

A multimedia journalist, Davis has interned twice with PBS Frontline and was a staff writer for the Capital News Service. Her work has also been published by the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism and the Henrico Citizen.

"I am looking forward to many aspects of my Richland Source position, including meeting my colleagues, moving to a new place and being a part of a local organization that is on the cutting edge of digital journalism," Davis said.

"But I am most looking forward to getting to know the communities I will be covering," she added. "I want to know what our communities' concerns, joys and hopes are so that I can best reflect the full scope of Ashland and Knox counties in my reporting."

Ontario graduate Carr left Richland Source for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in 2017 after nearly four years with our company. He will be moving back to Mansfield from the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

"I'm really looking forward to working with a familiar crew that genuinely cares for all people," Carr said. "The Source is not like other companies; we're not cogs in a machine here. Instead, we're individuals with recognized skill sets. That makes a huge difference in what you, the reader, sees on our site -- we care about what you consume because we are cared for.

"My goal is to extend that same care to you by exemplifying honesty, accuracy and reliability in my work," he said. "Please reach out. I look forward to meeting you and working together."
LAKEVILLE, Ohio -- Two Plymouth students topped the 2021 Congressional Arts Competition when the winners were announced on Tuesday night by Congressman Bob Gibbs.

The announcement came at a reception for the top 10 artists hosted by Ashland Universitys Coburn Gallery. Congressman Gibbs welcomed the top 10 submissions to celebrate and showcase their artwork.

The top three winners and the Peoples Choice award winner were announced:

First Place & Peoples Choice: Elizabeth Beckner  Plymouth High School

Second Place: Zoey Endicott  Plymouth High School

Third Place: Blake Sexton  Dover High School

Every year, I am impressed by the skill, attention to detail, and passion displayed by the young artists who participate," Gibbs said. "Elizabeth, Zoey, Blake, and all students who participated should be proud of their accomplishments and the recognition of their incredible talents.

"The creative arts are an important component in the foundation of a well-rounded education. The artistic process helps exercise and hone parts of the mind that physical education and the sciences may not.

Beckners work will be shown in the Congressional Art Competition Gallery located in the tunnel between Cannon House Office Building and the Capitol.

Endicotts piece will be on display in Congressman Gibbs Washington D.C. office.

Sextons work will be shown at Gibbs Ashland office. A reception at the Capitol honoring Elizabeth Beckner and all winners from across the nation will be announced at a later date.
Today

Cloudy skies this morning followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 81F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.

Tonight

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.

Tomorrow

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 82F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
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Covington man arrested and charged in connection with murder in Gilmer County

Special Photo The GBI is asking for assistance in identifying this woman, believed to be the last person to be in contact with murder victim Rossana Delgado on April 16. Special Photo Juan Ayala- Rodriguez Special Photo Mario Barbosa-Juarez Special Photo Megan Colone AKA Grace Beda Special Photo Oscar Garcia Special Photo Fifth suspect in Gilmer County murder.

ELLIJAY  A Covington man has been arrested in connection with a murder investigation into the April 20 death of Rossana Delgado, 37, of Bethlehem.

Calvin Harvard, 28, was arrested on April 30 and charged with tampering with evidence and theft by receiving stolen property, with additional charges expected, according to Nelly Miles of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

On Tuesday, April 20, at approximately 7 a.m., the Gilmer County Sheriffs Office conducted a welfare check at a residence in Cherry Log. Gilmer County deputies responded and then requested the assistance of the GBIs Regional Investigative Office in Cleveland. The victim found at the scene was later identified as Delgado, who had been reported as a missing person in Barrow County on April 16. She was last seen in DeKalb County on April 16.

Murder warrants have been issued for five suspects in the murder of Delgado. The suspects are Megan Alyssa Colone, 30, of Stone Mountain, Juan Ayala-Rodriguez, 35, of Gainesville, Oscar Manuel Garcia, 26, of Austell, and Mario Alberto Barbosa-Juarez, 29, of Oklahoma City, Okla. It is believed that the four suspects, plus a fifth suspect that has yet to be identified, may no longer be in Georgia. Colone may be traveling under the alias, Grace Beda. Colone is believed to be traveling with her minor children. Authorities nationwide have been alerted about these individuals.

A white Ford F-150 and a white Buick Regal belonging to two of the five suspects and Delgados red Ford Focus have been recovered. All three vehicles are being processed for evidence in this investigation.

This investigation is still very active. The GBI and the Gilmer County Sheriffs Office continue to coordinate with the Barrow County Sheriffs Office, the DeKalb County Police Department, and the Chamblee Police Department, as well as multiple state, local and federal agencies to arrest the responsible parties.

The GBI is requesting the publics assistance in identifying and locating the woman in the store in the photo. The woman is one of the last people to interact with the victim, Rossana Delgado. This photo is from April 16, 2021.

Anyone with information is asked to call the GBI Tipline at 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), report the information online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the mobile app, See Something Send Something.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-04 21:11:49|Editor: huaxia

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URUMQI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Airline staff in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region made a rare decision earlier this month after their aircraft was poised for takeoff: driving the plane back to the terminal for the sake of speed.

The last flight from south Xinjiang's Hotan City to the regional capital city Urumqi was about to take off when an anxious father appeared at the terminal pleading for help as the clock approached midnight on April 30.

The Uygur man's seven-year-old son had broken his arm in a tractor accident and was in urgent need of surgery in Urumqi, and the last flight to the regional capital was their only hope to retain the boy's arm.

It didn't take long before the airliner and related departments as well as the passengers onboard decided to come back to pick up the special passengers.

The cabin crew set up a special space for the injured boy on the plane and later donated money to help the family.

In about one and a half hours, the plane landed at the airport in Urumqi, where a special medical team quickly took the boy to a local hospital.

A string of green channels including a police car leading the way were utilized to make the trip to the hospital as fast as possible.

Thanks to the time saved by the delayed flight and other efforts, the boy's broken arm was reconnected, and he will now undergo a week's medical observation.

"Thanks a million. Our family owes so much to everyone involved in the relay race," the father said, who preferred to stay anonymous.

The operation took about three and a half hours. "We just had a special Labor Day," Li Li, one of the surgeons who performed the operation, said on his WeChat page.

"Everyone is racing against time to help retain the seven-year-old Uygur's arm... Wish him a quick recovery." Enditem
Editor

I have been editor of the Rockdale Citizen since 1996 and editor of the Newton Citizen since it began publication in 2004. I am also currently executive editor of the Clayton News Daily, Henry Daily Herald and Jackson Progress-Argus.
Rocky Mount, NC (27804)

Today

Cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. Heavy and torrential downpours at times. High 88F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Rocky Mount, NC (27804)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Heavy and torrential downpours at times. High 88F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 71F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party legislator and Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Harpal Singh Cheema, on Wednesday said he has tested positive for Covid-19.

I have tested +ve for Covid-19 with mild symptoms. Following instructions of my doctor while undergoing home isolation. All those who have come in close proximity to me over last few days are requested to kindly get tested, he said in a tweet.

I have tested +ve for Covid-19 with mild symptoms. Following instructions of my doctor while undergoing home isolation.



All those who have come in close proximity to me over last few days are requested to kindly get tested.@ArvindKejriwal @thetribunechd @HTPunjab @ZeePunjabHH  Adv Harpal Singh Cheema (@HarpalCheemaMLA) May 5, 2021

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh wished the Dirba legislator a speedy recovery.

Wishing a speedy recovery to Leader of the Opposition @HarpalCheemaMLA Ji who has tested positive for #Covid19, Singh tweeted.
Roanoke Rapids, NC (27870)

Today

Thunderstorms. Heavy and torrential downpours at times. High around 85F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-04 21:33:21|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Sept. 25, 2018 shows the downtown area in the sunset in Beihai City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Loans to China's property sector increased at a slower pace in the first quarter (Q1) of the year as the country maintains strict rules for home purchases, central bank data showed.

China's outstanding property loans were up 10.9 percent from a year earlier to 50.03 trillion yuan (about 7.74 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of March, according to the People's Bank of China.

The growth rate was 0.6 percentage points lower than that at the end of last year.

Outstanding individual mortgage lending grew 14.5 percent year on year to 35.67 trillion yuan by the end of March, down 0.1 percentage points from the end of December.

China's policymakers have vowed to ensure the stable and healthy development of the property market, repeatedly emphasizing that "houses are for living in, not for speculation." 
Rutland, VT (05701)

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Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

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A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 53F. Winds light and variable.
Danvers, MA (01923)

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A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Some clouds. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Marblehead - Dorothy G. (Harrison) Hogan, beloved wife of the late L. Timothy Hogan, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, May 30. She was born in Providence, R.I., to John and Margaret (Hill) Harrison. She grew up in Salem and spent many summers in Maine. She graduated from St. Mary's H
The Lee County Health Department reported Tuesday that another county resident has died from COVID-19.

That brings the total number of deaths in Lee County since March 2020 to 77, according to a Health Department news release. On Monday, the county reported 65 new cases of COVID-19.

The deceased individual was hospitalized at Central Carolina Hospital, the release said. The hospital currently has six patients being treated for the coronavirus.

We continue to see progress in our fight against COVID-19, but this is a sad reminder that the virus continues to threaten the health and safety of our community, Heath Cain, director of the Health Department, said in the release.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported Tuesday that 49.7% of the adult population has received at least one vaccination shot while 42% are fully vaccinated.

Statewide, 981 new cases of the coronavirus were reported Tuesday with 1,050 people hospitalized.

The number of deaths since the pandemic began stands at 12,700, according to NCDHHS.

Lee County residents who have not been vaccinated are urged to call 919-842-5744 Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to schedule an appointment for a shot. To register in Spanish, call 919-718-4640 and selection option 8.

A pre-registration form is available at leecountync.gov/covid19. Once the form is submitted, the county will follow-up to complete the registration.
About 10 minutes from downtown Sanford, next to Walmart, there sits a small, half-acre solar farm.

Not many people know about it, but Jody Albright of Central Electric Membership Corporation is trying to change that.

Its a very small site, of course, but its a good way to get education out to our membership, Albright said during a panel discussion on renewable energy Monday hosted by the Sanford Area Growth Alliance.

We want them (people) to understand renewable resources. Weve worked with the Leadership Sanford (program), also school groups.

Central Electric is one of about 26 energy cooperatives that provides power to people across the state under the umbrella of N.C. Electric Cooperatives.

The nonprofits 100-kilowatt solar site came online in 2015, according to the Central Electric website. Mostly, it offsets the facilitys own carbon footprint, Albright said.

Its also an example of a community solar site that could provide green power to locals who cant install solar panels themselves. The sites 360 photovoltaic panels provide could potentially power 12-15 homes, the website stated.

Installing solar panels or buying into a community solar system is a way for people to reduce their electricity bills, Albright said. Central Electric offers reduced rates for customers with solar power.

The organization is also investing in electric vehicle infrastructure, Albright said.

Since about 80% of the charging for electric vehicles happens at home, Central Electric offers a reduced rate to members with electric vehicles, Albright said. The organization hopes to incentivize people to go green by making it less expensive for people to own and charge electric vehicles.

Wind power in Sanford

About a mile away, another Sanford business is contributing to that nationwide movement toward renewable energy. Wind Solutions, on Rand Street, produces parts for wind turbines, said President C.J. Winslow.

The company focuses almost completely on making replacement parts for broken or rundown wind turbines, Winslow said. Theyre in the business of making turbines more reliable by making the parts last longer.

The company also has an asset recovery program to repair and rebuild broken components, Winslow said. As wind turbines become more widespread, Wind Solutions is trying to improve the technology that makes them possible.

Broadwind Industrial Solutions is also in the wind business. Based in Chicago, the company also has a facility in Sanford on Boone Trail Road. About 70% of the companys revenue comes from wind tower, said President Gil Mayo. Most of the work in North Carolina, however, is on gas turbines.

GE (General Electric) is our largest customer, Mayo said. A lot of products are going into Asia. A lot of the coal aspects in Asia are being retired and replaced by gas turbines.

The company is also looking into how to get into the offshore wind business, Mayo said.

We know thats going to be the next growing avenue. Certainly there will be high demand on the East Coast.

Renewable energy is boosting local business

Jason Truesdale, President and CEO of Fortress Fencing in North Sanford, started his career building white picket fences. Twenty years later, his company is one of the largest providers of solar farm security fencing in the nation, he said.

Truesdales company grew from a small, two-person operation in 2001 to a nationally-recognized brand name, he said. After the Great Recession in 2007, producing fence for solar farms helped the company rebuild, he said.

We went from being a small company here in North Carolina to working in 28 states, Truesdale said. Its been a neat adventure for us.
Kenya and Tanzania on Tuesday agreed to eliminate barriers hindering the smooth flow of trade and people between the two East African nations.

The decision was arrived at yesterday at State House, Nairobi during bilateral talks led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and visiting Tanzania Head of State Samia Suluhu Hassan.

A joint team of experts will be set up to address the disjointed enforcement of cross-border Covid-19 containment protocols, one of the most pronounced non-tariff trade barrier between the two nations.

Just as His Excellency the President has said, we have agreed that our Health Ministers need to sit down and come up with a structured system of testing our people at the border points to allow easy movement of our people so as to do their businesses, President Samia Suluhu told the media at State House, Nairobi.

The two leaders noted that Kenya and Tanzania need to develop modalities for mutual recognition of COVID-19 test results, noting that the lack of harmonized protocols has hampered free flow of goods and people.

First, we noted that trade between Kenya and Tanzania is facing some administrative challenges. They include non-tariff barriers and other restrictions which are frustrating trade and investment between our two countries, President Kenyatta said.

The Kenyan Head of State congratulated President Suluhu for assuming the leadership of her countrys ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and assured her of Kenyas unwavering support.

He said Kenya and Tanzania were not only geographically conjoined but have a common culture, common language, shared heritage and a common ancestry.

Your visit has given us the opportunity to renew our relations and we want to assure you that the Republic of Kenya and my Government will be in the forefront working together with you and your Administration to ensure our unity especially as East African nations and neighbours, will continue to grow and be strengthened for the benefit of our people, President Kenyatta said.

He said Kenya and Tanzania had agreed to rejig their Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) to enable it deal with issues affecting trade, adding that the two countries had agreements on importation of natural gas from Tanzania to Kenya, and another on cultural exchanges.

We have agreed to re-energize the Joint Commission for Cooperation between our two countries, and we have directed our Ministers to meet regularly to ensure that they continue strengthening our relations by sorting out minor problems affecting our people as they do business and interact with each other.

They (JCC) need to ensure that investors coming from either Tanzania or Kenya do not face hurdles by ensuring a structured system is put in place to help us build our countries for the mutual benefit of our people, President Kenyatta said.

President Kenyatta also spoke about shared infrastructure saying Kenya and Tanzania had agreed to improve their connectivity through new roads, aviation and maritime transport so as to hasten economic growth.

We will strengthen aviation, railway, sea and lake transport as well as roads. We also discussed the need to hasten the construction of the Malindi-Lungalunga-Bagamoyo Road to ease movement of goods and people, he said.

On the signed agreement on natural gas imports from Tanzania, President Kenyatta said the resource will help Kenya meet its growing energy demand.

We also agreed to build a gas pipeline from Dar es Salaam to Mombasa that will lower energy costs in Kenya and help our industries to access environmentally friendly energy, he said.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan is on a two-day State Visit to Kenya, and is on Wednesday scheduled to address a joint sitting of Kenyas bicameral parliament.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-04 22:30:18|Editor: huaxia

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Farmers in ethnic Qiang costume sell local products via livestream in Beichuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nov. 14, 2020. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) -- China's online retail sales maintained steady growth in the first quarter (Q1) of the year as the economy further recovered from the impact of COVID-19.

In the January-March period, online retail sales went up 29.9 percent year on year to 2.81 trillion yuan (about 434.5 billion U.S. dollars), according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce.

Average first-quarter growth of online retail sales for the past two years stood at 13.5 percent, the data showed.

Rural online retail sales reached 439.79 billion yuan, increasing 35.3 percent from a year earlier and resulting in an average first-quarter year-on-year growth of 14.7 percent over the past two years.

Online sales of agricultural products amounted to 105.58 billion yuan in the same period, representing a year-on-year growth of 4.9 percent, the ministry said. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-04 23:22:11|Editor: huaxia

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The Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune (2nd L) and Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong (1st L) welcome a team of Chinese medical experts, along with medical materials, upon their arrival at the Wattay International Airport in Vientiane, Laos, May 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Jianhua)

VIENTIANE, May 4 (Xinhua) -- A team of Chinese medical experts, along with medical materials, arrived in Lao capital Vientiane on Tuesday to assist Laos in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune and Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong received the medical team sent by the Chinese government at the Wattay International Airport of Vientiane.

The medical team includes experts in infection prevention and control, intensive care, epidemics, and laboratory testing, along with medical supplies, including COVID-19 testing kits, protective clothing, and face masks among others.

Kikeo, when talking with the Chinese experts on their arrival, said the Lao side is grateful that the Chinese government has sent the medical team to Laos, which reflects the profound friendship from the Chinese side with the Lao people.

With Chinese medical assistance, the Lao deputy prime minister said he firmly believes that Laos will win the fight against the epidemic quickly.

China attaches great importance to the cooperation with the Lao side in COVID-19 prevention and control. Ambassador Jiang said as a community with a shared future, China is ready to work together with Laos to get through difficulties, and the two sides "must share weal and woe."

Laos has been seeing a surge of COVID-19 infections recently. The country confirmed 60 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 1,026.

Jiang said the medical team will help the Lao side in upgrading the precaution and treatment scheme, improving the technical level and response capabilities, studying the trend of the COVID-19 epidemic and making corresponding recommendations. Enditem
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SpaceX has deployed 60 more of its Starlink internet broadband satellites just five days after the previous set. Since the beginning of March, the SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk have shipped 420 Starlink satellites.

The company released its iteration of the "fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy" by launching the satellites through the Falcon 9 on Star Wars Day (also known as "May the Fourth") to join the global celebration of all things "Star Wars."

This launch took place at 3:01 p.m. ET from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and used a re-used Falcon 9 booster that had previously flown eight times. The booster also landed on SpaceX's floating drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, tying the company's reusable flight program's record for flying resumed boosters, which it set in March. This is the 115th Falcon 9 launch for the brand.

The rocket's first stage returned to Earth nine minutes after liftoff, docking on SpaceX's drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" for its ninth safe landing.

Space.com said the launch was initially scheduled as part of a SpaceX doubleheader as the corporation prepared to launch its giant Starship from its South Texas facilities. Although Falcon 9 was able to get off the ground, the flight was put back to no earlier than Thursday (May 6).

As the rocket blasted off during a special daytime flight, onlookers were treated to quite a display.

SpaceX, headquartered in Hawthorne, California, maintains its fast launch frequency from last year, with its 13th launch so far in 2021. Every single one of those missions was carried out on repurposed rockets, with the majority of them carrying SpaceX's own Starlink satellites. That's how the corporation has been trying to fill the 1,440-broadband-satellite internet constellation.

The target has already been met, but SpaceX isn't slowing down; the firm has been approved to launch up to 30,000 Starlink satellites, with the possibility of even more.

ALSO READ: Starlink vs OneWeb Space Satellite: What's The Difference? Which Offers Faster Internet?

Elon Musk Guarantees SpaceX Starlink Services to 500k Applicants

Elon Musk said there's no need to worry about SpaceX's Starlink internet satellite service because all 500,000 applicants would receive the original service for which they requested.

SpaceX announced that the number of interested users has now surpassed half a million, and that they have charged a refundable $99 deposit-but the true obstacle would be in densely populated areas.

"To date, over half a million people have placed an order or put down a deposit for Starlink," SpaceX operations engineer Siva Bharadvaj said during the launch webcast of its 26th Starlink mission.

Although SpaceX's announcement of over half a million orders shows that interest for its service is increasing, it's uncertain how many will become monthly subscribers or live in places where Starlink will operate.

Musk vowed there would be no one left behind in the first half-million. He added Starlink's employees would process them to offer internet access with only their $99 refundable deposit.

Only limitation is high density of users in urban areas. Most likely, all of the initial 500k will receive service. More of a challenge when we get into the several million user range.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 4, 2021

This was addressed in response to an article claiming that the $99 deposit would not guarantee coverage for the internet satellite connection and that it could be refunded at any time by SpaceX Starlink. Musk defended this, claiming that everyone will get service and that it will not be too difficult for the time being.

Elon Musk, on the other hand, believes that the true challenge will arrive eventually. This "soon" is because Starlink's order volume has already surpassed the "million range" and the firm is handling large amounts of orders.

Another issue raised by the CEO is that Starlink's internet infrastructure sees a high density of consumers in metropolitan areas, which could cause satellites and smartphones to compete for connectivity and data. If there are a large number of users in a given location, various variables such as latency, download, and upload rates, as well as the internet's ping, can result in differing results.

Because of the high demand, there continues to be a large bottleneck in the fulfillment of Starlink orders. Customers interested in using the service will register on SpaceX's Starlink website and preorder the Starlink receiver, router, power supplies, and mounting hardware for their house.

Starlink is currently open to trial users in six countries: Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Mexico, the United States, and Canada. However, the target is to begin expanding distribution and gain near-global penetration by the end of 2021, with a series of additional launches expected during the year.

RELATED ARTICLE: How to Set Up Starlink Internet Service at Home

Check out more news and information on SpaceX and Starlink on Science Times.
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In honor of Star Wars Day, NASA is unveiling some of its favorite photographs captured by astronauts onboard the International Space Station.

According to a YouTube video caption, astronauts have taken more than 1.5 million images of Earth and space from the International Space Station and other spacecraft over the last six decades. The Earth Science and Remote Sensing (ESRS) department at NASA's Johnson Space Center has cataloged most of them.

The astronauts have used a variety of interchangeable lenses of varying focal lengths that provided unusual viewpoints. NASA shared the photos below to celebrate Star Wars Day.

Hubble Shares Double Lightsaber

NASA released a Hubble Space Telescope photograph of a shape it characterized as a "cosmic, double-bladed lightsaber" with a "Jedi-like mantle of dust" near the middle to commemorate the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015. A baby star is actually shooting twin jets, but the celestial lightsaber is a fantastical painting.

#MayThe4thBeWithYou! Hubble captured this view of a celestial lightsaber thats called HH 24. But its not in a galaxy far, far away  its in our own Milky Way Galaxy, at a distance of about 1,350 light-years.



Find out more: https://t.co/ldZjHk5dNp#StarWarsDay pic.twitter.com/IbY9gPOXNp  Hubble (@NASAHubble) May 4, 2021

ALSO READ: LOOK: The World's First Real Retractable Lightsaber Inspired From Star Wars

Death Star Moon

Star Wars may be science fiction, but the world of Luke Skywalker and General Leia occasionally intersects with our own. This real-life space photo and location will carry the galaxy far, far away - closer to home.

The Cassini spacecraft, which is observing Saturn and its moons for NASA, has returned several stunning images of the ringed planet and its moons. This striking view of Mimas, according to CNET, demonstrates that the rocky satellite is known as the "Death Star moon."

The photo was taken in late 2016. Mimas has a diameter of 246 miles (396 kilometers). With its concave dish, the huge oval crater resembles the Death Star. If Darth Vader saw this moon out there in orbit, he'd do a double-take.

Baby Yoda in Space

In late 2020, members of the SpaceX Crew-1 spacecraft launched to the International Space Station, but they weren't alone. The four astronauts brought a miniature Baby Yoda to serve as a gauge for when they entered microgravity after launch. The floating Grogu was a delightful addition to the expedition's crew. SpaceX posted a glamor shot of the Yoda toy on May 4, 2021, via its Twitter account.

Crocheted Yoda

Roscosmos cosmonaut Ivan Vagner, with a Twitter handle @ivan_mks63, shared this adorable photograph of a crocheted Yoda talisman floating on the International Space Station on May 4, 2020. Vagner's wife created the miniature Yoda to remind him of his family and the Earth, as well as the iconic phrase "May the Force be with you."

I was often asked what would I take into space with me. These are the photos of my family and souvenirs. But the main thing for me is the Master Yoda talisman



My beloved wife crocheted it for me. Every time I look at it, the famous words come to my mind: #MayTheForceBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/DR8EjWdJ2n  Ivan Vagner (@ivan_mks63) May 4, 2020

Tatooine, as Seen From Space

NASA's Earth Observatory shared a satellite view of Ajim, a fishing town on the Tunisian island of Djerba, on its official website in 2020. This was a popular Star Wars filming spot for the Mos Eisley cantina on the desert planet Tatooine. The Landsat 8 satellite provided a far-reaching view of the filming locations, which NASA highlighted in the annotated chart.

Authentic Tatooine

Tatooine is known for being Luke Skywalker's home world, as well as its two suns. There are worlds in the cosmos that are similar to it. Kepler-1647b is in a system with a secondary star transiting a main star, as shown in this artist's concept.

In 1977, Star Wars introduced the two-sun, circumbinary planet Tatooine  but astronomers didnt know such solar systems existed.



 Decades later, they began finding them! Our TESS mission discovered this two-sun planet in 2020: https://t.co/XV7JmdbFTy#MayTheFourthBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/vBbAqzVpcK  NASA (@NASA) May 4, 2021

Kepler-1647b was one of the largest "circumbinary planets" ever discovered as of mid-2016. NASA's Kepler Space Telescope discovered it in data gathered.

Hoth

Hoth is an ice world. OGLE-2005-BLG-390 is a real location called "Hoth" by NASA scientists in honor of Star Wars' notoriously cold and snowy world. According to researchers, the surface temperature is estimated to be minus 364 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 220 Celsius). To withstand that kind of cold, you'd need a lot of tauntauns.

The planet Hoth is covered in ice  and snow. Here on Earth, ice and snow exist around the planet at the poles and high latitudes . We call this region the cryosphere. @NASA studies the cryosphere, and how its changing, from ships, satellites & airplanes. #MayTheFourth pic.twitter.com/WzsrV0F4Is  NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) May 4, 2019

This diagram above depicts how the earth would appear from that perspective.

Before anything else, NASA also shared a Star Wars Day Message on YouTube. May the fourth be with you!

RELATED ARTICLE: "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" Theme Park at Disneyland is Everything You Could Hope For

Check out more news and information on Space on Science Times.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 00:12:22|Editor: huaxia

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Egyptian engineer Mohammad Khalid Fathallah discusses work with his colleague in Cairo, Egypt, on May 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Ran)

From the work in human resources to the marketing position, Egyptian engineer Mohammad Fathallah has learned a lot from the high standards observed by the Chinese company he works for. "I also have a China dream," the young man says.

CAIRO, May 4 (Xinhua) -- In late April, through unremitting efforts with his Chinese colleagues, the 27-year-old Egyptian engineer Mohammad Fathallah successfully helped the Chinese company he has worked for win a tender to renovate a building in Egypt's capital Cairo.

"We finally won this project. Our determination and resolve have paid off during the COVID-19 pandemic. This success has opened new horizons for me," tall dark-skinned Fathallah said, wearing a happy smile.

As a member of China National Chemical Engineering No.16 Construction Co., Ltd., Egypt Branch, Fathallah has made a considerable contribution to the hard-to-come-by success by conducting a series of detailed studies on the procurement requirements in the local market since last year.

Egyptian engineer Mohammad Khalid Fathallah stands in front of a project blueprint in Cairo, Egypt, on May 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Ran)

It was not the only test Fathallah has been put through at work during the pandemic. In 2018, he joined the company's 186-megawatt photovoltaic power plant project in his hometown Aswan Province as a manager of the related human resources.

When the COVID-19 hit China in early 2020, a number of his Chinese employees and workers who had been in China for Spring Festival holiday failed to return to Egypt on time, while the Aswan project needed urgent coordination among the remaining employees.

At this juncture, Fathallah decided to remain at the project site without hesitation. He took on more tasks of the project until his Chinese colleagues returned safely in late August.

Song Jun, director of the Chinese company in Egypt, noted that the company attaches great importance to the exchange of experiences between Chinese and Egyptian engineers.

Egyptian engineer Mohammad Khalid Fathallah works in his office in Cairo, Egypt, on May 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Ran)

From the work in human resources to the current marketing position, Fathallah, with his intellect, has learned a lot from the high standards observed by the Chinese company in quest of a wider scope to develop.

"I also have a China dream," said Fathallah, who has been interested in the Chinese culture, expressing hope to work at the company's headquarters in China someday.

"I have never been to China, but reading relevant books and making friends with Chinese colleagues make me feel so close to this country," he added.

Alongside Fathallah, a group of other young Egyptians in this company have been working hard and vigorously. "They are one of the reasons for all my achievements. Team work is one of the great things I have learned at the company," the Egyptian engineer noted. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 00:35:24|Editor: huaxia

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Undated photo shows the Swiss Army knives at the Victorinox's factory in Delemont, Switzerland. (Victorinox Swiss/Handout via Xinhua)

Founded as a cutlery shop in 1884, Victorinox, with its Swiss Army knives, has long shaped the "Made in Switzerland" global reputation for high quality products and embodied the very essence of "Swissness".

But 2020 was a tough year with business hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, Carl Elsener, CEO of the 137-year-old family business, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

by Martina Fuchs

GENEVA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Switzerland's iconic "little red knife" has travelled around the world and will make its first stop at the China International Consumer Products Expo in Hainan this week. This comes as its manufacturer Victorinox aims to make the cut in the Chinese market.

Founded as a cutlery shop in 1884, Victorinox, with its Swiss Army knives, has long shaped the "Made in Switzerland" global reputation for high quality products and embodied the very essence of "Swissness".

But 2020 was a tough year with business hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, Carl Elsener, CEO of the 137-year-old family business, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"The coronavirus crisis resulted in a dramatic drop of almost 30 percent in our overall sales compared to the previous year. 2021 fortunately has started off all right given the circumstances. But I think the outlook remains still quite uncertain."

However, he said, the impact has been mitigated thanks to the brand's multicategory strategy and its diversified product portfolio which covers five categories: Swiss Army knives, household and professional knives, watches, travel gear and fragrances.

"The travel gear business is impacted significantly during ongoing travel restrictions. The performances of the pocket knives and household knives are still good. For the household knives especially, we have experienced a higher potential," he said.

Elsener's great-grandfather Karl Elsener produced the first Swiss Army knife back in 1891. Today, the Elsener family still owns and operates Victorinox out of the Alpine nation.

Undated photo shows a consumer selecting products at a Victorinox's shop in Zurich, Switzerland. (Victorinox Swiss/Handout via Xinhua)

CHINA OPPORTUNITY

Victorinox is one of the Swiss companies participating in the first China International Consumer Products Expo held in Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, from May 7 to 10.

Switzerland is the official guest country of honor of the event. Commissioned by the Swiss Confederation, the Swiss Business Hub China -- a section of the Embassy of Switzerland in China -- and the trade and investment agency Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) will organize and operate the Swiss National Pavilion.

China is one of the strategic markets for Victorinox, Elsener said. "Our sales strategy there foresees a strengthening of our already existing business base and to further expand into untapped business opportunities."

"Strengthening our existing business means we will enhance efforts to positioning Victorinox as a premium brand, continue to present our pocket knives as our key category, and emphasize its heritage and modernity and further evolve the product development," he explained.

"We will also continue to develop special products for the Chinese market, such as the Zodiac Swiss Army Knife, and the China Culture Range Swiss Army Knife," the CEO noted, adding that the China Culture Range Swiss Army Knife is launched every year since 2019 to increase relevance with Chinese consumers.





PERSONAL TOUCH

Asked about the key consumer trend in China and where he sees the biggest opportunities for Victorinox going forward, Elsener said it is "personalization".

"We are targeting and communicating with the young people in China through offering personalization options for the Swiss Army knife. Consumers can personalize their own Swiss Army knives through selecting the model, scales and the engraving on scale and blade."

That's why the traditional Swiss company is planning to open a new hub in Shanghai in 2021.

"Customization is also a strong requirement from our business partners of corporate business in China. So we are planning to set the customization hub in Shanghai this year to fulfill these needs. Needs like graphic digital print and digital haptic 3D," Elsener told Xinhua.
WASHINGTON  Uber Eats, Postmates and DoorDash said they will no longer waive delivery fees for customers who order from Black-owned restaurants in Arizona, to settle charges by the state that the deals violated the Arizona Civil Rights Act.
More than 40 CVS stores across Washington will start offering walk-in COVID-19 appointments, the company announced Wednesday.

The move comes as officials continue to urge people to get vaccinated and take steps to make it easier for people to get the shots.

Adults in Washington will now be able to go to the CVS locations without an appointment or they can also go online and schedule same-day appointments, the company said.

We continue to orchestrate an all-out effort to vaccinate the nation against COVID-19, CVS Health President and CEO Karen S. Lynch said in a news release.

Thanks to the dedication and effort of our colleagues, I am proud to say we helped achieve the Presidents accelerated 100-day goal of 200 million vaccines and have administered over 17 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to date. Our customers continue to give us high satisfaction scores based on their interactions with colleagues and our customer-centric digital approach for scheduling appointments.

The news comes a day after Safeway and Albertsons pharmacies announced people would no longer need appointments to get the vaccine at locations across Washington. Several clinics in Seattle and King County  including those in West Seattle, Rainier Beach and the Lumen Field Event Center  are also not mandating appointments ahead of time.

The transition to allowing walk-ins is an attempt to make it even easier for people across the state to get the vaccines without having to navigate an online system or schedule a time that works in advance.

Seattle is making it easier than ever to quickly and easily get vaccinated. As of today, nearly 70 percent of eligible Seattleites have begun their vaccination progress. This is an incredible milestone, and if we continue this effort, well reach a level of community protection where so many of us  particularly our most vulnerable  will be protected from the most serious effects of this virus, Mayor Jenny Durkan said in a statement earlier this week.

Weve reached a turning point in our vaccination efforts: Now anyone who wants a vaccination in Seattle and King County can get one. If you have already been vaccinated, be a good neighbor and help your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers get vaccinated. Its up to all of us to defeat this pandemic.

Officials have been continuing to urge people to get vaccinated as soon as they can, calling the vaccines a key tool the state has to stopping the spread of the virus and allowing people to get back to more activities. According to the most recent data, about 44% of people across the state have received at least one vaccine dose and about 31% are fully vaccinated.

Until more people are vaccinated, it's important to continue taking precautions including wearing masks, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings, officials said.

The state over the past several weeks had been seeing an increase in cases and hospitalizations. In recent days, cases have started to flatten, but officials are still unsure what the trajectory of the pandemic will look like in the weeks to come.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 01:04:31|Editor: huaxia

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Dagmawit Moges, Ethiopia Minister of Transport, speaks during the graduation ceremony for Ethiopia-Djibouti railway drivers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on May 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

ADDIS ABABA, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Dejen Gezu, a new graduate driver of the 752.7-km Ethiopia-Djibouti railway is excited as he prepares to embark on his new career.

Gezu was one of the top three graduates of a recent Chinese government sponsored two and a half years rail technology training program, which aims to create a capable and skilled local manpower.

"From the time of my childhood, I wanted to work such kind of jobs, it is my ambition," Gezu told Xinhua.

"34 of us studied for around two and half years and our training was classified into two parts. One part in our country and the other one in China. We stayed for around eight months (in China), it was a really impressive time and it was really good training time. That was very important for us, because we grasped a lot of knowledge, skills and experiences to do our job perfectly," he further said.

The Ethiopian government has taken a keen interest in building a competent, skilled pool of technocrats, with Tuesday's inauguration of 34 train drivers being one such example.

Gezu and other 33 new graduates were given various types of educational courses including theoretical training, practical training, physical training, simulated cab training and professional skills competition.

The 34 graduates, who were originally selected from a pool of 6,000 prospective candidates, have been issued with a yearly train driving competency certificate, renewable every year.

Dagmawit Moges, Ethiopia Minister of Transport, called on the new train drivers to generously serve Ethiopia with all the skills they garnered from the two and a half years long training program.

"I say again congratulations for successfully finishing the training and for joining the job market. I call upon you to selflessly serve your country through the knowledge and skills you garnered in the training and to effect multifaceted tangible changes in the sector," the Ethiopia Minister of Transport said.

Moges said the training of locals in various professions in the railway sector is part of Ethiopian government's plan to eventually have locals fully manage and operate the country's railway system.

Liu Yu, Minister-Counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs of China to Ethiopia, said China is committed to helping Ethiopia cultivate a skilled manpower to help the east African country achieve economic prosperity.

"Several rounds of training programs for operating and managing this railway have been organized for Ethiopian staff. Knowledge transfer and capacity building is critical. For this reason Chinese government keeps requesting Chinese contractors to pay high attention to technology transfer and local staff training," Liu said.

Liu said the training of local staff for the Chinese built Ethiopia-Djibouti electrified rail line will indirectly boost landlocked Ethiopia's economic prospects.

"Ethiopia is a landlocked country, which is a major bottleneck for its development. But, with this railway Ethiopia turns to be land linked," Liu said, adding that the railway is not only a flagship cooperation project between China and Ethiopia, but also the road to prosperity for Ethiopia. Enditem
After months of steady decline, Covid-19 cases have seen abrupt increases in jurisdictions that have relaxed pandemic precautions, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported Wednesday.

Reduced precautions in places of business, large-scale social gatherings, and educational activities have seen a spike in incidents of the more transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2, including the variant B.1.1.7.

The transmission of B.1.1.7, as well as all known variants of Covid-19, can be effectively stymied with the judicious application of a comfortable and stylish face mask. You may have heard of them.

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The increases in cases, which occurred in April and May, are slightly higher than the CDCs earlier projections of what would happen if the nonpharmaceutical intervention (masks, social distancing  as opposed to pharmaceutical intervention like vaccines) were reduced. In other words, things are happening precisely as grimly anticipated.

All contributing models attributed increased SARS-CoV-2 transmission in many parts of the United States to the relaxation of mitigation strategies and the increasing prevalence of more transmissible variation, the statement reads. States suffering from the new outbreak include New Mexico, Louisiana, Wyoming, and Hawaii, according to John Hopkins University of Medicine.

At this point, its difficult not to read a sarcastic tone in the CDCs agonizingly redundant reports. One imagines a variation of the film Jaws thats 37 hours long and consists primarily of the mayor of Amity Island explaining to Roy Scheider that not only is he unconcerned about shark attacks, but that he doubts the very existence of sharks or, for that matter, the ocean itself. It wouldnt be a very exciting movie. It would, in fact, be excruciatingly dull. CDC officials probably imagined that they would be tackling more complicated problems with their advanced medical degrees, and our hearts go out to them.

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CDC guidelines for masks state that unvaccinated people should wear them in public settings, while traveling in public transit, around people who do not live with you, and around people who have symptoms of Covid-19. Fully vaccinated people can go maskless indoors with other vaccinated people or in controlled outdoor gatherings, but should still wear a mask around people who have symptoms, when socializing with unvaccinated people, while using public transit, or while attending public venues. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second shot.
Montana 67th Legislative Session - Week 17

2021 Montana Legislature Adjourns after Near-Marijuana Meltdown and Bill-Resurrecting Blitz

The 67th Montana Legislature adjourned on Thursday, April 29, following a week filled with policies brought back from the dead and capped by a failed high-stakes gamble by conservative Republicans to rewrite a major portion of the recreational marijuana plan passed just days earlier.

Both chambers adjourned sine die -- a Latin phrase meaning without assigning another day to meet -- just minutes apart, with Republicans touting a laundry list of bills their caucus passed cracking down on elections, promoting what they call religious freedom and cutting taxes and Democrats expressing frustration with legislation they said they fear will lead to costly litigation in the courts and negative impacts for Montanans.

This is absolutely the best session Ive ever been in, said Republican Senate Majority Leader Cary Smith, R-Billings, during a speech on the Senate floor. We have gotten so much done this time that we struggled with the Democratic administration to get passed for the last seven sessions Ive been involved in.

House Minority Leader Kim Abbott, D-Helena, criticized Republicans for abandoning their campaign promises to boost jobs and the economy during a press conference after the session closed.

Our constituents sent us here to create jobs, and our constituents sent us here to be laser-focused on the folks who needed a break the most -- middle class Montanans, Abbott said. What we saw was a Republican tax package that benefits wealthy Montanans disproportionately.

The post-session reflections were preceded, however, by a dramatic move orchestrated by some right-wing Republicans to push through a heavily amended bill to redirect recreational marijuana revenue and potentially block thousands of Montanans from accessing medical marijuana.

House Bill 701 cleared the Legislature with bipartisan support earlier in the week, and served as a colossal compromise bill with plans to regulate and tax Montanas burgeoning recreational marijuana program, passed by voters via ballot initiative in November 2020. However, some Republicans were not happy with the bills plan to dump a large portion of the tax revenue into the states general fund -- its primary checking account used to pay for a wide variety of state programs. The group had made repeated arguments that the money should instead flow into a separate account reserved for dealing with the unintended consequences of legalizing marijuana -- though, proponents of the idea did not offer clear explanations of what those consequences might be.

The climax of that dissatisfaction came in the form of House Bill 640, a marijuana bill that previously promised minor changes to implementation plans before a conference committee added major amendments Thursday afternoon. Steered by Rep. Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, the version of the bill the committee produced would have created the marijuana state special revenue account trust fund sought by Regier and other hardline conservatives, throwing a wrench in the revenue plans from HB 701. Regier previously worked closely with Rep. Derek Skees, also a Kalispell Republican, on House Bill 670, a marijuana bill that would have also created the trust fund. That bill died in a Senate committee tasked with producing a unified marijuana implementation proposal.

We dont know exactly how this is going to play out in Montana, Regier said during the committee debate. I believe this is the prudent thing to do -- the wise, mature thing to do -- to have some resources to be able to combat whatever problems arise in the future.

The amended HB 640 would have also required all medical marijuana cardholders, present and future, who use the drug to treat chronic pain to be approved by a doctor board-certified in pain medication. Democrat opponents blasted that addition and said Montana has just four of those physicians, which they said would de-facto eliminate access to medical marijuana for thousands of Montanans.

What we do today could not only change lives, it could end lives, said Sen. Ellie Boldman, D-Missoula. You certainly are ending medical marijuana for the vast majority of folks that are utilizing this legal product right now.

The committee advanced the bill on a party-line vote and the House passed it similarly, but HB 640 died in the Senate after several Republicans joined Democrats in voting it down. Sen. Bob Brown, R-Thompson Falls, voted for the bill in committee but switched his vote on the Senate floor, calling the bill too much, too late in the session.

The marijuana tug-of-war on the sessions last day was hardly the only dramatic moment of the week. Earlier days saw a flood of bills thought to be dead resurrected and pushed through the process as the House of Representatives voted to lift their standard operating rules, allowing for some bills that missed deadlines or that were tabled in committees to be blasted onto the House floor for more debate. Other bills that were previously defeated saw portions of their text amended into other bills to keep them alive, leading to repeated complaints from Democrats of rushing unfairly through the lawmaking process.

House Bill 530, sponsored by Rep. Wendy McKamey, R-Ulm, originally sought to require the Secretary of State to adopt rules defining and governing election security, requiring the office to work with county administrators to ensure compliance with security guidelines in future elections. HB 530 originally cleared with House unanimous support, but the Senate amended it, adding a portion of a bill that previously died that restricts ballot collection. The new language prohibits people from accepting payment to collect ballots. The amended bill passed both chambers down party lines.

In a similar vein, lawmakers sent House Bill 506 to a conference committee after neither chamber could agree on a unified vision for the bill, which originally sought to prohibit election administrators from sending ballots to Montanans under the age of 18. The committee then tacked on an amendment with language directing how Montanas new congressional districts boundaries should be drawn -- a practice reserved to Montanas independent Districting and Apportionment Commission. The new version of the bill passed mostly down party lines, but not without protest from Democrats.

I have real concerns about the basic constitutionality of this language, which is trying to add further restraints upon that commission that could be seen as beginning to lean a bipartisan commission toward a partisan result, said Rep. Laurie Bishop, D-Livingston.

Bill sponsor Rep. Paul Fielder, R-Thompson Falls, said the language was coordinated with the legal department from Secretary of State Christi Jacobsons office, and said it would prevent partisan gerrymandering.

Other bills cleared the Legislature on partisan votes bearing language from previously defeated bills, including Senate Bill 319, which now bans political groups from helping register students to vote in college campus residence halls, dining halls and gyms. Lawmakers also passed House Bill 637, originally a Fish, Wildlife and Parks cleanup bill that now gives preference to outfitter-assisted, non-resident hunters in the draw for big game hunting licenses over non-outfitted, non-resident hunters.

Rep. Geraldine Custer, R-Forsyth, has often been a vocal critic of more controversial Republican legislation, and slammed the bill resurrections during House debate on SB 319.

In all four years Ive been here, Ive never seen this many bills that have been dead somewhere else come back on a conference committee jammed in some bill it has nothing to do with, Custer said. This is horrible.

Lawmakers Pass Marijuana Implementation Bill After Rocky Road in the House

Montana Lawmakers approved a 162-page plan to regulate and tax recreational marijuana following a frenetic four weeks of debate, settling on a bill that aligns more with the ballot initiative voters passed last year and leaving some conservative lawmakers frustrated with the end result.

The House of Representatives passed House Bill 701, sponsored by Rep. Mike Hopkins, R-Missoula, on a bipartisan, 67-32 vote, sending it to Gov. Greg Gianfortes desk for his signature. The vote crowned HB 701 the winner from a trio of plans that emerged at the start of April for how best to manage the legal recreational marijuana market after a special Senate committee spent days hammering provisions from the other two bills into a compromise final form.

HB 701 took a bumpy path to the governors desk, hitting a hangup in committee in early April after lawmakers said they werent happy with its form at the time, then facing an initial roadblock in the House after conservative lawmakers pushed to send the bill back to a committee to fix some additions made in the Senate. But, after some behind-the-scenes maneuvering, the House reconsidered their decision and eventually passed the bill in a bipartisan fashion, earning the support of Democrats and moderate Republicans.

The bill, which seeks to open Montanas recreational market next January if signed into law, sets out plans to tax recreational and medical marijuana, license recreational dispensaries, allow for personal cultivation of marijuana and distribute up to an estimated $52 million in annual tax revenue from the program. Hopkins repeatedly touted the bill as the most comprehensive of all the marijuana regulation proposals the Legislature considered, and HB 701 had Gianfortes favor from the beginning.

While the bill originally contained very little of the funding for conservation promised in the November ballot initiative that legalized marijuana, lawmakers in the Senate added back some of that during committee work, winning over Democrats who had initially outright opposed all recreational marijuana bills because they departed from the will of the voters. Under HB 701, recreational marijuana would be taxed at 20%, while medical marijuana would stay at 4%. The revenue generated from that tax would fund a $6 million addiction recovery program requested by Gianforte, and several conservation programs: 20% to wildlife habitat conservation, 4% to state parks, 4% to trails and recreational facilities and 4% to the nongame wildlife account.

In reintroducing HB 701 to the House, Hopkins praised the work done in the Senate to produce a final product.

There might be parts Im not a gigantic fan of, but at the end of the day, thats how the process works, Hopkins told lawmakers.

Democrats in the House echoed Hopkins sentiments, specifically touting the reintroduction of some of the conservation funding from Initiative 190.

[HB] 701 has been changed in several important ways to bring it closer to the will of the voters, said Rep. Katie Sullivan, D-Missoula. In the world of lawyers, we have a saying that, a good negotiation is one where both parties come away a little bit dissatisfied, and I think a lot of us in this room are going to feel that today.

That dissatisfaction came strongly from right-wing Republicans in the House who protested the addition of an optional 3% local sales tax on marijuana and a 20% tax rate they said would drive consumers onto the black market, where the cartels operate.

Rep. Derek Skees, R-Kalispell, whose House Bill 670 originally sought to tax marijuana at a lower 15% rate and dump most of the revenue into public pension funds, said he disagreed that HB 701 was a compromise between his bill and Missoula Republican Rep. Brad Tschidas House Bill 707. Skees said the state shouldnt fund new programs and spend tax revenue from marijuana without considering potential economic damage the state might face from legalization of the drug.

Republican opposition in the House was so great initially that the lawmakers voted 53-47 to send HB 701 to a conference committee to do further work on the bill. However, Hopkins successfully won a reconsideration vote later during the floor session, saying he had failed to properly explain portions of the bill. The following day, the House voted 67-32 to pass the bill.

In an interview, Hopkins said the change of heart came because lawmakers realized that sending the bill to a conference committee would likely kill it, as both the House and the Senate would have to approve whatever changes the committee made in order to pass the bill once and for all. And, as Hopkins reminded lawmakers on the House floor, if HB 701 died, the state would be stuck with the text voters approved in I-190.

I dont think that was our charge -- to make a perfect bill. But what we have in front of us is a dramatically better product compared to the initiative. Without this bill, you have I-190 as law in the state of Montana, Hopkins said.

HB 701 also changes the way counties can approve or reject the recreational marijuana market. Under the bill, counties that voted in favor of legalization can choose to hold a vote to opt-out of the market, while those that voted against legalization have the chance to vote to opt-in. In counties that choose to opt-out of recreational marijuana, existing medical dispensaries will be grandfathered in.

An eleventh-hour attempt to overturn the revenue portion of HB 701 delayed the end of the session for several hours Thursday as some conservatives on a conference committee attempted to re-route marijuana funding into a marijuana state special revenue account. The bill containing that change successfully made it out of committee and passed the House, but died in the Senate as several Republican lawmakers expressed unease at changing the previous compromise bill so late in the session.

Lawmakers Pass $12 Billion State Budget

Montana legislators approved more than $12.5 billion in state spending for the next two years, completing their only constitutional mandate by sending a balanced budget to Gov. Greg Gianfortes desk.

The session-long budget-making process saw several major changes throughout, with many tweaks coming in the final week of the Legislature as Republicans added in funding for some controversial new programs while cutting back on state health spending and some education funds.

In its final form, House Bill 2 proposes spending about $6.4 billion from state funds and $6.2 billion in federal funds across several areas: general government, health and human services, highways and transportation, the judicial branch and public education. The $12.5 billion total represents a 3.6% increase over the previous budget passed in 2019. Gianforte ran for governor on a promise to hold the line on new state spending, and the Legislatures budget has undercut Gianforte's goal, coming in at 1% lower than the executives proposal.

After coming out of a conference committee tasked with producing a version of the bill appealing to the House and the Senate, the latter chamber passed it on a bipartisan, 41-9 vote without much discussion. Sen. Ryan Osmundson, R-Buffalo, carried the bill in the Senate and told his colleagues the bill was in really good shape, touting a $350 million ending fund balance to cover any unexpected costs and the lower overall growth compared to previous sessions.

I cant stress enough, the state is in a very good financial position at this time, Osmundson said. Weve got a very good budget.

Republicans on the conference committee also appropriated $100,000 to fund a legal defense for a lawsuit against Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen over bills passed by the Legislature restricting voter access, as well as $285,000 to operate an interim committee on judicial transparency and accountability. Republicans formed the panel to investigate their own allegations of bias and dishonest practices in the judiciary after emails surfaced indicating that some district judges took positions on a bill now before the state Supreme Court. Sen. Ellie Boldman, D-Missoula, said the appropriations were a waste of money, though she still supported the full bill.

Elections have consequences, and Im just afraid for the taxpayers of Montana, Boldman said.

On the House side, Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, suggested the bill was beautiful when he reintroduced it to representatives. Jones chairs the House Appropriations Committee and plays a pivotal role in the budget-building process.

The statistics on this bill are pretty good, Jones said. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this is a good, solid budget.

Democrats in the House, however, unanimously opposed HB 2, slamming it for policy language inserted into the bill, like one amendment that informs the Department of Health and Human Services of the Legislatures intent to end continuous eligibility for Medicaid expansion, a program that allows some Medicaid users to stay enrolled for longer periods of time without reapplying.

Its hard to imagine a bill thats more harmful to the kiddies than this one, where wed be asking unelected bureaucrats to be doing what we soundly rejected in our Legislature on a bipartisan basis, said Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman.

Democrats also blasted the bill for an addition made by Republicans in its final committee to appropriate $90,000 to produce a report on abortions paid for by Medicaid.

Bill Revising Governors Powers During Emergencies Clears Legislature

A bill that would limit how long a state of emergency can last in Montana without input from the Legislature is heading to Gov. Greg Gianfortes desk -- one bill of many this session dealing with the political fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

House Bill 230, sponsored by Rep. Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, debuted in the Capitol back in January, and took a long path through the Legislature, being amended several times to bring it into line with other bills looking to accomplish the same goal: limiting the powers of the governor to act unilaterally during states of emergency. The Legislature passed the bill on party-line, 67-33 vote, and its now headed to the governors desk.

In its final form, HB 230 allows the governor to declare a state of emergency for 45 days before they must request that the Legislature extend the emergency declaration for an additional 45 days. The bill also prohibits the governor and state agencies from discriminating against religious organizations, prohibiting the governor from restricting religious gatherings and normal operation during states of emergency -- a change brought in light of the temporary closures of religious facilities across the state during the pandemic.

Regier has positioned the bill as a rebalancing of Montanas branches of government, preventing the governor from exerting too much unchecked control over state commerce and religious exercise during states of emergency.

We are a republic government, weve got three different branches -- its a great system, but as we experienced over the last year, there are some loopholes in our system, Regier said during a House debate in February. Some of our checks were not quite balanced.

The bill advanced through the Legislature largely down party lines, with Democrats arguing the bill didnt take into consideration non-pandemic-related states of emergency and called the time limits on emergency declarations arbitrary.

Rep. Katie Sullivan, D-Missoula, said Montanas most frequent states of emergency are declared during wildfire season, and said the bill would hamper state responses to long-term emergencies.

This is going to limit local governments and the state from accessing critical funding by having our most common emergencies end at artificial times, Sullivan said.

HB 230 needed to be reconciled with other bills addressing the same area of law, including a bill sponsored by Rep. David Bedey, R-Hamilton. House Bill 122, similar to HB 230, sought to rest power in the Legislature to extend states of emergency, allowing lawmakers to prolong such a declaration by an additional 60 days per request by the governor. In an interview, Bedey said he and Regier worked on combining their ideas into HB 230s final form. Regier went forward with the bill limiting the governors powers, while Bedey proceeded with House Bill 121, which Gianforte recently signed into law.

That bill broadly revises the powers of local health officials to issue orders and regulations, now requiring the governmental body that oversees them to sign off on those orders. Those bodies, usually county commissioners, can also revise or reject health board orders outright.

Throughout the bills time in the Legislature, Bedey stressed it was about more than the fallout from health mandates during the pandemic. Rather, he said it would help balance the power of a group of unelected officials with the elected representatives that oversee them, creating accountability.

In my mind, those of us who get elected ought to be taking the heat, Bedey said in an interview. Were the ones who are directly responsible to the people, and public health officials have an important job to do.

That bill passed the Legislature on party lines, and Gianforte signed it on April 16.

Another measure, House Bill 257, seeks to apply similar limits to the state and local governments power to restrict the operations of private businesses. Sponsored by Rep. Jedediah Hinkle, R-Belgrade, HB 257 passed the Legislature along party lines and is awaiting a signature from the governor. The bill restricts the ability of local governments to compel businesses to deny customers access or the ability to purchase from the business, and removes the governments power to criminalize business owners who do not comply with ordinances relating to business access.

Montana Legislature Solidifies Plan to Disperse $2 Billion in Federal COVID-19 Relief

In their final week of the 2021 Legislative Session, lawmakers voted to approve spending guidelines for just over $2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds -- an amount, when combined with other dedicated federal funds, nearly equal to how much the state draws from its coffers in a single year.

President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021, appropriating more than $1.9 trillion in federal funds to go toward economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Montanas share amounted to about $3 billion, $1 billion of which went directly to local governments and stimulus checks. Since Montana is limited to holding a 90-day Legislative Session every two years, that meant lawmakers had just over a month to draft a plan for how to spend the extra funds, a task they completed on the day before the Legislature adjourned.

House Bill 632, sponsored by Rep. Frank Garner, R-Kalispell, creates a series of advisory commissions comprised of legislators and appointees from the governor who are tasked with reviewing grant applications for COVID-19 relief funds in a number of areas, from water and sewer improvements and rural broadband deployment to health and human services and public education. The commissions are set to meet throughout the interim between legislative sessions to ensure funds are properly distributed.

Lawmakers dubbed HB 632 The Beast Bill when it was first introduced, likening the process of distributing billions in unexpected federal dollars in a bit more than a month to building the budget in the same amount of time. Normally, the budget takes the duration of the session to be finalized.

During debate on the House floor, Garner said he was extremely proud of the work done by lawmakers and legislative staff in assembling HB 632.

Were getting ready to put this policy to work in our state, Garner said. Lets put it to work and bet on the folks back home.

Democrats also praised the plan, making special note of its inclusion of comprehensive broadband expansion funding, a long-sought after goal of the party.

This is an opportunity you wont see again in your legislative career, said Rep. Jim Keane, D-Butte. I would urge a yes vote.

The House passed the bill on an 86-12 vote.

Among the appropriations made in the bill for infrastructure, $460 million is set aside for sewer and wastewater improvements, $119 million for state-owned infrastructure projects and $275 million to help expand rural broadband. Funds to house and train Montana workers include $150 million in workforce development grants, $50 million for mortgage assistance, $11.5 million for low income housing aid and $152 million for emergency rental assistance.

Health programs funded by the bill include an additional $11 million for the supplemental nutrition assistance program, or SNAP, $10.5 million for substance abuse prevention programs, $112 million for child care block grants and $166 million for COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and vaccine distribution.

The bill also includes millions of dollars for public schools: $344 million in general aid for Montanas schools, $7.6 million for summer enrichment and after school programs, and $9 million for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The advisory commissions created by the bill must hold their first meeting no later than June 11, 2021, so money from the grant programs could begin flowing mere weeks after the Legislature adjourns. The bulk of the federal funds can be spent through 2024.

The Senate approved the bill on a bipartisan, 43-7 vote without any discussion.

Montana Legislature Passes Ban on Vaccine Passports, Discrimination

The Montana Legislature passed a bill banning vaccine passports and restricting businesses from discriminating based on vaccine status Monday, April 26 -- despite warnings from the states largest medical association of potential permanent consequences from the decision.

House Bill 702 cleared the Montana House of Representatives Monday, April 26, down party lines after some Republicans said representatives from Gov. Greg Gianfortes office assured them that warnings from the Montana Hospital Association that passing HB 702 would result in permanent masking in hospitals and limited visitation were not a problem. If signed by Gianforte, the bill would wholly eliminate private businesses ability to require vaccinations of any kind -- including vaccines that have been required to work in some establishments for decades, like the polio or measles shots.

Rep. Jennifer Carlson, R-Manhattan, sponsored the bill, which was a re-do of a bill she sponsored earlier in the session that died in the House. Carlson has repeatedly said the bills are not anti-vax, but instead support individual autonomy.

The bill would codify in law an executive order Gianforte issued just weeks earlier prohibiting the manufacture or use of vaccine passports in Montana. So far, four other states have done the same: Arizona, Idaho, Texas and Florida.

HB 702 and its sister bills drew support from anti-vaccination proponents, many citing unfounded claims of widespread injuries stemming from COVID-19 vaccines. In fact, experts have repeatedly reported coronavirus vaccines are safe, effective and have a low chance for severe side effects.

During a final debate in the House, Carlson offered assurances to lawmakers concerned with amendments made in the Senate that broadened the scope of the bill by striking a section that would have allowed businesses to require vaccines, so long as they continued to allow medical and religious exemptions.

This bill in no way affects current law for schools and daycares immunization standards, Carlson said.

Two Republicans traditionally aligned with the solutions caucus of moderate conservatives addressed lawmakers during the debate, saying theyd just come off a phone call with representatives from the governors office who reassured them that warnings from Montana hospitals about limited visitation would not be an issue. The Montana Hospital Association previously announced in a press release that some facilities would enforce permanent masking indoors and prohibit visitation if HB 702 passes, as staff would be unable to verify vaccination status.

Still, Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, said that while he would support the bill, he had lingering worries over whether he would still be able to visit his mother, who lives in a long-term care facility.

House Bill 702 causes me some grave concern, Jones said on the House floor. I would be remiss not to share that this would be a bad one to be wrong on.

The bill first passed the House 67-33, but Gov. Gianforte sent the bill back to lawmakers with an amendatory veto -- suggested changes the governor said should be made to the bill. The new language, which the House accepted, allows hospitals to ask for a visitor or employees vaccination status, and take reasonable measures to accommodate the person if they are not properly vaccinated against certain diseases. The House voted 64-32 to accept the change, while did the same 31-19.

A companion bill to HB 702, however, did not make it out of the Legislature after the Senate defeated the measure on a 27-22 vote on April 23. House Bill 703, sponsored by Rep. Jedediah Hinkle, R-Belgrade would have expanded the circumstances under which vaccine passports are prohibited. Under the bill, verification of immunity could not have been required to receive common life-sustaining goods such as food, child care products, and medication.

Austin Amestoy is a reporter with the UM Legislative News Service, a partnership of the University of Montana School of Journalism, the Montana Broadcasters Association, the Montana Newspaper Association and the Greater Montana Foundation. He can be reached at austin.amestoy@umontana.edu
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 03:32:19|Editor: huaxia

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by Julia Pierrepont III

LOS ANGELES, May 4 (Xinhua) -- "This film is not a history of Chinese immigrants to America, this is a history of America itself, its very heart," the co-directors, six-time Emmy Award-winning director Ric Burns and Primetime Emmy Award-winner Li-Shin Yu, told Xinhua at an exclusive interview to discuss the themes of and motivation for their feature-length PBS documentary "The Chinese Exclusion Act."

The documentary is a powerful, gut-wrenching revelation on America's little-known historical policy of institutional racism against the Chinese, as exemplified in the U.S. government's "Chinese Exclusion Act," an infamous statute in American law that ran from 1882 to 1943 that prohibited persons of Chinese descent from immigrating to the United States - one of the lowest points in American history.

It explores the Chinese Americans and their fellow Americans who struggled against the systematic racism and violence of the time, drawing upon the power of the 14th Amendment and other U.S. laws to bring awareness and reform into the system.

The film, initially released in 2017, was screened recently at an online seminar as one of a series of events commemorating the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a duration of May for recognizing the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the country.

For Burns, it is the American principles of law themselves that provide the means with which to eradicate racism. "Our laws are the better angels of our nature and need to be protected."

When asked what motivated them to make this film, the filmmakers revealed that in the wake of America's tumultuous and ideologically-challenged recent years, they felt that by helping to lift the veil on America's checkered past, they might help the country to avoid similar misdeeds in the future.

"We have seen firsthand the fragility of our American democratic experiment and how much is on the line," said Burns at the interview. "So it is essential that the present has a constant dialogue with history to prevent it from happening again."

"When you think of the violence and injustices against Chinese and Asian-Americans at that point of history - even though they were legal then, we knew they were wrong then and we know they are wrong now," said Yu.

The filmmakers also emphasized the extensive warp and weft of the centuries-long threads that inexorably bind the United States and China together, such as the last imperial dynasty of China stepping in to rescue the bankrupt and fledgling American republic after the Revolutionary War; Chinese laborers building by hand the monolithic 1,912-mile-long Transcontinental Railroad authorized by President Abraham Lincoln; Chinese Americans cementing into law the right of any child born on U.S. soil to be an American citizen; and many other instances.

They explained that after the Revolutionary War ended in the Treaty of Versailles, the fledging American nation was bankrupt and unable to trade with foreign powers to keep it alive due to the powerful embargo by England that prohibited its trading partners from coming to the aid of the rebel nation.

"The only country on Earth who would trade with us was China," Burns revealed. "Americans don't realize that without China there would be no America."

And the ties that bind the United States and China go even stronger than that, the filmmakers said.

"We have America because of the transcontinental railroad, and we have the railroad because of the Chinese. The transcontinental railroad was the 'moonshot' of the 19th century," Burns explained.

"America still has that economic impetus toward China. Every industry in the U.S. wants piece of China's trade," added Yu.

She lamented the recent tensions between the United States and China, but felt the two countries have a chance to improve their ties. "Relations between the U.S. and China are usually the victim of political posturing. Being considered 'friend' or 'foe' depends on the political expediency of the time," she told Xinhua.

When American politicians find themselves in a tight spot, immigration and race issues have been used as a wedge to divide people and create temporary advantages for a small, privileged group, she pointed out.

Burns concurred, adding that when a powerful racial majority like Whites in America feel that something is being taken away from them, they tend to react violently. "Scapegoats have to be found. As in the 1880s, the same thing is being played out now in the 21st century. But now it's not just the Chinese, it's Muslims and Mexicans as well."

Burns saw the only prudent course for America's leadership role in the future is an outward-reaching global view. "As the world becomes increasing global and transnational, no country has more experience with that than we do. We should be doubling down on that... It's something essential to the lifeblood of civilization and America's role in it."

Yu expected America's minorities to play a significant role in that future as they have in the past. She found it is poignant that the "marginal people" who take the brunt of American institutional racism are the very ones who have worked most tirelessly to defend America's ideals and help bring them into being.

"That's the shining human spirit that survives across the decades... I find enormous hope, inspiration and motivation in that," she said with a smile. "We must remember their legacy, continue the fight, to stand up, and be heard." Enditem
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 04:57:23|Editor: huaxia

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Combo photo of U.S. President Joe Biden (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Xinhua)

U.S. President Joe Biden had proposed a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Europe this summer to address a range of bilateral issues. U.S. media reported earlier that the White House is hammering out the details of the summit.

WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he expects to hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip to Europe in June.

"That is my hope and expectation. We are working on it," Biden told reporters when asked if he plans to meet Putin during his upcoming trip to Europe, the first overseas visit since he took office in January.

Biden will attend the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Cornwall, Britain from June 11 to 13, and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of G7 members. He will then travel to Brussels, Belgium to participate in the NATO Summit on June 14.

Biden had proposed a summit with Putin in Europe this summer to address a range of bilateral issues. U.S. media reported earlier that the White House is hammering out the details of the summit.

Relations between Washington and Moscow have been adversarial in recent years. The two were bitterly divided over Ukraine and cybersecurity issues, and they mutually accused the other of domestic political interference. 
Yellow Dog Productions / Getty Image

A Fresno man who visited San Francisco last summer and used an illegal firearm to shoot and kill a Bay Area man was acquitted of murder Tuesday by jurors who agreed that the killing was an act of self defense.

The fatal confrontation occurred at 1:22 a.m. on Aug. 19, 2020 in the Tenderloin after the defendant, Robert Brewer, said he mistook the victims car as the rental vehicle he had driven to the city and had parked. He said he was in the city to purchase a birthday gift for his mother but got lost on the streets, officials said. He realized he had the wrong car when he encountered Darrelle Scales, the owner of the car, public defender officials said.
UPDATE: The man accused of stabbing two Asian women Tuesday evening in San Francisco was previously charged with assault with a deadly weapon in 2017, according to court records reviewed by The Chronicle. Read more here

San Francisco police have arrested a 54-year-old man suspected of stabbing two Asian women in the Market Street area Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

Patrick Thompson, 54, of San Francisco, was arrested without incident on the 600 block of Eddy Street at about 7 p.m., police said. He was booked at San Francisco County Jail on two charges of attempted murder and elder abuse.

Police have not determined if the attack was a hate crime.

Officers responding to a report of a stabbing at 4th and Stockton streets just before 5 p.m. found two women, ages 84 and 63, suffering from multiple stab wounds, San Francisco police spokesman Robert Rueca said in an email.

The women were treated by medics and transported to a local hospital. The 63-year-old woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The 84-year-old woman was initially treated for life-threatening injuries, but her medical status was upgraded to non-life-threatening, police said.

Both women were in critical condition as of Wednesday morning, according to Brent Andrew, a spokesperson for San Francisco General Hospital.

District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney told The Chronicle that the two women were waiting at a bus stop when a man attacked them. One woman, 85, was stabbed in the arm and chest and was undergoing surgery at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, he said.

Haney Tuesday evening on Twitter called the attack disgusting and horrific. Haney referred to the women as seniors, but police did not confirm their ages.

There is clearly a pattern of targeting Asian residents, and seniors in particular, Haney said Tuesday evening. It was a brazen attack in broad daylight with tons of people around, and it's absolutely sickening. The person responsible needs to be held accountable, and the city needs to do more to prevent this from happening.

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin said that he was Heartbroken tonight for two elderly AAPI victims who were victims in the stabbing.

We're awaiting more info & praying for the victims as they undergo medical treatment, Boudin said on Twitter.

Boudin thanked the Community Youth Center of San Francisco for quickly responding & supporting the families and added that, We will not tolerate brutal attacks like this.

Police said Tuesday evening that they searched the area for a male suspect but were unable to locate him. Rueca said they later found the man after investigators were alerted to a photo taken by a witness at the scene. Police said they recognized the man from prior incidents.

Officials said the investigation is ongoing.

The recent surge of hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander population has caused concerns within the community about how to keep vulnerable members safe.

Since the start of the pandemic through the end of 2020, 708 cases of hate or discrimination incidents against Asian Americans in the Bay Area were reported to the Stop AAPI Hate project. Most cases  292  occurred in San Francisco.

Foot patrol officers have increased in key areas and the city has provided members of the community with more resources to report and heal from hate crimes, but more needs to be done, Haney said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.

Vanessa Arredondo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vanessa.arredondo@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @v_anana
San Franciscos school district  flush with nearly $60 million to help students catch up from pandemic-related learning loss  plans to use a large chunk of the federal and state funds to offer expanded summer programming this year and next.

The district has access to $39.7 million in state funds to support learning recovery and address student needs in light of the pandemic, and an additional $19.2 million from the federal government. According to the district, the funds can be used for a range of programs, including tutoring, educator training or counseling, and staff recommends using anywhere from $11 million to $15 million to expand summer programs in 2021 and 2022.

The board heard a budget update on the use of state learning recovery funds on Tuesday, but did not vote on it. Theyll have to adopt an official plan for using state money by June 1. Federal funds can be used until 2024, and the district will outline preliminary plans for this money during budget development in June.

People have suffered tremendously, children and families alike, from being in front of a computer, isolated in their homes for most of the year, Supryia Ray, parent of a second-grader and a sixth-grader, said at the meeting.

The increased funding comes as the district reports concerning dips in attendance and performance for some students. While average attendance rates were similar to previous years, data presented by staff showed a drop in attendance for some students who are most at risk. About 1,000 students attended remote learning less than 40% of the time: more than half of those students are in high school, and the majority are considered at risk by the district. Average attendance also dropped for African American, Pacific Islander and homeless students.

Performance assessments show virtual learning hurt some groups of students. Staff reported that equity gaps in reading and math proficiency widened, with English Learners, socioeconomically disadvantaged, African American, Pacific Islander and Hispanic students in kindergarten through fifth grade showing lower than predicted growth. Grading inequity was consistent with past years, with African American and Hispanic students receiving fewer As and more Ds or Fs compared to other groups.

Even for those students who did attend, the level of engagement and quality of engagement actually varied, said Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Enikia Ford-Morthel.

The funding comes as the district, which has been plagued by financial problems, is facing a mounting budget crisis, projecting a $100 million deficit in the 2022-23 fiscal year.

The district will also give another $5 million to $7 million to expand summer programs targeted at students who do not have enough credits to graduate or move to the next grade, and improve students college eligibility. Along with expanding summer programs, the district will allocate $8 million more to a combination of new programming and deficit reduction.

This summer, the city is launching Summer Together, which will provide SFUSD students with both in-person and virtual learning programs starting in June. The city is offering an early registration period for the highest-needs students, followed by an open enrollment period for all. Families experiencing homelessness, residents of public housing, children and youth in foster care, and children and youth with disabilities are among those being prioritized. Early registration ends May 7, and the district now expects to have enough staff for all programs.

COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California.

According to staff, summer programs this year will have more robust academic offerings than in previous years. Jennifer Fong, executive director of college and career readiness, said SFUSD is funding teachers so that they can offer additional academic resources. Generally, students will have time with a teacher in the morning, coupled with enrichment activities. She said its just great to have children back on site, having access both to academics as well as the socio-emotional and the recreational elements.

And students arent the only ones struggling. District staff reported that 80% of staff reported fatigue or secondary trauma, according to a new staff survey.

Like the state overall, the district is reporting enrollment decreased amid the pandemic. The enrollment drops happened primarily in transition grades  kindergarten, sixth and ninth grades  and could cost the district future funding.

Emma Talley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: emma.talley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EmmaT332
Healdsburg is getting a flashy new tasting room this summer. Marine Layer Wines, a brand specializing in Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, is planning a July 1 opening on the eastern side of the downtown plaza.

The 3,200-square-foot tasting room will feature flights of Marine Layers single-vineyard wines, snacks from the team behind Sonomas edgy, natural wine-focused Valley Bar & Bottle restaurant, and a retail selection of European bottles that will range from casual $15 Italian whites like Fiano to collectible $200 bottles of Burgundy.

The concept for the Marine Layer tasting room was informed by owner Baron Ziegler and winemaker Rob Fischers experience with a previous Healdsburg venture, Banshee. When they opened Banshees tasting room in 2012, it was unlike anything else in downtown Healdsburg, with a funky, youthful vibe that stood in contrast to some of the more staid tasting rooms nearby. (They and their partners ultimately sold Banshee to Foley Family Wines in 2018.)

Since then, theres been an influx of other hip wine spots in town, including Idlewild, Hirsch, Rootdown and Lioco.

Gretchen Gause

We created Banshee to make a great bottle of Pinot Noir that could sell for $20, said Ziegler. But when they opened the tasting room, they discovered that visitors were clamoring for pricier wines, in the $40-$50 range. That drove him and Fischer to found Marine Layer, whose wines range from $40-$70, starting in the 2018 vintage. It is designed to be an entirely direct-to-consumer business, selling its wines through the tasting room rather than through restaurants or wine shops.

Local firm the Hommeboys designed the tasting room, which has less of a rock n roll vibe than Banshee, Ziegler says. Earth tones, natural fibers and a coastal motif will characterize the space. Ziegler, who said hes tired of the ubiquitous cheese and charcuterie boards at other tasting rooms, expects the Valley Bar & Bottle team to supply vegetable-centric bites such as crostini with fava beans and goat cheese. They plan to incorporate local produce, including from SingleThreads nearby farm.

Ziegler and Fischer said they lucked out in finding the space, since Healdsburg limits the number of tasting rooms that can open in town, making the process of obtaining a permit very difficult. We thought we were going to have to pay $500,000 to buy somebodys tasting room license from them, said Ziegler. Instead, they were able to seize a lease that had been terminated by Vintage Wine Estates, a wine company that recently announced it would be going public. They purchased an additional Type 8 license, which allows them to sell other wines in addition to the ones that they produce themselves.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Marine Layer Wines

Marine Layer is not the teams only project. Fischer is also the director of winemaking for other brands that Ziegler owns, including Valravn in Sonoma, Averaen in Oregon and Requiem in Washington. Ziegler also has a wine-importing business, Valkyrie Selections. Marine Layer is their smallest-scale venture, producing around 2,000 cases annually.

The basic fee for a tasting at Marine Layer will be $35, with food for an additional charge.

Marine Layer Wines. Opening July 1. 308 B Center St., Healdsburg.

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley
The Birichino Malvasia is so aromatic that it could be bottled as a perfume. As soon as I poured this pale white wine into a glass, a smell seemed to emanate through my entire kitchen that recalled honeysuckle, gardenias, orange blossoms and apricot jam. When I put my nose to it, I got the unmistakable notes of St. Germain and Pez candy.

In fact, the fragrance is so florid that upon smelling the wine, youll probably assume that its sweet. It has a set of lush aromas typically present in wines that have a little bit of sugar in them, like a dessert Riesling or Moscato. And so its a pleasant, refreshing surprise to take a sip of the Birichino Malvasia and realize that its bone-dry, without so much as a trace of residual sugar.

It acts like an optical illusion on the palate, says John Locke, who makes the Birichino wines with business partner Alex Krause in Santa Cruz. It recalls things we associate with sweetness, so the brain maps that expectation.

Malvasia is a grape variety thats both ubiquitous and mysterious. Its grown throughout the Mediterranean, and you can find many examples available in the U.S. from the Italian islands, Croatia and the Portuguese island of Madeira. But scientists now believe that the grape we refer to as Malvasia actually encompasses a set of different, genetically distinct varieties; Jancis Robinsons Wine Grapes reference book identifies 83 variations on the name. The title was likely slapped on many grapes that passed through the Greek island port of Monemvasia in ancient times. Theres always a bit of a mystery involved in growing Malvasia grapes, since not every grower may know which Malvasia they actually have.

Locke believes that the Malvasia vines he works with were imported from Calabria, in southern Italy, where the Malvasias do tend to have those same lush, floral aromas that Birichinos conveys. The vines are planted in the Salinas Valley, in a part of Monterey County that tends to do well with aromatic white grape varieties like Malvasia, Riesling and Gewurztraminer. Theres this extra amplification of white flower and stone fruit notes, Locke says of this areas white wines.

He would know: Locke has been working with Malvasia from this vineyard since 1991, initially as an employee at Bonny Doon Vineyard. In 2005, Locke left Bonny Doon to strike out on his own. When he heard that his former employer would no longer be buying the Malvasia grapes, he and Krause jumped at the opportunity to make the wine themselves. They already had a buyer lined up: The province of Quebec, whose alcohol sales are controlled by a state monopoly board and which had been a faithful buyer of the Bonny Doon Malvasia. That became the impetus for launching Birichino. For the first few vintages, they sold the entirety of their production to Quebec.

Ever since, even as Birichino has branched out into many other sorts of wines, from Lodi Cinsault to Champagne-method Chenin Blanc, the Malvasia has remained the winerys signature. In addition to the standard bottling  still just $17  they also make an extremely charming petillant naturel of Malvasia.

The 2019 vintage, Locke believes, is one of the best Malvasias he and Krause have ever made, and I believe him. Its a quenching, delightful wine that delivers immediate gratification. No swirling or decanting required; no need to wait for it to open up. The Malvasia is plainly charismatic from the moment its top is screwed off. Its not holding back any secrets. Although some bottles of the 2019 are still in circulation, retailers are in the process of transitioning to the 2020, which Ive also tasted and can attest is just as delicious.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

The wine is available directly from Birichinos website or at the following Bay Area retailers: Vintage Berkeley, Cask, Vintage Wine Merchants (San Jose), K&L, Flatiron,various Whole Foods locations, Weimax, Northbrae Bottle Shop, Arlington Wine & Spirits, Roberts of Woodside and Dragers. Please note: Prices may vary by a few dollars depending on the store, and some retailers may run out of inventory.

Birichino Malvasia Bianca Monterey 2019 ($17, 13%)

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine critic. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley
Good morning, Bay Area. Its Wednesday, May 5, and state officials are encouraging tourism again  especially California tourism for Californians. Heres what you need to know to start your day.

On a run at Bear Valley Ski Resorts terrain park, Gustavo Pesce inadvertently back-flipped on a ramp and landed on his chest. As he lay unresponsive in the snow, nearby skiers and snowboarders came to his aid, and the resorts ski patrol rushed to administer CPR. But it was too late.

He died within minutes, his wife Vera Ares said.

Bear Valley managers told Ares what they knew about the accident. She hoped the resort or local authorities would inspect the terrain park feature and follow up with her. But no new information ever emerged.

Its like it never happened, Ares said. There was nothing. No news.

Amusement parks in some states, including California, are required by law to report injuries and deaths to regulators. No state, however, requires the same of ski areas, which have largely been left to devise their own safety protocols and handle medical care through their ski patrol divisions.

Gregory Thomas reports on what that means for safety on the slopes.

Coronavirus updates

Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

San Francisco and Los Angeles took wildly divergent paths to arrive at the same coveted place on Tuesday: the yellow tier in Californias reopening blueprint.

Their trajectories couldnt be more different. While San Francisco has largely avoided the worst of the coronavirus pandemics deadly scourge, Los Angeles County has been crushed, never more so than during the winter surge.

That Californias two most prominent counties arrived in the states least restrictive tier on the same day signals a remarkable shift in the pandemic, public health experts said. Read more from reporter Erin Allday.

 San Francisco is moving to the yellow tier. Here's what will change. More: Where each Bay Area county is in the states reopening system.

 Heres how close the Bay Area is to reaching Biden's July 4 vaccination goal.

 Vallejo High School shuts down after 2 students test positive for the coronavirus.

 It's time: State travel officials urge Californians to plan summer vacations  to California.

Around the Bay

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

 From wine critic Esther Mobley: Instagram's wine influencers started thriving during the pandemic. Their rise has prompted sexist backlash.

 Retrofit options: S.F. wants to ban gas in all buildings to cut citys greenhouse gas emissions. But moving to electricity could cost up to $5.9 billion.

 The climate: National data shows new normal for U.S. climate over the past 30 years is officially hotter. And the weather: Burst of high temps to scorch Bay Area this week.

 First day back at school turns sour: S.F. mom and school fight back after Black fifth-grader accused of stealing at Safeway.

 Beyond the stats: Inside Giants legend Willie Mays 660 home runs.

In Case You Missed It

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

No tech firm embodies the dubious virtues of disruption more than Uber, the 2009 startup now valued at $102 billion that relies on independent drivers who clog city streets while trying to make a decent living.

But its new headquarters in San Franciscos Mission Bay shows that, sometimes, disruption can be a good thing, writes urban design critic John King. The result is understated buildings and, more importantly, what King calls San Franciscos best new public space.

 Will new plan for S.F.'s Fillmore Heritage Center revive long-shuttered jazz club and community hub?

 I felt like I won the lotto: Homeless veterans start new lives in S.F. apartments.

 Home of first same-sex couple to legally wed in S.F. gets landmark status.

Bay Briefing is written by Taylor Kate Brown, Anna Buchmann and Kellie Hwang and sent to readers email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here, and contact the writers at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com, anna.buchmann@sfchronicle.com, and kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com.
The number of sheriffs deputies who guard public hospitals and clinics in San Francisco would be dramatically reduced under a plan proposed Tuesday by city health officials who want to hire more psychiatric nurses and other mental health staff to respond to crises.

The Department of Public Health presented a plan to the Health Commission at its Tuesday meeting to drop the number of deputies from 29 to about 18 at San Francisco General Hospital and replace around seven more at Laguna Honda Hospital and four community clinics.

The department would add around 30 psychiatric nurses and technicians to San Francisco Generals existing Behavioral Emergency Response Team, whose members are trained to prevent crises, verbally de-escalate and physically intervene, administer medications, and use restraints if necessary.

As protests over policing and racial justice roiled the country last summer, the role of deputies at the citys health care facilities stirred debate. A Black midwife at San Francisco General went on strike to protest deputies treatment of people of color, igniting a movement for the health department to divest from the sheriff. The action led to an opposing petition to keep deputies that garnered thousands of signatures.

Basil Price, the health departments director of security, said Tuesday that the presence of law enforcement officers has traumatized some patients, and that last fiscal year, 91% of use-of-force incidents were against patients and 46% of the subjects were Black. In 34% of incidents, deputies assisted with patient restraints.

Law enforcement is not always the appropriate response for addressing these situations, Price said.

At San Francisco General, deputies or cadets screen people entering the emergency room for weapons and are stationed inside, staff said. Others guard patients who have been arrested or jailed. Most patrol campus on regular rounds and respond to calls from an on-site command center.

Assistant Sheriff Tanzanika Carter said the sheriff is on board and willing and wanting to work together to make sure we can offer safety and security at your hospitals.

More than two dozen doctors, nurses and community members spoke in support of the proposal during the meeting, criticizing law enforcement and sharing stories of trauma at their hands. Others in the past and again on Tuesday told the Chronicle they depended on deputies to quell violence in San Francisco General, which was cited last year for workplace safety violations.

At Laguna Honda, four deputies would be replaced with eight cadets and three psychiatric nurses. Community-based organizations would provide safety staff at four clinics instead of the sheriff.

Some public speakers on Tuesday said the plan didnt go far enough since it still relied on cadets and some deputies. Multiple people spoke about traumatizing experiences where deputies used force against patients.

A UCSF medical student on rotation in the psychiatric emergency services at San Francisco General described an instance where staff called deputies when a patient who wanted to leave, but was on a psychiatric hold, started banging his head on the wall. He said he watched deputies punch the patient until he was bleeding with broken ribs. When other patients started fighting, he saw another staff members hand hover over the call button, debating what to do, before she summoned deputies again.

The vast majority of instances that sheriffs were called by staff, because its the only option they felt for support, led to escalation of these situations, lack of a compassionate response, sometimes assault of patients, and criminalization and arrest primarily of people of color in need of medical care, said Dr. Jessica Bloome, a doctor at San Francisco General.

Sheriffs Office spokesperson Nancy Crowley said in a statement that the department has embraced, encouraged and trained deputy sheriffs and sheriffs cadets in de-escalation tactics to avoid using force whenever possible. Assistant Sheriff Carter said she was disheartened to hear of any reports of potential misconduct and encouraged staff to file whistleblower reports.

Some San Francisco General staff, particularly in the emergency and psychiatric emergency departments, said they depend on deputies for their own safety. Last year, the states workplace safety watchdog cited the hospital for failing to provide violence-prevention training and other issues after a patient assaulted a nurse.

Christa Duran, an emergency room nurse for seven years, quit her job in February and said the change in security staffing was a big reason why.

More psych staff (are) not going to decrease assaults in the emergency department, Duran said.

The incoming staff will cost less than deputies, but because of added positions, the plan will still require $1.4 million in the fiscal year starting in July and an additional $1.8 million in the next fiscal year.

The department is requesting that the proposal be submitted with the mayors budget to the Board of Supervisors in June. If it is approved, hiring would start in August.

Editors note: This article misstated the San Francisco General patients body part allegedly broken by sheriffs deputies. It was his ribs.

Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench
Jeffrey Tumlin has worked in cities around the world  from Los Angeles to New York, from Vancouver to Wichita, Kan. Hes worked in Seattle, Portland, Ore., and Moscow, too.

And the executive director of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency says San Francisco stands out among them all  for being the most conservative.

Wait, what? San Francisco is more conservative than Moscow?

Oh, yes, he said. Definitely.

Tumlin and I sat on a green bench overlooking JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park for an interview the other day, and there was no sign hed purchased an illicit substance on his way into the park on his electric bike. He truly believes that supposedly progressive San Francisco makes so little progress that its actually among the worlds most conservative cities.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

And hes right. Though he mostly stuck to discussing transit, the idea holds true on a host of major issues including housing, climate change, small business reform and addressing our drug crisis. The traditional hallmark of conservatism is embracing the status quo, and San Francisco seems nearly incapable of major change.

San Franciscans, on a national political metric, we are far to the left, he said. But when it comes to our own city, we are so resistant to change that the result is a lot of conservatism.

Just take JFK Drive, perhaps the most controversial 1.5 mile stretch of pavement in all of San Francisco, which is saying something considering the city has 1,200 miles of roadway  enough to drive from Seattle to San Diego.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Tumlin said, 85% of traffic on JFK Drive was commuter traffic, meaning that it wasnt all families taking grandma to the de Young or the kids to a picnic at Hellman Hollow. It was drivers opting to get from one place outside the park to another place outside the park  by zipping through the park. That, in turn, made it one of the citys most dangerous roads for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

Since the city made that part of JFK Drive car-free during the pandemic to give people space to social distance while exercising, there hasnt been a single fatality there. (It would be weird if that wasnt the case. Unicyclist dies in tragic collision with roller skater!)

But despite San Franciscans pledging to aggressively fight the grave threat of climate change and professing to care about pedestrian and bicyclist safety, if it requires less driving or even giving up access to one part of one road, they balk. City residents have fought over JFK Drive for decades, and theres still no resolution.

Its sometimes very hard for us to make a connection between our national progressivism and local action, Tumlin said.

To be clear, Tumlin says  and I agree  changes need to be made to JFK Drive before declaring it car-free permanently, including adding as many disabled parking spaces nearby as were lost by the street closure. That should be easy to do.

But then again, a lot of what sounds easy to accomplish turns out to be anything but in sloth-like San Francisco. Remember the proposed legislation to prohibit one cranky person from blocking emergency transit projects like Slow Streets and transit lanes for buses?

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

After two gadflies tried blocking nearly all the pandemic response measures from the SFMTA  costing tens of thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in staff time  Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Matt Haney proposed allowing such appeals only with 50 residents signatures or five members of the Board of Supervisors.

They proposed that in November, so its the law of the land now right? Nope. The Planning Commission approved it unanimously, but it still hasnt even been scheduled for a hearing at the boards land use committee. Thats right  six months later, the supervisors havent even begun talking about it.

Supervisor Myrna Melgar, chair of the land use committee, called the legislation a good government thing and said shell schedule it for late May or early June. She said she has many important matters to get on the calendar and must spread them out. She agreed it takes way too long to make change in the city  even when its the low-hanging fruit like this legislation.

We get entrenched in our polar opposite viewpoints, and theres very little room for compromise and consensus building, she said.

And thats not true just when it comes to transit projects. In another head-slapping delay, guess what happened with Supervisor Rafael Mandelmans proposal to make it harder to build monster homes for one rich family and easier to turn one home into four apartments for four lower-income families? I wrote about it January, so guess. Thats right  nothing!

Mandelman has gotten no additional support besides Haney.

Nobody is enthused, Mandelman acknowledged. People are either opposed or annoyed.

Sounds like San Francisco, all right. Mandelman had talked about allowing fourplexes on all corner lots or near transit stations, but said hes leaning toward introducing just the corner lot piece on May 18. He might propose allowing fourplexes on all single-family home lots in the city next year after housing advocates met his idea with a yawn. Meanwhile, home prices in the city just keep climbing, and a modest home will cost you $1.5 million.

It has felt to me for some time like San Francisco is stuck on some pretty big, important issues, Mandelman said.

Thats the truth. Finish this sentence: It is not progressive to... There are so many options in San Francisco.

It is not progressive to make opening a small business or make slight improvements to your familys house nearly impossible without hiring a permit expediter. It is not progressive to allow an open-air fentanyl market to exist in the Tenderloin thats killing two people every day. It is not progressive to keep the citys public middle and high schools closed for students whove already been stuck at home on Zoom for 14 months.

But its the same city leaders who lament the lack of progress who arent doing enough to fix it. Janice Li, advocacy director for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and a BART board commissioner, said, Theres a lack of leadership up and down.

She said Tumlin can complain about conservatism in San Francisco, but his own agency has bowed to the whims of supervisors who dont like Slow Streets in their districts rather than advocating for their importance. She also called out Mayor London Breeds lukewarm rhetoric about preserving car-free JFK Drive.

This is the time when you get loud about things. Advocates are just like, Schedule the damn legislation to be heard! Approve the damn projects! she said. No one is raising their hand to step in and bring leadership.

Tumlin countered that City Hall showed during the pandemic that it can get s done. Its a matter of making that the norm, not the exception. He said he intends to finish his five-year contract, which expires in December, 2024. And after that?

Im here so long as San Francisco is ready for me to make a difference, he said. I love my job because I love San Francisco. There is so much potential here.

If only we would get out of our own way to reach it.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf Instagram: @heatherknightsf
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 06:05:19|Editor: huaxia

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Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), receives an interview with Xinhua during the IMF Spring Meetings in Washington D.C., the United States, April 13, 2021. (Kim Haughton/IMF/Handout via Xinhua)

"This type of multilateral approach is the only way to ensure that highly profitable multinational firms both pay sufficient tax and pay it to countries where they have significant engagement, including in low-income developing countries," IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said.

WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said on Tuesday that she's optimistic for a global agreement on corporate income taxation this year to fix the international tax system.

"Now, we face the two disastrous and very expensive crises of COVID and climate change. These urgent needs, combined with a renewed spirit of multilateralism, give us a unique opportunity to rethink and fix the international tax system," Georgieva said in remarks prepared for a virtual book launch.

Georgieva said the IMF "fully supports" the Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which involves 139 economies, as a way to reform international taxation.

"This type of multilateral approach is the only way to ensure that highly profitable multinational firms both pay sufficient tax and pay it to countries where they have significant engagement, including in low-income developing countries," she said.

"We are particularly optimistic for a global agreement on corporate income taxation in 2021," Georgieva continued. "And it is urgently needed to avoid, down the road, the risk of spiraling into a chaotic tax or trade war where everyone loses."

Georgieva's remarks came after U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen last month called for working with G20 economies to agree to a global minimum corporate tax rate that would provide a more level playing field for all countries.

"It is about making sure that governments have stable tax systems that raise sufficient revenue to invest in essential public goods and respond to crises, and that all citizens fairly share the burden of financing government," Yellen said. 
After 2 years behind bars, refugee Omar Ameen was ordered released to his Sacramento home last month by a federal magistrate, who said he was innocent of the terrorist murder of a police officer in his native Iraq.

But Ameen was instead handed over to immigration officials, who have locked him up and are seeking to deport him on the same charges to a country where, his lawyers say, he would be tortured and executed.

In a statement Wednesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Ameen, 47, is being held for possible deportation because he is an unlawfully present Iraqi national who made misrepresentations on applications for admission to the United States.

But Ameens lawyers said those alleged misrepresentations were verified to be true by U.S. Magistrate Judge Edmund Brennan in his April 21 ruling: that he could not have been the Islamic State gunman who killed an Iraqi policeman in June 2014 because the evidence showed he was 600 miles away in Turkey, where he had fled from Iraq more than two years earlier.

Mr. Ameen is a lawful refugee in the United States who was falsely alleged to be an ISIS commander and murderer by the very country from which he fled, said Rachelle Barbour, a deputy federal public defender who represented him in the extradition proceedings before Brennan.

Now, apparently, the government wants another try. ... Tax dollars are being wasted, and Mr. Ameens life is being destroyed, in service of a lie that has been completely adjudicated and roundly rejected.

The agency should release Ameen immediately and drop its case against him, said Siobhan Waldron, an attorney with the nonprofit Immigrant Legal Defense, who represents him in the deportation case.

If ICE continues to prosecute him, Mr. Ameen will continue to fight to save his life, she said.

Ameen arrived in the United States in November 2014 after being granted refugee status as a Sunni Muslim who faced persecution and terrorist threats if he returned to Iraq. But in August 2018 the Justice Department, at the request of Iraqs government, jailed him and began extradition proceedings, which would have been the first-ever to send a U.S. resident to Iraq.

Ameens former hometown of Rawah fell to ISIS fighters in June 2014. The next day, police officer Abdulhafiz Jasim, who had taken part in previous anti-terrorism campaigns, was targeted in his home by ISIS gunmen, came outside and was shot to death. A witness who was in Jasims home told the FBI, and an Iraqi court, that Ameen was the assassin. Iraqs government said a second witness also identified Ameen.

But Brennan said in his ruling that Ameen had provided abundant evidence that he had never left Turkey, where he lived with his family after fleeing Iraq.

His account was backed by numerous witnesses, by polygraph tests, and by his signature on weekly refugee logbooks several days before and after the killing, Brennan said. And on the day of the killing, the magistrate said, cell phone towers in his home town of Mersin, Turkey, recorded two calls from a phone that, according to all available evidence, had never been used by anyone but Ameen.

In addition, Brennan said, Ameen would have had to travel through war-torn Syria, where he would have risked being captured or killed by Syrian forces, to reach Iraq.

Ameen was in Turkey, not Iraq, the day of the murder, the magistrate concluded.

His ruling was not mentioned in the statement ICE issued Wednesday. Barbour, who represented Ameen in Brennans court, said the ruling should be conclusive because the government must meet a higher standard of proof in a deportation case in immigration courts, which are an arm of the Justice Department.

In the extradition case, Barbour said, the U.S. government was unable to provide a single shred of independent evidence to corroborate these lying witnesses.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Regarding Infants death raises questions on Boudins aid to violence victims (Front Page, April 25): Domestic violence is a complex problem that defies easy solutions. The tragic death of a 7-month-old baby at the hands of his caretaker is now drawing much-needed attention to this threat in our community. A recent San Francisco Chronicle article essentially blamed District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who declined to charge the same individual with two prior domestic violence cases, for the babys death.

But, in those cases, Boudins hands were tied. Prosecutors were unable to press charges, not only because the victim refused to cooperate, but also because of insufficient evidence. A district attorney is bound by ethical rules not to charge cases that cannot be proven in criminal court. Boudin has shown a long-standing commitment to addressing domestic violence in a comprehensive manner, providing counseling, housing and transportation assistance to victims. He invited me to present comprehensive training in domestic violence to his attorneys and staff, an expansive program unique among prosecutors offices in this country.

Rather than pointing fingers and assigning blame, our community needs to join with Boudin and work together on comprehensive solutions that address survivors needs and help prevent victimization in the future.

Kelly Weisberg, San Jose

Density is a fire hazard

Regarding One way to stop fueling the fires (Editorial, May 4): In the wholesale quest to dismantle single family neighborhoods in cities such as Berkeley, there are many serious flaws in the elimination of exclusionary zoning (exclusion today is economic) and fire hazard is top of the list.

Berkeleys hillside streets are narrow and winding, proving a challenge to fire trucks.

Add more density to these single-family neighborhoods, and you have a guaranteed recipe for not only loss of property, but loss of life as in the Berkeley fire of 1991. Focus density near downtown and BART stations, where density exists and fire hazard is low.

Emily Loughran, Berkeley

Make oil companies pay

Regarding State might not refill rebate fund for electric cars (Front Page, May 3): I appreciate Dustin Gardiner pointing out how tricky it is to make climate programs equitable. He rightly points out that electric car subsidies increase electric vehicle sales but benefit wealthy Californians most.

One fair, effective approach would be to make fossil fuel companies pay to pollute. If they paid a fee equal to the social cost of the greenhouse gases their products emit, all carbon-intensive products would get more expensive. People would be motivated to move to low-carbon products and services, and businesses would be motivated to invest in and provide them. To make such a carbon fee equitable, we can distribute the money collected from the fee to all Americans on a per-person basis.

Low-income people would come out ahead because they pollute less (e.g. fly less, drive less and have smaller homes), so they would pay into the fund less, but still get an even share out. Recently, such carbon dividends legislation, the Energy Innovation Act, was co-sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland. Lets thank her for her leadership on carbon dividends  an equitable, effective approach to climate action.

Ted Obbard, Berkeley

A solution for the As

Regarding How As ballpark plan would affect Oakland (May 2): Our family loves Oakland sports and the As. We have a small boat and would love a waterfront ballpark. I have the solution to environmental justice concerns that are the bane of the waterfront ballpark, specifically Schnitzer Steels valuable operation. My old smog spewing Cadillac ended up there. As President Dave Kaval and Mayor Libby Schaaf should arrange for Schnitzer to relocate to the center of Piedmont. Then, Mr. Kaval can build his gondola to transfer the recycled metals down to the waterfront, doubling up the gondola for fans downtown, as already planned. No toxic dust in West Oakland! Piedmont Community Center is used only for a few weddings (ours was there).
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes appeared in a federal courtroom in San Jose, Calif., Tuesday, for the first time since her lawyers announced two months ago that their client is pregnant.

Holmes, 37, and her lawyers appeared before a federal judge in a pretrial hearing at the Robert F. Peckham Federal Building to argue about what evidence should be allowed and excluded from her criminal fraud trial that's scheduled to start on Aug. 31.

Holmes was originally scheduled to start her trial on July 13, but in March, her lawyers revealed their client was pregnant and due in July. This came after the trial has been delayed three other times due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Holmes and former Theranos President Ramesh Sunny Balwani were originally indicted in June 2018 on several counts of conspiracy and wire fraud for allegedly engaging in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud investors with blood testing lab services, according to the district court. The charges also stemmed from a separate scheme to defraud doctors and patients, according to the indictment. Some charges have since been dropped.

Prosecutors allege that Holmes and Balwani, whose trial is scheduled for 2022, made false claims to investors that Theranos could deliver accurate, fast, reliable, and cheap blood tests and test results  when they knew this wasn't possible.

Holmes' attorneys argued Tuesday that the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of California has built a case built on anecdotal evidence and asked the judge to restrict what prosecutors could present to a jury at the trial, according to the Wall Street Journal.

This trial is going to be a sprawling mess of irrelevant, prejudicial evidence, Amy Saharia, a Williams & Connolly LLP partner representing Holmes, said in court, the Journal reported.

Holmes dropped out of Stanford University in 2003 and used her education trust to found Theranos, the now-defunct Silicon Valley health care and life sciences company that went on to be valued at more than $9 billion before shutting down in 2018. The company promised near-instantaneous results from blood tests, offering patients a cheap and fast way of getting information to make health decisions. These claims have since proven to be false. Holmes' legal team has argued that the company's claims were too "vague" to mislead patients, while prosecutors have asserted that patients were making medical decisions based on fraudulent test results.

The scandal was examined in Alex Gibneys 2019 HBO documentary "The Inventor: Out for Blood."

Holmes and hotel heir Billy Evans are reportedly married.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden signed into law one of his top priorities: The American Rescue Plan Covid-relief bill. The $1.9 trillion package sends direct payments of up to $1,400 to eligible individuals, expands the child tax credit for a year and extends a $300-per-week unemployment insurance boot to September 6. The bill will also put nearly $20 billion into vaccination efforts and $350 billion into state, local and tribal relief, among other allocations.

Democrats passed the bill through the House of Representatives and Senate without a single Republican vote using the budget reconciliation process. The House approved the bill on Wednesday before sending it to the president's desk.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 08:54:03|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported seven new COVID-19 cases, all of which were imported, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Wednesday.

Of the cases, two were reported in Sichuan, and one each in Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, Guangdong and Guangxi.

Six new suspected cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported in Shanghai, but no new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported Tuesday, the commission said. Enditem
MoneyTips

Claiming dependents on your taxes is usually a fairly straightforward procedure, but in some cases, more than one person (or couple filing jointly) will claim someone as a dependent, muddying the process. The most common example is when divorced or separated parents both want to claim their children as dependents for tax purposes.

Dependents can have a large impact on taxes  not just from the ability to claim Head of Household filing status, but also through tax credits such as the Child Tax Credit, the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Both the qualification and the amount of potential credit are affected by the dependents that you can claim.

Although the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) removed the personal exemption, it retained the Dependent Care Credit and doubled the Child Tax Credit. "It used to be you basically got to reduce your income by about $4,000 for you, your spouse, for each dependent that you had," reports Betterment Head of Tax Eric Bronnenkant. "They've effectively eliminated that, but as kind of a replacement, the Child Tax Credit has been increased from $1,000 to $2,000."

When more than one person (parents or otherwise) is claiming the same dependent and there is no custody, divorce, or separation agreement outlining who may claim the credits, the IRS has a series of tie-breaker rules used to determine whose claim is accepted and whose is rejected. In order, these rules are:

Relationship  Parents take preference over non-parents in the case of competing claims.

 Parents take preference over non-parents in the case of competing claims.

Residence  The parent with whom the children live the longest during the tax year may claim them as dependents. Generally, in a divorce, this will be the custodial parent. For separation or cases of joint and equal custody, it may be necessary to move to the next tiebreaker.

 The parent with whom the children live the longest during the tax year may claim them as dependents. Generally, in a divorce, this will be the custodial parent. For separation or cases of joint and equal custody, it may be necessary to move to the next tiebreaker. Income  When the residency ruling is the same, the parent with the highest adjusted gross income (AGI) may claim the credits, generally assuming that they have provided more support.

 When the residency ruling is the same, the parent with the highest adjusted gross income (AGI) may claim the credits, generally assuming that they have provided more support.

No Parental Claims  If neither party attempting to claim the dependent is a parent and the parents themselves do not qualify to claim the dependent, then the person with the highest AGI may claim the credits. If parents qualify but choose not to claim, then a claiming person's AGI must be greater than that of either parent.

For unmarried parents, the parents are allowed to decide who claims the credits as long as the parents and children lived in the same household all year and both parents qualify.

The IRS does not handle any disputes up front. Whoever files their tax form first and claims the dependent receives the credits, and whoever files second will have their tax return rejected. It is best to work out an agreement with your ex or soon-to-be-ex before filing to avoid inadvertent problems  otherwise, you will have to work out the issue through the IRS Customer Service department to determine if you have a reasonable claim to the credits or if you will just have to forgo the claim. If you e-filed, you will have to resubmit a paper copy to allow the IRS to apply the tiebreaker rules.

Custodial parents can allow the non-custodial parent to claim the dependent if he or she relinquishes the rights by submitting IRS Form 8332, "Release/Revocation of Release of Claim to Exemption for Child by Custodial Parent." The form allows you to relinquish the rights for one year or multiple years, or revoke a previous relinquishing of rights. In the end, the custodial parent has control.

Details may be found in IRS Publication 504, "Divorced or Separated Individuals." This publication outlines the topics covered above and includes special cases along with a series of examples to illustrate different situations. However, if you have a more complex issue, you should consult with a qualified tax attorney to advise you on the best path to take.

Failing to pay your taxes or a penalty you owe could negatively impact your credit score. You can check your credit score and read your credit report for free within minutes by joining MoneyTips.

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Originally Posted at: https://www.moneytips.com/divorced-parents-claim-same-dependents

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Finnegan Lee Elder and Gabriel Natale-Hjorth, a pair of former Marin classmates who met up in Rome on vacation and became inextricably linked through the slaying of an Italian police officer, are guilty of murder, an Italian jury ruled Wednesday.

They were both sentenced to life in prison.

The jury consisted of presiding judge Marina Finiti, a second judge and six civilian jurors. They deliberated for 12 hours before delivering their late-night verdict at nearly 11:30 p.m.

Elder, now 21, and Natale-Hjorth, 20, who met at Tamalpais High in Mill Valley, were on vacation in Italy in 2019 when they scuffled in the street with two Carabinieri officers. Deputy Brig. Mario Cerciello Rega, 35 years old and fresh off his honeymoon, was stabbed to death. His widow, Rosa Maria Esilio, wept as the verdict was read. Elder, who was standing, put his hands on the table in front of him as if to brace himself. Natale-Hjorth showed little emotion at all.

3 1 of 3 TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images Show More Show Less 2 of 3 TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images Show More Show Less 3 of 3





Neither prosecutors nor the defendants disputed that Elder and Natale-Hjorth tried to buy cocaine from a local dealer in Trastevere, a nightlife district in Rome, on July 26, 2019.

I thought that it would be something that would help us enjoy the night, and from past experience, I thought the effect of the drug would make us feel better and give us some energy to walk around to get to bars and pubs, Elder said in court.

TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images

According to police, Elder and Natale-Hjorth got upset when the man who showed up for the drug deal didn't give them the cocaine. In retaliation, they allegedly stole the man's backpack and demanded 100 euros and a gram of cocaine to get it back. Unbeknownst to them, the man was a Carabinieri informant; he then told police he'd been robbed by the pair.

The informant arranged to meet back up with the Bay Area teens (Elder and Natale-Hjorth are identified as being from San Francisco in court documents). At that meeting, around 2:30 a.m., two plainclothes police officers  Cerciello Rega and his partner Andrea Varriale  arrived. Here is where the two sides' stories vastly deviated.

Police and prosecutors said the officers identified themselves as law enforcement and showed their badges but were attacked "immediately" by the teens. Lawyers for the Americans said the officers did not identify themselves as such, and the fatal stabbing was an act of self defense by Elder. Elder told the court in March he brought a knife to the meeting because "it gave me a sense of protection." Prosecutors say he stabbed Rega 11 times.

Renato Borzone, one of Elder's lawyers, argued in court that Elder has "psychiatric problems" and a constant paranoia about being attacked, feelings that were triggered during the confrontation with police.

REMO CASILLI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Elder and Natale-Hjorth were found in their hotel room several hours after the incident. Natale-Hjorth testified that after Elder washed off the knife, he asked Natale-Hjorth to hide the weapon. Police later found it hidden behind a ceiling panel in the room.

Elder did not deny killing Rega, instead arguing in court it was a case of self defense not murder. During one March court appearance, Elder read from a handwritten statement for about an hour. In Italian courts, this is known as a "spontaneous declaration," and there is no examination or cross-examination by lawyers.

ALBERTO PIZZOLI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

I remember little of the next few moments except for feelings of shock and terror, he said. I do remember, however, that I could feel his hands pressing on my chest and then on my neck with pressure, as if he were trying to strangle or choke me. At this stage, I panicked and believed he wanted to kill me. As soon as I felt his hands squeezing my neck, I instinctively brought out my knife and hit him three times in an effort to get him off me.

Elder and Natale-Hjorth have been held at the Regina Coeli prison in Rome since 2019 and throughout the coronavirus pandemic. The trial began in February 2020, pausing briefly during the early stages of the country's COVID lockdown.

REMO CASILLI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Although it was initially reported the pair were good friends  they both graduated from Tamalpais High in Mill Valley in 2018  Gabriel's father Fabrizio Natale walked that back a bit in an interview. According to him, they were not close friends, but instead a pair of former classmates who happened to be in Italy at the same time and decided to meet up. Natale-Hjorth was born in Italy and moved to the United States as a boy; he holds dual citizenship and took trips to Italy each summer.

Along with homicide, they were both found guilty of extortion (because of an alleged drug deal gone south), resisting public officials and carrying an attack-style knife without just cause. Even though Natale-Hjorth did not stab Rega himself, he was equally charged in the murder, per Italian law.

As in the United States, Italy has an appeals process. It seems likely the men will file an appeal.
Piedmont school officials have officially apologized after drawing criticism from students and staff for offering a support circle for white students in light of the Derek Chauvin verdict.

An email from Cheryl Wozniak, the assistant superintendent of educational services at Piedmont Unified School District, was sent on April 21 to students and staff at Millennium and Piedmont high schools in light of the verdict against Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd last year.

We are offering a restorative community circle, an email from Wozniak obtained by SFGATE reads, to support White students who would like to discuss how the trial, verdict, and experiences related to the George Floyd murder are impacting you.

Two counselors, she said, will be holding a space for our White students to process [and] share  to one another.

According to demographic information shared by the district, the student population across Piedmont Unified schools is 74% white, 20% Asian, 3% Hispanic and 3% African-American. Among the nearly 900 students in the districts two high schools, Piedmont and Millennium Alternative  62% are white, 16% are two or more races, 12% are Asian, 8% are Hispanic and 2% are Black.

Support circles were also held for BIPOC  a catch-all term for Black and Indigenous people, and other people of color  and African-American and Black students, according to emails obtained by SFGATE.

But the sessions were met with scrutiny by staff and students alike, who expressed concern over the segregated nature of the sessions and the fact that white students were seemingly supported more than students of color. Screenshots of the video later caught traction online, including on platforms like TikTok.

One student at Piedmont High, who spoke to SFGATE on the condition of anonymity, was baffled at the decision but noted that it likely came with good intentions.

But the student also said that the Piedmont schools administration has historically failed to address issues of race and equity properly  or at all.

A day after the initial letter was sent, Wozniak issued an apology for the decision to hold a white student support circle, saying that the impact on our students of color has left them feeling hurt and disrespected by district administration. The sessions were cancelled.

Wozniak did not respond to multiple requests for comment from SFGATE.

Randy Booker, Piedmont Unifieds superintendent, corroborated those statements in a school board meeting held April 28.

My role is to call out systems of structural oppression; inequities that promote them led to where these exist in our district, he said, per the East Bay Times. We need to live up to our board policy on racial equity. Its still in infancy steps.

Cory Smegal, the school board president, also addressed the comments, saying that the phrasing resulted in an invitation coming across as an insult.

Our students were the first to call attention to it, and they were right to do so, Smegal said. The leadership response was swift and direct  an apology, an explanation. But we understand that all of these caused harm that needs repair.



She also acknowledged, however, that these missteps shouldnt result in hasty judgment.

If we silence those who take risks and make mistakes along the way, we discourage others from stepping forward to enter into this important work at a time when all of our words are so highly charged and under such scrutiny, she said.
BENZIE COUNTY  The Benzie County Board of Commissioners voted during its April 27 meeting to use money given from the state from the sale of recreational marijuana to help pay down the county's unfunded pension liability.

According to Mitch Deisch, county administrator, the board voted to put the entirety of the county's share, $84,000 from the sale of state approved recreational marijuana products, into its unfunded pension liability.

The resolution states that as of the latest valuation from Municipal Employer's Retirement System of Michigan from December 2019, Benzie County's retirement funds are 65% funded, leaving an unfunded pension liability to just over $7.5 million.

The State of Michigan requires pension plans to be funded at 60% minimum.

An unfunded pension liability is when there is a difference between the benefits owed to all employees of the county, current and retired, and the value of the financial assets the pension plan manages. The pension plan does not have all of the money it needs to pay out all of the retirement benefits it will owe in the future to call current and past employees receiving benefits.

According to the Michigan Department of Treasury, nearly $10 million has been given to more than 100 municipalities and counties as a part of the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, which was passed by voters in 2018. Funding is awarded for every licensed retail store and microbusiness within a municipalities jurisdiction.

For the state of Michigans 2020 fiscal year, more than $31 million was collected from the 10% adult-use marijuana excise tax. Combined with fees, there was a total of $45.7 million available for distribution from the fund.

For more information about adult-use marijuana tax distributions  including a breakdown of how much municipalities and counties received  visit www.Michigan.gov/RevenueSharing. To learn more about Michigans adult-use marijuana industry, visit www.Michigan.gov/MRA.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 09:43:10|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported seven new COVID-19 cases, all of which were imported, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Wednesday.

Of the cases, two were reported in Sichuan, and one each in Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, Guangdong and Guangxi.

Six new suspected cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported in Shanghai, but no new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported Tuesday, the commission said.

A total of 5,723 imported cases had been reported on the mainland by the end of Tuesday. Among them, 5,435 had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, and 288 remained hospitalized. No deaths had been reported among the imported cases.

The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland reached 90,721 by Tuesday, including 319 patients still receiving treatment, five of whom were in severe condition.

A total of 85,766 patients had been discharged from hospitals following recovery on the mainland, and 4,636 had died as a result of the virus.

There were 11 suspected COVID-19 cases on the mainland on Tuesday.

A total of 10 asymptomatic cases were newly reported, all arriving from outside the mainland. There were a total of 323 asymptomatic cases, of whom 315 were imported, under medical observation by Tuesday.

By the end of Tuesday, 11,790 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 210 deaths, had been reported in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), while 49 cases had been reported in the Macao SAR, and 1,153 cases, including 12 deaths, had been reported in Taiwan.

A total of 11,451 COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong SAR had been discharged from hospitals following recovery, while 49 had been discharged in the Macao SAR, and 1,067 had been discharged in Taiwan. Enditem
The prominent Uasin Gishu farmer and former politician Mzee Jackson Kibor is born again after giving his life to Christ on Monday.

The 87 year-old was baptized at the Boma Inn Hotel in Eldoret in a 30-minute ceremony presided by Ret African Inland Church (AIC) Bishop Silas Yego.

Kibor, who is nicknamed the mens conference chairman in social media circles, said he decided to turn over a new leaf because he is old and time is not on his side.

Praise Jehovah, when I decided to go to Church I was told that one has to be baptized to be saved.

Two things that necessitated taking this bold step are that one, I am now old and I have not yet been baptized, yet I am a Christian and a staunch AIC follower.

The second reason is that life is precious and we must be ready since you do not know when your time to leave this world will come, Kibor said moments after his baptism.

Mzee Kibor further urged Kenyan youth to follow in his footsteps and get baptized.

I am the chairman of everything, so I know better and when I say that you should be ready and accept to be baptized and saved, then I know that it is right, he said.

Kibors wife, Yunita, confirmed that it was the octogenarians personal decision to get saved.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 09:45:24|Editor: huaxia

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A medical worker prepares an oxygen parlor for COVID-19 patients in Kolkata, India, May 3, 2021. (Str/Xinhua)

Since this April, China has supplied more than 5,000 ventilators, 21,569 oxygen generators, over 21.48 million masks and around 3,800 tons of medicines to India, according to statistics of the General Administration of Customs of China, said Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong.

NEW DELHI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- As far as it goes, China provides most oxygen concentrators to India, and keeps producing oxygen concentrators and other medical equipment for India, Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong said Tuesday in a tweet.

"Chinese companies carry forward the spirit of humanitarianism, focus on saving lives, respond to wants and needs of the Indian people," Sun said in another tweet.

"That reveals their social responsibilities as well as the goodwill in helping India fight COVID-19," said the tweet.

Patients receive treatment inside a COVID-19 ward in a hospital, in Bangalore, India, April 30, 2021. (Str/Xinhua)

Since this April, China has supplied more than 5,000 ventilators, 21,569 oxygen generators, over 21.48 million masks and around 3,800 tons of medicines to India, according to statistics of the General Administration of Customs of China, Sun said in a tweet on April 29.

Chinese companies have been accelerating production of at least 40,000 oxygen generators for India, and are working at a fast pace to deliver as soon as possible, the Chinese ambassador said.

Many Chinese firms and private organizations are also using their own channels to provide various help to India, he said.

People wait to receive COVID-19 vaccination at a government school in Delhi, India, on May 3, 2021. (Xinhua/Partha Sarkar)

India is struggling with the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic as hospitals in several states are reeling under a severe shortage of drugs, equipment, oxygen and beds.

India's COVID-19 tally crossed the 20-million mark, reaching 20,282,833 on Tuesday, confirmed the federal health ministry, with 357,229 new cases registered across the country during the past 24 hours.

Besides, 3,449 new deaths were recorded, taking the death toll to 222,408. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 10:16:57|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A popular part of Australia's iconic Kakadu National Park will be closed to the public by indigenous owners over a "lack of respect" for sacred sites.

The Gunlom Aboriginal Land Trust (GALT) announced that the area of Gunlom is closed as a result of "Parks Australia's breach of our lease agreement and lack of respect for our sacred sites."

The Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority (AAPA), which is responsible for protecting sacred indigenous sites, launched legal action against Parks Australia for carrying out work at the site "without an authority certificate."

Mick Markham, the chair of the GALT, said the gate at the South Alligator River would be closed to make their point to Parks Australia ahead of the Northern Territory's peak tourism season.

"We have to protect the sites, it's our religion. That site has been there for over 10,000 years, when the salt water was eroding the cliff face," he was quoted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Tuesday.

"The traditional owners apologize to the tourists but for us to get our point across, we feel this is the only way."

The AAPA alleges that Parks Australia, which is a federal government body, constructed a walking track near the falls illegally.

Markham said the trust wants Parks Australia to admit their guilt and pay a fine before reopening the site.

"In that area there are certain elements and remains of people that have gone by thousands of years ago. We don't want people going there," he said.

"We'd redirect the track, to where it was supposed to be in the first place, and then let's move on to getting the place back as a place to go."

Located in the Northern Territory in central and central northern Australia and covering nearly 20,000 square km, the Kakadu National Park is a world heritage listing for its indigenous culture and natural views. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 11:26:04|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, May 4 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) envoy to Libya Jan Kubis on Tuesday transmitted the proposal for a constitutional basis for the upcoming elections to the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF).

"Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya Jan Kubis transmitted today to the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) plenary, the draft proposal for the constitutional basis for elections, as finalized these days by the LPDF's Legal Committee, following their meeting in Tunis from 7-9 April," said a statement issued by the UN Support Mission in Libya.

Kubis will convene a virtual plenary session of the LPDF soon after the Eid holiday, for the LPDF to discuss and deliberate on the Legal Committee proposal, the statement said.

"Reiterating the UN's full commitment to the holding of national elections on 24 December, the Special Envoy called on LPDF members to be guided in their discussions by a spirit of compromise and to place the interests of their fellow Libyans and future generations above all considerations," the statement added.

The UN-sponsored LPDF recently selected an executive authority of a presidency council and a unity government, ending years of political division in the country.

The main task of the new executive authority is to prepare for the national elections in Libya on Dec. 24, as agreed by the LPDF. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 11:30:20|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam earned nearly 18.4 billion U.S. dollars from exporting phones and components in the first four months of this year, which accounted for 17.7 percent of the country's total export revenue over the period.

The export posted a year-on-year rise of 19.4 percent, according to the country's General Statistics Office on Wednesday.

With that revenue, phones and components continued to be Vietnam's largest export item, followed by computers and electronic components.

Between January and April, Vietnam also spent over 6 billion U.S. dollars importing phones and their components, surging 44 percent year on year.

In 2020, the country earned roughly 50.9 billion U.S. dollars from exporting phones and components, mainly to China, the United States and South Korea, posting a year-on-year decline of 1 percent, according to data from the office. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 11:43:22|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the emergency use authorization for Moderna's vaccine against COVID-19, FDA Director General Enrique Domingo said on Wednesday.

The emergency use authorization was granted by FDA "after rigorous and thorough review by regulatory and medical experts using the currently available published and unpublished data," Domingo said in an online forum.

"The known and potential benefits of Moderna, when used to prevent COVID-19, outweigh the known and potential risks of the said vaccine," Domingo added.

The American drugmaker Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is the seventh vaccine given green light by the FDA.

An emergency authorization allows the use of a vaccine still being developed during public health emergencies.

The Philippines has reported a total of 1,067,892 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday, including 17,622 deaths. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 14:36:13|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

- - - -

RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil on Tuesday reported 2,966 new deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide death toll to 411,588, according to its health ministry.

Meanwhile, 77,359 new COVID-19 cases were detected, bringing the accumulated caseload to 14,856,888.

Brazil now has the world's second-highest COVID-19 death toll, after the United States, and the third-largest outbreak, behind the United States and India.

- - - -

CANBERRA -- Almost two thirds of Australians think the country's COVID-19 vaccine rollout is not going well, a survey has found.

Researchers from Australian National University (ANU) on Wednesday published the latest report from an ongoing survey of more than 3,000 adults' attitudes towards the pandemic and vaccine rollout.

It found that only 3.7 percent of respondents thought the vaccine program was going "very well" compared to 64 percent who said it was going either "not too well" or "not well at all."

- - - -

BEIJING -- The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported seven new COVID-19 cases, all of which were imported, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Wednesday.

Of the cases, two were reported in Sichuan, and one each in Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Shandong, Guangdong and Guangxi.

Six new suspected cases arriving from outside the mainland were reported in Shanghai, but no new deaths related to COVID-19 were reported Tuesday, the commission said.

- - - -

BUENOS AIRES -- Argentina on Tuesday reported 412 more deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, raising the pandemic death toll to 65,202.

Meanwhile, 26,238 new infections were reported over the same period, bringing the national count to 3,047,417, the country's health ministry said.

The South American country has administered 8,327,751 doses of COVID-19 vaccines since the start of its vaccination campaign on Dec. 29, 2020.

- - - -

WELLINGTON -- New Zealand reported three new cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation and no new cases in the community on Wednesday.

The three newly imported cases came from the United Arab Emirates, and have remained in managed isolation and quarantine facilities in Auckland, according to the Ministry of Health.

There are also three historical cases to report in recent returnees in managed isolation facilities, which came from Jordan, the Philippines and Indonesia. These cases are classified as historical and are not considered to be infectious, said a ministry statement.

- - - -

SEOUL -- South Korea reported 676 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Tuesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 124,945.

The daily caseload was up from 541 in the previous day, rising above 600 in three days.

The daily number of infections hovered in triple figures since Nov. 8 last year due to small cluster infections in Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi province as well as imported cases.

- - - -

TUNIS -- Tunisian Health Ministry reported 1,405 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, raising the caseload in the country to 314,152.

The death toll from the virus rose by 101 to 11,016 in Tunisia, the ministry said in a statement. Enditem
Just hours before he was set to board a flight home to Argentina on Saturday, Santiago Solans Portillo received some news that appeared to throw a wrench in his travel plans: His coronavirus test had come back positive, authorities say.

But when the 29-year-old arrived at the airport in Miami, he made no such disclosure to the American Airlines agents checking him in, instead presenting a medical certificate that said he was fit to fly.

It was only the following day, when he landed in Buenos Aires and health officials took his temperature, finding he had a fever of 101.3 degrees, that he made his confession: He probably had covid-19 - and should not have boarded the plane to begin with.

"Due to this irresponsible, selfish behavior, 200 people are at risk despite having done the right thing while traveling," Florencia Carignano, Argentina's top immigration official, told reporters this week.

As with many other countries, Argentina requires international travelers coming from the United States to present proof of having recovered from covid-19 recently or a negative test to board a flight. Borders have largely been closed to almost anyone besides citizens and permanent residents.

New cases in Argentina have skyrocketed in recent weeks, surpassing a total of 3 million and reaching an all-time high of new daily cases late last month as hospitals scramble to accommodate the influx of covid-19 patients.

But as in much of Latin America, vaccine rollout efforts have stalled - in part because of a shortage of supplies largely stockpiled by the United States and other wealthier countries. About 7 million people, or 16 percent of the total population, had received at least one shot as of May 3, according to data tracked by The Washington Post.

Anxious and tired of waiting, some of the richest Argentines have instead looked north, flying to Miami to get shots. Officials said that Portillo, who owns a commercial pressure-washing business, was one of them.

It is unclear whether Portillo ever did get vaccinated. But Argentine authorities say that he received a medical certificate at some point on Saturday from a clinic in Hollywood, Fla., stating that he was in good health and able to travel internationally.

But in an interview with an Argentine radio station this week, Juan Manuel Dragani, a lawyer in Buenos Aires who represents that clinic, insisted that the certificate was not counterfeit or fraudulent and had been issued to the patient in accordance with all U.S. guidelines.

"There's a direct responsibility for the accused," Dragani said, noting that Portillo's only contact with the clinic had been through a telehealth appointment.

Still, at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, Portillo received a PCR test stating he had tested positive for the coronavirus, authorities said. By midnight, he had boarded American Airlines flight AA921, and on Sunday morning, the plane - also carrying 258 other passengers and 12 crew members - landed in Argentina.

After confessing his alleged ruse, authorities said, he was arrested and transported to a Buenos Aires sanitary hotel - one of several facilities that had been run by the city for travelers coming from abroad who were ordered to quarantine.

In a brief phone interview Tuesday with Clarin, the country's largest newspaper, Portillo said he was running a fever and was receiving medical treatment while in custody there.

He claimed that the publication's previous reporting on his case was "all a lie" and refused to offer more details without consulting his lawyer. (As of that morning, however, court officials noted that he had yet to retain an attorney; The Washington Post was unable to reach Portillo.)

Carignano, the immigration official, said that Portillo could face between 3 and 15 years in prison under an Argentine law that bars people from knowingly exposing others to infectious diseases. She noted that his "complex judicial situation" would be compounded if any of his fellow passengers develop symptoms in the coming days.

Buenos Aires city health officials have so far tracked down at least 14 people who were sitting near Portillo on the plane, ordering them to quarantine for at least seven days, though it is unclear if any have tested positive for the virus so far.

A judge has seized his cellphone to examine when exactly he received the medical certificate, and at what time a different clinic in Miami notified him he had tested positive for the virus.

Carignano has also said that her agency would be sanctioning and fining American Airlines for allowing a sick person to board the flight, in violation of the country's coronavirus rules. The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 15:25:33|Editor: huaxia

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The 1,061st birthday of the Chinese sea goddess Mazu was celebrated on Monday on the Meizhou Island of Putian City, east China's Fujian Province.

People came from home and abroad to worship the goddess at the Mazu temple.

A total of 323 drones lit up the night sky to mark the goddess' birthday.

Mazu belief has been prevalent in Fujian for hundreds of years.

Mazu is a deified young woman named Lin Mo who is believed to have lived in the 10th century on Meizhou Island, where she dedicated herself to helping people in need and died attempting to rescue shipwreck victims at the age of 27.
WASHINGTON  House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) signaled Tuesday that he would support ousting Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the most powerful Republican woman in Congress, saying rank-and-file members have doubts about her ability to do the job.

Cheney was one of 10 Republicans who joined Democrats in voting to impeach former President Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.

The tensions mark an increasing fight over the future of the Republican Party, including whether it will continue to tether itself to the divisive populism of Trump, who may run again in 2024, or move on. Cheney, whose father served as vice president to George W. Bush, in many ways represents the old guard of Republicans who want to move away from Trump.

In February, the Republican Conference weighed removing Cheney from leadership after her impeachment vote, but no opponent came forward to challenge her. At that time, McCarthy was publicly silent on Cheney, and then backed her in a closed-door meeting about whether to remove her from the No. 3 leadership position.

Since then, Cheney hasnt held her tongue when asked by reporters about Trump. She and McCarthy have stopped appearing together at news conferences, including after Cheneys comments about Trumps 2020 election falsehoods and a proposed bipartisan commission to investigate the insurrection made headlines during an annual policy retreat in Florida last week.

CNN reported that, in a closed door Republican conference meeting in Sea Island, Georgia, on Monday, Cheney said that embracing Trumps false allegation that the election was stolen is a poison in the bloodstream of our democracy .... We cant whitewash what happened on Jan. 6 or perpetuate Trumps big lie. It is a threat to democracy. What he did on Jan. 6 is a line that cannot be crossed.

Although McCarthy opposed the impeachment, he stated at the time that the president bears responsibility for [the Jan. 6] attack on Congress by mob rioters.

The Republican leader has since walked back his post-Jan. 6 criticisms of Trump and sought to again ingratiate himself with the former president, while Cheney publicly and privately insists that Trump should play no role in the future of the party.

Though exiled from social media, Trump remains popular with the GOP base and is still a major source of fundraising for the party. He and his supporters have targeted Cheney and plan to back a primary challenger against her in 2022.

She is so low that her only chance would be if vast numbers of people run against her which, hopefully, wont happen, said Trump in a written statement issued Monday afternoon. They never liked her much, but I say shell never run in a Wyoming election again! On Tuesday, Trump created a place on his website to communicate directly with supporters.

McCarthy on Tuesday suggested that Cheney no longer has a place on his leadership team, especially as Republicans seek to regain control of the House in 2022.

I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out the job as conference chair, to carry out the message, McCarthy said Tuesday on Fox News Fox and Friends. We all need to be working as one if were able to win the majority. Remember, majorities are not given, they are earned. And thats about the message about going forward.

Theres no concern about how she voted on impeachment. That decision has been made, McCarthy said.

Cheney spokesman Jeremy Adler said in response to the Fox News interview, This is about whether the Republican Party is going to perpetuate lies about the 2020 election and attempt to whitewash what happened on Jan 6. Liz will not do that. That is the issue.

But in an exchange reportedly caught on a live mic and reviewed by Axios before the Fox and Friends interview, McCarthy had a harsher take.

I think shes got real problems, McCarthy told anchor Steve Doocy off-air, according to Axios. Ive had it with ... Ive had it with her. You know, Ive lost confidence. ... Well, someone just has to bring a motion, but I assume that will probably take place, appearing to refer to a motion to remove Cheney from her leadership role.

The earliest that a vote on Cheneys future could happen is when the Republican Conference next meets May 12.
SAN RAFAEL (BCN)

A 19-year-old man was arrested Tuesday in as the suspect in a murder on Monday, San Rafael police said.

Jeffrey Osmaldo Aguirre was taken into custody in Richmond following an investigation of the shooting death of 23-year-old Wilmer Gonzalez Velasquez.

The shooting was reported shortly before noon Monday on Windward Way in San Rafael, where officers found Velasquez dead on the ground next to a vehicle. Velasquez had been shot at least once, police said

Detectives determined that Velasquez was in the front passenger seat of a vehicle on Windward Way with two other people, including Aguirre, who was seated in the seat behind him.

"While the vehicle was in motion, the driver of the vehicle heard a loud bang and immediately pulled to the right curb of Windward Way" and "saw that Velasquez had been shot by Aguirre," police said.

Aguirre first asked the driver to help him, then threatened the driver, who ran from the vehicle on foot, police said. Aguirre then fled the area.

Investigators interviewed numerous witnesses and learned Aguirre, who previously lived in Novato, had recently moved back to Marin County from Conroe, Texas, and determined that he was possibly at a residence in the 400 block of Maine Avenue in Richmond.

A search warrant was obtained and served at the Richmond address, where Aguirre was taken into custody without incident and bookef at the Marin County Jail for murder, police said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact San Rafael police at (415) 485-3000.

Copyright  2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
By Keith Burbank

Bay City News

OAKLAND (BCN)

Alameda County supervisors on Tuesday took the first step toward allowing home cooks and chefs to prepare, cook, and serve meals from their residences.

More than 50 advocates showed up to a home kitchen business ordinance when the supervisors meet to hear the proposal.

Solano County has approved a similar ordinance. Riverside and Santa Barbara counties also allow what are called Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations.

"This is an economic justice issue," said Isaac O'Leary, vice president of operations of Foodnome, a legal marketplace for homecooked food in the U.S.

O'Leary said it takes hundreds of thousands of dollars to start a restaurant in California, which is a barrier to entry for low-income chefs and cooks.

If the proposed ordinance passes a second reading to become law, the annual fee would be $696 to establish a home-based food business, according to the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency. All cities in the county except for Berkeley will have to allow home kitchen operations.

Berkeley has its own regulating body and has recently opted into the state law which established the operations.

Microenterprise home kitchens were established in 2018 by Assembly Bill 626 and then amended by Assembly Bill 377 in 2019.

The ordinance before the Alameda County Board on Tuesday would allow 30 meals a day to be cooked from someone's home and 60 meals per week.

Food must be prepared, cooked, and served on the same day.

Anyone could establish such a business in their home. Support from the Board and the public was unanimous.

"The legalization is allowing me to pursue my dream of opening a restaurant," Bryan Farb, a private chef in Berkeley, told the board during the public comment period.

As far as safety, he feels more accountable for the well-being of his customers as a home-based chef than he does working as an employee.

Supervisor Nate Miley had some initial reservations before voting in favor.

"How do you ensure compliance," he asked.

Supervisor Wilma Chan responded that if there are problems, "we'll hear about it."

A permit can be revoked, county officials said.

Under the proposed ordinance, a home kitchen operation may have at most one full-time equivalent employee, excluding family or household members, and must limit verifiable gross annual sales to $50,000.

Customers may dine in, pick up, or have food delivered.

Advocates say a similar ordinance has been successful in Riverside County for the past year where more than 150 permits have been issued.

No food-borne illness complaints have been made there, O'Leary said.

Another concern raised by critics is the potential for increased traffic in residential areas. But, again, Riverside County has not had a problem.

Duyan Le and Hieu Le, who attended in support Tuesday morning, said it would give them a chance to test the market for their food before taking the risk of opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

More information for people interested in starting a business can be found at foodnome.com/cook.

Copyright  2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 15:33:36|Editor: huaxia

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by Xinhua writer Gao Wencheng

BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven richest countries are finally having their first in-person meeting in two years in London, and apparently U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will not miss out on this opportunity to peddle his "China threat" conspiracy.

According to media reports, ministers from those like-minded countries joined a Tuesday morning session dedicated entirely to China, during which, with apparent maneuvering and guidance from the United States, they concluded by accusing China of being "coercive."

Say so the world's sole superpower, together with a group of allies who are among the world's leading powers.

In fact, besides numerous unquestionable events recorded in history, even the most recent ones have proven the United States is the very one that has been addicted to practicing coercive policies, with a whole range of tools ready to deal with targeted countries, including sanctions, intimidations, stoking unrest and forming inglorious clique.

Over the years, Washington has been sparing no effort to slander China on issues such as Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and grossly interfering in China's internal affairs under the guise of human rights and democracy.

The United States also waged a trade war and a tech war against China, used long-arm jurisdiction to illegally arrest Chinese citizens, and put unwarranted pressure on Chinese companies in an attempt to cripple the international competitiveness of Chinese companies and obstruct China's development.

The world has also seen how Washington has sought to defame and push Iran, Venezuela, Cuba and other so-called "adversaries" to compromise through maximum pressure. It has unilaterally withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal, stepped up sanctions on Iran, and choked off Venezuela's crude exports, devastating the country's pillar industry and divesting ordinary people of livelihoods.

Since the start of the new millennium, the United States has invaded Afghanistan and Iraq under the pretext of combating terrorism, and militarily intervened in Libya and Syria on grounds of humanitarianism, resulting in one hellish humanitarian disaster after another.

Further more, bullying, hijacking and other extreme means smack of mafia tactics were applied to force its allies to serve its interests. Half-believing people could consult the bestselling "The American Trap" and find the distressing experience of author Frederic Pierucci most enlightening.

A most recent example shows that during a visit in March to Brussels, Blinken threatened to impose sanctions on German companies building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a project Germany and some other European countries want so badly for energy.

Barbara Weitzel, a commentator for German media Deutsche Welle, said European countries have a high political price to pay for maintaining alliance with the United States.

Behind Washington's coercive diplomacy are its illusion of hegemony, addiction to arrogance and egotism, and selfish calculation to maximize its own profits at the expense of global interests. It is bringing detrimental consequences to the world by escalating conflicts between countries and triggering humanitarian crises.

Alena Douhan, UN special rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, said sanctions are "bringing suffering and death" to countries like Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

Washington's coercive diplomacy is against the trend of the times and doomed to a dismal end. Over the long run, the interests of all countries are highly intertwined in this age of economic globalization. Washington's efforts to suppress others' progress through fanning tensions will disrupt global industrial and supply chains, and eventually shoot itself in the foot.

Meanwhile, as the world has been inexorably moving further towards multi-polarity, more countries will broaden their eyesight to a global scale in finding partners, and choose to keep a social distance with the United States. The coercive actions of hijacking others' policy-making will become increasingly unpopular.

"Unipolarity is over, and with it the illusion that other nations would simply take their assigned place in a U.S.-led international order," U.S. political scientist Graham Allison wrote in a Foreign Affairs article. It is time for Washington to wake up to this fact and abandon its coercive approaches in its dealings with other countries. Enditem
Renee C. Byer / Associated Press

Gavin Newsom recall election candidate John Cox brought a 1,000-pound bear to a press conference Tuesday and is now disappointed that said bear dominated media coverage of the event.

Cox, a Republican businessman who has struggled to gain traction to this point, is rebranding himself as "Beast John Cox" and continued his bus tour Wednesday with stops in the Bay Area. While speaking to reporters on Treasure Island, he bemoaned coverage of the Tuesday kickoff.
COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations are plummeting. Vaccine distribution is accelerating. After a year, it seems we have finally reached the beginning of the end of the pandemic. As things continue to wind down, we're starting a series called "Pandemic Exit Interviews"  with each installment featuring a person of local interest who played a central role in the pandemic. We'll ask each figure to share what they've learned, what they regret and where they see things going from here.

Read the first four installments here:

 Only one thing shocked UCSF's Bob Wachter about the pandemic

 Stop panicking about the COVID-19 variants, says UCSF's Monica Gandhi

 SF General staff members reflect on their 'life-altering' year under COVID

 Gavin Newsom opponent Kevin Faulconer on what he'd have done differently

San Francisco has one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates in the world.

It was the first major city to issue a stay-at-home in March 2020, and Mayor London Breed has been widely praised by health experts for the city's response to the pandemic.

While the city has successfully minimized COVID-19 deaths, schools did not begin to reopen until recently, and some have criticized city officials for not paying attention to health impacts beyond COVID-19. SFGATE spoke with Breed to respond to those criticisms and preview where the city  boasting one of the nation's best vaccination rates  will go from here.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

SFGATE: San Francisco has been widely praised for its low COVID-19 death rates and controlling the pandemic, although some, including UCSF's Dr. Monica Gandhi, who was featured earlier in this series, stated that the city has not handled other aspects of the pandemic well, so school closures, business closures, mental health and substance abuse. How do you respond to that criticism?

Breed: Well, its easy for someone to criticize our response, but at the end of the day, there's no playbook for how you deal with a global pandemic. Everyone faced challenges, and when you look at San Francisco in comparison to the rest of the country and world, for us, everything we did was about saving lives. That was at the forefront of all the decisions we made.

When you look at vaccination rates, we have the highest rates in the country and state. I'm really proud of the job we did. We rolled up our sleeves, and provided close to $1 billion from San Francisco resources to support small businesses. We provided resources to mental health services, not just our city staff but also through school systems.

There were challenges with schools reopenings that werent within our control, but we provided them with $15 million to address their budget deficit, and we offered to give them any resources at our disposal to make classrooms safe, whether that's testing or PPE.

Im really proud of what we did in San Francisco. Could we have done some things better? Of course, but it's important to highlight the lives saved due to our quick action and everyone sacrificing so much for one another over the past year.

SFGATE: Specifically, what are the things you think you could have done better?

Breed: From my perspective, for all the things we were in control of, we put our best foot forward on all of those decisions.

By "done better," I expected more out of the school district for sure, but that's not in my jurisdiction. However, whenever we were provided the opportunity to give them funding to reopen, we jumped to do so.

SFGATE: The city has been more restrictive than the state during the pandemic, often moving at a slower reopening pace and withholding certain red tier activities for the orange tier. If you could do it again, would you have been as restrictive? And do you plan to be more restrictive than the state when June 15 comes and the state plans to "fully reopen" and retire the color-coded tier system?

Breed: Of course. Can you imagine how hard it was to get up there, not once but twice, and tell people to shelter in place? To tell businesses to close, to say to people that they cant earn living? Yes, going slow was the right thing to do; I had to put everything in place to make sure we weren't closing down the city again.

Taking a more cautious approach was really important, so if I could do it over again, I would do that again.

As for June 15, we've been consistent in looking at the data before making decisions. We're still seeing cases and some hospitalizations so we have to be careful, but we have a very high vaccination rate and will make a decision at that time.

But to abandon restrictions completely  even if the state heads in that direction it may not be best for San Francisco. I'm trying to avoid standing up and telling residents to shelter in place again. We will center our June 15 decision around keeping the public safe.

SFGATE: Even with the city's high vaccination rate, you think there's a chance a stay-at-home order could be required again?

Breed: The problem is there's a lot we dont know. There have been instances of people having been vaccinated and contracting COVID. What were seeing, and based on the information I have from our health experts, is that the more people we vaccinate, the less likely it is that we will have some surge.

We also have to keep in mind that we're not only talking about San Francisco and of residents of San Francisco when it comes to vaccines. A lot of people come to San Francisco to work or to visit, and we are an attraction Bay Area-wide. So we have to be sure that other counties are doing well with their vaccination rates as well, and it's not just about what San Francisco is able to do here.

I hope we dont see another surge, but there's a lot of uncertainty.

SFGATE: What would you say is the most important thing youve learned during the pandemic?

Breed: To trust my gut. When this first hit, we received a lot of information about what was going on in Wuhan, but we didnt quite understand how exactly the virus was contracted, we had nonexistent testing systems, and we just didnt have a lot of information. But we knew that if we did nothing, we could lose a lot of people.

So I've learned to trust the experts and to trust my gut. We moved forward to do something I never thought I would do as mayor, which was to shut down our city. And we saved lives by doing so.

SFGATE: What would you say was your lowest point during the pandemic?

Breed: When I had to tell people to shut down the second time in the winter. I was hopeful in the fall, and that was really tough because a lot of businesses that got to reopen for the first time in months were grateful, happy and excited. But then we had to go backwards. That was tough.

SFGATE: Do you believe we're truly at or near the end?

Breed: I do. Im hopeful, Im optimistic, and Im feeling good. Though I will not kid you, Im still nervous about some things. But it feels good because people are getting vaccinated, people are still wearing masks and following the health orders as best as they can.

The doctors seem to be more open and hopeful themselves, so I think were close to the end of this even though we know that cases will still exist. We will hopefully see fewer deaths as a result of the vaccines, and that will be really remarkable and demonstrate that what we did was the right thing in saving as many lives as we could.
When a house in Berkeley sold for more than $1 million over its list price in late March 2021, it was covered in media outlets across the Bay Area, including this one.

While the Berkeley sale was particularly sensational  it sold for double its list price and received 29 offers  these individual stories are becoming more common in todays real estate market, according to recent data and anecdotes from real estate professionals.

And that's especially true in the East Bay. People are not surprised when a home goes $1 million over, said Josh Dickinson, the founder of real estate agency Zip Code East Bay. When my clients see a house for $1.9 million theyre almost conditioned to think it'll go over $3 million in Piedmont or North Berkeley.

While he acknowledges that overbidding has always been common in the Bay Area, this past year has been far more frantic, with additional bids per home and more aggressive offers.

I think I could pull up the MLS and pull up a dozen [listings] that went more than a million over this year so far, Dickinson said. Most of them had the it factor, but some of them were just in the right place at the right time.

He said the it factor could include amazing views and a backyard (both in one property is rare) or room for a home office or two. For a recent home he sold in Berkeley, it was only the second time in 93 years the property had ever come to market after it was designed by a notable architect. Dickinson said given the history of the home and its lush and expansive backyard, he knew it would sell quickly, but he was nevertheless surprised when it sold for more than $1.2 million over the list price.

Even we don't know as savvy agents. We dont know when the thing is going to go bonkers, he said. We just try to let the market do its thing.

While an attractive financial offer is key, in true Bay Area fashion there are also plenty of offers that come in with extra pizzazz. Dickinson said one of the bids on the Berkeley home included free one-week stays at an Airbnb in Tuscany for the next 10 years. Its not the offer the sellers accepted, but it certainly piqued their interest, he said.

Dickinson has also seen plenty of offers over the years that include stock options from major tech companies and a few that have included a glut of airline miles.

When the offers are that high, the accepted bid is often cash. A five-bedroom home in the Elmwood neighborhood of Berkeley closed in April 2021 for $3.15 million, all cash, with a listing price of $1.995 million. According to MLS data, since March there have been at least 20 properties that have sold for more than $800,000 over the listing price in the East Bay and six of those, (three in Berkeley, three in Oakland, one in Piedmont), went for $1 million or more over the asking price.

Alameda County home sales have climbed in 2021, up 21% when compared to the same time period last year, according to recent data from Compass. Overbidding was most common in Alameda County when compared with all Bay Area counties in the past year, with homes selling for an average of 12% over list price.

Alameda also had one of the lowest averages of time on the market with a median of 11 days. Typically, the lower median days on market, the stronger the demand.

Overall, Bay Area home prices are up 6% as compared to the same time last year.

Redfin real estate agent Ena Everett said the East Bay market has always been busy, but its gotten much more competitive of late. In Oakland and Berkeley ... people could expect homes to go 20% over asking on a pretty regular basis, she said. Now that the supply is a lot smaller, instead of 20% over, it's common to see houses go for 10 to 40% over asking or more.

When looking at Redfin data, the Bay Area actually had fewer homes sell for more than $800,000 over asking from May 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021, than from May 1, 2018, to April 30, 2019, but the concentration of these types of sales looks very different across the Bay Area. In the 2018-2019 data, 20 homes in San Francisco and 19 homes in Palo Alto sold for more than $800,000 over asking, whereas in the 2020-2021, data only 10 S.F. homes and five Palo Alto homes experienced this type of sale. Meanwhile, Oakland and Berkeley, which had just one and five high overbids respectively in the 2018-2019 data, each had 12 sales with a closing price that was at least $800,000 more than its list price in 2020-2021.

Everett's also seen an increase in the number of offers. Between four and 10 offers was common, but now shes seeing as many as 30 or 40 bids on certain places. But despite the drive toward more space and larger homes, she said she has more clients thinking about the future now than she did a few months ago, taking into account proximity to public transportation should they need to go back to the office sometime soon.

Both agents said despite the unrelenting market, they feel optimistic for buyers and are hopeful more inventory is coming soon. The market still heavily favors the sellers, but there's a lot of optimism for the buyers, Dickinson said, adding, "There was a house in Berkeley this week that only got four offers. And that gives me hope.
Stephen Lam/Getty Images

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff announced the official date for when employees can return to the Tower, a shifting of the tides for San Francisco tech workers, who have largely pivoted to remote work during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a tweet celebrating San Franciscos transition to the yellow tier and a low caseload, he said that employees  internally referred to as the ohana, the Hawaiian term for family  are able to return to the office beginning May 17.
A report by Bloomberg Businessweek says that the idiosyncratic CEO of a San Francisco startup was ousted due to his use of LSD in the workplace.

Justin Zhu, a co-founder and the former CEO of the email marketing firm Iterable, confirmed to Businessweek that the incident did, in fact, happen. He attempted to take a small dose of the hallucinogenic  known in some circles as microdosing  before a key investors meeting in 2019.

It didnt work out. He said that he saw numbers and images swelling and shrinking on the screen and that his body felt like it was melting.

Quirks that are now commonplace in tech culture  casual attire during fancy meetings, drug use in the name of bolstering productivity and grandstanding, conceptual thinkers  ended up becoming a thorn in Iterable's side, per the Businessweek report, despite the company being valued at a couple billion dollars.

Zhu wore cargo shorts to a meeting with a VC firm called Geodesic, a blunder that he says resulted in the firm not investing in Iterable. Another awkward investor meeting drew comparisons to Adam Neumann, the embattled WeWork CEO who had a penchant for lofty, sometimes pretentious conversations.

At one point, Zhu told Businessweek that he believed that he was ousted as CEO because he wasnt white. He needed to run meetings with more presence," he claimed an investor told him.

I run the company with Eastern values, he told Bloomberg. That doesnt mean Im not equipped to be CEO.

But Zhu's removal from the position may have come down to his outspoken willingness to talk to media, even against other company leaders wishes. He did so, he claimed, to "help founders who are suffering."

While hes no longer listed as CEO on the company site, a press kit available for download still lists Zhu as CEO  and his image looms large in the companys history shared on its website.

Iterable representatives did not respond to multiple requests for comment from SFGATE.
From the outside, on a quiet, unpretentious residential side street in Arroyo Grande, on California's Central Coast, all you can see is a generic beige stucco tract house with a drought resistant rock garden, some two-tone buoys hanging here and there as beach town decor, and little else to suggest whats hidden behind the driveways sturdy metal gate.

But then I stepped inside our AirBnB for the next two nights and felt like I was entering a miniature theme park, a surfy, beachy astroturf-and-tchotchke backyard paradise. There, on one small lot, Anton and Sarah Selzer  a couple of longtime Burning Man enthusiasts and the parents of a 7-year-old  have transformed their backyard into an elaborate, colorful, over-the-top playground with, among other things, a two-story, two-slide playhouse, a large trampoline and a life-size Hot Wheels ramp. To the eyes of my two young kids, denied their first theme park experiences by the pandemic, it might as well have been Disneyland.

But the reason for our visit, and the yards defining feature, was something even more out of place: a robin's egg blue lifeguard tower smack in the middle of southern San Luis Obispos Five Cities beach town sprawl.

Lifeguard Tower No. 2, as it was once known by the Pismo Beach Fire Department, was barely bigger than a closet, with three huge oddly angled windows and a surprisingly cushy double bed. In this incongruous setting, this towering symbol of California beach culture at first looked like any other backyard treehouse  a cute little box nestled among the leaves.

But this is a more ambitious project, and a bigger story, than that.

---

In 2017, Sarah was working as a financial analyst at a bank while Anton was working for his familys third-generation plumbing business in Santa Barbara during the week and returning home on weekends. At the same time, the couples son, Huxley, then 3 years old, was struggling. Sarah began getting calls from his day care: Theyd say things like, Hes hiding under the table, or throwing things. Hes waking the other kids up or pushing over their cots. Huxley was soon diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum.

Courtesy of the Selzer Family

All of a sudden, Sarah writes (her preferred form of communication), I was a single mom during the week, juggling a stressful job, and taking care of our son alone. She was struggling, and she knew it, but it was still a shock when, for the first time in her life, she was fired.

I remember my manager saying, Now you can go home and take care of your son.

Sarah was hurt and concerned about her familys financial situation. But when she called Anton to tell him what had happened, he didnt panic. Instead, he said, Great! Now you and Huxley can come to Burning Man. Anton was already there.

Though she and Anton loved Burning Man, shed decided to sit the arts festival out that year because didnt have the paid vacation time. I never think of Burning Man as a vacation but as an adventure. If youre immersed in the community of Burning Man ... theres an unfathomable amount of work to be done to make it all happen, said Sarah. [It] blows my mind every time we go. After she got fired, paid time off didnt matter anymore. She decided to go  and take Huxley on an adventure, too.

Courtesy of the Selzer Family

I really didnt know how Huxley would do, says Sarah. She had the usual parental worries about him getting sunburned or dehydrated out there on the Playa of Nevadas Black Rock desert. But those things, she said, were surprisingly manageable. And Huxley took to that environment like he was made for it, she said.

The lights, the sounds, and all the amazing interactive art was so fascinating to him, she said. It was the easiest place to keep him happy and entertained, which was a different experience than what he was like in our regular lives.

---

One of Sarahs favorite places at the Playa is on the outer edges of the expansive Burning Man territory where relatively few people venture. That area, the trash fence, is an orange plastic barrier erected to keep festival garbage from being blown into the surrounding desert. But, Sarah explains, its also where some of the more interesting art pieces find a home. That year, there was a brothel, which Sarah describes as a collection of weathered buildings that looked like they were from an Old West movie.

Among them, some had riddles that needed solving to open a door; others required finding the right key. The one I was particularly drawn to looked like an old water tower, she said. It had a rusty old bed frame at the bottom and then a ladder that went up to a little deck that wrapped around the tower and a metal slide coming down from the top. It reminded Sarah of a lighthouse.

Courtesy of the Selzer Family

Back home in Arroyo Grande, after her familys magical time at the Playa, Sarah couldnt stop thinking about how to bring the spirit of Burning Man to her backyard. And, equally important for a burned-out mother, how she could turn her creativity into something that would help support her family.

She had been miserable in her banking job, she realized. I felt stifled, depressed, and my mind was so shot from looking at financial statements all day that by the time I got home I didnt want to think about anything else.

The lighthouse-like piece of brothel art became her inspiration, her obsession almost. With relatively little space to work with, the idea of building up, rather than out, stayed with the couple. But, Sarah is quick to credit, the idea for the lifeguard tower itself came from Anton, the real mad scientist.

Courtesy of the Selzer Family

Through a Google search and a phone call to the city, Sarah learned that Pismo Beach, a neighboring town in the Five Cities region  along with Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, Shell Beach and Oceano  was about to auction one of its lifeguard towers. It was, she says, serendipity. After all, she explains, these well-built, weatherproof fiberglass structures arent retired often. Up against only one other bidder in the February 2018 auction, the couple ended up paying just about $600 for the tower.

---

When I first saw Sarah and Antons Airbnb listing, I had a hard time really wrapping my head around it. Not because there was anything inaccurate in the description, but because what the Selzers created wasnt easy to characterize.

When I booked it, I envisioned a sort of glamping situation, where wed be staying in a converted lifeguard shack, but with a nearby bathroom and kitchenette as backup. In reality, though, everything about the space felt like an elaborate craft project, a low-key but purposeful piece of interactive art.

Freda Moon

And when I arrived, I realized the listing wasnt just for the lifeguard tower and a few conveniences, but the entire complex, a small but encompassing retreat from the suburban world outside. The main structure is actually what the Selzers dubbed the Bait Shack  a thoughtfully executed granny unit with a nautical theme, some offbeat touches and the kinds of amenities that you could only dream a hotel might provide.

There was stencil art on the walls  a mermaid kissing a scuba diver, a sunken pirate ship with tattered sails  and a fire pit equipped with metal roasting sticks and smores fixings. There was the nautical decor (model ships on a high kitchen shelf, dried starfish dangling above a window, a porthole mirror, a lobster throw pillow) and all the practical stuff a traveling family might need: a well-stocked kitchen, a washer-dryer, a spare crib, spare chairs, spare beach towels in the closet.

"Our guests are essentially strangers that are staying in our home," says Sarah. But, she adds, "we knew that by building the tower wed attract like-minded people and become part of a bigger community. Because we have this unique structure, we get guests that really appreciate it for what it is."

Freda Moon

The spirit of experiential art permeates the Selzer's backyard. And because the tower structure itself is ideal for hanging swings, thats what the family has done. Before we knew it, she says, the couple had created a playground full of spinning, swinging, jumping, and movement thats perfect for [Huxleys] self-regulation.

Early in its life, Sarah and Antons rental appealed primarily to adventurous couples and Baywatch lovers. But over the past year, their audience has shifted, and Huxleys backyard Disneyland has become a much-needed escape for families, including families with kids on the autism spectrum.

---

On the second night of our recent trip, after putting my kids  five and two  to bed, I climbed up to the lifeguard tower by myself while my husband Tim stayed below in the Bait Shack. Theres a hot pink bistro table on the towers deck, which would have made a fine place for a sunset drink. But the weather was a bit chilly, into the 50s, so I went inside to the small space, turned on the heat and perched myself on the towers loft bed.

Up there alone above a sea of suburban rooftops, staring out from behind three huge oddly angled windows, I felt like I was dangling in a bird feeder. Peering into neighboring yards, with their rose bushes and pomelo trees weighed down by hefty, bowling ball-sized fruit, I could see past the Spanish tile roofs and into the distance, where the hills  orange ridges and hazy purple shadows  were cloaked in the Central Coasts persistent marine layer.

Though Id intended only to stay long enough to watch the sunset, I collapsed into the comfortable bed and fell asleep without meaning to. And I slept like I hadnt slept in over a year.
Shelbyville, IN (46176)

Today

Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 80F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds light and variable.
SHELTON  Competition is already heating up for Board of Aldermen seats on the November ballot.

Envision Shelton, which began as a bipartisan political action committee last September, filed paperwork Tuesday to become a slate committee.

The group then immediately put forth candidates for each ward, challenging the fully Republican eight-person Board of Aldermen.

We are focused on the Board of Aldermen because, in a city like Shelton, that is where the power to make change is, Envision Shelton Chair Lorraine Rossner said. We have some very, very strong candidates who can really impact the city in a positive way.

For voters, this means there will be Republican, Democrat and Envision Shelton lines on the November ballot. Rossner said the focus remains on the aldermen; there are no plans now to have candidates running for down ticket posts.

Republican Town Committee Chair Anthony Simonetti could not be reached for comment. Democratic Town Committee Chair David Gioiello said the DTC will be running its own set of candidates.

Some of our candidates may be endorsed by Envision Shelton, Gioiello said. We will not be working with them.

Rossner said she welcomed collaboration with both parties.

Incumbent Republican Alderman David Gidwani heads the Envision Shelton ticket, running for reelection in the First Ward under the Envision Shelton banner.

Simonetti holds the other alderman seat in the ward.

Envision Shelton is a group of Republicans and Democrats who actually care about the city we live in, Gidwani said. I was not expecting the RTC to endorse me because I am the only alderman who is vocal about (Mayor Mark Lauretti).

People who have voted for me know I work for them, Gidwani said.

Michele Bialek, a Democrat, is running for a Second Ward seat, which is presently represented by Eric McPherson and newly appointed member Joanna Carloni, who replaced the late Stanley Kudej.

Democrat Matt McGee and Republican Chris Jones are running in the Third Ward, which is represented now by board President John Anglace Jr., and Cris Balamaci.

Board of Education member Amanda Kilmartin and Board of Apportionment and Taxation member Michelle Laubin, both Democrats, are running in the Fourth Ward, which is currently represented by Noreen McGorty and Bernie Simons, both of whom ran unopposed two years ago.

Envision Shelton was first formed, according to its membership, to oppose charter revisions  which called for eliminating the Board of Apportionment and Taxation and increasing party maximums for elected positions  that were on the ballot last November.

In the end, residents resoundingly defeated the charter revision proposal at the ballot box.

brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com
(BPT) - A fresh new color scheme, the sparkle of quartz and a chic tile layout can transform your bath from drab to fab. But when we renovate,
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 16:15:17|Editor: huaxia

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SHANGHAI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai has accelerated its pace of immunological research to take the lead in boosting China's innovation in the prevention and treatment of immunological diseases.

The newly launched Shanghai Immune Therapy Institute is the latest example of the city's efforts to build world-class immunology research hubs. Established at the Renji Hospital under the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, the institute will focus on three research areas: tumor immunotherapy, chronic inflammatory diseases and transplantation immunology, and infectious diseases and vaccines.

The institute aims to become a frontier research and development center with global talent by 2025, and one of the world's leading institutes in the fields of new drug targets, new mechanisms, antibody-drug development, immunotherapy and other major immune-related diseases by 2035, according to a hospital statement.

Jointly developed by the municipal government and the university, the institute is also expected to be a core element of Shanghai's world-class biomedical industry cluster.

Immunology is highly relevant to the prevention and treatment of major diseases such as tumors, infectious diseases and metabolic diseases.

"Each breakthrough in immunology can lead to leap-forward development in medicine and the biomedical industry," said Fan Xianqun, head of the university's School of Medicine, at the launch of the institute last week.

Fan noted that the institute's researchers would work hard to make groundbreaking discoveries to promote the country's innovation and competitiveness in immunological disease prevention and control.

Dong Chen, the director of the institute and an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that China has made progress in the immunological field in recent years, but there is still a gap between basic research and clinical practice.

"The institute will help solve the problem," said Dong, adding that establishing a research institute at a hospital can help in the process of taking a research concept from "the (laboratory) bench to the bedside."

The institute will allow researchers to work closely with clinicians, bringing research advances from the lab into the clinic and taking clinical observation back to the bench for evaluation, which will eventually benefit patients, Dong explained.

The director also stressed the importance of talent cultivation and said the main force of the institute will be young scientists under the age of 35. Enditem
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The Canadian government is considering a policy to give workers the legal right to disconnect from work. Under this new policy, employees wouldn't be expected to respond to phone calls, e-mails and texts from bosses or colleagues during nonwork hours.

In October 2020, the Right to Disconnect Advisory Committee, consisting of representatives from employers and unions, began holding a series of meetings to develop recommendations to the government. In March, Canada's Minister of Labor Filomena Tassi invited Canadians to share their views on the right to disconnect.

The goal is to support employees' well-being.

"Advances in technology have created a situation where an employee can be reached at all hours of the day or night, even if they are technically not to be working," said John D.R. Craig, an attorney with Mathews Dinsdale in Toronto.

The stress of being unable to detach from work could contribute to mental and physical illness among employees, which could be costly and problematic for employers and the government in the long term.

"There is more work to be done to ensure that standards keep up with the rapid pace of change driven by digital communications technology," Tassi said in a press release. "It is important for me to hear the views of employers, unions and the public on the challenges they are facing, so that we can make informed decisions on how to make sure that both workers and employers are treated fairly in this new world of work."

Some employers think a new right to disconnect is unnecessary. "They would prefer that existing working time rules and limits be enforced," Craig said. "On the other hand, support for the right to disconnect is based in significant part on the view that existing working time rules and limits are insufficient to address the challenges of new technology."

"Employers that do not operate on a traditional 9-to-5 schedule have raised valid questions about how the right to disconnect would apply to them in practice," said Lisa Goodfellow, an attorney with Miller Thomson in Toronto. "An important consideration among employers is the need for flexibility in light of individual workplace conditions."

Who Would Be Covered

If it's implemented in Canada, the right-to-disconnect policy would apply only to federally regulated employers, such as:

Airlines.

Airports.

Banks.

Postal service.

Radio and television broadcasters.

Railways.

Federal agencies.

It would not apply to most employers in the private sector, which are typically regulated by the provinces. Provincial regulation applies to important areas like agriculture, education, forestry, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, mining and retail.

However, in the future, "it is possible that provinces may eventually follow suit with their own right-to-disconnect legislation," Goodfellow noted.

Next Steps

After the federal government receives input and recommendations from the advisory committee and the public, it will decide whether to propose federal legislation granting the right to disconnect.

"It is very early in the process," explained Deidre Khayamian, a lawyer with Spring Law in Toronto. "The government is still at the consultation stage. Once a bill is introduced into Parliament, it has to move through the legislative process before it becomes law."

"The legislative process in Canada is lengthy and unpredictable, particularly since it seems likely that there will be a federal election in 2021," Craig said. "Next steps are hard to predict."

If a law is passed, it's unclear what the penalties would be for noncompliance.

"Noncompliance by employers might be met with monetary penalties," Goodfellow said. An alternative means of addressing noncompliance might be to mandate that employees who are expected to respond to e-mails outside of work hours are entitled to some form of payment for being on call.

"It may look something like the right to refuse overtime under the Canadian Labor Code, but that is just a guess," Khayamian said.

Craig predicted, "I would not expect significant penalties to be imposed except in rare and severe cases of abuse."

In 2017, France adopted a right to disconnect, which applies to employers with more than 50 employees. Spain, Italy and the Philippines have similar laws.

"In France, one criticism of the right to disconnect there is the lack of regulatory teeth to the law," Khayamian noted. "European Union lawmakers are also exploring a right to disconnect for workers, motivated especially by the shift to working from home due to the pandemic."

Leah Shepherd is a freelance writer in Columbia, Md.
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When one of Lori Johb's employees needed time off work to drive an elderly parent to a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, Johb didn't hesitate. As president of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labor in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, her entire professional focus is on workers. "I'm the boss, so I was able to grant him paid time for that, because I think it's very, very important," Johb said.

Soon after, she received a call from the Minister of Labor in Saskatchewan. "[The Minister of Labor] said that they were amending the Election Act to say that employers were required to give workers [paid] time off, up to three hours at a minimum, but more if needed for vaccinations."



More Provinces Add Paid Leave

While Canadian leave policies for vaccination vary from province to province, Saskatchewan is the first province to offer paid leave for employees to get their vaccination shots for COVID-19. Alberta and British Columbia also have elected to offer paid leave for vaccination.

"The way the Saskatchewan [leave] works is [employees] are entitled to get three consecutive hours off work during their work hours to go get their COVID vaccination," said Lisa Goodfellow, an attorney with Miller Thomson in Toronto. If there are unusual circumstances where an employee needs more than three hours off, it's in the employer's discretion to approve a longer break.

The leave doesn't require employers to pay employees, but rather guarantees that employees will not lose pay during the time they take off for vaccination. So if an employee misses only one hour of work, the paid time off will cover that one hour.

Saskatchewan's paid-leave policy aims to encourage workers to get their vaccinations. "They want to provide as much incentive as possible to employees to get vaccinated," Goodfellow said. "And for some people, if you're living paycheck to paycheck, having to take some time off to do it would be a disincentive."

British Columbia Shifts to Paid Leave

In British Columbia, the government initially approved an unpaid leave that differed in a few ways from Saskatchewan's policy. "It's an open-ended leave.  It doesn't set a fixed number of hours; it's whatever the employee reasonably needs to get the vaccination," said Michael Howcroft, an attorney with Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in Vancouver, British Columbia. "And it doesn't limit the number of times the person can take it. So if, for example, I needed to take it for myself, but I also needed to, say, take an elderly grandmother or something like that, it would apply in all those circumstances."

Though the original amendment specified an unpaid leave, on April 19 an amendment was proposed to allow for three hours of paid leave in British Columbia. Approval of the amendment, which is expected, will apply retroactively to April 19.

Encouraging Vaccination Through Paid Leave

Mandatory vaccination is a complicated and debated issue, so paid-leave policies allow provinces to encourage vaccination without compelling it. For the most part, employers support these policies.

"When I'm talking to my clients, they're not concerned about giving people time off to get a vaccine," Howcroft said. "What they're concerned about is making sure that they get their employees vaccinated so that the chance of an outbreak occurring at their workplace is reduced, and that they ensure that their employees are safe, and that they ensure that their business can continue."

By amending the Election Act in Saskatchewan, legislators were able to quickly allow for paid leave in a familiar framework. "Because our provincial government decided to make an amendment to the Election Act, it was very doable; it was something that could happen immediately," Johb pointed out. In Canada, it is usual to have paid leave to vote, so paid leave for vaccination was a logical next step.

With new virus variants racing against Canada's vaccine rollout, it's important now to incentivize as many workers as possible to get their vaccination shots quickly. "Everything I'm hearing from my clients is, 'We want to make sure we get our employees vaccinated; what can we do to help get our employees vaccinated? Is there anything that we can do to get this done faster?' " Howcroft said.

It's beneficial to the entire economic ecosystem of Canada to get the pandemic under control, through vaccination and policies that encourage it. "They want to have their economy back to normal as much as possible," Goodfellow said, "and having people vaccinated is the best way to do that."

Katie Nadworny is a freelance writer in Istanbul.
Actress Sonia Balani makes her digital debut in the upcoming "Bhopal To Vegas", and she says her character shows how to follow a dream and lead life on own terms.

The "Detective Didi" fame actress plays Rashmi in the series, a character she describes as "a fearless and vivacious young girl who wants to be successful while doing something she enjoys".

"She is smart and carefree, and takes risks unlike other girls her age. I admired her in many ways, and couldn't have asked for a better start to my digital innings. My character and the story are both relatable and funny, and also deliver a subtle message on following your dreams, being passionate about what you do, and falling in love the way you want," said Sonia.

"Bhopal To Vegas" also features Arun Sharma and Ahan Nirban, and will release on Disney+ Hotstar on May 7.

Images: Sonia Balani on Instagram

Text: IANS
Against this backdrop, the Indian Navy has launched an initiative -- Operation Samudra Setu II.

The extraordinary surge of the pandemic has put tremendous pressure on the country's health infrastructure and capacity. Both the public and private sectors are stretched to meet the medical requirements in these challenging circumstances and help from every quarter is a virtual lifeline.

"As a part of the ongoing national effort to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indian Navy has launched Operation Samudra Setu II to bring in by sea the much-needed oxygen and associated medical supplies from friendly foreign countries," said the Deputy Chief Admiral of Indian Navy, M.S. Pawar

In the current operation, Indian Navy ships have been deployed across the vast expanses of the Indian Ocean Region to meet the country's critical oxygen requirements under challenging circumstances.

Pawar said that as many as nine warships have been diverted to various ports in the region extending from Kuwait in the west to Singapore in the east to bring in the much-needed oxygen and associated medical supplies.

On an action-packed Wednesday, Indian Navy ship Talwar arrived at Mangalore port in Karnataka, carrying 54-tonne liquid medical oxygen (LMO) from Bahrain.

Concurrently, INS Airavat carrying eight cryogenic containers with a capacity of 20tonne each, 3,650 oxygen cylinders, 10,000 Rapid Antigen Test kits and other vital medical supplies departed Singapore for India on Wednesday morning.

Similarly, INS Kolkata, having picked up 54 MT LMO departed Kuwait on Wednesday afternoon. Earlier, the ship had picked up oxygen cylinders and medical supplies from Qatar.

Three more naval ships reached Qatar and Kuwait on Wednesday, to bring oxygen from the Gulf countries.

"We are coordinating the movement of our ships round-the-clock so that maximum critical materials can be picked up from multiple ports and be made available in India as soon as possible," commented a senior Navy officer at the Naval Headquarters.

Given their carrying capacity, long-range endurance, agility and versatility, naval ships have been able to undertake this mission in support of the nation's fight against Covid-19.

Moreover, the distance from the Gulf countries to the Indian ports on the western seaboard allows the arrival of oxygen containers and critical medical supplies in 3-4 days.

It has been learnt that as of now, nine naval ships are on the task for Operation Samudra Setu II with more naval ships likely to ferry supplies of LMO in the ensuing days and weeks.

In other forms of assistance, naval establishments across the country are contributing to the local administrations in their efforts to fight the pandemic.

The sailors' training establishment, INS Chilka in Odisha, has set up a 150-bed isolation centre.

"Additional beds with oxygen support have also been made available for the civilians at the naval hospital," added a senior officer of the Eastern naval Command.

Likewise, the Western Naval Command has committed some capacity in its hospitals in Mumbai, Goa and Karwar to aid the local civil administrations.

In Mumbai, facilities have been set up inside the naval premises to provide basic amenities to the migrant labourers so that they are not displaced again.

Not only will this move preclude the trauma of mass dislocation among the migrant labourers, but it will also stem the spread of infections.

Amid this storm, it would be easy to miss the people in the islands of Lakshadweep & Minicoy (L&M Islands) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (A&N). However, the Navy has kept a close watch over these islands.

Recently, a Covid positive 49-year-old man from Lakshadweep was ferried by a helicopter to the Naval Air Station in Kochi and was admitted to the naval hospital there.

Further, the Southern Naval Command in Kochi has earmarked a specific number of beds and contingency supplies for Lakshadweep & Minicoy Islands and has been closely monitoring the situation on-ground.

The Navy has also provided oxygen supplies by ships to various islands and placed a roving medical team to provide care for the population in L&M Islands.

A senior government official said, "We have to be careful, as it would be difficult to control the situation if the virus rapidly spreads across the islands."

The Indian Navy has been closely associated in India's fight against Covid-19 since last year.

In May-June 2020, it had initiated the largest repatriation mission, 'Operation Samudra Setu', wherein naval ships Jalashwa, Shardul, Airavat and Magar had traversed 23,175 km over 58 days and evacuated close to 4,000 stranded Indian citizens from Maldives, Sri Lanka and Iran.

The success of that finely-coordinated mission reflected the commitment and professionalism of the Navy.

"With another deadlier, more formidable challenge in the form of the second wave looking at the country in the eye, one can be sanguine that the nation's armed forces working in tandem with the civilian administration will help the country overcome this pandemic," the officer added.

(Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in)

--IANS

sk/arm
Mangaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 5 (ANI): Amidst India's second wave of COVID outbreak, INS (Indian Navy Ship) Talwar reached the New Mangalore Port with the first consignment of 54 tons of liquid oxygen from Bahrain on Wednesday.



INS Talwar is part of the Indian Navy's "Operation Samudra Setu-II" which aims to fulfil India's requirements of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) by shipping oxygen-filled cryogenic containers and other medical equipment from overseas suppliers.

Talking about the progress of Operation Samudra Setu II, Vice Admiral MS Pawar, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff in a statement said that nine warships have been diverted to various ports extending from Kuwait in the West to Singapore in the East to bring in Oxygen and associated medical supplies from friendly foreign countries.

"As a part of the ongoing national effort to fight the Covid 19 pandemic, the Indian Navy has launched Operation Samudra Setu II to bring in by sea the much-needed Oxygen and associated medical supplies from friendly foreign countries. As many as nine warships have been diverted to various ports in the region extending from Kuwait in the West to Singapore in the East," he said.

The Vice-Admiral added that apart from INS Talwar, INS Airavat from Singapore and INS Kolkata from Kuwait are also heading back to India with liquid Oxygen, Oxygen filled cylinders, cryogenic tanks and other medical equipment.

"Three more warships are scheduled to pick up more supplies from Kuwait and Doha. The LPD INS Jalashwa, mission deployed in South East Asia is ready to be diverted to ports in the region as the situation demands," he said.

Indian Navy had launched Operation Samudra Setu last year to repatriate distressed citizens from IOR (Indian Ocean Rim) countries.

"Let me assure the countrymen that the Navy will continue with its efforts to bring relief and together, we will overcome this challenge," Vice Admiral Pawar said. (ANI)


New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday said that it has filed a supplementary charge sheet against three people, including West Bengal college student Tania Praveen and a Pakistani woman national member of banned terror organisation LeT, in connection with online terrorist recruitment module case.

An NIA spokesperson said that the anti-terror agency filed its first supplementary charge sheet before the NIA Special Court at Kolkata in connection with West Bengal LeT online recruitment module case.

The official said that the agency has named Tania Parveen aka Isranoor, Sayyad M. Idris aka Idris, a resident of Uttar Kannada district in Karnataka, and absconding accused Ayesha aka Ayesha Burhan, a resident of Punjab in Pakistan under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The official said that Parveen was a college student and was radicalised and recruited in cyberspace by Pakistan-based cadres of LeT.

"She was co-admin of various social media groups espousing secessionist ideas on Kashmir with accused Ayesha Burhan, a Pakistan-based cadre of LeT's Women's wing," the official said.

Parveen, in association with other accused members of LeT in India and Pakistan indulged in unlawful activities, radicalised, recruited and motivated other people through cyberspace for Jihad against India, the official added.

"She and other accused were brainwashing impressionable youth and propagating the ideology of LeT, a proscribed terrorist organisation, thus conspiring to wage war against the state," the official added.

The NIA took over the probe in April last year and is targeting the female spy ring in the country, working for the banned terror outfits of Pakistan.

The NIA officials said that the special task force nabbed Praveen, a student of the Maulana Azad College -- a state-run Kolkata college, from Baduria near the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, after an year-long surveillance.

Earlier, the NIA had filed charge sheet against Parveen under several sections of the UA(P)A.

--IANS

aks/vd
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 16:39:48|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- China's effective containment of the COVID-19 pandemic and progress in vaccination have greatly boosted people's enthusiasm for domestic travel during the May Day holiday lasting from Saturday to Wednesday.

Viewing the travel rush as a clear signal of the country's economic recovery, especially a pick-up in consumers' sentiment, international businesses are shifting to e-commerce to seek fortune in China's online market, given that the coronavirus has brought overseas travel to a standstill.

POST-PANDEMIC COMEBACK

Passenger trips on Chinese railways hit a new single-day high on the first day of the International Workers' Day holiday, with nearly 18.83 million trips recorded, up by 9.2 percent from the 2019 level.

Experts and media outlets have called the travel boom a "definitely encouraging" sign of post-pandemic revival.

Tommy Wu, a lead economist of British thinktank Oxford Economics, said, "domestic travel will likely recover to close to pre-pandemic levels during the Labor Day holiday, which is definitely encouraging."

"That said, should we see a strong positive outturn on consumer spending during the Labor Day holiday, it will be a very encouraging sign that household consumption recovery is probably back on track again," Wu said.

As a "record-breaking wave of Chinese tourists" are hitting the road for a May Day trip, the travel frenzy is "giving China's economy a powerful short-term boost," Reuters said in a recent report.

That is "in stark contrast to the rest of the world where many countries are still struggling to bring the virus under control, let alone open up domestic or even international travel," the report added.

"Tickets for everything from domestic flights to theme parks are rapidly selling out in China ahead of its Labor Day holiday as the nation's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic gathers pace," the Bloomberg News observed in a report last week.

"China's early success in tackling the pandemic has helped to underpin its economic rebound," it said. "Its ability to contain sporadic outbreaks has given millions of people the confidence to stick to their domestic travel plans."

BRAND-NEW MODES

Though the five-day break offers a fillip for local economies hit by the health crisis, international retailers targeting Chinese tourists are becoming anxiety-ridden, as border restrictions between countries are undoing overseas travel and consequently tourism-related consumption.

Therefore, some of them are shifting to online business to mitigate the impact.

Aumake, an Australian online platform, has developed a social e-commerce marketplace connecting Asian influencers, buyers and sellers with Australian brands. Due to the challenges of the pandemic, Aumake has, like many forward-looking companies, transferred its focus to online business.

Keong Chan, executive chairman of Aumake, said this shift managed to provide Australian brands with an effective channel to seamlessly promote, sell and deliver products to Chinese consumers via social media influencers.

Among more than 20,000 registered active users on Aumake's platform, 85 percent are from the Chinese mainland. Nowadays, Aumake is partnering with a social e-commerce team based in Hangzhou and converting end-consumers to small influencers as part of its marketing strategy.

Several foreign brands have been active players on online platforms familiar to Chinese consumers.

Speaking at the China Business Summit 2021 held Monday, New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O'Connor said, "in China, we have seen New Zealand businesses pivoting to e-commerce channels, as a way of ensuring their products get to their customers."

"In the absence of travel, we have seen a real investment by New Zealand businesses in maintaining their connection to market, through digital platforms, local business partners, or the government teams," O'Connor added.

GLOBAL ECONOMY DRIVER

As China's early recovery is gaining momentum, observers believe that China holds promise for global businesses.

Christina Otte, an expert with Germany Trade & Invest, an economic development agency, said, "sentiment remains good in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors, including among German companies in China."

"If the Chinese economy continues to recover, this will also have a positive impact on the German economy, as both economies are closely linked," she told Xinhua.

China has also consolidated its link with the global business community, with the first International Consumer Products Expo to be held on May 7-10 in Haikou, capital of the southern Chinese province of Hainan, attracting more than 1,300 brands from 69 countries and regions.

Weleda, a natural organic health, wellbeing and beauty company based in Switzerland, hopes to gain a stronger foothold in China and has registered for the event.

"We definitely want to launch more products on the Chinese market, and we also want to expand our sales channels," Heiko Barth, Weleda's regional director for Asia and Pacific, told Xinhua ahead of the expo.

"In such a pandemic period, many products could only be sold in the Chinese market, which now almost recovered from the economic downturn in early 2020," said Xiong Yu, a professor at the Britain-based Surrey Business School in the University of Surrey.

"China's recovery from the pandemic gives hope to the world, Hainan's International Consumer Products Expo is a practical step to bring such hope to other countries," he said.

Natee Taweerifuengfung, president of Thailand-based Siam Think Tank, said that the expo indicates that China can play a key role in helping facilitate the recovery of the global economy, adding China's large consumer market offers massive development opportunities to the world's huge industrial capacities and supply chains. Enditem
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Whether you are dealing with a critical illness or have met an accident, hospital bills can pile up quickly. And more often, it may end up exhausting your savings. Health insurance is one of the best ways to protect your loved ones from the financial implications of illnesses and accidents.

Moreover, today you can take health insurance online, making it easier to secure yourself financially. There are many reasons why you should take an online health insurance policy.

Convenience

With online health insurance policies, you do not have to make the effort of finding a reliable purchase. You can simply head to the official website of the insurance company and fill out an insurance form with the necessary details, and the company will show you relevant plans. You can select the plan that matches your objectives, and you will be taken to further steps.

Access To Vast Knowledge

The Internet allows you to access vast information. There are tons of online portals that allow you to compare health insurance plans from different companies. Moreover, you get to research plans and make well-informed decisions. You do not have to contact various companies and ask them what plans they are offering and how they will benefit your situation. You will get comprehensive and comparative information online. This will also eliminate the need for middlemen, that is, insurance agents.

Quick, Automated Process

Another amazing benefit of online health insurance policy is that they are entirely automated. The best health insurance company India will provide you with a seamless online platform that will make it easier for you to buy and maintain your policy. You can easily make payment of your premium online within a few clicks. You will also download the policy brochures, get premium quotes, file claims, and track investment through online mediums.

Quicker Assistance Services

If you are confused as to how to buy health insurance online, you do not have to rely on anyone. Reputed insurance companies offer different types of support services. Most of them offer live chat features that allow you to talk to a representative in real-time.

Moreover, you can also go through the FAQ section of the website that includes answers to common questions that people have about buying insurance online. By eliminating the need to stand in a long queue, health insurance companies have made it significantly easier for people to get insurance.

Cost-Effective

In many instances, online health insurance policies have been proven more cost-effective than buying insurance offline. This is because online plans are often offered at a discounted price. In fact, online health insurance policies are 30 to 70% cheaper than traditional plans. This is because, in the online method, companies can eliminate commissions to the agents and reduce the overhead costs.

The Bottom Line

Today, almost all insurance providers offer online plans in a way to improve their services and retain customers. This puts you in an advantageous position as you will be able to access an array of plans from the comfort of your space.
The most obvious benefit of taking the train over driving when it comes to business travel is that it allows you to work while you travel. Thanks to SEO, the findability of every train journey becomes even easier for everyone. The SEO costs (translated to Dutch: SEO kosten) for this are so low that everyone can get started. Whether you are a travel agency that offers train travel or a provider of train travel subscriptions.

Business travel is an important part of doing business in many industries and it is important for those who travel regularly to determine the best way to do it. Many companies such as an SEO agency encourage employees to take the train to their destination as this can bring a range of benefits to both the business and leisure traveler.

Ability to work

The most obvious benefit of taking the train over driving is that it allows you to work or relax while you travel. This ensures that you arrive at your destination prepared and ready to go to work, unlike driving, which requires constant attention and often leaves people arriving unprepared and stressed. If you consider your overall productivity on working days, this form of transportation can actually increase your business productivity. The train offers an excellent network connection so that you can get started online or read the news in peace.

Cost-efficient SEO

Traveling by train can also be more cost effective. You can save if you book your train ticket online. Take out an affordable subscription or travel during cheaper hours. As a business, you must always be financially intelligent and even a small savings can make a big difference in the long run. Outsourcing SEO (translated to Dutch: SEO uitbesteden) can also result in cost savings as you leave the online marketing activities to specialists who can work more efficiently with the right tools to get your business up and running online.

Focus while travelling

Another important reason to consider train travel when traveling for work is that you can focus on productivity. When driving the car, you should always pay attention to the road and concentrate on the route that can require a lot of mental energy. Traveling by train is much easier and less stressful as all you have to do is go to the station. Find your platform and board the train, then sit back and relax, arriving at your destination energized and then being productive. SEO mainly focuses on search engine optimization. Increasing your online findability and popularity. Making you seen and read more often online with the aim of acquiring more customers and generating income.

Environmentally friendly 2.0

Another important reason to travel by train is that it is more environmentally friendly than driving. Acc, to India news this is vital at a time when environmental damage is such a big issue, with companies under increasing pressure to find ways to reduce their impact on the environment, and you will find that being environmentally responsible will help boost your brand at a time when consumers are becoming increasingly aware and environmentally aware.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Mario F. Gallucci thought he was indestructible.

Despite all the warnings about the dangers of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the popular Bloomfield-based criminal defense lawyer travelled widely in recent months. Twice, he flew out of the country.

He also hit Las Vegas and Myrtle Beach.

Those actions continued a pattern that started at the beginning of the pandemic last year.

Gallucci said he pooh-poohed COVID-19 admonitions and would make Mad Max runs to the supermarket, stocking up on hard-to-get supplies for neighbors and himself.

And now hes paying the price. Big time.

Gallucci, on Wednesday, was flat on his back in a New Jersey hospital for the 15th day, brought down first by the coronavirus and then a flareup the disease triggered in his autoimmune system.

I really believed this was all nonsense to the point where my friends were telling me, Youre being reckless, Gallucci said in a phone conversation. I thought they were really exaggerating it. I really thought it was politics.

Criminal defense lawyer Mario F. Gallucci, seen during his closing argument at Michael Sykes' murder retrial in 2018, said his recent case of COVID-19 was "preventable."

Earlier in the week on Monday, Gallucci had emailed Brian Laline, the executive editor of the Advance/SILive.com.

The lawyer said he felt compelled to reach out in response to a column Laline published on Sunday.

Laline had called out Fox News Tucker Carlson.

Carlson had urged his listeners to call police and child protective services on those parents who make their kids wear masks outside. He likened those parents actions to child abuse.

Carlson also said people wearing masks outside should be asked politely but firmly to remove them.

Laline called that kind of talk mind-boggling.

Because even with vaccinations available and infection rates declining, the pandemic is not over, Laline pointed out.

People still get COVID. People are still dying, he wrote, adding that less than 30% of America is fully vaccinated.

Gallucci told Laline he was moved by his column.

Im telling you right now this is real, wrote Gallucci. I write you from the hospital. I just spent 11 days in ICU battling a disease. I was arrogant, cavalier and downright stupid.

People like myself need a gut check, Gallucci added. This stupid premise about politics and about rights is nonsense. This is about living, plain and simple.  I appreciate your position and hopefully people listen to your advice.

In his column, Laline cited a recent Monmouth University study that found that 1 in 5 Americans dont want the vaccine.

The resistance falls along party lines. Forty-three percent of Republicans say theyll refuse, compared to 5% of the Democrats, while 22% of independents wont get vaccinated.

Gallucci said his problems started on April 20.

That night he walked three or four steps up toward his second-floor bedroom and couldnt go any farther.

His wife rushed him to the hospital where he was placed in the Intensive Care Unit. Gallucci was given oxygen for over a week to help him respirate.

I couldnt breathe, he said. It was as if I was sucking oxygen through a cocktail straw.  My mother was crying on the phone. She couldnt believe how bad I was.

Attorney Mario F. Gallucci said he was hospitalized with COVID-19 for 11 days.

Gallucci said he was released on Saturday after he was able to breathe on his own. However, he went back into the hospital on Sunday.

Although he no longer had COVID-19, the disease had aggravated an existing problem with his autoimmune system, he said.

Gallucci is still able to breathe on his own as doctors work to get his autoimmune flareup under control.

He said hell be released once that happens.

Brian was right, he said. I was impervious to this. This was all preventable.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Are you one of 1 million eligible small business owners hardest hit by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic who can receive additional grant money from the Small Business Administration (SBA)?

The grants, called Supplemental Targeted Advances, are open to small businesses that lost a significant amount of revenue -- even if they had already received $10,000 from other SBA grant programs, including the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance from March and April of 2020 and the Targeted EIDL Advance loan.

The American Rescue Plan Act allows for Supplemental Targeted Advance payments of $5,000 to the hardest hit small businesses and nonprofit organizations, according to the SBA.

If youve applied for the grant, you may be contacted by the SBA if you are eligible in the coming weeks, according to the agency.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The SBA modified its Targeted EIDL Advance application process on April 22 to see if businesses also qualified for the $5,000 supplemental grant. Small business owners contacted by the SBA will have their applications processed on a first-come, first-served basis, the agency said.

According to then SBA, applicants must wait until they receive an email invite from the SBA to apply for the Supplemental Targeted Advance.

To qualify, businesses must be located in a low-income community as defined by section 45D(e) of the Internal Revenue Code; suffered greater than 50% economic loss over an eight-week period since March 2, 2020, compared to the previous year; and have 10 or fewer employees.

The Supplemental Targeted Advance is in addition to the $10,000 Targeted EIDL Advance, for a total of up to $15,000, according to the SBA.

The SBA has set up a web-based mapping tool to determine whether the business is in a low-income community. That mapping tool is available at sbaeidl.policymap.com/app.

We highly encourage all applicants to use this tool prior to submitting your application. If your business meets all three criteria, follow the instructions for applying, said the SBA.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

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UPDATE: 2 Staten Islanders are safe after being reported missing in separate incidents, cops say

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Police are asking for the publics help to locate a 16-year-old Port Richmond girl who was reported missing.

Karissa Garcia was last seen on Saturday at about 11 p.m. inside her home on Laforge Avenue, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Police described Karissa as Hispanic, standing about 52 tall and weighing about 100 pounds, with a thin build, medium complexion, brown hair and brown eyes.

A photo of Karissa was supplied to the media by the NYPD.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS) or for Spanish, 1-888-577-4782 (PISTA). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Police nabbed a man who allegedly was toting a loaded gun inside a stairwell of an apartment complex in Mariners Harbor.

Kevin Espinal, 29, stands accused in the incident last Thursday at 8:58 p.m. inside the building where he lives at 85 Holland Ave., according to the criminal complaint.

Officers caught Espinal wearing a bag that contained a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol loaded with eleven rounds in its magazine, the complaint alleges.

Espinal has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm.

Bond has been set at $25,000/$7,500 cash for the suspect, who is due to appear in Criminal Court on Wednesday, according to public records.

An attorney for the suspect did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

GUN ARRESTS ON S.I.

Gun arrests on Staten Island more than doubled during the first three months of 2021 compared to the same time the year prior, the Advance/SILive.com previously reported.

Through the first three months, there were 43 arrests on the borough this year compared to 17 last.

The 120th Precinct led the borough with a total of 20 arrests during that time, or 47% of the overall total, according to data from the Police Department.



RELATED COVERAGE: Crime on Staten Island
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The omission of Columbus Day from the NYC public school calendar has some of the boroughs elected officials up in arms.

On Tuesday, the city Department of Education (DOE) released the 2021-2022 public school calendar.

This year, the calendar included a change to one of the school systems longstanding holidays, Columbus Day, which was replaced with Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday of October, which this year falls on Oct. 11.

The decision to remove Columbus Day from the calendar without any public announcement or community input has frustrated some of the Islands politicians, who are now demanding that the day named for the famous Italian explorer be restored on the calendar.

This is just another blatant attempt by City Hall to rewrite history while dishonoring so many of our citizens who are proud Italian Americans and cancel Christopher Columbus, who embodies the immigrant experience and discovery, said Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn).

Councilman Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island) said: Columbus Day has long been a celebration of Italian-American history and culture. It is frankly insulting that the DOE has unilaterally decided that Italian-Americans are no longer worthy of recognition.

The elected officials noted that they are not opposed to the celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, but that the holiday could have been celebrated without a move they feel disrespected Italian-Americans.

There is nothing wrong with celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day, but doing so at the expense of a day that celebrates Italian-American culture and history is downright insulting. Doing it under the radar only adds to the cowardice now regularly on display by the woke left, said Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore).

Matteo added: As a city, lets have a conversation about the best way to honor and recognize Indigenous People, but doing it this way the DOE is only creating more division amongst New Yorkers.

State Sen. Diane Savino (D-North Shore/Brooklyn) and State Sen. Joe Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), former presidents of the Conference of Italian American Legislators, also released a statement on Tuesday, voicing extreme disappointment with the DOEs decision.

Their insensitive decision to eliminate Columbus Day, which is a legal, Federal Holiday from their calendar and substitute it with Indigenous Peoples Day does a terrible disservice to a difficult and complex conversation, the statement read. In one block-headed decision, they have harmed both communities and fanned the flames of division.

Sal Albanese, an Italian-American who is running for the Mid-Island City Council seat, said that the people hes spoken to have been outraged by the decision, calling it a slap in the face to the Italian-American community.

Its outrageous. Its a slap in the face to all Italian-Americans and its unnecessary and decisive. You can have an Indigenous Peoples Day and not cancel Columbus Day. Its just so uncalled for and its only going to cause more division in New York City, which is something that we dont need, Albanese said.

Following the immediate backlash, the DOE has since revised the public school calendar, now listing Oct. 11 as Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day, a compromise the agency said it believes can properly and respectfully celebrate the contributions of both groups.

Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day will celebrate the contributions and legacies of Italian Americans and recognize that Native people are the first inhabitants of the land that became our country. By including these holidays on our calendar we are honoring the past, present, and future contributions of Indigenous communities and Italian Americans, said DOE spokesperson Danielle Filson.

The citys attempts to cancel Christopher Columbus have been a contentious issue on Staten Island in recent years, dating back to 2017, when Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a 90-day review of symbols of hate after deadly violence erupted in Charlottesville, Va., when white supremacist groups protested the removal of a statue of Confederate Army Gen. Robert E. Lee.

The conversation on Staten Island focused primarily on the possible removal of the Christopher Columbus statue in Manhattans Columbus Circle.

Proponents of removing the statue emphasized the widespread genocide that Christopher Columbus brought to native populations, while those in support of the statue harped on its significance to Italian-American immigrants and culture.

At the time, various Staten Island elected officials, including Borelli, Malliotakis, Matteo and Savino all voiced their support for keeping the statue, which did not end up being removed following the review.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

The day commemorates the Mexican armys victory over the French empire at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza. Over the last 150 years, Americans have latched onto the occasion by partying and eating traditional Mexican fare.

Staten Island restaurants across the borough are offering specials to mark Cinco de Mayo this year. Keep scrolling to see what they are doing and how you can support them.

SOFIAS TAQUERIA, 977 Bay St.

The taco and tequila bar, which is expanding to the South Shore this year, has promotions on deck for its customers this week. Those who are interested in going out for the holiday can take advantage of bucket specials of beer for $19.95; buy-one-get-one sangria pitchers and BOGO margarita pitchers. (Come for the alcohol, stay for the tacos.)

To make reservations ahead of time, call 929-308-2324 or visit SofiasTaqueriaNYC.com)

MEXICAN CANTINA, 1736 Victory Blvd.

Party safely and in style. Thats the experience Mexican Cantina is trying to supply with its socially distant Cinco de Mayo celebration. Enjoy the diverse food options, drink menu and ambience. Call ahead of time to make reservations at 718-524-4322.

EL PATRON, 520 Bay St. and 1491 Hylan Blvd.

This place is known for being open 24 hours daily. The restaurant offers pickup and theres a full bar available while you wait. The Cinco de Mayo specials offered at the restaurant are for dine-in customers only. Call 347-861-7065 to reach the Bay Street location and 929-308-0776 to reach the Hylan Blvd. location.

LA IGUANA AZUL, 8 Giffords Lane

Although La Iguana Azul has no promotions for Cinco de Mayo, specifically, the restaurant is known for its emphasis on traditional, authentic Mexican cuisine. Call 718- 948-4719 to place an order or make a reservation to dine-in.

YOLPAQUI TAQUERIA, 1431 Forest Ave.

Yolpaqui Taqueria specializes in over-the-top nachos, burritos, tacos and other Mexican fare all day every day. Cinco de Mayo is no different. Visit happytacostore.com to view the menu, or call 718-524-4201 to place your pickup order.

MAIZAL RESTAURANT, 990 Bay St.

Spend the evening at a restaurant where the guac is made fresh and the drinks keep coming. Maizal Restaurant has adapted its hours for Cinco de Mayo. For reservations (both indoor and outdoor dining are available), call 347-825-3776.

HOBRAH, 412 Forest Ave., 31 New Dorp Plaza

Cinco de Mayo is HoBrahs Christmas. The Tex-Mex restaurant has been hyping up its Wednesday promotions for weeks, including deliverable taco bars and all-day drink specials. For hours and reservation information, visit hobrahtacos.com.

BESO, 11 Schuyler St.

Beso offers specials on its restaurant cocktails, tapas and Spanish fare. Call 718-816-8162 to make your reservations ahead of time or to hear the full extent of promotions.

CHINAR ON THE ISLAND, 283 Sand Lane

Chinar on the Island is offering its customers $4 glasses of sangria, mojitos or margaritas and $3 beers. The restaurant will be running specials on quesadillas, tacos and guacamole all day. To make a reservation for indoor dining or place an order to go, call 718-390-5305.

WATERSIDE RESTAURANT, 225 Ellis St.

Lets take the party outside! Thats the sentiment that Waterside Restaurant has for Cinco de Mayo. DJ music, drink specials at a tiki bar and dinner options all help commemorate the holiday this Wednesday. To contact the restaurant directly, call 718-227-2258.

RICHMOND REPUBLIC, 4459 Amboy Road

Having your celebration at home? Many restaurants, such as Richmond Republic, are offering catering options to go. Advanced orders are recommended, and can be placed by calling 718-357-7425.

BIG NOSE KATES, 2484 Arthur Kill Road

Big Nose Kates has Cinco de Mayo specials for its dine-in customers only. The promotion includes three for $5 tacos; $9 16-ounce margaritas and $4 Coronas. Call 718-227-2266 ahead of time to make your reservation or place your order.
Police in Baringo North have arrested a school headteacher accused of throwing his five-month-old infant into a fire in Ngaratuko area.

47-year-old Paul Kipsang, who is the Principal at Katokon Secondary School in the neighbouring Tiaty Sub-County had been on the run after he attempted to kill the baby over a week ago.

According to the babys mother, the accused arrived home intoxicated and threatened to kill the baby saying he did not father him.

I normally sleep in the kitchen with other young children, including the infant. He arrived home at around 9 pm drunk, claiming that the babys ears didnt look like his or his kins, and accused me of infidelity.

I thought it was his usual talk as a result of his habitual drunkenness and I rushed to the sitting room to get a plate to feed him thinking it would quell his ranting, said the mother of eight.

It was then that she heard her baby crying and ran back to the kitchen only to find the door closed from inside.

Sensing danger, I screamed to alert the neighbours as I pushed the door. When it finally opened, he was holding a machete while the baby was already in the fire crying. I gathered courage and pushed him to the wall as I struggled to pull the child from the fire, she narrated.

The baby was rushed to Marigat Sub-County Hospital and referred to Baringo County Referral Hospital in Kabarnet where an officer from the childrens department, Irene Chepkwony, reported the incident to the police.

I have sleepless nights because the baby is crying owing to the injuries. I dont even know if he will ever see because the eyes were also burnt and part of the nose was also affected. I am appealing the concerned authorities to arrest the culprit for the heinous act inflicted on an innocent child, said the babys mother.

A doctor at the hospital where the infant is recuperating said the baby sustained 10 degree burns on the face and the knees.

The infant is currently stable but we are still assessing to see if he will require skin grafting or if it resulted in any complications because the burns extended to the eyes. There is also a history of the child being hit on the thigh by the same person where he sustained a femur fracture, said Dr Aloe Papa.

The headteacher surrendered himself to elders at Ngaratuko village who later handed him the local police on Monday night.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 17:10:32|Editor: huaxia

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Switzerland's iconic "little red knife" has traveled around the world and will make its first stop at the China International Consumer Products Expo in Hainan this week.

It comes as its manufacturer, Victorinox, aims to make the cut in the Chinese market.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Youll be seeing some new faces and storefronts at Empire Outlets soon, thanks to a new initiative it has launched.

The St. George shopping complex announced Pop Up & Grow, in which it will allot spaces to small businesses, entrepreneurs and local artists, giving them a brick-and-mortar store to welcome customers in-person.

Empire Outlets in St. George welcomed shoppers for its Black Friday promotions November 27, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/ Victoria Priola)

Small businesses have undoubtedly struggled throughout the pandemic and faced particular hurdles that larger companies have been able to avoid, Joseph Ferrara, principal at BFC Partners, said in a release. As we begin to recover from the crisis and enter the post-pandemic economy, were proud to partner with and support small businesses across New York City, and look forward to welcoming additional small business owners to the Pop Up & Grow program at Empire Outlets.

The Pop Up & Grow format, which also launched in the Seattle area, gives businesses a lease as short as two days and as long as one year. According to representatives of Empire Outlets, this initiative will be ongoing with a variety of spaces available within the 350,000-square-foot shopping center.

Empire Outlets soft-launched the initiative with the opening of Kineti., an art gallery featuring works from artists throughout the five boroughs and the tristate area.

Businesses interested in applying for the Pop Up & Grow program can fill out an application at empireoutlets.nyc/pop-up/. Anyone with questions about the initiative can contact Jeffrey.lazar@madisonmarquette.com.

Empire Outlets is located at 55 Richmond Terr. directly next to the St. George Ferry Terminal.
Donald Trump will remain suspended from posting on Facebook, the worlds most popular social media platform, according to an independent Oversight Board that found the former presidents posts encouraged and legitimized violence during the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by a mob of his supporters.

The Board has upheld Facebooks decision on January 7 to suspend then-President Trump from Facebook and Instagram. Trumps posts during the Capitol riot severely violated Facebooks rules and encouraged and legitimized violence. https://t.co/veRvWpeyCi  Oversight Board (@OversightBoard) May 5, 2021

But the board, a diverse group of international experts in law, human rights, journalism, misinformation and extremism, said it was inappropriate for the company to impose the indeterminate and standardless penalty of indefinite suspension. The group called on Facebook to conduct review of the case and to implement clearer penalty policies, particularly for world leaders, within six months.

The indefinite suspension from Facebook and Instagram came a day after a mob of Trumps followers attacked the U.S. Capitol in a failed attempt to thwart Congress from sealing Joe Bidens victory. Trump, who sympathized with the attackers in social media posts at the time, found himself kicked off Twitter and YouTube in the weeks to follow, with the platforms concerned that his accounts were likely to spark more violence.

The Oversight Board announced the decision on its website Wednesday morning. The boards purpose is to promote free expression by making principled, independent decisions regarding content on Facebook and Instagram. The group examines how different cultures view free speech, satire, violence, nudity, sexual content and other factors; it has already overturned a handful of Facebooks decisions to remove posts the company found violent or offensive.

Trump, the board argued, created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible by maintaining an unfounded narrative of electoral fraud and persistent calls to action among his nearly 60 followers on Facebook and Instagram. At the time of Mr. Trumps posts, there was a clear, immediate risk of harm and his words of support for those involved in the riots legitimized their violent actions.

But the group said singling Trump out for an indefinite ban was inconsistent with how the company treated other users, who typically face having their content removed, or penalties including limited, timed suspensions or the permanent disabling of their account.

This [indefinite] penalty is not described in Facebooks content policies, the board noted, arguing the company broke its own rules. It has no clear criteria and gives Facebook total discretion on when to impose or lift it. Facebook cannot make up the rules as it goes, and anyone concerned about its power should be concerned about allowing this. Having clear rules that apply to all users and Facebook is essential for ensuring the company treats users fairly. This is what the Board stands for.

The Board insisted that Facebook review this matter to determine and justify a proportionate response that is consistent with the rules that are applied to other users of its platform.

Some free speech advocates believe Facebook improperly censored a world leader. Trump supporters and many Republican lawmakers have long claimed that big tech selectively censors content.

Other critics say Facebook let Trump get away with hundreds of false or misleading posts throughout his presidency  contributing to the misperception by some Americans, predominantly Republicans, that the election was stolen. Local, state and federal officials of both major parties say the 2020 election included no fraud or irregularities that impacted the outcome of the presidential race. Trumps own Department of Homeland Security called it the most secure election in U.S. history, and dozens of courts have thrown out Trumps and other Republicans lawsuits over Bidens wins in swing states.

We didnt just see a breach at the Capitol, Jennifer Grygiel, a Syracuse University communications professor, told the Associated Press in January. Social media platforms have been breached by the president repeatedly. This is disinformation. This was a coup attempt in the United States.

The board called on Facebook to review its contribution to the narrative of electoral fraud and political tensions that led to the events of January 6. This should look at Facebooks design and policy choices that may allow its platform to be abused.

Trump on Tuesday night launched a new messaging platform as a way to communicate with followers.

The website so far consists of a feed of short Trump posts and press releases on a range of political matters. Recent posts take aim at Republican colleagues who have fallen out of favor with the former president, including U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney and Sen. Mitt Romney, who both acknowledged Bidens electoral win and refused to buy into false election conspiracies.

Trumps first post on the site after the Facebook ruling called Cheney a warmonger, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gutless and clueless, and repeated baseless claims about election fraud, alluding to evidence but providing none.

He also repeated the misleading suggestion that former Vice President Mike Pence  whom Trump supporters said they wanted to hang as they marched on the Capitol  had the power to change the outcome in the presidential election. The vice president serves a historically ceremonial role of overseeing the counting of Electoral College votes as theyre certified during a joint session of Congress, and announcing the final tally.

On Jan. 6, social media lit up with videos and posts of Trump supporters breaching Capitol barriers shortly after reports that Pence notified lawmakers that he planned to follow the Constitution.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Nearly four decades ago, Sal Aronica was a dealer at the Golden Nugget casino in Atlantic City.

Thats when the South Shore resident took a gamble of his own.

Strongly encouraged by a relative, he tested to become a court officer in New York state. Even though he hadnt a clue of what the job entailed.

I had no idea what a court officer was. I had never been in a courthouse, said Aronica.

It turned out to be a very good wager.

For the next 35-and-a-half years, Aronica found himself more than just a job. He discovered a work home: A place where he served the public and made friends, all with a smile on his face.

Every day I never went to work saying, I hate the job, Aronica said. I still say this is the best job you could have as a city job.

But at the age of 61, Aronica has landed himself a new occupation. As a full-time grandpa-to-be.

His daughter, Chelsea, is due to give birth later this month.

So, last week, Aronica said adieu to the crew at state Supreme Court, St. George.

He retired from his position as a clerk in the Criminal Term. (Years ago, he transitioned from a court officer to a court clerk).

His colleagues and friends sent him off with a dinner at Taverna on the Bay in Stapleton.

And while good-byes were said at the end of the night, they dont mean farewell, said Aronica.

Ill see them all again, he vowed.

A half-decade ago, Aronica, who was then eligible for retirement, had transferred from his clerks position at Housing Court in Brooklyn to state Supreme Court, St. George. He liked his new workplace so much he decided not to call it quits.

I stayed on five more years because of Staten Island Supreme Court, he said.

Mark J. Fonte, a Willowbrook-based criminal defense lawyer, said Aronica helped make the courthouse a special place.

One of the joys of practicing law on Staten Island is the wonderful people you work with and get to know, said Fonte. Sal has always been a friendly and helpful member of our court family. Im blessed to have worked with him, gotten to know him and consider him a friend. He will be missed terribly at the courthouse.

For much of his time on Staten Island, Aronica was assigned to Justice Mario F. Matteis courtroom.

He always had a good presence in the courtroom, said Mattei. He always made things go smoothly. He was a pleasure to work with.

Aronica was equally valuable outside the courthouse.

He was the go-to guy for dinner recommendations, said the judge.

We didnt use the Michelin guide in the court, Mattei said. We used the Aronica system to decide which restaurant we should go to on the weekend.

Aronica started his career in 1985 as a court officer in Manhattan Criminal Court. After a few years, he was promoted to state Supreme Court and transferred to Brooklyn.

He then moved into the clerks position, working for many years in Brooklyns Housing Court.

As a testament to his work there, the Kings County Housing Court Bar Association feted him as the clerk of the year in 2010.

Sal Aronica, circa 2010, holding the court clerk of the year award as presented by the Kings County Housing Court Bar Association.

Aronica finished his career on Staten Island.

Courthouses can be intimidating places. And a lot of times, people arent thrilled to be there. That includes everyone from lawyers to litigants.

But Aronica said he took it all in stride.

My personality is I just got along with everybody, he said.

And it hasnt been all about the work. There also were times for fun.

I was the party planner if anyone was leaving or retiring, said Aronica.

Aronica also has a life outside the courthouse.

A fitness enthusiast, hes run in Spartan races, including one with his daughter. Hes also run in stadium races.

Now, with his retirement, hes got even more time to get into the workout groove. And also into doting-grandpa mode.

Aronicas got a few ideas to keep busy in the future. But with the weather getting warmer, his goals for the short term are simple: Take it easy and soak up some sun.

Im just going to relax for the summer, he said. Then, Ill figure out what my plans are.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York state could soon begin using a natural process, essentially human composting, to handle human remains if a bill thats currently in the state Legislature gets passed.

Introduced by Assembly member Amy Paulin (D-Westchester) and state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-Queens), the bill is a part of measures the state is putting in place to eliminate carbon emissions by 2050 after the state passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act in 2019, City & State reported.

If the bill passes, New York would be one of the first states to legalize human composting, or natural organic reduction.

The method will provide New Yorkers with the option of choosing an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective alternative to burial and cremation, the bill says.

The process of natural organic reduction takes about four weeks  the body is placed in a specialized chamber with alfalfa, wood chips, and other materials for 30 days while it rotates to speed up the decomposition process.

Whats left something that resembles dirt, or human compost.

The family or owner of the remains is then able to take it home in an urn, as they would with cremation. The remains could also be buried or scattered in a cemetery. If the remains are not wanted, they could be used for environmental sustainability projects.

The process of composting a human body eliminates the need for the chemical embalming process and the need for costly caskets, which require a large number of resources to build.

Cremation isnt any better for the environment; it requires 28 gallons of fuel and releases 540 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air per cremation, according to a report by Environmental Advocates NY.

[For] many people, its not on the forefront of their minds after somebody passes, but the traditional processes of either putting someone in the ground or cremating them are very harmful to the environment, Rachel Patterson, legislative and climate associate at the Environmental Advocates of New York told City & State.

The bill has not yet made it through committee to the Senate floor for a vote.

FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) originally reported that a SpaceX Crew Dragon rocket came close to colliding with an unidentified flying object, after launching on April 30.

But a recent report now says the alert has since been deemed a false alarm. Officials now say the second event was a reporting issue and there was never a collision threat.

The capsule has since completed its journey.

Originally, after takeoff, the team of astronauts, comprised of Megan McArthur, Shane Kimbrough, Thomas Pesquet and Akikho Hoshide, were told by the United States Space Command about a possible collision with an unknown object, and were instructed to put on their spacesuits.

NASA decided to inform the crew because there would not be enough time to carry out an evasion maneuver, as explained by the same US space agency. For this reason, the team donned their pressurized suits as a precaution.

The NASA/SpaceX team was informed of the possible conjunction by US Space Command, NASA spokesperson Kelly Humphries told Futurism. The object being tracked is classified as unknown. There was no time, Humphries said, to perform an avoidance maneuver to get out of the way of the object. Instead, SpaceX advised that the astronauts put on their pressurized suits in case of a collision.

The possibility of the conjunction came so close to the closest approach time that there wasnt time to compute and execute a debris avoidance maneuver with confidence, so the SpaceX team elected to have the crew don their pressure suits out of an abundance of caution, Humphries added.

Fortunately, a collision was averted, as the unidentified object was 45 kilometers from the spacecraft and the spacecraft finally reached the International Space Station (ISS) on April 24 to join the Crew-2 mission.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Its been 100 years since the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was formed, and itll be 100 more before the agencys centennial time capsule is reopened.

On Friday, April 30, the Port Authority held a dedication ceremony at the World Trade Center campus to mark 100 years of service to New York and New Jersey.

The past 100 years have established the Port Authority as a relentless, positive force in in the transportation, economic and cultural life of this vibrant New York-New Jersey region, said Port Authority Chairman Kevin OToole. The future is exciting and unpredictable, but one thing is certain: This agency will continue to be a powerful engine that keeps the region, and the country, moving forward.

During the ceremony, the agency filled a time capsule with various items from throughout the Port Authoritys storied history, including steel from the Twin Towers, suspension cables from the George Washington Bridge, historic transit tokens, commemorative coins and pins, E-ZPass tags and more.

The capsule was sealed by Robert Alwell, the longest-tenured Port Authority employee, who first joined the agency in 1965 and has dedicated more than 55 years of his life to the agency.

The time capsule will be reopened a century from now, on April 30, 2121, providing future generations a glimpse into the first 100 years of the Port Authoritys history.

For a century, the Port Authoritys thousands of employees past and present have taken on the monumental task to bring forth the ideas and vision to transform our region, said Vice Chairman Jeffrey Lynford. From building tunnels and bridges, the birth of the shipping container industry at Port Newark, expanding our PATH system, to the revitalization of our airports into world-class facilities, the Port Authority is ready to soar boldly into its next chapter.

Heres a look at some of the items that were included in the Port Authoritys centennial time capsule.

This item is a PATH token that was included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.

These items are commemorative pins for the Port Authority's 100-year anniversary that were included in the agency's centennial time capsule.

This item is a piece of steel from the Twin Towers that was included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.

This is a Port Authority-branded face mask from the coronavirus pandemic that was included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.

This item is a commemorative 9/11 pin that was included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.

This item is dredged material from the recent Harbor Navigation Deepening project that was included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.

This item is from the 1986 Statue of Liberty 100-year anniversary that was included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.

These items are an EZ-Pass and toll pass book that were included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.

This item is a pin from the rededication of the Bayonne Bridge that was included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.

This is the front of a commemorative Newark Airport coin that was included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.

This item is a PATH Quick Card that was included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.

This item is a toll key for a toll booth that was included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.

This item is a piece of steel cable from the George Washington Bridge that was included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.

This item is a 2021 Facilities Map that was included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.

This ticket from the original observation deck at the World Trade Center was included in the Port Authority's centennial time capsule.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Mayor Bill de Blasio allayed fears about New York coming short of herd immunity as President Joe Biden set a new national vaccine goal.

With slowing vaccinations leading to worry that the U.S. will not reach herd immunity, de Blasio said that the city would likely reach a state of functional immunity. He said that COVID-19 would likely remain with us for some time, but that it would become a concern more on par with seasonal flu: Definitely something to watch, but something that could be handled.

Biden on Tuesday said that he would look to have administered at least one vaccine dose to to 70 percent of the U.S. population by July 4, CNN reported. Currently, about 56 percent of adult Americans have received at least one vaccine shot.

On Staten Island, it was reported that 72 people were in borough hospitals with the virus, the lowest number since there were 68 hospitalized last Nov. 14. There were 70 new positive cases reported and an additional two confirmed deaths as well.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported that the states seven-day rolling positivity average on Tuesday was 1.76 percent, the lowest since Nov. 5.

The coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside-down, and we need information like we never have before.

How many new cases were there on Staten Island today? How many deaths? How many people have been released from the hospital?

What are out elected officials, federal, state and local, doing to keep New Yorkers safe?

What other news is top of mind?

More importantly, when are we going to get back to normal, whatever normal is?

Its almost too much to keep up with.

So every day around 4 p.m., Mark and I take to Facebook Live to give you all the information you need. You can then look for this written wrap-up on SILive.com at the end of the day.

Well give you the numbers and all the latest news. Well answer your questions. Well follow up on your news tips.

Well share the good news too, the way that the Staten Island community is coming together in this time of crisis. Or well just share this strange and unique pandemic moment with you, as fellow Staten Islanders.

Were all in this together. Well all get through this together.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 17:50:17|Editor: huaxia

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SARAJEVO, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is looking forward to exporting its dairy products to China so as to boost the development of its dairy sector and reduce the country's trade deficit, said Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Stasa Kosarac.

"The export of milk and dairy products to this challenging and very big market would be a great stimulus to further develop our milk industry, as well as to improve our overall policies in agriculture," Kosarac told Xinhua in a recent interview.

China intends to import, in the coming five years, more than 170 billion U.S. dollars' worth of goods from Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC), and will "work to double CEE countries' agricultural exports to China and raise two-way agricultural trade by 50 percent," Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the China-CEEC Summit in Beijing in February.

"We see that as a great chance for the domestic agricultural sector," said Kosarac.

"For sure, entering the Chinese dairy market would lead us to new investment projects in the production-to-processing chain of the milk industry," said Kosarac, noting that there is enough space for joint investments of Chinese and BiH partners for the development of production and processing capacities.

Entering the Chinese dairy market would hopefully help BiH to promote its livestock farming, raise rural population's income and attract investments for the country's dairy industry, he added.

As one of BiH's most important agricultural branches, the dairy industry is annually producing around 700 million liters of raw milk, of which 97 percent is cow milk.

Drinking milk accounts for 54 percent of the country's total dairy production, followed by fermented products with a share of 20 percent, cream and whey 17 percent, and cheese 6 percent, said the minister, adding that the fast-growing milk industry has the capacity to continue prospering.

In order to successfully deliver its dairy products to the big Chinese market, BiH needs to engage with all relevant institutions as well as dairy product producers, and give joint presentations on significant fairs and events in China.

"Consumers around the world are aware of the importance of food and its impact on our health and the quality of life. The same happens on the Chinese market where, as a result of economic progress, the need has been created for a wide spectrum of quality food products," said Kosarac.

"Export achievements are the carriers of the domestic milk industry's development," he said.

In 2020, BiH exported more than 94,000 tons of dairy products, mostly to Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

"I am fully committed to working on opening new markets for BiH products as I think that is the best way to protect domestic production," he said, adding that China is a friendly nation and a long-time partner with whom BiH would like to strengthen cooperation and trade. Enditem
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The corporate watchdog is urging companies to update their whistleblower protection policies, after finding many firms had not kept up with laws aimed at supporting staff who raise the alarm.

Under 2019 reforms, laws to protect whistleblowers were expanded to cover a larger group of staff from the corporate sector, and workers were also given more protection. The reforms included changes to guard whistleblowers confidentiality, and to prevent them from being threatened for their actions.

ASIC commissioner Cathie Armour said companies should review their whistleblower policies and practices. Credit:James Alcock

However, ASIC Commissioner Cathie Armour on Wednesday said the regulators review of company whistleblower policies had identified some areas for improvement.

Ms Armour cited a few problems, including that close to half of the polices examined by ASIC did not fully explain how staff could report misconduct and qualify for legal protection.
Line of Duty has been a slow-burn success story. Jed Mercurios accomplished and absorbing crime drama only gradually infiltrated popular viewing habits. Early seasons of the tense, intricately plotted, acronym-laden BBC police procedural screened on the ABC, quietly building a devoted niche following.

But when the spread of COVID-19 shut down production on the crime dramas sixth season early last year, four weeks into the 16-week shoot, howls of dismay from fans resounded around the world.

How long would it be until we could again immerse ourselves in the dogged crusade of the police anti-corruption unit AC-12? How long until we could again see Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott (Martin Compston), Detective Inspector Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) and their boss, the gaffer, Superintendent Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar), hunting down bent coppers?

A while, as it turned out: its now been nearly two years since season five premiered here on Foxtels 13th Street. But its been worth the wait. The series, which has grown from a quiet achiever to a major hit, returned in the UK in March to record ratings. The opening-episode audience of 9.56 million made it the best-performing drama there since 2018s Bodyguard (also written by Mercurio). By the penultimate episode of the seven-part season, the numbers had climbed to 10.9 million, making it the most-watched television drama episode since Doctor Whos Christmas Day special in 2008 and out-rating episodes of ITVs hit, Downton Abbey.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 18:12:24|Editor: huaxia

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British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (C) hosts the meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign and development ministers at Lancaster House in London, Britain, on May 4, 2021. (Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua)

Besides numerous unquestionable events recorded in history, even the most recent ones have proven the United States is the very one that has been addicted to practicing coercive policies, with a whole range of tools ready to deal with targeted countries, including sanctions, intimidations, stoking unrest and forming inglorious clique.



by Xinhua writer Gao Wencheng

BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven richest countries are finally having their first in-person meeting in two years in London, and apparently U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will not miss out on this opportunity to peddle his "China threat" conspiracy.

According to media reports, ministers from those like-minded countries joined a Tuesday morning session dedicated entirely to China, during which, with apparent maneuvering and guidance from the United States, they concluded by accusing China of being "coercive."

In fact, besides numerous unquestionable events recorded in history, even the most recent ones have proven the United States is the very one that has been addicted to practicing coercive policies, with a whole range of tools ready to deal with targeted countries, including sanctions, intimidations, stoking unrest and forming inglorious clique.

Over the years, Washington has been sparing no effort to slander China on issues such as Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and grossly interfering in China's internal affairs under the guise of human rights and democracy.

The United States also waged a trade war and a tech war against China, used long-arm jurisdiction to illegally arrest Chinese citizens, and put unwarranted pressure on Chinese companies in an attempt to cripple the international competitiveness of Chinese companies and obstruct China's development.

Photo taken on March 11, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

The world has also seen how Washington has sought to defame and push Iran, Venezuela, Cuba and other so-called "adversaries" to compromise through maximum pressure. It has unilaterally withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal, stepped up sanctions on Iran, and choked off Venezuela's crude exports, devastating the country's pillar industry and divesting ordinary people of livelihoods.

Since the start of the new millennium, the United States has invaded Afghanistan and Iraq under the pretext of combating terrorism, and militarily intervened in Libya and Syria on grounds of humanitarianism, resulting in one hellish humanitarian disaster after another.

Furthermore, bullying, hijacking and other extreme means smack of mafia tactics were applied to force its allies to serve its interests. Half-believing people could consult the bestselling "The American Trap" and find the distressing experience of author Frederic Pierucci most enlightening.

A most recent example shows that during a visit in March to Brussels, Blinken threatened to impose sanctions on German companies building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a project Germany and some other European countries want so badly for energy.

Barbara Weitzel, a commentator for German media Deutsche Welle, said European countries have a high political price to pay for maintaining alliance with the United States.

Children receive fuel distribution in Internal Displaced People (IDP) Hasansham U3 Camp in Nineveh province, Iraq, Dec. 8, 2020. (Xinhua)

Behind Washington's coercive diplomacy are its illusion of hegemony, addiction to arrogance and egotism, and selfish calculation to maximize its own profits at the expense of global interests. It is bringing detrimental consequences to the world by escalating conflicts between countries and triggering humanitarian crises.

Alena Douhan, UN special rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, said sanctions are "bringing suffering and death" to countries like Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

Washington's coercive diplomacy is against the trend of the times and doomed to a dismal end. Over the long run, the interests of all countries are highly intertwined in this age of economic globalization. Washington's efforts to suppress others' progress through fanning tensions will disrupt global industrial and supply chains, and eventually shoot itself in the foot.

Meanwhile, as the world has been inexorably moving further towards multi-polarity, more countries will broaden their eyesight to a global scale in finding partners, and choose to keep a social distance with the United States. The coercive actions of hijacking others' policy-making will become increasingly unpopular.

"Unipolarity is over, and with it the illusion that other nations would simply take their assigned place in a U.S.-led international order," U.S. political scientist Graham Allison wrote in a Foreign Affairs article. It is time for Washington to wake up to this fact and abandon its coercive approaches in dealings with other countries. 
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size At Australias westernmost point lies the Coral Coast, a land of strange extremities. Marine megafauna is more accessible than ever before. Tourists swim with humpbacks and manta rays and whale sharks. They hand-feed playful dolphins that obligingly stick out scarred and blemished dorsal fins scientists can use to identify them as individuals, name them and track their social behaviours. But nearby the dugongs nose breaks the water only to breathe and then it sinks back down, out of sight. The sight of dugongs and their cousins, the manatees, once led sailors to believe they had seen mermaids, hence the name of the order they belong to: sirenia. But although they are legendary, they are shy and cryptic creatures. Despite their imposing size, they dont emit growls or rumbles but chirp and squeak like tiny birds. They are slow to escape the paths of boats and liable to get injured. Rather than play, they prefer to lumber along the sea floor alone or in small groups in a finicky search for a favourite type of seagrass, one made harder by the fact they have terrible eyesight. They are perhaps at their most animated when they find the grass and use their teeth to rip it out, roots and all. It is perhaps unsurprising that such a ponderous, vulnerable animal is threatened with extinction. Yet their ill-suitedness to the modern world has an exception. Western Australias Shark Bay, on the Coral Coast stretching from Cervantes to Ningaloo, is the dugongs stronghold, home to the largest stable population in the world. At this World Heritage Site, where red desert meets ocean, numerous other endangered species and all-but-extinct scientific curiosities find refuge. Of the worlds 50 marine World Heritage Sites, Shark Bay is one of only four that meets every natural criterion for listing.

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And Shark Bay, Ningaloo and its neighbour Exmouth Gulf, along with the Great Barrier Reef, are shaping up as some of the worlds most significant hotspots for blue carbon, one of the buzzwords on which Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pinned hopes for an Australian climate change response. A dugong forages for food. Credit:Getty Images What is blue carbon? Its now common knowledge that trees store carbon that would otherwise pollute our atmosphere. This is why the sight of trees going up in smoke during bushfires is increasingly alarming, beyond the loss of homes and habitats the sight represents. What is less well known is that three types of marine vegetation found where land and sea meet  seagrass beds in shallow waters, mangrove forests in between, and tidal marshes covered in saltbush  absorb and store carbon 30 times faster than forest. As with trees, their roots and leaves store carbon, but the difference is the marine systems store most of the carbon in their soil (between 98 and 99 per cent for tidal marsh and seagrass, 60 per cent for mangroves).

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And unlike that of land forests, that soil is constantly building. It accumulates particles from the ocean and sediment from run-off after storms on land. Seagrass also provides a home for countless shell-dwellers such as clams and snails, and when these die and decompose, they form carbonate sands that further build the soils. These processes also work to furnish beaches and elevate the shoreline and sea floor, and thus not only store carbon but physically counteract sea-level rise, says Oscar Serrano, a postdoctoral research fellow at Edith Cowan University and one of Australias pre-eminent blue carbon experts. Eroded carbon-rich seagrass soil following a 2011 marine heatwave in Shark Bay that killed off the grasses. Credit:Paul Lavery Serrano was one of the lead authors of a report published in 2021 by UNESCO, which for the first time assessed the vegetation fields in its 50 marine World Heritage Sites. Significant hotspots included the Everglades National Park in Florida, the West Norwegian fjords and Frances lagoons of New Caledonia, but none were as impressive or diverse as Australias. More than half the extent of the blue carbon ecosystems were in Ningaloo, Shark Bay and the Great Barrier Reef alone. All three contain all three types of ecosystems. Shark Bay and Ningaloo have significant extents of all three but particularly seagrass, and Shark Bay has the worlds biggest seagrass meadow. The Great Barrier Reef has vast areas of all types. The report also quantifies the carbon locked away in these fields and shows they contain 40 per cent of the total blue carbon held in World Heritage marine areas.

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Other blue carbon hotspots in Australia, Serrano says, are the mangrove forests of the Carpentaria and Exmouth gulfs; the seagrass meadows of Spencer and Vincent gulfs in South Australia; and the mangroves and tidal marshes of the whole tropical and subtropical region, encompassing Western Australias north-east, the Northern Territory and Queensland. Seagrass in a Shark Bay meadow, showing the deep, carbon-rich soil beneath. Credit:Dr Oscar Serrano Together, Australian blue carbon ecosystems sequester 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. Thats like taking 4 million cars off the road. But globally, this blue carbon is being lost faster than tropical rainforests. Damage from coastal and marine development, severe weather and the effects of climate change are causing 3 million tonnes of blue carbon to be released back to the atmosphere each year. An extreme example was a 2011 seagrass die-off in Shark Bay caused by a marine heatwave, releasing up to 9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and causing black water in the regions famous tourist destination, Monkey Mia. Another was the 2016 dieback deaths of about 7400 hectares of mangrove forest in the Gulf of Carpentaria, attributed to a combination of extreme temperatures, drought and lowered sea levels. Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the start of the White House climate summit. Credit:Jessica Hromas

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An environmental solution or a political one? In April, Morrison called Australias oceans part of the lifeblood of our economy as he announced $100 million for ocean health, including a $30 million blue-carbon fund. The promise, made as Morrison addressed 40 world leaders at United States President Joe Bidens climate summit, reflects how blue carbon has entered the countrys climate action phrasebook. As international pressure grows for Australia to set ambitious emissions-reduction goals in line with those of the European Union, Britain, the US and Japan, the federal government has resisted but is instead promoting practical measures. Green carbon is already part of the machinery of carbon offsets and credits used to counteract pollution. The Australian government has a dedicated Emissions Reduction Fund to pay companies carbon credits to offset their pollution through planting trees. Its now working on an accounting method so polluters can claim credits through protecting or restoring blue carbon ecosystems. Serrano, who is advising the government on how blue-carbon projects can be banked against emissions-reduction targets, says that in future, any big polluter will need to invest in blue and green offsets to reach stated carbon-abatement goals.

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Parts of NSW have recorded more than 100 millimetres of rain in 24 hours as a low pressure system blasts the states south-east with tricky weather.

Up to 25 millimetres of rain could soak Sydney on Wednesday and there is a chance of a thunderstorm. A further 10 to 20 millimetres is forecast on Thursday.

Up to 25 millimetres of rain could fall in Sydney on Wednesday with a severe weather warning issued for the states south-east. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Helen Reid said Sydney would be on the edge of the action rather than in the thick of it.

The development of that low is looking like its going to bring in some fairly dicey weather [to the states south]. People need to be aware and check the warnings, she said.
More severe thunderstorms bringing large hail and damaging winds are predicted to hit parts of south-east Queensland on Wednesday, with continued rainfall forecast for Brisbane as the system moves off the coast.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for Rainbow Beach and Tiaro, north-east of Gympie, late Wednesday morning.

Severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for damaging winds and large hail north-east of Gympie for RainbowBeach and Tiaro. Credit:Bureau of Meteorology

Damaging winds and large hailstones are likely in the area in the afternoon.

Earlier, severe storms were detected west of Brisbane near Toowoomba about 6.30am, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting the system was moving east.
Have we ever seen the Prime Minister as comfortable in his own skin as when he took the stage at the Australian Christian Churches Gold Coast conference? This is what struck me as I watched him holding forth on faith and community in a speech thats being intensely scrutinised for clues  signs?  of what makes Scott Morrison tick.

Were used to the PMs stilted cadence, his occasionally glib phraseology and unfinished sentences. But in the footage, Morrisons in poetic flight. His speech is layered with biblical quotes, hypnotic repetition, in-jokes.

Scott Morrison and wife Jenny at his Horizon Church in Sydney during the 2019 election campaign. Credit:AAP

He and wife Jenny are called to do Gods work for such a time as this.

I need your help, he pleads. Twice.
A defrocked Australian Catholic priest who was jailed for indecently assaulting schoolboys in Victoria could soon be extradited to the US to face a fresh set of sexual abuse charges.

Former Ballarat priest Paul David Ryan has been indicted in the US state of Virginia on charges of sexual assault against a teenager at a ski resort in 1979.

Convicted paedophile priest Paul David Ryan.

Ryan had been sent to America to receive treatment after Melbourne Catholic authorities became concerned about his sexual activity with other seminarians when he was training to be a priest in Melbourne in the 1970s.

While in the US, he had been assigned to work in Virginia Beach as an ordained priest at Star of the Sea Parish and its affiliated school of the same name.
A Pascoe Vale mother who fatally shot her daughter before turning the gun on herself during a psychotic episode had been telling doctors and those closest to her of her plan for more than a year.

Deputy State Coroner Caitlin English said investigations into the death of three-year-old Aziza Beck found there was confusion between her mothers GP and psychiatrist as to who was in charge of the womans psychiatric management after she began exhibiting symptoms in 2015.

Police and forensic experts investigate after a woman and child were found dead in a house in Pascoe Vale. Credit:Darrian Traynor

In January 2017, Mohamed Beck returned home from work to find his wife, Aisha, and daughter dead in a fatal act of family violence.

Whilst filicides are rare, they have significant and far-reaching impacts on those involved and the broader community, Ms English said.
Victorian health authorities are contacting anyone who has travelled from Sydney since last Friday, as a second case linked to the outbreak prompted the reintroduction of a raft of restrictions across Greater Sydney, including indoor mask-wearing.

The Victorian government said it is monitoring the situation closely and has asked residents who attended any of the NSW exposure sites to contact authorities, isolate, get tested and quarantine for 14 days.

On Thursday afternoon the Victorian Health Department said all areas in NSW will remain green zones under the states traffic light travel permit system after genomic sequencing results narrowed the field of public health concern.

As authorities zero in on how a Sydney man contracted the virus, the state recorded a second local case on Thursday after the mans wife also tested positive for coronavirus.
Blood tests confirmed Shae had been drugged with GHB  gamma hydroxybutyrate  a drug common in the dance and party scene. Its also known as a date rape drug because users might not notice it slipped into their drink. Overdose is a major risk with GHB. In 2019, three deaths in the space of 24 hours in Perth were linked to overdoses of GHB, also known as fantasy. The deaths sparked urgent calls from authorities for Perth partygoers to be careful. Australian Medical Association WA president Andrew Miller told Nine News Perth at the time side effects of the drug could include seizures, diarrhoea and tremors before people ended up in a coma. Shae said she was mortified to find out she had been drugged with GHB.

I could have overdosed, I could have died, she said. While hallucinating, Shae was taken back to a night two years earlier when she was sexually assaulted. Shae has found strength in speaking out against her sexual abuser. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola The sexual assault had happened after a party. Shae had not been drinking at the time. It had taken her years to get back to going out to social events and parties in particular. I was grabbed by my neck, I had the collar of my jumper held on to pretty tight, I just had some operations so I struggled to walk, I couldnt run, she recalled.

He dragged me about 10 metres away from everyone and put his hand up my skirt. To relive it was pretty shit. Shae said she wanted to come forward and share her experience to encourage others who had similar things happen to them to speak up, because they were not alone. I dont want them to be scared, I want them to feel as though theres other people out there that this has happened to, they have support, she said. Police are investigating what happened to Shae. Curtin Universitys National Drug Research Institute adjunct professor Nicole Lee said drink spiking often wasnt reported and the most common drug used to spike drinks was alcohol, which hampered researchers efforts to understand how widespread it was.

Dr Lee said GHB, Rohypnol and ketamine were the most common illicit drugs used to spike drinks because they were tasteless, colourless, and odourless. Theyre all sedatives and they can result in memory loss, she said. I havent heard about drugs particularly having a hallucinogenic effect on people as a general rule but it is a problem because people dont remember what happens when theyve been drugged and they are heavily sedated. Dr Lee said drink spiking often wasnt reported because people simply couldnt remember or may be embarrassed about what happened. They also may have been sexually assaulted and many sexual assaults arent reported, partly because people feel theyre to blame or theyre embarrassed, she said.

If someone is deliberately spiking a womans drink youd have to expect that their intentions arent very good and the idea of consent is not on their mind. Loading Chanel Contos, a masters student studying gender and education at the University College London who ignited a national conversation about consent education in Australia, said one in three drink-spiking incidents resulted in sexual assault, showing a correlation between consent and spiking. The intentions of sexual assault are probably higher, its just a lot of the time victims of spiking are with friends who can help get them home and to a safe space, Ms Contos said. It is always hard for girls to report things because they always get victim-blamed from the get-go and most of the accounts of reporting to venues said they didnt do anything about it because its so hard to trace and track, she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 18:18:45|Editor: huaxia

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Family member of a Beirut port explosion victim stages a sit-in in Beirut, Lebanon, on May 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich)

by Dana Halawi

BEIRUT, May 5 (Xinhua) -- For 30-year-old Gilbert al-Karaan, the huge explosions that ripped through the Port of Beirut on Aug 4, 2020 and decimated almost half of the Lebanese capital are so indelible that he has not been able to emerge from the misery of losing his beloved fiancee in the tragedy.

His fiancee Sahar Fares, then a 27-year-old paramedic, rushed to Beirut's port just ahead of the explosions to provide first aid as the fire brigade was trying to extinguish the flames that were consuming a warehouse at the port.

However, the unexpected double explosions there claimed their lives as well as those of about 200 others and wounded at least 6,000.

"I may get used to the idea that Sahar is no longer here but I can never forget about this tragedy ... Nothing will ever make me happy again," Karaan, who was supposed to marry his fiancee in June of this year, told Xinhua.

Currently, bringing justice for his fiancee has become a central target in Karaan's life.

"Justice will not bring back Sahar, but it may at least deter criminals from engaging in such crimes and threatening lives of future generations in this country," he said.

The same is the case for William Noun, 27, who has been closely following up on investigations to bring justice for his brother, one of the firefighters killed in the Beirut explosions.

Noun shut down his restaurant after the explosions to focus on investigations by judges and security agencies.

"I visit the justice palace every day to meet with lawyers and judges," he said, noting he will accept nothing less than justice for the victims of the explosions.

"Parents are suffering tremendously and they deserve to know how their children died and who killed them," the Lebanese young man explained.

Ibrahim Hoteit, who also lost his brother in the explosions, said justice is a goal for the whole nation and not just the families of the victims.

"If we do not succeed in identifying people behind the crime and putting them in jail, we won't be able to make any changes to our corrupt system," Hoteit told Xinhua.

A local probe was launched in the wake of the deadly blasts at Beirut's port, with the participation of a team of the U.S. FBI and French investigators during the initial stage. The Lebanese authorities announced that the tragedy was caused by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that had been stored in one of the port's warehouses since 2013.

However, investigations were temporarily delayed as two former ministers, Ali Hassan Khalil and Ghazi Zeaiter, requested on Feb. 18 the Court of Cassation to transfer the case from the former lead investigator Fadi Sawwan to a new judge.

The two ministers made the request after they were charged by Sawwan with criminal negligence in the case of the explosions. A day later, the Higher Judicial Council approved the appointment of Tarek Bitar as the new lead investigator of the Beirut blast case.

While families of victims were initially angered by the removal of Sawwan from the case, they have now expressed hope about reaching positive results with the new judge.

"I am hopeful about the potential of reaching positive results with Bitar. We still have good judges in this country," Hoteit told Xinhua.

"We are keen to find out who allowed the entry of ammonium nitrate to the country and to hold accountable all those who ignored the presence of such dangerous material at the port," Noun told Xinhua, adding the new judge promised to undertake unbiased investigations despite possible political pressure.

The probe has so far led to the arrest of at least 25 suspects, six of whom were released by Bitar last month.

Youssef Lahoud, the lawyer who represents around 1,400 victims of the explosions, told Xinhua that such a big crime usually requires a lot of time and enormous efforts to reach proper results, especially with the absence of satellite images that show the port "before, during and after" the devastating explosions. Enditem
Digital services will get a $1.2 billion overhaul in a budget plan to expand government services online, fund research into artificial intelligence and fund new skills programs.

The digital economy package is another escalation in spending on new technologies six months after a $1 billion outlay in the budget last October.

Scott Morrison will announce $1.2 billion for digital services, including $200m for myGov. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Almost half the new funding will go to improvements in the way Australians use government services online, including the myGov website and the My Health Record system.

While $200 million will go to the myGov site, which is the main entry point for Australians who need federal services or support, $300 million will be spent on the health records including its digital identity system.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size La Ninas final fury came in a rush. The resulting floods that engulfed coastal NSW in March killed two people, forced 24,000 others to evacuate and triggered insurance claims totalling at least $610 million. The origins of the one-in-50-year flooding event, however, can be traced back to September, when the weather bureau declared the arrival of the La Nina weather pattern. As one of the worlds strongest climate drivers, La Nina warms ocean temperatures in the western Pacific, leading to increased rainfall in northern and eastern Australia. What followed was a summer that was 29 per cent wetter than average which left the soil sodden and dams full. When two powerful weather systems converged to dump torrential rain for a week in mid-March, the water flowed directly into already swollen waterways, causing major flooding of the Hawkesbury, Colo, Hastings, Manning, Nambucca and Clarence rivers.

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As a result, riverside towns were plunged into a crisis that NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian described as catastrophic. Using radar observations and data derived from European Space Agency satellites, together with the Bureau of Meteorology, The Sydney Morning Herald mapped the likely flooded areas for that week. March 17, 2021: Rain inundates Mid North Coast The map, above, shows radar observations from March 20. On March 17, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for coastal NSW as the first raindrops fell along the Mid North Coast. Forecasters had known for days that the collision of two large systems  a low-pressure trough off the coast and a big cloud band feeding in moist tropical air from north-western Australia  would dump a lot of water.

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What they couldnt predict was exactly where it would fall, for how long, and what the consequences would be. The rain stuck around longer than usual because of a high-pressure system in the Tasman Sea blocking the low from moving east. On March 19, Kempsey received 226 millimetres, part of a weekly total of 758 millimetres. Residents were evacuated as the town centre went underwater. The same day Bowraville, 60 kilometres north, recorded 125 millimetres in an hour. Yarras, an hour upstream from Port Macquarie, copped 1103 millimetres in March, its wettest month on record. Port Macquaries main street was evacuated as floodwaters rose and the Hastings River at Settlement Point peaked at two metres, the highest since 1968.

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Eighty kilometres south, the towns of Taree and Wingham were copping a drenching too. The rain caused the Pacific Highway, the main route between Sydney and Brisbane, to be cut off in several places. Loading It also shattered the wedding plans of Taree couple James Farrawell and Anya Kerrigan who were separated due to the rising water. The bride was obviously devastated when morning light arrived to reveal that the wedding venue had become an isolated island in the hills, Mr Farrawells brother Daniel said. Wingham received 609 millimetres for the week and the Manning River at Taree peaked at 5.7 metres on March 20, equalling the highest peak set in 1929.

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In Sydney, steady rain grew heavier as the weather system moved south and the moist tropical air from north-western Australia reached the east coast. The city recorded 2 hours of sunlight for an entire week. By March 21, the Hawkesbury-Nepean region to the north-west was copping its heaviest falls. Castle Hill had 166 millimetres of rain on March 21, a record for a single day in March. The same day, Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains had 145 millimetres, its wettest March day since 1942. March 21, 2021: Hawkesbury-Nepean pounded The map, above, shows radar observations from March 25. Warragamba Dam, Sydneys largest water storage facility, was brimming at 97.5 per cent in the days preceding the extreme rainfall.

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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian wants rebel MP Matthew Mason-Cox expelled from the Liberal Party after he nominated for president of the upper house without the support of his colleagues.

Several government sources, who did not want to be named as it involved internal party discussions, have confirmed Ms Berejiklian wants Mr Mason-Cox kicked out of the Liberals after he put himself up for the $300,000-a-year job despite his colleague Natasha Maclaren-Jones assuming the chair.

Natasha Maclaren-Jones, Gladys Berejiklian, Matthew Mason-Cox. Credit:James Alcock, Daniel Munoz

In an extraordinary spectacle in the upper house on Tuesday night, Ms Maclaren-Jones took the chair as president in an act of defiance after Labor and some crossbenchers insisted she was not duly elected.

However, the government insisted two pieces of legal advice showed she had been elected and after almost six weeks in a deadlock, Ms Maclaren-Jones took her position in the chair.
Rebel NSW Liberal MP Matthew Mason-Cox has been expelled from the party effective immediately after he infuriated Premier Gladys Berejiklian by nominating for president of the upper house.

Ms Berejiklian wanted Mr Mason-Cox kicked out of the party after he put his hand up for president despite the government insisting Liberal MP Natasha Maclaren-Jones had been elected.

Natasha Maclaren-Jones, Gladys Berejiklian, Matthew Mason-Cox. Credit:James Alcock, Daniel Munoz

A party spokesman said: The NSW Liberal Party has expelled the Hon Matthew Mason-Cox for breaching the party rules. The expulsion takes effect immediately.

Mr Mason-Cox had not been told of his expulsion when contacted by The Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday.
London: French President Emmanuel Macron has stepped into a culture war over one of the countrys most famous historical figures, warning against judging the past with values of the present.

While predecessors have been wary to be associated with the legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte, Macron on Wednesday laid a wreath to mark the 200th anniversary of the emperors death and delivered a speech mixing blunt condemnation with unashamed praise.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, (top left) stand by the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. Credit:AP

The former military leader is an increasingly controversial figure in France as historical figures are scrutinised in a global anti-racism reckoning.

Napoleon built the foundations of the modern French state but was also responsible for bloody wars and supported the reintroduction of colonial slavery in 1802.
Jerusalem: Israels President on Wednesday chose Yair Lapid, a centrist politician and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus strongest rival, to try to form a new government, but Lapids path to success remains uncertain.

Israels longest serving leader, Netanyahu, has been fighting to hold onto office through four inconclusive elections since 2019.

Yair Lapid Lapid has 28 days to try to form a coalition. Credit:AP

President Reuven Rivlin, in a televised address announcing his choice of Lapid, said the former finance minister had the pledged support of 56 of parliaments 120 members, still short of a majority.

It is clear that parliament member Yair Lapid could form a government that has the confidence of the Knesset, despite there being many difficulties, Rivlin said, referring to the national legislature.
Washington: Former US president Donald Trump has given the strongest indication yet that he will run for the White House in 2024, telling a conservative radio host that he is absolutely enthused by the prospect.

The interview came hours after Trump launched a new website designed to allow him to communicate directly with his followers following his ban from Twitter and Facebook after the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

Donald Trump has given his strongest hint yet hes ready to run for president again. Credit:AP

I think people are going to be very, very happy when I make a certain announcement, Trump told conservative activist and radio host Candace Owens.

The answer is Im absolutely enthused. I look forward to doing an announcement at the right time.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Ocean City, New Jersey: As Suzanne Hornick gazes out at the Atlantic Ocean, she sees trouble on the horizon. Hornick lives in Ocean City, a beachside town in New Jersey that markets itself as a family-friendly alternative to the nearby gambling hotspot of Atlantic City. Alcohol sales are banned in the conservative community, as are casinos. This is the type of place where the biggest crime is bike theft, Hornick says. Its a quaint little community we cherish so much. If Danish power company Orsted gets its way, Ocean City will soon also be home to Americas biggest offshore wind farm. The developer wants to position almost 100 wind turbines 24 kilometres off the coast of southern New Jersey, providing enough power for more than half a million homes. Ocean City resident Suzanne Hornick is leading the opposition to a massive offshore wind farm off the New Jersey coast. Credit:Amanda Andrade-Rhoades According to Orsteds digitally-created images, the turbines will barely be visible from the shoreline. But Hornick believes that, on a clear day, they will create an eyesore that will repel tourists and depress property prices. Some fishermen fear the turbines will affect the migratory patterns of flounder and rockfish. Nobody is going to want to come and sit on our beach and look at these god-awful things, says Hornick, a member of the local Save our Shoreline group. Foreign corporations are coming in and taking away the only things we have to offer the world, which is tourism and fishing.

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Similar battles are playing out up and down the US east coast, where a slew of major offshore wind projects are set to come online by the middle of the decade. State leaders such as New Jerseys Democratic Governor Phil Murphy see offshore wind farms as an opportunity to create manufacturing jobs and tackle climate change. On the other side of the debate, anxious residents fear their local economies will suffer for little benefit. The boardwalk at Ocean City, New Jersey Credit:Amanda Andrade-Rhoades Like in Australia - which has no operational offshore wind farms - the sector has been virtually non-existent in America. The US only has two small pilot offshore wind farms, one in Rhode Island and another in Virginia. Together they generate a meagre 42 megawatts (MW) of power - a fraction of the 10,500 MW deployed in the United Kingdom. Offshore wind now accounts for 14 per cent of the energy mix in the UK and makes a significant contribution in countries such as Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. In the US, however, proposals have run into regulatory hurdles and fierce opposition. A proposal for the nations first offshore wind farm, known as Cape Wind, was announced in 2001. The project envisioned 130 turbines off the Massachusetts coast and would have provided enough electricity to offset the consumption of 113 million gallons of oil a year.

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But wealthy homeowners in the area - including two unlikely allies, Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy and petroleum heir William Koch - believed the wind turbines would spoil their ocean views. Loading The project, which finally collapsed in 2017, epitomised the broader US offshore wind industry: a sector bursting with potential that never managed to get off the ground. But now, after decades of disappointment and delay, the industry appears ready for take-off. There are currently 27 offshore wind farm projects in various stages of planning and development in the US, according to the Environment America Research and Policy Centre. Almost all the activity is centred off the eastern seaboard, seen as ideal for offshore wind because of its powerful gusts, shallow ocean shelf and large coastal population centres.

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Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia have committed to buy at least 25,000 MW of offshore electricity by 2035, according to the American Clean Power Association. Here in America weve been treading water, weve been stalled, Bill White, head of offshore wind at Avangrid Renewables, told a conference last month. Now were finally moving forward. Erin Baker, an expert in offshore wind at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, says: I feel like we are at a tipping point. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Baker says the estimated cost of offshore wind energy has dropped significantly in recent years, making it an attractive option for state governments with ambitious carbon reduction goals. And crucially, there was the transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. The new President has seized upon offshore wind as a central pillar of his plan to slash Americas carbon emissions in half by 2030 and spur a green energy jobs boom.

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The Biden administration has set a target of deploying 30,000 MW of offshore wind by 2030, saying this would generate enough power for 10 million homes and avoid 78 million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions. Offshore wind now has a friend in the White House and thats a really big deal, says Hannah Read, Environment Americas offshore wind associate. She praises the Biden administration for moving to simplify the complex and lengthy federal approvals process that has tripped up past projects. An offshore wind farm near Llandudno, a coastal town in North Wales, UK Credit:Alamy In March the Biden administration announced it had completed the final environmental review for Vineyard Wind, which would be the countrys first large-scale offshore wind farm. Like Cape Wind, the project would sit off the coast of Cape Cod, but would be placed significantly further offshore than its ill-fated predecessor. Final approval for Vineyard Wind is expected imminently, clearing the way for the $US2 billion ($2.5 billion) project to become operational in two years. The Biden administration has also announced that federal regulators are preparing an environmental impact statement for Ocean Wind in New Jersey, putting it in line to become operational by 2024. The White House has said it expects to initiate environmental approvals for 10 additional projects later this year.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 18:18:55|Editor: huaxia

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Wu Daifu, Head of Hetaoping Wild Training Base for the Giant Panda in southwest China's Sichuan Province, explained that reintroduction aims to achieve population rejuvenation of giant pandas in the wild.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
It is not a criticism of the Chinese people. It is certainly not a criticism of our Chinese-Kiwi neighbours. In my experience, it is that last group who are often the most strident in warning us about the regime that this debate is about, the Chinese Communist Party, she said. Loading We know that a genocide is taking place, the evidence is voluminous [...] To take one example, there has been mass imposition of contraceptive devices upon Uighur women, and forced sterilisation, matched by an enormous reduction in fertility rates in Xinjiang. Van Velden first put the genocide motion to Parliament last week. Unfortunately we are only having half this debate, this is not the debate that I proposed to the Parliament last week  I had to dilute it, and soften it, to gain the approval of our governing party.

She said it was intolerable the Parliament would soften its stance out of fear. National Party trade spokesman Todd Muller said New Zealand had strong commercial and cultural connections with China, and underneath these connections were strong personal relationships. Loading It is the depth of those personal relationships that will guide us through this difficult conversation, because the conversation will be difficult, he said. We understand that China views any matter relating to its 1.4 billion people as entirely a matter for its own consideration. But we share one planet.

This Parliament and the five million people we represent believe that it is a basic human rights for people to feel safe in their homes, to pray to whom they wish to pray to, to hug who they love, and to identify with a cultural tradition that best reflects their whakapapa [ancestry] Green Party foreign affairs spokeswoman Golriz Ghahraman said it was disappointing to hear the leadership from both major parties speak of trade with China when discussing the prospect of a genocide motion. That was stunningly callous, it was absolutely morally indefensible, and it is a breach of New Zealands legal obligations, our absolute responsibility to support an international rules based order. We want action, not just words. Maori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the motion rightly drew attention to the suffering of Uighur people, and the party was pleased to see the attempt not to water down the motion.

Ngarewa-Packer said she was a descendent of people of Parihaka, a peaceful Maori settlement in Taranaki that was invaded by 1600 troops in 1881. The depth of pain of genocide can never be explained, she said. The motion reads in full: That this House is gravely concerned about the severe human rights abuses taking place against Uighurs and other ethnic and religious minorities in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, and that it call on the Government to work with the United Nations, international partners, and to work with all relevant instruments of international law to bring these abuses to an end. During the debate, Ghahraman attempted to amend the wording of the statement, returning genocide to the motion, but the attempt failed as it wasnt put in writing. The government has previously stated there was clear evidence of severe human rights abuse in Xinjiang province, including restrictions on freedom of religion, mass surveillance, large-scale extra-judicial detentions, as well as forced labour and forced birth control, including sterilisation.

Some members of New Zealands Uighur community, who spoke to Stuff Circuit for its documentary Deleted, were dismayed that Parliament shied away from calling the abuse genocide. None were willing to be named due to security concerns. It is the darkest day for New Zealands democracy. Trade has taken over freedom and human rights in New Zealand, one Uighur man said. If they arent calling it genocide now, when are they going to call it genocide? Another said there was already reputable evidence of genocide: We are talking about peoples lives here. People are dying. Millions of people are being abused. We do not have the luxury of time to call for independent assessment. New Zealand has only recognised genocide three times in the past: the Holocaust, the Rwandan massacre of the Tutsi, and the atrocities carried out by the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Despite the many challenges at the political level between the local and Dutch government, the severe damages to properties of the country were a priority that needed to be addressed. The damaged schools, cars, police stations, prison, administration buildings, library etc. could not risk waiting for the much-needed repairs while governments fight, and the funds of insurance companies depleting at a rapid pace.

After a sound bidding process, Henderson was awarded the contract to manage this task on behalf of Government of St. Maarten. This meant that as an independent brokerage firm representing multiple insurance companies, Henderson would be in a good position to verify rights vs obligations of government in the policy, based on applicable laws, fine-prints, special conditions, and jurisprudence.

Henderson could also give interpretation to grey areas that would benefit the country and quickly verify market-standard to resolve disputes and move the process forward.

After reaching a settlement of some nine million USD the new Government decided to terminate the services of Henderson and awarded the same contract to Smith & Orloff who then subcontracted the contract to a third party. This action of government resulted in Henderson taking the matter to court.

In his verdict, the judge acknowledges that a landsbesluit was needed before Henderson commenced work. Even though being aware of this requirement to start working, Henderson felt it was the right thing to do given the circumstances and knowing the challenges Government was facing in running the country in a normal manner. Waiting for an LB to be of service to your country would be considered unpatriotic and Henderson, therefore, started to work with the promise from the council of ministers that the LB will be soon finalized. And that it was sent up to the Governor for signing. The Courts acknowledge that the works of Henderson resulted in an advance settlement of USD6,000,000.00 for which the firm must be compensated and ruled that Government must pay NAfls. 225,000. =, including all costs involved and legal interest from November 12, 2018, when then Prime Minister Leona Marlin-Romeo broke the contract with Henderson.

It must be noted that Smith & Orloff submitted its bid to the personal home address of a minister at the time within the cabinet of Prime Minister Leona Marlin-Romeo.

Below is the verdict.
~ Questions entire vacancy timeline ~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel on Tuesday revealed that the newly appointed Australian Director of the St. Maarten Medical Center Dr. Grant Muddle had what he called a messy history at his previous hospital tenure and called for the reversal of the decision to appoint him post-haste.

If this is the same person, reverse the decision not only on those grounds but for the simple fact that this nonsense of appointing people from half way across the world over our own qualified people must stop, MP Emmanuel said. The entire board at SMMC has to go. They are there too long and they feel like kings in their own castle. They have no respect for the people of St. Maarten, he said.

After Muddles name was released on Tuesday by workers of the hospital via the media, the MP conducted research into Muddles background and his last stint at the Angua Memorial Hospital in Papua New Guinea and found that the staff of that facility and their union protested to have him removed as CEO in January 2020 according to media reports in that country.

About 300 nurses, doctors, and ancillary staff including corporate, medical, and nursing services signed a petition demanding the Australians removal. The union explained that as an expatriate, Muddle had been appointed CEO of the hospital illegally which contradicted general provisions concerning hospital staff that limit the amounts of expatriates that could be appointed to functions in that country.

According to the media in Papua New Guinea, some of the allegations labeled against Muddle include misappropriation of hospital funds (failure to reimburse the hospital with funds which were paid to him as advance salary), breach of public service laws in that country, mismanagement and unilaterally putting a stop to all training programs funded by the hospital, when training and further education is an important component in upgrading staff. He was eventually sidelined until a replacement could be found according to the media.

MP Emmanuel questioned if a proper background check was conducted into Muddle to determine the validity of these claims and if these issues were resolved before selecting him to run St. Maartens hospital. With his history appearing to be very messy, especially when it comes to dealing with people, the MP said, how is it that an Australian, halfway across the world is apparently the only person who knew about a vacancy for a hospital director on St. Maarten?

When and where was this vacancy advertised? And for how long was it advertised? How is it that nobody on St. Maarten knew about this vacancy? What are we doing in this country by continuously relegating our people as onlookers while others get the opportunities at top positions? This is not right and stifles any form of nation-building and insulting the people of St. Maarten, the MP said.

He continued: Was the position even offered to Dr. Holiday who has been running SMMC for almost a year and a half? I can imagine that Dr. Holiday might not have applied when he realized that he did not have the support of the board. We couldnt find any local professional to run and manage the hospital? What about Dr. Bell? What about Dr. Lloyd Richardson? What about Keith Franca? So many professionals we have on this island and we had to go to Australia? Well, the same speed he reached here from Australia, should be the same speed he is returned to Australia. The Minister of Public Health Omar Ottley needs to let him know a ticket is waiting for him.

MP Emmanuel said the hospital board and/or the Minister of Public Health Omar Ottley cannot sit quietly on this one. Answers must be given and that appointment must be pulled back and given to a local professional, he said, adding that answers have to also be provided about the alleged golden handshake the former Director of the hospital received to the tune of NAf 500,000.

Emmanuel said this amount could balloon to approximately NAf 600,000 hen tax returns and other remunerations are included. The most insulting part of this is that the board is telling our nurses, who put their lives on the front line daily, that they are valued at just a 5% increase in their salary, but the board of SMMC can give away half a million guilders as a going-away present and bring in an Australian. That is a front and back-hand slap, the MP said.
WILLEMSTAD:--- The Monument for the Fallen Antillean on Adriaan Lacle Boulevard in Oranjestad is the permanent memorial location on Aruba. This monument was erected in memory of all Antilleans who were killed by acts of war during the Second World War. The plaque contains 129 names of fallen Antilleans during the Second World War. Also in Willemstad, Curacao, and Kralendijk, Bonaire, there is a monument with the same plaque. A number of dignitaries were present at the ceremony, such as Governor Boekhoudt and (outgoing) Prime Minister Wever-Croes. Defense was allowed to lead the commemoration ceremony on Aruba. Lieutenant van Haaren: It was an honor to be able to lead the commemoration ceremony in Aruba with the Marine Corps. It is good to see that, despite the restrictive COVID measures, the commemoration was allowed to take place on May 4 in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. 

The detachment of St. Maarten has been asked to form a guard of honor at the Captain Hodge Wharf in Philipsburg. Commander of the detachment, Major Noordam: The commemoration went to all satisfaction. It was nice to see that the government has given appropriate attention to this. Certainly taking into account the difficult situation we are in at the moment. In addition to Governor Holiday and Prime Minister Jacobs, the commemoration also included two guests of honor who personally experienced the effects of the Second World War.

On Curacao, Commander of the Navy in the Caribbean, Brigadier General of the Marines Boots, has laid a wreath at both the Waaiegat monument and the military cemetery in Otrobanda. He did this together with the Chief of Equipage of CZMCARIB, Warrant officer Hijman on behalf of the Armed Forces and the Coast Guard in the Caribbean. Warrant officer Hijman: Unfortunately, the commemoration at the military cemetery could not take place last year. Fortunately, now we can. It is good that it could now be done at both locations. Namely, the military cemetery also has 8 war graves. Dignitaries such as Governor George-Wout and (outgoing) Prime Minister Rhuggenaath were also present at this commemoration. Company soldiers in the West were also part of the ceremony. They rotate every four months as an army company on Curacao and it was, therefore, a unique and special commemoration to be able to experience.

Defense in the Caribbean also held a two-minute silence with its own personnel in memory of all war victims or those killed since the outbreak of the Second World War.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Earlier this year, SZV announced that the monthly AOV and AWW pension pay date would take place on the 1st of each month. Numerous concerns within the community were voiced about this, primarily the concern of pensioners receiving their payments late.

Together with the team of SZV, the Ministry of VSA was able to discuss these concerns.

Today, the Minister of VSA, Omar Ottley is happy to inform the public, that SZV will be making a change in the monthly pension payment schedule.

The change is as follows:

 The monthly AOV and AWW pension will be paid in advance, on the 28th of each month, excluding public holidays and weekends.

 All pensioners with a local bank account (Dutch SXM) can expect to receive their pension pay, in advance, on the 28th of each month.

 Pensioners abroad or those with an international bank account can expect their payment a few days later, based on the processing time of their international bank.

This change will go into effect immediately, which means that the pension payment for the upcoming month of June will be available on the 28th of May.

SZV will publish the new payment schedule today, on their website www.szv.sx, Facebook page and other media channels.

Minister Ottley would like to thank the team of SZV for their timely cooperation with the Ministry of VSA to come together to achieve this result. A result, the Minister hopes will be a comfort to our pensioners.
~ CPS and VMT gearing up towards 85% to achieve herd immunity. ~

PHILIPSBURG: --- The Collective Preventative Services (CPS) and the Vaccination Management Team (VMT) have launched their vaccination campaign where they are targeting 85% of the population vaccinated by end of July.

Minister of VSA Omar Ottley called especially on the undocumented immigrations that are residing on St. Maarten for four months and more to get vaccinated.

Ottley assured that the undocumented persons on St. Maarten will not be targeted by immigration. He said undocumented persons on the island can show up at any of the vaccination centers with their passports and proof of residencies such as a utility bill or housing contract.

Asked by SMN News if the Ministries of Health and Justice have reached a consensus on not targeting the undocumented. Ottley said the two Ministers have reached an agreement since both parties understand the urgency in getting everyone on the island vaccinated.

Ottley said St. Maarten is working hard at getting 85% of its population vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity so that the island can return to normal. He said several businesses and persons have been asking when they would be allowed to open their doors until 4 am, while some are asking that carnival activities resume. Ottley said the fasted the people get vaccinated the gates to the Festival Village could reopen while businesses will return to normal opening hours.

The Minister warned that the RVM has confirmed that St. Maarten has several variants of the COVID-19 virus. He said there are Indian variant, the UK variant, and the New York variant on the Dutch side of the island while the French side also confirmed that the African variant was detected, therefore everyone on the island is called to take the necessary precautions to avoid getting infected. Ottley said currently there are 23 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on St. Maarten, while 3 of those persons are hospitalized
PHILIPSBURG:--- C&W Communications (C&W) today announced the appointment of Tony Matthews to the position of Vice President, Dutch Caribbean. In his new role, Matthews will have overall responsibility for Flow/UTS operations in Bonaire, Curacao, St. Maarten/St. Martin, Saba and St. Eustatius. He will also join C&Ws Executive Leadership Team.

The appointment is part of an organizational shift that also includes new roles for C&W in the North Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago, and the South Caribbean which previously included the Dutch Caribbean. Of the four new positions, two will now be held by women.

Nicolas Collette who served as VP for the South region for the last two years will transition to lead the companys B2B Centre of Excellence. Danny Macaya who held Country Manager responsibilities for the Dutch Caribbean will now focus solely on Curacao. Charlesworth Sydney will continue to lead the St. Maarten business and both he and Macaya will report to Matthews.

Matthews joined C&W two years ago to lead commercial initiatives for the company, such as network investment and expansion in Jamaica, along with a harmonization program that provides customers with greater choice and flexibility. Matthews brings to the role more than 30 years of telecom operations experience with major companies such as Comcast, Cox Communications, and Cisco.

Inge Smidts, CEO of C&W, said, Tony brings a wealth of experience to this role having worked in key positions at major operators in North America. I am confident that he will work closely with our local leaders in the Dutch Caribbean to improve our services and solutions as we work to provide memorable experiences and win the trust of our customers.

Expressing his sentiments about the appointment, Matthews said, Im excited about this new opportunity, as theres a great deal of work to be done across our markets in the Dutch Caribbean. Still, our commitment to provide the most reliable connections and the best overall experience for our customers has never been stronger and we look forward to delivering on this promise now and in the future.

Collette, who a little more than a year ago managed the integration of eleven business units, including the Dutch Caribbean, which became the companys South Caribbean cluster, is transitioning to oversee C&W Communications Business to Business (B2B) Centre of Excellence.

Smidts also added, Nicolas has been a pillar of support to me and plays a key role on my leadership team. He has done an outstanding job leading our team in the Dutch Caribbean over the last two years. Given his background in the B2B space, this transition is a natural fit for him. It is an area of business with which he is very familiar, as before joining C&W, he led the B2B division for Telenet in Europe. In his new role, he will be responsible for customer value propositions, go-to-market strategies, sales excellence, digital transformation, business development, strategic marketing, and B2B customer service across all of C&W.

Adding his thoughts on Matthews appointment, Collette said, Over the last two years Tony has done an excellent job leading key commercial initiatives across our C&W markets. He is passionate about delivering exceptional value and I am confident he will work closely with our local teams and stakeholders in the Dutch Caribbean to ensure that we have a high-performing and resilient network that delivers the products and solutions to enable our customers to have an unparalleled experience.
SABA--Increasing local produce and securing a steady, quality food supply to Saba are important areas for the Executive and Island Council which discussed these topics during a recent retreat.

Agriculture

Investments continue to be made in agriculture to promote local growing of produce and to make the island more sustainable. Efforts are made to increase productivity at The Farm. Recently, Vernon Liburd was appointed team leader at The Farm. The Rendezvous Farm is under construction. An agriculture policy is being drafted. The Island Council was very critical about the fact that these initiatives were taken without being based on a Masterplan Agriculture. Commissioner Rolando Wilson was requested to present a Masterplan Agriculture this year before the implementation of other projects.

Sustainability/food supply

The Public Entity Saba started a pilot late last year for an alternative fresh produce supply line to improve food security. At the start of the Corona crisis, it became clear that a supply of fresh produce cannot be guaranteed for Saba. The same happened after Hurricane Irma in 2017. Saba, but also St.

Eustatius is completely dependent on wholesalers in St. Maarten which creates a vulnerable situation. High failure rates and a long logistics chain in combination with the small scale on which imports take place to push prices further up. Wholesalers at intermediate hubs extend the travel time of the products, repeatedly break the refrigerated chain, and repeated repacking of products causes loss of quality. An important recommendation from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency RVO study was that setting up a supply route directly from the country of origin could improve Sabas food position. Based on these studies, Saba decided to set up a pilot for an alternative supply route directly from the country of origin/Miami. The pilot started on January 19. A first evaluation takes place in April. The initial findings showed mixed results with both advantages and disadvantages.

Government will do a more in-depth evaluation with the two local supermarkets that participate.

Animals/goat project

The Island Council has questioned the delay of the animals/goat project. It has been months now and the Council expressed the hope that the challenges were being resolved, and the project can move forward. The project will also allow for assistance to goat owners who want to keep their animals in a sustainable manner. The Island Council has asked if the project could also support the fishermen in their plea.
SABA--Developments in the area of the social domain were discussed during the recent retreat of the Island and Executive Council.

Social support

Together with the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), the Public Entity Saba is looking into the possibility to implement a WMO-light (social support) on Saba. The Meal on Wheels is a crucial element in this. A proposal for funding has been submitted to the Dutch Government to receive funds for healthier (locally grown) food, food baskets for children, and additional staff. Government already received a grant for Home support to help with cleaning at peoples homes. A plan is being drafted for Home health which will start shortly. The third pillar is to make small adjustments at homes so people can stay home longer instead of going to the old home. Government received a special grant for this and a plan is being drafted together with the Home and the hospital. Execution will start before the summer.

Artisan Foundation building

The renovation of the Artisan Foundation building in The Bottom has been completed, and the Saba Reach Foundation is moving its offices to this location. The plan is to turn part of the building into a gym and to also create a second social workplace. A plan has been sent to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (SZW) for funding.

Public assistance

The Island Council has requested government to come up with a new public assistance budget and to draft a clear policy on this. Both are being looked into and a plan will go to the Island Council shortly. A project will start in June this year to assist disabled persons with making small adaptations at their homes such as installing railings and a ramp. Adaptations will also be made in public areas for persons who are less mobile.

Rent subsidy system

The Public Entity Saba and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) are working on decreasing the housing costs of households with low incomes. As part of the Saba Package 2019-2022, it has been agreed to work on reducing the housing costs, construct social housing tenements, developing a policy with regards to social housing, and start the joint pilot Rent(al) subsidy Saba. The rent subsidy will also be available to the private sector.

Under the Hill homes

The Under the Hill housing project is delayed. Various factors, at all stakeholder levels, have led to this, and these are being worked out. It is anticipated that the pace will pick up and that the project will be moving along once additional skilled workers arrive on the island.
HeiQ launches high-tech mask featuring ground-breaking copper technology shown to deactivate the COVID-19 virus in five minutes

Global leader in textile and materials innovation, HeiQ, launches HeiQ MetalliQ, a futuristic-looking, high-tech surgical mask that destroys all viruses and bacteria tested, up to 100% efficacy.

HeiQ MetalliQ doesn?t only look metallic. The mask with a patented design actually contains an ultra-thin pure copper coating applied via a high-tech vapor deposition process, called HeiQ MetalliX, which converts a minute amount of copper into vapour, allowing it to be deposited evenly to surround each fibre. HeiQ MetalliX is a patent-pending technology, created by HeiQ?s innovation partner, Australian materials technology company, Xefco.Studies conducted by the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, Australia (Doherty Institute) showed that fabrics treated by the HeiQ MetalliX technology significantly deactivated the infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19) in as little as 5 minutes.

The testing protocol simulated the real-life interaction of aerosol droplets contaminating textile products such as face masks. Each sample was exposed to a high loading of SARS-CoV-2 followed by 5, 15 and 30 minutes incubation at room temperature before the amount of remaining infectious SARS-CoV-2 viruses was measured. The fabric samples treated with HeiQ MetalliX indicated a virus reduction of over 97.79% in five minutes, 99.95% in 15 minutes and over 99.99% in 30 minutes, relative to the inoculum control.

??Our team of experts continue their vital work to minimise the impact of the novel coronavirus.? Dr Julie McAuley, Senior Research Officer at the Doherty Institute, stated,??testing the ability of different surface treatments to reduce infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is one way that our research can help provide insights towards helping to stop the spread of COVID-19?,?Dr McAuley added.

Copper is a naturally occurring element, present in the earth?s crust, soil, oceans, lakes and rivers. It is also a trace element that occurs naturally in all humans, plants and animals. The antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties of copper have been known for centuries and have been demonstrated by many laboratory studies. HeiQ MetalliX treated materials release copper ions which deactivate viruses and bacteria. Treated materials have also been tested to kill 100% of Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae and deactivate 99.95% of H1N1 virus and 99.9% of Human Coronavirus 229E.

Made in EU, HeiQ MetalliQ is manufactured in HeiQ Medica in Spain where HeiQ also conducts R&D activities for medical devices. Throughout the development of the HeiQ MetalliX technology, Xefco worked closely with long-standing research partner the Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM) at Deakin University as part of the world-class ARC Research Hub for Future Fibres, of which HeiQ is also a member.

?You can pretty much ?heiq? everything to add additional functions to an every-day product. This time we up our game once again in antiviral protection, with an upgraded and premium appearance. Spring is calling. As we emerge from lock-down we want to be extra protected and protect the others. HeiQ MetalliQ is designed exactly to provide that extra level of confidence. Further, it gives an edgy look, making it an improved alternative to surgical masks in many ways,? says Carlo Centonze, co-founder and CEO of HeiQ Group.

Founded in 2005 as a spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) and listed on the London Stock Exchange Main Market (LSE:HEIQ), HeiQ is a leader in textile innovation creating some of the most effective, durable and high-performance textile technologies on the market today. HeiQ\-\-s mission is to improve the lives of billions of people through pioneering textiles and materials innovation. Combining three areas of expertise  scientific research, specialty materials manufacturing and consumer ingredient branding  HeiQ is the ideal innovation partner to create differentiating and sustainable textile products and capture the added value at the point of sale. With a total capacity of 35\-\-000 tons per year HeiQ manufactures in the USA, Switzerland and Australia supplying its specialty chemical products in over 60 countries worldwide.www.heiq.com
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 19:02:23|Editor: huaxia

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-- The five-day May Day holiday has witnessed strong domestic demand for tourism thanks to successful control of COVID-19 and rising vaccination rate in China.

-- Long-distance inter-provincial tours have become popular while regular epidemic prevention measures are strictly implemented in scenic spots.

-- As the Communist Party of China celebrates its centenary this year, revolutionary sites across the country have been a hit during the holiday.

BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- As COVID-19 has been successfully brought under control in China and the vaccination rate is rising steadily, the five-day May Day holiday has witnessed strong domestic demand for tourism.

A breeder feeds a killer whale during a performance at Haichang Ocean Park in east China's Shanghai, May 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

INTER-PROVINCIAL TOURS SKYROCKETING

Public anxiety over COVID-19 has been eased thanks to the clearance of at-risk areas across the country and the popularization of vaccines, and more Chinese tourists have chosen to go further beyond their cities and provinces.

A tourist from Shanghai surnamed Hu traveled to central China's Changsha to attend a friend's wedding, planning to explore the city afterward.

"Changsha has been so popular among tourists these years, and I've always wanted to have a look," Hu said.

Per data provided by multiple online travel platforms, inter-provincial tours have become popular.

During the holiday, inter-provincial orders accounted for 77 percent of the total, according to Chinese homestay booking platform Xiaozhu.com.

Nearly 90 percent of car rental bookings for May Day travel have been for inter-provincial use, with Sanya, Chengdu and Haikou being the three most popular destinations, while Xinjiang and Tibet are seeing skyrocketing orders, according to Chinese travel services provider Trip.com.

Passenger traffic in and out of Beijing hit a new record on May 1. On the national scale, the number of civil aviation passengers on April 30 significantly exceeded the number seen during the same period in 2019, with domestic routes increasing by more than 20 percent over the same period in 2019.

Industry analysts said that the domestic air transport volume during the holiday has exceeded the pre-epidemic level and is likely to register a record high.

Tourists visit Jinbianxi scenic area in Wulingyuan District of Zhangjiajie, central China's Hunan Province, May 1, 2021. (Photo by Wu Yongbing/Xinhua)

STRICT EPIDEMIC PREVENTION

The Wanshou Palace cultural block in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, has issued multiple warnings to limit numbers of tourists as the scenic spot saw an average daily inflow of 100,000 tourists from May 1 to 3.

"Visitors entering the block are required to wear masks and go through temperature checks. When the instantaneous flow of people reaches 10,000, flow restriction measures will be taken," said Huang Zhigang, director of the block's management company.

The Beijing Badaling Great Wall has strictly implemented its online real-name booking system and restricted the number of tourists during the holiday.

The number of tourists at the Badaling Great Wall scenic area is capped at 48,750 per day. A yellow alert will be issued when the daily booking volume reaches 29,000. An orange alert will be triggered if the booking volume reaches 39,000. The booking system will be halted when 48,700 tickets are booked.

Shanghai received over 10.3 million tourists in the first three days of the May Day holiday. Compared with the same period in 2020, cultural and tourism consumption has increased significantly and even exceeded the May Day holiday in 2019 in some areas, according to the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism.

Young people pose for photos at the site of the first National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai, east China, May 4, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

"RED TOURISM" GAINING POPULARITY

As the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrates its centenary this year, revolutionary sites across the country have been popular during the holiday.

In Shaoshan, Hunan Province, 85,000 people visited the former residence of the late Chairman Mao Zedong on May 2. It was the third most popular tourist site in the province on that day.

Tonggu County of Jiangxi, which has many red tourism sites, reported its first tourist flow peak of the year over the holiday.

The audience looked back on war-torn historical scenes in Jieyuan Village of Ruijin, a city of significance during the CPC revolution. At a performance venue transformed from an abandoned mine, lights dazzled and guns rumbled. As night fell, over 200 locals put on a show using cutting-edge stage technologies.

From May 1 to 3, red tourism sites in Jiangxi's Ganzhou City received 1.59 million tourists, generating a total income of 1 billion yuan (154 million U.S. dollars), per a count from the city's cultural and tourism bureau. The integration of modern science and red tourism has brought new vitality to old revolutionary bases.

(Video reporters: Luo Xin, Zhang Manzi, Liu Bin, Pan Xu, Ding Ting, Zhang Mengjie, Cen Zhilian, Wu Xia, Bai Bin, Cao Li, Liu Yuting, Zhang Chenjun. Video editor: Liu Yuting) 
Somerset, KY (42501)

Today

Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. High 76F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

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Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Secure access control is helping to shape the post-pandemic world

With the continued rolling back of COVID restrictions in the UK, there is a palpable sense of relief. A mixture of mass vaccinations, widespread testing, and track and tracing of the infection is helping to enable a healthy bounce back for businesses  with secure access control taking an important role in facilitating this. However, rather than just being a reaction to the wake of the pandemic, there is every sign that the economy, and consequently the security sector as well, are both rebuilding and reshaping for the long-term new normal. Prioritising Safety Already deemed an essential service even during the first wave of the pandemic, the security industry has of course taken a vital role in protecting people and property throughout the crisis. Now that venues in the UK are starting to reopen again, our services are key to occupancy management and ensuring that disease transmission is limited as far as possible. Access control is also key in reassuring people that their safety is a priority. Making the upgrade Its all been about choosing the most suitable components and technology that already existed with a few tweaks Businesses and organisations have a duty of care to their employees and the safety of visitors  so controlling access, employing lateral flow testing, and deploying suitable Track & Trace mechanisms are all key components. I think those outside our industry are surprised to learn that most of the technology being deployed and used hasnt just magically developed since COVID appeared  its all been about choosing the most suitable components and technology that already existed albeit with a few development tweaks or adjustments for the situation at hand. This includes using or installing facial recognition readers rather than using fingerprint or contact tokens, it is swapping to automatic request to exit sensors instead of buttons; it is using powered secure doors rather than having people all grab the same handle. Using mobile credentials is also a key technology choice  why not use the highly secure, easy to manage, cost-effective, and of course contact-free benefits of this approach? Touchless solutions We have seen a clear shift in organisations looking to protect their staff and visitors. For instance, we have a big utility customer in Southeast Asia that has just replaced close to 200 sites using fingerprint readers with an additional facial recognition capability. We have also seen a big rise in demand for touchless request to exit sensors and Bluetooth Low Energy Readers for use with smartphone authentication. Working together Integration of security systems is of course nothing new, but in the post-pandemic or endemic age, it has perhaps never been more important. Installations need to be simple, straightforward, and rapid to help maintain safe distancing but also to ensure systems can be deployed as soon as they are needed. The world is changing and developing rapidly and there is simply no place for systems that dont work with others or cause the end-user considerable cost and inconvenience to upgrade. This flexible delivery of security solutions perfectly matches the evolving and increasing demands of the market. Its clear that end-users want systems that work well and can easily integrate with their existing systems  not only security but all the other business components which work in unison with each other over a shared network. Great opportunities ahead The recent work-from-home trend is also clearly changing the way organisations and businesses interact with the built environment. Lots of companies are downsizing, offices are being split up, there is lots of revitalisation and reuse of existing office space  all of which creates considerable opportunities for security providers. UK inflation more than doubled in April 2021 with unemployment figures dropping and the Pound rising in value There are also, in the UK at least, clear signs that the construction industry is rapidly growing again -with a forecast of 8% rebound and growth this year. UK inflation more than doubled in April 2021 with unemployment figures dropping and the Pound rising in value  all positive signs for UK-based security providers. Undoubtedly the highly successful UK vaccination rollout has helped considerably, but there are signs that the Eurozone looks set to improve considerably over the next few months as well. Using integrated access control Undoubtedly the pandemic has made security markets around the world more aware of the benefits of integrated access control in managing the needs of the new normal COVID endemic environment. For example, as a business, we have always had keen interest from the UK healthcare sector, but over the last 12 months, we have seen a big growth in previously modest international markets including Morocco, Kuwait, Bahrain, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand  all of which are very keen to adopt improved access control solutions. Learning the lessons Nobody would deny the last year or so has been unprecedentedly tough on everyone, as a society we have had to make huge changes and sacrifices. Governments, organisations, and businesses all need to be better prepared in the future, to understand the things that went wrong and those that were successful. However, there is a world beyond the immediate pandemic and its effects. Flexible working practices and the changes these will have to the way we live and work will undoubtedly present great opportunities for the security sector in helping the world evolve. The pandemic has been a wake-up call for many organisations with regards to their duty of care to employees  particularly when it comes to mental health and providing a sensible work/life balance. Where we work and the safety of these facilities has received far more scrutiny than before. Flexible security systems Integrated security solutions have a vital role to play in not only protecting the safety of people during the post-lockdown return to work but also in the evolution of the built environment and move towards smart cities - which inevitably will now need to consider greater flexibility in securing home working spaces rather than just traditional places of work. Importantly, powerful access control and integrated security systems need to be flexible to the uncertainties ahead. The COVID pandemic has shown that nothing can be considered certain, except the need for greater flexibility and resilience in the way we operate our professional and personal interactions.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 19:04:37|Editor: huaxia

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An oil well is seen on fire in Bai Hassan oil field in the al-Dibis area northwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, some 250 km north of the capital Baghdad, Iraq, May 5, 2021. The militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group on Wednesday attacked an oil field in Iraq's Kirkuk Province, killing two security members and blowing up two oil wells, a government statement and provincial security source said. (Xinhua)

BAGHDAD, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group on Wednesday attacked an oil field in Iraq's Kirkuk Province, killing two security members and blowing up two oil wells, a government statement and provincial security source said.

A statement by the media office of the Iraqi Ministry of Oil said IS militants blew up two oil wells and set them ablaze in Bai Hassan oil field in the al-Dibis area northwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, some 250 km north of the capital Baghdad.

The attack resulted in the killing and wounding of some security forces, the statement added, without giving further details.

Teams and firefighting vehicles of the Iraqi North Oil Company managed to extinguish one well and are working to extinguish the other.

Meanwhile, Issam al-Bayati from the provincial police told Xinhua that IS militants attacked Bai Hassan oil field at dawn and clashed with the security forces guarding the oil field, killing two of them and wounding three others.

Iraq's oil installations and pipelines have been frequently attacked by extremist IS militants despite the improvement of the security situation in the country since the government declared the full defeat of the IS throughout the country late in 2017.

IS remnants have since melted in deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Enditem
Staff reports

South Bend Tribune

SOUTH BEND  Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth (SAFY) presents a sidewalk chalk art contest as part of National Foster Care Awareness Month during this months First Fridays event in downtown South Bend.

First Fridays takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. and also includes South Bend Civic Theatres Fringe Festival, a Studebaker car show, a Friends of the Library Book Sale, Guided Walking Architectural Tours of South Bend and other events.

During the day, local artists will create chalk art, and during the evening, community members may contribute their creations. The first 250 people who stop by the SAFY table will receive blue ribbon stickers.

Photos of chalk art for the contest should be submitted via email to PurnellWilliamsj@Safy.org or by text message to 574-274-8474 by May 21, with voting tabulated based on how many likes each photo receives by May 28 on SAFYs Facebook page.

The contest promotes the national theme of Foster Care as a Support to Families, Not a Substitute for Parents.

Indiana has more than 12,000 youth in care, but there are not enough foster parents available to provide safe and loving living environments for them until they are able to be reunited with their family of birth. The average age of youth in care is 9, and many youths are in sibling groups.

For more information about SAFY, visit safy.org/indiana/Mishawaka.
Joseph Dits

South Bend Tribune

Welcome to the height of migratory bird season, a fleeting time when, if youre observant, you may spy a bright golden warbler in a tree or bush.

Mid-May is the heavy traveling season for such songbirds. Several species wear an array of yellow, brown, gray and black feathers  among other palettes  with equally colorful names, including Cape May warbler, Nashville warbler, chestnut-sided warbler and magnolia warbler. Not to forget songs and calls as varied as an orchestras instruments.

We enjoy this often-hidden spectacle for just a few weeks until theyve all rushed northward to their summer breeding grounds.

Its a brain teaser to hear, see and differentiate one from the other, which is why were lucky to have two large regional festivals to help us learn how. More on the fests return from the pandemic in just a minute.

Among the migrants who stay a while, orioles and hummingbirds appeared locally over the past week. You can attract orioles by setting out bits of grape jelly or half of an orange on your feeders. Be patient. It can take days or years before orioles find your spring treats, but then theyll be regulars.

Its also birthing season for year-round residents. Three out of four peregrine falcon eggs have hatched, as of Tuesday, in their nest atop the County-City Building in downtown South Bend. The first one hatched last week, and the other two broke through over the weekend. The two adult falcons had laid the eggs in late March. Watch them live via the falcon camera at falcam.southbendin.gov, though youll want to scroll back the video to find those rare moments when the adult isnt hovering over the little ones.

Big warm winds out of the south this past weekend pushed up many of the migratory birds, and this weekend could see another push, Brad Bumgardner, a key organizer of the upcoming Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, says.

Theres an amazing nightly forecast map at BirdCast.info that uses weather radar to predict how thick those nocturnal flights will be across the United States. The forecast, run by Colorado State University and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, goes until June 1. Scientists had noticed millions of tiny flecks on the weather radar and, through lots of analysis, learned to figure they were birds and not insects or elements of the weather.

Theyve really refined it; thats my go-to, Bumgardner says.

If you do notice a big BirdCast forecast or prolonged winds coming out of the south, he advises, turn off or minimize your lights at night to ease the birds on their long, overnight flights. The lights can confuse them, causing the birds to circle or run into buildings, Bumgardner, whos executive director of the Indiana Audubon Society, says.

Also, bird experts advise, keep your cats indoors so they arent hunting warblers and other fatigued migrants on their journeys. Its not a fair fight, especially with the ongoing decline of bird species. One study published in the journal Science estimates that, over the past 50 years, North America has lost nearly 3 billion breeding birds, or nearly 30%, raising questions about human impact on ecosystems.

The Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, May 13-16, already has more than 500 people signed up for a mix of car-pooled field trips and virtual tours and talks  perhaps 8% up from 2019, Bumgardner says. Its a year after the pandemic canceled the entire 2020 fest. He says birders are eager for in-person safari trips while The Biggest Week in Birding, happening Thursday through Monday this week in Ohio, is only virtual (biggestweekinamericanbirding.com). It, too, offers several beginner and advanced sessions.

Both festivals take advantage of being near the shores of a Great Lake, where weary migrants gather up to rest and eat before heading across open water.

Bumgardner says the Dunes fest normally draws people from 16 states, but he was getting further-out calls Monday from registrants in Pennsylvania and Oregon.

Today is the last day of registration for in-person field trips at the Indiana Dunes fest, and there are just a few openings left. But registration for the festivals virtual field trips, where theres plenty of room, goes until Friday. You can buy a virtual family pass for $55 covering everyone in your household for all four days. For each Zoom event, you can choose break-out rooms where live individual tours and talks will be taking place. Duck in and out of the rooms if, say, theres a lull in a tours bird activity. Zoom sets a maximum of 500 total participants at a time. Find details at indunesbirdingfestival.com.

The sessions will range from bird banding in the Dunes to live talks from Costa Rica and Ecuador.

Bumgardner is optimistic for this first-time approach of livestreaming but admits, I dont know how this is going to go; I dont know if we will see birds.

Two events require no registration or fee. One is the Migration Marketplace from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT at the Indiana Dunes Visitors Center, 1215 N. Indiana 49, Porter, 1 mile north of Interstate 94. Held outside under tents, it will feature vendors on birding, conservation, travel, and binoculars and other optics. A native plant sale will include such species as royal catchfly, milkweed, wild columbine and black-eyed Susan and mini-workshops. One of the fests headliner speakers will give an hour-long talk at 11:30 a.m. CDT daily at the center.

The other free event is the Youth & Family Day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT May 15 at the Indiana Dunes State Park nature center with birding hikes on the hour and workshops on sketching and identifying birds and building birdhouses, plus food trucks.

Gone wild

 Birding Bunch: Sarett Nature Center will lead a group on a birding hike at Warren Dunes State Park from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday. There will be another session May 22 at a different site. Bring binoculars. Cost is $7. Register first at 269-927-4832.

 Miller Woods hike: The Harbor Country Hikers will explore Miller Woods in the Indiana Dunes National Park at 1 p.m. CDT Saturday. A park ranger will talk about the oak savannas grasses and wildflowers. There will be a shorter, less challenging hike, too, plus the option of an ADA-accessible trail. Meet at Miller Woods at 100 N. Lake St., Gary, north of U.S. 12.

 Heron Rookery wildflowers: Join a ranger from the Indiana Dunes National Park on one of two ranger-guided hikes for 1.5 hours Saturday in this section of the park southwest of Michigan City. Call 219-395-1882 to reserve a spot. Limited to 10 people.

 Morel mushrooms: Earth and Arbor Day organizer Diana Mendelsohn will lead a free, hour-long walk at 9 a.m. May 15 at Clay Township Park in South Bend for adults to look for mushrooms. In case of rain, it will be at 1 p.m. May 16. Shell walk by a river trail and look out for wildflowers and birds, too. Bring a bag, gloves and bug spray. Register with her first at greenearthbikerental@gmail.com or 574-277-7456.

 High school camp: High school students can spend June 7-11 camping at and exploring a Goshen College nature preserve, but they need to apply by Friday, including a letter of recommendation. Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, between Goshen and Fort Wayne, will host the Conservation Leadership School where students will canoe, sample wetlands for critters and get a taste of careers in botany, land management and sustainable farming. Cost is $25. Apply at www.goshen.edu/merrylea/cls.

 Love Creek fat bikes: A handful of small, medium and large fat bikes finally arrived last week at Love Creek County Park in Berrien Center. The Borealis fat bikes will be available year-round for rent and are in addition to the nature centers mountain bikes. Fat bikes rent for $15 per hour or $25 for two hours. Mountain bike rentals cost $10 per hour and are free for ages 15 and younger who are accompanied by an adult. Theyre available from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Reservations are recommended at 269-471-2617. The park has 3.5 miles of marked trails for riding.
Mary Shown

South Bend Tribune

This story was originally published May 5, 2021 in the South Bend Tribune.

Willie Dearing was tired of the beauty supply store options in the area. For years, she noticed that the personable touch that she and other Black women wanted when shopping for wigs and hair products was simply not there.

They have everything you would want to look for in a beauty supply store, but they have no personal understanding of what theyre selling, Dearing said. The people who own the hair stores or sell wigs to Black women, they have cosmetics and things that women wear, but theyre all men.

So she began to talk with family and friends about whether they would support a business owned and operated by a Black woman and said she got an overwhelmingly positive response. As a woman in her early 60s, she said she has already had a career and is currently attending Indiana University South Bend and taking poetry classes. But this seemed to be a new adventure and one she increasingly fell in love with.

The thought just overwhelmed me and kept coming to me that you need to open a beauty supply store, she said.

Dearing will host a grand opening for Beauty Hive Beauty Supply at 217 S. Michigan St. in downtown South Bend this Saturday. Her store, complete with a variety of wigs and hair products, will be in the same building as The Pigeon and The Hen Pottery, but will be located on the second floor of the building. Customers will have to navigate through hallways and upstairs to find the modest retail rooms, and Dearing admits its a bit of an inconvenience, but she has signs directing traffic.

Hopefully, Ill be here a year or two and then I can get my own storefront, she said.

Inside one room are neatly stacked and organized hair products, such as moisturizing shampoos, conditioner, braiding gels and hairspray. Next door are a variety of wigs that vary in color, texture, length and styling.

To make sure customers get the right wig and right experience, Dearing said, she starts by asking them what they are looking for in a wig and how they like to style their hair. The more descriptive, the better. Dearing said shell be able to accommodate a variety of options varying from traditional style to lace front wigs with prices ranging from about $20 to $60.

Im only going to have the best ones, she said.

Dearing said she will also help customers by teaching them how to care for their wigs and will install and shape if need be. With a vanity furniture piece located in her office, Dearing said, she can provide the full service of cutting it, shaping it and getting them ready.

Beauty Hive Beauty Supply will be open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Have you heard?

West Side Wednesday will have its first in-person event from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today at Taqueria Chicago, 2920 W. Western Ave. The networking event is casual, so reservations are not required and there is no agenda.  BGB Designs Boutique opened a brick and mortar store in the Heritage Square Shopping Center last month. The boutique offers womens clothing, jewelry and other accessories. Customers can also shop online at bethsglambag.com.  New seafood boil restaurant Teras Tasty House of Krabz has opened at 209 S. Michigan St. in downtown South Bend. The restaurant offers crab boils with shrimp, sausage, potatoes, egg and corn, as well as shrimp, grits and pasta. It is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.
South Bend Tribune report

South Bend Tribune

In a special election, voters in Elkhart did not favor a referendum for the Elkhart Community Schools Tuesday.

The referendum would have brought $122 million over eight years.

Unofficial results show 3,766 voted against the referendum versus 2,075 in favor.
South Bend Tribune

SOUTH BEND  South Bend schools is celebrating the launch of its participation in a state certification program for high school health sciences instruction.

South Bends health sciences program, housed at Clay High School, is joining the State Earn and Learn, or SEAL, certification program, which allows high school students to directly enter the workforce with internship, job shadowing or other hands-on experience.

The SEAL certification program is supported through federal funding.

During the pandemic, South Bend students have earned this experience through partnerships with local assisted living organizations like Creekside Village, Home Instead home care and Grand Emerald Place, according to a district news release.

Students from all South Bend Community School Corp. high schools may participate in the health sciences program, which is a part of the districts Career and Technical Education studies.

The program allows students to earn certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant while still in high school through a dual credit partnership with Ivy Tech Community College.

Educators and community partners will join South Bend CTE students for a press conference next week.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 19:20:24|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Indian delegation in Britain for the meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign and development ministers here is self-isolating as two members of the delegation tested positive for COVID-19, Sky News reported on Wednesday.

The meeting that runs from Monday until Wednesday is attended by officials from G7 member states and representatives from the European Union, India, as well as Australia, South Korea and South Africa.

Two Indian delegation members tested positive on Tuesday, according to the Sky News report.

The India delegation was originally scheduled to attend meetings in-person on Wednesday, and they will now join in virtually, the report said.

The BBC quoted Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar as saying that he was made aware of "exposure to possible Covid positive cases".

He met British Home Secretary Priti Patel in-person on Tuesday, but will now carry out all meetings virtually, according to the BBC. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 19:42:23|Editor: huaxia

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Medical workers prepare to get people inoculated with COVID-19 vaccines in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 3, 2021. (Photo by Veri Sanovri/Xinhua)

-- Thailand's tally continues to rise by over 2,000 daily cases;

-- India reports over 380,000 new cases, tally at 20,665,148;

-- Majority of Australians think vaccine rollout not going well;

-- Singapore tightens pandemic control measures amid rising infections.

HONG KONG, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia-Pacific countries on Wednesday:

JAKARTA -- The COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 5,285 within one day to 1,691,658, with the death toll adding by 212 to 46,349, the Health Ministry said.

According to the ministry, 5,943 more people were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 1,547,092.

People enter a supermarket ahead of a curfew in Suva, Fiji, April 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Yongxing)

SUVA -- Fiji reported four new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 125 in the island nation.

A doctor checks a COVID-19 patient at a hospital in Kandahar city, Afghanistan, April 6, 2021. (Photo by Sanaullah Seiam/Xinhua)

KABUL -- A total of 365 new COVID-19 positive cases have been registered in Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, bringing the tally to 61,162 in the country, the Ministry of Public Health said in a statement.

A man disinfects a closed market in Luang Prabang, Laos, April 27, 2021. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

VIENTIANE -- The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control of Laos urged people countrywide to keep their guard up against the COVID-19 outbreak.

Workers transport Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka, March 31, 2021. (Sri Lankan President Media Division/Handout via Xinhua)

COLOMBO -- The total number of COVID-19 infected patients in Sri Lanka surpassed the 115,000-mark after over 1,800 new patients were identified a day earlier, statistics from the Health Ministry showed.

According to official figures, the total number of positive patients reached 115,590, out of which 99,163 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals, and 709 deaths have been reported from the virus.

People wearing protective masks wait to get inoculated with the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines in Manila, the Philippines on May 1, 2021. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali)

MANILA -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported 5,685 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total tally to 1,073,555.

The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the emergency use authorization for Moderna's vaccine against COVID-19, FDA Director General Enrique Domingo said.

Buddhists go to the Ounalom Pagoda during the first day of the three-day Khmer New Year holiday amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on April 14, 2021. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua)

PHNOM PENH -- Cambodia's COVID-19 cases climbed to 16,971 after 672 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement.

The new infections included 667 local cases and five imported cases, the statement said.

A vendor sells fish at a market in Bangkok, Thailand, April 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

BANGKOK -- Thailand's new confirmed COVID-19 cases and fatalities continued to mount as the country grappled with its worst coronavirus outbreak so far.

The country reported 2,112 new cases, taking the total caseload to 74,900, with 15 additional fatalities and a total death toll of 318, the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangsan said.

People line up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine outside a vaccination center in Male, Maldives, on March 15, 2021. (Xinhua)

MALE -- The government of the Maldives has extended an ongoing State of Public Health Emergency as daily case counts in the country crossed 600 amid a surge of new COVID-19 infections, local media reported.

A circular signed by Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem said that a State of Public Health Emergency, first declared on March 12, 2020, will once again be extended until June 3.

Photo taken on May 1, 2021 shows the empty road during the lockdown imposed to curb the COVID-19 infections in Kathmandu, Nepal. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua)

KATHMANDU -- Nepal's two major government-run hospitals based in the capital Kathmandu have been facing an oxygen supply shortage, authorities said.

Photo taken on April 23, 2021 shows people at the COVID-19 vaccination centre in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Hu Jingchen/Xinhua)

SYDNEY/CANBERRA -- Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) was on alert as a new locally acquired COVID-19 case was confirmed in Sydney. Urgent investigations into the source of the infection and contact tracing are underway, said the state health department.

Almost two-thirds of Australians think the country's COVID-19 vaccine rollout is not going well, a survey has found.

Researchers from Australian National University (ANU) on Wednesday published the latest report from an ongoing survey of more than 3,000 adults' attitudes towards the pandemic and vaccine rollout.

A patient gets oxygen support as a primary treatment inside an ambulance while waiting for admission inside a hospital in Ahmedabad, India, on May 3, 2021. (Str/Xinhua)

NEW DELHI -- India's COVID-19 tally reached 20,665,148 with as many as 382,315 new cases registered during the past 24 hours, confirmed the federal health ministry.

Besides, 3,780 deaths were also reported, taking the death toll to 226,188.

A medical worker directs people to receive COVID-19 test in Hwaseong of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, March 14, 2021. (Photo by Seo Yu-Seok/Xinhua)

SEOUL -- South Korea reported 676 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Tuesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 124,945.

The daily caseload was up from 541 the previous day, rising above 600 in three days.

Aerial photo taken on April 19, 2021 shows a flight carrying the first batch of passengers from Australia after the opening of quarantine-free travel arriving in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Mark Tantrum/Xinhua)

WELLINGTON -- New Zealand reported three new cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation and no new cases in the community.

The three newly imported cases came from the United Arab Emirates, and have remained in managed isolation and quarantine facilities in Auckland, according to the Ministry of Health.

People walk on a road in the forest of Singapore's Central Catchment Nature Reserve on April 21, 2021. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

SINGAPORE -- Singapore Tuesday rolled out a slew of tightened measures against COVID-19, in line with the local and global COVID-19 situation.

Starting from 2359 hours May 7, all new travelers arriving from higher risk countries or regions will be subject to 21-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) instead of 14 days at dedicated SHN facilities, said the Ministry of Health in a statement.
Karen Clark was a Minnesota legislator for 30 years and served as chair of the state House Housing Committee for 10 years. Andy Dawkins served in the Minnesota Legislature for 15 years and was the director of the city of St. Paul's neighborhood housing and property improvement.
Burlington County Medical Reserve Corps nurse Dory Smith, left, and Virtua Health nurse Janet Bader were on a homebound vaccination visit when they assisted an elderly woman who had apparently fallen overnight and unable to call for assistance.
Medford, NJ (08055)

Today

Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 89F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

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Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 21:19:10|Editor: huaxia

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LANZHOU, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Cao Yunshan, 41, represents the best hope for many pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients in China, especially those in the remote rural areas of northwest China's Gansu Province.

A post-doctoral fellow at the Harvard Medical School, Cao returned to China in 2016, shouldering the responsibility of curing patients suffering great pain.

PH is known as the "cancer" of the cardiopulmonary vascular system. With difficulty breathing due to a lack of oxygen in the lungs, many patients are unable to walk even a short distance or climb stairs. To make matters worse, PH is often misdiagnosed or mistaken owing to its common symptoms with other illnesses.

China has an estimate of 5 to 8 million PH patients, and morbidity is higher in high-altitude and rural areas, according to Cao.

Cao has saved many PH patients while serving as the deputy director of the cardiovascular department at Gansu Provincial Hospital. One patient had been misdiagnosed and his PH had developed into severe heart failure before he sought help from Cao. After consultation and procedure, Cao's team eventually cured the patient and the case was published in an internationally renowned journal.

Cao also holds seminars in the hospital to help his colleagues familiarize themselves with the disease, which has greatly reduced the misdiagnosis rate.

Cao's return has filled the gap in PH treatment in the province, where patients used to seek treatment in big cities such as Beijing or Shanghai.

Cao is committed to promoting standardized PH diagnosis and treatment. He has traveled to all 10 cities and prefectures in the province, training grassroots doctors while holding free consultations.

On May 5 each year, World PH Day, he contacts many hospitals and personnel from all walks of life to undertake consultations and raise public awareness of the disease.

In 2018, the hospital set up a specialized department for PH, which had provided standardized treatment for more than 600 patients. Cao's team is often invited by hospitals in Beijing, Sichuan and other localities to assist in treatment.

Cao is now leading two teams to develop new treatment methods and research how to improve patient recovery.

"I hope to train more doctors who can take charge of treatment on their own, so that more patients can breathe freely," he said. Enditem
Success with the vaccine program has driven the statewide total of hospitalizations to the lowest point in six months as officials continue to express that Connecticut is making progress against the COVID-19 pandemic amid a broader easing of restrictions.

Hospitalizations have been a crucial metric weighed when Gov. Ned Lamont and his administration gauge whether the state is ready to ease back toward what he has called a new normal.

While hospitalizations rose and then remained somewhat flat through parts of April, Lamont announced a universal lifting of business restrictions by May 19. Since then, hospitalizations have largely dropped.

Last weekend, Connecticut saw a sharp drop in overall hospitalizations with 41 fewer patients to bring the statewide total to 342. The decline comes as Lamont lifted outdoor restrictions on businesses, including a mandate that people wear a mask outdoors.

Lamont said Monday it was the lowest hospitalizations weve had in about six months. State data shows the last time hospitalizations were below 342 was Nov. 1, before climbing steadily through December to a high of 1,262.

Our numbers continue in the right direction ... some of those trends hopefully are being reinforced because of each and every one of you, Lamont said of the COVID metrics, including hospitalizations. We are making progress.

Lamont credited the progress with the continued efforts to vaccinate all adults in Connecticut.

Connecticut became the first state in the nation to have 50 percent of all residents age 18 and older fully vaccinated.

After increasing by one net patient on Tuesday, hospitalizations again fell Wednesday by a net of 10 patients for a total of 333. The positivity rate for new COVID-19 tests was 2.6 percent and seven more people died for a total of 8,124 fatalities, according to the states data.

Though numbers are low, most hospitalizations remain concentrated in New Haven, Fairfield and Hartford counties, the latest state figures show.

At Yale New Haven Health, one of the states largest hospital networks, cases have dropped swiftly in the past several weeks.

We are starting to see our COVID cases decline, Yale New Haven Health CEO Marna Borgstrom said. Theres a tendency on many peoples parts to say are we actually coming out of this.

Borgstrom and others credited the declining COVID hospitalizations to the states vaccination efforts, particularly among older residents.

As of Monday, the state said 1.9 million people had received a first dose of the vaccine and nearly 1.4 million people were fully vaccinated.

Vaccinations appear to be having a similar impact on the number of people hospitalized across Hartford HealthCares network of hospitals.

Dr. Ajay Kumar, HHCs chief clinical officer, said Tuesday there were a total of 93 hospitalizations across the network.

This is one of the lower numbers weve seen in several weeks, Im encouraged by that, Kumar said.

Of those who are hospitalized, 20 are in intensive care and one requires a ventilator, Kumar said. Mirroring the statewide statistics, the highest number of cases were Hartford Hospital and the Hospital of Central Connecticut, which is in Hartford County, and St. Vincents Hospital in Bridgeport.

We have seen that vaccines have really lowered the hospitalizations and are reducing the mortality, Kumar said.

Since the onset of the vaccination program late last year, Kumar said there has been only one hospitalization of someone vaccinated, but for an unrelated reason, and no vaccinated patients have died.

Vaccines really work, he said.

Dr. Jeff Nicastro, chief medical officer system chairman of surgery for Nuvance Health, which includes Danbury, Norwalk, New Milford and Sharon hospitals, said the system has seen a drop in hospitalizations, and like others, credited the vaccination efforts.

Nuvance Health hospitals are encouraged by the steady decline in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 over the past several weeks, Nicastro said. We can attribute some of this decline to COVID-19 vaccines and how effective they are at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from the virus.

He said its great news that half of Connecticuts adult population has been fully vaccinated, but more work needs to be done.

Now that access to COVID-19 vaccines has expanded, we hope individuals will continue to get vaccinated if they have not already to protect themselves and reduce transmission of COVID-19 in their community, Nicastro said.
Milton, PA (17847)

Today

Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. High 87F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by a few showers overnight. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has sent a message of condolence to the family, relatives and friends of John Khabeko Etemesi who died on April 26 at his Sibanga home in Cherengany, Trans Nzoia County.

The late John Etemesi, 90, served the country as a Provincial Commissioner during the era of the late President Daniel arap Moi.

In his message of encouragement and comfort, President Kenyatta described the late Etemesi as a loyal and patriotic Kenyan who served the country with commitment and great dedication.

Mzee John Etemesi was a humble man, diligent and hard-working public servant who left an indelible mark in all the regions of our country where he was posted to serve.

Mzee Etemesi was a highly effective administrator who mentored many people in the public service to become excellent servant leaders, the President eulogised.

The President prayed to God to give strength and fortitude to the family of the former administrator as they come to terms with his demise.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 21:26:42|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenya should implement global and local action plans aimed at revitalizing the maternal, children and adolescent health agenda that has taken a back seat amid COVID-19 disruptions, campaigners said on Wednesday during a virtual event to mark International Day of the Midwife.

Mercy Onsando, CEO of Health NGOs Network (HENNET), said that Kenya should prioritize investments in the health of women, children and youth as the country embarks on pandemic recovery.

"The government should avail sufficient resources to ensure that provision of maternal and infant health services is seamless after disruptions caused by the pandemic," said Onsando.

"Continuity of essential sexual, reproductive, maternal and infant health services will be key to strengthening our resilience to shocks associated with COVID-19 pandemic," she added.

Kenyan grassroots campaigners marked the International Day of the Midwife 2021 with a call for renewed commitment from the government, private sector and lenders to scale up high-impact interventions that aim to reduce maternal and infant deaths.

Onsando said the 2021 edition of International Day of Midwife whose theme is "Follow the Data: Invest in mid-wives", served as a wake-up call for Kenyan policymakers to rally behind innovative programs that advance safe motherhood.

"Bold actions from the government and other partners are required to promote sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls, prevent unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions that leads to death," said Onsando.

Kenya was among African countries that signed up to a new funding commitment to advance the health of women, children and adolescents at a forum organized by global health advocacy networks in December 2020.

The East African nation endorsed four sweeping commitments to revitalize maternal, infant and adolescent health through improving access to contraceptives, safe deliveries and nutritional support.

Onsando said that policymakers have a duty to ensure the commitments to advancing maternal, new-born and adolescent health are implemented through provision of adequate funds, harnessing of technology and training of community health workers.

Elizabeth Muchoki, advocacy manager at HENNET, said that a dialogue between policymakers, financiers and grassroots campaigners is urgent to help revitalize the maternal and infant health agenda during the pandemic era.

Muchoki said Kenya has made a firm commitment to promoting health of women, children and adolescents in spite of the COVID-19 disruptions.

"We need to hold dialogue with key stakeholders to ensure that maternal and infant health is high on our national priorities. Accountability is key to realize this goal," said Muchoki. Enditem


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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 22:51:27|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that Israel's divisive policies concerning the relationships between regional countries will fail, official IRNA news agency reported.

The Israelis were trying to divide relations between Iran and some countries of the region and to claim that "your problem is Iran," Rouhani said in the cabinet meeting.

Their attempts to divide Iran and other regional states are "on the course of final failure," he noted.

Iran has always been ready for talks "at any level and in any form" with its neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, to settle issues, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Monday.

Dialogues among the countries of the region and between Iran and Saudi Arabia will result in more peace, stability and progress, he noted. Enditem
Hazleton, PA (18201)

Today

Thunderstorms. Heavy and torrential downpours at times. High 82F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 23:58:38|Editor: huaxia

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SOFIA -- Bulgaria is to hold a new parliamentary election on July 11, after attempts by parties to form a government failed, President Rumen Radev said on Wednesday.

Both of "There Is Such A People," the second largest party in the parliament, and Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the third largest party in the parliament, refused the proposal by the president to form a government. (Bulgaria-Election)

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MOGADISHU -- Three people were killed and another was injured in a roadside explosion in Mogadishu's Kahda district on Wednesday, a police officer who declined to be named told Xinhua.

The police said the massive explosion happened when a vehicle in which the occupants were traveling ran over a landmine planted alongside the road. (Somalia-Explosion)

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TEHRAN -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that the regime of U.S. anti-Iran sanctions has been shattered, official IRNA news agency reported.

"As the head of the (Iranian) government, I declare to the people that the sanctions have been broken and if we are united, the sanctions will be lifted soon," Rouhani was quoted as saying. (Iran-US-Sanctions)

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NEW DELHI -- A third wave of COVID-19 outbreak is inevitable in India given the higher levels of the circulating virus, said Principal Scientific Advisor to India's Federal Government K. Vijay Raghavan on Wednesday.

"But it is not clear on what time scale this phase three will occur. We should prepare for new waves. New variants will arise all over the world and in India too but variants that increase transmission will likely plateau," he told media persons. (India-COVID-19) Enditem
As many as 35 cases of COVID-19 have been detected in Indian nationals working in the city of Popesti-Leordeni, Ilfov County, near Bucharest, according to a press release from the National Institute of Public Health (INSP).

On 1 May, the Ilfov Public Health Directorate informed the National Institute of Public Health - National Center for Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control (INSP - CNSCBT) about an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection detected in 9 citizens of the Republic of India employees of a company based in Popesti-Leordeni.

They had arrived in the country at Henri Coanda-Otopeni Airport on 20 April, presenting negative RT-PCR tests.According to an internal company procedure, the 9 employees went directly into quarantine for 5 days, following to be tested preventively before entering the community.INSP states that on 26 April, they were detected with SARS-CoV-2 following rapid antigen tests.DSP (Public Health Directorate) Ilfov also informed that 26 other foreign nationals from the Republic of India, employees of another company operating in Popesti-Leordeni, were detected with SARS-CoV-2 following a test with rapid antigen tests on 19 and 20 April.According to INSP, out of the 35 people who were confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, 19 people are currently hospitalized, of whom 18 at the Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases in Bucharest and one at the Matei Bals National Institute for Infectious Diseases of Bucharest.The other 16 people who tested positive for the rapid test are still in solitary confinement in Popesti-Leordeni, according to the same source.On 30 April, patients admitted to the Victor Babes Clinical Hospital for Infectious and Tropical Diseases were sampled for RT-PCR screening and sequencing. On 3 May, the Cantacuzino Institute reported positive sequencing results to the INSP for the British version in 3 patients, as well as for an Indian version, other than the one that caused the current epidemiological situation in India, to 7 other patients. Another 5 patients were positive for variant B.1.127, which is not a cause for concern. In 3 cases, the samples have an inconclusive low viral load, the quoted source states.
The donation of 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine for the Republic of Moldova was approved at Government's meeting on Wednesday, Prime Minister Florin Citu announced, adding that details have been prepared to donate 100,000 doses also to Ukraine.

"In today's Government meeting, we approved a draft government decision by which we donate another 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to the Republic of Moldova and we also prepared the details to donate 100,000 doses of vaccine to Ukraine. Starting this week, I think there was only one more signature to be given, but as of this week we can sell doses of AstraZeneca vaccine in the Republic of Moldova, 200,000 doses per month, that was the discussion with the Republic of Moldova," he told a press conference held at Victoria Palace, agerpres.ro confirms.
Adjusting the budget of Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) from 42 billion euros to 29.2 billion euros has also involved changing the allocations for the Educated Romania project, which will get 3.7 billion euros, or 12% of the PNRR, according to a joint statement of Minister of Investment and Projects Cristian Ghinea and Minister of Education Sorin Mihai Cimpeanu.

"The ruling coalition considers education a priority area for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and it is the reason why the agreed option now allocates for the Educated Romania over 12% of the 29.2 billion euros. Adjusting the PNRR budget from 42 billion euros to 29.2 billion euros also meant an adjustment of the allocations for the Educated Romania project. PNRR has an allocation for education well above the European average," the two ministers underline in a Facebook post.

They mention that the budget of the Educated Romania, which is now being negotiated on with the European Commission, is 3.7 billion euros, a budget that includes 314 million euros for the equipping of 10,000 school laboratories; the largest programme to reduce school dropouts (530 million euros); refurbishing university campuses (300 million euros); campuses and reform of dual education (402 million euros)."It is a massive effort to finance education under PNRR; we are working together to finalise negotiations with the European Commission and the Educated Romania component remains one of the PNRR champions," the ministers point out.Ghinea announced a week ago that the ruling coalition agreed to earmark 29 billion euros for PNRR. Romania will submit its National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) on May 31.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 00:09:19|Editor: huaxia

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KATHMANDU -- Nepal on Wednesday reported the highest number of new fatalities and infections from COVID-19 for the third day in a row as the situation keeps aggravating in the Himalayan country.

As per the data released by Nepal's Ministry of Health and Population on Wednesday, a total of 58 people died and 8,659 people were infected with the coronavirus in the last 24 hours. It was the first time that the country's daily COVID-19 cases surpassed 8,000. (Nepal-COVID-19)

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NEW DELHI -- India's central bank - the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday announced fresh liquidity of 50,000 crore Indian Rupees (around 6.7 billion U.S. dollars) for ramping up COVID-19 related healthcare infrastructure and services in the country.

In a bid to combat the deteriorating COVID-19 situation in the country, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das announced a slew of measures to boost fund flow to the healthcare sector and ease the pain of small borrowers and units. (India-Central bank-Liquidity)

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NEW DELHI -- India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who is presently in London, Britain for the Group of Seven (G7) foreign and development ministers' meeting, said Wednesday that he has possibly been exposed to COVID-19 cases and will conduct his engagements virtually.

"Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible COVID-19 positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 meeting today as well," Jaishankar wrote on social media.

The Indian delegation was self-isolating after two delegation members tested positive. (India-FM-COVID-19)

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MANILA -- The Philippines will ban travelers from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka from May 7 in efforts to prevent the spread of the highly infectious COVID-19 variant first found in India, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said on Wednesday.

In a memorandum, Medialdea said all passengers coming from or who have been to these countries within 14 days shall be prohibited from entering the Philippines from May 7 to 14. (Philippines-Travel-Ban)

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MANILA -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) expressed optimism on Wednesday that the Asia-Pacific region can emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic "even stronger than before" by focusing on five areas to help achieve a "prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future."

"I believe the path we have laid out will help lead our region out of these uncertain times," ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa said in remarks to the ADB Board of Governors at its 54th annual meeting. (Philippines-ADB-COVID-19) Enditem
Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Wednesday welcomed Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Romania Arthur Mattli, the discussion between the two taking place including in the context of celebrating, on May 9, 110 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

On this occasion, Aurescu discussed with Ambassador Mattli the existing opportunities for strengthening and diversifying the political dialogue and hailed the bilateral trade level, which in 2020 neared 1.6 billion dollars, increasing about 30 percent from the previous year, as well as the enhanced interest of Swiss companies in investing in Romania, a Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) release sent to AGERPRES reads.

Moreover, he encouraged the consolidation of sectoral cooperation, including in areas such as cyber security and others.

At the same time, Minister Aurescu thanked for the Swiss Confederation's support to Romania's goal of joining the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. They also reviewed the latest developments within the EU and the Swiss Confederation relation, agerpres.ro confirms.

Aurescu saluted the positive impact of the Swiss contribution to EU's cohesion fund, including for Romania, and the Swiss side voiced satisfaction on the results and high level of absorption of Swiss funding in Romania, the release also reads.
A convergence programme was approved at Tuesday's government meeting that contains reforms pledged by the government in areas such as the state pension system, public pay, state-owned companies, and public administration, Prime Minister Florin Citu announced on Wednesday.

"At today's government meeting we approved the Convergence Programme of Romania, which is very important because at this moment we already have a tax and budget strategy, we have the convergence programme and we will have a national recovery and resilience plan (PNRR). All of them include reforms undertaken by the incumbent government in the pension system, payroll, state-owned companies, and public administration. All these reforms are found in these programmes as well. Important: This convergence programme appears before the approval of the recovery and resilience plan, which shows that this government is clear about wanting reform, and you will see these reforms in PNRR as well," Citu told a news conference at the Government House.

He mentioned having discussed with the ministers the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, asking them for direct involvement in its finalisation as soon as possible, agerpres.ro confirms.

"At the end of the meeting, we had a discussion with the whole government on PNRR and what we will discuss next week in Brussels, and I asked the ministers once again for direct involvement, at this moment, in finishing up the plan as soon as possible," said Citu.
Insurers would agree with more acceptable conditions for farmers if the latters would all be ensured, because, if there are a few, companies are hesitant or impose conditions which cannot always be accepted, the Minister of Agriculture Adrian Oros declared on Tuesday evening, for private TV broadcaster B1TV, reports Agerpres.

"Insurers would accept more acceptable conditions for farmers if all farmers would be insured. Then we would ask for all risk types to be insured, so that there is a balance. (...) We have a measure, Measure 17.1, which we greatly simplified, through which we pay 75% of the insurance policy. This is European money, there are sums which we will include in the 2021-2027 exercise, just so that they can gain this exercise. We simplified the scheme so that they only needed to show up with their ID card, their bank account, their insurance policy and the receipt. There were more insurance polices last year then in the previous years. We saved sums for Measure 17.1, but I repeat, the insurance companies, if those ensured are few, or those who wish to be insured are few, especially for the drought periods, are reluctant or impose some conditions which cannot always be accepted by farmers," Oros explained.

The minister highlighted that compensations are not a long-term solution, like a complex insurance system would be, so in this sense there was a discussion last year with the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF), with insurers and farming associations, discussion which was resumed at the beginning of this year."If there was a general type of insurance, where all risk types would be insured, but to have the entire agricultural surface and all farmers to participate, then the insurance conditions would be more acceptable, those imposed by insurance companies. All farmers could get insurance and when they would need to, they would be compensated. Certainly, this is a solution,"
Prime Minister Florin Citu has announced on Wednesday that he proposed to the interministerial committee that in the offices where all persons are vaccinated against COVID mask wearing no longer be compulsory.

He was asked in a press conference what incentives are taken into account to boost the COVID vaccination, agerpres.ro confirms.

"The best incentive - coming back to normality, a life without mask, where we can move freely, whenever, wherever. This is the best incentive, I don't believe anything else is needed. (...) We offered vaccination centres to companies in Romania, this can be done inside companies. At the same time, there will be another proposal on the table of the interministerial committee, that we made, that in offices, in companies, if all persons are vaccinated against COVID, mask wearing no longer be compulsory, for instance. There are proposals that are on the table and there are these motivations in Romania as well. We'll see later if financial motivations are needed, but I believe we are responsible people and we want to get back to normality as soon as possible," Citu explained after the Government meeting.

The PM mentioned that dropping the protection mask in an office where all persons are vaccinated against COVID could be enforced as of June 1.

"It is a proposal we made to the interministerial committee. It is on the committee's table. We'll see what those with the Health Ministry, those with the Interior Ministry have to say about this. They are all there and we'll see their opinions. It is what I believe can be done if in an office all persons are vaccinated - to be able to stay without a mask," Florin Citu said.

According to the PM, in case the target of 5 million people vaccinated against COVID is not reached by June 1, the restriction measures will not be lifted.

"We shall not lift them. We shall go forward as it has been so far, but I don't believe this will be the case. I believe that our desire, that of Romanians, to come back to normality is much higher than anything else, and we shall get vaccinated and we shall overcome this period," Citu also said.
Prime Minister Florin Citu declared on Wednesday that the sums from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) have been reduced in all chapters, and it amounts to 29 billion euros.

"The initial PNRR, the one with which I went to Brussels, had 42 billion; this has 29 billion. In all chapters the sums were reduced and they were not reduced randomly, they were reduced according to the feedback which I sent to the Commission regarding the projects that were in that PNRR, some of which I transferred to other funding - European funds, on the budget, not because they were not good projects, they are all good projects. Some of them were not in the phase where they could be completed by 2026 and then there was no point in putting them in the PNRR. We put them in another funding, but the projects remain.The projects taken out of Education remain, they are important projects and will be financed either from the budget or through European funds," Citu explained in a press conference at Victoria Palace, when asked about the adjustments at Education.

He indicated that PNRR falls within the 29.2 billion euros that Romania will receive, agerpres.ro confirms.

"This image is solidifying every day, but next week there will be a slightly broader discussion, because there are several things to discuss at the European Commission about PNNR, about a few other things and reforms. The reform part is, in fact, what I want to discuss more with the European Commission. It is very important to this Government that has undertaken reforms and it is very clear that we are sticking to these reforms. You have seen that the rating agencies are already confident that we are moving forward with these reforms and at the European Commission we will also see the excessive deficit negotiations. The reform part must be explained very well," said Citu.

The adjustment of the budget of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan from 42 billion euros to 29.2 billion euros also involved the modification of the allocations for the "Educated Romania" project, which will benefit from 3.7 billion euros, respectively 12% of PNRR, according to a joint statement by Minister of Investments and European Projects Cristian Ghinea and Minister of Education Sorin Cimpeanu.
President Klaus Iohannis will attend the Porto Social Summit, an informal meeting of the European Council, and an EU-India summit meeting via videoconference featuring India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday and Saturday in Porto, Portugal.

According to the Romanian Presidential Administration, the central theme of the Porto Social Summit is the implementation of an action plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights. The event is designed to outline the priorities on the social agenda for the next decade, so as to live up to the challenges of the green and digital transitions.

Iohannis will speak at the second thematic session of the meeting on skills and innovation, the panel "Skills and innovation", informs AgerpesThe agenda of the informal European Council meeting includes the relations between the European Union and India ahead of the EU-India informal summit, as well as the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.The EU-India Summit looks at strengthening co-operation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, reaffirming the interest of both sides in further developing trade relations, promoting effective multilateralism, strengthening co-operation on key challenges to foreign and security policy well as encouraging co-operation in the field of connectivity. Agreement will be thought for a joint EU-India policy statement focusing mainly on the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as on sustainable social, economic and digital recovery.
President Klaus Iohannis will visit the vaccination center at the "Dr. Alexandru Gafencu" Military Emergency Hospital in Constanta on Thursday.

According to the Presidential Administration, the President's visit will take place at 12.00.

The Government announced that Prime Minister Florin Citu will also participate in this visit, agerpres.ro confirms.

On Thursday morning, the prime minister will have a meeting with the representatives of the HORECA sector, at the headquarters of the Constanta Prefecture. Press statements are scheduled at the end of the meeting.

The vaccination centers of the military hospitals in Brasov, Bucharest, Cluj, Constanta, Craiova, Iasi and Timisoara were opened on Tuesday for the general population who want to be immunized against COVID, and the members of the public can be present at any time, without prior appointment.
President Klaus Iohannis will welcome his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, on Monday, at Cotroceni Palace, on the occasion of the official visit the latter will carry out to Romania, the Presidential Administration informs on Wednesday.

The Polish president's visit, following the invitation from his Romanian counterpart, will take place in the context of the 100 year anniversary since closing the Defensive Alliance Convention between the Romanian Kingdom and the Polish Republic, signed on March 3, 1921, a symbolic moment of the bilateral relation.

According to the Presidential Administration, talks between the two high officials will focus on ways of developing and deepening of the bilateral Strategic Partnership, where the cooperation in the security plan, regional as well as international plan will be examined.The source highlights an increased attention towards the security dimension, which has grown substantially in relevance in the last years, the talk on this topic generating mutual benefits for both countries, for our region and for the North-Atlantic Alliance. In this context, there will be reviews regarding the significant results of the cooperation in the area of defence and bilateral relation, within the Bucharest Format (B9), in preparation for the B9 Summit, dur in Bucharest on Monday, as well as within NATO, in the perspective of the allied Summit in the month of June, according to Agerpres.There will also be talks regarding the perspectives of consolidating the economic cooperation between the two countries, given that Poland is one of the most important commercial partners of Romania, the exchanges summing up, in 2020, despite the pandemic, over 7 billion Euro.From the perspective of the Three Seas Initiative, there will be talks regarding implementing strategic regional inter-connection, with a focus on the joint promoted projects of Romania and Poland, which connect the Northern and Southern region, namely Rail2Sea and Via Carpathia.Regarding the relations with the Eastern Vicinity of the European Union, there will be topics tackled such as the regional security situation, as well as boosting and deepening the Eastern Partnership to prepare for its Summit this year.On Tuesday, the two presidents will take part in the day of the distinguished visitors within the "Justice Sword 21" military exercise, to unfold at the Smardan firing range, where Poland is participating with forces and technical means deployed in our country, within the Adapted Presence on the allied Eastern Flank, from the structures of the multinational NATO Brigade in Craiova
Content provided by Soldiers Memorial. The memorial opened with three primary goals  the first to serve as public memorial to St. Louisans who had lost their lives in World War I, the second to serve as museum to hold artifacts of the war, and the third to provide a space that could be used for veteran and public functions.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 00:21:25|Editor: huaxia

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JOHANNESBURG, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The South African police have arrested three persons for defrauding over 5 million rand (over 350,000 U.S. dollars) worth of foodstuffs belonging to World Food Program (WFP) for its humanitarian relief in Malawi, said the police on Wednesday.

The police said the South African Revenue Services (SARS) reported a criminal case of fraud after realizing that something was amiss with the value added taxi involving the three in 2017.

"The supplies that included tons of refined vegetable oil and yellow split peas were meant for a relief operation in Malawi. The suspects' company was tasked to transport the piles but this never took place. It has since emerged that the goods never left the Republic of South Africa (RSA) but were instead sold for self-gain from within the country at the detriment of the needy," said police spokesperson Lloyd Ramovha.

He stated that the three suspects, aged 51, 44 and 62, will appear in the Palm Ridge Commercial Crime Court on June 8 to face a raft of charges. Enditem
Some people, when they go to Italian restaurants, always order spaghetti carbonara. Some, when they go to Chinese restaurants, inevitably get chicken with black bean sauce.

When I go to a Mexican restaurant, you can be sure Ill order enchiladas. Always enchiladas.

Enchiladas, to me, encapsulate the best qualities of Mexican cooking. They can be made satisfactorily with an assortment of meats or cheeses; the fillings can be spiced or left plain; and they can be topped with a diversity of sauces  sometimes, colorfully, at the same time.

These days, enchiladas can be easy to make. Just buy a package of corn tortillas, wrap them around some precooked chicken or shredded cheese (a little more work is needed for beef or pork), splash a can of enchilada sauce on top and bake until done.

Thats not how I make mine. And when you get down to it, thats not how your favorite Mexican restaurant makes theirs.

Homemade enchiladas taste better than that. You can make your own tortillas, you can make your own meat and you can especially make your own sauce, and the result will be far superior to anything involving a can. I didn't make my own tortillas this time  they're easy, but sometimes you just don't feel like making tortillas  and they were still amazing.
JEFFERSON CITY  The Republican-controlled Missouri House endorsed legislation Tuesday that would ban police chokeholds.

And, like other responses to Black Lives Matters protests and the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the measure also would prohibit police from having sexual relations with detainees as a way to ensure officers dont abuse their power.

But the overall legislation sponsored by Rep. Nick Schroer, a St. Charles County Republican, also would make it a crime for protesters to intentionally block traffic. It would be an infraction on first offense and rise to a felony on the third, with the charges becoming tougher when used as part of an unlawful assembly.

The provision, which was criticized by Democrats as an attack on the First Amendment right to free speech, also would increase penalties against people if they vandalize public monuments or structures on public property.

And, under an amendment added by Rep. Ben Baker, R-Neosho, people would be allowed to carry loaded firearms in churches regardless of whether a pastor or congregation approves.
Gardners office also released a statement this week saying she complied with the law during the Greitens investigation.

Despite several investigations attempting to uncover illegal wrongdoing by her office in this case, none has ever been found, the statement said. We are confident that a full review of the facts will show that the Circuit Attorney has not violated the ethical standards of the State of Missouri.

The complaint against Gardner says she has no previous disciplinary history, is in good standing with the Missouri Bar and has held her license since Sept. 29, 2004.

A disciplinary panel will hear Gardners case and make a recommendation to the Missouri Supreme Court, which could issue a reprimand, suspension or revocation of her law license. The court could also decide to take no action. A hearing for Gardners case hasnt been set.

Records say Gardner sought to seal or stay the disciplinary proceedings, arguing that it would interfere with a pending case and impair her ability to run the circuit attorneys office.
The city expects to get $517 million from the aid package passed by Congress.

The advisory panel will help Jones make recommendations for how to spend the money to the Board of Aldermen and the citys top fiscal body, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment.

Jones has asked the panel to work first on a plan to spend up to $50 million in direct assistance to city residents affected by the coronavirus to be allocated next month.

To that end, the mayor in a tweet Wednesday asked residents to take part in an online survey on what forms of direct short-term relief they rank as most important.

The choices include rental, mortgage and utility bill assistance; aid to small and distressed businesses; support for homeless people; expanding internet access; targeted direct cash assistance; summer youth programs; free public transportation; and meeting critical health needs.

Dunne, Jones spokesman, said advisory board members have been asked to fill out financial disclosure forms showing where they work and what organizations they are involved in.
The Missouri Department of Social Services underreported to legislators and the public the number of substantiated incidents of abuse and neglect at faith-based reform schools, The Kansas City Star has learned.

At one school in southern Missouri, the number of neglect findings is 10. Yet DSS told legislators, who are debating a law that would for the first time give the state some oversight of the schools, that there had been two substantiated reports of neglect at Masters Ranch Christian Academy since 1997.

DSS says that until now, it had been providing legislators and the media with the number of investigations conducted, which each could include multiple substantiated incidents, or preponderance of evidence findings.

Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lees Summit, who has led the push to change the state law that exempts religious-based boarding schools from oversight, said its concerning and frustrating that lawmakers havent been given consistent, accurate information. Especially, she said, when they must rely on DSS to understand the scope and depth of a problem that may need a legislative fix.
But the QuikTrip proposal has put Mueller in limbo, unsure of whether to keep putting money into his 1890s home or hope to be bought out by the gas station.

Were trying to do things to fix the house, he said. What house value you do have, it takes away with a gas station right next to it.

Williams, the neighborhood group president, dismissed the concerns from neighbors, saying the ones the Post-Dispatch spoke with probably didnt even have a vote in the Tiffany Community Association.

The neighborhood group could have a financial incentive to support the development. The notes say QuikTrip would contribute $5,000 to the neighborhood group. The gas station could generate another $3,000 in annual special assessments through the redevelopment corporation that the notes indicate could be used for extra security in the area. SLU, which has historically donated to the Tiffany Community Association, would continue to guarantee a $6,000 annual contribution to the group, according to the meeting notes.

But the project seems to have slowed for now. The citys excise division said QuikTrip withdrew an August application for a liquor license at the site in October. Even so, real estate records show QuikTrip purchased the house at 3616 McRee Avenue, next to the SLU parking lot, in late November.

I dont think theyre done, said Wilson, one of the neighbors. It may be a couple of years. They may wait for a more opportune time.

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Leveque said the case "really freaks me out. If someone walked in their home and did something ... Well, that's just something I thought would never happen here. Not that close to my house or anything."

But Columbia Police Chief Joe Edwards said, "Bad things happen here like they happen everywhere."

Through the day, detectives interviewed neighbors and checked sewer drains and trash cans, at one point taking a pair of stained surgical pants from trash as possible evidence. The bodies were removed in hearses about 3 p.m.

The Colemans had lived there since buying the home in March 2005. Before that, they lived in Affton, just south of Grant's Farm. Neighbors in Columbia Lakes said the family had put the home on the market at least once, but had been unable to sell it.

In November, Sheri Coleman's name was removed from the title, which left only Christopher E. Coleman as owner, according to Monroe County records.

A former neighbor of the Colemans in Affton described Sheri Coleman as "a very sweet Christian lady." Tina Houska, who had lived across the street from them, said the Colemans were active at Joyce Meyer Ministries and that Sheri Coleman mainly stayed home to raise the boys.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 00:39:15|Editor: huaxia

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BEIRUT, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's council of ministers announced on Wednesday that the German company Combi Lift has deported 59 containers carrying dangerous substances from Beirut's port to Europe, the National News Agency reported.

Lebanon hired Combi Lift for the disposal of hazardous material stored at Beirut's port after two blasts, caused by the 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at the port, rocked it on Aug. 4, 2020.

The statement released by the council of ministers noted that the German company has been working for months to fill containers with dangerous materials, aiming to transport them out of Lebanon and avoid future explosions.

Following the explosions, Lebanon decided to deport hazardous material as the country has limited areas for landfilling and no hazardous waste storage or treatment facilities. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 00:57:53|Editor: huaxia

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Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa attends the Asian Development Bank's 54th annual meeting which was held virtually, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 5, 2021. Rajapaksa, who also serves as minister of finance, was on Wednesday elected chair of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Board of Governors for the year 2021/2022 during the bank's 54th annual meeting held virtually, a statement from Rajapaksa's office said. (Sri Lankan Prime Minister's Office/Handout via Xinhua)

COLOMBO, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who also serves as minister of finance, was on Wednesday elected chair of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Board of Governors for the year 2021/2022 during the bank's 54th annual meeting held virtually, a statement from Rajapaksa's office said.

During the meeting, Rajapaksa informed the fellow governors that amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, the time was now right for countries to reflect and re-group as this century was the Asian Century.

"Our region has faced many crises, but Asia is also known for its resilience. Therefore, it is not surprising that our region is leading the growth story of the world, even during the current pandemic," Rajapaksa said.

He further said that "emerging Asia" had a responsibility to lead the world and must ensure sustainable practices that will make the environment resilient to climate change.

"Our policy solutions must be environmentally and socially sustainable. We must preserve our way of life for future generations. The need now is to collectively cooperate in addressing our common issues," Rajapaksa said.

In addition, he said countries must reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and he believed the ADB must lead the way in supporting member countries to make the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

"We also believe the ADB must extend support to emerging Asia to have smarter, eco-sustainable cities. It should be a new approach to ensure that access to resources is better managed," he said.

He also said countries must focus more on women empowerment and recognize the crucial role that women play in creating a just and equitable society.

Sri Lanka will host the 55th annual meeting of the ADB Board of Governors next year in Colombo. Enditem
The Republican caucus in Congress has made the choice clear: Staying in the GOP leadership requires blind loyalty to former President Donald Trump, truth be damned. Rep. Liz Cheney, the third most powerful House Republican, now faces ouster from her position for choosing honesty and integrity over perpetuating Trumps tired lie that the November election was stolen from him.

The Wyoming Republican and daughter for hawkish former Vice President Dick Cheney tweeted Monday: The 2020 presidential election was not stolen. Anyone who claims it was is spreading the BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system. Though this newspaper strongly disagrees with the Cheneys on most issues, theres no distance between us when it comes to taking a principled stand in defense of truth over partisan loyalty.

Cheney went on to state at a closed-door conference: We cant embrace the notion the election is stolen. Its a poison in the bloodstream of our democracy.  We cant whitewash what happened on Jan. 6 or perpetuate Trumps Big Lie. It is a threat to democracy. What he did on Jan. 6 is a line that cannot be crossed. She reiterated the overriding importance of defending a peaceful transfer of power.
Over the past year China has become a lot more aggressive, vocally and militarily, in asserting its ownership of Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Currently China has warships guarding all the disputed areas in the South China Sea and Scarborough Shoal is a recent addition to the areas under armed guard. Since 2012 China has periodically posted warships (coastguard or navy) to enforce their claims and now that process is complete. It happened gradually. In 2017 China built an environmental monitoring station on Scarborough Shoal, which is 220 kilometers from one of the main Filipino islands (Palawan) and 650 kilometers from Chinese territory (Hainan Island) and according to international law (and a recent international court decision) is Filipino. The Chinese say they have prior claim to most of the South China Sea and basically dares the rest of the world to try and stop them. This makes sense to most Chinese because the Chinese have long called China Zhongguo, which is usually translated into English as middle kingdom. But a more literal and accurate translation is everything under the heavens. Until the 21st century this mainly meant adjacent land areas. But now China points out that everything means the South China Sea as well.

In the last few days, the online (Information War) aspect of the South China Sea conflict has become particularly heated. China is usually the aggressor online and in news media. This time the remarks of senior Filipino officials demonstrate that the Philippines government is nearly unanimous in believing the Chinese assurance and promises cannot be trusted. While the Philippines admits it cannot stand up to China in a war, they can use Chinese tactics and disrupt Chinese military and civilian operations in the South China Sea. Other nations suffering from the Chinese efforts to take control of the entire South China Sea are similarly fed up and going Chinese on the Chinese. Filipinos are also angry at other forms of Chinese deception and outright lies. For example, China promised large economic investments in the Philippines and more Filipinos being allowed to work in China. Both of these gifts never came through. The promised foreign worker angle backfired big time as the government allowed more Chinese to enter Philippines and many were not the expected tourists or legal entrepreneurs, but gangsters who have become a growing problem. The most recent backfire was Chinese developed covid19 vaccine that were provided to the Philippines. This backfired when it was discovered that China was charging the Philippines three or more times per dose as other customers in east Asia and Africa were paying. Moreover, the Chinese vaccine turned out to be much less effective than Western vaccines also available to the Philippines. Worse, all these negotiations and delays in Chinese deliveries have meant that the Philippines will be the last nation in the region to receive enough vaccine to suppress the covid19 threat.

The Philippines appears to get most of the unwanted Chinese attention in the South China Sea because the Philippines has the most to lose. In terms of land area, the 7,600 islands that comprise the Philippines amount to only 300,000 square kilometers (120,000 square miles) of land area. Compare this to China, with 9.6 million square kilometers of land. According to international law, the Philippines controls (via its EEZ or Exclusive Economic Zone) water areas covering 2.26 million square kilometers. By the same standards the Chinese EEZ waters comprises 877,000 square kilometers. The Philippines is also the weakest (in military terms) nation China is seizing territory from and their mutual defense treaty with the United States is not always adequate to deal with the Chinese tactics. Moreover, the American government can change readily every four years because of presidential elections. The current U.S. president is seen as less steadfast in dealing with China. So far that has not been the case, but the new American government has only been in power since January 2021 and so far pledges to continue supporting resistance to Chinese South China Sea claims.

Playing With Fatal Confrontation

Theres one Chinese tactic that other nations have not copied. The Chinese naval militia has been a major factor in Chinese intimidation operations in the South China Sea. This militia has been around since the 1950s but never used this aggressively. For example, during the first three months of 2019 China deployed 900 navy, coast guard and naval militia ships around Pagasa Island to block access to fishing areas that Filipinos have been using for centuries. International law makes it clear that these are Filipino waters but the Chinese naval effort, and base constructed on Pagasa, challenge Filipino ownership blatantly and often physically. The Philippines is joining other nations in sending out their own coast guard and navy ships to protect their fishing boats using Chinese tactics. This is leading to more confrontations between mutually hostile warships. Everyone is under orders to not open fire, but everything else is allowed, like physically blocking movement, even at risk of collision. Another threatening tactic is to turn on fire-control radars. Eventually one of these confrontations will accidentally turn lethal. In some parts of the South China Sea and outside the West Pacific, Chinese intruders are met with armed force and the locals open fire. Vietnam has been on the losing end of this sort of thing several times and by the time the Philippines were confronted by Chinese claims, they realized they were even less able that Vietnam to oppose the Chinese with force.

Since 2015 China has hired several hundred Chinese fishing boats and their crews as a part-time naval militia to conduct a blockage of bits of land in the South China Sea that the Philippines physically occupies, hoping to block supplies and force the Filipinos to evacuate these outposts so that China can take possession. The Chinese fishermen dont mind the militia work, seeing it as something of a paid vacation with overtones of patriotic service to the state. The militia boats are not true volunteers. When the government requests a Chinese fishing boat work for the militia the boat owner complies. Sometimes boat owners grumble when they are called up during a prime fishing season, but refusal is not an option and they make the best of it. For many fishing companies the militia assignments enable them to make some money during periods when there is less work and boats are idle. This is more common with the Chinese fishing fleet because since the 1980s this fleet of ocean-going boats has grown of inconsequential to one of the largest in the world.

Most fishing boats in the South China Sea are trawler type boats. These boats deploy their nets, move through an area containing a lot of fish, then haul their catch on board and into a refrigerated compartment. Many of the Chinese militia boats are formally called "freezer trawlers." These ships are up to 100 meters (320 feet) long and have facilities onboard to store hundreds of tons of frozen fish. These ships normally stay at sea months at a time and have crews of 14-30.

The number of Chinese trawlers has expanded enormously since 1985 when there were only 13. Now there are over 2,400 of them operating worldwide. China helped with this expansion by subsidizing ocean-going fishing boats. Those subsidies have since been withdrawn but meanwhile, the number of larger (than 100 meter) freezer trawlers has grown and these are meant for use in far distant waters.

The Filipino government recently told its fishing boats to ignore the three month-long Chinese Summer fishing ban on the South China Sea. In 1999 China began imposing this ban in areas around the world where the growing Chinese trawler fleet had been largely responsible for depleting available quantities of species particularly popular in China. Such bans have become increasingly common as the Chinese fishing fleet grew. The Chinese trawlers have a reputation for ignoring moratoriums imposed by other nations. The Chinese government did nothing about that until species that were particularly popular in China were depleted worldwide. The Chinese ban applied to all nations but only China was able to compel Chinese boats to comply. China was also able to compel everyone to comply in undisputed Chinese EEZs. The South China Sea now has China disputing EEZs belonging to other nations and the other nations are increasingly fighting back any way they can. Flouting the Chinese Summer fishing ban, often using Chinese intimidation tactics, has been adopted by more non-Chinese trawler operators.

May 3, 2021: China complained that its two aircraft carrier task forces (formed around the carriers Liaoning and Shandong) have been disrupted by an American destroyer shadowing both task forces for three weeks and was continuing to do so. The two task forces have each, in turn, spent several weeks at sea, deliberately visiting the maritime areas where China now claims possession, including the South China Sea.

April 23, 2021: In the south (Sulu province) troops encountered and killed two Abu Sayyaf gunmen. One of the dead was the brother of a notorious Abu Sayyaf bomb maker. A growing number of Abu Sayyaf members are surrendering voluntarily, with eleven doing so far this year, prompted by an amnesty program that makes it possible to return to civilian life if those surrendering have not committed major crimes.

April 22, 2021: In the south (Zamboanga del Sur province) troops clashed with NPA gunmen, killing two of the leftist rebels and arresting a third. One of the dead was a known NPA leader. This clash is part of a larger campaign to shut down NPA operations in this area, which is just north of Sulu and Basilan, where Abu Sayyaf is under similar pressure. The pressure on NPA has been particularly intense for the last five years and it is believed only about six small groups of NPA rebels are still operational in this province. So far this year the nationwide campaign against the NPA has eliminated 51 NPA members with four killed, five arrested and 42 voluntarily surrendered to qualify for an amnesty program.

April 16, 2021: In the south (Sulu province) troops encountered and killed three Abu Sayyaf gunmen, one of them an Egyptian who was the middleman for getting ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) cash from the Middle East to the Philippines. Abu Sayyaf now considers itself the local ISIL affiliate and one reason for that was ISIL can provide cash and technical experts, not to mention worldwide publicity and a fearsome reputation. It will take time to rebuild that cash pipeline and that will limit Abu Sayyaf terror operations because, like any other terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf has expenses that must be paid it keep the group operational. The Filipino counterterror operations have been increasingly successful in going after those support functions.

Elsewhere in the south (Bukidnon province) troops located and raided an NPA training camp, killing one NPA member while the others go away. Soldiers seized large quantities of weapons, ammo and other supplies. The camp was being used to get members ready for large scale raids on rural construction projects, which are resisting NPA extortion demands. Information on the location of NPA camps, weapons storage sites or covert supporters is increasingly obtained from local civilians or NPA members that surrendered. Because of that more NPA camps are being attacked, weapons storage sites seized and key supporters arrested.

April 10, 2021: In the south (Sulu province) ten Abu Sayyaf members voluntarily surrendered because of the amnesty program, and the increasing pressure from the security forces.

April 9, 2021: The Philippines has invoked its mutual defense treaty with the United States. That treaty, signed right after World War II, considered any assault on Filipino territory an assault on American territory. So far, the U.S. has not gone to war over this because the Chinese have been careful to not fire on any Filipinos. Meanwhile in the South China Sea an American ARP (Amphibious Ready Group) task force that is centered on a smaller (40,000-ton) amphibious LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) carrier joined with a larger carrier task force that is centered on the larger 104,000-ton Nimitz class carrier. The combined force was there for a week of joint training. The larger nuclear carrier carries 90 aircraft, most of them warplanes while the LHD normally carries 25 helicopters plus six F-35B fighters that can take off and land like a helicopter. A larger number of F-35Cs are on the carrier, which take off with a boost from a catapult and can land on the carrier. The LHD can be equipped with up to twenty F-35Bs and a few helicopters. The Americans have experimented with this and found that it works quite well.
Biotech leader brings financial and planning experience across many stages of product development and company growth

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Affinivax, Inc. (Affinivax), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of a novel class of vaccines with its MAPS (Multiple Antigen Presenting System) platform, today announced that Elizabeth Radcliffe has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer. She is a strategic business leader with deep experience managing finance and planning across the full range of biopharmaceutical R&D, commercial and business operations, including leadership roles at Arrakis Therapeutics, Agios Pharmaceuticals, and Biogen. Ms. Radcliffe joins Affinivax at a pivotal time as the company evolves its vaccine pipeline and expands its operations.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005267/en/

Affinivax CFO Liz Radcliffe (Photo: Business Wire)

We are delighted to welcome Liz to our leadership team, and her extensive financial and planning experience will be a strong asset for Affinivax as we advance our vaccine pipeline and grow our business, said Steven Brugger, Chief Executive Officer of Affinivax. Liz is a seasoned and passionate leader, with deep knowledge of drug development and commercialization and experience managing through growth. I look forward to her contributions in building our financial and operational competences as we further advance our clinical portfolio of vaccines.

I am excited to apply my experience to driving the next stage of Affinivax journey as a leading vaccine innovator, said Ms. Radcliffe. I see tremendous potential for the MAPS platform to bring innovation to the vaccine field and have an important impact on human health. I look forward to helping realize that promise as a member of the Affinivax executive team.

Elizabeth Radcliffe brings over 20 years of experience, with progressive financial leadership roles across the biopharmaceutical value chain at both large and small organizations, including contribution to six product launches. She most recently served as Vice President, Finance and Strategy and Treasurer at Arrakis Therapeutics. Prior to Arrakis, Ms. Radcliffe was Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis at Agios Pharmaceuticals and spent over 10 years at Biogen, culminating in the role of Senior Director, Head of R&D Finance, where she led financial planning and accounting for Biogens worldwide R&D and Medical Affairs functions. Her prior leadership roles at Biogen included head of U.S. revenue planning for Biogens Multiple Sclerosis and Hemophilia franchises, Head of Portfolio Management, and Director of Corporate FP&A, with earlier experience supporting Business Development and Technical Operations. Earlier in her career, Ms. Radcliffe held consulting positions at The Parthenon Group and Excelon Corporation. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from Yale University, a Masters degree in organic chemistry from Harvard University, and an M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

About Affinivax, Inc.

Affinivax is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of a novel class of vaccines designed to induce a broad and robust protective immune response to both disease-relevant polysaccharides and disease-relevant proteins in a single vaccine. Affinivax designs each of its vaccine candidates to optimize the protective immune response to one or both of these antigens utilizing the distinctive plug-and-play nature of its proprietary MAPS platform technology, presenting the potential opportunity to make a significant step forward in addressing major healthcare challenges posed by novel and resistant infectious diseases. Affinivax was founded in 2014 with a seed investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and an exclusive license to the MAPS technology from Boston Childrens Hospital. For more information, visit www.affinivax.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005267/en/

Kathryn Morris

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914-204-6412

kathryn@theyatesnetwork.com

Source: Affinivax, Inc.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 01:07:48|Editor: huaxia

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ISTANBUL, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a videoconference with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel over bilateral ties and regional matters, Turkey's presidential office announced Wednesday.

The Turkish leader wished that the general election process in Germany may yield "auspicious" results, the presidency said in a written statement.

"Erdogan voiced his belief that Turkey-Germany relations would improve on the basis of common sense and strategic perspective in the new period as well," it noted.

Erdogan also told Merkel that the impetus achieved between Ankara and the European Union should be maintained, according to the statement.

Speaking about the situation in Afghanistan, he stressed that it was necessary to discuss ways to maintain support for this country through NATO's means and capabilities.

Additionally, Erdogan said that Turkey would continue to support the Government of National Unity in Libya for its stability and his country stood ready to cooperate with Germany within this framework. Enditem
Mark the historic occasion by taking part in a fierce poker battle with a $1,500 GTD prize pot up for grabs as part of a series of promotions running throughout the month

ST JOHNS, Antigua--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cinco de Mayo marks the Mexican armys victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on 5 May 1862, and Intertops Poker is commemorating the event by allowing players to enter their own thrilling poker battle.

The Cinco de Mayo Tournament gets underway on 5 May with a series of satellites at 9:15am Eastern, 1:15pm and 5:15pm. The buy-in is $0.90 + $0.09. Those victorious in battle will earn a seat at the table for the main event.

The Cinco de Mayo Main event starts at 7:05pm Eastern and sees players compete for their share of a $1,500 GTD prize pot. If you suffered defeat in the satellites, you can buy-in to the main event for $20 + $2.

If you like to mix poker play with a few spins on the hottest slots in the market right now, Intertops Poker has you covered with yet another tournament. Running from today until Monday (10 May), the May Slot Tournament sees players earn points for every spin they make on qualifying games.

Games include Take the Bank, Gold Canyon, Gears of Time and Stacked. Your spins are logged on a leaderboard and the top 16 players come the end of the tournament will receive a cash prize. First place receives $400, second $300 and third $230.

Intertops is also running a generous promotion for fans of table games; Blackjack Free Bets sees players receive 15 free games on our Tangent game, Blackjack 21, from today until Sunday (9 May). Each bet is worth $2 and you can play a maximum of 5 free bets at once.

John Murphy, Intertops Poker Manager, said: We are starting May with a bang. First, we have the Cinco de Mayo poker tournament, followed by our latest slots race and the return of our blackjack free bets bonus  whether you like poker, slots or table games, there is an offer for you.

Generous bonuses are just one of the reasons Intertops Poker is so popular. We also have a huge range of games, offer plenty of payment options and our customer service is the best in the business. If you havent already, sign-up and see what the fuss is about.

ENDS

Editors notes:

About Intertops Poker:

Intertops Poker is one of the most established online poker operators, and has been live for more than two decades. Its poker games and tables can be accessed via Instant Play, or by downloading its desktop client. The site has just undergone a major redesign, and is fully optimised for mobile

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005425/en/

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Source: Intertops Poker
Preparations underway for 16,000 meter three drill rig program

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- HighGold Mining Inc. (TSX-V:HIGH, OTCQX: HGGOF) (HighGold or the Company) reports that an initial C$10 million exploration budget has been approved for its 0.75 million ounce 10.9 g/t gold equivalent (AuEq) Johnson Tract polymetallic Gold Project (Johnson Tract, JT or the Project) in Southcentral Alaska, USA.

2021 Exploration Program Plans & Strategy

Minimum 16,000 meters of drilling with three drill rigs

Drilling to target both: Expansion and infill to upgrade of the JT Deposit plus adjacent target areas; First-time testing of other Johnson District prospects, including the new 1 km x 0.5 km High-Grade Ag-Au Vein Field discovered by prospecting in 2020 at the DC Prospect 4 km northeast of the JT Deposit

Property-wide magnetic-electromagnetic ( VTEM ) airborne geophysical survey totalling 1,100 line-km to identify major fault structures and prospective areas of subsurface mineralization

) airborne geophysical survey totalling 1,100 line-km to identify major fault structures and prospective areas of subsurface mineralization Detailed IP-Resistivity ( DCIP ) ground geophysical surveys over several Johnson District regional prospects to detect prospective mineralized trends

) ground geophysical surveys over several Johnson District regional prospects to detect prospective mineralized trends Geological mapping, prospecting, and soil & rock sampling programs to follow-up and expand on the positive results generated from the 2020 program and refine drill targets

Our exploration teams mandate in 2021 includes both establishing critical mass at the JT Deposit and making new discoveries, commented President and CEO Darwin Green. The JT Deposit is open to expansion and a priority for this program is to continue tracking and expanding the deposit farther down-plunge. We have high conviction in the potential to define a multi-deposit district at Johnson Tract and are excited to be drill testing several of the priority regional prospects for the first time ever. With C$17 million in working capital, HighGold is fully funded for the planned program.

Please click here for a video discussion with CEO Darwin Green with additional detail on HighGolds 2021 Johnson Tract work program.

Program Details

Preparations are underway to begin opening the JT camp and to commence the VTEM airborne geophysical survey in late May. Three drill rigs were secured on site at the end of the 2020 field season and are scheduled to be up and running in early June. The current drill plan contemplates approximately two-thirds of the total 16,000 meters dedicated to the JT Deposit and adjacent targets, and one-third dedicated to the surrounding Johnson District prospects.

Initial plans are for all three drill rigs to start in the JT Deposit area, completing systematic step-outs down-plunge and along strike to the deposit, as well as testing the Footwall Copper Zone, Gap, revised Fault Offset, and new VMS Zone targets. Drilling at JT District regional prospects is expected to commence in July with a minimum of one drill rig dedicated for the remainder of the program. All the necessary permits are in hand to drill at each of the planned target areas. DCIP ground geophysical surveying will also start in July.

About the Johnson Tract Gold Project

Johnson Tract is a poly-metallic (gold, copper, zinc, silver, lead) project located near tidewater, 125 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of Anchorage, Alaska, USA. The 21,000-acre property includes the high-grade Johnson Tract Deposit (JT Deposit) and at least nine (9) other mineral prospects over a 12-kilometer strike length. HighGold acquired the Project through a lease agreement with Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), one of 12 land-based Alaska Native regional corporations created by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. CIRI is owned by more than 9,100 shareholders who are primarily of Alaska Native descent.

Mineralization at Johnson Tract occurs in Jurassic-age intermediate volcaniclastic rocks and is characterized as epithermal-type with submarine volcanogenic attributes. The JT Deposit is a thick, steeply dipping silicified body (20m to 50m average true thickness) that contains a stockwork of quartz-sulphide veinlets and brecciation, cutting through and surrounded by a widespread zone of anhydrite alteration. The Footwall Copper Zone is located structurally and stratigraphically below JT Deposit and is characterized by copper-silver rich mineralization.

The JT Deposit hosts an Indicated Resource of 2.14 Mt grading 10.93 g/t gold equivalent (AuEq) comprised of 6.07 g/t Au, 5.8 g/t Ag, 0.57% Cu, 0.80% Pb and 5.85% Zn. The Inferred Resource of 0.58 Mt grading 7.16 g/t AuEq is comprised of 2.05 g/t Au, 8.7 g/t Ag, 0.54% Cu, 0.33% Pb, and 6.67% Zn. For additional details see NI 43-101 Technical Report titled Initial Mineral Resource Estimate for the Johnson Tract Project, Alaska dated June 15, 2020 authored by James N. Gray, P.Geo of Advantage Geoservices Ltd and Brodie A. Sutherland, P.Geo. Gold Equivalent is based on assumed metal prices and 100% recovery and payabilities for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn. Assumed metal prices for the Resource are US$1350/oz for gold (Au), US$16/oz for silver (Ag), US$2.80/lb for copper (Cu), US$1.00/lb for lead (Pb), and US$1.20/lb for zinc (Zn) and are based on nominal 3-year trailing averages as of April 1, 2020. Historical metallurgical testing on drill core samples has indicated that good gold and base metal recoveries and marketable concentrates can be expected.

Prior to HighGold, the Project was last explored in the mid-1990s by a mid-tier mining company that evaluated direct shipping material from Johnson to the Premier Mill near Stewart, British Columbia.

About HighGold

HighGold is a mineral exploration company focused on high-grade gold projects located in North America. HighGolds flagship asset is the high-grade Johnson Tract Gold (Zn-Cu) Project located in accessible Southcentral Alaska, USA. The Company also controls one of the largest junior gold miner land positions in the Timmins, Ontario gold camp. This includes the Munro-Croesus Gold property, which is renowned for its high-grade mineralization, and the large Golden Mile and Golden Perimeter properties. HighGolds experienced Board and senior management team, are committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery process, careful allocation of capital, and environmentally/socially responsible mineral exploration.

Ian Cunningham-Dunlop, P.Eng., VP Exploration for HighGold Mining Inc. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.

On Behalf of HighGold Mining Inc.

Darwin Green

President & CEO

For further information, please visit the HighGold Mining Inc. website at www.highgoldmining.com.

The Company has a robust QAQC program that includes the insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward looking statements: This news release includes certain forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively forward looking statements). Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as seek, anticipate, believe, plan, estimate, forecast, expect, potential, project, target, schedule, budget and intend and statements that an event or result may, will, should, could or might occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Companys planned drill program are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Companys expectations include actual exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005338/en/

Darwin Green, President & CEO or Naomi Nemeth, VP Investor Relations

Phone: 1-604-629-1165 or North American toll-free 1-855-629-1165

Email: information@highgoldmining.com.

Website: www.highgoldmining.com

Twitter : @HighgoldMining

Source: HighGold Mining Inc.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) (NYSE: PM) is pleased to announce that Jacek Olczak was appointed Chief Executive Officer following the companys 2021 Annual Shareholders Meeting earlier today. Mr. Olczakmost recently the companys Chief Operating Officerwas also elected to the Board of Directors. Andre Calantzopoulos, who served as PMIs Chief Executive Officer from 2013, was appointed Executive Chairman of the Board prior to the meeting. Mr. Lucio Noto stepped down from his role as interim Chairman of the Board and was reelected to the Board of Directors. The appointments follow the announcement of PMIs leadership transition in December 2020. When determined, PMI will announce the name of the Lead Independent Director on its website.

In accepting his appointment as CEO, Mr. Olczak committed to accelerating PMIs smoke-free transformation, announced in 2016. The company is focused on developing, scientifically substantiating, and responsibly commercializing smoke-free products that are less harmful than smoking, with the aim of replacing cigarettes as soon as possible.

Mr. Olczak said: I am humbled and excited to lead PMI as we accelerate our transformation into a smoke-free company. PMI is an industry leader in scientific innovation, and our ambition is that more than half of our net revenues will come from smoke-free products in 2025. Our evolving portfolio will drive our long-term future. We will lean into our scientific research and expertise, using our collective skills and imagination to innovate beyond our existing portfolio and explore new areas of business development.

Mr. Olczak, 56, began his career with PMI in 1993. He started in finance and general management positions across Europe, including as Managing Director of PMIs markets in Poland and Germany and as President of the European Union Region, before being appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2012. He held that position until 2018, when he became PMIs Chief Operating Officer. He holds a masters degree in economics from the University of Lodz, Poland.

Mr. Olczak has been a vital driver of PMIs smoke-free transformation, which moved into its commercialization phase with the launch of IQOS in Nagoya, Japan, in 2014. Under his oversight as COO, PMI increased the portion of its net revenues derived from smoke-free products to 28 percent in the first quarter of 2021. Further, the company grew the geographical coverage of its smoke-free products from zero to 66 markets in key cities or nationwide as of March 31, 2021. And Mr. Olczak led PMIs commercial transformation, successfully developing it from a primarily business-to-business company to an increasingly business-to-consumer company.

Mr. Calantzopoulos said: Jacek is ideally placed to deliver PMIs smoke-free vision in his new role as CEO. His passion for the company and our employees underpins his drive for results, as does his deep knowledge of our products, systems, values, and investors. I believe he is the ideal leader to ensure our businesss continued growth and deliver shareholder value. I look forward to continuing to work with him in my new capacity as Executive Chairman of the Board.

Approximately 85 percent of the shares entitled to vote were represented at the meeting in person or by proxy. The shareholders elected 13 nominees for director; approved, on an advisory basis, the compensation of named executive officers; and ratified the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers SA as independent auditors. Final voting results will be included in a Form 8-K that PMI will file with the SEC within the next few days.

An archived copy of the webcast of the meeting will be available for approximately one year from the date of the meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PMI2021. The presentation slides and script will also be available at the same website address.

Philip Morris International: Delivering a Smoke-Free Future

Philip Morris International (PMI) is leading a transformation in the tobacco industry to create a smoke-free future and ultimately replace cigarettes with smoke-free products to the benefit of adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, society, the company and its shareholders. PMI is a leading international tobacco company engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigarettes, as well as smoke-free products, associated electronic devices and accessories, and other nicotine-containing products in markets outside the U.S. In addition, PMI ships versions of its IQOS Platform 1 device and consumables to Altria Group, Inc. for sale under license in the U.S., where these products have received marketing authorizations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway; the FDA has also authorized the marketing of a version of IQOS and its consumables as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP), finding that an exposure modification order for these products is appropriate to promote the public health. PMI is building a future on a new category of smoke-free products that, while not risk-free, are a much better choice than continuing to smoke. Through multidisciplinary capabilities in product development, state-of-the-art facilities and scientific substantiation, PMI aims to ensure that its smoke-free products meet adult consumer preferences and rigorous regulatory requirements. PMIs smoke-free product portfolio includes heat-not-burn and nicotine-containing vapor products. As of March 31, 2021, PMIs smoke-free products are available for sale in 66 markets in key cities or nationwide, and PMI estimates that approximately 14.0 million adults around the world have already switched to IQOS and stopped smoking. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains projections of future results and other forward-looking statements. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions. In the event that risks or uncertainties materialize, or underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements. Pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, PMI is identifying important factors that, individually or in the aggregate, could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements made by PMI.

PMIs business risks include: excise tax increases and discriminatory tax structures; increasing marketing and regulatory restrictions that could reduce our competitiveness, eliminate our ability to communicate with adult consumers, or ban certain of our products; health concerns relating to the use of tobacco and other nicotine-containing products and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; litigation related to tobacco use and intellectual property; intense competition; the effects of global and individual country economic, regulatory and political developments, natural disasters and conflicts; changes in adult smoker behavior; lost revenues as a result of counterfeiting, contraband and cross-border purchases; governmental investigations; unfavorable currency exchange rates and currency devaluations, and limitations on the ability to repatriate funds; adverse changes in applicable corporate tax laws; adverse changes in the cost, availability, and quality of tobacco and other agricultural products and raw materials, as well as components and materials for our electronic devices; and the integrity of its information systems and effectiveness of its data privacy policies. PMI's future profitability may also be adversely affected should it be unsuccessful in its attempts to produce and commercialize reduced-risk products or if regulation or taxation do not differentiate between such products and cigarettes; if it is unable to successfully introduce new products, promote brand equity, enter new markets or improve its margins through increased prices and productivity gains; if it is unable to expand its brand portfolio internally or through acquisitions and the development of strategic business relationships; or if it is unable to attract and retain the best global talent. Future results are also subject to the lower predictability of our reduced-risk product categorys performance.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant societal and economic disruption, and resulted in closures of stores, factories and offices, and restrictions on manufacturing, distribution and travel, all of which will adversely impact our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial position during the continuation of the pandemic. Our business continuity plans and other safeguards may not be effective to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Currently, significant risks include our diminished ability to convert adult smokers to our RRPs, significant volume declines in our duty-free business and certain other key markets, disruptions or delays in our manufacturing and supply chain, increased currency volatility, and delays in certain cost saving, transformation and restructuring initiatives. Our business could also be adversely impacted if key personnel or a significant number of employees or business partners become unavailable due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The significant adverse impact of COVID-19 on the economic or political conditions in markets in which we operate could result in changes to the preferences of our adult consumers and lower demand for our products, particularly for our mid-price or premium-price brands. Continuation of the pandemic could disrupt our access to the credit markets or increase our borrowing costs. Governments may temporarily be unable to focus on the development of science-based regulatory frameworks for the development and commercialization of RRPs or on the enforcement or implementation of regulations that are significant to our business. In addition, messaging about the potential negative impacts of the use of our products on COVID-19 risks may lead to increasingly restrictive regulatory measures on the sale and use of our products, negatively impact demand for our products, the willingness of adult consumers to switch to our RRPs and our efforts to advocate for the development of science-based regulatory frameworks for the development and commercialization of RRPs.

The impact of these risks also depends on factors beyond our knowledge or control, including the duration and severity of the pandemic, its recurrence in our key markets, actions taken to contain its spread and to mitigate its public health effects, and the ultimate economic consequences thereof.

PMI is further subject to other risks detailed from time to time in its publicly filed documents, including the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. PMI cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not a complete discussion of all potential risks and uncertainties. PMI does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that it may make from time to time, except in the normal course of its public disclosure obligations.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005738/en/

David Fraser / Corey Henry

Philip Morris International

T. +41 79 843 8603 / +1 (202) 679 7296

E. David.Fraser@pmi.com / Corey.Henry@pmi.com

Source: Philip Morris International
New Open Visibility Data API will enable all carriers and logistics service providers to freely and openly share their real-time visibility data across other visibility networks.

VIENNA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sixfold, Europes leading real-time transportation visibility platform, has announced a data sharing initiative focused on driving a new era of openness, accessibility and transparency across the supply chain and logistics sector. The Open Visibility Data Exchange introduces a new standard in data sharing, empowering carriers and logistics service providers (LSPs) to take control of their real-time visibility data and maximize the value for stakeholders across the supply chain.

Gaining access to accurate shipment ETAs has quickly become a market standard in transport logistics, and something that most carriers are now able to provide automatically through visibility service providers. However, a lack of standardization has only served to slow down or in some cases completely block the flow of information between these competing providers.

Sixfolds new Open Visibility Data API removes these obstacles by enabling carriers and LSPs to easily share their visibility data with shippers or goods recipients  no matter which Transport Management System (TMS) stakeholders use. The API gives authorized stakeholders simple access to key visibility data via individual API keys, thereby separating access for each customer. This puts the power back in the hands of carriers, giving them complete control to grant their shippers access to real-time transport information and updates.

As a result, visibility data can be freely exchanged between different transport networks  all without putting carriers high-value data at risk. Once access has been granted, Sixfolds intelligent geofencing algorithms ensure that customers only have access to data related to their ongoing shipments.

We firmly believe that visibility data needs to be shared freely to maximize the value for all supply chain participants. However, getting data to flow horizontally between competing parties has traditionally been a challenge for the industry, said Jesper Bennike, executive director of Sixfold. Our new API removes the obstacles that have long hindered global supply chains, making it easy for carriers to share data outside of our platform. The time is right for an open network structure that empowers carriers  without any interference from their visibility partner  to share shipment data with whoever they want, whenever they want.

"Fragmentation and data silos represent significant challenges for any industry, but particularly one like ours that relies so heavily on access to real-time insights when it comes to temperature-controlled transports, said Stefan Goedde at STI Freight Management. We have no doubt that increasing the shareability of real-time data will have a material impact on how carriers operate. We therefore welcome this initiative from Sixfold, which will help to drive the industry forward at a time when data visibility is more important than ever and by that will enable us to take quality the extra mile.

Click here to learn more about the Open Visibility Data API and how you can get started today.

About Sixfold

Sixfold is Europes leading real-time transportation visibility platform, solving supply chain visibility challenges for the world's biggest companies, shippers and carriers. Our mission is to provide transparency into areas of the b2b supply chain previously unseen and untracked, enabling businesses to cut costs and make more informed decisions. Sixfold's platform, powered by AI, integrates with transport management systems, truck telematics and mapping data to proactively predict transportation delays, drive sustainability and deliver valuable business intelligence. https://sixfold.com/about.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005064/en/

Media contact

Red Lorry Yellow Lorry

Lena Grun

sixfold@rlyl.com

Source: Sixfold
ROSEMONT, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD) Chief Financial Officer, Dirk Locascio, will participate in a fireside chat and provide a general business update at the BMO Global Farm to Market Conference on Wednesday, May 19, at 8:40 a.m. EST (7:40 a.m. CST).

Media and investors can listen to a live audio webcast by visiting the Investor Relations page of the companys website at https://ir.usfoods.com. A replay of the webcast will be available later that same day.

About US Foods

US Foods is one of Americas great food companies and a leading foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 300,000 restaurants and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed. With 70 broadline locations and 80 cash and carry stores, US Foods provides its customers with a broad and innovative food offering and a comprehensive suite of e-commerce, technology and business solutions. US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill. Visit www.usfoods.com to learn more.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005715/en/

INVESTOR CONTACT:

Melissa Napier

847-720-2767

Melissa.Napier@usfoods.com

MEDIA CONTACT:

Sara Matheu

847-720-2392

Sara.Matheu@usfoods.com

Source: US Foods
Contained revenue decrease in Q1 2021:

-13.3% of which -12.8% organic

Positive organic growth in March and strong improvement expected in Q2

Slight improvement in trends in Q1 despite a difficult comparable base, driven by good commercial momentum in Workwear

In Q1 2021, c. 75% of our total business 1 remained close to the level of Q1 2020: c. +3% yoy in Healthcare, -2% yoy in Industry, and -3% yoy in Trade & Services

remained close to the level of Q1 2020: c. +3% yoy in Healthcare, -2% yoy in Industry, and -3% yoy in Trade & Services Comparable base was difficult in January and February as the impact on activity from the pandemic started in March 2020

Activity continued to benefit from (i) churn rate improvement, with good quality of service maintained during the crisis and (ii) the development of new offers and services in Workwear and Hygiene & well-being

Activity in Hospitality (c. 25% of pre-Covid total revenue) is down -55% yoy in Q1, without any rebound of tourism in big cities

Central Europe and Scandinavia were resilient owing to the weight of Workwear in their mix; France, Southern Europe and the UK & Ireland were impacted by their exposure to Hospitality; Latin America was still up thanks to the good commercial activity in Healthcare

Prices held up well in all our geographies

Elis confirms the 2021 outlook given on March 9, 2021

The comparable base is favorable from Q2 onwards; April organic revenue growth is at c. +22%

In a context in which many uncertainties remain around the evolution of the sanitary crisis (efficiency of vaccination campaigns, emergence of new virus variants, rebound in international travel), our working assumptions still factor in stable organic revenue growth in H1 and c. +3% for the year

EBITDA margin should be slightly up on the back of the Groups ability to downsize its structure and variabilize its costs in a context of activity slowdown

Free cash flow after lease payments should be between 190m and 230m, the main variable being the change in working capital (impact of year-end activity on trade receivables)

Saint-Cloud, May 05, 2021  Elis, an international multi-service provider, offering textile, hygiene and facility services solutions that is present in Europe and Latin America, today announces its revenue for the 3 months ended March 31, 2021. These figures are unaudited.

Commenting on the announcement, Xavier Martire, CEO of Elis, said:

 Q1 organic revenue evolution was slightly better than expected at -12.8%. Our activities in Industry, Healthcare and Trade & Services, which represented c. 75% of 2019 total revenue, were close to normal levels of activity in the quarter.

Hospitality remained difficult and we did not see any rebound in international tourism. Therefore, the performance by geography remained closely linked to the share of Hospitality in every country mix.

In our other end-markets, commercial dynamism was good across the board, driven by many new products and services in Workwear and Hygiene. Additionally, our churn rate remained good in Q1, which rewards the steady quality of service provided by Elis in these difficult times.

The current situation impels us to remain cautious, but the progressive reopening of shops, which has either already started in the UK and in Southern Europe or is expected in the coming weeks in our other geographies, is a positive sign for our business. Q1 revenue numbers allow us to confirm the outlook provided in March: our working assumption remains a c. +3% organic revenue growth for the full year, factoring in a modest activity improvement starting in Q2. The impressive efforts made in 2020 and the Groups capacity to variabilize its cost base should lead to a further improvement in 2021 EBITDA margin. 2021 free cash flow should be between 190m and 230m, depending on the impact from change in working capital at year-end.

We therefore look to the future with confidence: The Groups fundamentals are strong; our diversification is a major advantage and our business model will enable Elis to assert its leadership in all the countries in which it is present.

Q1 2021 revenue

In millions of euros 2021 2020 Organic growth External growth FX Reported growth France 200.4 236.9 -15.4% - - -15.4% Central Europe 169.2 180.1 -9.1% +3.7% -0.6% -6.1% Scandinavia & East. Eur. 117.2 127.0 -9.5% - +1.8% -7.7% UK & Ireland 70.3 88.9 -22.2% +2.3% -1.0% -21.0% Southern Europe 42.6 60.5 -29.6% - - -29.6% Latin America 53.0 58.8 +12.1% +2.9% -25.0% -10.0% Others 5.5 6.9 -19.5% - -0.6% -20.2% Total 658.2 759.2 -12.8% +1.4% -1.9% -13.3%

 Others  includes Manufacturing Entities and Holdings.

Percentage change calculations are based on actual figures.

Q1 2021 monthly organic revenue evolution

January 2021 organic evolution February 2021 organic evolution March 2021

organic evolution France -22.8% -20.3% +0.5% Central Europe -17.8% -10.5% +2.7% Scandinavia & East. Eur. -16.6% -11.1% +0.8% UK & Ireland -27.9% -25.8% -10.7% Southern Europe -36.9% -39.2% -6.5% Latin America +7.2% +6.9% +24.0% Others +16.0% -10.9% -44.7% Total -19.7% -16.4% +0.4%

 Others  includes Manufacturing Entities and Holdings.

Percentage change calculations are based on actual figures.

France

Q1 2021 revenue was down -15.4% (entirely organic). We still didnt observe any rebound in Hospitality and the lockdown measures weighed on collective catering (mostly clients in Workwear) and on cleaning services (mostly clients in Hygiene). Nevertheless, our Healthcare, Industry and Trade & Services end-markets were resilient, notably driven by good commercial dynamism in Workwear (food processing and healthcare clients).

Central Europe

Q1 2021 revenue was down -6.1% (-9.1% on an organic basis). Industry showed good resilience, with new contract wins in Workwear. Thus, despite strict lockdown measures, Poland, Czech Republic, and Netherlands delivered positive or nearly positive organic revenue growth in Q1, driven by good commercial momentum with clients operating in food processing, energy services and pharma. In Germany, organic revenue was down c. -10%, with a negative impact from collective catering and Hospitality clients.

Scandinavia & Eastern Europe

Q1 2021 revenue was down -7.7% (-9.5% on an organic basis). The fact that the greater portion of our clients operate in the Industry segment enabled the region to be quite resilient since the beginning of the crisis. Sweden and Denmark, the regions largest contributors, recorded organic revenue declines of -11% and -13% respectively in Q1, due to Hospitality. However, Norway, Finland and Baltic States all delivered positive organic growth in the quarter, with commercial momentum remaining intact in Workwear.



UK & Ireland

Q1 2021 revenue was down -21.0% (-22.2% on an organic basis). Hospitality, which normally represents around one-third of the regions revenue, was down c. -70% in Q1. Industry and Trade & Services, which represent another third of total revenue, posted a c. -10% decline, due to our high number of collective catering clients and fast-food restaurant clients which have been strongly impacted by the crisis. Finally, Healthcare was stable. The good progress in the vaccination campaign in the UK, as well as the progressive lifting of restrictions (outdoor terraces, shops, travel) should lead to a rebound in activity in Q2.

Southern Europe

Q1 2021 revenue was down -29.6% (entirely organic). The geography is highly exposed to the Hospitality segment (more than 60% of total revenue in 2019) and continues to suffer from the sharp decline of activity, especially given that the share of international tourism is normally very high. The easing of the lockdown measures paves the way for a quick rebound in activity, with a level of billing in March +17% higher than in February. In Workwear, activity was still well-oriented (+13% in Spain compared to 2020) on the back of good commercial dynamism and the development of outsourcing.

Latin America

Q1 2021 organic revenue was up +12.1% in the region but the unfavorable currency effect resulted in a

-10.0% decrease in reported revenue. End-markets where Elis operates (public and private healthcare, food processing) were well oriented. Furthermore, the Group developed new offers to meet clients new requirements, leading to short-term contract wins (waterproof overgowns) or permanent contracts (healthcare garments, increase in linen rotation). This led to further market share gains in Healthcare in the zones three countries.

Financial situation

Elis obtained in 2020 a waiver regarding its June 30, 2021 bank covenant test. The renegotiated covenant is 4.5x.

The Group has no major debt maturity before 2023 and has, as of today, c. 1.1bn of liquidity in the form of two revolving credit lines for an undrawn amount of 900mn and c. 200mn in cash as of March 31, 2021.

Financial definitions

Organic growth in the Groups revenue is calculated excluding (i) the impacts of changes in the scope of consolidation of major acquisitions and major disposals (as defined in the Document de Base) in each of the periods under comparison, as well as (ii) the impact of exchange rate fluctuations.

EBITDA is defined as EBIT before depreciation and amortization net of the portion of subsidies transferred to income. It excludes non-recurring items directly related to the sanitary crisis, which are accounted for in Non-current operating income and expenses.

EBITDA margin is defined as EBITDA divided by revenues.

EBIT is defined as net income (or net loss) before financial expense, income tax, share in income of equity-accounted companies, amortization of customer relationships, goodwill impairment, non-current operating income and expenses, miscellaneous financial items (bank fees recognized in operating income) and expenses related to IFRS 2 (share-based payments).

Geographical breakdown

France

Central Europe: Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Belgium, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Luxembourg

Scandinavia & Eastern Europe: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia

UK & Ireland

Southern Europe: Spain & Andorra, Portugal, Italy

Latin America: Brazil, Chile, Colombia

Forward looking statements

This document may contain information related to the Groups outlook. Such outlook is based on data, assumptions and estimates that the Group regarded as reasonable at the date of this press release. Those data and assumptions may change or be adjusted as a result of uncertainties relating particularly to the economic, financial, competitive, regulatory or tax environment or as a result of other factors of which the Group was not aware on the date of this press release. Moreover, the materialization of certain risks, especially those described in chapter 4 Risk factors, risk control, insurance policy, and vigilance plan of the Universal Registration Document for the financial year ended December 31, 2020, which is available on Eliss website ( www.elis.com ), may have an impact on the Groups activities, financial position, results or outlook and therefore lead to a difference between the actual figures and those given or implied by the outlook presented in this document. Elis undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise the Groups outlook or any of the abovementioned data, assumptions or estimates, except as required by applicable laws and regulations. Reaching the outlook also implies success of the Groups strategy. As a result, the Group makes no representation and gives no warranty regarding the attainment of any outlook set out above.

Next information

H1 2021 results: July 28, 2021 (after market)

Shareholder meeting

The annual shareholder meeting will be held at the Groups headquarters on May 20, 2021 and will be webcasted. Log-in information is available on Eliss website: https://fr.elis.com/en/group/investors-relations/regulated-information

Contact

Nicolas Buron, Investor Relations Director - Phone: +33 1 75 49 98 30 - nicolas.buron@elis.com

1 Based on 2019 full-year revenue

Attachment
NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (NYSE: HR) today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. The Company reported net income of $24.0 million, or $0.17 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. Normalized FFO for the three months ended March 31, 2021 totaled $58.3 million, or $0.42 per diluted common share.

Salient quarterly highlights include:

Normalized FFO per share totaled $0.42, an increase of 2.6% from $0.41 in the first quarter of 2020.

Same store cash NOI for the first quarter increased 2.1% over the first quarter of 2020. For the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2021, same store cash NOI grew 2.0%.

Predictive growth measures in the same store portfolio include: Average in-place rent increases of 2.86% Future annual contractual increases of 2.98% for leases commencing in the quarter Weighted average cash leasing spreads of 4.4% on 616,000 square feet renewed: 2% ( 7% (0-3%) 73% (3-4%) 18% (>4%) Tenant retention of 88.5%

Portfolio leasing activity in the first quarter totaled 856,000 square feet related to 151 leases: 656,000 square feet of renewals 200,000 square feet of new and expansion leases

During the first quarter, the Company acquired seven medical office buildings for $76.6 million totaling 275,000 square feet. In Dallas, two buildings totaling 122,000 square feet for $22.5 million located on AA- rated Baylor Scott & White's Medical Center - Grapevine campus. The Company owns two additional properties on this campus. In San Diego, a 22,000 square foot building for $17.2 million that is 100% leased to University of California San Diego Health and adjacent to AA rated Scripps Health's Mercy Hospital San Diego. In Denver, an off campus 59,000 square foot property for $14.4 million acquired under the TIAA joint venture. In Washington, D.C., a 26,000 square foot building for $12.8 million adjacent to AA rated Sentara Healthcare's Northern Virginia Medical Center Hospital campus. In Atlanta, two buildings totaling 45,000 square feet for $9.8 million located on and adjacent to A rated Wellstar Health System's Douglas Hospital campus. The Company owns two additional properties on this campus. The Company funded $69.4 million in these properties, net of TIAA's 50% joint venture contribution.

Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company acquired three medical office buildings under the TIAA joint venture totaling 130,000 square feet for $52.1 million. In Los Angeles, a 58,000 square foot building for $31.3 million on AA- rated MemorialCare Health System's Saddleback Medical Center campus. The Company owns three additional buildings around this campus. In San Antonio, an off campus 45,000 square foot building for $13.6 million leased to a diverse mix of specialists and primary care including Baptist Health. In Colorado Springs, an off campus 28,000 square foot building for $7.2 million that is leased to a diverse mix of specialists and primary care. The Company funded $26.1 million in these properties, net of TIAA's 50% joint venture contribution.

Year-to-date, the Company acquired ten buildings totaling 405,000 square feet for $128.7 million at a weighted average cap rate of 5.5%.

Year-to-date, the Company sold three medical office buildings totaling 94,000 square feet for $34.1 million at a weighted average cap rate of 4.8%.

In April, the Company commenced a 23,000 square foot expansion and redevelopment of an existing 33,000 square foot medical office building adjacent to AA- rated MultiCare Health System's Tacoma General Hospital. The project has a total budget of $12.4 million and the expansion is 100% leased to MultiCare.

During the first quarter, the Company settled 2.0 million shares through its forward equity program, generating $62.7 million in net proceeds. The Company currently has approximately 4.1 million shares to be settled through forward equity contracts and expects gross proceeds of approximately $127.3 million, before cost of borrowing under the forward contracts.

As of March 31, 2021 the Company had cash of $12.1 million and $693 million available on its revolver.

Net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 5.3 times at the end of the quarter.

A dividend of $0.3025 per share was paid during the quarter, which equaled 80.8% of FAD. On a trailing twelve months basis, dividends paid equaled 88.7% of FAD.

A dividend of $0.3025 per share is payable on May 28, 2021 for stockholders of record on May 17, 2021.

Healthcare Realty Trust is a real estate investment trust that integrates owning, managing, financing and developing income-producing real estate properties associated primarily with the delivery of outpatient healthcare services throughout the United States. As of March 31, 2021, the Company owned 228 real estate properties in 24 states totaling 16.5 million square feet and was valued at approximately $5.9 billion. The Company provided leasing and property management services to 13.1 million square feet nationwide.

Additional information regarding the Company, including this quarter's operations, can be found at www.healthcarerealty.com. Please contact the Company at 615.269.8175 to request a printed copy of this information.

In addition to the historical information contained within, the matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks are discussed in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Healthcare Realty Trust, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 under the heading "Risk Factors," and other risks described from time to time thereafter in the Company's SEC filings. Forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements. A reconciliation of all non-GAAP financial measures in this release is included herein.

Consolidated Balance Sheets 1 DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA

ASSETS MARCH 31, 2021 DECEMBER 31, 2020 Real estate properties Land $369,202 $362,695 Buildings, improvements and lease intangibles 4,201,251 4,220,297 Personal property 11,370 11,195 Land held for development 27,226 27,226 Total real estate properties 4,609,049 4,621,413 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (1,238,044 ) (1,239,224 ) Total real estate properties, net 3,371,005 3,382,189 Cash and cash equivalents 12,087 15,303 Assets held for sale, net 64,578 20,646 Operating lease right-of-use assets 120,890 125,198 Financing lease right-of-use assets 19,559 19,667 Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures 83,943 73,137 Other assets, net 182,043 176,120 Total assets $3,854,105 $3,812,260 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY MARCH 31, 2021 DECEMBER 31, 2020 Liabilities Notes and bonds payable $1,609,251 $1,602,769 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 66,407 81,174 Liabilities of properties held for sale 1,342 1,216 Operating lease liabilities 91,921 92,273 Financing lease liabilities 18,722 18,837 Other liabilities 68,353 67,615 Total liabilities 1,855,996 1,863,884 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 50,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding   Common stock, $.01 par value; 300,000 shares authorized; 141,660 and 139,487 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively 1,417 1,395 Additional paid-in capital 3,699,867 3,635,341 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (13,887 ) (17,832 ) Cumulative net income attributable to common stockholders 1,223,521 1,199,499 Cumulative dividends (2,912,809 ) (2,870,027 ) Total stockholders' equity 1,998,109 1,948,376 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $3,854,105 $3,812,260

The Consolidated Balance Sheets do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Income 1 DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2021 2020 Revenues Rental income $128,389 $122,644 Other operating 1,950 2,163 130,339 124,807 Expenses Property operating 52,215 49,552 General and administrative 8,499 8,766 Acquisition and pursuit costs 744 750 Depreciation and amortization 50,079 47,497 111,537 106,565 Other income (expense) Gain (loss) on sales of real estate assets 18,890 (49 ) Interest expense (13,262 ) (13,960 ) Impairment of real estate assets (834 )  Equity (loss) from unconsolidated joint ventures (74 ) (11 ) Interest and other income (expense), net 500 93 5,220 (13,927 ) Net Income (loss) $24,022 $4,315 Basic earnings per common share - Net income $0.17 $0.03 Diluted earnings per common share - Net income $0.17 $0.03 Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic 138,774 133,036 Weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted 138,871 133,150

The Consolidated Statements of Income do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements.

Reconciliation of FFO, Normalized FFO and FAD DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA - UNAUDITED

THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2021 2020 Net income $ 24,022 $ 4,315 (Gain) loss on sales of real estate assets (18,890 ) 49 Impairment of real estate asset 834  Real estate depreciation and amortization 51,311 48,531 Proportionate share of unconsolidated joint venture adjustments 813 80 Funds from operations (FFO) $ 58,090 $ 52,975 Acquisition and pursuit costs 1 744 750 Lease intangible amortization (72 ) 745 Forfeited earnest money received (500 )  Proportionate share of unconsolidated joint ventures 27  Normalized FFO $ 58,289 $ 54,470 Non-real estate depreciation and amortization 673 823 Non-cash interest expense amortization 2 894 746 Provision for bad debt, net (79 ) (83 ) Straight-line rent income, net (1,094 ) (668 ) Stock-based compensation 3,019 2,599 Proportionate share of unconsolidated joint venture (357 ) 8 Normalized FFO adjusted for non-cash items 61,345 57,895 2nd generation TI (5,189 ) (6,040 ) Leasing commissions paid (1,193 ) (2,824 ) Capital additions (2,019 ) (3,470 ) Maintenance cap ex (8,401 ) (12,334 ) Funds available for distribution (FAD) $ 52,944 $ 45,561 FFO per common share - diluted $ 0.42 $ 0.40 Normalized FFO per common share - diluted $ 0.42 $ 0.41 FFO weighted average common shares outstanding - diluted 3 139,714 133,980

Acquisition and pursuit costs include third party and travel costs related to the pursuit of acquisitions and developments. Includes the amortization of deferred financing costs and discounts and premiums. The Company utilizes the treasury stock method which includes the dilutive effect of nonvested share-based awards outstanding of 843,173 for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA - UNAUDITED

Management considers funds from operations ("FFO"), FFO per share, normalized FFO, normalized FFO per share, funds available for distribution ("FAD") to be useful non-GAAP measures of the Company's operating performance. A non-GAAP financial measure is generally defined as one that purports to measure historical financial performance, financial position or cash flows, but excludes or includes amounts that would not be so adjusted in the most comparable measure determined in accordance with GAAP. Set forth below are descriptions of the non-GAAP financial measures management considers relevant to the Company's business and useful to investors.

The non-GAAP financial measures presented herein are not necessarily identical to those presented by other real estate companies due to the fact that not all real estate companies use the same definitions. These measures should not be considered as alternatives to net income (determined in accordance with GAAP), as indicators of the Company's financial performance, or as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as measures of the Company's liquidity, nor are these measures necessarily indicative of sufficient cash flow to fund all of the Company's needs.

FFO and FFO per share are operating performance measures adopted by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, Inc. (NAREIT). NAREIT defines FFO as net income (computed in accordance with GAAP) excluding depreciation and amortization related to real estate, gains and losses from the sale of certain real estate assets, gains and losses from change in control, and impairment write-downs of certain real assets and investments in entities when the impairment is directly attributable to decreases in the value of depreciable real estate held by the entity. The Company defines Normalized FFO as FFO excluding acquisition-related expenses, lease intangible amortization and other normalizing items that are unusual and infrequent in nature. FAD is presented by adding to Normalized FFO non-real estate depreciation and amortization, deferred financing fees amortization, share-based compensation expense and provision for bad debts, net; and subtracting maintenance capital expenditures, including second generation tenant improvements and leasing commissions paid and straight-line rent income, net of expense. The Company's definition of these terms may not be comparable to that of other real estate companies as they may have different methodologies for computing these amounts. FFO, Normalized FFO and FAD do not represent cash generated from operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP and are not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs. FFO, Normalized FFO and FAD should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indicator of the Companys operating performance or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity. FFO, Normalized FFO and FAD should be reviewed in connection with GAAP financial measures.

Management believes FFO, FFO per share, Normalized FFO, Normalized FFO per share, and FAD provide an understanding of the operating performance of the Companys properties without giving effect to certain significant non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization expense. Historical cost accounting for real estate assets in accordance with GAAP assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. However, real estate values instead have historically risen or fallen with market conditions. The Company believes that by excluding the effect of depreciation, amortization, gains or losses from sales of real estate, and other normalizing items that are unusual and infrequent, FFO, FFO per share, Normalized FFO, Normalized FFO per share and FAD can facilitate comparisons of operating performance between periods. The Company reports these measures because they have been observed by management to be the predominant measures used by the REIT industry and by industry analysts to evaluate REITs and because these measures are consistently reported, discussed, and compared by research analysts in their notes and publications about REITs.

Cash NOI and Same Store Cash NOI are key performance indicators. Management considers these to be supplemental measures that allow investors, analysts and Company management to measure unlevered property-level operating results. The Company defines Cash NOI as rental income and less property operating expenses. Cash NOI excludes non-cash items such as above and below market lease intangibles, straight-line rent, lease inducements, lease termination fees, tenant improvement amortization and leasing commission amortization. Cash NOI is historical and not necessarily indicative of future results.

Same Store Cash NOI compares Cash NOI for stabilized properties. Stabilized properties are properties that have been included in operations for the duration of the year-over-year comparison period presented and include redevelopment projects of existing same store properties. Accordingly, stabilized properties exclude properties that were recently acquired or disposed of, properties classified as held for sale, reposition properties and newly developed properties. The Company utilizes the reposition classification for properties experiencing a shift in strategic direction. Such a shift can occur for a variety of reasons, including a substantial change in the use of the asset, a change in strategy or closure of a neighboring hospital, or significant property damage. Such properties may require enhanced management, leasing, capital needs or a disposition strategy that differs from the rest of the portfolio. To identify properties exhibiting these reposition characteristics, the Company applies the following Company-defined criteria:

Properties having less than 60% occupancy that is expected to last at least two quarters;

Properties that experience a loss of occupancy over 30% in a single quarter; or

Properties with negative net operating income that is expected to last at least two quarters.

Any recently acquired property will be included in the same store pool once the Company has owned the property for eight full quarters. Newly developed properties will be included in the same store pool eight full quarters after substantial completion. Any additional square footage created by redevelopment projects at a same store property is included in the same store pool immediately upon completion. Any property included in the reposition property group will be included in the same store analysis once occupancy has increased to 60% or greater with positive net operating income and has remained at that level for eight full quarters.

Carla BacaAssociate Vice President, Investor RelationsP: 615.269.8175

Source: Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated
All amounts expressed in US dollars

TORONTO, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE: GOLD)(TSX: ABX) today reported its results for the first quarter of 2021, noting that with gold and copper production on plan, it was well positioned to achieve its annual guidance.

Production in the latter half of the year is expected to be higher than the first, mainly due to mine sequencing at Nevada Gold Mines, the commissioning of the new leach pad facility at Veladero in Argentina, the ramp-up of underground mining at Bulyanhulu and higher anticipated grades at Lumwana in Zambia.

Barricks Tier One1 gold mines all delivered strong financial performances in Q1 while revenue from its copper mines rose by 31% due to higher copper prices. Net cash2 increased by $0.5 billion despite an advanced tax payment to the state of Nevada on the back of operating cash flow of $1.3 billion and free cash flow3 of $0.8 billion.

The company announced a 9 cents per share quarterly dividend, which will be topped up by a three-tranche return of capital distribution totaling $750 million through the course of the year. This would take the per share yield based on yesterdays closing share price to 3.5% for 2021.4,5

Major growth projects advanced during the quarter include the plant and tailings expansion of the Tier One Pueblo Viejo mine in the Dominican Republic, the third shaft at Turquoise Ridge in Nevada and Goldrush exploration development, also in Nevada, which has intersected first ore.

President and chief executive Mark Bristow said Barricks intensified focus on exploration was paying dividends, with exciting brownfields and generative results from multiple targets across the group. Kibali in the Democratic Republic of Congo was on course to replace reserves depleted by mining for the third successive year and there were also particularly encouraging results from Nevada, Loulo-Gounkoto in Mali, PV in Dominican Republic and Jabal Sayid in Saudi Arabia.

Bristow said, As detailed in Barricks recently published Sustainability Report for 2020, the company has improved its ESG performance against virtually all metrics. It has increased its 2030 emissions reduction target from 10% to 30%, with the ultimate aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

When we announced the merger between Barrick and Randgold back in September 2018, we said that its rationale was to combine the industrys best assets with its best managers to build the most valued gold business. Our management teams record speaks for itself, and as far as assets are concerned, Barrick majority-owns and operates five of the worlds 10 largest gold mines16, with a sixth in the form of Turquoise Ridge waiting in the wings. Each of our core mines has a high-confidence 10-year plan in place  and those are plans, not forecasts, which we plan to grow, he said.

The rise in the gold price has prompted a resurgence of the short-termism which has plagued the market, with some investors focusing on short-term gains rather than sustainable growth. But Barrick is building a business for the long term and our focus remains firmly on the future and on the creation and delivery of long-term value to our shareholders and all our other stakeholders.

Key Performance Indicators

Solid start to the 2021 year puts Barrick on track to achieve production targets

Strong financial results from Tier One assets with leading margins

with leading margins Copper revenues increased 31% compared to the prior quarter due to stronger copper prices driving solid profitability with disciplined cost control

compared to the prior quarter due to stronger copper prices driving solid profitability with disciplined cost control Net cash 2 increased by $0.5 billion even after advance tax payment in Nevada

2 even after advance tax payment in Nevada Operating cash flow of $1.3 billion and free cash flow3 of $0.8 billion

and free cash flow3 of Net earnings per share of 30 cents and adjusted net earnings per share6 of 29 cents

and adjusted net earnings per share6 of Framework agreement in PNG puts Porgera on track to resume operations

Sustainability Report highlights improvements against most ESG metrics

Exploration delivers exciting drill results from multiple targets

from multiple targets Donlin approves 2021 follow-up drill program after successful 2020 results

after successful 2020 results Turquoise Ridge Third Shaft sinking reaches final station

sinking reaches final station Goldrush exploration development intersects first ore , in line with guidance

, in line with guidance First $250 million ($0.14 per share) return of capital distribution15 announced in addition to a $0.09 quarterly dividend

Financial and Operating Highlights

Financial Results Q1 2021 Q4 2020 Q1 2020 Realized gold price7,8($ per ounce) 1,777 1,871 1,589 Net earnings9($ millions) 538 685 400 Adjusted net earnings6($ millions) 507 616 285 Net cash provided by operating activities($ millions) 1,302 1,638 889 Free cash flow3($ millions) 763 1,092 438 Net earnings per share($) 0.30 0.39 0.22 Adjusted net earnings per share6($) 0.29 0.35 0.16 Attributable capital expenditures10($ millions) 424 445 364 Debt, net of cash($ millions) (519 ) (33 ) 1,852 Operating Results Q1 2021 Q4 2020 Q1 2020 Gold Production8(000s of ounces) 1,101 1,206 1,250 Cost of sales (Barrick's share)8,11($ per ounce) 1,073 1,065 1,020 Total cash costs8,12($ per ounce) 716 692 692 All-in sustaining costs8,12($ per ounce) 1,018 929 954 Copper Production8(millions of pounds) 93 119 115 Cost of sales (Barrick's share)8,13($ per pound) 2.11 2.06 1.96 C1 cash costs8,14($ per pound) 1.60 1.61 1.55 All-in sustaining costs8,14($ per pound) 2.26 2.42 2.04

Q1 2021 Results Presentation

President and CEO Mark Bristow will host an interactive webinar on the results at 11:00 EDT / 15:00 UTC. The presentation will be linked to the webinar and conference call. Participants will be able to ask questions.

Go to the webinarUS and Canada (toll-free) 1 800 319 4610UK (toll-free) 0808 101 2791International (toll) +1 416 915 3239

The Q1 2021 presentation materials will be available on Barricks website at www.barrick.com and the webinar will remain on the website for later viewing.

BARRICK ANNOUNCES FIRST $250 MILLION RETURN OF CAPITAL TRANCHE AND QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

Barrick today announced that the first $250 million ($0.14 per share)15 tranche of a return of capital distribution totaling $750 million will be paid on June 15, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 28, 2021.

In addition, Barrick announced that its Board of Directors has declared a dividend for the first quarter of 2021 of $0.09 per share, which will also be paid on June 15, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 28, 20214.

This follows the approval by shareholders at Barricks Annual and Special Meeting on May 4, 2021 of the total $750 million return of capital distribution. The remaining distribution of $500 million is expected to be effected in two equal tranches to shareholders of record on dates to be determined in August and November 2021.

Senior executive vice-president and chief financial officer Graham Shuttleworth said that the return of capital distribution and quarterly dividend demonstrates Barricks commitment to shareholder returns in line with the strategy outlined at the time of the Randgold merger in September 2018. Since that time dividends have tripled, and together with this capital distribution, establishes one of the industrys leading returns for shareholders in 2021.

Based on the current number of outstanding shares, the distribution of this first tranche represents approximately 14 cents per share15, with the three tranches to be distributed during 2021 representing approximately 42 cents per share in total15. In addition to the current quarterly dividend of 9 cents per share, these distributions are providing Barricks shareholders with a significantly enhanced return in 2021, said Shuttleworth.

INTEGRATION OF EXPLORATION, MINERAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING UNLOCKS VALUE

Built on its core strategy of continuing exploration success, Barricks 10-year plan has been bolstered further by significant advances in resource replacement and prospect development during the first quarter of the year.

Mineral resource management and evaluation executive, Rodney Quick, says the post-merger focus on orebody knowledge across all operating functions, a greatly improved understanding of geological frameworks and the application of leading-edge technologies are identifying and unlocking opportunities for expanding existing asset bases as well as for new discoveries. These factors are effectively combined under Barricks unique approach to integrated exploration, mineral resource management and planning.

Better understanding of the orebodies has required a great deal of work at the Nevada Gold Mines (NGM) joint venture and this is now beginning to pay off. Drilling programs are currently under way at all priority targets, including Leeville, Sphinx, Carlin Basin and Pipeline-Robertson. Leeville is yielding robust high-grade results and newly identified controls are opening up peripheral targets. At Robertson, step-out drilling suggests considerable near-surface upside and the potential for additional discoveries. Exploration declines at Goldrush, now in ore, are continuing to test extensions.

During the past quarter, notable advances were also made at Loulo-Gounkoto, Kibali and Jabal Sayid.

In the greater Loulo district, new styles of mineralization have been found in Senegal, a potential discovery is emerging at Yalea Ridge and there are exciting drill intercepts beneath the Loulo 1 orebody. There are also at least three major structures immediately south of Gounkoto with extensive anomalism pointing to a potentially significant orebody nearby.

At Kibali, Kalimva is showing some very promising results and a recent reinterpretation of the geological framework has highlighted an area with many structural similarities to the world-class KCD orebody immediately to the east.

At Jabal Sayid, a wide and high-grade intercept well outside the known orebody, points to potentially significant mine life extensions.

On the new discoveries front, generative and grassroots exploration is building a pipeline of targets across all regions, with a particular focus on Latin America, says Rob Krcmarov, Barricks exploration and growth executive.

Theres a high turnover of projects being evaluated, with the emphasis on geological models and prospectivity. The Zambrana target along strike from Pueblo Viejo is returning encouraging results and at Veladero, drilling at Lama East appears to have intersected strong near surface mineralisation, confirming the potential of the unexplored region between Veladero and Lama. Drilling is continuing to refine our understanding of the controls on mineralization at Alturas-Del Carmen and Pascua-Lama, he says.

Barrick also continues to review new business opportunities, capable of meeting its investment criteria, outside its existing portfolio.

BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLANS PROTECT ECOSYSTEMS, PROMOTE CONSERVATION AROUND BARRICK MINES

Barrick has implemented biodiversity action plans at all its operational sites to manage their impact on sensitive ecosystems as well as to support conservation efforts in the wilderness areas around some of its mines.

In its latest conservation initiative, Barrick has entered into an agreement with the government of Mali to assume responsibility for the rehabilitation of the neglected Fina Reserve. Classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1982, Fina has since suffered from under-investment and mismanagement.

Under the agreement, the company will invest $5 million in Fina over the next five years to establish anti-poaching programs, rehabilitate the lands and forests as well as reintroduce lost animal species. In line with Barricks partnership philosophy, it has established a board of governors which includes prominent Malian businesspeople and representatives of Africa Parks. The expert NGO, Bios, has been appointed to manage the park and an introductory meeting has been held with local communities.

Our ultimate aim is to transform Fina into an internationally recognized national park for Mali, says group sustainability executive Grant Beringer.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Barrick already supports the Garamba National Park, one of Africas oldest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Garamba is home to the DRCs largest elephant population as well as the critically endangered Kordofan giraffe. The company provides elephant tracking collars, fuel for observation and anti-poaching aircraft as well as funding the improvement of roads, bridges and other infrastructure. Since the program began in September 2019, not a single incident of elephant poaching has been recorded. The next step will be the reintroduction of white rhino and giant eland to the park.

ESG IN ACTION: TANZANIA SHOWS THE WAY

When Barrick took over operational control of its Tanzanian assets under two years ago, it faced daunting challenges: a government that was actively hostile to the mining industry in general and the former operator in particular; serious environmental issues which had halted production at North Mara; long-standing land disputes; allegations of human rights abuses; and a non-existent social licence to operate.

Since then, Barrick has formed a pioneering partnership with the government, through which they will share the economic benefits generated by the mines. These have not only been brought back into production but have been set on course to potentially become another Tier One complex for the company. Barrick has settled the land disputes and resolved other grievances and is dealing with historical human rights accusations in an open and transparent way.

Barrick has an absolute and unwavering commitment to minimizing the environmental impact of its operations, and its first priority was to fix the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) and the water management situation at North Mara, says Grant Beringer, group sustainability executive.

The company will invest $65 million in water management initiatives, which has included an upgrade of the water treatment plant, increasing its capacity 16-fold, and has drained the excess water from the TSF, bringing it back to within its permit levels. The next big project is a brine plant, the first of its kind in African mining, which will reduce the volume of salts and increase their concentration to allow for safe storage in the TSF. This plant is scheduled for commissioning in the third quarter of this year.

Community development committees have been established at the mines, and through consultation with these and the authorities, Barrick reached agreement on land compensation rates. To date, almost all the compensation has been paid in a process overseen by the government, the local authorities and the affected communities.

Barrick has worked with independent specialists Avanzar to update its human rights policies, standards and procedures, and to develop human rights workshops for managers and supervisors, the first of which was held in January of this year. Avanzar has also conducted a human rights impact assessment.

The international security provider has been replaced by a local company with close community ties, the mines relationship with the police has been reviewed to establish clear boundaries, and arms and ammunition are no longer stored on site.

While there is still a lot of work to be done, we are encouraged by the progress we have made in establishing Barricks social licence to operate in Tanzania and in transforming moribund mines into a valuable addition to our global portfolio. The fact that ESG is so deeply ingrained in Barrick meant that we did not have to invent a strategy for dealing with Tanzania  we simply applied our existing principles and procedures, he says.

NEVADA GOLD MINES: WORLD CLASS ASSETS AND A GREAT FUTURE

Nevada Gold Mines, the joint venture formed in July 2019 by industry leaders Barrick and Newmont, is maturing rapidly, with a high-confidence 10-year plan in place and the focus shifting to a 15-year plan. The worlds largest gold mining complex, NGM is majority-owned and operated by Barrick.

Mineral Resource Manager for North America, Grigore Simon, says rapid progress in improving orebody knowledge has opened up resource growth and exploration opportunities, notably at North Leeville, Ren, Robertson, Turquoise Ridge and Carlin. The integrated leadership team has also continued to realize the value-creating synergies presented by the joint venture through reallocating resources between mine sites, and sharing skills and equipment to maximize returns.

At the same time, NGM has been reinforcing its social licence to operate by building strong relationships with its local communities, the counties, the state and the federal agencies. Community support initiatives include the Elko broadband project, which will bring reliable high-speed internet services to an area with some of the lowest connectivity in the USA. Another is the I-80 Fund. Originally established to provide relief to small businesses impacted by Covid-19, it has since evolved into a rural development fund to stimulate economic growth in Northern Nevada. NGMs Heritage Fund matches employee and company contributions to fund essential programs and services prioritized by employees.

To ensure that community needs are being met, advisory groups consisting of local stakeholders have been formed to nominate development projects for investment by NGM.

These community development committees provide a forum for two-way engagement between stakeholders and NGM, and to forge mutually beneficial partnerships working together to build long-term economic sustainability in these regions, says Alissa Wood, head of communities and corporate affairs.

NGM has a strong track record in environmental remediation and reclamation, and is a committed custodian of Nevadas unique lands, waters, flora and fauna. In support of the states carbon-reduction objectives, NGM is converting its TS coal power plant to a dual fuel process which will enable it to generate power from natural gas. The conversion will allow NGM to eliminate 563,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year. Its clean energy strategy also includes the installation of over 200MW of solar power. Together, these have the potential to reduce NGMs emissions by 20% by 2025  the equivalent of taking around 150,000 cars off the road.

NGM is currently gearing up for its first virtual investor site visit and information day, which will take place on May 25, 2021.

PARTNERSHIP AND PERSEVERANCE PAY OFF AT PORGERA

The Porgera gold mine is set to resume operations later this year after the Papua New Guinea (PNG) government and Barrick Niugini Limited (BNL) agreed on a partnership for its future ownership and operation.

Porgera has been on care and maintenance since April 2020 when the government declined to renew its special mining lease.

Under the terms of a binding framework agreement, ownership of Porgera will be held by a new joint venture owned 51% by PNG stakeholders and 49% by BNL. BNL remains the operator of the mine and will provide the capital required to restart it. PNG and BNL will share the economic benefits created by Porgera on a 53/47% basis over the life of mine.

Barrick president and chief executive Mark Bristow said the agreement was the product of a long and intense negotiation process which eventually delivered a fair outcome for both parties.

We intend to partner with all key stakeholders to make Porgera a world-class long-life gold mine, he said.

The parties are currently working towards the signing of definitive agreements, at which time full work on restarting the mine will commence.

PUEBLO VIEJO MAINTAINS MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO DOMINICAN ECONOMY

Pueblo Viejo paid $228 million in direct cash taxes and royalties in the first four months of this year, bringing its total tax and royalty payments to the government to more than $2.6 billion since production started in 2013.

The mines shareholders have received none of these cash distributions and are still recovering $1.2 billion from its initial investment of $3.5 billion. It is estimated that over the current life of the mine, from 2013 to an expected 2043, its total economic benefit will be in excess of $16 billion, of which the government will get 55% and the mines shareholders receive 45%.

Pueblo Viejo accounts for an average of 19% of the Dominican Republics annual corporate tax revenue, and in 2020 was responsible for 37% of the countrys total exports. Last year it also contributed $346 million to the economy in the form of purchases from local suppliers and contractors.

Pueblo Viejo president Juana Barcelo says the mines expansion project will enable it to continue its social and economic contributions towards the development of the Dominican Republic for many years to come. Without this project, however, it would have to stop mining this year and the benefits to the Dominican economy, the State treasury as well as the employees, business partners and communities around the mine would cease.

KIBALI MAKES STRONG START TO 2021, CONTINUES TO REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT

The Barrick operated Kibali mine in the DRC produced 191,612 ounces of gold17 in the first quarter of 2021, keeping it on plan and on track to achieve its full year target, president and chief executive Mark Bristow told local media and stakeholders at a recent briefing in Kinshasa.

The mines underground operation again drove production and continuing improvements in the plants throughput and recovery rates also contributed to Kibalis on-plan delivery. Efficiency improvement projects completed during the quarter, including an upgrade of the hoisting infrastructure, are expected to boost its performance further.

Power generation costs benefitted during the quarter from higher river levels as the mines three hydropower plants supplied the bulk of its energy requirements. The power grid was further enhanced by the installation of a 9MW battery support system. The new system will also decrease the need for diesel-generated backup, in line with the mines strategy of reducing its carbon footprint.

Strict adherence to Covid-19 prevention protocols largely shielded the mine from the impact of the pandemics second wave.

Looking ahead, Kibali continues to replace resources and secure further open pit opportunities to balance its underground mine, and to replace reserves and add flexibility to the operation in support of its robust 10-year plan.

Kibali maintained its investment in community development, among other things by advancing the Kibali-built Durba concrete road by 1.5km. The provision of additional potable water sources to the surrounding villages was also extended. During Q1, the mine launched an innovative campaign to stimulate the Durba economy by issuing local shopping vouchers to employees.

Bristow said that Kibali continued to support the DRCs Garamba National Park, one of the oldest in Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and that there had not been a single instance of elephant poaching during 2020. The support program includes tracking collars for elephants, fuel for tracker aircraft and infrastructure improvements. A plan to reintroduce white rhino and giant eland to the park is the next big undertaking.

We look forward to working closely with His Excellency President Felix Tshisekedi and his new coalition government in further strengthening our partnership with the DRC and to resolve certain outstanding issues around the mining code and the repatriation of cash, Bristow said. Since the development of Kibali started in 2010, it has contributed $3.5 billion to the DRCs economy.

LOULO-GOUNKOTOS THIRD UNDERGROUND MINE ON TRACK TO START PRODUCTION

Barricks giant Loulo-Gounkoto gold complexs third underground mine has reached its first mining level and is scheduled to start delivering ore tonnes to the plant during the second quarter, president and chief executive Mark Bristow told a media briefing in Bamako recently.

At the same time, a prefeasibility study has started on two more mines on the Loulo permit: an underground operation at Loulo 3 and a large open pit at Yalea South. These, Bristow said, would add mining sources and improve feed flexibility, providing further support for the complexs robust 10-year plan. Meanwhile exploration programs designed to replace depleted reserves are continuing to deliver good results.

The complex produced 193,014 ounces of gold in Q1 and is on track to achieve its full-year guidance of 640,000 to 700,000 ounces17. Given its strong performance and the relatively high gold price, the joint venture board paid a combined dividend for the Loulo-Gounkoto complex of $80 million in the quarter.

Covid-19 testing and care capacities were upgraded during the quarter through the acquisition of new equipment and the complex has been largely unaffected by the third wave of the pandemic.

Bristow said the complex was continuing to invest in the development of the local community. One of its latest initiatives is the Accelerator program, which trains smaller suppliers and service providers in all aspects of business to enable them to grow and diversify. In addition, they are mentored by some of Loulo-Gounkotos larger, long-established suppliers and contractors. Since the program was introduced eight months ago, 63% of the participants have diversified their revenue streams and 80% now have five-year growth plans and long-term goals.

Loulo-Gounkoto remains a pillar of the Malian economy as well as a driver of local economic development. Over the past 24 years, Barrick and its legacy company Randgold Resources have contributed $7.7 billion to the economy, of which $3 billion went to the state in the form of dividends, taxes and royalties. Our long partnership with the country and its people is a testament to how mutually beneficial a relationship of this kind can be, Bristow said.

Appendix 12021 Operating and Capital Expenditure Guidance

GOLD PRODUCTION AND COSTS 2021 forecast attributableproduction (000s oz) 2021 forecast cost ofsales11 ($/oz) 2021 forecast total cashcosts12 ($/oz) 2021 forecast all-insustaining costs12 ($/oz) Carlin (61.5%)18 940 - 1,000 920 - 970 740 - 790 1,050 - 1,100 Cortez (61.5%)19 500 - 550 1,000 - 1,050 700 - 750 940 - 990 Turquoise Ridge (61.5%) 390 - 440 950 - 1,000 620 - 670 810 - 860 Phoenix (61.5%) 100 - 120 1,800 - 1,850 725 - 775 970 - 1,020 Long Canyon (61.5%) 140 - 160 800 - 850 180 - 230 240 - 290 Nevada Gold Mines (61.5%) 2,100 - 2,250 980 - 1,030 660 - 710 910 - 960 Hemlo 200 - 220 1,200 - 1,250 950 - 1,000 1,280 - 1,330 North America 2,300 - 2,450 990 - 1,040 690 - 740 940 - 990 Pueblo Viejo (60%) 470 - 510 880 - 930 520 - 570 760 - 810 Veladero (50%) 130 - 150 1,510 - 1,560 820 - 870 1,720 - 1,770 Porgera (47.5%)20     Latin America & Asia Pacific 600 - 660 1,050 - 1,100 600 - 650 1,000 - 1,050 Loulo-Gounkoto (80%) 510 - 560 980 - 1,030 630 - 680 930 - 980 Kibali (45%) 350 - 380 990 - 1,040 590 - 640 800 - 850 North Mara (84%) 240 - 270 970 - 1,020 740 - 790 960 - 1,010 Tongon (89.7%) 180 - 200 1,470 - 1,520 1,000 - 1,050 1,140 - 1,190 Bulyanhulu (84%) 170 - 200 980 - 1,030 580 - 630 810 - 860 Buzwagi (84%) 30 - 40 1,360 - 1,410 1,250 - 1,300 1,230 - 1,280 Africa & Middle East 1,500 - 1,600 1,050 - 1,100 690 - 740 920 - 970 Total Attributable to Barrick21,22,23 4,400 - 4,700 1,020 - 1,070 680 - 730 970 - 1,020 COPPER PRODUCTION AND COSTS 2021 forecast attributableproduction (Mlbs) 2021 forecast cost ofsales13 ($/lb) 2021 forecast C1 cashcosts14 ($/lb) 2021 forecast all-insustaining costs14 ($/lb) Lumwana 250 - 280 1.85 - 2.05 1.45 - 1.65 2.25 - 2.45 Zaldivar (50%) 90 - 110 2.30 - 2.50 1.65 - 1.85 1.90 - 2.10 Jabal Sayid (50%) 70 - 80 1.40 - 1.60 1.10 - 1.30 1.30 - 1.50 Total Attributable to Barrick22 410 - 460 1.90 - 2.10 1.40 - 1.60 2.00 - 2.20 ATTRIBUTABLE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ($ millions) Attributable minesite sustaining 1,250 - 1,450 Attributable project 550 - 650 Total attributable capital expenditures 1,800 - 2,100

2021 OUTLOOK ASSUMPTIONS AND ECONOMIC SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS24

2021 Guidance Assumption Hypothetical Change Impact on EBITDA25 (millions) Impact on TCC/C1 Cash Costs and AISC12,14 Gold price sensitivity $1,700/oz +/- $100/oz +/- $620 +/-$4/oz Copper price sensitivity $2.75/lb +/- $0.25/lb +/- $60 +/- $0.01/lb

Appendix 2Production and Cost Summary - Gold

For the three months ended 3/31/21 12/31/20 % Change 3/31/20 % Change Nevada Gold Mines LLC (61.5%)a Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 485 546 (11)% 526 (8)% Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 789 885 (11)% 855 (8)% Cost of sales ($/oz) 1,047 1,008 4 % 995 5 % Total cash costs ($/oz)b 686 667 3 % 690 (1)% All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 932 873 7 % 952 (2)% Carlin (61.5%)c Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 229 260 (12)% 253 (9)% Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 373 422 (12)% 411 (9)% Cost of sales ($/oz) 950 917 4 % 970 (2)% Total cash costs ($/oz)b 766 740 4 % 776 (1)% All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 1,045 1,005 4 % 1,007 4 % Cortez (61.5%)d Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 100 118 (15)% 128 (22)% Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 163 191 (15)% 208 (22)% Cost of sales ($/oz) 1,251 1,043 20 % 878 42 % Total cash costs ($/oz)b 860 738 17 % 614 40 % All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 1,203 906 33 % 1,009 19 % Turquoise Ridge (61.5%) Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 92 91 1 % 84 9 % Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 149 147 1 % 137 9 % Cost of sales ($/oz) 1,007 1,064 (5)% 1,032 (2)% Total cash costs ($/oz)b 647 687 (6)% 668 (3)% All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 741 757 (2)% 806 (8)% Phoenix (61.5%) Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 25 26 (3)% 35 (28)% Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 41 42 (3)% 57 (28)% Cost of sales ($/oz) 2,051 2,054  % 1,583 30 % Total cash costs ($/oz)b 346 590 (41)% 737 (53)% All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 530 670 (21)% 914 (42)% Long Canyon (61.5%) Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 39 51 (24)% 26 50 % Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 63 83 (24)% 42 50 % Cost of sales ($/oz) 511 674 (24)% 1,025 (50)% Total cash costs ($/oz)b 79 145 (46)% 345 (77)% All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 156 324 (52)% 561 (72)% Pueblo Viejo (60%) Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 137 159 (14)% 143 (4)% Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 229 265 (14)% 238 (4)% Cost of sales ($/oz) 816 803 2 % 767 6 % Total cash costs ($/oz)b 507 493 3 % 502 1 % All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 689 689  % 626 10 % Loulo-Gounkoto (80%) Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 154 123 26 % 141 9 % Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 193 153 26 % 177 9 % Cost of sales ($/oz) 974 1,149 (15)% 1,002 (3)% Total cash costs ($/oz)b 608 734 (17)% 614 (1)% All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 920 923  % 891 3 % Kibali (45%) Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 86 92 (6)% 91 (5)% Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 192 205 (6)% 201 (5)% Cost of sales ($/oz) 1,065 1,163 (8)% 1,045 2 % Total cash costs ($/oz)b 691 616 12 % 582 19 % All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 856 783 9 % 773 11 % Veladero (50%) Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 32 58 (45)% 75 (57)% Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 64 116 (45)% 150 (57)% Cost of sales ($/oz) 1,151 1,074 7 % 1,182 (3)% Total cash costs ($/oz)b 736 698 5 % 788 (7)% All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 2,104 1,428 47 % 1,266 66 % Porgera (47.5%)e Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis)   62 (100)% Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis)   131 (100)% Cost of sales ($/oz)   1,097 (100)% Total cash costs ($/oz)b   941 (100)% All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b   1,089 (100)% Tongon (89.7%) Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 48 66 (26)% 61 (21)% Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 54 73 (26)% 68 (21)% Cost of sales ($/oz) 1,510 1,371 10 % 1,368 10 % Total cash costs ($/oz)b 995 810 23 % 762 31 % All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 1,062 853 25 % 788 35 % Hemlo Gold produced (000s oz) 47 57 (18)% 57 (18)% Cost of sales ($/oz) 1,610 1,379 17 % 1,119 44 % Total cash costs ($/oz)b 1,324 1,104 20 % 945 40 % All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 1,840 1,464 26 % 1,281 44 % North Mara (84%) Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 62 61 1 % 65 (4)% Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 74 73 1 % 77 (4)% Cost of sales ($/oz) 1,061 1,073 (1)% 959 11 % Total cash costs ($/oz)b 832 799 4 % 646 29 % All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 1,038 989 5 % 816 27 % Buzwagi (84%) Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 17 21 (20)% 22 (25)% Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 20 25 (20)% 27 (25)% Cost of sales ($/oz) 1,486 1,314 13 % 1,373 8 % Total cash costs ($/oz)b 1,450 1,267 14 % 1,275 14 % All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 1,467 1,283 14 % 1,288 14 % Bulyanhulu (84%) Gold produced (000s oz attributable basis) 33 23 44 % 7 352 % Gold produced (000s oz 100% basis) 39 27 44 % 9 352 % Cost of sales ($/oz) 1,211 1,181 3 % 1,685 (28)% Total cash costs ($/oz)b 865 610 42 % 686 26 % All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 957 664 44 % 906 6 % Total Attributable to Barrickf Gold produced (000s oz) 1,101 1,206 (9)% 1,250 (12)% Cost of sales ($/oz)g 1,073 1,065 1 % 1,020 5 % Total cash costs ($/oz)b 716 692 3 % 692 3 % All-in sustaining costs ($/oz)b 1,018 929 10 % 954 7 %

These results represent our 61.5% interest in Carlin (including NGM's 60% interest in South Arturo), Cortez, Turquoise Ridge, Phoenix and Long Canyon. These are non-GAAP financial performance measures with no standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For further information and a detailed reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure used in this section of the press release to the most directly comparable IFRS measure, please see the endnotes to this press release. Included within our 61.5% interest in Carlin is NGM's 60% interest in South Arturo. Starting in the first quarter of 2021, Goldrush is reported as part of Cortez as it is operated by Cortez management. Comparative periods have been restated to include Goldrush. As Porgera was placed on care and maintenance on April 25, 2020, no operating data or per ounce data is provided. Excludes Pierina, Lagunas Norte, Golden Sunlight, and Morila (40%) up until its divestiture in November 2020, as these assets are producing incidental ounces while in closure or care and maintenance. Gold cost of sales per ounce is calculated as cost of sales across our gold operations (excluding sites in care and maintenance) divided by ounces sold (both on an attributable basis using Barrick's ownership share).

Production and Cost Summary - Copper

For the three months ended 3/31/21 12/31/20 % Change 3/31/20 % Change Lumwana Copper production (Mlbs) 51 78 (35)% 64 (20)% Cost of sales ($/lb) 1.97 1.96 1 % 1.94 2 % C1 cash costs ($/lb)a 1.48 1.58 (6)% 1.63 (9)% All-in sustaining costs ($/lb)a 2.37 2.60 (9)% 2.26 5 % Zaldivar (50%) Copper production (Mlbs attributable basis) 24 23 4 % 31 (23)% Copper production (Mlbs 100% basis) 48 46 4 % 62 (23)% Cost of sales ($/lb) 3.03 2.68 13 % 2.39 27 % C1 cash costs ($/lb)a 2.25 2.01 12 % 1.71 32 % All-in sustaining costs ($/lb)a 2.47 2.70 (9)% 1.99 24 % Jabal Sayid (50%) Copper production (Mlbs attributable basis) 18 18 0 % 20 (10)% Copper production (Mlbs 100% basis) 36 36 0 % 40 (10)% Cost of sales ($/lb) 1.21 1.53 (21)% 1.28 (5)% C1 cash costs ($/lb)a 1.06 1.15 (8)% 0.97 9 % All-in sustaining costs ($/lb)a 1.22 1.27 (4)% 1.11 10 % Total Attributable to Barrick Copper production (Mlbs attributable basis) 93 119 (22)% 115 (19)% Cost of sales ($/lb)b 2.11 2.06 2 % 1.96 8 % C1 cash costs ($/lb)a 1.60 1.61 (1)% 1.55 3 % All-in sustaining costs ($/lb)a 2.26 2.42 (7)% 2.04 11 %

These are non-GAAP financial performance measures with no standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For further information and a detailed reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure used in this section of the press release to the most directly comparable IFRS measure, please see the endnotes to this press release. Copper cost of sales per pound is calculated as cost of sales across our copper operations divided by pounds sold (both on an attributable basis using Barrick's ownership share).

Appendix 3Financial and Operating Highlights

For the three months ended 3/31/21 12/31/20 % Change 3/31/20 % Change Financial Results ($ millions) Revenues 2,956 3,279 (10 )% 2,721 9 % Cost of sales 1,712 1,814 (6 )% 1,776 (4 )% Net earningsa 538 685 (21 )% 400 35 % Adjusted net earningsb 507 616 (18 )% 285 78 % Adjusted EBITDAb 1,800 2,106 (15 )% 1,466 23 % Adjusted EBITDA marginc 61 % 64 % (5 )% 54 % 13 % Minesite sustaining capital expendituresd 405 354 14 % 370 9 % Project capital expendituresd 131 184 (29 )% 76 72 % Total consolidated capital expendituresd,e 539 546 (1 )% 451 20 % Net cash provided by operating activities 1,302 1,638 (21 )% 889 46 % Net cash provided by operating activities marginf 44 % 50 % (12 )% 33 % 33 % Free cash flowb 763 1,092 (30 )% 438 74 % Net earnings per share (basic and diluted) 0.30 0.39 (23 )% 0.22 36 % Adjusted net earnings (basic)b per share 0.29 0.35 (17 )% 0.16 81 % Weighted average diluted common shares (millions of shares) 1,778 1,778 0 % 1,778 0 % Operating Results Gold production (thousands of ounces)g 1,101 1,206 (9 )% 1,250 (12 )% Gold sold (thousands of ounces)g 1,093 1,186 (8 )% 1,220 (10 )% Market gold price ($/oz) 1,794 1,874 (4 )% 1,583 13 % Realized gold priceb,g ($/oz) 1,777 1,871 (5 )% 1,589 12 % Gold cost of sales (Barricks share)g,h ($/oz) 1,073 1,065 1 % 1,020 5 % Gold total cash costsb,g ($/oz) 716 692 3 % 692 3 % Gold all-in sustaining costsb,g ($/oz) 1,018 929 10 % 954 7 % Copper production (millions of pounds)g 93 119 (22 )% 115 (19 )% Copper sold (millions of pounds)g 113 108 5 % 110 3 % Market copper price ($/lb) 3.86 3.25 19 % 2.56 51 % Realized copper priceb,g ($/lb) 4.12 3.39 22 % 2.23 85 % Copper cost of sales (Barricks share)g,i ($/lb) 2.11 2.06 2 % 1.96 8 % Copper C1 cash costsb,g ($/lb) 1.60 1.61 (1 )% 1.55 3 % Copper all-in sustaining costsb,g ($/lb) 2.26 2.42 (7 )% 2.04 11 % As at 3/31/21 As at 12/31/20 % Change As at 3/31/20 % Change Financial Position ($ millions) Debt (current and long-term) 5,153 5,155 0 % 5,179 (1 )% Cash and equivalents 5,672 5,188 9 % 3,327 70 % Debt, net of cash (519 ) (33 ) 1,473 % 1,852 (128 )%

a. Net earnings represents net earnings attributable to the equity holders of the Company. b. Adjusted net earnings, adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, adjusted net earnings per share, realized gold price, all-in sustaining costs, total cash costs, C1 cash costs and realized copper price are non-GAAP financial performance measures with no standardized meaning under IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For further information and a detailed reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable IFRS measure, please see the endnotes to this press release. c. Represents adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. d. Amounts presented on a consolidated cash basis. Project capital expenditures are included in our calculation of all-in costs, but not included in our calculation of all-in sustaining costs. e. Total consolidated capital expenditures also includes capitalized interest of $3 million for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020: $8 million and March 31, 2020: $5 million). f. Represents net cash provided by operating activities divided by revenue. g. On an attributable basis. h. Gold cost of sales per ounce is calculated as cost of sales across our gold operations (excluding sites in care and maintenance) divided by ounces sold (both on an attributable basis using Barrick's ownership share). i. Copper cost of sales per pound is calculated as cost of sales across our copper operations divided by pounds sold (both on an attributable basis using Barrick's ownership share).

Consolidated Statements of Income

Barrick Gold Corporation(in millions of United States dollars, except per share data) (Unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2021 2020 Revenue (notes 5 and 6) $ 2,956 $ 2,721 Costs and expenses (income) Cost of sales (notes 5 and 7) 1,712 1,776 General and administrative expenses 38 40 Exploration, evaluation and project expenses 61 71 Impairment reversals (notes 9b and 13) (89 ) (336 ) Loss on currency translation 4 16 Closed mine rehabilitation 23 90 Income from equity investees (note 12) (103 ) (54 ) Other expense (income) (note 9a) 19 (35 ) Income before finance costs and income taxes $ 1,291 $ 1,153 Finance costs, net (87 ) (104 ) Income before income taxes $ 1,204 $ 1,049 Income tax expense (note 10) (374 ) (386 ) Net income $ 830 $ 663 Attributable to: Equity holders of Barrick Gold Corporation $ 538 $ 400 Non-controlling interests (note 17) $ 292 $ 263 Earnings per share data attributable to the equity holders of Barrick Gold Corporation (note 8) Net income Basic $ 0.30 $ 0.22 Diluted $ 0.30 $ 0.22

The notes to these unaudited condensed interim financial statements, which are contained in the First Quarter Report 2021 available on our website are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

Barrick Gold Corporation(in millions of United States dollars) (Unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2021 2020 Net income $ 830 $ 663 Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: Unrealized gains on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, net of tax $nil and $nil  1 Currency translation adjustments, net of tax $nil and $nil  (4 ) Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss: Actuarial gain on post employment benefit obligations, net of tax $nil and $3  3 Net change on equity investments, net of tax $8 and $nil (47 ) (25 ) Total other comprehensive loss (47 ) (25 ) Total comprehensive income $ 783 $ 638 Attributable to: Equity holders of Barrick Gold Corporation $ 491 $ 375 Non-controlling interests $ 292 $ 263

The notes to these unaudited condensed interim financial statements, which are contained in the First Quarter Report 2021 available on our website are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow

Barrick Gold Corporation (in millions of United States dollars) (Unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2021 2020 OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income $ 830 $ 663 Adjustments for the following items: Depreciation 507 524 Finance costs, net 94 111 Impairment reversals (notes 9b and 13) (89 ) (336 ) Income tax expense (note 10) 374 386 Gain on sale of non-current assets (3 ) (60 ) Loss on currency translation 4 16 Change in working capital (note 11) (102 ) (332 ) Other operating activities (note 11) (93 ) 53 Operating cash flows before interest and income taxes 1,522 1,025 Interest paid (22 ) (24 ) Income taxes paid1 (198 ) (112 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 1,302 889 INVESTING ACTIVITIES Property, plant and equipment Capital expenditures (note 5) (539 ) (451 ) Sales proceeds 4 7 Divestitures (note 4)  256 Other investing activities (note 11) 127 25 Net cash used in investing activities (408 ) (163 ) FINANCING ACTIVITIES Lease repayments (6 ) (5 ) Debt repayments (7 ) (351 ) Dividends (158 ) (122 ) Funding from non-controlling interests (note 17) 6 1 Disbursements to non-controlling interests (note 17) (265 ) (217 ) Other financing activities (note 11) 21 (15 ) Net cash used in financing activities (409 ) (709 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents (1 ) (4 ) Net increase in cash and equivalents 484 13 Cash and equivalents at the beginning of period 5,188 3,314 Cash and equivalents at the end of period $ 5,672 $ 3,327

1. Income taxes paid excludes $36 million (March 31, 2020: $24 million) of income taxes payable that were settled against offsetting VAT receivables.

The notes to these unaudited condensed interim financial statements, which are contained in the First Quarter Report 2021 available on our website are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

Barrick Gold Corporation As at March 31, As at December 31, (in millions of United States dollars) (Unaudited) 2021 2020 ASSETS Current assets Cash and equivalents (note 14a) $ 5,672 $ 5,188 Accounts receivable 530 558 Inventories 1,776 1,878 Other current assets 470 519 Total current assets (excluding assets classified as held for sale) $ 8,448 $ 8,143 Assets classified as held for sale (note 4a) 336  Total current assets $ 8,784 $ 8,143 Non-current assets Equity in investees (note 12) 4,646 4,670 Property, plant and equipment 24,628 24,628 Goodwill 4,769 4,769 Intangible assets 168 169 Deferred income tax assets 58 98 Non-current portion of inventory 2,482 2,566 Other assets 1,313 1,463 Total assets $ 46,848 $ 46,506 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 1,168 $ 1,458 Debt 13 20 Current income tax liabilities 606 436 Other current liabilities 271 306 Total current liabilities (excluding liabilities classified as held for sale) $ 2,058 $ 2,220 Liabilities classified as held for sale (note 4a) 273  Total current liabilities $ 2,331 $ 2,220 Non-current liabilities Debt 5,140 5,135 Provisions 2,926 3,139 Deferred income tax liabilities 3,085 3,034 Other liabilities 1,287 1,268 Total liabilities $ 14,769 $ 14,796 Equity Capital stock (note 16) $ 29,238 $ 29,236 Deficit (7,571 ) (7,949 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (33 ) 14 Other 2,040 2,040 Total equity attributable to Barrick Gold Corporation shareholders $ 23,674 $ 23,341 Non-controlling interests (note 17) 8,405 8,369 Total equity $ 32,079 $ 31,710 Contingencies and commitments (notes 5 and 18) Total liabilities and equity $ 46,848 $ 46,506

The notes to these unaudited condensed interim financial statements, which are contained in the First Quarter Report 2021 available on our website are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

Barrick Gold Corporation Attributable to equity holders of the company (in millions of United States dollars) (Unaudited) Common Shares (in thousands) Capital stock Retained earnings (deficit) Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)1 Other2 Total equity attributable to shareholders Non-controlling interests Total equity At January 1, 2021 1,778,190 $29,236 ($7,949 ) $14 $2,040 $23,341 $8,369 $31,710 Net income   538   538 292 830 Total other comprehensive income (loss)    (47 )  (47 )  (47 ) Total comprehensive income (loss)   538 (47 )  491 292 783 Transactions with owners Dividends   (158 )   (158 )  (158 ) Issued on exercise of stock options 50        Funding from non-controlling interests (note 17)       6 6 Disbursements to non-controlling interests (note 17)       (262 ) (262 ) Dividend reinvestment plan (note 16) 72 2 (2 )      Share-based payments 59        Total transactions with owners 181 2 (160 )   (158 ) (256 ) (414 ) At March 31, 2021 1,778,371 $29,238 ($7,571 ) ($33 ) $2,040 $23,674 $8,405 $32,079 At January 1, 2020 1,777,927 $29,231 ($9,722 ) ($122 ) $2,045 $21,432 $8,395 $29,827 Net income   400   400 263 663 Total other comprehensive income (loss)    (25 )  (25 )  (25 ) Total comprehensive income (loss)   400 (25 )  375 263 638 Transactions with owners Dividends   (122 )   (122 )  (122 ) Issuance of 16% interest in Tanzania mines       234 234 Issued on exercise of stock options 30        Funding from non-controlling interests       1 1 Disbursements to non-controlling interests       (225 ) (225 ) Dividend reinvestment plan 78 2 (2 )      Share-based payments     2 2  2 Total transactions with owners 108 2 (124 )  2 (120 ) 10 (110 ) At March 31, 2020 1,778,035 $29,233 ($9,446 ) ($147 ) $2,047 $21,687 $8,668 $30,355

1 Includes cumulative translation losses at March 31, 2021: $95 million (December 31, 2020: $95 million; March 31, 2020: $92 million).2 Includes additional paid-in capital as at March 31, 2021: $2,002 million (December 31, 2020: $2,002 million; March 31, 2020: $2,009 million).

The notes to these unaudited condensed interim financial statements, which are contained in the First Quarter Report 2021 available on our website are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Technical Information

The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Steven Yopps, MMSA, Manager of Growth Projects, Nevada Gold Mines; Craig Fiddes, SME-RM, Manager  Resource Modeling, Nevada Gold Mines; Chad Yuhasz, P.Geo, Mineral Resource Manager, Latin America & Asia Pacific; Simon Bottoms, CGeol, MGeol, FGS, FAusIMM, Mineral Resources Manager: Africa & Middle East; Rodney Quick, MSc, Pr. Sci.Nat, Mineral Resource Management and Evaluation Executive; John Steele, CIM, Metallurgy, Engineering and Capital Projects Executive; and Rob Krcmarov, FAusIMM, Executive Vice President, Exploration and Growth  each a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Endnotes

Endnote 1A Tier One Gold Asset is an asset with a reserve potential to deliver a minimum 10-year life, annual production of at least 500,000 ounces of gold and total cash costs per ounce over the mine life that are in the lower half of the industry cost curve.

Endnote 2Calculated as cash ($5,672 million) less debt ($5,153 million).

Endnote 3Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial performance measure that deducts capital expenditures from net cash provided by operating activities. Barrick believes this to be a useful indicator of our ability to operate without reliance on additional borrowing or usage of existing cash. Free cash flow is intended to provide additional information only and does not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures of performance presented by other companies. Free cash flow should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Further details on this non-GAAP measure are provided in the MD&A accompanying Barricks financial statements filed from time to time on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow

($ millions) For the three months ended 3/31/21 12/31/20 3/31/20 Net cash provided by operating activities 1,302 1,638 889 Capital expenditures (539 ) (546 ) (451 ) Free cash flow 763 1,092 438

Endnote 4The declaration and payment of dividends is at the discretion of the Board of Directors, and will depend on the companys financial results, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.

Endnote 5Forecast yield for 2021 is based on the current quarterly dividend rate ($0.09 per share) and a return of capital distribution per share ($0.42) calculated based on our issued and outstanding shares as of March 31, 2021, which is subject to change.

Endnote 6Adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share are non-GAAP financial performance measures. Adjusted net earnings excludes the following from net earnings: certain impairment charges (reversals) related to intangibles, goodwill, property, plant and equipment, and investments; gains (losses) and other one-time costs relating to acquisitions or dispositions; foreign currency translation gains (losses); significant tax adjustments not related to current period earnings; and the tax effect and non-controlling interest of these items. The Company uses this measure internally to evaluate our underlying operating performance for the reporting periods presented and to assist with the planning and forecasting of future operating results. Barrick believes that adjusted net earnings is a useful measure of our performance because these adjusting items do not reflect the underlying operating performance of our core mining business and are not necessarily indicative of future operating results. Adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per share are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures of performance presented by other companies. They should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Further details on these non-GAAP measures are provided in the MD&A accompanying Barricks financial statements filed from time to time on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Net Earnings per Share, Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Net Earnings per Share

($ millions, except per share amounts in dollars) For the three months ended 3/31/21 12/31/20 3/31/20 Net earnings attributable to equity holders of the Company 538 685 400 Impairment charges (reversals) related to intangibles, goodwill, property, plant and equipment, and investmentsa (89 ) 40 (336 ) Acquisition/disposition (gains) lossesb (3 ) (126 ) (60 ) Loss (gain) on currency translation 4 16 16 Significant tax adjustmentsc 47 (2 ) (44 ) Other expense adjustmentsd 11 15 98 Tax effect and non-controlling intereste (1 ) (12 ) 211 Adjusted net earnings 507 616 285 Net earnings per sharef 0.30 0.39 0.22 Adjusted net earnings per sharef 0.29 0.35 0.16

a. For the three month period ended March 31, 2021, net impairment reversals primarily relate to non-current asset reversals at Lagunas Norte. Net impairment charges (reversals) for the three month periods ended December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020 mainly relate to non-current assets at our Tanzanian assets. b. Acquisition/disposition gains for the three month period ended December 31, 2020 primarily relate to the gain on the sale of Eskay Creek, Morila and Bullfrog. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, acquisition/disposition gains mainly relate to the gain on the sale of Massawa. c. Significant tax adjustments for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 mainly relates to the remeasurement of deferred tax balances for changes in foreign currency rates and the recognition/derecognition of our deferred taxes in various jurisdictions. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, significant tax adjustments primarily relate to deferred tax recoveries as a result of tax reform measures in Argentina and adjustments made in recognition of the net settlement of all outstanding disputes with the Government of Tanzania. d. Other expense adjustments for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 mainly relate to care and maintenance expenses at Porgera. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, other expense adjustments primarily relate to the impact of changes in the discount rate assumptions on our closed mine rehabilitation provision and losses on debt extinguishment. e. Tax effect and non-controlling interest for the three month period ended March 31, 2020 primarily relates to the net impairment reversals related to long-lived assets and acquisition gains. f. Calculated using weighted average number of shares outstanding under the basic method of earnings per share.

Endnote 7Realized price is a non-GAAP financial measure which excludes from sales: unrealized gains and losses on non-hedge derivative contracts; unrealized mark-to-market gains and losses on provisional pricing from copper and gold sales contracts; sales attributable to ore purchase arrangements; treatment and refining charges; export duties; and cumulative catch-up adjustments to revenue relating to our streaming arrangements. This measure is intended to enable Management to better understand the price realized in each reporting period for gold and copper sales because unrealized mark-to-market values of non-hedge gold and copper derivatives are subject to change each period due to changes in market factors such as market and forward gold and copper prices, so that prices ultimately realized may differ from those recorded. The exclusion of such unrealized mark-to-market gains and losses from the presentation of this performance measure enables investors to understand performance based on the realized proceeds of selling gold and copper production. The realized price measure is intended to provide additional information and does not have any standardized definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Further details on these non-GAAP measures are provided in the MD&A accompanying Barricks financial statements filed from time to time on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Reconciliation of Sales to Realized Price per ounce/pound

($ millions, except per ounce/pound information in dollars) Gold Copper For the three months ended 3/31/21 12/31/20 3/31/20 3/31/21 12/31/20 3/31/20 Sales 2,641 3,028 2,593 256 195 99 Sales applicable to non-controlling interests (814 ) (934 ) (770 ) 0 0 0 Sales applicable to equity method investmentsa,b 154 168 147 170 135 107 Realized non-hedge gold/copper derivative (losses) gains 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sales applicable to sites in care and maintenancec (41 ) (41 ) (46 ) 0 0 0 Treatment and refinement charges 0 1 0 41 39 39 Otherd 0 (1 ) 15 0 0 0 Revenues  as adjusted 1,940 2,221 1,939 467 369 245 Ounces/pounds sold (000s ounces/millions pounds)c 1,093 1,186 1,220 113 108 110 Realized gold/copper price per ounce/pounde 1,777 1,871 1,589 4.12 3.39 2.23

a. Represents sales of $154 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020: $168 million and March 31, 2020: $140 million) applicable to our 45% equity method investment in Kibali for gold. Represents sales of $109 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020: $82 million and March 31, 2020: $72 million) applicable to our 50% equity method investment in Zaldivar and $65 million (December 31, 2020: $59 million and March 31, 2020: $40 million) applicable to our 50% equity method investment in Jabal Sayid for copper. b. Sales applicable to equity method investments are net of treatment and refinement charges. c. Figures exclude: Pierina, Lagunas Norte, Golden Sunlight, and Morila up until its divestiture in November 2020 from the calculation of realized price per ounce. These assets are producing incidental ounces. d. Represents a cumulative catch-up adjustment to revenue relating to our streaming arrangements. Refer to note 2f of the 2020 Annual Financial Statements for more information. e. Realized price per ounce/pound may not calculate based on amounts presented in this table due to rounding.

Endnote 8On an attributable basis.

Endnote 9Net earnings represents net earnings attributable to the equity holders of the Company.

Endnote 10These amounts are presented on the same basis as our guidance.

Endnote 11Gold cost of sales per ounce is calculated as cost of sales across our gold operations (excluding sites in care and maintenance) divided by ounces sold (both on an attributable basis using Barrick's ownership share). Copper cost of sales per pound is calculated as cost of sales across our copper operations divided by pounds sold (both on an attributable basis using Barrick's ownership share).

Endnote 12Total cash costs per ounce, All-in sustaining costs per ounce and "All-in costs" per ounce are non-GAAP financial performance measures. Total cash costs per ounce starts with cost of sales related to gold production and removes depreciation, the non-controlling interest of cost of sales, and includes by product credits. All-in sustaining costs per ounce start with Total cash costs per ounce and add further costs which reflect the expenditures made to maintain current production levels, primarily sustaining capital expenditures, sustaining leases, general & administrative costs, minesite exploration and evaluation costs, and reclamation cost accretion and amortization. "All-in costs" per ounce starts with "All-in sustaining costs" per ounce and adds additional costs that reflect the varying costs of producing gold over the life-cycle of a mine, including: project capital expenditures and other non-sustaining costs. Barrick believes that the use of Total cash costs per ounce, All-in sustaining costs per ounce and "All-in costs" per ounce will assist investors, analysts and other stakeholders in understanding the costs associated with producing gold, understanding the economics of gold mining, assessing our operating performance and also our ability to generate free cash flow from current operations and to generate free cash flow on an overall Company basis. Total cash costs per ounce, All-in sustaining costs per ounce and "All-in costs" per ounce are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS. Although a standardized definition of all-in sustaining costs was published in 2013 by the World Gold Council (a market development organization for the gold industry comprised of and funded by gold mining companies from around the world, including Barrick), it is not a regulatory organization, and other companies may calculate this measure differently. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. Further details on these non-GAAP measures are provided in the MD&A accompanying Barricks financial statements filed from time to time on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Reconciliation of Gold Cost of Sales to Total cash costs, All-in sustaining costs and All-in costs, including on a per ounce basis

($ millions, except per ounce information in dollars) For the three months ended Footnote 3/31/21 12/31/20 3/31/20 Cost of sales applicable to gold production 1,571 1,681 1,643 Depreciation (454 ) (495 ) (474 ) Cash cost of sales applicable to equity method investments 59 69 52 By-product credits (59 ) (56 ) (29 ) Realized (gains) losses on hedge and non-hedge derivatives a 0 (1 ) 0 Non-recurring items b 0 1 0 Other c (33 ) (55 ) (27 ) Non-controlling interests d (302 ) (323 ) (316 ) Total cash costs 782 821 849 General & administrative costs 38 24 40 Minesite exploration and evaluation costs e 16 22 15 Minesite sustaining capital expenditures f 405 354 370 Sustaining leases 13 12 0 Rehabilitation - accretion and amortization (operating sites) g 11 11 14 Non-controlling interest, copper operations and other h (154 ) (142 ) (125 ) All-in sustaining costs 1,111 1,102 1,163 Project exploration and evaluation and project costs e 45 52 56 Community relations costs not related to current operations 0 0 1 Project capital expenditures f 131 184 76 Non-sustaining leases 0 4 0 Rehabilitation - accretion and amortization (non-operating sites) g 3 4 2 Non-controlling interest and copper operations and other h (42 ) (61 ) (33 ) All-in costs 1,248 1,285 1,265 Ounces sold - equity basis (000s ounces) i 1,093 1,186 1,220 Cost of sales per ounce j,k 1,073 1,065 1,020 Total cash costs per ounce k 716 692 692 Total cash costs per ounce (on a co-product basis) k,l 746 718 705 All-in sustaining costs per ounce k 1,018 929 954 All-in sustaining costs per ounce (on a co-product basis) k,l 1,048 955 967 All-in costs per ounce k 1,144 1,083 1,035 All-in costs per ounce (on a co-product basis) k,l 1,174 1,109 1,048

a. Realized (gains) losses on hedge and non-hedge derivativesIncludes realized hedge losses of $nil for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020: $nil and March 31, 2020: $nil), and realized non-hedge losses of $nil for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020: gains of $1 million and March 31, 2020: $nil). Refer to Note 5 to the Financial Statements for further information. b. Non-recurring itemsThese costs are not indicative of our cost of production and have been excluded from the calculation of total cash costs. c. OtherOther adjustments for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 include the removal of total cash costs and by-product credits associated with Pierina, Lagunas Norte, Golden Sunlight and Morila up until its divestiture in November 2020, which all are producing incidental ounces, of $24 million (December 31, 2020: $26 million; March 31, 2020: $25 million). d. Non-controlling interestsNon-controlling interests include non-controlling interests related to gold production of $462 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020: $490 million and March 31, 2020: $466 million). Non-controlling interests include Nevada Gold Mines, Pueblo Viejo, Loulo-Gounkoto, Tongon, North Mara, Bulyanhulu, Buzwagi. Refer to Note 5 to the Financial Statements for further information. e. Exploration and evaluation costs Exploration, evaluation and project expenses are presented as minesite sustaining if it supports current mine operations and project if it relates to future projects. Refer to page 68 of the Q1 2021 MD&A. f. Capital expenditures Capital expenditures are related to our gold sites only and are split between minesite sustaining and project capital expenditures. Project capital expenditures are distinct projects designed to increase the net present value of the mine and are not related to current production. Significant projects in the current year are the expansion project at Pueblo Viejo and construction of the Third Shaft at Turquoise Ridge. Refer to page 67 of the Q1 2021 MD&A. g. Rehabilitationaccretion and amortizationIncludes depreciation on the assets related to rehabilitation provisions of our gold operations and accretion on the rehabilitation provision of our gold operations, split between operating and non-operating sites. h. Non-controlling interest and copper operations Removes general & administrative costs related to non-controlling interests and copper based on a percentage allocation of revenue. Also removes exploration, evaluation and project expenses, rehabilitation costs and capital expenditures incurred by our copper sites and the non-controlling interest of Nevada Gold Mines (including South Arturo), Pueblo Viejo, Loulo-Gounkoto, Tongon, North Mara, Bulyanhulu, and Buzwagi operating segments. It also includes capital expenditures applicable to our equity method investment in Kibali. Figures remove the impact of Pierina, Lagunas Norte and Golden Sunlight. The impact is summarized as the following:

($ millions) For the three months ended Non-controlling interest, copper operations and other 3/31/21 12/31/20 3/31/20 General & administrative costs (6 ) (5 ) (6 ) Minesite exploration and evaluation expenses (7 ) (9 ) (3 ) Rehabilitation - accretion and amortization (operating sites) (3 ) (3 ) (4 ) Minesite sustaining capital expenditures (138 ) (125 ) (112 ) All-in sustaining costs total (154 ) (142 ) (125 ) Project exploration and evaluation and project costs (1 ) (6 ) (19 ) Project capital expenditures (41 ) (55 ) (14 ) All-in costs total (42 ) (61 ) (33 )

i. Ounces sold - equity basisFigures remove the impact of: Pierina, Lagunas Norte, Golden Sunlight, and Morila up until its divestiture in November 2020, which are producing incidental ounces. j. Cost of sales per ounceFigures remove the cost of sales impact of: Pierina of $5 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020: $4 million and March 31, 2020: $6 million); Golden Sunlight of $nil for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020: $nil and March 31, 2020: $nil); up until its divestiture in November of 2020, Morila, of $nil for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020: $2 million and March 31, 2020: $6 million); and Lagunas Norte of $23 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020: $26 million and March 31, 2020: $21 million), which are producing incidental ounces. Gold cost of sales per ounce is calculated as cost of sales across our gold operations (excluding sites in care and maintenance) divided by ounces sold (both on an attributable basis using Barrick's ownership share). k. Per ounce figuresCost of sales per ounce, total cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining costs per ounce and all-in costs per ounce may not calculate based on amounts presented in this table due to rounding. l. Co-product costs per ounceTotal cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining costs per ounce and all-in costs per ounce presented on a co-product basis removes the impact of by-product credits of our gold production (net of non-controlling interest) calculated as:

($ millions) For the three months ended 3/31/21 12/31/20 3/31/20 By-product credits 59 56 29 Non-controlling interest (26 ) (27 ) (15 ) By-product credits (net of non-controlling interest) 33 29 14

Endnote 13Copper cost of sales per pound is calculated as cost of sales across our copper operations divided by pounds sold (both on an attributable basis using Barrick's ownership share).

Endnote 14C1 cash costs per pound and All-in sustaining costs per pound are non-GAAP financial performance measures. C1 cash costs per pound is based on cost of sales but excludes the impact of depreciation and royalties and production taxes and includes treatment and refinement charges. All-in sustaining costs per pound begins with C1 cash costs per pound and adds further costs which reflect the additional costs of operating a mine, primarily sustaining capital expenditures, general & administrative costs and royalties and production taxes. Barrick believes that the use of C1 cash costs per pound and all-in sustaining costs per pound will assist investors, analysts, and other stakeholders in understanding the costs associated with producing copper, understanding the economics of copper mining, assessing our operating performance, and also our ability to generate free cash flow from current operations and to generate free cash flow on an overall Company basis. C1 cash costs per pound and All-in sustaining costs per pound are intended to provide additional information only, do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS, and may not be comparable to similar measures of performance presented by other companies. These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Further details on these non-GAAP measures are provided in the MD&A accompanying Barricks financial statements filed from time to time on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Reconciliation of Copper Cost of Sales to C1 cash costs and All-in sustaining costs, including on a per pound basis

($ millions, except per pound information in dollars) For the three months ended 3/31/21 12/31/20 3/31/20 Cost of sales 136 125 124 Depreciation/amortization (48 ) (41 ) (43 ) Treatment and refinement charges 41 39 39 Cash cost of sales applicable to equity method investments 79 72 66 Less: royalties and production taxesa (23 ) (16 ) (11 ) By-product credits (4 ) (5 ) (3 ) Other 0 0 0 C1 cash costs 181 174 172 General & administrative costs 4 5 3 Rehabilitation - accretion and amortization 1 1 3 Royalties and production taxesa 23 16 11 Minesite exploration and evaluation costs 2 1 1 Minesite sustaining capital expenditures 42 65 32 Sustaining leases 2 2 3 All-in sustaining costs 255 264 225 Pounds sold - consolidated basis (millions pounds) 113 108 110 Cost of sales per poundb,c 2.11 2.06 1.96 C1 cash cost per poundb 1.60 1.61 1.55 All-in sustaining costs per poundb 2.26 2.42 2.04

a. For the three month period ended March 31, 2021, royalties and production taxes include royalties of $23 million (December 31, 2020: $16 million and March 31, 2020: $11 million). b. Cost of sales per pound, C1 cash costs per pound and all-in sustaining costs per pound may not calculate based on amounts presented in this table due to rounding. c. Copper cost of sales per pound is calculated as cost of sales across our copper operations divided by pounds sold (both on an attributable basis using Barrick's ownership share).

Endnote 15Return of capital distribution per share amounts are based on issued and outstanding Barrick shares as of March 31, 2021 and are subject to change.

Endnote 16Source: Mining Intelligence and Company Reports. Based on 2020 production.

Endnote 17On a 100% basis.

Endnote 18Included within our 61.5% interest in Carlin is NGM's 60% interest in South Arturo.

Endnote 19Includes Goldrush.

Endnote 20Porgera was placed on temporary care and maintenance in April 2020 and remains excluded from our 2021 guidance. On April 9, 2021, the Government of Papua New Guinea and BNL, the operator of the Porgera joint venture, signed a binding Framework Agreement in which they agreed on a partnership for Porgera's future ownership and operation. We expect to update our guidance to include Porgera following both the execution of definitive agreements to implement the Framework Agreement and the finalization of a timeline for the resumption of full mine operations.

Endnote 21Total cash costs and all-in sustaining costs per ounce include the impact of hedges and/or costs allocated to non-operating sites.

Endnote 22Operating division guidance ranges reflect expectations at each individual operating division, and may not add up to the company-wide guidance range total. Guidance ranges exclude Pierina, Lagunas Norte, and Golden Sunlight, which are producing incidental ounces while in closure or care and maintenance.

Endnote 23Includes corporate administration costs.

Endnote 24Reflects the impact of the full year.

Endnote 25EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure, which excludes the following from net earnings: income tax expense; finance costs; finance income; and depreciation. Management believes that EBITDA is a valuable indicator of our ability to generate liquidity by producing operating cash flow to fund working capital needs, service debt obligations, and fund capital expenditures. Management uses EBITDA for this purpose. Adjusted EBITDA removes the effect of impairment charges; acquisition/disposition gains/losses; foreign currency translation gains/losses; other expense adjustments; and the impact of the income tax expense, finance costs, finance income and depreciation incurred in our equity method accounted investments. We believe these items provide a greater level of consistency with the adjusting items included in our Adjusted Net Earnings reconciliation, with the exception that these amounts are adjusted to remove any impact on finance costs/income, income tax expense and/or depreciation as they do not affect EBITDA. We believe this additional information will assist analysts, investors and other stakeholders of Barrick in better understanding our ability to generate liquidity from our full business, including equity method investments, by excluding these amounts from the calculation as they are not indicative of the performance of our core mining business and not necessarily reflective of the underlying operating results for the periods presented. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures of performance presented by other companies. They should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Further details on these non-GAAP measures are provided in the MD&A accompanying Barricks financial statements filed from time to time on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Reconciliation of Net Earnings to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

($ millions) For the three months ended 3/31/21 12/31/20 3/31/20 Net earnings 830 1,058 663 Income tax expense 374 404 386 Finance costs, neta 77 72 88 Depreciation 507 544 524 EBITDA 1,788 2,078 1,661 Impairment charges (reversals) of long-lived assetsb (89 ) 40 (336 ) Acquisition/disposition (gains) lossesc (3 ) (126 ) (60 ) Loss on currency translation 4 16 16 Other expense (income) adjustmentsd 11 15 98 Income tax expense, net finance costs, and depreciation from equity investees 89 83 87 Adjusted EBITDA 1,800 2,106 1,466

a. Finance costs exclude accretion. b. For the three month period ended March 31, 2021, net impairment reversals primarily relate to non-current asset reversals at Lagunas Norte. Net impairment charges (reversals) for the three month periods ended December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2020 mainly relate to non-current assets at our Tanzanian assets. c. Acquisition/disposition gains for the three month period ended December 31, 2020 primarily relate to the gain on the sale of Eskay Creek, Morila and Bullfrog. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, acquisition/disposition gains mainly relate to the gain on the sale of Massawa. d. Other expense adjustments for the three month periods ended March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 mainly relate to care and maintenance expenses at Porgera. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, other expense adjustments primarily relate to the impact of changes in the discount rate assumptions on our closed mine rehabilitation provision and losses on debt extinguishment.

Corporate Office

Barrick Gold Corporation161 Bay Street, Suite 3700Toronto, Ontario M5J 2S1Canada

Telephone: +1 416 861-9911Email: investor@barrick.comWebsite: www.barrick.com

Shares Listed

GOLD The New York Stock Exchange

ABX The Toronto Stock Exchange

Transfer Agents and Registrars

AST Trust Company (Canada)P.O. Box 700, Postal Station BMontreal, Quebec H3B 3K3or American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC6201  15 AvenueBrooklyn, New York 11219

Telephone: 1-800-387-0825Fax: 1-888-249-6189Email: inquiries@astfinancial.comWebsite: www.astfinancial.com

Enquiries

President and Chief Executive OfficerMark Bristow+1 647 205 7694+44 788 071 1386

Senior Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial OfficerGraham Shuttleworth+1 647 262 2095+44 779 771 1338

Investor and Media RelationsKathy du Plessis+44 20 7557 7738Email: barrick@dpapr.com

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain information contained or incorporated by reference in this press release, including any information as to our strategy, projects, plans or future financial or operating performance, constitutes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words deliver, "plan", "objective", "expected", potential, strategy, will, "continues", ongoing and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to: Barricks forward-looking production guidance and estimates of future costs; mine life and production rates; Barricks response to the government of Papua New Guineas decision not to extend Porgeras Special Mining Lease; the terms of a new partnership for Porgeras future ownership and operation under the Framework Agreement between Papua New Guinea and BNL, and the timeline for execution of definitive agreements and formation of a new joint venture to implement the Framework Agreement and recommence operations at Porgera; the duration of the temporary suspension of operations at Porgera; potential mineralization; potential exploration targets and mineral resource potential, including reserve replenishment; the new joint venture with the Government of Tanzania and the potential for Barricks North Mara and Bulyanhulu mines to become a Tier One complex; the timing and amount of Barricks return of capital distributions; future dividend and yield levels; Barricks engagement with local communities to manage the Covid-19 pandemic; Barricks strategy, plans, targets and goals in respect of environmental and social governance issues, including climate change, greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, tailings storage facility management and conservation efforts; future investments in community projects and contributions to local economies; Barricks human capital management strategy; the development of the third underground mine at Gounkoto and the timeline for first production; and expectations regarding future price assumptions, financial performance and other outlook or guidance.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below that, while considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this press release in light of managements experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, copper or certain other commodities (such as silver, diesel fuel, natural gas and electricity); the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation and exploration successes; risks associated with projects in the early stages of evaluation and for which additional engineering and other analysis is required; the benefits expected from recent transactions being realized; diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; increased costs, delays, suspensions and technical challenges associated with the construction of capital projects; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities, including geotechnical challenges and disruptions in the maintenance or provision of required infrastructure and information technology systems; failure to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; non-renewal of key licenses by governmental authorities, including non-renewal of Porgeras Special Mining Lease; timing of receipt of, or failure to comply with, necessary permits and approvals; uncertainty whether some or all of Barrick's targeted investments and projects will meet the Companys capital allocation objectives and internal hurdle rate; the impact of global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future cash flows; adverse changes in our credit ratings; the impact of inflation; fluctuations in the currency markets; changes in U.S. dollar interest rates; risks arising from holding derivative instruments; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in Canada, the United States and other jurisdictions in which the Company or its affiliates do or may carry on business in the future; lack of certainty with respect to foreign legal systems, corruption and other factors that are inconsistent with the rule of law; risks associated with illegal and artisanal mining; risks associated with new diseases, epidemics and pandemics, including the effects and potential effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic; disruption of supply routes which may cause delays in construction and mining activities; damage to the Companys reputation due to the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the Companys handling of environmental matters or dealings with community groups, whether true or not; the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Companys expectations; risks that exploration data may be incomplete and considerable additional work may be required to complete further evaluation, including but not limited to drilling, engineering and socioeconomic studies and investment; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; litigation and legal and administrative proceedings; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties, or over access to water, power and other required infrastructure; business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, the Company; our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions or complete divestitures, including our ability to successfully reintegrate the operations of the former Acacia; risks associated with working with partners in jointly controlled assets; employee relations including loss of key employees; increased costs and physical risks, including extreme weather events and resource shortages, related to climate change; and availability and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor. Barrick also cautions that its 2021 guidance may be impacted by the unprecedented business and social disruption caused by the spread of Covid-19. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion, copper cathode or gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks).

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect Barricks ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Source: Barrick Gold Corporation
Blagnac, France, May 05th 2021-5.35 pm,

Montreal, Canada

Consolidated 2021 1st quarter turnover: -33.7% at 28.7M

At constant scope and exchange rates*: - 28.7%

SOGECLAIR, designer and manufacturer of innovative high added-value solutions for the mobility, today announces its turnover for the 1st quarter 2021, ending on March 31st 2021. The turnover decreases by 28.7% at constant scope and exchange rates, taking into account a high base effect in the 1st quarter of 2020 pre-Covid-19.

* The change variations over the period represent 0.7M against 0.3M in 2020

The scope variations over the period represent -2.1M.

By division Turnover (M)

Q1-2021 Turnover (M)

Q1-2020



Variation as %



Aerospace

At constant scope and exchange rates 21.5

22.0 33.9

31.8 -36.7%

-30.7% Simulation

At constant scope and exchange rates 7.0

7.0 9.2

9.2 -24.4%

-23.7% Vehicle 0.3 0.1 +83.0% Total 28.7 43.3 -33.7% International

13.7 24.6 -44.4%





















Differences are due to rounding.



Aerospace division (74.7% of the turnover) decreases by 36.7% and by 30.7% at constant scope and exchange rates. The evolution in scope concerns the German subsidiary that exited in December 2020, the new-company in Germany restarted in March 2021 in a much reduced form.

The activity is growing for the 3rd consecutive quarter. In the 1st quarter, products fall by 46% due to the lower production rate of long-haul aircraft. Overall, commercial aviation declines by 65% representing 23.8% of the turnover, while business aviation grows by 2.3%, representing 43.7% of the turnover. The space sector grows strongly by 28.2%, representing 4.7% of the turnover.

Simulation division (24.3% of the turnover) decreases by 24.4% under the base effect linked in 2020 to an amount of purchases on business that is more than 2M higher than in Q1 2021. The Oktal-Sydac subsidiary, which represents just under 50% of the division, was the target of a cyber-attack in early April. The measures put in place allow us to anticipate a gradual return to normal situation during May.

A 10 million cash capital increase was carried out by Dassault Systemes into the subsidiary A.V.Simulation, in which Oktal (Sogeclair) now holds 55.25% and Renault 29.75%.

Vehicle division (0.9% of the turnover) increases by 83% under a base effect linked to very weak activity in Q1 2020.

By geographical area 2021

(M) Impact on Turnover

(as %) Evolution



(as %) France

15.1 52.4% -19.6% Europe 5.9 20.6% -55.3% America 6.0 21.0% -36.3%

Asia-Pacific 1.6 5.5% +3.7% Rest of the world 0.1 0.4% -64.2%













Differences are due to rounding.



Although the France area declines by 19.6% compared with 27.6% for the year 2020, it grows for the 3rd consecutive quarter due to contract wins in business aviation.

Europe was mainly affected by the restructuring in Germany and the decline in commercial aviation.

America decreases by 36.3% and Asia Pacific increases by 3.7% thanks to a faster recovery of its economy.

By activity Turnover 2021

(M) Impact on Turnover

(as %) Evolution



(as %) Development 6.6 23.1% -23.9%

Serie 9.2 32.0% -37.8% Products 12.9 44.9% -34.9%













Development activity represents 23% of the turnover, serie activity represents 32% and products account for 45% of the turnover, thus representing Sogeclair's leading activity.



Perspectives

At the Annual General Meeting on 12 May, a dividend of 0.90 per share with the option of payment in shares will be put to the vote. The Chairman and CEO and his family (66% of the capital) have stated their intention to receive their dividends in shares.

As anticipated, the 1st quarter marked the end of SOGECLAIR's adaptation to the consequences of the health crisis in the aeronautics and automobile industries. The measures taken in 2020, the maintenance of an R&D policy supported by the recovery plans, and a strengthened balance sheet will enable SOGECLAIR to continue its transformation which will be presented in the 2nd half of the year. The remainder of the financial year should confirm the growth announced beyond this 1st quarter.

Next announcement: turnover for Q2 2021, on July 21st 2021 after closing of the Stock Market

About SOGECLAIR

Designer and manufacturer of innovative high added-value solutions, SOGECLAIR brings its skills in high-quality engineering and production to a broad range of cutting-edge sectors, notably aeronautics, space, vehicle, rail and defense. Supporting its customers and partners from the design and simulation stages through to the end of the products lifetime, all along the production chain through to entry into service, the collaborators are working worldwide to offer a high-quality, proximity support to all its customers.

SOGECLAIR is listed on Euronext Paris  Compartment C  Euronext Family Business Index -Code ISIN: FR0000065864  PEA PME 150 / (Reuters SCLR.PA  Bloomberg SOG.FP)

Contacts:

Philippe ROBARDEY, President & CEO of SOGECLAIR / Marc DAROLLES, Executive Vice President of SOGECLAIR /www.sogeclair.com - +33(0)5 61 71 70 33

Attachment
Austin, Texas, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winstead PC is collaborating with Texas Health Catalyst at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin to support entrepreneurs who are at the early stages of developing their healthcare technology products.

Spearheaded by Dr. Nishi Viswanathan, Texas Health Catalyst is a unique model focused on the development of early-stage ideas and discoveries that have the potential for profound impact on the healthcare industry. Beginning in spring 2021, Texas Health Catalyst will launch its application process and will choose 10 of the most promising candidates to join the program. Winstead attorneys will provide tailored consultations for each applicant to address current or potential legal issues.

Winstead will provide resources and support to the startup entrepreneurs on legal matters such as company creation, licensing from the universities, IP strategy, funding, angel investors, lease agreements, OSHA, privacy/global agreements, and more. The firm will also offer educational programing and opportunities to meet and network with other professionals in the startup community.

Winstead is committed to moving healthcare technology and the latest innovations in the life sciences industry forward, said Winstead Shareholder Lekha Gopalakrishnan. Our collaboration with Texas Health Catalyst is intended to advance their mission of addressing unmet needs in healthcare through technology innovation.

Winsteads Emerging-Growth Companies, Venture Capital, and Intellectual Property teams work with a broad spectrum of individuals who are looking to take their business to the next level. The groups experienced attorneys work with founders, entrepreneurs, startups, and emerging-growth companies, providing tailor-made counsel for their unique situation. For our inventors and startup clients, we provide strategic counsel on all aspects of intellectual property. Additionally, Winstead attorneys also work with angel investors, venture capitalists, and private equity funds, as well as other institutional investors, helping them find and fund the next great company.

About Winstead

Winstead is a national business law firm with nearly 300 attorneys who serve as trusted advisors to emerging, mid-market and large companies, both public and private. The Winstead team provides a range of core legal services that are critical to our clients achieving their business goals. Winsteads business transactions and litigation practices serve key industries including airlines, financial services, healthcare, higher education, investment management/private equity, life sciences, real estate and sports business.

Rachel Guy Winstead PC 2144607106 rguy@winstead.com

Source: Winstead PC
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 02:44:50|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's ministry of health on Wednesday announced that the country has registered an 81 percent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases over the last six weeks.

Ruth Aceng, minister of health, told reporters that the surge in the number of cases signals the start of the second wave of the pandemic in the country.

Aceng urged the public to stop being complacent about the pandemic.

"My fellow Ugandans, the resurgence of the pandemic is real, with the young people being affected severely. This is worrisome, as the ministry has noted that complacency regarding adhering to the standard operating procedures is increasing," said Aceng.

"This, therefore, calls for vigilance and maximum responsibility from all of us to prevent deadly scenarios that we are witnessing in other countries," she added.

Uganda last week announced a series of new COVID-19 restrictions amid resurgence in infections, when global daily cases are also increasing fast mainly due to India's calamitous second wave.

Uganda is currently facing five COVID-19 variants, including those first found in India, South Africa and Britain, with the ministry developing a plan to combat the resurgence of the disease.

Uganda last week imposed travel restrictions, suspending all flights and travelers originating from India, effective May 1.

Uganda on Wednesday reported 70 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 42,102 and 343 deaths, since the first index case was reported last year in March.

Some 364,582 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with AstraZeneca vaccine since the vaccination campaign was launched on March 10, according to the ministry. Enditem
Jushi Holdings Inc. Closes Acquisition of Dalitso LLC Facility and Land in Prince William County, VA

Jushi Holding

JUSHF

+0.81%

Acquisition Includes a 93,000 sq. ft. Facility and Nine Acres of Land

Establishes Strong Footprint in Virginia to Produce a Consistent Supply of Medical Cannabis Products

 Jushi Holdings Inc. ("Jushi" or the "Company") (CSE: JUSH) (OTCMKTS: JUSHF), a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator, reported it has closed the previously announced acquisition of a 93,000 sq. ft. facility (the "Facility"), operated by its wholly-owned subsidiary and Virginia-based pharmaceutical processor, Dalitso LLC ("Dalitso"), together with approximately nine acres of surrounding land in Prince William County, Virginia, for approximately $22 million (the "Acquisition"). The Acquisition, together with Dalitso's planned buildout of the Facility, enables Dalitso to efficiently produce a consistent supply of medical cannabis products as patient access improves and the medical cannabis program continues to mature and expand.

"We are thrilled to complete this acquisition and solidify our position in Virginia's medical cannabis market ahead of the introduction of adult-use sales," said Jim Cacioppo, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, and Founder of Jushi. "The Virginia cannabis market remains an area of strategic focus for Jushi and we will work diligently to ensure Dalitso appropriately scales up its cultivation and processing capacity to meet the anticipated patient and future consumer demand of a growing program. We believe that by combining great cultivation and processing with our industry leading retail experience and high-quality brands, we have assembled the right assets to lead in this important Mid-Atlantic market."

In December 2020, Jushi announced it completed the acquisition of the remaining 21% of the issued and outstanding equity of Dalitso, bringing its ownership to 100%. Jushi also announced in December 2020 that Dalitso had commenced operations at the Manassas facility and officially began serving patients at its BEYOND / HELLO Manassas location.

Dalitso is one of only five applicants to have received conditional approval for a pharmaceutical processor permit issued by the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, and one of only four to have received final approval and permit issuance in the Commonwealth. Dalitso's permit allows Dalitso to cultivate, process, dispense, and deliver medical cannabis to registered patients in Virginia. The designated area for Dalitso to operate is Health Service Area II, in Northern Virginia, which includes two of Virginias most densely populated counties, Fairfax and Prince William, and has a population of approximately 2.5 million people or nearly 30% of the states total population according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

About Jushi Holdings Inc.

We are a vertically integrated cannabis company led by an industry-leading management team. In the United States, Jushi is focused on building a multi-state portfolio of branded cannabis-derived assets through opportunistic acquisitions, distressed workouts, and competitive applications. Jushi strives to maximize shareholder value while delivering high-quality products across all levels of the cannabis ecosystem. For more information, please visit jushico.com, twitter.com/wearejushi and beyond-hello.com.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current conditions but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, involve estimates, projections, plans, goals, forecasts, and assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate. As a result, actual results could differ materially from those expressed by such forward-looking statements and such statements should not be relied upon. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects" or "does not expect," "is expected," "budget," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates" or "does not anticipate," or "believes," or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will be taken," "will continue," "will occur" or "will be achieved".

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, the Company is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has certain expectations and has made certain assumptions. Expectations, assumptions, and risk factors are more fully described in the Company's Management, Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended September 30, 2020, and other filings with securities and regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.

Find Original: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/05/05/2223520/0/en/Jushi-Holdings-Inc-Closes-Acquisition-of-Dalitso-LLC-Facility-and-Land-in-Prince-William-County-VA.html

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations

Michael Perlman

Executive Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasury

Investors@jushico.com

(561) 281-0247

Media Contact

Ellen Mellody

MATTIO Communications

Ellen@Mattio.com

(570) 209-2947

The post Jushi Holdings Inc. (JUSHF) Closes Acquisition of Dalitso LLC Facility appeared first on Marijuana Stocks | Cannabis Investments and News. Roots of a Budding Industry.(TM).

COMTEX_385905355/2683/2021-05-05T10:06:46

Is there a problem with this press release? Contact the source provider Comtex at editorialpr@comtex.com.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, May 5, 2021 Splash Beverage Group, Inc. (OTCQB: SBEV) (https://www.SplashBeverageGroup.com) (The Company, Splash, SBEV), a holding company of a leading portfolio of beverage brands, announces today that it has consummated an agreement with Copa di Vino distributor Pepin Distributing (https://pepindistributing.com) for its SALT Naturally Flavored 100% Agave Tequila line.

Tampa, Floridas Pepin Distributing has been serving its community since 1967 and distributes over 168 premier brands, including Splashs Copa di Vino and now, SALT Naturally Flavored Tequila. The Pepin family has built a beverage empire that has experienced constant growth and has diversified its portfolio of products to better serve its customers.

Since its founding, Pepin Distributing has seen considerable growth, now with annual sales that exceed 10 million cases and 150,000 half barrels of Anheuser Busch and other craft beers and a growing wine and spirits portfolio. The company now employs ~280 people giving SALT Tequila an even stronger distribution reach in the rapidly growing Tampa Bay area.

Were honored to be in business with the Pepin family enterprise in SE USA, states Splash President & CMO Bill Meissner. It further proves the synergy among our portfolio of brands and our ever-expanding relationships with each of our distributors. The acquisition of Copa di Vino was a boon for us in a number of ways, and this further proves our investment model, which is conducive to exponential growth as we continue to expand our sales force and selective acquisitions and/or brand developments.

Try Splashs SALT Naturally Flavored CHOCOLATE Tequila TODAY!

Follow Splash Beverage Group on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SplashBev

SALT Naturally Flavored Tequila is 100% agave, 80 proof naturally flavored tequila. SALT Tequila is remarkably smooth with a clean and delicate taste. Grown, distilled, and bottled in the region of Jalisco Mexico, each handcrafted bottle of SALT Tequila is the result of years of hard work, determination, and countless blends until they reached perfection. SALT Tequila offers a variety of naturally flavored tequilas including Berry, Citrus, and Salted Chocolate.

About Splash Beverage Group, Inc.:

Splash Beverage Group specializes in manufacturing, distribution, sales & marketing of various beverages across multiple channels. SBEV operates in both the non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverage segments which they believe leverages efficiencies and dilutes risk.

SBEV believes its business model is unique as it ONLY develops/accelerates brands it perceives to have highly visible pre-existing brand awareness or pure category innovation.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. Words such as expect, estimate, project, budget, forecast, anticipate, intend, plan, may, will, could, should, believes, predicts, potential, continue and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements and factors that may cause such differences include, without limitation inability to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to the proposed transaction or to complete the transactions contemplated by the non-binding term sheet, matters discovered by the parties as they complete their respective due diligence investigation of the other. Other factors include the possibility that the proposed transaction does not close, including due to the failure to receive required security holder approvals, or the failure of other closing conditions. The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.

Contact Information:

Splashbeveragegroup.com

info@splashbeveragegroup.com

954-745-5815

SOURCE: Splash Beverage Group, Inc.
TORONTO (PRWEB) May 05, 2021

Beringer Capital, a leading North American private equity fund specializing in the media, marketing services, and technology sectors, today announced that it has acquired preeminent performance marketing company Perform[cb] from Centre Lane Partners.

Founded as Clickbooth in 2002, Perform[cb] has established itself as a frontrunner in the affiliate marketing space, achieving steady growth via organic means and a series of strategic acquisitions. Since inception, it has remained focused on proactively developing new technologies that enable marketers and publishers to seamlessly scale their customer acquisition initiatives. Its signature platform, PerformLEAP, has achieved wide acclaim and has become the go-to performance marketing solution for a number of household brands, including LendingTree, Freshly, and BET+. Earlier in 2021, Perform[cb] was named for the fifth consecutive year as mThink Blue Book's #1 cost per action (CPA) Network Worldwide.

Beringer Capital's acquisition of Perform[cb] strongly aligns with its sector expertise, as well as its investment philosophy of partnering with promising middle-market companies that are well positioned to benefit from the accelerating trend toward digital transformation. It also comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted consumer behavior and galvanized brands' interest in online performance campaigns, meaning that performance marketing now represents an ever-increasing share of advertising budgets. With that in mind, Beringer Capital will collaborate with the Perform[cb] team to support the continued rollout of forward-looking offerings that augment the customer experience and cement Perform[cb] 's status as the premier destination for hyper-targeted, effective marketing campaigns.

"At Beringer, we're committed to working with visionary leadership teams that share our enthusiasm for delivering exceptional customer experience and value," said Gil Ozir, managing partner at Beringer Capital. "It's clear that the Perform[cb] team is similarly motivated, as evidenced by its track record of developing thoughtful solutions that anticipate and meet clients' needs. We're excited to partner with the company at this critical juncture in the industry's maturation, helping them to capitalize on new opportunities and solidify their leadership role."

"We're confident that the Beringer Capital team will provide value-add from day one," added Erin Cigich, CEO of Perform[cb]. "Our aim at Perform[cb] is to serve as a one-stop performance marketing destination that provides outstanding ROI and experience for marketers, advertisers and affiliate partners alike. The Beringer team's deep understanding of this sector, combined with their demonstrable experience in identifying niche opportunities, make them an ideal partner. We're excited to work together to ensure that, as Perform[cb] scales its business, our customers have access to creative tools that empower them to do the same."

Beringer Capital has established a strong track record of investing in, and advising, companies in the rapidly evolving media, marketing services, commerce, data, and technology sectors. Notably, the firm acquired prominent media and events company Adweek in 2016, helping to diversify its business offerings before a successful exit in 2020. Additional realized investments include award-winning customer experience (CX), commerce and analytics company Blue Acorn iCi, which was acquired by Infosys last year.

Perform[cb] was advised in the transaction by investment bank Canaccord Genuity. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Beringer Capital:

Beringer Capital is a private equity firm specializing in the rapidly evolving media, marketing services, commerce, data and technology sectors. The firm leverages its financial and intellectual capital to invest in middle-market companies that are strongly positioned to benefit from the accelerating trend toward digital transformation. Beringer's collaborative approach, as well as its strong track record with add-on acquisitions, helps visionary leadership teams to deliver exceptional customer experience and achieve impressive results.

Beringer Capital has offices in Toronto and New York. For more information, visit http://www.beringercapital.com.

About Perform[cb]:

Founded as Clickbooth in 2002, Perform[cb] experienced exponential organic growth enabling the company to complete a series of strategic acquisitions, each providing unique performance-based solutions for modern marketers and affiliate partners. Recognized as the #1 Performance Network Worldwide since 2015, Perform[cb] is a distinguished leader within the performance marketing industry. Through their Network and Agency, Perform[cb] is a provider of online marketing services leveraging over two decades of experience, proprietary technology, and the best talent in the industry to empower brands to acquire new customers across diverse digital channels on a pay for results model. http://www.performcb.com.

Read the full story at https://www.prweb.com/releases/beringer_capital_completes_acquisition_of_performcb_llc/prweb17914827.htm
DENVER, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Did the stressors of COVID-19 drive more Americans to use medical cannabis as an alternative tool for managing their mental health? A new national study exploring this question found a positive correlation between national demand for medical cannabis and the national number of COVID-19 cases; in other words, as cases increased, so did medical cannabis use. And whereas the most common reason for obtaining a medical card has historically been for chronic pain, the majority of medical cannabis patients who applied for medical cards over the past year cited psychological purposes, with 55% of patients saying their main reason for using cannabis was "to feel 'happy."

These findings are part of a national study conducted by Veriheal, the healthcare enterprise behind the nation's largest medical marijuana application platform, in partnership with graduate research scholars from the London School of Economics, University of Southern California and University of Maryland; and the CREA (Cultivating Research Education and Advocacy) Group, a business development and research firm dedicated to psychoactive drugs like cannabinoids, psychedelics, and entheogens. The findings were officially presented to the American Chemical Society, a congressionally chartered non-profit leading research in the global chemical enterprise, at their April 2021 national conference.

Conducted between January 2020 and March 2021, the study investigated medical cannabis interest and adoption by desired effect across region, sex and age group, in relation to COVID-19 cases in America as reported by the official COVID-19 CDC data tracker. Patient data was obtained from surveys on the Veriheal telemedicine platform, which connects prospective cannabis patients to state-certified cannabis doctors to facilitate and streamline the medical marijuana (MMJ) card application process.

Key findings from the study indicate that:

55% of medical cannabis users primarily seek to feel 'happy'; 29% to feel 'relief'; 7% to feel 'relaxed'; 5% to feel 'sleepy'

Happiness is the primary reason for medical cannabis use among 39% of Boomers; 45% of Gen X; 28% of Millenials and 29% of Gen Z.

Millenials are most inclined to obtain a medical cannabis recommendation during COVID case spikes, followed by Gen X and Gen Z.

"When we began investigating the relationship between medical cannabis use and COVID-19, our original hypothesis was that cannabis demand would increase with COVID-19 cases as people sought out physiological relief and ways to manage stress," said Maha Haq, CEO of CREA and graduate student at University of Maryland's School of Pharmacy. "We were stunned to find the results actually nullify that hypothesis. Instead, we found that people are seeking psychological relief in response to exogenous shocks including COVID-19 and beyond. Periods of social unrest, such as the Black Lives Matter protests and 2020 elections, can be seen as spikes in medical cannabis interest within our datasets."

Indeed, data from the study reflected in the graph above shows that sign-ups for medical cannabis consultations (dark blue), representing interest; and medical cannabis appointments (light blue), representing adoption; both rose in tandem with COVID-19 case spikes in Spring 2020 and Spring 2021, Black Lives Matter protests in Summer 2020, the Presidential pre-election in late summer and the attempted coup at the US Capitol in January 2021.

"Medical cannabis has traditionally been viewed as an alternative treatment for relieving physical pain and chronic ailments," said Ms. Haq. "That most people are actually looking to the plant to ease psychological stressors, often related to external social upheaval, is an incredibly important discovery that helps medical professionals better understand evolving consumer relationships with cannabis, and from there, improve the quality of their treatment and related mental healthcare programs."

The study's findings also offer insight into medical cannabis as a cultural phenomenon, bolstering marketing initiatives over the past year, which have increasingly focused on branding and differentiating cannabis via its emotional impact rather than its physiological effects. The practice captures the attitudes of the new cannabis consumer, and further prompts us to examine cannabis' evolving position in the American cultural zeitgeist.

"It's incredible to see Veriheal's patient database being leveraged for insights on the complexities of medical cannabis use in America," said Joshua Green, Veriheal's co-founder and CEO. "This is exactly the kind of application we dreamed of when we initially created our platform. What's even more satisfying is to have CREA and Maha Haq, a 2020 recipient of our Innovation in Cannabis Scholarship, play an integral role in bringing this study to fruition."

Earlier this year, Veriheal announced a $20,000 Innovation in Cannabis scholarship to fund students pursuing degrees in the cannabis industry. The scholarship, which launched in 2020 with $10,000 in awards, has been doubled this year to offer 20 grants in the amount of $1,000 each to qualifying student applicants.

Veriheal was founded by Samuel Adetunji and Joshua Green in 2017 with a mission to become the go-to online destination for prospective medical cannabis patients looking to obtain an MMJ card and access educational resources. For a one-time $199 fee, Veriheal streamlines and facilitates the end-to-end application process by connecting users to state-licensed doctors who can certify qualifying conditions via telehealth or in-person appointments  a requirement for all medical cannabis programs. Qualifying patients receive a doctor's recommendation and are supported through the process of applying for and obtaining their medical marijuana card.

To view the complete study, click here.

About Veriheal Veriheal is a healthcare technology company with a mission to provide personalized cannabis education and wellness to everyone around the world. The Veriheal platform fulfills this mission by connecting prospective patients with state-certified medical marijuana doctors online, to provide customized medical recommendations for people seeking a better quality of life through cannabis. To learn more about the Veriheal platform, please visit www.veriheal.com.

Media Contact:Alison VoetschTrailblazealison@trailblaze.co

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-study-finds-people-turned-to-cannabis-during-the-pandemic-to-feel-happier-301284635.html

SOURCE Veriheal
NOTICE OF EXEMPT SOLICITATION

NAME OF REGISTRANT: Walmart



NAME OF PERSON RELYING ON EXEMPTION: Employees Retirement System of Rhode Island





ADDRESS OF PERSON RELYING ON EXEMPTION: Office of Rhode Island General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, Rhode Island State House, 82 Smith St. #102, Providence, RI 02903

May 5, 2021

Walmart

Shareholder Proposal No. #4: Report on Reducing Climate Impacts of Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) Refrigerants Released from Operations

The Rhode Island Office of the General Treasurer seeks your support for proposal no. 4 on Walmart Inc.s (Walmart or the Company) 2021 proxy ballot. The resolved clause states:

Resolved: Shareholders request that Walmart issue a report, at reasonable cost and omitting proprietary information, describing if and how it plans to limit its impact on climate change by increasing the scale, pace and rigor of its plans to reduce refrigerants released from its operations.

Walmart has set forth several climate commitments, including 2030 science-based targets and a 2040 target to reach zero emissions. We commend the Company for those commitments. However, Walmarts approach to refrigerant management remains vague and warrants more specific attention and disclosure in light of the uniquely powerful climate impact of refrigerants, a fast-evolving regulatory landscape, and the growing reputational risk of public campaigns by environmental groups targeting Walmart on this issue.

As noted in the proposal, Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are a class of refrigerants that are super-pollutants with global warming potentials (GWP) hundreds to thousands of times greater than CO2. Eliminating emissions of HFCs globally could preclude 0.5 of warming by 2100 according to the UN Environment Programme.1

HFCs are found across Walmarts operations as the critical element in refrigerators, chillers, and cooling and air conditioning systems in stores, distribution centers, and vehicles. In total, Walmart reported in its 2020 CDP response over three million tons of HFC-related GHG emissions in 2019 alone - a 15 percent year over year increase that accounts for over 47 percent of the Companys gross global scope 1 carbon footprint.2 The increase in refrigerant emissions in 2019 indicates that long term emissions reduction strategies may be insufficient to address this critical source of emissions.

1 https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/33094/CoolRep.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

2 Scope 1 refers to emissions arising directly from operations.

This is not a proxy solicitation, to vote your proxy. Please DO NOT send us your proxy card, as it will not be accepted. Vote your proxy according to the instructions set forth in Walmarts proxy statement.

Recognizing the importance of reducing the climate impact of refrigerants, world leaders came together in Kigali, Rwanda in 2016 to amend the Montreal Protocol and establish a timeline to phase out HFCs globally, beginning with high-income countries in 2019.3 Equally important for U.S. companies is passage of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 that will ultimately require companies to cut production and use of HFCs 85% by 2036.4 Similarly, California recently passed new legislation requiring all new and significantly remodeled supermarket facilities to use ultra-low GWP refrigerants.5 These regulations add urgency to the need for Walmart to increase the scale and pace of its efforts to reduce HFC emissions.

On May 3, 2021, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed its first rule under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons. (HFCs), sharply reducing production by using an allowance allocation and trading program. In announcing the rule, the EPA stated that the phasedown will decrease the production and import of HFCs in the United States by 85% over the next 15 years.6

These regulations will likely create financial obstacles for Walmart. A recent examination of the impacts of HFC phase down regulations in the EU showed the prices of HFCs were strongly affected by the regulation, increasing up to 13 times the pre-regulation prices.7 A similar scenario seems possible in the U.S. that could increase costs for Walmart. In addition, Walmarts refrigeration systems last for decades, meaning the capital allocation decisions made today need to consider these long-term dynamics and will influence whether the Company is able to meet its 2040 targets. Establishing a detailed plan to minimize leaks and thus the need to purchase HFCs, complemented by robust efforts to design systems away from a reliance on HFCs would be in shareholders interests.

In terms of technology evolution, should the above-mentioned regulations force the early retirement or retrofitting of refrigeration equipment, it could lead to additional costs for Walmart, especially given the long life spans of refrigeration systems. A proactive approach to adopt new refrigeration systems using ultra-low GWP and non-HFC refrigerant technologies, may ultimately lead to a more cost-effective implementation. The Consumer Goods Forum, of which Walmart is a member, presents many case studies showcasing the numerous ways its members are saving on energy and maintenance costs via replacement and substitution of HFC refrigerants.8

Walmart states in its opposition statement it focuses on preventing emissions by minimizing leaks and that these measures have resulted in an average annual refrigeration emissions rate that it estimates to be lower than industry average. Minimizing leaks is undoubtedly a prudent course of action, but the Company has not disclosed what its average leakage rate is, which is a recommended SASB disclosure indicator for Food and Beverage Retailers and one we believe is relevant for Walmart. Without this disclosure, investors are left to evaluate Walmarts refrigerant performance on recent increases in HFC emissions.

3 https://www.unido.org/our-focus-safeguarding-environment-implementation-multilateral-environmental-agreements-montreal-protocol/montreal-protocol-evolves-fight-climate-

change#:~:text=With%20the%20Kigali%20Amendment%2C%20the,in%20HFC%20consumption%20by%202047 .

4 https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/aim-act

5 https://hydrocarbons21.com/articles/9858/california_approves_sweeping_new_refrigerant_rules

6 https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-moves-forward-phase-down-climate-damaging-hydrofluorocarbons

7 Briefing paper: HFC availability on the EU market, Oko-Recherche (2020) https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/files/docs/0106/2020_03_25_hfc_availability_en.pdf

8 https://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com/environmental-sustainability/refrigeration/

This is not a proxy solicitation, to vote your proxy. Please DO NOT send us your proxy card, as it will not be accepted. Vote your proxy according to the instructions set forth in Walmarts proxy statement.

Increasing attention has been generated in the media around refrigerant leaks and emissions by campaigning organizations,9 while peer companies are getting a reputational boost for both addressing leaks and installing ultra-low GWP refrigeration systems.10 11 This reputational risk may undermine confidence in the Companys 2040 goals, effectively jeopardizing Walmarts efforts to be viewed as a sustainability leader.

Walmarts disclosures lack clarity and the detail investors need to understand Walmarts approach to minimizing refrigerant emissions. On its sustainability webpages, Walmart states: Our goal is to transition to low-impact refrigerants for cooling in our stores, clubs, data centers and distribution centers by 2040.12 And We aim to do this by improving efficiency in current systems and transitioning to new systems using refrigerant media with lower overall environmental impacts. Unfortunately, there is no definition of low-impact and no detail of what the Company means by lower overall environmental impacts. This vague language is not decision-useful to investors. Furthermore, Walmart acknowledges in its opposition statement, Ultimately, each aspect of our footprint will need to reach zero in order to achieve our vision. As it stands, Walmart has not clearly articulated how it will achieve its lofty goals.

For all of these reasons, this proposals request for a report on how Walmart can increase the scale, pace, and rigor of its efforts to rein in HFC-related emissions meets a need currently unaddressed by Walmarts disclosures. The proposal provides an opportunity for Walmart to strengthen its commitments to refrigerant management, prepare for new regulations, stay on track to meet its climate goals, and address an area of reputational risk. To address these key challenges, we recommend a vote FOR proposal #4.

For further information, please contact Randy Rice, Senior Advisor, Policy & Communications at the Rhode Island Treasurers Office by e-mail at randall.rice@treasury.ri.gov.

Sincerely,





Seth Magaziner

General Treasurer, State of Rhode Island

9 https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/02/15/these-gases-your-grocerys-freezer-are-fueling-climate-change-biden-wants-fix-that/

10 https://corporate.aldi.us/fileadmin/fm-dam/newsroom/Press_Releases/ALDI_GreenChill_Press_Release.pdf ;

11 http://newsroom.meijer.com/2020-09-25-Meijer-Earns-EPA-GreenChill-Award-for-Lowering-its-Refrigerant-Emissions

12 https://corporate.walmart.com/global-responsibility/sustainability/planet/climate-change

This is not a proxy solicitation, to vote your proxy. Please DO NOT send us your proxy card, as it will not be accepted. Vote your proxy according to the instructions set forth in Walmarts proxy statement.
Changes to the SunCommercial's back end processing means the e-edition is getting a facelift. The biggest change is the e-edition, by default, is now presented in Text view.
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges has made it clear he opposes any proposal which involves the renaming of Greerton.

However, one community leader believes it is time to have a brave conversation about the background surrounding the Tauranga suburb and a potential future name change.

Greerton is named after Lieutenant-Colonel H.H Greer, a British commanding officer of the 68th Regiment, based in Tauranga from 1864 to 1866.

Greer led the British forces in the Battle of Te Ranga in June 1864 following the Battle of Gate Pa in April the same year.

This affiliation has seen Te Tuinga Whanau executive director Tommy Wilson call on the community to consider a potential name change, an idea he has been bouncing around for about 15 years.

He points out that his own daughter recently attended the Gate Pa site and that the younger community in Tauranga will soon have questions.

The conversation needs to be had for lots of reasons, says Tommy. We teach our at-risk youth and our people the history of Tauranga.

They will want to know why this place is named after Colonel Greer. He was far worse than Cameron. He almost massacred woman and children, well he did, at Te Ranga.

Tommy is referring to General Duncan Cameron, whom the main arterial road in Tauranga is named after, who led the British troops in the Battle of Gate Pa.

But Bridges has made it clear he opposes any potential name change.

He suggests it would be a waste of time and an unnecessary inconvenience. He also opines that most residents are likely unaware of the origins of Greertons naming in the first place.

We all know Greerton as Greerton and I doubt many, if any, even know the history of why its called that, he says.

Lets not waste time, energy and confuse everyone with a possible name change.

Tommy highlights the gravitation toward calling Mount Maunganui, Mauao, as an example of how the community might be ready for this change.

The New Zealand Geographic Board Nga Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa can alter the local authority names for a district or region over which a regional council has jurisdiction.

However, as detailed on the Land Information New Zealand website, the NZGB would require the support of any relevant local authority before processing a proposal for a populated place.

That would mean Tauranga City Council would need to be involved, including a formal resolution. TCC have been contacted for comment.

If a proposal to NZGB received objections, the final decision would rest with the Minister for Land Information Damien OConnor. The Ministers office confirms there are currently no proposals tabled for any name change at Greerton.

In LINZs criteria for place names they encourage the restoration of original Maori place names or the adoption of surnames or ancestral Maori names of a notable leader, of good character, who has a strong association with the area.

Tommy is pleased the issue has sparked some debate, even commending some of the more tongue-in-cheek suggestions that have been shared on social media.

However, he is firm in the belief that any Maori name for Greerton should be easy to pronounce.

I think a lot of pushback has been that if we use a Maori name that is too long people cant pronounce it, he says.

I think that has to be factored into whatever decision has been made. When that change comes it has to be a Maori name that is easy to pronounce.

Tommy suggests Taratoa, after Henare Wiremu Taratoa, an Ngai Te Rangi leader who has been attributed with courteous and kind treatment of British soldiers at Gate Pa. He also suggests naming Greerton after Noel Pope, the former Mayor of Tauranga, who passed away in 2019.

Tommy, however, believes the final decision on any potential name change would need to come from in-depth consultation, particularly involving Ngati Ranginui and their affiliate Hapu.

It wouldnt just be one Hapu, he says. It would be one broad consultation process. But it is great that it is sparking debate. The decision should be put at the foot of Ngati Ranginui as this is their area.

Bridges, however, is strongly of the opinion that the suburb should keep its current designation.

To change it would be counterproductive and wrong.
A four-year-old boy who spent a night outside by himself as people desperately searched for him, has been found safe and well several kilometres from his home.

Shinae Twist, a close friend of Axel's family, confirmed Axel had been found on Wednesday morning.

She says he was found 4km from his family farm near Tolaga Bay, East Cape.

Earlier, residents in Tolaga Bay left teddy bears and blankets out at their front doors overnight in the hope of enticing missing boy Axel out of the dark.

About 50 volunteers searched through the night without finding the 4-year-old, who went missing from his family home on Paroa Rd in Tolaga Bay, East Cape, around 1pm on Tuesday.

He was last seen with the familys small white dog, which was found overnight

Police had met with volunteers at the Tolaga Bay police station for a briefing early this morning.

In a statement released this morning, police confirmed Axel had been found.

"He was found at about 10.45am and has now been reunited with his family.

"Police would like to thank everyone who offered their assistance in searching for him."
The search is now on the for the 24th Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards.

Any commercial or retail baker can enter at www.nzbakels.co.nz including cafe and catering bakers.

To be named the Supreme winner will mean a massive boost to their business with extensive media coverage.

Pie lovers across New Zealand will be racing to their bakery to try the champion pie and the bakerys name will go down in history in a blaze of glorious pie-making.

This year our most recognised celebrity chef, Peter Gordon, will help decide the winning pie, having returned to New Zealand to establish his Homeland restaurant and cooking school.

While fine food and fusion cuisine might be his forte, Peter says he loves a good Kiwi pie and hes excited about finding one among the thousands of entries.

NZ Bakels managing director Brent Kersel says there is a real sense of excitement about the launch of the 24th Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards.

"Many bakeries were badly affected by the Covid lockdowns and although they have been able to regain much of that lost business, the Pie Awards were something they really missed as an opportunity to test their skills against other bakers," says Brent.

"The Pie Awards have become the Oscars of New Zealands baking industry and its fantastic to be able to celebrate the best in the business.

2019 Gourmet Meat gold award went to Orewa Bakery for their Moroccan Lamb pie.

"We created the Pie Awards in 1996 with the intention of improving the overall quality of pies in New Zealand but the competition has gone way beyond that."

From basic beginnings to 12 judging categories; in excess of 5000 pies entered and multiple Supreme winners, not to mention our current reigning champion, Patrick Lam of Patricks Pies Goldstar Bakery in Tauranga, who holds the record for seven Supreme Award wins.

Brent says it is an absolute honour to have Peter Gordon joining the judging team this year.

"Peter is recognised the world over for what he has achieved as a chef. Without his talent we may not have had fusion food. Imagine that! And were very privileged to have him judging our pies. I think the Gourmet Meat and the Cafe Boutique categories will be of particular interest to Peter.

"They are categories where our bakers really become inventive, often with spectacular results, like Clareville Bakery, which won Supreme in 2014 with a lamb cutlet protruding the top pastry and nestled in a creamy kumara mash.

"In our 2019 competition we renamed the Steak and Gravy category to the Truckie & Tradie category and one lucky truck driver won a chance to attend the Pie Awards.

"This year were doing that again. The Gourmet Meat category has been selected to be the Truckie & Tradie category after loads of truckies and tradies recommended their favourite pie was actually a little bit more gourmet.

"Is there a spectacularly delicious pie out there in a pie warmer waiting for its moment in the spotlight? We sure hope so! Lets start searching for that pie."

Diary dates:

May 3  entries open

June 24  entries close at 5pm

July 22  Judging Day

July 27  Bakels NZ Supreme Pie Awards
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 03:21:00|Editor: huaxia

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RIGA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Lithuanian government on Wednesday approved the so-called "opportunity passports" to people who have attained immunity to COVID-19 either by recovering from the illness or getting vaccinated, and those who have tested negative for COVID-19.

The holders of the "opportunity passports" will be exempt from certain COVID-19 restrictions, such as being allowed to dine inside restaurants and attend larger public events and performances.

"The 'opportunity passports' are specifically meant for people that have been vaccinated and those who have recovered after falling ill with the virus," Health Minister Arunas Dulkys said as he presented the proposal to the government.

"This is also our political decision - to make them available to those who have taken the test within the past 24 hours and up to 16-year-old children," the minister said.

Restaurants, cafes, bars, gambling halls and betting shops will be able to serve the holders of the "opportunity passports" indoors, although nightclubs will still remain shut.

Up to 500 holders of the "opportunity passports" will be allowed to gather for indoor or outdoor events on condition that they do not exceed 75 percent of the venue's capacity.

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said on Wednesday that thanks to vaccination Lithuania will ease some COVID-19 restrictions. But restrictions on gatherings will most probably remain in place throughout summer as the rate of infections is still high. Enditem
Patrick Jones is branch manager for the Chanhassen and Victoria libraries. For questions about services, contact staff at www.carverlib.org/about-us/contact-us or reach out to Jones directly at 952-227-1504 or pjones@co.carver.mn.us. For more info, visit www.carverlib.org.
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Emory University has been named among the best American universities in the second annual QS USA University Rankings, designed to assess how well universities are responding to current social, intellectual and economic challenges.

Emory was 22nd in the nation and 1st in Georgia in the rankings of 352 American universities by QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a global higher education research company and publisher of the QS World University Rankings, a major source of comparative data about global higher education.

The QS USA rankings, inaugurated in 2020, are designed to evaluate American universities by a methodology that focuses on four broad categories: employability, diversity and internationalism, learning experience, and research.

QS spokesperson Jack Moran says the organization is aware that the American higher education sector is wrestling with questions that do not fall within the scope of our global rankings  questions of equity, access, representation and social justice.

The QS USA University Rankings exercise has been carefully crafted to shine some independent light on which institutions are doing most to foster the essential relationship between education and social change, he says.

The full rankings are available at www.TopUniversities.com.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 04:38:17|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian and Turkish delegations led by senior diplomats held talks in Cairo on Wednesday in a bid to normalize ties and end eight years of rift between the two countries.

"Now the political consultations between Egypt and Turkey begin," said Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez in a statement, noting that the meeting was co-chaired by Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hamdi Sanad Loza and his Turkish counterpart Sadat Onal.

Ties between Egypt and Turkey deteriorated after the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his controversial rule and now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.

Cairo and Ankara also have conflicting positions over Libya and the maritime borders in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

On Tuesday, the foreign ministries of both countries said that "these exploratory discussions will focus on the necessary steps that may lead towards the normalization of relations between the two countries," noting that the talks will be held on May 5-6. Enditem
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Syracuse, N.Y. -- A federal judges ruling overturning the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions national moratorium on tenant evictions during the coronavirus pandemic will not impact New York, which has its own eviction ban, state officials and tenant advocates.

Richard Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, said the ruling only applies to the CDCs eviction moratorium and not to New Yorks own moratorium.

The decision on the federal regulation does not affect the state law, which stands on its own, Azzopardi said in an email to The Post-Standard | syracuse.com.

Federal Judge Dabney Friedrich on Wednesday struck down the national eviction moratorium, ruling that the CDC overstepped its authority in September when it banned most evictions.

However, the state Legislature in December passed the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2020, prohibiting evictions of tenants suffering hardships related to the coronavirus pandemic.

The moratorium was set to expire on May 1, 2021, but lawmakers have extended it to Aug. 31, 2021.

The state law is one of the most comprehensive anti-eviction laws in the nation.

Laurie Rolnick, director of the eviction defense program at the Volunteer Lawyers Project of Onondaga County, said the state law prohibits the eviction of tenants who have suffered a financial hardship because of the pandemic. The hardship can include such things as loss of meaningful employment and difficulty in obtaining alternative housing, she said.

Tenants, however, must sign and deliver a tenant hardship declaration form to their landlord to stop an eviction proceeding or to a court if the landlord has already begun the proceeding, she said.

Its not technically an eviction ban, said Rolnick. Its an eviction defense. People have to claim it.

Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148
Syracuse, NY -- The dominos had to fall in precisely the right way Wednesday for two men to finally admit their involvement in a 2019 shooting that killed a 21-year-old adversary.

Nyrell Manning, then 17, and Lando McMurren, then 19, have long been charged with murder, accused of being East Side gang members who entered West Side gang turf in April 2019 looking for trouble.

There, they came across Rhyan Williams, a man both had beefs with for different reasons: Manning thought Williams had hurt one of his relatives, while McMurren was fighting with Williams over a woman, prosecutors have said.

But the shooting itself didnt go as planned. A younger teenager, with the older suspects that day, opened fire, too. That teens bullet actually hit Manning.

Manning is the one tied to the fatal shot that struck Williams in the back, killing him.

McMurren was charged as the mastermind, providing the guns and leading both Manning and the younger teen to Williams location in the 100 block of Merriman Avenue.

The young teen was adjudicated in Family Court due to his age. And he was going to be subpoenaed to be the witness against McMurren and Manning at separate trials. A trial defense would have likely tried to rip apart the young teens credibility or perhaps pin him for the entire murder.

Manning and McMurrens trials were originally scheduled to happen weeks after the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the court system in March 2020. So McMurren and Manning spent an extra year in jail, awaiting their day in court.

During the pandemic, Manning almost pleaded guilty. He appeared to have no problem admitting that he fired the fatal shot, but apparently could not bring himself to snitch on McMurren. That sabotaged the plea bargain: Manning had to admit that someone else was involved in Williams death, and he was unwilling to do so, even without naming names.

As of Tuesday afternoon, no plea agreement appeared likely as a judge held a hearing to determine whether gang references could be used at Mannings upcoming murder trial.

RELATED: Did social media buddy out accused Syracuse killer as gang member? Interesting, judge says

But everything changed, literally, overnight.

By 9 a.m. this morning, both McMurren and Manning were willing to plead guilty. But it had to happen a certain way.

First, prosecutor Joseph Coolican had to agree to reduce both of their murder charges to manslaughter charges. Hed already agreed to do that once, for Mannings aborted plea bargain last year. But McMurren wanted the same deal.

Then, McMurren had to take his plea first. That meant that Manning could go to bed knowing that he hadnt snitched -- after all, his plea would come after McMurren had already taken responsibility.

So both defendants appeared in court briefly Thursday to put their guilty pleas on the record. Neither one hesitated as McMurren went first, followed by Manning.

The plea also saves the third teen -- who shot Manning -- from having to testify against his older counterparts.

But, as in all plea bargains, prosecutors had to give up something: instead of seeking a 25-year-to-life prison sentence after trial, Coolican agreed to a sentence of 10 years in prison for both McMurren and Manning.

That 10-year plea deal is the same one that Manning had rejected last year, when he felt he would be snitching on McMurren. Its unclear when McMurren was first offered the same deal.

So two trials, which together had been scheduled to take a month of court time, were settled in minutes. Both McMurren and Manning remain jailed until sentencing in June. They will get jail credit for the two years theyve waited for their case to resolve.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A man was reported to be stabbed in the stomach Tuesday night near a Catholic Charities mens shelter on Syracuses South Side, according to Onondaga County 911 Center dispatches.

A Syracuse police spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on the mans condition.

Police responded to the stabbing at 9:46 p.m. in the 1000 block of South Clinton Street, according to dispatches.

The man reported he had been stabbed in the abdomen by another man, who was still in the area, according to dispatches.

Dispatchers reported that security guards at the shelter had identified the suspect, who had come inside the building.

A man with his hands cuffed behind his back was later seen being put into a police cruiser parked at the scene.

A handcuffed man taken into a police cruiser after a reported stabbing near the Catholic Charities men's shelter on South Clinton Street in Syracuse on Tuesday, May, 4 2021. James McClendon | jmcclendon@syracuse.com

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.
Oneida Castle, N.Y.  Its been nearly 50 years, and state police are still searching for answers in the mysterious 1973 death of an Oneida County woman.

The mystery started on July 26, 1973 when Martha Louise Allens grandfather reported her missing after she left their 9th Street home in Oneida Castle, according to a news release issued by New York State police this week.

More than three weeks later on Aug. 17, Allens partially decomposed body was found by a boater in Black Creek near the Verona Beach State Park, police said.

Allen  who was 21 years old  was last seen by her grandfather at about 8:30 a.m. on July 25, before he left the home for a trip to the Syracuse area for the day, troopers said.

She was wearing red, white and blue striped shorts, a lavender-colored tank top and thick-rimmed glasses, according to the release. She had brown hair and brown eyes, troopers said.

The 5-foot-3, 120-pound woman was later seen by neighbors at about 7:10 p.m. on July 25, 1973 walking through Village Park in Oneida Castle, according to The Post-Standard archives.

Investigators later had reason to believe an Oneida County business owner, Donald Sigsbee, may have been involved in Allens death, after an index card with her name was discovered at the mans cabinet-making business two years later, according to the archives.

The card was discovered during an investigation into the murder of 19-year-old SUNY Morrisville student Regina Reynolds in 1975, according to the archives. In 2004, Sigsbee was found guilty of second-degree murder for the stabbing death of Reynolds, according to the archives.

State police investigators found that Allen and Sigsbee knew each other, according to the archives. Sigsbee had made Allen  who was interested in Egyptian artifacts  an Egyptian-style sword, according to the archives.

Sigsbee also was a suspect in the deaths of three other young girls  Teri Fuller, 19, of Chittenango, Paula Burke, 12, of Chittenango, and SUNY Cobleskill student Kathy Kolodziej, 17, of Ronkonkoma, Long Island  in Central New York between 1974 and 1976, according to archives. Those cases are also still unsolved, according to archives.

Sigsbee died in 2009 while serving a 25-year-to-life sentence at the Mohawk Correctional Facility in Rome, according to New York State prison records. He was 74 years old when he died.

Troopers ask anyone with information about these deaths to call state police at 315-366-6000.

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.
Have you ever heard of a casting call for cars? Well, now you have.

A new movie filming in Syracuse is seeking vehicles to be used as props this month. ILMD Productions Inc. says its reaching out to the Central New York community for help with their upcoming feature film, currently titled I Love My Dad.

Producers are specifically seeking:

A 2018 or newer SUV for 3 various days of shooting, possibly more or less.

A classic 1976 Ford Mustang-type vintage car for 3 various days of shooting, possibly more or less.

A 1970s or 80s wooden panel station wagon, 240 Volvo wagon, or a Volkswagen Rabbit for 3 various shooting days, possibly more or less.

An early 2000s Toyota 4 Runner or Nissan Pathfinder as hero car, needed for 10 various shooting days, possibly more or less.

Producers are also looking for colorful vehicles: No white or black cars please.

If interested, send a photo of your vehicle to ILMDCarCasting@gmail.com.

I Love My Dad is described as a dark comedy that will begin production in mid-May. The cast, director and other details have not been announced.

Producers previously posted a casting call for a dog to appear in the movie; the canine role has now been filled.

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Its no secret that New Yorkers are serious about their slices and pies  pizzas of course  and Food + Wine magazine has named four spots in Upstate NY as some of the best in the state.

Though the national publication declared New York City and Upstate New York worlds away, these pizza shops are worth a stop on any pizza tour.

First up, Pereccas Bakery in Schenectady. Food + Wine made mention of their thick slices of tomato pie keeping them in business for the past century.

Pereccas is no stranger to pizza fame as they made a list of the best pizza in America in 2020. The restaurants pizza is just one part of a full service menu, but our judges for the Best Pizza in Upstate NY a few years ago said their sauce was the best they had tasted. Do yourself a favor and order a piping hot cheese pizza from this Capital Region mecca.

If you thought New Yorkers from the five boroughs were passionate about their food, ask any expat from Utica, NY where to get great Italian meals. This may be part of the reason OScugnizzo Pizzeria made the cut. Owned and operated by the same family since 1914, OScugnizzos is the oldest pizza shop in Upstate NY and is one of the oldest pizzerias in America.

The self proclaimed King of Pizza shop was also named the winner in our last round of Best Pizza in Upstate NY.

O'Scugnizzo Pizzeria in Utica is the nation's second-oldest pizza shop owned and run by the same family. It opened in 1914.Teri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.com

The Central New York pizza shop does something unique in constructing their pizzas. Traditional toppings such as sausage, pepperoni, onions and peppers are placed on the crust first. Those toppings are covered with a layer mozzarella cheese. The pie is topped with a layer of sauce after it comes out of the oven to give it an upside down quality. Food + Wine said fans are always calling in for shipments of their tomato-forward pizzas with cornmeal-dusted crusts.

Speaking of unique pizza, Syracuse got a shout-out with their Twin Trees strip cut pizza. Some call it the West End Cut because it was favored by Twin Trees on the west side of town. While there are multiple locations, each run by different family members as separate businesses, the original Twin Trees on Avery Ave. offers a full Italian menu alongside their pizzas.

The EBA -- Everything But Anchovies -- Pizza at Twin Trees Restaurant, 1100 Avery Ave., Syracuse.Don Cazentre | dcazentre@syracuse.com

Want the best of both worlds? Twin Trees pie offerings include Spaghetti & Meatballs and Chicken Parm pizza.

And if you thought Buffalo was just about the wings, you thought wrong. With their signature cup-and-char pepperoni, Buffalos Bocce Club made the national list of best with their thick boi pizzas.

Once named one of the best pizza shops in America by The Daily Meal, it was said that Bocces cup-and-char pepperoni pie sets the standard for Buffalo pies against which all others are judged. Made with thicker crusts, the Buffalo-style pizza scene is raking in the dough.

See Food + Wines complete pizza rankings for every state here.

READ MORE

The 26 best pizza places in Upstate NY, ranked by Yelp for 2019

Two Upstate NY pizza places make list of 101 Best in America

Best pizza in Western NY: 15 picks for Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester, more

10 best pizza places in the Adirondacks

Best pizza in CNY: 12 top places to grab a slice of pie

Best pizza in the Capital Region: 12 top pizzerias in Albany, Troy, more
New York may have legalized recreational marijuana use, but the federal government still considers smoking a joint to be a crime punishable by up to a year in jail.

That simple fact can have broad-reaching impacts for those eager to take advantage of the states permissive new law: any activity that involves the federal government -- or federal money -- is still forced to ban marijuana or risk losing federal money or blessing.

Some of these activities are predictable, if confounding: no one can bring marijuana back from Canada, even though its legal there and legal in New York State. For that matter, no one can bring marijuana back from any other state where its legal, as the feds control interstate commerce. (Of course, a federal agent would have to know whats going on and care enough to enforce the interstate rule.)

But other restrictions have much more far-reaching and profound consequences. Heres a look at four other activities that cant legally be done if you smoke pot:

Buying a gun

Its impossible for a marijuana user to buy a gun -- let alone obtain a pistol permit -- in New York state if truthful on mandatory paperwork.

Thats because every legal gun purchase requires a federal firearm transaction record -- called a Form 4473 -- which includes a question regarding marijuana use. Its part of the federal background check program.

The form makes it very clear that state laws have no bearing as to whether you qualify as an unlawful user under the federal rules.

The use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under Federal law regardless of whether it has been legalized or decriminalized for medicinal or recreational purposes in the state where you reside, the form states.

The only firearm transactions in New York that avoid the form are between spouses, domestic partners and parents/children.

Marijuana users cant apply for a pistol permit, either: the state pistol permit application asks if the applicant is currently using any drugs as defined under federal law.

Going to college

Almost every institution of higher education, whether public or private, takes in federal money, if not for operating costs than for specific projects funded by grants. Federal money flows to big private institutions, such as Syracuse University or Cornell University.

Universities are therefore required to follow federal -- not state -- law, or risk losing federal funding. Simply put, marijuana has to be against university rules, even if its not against state law.

A recent Syracuse University student recently found that out after being suspended for a year following an incident involving a personal amount of marijuana hidden among chocolate-covered strawberries. Unless he wins a lawsuit overturning SUs punishment, hell be required to reapply to the school after his suspension, writing an essay about what he learned from his mistake.

The message is clear: legal pot doesnt mean college kids can start smoking on the campus quad.

Living in public housing

The same federal purse-strings help pay for public housing. And, like colleges, public housing authorities are not allowed to condone marijuana use.

In fact, the federal government has issued a series of letters telling public housing operators that no exceptions can be made -- even for those prescribed marijuana for medicinal use. Theres no reasonable accommodations allowed for pot.

On the other hand, the federal government makes it clear that local operators are allowed to act in their own discretion when it comes to instances of marijuana use. Public housing is not required to evict tenants who use pot. But that doesnt mean it can be officially permitted, either.

Joining the military or getting a federal job

It goes without saying that federal laws dictate whats allowed in the military or on the federal dime. For active-duty military, marijuana use is a strict no-no. For part-time military personnel, such as Guardsmen, the answer is still no.

For civilian employees, the answer is also no. But that doesnt mean that pot users will be automatically fired: federal employers can mandate counseling sessions and other remedies, with the end goal being the worker stops using marijuana. And theres discretion: a clerk will likely get a longer leash than an FBI agent, for example.

Past marijuana use does not disqualify someone from serving in the military or working for the federal government, so long as the recruit or applicant is truthful about past use.

Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070.
Cornell University has been accused of racially segregating its students with a new class offered to minority groups.

The Cornell Daily Sun reports the spring 2021 semesters Outdoor Education course called PE 1641: BIPOC Rock Climbing sparked an uproar when it specified the class was for people who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other people of color.

Some suggested that it specifically banned white people from enrolling and accused the Ithaca, N.Y.-based Ivy League school of racism. Right-wing publication The College Fix said Cornell was violating federal and state civil rights laws. According to the New York Post, Reddit users similarly blasted the BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color) offering as a horrifically and monstrously racist practice that has no place in the modern world and literally evil.

The course description has since been changed to open the class to all students: This class is designed to enable Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other people of color underrepresented in the sport of rock climbing to learn the sport and to feel included and supported. The class is open to all Cornell students interested in learning rock climbing with this special focus.

Cornell spokesperson John Carberry also defended the course in a statement to the Daily Sun on Monday.

While some [activities] may include a focus on students with specific identities, they are not restricted to only those students, Carberry said. Cornell offers many programs that support interests and perspectives of different parts of our community. We encourage any student who is interested to take advantage of the unique opportunities across campus to learn from and with the many diverse perspectives and voices across campus.

BIPOC rock climbing instructor Matthew Gavieta further told the Daily Sun that the course aimed to do the opposite of segregation, by focusing on accessibility for minorities in this white-centric sport.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 05:37:15|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a new government by the midnight Tuesday deadline and returned the mandate he received from President Reuven Rivlin on April 6.

"Shortly before midnight, Netanyahu informed the President's House that he had not been able to form a government and therefore he was returning the mandate to the president," said a statement issued by the President's House. (Israel- Gov't-Formation)

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BAGHDAD -- The militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group on Wednesday attacked an oil field in Iraq's Kirkuk Province, killing two security members and blowing up two oil wells, a government statement and provincial security source said.

A statement by the media office of the Iraqi Ministry of Oil said IS militants blew up two oil wells and set them ablaze in Bai Hassan oil field in the al-Dibis area northwest of the namesake provincial capital Kirkuk, some 250 km north of the capital Baghdad. (Iraq-IS-Oil Attack)

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ISTANBUL -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed the delivery of Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines in a phone call on Wednesday, Turkey's presidential office announced.

Erdogan stated that he expects the shipment of the vaccines to be sent from Russia as planned within the scope of the agreement, the presidency said in a written statement. (Turkey-Russia-Vaccine)

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CAIRO -- Egyptian and Turkish delegations led by senior diplomats held talks in Cairo on Wednesday in a bid to normalize ties and end eight years of rift between the two countries.

"Now the political consultations between Egypt and Turkey begin," said Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez in a statement, noting that the meeting was co-chaired by Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hamdi Sanad Loza and his Turkish counterpart Sadat Onal. (Egypt-Turkey-Ties) Enditem
Onondaga Countys top doctors were the highest-paid employees in 2020.

Medical Examiner Carolyn Revercomb made $251,633. Revercomb came to Onondaga County in 2019 from New Jersey. At the time, county legislators had increased the salary from $190,000 to make the job more attractive.

Health Commissioner Indu Gupta made $248,141, according to records provided by the Onondaga County Comptrollers office.

Syracuse.com pulled the records into a searchable database. See the base salaries and overtime for more than 3,800 employees.

District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick was the third-highest-paid person in county government with a salary of $200,355.

No. 4 on the list is Sandy Masello. Shes a detention home counselor at Hillbrook Detention Center. Masello nearly tripled her take-home pay with overtime. She makes a base salary of $67,000 and added enough overtime to bring her take-home pay to about $190,000, records show.

Masello is the most senior staffer, so has the first pick at overtime shifts. Several other workers were out of work for Covid-related issues. At the same time, the states new Raise the Age law boosted the number of counselors required to be on staff, according to Justin Sayles, a spokesman for County Executive Ryan McMahon.

Seven people made more than McMahon, who makes about $167,000 a year.

If you cant see the search on your device, open the story in a web browser.

Read more:

Search the 2019 Onondaga County payroll

Search the 2018 payroll

2020 Syracuse City Payroll: Who made more than Mayor Ben Walsh? (Search any employees pay)

Syracuse police chief given raise, bonus amid 2020 pandemic financial crisis

Contact the author: Michelle Breidenbach | mbreidenbach@syracuse.com | 315-470-3186.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- Tamica Barnett, 36, was promoted to lieutenant in the Syracuse fire department this week, making her the first Black woman to ever hold that post.

I think with being the first anything ... I know theres a responsibility that comes with it, Barnett said. Im looking forward to the challenge.

She has been with the department for 10 years. Barnett grew up on the citys East Side. She graduated from Henninger High School and St. Bonaventure University.

Barnett is the mother of an eighth grader and a member of the city school districts board of education. She owns her own barbecue catering business: Who Want Smoke BBQ &Catering.

Im really looking forward to being an example, Barnett said.

The city fire department has been working to improve diversity among its ranks. Barnett is one of only five Black women to ever serve in the department. There are 13 female firefighters currently. The highest ranked is District Chief Sara Errington.

Marnie Eisenstadt writes about people, public affairs and the Syracuse City School District. Contact her anytime email | Twitter| Facebook | 315-470-2246.
The annual Memorial Day Weekend event known as Watchfire has been canceled at the New York State Fairgrounds for the second year in a row.

The Vietnam Veterans of America Central New York Chapter 103 announced on its website that the 2021 Watchfire will not take place due to New York state Covid-19 guidelines.

As an admittedly poor substitute for the live Watchfire experience at the New York State Fairgrounds, we have dusted off the Watchfire videos from 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2019 and posted them (online), the website said. It is hoped that watching the videos of Watchfires past will evoke feelings of gratitude and respect for all Veterans of the American Armed Forces who died while in the service of their country.

The 2020 Watchfire event was also canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The annual watchfire draws thousands to Syracuse to honor U.S. soldiers and veterans on Memorial Day weekend. During the event, retired and tattered U.S. flags collected by veterans groups and other organizations are burned while people watch. It is against federal code to throw away a flag; they are supposed to be destroyed in a respectful way, preferably by burning.

The VVA Chapter 103 website says the watchfire stems from the military tradition that following a battle or long march, a large fire would be started so those missing or lost could locate and rejoin their comrades ... Using that time honored model symbolically, we use the warmth and light of our watchfire to guide everyone to join us in reflection of those comrades who have gone before us and made our nation strong through their service and sacrifice.

More than 25,000 have attended in recent years.

NewsChannel 9 reports another watchfire, organized by the Oswego-based Thank a Service Member, Inc. (TASM), is scheduled for Friday, May 28, at Lake Neatahwanta in Fulton from 7 to 10 p.m. A rain date is set for Sunday, May 30, from 4-7 p.m.

According to Oswego County Today, it will be the first watchfire event with TASM in Fulton.
Washington  Rep. Claudia Tenney said Wednesday shell back Rep. Elise Stefanik, an Upstate New York colleague, in her battle for the No. 3 post in House Republican leadership.

Tenney, R-New Hartford, becomes the first New York House member to say she will back Stefanik in her bid to oust Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney as chair of the House Republican Conference.

The secret-ballot vote could be held as early as next week.

In a statement responding to an inquiry from Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard, Tenney said she believes Stefanik is the best choice to unite the party ahead of next years midterm elections.

Our country needs bold and decisive leadership to restore freedom and individual rights in our nation, Tenney said. The Republican Conferences focus must be on taking back the House in 2022 to ensure those freedoms are preserved. Elise Stefanik is a proven leader, who will do an outstanding job uniting the Republicans and leading the charge to unseat Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi.

Tenney is among the first Republican House members to publicly support Stefanik in the behind-the-scenes battle for the leadership post.

Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, has not commented about her bid, but she is quickly consolidating support among top GOP leaders.

Former president Donald Trump on Wednesday left no doubt where he stands, formally backing Stefanik.

Liz Cheney is a warmongering fool who has no business in Republican Party Leadership, Trump wrote. We want leaders who believe in the Make America Great Again movement, and prioritize the values of America First. Elise Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL Endorsement for GOP Conference Chair. Elise is a tough and smart communicator!

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Republican Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., are also supporting Stefanik, Fox News reported Wednesday.

Stefanik, 36, is in her fourth term representing New Yorks 21st Congressional District, which spans 12 counties including all of the North Country and Fort Drum in Jefferson County.

Tenney is among Republicans who have soured on Cheneys leadership as part of a public rift between GOP House members loyal to Trump and those who dont support his baseless claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.

Cheney in the past week criticized Trump for continuing to push the big lie that the election was stolen. She has also supported the formation of a 9/11-style commission that would investigate the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol that led to Trumps impeachment in the House.

Her spokesman said Tuesday that the GOP leadership fight is about much more than Cheney, who survived an earlier no-confidence vote from House Republicans in February.

This is about whether the Republican Party is going to perpetuate lies about the 2020 election and attempt to whitewash what happened on Jan. 6, said Jeremy Adler, speaking for Cheney. Liz will not do that. That is the issue.

Stefanik emerged as one of Trumps biggest defenders in 2019 during his first impeachment trial. In January, she was among GOP House members who voted against accepting the Electoral College vote for Joe Biden in a handful of swing states.

Cheney was among 10 House Republicans  including Syracuse-area Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus  who broke ranks with the GOP and voted to impeach Trump in January for inciting the mob that stormed the Capitol.

Katkos office did not respond to a request for comment today about his position in the GOP leadership battle.

Tenney has supported Trump since his first campaign for office in 2016. As president, Trump visited Utica to campaign for Tenney in 2018 in her losing bid for re-election in the 22nd Congressional District.

Tenney won the seat back last year in a rematch against former Rep. Anthony Brindisi, D-Utica. In that election, Stefanik raised money and campaigned for Tenney.

Stefanik last year supported 28 Republican women for House seats through her fundraising organization, E-PAC.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer on Wednesday called for the United States to begin reopening its border with Canada by May 21, when a 14-month ban on cross-border travel is due to expire.

The U.S.-Canada border has been closed to non-essential travel since March 2020 under an agreement from both countries to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday that its time to come up with a plan to safely reopen the border, allowing families to visit each other and allowing a full return to business with New York states largest trading partner.

The border is just a real problem, Schumer told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard in an interview. New York is opening up, but the border is not. We all know how important the northern border is to our economy.

The agreement to ban non-essential travel between the two nations has been extended several times since March 2020, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declaring he would keep the border closed until the coronavirus pandemic was under control.

Schumer, D-N.Y., said that its clear the border can be reopened safely now that almost 60% of all New York adults have had at least one vaccine dose, and more than 45% are fully vaccinated.

I would say anyone who has been vaccinated and has any kind of reason to go across the border should be allowed to go, Schumer said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said New York state will begin lifting many Covid restrictions May 19 as the result of increased vaccinations and a falling rate of Covid infections.

Schumer, the Senate majority leader, sent a letter Wednesday urging President Joe Bidens administration to come up with a northern border reopening plan as soon as possible.

Schumer asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to work with their Canadian counterparts on a reopening plan based on data, science, and common sense.

About 2 million Canadians cross into New York each year in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties to visit families, conduct business or travel as tourists to U.S. destinations.

Schumer said that he recently visited winery owners in the Finger Lakes who pointed out the importance of Canadian tourist to their business.

Likewise, Canadian tourists are vital to Central New Yorks tourism industry. Tourists from Canada have accounted for up to 25% of the sales at Syracuses Destiny USA, New Yorks largest shopping mall.

Schumer said it would make sense to expand the essential travel designation to include anyone who has valid proof of a vaccination and has family, educational, medical, or property interests in either country.

He noted that most U.S. and Canadian citizens with vacation homes across the border have not been able to visit their properties since the start of the pandemic.

Schumer also suggested that the U.S. and Canada open their waters to recreational and commercial boaters who dont plan to stop at a port of entry, regardless of their vaccination status.

He said the existing travel ban unfairly penalizes boaters who are isolated in the water and do not pose a risk of transmitting the virus that causes Covid-19 to people on shore.

Schumer said federal officials should make sure U.S. Customs and Border Protection have proper vaccination, testing and protective equipment in place before the easing of any travel restrictions.

MORE ON CORONAVIRUS

Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources

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New York ends Covid capacity limits for businesses; what it means to you now

After parents complain, Onondaga County drops testing of boys high school lacrosse players

Memorial Day Watchfire canceled at NYS Fairgrounds for 2nd year in a row

Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Washington  U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik is working behind the scenes to secure enough votes to take Rep. Liz Cheneys position in the House Republican leadership, according to CNN.

She appears to be the leading contender, according to The New York Times. Her district includes a large swath of Upstate New York, including the Watertown area, Fort Drum and large parts of the Adirondacks.

So far, no other GOP challenger for Cheneys position has emerged, CNN said. Two other potential candidates have said they wont run.

A vote on the matter could come as soon as next week, according to the Times.

Republicans in the House have been turning on Cheney in recent days over her outspoken opposition to former President Donald Trump and his false statements that the 2020 election was stolen or fraudulent. Cheney represents Wyoming in the House and is the Republican Conference chair, the No. 3 position in the leadership behind Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise.

Both Scalise and McCarthy are supporting Stefaniks bid for Cheneys spot, according to Fox News.

Cheney has faced criticism from some Republicans for months.

She spoke out forcefully after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in January in an effort to stop Congress from certifying Joe Bidens victory in the presidential race. And she was one of the few Republicans, along with Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, who voted to impeach Trump for inciting the attack.

After the impeachment vote, McCarthy and others closed ranks and rebuffed efforts by Trump supporters to remove her from the leadership, according to the Times.

But Cheney has continued her vocal opposition to Trump and McCarthy was caught Tuesday on a hot mic saying he had lost confidence in Cheney, according to Axios.

Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, rose to national prominence during Trumps first impeachment trial as one of the presidents most vocal defenders. She has continued to embrace him and was among the Republicans who objected to certifying Bidens win even after the events of Jan. 6.

She condemned the violence, but did not fault Trump for it.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
New York  Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today he disagrees with the plan from New York City schools to replace the Columbus Day holiday with Indigenous Peoples Day.

The city announced the plan this week. Cuomo, who is Italian-American, said it sends the wrong message.

He noted Columbus Day is a celebration of the contributions of Italian-Americans to the city, state and nation.

Its not one or the other, he said during a press conference in the city. Celebrate everyone. You dont have to exclude Italians to celebrate Indigenous people. And why would you want to?

Why insult or diminish the Italian-American contribution? Theres no need. And its unhealthy for the body politic.

Cuomo said he would support a holiday honoring Indigenous people, but not at the expense of Columbus Day.

But for many activists, the replacement of Columbus Day is exactly the point.

Christopher Columbus is a controversial figure for numerous reasons, but a big one is his harsh treatment of the Indigenous people he encountered on his voyages from Europe. He and his crew enslaved many and subjected them to violence and brutality.

Supporters of the holiday make arguments similar to Cuomos: That its more about honoring Italians for the role they played in building the United States. Many supporters of the holiday also note Italians faced discrimination of their own in the past.

Cuomo said he appreciates and respects Indigenous culture and people.

When you look at what happened to the Indigenous people in this country, its a shame, he said. They deserve much more than a holiday.

I also support Columbus Day. You can have an Indigenous Peoples Day without intruding on Columbus Day. That is the spirit of New York.

Its not either or. Were not drawing lines and dividing. Were trying to do the opposite. We celebrate all.

Columbus Day remains a state holiday and will stay one, Cuomo added.

Columbus is also a political issue in Syracuse. Mayor Ben Walshs decision to remove a Columbus statue from downtown Syracuse has sparked intense opposition from its supporters.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
New York  The Republican party learned nothing from Donald Trump and nothing from its loss in the 2020 election, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today.

Cuomo spoke after a reporter asked him for his thoughts on the possibility that U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, will oust Rep. Liz Cheney from her position as conference chair in the House Republican leadership.

I think they are still continuing with their hyper-conservative, divisive politics, Cuomo said during a press conference in New York City. And I think that mean-spirited, hyper-conservative mentality is not representative of the United States of America.

Stefanik has been criticizing Cuomo for months over his Covid-19 policies and especially New Yorks response to the pandemic in nursing homes. She had even been mentioned as possible candidate for governor next year, although her likely move into Cheneys leadership post should end that chatter.

Stefanik has been working to secure enough votes to take Cheneys post. She appears to be the leading contender, according to The New York Times.

Cheney, who represents Wyoming in the House, has faced criticism from fellow Republicans for months over her opposition to former President Donald Trump and his false statements that the 2020 election was stolen from him. She ranks third in the House Republican leadership after Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Whip Steve Scalise.

Cheney was one of the few Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after his supporters stormed the Capitol in January. Stefanik has been one of Trumps most outspoken supporters since his first impeachment trial earlier in his term.

Top Republicans, including McCarthy, Scalise and Trump himself are all backing Stefaniks bid to take Cheneys post. Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-New Hartford, also supports Stefanik.

Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, has not yet commented on the matter. Katko was one of the few Republicans who joined Cheney in voting to impeach Trump after the attack on the Capitol.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
A missing toddler from Minnesota has been found unharmed on the New York State Thruway.

New York State Police said 2-year-old Nasteha Mohamed was located Tuesday after Troopers received a be on the lookout notification for a gold 2013 Chevrolet Equinox with Minnesota license plates around 10:30 a.m.

WKTV reports Mohameds older sister, 27-year-old Amina Mohamed of Minneapolis, was suspected of kidnapping the child. Authorities pinged her cell phone near Exit 42-Geneva on the NYS Thruway and State Troopers found the vehicle 10 minutes later, speeding near Exit 40-Weedsport in the town of Brutus.

State Police said the SUV was stopped in the town of Elbridge and Nasteha was found safe inside. WKTV reports the girl was taken to Onondaga County Child Protective Services until she can be returned to her mother; Amina was taken into custody.

The Star-Tribune reports police described Amina Mohamed as psychologically troubled, describing issues with mental instability and... bouts of paranoia. She had been suspected of abducting her younger sister more than 1,000 miles away a day earlier, and may have been traveling to Massachusetts to a college in that area [to attend] a lecture that she wanted to attend.

Charges were not immediately announced. An investigation is ongoing.
A Maryland woman is accused of setting her home on fire with a person inside it, and then sitting down on a lawn chair outside to watch it burn.

Fox DC reports Deputy State Fire Marshals said 47-year-old Gail Metwally set multiple fires inside the home on Cherry Lane in Elkton, Md., on Thursday afternoon. According to the Delaware News Journal, witnesses heard another woman screaming for help from the basement and rushed to help her get out safely.

Metwally and the other woman lived in the house with two other residents, according to officials. The other two were not at home when the blaze occurred.

The New York Post reports the incident went viral days later when video showed Metwally sitting in a lawn chair with a book outside the inferno.

She just f---ing lit the trash can on fire! the unidentified male said. Oh my f---ing God, this is not happening right now! She lit the f---ing house! Oh my God! I cannot actually believe my eyes. I cannot actually believe it, and shes sitting there just chillin  watching the house go up flames!

Firefighters confirmed that Metwally had been sitting in a chair watching the scene when they arrived. Fox DC reports she later walked away, but was caught and arrested shortly afterwards by Cecil County sheriffs deputies, who transported her to Maryland State Police barracks.

Police said Metwally has been charged with first and second-degree attempted murder, first-degree arson, first-degree assault, two counts of first-degree malicious burning, two counts of malicious destruction of property and two counts of reckless endangerment.

Investigators are working to determine a possible motive for the fire. Metwallys relationship with the other woman has not been identified.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 05:42:52|Editor: huaxia

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TIRANA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi said here on Wednesday that Albania will receive 145,000 doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines donated by the European Union (EU) to fight against the pandemic.

The EU commissioner, who paid a short official visit to Albania as part of his tour in the Western Balkans for delivering COVID-19 vaccines, held a joint press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama at Tirana International Airport.

According to Rama, the first batch has arrived in Albania and as of August the country will have the rest of what has been allocated..

On Wednesday, the Technical Committee of Experts on the coronavirus situation in Albania decided to ease some COVID-19 restrictions as the epidemiological situation in the country is stable.

Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu declared that the number of new infections and fatalities has dropped and the country has a low incidence rate, 26.6 infections per 100,000 inhabitants.

The committee has decided to recommend the Education Ministry to reopen universities for consultation sessions as exam term approaches, Manastirliu added.

In addition, she confirmed that the 14-day quarantine for citizens entering the country from North Macedonia and Greece will be lifted.

However, the nighttime curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and the ban on gatherings of more than 10 people will remain in force.

Mass vaccination of the population in Albania is ongoing. On Tuesday, Manastirliu declared that over 100,000 people have received both doses of COVID-19 vaccines and the government aims to vaccinate over one million people in May. Enditem
Tahlequah, OK (74464)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
Castor Maritime Inc. announces the en bloc acquisition of a tanker fleet of 5

Castor Maritime Inc., (Castor or the Company), a diversified global shipping company, announced that it entered, through five separate wholly-owned subsidiaries, into agreements to acquire two 2006 Korean-built MR1 tankers, two 2004 Korean-built Aframax/LR2 tankers and one 2002 Korean-built Aframax/LR2 tanker.

The five tankers are acquired from an unaffiliated third-party for an aggregate purchase price of $49.25 million. The acquisitions are expected to be consummated by taking delivery of the vessels in the second quarter of this year and are subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions. Petros Panagiotidis, Chief Executive Officer of Castor, commented: We are excited to announce our largest purchase transaction thus far, with the en bloc acquisition of five tankers. Since our entry into the tanker market earlier this year, we have managed to swiftly grow our tanker fleet to eight vessels. Upon completion of all our recently announced acquisitions, our fleet will consist of twenty three vessels, establishing our Company with a diverse fleet of fifteen bulkers and eight tankers. This diversification allows us to pursue attractive opportunities across different shipping sectors.




Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 21:38:32|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- For many years, James Maina, a trader at Gikomba, Kenya's biggest flea market located in the capital Nairobi, considered his stock that consists of house fittings namely wooden doors, frames, locks and gypsum boards the most important things in his business.

However, this changed recently, besides the stock, Maina now considers his mobile phone and the internet as the other key things in the success of his business.

His perception changed when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the East African nation in March 2020 and the government restricted movement in and out of Nairobi.

Many citizens also chose to stay at home, limiting movement so as to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Maina saw the number of people visiting his shop shrink significantly leading to a decline in sales.

But there was a way out, he joined an internet platform named jiji.co.ke and started to sell his wares online.

Today, Maina is among small-scale traders in the sector who have been handed a lifeline by e-commerce amid the pandemic.

"The first partial lockdown in 2020 really affected me because I was still relying on walk-in customers but the one that was lifted last week did not because I am now selling online," Maina told Xinhua in a recent interview.

To trade on the platform, both the seller and the buyer must register and their details verified to curb fraud.

"I normally post my goods on the platform regularly and then buyers from any part of the country reach me. We then process the order and payment is done," he recounted.

For buyers within Nairobi and on the outskirts, Maina delivers the goods and then receives payment, including for the delivery charges, or sometimes he uses courier services.

"During the recent COVID-19 partial lockdown, I did not feel it because I sold virtually door frames, doors and locks to people who are even outside Nairobi," he said, his mode of operation having been adopted by hundreds of other traders at the flea market.

Having relied on walk-in customers, some that come as far as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Tanzania for goods, Kenyan traders adopting e-commerce is a major shift in the East African nation.

Maina sells a door frame at between 3,500 shillings (33 U.S. dollars) and 56 dollars depending on the type of wood it is made of and the size.

"Online trade is the thing. It transcends the pandemic because it is not affected by restrictions as in the case when one relies on walk-in customers," he offered.

At Uhuru Market in Nairobi, traders have embraced e-commerce, selling their wares on a website that bares the facility's name.

"It makes shopping easier and faster. You don't need to visit Uhuru Market as has been the case for years. Once you make your choice, the item is delivered and one pays," said journalist Allan Ininga, who buys African wear from the market.

Joseph Macharia, founder of Mkulima Young, an agricultural online marketplace noted that e-commerce has reached the lowest of the traders who are normally laggards when it comes to adoption of technology because of ease in use.

"Many people already have smartphones thus don't need any extra form of investment to sell their wares online. Besides, traders are realizing that it's flexible, saves time and other resources," he said.

Macharia observed that with the lower cadre of traders embracing e-commerce, the service has taken root in Kenya.

Bernard Mwaso, a consultant with Nairobi-based software development start-up Edell IT Solutions, noted with COVID-19 restrictions, Kenyan traders have no choice but to go online if they are to thrive.

"The traders have realized that it is either one makes the big switch or their businesses perish. This is because with the restrictions, buyers have moved online thus traders also must," he said, adding seamless virtual payments have helped e-commerce take root in Kenya. Enditem
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The future for students and residents in Milam County is now set to be a little brighter as a new solar farm comes to the area.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 21:52:59|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Zambia expects to begin its first-ever electronic population census in November this year, a senior government official said Wednesday.

The exercise, which was supposed to have been held last year, will start from Nov. 1 to Nov. 28.

Minister of National Development and Planning Chiteme Alexander said the government has so far made tremendous strides toward undertaking the exercise.

While commending the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for its role in providing human, technical and financial support toward the exercise whose preparations have been running since 2016, the official said the 2,110 bicycles received from the UNFPA will be used for data collection especially in rural areas where there was a challenge of accessibility to poor road networks.

UNFPA Country Representative Gift Malunga commended the Zambian government for undertaking the census exercise amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying this was a proof that the government was committed to ensuring the availability of statistics.

Zambia conducts a Census of Population and Housing every one decade. The last census was conducted in 2010.

Enditem
arshad_98 Newbie

Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Toronto Posts: 13 Thanked: 97 Times

One hell of an adventure across the seas | Flight to Canada, Covid & Quarantine .



It's already been 8 days since I landed and I will be sharing all the experiences, events and every bit that I've been through in these 8 days.



Prologue :



I completed my Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering in 2020 from Hyderabad and the urge to pursue Masters started while I was in the third year of my b.tech. Started working really hard, maintained decent grades throughout the academic term and applied for around 5 universities in Canada by the end of the year 2019. Waited for 3 very long months to get an offer (March 2020) and finally got into a good university in Canada. All of a sudden Covid struck and everything came to a long pause, as soon as everything started opening (banks, VFS offices etcetera), I quickly completed the whole process starting from taking a loan, paying the fees to filling an application for a student visa by the end of November 2020. The wait for getting an approval had already started and the classes too had begun. Finally, got the Visa stamped by the first week of April 2021, completed my first semester on 17th of April and booked the tickets, the flight was on 22nd of April and it costed me INR 87000/- bucks from BDQ-DEL-YYZ (Baroda to Toronto via Delhi), like seriously, who charges so much for economy. Chose Air India as it was the only direct flight and allowed a total of 3 check-in bags per head (only for the ones travelling on a student visa).



It has already been 8 days since I landed in YYZ and this is my detailed experience of these 8 days in Canada.



Day 1 22nd and 23rd April, departure date :



Packed all the bags, equipped all the documents required and headed towards the Baroda Airport (drove the car for one last time until next time, which I know is gonna take some time), reached the airport at around 18:00 pm as the flight was at 20:20 and waved goodbyes to my folks and friends who came to the airport for dropping me off. Checked-in all my luggage which was well under the weight limits, completed the process and boarded the flight (Airbus A320). The journey till Delhi was smooth, got a bit emotional, cheered myself up and then landed in the might IGIA, Delhi, on time. There was enough time for me in Delhi to complete the whole immigration process, have dinner and walk all the way to the connecting flight's gate. This whole process took about 2.5 hours and still had 3 hours to spend at the airport (my connection was at 3:00 am from Delhi). Three of my friends from the same university were going to join me from Delhi, they were coming from Hyderabad. They came at around 1:30 am and all of us boarded the connecting flight (Boeing 777-300ER) to Toronto. This was one long flight, total time to cover the distance was 15 hours, boarded the flight and dozed off.





Boarding the BDQ-DEL flight, last picture from Vadodara.





Last meal in India, until next time.





Well, what is social distancing?





Who knew a free seat would give so much legroom .



Landed in the Toronto Pearson International Airport on 23rd April at 8:45 am EST super tired. Entered the airport, connected to the airport wifi and got a mail notification from Air India, which said that all the flights from India to Canada were cancelled and our flight was supposed to be cancelled but touch-wood, we were already airborne when this decision by the government came to effect from. We all happily moved forward did all the process, took our study permits, got our on-arrival Covid tests done and left for the 3-day Mandatory Hotel Quarantine place, which is a rule that should be followed by every international traveller flying to Canada.





Greenland's aerial view from the flight.





Headed towards the immigration counter at the YYZ airport.





The line for immigration.





The queue for getting the on-arrival Covid tests done.



Came out of the airport to take a taxi and a cold breeze hit which officially meant I am in Canada .



All three of us took the taxi to the hotel, we had booked, Courtyard by Marriott Mississauga Corporate Centre West as this was the cheapest of all the hotels we checked (CAD 1900 for 3 nights, these are the GAA approved rates and not the usual rates). Concluded the day by taking a hot shower and crashed on the bed.





Our hotel lobby.



Day 2 24th April, First day in the quarantine :



We woke up at 1 am EST on the 24th, jetlagged, called our families, friends back in India to tell them how lucky we were to make it on the last flight to Canada. It was already 8:00 am EST by the time we were done with calling-up everyone. All of felt very lucky until, we received a mail notification, stating that the on-arrival Covid results were up. All of us were sure that everyone would test negative as all of us already tested negative before boarding the flight. But, only three of us got negative and one of us tested positive. Everyone went blank, the guy who tested positive isolated himself from us and stayed far away but was in the same room, we had no clue about what was to be done next, he did not have any symptoms, neither did anyone of us. We soon called up the hotel front desk and they told us to wait until we receive a call from the Public Health Agency Canada, which we never did actually. After a while, all of us stopped worrying and hoped someone would call, considering this is Canada and we had already heard a lot about it's hospitality and all other good stuff, but we did take all the safety measures though.



As all of us were awake since 1 am, we all again went to sleep at around 18:00 pm EST.



Day 3 25th April :



We were awake by 4:00 am EST on 25th and waited till the working hours (8:00 am) to start so that we could call someone from our side ask for assistance. Until then, we saw a whole bunch of YT videos and came to know that, now that all of us have been in contact with the infected guy, we are all going to be considered infected as well and will be taken to a Federal Quarantine Facility which is basically a hotel with all the infected travellers. It was 9:00 am EST already and we gave a call to the respective number and didn't receive any answer from the other side, we tried calling around 15-20 times and finally someone picked up the call. We were all prepared to leave the hotel, had packed our bags and the official on the phone said that we must wait until we receive a call from them. I mean, he could have had just told us what to do next right? Instead of keeping us waiting for the call.



The sun was ready to set and we were slowly getting adjusted to the Canadian timings. Slept at around 21:00 pm EST with no idea what to do next.



Day 4 26th April :



Laying helpless in our room, we cooked up some stories to tell to our folks so that they won't worry. Nobody showed any symptoms, everyone was fit and fine, again called up around 20 times to the same number and received the same answers. By now we were pretty clear that even the officials had no idea about what was to be done next, shifting all of us to the Federal Quarantine Facility would become expensive for the Government, but then what is the point of those high GAA hotel rates which are three times more than the usual hotel rates?



By now we had made up our minds, we were sure that the officials would only come once the 3-day period is done.



Day 5 27th April :



The check-out time was at 12:00pm EST, it was already 10:00am and no updates. We again called up (we were using the international roaming to make the calls) and the official told to extend one more day to our booking and made sure that our issue would be escalated in the next 24 hours.



Paid another CAD 400 for one night and stayed in the hotel with some hope. The hotel was reluctant to charge the usual rate and when questioned, the respective person said that one of us is positive so they won't charge the usual rate, which made absolutely no sense. We were all frustrated by everything as it wasn't our fault and we were stuck with no help.



Day 6 28th April :



We gave a call to the same number again but this time we acted acted pity and helpless (which we actually were TBH), this time the official took all the information and told that a quarantine officer would contact us within an hour and the officer did.



The officer said we not shift to the facility but instead can move to the rental accommodation instead, isolate our-self and none of us should move out of the house until all of us test negative and the 14-days are completed. We were all very happy as we were leaving the hotel room in which we were stuck for the previous 4 days. Also the officer told us that we cannot take the usual mode of transport but book a non-emergency ambulance to our rental house. The officer himself gave us some contact numbers and told us to strictly book a vehicle from these providers only. We called up each number and booked the cheapest one, mind you, the cheap here is CAD 900 for covering a distance of 84kms. Anyways, the ambulance was booked and we all left the hotel. The first vehicle that I travelled in Canada is an Ambulance , I will never forget this.





Ride for the day.



We came to the rental accommodation, felt relaxed, ate homemade food after eating raw vegetables at the hotel for 4 days.





Rice and daal made by yours truly.



Day 7 29th April :



Woke up late, got my Insurance card from the university and all of us were waiting for the next day, that is, the 8th day, on which a self-assessment test will be done with virtual guidance of a nurse.



Day 8 30th April :



The wait was finally over, the anticipated day came, all of us woke up early and sat in front of our laptops, after about 10 minutes all of us were connected to one nurse and she assisted us with all the steps. The test was done, pick-up was scheduled between 13:00pm-15:00pm EST and was collected by the courier guy at around 13:30pm EST.



As of today (30th April), we are all waiting for the report to come and hoping for the best to happen, fingers crossed. Until then, all of y'all stay safe and take care.





Concluding the story with a beautiful view of the area in which we are staying currently, also my aunt's all new 2020, Toyota Corolla which I can't wait to drive once this adventure is over and we are free to roam around. This is going to be one hell of a story to tell it to my kids in the future, well until then, I'll let you guys have the opportunity to go through itIt's already been 8 days since I landed and I will be sharing all the experiences, events and every bit that I've been through in these 8 days.I completed my Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering in 2020 from Hyderabad and the urge to pursue Masters started while I was in the third year of my b.tech. Started working really hard, maintained decent grades throughout the academic term and applied for around 5 universities in Canada by the end of the year 2019. Waited for 3 very long months to get an offer (March 2020) and finally got into a good university in Canada. All of a sudden Covid struck and everything came to a long pause, as soon as everything started opening (banks, VFS offices etcetera), I quickly completed the whole process starting from taking a loan, paying the fees to filling an application for a student visa by the end of November 2020. The wait for getting an approval had already started and the classes too had begun. Finally, got the Visa stamped by the first week of April 2021, completed my first semester on 17th of April and booked the tickets, the flight was on 22nd of April and it costed me INR 87000/- bucks from BDQ-DEL-YYZ (Baroda to Toronto via Delhi), like seriously, who charges so much for economy. Chose Air India as it was the only direct flight and allowed a total of 3 check-in bags per head (only for the ones travelling on a student visa).It has already been 8 days since I landed in YYZ and this is my detailed experience of these 8 days in Canada.Packed all the bags, equipped all the documents required and headed towards the Baroda Airport (drove the car for one last time until next time, which I know is gonna take some time), reached the airport at around 18:00 pm as the flight was at 20:20 and waved goodbyes to my folks and friends who came to the airport for dropping me off. Checked-in all my luggage which was well under the weight limits, completed the process and boarded the flight (Airbus A320). The journey till Delhi was smooth, got a bit emotional, cheered myself up and then landed in the might IGIA, Delhi, on time. There was enough time for me in Delhi to complete the whole immigration process, have dinner and walk all the way to the connecting flight's gate. This whole process took about 2.5 hours and still had 3 hours to spend at the airport (my connection was at 3:00 am from Delhi). Three of my friends from the same university were going to join me from Delhi, they were coming from Hyderabad. They came at around 1:30 am and all of us boarded the connecting flight (Boeing 777-300ER) to Toronto. This was one long flight, total time to cover the distance was 15 hours, boarded the flight and dozed off.Boarding the BDQ-DEL flight, last picture from Vadodara.Last meal in India, until next time.Well, what is social distancing?Who knew a free seat would give so much legroomLanded in the Toronto Pearson International Airport on 23rd April at 8:45 am EST super tired. Entered the airport, connected to the airport wifi and got a mail notification from Air India, which said that all the flights from India to Canada were cancelled and our flight was supposed to be cancelled but touch-wood, we were already airborne when this decision by the government came to effect from. We all happily moved forward did all the process, took our study permits, got our on-arrival Covid tests done and left for the 3-day Mandatory Hotel Quarantine place, which is a rule that should be followed by every international traveller flying to Canada.Greenland's aerial view from the flight.Headed towards the immigration counter at the YYZ airport.The line for immigration.The queue for getting the on-arrival Covid tests done.Came out of the airport to take a taxi and a cold breeze hit which officially meant I am in CanadaAll three of us took the taxi to the hotel, we had booked, Courtyard by Marriott Mississauga Corporate Centre West as this was the cheapest of all the hotels we checked (CAD 1900 for 3 nights, these are the GAA approved rates and not the usual rates). Concluded the day by taking a hot shower and crashed on the bed.Our hotel lobby.We woke up at 1 am EST on the 24th, jetlagged, called our families, friends back in India to tell them how lucky we were to make it on the last flight to Canada. It was already 8:00 am EST by the time we were done with calling-up everyone. All of felt very lucky until, we received a mail notification, stating that the on-arrival Covid results were up. All of us were sure that everyone would test negative as all of us already tested negative before boarding the flight. But, only three of us got negative and. Everyone went blank, the guy who tested positive isolated himself from us and stayed far away but was in the same room, we had no clue about what was to be done next, he did not have any symptoms, neither did anyone of us. We soon called up the hotel front desk and they told us to wait until we receive a call from the Public Health Agency Canada, which we never did actually. After a while, all of us stopped worrying and hoped someone would call, considering this is Canada and we had already heard a lot about it's hospitality and all other good stuff, but we did take all the safety measures though.As all of us were awake since 1 am, we all again went to sleep at around 18:00 pm EST.We were awake by 4:00 am EST on 25th and waited till the working hours (8:00 am) to start so that we could call someone from our side ask for assistance. Until then, we saw a whole bunch of YT videos and came to know that, now that all of us have been in contact with the infected guy, we are all going to be considered infected as well and will be taken to a Federal Quarantine Facility which is basically a hotel with all the infected travellers. It was 9:00 am EST already and we gave a call to the respective number and didn't receive any answer from the other side, we tried calling around 15-20 times and finally someone picked up the call. We were all prepared to leave the hotel, had packed our bags and the official on the phone said that we must wait until we receive a call from them. I mean, he could have had just told us what to do next right? Instead of keeping us waiting for the call.The sun was ready to set and we were slowly getting adjusted to the Canadian timings. Slept at around 21:00 pm EST with no idea what to do next.Laying helpless in our room, we cooked up some stories to tell to our folks so that they won't worry. Nobody showed any symptoms, everyone was fit and fine, again called up around 20 times to the same number and received the same answers. By now we were pretty clear that even the officials had no idea about what was to be done next, shifting all of us to the Federal Quarantine Facility would become expensive for the Government, but then what is the point of those high GAA hotel rates which are three times more than the usual hotel rates?By now we had made up our minds, we were sure that the officials would only come once the 3-day period is done.The check-out time was at 12:00pm EST, it was already 10:00am and no updates. We again called up (we were using the international roaming to make the calls) and the official told to extend one more day to our booking and made sure that our issue would be escalated in the next 24 hours.Paid another CAD 400 for one night and stayed in the hotel with some hope. The hotel was reluctant to charge the usual rate and when questioned, the respective person said that one of us is positive so they won't charge the usual rate, which made absolutely no sense. We were all frustrated by everything as it wasn't our fault and we were stuck with no help.We gave a call to the same number again but this time we acted acted pity and helpless (which we actually were TBH), this time the official took all the information and told that a quarantine officer would contact us within an hour and the officer did.The officer said we not shift to the facility but instead can move to the rental accommodation instead, isolate our-self and none of us should move out of the house until all of us test negative and the 14-days are completed. We were all very happy as we were leaving the hotel room in which we were stuck for the previous 4 days. Also the officer told us that we cannot take the usual mode of transport but book a non-emergency ambulance to our rental house. The officer himself gave us some contact numbers and told us to strictly book a vehicle from these providers only. We called up each number and booked the cheapest one, mind you, the cheap here is CAD 900 for covering a distance of 84kms. Anyways, the ambulance was booked and we all left the hotel. The first vehicle that I travelled in Canada is an Ambulance, I will never forget this.Ride for the day.We came to the rental accommodation, felt relaxed, ate homemade food after eating raw vegetables at the hotel for 4 days.Rice and daal made by yours truly.Woke up late, got my Insurance card from the university and all of us were waiting for the next day, that is, the 8th day, on which a self-assessment test will be done with virtual guidance of a nurse.The wait was finally over, the anticipated day came, all of us woke up early and sat in front of our laptops, after about 10 minutes all of us were connected to one nurse and she assisted us with all the steps. The test was done, pick-up was scheduled between 13:00pm-15:00pm EST and was collected by the courier guy at around 13:30pm EST.As of today (30th April), we are all waiting for the report to come and hoping for the best to happen, fingers crossed. Until then, all of y'all stay safe and take care.Concluding the story with a beautiful view of the area in which we are staying currently, also my aunt's all new 2020, Toyota Corolla which I can't wait to drive once this adventure is over and we are free to roam around.


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The software industry fueled jobs and GDP growth in the United States in 2020, according to a report released Tuesday by an international software research organization.

The report by Software.org: the BSA Foundation found the software industry supported more than 15.8 million jobs in 2020, a 5.9 percent jump from 2018; and supported $US1.9 billion in total value-added GDP, a 17.1 percent increase over the previous two-year period.

More than 12.5 million of those jobs were outside the tech sector, added the report, which measures software's impact on the U.S. economy with data and analysis from The Economist Intelligence Unit.

It also noted that the industry directly contributed $933 billion to the U.S. economy in 2020, a 15.1 percent over 2018.

"Software played an instrumental role throughout the pandemic -- easing many Americans' transition to remote work, empowering manufacturers to rapidly shift to producing medical and personal protective equipment, and helping small businesses connect with customers online," Victoria Espinel, president of the Software.org: the BSA Foundation, said in a statement.

"The pandemic has made tech more dominant and present than ever before," added Bob O'Donnell, founder and chief analyst at Technalysis Research, a technology market research and consulting firm in Foster City, Calif.

"As a result, it's resetting the whole economy," he told TechNewsWorld. "Tech as a whole is going to take up a bigger percentage of the total job market."

Expanding Geography

While the largest concentrations of software jobs remain in traditional technology hubs, such as Washington and California, the report noted that other states have experienced greater job growth.

Jobs are surging in New Mexico (direct jobs up 18.7 percent), New York (12.9 percent), Texas (10.9 percent) and Florida (10.1 percent), the report revealed.

Looking ahead, it added, given the trajectory of software's spread through the overall economy and the pandemic-inspired spread of remote work, software jobs are poised for continued strong growth all across the country.

"We're excited to see that software is growing most quickly in places you wouldn't expect," said Software.org: the BSA Foundation Executive Director Chris Hopfensperger.

"We expect the new era of remote work to help geographically diversify the tech work force," he told TechNewsWorld. "As long as you have the right tools and skills, you can do a lot of software jobs from almost anywhere."

"Geographic diversity is also going to lead to more diversity in the software workforce," he added.

In addition, as software is applied to local problems, he said, it will create new lines of software business.

Outside Tech Users

Broad use of software outside the tech sector is also contributing to geographic diversity, the report found.

It noted that businesses outside the tech sector are increasingly leveraging the benefits of data and software to grow jobs and business.

The report cited manufacturers as an example. They are coding new solutions to optimize production, speed time-to-market, and deliver innovative products and services.

Farmers, it continued, are using software to maximize outputs and better manage their herds, transforming agriculture.

In healthcare, electronic records and other innovations are improving medical administration and helping deliver a higher level of patient care, it added.

Those sectors -- and the software workers who support them -- are necessarily spread all across the United States.

In light of the expansion of a wide range of new software jobs, the report called on businesses and policymakers to consider the newly discovered possibilities of remote work.

The ability of traditional coders to take their skillsets out of high-cost tech hubs and work from far-flung home offices will dramatically alter the spread of the software workforce all across the country, a trend that will only increase as the pandemic recedes, it predicted.

Tech Talent in Short Supply

As tech jobs increase, the sad reality is that very few people feel required to work in tech because it requires specialized degrees and certifications. O'Donnell, though, said some businesses are making an effort to address that problem.

"There are quite a few companies now who are creating training programs, even for software developers, for people who have nothing more than a high school degree," he noted.

"There are aggressive efforts by a number of the biggest players -- Amazon, Microsoft, Google, IBM, Cisco -- to get people who would have never considered being part of tech into tech," he observed.

Developer shortages have been a problem in the software industry for years, added Ross Rubin, the principal analyst with Reticle Research, a consumer technology advisory firm in New York City.

"Companies have tried to tap into talent from around the world to help fulfill the demand for software maintenance, upgrades and new products," he told TechNewsWorld. "It's been a sore point in the immigration discussions of the last few years."

He added that the shortage has given rise to the "citizen developer" -- someone in an organization, who is not a professional programmer, but can use tools to create simple apps. "There's a whole category of low-code or no-code development environments that allow people to create point solutions to make their work lives better," he said.

"Software drives the world so it's not surprising that we need more software engineers, but the effect they have on the overall economy is massive, observed Jack E. Gold, founder and principal analyst with J.Gold Associates, an IT advisory company in Northborough, Mass.

"The shortage has gotten worse in the U.S. because of the limitations the government has put on importing engineers from other countries," he told TechNewsWorld. "I don't see the shortage going away any time soon."

Unabated Growth

Software industry growth will continue in 2021 and 2022, according to a report by Forrester Research analyst Andrew Bartels.

He predicted software will lead the tech market with 10 to 12 percent growth.

Licensed software sales bore the brunt of the 2020 software slowdown, but most cloud vendors experienced a couple of quarters where quarter-to-quarter revenue slowed to rates of one to two percent as new sales dried up, he wrote.

However, cloud software revenue growth recovered by Q4 2020 and will continue to expand, Bartels continued.

Sales of licensed software will recover as well, he added. As a result, total software spending will grow by around 10 percent in 2021 and even faster in 2022.

As rosy as the future looks for software, manpower issues could create a speed bump for the industry. "The shortage of skilled workers is a big thing," Hopfensperger acknowledged. "We need more workers getting more skilled sets and staying ahead of technology so we can stay on top of the digital economy."

John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John.


Former President Donald J. Trump has recently launched the promised social media platform for all people who were banned or removed from Facebook or Twitter, and it turned out to be a WordPress blog site. Trump is now a blogger, but still faces the ruthless ban from the top social media platforms of the United States and the world, as he was de-platformed.

While there are massive disputes in court to create a governing council or division within the United States government to control social media, the current moderation still gives these companies every right and power to deplatform anyone. Currently, Facebook is on the verge of straightening out the different disputes it faces, including an antitrust hearing for its case.

Read Also: Turn Off Message Requests From Unknown Users on Instagram, Here's How

Donald Trump's Social Media is a WordPress Blog

Content moderation is still of massive importance to social media, and it brings discipline to everyone who uses the platform.

Former President Trump was removed and banned from Facebook and Twitter for his alleged misinformation during his time on the platform, which was later addressed after his term as President of the United States. However, that is not a problem for the businessman, as Trump promised that a social media platform is coming for all banned posters like him.

Several months after the statements and claims, Trump is back with a platform to speak his mind via the WordPress blog. This is the site called "From The Desk of Donald J. Trump." The "social media" platform, a.k.a. blog, is said to have features like popular social networking sites like Twitter, which has a like button (which does not work as of this writing).

Facebook, Twitter vs. Trump's WordPress Blog

While nothing is wrong for people to create a WordPress Blog, especially for the de-platformed Former President, the different features it boasts of are in direct competition against the massive platforms. Facebook and Twitter have been developed for years by different IT staff and experts, doing hours of coding to provide its different features.

However, in Trump's social media blog, these features are non-existent, but it does, however, resemble a Twitter timeline from the positioning of the posts and scrolling. The different supporters of this blog can sign-up for newsletter alerts via email and phone numbers (like following on social media), and share the content to Facebook.

Real safe spaces hours, whom up? pic.twitter.com/s9YBuw6Smk  Aaron Sankin (@ASankin) May 4, 2021

Can Trump's Blog be Considered a Social Media?

While blog sites are mostly considered a social network, it is safe to say that this is not a full-pledged social media, as Trump has promised several months ago. Blogs have been around to be the vessel for people's thoughts and feelings, but it lacks the interaction and other elements for it to be called a "social media."

Related Article: Facebook Asks iOS 14.5 Users to Turn On Ad Tracking via ATT-What is Apple's ATT and Should You Do It?

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Screenshot From Pexels Official Website) Scripps Health Forces Employees to Use Offline Chart Systems Due to Cyberattack

The health care system has currently suspended certain access to potential portals as well as other applications that could be related to the operations over at the Scripps facilities.The current Scripps Health is now sitting in the aftermath of a particular cyberattack that has reportedly disrupted certain patient portals and have even forced employees to result to offline chart systems.

Scripps Health Attacked: Malware?

Aside from employees now resulting in the use of offline chart systems, a number of patient appointments have then been rescheduled. According to the story by DarkReading, the health care system then confirmed that their servers had actually been attacked overnight.

NBC San Diego had reported the incident although officials left out how the whole incident occured or even which particular system had actually been affected. When the question as to whether or not the attack had involved the use of a ransomware was asked, a Scripps person had declined to give a comment.

Email Servers Down

Reports actually indicate that the attack had even affected Scripps email servers. Representatives reportedly said on Sunday that they had suspended access to the patient portals as well as other applications that were related to the whole operations at the health care facilities.

An official statement coming from the organization reportedly states that the facilities which include emergency departments, hospitals, and other urgent care centers, the Scripps HealthExpress locations, and some other outpatient facilities are reportedly open. Scripps Health, as of the moment, is certainly not alone.

Technology Reliance due to COVID-19

The hospitals and the healthcare organizations have now become the primary targets of cyberattacks over the course of the past year as they now navigate the critical challenges of operating especially through the whole COVID-19 pandemic. Attacks directly against the healthcare entities had reportedly increased by a whopping 45% throughout last year. This is double the amount in other different industries in the very same time frame.

One of the most notable changes that the COVID-19 pandemic has fast-tracked was the adaptation to technology and reliance on the health system. With more and more people using technology, hackers have started becoming more tenacious fishing out new potential victims to steal, ransom, or sometimes just sabotage.

Read Also: LA Hospital Hit By Ransomware Pays Hackers $17,000: Is It The Right Choice?

Cybercriminals Targetting Health Systems

With the heavy reliance on the health care systems, cybercriminals are extending their efforts in disrupting hospitals and the other health related establishments. According to an article by BBC, even state sponsored hackers like those from North Korea attempted to steal the actual COVID-19 vaccine technology coming from the US pharmaceutical company known as Pfizer. This was according to South Korean intelligence officials.

It was reportedly unknown as to how much or if any data was stolen at all. The South Korea's National Intelligence Agency actually privately briefed lawmakers regarding the alleged attacks according to the reports by a local news agency known as Yonhap. Aside from just COVID-19 vaccines, other parts of the health sector are being targeted as well.

Related Article: Hackers Hold Hollywood Hospital's Computer System Hostage, Demand $3.6 Million As Patients Transferred

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Written by Urian B.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Signal tried to run ads on Instagram that reveal too much truth about Facebook ads methods. But the latter, seemingly "not into that idea," banned the former from running any ads, Signal's blog site said.

"The Instagram ads Facebook won't show you," the blog goes on to say, is meant to show a clearer picture of how the tech giant capitalizes on user's data. But it was blocked before it even saw the day of light.

Furthermore, the campaign used the same highly targeted method Facebook and Instagram are using. Signal tried to buy, what it dubbed as, "multi-variant targeted ad" to illustrate how the social media giant collects and sells access to users' information.

The ads were supposed to display, Signal further says, "the information collected about the viewer which the advertising platform uses."

Read More: Facebook Hack: Mark Zuckerberg's Phone Number Links to a Signal Messenger Account-Boycotts WhatsApp?

How Honest is the Ad?

Signal posted the said ads on its official blog site's post.

One of the ads, intended to be seen on Instagram said: "You've got this ad because you're a K-pop-loving engineer. This ad used your location to you're in Berlin. And you have a baby. And just moved. And you're really feeling those pregnancy exercises lately."

Alarmingly, the ad showed excessive personal data -- from the user's location to the exercises she does.

On its blog, Signal goes on to say that transparency about Facebook's techniques, apparently, is "enough to get banned."

Additionally, Signal is known to be privacy-positive. It even claims to know nothing about its users' conversations.

Signal CEO Moxie Marlinspike, meanwhile, goes on to Twitter, instead, to post the ad:

Signal tried to use Instagram ads to display the data Facebook collects about you and sells access to.



Facebook wasn't into the idea, and shut down our account instead: https://t.co/sSqJ8JlxR7 pic.twitter.com/PU6WoDdt70  Moxie Marlinspike (@moxie) May 4, 2021

Facebook Taking Down Critical Ads

If the incident of ads vanishing after being critical of Facebook is familiar, it is because it has happened before.

For instance, Facebook, according to Insider, has taken down an ad that laid out Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren's plans to "split up" Facebook and other tech companies. But the former would later restore the said ad.

Facebook's Dependence on Personal Information

The revenue on ads is the social media giants' cash cow. But it highly relies on its user data tracking to complement its algorithm.

The tech giant, indeed, is no longer shying away from talking about how it uses personal data on ads. It had no choice as Apple, to make its users feel safer, updated its privacy policy.

Facebook now even asks iOS users to turn on ad tracking, as it affects its personalized ads. The company through a notification on its application asked for users to keep using the app for free.

Moreover, Facebook, in 2020, even before the policy update occurred, attacked Apple. In a full-page newspaper ad, the former claimed that the update will badly affect small businesses. The social media Goliath claimed to be standing up for small-scale enterprises.

Related Article: Signal Announces Difference Between its App and Other Big Tech Apps: 'Signal Knows Nothing'

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Written by Teejay Boris

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Screenshot From Pexels Official Website) 355 New Cryptocurrency ATMs Launched Out Throughout the US: Crypto ATMs Massively Increase

Cryptocurrency is hot and in with more and more people investing and trading in the whole crypto space. Aside from banks and other digital payment providers, cryptocurrency ATMs are now popping up as well!

355 New Crypto ATMs

The Binance News Twitter account tweeted out that 355 new cryptocurrency ATMs were just opened by a single operator! The ATMs were reportedly spread across the US making conversion and withdrawal much easier. Bitcoin Depot, the cryptocurrency ATM operator has just launched 355 new teller machines spread throughout the United States.

According to the story by News.Binance.com, the US company called Bitcoin Depot now expands its coverage in 40 different states. The company runs a growing network of different crypto teller machines around the United States and has just launched the 355 new ones last month. Back in March, the company announced that it had launched 155.

Cryptocurency ATMs Spread Throughout the US

The company's ATMs now allow certain registered users with a wallet to simply acquire cryptocurrency. The good news is that this can be done with amounts that are less than $250 as long as a phone number will be enough for the users' identity verification.

The Atlanta-based company also notes that it already has 2,500 crypto ATMs all around the world. Most of them are reportedly in the United States. Of the 355 cryptocurrency ATMs launched, 20 of them were in Georgia, 40 in Florida, 24 in Texas, 32 in North Carolina, and 23 were across california. It was reported that most of these locations are actually open 24/7.

Company Expects 200% Growth This 2021

In just six months, the company has reportedly doubled its footprint and even now expects growth to reach up to 200% this 2021. Its kiosks reportedly support both the purchases and the sales of three of the most popular cryptocurrency, BTC, ETH, and LTC.

Brandon Mintz, the Bitcoin Depot CEO and President reportedly believes that cryptocurrency is providing new opportunities for people that don't really have the access to other traditional financial services. He notes that their kiosks actually allow them to self-bank through a simple digital wallet on their own phones by simply converting cash to cryptocurrency which can then be transferred, paid, or invested.

Read Also: Crypto Bull Alert: Video Game Publisher NEXON Makes $100 Million Cryptocurrency Purchase

19,000 Crypto ATMs Worldwide

As of the moment, there are reportedly 19,000 ATMs all around the world that offer people access to cryptocurrencies. A number of other companies are actually working towards the same direction globally and the amount of BATMs have massively increased over the course of the last year.

According to the data that was compiled by a certain tracking website known as Coinatmradar, the exact number of cryptocurrency ATMs around the world number 19,300 providing crypto-fiat exchange in a whopping 73 different countries. This is reportedly almost twice the number that was registered back in September of 2020. As of the moment, the teller machines are reportedly installed and operated by around 600 companies and are also manufactured by about 40 producers.

Related Article: Could Elon Musk's 'To The Moon' Be About TSLA and Not $DOGE? Tesla Bull Investigates

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Screenshot From Pexels Official Website) Tinder Creator Expects This 2021 to be the 'Summer of Love' Boosting Company Q2 Revenue to $680M-$690M

Match Group Inc, the company behind Tinder and Hinge, is forecasting current quarter revenue to go beyond their expectations on Tuesday. The company is reportedly banking on its popular online dating apps which include Tinder and Hinge to be able to attract even more subscribers as the easing pandemic curbs are now encouraging people to socialize more.

Match Group Inc. Expected Profits

The company reportedly expects its second-quarter revenue to hit the range of about $680 million up to $690 million which is about 22% to 24% higher compared to that of last year and also reaching past analysts estimates of a whopping $678.8 million. This was according to the IBES data coming from Refinitiv, according to the report from Reuters.

Shares coming from the company reportedly rose over 6% in extended trading. Shar Dubey, the CEO, noted in a letter to shareholders that the company is now heading into summer with a growing number of people all getting vaccinated. It was also noted that they are very excited and are now looking forward to the "summer of love."

COVID-19 Pandemic Ease

She also reportedly noted that the accelerating re-openings in the United States have driven the company's growth at its own brands in the quarter and also as the summer months started last year. With the pandemic stopping people from actually meeting with each other in person, the company has reportedly been tapping into the very fast-growing social discovery space.

The company was focused on allowing users to discover and also connect with people not just for dating as they might actually never meet those people face-to-face. Dubey, however, warned that the whole post-pandemic recovery is also going to take some time to actually play out as the whole situation in the rest of the world as it currently remains mixed. This is with the whole COVID-19 trend over in India, Japan, Brazil, and also some parts of the European markets worsening.

Read Also: Tinder Blames Google and Apple for Failure to Keep Away Underaged Dating App Users

Match Group Inc. Q1 Profits

According to the story by The Star, for Q1 of 2021, Match's total revenue had reportedly jumped a whopping 23% to $688 million versus the estimates of a whopping $650.7 million. The company is now largely powered by a strong 18% revenue rise with its Tinder app on average subscriber growth of 15%. Other brands reportedly saw a revenue rise of a massive 30%.

Match Group Inc.'s average revenue per user reportedly rose by a significant 9%. The total subscribers have also increased by 12% boosting the numbers to 11.1 million. When it comes to the per share basis, the company reportedly earned 57 cents which was 17 cents more than they had originally expected. With the bet on this year to be the "summer of love," expectations are positive regarding company revenue. Tinder is currently preparing to adapt to the slow shift to face-to-face meeting once again.

Related Article: Love in the Time of Coronavirus: How The Pandemic Could Change Tinder, OkCupid, and other Online Dating Platforms

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Written by Urian B.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Epic's lawyer said in a previous statement that Epic is suing Apple for the welfare of all developers. Despite this, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney confirms that he would take a special deal reducing commissions if Apple would offer. He said it in reposne to his lawyer's question during the trial on Tuesday.

The question to Sweeney may have underscored Forrest's reason for fighting the tech giant. In a report by CNET, the attorney said that "Epic is suing for change, not just for itself, but for all developers."

Lawyer of Epic Katherine Forrest asked Sweeney if he would have taken a deal with Apple, which would mean getting special treatment while other developers still suffer.

And the CEO, as reported by Apple Insider, goes on to reply "yes, I would have."

Painting a Picture That Apple is Unwilling to Negotiate?

Sweeney's admission is despite the opening statement of Epic slamming Apple for being a monopolist and taking apps hostage with its current commission structure, CNET reported.

Looking back, Epic, since last 2020, was booted out of the App Store after collecting payment from its users on its website.

Furthermore, Apple claimed that Epic is using the trial as a stunt to increase the monthly users of 'Fortnite.'

Read Also: 'Fortnite' Maker Still 'Firm' in its Decision to NOT Go Back to Apple, Over 30% Commission Direct Payment

"Rather than investing in innovation," Apple's lawyer Karen Dunn said, "Epic invested in lawyers, PR, and policy consultants in an effort to get all of the benefits Apple provides without paying."

It is to be remembered that Sweeney said that he did not ask for special treatment from Apple. He goes on to add that he wanted all App Store developers to have the same payment process.

Apple, on the other hand, previously alleged that Epic asked for an individual arrangement. The former, in a CNBC report, cited emails from Sweeney.

Forrest's question, seemingly, wanted to paint a picture that Apple was unwilling to negotiate a special arrangement. It may be the reason why their side brought it up first.

Epic CEO Prefered an iPhone

Also mentioned in the cross-examination was that Sweeney preferred an iPhone, Apple Insider reported.

When asked why, the report added that he applauds Apple's ethical treatment of user data, privacy, and security. He even goes on to add that he has given away the Android devices he received.

Epic Contacted Tim Cook in 2015

Another piece of information revealed in the trial was that the Epic CEO was, indeed, trying to change the App Store since 2015. He then contacted Tim Cook and asked "Apple separate iOS App Store curation from compliance review and app distribution," Apple Insider said.

In addition, the three-week Apple and Epic trial kicked off on Monday, May 3, at the federal court of Oakland, California. Legal experts, regulators, and even tech giants are closely monitoring how the antitrust law works at big tech companies.

Related Article: 'Fornite' vs. Apple: Half of its Revenue is from PS4, Epic Games Not to Lose if it Does Not Return to iOS

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 22:03:55|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday announced a raft of incentives aimed at wooing Tanzanian investors to the country.

Kenyatta who also announced decisions to lift work permit and business visa requirements for Tanzanian investors said the prosperity of the two countries hinges on creating a conducive business environment, boosting economic cooperation and growing mutually beneficial trade and investment.

"We would like to see many investors from Tanzania coming to do business in Kenya," he said in Nairobi during the Kenya-Tanzania Business Forum also addressed by visiting Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

In a statement issued after the forum, Kenyatta said his administration will do all in its power to eliminate all non-tariff barriers for Tanzanian investors coming to do business in Kenya.

He gave concerned state agencies two weeks to clear truck congestions at Namanga and Holili border crossings to allow free flow of trade.

Traffic jams involving trucks along the common border have remained the norm since the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020 with the two countries differing on the management of the pandemic.

Kenyatta also tasked the ministers of health from both countries to move with speed and streamline COVID-19 containment protocols required for traders to cross the borders unhindered.

He challenged the private sector to explore and seize opportunities accorded by bilateral and multilateral agreements available to East African nations such as the African Continental Free Trade Area and the East African Community (EAC)-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement to grow their investments.

Kenyatta said the EAC, through the EAC Customs Union and EAC Common Market Protocol, has opened borders and unlocked opportunities for the free movement of goods, services, and investments across the EAC borders.

This, Kenyatta said, has paved the way for trade to thrive, new opportunities to emerge and trade to increase.

Speaking at the forum, President Hassan outlined reforms being undertaken by her administration to enhance ease of doing business, and welcomed Kenyan private sector to invest in Tanzania.

"The private sector is key to driving growth, that will deliver these jobs, transform the labor market, open up opportunities and unleash entrepreneurial spirit," Hassan said.

She called on Kenyan and Tanzanian investors to establish partnerships, saying there is an opportunity for Tanzania to leverage on Kenya's technology. Enditem
(Photo : Screenshot From Pexels Official Website) Pentagon Says Chinese Rocket Expected to Crash to Earth This May 8: Expert Says Don't Panic

The particular Chinese Long March 5B rocket is now expected to reenter Earth's own atmosphere at an estimated date of May 8. The thing is, as of the moment, nobody knows where the rocket will crash.

Chinese Rocket Expected to Crash

As of the moment, it still seems like something that can only be seen in an action movie or even the plotline for one of Bruce Willis' movies. This was according to the statement coming from the official Pentagon on Tuesday noting that it is now tracking a huge Chinese rocket that is reportedly out of control and is also expected to reenter Earth's own atmosphere sometime this weekend.

The official US Space Command is now tracking the rocket's trajectory. This was according to the statement by Mike Howard, the Defense Department spokesperson. As of the moment, their expectations are that the Chinese Long MArch 5B rockets are currently expected at "around May 8."

Time of Entry is Unknown

Howard reportedly stated that the rocket's exact point of entry will not yet be known until just within a couple of hours of reentry. As of the moments, the updates regarding the whereabouts of the rocket will be consistently uploaded to the Space Track website.

According to the story by CNet, Aerospace.org is also another website tracking the rocket, as of Tuesday evening, was able to predict that the arrival of the Chinese rocket could happen on May 8 around 9:30 PM PT. The predictions, however, could change at any time in the future.

Astrophysicist Says Don't Worry

A certain astrophysicist at the Astrophysics Center at Harvard University, Jonathan McDowell, noted to CNN that the risk that the rocket will hit people on earth is extremely tiny and that he advises people not to lose any second of sleep over this. Since the Pacitif Ocean covers a huge part of the Earth, it was stated that the debris will most likely just splash down somewhere around the Pacific waters.

McDowell also reportedly adjusted the time period when the rocket's debris is expected to arrive somewhere between May 8 to May 10. The rocket previously helped launch the Chinese Tianhe, the core module in the country's new, next-generation space station last April 28.

Read Also: Elon Musk Confirms Reason Behind Needing Bigger Rockets: NASA Simulation Shows Earth Can't Handle Asteroid Impact

China's Moves in Space

The space base is reportedly scheduled to be completed at some time late in 2022 in order to serve as a sort of scientific research outpost for China over the course of the next decade. It was reportedly the only other operational space habitat that existed outside of the official International Space Station.

Back in 2018, however, another similar event actually took place. This was when China's very own out-of-control Tiangong-1 space station suddenly re-entered the atmosphere right over the ocean somewhere near Tahiti. No one was reportedly injured and the scattered debris had either burned up or maybe found a new home on the simple floor of the south Pacitic.

Related Article: [Look] SpaceX Falcon 9 First Stage Lands on 'Just Read the Instruction' Droneship: Successful Seventh Launch and Landing!

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Rumors have been going around concerning the upcoming Zen 4 CPUs from AMD, but they've been lacking a few details to get fans excited. Well maybe this one will.

TweakTown reports that the new AMD Zen 4 processors are coming around the second quarter of 2022, and will be manufactured on a tiny 5nm node (though frankly, calling 5nm "tiny" is a massive understatement). Codenamed Raphael, the next-gen Ryzen 7000 parts will also feature an integrated GPU based on the Navi 2 architecture.

According to VideoCardz, the information came from a leaker with the online handle sepeuwmjh. It's worth noting that this is the same one who revealed a small part of the AMD CPU roadmap, and that they are also pretty active when it comes to leaking info about the Raphael chips.

AMD is expected to officially do a hard launch of the Zen 4 lineup by Q4 of next year, which is roughly two years since the release of Zen 3 Ryzen 5000, as reported on WCCFTech.

Read also: The Ryzen Effect: AMD Reveals Incredible Sales Growth In Q1 2021

Going Toe-To-Toe With Alder Lake

For its next-generation of CPUs, AMD competitor Intel is bringing out a massive change with the reveal of their big.LITTLE architecture. This means that future parts starting from Alder Lake will have at most an 8+8 core configuration on the high-end (8 big, fast cores and 8 small, efficient cores) to improve their performance-per-watt numbers.

What do the Zen 4 chips have to compete? Well, experts are predicting an insane performance jump: 40% over Zen 3, which already has the amazing Ryzen 5000 lineup to carry its banner. IPC (instructions per clock) levels are also rumored to have a 25% gain compared to the previous architecture. Also, it's most notably not going the same route as big.LITTLE, according to PCGamesN.

But here's the one thing you should focus on: that 5nm node. What this means is that with a manufacturing process that small, a CPU will be able to fit billions upon billions more transistors into a single package, thereby improving overall performance and power-efficiency. Compare this to Intel Alder Lake's 10nm process, and the separation is even greater up close.

Ryzen 6000 Skipped, Cezanne Is Coming

One of the most noteworthy things about this is that AMD is apparently skipping the Ryzen 6000 series, which was codenamed Warhol and based on a Zen 3+ refresh. The reason is it was apparently cancelled, as stated by WCCFTech. These CPUs were supposed to have been produced on the 6nm node, but AMD ultimately decided to pull the plug.

For now, fans can look forward to the release of the Ryzen Cezanne APUs which have been shown to pack enough CPU and graphical punch for gamers without graphics cards. They're still OEM-exclusive now, but AMD vows they'll eventually release it to retail by the end of the year. But it does make one wonder if the Raphael chips will share the same fate, being APUs themselves.

Looks like only time will tell.

Related: AMD Vs. Intel Battle: The Ryzen 7 5800U Takes On Tiger Lake

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A 50-year-old woman from Alberta, Canada has passed away after receiving the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine. The chief medical officer of health in the province confirmed that a rare blood clot resulted in the patient's death.

Reason Behind Alberta Woman's Death

On Tuesday, May 4, the province's chief medical officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw stated the reason why the woman died after accepting a jab from the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company.

Hinshaw said that the death was linked to vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). At the time of writing, it was the first death recorded in the province in connection with the vaccine, CBC reported.

In a statement, Hinshaw said that they will be hiding the identity of the woman for the privacy of her family. She also highlighted that a person could face a bigger risk of dying from COVID-19-related outcomes than the risk that the AstraZeneca vaccine could expose.

Read Also: Pfizer Vaccine to be FDA-Authorized for 12 to 15-Year Olds Next Week

Currently, the province has administered over 253,000 AstraZeneca or CoviShield doses. The woman's death was the second case related to VITT in Alberta, as Hinshaw mentioned.

VITT vs Common Blood Clot

According to the latest report of Global News Canada, there is a difference that can be made between VITT and the regular blood clot condition. The former case rarely occurs and it could result in the CVST (cerebral venous sinus thrombosis), which could cause extreme bleeding and sudden draining of the blood from the brain through the veins.

The chance that VITT could happen in an individual receiving a vaccine is 1 out of 100,000 shots, according to the estimates made by the National Advisory Council on Immunization.

On Monday, May 3, Canada recorded seven cases of patients who suffered from VITT. One of them has died. The experts still informed the public to get a vaccine as soon as possible since the risk of contracting COVID-19 is higher than acquiring VITT.

In an email, Hickshaw said that those 50 to 59-year-old Albertans could likely perish 350 more times in COVID-19 infection than experiencing VITT after receiving an AstraZeneca shot.

"They are also at least 1,500 times more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 than experiencing VITT after getting AstraZeneca," Hickshaw added.

Earlier, Health Canada said that the British-Swedish company has been complying with the strict safety standards of the country. The agency added that it will continue monitoring all outcomes so that it could assess the benefits while evaluating the risks of the vaccine.

Last month, GenXZeneca trended all over social media. The Gen X, those who are born in 1981 or earlier, were reportedly given a pass to have an AstraZeneca vaccine

Several Canadian provinces like Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and British Columbia have allowed their citizens to be legitimately vaccinated.

As a result, the residents learned about this and they immediately rushed to the vaccination sites. Many of them posted some cultural references of their situation after receiving an AstraZeneca jab.

Related Article: European Union Files Lawsuit to AstraZeneca Over Vaccine Delivery Delays--What Happened?

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Written by Joseph Henry

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Starting July, Microsoft will stop operating Adobe Flash Player for Windows 10. Ahead of the windows update, the complete deletion of the long-time application will be prompted by the "Update for Removal of Adobe Flash Player."

This means that Windows 10 will strip Flash as part of its operating system.

Say Goodbye to Adobe Flash Player in Windows 10

According to a report by GSM Arena on Wednesday, May 5, the removal of the 25-year-old popular plug-in will be mandatory two months from now. When the Windows 10 version 21H1 receives an upgrade at that time, the software that we have used previously will now become a part of our memory.

It is expected that beginning this May, Microsoft will start rolling out the update. Moreover, the permanent ejection of the software will not only be limited to Windows 10.

Read Also: Adobe Co-Founder: Charles Geschke's Legacy That We Should Remember and Other Important Happenings

Those who are relying on much more outdated operating systems like Windows Server 2021, Windows Embedded 8 Standard, and Windows 8.1 will also have their Adobe Flash Player apps deleted.

In Microsoft's blog published in September 2020, the Redmond-headquartered company is set to cut ties with Adobe as its partner after December 2020. It was July 2017 when Microsoft said this statement.

Why is Microsoft Removing Adobe Flash Player in Windows 10?

The reason why the company chose to halt its support for Flash Player is because of the declining usage of the software. There are also better alternatives that could replace the said applications which could provide more efficiency such as WebAssembly, WebGL, and HTML5.

In line with the tech giant's objectives, it will be disabling the Flash support for the Microsoft Edge browser (both the latest Microsoft Edge and the Microsoft Edge legacy) as well through a regular update that will be automatically installed in the system. Now, we could clearly see that the software is saying goodbye to the Windows OS this time.

Meanwhile, Microsoft's support page indicates that an Adobe Flash Player that is manually installed from another source will not be removed.

Maybe, it is the end of an era for a once-dominant software that we all know. Over the past years, we have seen that the Adobe Flash player is gradually becoming unnoticeable since its former features could not cater to the needs of modern systems.

Last year, Adobe ceased its operational support for its legacy format. This came after the announcement from some prominent web browsers that they will terminate using Flash as their support in 2016.

It's still more than two months before the Flash support ends, but we could still glimpse back on the classic Adobe Flash games and animations which had shaped our childhood in the early years.

Preserving a precious part of the internet history is now possible thanks to the Internet Archive.

Related Article: After Adobe Flash Player's Official Death, Flash Content Now Blocked for Users Warning Them to Uninstall Flash

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Written by Joseph Henry

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The new Snapchat Dark Mode feature is currently making a huge noise since most messaging applications already have this capability. However, Snapchat is one of the late bloomer applications since it is just releasing this feature right now.

As of the moment, iOS users are the only ones who can enjoy the popular app's new feature. Although this is the case, Snapchat confirmed that it will soon release it on Android devices so that more people can take advantage of it.

However, there's one method you can do so that you can have the latest Snapchat Dark Mode feature right away. To help you further, here are other details you should know.

How to Get Snapchat Dark Mode on Android

ScreenRant reported that you need to locate the App Appearance section before you can use Snapchat's new Dark Mode feature. You can access it by opening your Snapchat application and clicking your profile icon, which is located in the top left corner of your screen.

Also Read: Snapchat Plans to Evade Apple's New Privacy Policy: New Spectacles Lens AR Effects Support to Arrive

After that, you can now click the Settings icon on the top right corner of your app. Doing this will allows you to open a long list of settings options. The messaging application's App Appearance section is currently available on iOS smartphones. If you are not seeing it, this means that you are not eligible yet to access the new Dark Mode feature.

But, you can still use your Android smartphone's Preferences Manager app. Doing this will allow you to have early access to the new capability of Snapchat. Here are the steps you need to follow:

Enabling Snapchat Dark Mode on Android

XDA Developers explained that Android users need to install the Preferences Manager app from Google's Play Store.

After that, they must choose Snapchat on the app's home page. Once they are done with this, they can now open the "APP_START_EXPERIMENT_PREFS.xml" file.

The "DARK_MODE" flag will appear after opening the file. You need to set it to "ENABLED." After that, you can now use Snapchat's in-development Dark Mode version on your Android.

If you want to see the screenshots of the users who already did this, all you have to do is click this link. For more news updates about Snapchat and its upcoming features, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Excited With the New Snapchat Dark Mode? Here's How You Can Use It: Availability and More

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Belgium is currently at risk as a massive DDoS attack is targeting various websites of more than 200 organizations across the country, includeing the Belgium government, parliament, research institutes, and universities.

Because of this, security experts say that the malicious act is now hard to neutralize. This massive attack started at exactly 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 4.

Security experts said that the latest DDoS attack's traffic has overwhelmed the websites. This made the public-facing pages unusable for the visitors.

On the other hand, experts said that the actual attack disconnected the Belgian websites from the internet.

Aside from this, the new DDoS activity also attacked Belnet, which is the Belgian's government-funded ISP provider for educational institutions, scientific institutes, research centers, and government services.

How Serious is This DDoS Attack?

Belnet said in an update that the DDoS attack is still active and sending waves of malicious activities.

"Our teams are working hard to mitigate them. We are constantly monitoring our network to counter any new attempts," added the ISP provider, via The Brussels Times.

Also Read: Security Researchers Advise Organizations to Invest in DDoS Protection! Hackers Becoming More Notorious

Meanwhile, security experts confirmed that this malicious attack focuses on websites with ".be" domains. Some of these websites are still down, specifically the official website for the City of Brussels.

On the other hand, researchers confirmed that Brussels police's page, Antwerp, and other websites are now functioning properly since Wednesday, May 5.

However, security experts said that they are finding difficulty when it comes to stopping the current DDoS attack.

"The fact that the perpetrators of the attack constantly changed tactics made it even more difficult to neutralize it," said Belnet's Technical Director Dirk Haex.

Has Belnet Recovered From the DDoS Attack?

According to ZDNet's latest report, Belnet confirmed that its internal system and services are now functioning properly. However, the ISP provider still remains vigilant regarding the possible follow-up attacks.

Haex said that they are fully aware of the DDoS attack's impact on the organizations connected to Belnet's network and their users. He added that they know how this malicious activity effectively disrupted their system's functioning.

For more news updates about this DDoS attack and other malicious activities, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Your Internet-Connected Device Could Be at Risk of Bug Exploitation--Singaporean Security Firm Identifies Possible Infected Devices

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(Photo : Pexels/Sora Shimazaki) Malware group cryptocurrencies

A new cryptocurrency stealer variant has been discovered, and it is being spread through a global spam campaign and through Discord servers.

Panda Stealer Phishing Email

Named Panda Stealer, researchers from Trend Micro said that the malware has been found targeting people across countries, including Australia, US, Japan, and Germany, according to ZDNet.

The malware starts its infection chain through phishing emails. Samples that are uploaded to VirusTotal also shows that victims have been downloading executables from malicious websites through Discord links.

Panda Stealer's phishing emails pretend to be business quote requests so that users will click them. Two methods have been linked to the campaign: the first one uses attached .XLSM documents that need the victims to enable malicious macros.

Also Read: PayPal to Start Accepting Cryptocurrencies as Payments Moving Forward

If macros are permitted, a loader downloads and executes the main stealer.

Meanwhile, in the second chain, an attached .XLS file has an Excel formula that hides a PowerShell command. The command attempts to access a paste.ee URL to pull a PowerShell script to the system of the victim and to grab a fileless payload.

Trend Micro stated that the CallByName export function in Visual Basic is used to call the load of a .NET assembly within memory from a paste.ee URL.

They added that the loaded assembly, obfuscate with an Agile.NET obfuscator, hollows a legitimate MSBuild.exe process and replaces it with its payload: the hex-encoded Panda Stealer binary from another paste.ee URL.

As soon as it's downloaded, Panda Stealer will attempt to detect keys and addresses linked with cryptocurrency wallets holding funds.

Also, the malware is able to take screenshots, exfiltrate the system data, and steal information including browser cookies and credentials for NordVPN, Telegram, Steam accounts, and Discord.

While the campaign has not been attributed to specific cyberattackers. Trend Micro said that an examination of the malware's active command-and-control or C2 servers led the team to IP addresses and a virtual private server or VPS rented from Shock Hosting.

The server has since been suspended.

Panda Stealer malware

Panda Stealer is a variant of Collector Stealer, malware that has been sold in the past on underground forums and through Telegram channels. The stealer has since appeared to have been cracked by Russian threat actors going under the alias NCP/su1c1de.

The cracked malware is the same, but it uses different infrastructure elements like C2 URLs and folders.

The researchers note that because the cracked Collector Stealer builder is openly accessible online, cybercriminal groups and script composers alike can use it to make their own customized version of the stealer and C2 panel.

Furthermore, the researchers added that threat actors may also augment their malware campaigns with specific features from Collector Stealer.

Trend Micro stated that there are similarities in the attack chain and fileless distribution method to Phobos ransomware.

Specifically, as described by Morphisec, the Fair variant of Phobos is the same in its distribution approach and is being constantly updated to reduce its footprint, like reducing encryption requirements, in order to stay under the radar for as long as possible.

The researchers also noted the similarities between Phobos and LockBit in its blog report published in April 2021.

Related Article: Malware Poses as Fake Netflix App, Downloaded More Than 500 Times on Google Play Store

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China's Long March 5 is still orbiting the Earth in an uncontrolled manner. Because of this, some researchers claim that the spacecraft's debris could land on some populated areas and endanger people's lives.

However, some experts claimed that this incident could be prevented by a new advanced space laser. They added that if large space junks made an impact on the Earth's surface, they will surely make a dent on the planet.

When it comes to the uncontrolled Long March 5 rocket's scenario, Pentagon previously confirmed that they are now tracking the giant Chinese spacecraft. On the other hand, some experts added that there's a small chance that the rocket's debris will hit people on Earth.

Although this is the case, you will not lose anything if you will be aware of the upcoming crash. With this, researchers suggested that the new space laser at Mt. Stromlo in Canberra could knock the Chinese rocket's debris from orbit.

Can This New Laser Really Stop Long March 5's Crash?

According to ABC Net's latest report, this advanced space laser could prevent space junk from entering Earth. Experts also claimed that it could help track the Long March 5 rocket's re-entry.

Also Read: Pentagon Says Chinese Rocket Expected to Crash to Earth This May 8: Expert Says Don't Panic

9News also reported that this hi-tech laser was developed as part of a federally-funded research center involving EOS Space Systems, weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the Australian National Unversity, and the Japanese Institute of Communications and Technology.

Dr. BVen Greene, the CEO of EOS Space Systems, claimed that the new laser in Canberra is a huge step for space technology.

To give you more idea, here's how it works.

How the New Space Laser Works?

The advanced space laser in Canberra works by using two processes. The first one involves a naked eye-visible orange beam, which will penetrate the atmosphere. After that, it will pinpoint the space junks.

Meanwhile, the second method involves a more powerful but invisible laser. This will move the debris out of orbit to prevent possible collisions with nearby satellites.

If you want to know more details, all you need to do is click this link. For more news updates about China's Long March 5 and other related stories, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: SpaceX Starlink Launch in Florida Seen as Far as Washington

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(Photo : Pexels/Thought Catalog) Snapchat lawsuit speed filter

Snapchat can be sued over a speed filter that is said to encourage reckless driving, despite the broad legal protections for social media networks.

Snapchat Speed Filter

The Ninth Circuit Appeals Court revived a case that was dismissed last year, reversing an earlier ruling that favored Snapchat.

According to The Verge, it concluded that even if users were populating the filter with their own high driving speeds, Snapchat could still be liable for implicitly rewarding that behavior.

The case, Lemmon v. Snap, was filed after a 20-year-old Snapchat user crashed his car while using the speed filter, at one point driving over 120 miles per hour.

The 2017 crash killed the driver and two teenage passengers. Two of the victims' parents sued Snapchat for wrongful death, saying that it is a combination of an opaque achievement system and speed filter enticed users to drive at unsafe speeds.

Also Read: Attorneys Allege That Snapchat's Speed Filter Is To Blame For Teen's High-Speed Car Wreck

The parents claimed that a lot of teenagers believed that they'd get a secret achievement for hitting speeds of 100 miles per hour.

Snapchat countered that there is no such achievement that existed and that it was just providing a tool for users to post their own content, an action shielded under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

After the case hearing, the Ninth Circuit did not rule on whether the platform was liable or not. But it concluded that it was not protected by Section 230, which prevents sites and apps from being sued over what users posts.

Instead, it said that the lawsuit presents a clear example of a claim that simply does not rest on third-party content.

Snapchat indisputably designed the reward system and speed filter, which allegedly created a defective product. This means that Snapchat was sued for the predictable consequences of designing the platform in such a way that it allegedly encouraged dangerous behavior.

Lower Court's Decision

In 2020, a lower court reached a different conclusion.

According to Eric Goldman, a legal blogger, the filter is a speedometer tool and noted that Snapchat warned users against driving at high speeds. The lawsuit was trying to hold Snapchat liable for a user acting dangerously posting about it.

Snapchat's speed filter has a bad history in court. An Uber driver sued the company in 2016 after he collided with a Snapchat user who allegedly tried to hit 100 miles per hour.

In that case, the court sided with the driver, but a Georgia appeals court reversed the decision and said Snapchat's speed filter was not made to encourage speeding.

Lemmon v. Snap's revival cites a landmark 2008 ruling against Roommates.com, which found that Section 230 did not apply when the site guided users to answer potentially discriminatory questions like racial preferences, even if users were the ones supplying the answers.

Roommates.com won the lawsuit, and Snapchat could prevail in this case, but Lemmon v. Snap would set a precedent for interpreting Section 230 unless the Supreme Court uses it, which it did not do for other Section 230-related cases.

Other high-profile suits have argued that a social network is defective for facilitating conduct like harassment, only to be defeated on Section 230 grounds.

Related Article: Snapchat Dark Mode: How to Turn It On and Off? Availability and Other Details

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 23:23:58|Editor: huaxia

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Representatives from China and Ethiopia pose for photos during the inauguration ceremony of Ethiopia's first trackless station in Dukem, Ethiopia, on May 5, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Ping)

ADDIS ABABA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia on Wednesday inaugurated its first trackless station in a bid to boost the country's foreign trade efforts.

The trackless station was inaugurated at a ceremony held in the Chinese-built Eastern Industrial Zone (EIZ) in Dukem city, 37 km southeast of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

Trackless station refers to an office or agency of the railway, which operates in the area far away from the railway station to facilitate the transportation of goods. With the help of trackless station, factories or companies can directly transport the freight from industrial parks to railway station.

Yehulashet Jemere, State Minister of Ethiopia's Ministry of Transport, said the inauguration of the first trackless station of the Chinese-built 752.7-km Ethiopia-Djibouti electrified rail line is an important milestone in the east African country's quest to modernize its logistics sector.

"The first trackless station in Eastern Industrial Zone is one big milestone to enable the railway line to provide a multimodal transport service for the industry zone. I believe this will effectively reduce the logistics cost of the enterprises who are residing in the industrial zones," said Jemere.

The Eastern Industry Zone inaugurated a decade ago is Ethiopia's first industry zone that inspired the Ethiopian government towards establishing more industry parks across the country towards becoming the manufacturing hub of the continent.

"It's difficult to imagine rapid economic development, industrialization and international competitiveness without efficient high quality modern transport infrastructure and logistics services," Jemere said.

The Ethiopia-Djibouti railway to which the trackless station will be connected has shown China is dedicated to providing state of the arts logistics infrastructure to Ethiopia, said Jemere.

"This railway line is a flagship project for the blossoming Ethiopia-China cooperation, among other things Chinese technical competence and financial support have powered the realization of this ambitious infrastructure project," Jemere stated.

Sandokan Debebe, CEO of Ethiopia Industrial Park Development Corporation (IPDC), said the inauguration of the trackless station will also help in the speedy transportation of export-oriented industrial park products.

"Transportation and logistics, being the backbone of the manufacturing industry, has been placed at the core of the country's economic transformation agenda," said Debebe.

"The manufacturing sector is expected to register a sectoral growth of 20 plus percent, sectoral composition to the GDP to be 17 plus percent and creation of 1.3 million jobs every year," Debebe further said.

Guo Chongfeng, General Manager of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Ethiopia, said the trackless station of the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway will add further logistical boost to Ethiopia's export-oriented manufacturing sector.

"Under the leadership of the Ethiopia Ministry of Transport, the professional management of Ethiopia Djibouti Railway (EDR), Industry Park Development Corporation (IPDC), Ethiopia Investment Commission (EIC), and the closer cooperation with Eastern Industrial Park, we believe the railway will become a household name for an economic engine and foreign exchange powerhouse," Guo said.

"We believe the railway will become a hotspot of investment and attract more and more clients and investors, as well as cultivate an economic corridor and facilitate Ethiopia to be a trade powerhouse in Africa," Guo further said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 14:31:34|Editor: huaxia

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PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants have captured Burka district in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province, provincial police spokesman Jawed Basharat said Wednesday.

"Taliban rebels launched multi-pronged offensive on Burka district and entered the district headquarters last night," Basharat told Xinhua.

However, the official asserted that the security forces based in the district had made "tactical retreat" and would soon launch counter-attack to retake the district.

Basharat didn't make comments on the possible casualties of the warring sides.

In the meantime, district governor Taj Mohammad in talks with Xinhua has confirmed the incident, saying "Burka district was under Taliban siege for the past several months and finally captured by the insurgents" after the authorities retreated and stationed outside the district headquarters.

No security personnel had been harmed as the security forces and the civilian employees based in the district abandoned the district, the governor said, adding counter-attack would be launched soon to recapture it.

Taliban militants who have intensified activities since the announcement of the U.S.-led forces withdrawal last month have yet to make comments.

Baghlan province with Pul-e-Khumri as its capital has been the scene of Taliban-led increasing militancy. Enditem
Changes to The Messenger's back end processing means the e-edition is getting a facelift. The biggest change is the e-edition by default is now presented in Text view.
The baby shot Monday during a gunfight in Mississippi between a man on the run for killing two people in Baker and the authorities pursuing him died of a single bullet wound, local television station WLOX reported Wednesday.

The infant, identified as La'Mello Parker, was shot once and died of the resulting injuries, Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer told WLOX.

The coroner did not say whether that shot was fired at close range. That information will be included in the autopsy report, which will be sent to investigators and the district attorneys office, according to WLOX.

+2 Inside the highway chase, police shootout that killed a double murder suspect and his infant son While leading police on a chase through Louisiana and Mississippi following a double homicide near Baker, Eric Derrell Smith sat behind the wh

Official details on the final moments of the pursuit of Eric Derrell Smith, a 30-year-old from Baton Rouge, were still scarce Wednesday.

Chris Deback, spokesman for the Biloxi Police Department, said no more details on the shooting would be provided until investigators send their report to prosecutors.

The chase started after deputies responded to a 911 hang-up on Richmond Street near Baker. When deputies arrived, they found Christin Parker, 32, and her nephew Brandon Parker, 26, dead from gunshot wounds inside their house. Her young daughter had run outside after hearing gunshots and got help from a neighbor, officials said.

Deputies said the child told them what she saw, allowing them to quickly identify Smith as the suspected shooter.

Christin Parker had reportedly been in a relationship with Smith until their somewhat recent breakup.

Officials believe Smith took their baby from the Baker house after the shooting.

From there, deputies started tracking Smith, who was driving around in a blue Nissan Altima.

At some point during the pursuit  at least an hour before the final shootout  Smith fired his weapon, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. No officers were injured.

While leading police on a chase from Louisiana to Mississippi, Smith sat behind the wheel holding his son with one hand and a gun in the other, a source said Tuesday.

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+2 Video shows more than 20 shots fired at Baker double-murder suspect after police chase The shooting happened after the suspect, Eric Derell Smith, of Baton Rouge, led police on a vehicle pursuit that began in Baton Rouge and ended in Harrison County.

Police ultimately caught up with Smith on Interstate 10 enough to deploy spike strips, which slowed him down considerably but failed to completely disable his car.

The pursuit lasted most of Monday afternoon, ending in a shootout with police that left Smith dead in the I-10 median near Biloxi. His son died hours later in the hospital.

A video captured what happened after Smith's blue Nissan Altima stopped in the median just west of the Woolmarket exit in Harrison County.

The footage shows Smith's car in the median with a patrol car backed behind it and a swarm of law enforcement vehicles parked nearby. Several officers have their guns drawn and pointed at Smith's car.

Biloxi police said Smith was getting out of his car, but it isn't clear in the video, since the driver's side door is on the opposite side of the car from the camera.

Smoke suddenly appears from Smith's car  possibly from a gunshot  and officers fire a barrage of bullets at the car.

The video ends before authorities reach the car after the shooting.

In any situation, "an officer could have a split second" to make the decision to fire their gun, Deback said of the shootout at the end of the chase. He declined to elaborate further, as the investigation is ongoing.

Biloxi police Chief John Miller said his department is handling the investigation of the shootout. He declined to specify Tuesday who shot Smith or the baby.

Miller said his agency took on the shooting investigation at the request of the local district attorney because his officers were not involved.

"The Mississippi Highway Patrol, the county and the surrounding cities were involved in the shooting aspect," he explained, "so we were asked to lead the investigation."
The Louisiana Community and Technical College System and FranU have joined a new recruitment platform that aims to keep local graduates in Baton Rouge.

With the addition of LCTCS, which includes Baton Rouge Community College and River Parishes Community College and FranU, now all of the two- and four-year colleges and universities in the area are on Handshake. LSU and Southern University were part of the program when it was launched in September. FranU is Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University.

Local leaders move forward on deals to curb the 'brain drain' for small businesses in Baton Rouge A growing coalition of higher education institutions has signed deals with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber to streamline employers' access to gra

As of today, we can say that every business in the Capital Region can access every student in the Capital Region on one platform for free, said Adam Knapp, president and chief executive officer of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. Job access is the first step to ensuring that every student can stay in our market after college, should they choose to.

Handshake creates a level playing field for small and mid-sized employers, which make up 88% of the local market. It allows companies to interact with college and university career centers and let students know about the diverse jobs and career paths available.

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LSU and Southern University join forces with BRAC to help local college students find internships The Baton Rouge Area Chamber is joining with LSU and Southern University to connect local students to career opportunities through internships.

Employers can create a free profile and recruit local students by posting jobs, scheduling interviews and registering for recruiting events through a single login.

About 600 local businesses have created employer profiles on Handshake since it was launched in September, BRAC said, and more than 40,000 LSU and Southern students and alumni have created job seeker profiles.

This story has been corrected since it was published to accurately report how many LSU and Southern University students and alumni have created Handshake job seeker profiles.
A jury rightly concluded that Baton Rouge police weren't responsible for an alcohol-related crash that left a man permanently brain-damaged and others injured, an appeals court ruled this week in what it called an "unfortunate" case.

The 2008 wreck between a car and an 18-wheeler occurred 30 minutes after officers stopped the car's driver, Jean Paul Palmer, for running a stop sign but didn't arrest him for driving with a suspended license.

Jury finds Baton Rouge police not at fault in 2008 crash that left man with brain damage Baton Rouge police aren't to blame for a 2008 alcohol-related crash between a car and an 18-wheeler that occurred 30 minutes after officers st

The car also had an expired inspection sticker and only one working headlight. A baby was in the car with no car seat. Palmer was issued traffic citations after the stop for an expired inspection sticker, one headlight and no child car seat.

About 15 minutes after police left the predawn traffic stop, Palmer ran another stop sign and collided with the truck at Florida Boulevard and O'Neal Lane. More than two hours after the crash, his blood-alcohol level registered at 0.21%  well beyond the 0.08% considered presumptive evidence of drunken driving in Louisiana for people 21 and older.

Injured plaintiffs in the case, which included the truck driver and several people in Palmer's car, sought nearly $5 million from the city-parish when the case went to trial in 2018.

The plaintiffs argued that officers were negligent in letting Palmer go after seeing him run a stop sign and becoming aware of his suspended license and four outstanding misdemeanor warrants.

They also claimed police acted negligently in merely warning Palmer against driving the car instead of remaining on scene to ensure his compliance.

BR officer: I trusted driver to get off road minutes before drunken crash with 18-wheeler A police officer testified Tuesday that he trusted a Baton Rouge man's word that he wouldn't get back behind the wheel after a pre-dawn traffi

Plaintiffs further alleged that police acted unreasonably in failing to ask Palmer if he had been drinking, failing to get close enough to smell his breath, failing to perform a field sobriety test, horizontal gaze test or look into his eyes and failing to tow the car.

Police testified they had no reason to believe Palmer was intoxicated when they stopped him at 2 a.m. on July 10, 2008, in the Melrose East area.

In its ruling Tuesday, a three-judge panel of the state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal said the jury listened to and observed all of the fact witnesses and expert witnesses, weighed the evidence, made credibility determinations and viewed the video of the traffic stop in whole and in part numerous times throughout the trial.

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"In this unfortunate case, we are unable to replace our opinion with the opinion of the jury and are constrained to rely upon the jury's view of the conflicting testimony and evidence," Circuit Judge Chris Hester wrote for the panel that included Judges Mitch Theriot and Beth Wolfe.

The plaintiffs are expected to take the case to the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Hester said the plaintiffs cited no law or case, nor was any evidence submitted at trial, to establish that the officers had to arrest Palmer based on his outstanding warrants or on the offenses committed prior to that particular traffic stop.

The plaintiffs' expert testified that he thought Palmer should have been arrested, Hester noted.

On the issue of intoxication, officers admitted that they either did not ask Palmer whether he had been drinking that night or did not recall if anyone asked the question. But they also testified that Palmer showed no signs of intoxication during the stop.

"At best, it was established that the officers could have arrested Palmer as a result of the traffic stop, but there was no 'uncontradicted' testimony that the officers were required to arrest Palmer," Hester wrote. "The jury also heard the testimony of officers  that they did not observe anything Palmer did that would give them reasonable suspicion to conduct a field sobriety test."

Then-state District Judge Todd Hernandez, who presided over the trial, refused in 2019 to throw out the jury verdict.

Judge lets stand jury's decision that Baton Rouge police blameless in crash that left man with brain damage A jury's finding that Baton Rouge police share no blame for an alcohol-related crash that left a man with permanent brain damage was reasonabl

City-parish attorneys argued at trial that Palmer was 100% at fault for the crash. The plaintiffs' lawyers argued that Palmer's arrest would have prevented the crash.

Palmer was 29 at the time of the wreck and had a prior DWI conviction.

In 2011, he pleaded no contest to four counts of first-degree vehicular negligent injury stemming from the 2008 crash and was sentenced to five years in prison, with all but two years suspended, to be followed by four years of probation. His probation was revoked in 2013 and he was sentenced to five years in prison. Court records show he tested positive for cocaine in 2012.
MISSISSIPPI- A motorist captured video of Coast law enforcement officials firing more than 20 shots at the car of a double murder suspect from Louisiana who died as a result.

The shooting happened after the suspect, Eric Derell Smith, of Baton Rouge, led police on a vehicle pursuit that began in Baton Rouge and ended in Harrison County. Smiths infant son was inside the car.

The video captures what happened after Smiths blue Nissan Altima is stopped in the Interstate 10 median in Harrison County just west of the Woolmarket exit.

Warning: This video shows graphic scenes of a shooting. Can't see video? Click here.

A police patrol car is backed in behind Smiths car and over 40-plus law enforcement vehicles with flashing lights are parked in the eastbound lane of the interstate.

More than four officers are seen outside their cars with their guns drawn and a police K-9 is seen running around the suspects car. Other officers are standing behind their car doors or elsewhere with their weapons drawn.

Biloxi police said Smith was getting out of his car, but it isnt clear in the video.

Within seconds, smoke  possibly from a shot fired by the suspect from the drivers side of the car  appears.

Law enforcement officials start shooting a barrage of bullets at the car.

Shortly after the gunfire, officers who fired the shots are seen waving to other officers to start moving in.

The video cuts off before authorities reach the vehicle after the shooting.

+2 Inside the highway chase, police shootout that killed a double murder suspect and his infant son While leading police on a chase through Louisiana and Mississippi following a double homicide near Baker, Eric Derrell Smith sat behind the wh

The video was posted to Facebook from Snapchat and has over 54,000 views. The 52-second video appears to be shot from a motorist in the westbound lane of I-10.

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Gulfport police, the Harrison County Sheriffs Office and the Mississippi Highway Patrol took part in the chase. Its unclear how many officers and from which agency took part in the shooting.

Biloxi police are handling the independent investigation into the shooting.

Biloxi police said in a release that they were notified at around 2:52 p.m. that Smith had been found on I-10 near Gulfport, heading east.

Various law enforcement agencies attempted to stop Smith, who had two flat tires.

Smith died of multiple gunshot wounds at the scene and the infant suffered critical injuries. The baby died of his injuries at a Mobile hospital early Tuesday morning.

Baby taken from Baker home after killings dies from injuries suffered in Mississippi chase The child taken along on an interstate police chase that ended in gunfire after a man fled authorities following the killing two people at a r

Smith is a suspect in a double homicide that happened early Monday morning near Baker in rural East Baton Rouge Parish. He is accused of shooting and killing his ex-girlfriend, Christin Parker, 32, and her nephew, Brandon Parker, 26, before leaving with the couples baby.

Biloxi Police John Miller said a preliminary investigation indicates Smith drove into the median apparently in an attempt to get onto Interstate 10 westbound to continue to escape capture.

But, Miller said, it appears his car got stuck in the grass.

East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux had said early on our top priority is locating that child safely.

The Sun Herald reached to Miller on Tuesday for some updates, but have not yet heard back.

Margaret Baker is an investigative reporter whose search for truth exposed corrupt sheriffs, a police chief and various jailers and led to the first prosecution of a federal hate crime for the murder of a transgendered person. She worked on the Sun Heralds Pulitzer Prize-winning Hurricane Katrina team. When she pursues a big story, she is relentless.

See the original story on SunHerald.com.
A bill that would allow citizens 21 and older to carry a concealed handgun without a permit breezed through the Louisiana House on Wednesday.

The measure, House Bill 596, won approval 72-28 after a short but spirited debate.

It next faces action in the state Senate, which approved a similar bill last week by an equally lopsided margin.

Legislation ending permit requirement for concealed carry advances in Louisiana Legislature Louisiana residents would be able to carry a concealed handgun in public without undergoing a background check or taking a firearms safety cou

Under current rules, citizens have to undergo safety training and a background check to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

The legislation would do away with those requirements.

Rep. Bryan Fontenot, R-Thibodaux, sponsor of HB596, said there is a balance between constitutional freedoms and government mandates. "I believe that training should be required but the constitution says we have the right to possess firearms," Fontenot told the House.

He said State Police spend about $700,000 on the permitting process, including background checks, and collect about $5 million per year.

"Honest citizens should not be burdened with background checks," Fontenot said.

The proposal sparked heavy opposition from law enforcement leaders when it was approved last week in a House committee, including the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police and Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul.

In latest feud with BRPD union, Baton Rouge police chief forbids sending officer to legislature In the latest sign of strife between Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul and BRPD union leadership, the chief recently broke from tradition w

Gov. John Bel Edwards has said he would veto any bill that ends the permitting process.

Rep. Aimee Freeman, D-New Orleans, who voted "no" on the bill, read from a statement by New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson, who said the bill could pave the way for thousands of untrained citizens bringing weapons to the streets of New Orleans.

"And I agree with my police superintendent. I vehemently oppose this legislation," Freeman said.

Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, cited a poll that showed 80% of state residents favor keeping the current permit process.

Landry asked Fontenot whether he thinks passage of his bill would endanger public safety.

The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

"No maam, I do not," he replied.

Rep. Blake Miguez, R-Houma, urged House members to back the measure.

Miguez said 20 other states have similar laws and making the bill a state law would strengthen Second Amendment rights for Louisiana residents.

The House rejected an amendment by Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, to reduce the minimum age to carry a concealed weapon from 21 to 18.

Asked why he favored the lower age McCormick replied, "For self defense."

He said he has four granddaughters, including one who killed her first deer at the age of 7 but is not allowed to carry a gun in her purse.

Fontenot opposed the reduced age proposal.

He said federal law prohibits 18-year-olds from buying a rifle or handgun from a federal firearms dealer, which he said would force them to make purchases on the black market.

McCormick's amendment failed 29-69.

Louisiana bill lifting concealed carry permit requirement advances; here's why some oppose it A Louisiana Senate committee on Monday advanced legislation that would remove the permitting requirement for the concealed carrying of handguns.

The Senate last week approved a proposal similar to Fontenot's 27-11, which like the House measure is more than enough to override a gubernatorial veto.

However, veto overrides are almost unheard of in Louisiana and often feature different issues than the original House and Senate debates.

The Louisiana House then approved on a 94-0 vote, House Bill 124 to allow people to also conceal knives and other weapons on their person.

Voting to allow concealed handgun without a permit (73): Speaker Schexnayder, Reps. Adams, Amedee, Bacala, Bagley, Beaullieu, Bishop, Bourriaque, Brown, Butler, Carrier, R. Carter, W. Carter, Cormier, Coussan, Crews, Davis, Deshotel, DeVillier, DuBuisson, Echols, Edmonds, Edmonston, Emerson, Farnum, Firment, Fontenot, Freiberg, Frieman, Gadberry, Garofalo, Geymann, Goudeau, Harris, Hodges, Hollis, Horton, Huval, Illg, Ivey, M. Johnson, T. Johnson, Kerner, LaCombe, Mack, Magee, McCormick, McFarland, McKnight, McMahen, Miguez, G. Miller, Mincey, Muscarello, Nelson, Orgeron, C. Owen, R. Owen, Pressly, Riser, Romero, Schamerhorn, Seabaugh, St. Blanc, Stefanski, Tarver, Thomas, Thompson, Turner, Wheat, White, Wright and Zeringue.

Voting against HB596 (28): Reps. Brass, Bryant, Carpenter, G. Carter, Duplessis, Freeman, Gaines, Glover, Green, Hughes, James, Jefferson, Jenkins, Jones, Jordan, Landry, Larvadain, Lyons, Marcelle, Marino, D. Miller, Moore, Newell, Phelps, Pierre, Selders, Stagni and Willard.

Not Voting (3): Reps Cox, Hilferty, and Villio.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 15:23:18|Editor: huaxia

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KATHMANDU, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's two major government-run hospitals based in capital Kathmandu have been facing oxygen supply shortage, authorities said.

The Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease hospital which has been converted into a COVID-19 hospital, and the National Trauma Centre, another hospital which treats people injured in accidents, are running out of liquid oxygen.

"Our liquid oxygen tank is running out of oxygen and it will just be enough till Wednesday," Sagar Kumar Rajbhandari, a hospital official, told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli said on Monday in his address to the nation that the government had banned supplying oxygen for purposes except for the purpose of treating patients.

The situation is becoming grim for Nepal as the Himalayan country on Tuesday reported another record of high deaths and infections.

According to data released by the Ministry of Health and Population on Tuesday, a record high of 55 deaths and 7,660 infections were reported in the last 24 hours, breaking the earlier record of 37 deaths and 7,448 infections in a single day on Monday. Enditem
STAFF PHOTO BY G. ANDREW BOYD The Louisiana state capital building in Baton Rouge, LA, with the Exxon chemical refinery in the background, in this 1992 file photo. ORG XMIT: NOLA2016012911291110 ORG XMIT: NOLA1704071906228255
This is in response to Jim Andersons letter deriding the legislation passed in 2019 addressing the high price of our auto insurance. Just a n
LAKE CHARLES  Standing near the empty lot where his house once stood, Ron Thomas said his message for President Joe Biden when he arrives for a visit on Thursday is a simple one: Send help.

Why is Calcasieu Parish not receiving the assistance theyre supposed to receive  the assistance theyre supposed to receive after a storm? the 50-year-old said, casting a gaze over his former neighborhood in northern Lake Charles, where modest homes of brick and wooden siding in the shadow of Interstate 10 took a beating in the two hurricanes that ripped through southwestern Louisiana last year.

Its a message being echoed throughout the area, from the regions top officials to the streets of Lake Charles, Louisianas fifth-largest city.

The region has made much progress in coming back from Hurricane Laura, one of the most powerful storms to ever make landfall in the U.S., and Category 2 Hurricane Delta just six weeks later. But daunting needs remain, and rebuilding in the COVID era has posed its own set of challenges.

President Biden to visit New Orleans, Lake Charles on Thursday; will promote infrastructure plan President Joe Biden is coming to New Orleans and Lake Charles on Thursday to promote his plan to rebuild the nations bridges, highways, ports

For every sign of recovery  the lunchtime buzz of a downtown po-boy shop, volunteers sanding and nailing so families can return home, the whirr and jingle of slot machines inside cavernous Lake Charles casinos, petrochemical plants back at work  there are grim reminders to match.

The citys 22-story Capital One tower overlooking the water is shut and fenced off, so many of its teal windows blown out that the tan plywood covering them forms a pattern not unlike a giant, macabre game of Tetris.

Blue tarps covering roofs remain a common sight, and in some areas dozens of damaged or collapsed houses sit fallow. Residents talk about the difficulty in dealing with insurance companies to receive needed reimbursements.

Missing people

But perhaps most important is an aspect of recovery that is less immediately visible.

More than eight months after Laura, the city of Lake Charles estimates some 3,000 people remain displaced, about 4% of all residents. For all of Calcasieu Parish, that number rises to around 4,000.

Population estimates in a recent analysis published by The New York Times are even grimmer. Those found that Lake Charles lost some 6.7% of its population last year  the highest rate in the nation.

Local officials say the population loss was expected considering what the region endured, and they believe many of those people have since returned, though its too early for precise figures.

What is needed now, they say, is a long overdue disaster relief package from the federal government. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter said the city has more than $230 million in housing needs alone, and an analysis commissioned by the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana found that around half of all housing in Calcasieu was damaged in some way.

There are widespread expectations locally that Bidens visit will focus on his $2 trillion infrastructure plan, which could include a replacement for the citys hulking I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River, completed way back in 1952.

Local officials certainly support building a new bridge, but they hope it doesnt keep other pressing concerns from being addressed.

+4 Burned to the ground after Hurricane Laura, a chemical plant wants millions in tax breaks to rebuild A swimming pool chemical plant that was damaged by Hurricane Laura and burned to the ground last year near Lake Charles is looking to rebuild 

It would be just a grave miscalculation if the president came to town and did not address hurricane recovery and the fact that we are now close to 250 days post-Hurricane Laura and we still do not have a disaster relief package approved from Washington, D.C. for southwest Louisiana, Hunter said. I consider that a grave injustice.

Calcasieu Parish Administrator Bryan Beam made the same point, saying that additional money is needed to allow people to move back into their homes. He says the initial response from the federal government was effective, but longer-term recovery funds must now be addressed.

Allowing more people to return will also help with related challenges for the region, such as a drastically reduced labor market, he said.

The primary thing that were asking if we get a chance to communicate with the president is just a very strong emphasis on how hard we have been impacted even now, Beam said. Its a long recovery because this is such a big hurricane followed by another hurricane that has done more damage than weve ever seen.

Historic storms

Laura roared onto the Louisiana coast on Aug. 27 as a Category 4 storm, with winds of up to 150 mph and storm surge of over 15 feet  the strongest storm to hit the state since 1856, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

It laid waste to much of Calcasieu Parish, as well as Cameron Parish, further south along the coast.

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Hurricane Delta followed on Oct. 9 as a Category 2 storm, adding to the misery and in some cases complicating rebuilding that had already begun. It took a path eerily close to Laura.

Jerry George, 67, returned home after evacuating to Austin for Laura to find a couple of the iron columns on his porch blown over, though his house thankfully didnt collapse.

Downed trees blocked the streets. The house across the street where his 94-year-old mother was living was too damaged for her to reoccupy.

Hes managed to repair much of his house even though it meant he and his wife surviving without electricity for 19 days after his return. But before he could finish ceiling repairs, Delta came through.

The second storm is the one that did it, said the retired father of two, who formerly worked in purchasing at a hospital. When we had to leave  evacuate and went to Houston  all my ceiling tiles had to come down.

Hes still haggling with his insurance company over the ceiling repairs.

They give you what they want you to have, he said. They want me to patch instead of changing. Who in the hell wants to walk through your house and youve got a patched-up ceiling?

He said: You give a man $1,000, $2,000, thats not enough money.

Thousands displaced by Hurricane Laura face long wait for FEMA temporary housing Six months after Hurricane Laura wrecked southwest Louisiana, the Federal Emergency Management Agency still is trying to set up temporary mobi

The yellow house is now in relatively good shape, though a few repairs are still needed. Flowers bloom on the edge of the porch next to a wooden cross with All is Well stenciled in black across it.

George has managed to avoid the fate of the thousands living in temporary housing, with FEMA delivering a combination of travel trailers and mobile homes.

The agency has supplied over 1,800 households with a unit, while roughly 600 households are still waiting. The delay is mainly due to complications in installing the units in a way that meets federal specifications, said FEMA spokesman Gerard Hammink.

Eighty-seven households have moved out of their trailers after finding permanent housing.

FEMA has prioritized putting the units on private property, but the sites must be prepared with adequate electricity and water, among a host of other requirements.

Its taking longer than anyone would like, but theres just been various difficulties and challenges, and so were just really working to get most  I would even say 90% of the people on the list  into units by the end of the month, Hammink said.

Theres just a lot more work that goes into it than you might imagine because, even with a travel trailer, its not just going to be there for a couple nights. Youre not just camping. People are living there for a couple months or up to a year.

'Get this town back going'

In Lake Charless small but historic downtown, much of which had to be rebuilt after a catastrophic 1910 fire, a sizable lunch crowd gathered at Buffis Peaux Boys earlier this week.

Allen Lopez, 37, who was eating with his wife Christine, said his home in nearby Jefferson Davis Parish survived, though the general contracting company where he works in downtown Lake Charles was hit hard. He also said the federal government should do more, particularly considering the trouble many are experiencing with insurance companies.

+14 After winter storms, Calcasieu Parish leaders look for ways to protect weather-weary parish LAKE CHARLES  New misery visited upon southwest Louisiana last week  low water pressure that forced public building closures and bedeviled f

We need more federal aid around here when stuff like that happens, said Lopez. It needs to go to the people to rebuild these towns  get this town back going  Some of these businesses were already hurting from COVID, and then all this happened.

For Thomas, the man from northern Lake Charles whose house was completely destroyed  which he learned through a Facebook message from a friend  the journey has been a long one, and included a stint of living out of his car.

He has qualified to have his home rebuilt by the Samaritans Purse charity, he said, but in the meantime he and his 74-year-old mother are living in public housing nearby and paying the rent.

He said they were considering riding out the storm until he saw grave warnings on the local news about the need to evacuate. Its a good thing they did.

We stacked it up all right here, he said of the remains of his house, pointing to the roadside. Trucks later carted it all away.

Editor's note: This story was changed May 7 to correct Lake Charles's ranking among Louisiana's largest cities.
Qantas and three state governments are refusing to say how much taxpayer money will be funnelled into the companys coffers to stop it from moving thousands of jobs interstate.

The airline on Thursday said it would not follow through on its threat to move up to 7000 jobs from employment hubs in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane after each state government agreed to give it payroll tax relief, property rebates or direct cash incentives.

Qantas chief Alan Joyce said that shifting one or more of the offices had been a live option for the group. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Qantas headquarters will remain at Mascot, Sydney with its 3500 employees; 750 staff will stay at its budget arm Jetstars office in Melbourne, and the groups heavy aircraft maintenance facility will stay open at Brisbane Airport.

Chief executive Alan Joyce said each state had put a lot of effort into their offers after the group announced a review of its property footprint in September in an effort to cut costs following its $2.7 billion pandemic-inflicted full-year loss.
The nations banks are struggling to process an unprecedented number of new mortgages as over-excited buyers snap up high-priced homes at Saturday auctions before they have locked in the funding to close the deal.

ANZ chief executive Shayne Elliott revealed his bank had wound back home loan marketing because demand was so strong while mortgage brokers said they were flat out with some customers, successful at an auction, facing a Monday-morning dash to secure a loan.

People buying a house at a Saturday auction are turning up to finance brokers the following Monday looking for a loan to pay for their purchase. Credit:Peter Rae

A combination of record-low interest rates and government support programs at the state and federal level has driven home lending levels to record highs. Through March a record 64,300 mortgages were bought by owner-occupiers and investors, or more than 2000 a day.

In May last year, at the depths of the pandemic recession, 35,100 mortgages were sold.
Hours after the Chinese government imposed a record $US2.8 billion fine on Alibaba, a veteran internet entrepreneur urged regulators to do something similar to his companys biggest competitor.

Douyin, TikToks Chinese sister service, is suing Tencent, Chinas biggest internet company, to allow users to share videos to Tencents ubiquitous WeChat messaging service.

Lawsuits are flying and tempers are flaring on the Chinese internet, home to the worlds largest single group of internet users. Credit:Bloomberg

Alibaba, meanwhile, has applied to set up its own apps within WeChat, essentially daring Tencent to say no.

Lawsuits are flying and tempers are flaring on the Chinese internet, home to the worlds largest single group of internet users. Beijing made it abundantly clear late last year that it was serious about curbing the power of a handful of companies that dominate online life in China. Now Chinas internet companies are kowtowing to Beijing and trying to make their rivals look bad instead of correcting their own anti-competitive behavior.
There was a reason why Nancy Pelosi was beaming from the podium in the House of Representatives on the 99th day of Joe Bidens presidency: Democrats controlled the House, the Senate and the White House. The President was about to deliver an address to the nation that contained a raft of policies and programs Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, had championed for decades.

History was being made because the two women seated behind the President, one a woman of colour, were next in line to succeed the president if needed. Madam Speaker. Madam Vice-President. No President has ever said those words from this podium, and its about time. Biden knows who is running the joint.

He might be the President, but Joe Biden know whos in charge - Kamala Harris (back left) and Nancy Pelosi. Credit:AP

Susan Page, Washington bureau chief of USA Today, has covered four decades of presidential campaigns and interviewed 10 presidents. She brings all her experience to bear in this expert, engaging meditation on power through the life story of Nancy DAlesandro Pelosi, daughter of an Italian-Catholic dynasty that spawned in Italy and flourished in Baltimore, where her father was mayor and congressman.

She did not just grow up with politics; she was immersed in it; it courses through her blood. She saw power flow and how it was wielded; how you won elections; how you kept score; how you knew who would be with you and who would disappoint you. What I learned from my father was everything. Politics is every minute of every day. It is part of you.
There are two easy federal budget measures that could be implemented to improve the living standards of women in retirement.

One, scrap the $450 monthly income threshold for superannuation payments. Two, pay super during parental leave.

Neither would materially impact the governments bottom line. But neither would it fully close the gender gap for women in their retirement savings.

Women in Super chief executive Sandra Buckley says significant reforms are needed end superannuation gender inequality in Australia. Credit:

Families Minister Anne Ruston found herself in an awkward position last October when she was forced to defend the governments budget by explaining that women drive cars.
Many of Australias quarantine facilities for overseas arrivals are far from full as the Indian flight ban continues to leave thousands stranded.

Figures obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age show the Northern Territorys Howard Springs quarantine facility, which prompted the ban last month after all but one of 48 infected residents had travelled from India, is only at roughly a third of its capacity.

The Howard Springs quarantine facility has many empty rooms, as thousands are left stranded in India. Credit:Getty Images

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the quarantine system needed a reprieve until May 15 before flights could resume, and that pause was already working.

Were already starting to see, as a result of the pause, the incidence of those cases at Howard Springs starting to come down. Weve got a bit more distance to travel there, he said on Wednesday morning.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 15:43:00|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's COVID-19 tally on Wednesday reached 41,524 after registering 1,128 new locally transmitted cases in the last 24 hours, the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said.

Meanwhile, four more fatalities and 1,308 more recoveries were reported, bringing the death toll to 141 and the total number of recoveries to 25,641, respectively, the NCCD said in a statement.

Mongolia launched a national vaccination campaign in late February, with the aim of vaccinating at least 60 percent of its total population of 3.3 million.

Finance Minister Bold Javkhlan said Wednesday that the government will offer cash incentives of 50,000 Mongolian Tugriks (17.5 U.S. dollars) to citizens who have received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, as the population of daily vaccination has been "relatively low" in recent days.

According to the country's health ministry, more than 1,128,600 people have received their first vaccine dose while over 532,500 have got both. Enditem
Thailands highest court has allowed the minister who pleaded guilty to conspiring to import heroin into Australia to keep his cabinet post, ruling his four years in a Sydney jail is not a breach of the constitution.

The Constitution Court on Wednesday ruled that while Thammanat Prompao had admitted to his Australian conviction, the extent of which was first revealed in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, the Thai court could not recognise the authority of another state.

We cannot implement the verdict of foreign courts, and we cannot interpret the verdict of foreign courts as having the same power as our courts, the full bench found. The verdict of any state only has effect in that state.

Thammanat pleaded guilty in 1993 to his role in importing 3.2 kilograms of heroin. At the time it had a street value of $4.1 million.
The NSW Treasurer and Transport Minister say the federal government must consider bigger tax breaks to incentivise the take-up of electric vehicles.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance described the transition away from a federal fuel excise tax towards state road user charges as a dogs breakfast and implored Canberra to do more to spur growth of electric vehicles.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet. Credit:Edwina Pickles

Mr Constance said the federal government should increase its luxury car tax threshold from $77,000 to $90,000 for electric vehicles, and also consider a fringe benefit tax relief for fleet vehicles.

What were seeing at the moment is the federal Treasury saying to the states well were losing fuel excise, off you go, set your rates - its become a dogs breakfast, Mr Constance said.
The University of Sydney is considering closing its departments of studies in religion  one of the last devoted to the secular study of faith in Australia  and theatre and performance as it looks to cut costs.

The University of Technology is also flagging at least 100 more job losses and cuts to subjects within four of its faculties: arts; IT; engineering; and business, due to financial challenges and a decrease in student demand.

Sydney University considers closing its theatre and religion departments Credit:Paul Jones

Universities say financial challenges, including having fewer international students and changes to Commonwealth funding, have forced them to review costs, although some academics say the universities are faring better than expected so should stop the cuts.

The University of Sydney has flagged possible changes to the faculty of arts and social sciences, which include reducing its six schools to five  saving on administration and cutting small, loss-making departments.
After his liver transplant, Peter Karamihalis found himself repeating the same line: It wasnt because I was an alcoholic.

The 62-year-old Paddington man had contracted Hepatitis C in his youth from transfusions for a blood disorder. The damage to his liver resulted in scarring and then a cancer diagnosis.

Peter Karamihalis, liver transplant recipient. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Treatment was tough. First, he had 20 per cent of his liver removed. Then his body rejected a liver transplant before a second successful attempt six years ago.

In the process he was jaundiced (turning yellow like Homer Simpson) and he is still lighter and weaker than he was before. But Mr Karamihalis still considers himself lucky when he remembers a decades-old friend he had made in hospital who was also receiving transfusions.
Some year 7, 8 and 11 students who missed out on important transition years due to last years lockdowns are socially delayed, anxious and tend to behave unpredictably.

Principals are reporting that, after almost two terms of remote learning last year, some students are having difficulties with readjusting to life at school.

Some children are finding it hard to readjust to life in the classroom. Credit:iStock

The problems seem especially acute among children who are now in years 7, 8 and 11 who were not in the classroom for the last year of primary school, the first year of secondary and the year before VCE.

Colin Axup, president of the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals, said principals across the state were reporting students were more unsettled and friendships were taking longer to form.
Victorian households have been using gas for heating and cooking for more than 160 years. For the first 100 years or so it was extracted from coal, but by the 1970s most homes had transitioned to an abundant supply of natural gas discovered in Bass Strait. For many years it was considered a cheap and clean alternative to electricity generated from coal-fired power plants. That time is coming to an end.

As calls grow to reduce carbon emissions, Victorian households will eventually need to transition to zero-emission power supplies. The Andrews government recently announced its intention to cut the states greenhouse pollution by 28 to 33 per cent of 2005 levels by 2025, and 45 to 50 per cent by 2030.

Victoria is the highest user of gas in the country. Credit:John Woudstra

About 19 per cent of Australias emissions come from natural gas, according to think tank the Grattan Institute, with much of that used for heating and cooking.

Its an enormous undertaking. Victorians are the nations largest users of natural gas. Almost half of the nations residential gas consumption is used solely to heat Victorian homes. But as gas prices have risen, and the need to cut emissions has intensified, the imperative to give up our reliance on the fossil fuel is becoming more evident.
Indigenous representatives are warning Water Minister Keith Pitt he will betray the good faith of First Nations groups if he goes ahead with a mooted plan to ditch funding for Indigenous water rights.

The federal government made a pledge in 2018 to create a $40 million fund to enable First Nation people in the Murray Darling Basin to buy the rights to use water for cultural and economic purposes, but no money has yet been invested.

Tatti Tatti traditional owners during a cultural flow planning project at Margooya Lagoon in north-west Victoria. Credit:Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations

Former water minister David Littleproud said in 2018 the fund was created to boost Indigenous water ownership, but Mr Pitt said in April he was considering spending money on non-water assets.

Mr Pitt said he was consulting with First Nations groups, looking at all opportunities and doing everything I can to deliver money on the ground because that delivers jobs.
It is important our politicians have and operate with principles, values and beliefs, but consistency of words and deeds is fundamental if they are to be believed and trusted. Australians have become wary of politicians who spruik morals, principles and religion but then fail conspicuously to live what they claim to believe.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made a couple of speeches in the past month in which he has focused on his faith and beliefs  to a conference of Christian Churches and to the United Israel Appeal Dinner last week - but his declarations on human dignity at those events sit at odds with his own behaviour.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison emphasised the importance of human dignity. Credit:James Alcock

At the United Israel dinner in Randwick he described human dignity as foundational to our freedom and the essence of morality. He declared that acting to morally enhance the freedom of others ultimately serves to enhance our own freedom and that we must protect against the growing tendency to commodify human beings through identity politics.

Yet compare this with his scathing attack on Australia Post boss Christine Holgate, his inadequate response to the Brittany Higgins rape allegations and other reports of bad behaviour in parliament, his efforts to take the Brereton report into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan off the radar and delay a formal response to it, and his governments decision to ban Australians returning from India and threaten them with jail and fines if they tried to come home.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted bail to three former directors of Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank who were arrested in December 2019 in connection with an alleged scam of over Rs 4,300 crore at the bank.

While granting the bail to the directors -- Mukti Bavisi, Trupti Suhas Bane and Ranjeet Tara Singh Nandrajog, the court asked them to submit their passports to it.

The trio had approached the high court after Sessions Court rejected their bail pleas in May 2020, the Economic Times reported. However, the court rejected the bail plea of bank's valuer Vishwanath Sridhar Prabhu.

The three are among the key accused in the scam. Bavisi was a director and member of PMC Bank's loans and advances committee since 2011. Bane was a member of loan recovery committee between 2010 to 2015 and of loans and advances since 2015. Besides being a director, Nandrajog was a member of the bank's recovery committee for about 13 years.

In September 2019, the RBI had imposed restrictions on the fraud-hit multi-state urban cooperative bank, including on withdrawals by customers, following a scam. The central bank had found irregularities in loans given to Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL) by PMC Bank.

Also read: COVID wave III imminent; we need to prepare, warns top scientist

Also read: Cabinet approves strategic divestment, management control transfer in IDBI Bank
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 16:06:20|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Four soldiers were killed and six others injured in an attack by Afghan terrorists near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Wednesday, a Pakistani army statement said.

The attack took place when Pakistan's paramilitary troops Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were engaged in border fencing activity along the border in Zhob district of the province, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

"Terrorists from across Afghanistan ambushed FC troops moving for fencing... FC troops responded promptly," the statement added, without mentioning the loss reported on the militants' side.

The injured soldiers were sent to a military hospital in the provincial capital of Quetta, said the statement.

The Pakistani army is fencing Pakistan's nearly 2,600-km border with Afghanistan, and according to military sources, around 90 percent of work on the fencing has been completed.

According to earlier statements by the ISPR, the fence is being erected to stop terrorist activities, militants' infiltration from the border and illegal activities including smuggling from Afghanistan.

Pakistani officials and experts believe that a significant reduction in militancy along the border areas will be witnessed after the completion of the fencing process. Enditem
Australia Posts demand to former boss Christine Holgate to make any financial compensation requirements public after a potential settlement has not been met, as a deadline lapsed for the parties to resolve their issues through mediation.

Ms Holgates lawyers have threatened to sue Australia Post over its handling of the Cartier watches saga, which resulted in her resignation as chief executive last year, unless they entered into mediation by 5pm on Wednesday to avoid costly litigation for all parties.

Former Australia Post chief executive Christine Holgate and current chairman Lucio Di Bartolomeo. Credit:

But as the deadline passed, the parties had failed to secure a date for the mediation and even appeared unable to agree on the terms for the process.

Australia Post toughened its position on Wednesday morning, issuing a statement that urged Ms Holgate to make public, after the mediation is concluded, any financial compensation or other remedies she sought.
Victorias upper house has ordered the Andrews government to release a long-suppressed report into bullying and sexual discrimination in Victorias fire services, five years after it was commissioned.

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission report has never been released after the United Firefighters Union fought to keep it secret. The Court of Appeal found in 2018 that the commission did not have the legal right to review the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and Country Fire Authority.

A digitially-altered image of former minister Jane Garrett and firefighter union leader Peter Marshall. Credit:Josh Robenstone and Angela Wylie

The probe was commissioned in 2015 by then emergency services minister Jane Garrett  who now backs the reports release  in response to an internal review that revealed 50 per cent of respondents said they had been bullied, and one-third harassed.

The review took place amid years of heated political debate about the workplace culture within the states fire services.
Singapore: Health experts are urging the Morrison government to accelerate its delivery of doses to East Timor amid a deepening crisis there that has led Chinas vaccine diplomacy to reach Australias doorstep.

South-east Asias youngest nation is in the midst of its most serious battle with the coronavirus at the same time that it is still recovering from last months catastrophic floods and landslides. More than 3300 people remain in emergency shelters.

Australias first batch of 20,000 AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in Dili on a Qantas flight on Wednesday. Australian government sources confirmed similar sized shipments were planned on a fortnightly basis.

A security guard manages a queue of people waiting to enter a shopping centre in Dili, East Timor. Credit:EPA

But with new cases peaking at more than 100 per day twice in the past fortnight and four people dying in a new wave that coincided with the devastation of Cyclone Seroja, health experts are urging Australia to help speed up the countrys vaccine rollout.
Washington: Facebooks independent oversight board has upheld the social media giants decision to suspend former president Donald Trump from the platform following the January 6 insurrection.

But the board criticised Facebook for imposing an indeterminate and standardless penalty of indefinite suspension, saying the company must decide whether to allow Trump back on the platform or ban him permanently within six months.

Former president Donald Trump was suspended from Facebook following the January 6 insurrection. Credit:AP

The verdict means Trump will remain barred from Facebook for the time being, but it will ultimately be up to chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to decide whether Trump can return to the platform ahead of another potential run for the White House in 2024.

In a statement, Trump did not address the decision directly, but said that actions by Facebook, Twitter and Google were a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our country. These corrupt social media companies must pay a political price.
I'm sure you've already heard that Broadway is coming back on July 1. Or is it May 19? No matter what New York's dueling mayor and governor say, the fact is we aren't likely to see Broadway open until after Labor Day. It's going to be a little while until you can enjoy the sight of a full kick-line on a Broadway stage.

Still, those jonesing for musical spectacle will find plenty in this year's Eurovision Song Contest, which will be broadcast live from Rotterdam on Tuesday, May 18, and Thursday, May 20, with a grand finale on Saturday, May 22, at 21:00 CEST (that's 3PM ET).

The contest has been a staple of the European calendar since 1956, when Switzerland's Lys Assia bested a field of six other participating countries with the song "Refrain." Since then, it has grown in size and scope, with artists from 39 countries (some not even in Europe) seeking to have their song recognized as the best of that year.

Ever-more-lavish stage shows and publicity stunts have become a hallmark of the contest, where the key to winning is to stand out. A complicated combination of juries and televoting makes the final determination, and watching the results is often more nerve-racking than seeing an Olympic gymnast on the balance beam. I consider it the unofficial kickoff to Gay Pride month.

With all that in mind, here is my completely subjective, hopelessly biased list of the five best songs in this year's Eurovision Song Contest:

5. Dai og Gagnamagni - "10 Years" - Iceland

From Silvia Night to Hatari, Iceland routinely sends the most fascinating acts to Eurovision, so much so that Will Ferrell smartly chose to portray an Icelandic contestant in his 2020 film Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. My theory is that Iceland's physical distance from the continent has fostered a remarkably unique culture and sense of humor in its people. It's like the Galapagos Islands of pop music. Living up to that reputation is Dai Freyr and his band Gagnamagni with their unique brand of feel-good dance music and awkward choreography  all of which seems tailor-made for extraterrestrials. "10 Years," about Dai's relationship with his wife, captures that nicely, but perhaps not as perfectly as his 2020 entry "Think About Things," which was favored to win last year's competition before Covid-19 let to its cancellation. While Iceland is no longer the odds-on favorite to win, it is still sending one of the best songs to the competition. And even if it doesn't win, we'll always have "Jaja Sing Dong."

4. Eden Alene - "Set Me Free" - Israel

Eden Alene is giving me serious Dua Lipa vibes with this chill yet danceable nu-disco ditty. A flirty underscoring of electric kamanjat makes the tune distinctively Israeli. I could easily see myself grooving to this song at a beachside cafe with a spritz and a plate of pistachios. Israel has won the contest four times, most recently in 2018 for Netta's "Toy." It may be too soon for them to snag another win  then again, that never stopped dominant competitors like Ireland or Sweden, or unlikely heavy-hitter Luxembourg, which has an astounding five wins to its name. Never discount the small countries.

3. Go_A - "Shum" - Ukraine

In the two decades since it joined the competition, Ukraine has sent some of my very favorite acts ever, as well as two winners. This year's entry comes from electro-folk band Go_A, which draws on pre-Christian Ukrainian tradition in their frenetic techno number "Shum." The music video looks like a trailer for Mad Max Beyond Chernobyl, but the lyrics are actually a powerful invocation of springtime following a harsh winter. And who isn't in the market for one of those right about now?

2. Elena Tsagrinou - "El Diablo" - Cyprus

This song is so hot it has been denounced by the Holy Synod of the Church of Cyprus, which issued a strongly worded statement comparing the number to devil worship and "the provocative bulimia of the Turkish conquerors." Rude! But perhaps their eminences have a point. Sounding very much like a collaboration between Lady Gaga and Sia, I suspect some demonic force behind this dance track that I cannot get out of my head. You may have noticed that I have chosen all up-tempo songs in my picks thus far, and there's a reason for that. Eurovision is like a US presidential election: The winner is almost always the polar opposite of the incumbent. Since the reigning champ is still Duncan Laurence for his 2019 bare-bottomed tearjerker "Arcade" we can expect this year's winner to be quite different  which brings us to the best song in the 2021 contest:

1. Destiny - Je Me Casse - Malta

Full disclosure: I am a shameless promoter of Malta, and like everyone connected to the island republic, I have long wanted to see Malta triumph at Eurovision. It never has, despite entering competitions as far back as 1971 (and consistently since 1991). Near-wins in 1998, 2002, and 2005 have contributed to both agita and despair, but 2021 is poised to be Malta's year of destiny  Destiny Chukunyere that is. The 18-year-old powerhouse is already the winner of the 2015 Junior Eurovision and champion of the second season of X Factor Malta, which immediately qualified her to represent Malta in Eurovision 2020. While that contest was a bust due to Covid, Destiny is back in 2021 with an even better number. "Je Me Casse" is the kind of song that will have everyone in the club dancing, which is exactly what we want after this miserable year of privation. Destiny is channeling Lizzo and Beyonce in this fierce feminist anthem, which has all the ingredients of a Eurovision winner. I'm not the only one who thinks so: Destiny has led the pack in the betting odds ever since the song dropped in March. If she can sustain that momentum, we might just see Malta host its first Eurovision in 2022.

How do I watch?

Eurovision is famously trickly to watch in the USA. Sometimes it is available to stream for free on YouTube, but sometimes it is blocked by the US rights holder (most recently Netflix). However, in the spirit of Maltese hospitality, I'm going to give readers of TheaterMania a special way to watch: Television Malta streams 24/7 and I have never had trouble viewing it stateside. If you can deal with a little Maltese-language side commentary, it's your best bet to watch the contest on May 22 (that's at 3pm ET, noon Pacific).

Update - 5/18/2021: With just hours to go before the first semi-final, it was announced that the full competition will be available to American viewers through Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming service.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 16:23:12|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday reported 5,685 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total tally to 1,073,555.

"The low number of cases is due to fewer samples received by the laboratories on Saturday and Sunday," the DOH said in a statement.

The death toll from COVID-19 climbed to 17,800 after 178 more patients died from the coronavirus epidemic in the Southeast Asian country, the DOH said.

The Philippines, which has an about 110 million population, has tested over 11 million people since it was hit by COVID-19 in January 2020.

Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted on Wednesday the emergency use authorization for Moderna's vaccine against COVID-19, the seventh vaccine given green light by the regulator. Enditem
Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, addresses the Legislature, March 10, 2021, at the Augusta Civic Center in Augusta, Maine.
Kent State University student Regan Raeth of Hudson, Ohio, has her COVID-19 vaccination administered Thursday, April 8, 2021, by Kent State nurse Kristen Barath in Kent, Ohio.
In this April 22, 2021, file photo, people wait in line to apply for seasonal jobs at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 16:29:32|Editor: huaxia

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SHARAN, Afghanistan, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A police district chief was killed and two others injured as a blast targeted a police van in Sar Hawza district of Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province on Wednesday, provincial police spokesman Shah Mohammad Arian has confirmed.

The Taliban militants launched massive offensive on checkpoints in Dewana Baba area of the restive district late Tuesday night, triggering heavy fighting which lasted for a couple of hours, the official said, adding that the district police chief Juma Khan was going to lead the war but a blast struck his van killing him on the spot and injuring two others.

Without providing more details, the official added that the police and the army would continue to ensure security in Sar Hawza and its vicinity.

Another blast which struck a mini-bus of health workers outside the capital city Kabul in the morning rush hours claimed one life and injured three others, police confirmed. Enditem
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa., speaks during a House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, April 15, 2021.
Staff Reporter

Tim Gruver is a politics and public policy reporter. He is a University of Washington alum and the recipient of the 2017 Pioneer News Award for Reporting. His work has appeared in Politico, the Kitsap Daily News, and the Northwest Asian Weekly.
Criminals can steal someone's identity and use it to apply for unemployment benefits.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 16:41:21|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's National Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday issued a warning of forest and grassland fires.

The weather is very dry in most parts of Mongolia, which faces high risks of wildfires, the emergency agency said.

It also warned citizens that any fires should be prevented in the wild.

A total of 17 wildfires have been reported across the country since the beginning of this year, according to the agency. Enditem
Cheyenne, WY (82001)

Today

Plenty of sunshine. High around 85F. SSE winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 57F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.
I cant believe its already the middle of May, can you? All segments of our business are really busy, and unfortunately, the prices reflect that. As most of you have probably seen or heard, (or maybe read about in this newspaper) the price of building materials is high. Were hoping we migh Read more
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A screenshot from a video showing a Florida principal paddling a 6-year-old student, recorded by the students mother. Photo: WINK News

An elementary-school principal in Clewiston, Florida, faces multiple investigations after a parent caught her on camera paddling a 6-year-old student last month. The child reportedly broke a screen on a school computer, and the principal  Melissa Carter  called her mother to Central Elementary School, asking the woman to bring $50 to cover the damages. When the woman (who hasnt been named publicly) arrived, she told a local news outlet, WINK-TV, she found her daughter already in the principals office with Carter and a school clerk. When Carter ordered the girl to bend over a chair, her mother says she started filming on her cellphone, capturing the principal spanking her crying daughter three times with a wooden paddle. WINK-TV published the footage.

The woman told the station that when the school called her about the computer on April 13, someone had mentioned paddling, but because of a language barrier  the students mother speaks Spanish  she didnt understand exactly what was meant. She decided to film rather than intervene, she said, because she felt nobody would have believed her. I sacrificed my daughter so all parents can realize whats happening in this school.

As the New York Times notes, corporal punishment remains legal in schools in 19 states, Florida included. Still, the Hendry County School District, which oversees Clewistons Central Elementary, specifically prohibits corporal punishment. After the paddling, the woman took her daughter to see a doctor; the Hendry Regional Medical Center reportedly contacted the Clewiston Police Department, explaining that the woman wanted to file a report. The womans attorney, Brent Probinsky, told WINK-TV that the investigation is now in the hands of the State Attorneys Office for the 20th Judicial Circuit, which will decide whether or not to charge Carter and the clerk. Meanwhile, Floridas Department of Children and Families is also looking into the matter. Deputy Superintendent for Hendry County schools, Robert J. Egley, told the Times that the situation is still under investigation, and did not elaborate.

The student in question has since transferred and, according to Probinsky, the mother is pursuing criminal and administrative action against the school employees involved. Im going to get justice for my daughter because if I could not do it in front of her, the woman told WINK-TV, Im going to do it with justice.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 18:15:40|Editor: huaxia

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SUVA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Fiji reported on Wednesday night four new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 125 in the island nation.

According to Fiji's Health Ministry, two are imported cases of Fijian soldiers who returned from Sinai later last month.

The third case is a 53-year-old man who was admitted to the Lautoka Hospital for a surgical procedure while the fourth case is a 27-year-old woman from the capital city of Suva.

The Lautoka Hospital, about 24 km north of Nadi, Fiji's third-largest city, is now a tightly contained full-time care facility.

"Our first priority is to contain the cases we know about within Lautoka Hospital. To prevent the hospital from becoming ground-zero for a wider outbreak, the members of our disciplined forces have locked down Lautoka Hospital in a matter of hours," said Fiji's Permanent Secretary for the Health Ministry James Fong.

He also confirmed that nine more cases have fully recovered, bringing the total recoveries to 84 in the island nation.

Fiji has recorded two deaths and 39 active cases, including eight imported cases, 28 locally transmitted cases and three under investigation to determine their sources of transmission.

Fiji has also maintained a nationwide curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. local time since March last year. Enditem
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Pennsylvania to lift COVID mitigation orders starting Memorial Day (free to read)

COVID-19 mitigation orders except for mask wearing will be lifted in Pennsylvania starting Memorial Day, Gov. Tom Wolfs administration announced Tuesday.

The mask order will be removed when 70% of residents 18 and older are fully vaccinated.

We continue to make significant progress in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 and as more Pennsylvania adults get vaccinated and guidance from the CDC evolves, we can continue to move forward with our reopening efforts, Department of Health Acting Secretary Alison Beam said. I encourage Pennsylvanians to take the critical steps needed to put this pandemic behind us by getting vaccinated, follow through with both doses if you receive the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, and continue to take steps like masking, frequent hand washing and sanitizing and social distancing.

Hospitals will still be required to follow data reporting and social distancing requirements, according to beam, and schools can enact stricter mandates if they choose.

According to the DOH, nearly 3.6 million people, or 32.2% of the states population, had been fully vaccinated as of midnight Monday, while an additional 5.16 million had been partially vaccinated statewide. In Bradford County, 12,591 people, or 22.5% of the population, have been fully vaccinated while 3,801 people have at least received one shot.

Among those responding to the news Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Fred Keller (R-Pa.-12) said the announcement was long overdue.

For over a year, Pennsylvanians have suffered under prolonged government mandates that restricted where they could go, who they could see, and how they could worship. The governors shutdown orders have crushed thousands of small businesses and destroyed livelihoods in communities across our state, he said. While todays announcement represents a step in the right direction of restoring many of the liberties the Wolf administration seized in the early days of the pandemic, it should have come much sooner. Pennsylvanians have demonstrated that they are smart, hardworking, and diligent people capable of doing the right thing and taking measures to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Tuesdays COVID-19 update from the DOH also showed that Bradford County has gained 33 confirmed cases since the start of May and 226 confirmed cases over the past two weeks.

Rite Aid partnership

Also on Tuesday, Wolf announced a partnership with Rite Aid Pharmacy to help those with intellectual and developmental disabilities access COVID-19 vaccinations.

All Pennsylvanians are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines, but we know that there still may be people need additional help scheduling or getting to a vaccine appointment. This partnership will help us ease potential barriers and ensure that people with intellectual disabilities and autism as well as their caregivers are able to get this life-saving vaccine, Wolf said.

Those with disabilities or their caregivers can call the Department of Human Services Office of Developmental Programs Vaccination Call Center at 1-800-424-4345 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office will then forward the names and locations of those who need to be vaccinated to Rite Aid, whose staff will then reach out to callers to schedule appointments.

The vaccinations are for those who are at least 16 years old.
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ONEONTA - Mrs. Uhlig passed away on November 18, 2019. A memorial service will be held for Carol H. Uhlig at 12:30 p.m., Monday, June 14, in the Bookhout Funeral Home 357 Main Street, Oneonta, with Rev. Stephen D. Fournier, officiating. Friends may call at the Bookhout Funeral Home from 11 a
Melanie joined The Daily Times in the early 90s and has served as the Life section editor since 1993. A William Blount and UT alum, Melanie is generally the early arriver who turns on the lights in the newsroom.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 19:38:25|Editor: huaxia

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SYDNEY, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Australian public should oppose some politicians' recent war talk on China and put pressure on them to divert the country from its collision course with China, an Australian scholar said.

David Brophy, senior lecturer in Modern Chinese History at the University of Sydney, made the remarks in an opinion piece titled "Australians don't want a war with China. It's time to raise voices against it" in Wednesday's Sydney Morning Herald.

Australia's discussion of China has been replete with the language of war for a long time, he said, noting that "this flurry of war talk has been met with anxiety, but also bemusement." The scholar believed there are both domestic and international elements behind it.

"Australia obviously can't pick a fight with China by itself, so what's it all about? Some claim that Scott Morrison is shaping up for a khaki election," he said.

From the global perspective, "bravado towards Beijing can be a way for Australia to signal to Washington that it is willing to step up and 'share the burden' of confronting China," he added.

In Brophy's view, the talk of war is becoming normalized in a dangerous way. Considering the close military ties between Australia and the United States, as well as the precedent of signing up to American wars without parliamentary debate, the public needs to speak out their opposition to the war talk.

A large number of the Australian people do not support Australia in following the United States into a war with China, the scholar wrote, citing a poll by the Lowy Institute last year, which showed that only a third of Australians support the idea of joining the United States in a war against China.

"We need to call on them (some Australian politicians) to ensure that the popular will informs policy," the article said.

America's military presence in Asia "serves American interests alone," Brophy stressed. "If America were to engage in war with China and summon up its allies, it would be for these self-interested ends such as preserving its dominance in Asia."

For Australia, these motivations would only bring "pointless and immoral wars" like those from Vietnam to Afghanistan.

"No one in Australia should contemplate fighting and dying in this cynical game of power politics -- not now, or at any point in the future," Brophy said. "Before the new Cold War turns hot, today's war talk needs to be met with a forthright rejection, and public pressure mobilized to divert Australia from its collision course with China." Enditem
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Meet Blackie! Blackie is a Black Labrador and former editor-in-chief's Douglas Soule's pet. Blackie is very dysfunctional- he doesn't fetch, h
5 Charged In Alleged Houston Human Smuggling Operation

Five people have been charged days after Houston police discovered 97 migrants in a suburban house in what appears to be an alleged human smuggling case, the Justice Department said Monday.

The individuals, all of whom are residing in the United States illegally, are now in custody and face federal charges. They are from Mexico, El Salvador, and Honduras, and are aged between 21 and 31.

Marina Garcia-Diaz, 22; Henry Licona-Larios, 31; Kevin Licona-Lopez, 25; Marco Baca-Perez, 30; and Marcelo Garcia-Palacios, 21, face one count each of harboring migrants into the United States, online court records state.

According to a criminal complaint filed Saturday, all five harbored, concealed, and shielded illegal aliens for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain.

The two-story home where they allegedly harbored nearly 100 undocumented migrants in two rooms is described in court papers as a stash house.

All of the men were found in their undergarments, according to the complaint, and people were packed together on both floors.

No children were inside the house, Houston Police Assistant Chief Daryn Edwards told reporters at a press conference last week. About five were women while the rest were men, he added.

Many had not eaten in a while, he said, adding that the youngest person was in his or her early 20s. They were provided food and water.

Houston police first received a phone call from a woman reporting her brother had been kidnapped on Friday. She alleged she had paid several thousand dollars for him to be smuggled into the United States from Honduras, and smugglers later demanded additional money before they would release him.

The smugglers also threatened to kill her brother, according to the charges. Separately, at least one individual was told that if the money was not paid, he would be put in 4 pieces of wood, court documents state.

If found guilty, each of the five people charged faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 20:14:16|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines will ban travelers from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka from May 7 in efforts to prevent the spread of the highly infectious COVID-19 variant first found in India, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said on Wednesday.

In a memorandum, Medialdea said all passengers coming from or who have been to these countries within 14 days shall be prohibited from entering the Philippines from May 7 to 14.

According to the memorandum, arrivals before May 7 who come from or have been to these four countries will be allowed to enter but will be required to be isolated in government-run quarantine facilities for 14 days regardless of a swab test result.

The Philippines earlier banned travelers from India from April 29 to May 14 due to the COVID-19 resurgence there. Enditem
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on April 28, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

A Look at the Liberal Governments Different Internet Content Control Measures

The Liberal governments Bill C-10, which has been criticized by the opposition and advocates for its potential to limit free speech, is part of a number of measures and directives issued by the federal government for internet and speech control.

These measures include introducing new regulations for online content, a legal framework to address online hate, as well as a struck-down section of Canadas elections law to combat fake news during elections.

In his mandate letters to a number of ministers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listed online hate and harassment together with ideologically motivated violent extremism and terrorist organizations in the same sentence requesting the ministers action, signalling the importance of combatting online hate.

Skeptics of the governments new measures claim that the Criminal Code already has the tools to deal with hate speech, and therefore creating new regulatory bodies that would operate with lower burdens of proof than that of the criminal justice system could lead to infringement on peoples freedom of speech. It could even lead to politicized use of those legal tools, since theyre outside of the court system.

Cara Zwibel, director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, told The Epoch Times that while it is appropriate for the government to put in place certain restrictions to deal with illegal online activities, there is a risk that an overreaching piece of legislation could capture a whole bunch of legal activity and make it much more subject to government scrutiny and regulation.

Ministerial Mandates

Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Nov. 3, 2020. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Trudeau has made combatting online hate part of the mandate of a number of cabinet ministers.

In the case of Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault, Trudeau has mandated that the minister create new regulations for social media platforms such that they remove illegal content, including hate speech, within 24 hours or face significant penalties.

The cabinet ministers who have been given mandates to aid in combatting online hate include the Minister of Justice and Attorney General; the Minister of Canadian Heritage; the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness; the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth; the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry; and the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development.

Fake News Law

A voter heads to cast her vote in Canadas federal election at the Fairbanks Interpretation Centre in Dartmouth, N.S., on Oct. 21, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan)

The non-profit Canadian Constitution Foundation earlier this year won a court challenge to defeat new sections of the Canada Elections Act introduced by the federal government to counter the spreading of misinformation about candidates during an election.

The challenged sections, introduced as part of Bill C-76 that was passed in 2018, sought to forbid false claims about a candidate breaking a law or being investigated or charged with a criminal offence, as well as false statements about a candidates citizenship, place of birth, education, and professional qualifications.

Ontario Superior Court Justice Breese Davies, who presided over the case, said in her ruling on Feb. 19 that the new additions were an unjustifiable infringement on the free-speech rights of Canadians.

The free exchange of political ideas is essential to a properly functioning democracy. Political speech is the most valuable and protected type of expression, Davies wrote.

Davies rejected the governments request to suspend her ruling for 12 months, saying that her decision to strike down the new additions takes effect immediately.

Bill C-10

Silhouettes of mobile device users are seen next to a screen projection of YouTubes logo in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

Bill C-10, introduced by Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault on Nov. 3, 2020, brings internet content providers under Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications (CRTC) regulation. The legislation involves regulation of streaming services such as Netflix in areas such as mandatory financial contributions to create Canadian content and tax-collection requirements.

The bill became more controversial on April 26 after it was amended to bring user-generated content on platforms such as YouTube and Facebook under regulation.

Amidst criticism, the Liberal government said on May 3 that the bill will be amended to make it crystal clear that uploads on social media by Canadians wouldnt be subject to the CRTC regulation.

University of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist said on Twitter that the change shows that Guilbeault acknowledges what was obvious, namely that government Bill C-10 changes resulted in regulating the content of millions of Canadians.

Even before the April 26 amendment, the bill was criticized for its potential to give the government undue powers to control online content.

[Bill C-10] is about speech control over the internet, Timothy Denton, a former national commissioner at the CRTC, wrote in Financial Post.

The freedom to communicate across the internet is to be determined by political appointees, on the basis of no other criterion than what is conducive to broadcasting policyand, presumably, the good of our domestic industry. As always, the interests of the beneficiaries of regulation are heard first, best, and last. Consumers and individual freedoms count for little when the regulated sector beats its drums.

Impending Hate Speech Bill

Justice Minister David Lametti responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Oct. 20, 2020. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Guilbeault is expected to soon table another bill aimed at curbing online hate speech.

The legislation will create a legal framework for prohibiting hate speech, terrorist content, content that incites violence, non-consensual sharing of intimate content, and child sexual exploitative content.

According to a ministry spokesperson, the goal of the legislation is to foster a safer and more inclusive online environment so all Canadians can exercise their expressive rights online, without being subject to hateful or threatening attacks.

Arif Virani, parliamentary secretary to Justice Minister David Lametti, has told the National Post that the bill will include a new definition of hate.

The bill could see enactment of a civil remedy for hate speech similar to a law repealed in 2013, which made it an act of discrimination to communicate anything online or by telephone that was likely to expose a person to hatred or contempt, as long as they are identifiable on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination.

The controversial lawSection 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Actwas criticized for being overly broad and having weak safeguards to protect speech rights.

Christine Van Geyn, litigation director of the Canadian Constitution Foundation, told the National Post that the civil remedy under Section 13 was widely seen as highly politicized and discretionary.

Van Geyn has also said that there are other government proposals in the upcoming bill that have her concerned, including removing the discretion of provincial attorneys general to decline to prosecute hate crimes. She also said that adding more regulations on internet platforms may cause them to be overly cautious and to more actively remove content that they believe may subject them to penalties.

Platforms might seek to avoid a penalty being imposed on them, so they would pre-emptively take down content that doesnt actually meet the threshold  removing content that is an important part of political and public debate and raises important questions, Van Geyn said at a panel discussion of the Canada Strong and Free Network on Nov. 7.

With reporting by Justina Wheale and Lee Harding
Mary Grabar, author of the upcoming book "Debunking the 1619 Project: Exposing the Plan to Divide America," speaks to Epoch TV's Crossroads program on May 4, 2021. (Epoch Times)

American History Is Being Falsified to Sow Political Division: Mary Grabar

Mary Grabar, author of the upcoming book Debunking the 1619 Project: Exposing the Plan to Divide America, told Epoch TVs Crossroads program that the controversial 1619 Project skews American history for divisive political ends.

The 1619 Project attempts to cast the Atlantic slave trade as the dominant factor in the founding of America, rather than ideals such as individual liberty and natural rights. The initiative has been widely panned by historians and political scientists, with some critics calling it a bid to rewrite U.S. history through a left-wing lens.

In the interview, Grabar criticized the project for inaccuracies such as the American Revolution having been fought to preserve the institution of slavery rather than for seeking independence from Britain.

The way the 1619 Project presents it, its an oversimplified form, Grabar said, referring to the dynamics of slavery and growing opposition to it ahead of the 1776 Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War.

Grabar said the situation was that Britain was deeply vested in the slave trade and that, they were actually encouraging the colonies to use slave labor, because they were leading in the international slave trade.

They were making a lot of money, and they wanted the colonies to have the slaves, Grabar insisted, adding that the reality of the dynamics around slavery in America run counter to the claims made by proponents of the 1619 Project.

The 1619 Project was inaugurated by an essay by New York Times writer Nikole Hannah-Jones, who essentially made the argument that what drove Americas founders to seek independence from Britain was a desire to continue owning slaves.

Conveniently left out of our founding mythology is the fact that one of the primary reasons some of the colonists decided to declare their independence from Britain was because they wanted to protect the institution of slavery, Hannah-Jones wrote, arguing further that the profits from slave labor empowered Americas founders to push for independence.

In other words, we may never have revolted against Britain if some of the founders had not understood that slavery empowered them to do so; nor if they had not believed that independence was required in order to ensure that slavery would continue, Hannah-Jones wrote, adding, It is not incidental that 10 of this nations first 12 presidents were enslavers, and some might argue that this nation was founded not as a democracy but as a slavocracy.

Grabar said in the interview that this interpretation is inaccurate.

Its the opposite of what Hannah-Jones  is saying, Grabar said, adding that it wasnt until 1787 that the abolitionist movement started in England, around four years after the 1783 Treaty of Paris was signed, which officially ended the American Revolutionary War.

A lot of the narratives being pushed right now are also these ideas that the whole history of America was basically some type of tyranny, Grabar said, rather than the fact that the American system was trying to fight against tyranny of different kinds.

The American model for world governance was always based on that, Grabar said, referring to fighting against tyranny. She added that what we are now seeing with the 1619 Project is a reversal of that whole narrative.

She argued that the broader context for such distortions of history is to cast America as fundamentally tyrannical, facilitating the replacement of its free-market capitalist system with a socialistic regime.

But socialism hasnt worked anywhere, Grabar said. Its just produced a lot of misery and death and subjugation.

Other historians have widely criticized the 1619 Project, with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Gordon Wood calling it so wrong in so many ways. Another Pulitzer Prize-winner, James McPherson, the dean of Civil War historians, argues that it presents an unbalanced, one-sided account that leaves out key historical facts.

Thomas Mackaman, a history professor at Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, told The Wall Street Journal that, in his view, the American Revolution didnt establish a slavocracy, as Hannah-Jones suggests, but it instead brought slavery in for questioning in a way that had never been done before by raising universal human equality as a fundamental principle.

Recently, 37 Republicans led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) penned a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona urging him to remove the 1619 Project from federal grant programs, arguing it distorts American history for divisive political ends.

In a proposed new rule released April 19, the Education Department outlined new priority criteria for a $5.3 million American History and Civics Education grant, as well as exemplary materials for K-12 educators to use, including the 1619 Project.

Our nations youth do not need activist indoctrination that fixates solely on past flaws and splits our nation into divided camps. Taxpayer-supported programs should emphasize the shared civic virtues that bring us together, not push radical agendas that tear us apart, McConnell and his GOP colleagues wrote in the letter (pdf).

Joshua Phillip contributed to this report.
Atlanta Democrat Announces Run for Georgia Secretary of State

A Democratic Georgia state lawmaker has launched a campaign to challenge Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in the 2022 election, she announced on May 4.

State Rep. Bee Nguyen claimed in her announcement video that Republicans have moved to suppress voters but with her in charge, Georgia will not allow anyone to stand in the way of our right to a free and fair democracy. Nguyen, as with most other Democrats, opposed election reform legislation that Georgia Republicans approved earlier this year before it was signed into law by GOP Gov. Brian Kemp.

The legislation restricts early voting but expands voting access in other ways, an Epoch Times analysis found. Republicans, including Raffensperger, who is the states top election official, have defended the measure, saying its aimed at strengthening election integrity.

Im running to make sure that all Georgians have the right to participate in our democracy and for Georgia to lead the country on voting rights, not on voter suppression, Nguyen said in a written statement. As part of that commitment, the Secretary of States office will prioritize accessibility, efficiency, and equity across all divisions.

Nguyen has been a state lawmaker since 2017, when she won a special election to fill the seat vacated by Stacey Abrams, a Democrat who ran for governor but lost. Nguyen, 39, is vice chair of the Georgia Democratic Party.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger gives an update on the state of the election and ballot count during a news conference at the State Capitol in Atlanta, on Nov. 6, 2020. (Dustin Chambers/Reuters)

Raffensperger also faces a challenge from the right. Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.), who is running in the Republican primary, has asserted that actions by Raffensperger served to create cracks in the integrity of our elections, which I wholeheartedly believe individuals took advantage of in 2020.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Hice, calling him a steadfast fighter for conservative Georgia values and is a staunch ally of the America First agenda.

David Belle Isle, former Republican mayor of Alpharetta, is also running for secretary of state.

Trump alleged that widespread fraud occurred in certain states in the 2020 election, including Georgia. However, Raffensperger has said only a scattered number of fraud cases occurred, adding up to an amount too small to influence the final result.

Trump lost to President Joe Biden by just under 12,000 votes in the state, out of nearly 5 million cast. Democrats also won both U.S. Senate seats in the state, enabling them to flip control of the upper chamber.
The logo of job seeking website 'Seek' is seen on a screen in Canberra, Australia, Feb. 21, 2017. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Australian Job Market Boom Brings Profits Increase For Advertiser Seek

Online employment directory Seek has raised its profit forecast as businesses across Australia, and New Zealand, are hiring more workers than expected.

On Tuesday (pdf), Seek revised the forecast for its 2021 financial year net profit from $100 million to $140 million and its net income from $460 million to $480 million.

Seek reportedly had the highest number of job ads in March on their website since their inception, which had a 75 percent increase over the year and a 10.3 percent increase over the month.

The three industries with the highest growth in job ads were hospitality and tourism, services, and healthcare. The former two suffered particularly hard from the lockdowns and experienced many job cuts.

As the economy shows strong signs of recovery, companies are once again looking to hire and Seek found that the number of applications per job advertisement is at its lowest level since 2012.

It is fantastic to see so many jobs available and a real testament to Australian employers hard work and resilience over the last year, Kendra Banks, managing director of Seek ANZ, said. There are factors that are driving these strong numbers that are important to consider, including many of the jobs currently being advertised are for roles that were displaced in the last year.

ANZ research on Monday (pdf) found job ads has grown for the 11th month in a row in April by 4.7 percent. The number of job ads now exceed pre-COVID levels.

Businesses looking to hire new workers are, on the whole, unlikely to be those that were heavily dependent on the JobKeeper payment, ANZ senior economist Catherine Birch said.

Seek Diversifies Away From China

Seek has also announced shareholders will receive a dividend of 20 cents per share after it completes its Zhaopin transaction.

Seek has sold a large portion of its shares in the Chinese job directory and reduced its ownership of the platform from 61.1 percent to 23.5 percent.

A portion of the Zhaopin proceeds will be returned to shareholders as a dividend, which reflects our confidence in SEEKs outlook and ongoing cash generation, Seek CEO Andrew Bassat said.

Seek has already received $500m of the gross proceedings in April, with the remaining to be received in June.
Surveillance cameras are seen on a corner of Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Sept. 6, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijings Modern Cultural Revolution Threatens Western Civilization: US Commissioner

The communist regime in China is waging another Cultural Revolution and this time, it has worldwide implications, said Nury Turkel, a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

What is happening in China today, with respect to religious ethnic minorities, with this repressive environment  is literally a Cultural Revolution on steroids, Turkel said in a recent interview on The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program.

Turkel is no stranger to the Cultural Revolutionhe was born in a Chinese re-education camp where his mother was imprisoned at the height of the violent mass movement that started in 1966. The 10-year-long movement, which destroyed the cultural heritage and traditions of the country, resulted in millions of deaths.

Whatever is happening to religious ethnic minorities in China[its] no longer about their human rights, their religious freedomthis is about us as a free society, said Turkel. How to prevent this is becoming [a] new normal in the world, this will create much bigger problems for us to handle and down the road.

Victims of the Chinese regimes ongoing human rights violations now include Catholics, Falun Gong adherents, house Christians, Muslim minorities, and Tibetans. In Chinas far-western region of Xinjiang, which is home to about 11 million Uyghurs, at least 1 million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyz have been detained in internment camps for political indoctrination.

In January, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang.

War on Faith

Turkel, an Uyghur American attorney, said the Chinese regime has been waging a war on faith; its the CCPs ideologies that are driving its assaults on religions.

Believing in any religion, or having a spiritual life is considered as a potential threat or a sign of disloyalty, Turkel said. So instead of worshiping God, when you go to the places of worship, you worship Xi Jinping, you study Xi Jinping thought.

Under Xi, the current CCP leader, Chinese authorities have demolished churches, removed crosses, arrested pastors, and ordered the removal of Christian images, including pictures of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, to be replaced with portraits of Xi or Mao Zedong.

They are engaging in human reengineering with this terminology that theyve been widely using: thought transformation, in a way of saying that were cleansing somebodys religious belief out of their mind, or that [of] their soul, and replacing it with communism, and Xi Jinping thought, Turkel added.

Turkel applauded Pompeos genocide designation, calling it one of the most significant policy responses by the U.S. government. He also welcomed the numerous U.S. sanctions against Chinese officials and entitiesincluding Chen Quanguo, a member of the CCPs powerful Politburofor their roles in human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

Chinas continued state-sanctioned practice of harvesting organs from prisoners of conscience is simply beyond words for Turkel.

This is one of the instances that I cannot come up with a proper word to express how outrageous, how inhuman this is, that the Chinese government [is] using the organs of prisoners of conscience for profit, Turkel said.

He recalled seeing a promotional video from a hospital in Chinas capital Beijing, marketing its organ transplant service. The video contained people speaking in Arabic. He questioned where the hospital was getting its organs.

China is one of the top destinations for transplant tourism, and Beijing has promoted its narrativeshow it has stopped sourcing organs from executed prisoners since 2015 and organs are sourced from voluntary donationsin U.S. newspapers.

However, Beijings claim was refuted by a 2019 report by a London-based peoples tribunal. The report concluded, after a year-long investigation, that the stated-sanctioned practice of forced organ harvesting was happening on a significant scale in China, with Falun Gong practitioners being the main source of organs.

Turkel applauded the recently introduced legislation in both chambers of Congress to seek accountability for Chinas organ harvesting. If enacted, the proposal would allow the U.S. government to impose sanctions on individuals and government officials responsible for organ trafficking or organ harvesting.

Surveillance

Turkel said the international community must realize that the CCP is a threat to Western civilization. As for policymakers around the world, they must understand the threat in order to have an effective foreign policy dealing with Beijing.

If you dont recognize the danger that the CCP is posing, to the stability of civil rights, human rights, [and] religious freedom around the world, you will not be able to formulate an effective foreign policy to tackle [the] CCP threat, Turkel said.

More importantly, Turkel said, China is exporting its draconian surveillance system to the countries, and that should be concerning.

Sheena Greitens, an associate professor at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, told a USCIRF hearing in July 2020 that China had exported surveillance technology platforms to 80 countries around the world, based on her research.

Most of these countries (pdf) were located in South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, according to Greitens. The number of countries has risen sharply since 2014, when there were about 20 countries using Chinas surveillance technology that year.

Imagine that the Chinese way of surveilling its own population becomes [a] new normal. What does it mean for democracy? What does it mean for civil liberties? What does it mean for religious freedom around the world? Turkel said.

Turkel compared the CCP to the Stasi, the infamous East German secret police.

When you talk about [Chinas] surveillance, this is East German Stasi with artificial intelligence [and] preemptive policing capabilities.

If its not taken seriously, if its not stopped, this will become a much more serious problem for religious minorities around the world that many oppressive governments, authoritarian regimes, [and] dictatorships have already been using their own means and tools to suppress.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson rides a bike on the towpath of the Stourbridge canal during a Conservative party local election visit in Stourbridge, central England, on May 5, 2021. (Rui Vieira/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

UKs Johnson: Not the Time for New Scottish Independence Vote

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that this is not the time for a second referendum on Scottish independence, but Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a new vote cannot be stopped if Thursdays local elections produce a pro-referendum majority in the Scottish Parliament.

Johnson said, I think most people in Scotland, most people around the whole of the UK, feel that this is not the time, as were coming forwards out of a pandemic together, this is not the time to have a reckless, and I think irresponsible second referendum.

We had one only a few years ago. I think what most people want is to focus on the country and taking it forward and rebuilding our economy, getting people into workthat seems to me the priority for the country, he said while campaigning for local elections in Stourbridge, the West Midlands.

In a referendum held in 2014, Scottish voters rejected independence by 55 to 45 percent. Johnson has repeatedly stressed that the independence referendum should be a once-in-a-generation event.

Also on the campaign trail, Sturgeon, whose Scottish National Party (SNP) supports independence from the UK, said the election really matters and the stakes are high.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visits Pocra Quay as she campaigns for the parliamentary elections in Aberdeen, Scotland, on May 5, 2021. (Russell Cheyne-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The country is living through the biggest crisis most of us can remember and its really important that we come out of this election with strong, experienced leadership ready to take the next decisions, to get us out of lockdown, back to normality, and to build a better country and the only way to secure that tomorrow is to cast vote for SNP, anything else leaves it to chance and this is too serious a time for that, she said in Aberdeen.

Sturgeon said the basic principle of democracy will determine whether or not there will be a second independence vote.

If people in Scotland vote for something, if theres a pro-referendum majority in that Scottish Parliament, then no politician of whatever stripe has any democratic way to stand in its will and I think its the principle of democracy that should take precedence as were going into this election, but again let me say it: that comes after the crisis.

According to a poll conducted by Savanta Comres and The Scotsman, the SNP would fall six seats short of winning an outright majority but that the Green Party, which cooperates with the SNP, could win as many as nine seats.

Reuters contributed to this report.
A worker wearing a face mask looks out from an entrance of a hospital toward the Wuhan centre for disease control and prevention in Wuhan, China's central Hubei province on Feb. 1, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

CCP Creates New Disease Prevention Agency Admitting Deficiencies in the Previous System

The CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak that originated in Wuhan, China, is causing a substantial loss of life to Chinas neighboring country, India. At the same time, the CCPs sudden establishment of a new agency called the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention is attracting international attention.

On April 28, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security announced the appointment of officials to the new agency. Wang Hesheng, Deputy Director of the National Health Commission (NHC), was appointed as Director general, and Chang Jile, Shen Hongbing, and Sun Yang were appointed Deputy Director generals.

On that same day, Zhong Nanshan, the leader of a group of experts connected to the NHC, told Chinese state media that the pandemic exposed the CCP health system to shortcomingsinefficiency and delayed reactionsthat likely stalled the handling of virus conditions, and that the new agency would strengthen the nationwide deployment of disease control and early warning measures.

In an interview with China Business Network on Feb. 23 last year, former Deputy Director of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC), Yang Gonghuan, blamed the CCDCs failure to effectively respond to public health emergencies on its unclear roles and responsibilities, and a talent shortage.

A Practice of Whitewashing

U.S.-based political commentator for The Epoch Times, Alexander Liao, sees Yangs statement as a whitewashing of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings coverup of the virus and attributes the resulting global outbreak to the deficiencies of the former CCP system.

When the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, visited Beijing on Jan. 28, 2020, Xi told the WHO chief that he was instructing and deploying containment measures in person.

The CCP and its head chief, having been chastised by a number of nations, governments, organizations, and individuals for the global spread of the CCP virus, just blamed the deficiencies on an agency to avoid culpability, Liao said.

Its a nice way to shirk responsibility.

The Tactic of Concealment

Liao said that concealing the truth is a common practice of the regime. The establishment of the new agency will not change its evil nature, he said.

This tactic has been frequently utilized to cope with public health incidents such as SARS, the CCP virus, and others.

In November 2002, the Chinese authorities concealment of the SARS outbreak, which originated in Guangdong, resulted in the virus ravaging Southeast Asia and the globe.

The CCP eventually bowed to international pressure and spent $113 million on building a web-based infectious disease reporting system after the SARS outbreak. According to a report (pdf) by China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention, the system has the ability to detect, analyze, prevent, and respond to any communicable disease outbreak in the country. Accordingly, it serves the entire Chinese population and reports findings to an expanded CCDC.

In March 2019, CCDC Director Gao Fu spoke to the media during the National Committees annual session and promised that China would never again suffer from another SARS-like epidemic. China can ward off the virus because of the well-established web-based infectious disease surveillance system, he said.

Nonetheless, a half year later, a larger-scale catastrophe took place.

In December 2019, the CCP virus epidemic broke out in Wuhan, Hubei Province, and Wuhan soon became the hardest-hit area. Amid this pandemic, the web-based system did not help to ward off the virus because the CCP handled the outbreak by using its common practice of concealment.

On Feb. 11, 2020, the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association published an article on the Chinese Journal of Epidemiologys website stating that the novel coronavirus had started human-to-human transmission among those who have close contact since mid-December 2019. Yet, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission had announced on Dec. 31, 2019, that no cases of human-to-human transmission and infection in medical staff had been confirmed.

As of Jan. 19, 2020, the CCP still insisted that The virus is preventable and controllable, and the risk of human-to-human transmission remains low. The next day, however, the NHC confirmed human-to-human transmission of the virus and the infection of 14 medical staff.

By Jan. 23, 2020, Wuhan was locked down and the CCP virus soon spread throughout the world.

The Real Death Toll Could Surpass CCPs Official Tally

The CCP virus has been plaguing China and the world for more than a year. As of May 5, 2021, Chinese authorities officially reported 103,713 confirmed cases with 4,858 deaths. However, this official tally is highly doubtful.

For example, on March 26, 2020, Chinese online media Caixin published a report stating that the real death toll in Wuhan was far higher than the official tally of 2,535 as reported by Xinhua News, a regime mouthpiece.

According to Caixins report, people stood in an extremely long line at a Wuhan funeral home to claim ashes of deceased family members who had died amid the pandemic.

A worker had said that not only was there a long line, but the funeral home was short-staffed, so families had to wait five to six hours to collect the ashes.

A truck driver who delivered urns to funeral homes had dropped off about 2,500 urns that day. He also had already delivered a full truckload of urns the day before. More than a dozen male workers helped to unload the urns and there were already seven stacks of urns, with each stack containing 500 urns each.

Based on this report, the death toll in Wuhan alone seems to outnumber the official national tally.

Moreover, Chinas three biggest telecommunications companies, China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Mobile lost 21 million users in January and February of 2020 when the outbreak reached its peak in Wuhan, overwhelming hospitals and funeral homes.
Family members and ambulance workers wearing PPE kit (Personal Protection Equipment) carry the bodies of the patients who died of COVID-19 at a cremation ground in New Delhi, India, on April 27, 2021. (Prakash Singh/AFP via Getty Images)

CCP Deletes Social Media Posts Mocking Indias COVID-19 Crisis After Backlash

After triggering a strong backlash both domestically and abroad, the Chinese regime deleted social media posts mocking Indias COVID-19 crisis; when questioned by foreign media, the regimes Ministry of Foreign Affairs tried to divert attention away from the posts.

On May 1, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission posted on its official Sina Weibo account China Changan Net a photo of a recent Chinese space launch alongside a photo of Indian cremation pyres of people who had died from COVID-19. Its captioned Lighting a fire in China vs. lighting a fire in India, with a hashtag noting that new daily COVID-19 cases in India had surpassed 400,000.

Screenshot of Chinese regimes Central Political and Legal Affairs Commissions post on its official Weibo account, May 2021.

This post angered netizens both in China and abroad, who denounced the regime organ for total lack of humanity. The Indian Embassy to China protested against the China Changan Net Weibo post, which was subsequently deleted.

The official accounts of the CCPs Ministry of Public Security also posted similar comparisons on April 30. After the backlash from Chinese netizens, the posts were deleted on the night of May 1.

Cai Xia, a former professor at the Central Party School of the CCP and a vocal critic of the communist regime who currently lives in the United States, criticized the posts on Twitter. She said that although the posts were deleted by the Chinese regime, theyre still being reposted online by netizens who condemned them for a lack of humanity. She compared the Indian Embassys encouraging comment while sending aid to China in February 2020 when the epidemic was raging in China with the CCPs mockery when the Indians were suffering. They made no secret of their evil nature of anti-humanity, she said.

Screenshot of Cai Xias Twitter comment on China Changan Nets post, May 2021.

The post came amid heightened tensions between China and India since last summers conflict at the border in the Himalayas. It is also the latest in a long parade of controversial statements made by the CCP officials and mouthpieces attacking other countries under its aggressive diplomatic approach known as wolf warrior.

Chinese netizens also blasted the post, As the official Weibo of the Chinese Political and Legal Committee News, your remarks are really embarrassing. Dont you have basic humanistic care!?

Others said they reported the post to Weibo for promoting hatred and regional discrimination.

Another netizen said, China Changan Net does not represent the Chinese people. I hope that the Indian people will be free of COVID-19 as soon as possible.

On May 2, Chinas foreign ministry said in response to a request for comment by Bloomberg, We hope everyone gives attention to the Chinese government and mainstream public opinion supporting Indias fight against the epidemic, and promised to send more supplies to India in the coming days.

Last week when a massive COVID-19 surge began in India, Chinese state-run Sichuan Airlines suspended cargo flights to India even as other countries have been dispatching flights loaded with medical supplies.

Last June, the Chinese and Indian military had the most serious border conflicts in 45 years, causing dozens of death and casualties on both sides.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, India has 20.2 million cases, second only to the United States, and currently has more than 222,400 deaths as of May 4.

Research on the spread of COVID-19 in Wuhan China showed that as many as 6.92 percent of the population had been infected with the CCP virus, and based on that infection rate, as many as 622,800 to 968,800 people could have been infected with the CCP virus by April 2020 in Wuhan alone. This study published in The Lancet on March 18 revealed that the true data on the number of Chinese people infected with COVID-19 differs from the Chinese regimes disclosures.

Nicole Hao contributed to this report.
Journalists watch a screen showing China's Leader Xi Jinping delivering a speech during the opening of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2021 in Boao, Hainan province, China, on April 20, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinas Annual Boao Economic Forum: The CCP Is a World Leader in Political Posturing

What the CCP says and does are two different things

Commentary

On April 20, the Boao Forum for Asia wrapped up in Chinas beautiful Hainan Island. Boao is the name of the town where the forum is held every year. It was canceled last year due to the pandemic, so this year is the first Boao Forum in two years. Although only two years have passed, the state of the world and Chinas role with it has drastically changed since 2019.

The full name of the Boao Forum is the Boao Forum for Asia. It is modeled after the World Economic Forum that is held annually in Switzerland. The Boao Forum was created in 2001 to encourage unity in economic development of Asian nations. Australia has historically attended as well, but this year, they decided to opt out.

This years theme was The Great Changes in the World: Joining the Global Governance Ceremony, Ensemble the Strong Voice of the Belt and Road Initiative. This is the first time that the Boao Forum has officially positioned the Belt and Road Initiative as its official theme for the conference.

Recently, the Australian government canceled the Belt and Road Agreement signed between Victoria, Australias largest and wealthiest state, and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Australias Foreign Minister Marisa Payne declared the deal inconsistent with Australias foreign policy or adverse to our foreign relations at a Parliament press conference in New Zealand.

In the past, the Boao Forum was attended by many foreign politicians and leaders. This year, the situation is very different due in part due to the pandemic, but also due to falling trust in Chinas promises and declarations to the international community.

CCP Remarks at the Boao Forum

Chinese leader Xi Jinpings keynote speech this year was much more aggressive and direct than previous speeches. He strongly criticized the United States without ever naming it directly.

International affairs should be conducted by way of negotiations and discussions, and the future destiny of the world should be decided by all countries, said Xi. One or a few countries shouldnt impose their rules on others, and the world shouldnt be led on by the unilateralism of a few countries.

In 2018s Boao Forum, Xi said, when speaking about the same issue, No matter how developed China is, we will not threaten anyone, nor will we overturn the current international system.

The current world referred to by Xi is the current international state of nations: the United States and allies such as Great Britain, Russia, China, and France that helped rebuild after the Second World War.

This is what Xi refers to when he says we should not live in a world with rules made by one or several countries. In his 2018 speech, Xi said that he would not overturn the world order.

It is vital for us to note that now, he is strongly stating that the rules of a few nations should not be imposed on others. His speech is criticizing the current system created by Western nations, and calling for a new world system.

My view is that the CCP believes that while the United States remains the worlds top power for now, its strength is in rapid decline. In tandem, they believe the CCP is rapidly strengthening. Its this belief that has fueled the CCPs recent more aggressive actions on the world stage.

In his speech, Xi also condemned international economic decoupling and trade wars, urging for a globalized economic system. We must maintain the international system with the United Nations as the core, the international order based on international law, and the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization as the core. The world must be fair and not hegemonic. A big country must look like a big country. Show more responsibility.

He also said, In the era of economic globalization, openness and integration is an unstoppable historical trend. The artificial building of walls and decoupling violates economic laws and market rules and harms others and ourselves.

Aside from the passive criticism of the United States, this is also a very characteristic speech by the CCP, to say one thing and do another.

When the CCP joined the WTO, it itself promised an open Chinese economy, which has not been implemented. Just last year, the CCP imposed overwhelming and comprehensive trade sanctions on Australia. In February of this year, the CCP suddenly banned Taiwanese pineapple imports into China.

In the past few years, countries such as South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines have all been bullied by trade. The CCP has never respected the multilateral trading system. It only uses the phrasing to promote its own interests.

There is a funny story among Chinese people about a man who jumped onto a train when it was about to leave. He was late and had no place to sit, so he told the others sitting down, everyone squeeze and give me a seat.

Everyone responded and said that there was no room. In response, he remarked, my butt is small, I wont take up much room! Everyone ends up complying and squeezed together to give him a little place for him to sit.

After that, he pushed left and right, pushing others away until the place he sat grew larger and larger, until finally, he could lay down. The angered passengers asked him, didnt you say that your butt is small and doesnt need much space?

He replied, yes, because my butt is too small, I cant sit properly, so I must lay down.

The CCPs entry into the WTO is like the man on the train.

Xi also condemned decoupling and wall building. In my eyes, the biggest wall in the world is the Chinese internet firewall, which decouples Chinese people from information and truthful news media. Xi also emphasized adhering to international law while the CCP consistently ignores the laws that govern the South China Sea.

The Boao Forum did not open last year and was postponed for one year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Its a particular issue of concern for the international community with respect to China, and Xi did indeed address it in his speech.

He said, We must uphold people first and life first, strengthen information sharing and joint prevention and control, improve the level of health and medical cooperation, and give full play to the key role of the World Health Organization. We must strengthen international cooperation in vaccine research and development, production, and distribution, and improve the development of vaccines.

The countrys accessibility and affordability make it truly usable and affordable for the people of all countries. It is necessary to comprehensively strengthen global public health security governance and jointly build a human health and health community.

Its a speech of bravado that answers none of the important questions that can actually help us solve and understand how this pandemic happened.

Instead of saying big phrases, he could have addressed key questions:

How did this pandemic start?

Why didnt the Chinese regime shut down the Wuhan at the beginning of the epidemic, but firmly oppose other countries closing their borders?

Why did China not open Wuhan up to a proper virus investigation by world experts?

In his speech, he expressed no guilt or remorse on behalf of the Chinese regime for failing to contain the virus.

Xi also said that it is necessary to promote the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom of all mankind, advocate exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, and promote the development of human civilization.

The six words of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom cannot even be expressed in the same sentence in mainland China. They must be said one at a time to evade censorship and consequence. Not to mention the documented concentration camps, political prisoners, prisoners of faith, and arrested journalists. In China, even talking about democracy and freedom calls for arrest and questioning by the police.

It is precisely because of their deep distrust of the CCP that Asian nations have adopted a system of reliance on China for their economy and on the United States for security. When the world climate is relatively peaceful and safe, economic growth is more important for nations. In an era of turbulence and danger, security becomes a more important determinant of national policies. Its for this reason that countries have recently moved closer to the United States and strayed away from the CCP.

It is precisely because of nations turning cold to the CCP that Xi is now emphasizing that powerful nations should not seek to expand nor seek hegemony.

But these kinds of big declarations are no longer convincing when the CCP has averaged double-digit increases in military spending over the past 20 years.

Xis speech this year at the Boao Economic Forum echoes so many of the CCPs past speeches. While on stage, their leaders promise big beautiful ideas. Once they step off the stage, they consistently produce deceitful self-interested actions. The CCP is the world leader in skillful political posturing.

Alexander Liao is a columnist and journalist in research on international affairs in the United States, China, and Southeast Asia. He has published a large number of reports, commentaries, and video programs in newspapers and Chinese financial magazines in the United States and Hong Kong.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Chinese Man Pleads Guilty to Obstructing International Human Trafficking Probe

A Chinese man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to having obstructed an international human trafficking investigation.

Xu Zhang, 31, a New York resident and Chinese national, pleaded guilty to having conspired to tamper with evidence in relation to the probe, announced acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, Mary Jane Stewart.

He allegedly conspired with his girlfriend and alleged co-conspirator, Gao Xing, who is also a Chinese national, to destroy and hide records that were pertinent to a federal grand jury investigation, according to federal prosecutors.

Zhang was indicted in September 2019. His sentencing is on Sept. 15 and he is facing up to 20 years in prison.

Prosecutors allege in court documents that Zhang on Sept. 6, 2019, visited Xing in jail while she was the subject of an international human trafficking investigation. Xing told Zhang during the meeting to delete certain information that was material to the probe. She said that that the information would make her situation worse if uncovered by authorities.

The information included contacts and conversations from her account on WeChat, a Chinese application used for messaging, social media, and other purposes.

Xing allegedly told Zhang to obtain her login information to her WeChat account from her mother in China, and also gave him other details about her account. She also asked Zhang to help her change her WeChat account name.

Zhang, on the following day, informed Xing during a phone call made from the jail that he had followed her instructions and deleted the information requested by her, including changing her WeChat account name.

Authorities said Xing later committed suicide in her cell in November 2019 at the Daviess County, Kentucky Detention Center.

Homeland Security, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Beth Myers.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 20:15:07|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's COVID-19 tally rose by over 2,000 daily cases on Wednesday as the country grappled with its worst coronavirus outbreak so far, while over 380,000 new infections were reported in India.

Thailand's new confirmed COVID-19 cases and fatalities continued to mount. The country reported 2,112 new cases, taking the total caseload to 74,900, with 15 additional fatalities and a total death toll of 318, the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangsan said.

India's COVID-19 tally reached 20,665,148 with as many as 382,315 new cases registered during the past 24 hours, confirmed the federal health ministry. Besides, 3,780 deaths were also reported, taking the death toll to 226,188.

The COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 5,285 within one day to 1,691,658, with the death toll adding by 212 to 46,349, the Health Ministry said. A total of 5,943 more people were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recovered patients to 1,547,092.

Fiji reported four new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases to 125 in the island nation.

A total of 365 new COVID-19 positive cases have been registered in Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, bringing the tally to 61,162 in the country, the Ministry of Public Health said in a statement.

The National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control of Laos urged people countrywide to keep their guard up against the COVID-19 outbreak.

The total number of COVID-19 infected patients in Sri Lanka surpassed the 115,000-mark after over 1,800 new patients were identified a day earlier, statistics from the Health Ministry showed.

The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported 5,685 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total tally to 1,073,555.

The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the emergency use authorization for Moderna's vaccine against COVID-19, FDA Director General Enrique Domingo said.

Cambodia's COVID-19 cases climbed to 16,971 after 672 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a statement. The new infections included 667 local cases and five imported cases, the statement said.

The government of the Maldives has extended an ongoing State of Public Health Emergency as daily case counts in the country crossed 600 amid a surge of new COVID-19 infections, local media reported.

A circular signed by Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem said that a State of Public Health Emergency, first declared on March 12, 2020, will once again be extended until June 3.

Nepal's two major government-run hospitals based in the capital Kathmandu have been facing an oxygen supply shortage, authorities said.

Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) was on alert as a new locally acquired COVID-19 case was confirmed in Sydney. Urgent investigations into the source of the infection and contact tracing are underway, said the state health department.

Almost two-thirds of Australians think the country's COVID-19 vaccine rollout is not going well, a survey has found. Researchers from Australian National University (ANU) on Wednesday published the latest report from an ongoing survey of more than 3,000 adults' attitudes towards the pandemic and vaccine rollout.

South Korea reported 676 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Tuesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 124,945. The daily caseload was up from 541 the previous day, rising above 600 in three days.

New Zealand reported three new cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation and no new cases in the community. The three newly imported cases came from the United Arab Emirates, and have remained in managed isolation and quarantine facilities in Auckland, according to the Ministry of Health.

Singapore Tuesday rolled out a slew of tightened measures against COVID-19, in line with the local and global COVID-19 situation.

Starting from 2359 hours May 7, all new travelers arriving from higher risk countries or regions will be subject to 21-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) instead of 14 days at dedicated SHN facilities, said the Ministry of Health in a statement. Enditem
Christian College Sues Over Biden Order Banning Gender Segregation

The College of the Ozarks is in federal court challenging a Biden administration executive order to end alleged campus housing discrimination by opening womens dorm bathrooms and showers to biological male residents.

The order, which President Joe Biden signed on his first day in office, directs all federal agencies to reinterpret Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in light of the Supreme Courts 2020 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, which held that prohibitions on sex-based discrimination must include an individuals gender identity and sexual orientation.

Following the order, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a Feb. 11 directive applying Bidens action to all entities covered by the Fair Housing Act of 1974, which include college and university dormitories.

The college is suing in a federal district court because campus officials expect the logic of the Biden order and HUD directive to require the banning of gender-segregated dorms, bathrooms, and showers. The suit was filed on April 15.

Heres the problem with this particular directive, that President Biden called a rule change is being issued in large part to the enforcement arms of the federal government, as well as to state recipients of federal funding, Ryan Bangert, Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) senior counsel and vice president of legal strategy, told The Epoch Times.

And the way this works, they talk about fair housing discrimination claims. One of the primary mechanisms that drive these types of claims are individuals, private citizens, who believe they have been discriminated against based on the prohibited categories.

What this directive tells the enforcers is that from this point forward, if you get a complaint from an individual that alleges sexual orientation or gender identity housing discrimination, that complaint is actionable under the Fair Housing Act.

And you shouldnt dismiss that complaint, as you would have done previously, you should investigate it and potentially bring charges  this winds up the enforcers and sets them off on this path.

Bangert noted that the HUD document is called a directive for a reason. Secular schools are also subject to the HUD directive.

The ADF is an Arizona-based public interest law firm that specializes in religious freedom litigation. The firm has been involved in a dozen Supreme Court decisions, including the landmark Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which affirmed that an individual couldnt be required to provide a service or message that conflicted with his or her religious views.

The Point Lookout, Missouri, college is a private Christian institution originally established in 1906 that doesnt charge tuition but instead provides students with jobs on campus and other financial assistance that enable them to work their way to a degree.

The curriculum is designed to develop citizens of Christ-like character, who are well-educated, hard-working, and patriotic, according to the suit. The college has about 1,200 male and female students living in nine dormitories on the campus.

It also operates a K12 grade school, which allows the institution to provide a comprehensive K-to-college experience, [providing] the advantages of a Christian education for youth of both sexes, especially for those found worthy, but who are without sufficient means to procure such training, according to its charter.

The school told the court in its filing: The college allows only biological females to occupy the female residence halls, it allows only biological males to occupy the male residence halls, and it has had this policy in place since before the Fair Housing Act was amended in 1974 to prohibit sex discrimination. The college will not allow a biological male to occupy a female residence hall, nor vice versa, regardless of the students gender identity.

The college, which is historically associated with the Presbytery of Mid-America in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, also told the court that the Christian faith is an integral part of life at College of the Ozarks, and that it stresses the Christian faith and makes no denominational emphasis to students.

Students are taught, according to the suit, that sex as determined at birth is a persons God-given, objective gender, whether or not it differs from their internal sense of gender identity, and [the college] bases this teaching on such Biblical passages as Genesis 1:27, Leviticus 18:22, Matthew 19:4, Romans 1:2627, and 1 Corinthians 6:910.

Jerry Davis, the colleges president, told The Epoch Times that school officials are already hearing concerns from parents and students.

One mother said, I will do everything in my power to fight this, and shes not going to let her daughter be a part of it, and I had a student who wrote me a note and said, Im scared, is everything going to be OK? he said.

This will do irreparable harm to an institution that for more than 100 years has operated with a biblical worldview, and I never thought I would live to see the day the government would walk over our rights to direct us to do something that we think is not proper at all.

ADF senior counsel Julie Marie Blake said: Women shouldnt be forced to share private spacesincluding showers and dorm roomswith males, and religious schools shouldnt be punished simply because of their beliefs about marriage and biological sex.

Government overreach by the Biden administration continues to victimize women, girls, and people of faith by gutting their legal protections, and it must be stopped.

When asked to comment on the lawsuit, HUDs press office replied with no comment.

Congressional correspondent Mark Tapscott may be reached at mark.tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
Coal Culture: How the Industry Formed a Culture and Where Its Future Is Headed

Coal has been used for heat since the time of the caveman, and for centuries, its power has fueled the United States. But as we toured the coalfields of Americas northeast, we found that the industry itself created a unique culture among the brave people who dare to walk beneath the earth to power our lives above ground.

Where is this culture now, as the demand for coal declines? And more importantly, where is its future?

Curtis Burton (L), a coal miner of 18 years, remembers to pay his respects to the miners who went before him and gave his work today the safety he needs to return home to his family after work every day. He speaks to NTD host Kay Rubacek at a memorial for coal miners in Pennsylvania in an episode of Life and Times. (Oliver Trey/Screenshot via NTD)

Curtis Burton, a coal miner of 18 years, visits a memorial for coal miners in Pennsylvania in an episode of Life and Times. (Oliver Trey/Screenshot via NTD)

Zachary Petroski, the president of Panther Creek Valley Foundation, a mine electrician, and a tour guide for the oldest coal mine in the United States that is open to the public to tour, takes NTD host Kay Rubacek on a tour of the No. 9 Coal Mine in Lansford, Pa., in an episode of Life and Times. (Oliver Trey/Screenshot via NTD)

Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers Association, rebel-rouser, and gifted orator, whose passionate speeches have inspired miners throughout the nation to take action to protect their rights at work, speaks at the headquarters of the United Mine Workers Association in an episode of Life and Times. (Oliver Trey/Screenshot via NTD)

Hosted by award-winning documentary filmmaker and author Kay Rubacek, Life & Times travels the nation to bring you the hopeful stories behind the biggest news of today.

Life & Times is an NTD show available on YouTube and NTD website. It also airs on cable on NTD America. Find out where you can watch us on TV.
College Students Genius Eyesore Bin-Bag Dispenser Helps Keep Parks Litter-Free

A young college students belief in peoples innate kindness has led to cleaner parks near Woodhouse Moor, in West Yorkshire, England.

When the Leeds Beckett University student, Jack Colmer, 22, saw public images of the amount of litter at parks across the country, he knew something had to be done. In particular, Colmer was disheartened by the piles of rubbish at nearby Hyde Park.

Talking to The Epoch Times, Colmer said his fellow humans good nature convinced him that people usually want to do whats right, which inspired him to create his very own litter solution: an eyesore wooden bin-bag dispenser.

I believed that people didnt want to litter, Colmer said, but they just didnt have the facilities to help clear their stuff up at the end of the day.

Colmer, from Newcastle, came up with the genius idea of crafting a stand made entirely of scrap wood to dispense garbage bags.

I started getting some scrap wood together and started creating a solution, he said.

I knew it needed to have some sort of bin bag holder or dispenser on it, and gradually step by step it turned into this bin bag dispenser that we have on Hyde Park.

However, he did incorporate some ingenuity; the bag dispensers hold 6 rounds of garbage bags each, offering more than enough bags to help people dispose of their waste.

I kind of just made it up as I went along, he said. It took me about 3 hours to build. I didnt want to put too much effort into it as I wasnt sure how long it would last.

Jack Colmers wooden bin-bag dispenser. (Courtesy of Jack Colmer)

Colmer then posted on the Leeds Student Group on Facebook, pleading with other students to make a concerted effort to attend to the refuse issue at local parks.

He told The Epoch Times that he purposely made it an eyesore so it would stand out.

The young innovator said he wouldnt have been surprised if someone merely took down his bin-bag holders.

However, Colmer says the response to his social media post about the bin dispenser has been crazy.

The bag dispenser can hold up to 6 rounds of garbage bags. (Courtesy of Jack Colmer)

The reaction to it has been crazy, Colmer said.

I genuinely intended for a few hundred students to see it and share it around so people would know it existed, but its been a bit mental how much momentum and coverage it has gained.

At least now more people are aware of the litter problem and hopefully this will reduce it on the next sunny day!

For anyone who wants to go out and enjoy the next wave of warm weather, Colmer has a short and sweet reminder: Dont litter!

Arshdeep Sarao contributed to this report.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter
A view of the Confucius Institute building on the Troy University campus in Troy, Ala., on March 16, 2018. (Kreeder13 via Wikimedia Commons)

Confucius Institute Director Claims Independence From CCP but Stumbles Over Question on Tiananmen Square Massacre

The director of Chinas Confucius Institute (CI) at Carleton University claims his institute is independent of Beijings control, but stumbles over question about the Tiananmen Square Massacre committed by the regime in 1989.

We dont report anything to China. I report only to Canada, to Carleton University, Justin Li told the Commons Committee on Canada-China Relations on Monday, when asked for the type of information CI at Carleton sends back to China.

Li said the institute receives funding from the head office in Beijing.

CIs, disguised as cultural and language programs at universities around the world, operate under the Chinese government agency Hanban, under its Ministry of Education. Besides espionage activities, they promote the CCPs agenda, including censoring topics the regime deems sensitive such as the persecution of Falun Gong adherents, Uyghurs, and Tibetan Buddhists, and the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

Michel Juneau-Katsuya, an expert in national security and intelligence and former staff at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), told the committee on April 19 that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has created front companies in Canada to gather intelligence.

One of them, Juneau-Katsuya said, are CIs, which function as spy satellites and conduct espionage work for the CCP.

But Beijing claims that CIs are only cultural and language programs.

Li, whos been with the CI since April 2011, denied that, saying our goal is to promote understanding, shared knowledge, especially human bonds between the people of Canada and people of China.

Bust of Confucius, Confucius Institute building on the Troy University campus, Troy, Ala., on March 16, 2018 (Kreeder13 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Conservative MP Garnett Genuis pressed Li on his opinion of the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

Based on your bio, you were living in China during the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989. The Chinese Red Cross estimates that over 2,500 students peacefully protesting were shot in cold blood. So as someone who today works with students at a university, do you believe that these figures are accurate? And do you think the Chinese state was wrong to sanction the opening of fire on peaceful protesters?

I am the employee for Carleton University. My employment is with Carleton, and I dont think its anything to do with China, Li replied.

Grilled to answer the questions, Li said he doesnt have this expertise and knowledge to validate the number of that instant.

You were living in China at the time Mr. Li, do you believe that it was wrong for the Chinese government to sanction the opening of fire on peaceful protesters in Tiananmen Square? Genuis pressed.

I was in China, I was in Beijing, and my friends and none of my acquaintances had been victim[s] so far, Li said.

Then-CSIS head Richard Fadden waits to testify at the Commons public safety committee on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on July 5, 2010. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Former CSIS Director Richard Fadden, who also testified before the committee Monday, said Canadian politicians must remain vigilant to the activities conducted by CCP agents in Canada.

They are very subtle, these activities. Theres no smoking gun, said Fadden, who was former national security adviser to prime ministers Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau. The great difficulty here in Canada is that the general public has trouble understanding that were threatened.

We feel very comfortable here in North America, Fadden added. We got three oceans. We got a border with the U.S. Sometimes you have to face a crisis before you truly understand theres a problem.

When asked about the threat level the CCP poses to Canadas economic, national security, and defence on a scale from one to 10, Fadden said near eight.

Thats particularly the case because Chinese authorities are completely determined to advance their objectives no matter what we think. He added, theyre after us, if I can use the vernacular, from a whole variety of perspectives, and theyre after us in a negative sort of way.

In order to deal with the CCP effectively, Fadden said Canada has to be coordinated internally and with its closest allies to have a chance when sovereignty is at stake.

Our response needs to be the whole government at the level of the Government of Canada, and national at the level of the government of the country.

And Canadas reaction to the CCP cant be limited to the CSIS, the Department of National Defence, and Global Affairs Canada, the former national security adviser said, but must encompass all elements of the Government of Canada.
Delaware Mother Charged With Murder Years After Girls Remains Were Found

A Delaware mother is facing murder charges in the death of her 3-year-old daughter, coming years after the girls remains were found in a softball field.

Kristie Haas, 28, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder by abuse or neglect on Tuesday. She already faces a slew of other charges in connection to the death of Emma Grace Cole, who was found buried in a field in Smyrna in 2019.

The Delaware Department of Justice announced Haas was charged with two counts of first-degree murder by abuse or neglect, according to Delaware Online.

Haas husband, Brandon Haas, was indicted on child abuse, child endangerment, and hindering prosecution last month.

In all of my years as a prosecutor, in all my years as an attorney, this has been one of the most heartbreaking investigations I have ever experienced, said Attorney General Kathy Jennings on Tuesday. Here was a 3-year-old victim stolen from the world.

She added that the case was salt in the wound that this happened in such a tight-knit community.

Officials said the Haases are accused of depriving the girl of food and medical attention, and they also allegedly Emma and her siblings to excessive forced exercise and harsh physical discipline, 6ABC reported.

Police said Emma had been dead for several weeks when she was located in a park near softball fields in Smyrna in September 2019. Kristie Haas and her husband were evicted from a house that was located near the fields, according to reports published last year.

Last year, police in Smyrna called on federal officials as well as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Delaware Division of Forensic Science to help identify the girl.
Defense attorney Eric Nelson (L) and defendant, former police officer Derek Chauvin listen to Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill read instructions to the jury before closing arguments at the Hennepin County Courthouse, Minn., on April 19, 2021. (Court TV via AP, Pool)

Derek Chauvins Attorney Files Motion for New Trial

The defense attorney for former police officer Derek Chauvin filed a motion for a new trial on Tuesday.

Attorney Eric Nelson filed the request (pdf) to a Minnesota court arguing that a new trial should be granted in the interest of justice and because an abuse of discretion had deprived Chauvin of a fair trial. He also contends that Chauvins conviction was tainted by prosecutorial and jury misconduct, errors of law at trial, and that the verdict was contrary to law.

Chauvin was convicted last month in the 2020 death of George Floyd, who stopped breathing while being pinned to the ground by Chauvin following an arrest. Floyd was suspected of using counterfeit money in a Minneapolis store. A jury convicted Chauvin of second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter.

In support of his request, Nelson alleged a number of issues that he said would have affected the outcome of Chauvins trial including the refusal to move the trial over concerns of a tainted jury pool or failing to sequester the jury. He also argued that Judge Peter Cahill abused his discretion when he rejected a separate motion for a new trial over concerns that the publicity during the case could have affected the jurors judgment.

The publicity here was so pervasive and so prejudicial before and during this trial that it amounted to a structural defect in the proceedings, Nelson wrote.

Other issues include alleged errors by the judge throughout the trial such as when Cahill submitted instructions to the jury that failed to accurately reflect the law with respect to second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and authorized use of force.

He also alleged that the prosecutors had committed misconduct including disparaging the defense, improper vouching, and failing to adequately prepare its witnesses.

The cumulative effect of the multiple errors in these proceedings deprived Mr. Chauvin of a fair trial, in violation of his constitutional rights, he said.

Nelson is asking the court to order a hearing to impeach the verdict on the grounds that the jury committed misconduct, felt threatened or intimidated, felt race-based pressure during the proceedings, and/or failed to adhere to instructions during deliberations, in violation of Mr. Chauvins constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial.

The request comes days after prosecutors filed a legal brief arguing that Chauvin should be given a higher sentence due to a series of what they say are aggravating factors.

The aggravating factors, they said, include Floyd being a particularly vulnerable victim; Floyd being treated with particular cruelty; Chauvin abusing his position of authority; Chauvin committing the crime as part of a group of three or more persons; and the fact that multiple children were present when the crime was committed.

Any one of these five aggravating factors would be sufficient on its own to warrant an upward sentencing departure. Here, all five apply. The State therefore respectfully requests that the Court find the facts necessary to support the existence of these five aggravating factors, and that the Court impose an aggravated sentence on that basis, prosecutors said.

Under Minnesota law, second-degree unintentional murder, the most serious offense Chauvin was convicted of, is punishable by up to 40 years in prison. The starting presumptive sentence for a person convicted of that offense with no criminal history is 12 and a half years, according to the states sentencing guidelines (pdf).

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
European Council President Charles Michel gestures during a video conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, and CCP head Xi Jinping, in Brussels, Belgium, on Dec. 30, 2020. (Johanna Geron/Pool/File Photo/Reuters)

EU Executive Slows Drive for China Investment Deal

BRUSSELSThe European Commission has dialed down efforts to promote its planned investment agreement with China, recognizing that EU lawmakers will not approve any such deal while Beijing maintains sanctions on five of their colleagues.

The Commission said in a statement on Wednesday the EU-China Comprehensive Investment Agreement (CAI) could not be divorced from other EU-Chinese developments and that the sanctioning of EU lawmakers was unacceptable and regrettable.

The prospects for CAIs ratification will depend on how the situation evolves, the Commission said.

That came after EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis told Agence France-Presse on Tuesday the EU executive had in a sense suspended political outreach activities and that the environment was not conducive for ratification of the agreement.

The EU executive has hailed the CAI, struck at the very end of 2020, as a means to redress unbalanced economic ties.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel walks after holding a video news conference with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen following a virtual summit with Chinas President Xi Jinping, at the Chancellery in Berlin, on Sept. 14, 2020. (Michele Tantussi/Pool/Reuters)

But concerns over Chinas human rights record and skepticism from the United States had already cast doubt on the deals approval process even before Chinas tit-for-tat sanctions.

For now, the Commission is giving the agreement a legal review and translating it into EU languages, with the parliament only likely to evaluate it in 2022.

Dombrovskis has recognized that the CAI will struggle to secure acceptance in the European Parliament, where Social Democrats and Greens oppose it.

The Chinese side has badly miscalculated, German Greens lawmaker Reinhard Buetikofer, one of the five blacklisted members of parliament, told a news conference, adding he did not expect ratification for at least two years.

Bernd Lange, chair of the parliaments trade committee, said the deal was in the freezer and would stay there for a long time.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel support the deal, but the CAI will only be ratified after Germanys election in September when Merkel will have stepped down.

This could make a difference, particularly if the Greens are part of the next government in Berlin.

China still has strong EU allies, however. Hungary blocked for a second time an EU statement criticizing Chinas new security law in Hong Kong, diplomats said, in a move likely to undermine efforts to confront curbing of freedoms in the former British colony.

The EU, which aims to support Britain and the United States in upholding human rights in Hong Kong, was due to issue the formal statement on Monday at a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

By Philip Blenkinsop and Sabine Siebold
European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis speaks during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Brussels on March 10, 2021. (Johanna Geron/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

EU Trade Chief: Efforts to Ratify China Deal Suspended

The European Commission has put efforts to ratify a investment agreement with China on hold, after tit-for-tat sanctions imposed over the Beijing regimes human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, the EUs top trade official said on May 4.

We now in a sense have suspended  political outreach activities from the European Commission side, Valdis Dombrovskis, EU trade commissioner, told French news agency AFP on May 4.

The deal, commonly known as the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), was approved in principle last December after seven years of negotiation, with the last push by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. To pass, the CAI needs to be approved by EU councils and the European Parliament, where it faces massive opposition.

Its clear in the current situation, with the EU sanctions in place against China and Chinese counter-sanctions in place, including against members of the European Parliament [that] the environment is not conducive for the ratification of the agreement, Dombrovskis said.

On April 28, more than 30 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) warned that the deal would have to be put on ice until the sanctions were lifted.

In March, the Chinese regime imposed sanctions on 10 EU citizens, including five MEPs, claiming gross interference in its internal affairs and that the EU was flagrantly violating international law.

The move was in retaliation to the EUs first sanction on China in more than 30 years for human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority, including on four regional and party representatives and an entity in Xinjiang Province. More than 1 million Uyghurs are being detained in concentration camps, which are described by the communist regime as vocational training schools.

An EU spokesperson said that Beijings sanctions targeting members of the European Parliament are unacceptable and regrettable, reported the South China Morning Post.

The agreement needs to be now legally reviewed and translated before it can be presented for adoption and ratification. However, the ratification process of the [deal] cannot be separated from the evolving dynamics of the wider EUChina relationship, the spokesperson said in a statement.

French MEP Nathalie Loiseau said the commission is being realistic.

The Commission is taking note of reality: the European Parliament is not ready to ratify a deal with China that still has room for improvement and in such a clearly negative climate, she wrote on Twitter.

Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt wrote on Twitter: Rightly so! We need a balanced relationship [and] modus vivendi with China.
Europeaan Commission Vice Presidents Margrethe Vestager speaks during a joint news conference with Valdis Dombrovskis (not pictured), and EU Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton (not pictured) in Brussels, Belgium, on May 5, 2021. (Yves Herman/Reuters)

EU Unveils Plan to Cut Dependency on China, Others

BRUSSELS The European Union unveiled on Wednesday a plan to cut its dependency on Chinese and other foreign suppliers in six strategic areas like raw materials, pharmaceutical ingredients, and semiconductors after the pandemic-induced economic slump.

The 27-nation bloc outlined the urgency of the task citing Europes reliance on China for about half of 137 products used in sensitive ecosystems, mainly raw materials, and pharmaceuticals, and other products key to the blocs green and digital goals.

European Commission Vice Presidents Margrethe Vestager and Valdis Dombrovskis, and EU Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton hold a news conference in Brussels, Belgium, on May 5, 2021. (Yves Herman/Reuters)

The updated industrial strategy plan was devised after the COVID-19 pandemic showed bottlenecks in the supply chain and the executive European Commission plans to conduct in-depth reviews of supply chains in raw materials, batteries, active pharmaceutical ingredients, hydrogen, semiconductors, and cloud and edge technologies, to decide how to deal with them.

Todays updated Industrial Strategy is about making sure our industries are equipped to drive the digital and green transformations of our economy while ensuring the competitiveness of our industries, also in the context of the recovery from the coronavirus crisis, European Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager told a news conference.

European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis looks on during a joint news conference with Margrethe Vestager (not pictured), and EU Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton (not pictured) in Brussels, Belgium, on May 5, 2021. (Yves Herman/Reuters)

The EU measures could include diversifying supply and demand relying on different trading partners whenever possible, but also stockpiling and acting autonomously whenever necessary, the 19-page document said.

To reduce import dependency, EU countries could pool resources for Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) in the next-generation cloud, hydrogen, low-carbon industry, pharmaceuticals, and a second IPCEI on cutting-edge semi-conductors.

An IPCEI would allow EU governments to pump in funding under easier state aid rules and for companies to work together on the entire range of the project, from design to production and downstream applications.

By Jan Strupczewski
President Donald Trump speaks at an event in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington on March 22, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Facebook Oversight Board Upholds Suspension of Donald Trumps Account

Facebooks decision to ban former President Donald Trump was upheld by Facebooks oversight board on Wednesday.

Trumps posts during the Capitol riot severely violated Facebooks rules and encouraged and legitimized violence, the board said in a statement announcing its decision.

The two posts in question included Trump, who was president at the time, saying on Jan. 6 that his supporters were very special.

Facebook Oversight Board Director Thomas Hughes claimed during an appearance on MSNBC that the suspension of Trump was necessary to keep people safe.

Trump, who has called his comments in the wake of the Capitol breach appropriate, said in a statement that what Facebook, Twitter, and Google have done is a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our Country.

Free Speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth, but the truth will come out anyway, bigger and stronger than ever before, he added.

The board also found that Facebook inappropriately termed the suspension indefinite.

It is not permissible for Facebook to keep a user off the platform for an undefined period, with no criteria for when or whether the account will be restored, the board said, adding that Facebook did not follow clear, published procedures that outline either suspending an account for a certain period of time or permanently.

In applying a vague, standardless penalty and then referring this case to the Board to resolve, Facebook seeks to avoid its responsibilities. The Board declines Facebooks request and insists that Facebook apply and justify a defined penalty, the board said.

A Facebook spokesperson declined to answer when it would be announcing the period of time Trumps account will be suspended. In a statement, the company said: We will now consider the boards decision and determine an action that is clear and proportionate. In the meantime, Mr. Trumps accounts remain suspended.

A sign is seen at the entrance to Facebooks corporate headquarters location in Menlo Park, Calif., on March 21, 2018. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)

Facebook suspended Trump in early January, while he was still president. CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed that there were risks in letting Trump continue posting on the platform in the wake of the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol breach.

The boards decision was supposed to come within 90 days of Jan. 21, when Facebook referred the ban to its board, but board members wanted more time to mull their choice, given the 9,000+ public comments they received.

Republican lawmakers had urged the board to overturn Facebooks suspension, while Democrats largely declined to weigh in on the issue or endorsed the ban.

Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday called the boards decision pathetic.

Facebook made an arbitrary decision based on its political preferences and the Oversight Board, organized and funded by Facebook, re-affirmed its decision. The American people should fear any company that sees itself as so powerful it establishes a biased, quasi-judicial entity to adjudicate our First Amendment rights, added Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.).

But Democrats said they agreed with the decision.

I support the FB Oversight Boards nuanced decision to uphold the suspension which is consistent with the principles I have articulated to balance ethical community standards with user speech, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said in a statement.

The Facebook Oversight Boards decision is a small act of accountability, but this cannot be where it ends. The Jan. 6 attack must be fully investigated. There must be accountability for the insurrectionists and those who continue to push the Big Lie, Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) added.

Mike Davis, founder and president of the Internet Accountability Project, a conservative nonprofit that seeks to hold Big Tech accountable, said the board decision was not surprising. Facebook is essentially acting as prosecutor, defender, judge, jury, appellate court and executioner. No one company should have the power to effectively block a president from communicating with the American people, he said in a statement.

Five members of the board reviewed the case. Their decision needed to be signed off by a majority of the board.

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies at a Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committees Joint Hearing in Washington on April 10, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

The Facebook Oversight Board was established last year. The board has broad powers and can overrule Facebook, essentially serving as a court.

Facebook will implement the boards decisions unless doing so could violate the law, and will respond constructively and in good faith to policy guidance put forth by the board, Nick Clegg, vice president of global affairs and communications for the California-based technology giant, said in a statement last year.

Clegg said in January that Facebook hoped the board would uphold its suspension of Trumps accounts on Facebook and Instagram, which the tech giant owns.

Twitter banned Trump in January. The following month, a top official said the ban was permanent.

Googles YouTube suspended him that same month, but has kept open the possibility of allowing him to regain access.

Trump has derided the Big Tech actions as censorship, noting that the platforms have banned a number of conservatives.

On Tuesday, the former president launched a new communications platform. The Twitter-like page features missives and videos from the Republican. But it currently does not allow people to post comments or other feedback, making it more like a blog.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 20:28:18|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who is presently in London, Britain for the Group of Seven (G7) foreign and development ministers' meeting, said Wednesday that he has possibly been exposed to COVID-19 cases and will conduct his engagements virtually.

"Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible COVID-19 positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 meeting today as well," Jaishankar wrote on social media.

The Indian delegation was self-isolating after two delegation members tested positive.

Britain holds the rotating presidency of the G7 group, which also includes the United States, France, Germany, Canada, Japan and Italy.

India has been invited to the meeting as a guest country.

India has been witnessing the growing cases of COVID-19 as the total tally reached 20,665,148 on Wednesday with 382,315 new cases registered during the past 24 hours. Enditem
President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani waits to testify before the Michigan House Oversight Committee in Lansing, Mich., on Dec. 2, 2020. (Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

US Prosecutors Request Special Master to Review Seized Giuliani Records

Federal prosecutors have asked a judge to appoint an outside party to review materials that FBI agents seized from the home of Rudy Giuliani, former President Donald Trumps lawyer.

In an April 29 letter to the judge made public on May 4, prosecutors with the Southern District of New Yorks U.S. attorneys office said the case warrants a special master.

The Government respectfully writes to request that the Court appoint a special master to conduct the filter review of potentially privileged materials seized by agents, the prosecutors told U.S. District Judge Paul Oetken, an Obama nominee.

Agents seized items belonging to Giuliani from his home and office on April 28, in addition to belongings of Victoria Toensing, another lawyer, according to the filing. But the agents who carried out the search warrants have not been involved in this investigation and will not be involved in it going forward, they wrote.

The search appears to involve materials that may be protected by the attorney-client privilege, making a special master, or an outside party, crucial for identifying such materials, the filing stated.

A spokeswoman and lawyer for Giuliani didnt immediately return requests by The Epoch Times for comment.

Traffic and pedestrians pass the apartment building where former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani resides in New York City, on April 28, 2021. (Mary Altaffer/AP Photo)

Giuliani has called the search of his home unwarranted and illegal. His lawyer, Robert Costello, said in a lengthy statement last week that the search warrants falsely accused Giuliani of failing to register as a foreign agent.

When federal agents in 2018 raided the home of Michael Cohen, who at the time was Trumps lawyer, U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood, a Reagan nominee, appointed Barbara Jones, a former federal judge, as a special master in the case because of concerns some of the materials obtained were shielded by attorney-client privilege.

A special master is a magistrate judge appointed by the court to carry out duties that are not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States, according to federal law. The attorney-client privilege shields communications between lawyers and their clients, with some exceptions.

Prosecutors referenced the Cohen case and said that the appointment of a special master in the Giuliani and Toensing cases would be primarily for the perception of fairness, not because a government filter team couldnt properly separate the privileged material.

Prosecutors also said that lawyers for Giuliani intend to respond to their request, while Toensing is in the process of securing permanent counsel.

Oetken ordered lawyers for Giuliani and Toensing on May 4 to file replies by May 10. The government will then need to file a reply by May 17.
Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 3, 2018. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Former Sen. Doug Jones Joins Law and Lobbying Firm Arent Fox

Former Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) has joined a Washington-based firm, he and the company announced this week.

Jones will work for Arent Fox, which says it offers insight into the inner workings of Capitol Hill and the Executive Branch from former Members of Congress, Administration officials, and senior staff.

Jones told news outlets that he will not work as a lobbyist. Instead, he is working as an attorney.

Byron Dorgan, another former senator (D-N.D.), already works for Arent Fox.

Im so proud that Senator Doug Jones has chosen to join our firm, Dorgan said in a statement to news outlets. He and his colleague Cissy Jackson will be such a strong addition to our Government Relations practice and great advisors to our clients. 

Jones lost a reelection bid last year. Republican nominee Tommy Tuberville, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, triumphed over the incumbent.

Jones entered office in 2018 when he won a special election to fill the seat left vacant when Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) joined the Trump administration. Sessions tried to get his old seat back in the 2020 election but lost to Tuberville in the Republican primary.

Many former lawmakers join lobbying firms. In recent years, former Reps. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.), Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), and Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), among a number of others, have joined lobbying companies shortly after leaving office.
Former Stray Pit Bull Mix Receives Medal for Helping Save His Owners Life

A former stray pit bull mix is living proof that some heroes wear collars, not capes. The heroic dog who saved his owner after he went into medical distress was recognized for his bravery with a medal.

Astro the American pit bull terrier alerted someone in El Paso, Texas, on April 15 when one of his owners, who remains anonymous, needed help. Astros barking ultimately led the good Samaritan to locate the 36-year-old man in distress and make a life-saving call for emergency medical assistance.

The dog was the center of attention at a ceremony that was held two days later, with the El Paso Fire Department (EPFD) and El Paso Animal Services in attendance at EPFDs Safety & Health Outreach Center. Astro received a medal, a certificate, and a special dog-friendly cake, according to KTSM.

The loyal dogs protective instinct kicked in upon seeing his owner in distress.

We know that the dog was even trying to climb into the ambulance with the owner, EPFD spokesperson Duenas-Aguilar told the media outlet. Firefighters had to lure him into a vehicle for family members to come and pick him up, and without his help the patient might have never been found.

EPFD took to on Twitter on the day of the incident, sharing his story and ending the anecdote, Whos the goodest boy of them all?!

Astros family had adopted him straight off the streets in 2020 after seeing him roaming around. However, owner Bertha Martinez, whose son Astro saved, didnt know she would keep him for so long, as she was scared of pit bulls. Yet, since lavishing Astro with love and care, she has come around to the innate gentle nature of the breed.

If you treat him well and dont harm them or anything, then they become what he is, she said. Despite Astros sweet nature, his family had never trained him as an alert dog and never thought in a million years that he would become a local hero.

Ramon Herrera, interim director for El Paso Animal Services, credited Astro for being both a friend and a savior, not to mention a poster pup for pet adoption over buying dogs from breeders. He really set an example for dogs that look just like him, he said.

I think if people have space for a dog, they should consider adopting a pit bull, Martinez said, according to El Paso Times. There are a lot of dogs in shelters, and we need to find them homes and treat them well.

My son might not exist if it wasnt for [Astro].

Reportedly, Martinezs son is recovering and stable. As for the heroic pup, he has earned himself more than a loving home for life.

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G-7 foreign minister's are socially distanced as they meet in London, with clockwise from left, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marc Garneau, Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu, European High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas and French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, during talks at the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers meeting, on May 4, 2021. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via AP)

G-7 Foreign Ministers Meet in Person After Pandemic Pause, China High on Agenda

LONDONForeign ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy industrialized nations gathered Tuesday in London for their first face-to-face meeting in more than two years, with China high on the agenda.

Host nation Britain is keen to show that the rich countries club still has clout in a fast-changing world, and has warned that the increasingly aggressive stances of Russia, China and Iran pose a challenge to democratic societies and the international rule of law.

U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the meeting demonstrates diplomacy is back.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said engaging with China from a position of strength  means actually working with allies and partners, not disparaging them.

It means leaning in and engaging in the vast array of multilateral and international organizations because thats where so many of the rules are made. Thats where the norms are shaped, he said. And if were not leaning in, we know that Beijing is likely to be trying to do so in our place.

At the two-day meeting, top diplomats from the U.K., the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan also were to discuss the military coup in Burma (also known as Myanmar), the humanitarian crisis in Syria, the Tigray crisis in Ethiopia and the precarious situation in Afghanistan, where U.S. troops and their NATO allies are winding down a two-decade deployment.

The U.K. Foreign Office said the group would also discuss Russias ongoing malign activity, including Moscows earlier troop buildup on the border with Ukraine and the imprisonment of opposition politician Alexei Navalny.

Britains Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, addresses G-7 foreign minister, while being socially distanced as they meet in London, during talks at the G-7 Foreign and Development Ministers meeting, on May 4, 2021. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via AP)

While the G-7 members likely can agree in broad terms to condemn Navalnys imprisonment or Beijings repression of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang, there are differences over how to relate to countries such as China and Russia that will have to be smoothed out in any final communique on Wednesday.

Asked what message the group would send to authoritarian regimes, Raab said the G-7 believed in keeping trade open. We believe in standing up for open societies, for human rights and democracy. We believe in safeguarding and promoting public good.

The G-7 ministers will also try to agree on a way to make coronavirus vaccines available around the globe in the long term. But for now, wealthy countries are reluctant to give up precious stocks until they have inoculated their own people.

The ministers wore masks and greeted one another with arm and elbow bumps as they arrived at Lancaster House, a grand former stately home in central London. Plastic screens between participants and on-site coronavirus tests were among measures intended to make the venue COVID-secure.

The British government, which holds the G-7 presidency this year, invited the foreign ministers of Australia, India, South Korea and South Africa to join parts of the meeting, including Tuesday evenings formal dinner. The guest list was intended to underline the G-7s support for democracies, as well as the U.K. governments attempts to build stronger ties with Asia in the wake of the countrys departure from the European Union.

Britains Conservative-led government hopes the resumption of in-person G-7 meetingsafter more than a year of disruption by the coronavirus pandemicwill give the group a jolt of energy and bolster attempts to forge a post-Brexit Global Britain role for the U.K.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to host the other G-7 leaders at a summit in Cornwall, England, in June.

Opposition politicians and international aid organizations say the goal of Britain playing a bigger role in world affairs is undermined by the governments decision to slash its foreign aid budget from 0.7 percent of gross domestic product to 0.5 percent because of the economic hit from the pandemic.

Raab said the aid cuts were a difficult decision but insisted Britain would become an even greater force for good in the world.

By Jill Lawless
Gov. Noem Signs Pledge to Restore Patriotic Education in Schools

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said she signed a pledge this week that aims to restore patriotic education as liberals push critical race theory in the school curriculum. Republicans such as Noem have criticized the race-based curriculum for sowing division and hate, and teaching anti-American values to students.

In a Twitter post earlier this week, Noem said shes signed on to a promise called The 1776 Pledge to Save Our Schools.

Teaching our children & grandchildren to hate their own country & pitting them against one another on the basis of race or sex is shameful & must be stopped. Im proud to be the 1st candidate in America to sign The 1776 Pledge to Save Our Schools, Noem wrote.

The pledge signed by Noem promises to take steps to restore honest, patriotic education that cultivates in our children a profound love for our country, and teach that all children are created equal, have equal moral value under God, our Constitution, and the law. It will also prohibit any curriculum that pits students against one another on the basis of race or sex, and prevent schools from politicizing education.

In partnership with [1776 Action], [Ben Carson] is helping to stop this woke, anti-American indoctrination at the state and local level & this pledge is a vital tool for clarity & accountability, Noem wrote in the Twitter post.

Noem penned an opinion piece for Fox News with former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson on May 3, dubbing critical race theory a radical concept and writing that the curriculum pits them against one another on the basis of race and gender under the guise of achieving equity.

The organization 1776 Action was created to counter ideas such as critical race theory and advocate for education based on former President Donald Trumps 1776 Commission, which was created to bring back the teaching of the founding documents.

The governors announcement comes as Republicans across the nation are trying to prevent the teaching of critical race theory, and are expressing concern about the Biden administration prioritizing the funding of educational programs that incorporate the ideas of the 1619 Project into their teaching of U.S. history and civics, reorienting bipartisan programs away from their intended purposes toward a politicized and divisive agenda.

In a proposed new rule (pdf) released April 19, the Education Department outlined new priority criteria for a $5.3 million American History and Civics Education grant, as well as exemplary materials for K12 educators to use. Specifically, the Education Department cited the 1619 Project, and critical race theorist Ibram X. Kendis antiracist idea as leading examples of the kind of content it wants to use taxpayer dollars to promote in history and civics classrooms across the country.

The 1619 Project, inaugurated with a special issue of The New York Times Magazine, attempts to cast the Atlantic slave trade as the dominant factor in the founding of America instead of ideals such as individual liberty and natural rights. The initiative has been widely panned by historians and political scientists, with some critics calling it a bid to rewrite U.S. history through a left-wing lens.

Thirty-seven Republicans led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on May 6 penned a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona urging him to remove the 1619 Project from federal grant programs, arguing that it skews American history for divisive political ends.

Our nations youth do not need activist indoctrination that fixates solely on past flaws and splits our nation into divided camps. Taxpayer-supported programs should emphasize the shared civic virtues that bring us together, not push radical agendas that tear us apart, McConnell and his GOP colleagues wrote in the letter (pdf).

Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of the 1619 Project, responded to the GOP criticism of the project during an interview with MSNBC on May 3, saying the 1619 curriculum being allowed in schools is a matter of free speech.

This isnt a project about trying to teach children that our country is evil, but it is a project trying to teach children the truth about what our country was based upon, and its only in really confronting that truthslavery was foundational to the United States, we, after the slavery, experienced 100 years of legalized discrimination against black Americans, said Hannah-Jones. Mitch McConnell and others like him want for our children to get a propagandistic, nationalistic understanding of history that is not about facts, but it is about how they would want to pretend that our country is.

Mary Grabar, author of the upcoming book Debunking the 1619 Project: Exposing the Plan to Divide America, told Epoch TVs Crossroads program that the controversial 1619 Project skews American history for divisive political ends.

Tom Ozimek contributed to this report.
Dr. Wei Liu, chairman of the British Falun Dafa Association, speaks during a protest opposite the Chinese embassy in London after Ta Kun Pao, a HK media outlet widely regarded as a mouthpiece of the CCP, published a series of slanderous articles on Falun Gong, in London on May 4, 2021. (Roger Luo/NTD)

Growing Threats in Hong Kong Against Spiritual Practice Deeply Concerning: Benedict Rogers

The recent media campaign against a spiritual practice and the harassment of its followers in Hong Kong is deeply concerning, Benedict Rogers, co-founder and chief executive of the NGO Hong Kong Watch, said on Tuesday.

Since April 20, Ta Kung Pao, a Hong Kong media outlet widely regarded as a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has published a series of slanderous articles attacking Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, a Buddha-school spiritual discipline that has been suppressed in China for 22 years.

The media campaign is reminiscent of a similar campaign in mainland China in 1999 when the Chinese regime started its persecution of Falun Gong.

Sarah Liang, a reporter at The Epoch Times Hong Kong edition, gives an interview before reporting harassment to the police at Mongkok Police Station in Hong Kong on April 27, 2021. (Sung Bi Lung/The Epoch Times

It also came as Sarah Liang, a reporter at The Epoch Times Hong Kong edition, was stalked and harassed by strangers, and after The Epoch Times printing press and multiple Falun Gong information stands were sabotaged.

The Epoch Times has broken several stories over the years about the Chinese regime, such as the covering up of the SARS epidemic, and mass forced organ harvesting from victims including Falun Gong practitioners, house Christians, and the Uyghurs. Its also one of the few media outlets in Hong Kong that remain independent of the authorities.

Threats To Falun Gong Illustrate Erosion Of Religious Freedom

In a statement to the British Falun Dafa association in support of its protest at the Chinese embassy in London on Tuesday, Rogers said these recent events are totally unacceptable.

With freedom of expression, assembly, and association and political freedom already disappeared, the growing threats to Falun Gong practitioners in Hong Kong represent a deeply concerning situation, and illustrate the increasing infringements of freedom of religion or belief in Hong Kong, he wrote.

Rogers said that in his experience, Falun Gong practitioners represent the beautiful values of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance, and offer nothing but generosity, kindness, and hospitality.

Benedict Rogers, a UK human rights activist, speaks at a rally commemorating the 20th anniversary of the persecution of Falun Gong in China, on the West lawn of Capitol Hill in Washington on July 18, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

He urged the Chinese regime to desist from [the] persecution of Falun Gong anywhere and to cease threats to restrict Falun Gong practice in Hong Kong.

Rogers also urged the regime to respect the basic right for everyone, everywhere, of all religions and faiths, and those of no faith, and called on the international community to speak out in defence of human rights in Hong Kong.

Keep The Flame For Democracy

Simon Cheng, the founder of Hongkongers in Britain, attended the rally to support Falun Gong practitioners.

Its not about politics, its not about what we trust or believe. Its just about the basic dignity [that] should be shared among all humankind, Cheng said during his speech.

We should have the freedom of religion. We also have to stand against all arbitrary power, he said.

Besides The Epoch Times, another independent media in Hong Kong, Apple Daily, has also been under attack.

Pro-Beijing media and government officials in Hong Kong have set their sights on efforts to shut down the Apple Daily, as its founder was sentenced on April 16 to 14 months in prison for participating in Hong Kongs mass anti-Beijing and pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Media mogul Jimmy Lai leaves the Court of Final Appeal by prison van in Hong Kong, on Feb. 9, 2021. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Cheng told The Epoch Times sister media NTD that the attacks on the press in Hong Kong are an alarming signal to the world.

Every movement that the [authorities] attack on the media would be the signal for all of us who care about freedom to stand together, he said, adding that dissidents in Hong Kong used to worry about their career prospects, but now they have to consider their safety.

I think this situation is at the level that we cannot simply turn a blind eye from it. So thats why we need to speak out, Cheng said.

And its not the time that we can still engage with the Chinese regime and believe that they could change someday.

Cheng told NTD that the CCP has proven over the years that it always suppresses people wherever it gets into power. I worry about the journalists, I worry about the printing [presses]  and Im pretty sad for that.

Simon Cheng, a pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong, speaks during a rally opposite the Chinese embassy in London after Ta Kun Pao, a HK media outlet widely regarded as a mouthpiece of the CCP, published a series of slanderous articles on Falun Gong, in London on May 4, 2021. (Roger Luo/NTD)

Cheng also said it was very encouraging to see people gathering in the rain to practice their faith and express their belief in freedom and democracy.

Falun Gong practitioners believe in what is righteous shall win, maybe not now, but they will in the future, Cheng said. Because we believe in humanity. Thats why we stand here, he said during his speech.

Asked about the general atmosphere in Hong Kong at the moment, Cheng said theres fatigue.

When hearing bad news, it once felt like the plot or the story from the novel, Cheng said, but now its becoming [an] undeniable reality and then they gradually getting used to it.

Cheng said thats why he respects Liang and those who are brave enough to take the lead, still stand there, and still have a protest against the state media, the propaganda mouthpiece.

I think its so important to remind the people, to rekindle the passion of the people to go on, to move on. So still keep the flame for democracy, he said.

Ta Kung Pao continues to publish slanderous articles on Falun Gong. By Wednesday, 12 such articles had been published.

Reporting by Jane Werrell of NTD
Gunfire Exchange Between 2 Parties at 7-Eleven in Texas Leads to 3 Serious Injuries, 2 Arrests

Authorities arrested two men in connection to a gunfire exchange at a 7-Eleven in Texas that has left three people seriously injured, police confirmed Tuesday.

The shooting happened at about 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday in the parking lot of the convenience store located at the intersection of State Highway 121 and Grapevine Mills Boulevard.

The incident involved two men in a black Dodge Charger and two men in a white Nissan Altima, the Grapevine Police Department said in a statement, noting that investigators believe men from both vehicles fired weapons after recovering two firearms and narcotics at the crime scene.

Police said following the exchange of gunfire, both parties drove off in opposite directions. The Dodge stopped across the street in the Jack in the Box parking lot while the Nissan continued on towards Freeport Parkway, toward Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport.

Grapevine Police arrived at the Jack in the Box and discovered two men in the Dodge with gunshot wounds, Grapevine police said.

One officer used his tactical medical kit to render aid to one of the victims and slowed his bleeding until paramedics arrived, they said. Both victims were transported to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center-Grapevine with serious injuries.

Officers started a perimeter search in the area as the victims were transported to the medical center. The search was assisted by officers from Coppell, as well as K9 units from Grapevine, Frisco, Prosper, and Hickory Creek.

About 45 minutes later that day at about 5:30 p.m., a man told a police officer at DFW Airport the passenger in his car had been shot multiple times, police said. The passenger was taken to the hospital, while the driver was detained for questioning.

Investigators determined the two men near the airport were involved in the shooting at the 7-Eleven.

The driver of the Nissan was arrested for Deadly Conduct and transported to the Grapevine Detention Center, the department said. One of the men in the Dodge was medically cleared and transported from the hospital to the Grapevine Detention Center.

Criminal charges for those involved are pending as the investigation is ongoing, police said. The identities of the suspects will be released after their arraignment.

Additional arrests and charges are possible.

From NTD News
The Heritage Foundation logo is pictured at a discussion in Washington in this file photo. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)

Heritage Foundation Pledges to Refuse Big Tech Donations Over Censorship Concerns

The Heritage Foundation on Tuesday pledged to refuse funds from Big Tech companies as long as they continue to suppress conservative viewpoints.

The announcement comes weeks after the conservative think tank declined donations from Google and Facebook because of the companies censoring of persons and groups with conservative points of view.

Heritage, a public policy research institute, turned down a $225,000 donation from Google and returned a $150,000 donation from Facebook in October 2020.

The Heritage Foundation will not in good conscience accept money from companies that repeatedly and blatantly attempt to silence conservative speech they dont agree with, outgoing foundation president Kay C. James said in a statement Tuesday.

Every time a new case of censorship comes to light, these companies trot out excuses and promises to do better. Enough is enough, she added. I stand united with other conservative leaders against Big Techs censorship of conservative voices.

In rejecting the donations from Facebook and Google in October, James sent letters to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (pdf) and Google CEO Sundar Pichai (pdf), citing the ongoing tech policy debate.

As you know, there is a growing momentum in Washington to rein in Google and other technology companies, either through antitrust action or changes in liability protections you enjoy, James wrote at the time. Heritage is in the midst of reviewing these proposals, and the last thing we need is for anyone to think that our conclusions have in any way been influenced by a relatively small donation from your company.

She cited some recent incidents of censorship bias suffered by conservatives in her letter to Zuckerberg.

The Heritage Foundation has all too often fallen victim to Facebooks double standard. Referrals to our Daily Signal news site, for example, have plunged from 600,000 sessions in July to a mere 105,000 so far in Oct., she wrote, requesting that the CEO explain the decrease in their traffic.

Axios reported that in the past, Google had donated $1.55 million to The Heritage Foundation while Facebook gave $275,000.

Big Tech companies have drawn intense scrutiny for perceived political bias and alleged unbalanced moderation of users content. Critics say much of the companies moderation in the past year has unfairly targeted conservative speech and speech from individuals deemed to be supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, groups on the other side of the aisle have been taking issue with how social media companies are operating, claiming that the Silicon Valley companies have failed to adequately address misinformation that is being proliferated online.

Masooma Haq and Janita Kan contributed to this report.
Heroic Doctor Drives Hours Through Snowstorm to Save High-Risk Newborn Babys Life

A Charlottesville doctor who dropped everything to attend a complicated labor, hours away, is being hailed as a hero. The doctor drove through a snowstorm to perform a specialized procedure, potentially saving a newborn babys life in the process.

Its not any different than someone whos in battle, said Dr. Stephen Early, pediatric otolaryngologist at the University of Virginia, to CBS. You just make the decision, you go into the line of fire.

(Illustration  Jukka Salo/Shutterstock)

Mom Carrie Rush had struggled with infertility before becoming pregnant and enjoying a trouble-free first trimester. But routine ultrasounds and fetal MRIs detected a problem: her unborn baby had a potentially life-threatening jaw abnormality.

Rush sought a second opinion at University of Virginia (UVA), where Early confirmed her babys abnormality causes difficulty with breathing at birth and may even be fatal.

Yet Early had a solution in mind, a specialized intervention procedure known as EXIT whereby the baby is partially delivered in an operation resembling a C-section. With the baby still attached to the umbilical cord, doctors intubate the infant and establish breathing before the cord is clamped.

The tricky procedure, said Early, can draw as many as 20 experts into an operating room at once. Rush booked the procedure for March.

But her baby had other plans.

The mom-to-be went into labor on a dark and stormy night. Amidst a snowstorm, and without the time or means to get to UVA, she was taken to her nearest hospital.

As she was about to have the EXIT procedure performed by a team unfamiliar with Earlys carefully-devised plan, she heard the news. Dr. Early was on the way, driving through the storm to oversee the delivery.

(Illustration  Nenov Brothers Images/Shutterstock)

A few hours later, Dr. Early walked in that room, said Rush, and the relief that I felt in that moment  I cant even explain it. If he hadnt been there, we could have lost [our baby], and that terrifies me to think about.

Having prepared the details while en route, Early claimed that showing up in the nick of time was all part of the job. As they said in the field of dreams, Go the distance, he said.

Already a hero, Dr. Early was among 233 UVA physicians selected by their peers for the Best Doctors in America List in 2019 and 2020.

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A logo of Honeywell on its booth during the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 22, 2017. (Denis Balibouse/Reuters)

Honeywell Fined $13 Million for Exporting Sensitive Information to Countries Including China

Honeywell was fined $13 million for allegedly exporting sensitive data to several countries, including China, without obtaining proper authorization, the Department of State announced on May 3.

The State Departments spokesperson said in a statement that it concluded a settlement with Honeywell International to resolve alleged violations of export rules when the company exported and retransferred technical information about U.S. fighter jets and other military systems without authorization to Canada, China, Ireland, Mexico, and Taiwan.

The exported data contained engineering prints showing dimensions, geometries, and layouts for manufacturing castings and finished parts for multiple aircraft, gas turbine engines, and military electronics, a department spokesperson said.

The violations Honeywell has been charged with occurred within a four-year period and include sending to foreign companies, without permission, technical details of military aircraft such as the Lockheed Martin F-35 and F-22, helicopters, tanks, and Raytheons Tomahawk cruise missiles, according to a proposed charging letter sent by the State Department to the company.

An F-35 jet arrives at its new operational base at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah on Sept. 2, 2015. (Rick Bowmer/AP Photo)

In 2015, Honeywell disclosed to the authorities 71 drawings that it sent to foreign suppliers, 65 of which allegedly violated the U.S. export and transfer rules, the letter stated. The company exported 51 of these drawings to communist China, according to the letter.

In 2018, Honeywell submitted a second voluntary disclosure of technical documents that violated export restrictions, which included 23 drawings exported to Mexico, two to Canada, and two to China, the letter said.

The U.S. government determined that exports to and retransfers in China of drawings for certain parts and components of military equipment disclosed in both sets of documents harmed national security, the letter said.

Honeywell agreed to pay a penalty of $13 million within three years, of which $5 million will be suspended on the condition that these funds will be used to make improvements to Honeywells compliance program according to the requirements stipulated by the agreement with the State Department, the statement said.

The agreement requires Honeywell to hire an external special compliance officer initially for at least 18 months to oversee the implementation of the compliance enhancements and to conduct an independent audit of the companys compliance program during the agreement term, according to the statement.

The State Department decided not to debar Honeywell at this time because the company voluntarily disclosed the alleged violations, recognized the seriousness of its violations, and has put into practice a number of corrective measures, the department said in the statement.

The Honeywell Stance

Several years ago, we voluntarily informed the U.S. Department of States Defense Trade Controls Compliance (DTCC) unit in two voluntary disclosures where Honeywell designs were inadvertently shared during normal business discussions, Honeywells spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email statement.

The issues Honeywell reported involved technology that was assessed as having an impact on national security, though it is commercially available throughout the world. No detailed manufacturing or engineering expertise was shared.

Since Honeywell voluntarily self-reported these disclosures, we have taken several actions to ensure there are no repeat incidents. These actions included enhancing export security, investing in additional compliance personnel, and increasing compliance training.

The company also said in its statement that it would implement all measures prescribed in the settlement agreement to return to compliance and is fully committed to compliance with all applicable export control laws.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 00:15:05|Editor: huaxia

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NEW DELHI, May 5 (Xinhua) -- A spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India on Wednesday expressed concern and regret that Chinese telecommunications companies have not been permitted to conduct 5G trials with Indian telecom service providers.

In response to a media query on a notification issued Tuesday by India's Department of Telecommunications, Counselor Wang Xiaojian said "We noted relevant notification, and express concern and regret that Chinese telecommunications companies have not been permitted to conduct 5G trials with Indian telecom service providers in India."

The spokesperson said relevant Chinese companies have been operating in India for years, providing mass job opportunities and making contributions to India's infrastructure construction in telecommunications.

"To exclude Chinese telecommunications companies from the trials will not only harm their legitimate rights and interests, but also hinder the improvement of the Indian business environment, which is not conducive to the innovation and development of related Indian industries," Wang said.

"The Chinese side hopes that India could do more to enhance mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries, and provide an open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory investment and business environment for market entities from all countries, including China, to operate and invest in India," he said. Enditem
Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei adjusts his headphones as he hosts a panel discussion in Shenzhen, China, on June 17, 2019. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Huawei Bosss Internal Speech Hints at the Company Possibly Going Public

Ren Zhengfei, the founder and CEO of Chinese tech giant Huawei, said in an internal speech last month that if parts of the business slowly move to the capital market, the manipulation of finances would be a legal problem. His words have led to speculation that Huawei may go public, as U.S. sanctions against Huawei have made its cash flow a big issue.

In April last year, in an online interview with the South China Morning Post, Ren said that Huawei would probably go public in 3,000 years.

One reason why he said that Huawei would not go public may be its shareholder structure.

Hong Kong-based economist Larry H.P. Lang described Huaweis corporate structure as globally unique, with registration information on Chinas Shenzhen credit website showing that Huawei Investment & Holdings Co. has only two shareholdersthe Labor Union Committee, which holds 99 percent of the shares, and Ren Zhengfei, who holds 1 percent.

The union holds restricted phantom shares, and the more than 100,000 employees it represents have no equity certificates and can only get dividends. They cannot buy or sell the shares.

According to Lang, when it comes to Huaweis capital increase, dividends, and personnel appointments, its shareholder meetings have been attended by only two shareholders, Ren and Chairman Sun Yafang.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) is shown around the offices of Chinese tech firm Huawei by its CEO Ren Zhengfei, in London during a state visit on Oct. 21, 2015. (Matthew Lloyd/AFP/Getty Images)

Previous conjecture in the Chinese media about Huaweis reasons for not going public, besides its opaque corporate structure, was that it already had sufficient capital and didnt need to go public to raise money. Notably, going public would require disclosure of the companys financial statements and other information, which might interfere with Huaweis longer-term plans.

In 2012, the House Intelligence Committee asked Huawei to provide detailed information about its ownership structure, including a list of its top 10 shareholders, but Huawei refused.

The Committee finds that Huawei did not fully cooperate with the investigation and was unwilling to explain its relationship with the Chinese government or Chinese Communist Party [CCP], while credible evidence exists that Huawei fails to comply with U.S. laws, said the Committee in its investigative report (pdf).

The United States and other Western countries suspected Huawei of accepting subsidies from the CCP and then beating Western telecommunications companies to the 5G market by offering low prices and attempting to set new international standards to realize the CCPs strategic ambition of controlling global 5G.

On March 12, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (pdf) designated five Chinese companies, including Huawei, as a threat to national security and placed them on a list of unreliable suppliers. The FCC is required to publish and maintain a list of communications products and services that pose an unacceptable risk to national security.

Huaweis Cash Flow is Tight

In a recently published speech delivered on March 30, Ren said there would be no manipulation of accounts, an important assessment criterion for cadres to fulfill their responsibilities, because if some parts of the business slowly go to the capital market in the future, manipulating accounts will be a legal issue instead of a disciplinary issue.

A display for facial recognition and artificial intelligence is seen on monitors at Huaweis Bantian campus in Shenzhen, China, on April 26, 2019. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

There is speculation that Huawei may divest itself of some of its businesses, such as Huawei Mobile or Huawei Cloud, and spin them off to list separately or sell to ease its tight capital flow problem.

According to Huaweis 2020 annual financial report released on March 31, Huaweis cash flow statement showed it had $5.44 billion by the end of last year. It is the lowest in the past five years, down 61.5 percent from the previous year.

In order to survive and address the restrictions on equipment sales and future sustainability under the sanctions, Huawei has increased its independent R&D in the past two years, spending $20 billion and $22 billion in 2019 and 2020 respectively, more than half of the $74 billion Huawei has invested in R&D in the past 10 years.

Huaweis rotating CEO Xu Zhijun admitted that the multiple sanctions imposed by the United States have been a fatal blow to Huawei. In order to avoid future supply chain breakage, Huawei has changed its previous practice of zero reserves and has stockpiled a large number of chips, which added to its capital flow pressure. Huawei spent $11.1 billion, $14.9 billion, and $21.4 billion on hoarding chips in 2017, 2018, and the first half of 2019, respectively. This is a net increase of $10.2 billion in two and a half years.

In the past year, Huawei has made some big moves including selling Honor, its main cell phone brand, for $40 billion. Before that, Huawei issued bonds domestically in 2019, accumulating $3.6 billion in domestic bond sales. In addition, Huawei has denominated bonds totaling $4.5 billion, making its total domestic and overseas bonds reach $8 billion.

In another big move earlier this month, Huawei spun off its Huawei Cloud business, with Xu as chairman of Huawei Cloud and Yu Chengdong, executive director and CEO of the Consumer BG, president of the Cloud & AI BG, as CEO of Huawei Cloud. Chinese media quoted sources as saying, Huawei Cloud may go public, or be sold first, like Honor.

Cloud computing is a business that requires huge investment, and Huawei Cloud may need to be listed or sold to leverage external capital to address its huge initial investment. The other two Chinese cloud computing giants are also investing heavily, with Alibaba announcing last year that it will invest $31 billion in Aliyun, or Alibaba Cloud, over the next three years and Tencent investing $77 billion in its cloud business over the next five years.
Husband of Missing Woman Suzanne Morphew Arrested on First-Degree Murder Charge

The husband of a Colorado woman Suzanne Morphew, who went missing last year, was arrested, officials said on Wednesday.

Barry Morphew was arrested on charges of first-degree murder after deliberation, tampering with physical evidence, and an attempt to influence a public servant, reported The Denver Channel, citing court documents in the case.

This case remains very active, as more than a dozen investigators are aggressively working this case on a daily basis, Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze said in July 2020. And until we determine what happened to Suzanne, we cant discount any scenario or formally eliminate anyone from suspicion.

The Chaffee County Sheriffs Office said it will hold a press conference regarding Barry Morphews indictment.

Suzanne Morphew, 49, of Maysville, went to ride her bike on May 10 of 2020 and has not been seen since, prompting a multi-agency search.

Investigators had spoken with a neighbor who told them that Morphew left never came back. Her family members said her husband was away at the time, reports said last year.

Its, its the hardest thing, her nephew, Trevor Noel, told CBS Denver. Shes a beloved member of her family and the sweetest person that youve ever met.

At the time, Spezze said Barry Morphew was cooperative.

Were certainly hopeful that she is [alive]. Obviously, as time goes by that gives us concern, but were searching as though shes alive and we do believe she could still be alive, Spezze said last year.

There is a $200,000 reward for information on her whereabouts, including $100,000 from Morphews husband, the report said.
India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (R) gestures to UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab as they arrive for a press interaction following their 'India-UK Ministerial Dialogue' meeting in New Delhi on Dec. 15, 2020. (Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images)

Indian Foreign Minister Opts Out of In-Person G-7 Summit Over CCP Virus Concern

Indias foreign minister has been forced to pull out of the face-to-face Group of Seven meetings in London after two members of his delegation tested positive for the CCP virus.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Wednesday he will have to join the G-7 foreign ministers meeting online instead of in person.

Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 5, 2021

Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible COVID positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G-7 Meeting today as well, he wrote on Twitter.

India is not a G-7 member but was invited to the summit along with Australia, South Africa, and South Korea.

The British government said two Indian delegates tested positive and therefore the entire delegation is self-isolating.

A senior UK diplomat said: We deeply regret that Foreign Minister Dr. Jaishankar will be unable to attend the meeting today in person and will now attend virtually, but this is exactly why we have put in place strict COVID protocols and daily testing.

Britains Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said we are all having to adapt in agile ways as he welcomed Jaishankar to the meeting appearing via video link.

This is the first face-to-face meeting of G-7 foreign ministers for more than two years.

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Labour party, questioned the governments decision to hold the meeting in person rather than virtually.

I do think we need to ask questions about how this happened, if only to make sure it is not repeated, he said. It is a reminder of how vigilant we need to be about our bordersweve been challenging government on this for some months.

Asked if it was a mistake to hold the meeting in person, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters: I think its very important to try to continue as much business as you can as a Government.

I will be seeing the Indian foreign minister later this afternoon and that will be a Zoom exchange, Im given to understand.

There are strict COVID-19 security measures in place at Lancaster House, the summit venue.

Home Secretary Priti Patel met the Indian foreign minister on Tuesday, but she has not been told to self-isolate.

PA and Reuters contributed to this report.
Inside Communist Chinas War on FaithUSCIRF Commissioner Nury Turkel, Born in a Chinese Re-Education Camp

Nury Turkel was born in a Chinese re-education camp where his mother was imprisoned at the height of Chinas Cultural Revolution. Now, hes a commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

The Chinese Communist Party has been waging a war on faith, Turkel says. Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang are being treated as less than human and forcibly sterilized, religious believers are forced to study Xi Jinping thought, and Falun Gong practitioners are being killed for their organs.

What is the Chinese regime doing to religious believers behind closed doors?

Below is a rush transcript of this American Thought Leaders episode from May 4, 2021. This transcript may not be in its final form and may be updated.

Jan Jekielek: Commissioner Nury Turkel, such a pleasure to have you on American Thought Leaders.

Nury. Turkel: Thank you very much for having me on.

Mr. Jekielek: To start with, in this recent report that you just put out, you single out China and the Chinese Communist Party for particular attention. Tell me why?

Mr. Turkel: USCIRF as a bipartisan federal government agency established under the mandate of International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. Year after the USCIRF was established, China was added to the country of particular concern list.

So its been as long as you USCIRF in existence, weve been calling up China for its human rights abuses. And this year we also recommend that China to be designated as a CPC country. Simply because in the year 2020 as has been widely reported, human rights abuses, particularly Chinas Communist Part targeted attack on religious minority.

That includes Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, Chinas Christians and Falun Gong practitioners have been worsened. Chinese in a way sinicizing engaging in a sinification project. Making it, not a religion, but also worshiping Xi Jinping, studying communist ideology as a religion.

So there have been as a former ambassador for International Religious Freedom have perfectly put China has been in war on religion, on faith a number of years, but it got significantly worse in last year with state departments recognition of ongoing atrocities as a genocide and crimes against humanity.

Mr. Jekielek: The sinicization of religion, when you said that, it kind of chill down my spine, because basically youre talking about turning religions into something else.

Mr. Turkel: Absolutely. For the Chinese Communist Party, by believing in any religion or having a spiritual life is considered as a potential threat or sign of disloyalty. So, the communist party find a way to make their religion in line with their own ideology. So instead of worshiping God when you go to the places of worship, you worship Xi Jinping, You study, Xi Jinping thoughts.

So they are engaging in human re-engineering with this terminology that theyve been widely using, transformation. Thought transformation in a way of saying that we cleansing somebodys religious belief out of their mind or that their soul and replacing it with the communism and Xi Jinping thoughts.

Mr. Jekielek: Thought transformation, another set of words that sent a chill down my spine. This is basically completely antithetical to any faith really, right?

Mr. Turkel: Yeah. The Chinese government particularly the current government under Xi Jinping leadership see anything that creates resentment against the Chinese government or anything different than what theyve been promoting specifically in an ideological front, the term that they use a lot can be seen as a source for potential unrest. Calls for future instability to the Communist Party.

To the Chinese State, stability is a paramount concern. They will do anything that they will help. It will help them to achieve this superficial stability. Let me just use this example Turkmenistan-North Korea are very stable, why? Its a dictatorship.

Mr. Jekielek: So now you make a distinction between the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese nation, perhaps even the state, whats the distinction exactly?

Mr. Turkel: When policy makers are people who are criticize the Chinese governments behaviors need to know that both domestic and international policies being formulated, implemented domestically and internationally has a lot to do with the Communist Party.

So we need to focus on the Communist Party much more than what we have particularly last three, four years, because if youre not careful with the rhetoric, with the way that you put together your criticism towards the government, it may create backlash against the Chinese Americans, particularly in this country.

And also if you dont recognize the danger, the CCP is posing to the stability, civil rights, human rights, religious freedom around the world. You will not be able to formulate an effective foreign policy to tackle a CCP threat. So the recognition of the CCP, Chinas ambition around the world, is a baby step into the right direction. Without that kind of recognition, its impossible to formulate an effective long lasting foreign policy agenda.

Mr. Jekielek: You mean that you have to understand what the Chinese Communist Party is about as opposed to China as a nation, is that-

Mr. Turkel: Absolutely. This nation is run by a group of communist party project. Without really focusing on what they have been saying, theres a document, number nine document that was secretive initially been now public. If you read the lines carefully, it shows that this is all about CCPs future. So it goes to the heart of what Xi Jinping government has been formulated implemented domestically under the guise of social credit system, which is a way of monitoring Chinese citizens.

That China has been effectively managed to put a place, the most draconian surveillance system domestically, and now they exporting it. This is a way of exporting and expanding the CCP influence around the world. So this is a much different type of threat that people need to recognize and reckon with.

Mr. Jekielek: To build on this point a tiny bit. Its really difficult for a lot of people to imagine that the preservation of the Chinese Communist Party the CCP could be the paramount purpose of this whole government. You know.

Mr. Turkel: It is mind boggling sometime when you hear people saying, Oh, China is the most powerful country. We have a strong economic ties. But they almost forget the very weakness of the Chinese State that is, its struggle to preserve the authority of the CCP, to preserve this superficially, this system that they established not to serve the people, but to serve the communist party.

Mr. Jekielek: Well, and you have frankly personal experience with their realities of what the CCP is all about. And I actually want to take a moment to get you to tell me a little bit about that, because a lot of people, again, just cant even imagine some of the things that you yourself have actually experienced.

Mr. Turkel: I always use two words to describe my life, no escape. I was born in a re-education camp during the height of the cultural revolution, where my young mother was detained because of her relationship with her dad, my grandfather, who was a Uyghur nationalist. And also my dad, my father university educated father was sent to a labor camp for three years in a countryside.

So not only newly vetted couple being separated by the government, but also my mom, my mother, who was pregnant with me when she was taken into the re-education camp, went through physical, verbal abuses and delivered me while she was injured, while she was in cast chest down.

I was born in such a horrific circumstance, but after coming to the United States, establishing my professional life, establishing a happy family life. I never thought until summer 2018, that I would even mention the way that I was born to this world, because people need to know that this is not something new. This has been ongoing as long as they have been breathing. But the circumstances compelled me to come out and say, Look, Ive seen this movie before, I ask you to pay attention, but you did not know we have a much bigger problem.

The Chinese Communist Party managed to establish or build industrial scale of concentration camps on the worlds watch. Making never again, a meaningless vow and sadly, no one is raising a finger until the United States government starting 2019 speaking up publicly and responding with some unprecedented historic measurements. This has been part of the Uyghur life for a long time.

The Uyghur people around the world, NGOs, human rights activists had been sounding the alarm that this need to be something that people should take it seriously, but it took a genocide in Uyghurs home on East Turkestan, and approving of a democracy rule of law in Hong Kong, and most oppressive ways to repress the religious minority in China, to a world community and national community to realize CCP is a threat to a civilization. Its very sad reality, but it should not take a genocide for the national community to realize what CCP is about.

Mr. Jekielek: And the measure, you of course, you mean the genocide designation as how we were talking about?

Mr. Turkel: Genocide designation was one of the most significant policy responses by the United States government. But before, even that decision from October 2019 through January 2021, the previous administration announced over 70 sanctions. Im talking about the individual sanctions that includes blacklisting of entities under the statute that the commerce department was authorized to do.

And also sanctioning of, four Chinese senior government officials, including the current Chinese Communist Party secretary of XUAR, Chen Quanguo and also Xinjiang Production & Construction Corp, which is a paramilitary unit reportedly has over 800,000 shell companies around the world and also visa restrictions that you aware of.

That was the policy responses. This does not even include the legislative responses that weve been seeing in the US Congress. The general decision is the strongest policy response announced by former Secretary of State, Pompeo, endorsed on the same day by the new Secretary of State, Blinken.

This shows the seriousness of the United States government. USCIRF as we noted in our report, and not only asked the State Department to look into this to evaluate and determine if the atrocities, martyr, genocide and crimes against humanity, but also we support this bi-partisan decision.

This should send a message to Beijing that they cannot play division game with American people. This is a matter of value and principle. United States government just like the Chinese government is a signatory to Genocide Convention that our country ratified in 1988. Since 1988, there has been only five decisions adding the Uyghurs. There have been only six instances that US government made a similar decision.

I need to highlight something very important in this respect, the United States, well, any country does not lightly or casually go out and accuse somebody, or government, or government entities for committing genocide.

This is a very serious, serious awards, accusations, if you will. But when you look at the way that this was done, through analysis, relying on the fact, and also fulfilling our obligation on the international law is something that the United States government, particularly Secretary Pompeo deserves a lot of credit.

He was a bold decision, and Secretary Blinken also deserves credit for acknowledging, endorsing it and taking additional measures, including the coordinated sanctions announced in March along with our allies. And now we see in this expanding Canadian parliament recognize it as a genocide, so that the Netherlands parliament or the UK parliament were also expecting others joining the force.

So the United States have shown true leadership on this. This has been a bi-partisan, and this should be a strong message to China that this is not something that we will take lightly. And this is a matter of a conscience, a matter of principle. This is not only a moral obligation, but the United States is legally obliged to respond on these kinds of atrocities.

Mr. Jekielek: A genocide designation is a huge process. I dont know how many lawyers were involved. I dont know how many policy makers and so forth. And of course it creates very, very real requirements. So what are the requirements for these countries now that have basically followed the USs is lead and saying, This is genocide.

Mr. Turkel: At least so four of those five requirements articulated in the genocide convention meets in the Uyghur Genocide, particularly the purposeful, deliberate attempts to prevent population growth.

In 2019 alone the Chinese government managed to prevent the Uyghur population growth by 25%. In the previous three years, 84%, I mean, this is based on the open source information available on Chinas governments websites. And they were bragging about this. German scholar, Adrian Zenz profiled, and investigated, and wrote, and published report. A credible report.

This is the one aspect that I think woke up the United States government officials, particularly on the senior level. We live in a country that even abortion is something still in debate, being debated, let alone sterilizing a woman who are in their mid 50s go through this sterilization is something that is not acceptable. Thats so inhuman this egregious practices. So that was one of the most compelling reason for the policy makers in the United States government, both in Congress and executive branch and legislative branch to seriously look at it.

And the second thing is the forcible removal of Uyghur children from their parents. Weve talking about more than half million Uyghur kids. We live in the city with a population of 750,000. Im talking about nations capitol.

Just imagine the entire population in the city has been removed or been emptied out. Were talking about that many number or that many Uyghur children taken into the state run orphanages that the Chinas government shameless is calling boarding school. Weve seen the images as reported in the media, so thats the second significant amount.

And also the Chinese governments attempt to destroy in whole, or part of the Uyghur population. There is a slogan if youre looking to a report published by AFP, former report of Ben Dooley now works for the New York Times. And that theres a line, a quote actually from the Chinese government officials, Break the lineage, break the roots, break the connection. These are the official lines.

And also their intention is also very clear in the leaked documents published through New York Times in 2019 statements by Xi Jinping specifically said, Absolutely no mercy. And then the same guide that I was referring earlier, Chen Quanguo, said that, Everyone should be arrested, should be taken into the camps. Im paraphrasing, but he said similar lines in Chinese.

People should look at the Chinese original meaning of some of those words, its bone chilling. So the intention is clear for the Chinese government to destroy this nation in part and whole. And the evidence is overwhelming. Their targeted attack, destructive policies against the Uyghur woman and children. Its not that difficult.

So its almost offensive to me and many other genocide victims direct/indirect that some individuals from the think tank, media opinion. I have a message for them. They can hold on to their thoughts and writing projects until after we stopped the genocide.

Even if this kind of conversation taking place in the good faith, that can be misused by this opportunistic regime in Beijing, actively engaging in this information campaign. And they can inject these good faith conversation into the official propaganda. In the case of this professor in Columbia University recently because his distasteful views towards the United States government, he made a case of whataboutism. And the Chinese minister of foreign affairs spokesperson have been circulating in social media.

Weve got to be very careful. Its the same case with the economist piece, same case with this op-ed published in the Washington Post by someone who works for a think tank here in town. Yeah, freedom of speech is wonderful thing. I wish we can say the same thing in China.

Those who are taking advantage of our freedom of speech for their propaganda campaign should look into the mirror and say, Okay, this is a good thing. Maybe we should allow our citizens to speak their mind, so we will not have this problem. This conversation needs to stop. Whatever the reason that might be, we need to stop the genocide. This is very serious.

The international community in the last 10 years, if you look back 2012, when we find out about the genocide against Yazidi. Have experienced at least three known genocidal campaigns against religious ethnic minority in less than 10 years, First Yazidi and then the Rohingya Muslims, now the Uyghur. At least two of those genocide are still ongoing. So how much more that the religious and ethnic minority had to suffer before they got the attention from the policymakers who can start this behaviors?

Mr. Jekielek: But just this whole discussion, frankly, like youre saying, the details, is it really genocide? How close is it to genocide? I was reading a piece, I think by Maura Moynihan from 20 years ago, where shes talking about-

Mr. Turkel: Shes a dear friend

Mr. Jekielek: The different characteristics of Basically how many of these characteristics, some of which you just mentioned apply to the Tibetan people. There was this China tribunal recently, which looked at the forced organ harvesting question, which I also like to discuss a little bit. But essentially they said, Well, it may not be exactly genocide against Falun Gong practitioners because of a profit motive.

Mr. Turkel: Yeah.

Mr. Jekielek: That was a mind blowing thing to me because Okay, fine. Maybe its not genocide. Right? But, its darn close and its always about eradicating or eliminating a group of people. And none of these things are acceptable, so why debate the terms, right?

Mr. Turkel: Yep. The Chinese government, we talked about CCP. The CCP is minority policy. CCPs policies towards somebody whos others. Falun Gong practitioners, the Tibetans and the Catholics, the Uyghur have always been motivated by the criminal intent. I would call it crimes against humanity.

When you look back the way that they treated Falun Gong practitioners, starting in early 90s to organ harvesting, and also as Dalai Lama put it several years ago on CNN that whatever the Chinese were doing, he was very mild in the statement, amounts to cultural genocide.

But if you a lump all together and carefully look at the motive, the Chinese authorities have always been on something to commit a crime against these religious and ethnic minority who are vulnerable. Who are in a situation either to become a compliant, give up their way of life, give up their religious practices, embrace communist ideology, or sacrifice themselves. To some, most people been in a ladder situation, either being taken to the concentration camp. The concentration camp concept also is not something new.

Concentration camp has camps that we learned about in China, and those in history that we read in the books, and saw on the movies have several commonalities. One, the concentration camps built in China is extrajudicial. They take people in based on their religion, ethnic background. And two, theres no legal process.

By setting up these camps, not only the new ones, the old ones dont go through the criminal procedure, articulated to laid out in their criminal law and procedures. And then three, when theyre taken in, none of them been explained or told why theyre there. And once they are released, manage to release either ill, or dead, or walking out, never apologize or compensated.

These are the commonalities of the concentration camps weve seen in history, whether it be Dachau or or Auschwitz, or the concentration camps in Cuba, Cuba set up by the Spaniards, with the others that we have seen other parts of the world. The camp, the collective punishment has been one of the most effective criminal behaviors by the Beijing authorities for years.

The international community sadly, just finding out about it. This has been ongoing process, the organ harvesting. In the 90s, when the Falun Gong practitioners, first group of victims brought this to the floor and asked them for help, they did not get the necessary attention. But now were talking about much shorter wait time, there must be more available organs. Then the demand as has been the case, this has also been commercialized.

I usually have no problem expressing myself, but this is one of the instances that I could not come up with a proper word to express how outrageous, how inhuman this is, that the Chinese government using the organs of prisoners of conscience for profit.

Mr. Jekielek: Lets dig into the organ harvesting piece a little bit here. I just want to make sure we have the timeline, right? So I actually did my first reporting on organ harvesting in 2006, when I realized essentially that it had to be real, because of wait times and a whole host of other things, which David Kilgore and David Matas, these two Canadian lawyers said had kind of figured out. But youre talking about this happen even earlier than that. So tell me a little bit about that.

Mr. Turkel: Just like the way that the international community found out about the concentration camps years after its been in practice, the organ harvesting, were something, part of the official punishment, commercialization of the political prisoners way back. It goes to early 90s. Uyghur doctor based in the UK have profiled this, testified about this. Actually him himself, he himself participated in this practice when he was a physician. Its reasonable to say that this goes way back to early 90s.

Mr. Jekielek: Yeah. And then it just went kind of industrial once they put, I dont know, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Falun Gong in the camp to the point.

Mr. Turkel: Yeah. It got to the point of the establishment and promotion of a hospital in Beijing through a video presentation that I saw with my own eyes. People speaking Arabic and the hospital is promoting this particular service. The question becomes, who are you marketing these services? Where are you getting the organs to supply the demand for this kind of health issues?

I dont know if that video is still available online, but it was quite disturbing.There was a patient speaking Arabic apparently, and a very comfortable looking hospital. Its almost like a medical tourism type of situation that we see for other type of medical services that can be found in some countries.

For example, in Thailand, people go there to do some medical checkup that is expensive in other parts of the world. So, yeah, I feel comfortable stating that the organ harvesting this kind of egregious practices were an existence way back in the early 90s, I would say.

Mr. Jekielek: So one last bit on the forced organ harvesting. Ive seen actually, theres been a bit of a legislative activity around this. The Texas State Senate has passed resolution, basically outlining some direction basically on how to try to stop this. A resolution, and theres actually legislation in the house and the Senate by bipartisan legislation to stop forced organ harvesting act, I believe its called. What are your thoughts about this?

Mr. Turkel: I dont think that the United States or other countries have necessary tools to prevent this kind of practices from continuing. I commend these members of Congress, have put in place at legislation to stop this. And also the other countries should also look into this kind of model to stop it, because this has become international business. This has become a very profitable business. Were talking about millions of people being taken to the camps.

Sometime people argue that the China is not engaging in mass killing. You dont know that. No one knows that. CCP did not allow cameras to be allowed in the camps or the hospitals that theyre performing these procedures. So its premature for those people who are trying to normalize these behaviors.

The best way to tackle this is through legislation. We need to ban it. We need to make it illegal so that people who are inclined to be part of these kinds of egregious inhuman practices will be stopped. So we need a good governance. We need to have an additional tool. So I commend the Congress for looking to the legislative mandate.

Mr. Jekielek: One of the things thats in the report is a discussion of how effective China or the Chinese Communist Party has been essentially exporting its repression beyond its own borders, into other countries, both in the west, and also to countries that are basically adopting some of the technology they use, for example, the surveillance technology. So tell me about what youve found?

Mr. Turkel: In late 2018, there was a column in one of the Chinese state run publications, which literally said, Look at us, we find a way to deal with the worlds Muslim problem. So they are promoting the repressive methods that they were able to put in place testing, implementing, and expanding in East Turkestan, in Tibet and other parts of China. And trying to make this as new normal for the supporters.

China does not have an ally like the United States, or other liberal democracies have, but they have client states. They have countries they have been bought by the Chinese money under the diplomatic pressure. So they exporting these technologies, these techniques as a way to deal with societal political resentment against those oppressive regimes. Theyre also trying to use this as ways to expand the CCP Chinas influence.

We organized a hearing on this particular issue not too long ago. One of our witnesses, a very experienced, respected scholar who is specialized on Chinese surveillance technology, and influence operations, told us that over 80 countries have already adopted or in the process of adopting Chinese surveillance, they should be taken as a warning sign by those who have been somewhat skeptical about the criticism of Chinese technology, particularly the big names that have been engaged in the discussion for the 5G namely Huawei.

This is not about a particular company or technology. This is about Chinese using technology to expand its influence. Imagine that the Chinese way of surveilling its own population becomes new normal. What does it mean for democracy? What does it mean for civil liberties? What does it mean for religious freedom around the world?

The countries that have been adopted, or in the process of importing Chinese surveillance technologies include some of the countries that we monitor at your surf. That includes Pakistan for example, they include some central Asian countries, nations. That includes countries like Cuba includes North Korea.

So this is a serious problem. This is not about the United States concerning about the certain Chinas technology or Chinese firm. This is about something coming our way to threat democratic norms in the national system, particularly privacy.

Mr. Jekielek: Well, so maybe you can build a little bit about on this, back in the Soviet Union, the Stasi was the gold standard of invasive surveillance.

Mr. Turkel: Yeah.

Mr. Jekielek: How does that compare? How does whats happening with the CCP is doing now and exporting compare and what are the implications for religious freedom?

Mr. Turkel: Two thoughts come to mind when I mentioned these things, when I talk about these things. For example, I mentioned cultural revolution. What is happening in China today with respect to religious ethnic minorities with this repressive environment that they set up.

Some people liken them to open their prison. Is literally a cultural revolution on the steroids. And also when you talk about the surveillance, this is east German Stasi with artificial intelligence preemptive policing capabilities. So this is how serious these issues are.

If its not taken seriously, if its not stopped, this will become a much more serious problem for a religious minorities around the world. That many oppressive governments, authoritarian regime, dictatorship have already been using their own means and tools to suppress.

I would say this, that whatever is happening to religious ethnic minorities in China no longer about their human rights, their religious freedom. This is about us as a free society. How to prevent, this is becoming new normal in the world. This will create much bigger problem for us to handle down the road.

Mr. Jekielek: One of the things that that has been developing over past years is this International Religious Freedom Alliance, right? How significant is this development in actually countering what youre describing right now, or where are we at?

Mr. Turkel: The United States government recognizes religious freedom as an essential way of protecting national security. If youre not tackled, if youre not handled religious freedom properly, if you target religious minorities as the case in China elsewhere, actually that the oppressive policy will create more instability, creates more resentment, creates more problems. May even radicalize some people, so that is this national security concern.

For the United States government, the way that were focusing on these issues, not only moral obligation, but also by promoting these, a basic freedom, fundamental freedom, we actually helping these countries that we are publicly calling up, criticizing. We want countries to be successful. At USCIRF, we monitor 26 countries, we work with some of them.

For example, we have an ongoing working relationship with government of East Pakistan, for example. There are a few others who have been also engaging with us, recognizing that were not going to go away. Were not going to stop calling them out. Were not stop speaking for those religious practitioners who have been unfairly treated and thrown into jail.

So were resolved to continue this effort, the previous administration for its credit put this in front and center of foreign policy agenda, organized three ministerial during the annual gathering of heads of state in New York in late 2019. Secretary Pompeo, Vice President Mike Pence, and President Trump organized Religious Freedom Summit. Traditionally, historically speaking by practice, we can say that religious persecution is a crime against humanity, and that can be a precursor for genocide.

We have seen similar practice keep coming back. And oftentimes when you look at it, the subject, the persecuted happened to be religious minority. And also we are not promoting one religion over another religion through our work. We are promoting international law, UN Declaration of Human Rights.

We also promote individual rights, not to believe in any religion. So any government trying to take away that right, interfere with the private communication with the almighty need to stop these practices. Its not helping them domestically and its not helping their relationship with our country.

Mr. Jekielek: You mentioned some of these countries that USCIRF has relationships with. There were, I think, three countries that were highlighted or there were moved off of the list of concern. Just maybe you could just briefly mention, I think, Sudan in particular, I was reading to some very kind of positive developments.

Mr. Turkel: Yeah.

Mr. Jekielek: Maybe give you a chance to talk a little bit about that before we finish.

Mr. Turkel: Yeah. Some of those countries that I referenced, inviting commissioners to visit, laying out some of the reform package that they have been considering or implemented. We welcome that kind of good gesture, and we have some countries stonewalling, denying, even saying, You dont know what youre talking about. And those are the countries, for example, China, they have been the CPC countries since 1999.

Mr. Jekielek: Thats Country of Particular Concern just for our viewers to understand that.

Mr. Turkel: It is basically as the worst of the worst. And state department has been maintaining their own list as well. They monitor the entire universe, every country, but we monitor 26 countries that have the worst human rights in religious freedom or religious persecution records. So we engage with the governments here in town.

Sometime we go to countries for fact-finding missions, because of COVID that arm of our practice work has been put on hold. But we welcome any governments, any countries reaching out to us or work with us. We can share our expense experiences. We also have model countries that have been engaging with us legislatively, administratively.

Again, we want the countries to be successful. Were not in a business to criticize governments or nations unfairly. Were there to help them so that they will be fair to their religious and ethnic minorities.

Mr. Jekielek: For example, I guess, Sudan, or I think Bahrain was one of the countries that was removed. Give me an example of something they accomplished that got them off the list?

Mr. Turkel: Some of them revised their criminal code. They released religious prisoners. We have a database for religious prisoners for conscience. We have a project called RPOC. We add names of religious prisoners, and we also adopt a specific religious prisoners in countries.

I recently adopted a RPOC, religious prisoners of conscience in Tajikistan. One of my commissioners, Johnnie Moore adopted Jimmy Lai whom we all know through his work advocating democracy and human rights in Hong Kong. Happened to be a religious practitioner himself and devout Catholic.

So we looked at the practices specifically, police behavior, for example, how they tolerate. In some countries even reciting Im talking about the Muslim countries. Saying things in Arabic, or reciting Arabic verses of Koran not sanctioned by the state, can be subject to criminal punishment. This is more so in the countries in Central Asia.

So we looked at legislative initiatives, reform package, administrative decisions, police behaviors, prison population, particularly RPOC. Those are the indications that we look at. And also we look at the intention. If its just a window dressing, and some governments have a tendency of doing that. And we look at, evaluate and then make the recommendations accordingly.

Mr. Jekielek: At least its good to see that things moving in a positive direction in some places in the world. Do you have any final thoughts before we finish up Nury?

Mr. Turkel: I would like to note that when we talk about China, particularly human rights issues, your audience need to be reminded of that this is about who we are as a country. The religious freedom, particularly the first human rights. The declaration of independence states religious freedom is a human rights.

And also as a society, were dealing with a monumental challenge. The slave labor produce products are in our marketplace, in our homes, and maybe in our bedrooms. Even the baby pajamas reportedly being produced by enslaved Uyghurs.

The PPEs that we use to save lives at hospitals and the society reportedly being made by Uyghur slaves. The beauty products that has been that have been promoted as a black gold targeting African American community have been made of Uyghur prisoners hair. This also reminds us what happened to the 6 million Jews. And also we are dealing with another international stage, or event, global event that the CCP may use to normalize its behavior.

So I call on the American consumers to be mindful that the products that theyre using, may have been produced by enslaved Uyghurs. Were talking about a significant number of consumer products that includes Campbell Soup, the sports outfit, any cotton products.

And also, I want athletes, policymakers to be mindful that the Beijing authorities may use next years winter Olympics as a global stage to normalize as the case of Hitler in 1936, in the backdrop that he already had Dachau concentration camps built. Jewish woman were subject to sterilization, forced labor, and three years later, Hitler invaded Europe. So we need to be mindful that history does not repeat itself. We allow history to repeat.

Mr. Jekielek: Well. So Im going to build a little bit on this, because this issues is very close to my heart. My father-in-laws a Holocaust survivor. Ive been very careful to try to not create any false equivalency between what happened during the Holocaust and what Nazi Germany perpetrated and whats happening in China.

But recently, theres just so many commonalities that its very difficult to not see them, frankly. And we have, of course, Holocaust survivors, as well as various Jewish groups, stepping up to basically condemn whats happening in Xinjiang, and other actions by the Chinese Communist Party. Where do you kind of stand on this?

Mr. Turkel: The Holocaust Award should be reserved for the Jewish people. Its not Holocaust, but similar genocidal actions being taken against the Uyghurs or other Turkic Muslims in China. Full stop. Its not a Holocaust, but similar criminal acts being committed.

What is similar is that the CCP leaders studied the Holocaust very carefully, Nazi policies very carefully. When I was shown the China Cables reported about two years ago, the first thing comes to mind is the Hitlers playbook, very similar method, dehumanization, sexual violence, separation of families, making that individual feel less of a human. Very similar. And this collective punishment idea.

The Chinese documents use this word, Jizhong (). Jizhong means collection. So they had something in mind that had already occurred in history.

Because of Chinas influence around the world, because of the way that they made the world to believe that you cannot criticize China because of the potential consequences, the international communitys response in the face of this industrial skill, concentration camps, the ongoing genocidal campaign, even the promise such as never again, ring shallow, because international community have failed to respond, even if those responded and those responses can be tepid meandering.

So this is not about the CCP anymore, this is about us who can make difference. If you dont stop this, who knows, we might be dealing with another religious minority who has been seen as an institutionalizing force or a potential source for unrest or threat to their existence. So we have to be very, very bold and responses to these crimes being committed, Meets, what cries out for global condemnation individual collective responses from liberal democracies.

Mr. Jekielek: You mentioned that Beijing is likely to try to use these upcoming Olympics to normalize all of this behavior that you just described, which I know about, but again, sent chills up my spine as you described. Some people are calling this, the genocide Olympics theyre advocating for a boycott, your thoughts?

Mr. Turkel: I agree with the terminology. Historians and some Jewish people, supporters of the Jewish people called 1936 as Nazi Olympics. Similarly, when you look at the practice, the way that the government is preparing and utilizing these kinds of events, in the case of 2008 Summer Olympics, and now the next years Winter Olympics. Should teach us some lesson that we cannot normalize. We cannot allow a regime such as the one in Beijing to use this kind of games that promote unity, friendship, spirit for advancement of their are political repression.

What kind of message that the international community will send to Beijing? If the international community nations repeat the same mistake as they did in 1936, more than 40 countries, including the United States attended the Berlin Olympics. We may see similar attendance next year, but what kind of reaction that the Chinese will have and what kind of oppressive policies that they may even formulate in response that can be military societal, political, diplomatic? So this is on us.

And also this game, if that happen as a normal international sports games or activity, will be unfair to the athletes who will be competing in the backdrop of genocidal actions, in the backdrop of industrial scale concentration camps. So what do we do about it? I think we should consider moving this Olympic to another country that does not commit genocide, or postpone it.

The Summer Olympics in Tokyo was postponed because of the pandemic. Its not something unusual. The circumstances does not allow Beijing to continue to have this platform to promote its interest and normalize its behaviors.

Mr. Jekielek: Well, Commissioner Nury Turkel, its such a pleasure to have you on.

Mr. Turkel: Thank you very much for having me. I enjoyed our conversation.

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Kidnapped Baby Dies After Shootout Between Murder Suspect and Police: Officials

A baby who was kidnapped by his father died at a hospital on Tuesday, coming just hours after his father engaged in a gun battle with officers during a chase.

Harrison County, Mississippi Coroner Brian Switzer told local station WLOX that the infant died Tuesday at a hospital in Mobile, Alabama. The child was identified as LaMello Parker.

The boys father, Eric Derell Smith, is accused of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend and her nephew on Monday in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, officials said. Smith then fled with the infant and went east, authorities told WLOX.

The two victims were identified as Christin Parker, 32, and Brandon Parker, 26, by officials.

The injured baby was hospitalized after Smith allegedly opened fire at officers, who were forced to return fire, reports said. Smith died of multiple gunshot wounds along Interstate 10.

UPDATE: Authorities in Mississippi are pursuing Baker area suspect Eric Derell Smith, 30, on I-10 in Harrison County, MS. MORE: https://t.co/gg4DvsJ7or pic.twitter.com/MG8UvP4ktS  WAFB (@WAFB) May 3, 2021

Switzer told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he had not yet seen the babys body and couldnt say whether the boy had been shot. He told local media that an autopsy is scheduled.

Despite the efforts of medical staff, the child passed away as a result of the injuries sustained. As stated, the investigation is ongoing at this time. Once a thorough investigation is completed the details will be released to the District Attorneys Office for review, Chris DeBack said a release from the Biloxi Police Department, reported WLOX.

Authorities told The Advocate and other news outlets that police and deputies attempted to deploy spike strips and used other techniques to try and stop Smiths vehicle.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Lawyer Concerned About Cancel Culture in Legal Community

Lawyer Carey Linde, who represented a B.C. father who opposed his teenaged child receiving cross-sex hormones but was defeated in court, says that cancel culture has infiltrated every aspect of society, including the legal community.

The child was born female and has transitioned to male. The father was recently released on bail after going to jail for publicizing information that could identify his child. The court had ordered that the childs identity be kept private in order to protect the childs privacy.

The court also ruled that the father must use his childs preferred name and pronouns.

University of Toronto psychology professor Jordan Peterson famously argued in 2016 that requiring all citizens to use someones preferred pronoun would be the start of a slippery slope, where state-imposed speech would become normalized and lead to an ever-more totalitarian society.

The issue of the use of pronouns recently stirred controversy in the legal community. Last December, British Columbias Chief Judge Melissa Gillespie issued a directive stipulating that, when parties are introducing themselves, or lawyers are introducing themselves, their client, witness, or another individual, they should provide the judge or justice with each persons name, title (e.g. Mr./Ms./Mx./Counsel Jones) and pronouns to be used in the proceeding.

A provincial court press release said the notice was meant to help lawyers and judges identify correct pronouns and support a shift in professional practice.

The provincial court said in its release that the new initiative was to align the court with its mission to provide a forum of justice that is impartial, fair, consistent, and assures equal access for everyone.

Pushback Begets Cancellation

Not all lawyers welcomed the new pronoun requirement, which inspired a contrarian article that was submitted to the Advocate, a journal published by the Vancouver Bar Association.

However, the journal says it was urged to drop the article.

We were rather dramatically cautioned that what the Advocate publishes on the matter could result in a human rights complaint against us. We have also been advised that this is not a topic that is open to debate and that criticism of the directions may amount to hate speech, the Advocate said in an editorial in its March 2021 edition.

It has been hinted that funding for the Advocate may be at risk if we publish views contrary to those of the Law Society, though we emphasize that this threat has not come from the Law Society itself.  We do not feel particularly warm about being bullied by anyone into publishing or not publishing. In this instance, we have felt bullied in both directions.

The Advocates editor, D. Michael Bain, said in an email to The Epoch Times that the piece that was submitted to the Advocate was later published by Canadian Lawyer and then withdrawn after protests were lodged.

The Epoch Times reached out to the Canadian Lawyer publication for comments but didnt hear back by publication time.

Linde, who has been involved in cases where parents dont want their children to undergo sex change surgeries or hormone therapy while under 18, says he is concerned that there can no longer be debates on issues.

There can only be one side of the argument. Theres no two sides. If you deny youre a racist, its an admission that you are a racist, Linde said.

He says the ideologies leading to cancel culture have trickled down from universities and made their way into everything.

I have adopted the position that everybody has to take sides. You either are woke or youre unwoke. And that crosses every spectrum, every ideology, every political philosophy, every board of governors, everybody, he said.
Legislatures, Its Time to Defund Universities

Commentary

Our universities have been uniformly corrupted by neo-Marxist political ideology. They no longer teach the great wealth of knowledge of Western Civilization, or engage in research to advance that knowledge. Instead, they indoctrinate their students in postmodern nihilism, postcolonial anti-West vilification, and identity politics of sexism and racism.

Postmodernism teaches that theres no truth objectively reflecting the nature of the world and its inhabitants. Rather, it teaches that all ideas are subjective, so that each person can have his or her own truth. This supposedly being the case, the academic requirement that ideas be supported by logical argument and by demonstrable evidence is no longer applicable.

Postcolonial theory teaches that the world was a lovely, friendly, and fair place before evil Western imperialists spread around the world to conquer harmless peoples, enslave them, and oppress them. All the problems of the world and its peoples thus derive, so says postcolonial theory, from the ill deeds of Western imperialists and colonialists. For example, the United States and Canada have no legitimacy as states or societies, because they stole their land from indigenous people and engaged in genocide against indigenous people. Thats why anticolonial struggles should undertake to return these countries and everything that their inhabitants built to the indigenous peoples.

Slavery, now taught as having been invented by the evil United States in 1619, is a special evil that now requires that the country be turned over to people of color, especially the great-great-grandchildren of slaves, and even those who arent citizens but who illegally flood into the country over the open border. The genocide of indigenous peoples and the enslavement of people of color are the double sins of the United States, which must be viewed as entirely illegitimate, and must devote itself entirely to recompense for people of color.

Social justice theory requires equity for justice, with equity being defined as equal results in education, occupation, economics, and office holding, for collective genders, races, sexualities, and ethnicities, although greater than equal results are fine for preferred categories. Critical race theory shows the way by adopting the Marxist class struggle theory and dividing the world into oppressive races and victim races, oppressive genders and victim genders, oppressive sexualities and victim sexualities, and oppressive ethnicities and victim ethnicities.

I dont want to keep you in suspense about who is who: whites are oppressors and people of color are victims; males are oppressors and females are victims; heterosexuals and those clinging to their birth sex are oppressors and LGBTQ++ are victims; Christians and Jews are oppressors and Muslims are victims. According to social justice theory, who is good and who is evil is very clear: oppressors are evil and victims are good.

Thats whats taught in universities today, and only what is taught. There are no alternative perspectives allowed. Universities have a monoculture from which students and professors may not deviate. Every university has scores or hundreds of diversity and inclusion officers who enforce conformity to social justice ideology and punish deviants. Academic freedom, were told, must be limited to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

No one is hired or promoted without having declared loyalty to the trinity of social justice.

As theres no longer a search for truth, and everyone is deemed to have their own truth, no evidence is ever demanded to support these neo-Marxist ideologies. For example, many of the claims of racism refer to statistical disparities, i.e., the greater number of members of one category in a particular job, or admitted to universities, or having a higher salary. The inference is then made that any disparity must be the result of gender or racial discrimination, and this assertion must be taken as absolute truth (even though they dont believe in truth). But no evidence of such discrimination is ever presented, because there is no such discrimination.

Statistical disparities can be explained by many other factors: differences in personal preferences; differences in levels of educational achievement; differences in family structure, such as two-parent families; differences in community cultures in regard to education; and differences in crime and social pathologies.

Social justice theory claims that American and Canadian societies are systemically racist and patriarchal. This claim, originally by race activists inside and outside universities, has now been adopted by the American Democratic government and the Canadian Liberal government, the heritage and mainstream media, big tech platforms, business and industry, the K12 school system, and the military. The cause of this racism and sexism is alleged to be white male supremacism, which suppresses and oppresses all females and people of color. Inside and outside of universities, males and the white race are vilified, thus demeaning and condemning the supermajority of citizens of the United States and Canada.

Its puzzling, in terms of this white male supremacism account, how it is that for 50 years, females and black citizens have been given preferential treatment and special benefits under government policies of affirmative action. And under diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates from the government on down, not only do females and people of color receive special consideration, but so do LGBTQ++, Hispanics (designated by the wokerati as Latinx), Muslims, and, in the many sanctuary states and universities, illegal aliens.

As for white supremacism oppressing people of color to maintain their control and privilege, how do we explain that the most successful peopleeducationally, economically, and professionallyin the United States are Asians? And that African and black Caribbean immigrants are as or more successful on average than whites? The evidence refutes the claim of systemic racism.

Neo-Marxist ideological poison spreads from university graduates to schools via radical departments and faculties of education, from university graduates to the media, high tech, business, and beyond, from law and medical schools to the professions, and finally arrives in legislatures and government officials, as we see today in Americas Democratic and Canadas Liberal administrations.

From the poisoned well, all of our institutions are polluted.

Our most representative institutions are state and provincial legislatures. Theyre closest to the citizens and tend to be most sensitive to public opinion. Citizens generally dont agree with claims of systemic racism, and disagree with policies based on race hate and gender hate, and disagree with fighting imagined discrimination with real discrimination. State and provincial legislatures are the funders of public universities and school systems, and subsidizers of private universities. Theyre in a position and have a duty to be the antidote to the poison that has infected our institutions.

Universities that are past reform should be defunded until they return to their educational mission. State and provincial departments of education should be revamped to ensure diversity of opinion. Schools should be defunded until theyre rid of racist and sexist ideologies. Our future depends on state and provincial legislatures proactively providing the antidote.

Philip Carl Salzman is professor emeritus of anthropology at McGill University, senior fellow at the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, fellow at the Middle East Forum, and president of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Frazier Glenn Miller Jr., convicted of capital murder, attempted murder and other charges, gestures as Johnson County deputies remove Miller from the courtroom during the sentencing phase of his trial at the Johnson County District Court in Olathe, Kan., on Nov. 10, 2015. (Joe Ledford/Pool/The Kansas City Star via AP)

Man Who Fatally Shot 3 at Kansas Jewish Sites Dies in Prison

An avowed antisemite who testified that he wanted to kill Jews and was sentenced to death after he shot and killed three people at Jewish sites in suburban Kansas City in 2014 has died in prison, the Kansas Department of Corrections said Tuesday.

Frazier Glenn Miller Jr., 80, died Monday at the El Dorado Correctional Facility, where he was serving a sentence for capital murder, attempted murder, assault and firearms convictions.

An autopsy will be performed to determine a cause of death, but preliminary indications were that Miller died of natural causes, Carol Pitts, a spokeswoman for the corrections department, said in a news release. She declined to comment further on Millers death or medical condition.

The corrections department initially said it and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation would investigate Millers death, which is routine after an inmate dies. The KBI later said it would not investigate the death because Miller was receiving regular medical care and his death was expected.

In March, Millers attorneys argued before the Kansas Supreme Court that his death sentence should be overturned, in part because they said he should not have been allowed to represent himself in a complex death penalty case.

Miller drove from his home in Aurora, Missouri, determined to kill Jews. On April 13, 2014, he ambushed William Corporon, 69; and his 14-year-old grandson, Reat Underwood, at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, Kansas. He then drove to the nearby Village Shalom care center and killed Terri LaManno. Two of the victims were Methodist and the other was Catholic.

Relatives of Corporon and his grandson said in a statement they were neither happy or sad when notified of the death.

He stole so much from our family, but he didnt steal our hearts or our dignity, they said in a statement, without naming Miller. He did not steal our memories, the love that sustains us or the ability to offer forgiveness and kindness in the face of such tragedy.

Frazier Glenn Miller Jr. gestures during pre-trial motions for his case at Johnson County District Court in Olathe, Kan., on July 17, 2015. (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star via AP)

The Corporon family created the Faith Always Wins Foundation after the killings, in an effort to promote forgiveness, kindness, faith and healing, rather than hate and retribution.

They said the murderer was rotten to his core and never asked for the familys forgiveness or expressed regret. But they said he was taught by his father to hate, which drove him to murder.

This is heartbreaking, the family said. We are sad. We miss our family, Bill (aka Popeye) and Reat. But we dont carry the weight of hate in our hearts.

Miller, also known as Frazier Glenn Cross Jr., testified at trial that he wanted to kill Jewish people before he died. He said he didnt expect to live long because he had chronic emphysema.

During his trial and at his sentencing, Miller frequently interrupted the proceedings to give rambling statements about his belief that Jewish people were running the government, media and the Federal Reserve.

During his closing arguments at trial, Miller said he had been floating on a cloud since the killings. When he was convicted and when he was sentenced to death, Miller raised his arm in the Nazi salute.

In his death sentence appeal in March, Millers attorneys argued that he was incapable of understanding the legal intricacies of a complicated death penalty case and should not have been allowed to represent himself, even though he insisted on being his own attorney.

Attorney Reid Nelson said Millers standby attorneys should have been allowed to intervene during the penalty phase.

Lisa Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Office of Judicial Administration, said Tuesday that once the court is officially notified of Millers death, it will determine the appropriate action. The court could decide there are questions of law that still must be decided, she said.

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe, who prosecuted the case, said in a statement that Millers death does not repair the damage he did to his victims families but that he hoped it would be another step in their healing process.

By Margaret Stafford
New money at the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra, Australia on April 22, 2005 (Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Mega Funds Set to Dominate Australian Super Industry: Report

Australias retirement fund industry is set to be dominated by $100 billion-plus mega-funds, according to a new report from auditing giant KPMG.

The superannuation industry is undergoing a period of consolidation that will see the creation of 12 super funds, with each managing over $50 billion in assets.

In 2019-20, five mergers were announced between existing super funds, and from June 2020, a further seven tie-ups are expected.

Together the 12 funds to emerge will control 76 percent of managed assets in Australia, and 77 percent of member accounts, according to KPMGs Super Insights 2021 report.

Of those funds, five will become mega funds controlling over $100 billion in assets, including the QSuper-Sunsuper tie-up, Australian Super, the IOOF-MLC merger, Aware Super, and AMP.

Mega funds will control 47 percent of managed assets in Australia and 43 percent of member accounts.

Linda Elkins, KPMG national sector leader of asset and wealth management, noted that there would be a widening gap between larger super funds and the rest of the industry and cautioned smaller players to find a niche they could service.

As we see continued consolidation across the industry, mega funds will emerge as some of the largest, most important, financial services organisations in Australia, she said in a statement.

The largest funds undergoing merger activity will face the greatest level of complexity as they grapple with multiple legacy operating models, a significant regulatory change agenda, increased transparency, and reporting requirements, she added.

With mega funds brand awareness and market share continuing to rise, smaller funds will need to find their niche and ensure they are effectively communicating their value proposition to members.

Elkins noted the impact COVID-19 had on the industry but said super funds were recovering with the assistance of JobKeeper.

Laura De Zwaan, lecturer and expert in financial planning at Griffith University, said consolidation had been on the agenda of the super industry for years, as increased scrutiny of underperforming funds puts pressure on companies to merge.

Consolidation does not necessarily bring better outcomes, but lower fees do, and that is the goal of these consolidationsbetter financial outcomes for members, she told The Epoch Times.

De Zwaan said smaller funds would naturally struggle to compete with larger funds in the future.

Smaller funds are more expensivethey just dont have the negotiating power. Being more expensive means they are going to underperform compared to mega-funds, she said.

I think there is a place for smaller funds, though, she added. I think of people with particular religious beliefs and funds such as Christian Super or Crescent Wealththese funds are highly unlikely to ever be large, but they may have important representation for certain people. Similarly, other values-based funds could be important for those reasons.
A general view of damage caused after a railway overpass and train collapsed onto a busy road in Mexico City, Mexico, on May 4, 2021. (Instagram@CSDRONES/via Reuters)

Mexico Promises Justice After Metro Train Line Collapse Kills 24

MEXICO CITYMexico will punish those responsible for an overpass collapse that killed at least 24 people and injured dozens when a train on Mexico Citys newest metro line plunged onto a busy road below, the government said on Tuesday.

Accompanied by officials involved in the construction and maintenance of the elevated metro line that collapsed on Monday night, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the investigation should be done quickly and that nothing should be hidden from the public.

Theres no impunity for anyone, he told a news conference. The city has been governed since the turn of the century by former mayor Lopez Obrador and his allies.

The crash has raised wider questions about safety on one of the worlds busiest metro systems, which carries millions of people daily across the capitals urban sprawl.

Firefighters using heavy chains to stabilize the site pulled bodies and survivors from the wreckage before lowering one dangling carriage onto a truck in the afternoon. Some 79 people were injured, including three children, authorities said.

A general view of the damage caused after a railway overpass and train collapsed onto a road in Mexico City, Mexico, on May 4, 2021. (Carlos Jasso/Reuters)

Video on social media showed the moment when the overpass suddenly plummeted onto a stream of cars near the Olivos station in the southeast of the city at around 10:30 p.m., sending up clouds of dust and sparks.

Monserrat, 26, said she was at the back of the train wagon when she heard a loud noise and the lights went out.

Everybody screamed and we fell on top of each other, she told Mexican radio.

Outside hospitals, family members grew frustrated waiting for information on relatives.

Angelica Cruz Camino, 31, said she had not heard from her husband since he was on his way home from work late Monday. She visited several hospitals and was told all victims were identified but she still had not found him by Tuesday afternoon.

I called and called but he wasnt answering me. Then it was my son who realized the metro collapsed, she said outside Tlahuac public hospital. I cannot find my husband.

Supports Shaking

The overpass that collapsed was part of Linea 12, an addition to the network finished less than a decade ago and long plagued by allegations of corruption and structural weakness.

In 2014, just two years after it opened, several of the lines stations were closed for structural repairs.

Four people who live in the area told Reuters they observed the support structures below the elevated tracks visibly shaking when trains crossed. Some recalled warnings about the humid soil being unfit for major construction.

After a powerful 2017 earthquake, government data show there was also damage to the lines support columns.

Every time I saw the train, I saw the columns and beams shake, said Victor Lara, a daily commuter on the line. Theyre not well made.

Paramedics transport Brandon Giovani Hernandez who was injured during the accident toward a helicopter, in Mexico City, Mexico, on May 4, 2021. (Luis Cortes/Reuters)

Investigations will be carried out by the federal attorney generals office, its Mexico City counterpart, and an external auditor, Norways DNV GL, officials said.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the accident and Lopez Obrador declared three days of national mourning.

Lopez Obrador was mayor of the city in the early 2000s, and current mayor Claudia Sheinbaum and Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who ran the city when Linea 12 was built, are both senior members of his political movement.

Linea 12 was built by a consortium of CARSO Infraestructura y Construccion, S.A.B. de C.V (CCICSA), a company controlled by the family of Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, Mexicos Grupo ICA, and the Mexican unit of Frances Alstom SA.

ICA shared a chart with Reuters indicating that CCICSA was responsible for construction on the section of the line that collapsed but declined to comment further.

A spokesman for CCICSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the chart, but said in an earlier statement to Reuters the company stood in solidarity with victims families and those injured. We are going to wait for the official expert opinion, CCICSA said.

Alstom said its involvement in the consortium was limited to certain aspects, including power supply and testing of some electromechanical work. The company said it would aid investigating authorities in any way necessary.

Sheinbaum said it appeared a girder had given way on the overpass, which she said was inspected last year. At a later news conference, she said the collapse seemed to indicate a structural failure.

It is not possible to say categorically, but it seems this is what happened, Sheinbaum said.

Ebrard said it was the most terrible accident to have hit the local transport system, and that he was ready to cooperate with authorities in the investigation.

Both urged the public to allow investigators to do their work before seeking to apportion responsibility.

By Daina Beth Solomon and Sharay Angulo
Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das will make an unscheduled address today. "Watch out for the address by RBI Governor @DasShaktikanta at 10:00 am today, May 05, 2021," the RBI's official Twitter handle stated.

Das' address to the nation comes days after his series of meetings with bankers and non-banking finance companies (NBFC) chiefs with regard to the current stress on the economy in view of the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.

In this today's speech, the RBI Governor could likely announce measures to offset the economic impact of the second Covid-19 wave.

Various states have come up with their versions of lockdown to contain the fast-spreading virus, which has taken over 2 lakh lives in India so far. Several industry groups have also sought strict lockdown in the country as Covid-19 cases continue to rise at an unprecedented pace in India. So far, the Centre has denied the possibility of a full-scale lockdown to avoid the economic damage like last year.

The RBI has so far supported the economy in terms of cut in key lending rates, loan holidays and open market operations. The Das-led Monetary Policy Committee has promised to keep key lending rates loose as long as it's required. However, the recent rise in inflation has put the central bank in the right spot.

Also read: COVID-19: Ray of hope for India--it's getting better in the US!

Also read: Attention! Covid-19 recovered patients not eligible for insurance

Also read: South India's N440K COVID variant 15 times more lethal
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 11:17:19|Editor: huaxia

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People prepare their votes at a polling station in Madrid, Spain, on May 4, 2021. The center-right Popular Party (PP) won the elections of the Autonomous Community of Madrid on Tuesday with 65 seats, more than doubling the seats it won in the 2019 elections. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

MADRID, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The center-right Popular Party (PP) won the elections of the Autonomous Community of Madrid on Tuesday with 65 seats, more than doubling the seats it won in the 2019 elections.

Falling short of an absolute majority, the PP's candidate and Madrid's Regional President Isabel Diaz Ayuso will be able to form a government with the help of other parties, with the far-right VOX seen as a most likely partner.

The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party from the center left led by candidate Angel Gabilondo won 24 seats, a loss of 13 seats compared to 2019, while the leftist Mas Madrid with candidate Monica Garcia managed to add four more seats, moving from 20 to 24 seats.

VOX, which added one more seat compared to the 2019 elections, obtained 13 seats, followed in fifth place by United We Can led by former Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias, who obtained 10 seats and 7.28 percent of the votes.

As indicated by polls, the centre-right Ciudadanos, which had been running the Madrid region together with the PP, has disappeared from the Madrid Assembly, as its seats were slashed from 19.4 percent of the votes in 2019 to only 3.52 percent this year, falling short of the 5 percent threshold to enter the Assembly.

The turnout was a historic 80 percent, 16 points above the 2019 elections.

Isabel Diaz Ayuso, since 2019 president of the Autonomous Community of Madrid, dismissed on March 10 the six advisers of the Citizens party in her government, ordered the dissolution of the Madrid Assembly and called elections for May 4 with the objective of stoping the threat of being evicted from power. Enditem
A woman receives a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at vaccination center in Chinatown, in Chicago U.S., April 6, 2021. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)

Michigan Woman Died of Complications After Getting COVID-19 Vaccine: Family

A Michigan family claims that their loved one died of complications after receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating.

The family of Anne VanGeest, 35, said she died on April 19 at Mercy Health Saint Marys in Grand Rapids.

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of Annes passing as the result of complications after receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Anne (Annie), who was 35, was a loving mother, wife, sister, and daughter. An active member in the animal rescue community, Annie will be remembered as a fierce advocate, a master-multi-tasker, and a caring friend by her colleagues, fellow volunteers, and family, her family said in a statement to local media. We ask for privacy for her family as they mourn Annies passing and celebrate her life.

The CDC said it confirmed to her family that the death was reported via the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which is managed by the CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

We did receive a VAERS report concerning [Annes] case. It was filed by her healthcare provider, wrote a member of the CDC Immunization Safety Office, her family told Fox17 and other outlets.

VAERS accepts reports of possible side effects (also called adverse events) following vaccination. The system is not designed to determine whether a reported adverse event was caused by the vaccine, but serves as an early warning system and helps CDC and FDA identify areas for further study.

When VAERS receives reports of serious illness or death after vaccination, VAERS staff contact the hospital where the patient was treated to obtain the associated medical records to better understand the adverse event. They do not routinely contact the family.

From Dec. 14, 2020, to May 3, VAERS received 4,178 reports of deaths among people who received a CCP virus vaccine.

The Epoch Times has contacted the CDC for comment.

A spokesperson for J&J told The Epoch Times: There is no greater priority than the safety and well-being of the people we serve, and we carefully review reports of adverse events in individuals receiving our medicines or vaccines.

Any report about an individual receiving our COVID-19 vaccine and our assessment of that report is shared with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other appropriate health authorities. This is part of the established process to inform health authorities comprehensive surveillance programs that monitor the overall safety of medicines, as well the vaccines authorized for use against this pandemic.

The CDC and FDA last month recommended a temporary pause in administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine amid reports of extremely rare blood clots. The two health agencies on April 24 recommended that the distribution of the vaccine continue, but with warnings.
Minneapolis Prosecutor Calls for Prohibiting Police Traffic Stops for Non-Safety-Related Infractions

Minneapolis prosecutor and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman has urged state lawmakers to adopt eight major changes to policing in Minnesota, including limiting the use of no-knock warrants and prohibiting traffic stops for non-safety-related infractions.

Freeman outlined the proposed policing reforms in a Friday letter (pdf) as the Minnesota Legislature moved into the final three weeks of its session and lawmakers put the final touches on legislation that is poised to have a big impact on law enforcement in the state.

Among Freemans proposals are fully funding the criminal division of the Attorney Generals office, limiting the use of no-knock warrants, modernizing police training, and prohibiting traffic stops for non-safety-related infractions.

The issue of police traffic stops has come into the spotlight more forcefully since a police officer fatally shot a man during a traffic stop last month.

Former officer Kim Potter had pulled her handgun during the arrest of Daunte Wright, 20, on April 11 in Brooklyn Center, a suburb of Minneapolis. When Wright resisted and hopped back into his drivers seat, Wright shot him.

Potter believed she was firing the Taser she also had on her, former Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon told reporters in a briefing.

Katie Wright (C), Daunte Wrights mother, and family members attend a press conference at the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 13, 2021. (PKerem Yucel/AFP via Getty Images)

Many of Freemans proposals are contained in a $2.7 billion omnibus public safety bill that focuses on police reform, which passed both the state House and Senate in mid April and is now in conference committee to work out the differences.

State Rep. Carlos Mariani, a member of the Democrat-aligned Minnesota DemocraticFarmerLabor (DFL) Party and sponsor of the House version of the bill, HF1078, said in a statement on April 22 that police reforms featured in the bill are needed to keep neighborhoods safe, increase police accountability, and address alleged systemic racism in the criminal justice system.

At its core, this bill is about building trust among all of us, Mariani said in a statement. By advancing greater police accountability, funding to make reforms possible, and centering equity and the voices of those whove experienced crimes, House DFLers are delivering guidance for a public safety system that reinforces strong and healthy community life for all Minnesotans.

This bill makes systemic changes to reduce bias inherent in our current systems, added Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn, of the DFL party.

One provision of the bill would limit police officers authority to stop or detain drivers solely for minor motor vehicle equipment violations, like having expired license tabs or a broken turn signal.

Rep. Cedrick Frazier, of the DFL party, said this would reduce the number of police interactions that can lead to deadly encounters like the one that led to Wrights death. Wright was pulled over for expired tags but police attempted to arrest him after discovering he had an outstanding warrant. The warrant was for his failure to appear in court on charges that he fled from officers and possessed a gun without a permit during an encounter with Minneapolis police in June 2020.

Rep. John Petersburg, a Republican, unsuccessfully sought to have the provision deleted, arguing that it would threaten public safety as it asks police officers to look the other way when seeing vehicle violations.

The traffic stop prohibitions would not apply to commercial vehicles and would not prevent officers from stopping a motorist operating a vehicle under evidently dangerous conditions, such as with a shattered windshield that obstructed visibility.

Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, a Republican, said on April 13 that the Senate would be holding fact-finding hearings and receive public input on police reform within two weeks. He said passing budget bills before the Legislature adjourns by May 17 is his top priority.

Gazelka later said that he supports a pattern and practice review of the Minneapolis Police Department, something Freeman called for in his letter.

Demonstrators protest outside of the Brooklyn Center Police Department in Brooklyn Center, Minn., on April 15, 2021. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

We believe most police officers are dedicated to keeping the peace, protecting the community, and ensuring victims of crime get the justice they deserve. However, recent events have shown how easy it is to lose the trust of a community, Gazelka said.

We also believe that law enforcement leadership as well as civic leadership needs to be held accountable for the actions of the rank and file. The entire department should be reviewed, from the beat cop all the way up to leaders at city hall, he added.

In his letter, Freeman called for more funding for the Attorney Generals Office criminal division to assist counties in officer-involved use of deadly force cases, while seeking to prohibit the use of no-knock warrants for drug crimes and limiting their use to only the most serious crimes.

He also called for engagement with the Justice Departments Civil Rights Investigation unit to fully disclose the patterns and practices of the Minneapolis Police Department and adopt reforms resulting from the investigation.

Freeman also made an appeal to modernize training, including additional training on racial profiling, implicit bias, and the duty to intervene when another officer uses excessive force.

We support these initiatives as the package that we think is the best combination of tools on the table for police reform. Will it perfect the use of force in policing? No. Will it substantially improve careful use of force in policing? Without a doubt, Freeman said.

His letter came on the same day that Hennepin County public defenders, joined by a state legislator, rallied in downtown Minneapolis to condemn the alleged disproportionate number of black drivers stopped for minor infractions compared to white motorists.

Zachary Stieber and Jack Phillips contributed to this report
Metro Nashville Police Department officer Brian Sherman suffered gunshot wounds to his arm in Nashville, Tenn., on May 4, 2021. (Courtesy of MNPD)

Nashville Police Officer Shot After Setup 911 Call Lured Responders Into Ambush

A Nashville police officer was shot Tuesday in what officials described as a setup to lure law enforcement to the scene.

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said in a series of statements that officer Brian Sherman suffered gunshot wounds to his left arm while answering a fake 911 call claiming a woman had been shot at an area home.

That call was a setup to get police to respond, the MNPD said in a statement.

Sherman was taken to the hospital and treated for his wounds, with the MNPD announcing later that he was about to be discharged.

The man who shot Sherman was identified as 22-year-old Salman Mohamed. He fatally shot himself in the head with a rifle in the driveway of the home as officers tried to negotiate with him.

No officers fired, MNPD said in a statement.

BREAKING: Officer Brian Sherman is being treated at Vanderbilt for gunshot wounds to his left arm. Sherman was hit while answering a call of a woman shot at 7220 Sugarloaf Dr. That call was a setup to get police to respond pic.twitter.com/SHN1K3bzzk  Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) May 5, 2021

MNPD spokesman Don Aaron provided more details at a press conference. He said that dispatchers received a 911 call at around 6 p.m. Tuesday from Mohamed, claiming his brother had shot his mother and that there was ongoing gunfire.

Officers respondedthree South Precinct officers went to the front door, knocked, the door was opened and almost immediately shots were fired at the officers. The officers came under fire, Aaron said.

Sherman, a two-year veteran of the force, was struck in the upper left arm and given first aid by his fellow officers, Aaron said. The gunman then came out of the house and officers tried to negotiate with him, but to no avail.

Ultimately, Mohamed put the rifle to his head, pulled the trigger and he is dead in his driveway from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Aaron said.

The spokesman said investigators are convinced Mohamed called 911 to lure officers into an ambush.

Its clear that the phone call to the communications center about an active shooter, that his mother had been shot, was a ruse, a setup, to get police to this scene, Aaron said.

Mohameds mother and three siblings were inside the home during the shooting but were not injured. Aaron said they would be interviewed by investigators.

The spokesman said investigators have not yet determined a motive for the shooting.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves to his supporters after the first exit poll results for the Israeli parliamentary elections at his Likud party's headquarters in Jerusalem on March 24, 2021. (Ariel Schalit/AP Photo)

Netanyahu Fails in Latest Attempt to Form Israeli Government

JERUSALEMBenjamin Netanyahus deadline for forming a new Israeli government expired early on Wednesday, with the countrys longest-serving prime minister having failed to break more than two years of political deadlock.

There was also no guarantee that, after the conservative incumbent was unable to assemble a new coalition, parties outside his caretaker government could bridge their differences and unseat him.

Netanyahu, 71, has been in office since 2009 and also served for three years in the 1990s. He has been fighting to hold the helm through four inconclusive elections since 2019.

He is on trial for criminal corruption charges that he denies.

With the midnight deadline having passed, President Reuven Rivlin can assign the coalition-building task to another member of parliament. That is widely expected to be Yair Lapid, 57, whose centrist Yesh Atid party placed second to Netanyahus Likud in the March 23 vote.

Netanyahus bloc of right-wing and Jewish religious parties failed to win a majority, but so did a camp aiming to oust him, which would have to include his right-wing rivals as well as traditional left-wing and centrist opponents.

Both sides have courted the support of parties representing Israels around 20 percent Arab minority, potentially giving them say over a Cabinet for the first time in decades.

Naftali Bennett, head of the ultranationalist Yamina party, has emerged as a kingmaker. Bennett, 49, has voiced a preference to join Netanyahu but said he would seek a partnership with the prime ministers opponents to avoid a fifth election as Israel reopens its economy following a swift COVID-19 vaccination rollout and grapples with the challenges of Irans nuclear program.

A rotation deal in which Bennett and Lapid would alternate as prime minister has also been widely mooted.

Much of the impasse stems from Netanyahus legal troubles: Some prospective allies have pledged they would not serve under a prime minister who is on trial.

Should a new nominee tapped by Rivlin fail to put together a coalition within 28 days, the president can ask parliament to agree a candidate within three weeks. If it cannot, Israel will hold another election.

We are 60 percent headed toward another election and 40 percent toward a new government, Yoav Krakovsky, Kan public radios political affairs correspondent, forecast in a morning broadcast.

By Maayan Lubell
Pharmacist Barbara Violo arranges all the empty vials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines that she has provided to customers at the Junction Chemist which is a independent pharmacy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto, on April 19, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)

New Brunswick Reports Blood Clot Death in Connection With Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccine

FREDERICTONNew Brunswick health officials are reporting the provinces first death of someone who developed a blood clot after receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

The individual in their 60s received the vaccine in mid-April and developed symptoms a week later, chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell told reporters Wednesday. She said the person, whose gender was not disclosed, was admitted to hospital and died two days later.

I want to stress that medical complications following vaccination are extremely rare, but they do happen, Russell said.

It is the third reported death in Canada from the rare blood-clotting syndrome known as vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia, or VITT. A 54-year-old Quebec woman died last month after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, and Alberta officials announced on Tuesday night the death of a woman in her 50s.

Russell said the risk of complications from the vaccine remains very low, between one in 100,000 and one in 250,000 doses. She added that hundreds of thousands of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered across Canada, the vast majority of them without incident.

New Brunswick has so far received 48,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and administered 44,000 of them.

The province has reported two cases of VITT. Russell said there are two other possible cases that are under investigation, but she wouldnt provide more details until the investigations are complete.

We will continue to evaluate the use of this vaccine to ensure that risks associated with its use are proportional to the potential consequences of contracting COVID19, Russell said. The risk is not zero using it in people 55 and over, but the information that we have to this date is that the benefits outweigh those risks.

Russell said anyone getting the vaccine should monitor for adverse symptoms, including shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, neurological symptoms such as severe and worsening persistent headaches or blurred vision and skin bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the site of the injection.

Experts maintain the blood clotting syndrome is exceedingly rare and treatable in most cases.

Health Minister Dorothy Shephard told the news conference that while the death is tragic, its important to remember that the risks of dying from COVID-19 are far greater than those associated with receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Shephard said the vaccine will continue to be provided to people 55 and older in New Brunswick.

All of the vaccines that were using are Health Canada approved, Shephard said, noting that 38 percent of New Brunswickers over the age of 16 have now received at least one dose of vaccine.

Russell said her office expects to receive medical advice in two weeks about whether people who received a first dose of AstraZeneca should get a second dose of the same or receive another vaccine.

By Kevin Bissett
New Delhi COVID-19 Volunteer: A 30-Year-Old Died in My Arms

According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), a research wing of the University of Washington (pdf), without decreased social mixing and face mask use, the current forecasted death toll by August 1 is expected to be over 1 million.

India has seen COVID-19 cases of over 350,000 per day for the past ten days.

Parvinder Singh, a director of United Sikhs, a non-governmental organization headquartered in New York City, told The Epoch Times that his three mortuary van teams received on average a total of 75 cremation requests per day since April 25. While the mortuary van teams pick up dead bodies in New Delhi and perform rituals at cremation sites, Parvinder has focused on providing oxygen to patients.

He recalled one of the most unforgettable moments: I had seen two cases where somebody had passed away in my arms when we were providing oxygen through the cylinder. A 30-year-old person died in my arms. That scene is not leaving my eyes day in and day out. Its coming into my head.

Its haunting me: we are not able to provide sufficient health facilities to our people in India. Thats the really difficult situation we are facing right now, added Parvinder. The hope that somehow we can manage to give something extra that he can survive. But we were not able to provide any better service to that person. He died in front of me.

The man was the familys only son, and he died in the presence of his parents, who were completely in shock. He had tested COVID-19 positive in late April and wasnt able to get oxygen for two days. He finally got it at a drive-through location. The place had long lines, so each person could only inhale oxygen for two to three hours. After he went home, his oxygen level dropped again. It was too late when Parvinder arrived at his home with an oxygen cylinder.

Volunteers covered a dead body before transporting it to a cremation site in New Delhi on May 5, 2021. (Courtesy of United Sikhs)

Pritam Singh, another director of United Sikhs, is in charge of one of the mortuary vans. He told The Epoch Times that he began his volunteer work at 6 a.m. local time on May 5. Within two hours, the three teams had cremated a total of six bodies, and his team has received a total of 24 cremation requests. The bodies his team processed aged between 18 and 92. He wasnt sure if they died of COVID-19 complications or from other diseases. He only knew that they had succumbed to oxygen shortage.

Hardayal Singh, a United Sikhs director based in New Jersey, told The Epoch Times that the organization has about 70 volunteers working on the ground in India, focusing on providing PPE kits, oxygen concentrators, and cremation services. The U.S. headquarters had been getting between 400 and 500 emails a day. These emails are mainly from Indians in America asking the organization to help provide oxygen concentrators or cremation services to their family members.

United Sikhs have sourced close to 700 oxygen concentrators since April 25 and have about 235 on their way to India as of now, according to Hardayal.

Parvinder said that government hospital doctors in New Delhi told patients to bring their own oxygen for admission. He added that people would watch TV news channels that kept broadcasting, hospital A is left with only one-hour oxygen (supply). Hospital B is left with only two hours of oxygen (supply). Therefore, people move from New Delhi to nearby states such as Punjab, where oxygen beds and ICU facilities are still available.

Reuters reported that Indias COVID-19 cases might peak between May 3 and 5, according to a team of scientists appointed by the Indian government. In Hardayals view, it would take India months to contain the virus this round.
New York Times Editor Says Paper Wasnt Rigorous Enough in Checking Giuliani Sources

A New York Times editor has admitted that the paper was not rigorous enough when it cited now disproven anonymous sources for a story that incorrectly represented former New York Mayor Rudy Giulianis contact with the FBI.

The New York Times was one of the three media outlets that published the erroneous claim that Giuliani was briefed by the FBI that he was targeted by a Russian intelligence influence operation during the time when he was investigating incriminating information about the Biden family. The other two outlets were the Washington Post and NBC News.

Dean Baquet, the papers executive editor, told The Washington Post on Monday that the New York Times reporters failed to rigorously verify the information given by their anonymous sources.

I think we all tend to drop our guard when we get beat and are trying to catch up. We need to grill sources more to make sure we understand exactly what theyre confirming. Weve all discussed it, corrected it, and we need to do better. Dealing with anonymous sources in law enforcement and intelligence is always hard, he said.

The paper had reported the erroneous claim in a story about Giulianis alleged role in the 2019 recall of ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch. It subsequently issued a correction that stated: An earlier version of this article misstated whether Rudolph W. Giuliani received a formal warning from the F.B.I. about Russian disinformation. Mr. Giuliani did not receive such a so-called defensive briefing.

Similarly, the Washington Post, which was the first to report the incorrect information, also retracted the earlier reporting, saying in its correction: This version has been corrected to remove assertions that OAN and Giuliani received the warnings.

Meanwhile, NBC News elaborated on why it corrected the story, saying that a second source disputed the assertions of the first source as the briefing was only prepared for Giuliani and not delivered to him. Both sources were anonymously cited in the article.

The report was based on a source familiar with the matter, but a second source now says the briefing was only prepared for Giuliani and not delivered to him, in part over concerns it might complicate the criminal investigation of Giuliani, the NBC News correction reads.

The Epoch Times had previously emailed the three outlets questions about their sources and reporting methods but has not received any responses.

The stories came after federal investigators executed a search warrant at the home and office of the former New York mayor. The searches were allegedly linked to Giulianis dealings in Ukraine, while Giuliani said he believes the search warrant was issued because he allegedly failed to file with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for representing a Ukrainian national or office. He has since denied any wrongdoing.

In two statements on Twitter, Giuliani called for the Post and NY Times to reveal their sources for the incorrect information.

Where did the original false information come from? he wrote in a tweet. I couldnt quite hear your apology?

Although the three outlets had issued corrections on their stories, the misinformation continues to be spread on social media as the outlets and some of their reporters have not yet corrected the false information on their accounts.

In one example, NBC News correspondent Ken Dilanian failed to alert his approximately 207,000 followers on Twitter that his story about Giuliani and the FBI was corrected. Neither has NBC Investigations.

Dilanian had also retweeted a tweet from Meet the Press that denigrated Giuliani for allegedly being briefed by the FBI but dismissing the warning, a review of his Twitter page by The Epoch Times on May 5 shows.

However, the NBC main account added a correction to its original post of the story; it reposted the correction it made to the article itself, alerting readers to the crucial change.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
NJ Officer Fired Over Facebook Post Calling Black Lives Matter Terrorists

A New Jersey police officer who wrote that Black Lives Matter demonstrators are terrorists who hate police officers was fired from her job.

Hopewell Township Police Officer Sara Erwins job was terminated via a unanimous vote last week after they accepted the recommendation of a hearing officer that she be fired, reported NJ.com. Police officer Mandy Grey was also demoted and suspended for replying to a comment on Erwins June 2020 post on Facebook.

The fact that she supported her position as a fellow officer, that was the reason that they actually suspended her, their attorney, Frank Crivelli, said of Grey, according to the New York Post.

Erwin had posted in June of last yearduring the height of nationwide Black Lives Matter demonstrations, riots, looting, and arson incidents after the death of George Floydthat her children told her not to go to work.

I dont think Ive ever felt the way I did last night, Erwins post had read, according to the NY Post. And then I watched people I know and others I care about going into harms way. I love police family like my own.

Ive seen so many black lives matter hashtags in these posts, her post added, the Post reported. Just to let you knowthey are terrorists. They hate me. They hate my uniform. They dont care if I die.

Erwin spoke out about her firing on Wednesday in an interview with Fox News.

I had friends, family, tons of people reaching out, text messages, phone calls, reaching out through messenger, checking on me and making sure everything was OK cause they were seeing so many things in the news, Erwin said. I felt it was easiest to put what I was feeling and get a message out there that I was home [and] I was safe, she continued.

Erwin added that she was worried about other officers that she knew in other areasin the midst of the riots.

Crivelli, speaking to the NY Post, said that he believes the towns decision to fire her was politically motivated.

Theyre trying to make an example out of them, and in my view, theyre pandering to the far left, he said.

Hopewell Township Police Director Robert Karmazin, who took over the department last fall, told the paper: As the matter is in active litigation, the Hopewell Township Committee, the Hopewell Township Police Department and the Hopewell Township staff will have no further comment at this time.

The Epoch Times has contacted Hopewell Township for comment.
Law enforcement stand guard outside of the state capitol building in downtown Raleigh, N.C., on Jan. 17, 2021. (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images)

North Carolina Advances No Eugenics Bill Banning Discrimination-Based Abortions

The bill would ban abortions based on race, sex, or Down Syndrome diagnosis.

Republicans in the North Carolina legislature on Tuesday advanced a bill that would make it illegal to carry out abortions if the procedure is done because of the unborn childs race, sex, or because of a prenatal diagnosis of possible Down Syndrome.

The states Republican-led Houses Health committee approved the bill and forwarded it to the judiciary committee. The proposal is set to be considered on Wednesday, and if approved, it would move to another committee before going to the floor for a vote. The measure advanced in about 45 minutes with limited discussion or debate, reported The Associated Press.

Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers office did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for comment.

Under the bill, a doctor who performs abortions would be fined if he or she is found to have performed the procedure while knowing that the motivation was based on sex, race, or a diagnosis of Down Syndrome.

Down Syndrome causes developmental delays and potentially other medical conditions such as hearing loss and heart defects.

The bill HB 453, titled Human Life Nondiscrimination Act/No Eugenics also stipulates that the doctor who is facilitating the abortion must document a number of factors, including the method used to estimate the gestational age and other measurements of the child, and the results of such measurements, including any prediction of race, sex, or presence of Down Syndrome in the test.

Among other documentation, the doctor must make a statement confirming that the woman did not tell the physician and the physician has reason to believe that the woman did not seek the abortion because of the unborn childs actual or presumed race or sex or the presence or presumed presence of Down syndrome.

Its time to face the issue head-on and ensure that every little North Carolinian is protected from discrimination before and after birth, state Rep. Pat McElraft (R-Carteret), a primary sponsor of the bill, said in April, reported The News & Observer.

Another primary bill sponsor, state Rep. Dean Arp (R-Union) said at the time, If we truly want to eradicate discrimination based on race or disability, we must ensure that this protection begins in the womb. We dont want to be the kind of society that disposes of children because of the way God created them.

Children shouldnt have to pass a genetic test to earn the right to be born, state Rep. John Bradford (R-Mecklenburg) said in April, according to Christian Action League.

State Rep. Verla Insko (D-Orange) told the AP she thinks the measure threatens a womans right to an abortion and would create another unfair hurdle for them. She said the bill is discriminatory against pregnant women.

The NC Values Coalition, a pro-life group, celebrated the bills advancement and encouraged supporters to pray for the measure. It said in a statement on Twitter, Planned Parenthood is trying to stop this pro-life bill. Dont let them.

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic had called the measure yet another attempt to push abortion out of reach. It said in a statement on Twitter, The fact is this bill does nothing to fight discrimination against people with disabilities nor provide support to them and their families.

Instead of playing a divisive game to score political points, our lawmakers should work to ensure North Carolinians have access to the real services they need, appropriate accommodations when they need them, & work to actually improve the lives of people with disabilities, the statement reads.

Julie Scott Emmons, a representative of the NC Values Coalition, told the AP that the measure actually places a hedge of protection around an entire class of human beings who should not have to pass a genetic test to earn the right to be born.

A ban on Down Syndrome abortions was signed into law in South Dakota in late March.

Other states such as Ohio and Arkansas that passed similar laws have recently faced legal battles, but the measures were ultimately upheld. Last month, a federal appeals court narrowly ruled to uphold a 2017 Ohio law that bans Down Syndrome abortions, reversing two earlier decisions that blocked its enforcement. In November 2020, another federal appeals court ruled that Tennessee can enforce a ban on Down Syndrome abortions.

Arkansas is seeking to pass a similar measure on Down Syndrome abortion thats facing a block. Attorney General Leslie Rutledge in April asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision by the 8th Circuit Court in January 2021 that upheld another decision in 2019. The 2019 decision had blocked a measure to ban Down Syndrome abortions.
A member of the Iraqi forces walks past a mural bearing the logo of ISIS in the village of Albu Sayf, Iraqi, on March 1, 2017. (Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images)

Norway Sentences Woman for Supporting ISIS by Being Homemaker

COPENHAGEN, DenmarkA 30-year-old Norwegian woman who was repatriated by Norway from a refugee camp in Syria because her son was sick was sentenced Tuesday to 3 1/2 years in prison by an Oslo court for participating in the ISIS terrorist group.

The case was a first in Norway. Oslo District Court Judge Ingemar Nestor Nilsen said the woman, who was not identified, has participated in a terrorist organization, and that she did so knowingly and on purpose, Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported.

The woman was not an ISIS terrorist but as homemaker her role was highlighted as invaluable supporters who enabled jihad (and) provided a basis for the ISIS recruits to be highly motivated at the front, Nilsen said. They contributed to the arrival of new generations of ISIS recruits who could follow suit.

The woman, who has appealed both the sentence and the verdict, was 22 years old when she traveled via Sweden to Syria, where she lived from 2013 to 2019.

She and her 5-year-old son ended up in the Al Hol refugee camp in northeast Syria. from where she was repatriated last year. She was arrested upon her return to Norway.

The camp houses refuges, families and supporters of ISIS. The majority of al-Hols residents are Iraqis and Syrians, but it includes some 10,000 foreigners from 57 other countries. Many countries have been refusing to repatriate their citizens who joined ISIS after the terrorists declared a caliphate in 2014, fearing their ties to terrorism.

The group was defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in March 2019, the terrorists lost their last sliver of land in eastern Syria. Al-Hol residents continue to languish in the camp.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 07:34:26|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering black man George Floyd, filed a request Tuesday asking for a new trial.

The motion, filed by Chauvin's attorney Eric Nelson, cites factors including "the interests of justice; abuse of discretion that deprived the Defendant of a fair trial; prosecutorial and jury misconduct; errors of law at trial; and a verdict that is contrary to law."

Chauvin was convicted on April 20 of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd's death.

Nelson wrote in the filing that "The Court abused its discretion when it denied Defendant's motion for a change of venue" and that publicity around the pretrial hearing escalated "the potential for prejudice in these proceedings."

Nelson also pointed to the court's rules surrounding the jury, which he claimed were not strict enough to prevent jurors from being affected by media coverage of the trial.

"The publicity here was so pervasive and so prejudicial before and during this trial that it amounted to a structural defect in the proceedings," he wrote.

"The Court abused its discretion when it failed to sequester the jury for the duration of the trial, or in the least, admonish them to avoid all media, which resulted in jury exposure to prejudicial publicity regarding the trial during the proceedings, as well as jury intimidation and potential fear of retribution among jurors, which violated Mr. Chauvin's constitutional rights to due process and to a fair trial," Nelson contended.

"The jury committed misconduct, felt threatened or intimidated, felt race-based pressure during the proceedings, and/or failed to adhere to instructions during deliberations, in violation of Mr. Chauvin's constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial," Nelson wrote in conclusion.

John Stiles, the deputy chief of staff for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, pushed back on Nelson's filing, saying in a statement that "The court has already rejected many of these arguments and the State will vigorously oppose them."

The deadline to make post-conviction filings is Wednesday, according to Minnesota court rules. Enditem
NYC Schools To Replace Columbus Day with Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day

Public school students in New York City on Oct. 11 will be celebrating Italian Heritage Day and Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day, and Juneteenth will become a school holiday for the first time, the citys education official announced Tuesday.

In the 20212022 school year calendar released Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 11 was originally labelled as Indigenous Peoples Day. However, the Department of Education (DOE) sent out an update later, clarifying that the Columbus Day holiday will actually be renamed Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day.

Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day will celebrate the contributions and legacies of Italian Americans and recognize that Native people are the first inhabitants of the land that became our country, a spokesperson for the department said in a statement. By including these holidays on our calendar we are honoring the past, present, and future contributions of Indigenous communities and Italian Americans.

There wont be any snow days in the upcoming school year, according to the calendar. The education officials said schools will switch to remote learning in case of heavy snowfall or other extreme winter weather.

Over the years, the DOE introduced additional holiday observances as part of the school calendar, and has contractual obligations which limit the number of possible school days, a spokesperson said. The pandemic has also created the ability to switch seamlessly to remote learning, and DOE central and schools have distributed hundreds of thousands of devices to ensure that learning can continue remotely during school closures.

Election Day, which falls on Nov. 2, will also be a fully remote day for all students.

In addition, schools will be closed on June 20, 2022, to celebrate Juneteenth, which marks which marks June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. Governor Andrew Cuomo last year signed into law a bill designating Juneteenth as an official public holiday in New York State.

The Education Departments initial replacement of Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day upset several city and state legislators, including state Sens. Diane Savino and Joe Addabbo, both Democrats of Italian ancestry, who said they were incredibly disappointed by the decision to eliminate the Genoa-born navigators name from the holiday.

Their insensitive decision to eliminate Columbus Day, which is a legal, Federal holiday from their calendar and substitute it with Indigenous Peoples day does a terrible disservice to a difficult and complex conversation, the lawmakers said in a joint statement.  In one block-headed decision, they have harmed both communities and fanned the flames of division.
This screen grab taken from body camera video provided by the Atlanta Police Department shows Rayshard Brooks speaking with Officer Garrett Rolfe in the parking lot of a Wendy's restaurant, in Atlanta, Ga., late on June 12, 2020. (Atlanta Police Department via AP)

Officer Fired After Rayshard Brooks Shooting Reinstated by Board

The police officer who was fired after fatally shooting a man in Atlanta last year was reinstated on Wednesday by a city board.

Garrett Rolfe did not receive the mandatory 10 days notice, the Atlanta Civil Service Board said in its decision.

Due to the Citys failure to comply with several provisions of the Code and the information received during witnesses testimony, the Board concludes the Appellant was not afforded his right to due process. Therefore, the Board GRANTS the Appeal of Garrett Rolfe and revokes his dismissal as an employee of the APD, or Atlanta Police Department, the board wrote.

Rolfe, a seven-year veteran of the force, was fired on June 13, 2020, one day after he shot Rayshard Brooks outside a Wendys. Rolfe told the board during a hearing last month that he got a call alerting him to the termination, and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced the firing at a press conference.

During the hearing, Sgt. William Dean, an APD veteran of 25 years who is currently assigned to the Internal Affairs Advocacy Unit of Internal Affairs, told members that the termination seemed rushed and that sufficient time was not provided to Rolfe to submit a response.

Sergeant Dean testified that during his tenure in Internal Affairs, he was unaware of any employment termination of an APD officer for alleged firearms infractions without APD having first conducted the requisite investigations, the board said in a hearing summary.

We are very pleased at this action and consider it the first step in the total vindication of Officer Garrett Rolfe, Lance LoRusso, who is representing Rolfe, told The Epoch Times in an email.

This screen grab taken from dashboard camera video provided by the Atlanta Police Department shows Rayshard Brooks, left, and Officer Garrett Rolfe pointing Tasers at one another, while Officer Devin Brosnan is seen getting up after a struggle among the three men in the parking lot of a Wendys restaurant, in Atlanta, Ga., early June 13, 2020. (Atlanta Police Department via AP)

L. Chris Stewart, a lawyer for Brookss family, told reporters that the city was at fault for not following proper procedure.

We find it mind-boggling they werent aware of the proper procedure, Stewart said. Was that done to temporarily pacify the protesters and people around the world who were upset?

Bottomss office said in an emailed statement that Rolfe will remain on administrative leave until his criminal charges are resolved.

Given the volatile state of our city and nation last summer, the decision to terminate this officer, after he fatally shot Mr. Brooks in the back, was the right thing to do. Had immediate action not been taken, I firmly believe that the public safety crisis we experienced during that time would have been significantly worse, the mayor, a Democrat, said.

According to city ordinances, Rolfe will be reinstated with back pay, his lawyer said. We are working with the city and have not received specifics on his status upon his reinstatement, LoRusso added.

Rolfe shot Brooks after the man resisted arrest and grabbed an officers Taser.

Footage from body cameras and the Wendys showed Brooks moving away from Rolfe but reaching back to fire the stun gun. Rolfe fired several shots from his gun, striking Brooks twice in the back.

The manner of death was determined to be homicide and Rolfe was charged with murder by then-Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard, a Democrat. The charges against him and the other officer involved were questioned because of how quickly they were brought and the trial has not yet been scheduled as state officials attempt to figure out who will prosecute Brooks and Devin Brosnan.

Rolfe remains free on bail.
This picture taken shows flags from the Pacific Islands countries being displayed in Yaren on the last day of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) on Sept. 5, 2018. (Mike Leyral/AFP via Getty Images)

Pacific Forum Leaders Apologise to Micronesia After Leadership Split

The leaders of several Pacific island nations met to mend fences after Micronesia pulled out of the regions peak body, the Pacific Island Forum (PIF), in February over the selection of its new secretary-general from the Cook Islands.

The political dialogue mechanism called the Forum Troika Plus was set up in March to facilitate open and frank discussions among the Pacific leaders following the split but Micronesian leaders have signalled that there is a way to go.

The leaders of Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Nauru, Fiji, and Samoa offered apologies to Micronesia which in February gave a strong rebuke of the PIF for not selecting their consensus candidate Gerald Zackios, who serves as Marshall Islands Ambassador to the United States.

Forum chair Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano welcomed the dialogue saying it was an opportunity for the PIF to express their regret and apologise for the current circumstances facing our Forum family.

Whilst there remain issues to be addressed, I am heartened by the commitment of the political leadership of the Pacific Islands Forum to work together to ensure and safeguard our regional unity, taking into consideration the grave challenges ahead of us all, Natano said.

Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama apologised to my fellow Micronesian brothers in his address before noting Fiji had also experienced difficulties in the Forum after it was suspended in 2009.

Micronesian leaders welcomed the apologies with Narua President Lionel Aingimea saying the leaders comments resonated deep within my heart.

Leadership is shown at times like this, and to the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, the Prime Minister of Samoa, and the Prime Minister of Fiji, you have shown yourselves to be able leaders; wise leaders, in bringing words like this to us here, Aingimea said.

While David Panuelo, president of the Federated States of Micronesia, thanked the leaders for their sincere apologies, he also told ABC radio that Micronesia was not yet back in the PIF but noted that the way forward is very positive.

The position remains the same but the dialogue continues and so therefore in May, I believe, we will be having a much more in-depth review, he said.

Paluan President Surangel Whipps Jr. was more pragmatic about the apologies.

Whipps told Island Times Palua that while Micronesia welcomed the apologies the sub-region would remain firm on its decision to leave the regional body.

The Paluan president believes the only correct remedy would be for newly elected Henry Puna to step aside as secretary-general and for Gerald Zackios, Micronesias preferred candidate, to take the role.

So that is what I am hoping and that we are moving forward in that direction. If Micronesia is in, Puna is out, if Puna is in, Micronesia is out, Whipps said.

The Paluan president has previously said in an opinion piece for The Guardian that he believes the election of Henry Puna was influenced by Beijing.

We have questions to answer about the role of outside influence in decisions made by the Pacific,' Whipps wrote, referring to the growing influence of China in the region.

Did the Marshall Islands relationship with Taiwan hurt its candidacy in the South Pacific? Did Ambassador Zackioss relationship with Washington? he wrote.

Currently, many Polynesian countries in the Pacific have turned their backs on their diplomatic relationship with Taiwan in favour of China and the cash injections they believe will come from the Belt and Road Initiative.

In the past two years Taiwan has seen its diplomatic ties in the region dwindle with only the states of Palau, Nauru, Tuvalu, and the Marshall Islands remaining after the Solomon Islands and Kiribati switched their allegiance to China to gain access to the Belt and Road Initiative in 2019.
Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 27, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Parents Should Oppose Critical Race Theory to Save Our Kids from Left-Wing Indoctrination: AG Paxton

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday praised parents for pushing back against the teaching of the quasi-Marxist critical race theory in the nations schools, urging more people to speak out and arguing its the only way we save our kids from leftist indoctrination.

Paxton made the remarks in an appearance on Newsmax on Tuesday, after being asked by host Chris Salcedo to comment on the growing rebellion of parents against left-wing indoctrination in public schools.

Salcedo prefaced his question by noting that voters in the Dallas suburb of Southlake recently delivered a resounding victory to a slate of school board and City Council candidates who opposed the school districts plan to teach critical race theory.

Its encouraging that parents are getting involved in this, that they care about issues just like this, that they want race to be treated with respect as opposed to with disdain like the Democratic party has pushed us to, Paxton said.

Critical race theorywhich espouses the idea that race is not natural, but socially constructed to oppress and exploit people of coloris an offshoot of the Marx-influenced critical theory social philosophy that was promoted by the Frankfurt School of thought.

Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning critical race theory training in federal agencies in September 2020 with the White House describing it as anti-American propaganda.

But this ideology has been embraced by the current administration, with President Joe Biden reversing Trumps September 2020 executive order right after he came into the White House and pushing critical race theory training on a number of fronts.

The Biden administrations efforts triggered widespread pushback from federal and state Republican lawmakers, conservatives, and related organizations, as well as parents.

Paxton said discussions around race should be about celebrating diversity, rather than vilifying any particular group.

Instead of dividing us, it should be something that makes us realize that, while we all have different backgrounds, theres a reason that were all here, that God created all of us and that that matters, Paxton said.

And so Im really grateful for these parents. I hope more people will speak out. Thats the only way we save our country, thats the only way we save our kids, he said.

Critical race theory has gradually proliferated in recent decades through academia, government structures, school systems, and the corporate world. It redefines human history as a struggle between the oppressors and the oppressed, similarly to Marxisms reduction of history to a struggle between the bourgeois and the proletariat. It labels institutions that emerged in majority-white societies as racist and white supremacist.

Several professional organizations also support the study of critical race theory.

The best historical inquiry acknowledges and interrogates systems of oppressionracial, ethnic, gender, classand openly addresses the myriad injustices that these systems have perpetuated through the past and into the present, said a statement last year from the Organization of American Historians, the nations largest professional organization of scholars of U.S. history.

Roger L. Simon, an award-winning novelist and Epoch Times contributor, argued in a recent op-ed, that critical race theory is, itself, fundamentally racist.

Many definitions and explanations of CRT [critical race theory] exist, a literal phantasmagoria of intellectual obfuscation, the stuff of theses and studies, some of it quite brilliantly, if sophistically, executed, but CRT boils down to something quite simple, he wrote.

Martin Luther King Jr.s justifiably famous dream that the day will come when we judge each other by our characters and not by the color of our skins has been turned on its head, Simon wrote, adding, The color of our skins is to be the be-all and end-all of our existences, no matter what, no escape.

Race is everything. In order to be considered good, you must acknowledge it, literally bow to it, and behave accordingly, Simon wrote.

And, it goes without saying, the Caucasian race (variously defined according to the situationthere is now something called a White Hispanic) has, in this construct, done virtually everything that is bad and is inherently the root of all evil, he added.
Potential Early Release of 76,000 Inmates Sparks Concern

Law officials in Orange County, Calif. say theyre worried about state plans to reduce the sentences of up to 76,000 inmates.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) said it would begin increasing the good conduct credit (GCC) rate for eligible inmates on May 1, affording them an opportunity for early release.

It will do so in conjunction with Californias Proposition 57, which permits parole consideration for nonviolent felons. It also adjusts rules on juvenile prosecution and allows sentence credits for good behavior, education, and rehabilitation.

Orange County Sheriffs Department spokesperson Carrie Braun said the department is concerned about both past and potential future victims of crime if the inmates are released prematurely.

Victims of any crime should be and are of primary importance, Braun told The Epoch Times. From the sheriffs department perspective, were very concerned not only about people who have already been the victims of crimes from these individuals, but anyone potentially who could be impacted if someone who were released were to recidivate.

Approved by the California Office of Administrative Law, the move comes as the state looks to increase good behavior incentives of those incarcerated by allowing a reduction of prison time for the well-behaved.

Of those eligible, 63,000 inmates currently incarcerated due to violent crimes will be able to attain good behavior credits that will allow them to reduce sentences by one-third. The figure includes 20,000 inmates sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Prior to the new rule becoming effective, good behavior credits only granted a one-fifth reduction of prison sentences.

The new law would also allow 10,000 inmates who are imprisoned for a second nonviolent offense under Californias three-strikes law to have their sentences reduced to one-half instead of one-third. Another 2,900 inmates who were convicted of a third nonviolent strike will get similar reductions. In essence, the inmates will receive one day of credit for every day served.

Additionally, minimum-security inmates who work in conservation (fire) camps, are trained as firefighters, or who are assigned minimum custody status, will earn one month of credit for every one month served. This will happen regardless of the crime they were convicted for.

For an inmate to be considered to have nonviolent status under the increased good behavior time credits, only the crime they are currently being incarcerated for must be nonviolent. It doesnt mean they havent been convicted of a violent crime in the past.

CDCR spokesperson Vicky Waters said the new measures wont result in the automatic release of any inmate.

Under the statute, incarcerated individuals are able to receive credits for good behavior and participation in the rehabilitation program, Waters told The Epoch Times. Proposition 57, which voters overwhelmingly approved in 2016 and upheld in November, gave the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation the authority to submit regulations to provide additional opportunities for incarcerated people to receive these good conduct credits.

This effort incentivizes incarcerated individuals to have sustained good behavior and encourages them to participate in rehabilitative and educational programs, which can help reduce recidivism to make our communities safer. Our departments focus is on a persons rehabilitation and accountability in a manner that is consistent with public safety.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said on Twitter that allowing all the inmates back onto the street will be a dangerous move.

[The inmate reduction is] in addition to the tens of thousands of inmates and state prisoners already released due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a slap in the face to the victims of violent crimeand a threat to public safety, Spitzer wrote. Reduced consequences for committing crimes means more crimes will be committedand more people will be victimized.
Pompeo Sees Through CCP Logic From Bidens Climate Summit

Commentary

U.S. President Joe Biden invited 40 world leaders to attend a two-day virtual climate summit last month.

On April 22, the first day the climate summit kicked-off, Bill Hemmer, the co-anchor of the Fox News Channels Americans Newsroom, interviewed former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. He asked Pompeo about the meaning behind Chinese leader Xi Jinpings speech at the summit, quoting Xis words: To protect the environment is to protect productivity, to boost the environment is to boost productivity, its as simple as that.

Hemmer asked Pompeo, Do you know what this means?

Pompeo responded, Bill, I dont know what it means.

There are two kinds of logic in this worldone is called logic and the other is called Chinese Communist Party (CCP) logic. Most people, including the Chinese, find it difficult to understand the CCPs rhetoric.

In truth, Chinese citizens do not understand what Xi Jinping said about the environment, but they dont need to understand either. The CCP wants the people to know one thing: Xi attaches great importance to ecological and environmental issues. And authorities at all levels are expected to carry out so-called environmental policies.

Journalists watch a screen showing Xi Jinping delivering a speech during the opening of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2021 in Boao, Hainan Province, China, on April 20, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

How can Pompeo, Hemmer, and ordinary Chinese people really understand these kinds of speeches? Inside the Communist Party system, speaking in vague terms is the norm.

Although he didnt understand, Pompeo still had an explanation for Xis long-winded speech. Pompeo said, This isnt about a win-win solution between China and the United States of America, whatever is in his head with respect to this is an attempt to create power and authority for the Chinese Communist Party and to harm the United States of America.

Pompeo also pointed out that Xi did not attend the climate summit for the sake of appeasing the Chinese people and the United States. He added, This is an authoritative regime, Marxist-Leninist on its economic approach and they have big desires on displacing the United States of America as the worlds leading superpower.

Hemmer mentioned Bidens latest tweet. Biden wrote: America is back. We rejoined the Paris Agreement, and are ready to rally the world to tackle the climate crisis. Lets do this. Hemmer asked Pompeo, How do you rate the urgency of the climate [issue] today?

Pompeo replied: Everybody is for clean air and safe drinking water, but to place climate change on the list of threats that face the United States of America as number one is an enormous mistake. The threat from the Chinese Communist Party, theyre here, theyre inside the gates.

He said that the CCP poses a huge threat to the United States. They show off their military might and destroy U.S. infrastructure. These problems are much more serious than climate change.

Pompeo is one of the few American officials who understand the CCPs communist culture.

In an interview on the program Fox Business Tonight with Jackie DeAngelis, on April 21, Pompeo said that based on his own past experiences with the CCP, Beijing will not fulfill any promises it made at the climate summit and that the United States must continue to observe the CCPs actions.

My expectation is well hear what weve heard from the Chinese Communist Party before, a series of commitments that they have absolutely no intention of honoring.  They have broken more promises over these last years, including a promise to President Obama that they wouldnt militarize the South China Sea.

The CCPs past actions have showed that it cannot be trustedit says one thing and does the exact opposite. In the past few decades, they have repeatedly fooled the United States. During the Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communist Party in China, when the Americans went to Yanan (the Dixie Mission) in 1944, they witnessed how the Communists operated.

After the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1946, at the National Founding Congress, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party had many disputes. One of the disputes was how the president came into being. The Nationalists suggested that the National Congress should elect the president. The Communist Party used the United States electoral process as a model to oppose the Nationalists initiative and insisted on universal elections to select the president. All the democratic parties, intellectuals, and young people supported the CCPs statement, as did the Americans. But those declarations have never come to light.

The CCPs approach had practical benefits. During the subsequent civil war mediation between the Nationalists and the Communist Party, the Marshall of the United States was biased towards the CCP. Many officials of the U.S. State Department supported the CCP and denied the government of the Republic of China at that time. In the end, the U.S. Congress stopped providing assistance such as weapons and equipment to the Nationalist government, on the grounds of not intervening in the civil war.

It was not until 1949 that the Americans woke up and began to resume military assistance to the Nationalists, including weaponry accessories and ammunition. But when the first batch of military aid arrived, it was already too latethe Nationalists had already fled to Taiwan.

In the following decades, the CCP continued to play this game. On the diplomatic front, the CCP speaks with grand rhetoric, including its words on friendship and cooperation between the United States and China.

However, behind the scenes, the CCP has never lowered its guard and has the ultimate aim of overthrowing the United States. This goal runs through the CCPs education system and all political coursesit is clearly seen among the government agencies of the CCP, especially the theoretical and policy-making agencies.

But many Americans do not believe it. It was only after Beijing staked its claims over the South China Sea in 2009 that the United States began to be truly wary of China.

In 1999, before Chinas emergence in the South China Sea, two Chinese military officers published the book Unrestricted Warfarethe CCP uses this strategy in dealing with neighboring countries.

Chinese vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, are seen at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea, on March 27, 2021. (Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea/Handout via Reuters)

The core idea of unrestricted warfare is to use various means to subvert the enemythis includes targeting the economy, technology, culture, and diplomacy, as well as infiltration and funding of internal rebellions. I believe that the concept of unrestricted warfare is not something that the CCP invented in the 1990s. The book Unrestricted Warfare is a summary of the various methods used by the CCP in the past 100 years to take down its enemies and gain control.

The Communist Party understands human nature. They have studied capitalism for hundreds of yearsthey know the weaknesses of this system and also understand the weaknesses of human nature under this system. These weaknesses are targeted through unrestricted warfare.

To avoid being tricked by the CCP, it is important to reflect on past mistakes in dealing with China. If Americans want to know how the CCP will subvert the United States, they only need to seriously study how the Communists seized power in mainland China and to understand the regimes unrestricted warfare strategy.

Alexander Liao is a columnist and journalist in research on international affairs in the United States, China, and Southeast Asia. He has published a large number of reports, commentaries, and video programs in newspapers and Chinese financial magazines in the United States and Hong Kong.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
GOP Lawmaker Reintroduces Proposal to Fight IP Theft by Chinese Regime

Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) reintroduced legislation on May 4 that would set into law the denial of export privileges against nations that steal U.S. intellectual property, as part of a broader legislative effort to counter the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

What Americans innovate, China steals. Chinas long history of intellectual property theft costs the United States billions of dollars each year. My bill combats China and other hostile nations ability to steal our intellectual property and do untold harm to our economy, Buck said in a statement.

Buck noted in the release that the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property has estimated that intellectual property theft costs the U.S. economy $600 billion per year, with the regime in Beijing the worlds main perpetrator. He cited John Demers, head of the National Security Division at the Department of Justice, as saying that over 80 percent of all cases charged as economic espionageand 60 percent of all trade-secret casesinvolve China.

Buck first introduced the measure, H.R.8831, in December 2020; it was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in the waning days of the 116th Congress.

The legislation is one of a handful of proposals by the Republican Study Committee (RSC), the largest conservative caucus on Capitol Hill, to counter Chinas communist regime. Chaired by Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), the RSC has made combating the CCPs mercantilist policies and other adversarial postures a key part of its agenda.

Weve made countering communist China a platform of the RSC for the first time, under my leadership, Banks told The Epoch Times in a February interview. It deserves our attention, and as the largest caucus, our members understand this is the greatest threat that we face and that we have to confront it.

Chinas objective is to dominate the United States of America economically and militarily, to become the hegemonic power of the entire world, and to put the United States of America under its thumb, Banks said. And for years, theyve been steadily marching towards that end goal.

In a February policy note (pdf), the RSC outlined some actions taken by the Biden administration that amount to pivoting to a weak posture toward China, while accentuating former President Donald Trumps hard-hitting approach toward countering Beijing.

The Biden administration has acknowledged the threat from the Chinese regime, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying in an interview that aired on May 2 that Beijing has recently acted more aggressively abroad and was behaving increasingly in adversarial ways.

Asked by CBS News 60 Minutes whether Washington was heading toward a military confrontation with Beijing, Blinken said: Its profoundly against the interests of both China and the United States to get to that point, or even to head in that direction.

What weve witnessed over the last several years is China acting more repressively at home and more aggressively abroad. That is a fact.

Asked about the reported theft of hundreds of billions of dollars or more in U.S. trade secrets and intellectual property by China, Blinken said the Biden administration had real concerns about the IP issue.

He said it sounded like the actions of someone whos trying to compete unfairly and increasingly in adversarial ways. But were much more effective and stronger when were bringing like-minded and similarly aggrieved countries together to say to Beijing: This cant stand and it wont stand.'

The Chinese Embassy in Washington didnt immediately respond on May 2 to a request for comment from Reuters on Blinkens interview.

On April 30, the Biden administration said China had fallen short on its commitments to protect U.S. intellectual property in the phase one U.S.China trade deal signed last year.

The commitments were part of the sweeping deal between Trumps administration and Beijing, which pledged to buy at least $200 billion in additional U.S. goods and services over two years while Washington agreed to roll back tariffs in stages on Chinese goods.

Blinken arrived in London on May 2 for a Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting, where China is one of the issues on the agenda.

Bowen Xiao and Reuters contributed to this report.
The Facebook logo is displayed on a mobile phone in this picture illustration taken on Dec. 2, 2019. (Johanna Geron/Illustration/Reuters)

Republicans: Break Up Big Tech After Facebook Board Upholds Trump Ban

Democrats cheer board's decision, call for ban to be made permanent

Congressional Republicans on May 5, upset with the decision by Facebooks Oversight Board to uphold the companys ban of former President Donald Trump, said theyd work to curb the technology giants power.

Break them up, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, said in reaction to the decision.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said the decision was a real-life example of the tyranny of Big Tech before echoing Jordan.

Republicans have increasingly turned critical of technology giants such as Facebook as more evidence emerges showing bias against conservatives.

Facebook is more interested in acting like a Democrat Super PAC than a platform for free speech and open debate. If they can ban President Trump, all conservative voices could be next. A House Republican majority will rein in Big Tech power over our speech, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) wrote in a tweet on May 5.

Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) called for aggressive antitrust reform to end what he described as Facebooks monopoly.

Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives in early 2019 and ceded the majority in the upper chamber in January. They hope to flip both in the 2022 midterms.

They could have trouble garnering enough votes for their legislative preferences in dealing with Big Tech if they dont.

Democrats largely praised the upholding of Facebooks suspension.

As far as the decision of Facebook goes, I applaud that decision. Facebook is not the public square. We need to remember that its not, said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) in a Washington Post Live interview.

Theres no Constitutional protection for using social media to incite an insurrection. Trump is willing to do anything for himself no matter the danger to our country. His big lies have cost America dearly. And until he stops, Facebook must ban him. Which is to say, forever, House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) wrote on Twitter.

Still, some Democrats signaled that they want to reform laws dealing with Big Tech.

Facebook is a disinformation-for-profit machine that wont accept responsibility for its role in the safety of our democracy and people. Trump should be banned for good, but Facebook will continue to fumble with its power until Congress and antitrust regulators rein in Big Tech, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote on Twitter.

Big Tech companies have generally resisted major alterations to rules governing them, primarily Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. But they have supported some changes, including stripping of immunity for companies that dont appropriately remove illegal posts.

Facebooks Nick Clegg, a vice president, said company officials there were pleased with the boards decision.

Were pleased the board has recognized that the unprecedented circumstances justified the exceptional measure we took, he said in a statement, adding that the company will consider the boards criticism of the suspension being indefinite but that Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts will remain suspended for now.

Trump, who is mulling another presidential bid, said in a statement that Facebook and other Big Tech companies must pay a political price, and must never again be allowed to destroy and decimate our Electoral Process.

Free Speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth, but the truth will come out anyway, bigger and stronger than ever before. The People of our Country will not stand for it! he wrote.
Anna Pavlova's ballet dress, 20th century. A dancer who worked with Pavlova recalled how she would have the swan tutu remade by her wardrobe mistress, Madame Manya, before each new run of performances. (Museum of London)

Reviving The Dying Swan, Ballerina Anna Pavlovas Costume

Conservation in the City at the Museum of London

While under lockdown, staff at the Museum of London decided to edit a series of videos documenting the restoration of a rarely displayed item in the museums fashion and textile archive: legendary ballerina Anna Pavlovas swan costume. Pavlova was believed to have worn the costume around 1910 for a performance of The Dying Swan.

The stunning costume consists of a cream-colored silk, boned bodice adorned with green glass gems and goose feathers, and a cotton tutu made from a mass of tulle and sequins that together imitate a majestic swan and its incredible plumage. When performing, Pavlova would have worn a diamante headdress of green glass gems trimmed with feathers.

A portrait of Anna Pavlova in a photographic reproduction, in an engraved medallion by 17th-century English artist William Faithorne. (Museum of London)

Pavlovas swan costume would have been one of many. According to a dancer who worked with Pavlova, a fresh swan costume was made for each performance run. Pavlova performed The Dying Swan about 4,000 times.

The costume is rarely on display due to the garments delicate nature and environmentally sensitive details, including the silk material and goose feathers, the museum wrote in an email.

The footage of the restoration was shot for the museums Conservation in the City series, just before the costume was sent to New York for the exhibition Ballerina: Fashions Modern Muse at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Anna Pavlovas costume for The Dying Swan was featured in the exhibition Ballerina: Fashions Modern Muse, at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, in New York, which ran from Feb. 11 to April 18, 2020. (Eileen Costa/The Museum at FIT)

The first two episodes in the five-part Conservation in the City series can now be viewed on the Museum of London website, and a new episode will be released each month.

In the first video, the museums textile conservator Emily Austin explains how she first checks the condition of the garment. At the beginning of the restoration, she estimates that the job would be completed in over 100 hours due to the complexity of the garment and its many different materials. Time and dust has dimmed the once white costume. The garment has lost its shape, and the elastic on the shoulders is gone. Austin will strengthen and realign some of the goose feathers and maybe infill them. The tulle-silk skirt is understandably worn, and over time small tears have appeared throughout the tutu, mainly on the edges, undoubtedly taking the strain of Pavlovas expressive dying-swan song.

In the second video, Austin explains how she uses a fine rabbit-hair brush to remove the layers of dust. She then uses a museum vacuum topped with netting to remove the more stubborn surface grime. Austin then assesses the tulle damage more closely, patching up tears with hair-thin polyester thread that has been dyed to color match the material. She places a piece of netting behind each tear and then attaches the patch to the tulle by using a simple running stitch. The repair can hardly be seen, and ditto for the thread shown in the camera shot.

What is clear is the amount of patience and attention to detail that is needed for the job. Well have to wait for the third episode to see what happens next.

How The Dying Swan Came to Be

The Dying Swan is arguably Pavlovas most famous solo piece. Russian ballet dancer and choreographer Michael Fokine created the piece at her request in 1905. She had just been accepted as a ballerina in the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, and was required to perform a solo piece at a gala concert given by the theaters artists.

Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova kept swans on a large pond at her London home so she could emulate them in her ballet. (RV1864 via Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Fokine knew of Pavlovas love for swans. (She would later have swans on a large pond at her London home, so she could closely imitate them in her ballet.) Fokine also knew that Pavlova enjoyed British poet Alfred Tennysons poem The Dying Swan, in which the poet wonderfully describes the swan songthe beautiful melody the swan sings as it approaches death.

I.

The plain was grassy, wild and bare,

Wide, wild, and open to the air,

Which had built up everywhere

An under-roof of doleful gray.

With an inner voice the river ran,

Adown it floated a dying swan,

And loudly did lament.

It was the middle of the day.

Ever the weary wind went on,

And took the reed-tops as it went.

II.

Some blue peaks in the distance rose,

And white against the cold-white sky,

Shone out their crowning snows.

One willow over the river wept,

And shook the wave as the wind did sigh;

Above in the wind was the swallow,

Chasing itself at its own wild will,

And far thro the marish green and still

The tangled water-courses slept,

Shot over with purple, and green, and yellow.

III.

The wild swans death-hymn took the soul

Of that waste place with joy

Hidden in sorrow: at first to the ear

The warble was low, and full and clear;

And floating about the under-sky,

Prevailing in weakness, the coronach stole

Sometimes afar, and sometimes anear;

But anon her awful jubilant voice,

With a music strange and manifold,

Flowd forth on a carol free and bold;

As when a mighty people rejoice

With shawms, and with cymbals, and harps of gold,

And the tumult of their acclaim is rolld

Thro the open gates of the city afar,

To the shepherd who watcheth the evening star.

And the creeping mosses and clambering weeds,

And the willow-branches hoar and dank,

And the wavy swell of the soughing reeds,

And the wave-worn horns of the echoing bank,

And the silvery marish-flowers that throng

The desolate creeks and pools among,

Were flooded over with eddying song.

Tennysons poem inspired Fokines dance. He choreographed the piece to The Swan, the 13th movement of The Carnival of the Animals, by French composer Camille Saint-Saens. The movement was originally scored for a solo cello accompanied by two pianos.

Russian dance critic Andre Levinson described Pavlovas performance of The Dying Swan:

Arms folded, on tiptoe, she dreamily and slowly circles the stage. By even, gliding motions of the hands, returning to the background from whence she emerged, she seems to strive toward the horizon, as though a moment more and she will flyexploring the confines of space with her soul. The tension gradually relaxes and she sinks to earth, arms waving faintly as in pain. Then faltering with irregular steps toward the edge of the stageleg bones quiver like the strings of a harpby one swift forward-gliding motion of the right foot to earth, she sinks on the left kneethe aerial creature struggling against earthly bonds; and there, transfixed by pain, she dies.

Poignantly, on her deathbed in 1931, Pavlovas last words were Get my swan costume ready.

To find out more about the Museum of Londons conservation of Anna Pavlovas swan costume, see The Dying Swan Costume Video 1

Anna Pavlovas ballet dress, 20th century. (Museum of London)
U.S. Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz's report, titled "Review of Four FISA Applications and Other Aspects of the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane Investigation" in Washington, on Dec. 9, 2019. (Jim Bourg/Reuters)

Russiagate the Model

Commentary

Because former Attorney General William Barr failed to hold anyone accountable for the Democratic Party and FBIs dirty tricks campaign against Donald Trump, Russiagate lives on. Indeed, recent news reports show that its become the operational model that the party and its partners in the spy services and media will continue to use against their adversaries.

The consequences are certain to be catastrophic, for setting intelligence operatives loose on one half of America cannot help but further fracture the countrys domestic peace.

On May 3, reports surfaced that the Biden administration may use private firms to collect intelligence on its critics, recategorized by the White House as domestic terrorists. What makes them dangerous, according to Biden surrogates, is that theylike many of the participants in the Jan. 6 events who have been held for five months in Washington jails without bailbelieve the 2020 election was compromised.

Do aides for President Joe Biden believe that using outside contractors to circumvent laws against spying on Americans will shore up the presidents legitimacy? No, the aim is to prevent the America First movement from mobilizing. To kill it before it grows. According to reports, the private firms licensed by the government will gather large amounts of information that could help [U.S. intelligence] identify key narratives as they emerge.

The basic premise of this Biden initiative should sound familiarits Russiagates first plot point. In 2016, the Hillary Clinton campaign paid opposition research firm Fusion GPS and former UK intelligence officer Christopher Steele to gather information on her Republican rival, which was then relayed to the FBI. Thats the standard account, anyway.

In reality, U.S. spy services used Fusion GPS and Steele to launder their illegal spying on Americans. It was American intelligence agents and not private contractors who knew what they needed to get a warrant to spy on Trump. The outside firms the Biden administration wants to hire will serve as cutouts for U.S. intelligence services directed by the White House to spy on Americans.

Rudolph Giuliani said recently that the FBI had spied on him by breaking into his email account while he was working as Trumps personal lawyer. The Bureau has been investigating Giuliani since at least fall of 2019 for possibly violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), but as I explained recently in The Epoch Times, thats just a pretext to target him.

For instance, the Bureau used FARA as the basis to collect the 2016 Trump campaigns electronic communications. The reality is that the first family has tasked the national police to retaliate against Giuliani for making their corruption public.

In the run-up to the 2020 election, the FBI, media, social media, and other institutions affiliated with the Democratic Party misinformed voters by claiming that all the disturbing news about the Biden clansuch as their documented financial arrangements with Chinese, Russian, and Ukrainian nationalswas Russian disinformation. But since this was the same consortium that pushed Russia collusion, when the FBI went to Republican Sen. Ron Johnsons office in August to warn that he might be the target of a Russian disinformation campaign, he knew he was being set up.

Because there was no substance to the briefing, and because it followed the production and leaking of a false intelligence product by Democrat leaders, Johnson told the press last week, I suspected that the briefing was being given to be used at some future date for the purpose that it is now being used: to offer the biased media an opportunity to falsely accuse me of being a tool of Russia despite warnings.

The defensive briefing is just another weapon in the FBIs arsenal to be used against rivals of the Democratic Party. In August 2016, for instance, the Bureau sent an agent to meet with Trump and top aide Michael Flynn, ostensibly for a defensive briefing, but the real reason, according to official government records, was to collect intelligence on them.

Giuliani, one of the Justice Departments most illustrious alumni, would have known immediately what the FBI was up to had it knocked on his door to deliver a defensive briefing. Accordingly, the FBI decided against it, even though three media organizations, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NBC, incorrectly reported last week that he had been briefed.

The sourcing for the claim was weak. NBC, for instance, attributed the account to a source familiar with the matter. Press critics say that the reporters should expose their sources, because they lied. That would make sense in a normal media environment, but this is information warfare, which follows a different logic.

Thats why, for instance, none of the hundreds of U.S. journalists who pushed Russiagate daily for five years and counting will ever admit it was a fraud concocted by U.S. spy services and Clinton operatives.

Who knows, maybe the source for the fake Giuliani briefing story was Fusion GPS. Some of the reporters bylined on the stories are friends of Fusion, such as NBCs Ken Dilanian, who helped push a Fusion GPS-engineered smear campaign against financier Bill Browder. The Post story was co-written by Tom Hamburger, a journalist who Fusion GPS principals say they briefed on the phony collusion allegations during the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Disseminating fake Russia-related stories is how Fusion GPS became famous.

In any case, it appears the FBI and Justice Department were mortified by the false reports. According to NBCs correction, the briefing was not delivered to him, in part over concerns it might complicate the criminal investigation of Giuliani. That is, federal law enforcements partners in the press had inadvertently revealed that while investigating him, they had considered simultaneously setting him up and spying on him.

It seems that some of the FBI agents who served Giuliani a warrant last week were apologetic, maybe even ashamed theyd had to follow orders to take action against a man whose strong leadership in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks earned him the title of Americas Mayor. Nearly 20 years after, at least one-half of Americas political class has embroiled the country in a crisis engendered by a conspiracy theory, a crisis that it means to make permanent.

Lee Smith is the author of the recently published book The Permanent Coup: How Enemies Foreign and Domestic Targeted the American President.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-05 10:29:54|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering African American George Floyd, filed a request Tuesday for a new trial.

The motion, filed by Chauvin's attorney Eric Nelson, cites factors including "the interests of justice, abuse of discretion that deprived the Defendant of a fair trial, prosecutorial and jury misconduct, errors of law at trial, and a verdict that is contrary to law."

Chauvin was convicted on April 20 of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd's death.

Nelson wrote in the filing that "the Court abused its discretion when it denied Defendant's motion for a change of venue" and that publicity around the pretrial hearing escalated "the potential for prejudice in these proceedings."

Nelson also pointed to the court's rules surrounding the jury, which he claimed were not strict enough to prevent jurors from being affected by media coverage of the trial.

"The publicity here was so pervasive and so prejudicial before and during this trial that it amounted to a structural defect in the proceedings," he wrote.

"The Court abused its discretion when it failed to sequester the jury for the duration of the trial, or in the least, admonish them to avoid all media, which resulted in jury exposure to prejudicial publicity regarding the trial during the proceedings, as well as jury intimidation and potential fear of retribution among jurors, which violated Mr. Chauvin's constitutional rights to due process and to a fair trial," Nelson contended.

"The jury committed misconduct, felt threatened or intimidated, felt race-based pressure during the proceedings, and/or failed to adhere to instructions during deliberations, in violation of Mr. Chauvin's constitutional rights to due process and a fair trial," Nelson wrote in conclusion.

John Stiles, deputy chief of staff for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, pushed back on Nelson's filing, saying in a statement, "The court has already rejected many of these arguments and the State will vigorously oppose them."

The deadline to make post-conviction filings is Wednesday, according to Minnesota court rules.

Citing "aggravated factors" in the case, prosecutors, in court documents filed April 30, sought a more severe sentence for Chauvin, whose three-count verdict carries a combined maximum sentence of 75 years in prison, though his actual sentence, expected on June 16, is very likely to be much more lenient according to Minnesota sentencing guidance.

Prosecutors argued in the documents that Chauvin should receive a tougher sentencing because Floyd was a "vulnerable" victim, and that he was pinned down as Chuavin knelt on his neck. They said Chauvin continued to kneel on Floyd's neck despite Floyd saying he couldn't breathe 27 times before becoming unresponsive.

The court documents also noted that Floyd was "treated with particular cruelty," given that Chauvin continued to kneel on Floyd's neck despite pleas from the man and bystanders. The total timespan of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck was nine minutes and 29 seconds, the video provided by prosecutors as evidence during Chauvin's trial showed.

Prosecutors further stated that Chauvin abused his position of authority, noting that three other officers at the scene -- who have also been fired by the police department following the incident and who will stand trial on Aug. 23 -- "actively participated in the crime."

The court documents also noted that the encounter occurred "in the presence of multiple children." Four of the witnesses at Chauvin's trial were minors at the time of Floyd's death, one of whom was four years old. Enditem
Soros-Backed Prosecutor Faces Disciplinary Hearings, Could Lose Law License

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner is facing disciplinary proceedings stemming from an ethics complaint filed against her, according to a case list (pdf) posted on a state website.

Gardner, who was elected to her post with the help of billionaire liberal activist George Soros, will likely face a panel that will review the allegations against her. The Missouri Supreme Court would render the final verdict on what punishment, if any, Gardner will receive.

Its unclear which allegations the disciplinary proceedings will address, but a statement by Gardners office provided to KMOV referenced the allegations against her lodged by former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens.

As the Circuit Attorney has repeatedly proven time after time, she has acted in full accordance with the law during the investigation into former Governor Greitens, the statement reads. Despite several investigations attempting to uncover illegal wrongdoing by her office in this case, none has ever been found. We are confident that a full review of the facts will show that the Circuit Attorney has not violated the ethical standards of the State of Missouri.

Greitenss team had accused Gardner of failing to correct the record during a deposition from private investigator William Tisaby, whom Gardner had hired to investigate Greitens. Tisaby had conducted interviews with the woman who accused Greitens of misconduct. Tisaby had since been charged with six counts of perjury and one count of tampering with evidence as part of his work on the Greitens case. Gardner was with Tisaby when some of the violations occurred and had an ethical duty to flag his alleged lies, Greitenss team claims.

Greitens resigned from the governorship amid Gardners probe, but all of the charges against him were subsequently dropped.

In 2019, the Missouri Supreme Courts Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel received 1,733 complaints (pdf) of attorney misconduct and opened 763 investigations. The offices work that year resulted in the disbarment of 22 attorneys and the suspension of 30 others.

Greitens is now running for the U.S. Senate in Missouri.
People are seen along Corona del Mar State Beach in Newport Beach, Calif., on April 15, 2020. Southern California has seen warmer weather over the last few days as social distance guidelines due to COVID-19 are still in place. (Michael Heiman/Getty Images)

Suspected Illegal Migrants Captured in Newport Beach

Nine people were taken into U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody May 2 after they were dropped off at a Newport Dunes boat ramp by a pleasure boat.

The group of Mexican nationals consisted of seven men, one woman, and an unaccompanied 13-year-old boy, border control said.

The group was turned over to U.S. Border Patrol agents for processing after being taken into custody about 5:30 p.m. The Orange County Sheriffs Department assisted with the matter.

Newport Beach is about 100 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

In Dana Point, a 25-foot abandoned boat washed ashore April 21, also prompting an U.S. Customs and Border Patrol investigation.

Lori Haley, spokesperson for the Los Angeles department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said both incidents are under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Los Angeles Border Enforcement Security Task Force.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen waves after addressing supporters following her re-election as President of Taiwan in Taipei, Taiwan, on Jan. 11, 2020. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

Taiwans President Awarded Halifax Forum Prize

A federal-funded international security forum has announced the Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen the winner of its flagship prize, despite pressure from both the Canadian and Chinese government.

The Halifax International Security Forum awarded the 2020 John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service to Tsai, calling her champion of freedom in a video released on Monday.

HFX is proud to announce the winner of the 2020 John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service. https://t.co/mXZO07sbXy  Halifax The Forum (@HFXforum) May 4, 2021

Tsai was elected as the first female President of Taiwan in 2016 and was reelected last year with a record vote, promising in her campaign to defend the democracy of the island country against threats from neighboring China.

Beijings ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has considered Taiwan a breakaway province after it came out triumphant in a civil war over 70 years ago. The CCP has toned up its threats of using force to take over Taiwan over the year, repeatedly sending military aircraft into the islands periphery.

In a Facebook statement, Tsai stated that the award, named after late U.S. Sen. John McCain, is a symbol of the high regard the international community has for Taiwans democracy.

A united Taiwan must remain dedicated to protecting our democracy and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, while working as a force for good to make the world a better place, Tsai stated. We continue to show that freedom and democracy are the core values that define our country.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (C) speaks during the National Day in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei, Taiwan, on Oct. 10, 2020. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

However, the Forum, which is headquartered in Washington D.C., did not announce the John McCain Prize in November as usual, which a POLITICO report published last month said was because Ottawas concerns of angering the Chinese authorities. The Canadian government is a major sponsor of the forum.

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan struck down allegations that the federal government had threatened to cancel funds to the Halifax forum if Tsai won the John McCain Prize, saying that was absolutely false during the parliamentary committee on Canada-China Relations on April 12.

The allegations prompted action from opposition leaders, who adopted a motion in the House of Commons to support the Halifax Forums proposal to award Tsai with the prize.

Our allies are closely watching to see whether or not the federal government is standing up for human rights, democracy and the rule of law, Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong said.

The forum receives approximately $3 million in funding annually since 2017 from the Department of National Defence.

The Chinese embassy in Canada has not publicly commented on Tsai winning the award, but a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had condemned the Canadian parliamentary motion.

Peter Van Praagh, president of the Halifax forum, said the forum will present the prize to Tsai in person at a later date.

With files from Issac Teo
ANDREWS, TX - JANUARY 20: An oil pumpjack works at dawn in the Permian Basin oil field on January 20, 2016 in the oil town of Andrews, Texas. Despite recent drops in the price of oil, many residents of Andrews, and similar towns across the Permian, are trying to take the long view and stay optimistic. The Dow Jones industrial average plunged 540 points on Wednesday after crude oil plummeted another 7% and crashed below $27 a barrel. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Texas Lawmakers Advance Bills to Protect Oil and Gas From Climate Initiatives

Texas lawmakers this week advanced bills aimed at shielding the states oil and gas industry from climate initiatives pushed by the Biden administration.

The Texas House on Tuesday approved Senate Bill 13, which requires the states comptroller to prepare, maintain and update a list of all companies that boycott energy companies. The state may then divest funds from those firms unless they cease boycotting energy companies within 90 days of receiving a written warning from state governmental entities, the legislation states.

Oil and gas is the lifeblood of the Texas economy, state GOP Rep. Phil King of Weatherford told the House floor Monday. In the world of capital, theres a movement to deny funds to businesses that will not sign on to extreme anti-fossil fuel policy.

The legislation is set to be reviewed in the Senate before it makes its way to Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts desk to be signed into law. If he does so, the bill is set to take effect on Sept. 1.

Senate lawmakers meanwhile sent the governor a bill, HB 1282, that would prevent local municipalities from barring, limiting, restricting the use of natural gas as a fuel source for new construction and utility services.

The bill, sponsored by Democratic Texas Rep. Joe Deshotel of Beaumont, would also prevent entities from imposing any additional charges or different prices on a development or building permit applicant for utility infrastructure that encourages those constructing buildings to use a particular energy source.

The purpose of this bill is to prevent a city from prohibiting choice of fuel for homes, Deshotel told the House State Affairs Committee.

It follows President Joe Bidens recent executive orders on climate change that state a goal of setting the United States on course to creating a carbon-free power sector by 2035 and a net-zero economy by 2050. To achieve these goals, the Biden administration is having all relevant federal agencies adopt its climate change agenda and subsidies are being cut off from the fossil fuel industry.

One such policy is the Obama-era Paris climate accord, which former President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of, but Biden has rejoined since taking office. Opponents to the measure say it does not require countries like China, the worlds biggest polluter, to reduce their carbon emissions to the extent that the United States is required to. Graves said for every ton of emissions the United States is required to reduce, China increases by 4 tons.

Opponents to the Paris accord believe that even if the United States were to achieve net-zero emissions by paying higher energy bills and bearing the brunt of a weaker economy, this would not help global emissions because larger countries like China and India would still be increasing their carbon footprint.

The United States has been a global leader in reducing emissions and the GOP wants this to continue by putting the focus on exporting U.S. clean energy to other countries since global demand for energy is projected to increase almost 50 percent by 2050.

Republicans want to fill that global demand with clean U.S. natural gas energy without sacrificing American jobs and American resources.

The Biden administrations policies are canceling projects like the Keystone XL Pipeline. The cancelation is said to have cost thousands of jobs and millions of dollars as well as make the United States less energy independent.

Masooma Haq contributed to this report.
Texas Moves Ahead With Bill That Could See Halting of Chinese Wind Farm Project

Texas is moving ahead with legislation aimed at keeping hostile countries out of the states critical infrastructure.

The Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act was passed by unanimous vote by the Texas Senate on April 26. The legislation, introduced by Republican State Senator Donna Campbell, would ban individuals or companies connected with China, Iran, North Korea, Russia from entering into contracts relating to the states critical infrastructure.

The bill aims to protect infrastructure including the states electric grid, communications system, cybersecurity system, and water treatment facilities. Other countries could also be barred if deemed a threat to Texas infrastructure by the governor, in consultation with the Department of Public Safety. If it is passed by the states House of Representatives and signed into law by the governor, the legislation will take effect on Sept. 1.

Campbell cited the proposed construction of a wind farm in western Texas Val Verde County as the reason for the bill. The land for the wind farm is owned by a Chinese company, founded by a billionaire who was formerly a Chinese military officer. Officials and experts have raised alarm over the Chinese project, saying it poses a threat to national security.

A Chinese-owned company called GH America Investment Group since 2015 has bought 130,000 acres of landan area the size of Tulsa, Oklahomain Val Verde County. The man behind the investment firm is Sun Guangxin, a businessman from Xinjiang, China, who has strong ties to the communist regime.

Sun, a former military officer, is currently the richest person in the western Xinjiang regionwhere the regime is committing genocide against ethnic Muslim minorities. He has a net worth of $1.9 billion, according to Forbes, and was also the vice chairman of the Xinjiang Provincial Youth Federation.

Suns investment company acquired the land to build wind farms, with a proposal to install 50 to 130 wind turbines. The land is about 30 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border and near the Laughlin Air Force Base, the U.S. Air Forces largest pilot training facility.

A Chinese-owned wind farm, which generates electricity to be fed into Texas electric grid, poses a risk to the states critical infrastructure, critics say. Potential cyberattacks on the electrical grid could disrupt power utility operations, resulting in large-scale power outages.

A recently released annual threat assessment (pdf) by the U.S. intelligence community said the Chinese regimes cyber-capabilities at a minimum, can cause localized, temporary disruptions to critical infrastructure within the United States.

Critics add that the project could also be used to collect intelligence on U.S. border security operations and the Air Forces activities at Laughlin.

Campbell described the project as a Trojan horse.

Why do they want to put this in Val Verde County, where the wind doesnt really blow? Why is this area, where the turbine farm was going to be, 65 miles from our Laughlin Air Force Base, a strategic pilot training base? Campbell said on the Senate floor on April 26.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, an interagency panel that reviews foreign acquisitions for national security risks, has already reviewed the wind farm project and found that it didnt pose security concerns. Campbell, however, is hoping that the plans could still be halted given that construction hasnt started.

While its not retroactive, they havent built the wind turbines yet  were going to push [the bill] through to make it effective as soon as we can, she told FISM News on April 28.

Emel Akan contributed to this report.
Green ballons bearing the inscription "CO2" are fluttering in a hall during the opening day of the Gruene Woche (Green Week) international agriculture fair in Berlin on Jan. 17, 2020. (Tobias Schwarz/AFP via Getty Images)

The Big Green Lie

Commentary

Public discourse about climate change often degenerates into personal attacks. Those of us who point out the many holes in the alleged scientific basis of global warming alarmism are denounced as deniers.

As I wrote in my article Who Are the Ideologues? the heart of alarmism is a radical political agendanamely, for a socialistic, top-down plan that would restructure our energy usage, and therefore our economy, in the name of saving the planet from a climate catastrophe.

The climate change emperor, of course, has no clothes. You can read some of my rebuttal to the alarmists in my article Who Stole Gretas Childhood? But the soundbite version is that, yes, the world has gotten a degree or two warmer than in preindustrial times, for which we should be thankful, since before the Industrial Revolution, Earth was sunk in the Little Ice Agethe coldest period of the last 10,000 years. Yes, carbon dioxide traps heat, although it does so on a logarithmic scalenot a linear onewhich means that future increases in carbon dioxide will trap less heat. And its essential to realize that carbon dioxide isnt the most important greenhouse gasthat would be water vaporand there are multiple other factors that influence the heat content of Earths atmosphere, including everything from solar and volcanic activity, ocean currents, tectonic movements, cloud cover, and so on.

In fact, in late 2009, when President Barack Obama and congressional progressives were trying to pass a cap-and-trade bill designed to make Americans pay extra for the privilege of burning fossil fuels, some of the scientists in the global warming alarmist camp were backing off their claims of runaway warming.

Looking at the most recent data available to them, they guessedyes, guessed, which is all that we even the so-called experts can ever do regarding the futurethat the Earth was likely to cool for the next few decades.

Think about that for a second: After years of telling us that the more carbon dioxide there was in the atmosphere, the hotter Earth would get, they reversed themselves, saying, Carbon dioxide will continue to increase, but the temperature is likely to fall. The alarmists thereby demolished their own case by conceding the main point made by so-called skeptics: that many other factors besides carbon dioxide drive changes in global temperatures.

The big green liespecifically, that human activity is warming the globe to a dangerous degree requiring a radical economic, social, and political transformationhas many iterations. Although my invocation of the big lie phraseology may be harsh, its bluntly and plainly accurate. Just as Hitlers propaganda teamand indeed, all left-wing totalitarian groups, whether communist, fascist, or socialistemployed the big lie technique of incessantly repeating a falsehood until all but the most alert citizens are mesmerized into believing it from the sheer volume of repetition, so it is with todays greens.

Im by no means likening alarmists to the murderous and maniacal Hitler. Indeed, the average government employee repeating the mantra of anthropogenic climate change today is a bureaucrat or government-funded scientist dutifully, not maliciously, reciting the official party line. By the way, if you want to understand how politicians can exploit scientists and twist scientific research into official sciencethe best science that money can buyget a copy of Michael Harts book Hubris: The Troubling Science, Economics, and Politics of Climate Change.

Andif I may digress for a momentthe next time you hear someone cast suspicion on the integrity of a private-sector scientist who dissents from climate change alarmism, ask yourself why nobody ever asks scientists on the alarmist side if they or their university have ever received government grants for work on climate change. The unspoken bias in the media is that someone who works for a government is an incorruptible, even infallible, truth-teller, while anyone who works in the private sectorespecially for an oil companyis ipso facto a venal liar. What prejudicial rubbish!

There is, it should also be mentioned, another similarity to Hitlers regime, and that is the nature of the political agenda that the greens have. As I explained in my article about the Green New Deal, what the greens want is a government-imposed reorganization of economic activity under the direction of the governmentsimilar to Hitlers Nazi, or national socialist, top-down agenda for the German economy.

The most recent iteration I have seen of the big lie appeared on April 26 in a daily newsletter from The Wall Street Journal, derived from a longer article: $115 trillionThe amount the world would need to invest in clean technologies through 2050 to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, above preindustrial levels, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Before I point out the untruths in this statement, let me commend it for being honest and forthright in one important respect: the candid admission that the radical transition away from fossil fuels will be immensely costly. $115 trillionwow! Thats larger than the entire planets annual GDP. Beyond that, though, the statement is arrogant, pretentious, and dishonest in more ways than one.

The arrogance lies in the implied certainty that human efforts can devise a policy mix that would act like a thermostat regulating Earths temperature.

The pretentiousness is the glib presumption that somebody even knows what the right temperature is, much less how to attain it.

The first dishonesty is the misleading phrase clean technologyas if renewables were clean. Theyre anything but clean while being manufactured, transported, and installed, and theyre disturbingly lethal to winged wildlife.

The second dishonesty is the disingenuous inclusion in the article of two photographs of horribly polluted air in Chinese cities. Those photos were designed to create the false impression that all fossil fuels cause severe air pollution. They deliberately conflated carbon dioxide with pollution when, in fact, carbon dioxide is invisible, meaning it couldnt be the source of the air pollution in the photos. True, one particular fossil fuelcoalcauses visible and toxic air pollution, which is why so many utilities have replaced coal with oil and natural gas. U.S. cities such as Pittsburgh, once known for sooty skies, have enjoyed clear, clean air for decades after moving away from coalnot to renewables, but to cleaner forms of fossil fuels and some nuclear power. More importantly, carbon dioxide is the base of the human food chain: Plants live on carbon dioxide, and they, in turn, provide nourishment for animals and humans. To imply that carbon dioxide is some sort of destructive pestilence is a scientific travesty.

The greatest dishonesty of the big green lie is the basic premise of the climate change alarmiststhat our prosperity is somehow sinful, and, therefore, we dont deserve to live in a world with more temperate, human-friendly temperatures and in a more carbon dioxide-enriched, greener world than humans had to endure in the harsh, wretched Little Ice Age.

The big green lie is several decades old. It has been taught for nearly 30 years in our countrys schoolsthanks to federal legislation giving the Environmental Protection Agency oversight over schools environmental curriculumswhich explains why young people like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez truly believe that the world is approaching a climate-caused cataclysm.

But facts are stubborn things, and Im still idealistic enough to believe that truth will prevail in the end. So lets push back against the big green lie with all our might and resist their suffocating, misanthropic, utopian socialistic plans. Its socialismnot carbon dioxidewhere the real existential danger lies.

Mark Hendrickson, an economist, recently retired from the faculty of Grove City College, where he remains a fellow for economic and social policy at the Institute for Faith and Freedom.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Toddler Boy Found Safe After Alleged Abduction From Virginia Nursery

A 44-year-old woman was taken into custody on Monday and charged with abduction of a toddler boy in Virginia, authorities said.

Noah Gabriel Trout was recovered safely by FBI agents and members of the Virginia State Police (VSP) Tactical Team following an abduction that happened on May 2 at a nursery at Riverview Baptist Church in Ripplemead.

Thankfully, weve got some good news to tell you, Giles County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Scott Moye said during a press briefing. Noah Trout is safe in the hands of FBI agents and state police in Alleghany.

This happened about 20 minutes ago  As of right now, theyre still trying to go through all of the leads that they have, talking to him, making sure hes OK, he added.

Officials identified the suspect during another press briefing that happened later on Monday.

Nancy Renee Fridley of Clifton Forge was named as the abductor and she has been charged with one count of abduction and one count of felony child endangerment, police said. A motive for the abduction is unclear at the time, but an investigation remains ongoing.

The community Noah was abducted from also confirmed on their official Facebook page he was found safe. They also said, a suspicious vehicle was parked across the church parking lot for an extended time during morning service on the day of the abduction.

Sunday evening services were canceled as the church asked residents to pray for the boys family.

The relationship between Fridley and Noah is unclear, though it appears they are not family.

Thank you to all of you who provided tips and helped us keep this case front and center. Because of you, Noah gets to rest peacefully this evening under the watchful eye of his parents, said Stanley M. Meador, FBI special agent in charge of the Richmond Field Office.

Officials had issued an Amber Alert on behalf of the Giles County Sheriffs Office over the weekend for the 2-year-old boy.

The child is believed to be in extreme danger and was last seen at Big Stony Creek Road, Ripplemead, the now-canceled Amber Alert reads.

From NTD News.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and then-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speak at a press conference marking the one year anniversary of the House passing H.R. 1, the "For the People Act," in Washington on March 10, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Top Democrats Come to Cheneys Defense Amid GOP Spat

Top Democrats in the House came to the defense of Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the GOPs third-highest ranking member in the lower chamber who is currently in the midst of a battle involving her political future.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Tuesday told reporters: I do commend Lynn Cheney [sic] for her courage, for her patriotism.

I dont welcome the GOPs participation in our caucus, and Im sure they dont welcome my participation in theirs, Pelosi later added.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told The Washington Post that Cheney is principled and she believes in the truth, adding: It is a shame that the party has fallen to the place where a Liz Cheney, as I said, principled, committed to the truth and a conservative Republican, is somehow not accepted as a leader in the Republican Party.

Cheney has drawn the ire of House Republicans, including its leadership, in recent days for repeatedly criticizing former President Donald Trumpconsidered likely the most popular figure in the Republican Partyas well as Republican senators who voted to overturn the results on Jan. 6. Cheney has also feuded with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) during a contentious news conference with reporters, and she has taken particular umbrage with Trumps claims about the 2020 election.

House Republican Conference chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) speaks to reporters during a press conference in Washington on Feb. 13, 2019. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), Republicans second-highest ranking member in the House, said Wednesday that he will throw his support behind Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who backed some of Trumps key policies and supported some of his post-Nov. 3 claims of election fraud.

House Republicans need to be solely focused on taking back the House in 2022 and fighting against Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi and President [Joe] Bidens radical socialist agenda, and Elise Stefanik is strongly committed to doing that, which is why Whip Scalise has pledged to support her for Conference Chair, Scalise spokesperson Lauren Fine said in a statement.

Trump himself, in a post on his website, again described Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, as warmongering and threw his support behind Stefanik.

Elise Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL endorsement for GOP Conference Chair. Elise is a tough and smart communicator! he wrote.

As for McCarthy, he told Fox News Tuesday that Republicans are concerned that Cheney isnt on message.

Theres no concern about how she voted on impeachment. That decision has been made. I have heard from members concerned about her ability to carry out the job as conference chairto carry out the message, he said.

The Epoch Times has contacted Cheneys office for comment.
Trump Allies Launch Nonprofit Focused on Election Fraud

Allies of former President Donald Trump have launched a new initiative focused on election fraud, according to a news release.

Called the Election Integrity Alliance, the nonprofit will be focused on ending election fraud and strengthening election safeguards by providing information, resources, endorsements of allies efforts, and solutions to secure free and fair elections, the news release said.

Trump counsel Jenna Ellis, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, former Trump adviser Peter Navarro, former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik, former White House adviser Sebastian Gorka, constitutional law professor Michael Donnelly, and former Trump lawyer Mirna Tarraf will be part of the group.

The Election Integrity Alliances National Board is comprised of individuals who have fought for election integrity at great personal risk and who are champions for free and fair elections, the organization said in a statement.

The American Greatness Fund was founded by former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale, and it is part of a growing number of Trump-aligned advocacy groups that have appeared since the Nov. 3 election. Brooke Rollins and Larry Kudlow, two former Trump advisers, started the America First Policy Institute, while former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson started the American Cornerstone Institute.

Meanwhile, former Trump speechwriter and adviser Stephen Miller formed America First Legal, which is aimed at battling the Biden administrations policies.

American Greatness Fund adds on its website that free and fair elections are the foundation of a civil government that has power only by consent of the governed.

In our system, We The People select and prefer individuals from among ourselves to govern us at all levels, and no individual or party has the right by conquest, heritage, corruption, or fraud to assume power, the website says. Only through election integrity can our American government operate according to its limited and legitimate role in civil society. America is built on the recognition that our individual rights are God-given and pre-political. The only legitimate purpose of civil government is to preserve and protect those rights which are essential to liberty and justice for all.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) walks to an office being used by President Donald Trump's defense team off the Senate floor during the impeachment trial of Trump in Washington on Jan. 23, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Trump Endorses NYs Stefanik to Replace Cheney in House GOP Leadership

Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) to replace Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as the House Republican Conference chair.

Trump, in a May 5 statement, called Cheney a warmongering fool who has no business in Republican Party Leadership.

We want leaders who believe in the Make America Great Again movement, and prioritize the values of America First. Elise Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL endorsement for GOP Conference Chair. Elise is a tough and smart communicator!

Stefanik responded on Twitter.

Thank you President Trump for your 100% support for House GOP Conference Chair. We are unified and focused on FIRING PELOSI & WINNING in 2022! she wrote, referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

As House GOP Conference chair, Cheney is the third-most-powerful Republican in the lower chamber. She has repeatedly clashed with the former president, months after she and nine other Republican House members sided with Democrats to impeach him.

Ive been very clear about my views about what happened on Jan. 6, about my views of the presidents culpability, I obviously voted to impeach him, I think that it was the gravest violation of an oath of office by any president in American history, she said during an appearance in April on Fox News.

Trump has repeatedly hit back. In a separate statement, he accused Cheney of continuing to say there was no election fraud when in fact, the evidence, including no Legislative approvals as demanded by the U.S. Constitution, shows the exact opposite.

House Republican Conference chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) speaks to reporters during a press conference in Washington on Feb. 13, 2019. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Trump has maintained that he is the true winner of the 2020 election, even though certified vote counts showed that Democrat Joe Biden beat him in the electoral count.

Cheneys leadership position is in peril. Earlier on May 5, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), the No. 2 Republican in the House, said he supports Stefanik replacing Cheney on the leadership team. Cheney, he suggested, isnt focused enough on flipping control of the chamber in the 2022 midterms.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said this week that Republicans are worried about Cheneys ability to carry out the job as conference chair, to carry out the message.

While Cheneys office didnt immediately respond to requests by The Epoch Times for comment, she has defended her opposition to Trump, even after the Wyoming GOP censured her over her impeachment vote.

The oath that I took to the Constitution compelled me to vote for impeachment, and it doesnt bend to partisanship; it doesnt bend to political pressure, she said on Fox News Sunday in February.

People have been lied to. The extent to which the president, President Trump, for months leading up to Jan. 6, spread the notion that the election had been stolen, or that the notion that the election was rigged, was a lie.

Whether Cheney will retain her position will likely be decided behind closed doors in a caucus-wide vote. While Republicans in the House voted in February to keep Cheney among the party leadership, she faces more opposition now.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-06 01:49:14|Editor: huaxia

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OTTAWA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Canada announced its approval of administering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 12 to 15 on Wednesday.

"After completing a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, the department determined that this vaccine is safe and effective when used in this younger age group," said Health Canada's Chief Medical Advisor Supriya Sharma at a press conference on Wednesday.

Canada became the first country in the world to have okayed the two-dose Pfizer vaccine shots to the younger age group.

The Canadian government authorized the vaccine for use in individuals 16 years of age and older last December.

Health Canada based its decision on data from Phase 3 clinical trial in participants aged 12 to 15 years old. The trial enrolled 2,260 adolescents 12 to 15 years of age in the United States. All participants in the trial will continue to be monitored for long-term protection and safety for an additional two years after their second dose.

"After completing a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, the department determined that this vaccine is safe and effective when used in this younger age group," said Sharma.

"While younger people are less likely to experience serious cases of COVID-19, having access to a safe and effective vaccine will help control the disease's spread to their family and friends, some of whom may be at higher risk of complications," Sharma said. "The most commonly reported side effects were temporary and mild, like a sore arm, chills or fever."

Usually, the vaccine submission review process can take much longer, but because of an emergency order, Health Canada has been able to expedite the authorization process.

Health Canada has published a series of documents detailing its decision and a summary of the evidence reviewed.

Pfizer-BioNTech is required to continue providing Health Canada with ongoing safety and efficacy information as the product is being used in real world settings.

With nearly 11 million doses sent to Canada to date, Pfizer has committed to sending more than 2 million doses each week, until end of June.

Asked what this might mean for schools to be able to reopen, Sharma said that will depend on how and when provinces and territories in Canada decide to administer these shots to younger people.

As of Wednesday noon, Canada reported a cumulative total of 1,253,817 COVID-19 cases, including 24,445 deaths and 130,008 variants, according to CTV. Enditem
Trump Reacts to Facebooks Decision to Uphold Account Suspension

Former President Donald Trump reacted to Facebooks move to uphold the suspension of his account, arguing that big tech firms are working to censor Americans.

What Facebook, Twitter, and Google have done is a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our Country. Free Speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth, but the truth will come out anyway, bigger and stronger than ever before, Trump said in a statement on May 5 after Facebooks Oversight Board handed down a decision saying the former presidents account should be suspended.

The board, however, suggested that Trumps ban shouldnt be permanent and found Facebooks indefinite suspension inappropriate. It asked the Menlo Park, California-based company to review the decision and come up with a proportionate response aligned with Facebooks rules.

Facebooks Oversight Board explained its rationale to keep the suspension in place by alleging that Trump created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible. Facebook and Twitter both banned Trump in the days after the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.

The People of our Country will not stand for it! Trump wrote. These corrupt social media companies must pay a political price, and must never again be allowed to destroy and decimate our Electoral Process.

On May 4, Twitter CFO Ned Segal said that Twitterwhere Trump had amassed about 90 million followerswould keep the former presidents ban in place permanently.

Saying there had been no changes in Twitters policy regarding Trump, Segal said that we want to work hard to be consistent.

We dont have an oversight board like that [like Facebook]. Our team is accountable for the decisions that we make. There is no changes to anything we have talked about in the past, he said.

Trumps suspension from Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, and Google platforms drew the ire of conservatives, free-speech advocates, and some world leaders, including Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

I dont like anybody being censored or taking away from the right to post a message on Twitter or Face(book). I dont agree with that, I dont accept that, Lopez Obrador said in early January. He argued that social media companies have outsized power to control discourse.

How can you censor someone: Lets see, I, as the judge of the Holy Inquisition, will punish you because I think what youre saying is harmful, Lopez Obrador said. Where is the law, where is the regulation, what are the norms? This is an issue of government, this is not an issue for private companies.

The Epoch Times has contacted Facebook for comment.
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson looks at samples at the Lateral Flow Testing Laboratory with Doctor Abbie Bown during a visit to the Public Health England site at Porton Down science park near Salisbury, southern England, on Nov. 27, 2020. (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)

UK Invests More in Testing Facilities to Tackle CCP Virus Variants

The UK government has pledged more funding for COVID-19 testing facilities in order to tackle the threat of new variants of the CCP virus, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Wednesday.

The government will invest 29.3 million ($40.7 million) in new testing facilities run by Public Health England (PHE) at Porton Down, which will speed up testing of vaccines tailored for new COVID-19 variants.

Weve backed UK science from the very start of this pandemic. This multi-million pound funding for a state-of-the-art vaccine testing facility at Porton Down will enable us to further future-proof the country from the threat of new variants.https://t.co/HWeEdHQP90  Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) May 5, 2021

This will add to the 19.7 million ($27.4 million) investment in the vaccine testing facility approved in September 2020, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said.

The testing centre currently tests 700 blood samples every week. The extra funding will increase its capacity to 3,000 tests per week.

The UK has proven itself to be a world-class force in the production of COVID-19 vaccines, with the Oxford/AstraZeneca, Novavax, and Valneva vaccines all researched, developed, or manufactured on British soil, said Hancock.

Weve backed UK science from the very start of this pandemic and this multi-million-pound funding for a state-of-the-art vaccine testing facility at Porton Down will enable us to further future-proof the country from the threat of new variants.

He said the funding will help protect the country over the coming months and years.

Dr. Jenny Harries, chief executive at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: A new variant that can escape the current vaccines is the greatest risk of a third wave.

This new investment will help us stay one step ahead of the virus by doubling our capacity to test vaccine effectiveness against emerging variants, she said.

The investment comes ahead of the expected lifting of the ban on foreign holidays for people in England from May 17 as part of the next easing of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus restrictions.

A risk-based traffic light system will be introduced, with different rules for returning travellers depending on which list their destination is on.

People arriving from a green location will not have to quarantine, while those returning from somewhere on the amber list must self-isolate for at least five days.

The red list requires a 10-night stay in a quarantine hotel at a cost of 1,750 ($2,430) for solo travellers.

PA contributed to this report.
A building on the University of Alberta campus in Alberta, Canada, on April 24, 2019. (Gary Bai/The Epoch Times)

University of Alberta to Work With All Levels of Government to Curtail Research Ties With China

The University of Alberta says its willing to work with all levels of government after a report revealed that the university had been collaborating with China in critical research areas that could undermine Canadas national security.

A consistent national response on security matters and international engagement is necessary and we are fully committed to working with all levels of government to ensure that Canadas core security interests are protected and advanced, said Walter Dixon, the universitys interim vice-president of research and innovation, in a statement on Tuesday.

We have asked the federal government for further direction about international collaborations.

Dixon added that the university is looking forward to Ottawas guidelines on national security considerations related to the evaluation and funding of research partnerships, which are expected in June. The guideline will be developed by a working group that includes the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, Universities Canada, and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).

The statement came after The Globe and Mail reported earlier this week that the university is carrying out extensive scientific collaboration with China that involves sharing and transferring research in strategically important areas such as nanotechnology, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence.

Some professors and researchers at the university have even entered into joint ventures with Chinese companies and state institutions, setting up companies that commercialize Canadian-developed technologies, the report states.

The Epoch Times reached out to the University of Alberta for comment on the specific allegations.

A sign at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on July 1, 2017. (Jeffrey Beall/Flickr)

Albertas Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides told the Globe that hes concerned that the countrys intellectual property may be stolen and used by the Chinese military and intelligence services to threaten Canadas core national interests.

More needs to be done to curb foreign state infiltration in our research and innovation centres, including our postsecondary institutions, he said.

The universitys close ties with China dates back to 2005 when it entered an agreement with the Chineses Ministry of Science and Technology to jointly research energy, nanoscience, nanotechnology, environment, life sciences, and information and communication technologies.

Sixty University of Alberta professors have since received grants for over 90 joint projects with state and national labs in China, while the universitys researchers have gained access to at least 50 of those labs.

According to a recent report by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, the Chinese communist regime has been using various clandestine means to obtain proprietary research from Canada.

One such tactic is through its talent programs and academic exchanges to exploit Canadian expertise, the report said. Beijings Thousand Talents Program encourages Chinese scientists in Canada to transfer their research to China so that the regime can steal hard-won research and proprietary data created by Canadian companies.

Then-CSIS head Richard Fadden waits to testify at the Commons public safety committee on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada, on July 5, 2010. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Former CSIS Director Richard Fadden said Parliament should prohibit universities from receiving grants from China and collaborating with their researchers in critical areas such as high level optics and nuclear as the risk is too great.

Because no matter how well intentioned a [university professor or team in Canada may be], who receives a Chinese grant, whatever he or she discoversits going to go back to China, Fadden said during a testimony before the Commons Committee on Canada-China Relations on May 3.

If you accept my basic premise that China is indeed an adversary, I dont think we should be making it easy for them to acquire intelligence on areas that are pretty critical to the national security of the West.

The way to enforce it, said Fadden, is for Ottawa to simply say that no foreign power, as indicated by the Governor in Council, may provide grants or contributions of any sort to a Canadian academic institution for the purposes of working in these very limited number of fields.
Security personnel stand guard outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan as members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of COVID-19 make a visit to the institute in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Hector Retamal /AFP via Getty Images)

University of San Diego Ends Investigation on Professor Who Questioned CCP Virus Origin

University of San Diego (USD) said it will not punish a professor who has been under investigation in the past two months after writing in his personal blog about the Chinese regimes role in the global pandemic.

The investigation stemmed from a Mar. 10 blog post, in which USD law school professor Thomas Smith cited an excerpt of a Wall Street Journal article concerning Beijings unwillingness to cooperate with international experts in their mission to establish the origin of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

If you believe that the coronavirus did not escape from the lab in Wuhan, Smith wrote, you have to at least consider that you are an idiot who is swallowing a whole lot of Chinese cock swaddle.

The post drew complaints after students deemed the phrase Chinese cock swaddle to be an anti-Asian slur. Recent anti-Asian hate crimes and sentiments can be traced back to rhetoric and conspiracy theories blaming China for the COVID-19, a USD student group wrote in a letter to Smith. Normalizing such rhetoric has a direct link to the rise in racism against all Asian Americans based on the false perception that a racial group could be responsible for the pandemic. These violent crimes are a result of simple words.

According to Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), a non-profit organization advocating for campus free speech, Smith was informed on March 17 that he was being investigated for possible violation of university or law school policies.

Smith promptly updated his blog post, saying, It appears that some people are interpreting my reference to Chinese cock swaddle as a reference to an ethnic group. That is a misinterpretation. To be clear, I was referring to the Chinese government.

The investigation nonetheless continued until May 4, when USD Vice President and Provost Gail F. Baker released a statement to the campus community, saying that Smiths will not be punished because his comments fall within the bounds of academic freedom.

Academic freedom lies at the core of the mission of the University of San Diego. At the same time, we are committed to providing an educational environment that honors the dignity of every individual. Those two commitments can and must co-exist, Baker said.

It is important that members of the university community exercise their freedom in a responsible fashion, attentive to the impact of their protected opinions and sensitive to all members of the community, especially those who may feel vulnerable, marginalized or fearful that they are not welcomed, he added. Members of the university community may feel an obligation, and certainly have the freedom, to criticize opinions that they believe demean the dignity of others.

FIRE, which has written twice to urge the USD to end the investigation of Smith, said that while it welcomes the universitys decision, the incident has almost certainly caused a chilling effect on students and faculty who wish to express their opinions.

Although USDs investigation into Smith should never have begun, FIRE applauds USD for ending the investigation and coming to the correct conclusion: Faculty cannot be punished for protected expression just because some may be offended, the organization said.
A charging device for the the new Nissan Leaf in a Nissan manufacturing plant in Melbourne, Australia on Jul. 11, 2019. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Victorian Government Criticised for Confusing Electric Vehicles Policies

'It's like turning on the air conditioner and the heater all at once. It just makes no sense'

The Victorian Labor Government has pledged that $46 million (US$36 million) will go to grants encouraging Victorians to purchase zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).

The funding is part of the Victorian Governments emissions reduction strategy, which seeks to halve emissions (from 2005 levels) by 2030, aiming for 50 percent of all new vehicle sales by 2030 to be ZEVs.

This is in spite of an announcement by the government in March proposing a new tax on ZEVsexpected to raise $30 million over four yearsleading both sides of the political divide to accuse the government of simply trying to appeal to environmental criticisms without enacting meaningful legislation.

A Victorian Greens party spokesperson believes the incentives are an attempt at a political fix, not a genuine climate fix.

Labors confusing approach of offering incentives for electric vehicles with one hand while increasing taxes on them with other will undermine efforts to reduce transport emissions, the spokesperson said.

Opposition Leader for the Liberal Party Michael OBrien expressed a similar sentiment, describing the decision as crazy.

At the same time as the government is imposing a new tax on electric vehicles to make them more expensive, the government is also announcing subsidies for electric vehicles to make them cheaper, OBrien told reporters on Tuesday.

Its like turning on the air conditioner and the heater all at once. It just makes no sense, he said.

A Hyundai Kona Electric Highlander in Sydney Olympic Park, Australia on Oct. 25, 2019. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Criticism was also directed towards the Victorian Labor Governments attitude towards impact on the working taxpayer, with Federal Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylors spokesman saying the new subsidy will hurt working Australians.

Labor has surrendered to the growing activist class in our big cities, putting forward policies that will see the taxes of hardworking men and women handed over to wealthy Australians in the form of EV subsidies, he said.

The subsidy offers $3,000 to the first 20,000 new electric vehicle (EV) car buyers. However, the reimbursement will only apply to vehicles costing less than $69,000. According to The Driven site, Australia in 2021 has no EVs available under $40,000, with only seven vehicles cheaper than $70,000.

The initially proposed zero emission vehicle taxwhich is yet to pass through state parliamentwas put forth to assist in the development of electric vehicle charging stations and provide funding towards road maintenance.

RACV senior engineer Nicholas Platt explained in a media statement that motorists in conventional petrol cars pay a fuel excise of about 42 cents a litre, which provides funding towards road maintenance and infrastructure. Electric vehicles, on the other hand, avoid the levy entirely, despite sharing the same roads.

As the number of zero-emission cars on our roads continues to grow, the EV tax will make up for lost fuel excise, so authorities can continue to fund and maintain Victorias roads, Platt said.

The tax was met with heavy criticism from environmental groups and the Australian Industry Group, whose Chief Executive Innes Willox said the levy may discourage emission reduction efforts.

Australia is currently well behind our peers in that transition, Willox said. Our slow uptake of clean vehicles is holding back national progress towards emissions targetsand increasing the pressure on every other part of the economy to deliver cuts.

AAP contributed to this report.
Violent, Aggressive Parents Banned From Entering Victorian Schools Under New Laws

Schools will be able to ban aggressive and violent parents from entering school grounds under a new bill introduced into the Victorian state parliament on Tuesday.

The law will grant principals and other authorised persons the ability to issue School Community Safety Orders to parents, carers, and others who display abusive and harmful behaviour either in-person or through social media and other communication channels.

We teach our kids not to bully, intimidate or abuse others, Education Minister James Merlino said. But the lesson doesnt seem to be getting through to a minority of parents.

Thats why were changing the law to protect principal, teachers and school staff against abusive and violent parentsand giving them more power to ban and restrict those who threaten or harm staff, including on social media.

A survey conducted in March showed a majority of school principals were subjected to offensive behaviour, ranging from gossip to violence.

Victorian principals are welcoming the changes, with many saying violent behaviour towards them has gradually increased over the years.

Glenda Harry, the principal of Orchard Grove Primary School, said it was now essential for a principals office to have two entryways so there was an escape route for extreme circumstances.

I had a drug-affected parent who didnt have access to his children and he came to the school looking for me, Harry told ABC radio. Thats when its fantastic to have a principals office with two doors.

Harry, who also mentors other principals, said she has heard many stories of teachers subject to verbal abuse or physical violence, such as getting attacked during parent-teacher interviews.

I think parents are wanting to be an advocate for their child and schools have become a little like a local church, which isnt as available anymore to the degree it used to be, so they feel that this is their place and that they can come and behave in such a way, Harry said, adding it was especially true in primary schools, where parents were much more involved in their childs education.

Grade 2 teachers participate in a meeting in preparation for opening next week at Lysterfield Primary School on May 22, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Andrew Dalgleish, president of the Victorian Principals Association, said it was sad to see that teachers were now the focus of blame for poor student performance.

Its probably something that has been building up over time, Dalgleish told 3AW radio. Sadly we see in the community, our first responders, our emergency workers also face both verbal and physical threats now.

He said the negative behaviour contributed to a decline in the number of people interested in becoming principals.

It may be due to workload pressure, but it is also due to the behaviour that they face, sometimes on a daily basis, Dalgleish said.

Parents who are issued safety orders will still be able to communicate with the school and stay informed about their childs education.

Those who fail to comply could be taken to court by the school where they could face civil penalties of up to $10,000.

Opposition leader Michael OBrien showed support for the newly proposed laws, telling The Herald Sun it was greatly needed in the current times to support the states principals and teachers.

We do welcome this idea, we want to obviously see the details of the legislation, but the principle is one that we very much support, OBrien said.
Washington Gov. Inslee Sued Over New Capital Gains Tax

A good-government group is suing Washington state after Gov. Jay Inslee signed a controversial capital gains tax into law that it says violates the U.S. and state constitutions.

The lawsuit comes as President Joe Biden pushes for big increases in federal capital gains tax rates.

Washington is one of a handful of U.S. states that doesnt levy a personal or corporate state income tax.

Inslee, a Democrat, called the measure an economic justice legislative package, when he signed it into law May 4.

This is a day where Washington state starts to make progress on making our upside-down tax system fairer and more equitable, the governor said in a statement. Today, we are taking steps to address this out-of-date system where working families pay a much higher percentage of their income than those who make a lot more.

State Rep. Noel Frame, a Democrat who chairs the House Finance Committee, praised the new tax for redistributing wealth.

We are asking the wealthiest Washingtonians to share in the responsibility of funding the needs of our communities and putting money back in the pockets of low-income families. Not only that, but the investments made in child care and education will bolster economic recovery and support the success of Washingtons children.

According to Inslee, the capital gains tax was first proposed 10 years ago by the left-wing Washington State Budget and Policy Center. With Inslees signature, Washington joins 41 other states and the District of Columbia in taxing capital gains.

But the real goal for tax advocates here is to introduce what amounts to an income tax, Maxford Nelsen, director of labor policy for the Freedom Foundation told The Epoch Times in an interview.

The legal complaint in Quinn v. State of Washington was filed in the Superior Court of Washington for Douglas County by the Freedom Foundation, which describes itself as a non-profit think and action tank with offices in Washington, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California.

The left in Washington state has been working to try to pass an income tax for decades, so this is a long-running and very controversial issue, Nelsen said.

Voters have consistently rejected efforts to impose an income tax, and our state courts have consistently struck down attempts to impose graduated or progressive income taxes.

The left has tried to portray the new tax as something other than an income tax, but its widely recognized as being the first step towards a broader income tax proposal in Washington state, he said.

The Washington State Legislature approved the measure, known as ESSB 5096, to impose a 7 percent tax on long-term capital gains.

While described as an excise tax on the sale or exchange of long-term capital assets, the tax on capital gains is a tax on income, the complaint states.

Starting Jan. 1, 2022, individuals will be subject to capital gains tax on their adjusted capital gains during the federal taxable year. Adjusted capital gains are defined by the individuals federal net long-term capital gain, which is based on the amount of long-term capital gain reported on the individuals federal income tax return. The measure taxes capital gains income exceeding $250,000 in a year.

Failure to pay the capital gains tax will result in penalties for the individual and possible criminal punishment as either a felony or gross misdemeanor.

The measure violates the state constitution, which prohibits taxes on income that treats earners differently, according to the Freedom Foundation.

Washington state is coming after your income, one way or another, Aaron Withe, CEO of the Freedom Foundation said in a separate statement.

Elected officials are counting on voters assuming the new capital gains income tax will only affect the wealthy, he said. But the negative consequences for job creation, entrepreneurship, and the economy will be felt across Washington state.

By any reasonable definition, capital gains are income, and any attempt to tax it is an income tax, Withe said. And because this one treats Washingtonians differently based on income, it violates the state constitution no matter what you call it.

Capital gains taxes are confiscatory money-grabs by greedy politicians who think they have an automatic claim on other peoples earnings.

A spokesman for Inslee provided a brief comment on the lawsuit.

Legal counsel will review the filing and respond appropriately, said Mike Faulk, press secretary for the governor.
Wine Bar Owner Faces Criminal Charges Over COVID-19 Violations

A wine bar owner in Santa Barbara County is facing four criminal charges for keeping his business open during the states pandemic restrictions, making him one of the few business owners in California formally charged by the state for defying Gov. Gavin Newsoms stay-at-home orders.

Kurt Hixenbaugh, 49, and his wife, Dawn, have owned Vino et Amicis in Old Town Orcutt since 2018. Hes a former police officer with the San Luis Obispo Police Department, and a U.S. Army veteran with no previous criminal record.

Hixenbaugh says he was having a drink in his bar after hours while interviewing a potential employee last August when three undercover agents from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) came in and threatened to cite him for allegedly serving alcohol indoors, which was against public health orders at the time.

I said, Business has been hard lately with the pandemic, were just trying to get by, and I said, I didnt know having a beer in my own bar after I was closed was a violation, Hixenbaugh told The Epoch Times.

Though he wasnt cited at the time, Hixenbaugh said he filed a complaint with the ABC after the August visit, which he said became increasingly confrontational due to the unreasonable nature of the agents. The criminal charges against him were made in retaliation for the complaint, he said.

In March, the Santa Barbara County District Attorneys Office filed four misdemeanor charges against Hixenbaugh. Two counts cite violations of the stay-at-home order, on separate occasions; the remaining two cite failure to follow a public health order.

John Carr, a spokesperson for the ABC, told The Epoch Times that the department visited the wine bar and witnessed health order violations last Dec. 11 and again in January.

The department found a health order violation at Vinos et Amicis Wine Bar in Orcutt after receiving complaints in December 2020, that on-site operations were occurring at a time when they were not allowed, he said via email.

California Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo), who has been a practicing attorney for 16 years, is representing Hixenbaugh in the case.

Ive been doing predominantly criminal law, both as a prosecutor and defense [on the] private side for 11 years, [and] Ive never seen anything like this, Cunningham told The Epoch Times.

They cite a county public health order thats 14 pages long, and they dont articulate which part of that county public health order he is alleged to have violated.

At an April 29 arraignment, Cunningham formally requested to file a demurrera document that mounts an objection that an opponents position is irrelevant or invalid. Superior Court Judge Gustavo Lavayen agreed to the filing, then pushed the arraignment to June 15.

Based on the demurrer, the judge could dismiss the case. If not, Cunningham said he will argue the constitutionality and the code section ambiguity before the court.

Hixenbaugh said he continued to keep his establishment openeven after he was fined $3,000 by the ABCout of fear it wouldnt survive if outdoor dining was closed completely during the winter stay-at-home orders.

Im all about following the rules and following the laws, and doing things the right way. We have never broken any ABC rules or ABC laws, never once since the day we opened.  We never have, and we never will, said the former police officer.

What this is about with me is principle.  They became this just overreaching monster that came in to harass me for something that wasnt illegal, and then want to levy a fine against me and then want to prosecute me criminally.

ABCs Carr said a completed report was submitted to the Santa Barbara County District Attorneys Office on Feb. 11.

ABC has preferred voluntary compliance with health orders but has enforced the following violations when locations were not cooperative: Businesses that allowed on-site dining/alcohol consumption in those counties where it was not allowed; employers that were not requiring their employees to wear face coverings, he stated.

If convicted on all four counts, Hixenbaugh could face a maximum sentence of six months in jail or additional fines. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help defray the costs of his legal defense.
Wisconsin National Guard Member, Associate, Charged in Relation to US Capitol Breach

A soldier of the Wisconsin National Guard and his friend were taken into custody for allegedly taking part in the U.S. Capitol breach earlier this year, federal officials said.

Abram Markofski was arrested on Monday and is facing four charges in relation to the protests, the Department of Justice said in a statement.

Markofski allegedly traveled by vehicle from Madison, Wisconsin to D.C. together with his associate, Brandon Nelson, to attend the protest of then-President Donald Trump against the certification of the 2020 presidential election, a statement of facts (pdf) reads.

Nelson is facing similar charges as Markofski that include entering and remaining in a restricted building and disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, according to a criminal complaint (pdf).

Detectives learned after receiving an anonymous tip that both men remained inside the halls of the government building for approximately 40 minutes.

Nelson and Markofski admitted during an interview with FBI special agents they arrived together in D.C. on the morning of Jan 6 and listened to Trumps speech. From there, they walked up the stairs of the Capitol and entered the building.

Brandon Nelson (left) and Abram Markofski allegedly inside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, 2021. (Courtesy of FBI)

According to the FBI affidavit, Nelson noted that police officers at the Capitol were guiding some people inside the building, while Markofskis side of the story didnt depict authorities as such.

Markofski did not characterize police officers as guiding them into the building; rather, he said a police officer inside the Capitol told them, I cant make you guys leave. However, for your safety, you should leave,' the affidavit reads.

The men made their initial court appearance in Madison on Monday afternoon, The Associated Press reported. They were released again pending a virtual hearing scheduled for May 10.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Crocker barred both men from entering the District of Columbia in Washington.

Wisconsin Army National Guard spokesman Joe Trovato told AP that Markofski joined the Guard in 2019 and is currently a private first-class in the 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry. He declined further comment, saying he couldnt discuss personnel matters.

Surveillance footage that was reviewed by federal officials showed both men inside the halls of the Capitol building, with one of the men appearing to take pictures inside the building with his phone.

In one image that was reviewed, Nelson was seen circled on the left and Markofski on the right, standing close to each other.

Records obtained through a search warrant also showed a mobile device associated with an email address tied to a phone number Markofski is known to use was present in areas that are at least partially within the Capitol building between approximately 2:15 p.m. and 3:41 p.m. on Jan. 6, the affidavit reads.

From NTD News
Woman Slain in Irvine Home

Homicide detectives are investigating after a woman was killed May 4 inside an Irvine, Calif. home.

It seems to be domestic related, Irvine Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Karie Davies told The Epoch Times. We have two males detained and we are determining if theyre involved or not.

The incident occurred about 1 p.m. inside a Red Apple Street residence, Davies said.

Its unclear whether the victim lived in the house or was visiting.

Police said they are not searching for any additional suspects, and that there was no threat to the community.
South Boston, VA (24592)

Today

Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. Heavy and torrential downpours at times. High 88F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Woman With a Big Bump Which Doctors Thought Would Have Secret Twin Gives Birth to 13lb Baby

A woman with a gigantic baby bump, which was so large that doctors thought she had a secret twin, has given birth to an over 12-pound 15-ounce (5.89 kg) newborn.

First-time mom Amber Cumberland, 21, from Aston, Oxfordshire, gave birth to her daughter Emilia on April 16. The little girl is considered to be the second-biggest baby girl ever born in the United Kingdom, following the 2012 record-breaker who was born at 14 pounds 4 ounces (approx. 6.4 kg).

Baby Emilia created such a big bump during pregnancy that doctors werent sure if there would be a surprise second baby during labor.

Doctors thought it was twins during pregnancy because she was so big, even though we could only see one on the ultrasounds, Amber said. We heard it so much we actually started to believe there was another one hiding in there.

During Ambers pregnancy, she and her partner, Scott Joy, 22, would visit the supermarket to see if anyone would comment on her baby bump, and almost every time, they would.

Baby Emilia began measuring big in the third trimester, reaching the average size of a 36-week baby by her 32-week scan, and was estimated at around 8 pounds 12 ounces (4 kg) on an extra growth scan at 36 weeks.

Ambers giant pregnancy bump created lots of painful complications and so she couldnt wait to be induced and get her baby out. She tried home remedies to induce herself and get things moving, but nothing worked.

I was so desperate to get her out I tried everythingI ate half a kilogram of raw pineapple, used essential oils and bath salts, even acupressureanything I read online that might help, Amber said.

The bump was so big I got lots of stretch marks and my skin was so weak from being stretched out that they would bleed if I stood up too quickly.

Amber suffered from awful sciatica and compressed nerves in her hips and legs because of baby Emilias weight. She was unable to roll over the bed and would need Scotts help.

She was finally induced at almost two weeks overdue. Scott spent 42 hours in the car park of John Radcliffe Hospital in the space of three days leading up to the birth; he was not allowed to join Amber until she was in active labor because of restrictions in place due to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

The then expectant mom spent 24 hours in labor until baby Emilia entered the world via an emergency C-section.

I got to eight centimeters dilated and she couldnt go any furtherif she went any further down they wouldnt be able to get her back up and she wouldve got stuck, Amber said. My stomach muscles completely split to the point where the doctors could barely distinguish them during the C-section and said they were the worst theyd ever seen.

Emilia was so big that it took two people to lift her out and one to hold everything back to get her out. Amber said that even the outfit didnt fit her. Luckily though, the parents had spare 03-months clothes packed, and the hospital staff also hunted down bigger nappies.

Nurses at the hospital even stayed over time to see the weight of the baby and take photos with her because she was so big, Amber said.

Just over a week after giving birth, Amber is starting to heal, but expects to take a while to fully recover due to the damage caused to her body by the difficult pregnancy and birth.

She is currently on a waiting list for physiotherapy to help heal her badly split stomach muscles.

Ive still got a completely numb bit of skin around my belly button where the nerves have just given up, Amber said. Because of the damage to my stomach muscles the stitches have no support and I have to be really careful.

Amber still cant pick baby Emilia up or breastfeed her because she is still so heavy. She also said there is no protection for her organs, but she is slowly trying to get better.

Im still as uncomfortable as when I was pregnant but I do feel a lot lighter and have no more trapped nerves which Im very grateful for, Amber said. Were both so overjoyed with our gorgeous little girl.

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The show will go on.

Broadway theaters will reopen at full capacity on Sept. 14, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced via Twitter on Wednesday. Tickets will go on sale on Thursday (though a few shows have already quietly started selling tickets).

Broadway is major part of our states identity and economy, and we are thrilled that the curtains will rise again, Cuomo tweeted.

The move is good news for a sector of the economy that has been devastated by the pandemic. Theaters have been closed in New York since March 12, 2020, leaving tens of thousands of people without work. Cinemas have been open for months at limited capacity, but Broadway theater owners and producers maintain that they cannot operate with those kind of restrictions and still make a profit. When Broadway shut down, 31 productions were running, including eight new shows in previews. Some of those productions, such as a revival of Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Martin McDonaghs Hangmen said they would not resume, while others, including a revival of Company with Patti Lupone, are expected to return.

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo said most state-ordered capacity restrictions in New York City will be lifted on May 19, with the exception of outdoor arenas. That set the stage for Broadways return.

We are thrilled that Governor Cuomo clearly recognizes the impact of Broadways return on the city and states economy and the complexity of restarting an entire industry that has been dormant for over a year, said Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. Nothing beats Broadway. The theatre owners, producers, and other League members will continue to work with the NY State Department of Health and the Governor to coordinate the industrys return and the related health and safety protocols required to do so. We remain cautiously optimistic about Broadways ability to resume performances this fall and are happy that fans can start buying tickets again.

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With many people out of work or underemployed due to the pandemic, apprenticeships, long seen as pathways to higher paid, higher skilled jobs, are emerging as key way to bring people back to work in jobs that can support their families.

The was the message of two of President Joe Bidens cabinet secretaries in their joint visit to Electric Boats headquarters in Groton Tuesday. Both hail from New England states with histories of using apprenticeships to train workers in the manufacturing and industrial sector,

The reality is that today, in order to get a decent job, you need some degree or credential or skill or trade past high school. Thats a fact of our economy. You saw the folks that got hurt most during the pandemic were those who were in the lower skill, lower wage jobs, said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, former governor of Rhode Island.

The submarine builder was a prime venue for Raimondo and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, a former union official and mayor of Boston, to deliver that message, as the company  with a plant in Rhode Island  has hired and trained thousands of employees in recent years for highly technical jobs with good wages.

President Bidens American Jobs Plan proposes a $48 billion investment in workforce development including creating 1 million to 2 million registered apprenticeship slots, Raimondo said. The administration also wants to expand job training programs, and target those who are underrepresented including communities of color and women.

Were making sure that we prioritize workers who were shut out in the past, particularly people of color and women. We need to make sure we create these programs for everybody so everyone can benefit from them, Walsh said.

He added, using Bidens campaign sligan, This is how we build back better.

The Connecticut Department of Labors Office of Apprenticeship Training currently has 6,710 registered apprentices and nearly 1,700 employers that span 50 occupations. Over the past 20 years, 900 apprentices have worked at EB, according to data from the governors office.

About 300 apprentices are currently enrolled in EBs three- to four-year design and manufacturing programs, which combine on-the-job training with classroom learning, in specialties ranging from computer-aided design and 3D modeling to welding.

The apprenticeship programs are for employees already working at the company, who go through a competitive process to apply. About 75 percent of apprentices make it through the program.

One of them is 25-year-old Arnold Chappell, of Waterford, who just graduated from the inside machinist apprenticeship program in January. Chappell started working at EB about six years ago, fresh out high school. He worked in assembly for about two years until 2016 when EB restarted its internal apprenticeship programs.

Its been one of the best things I couldve done, he said. I learned every machine in our shop and a bunch of different types of machines that will pretty much give me a good baseline for the rest of my life.

Joined by Gov. Ned Lamont, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Reps. John Larson, D-1st District, Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, and EBs president Kevin Graney, Walsh and Raimondo toured the companys Groton shipyard, where four different attack submarines are under varying stages of construction and where a major expansion is underway to make way for construction on a new fleet of ballistic missile submarines.

The new building being constructed will feature more steel than the Eiffel Tower.

The company is experiencing a boom not seen since the Cold War, spurred by major investments by China and Russia in their undersea fleets and a need for U.S. to stay atop the competition.

At the same time, the companys Cold War generation employees are retiring in large numbers so were hiring everywhere, said Andrew Bond, EBs vice president of human resources.

Last year, the company, which never shut down during the pandemic due to its work in support of national security, hired 2,000 new employees. This year, itll hire at least 2,400 more.

Of the 17,500 people currently employed by EB, more than 12,000 work in Connecticut.

Since 2014, the company has hired about 17,000 people to fill jobs left by those retiring or leaving for other reasons and to carry out its increased workload. EB expects to hire a similar number of people over the next seven years, Bond said.

EB is not able to train and find the workers it needs on its own. Partnerships with the Eastern Workforce Investment Board, community colleges such as Three Rivers in Norwich, and technical high schools, have helped develop the workforce needed, with direct input from company officials on how training programs should be structued and the skills these prospective employees should be learning.

While the company has made a significant investment in training, its also relied on state and federal funding.

The company expects to reach its peak year for hiring in 2029  a sign of the level of work it has in front of it, with the new Columbia class strategic missile subs coming into production. Lamont pointed out that those who will be of hiring age at the time are currently in middle school.

Weve got to do everything to let them know what an amazing career this is, a great paying job, a job with job security, a job that makes a difference in terms of world peace, and a job right here in Connecticut, Lamont said, pausing and Rhode Island, referring to EBs facility in Quonset Point where submarine hulls are constructed.

julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com
DARIEN  The towns Memorial Day parade will march on this year.

The Monuments and Ceremonies Commission said Tuesday the town will proceed with planning on holding a traditional Memorial Day parade on May 31.

Concern for the health and safety of our citizens remains paramount in our planning, parade chairman Terry Gaffney said.

Gaffney said the decision was made in light of the latest downturn in COVID infection rates, and the high percentage of vaccinations, as well as people following safety guidelines.

Gov. Ned Lamont plans to lift most restrictions on May 19. As a cautionary note, Gaffney said the announcement is conditional and contingent upon COVID-19 cases staying low and the Connecticut population continuing to get vaccinated.

There remains a chance, albeit remote, our parade may still be canceled, Gaffney said.

Specific recommendations will be announced prior to the parade. Gaffney said residents should not attend the parade if they are running a fever or not feeling well.

Attendees should also maintain appropriate social distancing, and though no longer required, consider wearing a mask, Gaffney said.

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. May 31, starting from Goodwives Shopping Center, marching up the Post Road to Spring Grove Veterans Cemetery.

A traditional Commemoration Ceremony honoring those who died while serving in the Armed Forces will be held at 11:15 a.m.

Darien EMS Post 53 will not hold its usual post-parade food fair fundraiser, but instead may host a health fair at Tilley Pond with demonstrations and ambulance tours. A food fair to-go packages of outdoor grilling meals will be offered by Palmers to benefit Post 53. Sales of the meals, to feed eight or four, will be offered at local businesses on May 20 and 21. Pick up will be at Palmers on May 31.

Any organization seeking information regarding the parade should email the parade committee at: 06820mayparade@gmail.com.

Those interested in being included in The Darien Times Memorial Day issue should email submissions of photos, with information on rank, conflict, and service years to sshultz@darientimes.com by May 13.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved $25 million in federal research funding to study gun violence. The money was to be split between the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Senate has yet to take any action, in spite of overwhelming support from the public to ban assault weapons. The League of Women Voters has a long history of working with state officials and law enforcement agencies to educate the public of the dangers of gun violence and to provide recommendations towards gun reform.

Gun safety reform must include the following five components:
Fawaz A. Gerges in Project Syndicate:

In a new, well-documented report, Human Rights Watch (HRW) asserts that the Israeli government is enforcing a systemic policy to maintain the domination by Jewish Israelis over Palestinians. The nearly seven million Palestinians in the occupied territories and within Israel itself face collective persecution under an apartheid system.

Pointing to Israeli laws that enshrine extra-political rights for Jews over Arabs living in the same areas, HRW concludes that the Israeli government is privileging Jewish Israelis while repressing Palestinians, most severely in the occupied territory. While several hundred thousand Israeli settlers live in the occupied territories as full Israeli citizens, the report notes, 2.7 million Palestinians are concentrated in dense population centers under military rule.

Even more ominous are Israels emerging population-control measures. The authorities have adopted policies to mitigate what they have openly described as a demographic threat from Palestinians, the report avers.

More here.
EDWARDSVILLE  The struggle to find and keep employees has led to reduced hours at some businesses as there currently are more jobs available in many industries than there are people willing to fill them.

The coronavirus has played a huge role.

While recent attention has focused on staffing shortages in the dining and retail industries, the challenge is not limited to these businesses, said Desiree Bennyhoff, president and CEO of the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce. The struggle to find qualified, ample staffing is a reality for business owners across all industries.

Tony Fuhrmann, director of Madison County Employment and Training, initially identified three reasons for the staffing shortage.

Early on, there was a group of people who were convinced  and some are still convinced  that they will be recalled for the job they were at. So theyre not looking for anything new, Fuhrmann said.

Second, there is a group of people that are still concerned about the jobs that are available and the amount of public contact and the fear for the virus, he said. Third, there is a big group of people who are staying home with their children because of remote learning. Most schools are back (to in-person learning) in some form or another, but some are not back full-time yet.

Fuhrmann has since identified a fourth group: people who are reluctant to re-enter the job market related to increased unemployment benefits through the federal government.

There are individuals that are receiving as much or more on unemployment with enhanced benefits as they would if they would work, he said. In the restaurant and hospitality industry, you have servers with a small salary and tips as part of an hourly wage. And the calculation for those people is, How am I better off?

Especially if youre also in one of those other three categories where youre concerned about going back, there is a combination of factors in play, he said. I dont want to say people arent working because they dont want to be working. But theyre doing as well drawing unemployment as they were when they were working.

Tax-free unemployment benefits and medical insurance are important factors, too.

The federal legislation did a couple of things to enhance unemployment, including where the first $10,200 of unemployment is tax-free, Fuhrmann said, The bigger piece to me is that they are paying for peoples health insurance through their COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) costs. Now, people are just waiting it out until the end of September (when the enhanced benefits expire).

Nicole Kline is Vice President of Operations at HireLevel, a staffing company that recruits for many employers in Madison and St. Clair counties, including Gateway Commerce Center. Finding people to fill those positions is a challenge for Kline and her firm.

There arent a lot of people looking for jobs, Kline said. A lot of employers are paying very well, with some jobs starting at $15 an hour for unskilled employees. These arent minimum-wage jobs and there are great opportunities with great companies.

The average unemployment benefit in Illinois is $353, but the $300 federal incentive boosts the total to $653.

For a 40-hour work, thats $16.32 an hour to stay home, Kline said. Unemployment used to provide assistance, but it also provided the desire to better yourself by working. But it just doesnt do that anymore.

Bennyhoff said the current environment presents an excellent opportunity for unemployed job seekers, those seeking a career change or anyone vying for a promotion.

Candidates have a great variety of jobs from which to choose, and the breadth of readily available opportunities continues expanding, she said. Jobs are available for those seeking work.

Fuhrmann said the opportunities are pretty much limitless for job seekers.

If somebody wants to come into a job and work hard, theres any number of employers that would grab them very quickly and provide the training, he said.

Kline agreed.

If youre a good candidate and you want to work, the sky is the limit, Kline said. Were hiring forklift operators, electric power jack operators, warehouse workers, supervisors and warehouse managers. These arent just entry-level positions; they are $15 to $25 per hour jobs.

A lot of people arent looking because they have no incentive to work, she said

Bennyhoff notes that employers are doing their best to attract quality candidates.

We have seen significant evolution in workplace flexibility as employers continue to innovate in hopes of recruiting outstanding candidates, Bennyhoff said.

Businesses that never thought they would let their employees work from home are letting them work from home, even beyond the pandemic.

On our end, weve done a lot over the past year during the pandemic to make ourselves more accessible, Fuhrmann said. Government, per se, is usually way behind in technology, but our department has done numerous things to bring us up to speed.

Were on all the social media platforms now, and our orientations, which used to be in our conference room, are all done virtually. The job-search activities that people would come in the office for are now done through YouTube videos.

For Kline, workplace flexibility can take many forms.

Were seeing things like sign-on bonuses and companies buying lunches and food for their employees, Kline said. Theyre also working on engaging the people that are already there to make sure they dont lose them.

The supply of jobs is so much more than the candidates demand. Its the craziest market Ive ever seen, and Ive been in the Edwardsville area for 15 years.

At Madison County Employment and Training, Fuhrmann is concerned that people arent taking advantage of what his agency has to offer for training people for new careers.

People arent coming in to use our universal services, where they can update their resume, create a resume or do job-search activities, Fuhrmann said. We have slots available by appointment for 80 people per week and we have about 10 people coming in per week.

I realize employers are struggling right now, but my concern from our own end is that nobody is coming in for training and getting prepared and getting the resumes updated. When all of this ends and kids get to go back to school in August and September, theres going to be a whole lot of people struggling to get to where they will need to be.

For people who are serious about finding a good job, Madison County Employment and Training offers plenty of options.

We have millions of dollars sitting here that are untapped, said Fuhrmann, whose agency partners with Southern Illinois Edwardsville for a variety of training. We have several different grant opportunities we have received in addition to our usual funding and we have specific short-term training programs available.

Even if people dont know what they want to do, we have career exploration software they can use to determine where their next career should be. If youre receiving unemployment, you can come in and use the training programs at our facility and it will not affect your unemployment.

For more information on job training, visit www.co.madison.il.us/mcetd.

The chambers job board, Job Postings - Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce (edglenchamber.com), is another resource for job seekers.
Mankato, MN (56001)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. Hot. High 94F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

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Mainly clear. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.
Five students on two Breckenridge High School teams are part of three new school-related COVID-19 outbreaks reported in Gratiot County.

The two outbreaks -- two students on the softball team and three on the golf team -- were reported this week. The other K-12 outbreak reported in Gratiot County this week involved seven students at Fulton Middle/High School.

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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported a total of 311 K-12 outbreaks this week, an increase over last week. Most of them involved sports teams.

Track, baseball/softball, volleyball and lacrosse teams account for the highest number of new outbreaks, according to a MDHHS data sheet.

Another 22 confirmed cases and two deaths were reported in Gratiot County on Wednesday, bringing its cumulative total to 3,068.

No information was available about the two people who died. Mid-Michigan District Health Department stopped providing information about COVID deaths shortly before Christmas 2020. A total of 110 Gratiot County residents have died from COVID-19.

They were the only deaths reported across mid-Michigan on Wednesday.

An additional 22 cases were also reported in Isabella County, bringing its cumulative total to 5,109, with 83 deaths. An additional 11 cases were reported in Clare County, bringing its cumulative total to 1,943, with 73 deaths.

Elsewhere in mid-Michigan, no new deaths were reported, with new and cumulative cases and deaths as follows:

In Gladwin County, five new cases were reported for a cumulative total of 1,840, with 47 deaths;

In Mecosta County, an additional 14 cases were reported for a cumulative total of 2,857, with 30 deaths;

In Midland County, an additional 20 new cases for a cumulative total of 6,465, with 75 deaths; and,

In Montcalm County, an additional 42 cases were reported for a cumulative total of 4,5011, with 102 deaths.

Statewide, 42 new deaths were reported for a total of 17,939 and another 2,589 cases were reported for a cumulative total of 854,536.

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$30 million Ithaca schools bond proposal fails again For the second time in seven months Ithaca Public Schools has had a bond proposal rejected.

Delay in financing for jail project creates $2 million hole in Isabella budget Moving the proposed Isabella County jail from the corner of Summerton to Remus to a new property delayed financing for the project, which had 

Mt. Pleasant the only district to join MCC The Mt. Pleasant School District was the only of 10 school districts to join the Mid Michigan College in Tuesday's election.
The Mt. Pleasant School District was the only of 10 school districts to join the Mid Michigan College in Tuesday's election.

Voters in the district were the only district to approve both annexation (1,593-952) and the college's millage rate (1,415-1,141).

That means Mid Michigan College students living in Mt. Pleasant will pay the in-district contact hour rate, but property owners inside of the district will pay slightly higher property tax rates.

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In Isabella County, annexation was popular. Voters in Shepherd Schools (320-309) and Chippewa Hills (347-326) both approved it. Beal City (144-145) was close.

Both voters in those three district balked at paying for it. The second question went down in Shepherd (258-380), Beal City (126-164) and Chippewa Hills (291-380).

For Chippewa Hills, voters ran up no votes in Mecosta County, with 541-867 votes on annexation; and 374-1,034 voters on paying for it.

Both questions failed across Gratiot County.

In Alma, annexation failed 512-590, the millage failed 432-678. Ithaca voters opposed annexation 565-737, the millage 447-860. In Ashley, annexation went down 30-86, the millage 27-89. Fulton voters rejected annexation 117-261, the millage 90-288. Breckenridge voters shot down annexation 70-137, the millage 55-153.

Shepherd Schools' voters in Gratiot County approved both questions. The problem? The margins in favor were both 5-1 in favor. That is, five yes votes to one no vote.

College officials previously pointed to Isabella and Gratiot counties as important geography to the college based on the number of students both provide the college.

Isabella County contributes the largest number of MMC students, followed by Clare County. Gratiot County is the college's second-largest source of students.

Students living in school districts that approved both questions Tuesday night will see a cut in their tuition from $220 per contact hour to the in-district rate of $132 per contact hour.

MMC currently has a 1.2202 millage rate, which translates to $1.22 per $1,000 of assessed value. Assessed value is approximately half that of market value.

In Isabella County, where the media property value is $122,000, that would mean an annual property tax hike of $64. In Gratiot County, where the median property value is $93,600, that means an annual property tax increase of $57.25.

MMC officials brought both questions last November to voters across the Gratiot-Isabella RESD as a whole. It required approval of both questions across the entire RESD.

While voters overwhelmingly approved joining MMC's district, overall the question of accepting the college's millage rate went down in defeat.

After its defeat, college officials decided to bring it back on a school district-by-school district basis. After officials in Chippewa Hills expressed support for the question based on the number of graduates who attend MMC, the college also brought the question before voters in that school district.

READ MORE:

Delay in financing for jail project creates $2 million hole in Isabella budget Moving the proposed Isabella County jail from the corner of Summerton to Remus to a new property delayed financing for the project, which had 

COVID update: Gratiot hospital at 81 percent capacity As of Monday, there were 10 people in MidMichigan Health Medical Center-Gratiot with COVID-19, including one in intensive care, leaving that h

Give Local Isabella brings in fundraising opportunities for many local non-profits The 24-hour communitywide fundraising event, Give Local Isabella, has kicked off with numerous donations for around 20 local organizations.

Developer begins another downtown Alma project Breckenridge-based Gemini Capital Management is undertaking another downtown Alma redevelopment project.
Salida, CO (81201)

Today

Plentiful sunshine. High 87F. SSE winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear skies. Low 53F. SE winds shifting to W at 10 to 15 mph.
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The Huron-Clinton Metroparks and the systems 13 unique parks are now officially the newest destinations in the Michigan Activity Pass program, offering public library card holders across the state the chance to access the outdoor recreational spaces for free.

The MAP program provides free or discounted admission to more than 450 locations, including historic sites, cultural attractions, state parks and campgrounds. With the Metroparks participation, patrons can check out a daily vehicle park pass to visit their preferred Metropark location, much like they would check out a book from their local library.

Public libraries play such an important role in our communities, said Metroparks Director Amy McMillan.

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Thats why were thrilled to join the MAP program and launch this new partnership with the Michigan Library Network. Our goal is to help ensure more Michiganders can experience all the different sites and attractions our park system has to offer. We urge library patrons to check us out.

There are 13 parks in the system including Lake Erie Metropark, 32481 W. Jefferson, Brownstown.

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Brigette Felix, librarian and MAP expert at The Library Network said using the MAP program is fast and easy to use. Visitors can simply search destinations by category or zip code, including how far they are willing to travel. Once they select a choice, they can secure a free pass for mobile use or to print off and present it at the designated Metroparks entrance attendant within one week.

To learn more about the Michigan Activity Pass program, including a complete list of supported venues and participating libraries, visit michiganactivitypass.info. To learn more about the Metroparks, visit metroparks.com.

 Submitted by the Huron-Clinton Metroparks

+7 Wyandotte voters elect DeSana mayor; councilwoman follows in her dads footsteps Wyandotte voters have returned a familiar name to the mayors seat and elected a mostly new City Council.

+2 Allen Park voters overwhelmingly support $74.2 million school district bond proposal; improvements coming Voters came through in a big way Tuesday in support of an Allen Park Public Schools $74.2 million bond proposal.

Temporary restraining order puts Sollars name back on primary ballot in Taylor A decision to exclude Rick Sollars name from an upcoming primary ballot in his bid for another term as Taylors mayor has been reversed  at 
An alleged argument between an estranged couple who share two children turned deadly inside a River Rouge house.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Theresa Imani Bragg, 30, of River Rouge with one count of premeditated first-degree murder, and one count of felony firearm in the May 2 shooting of John Laverette, 26, of Ohio.

The incident occurred at 4:13 p.m. at a house on Linden Street.

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According to the prosecutors office, police responded to a call regarding a shooting at the residence.

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Upon their arrival, police located Laverette on the floor unresponsive. He was shot multiple times, according to the prosecutors office.

Laverette was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Bragg was arrested at the scene.

According to the prosecutors office, an argument escalated and it is alleged that Bragg armed herself with a gun, fatally shooting Laverette.

The children were not at the house at the time of the shooting.

Bragg was arraigned in 25th District Court and remanded to jail without bond. She's due back in court on May 18 for a probable cause hearing and May 25 for a preliminary examination.

+4 Girls 911 call in alleged Brownstown assault turns out to be case for 911Ready bag A 911 emergency call came to the Brownstown Township Police Department from a 12-year-old girl saying her father assaulted her by choking her.

+3 Allen Park baseball topples state-ranked Woodhaven Woodhaven welcomed in Allen Park on Wednesday afternoon looking to remain undefeated in the Downriver League.
A family already grieving over the death of one of their own is being divided by family loyalty, according to a man refusing to stand by his brother charged in their fathers shooting death.

Devon Hackney, 19, of Dearborn Heights, is facing one count of open murder and one count of felony firearm in the death of Alex Hackney of Romulus.

The shooting occurred on April 21 in the 14000 block of Conover.

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Devon Hackney was arraigned in 34th District Court in Romulus on April 25 and was initially remanded to jail without bond.

After an emergency bond hearing the following day, Judge Brian Oakley gave Hackney, accused of shooting his father three times in the chest at point-blank range, a $125,000/10-percent bond.

He posted $12,500 and was released.

He is required to wear a tether.

Dylan Hackney, Devon Hackneys brother, is devastated that the father he was just getting to have a relationship with is now gone and his brother is charged with shooting him.

A commercial roofer for a company based out of Wixom, Dylan Hackney, 24, travels much of the year and was in New Mexico when he received a call from a family friend telling him that his father had been shot and his brother was in police custody.

I just started freaking out immediately, the older brother said. I called my mom and she didnt know. She started freaking out.

Dylan Hackney said at first he didnt know what to think or do, but feared for his brothers future.

All of that changed with a shared Snapchat video.

According to Dylan Hackney, he was sent a Snapchat video allegedly taken by his brother just after the shooting.

He was standing with my fathers body in the background over his shoulder, Dylan Hackney said. My dad was flat on his back and my brother was showing the gun and bragging.

At that point, Dylan Hackney said he told his family to stop defending his brother, which is what put him at odds with everyone.

The Snapchat post was deleted, but Dylan Hackney said he told police about it and hopes they will do what is necessary to retrieve it.

A couple of his co-workers saw the Snapchat video as well, he said.

Dylan Hackney said he doesnt want his fathers side of the family to see the video and have that image of him burned in their minds as a lasting memory.

He said hes having difficulty dealing with it himself.

On the other hand, he said his mothers side of the family needs to see it so they can better understand how he feels.

It actually was Devon Hackney who called 911 and said he shot his father, according to Romulus police.

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Upon their arrival, police found Alex Hackneys body in the driveway.

He was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead a short time later.

Growing up, Dylan said he wasnt close with his father, who was absent from his life and he never heard anything positive about him.

In the past couple of years, Dylan said he got to know his dad for himself and said they were at a point where his father called him just about every day.

He called me the day before he died, Dylan Hackney said. It was 2:38 p.m. and we talked for 22 seconds. I was at work and he said he just called to say that he loves me. I was supposed to call him back that night, but I worked late and didnt call him.

Dylan, who was driving from New Mexico to Michigan Tuesday, said he has a lot of questions.

He said its difficult to comprehend the fact that his brother, accused of murder, is walking the streets with these kinds of charges against him.

Throughout the years, Dylan Hackney said he and his brother, as well as his brother and his father, all got along.

He is sad that this tragedy has been compounded with a rift between him and his mothers side of his family and said right now, they are not on speaking terms.

Son charged in death of his Romulus father after dad shot multiple times in chest The Wayne County Prosecutors Office has charged a man in the shooting death of his father that occurred outside a house in Romulus.

Lincoln Park police investigating multiple shots fired at occupied vehicle on Southfield Lincoln Park police are investigating a shooting incident that involved two cars near the 500 block of Southfield Road at about 4:45 p.m. April 28.

+4 Probe finds irregularities; process to find Trenton head football coach to start over After a probe into the process that recommended the Trenton varsity football job be given to a Little League coach over two more experienced c
A Downriver firefighter and his wife each have lost a leg as a result of a motorcycle accident while vacationing in Florida.

Chris and Suzette Davenport were returning home on May 2 when they were involved in a crash in Florida. According to Ted and Ashley Copley, who organized a GoFundMe fundraiser for the Davenports, a vehicle pulled out in front of them and they were forced to lay down their bike.

On Wednesday, the Copleys shared an update on the GFM page that came from Chris Davenport, stating that both he and his wife have a lot of recovery to go.

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I lost my leg below the knee, he said. They were hoping to save Suzettes leg, but after seeing the damage they determined that she would have a lifetime of pain and probably would have no support on her leg. She is scheduled for amputation below the knee tonight.

He called the pouring out of support simply amazing, including from people he and his wife had never met, as well as from those who witnessed the crash.

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In fact, I want to give a huge thank you to the bystanders that not only helped us, and (stopped) the other driver from pulling away, he said.

Suzette is a property manager and Chris is a full-time firefighter in Riverview. He also serves as a volunteer firefighter in Grosse Ile Township and works as a part-time firefighter with the Woodhaven Fire Department.

Since the crash, thousands of dollars have been raised to assist the Davenports with their mounting medical bills.

Firefighter and wife seriously injured in motorcycle crash; donations sought to help pay bills A pleasant springtime trip to Florida on their motorcycle turned tragic for a Downriver firefighter and his wife, who were involved in a serio

Man watches thief steal girlfriends car at Melvindale gas station In what appears to be a classic crime of opportunity, a Melvindale man who left his vehicle unlocked at the pump to walk inside a gas station 

Temporary restraining order puts Sollars name back on primary ballot in Taylor A decision to exclude Rick Sollars name from an upcoming primary ballot in his bid for another term as Taylors mayor has been reversed  at 
On the heels of their first-ever district title in program history, Gibraltar Carlson carried its season-best five-game winning streak into a Division 2, Region 6 semifinal on Tuesday. The Marauders took on the Catholic League champion Dearborn Divine Child Falcons.
That release could not be found.
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Nigeria's security heads will on Thursday brief the Senate on the security situation of the country.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, made the announcement at the commencement of Tuesdays plenary in Abuja.

The service chiefs were to appear before the upper chamber on Tuesday but was shifted due to the National Security Council meeting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the upper chamber had in a resolution on April 27, summoned the Service Chiefs to brief lawmakers on steps taken so far to address rising security challenge in the country.

The Senates resolution was sequel to a Point of Order raised by Sen. Sani Musa ( APC  Niger ).

The motion was on the activities of bandits and Boko Haram terrorists in some Local Government Areas of Niger and other parts of Nigeria.

Today, the National Security Council is continuing with its meeting that started last week. Therefore, the invited security heads will not be able to come for the briefing.

We are not sure if they will finish their meeting today (Tuesday). We assume it could spill to Wednesday too.

So to be on the side of caution, we have now fixed the date for the briefing to be Thursday, May 6.

I want to appeal to all of us that the briefing will take from the service chiefs and other security agencies and will be very crucial for us to be properly informed, properly guided.

And if there is any request for supplementary budget, we should be able to understand why we should consider and approve such request, he said.

Lawan added that on Thursday, the only item on the Order Paper would be the briefing.

 We will do that as a special day for the engagement, the interaction between the Senate and the service chiefs, he said.(NAN)

(NAN)
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How does it feel when a dream that has lingered for three decades SUDDENLY comes true? What silent melody plays in your heart when a prayer you once considered impossible SUDDENLY finds fulfillment?

The answers to these questions were fully dramatized on Friday, April 30, 2021, when the first airplane to ever land in Anambra soil touched down in the all-new Anambra International Cargo/Passenger Airport, Umueri at 2.24pm. It was a Boeing 737 with registration number N5-BUJ belonging to Air Peace airlines. The atmosphere was electric. Time stood still. The Master of Ceremony announced the sighting of the plane in the skies of Umueri. The crowd drew a long breath; waiting to exhale when the plane touched down. All singing and dancing came to an abrupt end. There was no need for songs. People had enough music in their souls. The touch-down was smooth. Like the drop of a feather. Suddenly, the sun had risen on Anambra! A 30 year-old dream had come true! The crowd erupted in frenzy, ecstasy and joy. The feeling was delirious! Willie Obiano has built a stage. Allen Onyema has mounted it in grand style! Two Anambra sons have made Ndigbo proud in one historic day!

Oh well; it had always been a cruel irony that a state which pioneered the organized transport business in Nigeria, whose illustrious sons had run profitable airlines like Sosoliso, AirPeace and now United Airlines and the upcoming Havila Air, had no airport of its own. Add that to Anambras position as the melting pot of commerce in South East Nigeria with 62 bustling markets strewn across its length and breadth, the largest retail market in Nigeria at Onitsha, a promising industrial belt with a leading indigenous author manufacturer in Nnewi and a thriving mechanized-agriculture sector and it would be clear why arguments against the Airport are empty, ignorant and annoying.

Indeed, Anambra has been on the rise in recent times. Through darkness and doubts, the state has continued to lift one crucial foot after the other, up the rungs of progress. For instance, between 2010 and 2020, poverty rate in Anambra State dropped from 53% to 14.8%. Similarly, the National Bureau of Statistics reports that Anambra recorded the lowest unemployment rate in Nigeria in 2020 at 13.1 percent when the national average was 27%. Anambra is rated among the Top-3 literate states in Nigeria with a per capita income of $1,615. Under the Obiano administration, Anambra has leaped over her perennial challenge of crime and insecurity to attract an impressive $10m in foreign investments in 2020. Similarly, under Obiano, Anambra was one of the few states that rejected the bailout from the Federal Government to cushion the effects of the last recession. In fact, while Nigeria recorded a deficit in its economic growth, Anambra recorded a growth of 1 percent during the 2015 recession. And while other states piled up arrears of salaries due to the recession, Anambra increased workers salaries by 16%. Other fundamentals like Education are not left out. In fact, under Obiano, Anambra school girls won the Gold Medal at the World Technovation Fair in San Francisco, USA. To confirm that there was more to come from where the Golden Girls emerged from, Anambra school boys won the Bronze Medal at a World Technology Festival in Tunisia the year after. This is the economy that has just birthed what has been largely rated as one of the best international airports in sub-Saharan Africa. This background should impress us all!

Now, aviation experts agree that the viability of the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport is almost certain. Anambra is home to the most mobile sub-group of Nigerias three major ethnic nationalities. The Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano emphasized this when he observed in his speech at the demonstration/testing flight that our people crisscross the globe in search of a better life, and declared this airport is therefore a timely bridge between Anambra and the world. Obiano also expressed hopes that in the shortest possible time, the Anambra International Passenger and cargo Airport shall become one of the busiest airports in Nigeria. Well, lets wait for that!

Since the successful Testing/Demonstration Flight into the airport on Friday April 30, 2021, public affairs commentators have continued to analyze it from different points of view. Some people have looked at the speedy construction of the airport in a mere 15 months at a time when the world was partially locked down by COVID-19. The Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Capt Musa Nuhu and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation, Smart Adeyemi have both evaluated the airport in terms of its facilities and strict compliance to the global standards in modern aviation. But Obiano who have spent seven years of his tenure searching for the big idea that would open the spaces for greatness for his people saw the airport from a purely economic point of view. For him, after years of straightening up the security challenges of the state and stimulating productivity in the sub-national economy, the missing link was a figurative bridge that would link Anambra to the world. In the light of this, governor Obiano remarked at the airport ceremony that with this facility, we have made the journey easier for any investor who wants to prospect Anambra State for business!

Now; the specifics; in practical terms, the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport has been variously described as one of the best airports in sub-Saharan Africa. It has a CAT 2 runway that measures 3.7km long and 60 meters wide. It was designed to land aircraft from either side of the approaches with a ground lighting system of 270mm. The runway is connected to the Apron by two taxiways which measure 35m wide with shoulders. The Taxiways lead directly to the Apron which covers 300mx200m x 560m of reinforced concrete that can comfortably accommodate six aircraft at once. The Terminal Building was designed to accommodate 400 persons. It has 36 shops, two mezzanine floors, three lifts and three elevators and a ramp to facilitate the movement of physically challenged travelers. The Control Tower stands 34.5 meters tall. It was designed to resist fire. It is equipped with both a staircase and a lift. The airport has the most sophisticated fire-fighting machines known in the aviation industry. The car park can accommodate 700 vehicles. This is the Anambra Airport!

Already, the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport has set so many records. As one of the fastest construction of a major project ever done in Nigeria, the airport is a case study in modern project management. This airport brought to the fore, governor Obianos competence as a passionate task-master and goal-oriented technocrat. To ensure the timely delivery of the airport, Obiano assembled 9 different construction companies at the project site and tied them to a specific delivery date. He ensured their mobilization and regular payment once certificates were generated. He established and kept a routine of weekly visits to the site and sustained it all through the construction period. This kept the workers on their toes. He also brought his interpersonal skills to bear directly on the workers to the point of knowing the names of the least of the labourers on the site. He would occasionally call them by their names to ask about their health or what was delaying the delivery of a particular item. His humane touch made all the difference. This deserves a close attention!

There can be no gainsaying the enormity of what Willie Obiano has achieved with the Anambra International Cargo and Passenger Airport. For not only has he set a record in project management in Nigeria and much of the developing world, Obiano has also demystified the cloak of abandoned projects in Nigeria. He has demonstrated that any leader who sets out to build a monument can do so within the shortest possible time. For as he observed in his address to receive the first flight into Anambra State, This airport is proof that no army, no matter how fortified, can stand the force of an idea! A great idea may rest for a while; but it will come to reality when its time is due!
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If there is any quote that unarguably finds expression in the imbroglio between the spiritual director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka and Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, it is unarguably the one authored by Ken Starr that says, Don't blame the messenger because the message is unpleasant. I must confess that the quote formed the basis of the coinage of the headline of this piece.

In fact, the diversionary tactics of blaming the messenger because the message is unpleasant is replicated in a philosophical argument called Ad hominem. It is a logical fallacy that involves a personal attack: an argument based on the perceived failings of an adversary rather than on the merits of the case. In short, it is when someones rebuttal to an opponent's position is an irrelevant attack on the opponent personally rather than the subject at hand, to discredit the position by discrediting its supporter. It literarily translates to "against the man."

Using an ad hominem fallacy pulls the public's attention off the real issue and serves only as a distraction. In some contexts it is unethical. It is also called argumentum ad hominem, abusive ad hominem, poisoning the well, ad personam, and mudslinging. The attacks serve as red herrings to try to discredit or blunt the opponent's argument or make the public ignore it, it is not just a personal attack but one stated as a counterattack to the position.

As not few literate Nigerians that are abreast with current affairs about Nigeria are aware, Mbaka called for the presidents impeachment over his failure to protect Nigerians from killers, armed bandits, terrorists and armed Fulani militia, and by that unarguably provoked Shehu, who in a statement, accused Mbaka of asking Buhari for a contract and saying that the presidents refusal led to such a call.

However, since the tantrums transpired between them, not few Nigerians were of the view that Shehu did not respond in such a way that would have given him the opportunity to tell the world how the president is tackling surging level of insecurity across the country. He no doubt bungled the opportunity. Not few people agreed that that is what he ought to have done as a presidential spokesperson. They were unanimous in their views that he left the message, and resorted to attacking the messenger.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), a frontline advocacy group in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko and National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf accused Shehu of cheapening and rubbishing the dignity of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by converting it to a centre for political blackmail and religious bigotry.

The media statement against Reverend Father Ejike Camilus Mbaka has totally eroded the integrity and honour of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and may need a wide range of political exorcism to restore the lost glory, prestige and dignity of that high office.

This religious bigot called President Muhammadu Buhari gave all the juicy posts in the ministry of education such as that of JAMB to Moslem Clerics but is quick to divulge private discussions he had with a Christian Pastor because as an Islamic bigot, damaging the Christian brand is another kind of Jihad. The President is using the office of the President of Nigeria to launch a Jihad against Fr. Mbaka and by extension the Christian faith.

Mr. Carl Umegboro, a public analyst, who wrote in a National Daily few days ago said, President Muhammadu Buharis government retorted recklessly to the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka, through a press statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity) a moment ago. Such a rejoinder when the nation is under a siege with bloods of innocent citizens being wasted on daily basis across the states, and sadly with impunity leaves much to be desired of a government.

He added, Mbaka, a hitherto supporter of Buhari right from campaign for the first term, but recently embittered over the state of the nation, openly expressed his disappointment and demanded for his resignation or impeachment by the National Assembly. Unfortunately, the Presidency went out of control linking his disappointment to contracts deals he solicited unsuccessfully as a reward for his support. Honestly, the stinker from the hallowed office of the President against a clarion call for the government to sit up and face its responsibilities diligently is, to say the least, unfortunate. The presidency goofed.

Against the backdrop of his view, he queried, By the way, what is wrong if the clergy introduced contractors to the government for patronage which is the pattern, not only in the country but beyond the shores of the country. Did the clergy ask the presidency to move public funds to his account? It would have been a different ballgame if the clergy demanded for money for his supports and prayers. But it is not the case but introduction of some persons known to him for patronages. The duty to direct them to the appropriate quarters accordingly for laid down procedures lies with the presidency.

Mr. Yushau A. Shuaib, a Public Relations practitioner no less agreed in a widely publicized features titled, PR Wise: The Presidency, Pantami and Mbaka that the presidents spokesperson bungled the opportunity that is inherent in Mbakas criticism to explain how far the government is fighting insecurity.

He wrote, I was not only alarmed but I have been deeply concerned about some recent statements by the Presidency, particularly through its spokespersons, Mr. Femi Adesina and Mallam Garba Shehu, who have both incidentally served as Presidents of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) in the recent past. Some of their reactive statements to issues could essentially be described as journalistic, for the predilection towards making news headlines, and these have been quite disturbingly below the standards of PR, which tend towards demonstrating empathy, employing diplomacy and forestalling the attrition of relationships, when responding to issues of deep concern.

It is expedient to say at this juncture that in as much as it is glaring that Shehu, who is reputed to have been combatively and defensively representing his boss with unflinching loyalty and utmost dedication, and has been doing almost everything humanely possible to defend him and his administration; even if he had to lie, contradicting himself at times, consciences and moral sensitivity demand that he should do his job professionally as his job is not for eternity; it must surely come to an end one day. Simply put, he should remember that there is tomorrow.

To my view, he should respond to the issues raised by Mbaka, and eschew attacking his person. Who cares if he once asked for contract from the presidency?
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The Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions on Tuesday decried the invasion of the popular Oja Oba and Bodija markets in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS).

The NCS officers had last week invaded the Oja Oba market and carted away eight truckloads of rice and money found in the shops of the affected traders.

The operation was carried out a month after the operatives raided Bodija International Market, Ibadan, where they also carted away bags of rice.

The Senate Committee in its resolutions urged the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, to ensure that the seized goods and money were returned to the affected traders within two weeks and their shops unlocked.

Members of the Senate committee expressed reservations that the action of the NCS was a breach of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) and the Executive Order signed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007, which empowers the agency to only impound smuggled goods within a 40-kilometer radius to the border.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, who recalled that a similar operation carried out by the NCS in Katsina State led to the dismissal of the officer who led the operations while the confiscated goods were returned to the traders on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari, urged the Comptroller-General of Customs to extend the same gesture to the affected traders in Oyo State.

Why do you allow the goods to come in through the borders and they find their way to the market of innocent citizens?

These people are retailers, they dont have the capacity to import. There is no reasonable ground for your people to go to the market in the thick of the night. The market isnt within 40km radius of the border. Some people gave you information and you didnt verify.

There is a precedence that this thing happened in Katsina and the officers were sacked. Is this the time to go and raid helpless women who borrowed money to do their business? You also took their money from their shops, you admitted. Is money also contraband?

You should stop raiding markets and car shops. This committee is sending message to Hameed Ali that the same thing happened in Katsina. We are appealing to the CG Customs to return the goods taken in Bodija and Oja Oba markets.

They should return those goods within 15 days. Tell the CG to unlock their shops so that they can continue to do their business. The market isnt within the 40km radius of the border.

The precedence that happened in Katsina and a directive came from above. So, if it happened in Katsina and Ibadan, the capital of south-west shouldnt be an exception.

You are heating up the polity, punishing innocent people. The real people who bring in the rice you know them. We are telling you to return their goods and money in two weeks. Whatever decision you take, you must come back to this committee. The rice and garri must be returned. You must also unlock their shops, Akiyelure said.

Also speaking, the Senator representing Oyo South, Kola Balogun, said the Customs officers owed Nigerians an apology for the illegal raid.

The procedure is wrong. The Act says you can seal off the shops in the presence of the owners, not to go there in the night. If it happened in Katsina and the goods were returned, why cant we do similar thing in the case of Bodija? What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, he said.
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Sheikh Isa Pantami, Nigerias Communications Minister has been trending on social media after a print media, Daily Independent, claimed he is a terrorist in the watch list of the United States Government. Since then , the embattled cabinet minister have employed all manners of tactics including hiring writers, threats, hacking of accounts, denial and all sorts to deny the terrorist tag on him. Though it was reported that the story was retracted, I know the circumstances that led to the retraction, and I know that Pantami had unleashed paid writers to defend him at all costs.

I do not know Pantami personally, but during the early menace of Boko Haram, I was told about an intelligent, scholarly, digital minded Northerner at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University by name Isa Pantami. I was told this scholar is equally a Muslim fanatic. I dont have problem with fanaticism, provided it does not impede on another persons faith.

I knew that Buhari and Sanusi are both fanatical about their faith and I have always supported them in their travails with the political systems, all through 2003 till date. The fight against Boko Haram was engulfing Jonathan, and we enlisted many to either force him to take action or get booted out.

One name that always drops when I interact with northern clerics and intellectuals is Pantami. While the Muslims believe he is a patriot, my Christian friends warned me that Pantami is a terrorist who instigated further crisis in Jos during the Jona -Jang era by asking Muslims to fight Christians. I was also told that as Chief Imam he instigated crisis in ATBU and led to the murder of a Christian Student leader of ECWA by name Sunday Achi, for daring to host religious programme on campus.

I gathered information on the activities of Boko Haram from multiple sources in the North, and these information reflected in my opinion piece, and the reports I send to some foreign media who wanted clarifications. Out of caution, I chose not to contact Isa Pantami.

When the Chibok girls were captured, the Obama led administration was in high level military mobilization to rescue the girls. It was said that the plot was leaked to the Boko Haram members in Sambissa Forest, and The plot was aborted by the US team, and they resorted to tactical advice to the Defense Headquarters.

I hinted at it in my piece of 2014 titled Why US Govt Refused to Assist Nigeria with Technology to Fight Boko Haram. thus;

1 It was the US that first alerted the world that 10 Generals of the Nigerian Army were among 15 officers being secretly investigated for passing sensitive information to Boo Haram.

2. It was the US that officially verified information from local observers, villagers and hunters that Boko Haram had split the Chibok Girls into three, taking them to different camps

3 It was the US that confirmed that due to probable high level sabotage, the only way to release the Chibok girls would be through high powered negotiations since any attempt to embark on a rescue operation would likely be sabotaged, endangering the lives of both the Chibok Girls and the US troops.

11 The internal sabotage which led to the botched phased release of the Chibok girls was a source of worry, especially when it was discovered that two groups played role in the botched operation independently, without the knowledge of the other. The first group has the Presidency fingered while the second group believes that opposition financiers of Boko Haram created the fear that botched the earlier scheduled release of the Chibok girls

I remember, after the botched attempt to release the Chibok girl, an infuriated diplomat told me that the military and influential clerics sabotaged the attempt to rescue the Chibok girls, and Pantamis name was dropped. A military commander then complained that Pantami is among the clerics weakening the morale of troops, especially whenever they attack Boko Haram hideout, by claiming that they are killing innocent civilians. Because I hate killing innocent civilians under the guise of military intervention, I declared Pantami guiltless.

In my investigative work as a writer, until I get triple verification on local intelligence information, I do not rely on it, and double verification on foreign intelligence, except from sources that have proven multiple times to be accurate.

Therefore, since my information on Pantamis link to Boko Haram is not conclusively verifiable, I cannot reliably classify him as a terrorist. Buhari was termed a Boko Haram sponsor even when intelligence at the time pointed otherwise, but for political expediency, the Boko Haram tag was hanged on the Katsina born general.

However, Buhari should order an investigation of Pantami to know whether he has links with the terror group that has wasted over 50,000 lives. If an investigation proves him guilty, Pantami should resign.

I am making my views public as a Buharist , APC supporter, and one of those who worked for his emergence as President in 2015 and 2023. We sacked Jonathan due to corruption and mounting insecurity, and we cannot have a terrorist in Buharis cabinet. This goes beyond party affiliations and sentiments. I had condemned Senator Ali Ndume in the past for links with Boko Haram. I have condemned former Vice President Sambo severally for authorizing Ali Ndume to interact with Boko Haram. That was they hey days of insurgency in Nigeria when the terrorists unleashed mayhem in Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Kogi, and Plateau, not minding the strangleholds in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

The mounting insecurity has caused me to come out of my shell to condemn the APC Government for timidity in the face of banditry attacks. I wrote recently in a piece, Fulani Bandits Attacks and Buharis Timid, Negative Response that 

Buhari should know that Fulanis in Nigeria is 4 million out of 180 million Nigerians. 2million are of voting age and Buhari got close to 15 million votes in 2015 and 2019. It follows that about 13 million non-Fulanis voted for him. He is duty bound to protect every Nigerian, not just the 4 million Fulani people. Fulanis are not bad people; I know many good ones, including Christians with whom we have embarked on Gospel Missions together in Nigeria and parts of West and North Africa. They feel the same way as I feel. They want their Fulani kith to be reformed rather than radicalized. They believe that Buhari is not refining the foreign Fulanis to the culture of the Nigerian Fulani. The local herders are powerless before their foreign bandit kinsmen, and Buharis response to this security situation is very timid and negative..

And followed another one titled  ESN attacks and Planned Massacre of Ndigbo in the North and warned that.

Therefore, Buhari should investigate the Pantami issue. All these paid writers are not enough to sweep away the terrorist tag. The DSS, NIA, DIA and Military should investigate whether Pantami is a terrorist. If proven true, let him be relieved of his job.

However, if it is proven that he, like Ali Ndume, have changed his views, repented, eschewed divisive tendencies, and embraced the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria, over time, Pantami should be left alone.

The way the North is defending him is touching on the sensibilities of Southerners. We never condoned Jonathan when he failed to rid his cabinet of Boko Haram members, whom he admitted were in his cabinet. Let the North rise above religious and tribal sentiments for once, and stand for national cohesion.

Pantami, no doubt held extremist views. Many of my northern friends, who held extremist views yesterday, have abandoned them today. Thats why Sharia failed in the North, except for Kano. Let Pantami prove beyond all reasonable doubt that he has changed and that the NIN is not to be used to monitor and destroy innocent Nigerians.

Pantami, a terrorist in Buhars government? I hope this digitally minded Muslim intellectual is not guilty.

Obinna Akukwe, Columnist, Cleric, [email protected], @obinnaakukwe
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At the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) 60th year anniversary, May 25th 2021, Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, will be honoured with an Award of Excellence, for his meritorious services / contributions to the growth and development of the medical industry in Nigeria.

Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, a graduate of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, was Commissioner for Health Rivers State, and Chairman, Committee of Commissioners of Health, Nigeria from 1999 to 2003, within which period several innovations were initiated including establishing the first statewide Emergency Medical Services (EMS), in the country. Also as Chairman of the body of Commissioners of Health, he represented the 36 states of Nigeria in a national committee to put in place a workable plan for the takeoff of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Acts of 1998.

The awardee, a medical doctor turned entrepreneur (with interests in diverse sectors of the economy) has been Executive Chairman of Princess Medical Centre since 1988. With the support of Shell Nigerias Aspire Growth Fund, he set up a multimillion naira, multispecialty new hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in 2018.

Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, is a recipient of Award of Excellence of the Nigeria Medical Association, Fellow of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Technology and recipient of the Award of Fellow and also Distinguished Medical Practitioner (DMP), by the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria.

To inculcate community healthy lifestyle, Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji started Bodyboost Fitness and Health Club, Port Harcourt, and also to support excellence in the training of healthcare workers in Nigeria, he instituted the Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji Excellent Awards Prices for the Best Graduating Students in the final medical examination in Internal medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology, at the College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt
The owner of a Southfield-based home health care company is facing a Medicaid fraud charge, as announced by Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Khadisha L. Saunders-Davenport, owner of Synergy Home Services, allegedly submitted Medicaid claims for reimbursement for care that wasnt provided, including times when the recipients referenced were hospitalized and werent receiving any home health care.

Saunders-Davenport, 43, personally provided care for certain Medicaid beneficiaries along with employing caregivers, according to a news release from the attorney generals office.

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During 2018 and 2019, Saunders-Davenport allegedly submitted false claims to the State of Michigan resulting in $17,000 in improper Medicaid payments.

At her arraignment in 54B District Court in East Lansing for one count of Medicaid Fraud-False Claim, bond was set at $20,000 personal recognizance.

Saunders-Davenports next court date is May 14.

Medicaid Fraud-False Claim carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine.
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Pfizer vaccine expected to be approved for 12-15 year olds
Pontiac Mayor Deirdre Waterman has filed a lawsuit against city and Oakland County election officials seeking a judge to intervene in an attempt to get her name to appear on the August primary ballot.

On Friday, Waterman, who is seeking her third, two-year term as mayor, filed a lawsuit in Oakland County Circuit Court in hopes that a judge will issue an order to force the four defendants, including Interim City Clerk Garland Doyle, City Attorney Anthony Chubb, City Treasurer Sekar Bawa, in their roles as city election commissioners, and Oakland County Elections Director Joe Rozell, to execute their duties under the law.

According to the lawsuit, the two-term mayor is requesting that the court order the Pontiac Board of Election Commissioners to approve a August primary ballot that includes herself as a certified candidate for mayor and Interim City Clerk Garland Doyle to transmit that ballot to the Oakland County Elections Division for inclusion in the August election. She's also seeking the court to order Rozell to "refrain from interfering in Doyle's function of certifying candidates."

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Records obtained by The Oakland Press show Waterman signed and submitted her affidavit of identity with the city clerk's office on April 13, nine days before submitting six overdue campaign statements on April 22. On April 12, one day before submitting her affidavit, Waterman paid $3,675 in overdue campaign filing fees to the county, according to campaign finance records.

Pontiac mayor running as write-in candidate after failing to file campaign documents Pontiac Mayor Deirdre Waterman is running for her third term as mayor, but voters will not see her name on the ballot this fall.

Motion for Writ of Mandamus - Waterman Motion for Writ of Mandamus - Pontiac Mayor Deirdre Waterman- filed April 30, 2021

On April 21, Rozell sent a letter to Doyle informing him that the county had received a copy of the affidavit. The letter also read, "Please consider this as notice to not certify Ms. Waterman as a candidate to your Board of City Election Commissioners." Rozell recently confirmed to The Oakland Press that Waterman will have to run as a write-in candidate and that her name cannot appear on the August primary ballot.

Under Michigan Election Law, by signing an affidavit of identity, candidates are confirming that all campaign statements, reports, late filing fees, and fines had been filed or paid in full. These documents and fees are required to be submitted and paid before a candidate can file an affidavit of identity to run for elected office.

Under section 4 of Michigan Election Law, Doyle cannot legally certify Waterman as a candidate due to the fact that her affidavit of identity contained a false statement. The law goes on the state that "making a false statement in the affidavit is perjury, punishable by a fine up to $1,000.00 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both."

In the lawsuit, Waterman argues that she "Michigan Courts have consistently ruled that a clerk's review of an affidavit of identity is 'nothing more than the ministerial task of completing a facial review of the affidavits.'" It goes on to read, "The Court of Appeals has ruled that an affidavit of identity that includes 'all of the required information' is sufficient for a clerk's ministerial review of the affidavit, adding that Michigan Election Law "does not require Defendant Doyle to consider whether Plaintiff statements were false or whether Plaintiff committed perjury."

Waterman Filing Late Campaign Statements Pontiac Mayor Deirdre Waterman submitted six overdue campaign statements to the Oakland County Elections Division on April 22.

Trachelle C. Young, Esq., Waterman's attorney, told The Oakland Press that "it's unfortunate that we are forced to seek redress in the courts on a matter that should be clear as it has been directly addressed by the courts."

"Mayor Waterman is a history maker and game changer, which has tremendously benefited the Pontiac community," she said. "She will continue to stand for justice and equal access to ballots to prevent disenfranchisement and voter suppression tactics and we look forward to our day in court."

Waterman previously told The Oakland Press that she has always followed all filing requirements and that "a disturbing pattern of voter suppression" is the reason why her name may not appear on the primary ballot.

Noah Arbit, spokesperson for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, confirmed to The Oakland Press that this matter has not been presented to the office by any law enforcement agency. Although the lawsuit claims the prosecutor's office "is aware of the matter and not interested in taking action," the prosecutor's office cannot take action on any matter if nothing has been presented for review.

"We cannot comment on the merits of anything that hasn't been investigated and forwarded by law enforcement," he said.

A hearing is scheduled before Judge Yasmine Poles at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 12.

Rozell told The Oakland Press he does not comment on pending litigation. Chubb and Bawa did not respond to a request for comment.
Trial has been scheduled for a Farmington Hills teenager, accused of killing his mother in 2017 and then trying to cover it up as an accidental fall.

Muhammed Al-Tantawi, 19, will have been in custody for more than four years before his case goes to trial in Oakland County Circuit, with jury selection set to begin Sept. 7  provided COVID-19 restrictions on trials are lifted by then.

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Al-Tantawi was barely 16 years old when he was charged with murdering his mother, Nada Huranieh, 35, who was found dead on a patio below an upper level window at the familys home on Aug. 21, 2017. Investigators believe the scene was staged to make the death look like the result of an accidental fall, but say evidence proves otherwise  including shadows captured on a home surveillance DVR that reportedly indicate someone pushing a body out the window.

Al-Tantawi was arrested the day after the death.

Besides a pause due to COVID-19 restrictions, the case has been delayed because of Al-Tantawis defense attorneys appealing Oakland County Circuit Judge Martha Andersons 2018 ruling to not suppress statements the teen made during an at-home police interview, claiming he hadn't been properly Mirandized. The Court of Appeals upheld Andersons decision, but the Michigan Supreme Court struck it down in February of this year, citing the prosecutions concession that Al-Tantawi subjected to a custodial interrogation without being advised of his rights. Justice David Viviano dissented.

Al-Tantawi spent the first years of his incarceration in Oakland County Childrens Village, then was moved to the Oakland County Jail last summer, where hes held without bond.

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Woman reports being shot at after filing assault complaint against boyfriend, suspect at-large A Pontiac woman reported being shot at from a moving vehicle Monday afternoon, suspecting her boyfriend was involved as he allegedly had assau

Exchange of gunfire reported on Pontiac street, resident narrowly avoids being hit A Pontiac man narrowly escaped being shot after an exchange of gunfire happened outside his home Sunday, with one bullet reportedly coming thr

+3 Trial scheduled for man accused of supplying drugs that killed Kiessling brothers, teen friend Trial is scheduled for a Lake Orion man accused of providing drugs to a group of friends, resulting in fatal overdoses for three of them at an
Take a few minutes to catch up on some of your local news:
Pent-up demand to drive Phuket luxury villa market in 2021

PHUKET: Though the property market remains sluggish as the third wave of COVID-19 continues to spread through Thailand, leading international property consultant CBRE reports an active real estate market as enquiries for luxury villas have shown an increase since Q4 2020.

propertyCOVID-19economicstourism

By The Phuket News

Wednesday 5 May 2021, 01:03PM

The demand is coming from both local and international purchasers as the villa supply remains limited due to developers delays in new launches and shortage of suitable development sites, CBRE reports.

The Phuket Sandbox programme, to allow fully vaccinated tourists to enter Thailand via Phuket without observing any period of quarantine, may yet to play a significant role in Phukets recovery by the end of 2021, the consultancy notes.

The surge of luxury villa demand is visible from two main sources; firstly, well-heeled regional buyers such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Mainland China who are seeking a second home or a retirement home in the post-pandemic tropical location and are already familiar with Phukets natural attraction and landscape, Prakaipeth Meechoosarn, Head of Advisory & Transaction Services - Resort Property Sales at CBRE Phuket, said in a report released today (May 5).

The second group are the local buyers, both Thais and expatriates, who are looking for a luxury resort home with the purposes of own stay and investment, Ms Prakaipeth added.

The unexpected turn of the Phuket market into a buyers market phase has prompted these high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) to look for a worthwhile long-term investment in a property sector that was predominated by foreign investors for many decades, she said.

According to CBRE Research, due to curfews and other restrictions in the first half of 2020, the completion of some under-construction projects has been affected with only five villas completed in H2 2020 adding to the total existing supply in all grades of nearly 4,300 villas in Phuket.

In the luxury segment which prices are above B90 million per villa, the total supply as of Q4 2020 stood at 320 villas with only seven new luxury villas expected to be completed in 2021 and no future supply expected in 2022, CBRE noted in its report.

Given this information, it is clear that the luxury villa supply will be very limited in the coming years and suitable land plots for top-end villa development in Phuket is becoming rarity, it added.

Phuket remains one of Thailands top destinations for tourism and for anyone looking for holiday homes as Thailands villa market can offer everything to suit everyones lifestyle depending on their budget and location requirements, Ms Prakaipeth noted.

CBRE believes if the number of inbound tourists return with help of the Thai governments approval of international vaccinated tourists to visit Phuket without quarantine coupled with a successful vaccine roll-out and a consistent dedication to keep the third COVID-19 wave under control, the revival of Phukets luxury villa market should be expected by the end of this year, she said.

This is a good window of opportunity for buyers seeking second homes or income-producing properties. The supply in the market is currently stocked with the best choices, flexible price and a variety of product options which may not be available when the market situation returns to normal, Ms Prakaipeth concluded.
Phuket health officials concerned over ICU bed shortage

PHUKET: A leading disease expert at Vachira Phuket Hospital, the main government hospital in Phuket, has expressed concern that the rate of COVID infections across Phuket may result in a shortage of beds in intensive-care units on the island.

COVID-19Coronavirushealth

By The Phuket News

Wednesday 5 May 2021, 04:33PM

Dr Withita Jaeng-iam, an epidemiologist at Vachira Phuket Hospital explained her concerns during a press conference led by Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew that was broadcast live online this morning (May 5).

Right now, we are facing the English type of the virus or B.117 which is quick and easy to become infected, and which leads to pneumonia, Dr Withita said.

From the national reports, about one in four infected cases have symptoms of pneumonia. The first and second waves saw only a small number of cases with pneumonia, she said.

In Phuket, 50% of the [confirmed] cases do not have any symptoms, 30% have light symptoms of pneumonia, and 10% have severe symptoms. That means we need a lot of breathing apparatuses.

Of the patients in care at Vachira hospital, the main government hospital on the island, Dr Withita noted, About 50% of the cases have symptoms of pneumonia for which patients need breathing apparatus.

Dr Withita also noted, We have about 200 bed available for new cases in all hospitals, but we have only 19 beds in ICU rooms for patients with severe symptoms.

Right now, about 50% of the beds in ICU rooms are occupied, but the number of patients with pneumonia and the need for beds in ICU rooms are increasing. It is possible that we may face a shortage of ICU beds, she said.

If 80% of the total number of ICU beds become occupied, that means we are in the critical stage, she noted.

NEED TO REDUCE INFECTION RATE

Dr Chayanon Pucharoen, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism at the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Phuket campus in Kathu, stressed the need to reduce the number of infections spreading across the island.

From our research, in April, we had an infection rate of one case per 2.3-2.4 persons, which was very high. If we continue to have this high rate like we did in April, we will have more than 600 cases and face a shortage of beds, he said.

However, in the last week of April, the infection rate decreased to 1:2.2, and last week the rate was down to 1:1.93. So now, we have about 60% of ICU beds used.

We have to unite to decrease the infection rate to be lower than 1:1.93 within this week, as we have new factors to think of, he cautioned.

PROACTIVE SCREENING

Also at the press conference was Phuket Vice Governor Piyapong Choowong, who reported that proactive screening for the virus is underway across the island.

We went to conduct proactive screening in three areas  Mai Khao, Cherng Talay and Rawai  and our medical staff will go to other areas at risk, he said.

I think the proactive screening is a better way to protect and control the outbreak than asking people to quarantine for 14 days, he added.

The latest report by the PPHO, marked as accurate as of 6pm last night, reports that 476 people are currently receiving treatment for COVID-19 in Phuket: 475 cases who were infected in Phuket plus one case who was infected elsewhere but is recovering in Phuket.

Of the 476 cases, 253 people have already been discharged from medical care, noted the report.

The remaining patients are in hospital care as follows: Vachira Phuket Hospital 47 cases; Patong Hospital 17; Thalang Hospital 17; Bangkok Hospital Phuket 36; Bangkok Hospital Siriroj 13; Mission Hospital Phuket 18; Phuket Provincial Hospital 2; and 73 at Filed Hospitals.

Governor Narong noted, If your area has a lot of infected cases and you want medical staff to conduct proactive screening [in your area], please inform us by calling 191 so that our medical staff can go to the area and take infected people into care and have high-risk people go through medical checks.

The leading hotpots for infections has changed over the past few days, with Wichit, Phuket Town, Rassada and Cherng Talay among the common areas for infections.

The latest map showing locations of infections across the island was released earlier today, reporting the number of confirmed infections in each area as follows:
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Thunderstorms, accompanied by locally heavy rainfall at times. Heavy and torrential downpours at times. High 88F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, mainly cloudy late with a few showers. Low near 70F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Senior enlisted advisors for the Colombian Army brief Command Sgt. Maj. Sean Rice, the senior enlisted advisor for U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, during a visit to a flight tracking center at a Colombian Army base in Bogota, Colombia, 6 April 2021. CSM Rice, along with Brig. Gen. Douglas Lowrey, and members of his staff, visited several sites to see the impact of U.S. security assistance and foreign military sales, in support of the Colombian military in defending their country from counter-narcotic and terrorist threats. (U.S. Army photo by Richard Bumgardner)
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Independence Blue Cross and Rite-Aid have teamed up to help Independence members secure COVID-19 vaccine appointments at specific Rite-Aid locations. The collaboration includes proactive outreach by Independence to members and one-on-one assistance setting up the appointments. In this file photo, a nurse fills a syringe with COVID-19 vaccine during a recent vaccination clinic.
I sat down to write this pre-holidays column, but before I did, I went through my emails one last time before I entered writing mode. It doesnt pay to get too far behind when it comes to email. Anyway, one of the emails was about a recently released book that promises to explain how to thr
South Africa: SA monitoring COVID-19 spread

South Africas teams remain on high alert to survey, detect and contain the spread of COVID-19 in general, with heightened awareness of travellers from countries where variants of concern (VOCs) are dominating.

We confirm that the B.1.617 variant, circulating widely in India, has not been detected; however, the genomics teams are working on some samples and we will need to allow the time it takes to sequence before we get an answer, Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said on Tuesday.

Mkhize has noted the concern expressed by South Africans over the possible recent importation of VOCs.

This has been a difficult area during the COVID-19 pandemic, which can often drive exclusion, mistrust and sometimes even racist rhetoric. We share our peoples concerns but wish to reassure South Africans that we are a very capable nation that knows how to deal with the burden of a variant of concern, he said.

The Minister reminded South Africans that the variant B.1.351 (or 501Y.V2) remains the most dominant in South Africa.

One of the samples taken from a traveller from India is the 501Y.V2.

We remain mindful of the advice from the World Health Organisation that all variants are managed the same: prevention by adhering to non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), early detection, contact tracing and testing, and quarantine or isolation.

These all form part of the regulations that govern the management of COVID-19, and it has been through adherence to these regulations that we have detected and contained COVID-19 cases at ports of entry, the Minister said.

Recently increasing activities have been reported as follow:

Durban

Three air travellers arrived from India, via Doha, on two separate occasions (one arrived on 21 April 2021 on Qatar Airlines - QR1367, and two arrived on 25 April 2021 on Qatar Airlines - QR1367) -- all through King Shaka International Airport.

The first passenger subsequently took ill and remains in isolation at a health care facility, whilst the other two passengers are currently asymptomatic and in isolation at paid lodgings.

Port Health has provided details of passengers, who were close contacts and National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has overseen the cases for sample collection, contact tracing and intensified surveillance, the Minister said.

On 1 May 2021, a death on board an approaching vessel was reported to Port Health by the South African Police Service (SAPS), the assistant harbour master and the vessel agent.

The vessel had departed India on 18 April 2021 and berthed at Maydon Wharf on 2 May 2021 with the deceased.

The body was subsequently transported to a State mortuary for a post mortem. Due to sampling difficulties, authorities still await the PCR test result.

However, contact tracing proceeded for 21 crew members. Of these, 14 have been detected with COVID-19 and seven have tested negative, the Minister said.

As all the members are asymptomatic, it was elected to keep all the crew on board in appropriate quarantine or isolation conditions.

The vessel has been secured and is currently under strict security in its berth until authorities decide to move it to the outer anchorage under strict security until the containment period is successfully completed.

We thank eThekwini Metro, through eThekwini Centre for Disease Control, for ably managing these incidents and swiftly mobilising the containment measures at municipal level, the Minister said.

Gqeberha

On 25 April 2021, a vessel that had departed from Mombasa, Kenya, berthed in Gqeberha some 12 days after departure.

The ship was granted access based on a report by the shipmaster that there were no reported illnesses on board. The following day, the shipmaster reported an ill crew member, who was immediately transferred out of the ship to a health care facility.

The ill crew member, together with three other crew members who were due to depart by air to their home country, were immediately subjected to PCR tests on 26 April 2021, the Minister said.

Upon testing positive for COVID-19, these crew members were subsequently isolated at paid lodgings.

Port Health, together with Transnet National Port Authority (TNPA), instructed the shipping agency to proceed with contact tracing and testing processes, with 20 crew members on board subjected to PCR tests.

A further 10 crew members have been detected with COVID-19 and are isolating for 10 days at designated facilities.

The other 10 members that tested negative will remain in quarantine on the ship.

The Minister said the officials of the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District will be responsible for monitoring the crew who are in isolation and complete the containment measures.

The vessel has been similarly secured in port to ensure that there is no unauthorised access to and from the vessel.

It is deeply unfortunate that the master of the vessel is found to have made a false declaration regarding the health status of the vessel and crew. SAPS has activated consequence management procedures and engaged the State prosecutor. We wish to put on record this ship was bound for India and it had not departed from India, Mkhize said.

The Minister expressed concern at the increase in detection of cases at ports of entry.

We have consulted the Ministerial Advisory Committee, as well as the genomics team to guide us on the management of travellers at ports of entry during these challenging times.

Government will be determining the next steps to follow and announcements will be made on the state of variants of concern in our context and what measures will be implemented to mitigate the importation of COVID-19 in general, the Minister said.

COVID-19 stats

Meanwhile, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases identified in South Africa is 1 586 148.

The number of tests conducted to date is 10 739 813. Of these, 24 040 tests were conducted since the last report

On Tuesday, 59 COVID-19 related deaths were reported in: Eastern Cape 7, Free State 3, Gauteng 21, Kwa-Zulu Natal 4, Limpopo 20, Northern Cape 1 and Western Cape 3, which brings the total to 54 511 deaths.

We convey our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the health care workers who treated the deceased patients, the Minister said.

The cumulative recoveries now stand at 1 509 656, representing a recovery rate of 95%.

The number of healthcare workers vaccinated under the Sisonke Protocol to date is 339 655. SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-05-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
President of the UN General Assembly Volkan Bozkir's planned visit to India later this month has been postponed due to an unexpected situation relating to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

Bozkir on Tuesday told reporters that he will be travelling to Bangladesh and Pakistan later this month on the invitation of the respective governments and will also be visiting Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh where he will meet with Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingya refugees who fled Myanmar's military crackdown, often considered as "ethnic cleansing" by many rights groups.

Bozkir said that he had also planned a visit to India during his trip to South Asia but postponed it due to an unexpected situation.

I also wanted to go to India. It was India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, but unfortunately, an unexpected situation came out and I had to postpone the India part to a later stage. But I will absolutely make sure that I'll go to India as well, the UN General Assembly President said, referring to India's COVID-19 crisis.

Asked whether the UN will be able to host a regular General Assembly session in September, he said: It would be wrong if we make a decision now for September on how the participation will be. Will it be a hybrid format? Or will we have again 10,000 people at UN Headquarters? What happens to civil society? What happens to the bilaterals? These are all questions we have in our minds.

He said June will be a proper time to discuss with the US, the host country of the UN, and local authorities on the COVID-19 situation and feasibility of holding the UN General Assembly.

With New York City aiming to "fully reopen" on July 1, Bozkir said it will give us a signal on whether we can have a different type of a high-level week than we had last September, when all meetings were mostly virtual with minimal in-person presence in the UN premises.

The important thing is not to risk any people's health we must absolutely go along with the mitigation measures, we must listen to what science is saying to us and we must not really open everything without any precaution.

If I were the host country, I wouldn't have made any plans for September as of now because with this pandemic, unfortunately, we are living day by day or week by week. We suddenly see something happening, like what happens in India. Nobody was expecting this suddenly to happen. It changes all the plans. So, I think it's better to start talking about it, to start discussing it, and then leave it to the science and to the local authorities, he added.

India is struggling with an unprecedented second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 3,00,000 daily new coronavirus cases being reported in the past one week.

Also read: COVID-19 crisis: COVAX urgently needs 20 million vaccines to cover supply disruption, says WHO
THE SHORTHORN

Is seeking work study student assistants for our reception desk for summer and fall.Prompt, cheerful, students with professional attitudes are encouraged to apply to answer office phones and greet guests from behind a plexiglass COVID barrier.Preference is given to students available to work some mornings. This in-office job offers flexible hours and plenty of time to study.Apply through Handshake for job #4723423 or call 817-272-3188 for more information.
Please note The Sun Chronicle is providing this story and all of our local coronavirus coverage for free so that all readers have access to this important information about the pandemic. Please visit our dedicated coronavirus coverage page for more stories. If you'd like to support our mission, please subscribe.
Today

Cloudy early with isolated thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 84F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.

Tomorrow

Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. High 87F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
EDWARDSVILLE  An East Alton man has been charged with multiple burglary and auto theft counts on April 30 and May 3.

Jared M. Heil, 20, of East Alton, was charged April 30 with two counts of offenses relating to motor vehicles, both Class 2 felonies; and 10 counts of burglary, all Class 3 felonies. On May 3 he was charged with burglary, a Class 2 felony.

Both cases were presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department.

According to court documents, on April 28 Heil allegedly was in possession of two stolen vehicles, a 2015 Chevy Impala and a 2012 Volkswagon Passat; and burglarized 10 motor vehicles in the Storeyland area of Alton.

Bail was set at $100,000.

According to the May 3 charge, on May 1 Heil allegedly broke into a 2018 Jeep Cherokee in the 4600 block of Happy Drive, Alton.

Bail in that case was set at $50,000.

He was breaking into vehicles, said Capt. Dave Vucich, chief of investigations for the Madison County Sheriffs Department. The investigation is still ongoing, with more potential charges and more suspects.

Vucich said that, after Heil was charged but before he was apprehended, he committed additional break-ins. Vucich noted they received a lot of cooperation from witnesses, as well as images from private security cameras.

We want the bad guys to know about them, he said of the cameras. They thwart crime.

Vucich said the vehicles broken into had all been unlocked. The easiest way to prevent break-ins is to lock cars and not leave keys in them, he said.

Other felony cases recently filed by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Robert M. Crain Jr., 50, of Farmersville, Illinois, was charged May 3 with threatening a public official, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On May 1 Crain allegedly threatened a sheriffs deputy and threatened to shoot them. Bail was set at $25,000.

 Izak D. Buhlinger, 27, of Granite City, was charged May 3 with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony, and aggravated unlawful use of weapons, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On May 1 Buhlinger allegedly was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine, and was carrying a loaded Taurus .380 caliber handgun in a motor vehicle without a concealed carry permit. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Charles E. Haney Jr., 50, of Collinsville, was charged May 3 with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On May 2 Haney allegedly was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Raymond A. Jankins, 18, of Cottage Hills, was charged May 3 with unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On May 1 Jankins allegedly was found to be in possession of between 30-500 grams of cannabis. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Anthony S. Mims, 37, of Collinsville, was charged April 30 with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force. On April 30 Mims allegedly was found to be in possession of a stolen 1997 GMC Sonoma truck. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Jason A. Simpson, 48, of Granite City, was charged with burglary, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On April 30 Simpson allegedly entered a 2007 Chevrolet cargo van owned by Madison Rug Cleaning, 2400 Rock Road, to commit theft. Bail was set at $35,000.

 Bradley K. Maher, 46, of Alton, was charged April 30 with criminal damage to property over $500, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On April 29 Maher allegedly damaged property belonging to someone else valued in excess of $500. Bail was set at $15,000.
ALTON  Emily Jackson returned to Senior Services Plus, Inc. in the role of grant writer.

The Godfrey native was formerly the marketing associate, then development coordinator, for the organization nearly five years ago. During her time away, she earned a certificate in Nonprofit Administration and Program Development and professionally grew through positions at Scott Credit Union and Hospice of Southern Illinois.
EDWARDSVILLE  Chairman Kurt Prenzler is calling for an in-person, special board meeting Tuesday to present a proposed redistricting map for Madison County.

My map reduces the number of county board districts from 29 to 25, Prenzler said. Also, there is no gerrymandering.

Tuesdays meeting will be the first in-person board meeting since the start of COVID-19.

In April, Prenzler signed a $4,500 contract with the University of Illinois Geographic Information Systems Lab at Springfield to redraw the county board districts and reduce the number of seats.

My instructions were to draw the map without bias, Prenzler said. I want a fair map.

Every 10 years, county board district lines are adjusted to reflect population changes since the last census and ensure approximately equal representation of residents.

We are one of four counties in Illinois with 29 county board members, Prenzler said. Other counties larger than us have fewer county board members.

The contract states UIS will redistrict the county board districts with no intentional bias, based on the latest GIS data and population related data, as 2020 census data is unavailable. The requested map shall divide Madison County into 25 districts conforming with state statute regarding Illinois County Board redistricting 55 ILCS 5/2-3003.

The agreement also states the map shall not be politically biased in anyway; however, bias may be used to insure that minority representation is not diluted disproportionately.

Tuesdays board meeting will be at 5 p.m. in the County Board Room of the Administration Building. All attendees will be required to wear masks.

Once presented to the board, the map will be available for public viewing online and a public hearing will be scheduled. A redistricting plan must be adopted by July 1.
EDWARDSVILLE  A Wood River man faces a felony weapons charge after being found in possession of a blackjack.

Kinny L. Pauley, also known as Kenneth Pauley and Kenny Pauley, 33, of Wood River, was charged May 4 with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 3 felony.

The case was presented by the South Roxana Police Department.

According to court documents, on April 25 Pauley, who has a prior conviction for attempt residential burglary out of Madison County in 2011, allegedly was found to be in possession of a blackjack.

Bail was set at $25,000.

Other felony charges filed May 4 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Robert D. Patterson Jr., 61, of Marine, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery, both Class 3 felonies; and criminal damage to property under $500, a Class A misdemeanor. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On April 15 Patterson allegedly grabbed and struck a local government employee, and damaged an iPhone 11 valued at less than $500. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Alexander D. Radcliff, 19, of Bethalto, was charged with aggravated unlawful use of weapons, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Illinois State Police. On Dec. 19 Radcliff allegedly was found to be in possession of a Rugar LD 380 pistol while engaged in a misdemeanor violation of the Cannabis Control Act. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Jeremy A. Vail, 27, of Godfrey, was charged with domestic battery (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On May 3 Vail allegedly grabbed a family or household member by the head and pushed them to the ground. It was noted that Vail has a conviction for domestic battery out of Macoupin County in 2019. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Cameron D. Brown Sr., 47 of Madison, was charged with two counts of violation of an order of protection (second subsequent offense), both Class 4 felonies. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On April 15 Brown allegedly made contact with someone with a valid order of protection against him. It was noted that he had a prior conviction for unlawful violation of an order of protection out of Madison County in 2020. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Christopher L. Crider, 34, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful violation of an order of protection (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On May 3 Crider allegedly contacted a person with a valid order of protection against him. It was noted he has a prior conviction for unlawful violation of an order of protection out of Madison County in 2019. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Dustin L. Finnegan, 35, of Staunton, was charged with criminal damage over $500, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Glen Carbon Police Department. On April 16 Finnegan allegedly caused more than $500 in damage to a 2019 Ford Fusion. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Gregory D. Portwood, 46, of Metropolis, was charged with retail theft over $300, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On April 17 Portwood allegedly took calculators and other miscellaneous items valued at more than $300 from the Collinsville Walmart, 1040 Collinsville Crossing. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Sean J. Pine, 40, of St. Louis, was charged with theft over $500, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Edwardsville Police Department. On April 2 Pine allegedly used deception to obtain control of $2,466.96 in cash from the 1818 Chophouse. Bail was set at $25,000.
Nurse practitioner Allyson Favuzza hoped to vaccinate 3,600 people against COVID-19 last week on Montage Mountain.

What actually happened signaled the ongoing difficulty of corralling the outbreak for good.

Only about 1,700 signed up for appointments at Lackawanna Countys amphitheater there and many of those cancelled or didnt show up.

The mass clinic vaccinated only about 1,300, said Favuzza, co-owner of Hometown Health Care of NEPA in Covington Twp.

So much in demand after vaccines emerged, the days of large-scale mass vaccination clinics are nearing an end, Favuzza and other local vaccine providers say.

Were going to have to go out into the community and find people, Favuzza said. Pretty much at this point, anyone who wants a vaccine has a vaccine or has an appointment scheduled.

Now, she said, pharmacists need to reach out to the rest of the population, including the vaccine hesitant and people who wont go out of their way to get a vaccine.

State Department of Health figures bear out the vaccination slowdown in recent weeks. The most vaccinations reported on a single day statewide happened April 1: 81,547 got their first doses and 61,536 received their second. On Tuesday, the state reported 14,977 people received their first doses and 37,260 got their second.

President Joe Bidens administration has taken notice. Biden announced Tuesday an effort to get at least a first vaccine dose into the arms of 70% of Americans by July 4, but the administration envisions a shift in vaccination strategies to get there. That means increasing walk-in vaccinations at local pharmacies and moving to smaller, community-based clinics, at churches and other organizations, and mobile vaccination clinics. The federal government plans to aid the effort by paying community-based organizations to hire workers to schedule appointments and vaccinate people and by sending vaccines directly to health clinics in rural communities, where vaccinations are especially lagging, according to a White House fact sheet.

Gov. Tom Wolf, who lifted most occupancy and gathering restrictions Monday effective May 31, wants 70% of residents 18 and older vaccinated before he ends all masking requirements.

The state was at 42.7% of residents 18 and older fully vaccinated as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Data Tracker website. Lackawanna County was at 49.9%; Luzerne, 41%; Monroe, 32.5%; Pike, 31%; Susquehanna, 30.7%; Wayne, 39.9%; and Wyoming, 37.9%.

Favuzza, who uses the Pfizer vaccine, said she expects vaccinations to tick quickly upward for a week or two if the federal government approves its use in people as young as 12 as expected. The Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are not yet approved for anyone younger than 16.

Still, her company is scheduled next Wednesday for an appointment-only vaccination for Scranton High School students and their families, an example of a more targeted group. After that, she expects more vaccinations at work sites or other smaller settings.

Tom DePietro, the owner of DePietros Pharmacy in Dunmore, said his pharmacy offered appointments but accepted walk-ins for a mass vaccination clinic Sunday at the Greater Scranton YMCA.

We had roughly like 35 people sign up, make an appointment, and we ended up doing a total of about 70 shots all together, he said. And unlike other providers, I actually even invest some money in advertising behind our clinic ... So I was really taken aback by the number.

Two weeks ago, he vaccinated about 480 at the YMCA.

With mass vaccination declining, DePietro also expects smaller clinics with employers, churches, civic groups and other organizations and more convincing people one on one to get vaccinated.

At the YMCA clinic Sunday, DePietro said he encountered a married couple  the wife was gung-ho for a vaccine, the husband reluctant.

The guy (Sunday) said to me, You know, I work with a bunch of middle-aged guys, and theyre convinced that even if they get COVID, they would live, DePietro said. And I said, OK, well, thats a valid argument. But I said, Do they have aunts and uncles that are maybe elderly, that if, God forbid, they get COVID and pass it on to them and they die? Then how are they going to live with themselves?

The husband got vaccinated and thanked him for the explanation, he said.

Eric Pusey, the owner of Medicap Pharmacy in Olyphant who has already offered vaccinations at county school districts, said hes started offering walk-in vaccinations and is branching out to Susquehanna County districts to vaccinate students and their families. Hes working with the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce to offer vaccinations at local employers, using the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires only one dose. Recently, he had a clinic at a South Scranton church that many Latino people attend.

Its going to be much more targeted, Pusey said.

The state Department of Health reported another 2,597 cases Wednesday for a total of 1,164,216, and 56 new deaths, increasing the total to 26,390.

The region added 188 new cases and four deaths, increasing the total cases to 74,792 and the death toll to 1,798.

By county:

Lackawanna added 27 cases for 17,880 total, including 2,772 probable, and remained at 460 deaths.

Luzerne added 77 cases for 30,687 total, including 2,400 probable. One new death raised the total to 795.

Monroe added 42 cases for 14,136 total, including 419 probable. Two new deaths raised the total to 302.

Pike added 11 cases for 3,805 total, including 390 probable, and remained at 54 deaths.

Susquehanna added 14 cases for 2,493 total, including 306 probable, and remained at 60 deaths.

Wayne added 14 cases for 3,937 total, including 403 probable. One new death raised the total to 79.

Wyoming added three cases for 1,854 total, including 326 probable, and remained at 48 deaths.
Ann Kasperowski had just gone to bed Tuesday night when she rushed downstairs and told her husband, Alex, to look outside.

In front of their Dickson City home, a broad plume of water gushed 6 feet into the air, spewing boulders, dirt and debris that would eventually lay waste to a two-block section of Dundaff Street.It was like Old Faithful coming out of there, Alex Kasperowski, 87, said.

On Wednesday, as Lackawanna County cleaned up after an evening of hit-and-miss flash flooding, Dundaff Street became ground zero for the recovery after a conduit carrying an underground stream blew out and caused extensive damage.

Dundaff is the worst in the county that were aware of, David Hahn, the countys emergency management director, said after completing a tour of the hard-hit Midvalley area Wednesday afternoon. No one is reporting anything else that is anywhere near to that.

Forecasters were expecting the bands of precipitation that developed over the central part of the county Tuesday around 7 p.m. to produce some decent rainfall  an inch, maybe 2  said Ben Lott, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Binghamton, New York.Instead, about 4 inches of rain drenched the Midvalley and parts of the Abingtons and the Upvalley, with most of that falling before 10 p.m., he said.

What happened next was not unexpected, Hahn said. With drains unable to handle the volume of water, there was widespread street flooding reported Tuesday and early Wednesday, particularly in the Midvalley and the Abingtons.

In some places, the rushing water scoured hillsides and ditches and washed debris across roadways.

There were spots like that all over, Hahn said.

In Dickson City, the floodwaters cascading down from the Business Route 6 area overwhelmed the 9-foot by 5-foot underground culvert that carries Scott Creek beneath Dundaff Street, said John Lukasik, borough Department of Public Works foreman.

It blew out a manhole just steps away from the Kasperowski home at 626 Dundaff and the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church across the street.

The water pushing out of the manhole carried with it tons of dirt and large and small boulders that tumbled down the streets 600 and 500 blocks. Sections of pavement buckled.

Alex Kasperowski, who has lived on the street for six decades, said he had seen nothing like it since the Agnes flood of 1972. He stayed up until 4 a.m. watching the spectacle.

It was a scary rumbling, he said. All those rocks in there were rolling around and rattling like thunder.

James Mitchell, 46, who lives at Rear 604 Dundaff, said he escaped with a couple of inches of water in his basement, but many of his neighbors on both Dundaff and nearby Lincoln Street had more significant basement flooding.

Mitchell also was struck by the sound.

It was like Niagara Falls. It was that loud, he said.

Borough and state Department of Transportation officials were waiting for the water to recede to do an assessment, Lukasik said.

PennDOT said the street is expected to be closed until Monday.Throughout the Midvalley, crews from area fire departments were busy pumping out flooded basements.

Although he did not have a complete count, and calls were still coming in, probably at least 100 homes experienced some level of basement flooding, Hahn said.

Archbald Fire Chief Bob Harvey said firefighters in the borough had responded to 23 pumping calls by Wednesday afternoon.

We had a lot of unchanneled rivers, and some of them were worse than others, Harvey said.

In Scott Twp., a pond overflowed with rain water, leading to the washout of a bridge along Peaceful Valley Road, township Administrator Carl Ferraro said. Its a dead-end road, so residents who live beyond the bridge were stranded as crews spent the day working on a temporary fix.

Ferraro said they plan to continue working on it today.

In Scranton, the Department of Public Works closed the floodgates along the Lackawanna River as water levels rose rapidly Tuesday night into early Wednesday.

DPW Director Tom Preambo said he initiated the closure after city police recognized the river could be a problem and reached out to the DPW dispatcher. The procedure began about 1:15 a.m. and was finished about 3:30 a.m.Id rather have them closed and not need them closed than not have them closed and need them closed, Preambo said.

Not all areas in the county received an inordinate amount of rain. Carbondale received less than an inch, and less than 2 inches fell in Clarks Green, according to totals recorded by weather service spotters. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Pittston Twp. recorded only about 0.3 inch Tuesday night and early Wednesday.

Several other roads in the region remain closed:

 State Route 3014 in Nescopeck Twp., Luzerne County, is closed due to a bridge outage. The estimated time of reopening is to be determined.

 State Route 2017 in Lenox Twp., Susquehanna County, is closed due to a bridge outage. The estimated time of reopening is to be determined.

 State Route 3024 (Tannery Road), Cherry Ridge Twp., Wayne County, is closed due to flooding. The estimated time of reopening is 10 a.m. Monday.

 State Route 1005 (Cliff Street) in Berlin Twp., Wayne County, is closed due to a damaged roadway. The estimated time of reopening is 11 a.m. Monday.

 State Route 296 is closed in Wayne County due to flooding. The estimated time of reopening is 11 a.m. today. State Route 2002 (Old State Road/Schoolhouse Road) in Monroe Twp. to Northmoreland Twp., Wyoming County, is down to one lane due to a downed tree. The estimated time of reopening is noon today.Brooke Williams, staff writer, contributed to this report.
A lot of hand-wringing has accompanied Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barretts $2 million book deal. While theres always reason to worry when big piles of money land on the court, and Coney Barrett has wasted little time monetizing her new job, some larger points are getting lost in all of this.

Coney Barrett isnt the first justice to reel in a big book deal. Justice Sonia Sotomayor collected an advance of more than $3 million for her memoir, and Justice Clarence Thomas got $1.5 million for his. Justice Neil Gorsuch was paid $225,000 for a book about the Constitution. Federal ethics guidelines mandate that justices cant accept more than about $30,000 annually in outside pay. However, book income is exempt.

Concerns are often voiced about justices being compromised by pocketing money from publishers who might have issues before the court. But books are only part of a bigger problem: The Supreme Courts conflicts of interest and financial disclosure rules remain ragged and outdated.

Unlike members of state and federal judiciaries, the courts nine justices arent subject to an ethical code of conduct. That mirrors the latitude given the presidency, which also isnt beholden to most guidelines circumscribing financial and professional practices of people in lower-ranking government jobs. Former President Donald Trumps tenure, marked by flagrant financial conflicts of interest, shows how ineffective self-regulating ethics are.

The modern court never has approximated the corruption that enveloped the Trump administration, and polling indicates that it remains widely trusted and admired. The court always has said it is capable of minding its own store, but evidence showing otherwise has piled up. Liberal and conservative justices alike have had notorious lapses.

No justice is blameless and all of them have missed disclosures they should have made  all of them, says Gabe Roth, executive director of Fix the Court, a group that monitors transparency and disclosure issues and advocates legislation to resolve some of the courts problems.

Roths group has pushed for a new court ethics code, more detailed financial disclosures, a ban on owning stocks, disclosure of public appearances, greater media access, more live broadcasts of hearings, and 18-year term limits.

Nearly every justice has been questioned on issues ranging from failure to recuse themselves from cases in which they might have a financial or personal conflict to accepting travel packages and gifts. They have been dinged for participating in partisan fundraisers and making partisan comments.

Court scandals from earlier eras seem relatively quaint today. Abe Fortas was forced off the court in 1969 for accepting a $20,000 annuity from a financier earlier in his career. William O. Douglas was criticized for accepting $350 for a magazine article he wrote about folk music. William Rehnquist and Sandra Day OConnor wrote books for modest sums and nobody complained.

Some court standards tightened after Watergate, when the 1978 Ethics in Government Act was passed. It requires justices to file annual disclosures about their and their immediate family members financial interests. In practice, it has pushed them to disclose potential financial conflicts (and ideally recuse themselves) without having to divest their holdings  and without being prohibited from owning shares in companies with cases that might come before the court. Problems have arisen.

In 2016, Chief Justice John Roberts disclosed he had sold $250,000-$500,000 worth of Microsoft stock during the previous year. He sold the shares prior to hearing a case involving the companys lucrative gaming system, but that wasnt disclosed until well after the fact. He joined in the courts denial of an appeal in a case involving Texas Instruments Inc. in 2016 while still holding $100,001-$250,000 worth of that companys stock. After Fix the Court reported the conflict, the court acknowledged that Roberts should have recused himself.

In 2016, the University of Rhode Island reimbursed Sotomayor $1,045 for a flight so she could be the schools commencement speaker. Thats reasonable. The university also paid for a block of 11 hotel rooms for the justice, members of her family and her security detail. That seems highly unreasonable. Sotomayor, also unreasonably, reported none of this in her disclosure forms.

Thomas repeatedly has been called out for not recusing himself from cases in which his wife, Ginni, might have an interest. For years he failed to disclose that she received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Thomas amended 20 years of disclosure forms to account for his wifes employment.

Its likely to continue unless the court embraces transparency and adopts and enforces more sophisticated and stringent conflicts policies.

If the court doesnt better police itself, congressional oversight might be needed. Democrats in the House recently introduced the Twenty-First Century Courts Act, which seeks to establish a code of conduct for the court, require online financial disclosures, offer public explanations for why and when justices recuse themselves, and provide audio access to hearings. Democrats in the Senate introduced the Judicial Travel Accountability Act last fall.

But Congress may lack the constitutional power to mandate ethics guidelines for the court (an issue that the court itself would possibly end up needing to rule on).

To avoid seeing outsiders try to resolve its ethical problems, the court should take them up on its own. While the justices remain widely trusted, that faith is falling along partisan lines. In some polls, a majority of respondents dont think the justices make impartial decisions. With its legacy and reputation at stake, the Roberts court should demonstrate that its committed to ethics and transparency.

TIMOTHY L. OBRIEN writes for Bloomberg Opinion.
Editor: The Times-Tribune has published political observations in letters from J.P. Durkin, of Pittston.

In one he noted with pride that white people are still the majority (Infernal alliance, Jan. 27). Fear that this may soon no longer be the case is at the very heart of the Make America Great Again movement spearheaded by former President Trump.

Facing this demographic inevitability, Republican-majority state legislatures, including Pennsylvanias, have introduced more than 260 measures since the November election intended to suppress voter turnout. Such laws, if enacted, are clearly designed to impact communities of color disproportionately.

A new voting law was enacted in Georgia. Durkin characterized a submission of mine (Boost ballot access, April 11) as a dissertation on the Georgia law (Voter ID valid, April 23).

I mentioned the Georgia statute in passing. Here is all you need to know about this awful legislation: By taking the function of certifying federal elections results away from the Georgia secretary of state and the governor, turning the process over to the control of the legislature, including the power to appoint its own slate of electors, this law allows legislators to ignore the will of the majority. If it had been in effect in 2020, I have no doubt that the narrow majority President Joe Biden won would have been ignored in favor of the perceived interests of the narrowing white majority.

Durkin attributed to me the notion that certain groups ought to have the right to vote, including illegals, felons, dead people, dreamers and other nondescript persons 

In February Durkin complained that Biden has loaded his lineup with people based upon color and sex, and, that Bidens appointments process disregarded competence and merit, clearly hallmarks of the Trump regime (Bidens bad start, Feb. 22).

The mindset reflected in Durkins words is as obvious as it is sinister.

GEORGE CLARK

CLARKS SUMMIT

Editor: The appalling Republican-led voter suppression effort in states such as Georgia and Texas actually has a silver lining.

Republican governors in both states, Greg Abbott in Texas and Brian Kemp in Georgia, will both be up for reelection in 2022. Hopefully, voters in both states will elect governors who are willing to stand up for all their people.

RICHARD OMALLEY

PECKVILLE

Editor: Florida has followed Georgia in enacting more suppressive restrictions regarding voting by mail.

For many years Republican-controlled states have sought to restrict opponents ability to vote by limiting polling places in areas where opposition voting is expected. Voting by mail in the last election ameliorated limited voting places and long waiting lines to cast ballots in many places.

This is why it is being restricted. Many Republican-controlled legislatures even have considered in presidential races ignoring the popular vote result in sending electors to the Electoral College. To preserve our individual freedom, we must end control of our legislature by Republican-gerrymandered methods.

Vote only for Democrats or true independents. Vote no for the Republican legislators attempted power grab in the first two proposed constitutional amendments on the primary election ballot.

AL ROGERS

CLARKS SUMMIT

Editor: I think the words of the Republican mayor of Colorado City, Texas, pretty much summed up the last 40 years: The strong will survive, the weak will perish.

The mayor resigned after making those remarks during the deadly Texas deep freeze in February, but I bet that hes a good, Bible-reading Christian who loves Jesus, too. I can recall 40 years ago attempting to explain to a local young Republican that the policies being pushed by the ascendant Reagan revolution amounted to social Darwinism. I got the impression that he was clueless as to the term. After all, most of the Gippers youth corps never read much beyond Atlas Shrugged.

But the aforementioned mayor certainly seems to have a grip on it. As does Ted Cruz, the Texas senator who, in taking off for Cancun during the deadly cold spell, essentially emulated failed Congressman Davy Crockett, who bitterly told his constituents You can all go to hell, I am going to Texas. Only in Cruzs case, it was somewhere tropical without a failed power grid.

This is what 40 years of President Ronald Reagans economic legacy creates: A gutted federal government that struggles to even deliver the mail and assistance programs so cut to the bone that being working poor in America is about the same as being working poor in Charles Dickens England. One major political party is driven by spite, racism, ignorance and greed.

Abe Lincoln would be horrified.

JEFFREY M. McHALE

OLYPHANT

Editor: I urge people to go to their polling place on May 18 and vote yes for the proposed constitutional amendment that would ensure proper checks and balances and prevent abuse of power by the states executive branch.

Its important to know that even though this is a primary election, it is not necessary to be a member of a political party to vote on ballot questions. I urge all registered voters to weigh in on this important constitutional amendment.

The purpose of emergency powers is to allow the governor to respond swiftly to a crisis. Once the situation exists for several weeks, however, the legislature has had an opportunity to study the matter and to write, debate and vote on legislation to address it. Legislators should be allowed to do so at that point.

For a governor to continue to unilaterally make all decisions pertaining to such a situation for over a year, or indefinitely, is an abuse of power. There is no justification for it.

ALICE MITCHELL

SUSQUEHANNA
London, KY (40741)

Today

Overcast with rain showers at times. High 76F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Give A Little Love was the slogan for John Lewis's last Christmas campaign.

Now customers are using the same tactic in an emotional and even tearful plea to prevent the closure of a branch dating back more than 170 years.

The frontage of the John Lewis shop in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, has been plastered in hundreds of heart-shaped messages, love letters, notes, children's drawings and photographs in what has been likened to an outpouring of grief.

Closing down: The John Lewis shop in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, has been plastered in hundreds of heart-shaped messages, love letters, notes, children's drawings and photographs

Customers and former staff have been among those contributing to the ever-growing display.

Employees have even gathered for vigils outside the 1960s building to share memories and their sense of loss.

Sheffield was one of eight John Lewis branches the company decided not to reopen post-lockdown last month.

It insists the department store was 'financially challenged' even before coronavirus and bosses are consulting on permanent closure.

Almost 25,000 people have signed a petition to save the shop, formerly Cole Brothers, which was established in 1847.

It employs 299 staff. Further petitions have been launched to save stores that closed this month in Aberdeen, Peterborough, Watford and York, attracting more than 50,000 signatures.

The Sheffield store has been described as the remaining 'jewel in the crown' of a city centre which has suffered challenging times for more than three decades after the opening of the out-of-town Meadowhall Shopping Centre.

Closure of John Lewis and the nearby Debenhams leaves independently owned Atkinsons as the sole department store.

For emotional grandmother Andrea Eades, 77, who was reading the tributes on John Lewis's door, the shop is inextricably linked with her family's history. She said: 'I'm getting all teared up. It's as if someone has died.

'People in Sheffield are very attached to John Lewis and I absolutely love it. It's a standing joke in my family and I'm very sad it's closing down.

'I've brought my grandson here to buy him toys and my daughter and I shopped here for my mother of the bride outfit when she got married.

'My husband and I come regularly and go to the cafe. I have so many memories and the staff were so lovely, they'd do anything for you.'

Among tributes adorning the doors were photographs of staff having fun at work and even cards of condolence.

Some of the messages were addressed directly to John Lewis Partnership boss Sharon White (pictured)

One, signed simply 'Jan', said: 'I remember when my mum passed away I came here to buy candles and holders for her funeral. I was so upset and a lovely member of staff found a chair for me, sat me down and went off to find my candles.

'She was so helpful and patient, she couldn't do enough for me. I have never forgotten her kindness and compassion.

'As she served me she was reduced to tears. Yes, I can order online but I will never get that level of service so doubt I will shop with you again.'

A tribute left by Gill Booth, read: 'It's hard to put into words what I am feeling. August 1982 was the first time I walked through the entrance at the start of my six-month scheme and became part of the Cole Brothers/John Lewis family.

'After nearly 39 years' service I am devastated that it's the end of an era. Love to all my colleagues past and present and thank you to all the customers that have supported us.'

Another worker, Michelle Wales, said: 'John Lewis in Sheffield has staff that have worked there literally a lifetime. Whether you were a part-timer or a full-time member of staff, everyone was made to feel as though they had joined a family.

'The managers were hard-working, dedicated, diligent, effective and loyal.

'This must be like a slap in the face to this amazing body of staff who dedicated their lives to growing the brand.'

Denise Lawrenson, head of fundraising at human trafficking charity The Snowdrop Project, said staff had helped design its premises, providing furniture and interior design services to provide a 'welcoming therapeutic space' for victims of trafficking.

An anonymous message read: 'The very heart of Sheffield has been ripped out. Such lovely staff.' Some were addressed directly to John Lewis Partnership boss Sharon White, declaring: 'You have made a big mistake.'

Speaking outside the branch, NHS worker Philippa Hedley-Takhar, 45, said: 'It's a significant loss to Sheffield.

For many years the store has been at the centre of plans to rejuvenate Sheffield's city centre and the reaction to the closure shows how much emotional significance the store has.

'It really is like the heart of the city centre is being ripped out.

'I can remember shopping there in the 1980s for school uniform with my late mum. I think for many residents it's another link to our shared history and memories that will be gone.'

Academic Philippa Thomson, 54, said: 'The closure has really hit Sheffield hard. The regeneration of the city was depending on John Lewis to be at the heart.

The suggestion Sheffielders will travel to (the nearest branch at) Leeds feels like such a misjudgement of the people of Sheffield.'

As well as the main petition against the closure, a smaller petition has been created by shopper Evelyn Risner, urging a boycott of the chain and its sister firm Waitrose.

She believes the Sheffield store only became unprofitable because it had little investment in recent years. Meanwhile, millions are being spent on a revamp of the Peter Jones store in Sloane Square, London, including a rooftop terrace bar.

The small business owner said: 'They just weren't creative, they ran the place down. I bet they lost a lot of custom by leaving it so tired.

I just thought that (the petition) was a way of showing John Lewis that we were angry, I couldn't think of any other way to show irritation. No one seems to have held them to account.'

Sheffield Central Labour MP Paul Blomfield, who met boss White and executive director Pippa Wicks after the closure announcement, said the closure was 'incomprehensible'.

He said he left the meeting none the wiser about the reasons for shutting the shop. Last year, the council bought John Lewis out of the lease for 3million, taking control of the building and the land it stands on.

The council then offered to pay a contribution towards refurbishment of the building. In return, John Lewis entered into a new 20-year deal paying rent based on turnover.

Speaking to local newspaper the Sheffield Star, Blomfield said: 'They said it was profitable when the firm signed the new deal with the council last summer but they were unable to say what had changed since then.'

John Lewis said it is continuing to consult on the closure.

A spokeswoman said: 'We are incredibly grateful for the support our shop has received  the strength of feeling underlines what a difficult decision the planned closure has been.'
A shortage of computer chips is wreaking havoc in the world of manufacturing  and threatens to stretch into next year.

Chips, also known as semiconductors, are now crucial parts in an array of devices from smartphones and computers to cars and even fridges.

But supply chains have been convulsed by the pandemic, with demand for electrical goods exploding as people spend more time at home.

Shortage: Chips - also known as semiconductors - are now crucial parts in an array of devices from smartphones and computers to cars and even fridges

At the same time, car manufacturers have bounced back from their initial closures faster than expected, creating a global scramble for chips.

Stellantis, the car giant behind Vauxhall, Fiat and Peugeot, is the latest company to warn of production woes, following the lead of rivals Ford and Nissan as well as smartphone makers Apple and Samsung.

Stellantis said that production in the first quarter of 2021 was down 11 per cent, but added that the second quarter would be even worse.

Because of the problem, the firm has had to stop installing digital speedometers in its Peugeot 308 cars and return to using older analogue ones.

Richard Palmer, chief financial officer at Stellantis, said: 'We do expect it [the shortage] to improve in the second half, but clearly I think it would be naive to expect it to just disappear.'

He said it was now possible the shortage could extend into 2022.

That view was also echoed by Matthew Byatt, managing partner of technology consultancy Acuity Advisors and a chip industry expert.

He warned the supply issues were serious and were now 'creating a real headache for car manufacturers in particular'.

'The whole industry is being squeezed at the moment,' Byatt added.

The shortage of computer chips has grown during the coronavirus crisis after car makers shut down plants in the early stages of the pandemic.

That prompted chip makers to switch production to more profitable processors for consumer electronics.

These suddenly became in huge demand as people stayed indoors and employees worked from home.

However, when car production then returned sooner than expected, chip makers were slow to resume production of chips used in vehicles.

The problem was then exacerbated by February's winter storm in Texas, which caused blackouts that shut down several semiconductor plants in Austin, as well as a fire at another plant in Japan in March.

In recent weeks, the shortage has forced a string of major car makers to halt or reduce production at plants, while smartphone makers Samsung and Apple have also seen their sales hit.

BMW closed its Mini plant in Oxford last week, as well as another production line in Regensburg, Germany, while Nissan, Toyota and Ford took similar moves as well.

Jaguar Land Rover, which has five plants in the UK, closed its sites at Halewood on Merseyside and Castle Bromwich, West Midlands.
Sanjeev Gupta has signalled the break-up of his steel empire in a move that throws Britain's struggling industry deeper into crisis.

The tycoon has appointed four new directors at Liberty Steel to lead a committee that will be given the freedom to sell underperforming parts of the company.

This will raise fears that Liberty's UK arm could be split up and sold off. Gupta's wider group of business, the GFG Alliance, which includes Liberty, has been on the brink since its main lender Greensill Capital went bust at the start of March.

Sell-off: Sanjeev Gupta (pictured) has appointed four new directors at Liberty Steel to lead a committee that will be given the freedom to sell underperforming parts of the company

GFG employs 5,000 people in the UK, 3,000 of whom work at Liberty's 12 plants.

One of the appointments to the panel will raise eyebrows.

Iain Hunter, who will be Liberty's chief governance officer, for years led GFG's controversial bank Wyelands which has been forced to return money to its customers by the Bank of England.

Gupta, who was dubbed the 'saviour of UK steel' after a spending spree that started in 2013 and saw him buy factories in Newport, Stocksbridge and Hartlepool, has been scrambling to secure new financing since Greensill's collapse.

But yesterday's announcement was the most explicit indication yet that Liberty might not survive the crisis intact.

Liberty said: 'The restructuring and transformation committee will be given full autonomy to restructure Liberty's operations to focus on core profitable units, and either fix or sell underperforming units.'

The news came as GFG revealed its finance director is quitting after around a year and a half in the post.

V Ashok will leave at the end of May for personal reasons after spending months firefighting the conglomerate's near financial collapse.

Gupta was dubbed the 'saviour of UK steel' after a spending spree that started in 2013 and saw him buy factories in Newport, Stocksbridge and Hartlepool (pictured)

Dubai-based businessman Deepak Sogani will take over from Ashok on an interim basis across GFG as a whole  but has also been appointed as Liberty's finance chief and will be one of four executives on the restructuring committee.

Gupta has made the surprise move of bringing on long-time colleague Hunter, who oversaw the sale of the former Tungsten Bank to Gupta in 2015, later turning it into Wyelands, which he led until late last year.

But its reputation has nosedived since and, in an unprecedented intervention in March, Wyelands was forced by the Bank of England to return money to 4,000 retail savers.

The restructuring panel will also include Jeff Kabel, who once worked at JP Morgan and is chairman emeritus of the International Steel Trade Association, as chief transformation officer, and turnaround expert Jeffrey Stein joins as restructuring chief.

Steel unions demanded more details about how the plans would affect UK workers.

A spokesman for union Community said: 'We are seeking urgent clarification on the implications of this announcement.

'Sanjeev Gupta has promised to keep every UK steel plant open and we expect him to honour that commitment.

'The future for all the UK businesses must be secured.' The Government has already turned down a request for a 170million bailout because it said it could not be sure the money would stay in the UK and not be sent overseas to help another part of the GFG empire.

Liberty also announced that it had secured new funding for its operations in Australia, with the sprawling Whyalla Steelworks clinching a cash injection from California-based White Oak Global Advisors.
A record number of financial scams is being uncovered as City regulators battle a torrent of fraud online.

A total of 219 warnings about sham firms were issued by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) last month, a Mail audit has found.

It is believed to be the most of any month on record and was nearly double March's figure of 114.

Scam alerts: A total of 219 warnings about sham firms were issued by the Financial Conduct Authority last month, a Mail audit has found

The warnings cover firms that are illegally selling financial products such as bonds, foreign currency exchange and shares without authorisation, as well as those pretending to be legitimate businesses.

In April, fraudsters impersonated asset manager Vanguard, trading platform CMC Markets and Martin Lewis's Money Saving Expert among other top names in finance.

The figures underline the scale of the challenge faced by the FCA in battling financial crime, as criminals publish fraudulent digital ads and websites with little scrutiny.

A group of Britain's biggest banks, insurers and asset managers is urging the Government to tackle digital fraud in the forthcoming Online Safety Bill.

They have warned that victims  mostly elderly  are losing 'life-changing' sums of money because internet companies such as Google and Facebook fail to check the authenticity of adverts.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, who has so far refused to revisit the Online Safety Bill to include financial harms, is under increasing pressure from the financial services industry and politicians from both sides of the aisle.

Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake, a campaigner for fairness in financial services, said: 'Everyone in the industry wants financial harm to be covered by the bill  the FCA, the Bank of England, the firms themselves.

These opportunities to get new safeguards included in legislation don't come around every day. The Culture Secretary should revisit this.'

There is also concern about sham websites, scam calls and text messages that are not being tackled quickly enough.

Since the start of 2020, the FCA has issued warnings about 1,761 firms offering financial services without authorisation, including 611 that were 'clone' firms, analysis by the Mail found.

Brazen con artists have even masqueraded as household names such as Lloyds Bank, HSBC, Aviva, M&G and Hargreaves Lansdown.

But a group of top organisations including The City UK and the Investment Association wants the internet giants, which together control the bulk of the online ad industry, to have a legal obligation to stop fraudsters misusing their platforms for financial scams.

Facebook has said it is working to 'detect and reject' ads that scam people out of money and block the fraudsters from using its platform, while Google says it is introducing new systems to verify businesses who post ads.
The Rev. Gus Puleo is pastor of St. Patrick Church in Norristown and served as an adjunct professor of Spanish at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He is a graduate of Norristown High School and attended Georgetown University, where he received B.A. and B.S. in Spanish and linguistics. He has masters degrees in Spanish, linguistics and divinity from Middlebury College, Georgetown University and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Pennsylvania.
John C. Morgan: Appreciating the value of my mother's influence
Department of Education to teachers: thanks for an extraordinary year
Burglars making the most of technology and information available on the internet seems to be the new trend, if one may go by the details provided by a gang member involved in one burgling a nationalised bank, at Gunjapadugu in Ramagundam on March 24.

According to Ramagundam police on Tuesday, it came to light that burglars from Maharashtra and UP had used Google maps to locate the Gunjapadugu branch of the SBI to carry out the sensational heist. The gang had fled with six kg gold and Rs 18 lakh in cash.

The police arrested one of the gang members, Adesh Sharma, from Hasnpur in Hurja taluq of Badam district of Uttar Pradesh. A team led by CI Mahender arrested Adesh Sharma on May 1. After producing him in the local court, he was brought to Manthni on prisoner transit (PT) warrant and produced in the First Class Magistrate court in Manthani today. Nawabul Hasan and Danveer of UP, Raju Vasanth Rao Varbe, Devadas Roop Chand Kapgate, Sanketh Tej Ram Urke of Maharashtra were in the custody of the Maharashtra Police. Three other gang members  Nawab alias Guddu, Nasar Ali alias Bhure and Jahangeer alias Master from UP, were still absconding.

According to Adesh, they formed a nine-member gang which had six from UP and three from Maharashtra. They camped in Raju Vasanth Rao Varbes house in Chandrapur of Maharashtra for 15 days and purchased a gas cylinder, regulator and gas cutter.

Initially, they decided to commit thefts in banks near National Highways. On March 19, the gang struck at Bank of Maharashtra under Warora police station limits of Chandrapur. They also targetted a few other banks.

Later, they decided to target banks located on State highways and began searching for them with the help of Google map. One of the members Nawab found the location of Gunjapadugu bank on his mobile phone.

At around 8 pm on March 24, the gang members reached Gunjapadugu of Manthani mandal and entered the bank by breaking open the rear window. They made a ladder with sticks available at the spot to climb a wall next to the bank.

At around 12 midnight, they entered the bank, disconnected the CCTV cameras and the alarm. Later, they broke open the strong room and cut the locker with a gas cutter. At around 2 am, they left with six kg gold and Rs 18 lakh cash.

They left for Chandrapur by 4.30 am and from there the UP members left for their home State by bus. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case and began investigation by forming special teams under the supervision of Godavarikhani ACP Umender. Learning that similar kind of bank burglaries were committed in Maharashtra, police teams were sent to Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
GE Energy - Crerative Services

NISKAYUNA - General Electric's global research center has been awarded $36 million from the Department of Defense to create "smart" warehouses at military bases in San Diego, Calif. and Albany, Ga. that will use 5G data networks, robots and digital replicas of the facilities to speed up the deployment of supplies to military missions.

GE Research, which operates a 5G test network installed by Verizon at its Niskayuna campus, says the 5G-enabled warehouses will fulfill orders that used to take days or weeks in less than 24 hours. 5G networks are ten times faster than the 4G networks in use today by the majority of businesses and cell phone carriers.
Retro ice-cream shop opens on Cohoes Remsen Street

Sweet Happy Days, a 1950s-themed ice-cream parlor, opened last weekend at 86 Remsen St. in Cohoes. The owner is Brenda Hage, who last year opened Teta Maries Lebanese Restaurant down the block.

I love ice cream. It makes people happy. My goal is to put smiles on the faces of seniors and people of all ages who come in for a cone, or sundae or a milkshake treat, Hage said. The location, next to Canal Square Park, previously was a music store.

According to the announcement from the city: "Cohoes native Brenda Hage has a deep admiration for the tenacity of her parents, a special place in her heart for seniors, and an enthusiastic love of ice cream. When presented with the possibility of opening an ice cream parlor adjacent to the park her parents enjoyed on sunny days in their retirement years, and easily accessible to seniors in nearby apartment buildings, she did not hesitate. Within 48 hours she had signed the lease."

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Crisp Cannoli owner plans butcher shop for Schodack

Jason Grant, owner of The Crisp Cannoli Bakery & Cafe in East Greenbush, is developing a butcher shop and smokehouse in a former Stewarts location on Columbia Turnpike in Schodack, according to a Facebook post. The business will offer free vendor booths in the parking lot to local farmers, the announcement says.

Among the offerings will be venison processing, smoked meats, fresh-cut steaks, deli meats, sausage and more.

We are hoping to have this space up and running as soon as possible, Grant wrote in the announcement. He founded The Crisp Cannoli in 2010. Last May, it moved to a new newly constructed building at 1 Springhurst Drive in East Greenbush. He also operates the six-month-old Why Not Burgers & Fries concept from the location.

Casey's in Rensselaer closing for summer break

Caseys Restaurant, a mainstay of the Rensselaer dining scene for years, will be closed during June and July for vacation and renovations to the building, according to a Facebook post. The last day of business is May 28, with a reopening in August, the announcement says.
ALBANY  Kittens on the keyboard. Puppy eyes staring up. Barks and meows and demands for treats.

For many pet owners, that's all been part of a normal work day since COVID-19 led employers to ask employees to work from home some 15 months ago.

Now, as employers are calling workers back to their offices, pet owners need to prepare their four-legged friends for what could be a dramatic change for animals that are very much creatures of habit, experts say.

What's happened is they have gotten so used to people being home all the time that that's now their new structure, said Nancy Haynes, the director of behavior and enrichment at the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society on Menands.

In the days leading up a return to the office, Haynes said, pet owners should leave the house, as if going to work, for increasing periods of time every day.

If you just up and go back to work, five days a week, they're not going to know what's happening, Haynes told the Times Union on Tuesday. So ideally, if you have the time, you want to acclimate them back up to you working outside the home  The more time you put into it, the more comfortable they feel with you leaving and going.

At the Hartman Road Dog Park in Albany, dog owners were of mixed opinions.

"I'm definitely a little bit nervous," said Julia Romano, who brought her small cattle dog/pointer mix, Midge, to the park. Romano is preparing to head back to classes at Albany Medical College.

"I think both of us have gotten pretty attached to each other," she said, "and I think I'm a little bit worried that it's going to take an adjustment, take some time."

Cruz Dalcourt of Albany said he was not worried at all about the adjustment of his Australian shepherd/heeler mix dog, Colt, who sleeps all day.

"I think I ruin his beauty sleep during the day at certain periods, so it might be even better," Dalcourt said. "He will miss his lunches, probably having a walk and a fetch session. Other than that, not much to worry about."

Last June, as states and municipalities began to open up following the first phase of the deadly pandemic, the American Veterinary Medical Association, whose membership includes more than 97,000 veterinarians, listed several steps for pet owners to ease the transition.

The AVMA recommended pet owners condition their animals by giving them small treats on their way out the door, so the pets find it rewarding when their owners leave. The association said before owners leave for work,. they should play with their pets and and engage them in exercise to burn energy and relax them. The AVMA recommended automatic feeders, the creation of a safe space (such as a crate for dogs); and suggested a look for any signs of stress, such as excessive barking for dogs, agitation, destructive behavior and urination or potty issues.

Northeast Animal Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., told pet owners not to underestimate an animal's ability to notice changes in your daily routine.

"If you normally wear certain clothes for work, carry a particular bag, or give them a special treat before we leave, begin these 'rituals' again as we leave for our excursions," the website of the practice stated. "Our pets walks or mealtimes may have been shifted because we were home more. Maybe we slept longer, went on more walks to get out of the house, or maybe we ate dinner later due to quarantine-snacking during the day. Reinstitute your pets old walking and meal times. Resist the urge to feed them, take them on a walk, or take them outside to play during hours you will normally be at work."

The hospital website said not to fret if called back to work on short notice.

"The fact is, whether you have no time to prepare, or two weeks, a significant change to your pets schedule still comes with some degree of anxiety for them," it said. "New pets  whether they be puppies, kittens, or a rescue with a history of separation anxiety  may have the most difficult time with this. Knowing what to look for can help you be proactive and set your pet up for success."

At Mohawk-Hudson, Haynes explained that it also was a transition when pet owners started to work from home, albeit different depending on whether one's pet purrs or barks.

"Both animals are creatures of habit and off and appreciate a structured existence," Haynes said. "But I think dogs are having a more positive reaction to owners being home all the time. Whereas cats, maybe not as positive, because they like their space  and their alone time. So, cats are generally like, 'Why are you here so much?'' And dogs are like, 'Oh, great. You're here! So good!' For both species, I would do your best to have a good routine."

She said pet owners can use the Mohawk Hudson website to seek advice on any behavioral concerns at: https://mohawkhumane.org/behavior-helpline
COLONIE  A Shaker High School senior running for the North Colonie school board may be the youngest candidate ever to seek the position.

Fox Rifenberg-Stempel, 18, touts his leadership experience gained as an Eagle Scout and through his participation in Shaker High student government.

He plans to attend the University at Albany in the fall and major in political science. But he's not worried about juggling school board responsibilities  which include approving curricula, hiring staff, making decisions about capital projects, and submitting the district's $1oo million-plus school budget to voters for approval  with a full college course load.

"I guess you can say I'm not your typical teenager... I like to fill out paperwork," Rifenberg-Stempel said. "I'm really interested in helping make things work and I have experience with that through the Scouts."

He's been in the Boy Scouts of America for nine years. As secretary of the Boy Scouts' local Order of the Arrow honors society, Rifenberg-Stempel was in charge of communications for about 1,000 scouts in the region.

He has roots in the Colonie community and he says public service is in his blood. His grandparents and his mother went to Shaker High School and his great-grandfather was the town supervisor of Berne in the 1980s.

"That's one of the reasons I'm running for the school board," he said. "I want to make sure Shaker, and North Colonie as a whole, continue to educate the community effectively... I guess it's a family tradition."

Fox also served as a student representative to the school board for the past three years and has attended nearly every school board meeting.

"I figured why not run if I already go to the meetings anyway," he said. At board meetings, "there is not a lot of input from the community as a whole. I think I would be a good bridge of contact ... bringing up student voices on the board."

He is a charter member of the North Colonie PTSA and serves on the senior events committee. Despite numerous restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee has finalized plans for prom and graduation 2021, which will take place at the end of June at the Times Union Center.

"We have capacity limitations and those are always changing," Rifenberg-Stempel said. "Up until last month, we didn't even think we'd have a prom. Now we are dealing with capacity limits, how to serve food, social distancing and how people will get in the door social distanced; it's a lot of rules."

Rifenberg-Stempel said watching his teachers and fellow students struggle under the constraints of virtual education during COVID-19 has made him think about the supports they will need when life returns to normal.

"The teachers really need support from the administration," he said. "They are under so much pressure this year -- it's just been a crazy year. And also support for the students. In online school, you don't really learn too much and I know a lot of kids are falling behind."

Two high school friends are helping out on his campaign, including handing out business cards to all of their friends who are old enough to vote, he said.

He hopes his candidacy will inspire other teens to become more interested in local government and public service.

There are two open seats on the North Colonie school board. Current board member Mary Nardolillo is running again uncontested. The open seat of W. Ronald Von Dell is being sought by three candidates, including Rifenberg-Stempel.

Mary Alber, a mother of two Shaker High School students and president of the North Colonie PTA Council, is also running. In a statement on the district website, she said through her work on the PTA council, she "brought the community support fund to life during the pandemic."

Alber has a background in information technology and currently works for the state Teachers Retirement System.

The third candidate, Nicholas P. Comproski, is a middle school social studies teacher for the Troy school district and an adjunct professor at the College of Saint Rose. He has been a firefighter at Colonies Maplewood Volunteer Fire Department since he was 18.

He wants to run for the school board seat because "community relationships are what make the Town of Colonie the best place to live," he said in a statement. "As a lifelong resident, I would not have asked for a better experience growing up ... My experiences in education, working with diverse learners and their families (especially as a former special education teacher) have taught me how to be an advocate that families truly need."

The district will conduct a livestreamed public hearing on the proposed $124,977,067 budget for the 2021-22 school year Wednesday night at 7 p.m. At the meeting, the four candidates will introduce themselves and explain why they wish to serve.

North Colonie residents can vote on the school budget and Board of Education candidates on Tuesday, May 18, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the Goodrich Building, at 91 Fiddlers Lane in Latham.
MALTA  The Northway reopened Wednesday afternoon, hours after a FedEx truck and another vehicle crashed and caught fire near Exit 12.

The northbound lanes were cleared for traffic at about 1 p.m., the state Department of Transportation reported.

The FedEx truck broke down in the center lane of the Northway on Wednesday morning. Another vehicle hit the truck from behind, causing a fire that damaged both vehicles and forced authorities to close the northbound side of the highway at Exit 11, State Police said.

No one was injured, troopers said.

The crash and fire forced the closure of a portion of the highway for the third time in less than a month and traffic was backed up on the northbound side. Drivers forced off the highway were swelling the roads in Malta and Round Lake. Authorities were urging drivers to avoid the area.

DOT reported at about 10 a.m. that all lanes were closed.

It is at least the third time in less than a month that part of the Northway was closed by a crash.

A car critically injured a state worker Tuesday in a construction zone on the Northway, State Police said.

On April 27, a 56-year-old DOT worker was left in critical condition after an out-of-control car hit him in a construction zone near Exit 12. The northbound side of the highway was closed for several hours while authorities investigated the crash.

Two weeks earlier, all southbound lanes of the Northway were closed in Clifton Park after a tractor trailer carrying an oversized load slammed into the Sitterly Road overpass. The highway was closed for nearly 24 hours and has been closed at points on weekends so crews could first remove the damaged bridge and then replace it with a temporary structure.

State Police ticketed the Colonie man, 56, who was driving the Admar Construction Equipment & Supplies truck involved in the April 15 crash. The driver was southbound on the Northway when a boom lift on the truck's trailer hit the overpass, knocking the lift onto the highway and forcing the temporary closure of all three southbound lanes between exits 9A and 8A.
ALBANY  Advocates for Happy the elephant have a new reason to be happy.

New Yorks highest court on Tuesday agreed to hear the appeal waged by the Nonhuman Rights Project, which wants to establish the legal personhood of the female Asian elephant, age 50, who has been at the Bronx Zoo for more than 40 years.

The advocates, led by attorney Steven Wise, the president of the Nonhuman Rights Project, want the court to order a writ of habeas corpus for the release of Happy. Wise's group wants to see Happy transferred to an elephant sanctuary.

This marks the first time in history that the highest court of any English-speaking jurisdiction will hear a habeas corpus case brought on behalf of someone other than a human being, the Nonhuman Rights Project said in a news release.

The group is expected to hold a press conference Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.

In 2018, Court of Appeals Associate Justice Eugene Fahey said he "struggled" with the denial of a similar argument Wise made on behalf of Tommy, a chimp who was living in Montgomery County in a cage in a warehouse-type setting.

Happy is the "first elephant in the world to be granted a hearing to determine the lawfulness of her imprisonment," the Nonhuman Rights Project said.

"Happys case has been supported from the start by leading scientists, philosophers, habeas corpus scholars, legal experts, theologians, and the wider public throughout the country and the world," the news release said.

"Having begun the fight for nonhuman rights in New York eight years ago, we are thrilled the Court of Appeals has recognized the urgent public importance of Happys case and hope she will soon become the first elephant and nonhuman animal in the US to have her right to bodily liberty judicially recognized."

Judges typically issue writs of habeas corpus to demand that a prisoner be produced to determine whether the person's imprisonment is legal. Wise has argued that legally speaking, personhood is not the same as being human. He has said that courts around the world have found ships, corporations, holy books and a river to be persons.

In November, Wise argued on the elephants behalf before the Appellate Division of the state Supreme Court's First Department in Manhattan but was rejected as justices made it clear during arguments they would be reluctant to accept Wise's argument. That mid-level court upheld a Bronx judges ruling.

Happy was captured in the wild in Asia at the age of one and taken to the United States. Happy and a fellow elephant, Grumpy, were brought to the Bronx Zoo where they gave rides and were part of in an "elephant extravaganza, according to court papers.

In 2002, the Bronx Zoo placed Happy and Grumpy with two other elephants, Patty and Maxine, who attacked Grumpy, causing her to be injured and euthanized. The zoo separated Happy from the two other elephants and paired her with Sammie, who later died of liver disease.

The zoo has not acquired any more elephants, leaving Happy by herself since 2006.

The Nonhuman Rights Project contends Happy has been "imprisoned in solitary confinement, notwithstanding the uncontroverted scientific evidence that Happy is an autonomous, intelligent being with advanced cognitive abilities akin to human beings." They say Happy said has been denied direct social contact with her kind and forced to spend most of her time indoors in a large holding facility.

In November, Kenneth Manning, a lawyer for the Bronx Zoo's managing entity, the Wildlife Conservation Society, said it was not illegal for Happy to be at the zoo and that she was being treated well. He noted the zoo's chief veterinarian, general curator and director all attested to Happy's treatment and living conditions.

"There's no reason to change her circumstances," Manning said.
SCHENECTADY  Schenectady has a new political action committee on a mission to support Black candidates seeking elected office in the city and county.

On Friday, the Schenectady Black Political Action Committee is slated to host its inaugural event, a meet and greet with eight candidates, two of them incumbents, and all of them people of color, running for a seat on the Schenectady school board, county Legislature, and City Council.

A PAC is broadly defined as any political committee that supports candidates or other political committees by making contributions only, according to information online.

Pastor Nicolle Harris, president of the Schenectady NAACP, credits fellow NAACP member Cynthia Farmer and others in the Black community with planting the seed for the idea.

I think its something that I gather that people who have lived her for a long time have wanted, and they are seizing the moment because there are so many Black candidates running, said Harris, a New Jersey native and pastor of Duryee Memorial A.M.E Zion Church in the Electric City. When any particular group of folks decide they want to come together to support and educate each other, it doesnt mean that they are discriminating.

She also talked about a political climate in this county of suppression and disenfranchisement of the Black vote.

So, when you see organizations coming up like this rather than jump to say its divisive, I think you should ask the question is it needed?

John Conklin, a spokesman with the state Board of Elections, said in an email Tuesday that there was no record of a PAC or Independent Expenditure committee registered in the past year under the name Schenectady Black Political Action Committee, or anything similar.

He said "depending on what their intent is, they would likely have to register" with the Board of Elections.

Mayor Gary McCarthy said Tuesday he was unaware of the PAC or that Haileab Samuel, the person hes backing for a City Council seat, was invited to participate in Fridays forum.

He argued that the division among the governing body has been more about personalities than race. McCarthy, a Democrat, sees a place for the PAC.

Any time you have groups that are better organized and contributing to the community, I think you have overall better outcomes, he said.

Asked about potential racial implications, McCarthy said while he didnt see one, he acknowledged that others may take a different view.

Its post-Trump, and you want to get beyond some of these things where he took and divided the community, he added. You dont want people to say Im only going to vote for white people or Im only going to vote for people of color  the goal used to be is how do you get the best qualified candidates to run.

Samuel and Carl Williams, who won the endorsement of City Democrats, along with Doreen Ditoro are among a triumvirate of candidates vying to finish out the two years left on the seats vacated earlier this year by Leesa Perazzo and Ed Kosiur.

Separately, incumbents Karen Zalewksi-Wildzunas, Marion Porterfield and John Mootooveren, all of whom won the endorsement of the city Democratic Committee, are seeking re-election. Damonni Farley is also part of that field.

Republicans are running Kevin Hammer, Vivian Parsons, and Brendan Nally for City Council.

The fledgling PAC plans Thursday to put out a press release about its goals and the candidates forum.

Porterfield said Tuesday that she is not authorized to speak for Schenectady Black Political Action Committee

Several of the candidates scheduled to attend Friday's event either declined comment or did not return a call Tuesday seeking comment.

The number of people who can attend the forum will be restricted but the the get-together will be broadcast live on several medial platforms, including Facebook and the local cable access station.
ALBANY  American and Canadian officials should work together to quickly establish rules to allow more vaccinated travelers to move back and forth across the border, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Wednesday.

Citing the drop in COVID-19 rates and rising vaccination numbers, Schumer made his plea at Massena International Airport, reiterating points he made recently in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Deputy Alejandro Secretary Mayorkas.

So far theyve just been giving monthly extensions with no rhyme or reason," Schumer said in a phone interview with the Times Union. "Right now, the number of people who can cross is minimal. The Department of Homeland Security, the Canadian government and the State Department have to find a way to safely open this border ASAP.

He noted that more than 2 million Canadian travelers enter the United States through ports of entry in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties alone, meaning the closure has a significant economic impact; many upstate airports are harmed by the travel restrictions, as well. And a vast number of citizens on both sides of the border are currently barred from seeing friends and family, or accessing property they may own across the line.

"There's so many ways we depend on our cross-border activity with Canada," he said.

The current moratorium on non-essential traffic across the border is set to expire on May 21, though it's expected that Canada might not agree to fully open access until the end of summer or even later  driven by Canada's lagging vaccination rates as well as domestic political concerns facing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is up for re-election in the fall.

In his letter to the secretaries, Schumer said a "bi-national plan with clearly defined benchmarks will provide clarity and transparency to a confusing and frustrating process. Such an agreement is critical to safely and coherently reopening the border for non-essential travel as quickly as the underlying data would permit."

Schumer said he is pushing for four steps to be taken: the development of the agreement on the criteria for a full reopening in the near future; a redefinition of what constitutes "essential travel" to include "familial, educational, medical, educational and property interests" for those who are vaccinated; a rule change so that commercial and recreational fisherman can travel across American and Canadian waters unmolested; and a focus on vaccination and providing personal protective equipment for customs personnel to ensure their safety and that of travelers.

"Those are what we need done  theres no need to wait any longer," Schumer said.

He said the bi-national agreement could come together quickly, as could the redefinition of "essential travel"; he hopes that all travel  essential or not  would be allowed for vaccinated people within a few months.
WASHINGTON  The two top Republicans in the House of Representatives as well as former President Donald J. Trump are among those in the GOP throwing their support behind U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik to replace Rep. Liz Cheney in leadership as Cheney's ongoing criticism of Trump places her at odds with many members.

If she's elected as conference chair  in a vote that could come as soon as next week  the Schuylerville resident would become the No. 3 Republican in the House.

Stefanik has been calling and texting many Republican members asking for their support if Cheney is voted out of her current role, a senior congressional aide confirmed to the Times Union. No other representative is actively campaigning like Stefanik, the source said, adding that it's hard to see a situation where she does not become the next conference chair.

"If a vote to recall Liz Cheney and replace her with Elise Stefanik were held today, Elise would win by a significant margin," said Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Penn. "Ive spoken to a number of my colleagues today, and the overwhelming feeling is that Elise is the right choice."

A spokesman for Cheney said this moment is about more than a House leadership fight. "This is about whether the Republican Party is going to perpetuate lies about the 2020 election and attempt to whitewash what happened on Jan. 6," said Jeremy Adler, referring to the violent storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters. "Liz will not do that. That is the issue."

The GOP conference chair shapes the conference's messaging, and a growing number of Republicans believe Cheney should no longer be writing the talking points.

On Wednesday, Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., the number-two Republican in the chamber, declared he has "pledged" to support Stefanik for GOP conference chair, his spokesman said.

"House Republicans need to be solely focused on taking back the House in 2022 and fighting against Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi and President (Joe) Bidens radical socialist agenda, and Elise Stefanik is strongly committed to doing that, which is why Whip Scalise has pledged to support her for Conference Chair," said Lauren Fine, Scalise's communications director.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has been giving behind-the-scenes support to Stefanik, Punchbowl News reported, and has been trying to clear the field for her by reaching out to other potential candidates.

Trump, a major Cheney critic after she voted to impeach him earlier this year, also publicly threw his weight behind Stefanik on Tuesday, a move that may sway some House Republicans.

"Liz Cheney is a warmongering fool who has no business in Republican Party Leadership," Trump said in a statement. "We want leaders who believe in the Make America Great Again movement, and prioritize the values of America First. Elise Stefanik is a far superior choice, and she has my COMPLETE and TOTAL Endorsement for GOP Conference Chair. Elise is a tough and smart communicator."

Stefanik, 36, has represented North Country New York since 2015, but rose to national prominence as a vocal defender of the president during the 2019 impeachment inquiry into Trump's actions in Ukraine. Previously considered a more moderate Republican who broke with her party at times, Stefanik's rhetoric has edged farther to the right over the past few years.

Unlike Cheney, she voted against certifying the 2020 election results  citing a number of claims that were rejected by the courts and debunked by investigators  on the day of the attack on the Capital, and against impeaching Trump weeks later for his role in the incursion.

Stefanik also runs a political action committee that helps Republican women run for Congress, work that has helped grow the ranks of female GOP members. Her prolific fundraising for her campaign and PAC is a highlight of her resume as she seeks the new leadership role.

Her name has also been floated as a gubernatorial challenger to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, with whom she has a vitriolic relationship (in public at least), chatter that Stefanik has not tried to silence.

When Cheney  daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney  faced a challenge to her chairmanship in January after the House impeachment vote, Stefanik's name surfaced as a possible successor. But the majority of GOP representatives voted to keep her in the role, calling her vote to impeach a decision "of conscience."

But recently, Cheney has continued to speak out against the false narrative that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and has urged the party to move on from his leadership. The comments have created a rift between her and McCarthy.

"The 2020 presidential election was not stolen. Anyone who claims it was is spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system," Cheney tweeted Monday. On Wednesday, the Washington Post published an opinion piece by Cheney that seemed squarely aimed at Trump's supporters: Republicans, she wrote, "need to stand for genuinely conservative principles, and steer away from the dangerous and anti-Democratic Trump cult of personality."

Many rank-and-file Republicans told the Times Union on Wednesday they were backing Stefanik.

"Rep. Cheney was given an opportunity to prove herself as a leader, but instead she used her second chance these last three months to push her own agenda, to attack and denigrate her own Republican conference members, and to lie about the constitutional process ... of objecting to state electors," said Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla. "That is not leadership and she must be replaced."

U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney, a central New York Republican who was supported by Stefanik's PAC in 2020, said she'll be supporting Stefanik because she's a "proven leader" who will unite Republicans and help flip the House.
Will Waldron

The Times Union's revelations over the past few months of the decisions and actions of Gov. Andrew Cuomo have made me re-evaluate his governorship.

Last spring, I watched and listened to his daily pandemic updates. I supported him at a time when the only other government leader speaking consistently was talking about the use of bleach and reopening the country by Easter. Cuomo sounded astute and serious. Yet, we now know, three months into the pandemic that was decimating New York City, Cuomo thought writing a book on his leadership was a good idea. This self-centeredness is his flaw.
Frank Pizatella, Jr. passed away Saturday, June 5, 2021 at age 87. Frank grew up in Watson, West Virginia. He was a proud graduate of West Fairmont High School (1952) and Fairmont State College (1958) where he was a member of the first golf team to qualify for the National Tournament. A Vete
Axia Home Loans Expands Hawaii Presence

Bellevue, Wash.-based Axia Home Loans extends market reach with a Hawaii expansion and new branch leadership in May, which will be led by industry veteran and Hawaii native Byron Yap (News - Alert) .

Axia Home Loans' Hawaii Branch will focus on originations in Maui but have plans for a continued expansion into other neighboring Hawaiian Islands.

"We're eager to have Byron leading our expanded presence and team in Hawaii," said Alexander Rosenblum, Axia Home Loans CEO. "With Byron's deep roots in the community, a wealth of industry experience, and character that aligns well with Axia's hospitality-first culture, we're looking forward to offering Hawaiians a trustworthy option for reliable financing."

Axia is the nation's first 100 percent ESOP - employee owned - independent mortgage bank and is known for its commitment to building strong communities in the markets they serve. Yap's tes to the community and shared Axia values makes him a long-term fit for Axia Home Loans.







Known for its consultative approach to lending, Axia helps homeowners choose the best lending options that meet homeowners' long-term goals. Additionally, their loan originators live in the communities they serve.

"I'm excited about Axia's presence in Hawaii," said Yap, branch manager and senior loan originator. "Axia has a proven track record with customer satisfaction and delivering an enjoyable mortgage experience. Additionally, their technology is second to none, making the home loan experience easier for customers and Realtors."

ABOUT AXIA HOME LOANS: Founded in 2007, Axia Home Loans is a 100 percent employee-owned company whose mission is to create sustainable home ownership through responsible lending. "Mortgage Executive" magazine named Axia one of America's top 100 mortgage companies, three years in a row, and they have a 98 percent client-satisfaction rating. More about Axia Home Loans can be found at www.axiahomeloans.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005835/en/
[May 05, 2021] Bishop Fox Appoints IT Operations Veteran as Associate Vice President of Consulting Managed Services

PHOENIX, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bishop Fox, the largest private offensive security testing firm, today announced the appointment of Tony Needler as associate vice president of consulting managed services. In this role, Needler will spearhead Bishop Foxs expanding consulting managed programs, including the Google Partner Security Assessment Program, Amazon Alexa Authorized Security Lab, Nest Partners Security Assessment Program, Facebook Workplace Security Assessment Program, Nylas Program, and the SFDC AppExchange (Japan). Working across the entire consulting practice as well as with the companys leadership team, Needler will have responsibility for consistently delivering high-quality results that keep pace with client needs, the market, and competition.

Security threats are an aggressively evolving challenge for enterprises. Through our consulting managed programs, we work closely with our growing client base to deliver strategic value for organizations to accelerate and amplify an offensive security program, said Bill Carroll, chief operating officer (COO) at Bishop Fox. The companys overall success can be attributed to the talented Bishop Fox team that continues to work as an extension of our customers security teams. Tonys diverse background, breadth of knowledge, and proven track record for building world-class security departments across a wide range of sectors  from energy and manufacturing to financial services and information technology  enables him to deeply understand and address the needs of any client. He is the perfect fit to help expand our consulting practice, and we are thrilled to have him join our stellar team. Needler brings more than 20 years of experience in infrastructure management, security, and IT operations. His work with disparate stakeholders across various industries has addressed risks to the security of their information technology assets and delivered economically feasible solutions. Prior to joining Bishop Fox, Needler served as director of IT operations for six years at national insurance group, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, where he le IT functions, significantly scaled infrastructure operations, and created cybersecurity programs for regulatory compliance, including SOX, GLBA, NY-DFS, GDPR. He also participated on the Berkshire Hathaway Cyber Risk Committee, CIO Council, Security Council, and Leveraged Spend Committee to drive alignment and collaboration across the conglomerate.



He previously served as the director of infrastructure for a leading global insurance company, Enstar Group, and spent nearly a decade as the director of infrastructure and services at international mining company Freeport-McMoRan, where he also managed global IT infrastructure and industrial process control teams and technologies. While there, he led technology due diligence activities, converged acquired assets and handled transition services for six mergers and acquisitions up to $30 billion. Earlier in his career, he held a variety of technical roles at multi-national information technology equipment and services company, Electronic Data Systems (EDS), where he led the development and delivery of cybersecurity and IT solutions that expanded the companys service portfolio. Needler earned a Bachelors degree in Journalism from Indiana University, a Masters of Business Administration in Technology Management from the University of Phoenix, and is CISSP certified. Bishop Fox uniquely complements and empowers its clients, tailoring each project from the ground-up to protect an organizations security posture from every angle, said Needler. Its this trusted relationship and actionable insights that has proven invaluable to clients, enabling them to focus on higher value activities that matter most to their organization. Ive been very fortunate to work with organizations and customers spanning a variety of industries, and the experience gained throughout my career has enabled me to advance strategies and leverage technology to significantly improve the overall business. Im excited to help Bishop Fox build a more secure world.

About Bishop Fox

Bishop Fox is the largest private offensive security testing firm. Since 2005, the company has provided consulting and Security as a Service offerings to the world's leading organizations  working with over 25% of the Fortune 100  to help secure their products, applications, networks, and cloud resources with penetration testing and security assessments. In February 2019, Bishop Fox closed $25 million in Series A funding from ForgePoint Capital, which has allowed the company to continue to grow its research capabilities and augment and scale its assessment capabilities through next generation offensive security technologies like the award-winning Continuous Attack Surface Testing (CAST), named Best Emerging Technology in the 2021 SC Awards. The company is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ and has offices in San Francisco, CA and Barcelona, Spain. Media Contact:

Jennifer Torode

CHEN PR for Bishop Fox

jtorode@chenpr.com

781.672.3119 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6c4c7243-aed7-458c-90f8-73271537021e.



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[May 05, 2021] Carvana Arrives in Oregon with The New Way to Buy a Car

Carvana (NYSE: CVNA), the leading e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars, has arrived in the Pacific Northwest, debuting as-soon-as-next-day touchless home delivery to Portland area residents. Customers can shop through an inventory of more than 30,000 used cars for sale, secure auto financing, trade in, and schedule as-soon-as-next-day vehicle delivery in as little as five minutes. Customers can also sell their current vehicle to Carvana and receive a real offer in minutes, whether or not they are purchasing a vehicle. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005380/en/



Carvana launches in Oregon, bringing The New Way to Buy a Car to Portland, its 280th market. (Photo: Business Wire)

Carvana customers save valuable time and money with The New Way to Buy a Car by skipping the dealership and shopping online. And Carvana never charges hidden, bogus fees like "documentation fees," which can often be added to the price of a vehicle at the last minute. Customers looking to trade in their vehicle, or sell a vehicle, can also skip the dealership by simply entering their VIN or license plate number on Carvana.com, answer a few questions and Carvana can pick up the vehicle and bring them a check, as soon as the next day. All 30,000+ vehicles in Carvana's national inventory are photographed in 360 degrees, so customers get a high-definition virtual tour, along with the peace of mind of a seven-day return policy. An upgrade to the traditional test drive, living with the vehicle for seven days gives customers the time to ensure their vehicle fits their needs. Customers can see how they handle a trip through Mt. Hood National Forest, or how it fits a weekly haul from the Portland Farmers Market. "As we grow to cover more of the U.S. population, we're confident Portland area residents will embrace the efficiency, transparency, and ease that comes with our car buying and selling experience," said Ernie Garcia, founder and CEO of Carvana. "Our debut in the Pacific Northwest today ensures we're continuing to reach as many people as possible with The New Way to Buy a Car." Carvana now offers as-soon-as-next-day vehicle delivery to customers in 280 cities across the U.S. About Carvana (NYSE: CVNA) Founded in 2012 and based in Phoenix, Carvana's (NYSE: CVNA) mission is to change the way people buy cars. By removing the traditional dealership infrastructure and replacing it with technology and exceptional customer service, Carvana offers consumers an intuitive and convenient online car buying and financing platform. Carvana.com enables consumers to quickly and easily shop more than 20,000 vehicles, finance, trade-in or sell their current vehicle to Carvana, sign contracts, and schedule as-soon-as-next-day delivery or pickup at one of Carvana's patented, automated Car Vending Machines. For further information on Carvana, please visit www.carvana.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005380/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Carvana Debuts The New Way to Buy a Car in Washington

Carvana (NYSE: CVNA), the leading e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars, has debuted in Washington, and is now offering as-soon-as-next-day touchless home delivery to Longview area residents. Customers can shop more than 30,000 used cars for sale, secure financing or use the car loan calculator, purchase, trade in, and schedule as-soon-as-next-day vehicle delivery in as little as five minutes. Customers can also sell their current vehicle to Carvana and receive a real offer just as quickly, even without purchasing a vehicle. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005379/en/



Carvana arrives in Washington, offering The New Way to Buy a Car to Longview area residents. (Photo: Business Wire)

Carvana can save customers valuable time and money, allowing them to skip the dealership and shop from the comfort of home or on the go via their mobile device. As the pioneer of online car buying, Carvana gives customers a high-definition, 360-degree virtual tour of every vehicle, inside and out. Carvana vehicles are also Carvana Certified, having passed a rigorous 150-point inspection, have never been in a reported accident and have no frame damage. Features, imperfections, and updated information about open safety recalls are listed on every car's vehicle description page. Carvana vehicles come with a seven-day return policy-an upgrade to the traditional test-drive-ensuring customers have the necessary amount of time to determine if the vehicle fits their lifestyle. By living with their vehicle for a week, customers can do everything from testing out the cab of their newly purchased Jeep Gladiator on a weekend trip to the Columbia River, to simply seeing how it handles a weekly grocery run. "As we continue to stake a claim in the Pacific Northwest, today's debut in Washington is a big step in that direction," said Ernie Garcia, Carvana founder and CEO. "We can now offer Longview residents a great selection of thousands of vehicles, at great prices, with great customer service. We're confident the community will embrace all the benefits that come with The New Way to Buy a Car." Carvana now offers as-soon-as-next-day vehicle delivery to customers in 281 cities across the U.S. About Carvana (NYSE: CVNA) Founded in 2012 and based in Phoenix, Carvana's (NYSE: CVNA) mission is to change the way people buy cars. By removing the traditional dealership infrastructure and replacing it with technology and exceptional customer service, Carvana offers consumers an intuitive and convenient online car buying and financing platform. Carvana.com enables consumers to quickly and easily shop more than 30,000 vehicles, finance, trade-in or sell their current vehicle to Carvana, sign contracts, and schedule as-soon-as-next-day delivery or pickup at one of Carvana's patented, automated Car Vending Machines. For further information on Carvana, please visit www.carvana.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005379/en/

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[May 05, 2021]

CoinGeek Zurich (Samsung Hall, June 8-10) gather speakers to talk about how blockchain technology can: Ignite The Power Of Data

LONDON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In this the 7th CoinGeek Conference there is, as ever, a truly diverse spread of speakers both in terms of area of expertise and geographically. Previous events have been held in New York, Seoul, Hong Kong, London (twice) and Toronto, so it was high time mainland Europe was paid a visit. CoinGeek are pleased to announce the first tranche of many as we build up to the event.

Dr. Jurg R. Conzett, Founder & President, MoneyMuseum (Switzerland)

Roger Wurzel, CEO, DLT Markets, who bridge the traditional and new world of digital asset finance, setting benchmarks in performance, usability & security

Simon Kofe, Minister for Justice, Communication & Foreign Affairs (Tuvalu), who have recently announced plans to become the world's first paperless society using the Btcoin SV blockchain and its digital public ledger.







Ahmed Yousif, Digital Transformation Leader & Strategic Head, Holy Makkah Municipality (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

Thomas Lee, Managing Partner & Head of Research, Fundstrat Global Advisors.

As ever, Jimmy Nguyen, Founding President of Bitcoin Association, the global industry organization which backs Bitcoin SV and one of the world's leading Bitcoin advocates, will host the conference and lead a number of sessions.

For complementary virtual tickets and for event information, please visit www.coingeekconference.com.

To learn more about BSV, visit BitcoinSV.com.

The conference is kindly sponsored by: Fabriik, Cozen O'Connor, SCA Ontier, TAAL, nChain, Vaionex, EHR Data and Bitcoin Association. For a full list of sponsors check out https://coingeekconference.com
[May 05, 2021] CSI Celebrates Biggest Sales Year in Company History

Computer Services, Inc. ( CSI (News - Alert) ) (OTCQX: CSVI), a provider of end-to-end fintech and regtech solutions, celebrated the biggest sales results in the company's 56-year history for its fiscal year ending Feb. 28, 2021. As part of the record sales, CSI's Enterprise Banking Group (EBG) signed 26 new banks from across the country to its NuPoint core banking platform. The company also saw rapid growth within its Business Solutions Group (BSG), which provides regulatory compliance, IT security and IT management and interactive document distribution to organizations in various industries worldwide. CSI's record results reflect the company's commitment to, and capacity for, meeting the changing needs of community banks and other organizations in the face of a historic pandemic. While each of CSI's new bank customers has an individual focus and unique set of expectations, bank executives commonly cited CSI's technology enhancements and commitment to customer service as driving motivations behind their decision to partner with CSI. "Signature Bank of Arkansas has experienced strong and steady organic growth throughout the years," said Brant Ward, COO of Signature. "However, as our bank continues to grow, we have realized the need for a partner with an intense focus on technology to help us consolidate our solutions into a single platform. CSI's robust digital platform will help us streamline internal processes and enhance the customer experience, ensuring our success for years to come."



In addition to technology advancements and an improved user experience, bank executives identified CSI's service culture as a top reason for converting their core. "We chose CSI based on their service and pricing," said Robert Rey, president of NVE Bank. "For the past five years, NVE Bank has earned Bauer Financial Inc.'s five-star rating, making us one of the strongest banks in the nation. To remain competitive, we need a strong provider with leading-edge technology that will help us roll out new products at a competitive price. CSI is the right provider to take our suite of solutions to the next level with their culture of service and commitment to building a long-term partnership."

In addition to core banking services, CSI's new banks will leverage a range of solutions to help them meet the evolving needs of customers, including card processing, bill pay tools, P2P payments, automated sanctions screening solutions, document distribution services and more. "2020 was challenging for every financial institution and regulated organization in the country. Being able to close on the best sales year in our 56-year history is a testament to the incredible team we have at CSI. It is their deep industry expertise, dedication to customer support and ability to embrace change that help our customers thrive in challenging situations," said David Culbertson, CSI's president and COO. "Our advanced technology will continue to accelerate the financial industry's digital transformation strategies, and we look forward to partnering with these new organizations to empower them to achieve revenue growth through market expansion, customer acquisition and cross-selling." About Computer Services, Inc. Computer Services, Inc. (CSI) delivers innovative financial technology and regulatory compliance solutions to financial institutions and corporate customers across the nation. Through a combination of expert service, cutting-edge technology and a customer-first mentality, CSI excels at driving businesses forward in a rapidly changing industry. CSI's expertise and commitment to authentic partnerships has resulted in the company's inclusion in such top industry-wide rankings as the FinTech 100, American Banker's Best Places to Work in Fintech and MSPmentor Top 501 Global Managed Service Providers List. CSI's stock is traded on OTCQX under the symbol CSVI. For more information about CSI, visit www.csiweb.com. About Signature Bank of Arkansas Founded in 2005, Signature Bank of Arkansas provides a full line of financial services to small businesses, families and farms. The Bank has locations in Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, Brinkley, and Rogers, Arkansas, with headquarters located in Fayetteville. Signature is well known for its personalized approach to customer service and dedication to the traditions of community banking. For more information, please visit www.signature.bank. About NVE Bank NVE Bank, established in 1887, offers an extensive range of personal and business products and services. The Bank maintains 11 offices conveniently located throughout Bergen County. For more information, please call their toll-free number 1-866-NVEBANK (683-2265) or visit their website at www.nve.bank. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005041/en/

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[May 05, 2021] DC BLOX Acquires Land to Develop a Tier III Data Center in High Point, North Carolina

DC BLOX, a provider of interconnected multi-tenant data centers that deliver the infrastructure and connectivity essential to power today's digital business, announces that the company has acquired land in High Point, North Carolina with plans to construct the first highly secure, Tier III data center in the Carolina Core / Piedmont Triad region which includes High Point, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem. DC BLOX designs, builds and operates highly secure and reliable Tier III-designed data centers in markets that have previously lacked such high-caliber facilities traditionally only offered in major markets. The carrier-neutral data center planned for the Carolina Core / Piedmont Triad region will be the first-of-its-kind in the market. When complete, the facility will be interconnected to DC BLOX's fully redundant network infrastructure with a 99.999% uptime Service Level Agreement (SLA). DC BLOX's Southeastern regional network of data centers and connectivity partners includes access to the region's Internet Exchanges (IX) in Atlanta and Nashville, and with plans to connect to the IX in Charlotte. Direct, private access to major public cloud providers and to all carriers across its data center footprint are also provided. The facility will offer colocation for hosting primary IT infrastructure as well as secondary disaster recovery sites and provide infrastructure for large-scale object storage solutions. "The High Point Economic Development Corporation, the Guilford County Economic Development Alliance, the City of High Point and Guilford County have been great partners supporting and enabling DC BLOX to develop a new Tier III data center in this location, approving tax incentives which will accelerate growth for DC BLOX and our customers," comments Jeff Uphues, CEO of DC BLOX. "When complete, our $305 million investment will enable enterprise businesses across industries, local and state government agencies, higher education institutions and managed service providers across North Carolina with major market capabilities, connectivity solutions and highly reliable services to enable effective digital transformation."



According to High Point Economic Development Interim Director Sandy Dunbeck, "DC BLOX has chosen High Point to build a multi-tenant data center that could add more than $305 million to our tax base, which is the largest capital investment project for High Point in the 15 years since I have been with the High Point EDC. We are grateful for the company's confidence in our city and our community."

High Point Mayor Jay Wagner said, "Throughout these last several months and over our many discussions, it has become clear to me that DC BLOX is a first-rate company. A company tagline is that DC BLOX is 'serving locally, connecting globally' - and we know the company will find High Point to be the perfect location to handle that mission." When complete, DC BLOX's High Point, NC data center will offer a minimum of N+1 redundancy for power, cooling and all major systems exceeding the reliability of local competitive offerings. Services set to be offered include colocation, interconnection solutions, hybrid cloud as well as disaster recovery and cloud storage capabilities for local market enablement. Melvin "Skip" Alston, the chair of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, said, "We have been impressed by what the company pledges to do for the community. In one of its presentations to the commissioners, DC BLOX pledged to work to reduce the digital divide in underprivileged areas; provide technology support for non-profits and disadvantaged minority-owned businesses; and foster training and education for tomorrow's technology workers." To learn more about DC BLOX, please visit www.dcblox.com. About DC BLOX DC BLOX owns and operates interconnected multi-tenant data centers that deliver the infrastructure and connectivity essential to power today's digital business. DC BLOX's private network fabric and robust connectivity ecosystem enable access to built-in carriers, Internet exchanges, public cloud providers, and DC BLOX data centers to businesses across the Southeast. DC BLOX's data centers are located in Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; Huntsville, AL; Chattanooga, TN; and soon in Greenville, SC. For more information, please visit www.dcblox.com, call +1. 877.590.1684, and connect with DC BLOX on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005966/en/

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[May 05, 2021] EforAll and Eforever Partner with Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus to Launch Small Business Support Programs in Buffalo

Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll), the nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate economic and social impact through inclusive entrepreneurship, and Entrepreneurs Forever (eforever), a nonprofit focused on supporting established small businesses, announces their partnership with the nonprofit Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) to launch their free programs in Buffalo this fall. Together, these organizations will work to provide under-represented individuals with the training and support needed to start, grow and sustain their businesses. "There's a great need for organizations like EforAll and eforever in our community, especially as we aim to recover from the pandemic's impact," said BNMC CEO Matt Enstice. "A survey conducted by Buffalo Niagara Partnership (BNP) found that 93% of Buffalo area businesses have seen a revenue decline, most by 50%. Through the implementation of these organizations, we will be able to revitalize our region and build a more equitable place for future startups, beyond the technology industry." To help launch these initiatives, BNMC connected with financial partners, including lead sponsor KeyBank. "EforAll and eforever are exceptional organizations that will bring dreams to life and bring great opportunity and transformational change to the community," said Elizabeth Gurney, Director of Corporate Philanthropy at KeyBank and Executive Director of the First Niagara Foundation. "We're thrilled to work alongside BNMC to bring these initiatives to Buffalo, and remain dedicated to supporting our citizens, investing in their future, strengthening our regional economy and helping Buffalo and all of the communities we serve thrive." EforAll helps to start and grow small busineses or nonprofits across a wide range of industries, including personal and professional services, food, retail, manufacturing and technology. The program offers a unique combination of immersive business training, dedicated mentorship from local business and community leaders, and access to a large professional network - along with the opportunity to win seed money.



To oversee EforAll Buffalo, former External Affairs manager for the City Hall Division of Citizens Services, Juweria Dahir, has been hired as the Executive Director. In her former role, Dahir served as a liaison between various city departments and nearly 500 block clubs, identifying and implementing neighborhood development projects from beautification to restoration initiatives. "EforAll has done inspiring work for various communities in the U.S.," said Dahir. "I'm eager to lead this organization in Buffalo as we have many talented and creative entrepreneurs who simply need the support and training that only a program like EforAll can deliver. My priority will be to seek out like-minded community partners who share our vision for a more inclusive and entrepreneurial Buffalo."

Among the over 500 businesses started by EforAll participants, 74% are owned by women, 58% are owned by people of color, 46% are owned by immigrants, and 39% are owned by people who were previously unemployed. These businesses generated over $25M in revenue and created 720 local jobs in 2019. With a successful track record of helping established small businesses in their continued growth and development, eforever will provide support to existing Buffalo businesses through professionally moderated monthly peer-to-peer group meetings. Peer group members share their entrepreneurial journey with others on a similar path and work through a progressive three-year competency program, ensuring that they build necessary skills for long-term success. Together, these nonprofits will service local communities to build thriving businesses and neighborhoods. "Over the past eight years, we've served entrepreneurs in 27 communities in Southwestern Pennsylvania, including our recent expansion into Massachusetts, connecting small business owners with the people and skills they need to thrive," said A.J. Drexler, CEO at eforever. "We're excited to extend the same support to Buffalo, as they recover from the pandemic." On May 4, BNMC hosted a press conference announcing the forthcoming launch of these initiatives. Attendees included EforAll CEO David Parker, eforever CEO A.J. Drexler, KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Manager Kawanza Humphrey, Dean of the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning Robert Shibley, and others. To learn more about these organizations and their Buffalo programs, or to donate to these initiatives, visit: eforall.org/ny/buffalo and entrepreneursforever.org. About EforAll

Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) is a nonprofit organization that partners with communities nationwide to help under-represented individuals successfully start and grow a business through intensive business training, mentorship and an extended professional support network. To date, EforAll alumni have launched more than 500 businesses and created more than 700 local jobs. Programs are available in both English and Spanish. EforAll is currently available in Longmont, Colorado, Northwest Arkansas, and the following Massachusetts communities: Berkshire County, Cape Cod, Fall River/New Bedford, Worcester, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, and Roxbury. To learn more about EforAll, please visit www.eforall.org. About eforever

Entrepreneurs Forever (eforever), a program of the Mansmann Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, supports small business owners and entrepreneurs who live or operate in evolving communities. Entrepreneurs Forever gives entrepreneurs the power to persist by providing know-how, skills, training, and support in the form of professionally facilitated peer-to-peer small groups that meet monthly. Eforever welcomes partnerships with referral agencies and underwriting sponsors. To learn more or become a member, visit entrpreneursforever.org. About Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus

The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) seeks to re-imagine our city's future through the dynamic intersection of technology, health, discovery, and collaboration. The BNMC is an enterprise focused on cultivating inclusive innovation in partnership with our community. We do this by improving infrastructure, managing our sustainable transportation system, creating a culture of health and wellbeing, facilitating and nurturing innovation, and working with our partners to drive equitable economic development and growth. www.bnmc.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005097/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Fantom $FTM Shows Massive Growth in April Following Major Events, Becoming The Fastest Blockchain

Sydney, Australia, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Below, we go over some of the highlights from Fantoms greatest month for growth yet. Fantoms successful network update Fantoms new Go-Opera update was successfully completed on April 29, and further upgraded the networks already impressive performance speed. The time to finality was optimized and now, no transaction takes longer than a second to complete. Within the blink of an eye, transactions on Fantom are fully processed. This is a revolutionary speed that has long-since been called for in the crypto community as blockchain speeds and network oversaturation in the past have sorely disappointed users. Further, Fantom improved its decentralization as new nodes can easily join the network with faster P2P synchronization. New nodes wont even have to process previous events. Event emission is even more efficient today, which is ideal for when the network is experiencing delays in propagation between nodes so user experience will not be nearly as affected. More details on the improvements can be found here. Continued support from Stelian Baltas HyperChain Capital The blockchain platform received another investment from one of its very first supporters, HyperChain Capital. HyperChain Capital is a leading digital assets management company, and has notably supported Fantom since 2018 through an investment of $2.5 million. In April, HyperChain Captal added another $15 million into their stake in the company. This is a prime example of the way more eyes are turning towards this emerging, innovative platform as the next big thing in blockchain technology.



Fantom starts giving out grants to support developers At Fantoms core is the wish to give back to the community that has helped craft it into what it is today. In order to show their appreciation and further encourage development on the platform (#BuildOnOpera), Fantom Foundation has granted SpiritSwap and SpookySwap generous grants to support the spectacular developments that the two have made on the platform. SpiritSwap and SpookySwap achieved $165 million and $45 million respectively in TVL while being key players in driving daily transactions on Fantom. Further developers that were given grants by Fantom Foundation were HyperJump, who will use the grant for a community giveaway to further support the user base, and ZooCoin, whose grant was given based on their impressive development of a unified DeFi ecosystem.

New COO of Fantom Foundation At the end of April, Barek Sekandari was promoted to Chief Operating Officer of the Fantom Foundation. His previous role was Chief Government Relations Officer, and he was at the forefront of the efforts in securing contracts in South Asia for Fantom to be implemented into major infrastructure digitization projects. Further, Barek leveraged Fantoms blockchain services to provide citizens of Afghanistan with healthcare supplies and services as well as commerce aid and energy supply. He was also a leading force in the expansion of Fantom to Pakistan, and just this month, Fantom Foundation got to meet with KPK speaker Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani to define details of digitalization of Provincial Assembly and other government departments that are using the Fantom blockchain. Media Contact:



Simone Pomposi

Fantom Foundation

pr@fantom.foundation

https://fantom.foundation



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[May 05, 2021] Field Effect Welcomes Barry McArthur as Director of Market Intelligence and Insights

OTTAWA, ON, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - Field Effect, a rapidly expanding global cyber security company, is thrilled to announce Barry McArthur has joined the company as Director of Market Intelligence and Insights. McArthur will lead the company's engagement with the community of market influencers and industry analysts. McArthur will lead the Field Effect's engagement with the community of market influencers and industry analysts. "We are pleased to welcome Barry to Field Effect as Director of Market Intelligence and Insights," said Matthew Holland, Field Effect's founder, CEO and CTO. "Barry has a strong record building and scaling glbal software companies through industry analysts' insights. We're happy to have him at the helm of our industry analyst program, informing the industry analyst community of our value proposition, market differentiation, successes, and vision for capturing new opportunities for growth."





In this capacity, McArthur will contribute to Field Effect's rapid growth by driving brand and solution awareness, recognition, credibility and shaping their long-term strategy based on the ever-evolving cyber security market dynamics.



"I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to join Field Effect's team. I'm really looking forward to helping to bolster our industry analyst ecosystem and accelerate market awareness and recognition of our ability to meet both market demands and the long-term vision," said McArthur. "Field Effect is quickly establishing itself as a global player by simplifying the complexities of cyber security solutions. In this rapidly evolving market, prospects are relying on industry analysts' insights to guide them through the complexities of the decision-making process of solution selection. Unified incident detection and response strategies are foundational to the success of organizations undergoing critical technology transformation. Field Effect is empowering clients around the world to become trusted advisors for an end-to-end cyber security solution."

Field Effect has differentiated itself from other cyber security solutions providers with its holistic approach to cyber security. The company's flagship product Covalence is a complete end-to-end managed detection and response solution created especially for small and medium businesses (and priced for them) yet strong enough to protect the most complex networks in the world. About Barry McArthur

Barry McArthur has extensive experience leading and growing industry analyst programs across global enterprise software providers. Most recently, he was Director of Global Industry Analyst Relations at Entrust, a global cyber security firm specializing in identity and data protection. During his six-year tenure at Entrust, Barry initiated the industry analyst program and successfully positioned Entrust in industry evaluations and market coverage and supported the organization's understanding of the evolving market dynamics, buyer requirements, and competitor capabilities. Prior to Entrust, he spent over a decade at Cognos and IBM in multiple roles including Analyst Relations, Office of Strategy and NPI (New Product Introduction). Barry has extensive international experience, pursuing post-graduate studies and work in Japan and other APAC countries.

About Field Effect

Field Effect believes businesses of all sizes deserve powerful cyber security solutions to protect them. The company's threat monitoring and protection, incident response, security training, and consulting services are the result of years of research and development by the brightest talents in the cyber security industry. For more information, visit www.fieldeffect.com

SOURCE Field Effect

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[May 05, 2021] Funding Available for Canada's Indigenous Forest Sector

OTTAWA, ON, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - Canada's forest sector is a vital source of economic, social and environmental benefits for Indigenous communities. The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of Canada's forest sector as an essential economic driver and major employer of Canadians, including Indigenous Peoples and people in rural and remote communities. The Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources, today launched the next call for proposals for the Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI), to support Indigenous participation in forestry-related opportunities, businesses, careers and governance. Investments in successful projects will advance Canada's bioeconomy, create opportunities for increased Indigenous participation in the forest sector and create and maintain jobs in Indigenous communities across the country. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, July 7, 2021. All eligible organizations are encouraged to apply.



By investing in Indigenous participation in the forest sector, we are advancing Indigenous self-determination, closing socio-economic gaps and providing greener solutions that tackle climate change and transform to a low-carbon economy. The forest sector brings value, both economically and spiritually, to Indigenous communities. This initiative builds a stronger Indigenous forest sector that thrives and sustains its economic resilience during and post-COVID-19.

Quotes "Indigenous Peoples are taking economic development into their own hands and succeeding. The Indigenous Forestry Initiative supports Indigenous forestry workers and businesses with new opportunities to expand operations and grow while bringing local benefits to their communities." The Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr.,

Minister of Natural Resources Quick Facts Natural Resources Canada is contributing $13 million over three years (20202023) to support Indigenous forestry projects across Canada . To date, the IFI has committed approximately $6.8 million to projects, with approximately $6.2 million available for 20212023. Associated Links Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI) Call for Proposal

Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI) Program Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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The Group of Seven foreign ministers' meeting in London was hit by a COVID-19 scare on Wednesday when India's foreign minister and his entire team said they were self-isolating after two delegation members tested positive.

Britain is hosting the three-day meeting - the first such G7 event in two years - which has been heavily billed as a chance to restart face-to-face diplomacy and a opportunity for the West to show a united front against threats from China and Russia.

India, currently undergoing the world's worst surge in COVID-19 cases, is attending the G7 as a guest and had been due to take part in meetings on Tuesday evening and throughout Wednesday.

"Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases," Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Twitter.

"As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well."

The meeting is a precursor to the main G7 summit due to take place at a rural English resort in June, with U.S. President Joe Biden and other world leaders set to attend.

A British official confirmed the two positive tests and said the entire Indian delegation was self-isolating. British rules require a 10-day self-isolation period.

The Indian delegation had not yet attended the main summit venue at Lancaster House, and so meetings scheduled for Wednesday went ahead as planned.

Asked if, in light of the positive tests, it had been a mistake to hold the summit in person, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "I think it's very important to try to continue as much business as you can as a government."

Johnson said he would speak with Jaishankar later on Wednesday by Zoom.

British foreign minister Dominic Raab was seen greeting and fist-bumping other G7 members as they arrived at the venue.

"We deeply regret that Jaishankar will be unable to attend the meeting today in person," a senior UK diplomat said. "This is exactly why we have put in place strict COVID protocols and daily testing."

On Tuesday, pictures from inside the grand Lancaster House conference venue showed the reality of diplomacy in the coronavirus age - delegates separated by plastic screens, and a "family photo" of ministers carefully spaced two metres apart.

Jaishankar was pictured meeting British interior minister Priti Patel on Tuesday, although Patel did not have to self-isolate because the meeting had been held in line with existing rules. Both were wearing masks in the photograph.

India is not a G7 member but was invited by Britain to this week's summit, along with Australia, South Africa and South Korea.

The Indian High Commission in London did not respond to requests for comment.

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[May 05, 2021] Infosys and Deakin join forces for strategic engagement in research, innovation and skill development

NEW DELHI, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global leader in next-gen digital services and consulting, Infosys, has joined forces with Deakin to develop a strategic action plan for research, innovation and skill development. The organisations will work together, combining their strengths in emerging technologies and design to innovate at scale. The collaboration was formalised yesterday by Professor Iain Martin, President and Vice-Chancellor, Deakin University and Mr Ashok Mysore, Vice President and Regional Head - Delivery and Operations, Infosys, who signed an agreement at the University's Burwood campus in Melbourne, also attended by Ms Michelle Wade, Commissioner, South Asia at Global Victoria, State Government of Victoria. The strategic collaboration includes the establishment of the Infosys 'Living Labs' concept at Deakin's regional campus in Geelong. Living Labs will offer innovation as a service to clients and partners, by bringing together expertise in business, technology and design. The partners will soon be submitting a proposal to the Victorian Government for co-investing in this venture. The agreement will also enable Infosys to contribute to Deakin's Geelong-based innovation ecosystem in Smart Manufacturing, ICT, Energy and Utilities. Infosys will leverage the University's existing infrastructure at its Waurn Ponds Campus to collaborate with incubators and on research projects. As a key component of the partnership, Deakinwill allocate PhD scholarships in collaboration with Infosys in specific areas of mutual interest.



Mr Ashok Mysore, Vice President and Regional Head - Delivery & Operations, Infosys said, "This is co-innovation at its best and demonstrates our continued investment in driving innovation and building digital skills in Victoria. This collaboration has a particular focus on bringing innovative energy, utilities and smart manufacturing solutions to market". Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin said that the strategic collaboration with Infosys is an excellent example of a university working with the private sector to leverage investment, create local jobs and deliver transformative outcomes for the community.

"At Deakin, we pride ourselves on the strength of our industry collaborations and our openness to new ideas and ways of doing. We continue to invest in partnerships like this that prioritise innovation and the positive outcomes we can create for our communities. "The establishment of the Infosys Living Labs in regional Victoria is another step forward for the University and the region and will help develop the local community through the creation of new products and services and enhancing job opportunities," Professor Martin said. Ms Michelle Wade, Commissioner, South Asia at Global Victoria, said that this was a collaboration between two leading organisations in the Victoria-India relationship. "Both Infosys and Deakin harness some of the best and brightest minds, and are committed to the development of local economies and capability. I look forward to seeing the results of this partnership which has the potential to resonate in both Victoria and India," Ms Wade said. The partners will explore the creation of new products and solutions through DeakinCo., the commercial arm of Deakin University, to develop a talent pool for the ICT / Digital and consulting sector in consultation with Infosys and the Victorian Government. Infosys will also offer opportunities for internships and employment for Deakin graduates and students. About Deakin University Established in 1974, Deakin University is one of Australia's leading tertiary education providers and is ranked in the top 1% of world universities (ARWU). It has won numerous awards and teaches over 60,000 students each year offering students world-class programs and endless opportunities. With 27 plus years of engagement in India, Deakin University was the first international education provider to set up an office in India in 1994. It is currently the most engaged Australian Provider across education, training, research, capacity building and consultancy initiatives with academia, industry and Government. It has established premier partnerships in India to transform education and research into beneficial community outcomes, to produce world-class graduates and contribute to the growth and sustainability of the communities. For more information, visit https://www.deakin.edu.au. For more information, please email david.das@deakin.edu.au or call +91 11 26544715. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/713572/Deakin_University_Logo.jpg

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[May 05, 2021] MedX Health Corp. Names Health-Care Leader Sylvain Desjeans as Chief Revenue Officer

MedX Health Corp. ("MedX" or the "Company") (TSX-V: MDX) is pleased to announce the appointment of Sylvain Desjeans as Chief Revenue Officer. With more than 30 years of health-care industry experience, Mr. Desjeans is a seasoned leader who has successfully implemented and led large-scale strategic growth plans and global product licensing initiatives for international pharmaceutical and medical companies. He comes to MedX from tenures as Country Manager (Canada) for Aspen Pharmacare and senior leadership positions at Accucaps Industries Limited and Biovail Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Desjeans will lead market access, customer acquisition, engagement and marketing for MedX's teledermatology offering as the Company accelerates its international expansion efforts and continues the growth of its network of approved clinical partners across Canada, including Empower Clinics. Mr. Desjeans will also work closely with the chair of MedX's Medical Advisory Board, Dr. Trevor Champagne, on the Company's artificial intelligence technology, driving ongoing innovation and patient-driven product development. "Sylvain brings a wealth of experience to our growing team as we continue to scale our operations to meet international demand and increasing uptake within the North American market," said Robert von der Porten, Acting CEO and Chairman. "His experience, leadership and relationships will secure further market access as we set our sights on new opportunities given the growing need for teledermatology to support health-care systems, globally. His background in dermatology - and specifically working with dermatologists - will bring value to our partner clinicians and customers." Mr. Desjeans stated, "MedX is poised for significant international market expansion with its best-in-class SIAscopy skin-scanning device and DermSecure platform. This technology reduces the strain on health-care systems by offering a truly patient-centric experience, which ultimately improves patient outcomes." MedX's leading telemedicine platform allows health-care prctitioners to quickly and accurately assess suspicious moles, lesions and other skin conditions via its image capture technology, SIAscopy, and its secure, cloud-based patient management system, DermSecure, which transmits and stores patient data throughout the assessment process. MedX's SIAscopy is the only technology that captures five images, including four spectrophotometric images 2mm below the skin's surface.



Teledermatology, a subspecialty of dermatology that offers safe and effective virtual care -patient assessment and diagnosis- at a distance, eliminates the need for in-person appointments. With the world navigating through ongoing COVID-19 recovery measures, teledermatology's advancement has never been more critical to patient care and outcomes. About MedX

MedX, headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, is a leading medical device and software company focused on skin health with its SIAscopy on DermSecure telemedicine platform, utilizing its SIAscopy technology. SIAscopy is also imbedded in SIAMETRICS, a well-regarded research system used to assess treatment effectiveness of a variety of skin conditions, including burns. The Company's SIAscope and other devices are manufactured in its ISO 13485 certified facility. The SIAscope is a hand-held device that uses patented technology utilizing light and its remittance to view up to 2 mm beneath suspicious moles and lesions in a pain free, non-invasive manner, with the Company's software then creating real-time images for physicians and dermatologists to evaluate all types of moles or lesions within seconds. These products are Health Canada, FDA, TGA and CE cleared for use in Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, the European Union, Turkey and Brazil. DermSecure meets all privacy, security and relevant regulatory requirements in Canada, the US, Brazil, and the EU. MedX also designs, manufactures and distributes quality photobiomodulation therapeutic and dental lasers to provide drug-free and non-invasive treatment of tissue damage and pain. www.medxhealth.com. This press release does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ, including, without limitation, the company's limited operating history and history of losses, the inability to successfully obtain further funding, the inability to raise capital on terms acceptable to the company, the inability to compete effectively in the marketplace, the inability to complete the proposed acquisition and such other risks that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those contained in the company's projections or forward-looking statements. All forward looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the company as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005563/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Muzo Unveils New Website, Campaign and Jewelry Collections in Support of The Muzo Foundation

Muzo Emerald Colombia, the world's leading producer of responsibly sourced emeralds, is pleased to debut a new e-commerce website (https://muzoonline.com) and a striking visual campaign, aimed at engaging with a fresh new consumer. In addition to showcasing Muzo's rare and exceptional Colombian emeralds, the site will provide visitors with a 360-degree view of its mining business, which is exemplified by the highest of social, environmental and sustainability standards. The web platform features a range of new jewelry, including Muzo's latest signature collection, 'Nova' as well as an ultra-spirited capsule set from longtime collaborator, Mercedes Salazar. In addition, visitors can gain access to its 'Green Jewel' collection - a line of exquisite high jewelry designs created in collaboration with Argyle Pink Diamonds, as well as an archive of its celebrated designer collaborations from such dynamic partners as Harwell Godfrey, Katherine Jetter, Loren Nicole, Nina Runsdorf, Robinson Pelham and Silvia Furmanovich. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005149/en/ The website will also function as an educational tool to bring awareness to Colombian Emeralds, taking visitors on a journey through the Muzo process, including its state-of-the-art mining operation and dedicated workforce, the company's commitment to social responsibility as well as the highly-skilled art of cuttin.



As part of the May Emerald Month initiative, Muzo is working to drive awareness of The Muzo Foundation, whose mission serves to transform the Western Boyaca region of Colombia through early childhood education, training schools, higher education scholarships, community dining for the elderly, school and family farms, cocoa crops, strengthening grassroots organizations, empowering community leaders and establishing a health post. A portion of proceeds from Muzo's ongoing designer collaborations will raise money for select programming. Says Gabbi Harvey, Head of Business Development, "Transparency and philanthropy are at the core of our business and we are thrilled to have created new channels to help drive awareness of these efforts. Despite a challenging year, we have remained committed to giving back to the local environment and people - we recognize that there would be no Muzo without Colombia and our incredible mining community."

The Campaign Muzo honored its heritage, tapping Latin American model, Alana Tapigliani, to appear as the face of the new campaign, which will appear online and throughout its social media platforms. Tapigliani was shot in New York City, appearing fresh faced in order to highlight the gorgeous Muzo emerald jewelry. Nova Collection A new take on Muzo's Signature jewelry collection, the Nova line honors the rich tradition of rare and precious emeralds, with on-trend silhouettes crafted in 18K yellow and white gold and accented with diamonds. The pieces range in price from $5,000 for a classic emerald shank ring flanked by diamonds to $40,000 for a pair of diamond leaf earrings with two Muzo pear drop earrings weighing 3.52 carats. Mercedes Salazar Collection Colombian tastemaker, Mercedes Salazar has channeled her impeccable craft into a line of whimsical fashion/fine jewelry. Featuring nine pieces handcrafted in Colombia, woven with raffia and gold thread and flecked with Muzo emeralds, the pieces are the perfect summer accessory. Prices start at $120 retail. Says Mercedes, "For me it's important to give back because it is the only way to understand that we are one, that we are not alone. We weave a life together. Knowledge, wealth, happiness and peace should be always shared." Visit www.muzoonline.com to learn more. ABOUT MUZO As a leading producer of the world's most exceptional emeralds, Muzo prides itself on its CSR (News - Alert) initiatives, emphasizing complete transparency from mine to Maison. Located in the Boyaca region of Colombia, the Muzo emerald mine employs more than 1,000 local men and women, contributing significantly to its economic growth. The company has modernized mining practices to preserve the local environment and ensure community workers' health and safety. The Muzo Foundation is proud to provide the local community with such resources as a free health clinic and local canteen. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005149/en/

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[May 05, 2021] NCDMM Announces New LLC in Huntsville to Develop Alabama's Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Support U.S. Army Futures Command Modernization Goals

BLAIRSVILLE, Pa., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) proudly announces the creation of a new Limited Liability Company (LLC), the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation and Integration Center (AMIIC), with the mission of accelerating the adoption of state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and building a highly skilled Alabama workforce. "Huntsville and the Northern Alabama region have a proud history steeped in ingenuity, innovation, and determination to prove that nothing, not even the moon, is out of humanity's reach," said Gary Fleegle, NCDMM President and CEO. "Given the area's defense, technology, and advanced manufacturing foundations, we quickly determined that Huntsville is the right place for NCDMM's newest business venture to achieve our next mission. We have established the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation and Integration Center to empower Alabama's students and workers with the skills needed for tomorrow's workforce." As the wholly owned subsidiary of NCDMM, AMIIC is based in Huntsville, Alabama, which is already home to an NCDMM office, led by Mike Docherty, PMP, NCDMM Manufacturing Technology Director. "The creation of AMIIC further underscores NCDMM's strong commitment to the Department of Defense, its supply chain, and the long-standing partnership we have with the U.S. Army here at Redstone Arsenal," said Mr. Docherty. "In providing advanced manufacturing technologies that support the modernization goals of the Army, we will contribute to filling the gap in skilled manufacturing labor in Northern Alabama. Through AMIIC and its demonstration facility and all the workforce development, training and education opportunities, Alabamians of all ages will be prepared to fill these highly skilled positions." AMIIC's mission is to help stimulate Alabama's advanced manufacturing sector through the creation of a state-of-the-art demonstration facility and the significant expansionof available workforce development, training, education, and apprenticeship programs. The state, according to a recent economic study, has a goal of producing 500,000 new, highly skilled workers through 2025.



AMIIC will achieve these objectives by developing an agile, collaborative, and innovative environment for the maturation and demonstration of advanced manufacturing technologies centric to meet the modernization manufacturing needs of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Aviation & Missile Center in Redstone Arsenal, Ala. AMIIC will be led by NCDMM in collaboration with its founding partners, including UAH, a part of The University of Alabama System; U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM); National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); Huntsville City Schools; Intuitive Research and Technology; Auburn University; Calhoun Community College; J.F. Drake University; and The University of Alabama.

AMIIC is also comprised of partners representing primary and secondary schools, tech and trade schools, the city of Huntsville, academic institutions, technology providers, government laboratories, industry associations, leading Defense original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and Manufacturing USA institutes, including NCDMM's America Makes, the Department of Defense's additive manufacturing innovation institute that will serve as AMIIC's anchor institute. Additionally, AMIIC will serve as the lead demonstration facility for the Alabama Defense Advanced Manufacturing Community (ADAMC), which is part of the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (DMCSP). The mission of the DMCSP is to support long-term community investments that strengthen national security innovation and expand the capabilities of the defense industrial ecosystem. For more information, visit ncdmm.org and amiic.us. About NCDMM

NCDMM delivers innovative and collaborative manufacturing solutions that enhance our nation's workforce and economic competitiveness. NCDMM has extensive knowledge and depth in defense manufacturing to continually innovate, improve, and advance manufacturing technologies and methodologies. NCDMM also manages America Makes and the V4 Institute. NCDMM is the cornerstone of the recently formed Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group, Inc. (MTDG). Visit the NCDMM at ncdmm.org. About AMIIC

The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation and Integration Center (AMIIC) was established to accelerate the adoption of state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and build the Northern Alabama workforce of tomorrow. AMIIC will work to stimulate Alabama's economy, workforce, and advanced manufacturing sector through the creation of a state-of-the-art demonstration facility and a significant expansion of education and workforce development programs available to both students and workers. Visit AMIIC at amiic.us. Contact: Scott.Deutsch@ncdmm.org, 724-539-4760 Related Images

amiic-logo.png

AMIIC Logo

AMIIC Logo View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ncdmm-announces-new-llc-in-huntsville-to-develop-alabamas-advanced-manufacturing-workforce-and-support-us-army-futures-command-modernization-goals-301284116.html SOURCE National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM)

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[May 05, 2021] Oversight Board Upholds Former U.S. President Donald Trump's Suspension from Facebook and Instagram; Finds Facebook Failed to Impose Proper Penalty

WASHINGTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Oversight Board upheld Facebook's decision on January 7 to suspend then-President Trump from Facebook and Instagram. The Board found that Mr. Trump's posts severely violated Facebook's rules, and his words of support for those involved in the attack on the U.S. Capitol building legitimized violence in a situation where there was an immediate risk to people's lives. "President Trump's actions on social media encouraged and legitimized violence and were a severe violation of Facebook's rules," said Thomas Hughes, Director of the Oversight Board Administration. "By maintaining an unfounded narrative of electoral fraud and persistent calls to action, Mr. Trump created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible. Facebook's decision to suspend the President on January 7 was the right one." While the Board concluded that Mr. Trump should have been suspended from Facebook and Instagram, it also found that Facebook failed to impose a proper penalty. Instead of applying one of its established account-level penalties for severe violations, Facebook devised an 'indefinite' suspension which is not included in their content policies. This arbitrary penalty gave Facebook total discretion over whether to lift or maintain the suspension, with no criteria that can be scrutinized by users or externa observers.



"The Board rejects Facebook's request for it to endorse indefinite suspension, which gives the company total discretion over when to lift or impose and isn't supported by their content policies," said Thomas Hughes. "Anyone concerned about the power of Facebook should be concerned with the company making decisions outside of its own rules." Within six months of the Board's decision, Facebook must reexamine this arbitrary penalty and impose one consistent with its own rules. This penalty must be based on the gravity of Mr. Trump's violation and the prospect of future harm. This time period allows Facebook to implement the Board's extensive policy recommendations.

These recommendations include: In the future, if a head of state or high government official repeatedly posts messages that pose a risk of harm Facebook should either suspend the account for a definitive period or delete the account.

Facebook's rules should ensure that when it imposes a time-bound suspension on an influential user, the company should assess the risk of inciting harm before the suspension ends. Influential users who pose a risk of harm should not be reinstated.

Facebook should publish a full report on its potential contribution to the narrative of electoral fraud and political tensions that led to the events of January 6 . This should be an open reflection on Facebook's design and policy choices that may allow its platform to be abused.

. This should be an open reflection on Facebook's design and policy choices that may allow its platform to be abused. Facebook should publish a new policy which would govern its response to crisis situations. This should set boundaries on Facebook's discretion, including a requirement to review its decision within a fixed time.

Facebook should explain its strikes and penalties process, giving users more information, including how many 'strikes' have been assessed against them. For more details on this decision and to learn more about the Board, visit https://oversightboard.com. About the Oversight Board

The Oversight Board, comprising independent Members from around the world, makes binding decisions on what content Facebook and Instagram should allow or remove, based on respect for freedom of expression and human rights. The Oversight Board is focused on addressing some of the most significant content moderation decisions on Facebook and Instagram that are referred by both users and Facebook. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oversight-board-upholds-former-us-president-donald-trumps-suspension-from-facebook-and-instagram-finds-facebook-failed-to-impose-proper-penalty-301283908.html SOURCE Oversight Board

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[May 05, 2021] Sharon Goodwine Named Chief Human Resources Officer of Synovus

Synovus Financial Corp (NYSE: SNV) today announced the appointment of Sharon Goodwine as executive vice president and chief human resources officer (CHRO), effective May 17. She was previously head of enterprise talent, executive vice president, at Wells Fargo (News - Alert) , where she held a range of HR-related positions for more than 20 years. Goodwine succeeds Debra Stanford, who has served as acting CHRO since December 2019. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005228/en/ Sharon Goodwine, Synovus Chief Human Resources Officer. (Photo: Business Wire) "As a growth-focused relationship bank, we couldn't be more excited to welcome Sharon to Synovus," said Kevin Blair, president and CEO of Synovus. "With more than two decades of experience in nearly every aspect of HR - including talent acquisition, learning and development, strategic business consulting, succession planning, organizational design and effectiveness, compensation, and diversity and inclusion - she is the right person to lead this critical function at exactly the right time. We are also incredibly grateful to Debra Stanford for her service to Synovus as interim CHRO over the last 17 month and we congratulate her on a well-deserved return to retirement."



Goodwine joined Wells Fargo in 2000 and held HR manager and leadership positions partnering with investment banking, commercial banking, and corporate banking before heading enterprise talent. Goodwine began her banking career with SunTrust in 1995, following graduation from Spelman College, where she earned a B.A. with honors. Synovus also recently announced the appointment of Jennifer Upshaw as chief of staff to Blair. Upshaw joined Synovus as a retail banker in 2003 and has held a range of positions at the bank, including senior director of marketing and, most recently, chief retail banking officer. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

Synovus Financial Corp. is a financial services company based in Columbus, Georgia, with approximately $55 billion in assets. Synovus provides commercial and retail banking, investment, and mortgage services through 285 branches in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Synovus is a Great Place to Work-Certified Company and is on the web at synovus.com, and on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005228/en/

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[May 05, 2021] SMBC Americas Holdings, Inc. Elects Kevin G. Chavers as Independent Director

SMBC Americas Holdings, Inc. ("SMBCAH"), a member of SMBC Group, announced today it has elected Kevin G. Chavers as an Independent Director, effective May 1, 2021. Mr. Chavers also serves as a member of the Audit Committee. "I am extremely grateful to welcome Kevin to the board," said Hiro Hyakutome, CEO of SMBC in the Americas, who is also President & CEO of SMBCAH. "Kevin provides our board with a unique background and perspective and we look forward to his expertise and guidance." Mr. Chavers has extensive experience in mortgage capital markets and housing finance policy in both the public and private sectors. He also has board experience, previously sitting on the trade group Structured Finance Association's Board of Directors and the Investor Advisory Group of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (2015-2018). Most recently, Mr. Chavers was a Managing Director and a member of the Global Fixed Income Securitized Asset Investment Team at BlackRock, where he has worked for the past 10 years, holding roles on the Global Public Policy Group and Financial Markets Advisory Group. He was also a member of BlackRock's Government Relations Steering Committee and co-chaired the firm's Black Professionals Network. Prior to joining BlackRock, Mr. Chavers worked at Morgan Stanley, where he served as a Senior Relationship Manager with coverage responsiilities for the mortgage-related government-sponsored enterprises and other clients. He led the firm's global mortgage operating businesses and their strategic repositioning. Mr. Chavers also headed strategy, execution, and banking for the mortgage principal finance team within the Securitized Products Group.



Mr. Chavers began his career with the law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy in New York before serving as the President of Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) during the Clinton administration and as Majority Staff Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. After that, he spent five years at Goldman Sachs & Co. as a Vice President in the Mortgage Securities Department. Mr. Chavers earned a Bachelor of City Planning degree from the University of Virginia's School of Architecture and his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.

About SMBC Group SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 130 offices and 85,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG's shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges. As of December 31, 2020, its total assets were $2.25 trillion. In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization's extensive global network. The Group's operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC Rail Services LLC, Manufacturers Bank, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005410/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Spark Networks Announces Conference Call to Discuss First Quarter 2021 Results

BERLIN, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Spark Networks SE (NYSE: LOV), one of the world's leading online dating companies, announced today that the company will hold a conference call to discuss First Quarter 2021 financial results on Monday, May 17, 2021 at 10:00 am ET. Dial-in Information

Call Title: Spark Networks SE First Quarter 2021 Earnings Conference Call

Toll Free: 1-877-705-6003

Toll/International: 1-201-493-6725

Germany Toll-Free: 0 800-182-0040 In addition, the Company will host a webcast of the call which will be accessible in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at https://investor.spark.net/investor-relations/home/a> . A replay will begin approximately three hours after completion of the call and run until May 31, 2021.



Replay Information

Toll Free: 1-844-512-2921

Toll/International: 1-412-317-6671

Replay Pin Number: 13719604 About Spark Networks SE:

Spark Networks SE is America's second largest dating company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange American under the ticker symbol "LOV," with headquarters in Berlin, Germany, and offices in New York and Utah. The Company's widening portfolio of premium and freemium dating apps include Zoosk, EliteSingles, Christian Mingle, Jdate, JSwipe, SilverSingles and eDarling, among others. Spark Networks SE in its current form is the result of the merger between Affinitas GmbH and Spark Networks, Inc. in 2017 and the addition of Zoosk, Inc. in 2019. Spark Networks has approximately one million monthly paying subscribers globally.

Safe Harbor Statement:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, statements involving known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause Spark Networks' performance or achievements to be materially different from those of any expected future results, performance, or achievements. Any statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be considered to be forward-looking statements. Written words, such as "believes," "hopes," "intends," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "plans," "anticipates," and variations thereof, or the use of future tense, identify forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements and forecasts involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the near future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially, including, but not limited to, the risk that the benefits from the acquisition of Zoosk, Inc. may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; risks related to the degree of competition in the markets in which Spark Networks operates; risks related to the ability of Spark Networks to retain and hire key personnel; the timing and market acceptance of new products introduced by Spark Networks' competitors; Spark Networks' ability to identify potential acquisitions; Spark Networks' ability to comply with new and evolving regulations relating to data protection and data privacy; general competition and price measures in the market place; risks related to the duration and severity of Covid-19 and its impact on Spark Networks' business; and general economic conditions. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Spark Networks' Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in other sections of Spark Networks' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), and in Spark Networks' other current and periodic reports filed or furnished from time to time with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to Spark Networks as of the date hereof, and Spark Networks assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law. Contact:

Christopher Camarra

Vice President of Investor Relations

christopher.camarra@spark.net View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spark-networks-announces-conference-call-to-discuss-first-quarter-2021-results-301284505.html SOURCE Spark Networks SE

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[May 05, 2021] SPYR Technologies Highlighted in New Research After Entering Sales & Revenue Phase, Partnering with Amazon, Walmart, eBay

NEW YORK, NY, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SPYR Technologies (OTC Pink: SPYR) and its wholly owned subsidiary, the Internet of Things (IoT) company, Applied MagiX Inc., are highlighted in new research that focuses on the companys aggressive pivot into the technology industry and its businesslike approach as the two companies segued from the acquisition of Applied MagiX, to advancing their product development and sales strategy, to identifying and launching its first smart home products for purchase, to gaining a presence on 3 online retail giants, to generating sales & revenueall in the span of about 5 months. After a careful review of the companys pro-growth acquisition strategy, its entrance into the multi-billion-dollar smart home market via acquisition, its partnerships with retail giants Amazon, Walmart and eBay, its efforts to quickly drive products to market, and its expeditious move to the revenue-generating phase of the companys life cycle, Stock Market Media Group (SMMG), a news & media, research and content development IR firm, announces that it has initiated coverage with the release of a new report on SPYR Technologies. Read SMMGs SPYR Report at https://bit.ly/SPYR-Report SPYR is currently invested in growing a portfolio of technology companies through strategic acquisitions and/or acquiring products that will ideally operate in the smart home, IoT, and artificial intelligence markets. Its first acquisition, Applied MagiX, a registered Apple developer headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, is engaged in developing its own signature line of Apple HomeKit products and accessories while offering consumers sourced Apple HomeKit, Apple CarPlay, and Apple WATCH products and accessories to generate revenue immediately while development progresses on its own branded proprietary products. SPYR is a low-float stock with only 73-million tradeable shares in the float, which has allowed the companys share price to easily rise to between $0.80 - $1.00+ on several occasions. The companys share structure combined with its aggressive pro-growth strategy and its proactive approach to move from acquisition to generating sales and revenue, represents an ideal ground-floor opportunity for new and current investors looking to accumulate shares of the company. Read SMMGs SPYR Report at https://bit.ly/SPYR-Report About SPYR Technologies SPYR Technologies is a technology company that, through its subsidiary, Applied MagiX Inc., develops and resells Apple cosystem compatible products with an emphasis on the growing multi-billion-dollar smart home market. SPYR continues to identify and target acquisitions that will grow its footprint in the industry and expand the products it offers consumers, including companies developing artificial intelligence and smart-technology products.



About Applied MagiX, Inc. Applied MagiX is an Internet of Things (IoT) company headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, with an office in Hong Kong. The company is a registered Apple developer that develops and sources Apple ecosystem compatible products with an emphasis on the growing multi-billion-dollar smart home market.

About Stock Market Media Group Stock Market Media Group is a news & media, research, and content development IR firm offering a platform for corporate stories to unfold in the media with press releases, feature news articles, corporate videos, radio-style CEO interviews, and research reports. This article was written based on publicly available information. Stock Market Media Group may, from time to time, include our own opinions about the companies, their business, markets, and opportunities in our articles. Any opinions we may offer about any of the companies we write about are solely our own and are made in reliance upon our rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and are provided solely for the general opinionated discussion of our readers. Our opinions should not be considered to be complete, precise, accurate, or current investment advice, or construed or interpreted as research. Any investment decisions you may make concerning any of the securities we write about are solely your responsibility based on your own due diligence. Our publications are provided only as an informational aid, and as a starting point for doing additional independent research. We encourage you to invest carefully and read the investor information available at the website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov , where you can also find all of SPYR Technologies filings and disclosures. We also recommend, as a general rule, that before investing in any securities, you consult with a professional financial planner or advisor, and you should conduct a complete and independent investigation before investing in any security after prudent consideration of all pertinent risks. We are not a registered broker, dealer, analyst, or advisor. We hold no investment licenses and may not sell, offer to sell, or offer to buy any security. Our publications about SPYR Technologies are not a recommendation to buy or sell a security. Should Stock Market Media Group and its management own shares in the profiled company, they may benefit from any increase in the share price of the profiled companies and hold the right to sell the shares bought or issued at any given time including shortly after the release of the companys profile. Section 17(b) of the 1933 Securities and Exchange Act requires publishers who distribute information about publicly traded securities for compensation, to disclose who paid them, the amount, and the type of payment. Under the Securities Act of 1933, Section 17(b), Stock Market Media Group discloses that it was remunerated fifteen-thousand dollars, paid for by a third party via bank wire, on 2/19/2021, and has since been extended on 3/17/2021 and 4/27/2021, for its published content related to SPYR Technologies. In February 2015, SPYR agreed to issue to us 250,000 shares of SPYRs Restricted Common Stock. Our rights to sell any of this Restricted Common Stock are subject to prior compliance with all U.S. Securities Laws, including but not limited to Rule 144. Further, our sale of any of the Restricted Common Stock is subject to a volume restriction providing that we may only sell 5,000 shares daily for every 250,000 shares of the daily trading volume. All shares have been held for the requisite period under Rule 144 and were eligible to be sold immediately upon reaching the requisite holding period without further notice. Stock Market Media Group and its management never accept compensation in free-trading shares for its marketing services of the company being profiled, however third parties that have compensated Stock Market Media Group may hold free-trading shares of the company being profiled and could very well be selling shares of the companys stock at the same time the content is being disseminated to potential investors; this should be viewed as a definite conflict of interest and as such, the reader should take this into consideration. For more information: www.stockmarketmediagroup.com . Contact:

Stock Market Media Group info@stockmarketmediagroup.com

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[May 05, 2021] Stephen O'Donnell Joins guardDog.ai Advisory Board

Guard Dog Solutions, Inc., dba guardDog.ai, announced today the appointment of a new advisory board member, Stephen O'Donnell, an award-winning business transformation executive and author of "What Every CIO Wants - A Guide for Global Technology (News - Alert) Salespeople." O'Donnell brings global-scale experience in digital transformation to guardDog.ai from his extensive background in building and restructuring systems, teams and processes within the banking, insurance, construction, professional services, telecommunications, retail, and payments industries. O'Donnell has served as a senior executive for many technology companies. He was CEO at GreenBytes Inc. (acquired by Oracle (News - Alert) ), Founder at DCMI, Managing Director at ESG, and Global Head of Data Centre Operation at British Telecom. His resume also includes CIO at Coventry Building Society, Gallagher, and G4S plc, and as CTO at MS Amlin, and several senior roles at Barclays, Cable & Wireless (Vodafone) and Deutsche Bank. He has also served on the advisory board of Fusion-io (News - Alert) . Said O'Donnell, "The Covid pandemic has fundamentally changed the cyber threat surface. Employees are now deploying their digital assets into a home network that is shared, unprotected, unmonitored, unpatched, hs no virus or malware protection, and is wide open to attack."



"guardDog's smart AI can sniff out vulnerabilities, and by extending the security operations center into the highest risk territory of the corporate network, the unprotected edge, like hotels and home networks, they offer a convincing approach for really helping to keep the bad guys out," O'Donnell continued. "When I was approached to serve on the guardDog advisory board, I knew that I had to accept this opportunity to make a difference." Said Lester Mower, Chairman of the Advisory Board, "Stephen has deep experience and knowledge in managing, guiding and advising high growth companies at global scale. His insights will be invaluable for our advisory board team as guardDog advances its mission to simplify cyber security."

About guardDog.ai Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, guardDog.ai has developed a cloud-based software service with a companion device that work together to simplify network security. The solution exposes invisible threats on networks, and the devices attached to them, with patented technology to address and prevent cybersecurity threats before they compromise network environments. Every business, government, healthcare institution, home consumer, or other organization, are grappling to find security solutions that are adapting to this changing world. guardDog.ai is pioneering new innovations designed to meet these challenges. This press release contains forward looking statements of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and results, and will not be accurate indications of the times, or by, which such performance will be achieved. For more information visit guardDog.ai and explore edge territory analytics at Live Map. #EdgeTerritory #Cybersecurity #ProtectiveCloudServices #BeyondVPN View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005353/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Technology Innovation Institute's Directed Energy Research Centre Partners with World-leading Universities

Technology Innovation Institute ( TII (News - Alert) ), the applied research pillar of Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), today announced that its Directed Energy Research Centre (DERC) has partnered with Germany's Ruhr University Bochum and Helmut Schmidt University, France's University Clermont Auvergne and National University of Colombia, Bogota. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005493/en/ Dr. Chaouki Kasmi, Chief Researcher, Directed Energy Research Centre, Technology Innovation Institute (Photo: AETOSWire) The collaborations follow a series of rapid announcements at Technology Innovation Institute since the first Advanced Technology Research Council board meeting in August 2020. Directed Energy Research Centre is one of the initial seven dedicated research centres at Technology Innovation Institute. The strategic partnerships will advance breakthroughs across the field of directed energy and its sub-disciplines. The partnership with Ruhr University Bochum involves research on radar systems, including ground-penetrating radar (GPR). In addition, by working alongside National University of Colombia in Bogota, the Centre will engage in innovative research within lightweight lightning protection and ground-penetrating radars with humanitarian objectives related to the detection and neutralisation of landmines. Furthermore, the collaboration with Helmut Schmidt University, in Hamburg, and University Clermont Auvergne, in Clermont-Ferrand, will see work performed in numerical and statistical methods related to high-power electromagnetics. Speaking on the partnership announcements, Dr Chaouki Kasmi, Chief Researcher at Directed Energy Research Centre, said: "These partnerships form a critical aspect of our roadmap to become a leading research centre. Directed energy has an impact across many areas, including - healthcare, infastructure, materials and the environment. The Centre is committed to harnessing the physics behind high energy systems for the benefit of society."



Dr Sebastien Lallechere, Associate Professor at Clermont Auvergne University, said: "Directed Energy Research Centre (DERC) brings together experts from all over the world to harness the power of acoustic and electromagnetic waves for widespread civilian and military applications, including industrial, medical and defence projects. Through pioneering research programmes, Directed Energy Research Centre is advancing the use of high-power technologies for a safer world." Technology Innovation Institute is a pioneering global research and development centre that focuses on applied research and new-age technology capabilities. The Institute has seven initial dedicated research centres in quantum, autonomous robotics, cryptography, advanced materials, digital security, directed energy and secure systems. By working with exceptional talent, universities, research institutions and industry partners from all over the world, the Institute connects an intellectual community and contributes to building an R&D ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. The Institute reinforces Abu Dhabi and the UAE's status as a global hub for innovation and contributes to the broader development of its knowledge-based economy.

About Technology Innovation Institute (TII) Technology Innovation Institute (TII) is the dedicated 'applied research' pillar of Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). TII is a pioneering global research and development centre that focuses on applied research and new-age technology capabilities. The Institute has seven initial dedicated research centres in quantum, autonomous robotics, cryptography, advanced materials, digital security, directed energy and secure systems. For more information, visit www.tii.ae About Directed Energy Research Centre (DERC) Directed Energy Research Centre (DERC) - at Technology Innovation Institute (TII) - plays a leading role in understanding and harnessing the physics behind high power energy. The Centre is dedicated to innovation in areas such as electromagnetics, lasers, plasma physics and beyond for the benefit of society. For more information, visit https://directedenergy.tii.ae Connect with us on social media: LinkedIn (News - Alert) : https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiiuae/ Twitter (News - Alert) : https://twitter.com/TIIuae Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiiuae/ * Source (News - Alert) : AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005493/en/

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[May 05, 2021] TriHealth Invests in AI Workforce to Drive Enterprise-Wide Innovation

CINCINNATI, Ohio, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TriHealth , the Cincinnati region's nationally recognized integrated health system, announced today their partnership with Olive , the company delivering innovation to healthcare through artificial intelligence (AI), to implement an AlphaSite  an on-site AI command center. The addition of Olive will help TriHealth further its journey in achieving the "Triple Aim" of providing better care, better outcomes and better value to its patients and the community. Olive has started in TriHealth's revenue cycle department by optimizing processes like claims status checks. The system can be rapidly scaled to meet needs as they arise. "In every industry, as digital and information technology has been introduced, it has resulted in greater efficiencies. That has not been the case in healthcare. The implementation of technology has resulted in increased costs in our industry," said Mark C. Clement, President and CEO of TriHealth. "The promise of Olive is we will be able to deploy artificial intelligence to create greater efficiencies and improved effectiveness allowing us to automate routine processes." Olive is the only AI workforce solution designed specifically for healthcare. The AlphaSite program  the creation of an on-site AI command center  allows Olive to take a 360-degree approac to transform the entire healthcare enterprise by laying a foundation of interoperability to generate intelligence and outcomes. There are currently 22 Olive AlphaSites nationwide.



"Healthcare is drowning in data because the industry has been collecting information for decades, but the data lives in siloes. Olive connects healthcare's disparate systems to create a network of intelligence," said Sean Lane, CEO of Olive. "With the help of forward-thinking customers like TriHealth, we are building the Internet of Healthcare." Working with Olive will bring immediate and long-term benefits to TriHealth, which in turn will impact the entire community it serves.

"Olive is not just about improving the revenue cycle space," said Emily Seitz Pawlak, Vice President of Revenue Cycle of TriHealth. "With our partnership, we have visions to expand the use of AI and automation into as many areas of healthcare as possible, including the clinical side, all with the goal of delivering an even better healthcare product to our patients." About TriHealth

TriHealth is hospitals, physicians and the community working together to help people live better. We provide clinical, educational, preventive and social programs through Bethesda North, Bethesda Butler, Good Samaritan Hospital at Evendale, Good Samaritan and McCullough-Hyde hospitals and more than 140 other locations throughout Greater Cincinnati. This includes an ambulatory network, physician practices, research division, employer-based health services, hospice care, and fitness and health facilities. Learn more at trihealth.com, Facebook.com/TriHealth, @TriHealth on Twitter, and at YouTube.com/TriHealth. About Olive

Olive's AI workforce is built to fix our broken healthcare system by addressing healthcare's most burdensome issues  delivering hospitals and health systems and payers increased revenue, reduced costs and increased capacity. People feel lost in the system today and healthcare employees are essentially working in the dark due to outdated technology that creates a lack of shared knowledge and siloed data. Olive is designed to drive connections, shining a new light on the broken healthcare processes that stand between providers delivering patient care and payers. She uses AI to reveal life-changing insights that make healthcare more efficient, affordable and effective. Olive's mission is to unleash a trillion dollars of hidden potential within healthcare by connecting its disconnected systems. Olive is improving healthcare operations today, so everyone can benefit from a healthier industry tomorrow. To learn more about Olive, visit oliveai.com. TriHealth Media Contact

Michael Mattingly

513-569-6438

michael_mattingly@trihealth.com Olive Media Contact

Rachel Forsyth

312-329-3982

media@oliveai.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trihealth-invests-in-ai-workforce-to-drive-enterprise-wide-innovation-301283974.html SOURCE Olive

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[May 05, 2021] Triton Funds To Invest Up To $2M In VNUE, Inc.

NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- VNUE, Inc. (OTC: VNUE), a leading music technology company developing solutions to provide new revenue opportunities to recording and touring artists, record labels and the live merchandising industry, as well cutting edge technology for songwriters, music publishers, and rights holders to better monetize and protect their catalogs, is excited to announce that it has entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the "CSPA") with Triton Funds, LP ("Triton") (www.tritonfunds.com), the nation's largest student venture investment fund, for an investment by Triton in the Company's common equity of as much as $2 million. VNUE expects other investors to come on board as well, led by Triton. Triton has agreed to invest up to $1 million in common stock of VNUE through the purchase of shares the Company has agreed to sell to Triton, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the CSPA. In addition, in connection with the CSPA, Triton may invest up to an additional $1 million pursuant to warrant agreements. Triton is primarily focused on investments that will have a lasting positive impact on the Millennial generation with a portfolio of both private and public companies. Casey Barraza, an Analyst at Triton Funds, commented, "After speaking with key members of the management team like CEO Zach Bair, it was clear to the Triton Funds team that VNUE, Inc. has the 'secret sauce' needed to make a profound impact on the music industry and advocate for music artists. We hope that our investment will provide the Company with the capital needed to continue to develop and commercialize the Soundstr Technology." Zach Bair, CEO and Chairman of VNUE, said, "Triton is an amazing and credible source of capital that will allow VNUE to continue the commercialization of our groundbreaking Soundstr Music Recognition Technology (MRT), and to further expand ur "instant live" music recording and production model, particularly our digital platforms, and Soundstr as it relates to SaaS (software as a service). This investment represents a strong vote of confidence and validation from Millennial and Gen-Z investors about VNUE's direction and technology, and we look forward to proving them right over the coming years. After five years of receiving small amounts of funding, this finally provides fuel in the tanks to 'swing the bat' and fully execute to our plan."



For questions regarding this investment, or if you would like to invest, please contact the Triton Funds email at tritonfundsllc@gmail.com About VNUE, Inc. (www.vnue.com)

VNUE, Inc., (OTC: VNUE) is a multi-faceted music technology company dedicated to monetizing the live music experience for artists, labels, writers, and publishers, with products such as its set.fm instant content distribution platform (www.set.fm), exclusive license partner and "instant live" pioneer DiscLive (www.disclive.net), and protecting the rights of artists and writers with the company's Soundstr music recognition technology (MRT) (www.soundstr.com). The veteran entrepreneurs, artists and songwriters behind VNUE, led by music and tech entrepreneur and recording artist Zach Bair (www.zachbairmusic.com), are passionate about the future of their industry and ensuring that rights holders' value is not lost amid always-changing technology. VNUE also holds a 4.99% stake in RockHouse Live International, a new live music venue & restaurant chain that was recently launched in Clearwater Beach Florida, and which is expanding globally.

About TRITON FUNDS LLC

Triton Funds is the nation's largest student venture investment fund, managed entirely by students from UC San Diego located in Southern California. With $25M AUM, Triton Funds has taken an active part in both the San Diego ecosystem and nationwide, focusing on investments that will have a lasting positive impact on the Millennial generation with a portfolio of both private and public companies. The aim of Triton Funds is to create a student learning platform that will provide real-world experience and help bridge the gap between a STEM dominated university and Wall Street, helping students jumpstart their careers in finance, while providing strategic capitalization, business development support, and engineered exits to organizations with a viable future in the modern economy. Follow the Triton Funds story by visiting the Triton Funds website, Instagram, Twitter, or reach out directly via email. More information can be found at http://www.tritonfunds.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/triton-funds-to-invest-up-to-2m-in-vnue-inc-301284494.html SOURCE VNUE, Inc.

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[May 04, 2021] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, a Leading Securities Fraud Law Firm, Announces Investigation of Volkswagen AG (VWAGY) on Behalf of Investors

Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM"), a leading national shareholder rights law firm, today announced that it has commenced an investigation on behalf of Volkswagen AG ("Volkswagen" or the "Company") (OTC: VWAGY) investors concerning the Company's possible violations of the federal securities laws. If you suffered a loss on your Volkswagen investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at https://www.glancylaw.com/cases/volkswagen-ag/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at shareholders@glancylaw.com to learn more about your rights. On March 29, 2021, Volkswagen published a draft press release announcing its American subsidiaries' supposed name change to "Voltswagen." Media outlets reported that they confirmed with the Company that the name change was real. As reported by CNBC, "Volkswagen accidentally posted a press release on its website a month early on Monday announcing a new name for its U.S. operations, Voltswagen of America, emphasizing the German automaker's electric vehicle efforts." On this news, Volkswagen AG's share pric sharply rose.



On March 30, 2021, however, The Wall Street Journal published an article titled "No, Volkswagen Isn't Rebranding Itself Voltswagen: German car maker says announcement by its U.S. operation was supposed to be an April Fools' gag." The article noted that "[i]nvestors have been clamoring for shares of companies involved in electric vehicles and have recently been pouring money into the stocks of established car makers with solid EV plans." Other outlets reported that the Associated Press (News - Alert) was repeatedly assured by Volkswagen that its U.S. subsidiary planned a name change, which was false. On this news, Volkswagen AG's share price fell more than 5% over the next two trading days, thereby injuring investors.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. Whistleblower Notice: Persons with non-public information regarding Volkswagen should consider their options to aid the investigation or take advantage of the SEC (News - Alert) Whistleblower Program. Under the program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Charles H. Linehan at 310-201-9150 or 888-773-9224 or email shareholders@glancylaw.com. About GPM Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP is a premier law firm representing investors and consumers in securities litigation and other complex class action litigation. ISS Securities Class Action Services has consistently ranked GPM in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report. In 2018, GPM was ranked a top five law firm in number of securities class action settlements, and a top six law firm for total dollar size of settlements. With four offices across the country, GPM's nearly 40 attorneys have won groundbreaking rulings and recovered billions of dollars for investors and consumers in securities, antitrust, consumer, and employment class actions. GPM's lawyers have handled cases covering a wide spectrum of corporate misconduct including cases involving financial restatements, internal control weaknesses, earnings management, fraudulent earnings guidance and forward looking statements, auditor misconduct, insider trading, violations of FDA regulations, actions resulting in FDA and DOJ investigations, and many other forms of corporate misconduct. GPM's attorneys have worked on securities cases relating to nearly all industries and sectors in the financial markets, including, energy, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, real estate and REITs, financial, insurance, information technology, health care, biotech, cryptocurrency, medical devices, and many more. GPM's past successes have been widely covered by leading news and industry publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times (News - Alert), Bloomberg Businessweek, Reuters, the Associated Press, Barron's, Investor's Business Daily, Forbes, and Money. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210504006360/en/

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[May 04, 2021] Australia's TPG Telecom Deploys MATRIXX Software to Enable Multiple Brands on a Single, Converged Charging Platform

MATRIXX Software, a global leader in 5G monetization for the communications industry, today announced it has partnered with Australia's TPG Telecom Limited (ASX: TPG). TPG Telecom operates a number of leading mobile and internet brands including Vodafone (News - Alert) , TPG, iiNet, AAPT, Internode and Lebara, providing consumers with a comprehensive portfolio of fixed and mobile products in the Australian telecommunications market. With their 5G rollout progressing full steam ahead across major Australian cities, TPG Telecom is committed to cementing its place as a strong force for its customers. Looking ahead, as 5G becomes mainstream, TPG Telecom is seeking to unlock new opportunities and offerings resulting from the coming explosion of connected devices. With a goal to improve experience today, while laying the foundation for future innovation, TPG Telecom selected the MATRIXX Digital Commerce Platform to build a flexible, agile service capable of delivering real-time innovation to meet ever-shifting consumer demand. "At TPG Telecom, the investments we make are designed to provide immediate benefit to our customers today, with an eye towards how we can unlock new opportunities, tomorrow," said Rob James, Group Chief Digital & Information Officer of TPG Telecom. "Delivering improved value for our shareholders i essential for our success and the MATRIXX platform will enable us with the ability to rapidly innovate and experiment with new monetization models across all of our brands."



Implemented as part of a full digital transformation program, MATRIXX Digital Commerce Platform enables TPG Telecom to be more commercially competitive, while also reducing costs associated with legacy infrastructure. "We started with the ambition to consolidate multiple mobile rating platforms whilst still operating as Vodafone Hutchison Australia. Having merged with TPG Corporation to form TPG Telecom, using MATRIXX has further enabled us to ensure all our brands have access to a common rating platform. MATRIXX allows us to consolidate and transform 4G and 5G service monetization by moving to a single real-time platform that's tightly integrated with our network," said Easwaren Siva, General Manager Strategy & Architecture of TPG Telecom.

With the first phase completed, MATRIXX is now live for Vodafone branded prepaid services. Later phases of the transformation program will see TPG Telecom migrating mobile postpaid rating across their portfolio of brands, in addition to MVNO, wholesale and enable Standalone 5G charging. "We are thrilled to be able to help bring TPG Telecom's vision of improved commercial agility and greater customer experience," said Glo Gordon, MATRIXX CEO. "Helping to transform how TPG Telecom monetizes today, while giving them a powerful and highly configurable monetization platform for their future innovation, speaks to the core of what we do best - empowering our customers, so that they can empower theirs." About TPG Telecom TPG Telecom Limited was formed by the merger of Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited and TPG Corporation, formerly named TPG Telecom, on 13 July 2020. The merger brought together two highly complementary businesses, creating the leading challenger full-service telecommunications provider in Australia. About MATRIXX Software MATRIXX Software is the global leader in 5G monetization for the communications industry. Serving many of the world's largest operator groups, regional carriers, and emerging digital service providers, MATRIXX delivers a cloud native digital commerce solution that enables unmatched commercial and operational agility. Unifying IT & networks, MATRIXX delivers a network-grade converged charging system (CCS) enabling efficient hyper-scaling of infrastructure to support consumer services, wholesale and enterprise marketplaces. Through its relentless commitment to product excellence and customer success, MATRIXX empowers businesses to harness network assets and business agility to succeed at web scale. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210504005060/en/

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[May 04, 2021] New York Students to Hear from NASA Astronauts on Space Station

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Students from New York will have an opportunity this week to hear from NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The Earth-to-space call will air live at 10:30 a.m. EDT Thursday, May 6, on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website. NASA astronaut Megan McArthur and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet will answer prerecorded video questions from students involved in the State University of New York-Plattsburgh's Shine On! program. The Shine On! curriculum aims to encourage resilient, confident girls by teaching media literacy, communication skills, and character strengths. The in-flight education downlink will be the highlight of a daylong STEM conference for more than 5,000 students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade from across New York state. The event will be virtual. Medi interested in covering it should contact Emily Slattery at: 914-563-4296 or emslat004@plattsburgh.edu. Teachers interested in registering for the virtual conference should visit:



https://www.shineongirl.org Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance, and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Astronauts living in space on the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Space Network's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites.

For more than 20 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked on the space station, testing technologies, performing research, and developing the skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Through NASA's Artemis program, the agency will return astronauts to the Moon, with eventual human exploration of Mars. Inspiring the next generation of explorers  the Artemis Generation  ensures America will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery. Follow America's Moon to Mars exploration at: https://www.nasa.gov/topics/moon-to-mars Follow NASA astronauts on social media at: https://www.twitter.com/NASA_astronauts See videos and lesson plans highlighting research on the International Space Station at: https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-york-students-to-hear-from-nasa-astronauts-on-space-station-301283911.html SOURCE NASA

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[May 04, 2021] DEADLINE ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Announces That a Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against Churchill Capital Corp. IV and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm

Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm, reminds investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on behalf of investors that purchased Churchill Capital Corporation IV (NYSE: CCIV) securities between January 11, 2021 and February 22, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Investors have until June 18, 2021 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Click here to participate in the action. On January 11, 2021, Bloomberg (News - Alert) News reported that Lucid Motors Inc. ("Lucid"), an American automotive company specializing in electric cars, is in talks to go public via merger with one of Michael Klein's special purpose acquisition companies, including Churchill. Over the next several weeks, Lucid's Chief Executive Officer Peter Rawlinson made media appearances during which he stated that Lucid was aiming for a spring delivery for its first vehicles. On February 22, 2021, the merger between Churchill and Lucid was announced with transaction equity value estimated at $11.75 billion. Churchill's share price closed at $57.37. The same day, after the market closed, Bloomberg News reported that production of Lucid's debut car would be delyed until at least the second half of 2021 with no definite date for the actual delivery of vehicles. Details of the merger also disclosed that Lucid was projecting the production of only 557 vehicles in 2021, instead of the 6,000 it had been touting in the run-up to the merger announcement.



On February 23, 2021, Churchill's stock fell $22.16, or 38%, to close at $35.21 per share on February 23, 2021. The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) Lucid was not prepared to deliver vehicles by spring of 2021; (2) Lucid was projecting a production of 557 vehicles in 2021 instead of the 6,000 vehicles touted in the run-up to the merger with Churchill; and (3) as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

If you purchased Churchill securities during the Class Period and suffered a loss, are a long-term stockholder, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker, Melissa Fortunato, or Marion Passmore by email at investigations@bespc.com, telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you. About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, California, and South Carolina. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210504006374/en/

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[May 04, 2021] P&G Encourages Women To Talk About Imposter Syndrome in #RealDeal campaign with Lazada

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG), a leading fast-moving consumer goods company launches a new #RealDeal campaign with Lazada, Southeast Asia's leading e-commerce platform to raise awareness around Imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is the feeling of inadequacy despite's one capabilities. According to a study by the US National Library of Medicine[1], up to 82% of the general population experiences imposter syndrome in different periods of their lives. Statistics from the 2019 Imposter Syndrome Study[2], also shared that 1 out of 2 women experience imposter syndrome on a daily or regular basis, attesting to the fact that women often doubt their own abilities through feelings of fraud and belittlement of their own experiences and expertise. Dr Lim Boon Leng, Psychiatrist from Dr BL Lim Centre for Psychological Wellness shared that, "Imposter Syndrome should be taken seriously. Women who experience imposter syndrome need to come to the realization that people value their expertise, and they can focus on growing through the process. Additionally, they can speak to someone they trust to help them realise that their fears are unfounded." Although imposter syndrome is prevalent in our society, it is less talked about in Asia. This campaign aims to shed light on this through a short film (Alternative Vimeo Link) telling the real life story of Singaporean entrepreneur, Ms Yeo Wan Qing, founder of social enterprise Hatch, who overcame imposter syndrome by being open to those around her about the struggles she was facing. Alexandra Vogler, P&G e-commerce Senior Director, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, said, "P&G is deeply committed to equality and inclusion. Through this campaign, we want to bring to light the inner struggles that go unnoticed among women experiencing Imposter Syndrome. Through this short film, we hope to inspire people to start conversations about Imposter Syndrome, and support one another in overcoming it." Beyond the film, the campaign will also come to life on Lazada across five Southeast Asian markets including Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam in May and June, with a wide range of exclusive offers on P&G products such as Olay, Pantene and Oral-B celebrating female shoppers. Campaign Details







Country Go-live dates Lazada Campaign Page Promotion Mechanics Philippines 3  5 May Link Special Deals up to 42% off! Vietnam 5  7 May Link Up to 49% Off & Free Gifts for Every Order! Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore Campaign dates coming soon To be announced To be announced

About Procter & Gamble P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always, Ambi Pur, Downy, Dynamo, Febreze, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Olay, Oral-B, Pampers, Pantene, Safeguard, SK-II, Tide, Vicks, and Whisper. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7174434/

[2] Josa, 2019. Ditching Imposter Syndrome. Beyond Alchemy Publishing, United Kingdom. SOURCE Procter & Gamble

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[May 04, 2021] $ 2.80 Billion growth expected in Cryptocurrency Mining Hardware Market | 5.72% YOY growth in 2020 amid COVID-19 Spread | APAC to Notice Maximum Growth | Technavio

NEW YORK, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global cryptocurrency mining hardware market by product (ASIC and GPU) and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA) has been added to Technavio's offering. The global cryptocurrency mining hardware market is expected to grow by USD 2.80 billion, at a CAGR of over 7% during 2020-2024. Request a Free Sample Report to Know More The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an uncertain price scenario for cryptocurrency. The need for people to self-isolate, quarantine measures, and other restrictions have led to less involvement by people in mining farms. This led to the postponement of several cryptocurrency-related events. However, some government organizations have recently proposed new regulations to minimize the negative impact of COVID-19 on the cryptocurrency market. For instance, in March 2020, the Arizona State Government in the US introduced the Cryptocurrency Act of 2020, which determines the regulation of crypto assets by different federal agencies. Such initiatives are expected to minimize the negative impact of COVID-19 on the market. The market is expected to be driven by factors such as the rising popularity of mining pools, increasing number of product launches, and the growing demand for cryptocurrency-specific hardware. The report also offers information on the upcoming trends and challenges that will influence market growth.

Download Our Free Sample Report Cryptocurrency Mining Hardware Market: Opportunities Governments in developed regions such as the US and Canada have allowed their citizens to use cryptocurrencies for various purposes, including payment of property taxes. In addition, rising investments by vendors to expand their operations across geographies is expected to offer several growth opportunities in the market during the forecast period. Cryptocurrency Mining Hardware Market: Segmentation by Product Based on the segmentation by product, the market generated maximum revenue in the ASIC segment in 2019. The segment is driven by the proliferation of retail stores that will sell ASIC mining hardware solutions. The market growth in the segment will be significant during the forecast period. Cryptocurrency Mining Hardware Market: Segmentation by Geography APAC held the largest market share in 2019 and the market growth in the region is expected to be faster compared to the growth of the market in other regions. The growth of the market in APAC can be attributed to the rising investments by vendors for cryptocurrency mining facilities in countries such as China. Also, the acceptance of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as payment options by merchants in China will contribute to the growth of the cryptocurrency mining hardware market in APAC during the forecast period. One of the fortune 500 companies had used the detailed research report on the cryptocurrency mining hardware market and had decided to increase their market share in the APAC region which offers the highest market opportunities during the forecast period. Explore more about market opportunities: Enquire about the report before purchasing Cryptocurrency Mining Hardware Market: Major Vendors Advanced Micro Devices Inc. The company offers computing platforms, which are a collection of technologies designed to work together to provide a complete computing solution and to enable and advance the computing components. The company offers hardware under various categories such as Radeon RX Vega Series, Radeon RX 500 Series, and Radeon RX 400 Series. ASICminer Co. The company is engagedin the design and development of bitcoin mining solutions. ASICminer 8 Nano S and ASICminer Zeon Turbo are among the cryptocurrency mining hardware offered by the company.



Baikal Miner The company is engaged in the design and development of various types of equipment used for cryptocurrency mining. BK-G28, BK-N70, BK-B, and BK-D are some of the variants of cryptocurrency mining hardware offered by the company.

Bitfury Group Ltd. The offers blockchain-as-a-service solutions designed to help governments and companies integrate blockchain into their operations. The company offers Bitfury Tardis which offers a performance of up to 80 tera hashes per second. BitMain Technologies Holding Co. The company designs, manufactures, and sells cryptocurrency mining hardware and equipment. Antminer S17, Antminer S11, and Antminer T15 are some of the variants of cryptocurrency mining hardware offered by the company. Along with the market data, Technavio offers customizations as per the specific needs of companies. The following customization options are available for the cryptocurrency mining hardware market report: Regional Analysis Further breakdown of the market segmentation at requested regions. Market Player Information Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players, vendor segmentation, and vendor offerings.

Know the strategies adopted by vendors during the COVID-19 Recovery Phase Speak to our Analyst for a Customized Report Related Reports on Cryptocurrency Mining Hardware Market: Global Quantum Cryptography Solutions Market  Global quantum cryptography solutions market is segmented by end-user (defense, government and public sector, BFSI, telecom, and others) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and South America).

Download an Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Smart Card IC Market  Global smart card IC market is segmented by microprocessor architecture (16-bit and 32-bit), application (telecommunication, financial, government, transportation, and others), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA).

Download an Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Blockchain Identity Management Market  Global blockchain identity management market is segmented by end-user (BFSI, government, healthcare, and others), application (end-point, network, and infrastructure), and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America).

Download an Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Blockchain Technology Market  Global blockchain technology market is segmented by end-user (BFSI, government, healthcare, and others) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA).

Download an Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Digital Signature Market  Global digital signature market is segmented by geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America) and end-user (BFSI, government, healthcare, legal, and others).

Download an Exclusive Free Sample Report Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 - 2024 Five Forces Analysis Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition Market Segmentation by Product Market segments

Comparison by Product

ASIC - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

GPU - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Product Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

APAC - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

North America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

- Market size and forecast 2019-2024 Europe - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

- Market size and forecast 2019-2024 South America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

- Market size and forecast 2019-2024 MEA - Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market drivers  Demand led growth

Market challenges

Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

ASICminer Co.

Baikal Miner

Bitfury Group Ltd.

BitMain Technologies Holding Co.

Canaan Inc.

Cynosure Technologies Co. Ltd.

Halong Mining

INNOSILICON Technology Ltd.

Shenzhen MicroBT Electronics Technology Co. Ltd. Appendix Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: media@technavio.com

Website: www.technavio.com

Report: www.technavio.com/report/gift-card-market-size-industry-analysis View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/-2-80-billion-growth-expected-in-cryptocurrency-mining-hardware-market--5-72-yoy-growth-in-2020-amid-covid-19-spread--apac-to-notice-maximum-growth--technavio-301283942.html SOURCE Technavio

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[May 04, 2021] MSG won praise for its outstanding performance in FX110 Virtual Expo

TAIPEI, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BrokersShow 2021 Virtual Expo Taiwan Station hosted by FX110 has just successfully concluded on April 24, 2021. This expo was held simultaneously on three platforms including BrokersShow's official APP, H5 and Web page, and totally attracted 23 CFD brokers to participate. As one of the world's leading online trading brokers, Master Select Group attended this exhibition as the highest-level exhibitor. With its outstanding performance throughout the activity, it has won the attention of many investors! The reason why Master Select Group was able to stand out from the 23 exhibitors, not only because of the perfect location of the booth but also inseparable from the ingenious booth design. In the booth design process, MSG consistently use the company's brand colors - red and blue. "Calmness and Boldness" represented by red and blue is not only embedded in MSG's brand DNA, but also in the blood of every investor.



The mascot, GoGo Shark, which jumped up directly above the booth became the finishing touch of the design. In order to break the stereotypes of traditional financial platforms left to investors, Master Select Group cleverly integrated the newly-launched corporate mascot "GoGo Shark" into the booth. During the two-day exhibition, many investors were attracted by this cute 3D shark. It absolutely added unique vitality and charm to the atmosphere of the booth! The interaction of live stream sections between exhibitors and investors is another highlight of BrokersShow Virtual Expo. MSG attached great importance to this two-way communication opportunity to demonstrate the company's positive energy, and invited Dylan Tan from Singapore with 12 years of financial commodity trading experience to bring an inspiring lecture.

Dylan is the founder of D Lifestyle Trader and has created D' Lifestyle Trading Method. He has extensive experience in practical trading, technical analysis and investor education. In the live lecture on April 23, Dylan used a relaxed and down-to-earth dialogue method to quickly attract hundreds of investors to interact in the live stream channel, and the practical content gained unanimous praise from the audience. During this expo, Master Select Group also launched a series of limited-time preferential activities. The two-day exhibition ended in a joyful atmosphere. All exhibitors expressed the hope to have more opportunities to communicate with counterparts and investors in the future. ---------------------------------------------------- If you have any question, please contact MSG CS Center Line1: https://line.me/ti/p/69znMq7fuL

Line2: https://line.me/ti/p/6SyUaMU0kF SOURCE Master Select Group

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[May 04, 2021] E-Residency sees Rapid Expansion in Southeast Asia, Launches New ID Collection Points to Meet Rising Demand from Entrepreneurs

SINGAPORE, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Estonian government's e-Residency programme, pioneer of the world's first digital residency initiative, today announced the launch of four new international 'pick-up points', including Singapore, Bangkok, Sao Paulo and Johannesburg. With two new locations in Southeast Asia, this expansion comes at a time where there is increased demand from entrepreneurs and tech talent in the region to scale their business internationally. Singapore in particular, as a hotbed for innovation and talent, has gained a huge appeal to digital nomads who are capitalising on today's remote work models to start a business from anywhere. "We're exceptionally excited about our expansion across Southeast Asia, as there remains so much untapped talent and opportunity in the region. The strengthening of our digital and physical network will go a long way to empower these talented entrepreneurs and business owners, and we're excited to be a part of their journey and connect them with a global audience," says Lauri Haav, Managing Director at e-Residency. The e-Residency programme was first launched in 2014, and has become internationally renowned for revolutionising how governments think about and interact with foreign entrepreneurs. There are an estimated 5-10 million digital nomads, and with this number only set to increase, the need for innovation in this space has never been more pressing. Through the e-Residency programme, community members benefit from a secure means of digital identification that grants access to Estonia's e-services, lets them sign documents digitally, and empowers them to launch and run their business 100% online from the European Union. Jacob Puthenparambil, CEO of Redhill, global communications agency with their head office in Singapore, became an e-Resident five years ago. "The e-Residency programme made it possible for our company to expand to the EU market through a quick and affordable setup. As a European entity, new possibilities opened up to grow our business internationally and by now, we have a steady increase of clients coming from the EU. The expansion of the e-Residency programme in South East Asia makes it moreaccessible to both locals and temporary residents such as digital nomads to realise their global aspirations," says Jacob.



Singapore is one of the top 50 application countries in the world, and alongside cities like Bangkok, Sao Paulo and Johannesburg, is considered a remote working hotspot: a haven for start-up founders and borderless professionals that have emerged with increasing speed since the pandemic. Kersti Kaljulaid, the Estonian President, says: "Although the global pandemic has limited our ability to travel, work and do business across borders, it has also accelerated digital transformation among governments, businesses and freelancers alike. As more people choose to live and work without remaining tied to one place, there is increasing need for a location-free digital toolbox to support them. As the world's first digitally transformed state, Estonia is pleased to be welcoming even more freelancers, entrepreneurs, business owners and location-independent workers from around the world to join our e-Residency programme."

There are currently close to 80,000 e-Residents worldwide, with e-Residency cards available for collection at nearly 50 locations. As part of this expansion, the Estonian Government partnered with BLS International, a trusted global tech-enabled services partner for governments and citizens worldwide. They are a listed company in India, and have an impeccable reputation for setting benchmarks in the domain of visa, passport, consular, citizen, e-governance and more with over 46 governments. About e-Residency: The e-Residency programme was founded in 2014 and has, since then, reached over 80,000 digital entrepreneurs. The programme is built on Estonia's 20+ years of experience to provide digital public services for Estonian citizens. Everyone can apply for this transnational government-issued digital identity and benefit from the e-Residency platform, which is built on inclusion, legitimacy and transparency. E-Residency allows access to Estonia's public e-services and a variety of e-services provided by international service providers, all part of Estonia's blockchain-based X-Road, which links all public services together and enables each service to work in harmony. All outgoing data is digitally signed and encrypted, and all incoming data is authenticated and logged, meaning that e-Residents' and other users of the X-Road's data is completely secure. This provides the freedom to easily start and run a global EU company fully online from anywhere in the world. E-residents can: open a company within a day and run the company remotely, apply for a business banking account and credit card, conduct e-banking, use international payment service providers, declare taxes, and sign documents digitally. E-Residency does not provide citizenship, tax residency, physical residency or the right to travel to Estonia or EU. Visit: https://e-resident.gov.ee/ Apply for e-Residency online at: https://eresident.politsei.ee/ Notes to editor: There are currently over 80,000 e-Residents from 170 different countries. E-Residents have founded 17 000 Estonian companies and close to 2,000 individuals are employed by e-Resident founded companies. Cumulatively, these companies had a turnover of 3.68Bn as of February 2021. In addition, 54 million of inbound revenue to the Estonian government has been recorded since the e-Residency programme was founded in 2014. The new pick-up points are located at: Singapore :

10 Anson Road Unit 30-08 International Plaza, 079903

: Bangkok ( Thailand ):

399 Interchange Building, B2 Floor, Unit A/1, Sukhumvit Road. Klongtoey-Nua, wattana, Bangkok 10110 Thailand

( ): Johannesburg ( South Africa ):

The Station, 191 Bekker Road, The Station, Vorna Valley , Midrand, 1682

( ): Sao Paulo (Brazil) :

ED. Vilma Sonia, Av. Sao Luis, 112 Cj. 404, Republica Sao Paulo SP, 01046-001 BRAZIL SOURCE Estonia e-Residency

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[May 04, 2021] Thailand's Charoen Pokphand (C.P.) Group announces partnership with Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play to drive positive global impact through innovation

BANGKOK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Thailand's largest and one of the world's largest conglomerates Charoen Pokphand Group (C.P. Group) is joining forces with Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play, the largest global innovation platform for industry accelerators. Through this partnership, Plug and Play will work closely with C.P. Group to leverage innovation as the company steps up its efforts to build sustainable businesses and nurture positive impacts on global communities. The two companies have signed an agreement to collectively develop and promote new services through a collaboration program with global startup in the Smart Cities verticals including Sustainability, Circular Economy, Digital Health, Industry 4.0, Mobility, Internet of Things (IoT), Clean Energy and Real Estate & Construcion. This partnership will also serve as a keystone for future strategic initiatives with C.P. Group to create value and growth opportunities



"We are proud to partner with such a key international player as Plug and Play to accelerate digital adoption and strengthen our engagement with innovative startups across the globe. This will further scale up the digital ecosystem across C.P. Group's business units in line with C.P. Group 4.0 strategies which aim at integrating cutting-edge technology in all aspects of our business. We aspire to be a technology-driven business leader by growing our presence in the innovation space and bringing innovative services and solutions to our group of companies," said Mr. John Jiang, chief technology officer and global head of R&D, C.P. Group. "In addition to the direct benefits to our C.P. Group's business units and partners, we are pleased to partner with Plug and Play to bring in world-class talents and innovations to Thailand startup ecosystem, while helping to nurture and bring Thai startups to the regional and global market," said Mr. Thanasorn Jaidee, President, TrueDigitalPark, a business unit of C.P. Group which provides the largest space in Southeast Asia to support the development of the startup and innovation ecosystem in Thailand.

"We're thrilled to have C.P. Group joined Plug and Play Thailand and Silicon Valley Smart Cities corporate innovation platform. Our goal is to provide visibility and engagement to the technology companies globally focusing on major business units of C.P. Group," said Mr. Shawn Dehpanah, executive vice president and head of corporate innovation for Plug and Play Asia Pacific. Celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year, C.P. Group is committed to driving the 3-benefits principle in our business consideration society toward sustainability through innovations that help promote good health for consumers. In addition, they implement projects aimed at improving the quality of life and health of people through our shared experiences and knowledge with a focus on comprehensive development in economic, social and environmental aspects. About Plug and Play Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 35 locations globally, giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 30,000 startups and 500 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. We provide active investments with 200 leading Silicon Valley VCs, and host more than 700 networking events per year. Companies in our community have raised over $9 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club and PayPal. For more information: visit www.plugandplayapac.com/smart-cities About C.P. Group Charoen Pokphand Group Co., Ltd. serves as a parent company of C.P. Group of Companies, which consist of over 200 companies. The Group operates in 21 countries across many industries ranging from industrial to service sectors, which are categorized into 8 Business Lines covering 13 Business Groups. The business coverage ranges across the value chain from traditional backbone industries such as agri-food business to retail and distribution and digital technology as well as others such as pharmaceutical, real estate and finance. For more information: visit www.cpgroupglobal.com SOURCE Plug and Play APAC

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[May 04, 2021] FPT Corp and Base.vn empower to accelerate digital transformation for 800,000 Vietnamese enterprises

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, May 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FPT - Vietnam's leading technology corporation has officially announced its strategic investment in Base Enterprise - a technology company that owns the most popular corporate governance platform in Vietnam (Base.vn), under which FPT would own a majority stake. This cooperation will reinforce the two sides to promote the comprehensive digital transformation ecosystem for 800,000 enterprises. Pham Kim Hung - Founder & CEO of Base.vn said: "Base.vn has been solving 3 big issues of businesses including productivity enhancement management, information transparency, human resources management and development. We plan to develop other major solutions such as financial management, customer management and business development on one unified platform. The cooperation with FPT, a leading technology company with a wealth of experience and human resource, will help Base to save at least 10 years to become a comprehensive digital transformation ecosystem for the world's leading business."



Nguyen Van Khoa, CEO of FPT said: "Over the past years, FPT has always been alongside with large Vietnamese and global enterprises on the journey of digital transformation. FPT's strategy is to build a comprehensive digital transformation platform for small and medium enterprises to be the No. 1 in that market. Accompanying Base.vn is one of the shortest ways for FPT to achieve that goal".

Base.vn platform easily integrates with FPT digital transformation solutions so that it will immediately bring more than 100 digital conversion solutions on Base.vn itself. Base.vn products also inherit the latest core technologies from FPT Corporation such as FPT.AI, Blockchain, Cloud, digital signature... to provide more effective solutions. Thanks to a network of branches in 30 countries, FPT will also help Base compete fairly in the global market. About Base Enterprise: Founded in August 2016 and officially launched in 2017, after more than 4 years of development, Base.vn has become a reputable business management platform and being trusted by more than 5,000 customers across a wide range of sizes and sectors. In December 2020, Base.vn was awarded the first prize for the excellent digital platform in the Make in Vietnam digital product award organized by the Ministry of Information and Communication. https://base.vn About FPT Corp: Established in 1988, FPT is an IT Group operating in three core business areas: Technology, Telecommunications and Education. After more than 30 years of development, FPT is located in 26 countries over the world. FPT has affirmed its pioneering role in digital transforming as well as its efforts to contribute to the development of the digital economy, digital society, and digital nation. http://www.fpt.com.vn View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fpt-corp-and-basevn-empower-to-accelerate-digital-transformation-for-800-000-vietnamese-enterprises-301283989.html SOURCE FPT Corporation

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[May 05, 2021]

SHEBA unveils Hope Reef: World's Largest Coral Restoration Program Announced

Leading cat food brand SHEBA  has begun work on the world's largest coral restoration program, which aims to restore more than 185,000 square meters of coral reefs around the world by 2029

The coral reef, which can be seen on Google Earth, has been regrown to spell the word HOPE to drive awareness and show how positive change can happen within our lifetime

Visit the first-of-its-kind YouTube Channel where with every video view, advertising revenue is donated to The Nature Conservancy to support its reef restoration initiatives

LONDON, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ -- Hope Reef, the start of the world's largest coral reef restoration program, has been unveiled off the coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The reef, which can be seen on Google Earth, has been built to spell the word H-O-P-E and is a symbol to show the world how positive change can happen within our lifetime.

Scientists estimate that if the world does nothing, 90% of the world's tropical reefs will be gone by 2043, impacting nearly 500 million people who depend on them for food, income and coastal protection[1]. The effort to solve this requires global cooperation on a massive scale and SHEBA hopes to play the role of catalyst, helping to ensure the future has coral reefs and fish.

While the unveiling of Hope Reef takes place today, its restoration began two years ago. Since then, coral cover has increased from 5 to 55%, fish abundance has increased and we have seen the return of species such as sharks and turtles. By the end of 2029, SHEBA's ambition is to restore more than 185,000 square meters of coral reef at sites around the world  roughly the size of 148 Olympic Swimming Pools.

Viewers who watch the SHEBA Hope Reef story, "The Film That Grows Coral" on YouTube will help raise money for reef restoration. With every view, the advertising money generated is invested into coral reef restoration through campaign partner, The Nature Conservancy. This is the first time ever that 100% of the funds from a YouTube channel have been monetized for sustainability efforts.

Providing a simple but effective solution, Hope Reef uses innovative 'Reef Star' technology  90cm-wide, star-shaped, steel structures that are handmade by the local community in Indonesia. Each star is joined underwater to create a strong web that covers the seabed and provides a stable base for coral fragments to regrow.

Professor David Smith, Chief Marine Scientist at Mars Inc., said: "We're thrilled to unveil Hope Reef and show that there really is hope for our oceans. Our efforts around the world to restore and regenerate these precious ecosystems are showing exciting results and having a positive impact on local communities, which we're delighted to see. We hope our efforts inspire others to join us so we can all play our part in helping to prevent the extinction of our coral reefs."

Dr. Elizabeth McLeod, The Nature Conservancy's Global Reef Systems Lead, said: "Coral reefs are the heart of our oceans, supporting over a quarter of marine life. Reefs also supply millions of people worldwide with food, livelihoods, life-saving medicines, and protection against storms. It's imperative that we scale up our work to protect and restore the long-term health of these vital ecosystems, as well as addressing the threats that have caused their decline and building their resilience to a changing climate."

Since 2008, SHEBA's parent company, Mars, Incorporated, has invested more than $10m in research, restoration and community engagement as part of its coral reef program. In addition, the company has invested $1 billion to drive action for the protection and restoration of the planet and those who inhabit it through its Sustainable In A Generation Plan.







Tracey Massey, Global President of Mars Pet Nutrition said: "This is a symbol of hope  hope for the future of our oceans and the start of a movement to restore these vital ecosystems. The Nature Conservancy and our other long-standing partners on coral restoration around the world ensure a promising start to drive further action, acting as catalyst to inspire others and help create a healthy, thriving planet for both people and pets."

To play a role in reef restoration, so that we have more coral today and more fish tomorrow, watch and share this video #hopegrows: The Film That Grows Coral

About SHEBA

The SHEBA Brand knows that cat owners love cats for their independent spirits, personalities, and discerning palates. That's why the SHEBA brand puts cats at the heart of everything it does, creating premium recipes with irresistible real meat, no artificial preservatives or flavors, and designed to entice cats' unique tastes and desires. The SHEBA Brand appreciates the relationship between cats and their owners and uses that understanding to celebrate and fuel their unique bond. Look for SHEBA premium cat food and cat treats at retailers nationwide. For more information, visit www.sheba.com.

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. Working in 72 countries and territories: 38 by direct conservation impact and 34 through partners, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org or follow @nature_press on Twitter.

About Mars Petcare



Mars Petcare is a diverse and growing business with 85,000 Associates across 50+ countries dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 75 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world's pets  including brands PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, ROYAL CANIN, NUTRO, GREENIES, SHEBA , CESAR, IAMS and EUKANUBA as well as The WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through a network of over 2,000 pet hospitals including BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL, PET PARTNERS, VCA, LINNAEUS and ANICURA. We're also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in  and we choose to fight for: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.

About Mars, Incorporated

For more than a century, Mars, Incorporated has been driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. This idea is at the center of who we have always been as a global, family-owned business. Today, Mars is transforming, innovating and evolving in ways that affirm our commitment to making a positive impact on the world around us.

Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of confectionery, food, and petcare products and services, we employ 133,000 dedicated Associates who are all moving in the same direction: forward. With $40 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world's best-loved brands including DOVE, EXTRA, M&M's, MILKY WAY, SNICKERS, TWIX, ORBIT, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, SKITTLES, BEN'S ORIGINAL, WHISKAS, COCOAVIA, and 5; and take care of half of the world's pets through our pet health services AniCura, Banfield Pet Hospitals, BluePearl, Linnaeus, Pet Partners, and VCA.

We know we can only be truly successful if our partners and the communities in which we operate prosper as well. The Mars Five Principles  Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom  inspire our Associates to take action every day to help create a world tomorrow in which the planet, its people and pets can thrive. For more information about Mars, please visit mars.com.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

[1] IPPC Special Report (2018): https://report.ipcc.ch/sr15/pdf/sr15_spm_final.pdf

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sheba@freuds.com

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SOURCE Mars, Incorporated.
[May 05, 2021]

Registration Open for The New Academic Year 2021-22 Admissions - Cambridge Institute of Technology

BANGALORE, India, May 5 ,2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cambridge institute of technology (CITech.) invites students for Registration for various academic program of the academic year 2021-22. The registration for the engineering courses has already initiated through online as well as offline mode. The aspirants looking for engineering study from one of the top engineering colleges in Bangalore should apply before the deadline.

The Cambridge institute of technology is one of the best engineering colleges in Bangalore, providing a skill-based learning environment in 7 different engineering branches. The Cambridge Institute of Technology is affiliated with VTU, Belgaum and approved by AICTE, accredited by NAAC with a 'B++' Grade and NBA.

The list of B.E. courses offered at CITech.

List of Master courses offered at CITech.

The candidates must check the eligibility criteria before applying through online mode.

The eligibility criteria for Bachelor of Engineering course in different disciplines:

A candidate who has passed 10 + 2 patterns of examination (equivalent to the two years Pre University in Karnataka) with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects along with Chemistry/ Biotechnology/ Biology/ Computer Science/ Electronics as optional subjects in the qualifying examination is eligible to pursue an undergraduate degree in engineering at CITech.

The eligibility for admission is 45% in the case of General Category and 40% marks in the qualifying examination in case of SC/ST, Category-1 and OBC Category candidates. The marks obtained by the candidate in Biotechnology/ Biology/ Computer Science/ Electronics in the qualifying examination will be considered in the place of Chemistry in case the marks obtained in Chemistry is less forthe required aggregate percentage for determination of eligibility (and not for the determination of rank, in respect of engineering/technology courses).

Entrance Exam: KCET or COMEDK UGET for undergraduate courses.

or Entrance Exam: GATE/PGCET/KMAT/CMAT/MAT for post-graduation courses.







Documents required at the time of online registration as well as offline mode:

10th/SSLC Marks Card and Certificate - Original + 3 sets of Photocopy

12th/PUC Marks Card and Certificate - Original + 3 sets of Photocopy

Graduation Mark sheet and certificate

Transfer Certificate - Original + 3 sets of Photocopy

Caste & Income Certificate in case of SC/ST Candidates (For Karnataka students only)

Photographs - 5 Passport + 5 Stamp Size

Students who have passed out from Boards/University other than the Karnataka PU Board should also submit in addition to the above-mentioned documents:

Migration Certificate - Original + 2 sets of Photocopy

Students seeking admission in Master degree courses need to follow the same eligibility criteria for registration. Additionally, students must take one of the following entrance examinations: GATE or PGCET for MTech admission, KMAT, CMAT, MAT or PGCET for MBA admission, and PGCET for MCA admission.

The selection procedure for admission:

Selection for every course offered by the Cambridge Institute of Technology will conduct in two stages.

Stage 1: General selection through merit and score in the entrance examination

State 2: Personal interview

Placement Information of 2021 at CITech:

Because of the covid-19, the global job market severely impacted starting in 2020. However, among Bangalore engineering colleges, Cambridge Institute of Technology offers some of the best placement assistance. CITech. has a well-trained and well-focused placement wing to manage all aspects of student preparation, internships, and placement.

Ms. Usha Rani, Director-HR, Cambridge Institute of Technology, stated, 'That Our efforts to offer the corporate community future employees is in itself unique and is far beyond the confines of the four walls of the Institute. We at Cambridge ensure that every student gets the right skill and domain knowledge so that they are easily acceptable to the industry. It is a tradition that the recruiting organizations visiting our institute carry out pre-placement talks, or presentations organized by the company for the students.'

Cambridge Institute of Technology, a reputed engineering college in Bangalore, offers students a complete placement support. The newly introduced specialisation courses ensure a 100% placement in a reputable corporation. Some CITech alumni are having there higher education Abroad. Students from CITech are employed by multinational corporations as well as reputable Indian government organisation. For more details on Placement at CITech, click here.

The achievements of 2021 placement at CITech:

This year in the peak covid-19 situation CITech placed most of their eligible candidates in different industries like IT, manufacturing, BFSI, FMCD , etc.

, etc. Over 100+ companies visited this year for the placement process till now.

visited this year for the placement process till now. Until now, the highest package offered was 10 lakhs .

. The average package was offered for the student this year is from 4.9 - 5.2 lakh. Many students also received a paid internship in various companies.

The placement is still running for students under the CITech placement wing.

Learning and development strategies for placement at CITech:

Cambridge institute of technology achieved a remarkable appreciation for placing students during the pandemic season. The institute provides the top-notch quality of education and skill-based training session for students to develop professionalism. Throughout the academic year, students gained industrial working experience through seminars, guest lectures, internships, industrial visits, and so on.

Cambridge Institute of Technology provides n number of opportunities for preparing students for interview. The learning and development team plays a notable role in the placement process. This wing happens to be the brainchild of the Cambridge institute of technology.

It has emerged to provide state-of-the-art training to the students of engineering, management, and post-graduation program .

. The L&D training encapsulates communication and soft skills modules to equip the students with the right kind of employability skills that helps them to get better placement opportunities.

Students, as part of their L&D training, get nurtured with the right skills that infuse the confidence and competence to handle real-time situations .

. The activity-based training module gives the students practical exposure to the corporate world.

The L&D course has been formulated based on the valid inputs provided by technocrats and management masterminds.

For the latest news and updates regarding admission 2021-2022, kindly follow our website :- https://www.cambridge.edu.in/

Media Contact : Karthik, admissions@cambridge.edu.in, +919731998888, Admissions Head, Cambridge Group of Institutions

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[May 05, 2021] Accelleran, a global leader in 4G/5G Cloud-Native OpenRAN platforms, raises Series B financing to accelerate its growth in support of roll out of 5G networks worldwide

ANTWERP, Belgium, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Accelleran, a leading provider of OpenRAN software solutions for 4G/5G networks announced a EUR 6,8M Series B funding round led by Cogito Capital Partners, with participation of Qbic, and existing investors Capital-E and AAAF. The funding will be used by the company to fuel its global expansion. As 5G network deployments accelerate across the globe and the OpenRAN system of standards gathers momentum, service providers from mobile operators, to edge computing infrastructure providers, to system integrators are turning to Accelleran's proven 4G/5G RAN cloud-native software. 5G networks provide an enhanced broadband experience with speeds of up to 1 Gbps and latency of 10ms, as well as a platform for cloud and AI-based services. The global 5G services market is expected to exceed US$250 Bn by 2027, according to Acumen Research. Belgium-based Accelleran provides OpenRAN Software solutions for operators of 5G networks. With Accelleran's unique software architecture, clients unlock the true potential of software-defined networks, network virtualization, and RAN intelligence to better manage private, public, and neutral-host networks. Accelleran's dRAX delivers proven containerized software components to enable real-world deployment of multi-vendor, intelligent, and disaggregated OpenRAN, in alignment with the open standards such as the O-RAN Alliance. These Cloud-Native components deliver reliable, cost-effective, and scalable solutions for both 4G and 5G networks, including artificial intelligence-based automation. "From its inception, Accelleran has been a pioneer in applying cloud-based virtualization software architectures to mobile telecom, what is now commonly known as Open or Virtual RAN," said Frederic van Durme, CEO of Accelleran. "The new financial backing and domain expertise of Cogito and Qbic, and the continued support of Capital-E and AAAF, will allow us to realize our mission to becom a global, independent provider of mission critical software components for the RAN."



"We are excited about Accelleran's prospects and impressed with the quality and scalability of the platform they've developed," said Martin Jasinski, Cogito's General Partner. "We are strong believers in the future of OpenRAN-based, private 5G networks and see Accelleran as one of the emerging global leaders in a market that is about to enter a hypergrowth phase." "Through this Series B funding, we are pleased to support Accelleran's further development, and look forward to working with them as they address the huge market opportunity around disaggregated RAN," said Sofie Baeten, Managing Partner at Qbic.

"We look forward to continuing to support Accelleran, together with new investors, in building out key go-to-market partnerships, with particular focus on the US and European markets," said Marc Wachsmuth, Managing Partner at Capital-E. About Accelleran Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, Accelleran provides disruptive software, solutions and services for Open 4G and 5G RAN and vRAN. The company's unique approach supports genuine cloud-native deployment of RAN software components on the edge, in the cloud or embedded in the RRU. Accelleran's commitment to openness enables multi-vendor radio deployments and delivers open RAN data for AI-enabled network algorithms. With a strong track record as the cellular industry's leading RAN design, test and integration team, Accelleran is the natural choice for carrier-grade, reliable, portable and performant Radio Access Network Solutions and Services across multiple markets such as Private Networks, Fixed Wireless, Public Mobile, Neutral Host and IoT. For further information about Accelleran, please visit our website www.accelleran.com . About Cogito Capital Cogito Capital Partners is a venture and growth capital firm based in Warsaw, Poland and New York, USA. Cogito invests in late-stage B2B tech companies predominantly operating in CEE and other European countries, but with global expansion potential. Cogito focuses primarily on enterprise software, fintech/insurtech & digital health sectors, partnering with entrepreneurs seeking investors with CEE regional presence and global reach. For further information about Cogito, please visit our website cogitocap.com. About Qbic Qbic is an early-stage and sector-agnostic, inter university fund that invests in spin-offs and in young innovative ventures with a technology link to the Qbic associated universities and knowledge centers. Qbic is managed by an independent team of experts in investments and management. With around  100 million in resources, Qbic is one of the largest spin-off funds in Europe. Qbic I started in 2012 and allocated all its resources to 18 ventures. Qbic II is now in its final investment year and has so far built a portfolio of 16 investments. www.qbic.be About Capital-E Capital-E is an early-stage venture fund focused exclusively on semiconductors & system software related ventures in Europe. With over 100 m  of assets under management, the funds are led by an independent team with expertise in electronics and a balanced mix of entrepreneurial, industrial and VC experience. More information can be obtained at www.capital-e.com. About AAAF The Ark Angels Activator Fund NV (AAAF) is an ARKIV fund in the ARKimedes scheme of the Flemish investment company PMV. The shareholders of the fund are PMV, ING Belgium and 57 business angels, members of BAN Flanders. The fund has 14.8 million euros under management and has invested, together with business angels and other co-investors, in Flemish SMEs in their start-up, growth or transformation phases (www.aaafund.be).

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[May 05, 2021] South Pacific Islands - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Sydney, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just released, this edition of BuddeComm report outlines the latest developments and key trends in the telecoms markets. - https://www.budde.com.au/Research/South-Pacific-Islands-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW





In particular, the demand for mobile broadband is increasing due to mobile services being the primary and most wide-spread source for internet access across the region.



Mobile technology will play a pivotal role in the digital transformation of the Pacific Islands by giving the population access to services such as e-government, health, and education. Mobile technology will also act as a catalyst for innovation and economic growth.



The three largest countries in terms of population include Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Solomon Islands. While Papua New Guinea has the largest population by far, it provides opportunities for significant growth considering its mobile penetration is still low, at just over 30%. However, there are challenges to be overcome before significant growth can occur.



Internet penetration in the region is among the lowest in the world. However, an increase in international connectivity will improve penetration, coupled with an increase in 4G connections.



Submarine cable build-outs and the expansion of satellite services have bolstered international connectivity for the region in recent years, with more submarine cables due for completion in the next two years.



Fiji, the second largest island in the region, is one of the key markets to watch de to it having an advanced economy and holding the highest mobile and internet penetration rates. It is also leading in terms of preliminary 5G readiness.







Solomon Islands still relies upon 3G mobile and satellite services as its primary means of both communication and internet access. It will benefit from submarine cable and satellite developments occurring within the region.



While there are many local operators, there are also regional players including Digicel, which has operated in the Pacific for some years. Recently, the Fiji-based Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH) has expanded regionally, completing a number of acquisitions.





International organisations such as United Nations, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank have taken a special interest in seeing the general living conditions as well as communication services improve in the Pacific region. It is well recognised that access to broadband services can vastly improve the economic and social conditions in these emerging markets, many of which are prone to natural disasters and rising sea levels.



This BuddeComm annual publication provides valuable information, analyses and current statistics on the telecom markets of the seven largest countries in the Pacific region. It focuses on the markets of Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Samoa. The report includes a regional overview, identifying the key trends and leading operators. It provides insights into the mobile market of each country including mobile subscriber and mobile broadband statistics. Information on the fixed broadband market and statistics is also included with a particular focus on submarine cable and satellite developments.



Key Developments:

Kacific-1 satellite improves the regions international connectivity;

Additional submarine cables come online, with more due in the next two years;

GSM services still in widespread use in many Pacific Island countries;

Fiji leading the way in both LTE deployment as well as 5G readiness;

Australian government considering financial support to local bidders interested in acquiring the struggling Pacific operations of Digicel.



Companies mentioned in this report include:

Kumul Telikom, Telikom PNG, PNG DataCo, Digicel, Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH), Telecom Fiji (TFL), Fiji International Telecommunications (Fintel), Kacific Broadband Satellites, Southern Cross Cable Network (SCCN), Vodafone Fiji (VFL), Inkk Mobile, Unwired Fiji, Fintel Internet Services (Kidanet), Our Telekom (Breeze), Bmobile-Vodafone, O3b, Solomon Island Submarine Cable Company, Office des Postes et Telecommunications de Nouvelle-Caledonie (OPT-NC), Amper, Blue Sky Samoa, Telecom Vanuatu (TVL), Office des Postes et Telecommunications (OPT), Tahiti Nui Telecommunications, Galileo, Vini, Honotua Cable, Vodafone Polynesia.

Read the full report: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/South-Pacific-Islands-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?utm_source=GNW

Nicolas Bombourg: nbombourg@budde.com.au Europe office: +44 207 097 1241 Oceania Office: +61 280 767 665

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[May 05, 2021] Stephens and Grandfield Join Fiduciary Trust

Fiduciary Trust Company (FTC), a wealth advisor and investment management firm for high-net-worth individuals and nonprofits, is pleased to announce the hiring of two new officers. Michael Stephens, CFP, has joined as Vice President and Investment Officer and Sarah Grandfield, JD, as Vice President and Trust Counsel. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005196/en/



Michael Stephens, CFP, VP and Investment Officer, and Sarah Grandfield, JD, VP and Trust Counsel at Fiduciary Trust Company (Photo: Business Wire)

Early in his career, Stephens co-founded a New York wealth management firm and later served in senior roles at Boston area institutions including Eaton Vance, Boston Financial Management, and Emerson (News - Alert) Investment Management. He has also contributed to the launch of several businesses and served in an advisory capacity for a number of local startups. Grandfield joins FTC (News - Alert) from Verrill Dana where she was a Partner in its Private Clients & Fiduciary Services Group, advising high-net-worth individuals and multi-generational families on all aspects of estate and wealth transfer planning. She began her legal career as an Associate at Choate, Hall & Stewart. During law school, Grandfield worked at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and as a student clerk for the Honorable David S. Tatel, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. "Mike's planning and investment expertise as well as Sarah's trust and estates legal capabilities will further enhance our team of experienced professionals and benefit our clients," said Austin V. Shapard, President & CEO of Fiduciary Trust. "They have also both demonstrated high levels of personal client service, which is central to the value we deliver and our firm culture." Stephens earned a BA in psychology from Columbia University and an MBA from Cornell University. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association and the Investments and Wealth Institute. He has earned the Certified Financial Planner and the Certified Wealth Strategist designations. Grandfield is a dual graduate of Georgetown University, from which she earned both a BA in theology and government and a JD. Grandfield is a member of the American Bar Association's Private Clients Division, the Boston Estate Planning Council, and the Boston Trust & Estates Consortium. About Fiduciary Trust Company Fiduciary Trust is a privately owned wealth management firm focused on families, individuals and nonprofits seeking objective advice to help grow and protect their investments. The firm also provides a range of services to professional financial advisors and single-family offices. Fiduciary's capabilities include customized wealth planning, investment management, trustee and estate services, and family office, tax and custody services. Founded in 1885 as a family office, Fiduciary takes a personal approach based on expertise, strong performance and a genuine commitment to act in its clients' best interests. The firm's client focus has enabled it to achieve a 98% annual client retention rate. For additional information about Fiduciary's services, please visit www.fiduciary-trust.com, or contact Rick Tyson at 617-574-6799 or tyson@fiduciary-trust.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005196/en/

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[May 05, 2021] American Tower Partners With CDPQ in Europe

American Tower Corporation (NYSE: AMT (News - Alert) ) and Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), a global investment group, today announced that CDPQ will acquire a 30% stake in ATC Europe as part of a new long-term strategic partnership through a transaction valued at over 1.6 billion, implying an enterprise value of more than 8.8 billion for ATC Europe. Pursuant to the partnership agreement, American Tower (News - Alert) will retain managerial and operational control, as well as day-to-day oversight of ATC Europe, while CDPQ will obtain seats on ATC Europe's Board of Directors, along with certain governance rights. The transaction will position American Tower and CDPQ to jointly benefit from sustainable, long-term secular wireless growth trends in select European markets as 5G deployments and demand for communications infrastructure accelerate. ATC Europe's portfolio, pro forma for the closing of American Tower's pending Telxius acquisition, will consist of nearly 30,000 communications sites. Tom Bartlett, American Tower's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are pleased to partner with CDPQ in Europe, where we expect to create tremendous value. CDPQ's extensive infrastructure experience, deep knowledge of the region and long-term investment philosophy are in close alignment with American Tower's European strategy, operational excellence and long track record of historical success. This transaction not only contributes to the funding of our pending Telxius acquisition, which will transform our scale and leadership position in highly attractive markets like Germany and Spain, but also creates a solid, adaptable framework through which future expansion opportunities can be evaluated and financed." Emmanuel Jaclot, CDPQ's Executive Vice-President and Head of Infrastructure, said, "Through this new long-term strategic partnership with American Tower, CDPQ is thrilled to play an active role in establishing one of Europe's largest independent communications infrastructure providers. This dedicated growth platform with a global leader enables us to increase our exposure in key European markets - including Germany, France and Spain - while contributing to the development of critical carrier-neutal telecom networks, at a time where telecommunications needs are more important than ever."



BofA Securities, Inc. and CDX Advisors are serving as financial advisors to American Tower. HSBC is serving as financial advisor to CDPQ. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. About American Tower

American Tower, one of the largest global REITs, is a leading independent owner, operator and developer of multitenant communications real estate with a portfolio of approximately 187,000 communications sites. For more information about American Tower, please visit the "Earnings Materials" and "Investor Presentations" sections of our investor relations website at www.americantower.com. About CDPQ At Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), we invest constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public retirement and insurance plans, we work alongside our partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. We are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. As at December 31, 2020, CDPQ's net assets total CAD 365.5 billion. For more information, visit cdpq.com, follow us on Twitter or consult our Facebook or LinkedIn pages. Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements about future events and expectations, or "forward-looking statements," all of which are inherently uncertain. We have based those forward-looking statements on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed closing of the transaction described above and the value and future investment activities of ATC Europe. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the information contained in Item 1A of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 under the caption "Risk Factors" and in other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005348/en/

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[May 05, 2021]

Marketing Consulting Market Procurement Intelligence Report With COVID-19 Impact Update| SpendEdge

NEW YORK, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

The Marketing Consulting market will register an incremental spend of about USD 22 Billion, growing at a CAGR of 4.38% during the five-year forecast period. A targeted strategic approach to Marketing Consulting sourcing can unlock several opportunities for buyers. This report also offers market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Download free sample report

Key Highlights Offered in the Report:

Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices.

Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models.

Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers.

Request a free sample report for more information

Insights into buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers:

Several strategic and tactical negotiation levers are explained in the report to help buyers achieve the best prices for the Marketing Consulting market. The report also aids buyers with relevant Marketing Consulting pricing levels, pros, and cons of prevalent pricing models such as volume-based pricing, spot pricing, and cost-plus pricing and category management strategies and best practices to fulfill their category objectives.

Insights on buyer strategies and tactical negotiation levers

Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth:

The pressure from substitutes and a moderate levelof threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers.







Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 2.00%-4.00%.

Identify favorable opportunities in Marketing Consulting TCO (total cost of ownership).

Expected changes in price forecast and factors driving the current and future price changes.

Identify pricing models that offer the most rewarding opportunities.

Some of the top Marketing Consulting suppliers listed in this report:

This Marketing Consulting procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies.

Nielsen Holdings Plc

WPP Plc

IQVIA Holdings Inc.

Verisk Analytics Inc.

INTAGE Holdings Inc.

Accenture Plc

McKinsey & Co.

Boston Consulting Group Inc.

Dunnhumby Ltd.

GfK SE

Related Report on Professional Services Include:

To get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment,

Subscribe Now for Free

Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

To know more: https://www.spendedge.com/request-for-demo

Contacts

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

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[May 05, 2021] Acclaim Technical Services (ATS) Welcomes Government Services Industry Vet, Yvonne Vervaet, as Chief Growth Officer

RESTON, Va., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Acclaim Technical Services (ATS) announced today that Yvonne Vervaet, former Chief Growth Officer of ManTech and a 26-year veteran of the Government Services industry, will join the Company as Chief Growth Officer. As Chief Growth Officer at ATS, she will lead a strategic revectoring of the company's growth plans, focused on organically expanding into new customer markets and leveraging capital to expand capabilities via mergers and acquisitions. CEO Dave Cerne said, "We are thrilled to have a proven, highly successful veteran like Yvonne join our team. She has a clear, demonstrated track record of growth and we are excited she has chosen to help take ATS to new heights." Prior to her seven years leading ManTech's corporate growth efforts, including executing a strategic growth rebuild of ManTech's Intelligence operating group, Ms. Vervaet served in key leadership roles with Strategic Intelligence Group/SC3, BAE/SpecTal, Northrop Grumman/TASC, Electronic Data Systems, and Computer Sciences Corporation. She is a highly recognized mentor, creating leadership, development, and mentorship programs for rising female leaders.



Phil Nolan added, "Adding a senior management team member of Yvonne's caliber is another key milestone in ATS' journey to building the next great middle market Intelligence Community-focused company, and we are looking forward to her contributions in the Company's continued success." CEO Dave Cerne also noted, "For over 20 years, ATS has earned an excellent reputation for delivering the highest quality services to our customers. The company is appreciative of the past contributions of our former Vice President of Business Development, Alan Murphy, and we wish him well as he departs to pursue new opportunities."

About ATS: Backed by venture capital firm Blue Delta Capital Partners, ATS is a rapidly growing middle-market Intelligence Community-focused company providing Intelligence, Operational, Technology, Training and Language Services. Started in 2000, ATS became an Employee Stock Ownership Plan company in 2013 and has been recognized as a Top Workplace the last eight years. Press Contact: Dave Cerne at d.cerne@acclaimtechnical.com Related Images ats-logo.jpg

ATS Logo

ATS Logo white background View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/acclaim-technical-services-ats-welcomes-government-services-industry-vet-yvonne-vervaet-as-chief-growth-officer-301284048.html SOURCE Acclaim Technical Services (ATS)

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[May 05, 2021] Advisor Group Reports Double-Digit Difference In Revenue Growth For Advisors Using MyCMO Platform In 2020

PHOENIX, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Advisor Group, the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, today announced that financial professionals using MyCMO, its turnkey digital marketing platform, achieved significantly higher year-over-year growth rates as compared to non-subscribers. MyCMO allows financial professionals affiliated with Advisor Group's six subsidiary firms  FSC Securities, Royal Alliance Associates, SagePoint Financial, Securities America, and Woodbury Financial Services  to plan and execute authentic marketing efforts at scale for existing and prospective clients. Using pre-approved yet customizable emails, social media posts, greeting cards, newsletters, and more, MyCMO makes it easy for financial professionals to strengthen their connections with existing and prospective clients, building deeper relationships that lead to increased referrals and expanded wallet share. The data shows that in 2020, MyCMO subscribers experienced year-over-year revenue growth rates approximately 50% higher on average than non-subscriber growth rates. For financial professionals with annual revenue between $100,000 - $250,000, who are perhaps earlier in their careers, year-over-year growth rates were greater than 200% higher when compared to non-subscribing counterparts. Even financial professionals with over $1M in annual revenue saw revenue growth rates 30% higher than those achieved by non-MyCMO users. Susan Theder, Advisor Group's Chief Marketing Officer, said, "Our experience shows that financial professionals who communicate with clients and prospects in a consistent and authentic way significantly outperform those who do not. In 2020, this was perhaps more pronounced as we all experienced unprecedented events that created a sense of unease and concern. Financial professionals who were proactive in sharing real-time updates and simply reaching out to show they cared made a difference in their clients' lives." Ms. Theder continued, "It's this emotional impact that has the greatest influence on referrals and share of wallet. Financial professionals know communications are important, but many of them don't have the time and / or expertise to do it consistently and effectively. MyCMO makes it easy for them by combining marketing automation with relevant, personalized content that speaks to clients' needs and interests." Every month, Advisor Group writes new content for MyCMO on subjects rnging from current events, niche and lifestyle-related topics to economics, markets and financial planning. MyCMO also provides social media automation, turnkey event communications and materials, multimedia campaign support, artificial intelligence-driven content options and built-in compliance workflows.



David Bailin, AIF, ChFC, CLU, CLTC of Personal Wealth Strategies, a Woodbury Financial Services-affiliated wealth management practice in Hamilton, NJ, said, "Automated marketing tools are great, but if they don't feel authentic and relevant, clients and prospective clients will simply tune them out. MyCMO's pre-approved yet customizable content combined with its sophisticated campaign planning functions make it incredibly easy to engage with clients while allowing us to speak to their needs and goals in a personal way that fits our style. We heard from a number of our clients, for example, that the content we provided to them early in the pandemic  all of which came from MyCMO  in conjunction with personal phone calls and hand written notes, was exactly what they needed to hear and reassured them that we would be there for them no matter what. MyCMO has changed the way we communicate with and serve our clients, and there's no doubt that it's been a significant growth driver for our practice." Jamie Price, Advisor Group's President and CEO, concluded, "Providing our financial professionals the tools and platforms they need to grow is central to our mission at Advisor Group. We've been thrilled with the positive feedback on MyCMO, but now we're also able to quantify the impact it's having on our financial professionals' businesses. We're committed to standing in our professionals' corner by continuing to invest in technology solutions like MyCMO that make life easier for them and drive outsized revenue growth."

Please click here to learn more about MyCMO. About Advisor Group Advisor Group, Inc. is the nation's largest network of independent wealth management firms, serving approximately 10,100 financial professionals and overseeing over $475 billion in client assets. The firm is mission-driven to support the strategic role that advisors can play in the lives of their clients. Cultivating a spirit of entrepreneurship and independence, Advisor Group champions the enduring value of financial professionals and is committed to being in their corner every step of the way. For more information visit https://www.advisorgroup.com. Securities and investment advisory services are offered through the firms: FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., Triad Advisors, LLC, and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, and members of FINRA and SIPC. Securities are offered through Securities America, Inc., a broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Arbor Point Advisors, LLC, Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Inc., Securities America Advisors, Inc., and Triad Hybrid Solutions, LLC, registered investment advisers. Advisory programs offered by FSC Securities Corporation, Royal Alliance Associates, Inc., SagePoint Financial, Inc., and Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., are sponsored by VISION2020 Wealth Management Corp., an affiliated registered investment adviser. Advisor Group, Inc. is an affiliate of these firms. 20 E. Thomas Rd., Ste. 2000, Phoenix, AZ, 85012. 866.481.0379. Media Inquiries

Joseph Kuo / Chris Clemens

jkuo@haventower.com / cclemens@haventower.com

Haven Tower Group

424 317 4851 or 424 317 4854 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/advisor-group-reports-double-digit-difference-in-revenue-growth-for-advisors-using-mycmo-platform-in-2020-301284074.html SOURCE Advisor Group

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[May 05, 2021] Technology Leaders Launch Canada's Semiconductor Council: An Industry-Led Coalition to Address the Global Chip Shortage

Today, a select group of globally recognized Canadian founders, business leaders, chip manufacturers, and investors announce Canada's Semiconductor Council. With a mandate to build and lead Canada's national semiconductor strategy and action plan, the coalition will work towards advancing Canadian competitiveness, strengthening trade partnerships, bolstering supply chain resilience, and propelling Canada to the forefront of the US$7 trillion global semiconductor industry. Semiconductors underpin all emerging technologies, including electric vehicles, vaccine production, medical devices, consumer electronics, and the robotics used in precision agriculture. As the global chip shortage continues to threaten major industries in Canada and around the world, there's an urgent need for Canada to establish itself as a developer and manufacturer of semiconductor products - both for domestic use and global export. A rejuvenated semiconductor sector will also help Canada to build small business capacity, drive economic recovery, reach our decarbonization goals, and strengthen technological security. "Canada's Semiconductor Council will play an important role in boosting exports and increasing Canada's competitiveness in both traditional and innovative sectors," explains the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, and Member of Parliament for Markham-Thornhill. "While we work towards a strong economic recovery, we also want to ensure Canada's long-term competitiveness and growth. To do this, we recognize the importance of investing in our domestic semiconductor industry, which is key to so many technologies at the heart of our future economy - from artificial intelligence to quantum computing to green energy and everything in between." Introducing the Founding Members of Canada's Semiconductor Council Salim Teja, Partner, Radical Ventures Salim Teja is a Partner with Radical Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in entrepreneurs applying artificial intelligence to transform massive industries. Salim brings 25 years of experience in the technology sector as an entrepreneur, venture investor, corporate innovator and innovation ecosystem builder. Pamela Pelletier, Country Manager, Dell (News - Alert) With over 20 years experience driving sales growth and career development in the technology industry, Pamela Pelletier is responsible for strategic direction, growth, and performance of the Dell Technologies Canadian organization. Kevin O'Neil, Managing Director, Advanced Micro Devices (News - Alert) (AMD) With more than 20 years in the practice of law, Kevin O'Neil is the Managing Director of AMD Canada, which has more than 2,300 employees in Canada designing and developing leading-edge semiconductors in Canada. Kevin is responsible for AMD's (News - Alert) global intellectual property and AMD Canada's government and university relationships. Sarah Prevette, Angel Investor, CEO Future Design School, Founder of BetaKit Named by Inc Magazine as one of the top entrepreneurs in North America, active technology investor and renowned thought leader in human centred design; Sarah Prevette founded Future Design School, which works with academic institutions around the world to cultivate critical competencies tat align with growing industries.



Melissa Chee, President & CEO, ventureLAB Melissa Chee has over 20 years in tech as a past executive at a Canadian semiconductor scale-up and global multinationals. She is currently the President and CEO of ventureLAB, a leading tech hub which launched the Hardware Catalyst Initiative, Canada's first and only state-of-the-art lab and incubator exclusively for Canadian founders developing transformational semiconductor and related hardware technologies and products.

Canada's Semiconductor Council will focus on short-term and long-term actions across key pillars to transform Canada into a global hub for semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing. To unite and integrate our national ecosystem of organizations, the Council will focus in the following core areas: (1) Activating a critical mass of IP-rich anchor companies designing and manufacturing semiconductor and related products who choose to start, scale and invest in Canada to meet demand for the domestic and global market; (2) Attract, retain and galvanize Canadian skills and talent; (3) Scale Canadian pools of investment capital; (4) Expand strategic investment opportunities to Canada. Semiconductor founders face a gap in access to domestic sources of capital, especially in pre-seed, seed, and early-stage rounds as well as later stages. This leads to a high percentage of foreign ownership in Canadian companies. At the same time, the lack of funding creates an unfavourable environment for Canadian companies to exit too early at low valuations, or move talent and companies to other markets in order to grow. "One of the biggest hurdles facing Canada's domestic hardware and semiconductor companies is the lack of access to venture capital. As a result, many technology founders are forced to seek foreign capital, often resulting in early exits at low values to foreign ownership," said Salim Teja, Partner, Radical Ventures. "This unfortunate outcome is a waste of the years-long investment we put into our technology students, as well as a major blow to our economy. The launch of Canada's Semiconductor Council is a significant step towards closing the gap to capital for Canadian technology companies, and a necessary measure to attract the billions of dollars in global investment that come with a thriving semiconductor sector." Canadian graduates are among the best STEM talent in the world, and are highly sought after by global semiconductor companies offering well-paying, high-skilled jobs. According to data from Statistics Canada, nearly a quarter of all post-secondary enrollment was in computer and electronics-related programs in 2019. Recognizing that Canada has a rich pool of technology talent, the council is dedicated to keeping domestic talent here - and bringing it home. "Canada produces some of the world's most talented and sought-after STEM graduates, but without offering transformative and well-paying careers to keep them in Canada, we risk losing our best and brightest to other countries," said Sarah Prevette, Founder & CEO, Future Design School and Inaugural Chair of Canada's Semiconductor Council. "Planting the seeds for a powerful domestic semiconductor industry isn't just good for our economy - it's one of the most effective tools we have to keep our talent in Canada, bring our talent back to Canada, and attract top talent from around the world." The time for action is now. This past year COVID-19 fueled a surge in sales of consumer electronics, which contributed to the global chip shortage driven by continued strong demand for personal computers and other mobile devices needed for remote work and online learning. As technologies become more advanced, the opportunities for Canadian-based founders to build and scale domestic semiconductor companies grows exponentially. At the same time, building an integrated national ecosystem at scale enables Canadian founders to scale faster and accelerate time to market through unprecedented access to expertise, design tools and manufacturing capabilities, eliminating many capital-intensive hurdles and creating new jobs for Canadian based talent through ecosystem assets like the Hardware Catalyst Initiative, which has attracted close to $50 million in private sector contributions from over 25 global partners to maximize the Government of Canada's $9.73 million investment. "Canada has a choice to make: we either seize the incredible opportunity before us, or stick with a status quo that's no longer working. When it comes to building an innovative, nationally integrated tech ecosystem with the potential to bring in significant investments and create transformational careers for a new generation of Canadians, you need to think big," said Melissa Chee, President and CEO, ventureLAB and Hardware Catalyst Initiative. "In the ultra competitive and critical semiconductor sector, nobody is going to invite us to the table - we need to be bold and own the podium." To learn more about Canada's Semiconductor Council, visit www.canadassemiconductorcouncil.com. About Canada's Semiconductor Council Launched in May 2021, Canada's Semiconductor Council is an industry-led coalition that formed to strengthen Canada's semiconductor sector and supply chain resiliency in the face of the global chip shortage. Led by a select group of globally recognized Canadian founders, business leaders, chip manufacturers, and investors, the council has a mandate to create and lead a National Semiconductor Strategy and Action Plan. To learn more, visit www.canadassemiconductorcouncil.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005370/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Causal IQ Receives Highest Industry Honor

LOS ANGELES, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Causal IQ is proud to announce that it has been awarded two coveted Pollie Awards from the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC), the industry's highest honor bestowed upon political consultants at the national and international level. Causal IQ was recognized in the categories of Best Data Analytics Solution and Best Ad Technology Innovation for its exemplary work during the 2020 political season. "2020 was the most challenging year in our lifetimes - for our country, our families and our work. Political consultants experimented, innovated and delivered for their clients," said Rose Kapolczynski, AAPC President. "The record-breaking number of entries demonstrates that competition was tough in an election cycle that saw more money raised for campaigns than ever before. While the work might have been done at the kitchen table, with dogs barking in the background and a video chat that wouldn't end, consultants made it happen for campaigns at every level. Huge congratulations to ll the winners for being recognized for their contributions."



The AAPC announced this year's winners during the 2021 Pollie Awards Virtual Ceremony on April 29, 2021. Over 650 of the industry's leading professionals were in attendance. "To be recognized in the categories of ad tech innovation and data analytics solution for an election cycle like the one we just saw is an incredible honor for the Causal IQ team. 2020 was a year of tight races where every vote counted. This distinguished recognition serves as an affirmation for the work our team is doing to reach voters and inspire action," said Raynor Choate, Senior Vice President of Programmatic Media, Causal IQ.

About the Pollie Awards

The Pollie Awards (Pollies) are bipartisan honors awarded annually by the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) to members of the political advertising and communications industry who have demonstrated superior work on behalf of their candidates and causes. A blind jury of their professional peers selects AAPC award winners. Esquire magazine has dubbed the Pollies "the Oscars of political advertising." About Causal IQ

Causal IQ is a leading programmatic solutions provider built on the expertise of the best digital marketers in the industry. We partner with the world's leading brands, agencies and advocacy groups to drive success through dynamic digital advertising campaigns. By leveraging unique data points and optimization methodology, Causal IQ brings a human approach to data science and campaign activation. Causal IQ is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with offices nationwide. To learn more, visit causaliQ.com. Contact:

Sayeh Hirmand

Senior Manager, Marketing

310.706.6950

shirmand@causaliQ.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/causal-iq-receives-highest-industry-honor-301284091.html SOURCE Causal IQ

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[May 05, 2021] WELL Health Offers Health Records on iPhone to Empower Patient Engagement, Becoming First Canadian EMR and Telehealth Platform to Offer Service in Canada

WELL Health today offers Health Records on iPhone, empowering patients to safely view and store their available medical records in the Health app on their iPhone with their privacy protected.

The Health Records feature creates a direct, encrypted connection between a patient ' s iPhone and one or more healthcare organizations, allowing users to access a centralized view of their allergies, conditions, immunizations, lab results, medications, procedures, and vitals across multiple providers and to be notified when their data is updated.

s iPhone and one or more healthcare organizations, allowing users to access a centralized view of their allergies, conditions, immunizations, lab results, medications, procedures, and vitals across multiple providers and to be notified when their data is updated. WELL's telehealth platform Tia Health will be the first telehealth service in Canada to support Health Records on iPhone.

to support Health Records on iPhone. WELL ' s OSCAR Pro is the first Canadian Electronic Medical Record (EMR) provider to support Health Records on iPhone and will be making this functionality available to its 2,200 healthcare clinics across Canada . Each clinic must opt-in to make the service available to their patients.

s OSCAR Pro is the first Canadian Electronic Medical Record (EMR) provider to support Health Records on iPhone and will be making this functionality available to its 2,200 healthcare clinics across . Each clinic must opt-in to make the service available to their patients. All OSCAR Pro enabled clinics can now opt-in to offer Health Records on iPhone via WELL ' s " apps.health" marketplace effective immediately. VANCOUVER, BC, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL) ("WELL" or the "Company"), a company focused on consolidating and modernizing clinical and digital assets within the healthcare sector, today announced Health Records on iPhone is now rolling out for clinicians and patients across WELL's primary care clinics, EMR network, Tia Health virtual care service and "apps.health" marketplace. Health Records on iPhone allows patients to securely view and store their own available medical records from multiple providers right in the Apple Health app on their iPhone or iPod touch, with their privacy and data protected at all times. "Delivering on patient-centric healthcare and patient enablement is a big part of WELL's overarching mission and vision. For this reason, we are delighted to be the first telehealth and Canadian EMR platform in Canada to offer Health Records and enable patients to download and view their health information on iPhone," said Hamed Shahbazi, Chairman and CEO of WELL. "Providing patients with an easy and convenient method to get access to their available health records right on their iPhone can help them more actively participate in their health, leading to better health outcomes and a higher patient understanding of their own overall health status." The Health Records feature is available within Apple's Health app, available for download from the App Store. Patients can access Health Records from within the Health app and can download their own health records by selecting "WELL Health" and authenticating with their patient portal username and password. Amir Javidan, Chief Operating Officer of WELL commented, "Any clinic that is hosted by an OSCAR Pro EMR can join the program and offer this empowerment tool to its patients. Given the interoperability nhancements we've recently made with FHIR (or Fast Healthcare Interoperability Standards), it is our intention to enable access to Health Records on all WELL owned EMR and Telehealth programs. So far, the feedback about this feature has been extremely positive. We are definitely breaking new ground and are delighted to be the first in Canada to enable our EMR and Telehealth stakeholders. At WELL, we're passionate about putting patients back in control of their own health in partnership with their medical practitioners."



The Health Records feature is part of the Health app, which also shows activity, heart rate, nutrition and other health data consolidated from iPhone, Apple Watch and HealthKit-enabled third-party apps. Health Records creates a direct, encrypted connection between one or more OSCAR Pro enabled clinics and a patient's iPhone, allowing them to see a consolidated view of their health data from multiple clinics next to those from other providers, including such things as allergies, conditions, immunizations, lab results, medications, procedures, and vitals. It also notifies patients when their data is updated. Each medical clinic must explicitly opt in and configure the service for it to be available to their patients. Health Records on iPhone was designed to protect patients' privacy and their data through utilizing a direct, encrypted connection between the user's iPhone and WELL's EMR systems. Downloaded health records data is stored on-device and encrypted with the user's iPhone passcode, Touch ID or Face ID. Apple worked with the healthcare community to take a consumer-friendly approach, creating Health Records based on FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), a standard for transferring electronic medical records.

OSCAR Pro clinicians interested in making the service available to their patients can visit WELL's apps.health site and learn more by selecting Health Records on iPhone. For more information on Health Records, visit:

https://www.apple.com/ca/healthcare/health-records/. For more information on how Apple protects user privacy when they use Health Records: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT209519 WELL HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES CORP. Per: " Hamed Shahbazi "

Hamed Shahbazi

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Director About WELL Health Technologies Corp. WELL is an omni-channel digital health company whose overarching objective is to empower doctors to provide the best and most advanced care possible while leveraging the latest trends in digital health. As such, WELL owns and operates primary and executive healthcare clinics in both Canada and the US, operates a multi-national digital Electronic Medical Records (EMR) business serving thousands of healthcare clinics and health systems of all sizes, operates a multi-national portfolio of telehealth services which includes one of the largest telehealth service providers in Canada. WELL is also a provider of digital health, billing and cybersecurity related technology solutions. WELL's wholly owned subsidiary CRH Medical is a leading provider of anesthesia services and the patented O'Regan hemorrhoid banding product to gastrointestinal focused clinics. WELL is an acquisitive company that follows a disciplined and accretive capital allocation strategy. WELL is publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "WELL". To access the Company's telehealth service, visit: tiahealth.com, and for corporate information, visit: www.well.company. Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release related to the Company are forward-looking statements and are prospective in nature including statement regarding the potential adoption and launch of the Health Records application. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "could", "would", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "working on" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and WELL's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information, including: risks outlined in WELL's publicly filed documents available on SEDAR; business disruption risks relating to COVID-19; regulatory risks, including those related to healthcare, privacy and data security; and integration risks relating to newly acquired businesses. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/well-health-offers-health-records-on-iphone-to-empower-patient-engagement-becoming-first-canadian-emr-and-telehealth-platform-to-offer-service-in-canada-301284209.html SOURCE WELL Health Technologies Corp.

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[May 05, 2021] Unive Insurance to Offer Cyber Protection to Over 1 Million Policyholders in Partnership With Sontiq Effective Immediately

Sontiq, the leader in Intelligent Identity Security (IIS), and Unive, a large insurer in the Netherlands, have partnered to provide 1.1 million Unive members with immediate access to cyber insurance and cybercrime services through Sontiq's Cyberscout product. Designed help its members protect against, limit, and recover from the damage caused by cybercrime, the partnership provides both insurance protection against a multitude of cyber incidents and 24/7 live helpdesk assistance as standard in all non-life insurance policies. The COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed a wave of cyber attacks around the globe, putting citizens everywhere at risk of fraud and identity crime. According to the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics, more than 2 million Dutch citizens are victims of cybercrime each year - and that number is on a rapid growth trajectory. In the U.S., more than one-third of adults have experienced identity theft, and since March 2020, there has been more than $200 billion in U.S. unemployment and COVID-19 relief fraud - and this tally does not include losses from other forms of identity crime. As every organization and individual has increased reliance on digital technology, insurers like Unive are recognizing the pressing need to protect their increasingly vulnerable customers from cyber risks. "Our members face increasing cyber risks in the always-on, always-connected world and they need a strong advantage against the growing sophistication of cybercriminals," said Marco Nanne, directeur Unive Schade. "Unive Cyberhulp is an essential product today that will offer our members help and protection at their moment of greatest need. In addition, enabling a proactive approach is imperative, so we're introducing the 24/7 support and education available through the experts at Cyberscout for the most robust protection possible." Matt Cullina, Head of Global Insurance at Sontiq, remarked, "The demand for comprehensive cyber coverage, proactive services, and education is growing among private individuals and smal businesses alike. As online fraud, scams, and cybercrime become more pervasive, Sontiq, through Cyberscout, helped Unive get to market quickly and confidently." (Learn more about insurance expert Cullina in today's release, Sontiq Expands Leadership Team with Cyber Insurance Veteran, May 5, 2021)



More than 1 million policyholders were provided the Cyberhulp solution effective February 8th, 2021. "This is a modern, game-changing cyber solution featuring integrated live and online cyber support services, educational tools and cyber insurance coverage," added Tom Spier, Commercial Director of Global Markets at Sontiq. "This model of providing cyber across the entire Unive platform is a significant leap forward for personal and small business insurance providers striving for differentiation in a commoditized market." About Unive

The world around us is constantly changing. Cooperatie Unive offers the security of helping each other. We do this with 2,700 employees for 1.6 million members with over 4 million policies. Close at hand from our 110 shops, but also with our digital services. Accounting for 4.4 million page views, 550,000 unique visitors to our website use Unive's online services each month. In the same period, 70,000 unique customers experience the convenience of digital service through our Unive App. Since 1794, we have been helping to prevent risks, limit their impact and insure what is really necessary. We are Unive, we belong to our members and we love helping each other. That's why we say: You'll reap the benefits. You can find more information about Unive on the website www.unive.nl. About Sontiq Sontiq (pronounced Son-tick) is an Intelligent Identity Security company arming businesses and consumers with award-winning products and services built to protect what matters most. Sontiq's brands, IdentityForce, Cyberscout and EZShield, provide a full range of identity and cyber monitoring solutions, best-in-class restoration, and response products and services. Sontiq's products are used by an ever-growing community and empower millions of customers and organizations to be less vulnerable to the financial and emotional consequences of identity theft and cybercrimes. Sontiq and its brands have an outstanding track record for delivering high-touch support and fraud remediation services, demonstrated through its 99% customer satisfaction ratings. Sontiq is a portfolio company of the Wicks Group. Learn more at www.sontiq.com or engage with us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005082/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Auxly Appoints First Chief People Officer

TORONTO, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX - XLY) (OTCQX: CBWTF) (Auxly or the Company), a leading consumer packaged goods company in the cannabis products market, is pleased to announce that it has hired Andrea Fraser as Chief People Officer. In this new role, Ms. Fraser will lead all aspects of the Companys human resources, including crafting talent acquisition strategies, promoting inclusion in the workplace and further developing and evaluating career paths to meet the Companys business goals. Ms. Fraser will also manage Auxlys ongoing response to the impacts of COVID-19 as it relates to its employees and office spaces.

Ms. Fraser brings extensive experience and deep knowledge of leading People and Culture strategy and initiatives for multinational CPG and digital marketing companies, most recently working as Director, Global Human Resources at Tilray. We are delighted to welcome Andrea to the Auxly Family, said Hugo Alves, CEO of Auxly. We believe she is the right leader to help us continue building an engaged, inclusive and high-performing culture at Auxly. Ms. Fraser commented, I couldnt be more excited to be joining Auxly as its new Chief People Officer. The highly engaged culture that Auxly has created is truly special and I look forward to helping them take these strengths to a new level of performance and success. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Hugo Alves CEO

About Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX: XLY) Auxly is a leading Canadian cannabis company dedicated to bringing innovative, effective, and high-quality cannabis products to the wellness and adult-use markets. Auxlys experienced team of industry first-movers and enterprising visionaries have secured a diversified supply of raw cannabis, strong clinical, scintific and operating capabilities and leading research and development infrastructure in order to create trusted products and brands in an expanding global market.



Learn more at www.auxly.com and stay up to date at Twitter: @AuxlyGroup; Instagram: @auxlygroup; Facebook: @auxlygroup; LinkedIn: company/auxlygroup/. Investor Relations:

For investor enquiries please contact our Investor Relations Team:

Email: IR@auxly.com

Phone: 1.833.695.2414 Media Enquiries (only): For media enquiries or to set up an interview please contact:

Email: press@auxly.com Notice Regarding Forward Looking Information: This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as plan, continue, expect, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate, may, will, potential, proposed and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions may or will occur. This information is only a prediction. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking information throughout this news release. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to: the Companys response to the COVID-19 pandemic; future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis and cannabis products; and competition and other risks affecting the Company in particular and the cannabis industry generally. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from a conclusion, forecast or projection contained in the forward-looking information in this release. The forward-looking information in this release is based on information currently available and what management believes are reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking information speaks only to such assumptions as of the date of this release. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained in this release. The forward-looking information contained in this release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements and is made as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise. Neither Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.





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[May 05, 2021] Nearly 50% of Pandemic Costs Will Fall on Advanced Economies, World Government Summit Report Finds

A seminal report launched by the World Government Summit Organization (WGS) which highlights 21 critical priorities within five focus areas offers a source of direction for governments as they tackle post-COVID-19 recovery. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005573/en/ The new WGS report '21 Priorities for Governments in 2021' identifies five critical priorities in post-pandemic recovery (Photo: AETOSWire) Wealthier economies will shoulder almost half the cost of the COVID-19 crisis, which could reach up to US$3.8 trillion in 2021, the report finds. That, even if developed economies can vaccinate their entire populace and developing economies can reach a 50 percent vaccination rate. The report says mental health wellness, climate change and women's empowerment are central concerns that will exacerbate if governments do not rebuild in a holistic, proactive manner. His Excellency Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the World Government Summit Organization said: "2020 will be remembered by history as the year of great disruption. While the world was woefully unprepared for the voracity of the virus, 2021 needs to be the year that defines humanity's future and reshape societies to become stronger and more resilient."



He added: "With great change comes great opportunity. Valuable lessons emerged over the past year, which we must heed as we recover. Our individual and collective actions as nations have important consequences not only for us, but for our children and the many generations to come after them: we must all be accountable to ourselves and each other." With governments' focus trained on the pandemic over the last 18 months, underlying societal issues such as the mental health and climate crises have exacerbated, and could become as problematic as the public health emergency if leaders do not adapt their thinking, the report suggests.

The 21 priorities outlined by the report are broken down into five sections: These five focus areas are: Reimagining and Reinforcing Key Public Institutions Competing in a Transformed Economy Navigating a Transformed Geo-Technical Order Repairing the Social Fabric Securing the Future Please download the full report here: About WGS: The World Government Summit Organization is a global, neutral, non-profit organization dedicated to shaping the future of governments. The Summit, in its various activities, explores the agenda of the next generation of governments, focusing on harnessing innovation and technology to solve universal challenges facing humanity. The World Government Summit Organization operates at the intersection of government and innovation. It functions as a knowledge exchange platform that convenes leaders in the public and private sectors to collaborate with world-renowned experts in creating positive impact for citizens around the world. Including initiatives and events held throughout the year, the World Government Summit holds a flagship annual gathering in Dubai. * Source (News - Alert) : AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005573/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Physicians Realty Trust Reports First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Physicians Realty Trust (NYSE: DOC) (the "Company," the "Trust," "we," "our" and "us"), a self-managed health care real estate investment trust, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. John T. Thomas, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust, commented, "We are off to a very good start in 2021, with excellent operating results and substantially all of our providers back to pre-pandemic volumes and performance, with many of them providing vaccine locations in our facilities. As we progress through 2021, we continue to see many off-market opportunities to Invest in Better through acquisitions and financing new development for growth. In addition to the recently closed $35 million Adventist Wesley Chapel facility in Tampa, we have over $160 million of LOIs in various stages of negotiations. "We are very proud to announce we have earned the 2021 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award. This award is a testament to our dedication to ESG, and we plan to continue implementing best practices across our portfolio. We will be publishing our second annual ESG report in June 2021 and are excited to share our ESG performance within that report. We look forward to discussing first quarter performance during today's conference call," Mr. Thomas concluded. First Quarter Financial Results Total revenue for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 was $113.3 million, an increase of 5.5% from the first quarter 2020. As of March 31, 2021, the portfolio was 96% leased. Total expenses for the first quarter 2021 were $95.1 million, compared to total expenses of $92.3 million for the first quarter 2020. Net income for the first quarter 2021 was $17.8 million, compared to net income of $15.0 million for the first quarter 2020. Net income attributable to common shareholders for the first quarter 2021 was $17.2 million. Diluted earnings per share for the first quarter 2021 was $0.08 based on approximately 217.3 million weighted average common shares and operating partnership units (OP Units) outstanding. Funds From Operations (FFO) for the first quarter 2021 consisted of net income plus depreciation and amortization on our consolidated portfolio of $37.9 million and our unconsolidated joint ventures of $2.2 million and an insignificant loss on the sale of an investment property. This was partially offset by $0.2 million of other adjustments, resulting in $0.27 per share on a fully diluted basis. Normalized FFO had no additional adjustments and was also $57.7 million, or $0.27 per share on a fully diluted basis. Normalized Funds Available for Distribution (FAD) for the first quarter 2021, which consists of normalized FFO adjusted for non-cash share compensation, straight-line rent adjustments, amortization of acquired above-market and below-market leases and assumed debt, amortization of lease inducements, amortization of deferred financing costs, recurring capital expenditures, loan reserve adjustments, and our share of adjustments from unconsolidated investments was $54.5 million. Our Medical Office Building (MOB) Same-Store portfolio, which includes 247 properties representing approximately 93% of our consolidated leasable square footage, generated year-over-year MOB Same-Store Cash Net Operating Income (Cash NOI) growth of 2.4% for the first quarter 2021. Other Recent Events First Quarter Investment Activity Since our February 25, 2021 press release and through March 31, 2021, the Company closed on a construction loan agreement related to the development of the TOPA Hillwood MOB in Fort Worth, Texas. This 20,220 square foot off-campus cancer center is 100% pre-leased to Physician Reliance, a subsidiary of U.S. Oncology/McKesson (Moody's: Baa2), for a 10-year term commencing upon the expected completion of construction in 2022. The loan has a total capacity of $10.5 million, with $2.6 million funded through March 31, 2021, and yields interest at a rate of 6.0%. Upon receipt of the certificate of occupancy, the Company will have an option to purchase the asset at a 6.2% capitalization rate. The Company also paid $0.3 million of additional purchase consideration under an earn-out agreement. First Quarter Disposition Activity During the first quarter 2021, the Company completed the disposition of one property from our original legacy portfolio located in Michigan for approximately $0.5 million, recognizing an insignificant loss on the sale. First Quarter Capital Activity During the first quarter 2021, the Company issued 2,887,296 shares pursuant to its ATM program at a weighted average price of $18.32 for net proceeds of $52.4 million. On January 4, 2021, 116,110 Series A Preferred Units of the Operating Partnership issued in connection with the January 9, 2018 acquisition of the HealthEast Clinic & Specialty Center were redeemed for a total value of $25.3 million. Following this redemption, there are no longer any Series A Preferred Units outstanding. Other Recent Activity Since March 31, 2021, the Company has closed on the acquisition of a newly completed medical office facility and a medical condominium unit for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $36.2 million. AdventHealth Wesley Chapel MOB II - On April 21, 2021, the Company closed on the acquisition of a newly completed 96,768 square foot medical office facility located in Wesley Chapel, Florida for a purchase price of approximately $35.3 million. The property is currently 92% leased with a weighted average lease term of 12 years. The building is anchored by the obligated investment grade tenancy of AdventHealth (S&P: 'AA') and Moffitt Cancer Center (S&P: 'A-'), leasing 79% of the property in total. The first year unlevered yield on this investment is expected to be approximately 5.4%. Atlanta Medical Condominium Investment - On April 7, 2021, the Company closed on the acquisition of a medical condominium unit located in an Atlanta "Pill Hill" MOB at a price of approximately $0.9 million. With this acquisition, the units purchased by the Company represent 26% of the building square footage and are 94% occupied. The property is 105,000 square feet and consists of additional condos that the Company intends to evaluate for investment in the future. Dividend Paid On March 19, 2021, our Board of Trustees authorized and declared a cash distribution of $0.23 per common share and OP Unit for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2021. The dividend was paid on April 16, 2021 to common shareholders and OP Unit holders of record as of the close of business on April 2, 2021. 2021 ENERGY STAR Partner Of The Year Award The Company is proud to announce it has earned the 2021 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. "This recognition is a testament to the long-time commitment we have made to elevating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles across all facets of our business," said John Thomas, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust. Earning an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award distinguishes corporate energy management programs and is the highest level of EPA recognition. Partners must perform at a superior level of energy management, demonstrate best practices across the organization, prove organization-wide energy savings, and communicate the benefits of ENERGY STAR. As an ENERGY STAR partner since 2014, the Company has made an ongoing and long-term commitment to incorporate better environmental impact principles into our business thoughtfully and responsibly. Conference Call Information The Company has scheduled a conference call on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. ET to discuss its financial performance and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (877) 407-0784 from within the U.S. or (201) 689-8560 for international callers. Participants can reference the Physicians Realty Trust First Quarter Earnings Call or passcode: 13717583. The conference call also will be available via a live listen-only webcast and can be accessed through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website, www.docreit.com. A replay of the conference call will be available beginning May 5, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. ET until June 5, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. ET, by dialing (844) 512-2921 (U.S.) or (412) 317-6671 (International); passcode: 13717583. A replay of the webcast also will be accessible on the Investor Relations website for one year following the event. Beginning May 5, 2021, the Company's supplemental information package for the first quarter 2021 will be accessible through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website under the "Supplemental" tab. About Physicians Realty Trust Physicians Realty Trust is a self-managed health care real estate company organized to acquire, selectively develop, own and manage health care properties that are leased to physicians, hospitals and health care delivery systems. The Company invests in real estate that is integral to providing high quality health care. The Company conducts its business through an UPREIT structure in which its properties are owned by Physicians Realty L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the "operating partnership"), directly or through limited partnerships, limited liability companies or other subsidiaries. The Company is the sole general partner of the operating partnership and, as of March 31, 2021, owned approximately 97.4% of OP Units. Investors are encouraged to visit the Investor Relations portion of the Company's website (www.docreit.com) for additional information, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, press releases, supplemental information packages and investor presentations. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "estimate", "plan", "outlook", "continue", "intend", and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward looking statements may include statements regarding the Company's strategic and operational plans, the Company's ability to generate internal and external growth, the future outlook, anticipated cash returns, cap rates or yields on properties, anticipated closing of property acquisitions, ability to execute its business plan, and the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the Company's business. While forward-looking statements reflect our good faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. 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 such performance or results will be achieved. Forward looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements 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. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, not all of which are known to the Company and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), including, without limitation, the Company's annual and periodic reports and other documents filed with the Commission. Unless legally required, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For a discussion of factors that could impact the Company's results, performance, or transactions, see Part I, Item 1A (Risk Factors) of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.







Physicians Realty Trust Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Revenues: Rental revenues $ 80,395 $ 77,870 Expense recoveries 27,560 24,876 Interest income on real estate loans and other 5,384 4,682 Total revenues 113,339 107,428 Expenses: Interest expense 13,715 15,626 General and administrative 9,465 8,977 Operating expenses 33,934 30,963 Depreciation and amortization 37,976 36,747 Total expenses 95,090 92,313 Income before equity in loss of unconsolidated entities and loss on sale of investment property: 18,249 15,115 Equity in loss of unconsolidated entities (420) (155) Loss on sale of investment property (24) - Net income 17,805 14,960 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests: Operating Partnership (459) (404) Partially owned properties (1) (152) (142) Net income attributable to controlling interest 17,194 14,414 Preferred distributions (13) (317) Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 17,181 $ 14,097 Net income per share: Basic $ 0.08 $ 0.07 Diluted $ 0.08 $ 0.07 Weighted average common shares: Basic 210,529,698 196,211,728 Diluted 217,322,425 202,842,340 Dividends and distributions declared per common share $ 0.23 $ 0.23

(1) Includes amounts attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests. Physicians Realty Trust Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except share and per share data) March 31, December 31, 2021 2020 ASSETS Investment properties: Land and improvements $ 231,645 $ 231,621 Building and improvements 3,825,776 3,824,796 Tenant improvements 76,008 73,145 Acquired lease intangibles 405,601 406,935 4,539,030 4,536,497 Accumulated depreciation (721,456) (687,554) Net real estate property 3,817,574 3,848,943 Right-of-use lease assets, net 136,589 137,180 Real estate loans receivable, net 206,938 198,800 Investments in unconsolidated entities 75,537 77,755 Net real estate investments 4,236,638 4,262,678 Cash and cash equivalents 3,949 2,515 Tenant receivables, net 5,696 4,757 Other assets 124,612 144,000 Total assets $ 4,370,895 $ 4,413,950 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Liabilities: Credit facility $ 402,827 $ 412,322 Notes payable 968,868 968,653 Mortgage debt 50,950 57,875 Accounts payable 2,658 7,007 Dividends and distributions payable 52,320 52,116 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 71,043 91,929 Lease liabilities 73,946 74,116 Acquired lease intangibles, net 6,319 6,641 Total liabilities 1,628,931 1,670,659 Redeemable noncontrolling interests - Series A Preferred Units (2020) and partially owned properties 6,733 28,289 Equity: Common shares, $0.01 par value, 500,000,000 common shares authorized, 212,822,677 and 209,550,592 common shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively 2,128 2,096 Additional paid-in capital 3,356,415 3,303,231 Accumulated deficit (689,769) (658,171) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (5,062) (5,859) Total shareholders' equity 2,663,712 2,641,297 Noncontrolling interests: Operating Partnership 71,113 73,302 Partially owned properties 406 403 Total noncontrolling interests 71,519 73,705 Total equity 2,735,231 2,715,002 Total liabilities and equity $ 4,370,895 $ 4,413,950 Physicians Realty Trust Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures (in thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Net income $ 17,805 $ 14,960 Earnings per share - diluted $ 0.08 $ 0.07 Net income $ 17,805 $ 14,960 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests - partially owned properties (152) (142) Preferred distributions (13) (317) Depreciation and amortization expense 37,877 36,655 Depreciation and amortization expense - partially owned properties (70) (75) Loss on sale of investment property 24 - Proportionate share of unconsolidated joint venture adjustments 2,197 1,700 FFO applicable to common shares $ 57,668 $ 52,781 Net change in fair value of derivative - (91) Normalized FFO applicable to common shares $ 57,668 $ 52,690 FFO per common share $ 0.27 $ 0.26 Normalized FFO per common share $ 0.27 $ 0.26 Normalized FFO applicable to common shares $ 57,668 $ 52,690 Non-cash share compensation expense 3,707 2,996 Straight-line rent adjustments (2,725) (3,731) Amortization of acquired above/below-market leases/assumed debt 864 889 Amortization of lease inducements 264 290 Amortization of deferred financing costs 581 599 TI/LC and recurring capital expenditures (5,638) (3,060) Loan reserve adjustments (47) - Proportionate share of unconsolidated joint venture adjustments (211) (187) Normalized FAD applicable to common shares $ 54,463 $ 50,486 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 217,322,425 202,842,340 Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Net income $ 17,805 $ 14,960 General and administrative 9,465 8,977 Depreciation and amortization expense 37,976 36,747 Interest expense 13,715 15,626 Net change in the fair value of derivative - (91) Loss on sale of investment property 24 - Proportionate share of unconsolidated joint venture adjustments 3,511 2,454 NOI $ 82,496 $ 78,673 NOI $ 82,496 $ 78,673 Straight-line rent adjustments (2,725) (3,731) Amortization of acquired above/below-market leases 880 905 Amortization of lease inducements 264 290 Loan reserve adjustments (47) - Proportionate share of unconsolidated joint venture adjustments (171) (165) Cash NOI $ 80,697 $ 75,972 Cash NOI $ 80,697 $ 75,972 Assets not held for all periods (2,049) (566) LTACH & Hospital Cash NOI (4,336) (3,822) Lease termination fees - (180) Interest income on real estate loans (4,107) (3,487) Joint ventures and other income (3,270) (2,573) MOB Same-Store Cash NOI $ 66,935 $ 65,344 Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Net income $ 17,805 $ 14,960 Depreciation and amortization expense 37,976 36,747 Interest expense 13,715 15,626 Loss on sale of investment property 24 - Proportionate share of unconsolidated joint venture adjustments 3,482 2,426 EBITDAre $ 73,002 $ 69,759 Non-cash share compensation expense 3,707 2,996 Non-cash changes in fair value - (91) Pursuit costs 20 - Non-cash intangible amortization 1,128 1,453 Pro forma adjustments for investment activity 6 (35) Adjusted EBITDAre $ 77,863 $ 74,082 This press release includes Funds From Operations (FFO), Normalized FFO, Normalized Funds Available For Distribution (FAD), Net Operating Income (NOI), Cash NOI, MOB Same-Store Cash NOI, Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization for Real Estate (EBITDAre) and Adjusted EBITDAre, which are non-GAAP financial measures. For purposes of the SEC's Regulation G, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statement of operations, balance sheet or statement of cash flows (or equivalent statements) of the company, or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the most directly comparable financial measure so calculated and presented. As used in this press release, GAAP refers to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, we have provided reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. We believe that information regarding FFO is helpful to shareholders and potential investors because it facilitates an understanding of the operating performance of our properties without giving effect to real estate depreciation and amortization, which assumes that the value of real estate assets diminishes ratably over time. We calculate FFO in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit). Nareit defines FFO as net income or loss (computed in accordance with GAAP) before noncontrolling interests of holders of OP units, excluding preferred distributions, gains (or losses) on sales of depreciable operating property, impairment write-downs on depreciable assets, plus real estate related depreciation and amortization (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs). Our FFO computation includes our share of required adjustments from our unconsolidated joint ventures and may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs that do not compute FFO in accordance with the Nareit definition or that interpret the Nareit definition differently than we do. The GAAP measure that we believe to be most directly comparable to FFO, net income, includes depreciation and amortization expenses, gains or losses on property sales, impairments, and noncontrolling interests. In computing FFO, we eliminate these items because, in our view, they are not indicative of the results from the operations of our properties. To facilitate a clear understanding of our historical operating results, FFO should be examined in conjunction with net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as presented in our financial statements. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP, should not be considered to be an alternative to net income or loss (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of our liquidity and is not indicative of funds available for our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions to shareholders. We use Normalized FFO, which excludes from FFO net change in fair value of derivative financial instruments, acceleration of deferred financing costs, net change in fair value of contingent consideration, and other normalizing items. However, our use of the term Normalized FFO may not be comparable to that of other real estate companies as they may have different methodologies for computing this amount. Normalized FFO should not be considered as an alternative to net income or loss (computed in accordance with GAAP), as an indicator of our financial performance or of cash flow from operating activities (computed in accordance with GAAP), or as an indicator of our liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs, including our ability to make distributions. Normalized FFO should be reviewed in connection with other GAAP measurements. We define Normalized FAD, a non-GAAP measure, which excludes from Normalized FFO non-cash share compensation expense, straight-line rent adjustments, amortization of acquired above-market or below-market leases and assumed debt, amortization of lease inducements, amortization of deferred financing costs, and loan reserve adjustments, including our share of all required adjustments from unconsolidated joint ventures. We also adjust for recurring capital expenditures related to tenant improvements and leasing commissions, and cash payments from seller master leases and rent abatement payments, including our share of all required adjustments for unconsolidated joint ventures. Other REITs or real estate companies may use different methodologies for calculating Normalized FAD, and accordingly, our computation may not be comparable to those reported by other REITs. Although our computation of Normalized FAD may not be comparable to that of other REITs, we believe Normalized FAD provides a meaningful supplemental measure of our performance due to its frequency of use by analysts, investors, and other interested parties in the evaluation of our performance as a REIT. Normalized FAD should not be considered as an alternative to net income or loss attributable to controlling interest (computed in accordance with GAAP) or as an indicator of our financial performance. Normalized FAD should be reviewed in connection with other GAAP measurements. NOI is a non-GAAP financial measure that is defined as net income or loss, computed in accordance with GAAP, generated from our total portfolio of properties and other investments before general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization expense, interest expense, net change in the fair value of derivative financial instruments, gain or loss on the sale of investment properties, and impairment losses, including our share of all required adjustments from our unconsolidated joint ventures. We believe that NOI provides an accurate measure of operating performance of our operating assets because NOI excludes certain items that are not associated with management of the properties. Our use of the term NOI may not be comparable to that of other real estate companies as they may have different methodologies for computing this amount. Cash NOI is a non-GAAP financial measure which excludes from NOI straight-line rent adjustments, amortization of acquired above and below market leases, and other non-cash and normalizing items, including our share of all required adjustments from unconsolidated joint ventures. Other non-cash and normalizing items include items such as the amortization of lease inducements, loan reserve adjustments, payments received from seller master leases and rent abatements, and changes in fair value of contingent consideration. We believe that Cash NOI provides an accurate measure of the operating performance of our operating assets because it excludes certain items that are not associated with management of the properties. Additionally, we believe that Cash NOI is a widely accepted measure of comparative operating performance in the real estate community. Our use of the term Cash NOI may not be comparable to that of other real estate companies as such other companies may have different methodologies for computing this amount. MOB Same-Store Cash NOI is a non-GAAP financial measure which excludes from Cash NOI assets not held for the entire preceding five quarters, non-MOB assets, and other normalizing items not specifically related to the same-store property portfolio. Management considers MOB Same-Store Cash NOI a supplemental measure because it allows investors, analysts, and Company management to measure unlevered property-level operating results. Our use of the term MOB Same-Store Cash NOI may not be comparable to that of other real estate companies, as such other companies may have different methodologies for computing this amount. We calculate EBITDAre in accordance with standards established by Nareit and define EBITDAre as net income or loss computed in accordance with GAAP plus depreciation and amortization, interest expense, gain or loss on the sale of investment properties, and impairment loss, including our share of all required adjustments from unconsolidated joint ventures. We define Adjusted EBITDAre, which excludes from EBITDAre non-cash share compensation expense, non-cash changes in fair value, pursuit costs, non-cash intangible amortization, the pro forma impact of investment activity, and other normalizing items. We consider EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDAre important measures because they provide additional information to allow management, investors, and our current and potential creditors to evaluate and compare our core operating results and our ability to service debt. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005576/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Blockchange Inc. Releases Major Upgrade of its Digital Asset TAMP for Financial Advisors

SAN FRANCISCO, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockchange Inc, the digital asset management platform for investment advisors, has announced a major new release of its BITRIA Digital Turnkey Asset Management Platform (DTAMP) to support rapidly growing interest in bitcoin and digital assets from financial advisors and their clients. The new release adds a slate of new features and expanded support for up to 32 digital assets. Originally released in July 2020 , BITRIA is the industry's first digital asset TAMP, enabling RIAs to actively manage digital assets across their entire client base or within individual client portfolios. The platform is portfolio centric with support for multiple indexes and strategies, automatic rebalancing, and single click allocations, and provides portal access for clients to monitor and research their positions. Request a demonstration of BITRIA by visiting the company website . Blockchange has also recently added support for SMA partners to the BITRIA platform. This means that financial advisors now have the choice to directly manage client accounts on the platform, or to outsource the client onboarding and management to SMA managers with more experience i digital assets. In all cases, client assets are custodied with Gemini .



The new BITRIA release adds features in two main categories: For Blockchange SMA Partners managing client accounts for other firms:

Simplified firm & client onboarding. SMA partners can seamlessly onboard and configure the details of the firms that they are sub-advising for. As clients are added, a fully digital signing process is facilitated between the SMA manager, the client's advisor, and the end client.

Unique insights and reporting capabilities for each of the SMA's sub-firms. This includes sub-firm aggregate return details and asset allocations.

SMAs can now leverage strategies across all of the firms they are sub-advising for and rebalance selectively on a firm-by-firm or individual basis.

SMA partners can automatically bill directly through digital asset pipelines on the BITRIA platform. This capability can be managed on a per-firm basis and provides full customization and exception management for fee settings.

Sub-firm access to client accounts, enabling the advisors that have engaged the SMA to monitor client account balances, pull performance reports, and download transaction history. For All BITRIA Users (Both SMAs and Advisors directly managing client accounts): Advisors now have the ability to manage many different accounts per client: Individuals, Joint Tenants, Tenants in Common, Trusts, IRAs and Corporate Accounts.

Pre-rebalance reporting, providing managers with estimated execution data on an individual asset basis across all accounts affected by a rebalance action. These reports can be downloaded and retained for compliance purposes as needed.

The platform now also offers advisors the capability to offload model delivery to an outsourced CIO organization, such as Blockchange's first OCIO partner, Columbia Advisory Partners . "Gemini is proud to be supporting Blockchange as their custody and exchange provider, ensuring an efficient way for RIAs and SMAs to scale to offer support for digital assets." - said David Abner, Global Head of Business Development at Gemini. New Digital Assets Supported

This major product rollout was accompanied by support for additional assets on the BITRIA platform, including The Sandbox (SAND), The Graph (GRT), Enjin (ENJ), SKALE Network (SKL), 1inch (1INCH), Loopring (LRC), Bancor (BNT), and Filecoin (FIL). The addition of these new assets brings the count of total digital assets supported to 32, the industry's broadest selection of digital assets available to the advisor community. "With interest in digital assets skyrocketing in recent months, streamlining client onboarding and simplifying and enhancing firm and portfolio management have become mission-critical for advisers who want to provide clients with exposure to the asset class," said Dan Eyre, CEO of Blockchange. "The new BITRIA release significantly upgrades the platform's capabilities for SMA partners to efficiently manage client accounts across multiple firms. This is important because for most RIAs, engaging an experienced SMA partner is by far the simplest way to include digital assets in client portfolios, while enjoying the benefits of full asset ownership." About Blockchange Inc.

Blockchange simplifies the path to digital asset investing for financial advisors. The company's Digital Asset SMA and Digital Turnkey Asset Management Platform solutions offer a range of options for advisors to offer their clients the advantages and flexibility of direct asset ownership, together with a broad selection of asset choices that can be tailored to the growth and risk appetites of different classes of investors. Blockchange was founded in 2017 and has its headquarters in San Francisco California. For more information or to request a demo, visit https://blockchange.ai or contact marketing@blockchange.ai . Media Contact for Blockchange Inc.

Daniel Tardent

Head of Marketing

760-456-5509

marketing@blockchange.ai View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blockchange-inc-releases-major-upgrade-of-its-digital-asset-tamp-for-financial-advisors-301283969.html SOURCE Blockchange Inc.

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[May 05, 2021] Vocera Publishes CNO Perspective Report to Help Support and Safeguard Frontline Workers

Vocera (News - Alert) Communications, Inc. (NYSE:VCRA), a recognized leader in clinical communication and workflow solutions, released its 2021 CNO Perspective report authored by Chief Nursing Officer Rhonda Collins, DNP, RN, FAAN. Dr. Collins, who is also a co-founder of The American Nurse Project, publishes a report every year around Nurses Week, examining the most pressing issues within the nursing profession worldwide. She also offers solutions to drive sustainable change and protect the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of nurses. This year's report, titled Protect the Nurse, Protect the Practice, reflects on how the COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the realities of the nursing profession and how the lack of resources, infrastructure, and policies impact nurses' work and lives. In the report, Dr. Collins addresses the toll of mental, emotional, and physical fatigue and outlines steps to help leaders create environments that protect the well-being of nurses and their patients. "The COVID-19 pandemic tested nurses like never before, and I have never been more proud to be part of this sacred profession," Dr. Collins said. "As many nurses embrace the mantra 'Never Again' and consider whether to continue a career in healthcare, nurse leaders must listen to, support and protect nurses. If we don't listen to their fears, concerns, and ideas for improvements, or calls for help, we risk losing nurses whom we desperately need." Dr. Collins is focused on elevating the voices of nurses, sharing strategies to reduce cognitive overload, and deploying solutions that simplify clinical workflows and ease the burden of busy nurses. The 2021 CNO Perspecive report offers six solutions to help support nurses and reduce stress and cognitive load in healthcare environments, factoring in lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic:



Keep nurses protected and safe Empower nurses with control over patient-family communication Reduce the stress of crisis care Enable smooth movement from novice to expert and back Protect nurses from workplace violence Measure and solve for communication task load The report closes with Dr. Collins asking nurses to participate in a study to measure the mental, emotional, and physical burden nurses experience during communication. The study will use the NASA Task Load Index (TLX), a tool that has been used to measure the task load of workers in high-intensity jobs, such as pilots and air traffic controllers. The objective is to gain insight and a body of knowledge toward reducing nurses' cognitive burden going forward. "The more we engage with and listen to nurses, the better prepared we are to support them," said Brent Lang, chairman and CEO of Vocera. "Even before the pandemic, nurses were risking their well-being for ours. We must do whatever it takes to protect them. Dr. Collins' new report is of the upmost importance as it offers tactical solutions to support and prioritize the safety and well-being of nurses around the globe. I look forward to seeing how this work transforms our understanding by studying the task load of clinical communication."

To participate in the study with Dr. Collins and other nurses around the globe, reach out to her via LinkedIn or on Twitter (News - Alert) @RhondaCNO. About Vocera The mission of Vocera Communications, Inc. is to improve the lives of healthcare professionals, patients, and families. Founded in 2000, Vocera provides solutions that help protect and connect team members, simplify workflows, increase efficiency, enhance quality of care and safety, and humanize the healthcare experience. More than 2,300 facilities worldwide, including nearly 1,900 hospitals and healthcare facilities, have selected Vocera solutions to enable their workforce to communicate and collaborate with co-workers and engage with patients and families. Mobile workers can choose the right device for their role or task, including smartphones or one of the company's wearable communication devices, and use voice commands to easily reach people by name, role, or group. The hands-free Vocera Smartbadge was named to TIME's list of the 100 Best Inventions of 2020. The Vocera Platform can integrate with more than 150 clinical and operational systems, including electronic health records, nurse call systems, ventilators, physiological monitors, and more. In addition to healthcare, Vocera solutions are found in aged care facilities, veterinary hospitals, schools, luxury hotels, retail stores, power facilities, and more. Visit www.vocera.com to learn more, and follow @VoceraComm on Twitter. Vocera and the Vocera logo are trademarks of Vocera Communications, Inc. registered in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other trademarks appearing in this release are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005317/en/

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[May 05, 2021] PCC Partners with CHADIS to Reduce Pediatric Visit Stress

WINOOSKI, Vt., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Physician's Computer Company (PCC), the Electronic Health Records (EHR) vendor rated #1 for pediatricians on KLASresearch.com, is pleased to announce their partnership with web-based screening and questionnaire solution CHADIS, or the Comprehensive Health and Decision Information System. Now the independent pediatricians PCC serves, as well as patient families, have a low-stress way to access screenings. This helps providers offer focused visits for areas of concern like asthma, ADHD, depression, and even parenting. The integration is available for all PCC users who already use CHADIS, as well as new users. "PCC's partnership with CHADIS represents the next step in the evolution of our patient engagement platform," says Jim Leahy of PCC, who is helping to manage the project between the two health care vendors. "CHADIS has long been a leader in offering pre-visit questionnaire services to pediatric practices, including many of our clients. Our integration with CHADIS leverages their powerful tools and puts the communication with families into a central hub: PCC's Patient Portal." For pediatricians, this means no more printing and mailing dozens of questionnaires. And for parents, it means less time spent in the waiting room completing paperwork prior to their child's visit. With CHADIS, practices can automatically generate the appropriate questionnaires for families to complete from the comfort of their homes, on their own time. Leahy continues, "The integration with CHADIS further directs patients and families to the Patient Portal as an easy-access point for everything about the child's health care history. PCC is excited to continue providing features that make the Portal a valuable tool for practices, their patients, and those patients' caregivers.">



PCC's Pediatric Solutions Director Chip Hart looks forward to the ease that the integration will offer both pediatricians and families. "As firm believers in the important use of screening to improve child health, we're proud to say that PCC's integration with CHADIS is easier and more consistent for both parents and practices to manage than any other vendor on the market."

"We are very excited to have CHADIS integrated with PCC," says CHADIS's co-founder and CEO, Dr. Barbara Howard, MD, FAAP. "The integration will provide easy access for patients and families via the PCC portal and will offer access to the full suite of CHADIS questionnaires. The integration design was created with the assistance of a current PCC and CHADIS user and was specially tailored with the needs of the user and patient in mind." About PCC

PCC (Physician's Computer Company) is a privately held, independent software solutions firm with nearly 40 years of industry experience working exclusively to meet the needs of independent pediatricians. Since 1983, we have built tools, provided consulting, and offered support to pediatric practices who seek to improve the health of their patients and improve their bottom lines. As a Benefit Corporation, we align our business practices with our values, and put the needs of our clients, employees and community first. PCC knows the value of having control over our own future, and our commitment to helping pediatricians stay independent is the driving force behind everything we do. About CHADIS

CHADIS is a privately held health technology software company and has the most complete web-based patient screening, diagnostic, and data collection and clinical process support system for comprehensive health and mental health care for all ages. CHADIS not only automates the collection of patient-generated health data, but also assigns, requests, scores, interprets, and graphs patient data. CHADIS also helps write your clinical notes, facilitates between-visit monitoring, referrals and tracking, MOC-4 credits, and population data collection. CHADIS tools and processes bring significant added income to practices. CHADIS is committed to streamlining the practice workflow while assisting clinicians in the detection, treatment, and prevention of mental, behavioral, and developmental problems, as well as promoting positive development in all children and strengths in adults. CHADIS, formerly Total Child Health, was established in 2001 in Baltimore, Maryland by two renowned developmental-behavioral pediatricians, Dr. Barbara Howard and Dr. Raymond Sturner. Truly a platform created by providers for providers. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pcc-partners-with-chadis-to-reduce-pediatric-visit-stress-301284421.html SOURCE Physician's Computer Company

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[May 05, 2021] NetSTAR Announces Availability of inSITE Threat Intelligence 2.0

SAN MATEO, Calif., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NetSTAR, the global leader in OEM integrated solutions for internet categorization and threat intelligence, announced today the global availability of version 2.0 of its inSITE Threat Intelligence solution. inSITE version 2.0 offers several enhancements, including a threat feed only for phishes and a suspicious IP address list. Cyber attacks are becoming more frequent, dynamic, and sophisticated. Attacks are now targeting a wider range of vulnerabilities within a network and targeting specific individuals and organizations. inSITE Threat Intelligence provides actionable threat information to NetSTAR's partners, giving them greater visibility into the cyber threat landscape. inSITE is designed specifically for OEM partners and is built around the capabilities of the inCompass web categorization solution.



The inSITE v 2.0 API service provides access to different threat feeds that are delivered as JSON objects. These feeds represent active new threats and threat discoveries, which are published on a rolling 5-minute time frame schedule. The only exception is the Suspicious IP list, an advisory feed that is published daily. The inSITE threat feeds include: Phish - most recent phishing threats

- most recent phishing threats High Volume Phish - recent phishing threats associated with a site that has been in our top 1 million traffic tier within the last 30 days

- recent phishing threats associated with a site that has been in our top 1 million traffic tier within the last 30 days Malicious - most recent malicious threats including spyware, botnets, and infected sites

- most recent malicious threats including spyware, botnets, and infected sites High Volume Malicious - recent threats associated with a site that has been in our top 1 million traffic tier within the last 30 days

- recent threats associated with a site that has been in our top 1 million traffic tier within the last 30 days Suspicious IP - IPv4 and IPv6 endpoints that have been associated with suspicious traffic within the last 48-hour window inSITE 2.0 includes updated rulesets based on improved threat assessment AI. Because inSITE is a dynamic real-time system, threats already released will republish again only when the inSITE AI has determined that a meaningful change has occurred or changes in the threat landscape have been observed in relation to a published threat.

Our partners around the world depend on inSITE to help them identify harmful and potentially harmful URLs, domains, and IPs. inSITE is deployed for a variety of uses including network security, email security, and more. Since 2001, NetSTAR has been the global leader in OEM internet categorization and threat intelligence solutions. With over 260 OEM partners around the globe, NetSTAR has visibility into internet traffic from over 1.4 billion endpoints/clients. This visibility, combined with our technology and our team's expertise, generates market-leading value for our partners. Contact:

Thomas Ashby

650-600-3850

309146@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/netstar-announces-availability-of-insite-threat-intelligence-2-0--301284230.html SOURCE NetSTAR Inc.

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[May 05, 2021] GroundWork Releases GroundWork Monitor Enterprise 8.2.0

SAN FRANCISCO, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GroundWork Open Source, Inc. , a leading provider of powerful IT infrastructure monitoring software, today announced the general availability of GroundWork Monitor Enterprise version 8.2.0, its flagship all-inclusive monitoring product. A major new version, the on-premises/in-cloud software package includes multiple containerized monitoring source applications, flexible automation for network monitoring, and innovative rapid-deployment notification integration options. Major new version includes quick-start for automated Network Monitoring, supercharged Kafka-powered notification Engine Open for Integrations GroundWork Monitor has always been open for integration, using the best open source packages for monitoring in combination with it's own supported package. "The latest evolution of GroundWork stays true to its heritage, but now is an open unified monitoring platform extending past traditional open source components to integrate with a wide variety of monitoring sources including cloud services, containers and applications." said Richard Campbell, GroundWork CEO. APM Automation Coming out with Application Monitoring connectivity using OpenMetrics last fall, this latest major evolution of the trusted GroundWork Monitor platform enhances the APM capabilities still further. "Just as we started seeing more application monitoring adoption, Spring Bootadded support for OpenTelemetry with the Prometheus client." said Thomas Stocking, VP of Product Strategy. This added capability fits seamlessly into GroundWork Monitor. Now, with virtually no configuration, users can get a complete characterization of Spring Boot-based applications.



Scaling with Open Source Taking advantage of the modular nature of microservices, GroundWork Monitor has added an Apache Kafka-based messaging application, the GroundWork Optimized Request Transmitter (GORT) to this version. This brings near instantaneous notification capabilities that are easy to integrate to standard services like Email, SMS, and Slack(), but also flexible enough to contact RESTful APIs of ticketing and workflow notification engines, both On-prem and SaaS.

Taken together, the capabilities of this highly flexible, scaleable and automation-friendly monitoring system rival systems in much higher cost-of-ownership ranges. In addition to software and support options, GroundWork also offers training and certification, Professional Services and custom development to its enterprise customers. Using GroundWork TCG, nearly any monitoring product or API endpoint can become a monitoring source. GroundWork is offering a free 3-month trial of GroundWork Monitor Enterprise 8 to interested parties, see https://gwos.com/download . GroundWork Open Source, Inc. is a leading provider of professionally supported Enterprise Open Source Software (EOSS) for customers in financial, government, Telecom, and commercial IT. Our customers range from small businesses to large enterprises, Managed Service Providers, and e-commerce companies. Connect with GroundWork Twitter  LinkedIn  YouTube  The GroundWork Inc., GWOS trademarks are the exclusive property of GroundWork Open Source, Inc. or its affiliates, are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and may be registered or pending registration in other countries. All other GroundWork trademarks, service marks, and logos may be common law marks or are registered or pending registration. All other trademarks mentioned herein are used for identification purposes only and are trademarks of (and may be registered trademarks) of their respective companies.  2021 GroundWork Inc. All rights reserved. Thomas Stocking

4159924510

tstocking@gwos.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/groundwork-releases-groundwork-monitor-enterprise-8-2-0--301284171.html SOURCE GroundWork Open Source, Inc.

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[May 05, 2021]

Sophos Launches Industry's Only XDR Solution that Synchronizes Native Endpoint, Server, Firewall, and Email Security

OXFORD, U.K., May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sophos, a global leader in next-generation cybersecurity, today announced Sophos XDR, the industrys only extended detection and response (XDR) solution that synchronizes native endpoint, server, firewall, and email security. With this comprehensive and integrated approach, Sophos XDR provides a holistic view of an organizations environment with the richest data set and deep analysis for threat detection, investigation and response.



Were seeing an extraordinarily high level of complex ransomware and other cybercrime, and the need for effective, comprehensive cybersecurity has never been more critical or urgent, said Dan Schiappa, chief product officer at Sophos. Sophos XDR is a game-changing new solution for proactively defending against the most sophisticated and evasive attacks, especially those that leverage multiple access points to gain entry, move laterally to evade detection, and do as much damage as possible as fast as possible.

Attacks on Steroids

Sophos today also published new research, Intervention halts a ProxyLogon-enabled attack, detailing an attack against a large organization that began when the adversaries compromised an Exchange server using the recent ProxyLogon exploit. The research shows how the attackers moved laterally through the network and, over a two-week period, stole account credentials; compromised domain controllers; secured a foothold on multiple machines; deployed a commercial remote access tool to retain access to hacked machines; and delivered a number of malicious programs.

As explained in the research report, the attackers returned repeatedly, sometimes with different tools and other times to deploy the same tool, such as Cobalt Strike, on different machines. They used a commercial remote access utility rather than the more standard RDP that threat hunters would more typically look for, said Schiappa. This report explains the complex nature of human-operated cyberattacks and how multi-stage, multi-vector incidents are difficult for IT security teams to track and contain. The target simply couldnt keep up with the attack activity taking place across all parts of the estate. Based on Sophos 2021 State of Ransomware report, this issue is more widespread than this one incident. More than 54% of IT managers surveyed said cyberattacks are too advanced for their IT teams to handle on their own. XDR is a critical defense component.

Deep Threat Analysis with Rich Data Set

Sophos XDR extends visibility across Sophos next-generation portfolio of solutions for an in-depth picture of threats. At the heart of Sophos XDR is the industrys richest data set. Sophos XDR offers two types of data retention, including up to 90 days of on-device data, plus 30 days of cross-product data in the cloud-based data lake. The unique approach of blending on-device and data lake forensics provides the broadest and most in-depth contextualized insights that can be leveraged by security analysts through Sophos Central and via open application programming interfaces (APIs) for ingestion into security information and event management (SIEM); security orchestration, automation and response (SOAR); professional service automation (PSA); and remote monitoring and management (RMM) systems.

The data lake hosts critical information from Intercept X, Intercept X for Server, Sophos Firewall, and . Sophos Cloud Optix and Sophos Mobile will also feed into the data repository later this year. Security and IT teams can easily access this data to run cross-product threat hunts and investigations, and to quickly drill into granular details of past and present attacker activity. The availability of offline access to historical data further protects against lost or impacted devices.







Sophos today additionally released a new version of its industry-best endpoint detection and response  Sophos EDR. New scheduled queries and customizable contextual pivoting capabilities make it faster and easier than ever for security analysts and IT administrators to identify, investigate and respond to security issues with speed and precision. Users further benefit with new pre-configured queries and powerful threat intelligence through integration with SophosLabs Intelix. Sophos EDR customers can access seven days of cloud hosted data (upgradable to 30 days) in the data lake, in addition to 90 days of on-device data.

As one of the worlds top British fashion retailers with hundreds of stores worldwide, security is a top priority. Were committed to protecting our loyal customers data, and that starts with securing our networks against advanced threats, said Alistair Knowles, cyber security analyst at Ted Baker. Sophos XDR provides critical visibility into a goldmine of valuable endpoint data, enabling us to detect and stop threats before they cause any damage. We can easily look for those needle in a haystack kind of incidents and determine their scope with both new and historical data at our fingertips. Integration with solutions like Splunk, for example, take it to the next level with even deeper insights. Once we have the forensics needed to neutralize a threat, Sophos Live Response capabilities enable us to remediate issues remotely, which is imperative in todays remote working environments.

Cybersecurity Evolved: An Adaptive and Open Cybersecurity Ecosystem

Sophos XDR and EDR are part of the Sophos adaptive cybersecurity ecosystem (ACE), a new open security architecture that optimizes threat prevention, detection and response. Sophos ACE leverages automation and analytics, as well as the collective input of Sophos products, partners, customers, developers, and other security industry vendors to create protection that continuously improves  a virtuous cycle that is constantly learning and advancing.

Sophos ACE is built upon the data lake, correlating actionable insights from Sophos solutions and services as well as threat intelligence from SophosLabs, Sophos AI and the Sophos Managed Threat Response team. Open APIs enable customers, partners and developers to build tools and solutions that interact with the system and to take advantage of existing integrations. Sophos is leading the industry with this approach and already integrates with many vendors.

Attackers are getting smarter and better than ever at evading detection. The only way to keep pace is with AI-powered automation to analyze and react faster to behaviors and events, coupled with human analysts to correlate multiple suspicious signals and interpret their true meaning, said Schiappa. The Sophos adaptive cybersecurity ecosystem is an evolution of Sophos acclaimed synchronized security approach, and a beautifully elegant solution to a complex problem. The smart ecosystem is engineered to protect the interconnectedness of our businesses and online world, and it couldnt come at a more pivotal time given realities of the past year that forced sudden shifts in remote working and cloud adoption.

Availability

Sophos XDR, as well as the updated EDR capabilities for Intercept X Advanced with EDR and Intercept X Advanced for Server with EDR are available worldwide on May 19 through Sophos partners. Partners and customers can easily manage all XDR and EDR product solutions on the cloud-based Sophos Central platform via a single user interface.

Additional Resources



About Sophos

As a worldwide leader in next-generation cybersecurity, Sophos protects more than 400,000 organizations of all sizes in more than 150 countries from todays most advanced cyber threats. Powered by SophosLabs  a global threat intelligence and data science team  Sophos cloud-native and AI-powered solutions secure endpoints (laptops, servers and mobile devices) and networks against evolving cyberattack techniques, including ransomware, malware, exploits, data exfiltration, active-adversary breaches, phishing, and more. Sophos Central, a cloud-native management platform, integrates Sophos entire portfolio of next-generation products, including the Intercept X endpoint solution and the XG next-generation firewall, into a single synchronized security system accessible through a set of APIs. Sophos has been driving a transition to next-generation cybersecurity, leveraging advanced capabilities in cloud, machine learning, APIs, automation, managed threat response, and more, to deliver enterprise-grade protection to any size organization. Sophos sells its products and services exclusively through a global channel of more than 53,000 partners and managed service providers (MSPs). Sophos also makes its innovative commercial technologies available to consumers via Sophos Home. The company is headquartered in Oxford, U.K. More information is available at www.sophos.com.

Contact information: Brandon Reid, sophos@marchcomms.com
[May 05, 2021] StormForge Delivers Kubernetes Cloud-Efficiency at Scale with Automated Resource Optimization

BOSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- StormForge, the leader in cloud-native performance testing and resource optimization, today announced new product updates to its performance testing and application optimization platform. New features include the ability to automatically generate optimization experiments and use new guided walkthroughs for setting up and running the experiments, all of which speed cloud-native development and deployments regardless of the level of in-house expertise. "Kubernetes application performance optimization shouldn't require you to be a Kubernetes guru. With our newest capabilities, StormForge is making it easy to achieve cloud-efficiency without requiring users to be experts on the inner workings of Kubernetes," said John Platt, VP of Machine Learning of StormForge. "There's no longer any reason for DevOps teams to choose between their application performance and cost-efficient provisioning." Today's DevOps teams configure cloud-native applications by using a trial-and-error approach that is both labor intensive and requires a deep level of Kubernetes expertise. It's also ineffective, resulting in applications that cost twice as much to run as necessary and still risk poor performance. The results are universal and unnecessary and include bloated spending and cloud waste. Airbnb, for example, recently published the results of its nine-month cloud efficiency journey in which it saw a $63.5 million



"There is a whole new level of Kubernetes innovation that will happen as DevOps teams deploy StormForge," said Bob Maul, CEO, Circonus. "The company is iterating and innovating on its platform to offer new capabilities to the DevOps team fast. Developers and IT professionals today have so much opportunity at their fingertips but their hands are sometimes tied due the complexities that come with new technologies. StormForge is removing the boundaries that previously held these professionals and their companies back." The newest StormForge platform capabilities include:

the ability to generate optimization experiments by automatically scanning in-cluster resources, making it easy to optimize applications without requiring in-depth knowledge of underlying Kubernetes plumbing;

guided walk-throughs of optimization experiment creation and execution, making optimization of applications faster and easier;

improved customer onboarding experience built into the StormForge app, making it easier for customers to get started and reducing time to value;

and a new user interface designed for faster innovation and to further improve ease of use and accessibility. "StormForge is one of our primary tools for building efficient Kubernetes services. Auto-scanning for experiments and the updated UI considerably improve the cost and time spent in terms of management and operations of the product," said Prashanto Kochavara, Director of Product, Trilio. For more information about the StormForge platform, please visit www.stormforge.io About StormForge

StormForge brings together world-class data scientists and software engineers to enable businesses to drive breakthrough IT and operations efficiency. The StormForge Platform is set apart by its unwavering focus on building AI-powered software products that are designed to help people, not replace them. The StormForge Platform uses enterprise grade performance testing coupled with machine learning to drive major application performance gains and cost reductions in complex environments. In February 2020, StormForge announced funding from Insight Partners to accelerate the growth of its Platform. StormForge was founded in 2015 and is based in Boston and Washington, DC. Learn more at www.stormforge.io. Media Contact:

Jennifer Cloer

for StormForge

jennifer@storychangesculture.com

503-867-2304 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stormforge-delivers-kubernetes-cloud-efficiency-at-scale-with-automated-resource-optimization-301284191.html SOURCE StormForge.io

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[May 05, 2021] Things Remembered Increases Online Conversion Rate by 5.15% with Namogoo

HERZLIYA, Israel, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Namogoo, the world's first Digital Journey Continuity platform, announced today that Things Remembered, the leading retailer of personalized gifts, has seen a 5.15% increase in conversion rates since implementing Namogoo's Customer Journey Hijacking Prevention solution. Prior to implementing Namogoo's revenue-boosting technology, 20.82% of visitors to the Things Remembered site were affected by injected ads, disrupting their journeys and often driving them to competitors' sites. Once Namogoo's solution was applied, Things Remembered was able to recover significant revenue almost immediately. Namogoo's solution optimizes customer journeys by blocking injected ads from being displayed on the retailer's website. "Customer journey hijacking prevention has had a remarkable effect on our conversion rates and AOV, which are crucial KPIs for how we evaluate the performance of our site. We saw an immediate improvement by implementing Namogoo's solution," said Anthony McLoughlin, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer of Things Remembered. Dedicated to ensuring online custoer experiences as brands intended, Namogoo's Customer Hijacking Prevention solution uses advanced Machine Learning and AI technology to block injected ads most brands are usually not aware of, but which divert customers to other sites. Over 250 retailers have implemented Namogoo's technology and have seen an uplift in conversions between 1.5% to 5%.



"We are thrilled to be working with Things Remembered, a company built on cherished memories and relationships, especially during these challenging times," said Chemi Katz, CEO and co-founder of Namogoo. "Injected ads are intrusive and damaging to brand sites, even though these brands are often unaware these ads exist. We at Namogoo are proud to be delivering significant results to Things Remembered and their customers." About Namogoo

Namogoo is the world's first Digital Journey Continuity platform, enabling online brands to drive their customer journeys forward and clear the path to purchase. Namogoo's platform autonomously adapts to each customer visit in real time, keeping the journey flowing right on to its destination. Namogoo's Customer Hijacking Prevention identifies and blocks unauthorized ad injections from diverting online shoppers to competitors, immediately lifting conversion rates and revenue. Namogoo's Intent-Based Promotions predicts and individualizes the most effective minimum promotion for each visit  saving eCommerce retailers' margins and strengthening brand equity. Over 250 leading global brands trust Namogoo to keep their digital journeys hesitation-free and their business on the path to growth. Namogoo has been ranked by Dun & Bradstreet one of the top 3 Israeli startups to work for in both 2019 and 2020. To learn more, visit namogoo.com. Media Contact

Raanan Loew

raanan@headline.media

+1-347-897-9276 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/things-remembered-increases-online-conversion-rate-by-5-15-with-namogoo-301284110.html SOURCE Namogoo

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[May 05, 2021] Voyager Subsidiary, Altius Space Machines, Inc. Celebrates Successful Launch of 100th DogTag Aboard OneWeb's Satellites

DENVER, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Voyager Space Holdings, Inc. (Voyager), a global leader in space exploration, today celebrates alongside its subsidiary, Altius Space Machines, Inc. (Altius), the successful launch of the company's 100th DogTag universal grapple fixture into space aboard OneWeb's satellites. Satellite servicing is a crucial component of future space exploration, enabling streamlined upgrades, repairs and life extension. Being able to conduct routine work while in orbit also has the potential to help mitigate the growing threat of space debris, both by limiting the growth of new and removing existing orbital debris. The DogTag addresses this problem by making it easier to deorbit non-functioning satellites, while they can also be used to tug functional satellites to new orbits, act as an anchor point for satellite servicing, and capture and stow various payloads. "In a few short months, the Altius team has gone from the first launch of our DogTag to the hundredth," said Jonathan Goff, CEO and founder of Altius Space Machines. "This is no small achievement, and I can't help but be excited about the potential impact our DogTags can have on the industry as a whole." This is the third of many planned launches for Altius' DogTags, as the company is slated to produce grapple fixtures for all of OneWeb's remaining satellites in its planned constellation. Altius' partnership with OneWeb is part of OneWeb's larger initiative focused on responsible actions in space. The satellite communications company is committed to "leaving no trace in space" and is partnering with companies like Altius as part of its advocacy efforts for space environmental stewardship to aid in orbital debris management. The satellites are manufactured by Airbus OneWeb Satellites in a state-of-the-art factory located in Merritt Island, Florida. "It's always been our hope that our subsidiaries continue to flourish with Voyager's support, and Altus is a shining example of this becoming realized," said Matt Kuta, president and CEO, Voyager Space Holdings. "I'm incredibly proud of the Altius team today, and can't wait to see where their innovation takes us next."



For more information on Voyager please visit: https://voyagerspaceholdings.com/ About Voyager Space Holdings, Inc.

Voyager Space Holdings, Inc. is a global leader in space exploration. Voyager's long-term mission is to create a vertically integrated publicly traded NewSpace company capable of delivering any mission humans can conceive. By centralizing shared services functions at the parent company level, Voyager enables engineer founded and led subsidiaries to focus more on development of innovative products and services. The firm's first in industry model is uniquely tailored to support the growth needs of commercial space companies by offering an alternative solution to traditional private capital models and replaces them with a longer-term approach as a provider of permanent capital. Voyager is led by founders and space industry veterans Dylan Taylor and Matthew Kuta, with a Board of Directors that includes National Security Expert and four-star Air Force General William Shelton, leading investor Gabe Finke, world-leading planetary Scientist, Dr. Alan Stern, noted public company director and former undersecretary of technology Dr. Cheryl Shavers, experienced technology executive, board director, and financial leader, Marian Joh, and former under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, Ellen Lord. To learn more about Voyager Space Holdings, Inc., please visit: http://voyagerspaceholdings.com/

About Altius Space Machines, Inc.

Altius is a space robotics and technology startup with expertise in orbital rendezvous and capture robotics, active debris removal, spacecraft mechanisms, assistive telerobotics, in-space propellant transfer, satellite servicing, and on-orbit assembly and manufacturing. To learn more about Altius Space Machines, Inc., please visit: http://www.altius-space.com/ About OneWeb

OneWeb will enable connectivity for governments, businesses, and communities. It is implementing a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites with a network of global gateway stations and range of user terminals to provide an affordable, fast, high-bandwidth and low-latency communications service, connected to the IoT future and a pathway to 5G for everyone, everywhere. Visit www.oneweb.net About Airbus OneWeb Satellites

Airbus OneWeb Satellites is a joint venture between Airbus and OneWeb that was formed in 2016 to design and manufacture the satellites for the OneWeb constellation. In the process, Airbus OneWeb Satellites has revolutionized satellite manufacturing by being the first to utilize commoditization and mass production techniques to dramatically reduce production times and costs. The company's mission is not limited to the OneWeb program. Through the partnership with Airbus, Airbus OneWeb Satellites is offering to the market a standardized, mass produced satellite platform and payload interface that can be compatible with many different payloads, providing end-users with dramatic cost savings and opening the door for missions that were previously unthinkable. www.onewebsatellites.com Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including those with respect to Voyager Space Holdings, Inc.'s (the "Company's") mission statement and growth strategy, are "forward-looking statements." Although the Company's management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; and the ability to obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms or at all. Readers should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve these known and unknown uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects the Company's current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/voyager-subsidiary-altius-space-machines-inc-celebrates-successful-launch-of-100th-dogtag-aboard-onewebs-satellites-301284212.html SOURCE Voyager Space Holdings, Inc.

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[May 05, 2021] Axele Free Webinar to Help Carriers Get Ready for the June Canadian ELD Deadline

DALLAS, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axele, LLC, a Transportation Management System (TMS) company, offers a free webinar, "Get Ready for the June Canadian ELD Deadline," on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at 2:00 PM EST. This timely webinar will help trucking companies get prepared for the upcoming Canadian ELD mandate. P. Sean Garney of Scopelitis Transportation Consulting (STC) will speak at the webinar sharing his deep industry knowledge and regulatory expertise.

"Trucking businesses need to know the requirements and timeline of the Canadian ELD mandate, which goes into effect June 12," said Ryan Camacho, Director of Strategy and Business Development, Axele, LLC. ELD devices will need to be certified in Canada in time for the mandate. Cross-border US and Canadian carriers need to ensure the compliance to avoid significant fines. Attendees will learn the: Key differences between the Canadian and US hours of service rules and what they mean for drivers

Similarities and differences between the Canadian and US ELD rules and what they mean for fleets

Reason the Canadian ELD certification process is different from the US process.

How Transport Canada and the Provinces will phase in enforcement



To register for the free webinar, visit https://optym.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Kr15cSTmQBuF8BQamHKGtg.

About Axele Axele offers transportation management system (TMS) cloud software for truckload carriers leveraging decades of experience and insights into optimization and automation technology. Launched by Optym in 2020, Axele is the industry's first intelligent, connected solution, built specifically for small to mid-sized truckload carriers. Axele serves for-hire truckload operators and private fleets who haul general freight, dry van, flatbed, and refrigerated loads. The Axele TMS integrates with load boards, ELDs, market rates, maps, and accounting systems, to enable an owner-operator or carrier to find better loads, increase profits, and grow their business. For more information about Axele, go to www.axele.com. Media Contact for Axele:

Becky Boyd

MediaFirst PR

(770) 642-2080 x 214

Cell (404) 421-8497

Becky@MediaFirst.Net



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[May 05, 2021] In Honor of Military Appreciation Month, Lendmark Financial Recognizes Military Workforce

Lendmark Financial Services, a leading provider of household credit and consumer loan solutions, proudly recognizes National Military Appreciation Month and continues its commitment to hiring and honoring veterans, veteran spouses and caretakers through its Veterans Integration Program (VIP). This May, Lendmark's VIPs will receive a physical award and a personal note from Lendmark's CEO. "Since Lendmark's founding in 1996, we have made it a priority to provide opportunities to veterans and their families. Our team has benefitted immensely from the unique skills and experiences of our diverse and talented military employees," said Bobby Aiken, CEO of Lendmark Financial Services. "I'm proud to say that our company has been military-friendly from the start and focuses on shrinking the veteran's unemployment gap and hiring the best qualified talent." Lendmark launched VIP in 2015 to formalize its veterans' initiatives and programs, recognize its military workforce, and ensure that veterans and their spouses and caretakers would feel a genuine sense of belonging in its workplace. Through VIP, Lendmark blends internal processes to drive successful talent acquisition with external partnerships with military-affiliated organizations to stay abreast of best practices for military-friendly employers. To date, the company has 115 VIPs serving in a range of positions and levels - C-suite, operational and corporate leadership -, representing si percent of the total workforce.



One of Lendmark's VIP partners is consulting firm Arcadia Group. "Lendmark's dedication to hiring veteran and spouse talent and being a military-friendly company comes right from the top through the leadership of President & CEO Bobby Aiken and Chief Administrative Officer Denny Contic, Jr.," said Michael McDermott, founder and CEO of Arcadia Group. "We are proud to be affiliated with such outstanding people who truly walk the talk and appreciate the value of our nation's heroes."

Lendmark's human resources department also partners with VETLANTA, a club operated exclusively for veteran social and business networking and community service purposes. Lendmark participates in VETLANTA's quarterly summits and partners for networking and military related updates. "For almost 25 years, Lendmark has demonstrated through their deeds, not just words, a deliberate commitment to sourcing and hiring military veterans, as well as military spouses," said John W. Phillips, vice president and co-founder of VETLANTA and Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army - Georgia (North). "In the words of John Quincy Adams, 'If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.' Lendmark Financial has certainly demonstrated they are leaders." In July 2020, Lendmark CEO Bobby Aiken signed a Statement of Support, a cornerstone of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, pledging to act as an advocate for employee participation in the military. About Lendmark Financial Services

Lendmark Financial Services provides personal and household credit and loan solutions to consumers. Founded in 1996, Lendmark strives to be the lender, employer, and partner of choice by protecting household wealth, offering stability and helping consumers meet both planned and unplanned life events through affordable loan offerings. Today, Lendmark operates nearly 400 branches in 19 states across the country, providing personalized services to customers and retail business partners with every transaction. Lendmark is headquartered in Lawrenceville, Ga. For more information, visit www.lendmark.info. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005623/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Jitsuin Announces Government Advisory Board

Jitsuin, today announced the formation of a Government Advisory Board composed of public sector and government nuclear industry experts. They will provide strategic advice to help the company continue its growth with commercial and government organizations worldwide. The advisory board will be led by Chairman Dr. Ralph DiSibio. "This advisory board has decades of nuclear and operations experience leading some of the most demanding security and safety practices worldwide, which will guide Jitsuin as we help more customers automate trusted data sharing and multi-party business processes - especially in the hazardous and radioactive waste processing arena," said Rusty Cumpston, CEO of Jitsuin. "Our focus is to help businesses securely share and trust critical data and digitally boost efficiency in safe multi-party operations." "I am thrilled to work with a hand-picked team who have been successful over decades working with me in the past," said Dr.Ralph DiSibio. "The trust automation innovation in Jitsuin's RKVST platform has special significance for the nuclear industry, and I am excited to introduce this breakthrough blockchain technology which will radically improve security, safety and efficiency in our industry." "I look forward to this opportunity with Jitsuin, a company focused on developing trust automation software that enhances the hazardous and radioactive waste management areas where security, safety and efficiency are most important," added Dr. Ines R. Triay, Executive Director of the Applied Research Center at Florida International University. Trusted Data Sharing Between Business and Government Entities The company's flagship SaaS (News - Alert) product, "RKVST", provides trust automation for multi-party data assurance through simple APIs that developers use to enhance existing applications and build new applications powering today's connected enterprise and tomorrow's autonomous enterprise. RKVST enables a single source of truth to be shared between entities across the entire lifecycle of hazardous waste and its containers, from generation to geological storage which increases operational efficiency, automates compliance, streamlines asset management and improves safety throughout the waste management lifecycle for all relevant parties. Members of the Jitsuin Government Advisory Board are: Dr. Ralph DiSibio who will erve as Chairman of the Jitsuin Government Advisory Board. DiSibio is the former Executive Chairman of the Board at Kurion Inc. where he set a new corporate strategy and recruited a new management team. After selecting the new CEO, DiSibio returned as Chairman where he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions. His many career achievements include overseeing the acquisition of Kurion to a French company, Veolia, that closed in May 2016; and, negotiating the acquisition of Vista Technologies where he helped grow the company four-fold during his tenure.

who will erve as Chairman of the Jitsuin Government Advisory Board. DiSibio is the former Executive Chairman of the Board at Kurion Inc. where he set a new corporate strategy and recruited a new management team. After selecting the new CEO, DiSibio returned as Chairman where he was responsible for mergers and acquisitions. His many career achievements include overseeing the acquisition of Kurion to a French company, Veolia, that closed in May 2016; and, negotiating the acquisition of Vista Technologies where he helped grow the company four-fold during his tenure. Ms. Jan Carlin who brings 45 years of experience in both the commercial and nuclear arenas, specializing in high-level consulting and business development for nuclear and environmental projects with an emphasis on DOE Complex. She has extensive experience and project success at DOE's Savannah River and Hanford sites. Carlin served as Managing Director of Waste Management Symposia from 2016 to 2020 producing three very successful conferences (WM18, WM19, WM20), increasing attendance, revenue, and scholarship funding. She initiated a unique and successful STEM Program and produced the first co-sponsored national event with DOE Environmental Management.

who brings 45 years of experience in both the commercial and nuclear arenas, specializing in high-level consulting and business development for nuclear and environmental projects with an emphasis on DOE Complex. She has extensive experience and project success at DOE's Savannah River and Hanford sites. Carlin served as Managing Director of Waste Management Symposia from 2016 to 2020 producing three very successful conferences (WM18, WM19, WM20), increasing attendance, revenue, and scholarship funding. She initiated a unique and successful STEM Program and produced the first co-sponsored national event with DOE Environmental Management. Mr. Christopher Massey is the former Senior Vice President of Operations at Comprehensive Decommissioning Inc. (CDI) where he was responsible for all aspects of the successful transfer of the Oyster Creek, Pilgrim and Palisades nuclear power station sites which were acquired by Holtec International, a co-owner of CDI with SNC Lavalin. Massey has over 35 years of experience in the nuclear industry, with worldwide expertise in nuclear decommissioning and waste management.

is the former Senior Vice President of Operations at Comprehensive Decommissioning Inc. (CDI) where he was responsible for all aspects of the successful transfer of the Oyster Creek, Pilgrim and Palisades nuclear power station sites which were acquired by Holtec International, a co-owner of CDI with SNC Lavalin. Massey has over 35 years of experience in the nuclear industry, with worldwide expertise in nuclear decommissioning and waste management. Mr. Stephen Marchetti is the former President and Managing Partner at Tasso Consulting Group Ltd., Marchetti was a consultant to clients in the radioactive waste management, nuclear materials processing, and oil and gas industries specializing in E&C project development and business operations. He has extensive experience in managing major engineering, construction, plant operations and multi-functional organizations and projects.

is the former President and Managing Partner at Tasso Consulting Group Ltd., Marchetti was a consultant to clients in the radioactive waste management, nuclear materials processing, and oil and gas industries specializing in E&C project development and business operations. He has extensive experience in managing major engineering, construction, plant operations and multi-functional organizations and projects. Mr. Stephen F. Piccolo is a principal officer of Applied Capstone (News - Alert) Technologies Inc. and CEO of ELIXSYS Inc., as well as the former Executive Vice President Global Management and Operating Services at Westinghouse/URS. Piccolo has been responsible for the development of market facing business models for decommissioning, high hazard operations and projects at Westinghouse/URS. Also, he was responsible for the integration of all DOE-EM operations under contract. He exercised corporate baseline and oversight for seven LLC's responsible for DOE work execution as well as international projects in six countries.

is a principal officer of Applied Capstone (News - Alert) Technologies Inc. and CEO of ELIXSYS Inc., as well as the former Executive Vice President Global Management and Operating Services at Westinghouse/URS. Piccolo has been responsible for the development of market facing business models for decommissioning, high hazard operations and projects at Westinghouse/URS. Also, he was responsible for the integration of all DOE-EM operations under contract. He exercised corporate baseline and oversight for seven LLC's responsible for DOE work execution as well as international projects in six countries. Dr. Ines R. Triay serves as Executive Director of the Applied Research Center, Florida International University. Triay envisioned and established an interdisciplinary nuclear research program at FIU bringing together over 55 FIU faculty and staff from four academic departments, the Applied Research Center, and the International Forensic Research Institute. This is the only nuclear research program in a Hispanic Serving Institution. Also, Triay led the nuclear program to secure over $7M of funding over the past two years from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Environmental Management, Office of Science, and Office of Nuclear Energy.



Supporting Resources Follow and learn more about Jitsuin or track us in real-time at:

Twitter

LinkedIn About Jitsuin Jitsuin boosts confidence in any multi-enterprise process with trusted data. The company's flagship product, RKVST, proves the right data gets to the right place and is trusted by the right people. Jitsuin means "Truth in Things". Founded in 2018 by experts in security, identity, cryptography, and distributed ledgers, Jitsuin is privately held and is headquartered in San Jose, California. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005368/en/

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[May 05, 2021] MDA Schedules First Quarter 2021 Financial Results and Conference Call

BRAMPTON, ON, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ - MDA Ltd. ("MDA" or the "Company") (TSX: MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly-expanding global space industry, will hold its first quarter results conference call and webcast for investors and analysts on Wednesday May 12, 2021, at 6:00pm ET. MDA's financial and operating results for the period will be issued after markets close on Wednesday May 12 and will be available on the Company's website at www.mda.space. The conference call and webcast can be accessed as follows:







Toll-free North America: +1 (888) 390-0605 Toll-free International: 08006522435 Local (Toronto): +1 (416) 754-8609 Conference ID: 09429414 Webcast: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/ starthere.jsp?ei=1461472&tp_key=f695f30ee6

Conference Call Replay Toll-free North America: +1 (888) 390-0541 Local: +1 (416) 764-8677 Passcode: 429414 The conference call replay will be available after the call until May 19, 2021. The webcast will also be archived on MDA's website beginning after the call for a period of 90 days. ABOUT MDA Serving the world from its Canadian home and global offices, MDA is an international space mission partner and a robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 50-year story of firsts on and above the Earth. With over 2,000 employees across Canada, the US and the UK, MDA is leading the charge towards viable Moon colonies, enhanced Earth observation, communication in a hyper-connected world, and more. With a track record of making space ambitions come true, MDA enables highly skilled people to continually push boundaries, tackle big challenges, and imagine solutions that inspire and endure to change the world for the better, on the ground and in the stars. LINKS www.mda.space

https://mda-en.investorroom.com/ SOURCE MDA Ltd.

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[May 05, 2021] Carvana Brings The New Way to Buy a Car to Eugene

Carvana (NYSE: CVNA), the leading e-commerce platform for buying and selling used cars, continues its Pacific Northwest debut, bringing as-soon-as-next-day touchless home delivery to Eugene area residents. Customers can shop through an inventory of more than 30,000 used cars for sale, secure auto financing, trade in, and schedule as-soon-as-next-day vehicle delivery in as little as five minutes. Customers can also sell their current vehicle to Carvana and receive a real offer in minutes, whether or not they are purchasing a vehicle. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005377/en/



Carvana extends its reach in Oregon, offering as-soon-as-next-day vehicle delivery to Eugene. (Photo: Business Wire)

Carvana customers save valuable time and money with The New Way to Buy a Car by skipping the dealership and shopping online. And Carvana never charges hidden, bogus fees like "documentation fees," which can often be added to the price of a vehicle at the last minute. Customers looking to trade in their vehicle, or sell a vehicle, can also skip the dealership by simply entering their VIN or license plate number on Carvana.com, answer a few questions and Carvana can pick up the vehicle and bring them a check, as soon as the next day. All 30,000+ vehicles in Carvana's national inventory are photographed in 360 degrees, so customers get a high-definition virtual tour, along with the peace of mind of a seven-day return policy. This upgrade to the traditional test drive gives customers the time to ensure their vehicle fits their lifestyle, whether taking it on a day trip to Crater Lake, or seeing how your new-to-you ride handles an Autzen Stadium tailgate before a Ducks game. "Today's debut in Oregon means we can offer as-soon-as-next-day delivery on thousands of vehicles to Eugene area residents, giving them a great selection, at great prices, with great customer service," said Ernie Garcia, founder and CEO of Carvana. "Whether it be an Audi R8 or something more family friendly like a Subaru Forester, we're confident Eugene customers will appreciate the easy, transparent experience that comes with The New Way to Buy a Car." Carvana now offers as-soon-as-next-day vehicle delivery to customers in 283 cities across the U.S. About Carvana (NYSE: CVNA) Founded in 2012 and based in Phoenix, Carvana's (NYSE: CVNA) mission is to change the way people buy cars. By removing the traditional dealership infrastructure and replacing it with technology and exceptional customer service, Carvana offers consumers an intuitive and convenient online car buying and financing platform. Carvana.com enables consumers to quickly and easily shop more than 20,000 vehicles, finance, trade-in or sell their current vehicle to Carvana, sign contracts, and schedule as-soon-as-next-day delivery or pickup at one of Carvana's patented, automated Car Vending Machines. For further information on Carvana, please visit www.carvana.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005377/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Wipro Partners with Transcell Oncologics to Transform Vaccine Safety Assessment

Wipro (News - Alert) Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company, today announced a partnership with Transcell Oncologics to transform vaccine safety assessment using augmented intelligence (AI). This partnership combines Transcell's innovative stem cell technology with the advanced augmented intelligence capabilities of Wipro HOLMES to improve the safety of global vaccine immunization programs. By applying AI to the vaccine development process, our solution is capable of predicting adverse neurovirulent impacts resulting from vaccinations. Currently, vaccine safety assessment often includes testing on animals to measure adverse impacts. Using Wipro HOLMES instead, researchers and biopharmaceutical companies have a new and fully viable solution and alternative. Wipro HOLMES can also be integrated into any existing workflow, including quality control tests in vaccine production, batchwise release and other safety evaluation assays. This partnership will also expand the Wipro HOLMES solutions available to life science companies. The solution applies AI for drug repurposing and Messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) based platform for biodefense. It enables the testing of new vaccines by applying augmented intelligence to stem cell research and measuring safety and potency. This is the first in a series of next generation solutions that the partnership will offer to determine the safety and efficacy of a wide-range of products from vaccines to prescription medications, cosmetics and more. Harmeet Chauhan, Global Head - Engineering and R&D, Wipro Limited said, "Enhancing neurovirulence safety assessment through augmented intelligence is a huge step forward in vaccine research and development. This innovative technology allows life science companies and vaccine manufacturers to develop, trial and release safer and more effective vaccines for people around the world. Our partnership with Transcell Oncologics will bring the best of AI and stem cell technology to researchers, medical professionals and ultimately patients through safe, accelerated vaccination programs." Dr. Subhadra Dravida, Founder CEO, Transcell said, "This exciting partnership combines the biotechnology capabilities of Transcell Oncologics's Transtoxbio vertical with the advanced augmented intelligence capabiliies of Wipro HOLMES . Deriving new and advanced insights from the use of stem cells in an in vitro setting transforms vaccine safety assessment. This breakthrough process will lead to new medical treatments and accelerate innovation and vaccine availability that is vital to saving lives."



In February 2021, the Transcell-Wipro HOLMES solution for neurovirulence was presented with the Best IP Managed Stemcell award at the ChemTECH BioPharma World.IE Conference. About Wipro Limited

Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 190,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future. Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements The forward-looking statements contained herein represent Wipro's beliefs regarding future events, many of which are by their nature, inherently uncertain and outside Wipro's control. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Wipro's growth prospects, its future financial operating results, and its plans, expectations and intentions. Wipro cautions readers that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, complete proposed corporate actions, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry. The conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could decrease technology spending, adversely affect demand for our products, affect the rate of customer spending and could adversely affect our customers' ability or willingness to purchase our offerings, delay prospective customers' purchasing decisions, adversely impact our ability to provide on-site consulting services and our inability to deliver our customers or delay the provisioning of our offerings, all of which could adversely affect our future sales, operating results and overall financial performance. Our operations may also be negatively affected by a range of external factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic that are not within our control. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Annual Reports on Form 20-F. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005678/en/

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[May 05, 2021] MATE accelerates e-Bike expansion with new funding from Marcy Venture Partners

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Danish design icon MATE announces a new investment from Marcy Venture Partners, the venture capital fund co-founded by the iconic trio JAY-Z, Jay Brown, and Larry Marcus. With these funds the start-up will take a giant leap to accelerate the future of smart transportation, with the global aim for the world to go greener via a new, smarter, more flexible, and "flashy" form of transportation. By partnering up with Marcy Venture Partners, MATE will expand the global eBike revolution. With an exciting and innovative pipeline of Danish designed eBikes, apparel and accessories, the company will take essential steps to hyper-accelerate its scale-up journey. "MATE is such an innovative and joyful brand. Their electric vehicles are great for the planet, head-turners for their design, and so innovative," says Larry Marcus, VP, Marcy Venture Partners. The disruptive brand from the biking capital of the world  Copenhagen, Denmark  was love at first sight for thousands of fans, backers, and influencers when MATE launched and became one of the world's most crowdfunded brands ever. To consolidate business and maintain magic, MATE continues to push the universe forward by keeping a sensational and bulletproof design. The new generation of premium Danish designed and affordable eBikes, is now available woldwide and brings foldable freedom and ultimate transportation excitement to the masses.



"We are ready to accelerate the MATE dream with massive impact. In the future, MATE will focus on the innovative fields of design, tech, and experience. MATE has an epic pipeline of new products, technology, and tier 1 partnerships to be launched globally this year. We embrace the magic in the ordinary and dream big because MATE is so much more than "just a bike." It is a unique e-motion and great fun," says Julie Kronstrm Carton and Christian Adel Michael, Founders of MATE. With a clear vision to shake up an old and tired transportation scene, MATE adds a fresh take on all aspects of the ride by offering the coolest, fastest, most versatile, and affordable, foldable eBikes on the planet.

MATE is a Copenhagen-based start-up founded by siblings Julie Kronstrm Carton and Christian Adel Michael. The company "kick-started" its success with the foldable MATE.BIKE on the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo and instantly became one of the world's most crowdfunded brands ever, with customers from more than 80+ countries. Today MATE is known for its fast, flexible, head-turning effect and iconic award-nominated exclusive danish design with an affordable price tag. Marcy Venture Partners (MVP) was Co-Founded by Shawn Carter (JAY-Z), Jay Brown and Larry Marcus and invests in Consumer & Culture, emphasizing positive impact, including sustainability, inclusivity, accessibility, empowerment, and health & wellness. MVP has a passion for building game-changing consumer businesses and mass-market brands that resonate with culture across products and services, media, and technology. The firm combines access, instincts, and venture operating experience to be long-term partners in growth. Want to know more or try a bike?

Please visit www.mate.bike

Facebook | Instagram US PR Contact PURPLE Kristen Chin / Kristen.Chin@purplepr.com / 305-349-3440 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mate-accelerates-e-bike-expansion-with-new-funding-from-marcy-venture-partners-301284536.html SOURCE MATE

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[May 05, 2021] Multipoint Group Hires Vishal Bhatia to Lead Channel & Business Development in the MEA Region

KFAR SABA, Israel, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Multipoint Group, a principal value-added distributor of Cyber Strong Solutions in EMEA, announced last month its new office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to tap the Middle East & Africa (MEA) markets. Operating from the Dubai World trade center, the new branch will focus on regional channel & business expansion of the Multipoint distribution portfolio in the MEA markets.

As part of this expansion, Multipoint has now joined forces with Vishal Bhatia to manage the Channel and Business operations for the group in MEA markets. Vishal brings broad experience in IT Channel Sales on Cyber Security & Enterprise solutions in the MEA region. "I am excited to be a part of Multipoint's mission of heading towards a global player in value-added distribution. Middle-east & Africa market presents an enormous opportunity for disruptive technologies that Multipoint brings through its enriching portfolio," says Vishal Bhatia. Vishal, an MBA holder, who previously worked with a leading distributor in the Middle East, and an IT security vendor before that, will be responsible for overseeing channel & business development activities for the local office.>



Multipoint in the Middle East . We plan to double our team & investment by the end of this year with the addition of technical consultants & security architects." Vishal adds, "With Ricardo's vision and leadership, the MEA market will emerge as a highly successful region for the group."

The Middle East region is expanding the Multipoint Group's existing activities in Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Romania, and the Balkans. Through support and knowledge centers located in Israel and Greece, Multipoint will provide advanced support to its customers. Among the solutions to be distributed by Multipoint in the Middle East region are Acronis for backup, SealPath for IRM, AT&T Security for SIEM, OneLogin for IAM, KE-LA for Threat Intelligence, Garland Technology for Network TAPs, Corero Security for anti-DDOS, AnyDesk & RealVNC for Remote Support, and Druva for Cloud Backups. All solutions appear on the company's website for the Middle East region: http://www.multipoint-me.com .

Contact: Ricardo Resnik Multipoint Group Haharoshet 2 Kfar Saba Hasharon, 44640 74-702-7017 https://multipoint-group.com info@multipoint-group.com

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[May 05, 2021] inspirED Summer, Inc., Pros 4Education and Actor and Activist Lamman Rucker Launch inspirED Summer, a First-of-its-kind Initiative, Including Private Musical Performances, to Increase Atlanta's Summer School Enrollment

ATLANTA, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- inspirED Education Inc., Pros 4Education and actor and activist Lamman Rucker are proud to announce the launch of inspirED Summer, an initiative featuring a series of private musical performances and engaging activities to educate people on the impact COVID-19 has had on education and increase enrollment in Atlanta's summer school program. COVID-19 has not only caused a national health crisis but an increasingly dire education crisis that is disproportionately impacting Black and brown students learning from home. According to Future Ready Org, one in three Black, Latino or American Indian/Alaska Native families do not have high-speed home internet and are more likely than their white peers to be disconnected from online learning. "It's important for us to recognize that COVID-19 is not only a health crisis but an educationcrisis," says Marcus Bivines of Pros 4Education, Inc. "We must do the work across the nation to help close the education gap. That's why our team has partnered with other Atlanta organizations and individuals to tackle these issues in our own backyard."



Atlanta Public Schools are making a concerted effort to ensure their students, many of which are in underserved communities, enroll in the upcoming summer program. inspirED Summer will kick-off with a series of musical performances in June. Atlanta students who attend summer school and complete a list of activities including classroom check-in, reading exercises, interactive lessons and more will have the chance to attend the private events. "As a co-founder of The Black Gents Foundation, it is my mission to continue to uplift and spotlight those in our community who are doing good work," says actor Lamman Rucker. "That's why I'm especially excited about the inspirED Summer program  it's a chance for us to make tangible change in our communities and make sure education is fun and approachable."

Registration for summer school ends on May 15th. The Atlanta Public Schools Academic Recovery Academy (summer school program) takes place between June 1 and 30. You can visit www.inspiredsummer.org and inspirED Summer's Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook channels to learn more about inspirED Summer. Additional activities and performer details will be announced over the next month. ABOUT INSPIRED EDUCATION INC.

inspirED Summer is celebrating its inaugural campaign encouraging students to attend summer school and accept the challenge of working through the adversity presented by COVID-19. inspirED has taken a revolutionary approach of incentivizing teachers, students, and parents with invite-only performances, celebrity and influencer support, prizes and much more. The organization's goal is to bring awareness to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the ED-ecosystem, encourage educators, support students and their parents by re-mixing education conversation. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inspired-summer-inc-pros-4education-and-actor-and-activist-lamman-rucker-launch-inspired-summer-a-first-of-its-kind-initiative-including-private-musical-performances-to-increase-atlantas-summer-school-enrollment-301284462.html SOURCE inspirED Education Inc.

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[May 05, 2021] Falvey Shippers Insurance Offers Admitted Shipper's Interest Product

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Effective April 1, 2021, Falvey Shippers Insurance offers a fully admitted all-risk shipper's interest insurance providing more protection for existing and future clients. Falvey is now one of very few admitted shipper's interest solutions in the market. This admitted product is a more standardized, compliant program, fully backed by all the United States. This is an advantage for states like Texas in particular, where inland marine policies cannot be written unless it is a fully admitted product. Dan Sules, Product & Programs Coordinator at Falvey Insurance Group, parent company of Falvey Shippers Insurance adds, "This admitted program is an example of Falvey's commitment to providing the most accessible shipper's interest insurance program in the market. Customer experienc is always top of mind, so in creating this program, we can offer more accessibility for brokers and relieve them of the administrative work that would accompany a non-admitted product."



Those already working with Falvey Shippers on their shipper's interest program will have access to the admitted solution, and Falvey will continue to provide surplus offerings on international paper for programs which underwrite policies for all North America  including Canada. About Falvey Shippers Insurance

Falvey Shippers Insurance provides full-value, all-risk domestic and international shipping insurance through an API integration within clients' existing shipping software. Any shipment can be automatically quoted and insured for its full value with a single click. The entire process is automated, so there is nothing to print or add to your packing materials, and no extra paperwork to manageyou just click it, ship it and forget it. Falvey Shippers is a subsidiary of Falvey Insurance Group, and their policies are 100% secured by Lloyd's of London, and all underwriting, claims and technology operations reside in-house. www.falveyshippers.com Media Contact:

Megan Bell

mbell@falveyinsurancegroup.com

(401) 214-5600 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/falvey-shippers-insurance-offers-admitted-shippers-interest-product-301284516.html SOURCE Falvey Shippers Insurance

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[May 05, 2021] Resverlogix Announces US$6 Million Debenture Financing

CALGARY, Alberta, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Resverlogix Corp. (Resverlogix or the "Company") (TSX: RVX) today announces that it has entered into an investment agreement with a subsidiary of Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (Hepalink) which provides for Hepalink to purchase 10% secured convertible debentures of the Company in the aggregate principal amount of US$6 million (the Debentures) for a purchase price equal to the principal amount of the Debentures (the Debenture Financing).

The Debentures will bear interest at a rate of 10% per annum and mature one year from the first closing date of the Debenture Financing. Hepalink may elect to convert the principal amount of the Debentures and accrued and unpaid interest thereon into common shares of the Company at a conversion price equal to the lesser of CAD$0.93 per share and the 5-day volume weighted average trading price of the common shares on the date of conversion. The Company has agreed to grant Hepalink a security interest in all of its assets, including its patents and other intellectual property, as security for its obligations under the Debentures. In addition, Hepalink will receive an aggregate of 300,000 common share purchase warrants exercisable for a period of four years from the first closing date of the Debenture Financing at a price of CAD$0.93 per share (the Warrants). The completion of the Debenture Financing is subject to satisfaction of customary conditions for a transaction of this nature, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Company plans to complete the Debenture Financing by issuing the Debentures and Warrants to Hepalink in two equal tranches, with the first tranche scheduled to be completed upon satisfaction of all closing conditions in the next three days and the second tranche to be completed by May 31, 2021. The Company has a total of 238,766,021 common shares issued and outstanding. Hepalink holds 85,286,524 common shares and 11,466,619 common share purchase warrants which represents 35.72 percent of the common shares outstanding before giving effect to any outstanding warrants and 38.67 percent of the outstanding common shares assuming the exercise by Hepalink of its warrants. After giving effect to the Debenture Financing, in the event of conversion of the principal amount of the Debentures at a price of CAD$0.93, Hepalink would hold 37.78 percent of the common shares outstanding before giving effect to any outstanding warrants and 4.62 percent of the outstanding common shares assuming the exercise by Hepalink of its warrants.



The net proceeds of the Debenture Financing will be used to fund research and development activities, including but not limited to, clinical trial activities, general and administrative expenses, working capital needs and other general corporate purposes. The subscription for the Debentures and Warrants by Hepalink is a related party transaction within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws as Hepalink is an insider of the Company. The subscription by Hepalink is exempt from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements applicable to related party transactions on the basis that the value of the transaction insofar as it involves a related party is less than 25 percent of the Company's market capitalization.

About Resverlogix Resverlogix is developing apabetalone (RVX-208), a first-in-class, small molecule that is a selective BET (bromodomain and extra-terminal) inhibitor. Apabetalone is the first therapy of its kind to have been granted US FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation  for a major cardiovascular indication  to help facilitate a time-efficient drug development program including planned clinical trials and plans for expediting the manufacturing development strategy. BET inhibition is an epigenetic mechanism that can regulate disease-causing genes. Apabetalone is a BET inhibitor selective for the second bromodomain (BD2) within the BET proteins. This selective inhibition of apabetalone on BD2 produces a specific set of biological effects with potentially important benefits for patients with high-risk cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease treated with hemodialysis, neurodegenerative disease, Fabry disease, peripheral artery disease and other orphan diseases, while maintaining a well described safety profile. Resverlogix common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:RVX). Follow us on: Twitter: @Resverlogix_RVX

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/resverlogix-corp-/ For further information please contact: Investor Relations

Email: ir@resverlogix.com

Phone: 403-254-9252

Or visit our website: www.resverlogix.com This news release may contain certain forward-looking information as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation, that are not based on historical fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "intends", "will", "should", "expects", "continue", "estimate", "forecasts" and other similar expressions. In particular, this news release includes forward looking information related to the Debenture Financing, including the terms of the Debenture Financing, the completion of the Debenture Financing and the use of proceeds therefrom, and the potential role of apabetalone in the treatment of patients with high-risk cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease treated with hemodialysis, neurodegenerative disease, Fabry disease, peripheral artery disease and other orphan diseases. Our actual results, events or developments could be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We can give no assurance that any of the events or expectations will occur or be realized. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions and risk factors including those discussed in our Annual Information Form and most recent MD&A which are incorporated herein by reference and are available through SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and are made as of the date hereof. The Company disclaims any intention and has no obligation or responsibility, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



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[May 05, 2021] Coin Metrics Closes $15M Series B Round Led By Goldman Sachs

BOSTON, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Coin Metrics, the leading provider of crypto financial intelligence, today announced that it raised $15 million in Series B financing, led by Goldman Sachs. Castle Island Ventures, Highland Capital Partners, Fidelity Investments, Avon Ventures, Communitas Capital, and Collab+Currency are also increasing their investment in the company after participating in previous fundraising rounds. They are joined by new investors Acrew Ventures, Morningside Group, BlockFi and Warburg Serres Investments. Mathew McDermott, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs, and head of their blockchain and crypto expansion efforts, will join Coin Metrics' Board of Directors. Coin Metrics provides network data, market data, indexes and network risk solutions to the most prestigious institutions touching cryptoassets. This financing will accelerate the company's global expansion, enable further product innovation, and allow existing offerings to touch even more cryptoasset networks and markets. The company institutionalized their network and market data offerings over the past 18 months, creating a resilient infrastructure to meet the needs of the most discerning organizations. Their index offering, which leverages elements of the market and network data offerings, has been adopted by some of the largest names in the cryptoasset ecosystem, including Fidelity Investments, Osprey Funds and BlockFi. Additionally, Coin Metrics recently announced several new products, including a network risk management offering, FARUM, and a universal block explorer, ATLASspan>, both of which leverage the infrastructure of the existing data business. "FARUM and ATLAS are perfect complements to our network and market data products," said Tim Rice, co-founder and CEO of Coin Metrics. "The tremendous interest we are seeing in these offerings reinforces the value of on-chain data to institutions engaging in cryptoassets. I couldn't be more proud of what the team has built over the past 12 months. Our data is clearly on a path to becoming an integral part of the infrastructure for the future of finance."



"Data is critical for the mainstream adoption of cryptoassets by traditional investors and financial services players. Our clients will greatly benefit from Coin Metrics' institutional-grade data insights and emerging risk management tools," said Mathew McDermott, Global Head of Digital Assets of Goldman Sachs. Marianna Lopert-Schaye, in Firmwide Strategy at Goldman Sachs added, "Coin Metrics is at the forefront of innovation and institutionalization in the digital asset markets. We are excited to be leading their Series B, thereby enabling their growth and supporting their mission to be the leading provider of data-driven market insights and intelligence for institutions in crypto." Since its Series A in 2019, Coin Metrics has built a world-class team, marrying cryptonative talent with veterans of the traditional financial services and data industries. The company will continue to focus on attracting the best talent to set the industry standard for how crypto networks and assets are monitored and analyzed and share insights and intelligence to enhance the cryptoasset ecosystem as a whole.

ABOUT COIN METRICS

Coin Metrics is the leading provider of crypto financial intelligence, offering network data, market data, indexes and network risk solutions to the most prestigious institutions touching cryptoassets. Coin Metrics was founded in 2017 as an open-source project to determine the economic significance of public blockchains. Today, we expand on that original purpose to empower people and institutions to make informed crypto financial decisions. We aim to usher the world's premier financial institutions into crypto with the most trusted data and insights. For more information, visit www.coinmetrics.io. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coin-metrics-closes-15m-series-b-round-led-by-goldman-sachs-301284483.html SOURCE Coin Metrics Inc

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[May 05, 2021] 22nd Century Group Installs State-of-the-Art Nicotine Testing Equipment to Enhance VLN Production

BUFFALO, N.Y., May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE American: XXII), a leading plant-based biotechnology company focused on tobacco harm reduction, reduced nicotine tobacco, and hemp/cannabis research, announced today that it is advancing and expanding capabilities in its in-house laboratory, located in its cigarette manufacturing facility in Mocksville, North Carolina, for testing of its VLN reduced nicotine content (RNC) tobacco and cigarettes. The Company estimates that its cost per VLN sample will improve by more than 90% and the lead time for key data will take less than a day compared to using a third-party testing service that can take weeks.

This is an important investment and milestone for 22nd Century, as it is imperative to the launch of VLN and the future of the organization that we have the ability to rapidly conduct high-precision analysis of our own products at higher testing volumes, says James A. Mish, chief executive officer of 22nd Century Group. With these expanded capabilities in place, we have a fully integrated business unit, able to monitor and control the results from growing, blending, and manufacturing of our reduced nicotine content cigarettes. In addition, by having the entire testing process managed within 22nd Century, it will improve testing consistency and give us greater ability to manage product quality in-house. By making this investment now, we will be well-positioned for the FDAs authorization of our Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) application to market our VLN cigarettes to the public. 22nd Century now has the same lab testing equipment and capabilities as outside facilities. The Company is also working toward receiving ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, which grants international recognition of an organizations commitment to quality, competency, and reliable results. This accreditation demonstrates to customers and industry that 22nd Century has the technical competence to provide reliable and accurate test results even at the lowest nicotine levels. The new laboratory is starting operations at an opportune time, as earlier this year 22nd Century announced that it has significantly expanded its tobacco growing program to support the anticipated demand for its VLN cigarettes. As westart to receive tobacco from growers, we will be able to test every bale of tobacco in-house to ensure that it meets the stringent requirements established by 22nd Century. We will now receive test results much faster and at lower cost, which will help us to better meet the expected demand for our product, says Michael Zercher, chief operating officer at 22nd Century.



Made from proprietary tobacco engineered to contain 95% less nicotine than conventional cigarette tobacco, 22nd Centurys RNC cigarettes are the only combustible tobacco products able to meet the nicotine levels proposed in the FDAs Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) for a tobacco product standard that requires all combustible cigarettes to contain minimally or non-addictive levels of nicotine. Numerous independent scientific studies, funded largely by the FDA, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other U.S. federal government agencies, have demonstrated that using reduced nicotine content tobacco cigarettes helps smokers reduce their nicotine exposure and dependence, smoke fewer cigarettes per day, increase their number of smoke-free days, and double their quit attempts  all with minimal or no evidence of nicotine withdrawal or compensatory smoking. The Company is highly confident that its MRTP application for VLN is in the final stages of the FDAs review process. This important designation will allow 22nd Century to communicate key features of VLN King and VLN Menthol King, including a headline claim of 95% less nicotine. Although VLN contains just 0.5 milligrams of nicotine per gram of tobacco, VLN tastes, smells, and smokes like a conventional cigarette. This disruptive product is an innovative alternative to addictive, conventional cigarettes and will help adult smokers reduce their exposure to nicotine. 22nd Century is fully prepared and eager to launch its VLN cigarettes within 90 days of receiving authorization from the FDA and believes that a MRTP designation will serve as a catalyst for its VLN brand and tobacco franchise. The Company remains willing to license its RNC tobacco technology to every cigarette manufacturer, including Altria, Reynolds American, and other Big Tobacco companies, so that the entire industry can join 22nd Centurys effort to reduce the harm caused by smoking and protect future generations from ever becoming addicted to cigarettes.

About 22nd Century Group, Inc.

22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE American: XXII) is a leading plant biotechnology company focused on technologies that alter the level of nicotine in tobacco plants and the level of cannabinoids in hemp/cannabis plants through genetic engineering, gene-editing, and modern plant breeding. 22nd Centurys primary mission in tobacco is to reduce the harm caused by smoking through the Companys proprietary reduced nicotine content tobacco cigarettes  containing 95% less nicotine than conventional cigarettes. The Companys primary mission in hemp/cannabis is to develop and commercialize proprietary hemp/cannabis plants with valuable cannabinoid profiles and desirable agronomic traits. Learn more at xxiicentury.com, on Twitter @_xxiicentury, and on LinkedIn. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information, all of the statements, expectations, and assumptions contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements typically contain terms such as anticipate, believe, consider, continue, could, estimate, expect, explore, foresee, goal, guidance, intend, likely, may, plan, potential, predict, preliminary, probable, project, promising, seek, should, will, would, and similar expressions. Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are set forth in Risk Factors in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 11, 2021. All information provided in this release is as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Investor Relations & Media Contact:

Mei Kuo

Director, Communications & Investor Relations

22nd Century Group, Inc.

(716) 300-1221

mkuo@xxiicentury.com



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[May 05, 2021] PCS Retirement welcomes two new executives

PHILADELPHIA, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PCS Retirement is pleased to announce two new executives joining the leadership team: Bob Savino who will serve as the chief product and technology officer and Michael Coluzzi as the chief financial officer. Both will play an integral role in the organization's continued growth as one of the nation's largest independent and conflict-free recordkeepers in the industry. A new chief of product and technology and chief financial officer join the PCS Retirement team. "Our recent acquisitions have really propelled us forward, and we are looking forward to the possibilities now with Michael and Bob on our team to encourage business growth," said Mark Klein, PCS Retirement's chief executive officer. "They have both already begun to make an impact to the organization, so I am excited for our future." Savino brings over twenty years of fin-tech startup and digital transformation experience as a CPO, CDO, and CTO in retail banking, financial advice, retirement plans, and e-commerce in addition to working on one of the first online and mobile banks. Before joining PCS Retirement, Savino led as the chief product and technology officer at BankMobile. Now at PCS Retireent, Savino will be building a robust product and technology team to execute the organization's recordkeeping solutions.



"The mission is to improve the digital customer experience, enable new distribution methods and financial products, and dramatically automate processes. We have a goal of providing our clients with one of the best digital experiences in the industry in the next two years" said Savino. "To accomplish our lofty goals, we must hire the best fin-tech professionals for roles the company didn't previously have." Having just started in February of this year, Savino and his growing team have already made strides towards upcoming initiatives such as the new corporate website and the enhanced advisor portal. As Savino continues to build his teams, he keeps the goal in mind. Anyone interested in joining Savino's team can find all open digital transformation roles on LinkedIn.

"We are very mission-driven. In this space, I love the fact that it's a win-win no matter whatwe can help people save money and grow the business at the same time," said Savino. Coluzzi has served as the CFO for a variety of companies ranging from $50 million to nearly $1 billion including eOriginal, Revitas, Quintiq, Metrologic Instruments, and Honeywell Scanning & Mobility. He joined the team in late March and has already hit the ground running. "I like to seek opportunities to help companies instill discipline and to fulfill their maximum potential, and I look forward to helping PCS take advantage of their powerful growth opportunities," said Coluzzi. At PCS Retirement, Coluzzi will oversee finance, tax, treasury, risk management, and human resources. He brings about twenty years of experience in business technology and application software solutions. His expertise and technical competence in scaling high growth, finance, human resources, and other administrative functions will undoubtedly add value to the organization as it continues to grow. PCS Retirement has ambitious goals for the future and will undoubtedly reach success by continuing to welcome professionals like Savino and Coluzzi to its team. About PCS Retirement PCS Retirement and its subsidiary, Aspire Financial, is one of the nation's largest independent and conflict-free retirement solution providers in the industry, providing recordkeeping services to 19,000 plans and 850,000 eligible participants representing $26+ billion in assets under administration. In the individual (IRA) and multi-vendor (403(b) and 457) retirement markets, PCS | Aspire services 6,000 retirement plans, more than 92,000 educators and school administrators, and hold more than $6 billion in retirement assets in the K-12 and higher education markets. PCS Retirement's comprehensive retirement solutions platform also includes technology and business development tools for financial advisors for various plans including 401(k), Cash Balance, Defined Benefit, Non-Qualified, and HSAs. To learn more, visit https://www.pcsretirement.com/. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pcs-retirement-welcomes-two-new-executives-301284576.html SOURCE PCS Retirement, LLC

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[May 05, 2021] Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Report Shows Disconnect Between Increased Stress and Mental Health Diagnoses

While people in the U.S. have reported that the pandemic and other stressors like social injustice, elections, and the economy negatively impacted their mental health in 2020, there wasn't a corresponding increase in people seeking mental health treatment, according to the inaugural State of the Nation's Mental Health. Diagnoses and treatment for anxiety and PTSD for adults were among the few mental health diagnoses that grew in 2020. But in Colorado, data shows significantly fewer mental health diagnoses in 2020, particularly among children and older adults, compared to the year before. These findings, part of a new State of the Nation's Mental Health report based on Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield claims from 900,000 Coloradans, show the pandemic disconnect between feeling stressed and depressed and being diagnosed and seeking treatment. Recent studies have shown that many more adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. Further, 42 percent of people under 30 years old were experiencing anxiety and depression symptoms, according to a CDC survey from August 2020 through February 2021. "We know that the pandemic has had an adverse impact on mental health, and this data shows that many people aren't getting the help they need," said Jacob Moussai, M.D., medical director for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. "This is a wakeup call that speaks to the importance of focusing on the whole health of the individual." The results of the study are supported by other national data from IngenioRx, Anthem's pharmacy benefits manager. While the overall utilization for medications to treat depression was up in 2020, much of that increase can be attributed to existing users being more adherent to their dosing regimens, according to IngenioRx medication adherence data. New users of these medications increased at the same rate as 2019. The State of the Nation's Mental Health report showed the following drops in 2020 rates for those treated for mental health diagnoses compared to those treated in 2019: 4 percent overall drop for young children

2 percent overall drop for adolescents

3 percent overall dop for adults older than 75

8 percent drop for young children diagnosed with ADHD

8 percent drop in adults older than 75 diagnosed with dementia, and an

8 percent drop for adults older than 75 diagnosed for depression.



Nearly three out of four mental health specialists and primary care doctors estimated in an Anthem commissioned national survey that mental health repercussions from the virus will last up to three years or longer and almost two-thirds believe their patients' mental health declined in the second half of the pandemic (September 2020-February 2021) compared to the first half (March-August 2020).

On a positive note, nine out of 10 healthcare professionals surveyed said that COVID-19 has made them more aware of the mental health conditions their patients are experiencing. Seventy percent of healthcare professionals said their patients have been more willing to proactively bring up mental health concerns during appointments. A majority of healthcare professionals said that patients who were already seeking therapy or in a support group prior to the start of the pandemic have more successfully coped with their mental health concerns. And, many noted they are seeing an increased emphasis in patient self-care and better work/life flexibility. "People in general and young people in particular should not be reluctant to seek mental health help when they need it," said Paul Gionfriddo, President and CEO of Mental Health America, the nation's largest mental health advocacy organization. "We know from the millions of help-seeking people who have reached out to us this past year that more people than ever are in need of help, and we want them to know that it is a show of strength, not weakness, to seek that help as early as possible, and the first step on the pathway to recovery." Information about how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health conditions is available at the State of the Nation's Mental Health report web site and the Mental Health America web site. Survey and Claims Methodology The State of the Nation's Mental Health report is based on claims data from 27 million members in Anthem affiliated individual, employer-sponsored, Medicare and Medicaid health plans, including 900,000 in Colorado. Prevalence of behavioral health diagnoses each year (2019 and 2020) was determined by the number of individuals with at least one claim containing a behavioral health diagnosis during the calendar year divided by the number of members enrolled in the plans. The Anthem online survey was conducted among a national sample consisting of 552 healthcare professionals, broken out into 285 behavioral health specialists and 267 primary care physicians/general practitioners living in the United States, with an oversample of 100 rural healthcare professionals. The sample includes a diverse set of respondents across key demographics (age, gender, region, race/ethnicity) and experience as a physician (time spent in practice, type of practice, size of practice). The margin of error for the total sample at the 95 percent confidence level is +/- 4 percentage points. About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @AnthemBCBS_News and @AnthemBCBS or find us on Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005723/en/

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[May 05, 2021] City Of El Monte Selects Cleverciti's Smart Parking Guidance System To Improve Parking Efficiency For Local Shopping And Public Transit Access

EL MONTE CITY, Calif. and ATLANTA, May 5, 2021 Cleverciti, a leader in comprehensive, high-tech solutions for smart parking, today announces El Monte, a suburb of Los Angeles, will provide downtown commuters and visitors with its unique parking guidance solution to help support the local economy, reduce emissions and minimize total vehicle miles travelled. Cleverciti's technology will be deployed at El Monte's Main Street and MetroLink parking lots, two of the most heavily trafficked and congested areas of the city. Once installed, Cleverciti's smart parking solution will offer motorists digital turn-by-turn signage to nearly 400 parking spaces. Additionally, a city-branded Cleverciti Guidance app will also be available for mobile convenience. Cleverciti and El Monte share common goals with the smart parking installation: to make it easier for locals and visitors to access and support the local shopping district by finding parking easily; and to encourage ridership on Metrolink by attracting commuters with real-time parking availability and train ridership level updates. "The pandemic-induced work-from-home mandate gave Southern Californians a glimpse of what cleaner air and less traffic congestion could do for the climate and quality of life," said Alma Martinez, City Manager of El Monte. "We are leveraging game-changing technologies like Cleverciti to create new commuting habits and lifestyle choices for people without them feeling like they are compromising convenience or safety. With Cleverciti, we are confident we will rewrite the commuter and local driver experience for te better and help everyone reduce vehicle miles travelled."



As motorists approach El Monte's Metrolink and Main Street lots, they will be greeted by Cleverciti Circ 360 LED signs affixed to existing lamp posts and displaying live parking information in 360 degrees, clearly directing motorists to available parking. Cleverciti's sensors detect availability of each individual space and provide precise data and guidance to available spaces. The smart parking system is designed to increase revenue for local businesses, reduce congestion and improve space turnover. Residents and newcomers to "Friendly El Monte'' will enjoy streamlined access to parking spaces in the downtown Main Street lot. Access to restaurants, retail shops and more  which face challenges competing with online shopping, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic  will become easier to visit than ever before.

Commuters who have struggled in the past to find parking spaces at the Metrolink lot before boarding a train will experience a new level of confidence in their transportation choice. The joined forces of Cleverciti and El Monte have removed the 'barriers to boarding the train'. Cleverciti's turnkey solution to finding parking, coupled with Metrolink's tool "How Full is my Train?", will provide commuters a clear line of sight from their origin to the lot. By taking the train, both entities hope that people will reduce their vehicle miles travelled, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower traffic congestion. "We look forward to working with the City of El Monte in supporting small- and medium-sized businesses with a mindset equally devoted to environmental sustainability," states Joe Survance, SVP of Sales, Cleverciti. "It is encouraging to see this California city take a proactive approach to reducing traffic congestion and improving parking availability  both of which have a tremendous impact on quality of life and quality of climate." The project began in March 2021 and will be completed in July 2021. About Cleverciti Systems

Cleverciti is the leader in comprehensive, high-tech solutions that connect mobility demand with parking supply. Cleverciti provides organizations with a robust and highly reliable parking guidance solution that enhances convenience, builds loyalty, and boosts engagement, allowing customers to maximize ROI and streamline the parking experience. Its end-to-end solutions are designed to strengthen parking detection, improve guidance, and enhance communication. With more than 200 installations in 20 countries globally, Cleverciti seeks to help organizations reduce traffic and emissions, and increase revenue while allowing drivers to enjoy a smooth, stress-free parking experience. The company is headquartered in Munich, Germany, with offices in Atlanta and the UK. To learn more, visit www.cleverciti.com . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/city-of-el-monte-selects-clevercitis-smart-parking-guidance-system-to-improve-parking-efficiency-for-local-shopping-and-public-transit-access-301284348.html SOURCE Cleverciti Systems

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[May 05, 2021] Dell Technologies APEX Transforms How the World Consumes Technology

ROUND ROCK, Texas, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dell Technologies World -- News summary APEX Data Storage Services delivers a simplified storage as-a-Service experience

APEX Cloud Services provides a consistent cloud experience across public cloud, private cloud and at the edge

APEX Custom Solutions offers flexible payment and IT management services for the industry's broadest infrastructure portfolio

Customers can manage the lifecycle of their APEX offers in one place through the APEX Console

Dell Technologies and Equinix collaborate to extend the reach of APEX to colocation sites Full story Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) unveils its APEX portfolio of as-a-Service offerings to simplify how businesses consume technology. Building on its IT as-a-Service expertise, Dell Technologies APEX reduces the time and complexity of acquiring, managing, maintaining and servicing physical IT infrastructure. Customers can scale IT as needed to launch new applications, kickstart new projects, and address the changing needs of their organizations  all managed by Dell and accessed through a single console. "The world is innovating faster than ever to meet new demands of customers, students, patients and constituents  driving the need for a more agile and simple technology approach. This is what APEX offers," said Allison Dew, chief marketing officer and executive vice president of Dell Technologies APEX. "With the industry's leading IT portfolio, decades of data center services experience and an unmatched global supply chain and partner network, no other as-a-Service portfolio comes close to our capabilities." Customers want IT that delivers business outcomes and solves top business challenges like scaling IT up or down based on changing needs, getting assets off the balance sheet, or managing underutilized IT resources. With the APEX outcomes-based approach to IT, organizations remove the worry of managing a particular product line, version of a technology or specification. "It's our mission to build the important personal relationships with our patients to support them in achieving a healthy, vibrant life," said Jay Pendergraft, director of Business Computing Services for Magellan Health. "Technology is the lifeblood of our organization and with Dell Technologies APEX, we have better control of the infrastructure that helps us serve our patients faster and more effectively." Introducing Dell Technologies APEX APEX gives organizations the flexibility to choose technology services that best meet their needs. Dell and its partners architect and manage the infrastructure. Organizations can deploy APEX IT resources in 14 days and expand their APEX footprint in as little as five days1. Customers can monitor and manage their APEX offers in one place. "Today's IT leaders are increasingly turning to as-a-Service, and IDC predicts that by 2024, half of data center infrastructure will be consumed as-a-Service," said Matthew Eastwood, senior vice president, IDC. "Dell Technologies APEX is yet another example of Dell's agility when addressing the needs of a transforming marketplace and is in tune with the way customers want to use, consume and simplify IT." APEX Data Storage Services provides a simplified storage-as-a-Service experience APEX Data Storage Services offers enterprise storage from the world's leading provider2 when and where organizations need it. APEX Data Storage Services provides transparent pricing and no overage fees with performance unmatched in the public cloud. With technology deployed on-premises, at customer locations or at colocation facilities, organizations can select three performance tiers of block and file storage to meet their requirements. One- or three-yar subscriptions are available, and capacity starts as low as 50 terabytes and can scale from there.



APEX Cloud Services delivers a consistent cloud experience across public cloud, private cloud and the edge As subsets of APEX Cloud Services, APEX Hybrid Cloud and APEX Private Cloud offer integrated compute storage and networking resources with support for both traditional and cloud-native applications. Customers can easily choose hybrid or private cloud resources designed to meet the needs of critical workloads such as AI and virtual desktop infrastructure.

APEX Cloud Services simplifies and streamlines operations through automated lifecycle management. Once the cloud resources are selected, customers can access the industry's fastest hybrid cloud deployment, which is up to 86% faster than do-it-yourself hybrid cloud3. With secure and consistent infrastructure across private cloud, public cloud and the edge, customers can place workloads in the environment most suited to their needs. Organizations can reduce operational costs and manage overall cloud IT spend through transparent and predictable subscription pricing. APEX Custom Solutions offers the industry's broadest technology portfolio as-a-Service APEX Custom Solutions brings the industry's broadest infrastructure portfolio to customers as-a-Service. APEX Flex On Demand provides Dell Technologies servers, storage, data protection, hyperconverged infrastructure as-a-Service. Customers can select the exact product and services they want and scale their usage of these resources up and down while paying for what they use. APEX Data Center Utility adds an additional level of flexibility through custom metering and managed services applied across their data center. APEX Console provides customers a unified experience The APEX Console provides a self-service, interactive experience where customers manage their entire APEX lifecycle. Customers use the APEX console to identify and subscribe to APEX services that map to their needs and Dell matches the technology and services to deliver the desired outcomes. The APEX Console simplifies IT by providing monitoring and management of APEX services, delivered with actionable insights and predictive analytics. Customers can access usage and spending reports and refine their APEX services to meet the changing needs of their businesses, so they pay for what they need when they need it. Dell Technologies and Equinix extend the reach of APEX to global colocation sites Dell Technologies announces a collaboration with global digital infrastructure company Equinix to broaden the availability of Dell Technologies APEX services through Equinix data centers. Working with Equinix, Dell will offer customers more options to deploy their infrastructure while maintaining control over their data. Dell will manage the infrastructure in an Equinix data center of a customer's choice and will consolidate colocation costs in a single bill. Through the combination of Dell infrastructure and Equinix's global footprint, organizations can deliver the APEX services where they are needed and shift to an OpEx model to pay for the resources they use and deploy. Additional resources Blog: Introducing APEX: As-a-Service Wherever You Need It

Blog: APEX Cloud Services for All Your Essential Workloads

Blog: Reimagine IT Service Delivery with the New APEX Console

Blog: A Radically Simplified Storage Experience - APEX Data Storage Services

Blog: APEX Custom Solutions Enable RelateCare to Deliver Wellness Faster

Blog: Migrating Data in a Multi-Cloud World About Dell Technologies Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) helps organizations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live and play. The company provides customers with the industry's broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio for the data era. About Dell Technologies World

Join us May 5-6 for Dell Technologies World, the company's flagship event that brings together latest emerging trends, technology and gurus. During the event, we will demonstrate to customers and partners the connected ecosystem of IT infrastructure, applications, devices and security. Learn more about the Dell Technologies APEX as-a-Service portfolio that gives customers greater flexibility to scale IT to meet business needs and budgets. Register here. 1TTV measured between order acceptance and activation. Subject to customer credit approval and site qualification, which must be completed before order placement, and customer participation in pre-deployment planning. Product availability, holidays and other factors may impact deployment time. US only. 2IDC WW Quarterly Enterprise Storage Systems Tracker, 2020 Q4 historical release, March 11, 2021. Ranking by vendor revenue. 3Based on a Storage Review report commissioned by Dell Technologies, "The Fast Path to Hybrid Cloud: Dell Technologies Cloud Platform*", March 2021. Actual results may vary. Copyright  2021 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Dell Technologies, Dell, EMC and Dell EMC are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dell-technologies-apex-transforms-how-the-world-consumes-technology-301284561.html SOURCE Dell Technologies

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[May 05, 2021] AOTMP Announces Unique Telecom, Mobility, and IT Management Industry Hackathon

Organizers at AOTMP (www.aotmp.com) have announced the first-of-its-kind industry hackathon. The event will assemble thousands of professionals to solve the greatest challenges in the telecom, mobility & IT management industry in an open innovation forum. Participants will collaborate to formulate viable solutions to evolve the industry and elevate the value and overall positive business impact delivered by industry professionals to organizations worldwide. The AOTMP Industry Hackathon will begin on June 15 and run through October, culminating with event week October 18 - 21 where $100,000 in prizes will be awarded for the best solutions for each challenge. Event highlights include: 10 industry challenges

10 Innovation Leaders

Over 3,000 participants

100's of great ideas

10 challenge winners

1 grand prize winner

$100,000 in prize money The telecom, mobility & IT management industry is approaching $4.3 trillion in annual spending and is supported by more than 10 million business operations professionalsacross the globe. Over the past year, AOTMP engaged members and industry professionals to identify the top 10 industry challenges that demand attention:



Elevating the Value of Telecom, Mobility & IT Departments

Advancing Diversity & Inclusion

Verified AI Sourcing Tool for SMBs

Showcasing Career Opportunities in the Telecom, Mobility & IT Management Industry

Techniques to Accelerate Accessibility

Remote Workforce Engagement

Reshaping Academia-Industry Partnership

Mitigating Regulatory & Legislative Risk

Reducing the Negative Environmental Impact of Technology

Integrating Technology Strategy & Business Strategy Tim Lybrook, AOTMP CEO, says, "It's an honor to be part of an initiative to help advance the industry and bring more value to organizations worldwide. AOTMP is passionate about the untapped opportunities in the industry for individuals, businesses and vendors and this event will help advance those opportunities." Visit AOTMP Hackathon to learn more.

About AOTMP AOTMP, the Association of Telecom, Mobility, and IT Management Professionals, is building a membership organization dedicated to serving the more than 10 million professionals who support the industry around the globe. The association's mission is to bring these professionals together to help advance the industry while bringing more value and impact to their respective organizations. AOTMP supports the industry and its professionals with memberships, training, certifications, events, a management framework and advisory relationships that optimize overall business results. Learn more at www.aotmp.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005020/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Fuze Named A Leader in the 2021 Aragon Research Globe for Video Conferencing

Fuze, the leading cloud-based communications provider for the modern global enterprise, today announced that it has been named a Leader for the third time in the 2021 Aragon Research Globe for Video Conferencing. According to the report, Fuze continues to "push the envelope on ease of use" and build upon its "robust video meeting platform" to "support many unique use cases, such as first line workers."1 "As global businesses continue to digitally transform at a rapid pace, video conferencing has proven to be an essential tool to keep distributed teams connected and engaged," said Rob Scudiere, president and chief operating officer, Fuze. "At Fuze, we recognize the importance of innovation to push the boundaries of video conferencing and meet the ever-evolving needs of our enterprise customers. We believe that this placement in the report from Aragon Research reaffirms our mission to power more efficient and productive communications experiences across the enterprise." In March 2021, Fuze announced a series of enhancements to further expand its meeting experience, including one-click to join functionality across multiple providers, including Zoom, Webex, Microsoft (News - Alert) Teams, GoogleMeet, and GoToMeeting. With this new functionality, Fuze users can launch and join meetings, regardless of the provier, from within the Fuze platform. Fuze has also updated meetings to make collaborating with screen share easier and more effective. The latest meeting updates enable users to expand the viewing area for full screen viewing, personalize the viewing experience with new video layout options, and add and unlock video for complete layout flexibility. In addition, Fuze recently launched Fuze for Manufacturing, the first in a series of vertical market offerings to meet the growing demand for cloud-based communications across industries.



According to the report, authored by Aragon Research lead analyst Jim Lundy, Fuze's identification as a Leader is partly attributed to "its overall capabilities in unified communications and collaboration" and its ability to "meet the needs of small and large enterprises for video meetings and the complete UCC portfolio."2 The Aragon Research Globe graphically depicts a detailed evaluation of a specific market and its component vendors. Aragon Research examined several major providers in the video conferencing market based on its three dimensions of analysis: strategy, performance, and reach. "Leaders" are noted as having comprehensive strategies that align with industry direction and market demand, and perform effectively against those strategies. In April 2020, Fuze was also named a Leader for the fourth consecutive year in the Aragon Research Globe for Unified Communications (News - Alert) and Collaboration report.

The full 2021 Aragon Research Globe for Video Conferencing report can be found here. About Fuze

Fuze is a global cloud communications provider for the enterprise. Our intuitive unified communications and contact center platform enables seamless transition between calling, meeting, chatting, and sharing powered by the industry-leading intelligent cloud architecture. Fuze empowers the digital and distributed workforce to communicate anywhere, anytime, and across any device. Founded in 2006, Fuze is headquartered in Boston, MA with offices around the world. For more information, visit fuze.com. Aragon Research does not endorse vendors, or their products or services that are referenced in its research publications, and does not advise users to select those vendors that are rated the highest. Aragon Research publications consist of the opinions of Aragon Research and Advisory Services organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Aragon Research provides its research publications and the information contained in them "AS IS," without warranty of any kind. 1Aragon Research. The Aragon Research Globe for Video Conferencing, 2021 by Jim Lundy. April 2021.

2Aragon Research. The Aragon Research Globe for Video Conferencing, 2021 by Jim Lundy. April 2021. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005795/en/

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[May 05, 2021] AV-Comparatives Releases Performance Test Report Unveiling the Impact of Security Software on System Performance

INNSBRUCK, Austria, May 5, 2021 /CNW/ -- AV-Comparatives today announced the formal release of its latest performance test results, evaluating the impact of anti-virus software on system performance. This independent testing lab is dedicated to inform users about protection against cybercrime with its systematic testing of the market's most popular security software solutions. The company creates a real-world environment for accurate testing by utilizing one of the largest sample collections worldwide. The products evaluated by AV-Comparatives for its performance test include Avast Free Antivirus, AVG Free Antivirus, Avira Antivirus Pro, Bitdefender Internet Security, ESET Internet Security, G Data Total Security, K7 Total Security, Kaspersky Internet Security, Malwarebytes Premium, McAfee Total Protection, Microsoft Defender, NortonLifeLock Norton 360, Panda Free Antivirus, Total AV Total Security, Total Defense Essential Antivirus, Trend Micro Internet Security, and Vipre Advanced Security. The tests conducted by AV-Comparatives for each of the products include file copying, archiving / unarchiving, installing applications, launching applications, downloading files, browsing websites, and PC Mark 10 Professional Testing Suite. AV-Comparatives carried out its performance test on a low-end machine with an Intel Core i3 CPU, 4GB of RAM and SSD drives and Windows 10 20H2 64-Bit system. The tests were conducted with an active internet connection. Adequate measures were taken to minimize the factors capable of influencing the measurements and/or comparability of the systems. PC Mark 10 Professional performance testing suite was used to measure th system impact during real-world product usage.



According to AV-Comparatives, the reported data provides just an indication and may not be applicable in all circumstances because many factors can play an additional part. It has also been informed that users should always put higher emphasis on protection compared to speed and all tested products were fast enough to reach at least the "Standard" Award or better. Summarizing the test results, AV-Comparatives co-founder Peter Stelzhammer said, "Users should weight the various subtests according to their needs. We applied a scoring system to sum up the various results. Please note that for the file copying and launching applications subtests, we noted separately the results for the first run and for subsequent runs. For the AV-C score, we took the rounded mean values of first and subsequent runs for file copying, whilst for launching applications, we considered only the subsequent runs."

In autumn AV-Comparatives will release its sped-impact test for high-end systems. To access the just published test results from AV-Comparatives, please visit https://www.av-comparatives.org About AV-Comparatives: AV-Comparatives is an independent organisation offering systematic testing to examine the efficacy of security software products and mobile security solutions. Using one of the largest sample collection systems worldwide, it has created a real-world environment for truly accurate testing. AV-Comparatives offers freely accessible results to individuals, news organisations and scientific institutions. Certification by AV-Comparatives provides a globally recognised official seal of approval for software performance. Contact: Peter Stelzhammer, e-mail: media@av-comparatives.org, phone: +43 720115542 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503785/AV_Comparatives.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1503786/AV_Comparatives_chart.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1093032/AV_Comparatives_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/av-comparatives-releases-performance-test-report-unveiling-the-impact-of-security-software-on-system-performance-301284291.html SOURCE AV-Comparatives

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[May 05, 2021] Foxtrot Market Expands Its Culinary Division, Hires Whole Foods Veteran Mitch Madoff As SVP And Tae Strain As Corporate Executive Chef

CHICAGO, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Foxtrot , the first-of-its-kind corner store, cafe and delivery retail market, intensifies its commitment to expanding its private label arm with the addition of two senior hires. Mitch Madoff joins as Senior Vice President of Private Label and Supply Chain, and Tae Strain joins as Corporate Executive Chef. Together, they will chart the next chapter of Foxtrot's private label business across its cafe, prepared foods, shelf stable items and gifting offerings. "Our private label represents the core of what we love at Foxtrot - finding and developing the most delicious products from all corners of the culinary universe, and delivering them right to our customers' doors," said Mike LaVitola, CEO and Co-Founder of Foxtrot. "We're thrilled to welcome Mitch and Chef Tae, who together bring world class culinary talent and passion to our version of convenience. We are excited to set a new standard for what customers can expect out of their local market." Madoff comes to Foxtrot with an expansive knowledge of the private label space, having previously worked at Whole Foods Market for the last 20 years. As Vice President of Exclusive Brands, he managed some of the most well-known and profitable brands for the company. A long-time food industry veteran and a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Madoff brings a culinary eye to his new role which will be leading the growth of the company's private label division, its fastest scaling category. Foxtrot's private label line is designed to bring joy to its customers trough unique packaged foods that range from the whimsical to the nostalgic, including items like colorful gummy snack mixes and an adult version of the Oatmeal Cream Pie, made with bourbon. This summer, with Madoff at the helm, Foxtrot will launch its own line of ice creams, a category that has proven to be a favorite for its customers.



"I've been in the business of private label for a long time, and the way Foxtrot approaches their product creation is unlike any other brand out there," said Mitch Madoff. "It's the mindset and passion for bringing joy to the customer through the product experience that will make them a leader in the retail and convenience space. I'm thrilled to be joining such an innovative and forward-thinking team." As Corporate Executive Chef, Tae Strain will lead the recipe development of private label items and that of "Meals by Foxtrot," a menu of grab-and-go breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack offerings. Chef Tae brings to Foxtrot over 15 years of diverse cooking experience in James Beard award-winning and Michelin recognized restaurants. Most recently, Chef Tae led the resurgence of David Chang's Momofuku CCDC in Washington, D.C., where he concepted a full menu rebrand and secured the restaurant as a top dining destination in the DMV region with a three star review in The Washington Post. Previously, he worked at The Progress restaurant in San Francisco, where he served as Chef De Cuisine when the restaurant was awarded its first Michelin Star.

"What drew me to Foxtrot was their sense of integrity and ambition," said Chef Tae Strain. "They have this incredible energy, and are truly dedicated to creating a unique experience for their guests beyond the status quo of the convenience model. It's rare to see groups in this sector be so invested in evolving their culinary program. I have the utmost respect for the team, and am grateful to bring a new perspective as we define what our food can be." Launched in 2014, Foxtrot combines an upscale corner store and cafe with app-based purchasing that makes its entire inventory available for delivery in under an hour. With eyes towards rapid expansion, the company currently has 12 stores across Chicago, Dallas and Washington, D.C. with plans to open nine more locations by the end of 2021. Customers coast-to-coast can purchase select items from Foxtrot via the company's online Ship Shop . For more information, visit foxtrotco.com . ABOUT FOXTROT

Foxtrot is redefining convenience for the modern consumer, marrying the best of neighborhood retail and e-commerce technology to create a community of discovery. Its spaces offer all the most-loved aspects of neighborhood cafes, and you can turn to the Foxtrot app for 60-minute delivery of a city's best goods  from local beers and fine wines to chef-prepared meals, curated gifts and everyday essentials. Whether at their place or yours, Foxtrot connects people to a better kind of convenience with thoughtful curation, so everyone can feel good about the goods they buy every day.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/foxtrot-market-expands-its-culinary-division-hires-whole-foods-veteran-mitch-madoff-as-svp-and-tae-strain-as-corporate-executive-chef-301284667.html SOURCE Foxtrot Market

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[May 05, 2021] Long-term Health Hazards, Loss of Natural Habitat of Terrestrial, Aquatic Animals due to Rise in Air Pollution Levels drives Growth in Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market, Valuation Projected to surpass US$ 4.7 Bn by 2031, Opines TMR

- The alarming rise in air pollution levels is leading to an unprecedented demand for quality air monitoring, thus boosting the growth opportunities across the air quality monitoring equipment market - Technological advancements and the addition of novel features will further bring extensive growth to the air quality monitoring equipment market between 2021 and 2031 ALBANY, N.Y., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market: Growth Summary Monitoring the air quality has become an essential component for the government bodies of numerous countries for making changes in the structure of the initiatives taken by them in terms of reducing pollution levels. Air pollution is damaging the health of many individuals and the statistics can unfold the intensity of the damage. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 9 out of 10 people breathe polluted air across the globe. The WHO further estimates that nearly 7 mn people die due to exposure to polluted air every year. These statistics highlight the rising need for air quality monitoring. Based on all these factors, the air quality monitoring equipment market will observe a positive growth trajectory across the assessment period of 2021-2031. Air quality monitoring is a long-term and systematic assessment of pollution levels. The quality is measured through the means of different quantities. The equipment used for air quality monitoring is a device used for measuring various types of pollutants along with weather parameters. Robust air monitoring helps in preventing extreme events and also alerts people for getting ready to tackle such events. Therefore, all these advantages bode well for the growth of the air quality monitoring equipment market. Download PDF Brochure  https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=17072 The experts at Transparency Market Research (TMR) have analyzed the various factors associated with the growth of the air quality monitoring equipment market and have projected the market to expand at a CAGR of ~5 percent during the forecast period of 2021-2031. The global air quality monitoring equipment market is extrapolated to surpass US$ 4.7 bn in 2031, the end year of the forecast period. The rapid industrialization and globalization around the world have resulted in an increase in pollution levels to a great extent. This factor has influenced the growth of the air quality monitoring equipment market considerably. The emergence of megacities like Shanghai has further led to a rise in he urbanization levels, which will influence the growth opportunities across the air quality monitoring equipment market to a substantial extent.



Explore 292 pages of superlative research, current market scenario, and extensive geographical projections. Gain insights into the Air Quality Monitoring Equipment Market (Type: Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Equipment and Outdoor Air Quality Monitoring Equipment; Component: Hardware and Services; Gas: Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, Ozone, and Others; and Application: Industrial, Commercial, and Residential) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2021-2031 at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/air-quality-monitoring-equipment-market.html Key Findings of the Report

Integration of Latest Technologies with Air Quality Monitoring Equipment to Sow the Seeds of Growth Modernization of the air quality monitoring equipment market will help in turning the tables of growth during the tenure of 2021-2031. Technologies like the Internet-of-Things (IoT), robotics, and others are helping in improving the features of air quality monitoring equipment and providing accurate data. Smart technologies are rapidly transforming the growth landscape of the air quality monitoring equipment market. Analyze global air quality monitoring equipment market growth in 30+ countries including US, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Russia, Poland, Benelux, Nordic, China, Japan, India, and South Korea. Request a sample of the study The utilization of smart air quality monitoring equipment for real-time monitoring of the pollutants present in the air will help the government bodies to take certain measures for reducing the intensity. These aspects are helping in increasing the growth rate of the air quality monitoring equipment market. Request the Covid-19 Impact Analysis at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=17072 Government Initiatives supporting reducing of Air Pollution Levels will invite Profitable Growth Numerous countries are intensifying their fight against the rising pollution levels through various initiatives. The Indian Government has launched a string of initiatives for tackling pollution levels including the installation of sensors that will provide accurate data on air pollution levels. The Czech Republic has also announced an initiative that will install carbon dioxide monitoring equipment inside street lights in Prague. Such developments will bring immense growth opportunities for the air quality monitoring equipment market. Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the Global Electronics and Semiconductors Industry: Thermoelectric Assemblies Market - In terms of revenue, the global thermoelectric assemblies market is estimated to expand at a ~ CAGR of ~ 8% during the forecast period, owing to numerous factors, regarding which, TMR offers thorough insights and forecasts in its report on the global thermoelectric assemblies market. Mass Spectrometer Market - Growth in pharmaceutical and life science markets, rise in demand for clinical analysis, increase in mergers and acquisitions, and increase in food and beverage testing has influenced the penetration and growth of the mass spectrometer market globally. About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Mr Rohit Bhisey

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[May 05, 2021] Wilson Sonsini Introduces Digital Hub for Emerging Companies Practice Serving the Next Generation of Founders, Entrepreneurs and Venture Capitalists

PALO ALTO, Calif., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- During its 60th year, Wilson Sonsini is proud to continue its legacy supporting entrepreneurship by providing free expertise and resources to help the next generation of entrepreneurs succeed. Wilson Sonsini today launched a new digital hub for its Emerging Companies Practice , providing founders, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists unparalleled access to a wide range of free legal resources and insights. As deal volume, valuations and amounts raised in venture fundings continue to break records , access to these key resources will bolster the firm's efforts to accelerate entrepreneurship for everyone, everywhere. The newly launched site centers around a comprehensive and easy-to-use Knowledge Bank, where Wilson Sonsini Emerging Companies Practice legal experts answer more than 200 of the most pressing and common questions asked by entrepreneurs, start-ups and VCs globally, on everything from formation and financing to IP protection , tax , governance , exits and more. "Helping entrepreneurs thrive is at the heart of everything we do at Wilson Sonsini," said Raj S. Judge , partner at Wilson Sonsini and co-lead of the Emerging Companies Practice. "Whether it's leveraging proprietary technology for efficiency in our practice, providing free resources like those found in our Knowledge Bank, or widening access to the global network of banks and VCs we've built over the past six decades, Wilson Sonsini aims to arm early-stag start-ups with the very best counsel so that they succeed and win."



The Emerging Companies Practice site is just the latest step in Wilson Sonsini's continued mission to leverage technology to make its world-class legal resources accessible. In 2019, Wilson Sonsini introduced technology subsidiary SixFifty , which has developed automation tools to help in-house counsel address ever-changing areas of the law like privacy, return to work, diversity and inclusion, among other areas. More recently, Wilson Sonsini announced an agreement with Morgan Stanley to give the investment bank access to proprietary software the firm created that manages startup finances. As part of its digital transformation strategy, Wilson Sonsini will be rolling out additional technology tools to streamline the delivery of legal services in order to better serve its clients later this year. "Wilson Sonsini is synonymous with Silicon Valley and innovation," said Ursheet Parikh, partner at Mayfield . "From the early days of semiconductors, through personal computers and dot-coms to software-as-a-service, CRISPR, blockchain and beyond, Wilson Sonsini has been a part of the most important technology milestones on record, and continues to do so today in its own right by implementing technology into its practice."

"Wilson Sonsini has always leveraged new technology not only to serve its clients, but the technology community more broadly," said Greg Gottesman, managing director and co-founder of Pioneer Square Labs . "This new website is a great example of Wilson Sonsini continuing to look for innovative ways to help founders." Wilson Sonsini is the leading law firm representing startup companies in Silicon Valley and beyond, having helped the likes of Google, Netflix, and, more recently, Lyft and Roblox, go public. Over the past six decades, Wilson Sonsini has represented more than 100,000 of the most innovative companies on the planet during virtually every technological innovation. The firm's legacy mirrors the evolution of Silicon Valley and is synonymous with ushering promising, innovative companies through their business life cycle. The launch of the Emerging Companies Practice site will provide founders, entrepreneurs and VCs with a centralized hub of necessary tools to build the next generation of emerging technologies - making Wilson Sonsini's years of expertise more accessible to companies, no matter their stage of growth. For more information visit, ecp.wsgr.com . About Wilson Sonsini

For more than 60 years, Wilson Sonsini has offered a broad range of legal services, focused on solving the challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leader in the fields of corporate governance and finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities litigation, employment law, intellectual property, and antitrust, among many other areas of law. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini has offices in Austin; Beijing; Boston; Brussels; Hong Kong; London; Los Angeles; New York; Palo Alto; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; Shanghai; Washington, D.C.; and Wilmington, DE. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com . About The Emerging Companies Practice, Wilson Sonsini

Every entrepreneur starts somewhere. And goes on a journey that can lead them from garage to IPO. At Wilson Sonsini, we have taken over 100,000 start-ups on this journey and we continue that tradition today with over 3,000 of the most innovative companies on the planet. By leveraging innovative, first-of-its-kind technology, we have made six decades of experience, top legal resources, and a global network of banks, industry resources and VCs accessible to early-stage start-ups. Leveraging the firm's wider team of 900 total attorneys in offices across three continents, and professionals conversant in over 37 languages, Wilson Sonsini's Emerging Companies Practice helps start-ups worldwide realize their vision. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wilson-sonsini-introduces-digital-hub-for-emerging-companies-practice-serving-the-next-generation-of-founders-entrepreneurs-and-venture-capitalists-301284682.html SOURCE Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

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[May 05, 2021] Voya strongly supports Securing a Strong Retirement Act

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced today that it supports - and encourages Congress to pass - the Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2021 (SECURE 2.0) bill. Voya believes that the legislation, which builds upon the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act of 2019, could help provide greater access to and further increase retirement plan coverage for individuals. "We are encouraged to see that ensuring all Americans have the resources they need for a successful retirement is a priority among lawmakers, and we strongly urge Congress to advance the SECURE 2.0 legislation forward," said Heather Lavallee, CEO of Wealth Solutions for Voya Financial. "As the impact of COVID-19 created even greater challenges for retirement savings opportunities for both individuals and companies alike, we at Voya are in favor of any program that can help increase opportunities for not only greater retirement savings but also plan access. Our research supports this too as 80% of American workers agree or strongly agree the government should prioritize equal access and opportunities to save for retirement for all Americans in 2021.1" The new legislation would provide many benefits to both individuals and companies by offering further opportunities to support retirement readiness. Among many benefits, some include requiring automatic enrollment in new retirement plans, increasing the current age for required minimum distributions from one's retirement plan, providing higher catch-up contribution limits for individuals of a certain age and permitting open multiple employer plans for 403(b) retirement plans. "As we saw with the overwhelming bipartisan support of SECURE in 2019, this new legislation is something that almost all of us can agree on, and that is the importance of financial security," said Charlie Nelson, vice chairman and chief growth officer, Voya Financial. "At Voya, we are committed to creating a better financial future for all, and we believe this new legislation can help achieve just that. SECURE 2.0 would provide individuals with greater optionality for their retirement savings needs, which is a priority for Voya as we work with employers of all sizes in the U.S. to address Americans' health and wealth needs." As an ndustry leader focused on the delivery of health, wealth and investment solutions to and through the workplace, Voya Financial is committed to delivering on its mission to make a secure financial future possible for all Americans - one person, one family, one institution at a time.



1. Voya Financial survey conducted through Ipsos on the Ipsos eNation omnibus online platform among 1,000 adults aged 18+ (featuring 438 working Americans) in the U.S. Research was conducted Dec. 17-18, 2020. About Voya Financial

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), provides health, wealth and investment solutions that enable its approximately 14.8 million individual, workplace and institutional clients to achieve their financial wellness goals with confidence. With a vision to be America's Retirement Company, Voya's products, solutions and digital capabilities help create a better financial future for all. Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $7.6 billion in revenue in 2020 and $700 billion in total assets under management and administration as of Dec. 31, 2020. Certified as a "Great Place to Work" by the Great Place to Work Institute, Voya is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. Voya has earned recognition as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute; as the No. 1-ranked financial services firm among Barron's 100 Most Sustainable Companies for three consecutive years; as a member of the Bloomberg (News - Alert) Gender Equality Index; and as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion" on the Disability Equality Index. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter (News - Alert) @Voya. About Ipsos Ipsos is the world's third largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people. Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multispecialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. We serve more than 5000 clients across the world with 75 business solutions. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD). ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters (News - Alert) ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP www.ipsos.com. Ipsos is a separate entity and not a corporate affiliate of Voya Financial. VOYA-RET View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005965/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Datatrak International, Inc. Reports First Quarter Results for 2021

CLEVELAND, OH, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Datatrak International, Inc. (OTC Markets: DTRK), (Datatrak or the Company), a worldwide Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) provider and innovation leader of cloud-based technologies for the life sciences industry, today announced its operating results for the first quarter of 2021.

Financial Highlights: Revenue for the first quarter of 2021 was $1,671,000 compared to $1,951,000 for the first quarter of 2020. In spite of the decrease in revenue, Datatrak saw a 14% increase in the number of revenue generating contracts and an 8% increase in the number of customers for the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020. Direct costs remained relatively flat at $495,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $491,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Companys gross profit margin was 70% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to 75% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. SG&A expenses decreased to $1,284,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $1,394,000 the three months ended March 31, 2020. The decrease in SG&A expenses was driven by the level of software development capitalization, including work on the newest product, Datatrak Direct, which was released in April 2021. Travel costs also decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, consulting and legal costs increased for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020 due to various corporate initiatives. Depreciation and amortization were $2,000 and $4,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As a result of the items discussed, Datatrak had a loss from operations of ($110,000) for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to income from operations of $62,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. After other income of $121,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, which included an unrealized gain on marketable securities of $115,000, and other income of $4,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Companys net income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 was $11,000 and $66,000, respectively. Datatraks backlog at March 31, 2021 was $13.3 million compared to a backlog of $13.7 million at December 31, 2020. Backlog consists of future value from authorization letters to commence services, statements of work, technology and services agreements, change orders and other customer contracts, billed and unbilled. All contracts are subject to possible delays or cancellation or can change in scope in a positive or negative direction. Therefore, current backlog is not necessarily indicative of the Companys future quarterly or annual revenue. Historically, backlog has not always been an accurate predictor of the Companys short-term revenue. On March 26, 2021, Datatrak entered into a revolving line of credit (2021 Line of Credit) with KeyBank National Association. The 2021 Line of Credit provides for draws when requested by the Company of up to $750,000 to be used for business operations. Interest will accrue monthly on any outstanding balance at a rate equal to the 1-Month LIBOR, subject to a .50% floor, plus 2.25% or KeyBanks Prime Rate plus 0.25%, subject to a 3% floor. The maturity date of the 2021 Line of Credit is March 31, 2022. The Company made a draw on the 2021 Line of Credit totaling $175,000 on May 3, 2021. On April 14, 2021, Datatrak received notification from KeyBank National Association that its PPP loan, which was received in April 2020, was approved by the SBA for forgiveness in full. As this is a subsequent event to the financial statement date of March 31, 2021, the effects of the PPP loan forgiveness will be reflected in the financial statements for the second quarter of 2021. The Company continues to monitor state and federal guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and will modify business operations as needed to comply with these guidelines for the safety of its employees and customers. Despite the recovery the Company is seeing, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and the recovery could be slowed or reversed by a number of factors, including a widespread resurgence in COVID-19 infections, whether due to the spread of variants of the virus (some of which are more transmissible than the initial strain) or otherwise, the availability and rate of vaccinations, and the rate in which state and local governments are re-opening businesses or, in certain jurisdictions, reversing re-opening decisions. As such, the Company cannot provide any assurance that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will not have an adverse effect on its business or results of operations going forward. In addition, as long as the COVID-19 pandemic remains a public health threat, global economic conditions will continue to be volatile depending on several factors, including new information concerning the severity of the pandemic, government actions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic in the near-term, and the resulting impact on our clients spending plans, any of which could potentially materially impact the Company. While we expect the availability of vaccines and various treatments with respect to COVID-19 to have an overall positive impact on business conditions in the aggregate over time, we cannot currently predict the timing and broad availability of such treatments or vaccines and vaccination rates. We will continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and will respond accordingly. Executive Highlights: Over the past year, many organizations have come to the realization that the process of administrating clinical trials has changed and they must adapt to this new reality of decentralized trials. As a result, a spotlight has been put on advanced technology to help trials proceed in this pandemic and post-pandemic environment. With studies moving towards virtual, during 2020 Datatrak directed our teams energy and focus on powerful products that would enter the market this year. Even before COVID-19 pandemic struck the life science industry, Datatrak has been paying close attention to what is going on behind the scenes of clinical trials and noticed a rising need for a solution that is flexible. Our team has been hard at work over the last year and proudly launched Datatrak Direct, a smart app for ePRO and eConsent, last month, said Jim Bob Ward, CEO at Datatrak. This product allows patients to enter data on the device of their choice, empowering patient engagement along with ensured accuracy, which enhances the overall success and longevity of todays trials. Scott DeMell, VP of Sales at Datatrak, continued, At Datatrak we are determined to continuously supply clients with cutting-edge, innovative eClinical solutions for accelerated positive trial outcomes. We believe that our new product offerings provide the adaptability to overcome the evolving clinical trial environment and reach their study goals efficiently. Join Datatrak thought leaders: Twitter

LinkedIn

Datatrak Resources Tweet: Datatrak Reports First Quarter Results for 2021 See the Earnings Release on Datatraks website: < href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=OM3pcmYdfKriLysfytFTTecTkXNd4S5Gy08csT7fGy6dHayuK9HmMUGJF7ZpvDGhGp9y8WVFR5arPXIFgGRz9xYG4ZAu8VEabVWpSxP3LjQ=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> https://bit.ly/2PScBcx



AboutDatatrakInternational, Inc. Datatrak International, Inc. is a software-as-a-service provider of enterprise cloud-based technologies for the life sciences industry. Datatraks unified eClinical solutions and related services help improve cost and time efficiencies for the clinical trials industry. Datatrak built its multi-component, comprehensive solution on a single, unified platform and expanded this concept to include services delivery via Datatraks Clinical and Consulting Services group. The Company delivers a complete portfolio of software products designed to accelerate the reporting of clinical research data from sites to sponsors and ultimately regulatory authorities, faster and more efficiently than loosely integrated technologies. The Datatrak Enterprise Cloud software solution, deployed worldwide through an ASP or Enterprise Transfer offering, supports Preclinical and Phase I - Phase IV drug and device studies in multiple languages throughout the world. Datatrak is located in Cleveland, Ohio, and College Station, Texas. For more information, visit http://www.datatrak.com .

Except for the historical information contained in this press release, the statements made in this release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements

are made based on managements expectations, assumptions, estimates and current beliefs concerning the operations, future results and prospects of the Company and are subject to uncertainties and factors which are difficult to predict and, in many instances, are beyond the control of the Company, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that management anticipates will occur in the future, including statements related to future revenue, profits, the impact of COVID-19, expenses, cost reductions, cash management alternatives and working capital requirements, release or success of new products, market share, strategic alternatives, raising additional funds, income and earnings per share or statements expressing general opinion about future results, are forward-looking statements. For a list of certain factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward looking statements, please see the Companys report filed with the OTC Markets on March 26, 2021 announcing its results for the full-year period ended December 31, 2020 and subsequent filings with the OTC Markets. Many such factors have been, and may further be, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contacts:

Sales: Scott DeMell

Scott.DeMell@datatrak.com Employment Opportunities: Laura Stuebbe

Laura.Stuebbe@datatrak.com Shareholders: Alex Tabatabai

investor@datatrak.com Datatrak International, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data

(Unaudited and Not Reviewed) March 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 Cash and cash equivalents $2,778,124 $2,634,490 Marketable securities 825,417 10,232 Certificate of deposit 125,110 125,095 Accounts receivable, net 600,483 1,836,321 Operating right-of-use asset, net 1,449,143 1,532,066 Property & equipment, net 1,726,018 1,646,768 Other 347,207 443,193 Total assets $7,851,502 $8,228,165 Accounts payable and other current liabilities $1,551,610 $1,595,485 Deferred revenue 3,018,412 3,323,796 Other long-term liabilities 1,943,356 2,047,172 Shareholders equity 1,338,124 1,261,712 Total liabilities and shareholders equity $7,851,502 $8,228,165





Datatrak International, Inc. and Subsidiaries



Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income



(Unaudited and Not Reviewed) For the 3 Months Ended March 31, 2021 2020 Revenue $1,671,108 $1,950,666 Direct costs 495,015 491,206 Gross profit 1,176,093 1,459,460 Selling, general and administrative expenses 1,284,332 1,393,692 Depreciation and amortization 1,645 4,015 (Loss) income from operations (109,884) 61,753 Interest income 15 4,821 Interest expense 5,877 (346) Gain (loss) on marketable securities 115,215 (688) Net income before tax provision $ 11,223 $ 65,540 Tax provision   Net income $ 11,223 $ 65,540 Net income per share: Net income per share, basic $ 0.00 $ 0.03 Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic 2,407,394 2,358,667 Net income per share, diluted $ 0.00 $ 0.03 Weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted 2,430,071 2,387,749



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[May 05, 2021] WIRELESS TELECOM GROUP ANNOUNCES 1st QUARTER 2021 FINANCIAL RESULTS WILL BE RELEASED MAY 13, 2021

Parsippany, New Jersey, USA, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wireless Telecom Group, Inc. (NYSE American: WTT), a leader in wireless communications and radio frequency instrumentation, announced it will release its 1st quarter financial results on Thursday, May 13, 2021, before the market opens.

The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 8:30 am EDT in which management will discuss 1st quarter financial results. To participate in the conference call, dial 800-346-7359 or 973-528-0008. The conference identification number is 610542. The call will also be webcast over the internet at the following URL:https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1690/41268 A replay will be made available on the Wireless Telecom website following the conference all.



- END - About Wireless Telecom Group

Wireless Telecom Group, Inc., comprised of Boonton, CommAgility, Holzworth, Microlab, and Noisecom, is a global designer and manufacturer of advanced RF and microwave components, modules, systems, and instruments. Serving the wireless, telecommunication, satellite, military, aerospace, semiconductor, and medical industries, Wireless Telecom Group products enable innovation across existing and emerging wireless technologies. With a product portfolio including peak power meters, signal generators, phase noise analyzers, signal processing modules, LTE PHY/stack software, power splitters and combiners, GPS repeaters, public safety components, noise sources, and programmable noise generators, Wireless Telecom Group supports the development, testing, and deployment of wireless technologies around the globe. Wireless Telecom Group is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, in the New York City metropolitan area, and maintains a global network of Sales and Service offices for excellent product service and support. Wireless Telecom Groups website address is http://www.wirelesstelecomgroup.com.

Contact

Michael Kandell: +1 (973) 386-9696

SM Berger:+1 (216)-464-6400 Wireless Telecom Group Inc.

25 Eastmans Road

Parsippany, NJ 07054

Tel: (973) 386-9696

Fax: (973) 386-9191

www.wirelessteleco m group.com



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[May 05, 2021] GoDaddy Reports First Quarter 2021 Earnings Results

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE: GDDY), the company that empowers everyday entrepreneurs, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. GoDaddy also announced that Mark McCaffrey will be joining the company as its new Chief Financial Officer and Michele Lau will be joining as its new Chief Legal Officer. "We're thrilled to report such a great start to what we believe will be a fantastic year for GoDaddy and our customers," said GoDaddy CEO Aman Bhutani. "Our teams are moving faster than ever to deliver seamlessly intuitive products and experiences for Everyday Entrepreneurs, and we're committed to bringing the right products, people, and strategy ensuring we continually provide more and more value to our customers." "We reported our first $1 billion bookings quarter on strong demand as we invest to grow and scale the business. The strategy articulated a year ago is working, driving four quarters of accelerating growth and meaningful upside to our estimates," said GoDaddy CFO Ray Winborne. "And our focus on prudent capital allocation is unwavering, as proven by four recently announced acquisitions and repurchasing 2% of our outstanding shares at attractive prices." "Over the past 25 years I have worked with Mark McCaffrey in multiple CFO and board roles. He has had a stellar career at PwC, including playing a critical role in the business model transformation at Adobe. His experiences will translate well into his new role at GoDaddy," said GoDaddy Board Director, Mark Garrett. "I'm excited to have him on the team and looking forward to working with him again." Consolidated First Quarter Financial Highlights









Three Months Ended March 31,

2021

2020

Change













(in millions) GAAP Results









Revenue $ 901.1



$ 792.0



13.8 % Net cash provided by operating activities $ 221.3



$ 233.3



(5.1) % Net income $ 10.8



$ 43.2



NM Non-GAAP Results









Unlevered free cash flow $ 268.3



$ 234.5



14.4 % Operating Metric









Total bookings $ 1,088.7



$ 951.1



14.5 %

Total revenue of $901.1 million , up 13.8% year over year, or 13.4% on a constant currency basis.

, up 13.8% year over year, or 13.4% on a constant currency basis. Total bookings of $1,088.7 million , up 14.5% year over year, or 13.5% on a constant currency basis.

, up 14.5% year over year, or 13.5% on a constant currency basis. Net cash provided by operating activities of $221.3 million , down 5.1% year over year.

, down 5.1% year over year. Unlevered free cash flow of $268.3 million , up 14.4% year over year.

, up 14.4% year over year. Domains revenue of $422.7 million , up 18.8% year over year.

, up 18.8% year over year. Hosting and presence revenue of $310.3 million , up 4.4% year over year.

, up 4.4% year over year. Business applications revenue of $168.1 million , up 21.0% year over year.

, up 21.0% year over year. International revenue of $303.1 million , up 15.5% year over year, or 14.4% on a constant currency basis. Business Highlights Year-to-date through May 5 , GoDaddy repurchased 3.5 million shares of its Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $275.8 million for an average price per share of $78.81 . These repurchases represent an approximately 2% reduction in fully diluted shares outstanding. The Board of Directors also approved an incremental $775 million share repurchase authorization, bringing the total repurchase capacity to $1 billion .

, GoDaddy repurchased 3.5 million shares of its Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price of for an average price per share of . These repurchases represent an approximately 2% reduction in fully diluted shares outstanding. The Board of Directors also approved an incremental share repurchase authorization, bringing the total repurchase capacity to . GoDaddy launched payments within its WooCommerce plugin for WordPress, the largest content management system in the world.

In April, GoDaddy launched Facebook Boosted Posts, empowering GoDaddy customers to create and manage simple advertising campaigns on Facebook from within Websites + Marketing.

Websites + Marketing, GoDaddy's suite of online presence solutions, now empowers GoDaddy customers to create, edit, post, and engage on Instagram directly within their Websites + Marketing dashboard.

GoDaddy launched Online Appointments Social Composer, helping GoDaddy's service-based customers market their services and drive appointment bookings on their website through social media channels.

GoDaddy released Action Plan, embedding guidance directly in the Websites + Marketing editor which leverages data from millions of websites to provide GoDaddy customers with their next best action.

GoDaddy launched a plugin bundle expansion for its Managed WordPress e-Commerce customers, featuring free access to a library of over 75 premium WooCommerce extensions giving web designers and developers (Pros) greater flexibility and infinite possibility to create fully featured and customized WooCommerce stores for their clients and increasing the value of GoDaddy's plugins to the Pro community.

GoDaddy hosted Expand 2021, its first ever conference for web designers and developers, bringing the community together to share ideas and experiences, make connections and support each other. Thousands of Pros registered and shared positive feedback from the virtual event, helping GoDaddy deliver on its commitment to unlock the power of its Pro community and help Pro customers upskill and drive their own success.

In April 2021 , GoDaddy acquired Re:amaze giving small businesses the ability to communicate with customers across email, text, online chat, social media, voice and video conversations in one shared inbox. With automated bot support and one-click access to live support, Re:amaze gives small businesses the tools to have meaningful, real-time conversations with customers, whenever and wherever they want to engage.

, GoDaddy acquired Re:amaze giving small businesses the ability to communicate with customers across email, text, online chat, social media, voice and video conversations in one shared inbox. With automated bot support and one-click access to live support, Re:amaze gives small businesses the tools to have meaningful, real-time conversations with customers, whenever and wherever they want to engage. GoDaddy Registry announced that it is acquiring the .club and .design domain extensions, as well as 28 domain extensions and certain other business assets owned and operated by Minds + Machines Group Limited (MMX), further enhancing GoDaddy's strength and offerings in the domains space.

In February 2021 , GoDaddy issued $800 million unsecured senior notes in a private placement offering with the proceeds retained for general corporate purposes. The senior notes were issued at par and bear interest at 3.5%, maturing on March 1, 2029 . Balance Sheet At March 31, 2021, total cash and cash equivalents were $1,293.1 million, total debt was $3,945.5 million and net debt was $2,652.4 million. Share Repurchase Authorization GoDaddy today announces that its Board of Directors has approved an incremental $775 million share repurchase authorization, bringing the total repurchase capacity to $1 billion. GoDaddy may purchase shares of its Class A common stock from time to time in open market purchases, block transactions and privately negotiated transactions, in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. The program has no time limit and may be modified, suspended or terminated by the company at any time without prior notice. The amount and timing of repurchases are subject to a variety of factors including liquidity, share price, market conditions, and legal requirements. Share repurchases will be funded by available cash and cash equivalents. Business Outlook For the second quarter ending June 30, 2021, GoDaddy expects revenue of approximately $920 million, or approximately 14% year over year growth. Revenue growth by category is expected to approximate high-teens growth in Domains, and Business Applications with high-single-digit growth in Hosting and Presence. GoDaddy raised its full year revenue expectations by $45 million to $3.745 billion, representing approximately 13% year over year growth. Revenue growth by category is expected to approximate double-digit growth in Domains, high-single-digit growth in Hosting and Presence, and high-teens growth in Business Applications. For the full year, GoDaddy raised its unlevered free cash flow expectation to approximately $955 million, representing full year growth of 16% versus 2020. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). We do not provide reconciliations from non-GAAP guidance to GAAP, because projections of changes in individual balance sheet amounts are not possible without unreasonable effort, and presentation of such reconciliations would imply an inappropriate degree of precision. Our reported results provide reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest GAAP equivalents. Quarterly Conference Call and Webcast GoDaddy will host a conference call and webcast to discuss first quarter 2021 results at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 5, 2021. To hear the call, please pre-register online at https://investors.godaddy.net/investor-relations/overview/default.aspx for webcast information. A live webcast of the call, together with a slide presentation including supplemental financial information and reconciliations of certain non-GAAP measures to their nearest comparable GAAP measures, will be available through GoDaddy's Investor Relations website at https://investors.godaddy.net. A transcript of pre-recorded remarks will be available on the Investor Relations website at the time of the earnings call. Following the call, a recorded replay of the webcast will be available on the website. GoDaddy Inc. uses its Investor Relations website at https://investors.godaddy.net as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor GoDaddy's Investor Relations website, in addition to following press releases, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, public conference calls and webcasts. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on estimates and information available to us at the time of this press release and are not guarantees of future performance. Statements in this release involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If the risks or uncertainties materialize or the assumptions prove incorrect, our results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: launches of new or expansion of existing products or services, any projections of product or service availability, technology developments and innovation, customer growth, or other future events; any statements about historical results that may suggest future trends for our business; any statements regarding our plans, strategies or objectives with respect to future operations, including international expansion plans, partner integrations and marketing strategy; any statements regarding future financial results; statements concerning GoDaddy's ability to integrate its acquisitions and achieve desired synergies and vertical integration; changes to executive leadership; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Actual results could differ materially from our current expectations as a result of many factors, including, but not limited to: the unpredictable nature of our rapidly evolving market; fluctuations in our financial and operating results; our rate of growth; interruptions or delays in our service or our web hosting; breaches of our security measures; the impact of any previous or future acquisitions; our ability to continue to release, and gain customer acceptance of, our existing and future products and services; our ability to manage our growth; our ability to hire, retain and motivate employees; the effects of competition; technological, regulatory and legal developments; intellectual property litigation; developments in the economy, financial markets and credit markets, including as a result of COVID-19; and execution of share repurchases. Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect GoDaddy's financial results are included in the other filings we make with the SEC from time to time, including those described in "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is available on GoDaddy's website at https://investors.godaddy.net and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Additional information will also be set forth in other filings that GoDaddy makes with the SEC from time to time. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to GoDaddy as of the date hereof. GoDaddy does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Operating Metrics In addition to our results determined in accordance with GAAP, this release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures and other operating metrics. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures and other operating metrics are useful as a supplement in evaluating our ongoing operational performance and enhancing an overall understanding of our past financial performance. The non-GAAP financial measures included in this release should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation between each non-GAAP financial measure and its nearest GAAP equivalent is included in this release following the financial statements. We use both GAAP and non-GAAP measures to evaluate and manage our operations. Total bookings. Total bookings represents cash receipts from the sale of products to customers in a given period adjusted for products where we recognize revenue on a net basis and without giving effect to certain adjustments, primarily net refunds granted in the period. Total bookings provides valuable insight into the sales of our products and the performance of our business since we typically collect payment at the time of sale and recognize revenue ratably over the term of our customer contracts. We report total bookings without giving effect to refunds granted in the period because refunds often occur in periods different from the period of sale for reasons unrelated to the marketing efforts leading to the initial sale. Accordingly, by excluding net refunds, we believe total bookings reflects the effectiveness of our sales efforts in a given period. Unlevered Free Cash Flow. Unlevered free cash flow is a measure of our liquidity used by management to evaluate our business prior to the impact of our capital structure and restructuring and after purchases of property and equipment. Such liquidity can be used by us for strategic opportunities and strengthening our balance sheet. However, given our debt obligations, unlevered free cash flow does not represent residual cash flow available for discretionary expenses. Net Debt. We define net debt as total debt less cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. Total debt consists of the current portion of long-term debt plus long-term debt and unamortized original issue discount and debt issuance costs. Our management reviews net debt as part of its management of our overall liquidity, financial flexibility, capital structure and leverage and we believe such information is useful to investors. Furthermore, certain analysts and debt rating agencies monitor our net debt as part of their assessments of our business. Gross Merchandise Volume (GMV). GMV is an operating metric and represents the total dollar value of orders facilitated by our customers through the Websites + Marketing and Sellbrite platforms, including shipping and handling, and taxes, and is shown net of discounts, and returns (where visibility exists). While GMV is not indicative of our performance, we believe it is helpful to illustrate the volume of commerce facilitated by our products. About GoDaddy GoDaddy is empowering everyday entrepreneurs around the world by providing all of the help and tools to succeed online. GoDaddy is the place people come to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services and manage their work. Our mission is to give our customers the tools, insights and the people to transform their ideas and personal initiative into success. To learn more about the company visit www.GoDaddy.com. GoDaddy Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) (In millions, except shares in thousands and per share amounts)



Three Months Ended March 31,

2021

2020 Revenue:





Domains $ 422.7



$ 355.9

Hosting and presence 310.3



297.2

Business applications 168.1



138.9

Total revenue 901.1



792.0

Costs and operating expenses(1)(2)





Cost of revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization) 321.2



277.1

Technology and development 186.4



134.5

Marketing and advertising 132.7



93.1

Customer care 78.6



85.2

General and administrative 95.2



85.5

Depreciation and amortization 49.0



52.2

Total costs and operating expenses 863.1



727.6

Operating income 38.0



64.4

Interest expense (28.7)



(21.2)

Other income (expense), net 0.7



(1.4)

Income before income taxes 10.0



41.8

Benefit for income taxes 0.8



1.4

Net income 10.8



43.2

Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests 



0.3

Net income attributable to GoDaddy Inc. $ 10.8



$ 42.9

Net income attributable to GoDaddy Inc. per share of Class A common stock:





Basic $ 0.06



$ 0.25

Diluted $ 0.06



$ 0.24

Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding:





Basic 169,435



173,113

Diluted 173,053



177,857

___________________________





(1) Costs and operating expenses include equity-based compensation expense as follows: Cost of revenue $ 0.2



$ 0.1

Technology and development 27.0



21.1

Marketing and advertising 6.2



4.6

Customer care 3.0



2.6

General and administrative 16.2



17.0

Total equity-based compensation expense $ 52.6



$ 45.4









(2) Costs and operating expenses include acquisition-related costs as follows: Technology and development $ 29.2



$ 1.5

Customer care 1.4



0.1

General and administrative 16.3



8.3

Total acquisition-related costs $ 46.9



$ 9.9



GoDaddy Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) (In millions, except per share amounts)



March 31,

December 31,

2021

2020 Assets





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,293.1



$ 765.2

Accounts and other receivables 48.3



41.8

Registry deposits 28.9



31.1

Prepaid domain name registry fees 413.8



392.4

Prepaid expenses and other current assets 107.6



60.8

Total current assets 1,891.7



1,291.3

Property and equipment, net 246.5



257.3

Operating lease assets 134.1



142.0

Prepaid domain name registry fees, net of current portion 183.2



176.1

Goodwill 3,496.2



3,275.1

Intangible assets, net 1,262.6



1,255.1

Other assets 45.0



36.0

Total assets $ 7,259.3



$ 6,432.9

Liabilities and stockholders' deficit





Current liabilities:





Accounts payable $ 70.5



$ 51.0

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 494.2



527.6

Deferred revenue 1,806.2



1,711.3

Long-term debt 24.1



24.3

Total current liabilities 2,395.0



2,314.2

Deferred revenue, net of current portion 762.3



725.1

Long-term debt, net of current portion 3,874.9



3,090.1

Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion 160.0



166.7

Other long-term liabilities 55.5



56.6

Deferred tax liabilities 82.6



92.0

Commitments and contingencies





Stockholders' deficit:





Preferred stock, $0.001 par value 





Class A common stock, $0.001 par value 0.2



0.2

Class B common stock, $0.001 par value 





Additional paid-in capital 1,373.4



1,308.8

Accumulated deficit (1,375.2)



(1,190.9)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (71.2)



(131.0)

Total stockholders' deficit attributable to GoDaddy Inc. (72.8)



(12.9)

Non-controlling interests 1.8



1.1

Total stockholders' deficit (71.0)



(11.8)

Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit $ 7,259.3



$ 6,432.9

GoDaddy Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) (In millions)



Three Months Ended March 31,

2021

2020 Operating activities





Net income $ 10.8



$ 43.2

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:





Depreciation and amortization 49.0



52.2

Equity-based compensation expense 52.6



45.4

Other 6.4



7.1

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of amounts acquired:





Registry deposits 2.1



5.4

Prepaid domain name registry fees (28.3)



(12.6)

Deferred revenue 127.1



96.5

Other operating assets and liabilities 1.6



(3.9)

Net cash provided by operating activities 221.3



233.3

Investing activities





Maturities of short-term investments 



23.7

Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired (298.5)



(146.4)

Purchases of property and equipment (9.0)



(13.5)

Other investing activities 1.0



0.3

Net cash used in investing activities (306.5)



(135.9)

Financing activities





Proceeds received from:





Issuance of senior notes 800.0





Stock option exercises 11.6



15.3

Payments made for:





Repurchases of Class A common stock (180.1)



(315.7)

Repayment of term loans (8.1)



(6.2)

Other financing obligations (9.7)



(0.7)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 613.7



(307.3)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (0.6)



(1.5)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 527.9



(211.4)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 765.2



1,062.8

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 1,293.1



$ 851.4



Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Operating Metric The following tables reconcile each non-GAAP financial measure and other operating metric to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure:

Three Months Ended March 31,

2021

2020









(in millions) Total bookings:





Total revenue $ 901.1



$ 792.0

Change in deferred revenue 122.7



96.3

Net refunds 62.1



63.3

Other 2.8



(0.5)

Total bookings $ 1,088.7



$ 951.1





Three Months Ended March 31,

2021

2020









(in millions) Unlevered Free Cash Flow:





Net cash provided by operating activities $ 221.3



$ 233.3

Cash paid for interest on long-term debt 15.0



11.2

Cash paid for acquisition-related costs(1) 38.7



3.5

Capital expenditures (9.0)



(13.5)

Cash paid for restructuring charges(2) 2.3





Unlevered free cash flow $ 268.3



$ 234.5

_______________________________ (1) Includes $29.4 million in compensatory payments expensed in connection with our February 2021 acquisition of Poynt. (2) Includes lease payments related to our Austin facility, which was closed in connection with the June 2020 restructuring. The following table provides a reconciliation of net debt:

March 31, 2021





(in millions) Net Debt:

Current portion of long-term debt $ 24.1

Long-term debt 3,874.9

Unamortized original issue discount and debt issuance costs 46.5

Total debt 3,945.5

Less: cash and cash equivalents (1,293.1)

Net debt $ 2,652.4

Shares Outstanding Shares of Class B common stock do not share in our earnings and are not participating securities. Total shares of common stock outstanding are as follows:

March 31,

2021

2020









(in thousands) Shares Outstanding:





Class A common stock 168,445



167,627

Class B common stock 479



1,286

Total common stock outstanding 168,924



168,913

Effect of dilutive securities(1) 3,034



3,384



171,958



172,297

_______________________________ (1) Calculated using the treasury stock method, which excludes the impact of antidilutive securities. Source: GoDaddy Inc.  2021 GoDaddy Inc. All Rights Reserved. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/godaddy-reports-first-quarter-2021-earnings-results-301284789.html SOURCE GoDaddy Inc.

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[May 05, 2021] Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc. (NYSE: CLNC) ("Colony Credit Real Estate" or the "Company") today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 and certain updates. The Company reported first quarter 2021 GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders of $(92.3) million, or $(0.71) per share, and Distributable Earnings of $13.8 million, or $0.10 per share. Excluding realized gains and losses on sales and fair value adjustments, Adjusted Distributable Earnings were $18.0 million, or $0.14 per share. The Company reported GAAP net book value of $11.98 per share and undepreciated book value of $12.84 per share as of March 31, 2021. Michael J. Mazzei, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, "The internalization closing caps off a productive period for the team focused on stabilizing the balance sheet, unwinding the legacy, non-strategic segment and improving the Company's positioning and financial flexibility for the long haul. The internalization of management and operations provides an annual cost savings of $14 million to $16 million or 10 to 12 cents per share. This also streamlines governance and fully aligns CLNC employees and shareholders." Mr. Mazzei continued, "After reinstituting our dividend last quarter, I am pleased to announce that we have increased our second quarter dividend now by 40% to $0.14 per share as a result of the internalization and new origination activity. Since re-engaging on new transactions, we have closed or committed on $1 billion in senior loans." Supplemental Financial Report A First Quarter 2021 Supplemental Financial Report is available on the Shareholders - Events and Presentations section of the Company's website at www.clncredit.com. This information will be furnished to the SEC (News - Alert) in a Current Report on Form 8-K. We refer to "Distributable Earnings," which is a non-GAAP financial measure, in this release. A reconciliation to net income/(loss) attributable to Colony Credit Real Estate, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, is included in our full detailed First Quarter 2021 Supplemental Financial Report and is available on our website at www.clncredit.com. First Quarter 2021 Conference Call The Company will conduct a conference call to discuss the financial results on May 5, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET. To participate in the event by telephone, please dial (877) 407-0784 ten minutes prior to the start time (to allow time for registration). International callers should dial (201) 689-8560. The call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed on the Shareholders section of the Company's website at www.clncredit.com. A webcast of the call will be available for 90 days on the Company's website. For those unable to participate during the live call, a replay will be available startng May 5, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. ET, through May 12, 2021, at 8:59 p.m. PT / 11:59 p.m. ET. To access the replay, dial (844) 512-2921 (U.S.), and use conference ID code 13718005. International callers should dial (412) 317-6671 and enter the same conference ID number.



Dividend Announcement On May 5, 2021, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per share to holders of Class A common stock for the second quarter of 2021, which will be paid on July 15, 2021, to common stockholders of record on June 30, 2021.

Previously, on February 24, 2021, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share to holders of Class A common stock for the first quarter of 2021, which was paid on April 15, 2021, to common stockholders of record on March 31, 2021. About Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc. Colony Credit Real Estate (NYSE: CLNC) is one of the largest publicly traded commercial real estate (CRE) credit REITs, focused on originating, acquiring, financing and managing a diversified portfolio consisting primarily of CRE debt investments and net leased properties predominantly in the United States. CRE debt investments primarily consist of first mortgage loans, which we expect to be the primary investment strategy. Colony Credit Real Estate is organized as a Maryland corporation and taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For additional information regarding the Company and its management and business, please refer to www.clncredit.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," or "potential" or the negative of these words and phrases or similar words or phrases which are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to historical matters. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, and may cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Among others, the following uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: operating costs and business disruption may be greater than expected; uncertainties regarding the ongoing impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and its adverse impact on the real estate market, the economy and the Company's investments (including, but not limited to, the Los Angeles mixed-use development loan, other hospitality loans, and Dublin development financings), financial condition and business operation; defaults by borrowers in paying debt service on outstanding indebtedness and borrowers' abilities to manage and stabilize properties; deterioration in the performance of the properties securing our investments (including depletion of interest and other reserves or payment-in-kind concessions in lieu of current interest payment obligations) that may cause deterioration in the performance of our investments and, potentially, principal losses to us; the Company's operating results may differ materially from the information presented in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, as well as in Colony Credit Real Estate's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; the fair value of the Company's investments may be subject to uncertainties; the Company's use of leverage could hinder its ability to make distributions and may significantly impact its liquidity position; the ability to realize substantial efficiencies as well as anticipated strategic and financial benefits, including, but not limited to expected cost savings through the internalization or expected returns on equity and/or yields on investments; adverse impacts on the Company's corporate revolver, including covenant compliance and borrowing base capacity; adverse impacts on the Company's liquidity, including margin calls on master repurchase facilities, debt service or lease payment defaults or deferrals, demands for protective advances and capital expenditures; the timing of and ability to deploy available capital; whether the Company will achieve its anticipated 2021 Distributable Earnings per share (as adjusted), or maintain or produce higher Distributable Earnings per share (as adjusted) in the near term or ever; the Company's ability to maintain or grow the dividend at all in the future; the ability of the Company to refinance certain mortgage debt on similar terms to those currently existing or at all; and the impact of legislative, regulatory and competitive changes, and the actions of government authorities and in particular those affecting the commercial real estate finance and mortgage industry or our business. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information about these and other factors can be found in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, as well as in Colony Credit Real Estate's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Moreover, each of the factors referenced above are likely to also be impacted directly or indirectly by the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and investors are cautioned to interpret substantially all of such statements and risks as being heightened as a result of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19. We caution investors not to unduly rely on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Colony Credit Real Estate is under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, nor to conform prior statements to actual results or revised expectations, and Colony Credit Real Estate does not intend to do so. We caution investors not to unduly rely on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Colony Credit Real Estate is under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, nor to conform prior statements to actual results or revised expectations, and Colony Credit Real Estate does not intend to do so. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005330/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Jon Zacharias' Newest Guide Tackles Google Ratings

LOS ANGELES, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In his newest informational post, digital marketing expert Jon Zacharias explains the importance of elevating your Google Ratings. With more web traffic than ever being driven through Google's search algorithm, it's never been more important to work to establish your brand name within it, helping you gain eyes simply through search. This is an effective strategy that can save money compared to simply buying ad space among search results, but can be hard to approach if you don't know what you're doing. So, where do you begin? Jon Zarcharias has years of experience in digital marketing, including co-founding online advertising agency GR0 , which specializes in Search Engine Optimization, or SEO. According to Internet Live Stats , Google processes over 3.5 billion searches every day, which is an unthinkable amount of information compared to traditional methods like books or libraries. To sift through all this information, Google is built upon an algorithm that works to filter for the best results based on keywords used, your geographic location, your search history, and other things it might know about you from your web usage. These all function to inform it on what you might be best looking for based on a number of these factors; when you search for 'chicken restaurant' it will not only show popular results, but it will show relevant ones near your location. To that end, it is possible for brands to create content with this in mind, including these keywords like 'chicken restaurant' in a blog post tied to your city, through social media posting, or by promoting reviews on a popular service. Importantly, all of these results are tied to specific words or phrases, known as 'keywords," which are the things someone would actually type into the Google search bar to ask for something. When attempting to approach Google ratings and SEO, it's important to identify keywords that are popular and tenable in your local area; there are services like ahrefs that can help with this. But how do you actually approach those keywords and ensure that people searching for a 'chicken restaurant' find yours?



As Zacharias notes, improving a Google rating is no longer as simple as slapping the phrase 'chicken restaurant' onto a page as many times as possible and having Google pull it for simply being the most chicken restaurant of them all. Instead the content you post is required to be quality, featuring identified authors, factual and cited information, and to receive views and other engagement. While this requires a bit more effort and thought, it certainly isn't impossible, and instead relies on you understanding your audience. What do they like, or what would they want to know? Can you tell them the story of how you got your chicken recipe from your grandmother? Or where the strange wooden rooster statue in your restaurant came from? These small bits of information can have larger stories woven around them to create information that is relevant, engaging, and informative to both your audience and to search algorithms. But this isn't a reason to be slow about posting content or to have a minimalist website; as your posts can quickly be swallowed by the millions of blog posts made daily. It's important to introduce regular features to your content regimen and to ensure that your web pages are offering short, factual information like FAQs wherever possible. These bite-sized nuggets of information are great for Google, which will sometimes display small factitious blurbs at the top of its resulting web pages. As part of your keyword identification it's important to understand what is attainable and valuable for your specific brand. You do not need to try and be number one when it comes to rankings for "chicken" or even "chicken restaurant," as these terms are likely to be contested by mainstream poultry dealers. Instead you can tailor your keywords toward your audience by adding additional words to make the keyword more specific; think "Jamaican chicken restaurant" or "Chicken restaurant open after midnight" if you can. This makes it easier to directly connect with people who will identify with your offering and allow you to avoid competing with deeper pockets than your own. This tactic has been especially helpful for Jon Zacharias and GR0, where it enables his team to develop unique SEO strategies for each client who then can get relevant, local ratings without breaking the bank.

Importantly though, every brand has to understand that posting backlinks on its own website is not enough; Google prefers information coming from multiple trusted sources. This means that it is crucial for your brand to connect with local news organizations, bloggers, and other media entities who might be able to offer backlinks and help to bolster your credibility. Google's mission is to put verified, accurate information in front of its users, and as such elevates the mentions and valuations offered by websites it deems trustworthy; known sources of information. This also bolsters your roster of quality content and can even provide some much-needed media coverage for your small brand. But every brand should make sure it is fully ready to take on this challenge, as some media-makers can't be bought and will voice their honest opinions, whether that's helpful to your business or not. With this newest post, Jon Zacharias hopes to introduce some of the fundamentals of online marketing to smaller businesses and a new generation of entrepreneurs. Now a co-founder of GR0, Zacharias has been in that exact position himself, understanding the need for smart solutions that are also affordable and attainable for new businesses. Now, these helpful tips and strategies are key to getting noticed on the world's super-hub of information: Google. Jon Zacharias has spent years working in digital marketing and advertising, and his latest venture GR0 is clear proof of that. He currently works with influencers across all sects to provide meaningful relationships between his clients and their potential audiences, and is constantly working to grow his portfolio. With over 30 employees, GR0 works to help brands improve their SEO rankings on Google and create quality online engagement between them and their customers. Media Contact

Emma Lombardi

GR0

press@gr0.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jon-zacharias-newest-guide-tackles-google-ratings-301284952.html SOURCE GR0.com LLC

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Salesforce Announces Timing of its First Quarter Fiscal 2022 Results Conference Call

Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the global leader in CRM, today announced that its first quarter fiscal year 2022 results will be released on Thursday, May 27, 2021, after the close of the market. The company will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. (PT) / 5:00 p.m. (ET) to discuss its financial results with the investment community. A live webcast and replay of the event will be available on the Salesforce Investor Relations website at www.salesforce.com/investor.

<>About Salesforce







Salesforce, the global CRM leader, empowers companies of every size and industry to digitally transform and create a 360 view of their customers. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: www.salesforce.com.

Salesforce has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM." For more information, please visit https://www.salesforce.com, or call 1-800-NO-SOFTWARE.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505005974/en/
[May 05, 2021] Nubik is Enabling Their Client to Harness the Power of Anywhere

MONTREAL, May 5, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Nubik, a major Salesforce implementation partner in North America since 2010, is thrilled to announce a rebranding of their multi-cloud consulting services and an updated, revamped website. The company announces there have been no administrative changes or acquisitions. These changes are effective immediately. Following a period of growth over the last several years, the company sought out a change in visual identity while aiming to widen service offerings for clients. "Nubik already had a vibrant culture when we started this initiative, so we knew the rebranding had to be anchored around that. We're fortunate to have a very open management team that allowed us to get all 100+ employees involved in a conversation todefine the Nubik brand. With our operations and commercial departments already well-grounded, we now have solid strategic brand foundations deeply-rooted in our values so we can mobilize, engage and energize each and every Nubikian on the team for the years to come."



- Bruno Lalonde, Marketing Director, Nubik As a company with two decades of experience working remotely, this made sense in supporting the team's desire to help clients work better, smarter and faster through automation and innovation. Their digital transformation experts have experience across industries, including: Manufacturing & Distribution, Professional Services, High Tech, Financial Services, as well as Healthcare and Life Sciences.

"Nubik is well-known in the Salesforce ecosystem. Having successfully completed thousands of projects, we wanted to make sure our image was in-line with our vision of continuing to build an organization that inspires and facilitates responsible growth. Our objective with this rebranding effort is to mobilize both the visionary companies that rely on us for their digital transformation projects, as well as the highly-skilled professionals on our team who rely on us to support their career paths and decisions. I believe this rebrand will do just that." - Camil Bourbeau, Chief Commercial Officer, Nubik ABOUT NUBIK Nubik is the only Salesforce implementation partner in North America with in-depth knowledge and experience in FinancialForce and Rootstock Cloud ERPs. Implementation services include: Salesforce Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Field Service, B2B Commerce, Revenue Cloud (CPQ + Billing), Experience Cloud, Manufacturing Cloud, Financial Services Cloud, Mulesoft, Pardot, Rootstock ERP and FinancialForce ERP. SOURCE Nubik Inc.

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[May 05, 2021] E2open Receives Notification of Regaining NYSE Compliance

E2open Parent Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ETWO), a leading network-based provider of 100% cloud-based, mission-critical, end-to-end supply chain management software, today announced that it received notification from the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") that it officially regained compliance with exchange listing requirements. On April 12, 2021, the Division of Corporate Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC (News - Alert) ") issued a "Staff Statement on Accounting and Reporting Considerations for Warrants Issued by Special Purpose Acquisition Companies," clarifying the accounting guidance for warrants with terms that are common for special purpose acquisition companies ("SPACs"). The immediacy of the effective date of this new guidance generally resulted in audit firms not consenting to include their audit opinions in SEC filings until the new guidance was evaluated and reflected in an updated filing, which prevented E2open from filing an annual report that complied with SEC and NYSE rules by its extended filing deadline. E2open received notiication on April 23, 2021 from the NYSE of non-compliance due to the missed annual report filing. The annual report in question related to E2open's predecessor, CC Neuberger Principal Holdings I, a SPAC, reflecting financial information for a fiscal period that ended prior to the business combination that closed on February 4, 2021.



On May 5, 2021, E2open filed the Annual Report on Form 10-K and was notified by the NYSE the same day that it regained compliance with its applicable continued listing requirements. About E2open

At E2open, we're creating a more connected, intelligent supply chain. It starts with sensing and responding to real-time demand, supply and delivery constraints. Bringing together data from clients, distribution channels, suppliers, contract manufacturers and logistics partners, our collaborative and agile supply chain platform enables companies to use data in real time, with artificial intelligence and machine learning to drive smarter decisions. All this complex information is delivered in a single view that encompasses your demand, supply and logistics ecosystems. E2open is changing everything. Demand. Supply. Delivered.TM Visit www.e2open.com. E2open, the E2open logo and Harmony are registered trademarks of E2open, LLC, or its affiliates. Demand. Supply. Delivered. is a trademark of E2open, LLC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505006177/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Where is the Lucid Air- A Case of Missing Production Cars: Winston Cooks, LLC and the Beeman Law Firm File a Class Action Against Lucid Motors and Churchill Group IV

Winston Cooks, LLC in conjunction with the Beeman Law Firm filed a proposed securities class action lawsuit against Churchill Capital Corporation IV, Lucid Motors, Michael Klein, Jay Faragin and Peter Rawlinson. Lucid accessed the public securities markets via a Special Acquisition Company, otherwise known as a "SPAC". A SPAC provides a way for money-losing companies to raise money for continued operations with less oversight than a traditional IPO. The allegations of the complaint are that Lucid and the Churchill SPAC (version 4.0) pumped the stock price based on fake vehicle production statements. In ramping up to go public, Peter Rawlinson, Lucid's Chief Executive Officer, is alleged to have touted thousands of electric cars that Lucid was going to manufacture this year with the name Air at their Casa Grande, Arizona factory. Between a January 11, 2021 Bloomberg article (followed by a continued media campaign) and the official announcement of the merger on February 22, 2021, CCIV stock rocketed from $10 to $57, or 470%.



And as Paul Harvey used to say...the rest of the story, according to the complaint: immediately following the merger, Lucid disclosed it was projecting a production schedule of only 557 vehicles in 2021, instead of thousands it had been previously forecasting. As one might expect, the oxygen left the room and the price collapsed. Winston Cooks, LLC, a civil rights law firm with decades of experience challenging difficult employment discrimination cases in federal court and the Beeman Law Firm, founded by a United States Marine, are ready to answer your questions about the case.

If you have questions, lost money in this particular EV debacle and/or are a whistleblower with additional details to provide, please contact Rod Cooks (205-482-5174) for further information. Or email: rcooks@winstoncooks.com Disclaimer: No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. The materials on this Site have been prepared by us for informational purposes only, do not constitute legal advice. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505006185/en/

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[May 05, 2021] Skills gap grows wider as COVID and capabilities collide, according to survey by Avado

63% of businesses that saw stable revenue or profit invested in employee development during 2020, showing commitment to sustainable growth SINGAPORE, May 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Avado, the professional academy, has today unveiled research identifying a dramatically widening gap between business needs and people capabilities in a number of APAC countries over the course of 2020. Of those surveyed, 63% of businesses who saw stable revenue or growth over the last year had increased their training budget, and 39% had invested in upskilling through external training pre-2020. Among those that saw a decline in profits, 43% said that their strategy was not fit for purpose. Simply put, the businesses that invested in developing their capabilities have weathered the storm far better than those who did not. The research surveyed over 1,000 executive leaders and senior HR staff from progressive APAC organisations. Regions included Singapore, China Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia and the Philippines. The research was further analysed by ambassador Miatta Fahnbulleh, Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation. More than half (54%) of executive leaders agreed that their organisation had prioritised survival over capabilities, very similar to the 57% who agreed in the UK. However, there was a big gap among learning and development leaders, with only 44% agreeing in APAC compared to 69% in the UK. Nonetheless, throughout 2020 the majority of executive leaders (80%) and learning and development leaders (74%) agreed that it was important to their business in 2020 to have training conducted through external courses, suggesting that they were struggling with existing employee capabilities. More than two fifths (43%) had recruited to try and fill capablity gaps

Concerningly, 39% of executive leaders admitted their training strategy wasn't fit for purpose pre-2020; this increased to almost half (49%) in 2020, suggesting gaps have been deepened

Nearly half (48%) agreed a lack of skills negatively impacts mental health



Mark Creighton , CEO of Avado, said, "There is a definite opportunity for employers to invest more in their people to diversify the workforce and move the conversation beyond skills. The businesses that remain competitive in our recovering economy will be those that embrace a strategic approach to the development of capabilities, not just answer the challenge through recruitment. We must take urgent action to implement training strategies fit for the future that give existing employees, not just new recruits, the opportunity to contribute to business success." In 2020, the rapid transition to digital exposed and exacerbated the imbalance between capabilities organisations need, and capabilities employees possess, causing friction across all sectors surveyed. Half (50%) of those surveyed worried that a lack of training investment would impact productivity in the long-term.

"Investment in capabilities matters more than ever to business growth and long-term productivity," said Miatta Fahnbulleh, Chief Executive of the New Economics Foundation and ambassador for this research. "To succeed in a future of profound change, we need to think well beyond skills. In fact, we will need a capabilities revolution." Even in sectors which were not so negatively impacted by budget cuts, respondents agreed that the events of 2020 had widened the capabilities gap in their organisation. This was particularly pronounced in government and public services. The research also identified that more than half of people in this sector had looked at training outside their current industry and role, suggesting significant concerns for the future remain. To be profitable long-term, businesses need to take stock of their priorities and their capabilities, moving urgently to put a strategy in place fit for the future. For more detail and a further breakdown of responses by industry, please view the full report here. Note to Editors The survey consisted of 15 individual questions, with respondents split evenly across five sectors: technology and telecommunication, pharmaceutical and healthcare, government and public services, financial services, and FMCG. This research was conducted twice, with identical questions, once in APAC and once in the UK. The research, which was repeated in the UK with the same methodology and number of respondents. For more information on these findings, please view the full report here. About Avado At Avado, we believe in unlocking potential and changing lives. Learning with us makes real, lasting change happen for individuals, and entire organisations. Through our connected learning experiences in Data, Marketing, People, and Agility, we can help you drive real change. Going beyond just technical skills, our award-winning programmes help teams find success in an ever-evolving world. With a strong emphasis on the behavioural and mindset shifts needed to embed new capabilities, we'll work together to develop leaders, teams and individuals through interactive learning experiences. To find out more, visit www.avadolearning.com/sg/. SOURCE Avado

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Shelton, CT, May 3, 2021  TMC, a global, integrated media company helping clients build communities in print, in person and online, today announced the winners of the 2021 Unified Communications (News - Alert) Product of the Year Award, presented by TMCs INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine.

The award honors the most innovative unified communications products and solutions available over the past twelve months as judged by the editors of TMCs (News - Alert) INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. Each winner submitted a thorough application, nominating the selected solution.

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2021 Unified Communications Product of the Year Award, said Rich Tehrani, CEO, TMC. Every year, I am more and more impressed by the innovative options available to clients in search of unified communications solutions. The 2021 winners are literally driving the industry forward and I cant wait to monitor the continued success of these companies producing incredible solutions.

Winners of the 2021 Unified Communications Product of the Year Award will be announced on TMCnet highlighted in INTERNET TELEPHONY magazines online news portal.

2021 Unified Communications Product of the Year Award Recipients

For more than 20 years, TMC has been honoring technology companies with awards in various categories. These awards are regarded as some of the most prestigious and respected awards in the communications and technology sector worldwide. Winners represent prominent players in the market who consistently demonstrate the advancement of technologies. Each recipient is a verifiable leader in the marketplace.

About INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine

INTERNET TELEPHONY has been the IP Communications Authority since 1998. Beginning with the first issue, INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine has been providing unbiased views of the complicated converged communications space. For more information, please visit www.itmag.com. Follow INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine on Twitter or join our Linked In group. Subscribe or visit www.itmag.com.



About TMC

Through education, industry news, live events and social influence, global buyers rely on TMCs content-driven marketplaces to make purchase decisions and navigate markets. As a result, leading technology vendors turn to TMC for unparalleled branding, thought leadership and lead generation opportunities. Our in-person and online events deliver unmatched visibility and sales prospects for all percipients. Through our custom lead generation programs, we provide clients with an ongoing stream of leads that turn into sales opportunities and build databases. Additionally, we bolster brand reputations with the millions of impressions from display advertising on our news sites and newsletters. Making TMC a 360 degree marketing solution, we offer comprehensive event and road show management services and custom content creation with expertly ghost-crafted blogs, press releases, articles and marketing collateral to help with SEO, branding, and overall marketing efforts. For more information about TMC and to learn how we can help you reach your marketing goals, please visit www.tmcnet.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, @tmcnet

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Michelle Connolly

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203-852-6800, ext. 170

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Edited by Erik Linask
Today, Gov. Bill Lee and former Gov. Winfield Dunn marked the 50th anniversary of legislation creating the Tennessee State Natural Areas, a bill with bipartisan support Dunn signed on May 4, 1971. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) hosted the event at Radnor Lake State Natural Area.

Lee proclaimed May 4, 2021 as Tennessee State Natural Areas Day.

We are blessed with remarkable natural resources across our state, and Tennessee State Natural Areas preserve these sites for generations to come, Lee said. I am especially pleased that Governor Dunn could be with us to celebrate this outstanding work and achievement for our state.

We take pride in protecting the environment in Tennessee, and this anniversary is an example of the lasting results of the Natural Areas program, David Salyers, commissioner of TDEC, said. We view this not only as a celebration of 50 years of State Natural Areas but as the states commitment to continue this important mission.

Victor Ashe, former state senator, representative and Ambassador to Poland, who authored the legislation, was also at the event, as well as Roger McCoy, director of the TDECs Division of Natural Areas.

The Tennessee Natural Areas Preservation Act protects nearly 130,000 acres of unique natural areas and habitat in 84 State Natural Areas throughout Tennessee. Under the designation process, the program recommends new natural areas for designation, the Tennessee General Assembly amends the act, and the governor signs the legislation making the natural area protected by law.

The intent is to provide long-term protection for Tennessees rare, threatened and endangered plant and animal life. Designated natural areas are publicly owned or are private lands encumbered by a conservation easement. A map and list of Natural Areas throughout the state can be found online. Most designated natural areas are managed by TDEC. Some natural areas are managed through cooperative management agreements with local, other state and federal agencies, and with non-governmental organizations.

Events were held across Tennessee in April for Natural Areas Week and on May 1 to celebrate the anniversary of the legislation.
CHATTANOOGA--- On May 4, the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Chattanooga District responded to a BOLO from the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) that their troopers were in pursuit of a stolen Rolls-Royce out of Georgia. THP Sergeant David McVey observed the stolen vehicle speeding at 177 mph on I-24 WB in Marion County, Tennessee. The stolen vehicle then passed a Porsche 944 and caused the driver of the Porsche to crash into the rear of the Rolls-Royce. Both vehicles pulled to the shoulder of I-24 at the 127 mm, where two males exited the Rolls-Royce and attempted to physically remove or carjack the driver of the Porsche. During the altercation, a semi-automatic pistol was presented by one of the suspects.

THP Sergeant McVey pulled in behind the vehicles, where he observed one male with his clothing partially torn yelling for help. The sergeant quickly brought the man to safety behind his patrol vehicle. Sergeant McVey then apprehended the two male suspects. Sergeant McVey then recovered a loaded Glock 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistol which had been dropped in the Porsche during the altercation.



We are so thankful for the high level of partnership that the THP has with the Georgia Department of Public Safety and all of our federal, state, and local partners, said Colonel Matt Perry.



The driver, Tyler O. Long, age 20 from Jackson, TN, and a juvenile, age 17 from Jackson, TN, were taken into custody without incident and transported to the Grundy County Sheriffs Office. Booking photos and a list of charges can be obtained by contacting the Grundy County Sheriffs Office booking section.

If not for the swift action of Sergeant McVey, the outcome of this incident couldve been tragically different, said Captain Timothy Spicer.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Securitys mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.


This anti-crime program has been a source of frustration for many denizens of the urban core and now a fight over funding during the KCMO pandemic budget crisis is underway.

Take a look at the latest round in the local crime money debate as murder stats continue to climb . . .


In this post we share a quick collection of the local shooting spree continued along with notes on allegations, trials and continued investigations.

Shooting Overnight

Kansas City police investigate shooting near 38th, Broadway BREAKING NEWS OUT OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, 39TH AND BROADWAY. YOU CAN SEE THE SHELL STATION IS ROPED OFF AND CRIME SCENE TAPE. WE DON'T HAVE WORD ON THE CONDITION OF THE VICTIM.

Creeper Teacher Convicted

Ex-paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School pleads guilty to producing child pornography A former paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to producing and distributing child pornography.The U.S. attorney's office said Steven B. Allen, 45, of Independence, Missouri, pleaded guilty to two counts of producing child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography over the internet.

JoCo Gunman Stays Losing

Man pleads guilty for crimes connected to shootout outside Mission elementary school KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The man charged with exchanging gunfire with police in March 2019 outside a Mission elementary school has pleaded guilty to three counts connected to the incident. The Johnson County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday afternoon that Dylan Ruffin has pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and one count of firing a gun into a occupied home.

Bus Stop Bad Hombres Busted With EPIC Stash

Two men charged after nearly 24 pounds of heroin are seized at KC bus terminal KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Two men who were traveling through Kansas City, Missouri are facing charges in federal court after officers seized nearly 24 pounds of heroin, Monday. Darwin G. Morales-Sagastume, 23, and Cristian J. Lopez-Catalan, 28, have been charged with one count of possessing heroin to distribute.

Grandview Gunfire Aftermath

Man charged in Sunday shooting death in Grandview KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder after police found a man shot to death Sunday in a car in Grandview. Davion Lamont Fugate, of Grandview, is charged in Jackson County Court with second degree murder and armed criminal action, according to a court document.

Bullet Bad Odds

UMKC student charged in March shooting death of man KANSAS CITY, MO (AP) - A grand jury has indicted a University of Missouri-Kansas City student on second-degree murder and armed criminal action counts in the March shooting death of another man over what police called a gambling feud. Zyan Teague, 21, is charged in the March 20 death of 31-year-old Byren Dennie, of Kansas City, the Kansas City Star reported.

Cold Case Contd

FBI launches billboards asking for information in 1998 cold case JOHNSON COUNTY, KS (KCTV) -- The FBI launched a series of billboards in a 1998 murder that's now under federal investigation. Rhonda Tribue was 34-years old at the time of her murder. She was found beaten to death in a remote area of Kansas City, Kansas near Edwardsville.

Developing . . .
Score another victory today for Bike/Walk KC who dominate city hall discussion and give credence to perceptions that traffic is racist.

Mayor Q recently sponsored an item from their agenda that joins social justice activists pushing back against police.

Check-it . . .



KSHB: Advocacy group applauds proposed bill that would decriminalize biking, walking

More deets with relevant parts highlighted . . .



Code 70-268 requires wheels and tires to be clean, 70-706 allows the inspection of bicycles relating to traffic and vehicles, and 70-783 relates to "jaywalking."

According to authors of the proposed bill, the three existing city codes don't make people safer and expose citizens to unnecessary interactions with law enforcement. Bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organization, BikeWalkKC supports the bill and said it will help decriminalize biking and walking in the city.

Another observation during discussion from a lesser blog . . .



"Mayor's general legal counsel Jane Brown told a City Council committee that Black people received 65% of jaywalking tickets issued between 2018 and 2020. Councilmembers Katheryn Shields and Kevin O'Neill supported eliminating jaywalking offenses."

To be fair, I didn't know people still got tickets for jaywalking.

Nevertheless, as the chip crisis shuts down auto manufactures and people are clamoring to buy used cars. 12th & Oak protects alternative modes of transit along with activist pet causes.



Developing . . .


The provisionally accredited district hopes to lure students back after the pandemic revealed that their instruction wasn't really as vital as so many hoped/believed.

And so . . . Here's a push that might or might not have anything to do with school funding depending the student count. Check-it . . .


Don't worry, none of these jobs pay a living wage and the "career prospects" they offer aren't really any better than sitting around and waiting for more stimmy.

To be fair, even the WSJ notes that the plague is keeping people out of the labor force as well . . .

Wall Street Journal: The Other Reason the Labor Force Is Shrunken - Fear of Covid-19

Read more . . .
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Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland will accompany U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Ukraine this week.

This was said in an official statement of the U.S. Department of State.

"Under Secretary Nuland is on travel to London, United Kingdom, and Kyiv, Ukraine, from May 4-6, 2021," the statement reads.

At the same time, Nuland will accompany Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his European tour.

As Ukrinform reported, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Kyiv on May 5-6, where he will meet with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, other officials, and representatives of Ukrainian civil society to reaffirm unwavering U.S. support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russias ongoing aggression.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine is carrying out a transformation that really brings Ukraine closer to joining the European Union.

According to the presidents press service, Zelensky said that by implementing the Association Agreement with the European Union, Ukraine has progressed so far that the modernization of the Agreement is a fair task, which Ukraine is already working on with European partners.

"Ukrainians are already influencing our common European destiny. It is on our land that the future of Europe is being decided. We will ensure full integration of Ukraine into the commonwealth of European countries, and this will prove that the basic values of freedom, democracy and equality on our continent are key elements of large-scale progress and development," Zelensky said.

As reported, at the invitation of Polish President Andrzej Duda, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky together with the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania took part in the festivities on the occasion of the 230th anniversary of the 3 May Constitution, the first valid document in Europe comparable to modern constitutions.

During the visit, the leaders discussed common future in Europe and the main challenges facing Europeans. It was confirmed that the inalienable values for societies are: freedom, sovereignty, territorial integrity, democracy, rule of law, equality and solidarity. This is reflected in the five-party declaration signed by the leaders of Poland, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania: a united Europe must be open to all countries and peoples who share common values. This is an important signal of support for Ukraine's European integration aspirations.

Volodymyr Zelensky and Andrzej Duda also signed a joint bilateral Declaration on Ukraine's European Prospect. This is the second such document concluded between Ukraine and the EU country.
Poland and Estonia must demonstrate solidarity and support their partners in the east, in particular Ukraine. One of the mechanisms to support Kyiv is the assistance within the funds of the Three Seas Initiative.

President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid made a corresponding statement during a joint press conference with President of Poland Andrzej Duda in Warsaw on Tuesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

According to Kaljulaid, Poland and Estonia need to work more closely with the Eastern Partnership countries. She noted that more efforts should be made to hold "as soon as possible" a real meeting with the leaders of the Eastern Partnership countries, which has not been held since 2017.

In addition, we can use our possibilities to help Ukraine get closer to our economies and to our understanding of Europe's future. The Three Seas Initiative can help in this context, Kaljulaid said.

According to her, Ukraine, though it is not EU member, can receive assistance from various funds within the Three Seas Initiative.

In turn, Duda noted that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky had informed the presidents of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia in Warsaw the day before that Russian troops had been returning to their permanent locations from Ukraines borders.

However, that was a demonstration of the strength of the Russian army. In my opinion, NATO should draw conclusions," Duda said.

He added that the issue would be discussed at the Bucharest Nine summit in Bucharest in a few days and at the NATO summit in Brussels in June.

As reported, on May 3, the presidents of Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia met in Warsaw to celebrate the 230th anniversary of the adoption of the 3 May Constitution. The presidents of the five countries signed a joint declaration, which emphasizes that the solidarity of nations under current threats to common security is one of the cornerstones of peace, stability, development, prosperity, and resilience.

In addition, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda signed a joint declaration of Warsaw's support for Kyiv's European aspirations.

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Ukrainian politicians, in particular, members of the Verkhovna Rada, plan to promote the Crimean Platform among the partner countries to involve them in the initiatives activities.

"I hope that we will be able to organize a kind of tour of European partner countries. We also intend to visit the Asian countries to intensify the participation of our allies in the Crimean Platform around the world in the remaining months," Akhtem Chiygoz, a Ukrainian politician, deputy chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, chairman of the Bakhchisaray Regional Mejlis, MP of Ukraine, told Ukrinform.

Currently, Ukrainian lawmakers are trying to engage in dialogue at the level of friendship groups with different countries and announced the creation of a Crimean Platform within the Parliament to intensify the work of these inter-parliamentary friendship groups. There is a need to concentrate our efforts so that our partners take this new platform with due attention, the politician stressed.

According to Chiygoz, it is very important to persuade the countries, against which Russia is currently using "very vile tools of blackmail" to prevent them from joining the Ukrainian initiative. To persuade these countries, the participation of leading countries, such as Germany, France, the United States, Canada, in the inaugural summit on August 23 would be important. According to Chiygoz, this would allow the countries under pressure to be more decisive and discuss Ukraine's proposals. In the politician's opinion, the adoption of the Ukrainian proposals will be a "colossal blow to Russias image in the international arena" and intensify the opposition within Russia itself in the fight against Putin's criminal regime.

Crimean Platform is a new consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to improve the efficiency of the international response to the occupation of Crimea, respond to growing security challenges, step up international pressure on Russia, prevent further human rights violations, protect victims of the occupying power and to achieve the de-occupation of Crimea and its return to Ukraine.

Crimean Platform is expected to operate at the level of heads of state and government, foreign ministers, in the dimension of inter-parliamentary cooperation and expert network.

Ukraine is actively inviting world countries to take part in the Crimean Platform activities.

The Crimean Platform is to be launched officially at an inaugural summit in Kyiv in August 2021.

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Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov has held a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia to Ukraine Kaimo Kuusk, according to the NSDCs press service.

During the meeting, the parties discussed current issues of bilateral security cooperation and prospects for its further expansion. The NSDC Secretary praised Estonia's assistance to Ukraine in the difficult times of the Russian hybrid warfare against Ukraine.

Danilov also stressed the need for expanding bilateral cooperation with the Baltic states, in particular, with Estonia in the field of cybersecurity.

"Ukraine is at the forefront of the fight against hybrid aggression. Our task is to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation with NATO structures and member states, as Russia has recently significantly intensified its information warfare, Danilov said.

In this context, the NSDC Secretary expressed interest in enhancing practical cooperation with NATO's cyber center in Estonia. In turn, the ambassador noted that Estonia is also interested in developing bilateral cooperation with Ukraine in the cybersecurity sector.

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An English-language version of the documentary "The Murder of Gongadze: 20 Years of Searching for the Truth" is being released for World Press Freedom Day, according to NGO Public Interest Journalist Lab.

The film by Ukrainian journalists Nataliya Gumenyuk, Maxim Kamenev, and Anna Tsyhyma tells the story of the murder of Georgiy Gongadze, a political journalist and co-founder of one of the country's first and most influential online publications, Ukrainska Pravda.

"In 2021, The World Press Freedom Day is devoted to cherishing information as a public good. The attacks on journalists who work to keep those in power accountable, informing their society, are attacks on the public good. Yet what we saw is that unsolved crimes against journalists and the void and impunity they leave in the public sphere lead to a broken justice system where justice cannot be found. This movie is for anybody who wants to understand why Ukraine is what it is now, but it is also universal as it explains why journalism matters. Yet on this day I do not just want to be pessimistic. Whilst the justice system continued to fail, it was Ukrainian journalists themselves who shone the light on this case and made a cover-up impossible. So while this is a tragedy, it is also a story of resilience and why lessons of the past matter," says co-author and producer of the documentary, Nataliya Gumenyuk.

"The story of the murder of Georgiy Gongadze provides an understanding of the context in which the current generation of Ukrainians was formed, their distrust of the government, and the formation of the civil society that journalists were part of. It was active citizens who actually forced the authorities to punish the journalist's killer," adds the author of the idea of the film, Maxim Kamenev.

20 years have passed since the abduction and murder of Georgiy Gongadze. However, Ukrainian society has not yet received the final answer to the question: "Who is to blame for the murder of the journalist?" The nation learned exactly how the journalist was killed, who the direct perpetrators were, they even were sentenced. However, there is still no answer as to what the role of the second President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma was.

The absence of a clear answer is the reason why the main protagonists of the movie "The Murder of Gongadze: 20 Years of Searching for the Truth"  Ukrainian journalists and friends and colleagues of Georgiy  are reevaluating the events of that time, as well the role of the key participants, who remain top players in Ukrainian politics.

The film includes interviews with nearly two dozen Ukrainian journalists who knew Georgiy Gongadze personally or were investigating his murder over the past two decades. The Gongadze case has been a challenge not only for them but also for several generations of Ukrainian journalists and activists who have spent years trying to establish the truth and focus public attention on the importance of uncovering this crime.

The film "The Murder of Gongadze: 20 Years of Searching for the Truth" is also a story of how the relations between the Ukrainian media and the authorities have changed over the past 20 years. The film's protagonists not only speak in detail about Georgiy Gongadze but also about Ukrainian journalism and Ukraine under its second president Leonid Kuchma. The film explains who took advantage of the journalist's murder, both inside and outside the country, the forces involved in the political and geopolitical game, and the evolution of Ukrainian society from the first national protests  "Ukraine without Kuchma" and the Orange Revolution  to Euromaidan.

It also explains why impunity remains a defining feature of Ukrainian justice, and the unresolved cases of that era still determine the life of modern Ukraine.

A Ukrainian-language premiere of the documentary "The Murder of Gongadze: 20 Years of Searching for the Truth" took place in September 2020.

The film has been made by the Ukrainian NGO Public Interest Journalism Lab.

The English translation of the film has been made with the financial support of the European Union's "Moving Forward Together" campaign. The film has been produced with the support of the European Union's "Moving Forward Together" campaign, CFI, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine, USAID, Internews, and the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the film's authors and do not reflect the views of the European Union, USAID, Internews, or the U.S. Government.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that most Ukrainians who need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 should receive the vaccine by Ukraine's Independence Day.

He said this during a traditional conference call on countering the spread of COVID-19, according to the presidential press service.

"The pace of vaccination needs to be increased. In addition, we have to raise awareness among people about the importance of vaccination. After all, this is the only and most effective way to fight the pandemic," Zelensky said.

He stressed that the government should strengthen communication with the regions on the situation with the incidence of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, in turn, recalled that more than 759,000 people had already been vaccinated in Ukraine and that it was possible to vaccinate 80,000-100,000 Ukrainians per day.

At the same time, Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov said that Ukraine's health care system makes it possible to vaccinate 400,000-500,000 people per day if there is enough vaccine, so the pace of vaccination is to be increased.

According to Stepanov, there are 11,000 vaccination sites in the country.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov and Minister of Health Stepanov also said that Ukraine was in the process of preparing for the introduction of vaccine passports in accordance with European standards.

Some 2,576 new cases of coronavirus were registered in Ukraine on May 4, and 3,425 people were vaccinated against COVID-19 on the same day.

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Published May 5, 2021

The National Association of Social Workers, Louisiana Chapter (NASW-LA) has named Pamela Saulsberry, Ph.D., Louisiana Social Worker of the Year.

Professor Saulsberry serves as Executive Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University of Louisiana Monroe. She will receive the award at the NASW-LA Conference in June.

NASW-LA Executive Director Ayn Stehr said the committee's decision was unanimous, calling Saulsberry "a model for other social workers and students" who has "contributed positively to the profession in a meaningful and lasting way."

"Of all the awards I have been blessed to receive, this one means the most," Saulsberry said, adding that she chose to become a social worker as an 18-year-old college freshman.

Saulsberry said the six core values of the profession, especially service, social justice, and respect for the dignity and worth of persons, resonated with her then and continues to this day.

"Of all the awards I have been blessed to receive, this one means the most. Social work is a calling, and I have never regretted answering that call." Dr. Pamela Saulsberry

"Social work is a calling, and I have never regretted answering that call," she said.

The award is given annually to the candidate who exemplifies the best of the profession's values and achievements through specific accomplishments.

Candidates for the award must meet stringent criteria, among them, having made a demonstrable difference in advocating for clients, impacting social policy, and demonstrating outstanding leadership.

In addition to her role in ULM's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Saulsberry has served as ULM College of Business and Social Sciences School of Behavioral and Social Sciences director and the Social Work program coordinator.

Among her numerous other awards are the ULM Foundation Award of Excellence, the Association of Black Social Workers' Regional Humanitarian of the Year, and the CAMEO Award for Outstanding Leadership in Education for March of Dimes.

"Dr. Saulsberry is an outstanding clinician, a brilliant teacher, and a tireless mentor, who has literally trained generations of students to the highest academic and ethical standards," said William McCown. Ph.D., professor, and Interim Director and Program Coordinator of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences.

"Her sense of fairness, creativity, commitment, and compassion are known throughout the campus, the community, and the state," he concluded.
05/04/2021

By Ed Brennen

They didnt receive a shiny statue like at the Academy Awards, but for the 27 UMass Lowell faculty members recently honored at the universitys first OERscars ceremony, the thanks from students was even more rewarding.



Organized by students from the universitys MASSPIRG chapter and Student Government Association (SGA), the virtual OERscars event recognized UML faculty who use free or low-cost digital textbooks and open educational resources (OERs) in their courses. OERs are teaching, learning and research materials in any medium  digital or otherwise  that are in the public domain or have been released under an open license that permits no-cost access.



I guess were supposed to thank the Academy, but instead Im going to thank the students, quipped Assoc. Prof. of French Studies and Culture Carole Salmon, who received the most student nominations for the award.



Salmon said shes been using OERs in her courses since I can remember to save students money  and also because they better align with her teaching style.



I realized very quickly that the only way to make my class as fun and as relevant as possible was by going to open resources, she said.



UMass Lowell has taken a series of steps in recent years to encourage faculty to use e-books to help students save money and keep them in school.



Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Julie Nash, who is part of an affordable textbook working group with students, faculty and administrators, told attendees that she has noticed a cultural shift toward e-books over the past five years.

First-year student and MASSPIRG chapter vice chair Ashley Greene emceed the virtual OERscars ceremony on Zoom.

The faculty honored here today have been leaders in advocating for students and keeping this issue in the foreground in their departments and colleges, Nash said. It says a lot about our students that they organized this event so they could say thank you.



First-year student Ashley Greene, vice chair of UMLs MASSPIRG chapter, emceed the ceremony. She described her own struggles with paying for textbooks  and how the student organization is committed to helping faculty transition to e-books.



Studies show that when students have an opportunity to use low- or no-cost materials, students feel more motivated and get better grades, said Greene, an Uxbridge, Massachusetts, native who is majoring in English with a journalism and professional writing concentration.



SGA president-elect Neyder Fernandez noted that, in a recent survey conducted by the organization, more than 80% of students said that an affordable education was highly important to them.



Education is a fundamental human right, and if there is any way we can make it more accessible and equitable, that would make the university better, said Fernandez, a political science major from Lowell.



Among the guests was Robert Awkward, OER statewide coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. He noted that, since 2014, students at public institutions statewide have saved more than $7 million by using OERs.

President-elect Neyder Fernandez said the Student Government Association is committed to helping make textbooks and course materials more affordable for all River Hawks.

This is a movement, and were glad to have you all be part of this, he said.



He also praised the work of Assoc. Director of Academic Technology Donna Mellen, who represents UML on the statewide OER Advisory Council.



Many of the honorees thanked the UML Library staff, who provide several ways for faculty to find open access textbooks for their courses.



Tracy Michaels, an assistant teaching professor of English, said that with her classes being held virtually this year because of the pandemic, she had students learn about research by digging into the librarys databases.



I decided to completely embrace the whole online aspect of teaching and save as much money as possible in these difficult times for students, she said.



OERscar honorees were nominated by students and fellow faculty members. The winners were:
Dhaka, May 5 (UNI) Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen in a letter written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday congratulated her on her May 2 victory.

Dr Momen said that the Trinamool Congress has won the mandate of the people for forming the government for the third time in a row, which is a reflection of the continued confidence and trust of the people of West Bengal in your leadership. We are grateful to you because you have embraced the long-cherished values of Bengalis 'religious harmony and brotherhood' and Bangabandhu has played a leading role in this all his life.

Dr Momen noted that excellent bilateral relations exist between Bangladesh and India and the potential areas of mutual cooperation between the two countries have expanded in recent years.

Undivided history, culture, language, values and hereditary connections have made the relationship between the peoples of the two countries unique and strong. In particular, the people of West Bengal hold a special place in the hearts of Bangladeshis. In this special year of celebrating the golden jubilee of Bangladesh's independence, Mujibvarsha and 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India, I am gratefully remembering the support and sacrifices of the people of India and the political leadership, including the people of West Bengal.

"We believe that through your commitment and cooperation, the relationship between the two countries will be further strengthened and unresolved issues will be resolved," he said.

Dr Momen added that the world is facing unprecedented challenges due to the unknown enemy coronavirus. In this context, Bangladesh is committed to exchanging mutual resources and experiences between the two countries and working for the welfare of the people. I firmly believe that all of us together will be freed from this great danger and will soon be able to return to normal life and livelihood.

UNI MAZ RHK1317
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Winter Haven resident Deb Hoffmann owns the Winnie the Pooh costume used at Disney parks in the 1960s and 1970s (left) as well as one used in Sears during the 1970s and 1980s (right). (Courtesy Deb Hoffmann/TNS)
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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.
Cason "Casey" Lanier Branan, 41, passed away Sunday, May 31, 2021. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 3 at the chapel of Moores Funeral Home with burial to follow in Camp Creek Church Cemetery. Casey was born in Macon, Ga. on May 5, 1980, to David Branan and Tashia McCul
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The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the emergency use authorization for Moderna's vaccine against COVID-19, FDA Director General Enrique Domingo said on Wednesday.

MANILA (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2021 ) The Philippines' food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the emergency use authorization for Moderna's vaccine against COVID-19, FDA Director General Enrique Domingo said on Wednesday.

The emergency use authorization was granted by FDA "after rigorous and thorough review by regulatory and medical experts using the currently available published and unpublished data," Domingo said in an online forum.

"The known and potential benefits of Moderna, when used to prevent COVID-19, outweigh the known and potential risks of the said vaccine," Domingo added.

The American drugmaker Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is the seventh vaccine given green light by the FDA.

An emergency authorization allows the use of a vaccine still being developed during public health emergencies.

The Philippines has reported a total of 1,067,892 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday, including 17,622 deaths.
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All Parties Harriet Conference (APHC) on Wednesday strongly condemned the custodial death of Chairman Tahreeki Hurriyat Mohammed Ashraf Sehrai by the occupied forces at Udhampur Jail in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2021 ) :All Parties Harriet Conference (APHC) on Wednesday strongly condemned the custodial death of Chairman Tahreeki Hurriyat Mohammed Ashraf Sehrai by the occupied forces at Udhampur Jail in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

In a news release, APHC Vice Chairman Ghulam Ahamad Gulzar denounced the ruthless behavior and barbaric attitude of the Indian Imperialism towards the freedom loving leaders kept in solitude in various jails of India, without medical facilities and other basic amenities of the jail life.

Paying rich tribute to the great freedom leader, Gulzar termed the death of Sehrai, a sheer act of deliberate custodial killing for which sole responsibility lied on the Modi led fascist regime.

Urging the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres to take serious cognizance of the death of the senior most Hurriyet leader in a mysterious condition in jail.

He appealed to the freedom loving people of Kashmir to observe a complete general strike on May 6 (tomorrow) to record protest against the custodial killing of the veteran Hurriyet leader.
New Delhi, May 5 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2021 ) :India's foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in Britain for G7 meetings, said on Wednesday he would hold his talks virtually after being exposed to possible coronavirus cases.

India is not part of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies but was invited by Britain to the talks.

"Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases," Jaishankar tweeted.

"As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well." Sky news earlier reported there had been two positive cases among the Indian delegation.

Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in-person on Monday evening on the sidelines of the foreign ministers summit.

The US State Department said it had been advised, including by public health professionals in Britain, that its health protocols "would permit us to continue with our G7 activities as planned".

"We have no reason to believe any of our delegation is at risk. We will continue to follow the guidance of public health professionals going forward and abide by the same strict Covid-19 protocols," spokesman Ned price said.

India, the world's second-most populous nation, has been hit by a devastating wave of infections in recent weeks that has taken its total number of cases to more than 20.6 million.

The massive spike has pushed the healthcare system to breaking point, overwhelming hospitals and leading to severe shortages of beds, oxygen and other critical medical supplies.

The G7 was due to discuss coronavirus vaccines Wednesday amid growing pressure on the group to share stockpiles and know-how with poor nations.
Maputo, May 5 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2021 ) :Six weeks after it was raided by Islamic State-linked fighters, the northern Mozambican town of Palma remains deeply traumatised and hundreds of its residents flee each day, survivors and aid workers say.

The militants swooped on the coastal town on March 24, killing dozens of people and triggering an exodus that included workers on a multi-billion-dollar liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

The raids marked a major intensification in an insurgency that has wreaked havoc across Cabo Delgado province for over three years as the militants seek to establish a caliphate.

The violence pushed France's Total to suspend work on the nearby LNG scheme, one of Africa's largest. The dead include several expatriate oil workers.

After days of fighting, the government said its forces had driven out the extremists and that calm had returned.

But many people still feel unsafe and are leaving the area.

In recent days, hundreds have landed in the provincial capital Pemba on privately-organised rescue boats, a volunteer registering the displaced told AFP.

Viaze Juma, 34, a mother of four, arrived on Friday from Afungi, a peninsula near the heavily-guarded gas plant and five kilometres south of Palma, where thousands sought refuge during the attack.

"It's good that now I'm out of Palma. I'm safe but my house was burned down," she told AFP.

On the day Juma made it to Pemba, the United Nations announced that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) had breached the 30,000 mark.
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Damascus, May 5 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2021 ) :One civilian was killed and six wounded after a rare Israeli air raid on a northeastern Syrian region home to the longtime ruling Assad family, Syria's state media said Wednesday.

Since the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011, Israel has routinely carried out raids in the country, mostly targeting Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces as well as government troops.

The attack on Latakia province -- ancestral home of President Bashar al-Assad -- occurred shortly after 2 am (1100 GMT Tuesday), a military source told Sana news agency.

"The Israeli attack left one civilian dead and six wounded, including a boy and his mother," according to the source, who added that the site was a plastics factory.

They did not release exact details of the targets, but media reports indicated that the towns of Hifa and Masyaf were hit.

The Syrian air defence system was activated to counter Israeli missiles, with "some shot down", the report added.

An attack on the Latakia region is unusual.

In September 2018, Syrian anti-aircraft systems accidentally shot down a plane belonging to ally Russia -- killing those on board -- after being activated against nearby Israeli missiles.

The Jewish nation rarely confirms the strikes, but its army has said it hit about 50 targets in the war-torn country last year, without providing details.
Hanoi, May 5 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2021 ) :Vietnam has extended the quarantine period for anyone arriving in the country to three weeks, authorities said Wednesday, following a fresh community outbreak of the coronavirus.

The nation has so far kept case numbers low -- recording just over 3,000 cases and 35 deaths -- thanks to strict quarantine measures and extensive contact tracing.

But Vietnam reported its first community outbreak in weeks last Thursday, and other clusters have since emerged.

Several cases have been linked to people who tested positive after their two-week stay in hotel quarantine had ended.

"The Ministry of Health has decided to extend the period of mandatory quarantine for people who have made close contact with Covid-19 patients and people who have entered Vietnam," said health minister Nguyen Thanh Long.

The new quarantine period will be 21 days.

The announcement came after one of the country's best hospitals -- which has treated many Covid-19 patients -- went into lockdown Wednesday, after a doctor tested positive for the virus.

Fourteen others at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi were later found to be infected.

About 800 medical workers, patients as well as any relatives who were visiting at the time the lockdown was announced must remain in the hospital for two weeks, authorities said.

Vietnam has also detected cases in the community of a Covid-19 variant believed to be behind a devastating surge in infections in India.

The last community outbreak, centred on the northern city of Hai Duong, was successfully contained last month.

But the country has been on high alert amid a spiralling outbreak in other parts of Southeast Asia including Cambodia and Laos, which both share a border with Vietnam.
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Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa Wednesday emphasized the need to further enhance military-to-military cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2021 ) :Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa Wednesday emphasized the need to further enhance military-to-military cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

The Pakistan-Saudi cooperation would have positive impact on peace and security in the region, he said while talking to Chief of General Staff (CGS), Saudi Armed Forces General Fayiadh Bin Hamed Al Rowaily, on whom he called on at Riyadh, according to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release here.

During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, including regional security situation, Afghan peace process, and defence and security and military-to-military cooperation were discussed.

The Saudi CGS thanked the COAS for his sentiments and assured of full cooperation and support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all initiatives aimed at improving regional cooperation, peace and stability.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor discussed increasing global COVID-19 vaccine production, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a readout of the conversation after the meeting between the two leaders on Wednesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th May, 2021) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor discussed increasing global COVID-19 vaccine production, State Department spokesperson Ned price said in a readout of the conversation after the meeting between the two leaders on Wednesday.

"Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Pandor underscored the need to expand global COVID-19 vaccine production and to cooperate on climate ambition and regional security issues such as the ongoing violence by ISIS-Mozambique [Islamic State terror group, banned in Russia]," Price said. "Secretary Blinken conveyed the importance of multilateral organizations in addressing humanitarian and human rights crises, including in Ethiopia's Tigray region."

Price said that Blinken and Pandor also committed to advance planning for a bilateral Strategic Dialogue.

On Monday, South African Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said that a plane carrying the first batch of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine has arrived in South Africa.

Mkhize said earlier samples of the Pfizer vaccine would be sent to the National Control Laboratory for quality assurance, after which the doses would be distributed to the country's provinces.

With respect to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Mkhize said the doses were awaiting to be dispatched at Aspen's Gqeberha factory in the Eastern Cape Province and are expected to be released in mid-May. South Africa stopped administering this vacine after the US food and Drug Administration said six women developed a severe type of blood clots.

South Africa is expecting approximately 325,260 doses of Pfizer to arrive on a weekly basis, to reach a total of more than 1.3 million by the end of May. The batches will then increase to an average of 636,480 doses weekly from May 31, for a total of 4.5 million by the end of June.
BUENOS AIRES (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th May, 2021) Bolivia may start exporting wine to Russia in the near future, the first deliveries for distributors are planned to be carried out by the end of May, the talks' participants told Sputnik.

"Bolivia is interested in wine supplies.

This week the Russian ambassador will travel to the Tarija region to talk with wine producers," Muaricio Vasquez, a member of the Russian-Bolivian chamber of commerce and industry, who is to accompany the Russian diplomat, said.

He said that two tastings of Bolivian wine had already been held in Moscow.
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Romania said Wednesday it is investigating the killing of a large brown bear that activists allege was illegally shot by a Liechtenstein prince during a hunt in the Carpathian Mountains

Bucharest, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2021 ) :Romania said Wednesday it is investigating the killing of a large brown bear that activists allege was illegally shot by a Liechtenstein prince during a hunt in the Carpathian Mountains.

Animal rights groups accuse Prince Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein of having killed a 17-year-old male brown bear, the "largest" sighted in Romania, while on a March hunting trip from his castle in Austria.

Romania's National Environment Guard launched a probe on April 29 into the death of a bear from a protected species in central Romania after noticing documents were missing, NEG head Octavian Berceanu told AFP.

"We knew that a female bear was supposed to be extracted, but we afterwards found a (dead) male bear," Berceanu said.

Environment Minister Tanczos Barna, who oversees the NEG, said a hunting permit had been issued to shoot a female bear in Covasna because she was a nuisance to residents, but did not say to whom the permit was issued.

- Bear named Arthur - Romanian group Agent Green and the Austrian branch of Association Against Animal Factories (VGT) identified the dead animal as a bear named "Arthur," who an Agent Green ranger had observed for years in a nature reserve.

"Arthur was 17 years old and was the largest brown bear seen in Romania and probably in the European Union," Agent Green president Gabriel Paun said in a statement.

The sheet confirming the bear's measurements, published by Agent Green and VGT, named "Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein" -- a Liechtenstein royal who lives in Austria -- as the hunter.

"NGOs Agent Green and VGT are condemning the killing of the brown bear Arthur by the trophy hunter Prince Emanuel von und zu Liechtenstein who came to Romania in March to shoot him," they said.

A request for comment by AFP to the office of Prince Emanuel's castle in Austria was not immediately answered.

The office of the Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein said in a statement to AFP that it did not know the background of this "private and personal matter".

"However, the Princely House would like to point out that respect for nature has been one of the fundamental concerns of the House and is a central element of the family's commitment to ecological and social sustainability," it said.

Romania is thought to have more than 6,000 brown bears, Europe's largest population, spread across about 30 percent of the country with the highest concentration of them in the Carpathian Mountains.

An EU member since 2007, Romania fully banned bear hunting in 2016, as the brown bear is a protected species under the bloc's habitat directive.
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Russia is ready to facilitate the dialogue between Israel and Palestine and is working to organize a meeting of the Middle East Quartet at the foreign minister level, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th May, 2021) Russia is ready to facilitate the dialogue between Israel and Palestine and is working to organize a meeting of the middle East Quartet at the foreign minister level, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Lavrov met with his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki in Moscow.

"We also emphasized our readiness to fully support direct dialogue between the Palestinians and the Israelis to resolve all fundamental final status issues," Lavrov said at joint press conference after the meeting.

"In order to reinvigorate this platform [the Middle East Quartet], we are currently working with other members of the Quartet to explore the possibility of organizing a meeting of the Quartet at the level of foreign ministers," Lavrov added.
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A mother and son were sentenced to eight years in prison by a Vietnamese court Wednesday for spreading news online about a land dispute that left four people dead, their lawyer said

Hanoi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2021 ) :A mother and son were sentenced to eight years in prison by a Vietnamese court Wednesday for spreading news online about a land dispute that left four people dead, their lawyer said.

Vietnam's authoritarian rulers typically move swiftly to muzzle critics and dissidents posting their opinions on social media.

Can Thi Theu -- who has already served two prison sentences -- and her son are believed to have been the first to spread news on social media about a clash between police and local residents in a village on the outskirts of Hanoi, in January 2020, in which three policemen and a resident were killed.

Villagers there had been resisting the military's attempts to build an airport on their land.

At a one-day trial in northern Hoa Binh province, Theu and her 32-year-old son Trinh Ba Tu were jailed for eight years for "spreading information against the communist state," said lawyer Dang Dinh Manh.

"Both defendants were strong at the trial today and although they admitted the acts that they did, they don't think what they did was wrong," he said, adding that both defendants would appeal.

Theu's older son Trinh Ba Phuong and another relative, who were arrested in June last year together with the other family members, will face trial at a later date.

Land disputes are common in Vietnam, where powerful individuals and companies often make claims on property.

"This conviction is a travesty of justice," said Emerlynne Gil, Amnesty International's deputy regional director for research.

"They are clearly being punished in retaliation for their peaceful activism to expose injustices and human rights violations." The government, headed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, a former deputy head of the Public Security Ministry, strictly controls freedom of expression and the right to protest, but flashpoints occur.

A former reporter of a state-run newspaper was jailed for eight years on the same charge at a trial in April in the south east province of Phu Yen.

Tran Thi Tuyet Dieu was found guilty of posting stories and videos on Facebook and YouTube on subjects such as corruption, environmental pollution, and human rights.

According to Reporters Without Borders, Vietnam is ranked 175th out of 180 countries in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index.
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WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 06th May, 2021) Yemeni conjoined twins, along with their parents, have been brought to Saudi Arabia by specialized medical air transport to be assessed for possible separation surgery, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center announced in a release Wednesday.

"Following a directive from the Custodian of the two holy mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Yemeni conjoined twins 'Yusuf and Yassin,' accompanied by their parents, arrived at King Salman Air Base in Riyadh today to be evaluated for possible separation surgery," the Center said in a release.

The family traveled from Yemen's city of Mukalla in by medical evacuation air transport, the release said.

"Upon landing, the craniopagus twins, who are conjoined at the head, were immediately transported to the King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs to begin the medical investigations necessary to determine if they are good candidates for separation," the release said.

All costs for transportation, medical care and accommodation for the twins and their parents will be covered by Saudi Arabia, the release said, adding that the gesture reflects the leading global humanitarian role played by the country in alleviating the suffering of people in need around the world.

"Yusuf and Yassin represent the 116th case of conjoined to be evaluated for separation by the Saudi National Conjoined Twins Team," the release said.

Since the program was launched in 1990, a total of 48 pairs of twins from 21 countries have been successfully separated, the release noted.
The UNs children fund says the first wave of Covid-19 cost the lives of 228,000 children and 11,000 mothers in the region.

By Robin Gomes

The United Nations childrens fund, UNICEF, is calling on South Asian governments to do everything possible to stop the catastrophe of Covid-19 as soon as possible, saying the virus is disproportionately hitting children in greater numbers.



The deadly new surge in South Asia threatens us all. It has the potential to reverse hard-earned global gains against the pandemic if not halted as soon as possible, warned George Laryea-Adjei, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, in a statement on Tuesday.

He urged governments to do everything within their power to stop the devastation, and those able to send assistance to do so immediately. The international community must step up without delay. This is not just a moral imperative, he said.

Laryea-Adjei also reiterated the importance of individual responsibility. Every decision we make has the potential to alter the course of this surge  and to either safeguard or endanger the lives of those around us. We may be exhausted, but the virus is not, he stressed.

The UNICEF official also reminded all of their individual responsibility to wear masks, wash hands thoroughly with soap, keep physical distances, and get vaccinated if they have the opportunity to do so.

Children

As countries are trying to respond to the public health emergency, the UNICEF official said we cannot forget the profound impacts of the pandemic on children. Children are being directly affected by the disease in higher numbers than ever before. They are losing parents and caregivers, becoming witnesses to scenes no child should ever see, and being cut off from their schools and vital support networks.

As resources are diverted and services saturated, he said, the essential health services they so heavily rely on  including routine immunization programmes - are now at risk of being compromised, if not shuttered entirely. If this happens, it will once more be the most vulnerable children and families who will suffer most.

Laryea-Adjei pointed out that the first wave of the pandemic caused drastic cuts in the availability and use of essential public health services in South Asia, costing us the lives of an estimated 228,000 children and 11,000 mothers. He said everything must be done to keep essential health, immunization and nutrition services running - and make sure women and children

Infections surging across South Asia

The UNs World Health Organization points to alarming surges in infections in South Asia, with India accounting for over 90 percent of infections and deaths in the region. India also accounted for 46 percent of global cases and 25 percent of global deaths reported in the past week.

India's official count of Covid-19 cases surpassed 20 million Tuesday, nearly doubling in the past three months, while deaths officially have passed 220,000. The countrys official average of newly confirmed cases per day has soared from over 65,000 on April 1 to about 370,000, and deaths per day have officially gone from over 300 to more than 3,000.

The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka also reported increasing caseloads. The situation is particularly alarming in Nepal, where cases recorded a 137 percent rise this week, reaching the highest levels since the pandemic started last year, severely straining its fragile health system and resulting in a dire shortage of hospital beds, intensive care units and critical medical supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE) and oxygen concentrators.

The Nepalese Government last week announced a lockdown in many locations across the country, including in Kathmandu valley, and suspended domestic flights to stem the spread of the virus.

Pakistan is also experiencing a major surge in COVID-19 and the number of cases increased rapidly in recent weeks, with daily cases reaching a seven-day average of 5,500 cases per day, up from an average of 1,100 cases per day in February.

Low vaccination levels

Laryea-Adjei warned of the danger that very low levels of vaccination in South Asia could lead to the virus spiraling out of control even further. In almost all countries in the region, with the exception of Maldives and Bhutan, fewer than 1 in 10 people have been vaccinated, he said, stressing, None of us are safe until all of us are safe.
Defendants at the court (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi  The Peoples Court of Hanoi on May 5 opened a first-instance trial of a case related to smuggling and violations of accounting regulations which occurred at the Nhat Cuong Technic Co Ltd.

This is one of the five major cases which the Central Steering Committee for Corruption Prevention and Control has required to be tried as early as possible.

At the opening session on May 5, the trial jury announced a decision to cancel the trial against Mai Tien Dung, 38, head of Nhat Cuong Companys used mobile business line, who died due to fatal illness.

Among 14 defendants put on trial, there are three women. All of the defendants have been held in custody.

Two defendants are charged with violating accounting regulations, causing serious consequences, who are Nguyen Bao Ngoc, the firms finance director, and Nguyen Thi Bich Hang, its chief accountant.

The 12 other defendants, along with Ngoc, are prosecuted for smuggling.

Regarding the charge of smuggling, the indictment said from January 2014 to May 2019, Bui Quang Huy, Nhat Cuong General Director, personally directed the companys staff to conduct 2,502 illegal transactions involving the purchase and sale of more than 255,000 mobile phones and electronic equipment worth over 2.92 trillion VND in total (126.7 million USD) with 16 suppliers in Hong Kong (China).

Huy then contacted and hired smuggling rings to transport the products from Hong Kong to Vietnam and hand over to the Nhat Cuong Company for selling, with a total of 52,811 products sold at a total value of 307 billion VND.

As for the violations of accounting regulations that cause serious consequences, the indictment said in 2014, Huy instructed the firms employees to set up two different accounting systems, one for internal use and another fake one for public reporting.

The procuracy said that this is a banned act under Article 13 of the law on accounting, which caused a loss of nearly 30 billion VND in tax revenue for the State.

Huy and several other defendants are on the run and have been put on the wanted list by police.

The trial is expected to last one week.
Business health to come first in future wage date changes, illustration photo

Instead of increasing the region-based minimum wage on January 1 every year, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) has asked the government to reconfigure the date to July 1, starting from 2022.

Explaining the timeline change idea, the VGCL said that each wage increase has a significant impact on goods and service prices. The increase in the minimum wage from July 1 will reduce the burden on price increases right before the Lunar New Year.

If the minimum wage is raised from January 1 the way it does now, businesses will face financial difficulties because they have to pay for Lunar New Year bonuses, while also worrying about increasing salaries for employees, said Ho Thi Kim Ngan, deputy head of the Labour Relations Department under the VGCL. Therefore, in order to avoid tensions in labour relations and to make business plans more favourable, the VGCL proposes the delay to July 1.

On the other hand, it was noted that a wage adjustment would help workers ensure a minimum standard of living when most are facing difficulties due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal was one of two submitted by the VGCL. The second was to consider increasing the minimum wage on July 1 this year in order to motivate workers and help them improve their lives.

This proposal was made by the VGCL after assessing the results of positive GDP growth in 2020 when labour productivity increased by 5.4 per cent, and the average consumer price index last year rose by 3.23 per cent compared to the average in 2019.

Many objections

Representing enterprises with a large number of labourers that would be directly affected, Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, general secretary of the Vietnam Leather, Footwear, and Handbag Association assessed that a leather and footwear business usually has from 1,000 to tens of thousands of workers, so the wage pressure is huge. Businesses decide the salary scale and payroll at the beginning of the year, any change would make the pressure even more terrible than preparing financial resources for employees salaries and Lunar New Year bonuses.

Leather and footwear is an export industry, so it must be compatible with the general international system. Production and financial plans, even signed contracts, and payroll scale must always be decided at the beginning of the year. The change will take time and resources, and sometimes bring problems for businesses, Xuan said.

Also representing other labour-intensive businesses, Truong Van Cam, general secretary of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), expressed disagreement with the plan. Cam said that keeping the adjustment time of the region-based minimum wage to January 1 will create favourable conditions for businesses to build and implement production, finance, labour plans, as well as limit disagreements, negatively affecting the stability of labour relations in enterprises.

In addition, VITAS also proposed not to increase the minimum wage in 2021 in order to reduce difficulties for businesses and create conditions for them to stabilise jobs, and not to lay off workers.

According to data from the General Statistics Office, last year over 101,000 enterprises in Vietnam halted operations, of which 17,500 have completed dissolution procedures and 37,700 are about to complete procedures, affecting the livelihoods of 7.2 million workers.

The pandemic seriously affected the turnover of businesses as 66 per cent of private enterprises and 62 per cent of foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) said their revenues dropped in comparison with 2019.

The recently-released PCI 2020 survey also showed that more than 40,000 employees lost their jobs in the past year, including about 28,000 employees in domestic private enterprises and more than 12,000 in FIEs.

Avoiding disturbance

After consideration, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) rejected the two proposals from the VGCL for a rise in the region-based minimum wage in 2021 and decided to continue to maintain the timing for effective wage rise from January 1.

A MoLISA representative said that it will be appropriate not to increase the minimum wage in 2021, creating conditions for businesses to recover and workers keeping their jobs, and re-participating in the labour market. Regarding the proposal to change the timeline, MoLISA has studied the practical experience of other countries. Countries such as Germany, France, Russia, South Korea, and Thailand all start the fiscal year from January 1 and the period for wage adjustment needs to coincide with the start of a fiscal year to facilitate the establishment of production and business plans.

Vietnams fiscal year lasts from January 1 to December 31. Changing the time to increase the minimum wage to the summer could cause chaos in the first few years of transition, making it difficult for enterprises and especially FIEs when each adjustment must be greenlit by the parent company. Most parent companies are in countries with fiscal years associated with calendar years like Vietnam.

Therefore, the salary adjustment from January 1 is in line with international practice, said Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Van Thanh.

According to Thanh, the Labour Code currently does not regulate the time of the minimum wage adjustment and the government has only altered this three times, to October, out of 18 adjustments since 2000.

However, the first two instances were performed to adjust the salary applied to businesses that received salaries from the state budget. The third time was for the purpose of stretching the impact on businesses when implementing a roadmap for unifying the minimum wage of state-owned groups and FIEs.

The MoLISA stated that the labour situation in recent times has remained quite stable at enterprises in Vietnam. If the time to raise wages was set to July 1, enterprises, employees, as well as the representative organisations of employees may have to negotiate many times over to change policies, causing disagreements and adversely affecting labour relations.

On the other hand, enterprises show large demand for labour today, especially in industrial zones. It is expected that when foreign investment continues to increase, a labour shortages could occur.

If the wage increase is implemented in January, it will create favourable conditions for businesses to increase remuneration regimes and policies for workers, thereby encouraging them to return to work, ensuring the balance of labour supply and demand for key locations, said the MoLISA representative.
The CAAV proposed adding an additional domestic airport at Cao Bang

Accordingly, the number of airports in the country will remain unchanged by 2030 with 28 airports, including 14 international airports and 14 domestic airports. By 2050, the country will have one additional domestic airport at Cao Bang.

Although the number of airports has not increased, the designed capacity of the airport systems has increased significantly by 2030.

Specifically, the airport system has to meet the transport needs of about 278 million passengers a year, as well as accommodate an average increase of 8.1 per cent a year. Addiitonally, it will also need to handle a cargo throughput to about 4.1 million tonnes a year, increasing at an average of 10.3 per cent per year.

This increase is huge compared to the total designed capacity of about 95 million passengers a year in 2019.

To achieve this goal, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam proposes focusing on major international airports such as Long Thanh, Tan Son Nhat, Danang, and Noi Bai airports.

Preliminary calculations show that the total capital that needs to be invested in airport infrastructure in the next 10 years is about VND400 trillion ($17.34 billion), most of which is to invest in new construction or upgrading international airports.
GE is supporting emerging economies across the global tackle climate change

Our ability to overcome the climate change challenge and achieve the results we so urgently need will not happen only through events such as the Leaders Summit, nor during government policy meetings, or in corporate boardrooms. While these are essential to alignment and making commitments, the action to achieve these goals will happen in the local markets.

Where the rubber hits the road

Success actually occurs where the rubber hits the road  in the homes, factories, industrial facilities, power plants, and office buildings where sustainable, low- and zero-carbon technologies, systems, and practices are deployed. This needs to happen in a diverse array of geographies, climates, demographics, and economies.

Some countries are densely populated; others have vast uninhabited areas. Some regions get all their water from desalination and require constant air conditioning for brutal summers; others have rivers that run full year-round, and their major concern is heating during freezing winters.

These different conditions not only impact each countrys response to climate change, but also how they approach the broader energy trilemma. This trilemma reflects the challenge countries face to address sustainability, while at the same time balancing their needs in two other critical areas: energy equity (often related to affordability) and energy security and reliability.

Even as the world rallied this week around the need for concerted action, the path taken by each country and community will look different. What that means, quite simply, is that effective climate action  particularly in the context of the energy trilemma  will need extensive localisation. This local approach requires technology and an understanding of the local environment and market.

That is why at this moment of action, we, as GE, will build on our work with customers and governments across the globe, and support the execution of the commitments outlined to move further and faster toward a more sustainable future. We must look forward to the future with new paradigms and technologies, alongside customers, governments, and partners.

Reimagining tomorrows technologies

We bring proven technologies that will support customers in taking steps today, while our ongoing research and development (R&D) will deliver the new technologies they require in the years ahead. Danielle Merfeld, chief technology officer for GE Renewable Energy spoke during a session on innovation held on the second day of the summit. She noted that GE spends $1.5 billion annually on energy-related R&D.

Already, our gas turbines can run on fuels that blend natural gas with hydrogen, resulting in lower CO2 emissions. Ongoing innovation means that many of our turbines can transition to run on 100 per cent hydrogen. This is a major milestone, as gas turbines fueled by hydrogen will unlock an era of lower carbon dispatchable electricity, providing a necessary backstop to the intermittency of renewable power. In the renewables sector, GE has some of the largest, most efficient turbines in the world. And, our hardware and software for the electrical grid helps ensure electricity is delivered efficiently and reliably to consumers.

In aviation, we are continuing to improve engine performance for greater fuel efficiency. Longer term, we are trialling sustainable airline fuels, and we are exploring electrically driven propulsion systems that reimagine the aircraft engine.

Supporting the energy transition

Meanwhile, we are helping countries pursue their energy transitions today.

In Japan, which announced during the Summit a goal to cut emissions 46 per cent by 2030, more than 550 GE wind turbines are installed or under construction.

In China, which seeks to become carbon neutral by 2060, we provide support across a number of technologies, including more than 200 gas turbines, 4.2GW of onshore wind, 18MW of offshore wind, 48GW of hydro, and over 22,000 pieces of high-voltage equipment supporting efficiencies in the grid.

In India, which seeks to have 450GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, we have 10,000 energy engineers and technologists, and 11 manufacturing facilities to support the countrys work in wind, solar, hydro, gas, nuclear, and smart grid.

By 2050, the United Arab Emirates aims to have an energy mix that includes 44 per cent renewables and 38 per cent natural gas. GE is providing its record-breaking H-class gas turbine technology for a power plant that is expected to be the most efficient in the Middle East utility sector. We also have provided solar technologies for what will be the largest single-site solar energy project in the world. And a week ago, Etihad Airways operated its first Ecoflight of 2021 on the airlines signature Greenliner aircraft, which is fully offset for all operations through 2021 as part of the airlines mission toward carbon-neutral flying. Greenliner is a partnership between the airline, GE Aviation, Boeing, and others.

Brazil aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43 per cent by 2030, and GE is contributing to this goal with technologies that provide about one-third of the 175GW of installed capacity, including 40 per cent of the countrys hydro capacity, 30 per cent of its wind projects, and efficient and flexible gas turbines, including the H-class.

As part of its commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050, South Korea is looking to renewables and hydrogen. GE is providing its H-class gas turbines, which can burn hydrogen-blend fuels, for a number of major projects.

Partnerships  again  are the answer

GE also brings an additional essential capability important to the decarbonisation journey: the ability to form partnerships and bring all the right people together around the table.

This is something GE does already, when putting together a financing package or the right project execution team for complex projects in healthcare and power generation. Or to pursue innovative solutions, such as an open Innovation Challenge in support of a lower-carbon future in Taiwan that is being organised in partnership with the Taoyuan City government and Taiwan Power Company.

Ultimately, our success as a global community in pursuing a low-carbon future requires steps now, across the entire value chain and around the world. The commitments announced and reaffirmed last week by world leaders give us the direction and inspiration we need.

For those of us who operate in the plants, facilities and systems where decarbonisation happens, our task is to translate these global and national commitments into the local implementations that will lead us to a sustainable, low-carbon future.
According to the Law on Housing 2014, foreign organisation and individual ownership of units in an apartment building may not exceed 30 per cent of total units in one apartment building.

In the event of an area with geographical boundary equivalent to ward level with many apartment buildings for sale or lease purchase, those organisations and individuals may own no more than 30 per cent of the total units of each apartment building, and not more than 30 per cent of the total units of all the apartments.

Some projects, however, have used up the limitation such as Gateway Thao Dien, Nassim, and Thao Dien Pearl. In response, the project developers are persuading their overseas buyers to a long-lease term of 50 years instead.

According to Le Hoang Chau, chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association (HoREA), in several projects that that reached the ownership rate ceiling, non-nationals are being offered two options for short-term rent or long-term home lease. In reality, there is not much difference between being in or out of the 30 per cent limitation. Foreign buyers who are consistent in wanting a property in their target projects will choose the long-lease term, Chau said.

While current regulations include the 30 per cent cap for foreign ownership in Vietnam, no such limitation is applied for long leasing.

Some nations are currently tightening foreign ownership policy to avoid speculation, like South Korea, or trying to limit the number of homes being bought by foreigners, causing prices to soar and making it difficult for local middle- and low-income people to acquire accommodation, like in Australia.

Chau stressed that housing needs and housing ownership are different. Most of the foreigners living in Vietnam would choose to rent a house instead of buying. This is because if they stay in Vietnam for more than 180 days each year will have to pay personal income tax. They will not buy fixed assets and then waste half a year of not using them, Chau said.

Keeping the limitation of 30 per cent does not affect the target of attracting foreign investment while ensuring the advantage for Vietnamese in the luxury segment, he added.

According to unofficial figures, more than 320,000 foreigners live and work in Vietnam, mainly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Ho Chi Minh City has recorded the highest percentage of foreign buyers nationwide. According to HoREA, 17 leading real estate groups and corporations in Vietnam have sold more than 12,000 homes to foreign individuals and enterprises during the past five years.

The majority of overseas buyers come from China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, while leasers are mainly from Europe, the US, Australia, and Japan. Nationwide, the HoREA predicts that around 16,000 units have been sold to non-Vietnamese buyers during this time.

Among the 17 real estate groups, 85 per cent of the total units belong to five leading ones with more than 10,000 units. Of those, Vingroup occupies around 40 per cent, with more than 5,000 units sold to foreigners.

Figures from the Ministry of Construction said that more than 4 million units were built in Vietnam in the last 10 years.

Under Decree No.99/2015/ND-CP to guide to the implementation of Law on Land 2013, the ministries of defence, public security, and construction work with local authorities to set up a list of projects eligible for foreign buyers. Developers must propose those projects and meet the required conditions so as to not harm national security.

However, many localities have not released their list of eligible projects for them, causing a prolonged process in handing out red books for buyer certification.

Only localities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Khanh Hoa, Danang, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau have offered up lists so far.

This slow process is confusing and brings risks to buyers if they bought a project but has not had it permitted yet, said Nguyen Van Minh, a consultant in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 4.
The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as FTAs, are the main reason behind the rise of IPP

Over the first four months, the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) increased by 10 per cent compared to the same period last year. The country's successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as effective free trade agreements (FTAs) are the main reasons behind this rise, resulting in the vibrant recovery of business and manufacturing activities.

Particularly in April, the IIP was estimated to increase by 1.1 per cent against the previous month and by 24.1 per cent against the same period last year.

Compared to last month, the IIP of the mining industry increased 3.8 per cent; processing and manufacturing increased 0.5 per cent; electricity production and distribution increased 2.6 per cent; water supply, waste, and wastewater management and treatment rose 4.4 per cent.

Data from the General Statistics Office showed that the processing and manufacturing industry increased by 12.7 per cent (the figure was 9.7 per cent in the same period last year), contributing 10.2 percentage points to the general increase.

Meanwhile, the IIP of power generation, transmission, and distribution increased by 6.6 per cent (6.5 per cent in the same period last year), contributing 0.6 percentage points.

Also, water supply, sewerage, waste management and treatment activities increased 7.5 per cent on-year (0.3 per cent last year), contributing 0.1 percentage points to the general growth.

Industrial production maintained its high growth momentum, as of April 1, the number of employees working at industrial enterprises increasing by 1.5 per cent over the last month and by 1.8 per cent over the same period last year.

KB Securities Vietnam JSC (KBSV) stated that the Vietnamese economy in the first quarter continued to show signs of recovery, especially in the industrial and construction sectors (up 6.3 per cent on-year). The manufacturing and processing industry continues to drive GDP growth.

Notably, processing and manufacturing increased by 9.5 per cent on-year, mainly due to the booming export activities of foreign enterprises.

In the first quarter, Vietnam's export turnover reached $77.3 billion, up 22 per cent over the same period last year. This is significantly supported by the recovery of consumer demand at many major trade partners, of which exports to the US, China, and the EU accounted for 32.8, 34.3, and 14.2 per cent of Vietnam's export turnover, respectively.

Export growth remained strong at foreign-invested enterprises since these firms, after relocating production to Vietnam, took advantage of the supply chain and recovery of the global economy.
The MoF has just announced a statement on recent congestions on the stock market.

According to the MoF, the major reason leading to the overload and congestion in the last few months lies in the significant increase in demand by market participants. The sudden rush has taken a toll on the old trading infrastructure, while the capacity and readiness of the current system is still limited.

The State Securities Commission (SSC) under the MoF also acknowledged that a brand-new trading system is of utmost importance, so the SSC has requested the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX) and other relevant agencies to speed up the implementation of a new trading platform.

Moreover, a solid trading infrastructure with support from the Korean Exchange was to be adopted in late 2020, but the health crisis has kept experts from the Korean Exchange from entering Vietnam on schedule.

While waiting for the new system, the MoF has assigned FPT  the local IT giant  to develop an alternative system to host HSX transactions.

This plan is being implemented urgently. The MoF believes the new system would alleviate congestions and technical issues on HSX.

Previously, Le Hai Tra, CEO of HSX, suggested an increase to the board lot size from 100 to 1,000 shares in a bid to solve trade congestions.

Investors can negotiate with securities companies to sell odd-lot shares. Currently, the MoF has not had a plan to raise trading lots, the MoF noted.

According to Bao Viet Securities (BVSC), raising the minimum trading slots is a counter-trend movement against the global trend, as many stock exchanges in other countries are trying to reduce the trading slots. For example, the Singapore Stock Exchange reduced the board lot size from 1,000 to 100 in 2015, and its Tokyo counterpart also reduced it by the same amount in 2018.

Nonetheless, assuming a new trading system is not yet ready to be implemented, an increase in the size of board lots could keep the trading system from collapsing and failing trades  both obvious negatives when it comes to trying to promote Vietnam to an emerging market from a frontier market by both the FTSE and MSCI, BVSC noted.

The MoF is looking forward to receiving support from retail and institutional investors to a create sustainably operating domestic stock market.
Public investment to spur faster growth

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) on April 20 sent a document to ministries, agencies, and localities nationwide asking them to report barriers in their activities involving disbursement of state budget capital allocated to them for 2021.

They are also requested to report the results of public investment disbursement, including sums disbursed and that having failed to be realised, as well as proposed solutions for boosting such disbursement.

The solutions include two groups, with the first on policies about investment procedures and plan, site clearance, and construction, and the second on project implementation, said MPI Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong, who signed the document. Boosting public investment will help grow the economy, attract more private investment, and create more employment for local workers.

The MPI will collect all ideas and solutions and then make official proposals to the government in public investment disbursement for this year and beyond, which must ensure goals, high quality, and effectiveness in the use of this type of capital.

The ministry has also required ministries, agencies, and localities to report to it their 2021-2025 mid-term public investment plans, in terms of total needed capital, how to allocate the capital, proposed projects, and estimated results for the period.

The MPI is the first ministry to implement Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs order to boost public investment disbursement as one of the key solutions to stimulate national economic growth. The order was made on April 15 during PM Chinhs first government cabinet meeting after the governments new personnel group made a debut at the recent 11th session of the 14th National Assembly.

The government orders heads of ministries, agencies, and localities to be directly and comprehensively responsible for the implementation and disbursement of public investment as planned, he said.

Pham Minh Chinh - Prime Minister COVID-19 is raging globally in an extremely complicated manner, with a continued rise in the number of victims. Within Vietnam, there is a big risk of a resurging pandemic. So it would be a very difficult job for us to implement a dual task of economic development and fighting against the pandemic at the same time. All ministries, sectors, and localities, organisations, units, and individuals are requested to take great caution against the pandemic, for the sake of the communitys health. They have to strictly implement anti-pandemic solutions. Leaders of ministries, sectors, agencies, and units of localities have to frequently update the pandemic situation in the country and worldwide. They must not be passive in all scenarios of possible outbreaks. All responsibilities of relevant people must be clarified. All individuals have to stringently implement all solutions against COVID-19, and especially have to wear facemasks. All organisations and units have to frequently examine and update results of the implementation of tasks against the pandemic. Competent authorities have to strictly punish all violations and violators under the law. Crowded gatherings and events are limited. The Ministry of Health must be more active in boosting international cooperation in access to COVID-19 vaccine sources and quick test technologies, and facilitate the domestic production of vaccines.

Boosted disbursement

According to the Ministry of Finance (MoF), in the first quarter of 2021, total disbursement of state-funded projects, mostly infrastructure ones, remains low, at VND60.75 trillion ($2.64 billion), reaching 11.95 per cent of the initial plan and 13.17 per cent of the plan assigned by the prime minister. In which, foreign-funded capital disbursement hit only 0.66 per cent.

Many localities achieved high disbursement rates, including Thai Binh (43.24 per cent), Bac Ninh (30.2 per cent), Hung Yen (28.67 per cent), Thanh Hoa (27.79 per cent), and Ha Nam (27.63 per cent), and the Ministry of Public Security (31.62 per cent). Up to 31 ministries, central agencies, and localities including Hanoi have yet to boost disbursement.

A few weeks ago, showing up its strong efforts to realise this type of capital, Hanois authorities decided on using its own budget to invest over VND1.75 trillion ($76.3 million) into five infrastructure projects vital to local residents of its outskirts. For example, one of the projects worth VND463 billion ($20 million) is constructing a 1.1km road in Xuan Dinh area, which is home to hundreds of thousands of residents including many foreign nationals.

This road will also be connected with a road leading to Samsungs $220 million research and development centre currently under construction and to some overseas-backed property projects under construction including British-backed Refico Real Estate Groups Kosmo Tay Ho.

It is calculated that over the next five years, Hanoi will need about VND482.8 trillion ($21 billion) worth of public investment for its infrastructure projects. A resolution for the 2021-2025 public investment plan has also been adopted by the citys authorities.

According to a report adopted at the recent 13th National Party Congress, over the next five years, public investment will be effectively restructured and reduced in the total development capital structure.

Public investment will be focused on key sectors of the economy, key works and projects which have spillover effects and can create socioecomomic development momentum, and create breakthroughs in attracting capital from domestic and foreign private sources under the form of public-private partnerships (PPPs), the report stated.

All loans must be strictly controlled in order to invest into socioeconomic infrastructure. Inspection in all public investment activities will continue being launched so as to prevent corruption and wastefulness.

Each percentage of public investment rise will create 0.06 per cent economic growth in Vietnam.

In late 2020, the National Assembly passed a plan for boosting public investment for 2021. Accordingly, total capital from state coffers for this year will be VND477.3 trillion ($20.75 billion).

This sum will be earmarked for many projects. For example, nearly $700 million will be used for national target programmes, just over $650 million for the project on constructing the North-South Expressway; $202 million for land compensation and resettlement for Long Thanh International Airport; over $121 million for developing coastal roads; and nearly $205 million for supporting localities in implementing some key new infrastructure ventures.

According to the MPI, in 2021, these new investment capital sums, in addition to capital attracted from private investors, will help to complete the construction of the eastern cluster of the North-South Expressway project, the national coastal road line, connection road lines, airports, and seaports.

The MoF reported that in 2020, nearly $17 billion, equivalent to 82.8 per cent of the plan allocated, was disbursed, while the figure as of end-November was only $14.3 billion, equalling 70.1 per cent. This is the highest ratio of disbursement in 2016-2020  with 80.3 per cent in 2016, 73.3 per cent in 2017, 66.87 per cent in 2018, and 67.46 per cent in 2019. Most of the capital has been invested in infrastructure works.

Vietnams economic growth hit 2.91 per cent last year, significantly fuelled by a boost in public investment, which has helped create massive employment and consumed a great deal of materials  increasing the performance of many key products in the economy such as electricity, steel, and cement, according to the General Statistics Office.

International calls

A number of high-profile international organisations are calling for Vietnam to boost public investment into socioeconomic development, with a focus on infrastructure works which will help Vietnam improve its economic competitiveness and attract more foreign investors  who are seeing weak infrastructure development as one of the biggest obstructions against their performance in the country.

The World Bank looked into the countrys fiscal stance, stating that the fiscal balance was in surplus for the first time since the onset of the pandemic. In the first quarter of 2021, the government collected $17.55 billion of revenues  up 3.2 per cent on-year, while total spending decreased by 0.4 per cent on-year to $14.9 billion, resulting in a fiscal surplus of over $2.6 billion, which is 29 per cent higher than a year ago.

Such a surplus will help Vietnam have more resources to increase public investment. Implementation of public investment [in the first quarter] was on track with a disbursement rate of about 13 per cent, equivalent to the one achieved in the first quarter of 2020, the World Bank said in a recent report. After three years of fiscal consolidation, the authorities acted decisively and accelerated the disbursement of the public investment programme.

Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which has raised its forecast for Vietnams economic growth to 6.7 per cent in 2021 and 7 per cent in 2022, citing many key drivers including the strength of accelerated public investment, revived domestic consumption.

There is room to further increase public investment spending as a share of GDP. Higher public investment spending can be achieved by utilising savings from rationalising current outlays, while improving efficiency and prioritisation, said a recent ADB report on Vietnam. Efforts should focus on closing Sustainable Development Goals gaps in roads, electricity and water sectors that have positive externalities and can crowd-in private sector investments. Investing in adaptive and digital infrastructure as currently being considered could boost growth and aid with the targeting of social assistance programmes and financial inclusion.

MPI Deputy Minister Phuong told VIR that amid existing massive difficulties caused by COVID-19, accelerating public investment will be among the best solutions to fuel the economy and enable it to hit the economic growth rate of about 6.5 per cent this year, and public investment will also have great impacts on the countrys attracting more private sectors.

It will take years to complete procedures for a project under the PPP format, so for the time being public investment is a feasible solution, Phuong added.
Facing increasing pressure from reliance on coal-fired power, Samsung Electronics Vietnam  the smartphone manufacturer which accounts for half of the smartphones shipped globally by the global corporation  is now seeking authorisation from the Vietnamese government to begin buying renewable energy directly from producers.

If approved, Samsung would be authorised to enter into direct power purchase agreements (DPPAs) to buy electricity from companies other than the state-owned Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), Nikkei Asia reported.

Vietnam has just begun to experiment on a limited basis with DPPAs for solar and wind energy. But a coalition of fashion brands from Nike to Mulberry, dissatisfied with the pace of progress, wrote to the government in December to speed up such approvals, Nikkei added.

DPPAs have long been under consideration in Vietnam, with the Ministry of Industry and Trade having already held a consultation workshop in June 2019 to collect opinions on a potential pilot from international organisations, renewable energy developers, and potential buyers.

Samsung Vietnam plans to expand its presence in the country by setting up a research and development (R&D) centre, strengthening cooperation with domestic enterprise, and taking part in public infrastructure projects, its general director Choi Joo Ho has said.

In an interview with Tuoi Tre newspaper, Ho said Samsung launched the construction of the new R&D centre in Hanoi in last March and that it is scheduled for completion in December 2022.

This is Samsung Electronics first R&D centre outside of the Republic of Korea and the largest of its kind by a foreign-invested enterprise in Vietnam, he added.

Last year, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked Samsung to consider producing semiconductors in the country.

Last year, environmentalists has strongly urged Samsung C&T, part of the broader Samsung Group conglomerate, to divest from Vietnam's Vung Ang 2 coal-fired power plant.
BAT is supporting its suppliers through annual quality audit

Vietnam is recognised as the worlds leading producer of motorbikes with 3.2-3.5 million units per year. About 80 per cent of components and spare parts are domestically produced, but most of them are made by foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs). Domestic enterprises can only produce plastic parts.

While "Made in Vietnam" Nike shoes are priced at $100-200, Vietnamese parts contribute less than $10. These examples typically indicate that the participation of Vietnam in global supply chains is modest.

Recently, the situation has improved as more multinational corporations (MNCs) and FIEs have cooperated with their Vietnamese suppliers to promote sustainability through various practical activities, such as supporting improvements in business management and operation as well as establishing rational and efficient production processes, to support SMEs in entering the global supply chain. Coca-Cola, Heineken, or British American Tobacco (BAT) are all leading names in this trend.

A strict eye for improvement

In Vietnam, BAT is supporting its suppliers through annual quality audit, focusing on activities related to employees and working environment, helping them improve to work with BAT not only in Vietnam but in international markets as well.

Accordingly, the working environment, food security, certification of origin for raw materials, as well as operation and control processes, among others, are some of the criteria set by global BAT in selecting its local suppliers.

Meeting these criteria is a big challenge for suppliers in Vietnam, pushing them to improve themselves. According to the representative of BAT in Vietnam, before an audit, a provider only meets 57 per cent of the corporation's criteria, with common difficulties in workplace safety, lacking emergency exits, and inefficient factory arrangement.

However, under guidance and support from BAT through site inspections and online discussions, suppliers improve quality, meeting on average 93 per cent of the criteria after only two months. Normally, a supplier needs three months to meet all requirements by audit teams.

Through the standard index by BAT, they see the shortcomings in their quality control systems as well as risk management that need improvement. All the work they put into addressing these issues is testament to their desire to participate in the global supply chain as well as the ambition of BAT to cooperate with Vietnamese suppliers, said a representative of BAT in Vietnam.

Learning from giants

Currently, BATs partner quality assessment is done through a third party independent audit firm.

In particular, the audit team will implement two activities, including Working Conditions Assessment (WCA) and Supplier Quality Process Control (SQP). Thereby, BAT will evaluate its suppliers in many aspects, including working conditions, compliance with environmental, health, and safety (EHS) standards, and quality control process. Following the evaluation, BAT proposes solutions and supports its suppliers to quickly improve standards.

On the other hand, suppliers can also actively learn from BAT models and apply them to their business. "With our global scale and experience from multiple markets, we are ready to share our effective practices with our partners. However, partners must themselves acknowledge the usefulness of the models. For example, some partners said they can now conduct risk evaluation and management on their own to detect errors and take action. Some reached up to 82 per cent of the criteria, helping them operate in a safe and efficient manner, said the representative of BAT.

A local partner supplies only one item for BAT in Vietnam. However, if the partner shows significant improvement, BAT can consider expanding the scope of the supply arrangement.

"Through internal and external improvements, the supplier can achieve sustainable development while improving their product quality. This benefits themselves and their partners  and is a great value that BAT wants to share with all local suppliers, the representative said.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son (centre) symbolically presents the assistance from the Party, State, and people of Vietnam to Laos at the ceremony at Wattay International Airport on May 4 (Photo: VNA)

Vientiane  Vietnams assistance for Laos in the COVID-19 combat was handed over at a ceremony held at Wattay International Airport in Vientiane capital city on May 4 morning.

The support consisted of 500,000 USD in financial aid and medical supplies, including 2 million medical face masks, 200 ventilators, and 10 tonnes of the Chloramine B disinfectant.

Notably, the flight from Hanoi also carried 35 Vietnamese experts sent to help Laos in the fight.

On this occasion, the Party Central Committees Commission for External Relations, the Vietnam - Laos Cooperation Committee, and the Government Office of Vietnam also presented the Laos partners with 50,000, 500,000, and 20,000 medical masks, respectively.

At the handover ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung expressed the Vietnamese leaders and peoples sympathies for Laos on the difficulties and challenges facing the country in COVID-19 prevention and control.

He affirmed Vietnams belief that under the clear-sighted and drastic leadership of the Lao Party and State and with the resolve of relevant agencies and people, Laos will manage to contain the coronavirus outbreak, recover the economy and society, and continue developing sustainably.

Congratulating Vietnam on the significant achievements in the COVID-19 fight, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune appreciated the precious assistance from the Vietnamese Party, State, and people to the Lao counterparts.

He described the aid as a meaningful and timely contribution to Laos efforts to combat the pandemic and also a source of support for the health workers and patients in the country.

The Deputy PM, who is also head of Laos central committee for COVID-19 prevention and control, also stressed that Vietnam is the first country to provide financial, personnel, and material support for his country in the latest outbreak, which strongly reflects the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

Also on May 4, the Van Lang education group of Vietnam delivered 100 ventilators to Laos, part of a programme to provide medical supplies for Laos and Cambodia in the COVID-19 combat.

Another 800 ventilators will be sent to Cambodia in the time ahead, according to the Ministry of Health.

The ventilator production was funded by the Van Lang and Van Thinh Phat groups.
By Prof. Dr. Andreas Stoffers Country director, Freidrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom

Yes, it does, but it is not so easy. In fact, it has proven helpful in business life to know what cultural imprint a country and its people have received over the past centuries and millennia. This makes it easier to understand the approaches and decision making of business partners.

However, before my career in business, I had written my doctoral thesis on the history of Southeast Asia. So I was already familiar with Vietnams colourful history when I stepped onto Vietnamese soil for the first time as a new member of the management board of Deutsche Bank Vietnam in Hanoi in 2009.

At that time, I was full of joy and excited to finally get to know the country of the descendants of Lac Long Quan and Au Co, to see what had become of the homeland of the Hung kings and how much of the tradition of the great personalities of Vietnamese history is still recognisable today, a history that I had previously only known from books.

I thought of Chinese colonial rule for a thousand years, the revolt of the Trung sisters, the victory of Ngo Quyen and Tran Hung Dao over the Mongols, the Tay Son revolution, the expansion of Vietnam to the south, and the countrys struggle for independence. For me, it was more than just a business episode at the time. I wanted to dive into the life and culture of Vietnam.

I am still proud of my own culture as a German. If you dont honour your own ancestors, you cant be open and understanding towards other cultures. My home country, Germany, and Vietnam are far apart. There were times in the past when people travelled for months by ship to get to Indochina. For German merchants, it was not easy to trade with Vietnam in the second half of the 19th century - unlike with Thailand - because the French had conquered and exploited the country.

Today, the distance between Vietnam and Germany is only a mouse click away. Live-streaming is possible, some Germans live in Vietnam, and even more Vietnamese have found their second home in Germany.

Despite the diversity of culture and history, many things connect countries, not only the excellent economic relations. Both countries were divided against their will in the second half of the 20th century. Germany also suffered from ethnic cleansing in the east after the end of the Second World War, which resulted in 12-15 million displaced Germans and annexation of large parts of our country by the victors. The two remaining parts of the country, East and West Germany, found themselves on opposite sides in the Cold War.

I was a soldier in the middle of the Cold War in 1985. We were prepared to fight against our compatriots and the other ideological bloc. I knew my units combat positions near the border that I was supposed to move into with my engineer platoon in the event of war. Fortunately, it never came to that. I and Germany were spared the fate of the Vietnamese having to fight each other.

The Vietnamese were forcibly divided into North and South, but the will to reunite and the commitment to the common Vietnamese culture prevailed. Vietnam was reunified in 1975, and Germany followed in 1989.

I can still remember the moving scenes in Bavaria in autumn 1989, when we in the West greeted our compatriots enthusiastically as they finally crossed the open border. Separate families came together, and a journey across the whole of Germany was possible.

At that time I was still an officer in the West German armed forces, and welcomed our East German comrades of the National Peoples Army with open arms. For the most part, they were good soldiers and patriots. I can therefore perfectly understand the great feeling of the Vietnamese to live in a reunified country.

Reunification Day should therefore be celebrated with joy. For the future, it will be important not to allow ourselves and our countries to be torn between two powers again. For Vietnam in particular, it is important not to take the side of a great power, but to have equidistance to both sides and to involve neutral third parties. This includes the EU, but above all the Germans. We Germans can best understand what it means to celebrate the anniversary of reunification.
Wolfgang Friess (left) and Trung Trinh Hien from Austrian-backed company Live Forever Young

Did you ever wonder why Vietnam is a successful exporting country of so many products, but no Vietnamese brand stands out overseas? From textiles, footwear, and furniture to coffee, pepper, exotic fruits, and fish, Vietnam ships a lot of products to Europe, the Americans, and many other countries in the world. Yet, there is not even one reputable Vietnamese brand?

Sometimes corporations announce that they have sales in the United States, Czech Republic, or in Germany. They are right: they have sold something to the Czechs, they may even have passively sold their brand, and some consumers may find it in some unpopular stores.

But through this brand value is not built. On the contrary; brand value is damaged for the long run and the brand is stuck without any professional positioning study. That brand risks being stuck in that poor position for decades and only reaching fewer than 5 per cent of its potential consumer base.

Meanwhile, companies from nations all over the world use that time to build their brand and widen the winning gap.

Just think about all the brand cosmetics from Japan or South Korea; think about all the nutrition supplements from Australia, and the US; think about the kitchen equipment from Germany; and think about the luxury bags or home furniture from Italy or France. Have in mind the price-point of such a French luxury bag versus a local or regional bag and see the value creation.

Even though trading and producing for others as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) brings in important revenue for corporations and tax collectors, it only produces low value sales. Companies and the state miss out on high-value branded sales of final premium products as it happens the other way round: overseas companies bring in high-value brands into Vietnam.

Vietnamese businessmen are strong and successful in manufacturing and trading like in the case of peppers or cashews; and companies make good revenues in OEM and passive-selling, but thats it. Some Vietnamese companies do a great job in brand-building locally and have built strong brands inside Vietnam, but why do we fail across the borders?

Vietnamese companies and the mindset of local executive directors master perfectly the left side of the scale and this brings in important revenues for the state in tax collection and companies paying corporate taxes. OEM and passive selling of a brand both have reason for existence for its benefits, and it is a workable model.

Succeeding on the left scale and failing on the right scale is a combination of several factors: lack of financial resources, hurdles in overseas capital investments, shortcomings in competencies and capabilities of teams, and the mindset of executive directors or shareholders to focus on short-term profits.

Live Forever Young (LFY) has worked for several Vietnamese companies to bring them into the US or EU. It only focuses on Europe and the US with a team of expert associates in both regions.

Whilst working for many strong companies of local success, LFY experts from Vietnam, Europe, and the US can clearly see the shortcomings for Vietnam to enter the race of creating brand value overseas, and of cashing in from the beautiful things that Vietnamese businessmen have to offer.

The day will come that Vietnamese companies learn the rules of success of brand-building in the US or EU, though this day is still far away. If that day comes revenues will double or triple, and subsequently cash will come into the state coffers.

Most OEMs that made their first steps in passive selling got used to some benefits, which are not there when carrying out brand-building or selling with owned overseas marketing investment. These benefits are receiving cash against documents; no need to send any money overseas for paying marketing activities; and avoiding the hurdles of overseas banking systems.

If a company invests in brand-building, this Vietnamese company would own the goods still in a warehouse in, for example, Austria or California. Payment terms usually delay the reception of payment after the final retailer has received the branded goods.

On top of this, the manufacturer or brand-owner needs to pay, upfront, marketing agencies or merchandising teams for their work. Very often the brand owner will have expenses with the retailers even before the first revenues. In the US, retailers may ask for a slotting fee, in Europe the retailer may ask for a listing fee. These upfront investments are so painful to the Vietnamese businesses mindset, but they are common practice and a rule to succeed in the US market.

The overseas banking system is so scary to Vietnamese companies that while some take the effort and time, many others do not want to waste their time and energy.

Another element is the capabilities and the mindset of people, which can be explained in a short example. LFY got a Vietnamese brand into 170 stores in New Jersey and another 160 stores in New York with all the needed infrastructure and all required marketing and sale materials. That is the starting point of the difficulty: many people are not trained or never had the learned experience of setting up and managing all that infrastructure in the US, starting with the logistics and documents, leading into selecting and managing a warehouse. The invoicing, consumer handling, and much more infrastructure needs to be ready.

Besides that, retailers will only list you if you commit to them with a marketing and sales plan. Without marketing, the 170 stores in New Jersey cannot reach the expected velocity and kick your product out of the store 4-6 weeks later and request you to take back the stocks from their shelves. Dont expect this brand to see that buyer a second time.

To many people brand building is designing a logo with some icons and then registering it as a trademark  thats wrong, as anybody on the street can do that. Designing a logo and paying the registration fee can be done by any person, but building a brand is much more. Many people think brand building is marketing. Again, that is wrong. Marketing can support brand building, but building a brand is more than running a campaign.

These are examples and real experiences that let us understand why at the beginning we said it would still take many years before a Vietnamese company succeeds in brand building.

We hope to see that distant future day. To make it happen we are here to support companies in the US or EU. If you are really and truly serious, we know how to get you into the EU or US, but we only do brand-building. We may support you on selling with owned marketing investment, which means you are in charge of marketing and brand building.

Together we own the marketing programmes and we decide how to communicate for the brand. If you want the distributor to own it, then dont work with us. You are just selling, but not creating a brand.
Billionaire Bill Gates has announced that he and his wife Melinda Gates will be divorcing soon, after being married for 27 years. In a joint statement posted to Bills Twitter account, the couple stated that they put in a great deal of thought and a lot of work into their relationship, but eventually decided to end the marriage.

Gates pointed out that during the course of their relationship, the couple raised three incredible children and established a foundation that helps people across the world to lead productive and healthy lives. The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation has provided grants totaling $54.8 billion since its inception back in 2000.

We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives. We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life, Bill Gates posted on Twitter.

The couple first met in 1987 at a New York City sales meeting, after Melinda joined Microsoft as a product manager. They soon discovered that they shared a love of puzzles, and ended up tying the knot seven years later in 1994. Bill was 38 years old at the time, while Melinda was 29. When their first child was born, Melinda decided to be a stay-at-home mom and leave the company, a decision that apparently shocked Bill. The couples three children are Phoebe, Rory, and Jennifer, who are 18, 21, and 25 years old.

But then my view changed over time when I felt like I had created the environment where I could give my kids privacy and let them grow up to be themselves. We had the values, we had people around us who were also imparting those same values that we had. Then I felt, like, OK, I do want to work, and I will be a working mum. The one thing Ill say about Bill is he was incredibly supportive all along the way, Melinda said in an interview with Business Insider.

The fourth richest man in the world, Bill Gates is estimated to have a net worth of more than $130.5 billion. The couple filed a petition to dissolve the marriage in the King County Superior Court in Seattle, and Melinda will not be seeking spousal support according to divorce papers she filed. While the couple did not sign a prenuptial agreement, they have agreed to a separation contract dividing their joint assets.

The couples main home in Washington is a 66,000 square foot mansion that is estimated to be worth around $125 million. They own two ranches, one in Wyoming worth $9 million and another in Florida worth $59 million. They also have two homes in California worth $18 million and $43 million.

Although the couple will continue to collaborate through their foundation, David Callahan, editor of Inside Philanthropy, believes that Melinda will also pursue her own philanthropic projects. Theres no particular reason to think that anything will change with the foundation and its work. It has a large endowment. It has a professional staff of 1,600 people. It has a set of really well-developed programs, Callahan said to the Los Angeles Times.

To me, the big question is, does Melinda get a sizable divorce settlement? And if so, what does she do in terms of forging her own path as an independent philanthropist, he said. Callahan believes that Melinda may focus on projects promoting womens empowerment, which has been one of the foundations top priorities over the past five years.

Callahan pointed out that the Gates foundation usually writes an annual letter signed by Bill Gates. However, Melindas name also started appearing in the letters a few years ago, indicating that she had started to play a bigger role in the foundation.

Preceding the Gates divorce, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott separated in 2019. Scott received Amazon stock valued at around $36 billion at the time of the divorce, and donated over $4 billion to charities during a four-month period last year.

Steven Li contributed to this report.
Taiwanese chip behemoth TSMC is gearing up to build several additional production facilities in Arizona in order to satisfy U.S. demand, say anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., the largest chipmaker in the world, already unveiled plans in May of 2020 to build a $12 billion USD factory in Arizona to produce high-tech chips on American soil.

The announcement came after former President Donald Trumps administration pushed to create a renaissance in American manufacturing and a shift away from reliance on made-in-China goods.

The projects construction began this year and is expected to result in a single fully operational production plant by 2024. The main branch of the Arizona facility is projected to build a modest 20,000 silicon wafers per month using the firms most sophisticated 5 nanometer technology. Each wafer contains thousands of individual chips.

TSMC currently manufactures most of its chips in Taiwan, but has older production facilities in both China and Washington.

Three anonymous sources told Reuters that as many as five additional fabrication plants are in the works at the Arizona site.

Last month, TSMCs board announced plans to invest $100 billion over the next three years to expand production capacity, compelled by an unprecedented shortage of chips rippling across the global auto and electronic markets.

One of Reuters sources told the outlet six fabrication facilities would be built at the direct bequest of the United States. The sources could not give a time frame for when construction would begin or could be completed, however.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said during an appearance at an Americas Society event on May 4 that the U.S. is on the hunt to on-shore domestic production in a number of sectors in a bid to move away from reliance on Chinese Communist Party-made goods.

She added that her administration is pressuring TSMC to allot more supply to American automakers, who are struggling with a major chip shortage, Were working hard to see if we can get the Taiwanese and TSMC, which is a big company there, to prioritize the needs of our auto companies since theres so many American jobs on the line, she said.

Raimondo said currently the U.S. is making zero percent of leading-edge chips in the United States, and that thats a problem.

We ought to be making 30 percent because that matches our demandIt is definitely the case that we have to reshore much of our supply chain, she said.

Another of Reuters sources said TSMC bought plenty of land for additional facilities when they purchased the land for the main plant. A third source attested TSMC told them six additional facilities would be built over the next three years.

During an April earnings call, TSMC CEO CC Wei only confirmed the known production plant. However, he did confirm his company had purchased a large piece of land in Arizona to provide flexibility.

So further expansion is possible, but we will ramp up to Phase 1 first, then based on the operation efficiency and cost economics and also the customers demand, to decide what the next steps we are going to do.

Once there is any official decision, we will disclose it accordingly, added Wei.
Last year, nine four-star generals sent a memo to top officials of the U.S. intelligence community, requesting they declassify information pertaining to the pernicious conduct of Russia and China. The memo, which is nicknamed 36-star memo for the total number of stars of the signatories, was organized by the outgoing head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Phil Davidson and signed by eight additional regional military commanders.

The memo, which has not been made public but was reviewed by Politico, argued that such action could help America combat adversaries and garner support from allies in the 21st century. However, such efforts are currently being blocked due to strict rules on secrecy.

The memo points out that America continues to miss opportunities to clarify truth, thus failing to counter distortions and puncture false narratives. This contributes to a failure to influence events in a timely manner and allows adversaries to gain an upper hand in controlling the narrative in the battle of public opinion. It is unclear why the memo has emerged now.

As reported by Politico,The Russians and the Chinese, in particular, have weaponized informationThis is a significant concern that is being raised by military commanders and intelligence professionalsThe combatant commands are out at the edge, said Kari Bingen, who was a recipient of the memo when she was undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security. Their forces are interacting with our allies and partners, and seeing what our adversaries are doing, on a daily basis. They need timely and relevant information to expose bad activity and to counter what theyre seeing.

Defense officials have indicated that there is frustration among military commanders regarding the quality and timeliness of the intelligence they are receiving and also the high level of classification that prevents the sharing of pertinent information with allies, including satellite imagery.

The memo has triggered a response at the highest levels of American intelligence. In December last year, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) asked intelligence agencies to review their existing procedures and extend support to the Combatant Commands at the speed and scale they desire, said Matt Lahr, deputy assistant DNI for Strategic Communications in a statement to Politico.

Lahr added that David Taylor, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security and Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence are reviewing the agencies progress and emphasize that countering malign influence remains a top priority.

Foreign threats

The ODNI recently published its annual worldwide threat assessment review, warning that America is facing increasing threats from countries like Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. Terming China as a near-peer competitor, the report warned that the communist nation will challenge the United States in multiple areas and push for changing global norms in its favor.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will continue its whole-of-government efforts to spread Chinas influence, undercut that of the United States, drive wedges between Washington and its allies and partners, and foster new international norms that favor the authoritarian Chinese system. Chinese leaders probably will, however, seek tactical opportunities to reduce tensions with Washington when such opportunities suit their interests, the report states.

The report also highlighted cyber threats posed by Russia and China, calling them an acute danger to American national security. The four adversaries mentioned in the report are said to be providing a safe haven for foreign cybercriminals that target the U.S. It referred to the SolarWinds hack as a demonstration of Russias intent to attack and disrupt American private and public entities. China is described as having the capability to create localized, temporary disruptions to Americas critical infrastructure.

Nuclear threat

Admiral Charles Richard, Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, warned at a recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that the Chinese militarys nuclear prowess is increasing at a rapid rate and urged Congress to quickly upgrade nuclear infrastructure in the U.S. The admiral pointed out that Beijing has moved a portion of its nuclear forces from peace-time status to launch-on-warning and high-alert and mentioned that he cant get through a week right now, without finding out something we didnt know about China. With regard to Russia, almost 80 percent of its nuclear capabilities have apparently been modernized. He lamented that America is at zero percent regarding modernization of its nuclear capabilities.

At a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee, Admiral Richard detailed Chinas expanding nuclear arsenal that includes a large number of intercontinental ballistic missiles which are highly mobile and travel around the country, making them very difficult to track. In addition, Chinas solid-fueled missiles can be set up and fired more quickly than the older liquid-fueled missiles. Richard said America does not have the kind of truck-mounted missiles that China and Russia are fielding.

China is close to completing its nuclear triad and has deployed six second-generation ballistic missile submarines that ensure continuous deterrence in the seas while also providing additional strike capabilities against the United States. You add all of this together, and [the Chinese] can do any plausible nuclear employment strategy regionally, Richard said in a statement. This will backstop their conventional capability and will potentially constrain our options. Well be the ones that are getting deterred if I dont have the capability to similarly deter them.
The Cambodian government must investigate and punish perpetrators of crimes and violence against journalists, civil society groups said after releasing a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day on Monday.

The statement, which included 45 rights groups and community organizations, highlighted how at least 22 journalists were either attacked or threatened with violence while in the field in 2020. One journalist died in an alleged traffic accident without a proper investigation.

It added that at least 72 journalists were harassed by the judiciary, and 42 of them were detained, questioned, or imprisoned. Authorities often used the incitement charge against reporters under Articles 494 and 495 of the Cambodian Criminal Code.

The groups said this was seen in the cases of Sok Oudom, the owner of Rithysen radio station in Kampong Chhnang province, and Ros Sokhet, a journalist and publisher of the Khmer Nation newspaper. They were both convicted and sentenced to prison last year.

We are, therefore, deeply concerned about the continued deterioration of the media environment in Cambodia and urge the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to cease the ongoing harassment of independent media outlets and journalists for exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression, to end the rampant impunity against attacked and murdered journalists, the statement reads.

The signatories to the statement included the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, and the Cambodian Journalist Alliance Association, the latter had released a report in March detailing attacks against journalists.

Chak Sopheap, director of Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said on Tuesday that the culture of impunity for people who attacked journalists or murdered them must end.

But on the contrary, if its not like that, then the journalist will be perceived that when something happens to them, they will not get justice, and then the perpetrators are not punished by the law, so it will create an atmosphere of fear for the journalists who perform their duties, she said.

VOA Khmer spoke to Siem Reap-based journalist Pran Sean who was beaten by two unidentified men armed with wooden sticks on March 13, 2020. The attack severely injured Pran Seans head, arms and legs. It took place while he napped on a trip from Preah Vihear to Siem Reap province.

Pran Sean, who owns the Anachak Khmer online publication, said on Tuesday that since the attack, police officials in Preah Vihear and Siem Reap have not initiated an investigation to find the perpetrators. He said authorities must search for the attackers because he believed the attack was not personal disputes-related.

When it comes to the authorities, there must be an obligation to continue the investigation, but now the authorities are quiet and they have not said anything, he said.

Since 1994, at least 13 journalists have been murdered for reporting on Cambodias elite or allegations of corruption by high-ranking officials and the military, according to the statement.

Ministry of Information spokesperson Meas Sophorn said investigations into these attacks were incumbent on the participation of the victims in these attacks, as well as other relevant individuals who need to be questioned when authorities are investigating cases.
The High Court has granted bail to Movement for Democratic Change Alliances Harare North lawmaker, Joanna Mamombe, and part youth leader, Cecilia Chimbiri, who were in remand prison for two months, facing charges of insulting police and breaking COVID-19 lockdown regulations.

In a tweet, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, said Justice Webster Chinamora granted the two ZWL$10,000 each. They were also ordered to report to the nearest police station twice a week, live at their present addresses and not to interfere with state witnesses.

The state, which initially opposed bail, relented and agreed that a Harare magistrate misdirected himself when he denied the two bail.

Mamombe and Chimbiri are facing charges of faking their abductions last year and violating national lockdown regulations by staging an unsanctioned public protest.

The two and their colleague, Netsai Marova, claimed that they were abducted a couple of months ago by suspected state security agents, tortured and then dumped hundreds of kilometers outside Harare.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE AND CEREMONY ONE TO REMEMBER: On a beautiful day, May 31, Our Town watched the parade along Washington and attended a meaningful ceremony at city hall that honored our fallen heroes. The gathering was among the largest in memory for this important day in Our Town. First, 
A gigantic sturgeon, caught in the Detroit River near Grosse Ile, is being hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime catch.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made the announcement on its Facebook page.

This real life river monster was tipping the scales at 240 pounds, measuring 6 feet 10 inches long, and a girth of nearly 4 feet, the post stated. Caught in the Detroit River, this fish is one of the largest lake sturgeon ever recorded in the U.S.

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Based on its girth and size, biologists assume it to be a female and said she has been roaming the Detroit River and surrounding waters for over 100 years.

As a point of reference, that means the ancient fish caught on April 22 likely was hatched in the Detroit River around 1920, when Detroit became the fourth largest city in America.

The fish was caught by conservation officers based in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Alpena field office, part of the Detroit River native species crew. She was quickly released back into the river after being measured, weighed and marked with a unique tag allowing her to be identified if she is ever caught again.

It was the biggest fish our team has ever seen, said Jason Fischer, one of the fish biologists who caught the sturgeon. We had a crew of three people doing the survey, and this fish took all three of us to get it onto our boat.

The other scientists who helped land the fish were Paige Wigren and Jennifer Johnson.

He said the fish was collected during the teams annual survey to estimate lake sturgeon population sizes in the St. Clair-Detroit River system. The Fish and Wildlife Service started doing these surveys in the lower St. Clair River back in 2001.

The USFWS uses setlines to collect fish as part of the survey. Setlines are essentially ropes with multiple hooks attached that can be pulled by hand. A large net is then used to bring all lake sturgeon on the boat for measurement and identification.

All lake sturgeon are marked with a unique tag and released. The number of tagged fish recaptured helps biologists estimate the total number of lake sturgeon using the river system.

Fischer noted that over 28,000 lake sturgeon are estimated to use the St. Clair-Detroit River system, with 5,500 of those fish coming from the Detroit River. Although the population is a fraction of its historic size, it remains one of the largest in the Great Lakes.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partners with a number of other agencies and universities, including the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Michigan Sea Grant, Fischer said. Together we monitor lake sturgeon populations in the St. Clair-Detroit River System and help populations recover through habitat restoration projects such as constructing rocky spawning reefs.

Lake sturgeon were once abundant in the Detroit River. Native Americans revered the fish as an important part of their culture, but they werent so highly prized by the Europeans who took over much of the Great Lakes region  at least not when they first discovered the fish.

And if you think sturgeon look like ancient creatures, thats because they are.

Lake sturgeon have been around since the dinosaurs, said Scott Koproski, project leader with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office in Alpena. Commercial fishing and damming of rivers hurt their numbers. Early commercial fishermen viewed them as a nuisance and disposed of them.

By 1900, commercial catches declined dramatically, as the population plummeted. In addition to overharvesting of the fish and damming of tributaries, habitat loss and pollution are also major factors that contributed to their decline. To this day, their populations remain imperiled in various areas around the Great Lakes.

Lake sturgeon are protected fish, with strict harvest regulations in most Great Lakes waters.

Although early on they were viewed as a nuisance to commercial fishermen, they soon became prized for their caviar, made from the roe of sturgeon. Koproski said the swim bladder can be processed to make oil for lamps, and some people enjoy eating the fish, usually in the form of smoked sturgeon.

But because their numbers remain so low, today there are few opportunities to legally harvest the fish. In almost all instances, any angler fortunate enough to land one of these monster fish must release it back into the water.

As for the biologists who seek to catch sturgeon to assess the population, they found the best way to do that is through setlines. Koproski said each setline contains 25 snews, which are essentially hooks with a big swivel, about the size of your hand.

To attract sturgeon, those hooks are baited with dead gobies. Since gobies are an invasive species, recreational anglers cant use them as bait, but biologists can. Apparently, sturgeon love them.

We have a higher catch rate with frozen gobies than anything else, Koproski said. Sturgeon are bottom feeders that primarily feed on mayfly larva and dead fish. They are opportunistic feeders.

He said that although lake sturgeon inhabit the lower Detroit River throughout the year, the reason theyre targeted in the spring is because its the time when they spawn.

Sturgeon do move around, but like many fish affected by imprinting, during the spawning season they return to where they were hatched.

Male lake sturgeon can live up to 55 years, while females can live up to 150 years.

Koproski said that although the biologists estimated the monster sturgeon to be approximately 100 years old, it could be considerably older than that.

Based on a weight analysis, we guess its 100 years, but it is probably in excess of that and closer to 150 years old," he said.

He added that even fish of such an advanced age can continue to produce eggs.

He said the sturgeons fin ray is similar to growth rings on a tree. On occasion, biologists will take small sections of the fin ray where they can observe compressed bans of growth. The bans are more broad during the summer months, but added together, those summer and winter bans can give biologists a fairly accurate estimate of a sturgeons age.

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As an indicator species, the fact that sturgeon numbers are growing is a good sign that the Great Lakes are cleaner than they used to be, when the population dropped to dangerously low numbers.

Service hatcheries rear lake sturgeon for restoration efforts, and another effort that has helped their numbers grow have been the construction of reefs, deep water rock piles that provide habitat for sturgeon.

For more information, visit the Fish and Wildlife Services lake sturgeon website at https://www.fws.gov/midwest/fisheries/lake-sturgeon.html.

Biologists track Detroit River sturgeon; large numbers tagged near Wyandotte

Dingell casts a light on importance of Wildlife Refuge; tries hand at hooking a walleye

Firefighter and wife seriously injured in motorcycle crash; donations sought to help pay bills

'Insane' real estate market leads to Southgate house being shown 70 times in two days
His live reaction, we guess. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Facebooks independent oversight board ruled on Wednesday to uphold the companys January decision to suspend former president Donald Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts. The oversight panel also told the social-media giant to rethink the indeterminate and standardless penalty of indefinite suspension that it imposed on Trump after the Capitol riot, and insisted the company find a proportionate response within six months. It is not permissible for Facebook to keep a user off the platform for an undefined period, with no criteria for when or whether the account will be restored, the board wrote. The social-media giant indefinitely booted Trump from its platforms after the January 6 riot at the Capitol, citing concerns that Trump would incite further violence while refusing to accept Joe Bidens election victory. As the riot was unfolding, Trump posted a message to Facebook and Instagram urging his supporters to go home, but he also restated the lie that the election had been stolen following his landslide win, and told the rioters, We love you. Youre very special. Facebook removed that post, and a few hours later Trump posted a second message claiming the election had been unceremoniously viciously stripped away from great patriots. That message was removed as well, and Trump was blocked from posting for 24 hours.

The next day, Facebook extended the block indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete. We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post at the time. The company then referred the case to its recently established board.

Facebook created the oversight panel last year to make final calls on thorny content on its platforms. It operates like a Supreme Court for content: The social-media company can refer cases, or individual users can submit petitions to appeal the companys content-moderation decisions. Its an independent entity made up of journalists, human-rights activists, lawyers, and academics.

Trump was also permanently banned from Twitter earlier this year. The former president launched his own message board  a section of his website titled From the Desk of Donald J. Trump  a day before Facebooks decision on the ban.
The low clouds(stratus) will gradually erode and clear heading into this afternoon. You will notice the cooler air behinds this morning's cold front but also a big drop in humidity. We'll top out in the low 70s Wednesday afternoon with mostly sunny skies.

We'll be similarly cool through the rest of the workweek. The only hiccup will be a reinforcing cold front Thursday evening from the middle of country. There may be enough moisture and instability to squeeze out a few showers and an isolated thunderstorm. This will be a quick moving line and it will weaken as it moves into north Alabama Thursday evening. We're back to dry conditions in the early morning hours Friday.

Mother's Day weekend starts quiet and warm, then Sunday we'll see the return of showers and storms, mainly during the second half of the day. The start of the next work week is an active one and temperatures warm back to the lower 80s.
A Huntsville man faces two terrorist threat charges after authorities say he called in bomb threats to two schools on Tuesday.

Darren Pullen, 39, is responsible for the threats made to Williams Elementary and Middle and Grissom High schools, according to the Madison County Sheriffs Office.

The sheriffs office news release said its investigators attached to both the FBI North Alabama Violent Crimes Task Force and the North Alabama Safe Streets Task Force utilized the resources of the Sheriffs Office and FBI to quickly locate Pullen and ensure that there was no danger to either of the campuses.

There were no suspicious packages or devices found at either campus and they were able to return to normal daily activities, the sheriffs office said.

Sheriff Kevin Turner said in the news release: "The safety of our students and staff are a priority, regardless of what school they attend or system they are a part of. The quick resolution to this case is another example of the importance of partnering with other law enforcement agencies at every level to ensure that our community is as safe as possible.
The Department of Justice is appealing a decision in the case of the Alabama Association of Realtors v. HHS.

After the Alabama Association of Realtors sued to stop the CDC's eviction moratorium, a federal judge in DC District Court decided to vacate the ban.

A statement from the DOJ on Wednesday says In the departments view, that decision conflicts with the text of the statute, Congresss ratification of the moratorium, and the rulings of other courts.

Congress extended the CDCs eviction moratorium last December, and the CDC later extended it through June 30, 2021. It protected renters unable to make their monthly payments due to job loss or health care expenses during the pandemic.

The DOJ filed a notice of appeal of the decision, and a statement Wednesday says it intends to seek an emergency stay of the order pending appeal.

The Alabama Association of Realtors provided the following statement:

We are pleased with todays ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich which struck down the nationwide eviction moratorium. The ruling will bring much needed relief to struggling mom-and-pop housing providers across the country. With the economy growing, unemployment rates dropping, widespread access to COVID-19 vaccines, and emergency rental assistance available, housing providers need a return to normalcy and stability. Our focus is now on the implementation of emergency rental assistance to support tenants who continue to suffer from the effects of the pandemic as soon as possible.

- Jeremy Walker, Alabama Association of REALTORS CEO
Women across the country are taking to social media to talk about changes they noticed in their menstrual cycles after taking the coronavirus vaccine. We spoke with doctors in North Alabama who explained what could be happening.

"At most of my GYN appointments, we at least talk about it," said Dr. Megan Zeien, OB-GYN with Marshall Medical Centers.

She says right now, she's answering plenty of questions from patients about reproductive health and the coronavirus vaccine.

"Most people in their family or close friends have been touched by Covid, so I find a lot of people at least understand the importance of it," said Zeien.

She says the vaccine could have a short-term effect on menstruation.

"Is it possible? Sure. Do we have data on it? No," said Zeien.

She says things like a fever, stress and exercise changes can affect someone's period and if the coronavirus vaccine is having an effect, it's short term.

"It's probably going to be very transient and not a big deal. It's definitely not going to affect future fertility," said Zeien.

Dr. Karen Landers with the Alabama Department of Public Health echoed the same confidence in the vaccine.

"I have two daughters, both of them took the Covid vaccine; one took Moderna, one took J&J," said Landers.

Dr. Zeien says there might not be a lot of data now, but the medical community is learning more everyday.

"Is it something we should worry about if the Covid vaccine affects our menstruation? I personally do not think so, but if anyone is concerned, there should be more data coming out with this Illinois study," said Zeien.

To participate in the study Dr. Zeien mentioned, click HERE.
Decatur, IL (62521)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 69F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
Swiss Guards celebrate 515 years in 2021.

The Vatican will hold its annual ceremony to swear-in new recruits into the Swiss Guards, the world's smallest army, on Thursday 6 May.

The pomp-filled event, held in the S. Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, will see the 34 new guards take a solemn oath of allegiance to the pope.

It will be the second year in a row that the ceremony will take place without an audience, in line with covid-19 protocols.

Traditionally held each year on 6 May, last year's event was postponed until October, due to the coronavirus emergency.

A handful of family members will attend this year's ceremony which will be streamed live via the Swiss Guards website from 17.00.

The annual event commemorates 6 May 1527, when 147 Swiss Guards died protecting Pope Clement VII from the army of the Holy Roman Emperor.

The pope fled via the 800-m Passetto di Borgo passageway to the nearby refuge of Castel S. Angelo.

The 135 current Swiss Guards belong to the world's oldest standing army which celebrated its 515th anniversary in January this year.

The guards must be male and of Swiss nationality, as well as being Catholic, unmarried and aged between 19 and 30.

They must also have undergone intensive Swiss military training and be a minimum height of 174 cm.

In addition to protecting the pope, the army performs ceremonial duties and assists at Vatican functions, and is famous for its ancient halberd weapons and its blue, gold and red uniform.

Led by Commander Christoph Graf, the soldiers serve for between two and 25 years at the Vatican, in the service of the pope.

Photo credit: AM113 / Shutterstock.com.
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Shareholders of US giant General Electric have rejected the companys executive compensation plans in a non-binding vote, snubbing a revised pay package that lowered the bar for chief executive officer Larry Culp to eventually collect as much as $US232 million ($300.8 million).

Almost 58 per cent of shares voting went against the pay deal at GEs annual meeting on Tuesday (US time). Investors weighed in less than a month after shareholder advisory firm Glass Lewis chided GEs board for maintaining Culps maximum potential payout in exchange for reduced shareholder value creation.

GE chief Larry Culps proposed pay deal has been voted down by shareholders. Credit:FDC

The vote amounted to a rebuke of GEs decision in August to essentially halve the share-price targets needed for Culp to qualify for equity-based compensation valued at as much as $US232 million by the end of his tenure. The revisions were made as part of a two-year contract extension to keep him at the helm through 2024, as the coronavirus pandemic upended his turnaround push at GE. Culp voluntarily forfeited his 2020 annual bonus.

Securing Larrys continued leadership was one of the most important steps that we could take during a period of great uncertainty, GE explained at the time.
Looking back at my relationship history, I could never be accused of having commitment issues. But when it comes to my wardrobe, different story.

A coat from the Jil Sander x UNIQLO J+ range. Credit:UNIQLO

I should start by saying I am a Piscean. Yes, the one who takes 25 minutes to order at a Vietnamese restaurant (dont blame me, the menus are gigantic!). Ive been eyeing a designer handbag for more than six months and just cannot bring myself to seal it with a click. The fact I am pregnant and have started measuring all discretionary purchases in how many nappies/prams/onesies is that worth? may have something to do with it.

Its the same with buying a winter coat. Its likely your most outer layer is the single biggest purchase you will make in any season. Good coats are designed to last but even when our pea brains can measure the cost-per-wear quite easily, the outlay can sometimes feel as weighty as buying a car.

But it neednt be a credit card-maxing exercise. Legendary designer Jil Sander, whose latest unisex collection for UNIQLO goes on sale this week and is priced under $350, says a good coat should be of a comfortable, quality material, it should have a great fit, thoughtful details and be adaptable to different climatic situations ... A coat should also give you the smart, modern silhouette and subtle air of self-assurance.
The South West can breathe a sigh of relief after it was confirmed the Collie man who tested positive to COVID-19 on Tuesday after arriving from Victoria was a historical case.

In a statement, WA Health said the man in his 30s who returned a very weak positive result was not considered a threat to the community health and had not been included in the states official COVID-19 case statistics.

The Collie man is no longer in isolation. Credit:Justin McManus

The Collie resident had travelled back to Australia from Poland and quarantined in a Melbourne hotel for 14 days. He tested negative to COVID-19 in all his tests while in hotel quarantine, the statement read.

On his return to Collie, he was re-tested as part of Vic Healths follow-up of people post-quarantine.
The Department of Home Affairs has launched investigations into relatives of Myanmars military government living in Australia, amid concerns they are either harbouring assets or receiving financial support in the wake of the military coup.

The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald can reveal there are at least 22 relatives of senior members of Myanmars new government living in Australia.

Anti-coup protesters march along a street in Yangon, Myanmar. Credit:AP

The Australian government will also announce on Wednesday it will extend the visas of Myanmar nationals so that they arent forced to return to the country in the wake of the coup.

Human rights advocates and Burmese Australians are calling on the Australian government to sanction members of the countrys armed forces  known as the Tatmadaw  after it staged a coup against the democratically elected government, including its leader Aung San Suu Kyi, on February 1. They also want the government to cancel the visas of family members living in Australia who are being financially supported.
The McGowan government has rejected calls to establish a new inquiry into the death of seven-year-old Morley Primary School student Aishwarya Aswath at Perth Childrens Hospital on April 3.

On Tuesday, the opposition moved a motion to establish an inquiry to run in addition to the current root cause analysis investigation, but was voted down by Labor.

Aishwaryas condition deteriorated while she waited in the emergency department of the Perth Childrens Hospital. Credit:Nine News Perth

Aishwaryas death sparked outrage after she was triaged as non-urgent and forced to wait two hours in the PCH emergency department to see a doctor despite pleas from her parents that her eyes were going cloudy and her hands were cold.

She died shortly after being admitted and her parents Aswath Chavittupara and Prasitha Sasidharan have been desperate for answers.
London: The European Commission has hit the pause button on a controversial investment deal with China as a direct result of sanctions Beijing imposed on five British and European MPs who regularly criticised the regime.

The decision to suspend political outreach activities in China is a further escalation of tensions between the European Union and the superpower. It follows earlier sanctions imposed by the West against Chinese officials for human rights abuses of Uighurs in Xinjiang.

Valdis Dombrovskis, trade commissioner for the European Union (EU), said the sanctions made it too difficult to continue with the deal. Credit:Getty

The deal would have allowed European companies greater investment access in China and was seen as a diplomatic coup by Beijing.

European companies would have been granted certainty for their operations in the country and a promise that they would not face any discriminatory practices in manufacturing, particularly for electric cars, chemicals, and telecoms and health equipment.
"I think people are very excited," said Rachel Kipp. "Delaware is definitely a place that has a lot of state pride... I think it's because it's a small state and we all kind of feel like we know each other, and so when something great happens to one of our own, we all really want to celebrate."
Students at both the University of Delaware and Delaware State University will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus this fall, both schools announced Wednesday.

UD will require full vaccination by August 15, 2021 for all students, according to a letter from UD President Dennis Assanis sent to the campus community Wednesday, May 5, 2021. There's no requirement for UD staff to be vaccinated at this time.

DSU, however, will require vaccination for both staff and students. DSU spokesman Carlos Holmes told WDEL 31.5% or 310 employees at the university are fully vaccinated while nearly 9%, or 87 employees have received their first dose of vaccine.

A spokeswoman for UD said she did not have the number of staff vaccinated readily available upon our inquiry.

Vaccines are becoming more widely available with walk-ups accepted at several state service centers and pharmacies.

UD is also holding a vaccination clinic for at Clayton Hall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 6, 2021. Registration is required. Information about upcoming campus vaccination opportunities and other COVID-19 topics is available at udel.edu/coronavirus.

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"Vaccines are key elements in our commitment to returning to a robust campus life in the fall and beyond. We all want to end the pandemic that has so disrupted all aspects of our lives as soon as possible. While face coverings, physical distancing, the Health Symptom Checker and other measures continue to play important roles in protecting our community, those who are not vaccinated will be subject to frequent testing requirements in the fall," said Assanis.

Both schools will accept approved "legitimate, documented" medical or religious exemptions will be permitted to attend without meeting the condition. Anyone claiming exemption will need to present the university with supporting documentation.

"Our testing program in collaboration with Testing for America allowed us to bring back about 70% of our residential population last year for mostly hybrid courses," said DSU President Tony Allen. "The vaccination requirement permits us to open up more space at both the universitys main campus and as well as the soon-to-be-acquired Wesley College campus, and to return to our normal methods of course delivery."

DSU has thus far reported only a .5% positivity rate during its testing process, and wants to continue keeping numbers low. Their vaccination requirement follows guidelines established by the American College Health Association, which established that the safest way for students to return to institutions of higher learning is by requiring all on-campus individuals to be vaccinated for the coming semester.

"Despite the myths and misinformation surrounding the issue of COVID vaccinations, all of the existing vaccines are safe and effective," Dr. Joan Coker of Testing for America said. "I encourage everyone to collaborate on keeping the University community safe by getting vaccinated before returning this fall."

UD will also continue COVID-19 testing this summer. Surveillance testing on campus will be held at Clayton Hall starting on Wednesday, June 2. Testing will be available every Wednesday during the summer sessions from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Social media threat against Seymour High School came from teen in New York, police say
Danielle Nicole Stokes was last seen on March 10 after being released from Clark Memorial Hospital. (Photo courtesy of the Jeffersonville Police Department)
The Kroger near 26th and Broadway in west Louisville closed early on Friday, April 30, and concrete barriers were put up at the entrances to the parking lot, angering residents who rely on the store to purchase groceries. (WDRB photo)
Kentucky State Police said Madlyn Clawson was last seen around 4:46 p.m. Tuesday leaving her home on Bolen Cemetery Road in the Garrett Community of Knott County in eastern Kentucky
Police looking for person wanted in connection with homicide in Louisville's California neighborhood
Bill Burt and George Bremer discuss the NFL schedule and Tom Brady's return to New England; Elton Hayes and Kevin Brockway reflect on Coach K's retirement; and Clay Horning breaks down the worst defensive play in baseball in recent memory.


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WENATCHEE  The dental industry has undergone a dramatic transformation as providers in the valley and across the state financially recover from the COVID-19 pandemic under new protocols and expectations.
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Audiences are getting excited for the upcoming film adaptation of Jonathan Larson's tick, tick...boom!, which is set to be unveiled on Netflix at some point in 2021.

Critics also seem to be rather enthused by the project, which marks Lin-Manuel Miranda's directorial debut. Variety even gave the piece a nod on its Oscar-winner predictions list earlier this week which, while certainly an exercise in counting golden chickens before they've hatched, is certainly a big thumbs up.

The film's star Andrew Garfield only added to the hype following a late night appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show last night. Chatting to Fallon about working with the In the Heights and Hamilton creator, Garfield said: "You know Lin, he's like a crazy mixture of the most precocious eight year-old genius student of life that won't stop talking and has a reference to everything, while simultaneously being one of the greatest creative geniuses of our time. It's this weird combination of having that eight year-old running around your ankles, but that eight year-old has also written Hamilton."

Garfield said that proof of this came when Miranda even decided to reference the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles during the Oscars. "I love him  to get to work with him with a privilege."

Miranda is working on a plethora of 2021 projects, including new animated musical Vivo, the cinematic release of In the Heights and is helping to pen tunes for the new live-action Little Mermaid film, all while also premiering to reveal his own Disney animated piece, Encanto, set to land this autumn.

Garfield also spilled one juicy secret  he got to work with Tariq from The Roots (the band that accompanies Fallon's show) on the project "for a day or two...though I don't know if I was supposed to say that but I just did. So I got to witness the genius in the flesh".

tick, tick...boom!'s release date is to be confirmed, though as it isn't featured in Netflix's summer 2021 trailer, it'll probably be autumn at the earliest before we see the musical version of the stage show.

Semi-autobiographical, Larson's (Rent) musical is based on the story of an aspiring composer in New York City who is worried he made the wrong career choice.

Appearing in the Netflix film is a starry and stagey cast featuring Garfield (playing Larson), Vanessa Hudgens (as Karessa Johnson), Alexandra Shipp (as Susan), Judith Light (as Rosa Stevens), Robin de Jesus (Michael), Joanna Adler (Molly), Joshua Henry (Roger), Alex D Jennings (Lifeguard), Lauren Marcus (Donna), Marie Rose Baramo (Fly girl), Jared Loftin (role tbc) and Kenita Miller (role tbc) and Bradley Whitford. In a fun twist, Whitford will be taking on the role of Stephen Sondheim in the film  a new performance (not just a voicemail!) that is not present in the original stage show.
Broadway's official reopening day will be in September 14, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Broadway League have announced, with

Tickets for select productions (including the eagerly anticipated Six the Musical) will go on sale from tomorrow with theatres opening at 100 percent capacity.

While the hospitality sector may open more broadly during the summer, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has set 14 September 2021 as an official restart date.

Charlotte St Martin, president of the Broadway League said: "We are thrilled that Governor Cuomo clearly recognizes the impact of Broadway's return on the city and state's economy and the complexity of restarting an entire industry that has been dormant for over a year...Nothing beats Broadway. The theatre owners, producers, and other League members will continue to work with the NY State Department of Health and the Governor to coordinate the industry's return and the related health and safety protocols required to do so. We remain cautiously optimistic about Broadway's ability to resume performances this fall and are happy that fans can start buying tickets again."

Theatres will have to have their health and safety protocols approved by the state, with productions set to reveal anticipated dates over the coming weeks.
Denise van Outen will release a new charity video, filmed in the West End, to celebrate the return of live performance.

Created alongside belVita and Acting for Others, the song will be released on Friday, with a video shot across London.

Joined by a cohort of West End dancers for the show, the team has been rehearsing at the Dominion Theatre, currently home of the (temporarily closed) The Prince of Egypt musical.

Van Outen said today: "I can't think of a better return to performing than taking to the streets of the West End to perform a song that not only brings a smile to people's faces but also shines a light on a charity close to my heart, Acting for Others. The pandemic has been tough for us all and those who work and live in theatreland have suffered greatly, including my own parents.

"My dad works at The Lyceum Theatre on The Lion King and my mum has been working on Tina: The Musical at the Aldwych Theatre. It's great that we can all finally look forward to brighter days!"

You can watch Van Outen discuss the project here:
An assortment of stage-themed candles have been unveiled b candlemakery Blaise George Elliott  a lover of all things West End.

With tributes to shows such as Les Miserables, Evita, Chicago and Mary Poppins, names for the candles include "I Hope That You Burn" (for Hamilton) and "Wick'd" (for Wicked).

Elliott has collaborated with The Theatre Support Fund to donate 10 pr cent of all his sales. "I live for theatre - but beyond not being able to see much-loved shows in the flesh, I wanted a unique way to support our performers, backstage and front-of-house staff with little access to funds. I am a firm believer that The Show Must Go On and I can't wait to join the hundreds of theatre-thirty fans being welcomed back to the West End houses this May."

All the candles are made with 100 per cent natural beeswax, soy, coconut oil and essential oils, and are blended and hand-poured in south London.

You can see the full selection at blaisegeorgeelliott.com.
Willmar, MN (56201)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. Hot. High around 95F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
WillmarRadio.com is the website of Lakeland Broadcasting Companys

family of radio stations broadcasting in West Central Minnesota:

FM Stations:

- 102.5 FM - Q102 (KQIC)

- 100.1 FM - Big Country (KOLV)

- 106.5 FM - The Train (KLFN)

- 96.3 FM - News/Talk Translator (K242CF)

- 101.1 FM - News/Talk Translator (K266CM)

AM Station:

- 1340 AM - News/Talk (KWLM)

Our Vision, Purpose and Values:

THE LAKELAND BROADCASTING STORY:

Lakeland Broadcasting Company has always been committed to serving

our community. We strive to create and deliver programming that attracts

the dominant share of the local audience, provides marketing services,

connects people, and serves our community. All while operating on a base

of our core values: passion, integrity, and respect for people.

HARRY LINDER'S DREAM:

Harry Linder was a classic entrepreneur looking for an opportunity.

As he traveled the state selling investments he discovered a business

he had a passion for and a location that had the economic vitality he

was looking for. He had the vision to see how radio would serve and

thrive in the Willmar area. At the time, the FCC was reluctant to grant

a license in a market as small as Willmar. After two visits to

Washington D.C., Harry prevailed and the FCC granted him a

license. His dream of providing radio broadcasting service in

West Central Minnesota became a reality as KWLM went on the air

October 5, 1940. The station signed on the air at 6:00 am with The

Star Spangled Banner.

THE FIRST LOCATION:

Willmars new radio station KWLM will go on the air at 6 oclock

Saturday morning and a full days program will be carried on from

that time until 10 oclock in the evening. The studios are situated

on the third floor of the auditorium. The station, 100 watts and on

a frequency of 1340 kilohertz, has its transmitter across the lake,

north of the First Street Bridge and Highway No. 71, where the

tower rises some 150 feet in height. (Willmar Daily Tribune)

CONTINUED GROWTH:

On January 3rd, 1972, an FM station was added operating at 102.5FM.

Third generation owner, Steve Linder, took over the stations in 1990.

It was a new era, and eventually others stations were added to the family:

A country format (currently known as 'Big Country') was added in 1999,

and The Train went on the air in 2003. An FM translator was added

to KWLM in 2012 and another in 2020. We continue to reach those in the communities

we serve through 'over the air' radio as well as digitally through internet

streaming and social media, and continually strive to assist our advertisers

to grow revenue and awareness.
Today

Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms possible. High 81F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Locally heavy rainfall possible.

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 69F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.

Tomorrow

Scattered thunderstorms in the morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 82F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
When "60 Minutes" correspondent Bill Whitaker got a call from his agent asking whether he would be interested in filling in as a guest host on "Jeopardy!" this spring, he was surprised but intrigued. He's a huge fan of the show - he and his wife watch it every night if he gets home in time - so he barely gave it a second thought before he said, "Sure, I think that might be fun."

At the time, Whitaker didn't realize how much attention would be laser-focused on one of the highest-profile job openings in Hollywood. Beloved "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek died in November after 36 years at the helm of the game show, and once fans had mourned his passing, the Internet turned to the pressing question: Who was going to replace the legendary host?

"I have been really blown away by the coverage this all gets. I truly did think, silly me, that I was going to be a 'Jeopardy!' guest host and carry on with my life as usual," Whitaker said, laughing. "But these hosts: They're gossiped about, they're tweeted about, they're in People magazine, the Hollywood Reporter. I'm going, 'Oh my God, I had no idea that this was going to be this wild and crazy.'"

Whitaker, whose two-week slate of episodes starts tonight, is the seventh host in the hot seat, following Ken Jennings, Mike Richards, Katie Couric, Mehmet Oz, Aaron Rodgers and Anderson Cooper. (His appearance will surely please the probable large crossover of "60 Minutes" and "Jeopardy!" fans.) The experience was a whirlwind, Whitaker said. While he has been on TV for decades as an award-winning journalist - he joined CBS News in 1984 and was named a "60 Minutes" correspondent in 2014 - he quickly learned that hosting a TV game show had a learning curve.

"I work in television news, which is a totally different animal. I'm used to talking to one camera," he said. "Here, you had, I think, four cameras - one swoops in from the side, you talk to that one at the end of one commercial, and then swoops to another one you have to talk to after a commercial, and then the contestants are over on the other side. The thing that I was most surprised about was just how fast-paced it is."

Whitaker got a taste of the intense "Jeopardy!" protocols on the first night at his Los Angeles hotel. His first day on the set was a rehearsal, in which staffers stood in for contestants and ran through a game from a previous episode. But a staffer still showed up to hand-deliver the next day's script that contained the clues and answers - and even though it was from a game that already aired, Whitaker was given strict instructions to never let it leave his sight, a sign of how seriously the show takes security.

He got only one day to rehearse ("I probably could have used two," he admitted) on the Monday he arrived. He practiced how to say each clue, became familiar with the camera angles, got to know the producers, and learned the "Jeopardy!" lingo: Contestants give "responses," not answers, and hosts say a response is "incorrect" instead of wrong. He marveled at how quickly the producers helped him feel like part of the "Jeopardy!" family. "I know it sounds hokey but it's true," he insisted. On Tuesday and Wednesday, he taped five games each.

The moment he walked onto the famous set was jarring Whitaker said, especially as an avid viewer. "A couple of times I had to pinch myself to say, 'Oh my gosh! Look where I am. This is crazy,'" he said. "It looks just like it looks on television. You're not watching on the box, you're actually there. The big screen and the questions and the podiums with the guests and the directors and the producers and the whole thing. It is quite surreal."

The two days flew by, and the nerves soon melted away as Whitaker had a blast. He enjoyed chatting with the contestants during the interviews and the end of episodes, and he developed a new appreciation for hosts who ad-lib and make jokes while balancing the rapid speed of the show. Hosts wear an earpiece during the taping, and Whitaker frequently heard, "Pick up the pace, keep it going!" Eventually, he got the hang of the rhythm.

"It becomes easier, show by show," he said. "Around show seven, I was like, 'I think I've got this!' I was feeling a little bit more comfortable. Then you've got show eight, nine, 10 and you're out."

And yes, Whitaker has watched all the other guests hosts but politely declined to name a favorite so far. He said he has been very impressed by them all, and now watches the show with a much different eye since he has gone through it himself. There was zero talk on the set of who might eventually get the permanent hosting gig. "I love my day job, so this was just a change of pace," he said.

While Whitaker was there, he also kept thinking about Trebek and how amazing it was that the veteran host made the challenging job look so easy.

"He was always kind and personable and he seemed to be brilliant himself. He made the contestants feel welcome and appreciated," he said. "There's so many things to think about, so many moving parts. To be able to do that and make the contestants all feel as though his focus is on them, that's remarkable."

Whitaker has a memory of when he lived in Los Angeles years ago, and he and his wife were at the Hollywood Bowl on a beautiful summer evening. Suddenly, they saw Trebek walking up the stairs, and there was a noticeable rumble as the other patrons noticed. A few people started clapping, and by the time Trebek got to his seat, there was a full-on standing ovation.

"He had that kind of impact, made that kind of an impression on people. Everybody liked Alex Trebek," Whitaker said. "So it was intimidating and wonderful to be tapped to stand on the same stage where he ruled for so long."
MILFORD  Everythings groovy again at Bohemian High boutique, two weeks after COVID-19 made an ugly and worrisome appearance right after an event celebrating 4/20 - the unofficial holiday for marijuana.

The event attended by about 200 people throughout its four hours didnt turn out to be super-spreader  or any kind of spreader at all, business owners Gloria and Richard Krouch said. The Krouches have recovered from the virus and they recently reopened their boutique and medical marijuana certification business.

It did not spread and no one was upset with anyone, Gloria Krouch said, noting the professionalism of the Milford Health Department, which she said was with them every step of the way.

As far as Gloria Krouch knows, only she, her husband and a friend tested positive for the virus.

Gloria Krouch said contact tracing by the city Health Department showed she likely had the virus the previous week and gave it to her husband; and the third person, who was helping them get ready for the 4/20 event the day before, got or had the virus, too.

Milford Health Director Deepa Joseph has declined to comment on the case because of privacy laws.

The Krouches, who own boutique/headshop Bohemian High at 156 Bridgeport Ave. and the neighboring Bohemian Alternative Health at 158 Bridgeport Ave., closed the businesses the day they tested positive - two days after the event  until April 29 to quarantine. The store was sanitized thoroughly before reopening.

The closure was tough financially, they both said, but they knew they followed all COVID-19 protocols and did everything by the legal books at the 4/20 event, held to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the boutiques original opening, as well as marijuana.

Although they wont recoup the money lost during the closing - and it was in a month when business typically picks up  the Krouches said business was back to normal the day they reopened with zero negative feedback.

We really are grateful for our community, friends and customers.  Its like we never closed, Richard Krouch said. We meet great people every day.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

Gloria Krouch said they followed COVID-19 protocols strictly  masks required, social distancing  and no, as some critics on Facebook have said, no one was passing joints, as there was no marijuana involved, because, that would be illegal. That includes medical marijuana, because it is not legal to smoke it in public, Gloria Krouch said.

They were so strict at the event that included a band, Shot Down, and a few vendors, that those who didnt want to wear a mask had to leave. Gloria Krouch said some who were without masks hung out on the perimeter on the public sidewalk, but she couldnt do anything about that.

Richard Krouch said he rolled some CBD - which is legal - and passed some out in celebration, but no one was allowed to light up because no smoking of any kind is allowed on the city lot where the event was held with all the proper permits.

In hindsight, would they do the event over given all the hassles and worry created by COVID-19 coming into to mix?

Heck yeah, Richard Krouch quickly said, as his wife exclaimed, Absolutely.

The Krouches said they have received praise from the community for being so transparent and responsible by listing the closure on their Facebook page and suggesting anyone concerned get a COVID-19 test and providing the link for testing through Yale New Haven Health.

Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

While they could still do the medical marijuana certification business through the online system, the closure meant no walk-ins or in-person meetings with the medical professionals who oversee the cases, which then have to go to the state. They do not dispense marijuana.

Richard Krouch told the Register two weeks ago that announcing the closure until April 29 wasnt easy, for financial reasons, but was the right thing to do.

Richard Krouch had had the Johnson & Johnson vaccine April 12 and his wife had her first Pfizer shot April 10. But not enough time had passed and they were both positive. The Krouches werent feeling well but didnt experience any extreme symptoms.

The Facebook post informing the public of the closure read in part: If you were at the event and was within 6 feet of somebody, for at least 15 minutes then you should probably get tested.

Some 200 people passed through the lot on 4/20 from 4 to 7:30 p.m., but there were never more than 40 or 50 at a time, Richard Krouch said.

The city health department had put a cap on of no more than 80 people at a time

The Krouches said in 2017 when they opened that music festivals put them in their happy place, so for a grand opening they had a mini-music festival outside their new 1960s/1970s-style boutique.

The boutique features items such as tie-dyed clothes; gifts, tapestries, endless trinkets that are reminiscent of the 1960s and 1970s; an extensive smoke and glass shop; and CBD products. Richard Krouch said they bill their products as for the free-spirited.

Two years later they rented the space next door and opened The Grove event space where comedy shows, workshops, book signings and just about any other creative event can be held, including weddings.

If you can think of anything, we can do it in this space, Richard Krouch said. We like it because we like to think were cool people.

In continuing to grow the business, about a year ago they added the Bohemian Alternative Health medical marijuana certification business. In that business, headquartered in their Grove space next door at 156 Bridgeport Ave., an APRN processes applications with documentation or can approve through questionnaire if a standard is met for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Richard Krouch said he and his wife developed a process to simplify the certification application process and make it HIPAA compliant.

Gloria Krouch said that after the COVID-19 diagnosis, her big takeaway was to know all the possible symptoms. While she and her husband have no idea where or when they contracted the virus, she recalled having a bad headache the Thursday before the event and attributed that to dental work. She also was extremely tired, but thought it was because of a crazy schedule involving driving her father long distances to appointments.

In speaking with the doctor, she learned it was important to be aware of symptoms, that can take many forms.
H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media

Donald Schels will be making his last rounds at Wilton High School in the academic years closing weeks.

Serving as associate principal since 2016, Schels will be leaving the school to serve as the new principal of Shepaug Valley School in Washington, effective July 1. Wilton Public Schools announced Schels move on May 4.


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OTTAWA - Parliament's spending watchdog says the federal Liberals' budget overestimates how much of an impact its stimulus measures will have on Canada's economy.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland joins Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as they participate in a virtual discussion from Ottawa on Monday, May 3, 2021, with seniors from Residence Memphremagog in Magog, Quebec. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Parliament's spending watchdog says the federal Liberals' budget overestimates how much of an impact its stimulus measures will have on Canada's economy.

The budget last month outlined what the government said was $101.4 billion in new spending over three years aimed at helping the country climb out of the economic hole caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the budget officer's report on Wednesday estimated that only $69 billion of that spending could be considered stimulus, such as the extension of emergency supports that were outlined prior to the budget.

Yves Giroux said his estimates of stimulus spending would boost economic growth by one per cent next year and create 74,000 jobs, compared with the budget's estimates, respectively, of two per cent and 334,000 jobs.

He went on to say that the higher deficits and debt in the coming years could limit the ability of a government to introduce any new, permanent programs without spending cuts or tax increases.

Hours after Giroux's report landed, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland kicked off debate in the House of Commons on the government's budget bill by standing by the economic impacts from planned stimulus spending.

She was cut off from debate via a technological hiccup and returned later.

Her office said the economic outlook provided in the budget were based on a survey of private sector economists and called the the fiscal plan "prudent and responsible."

The Senate is also poised to start studying the legislation, having given marching orders to various committees in anticipation of its arrival next month in the upper chamber.

But first the bill has to survive the House of Commons.

The minority Liberal government would fall without the support of at least one other major party to pass the budget bill, leading to a process that would likely trigger an election campaign.

Conservative finance critic Ed Fast said the PBO report showing higher-than-projected deficits, largely due to lower-than-expected revenues, and details on stimulus shows the budget is more about politics than the economy.

"A good portion of the spending wasn't used to stimulate the economy at all," Fast said during debate on the bill. "In classic Liberal fashion, much of the so-called stimulus was instead spent on measures intended to further the political interest of this Liberal government."

Fast said the Tories would take a different approach to boost wages and help small businesses if his party was elected to govern.

Similarly, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh tried to paint the different approach his party would take, telling reporters on Parliament Hill that more spending is needed on health care, and that the ultra-rich and large, profitable corporations should help cover the cost through higher taxes.

"We got a whole plan around direct support that will go to small businesses, make sure that the ultra-rich, wealthy corporations pay their fair share, and that we invest in health care and supports that people need," he said.

"That's our vision that's different from the Liberals."

The Liberals have pegged their spending plans to a rebound in the labour market, which one year ago witnessed a historic drop when three millions jobs were lost over March and April 2020, while 2.5 million more had their hours plummet.

In March, overall employment was 296,000 jobs shy of the pre-COVID level in February 2020, a gap of 1.5 per cent, and the unemployment rate hit a pandemic-era low of 7.5 per cent.

Statistics Canada will update employment figures on Friday when it releases the April jobs report, which experts expect to show a decline as renewed restrictions and lockdowns took hold in response to the pandemic's third wave.

Even with a drop in jobs in April, Giroux said the budget office still expects the labour force to be back at its pre-pandemic levels by next year, which is when the first tranche of stimulus money is supposed to move out of the federal treasury.

"And that reinforces the point that we've made repeatedly over the last several months that the $70 (billion) to $100 billion to jump start the economy is miscalibrated," Giroux said during a morning briefing with reporters, "or in other words, too much and over too long a period of time if the objective is to return labour market indicators to their pre-pandemic levels."

Giroux also said the government's ability to manage the next economic crisis could be curtailed by the Liberals' decision to gobble up expanded fiscal room with new spending items.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2021.
New guidelines aimed at helping schools and daycares protect children with allergies say there's no evidence that blanket bans on specific foods protect children.

In this July 8, 2016, file photo, a pharmacist holds a package of EpiPens epinephrine auto-injector, a Mylan product, in Sacramento, Calif. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rich Pedroncelli

New guidelines aimed at helping schools and daycares protect children with allergies say there's no evidence that blanket bans on specific foods protect children.

The guidelines, created by an international panel of stakeholders including health-care experts, school principals, parents and professional allergy organizations, also recommend that schools keep a supply of epinephrine auto-injectors.

The guidelines, based on a review of the scientific evidence and published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology on Wednesday, are the first of their kind, said Dr. Susan Waserman, the chair of the guidelines panel and a professor of medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont.

"In many ways, these guidelines support a lot of the practices that have been going on in schools for a long time: identifying children at risk, providing them with an anaphylaxis action plan, teaching teachers and all school personnel to recognize allergic reactions and to act appropriately, good hygienic practices such as hand washing," Waserman said in an interview Tuesday.

However, the recommendations around food bans and epinephrine auto-injectors, often known by the brand name EpiPen, are different from current practice, she said.

"We did not find evidence to support the practice of site-wide food banning, meaning that things such as peanut-free schools, peanut-free classrooms, or milk-free classrooms, or milk-free schools, or your food of choice, was not supported in the literature that we found as a consistent way of cutting down on allergic reactions in the school situation," Waserman said.

Bans on specific foods don't teach children how to manage their allergies, and if children with allergies are always required to sit at a specific table, that can lead to stigma, she said.

"We just see this as better safety management within the school situation and better quality of life for those children who are not mandated to always eat in a peanut-free area or other food-related area," Waserman said.

However, teachers, parents and, in some cases, older students have a role to play. "School-aged children are not expected to do this on their own," she said. The guidelines should also be adapted to the specific situation in a school or daycare, she said, adding that in some cases, such as with very young children, a classroom ban on specific foods might make sense.

As for epinephrine auto-injectors, Waserman said schools typically require students with allergies to bring their own, which are generally stored in a single place.

A switch to schools having their own supply of auto-injectors would help ensure that students who have not yet been identified as having a serious food allergy are protected, the guidelines say.

Waserman said it would also be more equitable for students whose families can't afford auto-injectors  or can't afford multiple injectors  and it would allow students who have their own auto-injectors to carry the device with them when they leave school.

While the guidelines are based on the "best available evidence" more research is also needed on allergenic reactions and the use of epinephrine in schools, Waserman said.

The guidelines are endorsed by the Allergy and Asthma Network, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the World Allergy Organization.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2021.



This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says there is a finish line in sight for COVID-19 as the province announced its three-stage reopening plan slated to unfold over the next few months.

Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer, speaks at a COVID-19 news update at the Legislative Building in Regina on Wednesday March 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Bell

REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says there is a "finish line in sight" for COVID-19 as the province announced its three-stage reopening plan slated to unfold over the next few months.

Moe described the reopening plan as "very cautious and measured," and said the three-step approach will help people understand exactly what needs to happen to get back to normal in Saskatchewan.

"It does provide a very clear path on how we can achieve that finish line together in communities across the province," Moe said Tuesday. "Follow the public health orders, go get vaccinated."

The government said the first step will happen three weeks after 70 per cent of residents aged 40 and over have received their first dose of vaccine and when all Saskatchewan adults are eligible to get vaccinated.

In that phase, the government said it would reintroduce some of the rules that were in place last summer, including indoor gatherings of up to 10 people and allowing up to six patrons per table in a restaurant.

Step 2 is to take place three weeks after 70 per cent of those aged 30 and older have received a first dose. In that step, the limits on indoor gatherings will increase, and venues like casinos and event facilities can reopen with physical distancing.

Step 3 will take place three weeks after 70 per cent of all adults have had a shot.

By Step 3, which Moe said could happen in early or mid-July, the government expects to lift most of the remaining COVID-19 public health restrictions.

Moe said the province's reopening plan is modelled on other countries, such as Israel and the United Kingdom, which have seen success in their own reopening efforts.

"This has worked in other jurisdictions and we firmly believe that it will work here in Saskatchewan," he said.

Officials say the plan relies on the province receiving the supply of vaccines it is expecting on time.

The plan will also rely on Saskatchewan residents getting vaccinated as soon as they can and continuing to follow public health restrictions in place in their area.

At a news conference Tuesday, Moe strongly encouraged any Saskatchewan residents who have been hesitant about getting vaccinated to "get off that fence."

"Every day across Canada in this province and around the world, vaccinations are saving peoples lives," he said. "If youre on the fence, this should really be one of the easiest decisions youll ever make in your life.

"On one side of that fence, people are living. On the other side, people are dying."

According to Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewans chief medical health officer, the province expects to see more vaccine doses become available over time.

"As long as supplies hold, we are entering a very accelerated phase for vaccinations," he said.

Because of this, Shahab expects Saskatchewan residents will be able to get their second vaccine dose within a much shorter time frame than they were able to get their first.

Shahab also said achieving a high vaccination rate in the spring and summer will be important for minimizing the impact of the pandemic in the fall, when new COVID-19 variants may gain traction around the world.

"As a province that is well-resourced, we have had the luxury to be able to physically distance, to isolate greatly and now to get vaccinated," he said. "The rest of the world, unfortunately, does not have that privilege and will not have that privilege for many, many months."

With high vaccine uptake, Shahab says Saskatchewan residents can expect "a good summer and a good fall."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2021

 By Julia Peterson in Saskatoon.
Its Friday morning and Jaime Manness is busy lugging backpacks and gear down to the parking garage of her Exchange District condo. Its a ritual performed most weekends and the final task before she can escape the city and head out into the reliable calm of the forest. On this particular weekend shes travelling west to Riding Mountain National Park with her fiance Ed Acuna and dog Jasper.

Its Friday morning and Jaime Manness is busy lugging backpacks and gear down to the parking garage of her Exchange District condo. Its a ritual performed most weekends and the final task before she can escape the city and head out into the reliable calm of the forest. On this particular weekend shes travelling west to Riding Mountain National Park with her fiance Ed Acuna and dog Jasper.

How to leave no trace The following are overviews of the seven principles of outdoor ethics from Leave No Trace Canada (more information at leavenotrace.ca): 1. Plan ahead and prepare: Check the forecast and the rules and regulations of the area youll be visiting. 2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces: Stick to established trails and dont alter the area around your campsite. click to read more The following are overviews of the seven principles of outdoor ethics from Leave No Trace Canada (more information at leavenotrace.ca): 1. Plan ahead and prepare: Check the forecast and the rules and regulations of the area youll be visiting. 2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces: Stick to established trails and dont alter the area around your campsite. 3. Dispose of waste properly: Pack out garbage and bury human waste properly, away from trails, water and campsites. 4. Leave what you find: Dont touch cultural or historic artifacts, and leave plants and rocks where you find them. 5. Minimize campfire impacts: Fires outside designated pits cause lasting damage to the landscape. Use a camp stove for cooking and a lantern for light. 6. Respect wildlife: Observe animals from a distance, keep pets leashed and never feed wildlife. 7. Be considerate of others: Yield to other trail users and keep noise to a minimum. Close

Manness, 41, is a lifelong nature lover and the founder of Hike Manitoba, a series of trail guides and an online community designed to get people acquainted with the provinces many hiking routes. Its a project shed been mulling for years and  after much supportive prodding from Acuna  one she finally launched last spring at the height of Manitobas first wave.

"I could not have anticipated that I would launch a book in a pandemic when people were forced to stay home," she says. "And now they suddenly needed something to do with their summer."

With travel grounded, Hike Manitoba became a valuable resource for novice and experienced outdoors-people looking to explore their home province. So far, Manness has released three coil-bound, illustrated guide books  the first is a collection of 51 hikes, the second focuses on winter activities and the third, released in April, includes hiking, biking and paddling routes  and amassed more than 17,000 followers on Instagram.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jaime Manness is the creator of Hike Manitoba, a small business dedicated to sharing recommendations and best practices for hiking and exploring local wilderness.

"Everybody seems to be wanting to support new hikers and share information," she says of her online following. "Its a really supportive environment."

As a kid, Manness spent every summer camping with her family. When she landed her first job out of nursing school in the emergency department at the Health Sciences Centre, her mental health suffered and she struggled to maintain a work-life balance.

"I was sleepless and anxious and I wanted to return to the thing that I remembered loving the most and that was time on the trails," she says. "It gave me some clarity in my life and its the one thing that I look forward to more than anything."

Shes been hiking at least once a week for more than a decade and nature remains her happy place  especially during the public health crisis.

"The pandemic almost doesnt exist in the woods," she says.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manness has released a series of guidebooks as a resource for hikers.

However, evidence of the pandemic has started to creep into Manitobas wilderness in undesirable ways. Manness has noticed an uptick in the amount of garbage left in parks over the last year. If the recent crush of provincial campground bookings is any indication, even more people will be spending time outdoors during our second COVID-19 summer.

To get ahead of the curve and educate others, Manness has been sharing practical tips about leave-no-trace hiking on her Instagram page (@hikemanitoba) and in her newest book. The concept stems from backcountry camping and focuses on seven principles to limit the environmental impact of outdoor activity.

"The best way to start is to pack out what you pack in," she says.

Heavy-duty Zip-loc bags are a hikers best friend. Manness uses one to organize her most important gear, although she is notorious for forgetting at least one item at home ( "Its an ongoing joke," she says with a laugh. "I definitely forgot my hiking boots the other day") and another to store her garbage on the trail.

Trash includes everything from food containers and fruit peels to dog poop and toilet paper (the latter is a surprisingly common sight).

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jaime Manness, right, heads out almost every weekend with her fiance, Ed Acuna, and their dog Jasper to explore the many hiking trails Manitoba has to offer.

"Toilet paper does not go away when it rains, or whatever else people think happens to toilet paper," says Manness, who disposes of garbage at home instead of leaving it to accumulate in park trash cans. "I hope to encourage and inspire people to think about these things before they leave the city."

This summer, Manness and her faithful hiking partners will be revisiting some old favourites, such as Clearwater Lake in The Pas, and trying out a few new treks in Duck Mountain Provincial Park. It may seem contradictory, but shes looking forward to seeing more people out on the trails enjoying nature.

"When people appreciate something and when they have a connection to it, theyre more likely to invest in it and care for it," she says.

Visit hikemanitoba.co for more information and to order Manness trail guides.

eva.wasney@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @evawasney
NEW YORK - Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19's toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday.

FILE - In this May 3, 2021, file photo, Hennepin County Medical Center patient John Grubb, of St. Michael, hugs and says goodbye to several of his caregivers as his wife, Kelly, lower right, looks on before he is discharged from the hospital in Minneapolis, after spending 81 days on the ECMO heart-lung bypass machine, which has been the treatment of last resort in COVID-19 care. (David Joles/Star Tribune via AP, File)

NEW YORK - Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19's toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday.

But they also warn that a substantial increase in hospitalizations and deaths is possible if unvaccinated people do not follow basic precautions such as wearing a mask and keeping their distance from others.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paper included projections from six research groups. Their assignment was to predict the course of the U.S. epidemic between now and September under different scenarios, depending on how the vaccination drive proceeds and how people behave.

Mainly, it's good news. Even under scenarios involving disappointing vaccination rates, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths are expected to drop dramatically by the end of July and continue to fall afterward.

The CDC is now reporting an average of about 350,000 new cases each week, 35,000 hospitalizations and over 4,000 deaths.

Under the most optimistic scenarios considered, by the end of July new weekly national cases could drop below 50,000, hospitalizations to fewer than 1,000, and deaths to between 200 and 300.

We are not out of the woods yet, but we could be very close," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said, while noting that variants of the coronavirus are a wild card that could set back progress.

FILE - In this April 7, 2021, file photo, people crowd the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif. Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19's toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday, May 5. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

The projections are probably in line with what many Americans were already expecting for this summer.

With COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations and cases plummeting since January, many states and cities are already moving to ease or lift restrictions on restaurants, bars, theatres and other businesses and talking about getting back to something close to normal this summer.

New Yorks subways will start running all night again this month, Las Vegas is bustling again after casino capacity limits were raised, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week suspended all restrictions put in place by local governments, though businesses may continue requiring people to wear masks and keep their distance, and many are still doing so.

Many people in Florida have resumed parties, graduations and recitals. Walt Disney World lets guests remove their masks for photographs.

It does feel like life is returning to normal," said 67-year-old Vicki Restivo of Miami, who after getting vaccinated resumed outings with her friends at restaurants and travelled to Egypt  and felt "very comfortable about it.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday set a goal of delivering shots to 70% of U.S. adults by July Fourth. Such a goal, if met, would fit in with the best-case scenarios, said one of the study's co-authors, CDC biologist Michael Johansson.

Under more pessimistic scenarios, with subpar vaccinations and declining use of masks and social distancing, weekly cases probably would still drop but could number in the hundreds of thousands, with tens of thousands of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths.

Something I am asked often is when will the pandemic be over and when can we go back to normal. The reality is: It all depends on the actions we take now, Walensky said.

FILE - In this April 29, 2021, file photo, nurse Natasha Garcia administers a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to Magaly Esparza in a mobile clinic set up in the parking lot of a shopping center in Orange, Calif. Teams of experts are projecting COVID-19's toll on the U.S. will fall sharply by the end of July, according to research released by the government Wednesday, May 5. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

All the projections trend down, illustrating the powerful effect of the vaccination campaign. But there's a devastating difference between the more gently sloping declines in some scenarios and the more dramatic drops in others, said Jennifer Kates, director of global health and HIV policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Each of these differences are people's lives, said Kates, who is part of a Kaiser research team that has focused on COVID-19 and was not involved in the CDC study.

The U.S. death toll stands at more than 578,000. The CDC paper gives no overall estimate of how high the number of dead might go. But a closely watched projection from the University of Washington shows the curve largely flattening out in the coming months, with the toll reaching about 599,000 by Aug. 1.

More than 56% of the nation's adults, or close to 146 million people, have received at one dose of vaccine, and almost 41% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

Johansson said the paper is intended not so much as a prediction of exactly what's going to happen but as a way to understand how things might unfold if vaccination drives or other efforts stumble.

By September, assuming high vaccination rates and continuing use of prevention measures, the models indicate new cases could fall to just a few hundred per week and just tens of hospitalizations and deaths.

The paper also sketched out a worst-case scenario, in which cases could rise to 900,000 per week, hospitalizations to 50,000, and deaths to 10,000. That most likely would happen sometime this month, the projections said.

However, the papers projections are based on data available through late March, when the national picture was somewhat darker.

The CDC paper "is already looking a little outdated, because weve seen cases continue to go down, and hospitalizations go down, and deaths go down, Kates said.

Nevertheless, Johansson warned: We're still in a tenuous position."

There is variation from state to state in how well vaccination campaigns are going and how fast restrictions are being abandoned, and that will probably mean some states will suffer a higher toll from COVID-19 than others in the coming months, Kates said.

If you take the foot off the gas," she said, "you can really have some bad outcomes."

The paper doesn't look past September, and scientists cannot say for sure what the epidemic will look like next fall and winter because it's not known how enduring vaccine protection will be or whether variants of the virus will prove to be a greater problem.

Like the flu, COVID-19 could increase as people move indoors in the cold weather.

My hope is with enough people vaccinated we will be able to get to something that will resemble maybe a bad flu season, said William Hanage, a Harvard University expert on disease dynamics who was not involved in the research. But "its not going to go away. It's not going to be eradicated.

Associated Press writer Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami contributed to this report.

The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Businesses dont want to rely on government funding or emergency support  theyd rather be open at full capacity to make their own money, Manitobas minister in charge of economic development and jobs told business leaders Tuesday.

Businesses dont want to rely on government funding or emergency support  theyd rather be open at full capacity to make their own money, Manitobas minister in charge of economic development and jobs told business leaders Tuesday.

"But when the time gets going and its really tough, government needs to step up and be there," said Minister Ralph Eichler. "What were trying to do is keep our economy moving and, at the same time, our top priority has always been throughout the last year to keep Manitobans healthy and safe... its a balance, for sure."

That balancing act between public-health and economic concerns was at the heart of a virtual event hosted by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce Tuesday afternoon, where Eichler answered stakeholder questions about the Tory governments handling of the COVID-19 pandemic so far.

Much of his prepared address to attendees was filled with zingers about programs like the Bridge Grant, how Manitoba "provided the most generous support in the country," and that theyve "been there for all workers and businesses in a way no other government has."

However, asked whether the Tories are looking at expanding or extending support for businesses struggling due to capacity limits under current public-health orders, Eichler was hesitant to provide many details.

"We have $300 million that weve actually set aside (under the 2021-22 budget) for this to happen if we need it," said Eichler. "What Ive heard from Manitobans and on our calls on a regular basis is that businesses want to be able to get back to capacity, and make their own money and have employees back and do those things on their own.

"If we need to do another program, we certainly will. It may not be the same program we have before."

Chuck Davidson, CEO and president for the Chambers of Commerce, commended Eichler for looking at the current phase of pandemic protocols through a "business lens." Under rules that came into effect last week and will remain in place until May 26, most storefronts are allowed to remain open but with varying visitor or customer limits.

"Not all businesses are equal in terms of the impact that COVID has had on them. How important is it that were looking at sector-specific and really targeted programs that can really address the needs of what those business challenges are?" Davidson asked, as one of his many questions on behalf of Chamber members to the minister.

This question among others allowed Eichler to cite relief packages and a reduction of taxes for specific businesses like restaurants and diners. He also mentioned a new program for the hotels, lodging and tourism industries.

Eichler was also asked about the recent change to his cabinet portfolio, which changed his title from the minister of economic development and training to economic development and jobs. "Certainly, this gives me more time to rebuild our economy," he said.

"The premier and I had this conversation when we were talking about economic recovery... (my portfolio) was so big, I just didnt have the time to focus on that completely," Eichler said, adding a "full deep review" of his department will be announced soon. "I think Manitobans need to know how were doing this."

Obby Khan, a former Winnipeg Blue Bomber and local entrepreneur, was recently provided provincial support for his online initiative GoodLocal.ca that supports independent businesses. Khan asked Eichler whether the Tories will continue to fund "innovative ideas from the community" like that beyond the pandemic.

"Theres always ongoing supports," said Eichler. "Is it to the level that they need to be? Probably not. But certainly, were always open to new suggestions."

Looking back, Eichler said hes "proud" of how the Pallister government has handled the economy. "Are we going to get it all right? No, were not... Can we do better? Yes, we can," he said.

"Overall, I think that the plan that we have and the responses that Ive had is that were all doing this together. I think weve done a great job."

The Chambers will host another stakeholder event later this month with the two provincial ministers for health, Heather Stefanson and Audrey Gordon.

temur.durrani@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @temurdur
DETROIT - Ford has raised its stake in a manufacturer of solid-state batteries  a move that its chief product and operations officer, Hau Thai-Tang, says will strengthen the company's effort to increase the range and reduce the costs of its next generation of electric vehicles.

Ford Chief Product and Operations Officer Hau Thai-Tang is interviewed via Zoom on Monday, May 3 2021. Ford has raised its stake in a manufacturer of solid-state batteries  a move that its chief product and operations officer, Hau Thai-Tang, says will strengthen the company's effort to increase the range and reduce the costs of its next generation of electric vehicles. (AP Photo/Carrie Antlfinger)

DETROIT - Ford has raised its stake in a manufacturer of solid-state batteries  a move that its chief product and operations officer, Hau Thai-Tang, says will strengthen the company's effort to increase the range and reduce the costs of its next generation of electric vehicles.

Ford, along with BMW, this week announced their investment in a $130 million funding round for Solid Power, a Denver-area company that is developing sulfide solid-state battery technology. Thai-Tang says the technology should give Ford the flexibility to either shrink battery sizes to make it less expensive to manufacture some vehicles or keep the same size battery and achieve a greater range of distance in other models.

Solid state batteries, with their solid ion-conducting material instead of the liquid electrolyte found in most lithium-ion batteries, can store more energy. This expands the vehicles' range from the same-size battery or allows for smaller batteries, which are typically lighter with a lower risk of fire.

At the same time, it's harder to draw power from solid-state batteries than from lithium-ion batteries, said Sam Abuelsamid, an analyst at Guidehouse Research. But the technology holds such promise, he said, that whatever company perfects it first could command a competitive edge.

The Associated Press spoke recently with Thai-Tang about the new chemistry and what it could mean to speeding the adoption of electric vehicles. The interview was edited for clarity and length.

____

Q: Why are solid-state batteries so important compared with the lithium-ion batteries now used in electric vehicles?

A: Because of the promise of much higher levels of energy density. For customers, that basically means they can drive farther with the more range. So as you get better energy and power density, the cells get smaller. That allows the vehicles to become lighter for the same range, as well as more space for people and their things instead of for batteries. And then, of course, cost. Being able to drive the cost-per-kilowatt-hour down will speed up the adoption of battery electric vehicles.

Q. What's the advantage over lithium-ion batteries now?

A: The big thing is going from a liquid electrolyte to a solid electrolyte; that gives you better conductivity. Thats the enabler for the power and energy. The challenge has always been, can you actually scale it up to where the format of the cell is large enough for automotive use? Then can you actually manufacture it at scale to hit the cost targets?

Q: There has been a lot of talk about potential shortages of lithium, copper, nickel, other precious metals. Does solid state use fewer of those?

A: It depends on the chemistry. For most companies, the cathode is about the same as whats in lithium-ion. That doesnt really change. Its really the anode and the electrolyte. Because youre getting higher conductivity and higher energy density, so for the same power and range and energy, you would use less. That in itself will help, even if it was the same chemistry. But depending on which company you partner with, they would have different chemistries, which will reduce dependencies on things like copper as well as cobalt, for example.

Q: How far along is Solid Power in this process?

A: We think Solid Power is among the leaders because of their ability to scale up to a multi-layer cell, up to 20 amp-hour. This is something that we can actually use in an automobile. Beginning next year, theyre targeting to give us as well as the other investor, BMW, a 100 amp-hour battery. That's at the size we really can use for automotive applications. The other big thing is, their chemistry can be built in the same manufacturing process that we would invest in to build lithium-ion batteries. So this allows us to ease into that new technology without having to reinvest in all of that capital equipment.

Q: What time frame do you see for switching to solid-state?

A: We think its realistic to target by the end of this decade if we continue to make the progress were making.

Q: How much farther could the vehicle go if you if you perfect solid state?

A: You can either maintain the current range and use fewer batteries, or you can give customers even more range within the physical package of that battery size. Were seeing roughly 25% to 30% improvement in energy density. So we can literally give that all to more range. Or we could say 300 miles is optimal, and we would just reduce the number of batteries and drive the cost down. And anywhere in between those two bookends.

Q: So in the current package for a Mustang Mach-E electric SUV, say roughly 300 miles, you would be able to go around 400 miles?

A: Yes, you can get another 25% to 30%.

Q: Does this announcement mean there will be a much wider array of electric vehicles coming?

A: Ford can lead the electric revolution and accelerate the transition from internal combustion engines to drive the cost down and improve the the range for our customers, making it safer. I think charging infrastructure is probably the other thing that would be the key for a faster rate of adoption.

Q: Do you need solid state to reach cost parity with internal combustion engines?

A: We see further opportunities to drive the cost down below $100 per kilowatt with additional advances in lithium-ion technology. To take the next incremental step in terms of cost, we think you have to go to solid state.

Q: How much over the current battery chemistry might you save in cost if this comes to fruition?

A: If you're getting 25%-to-30% improvement in energy density and you can build it in the same process, you would expect to see that level of cost improvement versus todays state of the art technology.
LONDON - Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy industrialized nations on Wednesday accused China of human rights abuses and economic mischief, but offered little concrete action to deal with an increasingly forceful Beijing.

United States' Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center top, participates in a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Japan Toshimitsu Motegi, third from left at tabel, and South Korea's foreign minister Chung Eui-yong, second from right at table, on the sidelines of a G7 foreign ministers meeting in London, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy industrialized nations gathered in London to grapple with threats to health, prosperity and democracy in their first face-to-face meeting in more than two years. (Ben Stansall/Pool Photo via AP)

LONDON - Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven wealthy industrialized nations on Wednesday accused China of human rights abuses and economic mischief, but offered little concrete action to deal with an increasingly forceful Beijing.

The top G-7 diplomats meeting in London said they were deeply concerned by China's treatment of the Uyghur Muslim population and other minorities, which includes mass internment in re-education camps, forced labour and forced sterilization.

But the U.K., the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan committed only to tackling forced labour "through our own available domestic means, which could range from public awareness campaigns to laws for businesses, rather than through collective action.

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, arrives for talks, during the G7 foreign ministers' meeting, at Lancaster House in London, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Diplomats from the group of wealthy nations are meeting in London for their first face-to-face gathering in two years. (Hannah McKay/Pool Photo via AP)

While the Biden administration in the U.S. is keen for a strong stand against Chinas rising economic and political assertiveness, some European G-7 members are more cautious, and the G-7 joint statement stressed the need for a working relationship with Beijing.

The G-7 ministers criticized China for arbitrary, coercive economic policies and practices and urged it to stick to international trade rules and respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.

At their first face-to-face meeting for two years, the top diplomats sought unity to deal with increasing challenges from China and Russia, smouldering conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan and Ethiopia and the heavy toll the pandemic is taking on the worlds poorest countries.

The G-7 ministers called for co-ordinated action and global solidarity to help the world recover from the pandemic, and backed affordable and equitable global access to coronavirus vaccines and treatments. But wealthy countries have been reluctant so far to give up precious vaccine stocks until they have inoculated their own populations.

Foreign Ministers are seated prior to a G7 foreign ministers meeting in London, Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Diplomats from the group of wealthy nations are meeting in London for their first face-to-face gathering in two years. (Ben Stansall/Pool Photo via AP)

The group also condemned Russias military build-up on Ukraines eastern border and in Crimea and its malign activities aimed at undermining other countries democratic systems.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was flying to Kviv after the G-7 meeting to demonstrate strong U.S. backing for the countrys response to Russian aggression.

The U.K. pushed to hold the meeting in person to give the rich countries club a jolt of energy after a period marked by the health crisis of the pandemic and rising nationalism around the world. Prime Minister Boris Johnsons government is also seeking to project a dynamic Global Britain image in the wake of the countrys departure from the European Union.

Delegates at Lancaster House, a grand London mansion, observed social distancing, sat behind transparent screens in meetings and were tested daily for the virus. Even so, Indias foreign minister was forced to go into self-isolation after members of his countrys delegation tested positive for COVID-19.

FILE - In this Monday, May 3, 2021 file photo, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, attends a press conference with India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar following a bilateral meeting in London. Indias foreign minister has pulled out of in-person meetings at a Group of Seven gathering in London because of possible exposure to the coronavirus. Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar tweeted that he was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases." He said that out of abundant caution he would attend meetings on Wednesday, May 5 virtually.(Ben Stansall/Pool Photo via AP, file)

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar tweeted that he was attending in the virtual mode as a measure of abundant caution" after being told he might have been exposed to the virus.

Organizers insisted there was little risk to the rest of the delegates.

India is not a G-7 member but was invited along with fellow democracies South Korea, Australia and South Africa as a guest.

India is experiencing a vast outbreak of COVID-19, with 382,315 new confirmed cases and 3,780 reported deaths in the last 24 hours, in what is widely believed to be an undercount.

The guest nations delegations didnt attend the conference on Tuesday, though Jaishankar has held meetings in London with officials including British Home Secretary Priti Patel and the American secretary of state.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said that we have no reason to believe any of our delegation is at risk.

The U.K. is due to host the groups leaders at a summit in Cornwall, southwest England, in June.

Johnson, who attended the gathering briefly on Wednesday defended the decision to hold the foreign ministers meeting in person despite the virus.

I think its very important to try to continue as much business as you can as a government, the prime minister said.
CALGARY - The CEO of Enbridge Inc. says the company's Line 3 and Line 5 pipelines in the United States are "absolutely critical" as each faces ongoing hurdles thrown up by environmental, political and other opponents.

Enbridge company logos on display at the company's annual meeting in Calgary on May 12, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY - The CEO of Enbridge Inc. says the company's Line 3 and Line 5 pipelines in the United States are "absolutely critical" as each faces ongoing hurdles thrown up by environmental, political and other opponents.

During the Calgary-based energy infrastructure company's annual general meeting on Wednesday, Al Monaco said Enbridge must continue to fight for those pipelines for its benefit as well as the benefit of the shippers who move products on them and the consumers who need those products.

Enbridge's Line 5 is facing a looming May 12 shutdown ordered by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last fall after accusing the company of violating terms of a 1953 deal that allowed the line to traverse the bottom of the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

The 68-year-old conduit has never leaked and Enbridge has said it will ignore the order because the state doesn't have the authority to shut down the pipeline.

Meanwhile, the $9.3-billion Line 3 pipeline replacement project is under construction with a completion target of late this year, despite ongoing protests and court challenges.

In response to an investor's question of how much Enbridge spends to defend itself from legal challenges, Monaco said "a lot," but added that such costs are part of the business now.

"The infrastructure assets we own as a company and the ones we're developing and replacing, like this, and modernizing, I think are absolutely critical to the energy future no matter what the degree of change in the energy landscape is," he said.

"But I have to say, this is really part of the business today. We expect to have legal challenges and, frankly, it's the management team's job to manage those."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2021.

Companies in this story: (TSX:ENB)
Loblaw Companies Ltd.'s year-long pandemic winning streak marked by surging sales and profits appears poised to level off as the supermarket giant starts comparing results against the panic-buying gains recorded at the outset of the pandemic.

The Loblaws flagship location on Carlton Street in Toronto is shown on Thursday May 2, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Aaron Vincent Elkaim

Loblaw Companies Ltd.'s year-long pandemic winning streak marked by surging sales and profits appears poised to level off as the supermarket giant starts comparing results against the panic-buying gains recorded at the outset of the pandemic.

Yet ongoing restaurant closures due to lockdown measures continued to benefit Canada's biggest grocery and drugstore retailer during its most recent quarter as people cooked more meals at home.

Loblaw said Wednesday its profits were up 30 per cent to $313 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared with a year ago. Revenues for the three months ended March 27 totalled $11.87 billion, up from $11.8 billion.

The company's strong results were buoyed by an improvement in its financial services business, as well as better-than-expected gross margins in food and drug sales.

However, Loblaw signalled that as the economy begins to reopen, revenue growth will be challenging going forward.

"I think it's a reasonable expectation that it's going to start to flatten out," Loblaw president Sarah Davis told analysts during a conference call ahead of her retirement on Thursday. "We're not going to see the high growth that we saw last year."

Indeed, most grocers have indicated that financial results will become more muted as they compare performance against the elevated sales recorded during the first wave of COVID-19 when consumers stockpiled goods in an effort to limit their shopping frequency and abide by stay-at-home orders.

But the fear-induced hoarding at the beginning of the pandemic has largely stopped, which could make results a year later look flat or even lower than last year's peak.

Loblaw said food retail same-stores sales growth was just 0.1 per cent in the most recent quarter, for example, as the company's financial results were compared to last year's unprecedented pandemic demand.

"Food retail same-store sales were relatively flat," Loblaw chief financial officer Darren Myers  who will be leaving the company after its annual general meeting on Thursday  said during the call with analysts.

The company's higher profits came as its financial services segment saw a $20-million reduction in its expected credit loss provisions in the quarter compared with a $50-million increase in the first quarter of 2020.

Loblaw also said e-commerce sales increased 133 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2020.

Meanwhile, Loblaw has faced criticism for not reinstating a pandemic pay premium for frontline workers despite strong profits.

Loblaw, Metro Inc. and Sobeys Inc. all ended the $2-an-hour bonus last June. While Sobeys reinstated lockdown bonuses for workers in areas with stay-at-home orders and Metro provided gift cards, Loblaw stayed mum on offering workers a bonus until last week.

In an email to staff on Friday, Davis said the company would be offering an appreciation bonus to staff in stores and distribution centres, employee discount events, up to three hours of paid time off for vaccinations and a continuation of a pay protection program for workers with COVID-19.

Unifor, Canadas largest private-sector union, panned the appreciation bonus as chump change.

This paltry payment to frontline grocery workers, who are keeping us fed throughout this pandemic, is nothing short of a disgrace, Unifor national president Jerry Dias said in a statement.

The union said the one-time payment would range from $25 to a maximum of $175 for full-time workers.

Loblaw spokeswoman Catherine Thomas said in an email that the bonuses will mean different things to different people, and will vary depending on hours worked in recent weeks.

That said, this is about more than just a bonus, and we expect that on average, the initiatives will amount to hundreds of dollars for colleagues.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2021.

Companies in this story: (TSX:L)
NEW YORK - Peloton is recalling about 125,000 of its treadmills less than a month after denying they were dangerous and saying it would not pull them from the market, even though they were linked to the death of a child and injuries of 29 others.

FILE - This Nov. 19, 2019 file photo shows a Peloton logo on the company's stationary bicycle in San Francisco. Peloton is recalling its treadmills after one child died and 29 other children suffered from cuts, broken bones and other injuries from being pulled under the rear of the treadmill. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday, May 5, 2021, that Peloton received 72 reports of adults, kids, pets or other items, such as exercise balls, being pulled under the treadmill. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

NEW YORK - Peloton is recalling about 125,000 of its treadmills less than a month after denying they were dangerous and saying it would not pull them from the market, even though they were linked to the death of a child and injuries of 29 others.

The company said Wednesday that it will now offer full refunds for the Peloton Tread+ treadmills, which cost more than $4,200. It will also stop selling them.

The recall comes after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned on April 17 that people with children and pets should immediately stop using the Tread+ treadmill after a child was pulled under one of them and died.

At the time, Peloton pushed back against the safety commission saying the warning was inaccurate and misleading" and that there was no reason to stop using the machines. CEO John Foley also said he had no intention" of recalling the treadmills.

In a statement Wednesday, Foley apologized and said the company made a mistake in its initial response to the safety commission.

Shares of New York-based Peloton Interactive Inc. fell 14.6% to close at $82.62 Wednesday, its second-biggest one-day percentage decline since the stock started trading in 2019.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut who is chair of the consumer safety committee, said in a statement that the recall was dangerously delayed.

Peloton unacceptably put consumers at risk," Blumenthal said, adding that he would work to strengthen the safety commission so that companies like Peloton no longer get to call the shots on consumer safety."

Under current laws, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has to negotiate with companies in order to release warnings about a product's hazards.

Peloton is best known for its stationary bikes, but it introduced treadmills about three years ago. Sales of its equipment have soared during the pandemic as virus-wary people have avoided gyms and worked out at home. In the last three months of 2020, the company brought in $1 billion in revenue, more than double what it made the year before.

In all, Peloton said it received 72 reports of adults, kids, pets or other items, such as exercise balls, being pulled under the rear of the treadmill. Of those reports, 29 were of children who suffered injuries, including broken bones and cuts. One child, who was 6 years old, died.

Joseph Martyak, a spokesman at the Consumer Product Safety Commission, said the agency is still testing the treadmills, but it appears the design of the Peloton Tread+, including its belt and its height off the floor, could make it more likely to pull people, pets and items under the machine than other brands of treadmills.

Those who own the Tread+ treadmill have until Nov. 6, 2022, to get a full refund from Peloton. The safety commission still recommends that people stop using the treadmill, but for those that want to keep it, Peloton said it will move it free of charge to a room where children or pets cannot access it and update the software so a passcode is required to unlock it.

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Follow Joseph Pisani on Twitter: @josephpisani
The official narrative of what happened to Will Ahmo  an Indigenous inmate at Headingley Correctional Centre  and how he ended up in a Winnipeg hospital on life support with brain and spinal injuries, is virtually non-existent.

The official narrative of what happened to Will Ahmo  an Indigenous inmate at Headingley Correctional Centre  and how he ended up in a Winnipeg hospital on life support with brain and spinal injuries, is virtually non-existent.

At 7 p.m. on Feb. 7, the RCMP received a report of an "unresponsive male" at the jail resulting from an "incident" with guards. The nature of the incident was "not clear," the police said, and the inmate was taken to hospital with "life-threatening injuries."

A week later, Ahmo  a 45-year-old father of Anishinaabe heritage  was dead. He is one of six inmates to die at correctional institutions in Manitoba in 2021 alone, an average of more than one dead inmate per month.

The RCMPs major crimes unit quickly took over the case. When contacted this week, an RCMP spokeswoman said the agency would not release additional details until its investigation was complete.

Meanwhile, Manitoba Justice said in a written statement that it recognizes the seriousness of "any death in custody," and that there would be an internal review. Citing the RCMP probe, the province declined further comment.

But according to Corey Shefman  a human-rights attorney working with the Ahmo family  the disturbing details will eventually come to light.

"There is absolutely no way the Ahmo family is going to sit back and let this get swept under the rug," he told the Free Press.

According to Shefman, who got involved with the case shortly after Ahmo died in hospital on Feb. 14, the altercation that led to his death began when a guard at the Headingley jail refused to stop making "racist jokes" in front of inmates.

SUPPLIED Will Ahmo with son Emory. Ahmo died while an inmate at Headingley Correctional Institution February 7, 2021. Winnipeg Free Press 2021

In Manitoba, roughly 75 per cent of all people locked up in provincial and federal correctional institutions are Indigenous. Meanwhile, 70 per cent of them  including Ahmo prior to his death  are on remand, meaning they have not been convicted of the crime theyre accused of committing.

The guards racist comments, Shefman said, led to an argument with Ahmo, which escalated into an hours-long standoff between the inmate and jail staff. The details of how the situation escalated aren't clear, but eventually, the serious incident response team was called into the unit.

Ahmo was unarmed, Shefman said.

"Our understanding is the serious incident response team came into the unit in full tactical gear and threw stun grenades. Weve heard there were gas canisters used. This is just on Will. This wasnt a riot. There was no one else there," Shefman said.

"They beat him to death."

While Shefman says the familys investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ahmos death is ongoing, their understanding is the confrontation happened in front of numerous eyewitnesses and in full view of video surveillance cameras.

The Ahmo family isn't going to let this get swept under the rug, says human rights lawyer Corey Shefman. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press)

The case has sparked calls for an independent investigation and demands for a public inquiry into a spate of Indigenous deaths behind bars in Manitoba. It also touches upon deep-seated problems that have long plagued Manitobas prisons and jails, including the over-incarceration of Indigenous people, the high percentage of inmates locked up in pre-trial detention and the lack of transparency under which correctional facilities operate.

From 2005 to 2016, there were at least 14 inmate deaths in Manitoba jails  a figure that does not include the deaths of inmates at Stony Mountain Institution, a federal penitentiary.

The Fatality Inquiries Act requires the chief medical examiner to provide an annual statistical review of its caseload for the minister of justice. Those reports are eventually made public, but only after they have been tabled in the Manitoba legislature.

When reached for comment Tuesday, a spokesman for the chief medical examiner said the latest report available is for 2017, and that the report for 2018 "may be available in the near future," indicating the justice minister has not tabled such reports for the past three years.

TRIBUNE MEDIA TNS The confrontation apparently happened in front of numerous eyewitnesses and in full view of video surveillance cameras. (Dreamstime / TNS files)

Michelle Gawronsky, the president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union, which represents guards in provincial correctional institutions, said in a written statement that she sends her condolences to the Ahmo family, adding that she is unaware of "the outcomes of the investigations that have been initiated."

"We look forward to learning about their findings and would ask anyone paying attention to this incident to please suspend their judgment until the investigations are concluded and the findings made public," Gawronsky said.

"Correctional officers work in a volatile and often dangerous environment, and situations can escalate quickly. Officers often must make quick decisions to protect their safety and the safety of their fellow officers and other inmates."

Ahmo had a lengthy criminal history stretching back two decades, but he was also well-known and respected among Indigenous communities in Winnipeg. He was in custody while awaiting a court date at the time of his death.

Shefman claims the "level of violence and aggression" used against him by guards was "utterly disproportionate" to any threat he could have posed.

"Ive never heard of anything like this in Manitoba before. This was a team of heavily armed guards against one unarmed inmate. This is as extreme of a situation as Ive ever heard," he said.

"Were watching the RCMP investigation with great interest. We would like to see charges. In our view, theres no possible justification for the amount of force that was used on Will."

RCMP received a report on Feb. 21 of an unresponsive male at the Headingley Correctional Centre resulting from an undetermined incident with guards. Will Ahmo was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries and died a week later. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Grand Chief Jerry Daniels of the Southern Chiefs Organization has called for a public inquiry into Ahmos death, as well as the death of Dwayne Simard, an inmate who died at Stony Mountain on March 1. Both men were members of Sagkeeng First Nation.

Daniels told the Free Press that he would like to see video surveillance of the confrontation between the guards and Ahmo made public. He would also like the results of the autopsy report to be released.

"The gap is widening in terms of First Nations being involved in the justice system and these are the outcomes that were seeing. Were seeing our people being hurt and being the victims of these institutions," Daniels said.

"What we want to do is bring out the details. These are institutions that are publicly funded and the footage there should be made public."

Shefman said that regardless of the outcome of the RCMP probe, he expects other court proceedings in this case. He believes Ahmo's family will file a wrongful-death lawsuit against the provincial government and also expects an inquest to be called.

Due to a 2017 change ushered in by the Pallister government, inquests are no longer mandatory for deaths behind bars, but Shefman said if one is not called, the family would use every legal recourse at its disposal to force one.

Shefman also stressed that the case must be understood in the wider context of systemic racism in the Canadian criminal-justice system.

"I dont think you can separate what happened to Will from the fact he was an Anishinaabe man. The violence against Indigenous people in Winnipeg, in Manitoba and particularly in the Manitoba criminal-justice system, is rampant," he said.

"We believe quite firmly that racism  both systemic racism and directed, acute racism  contributed to Wills death."

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe
WINNIPEG - Some of Manitoba's top doctors have written an open letter that pleads with the public to obey COVID-19 public health orders to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.

WINNIPEG - Some of Manitoba's top doctors have written an open letter that pleads with the public to obey COVID-19 public health orders to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.

"Our health system cannot manage the potential volume of what is coming our way if we do not do everything possible to limit the spread of this virus," reads the letter signed by the provincial medical leads of 16 specialties, including primary care, surgery and cardiac sciences.

"Manitoba case numbers are rising far too quickly. Hospital beds are starting to fill."

The province reported 291 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday and one death.

Daily case counts should not be so high, given that Manitoba has had varying degrees of restrictions on public gatherings and household social visits for months, said Dr. Bojan Paunovic, a signatory to the letter and the province's medical specialty lead of critical care.

"We're seeing case counts that ... are higher than they should be, I think, if the current restrictions were actually being followed," Paunovic said in an interview.

The daily number of people with COVID-19 being admitted in acute care is now double what it was earlier this year, he added.

The number of ICU beds now filled, including with non-COVID cases, now hovers close to 110, Paunovic said. That's greater than capacity before the pandemic erupted and is approaching the kind of numbers seen in the second wave during the fall and early winter.

A social-distancing sign is shown at Manitoba's new COVID-19 vaccination centre at the Winnipeg's Convention Centre on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Some of Manitoba's top doctors have written an open letter that pleads with the public to obey COVID-19 public health orders to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Signs that some Manitobans are not following the rules have been increasing in recent weeks. Dr. Brent Roussin, chief public health officer, said the third wave has been driven partly by social gatherings, including house parties and play dates.

There have also been protests and rallies against public health orders, including one in Winnipeg last month that drew several hundred people.

The open letter states that while the public is frustrated with ongoing restrictions, health workers are also frustrated.

"We are tired, too. Health-care workers have been pushed to their limits during this pandemic and are exhausted," the letter reads.

Further increases in infections will add to the risk of more cancelled surgeries, fewer beds available for non-COVID cases, and fewer workers available to staff other areas of health care.

The third wave of the pandemic is different, Paunovic said, in that the average age of people requiring hospitalization has dropped sharply. Doctors are seeing more people in their 20s and 30s in intensive care, he said.

"Earlier this week, we even admitted an 18-year-old who needed to be in (intensive care) and on a ventilator."

The open letter asks Manitobans to hang on for a few more weeks  time to allow patients in hospital to be treated and more vaccines to be administered.

"We really need everyone to just really bite down a little bit harder and give us about another six weeks," said Dr. Edward Buchel, provincial specialty lead of surgery.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2021
On May 3, at precisely 10 a.m., on the government of Manitoba's Twitter account, health officials announced all Indigenous people age 18 and over became eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination.

On May 3, at precisely 10 a.m., on the government of Manitoba's Twitter account, health officials announced all Indigenous people age 18 and over became eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination.

Confirmed shortly afterward by Dr. Marcia Anderson, First Nations Pandemic Response Co-ordination Team lead, this was much-needed good news  as the situation continues to get worse, restrictions get tougher, and more young people get sick.

First Nations have been hardly immune from this trend.

Last week, two First Nations people in their 20s died; on Monday, it was announced another, a woman in her 30s, had died of COVID-19.

The amount of variant of concern cases is also dramatically increasing, with Anderson reporting in late April a five-fold increase.

"First Nations people have made up 50 to 60 per cent of all COVID-19 admission to intensive care units," she said at a news conference.

"We are also seeing consistently seeing higher numbers of off-reserve First Nations people than on-reserve people in hospitalizations and ICUs, and, unfortunately, more fatal outcomes."

So, the news that all Indigenous adults 18-plus  First Nations, Metis and Inuit  can now get a shot is a big step. (As of April 30, only First Nations people 30-plus were eligible for a Pfizer or Moderna vaccination.)

CP Dr. Marcia Anderson, First Nations Pandemic Response Co-ordination Team lead. (John Woods / The Canadian Press files)

Manitobas vaccine rollout, much maligned and, frankly, at times a complete debacle (ask any school teacher), has now reached a turning point  for First Nations anyways.

Inuit and Metis have generally been left to fend for themselves in the rollout. Adequate statistics are barely available on those communities.

First Nations statistics are readily available because theyve been First Nations-led and supported by multiple levels of government. This makes the argument a targeted approach is needed  and works  convincing.

For instance, only three months ago, First Nations accounted for nearly 70 per cent of all COVID-19 cases in the province, despite being around 10 per cent of the population.

There were a few success stories (like Peguis First Nation locally eradicating the disease at Christmas) but the situation was dire amidst Manitobas second wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

As of Monday, First Nations consist of 20 per cent of all new cases and 35 per cent of all active cases.

Test positivity  once as high as 50 per cent on some First Nations  was 10 per cent on-reserve and 11 per cent off-reserve (remarkably close to the provincial 8.5 per cent rate).

This is because the data First Nations health leaders like Anderson collect makes it undeniable the disease impacts Indigenous peoples more, and must be addressed.

This has led to more than half of all on-reserve citizens and a quarter of all off-reserve citizens having at least one dose of the two-dose vaccines (making close to 40 per cent of all First Nations citizens in the province partly vaccinated). Im willing to bet First Nations in this province (and indeed all Manitoba) will not see as bad a situation as in the winter.

There were only three First Nations out of about 300 getting their shots in mid-April at the convention centre. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

The key is to stay the course and keep the vaccination rollout First Nations-led and not expect Canadian solutions to be First Nations solutions.

Let me explain.

For instance, I got my shot in mid-April at the downtown Winnipeg RBC Convention Centre super site, a 90-minute process more notable because I was 20 years younger than nearly every client in the room.

I counted three First Nations peoples in the 300 or so in my time slot.

Its well-known  and well-reasoned  that due to racism, historical mistrust, and poverty, Indigenous people may not want, or be able, to access Canadas health-care system. Simply put, the idea of being told by non-Indigenous people we need to go somewhere and take some medicine is understandably met with suspicion.

Aware of this, leaders such as Anderson and the First Nations response team have done what we do during feasts: bring the food to the people.

Opening vaccination clinics in First Nations communities and in downtown, Indigenous-run organizations like Ka Ni Kanichihk and on Higgins Avenue have been instrumental.

What also helps are Indigenous doctors such as Anderson and Dr. Barry Lavallee, alongside Indigenous leaders such as Gerry Shingoose, Kevin Chief, and my father Murray Sinclair, getting their personal vaccine shots publicized on social and traditional media.

Its another step in what has been a huge learning curve in the fight against COVID-19, demonstrating First Nations are the most effective in leading the fight in our communities.

I could say that about the Metis and Inuit, too, but theres been no data, care from governments, or interest until Monday morning.

niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca
More than 100 protesters gathered outside the Law Courts Monday, mostly maskless, citing God and Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedoms as reasons to ignore the provinces COVID-19 restrictions.

More than 100 protesters gathered outside the Law Courts Monday, mostly maskless, citing God and Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedoms as reasons to ignore the provinces COVID-19 restrictions.

On the same day, a fresh wave of COVID-19 patients was admitted to intensive-care units at three acute-care hospitals in the city, many with tubes down their throats, hooked up to mechanical ventilators and struggling to breathe; all fighting for their lives.

If only the protesters and the pandemic deniers could witness first-hand the suffering, the pain, the gurgling sounds of dying, hemorrhaging patients in ICUs, they might have a different perspective, those on the front lines of health care say.

The economy will recover and the churchgoers will soon return to their pews. But the dead will still be dead and the COVID "long-haulers" will suffer from any number of long-term conditions that could include lung, heart and brain damage. That perspective seems lost on some.

If protesters and the pandemic deniers could witness first-hand the suffering of patients in ICUs, they might have a different perspective. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Manitoba's COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to climb this week, including among younger adults in need of critical care. The number of COVID-19 patients in ICU rose to 47 Tuesday, six of whom are under the age of 40. Last week, none was under 40.

The ICU peak in December, when government was forced to shut down most public-facing businesses and organizations, was 55.

The overall number of patients in ICU (including non-COVID patients) reached 129 during the second wave. On Tuesday it hit 108, well above the normal, pre-pandemic capacity of 71. It's unsustainable and it's going in the wrong direction.

So, what to do? Allow hospitalizations to climb further, postpone elective surgeries again and reallocate hospital resources to ICUs and medical beds? Allow more severe illness and death?

Those who work in hospitals say they cant do a repeat of the fall. Front-line workers werent just stretched thin, they were asked to do the near-impossible: treat patients under unsafe conditions with ill-advised staff-patient ratios, while working forced overtime shifts. Some have since retired or quit. The province may not have the human resources for a repeat performance.

CP The overall number of patients in ICU, including non-COVID patients, was 108 on Tuesday, well above the normal, pre-pandemic capacity of 71. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

The message that hospitalizations and ICU numbers are climbing rapidly doesnt seem to be getting through to many. Shopping malls are packed, parks are teeming with large crowds of people and many appear to be going about their lives in a semi-normal fashion. The virus  including new, more contagious variant strains  is circulating more broadly through public schools. A growing number of schools have been forced to move to remote learning. The province, however, continues to insist, without evidence (at least none thats been made public), that the vast majority of student infections are occurring outside schools.

There has been no aggressive public messaging from government in recent weeks for Manitobans to change their behaviour, nor have there been any significant changes to public-health orders. Its almost business as usual.

The anti-mask, anti-government intervention protesters have become more active  likely spreading the virus further  despite fines issued to violators. They seem able to gather at will, while thumbing their noses at the rest of society, in clear contravention of public-health orders.

Meanwhile, Dr. Brent Roussin, the chief provincial public health officer, and Premier Brian Pallister are doing little more than watching the numbers, hoping with fingers crossed that they dont get worse. They are still betting that enough people will be immunized in the coming weeks that the death and destruction seen in the second wave can be averted.

With only 39 per cent of Manitobas adult population immunized with at least one shot (and a painfully slow vaccine rollout), that level of herd immunity is still far off.

As hospitalization and ICU numbers continue to rise, the Pallister governments vaccination-versus-variants gamble is looking worse today than it did a week ago.

tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca
A Gimli pub owner said he plans to fight a pandemic restrictions ticket in court, over what he calls a poor application of the law that resulted in a $5,000 fine.

A Gimli pub owner said he plans to fight a pandemic restrictions ticket in court, over what he calls a "poor application of the law" that resulted in a $5,000 fine.

"As far as Im concerned, its a bogus charge," Scott Carman, owner of Ship and Plough Tavern, said Tuesday.

Ship and Plough was one of two businesses (along with Wasabi on Broadway in Winnipeg) reported by the province to have received a $5,000 fine for breaking COVID-19 public health guidelines between April 26 and May 2.

According to Carman, a liquor inspector visited the Gimli establishment around 15 minutes after 10 p.m. on April 24. Two staff members locking up for the night were having a beer before heading home. The business had closed at 10 p.m. and there were no customers present.

The inspector returned April 27, with a $5,000 fine under current public health orders, which ban licensed premises from providing in-house service after 10 p.m., and requires them to be vacated by 10 p.m.

Carman said because the order specifically notes "members of the public" are subject to these rules, receiving a ticket meant to fine businesses choosing to keep their doors open past 10 p.m. isnt fair.

"We were not violating the public health orders, we were closed to the public; sign was flipped, lights were off, doors were locked, end of story," he said.

SUPPLIED Ship and Plough pub in Gimli.

He said he had attempted to explain the situation to the inspector but was told the province would be clamping down on enforcement.

Carman supports the public health restrictions in place, and said he can understand the fines being handed out to businesses blatantly disregarding them, but will fight this ticket in court.

"The laws are there to keep people safe, not to punish people and claw money away from businesses that have been struggling over the past year," he said.

Along with the two larger fines handed out to businesses, illegal gatherings were also the source of several recent tickets from the province, including two $5,000 tickets to the Christian Church of Morden for gathering in defiance of current public health guidelines.

The province confirmed two tickets were issued related to a rally in Winkler on May 1, and four related to a gathering outside the law courts building in Winnipeg on May 3.

In addition, 20 tickets have been handed out thus far for a rally that took place at The Forks on April 25, in which several hundred people gather to protest public health restrictions.

In total, 112 warnings and 58 tickets were issued April 26-May 2.

Along with the four $5,000 tickets, there were 33 related to private gatherings, 12 for failing to wear a mask indoors in a public space, and nine issued to people breaking mandatory self-isolation.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_
The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has cleared two Winnipeg Police Service officers of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Jason Collins last spring.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba has cleared two Winnipeg Police Service officers of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Jason Collins last spring.

Collins, 36, was one of three Indigenous people shot to death by WPS officers in the span of 10 days in April 2020, the others being Eishia Hudson, 16, and Stewart Kevin Andrews, 22. Hudson and Collins were killed within a 12-hour span on the evening of April 8 and the early-morning hours of April 9.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES An organizer holds a picture of Jason Collins as people gather at a Justice 4 Black Lives rally outside the Winnipeg police headquarters in June 2020.

"I am satisfied that the decision by (the two subject officers) to shoot (Collins) was necessary in order to prevent the injury or death of any or all of them and all other police officers in the vicinity," IIU civilian director Zane Tessler wrote in his final report.

"Following a detailed review of this comprehensive investigation, it is my view that the use of lethal force by the subject officers was justified and unavoidable."

The police officers who shot Collins to death did not sit down for interviews with IIU investigators, although they did turn over their notes and written statements.

One of the officers fired a single round at Collins from a "Glock model 22," while the other fired three rounds from a "WPS issued AR15." Collins was hit with three bullets  one in the right upper chest, one in the right upper abdomen and one through his left hand  according to the autopsy report.

The incident began at 4:34 a.m. on April 9, when WPS officers were dispatched to a home on the 300 block of Anderson Avenue after receiving a report of a domestic dispute involving a man armed with a gun.

The gun in Collins possession was later identified as a replica BB gun designed to look like a handgun.

When they arrived on the scene officers heard a woman screaming and forced their way inside, where they were confronted by Collins, who was holding the BB gun to his head and threatening to kill himself, the IIU said.

The officers left the home and began to communicate with Collins from outside. Eventually, he left the home and walked towards police "with a weapon pointed at them in an outstretched arm," according to Tessler.

The two officers opened fire, striking Collins. He was taken to Health Sciences Centre where he was pronounced dead. A woman inside the home  identified as Collins girlfriend  was also taken to hospital in stable condition and treated for injuries. A toxicology report identified five drugs in Collins system at the time of his death. The autopsy report listed the cause of death as "gunshot wounds to the torso."

"There are no grounds to justify any charges against any or all of the subject officers," Tessler wrote.

At the end of his final report, Tessler lamented the existence of replica BB guns that are manufactured to look like firearms, saying their presence during police encounters increases the risk of fatal outcomes.

"I continue to question the social relevance, and practical purpose for the manufacturing, importation, sales and possession of replica firearms. In fact, in my view, I cannot find a single redeeming factor for the possession of a replica firearm," he wrote.

"More needs to be done with the existence and possession of replica firearms to properly and adequately deal with this issue."

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe
A Winnipeg man who wasnt able to attend the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands because of COVID-19 shutdowns has found a way to commemorate the 76th.

A Winnipeg man who wasnt able to attend the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands because of COVID-19 shutdowns has found a way to commemorate the 76th.

Honorary Col. Bob Williams, of the Fort Garry Horse regiment, will get up at dawn twice this week to go on a 20-kilometre march throughout the city.

Williams, who did his first march on Tuesday, said "it was quite successful."

"At zero-six-thirty, to my surprise, four of my soldiers with the Fort Garry Horse joined me. As well, four of my neighbours came, too, and a friend. We met the 10 requirement for gathering for COVID."

They met at the Assiniboine Park footbridge and marched through Assiniboine Park and the Harte Trail to the Perimeter Highway and back.

"It was wonderful, it was cool. Thats what you want when you are marching and carrying a 22-pound pack," said Williams.

Williams has been to Europe to attend commemoration ceremonies and visited Canadian gravesites.

"There are 34 soldiers with the Fort Garry Horse buried there in the Netherlands," said Williams.

"It shows freedom is not free."

Last year, Williams and his wife were booked to go to the Netherlands with members of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra as part of the 75th anniversary of the liberation.

"But then COVID came and everything fell apart," he said. "I wasnt going to let COVID take it away this year."

While Liberation Day in the Netherlands is May 5, Williams said he decided to march on May 4 as well because that is the day citizens in that country hold a silent march to town squares to honour fallen Canadian soldiers..

"They walk in silence," he said. "It is very moving. Even the kids. They walk to the centre square, there could be two or three thousand, and there is not a peep."

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
As third-wave COVID-19 hospitalizations steadily rise, keeping intensive-care units properly staffed is becoming a major challenge.

As of midnight Tuesday, there were 108 patients in Manitoba ICUs, 47 of them infected with the virus. Most are in their 40s and 50s and from the Winnipeg health region.

Shared Health provided the ICU figures in response to a Free Press request the same day 16 doctors  all of them medical leads in the province  released an open letter on Shared Health letterhead, pleading with Manitobans to follow public-health rules for a while longer "on behalf of your exhausted health system."

Before the pandemic began in spring 2020, there were 72 ICU beds in Manitoba. The province has increased the number, which it has not made public, but Shared Health said there is space to open 173 beds.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS files The medical intensive care unit at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.

It is clear that ICUs are approaching maximum capacity, and more medical staff are needed to look after the growing patient load.

Nurses are tired and morale is fragile as they patient volumes get closer to what they were at the height of the second wave last fall, one Winnipeg ICU nurse who has been working throughout the pandemic said Tuesday, requesting anonymity for fear of repercussions on the job.

When asked for the province's contingency plans to increase staffing and deal with full ICUs in this third wave, a Shared Health spokesperson said an update is expected to be announced next week on plans released in November.

Manitoba doctors write open letter, warn of overloaded health-care system Click to Expand Dr. Bojan Paunovic, provincial specialty lead of critical care, is one of several doctors who are asking Manitobans to follow pandemic restrictions. They say cases are rising too fast and the health care system is in jeopardy of being overwhelmed. (Winnipeg Free Press files) Posted: 10:04 AM May. 5, 2021 WINNIPEG - Some of Manitoba's top doctors have written an open letter that pleads with the public to obey COVID-19 public health orders to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. "Our health system cannot manage the potential volume of what is coming our way if we do not do everything possible to limit the spread of this virus," reads the letter signed by the provincial medical leads of 16 specialties, including primary care, surgery and cardiac sciences. Read Full Story

Those plans relied on team-based care, rounding up all critical-care trained staff in Manitoba, issue a callout to bring back retired nurses and enlist the help of thousands of health-care students, if needed.

Not long after, ICU nurses were being forced to carry double or triple their usual patient loads. The November plans noted "the limiting factor in any pandemic plan will be human resources."

The Manitoba Nurses' Union has been raising the alarm about higher vacancy rates in front-line critical-care positions as more ICU and emergency nurses retire, quit or look for less-stressful work in the field. In critical-care units at Health Sciences Centre, Grace Hospital and St. Boniface Hospital, nursing vacancy rates are between 11 to 16 per cent  higher at HSC, where more positions were added at the end of March.

Staffing is more of a concern than space, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority attending ICU physician Dr. Anand Kumar said.

"I doubt we can staff up to the number that we staffed up to before. I'm confident that we can't, at least not with the same level of care. We've had too much attrition in the nursing corps," Kumar said.

JOHN WOODS / CANADIAN PRESS FILES Winnipeg Regional Health Authority attending ICU physician Dr. Anand Kumar: "I doubt we can staff up to the number that we staffed up to before."

ICU hospitalizations are considered a lagging indicator  by the time they're noticeably rising, it's too late to be proactive, he said.

"We've already missed the window to substantially blunt this wave," he said. "It's going to get bad. Whether it breaks the ICU or not is the question, and I don't know what the answer to that is."

Manitoba's Official Opposition is calling on the province to publicly release its pandemic planning and forecasting as hospital admissions increase.

NDP health critic Uzoma Asagwara said members of the party had a "helpful" briefing from chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin six months ago, but haven't seen any third-wave contingency plans.

If all Manitobans could see the plans, it would help them trust the need for public-health restrictions, Asagwara said Tuesday.

"What we're asking for here in Manitoba is for the government to catch up to other jurisdictions and to be transparent with that information."

During the peak of Manitoba's second-wave hospitalizations in early December, more than 350 COVID-19 patients were in hospital and more than 50 were in ICUs. The number of total ICU patients peaked at 129 Dec. 10.

There are no ICUs outside of Winnipeg or Brandon. Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg has the largest share of the province's ICU beds, with space for about 30.

On Tuesday, 291 new cases of COVID-19 were announced and five-day test-positivity rates were 9.2 per cent in Winnipeg and 8.5 per cent provincewide.

Download COVID-19 Capacity Planning

 With files from Carol Sanders

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay
Pandemic lockdowns are leading to increased health risks for patients who either choose or are forced to delay medical treatments, higher incidents of drug overdoses, and a growing mental health crisis, a U.S. medical expert told a Winnipeg court Tuesday.

Pandemic lockdowns are leading to increased health risks for patients who either choose or are forced to delay medical treatments, higher incidents of drug overdoses, and a growing mental health crisis, a U.S. medical expert told a Winnipeg court Tuesday.

"Lockdowns are an extraordinary measure," Jay Bhattacharya said via video link from California.

STANFORD HEALTH POLICY / CANADIAN PRESS FILES Dr. Jay Bhattacharya

Bhattacharya is a Stanford University medical school professor and a critic of lockdown measures. He is one of three university epidemiologists behind the "Great Barrington Declaration," which endorses "focused protection" of those most vulnerable to COVID-19 over pandemic restrictions that impact everyone.

"The normal response to an extraordinary measure means increased anxiety, increased alcoholism, increased opioid use, increases in all kinds of things depending on who you are," Bhattacharya said.

"Some are more susceptible than others. I think we agree that it is adding stress on Canadians and Americans and anywhere lockdowns are in place."

Bhattacharya is a witness on side with seven churches and three individual Manitobans who have taken the province to court over pandemic restrictions limiting their rights to assembly and worship together.

The group is being represented in court by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, a Calgary-based advocacy group which has launched similar court challenges in B.C. and Alberta.

Tuesday marked the second day of the hearing at the law courts in Winnipeg.

Lockdown measures in Manitoba and other jurisdictions have included the suspension of elective and other medical procedures to keep hospital resources open for COVID-19 patients, Bhattacharya wrote in a report provided to court.

"The normal response to an extraordinary measure means increased anxiety, increased alcoholism, increased opioid use, increases in all kinds of things depending on who you are."  Jay Bhattacharya

"Naturally, patients who skip medical services will suffer adverse health consequences," he wrote. "The empirical evidence supporting this includes documentation for plummeting child vaccination rates, worse cardiovascular disease outcomes, less cancer screening, and deteriorating mental health."

Under cross examination by Manitoba government lawyer Heather Leonoff, Bhattacharya said many patients are postponing addressing serious medical issues or procedures, including vaccinations for their children, fearing visiting a hospital or clinic might expose them to the novel coronavirus.

"Sometimes, and this was especially so early (in the COVID-19 pandemic), people were afraid to go to the hospital or go to the clinic at all," he said.

"Right, and thats not caused by the governments policy, thats just a lot of people being afraid," Leonoff replied.

"Well, the government sets the tone for the policy," Bhattacharya said. "If the government sets the tone for panic, then the people will traditionally not bring their children in to be vaccinated.

"People are not getting routine checkups because they are scared to go to the doctor," he said. "It also happens because of public announcements that hospitals are being overrun and so people stay home, even with very severe illness The net effect is to have many people with care that should have happened, not happen."

"Sometimes, and this was especially so early (in the COVID-19 pandemic), people were afraid to go to the hospital or go to the clinic at all."  Jay Bhattacharya

Leonoff disputed Bhattacharyas contention lockdown measures are contributing to a rise in the number of people suffering mental health issues, and pointed to a report by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health that says Canada was already experiencing a mental health crisis before the pandemic was declared.

"The anxiety caused by the COVID response of the lockdowns has affected basically everyone, and some people are coping and some people are not," Bhattacharya responded.

"For instance, in the U.S., opioid use is up, very sharply up, and alcohol in the U.S. and Canada is sharply up. Coping healthily and coping unhealthily are two different things."

Bhattacharya said modelling studies showing the seeming effectiveness of lockdown measures in tamping down the spread of the virus are likely more indicative of a delay in reaching a peak infection rate.

"The real issue is what the impact is on the number of cases," he said.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca
WINNIPEG - Manitobas chief nursing officer has told court that hospital staff were exhausted as they faced tough decisions during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of Manitoba's vaccine implementation working group, draws a dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Winnipeg on Friday, March 19, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG - Manitobas chief nursing officer has told court that hospital staff were exhausted as they faced tough decisions during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seven Manitoba churches are in Court of Queens's Bench this week fighting public health orders meant to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

"We had never done anything like this before," Lanette Siragusa said Wednesday.

She testified that she was supportive of Manitoba's public health response to the pandemic, but clarified she is not responsible for the orders.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, a Calgary-based group representing the churches, has said the health measures are unjustified violations of charter-protected freedoms.

The churches are arguing that their right to worship and assemble has been breached, which has caused "a crisis of conscience, loneliness, and harm to their spiritual well-being."

In-person worship services in Manitoba are restricted to 10 people or 25 per cent capacity  whichever is less  and everyone is required to wear a mask.

Provincial lawyers have told court it's within the bounds of the legislature to grant the chief public health officer authority to impose reasonable rules.

Court heard provincial health officials had been in contact with physicians in Wuhan, China, early last year when the pandemic was emerging to talk about what was happening in hospitals there. Siragusa said they began to make plans knowing that infections could put intense pressure on health care in Manitoba.

She was questioned about strain on hospitals, specifically on intensive care capacity. Jared Brown, a lawyer for the churches, questioned why Siragusa cited 72 intensive care beds when asked about capacity prior to the pandemic, when data he was provided by the province said there were 86.

She responded the extra beds were specifically for cardiac patients.

Brown also questioned Siragusa about a delay in 16,000 elective surgeries.

The chief nursing officer responded that medical experts and surgeons were making decisions about which surgeries to delay and there were no public health orders to that effect.

"Those were really hard decisions that we had to make as a health system and it was not comfortable for anyone," she said.

Brown also asked about the effect on hospitals due to mental-health issues and addictions during the pandemic. He showed court research suggesting stark increases in hospitalizations for substance-use disorders and intentional injury.

Siragusa responded that she oversees the health system and capacity for COVID-19, and others make decisions involving hospitals in the areas Brown raised. However, she said, she would not be surprised by increasing pressures due to mental health and addictions.

The constitutional challenge is the latest attempts by churches across the country to quash pandemic restrictions on faith gatherings. The Justice Centre has filed similar challenges in Alberta and British Columbia.

In Alberta, a pastor accused of violating public health orders has been on trial this week.

Chief Justice Glenn Joyal said there have been many requests from the public to observe the Manitoba case, which has largely taken place virtually.

He said the numbers allowed to watch virtually far exceeds those who would have been allowed in the courtroom.

But Joyal warned Wednesday that some people are treating court staff in a rude, provocative and accusatory way.

"I will not tolerate that."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2021.
NEITHER Premier Brian Pallister nor Providence Therapeutics would comment on the status of Manitobas deal with the Calgary company to develop a COVID-19 vaccine since its CEO suddenly announced last week that hes leaving Canada.

NEITHER Premier Brian Pallister nor Providence Therapeutics would comment on the status of Manitobas deal with the Calgary company to develop a COVID-19 vaccine since its CEO suddenly announced last week that hes leaving Canada.

While a provincial spokesman assured Manitoba taxpayers on Friday they wont be on the hook for the $7.2-million non-refundable deposit the government was to give the vaccine developer, neither the premier nor CEO Brad Sorenson responded to interview requests this week.

Sorenson told CBC news Friday hes tired of "the runaround" from both Ottawa and provincial governments and hes ready to move Providence overseas to develop vaccines in the Southern Hemisphere.

"Im moving on, thats where Im at now," Sorenson is quoted as saying. "Ive prostrated myself at the altar of the government in Canada for a year and Ive received nothing for it. Im tired of begging and pleading."

With the Manitoba legislature not sitting this week and question period on hold until Monday, neither the premier nor members of his caucus have had to answer questions about the deal, which was announced in February.

Pallister said Manitoba had arranged for the company to provide it with two million doses of its yet-to-be-approved vaccine. He said Manitoba would make a 20 per cent down payment of the value of the contract ($7.2 million) and pay an additional 40 per cent once Health Canada approved the vaccine. The balance would be paid upon delivery.

Pallisters spokeswoman did not respond to emailed questions about Providence Therapeutics, including whether the premier had advance warning from Sorenson about leaving Canada, if hes spoken to Sorenson since Friday and if Manitoba is still interested in investing in the vaccine developer if it moves offshore.

Pallister had steadfastly defended his deal with Providence in the face of extreme doubt raised by academics and politicians.

Sorenson wont respond to emails until after the companys Phase 1 vaccine trial results are made public May 10, a spokeswoman for Sorenson at Global Public Affairs, a "crisis, risk and issues management" firm in Toronto, said late Monday.

In an interview with the Free Press three weeks ago, Sorenson expressed optimism and said enrolment in the Phase 1 trial of its messenger RNA vaccine was complete, and the preliminary data from a blinded study showed its immune response to be equal to or better than those of similar Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech products.

There was no response to questions from the Free Press Tuesday, including whether or not Sorenson thought Manitobans deserved a more timely explanation from him since their government planned to invest in the company.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
With more than 35,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses stored in its freezers and a further 73,700 en route to Manitoba, the provincial government recorded fewer than 5,000 doses administered Sunday.

With more than 35,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses stored in its freezers and a further 73,700 en route to Manitoba, the provincial government recorded fewer than 5,000 doses administered Sunday.

Fewer than 6,500 shots were given to people Monday.

On May 2, just 4,164 shots were given in Manitoba  the single lowest day for vaccine administration since March 21. The province reported 6,369 doses were doled out Monday.

The daily average for the past seven days was 7,689.

A spokesman for the provincial government said the low Sunday tally  which also includes doses administered by pharmacists, doctors, and First Nations partners  was not indicative of overall vaccine administration through the week.

"We administer more doses on some days than others, based on our staff scheduling, when people prefer to make appointments, and the precise timing of a federal delivery," the government spokesman said in a written statement to the Free Press.

"However, if we receive enough vaccine that we reach capacity for doses on any given day, we would look to expand the number of doses booked on other days (like Sunday) where we currently administer fewer."

A request for an interview with a member of the Manitoba COVID-19 vaccine task force was not accommodated Tuesday.

"There are days throughout the week, depending on the regions pop-ups and super sites, that have fewer appointments as allocated vaccine supply runs out," the spokesman said in response to follow-up questions.

"There will inevitably be days in the week with fewer appointments booked across the province until we receive more weekly supply of Pfizer and Moderna."

However, Manitoba NDP Leader Wab Kinew said the sluggish Sunday administration rate is due to a "lack of political will," more so than supply.

"The government has made a decision at a political level to ramp-down operations on Sundays. But weve seen over the last two weekends is that COVID does not take a break on Sundays," Kinew told reporters during a scrum at the legislature Tuesday.

"Weve seen really high case counts over the past two Sundays, and weve seen that steady increase to the ICU numbers, which has continued unabated over the weekend," the Opposition leader said.

"Given the fact that were fighting a foe in this pandemic who doesnt take weekends off, why are the PCs ramping down our vaccination campaigns on those days?"

Based on updated figures from the province Tuesday, it appeared the government would miss its target of using its Pfizer-BioNTech supply within a week of having received the shots.

Manitoba received 35,100 doses of Pfizer vaccine April 28, and another 2,340 doses April 29.

On April 30, 22,100 doses of Moderna touched down in the province, with approximately 11,000 going to provincial pop-up clinics and immunization teams.

Johanu Botha, co-lead of the provincial COVID-19 vaccine task force, said last week the approximately 48,400 doses in the provinces control would be used over a week-and-a-half, with all of the Pfizer doses given to people within approximately seven days.

As of Tuesday, provincial data showed the province had 37,347 doses remaining in its inventory; the government had scheduled just 5,570 appointments Tuesday.

To exhaust most of its Pfizer supply within the governments stated timeline, it would need to deliver about 20,000 doses over the next two days; provincial planning documents indicated about 6,000 doses were planned at mass vaccination clinics on those dates.

"Pfizer deliveries allocated to super sites are already being pushed out before the next shipment, so Pfizer moves in and out of the province over the course of approximately a week," the spokesman said in a statement.

Another delivery of 73,710 doses of Pfizer is expected Wednesday, with the latest shipment coming from the companys manufacturing facility in the United States.

The provinces inventory of Moderna doses, which are administered at pop-up clinics and through immunization teams, take about 10 days to exhaust after the delivery arrives.

Pop-up clinics are scheduled this week in 11 communities, and immunization teams will visit jails, hospitals and family violence shelters.

On Tuesday, federal Minister of Public Services and Procurement Anita Anand said a previously scheduled shipment of Moderna vaccine would arrive in Canada a week early and should touch down in the country Wednesday.

Manitoba was scheduled to receive 36,300 doses of Moderna next week. It was unclear Tuesday whether the province would receive the delivery under an accelerated schedule.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Its one thing to pull out the credit card to pay for new shingles to patch a leaky roof in a storm. Its another thing to pull out that credit card to buy a new big-screen TV before the rain even stops.

Thats what Ottawa is doing by pilling up new program spending on top of its $1-trillion debt tab. Even worse, the feds are trying to pitch their debt-financed big screen as a good investment. After record-high government spending in 2020, many economists have warned about the dangers of more debt.

"Canada cannot continue piling up public debt faster than GDP without risking a fiscal crisis," said the University of Calgarys Jack Mintz. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland arent listening. Within a few short years, the Trudeau government will have nearly doubled Canadas national debt, thanks to Budget 2021 .

The debt-to-GDP ratio will remain at about half of Canadas entire economy for the next few years, significantly above pre-pandemic levels. And the only fiscal anchor the budget offers is a lame-duck commitment to unwind "COVID-related deficits and reducing the federal debt as a share of the economy over the medium-term."

William Watson, a professor of economics at McGill University, also has some sobering thoughts. "We need to understand that what we just went through was an emergency," said Watson. "The federal government supporting millions of Canadians was not and should not become normal."

But making higher government spending the new normal is exactly what Budget 2021 does. By 2026, Freeland will have increased permanent federal government spending by $100 billion. Instead of reining in spending after a temporary emergency, the government is using the cover of COVID-19 to embark on a debt-fuelled spending binge.

"The fiscal situation we find ourselves in is that the government simply cannot afford major new spending programs," said Philip Cross, a former chief economic analyst for Statistics Canada.

New and expensive federal programs took centre stage of the feds budget, with the government insisting it can somehow now afford to spend $30 billion on a national child-care scheme. To be clear, we couldnt afford this pre-pandemic, and, with the governments debt tab smashing through the $1-trillion ceiling, we certainly cant afford it now.

And while the new deficit-financed spending on child care may save parents some money today, Ottawa is essentially forcing parents to offload costs onto their children and grandchildren.

The debt-fueled 2021 budget is spooking Bay Street veteran Davis Rosenberg, who is chief economist and strategist at Rosenberg Research.

"As an economist, I would probably give (the budget) a D and I might be charitable on that score," Rosenberg told BNN Bloomberg. "I think that were definitely mortgaging our future with this extreme increase in debt."

The Trudeau government is taking the wrong approach to a post-pandemic recovery. Experts such as Cross insist "the economy does not need more fiscal stimulus" and point to February and March job numbers to show that a post-pandemic recovery will unfold quite naturally as lockdowns end and restrictions are lifted.

If the feds want to help Canadians, they should toss aside their single-minded spend-and-borrow approach for one that lets us keep more of our own money.

For less than the cost of the governments new stimulus program, the federal government could eliminate the GST for two years or cut its income tax-take in half for 2021. Thats support that can help families immediately, unlike many costly government programs.

The federal government has decided to borrow tens of billions of dollars to finance a stimulus package we dont need and new programs that taxpayers cant afford. Trudeau and Freeland should listen to the advice of economic experts and start to repair the state of Canadas government finances.

Franco Terrazzano is the federal director and Jay Goldberg is the interim Ontario director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

 Troy Media
All Manitobans who want a COVID-19 vaccine will be able to book an appointment for one by May 21, including teens and children as young as 12, provincial officials say.

All Manitobans who want a COVID-19 vaccine will be able to book an appointment for one by May 21, including teens and children as young as 12, provincial officials say.

On Wednesday, Health Canada approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use in youth between the ages of 12 and 15; previously, it had the green light for people 16 and older.

"Our team is reviewing that information. We want our clinical team to come up with recommendations very shortly, so that we can share with all Manitobans exactly how we plan to do the roll out for those Manitobans," said Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead for the provincial vaccine task force.

"We do intend to include eligibility for younger Manitobans, along with adults, as we move forward," she said, adding local age eligibility criteria will be lowered to 12-plus by May 21.

Also Wednesday, Reimer said all communities prioritized for immunization because of higher rates of COVID-19 spread and severe outcomes have been publicly identified.

Moving forward, eligibility will be based on age and is expected to drop drastically over the coming days. On Wednesday, age eligibility criteria was lowered to 45, from 50.

"This is one of the largest age-based expansions we have announced so far," Reimer said.

Age eligibility will continue to be dropped on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until May 21. The rate at which the criteria will be lowered is determined, in part, by demand from each age group, but it is expected to be reduced in five-year increments.

About 35,000 people will become eligible each time the province lowers age criteria.

"As we go down the eligibility by age... those individuals will be able to book anywhere between within a week to, we're aiming for a max of three weeks, depending on where they are in the province," said Johanu Botha, the task force's operations and planning lead.

With Health Canada's approval of the vaccine for people age 12-15, about 100,000 young Manitobans will be vaccinated next month, Botha said, extending the timeline to immunize all eligible Manitobans (assuming 70 per cent uptake) to June 11, at the earliest.

The first-dose immunization campaign for adults is expected to wrap by June 8, at the latest, he said. Youth ages 12 to 17 will have had their first shot by June 15, at the latest, assuming 70 per cent uptake, Botha said.

Asked whether the province planned to further prioritize immunization for people based on vocation or health conditions, Reimer said there was little room to move anyone up in the line, considering all Manitobans would be eligible in less than three weeks.

"We're excited that all Manitobans in a very short amount of time, will be eligible to book their first dose," she said. "We want to make sure that get everybody eligible as quickly as we possibly can."

Reimer said a few communities in Manitoba have seen high uptake of vaccine, at more than 60 per cent, including: Island Lake, Norway House, Cross Lake, Bay Line, Churchill and Gimli.

"We need to celebrate these successes," Reimer said. "I want to say a big thank you to the teams, as well as to the people who live in those communities for protecting your communities against COVID."

She said uptake among older age groups has also been encouraging, and expects similar trends among younger Manitobans.

As of Wednesday, Manitoba had given out 510,022 vaccine doses; 40 per cent of adults had received at least one shot.

To date, Manitoba had received 650,640 doses of vaccine, including 66,850 Pfizer doses that arrived Tuesday.

The province continues to wait for approximately 11,000 doses of the single-injection Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is undergoing a safety and quality review by Health Canada. It is expected to arrive as early as next week, if approved.

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
Manitoba officials say teachers will have to get in line with everyone else  even some of their own students  for COVID-19 vaccine shots.

Manitoba officials say teachers will have to get in line with everyone else  even some of their own students  for COVID-19 vaccine shots.

Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead of Manitobas vaccine task force, poured cold water on the idea of prioritizing teachers, while details remain scant on allowing them to get a shot across the U.S. border in North Dakota.

"Theres actually very little we can do to bump anybody up in eligibility, because of how quickly were going to reach all Manitobans," Reimer told reporters Wednesday.

"At this point, were only talking about a matter of a few weeks before all Manitobans are eligible to book an appointment."

The Manitoba Teachers Society and opposition political parties had called for teachers to be prioritized for vaccines, given they are front-line workers and the multiple COVID-19 exposures and outbreaks linked to schools.

The province instead opened up eligibility to certain hot spot areas, including any adults residing in those zones as well as workers with front-line jobs in those places.

"We included teachers in our community-based approach because the government wanted to ensure that we provide protection to those settings where we had the most concern about transmission," Reimer said Wednesday.

She argued with 16 days left until every Manitoba adult can book an appointment, there was little need to expand criteria to specific occupations.

The province will continue dropping age eligible for shots, and said anyone age 18 and up should be able to book an appointment by May 21.

Officials said Monday children aged 12 and up will likely also qualify by then, too, pending guidance from scientists.

That means instead of being among the first Manitobans to get vaccinated, teachers could end up waiting in line at a super site with their teenage pupils.

Last week, Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister announced teachers will also be able to go to North Dakota to get vaccinated, though the province still hasnt released details.

The federal Liberals had raised concerns about exempting teachers from requirements for anyone crossing the U.S. border to get tested for COVID-19 and quarantine for two weeks.

The teachers society declined to comment Wednesday on teachers not being prioritized, as well as the North Dakota plan.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
OTTAWA - More health experts and politicians are breaking with advice from the national immunization panel, and instead urging Canadians that the best vaccine for them is the first one they can get.

OTTAWA - More health experts and politicians are breaking with advice from the national immunization panel, and instead urging Canadians that the best vaccine for them is the first one they can get.

That includes chief public health officers in Alberta and New Brunswick, which have both now reported a death associated with rare blood clots in patients who had received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

A dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination is prepared at a mobile clinic for members of First Nations and their partners, in Montreal, Friday, April 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

"While any death is tragic, it's important to remember that risk of dying or other severe outcomes (from COVID-19) remain far greater than the risks following the AstraZeneca vaccine," said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the chief medical officer of health in Alberta, on Tuesday.

The risk of vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia, or VITT, is estimated to be anywhere from one in 100,000 to one in 250,000 after getting either the AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Canada has authorized the latter but hasn't started using it yet.

That risk prompted the National Advisory Committee on Immunization to tell Canadians who are at low risk of a COVID-19 infection or severe illness from it to consider turning down a shot of either AstraZeneca or J&J even if it means they have to wait longer to get a dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna.

Most Canadians won't have to make that choice. Pfizer and Moderna account for almost 90 per cent of the expected deliveries of vaccines in the next two months, with enough coming from both to get everyone a single dose before Canada Day.

They also account for three-quarters of the total doses purchased of the four vaccines Canada has authorized.

But still NACI's advice has caused anger and frustration among those who already got AstraZeneca, many of whom now have a lot of questions about whether they should get their second dose.

The advice also directly contradicts the push from federal and provincial health officials for months that Canadians should not go vaccine shopping.

Health Canada Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma said Wednesday she still firmly believes the best vaccine is the first one you can get.

"You know, what I say is that if your life is in danger, and you need to call 911, to get help to save your life, it does not matter if that call is made on an iPhone or a Samsung or even a flip phone," she said. "It does what it is supposed to do."

She said she doesn't intend to minimize the seriousness of VITT but said it's very rare, it's treatable, and has to be placed in context with the very real risks of COVID-19.

She noted 56 Canadians died of COVID-19 on Tuesday alone.

Canadians who received AstraZeneca already should get the second dose, said Sharma. However there are also ongoing studies about mixing and matching vaccines, so new advice about getting a different vaccine for your second dose could be forthcoming.

Sharma said there is not a lot of information about the risk of VITT from a second dose because not many second doses have been given. She said in the United Kingdom, four cases of VITT were diagnosed in more than 4.4 million people who received a second dose.

Canada has vaccinated more than 1.7 million people with AstraZeneca and reported nine cases of VITT, including three fatal cases. A 54-year-old woman in Quebec died last month. On Tuesday, Alberta reported the death of a woman in her 50s and New Brunswick reported Wednesday that a woman in her 60s had died about nine days after receiving the vaccine.

New Brunswick chief medical health officer Dr. Jennifer Russell said the vaccine will continue to be monitored but the risks of COVID-19 for people over 55 are greater than the risks of the vaccine. Only people older than 55 are currently eligible in that province.

"A death like this is tragic but it is equally tragic to have a person become gravely ill from a virus from which they can be protected by receiving the vaccine," she said.

Hinshaw said people 50 to 59 years old are 350 times more likely to die of COVID-19, and 1,500 times more likely to be hospitalized with it, than they are to get VITT after getting AstraZeneca.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who received AstraZeneca herself nine days ago, said she is very happy she got it and urges all Canadians to go get vaccinated as soon as they can.

"When it's your turn please go and get the first Health Canada-approved vaccine available to you," she said.

Freeland is one of a growing number of prominent Canadian politicians among the 1.7 million Canadians vaccinated with AstraZeneca. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, the premiers of Ontario, British Columbia and New Brunswick, and health ministers in Ontario and Quebec are all AstraZeneca recipients.

Singh said he understands that Canadians are confused by the various comments on the vaccines. But he said he is grateful he got the AstraZeneca vaccine, he does not regret it and urges all Canadians to get whatever vaccine they can, as soon as they can.

More than 13 million Canadians have received their first dose already and many provinces are moving to accelerate plans to immunize everyone, with deliveries of vaccines increasing this month.

They can now offer them to kids as young as 12, after Health Canada authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 12 to 15 year olds Wednesday. Sharma said Pfizer intends to apply for approval in kids as young as five by September.

Canada is the first country to approve a vaccine for kids under the age of 16.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2021.
I am fully vaccinated, and not just for COVID-19. I have been jabbed, as the Brits say, with two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. But like most baby boomers of my generation I have, over the years, also been vaccinated for small pox, polio, tetanus, influenza, rubella, measles, whooping cough, and diphtheria, all diseases that have been controlled because of vaccines. I remember standing in line at the Richland Center High School Gymnasium along with hundreds of other grade school kids to get the oral polio vaccine in the early 1960s. That was a big deal then. We all knew someone who had been crippled by polio.

Still, I must confess that I thought long and hard about whether to risk getting a COVID vaccine because I have a compromised immune system from Lyme Disease. And I had a disappointing experience with the shingles vaccine several years ago. Two months after taking it I came down with shingles. It was a mild case. I did not have the excruciating pain that many report, but it left me weakened for months and I think more vulnerable to Lyme when I was bitten by a tick. Did the vaccine bring on or cause the shingles? I dont know. Are my conclusions about what happened completely wrong? Possibly.
With COVID-19 vaccine supply now exceeding demand in Wisconsin and the goal of an 80% vaccination rate potentially elusive, health officials are focusing on the benefits of any boost in injections and welcoming the likely addition of younger teens to the pool soon.

Each dose administered gets us closer to community immunity levels that can allow for more regular activities, Julie Willems Van Dijk, deputy director of the state Department of Health Services, said Tuesday. Whether the state will reach a herd immunity goal of roughly 80% by the Fourth of July is hard to predict now, she said, adding its more important to focus on continuing to increase the rate.

Of 4.6 million residents age 16 and older currently eligible for the vaccine, about 2.5 million have had at least one dose, leaving 2.1 million people who may need more time to decide to get a shot, Willems Van Dijk said.
Matt Dehns classes highlight many aspects of technology use from how to use a 3D printer to computer building. In the latest and final lesson, students are taking to the sky and learning about drone use.

On May 4, students were out in the parking lot at St. Peters Lutheran School in Reedsburg during one of the lessons as part of Dehns science, technology, engineering and math class to learn how to control the devices in a slight wind. Groups were split into four students each leaning how to fly a DJI telo drone. Dehn, a sixth grade homeroom teacher, also gave one-on-one lessons on how to maneuver a DJI Mavek Drone to capture photos and video using the device.

A future lesson will show how drones can be programed through a computer using block-based coding, he said.

This gives the kids an experience of another way that they can get into a really cool hobby or career possibility, Dehn said of the program. Drones are a big part of our future and I think getting kids involved in drone technology and getting them excited about being able to fly drones is a good thing.
In three states, more 70% of adults have already received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, federal data showed Wednesday -- meaning they've reached the Biden administration's new vaccination goal months ahead of the July 4 target.

Those three states are New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data showed. Three others are very close, with more than two-thirds of adults vaccinated with at least one dose: Connecticut, Maine and Hawaii.

President Joe Biden announced a plan Tuesday to get at least one dose of vaccine administered to 70% of the nation's adult population by July 4, a target date some officials have set for a full reopening.

However, vaccine hesitancy will make it challenging for some other states to reach 70% of adults with a Covid-19 vaccine, findings from the latest Household Pulse Survey from the US Census Bureau suggest.

In Wyoming, more than a quarter of adults said that they will "definitely not" or "probably not" receive the Covid-19 vaccine, according to the Census Bureau survey.

In four additional states -- Montana, North Dakota, Kentucky and Ohio -- more than 20% of adults said the same.

When those who said they are "unsure" about receiving the Covid-19 vaccine are also included, more than 30% of adults in Wyoming, North Dakota and Montana could be considered to be vaccine hesitant.

Fewer than 45% of adults in Wyoming have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, CDC data shows, along with five other states: Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and West Virginia.

This comes as vaccination rates have fallen: While the US averaged 3.38 million doses administered per day across a week in mid-April, the current seven-day average is 2.19 million doses per day, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

To get out of the Covid-19 pandemic, the US will need to shift its vaccine strategy toward local accessibility, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a top Biden adviser, told CNN Tuesday.

"I think it's by changing a little bit of the strategy -- getting out of the mass vaccination approach, and really putting in walk-in capabilities in 40,000 or so pharmacies throughout the country, getting mobile units going, getting the local capability of accessibility rather than these broad, mass vaccination sites."

If the US doesn't reach 80% population immunity through a combination of vaccination and natural infection, the nation could face another surge in the winter, vaccine expert Dr. Paul Offit said Tuesday.

As of Tuesday morning, about 44.5% of the US population had at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, and 32% was full vaccinated, according to the CDC. Among those 18 and older, 56.4% have had at least one dose and 40.8% are fully vaccinated.

Canada authorizes Pfizer vaccine for children 12-15; US could soon do the same

Canada's national health department on Wednesday announced it has authorized the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for children ages 12-15, citing clinical trial results showing the vaccine had 100% efficacy and was well tolerated in that age group.

Currently, the youngest people eligible for Covid-19 vaccines in the US are 16. But the US could follow Canada's lead soon.

The US Food and Drug Administration is considering a request to extend its emergency use authorization for Pfizer/BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine to ages 12 to 15. A federal official has told CNN that authorization should be straightforward and could be expected by early next week.

The CDC's vaccine advisers have scheduled an emergency meeting for May 12, according to a new schedule posted on the CDC website.

If and when the FDA grants EUA, then the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices would have to meet to vote on whether to recommend the use of the vaccine in the new age group, and the CDC director would then have to sign off on it.

In September, Pfizer expects to submit for EUA for children ages 2 to 11 years old, the company said during its first-quarter earnings teleconference on Tuesday.

Although vaccinating children quickly is looking more optimistic, it is too soon to say whether school districts might require students to be vaccinated to return to classrooms this fall, Slavitt said.

Such a decision would be made locally and might require full approval of the vaccines from the FDA, he said.

In the meantime, Slavitt said: "Not only do we want to get it done in time for school, we want to get it done in time so that kids can really enjoy their summer activities without having to worry, without having to wear their masks."

Fauci asks young people to 'be part of the solution'

When the FDA does authorize a vaccine for them, Fauci said he hopes children and teens won't hesitate.

"You have the capability of protecting yourself as a young person, 12 to 15, but also knowing that you're not going to pass it on to someone else," Fauci said. "You even want to call upon the young people to say, 'I want to protect myself, but I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.'"

Adding millions more people to the vaccinated population would make a big difference in terms of building up population immunity, Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Health, told CNN.

Pfizer and Moderna are testing their vaccines in children as young as 6 months old and expect to ask the FDA for EUAs covering infants and children later this year.

States set dates to reopen

The US may not be at herd immunity levels yet, but states are preparing for major easing of restrictions.

On Thursday, Los Angeles and San Francisco will advance into California's least restrictive reopening tier, allowing most businesses to resume indoor operations.

Both areas, which account for about a quarter of the state's population, have case rates lower than 2 per 100,000 residents. The seven-day positivity rate in Los Angeles County is 0.7%, while San Francisco's is 0.6%, according to state health data.

Starting May 21, Delaware will lift all restrictions on indoor capacity for restaurants, retail, other businesses and houses of worship, according to a press release from Gov. John Carney's office. Masks will still be required indoors.

Once Pennsylvania fully vaccinates 70% of the state's population, officials will lift masking orders, Gov. Tom Wolf announced.

Just over 50% of the state has had at least one dose of the vaccine, and over 3.5 million have been fully vaccinated, the Department of Health said in a release Tuesday.
UTICA, N.Y.  Faxton St. Lukes Healthcare (FSLH), an affiliate of the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS), was notified on March 30, 2021, that Capture RX, a third party business associate, experienced a data breach on Feb. 6, 2021.

The breach included limited data on 17,655 patients of FSLH.

Capture RX will be notifying each individual involved in the breach with a letter, with the exception of 100 patients for which we were unable to verify a valid mailing address.

CaptureRx is a third party administrator that provides services to FSLH regarding the 340B program which reduces prescription drug costs.

What Happened? Capture Rx recently became aware of unusual activity involving certain files on its systems. Following this, CaptureRx immediately began an investigation into this activity and worked quickly to assess the security of its systems. On Feb. 19, 2021, the investigation determined that certain files were accessed on Feb. 6, 2021 without authorization.

CaptureRx immediately began a thorough review of the full contents of the files to determine whether sensitive information was present at the time of the incident. On or around March 19, 2021, CaptureRx confirmed that some information for FSLH patients was present in the relevant files. To date, CaptureRx is unaware of any actual or attempted misuse of patient information as a result of this incident.

What Information Was Involved? The investigation determined at the time of the incident, the relevant files contained the following Data Elements (First Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, Prescription Information, and for some patients, the Medical Record Number). Please note that while their investigation has not identified any actual or attempted misuse of the patient information, we are providing patients this notice to ensure that all those affected are aware of this incident.

What is CaptureRx Doing? Data privacy and security is among CaptureRxs highest priorities, and there are extensive measures in place to protect information in CaptureRxs care. Upon learning of this incident, CaptureRx moved quickly to investigate and respond. This investigation and response included confirming the security of CaptureRxs systems, reviewing the contents of the relevant files for sensitive information, and notifying business partners associated with that sensitive information. As part of CaptureRxs ongoing commitment to the security of information, all policies and procedures are being reviewed and enhanced and additional workforce training is being conducted to reduce the likelihood of a similar event in the future.

What Can Patients Do? We encourage affected patients to remain vigilant against incidents of identity theft and fraud, to review their account statements and explanation of benefits forms, and to monitor their free credit reports for suspicious activity and to detect errors.

For More Information: Those impacted patients will receive a letter in the mail and for any additional questions, can call CaptureRxs dedicated assistance line at 855-654-0919 (toll free), Monday  Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time.
ELBRIDGE, N.Y.  New York State Police found a missing toddler who was allegedly abducted in Minnesota after spotting the suspects vehicle on the Thruway Tuesday.

The driver, 27-year-old Amina Mohamed, of Minneapolis, is accused of kidnapping her little sister, 2-year-old Nasteha Mohamed.

State police received a be on the lookout notification for a 2013 gold Chevrolet Equinox around 10:30 a.m. Authorities pinged Aminas cell phone near Exit 42-Geneva on the NYS Thruway shortly after. About 10 minutes later, troopers noticed a speeding Equinox with matching plates from the BOLO near Exit 40-Weedsport in the town of Brutus.

The vehicle was stopped in the town of Elbridge, where police say Nasteha was found inside, appearing to be in good health. She will be in the care of Onondaga County Child Protective Services until she can be safely returned to her mother.

Amina was taken into custody.

The investigation is ongoing. State police say more information will be released when it becomes available.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Nursing homes in New York will have to provide a minimum level of staffing under a new bill that the Assembly and Senate passed Tuesday.

New York will require nursing homes to provide a daily average of 3.5 hours of nursing care per resident, with 2.2 of those hours provided by certified nurse aides, and 1.1 by licensed practical nurses or registered nurses.

Nursing homes would also be required to publicly disclose information regarding nurse staffing so it is visible and accessible to residents, families and staff.

Facilities would have to be in compliance by Jan. 1, 2022.

The bill will now go to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to be signed.

The legislation comes after New Yorks nursing homes have recorded 13,800 deaths of residents with COVID-19.

Critics urged lawmakers to instead wait to see if staffing levels improve as new state rules require nursing homes to spend at least 70% of revenue on direct patient care.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  Indianas governor has vetoed a bill that would limit the authority of county or city health departments by allowing local elected officials to block public health orders issued during emergencies.

Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a veto message Tuesday that the time wasn't right to jeopardize the flexibility of local health officials as the state recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and work continues to vaccinate more people.

Some medical and health organizations opposed the bill, arguing against shifting authority away from public health professionals to local elected officials who largely lack such experience.

Legislative Republican supporters said the step was meant to provide a check and balance protecting the rights of business owners following complaints about COVID-19 orders closing or limiting businesses.

Indiana legislators can override Holcombs veto by a simple majority vote in both chambers, with the action potentially taking place during a one-day meeting next week.

Legislative Republicans voted last month to override Holcombs veto on a bill giving themselves more authority to intervene during statewide emergencies declared by the governor. Holcomb has filed a lawsuit against the Legislature, arguing that new law violates the state constitution.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)It's a problem plaguing many local restaurants, finding workers as many communities continue faring the COVID-19 pandemic.

The owner of Arni's, Brad Cohen said this is one of the toughest obstacles he's faced as a business owner.

"Without a doubt. It's probably the most difficult hiring time in my career for sure," said Cohen.

It's a national issue. Several businesses are trying to overcome staff shortages.

"We've definitely made it easier for people not to work and everybody is hiring so we need people to get back to work," said Cohen. "When business is picking up it's been harder and harder to find people to work like we had say pre-pandemic."

Cohen said when the pandemic started his staff numbers dropped by about 25 percent.

"We've had to change hours at some of our stores," said Cohen. "Arni's has always been a store that's always been a store, at all of our locations, has always been open lunch and dinner. We have one store in Lafayette that's closed for lunches."

"It's not just Arni's, it's not just Lafayette, It's not just Indiana," said Cohen.

Owner of East End Grill, Scott Trzaskus said sales have been increasing for him but he wants a bigger staff to support demand.

"I always knew the restaurant would recover," said Trzaskus. "It was a matter of can we recover with the same people. The people are what made our restaurant meaning the employees so that was number one concern was making sure that they were able to make it out ok financially."

Trzaskus said the hardest part for him has been the uncertainty.

"It's a lot of change," said Trzaskus. " It's been a tough operating environment, it's been tough on the guest, it's been tough on the staff, just trying to put people at ease has been the biggest part of it."

Cohen said he hopes there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

"We just got to get back to some semblance of, you know we say it all the time, but some semblance of normalcy and get people back to work earning a wage," said Cohen.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the national unemployment rate is down six percent since March and it continues to decrease. For more information on that click here.

Both East End Grill & Arni's is accepting applications. To learn more about applying click on either restaurant bolded.
Alberta Clipper system will pivot through Thursday.

Clouds will increase Wednesday night-Thursday AM. Lows will run 41-47 west to east.

Some scattered showers are possible near midday, then some sun will bubble up cumulus towers as cold pocket aloft pivots in. With that, a scattering of showers & storms will occur.

A couple to few cores of isolated sub-severe hail is possible.

Actually, parameters show a corridor of MARGINAL RISK from southeastern Illinois to northern Arkansas for Thursday.

South to southwest winds will turn to the northwest with time & become gusty to 33 mph.

Highs of 63-70 are likely (68 Greater Lafayette) with warmest readings in the south & coolest in the far north.

We should see clearing Thursday night with lows 40-46.

Friday will feature cumulus towers bubbling up with a few to some scattered showers & storms with risk of isolated sub-severe hailer or two.

Highs will run 66-73 with northwest winds 10-23 mph.

Warm front will lift northward Saturday, leading to increasing high & mid clouds with northeast to east wind & highs 66-72 (68 Greater Lafayette).

Rainfall & some thunder is likely Saturday late evening-night to Sunday morning with east winds & lows in the 50s.

At this point, it appears that the north will clear Sunday PM with more clouds south. Highs of 65-70 are likely (68 Greater Lafayette).

The warm front may be close enough to the area Monday & Tuesday for a few showers & storms with highs 67-72 & lows in the 47-56 range with mainly east winds.

It appears that the warm front has the best potential of moving through & north of the viewing area Wednesday in response to upper trough swinging into the Plains & surface low ejecting northeast Kansas to Wisconsin.

With that, temperatures may reach 77-82 with dew points in the 60s.

Although the worst of the severe weather should stay south of our area in an area of strong upper diffluence between the Polar 7 Subtropical Jets from western Kentucky to Louisiana, we may still have some risk.

CIPS analog probabilities of severe weather Sunday-Wednesday of next week (May 9-12). Our probabilities would tend to be centered on Wednesday. Prior to that other data continues to suggest that any severe weather risk would stay south of our area.

May 13 looks dry with only a brief respite.

We will warm up rapidly in response to upper trough digging into the Plains.

Between May 14/15 & May 24 there appear to be 3 to 4 storm systems that pass & each one may have some severe weather risk, given their track.

80 to the 80s look to dominate.

Around May 20 currently continues to be the main system for higher severe weather probabilities here.

CIPS analog probabilities for severe weather May 15-18:

CIPS analog Tornado Probabilities May 15-18:

CIPS analog shows above normal rainfall probabilities for the area May 15-18:

Overall May 14-24 shows a strong likelihood of above normal rainfall here in an active storm track.

Beyond May 25-June 1 looks to dry out with main storm track shifting to the north as we heat up.

Tendency for below normal rainfall will be with us early to mid-June.

Late May to early June looks hotter than normal here with lots of severe weather in the High Plains.

Mid-June looks hotter than normal overall. No doubt, we will have a cool-down with a Blackberry Winter. It always happens, even in the hottest years.

June overall shows much hot ridge domination over the area with above normal temperatures.

This will be a dominating influence on our weather all summer.

It will bring potentially our first 100 to 100s since 2012 to the viewing area, frequent dry spells with drought, but may help to guide some complexes of storms in at times to relieve the heat & dryness.

It continues to look like a good set up for a Progressive Derecho to impact the area.

With double dip La Nina like 2010-12 & 1999-2001, cooler weather in the Northern Rockies & Northern Plains to Pacific Northwest & warm, dry ridging in the eastern & southeastern U.S. will be frequent.

We will average above normal temperature-wise in the Fall & below normal precipitation-wise, it appears.

This La Nina winter features more cold intrusions in December & January with above normal snowfall.

Even with La Nina beginning to wane by late winter, its influence will continue with likelihood of warm, upper ridging in the Southeast to Midwest in February with early start of spring warm surges.

We will monitor.

There is the drier summer regime with wet, stormy summer over the Great Lakes to Ontario & also over the Northern Plains & Canadian Prairies:

By late summer, dryness continues here, but note the corridor of wetter weather potentially to our northwest & west to north.

I do not expect us to really see a month of widespread above normal rainfall here until November.

That is what the data shows right now, but could change. We will monitor.

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Comparison of COVID-19 response in 113 countries finds poorer nations most harmed by lockdown approach

As the Covid-19 pandemic took hold of the world last spring, many nations enacted similar lockdown policies intended to restrict movement and halt transmission  yet some countries fared far better than others.

Newly published research, led by William & Mary undergraduate Morgan Pincombe 21, analyzes public health disparities among 113 countries in the wake of the pandemic. The findings indicate that failure to account for different economic realities led to contextually inappropriate policy responses that may exacerbate poverty and cause unnecessary death.

The study involved an analysis of mobility, morbidity, and mortality growth rates across the World Banks income group classifications, which revealed that a one-size-fits-all approach to public health policy can have detrimental consequences for low-income countries.

I wondered if there was a way we could look at emergency response and critique it, so that in the future, we could have some kind of feedback or advice on how to respond to public health emergencies, Pincombe said. When we give these international guidelines of Its effective to respond to a public health emergency by putting in these policies, are we really speaking to an audience thats more high-income, upper-middle income, or is that advice relevant for all countries?

Even as she was stuck indoors in the United States, international relations and public health major Pincombe couldnt help but look outward, questioning how the effectiveness of these sweeping rules might differ around the world.

She worked with Carrie Dolan, Director of Ignite at the Global Research Institute and assistant professor of public health at William & Mary, to understand how epidemiological results of containment and closure measures varied across 113 countries. The pairs research, which is novel in its consideration of income level as a factor of Covid-19 outcomes, earned publication in Health Policy and Planning, a premier scientific journal.

As Pincombe brainstormed how she might use her grant as a James Monroe Scholar to produce meaningful research, unprecedented circumstances both sparked curiosity and cast a sense of responsibility. Once Pincombe identified a few areas of interest, she sought out mentorship from Dolan, whose approach to research she admired based on past experiences.

I had taken her epidemiology class during my freshman year and really loved the content and also really loved working with her, Pincombe said. She was my research advisor there, so when I had this opportunity, I was like Hey, can I work with you again?

Dolan helped her to specify a policy-relevant topic with global implications, encouraging her to develop the work into a journal article instead of the paper she had originally planned. In her role on William & Marys Public Health Advisory Team, and through her work on other pandemic-related research, Dolan said she knew these quantitative insights were missing from the policy dialogue.

I think examining the contextual details has been left out of the policy implementation and mitigation measures we have come up with during the pandemic, Dolan said. There are a couple of broad, overarching strategies  masking, social distancing, and limiting your mobility  and then those were rolled out across the world without considering how they could be implemented more effectively in some contexts versus others.

Though the volume of such a task seemed heavy, Dolan also felt excited by the potential to cultivate Pincombes skillset and produce meaningful research.

When Morgan came to me with this idea, there was hardly any data out there, Dolan said. I wasnt sure how we were going to combine it all together. It seemed like an enormous amount of work, but she was willing to put the time and effort in, and its important, so I was willing to mentor Morgan in order to make it happen.

To interpret and understand the results of this project, Pincombe first needed to learn how to build an econometric model and use Stata, a statistical software program, Pincombe relied on guidance and expertise from Dolan and from economics professors Jen Mellor and Ariel BenYishay, but she also sought out external resources.

Shes very motivated and a self-starter, Dolan said. I knew that she would work hard to create a good, high-quality product. The reason that I was willing to take this on was that I knew that even though Morgan had a lot to learn, she would show up and be committed and work hard to do the next steps, so that we would ultimately have a successful project.

Pincombes training prepared her to account for vast amounts of data in the study, studying the effectiveness of movement restrictions and lockdowns in three different ways: mobility, number of cases, and mortality.

Google had these really cool mobility reports that had anonymous data from cell phones and tracked peoples movement and compared it to the baseline from pre-pandemic, she said. We used that to measure, when lockdown policies were put into place, did people move less, or did they move more towards certain things, such as grocery stores and pharmacies?

The results demonstrated that approaches of containment and closure were more effective in high-income countries than in low-income ones, further suggesting that when guidance fails to account for contextual details  such as economic status  it may exacerbate poverty and death.

What this work really does is highlight the importance of taking a minute and figuring out how these policies might have worked better if we didnt roll them out as a one-size-fits-all approach, Dolan said. When thinking about policies, you have to think about the audience and their ability to implement what youre suggesting.

In some ways, the results confirmed what Dolan and Pincombe hypothesized, but in other ways, the data challenged their assumptions.

When we were looking at our mortality findings, we would have expected a larger magnitude of difference between the death rates for each income classification, but we see in death, its almost identical for each of the income categories, Dolan said. I dont think this is driven by inadequate surveillance or low testing. Instead, I think its partly a reflection of the fact that in these resource-constrained countries, these lower-income countries, they tend to report lower mortality overall than the global trend because of other factors such as the weather, the younger population, and less chronic disease. These factors have contributed to fewer cases of Covid-19 and therefore less deaths.

Adapting to unforeseen circumstances and allowing the data to surprise her, Pincombe said, cultivated personal and professional growth that she can apply to future work experiences  which she hopes take place in the policy arena.

Thats the research process, Pincombe said. As you learn more, as youre exposed to new information, that changes and shapes the work that youre doing. Oftentimes, that pushes you to revisit the work, and that creates a better project.

As Pincombe applies these lessons to her future research endeavors, she will remember the expert mentorship, academic guidance, and peer support that Dolan and the campus community offered her.

When youre an undergraduate, it can feel like you have no right to ask people to help you out, but I was very surprised at how willing people were, Pincombe said. Take advantage of the expertise and the people you have within your network or that you can reach out to.

As William & Mary encourages students to pursue thought-provoking, transformative research, Dolan said, it ensures that Pincombes story of success is not isolated.

William & Mary creates an environment and a framework where this kind of work is valued and is possible to do, which is incredibly important to highlight, Dolan said. I think our undergrads can be a real catalyst for interesting questions. Sometimes my research assistants push me to think outside the box of whats possible because theyre less constrained in terms of how to do it.
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While failure to complete this requirement can result in serious consequences, we understand that submission may be delayed due to current circumstances. Please complete the forms as soon as safely possible. You will be assigned a late fee of $100 if not returned by August 31. A hold may also be placed on your Banner account.



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European Commission head office in Brussels, Belgium. (File Photo)

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: The European Commission has fined Sigma-Aldrich 7.5 million for providing incorrect information during the commission's investigation of Merck's acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich.

On 21 April 2015, Merck notified the commission of its plan to acquire Sigma-Aldrich. On 15 June 2015, the commission approved the proposed acquisition subject to the divestiture of certain Sigma-Aldrich assets, which would address the competition concerns identified in markets for specific laboratory chemicals.

For the divestment business, it was noted that an innovation project, called iCap, specifically developed for the divestment business products had not been disclosed to the commission.

Also Sigma-Adrich did not intend to transfer the iCap project to the purchaser of the divestment business, the commission noted.

"The effectiveness of our merger control system relies on the accuracy of the information provided by the companies involved. Accurate information is essential for the commission to take competition decisions in full knowledge of the facts. Today's decision to fine Sigma-Aldrich shows that companies should not withhold or provide misleading information. This is vital for the assessment of a deal, especially for research and development projects, which are by nature secret and for which only the parties have access to relevant information, said executive vice-president Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy.

In July 2017, the commission addressed a Statement of Objections to Merck and Sigma-Aldrich, detailing its preliminary view that both Merck and Sigma-Aldrich had breached their procedural obligations under the Merger Regulation.

In June 2020, after having heard the companies, the commission concluded that Sigma-Aldrich had breached the EU Merger Regulation by providing incorrect information to the commission about iCap.

The fine

According to the EU Merger Regulation, the commission can impose fines of up to 1 percent of the aggregated turnover of companies, which intentionally or negligently provide incorrect or misleading information to the commission.



The commission considers that the three infringements committed by Sigma-Aldrich are of serious nature and particularly grave notably because (i) the obligation to provide correct and non-misleading information in merger investigations is crucial to ensure the effective functioning of the EU merger control system; (ii) the incorrect or misleading information related to an innovation project that was clearly related to and important for the divestment business; and (iii) the commission's only way to obtain the relevant information on this innovation project was from Sigma-Aldrich, such a project being by nature secret and sensitive.

On this basis, the commission has concluded that an overall fine of 7.5 million is both proportionate and deterrent.

Merck/Sigma-Aldrich merger case

On 21 April 2015, Merck notified the commission of its plan to acquire Sigma-Aldrich. The commission's investigation revealed competition concerns in relation to some laboratory chemicals, namely solvents and inorganics used in laboratories by companies and research centres.

For these products, Merck and Sigma-Aldrich (i) were the two leading suppliers in Europe; (ii) had two of the broadest product portfolios, with high-quality products and well-recognised brands; and (iii) had efficient sales channels to reach customers in markets characterised by a fragmented customer base. The combination of all these elements would have led to the loss of an important competitive force in the supply of solvents and inorganics following the merger.

In order to address the commission's competition concerns, the two companies offered to divest certain assets in relation to the above specific laboratory chemicals.

- On 15 June 2015, the Commission approved the proposed acquisition subject to the divestment of most of Sigma-Aldrich's solvents and inorganics business in Europe.

- On 10 November 2015, the commission approved Honeywell as a suitable purchaser of the divestment business.

- In 2016, a third party made the commission aware of the exclusion of Sigma-Aldrich's above-mentioned innovation project from the scope of the remedy.

 Worldofchemicals News
NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - A resolution that would allow Tennesseans to abolish all forms of slavery in the state will now come before all Tennesseans for a vote.

The House of Representatives passed the measure on Tuesday night.

Currently, the Tennessee Constitution bans the use of slavery, except as a form of criminal punishment for inmates.

Tennessee lawmakers working to abolish slavery in state constitution It may be hard to believe, but slavery is still included in the Tennessee State Constitution. Now Tennessee senators are working to change that once and for all.

Now, as with all proposed constitutional amendments, once its signed by Gov. Bill Lee, it will be placed on the 2022 ballot for voters to make the final decision.

The bill was sponsored by state Rep. Joe Towns, D-Memphis, and state Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis.

GOP lawmaker says Three-Fifths Compromise was created to end slavery A Tennessee lawmaker is making national headlines for his comments about slavery on the floor of the Tennessee House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Today is a historic day as this state has taken a definitive step forward in stripping all forms of slavery from the Tennessee State Constitution, Towns said in a statement Tuesday night. Some Tennesseans may be prisoners, but, by God, they will not be slaves. We are the first Southern state to embrace universal abolition. I am proud to have carried this resolution and now we need all Tennesseans to join us in correcting this wrong by voting for this constitutional amendment in November of 2022.

The Tennessee State Senate approved the resolution in March.
Amid Colombias worst economic crisis in recorded history and its deadliest wave of COVID-19 infections, hundreds of thousands have joined mass marches, roadblocks and other protests across the South American country every day for the last week.

The recent protests began with a national strike on April 28 called by the National Strike Committee, a coalition of trade union confederations, farmers associations and student groups formed in 2019 to channel growing unrest in the working class behind negotiations with the far-right government of President Ivan Duque.

The strike was triggered by Duques announcement of Latin Americas first COVID-19 tax overhaul, as the Colombian ruling elite seeks to lead the region in placing the entire burden of the pandemic crisis on the shoulders of the working class.

Supposedly aimed at providing a fixed income of between $20 to $150 dollars per household during the pandemic, the proposal introduced a sharply regressive 19 percent sales tax, including on food and essential services, as well as an additional tax for incomes as low as $700 per month. Credit agencies applauded the bill as providing a structure of long-term sustainable income paid for by the working class.

May Day demonstration in Cali, Colombia (CaliesCaliCOL, Twitter)

Defying a hypocritical court order banning marches on the pretext of COVID-19 risks, demonstrators filled the streets of downtown Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla and Ibague, as well as smaller cities. Stores and most public services came to a virtual standstill on April 28, while May Day saw the largest crowds so far.

As spontaneous demonstrations continued to erupt outside of the control of the National Strike Committee, Duque deployed the military to assist the police in the repression, which has turned in a systematic and coordinated fashion to the use of live ammunition.

Announcing the deployment of troops, Duque threatened those who want to intimidate society through violence, vandalism and terrorism and believe that they will defeat the institutions under this mechanism.

On Friday, ex-President Alvaro Uribe, the leader of Duques ruling party and his political mentor, all but confirmed that the murderous repression is being ordered from the highest levels of the state by tweeting: Lets support the right of soldiers and police to use their weapons to defend their integrity and defend people and goods against the criminal actions of vandalic terrorism.

Uribe was recently released from house arrest in a politically-motivated ruling despite dozens of open investigations over his role in creating and financing fascist paramilitary militias responsible for killing hundreds of thousands and displacing millions of Colombians.

Videos shared widely on social media show police officers openly carrying firearms, including rifles, and shooting at demonstrators. The Francisco Isaias Cifuentes Human Rights Network, moreover, sighted plainclothes police on motorcycles with covered license plates shooting at demonstrators in Cali.

Fearful that the repression is only radicalizing and mobilizing wider layers of the working class in Colombia and across the region, UN and European Union officials nervously condemned the excessive force used by the police and appealed to protesters to be calm.

The US administration of President Joe Biden, even as it hurls provocative accusations against Russia, China and Venezuela, has remained silent over the repression in Colombia, US imperialisms closest political and military ally in Latin America.

For decades, under Republican and Democratic administrations alike, Washington has provided billions in weapons and military training to turn the Colombian military into the second largest in the region, serving as a bastion of US corporate and financial interests in this oil-rich region, including in Washingtons regime change preparations in Venezuela. This same US-armed and trained military is now being unleashed against unarmed crowds of workers and youth.

As of Tuesday, the Duque government has acknowledged the deaths of 18 civilians and one police officer during demonstrations, while the police reported 431 arrests. The Education Workers Federation (FECODE) has reported 27 deaths, 726 arbitrary detentions, six cases of sexual abuse by security forces, and 12 youth who have lost their eyes to non-lethal projectiles.

Having lost the support of the Liberal Party and other right-wing forces for his tax bill, Duque announced Friday that he would ask Congress to drop, at least temporarily, its most hated provisions.

The decision only emboldened the protests, and the National Strike Committee continues to struggle to remain in control by calling for another day of mass demonstrations on May 5. Compelled by the social anger to advance broader demands, union leader Luis Miguel Morantes called for sending troops back to their barracks, dismantling the special forces unit ESMAD, discarding Bill 010 that provides a greater role to private health care providers, mass vaccinations and a universal income of at least $260 per month, among other demands.

Throughout the consistent escalation of the class struggle since the national strike on November 21, 2019, Colombian capitalism has demonstrated that it is completely impervious to the urgent social needs of the masses. The Duque administration has been allowed to continue maneuvering to implement further austerity and privatizations even after repeated massacres of workers and youth.

Last September, the police killed 13 demonstrators and injured at least 75 others with firearms after a rebellion erupted in Bogota over the police killing of Javier Ordonez.

Along with the trade unions, the ruling class has relied heavily on the pseudo-left senator and ex-presidential candidate Gustavo Petro to direct all appeals back behind the Duque administration. Since protests began last week, he has demanded that demonstrators only oppose this or that reform and not Duque or the security forces themselves. Even as he feigns outrage at the murderous repression, he insists that Duque, the police and military are not the enemies.

On Monday, he called in a tweet for every police, every soldier of the fatherland and youth and workers on the street to fraternize and hug. This, as video after video has been posted on social media showing cops brutally beating young protesters.

These criminal efforts to sow complacency among workers and youth as the ruling class and imperialism carry out a deadly turn toward dictatorship in Colombia and internationally have been further aided by the Socialist Workers Party (PST), a pseudo-left outfit founded by the Argentine anti-Trotskyist Nahuel Moreno and oriented toward the trade unions.

In a statement Monday, the PST noted that the masses, which are outside of their bureaucratic control, have remained on the streets and appeals for the trade union organizations affiliated to these centrals  to replace that bureaucracy.

Workers must be wary of such maneuvers to replace trade union officials for others that employ more radical phrases to better channel unrest into the same dead end. The entire political establishment and trade union apparatus, along with its pseudo-left apologists, speak for layers of the middle class with material ties to the capitalist state and corporate management.

During 2020, 3.5 million Colombians fell under the official poverty thresholda per capita monthly income of $87. A staggering 42.5 percent of the population now lives below the poverty line. At the same time, the country is recording record levels of COVID-19 deaths, reaching 490 deaths per day and 75,164 deaths in total.

Beyond night curfews and a rotation of restrictions to visiting commercial locales based on personal ID numbersmeasures which have proven wholly inadequatethe Duque administration and local authorities have rejected any measures that may impinge on the profit interests of corporations and banks.

The uprising across Colombian cities has unleashed the largest mass demonstrations seen in Latin America since the revolt in Chile in 2019. It is part of a global movement of the working class against the policies of death and misery during the pandemic. The International Committee of the Fourth International calls for the building of an International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees for the working class to unite these struggles and take the pandemic response into its own hands, as the only way to administer timely vaccinations, provide the necessary economic aid for nonessential workers to shelter at home and, ultimately, eradicate both the COVID-19 virus and the capitalist system that has allowed it to kill millions.
Along with the Justin Trudeau-led federal Liberal government and its provincial counterparts, Quebecs Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) government is putting tens of thousands of lives at risk by keeping the economy open amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Responding to the demands of a financial aristocracy that has massively increased its wealth during the pandemic, Premier Francois Legault is systematically prioritizing corporate profits over human lives. Legault and his CAQ government insist schools and nonessential businesses remain open, even though countless scientific studies have identified them as major vectors for the transmission of COVID-19.

The head of the April 18 Montreal demonstration. The banner reads: "Together for health and solidarity measures! No to the curfew" (credit: Andre Querry).

Warehouse, meatpacking, health care and other workers and their families are bearing the brunt of the surge in infection and death caused by a devastating third wave of the pandemic that is being fueled by new, more contagious and lethal coronavirus variants. Workers have repeatedly voiced their anger at being forced to work in unsafe conditions, including in short-lived strikes. But their opposition has been systematically muzzled by the pro-capitalist unions, which in Quebec, as across Canada, have supported and enforced the capitalist elite's back-to-work/back-to-school drive.

It is in this explosive social context, dominated by the ruling class disastrous mismanagement of the pandemic and the suppression of working-class opposition, that some young people in Quebec have given vent to their frustrations and anger with the actions of the Legault government. This opposition, however, has taken a confused political form, which opens the door wide to far-right anti-mask and anti-lockdown elements.

These ultra-reactionary forces have been involved, in varying degrees, in a series of protests that erupted after the Legault government, in early April, advanced the beginning of its COVID-19 curfew to 8:00 p.m. from 9:30 p.m. in the Greater Montreal region and other parts of the province.

On Sunday, April 11, more than a hundred young people gathered in Montreal's Old Port in defiance of the curfew in a protest that ended with the ransacking of some businesses and seven arrests. Earlier in the day, David Menzies, a Rebel News correspondent, was arrested after a provocation orchestrated by this fascist pro-Trump group, which lent its support to and participated in the anti-curfew demonstration.

Two days later, on Tuesday, April 13, about 40 people marched in Quebec City to denounce the curfew and so-called abusive health rules.

Then on Sunday, April 18, several hundred young people gathered in Montreal's Jeanne Mance Park before taking to the streets to denounce the imposition of a curfew ... which seriously undermines our freedoms. Despite the organizers warning against the senseless manipulations of conspiracy theorists that are exploited by the extreme right, the absence of a perspective based on the independent political mobilization of the working class has played right into the hands of the extreme right.

Even when they have the best of intentions, those who denounce the arbitrary nature of the curfew and raise the slogan of freedom miss the central point. The curfew is being used by Legault and his CAQ government to justify their refusal to implement the health measures needed to stop the pandemicabove all the complete closure of in-person schooling and all nonessential workplaces until the spread of the virus is halted and the population fully vaccinated.

Even though the effectiveness of these measures is proven by science and historical experience, governments in Quebec and across Canada have dismissed them out of hand. The ruling elite is adamant the economy remain open so they can continue to enrich themselves on workers backs; and they view the financial cost of ensuring social support to working people during an anti-COVID lockdown as an intolerable deduction from their profit margins and wealth.

The curfew is part of the ineffective, contradictory, venal and hypocritical measures that have characterized the Legault government's response to the pandemic since it began. Some young people are wondering what purpose a curfew serves if the schools they attend or the businesses where they work remain open despite their being sites of regular COVID-19 outbreaks.

It must be clearly stated, however: The anti-curfew calls that are being made today are characterized by political disorientation and confusion. The political forces leading the protests isolate the curfew from its social and economic context, myopically focus on this attack on personal freedom and detach their denunciations of the government from a program to mobilize the working class to fight the pandemic on a scientific basis. As a result, they play directly into the hands of the far right, which internationally has emerged as the veritable shock troops of the ruling class in its drive to reopen the economy and consign all systematic efforts to contain the virus to the dustbin.

Even the anarchist Jaggi Singh, a protest leader who has boosted the movement as progressive, was forced to admit in a comment to the local CultMtl website, Unfortunately, many people are hesitant to oppose or defy the curfew due to the potential presence of anti-science, far-right, conspiracy theorists. He added, The political terrain is messy, before noting that one of the recent protests was organized by a pro-Trump, evangelical Christian  who is opportunistically using curfew opposition to gain support.

In the United States, former President Donald Trump mobilized fascist militia members with denunciations of lockdowns and other COVID-19 public health restrictions. These militias spearheaded Trumps attempted coup on January 6, when right-wing extremists at his direction and with the complicity of the Republican Party leadership stormed the Capitol with the aim of overturning the presidential election results. There have also been violent demonstrations by far-right groups in Europe, including the Lateral Thinkers movement in Germany, and in the Netherlands, against any measures to contain the virus.

In Quebec, a demonstration last July by health care workers against their intolerable working conditions was overrun by ultra-nationalists waving anti-lockdown signs.

The perspective that must animate progressive opposition to the Legault governments criminal pandemic policy is not a fight to lift the curfew, but the independent political mobilization of the working class around a coherent set of strong, science-based measures to eradicate the coronavirus, based on prioritizing saving lives and livelihoods, not capitalist profit. These include: mass asymptomatic testing; contact tracing; a massive and accelerated vaccination campaign; major investments in the public health system to treat all COVID-19 victims and fully maintain other health care; and the complete closure of nonessential businesses and schools, while ensuring quality online education for children and full financial compensation for working parents forced to stay home to look after their children.

The implementation of these vital measures requires a political struggle to mobilize the working class in Quebec, throughout Canada and internationally, against the capitalist system, which the pandemic has starkly exposed as politically, economically and morally bankrupt.

The pro-capitalist trade unions constitute the principal obstacle to such a working-class political struggle. They have been transformed in recent decades into corporatist appendages of the bosses and state that smother workers resistance to job and wage cuts, the destruction of worker rights and the dismantling of public services.

It is to these pro-capitalist unions, increasingly discredited in the eyes of rank-and-file workers, that the pseudo-left organizations of the upper middle class seek to politically tie the working class.

A glaring example of this is provided by an article published on April 14 by Fightback, a purportedly Marxist group that functions as part of Quebec Solidaire (QS) in Quebec and the New Democrats in the rest of Canada. Warmly welcoming the anti-curfew demonstration that had just taken place in Montreal, the article concludes: The unions and QS have a duty to organize a mass movement against the curfew and for real measures to curb the pandemic.

In this one sentence, Fightback succeeds in portraying in progressive colors a politically confused movement that opens the door to the far right, while insisting that this highly distorted expression of social angerlet alone all genuine working-class oppositionmust remain under the political and organizational control of the trade unions. That is, must remain under the tutelage of the very forces that systematically supress the class struggle and impose the ruling elites reactionary agenda on workers.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, the trade unions have fully supported the capitalist elites criminal campaign for a return to work and a complete reopening of schools under the pretext of preserving the economy, i.e., the profits of big business.

At the start of the pandemic in April 2020, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and Unifor, Canada's largest private sector union, issued a joint statement with the federal Department of Labour, the Canadian Bankers Association and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in which they said that workers and bosses share common goals, including ensuring that Canadian businesses are prepared to come roaring back.

As for Quebec Solidaire, a party of the affluent middle class that advocates reactionary Quebec nationalism and seeks further integration into the ruling establishment, its position on the pandemic is indistinguishable from that of Premier Legault. As recently as April 13, QS once again endorsed the hypocritical and criminal policies of the right-wing CAQ government, giving its unanimous support to a National Assembly motion that reiterated confidence in all existing health measures recommended by Public Health, including the imposition of a curfew.

The Fightback article also provides political cover for a certain anarchist orientation underlying the anti-curfew protests, namely the calls for direct action and confrontations with the police. They reflect the demoralized views of middle-class layers, which are hostile to the working class and animated by a deep individualism that makes them vulnerable to agent provocateurs and hypocritical calls from the far right for freedom.

Young people rightly outraged by the Legault government's catastrophic mismanagement of the pandemic will only be able to give progressive expression to their anger by rejecting the pro-capitalist politics of the unions, the reactionary Quebec nationalism of QS, and the individualistic anarchism that elements of the pseudo-left such as Fightback seek to legitimize.

Instead, they must fight for the independent mobilization of the working classthe only force with the social power to break the capitalist elites stranglehold over socioeconomic life and implement a global, science-based response to the pandemic aimed at protecting working peoples lives and livelihoods.
On March 24, UK Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced the Conservative government was sending commissioners to oversee services in Labour Party-run Liverpool City Council (LCC). This followed a police investigation into corrupt business deals, including collapsed multi-million pounds schemes, which led to the arrest of now former Labour Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson.

Announcing the decision, Jenrick told parliament there had been a serious breakdown of governance and mismanagement, breakdown of scrutiny and accountability in the city.

Three appointed commissioners will be sent to oversee the council's planning, property management, highways and regeneration departments for a minimum of three years, with executive powers allowing them to take over the running completely. The commissioners will ensure the councils appointed chief executive Tony Reeves implements an improvement plan.

Jenrick will also introduce changes to council elections in Liverpool. Full election of councillors will take place every four years from 2023, rather than a third each year in a four-year cycle. Each ward will appoint one councillor instead of three. While the number of wards is expected to be increased, this will still mean a cull from 90 to between 70 and 80, according to the Liverpool Echo .

The council will meet on May 19 to discuss and agree the improvement plan.

This is a thoroughly anti-democratic intervention by central government into an elected council, unprecedented for a city of Liverpools size. Opposition, however, does not imply a political amnesty or solidarity with Labourwhich must answer to the working class.

In 2019, during police investigation Operation Aloft into fraudulent development contracts in Liverpool, LCCs head of regeneration Nick Kavanagh was arrested along with property developer Elliot Lawless. The arrests were initiated after whistleblowers furnished police with an LCC audit.

In January 2020, police seized 200,000 from one of Lawlesss properties. In March, Lawless was granted a judicial review of his arrest and police search of his property, on the grounds they were unlawful. The High Court found in his favour. He has not been investigated since.

Kavanagh was rearrested in September with four others for conspiracy to commit bribery, later released on bail. LCC terminated his employment.

In December, Mayor Anderson and four others were arrested in connection with bribery and witness intimidation. These were his son and property developer David; Alex Croftan aide to the Metro mayor; former leading member of the pseudo-left Militant Tendency and LCC deputy leader in the 1980s, now turned businessman and property developer Derek Hatton, and Andy Barr, Liverpool City Councils assistant director of highways and planning. They were released on bail subject to further inquiries.

The twice-elected Anderson, who was awarded an OBE, first became Mayor of LCC in 2012. In 2017, police interviewed him regarding a joint venture between LCC and British Telecom (then LDL). Opposing the contract in opposition, as council leader he appointed LDLs then Chief Executive David McElhinney temporary chief executive for the council during contract negotiations. The contract was suspended when McElhinney and others were investigated for payments received from Lancashire County Council amid allegations of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and witness intimidation.

Controversy further dogged Anderson when a freedom of information request revealed he instructed council lawyers in 2015 to pursue a case for unfair dismissal against former employer Chesterfield High school. This cost taxpayers 89,500. His employment as a social inclusion mentor was terminated as he had not worked at the school for two years due to council duties, though being paid 4,500 annually on top of his 80,000 mayors salary.

In 2019, the council awarded a health and safety contract to dismantle a flyover to a company Safety Support Consultants (SSC). David Anderson is a director at SSC.

Three months ago, the government seized on the police operation to launch its own investigation into LCC led by Max Caller. Caller, who previously investigated Tower Hamlets Council in East London and Northamptonshire County Council, produced a highly critical report: Liverpool City Council Best Value Inspection December 2020-March 2021.

The failings and possible corruption in LCC are a product of long-term trends in local government.

Local councils, which provide essential services, have been devastated by funding cuts since the 2008 financial crash. Since 2010, central government cut grants to local councils by a third, disproportionately penalising large Labour-run metropolitan authorities. All councils, including Labour-run authorities, have cut services to the bone while overseeing massive privatisations of local assets and services.

In 2015, the pseudo-left-supported Labour opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell instructed Labour councils to set legal budgets, implying they should impose cuts. The Labour Party conference in 2016 made it a disciplinary offence for councillors to support any proposal to set an illegal budget or to vote against or abstain on a Labour group policy decision on this matter.

The resulting funding crisis has been aggravated by the pandemic, as the government carried out multi-hundred-billion-pound bailouts of big business and the rich while leaving the working class and the services workers depend upon to rot. Up to 25 councils verge on bankruptcy, and 94 percent expect to implement swingeing cuts including job cuts and local tax increases. Liverpool council plans cuts of 15.4 million and a council tax hike to five percent. The councils budget has lost 450 million since 2010, with cuts to this value imposed against the jobs, terms and conditions of local authority workers and the population of an already socially deprived city.

The combination of cuts and privatisation embraced by Labour has created a cesspit breeding ground for corruption and cronyism, amid the growing impoverishment of the working class. This has now provided an opportunity to the Tory government to intervene and advance their own right-wing agenda in the city. The claimed pretext of fighting corruption is risible.

In 2019, Jenrick himself helped rush through a property deal for Tory donor and personal contact, Richard Desmond, saving him tens of millions of pounds in taxes and affordable housing lost to the local authority. The whole Conservative Party is now embroiled in a corruption scandal over the lobbying efforts of former Prime Minister David Cameron, VIP access to lucrative National Health Service and public health contracts during the pandemic, and undeclared donations to support the lifestyle of Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The real objectives of the intervention were revealed by Jenrick when he told parliament that the mismanagement of Liverpool council was damaging the citys ability to attract investment from reputable developers and investors for regeneration and to take full advantage of the recent application for freeport status.

The Liverpool City Region (LCR) has been selected as one of the first eight locations in England to be made a freeporta key pillar of the Tory governments Brexit agenda. These special economic zones exempt corporations working in them from normal taxes, tariffs and regulations, creating a bonanza for big business at the expense of local revenues and workers rights.

A map of the region covered by the Liverpool City Region Freeport. According to the official website of the Freeport, The LCR Freeport will be a multi-gateway, multi-modal freeport covering 300 hectares of land. This will include three tax sites and strategically located customs zones across all modes of transport, linking to the primary customs zone at the Port of Liverpool. It will take in a 45km diameter (the maximum distance allowed by Government), from the western point Wirral Waters to the eastern point of Port Salford. (source: liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk)

According to official documentation, The LCR Freeport will be a multi-gateway, multi-modal freeport covering 300 hectares of land. This will include three tax sites and strategically located customs zones across all modes of transport, linking to the primary customs zone at the Port of Liverpool. It will take in a 45km diameter (the maximum distance allowed by Government), from the western point Wirral Waters to the eastern point of Port Salford.

The Labour Party have offered no opposition to the Tories intervention, in fact they have welcomed it. Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary Steve Reed told Jenrick that the Parliamentary Labour Party and Labours members in Liverpool council support his intention to appoint commissioners, not at this stage to run the council as he says, but to advise and support elected representatives in strengthening the councils systems. This is a measured and appropriate response.

Recognising the opposition in the working class, he insisted that the intervention was not as some would put it, a Tory takeover.

Labours complicity exposes the bankrupt opposition to Jenricks commissioners put forward by the pseudo-left. The Socialist Workers Party shamelessly appeals to the very forces that paved the way for the takeover: Labour and trade unionists should resist the Tory takeover with protests and strikes.

The Stalinist Morning Star call on the trade unions, which have worked hand-in-hand with Labour to suppress opposition to privatisations, outsourcing and the slashing of essential services. It writes, With technocratic commissioners arriving from Whitehall, the dangers for services, jobs, terms and conditions are obvious the trade unions have a crucial role to play. The unions have given no indication whatsoever that they will fight the governments plan.

None of these organisations will defend the working class. As the Tories move forward with their viciously right-wing and authoritarian post-Brexit agenda, workers resistance can only take shape through the formation of new rank-and-file organisations, independent of Labour and the trade unions, fighting on a socialist programme.
Workers at the McCormick Foods factory in the Melbourne suburb of Clayton South have now been on the job for more than three weeks since the United Workers Union (UWU) declared their six-week strike over on April 7. But the workplace enterprise agreement (EA) invoked by the UWU to shut down the stoppage still has not been published.

As a result, workers at the plant, which produces and packages sauces and spices for major fast-food and retail outlets, still do not know the details of the agreement negotiated by management and the union.

McCormick Foods factory in Melbourne (Source: WSWS Media)

Contrary to the UWUs claims, the meagre 9 percent pay rise over three years that it says is contained in the agreement can hardly be described as a victory. It follows a wage freeze since April 2016.

The workers are currently earning 7 percent less in real terms than they were in 2016 and, according to Trading Economics consumer price index forecast, would still be earning 3 percent less after the third proposed pay bump took effect in 2023.

While the UWU claimed that ALL previous conditions the company wanted to remove including the 4 day week roster were retained in the new agreement, it made no mention of the introduction of a new night shift, which workers have told the World Socialist Web Site the union agreed to. Also unclear is whether the final agreement will include a ten-year cap on redundancy entitlements, under conditions of major restructuring efforts and a drive to automation within the company and throughout the economy.

In its recent sellout of workers in the Smeaton Grange dispute, the UWU made it abundantly clear that it will enforce the stepped-up offensive against jobs, wages and conditions. The union isolated the 350 workers at the southwest Sydney Coles warehouse and refused to provide strike pay during a 13-week lockout, before ramming through an agreement for the closure of the facility and the destruction of all, or most, of the jobs there.

Workers at the McCormick Foods plant have told WSWS reporters that the workforce has been reduced by at least a quarter over the past ten years as a result of automation already introduced. This includes automatic container filling, capping, case packing and palletising equipment.

The company plans to open a new facility at Melbournes Moorabbin airport later this year, featuring a state-of-the-art logistics centre as a continuation of the modernisation of our workplaces.

The global parent company, McCormick and Company, is also building a highly automated factory-of-the-future in Peterborough, UK to open later this year, and a state-of-the-art distribution centre in Maryland, US, which promises to driv[e] efficiencies enabled by automation when it is opened in 2022.

The substantial investment in the distribution side of McCormicks Australian business, along with a 2018 transfer of certain manufacturing operations in our Asia/Pacific region to a newly constructed facility in Thailand, suggest that the company may be planning to scale back local production.

These moves in the Asia-Pacific region are part of a global cost-cutting drive by the parent company that has been underway for more than 15 years.

A three-year restructuring plan announced in late 2005 slashed 1,270 jobs17 percent of the companys workforce at the timeand closed manufacturing plants in Salinas, California; Hunt Valley, Maryland; Paisley, Scotland, and Kerava, Finland. Also closed under these cost-cutting measures was the Aeroplane Jelly factory in Sydney, resulting in the destruction of 34 jobs.

A further $393 million in annual cost savings were realised between 2009 and 2015 under the companys Comprehensive Continuous Improvement (CCI) program. During this period the companys factory in the Netherlands was shut down, European sales and administration were largely transferred to Poland, and jobs in the US and Australia were streamlined.

The 2016 appointment of Lawrence E. Kurzius as CEO brought about an acceleration in the CCI program, with a new target of $400 million in cost savings over four years.

It is under these conditions that the previous round of negotiations at the Melbourne plant stalled in 2017, with the company offering an EA that would have meant successive 6 percent pay cuts over three years as well as reductions to working conditions.

In 2017 the company began its Global Enablement initiative, which it predicted would require the payment of more than $40 million in severance and related benefits. Some $2.5 million of these severance costs stemmed from the closure of the companys plant in Portugal.

The same year, McCormick began sweeping cuts to pensions and other benefits. By freezing the pensions of workers in Canada, the UK and the US, the company saved more than $95 million. Cuts to medical benefits and the elimination of life insurance for retirees saved the company a further $27.1 million.

Further cuts in 2019, including the slashing of 17 jobs at the Queensland-based Botanical Food Company, which McCormick acquired in 2016, allowed the four-year CCI target of $400 million to be exceeded by 14 percent. The cost-cutting continued, with a further saving of $113 million in 2020.

In 2020, the company posted its highest-ever sales of $5.6 billion, gross profits of $2.3 billion and net income of $747.4 million, a 6.4 percent year-over-year increase.

Kurzius was paid over $19.5 million in cash and stock in 2020, more than 400 times the average wage of workers at the Melbourne plant. Michael R. Smith, McCormicks chief financial officer, received more than $6.9 million, while the next three highest-earning executives at the firm took in an average of $5.5 million.

While workers have been on the receiving end of the 15-year austerity drive, shareholders have reaped the rewards. Since the end of 2005, the share price has increased sixfold, from $15.10 to $90.36. The company has paid dividends to shareholders every year since 1925, and the dividend has increased in each of the past 35 years, earning McCormick the title of dividend aristocrat.

Similar processes have taken place throughout the food industry. In Campbell Soups 2015 annual report, CEO Denise M. Morrison wrote: [C]ompanies have initiated a series of strategic actions, from spin-offs and consolidation to acquisitions and aggressive cost-cutting.

Campbell Soup has shed almost 10,000 jobs in the past 15 years40 percent of its 2005 workforceincluding 4,100 since 2015.

The 2015 merger of H.J. Heinz and Kraft Foods saw the closure of seven factories and the destruction of 5,100 jobs, more than 10 percent of the workforce. In the preceding years Heinz had already slashed 6,650 jobs. The cost cutting continued at the newly formed Kraft Heinz, with 1,800 jobs cut in 2018 and 2019.

These job-slashing measures have been enforced by the trade unionsincluding the UWU and its predecessor, the National Union of Workers (NUW). They have isolated workers, denied them strike pay and colluded with management to ensure that any industrial action that does take place has minimal effect on production and profits.

When a Kelloggs cereal plant in Charmhaven, 100 kilometres north of Sydney, was shut down in 2013, along with a plant in Canada, an NUW spokesperson dismissed any fight against the closure. He told the WSWS: The closure is already locked in. It is part of a global structure and the decision has been made by head office in the US. The place is closing, so what can the union do?

Workers should reject the entire union line, which is that their interests must be subordinated to corporate profits and that jobs losses are inevitable.

A genuine struggle against the global assault on the working class requires a fight for a socialist program and the transformation of essential industries, including food manufacturing, into publicly-owned entities under workers control.

This can go forward only through a complete break with the unions and the formation of networks of rank-and-file committees, unifying workers across industries and national borders.
The following report was delivered by Chris Marsden to the 2021 International May Day Online Rally held by the World Socialist Web Site and the International Committee of the Fourth International on May 1. Marsden is the national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party in Britain.

The call by the International Committee of the Fourth International for an International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees will resonate in every country. What our statement says accurately reflects the life experiences of the world working class.

Chris Marsden

Firstly, on the deadly cost of the pandemic, the murderous indifference of the ruling elite, how the capitalist class is using the crisis to rob us, ramp up exploitation and destroy lives and livelihoods.

Secondly, regarding its insistence that the social democratic parties and trade unions confront workers as an enemy force, as agents of the financial oligarchy and the corporations, which must now be broken with.

Britains despised Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reeling after factional infighting in his government of cutthroats led to revelations that on October 30 last year, during a fight over whether to implement a partial four-week second lockdown, he blurted out, No more f***ing lockdowns, let the bodies pile high in their thousands!

This statement is the modern equivalent of Marie Antoinettes apocryphal response when told the peasants were starving for want of bread, Let them eat cake! But Johnson actually said this, and more.

Earlier in September, he insisted he would rather let coronavirus rip than implement a second lockdown, expressing his regret over agreeing to the first lockdown, and likening himself to the real hero of the film Jaws, the mayor of Amity, who orders the beaches to stay open despite a great white shark eating people.

Millions of workers are disgusted, but few are shocked. The Tory governments preferred policy was always herd immunity. Now, after being forced off course by fear of mass opposition, that let rip policy is being implemented, and the bodies will indeed pile high in their thousands.

The fight against the pandemic is a political struggle against these architects of social murder, who have racked up a more realistic death toll of 150,000 and rising. It is a fight against the corporations they serve.

That offensive cannot be waged without confronting not only the Johnson government but also those who seek to prevent itthe Labour Party and the trade unions.

For more than a year, in the name of national unity, Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has acted as a de facto coalition partner of Johnsonhis constructive critic. But Starmer is leader only thanks to the refusal of his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn to honour the mandate given by millions of workers and young people to deal decisively with his partys right wing.

In turn, Corbyn and Starmer, as well as Johnson himself, have depended on the trade union bureaucracy to suppress the class struggle.

The Trades Union Congress and its affiliated unions represent a vast apparatus dedicated to this task, staffed by a privileged caste that has presided over close to four decades of virtually uninterrupted betrayals and defeats.

In the year to March 2020, Britains unions had assets close to 2.3 billion. The average pay of the best-paid 29 union leaders was 153,935. Frances OGrady, general secretary of the TUC, received 166,461, Tim Roache, GMB general secretary received 160,000. Mick Cash, of the Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers, with a mere 81,370 members, 159,944. They are all in the top 3 percent of earners.

Strike activity in the UK hovers at historic lows, with generally less than 100 strikes a year, involving less than 40,000 workers. Last year the bureaucracy stopped virtually all strike activity during the pandemic.

It is because the trade unions mount no defence of the working class that the vast bulk of Britains 32 million workers are not in the trade unions, in the land of trade unions.

For example, Britains largest union, Unite, has 1.4 million members. Last year it organised 245 ballots on some form of industrial action, but only 25 ended in either a strike or, more often, action far short of a strike.

And what happens when workers fight back? This year has seen a spate of strikes, forced through against efforts of containment by the unions, by workers facing savage wage cuts and speed-ups, imposed through fire-and-rehire schemes. Many have already been sold out.

In January, British Gas workers in the GMB began strike action that spanned 43 days against a fire and rehire contract. Their determined stand was betrayed. Most were forced to accept the new contract, including a 15 percent pay cut, and hundreds were sacked for refusing.

The pseudo-left groups are loyal only to the union bureaucracy. Even when the GMB recommended signing the new contract, the Socialist Party said that this was done out of concern for the workers, to protect themselves from dismissal! For its part, the Socialist Workers Party insisted this month that workers must still vote for Labour because It retains some withered connections with working class organisations through its links with the trade union leaders.

The stranglehold of the trade unions exacts a cruel price. To give just one example, the wealthiest 100 people in the UK have as much money as the poorest 18 million people, and the UK has the fifth most billionaires in the world. In contrast, poverty now affects a staggering three million children, up by over half a million in the last six years. In 649 neighbourhoods across the country, at least half of children are estimated to be living below the breadline.

This cannot go on. Nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come. Victor Hugo declared that such an idea can conquer all the armies in the world.

The ICFI bases itself on this understanding. But we also understand that ideas must be fought for and given conscious and organised expression. The working class faces a ruling class that wields state power and is thwarted at every turn by a malignant bureaucratic apparatus.

That is why workers need to build a global network of rank-and-file committees and why the best of them, the most far-sighted and courageous, must dedicate themselves to building the world party of socialist revolutionthe ICFI.
The following speech was delivered by Tom Scripps, assistant national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party in Britain, to the 2021 International May Day Online Rally held by the World Socialist Web Site and the International Committee of the Fourth International on May 1.

Once again, the ICFI is forced to observe at its May Day rally that the heroic journalist Julian Assange is being left to rot in a maximum-security prison in London, and to reiterate our demand for his release.

In the past year, the World Socialist Web Site has recorded anniversaries which point to the outstanding character of Assanges journalism and the fundamental political significance of the fight for his freedom.

Tom Scripps

July 25 marked ten years since the publication of the Afghanistan war logs and October 22 ten years since the Iraq war logs, which together provided an unprecedented account of the brutal imperialist invasion and occupation of these countries, including he covered-up murder of thousands of civilians and use of death squads and torture.

November 27 marked a decade since the release of the US diplomatic cables, revealing imperialist conspiracies and coup plots, corruption, and state surveillance.

This April 24 marked ten years since the publication of the Guantanamo files, documenting the torture of prisoners and detention of innocents, including children, for years without trial.

In the intervening decade, it is not the architects of these crimes who have been put on trial and imprisoned, but Assange for exposing them.

A few weeks ago, we passed the two-year anniversary of his seizure from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he had claimed political asylum and been kept under effective arbitrary detention by British police for nearly seven years. He was bundled into a police van, thrown into Belmarsh prison, and subjected to an unbroken chain of abuses of his legal and democratic rights, as the United States sought his extradition for charges totalling 175 years of imprisonment in inhuman conditions.

Two years on, he remains in the hands of his enemies.

A British judge, Vanessa Baraitser, ruled in January that Assange could not be extradited to the United States on mental health grounds, acknowledging that the WikiLeaks founder was at severe risk of suicide.

But this was a politically calculated decision which did not bring Assange so much as a minute of freedom. Except on the point of his health, Baraitser accepted every antidemocratic element of the American governments case, leaving the door wide open for an appeal of her ruling by the prosecution.

Among the first acts of the Biden administration when it came into office was to make clear that the United States would pursue an appeal and continue to seek Assanges extradition, proving that there is not a shred of difference between the Republicans and the Democrats when it comes to their hostility to democratic rights. The same is true of all bourgeois parties, their media echo chambers and their pseudo-left adjuncts the world over.

Assanges extradition hearing in Londons Old Bailey last September was a watershed in the collapse of democracy and the descent of world imperialism into abject criminality. While the crimes exposed by WikiLeaks were recounted by witness after witnesscollateral murder, extraordinary rendition, enhanced interrogation, wars of aggressionAssange sat in the dock charged with espionage, framed as an irresponsible hacker.

This grotesque spectacle was met with barely a murmur in the nominally liberal media who had belatedly registered for-the-record opposition to Assanges extradition to cover for their wholehearted participation in a filthy conspiracy of slander against him over an entire decade.

If there is one positive to the recent cynical uproar over the treatment of the right-wing imperialist stooge Alexei Navalny in Russia, it is that it proves the fraudulent character of these organisations stated support for Assange. One can hardly read an issue of the UKs Guardian or Americas New York Times without coming across a defence of the politically rotten Navalny. And one can hardly remember their last word uttered on Assange.

The pseudo-left, who led the lying and utterly discredited campaign to brand Assange a sexual predator, can even now barely bring themselves to mention his name.

With their near silence on Assange, these forces are providing a vital service to world imperialism in its drive to war and dictatorship. The pandemic has dramatically intensified class and geopolitical tensions. To advance their predatory interests, and in an attempt to deflect growing social unrest outwards, the United States and its allies are carrying out a campaign of escalating aggression against Russia and China.

The ruling class knows that this agenda, which threatens the world with the catastrophe of war between nuclear-armed powers, cannot proceed without an evisceration of democratic rights. Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and their fellow gangsters intend to destroy Assange as a cruel example and authoritarian precedent for those who expose and oppose imperialist crimes.

Assanges ongoing persecution has widened the chasm which separates two opposed perspectives in the fight for his freedom.

The official campaign, represented by the Dont Extradite Assange organisation, has directed its efforts towards recruiting left-talking political charlatans and issuing appeals to the capitalist state and its representativesbeginning with a championing of the spineless former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who in turn placed his hopes in Johnsons right-wing government, and culminating in utterly bankrupt appeals to Presidents Trump and Biden for a pardon.

This is the politics of passivity and defeat, which seeks to substitute political and celebrity endorsements for a struggle to rally the only force which can secure Assanges freedom and safetythe international working class. The fruit of their labours is a ragtag band of minor parliamentarians and political commentators of the sort who speak loudly only when they are sure they will not be heard. They are not a shortcut to the masses, but a block on their mobilisation.

The ICFI rejects these soporific appeals. We turn directly to the working class and seek to organise workers in an international campaign of class struggle in Assanges defence. On the day the ICFI launches a global initiative for the formation of rank-and-file committees to fight the immense class battles that lie ahead, we are more confident than ever that this perspective will see Assange freed.
The collapse of an overpass on Mexico Citys newest metro train line Monday night has left at least 24 dead and 79 injured after train cars and chunks of concrete plummeted onto a street 65 feet below, crushing passing vehicles.

The disaster has fueled growing popular anger over criminal government negligence and corruption that has also led to hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 deaths in Mexico, among the countries worst hit by the pandemic.

(Photo credit: @csdrones on Instagram)

At the site of the collapse, rescue crews and first responders worked frantically to save the lives of the injured and pull survivors from the rubble, the fallen train cars and damaged motor vehicles. Heavy equipment was brought in to lower the train cars hanging from the tracks and recover the bodies of four passengers trapped inside. Helmeted troops armed with automatic weapons surrounded the site.

Distraught relatives raced from hospital to hospital trying to find missing loved ones who were taking the train that night. One youth who found out that his father, a driver, had been killed in the disaster told Univision, Like everyone else I want justice. This was not our fault.

The train disaster took place at around 10:30 p.m. Monday on an elevated section of the number 12 Line of the citys metro system in the southeast of the Mexican capital. The 12 Line, the newest section of the mass transit system, was built in 2012 to connect the eastern part of Mexico City, among its less developed areas, to the city center.

From its start, the project was plagued by cost overruns, late completion, shoddy construction and charges of wholesale political corruption. According to Jorge Gavino, who was the director of the metro system in 2017, the line was born with endemic problems that would never be solved in its life and would require continuous maintenance.

The Mexican media reported that people living in the Los Olivos neighborhood near the collapsed overpass had repeatedly warned last year that cracks were appearing in the bridge and that there was visible shaking of its columns and overhead beams. The structure had been damaged in the powerful 2017 earthquake that struck southeast of the city, killing 369 people.

Transit workers announced Tuesday that they will carry out a strike to shut down all 12 lines of Mexico Citys Collective Transport System (STC) over increasingly dangerous conditions and lack of maintenance and to demand the immediate sacking of the systems director, Florencia Serrania.

Even as bodies were still being pulled from the rubble on Tuesday morning, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador declared, along with his sympathy for the dead and injured, his solidarity with Mexico Citys Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, a member of his ruling MORENA (National Regeneration Movement) party.

Lopez Obrador, popularly known as AMLO, insisted that there would be a swift and thorough investigation of the disaster and that there would be no impunity for anyone. He promised that absolutely nothing will be hidden from the public. At the same time, he warned against falling into the realm of speculation and blaming without having proof of those possibly responsible.

Sheinbaum made similar remarks to reporters, declaring, At this moment, we cant speculate about what happened. There has to be a deep investigation, and whoever is responsible has to be held responsible.

Both AMLO and Sheinbaum have ample political motives for tamping down speculation. The present Mexican president and his political allies have controlled the Mexican capital since the beginning of the 2000s.

It was under the former mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, now Mexicos foreign minister and one of AMLOs closest political allies, that the 12 Line was built. He told the media Tuesday, I am not afraid of anything, and that he would place himself at the disposition of the authorities.

Under Ebrard, the 12 Line became one of the most expensive public infrastructure projects in Mexico Citys history, completed late with a massive 60 percent cost overrun. The main company involved in the construction was CARSO Infraestructura y Construccion, S.A.B. de C.V (CCICSA), a company controlled by the family of the countrys richest billionaire, Carlos Slim, one of the honest businessmen whom AMLO invited to join in his unity campaign to reform Mexico when he was first elected in 2018.

Within 10 days of the lines opening in 2012, it was shut down because of electrical problems. Construction failures forced the shutdown of most of the 12 Line for months in 2014 as repair work was done on stations, including the one where Monday nights tragedy took place. A subsequent study found that the train wheels used on the line, manufactured according to European standards, were not compatible with the rails that had been installed, which were based on American standards.

In 2015, a commission created by the federal Chamber of Deputies recorded 11,000 construction flaws on the train line and concluded that the project had involved massive corruption.

The tragic deaths on the Mexico City metro system came in the midst of continuing mass deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, the number of recorded coronavirus infections stood at 2,350,000, while the number of deaths had risen to 217,345. In March, the Mexican Health Department acknowledged that the official toll involved an undercount off 60 percent, meaning that the real death toll was closer to 350,000.

A damning report issued last month by the University of California, San Francisco found that the AMLO governments policiesincluding its failure to allocate resources to combat the pandemic, grossly inadequate testing and a lack of any support for basic measures such as social distancing, travel restrictions and the use of face maskshad led to the mass deaths. It cited, for example, the repeated statements from Assistant Health Secretary Hugo Lopez Gatell, the governments spokesperson on the pandemic, that face masks did not offer protection against catching the virus.

The AMLO government, the study found, prioritized keeping up appearances, and partisan politics, before health.

These policies have been driven by definite class interests. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been sacrificed to assure the massive fortunes and profits of both Mexican and international capitalism. The policies pursued by the supposed left nationalist government of AMLO in Mexico are barely distinguishable from those carried out by the fascist would-be dictator, President Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil.

The only effective shutdowns in the country were those enforced by Mexican workers, who carried out wildcat strikes in April and May of last year which were met by thousands of layoffs at the largely foreign-owned factories on the US-Mexican border.

At the behest of Washington, AMLO agreed to declare all manufacturing essential in order to assure the supply of parts to US auto and other manufacturing corporations, while relying on the companies and the unions to cover up outbreaks in the Mexican factories.

The right-wing PAN (National Action Party) issued a statement Tuesday indicting AMLOs Morena party for Mondays deaths. The Morena politicians kill with their corruption and their bad decisions; we already saw it with their terrible handling of the pandemic, and now we are seeing it with the tragedy in the Metro, where innocent people died because of the corruption and indifference of the authorities in Mexico City.

While all of this is true, it comes from a party that initiated the US-backed war on drugs that has killed at least 70,000 Mexicans. The pandemic, like the Metro disaster, has exposed the criminality of the entire Mexican bourgeoisie, including its so-called left representatives like AMLO, and the necessity of mobilizing the working class independently in the struggle for the socialist transformation of society.
Three people are dead and another seriously injured after a workplace shooting this past Saturday at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, which is attached to the Oneida Casino just outside the city of Green Bay.

Former food and beverage manager, Bruce K. Pofahl, 62, shot and killed former co-workers Ian J. Simpson, 32, and Jacob T. Bartel, 35, before seriously injuring another former co-worker, 28-year-old Danny Mulligan, in a targeted attack that began Saturday evening inside the Duck Creek Kitchen + Bar, which is located inside the Oneida Casino. According to authorities, Pofahl was looking to target his former manager who was not working at the time.

The Oneida Casino lights glow in the parking lot in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 2nd, 2021, near Green Bay, Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

There were roughly 50 people inside the restaurant, with several hundred spread out throughout the Oneida Casino Complex at the time of the shooting. Witnesses described seeing Pofahl walk into the restaurant and approach the waiters station where he confronted Simpson and Bartel, whom he shot and killed at close range with a 9mm handgun. After leaving the restaurant, Pofahl was confronted by Mulligan, who he shot in the face.

Mulligan is in stable condition and recovering after being flown to Milwaukee to have emergency surgery, which required having his jaw wired shut. Testifying to the growing social crisis in the US, a GoFundMe account, set up by Mulligans family to help pay for medical expenses, notes that his older sister, Sarah, died in 2017 after battling an opioid addiction.

After Pofahl shot Mulligan, three Green Bay police officers confronted the gunman in the parking lot and shot him. Witnesses reported hearing anywhere between 20 and 50 gunshots.

During a Monday press conference, Brown County Sheriff Todd Delain claimed that Pofahls actions were deliberate and that the whole incident transpired in about 10 minutes or less. Delain said that Pofahl had intended to shoot his female manager, whom he had previous disputes with and was apparently harassing outside of work. Delain said that Pofahl had been prohibited from the property following his termination earlier this year.

Newspaper archives reviewed by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel show that Pofahl had worked in the restaurant industry most of his adult life, including at previous hotels and restaurants in Detroit, Michigan, Naples, Florida and Asheville, North Carolina.

Delain said 75 police officers responded to the incident and that the three officers who shot and killed Pofahl would be placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. Despite the incident ending before 8 p.m. Saturday night, multiple roads leading to the complex were closed for hours as family members tried to ascertain the whereabouts and safety of their loved ones.

As was the case in the massacre at the Indianapolis FedEx Ground facility last month that left eight people dead, police had contact with the shooter prior to his rampage.

On Monday, the Journal Sentinel confirmed that Pofahl was under an active restraining order after he had repeatedly threatened his former boss at the restaurant. According to court records, Brown County Court Commissioner Phoebe Mix had granted a temporary restraining order against Pofahl on March 9 based on threatening text messages and emails Pofahl had sent her over several weeks, which included pictures of her home and threats against her family, per the Journal Sentinel.

The threatening messages allegedly included comments such as times up. Pofahl continued to send messages even after police had been contacted multiple times. Pofahls former manager told the Journal Sentinel that he had been fired for a few things, including harassment.

ABC2 reported that by March of this year, Pofahl had been cited for harassment and was also found guilty by the Green Bay Municipal Court of Unlawful Use of Computerized Communication System. Pofhal was officially served with a temporary restraining order on March 17.

However, six days later, despite Pofahls antisocial and threatening behavior, the courts did not deem it necessary for him to relinquish his firearms. Pofahl refused to appear for the restraining order hearing on March 23, citing in a letter to the court coronavirus risks, including the fact that he was in a vulnerable population having high blood pressure and diabetes and that he did not think the court could provide a safe, healthy environment.

While Court Commissioner Paul Burke granted Pofahls former manager a permanent restraining order against Pofahl, Burke did not find clear and conveying evidence that the respondent may use a firearm to cause physical harm to another or to endanger public safety.

Whatever the immediate circumstances that led to Saturdays mass shooting, the loss of employment and/or income coupled with the ongoing spread of the coronavirus has seriously impacted the health and social well-being of billions of people around the world.

In a recent study by the National Centre for Social Research conducted in the United Kingdom, 42 percent of those who reported losing income described their mental health as poor this past January, a 13 percentage point increase from before the pandemic.

Speaking to the Guardian, Neil Smith, head of analysis at the National Centre for Social Research, said: The pandemic took people who had been for decades living on a comfortable income into a totally different world overnight. The shock of that sudden drop towards the poverty line was enormous.

In a brief statement issued the evening of the shooting, Democratic Governor Tony Evers offered his thoughts and support to all those affected by this tragedy. Demonstrating the complete inability of the capitalist ruling class and their political representatives to offer any actual solution to the growing problem of gun violence, Evers released virtually the same terse statement on March 17 after two workers at the Oconomowoc Roundys Distribution facility west of Milwaukee were shot and killed by a coworker.

Unable and unwilling to seize the ill-gotten wealth of the capitalist exploiters and put society's resources toward the betterment of all instead of the enrichment of a privileged few, Democratic and Republican politicians are forced to rehash the same tired phrases in the face of now tragically routine outbursts of violence.

Cuts to social services, such as mental health resources and unemployment benefits have been coupled with ballooning police budgets and the transfer of millions of dollars in military equipment to departments around the country. The over $115 billion spent by local and state governments on policing last year has not lessened the frequency and lethality of mass shootings in the US but has contributed to over 1,000 people killed by the police every year for the last seven years.

While there are varying definitions as to what constitutes a mass shooting, the crowd-sourced Mass Shooting Tracker defines any event in which four or more people were injured or killed, including the shooter, as a mass shooting. As of this writing, Mass Shooting Tracker has recorded 211 shootings in the US this year, while last year they recorded a staggering 696 events, or roughly two a day.

Using a more conservative definition of mass shooting, by the end of April 2021, Wikipedia had logged 178 events in the US, with 52 instances in April leading to 64 deaths and 208 wounded. By this same juncture last year, Wikipedia had recorded 108 mass shootings leading to 129 deaths and 409 wounded.

The Gun Violence Archive has recorded 180 mass shootings in the US. The Archive uses a similar standard for determining a mass shooting as the Tracker, but does not include the shooter in their tally.

In another grim milestone, on Tuesday, Wisconsin passed 600,000 coronavirus cases since the first case was confirmed in Madison on February 5, 2020. According to WBAY 2, the state has averaged roughly 1,322 cases and 15 deaths every day for the last 15 months. Despite another 721 people testing positive for the virus in the state on Tuesday, the officials at the Oneida casino announced their doors would reopen on Thursday for business after closing in response to the shooting.

Following a brief two-month shut-down last year, the casino reopened at the end of May, calling back 300 employees before ramping up to the roughly 1,200 who are employed when the casino is fully operational.
Papua New Guineas (PNG) Prime Minister, James Marape, adjourned parliament for four months on April 21, avoiding a vote of no confidence that could have removed him from office.

Marape cannot now be formally removed before the next election. Under the rules, parliament cannot move a vote of no confidence in a sitting PM for 12 months before an election is scheduled, in this case in July 2022.

Medical staff of Papua New Guineas Defense Force receiving COVID-19 training last year (Credit: World Health Organization/PNG)

The government justified the adjournment until August 10 following the release of figures indicating a quarter of parliamentary staff and one MP, 42 out of 167 people, had tested positive for COVID-19. As many as seven MPs tested positive earlier this year.

Marape said he was unwilling to sacrifice the health of our elected leaders and their families by keeping parliament open. Asked whether a four-month adjournment was necessary given the incubation period for the virus was two weeks, Marape said the end of the incubation period would not stop the spread of the virus.

PNG is grappling with an escalating health disaster. The Pacific nation, with a population of nearly 9 million has, as of May 3, recorded 11,206 COVID-19 cases and 115 known deaths. Due to low testing rates, the true numbers are likely to be far higher.

Over 4,000 cases are in the capital Port Moresby, with over half the workforce at the countrys main hospital having tested positive. The health system is near collapse nationwide with hospital beds fully occupied and oxygen, gloves, antibiotics and other supplies running out.

One health official in the Western Highlands told Radio New Zealand this week: We really dont have any real grasp on [the virus] Numbers are surging daily. The number of positive cases coming in has gone far beyond our surveillance.

Marapes purported concern for his parliamentary colleagues does not extend to the broader population. On March 21, following a six-day surge that brought the total to over 4,000 cases, the government implemented a limited month-long isolation strategy. Restrictions were placed on travel, public gatherings and schools, but businesses, including markets and shops remained open, as did government departments. The measures inevitably failed to stem the outbreak, with cases exploding by over 6,000, including more than 40 deaths, during the four-week period.

The adjournment of parliament came after the opposition parties tabled a no-confidence motion and named former Prime Minister Peter ONeill as their candidate. ONeill declared the adjournment to be wrong and in breach [of requirements regarding] minimum sitting days so we will see them in court.

These maneuvers are part of a deepening political crisis. Last November, dozens of government MPs, including cabinet ministers, defected to the opposition, taking control of parliament and suspending the budget sitting. Marape passed the 2021 budget in an emergency session with the opposition absenta move the Supreme Court subsequently ruled unconstitutional.

After weeks of political turmoil during which the opposition tried to initiate a motion of no confidence, the prime ministers majority was restored when a group of the defectors, including National Alliance party leader Patrick Pruaitch, returned to the governments ranks. Following a court ruling that parliament resume sitting, and with Marape clinging to office, the government passed the budget before promptly adjourning parliament.

When parliament finally returned on April 20, opposition leader Belden Namah moved a fresh no-confidence motion. Declaring the future hangs in the balance, he said the country was gripped by the pandemic and the economy was in negative growth. He also cited the governments handling of the closure of the Porgera goldmine, alleged misuse of international funds meant to aid PNGs COVID response, and the countrys high debt-to-GDP ratio. Also pointing to the economic crisis, ONeill said the country could be called a failed state.

Before the pandemic hit, including under ONeill from 2011-2019, the economy was already reeling from a collapse in earnings from the major resources industries. A series of severe budget shortfalls resulted in government debt rising to nearly 40 percent of GDP. Last year Marape reportedly sought a $US2 billion bailout from international institutions, including the IMF and the Asian Development Bank.

ONeill remains deeply unpopular. In 2016, police opened fire and killed four students at a protest demanding that he step down and face fraud charges. Opposition intensified following the 2017 election narrowly won by ONeill. Police and military units were dispatched to the Highlands region to crack down on violence stemming from the election, which was widely regarded as illegitimate. ONeill finally resigned in 2019 to be replaced by Marape. He currently faces charges of misappropriation, abuse of office and corruption from his term as prime minister.

The current cynical maneuvering by parliamentarians highlights the vast gulf that separates the poverty-stricken masses from the countrys venal political elite. Marape has resorted to nationalist demagogy, proclaiming he would take back PNG, and falsely pledging regime shifts in the resources industry, dominated by foreign corporations, to bring more wealth to the people.

The PNG working class and rural poor, who are among the worlds most impoverished, remain acutely exposed to the deadly dangers of the COVID pandemic. Already, average life expectancy is just 65 years. Diseases including polio, malaria, and HIV-AIDS ravage the country, contributing to an annual death toll of more than one in every 13 children.

The response of the imperialist powers, including the former colonial power Australia, has been a mixture of indifference and self-interest. Geo-strategic considerations to push back against Chinese influence have been at the forefront.

PNGs vaccine rollout began very slowly three weeks ago, with a vastly inadequate batch of 8,000 AstraZeneca doses from Australia. Last week, 132,000 vaccines from India, sent through the COVAX facility, arrived in Port Moresby, with small emergency medical teams from Australia, Germany and the US. With the pandemic reaching catastrophic proportions in India and now gripping nearby Fiji, none of this matches what is required to bring the raging epidemic under control.

As the WSWS has noted, vaccines have not been distributed globally based upon need nor in the pursuit of equity, but rather according to economic hierarchy. COVAX, purportedly established to provide vaccine access to low-income countries, has supplied only 40 million doses to the poorest nations and is far short of its goal of delivering two billion doses.

The WHOs director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recently cited PNGs struggle with the pandemic as an example of the importance of vaccine equity. He pointed out that one in four persons in high-income countries has received a vaccine, whereas in low-income countries, only 1 in 500 had so far received it.
Five months after the United States first granted emergency use authorization to the first COVID-19 vaccine, the vaccination drive throughout the developing world is a disaster.

Wealthy countries have received more than 87 percent of COVID-19 vaccines distributed worldwide, while the low-income former colonial countries have received less than 1 percent, according to the World Health Organization.

A health worker prepares to administer Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine inside the Makati Coliseum, in Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

In Africa, less than 1 percent of the population has received even a single dose of the vaccine. In India, the epicenter of the global pandemic, where crematoria are running nonstop, and people are dying in the streets, less than 10 percent of the population has received a single dose.

Despite the global vaccination disaster, the vaccine rollout has been a bonanza for US drug maker Pfizer, which announced Tuesday it had beat its revenue forecast by 73 percent.

By pricing the vaccine approximately 20 percent above the cost to develop and produce it, the company logged nearly a billion dollars in profits from the vaccine in the first quarter alone. Pfizer expects to sell $26 billion worth of vaccines this year, bringing in about $5 billion in profit.

Pfizers stock price has surged nearly 50 percent since last year, while its German partner BioNTech went from a startup to a multibillion-dollar company in just months, generating billions of dollars in earnings for wealthy shareholders.

The stock price of Pfizers competitor Moderna has more than quadrupled over the past 12 months, and its CEO Stephane Bancel is now worth nearly $5 billion.

The vast enrichment of these private corporations and their shareholders is made possible through massive investments by governments, particularly that of the United States, which spent over $10 billion helping to develop the vaccines monetized by Pfizer and Moderna.

The mRNA vaccines developed by these two companies are based on a key discovery of the National Institute of Healths (NIH) Vaccine Research Center, which holds the patent for how the viruss spike protein is stabilized in the vaccine.

While several companies have licensed the NIHs patent, Moderna makes use of the NIH discovery without paying any royalties.

In other words, without the NIHs patent, there would be no Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Yet the US government has declined to use what scientists have called a vast amount of leverage over vaccine makers to ensure an equitable global distribution.

For NIH to not have ensured global access is a dereliction of their duty to protect the public health of the United States, James Krellenstein, executive director and co-founder of PrEP4All, told the Washington Post .

Commenting on how Rich Countries Signed Away a Chance to Vaccinate the World, the New York Times wrote: By partnering with drug companies, Western leaders bought their way to the front of the line. But they also ignored years of warningsand explicit calls from the World Health Organizationto include contract language that would have guaranteed doses for poor countries or encouraged companies to share their knowledge and the patents they control.

The World Health Organization has called on governments to waive vaccine patents, allowing all global pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity to be used to put an end to the pandemic. As WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote:

Of the 225 million vaccine doses that have been administered so far, the vast majority have been in a handful of rich and vaccine producing countries, while most low- and middle-income countries watch and wait. A me-first approach might serve short-term political interests, but it is self-defeating.

Waiving patent rights would allow any manufacturer in the world to make cheap, generic copies of existing vaccines, which are desperately needed throughout the world.

But this move has so far been blocked by the United States, Britain and the European Union.

The US media has waged a hysterical campaign against attacks on the intellectual property rights of the drug makers. On Monday the Washington Post published an editorial entitled, A patent-free peoples vaccine is not the best way to help poor countries, opposing any inroads on the profit prerogatives of the pharmaceutical giants.

Making vaccines more freely and equally available by stripping away their intellectual property now could discourage future innovation.

The Post obviously takes its readers for fools. The innovations monetized by these companies were made by public laboratories and public researchers. The only thing private about them is the profits and the rights to manufacture and distribute the vaccines. According to the Post, the US must maintain absolute control over the production and distribution of a medically necessary vaccine against a global pandemic, which has now killed more than 3.2 million people worldwide.

The Biden administration has thus far refused to take any measures to waive patents for COVID-19 vaccines. Anthony Fauci, the presidents chief medical advisor, said in an interview Monday that he respect[s] the needs of the companies to protect their interests to keep them in business.

This is an absurdity. What is called intellectual property is just a euphemism for endangering the lives of the worlds population for the enrichment of the capitalist oligarchy. Millions of lives are in danger! All of societys resources must be mobilized to save as many lives as possible. The profits of the oligarchs be damned!

On March 13, 2020, the World Socialist Web Site published a perspective entitled, Capitalism is at war with society. Nothing demonstrates this reality so much as the enrichment of the pharmaceutical giants as the masses of India gasp for air.

The total indifference to the majority of the worlds population by the capitalist governments is a microcosm of the capitalist social order, which subordinates the needs of society to the enrichment of the financial oligarchy and the predatory interests of imperialism. This is why the fight to contain the COVID-19 pandemic is inseparable from the fight to put an end to the capitalist social order and replace it with socialism.
The enormous backlog of untreated elective patients in the UK is a product of the murderous herd immunity policy of the ruling elite.

A scientifically coordinated response to the pandemic with test, trace and quarantining along with proper lockdown of non-essential parts of the economy could have not only avoided the massive death toll from Covid-19 but also the unprecedented waiting list for elective procedures, investigations, treatment and care.

With cancer sufferers and patients with other critical ailments languishing in queues running up to months and years, suffering and death, especially among the working class and the poor, will swell the already shocking tally of the pandemic.

In England alone, 4.7 million people were waiting for routine operations and procedures in February according to the National Health Service England latest figures. This is the highest number since records began.

Ambulance worker, critical care practitioner and a nurse taking a patient into a National Health Service hospital cardiac catheter lab (credit: WSWS media)

Some 388,000 patients have waited more than a year to have their investigations, procedures treatment and care started. This means one in 12 patients have had treatment delayed for more than a year. Before the pandemic began, just 1,600 people had waited more than 52-weeks for non-urgent surgery. According to the NHS constitution, patients are entitled to have their procedures started within 18 weeks after a referral from a general practitioner (GP) or a clinician.

Many NHS hospital trusts are buckling under the pressure of budget deficits created by years of underfunding, staff burn out, lack of resources and inadequate staffing levels.

A source in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) told the WSWS that the waiting list of their NHS trust for elective procedures has gone up constantly since March last year. Currently 48,000 patients are in the waiting list with a staggering 5,247 patients having waited more than a year. In January 2020, only 786 patients had waited more than 40 weeks for their treatment or investigations after a referral.

The fate of cancer patients is catastrophic. Last year saw an 8 percent decrease in referrals for urgent cancer treatment. Roughly 40,000 fewer people nationally started treatment for cancer in 2020 compared with previous years, mainly due to lack of diagnoses. Cancer screening and routine diagnostic investigations suffered as a result of national Covid-19 pandemic measures implemented belatedly and without proper preparation. For example, around 600,000 fewer endoscopies were performed in England between March and November than the same period in other years.

According to a modelling study published in The Lancet medical journal there will be more than 3,000 additional deaths from four major cancer types (breast, colorectal, oesophageal and lung) over the next five years in England alone.

The studys authors warned, Substantial increases in the number of avoidable cancer deaths in England are to be expected as a result of diagnostic delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Urgent policy interventions are necessary, particularly the need to manage the backlog within routine diagnostic services to mitigate the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with cancer.

The NHS had to attempt to deal with over 400,000 Covid-19 patients over the course of the last year because Tory government policies were aimed at satiating the profit interests of the financial oligarchy rather than containing the virus and saving lives. Largely thanks to 10 years of unrelenting funding cuts and slashing of vital services, NHS hospitals were struggling without adequate staff, resources and beds. Many hospitals became hotbeds for the spread of the virus due to the dilapidated status they were in.

Tens of thousands of health staff became ill with Covid-19 because of a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and appropriate infection control measures during the first and second wave of the pandemic. Many more had to isolate themselves as family members became ill with the virus. Staff working in operating theatres and out patients clinics were redeployed to cover overrun Covid wards and units. Operation theatres in many hospitals had to be utilised to accommodate intensive care patients being ventilated as demand exceeded the normal capacity of intensive care units.

Delays and failures in patient testing exacerbated the waiting list crisis as it contributed to wasting much needed space on operating lists. This happened despite government having allocated 37 billion to run a test and trace system operated mainly by 22 private companies. It was exposed in the BBC documentary Hospital series that a major hospital in London, the Royal Free Hospitalwhich carries out dozens of surgical operationshad the capacity for only 13 rapid-response tests a day until November last year. Thereafter that figure rose to a still meagre 40 a day.

In the RBH, clinicians had the capacity to carry out a totally insufficient 35 rapid tests a day on patientsobstructing the elective procedures such as pacemaker implants, angiograms and other surgical interventions.

The richest and affluent with access to private insurance can have the best care and treatment as private hospitals and clinics have mushroomed across the country. Many NHS hospital trusts have built up their own private clinics, creating a two-tier system, after the Tory led government of David Cameron introduced the Health and Social Care Act in 2012 to accelerate the privatisation process.

For private health care hospitals, companies and clinics, the pandemic has provided an opportunity to plunder as the government is ready to pour billions of pounds to buy private care for patients while starving the NHS of critical funds. The government has spent 1.5 billion renting space in various private hospitals in London so that NHS surgeons can carry out surgeries in hospitals considered COVID-safe during the first wave of the pandemic. Despite being provided with an estimated 125 million a week by the government, these private hospitals had only a third of their capacity used while the NHS hospitals were on the brink of collapse. Colin Hutchinson, a consultant ophthalmologist in the NHS and anti-privatisation activist said last summer, Private health facilities have been very, very quiet over recent months. They have been paid to stand empty, by and large.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed that his government would "make sure that we give the NHS all the funding that it needs... to beat the backlog". But in March, documents accompanying the budget revealed a planned cut of 30 billion in day-to-day health and social care spending from April this year. Spending will fall from 199.2 billion to 169.1 billion. A pledge of 1 billion by NHS England to restore the operations and other services in NHS trusts is a fraud in this context even if it materialises.

***

Martin, 44, has been suffering from a cancer for more than 14 years. A close friend of his, Garry, wrote to the WSWS explaining Martins years long struggle with testicular cancer.

Fourteen years ago, Martin had one of his testicles removed because of a cancer. He had to have chemotherapy and thought that the ordeal was over. Unfortunately, he recently developed similar symptoms to what he had with his testicular cancer last time. He managed to have an ultrasound scan during the pandemic in a hospital in the south west. The scans picked up some suspicious markers and the surgeon diagnosed that he had cancer in the remaining testicle. They told Martin that it looked to have spread.

Last month surgical team removed my friends remaining testicle and sent it for biopsy test. He did not have any follow up care since. He is still having a weeping infection in the genital area and the wound has not healed at all. He had to beg and fight for antibiotics. He was left waiting for more than a month for any updates.

Honestly, I am so very angry as I watched my friend go through hell for the past month. It is cruel that they had not contacted him. My friend was talking about how to end his life if the news was bad.

I myself had a cancer and have struggled to arrange my follow-up care and investigations over the last year. So, I have a good idea of how frightened you are when it happens. Once you have had investigation biopsies, scans you dont rest until you have the results.

Finally, Martin rang a nurse and she explained that he has to undergo the same process again with chemotherapy and medication. According to the records the prognosis looks good and my friend is relieved. If Martin hadn't rang the nurse, when would they have contacted him? I fear for what is happening with the NHS.

For further information visit NHS FightBack
India is submerged in a horrific surge of COVID-19, believed to be driven by a double-mutant strain of the coronavirus. Like the Brazilian and South African variants, this variant appears to reduce vaccine effectiveness and natural immunity acquired from previous infections. India is now the country recording the most cases of COVID-19 in the world, nearly 400,000 per day. Over 220,000 people have died of the virus in India.

Vaibhavi, a youth from Delhi who has been unemployed and is now living with family in nearby Gurgaon since returning to India last year after graduating from college abroad, spoke to the WSWS on the catastrophe unfolding in India.

Relatives bury the body of a COVID-19 victim at a graveyard in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, May 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Ishant Chauhan)

She said, I have never been surrounded by such a huge loss of human life.  It seems COVID and death are everywhere. Every family I know either has or has had COVID in the past few weeks. On my old street in Delhi, every single house has a COVID infection.

She added, Last week, my cousin in Kanpur died. He was only 34. Two of my high school friends parents have died in the last two days.  A very close friend messaged me and our other friends two days ago, desperately searching for oxygen because her granddad is very sick in a home ICU. Yesterday, I had to find an oxygen concentrator for my aunt. I was able to find one on Twitter, but its cost my family 85,000 rupees ($1,150).

Conditions are horrific in hospitals, many of which have no free beds, Vaibhavi said: Doctors who havent slept for days have patients dying due to the lack of basic resources. One video shows doctors and family members desperately trying to resuscitate patients, only for them to die. Theres even been violence when people cant find the care their family members need. Many hospitals have just begun locking their gates, leaving people stuck outside with their relatives dying in their arms.

She added, All the crematoriums in Delhi are overfilled. Many crematoriums are overflowing into the street or using car parks to burn bodies. There are even makeshift funeral pyres to burn multiple bodies at once. One crematorium with a capacity of 20 bodies had 93 bodies come two days ago. Families are forced to dump their relatives outside crematoriums with no funeral rites or any dignity. Many crematoriums report burning an increased number of childrens bodies, as well.

Official statistics massively underestimate coronavirus infections and deaths, Vaibhavi noted: Deaths are only counted as COVID-related if there is a test or a doctors report from a hospital. Most who die at home arent tested. People see all the images of people choking to death in hospital entrances, so they dont even try to take their relatives there. There are also no tests in Delhi at the moment. Many labs have closed completely due to the entire staff being infected with the virus.

In terms of saving lives, the biggest issue right now is oxygen, she said. There are hundreds of posts on hashtags like #SOSLucknow and #SOSDelhi on Twitter with people desperately searching for oxygen, plasma or Remdesivir.  Lots of these posts are made for people in their 30s and 40s, as well. There are even posts from hospital officials and doctors saying that if they dont get more oxygen in a few hours, whole wards are going to die.

Vaibhavi insisted that a scientific lockdown policy can stop the virus: Australia, or even China, whose population and demography is more similar to India, show that the virus could have been stopped here. Since the end of the chaotic first lockdown, however, the Modi government insists that the economy must be saved, [arguing] that while lives will be lost to COVID, just as many will be lost due to the lockdown. While this was always false, its just absurd now.

Vaibhavi blamed the deaths and hardship during Indias first lockdown last March on the ruling establishment, including Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She said, During the first lockdown, which was implemented overnight, many people died from starvation and suicides, [due to] a total lack of economic support. This is not only the fault of the BJP central government, which still refuses to implement any lockdown, but also state governments, including those run by other political parties.

This year, the Indian population was aware of the sudden surge due to a variant in Britain in winter, but was nonetheless caught by surprise by the surge in India in spring.

Vaibhavi explained, India never really got close to zero cases, so it was clear a surge was possible. But the speed of the current surge has just been devastating. Even in the first week of April, schools, restaurants, nightclubs and offices were all open. Modi even declared a great victory over the virus and the triumph of the Indian response earlier in the year. Then almost overnight, the number of people falling ill and dying just exploded. The level of panic and fear among people I know is like the first days of the pandemic.

She added that the oxygen shortage should also have been avoidable, as it was even an issue before the pandemic. In rural areas, people regularly die from snake bites due to a lack of oxygen for treatment. Spurred on to make greater promises by the pandemic, the government said it would build 160 oxygen centres, after the first wave. So far, they have only opened 33.

Vaibhavi also pointed to how Indias grotesque social inequality means workers and rural toilers are largely denied care. There are free clinics and government hospitals for the poor, but these were already overwhelmed before the pandemic, she noted, adding: Even though Delhi and other states are technically in lockdown at the moment, there is no support for workers or poor farmers, so the majority are still forced to go to work.

Among the affluent and the wealthy, who have a far better chance of obtaining treatment, the pandemic is fuelling speculation and massive self-enrichment.

Vaibhavi said, There is a black market for every imaginable COVID resource. The only way you get medicine is through connections, and even with them, its unbelievably expensive. Empty oxygen cylinders are going for 18,000 rupees ($250). These cost 150-200 rupees before the surge. The cost for a hospital bed entry (excluding cost of treatment) is 1,000,000 rupees ($13,300) right now. At such prices, 95 percent of people in Delhi have no access whatsoever to them.

Its really disgusting, as the situation gets worse the profiteering increases, she added, noting: Serum Institute of India is currently charging Indian hospitals the highest price in the world for the AstraZeneca vaccine, even in the middle of this deadly surge! Its CEO, Adar Poonawalla, is rolling in money. Adar and his father Cyrus are worth $13.8 billion, up 85 percent through the pandemic. The company just got another $400 million government grant.

Noting one epidemiologists prediction that the number of active cases in India would hit 3.5 million by May, Vaibhavi said: The government has no intention of stopping the spread of the virus, theres no centralized plan in place.  The recent censorship of 50 Twitter posts criticizing the governments handling of the pandemic shows they intend to let the virus spread and then just silence any criticism.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a pair of executive orders Monday that immediately suspended all the states remaining COVID-19 emergency measures and other local public health restrictions aimed at limiting the virus. The executive order is meant to bridge the gap until a new law giving him the power to overturn local emergency measures, which he also signed on Monday, comes into effect on July 1.

The fact is, we are no longer in a state of emergency, DeSantis declared during Mondays news conference, adding that the blanket removal of restrictions during a pandemic, which is still killing more than 700 Americans every day, was the evidence-based thing to do.

Citing one element of the evidence that drove the order, DeSantis asserted that vaccinated individuals should not be asked to continue to wear masks as it would supposedly undermine public confidence in coronavirus vaccines. In overriding all local restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, the governor sought to portray officials and health experts who advocate for such restrictions as those who promoted policing people and dont believe in the vaccines, the data, or the science.

The new measures place the most draconian requirements on any potential emergency orders which local governments sought to implement. Before the governors order, local public health emergencies could have been extended indefinitely and reversed by county and city officials. But under the new legislation, such orders could only exist in seven-day increments for a total of 42 days, and the governor would also have the authority to overrule any order passed on a county-by-county basis, thereby handcuffing major cities that are suffering major outbreaks to the dictates of the states executive.

DeSantiss executive order also allows for counties and private entities to be handed hefty penalties for imposing their own health and safety measures. Businesses, schools and local governments can be fined up to $5,000 for requiring proof of vaccinations from customers and patrons for each incident where it occurs. Although institutions are granted the authority to institute COVID-19 screening protocols to detect possible cases, such as temperature checks and questionnaires, these policies are far from adequate in detecting infections and preventing local transmission of the virus.

The governor and the states Republican leadership have cited the nations decline in COVID-19 infections and deaths from the winter peak as the justification for overturning local restrictions. It comes on the heels of President Joe Bidens announcements last week that his administration was relaxing all federal public health guidance on wearing masks outdoors, a change that has encouraged state officials nationwide to propose and adopt their own abandonment of essential public health protocols.

The claims by Florida officials that the deadly virus has been all but defeated in the state and that trends in cases and deaths are trending significantly downward were contradicted just a day after the governors announcement, which saw cases jump to 3,682 on Tuesday from Mondays 3,075. Florida has seen more than 2.25 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 35,400 deaths, marking it the third most hard-hit state by total number behind California and Texas. The weekly coronavirus case average stands at 4,595 per day as of May 4, while average daily deaths stands at 62.

According to the latest data from the Florida Department of Health (DOH), the states positivity rate has risen significantly over the past week. The positivity rates for new and old COVID-19 tests were 7.00 percent on Thursday, rising all the way up to 8.72 percent on Sunday, before declining slightly to 8.09 percent on Monday. Weekly hospitalizations for COVID-19 also spiked last week after rising three of the past four weeks. The DOH reported there were 1,366 hospitalizations from April 24 to May 1, up from 1,244 the week prior.

By declaring all local safety protocols pertaining to mask wearing and COVID-19 vaccinations null and void and only permissible through the governors approval, Floridas top state officials are embarking on a policy which threatens to spur on a new wave of the pandemic under conditions in which just 31 percent of the states population has been fully vaccinated.

From the beginning, DeSantiss pandemic policy has been bound up with the ruling elites homicidal herd immunity strategy, which entails placing as few impediments as possible on profit making and allowing the virus to spread, regardless of the consequences. Moreover, dismissing and discrediting public health guidelines is central to the capitalist classs and both corporate-controlled parties agenda of normalizing the unchecked spread of the virus throughout the population and numbing popular sentiment to continued deaths.

Early last summer, the governor issued a mandate approving phase two of his reopening plan and opened up bars, tattoo parlors and restaurants, as well as two of the states largest theme parks, SeaWorld and Universal Orlando. These policies were put into effect even as cases began to rise by the thousands. In the face of the staggering growth of infections and deaths, DeSantis obstinately refused any reversal and maintained that because an increasing number of younger people were getting sick, the spread of the virus was largely harmless.

A recent report from state health officials, disclosed to the Orlando Sentinel on Monday, points to the increasing danger of new COVID-19 variants. According to health experts, over 10,000 cases of COVID-19 variants of concern have been reported in the state, more than double the total just two weeks earlier. The officials highlight further that this is an indication that the spread of the virus accelerating, not diminishing.

The most common variant was B.1.1.7, which was logged at 9,050 cases statewide. The strain is estimated to be 60 percent more infectious than the original dominant strain of COVID-19, while also leading to more severe illness and higher hospitalization rates. A recent estimate placed the strain as 67 percent more lethal.

Democrats and other local officials who scorned DeSantis for issuing his unilateral order, mostly expressed contempt over being blindsided by the order and given no notice. Democratic Mayor of Orange County Jerry Demings released a statement criticizing DeSantis for being slow to act in responding to the pandemic and causing local elected officials (mayors) to take action to fill the void and keep their residents safe. Demings accused DeSantis and the entire national Republican Party of usurping the authority of Democrat-led cities. He declared that his county will not wait on the governor to tell me what to do.

Such claims by Democratic officials are essentially worthless as President Biden has reiterated his rejection of lockdowns and the closure of nonessential businesses and public schools, setting the tone for the rest of the nation. In Florida, every county, whether headed by a Democrat or Republican, has either already moved forward or issued plans for fully reopening major industries and in-person classrooms.

People wait in line for an exhibit at the NFL Experience, Feb. 4, 2021, in Tampa, Florida [Credit: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel]

In Democratic-controlled Miami-Dade and Broward counties, public schools are slated to have students return to classrooms for the fall with 100 percent in-person face-to-face instruction, according to an announcement made by Broward Superintendent Robert Runcie in mid-April. Even more outrageous is that neither county has elected not to make blended or hybrid, remote learning an option for students and parents. Both counties have been the two worst COVID-19 hotspots in the state, with Miami-Dade having around 487,000 infections and above 6,200 deaths and Broward racking up over 233,000 cases and more than 2,900 fatalities.

In the case of Democrat-led Orange County, the region facilitated DeSantiss reopening plans by opening major theme parks and resorts already in summer last year. In Orlando, the largest city in the county, the Democratic mayor signed off on plans to reopen Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom in July. This decision proved to be extremely reckless as Orange County witnessed one of the largest surges in cases during the second wave at the end of 2020.
Former President of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, as Germanys secret service is called, Hans-Georg Maassen will run for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the upcoming federal elections. He was selected at the end of April by the four CDU district associations of Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Hildburghausen, Sonneberg and Suhl in Thuringia as a direct candidate for the Bundestag (federal parliament) with 37 out of 43 votes cast.

Hans-Georg Maaen in the Bundestag (German Parliament) on Oct. 5, 2017 (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

The selection of Maassen, which CDU chancellor candidate Armin Laschet defended at a press conference on Monday, shows the extent to which the ruling class in Germany is once again relying on fascist forces 75 years after the fall of Hitlers Third Reich. Maassen, more than anyone else, is the face of the far-right conspiracy inside the state apparatus, whose political representation in parliament takes the form of the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

In his role as head of the domestic intelligence service between 2012 and 2018, Maassen played a key role in covering up and strengthening far-right terrorist networks in the police, military and intelligence agencies, and advancing the agenda of the extreme right.

As president of the Verfassungsschutz (BfV) at the time, Maassen was responsible for the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) being included in the agencys 2017 annual report as a left-wing extremist party and object of surveillance. This was because, as the report states, the SGP stands for a democratic, egalitarian and socialist society. The report, which the federal government still adheres to today, bears the signature of the AfD and criminalises any left-wing criticism of capitalism and the right-wing policies of all the establishment parties as left-wing extremist and anti-constitutional.

When a far-right mob marched through Chemnitz in August 2018, hunting down foreigners, immigrants and Jews, Maassen described reports about this as fiction. He called videos documenting the violence disinformation and misinformation, to applause from AfD honorary leader Alexander Gauland. When the grand coalition federal government of the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats (SPD) then felt compelled to make Maassen retire early due to massive popular opposition, he ranted in the style of the extreme right about a conspiracy of radical left-wing forces.

Since then, Maassen has openly acted as a far-right politician. He incites anti-refugee sentiments, trivialises and justifies right-wing extremist terrorist attacks and promotes the building of a fascist movement in right-wing magazines like the Swiss Weltwoche. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Maassen positioned himself as one of the countrys leading coronavirus deniers. He declared on Twitter that the novel virus was comparable in danger to a flu virus and called for an immediate end to all protective measures in the interests of business and the corporations.

Representatives of the SPD, Left Party and Greens reacted to Maassens candidacy with feigned indignation. Mr Maassens nomination is certainly a bad day for the CDU, but unfortunately also for all of us, said Olaf Scholz, the SPD chancellor candidate and current finance minister. The CDU had difficulties with people who move away from what we need for cohesion in Germany, he added.

Maassen has always held extreme right-wing positions and owes his career in the state apparatus in particular to the social democrats. His rise in the Interior Ministry coincides with the term of Otto Schily (SPD), who headed the department from 1998 to 2005. During this time, Maassen prevented the return of Murat Kurnaz, a native of Bremen, to Germany and ensured that he languished in the notorious US Guantanamo Bay prison camp for five years while innocent.

He held his post as head of the BfV largely under the aegis of the grand coalition. During his watch, the investigation into the series of immigrants murdered by the neo-Nazi National Socialist Underground (NSU) was torpedoed, and right-wing extremist structures within the state apparatus were strengthened. In the process, he established close ties with Scholz. When Scholz ran for SPD chair in 2019, Maassen demonstratively backed him. On Twitter, he described Scholz as a good man whom he had first met at the Visa-UA [Visa Investigative Committee], declaring, Olaf Scholz enjoys my trust!

The Greens criticism is no less mendacious. They call Maassen a door opener to the extreme right (Federal Executive Director Michael Kellner), but at the same time hold on to possibly forming the next federal government with his party.

Any parliamentary group can put up with one right-wing CDU MP and a handful more, said Green Party Co-Chair Robert Habeck cynically. He clearly also had in mind the right-wing extremist door openers in his own party, such as the mayor of Tubingen, Boris Palmer. In the past, Palmer had repeatedly outed himself as a staunch supporter of Maassen. Among other things, he defended Maassens denial of right-wing extremist violence in Chemnitz with the sentence: Who do I believe more now, antifascist insects or the president of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution?

Most repulsive, however, is the hypocrisy of the Left Party. Maassens candidacy was a red line, declared Susanne Hennig-Wellsow, party chair together with Janine Wissler since the end of February. The firewall to the right is gone. Adding that Maassen is Hocke in a three-piece suit, referring to Bjorn Hocke, leader of the now-disbanded ultra-right Der Flugel (Wing) inside the AfD. In southern Thuringia, she said, there will now be a race on the right. The fact is, the Left Party is not only involved in this race but is actively driving it forward.

In Thuringia, where Maassen is now a candidate, the Left Party state prime minister Bodo Ramelow cooperates with the fascists in the state parliament committees and hoists them into important offices. Last February, Ramelow helped AfD deputy Michael Kaufmann to the vice presidency in the Thuringia state parliament with his own vote.

The Left Partys support for the extreme right in Thuringia is no exception; there is an entire wing around former parliamentary group leader Sahra Wagenknecht that openly spreads nationalism, rails against immigrants, and demands an immediate end to all protective measures in the pandemic.

This course is supported by the vast majority of the Left Party and the party leadership. Wagenknecht will always play a prominent role in this party, Hennig-Wellsow and Wissler declared at their first joint press conference. Last month, Wagenknecht was then elected by a large majority as the Left Party lead candidate in Germanys most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia, even though she had just published her book Die Selbstgerechten (The Self-Righteous), which was hailed by the AfD.

The Left Party has also long since made its real position clear concerning Maassen and the BfV. As recently as March 2013, it had invited Maassen to a public meeting and practised direct solidarity with the domestic intelligence service. Wherever it is in government at state level, it supports increasing the powers of the police and intelligence apparatus, which is permeated by right-wing extremist structures. Its current criticism also serves to cover its own tracks.

Maassens candidacy for the CDU must be understood as a warning. Faced with the deepest crisis of capitalism since the 1930s, the ruling class is closing ranks based on an extreme-right programme.

In the federal election, the SGP is the only party to oppose the pandemic policies of stepping up state powers at home and militarism abroad, social inequality and profits before lives, and to arm the growing opposition to them with a socialist programme. Read and distribute our election statement, help place our party on the ballot and become a member .
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A famous Egyptian choreographer once said, "Dance is the mathematics of the soul." That's exactly how one Terre Haute teacher thinks.

Imagine learning your math lesson through dance steps.

That's one of many reasons why Sarah Scott Middle School's Andrea Lugar is a 2021 Golden Apple award winner.

If you walk into Lugar's 7th-grade math classroom, you will see students dancing. She has transformed her room into a coordinate plane, with the students representing the points on a graph.

This is Lugar's 18th year as a teacher and her fifth at Sarah Scott. Her unique math curriculum is a big hit.

"I love when I can get them up and moving around, and I love when, ya know, we play Jenga for math problems or we break out the Nerf blasters and answer math questions with them. Just seeing that math doesn't have to be so boring. They're so much more willing to work for me, and with me, because they see I'm willing to work for them and with them," Lugar told us.

Lugar works hard to help math come alive for these teenagers. She works just as hard building relationships with her kids and building confidence.

"They can't start believing in themselves until they find that faith and belief in me. They need to know that I see them and hear them and value them and believe in them before they can start seeing that in themselves," Lugar told us.

"Sarah Scott is a hidden jewel, I think in the Vigo County School Corporation. Every one of our teachers puts forth effort every day to see our students and to reach them," Principal Scotia Brown said.

Lugar told us she learns just as much from the students as they do from her, and it's the little moments that keep her going. She says winning a Golden Apple is one of the biggest moments in her career.

"I have literally dreamt of this award, and I still sorta have to pinch myself and realize that is really my name on that thing," Lugar said.

Her husband won a Golden Apple in Vigo County 10 years ago, and she says she's always dreamt of the time they could take a picture together holding their Golden Apples.
TERRE HAUTE, IND. (WTHI) - Three years ago today, Terre Haute Police lost one of its own in the line of duty. Three years later, family and friends are continuing to honor the life of fallen officer, Rob Pitts

"We are here today to remember Rob and to show support for his family and for the officers that worked with him," Sheriff John Plasse, Rob Pitts' friend and colleague, said. "[We will] never forget his sacrifice. [We want] to show that he meant something to this community. He gave his life for this community, and we can never forget that."

On May 4, 2018, Officer Pitts was investigating a homicide with other officers in Terre Haute. The suspect then shot at police, killing Pitts.

He had been an officer for more than twenty years. He served the Terre Haute community for 16 of those years. Today, dozens of people gathered at Center Ridge Cemetery in Sullivan, Indiana, to celebrate his life.

"I think Rob would be proud that everyone is coming out for him," Gregg Pitts, Rob's brother, said.

Family, friends, former colleagues, and policemen, and women came together to share their favorite memories. The afternoon was full of tears, hugs, and laughter too. Ultimately, celebrating someone that meant so much to so many people.

"I think people strive to be like him," Plasse said. "I think that is his legacy, for people to want to be like you, and I want to be like Rob. That is the ultimate compliment you can have. He is a great guy, and we really miss him."

Family members say they are so grateful for the support from the community. They are continuing to honor his legacy by giving back to students. The Rob Pitts Scholarship Fund will help future students interested in law enforcement and criminal justice get their start in their careers.
MARSHALL, Ill. (WTHI) - One small-town young man is on his way to the Space Force. Aaron Sisson is a teenager from Marshall, Illinois

He's set to graduate high school soon and then he'll be blasting off to unknown missions.

Sisson joined the Air force last July. Shortly after, he got a call to join the United States Space Force.

"And then I was waiting around for a job. Staff Sergeant Herman called me like hey would you want to do this, and so I was just like yeah that sounds great. On June 8 I will leave for Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio Texas. I'll go through basic training down there and then after that, I'll be in schooling in California for my job," says Sisson.

His recruiter says it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Honestly Aaron was the only one qualified to do the job," says SSgt. Joshua Herman.

Sisson's rank will be Specialist E-1. He will be working with space systems operations among other things.

"I'll be doing like rocket launches control and satellites transmitting data from here to there," Sisson said.

SSgt. Herman says this is such a good thing for the town of Marshall.

"I think Aaron getting this job from a small town it, helps really spread the information like hey the Air Force - they're recruiting and potentially helping us recruit people that wouldn't hear about it if it weren't for him," says SSgt. Herman.

Sisson has advice for anyone who wants to go the same route.

"Explore your opportunities and just have the courage to say yes because like I didn't know much about the space force or what it was like but I said yes now here I am and ready to go."
ILLINOIS (WTHI) - This week is national travel and tourism week.

Illinois South Tourism is an organization that promotes tourist destinations and events in Southern Illinois. Last year during this time they were encouraging people to remember the spirit of tourism while staying home.

The hope was that after travel restrictions were lifted, people would hit the road and visit their favorite tourist destination.

Officials believe that people can now travel safely and hope that they explore some new destinations they haven't seen before.

"Our goal is to get as many people and eyeballs to the tourist destinations and events that are happening in our area," said Andy Waterman, the Communications Director for Illinois South Tourism.

The Illinois South Tourism website has visitor guides that outline many tourist destinations in Southern Illinois. To visit their website, click here.
VIGO/CLARK COUNTY (WTHI) - We are learning more about a Monday night police chase that left an attempted murder suspect dead.

Illinois State Police says they learned about a chase heading their direction on Interstate 70 from Vigo County.

Police say 32-year-old Brandon Shockley, of Indianapolis, was the person police were chasing. Shockley was wanted for attempted homicide - and was reportedly armed.

Police use stop sticks near the Indiana/Illinois state line. That caused Shockley to get a flat tire, and him ultimately leaving the road into a ditch around mile marker 153 in Clark County.

Illinois State Police reports officers from Indiana gave verbal commands to Shockley. That is when the police report a gunshot was fired from inside his car.

Illinois State Police says a Vigo County deputy and a West Terre Haute police officer fired their weapons at Shockley's car.

When police got to his car, they found him dead in the driver's seat with a gun.

On Tuesday, an autopsy ruled Shockley's cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Officials say he was not hit by any of the shots officers fired.

Illinois State Police says the investigation is ongoing.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Three years ago a group named 'Team Storm' came up with an idea to keep our streets clean and to help protect the environment. You may have already noticed their project on the sidewalks around Terre Haute.

'Team Storm' is a group of kids in Terre Haute that wants to help make a difference for their community. And their work is finally able to be put into use.

In December of 2017, 'Team Storm' gave a presentation to the Waste Water Treatment Plant in Terre Haute. Thats where they started the Storm Water Community Watch program. 'Team Storm' was only a group of four kids ranging from 9 to 14 years old. But these kids were ready to get to work.

Alicia Barnard is the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems Coordinator for the City of Terre Haute. She helped be a mentor to the kids.

They approached me. Just out of the blue. She says. I told them about our stormwater program, they did some investigations, and they developed these QR codes as a solution to our problems.

'Team Storm' was challenged to come up with an innovative solution to a real-world problem related to water and how it impacts the environment. Barnard knew these kids meant business so she made sure their voice was heard. Barnard was able to get the team a grant from the Indiana American Water Company to purchase QR codes. And over 2,000 storm drain markers with QR codes have already been installed throughout Terre Haute.

Trevor Langley who is a member of 'Team Storm', says, We learned that one of the biggest problems was that any water entering a storm drain on the streets, we didnt realize this but that doesnt get treated at all before entering our local waterways such as the Wabash River.

Their solution was to place QR codes close to storm drains so citizens can report problems. These problems can range from debris blockage and even dangerous chemicals being dumped into the drains. Previously citizens would have to call into the treatment plant to report those issues.

But now, all you have to do is scan the QR code with your smartphone and a link to a website will pop up. Follow that link and click Report an Issue. Then you will be able to upload the picture and tag the location where the problem is occurring.

Claire Langley, another member of 'Team Storm' says seeing their work actually being used in practice is very exciting. Driving around and just seeing those on the streets, thats just really cool that we came up with that and now its actually a real thing on the street.

To visit the Storm Water Watch website to report a problem, go to stormwaterwatch.com.
Tupelo Cloudy 74 Hi: 80 Lo: 70 Feels Like: 74 More Weather Columbus Mostly Cloudy 84 Hi: 85 Lo: 73 Feels Like: 94 More Weather Oxford Mostly Cloudy 72 Hi: 80 Lo: 67 Feels Like: 72 More Weather Starkville Cloudy 79 Hi: 81 Lo: 71 Feels Like: 82 More Weather

More areas of low pressure moving through our area on our Wednesday. This will mean more chances for some rain and thunderstorms. Some of the rainfall could be on the heavy side and some of the thunderstorms on the strong side at times.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms possible. High 77F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
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Charleston, WV (25311)

Today

Cloudy with showers. High 76F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Civilian Police Review and Advisory Board one step closer to becoming reality in Morgantown, West Virginia; city council passes first reading of resolution with unanimous vote
Clarksburg, WV (26301)

Today

Overcast with rain showers at times. High 78F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Chance of an isolated thunderstorm early, then variable clouds overnight with more showers at times. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Annie Humphrey helps Aiden, 6, as the class practices social distancing by sitting in desks more than 6 feet apart from each other at Afflerbach Elementary School on Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. Principal Matt Schlagel said the classes like to take time outside to learn lately, as it allows them to be more than 6 feet apart from each other and take a break from wearing their masks. Rhianna Gelhart/For the Wyoming Tribune Eagle
At a glance

In a news release Tuesday morning, Wyoming State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow decried a federal proposal to "incorporate racially, ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse perspectives into teaching and learning, as "an alarming move toward federal overreach into district curriculum (that) should be rebuked across party lines."

James Peebles, founder of Cheyennes chapter of Sankofa African Heritage Awareness Inc., said he was "disheartened" to learn Balow  who has previously expressed support for teaching more Black history in schools  "prefers neglecting the fulfillment of our childrens education just to satisfy her political and racial biases.
Police blotter is a list of recent arrests compiled from public records in Laramie County. All people listed here are innocent until proven guilty. Anyone listed who has a charge dismissed or is acquitted of the charge may bring or mail a court document proving such to the WTE editor, 702 W. Lincolnway, Cheyenne, WY 82001.
Weather Alert

...HIGH WIND WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Southwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...Southwest and south central WY, including along the HWY 30/I-80 Corridor from Kemmerer to Wamsutter and the Green River Basin. * WHEN...From Thursday afternoon through Thursday evening. * IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates on this situation. Fasten loose objects or shelter objects in a safe location prior to the onset of winds. &&
May 4BELLAIRE  A Wisconsin man who dropped his extradition appeal has been arraigned on one count of providing material support for a terrorist act as part of the accused plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Brian Paul Higgins, 52, of Wisconsin Dells was arraigned Tuesday in front of Magistrate Norene Kastys after being booked into Antrim County's jail late Monday, officials said.

Higgins stood mute to the count, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, though asked through his attorney Mike Naughton for the charge to be read into the record.

"Mr. Higgins has no criminal history, this is the first time he's ever been arraigned," Naughton said, arguing a request for bond, which was later granted.

"This is a very serous offense we're talking about here," said Assistant Attorney General Gregory Townsend. "It's not only the issue of whether he'll appear at the hearing."

Townsend said prosecutors contend Higgins provided one of the vehicles, a dash cam and a night vision scope used to surveil the governor's vacation home.

Higgins had been seeking to invalidate extradition paperwork because it had been signed by Whitmer, records show.

Higgins is one of 14 men charged with a variety of felonies in state and federal courts, from conspiracy and supporting terrorism, to weapons charges, following an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Michigan State Police.

Prosecutors previously said the group had surveilled Whitmer's vacation home in Elk Rapids, later hatching a plan to kidnap the governor after creating a diversion by detonating a bomb beneath a nearby bridge.

Once abducted, the plan involved taking Whitmer to Wisconsin for a "mock trial" over what the men told undercover agents and confidential informants were unconstitutional abuses of power, according to investigators.

The men, some of whom prosecutors said were aligned with the Wolverine Watchmen militia and the Michigan Liberty Militia, were reportedly upset by the governor's executive orders signed during the pandemic, records show.

Story continues

Details of the plot were made public during an October press conference after a 15-page affidavit by FBI Special Agent Richard J. Trask II was filed in U.S. District court.

The prosecution of four men previously charged in Antrim County as part of the same investigation  Michael Null, William Null, Eric Molitor and Shawn Fix  has been repeatedly delayed, either because of precautions related to COVID-19 or because their attorneys said they needed more time to prepare, as previously reported.

Each face counts of providing material support for a terrorist act and a felony firearms charge, court records show.

A protective order signed by 86th District Court Chief Judge Michael S. Stepka precludes defense attorneys, or Attorney General Dana Nessel  whose staff is prosecuting the case  from speaking publicly about it.

Email, letters, text messages, photos or audio and video recordings not already publicly available are also under seal unless their release is authorized by the court, the order  signed by the judge Oct. 23  states.

In April, Stepka denied a request by the Null brothers to drop GPS tracking from their pre-trial bond conditions.

Stepka said one purpose of the tether was to assure the Nulls were having no contact with militia groups, and he specifically named the Wolverine Watchmen and the Michigan Liberty Militia.

Higgins will also be fitted with a GPS tether as a condition of bond, set at 10 percent of $100,000. He is also barred from having contact with Whitmer, any of her family members, any co-defendant or members of any militia group.

Higgins was cleared to return to Wisconsin, but must appear in Michigan for an in-person preliminary exam, which has yet to be scheduled, Kastys said.

"It is my understanding that the preliminary exams are on hold waiting for the court to open up under the COVID rules so an in-person exam can be held," she said. "You must return to the State of Michigan at that time."
(AFP via Getty Images)

The Long March 5B rocket, which carried a Chinese space station module, has dropped into low Earth orbit and now risks crashing back down.

The rocket successfully launched the Tianhe module last week, which will become the living quarters of the future Chinese Space Station (CSS). Unfortunately, the 30-metre long rocket also reached orbit, and is now one of the largest ever launches to make an uncontrolled re-entry.

It is uncommon for rockets to reach the velocity necessary to reach orbit, but it is currently travelling around the world once every 90 minutes, or seven kilometres every second. It passes by just north of New York, Madrid, and Beijing, and as far south as Chile and New Zealand.

There are fears that the rocket could land on an inhabited area; the last time a Long March rocket was launched in May 2020, debris was reported falling on villages in the Ivory Coast. The speed of the rocket means scientists still do not yet know when it will fall, but it is likely to do so before 10 May 2021.

Read more:

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Lynk, the knowledge-as-a-service platform, announced today it has entered into a strategic alliance with UBS to help the investment process of their institutional clients around the world. The collaboration means the banking giants research analysts and institutional clients, including hedge funds, private equity firms and sovereign wealth funds, will have access to Lynks database of 840,000 experts around the world.

Founded in 2015, Lynk has raised a total of $30 million in funding, including a $24 million round announced in January that was led by Brewer Lane Ventures and MassMutual Ventures, with participation from the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund. The startup has offices in New York, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mumbai, Shanghai and Toronto, and serves about 200 enterprise clients, including Fortune 500 corporations, investment firms and government agencies.

UBS's global research analysts now have access to Lynks database of experts, while UBS Global Markets will introduce the startups solutions to its institutional clients.

Lynks technology uses machine learning algorithms to match clients with experts in its database. Lynks experts cover a wide range of industries and sectors and include C-suite executives, independent consultants, lawyers, engineers, financial analysts and scientists. The platform also has collaboration tools, so teams can automatically transcribe question-and-answer sessions, search transcripts and share notes.

Our platform capabilities, the scope and depth of our network and our customer service thats paired with technology is really quite synergistic with how UBS is looking at their business, Lynk co-founder and chief executive officer Peggy Choi told TechCrunch. They have demonstrated a very strong innovation track record in the equity research space, so this is a great extension to their suite of offerings.

Story continues

During the pandemic, Lynks clients in the investment sector have used it to perform research and due diligence on potential investments remotely, which Choi expects to continue even after travel picks up again.

Relying on on-the-ground experts, working with them to verify assumptions and develop convictions before making an investment is a must, said Choi. Were really seeing a structural change and that is also what UBS is hearing from its customers.

In a press statement, UBS Global Head of Research Dan Dowd said, We are proud of our innovation track record and are highly focused on helping investors get to the crux of key investment debates as rapidly as possible. Showcasing Lynks technology and expertise has the potential to substantially accelerate the investment processes of our clients.
Las Vegas, where casinos were allowed to operate at 80 percent capacity on May 1 and might be at 100 percent capacity on June 1, is preparing for one of the wildest summers ever. Chefs and restaurateurs around the city are anticipating a huge amount of pent-up energy from tourists and locals as COVID-19 restrictions lift.

"We're trying to brace ourselves," said Jason Rocheleau, who's opening Brezza and Bar Zazu with acclaimed chef Nicole Brisson at the new $4.3 billion Resorts World casino that's set to debut June 24. "People are not going to go overseas as much this year. They're going to travel shorter distances. We've got all of Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and California, in driving distance. People are ready to come out for sure."

One Steakhouse

Peter Harasty

Resorts World, on the north end of the Strip, will be the biggest casino opening in Vegas since The Cosmopolitan was unveiled in December 2010. And people are already clamoring to eat at Brezza and Bar Zazu.

"Jason and I will be sitting in meetings, and he'll be getting texts for reservations," Brisson said. "And I don't even have a kitchen yet."

Rocheleau, who adds that convention business has started picking up and that he's already booked three buyouts for later this year, has seen demand surge at restaurants all over the city.

"You go downtown on a Sunday afternoon and it's packed," he said.

In the Arts District, not far from downtown, chef Bruce Kalman is working to open Soulbelly BBQ in May. In addition to Central Texas-style barbecue and his riffs on other regional American barbecue, Kalman plans to have live music five nights a week at his new restaurant.

Soulbelly BBQ

Bronson Loftin

"I've always wanted to have a place that's fun," Kalman said. "And right now, I think people are going to need fun. I think people are going to need excitement."

There should be no shortage of excitement in Las Vegas this summer.

Story continues

At Brezza, Brisson will serve coastal Italian food. Expect lots of handmade pastas and premium seafood. Brezza will also have "modern takes on classics'' that are inspired by Brisson's mentors, including legendary butcher Dario Cecchini. Plus, Brisson will play around with Italian-American dishes like stuffed artichokes. Bar Zazu, inspired by tapas bars, should be a lively spot where guests can enjoy sherry, mezcal, and wine tastings while sharing cheese, charcuterie, and Mediterranean small plates. Bar Zazu will also be a chill daytime spot for coffee and sweet and savory pastries.

Other Resorts World's dining options will include Viva!, a modern Mexican restaurant from respected L.A. chef Ray Garcia. Genting Palace will serve Cantonese dishes and dim sum at the casino. Wally's Wine & Spirits, a Beverly Hills institution, will open a Resorts World location with a restaurant, wine bar, and market.

Famous Foods Street Eats at Resorts World will be a food hall inspired by Asian hawker stands. There will be Singapore street-stall standouts including Geylang Claypot Rice and Hainanese-chicken specialist Boon Tong Kee. Hong Kong's Ah Chun Shandong Dumpling should also be popular at the food hall.

"Western stalls'' at Famous Food Street Eats will include an outpost of Houston's Blood Bros. BBQ from Robin and Terry Wong and pitmaster Quy Hoang, who are known for blending Texas barbecue and Asian flavors. Marcus Samuelsson's Streetbird, Steve and Kevin Aoki's Kuru Kuru Pa Yakitori, and Mozz Bar by James Trees will also be part of the food hall. This is a big year for Trees, who opened off-Strip sensation Al Solito Posto at Tivoli Village in January.

Beyond Resorts World, other new casinos have already made a big splash in Vegas this year. Downtown's Circa resort is where guests can place bets at a three-story sportsbook and party at the gargantuan Stadium Swim pool amphitheater before eating oversized deli sandwiches at Saginaw's, surf-and-turf at the Barry's Downtown Prime steakhouse, or lobster fried rice at pan-Asian destination 8 East. The off-Strip Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, on the site of what was formerly the Hard Rock casino, has high-profile restaurants including Michael and David Morton's One Steakhouse and an outpost of L.A. chef Kris Yenbamroong's celebrated Night + Market.

Brisson believes that Vegas is in the middle of a dining renaissance. After running the kitchens at Carnevino and Eataly on the Strip, she opened the off-Strip Locale before joining Resorts World. She points out that other prominent Vegas chefs like Trees have also gone from casinos to off-Strip restaurants and back again. She's happy to be in a city where tourists go out of their way to eat off-Strip while locals become regulars at glamorous casino restaurants.

Brisson wants to have industry nights and collaboration dinners with other chefs at her Resorts World restaurants. This makes sense. The new off-Strip Vegas Test Kitchen is bringing in crowds with pop-ups and eclectic programming. Vegas has plenty of room for culinary experimentation.

"Vegas has changed immensely," Brisson said. "We're seeing great restaurants off the Strip, and that's great for the local community. I'm excited about bringing that excitement that's off the Strip on the Strip. We're realizing that we all have to work together as a community. We're one big food chain."

At Soulbelly, Kalman likes that he has a big patio space in between two microbreweries. He's carved out a section for his offset smokers, and he's ready for Soulbelly to give the Arts District even more of an outdoor-party vibe.

"We're expecting a line here for sure," said Kalman, who's had popular barbecue pop-ups during the pandemic. "You'll walk in the front gate and walk around the smokehouse and into the restaurant. The first thing you'll see will be our meat-and-three line and a big old yellow cooler full of ice and beer. And you'll order right there."

Kalman, who previously cooked at L.A. restaurants including Union, has spent much of his career making Italian food. The urge to do barbecue came to him after he catered a party for the Foo Fighters and befriended Dave Grohl, who happens to be a smoked-meat aficionado.

"To me, there's a lot of crossover between Italian food and barbecue," Kalman said. "It's all very soulful cooking."

This will be an easy thing to verify this summer. Soulbelly is a couple blocks away from Esther's Kitchen, where Kalman's friend Trees serves some of the best pastas in Las Vegas.
British supermarkets have threatened to boycott Brazilian products if the country passes a law which threatens the Amazon rainforest (Marizilda Cruppe/WWF/PA)

British supermarkets have once again threatened to boycott Brazilian products if the country passes a law which threatens the Amazon rainforest.

Tesco, Aldi, Marks & Spencer, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Co-op, Waitrose and Iceland are among the major retailers to have raised concerns over a new effort by Brazil to legalise the private occupation of public land, mostly in the Amazon.

Asda, Morrisons and Greggs have also signed an open letter warning against the proposed law, along with other retailers, producers, investors and industry bodies.

It is feared Brazils plans, which were first attempted a year ago but was withdrawn after more than 40 major organisations made the same threat over supply chain sourcing, will drive deforestation.

Conservationists have previously warned it will legitimise previous illegal land grabs and pave the way for more forests to be burned and cleared for agriculture such as beef and soy, which is used as an animal feed for livestock.

It will make it harder to meet international targets to tackle climate change, as forests are huge carbon stores, and undermine the rights of indigenous communities in the region.

In the open letter to Brazilian politicians, the businesses said the new law being put forward for a vote posed "potentially even greater threats to the Amazon than before".

The companies warned that in the past year they had seen circumstances "result in extremely high levels of forest fires and deforestation in Brazil" and that the targets and budgets to reduce the problem were inadequate.

Existing protections and land designations enshrined in Brazilian law help companies have trust that their products and investments are aligned with the commitments they have as environmentally and socially responsible businesses, they wrote.

Charred tree trunks are seen on a tract of Amazon jungle burned by loggers and farmers in Porto Velho, Brazil, August 2019Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters

The companies say they want to help develop sustainable land management and agriculture in Brazil, and support economic development while upholding indigenous community rights, without putting at risk progress in protecting vital natural systems that are essential for the world.

Story continues

"However, if this or other measures that undermine these existing protections become law, we will have no choice but to reconsider our support and use of the Brazilian agricultural commodity supply chain," the letter warned.

Cathryn Higgs, head of food policy at the Co-op, said: "The Amazon faces a new threat with legislation that undermines the credibility of environmental protections.

"Its rainforest is essential to planetary health and it's imperative the proposed legislation isn't given any airtime by the Brazilian government.

"We are joining forces with environmentally and socially responsible organisations to oppose the measures being put forward. If these new laws are brought in, we will have no choice but to reconsider our support and use of the Brazilian agricultural commodity supply chain."

Mike Barrett, executive director of science and conservation at WWF-UK, added: "We cannot fight the climate crisis without the Amazon, yet its future hangs in the balance as deforestation pushes it closer to the point of collapse.

"If passed, this vote in the Brazilian Congress will fuel further destruction and place greater risk on the lives of the people and wildlife who call it home.

"As global efforts to protect the Amazon threaten to be undermined, it's encouraging to see major businesses sounding the alarm."

Additional reporting by PA

Read More

UK supermarkets have threatened to boycott Brazil over deforestation  that shows how crucial the Amazon could be to avoid future pandemics

UK supermarkets are selling beef from firm linked to illegal destruction of Amazon rainforest

Oatly accused of selling its soul: why people are boycotting the vegan milk brand

Supermarkets misled customers over chicken cruelty and shut down social media objections
Microsoft initiative and The Vanished

The Vanished launched on yakimaherald.com in early 2019 as a place to collect Tammy Ayers reporting on missing and murdered Indigenous people. The site serves as a resource center for those whove lost family and friends and includes the most comprehensive Central Washington list of missing and murdered women we could assemble.

To make The Vanished more effective and give it greater reach, were rebuilding it as a standalone website and expanding our coverage beyond the Yakima Valley. We plan to build a Pacific Northwest case directory, begin a podcast and create a library of short videos documenting those who have been lost.

Reach Tammy Ayer at tayer@yakimaherald.com, message her on Facebook or call 509-759-7898.
New website The Yakima Herald-Republic's website for missing and murdered Indigenous people has been updated and is re-launching today. Go to http://thevanished.org for archived stories by Tammy Ayer, resources and cases connected to this area.

WSP Missing Indigenous Persons The Washington State Patrol has a Missing Indigenous Persons section within its Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit. On the first weekday of every month, State Patrol publishes an updated list of active missing Indigenous person cases. See the May list here. To get in touch with the Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit of State Patrol, email mupu@wsp.wa.gov or call 1-800-543-5678. To contact the WSP tribal liaisons:  Reach Dawn Pullin (Eastern Washington) at 360-890-0150 or Dawn.Pullin@wsp.wa.gov.  Reach Patti Gosch (Western Washington) at 360-280-0567 or Patti.Gosch@wsp.wa.gov.
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National Week of Action event schedule

 Thursday

National Briefing  Addressing the National Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: Advocacy in Action, 1 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time, hosted by NIWRC | Register

Webcast  Verizon Thought Leadership Panel  Not Invisible: Taking Action on the Crisis of MMIWG, 3:30 p.m. MDT | Register

 Friday

Webinar  Using International Law to Respond to the MMIW Crisis, 1 p.m. MDT, hosted by the Indian Law Resource Center | Register

 Monday

Webinar  Na Hanauna Ho'ola (Healing Generations), 8 a.m. HST (12 p.m. MDT), hosted by the Pouhana O Na Wahine (Pillars of Women) | Register

 Tuesday

WebinarSpotlight Alaska and the Crisis of MMIWG, 11 a.m. AKT (1 p.m. MDT), hosted by the Alaska Native Womens Resource Center | Register

 Wednesday

#MMIWGActionNow Twitter Storm, 1010:30 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time

#MMIWGActionNow Twitter Chat, noon to 1 p.m. MDT | View question script

WebinarMissing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls National Day of Action, Uplifting the Voices of MMIW Survivor Families, 1 p.m. MDT, hosted by NIWRC | Register

Running for Justice: Remembering Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Virtual 5k, 10k & Half Marathon, hosted by Rising Hearts (May 5-9) | Register
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Coronavirus Coverage

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Greensboro, NC (27407)

Today

Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 88F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Today

Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High 101F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 72F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.

Tomorrow

Partly cloudy. High 98F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
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YORK  A group recently assembled in Yorks Foster Park to celebrate Arbor Day and commemorate the holiday that promotes the importance of trees.

The event, orchestrated by York Parks and Recreation, included the attendance of the fourth grade class from St. Joseph Catholic School.

Michaela Stuhr from the parks and recreation department said the weather was beautiful, and we had a great morning planting a tree in Foster Park. Each of the students wrote a poem ahead of time and then took turns sharing their poems at the park. They also took an Arbor Day pop quiz and we so excited to help plant a tree.

Assisting with the planting of the tree was Todd Faller from Fallers Landscape.

Fallers were so generous in donating the tree, which was to help replace one that we lost in the ice/wind storms this past winter, Stuhr said.

Also attending the event in Foster Park were members of the citys tree board, as well as Mayor Barry Redfern and York City Administrator Sue Crawford.

The citys parks and recreation department has been hosting an Arbor Day celebration for many, many years.

It is a holiday that celebrates the planting, upkeep and preservation of trees.
YORK  James E. Williams, 47, of York, who was given probation in a case involving his trying to sell a stolen gun in a York convenience center will now be re-sentenced because he violated the terms of his probation.

This case began early last year, as an officer with the York Police Department was investigating a case of a felon being in possession of a firearm. He was told by a clerk at a York convenience center that a man had come into the store in the early morning hours and was trying to sell her a gun which he had wrapped in clothes and described as a 22 caliber.

The officer located the man and he identified himself as Williams.

In court documents, it says Williams was found to be a convicted felon.

Williams told the officer the gun was owned by his friend and he never had it in his possession, but he admitted to trying to sell it to the clerk at the convenience store.

The friend told police the gun was given to her by her father. The officer said the gun was located in the basement of the residence where Williams had been staying. The gun was found to be a 12 gauge shotgun.
Whereas, the members of the York County Board of Commissioners took an oath to support and defend the United States and Nebraska Constitutions.

Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the York County Board of Commissioners hereby declare that we support the rights and liberties of all York County citizens guaranteed by the United States and Nebraska Constitutions.

Be it further resolved, that this board affirms its support for the duly elected sheriff of York County, Nebraska, and his continuing efforts to uphold the United States and Nebraska Constitutions.

Commissioner Obermier said everyone who had contacted him in regard to this resolution was in favor of its passage.

And there were some who thought we werent taking it far enough, Obermier said, noting that this board and all elected officials take an oath of office in which they promise to support and defend the constitutions of the United States and of Nebraska  and at the end of the oath, they also promise to not join in any efforts or movements to overthrow the government and its laws.

This is the resolution we are presenting this morning, which mirrors another that was passed by a county in western Nebraska, Obermier told the crowd.
New Delhi: Expressing hesitancy over the timeline, the principals of Delhi government schools have written to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and said that it would be difficult to submit the result sheets to the board by June 5.

This comes two days after CBSE announced guidelines for the revised assessment scheme for class 10 students. In a report by the Hindustan Times, the principals said it is impossible to select five teachers and two external examiners by May 5 while ensuring there is no overlap of teachers in the committees of two nearby schools.

All heads of schools are of the opinion that nothing should be started in May. Many schools have been converted into vaccination centres and Covid care centres in Delhi. There is a 100% risk of getting infected if principals and teachers are asked to step outside of homes. It is not possible to form a committee by May 5, HT quoted Sukhbir Singh Yadav, president of Vice- and Principals Association of Delhi, as saying.

Yadav has reportedly urged in his letter to the CBSE chairperson to defer implementation of the May 1 notification till the COVID-19 pandemic situation is controlled.

Schools have been directed to submit marks to the CBSE by June 5 while the results are slated to be out on June 20.

On May 1, CBSE had announced a policy for the tabulation of marks for cancelled Class 10 board exams based on the internal assessment conducted by schools.

In a statement, the CBSE had informed the marks of Class 10 students will be tabulated this year on basis of the internal assessment done by schools. The board also said that the CBSE Class 10 exam results 2021 will be announced tentatively by the third week of June.

Live TV
Panaji: Journalists working in Goa will be designated as frontline workers and will be vaccinated against COVID-19 soon, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Wednesday.

"We have decided to vaccinate journalists and we will complete the procedure as fast as possible," Sawant also said.

The decision by the Goa government follows a go-ahead by other states like West Bengal and Karnataka (among others) to vaccinate journalists against Covid-19.

The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government had on Tuesday (May 4, 2021) announced to provide free COVID-19 vaccines to journalists and their families.

The cabinet meeting chaired by CM Yogi Adityanath also decided that a separate vaccination centre will be set for journalists. The state government also announced to set up COVID-19 vaccination centres inside media houses.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar too said that journalists will be given the COVID-19 vaccine on priority in the state. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan too said that the state government has declared all accredited journalists as frontline workers.

A similar announcement was made by Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh. All accredited and yellow card journalists in Punjab are now included in the list of Covid Frontline Warriors, Raveen Thukral, Media Advisor to Punjab CM, said.

Live TV
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government on Wednesday decided to impose a lockdown in the state from May 7 to May 16 to check the spread of COVID-19.

The corona curfew will come into force from midnight of May 6 to May 16. "All offices will remain closed and only essential services will be allowed. No one from outside will be allowed without a negative RT-PCR report. Class 10th exams have been cancelled and students will be promoted,'' the Himachal Pradesh government said.

The decision to impose the lockdown was taken at a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, a government spokesperson said.

Corona curfew imposed from midnight of May 6 to May 16. All offices to remain closed and only essential services allowed. No one from outside allowed without negative RT-PCR report. Class 10th exams cancelled, students to be promoted: Govt of Himachal Pradesh  ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2021

The meeting was held to review the current COVID-19 situation in the state.

As the demand for imposition of a country-wide lockdown gains momentum, large parts of India are already under similar strict curbs for varying periods in a bid to check the unrelenting COVID wave.

Here is a look at coronavirus-induced restrictions imposed by states and union territories.

Delhi

The national capital has been under lockdown since April 19 And it will continue till May 10.

Haryana

Haryana is under a seven-day long lockdown from May 3. Earlier, a weekend curfew was enforced in nine districts.

Bihar

CM Nitish Kumar on May 4 imposed a lockdown in Bihar till May 15.

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh govt has extended its weekend lockdown further by two more days till Thursday.

Odisha

The BJD-ruled Odisha is under a 14-day lockdown from May 5 till May 19.

Rajasthan

Rajasthan has imposed lockdown-like restrictions till May 17.

Karnataka

Karnataka imposed a lockdown from the night of April 27 till May 12.

Jharkhand

Jharkhand is under lockdown-like restrictions from April 22 till May 6.

Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh has allowed district collectors to extend lockdown, which was to end on May 6 morning, till May 15.

Punjab

Punjab saw extensive curbs, in addition to measures like a weekend lockdown and night curfew which will be in force till May 15.

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

The MP govt has imposed "corona curfew" till May 7 with only essential services allowed.

Gujarat

Gujarat has imposed a night curfew in 29 cities, besides other restrictions on movement and gathering at public places.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra had imposed lockdown-like curbs on April 5 coupled with prohibitory orders and restrictions on the movement of people. The curbs were later extended till May 15.

Goa

Goa lifted a four-day lockdown on Monday, except in tourist hotspots like Calangute and Candolim in North Goa, but the government said COVID-19-induced restrictions will remain in force till May 10 during which various commercial establishments will remain closed while political and social gatherings will be banned.

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has imposed extensive curbs including on all political, social and cultural activities till May 20.

Kerala

Kerala has announced severe lockdown-like restrictions from May 4 till May 9.

Puducherry

Puducherry has extended lockdown till May 10

Telangana

Telangana has imposed a night curfew till May 8.

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh has announced a partial curfew from 12 noon to 6 AM from May 6 for two weeks. The state had earlier imposed a night curfew.

West Bengal

West Bengal last week imposed extensive curbs including ban on all kinds of gatherings.

Assam

Assam advanced the night curfew to 6 PM from the current 8 PM with restrictions imposed on the movement of people at public places from Wednesday. Night curfew was imposed on April 27 till May seven.

Nagaland

Nagaland has imposed partial lockdown with stricter rules from April 30 to May 14.

Mizoram

Mizoram is under an eight-day lockdown in Aizawl and other district headquarters town from May 3.

J&K

Jammu and Kashmir administration has extended the lockdown in four districts of Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam and Jammu till May 10, while Samba too will see same restrictions. Night curfew continues in all municipal/urban local body limits of all 20 districts.

Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand has reimposed several restrictions and night curfew.

Live TV
New Delhi: Actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty urged people to stop violence in West Bengal which has wrecked the state since the Assembly election results on May 2.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said that human lives are more important than politics and asked people to stop this violence.

In a tweet, Chakraborty wrote, Bengal is burning since post election. Please stop this violence, human lives are more important than politics, Please think about their families and stop this violence.

Bengal is burning since post election. Please stop this violence, human lives are more important than politics,Please think about their families and stop this violence.  Mithun Chakraborty (@mithunda_off) May 4, 2021

Meanwhile, BJP chief JP Nadda and West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh will hold a dharna at Hastings Office to protest against the post-poll violence, according to the party sources. The dharna was earlier slated to be held outside State BJP Headquarters.

The BJP has claimed at least six of its workers and supporters, including a woman, were killed in violence allegedly unleashed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the wake of its victory in the assembly elections.

While TMC has refuted these allegations and claimed that the violence was a result of infighting in the BJP party.

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New Delhi: As the demand for imposition of a country-wide lockdown gains momentum, large parts of India are already under similar strict curbs for varying periods in a bid to check the unrelenting COVID wave. The country has so far administered more than 16 crore vaccine doses to its citizens. The cumulative number of COVID19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 16,04,18,105 as per the provisional report on Tuesday.

India also administered more than 13 crore (13,00,03,225) doses as the first dose and more than 3 crore (3,04,14,880) vaccine doses have been administered as the second dose, said a government statement.

It said that 2,29,999 beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years received their first dose of COVID vaccine on Tuesday, while the cumulative vaccination coverage for this age group is 6,62,619 across 12 States/UT.

The states and union territories are striving hard to contain the COVID-19 virus. Here is a look at coronavirus-induced restrictions imposed by states and union territories.

Delhi: The national capital has been under lockdown since April 19 and it will continue till May 10.

Haryana is under a seven-day long lockdown from May 3. Earlier, a weekend curfew was enforced in nine districts.

Bihar on May 4 imposed a lockdown till May 15.

Uttar Pradesh has extended its weekend lockdown further till May 10.

Uttarakhand has reimposed several restrictions and night curfew.

Odisha is under a 14-day lockdown from May 5 till May 19.

Rajasthan has imposed lockdown-like restrictions till May 17.

Karnataka imposed a lockdown from the night of April 27 till May 12.

Jharkhand is under lockdown-like restrictions from April 22 till May 13.

Chhattisgarh has allowed district collectors to extend lockdown, which was to end on May 6 morning, till May 15.

Punjab saw extensive curbs, in addition to measures like a weekend lockdown and night curfew which will be in force till May 15.

Madhya Pradesh has imposed a "corona curfew" till May 15 with only essential services allowed.

Gujarat has imposed a night curfew in 29 cities till May 12, besides other restrictions on movement and gathering at public places.

Maharashtra had imposed lockdown-like curbs on April 5 coupled with prohibitory orders and restrictions on the movement of people. The curbs were later extended till May 15.

Goa lifted a four-day lockdown, except in tourist hotspots like Calangute and Candolim in North Goa, but the government said COVID-19-induced restrictions will remain in force till May 10 during which various commercial establishments will remain closed while political and social gatherings will be banned.

Tamil Nadu has imposed extensive curbs including on all political, social, and cultural activities till May 20.

Kerala has announced severe lockdown-like restrictions from May 4 till May 9.

Puducherry has extended lockdown till May 10

Telangana has imposed a night curfew till May 8.

Andhra Pradesh has announced a partial curfew from 12 noon to 6 AM from May 6 for two weeks. The state had earlier imposed a night curfew.

Jammu and Kashmir administration has extended the lockdown in four districts of Srinagar, Baramulla, Budgam and Jammu till May 10, while Samba too will see same restrictions. Night curfew continues in all municipal/urban local body limits of all 20 districts.

Himachal Pradesh has imposed a night curfew in four districts out of 12 and weekend shutdown.

West Bengal last week imposed extensive curbs including a ban on all kinds of gatherings.

Assam advanced the night curfew to 6 PM from the current 8 PM with restrictions imposed on the movement of people at public places from Wednesday. Night curfew was imposed on April 27 till May seven.

Nagaland has imposed partial lockdown with stricter rules from April 30 to May 14.

Mizoram is under an eight-day lockdown in Aizawl and other district headquarters town from May 3.

(With Agency Inputs)
Jammu: Prominent separatist leader Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai, who was arrested under the Public Safety Act in July last year, died at a hospital here on Wednesday, officials said.

Sehrai, 77, a close confidant of hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, was incarcerated at the district jail in Udhampur. He was shifted to Jammu's Government Medical College (GMC) hospital after his health deteriorated on Tuesday, the officials said. "Sehrai, who replaced Geelani as chairperson of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat in 2018, had tested negative for COVID-19 in a rapid antigen test. His RTPCR report is still awaited," they said. "He had COVID-19 symptoms and his oxygen levels had fallen," the officials added.

They said Sehrai, who had been jailed in Udhampur since July 13, 2020, had been suffering from various ailments. He complained of breathlessness on Tuesday and was taken to the district hospital in Udhampur. When his situation did not improve, he was moved to the GMC, about 55 kilometres away, where he breathed his last around noon on Wednesday following acute respiratory distress, the officials said. His youngest son Junaid Ashraf Khan had joined the Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit in March 2018 and was later killed in an encounter with security forces in Srinagar on May 19, 2020.

Sehrai was one of those detained during a lockdown ahead of the revocation of special status to Jammu and Kashmir and its bifurcation into two union territories in August 2019. He was finally arrested under the PSA from his Barzaulla residence in Srinagar in July last year. Originally hailing from Tekipura village in Lolab in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, Sehrai joined the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) at a young age and remained associated with Geelani for over six decades. He was detained numerous times on charges of carrying out anti-government and anti-national activities.

Sehrai was Geelani's main supporter and aide when he launched the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat in 2004 after parting ways with the Jamaat. he was appointed as acting chairperson by Tehreek-e-Hurriyat in March 2018 and was later elected as chairperson for three years after Geelani stepped down from the post.

Peoples Conference president and former minister Sajad Lone paid tribute to Sehrai and said, "Sehrai Sahib was a political leader not a terrorist". In a series of tweets, Lone remembered his meeting with the leader and asked, "And why did he have to die in incarceration and not at his home amongst his kin and loved ones. Have we become so weak that an old infirm dying person is a threat to the state. I am not being critical. But please introspect? "

"This is the irony of Kashmiri politics. Top quality politicians consumed by the conflict. The ideological versatility of Kashmir politics is a curse. A transparently honest politician spent decades in jail," he added.

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Chennai: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin will take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 7, i.e. on Friday. Stalin called on Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Wednesday (May 5) at Raj Bhavan and submitted a letter intimating of his election as the leader of DMK legislature party.

A Raj Bhavan release said the Governor appointed him as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and invited him to form the ministry. The swearing-in ceremony will be held on May 7 at 9 am at Raj Bhavan in Chennai.

Stalin, along with party veteran and general secretary Duraimurugan called on Purohit at the Raj Bhavan and submitted a letter on his election as leader of the DMK legislature party and staked claim to form the government. DMK treasurer T R Baalu, principal secretary K N Nehru and organisation secretary R S Bharathi also accompanied Stalin, who was elected leader of the legislature party here on Tuesday.

Stalin was unanimously elected as legislature party leader on Tuesday. DMK won 133 seats on its own in the 234-member assembly and fought the polls in alliance with some other parties including Congress. The AIADMK won 66 segments and its partners BJP and PMK, four and five seats respectively.

During the previous DMK regime (2006-11), Stalin had been Deputy Chief Minister (when his father and party patriarch M Karunanidhi was the Chief Minister) and is now set to assume office for the first time as the Chief Minister.

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New Delhi: Three days after the counting of votes for UP panchayat elections began, the picture is now clear. It shows that the BJP has suffered a big loss in these elections. Although in these elections, political parties do not field candidates with their election symbol, but they do support them. This was done on a large scale this time.

Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary on Wednesday (May 5) explained the significance of the results of UP panchayat elections and its implications on the assembly elections next year.

This time, almost all major parties released a list of candidates who had their support. That is why the defeat of these candidates is being considered as defeat of these parties.

A total of 3050 seats went to polls in Uttar Pradesh. Out of the total, the Independents won 1081 seats, Samajwadi Party-supported candidates won 851 seats, 618 BJP-backed candidates won, while only 320 of the candidates supported by the BSP made the cut.

Apart from this, 47 candidates of Apna Dal and 68 candidates supported by Ajit Chaudhary's RLD won the election. Congress-backed candidates won 65 seats.

In simple terms, it can be said that the ruling party BJP lost to the Samajwadi Party in the panchayat elections which bagged 233 more seats. The performance of BSP also improved.

The results of the panchayat elections usually follow a trend that candidates having the support of the ruling party win more seats. But this time it did not happen as BJP got fewer seats.

Notably, even in Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Kanpur and Mathura, the Samajwadi Party easily defeated the BJP. These are the districts where BJP is considered to have a lot of influence. And the Prime Minister himself is an MP from Varanasi. But BJP still lost here.

In the panchayat elections of Varanasi, the Samajwadi Party won 15 seats, the highest for any party. Independents won 8 seats while BJP got 7 seats. BSP and Congress got 5 seats each.

Similar results were seen in Ayodhya, where Samajwadi Party got 21 seats out of 40 seats and BJP was reduced to just 8 seats.

In Purvanchal, the Samajwadi Party left the BJP behind, while the BSP's influence in western UP showed. In Mathura, BSP-backed candidates defeated BJP.

In the 2017 assembly elections, BJP got 312 seats out of 403, which means the BJP's strike rate was 77 percent. Then in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it got 62 seats out of 80 seats in UP i.e. the strike rate was the same as it was in 2017. But in the panchayat elections, the BJP's strike rate was reduced to only 25 percent of the seats. And this is a huge decline.

These panchayat poll results are significant because next year the Vidhan Sabha elections are to be held in Uttar Pradesh. If we consider these elections as the semi-final of UP, then what does it means for the assembly elections?

Key takeaways from UP panchayat elections:

1. In the assembly elections next year, the biggest party in front of BJP will be Samajwadi Party, that is, Yogi Adityanath Vs. Akhilesh Yadav.

2. In the Panchayat elections, BJP suffered the most damage in the Purvanchal, Awadh and Central UP. These are the areas where the BJP has a lot of influence and in most of the seats the BJP has its own MPs and MLAs. But after these results, things look difficult for BJP.

3. Ajit Chaudhary's RLD and BSP are influential in some places in Western UP. In such a situation, BJP will have to work in these places too.

4. The main reason for BJP's defeat is the disenchantment of people belonging to rural areas. This worked in favour of Samajwadi Party.

5. There is still a lot of difference between panchayat elections and assembly elections. The issues are different and more importantly, the parties are directly face to face with their symbol.

So, what just happened in the panchayat elections may not repeat next year, but it sure gives some clues for the assembly elections next year. This could be a wake-up call for the BJP.

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New Delhi: At least three people lost their lives and six others were injured when an oxygen cylinder exploded while it was being refilled in Chinhat area here on Wednesday (May 5), police said. SHO of Chinhat police station Dhananjay Pandey said the incident occurred at KT oxygen plant.

"Three people have died and six others were injured in the explosion which took place while refilling an oxygen cylinder. Two injured persons are admitted at Manohar Lohia hospital while four are undergoing treatment at the trauma centre of KGMU. I have visited the explosion site, RML Hospital and KGMU trauma centre. The injured are being the best medical treatment free of cost," District Magistrate of Lucknow, Abhishek Prakash, told PTI.

A team, comprising the additional district magistrate, additional DCP, chief fire inspector and drug inspector, has been formed to probe the incident, he said.

Lucknow Police Commissioner D K Thakur, who also reached the spot, said that efforts were on to ascertain the identity of the deceased.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident and directed officials to probe the reasons behind the incident.
New Delhi: India and the United Kingdom on Tuesday (May 4, 2021) signed a ground-breaking partnership migration deal that will boost work visas for Indian nationals. The landmark agreement will allow young Indian and British nationals to work and live in each other's countries and accelerate the removal of illegal migrants.

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and UK Home Secretary Priti Patel signed the 'Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement' which is aimed at supporting people to live and work in both countries while addressing long-standing problems of illegal migration from India to the UK.

"The living bridge between India and UK will get stronger as a result," Jaishankar expressed.

A fruitful meeting this morning with Home Secretary @pritipatel. Signed the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement that would facilitate legal travel and encourage talent flows. The living bridge between India and U.K. will get stronger as a result. pic.twitter.com/vs8gdZtRAe  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 4, 2021

Patel said, "This landmark agreement with our close partners in the Government of India will provide new opportunities to thousands of young people in the UK and India seeking to live, work and experience each other's cultures. This agreement will also ensure that the British Government can remove those with no right to be in the UK more easily and crack down on those abusing our system."

A pleasure to welcome @DrSJaishankar to the @UKHomeOffice today as we signed the landmark Migration & Mobility deal as part of our New Plan for Immigration, providing new opportunities for our young people to live and work here and in India as we recover from the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/AWWorBRDze  Priti Patel (@pritipatel) May 4, 2021

As per the UK's Home Office, the agreement delivers on the UK Government's fair but firm New Plan for Immigration  attracting the best and brightest and supporting people coming to the UK through legal routes, while stopping the abuse of the system and speeding up the removal of those who have no right to be in the UK.

"This professional and cultural exchange programme will work similarly to current Youth Mobility Schemes, with India being the first visa national country to benefit from this," the UK said.

The historic agreement will also enhance and accelerate the processes to return Indian nationals with no legal right to stay in the UK and vice versa, and ensure greater co-operation around organised immigration crime.

In a first of its kind between India and the UK, both governments have agreed enhanced mobility provisions for young professional Indian and British citizens which will allow people to live and work in the two countries for up to two years.

The UK's Home Office said that the deal builds on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's previous pledge to deliver a quantum leap in the UKs bilateral relationship with India.

As per a report, over 53,000 Indian students came to the UK to study in 2020, a 42% increase from 2019. Also, nearly a quarter of all international students in the UK are from India.

The agreement came hours before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK PM Boris Johnson's virtual summit.
New Delhi: The Kolkata Police on Tuesday (May 4, 2021) broke down the stage set for JP Nadda's program near State BJP headquarters, sources told Zee Media.



BJP's national president was scheduled to stage a sit-in protest along with state chief Dilip Ghosh at 6, Muralidhar Sen Lane, which is State BJP headquarters. It was slated for 9:30 AM on Wednesday to demand justice for the alleged killings of BJP workers during the violence post-poll results.



However, the sources told Zee Media that the 'dharna' will now take place at the Hastings Office.



Earlier on May 4, Nadda met families of the BJP workers who were affected by the violence in West Bengal and said that in independent India, 'this much intolerance is unprecedented till date'.



With heavy heart, met the family of our Karyakarta, Shri Abhijeet Sarkar who was brutally killed in post-poll violence in Beliaghata, Kolkata. We will fight this ideological battle with cruel TMC in a democratic manner. We are rigidly standing with our Karyakartas. pic.twitter.com/o7XjjHyXNI  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) May 4, 2021

"I had heard of the immense atrocities committed during the partition, but I have never seen such post-poll violence that is occurring in West Bengal after the declaration of election results," the BJP chief was quoted as saying by PTI news agency.

Our Karyakartas have suffered tremendous violence carried out by TMC in Pratapnagar, Sonarpur, West Bengal. Intolerance thy name is Mamta. We will put all these things in front of the people & provide justice to every Karyakarta in a fair manner.  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) May 4, 2021

"We are committed to democratically fight this ideological battle and the activities of the TMC, which is full of intolerance," he added.



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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday (May 5) struck down reservations for the Maratha community in education and jobs exceeding 50 per cent. The apex court in its judgment said that there was no valid ground to breach 50 per cent reservation while granting Maratha reservation in the state.

The Supreme Court's five-judge Constitution bench also made it clear that people from the Maratha community cannot be declared as educationally and socially backward community to bring them within the reserved category. The five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan also comprised Justices L Nageswara Rao, S Abdul Nazeer, Hemant Gupta, and S Ravindra Bhat.

The top court said, "The 2018 Maharashtra state law violates right to equality. We won't re-examine the 1992 verdict which capped reservation at 50%."

A batch of petitions challenging the Bombay High Court verdict, which had upheld the grant of reservation to Marathas in admissions and government jobs in the state, was challenged in the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, a meeting at the residence of Chief Minister Udhav Thackeray is underway to take a further step in the wake of the apex court judgment striking down reservations for the Maratha community in education and jobs.
New Delhi: Amid the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic across the country, senior BJP leader and partys Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday suggested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in charge of the COVID-19 management.

In a tweet, the firebrand BJP leader also warned of a third COVID-19 wave that could target children more and urged the government to delegate the conduct of this war to Gadkari.

 India will survive Coronavirus Pandemic as it did Islamic invaders and British Imperialists. We could face one more wave that targets children unless strict precautions now are taken. Modi should therefore delegate the conduct of this war to Gadkari. Relying on PMO is useless, Swamy said in a tweet.

India will survive Coronavirus Pandemic as it did Islamic invaders and British Imperialists. We could face one more wave that targets children unless strict precautions now are taken. Modi should therefore delegate the conduct of this war to Gadkari. Relying on PMO is useless  Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) May 5, 2021

Swamy said that his criticism was for the PMO, which is a department, not the Prime Minister himself. Swamy also clarified in another tweet that he was recommending the removal of Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan.

No No. Harsh Vardhan has not been allowed a free hand. But he is too polite to assert his authority. With Gadkari he will bloom.

No No. Harsh Vardhan has not been allowed free hand. But he is too polite to assert his authority. With Gadkari he will bloom  Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) May 5, 2021

Notably, the tweet from the BJP veteran comes at a time when dozens of hospitals in several cities across a number of states have run short of oxygen, sending relatives of patients desperately scrambling for oxygen cylinders.

As frustration and pain continue to pervade the air, a section of citizens has also raised questions on the governments handling of the crisis.

India recorded over 3.82 lakh new COVID-19 cases and 3,780 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday (May 5, 2021).

There were 3,82,315 new coronavirus infections and 3,38,439 recoveries between Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

The country, going through the second wave of coronavirus, now has a total of 2,06,65,148 COVID-19 cases, of which, 1,69,51,731 people have recovered, while 2,26,188 have succumbed to the virus.

The world's second-worst coronavirus-hit country recorded more than 3,00,000 new infections for a 14th straight day on Wednesday. India now has 34,87,229 active cases.

Twelve states namely Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Bihar and Haryana cumulatively account for the majority of India's total active coronavirus cases.

Many countries have come forward to help India as the health infrastructure of several States and UTs has been overwhelmed by the very high number of daily cases and increased mortality. Medical equipment, medicines, oxygen concentrators, ventilators etc are being provided by several global leaders.

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Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wasted no time after swearing-in for another tenure to order fresh restrictions in the state on Wednesday (May 5) in a bid to flatten the COVID-19 curve.

The new curbs include travel restrictions, ban on social, political gatherings and guidelines for public transport and other public places.

Looking at the COVID-19 situation, we've to take some steps. Wearing masks will be mandatory. There'll be only 50% attendance in state government offices. Shopping complexes, gyms, cinema halls, beauty parlours will be closed. Social, political gathering are prohibited, Banerjee announced.

She announced a slew of restrictions to be imposed to come into effect.

According to the new guidelines:

Wearing of masks will be mandatory.

There'll be only 50% attendance in state government offices.

Shopping complexes, gyms, cinema halls, beauty parlours will be closed.

Social, political gathering are prohibited

All markets, retailers, standalone shops to function from 7 am to 10 am and later from 5 pm to 7 pm only.

Movement of local trains will be suspended from tomorrow. State transport, including metro, will function with 50 percent capacity.

From 7th May, nobody will be allowed to arrive at airports without RT-PCR negative report. Those who will be positive, they will be sent to 14-day quarantine, arranged by airport authority with state government.

Work from home should be encouraged for private sector. 50% of the staff will be allowed.

Jewellery shops will remain open from 12 pm to 3 pm.

Home delivery will be encouraged.

Banks will operate from 10 am to 2 pm.

Random checking will be done in inter-state buses. RT-PCR negative report not older then 72 hours will be mandatory for the passengers. It will also be applicable to the passengers of train services.

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New Delhi: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his congratulatory message on her taking oath as Bengal Chief Minister for the third time. The TMC chief said she is looking forward to the Centre's sustained support.

Taking to social media, Mamata wrote, "Thank you Narendra Modi ji for your wishes. I look forward to the Centre's sustained support keeping the best interest of WB in mind. I extend my full cooperation and hope together we can fight this pandemic amid other challenges and set a new benchmark for Centre-State relations."

PM Modi had congratulated Mamata Banerjee on taking oath as the Chief Minister of West Bengal for the third consecutive term. "Congratulations to Mamata Didi on taking oath as West Bengal`s Chief Minister," said Prime Minister Modi in a tweet.

Earlier in the day, Mamata was administered the oath of office by West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar. "I thank all the people who were looking at the Bengal elections. Our first priority is tackling COVID-19. Secondly, I urge all political parties to look around so that violence to be controlled. From today onwards, I am taking law and order into my hands. I will post the police accordingly to tackle the situation," she said after taking the oath. "I will hold a big celebration once the pandemic is over," she added.

Meanwhile, the Governor said that their first priority is to stop or end the worrisome violence which erupted in the state after the elections. "I congratulate Mamata Ji on her third term. Our priority is that we must bring an end to this senseless violence that has affected society at large. I have every hope that the CM on an urgent basis will take all steps to restore rule of law," said Dhankhar.

Trinamool Congress secured 213 seats in the eight-phased West Bengal Assembly elections while BJP won 77 seats.

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Kolkata: The swearing-in of Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee as chief minister at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday morning will be a low-key programme, scheduled to be held at around 10.45 am, given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar said that only a few invitees will be present at the programme because of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Invitations for the programme have been sent to her predecessor Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, leader of Opposition of the outgoing House Abdul Mannan and CPI(M) veteran leader Biman Bose, said an official on Tuesday.

Chief ministers of other states and leaders of other political parties have not been invited for the programme keeping in mind the current COVID-19 situation in the country, the official told PTI.

"It has been decided to keep the oath-taking ceremony of Mamata Banerjee a very simple one because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Banerjee will be the only leader who will be taking oath tomorrow. The programme will be a very brief one," PTI quoted the official as saying. BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has also been invited for the ceremony, the official said.

Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, poll strategist Prashant Kishor and party leader Firhad Hakim are likely to be present at the ceremony scheduled to be held at the Raj Bhavan at around 10.45 am on May 5, TMC sources said.

The TMC has come to power for the third time in a row in West Bengal, pocketing 213 of the 292 assembly seats that went to polls. The BJP has bagged 77 seats.

Notably, a day after the Trinamool Congress emerged victorious in the West Bengal Assembly elections, several incidents of violence that allegedly left many BJP workers dead and injured were reported in West Bengal on Sunday.

Earlier on Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs has sought a report from the state government on the post-election violence targeting opposition political workers in the state.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday took cognisance of the alleged post-poll violence in West Bengal and ordered an investigation fact-finding team to conduct a spot inquiry and submit a report at the earliest, preferably within two weeks.

In a statement, the NHRC pointed out allegations of deaths of a few people in the violent incidents. "The political workers allegedly clashed with each other, party offices were torched down and some homes were ransacked & valuables also looted. District Administration & local Law & order enforcement agencies appear not to have acted to stop such violation of human rights of the affected persons," the commission said.

The NHRC further said, "Considering as a fit case of alleged violation of Right to Life of the innocent citizens, the Commission has today taken suo-motu cognizance of the matter and has requested its DIG (Investigation) to constitute a team of the officers of the Investigation Division of the Commission to conduct an on the spot fact-finding investigation and to submit a report at the earliest, preferably within two weeks."

(With Agency Inputs)

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New Delhi: The Home Ministry dispatched a terse reminder to the West Bengal government on Wednesday (May 5) to submit a detailed report on the post-poll violence in the state after Trinamool Congress' win in the assembly election. The ministry issued a stern warning to the state government that the matter will be taken seriously in case they fail to file a report on the violence. It also asked the Bengal government to take necessary measures to stop such incidents 'without any loss of time', officials said.

In a letter dispatched to the West Bengal chief secretary, the Home Ministry reminded that on May 3, it had sought an immediate report from the state government on the post-poll violence. "However, the West Bengal government is yet to send the report. According to latest inputs, the violence has not stopped in West Bengal and this means that effective measures were not taken by the state government to control it. Therefore, necessary steps should be taken to prevent these incidents without any loss of time," an official said.

Home Ministry warns that matter will be taken seriously if Bengal govt doesn't submit report

A detailed report should be sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) immediately, it said. "In case the report is not sent by the state government, the matter will be taken seriously," the letter added.

After the third straight convincing victory for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, following a charged Assembly election campaign, West Bengal witnessed a number of violent incidents since Sunday, when the results were announced.

According to reports, at least nine people including some BJP workers were killed in post-poll violence in different parts of the state till Tuesday.

14 BJP workers killed in Bengal, over one lakh fled their homes

The BJP alleged that Trinamool-backed goons were attacking and killing its workers in the state, vandalising their houses and properties and looted their shops. BJP president JP Nadda that at least 14 JP workers were killed and nearly one lakh people fled their homes in post-poll violence in West Bengal

However, Mamata has rejected the charges, saying violence and clashes were taking place in those areas where the BJP candidates emerged victorious in the election.

PM Narendra Modi expresses anguish over Bengal violence

Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar had said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned him and expressed anguish over the law-and-order situation in the state following reports of post-poll violence from several districts.

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New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will address his G7 meeting virtually as a 'measure of abundant caution' after some members of the India delegation accompanying him to the UK tested COVID-19 positive.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well."

Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases. As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode. That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well.  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 5, 2021

Jaishankar was to join ministers from the other G-7 guest nations for the first formal gathering over a working dinner on Tuesday evening and further meetings on Wednesday. The bilateral meeting scheduled with UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at Chevening in Kent on Thursday is also expected to take on a virtual form.

"We deeply regret that Foreign Minister Dr Jaishankar will be unable to attend the meeting today in person and will now attend virtually, but this is exactly why we have put in place strict Covid protocols and daily testing," a senior UK diplomat at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told PTI.

On Tuesday, two members of the delegation tested COVID-19 positive with further test results still awaited, as per a report by PTI quoting sources.
New Delhi: In a bid to ease the financial burden on people owing to difficulties arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday (May 5) ordered that there will be no collection of pending bill arrears by the electricity board for two months.

He also asked the banks to stop all recovery proceedings as the people were going through a tough time.

Banks should stop all recovery proceedings considering the pandemic situation people are going through. Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and Kerala Water Authority (KWA) have been asked to stop collect pending bill arrears for two months, Vijayan was quoted as saying by ANI.

The chief minister further said that the state police will help people in arranging medicines and also spread COVID awareness through social media.

Those who need emergency medicines and are unable to go out can seek the help of Kerala Police to buy medicine by calling the police control room, he said.

The State Police media centre will also spread awareness in social media about COVID-19 guidelines, he added.

Vijayan also expressed concern on the rising positivity rate of COVID cases in the state.

On Tuesday, 37,190 people turned positive after 1,42,588 samples were tested in the past 24 hours while there were 3,56,872 active cases in the state.

The CM today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking allocation of 1,000 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen and 75 lakh doses of vaccines.

He said that the state needs the first installment of 500 tonnes, and then it should be given another 500 tonnes in the second round.

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New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Wednesday filed the first supplementary chargesheet against three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives, including an absconding Pakistani woman, in an online recruitment case registered last year in West Bengal.

The chargesheet was filed in the NIA special court, Kolkata against Tania Parveen alias Isranoor and Refite of Malayapur-Baduria (North 24 Parganas), Sayyad M Idris alias Munna of Anganavadi (Karnataka), and absconding accused Ayesha alias Ayesha Burhan and Ayesha Siddiqi of Gali Brahwali village of Sargoda in Punjab (Pakistan), an NIA spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the case was initially registered on March 18 last year at the Baduria Police Station in North 24 Parganas district following the arrest of Parveen, a member of the proscribed Pakistan-based terrorist organisation.

The NIA had re-registered the case after taking over the investigation on April 5, 2020 and had already filed a chargesheet against Parveen under various sections of the stringent UA(P) Act.

"Parveen was a college student and was radicalised and recruited in cyberspace by Pakistan-based cadres of LeT. She was co-admin of various social media groups espousing secessionist ideas on Kashmir with accused Ayesha Burhan, a Pakistan-based cadre of LeT's women's wing," the spokesman said.

The spokesperson said Parveen in association with other accused members of LeT in India and Pakistan indulged in unlawful activities, radicalised, recruited and motivated other people through cyberspace for a violent 'Jihad' (holy war) against India.

"She and other accused were brainwashing impressionable youth and propagating the ideology of LeT, thus conspiring to wage war against the State," the spokesperson said as more charges were framed against her in the latest chargesheet.

On Apr 15, the NIA arrested schoolteacher Altaf Ahmad Rather from his residence in north Kashmir's Bandipora district in the case.

"Investigation has revealed that Rather is a schoolteacher in Bandipora and was a sympathiser of the LeT. Parveen had come in contact with him over social media platforms and he was instrumental in introducing her to LeT members based in Pakistan, in pursuance of a conspiracy to radicalise, motivate and recruit youths for violent 'Jihad' (holy war) on India," the NIA had said.

However, Rather was not named in the chargesheet as further investigation in the case is still going on, officials said.

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New Delhi: The Union government on Wednesday said that it has so far provided more than 17.02 crore vaccine doses to States and Union Territories free of cost, out of which more than 94.47 lakh doses are still available with them to be administered.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said, "The government is at the forefront of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in collaboration with the States and UTs through a `whole of government` approach."

It said that in addition to the ''test, track, treat'' and Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, vaccination forms an integral component of the five- point strategy of the Government of India for containment and management of the pandemic.

It said that implementation of the liberalised and accelerated phase three strategy of Covid-19 vaccination has started from May 1 and registration for the newly eligible population groups has commenced since April 28.

Potential beneficiaries can either register directly on the CoWIN portal or through the Aarogya Setu app.

"The government has so far provided nearly 17.02 crore vaccine doses (17,02,42,410) to States/UTs free of cost. Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 16,07,94,796 doses (as per data available at 8 am today)," it said.

"More than 94.47 lakh COVID Vaccine doses (94,47,614) are still available with the States/UTs to be administered," the MoHFW said.

It also said that more than 36 lakh (36,37,030) vaccine doses will be received in addition by the States/UTs within the next three days.

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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed grave concerns over the spiralling COVID-19 cases across the country and sought a reply from the Centre as to what steps it has taken to combat the second wave of the deadly COVID-19.

During a hearing on Centres plea regarding the contempt notice issued to it by the Delhi high court, the top court said the COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi is at a very critical stage.

The top court also asked the Centre to file a report about the oxygen supply to the national capital in the last three days. Tell us how much oxygen you have allocated to Delhi in the last three days, the top court asked the Centre.

The Centre had earlier moved the Supreme Court on the Delhi High Courts contempt notice to it on the availability of oxygen in light of the Covid-19 crisis.

During the hearing, the Solicitor-General, appearing on behalf of the Centre, told the Supreme Court that putting officers in jail would not be the solution to the crisis.

This is not adversarial litigation; Centre and the Delhi government are elected and doing their best to serve COVID-19 patients, the S-G told the SC. To which, the top court agreed that "putting officers in jail will not bring oxygen to Delhi, let's ensure that lives are saved."

Justice Chandrachud, observed that putting officers in jail or hauling officers for contempt won't bring oxygen. Please tell us what are the steps taken to solve this? Justice Shah observed no one can dispute that some have died due to O2 shortage&that it's a national emergency  ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2021

The Delhi High Court had earlier directed the Centre to show cause as to why contempt is not initiated against it for failing to comply with the order on the supply of oxygen to the national capital for treating Covid-19 patients.

A Supreme Court bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud and MR Shah heard the matter as Chief Justice India NV Ramana asked the Supreme Court registry to place the papers on the matter before this bench.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, represented the Union Government, while senior advocate Rahul Mehra appeared on behalf of GNCTD. Mehta told the Supreme Court, The Centre and Delhi government are both making best efforts. This is not adversarial. Putting officers in jail will not ensure oxygen supply. The Centre is preparing a module for supplying oxygen to various states."

The court asked the Centre, Why are the orders of supply of oxygen to Delhi not been complied with?" To which, Mehta said, Demand for oxygen has steeply gone up. We are diverting oxygen from all possible sources. Equitable distribution of oxygen is being ensured."

Justice Chandrachud reiterated, Effort should be to comply, we agree that putting officers in jail would not help the situation." The Delhi High Court had asked state and centre officials to remain present in court for contempt proceedings since oxygen supply, as per Supreme Court order, was not met with.

On Tuesday a Delhi High Court bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli rejected the Centres submission that Delhi was not entitled to 700 metric tonnes of medical oxygen in light of existing medical infrastructure.

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Chennai: Indian Radiological & Imaging Association(IRIA), a registered body has issued a statement clarifying that Computerized Tomography or CT scans are not harmful as was projected by the AIIMS Director Dr. Randeep Guleria in a media interaction.

The Association has mentioned that Dr. Gulerias claims of CT scan being equal to 300-400 X-Rays, upping cancer risk are wrong and outdated. IRIA says that one CT-Scan being equal to the radiation exposure of 300-400 X-rays is a thing of the past (at least 30-40 years ago). They argue that modern ultra low dose CT Scanners emit radiation that is comparable to barely about 5-10 X-rays.

Dr. Guleria had said in Delhi that there was a tendency for every COVID-19 positive patient to do a chest CT scan. He added that for mild COVID-19 cases, such CT scans did not serve any purpose, when the oxygen saturation is normal and person is under home isolation. The senior Doctor also made a comparison and equated the radiation from one CT scan to 300-400 X-Rays. Quoting a report said to be of the International Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Guleria said that younger people being exposed to CT scans ups the risk of cancer, as they age.

The IRIA maintained that CT scans are most useful in cases where patients display COVID-19 symptoms, but test negative on RT-PCR, owing to various factors such as mutant virus, technical errors or low viral load. They added that the Chest CT scan helps diagnose such persons early and prevents them from being super-spreaders and harming medical professional and other persons. They also compared how quick the Chest CT scan was, as opposed to the RT-PCR, which takes at least a few hours.

They added that Chest CT helps to identify the severity of COVID-19 infection in symptomatic patients, as it helps them decide whether the patient required home isolation or hospitalization.

CT Chest is helpful to identify the disease mild, moderate or severe and helps in clinical management, also the progression of disease can be monitored by CT in deteriorating patients read the statement by IRIA.

As CT is much more sensitive in detecting lung damage than pulse oximetry, initiating steroid medication can holt lung damage and save lives, it added.

Regarding the efficiency of CT scans over X-rays, IRIA said how CT scans are highly sensitive, unlike X-rays which can only be used for monitoring patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Radiologists world over use the ALARA Principle (As low as reasonably achievable) and give the minimal rendition possible during the process. Also, the statement that CT Chest scan can cause Cancer is alarming, as the radiation from a single Chest CT is almost equivalent to the background radiation received by any person over a year said the statement signed by Prof. C. Amarnath, president of IRIA.

It concluded by saying that Dr. Gulerias statements were unscientific and irresponsible, could create confusion among the masses. It emphasized that in the case of CT scans, the benefits far outweighed the risks.

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New Delhi: Ramdas Pal, a history-sheeter accused of murder, robbery and other crimes, has won from Kotia village in Uttar Pradesh Panchayat polls 2021.

Defeating his nearest rival Lallu Pasi by 486 votes, Pal, who is in jail, filed his nomination from there. He won the seat with 786 votes, while his opponent received only 300 votes, Amar Ujala reported.

Pal has more than a dozen cases of robbery, murder and cheating registered against him in various police stations of the district. A resident of Saraikela in Kotia district, Pal has been in jail for several years now.

The UP Gram Panchayat Election 2021 was held in four phases across 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh. The counting of votes began Sunday (May 2) morning at more than 825 centres across the state.

Over 8.69 lakh posts were up for grabs in these polls. Of these posts, more than 7.32 lakh seats were in the gram panchayat wards, 58,176 in the gram panchayats, 75,852 in the kshetra (block) panchayats and 3,050 in the zila panchayats.

(With inputs from PTI)

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New Delhi: The West Bengal government on Wednesday (May 5) suspended Coochbehar Superintendent of Police Debashis Dhar in connection with the Sitalkuchi firing incident by alleged CISF personnel in which at least four people lost their lives. The government-appointed K Kannan as the new SP of Coochbehar. According to reports, the Bengal government will investigate the Sitalkuchi firing by CISF jawans in which four people, all Trinamool Congress workers, were killed at a booth during the fourth phase of polling in Coochbehar district.

The development came hours after TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee was administered the oath for the third time as the Chief Minister of West Bengal. Soon after assuming office, the West Bengal CM initiated a major reshuffle in the police hierarchy, transferring 29 top-level police officers, mostly those who were shifted by the election commission prior to the polls. Among the top-level officers who have been brough back to their former positions are DG Virendra, ADG (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim and DG Security Vivek Sahay, an order issued this evening said.

Virendra, who was transferred by the Election Commission and Neeraj Nayan Pandey made DG in his place, has been reinstated to his former position. Pandey has been made DG (Fire Services).

Similarly, ADG (Law and Order) Jagmohan has been transferred to the civil defence and Jawed Shamim who was moved out by the commission alleging police excess during a left rally at Nabanna has been brought back as the ADG (Law and Order).

In a separate order, Vivek Sahay former DG Security, who was removed by the poll panel alleging lapse in security arrangements of the chief minister after she was injured in a rally in Purba Medinipur district, has been brought back to his former position.

Gyanwant Singh who worked as ADG Security during the election has retained his post and he has been given the additional responsibility of ADG and IGP of Armed Police.

According to reports, the Bengal government transferred SPs of 16 districts including Sunderban, Purulia, Coochbehar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Baruipur Police District, Purba Medinipur, Howrah, Jangipur, Krishnanagar, Ranaghat, Purba Bardhaman, Jhargram, Diamond Harbour and Dakshin Dinajpur. Among them there are some officers who were shunted by the commission during election.

Bhola Nath Pandey, who was transferred by the commission following attack on BJP President JP Nadda in Diamond Harbour has been made SP of Alipurduar.

Similarly, K Kannan who was sent to OCW (officer-on- compulsory-waiting) during the election was made SP of Coochbehar and Soumya Roy who was transferred following the controversy of his wife contesting in the election has been brought back as SP Howrah (Rural).

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New Delhi: The Karnataka Police on Wednesday unearthed black marketing of hospital beds at Sadashivnagar police station limits in Bengaluru and arrested three people in connection with the case.

On May 4, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya alleged that hospitals in the city 'blocked' at least 4,065 beds in fake names to make a killing at a time when COVID-19 cases were rising in the country and Karnataka. These beds are blocked in the name of asymptomatic patients who are in home isolation. They are fraudulently shown as occupying the beds in hospitals, he had alleged.

While levelling the charges, the BJP Yuva Morcha President and Bengaluru South MP had named 16 people of a particular community and sought to know why "they are controlling the COVID war room in the city." A city civic official told PTI that there are over 200 people in the COVID war room and not just 16 as mentioned by the MP.

Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in a series of tweets, slammed Surya for being 'insensitive' and 'communalising' the issue. "It is really unfortunate & insensitive on the part of @BJP4Karnataka MP @Tejasvi_Surya to communalise the issue. From food to death, BJP leaders want to earn political mileage by targeting a few communities," he tweeted.

On Surya's claim that he was aware of the scam 10 days back, the Congress leader demanded to know why he had remained silent since then. "Why was he silent for 10 days? Was he negotiating a deal with BBMP officers? Or was he preparing a script to protect @BJP4Karnataka leaders? Only @Tejasvi_Surya can tell!" Siddaramaiah tweeted.

He alleged that the 'drama' was staged to protect the image of his political bosses and to make the civic officials and workers as scapegoats. Two people were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the scam, taking the total to four, police said.

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New Delhi: Sensex and Nifty ended Wednesdays trading session in the green zone, buoyed by RBIs second round of loan restructuring and other relief measures to counter the impact of Covid-19`s second wave across the country.

Sensex closed 0.88% or 424.04 points higher at 48,677.55 while Nifty ended 0.84% or 121.35 points higher at 14,617.85. Barring Nifty realty which cracked by 1 per cent, most of the sectoral indices ended the day on a positive note.

In the Sensex pack, Sun Pharma was the top gainer, jumping over 6%, followed by Kotak Bank, Axis Bank, IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank, Dr Reddy's, Titan and TCS. Stocks such as Bajaj Finance, Asian Paints and HUL were the market laggards on Wednesday.

"Domestic equities rebounded mainly supported by financials, IT and pharma. Notably, the announcement of liquidity supports by the RBI's Governor to tackle the challenges coming from the second wave of COVID-19 crisis aided financials to rebound," said Binod Modi, Head Strategy at Reliance Securities.

Earlier in the day, the RBi announced a slew of measures including loan restructuring for individual and small businesses. RBI Governor said that the central bank will continue to monitor the situation from resurgence of COVID-19 cases and will deploy all resources and instruments at its command especially for the citizens, business entities, and institutions beleaguered by the second wave.

- With inputs from PTI.

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#mute
New Delhi: Kangana Ranauts sister Rangoli Chandel is unhappy with fashion designer Anand Bhushan, who announced that he is cutting all professional ties with the actress after her Twitter account was permanently banned on Tuesday (May 4) for repeated offence of hate speech.

Fashion designer Rimzim Dadu also declared he will not collaborate with Kangana in any professional capacity.

This did not go down well with Rangoli, who took to her Instagram account to thrash Anand Bhushan as a small time designer (who) is using India's top actress name to promote himself.

This person Anand Bhushan is trying to get mileage on Kangana's name we are not associated with him in anyway we don't even know him, many influential handles are, tagging him and dragging Kangana's name with his brand, Kangana charges crores for any brand endorsements but editorial shoots are not brand endorsements, neither we choose or select those clothes, magazine editors pick those ensemble looks, read Rangolis post on her Instagram stories.

She further wrote, This small time designer is using India's top actress name to promote himself I have decided to sue him he will have to prove in the court how and where we had any endorsement with him now that he is claiming to disassociate himself ... see you in the court @anandbhushan.

In another story, Rangoli shared the screenshot of Anands tweet and wrote, "R u serious @anandbhushan? Even I want to sue you if you were using Kangana's pics illegally.

Anand Bhushan shared a statement on his Twitter and Instagram accounts on Tuesday, declaring, "In view of certain events today, we have taken a decision to remove all collaboration images with Kangana Ranaut from our social media channels. We also pledge never to be associated with her in any capacity in the future. We as a brand do not support hate speech.
Mumbai: Actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood said anyone who has lost a loved one due to scarcity of oxygen or injection has not failed.

"Anyone who has lost a loved one due to scarcity of Oxygen or an injection, will never be able to live in peace all their life. They will always live with a feeling that they failed to save their family. I want to tell them You didn't fail, We did," Sonu tweeted late on Tuesday night.

Since last year, Sonu has been working relentlessly to help people amid the COVID crisis. He and his team recently saved the lives of 22 patients at a Bengaluru hospital, and also arranged for a critically ill COVID patient to be airlifted from Jhansi to Hyderabad for necessary treatment.

On May 3, Sonu thanked Indian actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas for backing his appeal for free education to children of those who lost their lives to COVID.

"Thanks a ton Priyanka for your support. I promise we will make this happen," Sonu wrote to Priyanka, along with a folded hands emoji.
New Delhi: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday announced a slew of measures including loan restructuring for individual and small businesses hit hard by fresh COVID-19 wave.

Governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday said that the central bank will continue to monitor situation from resurgence of COVID-19 cases and will deploy all resources and instruments at its command especially for the citizens, business entities, and institutions beleaguered by the second wave.

RBI Governor, addressing a videoconference said that the situation has reversed from being on foothills of strong economic recovery to facing a fresh crisis.

The devastating speed with which the virus affects has to be matched by swift and wide-ranging actions that are sequenced, calibrated and well-timed so as to reach out to various sections including the most vulnerable, he added.

Here are the key highlights of RBI announcement
Chennai: DMK president MK Stalin on Wednesday called on Governor Banwarilal Purohit at the Raj Bhavan and staked claim to form the government, a day after he was unanimously elected leader of the legislature party.

Stalin, along with party veteran and general secretary Duraimurugan called on Purohit and gave him a letter on his election as leader of the DMK legislature party and staked claim to form the government, a party release said.

DMK treasurer T R Baalu, principal secretary K N Nehru and organisation secretary RS Bharathi accompanied Stalin.

Tamil Nadu: DMK President MK Stalin meets Governor Banwarilal Purohit to stake claim to form government pic.twitter.com/f5UCknbdKx  ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2021

The DMK chief is set to assume office as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on May 7 and he would be sworn in as CM in a simple function to be held at the Raj Bhavan.

Stalin was elected leader of the DMK legislature party here on Tuesday.

The DMK won 133 seats in the Assembly polls and along with allies including Congress garnered a total of 159 constituencies in the 234-member Assembly.

The AIADMK won 66 segments and its partners BJP and PMK four and five seats respectively.

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New Delhi: While India is gripped with the second Covid-19 wave, scamsters are cashing in on the situation by scamming people with fraudulent promises of selling medical equipment, oxygen or other Covid-19 supplies.

With the aim to take down on such fraudsters, Delhi Police has joined hands with the National Payments Corporation of India or NPCI, the organisation behind Indias digital payments networks such as UPI, RuPay, among others.

The NPCI, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Delhi Police Cyber Cell have finally decided to immediately block the bank accounts of all such scamsters, who disappear into thin air after taking money in advance for supplying medical aid.

Delhi Police spokesperson Chinmoy Biswal reportedly noted that the city has witnessed eight such cases via its cyber cells and police stations across Delhi in the past few days. Senior officers of Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre of the MHA and NPCI too were invited to find a solution, Biswal was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

In such cases, NPCI will now freeze the bank accounts of cybercriminals based on the complaint received by the Delhi Police.

If you have been duped by scamsters in a similar fashion or know someone who has faced this tragedy, then you can file a complaint with the police by dialling 155260 or visiting www.cybercrime.gov.in. Alternatively, you can ask for help via the polices Covid helpline 011-23469900 or by dropping an email to acp-cybercell1@delhipolice.gov.in.
New Delhi: While Indias vaccination drive is facing some hiccups due to the shortage of vaccines across the country, some notorious elements are trying to cash in on the situation with their scammy malpractices.

In one such case, hackers are sending SMS claiming to offer information on vaccine updates. However, you may need to remain cautious, as links in these messages are likely to be malicious.

The malware, SMS Worm, is said to be copying the contact list after getting installed in a smartphone. Malware researcher Lukas Stefanko find out about SMS Worm. Taking it to Twitter, he claimed that Android users in India are getting infected by this malware. In a series of tweets, he also shared a few screenshots revealing how the malware attacks a smartphone via a text message.

If a user clicks on these links, then there are chances that scammers might install malware software on your smartphone, rather than providing you with any useful information about vaccines.

The malicious SMS message sent by scammers usually directs smartphone owners to download a vaccine registration app, which again is a fake app. Once the app is installed on the smartphone, itll start asking for access to contacts lists, along with permission to send and view text messages.

Australian risk intelligence firm Cyble reported that scammers could use the malware for exposing personal details and data on your smartphone, along with unauthorised deletion of files from the device as well. In its report, Cyble said,  New variants of SMS-worms for Android do not appear very often, and this particular variant is an interesting piece of malware and part of a unique attack. Besides tricking unsuspecting users into installing a worm and other software that they may not want, the worm can also use up their billing plan by automatically sending messages without their knowledge."
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee was on Wednesday sworn-in as the chief minister of West Bengal for the third consecutive term days after her party's massive win in the state assembly election 2021.

Mamata Banerjee's swearing-in ceremony took place amid strong protest by the main opposition party BJP over the post-poll violence across the state in which several people have lost their lives.

Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar administered her the oath of office and secrecy at a low-key ceremony at Raj Bhawan held amid the raging COVID pandemic.

Banerjee took the oath in the Bengali language. The rest of the cabinet and the council of ministers will be sworn in on May 9, the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.

The oath ceremony took place with Covid protocols in place at the "Throne Room" at the Raj Bhavan.

Apart from senior TMC leaders like Partha Chatterjee and Subrata Mukherjee, poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who played a key role in TMC's victory, and Banerjee's MP nephew Abhishek Banerjee were present.

Banerjee has said her first priority after resuming office will be to tackle the COVID-19 situation.

"For the last three months, the state was under the Election Commission and I did not have much say. There was a lot of inefficiency in the state system during this time. I will set up a new police system today itself and tackle the violence with the utmost firmness," Mamata Banerjee said after taking the oath of the office.

After taking the oath, Banerjee will go to the state secretariat 'Nabanna' where she will be given 'guard of honour' by Kolkata Police.

Mamata Banerjee won a landslide victory in the Bengal election to secure a third straight term. The Trinamool won 213 of 292 seats while its strongest rival, BJP, finished second with 77 seats.

She is expected to start her new term with a meeting with top officials on the Covid situation and law and order in the state.

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New Delhi: Ahead of the United State's Independence Day, President Joe Biden on Tuesday (May 4, 2021) set a goal to give COVID-19 vaccine shots to over 70 per cent of the adult Americans by July 4.

"Two months from today  two months from today, families across the country are going to celebrate the Fourth of July. Our goal by July 4th is to have 70 per cent of adult Americans with at least one shot and 160 million Americans fully vaccinated," said Biden.

Our goal by July 4th is to have 70% of adult Americans with at least one shot  and 160 million Americans fully vaccinated. Its another huge goal, and a serious step toward a return to normal. Get vaccinated, keep following CDC guidance. We can do this.  President Biden (@POTUS) May 4, 2021

The US started vaccinating American adults from April 19, two weeks earlier than the May 1 deadline announced by Biden.

The newly elected US president said that he had promised to administer 100 million COVID-19 vaccine shots in his first 100 days at the office, but his administration shattered that mark with over 220 million shots in arms.

Biden informed that almost 150 million Americans have gotten at least one shot so far, while over 105 million people are fully vaccinated.

"Among our most vulnerable population  seniors  we are nearing 85 per cent of those who have gotten their first shot. Seventy per cent of the seniors are now fully vaccinated," he stated.

Joe Biden said that the coronavirus cases are now down in 40 states in the past two weeks.

Tune in as I give an update on our COVID-19 response and vaccination program. https://t.co/uukn6LdQBH  President Biden (@POTUS) May 4, 2021

"Deaths are down dramatically since January  down over 80 per cent among seniors, which includes a drop among Hispanics of 80 per cent and among African Americans of 70 per cent of seniors," he said.

The United States, notably, is the worst coronavirus-hit country in the world with over 3.2 crore infections and 5,78,407 COVID-19 related deaths.
Mexico City: Mexico will punish those responsible for an overpass collapse that killed at least 24 people and injured dozens when a train on Mexico City`s newest metro line plunged onto a busy road below, the government said on Tuesday (May 4).

Accompanied by officials involved in the construction and maintenance of the elevated metro line that collapsed on Monday (May 3) night, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the investigation should be done quickly and that nothing should be hidden from the public.

"There`s no impunity for anyone," he told a news conference. The city has been governed since the turn of the century by former mayor Lopez Obrador and his allies.

The crash has raised wider questions about safety on one of the world`s busiest metro systems, which carries millions of people daily across the capital`s urban sprawl.

Firefighters using heavy chains to stabilize the site pulled bodies and survivors from the wreckage before lowering one dangling carriage onto a truck in the afternoon. Some 79 people were injured, including three children, authorities said.

Video on social media showed the moment when the overpass suddenly plummeted onto a stream of cars near the Olivos station in the southeast of the city at around 10:30 p.m. (0330 GMT on Tuesday), sending up clouds of dust and sparks.

Monserrat, 26, said she was at the back of the train wagon when she heard a loud noise and the lights went out.

"Everybody screamed and we fell on top of each other," she told Mexican radio.

Outside hospitals, family members grew frustrated waiting for information on relatives.

Angelica Cruz Camino, 31, said she had not heard from her husband since he was on his way home from work late Monday (May 3). She visited several hospitals and was told all victims were identified but she still had not located him by Tuesday (May 4) afternoon.

"I called and called but he wasn`t answering me. Then it was my son who realized the metro collapsed," she said outside Tlahuac public hospital. "I cannot find my husband."

SUPPORTS SHAKING

The overpass that collapsed was part of Linea 12, an addition to the network finished less than a decade ago and long plagued by allegations of corruption and structural weakness.

In 2014, just two years after it opened, several of the line`s stations were closed for structural repairs.

Four people who live in the area told Reuters they observed the support structures below the elevated tracks visibly shaking when trains crossed. Some recalled warnings about the humid soil being unfit for major construction.

After a powerful 2017 earthquake, government data show there were also damages to the line`s support columns.

"Every time I saw the train, I saw the columns and beams shake," said Victor Lara, a daily commuter on the line. "They`re not well made."

Investigations will be carried out by both the attorney general`s office and an external auditor, the government said.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent their condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the accident and Lopez Obrador declared three days of national mourning.

Lopez Obrador was mayor of the city in the early 2000s, and current mayor Claudia Sheinbaum and Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who ran the city when Linea 12 was built, are both senior members of his political movement.

Linea 12 was built by a consortium of CARSO Infraestructura y Construccion, S.A.B. de C.V (CCICSA), a company controlled by the family of Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim, Mexico`s Grupo ICA, and the Mexican unit of France`s Alstom SA.

ICA shared a chart with Reuters indicating that CCICSA was responsible for construction on the section of the line that collapsed but declined to comment further.

A spokesman for CCICSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the chart but said in an earlier statement to Reuters the company stood in solidarity with victims` families and those injured. "We are going to wait for the official expert opinion," CCICSA said.

Alstom said its involvement in the consortium was limited to certain aspects, including power supply and testing of some electromechanical work. The company said it would aid investigating authorities "in any way necessary."

Sheinbaum said it appeared a girder had given way on the overpass, which she said was inspected last year. At a later news conference, she said the collapse seemed to indicate a "structural failure."

"It is not possible to say categorically, but it seems this is what happened," Sheinbaum said.

Ebrard said it was the "most terrible" accident to have hit the local transport system, and that he was ready to cooperate with authorities in the investigation.

Both urged the public to allow investigators to do their work before seeking to apportion responsibility.

The opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party said an investigation and punishment should be carried out "wherever it leads."



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Washington: Twelve Republican lawmakers have urged the Biden administration to not support a proposal by India and South Africa before the World Trade Organisation to temporarily waive some Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) rules amid the coronavirus pandemic.

If the US gives up intellectual property rights, it will harm innovation and production, and result in fewer people getting vaccinated, the 12 influential Congressmen said in a letter to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Tuesday. The letter is in response to the proposal in this regard by 60 developing countries, led by India and South Africa.

"The United States should continue to oppose the request by India, South Africa, and other nations to waive certain portions of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) for all members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)," the letter said.

Spearheaded by Congressmen Jim Jordan and Darrell Issa, the lawmakers said the requested waiver is extraordinarily broad and unnecessary to accomplish the goal of giving as many people as possible access to vaccines and treatment for COVID-19. They claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressed US President Joe Biden to support the waiver during a phone call in early May.

Among other signatories to the letter are Steve Chabot, Louie Gohmert, Matt Gaetz, Mike Johnson, Tom Tiffany, Thomas Massie, Dan Bishop, Michelle Fischbach, Scott Fitzgerald and Cliff Bentz. "The justification for the waiver rests on an incorrect assumption that IP rights are a significant bottleneck to the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments," the letter said.

"The waiver's sponsors have presented no convincing evidence to support this assertion. Instead, the sponsors mainly just point out that relevant IP rights exist and speculate that those rights could serve as a barrier to access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments - not that IP rights have actually blocked or significantly hindered their availability," it added.

If anything, the examples of IP 'disputes' cited by the waiver sponsors generally demonstrate that IP rights have not prevented the involved parties from supplying vaccines and other medicines, the letter said.

Respect for intellectual property rights has been a cornerstone of the US trade policy for decades and should not be set aside lightly, the Republican Congressmen said.

"Although some flexibility may be warranted in emergency situations, the waiver of TRIPS IP protections requested by India, South Africa, and other countries would do little to improve public health during this critical period in the COVID-19 pandemic. The scope of the requested waiver is overbroad and unjustified in light of the economic harm it would cause and the negligible benefits it would provide,? they said in the letter.

"Existing aspects of TRIPS and global public health initiatives, along with the existing actions of key IP rights holders and innovators, make the waiver unnecessary. While considerable work can still be done to improve access to COVID-19 medicines and other innovations, that work can be done without the drastic step of suspending IP rights, and significant progress has already been made to address the real obstacles hampering the global COVID-19 response," they said.

The lawmakers argued that relevant intellectual property rights have been successfully licensed to expand access to COVID-19 innovations while maintaining IP protections. For example, the Serum Institute of India has secured licenses to produce multiple vaccines, including Astrazeneca and Novavax vaccines.

South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare has secured a license to produce the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Several vaccine makers have licensed direct competitors to increase vaccine manufacturing capacity.

Moderna has announced that it would not seek to enforce any of its COVID-related patents against other vaccine makers for the rest of the pandemic and has pledged to license its COVID-19 vaccine patents.

Gilead has licensed nine generic pharmaceutical manufacturers (including in India) to produce its COVID-19 therapeutic drug remdesivir for 127 countries, most of which are developing nations.

Moreover, TRIPS already allows countries to impose compulsory licenses to access vital IP rights, and no country has availed itself of that capability to date for COVID-19 vaccines or treatments, the lawmakers noted.

The proposed waiver is not limited to patents on vaccines or treatments for COVID-19 - the waiver would also gut protections for copyrights, industrial designs (e.G., textile patterns or other ornamental designs), and trade secrets. The waiver's supporters have only offered vague, unsubstantiated explanations for how waiving IP protections for copyrights or industrial designs would lead to an improved vaccine or therapeutics availability, they said.

It is also unclear how a waiver of TRIPS obligations would provide more access to trade secrets and proprietary technologies, which are confidential by definition and typically closely guarded, they said.

"Gifting away our technological leadership and competitive advantage at a time when the US economy remains vulnerable would be irresponsible and send the wrong message to millions of American taxpayers. The damage would extend beyond even the considerable value of COVID-19 vaccines and medicines, also endangering the far greater value of the jobs and economic growth promised by these IP rights and the advanced technologies they represent," the Republican Congressmen said in the letter.
PRESS RELEASE

5th May 2021

As the death toll and positivity rate in the wake of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic stays alarmingly high, lockdowns and other restrictions have been instituted in many parts of the country. Even though an announcement of a nationwide lockdown has not been made, work has been severely disrupted with calls for further curtailment of non-essential economic activity. The brunt of the resulting distress has once more disproportionately impacted informal workers, including migrant workers and street vendors. Traumatised by the events of last year, workers have begun returning to the safety of their hometowns and villages. The journeys back home have not been without fatalities. In a grim replay of last years tragedies, three migrant workers were killed when an overcrowded bus ferrying people from Delhi to Tikamgarh overturned. Many, however, remain stranded, without access to any social safety net.

As distress calls started trickling in, the Stranded Workers Action Network (SWAN), which was set up last year to support migrant workers, has relaunched its efforts to help these workers and provide them with micro cash transfers to meet their basic needs. Further, given the extent of the health crisis, SWAN is also disseminating public health messages and underscoring the importance of vaccinations and the need to abide by COVID-19 protocols.

Since we resumed our efforts on 21st April 2021, 51 groups/families of workers (comprising approximately 300 people) have reached out. From an average of two calls in the first week, the number of calls per day has increased by threefold in the last three days alone. The increase may partly be a result of the word about relief assistance spreading, but is also indicative of the increasing distress, especially as lockdowns get extended or become tighter. This is more so for those who have chosen to stay back. Recognising that the calls we receive may not be an accurate assessment of distress, SWAN volunteers also proactively reached out to 92 workers who contacted us last year to check in with them and understand their current livelihood and health situation. A more detailed description of the types of distress and testimonies that workers shared with SWAN volunteers is in the attached note: Capturing the distress of workers in the COVID-19 second wave.

Following is a summary of the workers conditions, based on the volunteers conversations with them:

81% of the workers we spoke to reported that work (daily and contractual) has stopped due to locally declared lockdowns. On average, workers reported that work had stopped for 19 days.

We received calls from across the country, but many were from workers in states like Delhi, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh.

68% of workers (whom we spoke to) reported that they had received their full or partial wages for the previous month. However, only 18% had received any money from their employer since the work had stopped.

Some workers have returned to their native villages, while others were unsure about whether they should go back or wait for work to resume. The inflated cost of travel has deterred many workers.

Those who have stayed back in the cities face a shortage of money for essential needs like ration, room rent, etc. 76% reported that they needed ration and/or some limited cash support.

Hearteningly, most migrants were not experiencing any serious COVID-19 related symptoms. However, many whom we also reached out to have not received vaccinations, which could be a function of age (most were below 45 years), but worryingly also because of vaccine hesitancy expressed by a few.

In his speech on 20th April, the Prime Minister (PM) urged migrant workers to stay where they are. Some Chief Ministers (CMs) have also made direct appeals, such as the Delhi CM, who assured migrant workers that they would be taken care of, saying "main hoon na". In terms of relief, so far the Union Government has announced an extension of Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) benefits to households with ration cards. While we welcome this move, the plight of migrant workers has once more been overlooked. Last years experience demonstrates that such measures alone are insufficient. As per estimates by Dreze, Khera and Mungikar, at least ten crore eligible beneficiaries do not have ration cards. In addition, many migrants do not carry their ration cards with them and cannot avail of benefits in the places to which they migrate. In a belated move last year, the Union Government was compelled to announce free rations for eight crore migrant workers. Why not the same this year? Why was there a need for a PIL to be filed in the Supreme Court once again demanding assistance for migrant workers after the crisis last year?

Our initiative this past week has documented only a section of the distress of migrant workers and extended only a fraction of the support they need. However, we hope that in sharing their experience and continuing to collate their needs, we will be able to amplify their experiences of the lockdown and make the urgent case for supporting them in their hour of need. To this end, we would recommend the following:

1. Government must ensure the extension of free ration coverage as part of Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to migrant workers.

2. Government must ensure that every primary employer strictly adheres to paying the wages to their contractors and the workers. The Labour Ministry should also immediately issue an order demanding payment of wages by employers even during lockdowns/curfews.

3. Immediately add additional funds for NREGA and increase the entitlement to 200 days per household. Some workers have been hesitant to work owing to fear of the virus. Ensure small, sanitised work groups keeping physical distancing norms, failing which, the government must pay the full wages for the period.

4. Provision of travel assistance should be made for stranded migrant workers from non-neighbouring states who wish to return home.

5. Labour Welfare Boards should pay collected cess to all registered construction workers.

6. Wage compensation of Rs. 7000/- for the next three months should be provided to all priority households/migrant workers.

7. No eviction of tenants by landlords for inability to pay rent. Like last year, orders must be issued to this effect.

8. Prioritise vaccination of migrant workers returning to their home states.

For further details, please contact:

Anindita Adhikari (9871832323) (aninditaadhikari[at]gmail.com), Zil Gala (314zilgala171217[at]gmail.com), Nitish Kumar (nitishdav12b[at]gmail.com), Prakhar Manas (prakharmanas[at]gmail.com), Seema Mundoli (9449818468), Rajendran Narayanan (9620318492) (n.rajendran[at]gmail.com), Gayatri Sahgal (gayatrisahgal[at]gmail.com), Tarangini Sriraman (9971029723)(tarangini.sriraman[at]gmail.com)
South Africa: Millions stolen by Bobroffs should be forfeited to State, court rules

The Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa has dismissed with costs the appeal by Ronald and Darren Bobroff against an order of the North Gauteng High Court granting the permanent forfeiture of more than R103 million.

This came after an application by the National Prosecuting Authoritys (NPA) Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in August 2019.

In a statement, the NPA on Tuesday said the order was the result of brilliant cooperation between the South African and Israeli authorities.

The High Court in 2019 ordered that the money be paid into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) of the state.

The order was granted in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), which provides that property that is used to commit a crime can be forfeited to the state.

The amount is held in two bank accounts in Israel in the names of Ronald and Darren Bobroff who fled South Africa in March 2016 for Australia. This is after irregularities were uncovered at Ronald Bobroff & Partners Inc (RBP), an attorneys firm specialising in personal injury claims. The Bobroffs were directors at RBP, the NPA said.

The NPA said this was based on two issues: firstly, whether or not the high court in Pretoria, which granted the order, had jurisdiction to make a forfeiture order in terms of the POCA in respect of assets situated outside the territory of South Africa which belonged to persons who were currently residents in Australia.

Secondly, whether the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), had established that the money forfeited was proceeds of unlawful activities as defined in the POCA.

The appeal was dismissed on both counts but the affected amount was amended.

The case relates to multiple fee agreements entered into by the Bobroffs with their clients. In some instances, said the NPA, up to three agreements were signed with each client.

The Bobroffs modus operandi was to convince clients to enter into these agreements. The clients were unaware that these agreements were in actual fact null and void and that they were used as a tool by the Bobroffs to commit fraud, theft and tax evasion.

In addition, the Bobroffs invested a substantial amount of RBPs monies in an investment account. The account was, however, not reflected as a trust creditor account in RBPs trust accounting records. The money in the investment account provided the Bobroffs with an opportunity to avoid the taxation of the interest earned on the monies invested as well as with an opportunity to launder funds without being detected, reads the statement.

The NPA said Israeli authorities initially froze the money in the bank accounts after they became suspicious about transactions being conducted on the accounts by the Bobroffs.

The court found that, in all probability, the money in the bank accounts represents the proceeds of unlawful activities, namely, fraud and/or theft and/or money laundering and that the Bobroffs, in all probability, laundered funds of their clients into the accounts in Israel.

Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions in charge of the AFU, Adv Ouma Rabaji-Rasethaba, expressed delight at the latest court outcome.

The judgementgives us a shot in the arm in our quest to bring back stolen money that is outside the country. We shall embark on mutual legal assistance (MLA) endeavours to bring back the money. Theres no hiding place for the fruits of criminal acts, she said.

She further warned that attorneys who defraud the most vulnerable would not get away with their illegal acts.

They must not think that they can steal and hide abroad, she said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-05-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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TESS full-frame image in the cadence just before the BAT trigger (left) and at the peak flux of the burst (center). The emergence of the afterglow is apparent in the center of the image, indicated by the white arrow. The right panel shows the same region of the sky, with a slightly different orientation, in the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS); a small inset of TESS image is provided in the bottom left corner to demonstrate the change in orientation. CREDIT The Astrophysical Journal

NASA has a long tradition of unexpected discoveries, and the space program's TESS mission is no different.

SMU astrophysicist and her team have discovered a particularly bright gamma-ray burst using a NASA telescope designed to find exoplanets - those occurring outside our solar system - particularly those that might be able to support life.

It's the first time a gamma-ray burst has been found this way.

Gamma-ray bursts are the brightest explosions in the universe, typically associated with the collapse of a massive star and the birth of a black hole. They can produce as much radioactive energy as the sun will release during its entire 10-billion-year existence.

Krista Lynne Smith, an assistant professor of physics at Southern Methodist University, and her team confirmed the blast - called GRB 191016A - happened on Oct. 16 and also determined its location and duration. A study on the discovery has been published in The Astrophysical Journal.

"Our findings prove this TESS telescope is useful not just for finding new planets, but also for high-energy astrophysics," said Smith, who specializes in using satellites like TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) to study supermassive black holes and gas that surrounds them. Such studies shed light on the behavior of matter in the deeply warped spacetime around black holes and the processes by which black holes emit powerful jets into their host galaxies.

Smith calculated that GRB 191016A had a peak magnitude of 15.1, which means it was 10,000 times fainter than the faintest stars we can see with the naked eyes.

That may sound quite dim, but the faintness has to do with how far away the burst occurred. It is estimated that light from GRB 191016A's galaxy had been travelling 11.7 billion years before becoming visible in the TESS telescope.

Most gamma ray bursts are dimmer - closer to 160,000 times fainter than the faintest stars.

The burst reached its peak brightness sometime between 1,000 and 2,600 seconds, then faded gradually until it fell below the ability of TESS to detect it some 7000 seconds after it first went off.

This gamma-ray burst was first detected by a NASA's satellite called Swift-BAT, which was built to find these bursts. But because GRB 191016A occurred too close to the moon, the Swift-BAT couldn't do the necessary follow-up it normally would have to learn more about it until hours later.

NASA's TESS happened to be looking at that same part of the sky. That was sheer luck, as TESS turns its attention to a new strip of the sky every month.

While exoplanet researchers at a ground-base for TESS could tell right away that a gamma-ray burst had happened, it would be months before they got any data from the TESS satellite on it. But since their focus was on new planets, these researchers asked if any other scientists at a TESS conference in Sydney, Australia were interested in doing more digging on the blast.

Smith was one of the few high-energy astrophysics specialists there at that time and quickly volunteered.

"The TESS satellite has a lot of potential for high-energy applications, and this was too good an example to pass up," she said. High-energy astrophysics studies the behavior of matter and energy in extreme environments, including the regions around black holes, powerful relativistic jets, and explosions like gamma-ray bursts.

TESS is an optical telescope that collects light curves on everything in its field of view, every half hour. Light curves are a graph of light intensity of a celestial object or region as a function of time. Smith analyzed three of these light curves to be able to determine how bright the burst was.

She also used data from ground-based observatories and the Swift gamma-ray satellite to determine the burst's distance and other qualities about it.

"Because the burst reached its peak brightness later and had a peak brightness that was higher than most bursts, it allowed the TESS telescope to make multiple observations before the burst faded below the telescope's detection limit," Smith said. "We've provided the only space-based optical follow-up on this exceptional burst."

###

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The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has announced that 17 private healthcare service providers will now provide vaccination services to the community in addition to all DHA vaccination centres.

Dr Farida Al Khaja, CEO of Clinical Support Services and Nursing Sector at the DHA and Chairperson of the Covid-19 Vaccination Steering Committee, said: "The vaccines will continue to be provided free-of-cost. Extending the vaccination drive in partnership with private healthcare providers aims to expand capacity and enhance access and convenience for the public. The private health sector is a key partner in our drive to ensure excellence in patient-centred care."

Apart from citizens and Dubai residence holders, GCC nationals who have an Emirates ID and elderly residents above 60 years who live in Dubai but have a residency of another emirate can also receive the vaccine, a WAM report said.

To book an appointment at any DHA vaccine facility, customers should download the DHA app. Those above 60 years can call 800 342 to book an appointment.

For private health sector facilities, customers must directly contact the facility of their choice to book the vaccine.

The two vaccines presently available are: Pfizer BioNTech and Sinopharm.

All those who are scheduled to receive the second dose of their Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will continue to receive it. Their appointment will be either in Al Garhoud Medical Fitness Centre or Al Twar Dialysis Centre.

DHA Vaccination Centres Vaccine type One Central Covid-19 Vaccination Centre Pfizer-BioNTech Al Barsha Health Centre Pfizer-BioNTech Za'abeel Health Centre Pfizer-BioNTech Al Mankhool Health Centre Sinopharm Al Safa Health Centre Sinopharm Dubai Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Pfizer-BioNTech Al Barsha Hall Vaccination Centre Pfizer-BioNTech Nadd Al Hamar Health Centre Sinopharm Al Twar Health Centre Sinopharm Al Mizhar Health Centre Pfizer-BioNTech Uptown Occupational Health Screening Centre Pfizer-BioNTech Al Garhoud Medical Fitness Centre - After May 10 Pfizer-BioNTech Al Twar Dialysis Centre - After May 10 Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine type Private Health Centres for Covid-19 Vaccination: Sinopharm Al Futtaim Health Hub Sinopharm AL GARHOUD PRIVATE HOSPITAL LLC Sinopharm AL ZAHRA HOSPITAL Sinopharm American Hospital Sinopharm Aster Hospital Sinopharm Burjeel Hospital Sinopharm CANADIAN SPECIALIST HOSPITAL Sinopharm Emirates Hospital, Jumeirah Sinopharm INTERNATIONAL MODERN HOSPITAL Sinopharm Kings College Hospital Sinopharm MEDCARE ORTHOPAEDICS & SPINE HOSPITAL Sinopharm MEDICLINIC Sinopharm NMC Royal Hospital Sinopharm PRIME HOSPITAL L.L.C Sinopharm Saudi German Hospital Sinopharm Valiant Healthcare L.L.C.

Sinopharm VIP Doctor 247 DMCC Al Khaja added that in addition to all these centres, DHA and Mohammed bin Rashid University for Health Sciences ( MBRU) are continuing their Wellness on Wheels initiative which features two mobile clinics that provide vaccination to the elderly, labourers and underprivileged members of society. DHA also has a mobile vaccination drive in place for government agencies.

Additionally, DHA is providing home vaccination services in cooperation with Dubai Ambulance Corporation and Community Development Authority.

She added that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is also available at the Dubai Parks Health Centre and the Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital. -- TradeArabia News Service
Saudi-based Riyad Bank has signed an agreement with Bab Al-Khair Medical Services Company for the establishment of a non-profit hospital in Makkah.

The move, which is part of Riyad Banks CSR strategy Bukra, is aimed at strengthening the role of the private sector and develop non-profit initiatives within the framework of Community Partnership Programs in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030.

Riyad Bank supports community initiatives for many institutions and associations which are implemented according to the best local and international standards.

Based on its comprehensive CSR strategy, the standards have been set in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The project, which is located in Makkah, is currently in the construction phase, said Engineer Sobhi Batterjee, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bait Al Batterjee Foundation after signing the deal with Naif bin Mansoor Shalabi, Regional Manager of the Western Region at Riyad Bank in the presence of official representatives from both sides.

More non-profit health and education community initiatives will be introduced across the country in the coming period, Batterjee added.-TradeArabia News Service
Quara Holding has announced a strategic partnership with CRMNEXT, Worlds No. 1 CRM and digital customer experience platform in banking and financial services, bringing world-class digital transformation solutions to Saudi Arabia.

CRM and customer experience management is a growing sector in the kingdom, especially in highly regulated industries such as finance, banking, and insurance. This partnership will allow Quara Holding to deliver the latest innovations in the digital and customer engagement space.

The strategic alliance between CRMNEXT and Quara Holding will help enterprises to reevaluate their on-going operations and adapt to new market challenges with multiple out-of-box solutions on a flexible deployment strategy i.e. public cloud/private cloud hosted out of KSA or on  premise.

CRMNEXT products and services will bring unparalleled benefits to the Saudi market in AI driven and cloud-based digital transformation solutions. This partnership brings together deep skills and capabilities in terms of strategy, product ideation and hyper scalable deployments to deliver high impact customer experience and relationship management solutions across complete customer lifecycle including marketing, sales, cross selling and servicing for banking, insurance and financial services.

For Quara Holdings users this translates into real business value, including smarter digital acquisition journeys with instant fulfillment, intelligent bots and extreme self-service capabilities. CRMNEXT solutions anticipate retail and corporate needs in advance, delivering customised, prequalified offers and digital journeys that enhance customer experience and loyalty.

In addition its AI driven visual digital journey designers and accelerators enable personalised sales and service offerings with significantly faster turnaround times and lower operational costs.

Quara Holding, CEO Ziad El Chaar said: The demand for world-class CRM solutions in Saudi Arabia is growing and is one of the most overlooked products in the Saudi markets. We have already signed deals with Dar Al Arkan, Saudi Home Loans, and Quara Finance and we are looking to onboard more customers in 2021. We are, therefore, delighted to announce our strategic partnership with CRMNEXT. It will combine our expertise of working with the highly regulated finance, banking, and insurance markets in Saudi with CRMNEXTs transformational integrator solutions programmes, leading to substantial competitive advantage for our clients.

El Chaar added: The result will be locally-hosted CRMNEXT solutions that enable companies in Saudi to provide better customer service, operate more efficiently and ensure data is safe and secure.

CRMNEXT Director- Sushil Tyagi said: We are very optimistic and have envisioned great things in this alliance with Quara Holding to fully transform the Customer engagement and Strategy landscape of the kingdom. Saudi Arabia is the fastest developing hub of innovation in the region and we would like to be the forerunners in this transformation drive. We look forward to leverage our deep global experience in delivering high impact customer experience and relationship innovation solutions to power enterprises with AI and cloud capabilities for faster and profitable growth.

Regional Head Vishal Khurana added: CRMNEXT is excited to embark on its new strategic partnership journey with Quara Holdings, as we seek to secure a stronger foothold in the kingdom. Importantly, the partnership strategically aligns CRMNEXT for its long-term and commitment to the region by enhancing solution for the local market and to create the talent pool in the kingdom. -- TradeArabia News Service
dnata, a leading global air services provider, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Blue Aqua Food Tech (Blue Aqua) to boost food security in Singapore.

The partnership will see Blue Aqua recycle organic waste from dnata's catering and ground handling operations into alternative insect protein for aquafeeds, a WAM report said.

Blue Aqua's innovative bioconversion solution processes underutilised nutrients from the leftovers that can be transformed into quality insect proteins for aquacultural use. The bioconversion is a virtuous circle that makes the insect protein a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional fishmeal.

Compared to traditional protein, insect protein is a sustainable solution with low land, water, and carbon footprint, offering a very high yield. The partnership will supply Singapore's farmers with sustainable access to domestically produced animal feed, which is traditionally imported.

The MoU is the starting point to a deeper partnership between Blue Aqua and dnata, which will look into the development and implementation of a "Zero Waste" master plan. The air services provider will also add Blue Aqua to its list of suppliers to purchase locally farmed seafood for its catering operations.

Dirk Goovaerts, dnata's Regional CEO for Asia Pacific, said: "We are delighted to partner with Blue Aqua to further decrease food waste and support the local food production supply chain. This initiative will help us minimise our environmental footprint whilst delivering the highest value for our customers and the communities around us."

Dr Farshad Shishehchian, CEO & Founder of Blue Aqua International Group, said: "Blue Aqua has been a strong advocate for sustainable and practical farming since its inception, so this partnership with dnata is a perfect fit. We are excited to grow our efforts in food technology to develop a circular economy in aquaculture globally through our network, starting with Singapore."

The global population is expected to reach 9.9 billion by 2050, and food production has to increase by 70% to fulfil this demand. This is further implicated by food security concerns worldwide and the rapid degradation of valuable farmland.

Waste management is a global issue that governments and companies are racing to solve. Singapore imports more than 90% of its food, yet, its food waste amounts to 744,000 tonnes annually. Today, less than 20% of Singapore's food waste is recycled. -- TradeArabia News Service
The World Logistics Passport (WLP), a unique loyalty programme established to increase trading opportunities between emerging markets, is expanding in Vietnam.

The Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA), a leading trade body, has registered as a partner and signing a framework agreement. Vietnams status as a WLP Hub builds on the signing of a Multimodal Trade Cooperation Agreement between Dubais Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) and the VLA in 2019, a statement said.

Vietnam is the fifth country in Asia to commit to the WLP, after Thailand, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and India. More than 10 countries are now part of the major policy initiative  with global trading Mega-Hubs including Brazil, India, and South Africa, amongst others. Major multinational corporations including UPS, Pfizer, Sony, Johnson & Johnson, and LG have also signed up.

The VLA connects domestic and foreign freight forwarders, transport, and logistics service providers  contributing to the cultivation of industry and enterprise in Vietnam, as well as the countrys overall economic performance. As one of the most dynamic emerging economies in East Asia, Vietnams GDP per capita increased by 2.7 times between 2002 and 2018, lifting more than 45 million people out of poverty, according to World Bank figures.

Latest estimations show the economy is set to grow 6.6 percent in 2021, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The VLA was selected by Vietnams Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, to implement a series of objectives to grow the country's logistics industry under its Action Plan for Enhancing Competitiveness and Development of Logistics Services  including bringing the industry's contribution to GDP up to 10%.

Signed by Le Duy Hiep, Chair of the VLA, the framework agreement follows the leading trade bodys registration as a partner and endorses the WLPs mission to strengthen and grow trade between regions and countries. Le Duy Hiep said: Trade is critical to our countrys continued economic prosperity in the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic. The successful implementation of this Agreement will surely enhance the relationship between our two countries and contribute to developing the trade between Vietnam and the rest of the world.

As part of the WLP, we look forward to expanding our commitment to current logistics trading partners as well as new partners in the region and beyond as we gain access to new markets and diversify trade. In addition, we welcome the opportunity to strengthen and build relationships with other parties in the WLP, as we collaborate, sharing knowledge and skills.

Mike Bhaskaran, CEO, WLP, said: In 2021, weve seen the WLP go from strength to strength  validating a concept conceived at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2020. As we approach our inaugural WLP Global Summit later this year, which will chart the way forward for the future of freight and logistics, Im proud were expanding in Vietnam and welcoming the VLA on board.

Core to the WLPs strategy is the integration of land, sea and air freight. Vietnam fits well with our multimodal approach, as its an exporter of high-value, low-weight goods  with broadcasting and telephone equipment among its top exports currently, and textile and leather goods expected to increase. As an influential trade body, we hope the extensive membership of the VLA will support the WLP in its ambitions to welcome more local members into the programme.

The WLP creates opportunities for businesses across Africa, Asia, Central and South America to improve existing trading routes, and develop new ones, through the worlds first logistics loyalty programme for freight forwarders and traders. It overcomes non-tariff trade barriers by fast-tracking cargo movement, reducing administrative costs, advancing cargo information and facilitating movement between ports and air.TradeArabia News Service
The final International Participants Meeting (IPM) of Expo 2020 Dubai began yesterday (May 4), attracting 370 delegates from around the globe, demonstrating that Dubai is open for business and ready to welcome the world.



Expos sixth IPM is the final gathering of nations, multilateral organisations, academic institutions, and corporations before Expo 2020 Dubai opens in October, reported Emirates news agency Wam.



The attendees, representing 173 of Expos 190-plus participating countries and 24 participating organisations, gathered physically at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo 2020 Dubai  the first event to be held at the world-class, multipurpose venue.



Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director-General of the Expo 2020 Dubai Office, said: "Our meetings today and tomorrow are the largest and most important before the launch of the expo. This technical coordination meeting is being attended by 370 delegates from 173 countries, underscoring the worlds confidence in the ability of the UAE and Dubais capacity to host the expo after five months, and, most importantly, their confidence in the UAEs health system. The UAE has proven to the world that it can overcome difficulties and challenges."



"His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, directed us to impress the world. Therefore, we have implemented mega projects and constructed a new city. Moreover, the event will witness an unprecedented international presence, as over 190 countries have confirmed their participation despite the Covid-19 pandemic and the dire conditions affecting the world, she added.



"As everyone knows, the UAE had to postpone the expo for one year, but now, the presence of international delegations and their participation highlights their confidence in our ability to host the event in October 2021.



Their confidence affirms their belief in the UAEs effective management of the event and all teams representing the Dubai Health Authority, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the police, and all relevant federal and local authorities, which are cooperating to implement the vision of the countrys leadership," she further added.



On the expos preparations in line with the Covid-19 pandemic and related precautionary measures, Al Hashemy said: '' We are keen to adopt appropriate safety procedures and the importance of wearing facemasks and maintaining social distancing.'' All delegations have undergone PCR tests before travelling to the expos location, and all employees have taken the Covid-19 vaccine, she affirmed, while stressing the importance of adhering to related precautionary measures, especially when receiving delegations and guests.



She concluded that all Expo 2020 Dubai staff underwent Covid-19 vaccine.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has implemented an initiative to drive efficiencies in its tendering process to enhance its approach to procurement and maximise value for the company and its community of suppliers and service providers.



The program standardizes the terms and conditions for the procurement of drilling and oilfield goods and services across Adnocs entire value chain. As a result, all of Adnocs pre-qualified bidders are now subject to the same terms and conditions in competitive tendering, reducing the timeline for legal negotiations from months to weeks.



To deliver this first of its kind strategic initiative, Adnocs Legal Function, supported by its Upstream and Commercial & In-Country Value Directorates, developed global and oil and gas industry standard best practice terms and conditions for drilling and oilfield goods and services to support procurement of Adnocs entire value chain, sought feedback on commercial, risk and operational requirements from Adnocs pre-qualified community of goods and services providers and negotiated Adnocs standardized terms with the entire market.



Jasim M. Saeed, Senior Vice President, Group Procurement at Adnoc, said: This initiative significantly speeds up Adnocs tendering process. The approach underscores our efforts to drive commerciality across our business and proactively respond to the demands of a fast-evolving energy landscape. We are very pleased to have completed this initiative in a timely manner and we continue to work on identifying more win-win solutions for us and our contractors and suppliers to enhance value as we deliver our 2030 strategy.



The program strategically positions Adnoc as a global industry leader for best-in-class oilfield procurement. It also strengthens Adnocs relationships with its suppliers and contributes to more efficient operations, which ultimately maximizes the value from every barrel it produces.



Over 1,100 international principal companies and United Arab Emirates (UAE) agent companies have signed up to the program. The initiative was negotiated by Adnocs Legal Function outside of the tender cycle and completed in only two months, ensuring there was no impact on Adnocs operations. Some of Adnocs largest providers of oilfield goods and services, including Baker Hughes, Halliburton, Schlumberger, and Weatherford, have signed up to the program.



Samir Al Gharbi, General Manager of Gulf Automation Services & Oilfield Supplies, said: This initiative is yet another remarkable reminder that Adnoc continuously evolves and adapts its business vision and strategies to increase efficiency and boost productivity and also provide a win-win solution for its suppliers. Standardizing the procurement terms and conditions across Adnocs value chain has drastically reduced the tendering cycle from months to just weeks. We believe that applying the same terms and conditions for all prequalified bidders are a very helpful and practical tendering methodology.



Atif Arikat, Managing Director of Al Ghaith Oilfield Supplies & Services, said: It was our pleasure to have had the opportunity to participate in the excellent initiative of Adnoc to standardize the procurement terms and conditions which had a positive impact on the Adnocs tendering process. This initiative further strengthened the relationship between Adnoc and its business partners due to the dialogue and discussions that took place to streamline the procurement terms and conditions which resulted in shortening the tendering process by avoiding clarifications and deviations on the terms and conditions.



Kamel Jammeli, Vice President of Sales at Al Mansoori Specialized Engineering, said: Standardizing the terms and conditions reduces the tender cycle period, wherein all the contractual terms and conditions are aligned and will require minimal involvement of legal advice during the actual tendering phase. Our entities in the UAE and principals abroad will be able to better concentrate on commercial matters and scope of services rather than legal aspects. This approach initiated by Adnoc is advanced and unique.



Regina Jones, Chief Legal Officer at Baker Hughes, said: We were pleased to participate in this process to standardize the procurement terms and conditions and we look forward to continuing to supply Adnoc with technologies and services that take energy forward, making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet.



Hans Klampferer, Vice President, Middle East & North Africa at Weatherford, said: Weatherford was pleased to be offered the opportunity to review and provide feedback and suggestions on Adnocs terms and conditions across its numerous transaction-specific templates. With the successful completion of this initiative, the contracting process with Adnoc has been greatly simplified and made more efficient and transparent.



Hichem Bouhlel, Managing Director at Schlumberger, said: We are very pleased to have had such great engagement with Adnoc on this initiative and thank them for their open and progressive discussions throughout this well-structured process. We believe the resulting alignment around a set of optimized contractual terms and conditions will further enhance our strategic partnership and result in an efficient and sustainable contracting process allowing Schlumberger to focus on delivering the best solutions to Adnoc.



Adnoc plans to expand the initiative to include process technology licensing agreements and construction agreements as it builds on the success of this first phase.  TradeArabia News Service
???? El @DiarioElPeruano recibe la declaracion de Memoria del Peru de la Unesco. https://t.co/AAp6FWRmAs



"Es parte importante de la historia republicana del pais", declara el director del diario, Felix Paz (@fpaz12). pic.twitter.com/5JI88q0pqT
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With travel restrictions easing across the world, Carrefour  owned and operated by Majid Al Futtaim in the UAE  has opened a new store at the worlds busiest international airport, DXB, to make shopping more convenient than ever. Located in the arrivals area of DXBs Terminal 3, the 24-hour store opened its doors on Thursday 4 May, offering high-quality products for tourists, frequent fliers and the local community.

Commenting on the launch, Bernardo Perloiro, Chief Operating Officer of Carrefour at Majid Al Futtaim Retail, said: As a brand famous for welcoming the people of the UAE at its stores for the last 25 years, we are thrilled to be greeting travelers as they arrive at DXB. The new Carrefour store in Terminal 3 will offer a superior range of quality products to serve international jet-setters and residents waiting to welcome their loved ones home.

The 436 square-metre Carrefour store will offer over 3,000 items including delicious snacks, hot beverages, and everything one could possibly need to recover after a long flight. There will be a dedicated area for food-to-go, with ready-to-eat delicacies such as salads, sushi and sandwiches made fresh each day as well as a dining section for those looking to sit down and relax.

Eugene Barry, Dubai Airports Executive Vice President - Commercial, commented: As the primary gateway to Dubai, Terminal 3 arrivals at DXB is an incredibly important part of our airport, and for many of our guests, it is their first taste of Dubai and the UAE. When we were redesigning the arrivals area, we carefully selected service and hospitality partners who shared this vision. We are delighted to work alongside Majid Al Futtaim, and to welcome Carrefour to the DXB family. At Dubai Airports, we are heavily focused on responding to travellers needs through meaningful products and services, and we look forward to this new concept appealing to both inbound visitors and returning residents alike.

Responding to Dubai Internationals advanced digital efficiencies, Carrefour is equipping the new store with the very latest technology such as self-checkout, Electronic Shelf Labels, Smart checkout, and Mobile Scan&Go to enhance traffic flow. This will offer an unmatched customer experience for travellers, providing a warm, Dubai welcome as they arrive at Terminal 3.-- TradeArabia News Service
According to the Prime Minister, over 1.2 million people have received the first dose and 650,000 have already received the second, thus exceeding 1.8 million doses to date.

Remarks were made during a press conference held at the Government Palace in Lima.

Titular de la PCM: los dias jueves y viernes llegaran, en total, 700 mil dosis de vacunas Pfizer. Y en similar cantidad cada semana durante este mes. Adicionalmente, se iran sumando dosis adquiridas de otros laboratorios hasta completar los 60 millones. pic.twitter.com/Fnq1FFfcia

?? En vivo | La titular de la PCM, acompanada por ministros de Estado, brinda conferencia de prensa para informar a la ciudadania sobre los acuerdos tomados en sesion del Consejo de Ministros para la lucha contra la pandemia.https://t.co/AE2jjTD29e
???? Buenas noticias para el Peru!

Hemos cerrado un nuevo contrato con Pfizer por 12 millones de dosis adicionales. El Peru cuenta con un total de 60 millones de dosis aseguradas hasta fin de ano para seguir vacunando.#ConfianzaYEsperanza pic.twitter.com/02wtXTl1Uk
" " The Bullseye Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus soror) is bright yellow/orange with purple claws and a characteristic blue bullseye dot on each side of its body. Wikimedia Commons (CC BY SA 3.0)

Being called a shrimp doesn't exactly make you known for having sizable strength or an intimidating presence. But there's one little weird wonder of the sea  the pistol shrimp  that crushes the stereotype in a dramatic way. It's so powerful it not only shoots and annihilates its prey; it has thrown the U.S. Navy off track, landed a superhero role on Netflix and even helped researchers make strides in fighting climate change. Pistol shrimp, also known as snapping shrimp, earn their sea cred by creating something that's seemingly childlike and innocuous: bubbles. But these definitely aren't your ordinary bubbles  they make a sound louder than a gun and generate massive amounts of heat.

Pistol shrimp "shoot" these deadly bubbles to kill prey, jackhammer into rock to create burrows or protect said burrows from other, jealous shrimp. They have no need for a fancy holster or to stock up on ammo  their gun is built right into their one, oversized snapper claw that can grow to be half the size of their tiny body.

The monstrous sound isn't actually caused by the parts of the claw impacting each other. As the shrimp open their large snapper claw, water fills the small crook. Upon closing the claw with impressive force, a plunger-like piece shoots the water out at speeds as fast as a car traveling down the highway. This creates a powerful bubble that not only kills what's in its path but creates a ridiculously loud sound when it pops. Here are six fun facts about the pistol shrimp:

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1. Their Bubble Bullets Are Louder Than a Gun and Hotter than Lava

These sharp-shooting crustaceans are far from quiet  their bubbles have measured in at 218 decibels, which is louder than a speeding bullet. To us humans the sound isn't actually that loud, but that's due to the blast only lasting a tiny fraction of a second.

When the bubble pops, it generates heat that reaches 8,000 degrees Fahrenheit (4,427 degrees Celsius), four times hotter than lava. The heat dissipates at rapid speed so there are no lasting effects (except to the unfortunate small creature that felt its burn).

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2. They (Almost) Interfered with WWII

The powerful pistol shrimp threw an unlikely wrench into the U.S. Navy's defense plan during World War II. The snap-crackle-pop sound began interfering with sonar used to detect enemy ships, causing the sailors to bring in researchers from the University of California Division of War Research. Luckily they sorted out the source and recorded the shrimp's sounds to train sonar operators to recognize them as sea denizens rather than enemies.

Yet while at times troublesome to us humans, the sound created by pistol shrimp isn't always problematic. It can reflect the health of the coral reef since lots of hunting means lots of life and a balanced ecosystem. The noise can also help other sea creatures navigate the area.

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3. Their Snapping Mechanism Helps Researchers Create a Source of Clean Energy

Pistol shrimp are inspiring researchers in England as they work to replicate the process that heats up the sun, fusion power, to create an abundance of clean, safe energy  giving a big boost to the fight against climate change. Fusion power needs a high-velocity projectile to create a shockwave and collapse a plasma-filled cavity, and the pistol shrimp are the only creatures on Earth who naturally have such powers.

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4. They Can Regrow a Lost Appendage AND Switch Weapon Hands

The monstrous snapper claw indeed does all the dirty work, but the smaller claw has some superpowers of its own. If attacked, pistol shrimp will let go of their huge snapper for self-preservation. Luckily, they'll not only grow a new one; their original small pincer will begin to transform itself into a large snapper claw. This gives them a head start in getting back on the path to shooting bubbles.

" " Researchers named a newly discovered species of pistol shrimp after their favorite British rock band  Pink Floyd. The Synalpheus pinkfloydi boasts a bright pink snapping claw and makes its home (and colorful fashion statement) in the Pacific waters off the coast of Panama. Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

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5. Despite Their Reputation for Danger, They Can Be Quite Cooperative

Many species of pistol shrimp live in clusters, likely as a form of protection. And a few species work together with other types of animals. Pistol shrimp are known to give gobies, a type of small fish, a place to live in exchange for help watching out for danger.

Pistol shrimp most often live in coral reefs and beds of sea grass. Duck your head under water in temperate and tropical regions, and you'll likely hear from one of the more than 600 species that exist around the globe.

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6. Netflix Gave Them a Starring Role as a Superhero

In the film "Project Power," created by Netflix, the character played by Jamie Foxx is granted a few minutes of pistol shrimp power to turn raindrops into high-speed jets that decimate anything in their path. Who knew such a little critter could make such a big impact on the big screen?

There's no doubt these gun toting invertebrates are a standout under the sea. Whether they're shooting the enemy or playing nice with their allies, they're one of nature's loudest  and most fascinating  critters. Next time you're in tropical waters, dip down and enjoy the sounds of the curious, crackling chorus.

Now That's Interesting Size does indeed matter in the world of the pistol shrimp. Its powerful snapper claw can deter predators looking to steal the shrimps burrow and a larger claw also makes males more attractive to females, suggesting greater suitability as a mate.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. The report of the parliamentary commission investigating the circumstances of the 2016 April War is being discussed by lawmakers at a closed session.

Lawmakers earlier approved the decision to hold a closed session for the discussion because the report includes classified information.

The commission was set up on May 31 in 2019 and is headed by Andranik Kocharyan, the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security Affairs.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. The parliamentary commission investigating the circumstances of the 2016 April War succeeded in finding answers to the main questions and studying important documents, but the picture isnt complete because one person refused to make an appearance at the hearings, according to Member of Parliament Andranik Kocharyan, the Chair of the Defense and Security Affairs Committee who heads the investigative commission.

Kocharyan told reporters that the commission did an unprecedented work in the history of all parliaments of Armenia. He said that the report is classified but persons having security clearance can have access to all recordings and materials.

I think that with time many episodes of the report will be available to the public after being de-classified, he said. Kocharyan said Speaker of Parliament Ararat Mirzoyan suggested him to publicize the unclassified parts.

Kocharyan says the next phase of the work should involve prosecutors and investigative bodies looking into the report.

There are many important episodes in the report related to the arsenal, the management, political decisions, as well as shortcomings in decision-making and its reasons, Kocharyan said.

He said he believes that the 2020 war was the continuation of the 2016 April War, and that they should try to find an answer to the question whether or not there is a connection.

He also mentioned Yuri Khachaturov, the General who served as Chief of General Staff in 2016. According to Kocharyan, Khachaturov is the only person from all summoned ex-officials who refused to attend the hearings. Kocharyan says Khachaturovs testimony wouldve completed the puzzle.

Asked by reporters to clarify what they were trying to find out from Khachaturov, the MP said: What hed said in Moscow.

I find our biggest shortcoming to be the non-attendance of one person, he said, describing Khachaturovs refusal as mysterious.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says he feels well and there havent been any changes in his health after getting the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.

I am very happy to note that our high-ranking government officials are setting an example for getting vaccinated, Pashinyan said at a meeting at the healthcare ministry, referring to the Cabinet members whove already received the first shot of the vaccine.

I myself received the vaccine, and I can say that I havent had any change in my wellbeing after getting the shot. After getting vaccinated I was in parliament before cameras for several hours, he said.

Pashinyan says hes inquired from all his Cabinet members and other officials whove gotten vaccinated and everyone said theyve been feeling well.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. A mobile COVID-19 vaccination site has been dispatched to the Northern Avenue in downtown Yerevan, the health ministry said. It said they cooperated with Yerevan City Hall in forming the group.

All persons aged 18 and above are eligible for getting the vaccine.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
STEPANAKERT, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan visited on May 4 Haterki subregion of Martakert and Aknaberd community in Shahumyan region, the Presidential Office told Armenpress.

The President of the Republic met with the locals and the community leaders, discussing the current problems facing the communities, their solution ways and a number of programs directed for infrastructure development.

The President noted that the construction works will continue in Getavan, Zardakhach, Haterk, Zaglik, Chapar and Aknaberd aimed at constructing houses for the families displaced due to the recent war. In this respect he gave concrete instructions for the proper fulfillment of these works.

As for the security environment, Arayik Harutyunyan once again stated that Artsakh is trying to solve the problems of the field, combining the efforts of the Defense Army, Armenia and the Russian peacekeeping troops, and supports the peaceful solution of all problems.

The international recognition of the Republic of Artsakh has been and remains on the agenda, he said.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
The Health Tourism Department of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) successfully organised the first group meeting for members of Dubai Health Experience (DXH).

The meeting, which was held virtually and discussed various initiatives and efforts to continue enhancing Dubai's position as a premier health tourism destination.

Mohamed Al Mheiri, Director, Dubai Health Tourism Department, DHA, pointed out that the DXH.ae website received more than 30,000 unique users on a quarterly basis in 2020--searching for key specialties such as dental, cosmetic ophthalmology and fertility treatments. The DXH portal provides comprehensive information about health tourism services, member offerings and complete details that you would need when planning a journey to Dubai for health tourism purposes.

Dubais growing preference placed in the emirate for health tourism attributed to the presence of advanced infrastructure developed for healthcare and the various wellness pursuits, which follows the vision of consolidating Dubai's position as a global health and wellness destination.

He added, Dubai is ranked as the number one medical tourism destination in the Arab world and among the top six medical tourism destinations in the world in 2020--a result of the combined efforts of both public and private sector. In addition, the medical tourism demographics show that 37 per cent from Asian countries, 28 per cent from Arab and Gulf countries, 17 per cent of visitors are from Europe, 10 per cent from the Americas, and the remaining 10 per cent are from other parts of the world.

Jeff Strachan, Business Development Director, Dubai College of Tourism, Dubai Tourism, introduced the new online training programme on health tourism that was developed in partnership with the Dubai College of Tourism. The course aims to simplify the understanding of health tourism, as well the citys diverse offerings, and interested candidates can follow the course from anywhere in the world.

The course, which is now available via the online training platform, Dubai Way, aims to provide an enriching learning experience as well as share the latest information about the city of Dubai and its health tourism offerings.

The Introduction to Health Tourism course offers practical guidance via interactive videos, activities and specially designed assessments to help professionals learn about the globally recognized standards of the health tourism journey. The course also provides information about Dubai's diverse destination offerings for an enhanced experience for the health tourist during the treatment period.

Essa Bin Hadher, General Manager of Dubai College of Tourism, also commented: The effective management of the pandemic across the city under the guidance of our visionary leadership has helped highlight the world-class health infrastructure, systems and services that are available in Dubai. We are pleased to partner with the Health Tourism Department at Dubai Health Authority to further enhance their Dubai Health Experience initiative, as part of efforts to boost the citys position as a medical tourism hub. The new programme dedicated to health tourism also reflects Dubai College of Tourisms commitment to develop online training modules to empower professionals with the necessary skill sets to successfully navigate the current situation while showcasing Dubai as a safe, must-visit destination.

The full value offered by health tourism decreases if it does not come with the support that it needs to further grow and develop. The growth of this sector in the emirate is directly proportional to the high-quality infrastructure and the services offered. We continue to grow strong because of the presence of world-class hospitals and highly-qualified healthcare professionals in Dubai, Al Mheiri said. - TradeArabia News Service
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. A 19-year-old serviceman of the Armenian Armed Forces was killed in a negligent discharge of a firearm of his co-serviceman who violated gun safety rules, the Armenian Defense Ministry said.

The incident happened around 20:00 May 4 during a change of shift at a military base in the southern direction.

Other details werent immediately clear.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Caretaker Defense Minister Vagharshak Harutyunyan reiterated that the borders of independent Armenia are fully maintained.

The border which was envisaged by the Soviet Union and the independent Armenias recognized border is entirely maintained, he said in parliament in response to a question from opposition Bright Armenia MP Srbuhi Grigoryan.

There are places where we are 50 meters ahead, while in some place the opposite. This is due to the fact that the given position is impossible to be deployed so that ensuring security and surveillance will be possible.

He said these issues must be solved during demarcation.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, 5 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 5 May, USD exchange rate up by 0.16 drams to 521.04 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.20 drams to 625.46 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 6.97 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.00 drams to 723.93 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 513.32 drams to 30115.59 drams. Silver price up by 16.05 drams to 449.37 drams. Platinum price up by 508.82 drams to 20906.28 drams.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Acting Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Ayvazian records that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs format shows signs of revival, ARMENPRESS reports Ayvazian said during parliament-Cabinet Q&A session.

The mission of the Minsk Group Co-chairs format is creating relevant atmosphere so that the conflicting sides remain committed to a negotiated settlement. I am glad to record that the Minsk Group Co-chairs format seems to show signs of revival. We hope to see a strong co-chairmanship, which will coordinate the developments, but not just follow them, Ayvazian said.

On April 13 the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs issued a statement, calling on to return all war prisoners.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh David Babayan sent letters to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and specialized bodies within United Nations regarding Azerbaijans policy of forced evictions of the Armenian population of the town of Shoushi.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Foreign Ministry of Artsakh, the letters in particular state, that the forced evictions carried out by Azerbaijan in Shoushi violate, directly and indirectly, the full spectrum of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights of the Armenian population enshrined in numerous international instruments.

It is stressed that the policy of forceful reshaping of historical, cultural and architectural landscape in the occupied territories of Artsakh is blatant form of discrimination and xenophobia.

The letters underscore that the international community should stand against Azerbaijans unabated crimes against humanity committed against the people of Artsakh. Any activity by Azerbaijan in the occupied territories of the Republic of Artsakh, undertaken against the norms and principles of international law and in order to consolidate consequences of unlawful use of force against the self-determination of the people of Artsakh, should not be tolerated and should be condemned outright by the international community of states.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh invites to undertake appropriate measures to activate the United Nations international legal toolkit in a directed effort to gain unimpeded access of international specialized agencies to Artsakh to address these devastating and ongoing violations.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. A stable operational situation with no incidents has been maintained along the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact of the Armenian state border overnight May 4-5, the Defense Ministry of Armenia told Armenpress.

According to the information provided by the Armenian National Security Service, no border incidents were registered in Vorotan-Davit Bek section of the Goris-Kapan inter-state road which is under the responsibility of the NSS border troops.

The Armed Forces of Armenia and the NSS border troops confidently control the border situation along the entire length of the border zone and fulfill their tasks.
YEREVAN, MAY 5, ARMENPRESS. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Igor Popov of the Russian Federation, Stephane Visconti of France, and Andrew Schofer of the United States of America) issued a joint statement, once again urging to fully and expeditiously complete the exchange process for all prisoners, detainees, and remains, ARMENPRESS reports, citing the official website of the OSCE.

''The Co-Chairs welcome Azerbaijan's release of Armenian detainees Robert Vardanyan, Samvel Shukhyan, and Seryan Tamrazyan and call on both parties to fully and expeditiously complete the exchange process for all prisoners, detainees, and remains, and to respect their obligations to ensure the humane treatment of detainees.

Recalling their 13 April statement, the Co-Chairs urge the sides to exchange all data necessary to conduct effective demining of conflict regions and to lift restrictions on access to Nagorno-Karabakh, including for representatives of international humanitarian organizations. The Co-Chairs encourage the sides to take concrete steps to create an atmosphere of mutual trust conducive to long-lasting peace by addressing the remaining areas of concern outlined in the 13 April statement of the Co-Chairs. This includes resuming high-level political dialogue under the auspices of the Co-Chairs at the earliest opportunity', reads the statement.
El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has come under fire over the sacking of Supreme Court judges

El Salvador's Congress on Wednesday removed a tax break that benefits newspapers -- many of which are harsh critics of President Nayib Bukele -- just days after it sacked a number of judges.

The Central American country's Legislative Assembly, dominated by Bukele allies, has faced international criticism since sacking nine magistrates that sit on the constitutional chamber of the Supreme Court over the weekend.

The new legislature, which sat for the first time on Saturday after late February elections, had accused the judges of issuing arbitrary rulings. It also sacked Attorney General Raul Melara over his links to an opposition party.

On Wednesday the legislature took aim at the newspapers.

"Today we will end the longest, most continuous and blatant tax evasion in our history," said lawmaker Christian Guevara, who proposed the measure.

A 1950 law excused printers from paying taxes, allowing those that produce newspapers, magazines, brochures and other material to import paper and ink without paying tariffs.

The daily sale of newspapers in the streets was also free of taxes.

The new bill was approved by the 84-seat Congress with 68 votes. The ruling alliance has 61 of those seats.

The new law states that newspaper printers "will not enjoy a tariff reduction for the import of primary materials, machinery and equipment for the printing of materials or publications not directly used for educational purposes."

On Tuesday the government released a recording of Bukele scolding foreign diplomats for the international criticism he has received, insisting that the dismissal of the judges was legal.

US ambassador Brendan O'Brien was not present at the event, but European Union representative Andreu Bassols told Bukele that the measures "undermine the rule of law and the separation of powers in El Salvador."

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Jacobs Media Group brings its multimedia platform and market-leading insight to the Middle East for the first time with the launch of Connecting Travel, through which it will serve and support the local travel and hospitality industries. Backed by industry leaders, the new platform will harness the Groups power and expertise to inspire and facilitate vital collaboration needed to help the industry bounce back

Connecting Travel will provide the regions industry professionals with thought leadership, meaningful collaborations, breaking news and valued insight via its website, news bulletins, exclusive events and social media platforms. This exciting expansion represents the award-winning companys Middle East flagship, drawing on its 50-year heritage in travel and hospitality to fully support the regions tourism goals.

As the global voice for the travel and hospitality industries, Jacobs Media Group offers an unrivalled multimedia portfolio, designed to inform, inspire and connect these dynamic and evolving sectors. Through Connecting Travel, it will serve and support the local travel and hospitality industries, leading the conversation in the Middle East.

Throughout the pandemic, Jacobs Media Group has demonstrated its strength, facing the unprecedented challenges head-on, supporting the travel and hospitality industries in their recovery and emerging from the crisis more robust than ever. Expanding to the Middle East, it has established local headquarters in Dubai, an emirate committed to growing its population by more than two million and increasing its hospitality and tourism space by 134 per cent by 2040.

Signalling its commitment to the region, founder Clive Jacobs has relocated to the UAE to spearhead the project and drive the Groups long-term vision. Clives businesses have consistently challenged and disrupted established practices. Among other achievements, hes applauded for building Holiday Autos into the worlds largest leisure car rental broker before its sale to lastminute.com PLC.

Joining Clive, Commercial Director Paula Lacey brings unparalleled industry knowledge and proven senior marketing, strategy and management success from terms at multiple major listed travel companies, including TUI Group, the worlds largest leisure, travel and tourism enterprise.

Editorial Director Sarah Hedley Hymers previously ran digital content at Conde Nast Traveller Middle East before going on to broadcast to more than 14 million viewers as a Middle East travel and hospitality expert for international television channel Euronews.

Connecting Travels sister title Travel Weekly is Jacobs Media Groups flagship brand in the UK. With more than 80 per cent of the market share, its the UKs leading travel and hospitality trade title with unparalleled access to travel agents and tour operators, for whom it produces multiple publications and hosts industry events in 26 countries across five continents.

Other publications and platforms under the Jacobs Media Group umbrella include The Caterer, Travolution, Aspire, Connections, ATAS (Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers) and the Global Travel & Tourism Resilience Council, focused on growing sustainable tourism. - TradeArabia News Service
Cuban dissident artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara is seen being taken by medical personnel to the Calixto Garcia hospital in Havana on May 2, 2021

A Cuban dissident artist who has been hospitalized since the weekend in Havana after going on hunger strike, appeared in a video released Tuesday in apparently good health.

Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara, 33, is the leader of the San Isidro protest movement (MSI) of artists and intellectuals pressing for free speech and other rights in the communist nation.

"The doctors were extremely professional and attentive, and super connected on a human level," Otero Alcantara is seen saying while sitting on a hospital bed in his pajamas.

He was hospitalized Sunday on the eighth day of his hunger strike, which he is conducting to protest against the seizure of several of his works when he was arrested last month during a demonstration.

The video was posted on the Facebook page of Ifran Martinez Galvez, who introduced himself as the doctor in charge of the care team at the General Calixto Garcia university hospital where Otero Alcantara was taken.

"Since his transfer to the hospital, I have received many messages accusing me of being an oppressor, a policeman... which is false," says text that accompanies the video, which shows both men relaxed and smiling.

"This is why today I asked my patient to film this video together, with the help of our nurse Dorita, to show the reality," the text said.

Members of the MSI collective, as well as international human rights organizations, had expressed concern about Otero Alcantara's health after having no news of his state since he was admitted to the hospital.

The US embassy in Cuba called on Havana authorities "to protect his well-being in this difficult moment," provoking the ire of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

On Monday, Diaz-Canel called the US comments "shameful," and said that Washington, through its multi-decade blockade against the island nation, "condemns more than 11 million Cubans to hunger and shortages."

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Queensland Health has issued an urgent warning for people in the state, after NSW announced a man in Sydney's eastern suburbs tested positive for Covid-19.

NSW Health identified several potential exposure sites in light of the new case on Wednesday.

Following the announcement, Queensland Health released a statement, informing people in Queensland what they need to do if they have been to any of the exposure sites.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said Queensland will assess the situation in NSW over the next 24 hours. Source: AAP

"Anyone in Queensland who has been to any of these exposure sites in New South Wales during the risk period identified is asked to quarantine at their home or accommodation, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and get a Covid-19 test as soon as possible tomorrow morning," the statement said.

Queensland Health added the NSW will update the list as more information comes in.

The state's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young stressed the importance of people quarantining at home if they have been at any of the sites.

"NSW Health has already made it clear that anyone who has been to any of those venues, should be quarantining, and not getting on flights," Dr Young said.

"Were working closely with NSW to get a better understanding of the risk associated with this case, so as an interim measure, were mirroring NSW Healths advice.

"Well continue to assess the situation as more information comes to hand over the next 24 hours."

At this time, Queensland has not shut its border with NSW.

Everyone in NSW is being asked to remain on 'high alert', as more Covid cases are likely to be confirmed in the coming days. Source: AAP

Anyone with Covid symptoms urged to get tested

Queensland Health added if anyone in the state who had returned from NSW, that has Covid symptoms, but had not been at any of the venues listed during the risk period should get tested and isolate.

Health authorities also asked people to monitor interstate exposure venues for 40 days after arriving in Queensland, to keep up to date if more are added.

Story continues

The man who tested positive for Covid-19 lives in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

He has not recently travelled overseas, does not work in a quarantine hotel, border or a health role, and has no idea where he caught the coronavirus.

NSW Health has identified a number of close contacts linked to the man who are being tested and isolating.

No restrictions have been imposed yet, though NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said more cases are likely and everyone in NSW should be on "high alert".

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com

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A woman will serve at least 23 years behind bars after murdering and dismembering a housemate who turned down her sexual advances.

Gareeca Gordon, 28, stabbed her 28-year-old housemate, Phoenix Netts, at their home in Birmingham, in Englands West Midlands, on April 16 last year, the Evening Standard reported.

Gordon stabbed Ms Netts four times and dismembered her with a circular saw, Bristol County Court heard.

Gareeca Gordon, 28, stabbed and dismembered Phoenix Netts (right), also 28. Source: AAP

The court heard on April 7, Ms Netts had told a friend Gordon had asked her for a sexual relationship.

Prosecution Andrew Smith QC told the court Gordon became aggressive when Ms Netts turned her down.

At one stage Ms Gordon said either that her loins were warming up or were hot, he said.

The last anyone heard from Ms Netts was on April 16.

The court heard a friend tried to call her and her phone had been used to search terms including how to fix punctured lung and can someone recover from being stabbed.

A post-mortem found Ms Netts had four stab wounds to the front of her torso.

Ms Netts planned to move back to London with her parents, but was delayed due to Covid-19. Source: AAP

The court heard Gordon purchased a circular saw on Gumtree on April 17.

Gordon placed the remains in two suitcases, The Guardian reported.

She then used Ms Nettss phone and impersonated her to her family and friends to cover her tracks.

Gordon was arrested after being found with the suitcases in Forest of Dean on May 12 last year.

On sentencing, Justice Johannah Cutts told the court Ms Netts was chasing a fresh start and planned to move back home with her parents in London, but that was delayed by coronavirus restrictions.

She called Gordon a very dangerous woman on jailing her for life.

Gordon will serve at least 23 years and six months in jail.

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.
Bowman, who is not a Cayuga Nation citizen, had worked for the traditional faction at the property, which housed a convenience store. He claimed he was trying to assist a woman in the middle of the melee that day and was assaulted in the process. The nation, though, said Bowman attacked its officers.

"The Nations police officers were peacefully protecting Nation property without arms or force, and several of them were beaten, kicked and injured by Mr. Bowman and his mob," a Cayuga Nation statement issued Tuesday night said.

"The Nation commends the Seneca Falls Police Department, the Seneca County District Attorney and the grand jurors for their diligent and careful work. The Nation and its police department look forward to future cooperation on matters of shared importance."

Charles Bowman Charles Bowman's booking photo was released Tuesday by the Seneca Falls Police Department.

Bowman, who was briefly hospitalized following the incident, filed a lawsuit in state Supreme Court in Seneca County in February against Mark Lincoln, the Cayuga Nation police superintendent, and Pathfinder Solutions LLC, an Indiana-based security firm that was hired to assist Cayuga Nation police during that time. An undetermined number of as-yet unidentified Pathfinder employees are also named as defendants.
In a roughly 90-minute discussion, the candidates were asked to assess how Auburn has handled the COVID-19 pandemic so far, and what the district needs to do this summer and into the fall to make sure the 2021-22 school year is successful. They also gave their thoughts on the district's proposed budget that community members will vote on later this month along with their board choices. The prospective budget includes a 2.85% tax levy increase.

Here are some highlights from each candidate's answers:

Rachel Czyz: Czyz said the district handled some pandemic issues well, while other "areas were lacking a lot." She felt the phase-in approach the district took at the beginning of the school year was rolled out effectively. However, she believes children were kept out of full-time in-person learning for too long. She said her own children navigated through it, and that a few of them have individualized education programs and digital learning did not work for those children.

"No matter how much we requested, we could not get them back into school, we could not get the attention that they needed, we couldn't get access to their teacher aides that they should have had, and all those things," Czyz said. "That really held us back, it held our kids back this year."
+3 As Port Byron apartments buyer seeks funds, tenants say conditions worsening A Rochester developer hopes 2021 is the year it receives the state funding it needs to move forward on plans to replace an apartment complex i

The other 39 units in DePaul's complex would be available to tenants of Church Street Apartments, which has the same number of units. The developer is under contract to purchase the 27 Church St. property from its owner, Housing Management Resources of Massachusetts, once it has the funding to begin the project. The current complex, a former school building, would be demolished. The Cayuga County Legislature has also authorized the sale of an adjacent property with the former school's gym and auditorium, at 29 Church St., to DePaul. That property would become recreation space.

The project has received local support from not just the Legislature, but county Director of Community Services Ray Bizzari. He told The Citizen in March that DePaul's complex would meet a need for affordable housing in the northern part of the county. Additionally, the complex would provide services for its 30 supportive units, including transportation to medical appointments.

Another supporter of the project is Port Byron Mayor Ron Wilson, who told The Citizen Wednesday that he's "at a loss" it didn't receive the Homes and Community Renewal funding.

"It's a good project. There are numerous people interested," he said. "People coming in wanting to know when they can sign up."
ALBANY  Nursing homes in New York will have to provide a minimum level of staffing under a new bill that the Democratic-led Legislature passed Tuesday.

New York will require nursing homes to provide a daily average of 3.5 hours of nursing care per resident, and post information about nursing staffing levels.

Bill sponsor and Assemblymember Aileen Gunther said Tuesday that she didn't have an estimate of how many of more than 600 nursing homes in New York fail to reach that benchmark now. The original bill called for 4.1 hours per resident.

But Gunther called the bill an important first step to getting a handle on the extent of understaffing at New York's nursing homes, which have recorded 13,800 deaths of residents with COVID-19 amid the ongoing pandemic.

Gunther and other supporters  including unions representing nurses and other health care workers  said that the pandemic has revealed the cycle of understaffing, overwhelmed workers and burnout at nursing homes in the state.

"I can tell you that by addressing these issues that we'll see a lot less burnout," Gunther, a Democrat, said.
interNEXT Presentation  Part II

The New Camming Perspective (NCP) studies claim it is possible to make the market be reasonably socially responsible and more humane while keeping it profitable as well. While there are different paths to follow in making the world of camming progress, the NCP has been playing its part in Brazil.

Taking into account that we are a small social movement, our results were achieved with little financial investment. In order to compensate for the lack of such resources, our work has been carried out with adamant determination. It is only possible because of pursuing the acquisition of extensive knowledge of the market. This, in turn, demands joining forces with a team that can work well together because of their common values, and a final goal that is very well defined.

We hope this article can make a point of showing that we all can make a difference, no matter how big or small we are. This article intends to display the path the NCP has followed in Brazil during the years 2019, 2020, and 2021, including the main achievements, challenges, and our next steps. Hard work pays off.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF NCP IN BRAZIL

Lets take a look at what these achievements are:

In Brazil, it is already common sense that camming refers to the professional service of building connections between people.

Building Connections has become the standard around in Brazil and the association of camming as a venue for reaching instant sexual satisfaction only is considered an outdated old and limited idea. This can be noticed, even in the business strategies and marketing campaigns of the Brazilian platforms that clearly appear to have become more humane.

Premium platforms are the only camming service available in the country

A great part of NCPs efforts revolves around keeping it as a paid service, as well as trying to conquer more rights for those who do this job. Initially, this did not necessarily coincide with the interest of all the major players of the country, which started to recommend the models to offer free show in Free Live Chat, in order to attract more members to their room. Nevertheless, most of the Brazilian models resisted and the companies had to take back their intentions. So, nowadays, we can see the following marketing campaigns, from these very platforms, running in Brazil: "Do not give the "ExclusiveChat" treatment to those who treat you as someone who is in the "FreeLiveChat" #BrazilianCamSiteTIP

NCP and Camming in the mainstream markets. Businesses want to save face

NCP has been under the spotlight of local media explaining that premium camming is based on respectful relationships between models and members in private paid sessions. This explanation has contributed to premium camming models feeling more socially accepted. Businesses, on the other hand, have voluntarily taken up some practices because of noticing higher returns. The outcome has been a win-win for everybody.

CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME

While results undeniably came, they also came with hardship. For instance:

72 hours non-stop online demanded to Brazilian models (before NCPs intervention)

Throughout the last eight years, an abusive type of marketing campaign has been quite common in Brazil. During holidays, domestic platforms created low-prize competitions (USD $25) among models that demanded them to carry out inhumane long work shifts (72 hours in a row).

Let us clarify why this is so abusive. What engaged the models to take part in such campaigns was not the money prize, it was also the chance to be on the top of the site, which means more traffic and more work. In other words, those who do not take part in such contests are affected because of the decreased traffic. Lets point out that traffic is a scarce resource that these services pay for and the women who submitted themselves would be favored.

These events were met with resistance by the NCP leaders and models, who together reached out to the mainstream in order to call it off. This was worth it! As a consequence, domestic platforms felt ashamed of being accused of inhumane practices in Brazilian magazines and had to reconsider.

In the end, they voluntarily retracted developing new, more humane marketing campaigns and their local representative was instructed to record videos explaining how to build connections in camming inspired by the New Camming Perspectives concepts.

NCP NEXT STEPS

The fight we have picked is huge and there is a lot to be done. We are always planning viable strategies that can grant more private and professional rights to women while also being profitable to the investors.

Image copyright abuse in Brazil

Taking into account that other issues have been addressed, the next one we are set to act is regarding image copyright abuse in Brazil.

It is not reasonable that the only way to make a living in the camming industry in Brazil is by being obliged to completely cease the rights to the company of ones image and any footage of theirs (including private sessions), their nicknames without the right to opt-out later. Thus the site and their associates can get profit infinitely from this material while the models do not get anything from it.

It is unfair because they are under asymmetric conditions in contracts that do not allow for any questioning by the models. There is room for improvement, and the NCP is working on strategies and possibilities to address these issues and make them mutually beneficial

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

Essentially, more often than not, what is more profitable is not humane, and what is more humane is not always profitable enough to run a business. The NCP tries to reach a compromise between both of these aspects. Achievements like these cannot be reached without understanding the reality we live in.

Capital is not money, it is a social process and assets are anything that can be used to make more value from the process of trading something in demand. This can include anything: power, knowledge, culture, and even the body itself. Often confused with capital, money is the universal equivalent of value that is expected in higher quantity than what was invested initially. There is no limit to the exploitation of any of these resources from the standpoint of the business. That is not an exclusive phenomenon of the camming market but it must be addressed because in this market that we work in, and it is in this market that we can make a difference with actions.

Under this light, the intent of NCP is to contribute to the scene by suggesting paths of less friction, in order to find a balance that provides results for all sides involved. The efforts of the NCP have been focused on Brazil during the last few years (2019, 2020, and 2021), but we know that it is possible to make a difference all over the world.

Last but not least, even though the NCP is an independent social movement, it can achieve. So, larger and more well-structured companies can do even more  if they want to.

To watch the NCP video presentation for interNEXT2021, click here.
The German National Tourist Boards (GNTB) is geared up to further focus on the GCC with its participation at this years Arabian Travel Market, taking place May 16-19 at Dubai World Trade Centre, supported by a delegation of six German partners.

Germany registered 89.9 million overnight stays by international visitors, pre-pandemic, in 2019, and plans to accelerate this further by outlining plans and targeting GCC travellers across its best performing areas, Bavaria, Baden-Wurttemberg, and North Rhine-Westphalia with its capital Dusseldorf.

GNTBs participation at ATM will look to dually reinforce the countrys recent efforts to provide a safe travel experience and further position Germany as a leading cultural and sustainable destination.

The deep cultural and economic ties between Germany and the GCC have seen travellers from across the region explore the countrys offering year after year, and while the recent pandemic has stalled travel plans, regional travellers appetite to visit Germanys cultural sites, national parks and urban destinations remains unabated, said Yamina Sofo, Director of Sales & Marketing, German National Tourist Office (GNTO), the regional office of GNTB.

ATM is an ideal platform to communicate and engage with our wider stakeholders in person, as well as strengthen crucial relationships with trade partners and media visiting the regions leading industry-specific exhibition.

The countrys tourism body will lead a strong delegation of German representatives from Baden-Baden Tourism Board, the official representative for the city; visitBerlin, the official tourism and convention office for the capital of Germany; OutletCity Metzingen, the outlet shopping destination in southern Germany; Munich Airport VIP services; Munich Tourism Office; the official tourism office of the Bavarian capital, and Studiosus Incoming, the touristic service group based in Munich.

Ralf Ostendorf, visitBerlins Director Market Management & Media Relations, commented: Our main aim at ATM 2021 is to build regional awareness of the German capital and secure updated market knowledge from B2B partners. We have direct links to Berlin through the GCC and were hoping to develop these even further as restrictions ease and travel increases.

Outletcity Metzingens Sales and Tourism Manager, Angela Rieger added: The GCC is in our top five global source markets and were looking forward to welcoming travellers back to enjoy our luxury brands in exclusive outlet shopping with up to 70 per cent discount and tax-free shopping. Prior to the pandemic, we received 4.2 million visitors from around 185 countries per year and were hopeful those numbers will return in-line with ease of restrictions through Frankfurt and Munich, which are our two closest international airports.

The hybrid approach taken at this years ATM will see a live four-day event at Dubai World Trade Centre from May 16-19, followed by virtual webinars and video meetings from the May 24-26.

Partnering with visitBerlin, GNTB will host an official press conference during ATM at 12-noon on May 17 at the Al Ain A & B on the first floor of Concourse 1 to provide further updates. - TradeArabia News Service
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.Get Lucky Toys (a Thank Me Now brand) has launched new product range the Get Lucky Score Collection of masturbators.

The collection features three products: the Head Game, the Pure Sport 7 and the Pure Sport 10. Each closed-ended item has a textured inner sleeve that works in combination with a mix of vibration patterns, suction and warming sensations.

Made from Thank Me Nows proprietary non-toxic TPE blend, the USB rechargeable products boast an anatomically realistic feel, and the warming mode of the Pure Sport 10 is designed to replicate body temperature.

See the products and features in the Get Lucky Toys sales flyer here, or for more information contact [email protected].



See the full Get Lucky range at www.getlucky.toys.

Follow Get Lucky on Twitter @getlucky_toys and on Instagram @getluckytoys.
PHOENIX  The City of Phoenix is partnering with healthcare companies to send vans into underserved communities to provide free, on-the-spot COVID-19 tests for people who might not otherwise have access.

Even though more than 1.5 million Maricopa County residents have been vaccinated with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, health advocates warn that now is not the time to ease up on preventative measures, including testing.

The number of COVID-19 tests being administered in the United States has been dropping since January, according to data from Johns Hopkins University and Atlantic magazines COVID Tracking Project. However, experts say testing remains crucial to help control spread of the virus and track new variants.

While the public may view vaccination as a priority right now, and it is a priority, widespread testing still is essential for infection control, Romney Humphries, an infectious disease expert with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said during a recent media briefing by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Challenges in our criminal justice system are due to years of state/federal budget cuts on mental health, homelessness, substance abuse, recovery, and re-entry programs. However, Flagstaff Municipal and Coconino County Superior Courts have made successful strides with recovery and re-entry programs.

By default, police filled the void created by funding cuts in social services, placing police officers in an untenable position. Meager funding for mental health means police as the only ones left to call to situations where a social worker or mental health professional would be more appropriate. Although our FPD trains officers in crisis intervention and mental health first aid, it doesnt replace mental care.

Resources are needed to social services, education, housing, and mental health. Fulfilling these needs should not be in lieu of police funding, but rather, increase funding support from state and federal agencies toward these areas.

At the council's budget retreat, we discussed strengthening County-City partnership Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) on a mission to promote safety of citizens; efficient and just treatment for offenders; protection and healing of victims; crime prevention; and reduce recidivism. Council made the unprecedented commitment to institute and fund Alternative Response Model at $776,000/year.
Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year - the world's leading awards recognising the art and diversity of food photography with top prize of 5000.

1. Overall Winner: Taste by Li Huaifeng, China.

The photograph was taken in Licheng, Shanxi, on a warm and sunny day, and shows a young family sharing in the joy of preparing food. Photograph: Li Huaifeng

2. Fujifilm Award for Innovation: Making Rice Noodles by Abdul Momin, Bangladesh

A worker inspects whether rice noodles are dried correctly.

Photograph: Abdul Momin

3.Bring Home the Harvest: Drying Okra by F Dilek Uyar, Turkey

Drying okra flowers in Tokat, Turkey. Women pick okra flowers from the field and arrange them on a rope, then the dried flowers fall and the okra becomes ready to be used in winter.

Photograph: F.Dilek Uyar

4. Street Food: Enjoying by Viet Van Tran, Vietnam

An old town and popular tourist destination in central Vietnam where there are many sweet soup sellers. Four young girls passionately eating soup made me feel that life is lovely even though we are in a pandemic.

Photograph: Viet Van Tran

5. Food at the Table: Breakfast at Weekly Market by Thong Nguyen, Vietnam

People enjoy their pho for breakfast at a local weekly market.

Photograph: Nam Beat Photograph/Thong Nguyen

6.The Philip Harben Award Food in Action: Head to Head by David Thompson, Taiwan

Taken at Wanhua District night market, Taipei, Taiwan, the photo depicts a butcher preparing cuts.

Photograph: David Thompson

more Pink Lady Food Photography award winning photos of the year 2021
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/zhe-shelly-wang-who-is-bill-gates-interpreter

Here are five things to know about Wang:

She's worked as an interpreter for nearly nine years

According to her LinkedIn profile, Wang first became an interpreter for the Monterey Institute of International Studies in Sept. 2012. Through her position, she worked on several TED Conferences events, which could have opened the door for her next position with TED itself.

She joined TED Conferences as an interpreter in April 2013, and she oversaw a team that would interpret TED events into Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian and Spanish.

BILL GATES TOOK GETAWAYS WITH HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND AFTER MARRIAGE TO MELINDA

In addition to interpreting for the Gates Foundation, she's currently working as a Simultaneous Interpreter for both the Yale School of Management and Harvard Business School.

She previously owned a restaurant

On LinkedIn, her first listed position is the Owner of Four Seasons Hot Pot & Dumplings from 2006-2008. The restaurant is located in Provo, Utah.

She wrote online that she was responsible for the "external networking" for the company, "conducting market research and analysis and "developing and managing [the] company website."

She attended Brigham Young University

The interpreter received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business/Managerial Economics from Brigham Young University in 2007.

From 2011-2013, she studied Conference Interpretation at the Monterey Institue of International Studies, according to LinkedIn.

BILL AND MELINDA GATES ANNOUNCE END OF 27-YEAR MARRIAGE

She's multi-lingual

As one might expect from an interpreter, Wang can speak at least six languages.

On LinkedIn, she's received multiple endorsements for Chinese, Spanish, French, German and Japanese, as well as a single endorsement for Mandarin.

She lists herself as having "native or bilingual proficiency" in Cantonese, Mandarin and English.

She has an artsy side

It seems that Wang isn't just business-minded, as she has also been peer-endorsed for teaching piano and choreographing Chinese dance.
Last seen on ABC, Kids Say the Darndest Things moves to CBS, with Tiffany Haddish still mixing it up with the young ones. Netflix reopens the infamous Son of Sam murder case in a four-part docuseries. The sudsy A Million Little Things reacts to real-world events in the wake of the George Floyd murder.

The big kid known as comedian Tiffany Haddish is back in business with scene-stealing small fry as the comedy-variety series moves from ABC (where the revival aired for one season) to the franchises original home base of CBS, where a pre-scandal Bill Cosby held court from 1998 to 2000. In one bit, the kids flip out when one of Tiffanys wigs begins communicating with them. In a less promising cross-promotional stunt, she takes the tykes to the set of The Price Is Right, where host Drew Carey leads them through some pricing games. Where next, Survivor island?
In the Kentucky outbreak, vaccinated residents didnt fare as well as those in Kearney. Out of the homes 71 vaccinated residents, 18 tested positive, six showed symptoms, two ended up in hospitals and one died. Still, that handful of sickened residents appears to be in line with the trial results finding the vaccines more than 90% effective.

For residents of the Kentucky home who failed to take the vaccine, the results in comparison were catastrophic.

Of the eight residents who had not received the shots, six tested positive for COVID, five showed symptoms, four were hospitalized and two died. To sum it up, the homes unvaccinated residents were 18 times more likely to end up in the hospital and 18 times more likely to die than the vaccinated ones.

The CDC report said the Kentucky outbreak showed that if nursing home residents are to be protected, its imperative that both residents and staff be vaccinated. While almost 90% of residents in the Kentucky home were vaccinated, only about half of staff members were.

The report also noted that one of the residents who died had previously contracted the virus 300 days earlier. That underscores the importance of the current guidance that everyone  even those who have previously contracted COVID-19  get the vaccines, the CDC said.
The UAE's General Authority of Civil Aviation and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority has announced the extension of the suspension of entry for travellers from India, as well as for transit passengers coming from India, with the exception of transit flights travelling to the UAE and bound for India, said a report.

This decision also includes extending the suspension of entry for travellers who were in India in the 14-day period prior to arrival in the UAE, news agency WAM reported.

Flights between the two countries will continue to allow the transport of passengers from the UAE to India and the transfer of exempted groups from India to the UAE who have applied for exemption.

Exempted travellers, including UAE citizens, those on diplomatic missions accredited by the two countries, official delegations, those traveling on business planes, and golden residence holders, will be subject to precautionary measures that include a 10-day quarantine and PCR testing at the airport and on the fourth and eighth days after entering the country, the report said.

Moreover, the required PCR testing period prior to travel has been reduced from 72 to 48 hours, and all tests must be administered by accredited laboratories that issue results carrying a QR code.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed that travellers coming from India through other countries are required to provide proof of a period of stay in those countries of no less than 14 days in order to be allowed to enter the UAE. Cargo flights will continue to operate between the two countries.

The UAE reiterated its support for the Republic of India and its tireless efforts to address the Covid-19 pandemic, underscoring its full solidarity with India in these challenging circumstances, the report said.
Fink cited advances in technology and materials for the improved products. The factory produces and ships about 300 to 600 tools each day.

For the average person, these could be the last tools youll ever need to buy, said plant manager Kurtis Voelker.

As Malco intends to launch five more Eagle Grip products throughout the year, other businesses in DeWitt have also benefited from the factory restarting production.

Connie Fishburn, manager of the downtown convenience store DeWitt Quick, indicated that the increased business sparked by factory employees is allowing her to explore different items to sell, including craft beer.

Its definitely good to see production come back and not see the building sit empty anymore, she said.

Village Clerk and Treasurer Moria Holly said that its too soon to say exactly what kind of impact Eagle Grip will have on the towns tax revenue but that the plant is almost certain to improve the fiscal health of a town that, according to Badmans estimations, has seen property tax valuations decline by about $8 million since the plant closed 13 years ago.

The fact that the factory is there will increase our property valuations, said Badman, who has served 31 years on the Village Board.
With so many potential buyers making offers on the homes available, some of them compete by making offers that are tens of thousands of dollars above the asking price, Erben said.

And for many of those offering $30,000 or $50,000 or $70,000 over the asking price, it's worth the extra cash.

"It's not sticker shock for them," Erben said.

One of those two clients of Erben's who paid cash had moved from California's Central Valley where they sold 16 acres of land for millions of dollars. The roughly $500,000 they paid for a few acres in the Bull Mountains felt like a steal.

Most of the home sales in Billings are people moving within the state, he said. But a significant number are coming from out of state, and those who relocate to Billings do so because homes prices here are still seen as relatively low.

Montana, and Billings in particular, is rated well by property insurance providers, Erben said. The big natural disasters driving up insurance rates  floods, wildfires and tornadoes and hurricanes  aren't as much of a threat here as they are in places like California and Texas.
The city said it expected to see some dramatic improvements at the property after the warning letter.

The citys concern was based on protecting a quality business environment and the neighbors ability to enjoy their property free of nuisance, it said.

Vaibhav Gadade, the manager of the Rodeway Inn, said the spate of recent violent crime in Billings is big, and that his family feels it, too, sometimes worrying about their own safety.

But, he said, his business isnt alone in being host to some of the violence.

Its happening in every other hotel, so I dont know why theyre picking on the Rodeway Inn, Gadade said.

Gadade said the Rodeway has implemented policies for any guest who is not traveling from out of town that requires a photocopy of an identification card and a credit card to be on file. They identify whos local and whos not through photo ID upon check-in.

He said similarly, those local guests are only allowed two people per room. Gadade said he watches the motel surveillance cameras to monitor the number of people in a room and kicks people out if they violate the rule.
The Montana Supreme Court last week appointed District Court Judge Matt Wald to replace the chief justice in a highly politicized challenge to a new law granting the governor broader appointment power over judicial vacancies.

Wald, of Lodge Grass, has been the district court judge in the 22nd Judicial District, covering Stillwater, Carbon and Big Horn counties, since 2019, after he was elected in 2018.

Stillwater County Attorney Nancy Rohde said Tuesday she has known Judge Wald since law school and had since worked together on cases, sometimes in opposition and sometimes on the same side.

"In my opinion, Judge Wald will serve the high court with the utmost honor and integrity. He is a man of the highest integrity always, and will base his decisions solely upon the law, not on politics or personal agenda, as it should be," Rohde said.
A Democratic congressman, speaking on the House floor about immigration reform, said the following:

I am greatly concerned  were still a long way from bringing the border under control. Last year, the INS located 1,348,249 in this country who were deported  millions more escaped detection  No one knows for certain how many are already in the country The INS estimates it will apprehend 1.8 million this year  almost 5,000 people per day.

That statement was made 35 years ago during floor debate on the 1986 Immigration Reform legislation, which became law that year.

In March of 2021, U.S. Customs & Border Patrol agents apprehended over 5,000 migrants per day on the border, 172,000 people in one month. The numbers for April and May of this year are expected to be even higher. In 2018, Yale University sponsored a study in an attempt to determine how many undocumented immigrants were in the U.S. The study concluded that number was somewhere between 16 and 29 million people. There are 1,954 miles of border separating the U.S. from Mexico  less than half (approximately 750 miles) has any kind of man-made physical barrier. Over 1,200 miles of the border remain unsecured.
MDU has 114,000 natural gas customers in North Dakota in 75 communities across the state, including Bismarck and Mandan.

The new rates are expected to take effect June 1, according to company spokesman Mark Hanson. He said MDU was pleased with the commission's decision, as the regulators approved terms reached in a settlement agreement between PSC staff, MDU and AARP North Dakota.

AARP had intervened in the rate case amid concerns that higher rates would adversely impact older residents, many of whom are on fixed incomes. Initially, MDU sought an increase that would amount to another $6.26 per month for the average household, but that figure dropped as the various parties negotiated a settlement.

"At the end of the day, we were happy because of our involvement that we saved consumers over $1 million," AARP State Director Josh Askvig said.

MDU gas customers bills are likely to go up again soon for another reason: the February cold snap that plagued the central United States down to Texas. The frigid weather led to a gas shortage and a massive spike in prices, and MDU and the PSC are trying to figure out how to best spread out those costs to customers.
The tribes suggest the proper way for the state to participate in the lawsuit is to do what it's done before -- filing briefs in support of the pipeline as an interested party, albeit one that does not hold the formal status of defendant. Defendants in the case are the Corps and Dakota Access, which is controlled by the company Energy Transfer.

The state's move to intervene comes after an April court hearing, during which an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice said the Corps would not immediately appeal an unfavorable ruling requiring more environmental study of the pipeline. The attorney also said the agency would not at that time take a stance on whether to require the line to shut down. A federal judge revoked a permit for the pipeline's Missouri River crossing last year and the line is now trespassing on federal land managed by the Corps, which says it has discretion on how to respond.

The state says in court documents that it's not confident the Corps "will continue to be a zealous advocate for the continued and safe operation of DAPL," adding, "nor are the State's interests fully represented by Dakota Access LLC, which has a necessarily more limited and commercial perspective."
Organizers of the planned Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in the western North Dakota Badlands have named presidential historian Douglas Brinkley as the library foundation's "inaugural historian in residence."

Brinkley is the Katherine Tsanoff Brown Chair in Humanities and history professor at Rice University in Houston, as well as a CNN presidential historian and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. He visited Medora in the 1990s while teaching at Hofstra University in New York, taking students on cross-country travels visiting historic sites.

He will live in Medora this summer and participate in book signings, lectures and interpretive history hikes. His first event is set for June 16 at the Dickinson Rotary Club.

Library CEO Ed O'Keefe said Brinkley '"is receiving a modest stipend for his time and we are providing lodging - a model we hope to replicate for future historians, scholars, writers, photographers and scientists. No state dollars will be used to compensate Doug; his stipend comes from the unrestricted funds raised by TRPLF to-date." O'Keefe did not provide the amount.

The 2019 Legislature approved a $50 million operations endowment for the library accessible after organizers raised $100 million for construction -- a fundraising goal completed last year.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on governments to ensure that high costs for Covid-19 testing dont put travel out of reach for individuals and families.

To facilitate an efficient restart of international travel, Covid-19 testing must be affordable as well as timely, widely available and effective.

An IATA sampling of costs for PCR tests (the test most frequently required by governments) in 16 countries showed wide variations by markets and within markets. Findings include:

 Of the markets surveyed, only France complied with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation for the state to bear the cost of testing for travellers.

 Of the 15 markets where there is a cost for PCR testing to the individual

- The average minimum cost for testing was $90.

- The average maximum cost for testing was $208.

Even taking the average of the low-end costs, adding PCR testing to average airfares would dramatically increase the cost of flying for individuals. Pre-crisis, the average one-way airline ticket, including taxes and charges, cost $200 (2019 data). A $90 PCR test raises the cost by 45 per cent to $290. Add another test on arrival and the one-way cost would leap by 90 per cent to $380. Assuming that two tests are needed in each direction, the average cost for an individual return-trip could balloon from $400 to $760.

The impact of the costs of Covid-19 testing on family travel would be even more severe. Based on average ticket prices ($200) and average low-end PCR testing ($90) twice each way, a journey for four that would have cost $1,600 pre-Covid, could nearly double to $3,040with $1,440 being testing costs.

As travel restrictions are lifted in domestic markets, we are seeing strong demand. The same can be expected in international markets. But that could be perilously compromised by testing costsparticularly PCR testing. Raising the cost of any product this significantly will stifle demand. The impact will be greatest for short haul trips (up to 1,100 km), With average fares of $105, the tests will cost more than the flight. Thats not what you want to propose to travellers as we emerge from this crisis. Testing costs must be better managed. Thats critical if governments want to save tourism and transport jobs; and avoid limiting travel freedoms to the wealthy, said Willie Walsh, IATAs Director General.

WHO: States Should Bear the Cost of Testing

The World Health Organisations International Health Regulations stipulate that states should not charge for testing or vaccination required for travel, or for the issuance of certificates. The WHO Covid Emergency Committee recently reiterated this position, calling on governments to reduce the financial burden on international travelers of complying with testing requirements and any other public health measures implemented by countries. Many states are ignoring their international treaty obligations, putting a travel recovery in jeopardy and risking millions of livelihoods. High testing costs also incentivise the market for fake certificates.

Testing costs should not stand between people and their freedom to travel. The best solution is for the costs to be borne by governments. Its their responsibility under WHO guidelines. We must not let the cost of testingparticularly PCR testinglimit the freedom to travel to the rich or those able to be vaccinated. A successful restart of travel means so much to peoplefrom personal job security to business opportunities and the need to see family and friends. Governments must act quickly to ensure that testing costs dont stall a travel recovery, said Walsh.

Among the markets surveyed, France represents the best practice. It bears the cost of testing, including tests to facilitate travel. The European Parliament is moving Europe in the right direction. Last week, it called for testing to be universal, accessible, timely and free-of-charge across the EC.

France and the European Parliament are helping to lead the way. We are in a health and economic emergency. Testing is part of the road to recovery. So its a government responsibility to ensure that testing is accessible to all. If governments are not going to make testing free, at least they must ensure that there is no profiteering by testing companies at the expense of people who just want to get back to some form of normality in their life and travel habits. And that scrutiny should include governments themselves who, under no circumstances, should charge a tax for this critical service, said Walsh.

The wide variance in testing costs should raise flags among governments. How is it that the minimum cost of a PCR test can be as low as $77 in Australia but $278 in Japan, for example? said Walsh. Numbeo data indicates that the cost of living in Sydney, Australia and Tokyo, Japan are similar.

Markets covered in the IATA sampling were Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, UK, USA, and Vietnam. Not all these markets require PCR testing. Nevertheless, the inbound requirements for PCR testing by many states make the availability of affordable options everywhere critical for a travel recovery. - TradeArabia News Service
In a letter to the Coast Guard, BNSF explained its frustrations with Friends. It cited the groups lack of a public partner, no proof it could reach fundraising goals and its unmet deadlines. BNSF argues it needs a permit for the new bridge by April 2022 or it will face unreasonable additional cost.

Unfortunately, for Friends of the Rail Bridge, BNSFs arguments ring true. The railroad wants a new bridge that increases the load capacity of trains crossing the river. Thats a benefit state officials dont want to lose. While supportive of the Friends vision, the state doesnt want to hinder the new bridge plans.

The state Department of Transportation also declined to participate as a public partner, citing the timelines, limited project information available and the potential for the state to provide funding in a timely manner.

This lack of public financial support creates a big hurdle because BNSF estimates preserving the old bridge will cost between $50 million and $90 million. Even if that estimate is high, its apparent the project will be very expensive.

Friends have said they have supporters of the project waiting in the wings to provide financial support. Those supporters dont want to be identified until the project gets the go-ahead.
A few years ago, after my firstborn went to college, my second child asked for a dog for companionship, and he made all kinds of promises such as feeding, walking, training etc. Knowing full well that these are empty promises, we gave in and adopted a small dog. We used to have a large dog for 15 years, a loyal and sweet dog.

Our new dog quickly bonded with all of us. Fast forward to spring 2020, the spring is like no other, my firstborn was sent home from her college like so many college students. The only way that my college student would venture out was to walk the dog, alone, with her headsets. Walk the dog she did, from spring to summer, from fall to winter. My dog is the common topic we talk about, my dog is the ice breaker. My dog saved us.
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Cuomo: 'Major reopening' of New York to begin May 19 The state will keep a 6-foot social distancing requirement, based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and capacity limits must incorporate that rule, the governor said.

But is it too late?

Liza Pane, co-owner and event planner at The Grapevine Banquets, says no.

She has spent the past year planning for just this moment.

"This is the best news I could have gotten," she said. "The day that it changes, we're prepared to scale right up."

The Grapevine's banquet spaces are large enough to accommodate the indoor capacity limit of 250 people while leaving enough room for six feet of social distance. Clients who want parties without social distancing can work with a company Pane found that will take care of vaccination paperwork and all the steps necessary to host that kind of event.

She even has openings for couples who have not yet booked receptions and said she has the resources to make those last-minute events happen.

Pane stayed in close contact with all of her clients and employees to make sure everyone would be ready for bigger weddings when they got the OK.

Some staff has stayed on throughout the pandemic to work at the Grapevine Restaurant. Others have assured Pane they will return as soon as they're needed. About 90% percent of her former workforce will be ready to go on day one, she said.
WASHINGTON  Canada is proposing a 1% tax on underutilized or vacant real estate owned by foreigners, thereby potentially foisting thousands of dollars of annual costs on Americans who own properties north of the border that they haven't been able to visit for more than a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The tax, which would be implemented in 2022 if adopted as part of the Canadian budget for that year, is aimed largely at foreign investors who have been snapping up condos in Toronto and other booming Canadian cities. But cottage owners from the Buffalo area and others who own property in Canada are worried they will end up paying much more to own homes they can't even use at this point.

Canada may require proof of vaccination at border "As people start to travel again  perhaps this summer if everything goes well  it would make sense for us to align with partners around the world on some sort of proof of vaccination or vaccine certification," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

"My initial impression is: 'So they want to kick us when we are already down?' " said JoAnn Boehm of the Town of Tonawanda, whose parents built a cedar cottage in Ridgeway in 1963 that she still stayed in regularly until last year's Covid-19-inspired border shutdown. "Many of us are not rich or high rollers. The only reason our properties are underused/vacant is because of Covid restrictions."
She continued: "Because Buffalo State faculty, staff, and students care deeply for one another, I have no doubt that Saniyyas disappearance has weighed heavily on each of you," Conway-Turner wrote. "Our students should know that the Counseling Center staff is here to help them, and Student Affairs is planning virtual spaces for students to gather in support of Saniyya and her family. Faculty and staff members should contact our Employee Assistance Program if they need to talk to someone."

The college is trying to assist students through a number of approaches, said Tim Gordon, vice president of student affairs.

"It's really about connecting people who have been affected by a situation to resources," he said. Student support staff reached out first to students who reside in Bishop Hall, where Dennis lives and was last seen. They're also trying to identify and work with her close friends, fellow classmates and fellow participants in clubs and other activities.

"Then we expand out to give students a common space to process and share concerns," Gordon said. "This affects people in various ways."
$20,000 for claim for unlawful arrest

A proposed payment of $20,000 would settle a 2017 lawsuit brought by a woman who alleged she was unlawfully arrested while walking to a corner store in August 2016.

Chiles said she was crossing the street at the corner of East Lovejoy and Longnecker when several Buffalo police vehicles pulled in front of a home. According to the lawsuit, she waved to a neighbor on the porch of the home and continued walking toward the store, when she was asked by an unnamed officer, "Who lives here?" Chiles said she responded, Not me, and continued walking to the store. An officer then pushed her against a truck and placed her in handcuffs.

She was arrested for disorderly conduct. The charge was dismissed after several months, but she was unable to return to her job with Erie County for more than two months while the criminal charges were pending, the documents said.

Chiles also filed a complaint with the police departments Internal Affairs Unit, but she has not received a response from the city or the Buffalo Police Department about the Internal Affairs investigation, she said.
OLAF FUB SEZ: According to Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, born on this date in 1813, Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it.

. . .

NUTS AND BOLTS  The basics of architectural preservation and the social, economic and environmental benefits of saving historic buildings will be reviewed in Preservation 101, a free online course at 6 p.m. Thursday. Host is Christiana Limniatis, director of preservation services for Preservation Buffalo Niagara. To sign up, visit preservationbuffaloniagara.org/events.

. . .

BE SAFE  The West Seneca Chamber of Commerce is joining with SynchroNet, an IT support company in West Seneca, to offer a free meeting on Zoom at 10 a.m. Friday entitled The Top 10 Things You Can Do to Improve Cybersecurity. The session is free and open to Chamber members and non-members. Reservations are required. Call 674-4900 or email director@westseneca.org.

. . .
Help India!



With Trinamool Congress (TMC) winning a landslide victory over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the strongly contested West Bengal Assembly elections, Muslims from the state expressed relief that they have kept communal forces at bay. Although convinced that TMC may not have done much for Muslims in the state, members of the Muslim community believe it (TMC) has not disturbed the community and has let it live in peace. A TCN Ground Report.

Yumna Mobin, TwoCircles.net

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Kolkata: As Mamata Banerjee headed Trinamool Congress (TMC) recorded a landslide victory in state Assembly Elections in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal and becoming the Chief Minister third time in a row, Muslims from the state heaved a sigh of relief. This wasnt entirely because Muslims have high hopes from TMC but largely because voters in the state have been able to stop Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in its track.

TwoCircles.net spoke to members of the Muslim community from the state to understand what they think of the victory of TMC and what it means for the Muslims of the state, who form 27 per cent of the states 9.3 crore population.

Most of the Muslim men that TwoCircles.net spoke with said that they were afraid of BJP coming to power.

Just like in other states of India, where religious polarization and politics of hate have become the mainstay of elections, the Muslims from West Bengal believe that had BJP come to power, the social fabric would have been destroyed.

A West Bengal resident Hamzah Khan, 27, said that he has not felt any threats to his identity in his home state.

Khan is a marketing consultant, who has studied in Mumbai and works in Hyderabad.

In other parts of the country that I have studied or worked in, I have felt discrimination to some extent, but never in Bengal, he told TwoCircles.net.

Khan, however, maintained that of late, in a very subtle way I have felt some changes, in some circles at home.

I am glad that the BJP did not come to power as I dont like the type of politics of religion they do, he said.

It has become clear that people in the state were apprehensive of BJP coming to power in a state that for a large part of its history has been ruled by the Left. Following the loss of the Left parties, the anti-Left politics in the state has been fronted by TMC, who has been in power for a decade now.

Muslim men from the state said that the violent nature of politics which was manifesting itself through violence and rhetoric during campaigning and can be seen in other parts of the state, was seen in West Bengal as well.

The BJP, through its rallies and campaigns, seemed to have succeeded in communalizing the political and cultural landscape of West Bengal, a youth said.

For fifty-one-year-old businessman Nehal Ahmad from Kolkata, he is happy that BJP has not come to power as it is not a Muslim friendly party.

I have been living in Kolkata for most of my life. During all my school life, college life, and at my workplace, I have never felt any kind of discrimination or hate against Muslims, he said.

Ahmad said that although in the past few years, he has felt this changing. Since 2014-15 (when BJP came to power at the Centre) I could feel it in my interactions with friends, acquaintances and clients, a kind of leaning towards that ideology (the BJPs), he said.

Unlike Hamzah Khan, who said that he admires Mamata Banerjee as a leader, and fully believes in TMCs capabilities, Nehal Ahmed on the contrary, thinks that the state was saved from communal disharmony by voting TMC back to power.

As per Nehal Ahmed, this was the primary reason that people in the state voted for TMC.

TMC has not done much for the Muslims here. It is just that she (Mamata Banerjee) has not disturbed the Muslim community. Here we can practice our religion peacefully, without any fear at any point, Ahmad said.

Both Khan and Ahmed said they dont believe in the narrative of the TMCs Muslim appeasement or how the Muslim community benefits more than the Hindus or Christians living in the state as is often presented by the BJP, or the mainstream news media.

If other festivals are being celebrated with equal enthusiasm, so can Muslims of the state celebrate festivals like Eid with fervour but peacefully, Ahmad said.

Ahmad further said, during TMCs rule, all the festivals over the past ten years have been celebrated and are still being celebrated, on a much larger scale than it was during the Left government.

Be it Durga Puja, or Mahashivratri or even Christmas and New Year, all the celebrations take place equally on a bigger and larger scale than what it used to be in the past, Ahmad said.

The overwhelming view is that the results of the West Bengal election results  bringing Mamata Banerjee back to power for the third time in a row, will protect the Bengali culture that is innately peaceful and secular, symbolic of the true spirit of unity & peaceful coexistence.

Even after experiencing acute religious polarization in the run-up to the elections and volatile polls, people in West Bengal seem to have managed not to give up their shared history and refused to see politics in the religious binary of Hindus vs Muslims.
"After that, they should allow anyone who's vaccinated to cross the border," Schumer said.

Canada's proposed tax on foreign-owned property irks Americans who own vacation homes there The tax, which would be implemented in 2022 if adopted as part of the Canadian budget for that year, is aimed largely at foreign investors who have been snapping up condos in Toronto and other Canadian cities.

Moments later, he said, "There is no reason, with so many vaccinated people, that the border should be so closed."

Schumer's third point was that recreational and commercial boaters should be allowed to cross into the other nation's waters as long as they don't dock.

"Boaters in the middle of the Niagara River or Lake Ontario are not at risk of transmitting Covid," the Senate majority leader said.

Finally, Schumer said the Department of Homeland Security should make sure all its border personnel are vaccinated against the virus, or at least able to obtain prompt Covid-19 testing. They also should be supplied with the necessary personal protective equipment to do their jobs, the senator said.

Schumer offered no details on how proof of vaccination should be presented at the border, saying he was sure that could be worked out by "the experts."

"Definitely, showing any type of vaccine card at the border will slow the border down," said Kenneth N. Bieger, CEO of the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission.
The state challenged that, and the dispute went to an arbitration panel, which voted 2-1 in January 2019 that the Senecas still should be paying, a tab that was estimated at $450 million.

The Senecas challenged that in federal court, but lost. The Nation then turned to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, who has the power under federal law to review all tribal-state agreements.

On March 21, the Senecas sent Haaland a letter asking for a review of the post-2017 payments.

The Interior Department's April 15 reply said the secretary in 2002, Gayle Norton, never analyzed post-2017 payments, because there weren't supposed to be any. Thus, the arbitration ruling could be illegal because it amended the compact in a way that could undermine Haaland's legal authority, but more analysis was needed, the reply said.

After reading that, the Nation's attorneys filed a motion in federal court to delay having to pay the $450 million for 45 days while the sides asked Haaland for a definite answer on the payment's legality.

But on April 22, the state refused to participate in that process, and the Nation asked the federal court to cancel its previous rulings upholding the $450 million bill.
Its ironic that I find myself working in a college setting now after only attending for one year immediately after high school. What followed was a few years of working a variety of retail and restaurant jobs, with no specific thoughts about a career. It wasnt until I turned 32 that the light bulb went off in my head.

After hearing about a local business school with a computer lab, I enrolled and fell in love with databases. I was living in Orlando at the time, and the schools career services office put me in touch with a local real estate company looking to fill a data entry position.

After a little while on the job, I was watching some of my colleagues and thought that some of what they were doing wasnt making sense. Based on what I had been learning in my computer classes, I offered some suggestions to the boss. She put my ideas into place and soon gave me the database manager job. In the span of 14 weeks, I had turned my life around  from slinging pizzas to a job with steady, dependable income and an opportunity for future career growth.

Now Im helping others in the same situation that I was in 30 years ago. Having the opportunity of running a local college technology institute is allowing me to guide and teach people who have an interest in information technology and translating that passion into a career.
Well deal with weather first, which may seem uninspiring to those wanting spring to get back to cutting loose. Lets just say if you have a pool, and youre behind on getting it ready for real, usable warm weather, theres no need to rush. Its not that summery temperatures are the norm around here in early May, but we all know they do occasionally occur. Back in early April, after all, we had highs of 84 and 82 on May 8 and May 10, respectively. This week, Tuesdays high was 68, with an average high of 63. It will be a while before we even get back to average.

Of course, it will eventually warm up later this month. There can be little doubt of that. In the meantime, I have to reiterate it remains too early to put out tender plantings. The last average frost date has not yet arrived, even on the Niagara Frontier. Just click on your location on this interactive map to find the date range based on decades of data compilation.
Some time ago, I posed the question, Do we want democracy or dictatorship? After much thought and the reading of a number of books relating to the writing of our United States Constitution, I have decided that the answer should be democracy. The men who gathered in Philadelphia in 1787 spent the summer establishing a new government that would repair the problems of their first effort, the Articles of Confederation. Although their motivations were sometimes selfish and hypocritical and their arguments often specious, the resulting document has stood the test of time. It was only through their dedicated collaboration that a useful document was achieved.

On the other hand, dictatorship is attractive to many people. It is useful to be able to throw the burden to another person, a savior for example, and disabuse oneself of any responsibility for the results. However, from my point of view, the result of a concerted effort by a concerned and open-minded electorate is much more likely to result in a worthwhile product. Therefore, I would put my trust in the democratic process. I suggest that everyone read one or more of the several books that describe the work of that first Constitutional Assembly. It almost seems amazing that something so effective could have been created.
VICTORIA, BC, May 4, 2021 /CNW/ - Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. The COVID-19 crisis has made it clear that affordable housing is key to Canada's recovery as communities across the country, including those in British Columbia, are dealing with the devastating impacts of rising levels of homelessness and housing need.

Government of Canada Logo (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

Today, Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Ken Hardie, Member of Parliament for FleetwoodPort Kells, announced details of an approximately $10.8 million investment through the Projects Stream of the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) for the immediate construction of 34 units of affordable homes for First Nations in British Columbia.

34 new homes will be built in the following three Indigenous communities: Splatsin Nation, Shackan Indian Band, and Tk'emlups te Secwepemc.

Delivered by CMHC, under the National Housing Strategy (NHS), RHI provides capital contributions to develop new, permanent affordable housing by covering costs associated with modular multi-unit rental construction; conversion of non-residential to affordable multi-residential homes; and, rehabilitation of buildings in disrepair and/or abandoned to affordable multi-residential homes. Investments made under the RHI are expected to support thousands of construction-related jobs for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Quotes:

"Our Government is taking steps, right now, to ensure that every Canadian has a safe and affordable place to call home. Our investments will go a long way to effectively support those who need it most by quickly providing new affordable housing units to vulnerable individuals and families, while addressing the unique barriers faced by communities such as First Nations in British Columbia. Our Government's plan under the National Housing Strategy continues to provide affordable housing for those who need it most from coast to coast to coast."  The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Story continues

"Improving Indigenous housing outcomes must be a priority for the Government of Canada. That is why First Nations are a priority group under our government's National Housing Strategy, and why we are working with Indigenous partners to build rapid housing. Together we are building a generation of new, permanent housing that we can all be proud of."  Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

"The National Housing Strategy is working to ensure more affordable housing for Indigenous peoples. This funding is part of our commitment to addressing severe housing needs across the country. It will provide immediate support to create safe and stable housing for First Nations across British Columbia while assisting those most vulnerable."  Ken Hardie, Member of Parliament for FleetwoodPort Kells

"We have not built homes in our community for over 20 years and our population continues to grow. Homes are critical to the health and well-being of members of Splatsin. Many community members are unable to come back to their community due to no available housing. There are also several families in an over-crowding situation on-reserve, and this will help relieve that stress for them. Although the 10-unit development is a positive change for the Nation, it is still not enough. There are approximately 30 families on a list to receive on-reserve housing."  Chief Wayne Christian of the Splatsin Nation

"As Chief of the Shackan Indian Band, I would like to thank you for the approval of the Rapid Housing Initiative for our community of Shackan. These homes are desperately needed within our community as the housing market has been so severely impacted by the effects of COVID-19. With the increase in rental rates, and shortage of low-income housing, this grant provides a means to allow our people to move to the safety of their home community. The benefits of our people moving home is profound, allowing them easier access to their language, culture and traditions. During this time of implementing UNDRIP, this housing initiative is a wonderful way to work towards reconciliation by supporting our families to be safe, healthy and connected to their culture."  Chief Arnie Lampreau of the Sxexn'x (Shackan) Indian Band

"Tk'emlups te Secwepemc (TteS) welcomes Canada's investment into our community so that we can build 10 units of affordable housing for low-income Elders on TteS lands. It is a priority of our Council and community to ensure that our most vulnerable members have a safe and affordable place to call home. TteS is also looking forward to the potential job creation that this project will have for members. This project supports our Community's vision for more housing opportunities for our growing membership. We hope to continue to work with CMHC for future housing opportunities so that we can address the priorities outlined in TteS' 5-Year Housing Plan and TteS Needs and Demand Study. Kukwstep-kucw for all those who have contributed towards getting this project developed and funde."  Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir, Tk'emlups te Secwepemc.

Quick facts:

Under the RHI Projects Stream, $500 million was available through an application-based process, which closed on December 31, 2020. Funding was available to Provinces, Territories, and Municipalities, Indigenous governing bodies and organizations, and non-profit organizations.





In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada invested an additional $1.5 billion in new funding for the Rapid Housing Initiative in 2021-2022, to address the urgent housing needs of vulnerable Canadians by providing them with permanent affordable housing.





At least 25 percent of this new funding will go towards women-focused housing projects. All units will be constructed within 12 months of when funding is provided to applicants.





This investment will more than triple the initial target set under the Rapid Housing Initiative as the program will now help create over 9,200 affordable housing units across the country.





The RHI has received significant interest from Indigenous groups, which resulted in nearly 40% of all units created under the program to be targeted to Indigenous peoples.





The RHI takes a human rights-based approach to housing, serving people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and others who are among the most vulnerable, including: women and children fleeing domestic violence, seniors, young adults, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, people dealing with mental health and addiction issues, veterans, LGBTQ2+, racialized groups, Black Canadians, and recent immigrants or refugees.





Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10-year, $70+ billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call homethis includes more than $13 billion committed through the 2020 Fall Economic Statement.

Associated links:

As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford, and that meets their needs. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

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MONTREAL, May 4, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - National Bank of Canada (TSX: NA) will release its second quarter 2021 results on Friday, May 28, 2021 at approximately 6:30 a.m. EDT and will hold its financial community conference call the same day at 11:00 a.m. EDT.

Logo: National Bank of Canada (CNW Group/National Bank of Canada)

Presentation materials referenced during the call will be posted on the Bank's website at approximately 6:30 a.m. EDT. The conference call will be accessible via live Internet broadcast or by telephone in listen-only mode at 1-800-898-3989 or 416-406-0743 with access code 1995846#.

A recording will be available until June 25, 2021 at 1-800-408-3053 or 905-694-9451 with access code 1381684#.

About National Bank of Canada

With $344 billion in assets as at January 31, 2021, National Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups. It has more than 26,000 employees in knowledge-intensive positions and has been recognized numerous times as a top employer and for its commitment to diversity. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank's activities at nbc.ca or via social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

SOURCE National Bank of Canada

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Documents released by B.C. Supreme Court May 5 include this picture of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou's cancelled U.S. visa. She faces extradition to New York. (B.C. Supreme Court - image credit)

Lawyers for Meng Wanzhou claim the United States is basing its bid to extradite the Huawei executive to New York on a theory of fraud that's "unprecedented in Canadian law."

In documents released Wednesday, Meng's defence team previewed the arguments it is expected to make this summer during the final phase of her extradition proceedings.

Her lawyers claim American prosecutors are trying to render the 49-year-old to New York to face charges of defrauding HSBC on evidence that's unreliable, and in some cases, just plain wrong.

They also claim the main problem with the Crown's theory of the case is that there is no evidence the bank Meng allegedly tried to trick into doing illegal business with Huawai actually suffered  or even risked suffering  any loss.

"This case is different. On every element of the alleged offence, the [United States'] case displays legal and factual defects rarely seen in fraud cases," the defence submission reads.

"No deception. No loss. Not even a plausible theory of risk. And no causal connection between the impugned representations and the deprivation said to have befallen the putative victim."

Accused of fraud and conspiracy

Meng is Huawei's chief financial officer and the daughter of the Chinese telecommunications company's billionaire founder, Ren Zhengfei.

She was arrested at Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 1, 2018, after arriving on a flight from Hong Kong, en route to Mexico City and a conference in Argentina.

Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou attends extradition proceedings in downtown Vancouver in March. Her lawyers claim the U.S. has not met the bar for extradition. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

Meng is charged with fraud and conspiracy in New York in connection with allegations she lied to an HSBC executive in Hong Kong in 2013 about Huawei's control of a subsidiary named Skycom, which was accused of violating U.S. economic sanctions against Iran.

Prosecutors claim HSBC continued a business relationship with Huawei and agreed to keep moving the company's money through the U.S. financial system because of Meng's alleged misrepresentations.

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According to U.S. authorities, HSBC risked breaching the same set of sanctions as a result  placing the bank in danger of prosecution and economic and reputational loss.

The extradition proceedings were originally scheduled to wrap up by mid-May, but, last month, the judge overseeing the case delayed the final three weeks of arguments until August at the request of Meng's lawyers, who said they needed the extra time to pore through reams of newly-released HSBC documents.

'No meaningful risk'

In the submissions released Wednesday, the defence argues Meng did not deny that Skycom was controlled by Huawei. In fact, they claim she said the opposite.

Meng's lawyers also claim HSBC could not have been held criminally liable for sanctions violations committed because of Meng, and that it would be very unlikely for the bank to have faced civil consequences either.

A logo of HSBC is displayed outside a branch in the Central Financial District of Hong Kong in 2015. Meng Wanzhou is accused of lying to one of the bank's executives about Huawei's business activities. (Bobby Yip/Reuters)

They claim senior bank employees were well aware of the truth about Huawei's relationship with its subsidiary prior to  and separate from  anything Meng told them.

The defence concludes by saying that sending Meng to face trial on the kind of record before the court would set a dangerous example.

"In no prior case has an individual been found guilty of fraud for exposing another individual  much less a sophisticated multinational corporate entity  to the hypothetical risk of a separate and future enforcement proceeding," Meng's lawyers write.

"HSBC simply faced no meaningful risk of sanctions violations that were causally linked in any manner to Ms. Meng's representations. Ms. Meng's representations were not inaccurate; but, in any event, HSBC knew what it needed to know in order to protect its own interests."

'Deceitful' representations put bank at risk

Lawyers for Canada's attorney general have also filed the submissions they plan to make in favour of Meng's extradition.

The Crown argues that the record of the case filed by the United States meets the standard that would be needed to send someone to trial in Canada  the establishment of a prima facie case.

Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou displays her GPS ankle monitoring bracelet as she arrives at B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver. She is living under a form of house arrest. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

They point out that the extradition judge is not supposed to hold a trial. They also say the evidence submitted by a state in order to request a person's extradition is held to be "presumptively reliable."

The Crown claims the elements of fraud  as laid out in Canadian law  include Meng allegedly lying to deceive HSBC and the bank, risking liability under U.S. sanctions law as a result.

"As the CFO of Huawei and the daughter of its founder, her representations regarding Huawei's business activities undoubtedly carried considerable weight," the Crown's submission reads.

"Ms. Meng's deceitful representations to HSBC about Huawei and Skycom thwarted HSBC's efforts to eliminate its risk exposure, putting HSBC's economic interests at risk."

In addition to arguments on the extradition request, Meng's lawyers will also try to have the case tossed because of alleged abuse of process when the proceedings recommence.

The defence team will argue that the United States misled Canada about the strength of its case and omitted key facts from the record.

They have previously argued that Meng's rights were violated at the time of her arrest, that she's being used as a political pawn and that the entire prosecution is in violation of international law.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 7, at which point lawyers are expected to discuss the management of the case in the months ahead.

Meng has denied the allegations against her.
With 83% of Chippewa Countys seniors now having received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 78.6% completing their series, public health director Angela Weideman said the vaccines are showing their effectiveness, as new cases among seniors have plummeted.

This (drop in cases), as well as the reduction in death rates we have seen in the 65+ population, suggest that the COVID-19 vaccinations are working, Weideman said Wednesday during her weekly COVID-19 press conference. This is an incredible achievement because this population was one of the most high-risk age groups throughout the entire pandemic.

No new virus-related deaths were reported; the countys total remains at 94, with just one death since March 2. Also, for the fifth straight week, no county residents are hospitalized with virus-related symptoms. At the high point, 25 county residents were hospitalized at one time.

Weideman reiterated her goal of having 80% of the countys residents getting shots. She noted the county is essentially halfway to that goal, with 40.8% having received at least one dose, and 35.1% having completed their series.

However, in the past week, just 2,215 doses were given to county residents, down from 2,976 doses given last week, and almost half of the high point of 4,086 doses given four weeks ago.
For the nation to leap forward, these networks need to bring 5G broadband to every corner of it, OBrien said. It cant be allowed to serve only those places where population density makes it profitable, like cities.

In his speech to Congress, Biden laid out a revolutionary abstract for the future of the nation. The human side of the Biden infrastructure plan  things like daycare, free community college, better health care, prescription drug pricing  is the true Biden agenda.

The technology revolution is seen by the president not for what it is, a resetting of everything in America, but rather as a way to job creation. It will create jobs, but that isnt the driving force. The driver is and has been innovation: science helping people. That, in turn, will bring about a surge of productivity and prosperity, and with that, new jobs, quality jobs  robots will soon be flipping hamburgers and painting houses.

This other agenda, the one that will make the fundamental difference between the nation of today and the nation of tomorrow, is the technological revolution. The evolutionary forces for this upheaval have been gathering since the microprocessor started things moving in the 1970s.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5) -- Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray will finally reunite with her parents after more than a year due to the pandemic.

After countless rescheduled flights, two flight cancelations, swab tests, stress, applications and waiting...I'm finally on my way to see my parents for the first time in one and a half years, said the beauty queen in an emotional Instagram post.

With her father getting older, Gray shared that she fears not having enough time to spend with him.

When I won Miss Universe back in 2018 I made a vow to myself to see my dad at least 4 times a year, but since the pandemic we've spent the majority of time apart. I know I'm not alone, as so many families face the same reality in the time of Covid, she said.

It's always been a fear of mine, having an older father, of not having enough time with him. I don't want to one day, be full of regret for not having given time to one of the most important people in my life. I'm so emotional writing this, Gray added.

Gray also sympathized with others seeking to reunite with their families amid the pandemic.

I'm sending my whole heart to families who are in the same position as mine. Praying that you'll be together soon, she said.

While in the Philippines, Gray did television hosting jobs and was also an active arts ambassador for the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)  Nova Stevens, Canada's Miss Universe 2020 representative, shared disturbing comments she received on social media from people, including Filipinos, insulting her for her dark skin.

Stevens posted some screenshots on Instagram on Tuesday, showing some Filipinos calling her "burnt" and "scary." She pointed out that the discriminatory remarks come even amid the Black Lives Matter movement and the calls to end racist attacks against Asians.

"I'm really disappointed with some Pageant fans from certain countries," she said. "No one is saying you HAVE to support all contestants, all we're saying is that you support your delegate without bringing others down."

Stevens later clarified that she did not mean all Filipinos were racist and apologized for any possible harm her statement had caused. Her latest post also included positive comments from Filipinos.

"The last thing I want is for anyone to experience hate so please don't bash or generalize the Filipino fans; not all are racist," she said.

Stevens will be competing alongside Philippines' bet Rabiya Mateo and 72 others in the Miss Universe 2020 pageant in Hollywood, Florida on May 16 (May 17 in Manila). Mateo urged all Filipinos to respect her competitors and has also apologized to Stevens on their behalf.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)  Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo urged Filipino fans to avoid racist and other hate comments against other candidates.

In a virtual media conference on Wednesday, Mateo raised concerns on the post of Miss Universe Canada Nova Stevens, which showed some Filipinos bullying her on social media.

"It makes me really sad. I saw the post of Nova earlier and I really feel sorry [for] her because nobody deserves to be in that position," Mateo said.

In Stevens' Instagram post early Wednesday, she attached a photo of her, along with screenshots of comments from some Filipino Instagram users making fun of her skin color.

Some of the comments described her as "nognog" (dark-skinned), "katakot" (scary), and "burnt chicken."

"I'm really disappointed with some pageant fans from certain countries. Your hate takes away the fun and enjoyment from this once in a lifetime experience," Stevens' caption read.

"Is it really that difficult to spread love instead of hate?" she added.

In a separate post Wednesday afternoon, Stevens apologized to some Filipino fans, noting that her previous post "was not intended to incite more hate."

Mateo said she personally messaged Stevens and Obdam for the unruly behavior of some Filipino fans.

"I talked to several girls. I actually personally sent messages to Amanda, to Nova saying sorry," she said. "Because these hate speeches that we see online, this is not a reflection of who we are as Filipinos."

Mateo intends to launch a video to make an appeal to the public against cyberbullying.

"It costs nothing to be kind," she added.

Mateo is among the 74 candidates competing for the Miss Universe 2020 crown. The pageant will be held at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida on May 16 (May 17 in Manila).
A grade of 75 is pasang awa (barely passing) for most students educated in the Philippines.

But non-profit organization Silid Aralan, Inc. (SAI) has recently announced that they are on the lookout for the country's 75 worst performing students whose grades are under 75, in their nationwide search called "75 Under 75." The winners of the search will join their Ground Zero Program, the NGO's 13-year-old method that focuses on experiential learning rather than textbook learning; on teaching soft skills rather than hard skills; and on customizing the children's education according to their passions, hobbies, and learning styles.

Their learning venues are usually located just a few meters away from the nearby public school  but compared to a typical classroom, the chairs are mostly replaced by mats and pillows on the floor. Arcie Mallari, founder and CEO of Silid Aralan explains that this is similar to how the children learn inside their homes. Marami sa kanila [ang] natututo nakadapa o nakahiga kasi sa bahay nila ay ganoon. So we bring that inside the room, he says. But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, just as with in-person classes in schools, Silid Aralan's after-school sessions also shifted online.

Silid Aralan, Inc. reaches out to academically challenged public school students and aims to develop their love for learning. Photo courtesy of SILID ARALAN

The program aims to help the majority of students in public schools  80% of whom get an average grade of 79 or lower, says Mallari in a call with CNN Philippines Life.

Maraming organization na nagtu-tutor [at] tumutulong pero doon lang sa mga magagaling.

In contrast, the kids who need the most help dont learn what they need to be learning. Mallari recalls the time when he first moved to a settlement in Payatas back in 2002 and encountered third-year high school students who could barely read, if at all. Nagtaka ako. If they're Grade 9 or Grade 10, [bakit] hindi marunong magbasa o nahihirapan sa pagbabasa? he says. Paano sila nakapasa at nakarating sa high school?

It starts at home

To get some answers, public-school teacher Bonifel Sahagun of Kasiglahan Village Elementary School in Rodriguez, Rizal says that public schools are starting to visit the homes of their students who are failing. Everything from the student's tardiness; lack of interest in studying, motivation, self-confidence, and perseverance; and poor self-esteem are all rooted in problems at home, such as the familys financial problems, their community's environment, poor nourishment, or sadly even child labor.

Sahagun acknowledges that their interventions are probably not enough; the least they can do is adjust timelines to ensure that the student accomplishes their academic requirements.

Silid Aralan takes the learners out of the classroom because they believe experiential learning is as valuable in the formation of the childs growth and development. Photo courtesy of SILID ARALAN

Mallari, who founded Silid Aralan in 2007, also credits the failing grades partly to the typical mindset that people have about referring to ones grades to identify their level of intelligence. Again, ang basehan ng magaling: grades.

Every day pumapasok ka sa school at alam mo na sinasabihan ka ng teacher mo na hindi ka magaling o bobo ka o mahina ka. Pagdating mo sa bahay, ganoon din. So nare-reprogram talaga iyon sa utak ng bata at nagma-manifest yung behavior niya dahil sa mga naririnig niya.

But Mallari notes, different students have different ways of learning. He shares that most of the students they mentored in Silid Aralan are the kind of students who learn by doing, and not merely sitting down and listening to the teacher. Kaya hindi mataas ang grades nila eh, he explains. Sila yung pagkakinig nila, Gawin na natin! Natututo sila hindi dahil sa lecture; natututo sila kasi ang daming beses silang nagkakamali, pero resilient sila. Kapag nagkakamali sila, gagawin pa rin nila hanggang matutunan nila.

Different types of intelligence

Mallari is quick to point out that what theyre doing is not merely an academic tutoring program. They dont teach English, math, or science, but they teach soft skills, manners (even bringing the kids to hotels and fast food joints to learn the proper way of holding a spoon and fork) and building up self-esteem. Pinapataas namin yung dignidad at yung pagtingin ng mismong learner sa sarili niya  na hindi dahil mahirap siya ay bobo siya, na hindi dahil basurero siya ay hanggang doon lang siya.

Silid Aralan Alumna Elisha Barrunuevo, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in information technology and now works as the team leader of encoders in a distribution services company, can attest to this. "Ang pinaka-valuable life lesson na natutunan ko sa SAI ay 'Walang batang bobo,'" she says. "Kung dati ay panay palakol ang grade ko, nagkaroon na ako ng line of eight at nine [na grades] at napasama pa ako sa top 10 ng aming section.

Silid Aralan also involves the children in a lot of play, dance, singing and the arts, in order to engage their bodily-kinesthetics and technical intelligence.

Some of Silid Aralans learners during a trip to the grocery, one of their common activities that attempts to teach the learners soft skills as simple as falling in line, computing expenses, and basic manners with fellow customers. Photo courtesy of SILID ARALAN

This is how Kent Ian Vargas, who with his family was relocated from an informal settlement in Quezon City to Montalban, Rizal, experienced a lot of firsts. "First time ko ma-experience ang air-conditioned na room. Dito ako unang nakakita ng mga colored na libro; nakakita at nakagamit ng computer; natutong kumanta, sumayaw at mag-drawing; makapunta sa zoo at iba't ibang lugar," he recalls. "Unti-unti, hindi ko namalayan na nagkakaroon na ako ng confidence at nae-enjoy ko na pala ang pag-aaral. Nakakapag-recite na rin ako sa klase at nagiging leader na rin sa group activities."

From grades in the line of seven during third grade, he started getting a line of nine and graduated top two of his class in the sixth grade. Now Vargas is a public-school teacher, a master's student at Philippine Normal University, and a donor and member of Silid Aralan's Board of Trustees.

Passing it on

A donor shells out 10,800 annually for the next 10 years to support the learner's membership to Silid Aralan. When Mallaris team did their computations comparing the donors monetary donation from the learners post-Silid Aralan success, they found that there is an immediate SROI (or the social return on investment).

Kunwari naging public school teacher ang isang learner. Kung inisponsoran siya ni Donor ng 108,000 sa buong 10 years, we found na more or less ay nasa 222,025 ang SROI niya sa unang taon pa lang pagka-graduate ng learner, says Mallari. This is computed based on a variety of factors, including their contributions to SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG (or, generally, their contributions to the economy); their monthly salary and support to their families; and their donations to Silid Aralan, their public schools, and the church, among many others. Kinompute din namin ito: kung hindi sila napunta sa Silid Aralan, ano sila ngayon? Baka maraming tambay, kasi tinignan din namin [iyong] mga kaklase nila na katulad nila dati na ngayon ay tambay.

Mallari has high hopes not just for Silid Aralan but, ultimately, the Philippine education system; he hopes that Silid Aralans fewer lectures, more experiential learning mentoring model will soon be adopted by the countrys public schools. After all, it is now institutionalized in many developed countries such as Finland, Japan, and Singapore.

My hope is, eventually, matatanggal na tayo doon sa academic na point-of-view na [ang] magagaling na bata ay yung magagaling lang magkabisa, magaling sa math, science, and English, he says, dahil lahat ng bata, may kaniya-kaniyang galing.

***

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)  Incoming kindergarteners and Grades 1, 7, and 11 students in public elementary and secondary schools can still pre-register until the end of the month, the Department of Education said on Tuesday.

"Public schools will continue to accept early registrants until May 31, 2021," DepEd said in an advisory.

The early registration period, which started on March 26, was supposed to end on April 30.

The early registration form may be sent online or via text, the agency previously said, adding in-person registration is not allowed except in areas under modified general community quarantine, subject to strict health and safety protocols.

The number of incoming Grade 1, Grade 7, and Grade 11 students who have registered early for the next school year has so far reached 4,254,141, according to DepEd.

It earlier said Grades 2 to 6, 8 to 10, and 12 are considered pre-registered and will not need to participate in the early registration.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)  A 54.6-billion allocation for the pension fund of uniformed personnel under Bayanihan 3 is part of the government's payment in arrears to the military and police who have also been working in the frontlines during the pandemic, a lawmaker said Wednesday.

The amount is the second highest appropriation in the draft of the third COVID-19 stimulus package, next to the 216 billion allotment for the 2,000 cash aid for the country's entire population. Bayanihan 3 seeks a total budget of 405.6 billion to help all Filipinos cope with the pandemic.

RELATED: Each Filipino may get 2,000 'ayuda' under the proposed Bayanihan 3, solon says

Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, one of the authors of Bayanihan 3, told CNN Philippine's The Source how the 54.6 billion was included in the proposed measure.

"This was a request of the DBM (Department of Budget and Management). This amount was admittedly not in any of the original six bills that were consolidated under the existing substitute bill that was recently approved in various committees," she bared.

Quimbo said upon further deliberations during the technical working group meetings, they decided to include the amount to make up for the budget cut in the pension and gratuity funds for uniformed personnel in the 2020 appropriation.

"Unfortunately in 2020, a big portion of their budget got cut so kailangan nating i-restore ito [we need to restore it]. Ang sundalo natin [our soldiers], they are also frontliners," she said, noting that the fund could serve as a morale booster.

"Kailangan natin itong tugunan [We need to address this] by putting in the amount that is needed to pay the pension arrears," she added.

The 54.6-billion pension and gratuity fund will be distributed in three phases: 20 billion will be released in phase 1, another 20 billion in phase 2, and 14.6 billion in phase 3.

On Monday, the House ways and means committee approved a substitute bill to the third COVID-19 stimulus package worth 405.6 billion. The measure just needs to be approved by the appropriations committee before it undergoes plenary debates when session resumes.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)  The government announced a ban on travelers from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 variant from India.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Wednesday said the ban will be effective from May 7 to 14.

In a memorandum, he said passengers coming from or who have been to the aforementioned countries within 14 days immediately preceding arrival in the Philippines, shall be prohibited from entering the country.

Meanwhile, effective immediately, passengers coming from or who have been to the four countries within 14 days and are arriving before the travel ban, shall undergo facility-based quarantine for 14 days notwithstanding a negative RT-PCR test.

Passengers merely transiting the countries will not be subjected to the procedures as long as they stayed in the airport the whole time and were not cleared for entry into those countries by immigration. They also do not need to be quarantined for 14 days once they arrive in the Philippines, the memorandum added.

The government blocked visitors from India last month over the surge of COVID-19 cases that has devastated the South Asian country. The variant first detected in India has not yet been found in the Philippines.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6)  President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday called the country's arbitral victory against China's claims in the West Philippine Sea a piece of paper that he can throw away in a trash bin.

In his second late-night address this week, Duterte said the ruling affirming the Philippines' sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone is just a piece of paper that led to nothing.

"Nag-file sila ng kaso nanalo tayo... Sa totoong buhay, between nation, 'yang papel wala iyan... Actually... bigay mo sakin iyan sabihin ko 'P*t*ng-ina papel lang iyan'. Itatapon ko iyan sa waste basket," he said.

[Translation: They filed a case and we won. In real life, between nations, that paper is noting. Actually, if you give that to me, I will tell you 'Son of a ***** that is only a paper.' I will throw that in a waste basket.]

The President also said calls for him to bring current developments in the West Philippine Sea to the United Nations to continue the fight is "a waste of time and at the same time disrupting the good relations of China and the Philippines."

However, Duterte appeared at the United Nations General Assembly last September to affirm the Philippines' win against China in the Hague in 2016. He said the Philippines rejects any attempts to undermine the said arbitral ruling  a stand which gained praises even from his critics.

The arbitral tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS) largely ruled in favor of the Philippines in its case against China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea. It invalidated Beijing's "historic rights" claim to nearly the entire waterway and recognized Philippine sovereign rights in areas within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf that China contests. Beijing has refused to recognize the ruling.

On latest developments, the Philippine Coast Guard said in two separate instances it encountered a total of 12 Chinese maritime militia vessels at the Sabina Shoal, located around 70 nautical miles off Palawan in the West Philippine Sea. Prior to this, authorities also reported the presence of over 200 Chinese vessels in the disputed waters.

Amid incursions, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said Philippine vessels will be deployed to continue law enforcement activities. Filipino fishermen are also urged to continue their livelihood despite China's announcement it will implement a "unilateral" fishing ban in some areas of the South China Sea from May 1 to August 16.

Duterte vs. Carpio

The word war between the President and retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio heated up further, with Duterte challenging Carpio to debate on the West Philippine Sea.

Both lawyers, Duterte said he will pose only three questions as to how China seized Scarborough Shoal: Who ordered the Philippine Navy to retreat from the area, what did the Aquino administration do after the arbitral win, and can we enforce the ruling?

"Itong Carpio naman, sulat nang sulat ng mga decision para sa kanyang utak lang. Isa ring ugok itong Supreme Court justice. Pareho man tayo abugado. Gusto mo magdebate tayo?"

[Translation: Carpio keeps writing decisions for his own mind. This Supreme Court justice is stupid. We are both lawyers. Do you want a debate?]

"I gladly accept the challenge anytime at the President's convenience," Carpio responded.

Duterte also lashed out at Albert del Rosario, the Foreign Affairs secretary during the term of President Benigno Aquino III, saying he should be investigated for withdrawing Philippine ships from Scarborough Shoal during a standoff with China in 2012.

Del Rosario previously reminded Duterte that it was Chinese President Xi Jinping who "deceitfully breached" the agreement mediated by the United States to jointly withdraw all ships in the area.

Carpio also urged Duterte to keep his promise that he will resign immediately if it can be proven he is wrong about his allegations against the former magistrate's role during the 2012 incident. He insisted he was not involved in diplomatic sea row discussions since he was a sitting Supreme Court justice at the time.

"President Duterte should now resign immediately to keep his word of honor," Carpio said.

Carpio and Del Rosario have been vocal against Duterte's inaction and the importance of asserting the countrys sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Bar Association has offered to host the debate.

"As the oldest voluntary private organization of lawyers in the country, the PBA will provide a balanced arena fit for two lawyers of eminent stature and experience to dispassionately discuss the core issues relating to the dispute on the West Philippine Sea," PBA president Rico Domingo said in a statement Thursday.

The PBA said they would provide the forum at no cost to either party, and at a time and date that would be agreeable to both.

Carpio has since responded he was "happy" with the PBA's offer.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)  San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. returned to profitability in the first three months of 2021, with net income soaring 66% to 9.68 billion despite the Philippines' ongoing battle against the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement, the group said its consolidated sales improved by 11% to 76.36 billion, while income from operations also climbed 45% to 12.57 billion in the first quarter.

The food unit of San Miguel Corp. said its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization stood at 15.63 billion, up 35%.

"Our first quarter results reflect the resilience of SMFB throughout the crisis," SMFB President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Ang said in the statement.

"The group has proven its agility and ability to control costs, manage cash, and stay on track to deliver long-term profitable growth while ensuring our products are always available to our customers and vulnerable communities that need them the most," the business tycoon added.

San Miguel Brewery Inc., meanwhile, saw its revenues slightly up by 2% to 28.84 billion. However, the company noted volumes "remained depressed" as operations of most of its on-trade channels were still suspended, worsened by the reimposition of the hard lockdown in the capital.

Despite this, SMB profit in the period increased by 45% to 5.46 billion.

Ginebra San Miguel, on the other hand, recorded a "stellar quarter" with revenues and earnings surging to 11.34 billion and 1.04 billion, respectively.

In addition, San Miguel Foods opened the year on an upbeat note with revenues jumping 9% to 36.18 billion on the back of strong demand and more stable pricing across all business segments.

Earnings of San Miguel Foods in the January to March period reached 3.39 billion, more than doubled from the same period in 2020.

"As we continue to navigate the pandemic, we remain optimistic about the future and stay focused on driving investments in products and innovate on systems that will better address the needs of Filipinos. We will work hard with greater efficiency and flexibility in order for our country to emerge from this pandemic stronger and more formidable," Ang said.

SMFB shares in the local bourse shed 60 centavos or .92% to finish at 64.40 apiece on Wednesday.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)  President Rodrigo Duterte has asked the Chinese Ambassador to withdraw China's donation of 1,000 Sinopharm vaccines to the Philippines, after he was criticized for taking the unregistered doses.

"Sabi ko tanggalin mo na lang [I said just forget about them]," the President said during his address to the nation Wednesday night. "You withdraw all Sinopharm vaccines - 1,000 of them - 'wag ka na lang magpadala ng Sinopharm dito para walang gulo [Do not send Sinopharm vaccines here anymore so we can avoid trouble]."

The President also apologized to the public for choosing to be vaccinated with Sinopharm. He said medical experts had reached out to him about the danger of his taking a dose not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

"We are sorry for the things you are criticizing us for, we accept responsibility," Duterte said. "We are sorry, you are right, we are wrong."

However, the President also pointed out that the use of the Sinopharm vaccine is allowed under a compassionate use permit which makes it legal.

He added that the vaccine has also been used in other countries such as Brazil, and that his doctor advised him to take it.

"'Yung tinurok sa akin [What was administered to me], it's a decision of my doctor and all things said, this is my life," Duterte added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5) President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar as the 26th chief of the Philippine National Police, Malacanang confirmed on Wednesday.

Eleazar will replace Gen. Debold Sinas, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on May 8, in leading the 200,000-strong police force.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque cited Eleazar's track record as a PNP official.

"We are therefore confident that he will continue the reform initiatives of his predecessors and lead the police organization to greater heights," Roque said.

In a separate statement, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano likewise welcomed the appointment of Eleazar, describing him as "very qualified" for the post.

The DILG chief also thanked Duterte for "acting favorably" on his recommendation.

"I expect PLt Gen Eleazar to lead the entire PNP organization to greater heights in serving and protecting our people, implementing quarantine protocols and minimum health standards, and promoting law and order during this challenging period in our nation's history," Ano said.

For his part, Eleazar said he also accepts the challenges that come with the promotion.

Prior to his appointment, Eleazar served the second highest post in the PNP as Deputy Chief for Administration.

He also worked as chief of the National Capital Region Police Office and head of the government's task force against COVID-19 quarantine violators. He belongs to the Philippine Military Academy Hinirang Class of 1987.

Eleazar is the sixth PNP chief handpicked by Duterte. He will only serve for six months as he is set to retire on his 56th birthday on Nov. 13.

This means Duterte can still name his seventh PNP chief before his term ends on June 30, 2022.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 5)  Another private hospital has received a compassionate special permit (CSP) to use ivermectin on COVID-19 patients, Food and Drug Administration Director General Eric Domingo said on Wednesday.

It is the sixth hospital to get CSP to repurpose the drug originally designed to treat parasitic infections.

"Six hospitals na ang may (six hospitals already have) CSP for ivermectin," Domingo told an online forum. He did not name them. Domingo added it is up to the healthcare facilities if they want to publicly reveal they have CSP.

"Of course, the hospitals can freely identify themselves," he said.

"They are private hospitals not only in Metro Manila. Some are in the provinces rin (also)," he added.

The FDA earlier said oral ivermectin products in the country are only approved for use on animals to prevent heartworm disease and treat infections caused by parasites. The agency added doctors can prescribe topical ivermectin products to individuals with parasitic infestations such as head lice and other skin conditions.

Health experts, including those from the World Health Organization, have said there is not enough proof ivermectin can be used to treat or prevent COVID-19.
(CNN) -- France is "ready" to cut electricity to the British island of Jersey -- just off the French coast -- should the United Kingdom not abide by clauses of the Brexit agreement regarding fisheries, French Maritime Minister Annick Girardin said Tuesday.

"As you know, the agreement provides for retaliatory measures, and we are ready to use them," Girardin told the French parliament.

Girardin also claimed the Jersey government -- which issued 41 fishing permits to French vessels on April 30 -- had placed "unilateral" restrictions on the trawlers.

"Regarding Jersey, I'll remind you, for example, of electricity transportation via undersea cable," she added. "We have means at our disposal. And even if it'd be sad to get to that point, we'll get there if we must."

The self-governing island of Jersey is one of the Channel Islands, sitting just 14 miles off the French coast. While not technically part of the United Kingdom, the islands are crown dependencies, defended and internationally represented by the UK government.

Jersey Electricity, the main electricity provider to the island, says more than 95% of the electricity the island purchases is from France and is transported via submarine cables.

In a statement, Jersey's Minister for External Relations, Sen. Ian Gorst, said the island had been informed by France and the European Union "that they are unhappy with the conditions placed on fishing licenses and fishing in general."

"Such complaints are taken very seriously, and the Government will respond in full," Gorst said. "However, the Government of Jersey has acted on legal advice, in good faith, and with due regard to non-discriminatory and scientific principles at every stage of these proceedings."

He added Jersey regretted a recent decision by French local authorities in neighboring Normandy to shut down their representation on the island, saying it was based on a "misunderstanding that can be put right."

"We want to heal the relationship as soon as possible, and we hope the (Normandy authorities) will take the opportunity to reverse the decision," Gorst said.

The UK and EU reached a post-Brexit trade agreement on December 24, which came into force on January 1 when Britain left the EU's single market and customs union.

The Jersey spat is part of an escalating dispute between the EU and the UK over fishing rights, with boats from both sides facing administrative hurdles and being turned away over paperwork.

"It is important that we right away condemn this move, I did so with the (European) Commission, condemning the breach of the Brexit agreement," Girardin said, warning the Jersey move "would set a dangerous precedent for access elsewhere."

Girardin's threat is reminiscent of former French President Charles de Gaulle's blockade against the Principality of Monaco in October 1962 as part of a dispute over taxation.

According to archives from the French Assembly, the move had a "psychological impact" on the local population that feared water, gas and electricity provided by France would be cut. The blockade only lasted a few hours.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "France threatens to cut electricity to British island in post-Brexit fisheries dispute"
(CNN)  For a country with a much smaller military and no nuclear weapons, Australia is suddenly hinting an awful lot about a war with China.

On April 25, the symbolic date of Anzac Day, when Australia honors its war dead, newly appointed Defense Minister Peter Dutton said a conflict with China over Taiwan shouldn't "be discounted," adding that Australians needed to be "realistic" about tensions around the region.

In another Anzac Day message, the top official at Australia's powerful Home Affairs department, Mike Pezzullo, told his staff "free nations" were hearing the "drums of war" beating again.

A few days later, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced $580 million in military upgrades. One week on, several newspapers published a confidential briefing by Australia's Maj. Gen. Adam Findlay to special forces soldiers, in which he said conflict with China was a "high likelihood."

The idea of Australia fighting a war against China on its own is ridiculous. Last year, Australia's military spending was about $27 billion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. China's was estimated to be 10 times higher, for the same period, at about $252 billion, the second highest in the world.

Plus, China is a nuclear power. Australia is not.

Relations between Canberra and Beijing have been in a deep freeze for almost a year, since Morrison and his government infuriated their Chinese counterparts by publicly calling for an investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, Australian exports to China  including coal, wheat and wine  have faced crippling obstacles.

The Australian government has moved to confront Beijing over allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has joined a chorus of state-run media highlighting Australia's poor human rights record on refugees and Indigenous Australians.

But much of the war-like rhetoric from Australia is actually driven by domestic politics, said Yun Jiang, managing editor at the Australian National University's Center on China in the World. The Morrison government is under pressure over allegations it has mishandled its COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and could be looking to shift the focus.

"Focusing on an external enemy has usually been quite effective in uniting public sentiment and rallying around the government," she said. "I think it's irresponsible for the government to talk it up like that. War is very serious business."

The Australian government's words, however, may reflect real concerns about the possibility of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan  a conflict that could ultimately involve the entire Asia region and even the US. But that terrifying prospect, said Yun, is likely why other US allies in closer proximity to Beijing's sphere of influence, such as South Korea and Japan, aren't echoing Canberra's aggressive language.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Why are Australian officials hinting at war with China?"
This year, Julie Urkoski has planned a full schedule for Teacher Appreciation Week. On Tuesday, she and another person brought St. Anthony's teachers their favorite beverage. Earlier this week, the two hung balloons from teachers' doors.

For the rest of the week, teachers will receive snacks like popcorn on Thursday, and on Friday, lunch will be provided for the educators.

On Wednesday, teachers will observe a dress-down day and can leave when the students leave for the day.

Teachers are irreplaceable, said Urkoski, who is the president of the St. Anthonys home and school group. Teachers helped our kids. They kept them in school  making sure that we were in school was something that we all needed to say thank you for.

The group is similar to a PTA and does things such as raising money for the school and bridging the gap between parents and teachers.

Last year, Urkoski partook in remote teacher appreciation while the school was not meeting in-person. She said the group tries to take a day for each Teacher Appreciation Week and do something for the teachers.

I kind of spearheaded a door drop off for the teachers. We put together baskets and we set them outside their houses, she said.
Community outreach

Last week, Donna Wolff of Northeast Nebraska Suicide Prevention Coalition visited YFFC to speak to Columbus Middle Schools about suicide prevention and how to reach out if they or someone they know is struggling. Later that same day, a documentary on a young woman who became paralyzed after attempting death by suicide played at YFFC and the First United Methodist Church Outreach Center in Columbus.

Wolff started the coalition, which offers resources in the Columbus area, following the death of her son, Zebulun, who died by suicide. The 18-year-old passed away on March 1, 2009.

It's been 12 years since I've been without my son, Wolff told the middle schoolers. I never got to see him graduate high school. I never got to see him go to college. I never got to have a mother-son dance with him at his wedding and I'll never have grandkids from him.

Wolffs son seemed happy on the outside but inside faced turmoil. He had been seeking professional help and was on medication but succumbed to his inner struggles, Wolff said.

She noticed a lack of support for those impacted by the death by suicide of a loved one, which prompted her into action.
Trump has made it clear he will not stand down, hell endorse candidates, raise money and campaign for or against the partys selections.

His involvement, in Cheneys view, is a disaster waiting to happen and could destroy the partys chances of gaining the handful of seats it needs to win control.

Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, on the other hand, believes appeasing Trump and his base of support is crucial, and the political baggage the former president brings will not turn voters against Republicans.

The relationship between Cheney and McCarthy grows frostier by the day and the prospect of a meaningful thaw seems remote. Their differences over dealing with Trump are not likely to be resolved. The best that can be hoped for is a truce and a pledge to refrain from attacking each other.

Awarding a campaign role and platform to Trump is fraught with risk. Hell re-litigate the 2020 election, insist that millions of votes were cast fraudulently or changed by mysterious forces to deny him a second term.

He has refused to move on, despite the dismissal of more than 60 legal challenges to the election outcome. His repeated complaints have morphed into irritating whining, grating on the ears of the American people.
Ive been hacked. Officially. Someone pretending to be me  go figure  has applied for unemployment benefits in my name.

By the way, if you, whoever you are, really want to serve as my stuntman, there are a variety of situations in which you could actually be helpful to me. For example, the next student complaining about his or her grade would be a good start. Go for it, Pretend Me. You respond to the next email that begins, Dear Professor: What can I do?! My usual response of How about turning back time and paying attention in February? doesnt seem to resonate.

Back to the identity theft.

Keep in mind, this is Kentuckys fault. The state unemployment system suffered two data breaches last year. Initially, state officials said the personal information of Kentuckians was not at risk. Turns out, it was.

My pleas to the state of Kentucky, Hey! This is the real me. I have a job! have since been sucked into the vortex that is the state office of unemployment insurance. Go ahead. Give them a call and see what happens. Leave it to bureaucrats to come up with new ways not to deal with humans.
As COVID-19 vaccinations continue, Missouri public health officials are encouraging residents to exercise caution when it comes to celebrating Mothers Day this weekend to prevent an uptick in cases.

The Missouri Center for Public Health Excellence recommends community members follow Center for Disease Control guidelines for choosing safer activities.

By adapting our Mothers Day traditions again this year, we can help keep our loved ones healthy and stop the spread of COVID-19, the centers weekly update said.

If planning a celebration that includes unvaccinated individuals, public health officials recommend the following:

Celebrating outdoors with a small group while practicing social distancing is the safest option.

Consider connecting with other outside your household by phone or video chat or by safely delivering a gift or card.

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If planning a celebration with fully vaccinated individuals, they recommend:

Continue wearing a mask if you plan to gather indoors or in an outdoor environment that doesnt allow for social distancing.
The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
UTM Plans Four Spring Commencement Ceremonies

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MARTIN, TN - The University of Tennessee at Martin will hold spring commencement in four separate in-person ceremonies May 7 and 8 on the main campus in the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. Commencement times are 6 pm on May 7 and 10 am, 2 pm and 6 pm on May 8.Tickets are required to enter the Elam Center, and masks and social distancing are required at all times. Doors will open 45 minutes before each ceremony begins, and guests are asked to clear Skyhawk Arena for cleaning within 30 minutes after each ceremony ends. All four commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/utmartin and www.youtube.com/utmartin.The ceremonies will be archived for later viewing on YouTube and will also be broadcast live in Skyhawk Fieldhouse located adjacent to the Elam Center, which will allow up to 350 additional guests to view the commencements. While tickets are required to enter the Elam Center, additional tickets will not be required to access Skyhawk Fieldhouse.Dr. Philip Acree Cavalier, provost and UT Martin vice chancellor for academic affairs, will preside over the commencement ceremonies, offer the commencement address and confer degrees. In addition, several speakers will appear virtually: The Rev. Amanda Crice, campus minister, UT Martin Wesley Foundation, will offer the invocation; UT President Randy Boyd and UT Martin Chancellor Keith Carver will offer greetings and personal congratulations; and Student Government Association immediate-past President Hunter McCloud and UT Martin Alumni Council President Victor Andrews will each address the graduating class. Each ceremony will close with a performance of the Alma Mater by the UTM Virtual Choir, recorded and edited by 2010 UT Martin graduate Joseph Sam. Additional information is available by calling the Office of University Relations at 731-881-7615.
Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday commended a newly formed group that aims to help Virginia-based businesses and nonprofits address climate change and prepare the economy for a clean energy future.

Northam spoke at the Community Climate Collaborative (C3) launch of the Green Business Alliance at Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital.

Weve had these climate commissions in Virginia and we listen to the data and weve said that we really need to get out there and take action and then we really never have. In the past few years, we have been able to work together and really understand what were up against as a society, Northam said.

Each business has to commit to certain clean energy goals in order to be part of the alliance, said Susan Kruse, C3s executive director.

This whole process started about two years ago and we collected about two or three years of energy data for each business and then we gave them their carbon footprint analysis and worked with them to set a plan forward. The collective goal is a 45% reduction by 2025, Kruse said.

She said some of the 16 businesses in the group have set a higher target, but at a minimum, each business is committed to at least reducing their carbon footprint by 30%.
The method to hear appeals Saturday? A smattering of panels reachable by phone or Zoom will make decisions on the spot.

Rich Anderson, chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, said that despite hurdles, he is confident the voting and counting process will go smoothly.

Anderson said in an interview Monday that the party expects to start counting ballots at 1 p.m. Sunday, beginning with the race for attorney general, followed by lieutenant governor and then governor. Anderson said its impossible to predict how quickly the process will go, but he said he hopes counting will be done by the end of the day Tuesday.

Complicating the process is the ranked-choice method Republicans chose, which is gaining popularity across the country. Voters will list the candidates in order of preference, and one by one, candidates will be eliminated until one has more than 50% of the vote.

I believe this is going to work very well. There are a lot of moving pieces and a lot of complexity, but Ive got literally hundreds of people across the state working hard and so I think that their investment of time and energy and hard work will pay off, Anderson said.
CHRISTIANSBURG  Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday that Virginia has reached an agreement with Norfolk Southern to extend passenger rail to the New River Valley and increase the intercity service from Roanoke to the Northeast Corridor.

Called the Western Rail Initiative, the deal includes $257.2 million toward an array of infrastructure improvements and the acquisition of right-of-way and track. Of that amount, $38.2 million will be for the states acquisition of right-of-way and track from Norfolk Southern for just under 29 miles of the Virginian Line from the Salem Crossovers west of Roanoke to Merrimac.

The remaining $219 million will be for infrastructure improvements by Norfolk Southern and the state along the corridor. Of that amount, $36.5 million is for Roanoke Yard improvements; $131.5 million for infrastructure improvements along the U.S. Route 29/Interstate 81 corridor; and $51 million by the state for improvements between Salem and Christiansburg.

The Salem to Christiansburg improvements include signaling and track upgrades and an investment in a maintenance facility, passenger platform and station.
Police killings of Black and brown citizens seem to have escalated.

Some of the contributing factors discussed by many, me included, are racism, violations of department policies and bad decisions by officers. All of which translates equates to unnecessary killings.

There are instances in which deadly force is warranted.

But on April 11, a Minnesota police officer with at least 25 years of experience shot and killed 20-year-old unarmed Daunte Wright because, according to the police chief, she thought she had pulled her department-issued Taser  but instead it was her handgun.

Then we have the incident right here in Virginia, in Windsor, where U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Caron Nazario was stopped in December for an alleged traffic violation, which resulted in no charges or arrest, and was pepper-sprayed and thrown to the ground. This could have escalated into another death, if Lt. Nazario had resisted.

What is the solution?

Accountability, starting with independent investigations leading to arrests and prosecutions.
Bangladesh: Water is life

by Juel Mahmud

May 05,2021 | Source: Dhaka Tribune

"Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink," the line from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is more applicable when you go to the southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh. Owing to its very low elevation, the area is susceptible to various acute and slow-on-set natural hazards such as cyclone, storm surge, riverbank erosion, saline intrusion; and around 20 million people who are living along the coastal line have been suffering from adverse effects of these extreme events. The situation became worse after two consecutive super cyclones: Sidr (2007) and Aila (2009). It was almost impossible to find a single source of freshwater as both ground and surface water was contaminated with the high concentration of saline. Over the period, thousands of hectares of agricultural land have accumulated saline from frequent tidal surges, lost their productivity and shifted into monocultural shrimp farming hotspot. Water is Life as it plays the most significant role for existing every living being on the earth. At the dry session when the ponds are parched, people of the coastal area of Bangladesh know the worth of water as nothing is more demandable except adequate usable water to sustain life here. Aiming to address water-related threats and vulnerabilities of these impoverished populations, HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation has initiated a project titled "Panii Jibon" (Water Is Life) that has been implemented by four local partners: Development Organization of the Rural Poor - DORP, Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Center - BDPC, Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program - OKUP and International Centre for Climate Change and Development - ICCCAD in Paikgacha and Koyra Upazila of Khulna and Morrelganj Upazila of Bagerhat. The overall objective of this project is to build resilience and reduce well-being loss of climate change affected disadvantaged communities, and particularly vulnerable women and youth, in the disaster-prone areas of Southwest Bangladesh.



The project started back in 2015, after completing its first phase (Phase-I, 2015-2017) and the second phase (Phase-II, 2018-2020) in 2020, now it is working towards its final phase (Phase-III, 2021-2023) from 2021. Throughout the last two phases, the project has touched approximately 100,000 women and youth (including women-led households, people with special needs, and extremely poor people affected by recurrent disasters) of disadvantaged communities in accessing safe drinking water. The project also assisted in adapting the farming system (homestead based) to enhance local food security, nutrition and better income generation. Indeed, the project has been developed with four core features: water security, livelihood, migration and the cross-sectional mainstay climate change, where DORP, BDPC, OKUP and ICCCAD have worked collaboratively with strong coordination of Helvetas. Early action research helped to address the basic needs and diversified livelihood opportunities (WASH, saline tolerant crop and fish cultivation, functional disaster management structures) for the communities. To enhance the absorptive and adaptive capacities of disadvantaged communities, the project team has conducted day-long and residential capacity building training and workshop programs on livelihood, CRA (Community Risk Assessment), RRAP (Risk Reduction Action Plan) and climate change adaptation. Participants are sharing their learning in their communities that they acquired from the session and exercising the lessons by conducting similar training sessions at their working place.



At the community level, Panii Jibon has been achieving its goal of water security through creating opportunities and more options for fresh water sources, sanitation and hygiene. Around 50,000 people are now getting safe water for drinking and household purposes from newly built or renovated water sources. With the close collaboration of the local government, the project team excavated numerous new ponds, re-excavated existing pond and canal, distributed thousands of water tank for rainwater harvesting (RWH), constructed and renovated Pond Sand Filter (PSF), promoted hygiene and proper sanitation and provided sanitary latrine to the inhibitors. Their continued advocacy with local government makes a positive impact on the local budget and a visual change has been noticed at the local level particularly in the project areas where the wash budget has increased prior to Panii Jibon. In terms of livelihood; the project has supported the creation of alternative income sources, supported local farmers with seeds, technologies, demonstration and training. "Collection Center'', is one of the remarkable initiatives that has taken from Panii Jibon, where farmers come with their daily productions from their land and sell these to the buyer. "Now I do not need to go to the Bazar that is far from my home for selling my homestead's production, even I can sell a kg of eggplant or bean at this collection center and get a better price," said Mrs. Nurnahar lives in Raruli Union of Paikhacha Upazila.



In the context of climate change, migration dynamics in this area have also changed and in the last 20-30 years, at least one family member or relative has migrated from here to seek income-generating opportunities. Loss of income and lack of livelihood opportunities are the main triggering factors for migration to nearby cities. To ensure safe migration and proper utilization of remittance, at first, the project team identified potential migrants then provided them with different vocational and technical pieces of training and prepared them as skilled migrants as well as support to find out an alternative livelihood at their origin. The project also worked with the female counterparts of migrants who are living at their own houses and organized training programs for their livelihood. Likewise, Panii Jibon has used the lesson learning from the project achievements, connecting and integrating the local advocacy outcomes with national climate change and development-related advocacy structures and initiatives. Policy advocacy amplifying transparent and inclusive government structure and process for effective climate change financing and monitoring both at the local to national level. However, the next phase will begin with establishing climate justice, at not only the national and global levels but also concretely what climate justice means on the ground. Phase-III will focus on advocacy and replication of previous pashes by demonstrating the innovations of the last two phases and dissemination of climate-resilient approaches and models in the WASH and food sectors vertically and horizontally and link up more explicitly with climate change platforms networks as well as public authorities at all levels.
Tamil Nadu: Fishermen protest against encroaching shrimp farms

May 05,2021 | Source: World Socialist Web Site

Coastal fishermen in Tamil Nadu demonstrated at the offices of the Fisheries Department and the Coastal Aquaculture Authority in Chennai on April 21. They were demanding the government stop shrimp hatcheries being established close to the shore and near the high tide line.



The protesting fishermen said vast tracts of common land meant for use by fishing villages were being usurped by the shrimp farming industry. The demonstration was organised by the Tamil Nadu Meenavar Iyakkangalin Orunginaippu Kuzhu, an umbrella association of fishermen organisations.

 1998-2021 World Socialist Web Site.
Pakistan: Industrial estate project in Chunian to be turned into aqua business park

by Khalid Hasnain

May 05,2021 | Source: Dawn

The Punjab government has approved a proposal of the Punjab Industrial Estate Development Management Company (PIEDMC) seeking conversion of the industrial estate project into an aqua business park project, Dawn has learnt. The Punjab government had earlier spent over Rs350 million on the land acquisition, construction of a boundary wall and preparing a design for developing the industrial estate, also connected to Multan Road, near Bhai Pheru, about 40km away from Lahore. However, it could not complete the project during the previous government of the PML-N, an official source in the Punjab government told Dawn on Tuesday. The source said when the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf came to power in Aug 2018, it started making changes in various departments, companies etc.



A new board of directors (BoD) of the PIEDMC was also constituted. The PIEDMC, which deals with the affairs of Punjabs industrial estates, resumed work on Chunian Industrial Estate Project. Before initiating civil works at the site, the company got the soil test carried out. The PIEDMC BoD was surprised to see the soil test report that revealed that groundwater table is lying at just up to 10 feet or slightly above which makes the land unsuitable for an industrial estate, the source said. According to him, after knowing this, the company started considering other options to utilise the area for other industrial purposes in conformity with the soil tests. Later some studies were conducted that declared that the area was suitable for breeding, growing and exporting seafood species, particularly crab, prawn and shrimp. Since the land appeared feasible for fish farming also, it was decided to add this component to the project for local consumption through marketing it at a nearby proposed mega fish market project on Multan Road after shifting of Lahores existing Lohari fish market there.

 2021, Dawn
COMMENTARY

Prepare for the next Sunburst by protecting controlled unclassified information

As the ramifications of last years devastating Sunburst attack on SolarWinds' Orion software linger, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Department of Defense have implemented stringent new guidelines and requirements for federal contractors working with controlled unclassified information (CUI). NIST SP 800-172 provides clear guidance for damage-limiting operations, including network segmentation, and DOD now requires third-party assessments and validation for vendors to meet Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).

CUI has long been an appealing target for the nations adversaries. Its sensitive by its very nature, and the fact that its not classified means that organizations have historically not been as vigilant in protecting it. In addition, many of the governments key suppliers lack the scale and means to implement costly and complex cybersecurity measures. This combination of factors makes CUI a ripe target for exploitation and compromise.

Now, the governments renewed emphasis on supply chain cybersecurity and protection of CUI, requires contractors to strengthen their defense mechanisms. Here are three strategies they should consider implementing.

Segregate data

One of the lessons taught by the Sunburst incident is how easy it can be for hackers to move from one dataset to another once theyre inside a network. A single backdoor into SolarWinds network led to the compromise of nine government agencies and about 100 private sector companies, according to Anne Neuberger, deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology.

The incident highlighted the need to segregate data to mitigate the potential for hackers to gain access to information -- the damage-limiting operations referred to in NIST SP 800-172. Systems that store or process CUI should be isolated from other network components, and access to CUI should be highly controlled.

This is a clear challenge in todays interconnected, on-demand and data-centric world. But technologies like data diodes, which provide secure one-way data transfer between networks, and cross-domain security, which segments network environments, can allow secure information sharing between privileged users. These technologies provide the connectivity required for modern government operations while ensuring the protection of critical data and networks. They can also make it significantly harder for hackers to gain access to different datasets and traverse networks.

Implement behavioral analytics

With behavioral analytics, organizations adopt a zero-trust approach and monitor users for anomalous patterns that could indicate a potential breach. For example, if a Washington, D.C.-based users credentials are suddenly being used by an unknown party out of New York City, the user may have been compromised. Other deviations from the users normal behavior patterns could also indicate an insider threat.

Behavioral analytics are based on scores indicating a users risk to the enterprise. A person with direct access to CUI, for instance, might have a higher risk score and be subject to more stringent security controls or access privileges. This tactic enables organizations to focus their efforts on the areas of greatest impact, reducing cost and improving efficacy.

Although most defense agencies already use some form of behavior analysis as part of their security protocols, the same cannot necessarily be said across the DODs supply chain. Agencies should encourage contractors to incorporate behavioral analytics into their security plans to minimize any potential risk that might arise from their employees.

Build trust

Although the Sunburst attack highlights the potential threats posed by the private-sector supply chain, there are many more examples of successful cybersecurity collaborations between the government and industry. For instance, the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Commission, which has brought together the brightest minds from government, industry and academia, is an excellent case study of the whole of the United States, including both public- and private-sector organizations, coming together for a common cause.

The security of the government and its critical supply chain depends on adopting a similar mentality to that which created the commission; that is, organizations must build trust and work together to identify and understand the common risks before them. Agencies must share threat intelligence with their private-sector contractors, including details around cyber intrusions and the latest tactics hackers may employ against the supply chain. This information will help their contractors better prepare and defend their networks. Likewise, contractors must be transparent about their development practices and immediately alert agencies to any potential activities that may indicate a threat to those networks.

Protecting the supply chain and CUI will only become more challenging as the number of defense contractors and the amount of data they house continues to increase. Implementing these best practices today will help bolster defenses significantly, allowing third parties to meet the requirements set forth by the federal government and reduce the chances for another Sunburst-level attack.

This column was changed May 5 to clarify the composition of organizations hit by the SolarWinds attack.
Cyber

DHS, White House turn spotlight on ransomware

The Department of Homeland Security and the White House are putting the spotlight on combatting ransomware, actively developing plans to confront the issue.

DHS has assembled a task force with representatives from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Secret Service, Coast Guard and Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations unit, according to Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The new task force is part of the secretary's planned "60-day sprint" on ransomware that was announced in March as the first in a series of new efforts.

"Beyond CISAthe entire federal government is stepping up to face this challenge," Mayorkas said at an April 29 event hosted by the Institute for Security and Technology. "The White House is developing a plan dedicated to tackling this problem," and the Justice Department recently established its own task force focused on ransomware, he confirmed.

Ransomware "has disproportionately impacted the healthcare industry during the COVID pandemic, and has shut down schools, hospitals, police stations, city governments, and U.S. military facilities, according to a new report by IST featuring recommendations for the Biden administration on combatting ransomware.

Some of the report's recommendations include establishing a U.S. government "Joint Ransomware Task Force," forming an international coalition focused on ransomware, sanctioning countries that fail to take action against threat actors and designating ransomware a national security threat.

Mayorkas earlier this month issued a joint statement with Attorney General Merrick Garland and counterparts in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada on the threat ransomware poses.

"Ransomware is a growing cyber threat which compromises the safety of our citizens, the security of the online environment, and the prosperity of our economies. It can be used with criminal intent, but is also a threat to national security," the April 7 statement said.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has seen cyber threat actors exploiting this new environment as a means of furthering malicious activity," the statement continued.

This article was first posted to FCW, a sibling site to Defense Systems.
It takes a village to raise a child, and this summer Greater Albany Public Schools is rallying its village.

GAPS Big Summer will rely on community partnerships to provide activities and opportunities for children in grades K-12, free of charge.

The details, released on Monday, were alluded to during the last GAPS board meeting, where members shared their excitement and praised district administrators for thinking outside the box and creating opportunities for continued learning over a summer that follows a year of mostly online learning.

After the last day of school on June 15, the program, which spans several community organizations, will begin on June 20.

Linn-Benton Community College will be offering credit recovery and credit acceleration as well as enrichment classes.

The Albany Parks and Recreation Department traditionally has summer programs for kids at the community library and pool, but this year GAPS is footing the majority of the bill. It hasnt been decided just yet how many of the programs available through local partners will be paid for by GAPS, but the district is using funds from Oregon Department of Education learning grants.
Greater Albany Public Schools disclosed on Tuesday that 8.6% of the district's in-person population is in quarantine.

The news was part of a report that included an update on new COVID-19 cases in the district and provided additional information on state procedures that led the district to quarantine students.

The announcement comes after just over a month of in-person learning being open broadly to GAPS students after the state shut classrooms down last April.

In total, GAPS has 6,852 students learning in person, in classrooms. There are currently 19 active student cases.

On April 23, districts across the state received additional guidance from the Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority concerning the need for students to quarantine. These rules are set out by the state, not individual school districts.

Citing an increase in cases, hospitalizations and "more transmittable" variants of COVID-19, ODE now recommends a 14-day quarantine for unvaccinated students who came in contact with individuals infected with the virus.

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In compliance with the new state guidance, GAPS reported that there are currently 589 students in quarantine due to contact with a positive case.
On April 20, the officer who murdered George Floyd was convicted on all counts.

Many are celebrating, rightfully so. But let us not forget the work ahead, and the responsibility we have to not just talk, but act.

On April 20, acting Oregon State University President Feser released a statement stating, We simply are not doing enough as a society to stop such violence  At OSU, we must do our part to bring that change.

If OSU is going to do its part, it can begin by reversing its decision to create an armed police force. In the name of accountability, the board of trustees should resign. In April 2019 the trustees voted for the formation of an OSU armed police force in response to the split with Oregon State Police after a case of police brutality against a student of color!

George Floyd was murdered the next month, and public sentiment shifted. Calls to defund police and refund the community became mainstream. Yet the trustees were unwilling to reconsider their decision, despite public testimony at board meetings calling to disarm.
by Francis Khoo Thwe

Pre-dawn rallies are held in Dawei, Yangon, Mandalay, and Kalo. In Naungcho (Shan State), vegetables, fish and other food are provided to the needy. The independent Tachileik agency is closed. Satellite television receivers are banned.

Yangon (AsiaNews)  Despite the ban on gatherings, despite the curfew imposed on the country starting on the first day of the military coup, protests continue every day in many cities.

To avoid attacks and sniper fire from the security forces, many gatherings take place at night or dawn.

Today, for example, a protest rally was held in the wee hours of the day in Dawei. Many young people held candles and laid flowers in front of the homes of those killed by the junta (picture 1).

Since it took place at 5 am on 5 May, today's action is dubbed the 555 protest.

Smaller demonstrations took place in Yangon (picture 2) and at Yadanarbon University in Mandalay (picture 3). In Kale (Sagaing region), groups of demonstrators met in the morning for an anti-regime strike.

Civilians are now aware that they must avoid the violence by the military, who have the habit (and are under order) to use lethal force and shoot.

The Assistance Association for Political Refugees (AAPP), which provides up-to-date figures every day on those killed by name and situation, has reported the death of 766 people so far. Conversely, the junta, which considers the AAPP illegal, claims that only 248 people have died, plus 24 soldiers and policemen.

Either way, protest strikes and the pandemic have had a negative impact on the economy. According to the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the ranks of the poor in Myanmar have increased by 12 per cent as a result of the countrys deteriorating security situation following the coup d'etat.

In several cities, such as Naungcho (Shan State), people have set up exchange points based on the principle Take if you need, donate if you have extra. Such stalls display food bags, with portions of vegetables and fish, for those in need (picture 4)

Meanwhile, the junta appears to have shed some light on a bomb blast in Bago on Monday that killed five people, including a lawmaker with the National League for Democracy and three police officers who had jointed the civil disobedience movement.

Some military-controlled media claim that those killed were making a bomb, which went off while it was being built.

The attempt to get the media on its side is prompting the junta to arrest more and more journalists. At least 30 of them are behind bars, some of them foreigners.

Unable to block sources of news other than their own, the military is shutting them down. The latest is the independent Tachileik agency, based in Shan State, the eighth local agency to have its license revoked.

Yesterday, junta-controlled MRTV television announced again that satellite television receivers are banned. With the Internet jammed for several hours a day, the country is sliding back towards the isolation that prevailed before it embarked on democratic reforms 10 years ago.
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If ever there was a time for police to be on their best behavior, if ever there was a time for them to use the greatest standard of care, if ever there was a time for them to de-escalate, it was during this trial, which I believe was one of the most consequential police (and) civil rights cases in our history, Crump told The Associated Press.

After Wrights funeral, he was back in Florida to call for a federal investigation of a deputy who fatally shot two Black teenagers. And he began last week demanding that police in North Carolina be more transparent after deputies fatally shot a Black man outside of his house.

Critics see him as an opportunist who never fails to show up amid another tragedy. But those who know Crump say hes been fighting for fairness long before he drew headlines.

Crump, 51, is a tireless worker who mixes Southern charm, a talent for attracting media attention to his cases and a firm belief that racism afflicts the nation, and the courts are the place to take it on.

He has an uncanny way of making his clients feel like kin, they say.
But the trauma of the ordeal is still fresh.

It caused chaos, and it was the worst experience ever, said Sanabria, who was arrested in Baton Rouge in December for allegedly interfering in a custody dispute involving her grandchild. Before that day, the 54-year-old had never been jailed in her life.

A Louisiana branch of The Bail Project bailed her out after three days. She would have been out earlier, but there was an outstanding traffic ticket on her record.

Sanabria said she didnt disclose to the childs father where her grandchild was because she felt it was unsafe. So she was taken into custody, even though she explained to police that she was the only person on shift at the group home. It was so abrupt, Sanabria said, that she wasnt allowed to finish passing out medication to group home residents before being led away.

The ordeal got worse at the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail, she said. Sanabria was denied the use of a toilet during jail intake, although she suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure, which she says require her to be near a restroom.

She had to relieve herself where she sat on the jail floor, she said. Sanabria also went without access to her own medications while in jail.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.  U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, who served as Florida governor for a single term before running other offices, is seeking the states highest office once again  this time as a Democrat.

After releasing videos Tuesday confirming his candidacy, Christ held an outdoor rally that sought to contrast his record with that of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Im running so you will be in charge again, Crist told the crowd at a campaign kickoff rally in St. Petersburg. No, friends, it will not be easy, but nothing worth doing is.

U.S. Rep. Val Demings, Agricuture Commissionr Nikki Fried and former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham are frequently mentioned as potential Democratic candidates. There may well be others.

In Tallahassee, Fried told reporters her aim is clear on running for governor, but its not quite time to announce anything.

As the only statewide elected Democrat it makes absolute sense for me to be running for governor. But today is not the day for me to be making this announcement, Fried said.

Crist has some built-in advantages in terms of name recognition and a strong fund-raising network, said Aubrey Jewett, political science professor at the University of Central Florida.
A team led by a Dothan native film producer is eyeing former city school office space to repurpose for a production studio.

Stephen Durham, who recently moved back to Dothan from Los Angeles, and his team introduced 2nd Nature Films and an ambitious goal to help the city become a film production hub.

My whole goal is to bring the film industry here, Durham said. Georgias the No. 1 filming state in the last four years. They dont have anything that we dont have.

Durham, who produced the 2020 film Army of One, noted the studio could bring more filming to Dothan along with TV series and an education component at the high school level.

Michael Renard, a member of 2nd Nature Films, suggested that Dothan was perhaps better geographically located for filming than some of the most prevalent production capitals like Atlanta.

City Manager Kevin Cowper said he and the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce have been working with the group, who approached Dothan leaders about coming to Dothan. On Monday, they were given a tour of the city and Cowper said they were very interested in the Dusy Street property that previously housed Dothan City Schools central office.
Gergely Karacsony is against Shanghai's Fudan University setting up a campus in Budapest. The latters charter requires it represent the world vision of the Chinese Communist Party. Prime Minister Viktor Orban is increasingly aligned with China, a challenge to the European Union and the United States.

Budapest (AsiaNews)  The mayor of Budapest is opposed the Hungarian government's plan to build a campus of the Shanghai's Fudan University in the Hungarian capital by 2024.

According to Gergely Karacsony, a member of Hungary's Green Party, the administration of Prime Minister Viktor Orban wants to bring an academically serious foreign university, whose charter requires that it represent the world vision of the Chinese Communist Party.

For Budapest's first citizen, this is a threat to the country's national security. There is also a problem of cost and transparency.

The bill for the Chinese campus is estimated at US$ 1.8 billion, more than the government spent on the countrys entire education system in 2019, the Hungarian news site Direkt36 reported last month.

About 20 per cent of the costs will fall directly on Hungarian taxpayers, while the rest will be covered by a loan from a Chinese bank.

According to documents obtained by Direkt36, most of the work will be done with Chinese material and workers in violation of the European Unions procurement rules.

This is not the first time that Viktor Orban, the theorist of 'illiberal democracy', has disregarded EU rules.

Without a public tender, the Hungarian leader granted the Chinese the contract to build the Budapest-Belgrade high-speed railway set to open in 2025, part of Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative.

For Karacsony, Hungary is now a proxy for the eastern great powers (Russia included) within the EU.

Orban has also given the green light to Huawei's 5G networks; the Chinese tech company has its largest supply centre outside of China in Hungary.

The US and most of its European allies have banned or restricted business with the Chinese multinational, which it accuses of spying on behalf of the government.

Hungary is also the only country in the EU to have authorised the use of the Chinese coronavirus vaccine.

For analysts, Beijing is using the Budapest-Belgrade railway and Fudan campus projects to promote its own strategic interests and extend its influence in the region.

They note that China get the most from doing business in Hungary: contracts for its companies, high interest loans, and, above all, greater political clout within Europe.

According to the United States and the European Union, China is using its Belt and Road to get its partner to align with its geopolitical agenda.

A glaring example is the decision in 2016 by Hungary and Greece to block a joint EU declaration in support of the Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which had rejected Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea in a case brought by the Philippines.

Two weeks ago, Budapest did it again by vetoing a European declaration criticising Chinas crackdown against Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement. In so doing, the Hungarian government rejected a proposal to impose sanctions on China, including suspending existing extradition treaties.
People are traveling to and through Dothan again, businesses are busy, and sales tax collections are strong.

Aprils sales and use tax report, which reflects March sales, shows the city raked in over $8 million, nearly $2.4 million more than budget projections and more than $1.7 million the amount collected in April of last year.

Last months sales and use tax revenue figures have given the city a total surplus of $9,544,057 for the 2021 Fiscal Year with five months left to go until the end of the budget year.

Furthermore, lodging tax remitted to the city government last month was in the green for the first time in a year. The city collected $328,338 in April, which is $68,352 more than the budget amount and $93,600 more, or 40% higher, than the amount collected in the same timeframe last year.

Matt Parker, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce president, said the mix of industry sectors  medical, military, service, retail, and manufacturing  should be credited to the Dothan Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) continued economic growth.
The mayoral portrait of Mike Schmitz that was unveiled Tuesday will now hang in the Dothan Civic Center next to the portraits of all of Dothans mayors who preceded him in office.

Schmitz held the role of Dothan mayor from 2009 to 2017, opting not to seek a third term but to run for Dothan City School Board chairman. He was elected school board chairman in 2017 and still holds that position.

Current Mayor Mark Saliba listed Schmitz accomplishments during his two terms, which included working in collaboration with business leaders to attract many large businesses to Dothan, preventing the closing of an air control tower at the Dothan Regional Airport, and assisting with the creation of the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Forever Wild Trail, and two new Dothan-Houston County libraries.

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Hes been undertaken with his ongoing and passionate commitment toward cultivating business relationships which continue bringing new jobs to Dothan and the Wiregrass even today, Saliba said. By knocking on doors, hes a great salesman he was the right mayor at the right time for the City of Dothan.

Most importantly, Saliba said teary-eyed, is that Schmitz has been a kind friend.
Today, the federal government announced on the Governors Only Call with the White House that states with a diminishing demand for vaccines may have their doses shifted to states with a higher demand, Ivey said in the statement. Yall, we want shots in the arms and off the shelf. If you have not made it a priority to schedule a vaccine, I encourage you to go get the shot as soon as you are able. If you are hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine, please speak to a physician you trust and ask if he or she would recommend it for you. If we dont use it, we could lose it. This is our ticket back to normal. The vaccine is free and could possibly save your life.
Researchers have recovered a treasure trove of World War I artifacts from a cave shelter in northern Italy, revealed by the melting of a glacier.

During the war, the cave shelter housed 20 Austrian soldiers stationed at Mount Scorluzzo on the Alpine front, close to the famous Stelvio Pass, historian Stefano Morosini told CNN Tuesday.

While people knew the shelter existed, researchers were only able to enter it in 2017 as the surrounding glacier had melted, added Morosini, who is scientific coordinator of the heritage project at Stelvio National Park and teaches at the University of Bergamo.

Inside they found food, dishes and jackets made from animal skins, among many other items, he said.

The artifacts illustrate the "very poor daily life" of the soldiers, who had to deal with "extreme environmental conditions," said Morosini.

"The artifacts are a representation, like a time machine, of ... the extreme conditions of life during the first World War," Morosini said, adding that more items appear in the area every summer as the glacier melts.
April 19 marks an anniversary of sorts. For the past 20 months (except for hospital stays in Birmingham and Columbus), my wife has been a resident of a nursing home in Ozark. For the past year, neither I nor any other family member has been able to visit her in her room due to the coronavirus. She has also been a victim of the virus and was moved several times and in quarantine for several weeks. I think this isolation is likely to continue for some time. And, let me add I am not being critical of the nursing home. They have provided good care, especially considering the circumstances.

I am angry and disappointed with many elected officials, especially former so-called President Trump. He and most fellow Republicans have pretended the virus doesn't exist, called it a hoax, failed to provide support to medical personnel, failed to set an example by following CDC guidelines, belittling doctors and scientists, blaming other countries. When have you heard Rep. Barry Moore or Sen. Tommy Tuberville indicate concern for the 30 million victims of the coronavirus or concern for the 570,000 who have paid the ultimate price for GOP greed and selfishness? When have you observed either of them wearing a mask to set the example for their constituents?
by Mathias Hariyadi

Simon, a member of Christ the King parish in Pejompongan (Central Jakarta), is behind the initiative. During Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and prayer, donations drop creating supply shortages. Veronica and Simon of Cyrene in the Way of the Cross are the inspiration for the initiative to benefit the Diocese of Agats, one of the countrys poorest areas.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  An Indonesian Christian from Christ the King Parish in Pejompongan (Central Jakarta) has launched a campaign to collect blood donations for remote and distressed areas of Papua, particularly the Diocese of Agats.

This is a particularly urgent during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and prayer, since blood supplies and donations to the Indonesian Red Cross Society (Palang Merah Indonesia) tend to drastically drop, creating shortages.

The Diocese of Agats is located in one of the remotest parts of the country, an area characterised by muddy soil, which does not allow farming, except for a few mangrove trees and saltwater trees.

Reaching it from Jakarta requires a long trip by various means of transportation, including large planes, ultralight aircrafts and speedboats.

Given such difficulties, Simon (the Christian promoter of the initiative) launched the project Blood donation for the Diocese of Agats.

His inspiration comes from the Way of the Cross and the actions of Simone di Cyrene and Veronica at stations 5 and 6. He chose the diocese because it is among the most unfortunate territories of the country where it is difficult to find natural resources.

Donating blood during Ramadan is one of the most important ways to exercise the spirit of compassion.

Simon will donate 10,000 Indonesian rupees (about a dollar) of his own money to those who join the initiative, set between 4 and 22 May. Already some 50 people have donated blood in exchange for the symbolic fee, a gesture that is very meaningful with huge value.

Recently Simon pitched his project to young people and the media linked to the Archdiocese of Jakarta in order to reach a wider pool of possible donors, but this elicited no positive response.

Nevertheless, after the initiative was featured last night on the Sesawi Catholic news portal interest increased and the first anonymous benefactors arrived.

Donating blood, Simon points out to AsiaNews, is an act of deep humanity, which goes beyond social status and race. It is a humanitarian response to emergency situations that transcend borders and allows other lives to be saved.

During Ramadan, when blood supplies run low, this is especially important. For non-Muslims, it is a good time to act.

Lastly, Simon notes: As Catholics, we are all Veronica and Simon in contemplation in the face of Jesus' sufferings.
Nuet brings premium aquavit to UK drinkers

Nuet, described as the world's first premium aquavit, has announced the launch of its Dry Aquavit in the UK, following its overwhelming success in the Norwegian market.

To coincide with its arrival in the UK, Nuet is also hosting an Urban Foraging event launching on May 17th  a national holiday in Norway  and running until Sunday May 23 at partner venues across London.

The recipe for Nuet Dry Aquavit took eight months to develop and the team carried out more than 100 test distillations.

Aquavit has been a Scandinavian tradition since its first recorded mention in 1531. Honouring Scandi innovation and history, whilst at the same time striving to create something truly unique, founders Morten, Benjamin, Johannes and Martin, all from the capital of Norway, Oslo, set about producing a new spirit.

Nuet translates as the now comprises grapefruit peel and blackcurrant influences accompanying the traditional caraway, along with a fresh, smooth finish unlike any other aquavit. The newcomer has been specially designed to work with tonic and in a dry Martini.

To support the launch, Nuet has partnered with several bars across the capital, including Hide in Mayfair, EKTE Nordic Kitchen in Bloomberg Arcade, Scandi Kitchen in Fitzrovia and more. Each partner bar will be serving special Nuet cocktails or serves to commemorate the occasion and those wishing to celebrate are encouraged to forage for Nuet across London town.

The brand is also commemorating Norways national holiday and arrival of the 43% abv Nuet Dry Aquavit in the UK, with a limited edition Nuet gift set, (featuring a commemorative bottle and Nuet branded glasses) available on 31 Dover May 7 for 39.95.

Founder Morten Pharo Halle said: Our mission at Nuet is to share Scandinavian moments with people all over the world through the best aquavit products ever made, and to really show the full potential of this quintessentially Scandi spirit. The fact that bars are again allowed to serve alcohol indoors in the UK on the very same day as Norwegians celebrate their national day is therefore a very happy coincidence for us, and we want to make the most of it by giving people in London a taste of Scandi living.

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As Vietnams digital economy grows, so does the incidence of disputes between online sellers and buyers.

The e-commerce market grew by 16 percent to $14 billion in 2020, and is expected to be worth $52 billion by 2025, according to a report by Google.

The number of disputes is also growing rapidly, with 24.4 percent of sellers embroiled in disputes last year,a survey by the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) found.

The Vietnam E-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency said it handled over 250 cases of e-commerce violations last year like unregistered websites, selling low-quality products and assuming false business identities to cheat consumers.

Besides, e-commerce platforms took down over 17,400 online stores and 34,600 products in the first five months of 2020, according to the agency.

Nguyen Anh Duong, head of the general research department at CIEM, said though e-commerce platforms have procedures for receiving customer complaints and settling disputes, they can only handle sellers violations by closing the stores and cannot to make them compensate customers they cheated.

Experts said the demand for an online dispute resolution (ODR) system in e-commerce is growing since many enterprises and individuals do business online.

But Vietnam lacks a clear legal framework for the ODR, and experts said it is needed immediately so that an ODR system could be deployed.
An artists impression of a luxury apartment project in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of Keenland.

An increase in the number of luxury apartments this year has sparked fears of oversupply and market unsustainability.

The luxury segment accounted for 39 percent of total apartment supply in HCMC in the first quarter, and the high-end segment for 20 percent, according to data from real estate consultancy CBRE.

Even half a decade ago luxury housing had accounted for a mere 1-2 percent of the market.

The first quarter also saw the highest ever price for an apartment of $18,000 per square meter and the emergence of branded residences or luxury apartments associated with international management brands.

But surveys have found that prices are likely to keep rising to new highs this year.

In a report on the HCMC housing market in the first quarter, property firm DKRA said the supply of luxury apartments is still on the rise and could set new price milestones. In the super luxury segment, projects could even reach $20,000-30,000 per square meter in the central core area in the citys District 1.

Duong Thuy Dung, senior director at CBRE Vietnam, had predicted last year that luxury housing prices in Vietnam could increase dramatically in the next 10 years and reach $35,000 per square meter.

By last year the price of luxury and super luxury apartments in Ho Chi Minh City had climbed to $10,000-15,000.

The starting price in the luxury segment is $4,000, but the average price in the first quarter of 2021 was nearly $6,898 after increasing by 4.7 percent from a year earlier.

CBRE data shows that between 2017 and the end of 2019 prices of luxury apartments in the citys central area increased by 40 percent.

Vietnam is emerging as a thriving real estate market in Southeast Asia, with HCMC being among locations where housing prices are increasing rapidly.

In fact, recent data from real estate consultancy Savills shows that Vietnam is among the 10 fastest growing property markets in the upscale segment.

Vietnam is also emerging as a country with rapid growth in affluence and demand for upscale properties.

However, the spurt in prices and supply, which shows no signs of stopping, is causing concern about luxury apartments and branded residences developing at too fast a rate, causing the market to overheat.

Le Hoang Chau, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Association, expressed concern that standards are not being spelled out for luxury, super luxury and branded residences and most lack guidelines or regulation.

Tran Khanh Quang, general director of real estate investment firm Viet An Hoa JSC, said luxury housing and branded residences are still in a sweet spot with price records being constantly broken, resulting in plentiful supply amid a scarcity otherwise of products in the market.

Nguyen Loc Hanh, general director of Ngoc A Chau Real Estate Investment JSC, said the luxury apartments segment has become so large that it accounts for a 39 percent market share.

It is the leading segment in the HCMC real estate market, and the city should be cautious since it is not sustainable, he warned.
Vietnamese netizens who remember billionaire Bill Gates saying he loved doing the dishes every day have been provoked into a housework debate by his impending divorce.

On May 3, billionaires Bill and Melinda Gates, co-founders of one of the worlds largest private charitable foundations, filed for divorce after 27 years, but pledged to continue their philanthropic work together.

In a joint petition for dissolution of marriage, the couple asserted their legal union was "irretrievably broken," but said they had reached an agreement on how to divide their marital assets.

While the socioeconomic ramifications of the divorce have become talk of the town in many places, many Vietnamese tongues are wagging about something else that is closer to home.

They are debating the merits and demerits of a man doing the dishes.

The debate has been sparked by Gatess professed love for dish washing, with several Vietnamese male netizens "taking the cue" and quipping that sharing housework does not seem to save a marriage.

"I do the dishes every night - other people volunteer but I like the way I do it," Bill Gates had said during a Reddit AMA in 2014.

Nguyen Thanh Dat, a white collar worker in Hanoi, commented on his Facebook page, said: "A man enjoying washing dishes for his wife and still ends up divorcing... it seems doing dishes does not help a marriage last."

Many other men agreed, joking they would not do the dishes hereafter because "even a rich man like Bill Gates cannot save his marriage by washing dishes."

Microsoft technology advisor Bill Gates and his wife Melinda leave on the second day of the Allen and Co. media conference in Sun Valley, Idaho July 10, 2014. Photo by Reuters/Rick Wilking.

Many netizens would not be diverted by the humor.

"People should stop making jokes that men who do chores at home will not have a happy marriage. Such ridiculous assumptions make it harder to fight gender stereotypes," said An Nguyen, a teacher in Hanoi.

Some people commented that man doing housework was nothing to talk about, but sociologist Trinh Hoa Binh said that Bill Gates washing dishes had caught public attention because it is uncommon for a man to do house chores in Vietnam.

While there has been heightened awareness of gender equality in Vietnam for several years, the majority of women still get no housework help from men.

It is still the norm that Vietnamese husbands refuse to assist their wives with household chores.

In 2018, a survey by the Institute of Labor Science and Social Affairs and the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research revealed just three percent of respondent husbands washed dishes at home, and only 0.5 percent offered to do it regularly.

Notably, 20 percent said theyd never washed dishes, which, they consider a woman's job.

A report by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs and ActionAid in 2016 showed Vietnamese women spend an average five hours a day on unpaid work like household chores and childcare, compared to three hours for men.

The report said that in some disadvantaged areas, women spend over eight hours a day on unpaid employment.

Even amid the Covid-19 pandemic, 20 percent of Vietnamese men have not done any housework even as the women carry the double burden of work and family responsibilities, according to a March report by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

"My husband is like a kid and cannot cook a proper meal for himself. I keep telling him that we must share these responsibilities equally," said Nguyen Huong Quynh, a banker in Hanoi.

It is still a widely prevalent practice that Vietnamese women do most of the housework, while fixing and maintaining equipment in the house are tasks reserved for men, according to a study done by the Institute for Social Development Studies.

"Traditional gender norms are clearly reflected in the way many people think  that a man like Bill Gates can easily free himself from doing house chores," said sociologist Binh.

A tired woman cleans her kitchen. Photo by Shutterstock/Makistock.

Traditional gender norms

The notion of "men building the house and women making it a home," is deeply rooted in many Asian cultures including Vietnam.

In this patriarchal paradigm that is reinforced by Confucian traditions in Vietnam, cooking, washing clothes, doing the dishes, and taking care of children are a womans job.

It is commonly said that if women fail to manage their family affairs and housework, they are nothing, regardless of how successful they may be in their careers and society.

"Many people think women must strike a balance between her job and house chores, but the truth is they go to work and earn money just like their male counterparts," sociologist Binh said.

Though younger, educated men in urban areas are more open-minded, most Vietnamese men still hold on stereotypical beliefs that associate them with strength and external and more important affairs, and women with gentleness and the "inferior" yet strenuous jobs, several international studies have pointed out.

The ILO has noted that while the country is taking steps to tackle gender inequality, the situation remains dire in Vietnam as the majority of women stay trapped by the "invisible" area informal, unpaid employment.

Binh said: "If a man doing housework becomes a common thing here, people would not talk about Bill Gates's liking for dish washing, but that will not happen in the near future."
Medics take samples of local people at a village in Hanoi during a coronavirus mass testing on May 3, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

At least 12 people have contracted Covid-19 from recently diagnosed patients while a doctor from Hanoi tested positive in an overseas trip.

The 12 comprise eight in hotspot Vinh Phuc Province and one each in Hanoi, Hoi An Town, Dong Nai Province and Hai Duong Province.

Further tests are needed to tag them as Covid-19 patients.

The Hoi An victim, 27, is the wife of patient 2982, who was diagnosed with Covid on Tuesday morning.

The man, 28, works in a hotel in Da Nang and the source of his transmission is yet to be identified.

He had fever and fatigue on May 2 and went for a check to the Hoan My Da Nang Hospital, which confirmed the next day that he had Covid.

The Dong Nai Province case has also been traced to him. The 44-year-old woman works as the manager in a bar in Da Nang, and contact tracing found that she had come into close contact with one of his F1, the term used to describe people who come into contact with someone diagnosed later with Covid.

She reported to local authorities as soon as she learned about the F1, and was isolated and tested.

In the northern Hai Duong, a man reported to authorities after it was announced he had been on the same flight with a group of Chinese experts diagnosed later with Covid.

A 32-year-old woman from Da Nang who sit near the group of Chinese experts on the flight have also been reported by Hanoi authorities as a Covid suspect.

They had all been on Vietnam Airlines flight VN160 from Da Nang to Hanoi on April 29.

The five Chinese had arrived in Vietnam to work in early April and were quarantined in a hotel in the northern province of Yen Bai from April 9 to 23, during which time they tested negative three times.

After completing the quarantine, they began working at the Trung Bac A Company and continued to have their health monitored for 14 days by local medical staff.

They visited many places in the north between April 23 and 25, and some returned to China on April 28. Chinese authorities have since notified their Vietnamese counterparts that four of them have tested positive for Covid.

So far 14 people in Vinh Phuc and one in Hanoi are found to have contracted the infection from them.

Eight more in Vinh Phuc are suspects and have been tested.

In fact, Vinh Phuc health authorities are taking no chances and have carried out mass testing, collecting 2,845 samples.

Also on Tuesday it was announced that a doctor from the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi tested positive for the novel coronavirus when going overseas for a business trip.

The source of his infection is not known, and Hanoi authorities are contact tracing everyone who had been in contact with him.

As of Wednesday Vietnam has confirmed 38 Covid cases in the latest outbreak that began on April 29 after more than a month without infections.

Of them 35 are linked to hotspots in the northern provinces of Vinh Phuc and Ha Nam, where some people were found with the infection after coming out of the mandatory 14-day quarantine and testing negative two or three times, including the Chinese.

The series of infections were reported in the wake of a four-day holiday weekend ending Monday when there was a lot of travel and crowd gatherings.
Police in the northern province of Ha Nam on Tuesday launched a criminal investigation into a coronavirus patient that ignored self-isolation protocol and caused an outbreak.

Police are looking at a possible charge of "spreading dangerous infectious diseases in humans," which carries a punishment of up to 12 years in prison.

"Patient 2899," 28-year-old Nguyen Van Dai, is a migrant worker who returned from Japan on April 7. Following his mandatory 14-day quarantine, he returned to his hometown in Quan Nhan Village of Dao Ly Commune in the northern province's Ly Nhan District on April 22, where he was supposed to continue self-isolation for another 14 days. Neglecting the latter, he attended several crowded festivities, authorities said.

His actions had allegedly caused a coronavirus outbreak in Ha Nam, which eventually spread to several other localities, ending Vietnam's streak of zero community transmissions in around a month.

A score of officials, including Nguy Cao Phi, director of the Ly Nhan medical center, Phan Thanh Quynh, chairman of Dao Ly People's Committee and Luong Thanh Ngoc, head of a medical station in Dao Ly, have received warnings from authorities. Phi and Quynh also had their names removed from elections for a seat at the local peoples councils.

This is not the first time Vietnam has launched criminal investigations into the spread of Covid-19. A flight attendant in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) in March received a two-year suspended sentence for the same charge.

Vietnam has seen 38 Covid-19 community transmissions in six localities - Ha Nam, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Hung Yen, Da Nang, Yen Bai and HCMC since April 27. Ha Nam has recorded 14 cases so far.
Two HCMC university academics have lost their positions after they were found plagiarizing content from an international peer reviewed journal.

Hoang Xuan Phuong and Vu Mong Lan, both part of the management staff at the private Van Lang university, were relieved of their positions after it was revealed that one of their published articles, titled "The relationship between PR specialists and journalists through the lens of communication ethics" was mostly plagiarized.

The dismissal was announced Tuesday by Vo Van Tuan, the universitys vice principal.

Phuong and Lan have confessed that their article was translated from a paper by Jim Macnamara, an Australian professor of Public Communication, published in the Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly in 2016.

The two academics said they had translated 80 percent of the original article without getting the authors permission or citing his work as the source.

Macnamara has since accepted apologies offered by the duo, Tuan said.

Phuong and Lans article was originally presented at a conference in July 2019 at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) under the Vietnam National University in HCMC. A year later, the article was included in a book published by the university.

After several academic forums questioned the originality of the article late last year, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities requested the publisher to recall all the books and publish a corrected version, with the republishing expenses by Phuong and Lan.

Hoang Xuan Phuong worked for 10 years at the USSH's Journalism and Communications Department, before moving to Van Lang in October 2020, working as its deputy head of the Public Relations and Communications Department.

Vu Mong Lan was the deputy head of the Multimedia Communication division under Van Lang's Public Relations and Communications Department.
A police officer (R) talks with a group of men found using karaoke service at King Restaurant in HCMC despite a ban due to Covid-19, May 4, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Dinh Su.

A HCMC restaurant has been penalized for allowing customers to sing karaoke despite a ban to contain Covid-19.

King Restaurant on Le Lai Street in District 1 was found operating six karaoke rooms with dozens of customers inside on Tuesday night by a team of inspectors headed by city vice chairman Duong Anh Duc.

"The delegation was on patrol without notifying local authorities," Duc said.

The police have not announced the fine yet, but said the restaurant could be punished for "failing to suspend business activities or services in public places to contain Covid-19," which carries a cash penalty of VND20-40 million ($867-1,730).

The customers included eight Chinese and Japanese men who were inside with several female restaurant staff.

One of the Chinese men had just completed his 14-day mandatory quarantine on entering Vietnam and was still in the self-quarantine period. Protocol requires him to isolate himself at his place of accommodation for a week, avoid crowded places and keep a distance from people at the workplace.

Medical personnel were dispatched to the restaurant to take samples from around 50 staff and customers to test for Covid.

Saigon restaurant caught violating karaoke ban Kara A restaurant is caught serving karaoke service despite a ban in HCMC, May 4, 2021. Video by Nguyen Diep.

Since April 30 all bars, discotheques and karaoke parlors in the city have been closed.

A day earlier a man in Binh Tan District was diagnosed with the disease. Until then the city had gone 75 days without local transmission.

The man from the northern province of Ha Nam was visiting relatives in the city when he tested positive. He had come into contact with a man who had returned from Japan and was later found to be infected.

As of Wednesday Vietnam had 38 Covid patients in the ongoing outbreak that began on April 27 after more than a months hiatus.

Of the 38, 35 are linked to hotspots in the northern provinces of Vinh Phuc and Ha Nam, where people have been found to have Covid after completing the mandatory 14-day quarantine and testing negative two or three times, including the Japan returnee.
Medical staff prepare to conduct Covid-19 tests on people of Viet Hung Commune, Dong Anh District in Hanoi on May 3, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

Health authorities confirmed 18 new Covid-19 community transmissions Wednesday evening, most of them in a Hanoi hospital that has been placed under a lockdown.

The latest additions take the total number of cases in the nations latest outbreak to 56.

Fourteen of the new cases, patients 3009-3022, were detected at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh District in the capital city. The source of the transmission has not been identified yet.

Nine of the 14 are patients who were being treated at the hospital for other diseases. The remaining five are four family members of the patients and one medical staff.

The next four cases were recorded in southern and northern localities.

Patient 2997 is a 27-year-old woman who resides in Hoi An Town, Quang Nam Province. She is the wife of Patient 2982.

Patent 2998 is a 32-year-old woman from Da Nang City who tested positive for the virus in Hanoi. Shed arrived April 29 in the capital city from Da Nang on Vietnam Airlines flight VN160.

On May 2, she learned that another passenger on the same flight had tested positive and went to a quarantine facility.

Patient 2999 is a 44-year-old woman from Long Khanh Town in the southern province of Dong Nai. She works in Da Nangs Hai Chau District and had come into direct contact with Patient 2982.

Patient 3002 is a 26-year-old man from the northern province of Hai Duong who also arrived in Hanoi on April 29 via flight VN160. He contacted a medical facility in the province after learning that the flight had an infected person.

The new cases bring the total number of local Covid-19 patients since April 27 to 56 in 10 localities, led by the northern provinces of Ha Nam and Vinh Phuc at 14, followed by Hanoi at five.

Also on Wednesday evening, the country reported eight imported Covid-19 cases.

Minister and Chairman of the Government Office, Tran Van Son, said Wednesday that the latest outbreak is basically under control, but the situation remains complicated and people should be on high alert and strictly follow protective measures.

The government has agreed to allocate VND12.1 trillion ($524 million) set aside from last year to purchase Covid-19 vaccines.

Vietnam has also extended its quarantine policy from 14 to 21 days for both foreign arrivals and those who come into contact with Covid-19 patients.

The national Covid-19 tally stands at 3,022 with 2,560 recoveries and 35 deaths.

Over 585,300 people have been vaccinated in 48 localities so far.
A medical staff conducts Covid-19 tests on people of Viet Hung Commune, Dong Anh District, Hanoi on May 3, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy.

Vietnam has extended its quarantine policy from 14 to 21 days for both foreign arrivals and those who come into contact with Covid-19 patients.

The decision, which took immediate effect Wednesday, was taken after the Health Ministry consulted experts on ways to keep the larger community safe, said Minister Nguyen Thanh Long.

The decision has been made after several individuals contracted the virus after they'd already completed the 14-day quarantine and tested negative twice or thrice.

In the past week, at least three such cases have been detected.

The latest decision is the second reversal in as many days. The ministry had said a day earlier that those in centralized quarantine facilities would not be allowed to go home after completing the mandated 14-day quarantine and testing negative twice during the period. It had not specified the new duration.

Then, it reversed the decision earlier today, saying the original 14-day quarantine period will remain with strengthened post-quarantine monitoring and restrictions.

Minister Long has urged concerned facilities to impose quarantine procedures strictly to prevent contagion. A person who has completed the 21-day quarantine needs to be supervised for the next seven days at home, he said.

He also asked localities to find and conduct random tests for foreigners who have entered Vietnam recently, as well as employees of bars, karaoke and massage parlors.

Vietnam has confirmed 38 new local Covid-19 cases since April 27 in the latest outbreak, the northern provinces of Ha Nam and Vinh Phuc leading with 14 cases each, followed by Hanoi with four.
by Pascal Saldanha

Rosy Saldanha suffers from diabetes and has mild paralysis. Despite this, she asked her husband Pascal to share oxygen cylinders with those suffering from the coronavirus. The couple sells jewelry and other property to help those in need. Always help the poor and needy.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - With 360,000 cases of contagion a day, India is struggling to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. The lack of oxygen in hospitals is a daily drama for the many sick people. Despite the tragic toll, solidarity abounds. Pascal Saldanha, Catholic decorator from Malvani (suburb of Mumbai) tells the story of his wife Rosy: a diabetic with numerous pathologies, she has decided to donate the oxygen cylinders that she keeps at home for emergencies to the seriously ill of Covid-19 . "We must always help the poor and the needy," the 52-year-old Catholic told AsiaNews. The woman, who after12 years had to leave her teaching job at St. Xavier School in Borivali due to her illnesss said I'm sick but we have to support those in difficulty, make them happy. Our children Anselm and Shalom encourage us to help others.

On April 18, in the midst of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, my childhood friend Rafique Siddiqui told me that a teacher at the Holy Mother English School - the institution she is the principal - could not access oxygen to treat her husband, infected by Covid.

After telling her this syory, my wife Rosy decided to give Shabana Malik the oxygen tank we keep at home for emergencies. Rosy is diabetic: in 2016 she had a cerebral haemorrhage and ended up in a coma; her kidneys collapsed and she has since suffered from mild paralysis.

When she arrived at the hospital she weighed 65 kg; after a month of intensive care she dropped to 20 kg. Back home, she has to undergo dialysis three times a week. She now she weighs 40 kg, but she is always at risk of infection.

The same day that I spoke with Rafique, we delivered the oxygen cylinder to Shabana. Don't worry about me - Rosy told me - whether I live or die is a gift from God. Let's save the lives of the sick.

I spent 20 million rupees (225,500 euros) for her treatment. We were forced to sell our second home to meet the costs. With the health emergency there are few weddings and my business as a decorator has suffered. Nevertheless, we are happy to help others with what we have.

Rosy insisted that I sell her jewellery to buy more cylinders to donate. We raised 80,000 rupees (900 euros) from the sale. In addition to Shabana's husband, we gave oxygen cylinders to seven people: we still have one. I will also sell my generator for 400 thousand rupees (4,500 euros), in order to help other sick people.
Medical workers at Binh Son District of Quang Ngai Province perform body temperature scans for people entering the province from other areas, May 4, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Phuong.

Several Vietnamese localities have requested people entering from coronavirus-hit areas be quarantined amid new Covid-19 outbreaks reported nationwide.

Central Quang Ngai Province's Department of Health on Tuesday requested those coming from coronavirus-hit areas, including Ha Nam Province's Ly Nhan District since April 22, Hanoi's Dong Anh District from April 23, Hung Yen Province's Phu Cu District from April 23, No. 2 Street in Binh Hung Hoa Ward of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)'s Binh Tan District from April 27, Vinh Phuc Province's Phuc Yen Town from April 23 and Hoi An Town in Quang Nam Province from April 19.

All aforementioned locations have recorded coronavirus patients within their vicinity.

In the nearby Binh Dinh Province, anyone who come from outside needs to medically declare themselves, while anyone returning from coronavirus-hit areas need to self-isolate at home, the provincial health department said.

Authorities in Dong Nai Province which borders HCMC have also requested that anyone coming from Dao Ly Commune of Ha Nam from April 22, Yen Bai Town from April 23, Hoang Xa, Hoang Cac and Nai Khe villages of Hung Yen from April 29, be put into centralized quarantine. Anyone entering Dong Nai from other coronavirus-hit locations would need to be self-isolated and tested for Covid-19.

Soc Trang Province in the Mekong Delta has requested anyone coming from localities that recently reported Covid-19 community transmissions: Hanoi, Da Nang, Ha Nam, Vinh Phuc, Hung Yen, Yen Bai and HCMCs Binh Tan District from the four-day holiday starting April 30 to isolate and medically declare themselves to authorities.

HCMC authorities have also requested people entering the city from certain coronavirus-hit locations and hotspots, such as Sunny Club in Vinh Phuc from April 23 to April 30 and the Hoa Sen health center in the same province starting April 26, to enter centralized quarantine and be tested for Covid-19. Passengers on certain flights and those traveling by vehicles that have been associated with recent coronavirus cases would also need to pass the same procedure. Those returning from coronavirus-hit locations would need to self-isolate at home and be tested too.

Hanoi so far has not issued an announcement requiring people entering the city to be quarantined, but the capital has locked down certain locations associated with coronavirus-positive cases. It has also suspended non-essential services like theaters, massage parlors, gyms and outdoor food vendors and cafes for disease prevention.

Vietnam has confirmed 38 local Covid-19 cases since last week in seven localities - Ha Nam, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Hung Yen, Da Nang, Yen Bai and HCMC after spending around a month without any community transmissions.
President Joe Biden recently welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide to the White House where both leaders expressed their commitment to defending and advancing shared values, including human rights and the rule of law.

The U.S.-Japan alliance remains ironclad, said President Biden:

We are committed to working together to take on the challenges from China and on issues like the East China Sea, the South China Sea, as well as North Korea, to ensure a future of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Both nations agreed to a series of practical commitments to further strengthen the alliance through the U.S.-Japan Competitiveness and Resilience Partnership. A key area of cooperation will be in competitiveness and innovation, focusing on scientific and technological advances, said President Biden:

That includes making sure we invest in and protect technologies that will maintain and sharpen our competitive edge. . . .So, were going to work together across a range of fields  from promoting secure and reliable 5G networks; to increasing our cooperation on supply chains for critical sectors like semiconductors; to driving joint research in areas like artificial intelligence, genomics, quantum computing, and much more.

With regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. and Japan pledged to cooperate on global COVID-19 vaccine supply and manufacturing needs toward ending the pandemic, and also build longer-term global health security to help prevent the next pandemic.

The United States and Japan are also committed to taking aggressive action to meet the threats posed by the climate crisis. Indeed, both nations agreed to take decisive action by 2030 to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and launched the U.S.-Japan Climate Partnership.

The final component of the new partnership will be to foster people-to-people ties through extensive international exchange programs and joint projects and research.

President Biden affirmed that Japan and the United States are two strong democracies, and the U.S.-Japan Competitiveness and Resilience Partnership will prove that democracies can still compete and win in the twenty-first century.
March 25John Edward Lyons III pleaded guilty to failure to wear a safety belt or shoulder harness and was ordered to pay $430 in fees and fines.

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Candace Irene Moore pleaded guilty to speeding in a rural area and was ordered to pay $115 in fees and fines.

April 1Stephen Todd Clark was found guilty of one count of destroying or injuring real or personal property and one count of disturbing the peace and was given a suspended sentence of a $355 fine.

April 12Jade Lynn Constable pleaded guilty to unlawfully texting, sending or reading data or talking without a hands-free device on cellphone while driving and was ordered to pay $115 in fees and fines. In a separate matter, she pleaded guilty to driving without a drivers license and was given a suspended sentence of a $115 fine.

April 14Erik James Larsen pleaded no contest to two counts of disturbing the peace and was ordered to serve 13 hours in jail.

April 16Rainbow Sky Buck pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace and was given as suspended sentence of 135 days in jail and was ordered to serve 45 days in jail.
ELKO  Walmart headquarters announced this week that the Moderna, Pfizer and J&J Covid-19 shots are now available at Nevada store pharmacies, including Elkos.

Vaccines are being administered via both walk-up and scheduled appointments, providing convenient options to get protected against COVID-19.

According to their website, hours for the Elko pharmacy are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. More information is available by calling 778-6778.

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According to a local spokesperson, the shots will be free to the public. If a person has insurance their provider will be billed.

Now that supply and eligibility have expanded, its even more important for us to reach underserved and vulnerable populations to ensure equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, said Dr. Cheryl Pegus, executive vice president of health and wellness. Widespread vaccination is the only way we will eventually end the pandemic and help our country reopen, and we dont want anyone to get left behind as we enter this new chapter in our fight against COVID-19.

Although walk-ins are welcome, registering via their website is preferred. Appointments can be made at Walmart.com/covidvaccine.
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A check of homes on the market in Elko and Spring Creek showed Elko has 17 site-built properties for sale ranging from $199,000 to $890,000. In addition, four brand-new homes are on the market, with 33 lots pending new construction and 69 homes under contract.

Spring Creek currently has 14 lots for sale, five of them site-built homes and the rest manufactured housing ranging from $218,000 to $240,000. One hundred more lots are under contract.

There are 11 new constructions on hold in Spring Creek waiting for the contractor to catch up with the builds, Henning said.

Henning said the pandemic did not hurt the market. She was thankful that Realtors were able to remain open as an essential business thanks to the Nevada Association of Realtors, which went to bat for us and got lobbyists to help us stay essential.

Realtor clarifies governor's order on showing homes As I write this, I am aware that by the time it is published things will likely have changed, again and again, as they have daily for the past

Realtors were allowed to show owner-occupied homes and used Zoom to conduct virtual showings but did not conduct open houses or show tenant-occupied properties.

Henning added the return to in-person showings would be discussed by a committee within the next few weeks.
Headlines:

- Over 163 million stimulus checks have been sent in third round of payments, costing the federal government an estimated $384 billion. (Who is still waiting?)

- New batch of stimulus checks provides five million plus-up payments, worth an estimated $11 billion, since 1 April (read more)

- New York Gov. Cuomo will allow shops and business to reopen fully from 19 May (Full details)

- Florida lifts all covid-19 restrictions despite CDC warning community transmission remains high (read more)

- PPP program will end 31 May with funds almost completely depleted from program.

- Biden on American Families Plan promotional tour, seeks bipartisan support

- Psaki suggests fourth round of stimulus checks will be a congressional matter: "They are not free."

- White House asks Congress to raise national minimum wage to $15 an hour

- Biden backs extension of expanded Child Tax Credit through 2025 (full details)

- Change.org petition calling for recurring stimulus checks gathers over two million signatures

- You can track your third stimulus check by using the IRS' Get My Payment tool

- US covid-19: 32.51 million cases / 578,524 deaths (live updates from JHU)

Check out some of our related articles:
WHO experts voice 'very low confidence' in some Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine data

(Reuters) WHO experts have voiced 'very low confidence' in data provided by Chinese state-owned drugmaker Sinopharm on its Covid-19 vaccine regarding the risk of serious side-effects in some patients, but overall confidence in its ability to prevent the disease, a document seen by Reuters shows.

There was no immediate reply from the World Health Organization to a query about any concerns linked to the Sinopharm vaccine, BBIBP-CorV. In Beijing, Sinopharm was not immediately reachable for comment outside working hours.

The 'evidence assessment' document was prepared by the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) for its review scheduled this week of the Sinopharm shot, authorised by 45 countries and jurisdictions for use in adults, with 65 million doses administered.

The experts review evidence and give recommendations on policy and dosages associated with a vaccine. The document includes summaries of data from clinical trials in China, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Vaccine efficacy in multi-country Phase 3 clinical trials was 78.1% after two doses, the document said. This was a slight drop from 79.34% announced previously in China.

"We are very confident that 2 doses of BBIBP-CorV are efficacious in preventing PCR confirmed Covid-19 in adults (18-59 years)," the document said. But it added: "Analysis of safety amongst participants with comorbidities (was) limited by the low number of participants with comorbidities (other than obesity) in the Phase 3 trial."

Among 'evidence gaps', it cited data on protection against severe disease, duration of protection, safety for use in pregnant women and in older adults and identification/evaluation of rare adverse events through post-authorisation safety monitoring.

"We have very low confidence in the quality of evidence that the risk of serious adverse events following one or two doses of BBIBP-CorV in older adults (60 years) is low," it said. "We have very low confidence in the quality of evidence that the risk of serious adverse events in individuals with comorbidities or health states that increase risk for severe Covid-19 following one or two doses of BBIBP-CorV is low," it added.

The SAGE analysis was prepared as a WHO technical advisory group currently reviews the vaccine for an emergency use approval, which would not only pave the way for its use in the global COVAX vaccine sharing platform but also provide a crucial international endorsement for a vaccine developed in China. A WHO spokesman said that a decision on the listing was not expected on Wednesday.
DHAKA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese telecoms giant Huawei has started a special event titled "Huawei Carrier Congress 2021" in Bangladesh with industry stakeholders from the country and elsewhere in the South Asia region.

The event was virtually inaugurated Thursday by Mustafa Jabbar, Bangladeshi minister of Posts and Telecommunications.

The congress which will last until almost the end of May aims to exchange views about technology trends and other aspects that may influence the tech world in the coming days.

Various MNOs (mobile network operators), including the telecom operators, partners, regulators, think-tanks, academia, from Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal are expected to join this event in the next few days virtually, and also physically while maintaining precautions for COVID-19, a Huawei statement said.

As a global provider of ICT infrastructure, Huawei says it is committed to helping the industry expand the boundaries of their business and look for new paths that will ensure growth.

To explore these opportunities and more, Huawei said the event has been arranged where participants and discussants will exchange views about technology trends and business solutions.

In his speech as the chief guest, Bangladeshi Minister Mustafa Jabbar said they have established telecom industry as a significant sector of the country.

"And now we are relishing the outcomes of the direction we took."

In his welcome speech, Edward Zhou, vice president of Huawei's Global Public Affairs, said, "Bangladesh has our sincere commitment with our utmost capabilities and dedication to the digital journey of this country.

About the event, he said, "Huawei Carrier Congress will be showcasing almost all the latest solutions and ways of digital transformation around the globe and intensify the growth opportunity of ICT in Bangladesh.

"It can work as a bridge for collaborative and common understanding among the regulator, operators, and other business industry players."

Inspired by the theme "Lighting up the Future," the event will shed light on issues related to intelligent networks, the foundation for digital services, among others.

[ Editor: WXL ]
BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- China has made an enormous stride in achieving the goal of having a manned space station independently built and operated by itself, said various global media organizations when reporting China's successful launch of the core module of its space station on Thursday.

The Long March-5B Y2 rocket, carrying the Tianhe module, blasted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of the southern island province of Hainan at 11:23 a.m. (0323 GMT).

Such efforts came almost three decades after China first drew up its plans, reported the German press agency dpa.

In the report, former German astronaut Reinhold Ewald, now a professor at the University of Stuttgart, spoke highly of China's success, saying that "in general, a space station demonstrates the breadth of space technology in a country."

If the International Space Station (ISS) were to cease service as planned in the next few years, "China would become the only nation to operate a space station," said the report.

Noting that Tianhe is China's first large component for its own space station, German national daily Die Welt reported that China is "consistently pressing ahead with its space projects and celebrating great successes."

The Asian country is working through its space strategy point by point, said the report, adding that China has risen from apprentice to master class in the field of global space exploration with its own manned space flight.

As China opens its door to other countries in space technology, the United States, conversely, has never allowed a Chinese to enter the ISS, it said.

Reuters reported that China has "ramped up its space programme with visits to the moon, the launch of an uncrewed probe to Mars and the construction of its own space station."

Calling the launch of the space station module as China's first in history, Japan's Jiji Press said Thursday it means the Chinese government's ambitious plan to build a permanent manned space base has taken a major step.

"The Chinese government has indicated that it welcomes joint projects with foreign organizations," the report added.

Australian Associate Press (AAP) viewed China's launch of the core module for its space station as "the latest success for a program that has realised a number of its growing ambitions in recent years."

"The launch marked another major advance for the country's space exploration," AAP said.

[ Editor: WXL ]
BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- China launched on Thursday the Tianhe core module of its space station, a key mission in the third step of the country's manned space program.

Here are some key facts of China's manned space program, which started in 1992 with a three-step strategy.

FIRST STEP

The first step was to send astronauts into space and bring them back safely.

The country's first experimental manned spacecraft, Shenzhou-1, was launched with no crew in November 1999, heralding the beginning of China's foray into manned space exploration.

The main goal of the Shenzhou-1 launch was to examine the performance and reliability of the launch vehicle, a Long March-2F carrier rocket, and evaluate key space exploration technology.

In January 2001, Shenzhou-2 was launched, conducting experiments in the areas of materials science, astronomy and physics in a microgravity environment.

Shenzhou-3, launched in March 2002, carried human physical monitoring sensors and "dummy astronauts." It was also equipped with escape and emergency rescue functions.

Nine months later, Shenzhou-4 was launched, featuring radiation-proof facilities and manual emergency rescue systems, despite the fact that the vessel was unmanned.

The launch of Shenzhou-5 in October 2003 was another milestone for China's manned space program, as the mission successfully sent astronaut Yang Liwei into space, making China the third country to send a man into space after the Soviet Union and the United States.

In October 2005, China sent two astronauts into space aboard Shenzhou-6. The astronauts carried out scientific and medical experiments onboard the craft.

SECOND STEP

The second step was developing advanced space flight techniques and technologies including extra-vehicular activity and orbital docking. This phase included the launch of Tiangong-1, a transitional platform to test the docking technology, and the Tiangong-2 space lab.

In September 2008, China achieved its first spacewalk for 19 minutes and 35 seconds, conducted by astronaut Zhai Zhigang, with the launch of Shenzhou-7. China thus became the third country in the world to conduct extravehicular activity in space, following the Soviet Union and the United States.

In September 2011, China launched its experimental space lab, Tiangong-1. The main task of the Tiangong-1 was to test the technologies in rendezvous and docking between spacecraft, and to accumulate experience for developing a space station.

About one month later after the launch of Tiangong-1, China sent Shenzhou-8 into orbit with no crew. In November 2011, Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-8 accomplished the country's first automatic rendezvous and docking at a height of 343 km above Earth.

In June 2012, the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft was thrust into space to dock with the orbiting Tiangong-1. This was China's first manned rendezvous and docking mission. Two docking tests, one automated and one manual, were accomplished between Shenzhou-9 and Tiangong-1.

Launched in June 2013, Shenzhou-10 docked with Tiangong-1 twice, once through automatic operation and the other manually, aiming to further test technologies designed for docking and supporting astronauts' stay in space. Three astronauts spent 12 days in Tiangong-1, where they conducted space medical experiments and technical tests.

In September 2016, China launched Tiangong-2, an improved version of Tiangong-1 that is considered China's first space lab.

About one month after the launch of Tiangong-2, China successfully launched the manned spacecraft Shenzhou-11 carrying two astronauts who would stay in space for 33 days, the longest mission in the country's manned space program to date. On October 19, 2016, Tiangong-2 and Shenzhou-11 completed an automated docking in orbit.

In April 2017, Tianzhou-1, China's first cargo spacecraft, successfully conducted automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong-2 and then carried out their first in-orbit refueling. Another two dockings and two further refuelings were completed later.

THIRD STEP

The third step is to assemble and operate a permanent manned space station.

In May 2020, China's new large carrier rocket Long March-5B made its maiden flight. Long March-5B is mainly used to launch the modules of China's space station, and the successful flight inaugurated the "third step" of China's manned space program.

On Thursday, China sent into space the core module of its space station, kicking off a series of key launch missions that aim to complete the construction of the station by the end of next year.

China will also send the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft and Shenzhou-12 manned craft this year to dock with the core module, Tianhe. Three astronauts will reach the core module aboard Shenzhou-12 and stay in orbit for three months.

Tianzhou-3 cargo craft and Shenzhou-13 manned spaceship will also be launched later this year to dock with Tianhe, and another three astronauts will then begin their six-month stay in orbit.

After the five launch missions this year, China plans six missions, including the launch of the Wentian and Mengtian lab modules, two cargo spacecraft and two manned spaceships, in 2022 to complete the construction of the space station.

[ Editor: WXL ]
NSDC to consider deterioration of economic situation due to increase in tariffs for housing services - media

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov asked Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to analyze and send to the NSDC Office the structure of owners of all energy and gas companies in Ukraine, LIGA.net reports on Wednesday, citing a letter from the NSDC Secretary to the prime minister, which is at the disposal of the publication.

The document says about the plans of the National Security and Defense Council to consider "issues of deterioration of the economic situation in Ukraine due to the increase in tariffs for utilities."

On this basis, the NSDC Secretary asked the Prime Minister for information and analytical material on the structure of owners of all energy companies, energy supply companies and operators of electricity distribution operators (former oblenergos), as well as gas supply and gas sales companies in Ukraine.

Also, Danilov asked Shmyhal to prepare materials for the National Security and Defense Council on increasing the cost of utilities and improving government regulation in gas, electricity and heat markets.
Executive board members of NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy called on the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to resolve the situation with respect to the company's Supervisory Board, which had resigned.

On their Facebook pages, Serhiy Pereloma, Peter van Driel, Otto Waterlander and Yaroslav Tekliuk said that for a complex and important company like Naftogaz, the presence of a well-functioning and credible Supervisory Board and proper Corporate Governance is critical.

"The resignation of all Supervisory Board members becomes effective by May 14. Without a resolution by that date, it becomes impossible for Executive Board members to continue their duties," the officials said in their statement.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) at the end of April approved the allocation of EUR 58 million to Ukraine to finance the second component of the project to modernize the vocational education and training (VET) system.

The bank said on its website, the EIB's activities include the creation of up to ten regional centers of excellence in vocational education and training in Ukraine.

According to the statement, the first component of the project for the same amount is the EU4Skills program launched in 2019, funded by the European Commission, Germany, Poland and Finland with the additional participation of Estonia. This program will include the creation of three more centers, as well as the implementation of smaller measures to modernize the schools.

The EIB said the project aims to support the Ukrainian government in the ongoing reform of the VET sector by building or substantially renovating and modernizing existing VET schools and turning them into centers of excellence.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov met with Estonian Ambassador to Ukraine Kaimo Kuusk, during which the parties discussed issues of bilateral security cooperation and prospects for its further expansion.

As reported by the NSDC office on Wednesday, Danilov noted the urgency of expanding bilateral cooperation with the Baltic states, in particular, with Estonia in the field of cybersecurity. "Ukraine is at the forefront of the fight against hybrid aggression. And our task is to strengthen cooperation in the field of cyber defence with the structures and member countries of NATO, since the Russian Federation has recently significantly intensified the information war," he said.

In this context, Danilov expressed interest in maximizing practical cooperation with the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Estonia.

In turn, Ambassador Kuusk noted that Estonia is also interested in developing bilateral cooperation with Ukraine in the field of cybersecurity.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Ukraine at a meeting on Wednesday, May 5, refused to register Vasyl Virastyuk as a MP of Ukraine.

"The CEC decides to establish the absence of legal grounds for the registration of Vasyl Yaroslavovych Virastyuk as a MP of Ukraine according to his application, registered with the CEC on April 27. A copy of this decision should be sent to Virastyuk, and the decision should be releasedon the CEC's official website," member of the commission Victoria Hluschenko said at the meeting.

She said the reason for the refusal to register was the court's ruling to cancel the election results in constituency No. 87, which deprives the CEC of the grounds for registering Virastyuk.
It is important to shift the focus of the state system from the process of treatment to the quality of its results - CEO of Roche Ukraine

In the interview to Interfax-Ukraine Martin Verschlan, General Director of Roche Ukraine LLC, Member of the Board of Directors of American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine (ACC), Member of the Board of Directors of Association of Innovative Medicines (APRaD) told how Roche company sees the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market, how to make innovative drugs accessible to Ukrainians and how to provide expensive treatment for patients with orphan diseases, in particular, patients with CMA.

Text: Anna Levchenko

How would you evaluate Ukraines pharma market? How did COVID-19 influence the countrys healthcare system?

This market has great potential if proper reform mechanisms are used. However, its structure remains largely unreformed, and the legacy of the USSR healthcare system is still apparent. In the private sector for example, there are no sustainable financing mechanisms and too much of the healthcare costs come out of the patients pocket, including quite costly oncology and orphan diseases treatments. Its quite unusual to see the near complete absence of private medical insurance in Ukraine, despite the fact that around 10% of the population could afford medical insurance if it were accessible and attractive, but its not being developed here. In the public sector, the allocation of resources is still largely driven by the size of the hospital infrastructure and the state procurement system focuses on procurement of siloed input components without much consideration to efficiency, evidence, quality, and outcomes.

On the positive side, the first steps in healthcare reforms have been made and the 2nd stage has been initiated. With the intended stage 2 healthcare reforms, healthcare service providers will have a much stronger incentive to operate with quality and efficiency and I would say that this reform is one of the most meaningful changes Ive seen during my last several years in Ukraine.

What conclusion can be made from the first year of COVID-19? Ukraine understood quite quickly that this pandemic poses a serious problem, and that the healthcare system does not have the capacity to deal with a massive outbreak. Hence, I believe the decision to lock down even when we had few cases won us a lot of time and helped us to balance the limited capacity and the demand on the healthcare system better. For the pharma market, on the other hand, the pandemic has a twofold impact. On the one hand many patients struggled to see their doctors and we know that many treatments and diagnosis have been delayed due to the pandemic. The impact of this can be felt in a decline on healthcare outcomes - in the fact that we now have more metastatic cancer cases for example, and it had an impact on our global business as well. On the other hand, due to the pandemic many people also realized the need to invest more in healthcare and in a country with low overall level of investment and standards of care, such as Ukraine, this is opening up new opportunities.

As for the plans for 2021, I can say there are new areas of healthcare reform and new procurement mechanisms being implemented in Ukraine. Particularly, we are talking about managed entry agreements (MEA)  a new, but effective procurement mechanism, providing access to innovative medicines to patients in Ukraine. MEA also allows the government to spend budget funds wisely and to procure integrated healthcare solutions based on medicines with clinically proven effectiveness. Such an instrument has been in use in the USA and Europe for years, including the countries neighboring Ukraine.

In your opinion, should the pharmaceutical companies participate in shaping the countrys healthcare system or should they accept the terms and conditions set by the government?

Pharma companies cannot remain silent observers. Companies like ours have a vast experience of cooperating with government healthcare systems in numerous countries of the world. We understand what legislative changes are necessary to provide expedient patient access to costly innovative medicines. We have a clear vision of what needs to be changed and done to fully launch private medical insurance in Ukraine. You see, such a mechanism can take some of the financial load off the government and people who can afford it, can invest in healthcare through buying insurance when young and then, in case of illness, they receive treatment.

Its important to change the government healthcares approach to patient treatment  from process to the quality of results. Here we can offer the government a solution that allows for the procurement of a defined result for a defined patient population  e.g. those with a certain type lung cancer. We define the expected results for patients and offer the cost of therapy, based on those results. This is another example of our company being actively involved in the process of Ukraines healthcare modernization.

Also, pharma companies have already been helping Ukraines healthcare system to improve the level of public awareness which is very low in the country overall. We see it in our lung cancer awareness campaigns: 75% of all patients with lung cancer turn to doctors at its late stages when its quite difficult to get a positive result. In Western Europe this figure is around 25%. Many Ukrainians have no culture of regular doctor visits and annual medical exams.

What healthcare areas Roche considers to be the most promising in Ukraine?

Roche is sharply focused on research and targeted therapy. Life expectancy in Ukraine is quite low. If we determine the proper treatment for a patient and prolong their life  its very valuable. We are ready to present the new diagnostics technologies in Ukraine that allow obtaining the best result of the properly tailored treatment. We know that not all treatments work equally well for all patients and our aim is therefore to match the right patient to the right treatment. This is a so-called personalized treatment or personalized healthcare approach (PHC).

Another area where a lot of innovation has occurred during the last years is in cancer biology and the ability of science to activate the human immune system to attack tumor cells. This is why cancer immunotherapy is a very promising area. We can observe a long duration of the response of these treatments and its taking us one step closer to eventually cure this disease. We are very much interested to provide patients in Ukraine with access to these innovations.

Many innovations are also being implemented in the area of rare genetic diseases. In this area we can also change patients lives. We hope Ukraine is interested in that because we see many patients here with rare nosologies whose treatment is not covered by the government as its done in other countries.

In your opinion, can personalized medicine be made cheaper in Ukraine because its quite expensive for us now.

I wouldnt necessarily agree with posing the question as cheap or expensive. I dont think cheap healthcare exists, and COVID-19 has demonstrated just that. Because the capacity of the system is low we had to close down our economy even though we did not have many cases of COVID, and we may end up remaining in lockdowns much longer than we should because we cannot vaccinate fast enough. So our low level of investment in health care in the end cost us quite a lot. If more investment had been made in Ukraines healthcare, it would be stronger today. Healthcare is an investment, not an expense. And our role is to make this investment effective, ensure the money is not lost, but invested and gives us productive healthy people at the end.

As for personalized medicine, I believe the challenge is not in its cost, quite the contrary. Due to the personalized approach, the patient can receive treatment thats effective specifically for them and will not be a waste of resources on expensive medicines that dont help and are not losing time on ineffective therapy. So personalized health care is cost effective.

This is one of the biggest challenges in Ukraines healthcare system because too much money is being spent with no base in evidence and no rational effect. The state should be using the available resources effectively. And personalized medicine is the answer to the question of the return on investment in healthcare. I think its not about making treatment cheaper or more expensive, we just need a different, a value based approach.

How would you evaluate the existing state procurement mechanisms in Ukraine? What problems are currently acute?

State procurement mechanism in Ukraine, overall, is quite outdated. Its reassuring to see the government considering making a change. Currently the government makes policy, decides what to pay for, which patients treatment to cover, provides funding, conducts procurement procedures, procures and allocates medicines, and organizes treatment. However, in Ukraine, as in other countries with similar procurement logistics, we see its not the most effective mechanism. Even despite the approved budget, the patients are not receiving treatment because the tender failed or something went wrong with the paperwork.

I believe the government should focus on what its role is. As a private business, we are convinced the government should define policy and rules, assume a controlling role and regulate. But the procurement itself, allocation and shipment of medicines is something private businesses can do more effectively and that cooperation between government and business can be fruitful. Ukraines procurement mechanisms can be better. For instance, the second stage of medical reform is based on the establishment of defined reimbursement amounts for the cost of medical services, allowing both private and public institutions to treat patients funded by the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU). I am glad to see such plans being hatched. I hope the movement in this direction will continue and more effective procurement mechanisms and funding allocation for patient treatment are implemented.

Are you ready to sign managed entry agreements?

Of course, wed like to be the first to sign a MEA in Ukraine. Wed like to provide outcome assurances and a return for investment to the payer. We are ready to sit down and negotiate the terms, based on the governments objectives. For instance, in treating breast cancer we can determine the specific expected treatment outcome, and the government signs the agreement to achieve it. This allows the government investing effectively in treatment and paying not for a vial of a drug, but for a defined outcome for a patient.

Will the first MEAs be signed in the area of oncology?

Possibly. We hope and are now ready to sign such agreements. But it can happen in other areas as well, for instance, in orphan diseases, but we believe there are oncology areas that are very suitable for such a format.

Lets talk about the lack of innovative medicines in Ukraine. How can Ukrainians be provided with access to effective treatment?

First of all, we need to understand and accept the fact that most governments around the world cannot always fully provide patients with such medicines. The financial burden should be shared by the public and the private sectors. If we look at the existing healthcare system, its obvious that patients are paying out of pocket for too often. This is also because people see healthcare as a cost and not as an investment and essentially, Ukrainians begin spending money on healthcare only in the moment they get sick. But its difficult to pay out of pocket for an innovative treatment. Serious disease is a catastrophe in itself for the patient and their family and, additionally, there is a burden of thinking where to get the money for treatment. A financial catastrophe is added to the human one. Its necessary to help people understand the necessity to invest in their health while still being young and healthy. This means to invest in a healthy lifestyle but also to make financial provisions in time, such as through medical insurance and insurance products. I believe this can help to create a more stable private sector and relieve financial pressure on the government  in the long term. The government cannot pay for everything, but there are people in the country who can pay for themselves and they should have an opportunity to do that.

I see that many people in Ukraine do not understand that. There is no practice of being insured in Ukraine and people falsely believe that it is a matter of affordability. I strongly challenge that notion as I have seen medical insurance work in many developing countries around the world. However, there are structural flaws in our legislation and market practice which make medical insurance unattractive both for the customer and the insurer. For example, medical insurance agreements are signed for one year without the right of automatic renewal. This means that at the end of each year the insurance company has the right to deny me coverage. This is fundamentally different from whats happening in any other market. Patients should have a right to remain insured as long as they comply with their obligations in the insurance contract. Insurance companies have a right to refuse patients at the beginning or to make certain exclusions based on past history but not at the end of every single year. And this right to remain insured should not end when I turn 65, when people retire in Ukraine. People after 65 get sick more often, but if you know that at this age you will be deprived of insurance, why would you get insured at 30 years old? This looks much like an umbrella that starts leaking when it starts raining. This needs to change. Proper insurance coverage is one of the things that can help provide access to innovative treatment in the private sector.

For the public sector, more focus of the government should be on quality and results. The government should not spend funding on therapies without evidence and unproven effectiveness and in order to give the government an incentive to invest in quality and outcomes, we are ready to sign these risk-sharing agreements mentioned above. Then treatment will become more accessible, its coverage will be wider and investing in infrastructure will become possible.

What instruments of pharma producers and government interaction can improve Ukraines healthcare system  besides insurance?

We have a lot of expertise, information, and data we could share with the government. Part of the reason why the allocation of healthcare funds is not optimal and why there is a lack of good insurance products in the market is the absence of solid data. We can help the authorities to improve this through our capacity in Real World Data evidence and through the use of leading-edge technology which involves programmers in the Ukraine as well, such as blockchain enabled and encrypted patient registries. Its evident that there is a lot of value in health care data and digital health and I believe that Ukraine as a country is in a good position to play in this field through its strong IT sector and openness to digital innovation.

How do you see the solution to the problem of providing medicines for patients with orphan diseases in Ukraine and improving treatment access?

Firstly, diagnostics  such diseases frequently have genetic origin and are difficult to diagnose. Several experts and lots of knowledge is needed to make a correct diagnosis. Our company supports screening and diagnostics programs, as well as projects focused on doctors education and awareness.

Secondly, the lack of single register of such patients  the government does not always know the real number of orphan patients. Usually, difficulty of diagnostics is the reason. Sometimes its unclear how many people such diseases affect, so the government has difficulties making decisions about their treatment.

Also, patient-government dialogue is important. For the government, among the key needs is understanding the number of patients and the treatment they receive, in order to control spending. We can provide a solution for transparently managing this proves and know exactly whom the government is paying, for what result, and how it impacts the budget.

Our company is directly involved in organizing patient access to treatment in many countries. We invest in improving patient registers allowing to create the foundation for making decisions. We see the problem of personal and medical data control in Ukraine. Many attempts have been made to misuse user data, especially if you are a patient with a difficult condition. However, there are technologies that can help protect patient data. We invest substantially in developing such registers in Ukraine.

Lately, collecting money to treat children with SMA abroad has become a frequent occurrence. Several families left for other countries (e.g. Poland) where their children can get the necessary treatment free of charge. At the same time, your company provided 55 SMA children in Ukraine with medicines for free, under the pre-registration access project. In Ukraine, such patients are not treated, there is no government program. How can we expedite such program implementation and how much, do you think, it can cost?

Its important to understand that treatment for SMA patients exists. Currently, two SMA treatment medicines are registered in Ukraine. Clinical effectiveness of both medicines registered in Ukraine has been proven via multi-center international trials. They provide significant improvement of patient life expectancy, breathing and movement function, as well as quality of life. There is also a genetic therapy medicine thats not currently registered in Ukraine.

All these medicines are different. One of them is administered via injection into the spinal cord and has limitations, e.g. it is not recommended in babies and patients with scoliosis. The medicine our company produces is administered orally (drops in the mouth), which significantly expands the treatment opportunities, its convenient and safe. Genetic therapy medicine is declared as a single injection and is most effective in infants when applied before the first symptoms, requires normal liver function and blood tests.

Families initiate collection of funds for expensive treatment, with no consideration of the risks, hoping that on injection will cure their childs SMA. Such sentiment is well understood since there is no government SMA treatment program in Ukraine today.

In 2020, to expedite access to life-saving treatment of children with SMA, our company included 55 Ukrainian patients into the international pre-registration access program. These are children with the most difficult SMA types  1 and 2. However, these patients need for their treatment to continue.

Collecting money and participating in the international programs is a temporary fix. The problem needs to be addressed on the global level. How its done in other countries  e.g. Poland, where all patients with SMA receive treatment funded by the government and last year a total newborn screening was launched for early SMA detection. This is why a holistic improvement of medical assistance to patients with SMA is important. Its necessary to implement modern global innovative technologies in Ukraines healthcare. The government needs to create the effective treatment model to decrease child mortality and disability of SMA patients.

Treatment cost depends on many factors. In case of SMA, there are different types of this disease, whose treatment and support vary in cost and logistics. The government needs to evaluate the number of patients and establish the standard cost of treatment for them. Determining whom to treat  and if everyone, the investment will be substantial. If the government were to focus on the most difficult cases, the cost decreases. It depends on the government focus and the part of patients state funding covers. Its difficult to specify the cost, but it youd like to have good coverage for these patients, it requires investment.
More than half of Ukrainians believe that Victory Day should be celebrated on May 9 - poll

KYIV. May 5 (Interfax-Ukraine)  More than 50% of Ukrainians believe that on the occasion of the end of the 1941-1945 war, Victory Day should be celebrated on May 9, according to the results of a survey of the population of Ukraine conducted by the Ukrainian Sociological Group from April 27 to May 2, 2021 and presented online press conferences at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Wednesday.

According to the study, 52.3% of respondents believe that on the occasion of the end of the war, Victory Day should be celebrated on May 9 and 16.2% prefer to celebrate the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation on May 8. Also, 30.1% of respondents believe that both holidays should be celebrated.

At the same time, 73.4% of respondents indicated that May 9 is of great importance to them personally. Some 18.3% of respondents consider May 9 "just a day off" and "an official holiday". Also, 6.5% of Ukrainians do not consider this day a holiday, but perceive it as a relic of the past.

According to the poll, the majority of Ukrainian citizens intend to celebrate May 9 this year. Thus, two-thirds of the respondents (63.4%) "will definitely" or "rather will" celebrate the Victory Day.

The Ukrainian Sociological Group conducted a survey in all regions of Ukraine, with the exception of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the survey was conducted in the controlled territory). A total of 1,220 respondents aged 18 and over were interviewed.

The survey method is an individual face-to-face interview at the respondent's place of residence (at home). The statistical error does not exceed 3.0%.
(KYIV)  Atlantic Strategic Insights, Ukraines premier public strategy consultancy with strong ties to U.S. policymakers, business leaders and elected officials, welcomes U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Ukraine and applauds the U.S. illustration of support in the face of continued and escalating Russian aggression. The Secretarys visit in furtherance of solidifying the relationship between the two countries is a critical step on the path to bringing Ukraine closer with the West.

Atlantic Strategic Insights Head of the Board of Supervisors, Jake Dilemani of Mercury LLC, stated Secretary Blinkens visit to Ukraine could not come at a better time. He has been a friend to Ukraine for many years, and the Biden administration has made it clear that they stand on the side of democracy, international cooperation and territorial integrity. I know the Biden administration will do everything in its power to further strengthen its relationship with Ukraine as the country looks to the West. It is great to see the Secretary in Kyiv again, and it is clear that the U.S. has the best interests of Ukraine at heart.

Previously, between his tenure in the Obama and Biden administrations, Secretary Blinken participated in Atlantic Strategic Insights Global Cybersecurity Summit in Kyiv, where he served as the keynote speaker. This event drew officials from the U.S. Embassy, former high-ranking U.S. government officials and business leaders, top Ukrainian officials and foreign dignitaries.

Atlantic Strategic Insights has been assisting Ukrainian and U.S. businesses, policymakers and elected officials in enhancing the political, economic and cultural ties between the two nations. Its work is founded on intimate knowledge of the two markets and the belief that true success is found in on-the-ground partnerships.

About Atlantic Strategic Insights

Atlantic Strategic Insights is a public strategy consultancy dedicated to leveraging proven tactics cultivated in the most challenging markets and fostering deeper ties between policymakers and business leaders in the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

Sitting at the crossroads of business, government, media and politics, Atlantic Strategic Insights works with its international partners to provide bespoke solutions to its clients.

www.AtlanticStrategic.com
From 2016 to January 2018, Fisher made complaints to the property manager, Shaw. Many of the complaints were made in person, at her office, or on the sidewalk, when he would run into her, the complaint alleges. Fisher told Shaw of difficulty breathing due to the mold in his bathroom and asked Shaw to fix the mold or move him to another apartment, according to the complaint.
Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung expressed the sympathy of the Vietnamese leaders and people for the difficulties facing Laos, emphasising that Vietnam always stands side by side with Laos in its fight against the pandemic.

He noted that Vietnam had decided to present Laos with US$500,000, two million medical masks, 200 ventilators, and 10,000kg of Cloramin B, to help Laos deal with the pandemic.

In particular, the flight also carried 35 Vietnamese medical experts to assist Laos with its testing, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19 as well as in the building of field hospitals.

On the occasion, the Party Central Committees Commission for External Relations, the Laos-Vietnam Cooperation Committee and the Government Office also presented their Lao counterparts with 50,000; 500,000; and 20,000 medical masks respectively.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoun expressed his deep gratitude for the valuable support from the Vietnamese Party, State and people, affirming that the support will contribute to helping Laos repel the pandemic.

He emphasised that Vietnam is the first country to send financial support, experts and medical supplies to Laos to assist the country in controlling the latest outbreak of the pandemic, demonstrating the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

*According to the Ministry of Health, the Van Lang Group has also shipped 100 Eliciae MV20 ventilators to Laos as part of a programme providing medical suppliesto Laos and Cambodia in their fight against the pandemic.

As scheduled, the group will send a further 800 MV20 ventilators to Cambodia to help it respond to the pandemic.
The delegation, led by Dr Hoang Minh Duc, Deputy Director of Ministry of Healths General Department of Preventive Medicine, will also hand over medical supplies and equipment to Laos.

On May 3, at the meeting with the delegation, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that Vietnam has learned valuable lessons in COVID-19 prevention and control, including tracing for early detection of COVID-19 infection, centralised quarantine, home quarantine, social distancing measures, and lockdown.

The country has also gained experience in COVID-19 treatment, the construction of field hospitals and setting up COVID-19 testing labs, and healthcare waste management in the context of COVID- 19, he added.

He stressed that Vietnam is willing to share these lessons and experience with Laos to help them curb the spread of the pandemic.

He called on the Vietnamese experts to promote the spirit of mutual support during their mission.
Handover ceremony at Camp Anthonic, from U.S. Army, to Afghan Defense Forces in Helmand province, Afghanistan (Photo : Ministry of Defense Press Office/Handout via REUTERS)

Afghan security forces fought back a major Taliban offensive in southern Helmand province in the last 24 hours, officials and residents said on Tuesday, as militants launched assaults around the country after a missed U.S. deadline to withdraw troops.



Although the United States did not meet the May 1 withdrawal deadline agreed in talks with the Taliban last year, its pull-out has begun, with President Joe Biden announcing all troops will be out by Sept. 11. Critics of the decision to withdraw say the Islamist militants will try to sweep back into power.



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"There was a thunderstorm of heavy weapons and blasts in the city and the sound of small arms was like someone was making popcorn," Mulah Jan, a resident of a suburb of the Helmand provincial capital Lashkar Gah, told Reuters.



"I took all my family members to the corner of the room, hearing the heavy blasts and bursts of gunfire as if it was happening behind our walls," he said. Families that could afford to leave had fled, but he had been unable to go, waiting with his family in fear before the Taliban were pushed back.



Attaullah Afghan, the head of Helmand's provincial council, said the Taliban had launched their offensive on Monday from multiple directions, attacking checkpoints around the outskirts of Lashkar Gah, taking over some of them.



Afghan security forces had carried out air strikes and deployed elite commando forces to the area. The insurgents had been pushed back but fighting was continuing on Tuesday and hundreds of families had been displaced, he added.



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A Taliban surge in Helmand would have particular resonance, as the opium-growing desert province was where U.S. and British forces suffered the bulk of their losses during the 20-year war.



As part of the pullout, U.S. forces handed over a base in Helmand to Afghan government troops two days ago.



In Washington, the U.S. military said that about two to six percent of the withdrawal process had been completed so far.



United States Central Command said that the equivalent of about 60 C-17 aircraft worth of material had been moved out of Afghanistan and more than 1,300 pieces of equipment had been handed over to be destroyed.



The Afghan defence ministry said that in addition to Helmand, security forces have been responding to attacks by the Taliban in at least six other provinces, including southeastern Ghazni and southern Kandahar in the past 24 hours.



The defence ministry said just over 100 Taliban fighters had been killed in Helmand. It did not provide details on casualties among Afghan security forces. The Taliban did not immediately respond to request for comment.



The May 1 deadline for U.S. troops to pull out was agreed last year under then-President Donald Trump. The Taliban rejected Biden's announcement that troops would stay on past it but withdraw over the next four-and-a-half months.



The deadline has been met with a surge in violence, with a car bomb in Logar province killing almost 30 people on Friday evening. On Monday, at least seven Afghan military personnel were killed when the Taliban set off explosives smuggled through a tunnel they had dug into an army outpost in southwestern Farah province.


2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards  Arrivals  Santa Monica, California, U.S., (Photo : REUTERS/Danny Moloshok/File Photo)

A Black teenager on trial for murder fights to clear his name and reclaim his identity in "Monster", a film that dives headlong into issues that have animated the Black Lives Matter movement and often led the news agenda in recent times.



The Netflix drama follows 17-year-old Steve Harmon, a promising film student played by Kelvin Harrison Jr., who insists he is innocent after he is arrested for his alleged part in a fatal robbery at a bodega in Harlem, New York.



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"It is right on time and it's so necessary. I don't think it would have had a more important impact than it will coming out now," said Jennifer Hudson, the Oscar-winning actress who plays the central character's mother.



Jeffrey Wright, who portrays Harmon's father, said the film raised questions about topics such as the mass incarceration of Black people in the United States and how Black masculinity is perceived both by Black men and by society as a whole.



"It's challenging for the individual who's trying to express his manhood ... and it's also challenging for certain segments of society to craft ... a respectful, honouring relationship with Black masculinity," Wright said.



The movie, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, fleets between scenes from the past, where Harmon is seen shooting films, in class and at home with his family, and the courtroom where the prosecution paints him as a monster.



"It's a beautiful movie mostly because we get a chance to see a young boy just try to find his way," said Harrison of the character he plays.



"We don't often get to see how they actually are in their home life, how they are with their friends, how they are with their lawyers, how they are in the prisons, in those cells, and how it affects their mental health."



The film, based on a 1999 novel by Walter Dean Myers, also stars Jennifer Ehle and rapper A$AP Rocky.



"Monster" is released globally on Netflix on Friday.


People walking a dog greet police officers and their dog outside the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, U.S (Photo : REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo)

U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday seemed skeptical that low-level crack cocaine offenders can benefit under a 2018 federal law that reduced certain prison sentences in part to address racial disparities detrimental to Black defendants.



The nine justices heard their final arguments of the court's nine-month term that began last October in a case involving a Florida man named Tarahrick Terry that tests the scope of the First Step Act signed into law by former President Donald Trump.



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The provision in question made retroactive a 2010 law called the Fair Sentencing Act that reduced a disparity that made sentencing for crack cocaine crimes more severe than for powder cocaine crimes.



Black defendants were far more likely to face crack cocaine charges than white defendants, who were more apt to face powder cocaine charges. Terry, scheduled to be released from prison in September, is Black.



Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer indicated sympathy toward the idea that lower-level offenders should have benefited from the law, but said its language did not appear to support that interpretation.



"I mean I think they were much too high. I understand that," Breyer said of the long sentences. "But I can't get away from this statute."



Federal public defender Andrew Adler, representing Terry, told conservative Chief Justice John Roberts that the law unambiguously applies only to low-level crack offenders, not those convicted of other drug offenses. Justices from across the ideological spectrum seemed unconvinced.



"You told the chief (justice) your reading is unambiguous, but I don't think so," liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor told Adler.



Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett said Adler's argument would lead to "pretty sweeping" results.



The sentencing disparity was established by Congress in 1986 during that decade's crack epidemic. Lawmakers created a 100-to-one quantity ratio under which a person arrested with just a small amount of crack cocaine would receive a much larger sentence than someone charged with possessing the same amount of powder cocaine. The 2010 law reduced the ratio to 18-to-one, but did not apply to those already convicted.



The 2018 law was passed with bipartisan congressional support. Although Trump signed it, his administration subsequently concluded that possession of a small amount of crack cocaine was not a "covered offense" under the statute.



President Joe Biden's administration last month reversed course, saying the Justice Department now has concluded that Terry is eligible for a lesser sentence.



Some justices questioned why Congress would not have included low-level offenders in the First Step Act, with Sotomayor noting that a group of senators from both parties filed a brief backing Terry.



Terry, now 33, pleaded guilty in 2008 in Florida to one count of possession with intent to distribute 3.9 grams of crack cocaine. He was sentenced to 15-1/2 years in prison. The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year ruled against Terry's effort to reduce his sentence.



The Supreme Court's eventual ruling, due by the end of June, will affect potentially hundreds of inmates in the same position as Terry, Justice Department lawyer Eric Feigin told the justices.



Those convicted of higher-level crack offenses are already covered under the First Step Act. As of the end of last year, more than 2,500 people had been released from prison under that law, according to the Bureau of Prisons. Thousands more inmates have been released from prison as a result of other First Step Act provisions.



Of those resentenced under the crack cocaine provision of the First Step Act, 91 percent were Black, according to the Sentencing Project, a group that advocates for sentencing reform.


Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex holding their son Archie, meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu (not pictured) at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy (Photo : REUTERS/Toby Melville)

Meghan, Britain's Duchess of Sussex, is to publish a children's book next month titled "The Bench" about the relationship between a father and son based on her husband Prince Harry and the couple's child Archie, the publisher said on Tuesday.



The book is the latest venture by Meghan and Harry, Queen Elizabeth's grandson, since they stepped down from royal duties and moved to Los Angeles last year with Archie, who celebrates his second birthday later this week.



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Illustrated by artist Christian Robinson, "The Bench" will be published on June 8, with Meghan narrating an audiobook version, publisher Random House Children's Books said.



"The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father's Day, the month after Archie was born. That poem became this story," the duchess said in a statement.



"My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the makeup, as much as it does with mine."



Meghan, who is pregnant with the couple's second child, is not the first royal to venture into the world of children's literature.



Heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles wrote "The Old Man of Lochnagar" based on stories he used to tell his young brothers, while Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has also penned a number of children's stories.



Meghan and Harry have rarely been out of the media spotlight since they gave an explosive interview to U.S. chat show host Oprah Winfrey in February, accusing one unnamed royal of making a racist remark and ignoring her pleas for help when she felt suicidal.



Harry returned to Britain for the first time since that interview for the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip last month.


People walk by a CVS Pharmacy store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, (Photo : REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton)

CVS Health Corp on Tuesday boosted its 2021 adjusted profit forecast as it expects to record higher earnings from its health insurance and pharmacy benefits management (PBM) units this year, and its shares jumped more than 4%.



The company, best known for its national chain of retail drugstores, said it now expects 2021 adjusted profit of $7.56 to $7.68 per share, from its previous view of $7.39 to $7.55.



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"Even though investor expectations were high, the company's guidance raise was even higher," CFRA research analyst Kevin Huang said.



CVS said its PBM business, which negotiates drug discounts for health insurers and employers, had not been hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, unlike its retail segment, which took a sales hit during lockdowns and other restrictions imposed last year.



The company's largest segment performed better as it managed rising drug costs and specialty drug use, Chief Executive Karen Lynch said of the PBM business in an interview.



PBM revenue rose 3.8% to $36.32 billion in the first quarter, and CVS raised its full-year adjusted operating income forecast for the unit.



CVS also raised its full-year adjusted operating income target for its Aetna health insurance unit after a near 20% jump in adjusted operating income in the first quarter.



The company said it sees a return to normal demand for non-COVID-19 healthcare services and expects that and expenses related to COVID-19 testing and vaccine administration to marginally drive up medical costs for Aetna.



CVS has been offering COVID-19 tests and administering vaccines at its pharmacies across the United States as part of the ongoing federal program. The company said it has so far put over 17 million vaccines into people's arms.



While the U.S. government is paying for vaccinating Americans, insurers are covering the costs of administering the shots.



Excluding items, CVS earned $2.04 per share in the first quarter, topping analysts' estimates by 32 cents, according to Refinitiv IBES data.



CVS shares were up 4.4% at $81.14.


Activist Thunberg says global leaders still in denial over climate

Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg speaks during a demonstration of the Fridays for Future movement in Lausanne (Photo : REUTERS/Pierre Albouy)

Politicians, including Sweden's leaders, are still in denial over the threat from climate change, environmental activist Greta Thunberg said on Monday after meeting Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.



"We climate activists have had, I don't know how many meetings with the people in power and it is, basically, the same discussion every time - there is a complete denial," Thunberg told reporters after the meeting.



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"The sense of crisis is absolutely zero."



Thunberg, who shot to fame in 2018 when her lone protest outside the Swedish parliament in Stockholm over the lack of action to stop climate change became a global movement, also criticised the media for downplaying the seriousness of the crisis.



"If no one puts pressure on those in power, obviously they are not going to do anything," she said.



Global governments appeared to have given up on the goal of limiting global warming to an increase of 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial levels, she said.



"We are not going to accept that."



Sweden's government has claimed a leading role in the fight against climate change, but Thunberg and her fellow activists said the government was not doing enough.



"As it looks now ... those who don't take the climate crisis seriously and don't treat it as a crisis, unfortunately, are a part of the problem," she said.



But there was reason to hope.



"Think if these people did do something, think if they could shoulder the responsibility, they could be such a big part of the solution, and we said that to him (Lofven)," Thunberg said.



In a comment on the meeting on Instagram Lofven said that Sweden was a driving force in the European Union's effort on climate change, while its industry was transitioning to a fossil-free future and helping other countries reduce emissions.



"Sweden has the opportunity to be the world's first fossil-free, welfare-state, but we need to raise the pace of change," Lofven said. "We need new steps."


Stellantis to hit emissions target without Tesla's help, says CEO

The logo of Stellantis, the world's fourth-largest automaker which starts trading in Milan and Paris after Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot maker PSA finalised their merger, (Photo : REUTERS/Massimo Pinca)

Franco-Italian carmaker Stellantis expects to achieve its European carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions targets this year without environmental credits bought from Tesla, its CEO said in an interview published on Tuesday.



Stellantis was formed through the merger of France's PSA and Italy's FCA, which spent about 2 billion euros ($2.40 billion) to buy European and U.S. CO2 credits from electric vehicle maker Tesla over the 2019-2021 period.



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"With the electrical technology that PSA brought to Stellantis, we will autonomously meet carbon dioxide emission regulations as early as this year," Stellantis boss Carlos Tavares said in the interview with French weekly Le Point.



"Thus, we will not need to call on European CO2 credits and FCA will no longer have to pool with Tesla or anyone."



California-based Tesla earns credits for exceeding emissions and fuel economy standards and sells them to other automakers that fall short.



European regulations require all car manufacturers to reduce CO2 emissions for private vehicles to an average of 95 grams per kilometre this year.



A Stellantis spokesman said the company is in discussions with Tesla about the financial implications of the decision to stop the pooling agreement.



"As a result of the combination of Groupe PSA and FCA, Stellantis will be in a position to achieve CO2 targets in Europe for 2021 without open passenger car pooling arrangements with other automakers," he added.



Tesla's sales of environmental credits to rival automakers helped it to announce slightly better than expected first-quarter revenue this week.



The next tightening of European regulations will soon be the subject of proposals from the European Commission. The 2030 target could be lowered to less than 43 grams/km.


Although the effects of the coronavirus pandemic continue to be felt in the Spanish labor market, the latest figures offered by the Labor and Social Security ministries are affording some relief.

Spains unemployment figure decreased by 39,012 individuals between the end of March and the end of April, for a total of 3,910,628 people currently registered as jobless. Meanwhile, the Social Security system added 134,396 new contributors over the same period, to reach an average of 19,055,298.

The labor market improved in April thanks to job creation in construction, agriculture, fishing and the livestock industry. The tourism sector, on the other hand, continued to shed jobs.

April is traditionally a good month for employment in Spain, partly because of seasonal factors such as the arrival of warm weather and the Easter vacations that kick off the tourism season. But the coronavirus pandemic has affected two Easters in a row now, undermining the stimulus to the hospitality industry. Whereas April 2017 set a new record for monthly drops in unemployment, in April 2021, there were 79,425 more jobless people in Spain than a year earlier  despite the fact that in April 2020, everyone was confined in their homes due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Easter Friday in Calella de Palafrugell, in Catalonia's Girona province, a traditional magnet for visitors from Barcelona. David Borrat / EFE

The figures also offer a clear picture of the gender gap: women account for 57.8% of Spains unemployed population. Broken down by regions, the highest jobless numbers are to be found in Andalusia (984,497), Catalonia (497,185) and the Valencia region (447,650). Despite this, Catalonia experienced the second-biggest drop in monthly unemployment (-8,715), after the Basque Country (-3,039).

Although 1,356,845 new contracts were signed in April, it was still 47,262 fewer than in March. Additionally, 87.9% of these were temporary contracts, reflecting a longstanding structural problem with the Spanish job market.

Despite ongoing restrictions on mobility that are hurting tourism, some measures have been eased  including longer opening hours for bars and restaurants  and this has provided some relief to struggling businesses. Help has also come in the form of the governments ERTE job retention scheme, although the latest extension to this program is due to expire on May 31.

According to Social Security figures released on Wednesday, there were 638,238 people on the ERTE program on April 29, representing a drop of 36,621 from the end of March. The scheme has saved thousands of businesses from going under during the pandemic, but some companies are already transitioning to collective layoffs (EREs) that could affect as many as 35,000 workers in the banking, retail and auto sectors.

Determining the exact number of jobless people in Spain is difficult: furloughed workers on the ERTE scheme are not being counted as unemployed, and the two ministries offer different figures. This is because the Labor Ministry relies on a voluntary register where people seeking a job of under 20 hours a week or a contract of less than three months are not considered unemployed. The other key indicator, the EPA workforce survey, uses a different methodology and counts as jobless any individual who has not worked a single hour on the week of the survey despite actively wanting to. According to EPA figures, there was an average of 3.6 million people without a job in the first quarter of the year, for an unemployment rate of 15.98%.

English version by Susana Urra.
We wring our hands over several deaths linked to the J&J COVID-19 vaccine. We wring our hands over the recent mass shooting events that have made the headlines. We wring our hands about the murder rate in Baltimore. Yet we have no problem killing innocent children on a daily basis, calling it choice. Since we fail to value the life of the most innocent and vulnerable of our people  our children in the womb  it should come as no surprise that those who commit these mass shooting events do not value the lives they destroy.
This is the street, criminals abusing girls of every age. This is the street. Girls are raped and theres nothing that can stop it, however much theyre protected theres always someone shooting, goes a song by Guatemalan rapper Mai de Rimas. They are lyrics that accurately describe the harsh reality of daily life for women and girls in the Central American country, where they are victims of femicide, rape  18 per day in 2021, according to the Public Prosecutors Office  sexual harassment, mistreatment and disappearances. So far in 2021, the Womens Observatory has reported 159 femicides and violent deaths among women, a number that reached 457 in 2020. The Guatemala National Institute of Forensic Science (Inacif) revealed that the majority of these deaths in 2021 have been caused by firearms (80). Last year, the police officially recorded the murders of 358 women, while Inacif carried out 504 autopsies connected to deaths from criminal activity. Furthermore, the Womens Department of the Prosecutors Office processed 43,482 complaints last year and so far in 2021, 19,616 files have been opened on behalf of victims of violence, the most frequently reported crime.

All of these statistics, which vary between one institution and another, have names and surnames like Rosa Maria Salazar Velasquez, who had been missing since November 2019. In March, a skeleton was discovered under the courtyard of her former partners house in a village in Quiche. Inacif confirmed that these remains belonged to the 21-year-old. The whereabouts of the man who had been in a relationship with her remain unknown.

Luz Maria del Rocio Lopez also disappeared and days later, on January 22, her body was found by street cleaners, wrapped in plastic inside a sewer in Guatemala City. The young woman, who has a one-year-old daughter, worked as an investigator at the Model of Integrated Care for Children and Teenagers of the Public Prosecutors Office. Her partner, 23, was arrested and is in preventive custody.

The wheels of justice are slow: Maria Isabel Veliz Francos mother had to wait 20 years to see her daughters killer brought to account

On April 20, a 26-year-old man was arrested in the village of Las Palmas, in Quetzaltenango, on suspicion of raping his former partner Sonia Delfina Rodas, 33, and beating her to death with a lump of wood in November 2019.

Other victims of similar violence have never been found, as is the case with Cristina Siekavizza, a 33-year-old mother of two who has been missing since 2011. Her husband, Roberto Barreda, who is the son of the former president of the Supreme Court of Justice of Guatemala Ofelia de Leon, never revealed where he hid her body. Barreda died last year of Covid-19 while he was awaiting trial on charges of killing his wife after being extradited from Mexico in 2013. Despite the authorities continued search for Siekavizzas body in various cemeteries across the country, no trace of her has ever been found.

According to Lucrecia Vasquez of the Womens Department of the Prosecutors Office, they receive an average of 234 complaints of crimes against women and children per day. Weve watched with concern as many women have retracted after being brutally beaten in many cases, because they do not have financial resources and there is a dependence on the partner, who threatens to cut off payments for food and rent, says Vasquez. Between 60% and 70% of women who report violent crimes later back out as their partners make death threats against them or their children and they suffer terrible psychological effects that cause them to withdraw the charges or to miss scheduled hearings.

The Womens Public Advocate describes the weariness of women in the face of the inability of the judicial institutions to provide effective responses to this problem

Since the beginning of 2021, four women have gone missing on average per day in Guatemala. To speed up the search for these missing women, the public prosecution service, the police and the Solicitor Generals Office in 2018 created the Isabel-Claudina Alert system, in memory of two teens who were abducted and killed: Maria Isabel Veliz Franco, 15, and Claudina Isabel Velasquez, 19. The mother of Veliz Franco had to wait 20 years for the perpetrator of the 2001 crime to be sentenced to 30 years in prison this March. The impunity that surrounded the case caused the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to rebuke Guatemala in 2014 for what it termed the violation of its duty to ensure the free and full practice of the right to life and personal integrity of the 15-year-old, in addition to violating her right to judicial protection due to irregularities in the handling of the case.

Another case that has yet to be brought to justice is the death of 41 girls and the serious injuries suffered by another 15 in a fire that occurred on March 8, 2017, in a state-run shelter from where the children had attempted to flee a day earlier due to the rapes, sexual abuse and overcrowding they were subjected to. As a punishment, they were illegally locked up in a classroom at the so-called Safe House where, prevented from using the bathroom, one of the girls set fire to one of the 22 pillows they had been given to sleep on in an attempt to be set free. The police who were guarding the classroom took nine minutes to open the doors after the fire started.

We want to live

Against this backdrop, thousands of women took to the streets of the capital on March 7 under the slogan: We want to live. One of the protestors, 19-year-old Keila Garrido, carried a placard that read: Im marching because Im alive and I dont know until when.

I fear for my life every day, she said, while pointing out that it is dangerous to be a woman in Guatemala because if you go to the store, you dont know if youre going to make it home again. Garrido said she doesnt trust the state to protect her, given that the police instead of looking out for us are the ones who harass us and in some cases there are police who are abusers, so we dont know who to trust.

At the beginning of the year, two policemen were jailed for raping a woman who had approached them for help. Instead, she was taken to a police station in Puerto Quetzal, on the countrys Pacific coast, where she was sexually abused. According to an investigation by online media agency Ocote, this was far from an isolated case: over the past 11 years, prosecutors have received 212 complaints against police officers for sex crimes.

Weve had enough! shouted a young woman outside the government ministry that oversees security at the March 7 protest, a day before International Womens Day. My friends look after me, not the police, was one of the most shouted slogans during the march, at which one woman carried a placard reading: This isnt a country, its a cemetery.

Feminist organizations have highlighted that there is still no law qualifying sexual harassment as a crime in Guatemala

Protestor Genesis Rivera carried a photograph of a 13-year-old girl who had been missing for several days and who was eventually found alive after being kidnapped, according to her parents. Its impossible to go out without putting your life in danger and Im even scared about carrying this poster, because I could face some sort of reprisal for seeking justice, said Rivera. Im afraid for myself, for my mother, my sister and for all the women who are here. The police frighten us because instead of protecting us, they harass us.

Earlier this year the #TengoMiedo (Im Afraid) campaign was launched in Guatemala on social media, through which women expressed their fears about becoming victims of gender violence. The initiative was sparked by the murders of several girls and women, among them the case of three-year-old Hillary Sarai Arredondo, who was abducted from her own home and found dead in January in Tiquisate. Weeks later, eight-year-old Sharon Figueroa was kidnapped while she was riding her bike in her own backyard in Melchor de Mencos, on the border with Belize. She was also found dead and a woman and her son, who were neighbors of the victim, were jailed for the crime.

In a display of outrage over Figueroas death, dozens of children protested outside the National Palace in Guatemala City on February 13 in a parade of bicycles to demand the government protect the countrys most vulnerable citizens. However, the violence did not stop and two videos were uncovered showing a man sexually abusing and attempting to kidnap a nine-year-old girl in San Marcos, while in the other a taxi driver left a 20-year-old passenger, who later reported him to police for raping her, in the middle of the street in Guatemala City.

Saying that we are scared is normal, even more so given the gender violence statistics in Guatemala and Central America. Furthermore, it is necessary to express this fear because if we dont, it will suffocate us, a woman who participated in the #TengoMiedo campaign wrote on Twitter. The campaign, which aims to give society a wake-up call so that spaces can be created to eradicate violence against women and girls, has already had negative consequences for its organizer, Maria Alejandra Morales.

Morales has filed a complaint after being sacked from her position as an advisor at the National Office of Civil Service (Onsec) under instructions from the president of Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei, as a reprisal for having started a public dialogue over this situation of violence against women and girls. On March 24, Morales filed an injunction against the president, the Labor Minister and the director of Onsec at the Constitutional Court in which she alleges a violation of her rights to freedom of speech, equality, non-discrimination, dignity, privacy and the right to a life free from the threat of violence.

However, the #TengoMiedo campaign has not met with universal support. Ana Cofino, the founder of the feminist newspaper La Cuerda, which has been in print for over 20 years, takes issue with talk of fear as, in her view, it is a negative, oppressive sentiment that is forced on women from childhood and as such is something that we are taught. Cofino says that when she saw the campaign, she felt a little bit of pain in my heart because the slogan calls me to fear instead of to fight. However, she agrees that of course, you can be afraid in this country, where we know that nobody will protect you and where men are unhinged.

Cofino, 65, points out that she comes from a generation in which women went up against the Army in the streets; fear as a protective mechanism is a good thing, but not as a way of life, she adds, given that the Army, the Church and the education system put fear into us in order to control us. Cofino says the fact that patriarchy and misogyny is being called out at all is a triumph for feminism in Guatemala, where women have realized that together they can fight against the fear. I dont think Ill live to see it, but this country has to change one day.

We dont need to be brave; we need to be free

Blanca Yolanda Sandoval, a prosecutor in charge of womens issues, has criticized the #TengoMiedo campaign as she believes it is not valid to transmit messages like those circulating on some social media saying I am afraid. According to Sandoval, This is not how justice will be achieved in this country. Shortly after her remarks, she clarified that her message was intended to empower women to denounce their aggressors and not to fear them.

Beronica de Leon, a prosecutor who investigates femicides in Guatemala, goes the other way and states people tell us we need to be brave and we dont need to be brave, we need to be free. De Leon says that since her department was set up in 2018, we have put people on trial who have taken the lives of girls, children and women because we deserve to live in a society where women can leave their homes without fear. At the legislative level, Guatemala in 2008 passed a law dealing specifically with femicide, designed to act against those committing murders against women simply for being women. According to the Center for National Economic Research, since the law was approved and brought into effect, 2,135 women have been victims of femicide and only 597 men have been sentenced to jail for their crimes.

However, feminist organizations have highlighted that there is still no law qualifying harassment as a crime. As a result, in recent years many women have chosen to denounce the harassment they have suffered online and sometimes photographs of the those accused of committing it have been published. The most recent example was when a group of students at the private Rafael Landivar University accused two professors of sexual harassment, leading to their temporary suspension while an investigation was conducted by the Jesuit-run institution. In 2019, the Public University of Guatemala released a report, with the support of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, that revealed 30% of all sexual harassment cases were carried out by faculty members. In 2015, the Observatory Against Street Harassment was set up, which drew up a map of the places where women were most regularly subjected to harassment.

The Womens Public Advocate at the Human Rights Ombudsmans Office in Guatemala, Dorotea Gomez, says that many women have opted to denounce their aggressors anonymously because they have not seen effective responses from public prosecutors and when the complaints are about sexual violence or harassment, they have seen very little in terms of progress. As such, Gomez says that protests in public places where women display photographs of men accused of these offenses reflect the weariness of women in the face of the inability of the judicial institutions to provide effective responses to this problem, which affects women in a serious way on a daily basis.

The wheels of justice are slow; as an example, we interviewed a woman who told us she had filed a complaint about psychological and physical violence in 2017 and it wasnt until last year that the initial hearing over took place in a Femicide Court, says Gomez, adding that over the past year only 36% of cases of violence against women were prosecuted at some level in the courts, which means 64% of the cases filed have yet to be heard at any stage of the judicial process. Gomez also disagrees with the idea of being afraid, although she does admit that in Guatemala it is risky to be a woman, because the necessary conditions to be able to live a life free of violence are not guaranteed.

In Guatemala a debate has been on the floor of Congress since 2018 over the creation of a Womens Ministry, and in the meantime a Model of Integrated Attention for Female Victims of Violence was launched last March, where comprehensive support for victims of gender violence is provided at a time when, according to Gomez, men are acting with greater impunity and cruelty towards women as a result of the screen provided by coronavirus lockdowns.

This violence without end was highlighted by a woman at the March 7 protests, carrying a placard that pleaded: I dont want to survive, I want to live. There was a unanimous shout at the rally in Guatemala City: They are scared because we are not! As the Guatemalan rapper Rebeca Lane sings: We are standing up to fight because we want to live, we are not afraid and we dont to lose a single woman more.

English version by Rob Train.
KYODO NEWS - May 6, 2021 - 05:13 | All, Japan, World

The foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea held their first talks in more than a year amid soured bilateral ties, but failed to narrow gaps over issues involving wartime history and Tokyo's decision to release treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.

Meeting with his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui Yong on the fringes of the Group of Seven foreign ministerial gathering in London, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi demanded Seoul present at an early date a solution that would be acceptable to Tokyo with regard to the wartime labor and "comfort women" issues, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

Chung, for his part, said it would be impossible for the two sides to resolve the issues unless Japan has a "correct" perception of history, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said.

The two ministers met for the first time since Chung took the post in February. Mirroring the deteriorated relations, Motegi and Chung had not even held telephone talks.

Motegi also expressed concerns about Seoul's external communications amplifying its opposition to Tokyo's decision to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea, according to the Japanese ministry.

Chung voiced "deep concerns" that Japan made the decision on the planned discharge of wastewater without sufficient prior consultation with neighboring countries, the South Korean ministry said, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Motegi said Japan will continue to provide information to South Korea and other parties on the issue.

In mid-April, South Korean President Moon Jae In instructed government officials to actively consider ways to take Japan's decision to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in a bid to stop its neighbor from discharging the water into the sea.

Related coverage:

Ex-"comfort women" to appeal South Korea court ruling dismissing case

U.S., Japan, S. Korea vow concerted efforts to address N. Korea nukes

South Korean stance on Japan's treated radioactive water draws scrutiny

Despite remaining gaps over a range of issues between the two countries, the ministers appeared to keep hope alive for improving bilateral relations.

Motegi told an online press conference after the meeting, "We were able to share the view that we cannot leave the Japan-South Korean relationship as it is."

Motegi also indicated his willingness for another meeting with Chung in the future.

According to the Japanese ministry, the two agreed to continue communication between their ministries in an effort to restore the strained ties.

They shared the view that the two countries should develop relations "in a future-oriented manner," Yonhap quoted the South Korean ministry as saying.

The meeting between Motegi and Chung was held in London as South Korea was invited to the G-7 gathering as a guest along with Australia, India, South Africa and Brunei, this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Tokyo-Seoul relations have sunk to their lowest point in decades following South Korean Supreme Court rulings in 2018 that ordered Japanese companies to compensate plaintiffs who were laborers during Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

Also souring ties is the issue of comfort women in Japan's wartime military brothels.

Japan takes the position that a 1965 bilateral agreement settled all claims related to its colonial rule of the peninsula, including those of the laborers and former comfort women.

The last foreign ministerial talks the two neighbors held were in February 2020 between Motegi and then South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung Wha in Munich, Germany.

Separately, the two and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed close coordination in an effort to achieve the complete denuclearization of North Korea, the ministry said.

In a meeting in London, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui Yong agreed to push North Korea to comply with its obligations under U.N. Security Council resolutions over its nuclear and missile programs, the ministry said.

It marked the first such gathering since the launch in January of U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, which recently completed its policy review on North Korea.

On Monday, Blinken expressed hope that North Korea will return to negotiations toward the goal of denuclearization, saying the Biden administration has made clear that it will pursue "practical" diplomacy on the issue, unlike the grand-bargain style employed by Biden's predecessor Donald Trump.

In the hour-long meeting, Blinken explained to the two key Asian allies the outcome of the policy review and the three affirmed concerted cooperation in promoting the denuclearization of North Korea, according to a Japanese Foreign Ministry official.

Motegi welcomed the U.S. policy review, saying Washington takes into account Tokyo's policy toward Pyongyang and that the Biden administration attaches importance to ensuring close coordination with the two Asian allies in pursuing its North Korea policy, the official said.

The official refrained from revealing details of the U.S. policy review, however.

Blinken and Chung backed Japan's efforts to address North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s, according to the official.

The three ministers met on the sidelines of the Group of Seven foreign ministerial meeting in the British capital.

The three-way talks were initiated by the United States, according to diplomatic sources, after South Korea was invited by Britain to join the G-7 session as a guest along with India, Australia, South Africa and Brunei, this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Washington hopes for improved ties between Tokyo and Seoul, seeing that robust trilateral ties are indispensable for curbing Pyongyang's weapons development and keeping an increasingly assertive Beijing in check.

The G-7 groups Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union.
KYODO NEWS - May 5, 2021 - 21:27 | World, All

The parallel government launched by pro-democracy forces in Myanmar following a military coup to rival the ruling junta said Wednesday that it has established what it calls "People's Defence Force."

The National Unity Government said the defense force aims to protect supporters and others from violence by the military, but did not say whether it would engage in an armed struggle with the military in earnest.

The statement, issued under its prime minister's name, did not provide details about the force, either.

The National Unity Government has set its sights on creating a federal army with armed ethnic minorities that are seeking greater autonomy and in conflict with the military in the Southeast Asian country.

The National Unity Government said it has a responsibility to stop terrorism committed by the military and end a 70-year civil war, adding that it has already taken up arms and been fighting "terrorist" elements in multiple cities.

The junta has issued arrest warrants against senior officials of the parallel government, saying they will be tried for treason, which is punishable by death.

Violence against anti-coup protesters and others by Myanmar's security forces since the Feb. 1 coup had killed 769 people as of Tuesday, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights group monitoring the situation in Myanmar.

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Myanmar bomb attacks kill five including ousted NLD lawmaker: media

Japanese journalist indicted in Myanmar on "fake news" charge

Myanmar residents urge Japan to recognize anti-junta body as gov't
KYODO NEWS - May 5, 2021 - 11:51 | All, World, Japan

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Tuesday voiced "grave concerns" over China's unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China seas on the second day of a meeting of the Group of Seven foreign ministers, the Japanese government said.

As the ministers discussed issues related to China and Russia, Motegi said during the meeting that Japan is also concerned about Beijing's handling of human rights in connection with the Muslim Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang autonomous region as well as the situation in Hong Kong, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, the chair of the three-day gathering, told reporters that they will issue a joint statement after the meeting to demonstrate their determination to promote open societies, human rights and democracy, in a veiled counter to China and Russia.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said unity is important to protect an international rules-based order that has maintained peace and prosperity, according to the State Department. Russia's military buildup near the Ukraine border was raised by Britain during the meeting.

The ministers also discussed the situation in Myanmar, where the violent crackdown on protesters by security forces following the Feb. 1 coup has stoked concerns about human rights issues.

Representatives of India and South Korea were among guests joining the meeting on Tuesday to discuss the promotion of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The ministers are expected to discuss matters related to the anti-coronavirus response and climate change on the third day of the event before wrapping up the three-day meeting.

The G-7 groups Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, as well as the European Union.

Related coverage:

G-7 foreign ministers start talks, focus on Indo-Pacific, COVID-19

G-7 foreign ministers rap violence on peaceful protests in Myanmar

G-7 leaders vow fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines
KYODO NEWS - May 6, 2021 - 19:35 | All, World, Coronavirus

The Group of Seven countries on Wednesday stepped up pressure on China during their three-day foreign ministerial talks in London, urging Beijing to address concerns over its alleged human rights abuses and tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

Calling China a "major power and economy with advanced technological capability," the G-7 foreign ministers called on Beijing in their communique to "assume and fulfil obligations and responsibilities commensurate with its global economic role."

"We will work collectively to foster global economic resilience in the face of arbitrary, coercive economic policies and practices," the ministers said while pledging to "work with China to promote regional and global peace, security and prosperity."

As China increases its military pressure on Taiwan, the ministers of the major economies including the United States, Japan and Britain, which holds the G-7's rotating presidency this year, stressed the importance of "peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," opposing unilateral actions to escalate tensions through militarization, coercion and intimidation.

This marks the first time G-7 leaders or foreign ministers have made any reference to issues surrounding Taiwan since 2006, according to Japanese officials.

The ministers also expressed support for Taiwan's "meaningful" participation in World Health Organization forums and the meeting of the WHO's decision-making body, particularly when the world is expanding efforts to rein in the coronavirus pandemic.

China opposes Taiwan's participation in international forums as Beijing regards the self-ruled, democratic island as a renegade province to be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Whether the "Taiwan region of China" should join international organizations including the WHO "must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters in Beijing on Thursday.

China's alleged crackdowns on the Muslim Uyghur minority in the Xinjiang autonomous region were mentioned as an issue warranting deep concern among the G-7 ministers gathering, held for the first time since the launch in January of the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, which calls for multilateralism to make a shift away from his predecessor Donald Trump's "America First" style.

"We agree the importance of tackling instances of forced labor through our own available domestic means, including through raising awareness and providing advice and support for our business communities," the communique said.

The ministers also expressed concerns over China's move to erode democratic elements of the electoral system in Hong Kong, as well as the situation in the East and South China seas where Beijing has been stepping up territorial claims including over the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands.

Wang said the G-7 countries "have made unfounded accusations against China, openly intervened in China's internal affairs and engaged in group politics that reverses history."

"This is a gross interference in China's sovereignty" and "a violation of the norms of international relations," he added.

In reflection of the G-7's commitment to realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific to counter China's rise, representatives from Australia, India, South Korea, South Africa and Brunei, which chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year, were invited to part of the discussions as guests.

Two members of India's delegation to the London gathering tested positive for COVID-19, a source close to Japan-Britain relations said early Wednesday, prompting Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to attend the day's session in virtual mode.

The communique also called on North Korea to refrain from provocative actions and to engage in a diplomatic process toward the goal of "complete, verifiable and irreversible abandonment" of its nuclear and missile programs.

Voicing regret that North Korea has not taken "concrete, verified" actions toward denuclearization, the G-7 ministers said it is "critical" that sanctions which target Pyongyang remain in place while its nuclear and ballistic missile programs exist.

To address global challenges such as the pandemic, the G-7 ministers said in a separate statement that they commit to working with industry to "facilitate expanded manufacturing at scale of affordable COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics."

The group of leading democracies also including Canada, France, Germany and Italy plus the European Union discussed other regional issues such as the military coup and the crackdowns on peaceful protestors in Myanmar, Iran's nuclear and missile development and Russia's attempts to undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity.

On Myanmar, the G-7 ministers said they "condemn in the strongest terms" the coup and they demanded the Southeast Asian country's military and police cease the violence and immediately release State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and all of those detained and restore power to the democratically-elected government.

On Russia, the foreign ministers were "deeply concerned" about its continued "irresponsible and destabilizing behavior," raising alarm against the large buildup of Russian military forces on the Ukrainian border and in annexed Crimea.

The meeting marked the first face-to-face G-7 meeting in two years due to the spread of the new coronavirus.

The London meeting lays the groundwork for a G-7 summit slated for June 11-13 in Cornwall, southwestern England.

In a teleconference in February, the G-7 leaders vowed to make 2021 a turning point for promoting multilateralism, in contrast to Trump's "America First" approach.

Related coverage:

2 Indian delegates at G-7 test positive for COVID-19: source

Japan, South Korea at odds over wartime history, radioactive water

Japan foreign minister voices "grave concerns" over China at G-7 meeting
KYODO NEWS - May 5, 2021 - 16:06 | World, All, Japan

A group of former "comfort women" in South Korea are set to appeal a local court ruling that dismissed their damages lawsuit against the Japanese government over their treatment at Japanese military brothels during World War II, one of them said Wednesday.

The April 21 ruling by the Seoul Central District Court followed a contrary one in January by the same court but by a different panel of judges that ordered the Japanese government to compensate 12 women, including those who have died since filing the suit.

The appeal plan was announced by Lee Yong Soo, a 92-year-old former comfort woman and one of 20 plaintiffs in the latest case. A person familiar with the case said the appeal is expected to be filed Thursday.

The January ruling was a blow to Japan-South Korea ties, which had already sunk to their lowest level in decades after a series of South Korean top court rulings in late 2018 that ordered compensation from Japanese firms for wartime forced labor.

In dismissing the suit, the April 21 ruling applied sovereign immunity to the case -- a concept under international law that a state is immune from the jurisdiction of a court in a foreign country -- and determined South Korea has no jurisdiction over it.

The Jan. 8 ruling rejected the application of the legal concept. While it has since been finalized, there is no sign the Japanese government would agree to pay compensation to the 12 plaintiffs in the earlier case.

Lee has called on the Japanese and South Korean governments to have the comfort women issue resolved at the International Court of Justice.

Japan has taken the position that all claims related to its 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula were settled "completely and finally" under a 1965 bilateral agreement under which it provided grants and loans to Seoul.

Related coverage:

South Korean court dismisses ex-comfort women's suit against Japan

South Korean former "comfort woman" asks gov't to bring issue to ICJ

South Korea seeks "amicable solution" to comfort women issue with Japan
KYODO NEWS - May 5, 2021 - 19:04 | Feature, All, Japan, Coronavirus

As the global challenge of climate change mounts and the coronavirus pandemic magnifies economic inequalities, Karl Marx, who pointed to the contradictions and limitations of capitalism, is gaining new admirers in Japan, particularly among the young.

The boom has been ignited by a 34-year-old associate professor at Osaka City University who reimagined the theory expounded in the 19th-century German thinker's seminal "Das Kapital" from the perspective of environmental conservation in a bestselling book published last September.

In it, Kohei Saito argued that the realization of sustainable development goals set by the United Nations is as impossible as "drawing a round triangle" under modern-day capitalism.

The success of the book resulted in an invitation from Japan's public broadcaster NHK to present a commentary on Marx's foundational theoretical text, known by its full title in English as "Capital: A Critique of Political Economy," on a program aired in January.

"Many people noticed the contradictions of capitalism when they saw only socially vulnerable people struggling during the coronavirus pandemic," Saito told Kyodo News in a recent interview.

Younger people, who have no memory of the Cold War or the mass student protests of the 1960s, showed a strong interest in the ideas Saito discussed in the program. Letters poured in from those in their 20s and 30s to NHK Publishing Inc., which had released Saito's simplified textbook version of Marx's difficult-to-read work in the lead-up to the broadcast.

One single mother wrote about moving from the city to the countryside, where she now relishes her new life as a farmer. "I wanted to put into practice a transition away from the values of mass consumption," she said.

Saito presents a theory of "degrowth communism" inspired by Marx, in which he argues that society can stop the perpetual cycles of mass production and mass consumption under capitalism by pursuing a more humanistic path prioritizing social and ecological well-being over economic growth.

The book's success has inspired a renaissance of interest in Marxist thought.

The main branch of bookstore chain Maruzen in Tokyo's Marunouchi district has opened a special section entitled "Reviving Marx." Nobuya Sawaki, who is in charge of the Marx book corner, said, "The demands of people shuttered away at home due to the coronavirus are driving them to pick up these difficult titles on humanity."

Mostly young men and women purchased about 1,600 copies of the Marx-themed titles in two months, Sawaki said.

Born in Germany in 1818 as capitalism was emerging, Marx aimed to uncover the economic underpinnings of the capitalist mode of production in "Das Kapital," the first volume of which appeared in 1867.

Marx analyzed a society in which the exploitation of workers and environmental destruction was becoming more and more severe and predicted catastrophe as a consequence.

He makes use of an expression initially from French, interpreted as, "When I am dead the flood may come for aught I care," in cynically describing the arrogance and selfishness of the capitalist who sees before him only immediate profits while caring nothing for the future after he is gone.

In modern times, influential thinkers such as the late anthropologist David Graeber and economist Thomas Piketty point to the growing chasm in which wealth is concentrated in the hands of the top 1 percent as if it is a sign of an impending "flood."

Others, meanwhile, like journalist Naomi Klein speak of the climate crisis wrought by unchecked capitalism -- all in recent works that have become international bestsellers.

As an ecosocialist with an evangelist fervor, Saito expounded his ideas on Marx on NHK's "A Masterpiece in 100 Minutes," which gives an expert a forum to explain a famous and often difficult work in four 25-minute segments aired over a month.

Over 250,000 copies of his Japanese book entitled "Capital in the Anthropocene" were published, for which he won the "2021 new book award" selected by editors, bookstore staff, and newspaper reporters.

"Maybe many young people got his book because of the influence of Greta Thunberg, who has accused countries and companies of being involved in environmental destruction," the book's editor said.

Winner of the prestigious Deutscher Memorial Prize in 2018 for another book he published in English -- translated himself from the original German -- Saito argues that Marx saw the environmental crisis inherent in capitalism but had left his critique of the political economy unfinished.

Marx, in his later years, Saito argues, was keenly aware of the destructive consequences for the environment of the capitalist regime. Saito describes the ecological crisis tendencies under capitalism using the key concept of "metabolic rift."

"We have reached the limit of passing the buck to the future," Saito said, suggesting that he is an advocate of the "3.5 percent rule" of small minorities bringing about social, economic and political change through nonviolent protests.

"If 3.5 percent of the population rises up nonviolently, society will change. I want to encourage action," Saito said.
New Delhi:

A poster has been released on social media showing upcoming Gujarat elections as a face-off between RAM and HAJ. Both the terms are the abbreviation of Bhartiya Janata Party leaders and their opponents.

RAM stands for Rupani, Amit Shah and Modi whereas HAJ was for Hardik, Alpesh and Jignesh.

It has been said that the poster has been released from BJP. It was said to choose between the two in the upcoming elections.

After its release, the poster is getting viral on social media. People are sharing this poster on Facebook and Whatsapp.

As per reports, since the time Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, Patidar leader Hardik Patel and OBC leader Alpresh Thakor are in the fray to join hands with Congress, the BJP is on the backfoot.

Alpesh has officially joined hands with Congress whereas Hardik and Jignesh are yet to announce association with Congress party.

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New Delhi:

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday defended demonetisation by saying that the data shows that fund flow to terrorists was choked after the big announcement.

Sitharaman said that after the demonetisation, the number of stone pelting incidents have come down.

"Because they are really running short of funds, there have been a lot of attempted bank robberies. It clearly shows that demonetisation has affected the flow of funds for terrorism, similarly in left wing extremist affected areas too," said Sitharaman.

Earlier in the day, Finance Minister also praised demonetisation. He said that the demonetisation exercise undertaken a year ago would be remembered as a "watershed moment" in the history of the Indian economy.

Addressing a press conference, just a day before the first anniversary of demonetisation, Jaitley said that the announcement of the note ban was a watershed moment in India's economy. He said that it was important that the government remained undaunted of the criticism, because it was natural for people to be skeptical of new things.

In a blog post on Facebook, Jaitley said the NDA government had taken a number of steps since the start of its tenure to weed out black money and demonetisation was a culmination of those efforts.

Demonetisation was announced on November 8, 2016.

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New Delhi :

Indian Americans have raised USD 2.4 million to carry out public health work in India. Raised at the second annual gala of WHEELS Global Foundation (WGF) in New York over the weekend, organisers of the event said USD 2 million of this was donated by Chirag Patel, co-CEO and chairman, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, and his family.

This donation will go towards the soon-to-be established WHEELS India Niswarth (WIN) Foundation, which will be based out of the IIT-Gandhinagar and Indian Institute of Public Health-Gandhinagar campuses.

The foundation will work on core areas of water and sanitation and maternal and child health groups. At its inaugural gala last year WGF had raised USD 200,000.

"The increase in donations this year demonstrates that donors see the urgency of the issues faced and that WGF is adedicated partner in alleviating issues faced by rural areas.

We are deeply gratified by the generous donations ofattendees, sponsors and raffle and auction prize donors," said Suresh Shenoy, president, WGF.

With a vision to use "technology to enable philanthropy," WGF provides funds to develop Clean Drinking Water Plants(CDWP) in remote villages to alleviate health issues related to poor-quality drinking water, a media release said.

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The complaint filed by the Talbot County Branch of the NAACP, the Maryland Office of the Public Defender and the states branch of the ACLU takes aim at the memorial to the Talbot Boys erected feet from the county courthouse entrance in Easton. It demands that Talbot County immediately remove the statue from its county seat and not keep the statue anywhere else on public grounds. It also seeks monetary damages.
New Delhi :

Google is a great search engine, and it was proved yet again when police reached the home of an alleged mobile snatcher, thanks to the Google image saving feature.



Actually, on November 2, the culprit snatched the mobile phone from a lady-teacher who teaches in a school in Darya Ganj, Central Delhi and fled. After committing the crime he clicked a selfie, unaware of the fact that his selfie is getting saved on Google Drive.



The teacher lodged a complaint with the police at the Darya Ganj Police Station following which a police team swung into action and using the location locator reached right to the doorsteps of the snatcher who somehow managed to escape but left the mobile phone behind.



Initially, the teacher was hesitant to approach the police but next day when she logged into her Gmail account she was shocked to see a selfie. On taking a closer look she realised that the man in the selfie is none other than the man who snatched her phone.



The selfie which was saved in the Google Drive was carrying the date, time and location. Then she approached the police and told them the entire story.



The police have recovered the mobile phone and have registered a case and are on the trail of the accused.
Los Angeles:

Model-actor Paris Jackson has apologised for her "insensitive" tweet in the wake of a mass shooting in Texas in which 26 people were killed.



"Why the f**k do people keep dying," the 19-year-old actor had posted on Twitter before the shooting incident in Texas.



The actor, however, apologised for her "insensitive" tweet and clarified that it was not related to the shooting incident.



"Whoa just now hearing about Texas, and realised how insensitive to the families my last tweet must seem... to clarify, that was about a friend," wrote Jackson.



"My heart is with everyone affected and in pain during this tragic time," she added.



A court-martialled former US Air Force airman armed with a powerful assault rifle sprayed bullets on worshippers at a Sunday service at a rural church in Texas, killing at least 26 people, including 12-14 children in the latest gun-related massacre to shock the country.

Also read: George Clooney: I lived on rent and sold a tequila company for billion dollars



Also read: Land of the Little People shows impact of militarisation on Israeli children, watch trailer

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Thane:

On the occasion of her 44th birthday, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan donated free meals for 1,000 children for a year under a mid-day meal programme.

Aishwarya, who turned 44 on November 1, sponsored free meals for 1,000 students for a year under a mid-day meal scheme run by the Annamrita Foundation that is set up by the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

The mid-day meal scheme, called Annamrita, reaches out to nearly 500 municipal schools in and around Mumbai along with over 2,000 schools in Maharashtra with heavy nutritious meals, ISKCON spiritual leader Radhanath Swami Maharaj said in a release.

"The scheme, which started in 2004 from a small room with meals being prepared for just 900 children, today serves meals to 12 lakh children across seven states in India.

Also Read: Abhishek Bachchan reveals what charms him about wife Aishwarya Rai

Through 20 hi-tech kitchens, Annamrita reaches out to nearly500 municipal schools in and around Mumbai along with over2,000 schools in Maharashtra with heavy nutritious meals," he added.

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New Delhi :

Observing that the recent increase in India's ease of doing business ranking by the World Bank was long overdue, a top Indian American economist today said the country as a place for business is a lot more attractive than its ranking suggests.

Investors usually go where the environment is the best and not where the World Bank collects its data, Arvind Panagariya, professor at the prestigious Columbia University, told PTI in an interview.

"Our best investment destinations do significantly better than the latter," said the former vice chairman of NITI Aayog."I have often said that India as a place to do business is a lot more attractive than the World Bank ranking suggests.

This is because the bank collects its data in Delhi and Mumbai, not in the states with the best business environment such as Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat," he said.

Panagariya was responding to a question on the latest annual report of the World Bank on ease of doing business. India registered an impressive 30-point jump in one year, registering the best performance among emerging economies.

"This (increase in ranking) was overdue. The government had made a large number of improvements that did not getincluded last year. I am delighted this has been rectified in the 2018 rankings," Panagariya said.

The single most important factor, for this he said, has been the focused effort by the Department of Industrial Policyand Promotion (DIPP) to "cajole" the relevant entities into making improvements to the ease of doing business in areascovered by the World Bank survey.

The DIPP created a detailed checklist of items and saw to it that the entities involved do the needful, noted the economist who headed NITI Aayog from January 2015 to August 2017.

"From NITI, we helped the DIPP where we could, particularly in getting the states on board," he said, adding that frankly, this is the area in which the credit must go largely to DIPP. Panagariya said he has known for some time that the processes were undergoing improvement continuously after thepresent government came to office. But the recognition of this fact by a major international financial institution sends a very important signal, he said.

"As you must know, the western press has been slow to recognise the improvements in governance that have taken placein India in the last three years. Hopefully, the jump in the rankings will go some distance towards convincing foreign investors that India is fast changing as a place to do business," he hoped.

Based on the series of reforms that have been going on for quite some time now, the economist exuded confidence infurther improvement in India's ranking next year. "Not only can India improve its ranking, it will do so.

Many improvements already in place have not been included in the 2018 rankings due to usual lags between implementation and their recognition. Inclusion of these change alone would give India another boost in the 2019 rankings," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now set the target of India's ranking in ease of doing business in the top 50. Thishe said is achievable, but one should not underestimate the difficulties. "The prime minister always thinks big.

At the time, he moots these big ideas, they seem unachievable. But he makes them achievable," he said. "Today, reaching into the top 50 looks a lot more within our grasp RPT grasp, though we should not underestimate the difficulty: as we climb up, the slope gets steeper and steeper since we are competing against better and better performing countries," Panagariya said.

Responding to a question, Panagariya said there are several areas where there is considerable scope for improvement. Prominent among them being registration of properties, enforcement of contracts, starting a business, construction permits and trading across borders.

"Each of these areas has its own multiple pain points that must be addressed using the DIPP checklist approach," hesaid. India, he asserted, is already looking a lot better than in May 2014. "The growth rate during the last three full financial years has averaged 7.5 per cent compared with 5.9 per centduring the last two years of the UPA. By May 2019, we will see further improvement," Panagariya said.

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New Delhi:

Demonetisation a year ago has helped in flushing out black money, eliminating fake notes and reducing cash in circulation, the finance ministry said on Monday.

The total currency in circulation has come down to Rs 14.75 lakh crore as of August 4, 2017, from Rs 17.77 lakh crore, said the finance ministry in a tweet.

"Only 83 percent is the effective currency in circulation today with remonetisation," the ministry said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a surprise move had announced a withdrawal of legal tender status of old Rs 500 and 1,000 notes with effect from November 9, 2016.

Demonetization immensely beneficial to Indian Economy and people at large: pic.twitter.com/18aEZ7FBqo  Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) November 6, 2017

Detailing other benefits of demonetisation for the economy, the ministry said it has dealt a big blow to finances of terrorism and Left-wing extremism.

Besides, it has helped in expanding the tax base, converting on-formal economy into a formal one and making money accountable. It has provided a big boost to digitisation of payments, making India a less-cash economy.

Also Read: Nearly a year after note ban, RBI says its still verifying returned notes

During September, Rs 1.24 lakh crore worth of transactions were done through the digital mode. The number of transactions was 87.7 crore.

The ruling BJP has decided to celebrate the first anniversary of demonetisation on November 8. This will see Union ministers and BJP office-bearers across the country build public opinion in favour of the government's decision.

However, the Opposition has decided to celebrate the day as a "black day".

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New Delhi :

Taking the friendship of two countries further, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday jointly launch a new passenger train service between Kolkata and Khulna, Bangladesh's southwestern industrial city, officials said on Wednesday.



The two leaders would inaugurate the service through video-conferencing informed officials in the Bangladesh prime minister's office.



They would also launch two railway bridges, built with Indian line of credit, and an "end-to-end" immigration facility to ease Dhaka-Kolkata 'Maitree' train services, they added.



"The train would be dubbed as 'Bandhan Express' and it will operate on the 177-km-long Khulna-Kolkata route. The cross-country service would start ferrying passengers from November 16," a Bangladesh railway spokesman told PTI.



As per the schedule, it would leave Kolkata at 11 am (Indian time) and reach Khulna after four-and-a-half-hour-long journey.



At present, Indians going to Bangladesh or Bangladeshis visiting India have to complete the immigration process at Darshana station in Bangladesh and at India's Gede point, where they have to wait for hours.



The two new bridges have been built on the Bhairab and the Titas rivers for the second track for simultaneous operation of up and down train services from Dhaka to southeastern Chittagong and northeastern Sylhet.



"We will call the new structures as the second Bhairab bridge and the second Titas bridge," a railway official said.



The 984-metre-long and seven-metre-wide Bhairab Railway Bridge was built at a cost of 567 crore Taka while the 218-metre-long and 70-metre-wide new Titas Bridge has been built at a cost of 161 crore Taka by two Indian companies.

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New Delhi:

The polling began in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh on in all 68 constituencies. The Congress and the BJP are locking horns in the state where 337 candidates including 62 MLAs are in the fray.



Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, 10 ministers, eight Chief Parliamentary secretaries, Deputy Speaker Jagat Singh Negi, former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and over a dozen former ministers are among those who have thrown their hat in the ring.



The ruling Congress led by the chief minister and the BJP led with former chief minister Dhumal are contesting all 68 seats while the BSP is contesting 42 seats, followed by the CPI(M) 14, Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI-3.



Here are the live updates from Himachal Pradesh polls:

# 74% voting recorded till now: Election Commission

# Polling time in Himachal Pradesh elections ends; visuals from a polling station in Mandi.

# India's oldest voter Shyam Saran Negi cast his vote in Kinnaur, says everyone must work in the nation's interest

India's oldest voter Shyam Saran Negi cast his vote in Kinnaur, says everyone must work in the nation's interest. #HimachalPradeshElections pic.twitter.com/l8FDL98cMg  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

# 54.09% polling recorded till 2 pm

# 28.6% polling recorded till 12 noon

# Union Minister JP Nadda casts his vote at a polling booth in Bilaspur

#HimachalElections2017 Union Minister JP Nadda casts his vote at a polling booth in Bilaspur pic.twitter.com/wt7a9jrJr0  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

# 13.72% polling recorded in first two hours of Himachal Pradesh elections

# Virbhadra Singh and his son Vikramaditya cast their votes at a polling booth in Shimla

# Hamirpur: BJP's chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal and BJP MP from Hamirpur Anurag Thakur cast their votes

# Confident of getting majority in the election, the next Government too will be of Congress: Virbhadra Singh

Confident of getting majority in the election, the next Government too will be of Congress: Virbhadra Singh #HimachalPradesh pic.twitter.com/eQhwLq50ld  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

# Time has come, people have made up their mind to get rid of Congress who has looted Himachal Pradesh. The state needs a senior leader like Dhumal ji to look at the affairs of Himachal which is under the debt of more than Rs 50,000 crore: Anurag Thakur, BJP MP from Hamirpur

# We aimed to get 50 plus seats but now that we are receiving so much support from all sections of the society, we expect it to cross 60: Prem Kumar Dhumal, BJP's CM candidate

We aimed to get 50 plus seats but now that we are receiving so much support from all sections of the society, we expect it to cross 60: Prem Kumar Dhumal, BJP's CM candidate #HimachalPradesh pic.twitter.com/7kulnZrzdz  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

#Voting at polling station number 55 in Kinnaur, Reckong Peo has not yet started due to a technical glitch; the polling booth is all women-managed

#Polling underway in all the 68 constituencies of Himachal Pradesh people cast their votes at a polling booth in Shimla's Rampur

# Voters queue up to cast their votes at a polling booth in Dharamshala



# Assembly election to take place today, polling for all the 68 constituencies will begin at 8:00 am and go on till 5:00 pm

#TopStory #HimachalPradesh Assembly election to take place today, polling for all the 68 constituencies will begin at 8:00 am and go on till 5:00 pm pic.twitter.com/0uTyYU86vc  ANI (@ANI) November 9, 2017

The 12-days high-voltage campaign, which came to an end on , saw over 450 rallies by star campaigners of the BJP and the Congress including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah who addressed seven and six rallies respectively.



Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi addressed three rallies.



Corruption was the main focus of the BJP campaign with the party training its guns at Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, while the Congress hit out at the BJP over the issue of GST and demonetisation.



There is straight contest only in one constituency (Jhanduta) while the maximum number of 12 candidates is in fray in Dharamsala.



The BJP has fielded four Congressmen including former minister Anil Sharma and given ticket to on Independent from Chopal while Congress had fielded two independents from Paonta Sahib and Kangra.



Both Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Dhumal have shifted their constituencies and are contesting from Arki and Sujanpur.



Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mansa Ram, who was elected for the first time in 1967 from Karsog(SC), is in the fray for eleventh time.



There are 19 women in the fray including six fielded by the BJP and three by the Congress while seven rebels each of BJP and Congress are also contesting the polls.



At present, the Congress and the BJP have 35 and 28 MLAs respectively in the 68-member House besides four independents while one seat is vacant.



Over 180 independents and a dozen rebels of the Congress including former ministers Singhi Ram (Rampur) and Vijay Singh Mankotia (Shahpur) are in the fray.

A total of 50,25,941 voters are eligible to cast their vote.



As many as 7,525 polling booths have been set up in the state and 37,605 polling personnel have been deputed for poll duty.



Besides 17,850 personnel of police and Home Guards and 65 companies of central paramilitary force have been deployed, Chief Electoral Officer Pushpender Rajput said.

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New Delhi:

The class XI student of Ryan International School, who was arrested in connection with murder of Pradyuman Thakur has been sent to 3-day CBI remand by Gurugram court on Wednesday.

After the CBIs findings that a class XI student killed Pradyuman to skip exams and parent teacher meet, the lawyer has said that they still believe that there was a larger conspiracy and the CBI should file a chargesheet soon.

The lawyer has demanded strict punishment for the accused. They said that the accused should be tried as an adult and hanged.

The lawyer maintained that the CBI has yet not given clean chit to Pinto family.

Earlier in the day, the CBI had said that a class XI student of Ryan International School killed seven-year-old Pradyuman Thakur to postpone school examinations and parent teachers meeting.

CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said, "The student was apprehended after thorough investigation based on scientific evidences including inspection of crime scene, forensic analysis of CCTV and call records."

A CBI official, not willing to be named, told News Nation that the student told his fellow classmates not to prepare for examination as there will be a holiday in school prior to Pradyumans murder.

The officer further added, the 16-year-old was seen carrying a knife. The class XI student was undergoing psychiatric treatment from last one year.

Another CBI officer, part of the investigating team probing Pradyuman murder case, said, No sexual assault theory came out during investigation.

The CBI official further told News Nation that the student will be produced in the juvenile justice board. The court will decide whether to treat the student as minor or major under amended JJ Act (2016).

He further added that the CBI will seek custody of the juvenile student and the investigative agency has yet not given a clean chit to the bus conductor Ashok Kumar, who was arrested by Gurugram Police in connection to the murder.

However, the detained student's father talking to media claimed his son was innocent. "He was the one to inform the teachers about the incident. The CBI made me sit for hours and later forced me sign the confession."

The Haryana government on September 23 had handed over the murder case to CBI. The case was handed over to the countrys elite investigative agency after the deceaseds father threatened to move to the Supreme Court on September 22.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Congress leader P Chidambaram launched a scathing attack on the Centre and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on the anniversary of the note ban decision today, asking whether it was ethical to heap misery on millions of people.

No one could deny that lives and jobs were lost due to the note ban, the former Union finance minister said on demonetisation Black Day.

A day after Jaitley said the demonetisation decision was an ethical drive and a moral step, Chidambaram took him on in a series of tweets.

FM says demonetisation was ethical. Was it ethical to heap misery on millions of people, especially 15 crore daily wage earners? he asked.

The former finance minister went on to ask if it was ethical to destroy 15 lakh regular jobs during January-April 2017 and force thousands of micro and small businesses to close down?

Was it ethical to give an easy way for converting black money into white as now discovered by Government?

The former finance minister also asked whether it was ethical to damage vibrant industrial hubs like Surat, Bhiwandi, Moradabad, Agra, Ludhiana and Tiruppur.

A year after the demonetisation decision, Chidambaram also launched a frontal attack on the Modi government and said, On demonetisation Black Day read real-life stories, say a prayer for the millions who suffered.

He noted that millions of people had suffered due to demonetisation. Could anyone deny, he asked, that lives and jobs were lost and small businesses closed.

He said the cash of Rs 15 lakh crore with the public would soon reach the November 2016 level of Rs 17 lakh crore.

According to Chidambaram, artificial reduction of cash in circulation is one of the reasons for lower demand and lower growth.

In interest of transparency, government/RBI should release RBI Boards agenda, background note and (former Governor) Dr Raghuram Rajans note. If government is confident of its decision, why does it fear releasing these documents?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes as a measure to fight black money, corruption, fake currency and terror funding on this day last year.

The opposition is observing black day today.

The government, Chidambaram said, claimed that money was

eliminated. But you will find the eliminated black money when the Gujarat election campaign starts, he added.

Modis currency gamble damaged Indian economy, says the BBC. Is BBC a supporter of black money and corruption? he asked.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

Assembly elections in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh will be held on Thursday with traditional rivals BJP and Congress fighting a neck to neck battle.

In the 68-seat Himachal Pradesh assembly, 337 candidates including 62 MLAs of both BJP and Congress are in the fray.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, 10 ministers, eight Chief Parliamentary secretaries, Deputy Speaker Jagat Singh Negi, former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and over a dozen former ministers are among those who have thrown their hat in the ring.

The Congress party has once again shown faith in their old horse and fighting the elections on the name of 83-year-old Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh.

On the other hand, the BJP has trusted former Chief Minister and an old friend of PM Modi Prem Kumar Dhumal. Both, Virbhadra Singh-led Congress and Dhumal-led BJP are contesting all 68 seats while Mayawatis BJP is also contesting 42 seats.

The CPI(M) has filled its candidates on 14 seats followed by Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI- 3.

The 12-days high-voltage campaign, which came to an end Wednesday, saw over 450 rallies by star campaigners of the BJP and the Congress including Prime minister Narendra Modi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi.

A total of 50,25,941 voters are eligible to cast their vote.

Security tightened in the state:

The security have been tightened in the Himachal and as many as 7,525 polling booths have been set up in the state and 37,605 polling personnel have been deputed for poll duty.

Besides 17,850 personnel of police and Home Guards and 65 companies of central paramilitary force have been deployed, Chief Electoral Officer Pushpender Rajput said.

Elaborate arrangements have been made for ensuring free and fair polls and 29 general, three police, 22 Expenditure Observers and 71 Assistant Expenditure Observers, 1,561 Micro Observers, besides, 193 Sector Magistrate and 789 Sectors officers have also been deployed throughout the state.

VVPAT Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to be used for the first time in assembly polls:

Himachal Pradesh has 100 per cent Photo Identity Card (EPIC) holders and 7525 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) are being used.

VVPAT machines are being used for the first time in this Vidhan Sabha Election and 10 per cent of total EVMs and VVPATs have been kept in reserve.

The Election Commission has also allowed the electors to cast their vote by producing any one document out of the 12 identity documents.

Read Here: What Congress and BJP have promised in their elections manifesto

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
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NUNS' ISLAND, Quebec, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers (QPAREB) has just released its residential real estate market statistics for the Montreal Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) for the month of April, based on the real estate brokers Centris provincial database.



Important note: several statistics for April 2020 are not representative due to the exceptional pause in transactional activities and new property listings during this period. April 2019 statistics are used in calculating variations (for informational purposes). However, April 2020 remains a valid reference in determining variations in median prices and active listings.



The number of transactions in the Montreal CMA reached a new record of 6,237 sales in April 2021 (+6 per cent compared to 2019). This healthy growth can essentially be attributed to condominium sales, says Charles Brant, director of market analysis. In this context, it is astonishing to note that sales of single-family home are below the level recorded for the same period in 2019. The low inventory of single-family homes for sale and the dramatic increase in prices in April continue to drive the demand for condominiums, which are more affordable and have lower maintenance and renovation costs.

April highlights

The real estate brokers Centris system recorded 6,237 sales in April, a new record. This level of activity is consistent with that observed in March and should be viewed as a maintenance of activities, not as an acceleration in the number of transactions.

The number of sales of single-family properties reached 3,114 which is below the April 2019 level (-4 per cent), a decline that is more significant than it seems.

On the Island of Montreal, 2,399 sales were concluded, a record 17 per cent increase when compared to April 2019 and a level of activity consistent with that recorded last month. This robust activity can essentially be attributed to condominium sales following the same trend as that observed since the start of 2021.



Sales are down in most outlying areas compared to April 2019, the result of the drop in transactions in the single-family home category: Laval (609 sales, +4 per cent), the South Shore (1,378 sales, -2 per cent), Vaudreuil-Soulanges (271 sales, -3 per cent), Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu (167 sales, -10 per cent). The North Shore stood out, however, with record activity for the month of April1 (413 sales, +1 per cent).

Condominium sales reached a new record (2,466), up 13 per cent from April 2019 across the CMA, which is consistent with the trend noted since the start of the year. Without setting a record, the same goes for small income properties (650 sales, +35 per cent). It is especially outside the Island of Montreal that plex sales have continued to surge. Single-family property sales (2,490) in outlying areas continue to decline: -7 per cent compared to April 2019.

Compared to April 2020, active listings of condominiums have increased by 22 per cent (5,298), with plexes also showing an upward trend (1,977 listings, +27 per cent). Active listings of single-family homes remain at an all-time low (4,249 listings, -40 per cent).

With market conditions still heavily favouring sellers, median prices are reaching new highs. The median price of single-family properties reached the psychological threshold of $500,000 (+39 per cent compared to April 2020). The growth rate of median prices also remains very high for condominiums and, to a lesser extent, for plexes with respective increases of 23 per cent and 15 per cent.

Additional information:

Quarterly statistics  Barometer for the province of Quebec

Detailed and cumulative statistics for the province and regions

For reference, consult the monthly statistics:

If you would like additional information from the Market Analysis Department, such as specific data or regional details on the real estate market, please write to us .

About the Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers

The Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers (QPAREB) is a non-profit association that brings together more than 13,000 real estate brokers and agencies. It is responsible for promoting and defending their interests while taking into account the issues facing the profession and the various professional and regional realities of its members. The QPAREB is also an important player in many real estate dossiers, including the implementation of measures that promote homeownership. The Association reports on Quebec's residential real estate market statistics, provides training, tools and services relating to real estate, and facilitates the collection, dissemination and exchange of information. The QPAREB is headquartered in Quebec City and has its administrative offices in Montreal. It has two subsidiaries: Centris Inc. and the College de l'immobilier du Quebec. Follow its activities at qpareb.ca or via its social media pages: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

About Centris

Centris is a dynamic and innovative technology company in the real estate sector. It collects data and offers solutions that are highly adapted to the needs of professionals. Among these solutions is Centris.ca, the most visited real estate website in Quebec.

For more information:

Image bank (credit QPAREB) available free of charge.

Marjolaine Beaulieu

Publicist

Communications and Marketing

1-888-762-2440 or

514-762-2440, ext. 238

media@qpareb.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e32eb937-9241-474f-93b4-8300371116f8


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Local Experts, Business & Finance, Press Releases

By Chris Boyle Published: May 05 2021

The funding to create the grant program was included in the recently enacted State budget.

Senator Anna M. Kaplan (D-North Hills), Chair of the New York State Senate Committee on Commerce, Economic Development, and Small Business, introduced legislation, S.6397, to speed up the process of establishing the COVID-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program, a new, $800 million flexible recovery grant program being made available to small businesses who suffered pandemic related hardship over the past year. The funding to create the grant program was included in the recently enacted State budget, with a provision that Empire State Development, the State's economic development agency, would craft the parameters of the program and develop a means of facilitating applications and disbursement to needy small businesses.

Senator Anna M. Kaplan, Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Economic Development, and Small Business said "the pandemic has been devastating to New York's small business community, and they need our help right away if they're going to survive these challenging times. We passed an historic $800 million program to get money into the hands of struggling small businesses who desperately need assistance now, and we need to do everything in our power to speed up the process and ensure people are getting the help they need as quickly as possible. In working with my partners at Empire State Development, we're coming up with solutions, including this bill, that will help to do just that, and I'm grateful for their partnership and their hard work to get this program up and running with a sense of urgency."

A critical step in developing this new program involves the creation of digital infrastructure to support applications, processing, and grant disbursement, including an online a portal that will be able to handle a large influx of visitors and applicants on Day 1. By law, the state is required to issue an RFP to select a vendor who will be responsible for creating the digital infrastructure.

The legislation introduced today by Senator Kaplan, S.6397, will shorten the required length of the RFP for this specific program from 15 business days to 5 business days, speeding up the process of standing-up this important program by 2 full weeks.

The legislation is narrowly tailored and would only apply to the RFP process for this specific program.
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You have to give her credit; Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is such a strong supporter of the green agenda she even recycles old promises. Sadly, for New Mexicos families the reality never matches the rhetoric.

Case in point: Look at two different quotes about green jobs in New Mexico:

1. New Mexico is now in a position to lead in renewable energy across the nation.

2. New Mexico is hungry for clean energy and the good jobs that come with this new industry.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

The first quote is from our current governor and ally of the eco-left, Michelle Lujan Grisham. She recently promised our state is poised to climb out from the bottom of the nations unemployment rankings thanks to renewable jobs.

The second quote is from former Gov. Bill Richardson when he promised New Mexico was hungry for clean energy jobs. In fact, just a few weeks before this statement he proudly announced Tesla was going to build an electric car plant in Albuquerque!

The only problem? The two quotes are 14 years apart. Richardson promised a Tesla factory in Albuquerque, but as you may have heard, there isnt a Tesla factory in Albuquerque. It should surprise no one were still waiting for the massive influx of green jobs both Richardson and Lujan Grisham have promised.

In 2007, Richardson told New Mexicans we were on the cusp of an explosion of green jobs. Just a few years later in 2010, Richardson left office with New Mexicos second-worst unemployment rate in nearly 30 years. The honor of worst employment rate since at least 1992 has now been surpassed by Lujan Grisham. This illustrates the problem with just around the corner promises of the green agenda.

In the 14 years between the two statements, New Mexicos fossil fuel industry delivered over 100,000 jobs and billions to state coffers. Over the same period, renewables have remained on subsidy life support.

Renewables arent only failing to deliver jobs, but they also cant deliver revenue for our state. In 2018, our states oil and gas industry accounted for nearly 93% of state land revenue. During the same year, renewables accounted for a whopping 0.01%. No, thats not a typo.

The renewable industry reaps millions in sweetheart tax breaks and at the same time environmental groups circulate petitions trying to make sure renewables dont have to pay taxes like the rest of us  tax dollars that could help our police officers, our teachers and our infrastructure are squandered away because green companies dont want to pay their fair share.

The final renewable insult is that they cant provide the power when New Mexicos families need it most. Last August, as temperatures reached triple digits in parts of New Mexico, Lujan Grisham stood in front a field of solar panels proudly telling the country this was the future for our state. At nearly the exact same time, the states largest electric utility was telling customers not to use major appliances and to use less air conditioning. Why? Because of clouds. It would be hilarious if so much wasnt at stake. Yet, were still expected to believe in the promise.

Renewables cant deliver enough jobs, enough money, or enough power. You can recycle it all you want, but the green promise is still broken.
LONGUEUIL, Quebec, April 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reunion Gold Corporation (TSX-V: RGD) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of an airborne magnetometric and radiometric geophysical survey of the NW Extension Project in Suriname.



The survey consisted of 3,000 kilometers of flight lines spaced at 100 and 200 meters and flown by a fixed-wing, high-resolution system operated by Terraquest Ltd., a Canadian company with solid experience in the region. 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. The Company expects this geophysical survey to help refine the area's structural geology interpretation and generate targets. Results should be available for interpretation in the next few weeks.

The NW Extension Project is part of the Strategic Alliance with Barrick Gold Corporation and the exploration costs are funded on a 50:50 basis. The 925 square kilometres 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 Company has an option to acquire the NW Extension Project from a Surinamese company.

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 regarding exploration plans, potential mineralization and other statements beliefs, expectations or intentions of the Company. 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 our management's beliefs, estimates, and opinions 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 NE Extension Project permits, showing the outcropping 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.




A person receives a COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination clinic run by Vancouver Coastal Health, in Richmond, B.C., Saturday, April 10, 2021. Pregnant people 16 years and older in British Columbia are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, after being designated a priority population. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Ok, guys! I am in a situation where I really need help making a decision. I have a deposit down at two schools and I am STILL having a really hard time deciding so I'd really love some adviceMy post-MBA interest is in product management/ tech, specifically in verticals such as social, e-commerce, streaming, or start-ups(AirBnB) for example. I am interested in the start-up culture but its not as strong as I plan on getting experience first in a larger company before going the start-up route,Kellogg Pros- I love the culture at Kellogg and have really connected with the students and alumni there!- The focus on softer skills and a more social environment- Kellogg is also great for product management and I love how much they prepare you and hand-hold you to the process- Evanston sucks, but being close to Chicago is so enlightening. In my conversation with Booth admits, there's an effort to have more joint events this year- Opportunity to spend a quarter in the San Fran campus to get connected to start-upsKellogg Cons- The brand prestige outside of the business school world. Ears perk up when you say MIT in a way that they do not when you say Kellogg or Northwestern. I'm an underrepresented minority woman, and having brand prestige attached to my school to lessen some of the biases I may face isn't something I considered until now. I know you're not supposed to think about that, but it's just how I feel.MIT Pros- I really loved the community as well when I attended the admit weekend. One thing that stood out to me was how passionate everyone was about their entrepreneurship endeavors and being in that environment will push me to put more thought into some of my own dreams and goals- The start-up ecosystem and resources to support that- The brand name - enough said- The experiential opportunities with so many labs- The money - now, I am only listing this last because I know you're supposed to take it off the table. However, considering how Kellogg and Sloan are peer schools, the difference is just so VAST that it is hard to ignore. The freedom and flexibility an almost full ride affords cant be beaten.MIT Cons- The quant heavy curriculum/ academic-focused student body. I was an accounting major so I will be fine with the curriculum, but I wasn't looking for an academically rigorous program- Diversity of pre-MBA professions. I work in tech consulting from a platform perspective (oracle, SAP, etc.) so I work heavily with engineers. Because of this, I just wanted some variety in my MBA pool, and MIT does not provide as much pre-MBA career variety as Kellogg- I'm not a big fan of the NE, and Boston doesn't really excite me
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Today

Cloudy skies this morning followed by thunderstorms during the afternoon. High 83F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Tonight

Cloudy with showers. Thunder possible. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

Tomorrow

Showers early then scattered thunderstorms developing later in the day. High 83F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 05/05/2021



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Andrew Kenton has conducted a Tell-All of his own by responding to Amira Lollysa's shocking Season 8 Tell-All allegations -- including that their relationship was "toxic" and Andrew's family allegedly never thanked her for gifts she had sent them.Andrew recently conducted a video interview with In Touch Weekly that essentially served as a giant denial, but he did admit to his relationship with Amira being unhealthy."I would say there were elements of our relationship that were indeed toxic," Andrew acknowledged."There were certainly transformations that happened once filming got involved and there were communication breakdowns entirely. I won't necessarily deny that. There were definitely toxic elements to our relationship on both sides."On : The Couples Tell All in April, Amira called in via videochat from France and refused to participate as long as Andrew was in the room. Andrew seemed desperate to talk things out with Amira and share his side of the story, but Amira stood her ground.Amira told producers at the time that she was "scared" of Andrew because he had yelled and screamed at her in the past.Amira said Andrew didn't deserve her attention, adding, "I will not give him the pleasure to control me again ever in my whole life. When he talks to me, he makes me feel guilty about everything."Andrew therefore stormed off the set and said he wouldn't speak his mind if Amira wasn't willing to listen to or engage him.Amira said on the Tell-All she last talked to Andrew when he had asked for the engagement ring back. Amira said not only did she return her diamond ring, but she also sent gifts to him and his family members and they allegedly never said "thank you.""The gifts I think are being a little overplayed in that regard," Andrew claimed in his In Touch interview."They were very confusing in the nature, and I don't think that she genuinely actually expected a 'thank you' for them."Andrew revealed Amira's gift to him was a T-shirt that read "Serbia" across it."So if she was expecting a 'thank you' for that, I am willing to talk. We were willing to communicate; she was the one that didn't want to communicate in that regard. So it's very confusing," Andrew said.When recalling her three-day detainment in Mexico City on the Tell-All, Amira claimed Andrew had not texted or called her at all asking how she was doing.But when cast members asked Amira to clarify whether or not she had received a single message from Andrew, she changed her story a bit and replied, "I had barely nothing [from him]."Andrew insisted he "did indeed" try to help Amira when she was detained after her flight from France. (Andrew and Amira's goal had been to quarantine in Mexico for two weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic and then travel to the United States together)."I had translators calling the airport. We looked around. We got a hold of all the detention centers inside of Mexico City [and] contacted the French embassy," Andrew explained."I've even posted on my Instagram conversations that I've had with the translators in which we were working through the various problems. So ultimately, yeah, there was a lot of effort made."Andrew, however, was shown enjoying his vacation in Mexico on , complete with the beach, fancy cocktails and a professional massage."A lot of the scenes you see of me 'enjoying' a vacation are actually well after the fact she's already back in France, and also, a lot of those are also misrepresented," Andrew told the magazine.Andrew also noted that he decided to get a massage because he had gotten into a serious ATV accident towards the end of his trip."It actually hurt me pretty bad. I had big cuts and bruises all over my body, and so the 'self-care' line you see me say on the show is actually just me like saying, 'Oh, I need self-care after my ATV accident.' And I go and get the massage," Andrew shared.Andrew also insisted that Amira had suggested both the Mexico City and Serbia trips and that he never forced her to do either one, nor would he have resented her for not going.Andrew claimed Amira had been the one on "the message board" and searching for alternative travel options all along, despite what was shown on the series' eighth season.Amira flying to Serbia for two weeks of quarantine before entering the U.S. was another "loophole" she and Andrew had tried.However, when it became time for Amira to hop on a plane to America, she said she had a "panic attack" after a fight with Andrew and ultimately decided to return to France.Amira's decision to go home appeared to put the nail in the coffin for her relationship with Andrew, who then asked her to send back her engagement ring in the mail.Amira told producers on the Tell-All that what she did for Andrew was "never enough" and they broke up because he pressured her to have a baby right away. Amira also accused Andrew of getting back on a dating website shortly after their split.However, Amira revealed she has since met someone new -- another American -- and she's happy and "in love" with "Mr. Right."When asked why he believes their storyline on portrayed Amira in the more positive light, Andrew replied, "I think that I ultimately do look more villainous and come off as more aggressive.""To a viewing audience, it's an easier thing to assume me as a villain than it is to assume her as a villain... It becomes easier to assume I'm the one perpetrating all of these things," Andrew said.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage!
NEW YORK, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Romeo Power Inc. (NYSE: RMO, RMO.WT) f/k/a RMG Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: RMG, RMG.WS) between October 5, 2020 through March 30, 2021, inclusive (the Class Period), of the important June 15, 2021 lead plaintiff deadline.



SO WHAT: If you purchased Romeo Power securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Romeo Power class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2080.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than June 15, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience or resources. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020 founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuits, Romeo Power was experiencing a constrained supply of battery cells and contrary to defendants representations: (1) Romeo Power had only two battery cell suppliers, not four; (2) the future potential risks that defendants warned of concerning supply disruption or shortage had already occurred and were already negatively affecting Romeo Powers business, operations and business prospects; (3) Romeo Power did not have the battery cell inventory to accommodate end-user demand and ramp up production in 2021; (4) Romeo Powers supply constraint was a material hindrance to Romeo Powers revenue growth; and (5) Romeo Powers supply chain for battery cells was not hedged, but in fact, was totally at risk and beholden to just two battery cell suppliers and the spot market for their 2021 inventory. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Romeo Power class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2080.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

lrosen@rosenlegal.com

pkim@rosenlegal.com

cases@rosenlegal.com

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By Ls Cohen Published: May 05 2021

Herrmans of Seaford were supposedly terrorized by a ghost in 1958.

Sure, everyone knows about The Amityville Horror house. But, did you know that another haunted home on Long Island also inspired a classic horror film?

It was the late 1950s and Long Island was just another idyllic postwar suburb but as usual, things were not always what they seemed. In 1958 something strange was brewing in a typical ranch-style home in Seaford. It was a February afternoon and James Herrmann got a call at work from his wife, Lucille, to tell him something strange was happening at home. His teenage kids had heard popping sounds that couldnt be explained, later found to be the caps of a variety of substances around the homes that had inexplicably popped off, including shampoo, bleach and a vial of holy water.

Weird but not deserving of a call to Ghostbusters just yet. Possibly, Mr. Herrman theorized, the result of some bizarre chemical reaction yet to be figured out.

Then it happened again. And again.

Herrman called the police who also couldnt explain the phenomenon. The Herrmans did what any other devout Catholics would do next: they called in a priest to bless the home and rid it of harmful spirits.

The incidents became more violent with figures smashing and a bookcase falling over randomly. It was then they suspected that a poltergeist was in their home. The story went national and even became the subject of a Life magazine article.

The haunting caught the attention of paranormal investigators who did not come to a conclusion about the poltergeist one way or another.

The Herrmans experience eventually inspired the movie Poltergeist, which has a very similar story with a young suburban family experiencing strange things going on in their home, although the haunting is ramped up for the drama and scare factor. In the movie version, the cause is an Indian burial ground underneath the home where the Herrman story was never fully explained.

Some say it was all a prank pulled by the teenage son but that has never been fully proven. Others claimed that the teens had developed some sort of telekinesis that contributed to the objects popping and smashing. In all, between February 3 and March 10, almost 70 instances were witnessed.

Then it all stopped just as quickly as it started.

Not scared enough? Read our story, Crazy Facts About the Amityville Horror House.
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Pune, India, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global  hemostats market  size is expected to reach USD 5.54 billion by 2027, while exhibiting a CAGR of 6.3% between 2020 and 2027. This is ascribable to factors such as increasing prevalence of chronic disease and growing demand for technologically advanced products. Fortune Business Insights, publish this information in its latest report, titled Hemostats Market Size, Share & Covid-19 Impact Analysis, By Product (Active Hemostats, Passive Hemostats, Combination Hemostats, and Others), By Application (Trauma, Cardiovascular Surgery, General Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Neurosurgery and Others), By End User (Hospitals & ASCs, Tactical Combat Casualty Care Centers, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027. The report mentions that the market was worth USD 3.72 billion in 2019.

The emergence of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We understand that this health crisis has brought an unprecedented impact on businesses across industries. However, this too shall pass. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly contagious disease. There are some industries that are struggling, and some are thriving. Overall, almost every sector is anticipated to be impacted by the pandemic.

We are taking continuous efforts to help your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemics. Based on our experience and expertise, we will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future.





Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market

Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/hemostats-market-100084





Key Industry Developments of the Hemostats Market include:

December 2018  An additional curved applicator was launched by Baxter International Inc. for a hemostatic agent called Floseal. This agent applies to ENT surgical procedures and is likely to help expand the sale worldwide.

June 2019  Food and Drug Administration approved the device technology called VISTASEAL manufactured by Ethicon. This product is a next-generation device technology used for addressing moderate bleeding during surgeries.





What does the Report Include?

The market report includes a detailed assessment of the various market drivers and restraints, opportunities, and challenges that the market will face during the projected horizon. Furthermore, the report provides comprehensive research into the regional developments of the market, affecting the market growth during the forecast period. Moreover, the report includes information sourced from the advice of expert professionals from the industry by our research analyst using several research methodologies for the market. The competitive landscape offers further detailed insights into the strategies such as product launches, partnerships, merger and acquisition, and collaborations adopted by the companies to maintain market stronghold between 2019 and 2026.





Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/hemostats-market-100084





North America to Remain Dominant: Increasing Adoption of Technologically Advanced Products to Aid Growth

Among the regions, the market in North America is expected to remain dominant and hold the highest global hemostats market revenue during the forecast period. In addition to this, the market was worth USD 1.29 billion in 2019 and is projected to witness growth owing to high adoption of technologically advanced product in the forthcoming years. Furthermore, high demand for surgical procedures in the region will favor market growth. Europe, on the other hand, is expected to be the second-most leading region during the projected horizon. This is ascribable to factors such as strong and favorable healthcare expenditure policies in the region.

Increasing Adoption of Technologically Advanced Products to Spur Demand

Today, technological advancement is propelling the introduction of innovative products that are efficient in achieving hemostasis. In addition to this, these products prove beneficial in reducing the risk of infections, while aiding in lowering down of healthcare costs largely. The several benefits of advanced hemostats is compelling the manufacturers to develop products that have improved features in containing bleeding implications during the surgical procedures. For instance, Baxter introduced TISSEL, a technologically advanced product for the fibrin sealants category that aids in faster recovery and helps to lower down medical costs.

For instance, in April 2019, Baxter announced that its latest product offering, FLOSEAL has received the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) approval and unveiled the product at the Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN). The company is focusing on R&D to introduce a cluster of products that can be adopted by surgeons during the surgical procedures, while limiting disruptive blood complications.





Quick Buy Hemostats Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/100084





List of the Companies Operating in the Market:

Baxter

Integra LifeSciences Corporation

Stryker

CryoLife, Inc.

Biom'up

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)

Medtronic

Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.

Pfizer Inc.

Others





Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/hemostats-market-100084





Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Epidemiology of Key Diseases, Key Countries, 2019 Key Industry Developments - Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships New Product Launches

Global Hemostats Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2016-2027 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Product Active Hemostats Thrombin-based Hemostats Fibrin Sealants Passive Hemostats Plant-based Hemostats Animal-based Hemostats Others Combination Hemostats Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application Trauma Cardiovascular Surgery General Surgery Plastic Surgery Orthopedic Surgery Neurosurgery Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End User Hospitals & ASCs Tactical Combat Casualty Care Centers Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East and Africa



TOC Continued.!!!





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As a teacher, I appreciate every cent that goes to support our students. And since oil and gas currently accounts for a major portion of revenues for our education budget, I thank the workers in the oil patch who make that possible. So why do I cringe at advertisements from the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association promoting the industry as the savior for our state?

Heres why: Like it or not, were at the tail end of the fossil fuel age, said Jim Peach, professor of economics at New Mexico State University.

Our states addiction to oil and gas to fund our education means it is subject to boom and bust cycles. And the big bust on our horizon will be even more painful to our schoolchildren and the quality of our education if we dont diversity our revenue streams. We need more than studies on transition. We need our state policymakers to embrace the moment offered by President Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haalands executive action on climate change, including a federal pause and review on oil and gas leasing.

Rather than being lulled by short-term upswings, and dreading the downsides of the oil and gas roller coaster, we should heed the analysis by experts at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis and get off the fossil fuel roller coaster now. The industry in New Mexico will probably never rebound to previous levels, and that means it will provide less and less tax revenues for our state. New Mexico educators were expecting the 4% raise passed for the 2020-2021 school year, only to have that cut back. The roller coaster wont stop, but that does not mean New Mexico teachers and students should be taken for that ride. Education needs secure, stable funding.

As we diversify, we need to examine whether N.M.s school kids and teachers have been shortchanged over decades. According to a report from Taxpayers for Common Sense, New Mexico lost over $2.5 billion in potential revenue because of antiquated federal oil and gas rents and royalties. We need to modernize below-market royalties and rents to make sure oil and gas pays its fair share.

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We also need to make sure current and future taxpayers are not on the hook for cleaning up after industry at the end of this fossil fuel age. The approximately 73,000 oil and gas wells in New Mexico pose billions of dollars in liability for their eventual plugging. Our states leaders need to ensure that companies are putting up financial assurances that will cover the costs of those cleanups. If we fail to require oil and gas companies to post bonds for future cleanups, our younger generations will be left with either a toxic mess threatening our precious and dwindling groundwater or a massive $10 billion taxpayer bill.

Speaking as an educator observing the 51st Earth Day with my students, I hope we can mark this year as the year our N.M. leaders embraced the transition away from fossil fuels for the health of our planet and the fiscal health of our states education.
The stark gap in vaccination rates between the worlds rich and poor countries is emerging as a test for how the world responds to that other global challenge: averting the worst effects of climate change.

Of the more than 1.1 billion vaccinations administered globally, the vast majority have gone into the arms of people who live in the wealthiest countries. The United States, where nearly half the population has received at least one dose, sits on millions of surplus doses, while India, with a 9 per cent vaccination rate, shatters records in new daily infections. In New York City, you hear cries of relief at the chance to breathe free and unmasked; in New Delhi, cries for oxygen.

The vaccine gap presents an object lesson for climate action because it signals the failure of richer nations to see it in their self-interest to urgently help poorer ones fight a global crisis. That has direct parallels to global warming. Poor countries consistently assert that they need more financial and technological help from wealthier ones if the world as a whole is going to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. So far, the richest countries  which are also the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases  havent come up with the money.

Also Read | Britain says over 34 million people given first Covid vaccine dose

More immediately, this years vaccine shortages in the nations of the global South could hinder their ability to participate in the United Nations-led climate talks in Glasgow set for November, minimising their voice in critical policy decisions about how to wean the global economy away from fossil fuels.

Equity is not on the agenda, said Gregg Gonsalves, assistant professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health and a veteran activist for global access to AIDS drugs. If we cant do it for the worst pandemic in a century, how are we going to do it for climate change?

Gonsalves is among those who favour waiving drug-company patents for Covid-19 vaccines, sharing technology with vaccine manufacturers and ramping up production around the world. Pharmaceutical industry groups and their backers in the White House have opposed freely sharing intellectual property with rival drugmakers, and some in the administration have argued that vaccine raw materials are needed for production of vaccines for Americans.

India has pushed to relax Covid-19 vaccine patents and United States export rules on vaccine raw materials to allow Indian companies to ramp up production. In Brazil, several lawmakers have recently sought to suspend patents for Covid-19 vaccines and medicines. The United States has so far blocked efforts at the World Trade Organisation to relax patent rules.

Of course, the devastation of the pandemic in countries like Brazil and India cant be laid at the feet of rich-world patent holders alone.

Brazils right-wing populist president, Jair Bolsonaro, scorned public health guidance and insisted that lockdowns and mobility restrictions would be a bigger threat to the countrys weak economy. Brazil now has one of the worlds highest death tolls and its economy is in tatters.

SPECIAL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Indias right-wing populist prime minister, Narendra Modi, who earlier this year boasted of conquering the virus, allowed large religious and political gatherings. And instead of securing vaccines for Indias 1.4 billion citizens, India began exporting Indian-made doses to other countries. Today, India has become the worst-hit country in the world, with close to 380,000 new infections daily over the past seven days.

The long running global battle over intellectual property rights to medicines has a parallel to climate action, too, with the Paris climate agreement explicitly calling for the transfer of technology to develop clean energy infrastructure. Developing countries have long said they cannot cope with the effects of climate change if the rich world does not share money and technology, and that problem is only made more acute by the economic collapse brought on by the pandemic and the inequitable access to vaccines.

Not least, the consequences of global warming are unequal, hurting the poorest people in poor countries hardest.

If this is the way rich countries conducted themselves in a global crisis  where they took care of their own needs first, took care of companies, did not recognise that this is an opportunity to reach out and demonstrate solidarity  then theres no good track record for how they will conduct themselves in the face of other global crises, such as the climate crisis, where poorer countries will bear the highest burdens, said Tasneem Essop, a former government official from South Africa who is now executive director of Climate Action Network, an advocacy group.

Money is at the heart of the distrust.

The Biden administration promised to double grants and loans to developing countries to $5.7 billion a year, a target that is widely seen as both insufficient and lagging behind the pledges of other wealthy industrialised nations, notably in Europe. Many low- and middle-income countries are carrying so much debt, they say it leaves them nothing left to retool their economies for the climate era. In addition, the rich world has yet to fulfil its promise to raise $100 billion a year that could be used for green projects, whether solar farms or mangrove restoration.

In both cases, its about a willingness to redistribute resources, said Rohini Pande, a Yale University economist.

In the case of coronavirus response, its about helping vaccine makers around the world manufacture billions of doses in a matter of months. In the case of climate change, huge sums of money are needed to help developing countries retool their energy systems away from dirty sources like coal.

The next few weeks will be critical, as world leaders gather for meetings of the seven richest countries, the Group of 7, in June and then of the finance ministers of the worlds 20 biggest economies, the Group of 20, in July. Those meetings will then be followed by the UN-led climate negotiations in Glasgow in November.

Those negotiations, known as the 26th Conference of the Parties to the Paris Agreement, or COP26, to a significant degree could determine whether the world can slow down the rate of warming that is already causing Arctic ice melt, worsening wildfires and other crises. At that meeting, countries big and small are set to present more ambitious plans to keep the average global temperature from rising past 1.5 degrees Celsius compared with preindustrial times.

We will not have a successful outcome at COP26, said Christiana Figueres, a former UN climate diplomat who helped negotiate the Paris Agreement in 2015, unless we have financial commitments that are commensurate with the impacts that many developing countries are feeling.
Ireland responds to COVID-19 surge in India

Press release

On foot of the earlier donation of 700 oxygen concentrators, the Government has donated a further 500 concentrators, 2 oxygen generators, and other vital materials to India, which continues to battle with an exponential rise in COVID-19 cases. This additional donation arrived in Delhi airport on Tuesday 4 May.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has received a large volume of queries from members of the public asking how they can help. In response, the Minister of State for Overseas Aid and the Diaspora Colm Brophy, T.D., said:

Irish people are known to be among the most generous in the world in the face of major global catastrophes. The COVID-19 surge in India is no exception. As we continue to watch distressing scenes of people in India suffering, the response we have received in the Department of Foreign Affairs has been phenomenal. We have received queries from people wishing to make financial donations, as well as specialist medical suppliers wishing to donate equipment.

The Government is doing all we can to support India, and I am really proud of the response of the Irish people.

At present,the Indian Authorities are identifying their additional needs, and communicating this to the European Unions Civil Protection Mechanism. This group then coordinates and transports the goods as efficiently as possible. Ireland has utilised this mechanism to send two aid flights in the last week.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is unable to make recommendations for how to donate to the response.

The Indian Red Cross is leading the response on the ground.

ENDS

Press Office

5 May 2021

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California Department of Education

News Release

California Department of Education

News Release

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces 2021 Finalists for Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

SACRAMENTOEven through the challenges of remote learning and the COVID-19 pandemic, California teachers continue to find ways to bring out the curiosity, excellence, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities in students. Today, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond honored six exceptional mathematics and science teachers, naming them as finalists from California for the 2021 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

This has been a year full of significant challenges for studentspersonal, economic, and social. The teachers recognized today are giving their students the tools to help them tackle difficulties, find creative solutions, ask questions, and be the problem-solvers we need for the challenges of tomorrow, Thurmond said. These incredible educational mentors are driving preparation in math, technology, engineering, and science, including computer science, that connect students with the world around them and help them grow their skills to persevere in any endeavor.

The California Department of Education (CDE) partners with the California Mathematics Council and the California Association of Science Educators to recruit and select nominees for the PAEMST program. Each applicant must display subject mastery, appropriate use of instructional methods and strategies, lifelong learning, and leadership in education outside the classroom. Each candidate is also required to submit a 30-minute video lesson in support of their application.

Mathematics Finalists

Kristen Donavan, Woodbridge High School, Irvine Unified School District, Irvine

Kristen has been teaching for 13 years and has had experience teaching Math II, Enhanced Math II, Enhanced Math III, Advanced Placement Calculus BC, and Math Foundations. Kristen previously worked as a Teacher on Special Assignment, where she built relationships with secondary math teachers across the district and led district math teams in creating new math classes, implementing integrated math courses, and reexamining high school grading practices. She also mentored teacher candidates and two early career teachers. Kristen is a National Board-Certified Teacher and has presented at the California Mathematics CouncilSouth Conference as well as the annual National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference in Washington, District of Columbia in 2018. The lesson Kristen taught in her Enhanced Math III Honors class was on students discovering the relationship between Cartesian graphs and their corresponding polar graphs.

Maria Garcia, Richard Henry Dana Middle School, Wiseburn School District, Hawthorne

Maria is a grade eight Algebra I teacher. She has been teaching for 20 years and is currently the Math Department Chair. Maria was a previous California PAEMST State Finalist in 2019. The lesson Maria submitted helped students discover patterns in quadratics leading to conceptual understanding of completing the square. In addition to her teaching schedule, she hosts Math Saturday Events for parents and students. Maria has created the Girls Who Code Club at her school and has led the Mommy and Me coding event. She also launched a Hack-a-Challenge in which students from grades five through twelve came together to work on building/creating a robot that could successfully clean the surrounding beaches in the community.

Stephanie Paris, Granada Hills Charter High School, Los Angeles Unified School District, Granada Hills

Stephanie has been teaching for six years. The lesson Stephanie submitted for her Algebra I class explored exponential functions and examined patterns of growth and decay. She is a Master Teacher Fellow with Math for America, Los Angeles. As a Fellow, she has provided professional learning to teachers across the district and state. She mentored student teachers and helped teachers develop Project Based Learning units. Stephanie also co-taught classes with a science teacher who helped create interdisciplinary projects that connected mathematics and science, specifically Algebra I and Physics. During 2020, she facilitated two professional learning courses where she helped teachers create virtual math lessons and build community relationships during distance learning.

Science Finalists

Garrett Lim, Walnut High School, Walnut Valley Unified School District, Walnut

Garrett has been teaching for 14 years. He helped develop and currently teaches the schools first-ever International Baccalaureate Higher Level Chemistry course. Garrett was part of a district committee tasked with brainstorming how the Common Core curriculum could be implemented and integrated within the science classroom. The topic of his lesson was how different materials have different specific heat capacities and its relationship to how they feel.

Catherine Messenger, Los Gatos High School, Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District, Los Gatos

Catherine teaches Advanced Placement (AP) Biology along with a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Research class. She has been teaching for 15 years. She was the Science Department Chair from 20152020. Previously, she also led the Los Gatos High School team participating in a multi-school program to launch a corrosion of iron experiment to the International Space Station. Catherine also shared advanced science research curriculum with San Francisco Bay Area teachers. The topic of her lesson focused on the properties of carbon and water.

Zachary Moore, Laguna Blanca School, Hope Elementary School District, Santa Barbara

Zachary has been teaching for 22 years and also teaches Physical Science, AP Physics C: Mechanics, Introductory Engineering, and Advanced Engineering. Zachary was a recipient of the Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching as a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Integration Specialist in 2019. As the early kindergarten through grade twelve STEM Coordinator, he developed the middle/upper school elective sequence in computer science, engineering, and robotics, which also integrated 3D printers, computer automated drawings, Arduino processors, and design thinking through professional development for fellow faculty. The topic for his lesson served as an introduction to the energy unit and contextualizes personal power usage.

For more information, visit the CDE Presidential Awards for Math and Science Teaching web page or the PAEMST website

# # # #

Tony Thurmond  State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Last Reviewed: Thursday, May 6, 2021
What just happened? There have been numerous reports of the Apple Watch's health features saving people's lives, but this case is slightly different. A woman flying from Utah to Hawaii gave birth 11 weeks early while the plane was over the ocean. Several items on the flight were used to keep the baby stable, including Apple's popular wearable.

As if giving birth on a flight isn't unusual enough, Lavinia Mounga didn't even realize she was pregnant, making her trip from Salt Lake City to Honolulu on April 28 particularly memorable. AppleInsider reports that Mounga was lucky in that a physician and three nurses trained to care for premature babies were on the plane.

"None of the equipment we have was suitable for a premature baby, and this baby was born at 29 weeks instead of the normal 40 weeks, right?" said Dr. Dale Glenn, a family physician at Straub Medical Center. "So we made baby warmers out of bottles that were microwaved. We used an Apple Watch to measure the heart rate."

Mounga and her newborn were taken to Kapiolani Medical Center for monitoring once the plane touched down in Hawaii. If they werent there, I dont think he would be here, so Im very blessed, she said.

You might find it surprising that the Apple Watch is able to register a baby's heartbeat, but even older version were capable of the task. Here's a video of parents using an Apple Watch Sport to send their newborn's heartbeat to distant family members.

Earlier this year, the Apple Watch's Emergency SOS was credited with saving a man's life after he fell through some ice. In 2019, its fall detection ability was able to summon emergency services when a man collapsed and fractured his skull, and there have been plenty of cases of the device detecting unknown heart conditions.

A future version of the Apple Watch could pack even more health-focused features. A recent SEC filing suggests the company will add non-invasive sensors to the wearable that measure blood glucose (for diabetics), pressure, and alcohol levels.
A key witness in the case against a Romanian husband and wife accused of stealing cash from a student in Cork city centre was unavailable to give evidence because of exams.

Judge Olann Kelleher agreed to put the case back until May 13 because the witness was unavailable.

The husband and wife were previously refused bail and they remain in custody in relation to the accusation they face in this case.

It was previously alleged by way of background that, while they were allegedly living on the streets of Cork without welfare or employment, they had transferred 8,800 in cash home in the course of two months.

Judge Olann Kelleher remanded them in custody until May 13 for hearing of the case at Cork District Court.

The couple insisted they were sleeping rough outside a church and that the money they sent home came from the kindness of strangers.

Det. Garda Aoife Hayes said the gardai believed the couple were living at an address for which they had a key but they would not reveal it.

The detective also expressed concern about the source of the transferred cash.

Judge Kelleher refused them bail.

Detective Garda Aoife Hayes alleged that the 8,800 was transferred and that receipts to this amount were stored on the couples shared phone.

Det. Garda Hayes arrested Gheorghe Marginica, 29, and Michele Judele, 30, of no fixed address, on Saturday, March 27, and brought them before Cork District Court, each of them charged with stealing 60 in cash from a student at an ATM on St. Patricks Street, Cork, on Saturday, March 27.

The allegation is that they approached a student asking for money. He said he did not have change. They persisted. They asked him for 33 for a bus to Dublin.

"This boy complied from fear and intimidation. He gave them 40. They said they wanted to buy another ticket. He could only get 20.

He said he complied out of fear and intimidation, the detective said.

Det. Garda Hayes said, When asked where they got 8,800, that they had sent home, they said they got it from people helping them.

"It is our belief they got it from circumstances similar to those alleged in the charge before the court.
Minister Coveney meets with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland-Joint Statement

Statement

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Simon Coveney, T.D., and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis, CBE MP, met today in Dublin.

Following their meeting, they released this joint statement:



Today we met to discuss a range of issues. We agreed on the need to work together in close partnership to protect and uphold all aspects of the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement in all circumstances.

We have also agreed to convene a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in June, to discuss matters of mutual interest within the competence of both Governments as the Agreement intended.

We are aware that there are sincerely held concerns in different communities in Northern Ireland in relation to a number of issues and firmly agree that the best way forward is through dialogue and engagement.

We recognise the responsibility we all bear to enhance the confidence of everyone in Northern Ireland in all the institutions of the Agreement to help realise its vision for reconciliation, equality, respect for rights and parity of esteem."

ENDS

Press Office

5 May 2021

 Previous Item | Next Item 
SPOKANE, Wash., May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avista Corporation took legal action against the State of Montana today, filing a lawsuit with the Pacific Northwest Colstrip ownersPuget Sound Energy, PacifiCorp and Portland General Electricafter Montana Governor Gianforte signed Senate Bills 265 and 266 into law.



As we shared in a letter to Governor Gianforte last month, we believe Senate Bills 265 and 266 disrupt a contract between and among the Colstrip owners that has existed for nearly 40 years, said Avistas Senior Vice President of Energy Resources Jason Thackston. We urged Governor Gianforte to veto the bills because we believe they are both unlawful and unconstitutional, and we have pursued legal action today with other Colstrip owners to protect the rights of our customers and shareholders under the existing contract.



Avista has worked for years to find a solution that addresses the needs of Montana, the Colstrip community, our customers and other stakeholders affected by the plants future, and we will continue to seek those solutions. Demonstrating our commitment to the welfare of the Colstrip community, Avista has contributed $3 million to the Montana Foundation to distribute through a donor-advised fund for aiding the communitys transition.

We are disappointed that the State of Montana has chosen to pass these bills and that we have been forced to take legal action as a result, said Thackston. Nonetheless, we remain committed to engaging with the State of Montana on issues relating to Colstrip and to searching for potential solutions that balance the interests of all involved stakeholders.

The lawsuit filed today is directed specifically at Senate Bill 265 which purports to amend Section 27-5-323 of the Montana Code to invalidate the Colstrip Ownership and Operating Agreements provision governing the arbitration of disputes arising under the contract. That provision has been in place for the nearly 40 years that the agreement has been in effect and has been used effectively by the co-owners to resolve disputes on multiple occasions in the past.

About Avista

Avista Corp. is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is the operating division that provides electric service to 400,000 customers and natural gas to 367,000 customers. Its service territory covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.7 million. Alaska Energy and Resources Company is an Avista subsidiary that provides retail electric service to 17,000 customers in the city and borough of Juneau, Alaska, through its subsidiary Alaska Electric Light and Power Company. Avista stock is traded under the ticker symbol "AVA." For more information about Avista, please visit www.avistacorp.com.

Avista Corp. and the Avista Corp. logo are trademarks of Avista Corporation.

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Investors with $100,000 of losses are encouraged to contact the firm before May 7, 2021; click here to submit trade information

LOS ANGELES, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of XL Fleet Corp. (NYSE: XL) investors that acquired shares between October 2, 2020 and March 2, 2021. Investors have until May 7, 2021 to seek an active role in this litigation.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy , to determine eligibility to participate in this action, by phone 310-692-8883 or email , or click here to join the case.

According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made misleading and/or false statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Workhorse was merely hoping that USPS would choose an electric vehicle as its Next Generation Delivery Vehicle, but had no indication or assurance from USPS that this was the case; (2) Workhorse had concealed the fact that electrifying the USPSs entire fleet would be impractical and astronomically expensive which had been revealed by the postmaster general in explaining the ultimate decision not to select an electric vehicle; and (3) defendants statements about Workhorses prospects, business, and operations were materially misleading and false and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times, as a result. This lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages when the true details entered the market.

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 7, 2021.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims arising from corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.

Admitted CA and NY Bar

lesley@portnoylaw.com

310-692-8883

www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising
's (ASK:BEM) Tom Revy tells Proactive's Andrew Scott they're to recommence drilling at the Maniry graphite project in southern Madagascar after finalising planning, trenching and logistics. The company recently recommenced exploration at Maniry with trenching activities in the Razafy Northwest area nearing completion. Revy adds that ongoing test-work has further validated the product's potential for downstream processing and feed for the rapidly expanding electric vehicle (EV) markets.
TORONTO, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Premier Doug Ford returned to the Legislature today after being unavailable to respond, even virtually, to the Long-Term Care Commission Report for days. His Minister of Long-Term Care belatedly allowed journalists to question her today. Still, there has been no apology or meaningful acknowledgement of the failures that allowed -- even facilitated -- the deaths of thousands in long-term care, reported the Ontario Health Coalition. The Ford governments response has deeply offended and angered families, residents, care workers and their organizations.



Ontarians are outraged, and so are we. It is the most visceral wave of anger that we have ever seen, reported Natalie Mehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition who has heard from hundreds of irate Ontarians watching the governments response. It is a total failure in leadership. Leaders in the Ford government have shown absolutely no conscience and have refused to apologize. Throughout the pandemic and now as the reports on the terrible lack of care and inadequacy of their response have come in, the Ford government has still has not committed to act urgently to fix the terrible lack of care in long-term care.

On Monday, after scheduling a short press conference just prior to the Legislatures Question Period on the LTC Commissions Report, the Minister took questions from only three reporters before walking out as journalists beseeched her to answer their queries. Requests from the Queens Park media corps for the Minister to come back and answer questions Monday and Tuesday were not heeded. She finally took questions today, but there was no apology and much deflection of responsibility.

Almost 4,000 long-term care residents and staff have died as a result of COVID-19 so far, many in conditions that are so harrowing they have left caregivers and families traumatized. Untold numbers have died of malnutrition, dehydration, isolation and neglect during the pandemic. Tens of thousands of others involved in long-term care have been harmed-- among those many who will not recover. The Ontario Health Coalition released its summary and analysis of the Commissions report and recommendations today, highlighting the strongest recommendations, those that are problematic -- particularly with regards to privatization -- and a call for urgent action.

Despite the fact that the Commission pressed as the top priority the need to fast-track increases in staffing to reach a minimum standard of 4-hours of care, the Minister has not announced any such plan. The policy decision of the Ford government has been to delay this increase in staffing and care until 2024-25. While they have not committed to fast-track getting care to a safe standard, on Monday, the Minister had already consulted with the for-profit long-term care sector on proposals to change how they finance and build long-term care homes.

The Ford government continues to demonstrate that it is entirely captured by the priorities and interests of the for-profit corporations in long-term care with which they have very close ties, reported Ms. Mehra. Yet again, the Minister prioritized the for-profit financing and construction of new long-term care homes even when there is horribly inadequate care for existing long-term care residents. They do everything for the for-profits and have done nothing substantive to improve care for residents and conditions for staff which remain worse than before the pandemic. It is appalling.

For more information: Natalie Mehra, executive director (416) 230-6402.
Pronunciation Guide for the Muwekma Ohlone SJSU Area Land Acknowledgement

This site provides links to audio files of select word in the Muwekma Ohlone SJSU Area Land Acknowledgment.

Click on the selected words below to hear an example of how to pronounce each linked word.

Land Acknowledgement for Special Programs and Events

The Land Acknowledgement for Special Programs and Events can be found on page 2 of this document or this Google Slide document.

We would like to begin (this program/event) by recognizing that while we gather at San Jose State University, we are gathered on the ethnohistoric tribal territory of the Thamien Ohlone, who were the direct ancestors of the lineages enrolled in the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, and who were missionized into Missions Santa Clara, San Jose and Dolores.

The lands on which San Jose State University is established was and continues to be of significance to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. We also recognize that the ancestors of the Muwekma Ohlone constructed and maintained the three Bay Area missions. Our campus extends to surrounding areas that held a tuppentak, a traditional roundhouse which were once located at the historic Lope Ynigos Landgrant Rancho Posolmi y Pozitas de las Animas (Little Wells of Souls), and also Marcello, Pio and Cristobals Landgrant Rancho Ulistac, which were places of celebration and religious ceremonies, as well as nearby ancestral heritage shellmounds, that served as the Tribes traditional cemetery sites and territorial monuments.

San Jose State University also desires to honor the military service of the Muwekma men and women who have honorably served overseas during World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and who are still serving in the United States Armed Forces today.

Land Acknowledgement for Website Postings

The Land Acknowledgement for Website Postings can be found on page 1 of this document or this Google Slide document.

The San Jose State University community recognizes that the present-day Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, with an enrolled Bureau of Indian Affairs documented membership of over 550, is comprised of all of the known surviving American Indian lineages aboriginal to the San Francisco Bay region who trace their ancestry through the Missions Santa Clara, San Jose, and Dolores, during the advent of the Hispano-European empire into Alta California; and who are the successors and living members of the sovereign, historic, previously Federally Recognized Verona Band of Alameda County.

Furthermore, the San Jose State University community recognizes that the university is established within the Thamien Ohlone-speaking tribal ethnohistoric territory, which based upon the unratified federal treaties of 1851-1852, includes the unceded ancestral lands of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area. Some of the enrolled Muwekma lineages are descended from direct ancestors from the Thamien Ohlone tribal territory whose ancestors had affiliation with Mission Santa Clara.

The San Jose State University community also recognizes the importance of this land to the indigenous Muwekma Ohlone people of this region, and consistent with our principles of community and diversity strives to be good stewards on behalf of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe whose land we occupy.

Muwekma Ohlone Tribal Council Member Gloria E. Arellano-Gomez Reads a similar Land Acknowledgment with the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley
Albion, IN (46701)

Today

Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving for the afternoon. High 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trailbreaker Resources Ltd. (TBK.V) (Trailbreaker or the Company) is pleased to announce that, subject to regulatory approval, it has closed their private placement financing consisting of Hard Dollar Units and Flow-Through Units, for total gross proceeds of $1,048,610, an increase of $48,610 more than originally anticipated. Both offerings received support from strategic accredited investors.



The Company has closed on 800,000 non-flow-through Units for gross proceeds of $200,000 (the Units), each $0.25 Unit priced consisting of 1 common share of the Company and 1 common share purchase warrant (the Unit Warrants), each Unit Warrant being exercisable for an additional common share of the Company at $0.39 for 24 months from closing, subject to the right of the Company to accelerate the exercise period should, after the expiration of the 4 month hold, shares of the Company trade close at or above $0.59 for 10 consecutive trading days. Proceeds of this portion of the financing will be used for general corporate purposes, that may include corporate development and property acquisition.

The Company has also closed on 2,424,600 flow-through units for gross proceeds of $848,610 (the FT Units), each $0.35 FT Unit consisting of 1 flow-through share and 1 common share purchase warrant (the FT Unit Warrants), each full FT Unit Warrant being exercisable at $0.49 for a common share of the Company for 24 months. The flow-through shares will entitle the holder to receive tax benefits applicable to flow-through shares in accordance with the provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada). Proceeds of the financing will be used to advance Trailbreakers newly assembled Atsutla Gold Project in the province of British Columbia.

All securities issued pursuant to this financing are subject to a 4-month hold period.

On receipt of regulatory approval and in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, cash finders fees totaling $52,116.90 will be paid.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Daithi Mac Gearailt

President and Chief Executive Officer

For new information about the Companys projects, please visit Trailbreakers website at TrailbreakerResources.com and sign up to receive news. For further information, follow Trailbreakers tweets at Twitter.com/TrailbreakerRes, use the Contact section of our website, or contact us at (604) 681-1820 or at info@trailbreakerresources.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; expectations regarding future exploration and drilling programs and receipt of related permitting. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases such as "anticipates", "expects", "understanding", "has agreed to" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "would", "occur" or "be achieved". Although Trailbreaker has attempted to identify important factors that could affect Trailbreaker and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, if any, Trailbreaker has applied several material assumptions, including the assumption that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, Trailbreaker does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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WASHINGTON  A federal judge has ordered the release of a legal memorandum the Trump-era Justice Department prepared for then-Attorney General William Barr before he announced his conclusion that President Donald Trump had not obstructed justice during the Russia investigation.

The Justice Department had refused to give the March 24, 2019, memorandum to a government transparency group that requested it under the Freedom of Information Act, saying the document represented the private advice of lawyers and was produced before any formal decision had been made and was therefore exempt from disclosure under public records law.

But U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said the Justice Department had obscured the true purpose of the memorandum when it withheld the document.

She said the memo from the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel contained strategic, as opposed to legal advice and that both the writers and the recipients already had a shared understanding as to what the prosecutorial decision would be. She said this meant it was not  as the department had maintained  predecisional,

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................................................................

In other words, the review of the document reveals that the Attorney General was not then engaged in making a decision about whether the President should be charged with obstruction of justice; the fact that he would not be prosecuted was a given, Jackson said in an order dated Monday.

The decision by Barr and senior Justice Department leaders to clear Trump of obstruction, even though special counsel Robert Mueller and his team pointedly did not reach that conclusion, was a significant moment for the president. The announcement, and a four-page summary of Muellers report, preceded the release of the 448-page document and helped shape public perception of the investigations conclusions. Mueller subsequently complained to Barr that his summary had not fully captured the investigations findings and had caused public confusion.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a public records request seeking communications about the obstruction decision after Barr said that he and other senior officials had reached that conclusion in consultation with the Office of Legal Counsel, which provides legal guidance to executive branch agencies.

At issue in a lawsuit pending before the judge were two particular documents the group wanted.

Jackson ruled that one of the documents, described by a Justice Department official as an untitled, undated draft legal analysis submitted to the attorney general as part of his decision-making, was properly withheld from the group.

But she ordered the release of the other memo, which was prepared for Barr by the then-head of the Office of Legal Counsel and another senior Justice Department official and which concludes that the evidence assembled by Muellers team would not support an obstruction prosecution of Trump.

In her order, Jackson noted that the memo prepared for Barr, and the letter from Barr to Congress that describes the special counsels report, are being written by the very same people at the very same time.

The emails show not only that the authors and the recipients of the memorandum are working hand in hand to craft the advice that is supposedly being delivered by OLC, but that the letter to Congress is the priority, and it is getting completed first, the judge wrote.

The judge said the Justice Department has until May 17 to file any motion to stay the order.

____

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com.etuckerAP
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a mother of two who died following a stabbing in Dublins IFSC.

Urantsetseg Tserendorj, 48, originally from Mongolia but living in Dublin with her family for a number of years, was rushed to the Mater Hospital following an attack on January 20 last.

The incident happened at 9.30pm near the CHQ building at Custom House Quay as the office cleaner was making her way home from work.

She remained in a critical condition for two weeks before she passed away.

Ulambayar Tserendorj, husband of Urantsetseg Tserendorj, outside the Children's Court at the previous hearing last month. Picture: Tom Tuite

Her husband Ulambayar stayed by her bedside and close family members flew over from Mongolia.

The boy, who cannot be named because he is a minor, was arrested and remanded in custody after a brief court appearance on January 23.

He was aged 14 at the time of the incident and was originally charged with assault causing harm, attempted robbery and unlawful possession of a knife as a weapon.

Upgraded to murder

However, the case was upgraded to murder when he appeared again at the Dublin Childrens Court on Wednesday. The assault and knife possession charges were withdrawn on the direction of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The teen nodded and winked to a family member as he entered the courtroom.

Detective Sergeant Brendan Casey leaving the Children's Court on May 5 after he charged boy, 15, with the murder of Urantsetseg Tserendorj. Picture: Tom Tuite

Detective Sergeant Brendan Casey gave evidence that he charged the boy at the court at just after 10.30am with the offence of murder contrary to common law. The boy replied nothing when cautioned and asked if had anything to say.

The murder is alleged to have happened at the walkway between St Georges Dock and Custom House Quay.

Detective Sergeant Casey told District Court president Judge Paul Kelly that the boy also replied nothing to an additional charge for production of a knife while committing murder.

He was handed a true copy of the charges, which was then given to his adult sister who accompanied him to the proceedings.

Detective Sergeant Casey said the DPP has directed trial on indictment in the Central Criminal Court on all the new charges, and also the charge of attempted robbery.

The boy sat silently with his arms folded and his head bowed, but he occasionally glanced up, during the hearing. He has not yet indicated how he will plead.

Other offences

The teen was also charged with other offences on the same date as the murder  a threat to kill or cause serious harm to a man at a shop on OConnell Street, and production of a knife while attempting robbery and an offence of robbery at Amien Street in Dublin 1.

The boy was remanded in custody pending the preparation of a book of evidence.

The boy will appear again in one week at the Childrens Court.

On dates of the boys previous hearings, members of the Mongolian community, including Urantsetseg Tserendorjs husband Ulambayar, gathered outside the courthouse for a vigil in Smithfield Square.

However, they remained away from the area on Wednesday.

Section 93 of the Children Act states that no report shall be published or included in a broadcast that reveals the name, address or school of any child concerned in the proceedings or includes any particulars likely to lead to the identification of any child concerned in the proceedings.

In February, the court had heard that social media users were facing a criminal investigation for identifying the teenager. A warning was given by the then presiding judge that breaking the anonymity rule in cases involving juveniles would result in prosecution.
John Turner and Rick Caccia Join from Google to Lead Sales and Marketing

DENVER, April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Red Canary, a leading provider of SaaS-based security operations solutions, today announced the addition of two new executives to accelerate global go-to-market operations. Industry veterans John Turner and Rick Caccia, both most recently with Google Cloud, will lead sales and marketing as Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, respectively. Both have extensive security industry experience and each has led their functions at companies during successful IPOs.

Most recently, Turner was head of sales for Google Clouds Security business unit, including both security products and security capabilities within the Google Cloud Platform. He previously spent seven years at Symantec, where he was vice president of the technology sales organization. Prior to Google, Turner served as the senior vice president of sales at TriNet, both up to and after TriNets IPO in 2014. During Turners tenure, Selling Power Magazine selected TriNet as one of the Top 100 Sales Organizations to Sell For.

Caccia was the head of marketing for Google Clouds Security business unit, covering product marketing and demand generation for security products and Google Cloud Platform security functionality. Prior to Google, he was CMO for Exabeam, a SIEM and User Behavior Analytics leader. Earlier, he was the vice president of product marketing at ArcSight, another SIEM market leader, from pre-IPO through its acquisition by HP in 2010.

Following record growth in 2020 and our recent Series C fundraising of $81 million, Red Canary is expanding rapidly, said Brian Beyer, CEO and co-founder. JT and Rick will help us expand our global go-to-market capabilities as the company scales to the next level. We have previously worked with both as partners and are excited to welcome them as co-workers.

Throughout my career, I have looked for companies with strong winning cultures, great teamwork, and products that customers love, and Red Canary certainly fits that profile, said Turner. In addition, Rick and I have worked together previously to build effective teams. I look forward to helping Red Canary expand its winning sales culture globally.

Having worked in security analytics in some form for over a decade, I understand how hard the task is for customers, said Caccia. Red Canary stands out as a company that is truly focused on making life better for customers and being a security ally. I am excited to work with JT and the Red Canary team to help customers get better outcomes, around the globe.

About Red Canary

Red Canary is the leading security ally enabling every organization to make its greatest impact without fear of cyber-attack. The company provides outcome-focused solutions for security operations teams, who rely on Red Canary to analyze and respond to endpoint telemetry, manage alerts across the network, and provide cloud environment runtime threat detection. With Red Canary, security teams can make a measurable improvement to security operations within minutes. To learn more, visit RedCanary.com.

Two photos accompanying this announcement are available at :



https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c19b9d41-4046-4e0b-9324-66f434b1908a

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9efc41b9-a795-48b2-ad8f-6e291d19a2ce
Portland, OR, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global injection molding machines market was estimated at $10.89 billion in 2019 and is expected to hit $14.41 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 5.7% from 2020 to 2027. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the top investment pockets, top winning strategies, drivers & opportunities, market size & estimations, competitive scenario, and wavering market trends.

Low labor cost and massive production advantage, high demand for injection molded plastic products, material flexibility, and low waste production are the major factors fueling the growth of the global injection molding machines market. On the other hand, high initial tooling and machinery cost, high threat of substitutes, and design restrictions on parts impede the growth to some extent. However, technological advancements present new opportunities in the coming years.



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Covid-19 scenarios-

The outbreak of covid-19 led to delays in manufacturing and production of injection molding machines, thereby impacting the market negatively. Also, theres been a dwindled demand for the machines from the construction, automotive, packaging, and logistics industries

However, several government bodies have initiated vaccination drives, and with this drift on board, the market is expected to recoup soon.

The injection molding machines market is analyzed across clamping force, machine type, solution, pressure type, application, and region. On the basis of machine type, the hydraulic segment accounted for more than two-fifths of the total market share in 2019 and is estimated to maintain its lead position by 2027. The all-electric segment, on the other hand, would exhibit the fastest CAGR of 6.3% from 2020 to 2027.



Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Overhead Cranes Market Request Here

On the basis of application, the automotive segment contributed to around one-fourth of the total market revenue in 2019, and is expected to dominate throughout the forecast period. Simultaneously, the packaging segment would exhibit the fastest CAGR of 6.9% from 2020 to 2027.

Based on region, Asia-Pacific garnered nearly half of the global injection molding machines market, and is expected to lead the trail by 2027. At the same time, the region across LAMEA would witness the fastest CAGR of 6.9% throughout the forecast period.



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Key Players:

The key market players analyzed in the global injection molding machines market report include ENGEL, Haitian International, Husky Injection Molding Systems, KraussMaffei Group, Milacron Holdings Corp., ARBURG, Sumitomo Heavy Industries, The Japan Steel Works, Ube Industries, Ltd., BMB S.P.A., Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd., Shibaura Machine Co. Ltd., and Nigon. These market players have incorporated several strategies including partnership, expansion, collaboration, joint ventures, and others to brace their stand in the industry.



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A 27-year-old woman was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on a charge of assault causing harm to another woman in Cork city and she replied: I plead guilty but she attacked me first.

Leanne Hegarty of 48 Gurranabraher Avenue, Cork, was arraigned on the assault charge having previously pleaded guilty in an unrelated case to carrying out a robbery from a different woman in Cork city.

Peter OFlynn, defence barrister, asked Judge Helen Boyle if the accused could be arraigned on the assault charge and said she was also anxious to be sentenced.

Before she even pleaded guilty, Hegarty addressed Judge Boyle, saying: I worked hard, Judge, I really have, I have turned my whole life around.

The charge was then put to the accused, that on March 21, 2020, at MacCurtain Street, Cork, she carried out an assault causing harm to the other woman. Asked how she pleaded to this charge, she said: I plead guilty but she attacked me first. I am sorry your honour.

Prosecution barrister Jane Hyland said she understood that the accused was very anxious to be sentenced and that from the prosecution side it might be possible to get the victim impact statement quickly.

However, Judge Boyle said that because of other matters ongoing in court it would not be possible to proceed with immediate sentencing.

Sentencing was then adjourned until May 19.

The judge was told that Hegarty previously pleaded guilty to robbery from a woman at Sheares Street, Cork, on the same date as the MacCurtain Street offence, namely March 21, 2020.

The accused was remanded on continuing bail for sentencing in both matters.
Newark, NJ, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the report published by Fior Markets, the global wearable payment device market is expected to grow from USD 10.35 Billion in 2020 and to reach USD 80.39 Billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 29.8% during the forecast period 2021-2028.

The factors driving the market are rise in demand for wearable devices along with contactless payment for a secure and safer payment transaction, use of intelligent technologies coupled with rising internet penetration, growing surge in adoption of smartphones, ease of transactions, growth in the adoption of cashless payments beyond the globe, convenient shopping experience to customers, growth of IOT globally, reducing costs of near field communication technology deployment. The factors restraining the market growth are security concerns of wearable devices, limited battery life, high price, low awareness and filled-out competition in the market. The rising adoption of contactless point-of-sale, a surge in host card emulation technology, radiofrequency identification and near-field communication technology is expected to provide market growth opportunities. And additionally, the eruption of COVID-19 molded customers globallyto choose contactless payments as a mode of payment, which is expected to positively boost the adoption of wearable payment devices and fuel market growth over the forecastperiod.

A wearable payment device is defined as anything connected to the body and utilized to make any payment. Wearable devices are directly associated with the customers bank accounts and work like a regular debit card, making purchases at any merchant store that sustains contactless transactions. Wearable Payments are an impeccable procedure to buy products or services by using advanced technology integrated into wearable devices. Users dont need to take their smartphones and wallet for payments anymore . Furthermore, it is shared as a tap-and-go payment method by distinctive retailers and organizations, as it provides retailers and vendors additional secure and error-free payment methods.

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Key players operating in the market are Apple, Thales Group, Google, Samsung Electronics, Barclays, Mastercard, Xiaomi Corporation, Visa, Intellitix, Jawbone, Nymi, Disney, Intelligent Venue Solutions, Fitbits, Wirecard, Garmin, Caixa Bank, Gemalto, Westpac, Tappy Technologies Ltd and PayPal Holdings. To acquire a significant market share in the global wearable payment device market, the pivotal players are now concentrating on adopting strategies such as product innovations, mergers & acquisitions, recent developments, joint ventures, collaborations, and partnerships.

In January 2021, Google acquired Fitbit to access the wearable payment device market for USD 2.1 billion. This acquisition is an act that could brace the internets vast hardware business, At the same time expanding antitrust scrutiny.

In Dec-2020, Mastercard partnered with MatchMove and Tappy Technologies. In this cooperation, they started tokenization into a miniature, adaptable chip that could be affiliated to a range of battery-less wearables and accessories like watchstraps or keyrings, which bends them into secure contactless payments devices.

Fitness Tracker segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 43.0% in the year 2020

On the basis of type, the global wearable payment device is segmented into smartwatches, fitness trackers and payment wristbands. The fitness tracker segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 43.0% in the year 2020. This growth is attributed to its high usage of various fitness devices and the rising number of fitness lovers worldwide. A lot of vendors begin to blend mobile payments into their fitness trackers. Also, customers extensively prefer fitness trackers due to their upgraded safety features, saving them from fakes and identity defrauding by payment processes.

Bar-Codes Segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 30.0% in the year 2020

On the basis of product, the global wearable payment device market is segmented into near-field communication technology, radio frequency identification, contactless point of sale terminals, QR and bar codes. The bar codes segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 30.0% in the year 2020. This growth is attributed to the retailers concentration on isolating friction at checkouts and promoting the overall customer experience. Wearable payments devices are cryptographed with barcode scanners that include scan-and-go technology. This technology empowers customers to scan their items comfortably as they shop. As well, the barcode system allows retailers to ignore the requirement for a traditional and static point-of-sale.

Browse full report with TOC at https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/wearable-payment-device-market-by-type-smart-watches-419400.html

Regional Segment of Wearable Payment Device Market

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe)

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of APAC)

South America (Brazil and Rest of South America)

The Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA)

On the basis of geography, the global wearable payment device market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America. North America held the largest market share of 31.0% in the year 2020. This growth is due to the key players such as Visa, Apple, MasterCard and Google in the region. The change in technological dependence for tracking, timing and increasing adoption of wearable devices by fitness users are also anticipated to fuel the regional market growth over the forecast period. Also, North America is witnessing an substantial rise in the production of intelligent devices with tracking and payment features.

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About the report:

The global wearable payment device market is analyzed on the basis of value (USD Billion). All the segments have been analyzed on a global, regional and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each segment. The report offers an in-depth analysis of driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining key insights into the market. The study includes porter's five forces model, attractiveness analysis, raw material analysis, and competitors' position grid analysis.

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Ramys Rage for Bigger Pumps | Pre-workout for Energy, Focus and Power

Written by TEAM MD

05 May 2021

Ramys Rage for Bigger Pumps

Pre-workout for Energy, Focus and Power

Mr. Olympia Big Ramy has unleashed his rage on bodybuilding stages for years, with his huge structure of wide shoulders, narrow waist and massive, sweeping quads, conquering opponents around the world. Now the mass monster and New York Pro winner with pleasing shape has teamed up with Enhanced Labs, and Big Ramy plans on being an equally formidable powerhouse in the supplement industry with the launch of Ramys Rage  a stimulant-free professional pre-workout that delivers the extreme focus, energy and power you need when training for results.

Clinically Dosed Ingredients

Each serving of Ramys Rage features 12 clinically dosed ingredients that have been scientifically proven to increase blood flow to muscles, enhance focus, and improve endurance. Ramys Rage can also increase fat loss, prevent fat gain and improve metabolism. For maximum benefit, the ingredients in Ramys Rage are grouped into four synergistic matrixes.

1. Vascularity and Strength Matrix

L-Citrulline Malate 3:1. Citrulline malate increases vasodilation (the widening of the blood vessels). This increases the amount of nutrients and oxygen to working muscles, promoting better performance, more cellular energy production, and better post-workout recovery.

Glycerol (GlycerPump). Glycerol has the rather unique ability to draw water into muscle cells, which increases cell volumization and hydration. Glycerol supplementation has been clinically shown to increase blood volume, improve hydration, promote greater muscle fullness, regulate body temperature, and increase exercise performance.1

Green Tea Extract (VASO6). VASO6 is a patented gallate-enhanced oligomer derived from green tea. What separates VASO6 from your typical nitric oxide-boosting ingredients is that VASO6 improves the bioavailability of NO by inhibiting the expression and secretion of endothelin-1 (ET-1). ET-1 is the peptide hormone responsible for vasoconstriction of blood vessels. By inhibiting ET-1, VASO6 goes well beyond your typical NO-boosting ingredient because it makes the entire cardiovascular system work more efficiently.

2. ATP Energy Matrix

Creatine Anhydrous. While creatine monohydrate is creatine thats been bound with water, creatine anhydrous has the water removed, providing more creatine per gram and preventing water retention. Clinical research reports that creatine supplementation leads to increased power output, muscular endurance, and muscle size.2

Alpha-ketoisocaproate Calcium (PureKIC) is a keto acid of the amino acid L-leucine. PureKIC is anti-catabolic and helps keep the body in an anabolic (muscle building) state. PureKIC is clinically proven to increase muscle protein synthesis, improve nitrogen balance, and decrease body fat.

3. PDE5 Inhibitor Matrix

Xanthoparmelia Scarboa 10:1 contains substances that work the same way as pharmaceutical PDE5 inhibitors such as Viagra and Cialis by inhibiting the production of the enzyme phosphodiesterase-V (PDE5). PDE-5 is the enzyme that binds to and destroys cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). As a result, Xanthoparmelia Scabrosa prevents vasoconstriction, allowing for maximum arterial dilation and increased blood flow to muscles.

Epimedium Extract (10% Icariins). Icariin is the main active compound of the Epimedium plant. Icariin inhibits phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), an enzyme that breaks down cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). PDE5 inhibition increases nitric oxide levels in the blood, which lead to smooth muscle relaxation, widening of blood vessels and increased blood flow to working muscle cells.

4. Nootropic Focus Matrix

N-Acetyl-tyrosine. Tyrosine is an amino acid that is metabolized to produce neurotransmitters such as dopamine and adrenaline. Increasing levels of these neurotransmitters cause improvements in cognitive function, physical performance, metabolic rate and fat loss. N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine is the acetylated form of tyrosine, meaning that the amino acid is bonded to an acetyl group. The addition of the acetyl group increases solubility and absorbability.

Alpha-glycerylphosphorylcholine (Alpha GPC) is a choline-containing phospholipid that enhances cognitive function, increases strength and stimulates the release of growth hormone. Studies going all the way back to the 1990s have shown that supplementation with Alpha GPC improves memory.3 The cumulative evidence from animal and human studies support the role of Alpha GPC as a well-tolerated cognitive-enhancing compound with additional therapeutic benefits.

Sceletium Tortuosum (KannaEase). Scientific research suggests that the active compounds in Sceletium tortuosum help with anxiety and depression, improve mood, and kill pain. Early clinical research suggests that Sceletium tortuosum may improve executive function and cognitive flexibility. In one study, people enjoyed significant increases in these two areas after supplementing with 25 mg/day for nine weeks.4

Toothed Clubmoss (Standardized to 1% Huperzine A). Huperzine A is extracted from the Chinese club moss plant (Huperzia serrata). Huperzine functions as a cholinesterase inhibitor. It prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical essential to learning and memory. Huperzine A provides a natural boost in energy and alertfullness, without the use of stimulants.

Backed by Peer-Reviewed Research

Every ingredient in Ramys Rage is backed by peer-reviewed scientific research and is included at clinically effective levels. Ramys Rage also contains no artificial food dyes, fillers, or other unnecessary junk.

How to Use Ramys Rage

Enhanced Labs formulates supplements for serious bodybuilders, so even large individuals only need to take one serving. It is recommended to start with one scoop (7.25g) and work your way up to the maximum dosage of two scoops (14.5g). Ramys Rage contains no stimulants so it can be taken any time of day. For enhanced results, its recommended to stack Ramys Rage with Ramys Rage Stim Reloaded.

About Enhanced Labs

Enhanced labs is a team of bodybuilders, chemists and innovators who joined together to disrupt a chaotic industry by doing absolutely whatever it takes to come out with the most effective hardcore supplements line on the market. By always staying on the cutting-edge advancements in technology and chemistry, Enhanced Labs gives their customers the continuous edge they desire most.

Enhanced Labs has set out to create the perfect supplement line specifically designed for serious bodybuilders and high-performance athletes, because that is what they wanted for themselves.

Money-Back Guarantee, Free Shipping

Enhanced Labs stands behind their products. They offer a money-back guarantee if you arent satisfied with their products for any reason. And Enhanced Labs offers free shipping ANYWHERE in the world. If you live in the United States, your order ships FREE no matter what you buy. If you live outside the United States, your order ships for free when its over $169.

Ramys Rage Pump is offered directly from Enhanced Labs

Ramys Rage

Professional Pre-workout

 No Stimulants

 Money-Back Guarantee

 5-Star Online Review From Verified Buyers

 12 Clinically Dosed Ingredient

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3590833/

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5679696/

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5629791/

4.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23441963/

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Two Navy ships will be sent from the UK to Jersey amid an ongoing row between the island and France over post-Brexit fishing rights and concerns about the prospect of a blockade.

Two offshore patrol vessels will monitor the situation after French maritime minister Annick Girardin warned on Tuesday that the country was ready to take retaliatory measures, after accusing the Channel Island of dragging its feet over issuing new licences to French boats.

An MoD spokesman said on Wednesday: HMS Severn and HMS Tamar are deploying to Jersey to conduct maritime security patrols. This is a strictly precautionary measure and has been agreed with the Jersey Government.

It is understood that the ships are due to arrive on Thursday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Chief Minister of Jersey, Senator John Le Fondre, and the Minister of External Affairs, Ian Gorst, on Wednesday and underlined his unwavering support for the island.

A Downing Street spokesman said: The Prime Minister and Chief Minister stressed the urgent need for a de-escalation in tensions and for dialogue between Jersey and France on fishing access.

The Prime Minister underlined his unwavering support for Jersey. He said that any blockade would be completely unjustified. As a precautionary measure the UK will be sending two offshore patrol vessels to monitor the situation.

They agreed the UK and Jersey Governments would continue to work closely on this issue.

The UK and Jersey have already criticised France for making disproportionate threats after Paris warned it could cut off electricity to the island.

The row has come after the island implemented new requirements under the terms of the UK-EU trade deal for boats to submit evidence of their past fishing activities in order to receive a licence to carry on operating in Jersey waters.

A UK Government spokesman earlier said: To threaten Jersey like this is clearly unacceptable and disproportionate.

We are working closely with the EU and Jersey on fisheries access provisions following the end of the transition period so trust the French will use the mechanisms of our new treaty to solve problems.

Mr Gorst told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: This is not the first threat that the French have made to either Jersey or the United Kingdom since we are into this new deal.

It would seem disproportionate to cut off electricity for the sake of needing to provide extra details so that we can refine the licences.

On Wednesday Mr Gorst held talks with Marc Lefevre, the president of the La Manche region of northern France, on the difficult set of issues relating to fishing licences.

There are a number of important matters which we will continue to work through, he said.

Jersey receives 95% of its electricity from France through three undersea cables.

Ms Girardin told the French parliament that it gave Paris the means to act against the island if the issue could not be resolved.

Even though I am sorry that it has come to this, we will do so if we have to, she said.

Mr Gorst, however, said the island was not seeking to bar boats which had historically fished in Jersey waters and insisted the dispute could be resolved amicably.

He said that of the 41 boats which sought licences under the new rules last Friday, all but 17 had provided the evidence required.

The trade deal is clear but I think there has been some confusion about how it needs to be implemented, because we absolutely respect the historic rights of French fishermen to fish in Jersey waters as they have been doing for centuries, he said.

I do think a solution can be found. I am optimistic that we can provide extra time to allow this evidence to be provided.

He said the Jersey government was now seeking permission from London and Brussels to speak directly with the French fishermen concerned to resolve the issue.
SPOKANE, Wash., May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avista Corp. (NYSE: AVA) today reported net income of $68.0 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2021, compared to $48.4 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2020.



Were off to a good start in 2021 and we are on track to meet our earnings targets for the full year. Avista Utilities earnings were better than expected due to higher utility margin, mainly from lower net power supply costs, said Dennis Vermillion, president and chief executive officer of Avista Corp.

AEL&Ps earnings met expectations for the first quarter and our other businesses exceeded expectations due to gains on our investments.

Regarding our commitment to environmental stewardship, weve taken several significant steps toward creating our clean energy future. Most recently, we announced our new aspirational natural gas goal of being carbon neutral by 2045, with a near-term goal of 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. We also signed a contract with the Chelan County Public Utility District that will add more clean, affordable hydroelectric energy into our electric resource mix. Plus, we filed our 2021 Electric Integrated Resource Plan, which includes strategies that move us closer to achieving Avistas clean electricity goal to provide customers with a carbon neutral supply of electricity by 2027.

We are confirming our 2021, 2022, and 2023 earnings guidance with consolidated ranges of $1.96 to $2.16 per diluted share in 2021, $2.18 to $2.38 per diluted share in 2022, and $2.42 to $2.62 per diluted share in 2023, Vermillion added.

Summary Results: Avista Corp.s results for the first quarter of 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020 are presented in the table below (dollars in thousands, except per-share data):





First Quarter 2021 2020 Net Income (Loss) by Business Segment: Avista Utilities $ 64,058 $ 45,979 AEL&P 3,476 3,395 Other 483 (950 ) Total net income $ 68,017 $ 48,424 Earnings (Loss) per Diluted Share by Business Segment: Avista Utilities $ 0.92 $ 0.68 AEL&P 0.05 0.05 Other 0.01 (0.01 ) Total earnings per diluted share $ 0.98 $ 0.72

Analysis of 2021 Consolidated Earnings

The table below presents the change in net income and diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2021 as compared to the same period in 2020, as well as the various factors, shown on an after-tax basis, that caused such change (dollars in thousands, except per-share data):

First Quarter Net

Income (a) Earnings

per Share 2020 consolidated earnings $ 48,424 $ 0.72 Changes in net income and diluted earnings per share: Avista Utilities Electric utility margin (including intracompany) (b) 6,953 0.10 Natural gas utility margin (including intracompany) (c) 7,184 0.10 Other operating expenses (d) 5,139 0.08 Depreciation and amortization (e) (2,884 ) (0.04 ) Interest expense 141  Other (71 )  Income tax at effective rate (f) 1,617 0.03 Dilution on earnings n/a (0.03 ) Total Avista Utilities 18,079 0.24 AEL&P earnings 81  Other businesses earnings (g) 1,433 0.02 2021 consolidated earnings $ 68,017 $ 0.98

(a) The tax impact of each line item was calculated using Avista Corp.'s statutory tax rate (federal and state combined) of 23.05 percent.

(b) Electric utility margin (operating revenues less resource costs) increased for the first quarter and was impacted primarily by the following:

General rate increase in Washington, effective April 1, 2020.

Customer growth contributed additional retail electric revenue.

In the first quarter of 2020, we recorded an accrual of $1.4 million for customer refunds related to our 2015 Washington general rate case.

For the first quarter of 2021, we recognized a pre-tax benefit of $4.3 million under the Energy Recovery Mechanism (ERM) compared to a pre-tax benefit of $5.2 million for the first quarter of 2020. For the full year 2021, we expect to be in a benefit position under the ERM within the 75 percent customer/25 percent Company sharing band.

(c) Natural gas utility margin (operating revenues less resource costs) increased for the first quarter and was impacted primarily by the following:

General rate increases in Oregon, effective Jan. 16, 2021, and Washington, effective April 1, 2020.

Customer growth contributed additional retail natural gas revenue.

In the first quarter of 2020, we recorded an accrual of $3.6 million for customer refunds related to our 2015 Washington general rate case.



(d) Other operating expenses decreased for the first quarter of 2021, primarily because the first quarter of 2020 included expense for disallowed replacement power costs at Colstrip and an accrual for the Colstrip community transition fund associated with the finalization of our Washington general rate cases. The first quarter of 2021 also had lower bad debt expense because in 2021 we are deferring any additional bad debt expense through our COVID-19 regulatory deferral. The decreases were partially offset by increases in generation and distribution operating and maintenance costs at Avista Utilities.

(e) Depreciation and amortization increased due to additions to utility plant.

(f) Our effective tax rate was 15.2 percent for the first quarter of 2021, compared to 15.0 percent for 2020. Income taxes increased primarily due to an increase in pre-tax income.

(g) For the first quarter of 2021, earnings at our other businesses increased primarily due to gains on our investments.

Non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (Non-GAAP) Financial Measures

The tables above and below include electric utility margin and natural gas utility margin, two financial measures that are considered non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes (or includes) amounts that are included (or excluded) in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, which for utility margin is utility operating revenues.

The presentation of electric utility margin and natural gas utility margin is intended to enhance the understanding of operating performance. We use these measures internally and believe they provide useful information to investors in their analysis of how changes in loads (due to weather, economic or other conditions), rates, supply costs and other factors impact our results of operations. Changes in loads, as well as power and natural gas supply costs, are generally deferred and recovered from customers through regulatory accounting mechanisms. Accordingly, the analysis of utility margin generally excludes most of the change in revenue resulting from these regulatory mechanisms. We present electric and natural gas utility margin separately below for Avista Utilities since each business has different cost sources, cost recovery mechanisms and jurisdictions, so we believe that separate analysis is beneficial. These measures are not intended to replace utility operating revenues as determined in accordance with GAAP as an indicator of operating performance. Reconciliations of operating revenues to utility margin are set forth below.

The following table presents Avista Utilities' operating revenues, resource costs and resulting utility margin (pre-tax and after-tax) for the three months ended March 31 (dollars in thousands):

Operating

Revenues Resource

Costs Utility

Margin

(Pre-Tax) Income

Taxes (a) Utility

Margin

(Net of Tax) For the three months ended March 31,2021: Electric $ 257,580 $ 77,867 $ 179,713 $ 41,425 $ 138,288 Natural Gas 160,796 74,489 86,307 19,894 66,413 Less: Intracompany (18,516 ) (18,516 )    Total $ 399,860 $ 133,840 $ 266,020 $ 61,319 $ 204,701 For the three months ended March 31, 2020: Electric $ 246,208 $ 75,531 $ 170,677 $ 39,342 $ 131,335 Natural Gas 149,950 72,979 76,971 17,742 59,229 Less: Intracompany (18,953 ) (18,953 )    Total $ 377,205 $ 129,557 $ 247,648 $ 57,084 $ 190,564

(a) Income taxes for 2021 and 2020 were calculated using Avista Corp.'s statutory tax rate (federal and state combined) of 23.05 percent.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity

On April 5, 2021, we repaid the outstanding balance on our one-year credit agreement that we entered into in April 2020. We have a $400 million committed line of credit that expires in April 2022. In the second quarter of 2021, we expect to extend the revolving line of credit agreement to April 2026. As of April 30, 2021, we had $182.4 million of available liquidity under this line of credit. AEL&P also had $25 million of available liquidity under its committed line of credit that expires in November 2024.

During 2021, we expect to issue approximately $120 million of long-term debt and $75 million of equity in order to fund planned capital expenditures.

Capital Expenditures and Other Investments

Avista Utilities capital expenditures were $96 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, and we currently expect Avista Utilities capital expenditures to total about $415 million in 2021. We expect AEL&Ps capital expenditures to total about $7 million in 2021.

In addition, we expect to invest about $15 million at our other businesses in 2021 primarily related to non-regulated investment opportunities and economic development projects in our service territory.

2021 Earnings Guidance and Outlook

Avista Corp. is confirming its 2021, 2022, and 2023 earnings guidance with consolidated ranges of $1.96 to $2.16 per diluted share in 2021, $2.18 to $2.38 per diluted share in 2022, and $2.42 to $2.62 per diluted share in 2023. Our guidance assumes, among other things listed below, timely and appropriate rate relief in our jurisdictions.

Our 2021 earnings guidance range reflects unrecovered structural costs estimated to reduce the return on equity by approximately 70 basis points, as well as regulatory timing lag estimated to reduce the return on equity by approximately 100 basis points. This results in an expected return on equity for Avista Utilities of approximately 7.7 percent in 2021.

We expect Avista Utilities to contribute in the range of $1.93 to $2.07 per diluted share for 2021. The mid-point of our Avista Utilities guidance range does not include any expense or benefit under the ERM. Our current expectation for the ERM is a benefit position within the 75 percent customer/25 percent Company sharing band, which is expected to contribute $0.06 per diluted share.

For 2021, we expect AEL&P to contribute in the range of $0.08 to $0.11 per diluted share.

We expect the other businesses to have a loss of $0.05 to $0.02 per diluted share. We expect to experience increased costs associated with exploring strategic business opportunities.

Our outlook for Avista Utilities and AEL&P assumes, among other variables, normal precipitation, temperatures, other operating conditions, and slightly below normal hydroelectric generation. Our guidance does not include the effect of unusual or non-recurring items until the effects are known and certain. We cannot predict the duration and severity of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The longer and more severe the economic restrictions and business disruption, the greater the impact on our operations, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

NOTE: We will host a conference call with financial analysts and investors on May 5, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. ET to discuss this news release. The call will be available at (855) 806-8606, confirmation number: 6982215#. A simultaneous webcast of the call will be available on our website, www.avistacorp.com. A replay of the conference call will be available through May 10, 2021. Call (855) 859-2056, confirmation number 6982215#, to listen to the replay.

Avista Corp. is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is our operating division that provides electric service to 400,000 customers and natural gas to 367,000 customers. Our service territory covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.7 million. AERC is an Avista subsidiary that, through its subsidiary AEL&P, provides retail electric service to 17,000 customers in the city and borough of Juneau, Alaska. Our stock is traded under the ticker symbol AVA. For more information about Avista, please visit www.avistacorp.com .

Avista Corp. and the Avista Corp. logo are trademarks of Avista Corporation.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our current expectations for future financial performance and cash flows, capital expenditures, financing plans, our current plans or objectives for future operations and other factors, which may affect the company in the future. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, most of which are beyond our control and many of which could have significant impact on our operations, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows and could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

The following are among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements:

Utility Regulatory Risk

state and federal regulatory decisions or related judicial decisions that affect our ability to recover costs and earn a reasonable return including, but not limited to, disallowance or delay in the recovery of capital investments, operating costs, commodity costs, interest rate swap derivatives, the ordering of refunds to customers and discretion over allowed return on investment; the loss of regulatory accounting treatment, which could require the write-off of regulatory assets and the loss of regulatory deferral and recovery mechanisms;

Operational Risk

pandemics (including the current COVID-19 pandemic), which could disrupt our business, as well as the global, national and local economy, resulting in a decline in customer demand, deterioration in the creditworthiness of our customers, increases in operating and capital costs, workforce shortages, delays in capital projects, disruption in supply chains, and disruption, weakness and volatility in capital markets. In addition, any of these factors could negatively impact our liquidity and limit our access to capital, among other implications; wildfires ignited, or allegedly ignited, by Avista Corp. equipment or facilities could cause significant loss of life and property or result in liability for resulting fire suppression costs, thereby causing serious operational and financial harm to Avista Corp. and our customers; severe weather or natural disasters, including, but not limited to, avalanches, wind storms, wildfires, earthquakes, snow and ice storms, that could disrupt energy generation, transmission and distribution, as well as the availability and costs of fuel, materials, equipment, supplies and support services; explosions, fires, accidents, mechanical breakdowns or other incidents that could impair assets and may disrupt operations of any of our generation facilities, transmission, and electric and natural gas distribution systems or other operations and may require us to purchase replacement power or incur costs to repair our facilities; explosions, fires, accidents or other incidents arising from or allegedly arising from our operations that could cause injuries to the public or property damage; blackouts or disruptions of interconnected transmission systems (the regional power grid); terrorist attacks, cyberattacks or other malicious acts that could disrupt or cause damage to our utility assets or to the national or regional economy in general, including any effects of terrorism, cyberattacks, ransomware, or vandalism that damage or disrupt information technology systems; work-force issues, including changes in collective bargaining unit agreements, strikes, work stoppages, the loss of key executives, availability of workers in a variety of skill areas, and our ability to recruit and retain employees; increasing costs of insurance, more restrictive coverage terms and our ability to obtain insurance; delays or changes in construction costs, and/or our ability to obtain required permits and materials for present or prospective facilities; increasing health care costs and cost of health insurance provided to our employees and retirees; third party construction of buildings, billboard signs, towers or other structures within our rights of way, or placement of fuel containers within close proximity to our transformers or other equipment, including overbuild atop natural gas distribution lines; the loss of key suppliers for materials or services or other disruptions to the supply chain; adverse impacts to our Alaska electric utility (AEL&P) that could result from an extended outage of its hydroelectric generating resources or their inability to deliver energy, due to their lack of interconnectivity to any other electrical grids and the availability or cost of replacement power (diesel); changing river regulation or operations at hydroelectric facilities not owned by us, which could impact our hydroelectric facilities downstream; change in the use, availability or abundancy of water resources and/or rights needed for operation of our hydroelectric facilities;

Cyber and Technology Risk

cyberattacks on the operating systems that are used in the operation of our electric generation, transmission and distribution facilities and our natural gas distribution facilities, and cyberattacks on such systems of other energy companies with which we are interconnected, which could damage or destroy facilities or systems or disrupt operations for extended periods of time and result in the incurrence of liabilities and costs; cyberattacks on the administrative systems that are used in the administration of our business, including customer billing and customer service, accounting, communications, compliance and other administrative functions, and cyberattacks on such systems of our vendors and other companies with which we do business, which could result in the disruption of business operations, the release of private information and the incurrence of liabilities and costs; changes in costs that impede our ability to effectively implement new information technology systems or to operate and maintain current production technology; changes in technologies, possibly making some of the current technology we utilize obsolete or introducing new cyber security risks; insufficient technology skills, which could lead to the inability to develop, modify or maintain our information systems;

Strategic Risk

growth or decline of our customer base due to new uses for our services or decline in existing services, including, but not limited to, the effect of the trend toward distributed generation at customer sites; the potential effects of negative publicity regarding our business practices, whether true or not, which could hurt our reputation and result in litigation or a decline in our common stock price; changes in our strategic business plans, which could be affected by any or all of the foregoing, including the entry into new businesses and/or the exit from existing businesses and the extent of our business development efforts where potential future business is uncertain; wholesale and retail competition including alternative energy sources, growth in customer-owned power resource technologies that displace utility-supplied energy or that may be sold back to the utility, and alternative energy suppliers and delivery arrangements; entering into or growth of non-regulated activities may increase earnings volatility; the risk of municipalization or other forms of service territory reduction;

External Mandates Risk

changes in environmental laws, regulations, decisions and policies, including present and potential environmental remediation costs and our compliance with these matters; the potential effects of initiatives, legislation or administrative rulemaking at the federal, state or local levels, including possible effects on our generating resources, prohibitions or restrictions on new or existing services, or restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate concerns over global climate changes; political pressures or regulatory practices that could constrain or place additional cost burdens on our distribution systems through accelerated adoption of distributed generation or electric-powered transportation or on our energy supply sources, such as campaigns to halt fossil fuel fired power generation and opposition to other thermal generation, wind turbines or hydroelectric facilities; failure to identify changes in legislation, taxation and regulatory issues that could be detrimental or beneficial to our overall business; policy and/or legislative changes in various regulated areas, including, but not limited to, environmental regulation, healthcare regulations and import/export regulations;

Financial Risk

weather conditions, which affect both energy demand and electric generating capability, including the impact of precipitation and temperature on hydroelectric resources, the impact of wind patterns on wind-generated power, weather-sensitive customer demand, and similar impacts on supply and demand in the wholesale energy markets; our ability to obtain financing through the issuance of debt and/or equity securities, which could be affected by various factors including our credit ratings, interest rates, other capital market conditions and global economic conditions; changes in interest rates that affect borrowing costs, our ability to effectively hedge interest rates for anticipated debt issuances, variable interest rate borrowing and the extent to which we recover interest costs through retail rates collected from customers; changes in actuarial assumptions, interest rates and the actual return on plan assets for our pension and other postretirement benefit plans, which could affect future funding obligations, pension and other postretirement benefit expense and the related liabilities; the outcome of legal proceedings and other contingencies; economic conditions in our service areas, including the economy's effects on customer demand for utility services; economic conditions nationally may affect the valuation of our unregulated portfolio companies; declining energy demand related to customer energy efficiency, conservation measures and/or increased distributed generation; changes in the long-term climate and weather could materially affect, among other things, customer demand, the volume and timing of streamflows required for hydroelectric generation, costs of generation, transmission and distribution; Increased or new risks may arise from severe weather or natural disasters, including wildfires; industry and geographic concentrations which could increase our exposure to credit risks due to counterparties, suppliers and customers being similarly affected by changing conditions; deterioration in the creditworthiness of our customers;

Energy Commodity Risk

volatility and illiquidity in wholesale energy markets, including exchanges, the availability of willing buyers and sellers, changes in wholesale energy prices that could affect operating income, cash requirements to purchase electricity and natural gas, value received for wholesale sales, collateral required of us by individual counterparties and/or exchanges in wholesale energy transactions and credit risk to us from such transactions, and the market value of derivative assets and liabilities; default or nonperformance on the part of any parties from whom we purchase and/or sell capacity or energy; potential environmental regulations or lawsuits affecting our ability to utilize or resulting in the obsolescence of our power supply resources; explosions, fires, accidents, pipeline ruptures or other incidents that could limit energy supply to our facilities or our surrounding territory, which could result in a shortage of commodities in the market that could increase the cost of replacement commodities from other sources;

Compliance Risk

changes in laws, regulations, decisions and policies at the federal, state or local levels, which could materially impact both our electric and gas operations and costs of operations; and the ability to comply with the terms of the licenses and permits for our hydroelectric or thermal generating facilities at cost-effective levels.

For a further discussion of these factors and other important factors, please refer to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New risks, uncertainties and other factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all of such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any such factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

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BOCA RATON, Fla., May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ADT Inc. (NYSE: ADT), the most trusted brand in smart home and business security, today announced several changes to its leadership.



Jim Boyce, President, Chief Business Development Officer, has announced his decision to retire effective May 31, 2021. The company is grateful for Jims leadership, wisdom, and dedication, and for his many contributions as CEO of Defenders and its successful integration into ADT. Boyce will continue to advise the companys President and CEO Jim DeVries on a consultative basis.

With Boyces retirement, Jeff Likosar has been named Chief Financial Officer and President, Corporate Development, and will assume responsibility for corporate strategy, business development, partnerships, and communications, in addition to his current responsibilities as CFO. Supporting Likosar will be company veteran Ken Porpora, who has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Finance.

Keith Holmes will join ADT later this month as Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, reporting directly to DeVries. Holmes comes to ADT from Cox Communications, Inc., where he served most recently as Executive Vice President, Head of Cox Business. At ADT, Holmes will lead go-to-market activities and teams, including marketing, sales execution, offer development, and pricing  all key drivers of the companys long-term revenue growth.

Don Young, who was serving as the companys Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President, Field Operations, has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he will now also oversee all aspects of service delivery to customers.

Jill Greer joined ADT in April 2021 as Senior Vice President  Finance, Investor Relations and Communications, reporting to Jeff Likosar. Greer comes to ADT after a long career with Delta Air Lines, where she served as Vice President  Investor Relations.

I want to congratulate Jim Boyce on a well-deserved retirement and thank him for being a trusted friend and partner for many years, said ADTs President and CEO Jim DeVries. With Jims upcoming departure and our renewed focus on growth, weve realigned and enhanced our team, ensuring were building a strong leadership group that will serve ADT well into the future.





FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain information that may constitute forward-looking statements and therefore is subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements contained in this press release that are not clearly historical in nature are forward looking. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in, or reasonably inferred from, such statements, including without limitation, the risks and uncertainties disclosed or referenced in ADTs Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections entitled Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained therein. Therefore, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation (and specifically disclaim any such obligation) to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

About ADT Inc.

ADT is the most trusted brand in smart home and business security. Through innovative products, partnerships and the largest network of smart home security professionals in the United States, we connect and protect what matters most to our customers at home, work and on the go. For more information, visit www.adt.com.

Media Contacts:

Paul Wiseman

paulwiseman@adt.com
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WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Ukraine on Wednesday carrying a tough anti-graft message and strong U.S. backing for the countrys response to Russian aggression. Blinken has also brought along a familiar face in the long-running Washington-Moscow tug-of-war over Ukraine: Victoria Nuland, now the No. 3 State Department official.

The stop is intended to demonstrate Americas continued commitment to Ukraine as it copes with Russias support for separatists and a buildup of troops along its eastern border, as well as to press Kyiv on corruption. It comes at a time of heightened U.S. tensions with Russia not only on Ukraine but also because of U.S. criticism of Russia over human rights, hacking and interference in elections. Both countries recently ordered tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions.

Yet beyond these major issues, the mere presence in Kyiv of Nuland is likely to irritate Russia. A Russia hawk, Nuland is reviled by the Kremlin and was a main target of Moscows attacks on the U.S. during Ukraines 2013-14 revolution and Russias annexation of Crimea when she served as assistant secretary of state for Europe during the Obama administration.

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In meetings on Thursday with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, members of Ukraines parliament and civic leaders, Blinken plans to highlight the U.S. commitment to Ukraine but also stress the need for reform, particularly as it relates to corruption. Just last week, the State Department slammed Ukraines leaders for replacing the board of the countrys main state-run energy firm with members widely seen as more pliant to government wishes and less concerned about transparency.

Blinkens trip also comes on the heels of a Ukraine-related FBI raid on former President Donald Trumps personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and renewed questions about the Trump administrations dealings with Ukraine that led to the firing of a U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, and laid the foundation for GOP attacks against President Joe Biden.

The East-West battle for influence and standing in Ukraine has been a recurrent theme since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and Nulands advocacy for reform-minded, pro-Western Ukrainian politicians incurred the Kremlins wrath.

A career diplomat who retired from the foreign service rather than serve in the Trump administration, Nuland drew Moscows ire and accusations of meddling for appearing at an opposition rally in Kyivs Maidan square during the uprising that eventually overthrew Ukraines pro-Russia leader Viktor Yanukovych.

But even while serving as State Department spokeswoman under Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Nuland, who goes by her nickname Toria, was a frequent thorn in Moscows side, regularly chiding Russia for its policies. That prompted Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to remark on her departure from the spokeswomans role after John Kerry took over as President Barack Obamas top diplomat in 2013.

My first trip after Toria left her post as spokesperson, Foreign Minister Lavrov looked at my staff, and he said to me, John, I see you finally fired that Toria Nuland, Kerry said to laughter at her swearing-in ceremony for assistant secretary of state for Europe. And I took great pleasure in looking at him and saying, No, I promoted her.'

Then came the infamous phone call, a recording of which was leaked by Russian intelligence services, in which Nuland derided the European Unions hesitancy in attempts to mediate a resolution to the Ukraine crisis. F    the EU, Nuland said in the call with then-U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt.

The leak of the call went viral and was widely seen as a Russian attempt to split the U.S. from its European partners on Ukraine. But, while it did cause a media stir, the U.S. and Europe remained generally united in their positions, Russia found a new target for its hostility, Nulands successor as spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, who is now Bidens press secretary, and she carried on in her position until Trumps election in 2016.

Now, after an absence of four years, and eight years after Kerry teased Lavrov about Nulands elevation in the ranks, shes been promoted again: undersecretary of state for political affairs, where shell enjoy considerable influence in policy decisions about Europe and elsewhere.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and AVENTURA, Fla., April 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytovia Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing allogeneic off-the-shelf gene-edited Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-NK cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and NK cell engager multifunctional antibodies, announced today that it has filed two provisional composition of matter patent applications for its FLEX-NK platform, consisting of NKp46-based NK cell engager multifunctional antibodies targeting GPC3 for the treatment of solid tumors, including Hepatocellular carcinoma, and CD38 for the treatment of hematological malignancies, including Multiple Myeloma.



Cytovia is the first company to offer optionality to clinicians to use NK engagers either to activate the patients own innate cells or in combination with Universal off-the-shelf iPSC-derived NK cells. We are excited about the potential of our NK engagers and believe that they will offer a safe and effective outpatient alternative for those not responding to first-line cancer therapies, said Dr. Daniel Teper, CEO of Cytovia Therapeutics. Cytovia is committed to building a strong intellectual property portfolio to support further development of our first-in-class NK engager candidates, with clinical trials starting in the first half 2022.

Cytovia had signed an exclusive worldwide license in 2020 with Yissum, the Technology Transfer company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, for its NKp46 antibodies which activate Natural Killer cells. Yissum filed an international patent application (PCT) for the Nkp46 antibody on April 5th, 2021.

NKp46 is uniquely expressed in NK cells including solid tumor infiltrating NK cells. Targeting NKp46 has been shown to activate NK cytotoxic activity, regulate the tumor micro-environment, and prevent metastasis (as published in Immunity). Cytovia has a worldwide exclusive license of anti-NKp46 antibodies developed by Professor Mandelboim at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

CYT 303 is a FLEX-NK tetravalent bispecific trifunctional antibody targeting GPC3, a glycoprotein highly expressed on solid tumors, including Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but not on adult healthy cells. CYT303 is being developed to treat solid tumors expressing GPC3, including HCC.

CYT 338 is a FLEX-NK tetravalent bispecific trifunctional antibody targeting CD38. The anti-CD38 antibody has been shown to kill CD38-expressing myeloma cells while preserving immune cells in a bispecific T-cell engager setting (as published in Haematologica). CYT338 is being developed to treat hematologic malignancies, including Multiple Myeloma.

About FLEX-NK

FLEX-NK is a novel tetravalent bispecific trifunctional antibody platform designed to induce targeted killing of tumor cells by redirecting NK cells. FLEX-NK antibodies bind to both NKp46 on NK cells and a tumor specific antigen on cancer cells.



The FLEX tetravalent platform is highly potent and behaves like an IgG antibody with high affinity/ avidity, long half-life, and low immunogenicity. The platform has excellent manufacturability and been validated preclinically with in vitro and in vivo data published in J. Immunology.



The FLEX platform was originally developed under the leadership of Dr. Kadouche, a scientific co-founder of Cytovia. Dr. Kadouche is developing additional novel multi-functional formats with intellectual property assigned to Cytovia.

About Cytovia Therapeutics

Cytovia Therapeutics aims to accelerate patient access to transformational cell therapies and immunotherapies, addressing several of the most challenging unmet medical needs in cancer. Cytovia focuses on Natural Killer (NK) cell biology and applies precision engineering to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to develop the safest, most effective, most broadly-available off-the-shelf Natural Killer cell therapy as a first line of defense against cancer. Cytovias proprietary multi-specific antibody platform has been customized to engage and activate NK Cells at the tumor site. Both platforms offer optionality to clinicians and can also be used synergistically. Cytovias R&D laboratories and GMP manufacturing facility are augmented by scientific partnerships with Cellectis, CytoImmune, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, INSERM, the New York Stem Cell Foundation, STC Biologics, and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).

For further information, please contact:

Cytovia Investor Relations contact:

Anna Baran-Djokovic

VP of Investor Relations

646-355-1787

anna@cytoviatx.com

Cytovia Media contact:

Chris Maggos

LifeSci Advisors

+41 79 367 6254

chris@lifesciadvisors.com
As Kris Brechler watched his familys homebred trotter Mission Accepted grow up, he saw nothing that stood out about the horse. The colt was, in a word, average.

But once Mission Accepted began his racing career, what Brechler couldnt see began to become apparent. The horse was filled with a desire to succeed. And now at the age of six, the stallion is nearing $1 million in career earnings as he prepares for the $135,000 Charlie Hill Memorial Trot on Thursday (May 6) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

When he was young, he didnt make an impression one way or another, Brechler said. He was just average looking. But I wish you could see inside of them and see what kind of heart they have, because thats a lot of it. He gives his all, all the time. He gives 100 percent every time hes on the track. You always feel you have a chance with him.

Hes just been a wonderful horse to have and its extra special because we bred him. Hes one of those horses that you wish you could have 10 of in your barn.

Mission Accepted is by Manofmanymissions out of Witty Girl. He was bred by the Mount Vernon-based Knox Services Inc., headed by Brechlers mom Carolyn, and is one of three Ohio Sire Stakes champions out of Witty Girlthe younger full-brother Wittyville and younger half-sister Merry Ann.

We bought his mom as a yearling, Brechler said. She was OK, nothing super. We kept her and shes been a great broodmare for us.

Mission Accepted, trained by Jeff Conger at ages two and three and by Ron Burke since turning four, has won 23 of 69 starts and $926,997. He is the 9-5 morning-line favourite in the Charlie Hill, where a win would push his earnings to within $6,000 of a million.

In addition to capturing an Ohio Sire Stakes title in 2017 at age two, Mission Accepteds victories include the Harry Harvey Invitational and the Vincennes, both in 2019. That year also saw the stallion finish second in the Caesars Trotting Classic and Crawford Farms Trot and third in the Charlie Hill.

Hes taken us to levels we never knew we would be able to get to, said Brechler, whose familys Knox Services now owns Mission Accepted with Burke Racing Stable, David Wills and Weaver Bruscemi. Hes just a fantastic horse. Hes very special to the family. Hes right up there being a once-in-a-lifetime horse for us at this point. Hes just been a great horse for us. Money-wise, hes the best horse weve had.

Brechlers father Ronald, who passed away in 2011, got the family started in harness racing in the early 1980s. His top horses included homebred pacer Trick Man, who earned $317,150 and set his career mark of 1:49.3 in beating Foiled Again in an open at The Meadows in 2011, as well as numerous Ohio standouts.

The familys stable now includes homebred Ohio Sire Stakes champion Summer Touch as well as Grand Circuit winners such as Southwind Gendry and Brookview Bolt.

Weve got some nice horses, said Brechler, who with his brother Doug manages a dairy co-op. My dad got us started and we just kept branching out. The last three or four years we started buying more at yearling sales, but we mostly raise our own.

We enjoy going to the races and watching our horses, especially the ones weve bred. You see them progress from babies (to racehorses) and its that two minutes of excitement, knowing that anything can happen in a race. Its always great to have a good horse and get your picture taken.

Mission Accepted will look to get his picture taken Thursday. He will be driven by Chris Page and start from post 1.

Chris grew up about four houses down from our house, so weve known Chris for a long time, Brechler said. It would be a special thing if it happened. Its a tough race but were all excited and hoping he represents us well, which I have a great feeling hes going to.

The Charlie Hill will go off as Race 9 on Thursday evenings 11-race card. Racing begins at 6:15 p.m. (EDT). Scioto Downs offers free programs online for each live racing card, as well as qualifiers. For free program pages, click here.

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Health officials in the Mid-West are continuing to manage a large community outbreak of Covid-19.

Public Health Mid-West confirmed it was monitoring an outbreak in Nenagh of more than 200 cases since April 1. In total, there have been more than 315 cases recorded in North Tipperary since that date.

According to a department spokesperson, outbreaks in recent weeks include households, families and extended families, a number of indoor social gatherings, schools, workplaces, and community transmission.

Due to the varied nature of this community outbreak, we are detecting considerable onward transmission between clusters in different settings, the spokesperson said.

Testing centre

It comes as the HSE has extended the opening of the free walk-in and drive-through Covid-19 testing centre on the grounds of the former Castlebrand Factory, Tyone, Nenagh, for an additional seven days. No appointment is needed for those who wish to avail of this service.

The free service will operate from 8.30am to 6pm daily, from today until May 10.

This is an operation led by HSE Mid-West Community Healthcare and supported by Public Health Mid-West.

The walk-in clinic is open to members of the public who live within 20km of the test centre. The service is for those who do not have Covid-19 symptoms and for people who are concerned that they may have been at risk of infection in the past two weeks. Children can get tested if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

"You must bring a photo ID with you and provide us with a mobile phone number so we can contact you with your results, a spokesperson for the department said.

We urge members of the public who have symptoms to consult their GP to arrange a test, and to not avail of the walk-in facility. Anyone who has already scheduled a Covid-19 test is asked not to attend, they added.

Dr Marie Casey, specialist in public health medicine, said they would like to thank the hundreds of people who have availed of this clinic to date.

However, we are eager to test more people in Nenagh and the wider area, as we continue to manage multiple Covid-19 clusters contributing to a major community outbreak, Dr Casey said.

The community in Nenagh is considerably active, with a large proportion of the population working in offices and retail, commuting to work outside the town, attending primary and secondary school.

"Unfortunately, when a number of clusters occur in an active population like Nenagh, the virus is able to move faster than we are able to react when our guard is down, she added.

Dr Casey said Nenagh was a key example of how a community positively responds to a crisis, as it is evident that protecting the public has been the peoples number one priority.

We can continue this positive response by availing of the free walk-in clinic, avoiding social mixing and large indoor gatherings, working remotely where possible, wearing masks, socially distancing when in contact with others, and washing hands frequently, Dr Casey said.
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Press Release

Regulated Information

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD or the Bank) has successfully subscribed to a 67 million ticket as part of the inaugural eight-year 600 million green bond issuance as announced 31 March 2021 by VGP NV (VGP or the Group), a European provider of high-quality logistics and semi-industrial real estate.

The Banks investment is earmarked to support the development of sustainable semi-industrial and logistics parks in Hungary, Latvia, Romania and the Slovak Republic.

The EBRD will further support VGP in exploring opportunities arising from the future deployment of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and e-mobility technologies as well as the advancement of circular design features in order to achieve a low embodied carbon framework at the building level. These solutions are highly innovative in the EBRD regions.

Furthermore, the EBRD engagement will support the Group in creating new opportunities for staff training and education, especially for young people, through a corporate-level training programme consisting of a high-quality and accredited dual learning component and an on-the-job traineeship initiative which will enhance access to skills and employment for young people. The programme will be piloted in Romania and subsequently replicated across other VGP operations, including Hungary, Latvia and the Slovak Republic.

Vlaho Kojakovic, EBRD Director, Property and Tourism, said: The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that more resilient, sustainable supply chains and a better logistics infrastructure are needed across the economies where the EBRD invests. VGP is at the forefront of addressing this supply gap, as well as in delivering sustainable real-estate needed to support new consumption patterns and maintain increased inventory levels. By investing in VGPs green bond, the EBRD supports the development of green, high-quality buildings and logistics infrastructure, in line with the objectives of the EBRDs Property and Tourism Strategy 2020-24 and the EBRDs Green Economy Transition approach.

Jan Van Geet, CEO of VGP, added: As a family-owned business we aim to think across generations and therefore intend to operate in a responsible and sustainable manner. We aim to build our business on the basis of mutually prosperous, long term relationships by creating value and being a trusted partner to both our customers and the communities in which we operate. In this context we are delighted to partner with EBRD, in developing sustainable industrial parks in economies where the Bank invests.

The EBRD is a major investor in Hungary, Latvia, Romania and the Slovak Republic. To date, it has invested 15.5 billion in the four countries combined.

VGP also has a long standing presence in these countries with a focus on the development and operation of large multi-tenant business parks. As of December 2020, VGP had 13 parks in the four countries combined representing a total of over 1.3 million m2 of gross leasable area including 375,000 m2 of buildings completed, 75,000 m2 in buildings under construction and a further 880,000 m2 in development land.





CONTACT DETAILS FOR INVESTORS AND MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Martijn Vlutters

(VP  Business Development & Investor Relations) Tel: +32 (0)3 289 1433 Karen Huybrechts

(Head of Marketing) Tel: +32 (0)3 289 1432 Petra Vanclova

(External Communications) Tel: +42 0 602 262 107









ABOUT VGP

VGP is a pan-European developer, manager and owner of high-quality logistics and semi-industrial real estate. VGP operates a fully integrated business model with capabilities and longstanding expertise across the value chain. The company has a development land bank (owned or committed) of 7.65 million m and the strategic focus is on the development of business parks. Founded in 1998 as a family-owned real estate developer in the Czech Republic, VGP with a staff of over 260 employees today owns and operates assets in 12 European countries directly and through several 50:50 joint ventures. As of December 2020, the Gross Asset Value of VGP, including the joint ventures at 100%, amounted to  3.84 billion and the company had a Net Asset Value (EPRA NAV) of  1.35 billion. VGP is listed on Euronext Brussels and on the Prague Stock Exchange (ISIN: BE0003878957).

For more information, please visit: http://www.vgpparks.eu

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Having two qualifier sessions in the books, racing is ready to return to the province of Quebec as Hippodrome 3R will host its first card of 2021 on Friday (May 7).

The Friday card pulled 86 horses out of the entry box for 10 races beginning at 5:30 p.m. (EDT). It features four preferred events topped by the $6,000 Preferred 1, carded as Race 7, where 5-2 morning line favourite Big Petes Style will start from the pylon post against seven other foes. Marie Claude Auger drives the favourite for trainer Gina Bragagnolo.

Before the headline event are a pair of $5,500 Preferred 1 & 2 events, one on the trot and one for pacing mares. In the trot (Race 5), Kinnder High Classthe 2020 Trotting Filly of the Year at H3Rstarts from post 6 as the 5-2 morning line choice with Samuel Fillion at the reins for trainer Denitza Petrova. Tuggingoncredit tops the mare pace in Race 6 as the 5-2 choice on the morning line, but will have to overcome post 8 for trainer-driver Guy Gagnon.

Co-featured to the above Preferreds is a $4,000 Preferred 3 Pace, carded as Race 8. Trainer Isabelle Darveau sends 5-2 favourite Blue Moose from post 6 with Marie Claude Auger in the bike.

Leading the driver colony at H3R is Pascal Berube, who took the title as meet's leading driver during the 2020 season.

"It's always fun to be successful on the track," Berube said to the Quebec Jockey Club. "And it's my first goal when I'm on the sulky. So, as far as winning the drivers title again, if I'm first in the standings it's great, but otherwise I just want to live up to myself and do my best.

"I currently have 6 horses in the stable," Berube also said. "And three of them are new horses. I really hope they will live up to our expectations as these are several new owners and I would like for them to enjoy their first experience as owners."

Meanwhile, Francis Richard returns to H3R in pursuit of his fifth training title.

"We are ready of course for the new race season at H3R," Richard said. "I really am looking forward to seeing my trotter that I co-own, Fashion Frenzie. Him, along with a Bettors Delight colt I co-own named Twin B Powerball, are under the good care of trainer Richard Moreau."

Opening day at H3R was originally slated for Sunday (May 2), however the Quebec government did not then approve for racing to be conducted due to the state of the coronavirus pandemic. H3R received the green light to race on April 30. No spectators will be allowed on track for the Friday card, and H3R will enforce the same Covid protocols in place from last season on all horsepeople and employees on track.

After Fridays card, H3R will return to its regular schedule of Sunday racing beginning on May 16 with a 1:00 p.m. (EDT) first-race post time. Friday racing will return to H3R on June 11 with first-race post time scheduled for 4:00 p.m. (EDT). H3R will operate on a Friday, Sunday schedule through its 40-day season concluding on Sunday, Nov. 7.

Program Pages are available for the Friday card, courtesy of TrackIT, at this link.

To view Friday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Friday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
Kingstree, SC (29556)

Today

More clouds than sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable.
The High Court will decide later whether to overturn a Labour Court decision which allows a woman working in the cultural office of the Kuwaiti Embassy in Dublin to take an unfair dismissal case.

The Labour Court in 2019 found Nada Kanj, who is a dual Irish/Lebanese citizen who worked for 10 years as an academic advisor in the State of Kuwait's Cultural Office, was not precluded from availing of our employment protection laws by virtue of diplomatic immunity.

Mr Kanj had argued her role, related to Kuwaiti students attending third-level institutions here, was purely administrative.

The State of Kuwait argued her work meant she played a key role in the implementation of government policy.

She says in 2017 her employment was terminated without any reasons given. She brought an unfair dismissal claim to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) The WRC decided it could not deal with her case on the basis it had no jurisdiction because the Kuwait cultural office had diplomatic immunity from Irish employment law.

She appealed and the Labour Court reversed that decision saying her unfair dismissal case could be heard here.

Kuwait then asked the High Court to overturn that and on Wednesday Mr Justice Robert Barr reserved his decision.

The State of Kuwait's case

Eanna Mulloy SC, for the State of Kuwait, in his submissions to the court, said the Labour Court had erred in law in finding her role did not involve the exercise of any public powers or governmental authority and therefore was not covered by diplomatic immunity.

The Labour Court had applied the wrong test in relation to the issue of public powers/governmental authority.

It has also set a new threshold in relation to this issue which had been determined in a 1992 Supreme Court case involving the Canadian Embassy and one of its employees in which the test for diplomatic immunity was established.

There was no such power in Irish or international law allowing for this and the Labour Court had for the first time "thrown down the gauntlet and gone on a solo run", counsel said. It had also omitted a lot of the necessary reasoning process for coming to its decision, he said.

Nada Kanj's case

Michael Lynn SC, for Ms Kanj, said the Labour Court had not erred. He argued its decision was quite clear, it had summarized the evidence and carried out a quite comprehensive survey of the law before it came to its decision.

Fundamental to that was that her case came within the threshold required by a UN convention relating to this issue on diplomatic immunity.

Article 11 2a of the 2004 UN Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property says that, unless otherwise agreed by the states concerned, the state cannot invoke immunity in relation to a contract of employment unless certain conditions are met including functions in the exercise of governmental authority.

His client met that criteria and the Labour Court decision should stand.
The battle over her leadership position has become a symbolic moment for a GOP trying to define itself in the aftermath of Trumps presidency. Trump still has an enormous  perhaps a decisive  hold on the party, but that is forcing its members to decide whether to back his false claims about the election and downplay his role in deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, or hold him accountable for them.
Logan, WV (25601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning. Thunderstorms likely during the afternoon. High 79F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Thunder possible. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
There are no plans to remove the one-metre plus social distancing rule in the North, the deputy First Minister has said.

Earlier this week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson indicated the rule in Britain could be ditched next month.

The final decision on whether the change can be brought in from June 21 will depend on the data, he added.

Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill answers questions on behalf of the Executive Office in the Stormont Assembly chamber (NI Assembly/PA)

Michelle ONeill said there have been no discussions in the Stormont Executive for a similar move, however she said the conversation will be had in due course.

I have noted Boris Johnsons commentary, however the Health Minister hasnt brought such a proposal to the Executive at this point for discussion but Im sure that over due course, that is a discussion that we will have to have, she told MLAs.

We make our decisions based on the advice from our own public health team, and certainly at this moment in time there is no advice that suggests that this is where we can change things.

Ultimately of course its where we want to get to but it has to be done in a safe and steady way, it has to be done in a way that doesnt walk us into a corner where we would have to reverse.

There are still risks out there, there are new variants, we need to be very very careful.

Northern Ireland has enjoyed a number of lockdown relaxations in recent weeks, including the reopening of outdoor hospitality and non-essential retail.

Pedro Donald, owner of the Sunflower Bar in Belfast was told his outdoor area does not conform with requirements (Rebecca Black/PA)

However some pubs and cafes say they have been unable to reopen following unsuccessful inspections, despite, they have argued, having the same outdoor facilities that were in place last summer when they were allowed to reopen following the first lockdown.

Ms ONeill said different council areas have taken different approaches, and that junior ministers are working with the councils to co-ordinate.

She said there should not be a blade of grass of difference of approach.

We are winning in the battle against Covid, and with the publics continued support, we will continue in this positive vein, however there does seem to have been some disparity of approach and we will try to rectify that, she told MLAs.

Meanwhile changes to visiting arrangements for hospitals and care homes will come into effect on Friday.

As part of a phased approach to the return of visiting, care home visits will increase from one to two a week, and hospital patients will be allowed to have one daily visit from two people from up to two households.

Health Minister Robin Swann said: Everyone has a vital role to play when it comes to safe visiting.

That includes social distancing, hand hygiene and not visiting if you are feeling unwell yourself.

No further deaths of patients who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland were notified on Tuesday,

The Department of Health said there had been an additional 83 cases of the virus confirmed in the last 24-hour reporting period.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexico state government agencies tasked with implementing a cannabis legalization law do not plan to increase pot purchase limits for medical marijuana patients once the law takes effect in June, they told cannabis producers on Wednesday.

But leaders of the two agencies said the Regulation and Licensing Department would unveil proposed rules this month revising cannabis production limits for producers, among other issues.

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They also said enrolled patients would be allowed to purchase greater quantities of cannabis once commercial sales begin  likely in early 2022  but would have to pay taxes on all purchases in excess of the current possession limits.

The states stance could lead to litigation by certain producers who have expressed concern over possible product shortages and have pushed for the plant count limit to be raised immediately.

I think it probably will result in some need for a formal adjudication of the issue, Duke Rodriguez, CEO and president of Ultra Health Inc., the states largest medical cannabis producer, said in an interview Wednesday.

He also said the states stance flies in the face of a commitment to protect medical cannabis patients while launching the new recreational cannabis industry.

This is almost a death sentence to the medical program, Rodriguez told the Journal.

Enrollment in New Mexicos medical cannabis program has skyrocketed in recent years, and there were more than 112,000 licensed patients as of March, according to Health Department data.

Protections for those patients played a role in the debate over the cannabis legalization bill that was approved during a two-day special session and subsequently signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The governor called the special session in March after a previous version of the bill stalled during the final hours of this years 60-day legislative session.

Among other provisions, the final version of the legalization bill will eliminate the states gross receipts tax from medical cannabis sales starting June 29.

Once the new law officially takes effect, adults age 21 and older will be allowed to possess outside the home up to 2 ounces of marijuana, 800 milligrams of edible cannabis or 16 grams of extract. Those would also be the limits on how much a customer could buy at one time.

However, there will be no restriction on how much cannabis people could keep at home, as long as its out of public view.

That could set up a conflict with the medical cannabis program, which has an effective purchase limit for patients of 230 grams  or about 8 ounces  every 90 days.

The Wednesday letter from the heads of the Department of Health and the Regulation and Licensing Department was a response to a previous letter sent last month by five medical cannabis producers.

Although recreational sales do not have to start until April 2022, the producers argued the new law will allow medical cannabis patients to purchase and possess larger amounts of marijuana than would be sustainable under the 1,750-plant count limit for producers.

But Health Secretary Tracie Collins and Regulation and Licensing Superintendent Linda Trujillo said that reading of the new law is based on a misunderstanding and that purchase limits for medical pot patients will remain in place  at least temporarily  once cannabis possession is legalized.

Under New Mexicos cannabis legalization law, a newly-formed state division within the Regulation and Licensing Department will begin accepting applications for cannabis producer licenses on Sept. 1.

Many of the states 33 licensed medical cannabis producers are also expected to seek licenses for the new recreational industry.

However, New Mexico Cannabis Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ben Lewinger said the cannabis legalization law is aimed at bringing more producers into the industry, not just expanding the operations of current producers.

He also described the work being done by the state Regulation and Licensing Department to implement the new law as crucial, even if lawmakers need to make changes to it in future years.

I have a lot of faith the work theyre doing now is going to continue the momentum created by passing the (legalization) bill, Lewinger said.
Behaviorally Hires Kantar's Cador in Spain

Shopper insights specialist Behaviorally has appointed long-time Kantar exec Barbara Cador as Vice President, Growth Officer, EU, based in Spain.



The company, recently rebranded from PRS IN VIVO USA, uses a proprietary approach and in-depth sector experience to define and diagnose the factors that influence consumer behavior and drive shopper growth. Cador (pictured) joins after thirteen years at Kantar, latterly as Global Head of CX+. Earlier, she was the firm's Global Director Strategy and Transformation, and Group Account Director Retail and Shopper Insight. She began her career as a Marketing Associate at Cartier, before working for luxury goods and jewellery brand Puig as Product Manager, and Avon Cosmetics as Category and Brand Marketing Director EMEA.



Commenting on the appointment, EU & UK MD Alex Batchelor said: 'We are pleased to announce another addition to our Behaviorally team in Europe. With Barbara, we have a passionate leader and dynamic relationship builder. We look forward to her contributions to our strategy in the region'.



Web site: www.behaviorally.com .




CALGARY, Alberta, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athabasca Oil Corporation (TSX: ATH) (Athabasca or the Company) is pleased to report its 2021 first quarter results that demonstrate the resilience and quality of its asset base. The Company is also pleased to provide an update on initiatives to further improve its positioning in a post COVID recovery. Athabasca plans to refinance its debt in the coming months that will allow shareholders to capture the unparalleled cashflow generation potential from its long reserve life, oil weighted asset base.



Q1 Highlights

Production: ~34,400 boe/d including ~25,950 bbl/d in Thermal Oil and ~8,450 boe/d in Light Oil.

~34,400 boe/d including ~25,950 bbl/d in Thermal Oil and ~8,450 boe/d in Light Oil. Operating Income : $66 million driven by stronger oil prices and high liquids weighting (89%).

: $66 million driven by stronger oil prices and high liquids weighting (89%). Adjusted Funds Flow: $19 million ($0.04 per share).

$19 million ($0.04 per share). Capital Expenditures: $36 million focused on high-value Leismer projects to sustain production.

$36 million focused on high-value Leismer projects to sustain production. Netbacks: Industry leading $31.24/boe in Light Oil, and $17.85/bbl in Thermal Oil.



Recent Operational Highlights

Leismer: Drilled one sustaining well pair and two infill wells with first oil expected in July; drilled five producer wells at Pad L8 with steaming to commence in Q4 2021. The L8 pad will ramp up to >5,000 bbl/d in 2022 and has project economics of ~$270 million NPV10 (US$55 WTI flat pricing).

Drilled one sustaining well pair and two infill wells with first oil expected in July; drilled five producer wells at Pad L8 with steaming to commence in Q4 2021. The L8 pad will ramp up to >5,000 bbl/d in 2022 and has project economics of ~$270 million NPV10 (US$55 WTI flat pricing). Hangingstone: Production at pre-2020 shut-in levels with April averaging ~9,500 bbl/d. Forecasting $5 million in annual savings through the addition of a truck terminal at no capital cost to the Company and contracted third-party volumes up to 5,000 bbl/d (starting July).

Production at pre-2020 shut-in levels with April averaging ~9,500 bbl/d. Forecasting $5 million in annual savings through the addition of a truck terminal at no capital cost to the Company and contracted third-party volumes up to 5,000 bbl/d (starting July). Light Oil: Focused on free cash flow generation; Kaybob East & Two Creeks Duvernay wells screen as top producers with IP180s and IP365s averaging 725 boe/d (85% oil) and ~550 boe/d (83% oil).



Financial Update and 2021 Outlook (US$60 WTI & US$11 WCS heavy differentials)

Unrestricted Cash: $141 million forecasted to grow to ~$210 million by year-end.

$141 million forecasted to grow to ~$210 million by year-end. Cash Flow: Forecasted Adjusted EBITDA of >$210 million (~$155 million of Adjusted Funds Flow); unhedged annual EBITDA sensitivity of ~$70 million for every US$5/bbl move in oil prices.

Forecasted Adjusted EBITDA of >$210 million (~$155 million of Adjusted Funds Flow); unhedged annual EBITDA sensitivity of ~$70 million for every US$5/bbl move in oil prices. Net Debt: $419 million (excl. $135 million of restricted cash), 2x 2021 forecasted Adjusted EBITDA.

$419 million (excl. $135 million of restricted cash), 2x 2021 forecasted Adjusted EBITDA. Increased Production Outlook: Revised guidance of 32,000  34,000 boe/d (~90% liquids).

Revised guidance of 32,000  34,000 boe/d (~90% liquids). Low Sustaining Capital: Unchanged $100 million capital budget funded within forecasted funds flow and generating free cash flow of ~$55 million.

Unchanged $100 million capital budget funded within forecasted funds flow and generating free cash flow of ~$55 million. Reserve Based Lending Facility: Normal course extension completed to November 30, 2021.

Normal course extension completed to November 30, 2021. Balance Sheet: Planning to refinance US$450 million Second Lien Notes in the coming months as energy credit markets continue to improve. The refinancing will be supported by strong asset performance, continued execution on cost initiatives, and compelling cash generating outlook.



Inaugural ESG Report

Inaugural Report: Proud to publish an Inaugural ESG report following Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) guidelines. The report is available on the Companys website (https://www.atha.com/responsibility.html) and SEDAR (https://www.sedar.com).

Proud to publish an Inaugural ESG report following Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) guidelines. The report is available on the Companys website (https://www.atha.com/responsibility.html) and SEDAR (https://www.sedar.com). Environment: Achieved a 20% reduction in GHG emissions intensity since 2015 with a goal of a 30% reduction by 2025 by developing high quality resources and the deployment of new technology.

Achieved a 20% reduction in GHG emissions intensity since 2015 with a goal of a 30% reduction by 2025 by developing high quality resources and the deployment of new technology. Social: In 2020 best in class safety excellence with a 0.1 Total Recordable Frequency and no reportable spills; partnered with the Mikisew Cree First Nation and the Government of Alberta to create the worlds largest contiguous protected boreal forest area (Kitaskino Nuwenene Wildland Provincial Park).

In 2020 best in class safety excellence with a 0.1 Total Recordable Frequency and no reportable spills; partnered with the Mikisew Cree First Nation and the Government of Alberta to create the worlds largest contiguous protected boreal forest area (Kitaskino Nuwenene Wildland Provincial Park). Governance: Independent Board with established and robust corporate policies.

Business Environment and the Recovery from COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic that began in March 2020 had a significant negative impact on global commodity prices due to a reduction in oil demand as countries around the world enacted emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus. The Company took swift action in response to the pandemic and the economic crisis. Major initiatives included a reduction to the 2020 capital program, temporary production curtailments, partnering with service companies to reduce operating costs and reducing future financial commitments on the Keystone XL pipeline (KXL).

In the second half of 2020, commodity prices began to improve with both OPEC+ and North American producers reducing production allowing for global inventories to fall. Economies have started to reopen with positive developments on the vaccine front and world oil demand has almost recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Supply and demand fundamentals are now supporting a much stronger oil futures market.

In Alberta, physical markets and regional benchmark prices (e.g. WCS heavy oil) have also strengthened with higher WTI prices and tighter differentials as a result of curtailed volumes and falling inventories. Athabasca expects current WCS differentials to remain supported by muted industry growth, significant Q2 turnaround programs in the oil sands, and improving basin egress (including Enbridge Line 3 replacement H2 2021). There is strong demand for heavy oil from US Gulf Coast refineries as they face structural declines in global heavy oil supply (Venezuela and Mexico). Athabasca believes conditions are emerging for WCS heavy oil to be among the most valuable global crude benchmarks.

Balance Sheet Update & Capital Guidance

Athabasca plans to refinance its US$450 million Senior Secured Second Lien Notes (2022 Notes) in the coming months as energy credit markets continue to improve. The Companys goals include providing multi-year funding certainty and lowering the overall quantum and cost of debt.

The $100 million unchanged 2021 capital program is fully funded within forecasted Adjusted Funds Flow of ~$155 million (US$60 WTI & US$11 WCS differential) and the Company is expected to generate ~$55 million of Free Cash Flow through the balance of the year. Capital activity is focused on sustaining production at the Companys cornerstone Leismer asset. The first quarter results support the strong start to the year and the Company is increasing its production guidance to 32,000  34,000 boe/d (90% liquids).

Net debt at March 31, 2021 was $419 million and represents 2x 2021 forecasted adjusted EBITDA (>$210 million). Liquidity is expected to grow from $141 million (unrestricted cash) at March 31, 2021 to ~$210 million at year-end (US$60 WTI & US$11 WCS differentials). The Company is committed to allocating free cash flow in order to achieve its long term debt targets of <1.5x Net Debt to EBITDA at US$55 WTI.

In April, the Companys banking syndicate renewed the reserve-based lending facility until November 30, 2021. The credit facility remains unchanged at $37.6 million which reflects current outstanding letters of credit for long term transportation commitments. The banking syndicate has been streamlined to four long-term partners (ATB Financial, RBC Capital Markets, BMO Capital Markets and Goldman Sachs). In the current environment the Companys low risk reserves have the potential to support a first lien credit facility which could provide access to additional liquidity concurrent with the 2022 Notes refinancing. At year-end 2020, McDaniel & Associates assigned reserve value (NPV10 before tax) of $508 million Proved Developed Producing and $1.6 billion Total Proved reserves under conservative price forecasts relative to the current strip commodity prices.

Athabascas risk management program targets hedging up to 50% of corporate production with an emphasis on securing funds flow to protect a base sustaining capital program. For the balance of 2021 (Q2  Q4) the Company has hedged ~5,000 bbl/d of WTI swaps at ~US$60, ~11,700 bbl/d of WCS differentials at ~US$12, and ~13,600 bbl/d of WTI sold calls at ~US$55.75. The Company intends to add additional WTI hedging for 2021 with the recent strength in spot prices.

Financial and Operational Highlights

Three months ended

March 31, ($ Thousands, unless otherwise noted) 2021 2020 CONSOLIDATED Petroleum and natural gas production (boe/d) 34,401 36,557 Operating Income (Loss)(1) $ 65,928 $ (20,328) Operating Income Net of Realized Hedging(1)(2) $ 44,815 $ 1,098 Operating Netback(1) ($/boe) $ 21.12 $ (5.98) Operating Netback Net of Realized Hedging(1)(2) ($/boe) $ 14.36 $ 0.33 Capital expenditures $ 35,554 $ 76,246 Capital Expenditures Net of Capital-Carry(1) $ 35,554 $ 53,506 LIGHT OIL DIVISION Petroleum and natural gas production(1) (boe/d) 8,542 8,242 Percentage Liquids(1) (%) 57% 59% Operating Income (Loss)(1) $ 23,760 $ 12,783 Operating Netback(1) ($/boe) $ 31.24 $ 17.04 Capital expenditures $ 968 $ 58,527 Capital Expenditures Net of Capital-Carry(1) $ 968 $ 35,787 THERMAL OIL DIVISION Bitumen production (bbl/d) 25,949 28,315 Operating Income (Loss)(1) $ 42,168 $ (33,111) Operating Netback(1) ($/bbl) $ 17.85 $ (12.50) Capital expenditures $ 33,014 $ 17,696 CASH FLOW AND FUNDS FLOW Cash flow from operating activities $ 1,138 $ (3,021) per share  basic $ - $ (0.01) Adjusted Funds Flow(1) $ 18,961 $ (27,883) per share  basic $ 0.04 $ (0.05) NET INCOME (LOSS) AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) $ (17,472) $ (516,481) per share  basic and diluted $ (0.03) $ (0.99) COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING Weighted average shares outstanding  basic and diluted 530,675,391 523,595,977





March 31, Dec. 31, As at ($ Thousands) 2021 2020 LIQUIDITY AND BALANCE SHEET Cash and cash equivalents $ 141,130 $ 165,201 Restricted cash $ 135,120 $ 135,624 Available credit facilities(3) $ 98 $ 348 Face value of long-term debt, including current portion(4) $ 565,875 $ 572,940





(1) Refer to the Reader Advisory section within this news release for additional information on Non-GAAP Financial Measures and production disclosure. (2) Includes realized commodity risk management loss of $21.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 (three months ended March 31, 2020 - $21.4 million gain). (3) Includes available credit under Athabasca's Credit Facility and Unsecured Letter of Credit Facility (see page 14 of the Companys Q1 2021 MD&A). (4) The face value of the 2022 Notes is US$450 million. The 2022 Notes were translated into Canadian dollars at the March 31, 2021 exchange rate of US$1.00 = C$1.2575 (2020  C$1.2732).

Operations Update

Thermal Oil

Bitumen production for Q1 2021 averaged 25,949 bbl/d. The Thermal Oil division generated Operating Income of $42.2 million. The Western Canadian Select heavy oil benchmark averaged C$57.40/bbl for Q1 2021, up 61% from an average price of C$35.58/bbl in 2020. Q1 2021 Operating Netbacks for Leismer and Hangingstone were $20.67/bbl and $12.58/bbl, respectively. Thermal Oil margins have continued to improve year to date with March Operating Netbacks of ~$28/bbl and ~$20/bbl for each asset respectively. Capital expenditures for the quarter were $33.0 million.

Leismer

Bitumen production for Q1 2021 averaged 17,002 bbl/d.

Current activity is focused on sustaining production at Leismer. In Q1 2021 the Company completed the drilling of two infill wells at Pad L6 and an additional well pair at Pad L7 with first production expected in July. Drilling operations are underway on a five well-pair sustaining pad (Pad L8). The five producer wells encountered the highest quality reservoir across all of Leismers wells drilled to date. The Company anticipates completing the drilling of the five injector wells and facility construction through Q2 and Q3 2021. Initial steam circulation is expected before year-end with first production in early 2022. The initial five well pairs on Pad L8 are expected to ramp-up to in excess of 5,000 bbl/d in 2022. The existing pipeline will support future development for up to 14 well pairs on Pad L8.

The Company is expanding its non-condensable gas co-injection (NCG) program across the field following successful implementation in 2020 (Pad L1  L4) which has lowered mature pad SORs by ~16% from 4.2x to 3.5x (2019 vs. Q1 2021). NCG is expected to be operational on Pad L5 and L6 in Q2 2021.

Leismer has an estimated US$27/bbl WCS 2021 operating break-even. The asset is forecasted to generate ~$155 million of Operating Income in 2021 (US$60 WTI & US$11 WCS differentials).

Hangingstone

Bitumen production for Q1 2021 averaged 8,947 bbl/d. The field restart has exceeded expectations with volumes recovering to pre shut-in levels. Current production is ~9,500 bbl/d (April). The standing well pair (AA03) started steaming in April with first oil expected in September. The Company is implementing NCG field-wide in 2021 that will support more efficient steam and pressure management.

During 2020, the Company implemented several cost saving measures reducing non-energy operating costs to a record low of $5.70/bbl in Q1 2021.

In March 2021, the Company executed a commercial arrangement with an industry leading marketing company to construct a truck-in terminal at no cost to Athabasca. Operations are expected to commence in July with up to 5,000 bbl/d of third party truck-in capacity. The additional volumes are expected to generate up to $5 million in annual savings through a processing fee and by leveraging existing volume commitments under Athabascas transportation agreements.

In 2021, Hangingstone will have no capital allocation other than routine pump replacements and has no sustaining capital requirements for the next several years.

Managements execution to date on streamlining Hangingstones cost structure has materially improved the assets resiliency and profitability. Hangingstone now has an estimated US$33/bbl WCS operating break-even. The asset is forecasted to generate ~$55 million of Operating Income in 2021 (US$60 WTI & US$11 WCS differentials).

Light Oil

Production averaged 8,452 boe/d (57% Liquids) in Q1 2021. The division generated Operating Income of $23.8 million ($31.24/boe). Athabascas Light Oil Netbacks continue to be top tier when compared to Albertas other liquids-rich Montney and Duvernay resource producers and are supported by a high liquids weighting and low operating expenses. Capital expenditures were $1.0 million during the quarter.

At Placid, the asset is positioned for flexible future development with an inventory of ~150 gross drilling locations and no near-term land retention requirements. Activity will be revisited following a successful refinancing.

At Kaybob, production results have been consistently strong with wells screening as top liquids producers in the basin. Well results in Two Creeks and Kaybob East have seen average productivity of ~725 boe/d IP180s (85% liquids) and ~550 boe/d IP365s (83% liquids). Under full development, well costs are expected to be less than $7.5 million in the volatile oil window. These results coupled with a large well inventory (~700 gross drilling locations) and flexible development timing indicate significant value to Athabasca. The Kaybob area is supported by a strong Joint Development Agreement, established infrastructure and no near-term land retention requirements.

Minimal capital activity ($5 million) is planned for 2021 with operations focused on facility maintenance and readiness for Duvernay completions in 2022. Light Oil is forecasted to generate ~$75 million of Operating Income in 2021 (US$60 WTI).

Annual General Meeting

Athabasca will hold its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 9:00am (MDT). Due to restrictions on gatherings implemented by the Government of Alberta in response COVID-19 the Company is hosting a virtual meeting. Shareholders can listen to the Meeting via live webcast at:

https://web.lumiagm.com/456712114

with additional details available at:

https://www.atha.com/investors/presentation-events.html.

An archived recording of the webcast will be available on the Companys website for those unable to listen live.

About Athabasca Oil Corporation

Athabasca Oil Corporation is a Canadian energy company with a focused strategy on the development of thermal and light oil assets. Situated in Albertas Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, the Company has amassed a significant land base of extensive, high quality resources. Athabascas common shares trade on the TSX under the symbol ATH. For more information, visit www.atha.com.

For more information, please contact:

Matthew Taylor

Chief Financial Officer

1-403-817-9104

mtaylor@atha.com

Reader Advisory:

This News Release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks, uncertainties and other factors. All information other than statements of historical fact is forward-looking information. The use of any of the words anticipate, plan, forecast, continue, estimate, expect, may, will, project, target, should, believe, predict, pursue, potential, view and contemplate and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is not historical fact, but rather is based on the Companys current plans, objectives, goals, strategies, estimates, assumptions and projections about the Companys industry, business and future operating and financial results. This information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information included in this News Release should not be unduly relied upon. This information speaks only as of the date of this News Release and, except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. In particular, this News Release contains forward-looking information pertaining to, but not limited to, the following: our strategic plans and free cash flow potential; the Companys 2021 Outlook; including expected unrestricted cash, EBITDA, funds flow, net debt, production outlook, capital budget and operating income for Thermal Oil and Light Oil; EBITDA sensitivity; refinancing of its US$450 million Senior Secured Second Lien Notes and potential support for a first lien credit facility; future debt levels and composition; Trans Mountain and Keystone in-service dates; timing of Leismer well on stream dates and expected benefits therefrom; our drilling plans in Leismer and L8 project economics; timing for NCG to be operational; expected operating cost savings at Hangingstone and timing for first oil from new well pair; expected costs savings resulting from the Hangingstone truck-in terminal; type well economic metrics; expectations for WCS heavy oil to be amongst the most valuable global crude benchmarks; emissions reductions target; target net debt to EBITDA; and other matters.

In addition, information and statements in this News Release relating to "Reserves" are deemed to be forward-looking information, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated, and that the reserves and resources described can be profitably produced in the future.

With respect to forward-looking information contained in this News Release, assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: commodity prices; the regulatory framework governing royalties, taxes and environmental matters in the jurisdictions in which the Company conducts and will conduct business and the effects that such regulatory framework will have on the Company, including on the Companys financial condition and results of operations; the Companys financial and operational flexibility; the Companys financial sustainability; Athabasca's cash flow break-even commodity price; the Companys ability to obtain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the applicability of technologies for the recovery and production of the Companys reserves and resources; future capital expenditures to be made by the Company; future sources of funding for the Companys capital programs; the Companys future debt levels; future production levels; the Companys ability to obtain financing and/or enter into joint venture arrangements, on acceptable terms; operating costs; compliance of counterparties with the terms of contractual arrangements; impact of increasing competition globally; collection risk of outstanding accounts receivable from third parties; geological and engineering estimates in respect of the Companys reserves and resources; recoverability of reserves and resources; the geography of the areas in which the Company is conducting exploration and development activities and the quality of its assets. Certain other assumptions related to the Companys Reserves are contained in the report of McDaniel & Associates Consultants Ltd. (McDaniel) evaluating Athabascas Proved Reserves, Probable Reserves and Contingent Resources as at December 31, 2020 (which is respectively referred to herein as the "McDaniel Report).

Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the risk factors set forth in the Companys Annual Information Form (AIF) dated March 3, 2021 and Managements Discussion and Analysis dated May 4, 2021, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, including, but not limited to: weakness in the oil and gas industry; exploration, development and production risks; prices, markets and marketing; market conditions; continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; ability to finance capital requirements; climate change and carbon pricing risk; regulatory environment and changes in applicable law; gathering and processing facilities, pipeline systems and rail; statutes and regulations regarding the environment; political uncertainty; state of capital markets; anticipated benefits of acquisitions and dispositions; abandonment and reclamation costs; changing demand for oil and natural gas products; royalty regimes; foreign exchange rates and interest rates; reserves; hedging; operational dependence; operating costs; project risks; financial assurances; diluent supply; third party credit risk; indigenous claims; reliance on key personnel and operators; income tax; cybersecurity; advanced technologies; hydraulic fracturing; liability management; seasonality and weather conditions; unexpected events; internal controls; insurance; litigation; natural gas overlying bitumen resources; competition; chain of title and expiration of licenses and leases; breaches of confidentiality; new industry related activities or new geographical areas; and risks related to our debt and securities.

Also included in this News Release are estimates of Athabasca's 2021 Outlook which are based on the various assumptions as to production levels, commodity prices, currency exchange rates and other assumptions disclosed in this News Release. To the extent any such estimate constitutes a financial outlook, it was approved by management and the Board of Directors of Athabasca, and is included to provide readers with an understanding of the Companys outlook. Management does not have firm commitments for all of the costs, expenditures, prices or other financial assumptions used to prepare the financial outlook or assurance that such operating results will be achieved and, accordingly, the complete financial effects of all of those costs, expenditures, prices and operating results are not objectively determinable. The actual results of operations of the Company and the resulting financial results may vary from the amounts set forth herein, and such variations may be material. The financial outlook contained in this New Release was made as of the date of this News release and the Company disclaims any intention or obligations to update or revise such financial outlook, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required pursuant to applicable law.

Oil and Gas Information

BOEs" may be misleading, particularly if used in isolation. A BOE conversion ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil equivalent (6 Mcf: 1 bbl) is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. As the value ratio between natural gas and crude oil based on the current prices of natural gas and crude oil is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a conversion on a 6:1 basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

Operating breakeven reflects the estimated WCS oil price per barrel required to generate an asset level operating income of Cdn $0. Breakeven is used to assess the impact of changes in WCS oil prices on operating income of an asset and could impact future investment decisions. Steam oil ratio, or SOR, measures the average volume of steam required to produce a barrel of oil. Operating break-even and SOR do not have any standardized meaning and therefore should not be used to make comparisons to similar measures presented by other issuers.

Initial Production Rates

Test Results and Initial Production Rates: The well test results and initial production rates provided in this News Release should be considered to be preliminary, except as otherwise indicated. Test results and initial production rates disclosed herein may not necessarily be indicative of long-term performance or of ultimate recovery.

Reserves Information

The McDaniel Report was prepared using the assumptions and methodology guidelines outlined in the COGE Handbook and in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities, effective December 31, 2020. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of bitumen, light crude oil and medium crude oil, tight oil, conventional natural gas, shale gas and natural gas liquids reserves and the future cash flows attributed to such reserves. The reserve and associated cash flow information set forth above are estimates only. In general, estimates of economically recoverable reserves and the future net cash flows therefrom are based upon a number of variable factors and assumptions, such as historical production from the properties, production rates, ultimate reserve recovery, timing and amount of capital expenditures, marketability of oil and natural gas, royalty rates, the assumed effects of regulation by governmental agencies and future operating costs, all of which may vary materially. For those reasons, estimates of the economically recoverable reserves attributable to any particular group of properties, classification of such reserves based on risk of recovery and estimates of future net revenues associated with reserves prepared by different engineers, or by the same engineers at different times, may vary. The Company's actual production, revenues, taxes and development and operating expenditures with respect to its reserves will vary from estimates thereof and such variations could be material. Reserves figures described herein have been rounded to the nearest MMbbl or MMboe. For additional information regarding the consolidated reserves and information concerning the resources of the Company as evaluated by McDaniel in the McDaniel Report, please refer to the Companys AIF.

Reserve Values (i.e. Net Asset Value) is calculated using the estimated net present value of all future net revenue from our reserves, before income taxes discounted at 10%, as estimated by McDaniel effective December 31, 2020 and based on average pricing of McDaniel, Sproule and GLJ as of January 1, 2021.

The 700 Duvernay drilling locations referenced include: 7 proved undeveloped locations and 78 probable undeveloped locations for a total of 85 booked locations with the balance being unbooked locations. The 150 Montney drilling locations referenced include: 63 proved undeveloped locations and 35 probable undeveloped locations for a total of 98 booked locations with the balance being unbooked locations. Proved undeveloped locations and probable undeveloped locations are booked and derived from the Company's most recent independent reserves evaluation as prepared by McDaniel as of December 31, 2020 and account for drilling locations that have associated proved and/or probable reserves, as applicable. Unbooked locations are internal management estimates. Unbooked locations do not have attributed reserves or resources (including contingent or prospective). Unbooked locations have been identified by management as an estimation of Athabascas multi-year drilling activities expected to occur over the next two decades based on evaluation of applicable geologic, seismic, engineering, production and reserves information. There is no certainty that the Company will drill all unbooked drilling locations and if drilled there is no certainty that such locations will result in additional oil and gas reserves, resources or production. The drilling locations on which the Company will actually drill wells, including the number and timing thereof is ultimately dependent upon the availability of funding, commodity prices, provincial fiscal and royalty policies, costs, actual drilling results, additional reservoir information that is obtained and other factors.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Production Disclosure

The "Adjusted Funds Flow, "Light Oil Operating Income", Light Oil Operating Netback, Light Oil Capital Expenditures Net of CapitalCarry, "Thermal Oil Operating Income (Loss)", "Thermal Oil Operating Netback", Consolidated Operating Income, Consolidated Operating Netback, Consolidated Capital Expenditures Net of CapitalCarry, Adjusted EBITDA, and Free Cash Flow financial measures contained in this News Release do not have standardized meanings which are prescribed by IFRS and they are considered to be nonGAAP measures. These measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers and should not be considered in isolation with measures that are prepared in accordance with IFRS. The Advisories and Other Guidance section within the Companys Q1 2021 MD&A includes reconciliations of these measures, where applicable, to the nearest IFRS measures.

Adjusted Funds Flow is not intended to represent cash flow from operating activities, net earnings or other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS. Adjusted Funds Flow is calculated by adjusting for changes in non-cash working capital, restructuring expenses and settlement of provisions from cash flow from operating activities. The Adjusted Funds Flow measure allows management and others to evaluate the Companys ability to fund its capital programs and meet its ongoing financial obligations using cash flow internally generated from ongoing operating related activities. Adjusted Funds Flow per share is calculated as Adjusted Funds Flow divided by the applicable number of weighted average shares outstanding.

The Operating Income (Loss) measures in this News Release are calculated by subtracting royalties, diluent expenses, operating expenses and transportation & marketing expenses from petroleum and natural gas sales and adjusting for the impacts of inventory write-downs in the first quarter of 2020 within the Thermal Oil division. The Operating Netback measures are calculated by dividing the Operating Income (Loss) by the production and is presented on a per boe basis. The Operating Income (Loss) and the Operating Netback measures allow management and others to evaluate the production results from the Companys assets. The Consolidated Operating Income (Loss) Net of Realized Hedging measure in this News Release is calculated by adding or subtracting realized gains (losses) on commodity risk management contracts, royalties, the cost of diluent blending, operating expenses and transportation & marketing expenses from petroleum and natural gas sales and adjusting for the impacts of inventory write-downs in the first quarter of 2020. The Consolidated Operating Netback Net of Realized Hedging measure is calculated by dividing Consolidated Operating Income (Loss) Net of Realized Hedging by the total sales volumes and is presented on a per boe basis. The Consolidated Operating Income (Loss) Net of Realized Hedging and the Consolidated Operating Netback Net of Realized Hedging measures allow management and others to evaluate the production results from the Companys Light Oil and Thermal Oil assets combined together including the impact of realized commodity risk management gains or losses.

The Consolidated Capital Expenditures Net of Capital-Carry and Light Oil Capital Expenditures Net of Capital-Carry measures in this News Release are outlined in the Companys Q1 2021 MD&A. These measures allow management and others to evaluate the true net cash outflow related to Athabasca's capital expenditures.

Net Debt is defined as face value of term debt plus accounts payable and accrued liabilities plus current portion of provisions and other liabilities less current assets.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Net income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss) before financing and interest expense, depreciation, depletion, impairment and taxation (recovery) expense adjusted for unrealized foreign exchange gain (loss), unrealized gain (loss) on risk management contracts, gain (loss) on revaluation of provisions and other, gain (loss) on sale of assets and non-cash settled stock-based compensation.

Free cash flow is defined as Adjusted Funds Flow less Consolidated Capital Expenditures.

Liquidity is defined as cash and cash equivalents plus available credit capacity.

Production volumes details

2021 2020 Production Q1 Q4 Q3 Q2 Q1 Annual Greater Placid: Condensate NGLs bbl/d 1,540 1,841 2,612 1,916 1,480 1,964 Other NGLs bbl/d 460 523 632 389 351 474 Natural gas(1) mcf/d 15,599 17,900 19,668 14,221 12,939 16,197 Total Greater Placid boe/d 4,600 5,347 6,522 4,675 3,988 5,138 Greater Kaybob: Oil(2) bbl/d 2,511 2,845 3,685 3,226 2,708 3,117 Other NGLs bbl/d 327 264 332 291 359 311 Natural gas(1) mcf/d 6,083 5,629 7,746 7,642 7,123 7,032 Total Greater Kaybob boe/d 3,852 4,047 5,308 4,791 4,254 4,600 Light Oil: Oil(2) bbl/d 2,511 2,845 3,685 3,226 2,708 3,117 Condensate NGLs bbl/d 1,540 1,841 2,612 1,916 1,480 1,964 Oil and condensate NGLs bbl/d 4,051 4,686 6,297 5,142 4,188 5,081 Other NGLs bbl/d 787 787 964 680 710 785 Natural gas(1) mcf/d 21,682 23,529 27,414 21,863 20,062 23,229 Total Light Oil division boe/d 8,452 9,394 11,830 9,466 8,242 9,738 Total Thermal Oil division bitumen bbl/d 25,949 24,839 20,231 17,601 28,315 22,745 Total Company production boe/d 34,401 34,233 32,061 27,067 36,557 32,483





(1) Comprised of 99% or greater of shale gas, with the remaining being conventional natural gas. (2) Comprised of 99% or greater of tight oil, with the remaining being light and medium crude oil.

This News Release also makes reference to Athabasca's forecasted total average daily production of 32,000 - 34,000 boe/d for 2021. Athabasca expects that approximately 78% of that production will be comprised of bitumen, 10% shale gas, 6% tight oil, 4% condensate natural gas liquids and 2% other natural gas liquids.

Liquids is defined as bitumen, light crude oil, medium crude oil and natural gas liquids.

Additionally, this News Release makes reference to Athabasca's well results in Two Creeks and Kaybob East that have seen average productivity of ~725 boe/d IP180s (85% oil), which is comprised of ~80% tight oil, ~15% shale gas and ~5% NGLs, and ~550 boe/d (83% oil) IP365s, which is comprised of ~78% tight oil, ~17% shale gas and ~5% NGLs.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Core One Labs Inc. (CSE: COOL), (OTC: CLABF), (Frankfurt: LD62, WKN: A2P8K3) (the Company or Core One) is pleased to announce it has appointed Dr. Santiago Ferro, Chief Executive Officer of Akome Biotech Ltd. (Akome), as Chief Medical Officer of the Company. Dr. Ferro will lead the Company through clinical trials and commercialization of its psychedelic products.



Dr. Ferro is a graduate of Javeriana University Medical School in his native Bogota, Colombia, where he specialized in Internal Medicine, and received his sub-specialty training in Infectious Diseases at University of Toronto. Following completion of his medical and specialty training, Dr. Ferro returned to Bogota and established a private practice in both Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, while at the same time held academic positions at different teaching hospitals.

Dr. Ferro is a world-renowned physician with over 20 years experience in pharmaceuticals, biologicals and biotech industries. Throughout his career, Dr. Ferro has held many prestigious senior research and development management positions with global responsibilities for clinical development programs, design, implementation, and analysis of clinical trials data, and has a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion, as well as designing clinical plans to meet market targets and bringing products to success.

Dr. Ferros impressive resume includes appointments as Chief of Internal Medicine at Central Military Hospital in Bogota, President of the Colombian Infectious Disease Society, Clinical Team Leader for new vaccines at Sanofi Pasteur in Toronto, Infectious Disease Expert at Novartis Pharmaceuticals in New Jersey - where, he was also member of the internal Scientific Review Board and deeply involved in drug development - and Medical Director at PATHs Malaria Vaccine Initiative in Bethesda, Maryland where he led a team of clinical researchers, which jointly worked with Glaxo Smith Kleins team to implement a large phase 3 clinical trial for a malaria vaccine candidate in 7 Sub-Saharan African countries. Dr. Ferro was also VP Clinical Affairs at Fio Corporation, where he led the clinical research and field implementations of the Fionet system in multiple countries in Africa and Latin America. Dr. Ferro also has an esteemed reputation in his fields of study, and has presented in multiple international scientific conferences, and has over twenty-five scientific publications in peer reviewed journals and medical textbooks.

I would like to welcome Dr. Ferro to the Core One team. Dr. Ferros breadth of experience in leading teams through product development, clinical and regulatory environments with major pharmaceutical companies, such as Sanofi Pasteur, Novartis and Glaxo Smith Klein are an invaluable asset to our team. We look forward to his leadership as we work towards the commercialization of psychedelic medicines, stated Joel Shacker CEO of the Company.

About Core One Labs Inc.

Core One is a biotechnology research and technology life sciences enterprise focused on bringing psychedelic medicines to market through novel delivery systems and psychedelic assisted psychotherapy. Core One has developed a patent pending thin film oral strip (the technology) which dissolves instantly when placed in the mouth and delivers organic molecules in precise quantities to the bloodstream, maintaining excellent bioavailability. The Company intends to further develop and apply the technology to psychedelic compounds, such as psilocybin. Core One also holds an interest in medical clinics which maintain a combined database of over 275,000 patients. Through these clinics, the integration of its intellectual property, R&D related to psychedelic treatments and novel drug therapies, the Company intends to obtain regulatory research approval for the advancement of psychedelic-derived treatments for mental health disorders.

Core One Labs Inc.

Joel Shacker

Chief Executive Officer

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

info@core1labs.com

1-866-347-5058

Cautionary Disclaimer Statement:

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect managements current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Companys control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Companys limited operating history and the need to comply with strict regulatory regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

In addition, psilocybin is currently a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) and it is a criminal offence to possess substances under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) without a prescription or authorization. Health Canada has not approved psilocybin as a drug for any indication. Core One does not have any direct or indirect involvement with illegal selling, production, or distribution of psychedelic substances in jurisdictions in which it operates. While Core One believes psychedelic substances can be used to treat certain medical conditions, it does not advocate for the legalization of psychedelics substances for recreational use. Core One does not deal with psychedelic substances, except within laboratory and clinical trial settings conducted within approved regulatory frameworks.
The extended stay-home notice will apply to travelers arriving from all countries and regions, except Australia, Brunei, the Chinese mainland, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, from Friday at 11:59 p.m. Photo: The Straits Times

(The Straits Times)  The stay-home notice (SHN) period for travelers from higher-risk countries or regions will be lengthened to 21 days, up from 14 days, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said Tuesday.

The extended SHN will apply to travelers arriving from all countries and regions, except Australia, Brunei, the Chinese mainland, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, from Friday at 11:59 p.m. They will be required to serve their 21-day SHN at dedicated facilities.

In addition, the period of recent travel history being assessed for border measures will also be increased to 21 days from 14. This excludes bilaterally negotiated travel lanes, such as the reciprocal green lane or air travel bubble arrangements.

On these measures, Wong said: We are adopting this more stringent border measure up till the end of May. At that time, we will do a further review, depending on the global and local situation, and we will continue to update and fine-tune our border measures.

Wong, who is also co-chair of the multi-ministry task force handling Covid-19, was speak-ing at a press conference where a host of measures were announced to curb infections in Singapore following the recent increase in unlinked community cases in the country and new waves in several countries.

Other border measures will also be tightened from 11:59 p.m. Friday.

A Ministry of Health (MOH) statement on Tuesday said: In view of the worsening situation globally, we will further tighten our border measures for travellers with recent travel history to higher-risk countries/regions, and reduce entry approvals for non-Singapore citizens/permanent residents with immediate effect.

Travelers from Fiji and Vietnam in the past 21 days before arrival in Singapore will be subjected to a 21-day SHN at dedicated facilities, with the option to serve the last seven days at their places of residence, the MOH said.

They were previously allowed to opt out of serving the 14-day SHN at dedicated facilities and could serve it at their place of residence instead, subject to certain criteria.

Those coming from Britain, South Africa, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka from 11:59 p.m. Friday, will be required to serve the full 21-day SHN at dedicated facilities.

Travelers serving 21 days of SHN will undergo a polymerase chain reaction test on arrival, on the 14th day of their SHN, and another test before the end of the 21 days, the MOH said.

Wong said that Singapores borders have been kept tight so far, with an SHN regime of 14 days for travellers coming to Singapore.

When we saw new variants from specific countries, for example, the United Kingdom, South Africa and India, we lengthened the SHN for these countries, he said.

The purpose of lengthening the SHN at that time was to minimise the risk of having more variant cases leaking into our community, he said. Since then, the global situation has worsened, and were seeing new variants not just from these specific countries because the variants have likely to have spread all over the world.

The tighter controls announced on Tuesday come after other measures were implemented earlier this month.

Since May 1 at 11:59 p.m., all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka within the last 14 days have not been allowed entry into Singapore, including for transit.

Since May 2 at 11:59 p.m., those with recent travel history to Thailand have been required to serve their 14-day SHN at dedicated facilities. The government revoked prior permission given to such travellers to opt out of serving the SHN in dedicated facilities.

This story was first published in The Straits Times.

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY and FSE: D7Q1) Monument or the Company is pleased to receive the news announced by its Joint Venture Partner Odyssey Gold Ltd (ODY) that significant visible gold has been intersected in its maiden diamond hole (Figure 1), a 70m step-out in the eastern extension of the developing Bottle Dump deposit at the Tuckanarra JV Project (Tuckanarra) located in the Murchison Goldfield. Together with other results, the new finding confirms the strong potential of the Bottle Dump trend to host high-grade gold mineralization (For details refer to: www.investi.com.au/api/announcements/ody/420449c6-9f8.pdf).



Figure 1: Significant visible gold is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f33fad6e-54b6-4e35-8110-27a52264226f

President and CEO Cathy Zhai said: The recent results from Tuckanarra, whilst very preliminary, confirm and re-inforce Monuments view that extensive high-grade gold mineralisation remains to be discovered at Burnakura and Gabanintha. This is an exciting outcome as Monument prepares to commence its exploration program for 2021.

The results at Tuckanarra confirm the Companys view that the true potential of the Murchison Project is yet to be defined. Historical mining operations have exploited the shallow high grade gold mineralisation at Burnakura and Gabanintha through both open pit and underground developments. The full depth and strike extent of the mineralisation within these two systems is still to be tested with mineralisation remaining open in many directions at multiple deposits.

The Tuckanarra project is one of three significant land holdings that make up Monuments Murchison Project. Burnakura, Gabanintha and Tuckanarra are within the Archean Meekatharra-Wydgee greenstone belt of the Yilgarn Craton. All have high grade gold potential. Given priority to Burnakura and Gabanintha, 80% of Tuckanarra interest was sold to ODY last December to advance exploration, and Monument remains with 20% free carried interest until a decision to mine is made, plus a 1% net smelter return royalty over Odysseys 80% interest. ODY has access to Burnakura mill for their production subject to commercial terms.

The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Roger Stangler, MEng, FAusIMM, MAIG, a Qualified Person as defined by NI43-101, retained by Golder Associates Pty Ltd.

About Monument

Monument Mining Limited (TSX-V: MMY, FSE:D7Q1) is an established Canadian gold producer that owns and operates the Selinsing Gold Mine in Malaysia. Its experienced management team is committed to growth and is also advancing the Murchison Gold Projects comprising Burnakura, Gabanintha and Tuckanarra JV (20% interest) in the Murchison area of Western Australia. The Company employs approximately 200 people in both regions and is committed to the highest standards of environmental management, social responsibility, and health and safety for its employees and neighboring communities.

Cathy Zhai, President and CEO

Monument Mining Limited

Suite 1580 -1100 Melville Street

Vancouver, BC V6E 4A6

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION visit the company web site at www.monumentmining.com or contact:

Richard Cushing, MMY Vancouver T: +1-604-638-1661 x102 rcushing@monumentmining.com

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."



Forward-Looking Statement

This news release includes statements containing forward-looking information about Monument, its business and future plans (forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements are statements that involve expectations, plans, objectives or future events that are not historical facts and include the Companys plans with respect to its mineral projects and the timing and results of proposed programs and events referred to in this news release. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". The forward-looking statements in this news release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and certain other factors include, without limitation: risks related to general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; uncertainties regarding the results of current exploration activities; uncertainties in the progress and timing of development activities; foreign operations risks; other risks inherent in the mining industry and other risks described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Companys projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Material factors and assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements in this news release include: expectations regarding the estimated cash cost per ounce of gold production and the estimated cash flows which may be generated from the operations, general economic factors and other factors that may be beyond the control of Monument; assumptions and expectations regarding the results of exploration on the Companys projects; assumptions regarding the future price of gold of other minerals; the timing and amount of estimated future production; the expected timing and results of development and exploration activities; costs of future activities; capital and operating expenditures; success of exploration activities; mining or processing issues; exchange rates; and all of the factors and assumptions described in the management discussion and analysis of the Company and the technical reports on the Companys projects, all of which are available under the profile of the Company on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Gardai have confirmed missing person Dean Roberts, has been found safe and well.

Dean, 41, had been missing from his home since Tuesday, May 4.

He was last seen around 9am on Tuesday.

Gardai, with the assistance of Cork City Missing Persons Search and Recovery, Civil Defence, SARDA and the Coast Guard, carried out a search of North Cork where Dean had been thought to possibly be.

In a statement from An Garda Siochana, the policing authority said Dean has been located safe and well We wish to thank the media for their assistance in this matter.
Fairfield, NJ, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tristar Products, Inc., the nations leading direct-to-consumer brand family, has partnered with Feeding America to help support their mission to end hunger by donating 1.5 million meals* and 500,000 disposable face masks. The donation launches Tristars social awareness campaign to fight hunger and food insecurity in America. The Feeding America network is the nations largest domestic hunger-relief organization, working with 200 member food banks in local communities to serve people of all ages.

Millions of American families face hunger and food insecurity every day. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, up to 50 million people may face hunger this year, including 17 million children.** While many Americans are only one job loss or unexpected bill away from food insecurity, children and seniors may be particularly vulnerable, and up to 8 billion more meals may be needed to meet increased demand. Tristars donation joins the movement of countless organizations and individuals across the country who share the belief that everyone should have access to healthy, nutritious food.

Feeding America comprises a nationwide network of food banks, food pantries, and meal programs in every community to serve safe, nourishing food sourced from farmers, manufacturers, and retailers to people facing hunger. Feeding Americas mission also seeks to help people served build a path toward a more hunger-secure future, to address the root causes of hunger, and to deepen the understanding of structural and systemic inequities that disproportionately impact marginalized communities and people in need of assistance.

The Tristar family would like to use this opportunity to recognize and thank Feeding America and the essential employees and volunteers across the country working every day on the front lines to serve the most vulnerable members of society, says Keith Mirchandani, President, and CEO of Tristar Products, Inc. We hope that our donation along with our companys mission to raise food insecurity and hunger awareness will help bring meals to people who need them most and inspire others to get involved. This is just the beginning  there is so much more work to be done.

Families across America are facing hunger every day, said Lauren Biedron, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America. As we navigate the coming months, it is support from partners like Tristar Products, Inc. that help the Feeding America network of food banks provide more meals to communities in need.

Tristar will feature its partnership with Feeding America and its mission to raise awareness about food insecurity across its kitchen appliance brands Emeril Everyday, PowerXL, and Copper Chef. Websites will feature educational information about the realities of food insecurity in America and point consumers toward donation and volunteer opportunities. Feeding America will be featured on print and digital platforms, on TV infomercials, and in social awareness campaigns. Retail packaging will include the Feeding America logo.

*$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. Source: Feedingamerica.org

**Source: Feeding America, February 2021

About Tristar Products, Inc.

Tristar Products, Inc. is industry recognized as the premier direct-to-consumer response market leader worldwide. Tristar has exceeded $1 billion in retail sales. Tristar Products, Inc. is an Inc. 5000 company. Visit Tristar Products, Inc. and join us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or YouTube.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Attachments
OTTAWA, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global automotive seat control modules market size is projected to be worth around USD 8.8 billion by 2030 from US$ 6.6 billion in 2020, growing with a CAGR of 2.9% during the forecast period 2021 to 2030.



The automotive seat control module is also referred such as automotive seat comfort system and memory or power seat control system. The seat and its functions are an indispensable part of cabin safety and comfort and is one of the direct interfaces to the passengers and driver. It is an imperative contributor to the user experience and a discriminator for the car-makers. As current seat modules take on additional functions, they have an analogous complication to body control modules with comparable encounters in addressing needs for communication, supply, sense, control, actuation and quiescent current targets. In order to manage seat control modules in the minutest space and with the lowermost power dissipation and less quiescent current, incorporation of functions is one of the crucial aspects for design.

The body control module or BCM in automotive is a processor-based power distribution component that administers and manages functions associated to the car body including security, interior lights, windows, access control, door locks and others. The central BCM also works as a gateway for network and bus interfaces to cooperate with remote electronic control units for other systems. Furthermore, monitoring signal of numerous loads comes right from the central body module or straight from remote ECU with the help of CAN/LIN communication. The BCM does not manage any engine-associated operation.

Get the Sample Pages of Report for More Understanding@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/sample/1246

The seat-memory control module retains the distinct seat position which has been designated and drivers can consequently return the seat to their pre-selected location with the help of push button. In connotation with the suitable user-specific keys and central locking systems, the seat will also fine-tune automatically when the car door is opened. Driver seat location can be managed as per crash hazard. The location also can be directed to rear airbag control unit for improved control strategy.

Growth Factors

With the rising need for aesthetics, safety, comfort and infotainment in cars, OEMs are directing on integrating maximum automation in cars that might offer luxury as well as safety. Automotive seat control module offers the driver with total seat management in a single module. The seat control module comprises numerous features including seating position in line with rearview mirrors, automotive seat air conditioning and heating, dynamic lateral backing to stabilize the body when the car is cornering, and an eight-way fine-tuning that permits the driver to move the seat forward or backward, up or down, front or back tilt, or massage function, recline, automatic map-based headrest adjustment. Few seats also have a memory unit which holds the previous position of seat and mirrors rendering to demand. By means of a press button, the seat transfers into a position compatible to the drivers kept settings.

Get Customization on this Research Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/customization/1246

Report Highlights

Automotive seat control module system market is foreseen to continue profitable during years to come as OEMs are concentrating on the amalgamation of comfort and safety features in cars.

A major limitation in the automotive seat control module market is defective seat control modules that can lead the battery to discharge and henceforth cause in failure.

The global automotive seat control module market was dominated by North America backed by occurrence of huge OEM base and high disposable income that makes sure consumers to eagerly adapt ground-breaking features in cars.



Regional Snapshots

Geographically, in 2020, North America gathered majority of the market share in terms of revenue and predicted maintain this tendency throughout the forecast period. Further, with high sales of vehicle, Asia Pacific is also anticipated to appear as a substantial market for automotive seat control modules. Japan is also anticipated to exhibit growing implementation of automotive seat control modules. US, China, Germany, UK and Japan are the significant markets for automotive seat control module market across the world.

Browse more Automotive Industry Research Reports@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/industry/automotive



Key Players & Strategies

With the rising need for relaxed and comfortable seat, automotive seat control modules market is anticipated to gain grip over the prediction period. As per surveys, top automakers will soon integrate seat control modules as an ordinary feature in upcoming cars. From a macro-economic viewpoint, vigorous growth in production and sales of automotive across numerous regions is expected to flourish the expansion of the automotive seat control module market.

Some of the market players in the global automotive seat control modules recognized across the value chain include Continental AG, Delphi Automotive LLP, Omron Corporation, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., Pektron plc, Infineon Technologies AG, De Amertek Corporation, Advanced Micro Electronics CO., Ltd., Bitron Industrie S.p.A and Leopold Kostal GmbH & Co. KG among others.

Major Market Segments Covered:

By Type

Manual seat control module

Memory seat control module

By End-User

Passenger Car

Commercial Vehicle

By Application

Headrest positioning

Climate based seating (heating, air conditioning and seat ventilation)

Massage

Seat adjustment (eight-way)

Others



By Geography

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA)



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A Career for EU: Minister Byrne launches Irelands new EU careers strategy

Press release

On Thursday 6 May, Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne T.D. launches A Career for EU, Irelands Strategy to increase Irish representation in the European Union's Institutions and Agencies. The new strategy aims to significantly increase the numbers of Irish officials in both permanent and temporary positions within the EU Institutions, to increase the number of Irish people applying for jobs in the EU institutions, while improving awareness of EU careers in Ireland across all sectors. It will also result in improved and targeted supports to Irish candidates who are preparing for an EU jobs competition.

The Minister said:

I am delighted to launch this important strategy and to realise a key Programme for Government commitment. A Career for EU sets out the measures we will take to make sure Ireland maintains its influence within the EUs institutions for years to come.

Some of the jobs available include, Lawyer Linguists, Pharmacists in the EMA and Animal Welfare Officers to name but a few.

We want to ensure Irish citizens continue to serve in the EU institutions. By doing so, we will remain at the heart of Europe, shaping the future of our shared Union.

A Career for EU comes at a time when Ireland faces a so-called demographic cliff in its representation among the staff of the EUs institutions, as many senior Irish officials will soon retire. While at present Ireland is adequately represented across the EU institutions staffing body, it has fewer officials at the entry and mid-management levels than should otherwise be the case.

Those interested in reading the strategy and learning more about the supports provided to Irish candidates for EU roles can find out more at: www.dfa.ie/eujobs

ENDS

Press Office

5 May 2021

Note for editors:

A Career for EU

The new A Career for EU Strategy aims to increase the number of Irish people successfully applying for positions in the EU Institutions.

The following headline measures are included in the strategy:

Expand the existing EU Jobs campaign, including increased promotion and outreach to second and third-level students.

Provide tailored support and training to all Irish candidates applying for posts in the EU Institutions.

Provide additional resources dedicated to supporting the use of Irish as an official EU language, including by making training material available in Irish.

Increase the funding of the Centrally Funded Scheme for Seconded National Experts to provide for the secondment of 50 Irish civil servants annually to the EU Institutions, compared to the current 24.

Expand the current scholarship programme, to enable at least 10 Irish post-graduate students to study at the College of Europe in Bruges and Natolin.

Create a stream within the Irish civil service for EU specialists, who will be helped in applying for posts in the EU Institutions.

The full text of the strategy (published on 6 May 2021) is available at: www.dfa.ie/eujobs

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Roseburg, OR (97470)

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PEOPLE

General Motors hires new defense lead

General Motors has hired former Raytheon executive and nearly two-decade defense sector veteran Steve duMont as president of the automakers defense subsidiary, the company said Tuesday.

DuMont joins GM Defense in the same week that the company opened a new production facility in Concord, North Carolina to focus on the Armys Infantry Squad Vehicle to carry troops on a light all-terrain platform.

Most recently, duMont spent 13 years at Raytheon Technologies and most recently was an executive in its intelligence and space segment. His career also includes stints at BAE Systems U.S. subsidiary and Boeing.
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Sborg, May 5, 2021

The second sales partner in Malaysia signs with Konsolidator

Konsolidator has signed leading Malaysian IT consulting company Push TI Asia Sdn Bhd as the second Konsolidator sales partner in Malaysia. Push.Asia has more than 25 years of experience in digital transformation, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) and providing IT consultancy. Push.Asia assists and empowers businesses to streamline their operations, reduce cost, increase efficiency, optimize their existing resources, and enhance performance by exploring opportunities in the area of information technology.

Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Singapore who are now focused on the IR 4.0 have experienced a significant technological transformation over the past decade and they are one of the most innovative and digital markets globally - the reason it is an important market for Konsolidator.

Southeast Asia will become a sizable market for us in 2022 as we are currently seeking further growth capital to be able to establish an office in Malaysia by 2022. Deloitte Malaysia became an onboarding partner in 2019 and now with two sales partners in the region we are building up the foundation for a local presence to expand the market reach and accelerate revenue growth says CEO Claus Finderup Grove.





About Konsolidator

Konsolidator A/S is a financial consolidation software company whose primary objective is to make Group CFOs around the world better through automated financial consolidation and reporting in the cloud. Created by CFOs and auditors and powered by innovative technology, Konsolidator removes the complexity of financial consolidation and enables the CFO to save time and gain actionable insights based on key performance data to become a vital part of strategic decision-making.

For further information: CEO Claus Finderup Grove, mobile. +45 2095 2988, e-mail: cfg@konsolidator.com





Konsolidator A/S

Vandtarnsvej 83A

2860 Sborg

www.konsolidator.com

Attachment
Luxembourg  29 April 2021  Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Brs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) advises that shares in the Company will be traded ex-dividend of NOK 2.00 with effect from today, 29 April 2021. The date of payment of the dividend will be 7 May 2021 for holders of Common Shares and 14 May 2021 for holders of American Depositary Receipts.



*******************************************************************************

Subsea 7 is a global leader in the delivery of offshore projects and services for the evolving energy industry, creating sustainable value by being the industrys partner and employer of choice in delivering the efficient offshore solutions the world needs.

Subsea 7 is listed on the Oslo Brs (SUBC), ISIN LU0075646355, LEI 222100AIF0CBCY80AH62.

*******************************************************************************

Contact for investment community enquiries:

Katherine Tonks

Investor Relations Director

Tel +44 (0)20 8210 5568

katherine.tonks@subsea7.com

Attachment
TROY, Mich.--Electric vehicle (EV) owners are more than twice as likely to use the manufacturers mobile app than owners of a vehicle with an internal combustion engine (ICE), which is good news for automakers looking to increaseand ultimately monetizetheir digital service offerings. According to the inaugural J.D. Power U.S. OEM EV App Benchmark Study, released today, 41% of EV owners say they are using their brands smartphone app at least every other trip.

J.D. Power is increasing its presence in the field of customer satisfaction with automotive mobile apps, as the industry faces ongoing uncertainty to develop a compelling customer experience. Acknowledging the increase of EV sales and model offerings, the study evaluates the all-important user experience with automakers smartphone apps for EV owners.

The OEM EV App Benchmark Study gauges EV owners experience with their brands mobile app. Insights are derived from surveying EV owners and an expert benchmarking assessment of the most relevant EV mobile apps. Results are based on a standardized evaluation approach relying on more than 300 best practices for vehicle apps that include more than 60 EV-specific attributes.

These owners are looking for different features in a mobile app, said Frank Hanley, senior director of global automotive consulting at J.D. Power. With charging infrastructure still being developed and range anxiety having a significant effect on customer behavior, tasks like checking the battery level and monitoring the charging process are high priorities for EV owners.

According to the study, the top-performing EV mobile apps are Kia Access, FordPass, Porsche Connect, myChevrolet, and MyHyundai.

Tesla, the U.S. leader in EV sales, ranks sixth in the study. Teslas app has not changed significantly for many years, and other manufacturers are offering apps with greater functionality. However, Teslas app is resonating well with the brands owners and, in terms of speed for remote control functions, the app still proves to be the industrys benchmark.

Following are key findings of the 2021 study:

App usage is significantly higher among EV owners: A notable 41% of EV owners say they use their brands mobile app more than half the time or every time they drive. Only 19% of ICE owners say they use their brands app more than half the time or every time they drive.

A notable 41% of EV owners say they use their brands mobile app more than half the time or every time they drive. Only 19% of ICE owners say they use their brands app more than half the time or every time they drive. Dedicated EV apps lack functionality: While the scope of features is high with most apps, in some cases, EV owners experience less functionality than apps used by ICE owners. Evaluators noted that both Mazda and Volkswagen removed app functions from their EV apps that were present in their ICE apps.

While the scope of features is high with most apps, in some cases, EV owners experience less functionality than apps used by ICE owners. Evaluators noted that both Mazda and Volkswagen removed app functions from their EV apps that were present in their ICE apps. Many app executions still overwhelm owners: Manufacturers must remember that while EV owners seek new technology, much of it is still new to most owners. It is key for those apps boasting more features and functionality to show a good usability including an intuitive layout and structure. Also, as many new owners have no experience with electrical units in relation to driving range or the advantages of charging during off-peak hours, it is important to put things in terms that they can understand.

Manufacturers must remember that while EV owners seek new technology, much of it is still new to most owners. It is key for those apps boasting more features and functionality to show a good usability including an intuitive layout and structure. Also, as many new owners have no experience with electrical units in relation to driving range or the advantages of charging during off-peak hours, it is important to put things in terms that they can understand. Willingness to pay for app features remains low: EV owners are even less willing to pay for using a manufacturers mobile app than ICE owners. However, owners who say theyre highly satisfied with their app are more likely to consider paying.

Its critical that manufacturers devote proper resources to developing apps that truly fit the needs of new EV owners, said Fabian Chowanetz, manager of automotive consulting at J.D. Power Europe. Porsche Connect is just one example of a premium brand making up ground after having redesigned its first-generation app. With these automakers on the cusp of launching so many new EV models, they must be ready to adapt their apps to owners needs and invest in improving the digital experience. If not, loyalty and retention are at risk.

The expert benchmarking includes apps from the top 15 brands that sell EVs in the United States and Europe. For the inaugural study, 14 models were evaluated in the United States and 5 in Europe. In addition, almost 600 EV owners in the United States were surveyed in March 2021.

For more information about the Electric Vehicle Mobile App Study, visit https://www.jdpower.com/business/automotive/electric-vehicle-mobile-app-study.

About J.D. Power

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.

J.D. Power is headquartered in Troy, Mich., and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the companys business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com.
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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Darren Marcy, a journalist since 1992, is the editor of the Manchester Journal. A New Mexico native, he previously worked for newspapers in the Land of Enchantment before moving to Vermont in 2004. He joined the Journal in October 2018.
Killeen, TX (76540)

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Scattered thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. High 86F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Indian Navy vessel INS Talwar, carrying 40 metric tonnes (MT) of liquid medical oxygen filled in cryogenic containers, arrived at New Mangalore Port on Wednesday.

In a tweet, NMPT said the medical oxygen has been donated by the government of Bahrain to Indian Red Cross Society to overcome the current pandemic situation in the country.

In his tweet, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways (I/C) & Chemicals & Fertilizers, Mansukh Mandaviya thanked Bahrain for the initiative.
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A decades-long backlog of untested rape kits in the Albuquerque area is no more. Finally, a bit of justice for some  and a system in place to ensure this never happens again. And thats important because many of the cases involving the kits that languished for years will never see justice (the statute of limitations has expired, victims died or decided to not proceed with charges, no suspect was identified, etc.)

The backlog came to light around four years ago, when Mayor Tim Keller was state auditor. After learning of the backlog, his team dug in and issued a report on the 5,400 or so untested rape kits across the state  75% from Albuquerque. Then-Mayor Richard Berry got two grants to start testing the kits and now, under Keller, the backlog is gone.

The monumental effort to clear almost 5,000 rape kits was more than just the right thing to do. Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina says the backlog built up because of insufficient funding, inadequate technology and a history of testing kits only as requested by the District Attorneys Office. While he has pledged we cannot and will not let this happen again, it is sickening to see prior disregard for sexual violence and to know, in some cases, alleged serial rapists committed more attacks while kits that would have identified them and their crimes went untested.

But, today, the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office says 408 of the backlog cases have qualified for advanced screening and possible prosecution. Forty-four people have been charged, 13 have been convicted, 15 are awaiting trial and another 13 suspects have warrants out for their arrest. APDs Scientific Evidence Division says more than 1,000 DNA profiles of the more than 4,000 tested kits were eligible to be entered into CODIS, the federal database, and 518 of those came back with a DNA match; APD and the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office have been alerted.

Keller is right, clearing the rape kit backlog is a difficult celebration. But it is one that could result in justice for some victims and even possibly prevent future victims by getting serial attackers off the streets.

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.

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Search for USM Student Ended

Tue, 05/04/2021 - 15:51pm

The U.S. Coast Guards search for University of Southern Mississippi student Rob Brent has ended. Brent was last seen while swimming in the Gulf of Mexico at Alabamas Dauphin Island on Sunday.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time, said Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Sirena Cantrell.

Student Counseling Services (SCS) is available to support members of the Southern Miss community, with group counseling on the following dates/times at the counseling center located in Bond Hall:

Thursday, May 6, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Friday, May 7, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

For more information about counseling services, call 601-266-4829 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. After hours and on weekends, students, faculty and staff can call 601.606.HELP (4375).
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PHOENIX  Grand Canyon Education Inc. (LOPE) on Wednesday reported first-quarter profit of $78.1 million.

The Phoenix-based company said it had profit of $1.69 per share. Earnings, adjusted for amortization costs, came to $1.72 per share.

The for-profit education company posted revenue of $236.9 million in the period.

For the current quarter ending in July, Grand Canyon Education expects its per-share earnings to be $1.09.

The company said it expects revenue in the range of $202 million for the fiscal second quarter.

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................................................................

Grand Canyon Education expects full-year earnings to be $6.19 per share, with revenue expected to be $919.9 million.

Grand Canyon Education shares have risen 15% since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Wednesday, shares hit $106.91, a climb of 22% in the last 12 months.

_____

This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on LOPE at https://www.zacks.com/ap/LOPE
The new media commission needs to have the power to order the swift takedown of harmful online content, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

Deputy Data Protection Commissioner Anna Morgan said it is imperative that an adequate regulatory regime, which she described as being currently missing, is introduced to tackle harmful user-generated content online.

Ms Morgan told the Media Committee on Wednesday the proposed legislation underpinning the new regulator currently expressly excludes material that violates data protection or privacy law from falling within the scope of harmful content.

The Data Protection Commission (DPC) believes it is important that the media commission has the power to regulate all types of harmful online content, irrespective of whether they involve personal data, she said.

This is because there are clear limitations to the reach of data protection regulation, meaning it does not and cannot provide a comprehensive regime for tackling harmful content posted or shared in an online context.

Ms Morgan was among a number of representatives from the DPC and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) before the media committee on Wednesday to discuss the draft Online Safety and Media Regulations Bill.

The proposed legislation would see the establishment of a new media commission as well as the appointment of an online safety commissioner.

The deputy commissioner said the DPC has experienced an increase in the number of complaints received relating to user-generated content considered offensive, harmful, defamatory or detrimental.

The DPC finds itself having to deal with complaints relating to requests for the takedown of user-generated content, despite the fact that the data protection regime is not intended to tackle such matters and neither does it provide an appropriate range of tools for dealing with such matters, she said.

It is dealing with 80 such complaints at present.

It is a complicated process and frequently, it doesnt yield an outcome which the complainant is satisfied with, she added.

It really does very much depends on the attitudes of the platform in question particularly when we intervene as to whether or not theyre prepared to take down that content.

She highlighted that the DPC cannot order the immediate takedown of content online.

The establishment of a dedicated body with the power to order, amongst other things, the swift takedown of all types of harmful content is imperative in this regard, she added.

Under the new online safety legislation the functions and staff of the BAI would be transferred to the new media commission.

BAI chief executive Michael OKeeffe welcomed the move saying it would ensure the BAI brings its considerable knowledge and regulatory expertise and would be able to make a meaningful and early contribution to the future work of the commission.

He said the BAI has about 40 staff and will have to recruit a lot more ahead of the commission being set up.

Broadcasting Authority of Ireland deputy chief executive Celine Craig (Oireachtas TV)

The BAIs deputy chief executive Celine Craig told the committee the authority is very concerned about the specific targeting of women online, not only women in public office, but women journalists in particular.

There has been significant targeting and in a way that we believe has the potential to cause real harm, Ms Craig said.

So the BAI believes that there might be some benefit in specifying, giving a level of specificity in this regard within the bill.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Republican candidate Mark Moores targeted Democratic nominee Melanie Stansbury during a televised debate Tuesday, describing her as a radical, primarily for a tweet she sent out last month where she signaled her support for a criminal justice reform proposal.

Stansbury, meanwhile, brushed aside Moores remarks and talked about her experience crafting policy at a state and federal level, which she said gives her the skills needed to address the underlying causes of crime, illegal immigration and the states economy.

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Three candidates vying to fill New Mexicos vacant 1st Congressional District seat in the House of Representatives  Moores, a state senator, Stansbury, a state representative, and Libertarian Chris Manning  appeared in an hour-long debate hosted by KOB-TV on Tuesday. The candidates were asked questions on public safety, guns, economic development, climate change, border policy and other issues.

But no matter the question, Moores repeatedly referenced a tweet Stansbury posted last month in which she said Congress must pass the BREATHE Act, a legislative proposal promoted by the Movement for Black Lives that calls for drastic changes to Americas criminal justice system.

Crime is out of control  it has to stop. And, quite frankly, my opponent in the race is part of the problem, Moores said.

Stansbury never specifically addressed her comments on the BREATHE Act, but she said she believes in taking a comprehensive approach to major issues. She said as a state lawmaker, she coordinated Albuquerque-area legislators capital outlay money to pump more money into law enforcement that allowed police to purchase gunshot detection technology and address a rape-kit testing backlog.

To address Albuquerques crime problem, we have to invest in public safety, she said. We need to be reforming policing in the city, and we need to be investing in the underlying causes of crime like addiction and behavioral health.

Manning, who lives in Farmington, offered himself up as an alternative to the two-party system. During a chance to introduce himself, he made a joke about the Star Wars franchise. When he was asked about crime, he said police should focus on serious matters instead of broken tail lights and simple tickets.

These sort of minor, petty offenses, are not what APD should be addressing, he said. They should be shifting officers to homicide, to violent crime.

The candidates were asked about the Biden administrations temporary moratorium on oil and gas leases and federal lands, and how they would address climate change while also recognizing the role that the extraction industry has on New Mexicos economy.

Stansbury said it is time to lean into the renewable energy revolution.

We need to diversify our economy long term if we are going to address these challenges, she said. That means centering our communities and building on and leaning into our economic strengths throughout the state.

Manning said nuclear energy and natural gas are the answer.

Moores said the oil and gas industry is crucial to paying for New Mexico schools, roads and police officers.

We need those new solutions and new technologies as we move forward, Moores said. But  people are worried about this radical agenda. They are moving out of the state.

Early voting in the CD1 election got underway Tuesday. Election Day is June 1. The seat is empty after former Rep. Deb Haaland resigned to serve as secretary of the interior.
Nacogdoches, TX (75965)

Today

Cloudy early with scattered thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High around 85F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near an inch. Locally heavy rainfall possible..

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Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 75F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
YEREVAN.  As of Wednesday morning, 493 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 217,900 in the country, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Also, 13 more deaths from COVID-19 were registered, making the respective total 4,178 cases.

The number of people who have recovered over the past one day is 452, the total respective number so far is 201,559, and the number of people currently being treated is 11,134which is an increase by 28 in one day.

And 3,954 COVID-19 tests were conducted in Armenia over the past one day, while 1,000,909 such tests have been performed to date.
An infectious disease expert and research chair of applied pathogen ecology at UCC has voiced concern over the possibility of another wave of the pandemic.

Speaking toThe Echo, Gerry Killeen said that he is expecting a fourth wave.

I am expecting a fourth wave, but I would love to be wrong. We are in a bit of a slow-growth phase which concerns me. The big risk is we drop our guard over the coming months and we close down hotel quarantine as we think it is all over.

That could go wrong very fast as these new variants are more transmissible. When things go wrong, they go wrong very quickly," he said.

Mr Killeen was speaking as a report emerged yesterday that significant numbers of people who travelled to Ireland by plane recently, and were described as close contacts of people, had never been traced.

The report in yesterdays Irish Examiner detailed correspondence from a tracing employee and shared with Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy. It said nearly 250 flights into Ireland have had at least one confirmed case of Covid-19 since January 1, but up to 80% of close contacts on some planes have never been traced. In more recent weeks, over 50 of those flights have included cases of the so-called variants of concern, according to the correspondence.

Mr Killeen said he was not surprised by the report.

He said he would treat this as a favourable representation of what I am hearing.

He also noted that Ireland has an "open border" with some of its neighbours.

There is no such thing as half a quarantine. You either do it or you dont. We have a totally open border for most of our nearest neighbours. We have protected ourselves against countries such as Ghana and Seychelles, but we are wide open with other countries, he said.
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Moscow says it wants to revive Mideast peace process Lavrov sees al-Maliki, 'ready to share our ideas'

(ANSAmed) - MOSCOW, MAY 5 - Moscow is ready to share ideas on how to restart negotiations on the peace process in the Middle East, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, opening talks with his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki.



"We are concerned by the lack of promising agreements on how to restart the peace process and talks", Lavrov was quoted as saying by Tass. "We are ready to help - we have some ideas.



Today's meeting was particularly important for us", he said.



(ANSAmed)
Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Heat index values in the mid 90s expected. * WHERE...In Vermont, Western Franklin County. In New York, Eastern Clinton and Eastern Essex Counties. * WHEN...From noon today to 8 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
Intensifying its efforts, the Indian Navy has deployed nine warships to bring liquid oxygen and other medical supplies from several countries in Persian Gulf and south-east Asia as hospitals across India continued to reel under acute shortage of the life-saving gas following a massive surge in Covid-19 cases.

The Navy on Wednesday said these warships from all three naval commands in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Kochi have been deployed to bring oxygen and other medical equipment.

"The deployment of nine warships as part of 'Operation Samudra Setu II' forms a part of the multiple lines of effort, by the government of India and the Indian Navy to supplement the oxygen requirement in the country," Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

He said Indian Naval ship Talwar has already entered New Mangalore port in Karnataka on Wednesday, ferrying two 27 tonnes liquid oxygen tanks from Bahrain. Similarly INS Kolkata has departed Kuwait carrying two tanks of 27 tonnes oxygen, 400 oxygen cylinders and 47 oxygen concentrators.

In addition, four warships are also enroute to Qatar and Kuwait, to bring nine 27-tonne oxygen tanks and more than 1,500 oxygen cylinders from these countries.

Read | Indian firm in UAE steps in to aid India's Covid fight

"On the eastern seaboard, Indian Naval ship Airavat, departed Singapore today with more than 3,600 oxygen cylinders, eight 27 tonne (total 216 tonnes) oxygen tanks, 10,000 rapid antigen detection kits and seven oxygen concentrators," he said.

Madhwal said another ship, INS Jalashwa, remains deployed in the region, standing by to embark medical stores at short notice.

"INS Shardul, the landing ship tank of the Southern naval command at Kochi, is also on its way to Persian Gulf to bring three liquid oxygen-filled cryogenic containers," he said.

Last year, Indian Navy had launched Operation Samudra Setu as part of the Vande Bharat evacuation mission under which it brought back to India around 4,000 stranded Indians from Maldives, Sri Lanka and Iran.

As India battles a devastating second wave of coronavirus pandemic, countries around the world have been sending medical supplies including oxygen-related equipment to help it tide over the situation.

The leading countries that have announced assistance to India include the US, Russia, France, Germany, Australia, Ireland, Belgium, Romania, Luxembourg, Singapore, Portugal, Sweden, New Zealand, Kuwait and Mauritius.
Jacob M. Appel is director of Ethics Education in Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is the author of Who Says Youre Dead? a collection of ethical conundrums. He wrote this for the Baltimore Sun.


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By Ricardo Hausmann





CAMBRIDGE  If it ain't broke, don't fix it, the old adage goes. But the world's current vaccination plan is very much "broke," and nobody seems to be fixing it, despite the disastrous consequences for lives, livelihoods, and the global economy.







This was supposed to be the year of recovery. But, from an epidemiological standpoint, it is shaping up to be worse than 2020, and current dynamics suggest that 2022 will be no better.







It does not have to be this way. But getting onto a better path will require strong global leadership that, for once, eschews wishful thinking.







Let's look at the facts. Daily confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths are running at over 800,000 and 12,000, respectively. And they are on track to surpass the peaks reached in January 2021. Not only is India in the grips of a devastating virus surge; other countries that have mostly been spared so far, including in Asia and Africa, are also likely to face serious outbreaks.







The world has multiple effective vaccines available. But it is not moving nearly fast enough to administer them: About 18 million doses are currently being administered daily, down from 18.6 million two weeks ago. Given that most vaccines must be administered in two doses, this means that it will take two years to vaccinate 80 percent of the world's population.







Those two years are unlikely to be pleasant. Israel's highly successful vaccination drive has brought a dramatic decline in cases and deaths, enabling the economy to reopen almost completely. But other star vaccinators  such as the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Chile, Uruguay, Hungary, and Serbia  have yet to see similar effects.







In the U.K., cases have declined significantly, but this was mainly due to a strict and costly lockdown. Chile also endured a tough lockdown, but its infection levels have yet to drop significantly. New cases in the U.S. and the UAE remain stubbornly high.







This can be explained by the mathematics of contagion. Cases decline when the reproduction rate (R)  the number of people each infected person infects  falls below one. Assuming (optimistically) that neither the vaccinated nor the recovered spread the coronavirus, the remaining share of the population must be smaller than the reproduction rate of the virus (RO), which, without social distancing, is around four.







In other words, unless at least 75 percent of the population is immune, R will exceed 1, and cases will continue to increase exponentially. Upholding social-distancing rules will therefore remain essential to limit transmission. But lockdowns are costly, and recent research suggests that they are becoming less effective, owing to "lockdown fatigue."







Even after 75 percent of the world is vaccinated, however, we will not be finished. According to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, a third "booster" dose of the vaccine is likely to be needed within a year, in order to ensure continued immunity amid new virus variants. Simply put, we should be planning to vaccinate the world annually, and we are on track to take twice as long. That is a recipe for an endemic virus.







And yet, we are hardly in an impossible situation. On the contrary, the economics of the solution are straightforward and surprisingly uncontroversial, at least among economists.







Developing a new vaccine  including proving its safety and effectiveness  carries a large fixed cost. Manufacturing copies of that vaccine implies a much smaller variable cost. As it stands, a company that develops a new vaccine (a "developer") recoups its fixed costs by selling doses. It also prevents others from manufacturing its vaccine by patenting its invention. The result is high prices and a restricted supply  the last thing we need during a pandemic.







A far better solution would be for developers to receive a large lump-sum payment in exchange for the intellectual property. Any capable firm could then manufacture the vaccine under a free license, increasing supply and lowering prices.







Because vaccinating people benefits others (in economist-speak, it has "positive externalities"), there is a case for subsidizing  even giving away  doses. Somebody  whether the U.S., the European Union, or a consortium of rich countries  should pay the lump sum to the developers. The cost of manufacturing the doses should not be an obstacle, except for the poorest countries. In fact, the costs to the world are negligible, especially compared to the benefits that rich countries would reap from a successful global vaccination drive.







This solution would not leave developers any worse off. But, by making the vaccination process much faster and more efficient, it would leave the world far better off.







Unfortunately, this is not the approach being pursued by the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) facility, a commendable but modest international alliance committed to ensure broad access to coronavirus vaccines. In fact, COVAX's goals are too modest and inadequate for what the world needs, especially if new vaccines become necessary as the virus mutates. It does not cover either lump-sum payments to developers or free entry into manufacturing. It deals more with the issue of organizing a fair queue, given limited supplies.







Given that we should prepare for a world in which we will periodically need new vaccines, we need to have strong, profitable pharmaceutical companies able to raise the capital and secure the resources to develop them. This should be secured by holding tournaments or tender offers to buy the intellectual property of such vaccines and maybe even the technical assistance to ensure production under the appropriate quality standards.







Companies would compete for these tournaments, which would be organized with maximum information about the genetics of the emerging variants of the virus, something that requires a global surveillance effort.







But the world also needs to ramp up production capacity to support vaccination at twice the current rate. Moreover, given the recent experience with countries hoarding vaccines and prohibiting exports, it is critical to allow free entry into vaccine manufacturing, so that states can secure access to the vaccine by ramping up their own production capacity.







The world needs more COVID-19 vaccines. But first it needs the global political leadership that will take the simple but necessary steps to secure them.









Ricardo Hausmann, a former minister of planning of Venezuela and former chief economist at the Inter-American Development Bank, is a professor at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government and director of the Harvard Growth Lab. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (




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KFAR SABA, Israel, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Multipoint Group, a principal value-added distributor of Cyber Strong Solutions in EMEA, announced last month its new office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to tap the Middle East & Africa (MEA) markets. Operating from the Dubai World trade center, the new branch will focus on regional channel & business expansion of the Multipoint distribution portfolio in the MEA markets.



As part of this expansion, Multipoint has now joined forces with Vishal Bhatia to manage the Channel and Business operations for the group in MEA markets. Vishal brings broad experience in IT Channel Sales on Cyber Security & Enterprise solutions in the MEA region.

"I am excited to be a part of Multipoint's mission of heading towards a global player in value-added distribution. Middle-east & Africa market presents an enormous opportunity for disruptive technologies that Multipoint brings through its enriching portfolio," says Vishal Bhatia.

Vishal, an MBA holder, who previously worked with a leading distributor in the Middle East, and an IT security vendor before that, will be responsible for overseeing channel & business development activities for the local office.

Ricardo Resnik, Founder & CEO Multipoint Ltd., says, "We're delighted to have Vishal on board. With his experience and fresh ideas, Vishal is the right person to create the momentum needed for Multipoint in the Middle East . We plan to double our team & investment by the end of this year with the addition of technical consultants & security architects."

Vishal adds, "With Ricardo's vision and leadership, the MEA market will emerge as a highly successful region for the group."

The Middle East region is expanding the Multipoint Group's existing activities in Israel, Greece, Cyprus, Romania, and the Balkans. Through support and knowledge centers located in Israel and Greece, Multipoint will provide advanced support to its customers.

Among the solutions to be distributed by Multipoint in the Middle East region are Acronis for backup, SealPath for IRM, AT&T Security for SIEM, OneLogin for IAM, KE-LA for Threat Intelligence, Garland Technology for Network TAPs, Corero Security for anti-DDOS, AnyDesk & RealVNC for Remote Support, and Druva for Cloud Backups.
The United States, South Korea and Japan pledged Wednesday to cooperate on North Korea as their top diplomats met in London, coming together despite renewed tensions between the Asian nations.

Joined by aides, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sat in the centre of a U-shaped table with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts Toshimitsu Motegi and Chung Eui-yong on each side in a hotel conference room on the sidelines of a Group of Seven meeting.

The State Department said the meeting was meant to "promote trilateral solidarity" and discuss a policy review by President Joe Biden that looks to resume diplomacy with North Korea.

Blinken and the two ministers "reaffirmed their commitment to concerted trilateral cooperation toward denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, as well as other issues of mutual interest," State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

Read | North Korea warns Biden against 'hostile policy'

The South Korean foreign ministry similarly said the three "reaffirmed the importance of the Korea-US-Japan trilateral cooperation" and committed to work "to promote peace, security and prosperity in the region".

The two Asian nations are both treaty-bound allies of the United States but have long had friction due to the legacy of Japan's harsh colonial rule over the Korean peninsula.

South Korea last month voiced "deep disappointment" after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga sent an offering to the Yasukuni shrine, which venerates war dead including convicted war criminals, although leaders in Tokyo have in recent years refrained from the more explosive step of visiting.

Relations deteriorated sharply in 2019, with South Korea pulling back at the last minute from terminating an agreement on sharing intelligence with Japan on North Korea.

Since taking office, Biden has put an emphasis on working with allies. Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Tokyo and Seoul together on their first foreign trip, and the Japanese and South Korean national security advisers met jointly near Washington as the administration concluded its North Korea policy review.

Earlier this week, the top US military officer, General Mark Milley, met jointly with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts in Hawaii.

The Biden administration in its policy review called for seeking practical progress with North Korea, avoiding the flashy, high-stakes summitry of former president Donald Trump.
By Anton Khlopkov





Last week the White House announced that the Biden administration had completed its North Korea policy review. The press statement said that U.S. "will explore diplomacy with the DPRK," referring to the North by its official name. It goes without saying that many factors may affect the outcomes of the new U.S. policy.



Looking at the headline of this article, some might argue that in accordance with the text of the Iran deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the document "should not be considered as setting precedents for any other state."



Some might also point out that the North's nuclear capability and infrastructure are not comparable to those of Iran. After announcing its withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Pyongyang has conducted six nuclear tests  whereas Tehran has never made the political decision to produce nuclear weapons, to the best of our knowledge. Still others might insist that the Korean Peninsula has its own unique history and experience of diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation.



All these arguments are cogent. Nevertheless, I believe that the JCPOA and the outcomes of the ongoing talks in Vienna to restore it which imply Washington rejoining the deal and Iran resuming full compliance may be directly relevant to the prospects for resuming and strengthening dialogue on the Korean Peninsula. I also believe the lessons of the JCPOA talks may be applied to any future dialogue in the region. Let me explain why.



First, a restoration and an effective implementation of the JCPOA should demonstrate to Pyongyang and others that despite deep domestic political divisions, the United States is able to deliver sanctions relief and removal. There have clearly been problems with U.S. sanctions policy in recent years: Washington has found it easy to impose them, but reversing those decisions has proven very problematic politically and practically.



Second, many senior members of the Biden administration were actively involved in negotiating and/or implementing the JCPOA during its initial years. Some of them also have relevant experience with the Korean situation. Such officials hold senior positions in the U.S. Department of State, the Department of Defense and other agencies. If the efforts in Vienna to restore the JCPOA are successful, these officials quite likely will have the ambition to resume more active diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula.



Third, a restoration of the JCPOA would free up the U.S. administration's political and administrative resources for more energetic efforts on the Korean Peninsula. As we all know, in the past, Washington found it difficult to work effectively on both fronts, and depending on the situation, had to prioritize one or the other.



Fourth, the negotiations and the ensuing implementation of the JCPOA have been watched very closely in Pyongyang. Amid the deep lack of trust  strengthened by Washington's proclivity in recent years to withdraw from various arms control agreements  North Korean officials want to figure out whether a multilateral format for any future arrangements would help to make them more sustainable.



Despite all the difficulties the JCPOA has encountered since President Donald Trump took the U.S. out of the deal, its viability should demonstrate to Pyongyang that a multilateral format can be the core of the solution to the region's security problems.



Fifth, the lessons learned from the JCPOA talks and the negotiations suggest that despite the concerns and doubts among experts and analysts, the key participants in the process  including the U.S., Russia, and China  can work together to achieve results and compartmentalize dialogue in this area from their numerous differences on strategic and regional issues.



Sixth, looking at the lessons from the JCPOA, a whole number of key negotiating principles that helped to achieve the Iranian nuclear deal can and should be applied to the settlement of the crisis on the Korean Peninsula.



These principles include mutual respect and the need to take into account the security interests of all parties to the process, a phased approach and the principle of reciprocity, the lack of which stood in the way of further progress during the summitry diplomacy of 2018 and 2019. The "phased approach" principle can be implemented on the basis of the plan of action on a comprehensive settlement of problems of the Korean Peninsula drafted by Russia and China.



Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula should be a long-term goal. In the short- and medium term, the aim should be an interim agreement. The most promising and sustainable approach would be multilateral, with North Korea and the U.S. playing the central role, and other countries (primarily the Republic of Korea, China and Russia) making active contributions. It should be a combination of bilateral and multilateral dialogue that was used in the negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue.



In this context, the outcome of the Vienna talks to restore the JCPOA would have direct relevance on the prospects for a resumption of dialogue on the Korean Peninsula and on the ability of that dialogue to produce results. All states  including those that are not party to the Iranian nuclear deal  should do all they can to contribute to its full restoration.





Anton Khlopkov is director of the Moscow-based Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS) and the chair of the 2022 Moscow Nonproliferation Conference (2022 MNC). This piece is published in cooperation with the Asia-Pacific Leadership for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (APLN) (www.apln.network).


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When President Biden came into office, one of his first agenda items was implementing a moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters through executive order. The impact of the presidents action is widespread across several states, one of the hardest hit being right here in New Mexico.

An unintended adverse impact of the leasing ban will be its effect on 134,000 good-paying jobs and tax revenue for education in New Mexico. As president & CEO of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce (Hispano Chamber), I find this particularly concerning as oil and gas has provided our state a notable $1.37 billion for education, accounting for over one-third of New Mexicos education budget. This money goes toward our teachers salaries, curriculum development and workforce benefits. The Hispano Chamber believes adequate funding for New Mexicos schools is critical, especially with regard to the Yazzie/Martinez lawsuit. Its indisputable that education for our children remains the bedrock of success for communities across the state.

Furthermore, according to a recent report by the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA), the 134,000 jobs supported by the oil industry provided $7.6 billion in labor income to New Mexicans, accounting for 14% of income earned statewide. In the public sector, one of every seven government jobs was also supported by industry, mostly in state and local government.

This concern is not partisan as several Democrats across our great state support federal leasing in New Mexico, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The governor recently said, Im clearly concerned right out of the gate with very little guidance, we have an announcement to stall  a moratorium on lease applications, and the reality is: a lot of oil and gas  in the Permian Basin is on private land in Texas. The governor has also pushed for an exemption or waiver for New Mexico from the Biden administration, but it remains to be seen if the request will be granted.

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The Biden administration doesnt have to establish a ban for New Mexicans. We can work to find a solution that works for our economy and our environment. This was recently proven as, for well over a year, through various public hearings, oil and gas producers together with environmental groups negotiated methane regulations that the Oil Conservation Commission blessed. The governor herself said it shows we can meet our ambitious climate goals while being home to a robust oil and gas industry as stated in a recent Albuquerque Journal editorial.

While the Biden administrations focus on combatting climate change is well-intentioned, a federal leasing ban stands to severely damage our economy and our states robust education system. I encourage President Biden to reconsider his federal leasing ban for our children, and for the hard-working oil and gas workers and government employees of New Mexico. We cannot afford to lose this significant revenue stream, which is critical for our livelihoods and the continued prosperity of our state.

JOURNAL FILE
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  A simmering Roundhouse dispute is escalating, as a Democratic state senator said Tuesday that he was filing a lawsuit accusing New Mexicos top health official of politically targeting him with a defamatory ethics complaint.

Sen. Jacob Candelaria, D-Albuquerque, said he believes the complaint filed against him during this years 60-day legislative session by Health Secretary Tracie Collins was retaliation for a request he had made for email records of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams staffers.

Im going to defend myself, my integrity and my family, Candelaria told the Journal.

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The three-term state senator, who has been an outspoken critic of the Democratic governor in recent months, said he ultimately withdrew the records request after top-ranking senators in his party warned him of possible political consequences if he didnt do so.

He said he had intended to publicly post the requested Governors Office email records so that New Mexicans could have a better glimpse into how statewide policies were crafted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also said the dispute with the governor was not personal, although he acknowledged having strong feelings about her job performance.

We have our own Andrew Cuomo here, Candelaria said, referring to the New York governor who has faced allegations of political bullying and other strong-arm tactics.

However, a Governors Office spokeswoman disputed Candelarias allegations while suggesting they amounted to a personal vendetta.

No such retaliation ever occurred, and its troubling that this legislator continues to be seemingly motivated solely by his own personal animus, Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett said.

The dispute marks a rare  but not unprecedented in New Mexico politics  intraparty clash thats playing out in public view.

It comes after the Department of Health secretary filed an ethics complaint in March accusing Candelaria of having a conflict of interest in his vocal opposition to a bill aimed at changing a patient definition within the states medical cannabis program.

Candelaria, an attorney, disclosed during the session that he has represented Ultra Health LLC, the states largest medical marijuana producer, in court cases. But he did not recuse himself from voting on the bill.

On Tuesday, he pointed out that a court case dealing with the issue had been closed before the session began. A new case was then filed after the session ended, and a Santa Fe-based district judge ruled this week against the Department of Health.

My integrity as a lawyer is part and parcel of my ability to make a living, Candelaria said.

Meanwhile, the state Ethics Commission dismissed the complaint against Candelaria in April for jurisdictional reasons, although it was referred to an internal legislative ethics committee for possible review.

Candelaria said the filing of an ethics complaint by a Cabinet secretary against a legislator was unprecedented.

He also said a tort claim notice, essentially a formal alert that a lawsuit will be filed, was submitted to the states General Services Department on Monday.

I just dont think I deserve to be threatened, Candelaria said.

The latest developments come after Candelaria faced scrutiny last fall for his interaction with New Mexico State Police officers after he reported receiving profanity-laced threatening phone calls.

Candelaria apologized for ordering three officers out of his home and accusing them of not being helpful but said getting the threats was one of the most traumatic events of his life.

A Senate Democratic caucus spokesman did not comment Tuesday on the planned lawsuit but said two top-ranking lawmakers drove to Albuquerque last fall to talk with Candelaria about unspecified internal caucus issues.

However, Candelaria said Tuesday that he has decided not to participate in caucus meetings with Senate Democrats, though he said he does not plan to change his party affiliation.

Specifically, he said he no longer feels comfortable acquiescing to the party line.

The four-year term Candelaria was elected to last year runs through 2024.
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Finally, some good economic news, really good news at that. The announcement Monday from Intel Corp. it plans to invest $3.5 billion at its Rio Rancho plant is encouraging. The project will generate 700 high-paying permanent positions over three years and 1,000 construction jobs.

The company will retool its Rio Rancho facility, which had already become an innovation hub, into a domestic hub for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, even more promising given the long-term impact and reversal of job losses here.

The investment is Intels largest commitment to New Mexico since 2009. Its worth the $5.75 million in Local Economic Development Act funds New Mexico will provide for the expansion, which includes $5 million from the state, $500,000 from Sandoval County, $250,000 from the city of Rio Rancho and a 50% rebate on gross receipt taxes generated during construction thats expected to save Intel about $14 million.

The companys new process of stacking microprocessors on top of one another, using technology called Foveros, will be managed at the Rio Rancho plant. Manufacture of advanced semiconductor devices using Foveros  including the first such chip, a fingernail-sized 3D-stacked chip called Lakefield  is expected to begin in late 2022, after the company retools and modernizes its 350,000-square-foot facility.

A spokesperson says the Rio Rancho facility remains a critical cog in Intels domestic and international operations  great news. Intel reduced its Rio Rancho operations from 3,300 people in 2013 to 1,100 in 2017. It increased to more than 1,800 employees last year, and the 700 new jobs as well as the 3,500 other jobs expected to be indirectly affected further boost Intels economic footprint in Rio Rancho.

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For years, Intel was bypassing New Mexico to invest at other sites, especially Arizona. In fact, the company announced in March a $20 billion investment to build two more factories there. But announcement of the $3.5 billion investment and 700 high-paying jobs here are 700-plus causes for celebration. And, even better, Intels renewed commitment to New Mexico gives hope for decades to come.

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.
Syria: Damascus accuses Israel of air raids in Latakia Syrian military sources say one civilian dead, six wounded

(ANSAmed) - DAMASCUS, MAY 5 - Syria on Wednesday alleged that Israel carried out air raids against targets in the northwestern province of Latakia, in which one civilian died.



Shortly after 2 am today local time (1 am in Italy), "the Israeli enemy carried out an air assault on Latakia, targeting positions of the coastal zone", a military source was quoted as saying by State-run news agency Sana, without specifying the nature of these targets. The Syrian air defense was activated against the Israeli "missiles" and "some were downed: the Israeli aggression caused the death of a civilians and wounded six, including a child and his mother", according to the same source. Since the start of the war in Syria in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of attacks in Syrian territory, targeting in particular positions of Iranian forces and Lebanese movement Hezbollah, great allies of the regime of Damascus. Israeli strikes in the region of Latakia, a stronghold of the family of President Bashar al-Assad, are rare. Israel regularly states that it will not allow Syria to become a base for Iranian forces. (ANSAmed)
Peloton has agreed to voluntary recalls for the Tread and Tread+ treadmills in the US and Canada. The company reached the agreements with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) following injuries and a death. It's no longer selling either treadmill in the US.

The recall of Tread+ devices (Pelotons first treadmill) follows more than 70 incidents of people, pets and/or objects being pulled under Tread+, according to CPSC. Those include 29 reports of injuries to children, such as second- and third-degree abrasions and broken bones.

You can return it for a full refund until November 6th. If you want to hang onto your Tread+, Peloton will help you move it for free to a space that's inaccessible to kids and pets. The companys also rolling out an update that will lock Tread+ after each use and require a four-digit passcode to unlock the device. The voluntary recall is for around 125,000 units in the US.

The recall for the newer Tread machines has been issued because the touchscreen can detach and fall, possibly causing injury. No related injuries have been reported in the US, but people in the UK and Canada have reported abrasions, small cuts and bruises from falling touchscreens. It covers around 1,050 treadmills in the US and 5,400 in Canada.

Youll have the option of getting a refund from Peloton. Alternatively, you can wait for Peloton to inspect your Tread and secure the touchscreen, but theres no timeline for that as yet.

The recall agreements follow several weeks of negotiation between Peloton and the CPSC. Peloton CEO John Foley called the agencys findings inaccurate and misleading in April and said the company was troubled by the CPSCs call to go public with them. He apologized for Pelotons response following the agreements.

The decision to recall both products was the right thing to do for Pelotons members and their families, Foley said in a statement. I want to be clear, Peloton made a mistake in our initial response to the Consumer Product Safety Commissions request that we recall the Tread+. We should have engaged more productively with them from the outset. For that, I apologize. Todays announcement reflects our recognition that, by working closely with the CPSC, we can increase safety awareness for our members.

Its been a bad day for Peloton. It just emerged that, earlier this year, a researcher discovered a security flaw that compromised user data, though its unclear whether any data was stolen. Peloton has fixed the issue, but reportedly didn't do so until after TechCrunch's Zack Whittaker asked the company about it months later.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  A former Santa Fe Realtor accepted a plea agreement for kidnapping and assaulting women that includes prison time and a lifetime ban from dating sites in a hearing in 1st Judicial District Court Tuesday morning.

Shawn McCourt, 53, was sentenced to up to 22 years in prison via a global disposition  a type of plea agreement that encompasses multiple cases  by District Judge Glenn Ellington. Though his sentence appears to be long, the agreement allows him to serve only five years unless he violates parole after his release.

In addition to his prison sentence, McCourt is also banned from ever going on a dating website again.

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There are monsters that troll the internet, and you are one of those monsters, Ellington told McCourt during sentencing.

First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said she is grateful to the two victims who came forward with allegations against McCourt. Both women were supportive of the plea agreement that convicted McCourt.

At long last, Shawn McCourt is facing justice and going to prison for his predatory behavior towards women, Carmack-Altwies said in a news release. McCourt has had a long history of prowling for women online, gaining their trust, and then turning the relationships violent and dehumanizing.

McCourt pleaded guilty to kidnapping, four counts of aggravated battery on a household member and false imprisonment. He also was previously convicted of a felony charge for a 2017 incident for recklessly eluding police in Colorado.

McCourt had his four counts of criminal sexual penetration, battery against a household member and interference with communications charges dismissed in accordance with the plea deal.

According to court records, McCourt had been accused of luring women into his home before raping them. The affidavits of probable cause, which explain the charges, are sealed in his case.

Defense attorney Kelly Golightly said McCourt has had traumatic brain injuries in the past, which she believes caused some problems for him with his aggression.

She said that the plea agreement was in the best interest of justice, and it took a long time to reach the agreement.

When you work with someone for as long as Ive been working with Shawn, you get to know them, Golightly said. I would just point out that Shawns behavior today shows the kind of character that he has, by accepting responsibility for the actions he did, and being cleared of any of the criminal sexual penetration allegations.
Columbia, MO (65201)

Today

Mostly cloudy this morning with showers developing this afternoon. High 83F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds light and variable.
Calgary, Alberta, May 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (TSX.V:VM) (OTC:VYYRF) (the "Company" or "Voyageur") is pleased to announce that it has received approval from Health Canada (HC) for its product, MultiXthin barium sulfate suspension. MultiXthin is specifically designed for single contrast radiographic examinations of the oesophagus, stomach, and small bowel to visualize the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in adult and pediatric patients.

Voyageur has built a suite of barium radiographic contrast media products for global sales and distribution. The following products have been licensed:



- SmoothX  For CT market

- HDX  For Flouroscopy market

- LDX  For fluoroscopy market

- MultiXthin  For Flouroscopy market

Voyageur is prepared to test its newly-formulated products under GMP and HC guidelines and advance to clinical testing. Voyageur plans to ensure that it is creating the highest quality products prior to phase one marketing, sales and distribution to Canadian, USA and international markets.

Voyageur has begun the process to prepare applications for FDA device registrations. Based on the new regulatory change of barium sulfate being designated as a device, versus its previous designation as a drug, Voyageur plans to move forward with a marketing and sales strategy for the US market.

Further to news releases dated April 13 and 23, 2021, the Company announces that it has closed the first tranche of a non-brokered private placement of common units ("Common Units") and flow-through units ("Flow-Through Units") (the "Offering"). The Offering was a combination of (i) Common Units issued at a price of $0.15 per Common Unit and comprised of one (1) common share and one (1) common share purchase warrant, exercisable at $0.30 for a period of two years from the closing date, and (ii) Flow-Through Units issued at a price of $0.18 per Flow-Through Unit and comprised of one (1) common share and one common share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant being exercisable at $0.40 for a period of two years from the closing date. Pursuant to the closing of the first tranche of the Offering, the Company issued 7,598,731 Common Units for gross proceeds of $1,139,809.65 and 1,619,264 Flow-Through Units for gross proceeds of $291,467.52.

In connection with the Offering, Voyageur paid aggregate cash commissions of $41,396.50, and isued 345,173 broker warrants exercisable at price of $0.15 per Common Share and 36,000 broker warrants exercisable at a price of $0.18 per Common Share, for a period of two years from the date of issuance.

Completion of the Offering is subject to regulatory approval including, but not limited to, the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued are subject to a four month hold period from the date of issuance.

The Company intends to complete a closing of the second tranche of the Offering no later than May 18, 2021. Readers are directed to the news releases of the Company dated April 13 and 23, 2021, for more information about the terms of the Offering.

About Voyageur

Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is a Canadian public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol VM. Voyageur is focused on the development of barite and iodine, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) minerals. The near-term focus is developing barium and iodine radio-contrast pharmaceutical products. Voyageurs goal is to initially generate near term positive cash flow from operations using third party GMP pharmaceutical manufacturers in Canada and internationally. Ultimately, Voyageur has plans to build all the required infrastructure to become 100% self-sufficient with all manufacturing. Voyageur owns a 100% interest in three barium sulfate (barite) projects including two properties suitable in grade for the industrial barite marketplace, with interests in a potentially high-grade iodine, lithium & bromine brine project located in Utah, USA.

Voyageur is moving forward with its business plan of becoming the only fully-integrated company in the radiographic contrast medical field, by controlling all primary input costs under the motto of: "From the Earth to the Bottle"

For Further Media Information or to set up an interview, please contact:

Brent Willis

President & CEO

E brent@vpharma.ca

Ron Love

CFO

T 403.818.6086

E ronl@vpharma.ca

www.voyageurpharmaceuticals.ca

Forward Looking Information

This news release may contain certain forward-looking information and statements, including, without limitation, statements pertaining to commercial launch of its products, including timing for marketing, sales and distribution of MultiXthin and the Company's other barium radiographic contrast media products, the ability to obtain licenses in international jurisdictions, and to do so expeditiously based on existing HC approvals, the Company's ability to obtain necessary approvals from HC for additional barium radiographic contrast products, the closing of the second tranche of the Offering and the timing thereof, and obtaining the necessary approvals of the TSX Venture Exchange. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in the Company's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Voyageur does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Reader Advisory

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Media Contact

Company Name: Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Contact Person: Brent Willis

Email: Brent@vpharma.ca

City: Calgary

State: Alberta

Country: Canada

Website: www.voyageurpharmaceuticals.ca



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WTF?! In what sounds like a potentially worrying scenario, a massive, "out-of-control" Chinese rocket that's falling to Earth could partially survive reentry and crash into the planet next week, but we don't know where it will land.

The Pentagon says it is tracking the trajectory of the Chinese Long March 5B rocket, which is expected to reenter the Earth's atmosphere on May 10. That's plus or minus two days so it could happen as early as May 8 or as late as May 12.

The Long March 5B's 30-metre (98.4-foot) high core launched the Tianhe or "Heavenly Harmony" unmanned module into low Earth orbit last week. It's the first module of China's space station that's expected to be fully operational by 2022.

This morning's data on the altitude-versus-time of the Tianhe / CZ-5B objects. The core stage orbit continues to slowly decay as expected. pic.twitter.com/E8EPJ9yzRu  Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) May 4, 2021

The core stage is now also in orbit and heading for an uncontrolled reentryyou can watch its path here. While the atmosphere burns up most space junk, there are concerns that large parts of the 22-ton rocket could make it through and land on inhabited areas.

"It's potentially not good," Jonathan McDowell, Astrophysicist at the Astrophysics Center at Harvard University, told The Guardian. "Last time they launched a Long March 5B rocket they ended up with big long rods of metal flying through the sky and damaging several buildings in the Ivory Coast," he said.

The tumbling core's 17,149 mph speed makes it impossible to know where it will land. The "exact entry point into the Earth's atmosphere" won't be clear until within hours of reentry.

The good news is that we're in very little danger of being squashed by falling debris. With water covering 71% of the planet, an ocean landing is the most likely outcome.

"I don't think people should take precautions. The risk that there will be some damage or that it would hit someone is pretty smallnot negligible, it could happenbut the risk that it will hit you is incredibly tiny. And so I would not lose one second of sleep over this on a personal threat basis," Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Astrophysics Center at Harvard University, told CNN.

"What's bad is that it's really negligent on China's part. Things more than ten tonnes we don't let them fall out of the sky uncontrolled deliberately," McDowell added.
Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, left, poses with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi during their meeting in London, Wednesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs



By Kang Seung-woo



Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi agreed Wednesday to establish "future-oriented" bilateral relations between the two countries, currently strained by a feud over wartime history, in their first meeting, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.



However, the two sides still remained far apart over how to resolve the thorny issue.



Their first in-person meeting since Chung took office in February was on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting in London, and followed trilateral talks with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.



Currently, ties between South Korea and Japan have slumped to their worst level in years due to the latter's imposition of export controls on three key materials critical for the semiconductor and display industries here in apparent retaliation for a ruling by South Korea's Supreme Court ordering Japanese companies to compensate South Koreans who were forced to work for them before and during World War II.



"The two ministers agreed on the need for South Korea and Japan to closely cooperate for peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the World," the ministry said in a press release.



"And they shared the view that the two countries should develop relations between Seoul and Tokyo in a future-oriented manner."



The two ministers also agreed to continue cooperation to make substantive progress in the efforts for the complete denuclearization of, and the establishment of a lasting peace on, the Korean Peninsula.



Recently, Japan's decision to dump radioactive wastewater from the destroyed Fukushima Daichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean, starting 2023, has sparked even more tension between the two countries, with the government here claiming the decision was made without full consultation with neighboring countries. Seoul is now reviewing whether to refer the matter to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.



Regarding the dumping of the wastewater, Chung express deep concerns to Motegi, unambiguously stressing opposition to the decision. As for the historical issues, he also urged Japan to adopt the correct perception of history.



In response, the Japanese foreign minister again urged Seoul to take appropriate measures over rulings by South Korean courts ordering his government to compensate former comfort women, according to Japan's Kyodo News.



Motegi also pointed out that the liquidation of South Korean assets of Japanese companies over wartime forced labor issues must be avoided, it added.



Believing that the issue was settled under the 1965 pact between the two nations for the normalization of ties, in which South Korea received grants and economic cooperation loans, Tokyo strongly insists that Seoul itself must address any judicial rulings on the matter, something the government here cannot comply with.





Korea, United States and Japan hold a trilateral foreign ministerial talks on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting in London, Wednesday. Yonhap
M&A

Where Veritas wants to cast its new $1.8B net

Veritas Capital is preparing to close on acquisitions of two publicly-traded companies in quick succession and also eyeing other opportunities for more deals of smaller sizes.

The New York City-based private equity firm said Tuesday it has completed fundraising on a $1.8 billion Vantage Fund that will focus on the middle market and closed at its hard cap.

Such transactions require fewer amounts of equity capital than larger investments of Veritas flagship vehicles, including its seventh fund that closed in late 2019 with $6.5 billion in commitments.

Government contractors are not the only focus area for Veritas. The firm broadly looks at government-influenced markets with a heavy technology component to include health care, education, software, communications and energy.

This inaugural dedicated fund will harness our deep track record, highly synergistic, integrated investment platform and time-tested approach to value creation, Veritas CEO Ramzi Musallam said in a release.

The Vantage Fund is a natural expansion for us and will enable us to further leverage technology to make a positive impact and support the growth of more businesses across the vital areas of our target industries.

For Veritas, the completion of this fundraising effort comes as the firm gets ready to acquire Cubic Corp. for $2.38 billion in cash and as Perspecta shareholders have approved its acquisition by Peraton, a Veritas platform.

Peraton will more than double in size to around $7 billion in annual revenue with Perspecta in the fold, which comes on top of the combination with the former Northrop Grumman IT services business that completed in February.

The Northrop piece of that equation alone tripled Peraton to nearly $3.4 billion in annual revenue.

When all is said and done: Veritas portfolio of government contractors will exceed $10 billion in annual sales. But from their vantage point: there is always more to find.
IFA has advised grain growers to consider forward selling a small percentage of their crop.

This follows a recent spike in world grain prices, because of renewed weather concerns, with Irish new crop future prices following suit.

In April, forward prices for barley and wheat jumped by almost 15%.

IFA said green harvest prices of over 180/tonne for barley and 200/t for wheat were offered.

In comparison to this time last year, forward prices are 40/t higher.

But is there further upside in the market?

The big grain buyers here have also alerted growers to the opportunity to lock into the grain price increase since last September, through forward selling, with forward prices for the 2021 harvest having reached their highest early summer level for several years.

Glanbia had advised growers that forward selling can mitigate the risk of uncertain future price movements, and growers should be cautious, with selling little and often recommended, rather than try to guess when markets might be near their peak.

It sounds like good advice, especially now, as the first week of May usually marks the halfway point in US maize planting.

Cold and dry weather in the US left planting at only an estimated 17% of the expected acreage by Sunday, April 25, three percentage points behind the five-year average.

However, after a week of good progress, by last Sunday, maize planting was estimated to be 46% complete, versus a 36% on average for the end of April.

But there were still concerns about dry weather affecting wheat and maize yields.

With US maize stocks forecast to be unusually low before the next harvest, even a small delay in planting could have a big market impact this year.

The US is predicted to have only 33 days or roughly one months supply of maize left at the end of August.

The USDA will release its first full market forecasts next week, on May 12.

The size of the US maize crop is one of the biggest unknowns which drive global grain prices.

Will American farmers respond to current high global grain prices by sowing as many acres of maize as possible? What about other huge grain growing areas such as the Ukraine and South America?

Fortunes hang on the answer to these questions.

With agricultural commodities now part of what may be a commodity super-cycle, and managed money funds betting big on grain prices falling or rising, they stand to lose billions if they make the wrong decisions.

Their investments are behind agri-commodity prices climbing 15% since the end of March, to price levels not seen since 2013, when bad weather affected crops across the globe.

Global grain prices have been extra volatile in recent weeks, with weather and profit-taking by fund traders the main drivers.

There was a mixed picture for new crop prices, but sharp gains for old crop May 21 futures contracts which are approaching their last trading days, adding to the volatility

Weather is of course a major unknown, because it affects planting, crop growth, and harvesting.

Over the past year, global grain prices have rallied, as managed money funds reacted to frosts in the US, pessimistic Brazilian maize forecasts, and a host of other market trends.

According to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the independent US government agency which regulates derivatives markets, 22.2% more investment funds are betting that grain futures will go higher than go lower.

Therefore, they can sell their contracts now at a profit.

But that isnt pulling future prices down, because plenty are still betting on prices rising, because of a tight global supply and demand situation.

And how much maize will Brazil grow?

The current situation is that there could be further cuts to crop estimates, unless there is substantial rain in Brazil .

This could tighten global supplies and place extra reliance on the US crop.

How will wheat crops do?

How will the Russian export tax affect markets?

How much grain does China need (Asia accounts for 30% of global maize imports)?

There has been cold, dry weather in parts of Europe, including France.

However, good conditions are reported in Romania and Ukraine.

Ukraines wheat crop could yield a record 28.6 million tonnes harvest, which could slightly reduce global market bullishness.

Will currency fluctuations affect the global grain trade?

Which crop will win out in the fierce competition in the US between maize and soybeans for acres?

More farmers may turn away from maize, after Chicago soyabean futures prices recently reached an eight-year high, despite profit-taking by funds.

Weather interruptions in the soyabean harvest in Argentina could lift prices further.

Soyabean plantings in the US are estimated to be 24% complete, slightly ahead of the five-year average.

But that could change.

Such is the guessing game on which grain prices hinge.

As the answers materialise, if markets soften and funds unwind their positions, futures prices could fall quickly.

Or the market may stay strong.

However, history shows that grain price was lower at harvest than early in the year, except in 2012, when bad weather affected crops across the globe (including the worst US drought in over 50 years).
Denver, CO, May 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Colorado Community College System (CCCS) Chancellor Joe Garcia announced the selection of Dr. Mordecai Brownlee as the next president of Community College of Aurora (CCA).

Dr. Brownlee will assume the presidency on July 15, 2021. He will succeed Dr. Betsy Oudenhoven, who announced in October that she was retiring at the end of July concluding a decade of leading the institution and a remarkable 42-year career in higher education.

Dr. Brownlee, an inclusive educator who is committed to the intellectual and economic empowerment of diverse communities, brings an impressive resume in advancing student access, expanding student support services, and empowering academic pathways at several public and private higher education institutions, including St. Philip's College in Texas, the University of Charleston in West Virginia, Blinn College District in Texas, and Houston Baptist University.

Upon his announcement, Dr. Brownlee called it an honor to lead an institution so steeped in inclusive excellence and guided by the vision of ensuring that every student it serves succeeds.

I am immensely grateful to Chancellor Garcia, and CCAs faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community supporters for the opportunity to serve this distinguished institution as its president, said Dr. Brownlee. Raised by a single-mother who was an educator, I learned first-hand the importance of faith, hard work, sacrifice, and the responsibility we have as educators to empower the minds and lives of students through equitable learning environments and ample student support. CCA is an institution that has embraced this charge and as its president, every day I will be committed to serving as an example of the institutions mission in action.

Dr. Brownlee rose to the top of a field of impressive candidates during the nationwide search process. The nine-member search advisory committee carefully screened over 80 high quality applicants and conducted open forums to actively engage the community.

We wanted someone with an entrepreneurial spirit who would expand CCAs reach and partnerships, and experience in strategic enrollment management who will be able to reverse the declines in students and revenues facing the institution during these challenging times. CCCSs goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion also called for someone who will champion learning environments that promote student success for Auroras growing and increasingly diverse communities, said Garcia. Without a doubt, that candidate was Dr. Brownlee. His impressive background and progressive leadership style make him the best fit to advance CCAs vision, mission, and values.

Currently, Dr. Brownlee serves as vice president for student success at St. Philip's College, the only college in the nation federally designated as both a historically Black college (HBCU) and a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), located in San Antonio, Texas. During his tenure, Dr. Brownlee championed strategic enrollment and student success initiatives that led St. Philips to record enrollment and four of their largest degree and certificate awarding classes in the colleges 123-year history.

Throughout his career in higher education, Dr. Brownlee raised millions for student scholarships and academic programs  some of which went to new programs designed to retool individuals to fill high-demand employment opportunities. He has also played an instrumental role in securing several multi-million-dollar capital construction projects.

In his spare time, Dr. Brownlee serves as an adjunct professor at Morgan State University School of Education & Urban Studies and the University of Charleston School of Business and Leadership where he teaches business management, human resources, social justice, and community college leadership. He also dedicates time as a columnist and nationally recognized speaker covering a broad range of critical higher education topics including education technology; financial literacy and student debt; community college innovation; progressive legislation; and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Among his many accolades, Dr. Brownlee was twice awarded the Trusted Leaders Award by the faculty and staff of St. Philips College and in 2018 received the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award. Recently, EdTech Magazine featured him as one of the 30 most interesting voices in higher education who are shaping the conversation around technology and education.

Dr. Brownlees service on community, state, and national boards includes serving as the director of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Community College Institute; Co-Founder of the Rising Leaders Institute for the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE), member of the My Brothers Keeper White House Initiative in San Antonio, Community College Chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), ApplyTX Advisory Council, and a member of the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. He is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

###

About Community College of Aurora

The Community College of Aurora (CCA) provides high-quality instruction and student support services to Aurora and Denver, Colorado. The college offers courses on two campuses, online and through its high school concurrent-enrollment program, helping students prepare for employment or transfer to a four-year institution.

About Colorado Community College System

The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) is the states largest system of higher education and workforce development, delivering thousands of programs to over 125,000 students annually through 13 colleges and 38 locations across Colorado. Our open-access mission ensures all Coloradans who aspire to enrich their lives have access to high quality, affordable higher education opportunities. The System Office provides leadership, advocacy, and support to the colleges under the direction of the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE). Join us in changing the way Colorado goes to college www.cccs.edu.

Attachment
COMPANIES

How these 3 companies are getting an early read on emerging budget picture

A more thorough White House budget request for fiscal year 2022 is still in production, but the Biden administration's early blueprint is giving government contractors some clues as to where the priorities are.

Not to mention the prospects of a massive infrastructure bill becoming law later this year on top of the trillions in coronavirus relief already enacted.

Here is how three publicly-traded companies described that landscape to investors and their positioning in it during first quarter earnings calls Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

ManTech International

General themes from prior administrations are also carrying over to this new one even if the final funding numbers are not out yet, at least that is how ManTech sees it.

You can see within the current administration that they continue to focus on the need for a technology-driven economic competition as well as military competition, ManTech CEO Kevin Phillips said Tuesday.

One enduring aspect of that competition continues to be cybersecurity. During the call with analysts, Phillips noted the Biden administrations appointments of both a new national cyber director and head of the Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as signs of such emphasis.

Given ManTechs identity as a serial acquirer, analysts also wanted to know if the company is factoring potential budget shifts into its thinking regarding deals.

We still focus on defense and intelligence, cyber as core business areas. But at the same time, we do see a lot of opportunity but from a budget placement as well as capability placement into the federal civilian market, Phillips said.

Herndon, Virginia-headquartered ManTech held to its guidance of $2.65 billion-to-$2.75 billion in revenue this year, which would represent growth of 5-to-9 percent over last year.

ICF International

These growth priorities have shaped ICFs strategy for the past few years: technology modernization, public health, disaster recovery and utilities.

Going from the Trump to Biden administration does not change any of that, ICF CEO John Wasson said Tuesday, based on just what weve seen in terms of his policy priorities and his initial budget proposals.

As for the prospects of bigger budgets for civilian agencies and possible infrastructure spending: if only a portion of that becomes reality, it will be very good for ICF, Wasson added.

So too would be the new administrations focus on climate change and resilience, given President Bidens recommitment to the Paris accord on his first day in office.

Energy efficiency will be a central aspect of addressing climate change going forward, so if the Biden administration is successful or undertakes steps to address that issue it will provide additional impetus to grow our energy efficiency business, Wasson said.

Fairfax-headquartered ICF held to its revenue outlook of $1.525 billion-to-$1.575 billion, but nudged up its bottom line forecast to $145 million-to-$155 million EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization).

Parsons

A company that touts itself as being at the nexus of government technology and critical infrastructure would certainly at least perceive some upside in a new budget picture.

During Parsons call on Tuesday, Chief Operating Officer Carey Smith described how the company sees cybersecurity as one area that crosses both of those areas and broke it into two buckets.

Cyber resiliency: you can do it obviously on the defense side, where we are heavily, but it also applies to the entire critical infrastructure side and there will be funding going into that area, Smith said.

Smart intelligence: how do you leverage the data that youre getting from sensors. That applies whether youre designing a smart base on the federal side or a smart city on the critical infrastructure side.

Centreville, Virginia-headquartered Parsons held to its outlook for this year that sees revenue of $3.85 billion-to-$4.05 billion and adjusted EBITDA of $350 million-to-$375 million.

Tuesday also marked Chuck Harringtons final earnings call as CEO of Parsons, which he has led for the past 13 years and been an employee of for 39 years.

Smith will become CEO on July 1 and Harrington will continue as executive chairman.

Carey and I are aligned on our vision for the company. I know shell continue to build on our 77 years of success and continue to forge ahead to transform Parsons into an industry-leading, global technology company, supporting a more sustainable, safer and connected world, Harrington said.
The Chief Medical Officer has said the key objective is to maintain our course over the coming weeks.

Dr Tony Holohan warned that while people are looking forward to the greater reopening of activities and services, it is vital that public health advice is followed.

His advice comes as seven further deaths related to Covid-19 have been confirmed bringing the death toll in Ireland to 4,915.

Of the deaths notified today, five occurred in April, one was in February and one in January.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has been notified of 418 confirmed cases of the virus.

The average age of the 418 cases confirmed today is 30 years old with 73% of the cases occurring in those under the age of 45.

The highest number of cases are located in Dublin where 167 cases were confirmed. Cork accounts for 39 cases while 32 are in Donegal, 29 in Kildare and 22 in Meath.

The remaining 129 cases are spread across 20 other counties.

Sligo is the only county with no confirmed cases in the past 24 hours.

The 14-day incidence rate per 100,000 in Donegal has risen slightly to 307.8 and remains the highest rate in the country.

The next highest incidence rate is found in Co Kildare where it is at 261.6. The national 14-day incidence rate currently stands at 134.4 - up slightly compared to this day last week.

Dr Holohan warned against congregating in large groups and organising social events.

Throughout this pandemic we have seen outbreaks and clusters of disease as a result of social events such as funerals, wakes and birthday parties.

"Unfortunately we need to continue to stay vigilant to the infectious nature of this disease and avoid congregating together in large groups.

"We need all sectors of society to continue to encourage and support the public health messages and to help everyone to stay safe."

The CMO said that meeting outdoors is safer for everybody but that these meetings should be in small groups, away from crowded areas and everyone should maintain the 2m distance.

"This will minimise the risk of passing the virus from person to person, driving down the incidence rate and keeping our society open."

As of 8am this morning, there are 137 Covid-19 patients in hospital, of which 37 are in ICU. There have been 18 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Around 80% of vaccines will be delivered to adults by end of June - Donnelly

Picture: Brian Lougheed

More than 30% of the population aged 16 or over have now received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, according to the latest figures.

In total, 1,621,870 jabs had been administered in the country as of Monday, May 3.

Some 1,174,292 people have received their first dose, while 447,578 (11.5% of the country) have got their second.

Close to 200,000 jabs were administered last week, with more than 44,000 coming on Friday alone.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said the Government will deliver about 80% of vaccines to adults by the end of June.

Mr Donnelly said it is possible that 450,000 vaccines a week could be delivered but that it is dependent on supply.

He acknowledged that the vaccination rollout has been "very bumpy" at times with serious downward revisions from AstraZeneca adding to the difficulties.

"As things stand today, if we get the vaccines in according to schedule, and if we keep getting them out as soon as they come into the country, then we then we will be at around 80% at the end of June, he said.

Speaking on Ireland AM on Virgin Media TV, Mr Donnelly said the vaccine rollout will continue to be rolled out based on age and will not see younger categories bumped up.

Varadkar predicts relative normality by August but warns winter brings uncertainty

Picture: Larry Cummins

By August, life in Ireland will be relatively normal again, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said.

Speaking at a press conference in Dublin, Mr Varadkar said he is "on the confident side of hopeful" that indoor dining in pubs and restaurants will resume in July.

With the vaccine rollout gathering pace, August is when normality should return, he said.

I think we have to get through another winter to be sure, but I do think life will pretty much back to normal by August, he said.

While he said most things will be back to normal by then, some restrictions will still remain longer term in relation to mass gatherings and international travel.

But Mr Varadkar caveated his comments by saying nobody can promise that timeline, adding this is the new virus, which is only around a year or so, and the vaccines aren't even around a year, and we just can't know for sure.

It's possible that the efficacy of the vaccines could wear off after a certain point of time. We don't know what might happen in terms of variants that may be vaccine-resistant. We don't know what will happen when the winter comes, he said.

99 Covid-19 cases confirmed in NI as vaccine rollout continues

There have been no further deaths of patients who had previously tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Health said there had been an additional 99 cases of the virus confirmed in the last 24-hour reporting period.

On Wednesday there were 72 Covid-19 positive inpatients in hospital, of whom seven were in intensive care.

Meanwhile 1,397,087 vaccines have been administered. This includes 950,778 first doses and 446,309 second doses.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

The Navajo Area Indian Health Service and the Navajo Department of Health report that 99,254 people are fully vaccinated, equaling about 75% of the reservations vaccine-eligible population of residents older than 16.

Jill Jim, Navajo Department of Health director, encouraged caution, even as the reservation loosens health restrictions that have been in place for nearly a year.

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The magnitude of one event can put a lot of people at risk, Jim said during a Tuesday video update.

She referenced a cluster event late last month on the reservation where 30 individuals who were at a gathering tested positive for COVID-19. Contact tracers tracked down about 100 people to determine the virus spread from the gathering.

The Navajo Nation has reported fewer than 15 new cases each day for the last week.

At the peak of the pandemic in late November, the reservation was reporting nearly 400 cases a day.

The reservation has reported 30,543 virus cases since the pandemic began.

More than 16,590 people have recovered from COVID-19 and 1,282 Navajo residents have died.

The COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to reach community immunity against the virus, said Capt. Brian Johnson, deputy director for the Navajo Area IHS.

Whether were talking about the entire Navajo Nation, or about Shonto, or Chinle, or Fort Defiance, we look at the population of that community to see what percentage of individuals have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, Johnson said. The more people vaccinated, the lower the risk for transmission of the disease.

The reservation recently moved into its yellow level business restrictions.

Most Navajo Nation businesses may operate at 50% capacity and restaurants are open for indoor dining at 25% capacity. Navajo parks and casinos remain closed to tourists.